In a political climate routinely divided along ethnic and partisan fault lines, a moment of rare clarity has emerged regarding how Nigeria confronts its past. Former presidential spokesperson and All Progressives Congress stalwart Bashir Ahmad has publicly defended political rival Peter Obi, insisting that modern aspirants cannot be tarred with the historical fallout of the 1966 military coup.

The controversy was sparked by a pointed query on Arise News, where an anchor confronted Obi with the reality that some northern electorates still associate the Igbo community with the assassination of Northern Premier Sir Ahmadu Bello. Rather than deflecting with standard political rhetoric, Obi dismantled the premise by underscoring his own innocence: as a toddler in 1966, he had no hand in the decisions of rebellious army officers, making collective ethnic liability morally and logically indefensible.

Ahmad quickly amplified the moment, choosing principle over partisan warfare. Moving past typical party rivalry, the APC chieftain reiterated that no citizen should be held culpable for crimes committed by others simply because they share an ethnic heritage. He noted that judging individuals by the actions of their kin or tribe threatens the fundamental tenets of justice, urging Nigerians to apply uniform fairness to every leader across the political aisle.

The public backing is an uncommon, refreshing sign of cross-party alignment on an issue that has historically derailed civic trust. By directly dismantling the narrative of intergenerational culpability, the exchange sends an unmistakable message to the electorate: Nigeria cannot build an accountable democratic future if political participation remains chained to historical grievances that modern actors had no part in creating.

Remi Tinubu Appeals To South-East Voters, Says She Wants To ‘Enjoy Nigeria’ In Old Age

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has taken her husband’s 2027 re-election campaign message to the South-East, asking voters in the region to support President Bola Tinubu for another term.

Speaking at a women’s empowerment programme in Owerri, Imo State, Mrs Tinubu said her support for the President’s second-term bid was partly driven by her desire to see Nigeria become a better place in her later years.

Addressing the women in Pidgin English, she said:

“Make una vote for Mr President, we go work for una and Nigeria go better.”

She went on to say she wanted to “enjoy Nigeria at old age” and would therefore continue working towards improving the country.

The event was part of a nationwide empowerment programme being implemented through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals.

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The initiative is designed to reach 18,500 women across the country, with beneficiaries receiving equipment intended to help them establish or expand small businesses.

In the five South-East states, 500 women per state were provided with items including generators, grinding machines, gas cylinders and industrial ovens.

Imo received an additional boost after Governor Hope Uzodimma sponsored equipment for another 2,000 women. This brought the total number of beneficiaries in the state to 2,500.

Mrs Tinubu subsequently announced a ₦100,000 grant for each beneficiary who attended the event.

The First Lady’s political appeal comes as the race for the 2027 presidency gradually takes shape, with President Tinubu seeking to retain his position after winning the 2023 election.

Tinubu defeated Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi in the 2023 contest, securing 8,794,726 votes. Atiku, then the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, received 6,984,520 votes, while Obi, who contested on the Labour Party platform, polled 6,101,533 votes.

The political landscape has since changed, with Atiku now flying the African Democratic Congress flag and Obi contesting under the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

Tinubu’s administration has spent much of its first term pursuing major economic changes, most notably the removal of the petrol subsidy, reforms to the foreign exchange market and changes to the tax system.

While the government has defended the measures as necessary for long-term economic recovery, they have also generated considerable public criticism over their immediate effects on Nigerians.

Rising food and transport costs, inflation, the depreciation of the naira and insecurity remain among the issues likely to shape public opinion ahead of the 2027 election.

With the presidential contest drawing closer, Mrs Tinubu’s appeal in the South-East signals the administration’s efforts to court support in a region where the political contest is expected to be closely watched.

Remi Tinubu Appeals To South-East Voters, Says She Wants To ‘Enjoy Nigeria’ In Old Age

Amaechi will be caged politically, Wike shouldn’t bother about Ikwerre votes — Wihioka

A former member of the House of Representatives, Chidi Wihioka, has declared that former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, will be politically “caged”, while advising the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, not to be worried about securing the votes of the Ikwerre people.

Wihioka made the declaration in a fresh political confrontation involving some of the major political actors in Rivers State, according to a report published by Daily Post on Thursday.

The former lawmaker’s comments have added another dimension to the intense political rivalry involving Amaechi, Wike and other influential figures in the state.

Wihioka was quoted as saying that political forces opposed to Amaechi would prevent him from gaining the upper hand in the unfolding political contest.

He reportedly declared, “We’ll cage him,” in reference to Amaechi, while dismissing concerns about the former governor’s political influence.

The statement is expected to generate reactions among supporters of the former governor, who remains one of the prominent political figures to have emerged from Rivers State.

Wihioka also reportedly told Wike not to bother about the votes of the Ikwerre people, suggesting that the former governor should focus on the broader political contest rather than being overly concerned about Amaechi’s influence within the Ikwerre political bloc.

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The comment is significant because both Amaechi and Wike are from Rivers State and have, at different times, relied on extensive political structures and alliances across the state.

The struggle for political influence in Rivers has frequently featured the question of who controls key voting blocs, particularly in areas regarded as politically influential.

Amaechi and Wike were once members of the same political family before becoming fierce political opponents.

Amaechi, who served as Rivers governor from 2007 to 2015, later became Minister of Transportation under former President Muhammadu Buhari. Wike succeeded him as governor and subsequently became Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Their political rivalry has remained one of the defining features of Rivers State politics, with both camps repeatedly clashing over control of the state’s political structure.

Wihioka was himself previously associated with the Amaechi political camp but later became critical of the former governor.

The latest comments therefore underscore the continuing realignment of political forces in Rivers State as politicians and their supporters position themselves for future electoral battles.

The renewed exchange comes against the backdrop of increasing political activity across Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Rivers State remains strategically important because of its population, economic significance and political influence in the South-South region.

With major political figures already positioning themselves and forming alliances, statements such as Wihioka’s are likely to further heighten political tensions and trigger counter-reactions from rival camps.

As the political contest gathers momentum, the battle for influence over Rivers’ voting blocs is expected to intensify, with Amaechi, Wike and their respective allies likely to remain at the centre of the state’s political calculations.

Amaechi will be caged politically, Wike shouldn’t bother about Ikwerre votes — Wihioka