Politics

Someone from South-East coming to fix Nigeria – Pastor Ayorinde

Published

3 years ago

August 19, 2023

Someone from South-East coming to fix Nigeria – Pastor Ayorinde

… Nigerian soldiers can overrun terrorists in one month

Founder of World Bible Church, Prophet Samson Ayorinde, says someone from the South-East is destined to lead Nigeria and address majority of the problems facing the country.
He however said the time is not now but some 16 years’ time, adding that the fellow, a young man, was already being groomed for the job.
The clergyman who spoke in an interview with The Sun published on Saturday also declared that the Nigerian military is capable of ridding the country of terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements constituting security threats.
Indeed, Ayorinde spoke on a number of issues including the administration of President Bola Tinubu, the state of the economy and Niger Republic crisis.

Excerpts from the interview are as follows:

What can the government do to tackle the high cost of living as a result of bad economic situation in the country?

We know that the situation has been very precarious for a long time, and many people did not want to take the bull by the horns. We are blessed with the present President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is God’s appointed for this present hour as shown with all my previous predictions for the past 14 years. The Lord had told me about him becoming the president of this country, and it is not hidden news. This is the man appointed for this particular time. I want to appreciate all Nigerians for our resilience, tolerance and forbearance. If what has happened in these last two months had been in many parts of the world, those countries would have been on fire and on rampage, but Nigerians are resilient and tolerant and we adjust. It’s painful. A lot of people are dying. People are frustrated. What the government needs to do is to look seriously into the plight of the people, not necessarily dolling out N5,000 or N8,000 per family, even though they have made up their minds to go along with that policy. But it goes nowhere.

This funding should have been used in getting amenities, infrastructure like generating more electricity, raising up modular refineries that will serve the populace. Instead of building massive refineries, they could go on for modular refineries that could not do more than 20,000, 30,000 barrels per day which can be in six geopolitical zones. There is no geo-political zone that does not have crude oil in Nigeria. The existing refineries should be made to work. There are three already so they need to produce two or three more because one is already in Nasarawa under construction. These refineries should not be run by the government. Privatise it so that it becomes self sustained and then it would work. Then give each of them a mandate to make certain level of revenue to the government as internally generated revenue. This will help us.

Nigeria has one of the most fertile soils on earth and we are yet to cultivate 60 to 70 per cent of it. So Nigeria can feed the world. Nigeria is bigger than Ukraine. Nigeria soil is better than that of Ukraine, and you can see the volume of grains that is coming from Ukraine. Population of Ukraine is 40 million, while that of Nigeria is 200 million. We need to bring in massive machinery that will make farming easy and interesting. Once there is a greater supply, and demand remains the same, price would drop. We are blessed with solar power, we can generate enough electricity from solar as well as from gas. The volume of gas in Nigeria is enough to serve the whole of Europe and we would still have more than excess.

Now that the whole world is looking towards Nigeria, we should not allow us to be distracted by anything such as the war in Niger. It is not our business taking our troops to go and fight a war that we must avoid. It is not as if we are not concerned about what is happening in Niger, but it is diplomacy. Confrontation, argument will only end up in diplomacy. We should learn from what is happening between Russia and Ukraine. We should also look at what is happening between America and Iraq and Afghanistan when they tried to impose their government. They will end up losing at both ends, it does not make sense. So the President must be advised, and he needs to really listen to his men and to us, too. We are not ready for war. In war, everybody suffers, so we should pull the soldiers back. We have enough terrorists in the forests that they need to go and combat within the country’s territory, making our farmers to be secured to farm instead of to be kidnapped. They can map out the whole of this country within two three, four weeks, and peace would reign in Nigeria and everybody would go about their businesses. We want the government to look at this area of what would go round all, rather than a privileged few. In two months now we have saved over a trillion naira. They should come out transparent with daily briefing from the President on how this money is being spent so that people can know where the money is going. People want to hear him speak. No matter how busy he is, he should communicate with the people.

There are still pending court cases concerning the Presidential election. Are you saying that litigants are wasting time and resources in court fighting for what they refer to as their mandate?

It is the right of disenchanted political parties to tender their opinions, findings and whatever they have to present to the court of law and the law will take its course. There were four contestants, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwakwaso and Peter Obi. There is no way, for balancing in the country, that a Northerner would leave the throne after eight years and power would be ceded to another Northerner.

Secondly, Kwankwaso was a member of PDP. Peter Obi was a very strong member of PDP. So PDP, Labour party, NNPP are formerly PDP. You cannot take three and divide it into one each and beat one major. Carry out this election 10 times, APC would win as long as the major players do not change. Our President that was looking very sickly is okay now. He is sound. Hands don’t shake again. Success has a way of healing someone, and who knows, it might be a political intrigue. That man is a political maverick in this country, a force to be reckoned with. He plays on the psychology of people. He knows what he is doing. For years he has been planning for this seat and he has gotten it. There is no way you would first of all handle a car steering that it would not stumble. There were some of the mistakes in his pronouncement, even though they are real and it is something that he needs to do. I believe that some of those things that happened at the few early days were just like a man trying to walk and he stumbled. Now things are getting stabilised with the appointment of the ministers. The Senate President, Goodwill Akpabio is doing a good job. You can see his control, calmness, smiles, demeanor, and body language. When everybody gets hot, he cools down the body temperature. That’s a thoroughbred politician and we are proud of him.

Power is going to come to the East but not yet now. When President Tinubu finishes his tenure of eight years, power would go back to the North for another eight years after which the power comes down to the South, and then it would go to the South East where a young man is being prepared. That is the man that would build the bridge and repair this country. I have been told about it since 1993. The man that would repair and really do the good job for Nigeria is from the South East. By that time, the Easterners would be ripe enough to produce the President, and you can be sure, Jagaban is going to breed that particular man up like what he did in Lagos State where he has already keyed several successive governments up because he knows what it is to govern and be successful. At his age, you should know that he is rich and not looking for any money to embezzle, but to build a lasting legacy so that his name can enter the Guinness Book of Record as one of the leaders in Africa. We are going to pray and give him support so that he will succeed.

What can you say about the number of ministerial nominees by the President considering the state of the nation’s economy?

When the Nigeria Labour Congress asked him about it, he said it will generate jobs because each of those ministers will have special assistants and so on. But the real fact is, there is a lot of disenchanted, disgruntled people as a result of this election. Things are really polarised and they are trying to mend fences. You just have to make that sacrifice. Building is not easy. To scatter is very easy. So he is looking at so many things to make sure that everybody is pacified. If the politicians and leadership are really interested and determined in reducing the cost of the governance, let everybody go on 50 per cent of their salaries. But you know, human beings are naturally selfish. Go to our universities – our teachers, Professors can’t afford a car, and this are people that are going to manage the destinies of our children. The government has to work harder like never before and God will intervene. A new Nigeria is being birthed.

Insecurity is one of the major problems of this country. What do you think the government can do?

Very simple. Google has the map of the whole world from the satellite. Put about five or six drones in the air and every part of this country comes under surveillance. Get the telephone to work, and get the soldiers to be alerted. Nigeria is not too big for Nigerian soldiers to map metre by metre. Within one or two weeks, everywhere would be quiet. But because a lot of people are feeding from it, that is the problem. Nigeria has enough capacity to stop these terrorists in weeks, not months. Once they match them power for power, they would all run away because most of them are being funded by foreigners. A lot of big farmers who are youths cannot sustain their business because they kidnap them in the farms. Then the local vigilantes, civil defence, state police, should all be allowed to be in operation, and they should be well-funded. Again, with the upcoming government banking system on credit facilities where you can own a car or house without necessarily having to pay all the cash, it would help. However, all these can’t be done in a day by one man. Even though we are exercising patience, time is tickling because if people should go on rampage Endsars would be a small thing. When you push a goat to the wall, it would bite like a dog. People are being pushed to the wall. Something needs to be done, and fast.

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Politics

Labour Party Disowns Arabambi Over Peter Obi Records Lawsuits

Published

5 hours ago

September 14, 2026

Trends Admin

Peter Obi

Labour Party Disowns Arabambi Over Peter Obi Records Lawsuits

The Labour Party (LP) has distanced itself from former National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, over lawsuits seeking access to the academic and NYSC records of Peter Obi, saying he is no longer a member of the party and did not institute the cases on its behalf.

The clarification was issued on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Eluma Asogwa, following reports describing Arabambi as an LP chieftain in connection with his legal action against the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Asogwa said the party had initially ignored reports about the lawsuits when they circulated on social media but decided to respond after mainstream media organisations also identified Arabambi as an LP chieftain.

According to the party, Arabambi ceased to be an LP member after he was among 25 members suspended by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) on March 18, 2026, over alleged infractions bordering on anti-party activities.

The LP said the suspension was subsequently ratified by its National Convention on April 28, 2026. Following that ratification, the affected individuals ceased to be members of the party, the leadership said.

Asogwa added that no organ of the party had met since then to revisit or reverse the decision concerning the affected members.

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The Labour Party consequently urged the public and media organisations to stop presenting Arabambi as an LP chieftain or representative, stressing that he could not have instituted the cases as a member of the party.

The party also warned that if Arabambi had presented himself as a representative or chieftain of the LP, such representation was unauthorised and could amount to impersonation. It said its lawyers were reviewing the matter and could consider further legal action, including a possible petition to law-enforcement authorities.

The Labour Party, however, clarified that its statement should not be interpreted as an endorsement or rejection of the substance of Arabambi’s court cases. The party said its immediate objective was to correct the impression that he was acting on its behalf.

The controversy followed three separate suits filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, in which Arabambi is seeking access to official records relating to certificates and other documents connected with Obi.

The suits were filed against WAEC, NYSC and UNN under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The WAEC case is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2064/2026, while the NYSC case is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2063/2026. Both were filed on September 1, 2026. The suit against UNN, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026, was filed on September 9.

Arabambi, through his lawyer Anderson Asemota, is asking the court to compel the institutions to release records in their custody relating to Obi’s academic and national service credentials.

The former LP spokesman has maintained that the lawsuits are not asking the court to determine whether the certificates Obi submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are genuine or forged.

Rather, he says he wants access to the institutions’ underlying official records from which the status and particulars of the certificates can be established.

In the case involving UNN, the requested information relates to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy reportedly awarded to Obi in 1984.

Arabambi is also seeking records relating to an NYSC certificate and information concerning the particulars contained in the relevant records.

The legal action against WAEC followed what Arabambi described as the examination body’s refusal to provide information requested under the Freedom of Information Act. He similarly alleged that UNN and NYSC failed to provide the requested records or satisfactory reasons for withholding them.

The lawsuits have generated political reactions because Obi, who was the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, is now the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election.

The NDC has dismissed the lawsuits and defended Obi’s academic background. Its spokesman, Osa Director, said Obi’s academic history was verifiable and questioned the political significance of the legal action.

The NDC also challenged Arabambi to produce evidence supporting any allegation that Obi’s credentials were questionable.

For the Labour Party, however, the immediate issue is Arabambi’s membership status rather than the merits of the cases. The party has made clear that it does not recognise him as an LP member and that the lawsuits should not be regarded as actions instituted by the party.

The courts have yet to determine whether WAEC, UNN and NYSC should release the records sought by Arabambi. The Labour Party’s latest position also does not amount to a judicial finding on the authenticity or otherwise of any of Obi’s credentials.

Labour Party Disowns Arabambi Over Peter Obi Records Lawsuits

Politics

Desmond Elliot Apologises to Gbajabiamila, Seeks Return to APC

Published

10 hours ago

September 14, 2026

Trends Admin

Desmond Elliot Apologises to Gbajabiamila, Seeks Return to APC

Former Lagos State House of Assembly member Desmond Elliot has publicly apologised to former Speaker of the House of Representatives and current Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, as he seeks to repair their relationship and return fully to the fold of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Elliot, who represented Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly from 2015, made the appeal amid renewed political activity ahead of the 2027 elections and after losing the APC ticket for the constituency in the party’s latest primary.

The former Nollywood actor’s latest appeal is the latest development in a political relationship that has experienced considerable strain in recent years.

Elliot had been regarded as a prominent political associate of Gbajabiamila, who represents Surulere in the broader Lagos political structure. Their relationship, however, came under pressure following political developments surrounding the Lagos State House of Assembly leadership crisis.

In his latest appeal, Elliot asked Gbajabiamila to forgive him for any offence he may have committed and expressed his desire for reconciliation.

The former lawmaker’s move comes after he failed to secure the APC nomination for Surulere Constituency I, effectively ending his bid for another term in the Lagos Assembly under the party.

Barakat Olawunmi Odunuga-Bakare emerged as the APC candidate following the party’s primary election.

The outcome marked a major setback for Elliot, who had sought to continue his legislative career after serving in the Assembly since 2015.

The political fallout between Elliot and sections of the Lagos APC leadership had previously become public during the controversy surrounding the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

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In May 2026, Elliot had also publicly apologised to Gbajabiamila, referring to him as his political mentor and acknowledging that he might have offended him.

“To err is human, to forgive is divine,” Elliot said while appealing for forgiveness.

He also denied allegations that he was involved in moves against then-Lagos Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, whose leadership had become the subject of intense political controversy.

Gbajabiamila had earlier said that he defended Elliot during the crisis and that the controversy had placed his own position as Chief of Staff to President Tinubu under pressure.

According to Gbajabiamila, allegations surrounding Elliot had contributed to a situation in which he was forced to explain his position to the President. He maintained that he had defended the former lawmaker and told Tinubu that Elliot was not part of the group behind the moves against Obasa.

The dispute therefore went beyond a personal disagreement and became intertwined with the wider political contest within the Lagos APC.

Elliot’s latest reconciliation effort comes against the backdrop of the changing political dynamics in Surulere and Lagos as political parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 general elections.

The former lawmaker’s defeat in the APC primary also means that he will not return to the Lagos Assembly through the party’s ticket for the next legislative term.

The APC primary was described by Gbajabiamila as peaceful, fair and orderly, despite reports of tensions surrounding the contest and Elliot’s concerns about the process.

Elliot had previously obtained the APC nomination form in his bid to return to the Assembly, but he ultimately failed to secure the party’s endorsement.

Following the primary defeat, reports emerged that the former actor had returned to Nollywood, reviving his entertainment career after more than a decade in active politics.

Elliot became a household name in Nigeria through his work as an actor before entering politics. He represented Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos Assembly for three consecutive terms beginning in 2015.

His political career has been closely associated with the Lagos APC political structure, making his relationship with influential party figures particularly important to his future political ambitions.

The latest apology is therefore being viewed not only as an attempt to resolve a personal political disagreement but also as part of Elliot’s effort to rebuild relationships within the ruling party.

For the former lawmaker, reconciliation with Gbajabiamila could potentially help restore his standing within the Lagos political establishment, although his immediate political future remains uncertain following his loss at the APC primary.

The development also comes at a time when political alignments are rapidly evolving ahead of 2027, with politicians across Lagos and other parts of the country reassessing their alliances, party positions and electoral strategies.

While Elliot has expressed a desire to return to the APC fold, the extent to which the reconciliation will translate into a renewed political role remains unclear.

For now, his public appeal to Gbajabiamila marks another attempt by the former lawmaker to close a difficult chapter in their political relationship and rebuild bridges within the Lagos APC.

Desmond Elliot Apologises to Gbajabiamila, Seeks Return to APC

Politics

2027: Sowore Promises ₦500,000 Minimum Wage, Free Education, 24-Hour Electricity

Published

11 hours ago

September 14, 2026

Trends Admin

Omoyele Sowore

2027: Sowore Promises ₦500,000 Minimum Wage, Free Education, 24-Hour Electricity

African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has unveiled an ambitious agenda for the 2027 presidential election, promising a ₦500,000 monthly living minimum wage, 24-hour electricity, free education and the construction of one million public mixed-income homes if elected president.

Sowore said the proposals were part of the AAC’s 2027 agenda, which he described as a programme focused on improving living standards, expanding access to essential services and fundamentally changing the way Nigeria’s economy is managed.

At the centre of the proposal is a ₦500,000 minimum wage, which Sowore said would give Nigerian workers a more realistic income in the face of rising living costs.

He argued that workers should not continue to receive wages that are inadequate to meet basic needs while the cost of food, housing, transportation, healthcare and education continues to increase.

Sowore’s proposed wage would represent a substantial increase over Nigeria’s existing statutory minimum wage and would have significant implications for both public-sector finances and private employers if implemented nationwide.

The AAC candidate also promised to deliver 24-hour electricity, making reliable power supply a central pillar of his economic programme.

Sowore argued that Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful industrialisation when businesses and households remain heavily dependent on generators because of unreliable electricity supply.

He said his administration would prioritise the power sector to ensure that electricity becomes a dependable foundation for industrial production, small businesses, job creation and economic growth.

The presidential hopeful also promised free education at all levels, arguing that poverty should not prevent Nigerian children and young people from accessing quality education.

He said his proposed education policy would seek to remove financial barriers that prevent families from keeping their children in school, while improving access to educational opportunities.

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Housing is another major component of Sowore’s proposed programme.

He promised to construct one million public mixed-income homes, saying the initiative would help address Nigeria’s housing shortage while providing more affordable accommodation for people across different income groups.

He also proposed reforms to the country’s tenancy system, including measures to address the widespread practice of demanding lengthy rent advances from tenants.

Sowore said his government would treat healthcare as a right rather than a privilege, with increased investment in the country’s health system and measures designed to reduce the need for Nigerians to travel abroad for medical treatment.

His economic programme also includes plans to industrialise Nigeria, expand agriculture, improve infrastructure and create more dignified employment opportunities.

Sowore said agriculture would receive greater attention under his proposed administration, particularly through increased local production, processing and value addition.

He has argued that Nigeria should move away from excessive dependence on the export of raw commodities and instead develop industries capable of processing its agricultural and mineral resources locally.

The AAC candidate also promised reforms in the security sector, including improved welfare for security personnel and greater use of technology in combating terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality.

He proposed the deployment of modern technologies, including drones and intelligence systems, as part of efforts to strengthen security operations.

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Sowore has positioned his campaign as an alternative to Nigeria’s established political order, arguing that successive governments have failed to adequately tackle poverty, corruption, unemployment, inequality and poor public services.

He said Nigeria’s resources should be used to improve the quality of life of ordinary citizens rather than being concentrated among a relatively small political and economic elite.

The AAC candidate has also said his campaign would seek financial support from ordinary Nigerians, rather than relying heavily on wealthy political patrons.

According to Sowore, a people-funded campaign would allow the party to maintain greater independence and remain accountable to citizens rather than powerful sponsors.

His proposals come as political parties and presidential candidates begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 Nigerian presidential election.

Sowore is seeking to build on his previous presidential campaigns and present the AAC as a distinct alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and other established political parties.

The scale of his latest promises is likely to generate debate over their cost, funding and implementation.

A ₦500,000 minimum wage would significantly increase personnel costs for governments and could also place additional pressure on private-sector employers. Its implementation would therefore require careful consideration of productivity, inflation, government revenue and the ability of businesses to absorb higher labour costs.

Delivering 24-hour electricity would similarly require substantial investment in power generation, transmission and distribution, as well as reforms to address longstanding challenges involving gas supply, infrastructure, electricity pricing and distribution efficiency.

The proposed construction of one million homes and the provision of free education would also require significant public funding, planning and institutional capacity.

Sowore’s campaign is therefore placing a combination of higher wages, reliable electricity, free education, affordable housing, healthcare, industrialisation, job creation and security reforms at the centre of its 2027 message.

As the political contest gathers momentum, the feasibility and funding of competing candidates’ promises are expected to become important issues for voters assessing the various options ahead of the election.