Soyinka visits Tinubu 5 years after advising him to leave politics for young people
Nobel Prize winner, Professor Wole Soyinka paid a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu who is currently holidaying in Lagos on Sunday, December 24, 2023.
Soyinka, who described his visit as embarrassing said he once advised the President and Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections to leave the scene for young politicians.
Explaining the reason for his visit, the academic said he came to see the President to see how he was doing after ignoring the advice he offered him five years ago.
“Actually, it’s an embarrassing visit because when I visited him the last time, it was to try and persuade him not to run for office. I told Atiku and himself to please leave the ground so young people could run. That’s the last time we met about five years ago.
“So I came to see how he was doing after ignoring my advice. I came to see how both he and his wife were weathering Nigeria, and to wish them a Happy Christmas,” Soyinka said.
When asked to comment on the performance of President Tinubu’s government so far, Soyinka said he would reserve his observations about the President’s performance until after one year.
He explained that he usually gives Nigerian presidents one year before assessing their administrations.
“Well, you know, something you may have noticed about me is that most heads of state, when they take office, I always leave them alone for about the first year…because they need time.
“I know when they come in, they don’t start from ground zero. They often start even lower than ground zero and they have to make up.
“So, I’m adopting the same principle this time. When you see me next year, ask the same question again and listen to my answer,” he said.
Soyinka disclosed he visited the President with a seven-point agenda, adding that they had a thorough discussion on the items on the agenda.
Recall that during the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, Soyinka denied the claim that he had thrown his weight behind Tinubu.
The academic said the claim was false and made up by people with a fake news agenda.
Soyinka visits Tinubu 5 years after advising him to leave politics for young people
According to a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by the Board Secretary, retired Maj.-Gen. Abdulmalik Jibril, successful applicants across the participating agencies are now expected to proceed to the next stage of the exercise, which is physical screening and document verification.
Applicants who took part in the CBT are to check their status on the official CDCFIB recruitment portal between June 15 and June 20, the Board announced.
Candidates are required to log in using the application number generated during registration to confirm whether they have been shortlisted for the next stage of the recruitment process.
Shortlisted applicants will also be required to upload their credentials and select preferred dates and venues for their physical screening and document verification exercise, in line with instructions provided on the portal.
The Board advised all applicants to carefully follow every guideline issued on the portal to avoid mistakes that could affect their eligibility or progression in the recruitment exercise.
According to CDCFIB, successful candidates will proceed to the physical screening stage, where their documents, identity, and eligibility details will be thoroughly verified before final selection.
Officials explained that this stage is critical in determining final qualification into the various paramilitary services, as only candidates who meet all requirements will advance.
Applicants were urged to ensure that all submitted documents are authentic, accurate, and properly uploaded, warning that inconsistencies could lead to disqualification.
The CDCFIB also reiterated that the entire paramilitary recruitment exercise remains completely free of charge, warning applicants against fraudsters demanding payment at any stage of the process.
It stressed that no individual, agent, consultant, or organisation has been authorised to collect money for shortlisting, venue allocation, or final selection.
“The recruitment exercise remains absolutely free. Applicants should not pay money to anyone claiming to assist with the process,” the statement warned.
The Board further advised candidates to ignore fake messages, fraudulent links, and unofficial social media accounts spreading false recruitment information.
It emphasised that all official updates on the CDCFIB recruitment process will be communicated strictly through the official recruitment portal and approved communication channels.
Applicants were urged to rely only on verified sources to avoid falling victim to scams targeting job seekers during the recruitment exercise.
Finally, Board Secretary Maj.-Gen. Abdulmalik Jibril reaffirmed CDCFIB’s commitment to ensuring a transparent, credible, and merit-based recruitment process in line with public service rules.
He added that the exercise is designed to ensure fairness across all participating agencies, including the NSCDC, Immigration Service, Fire Service, and Correctional Service.
Board Releases Successful Immigration, NSCDC, Fire Service Applicants
Senior Lawyers Drag NYSC to Court Over Deployment of Corps Members to Insecure States
WARRI — Two prominent legal practitioners, Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun (SAN) and John Aikpokpo-Martins, have instituted a Fundamental Rights Enforcement action before the High Court of Delta State, Warri Judicial Division, challenging the continued deployment of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to states and communities affected by severe insecurity across Nigeria.
The suit seeks judicial intervention against what the applicants describe as the persistent posting of corps members to areas plagued by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed attacks and other forms of violent criminality, despite widespread concerns over the safety of young graduates participating in the national service scheme.
According to the applicants, the deployment of corps members to locations where lives are constantly under threat amounts to a violation of their constitutionally guaranteed rights to life, dignity of the human person, personal liberty and security.
The legal action comes amid growing public anxiety over the security of NYSC members, following several incidents in recent years involving the abduction, harassment and killing of corps members in different parts of the country.
Edun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and Aikpokpo-Martins contend that the authorities responsible for administering the NYSC scheme have a legal and constitutional duty to protect participants from foreseeable dangers. They argue that compelling or assigning corps members to regions with known security challenges exposes them to unnecessary risks and undermines the government’s obligation to safeguard citizens.
The applicants are asking the court to determine whether the continued deployment of corps members to areas designated as security flashpoints is compatible with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Nigeria’s obligations under relevant human rights instruments.
They are also seeking orders that would compel the NYSC and other relevant government agencies to review and reform deployment policies in a manner that prioritises the safety and welfare of corps members.
Observers say the case could have far-reaching implications for the future of the NYSC scheme if the court rules in favour of the applicants. A favourable judgment may require the scheme to establish stricter security benchmarks before deploying corps members and could potentially limit postings to locations considered unsafe.
The lawsuit has already generated significant interest among stakeholders, including parents, civil society organisations and youth groups, many of whom have repeatedly raised concerns about the safety of participants in the mandatory one-year national service programme.
Security experts have also argued that the increasing wave of insecurity in parts of the country necessitates a review of policies affecting young Nigerians serving under the NYSC scheme.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the NYSC Directorate Headquarters nor relevant federal authorities had issued an official response to the suit.
The case is expected to test the extent of the government’s constitutional responsibility to protect corps members and may shape future policies regarding the deployment of young graduates under the nation’s compulsory service programme.
Senior Lawyers Drag NYSC to Court Over Deployment of Corps Members to Insecure States
Obi Promises to Release Nnamdi Kanu if Elected, Says ‘He Has Done Nothing Wrong’
The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has declared that he would release Nnamdi Kanu and engage separatist agitators in dialogue if elected president of Nigeria. Speaking during an interaction with Nigerians in Washington, the former Anambra State governor argued that Kanu should not be detained over comments he allegedly made on Radio Biafra, insisting that criticism of political leaders should not be criminalised.
“There’s no reason for keeping Nnamdi Kanu. I will free Nnamdi Kanu as President. He has done nothing wrong; the government has no reason to arrest him because he was speaking and calling people names on radio,” Obi said. The former Labour Party presidential candidate maintained that public officials are often subjected to criticism and insults, which, according to him, should not constitute an offence. “Anybody can tell you anything. I’m a politician and people call me all sorts of names and I don’t think calling me names is an offence,” he added. Obi also pledged to adopt dialogue as a strategy for addressing separatist agitations and other grievances across the country. “If I am in government today, I will discuss with all agitators because I believe that they have a reason for whatever they want to do and it’s only by engaging them that we would learn,” he said.
Obi reiterated his commitment to pursuing a political solution to the case involving the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, stating that dialogue remains the most effective path to resolving longstanding grievances and tensions. According to him, governments achieve more lasting results when they address the root causes of agitations through dialogue, justice, and inclusive governance rather than relying solely on coercive measures. The former governor maintained that national unity is better strengthened through reconciliation and mutual understanding, stressing that democratic societies should create avenues for citizens to express grievances while preserving law, order, and national stability.
This is not the first time Obi has spoken on the IPOB leader’s detention. In November 2025, following Kanu’s conviction and life imprisonment sentencing by a Federal High Court in Abuja, Obi described the development as a “failure of leadership” that risked aggravating national tension. At the time, Obi posted on his verified X handle: “I have always maintained that Mazi Kanu should never have been arrested. For years, I have consistently argued that dialogue, constructive engagement, and inclusive governance offer the path to lasting peace. Coercion becomes necessary only when reason has been exhausted.” He further argued that the government’s approach had only deepened mistrust, stating: “The handling of Kanu’s case mirrors the government as a man trapped in a hole but who, instead of looking for a way out, keeps digging deeper.” In July 2025, Obi had told Channels Television’s Sunday Politics that the continuous detention of Nnamdi Kanu “does not make sense” . Asked whether he would advocate for a political solution, Obi responded: “For every one of them, I mean, why is he still being held? It does not make sense to me.”
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services since his controversial rendition from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021. In November 2025, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted him on seven terrorism-related charges and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Kanu has since filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal challenging both his conviction and sentence. According to his legal consultant, Alloy Ejimakor, the appeal process is already “live,” with multiple stages involved. Kanu has provided 22 grounds for his appeal, and the Court of Appeal has not yet fixed a date for hearing the matter. In a significant development, IPOB claimed in June 2026 that the Federal Government’s cross-appeal against Kanu’s sentencing amounts to an admission that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to impose life sentences. IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful stated that the government’s filing declared that “the trial court acted without jurisdiction when it imposed life imprisonment on Counts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6.” IPOB argued that if the court lacked jurisdiction at the sentencing phase, “the entire sentencing exercise is a nullity ab initio.”
International pressure continues to mount on the Nigerian government over Kanu’s conviction. A group of international legal experts under the banner of Pan African Forum Ltd & Associates, based in London, has issued a legal notice warning Nigeria that it would commence legal action in a UK Court if the government does not immediately and unconditionally release Kanu. The group bases its demand on Opinion No. 25/2022 issued on July 20, 2022, by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which found that Kanu’s arrest and extraordinary rendition were unlawful and ruled that his continued detention is arbitrary. The Nigerian government has consistently maintained that Kanu is facing serious terrorism and security-related charges and that due judicial process must be allowed to run its course.
Meanwhile, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called on President Bola Tinubu to grant amnesty to Nnamdi Kanu on or before June 12, 2026, as part of efforts to promote national reconciliation and strengthen unity across the country. The group emphasized that Kanu’s release, preferably timed to coincide with Nigeria’s Democracy Day, would signal a bold commitment to justice, inclusion, and healing decades-old grievances in the Southeast. Ohanaeze also dismissed fears that Kanu’s release could destabilize the country, arguing that such a move would demonstrate leadership anchored on reconciliation.
Obi’s latest comments come amid his political realignment ahead of the 2027 presidential election. After the collapse of an earlier opposition coalition, Obi secured the presidential ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) at a special convention in Abuja in May 2026. He was unanimously endorsed by delegates following a motion moved by Senator Victor Umeh and seconded by former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege. Shortly after accepting the nomination, Obi announced former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate. In his acceptance speech, Obi pledged a technology-driven and intelligence-led security framework, promising to address both immediate threats and root causes such as poverty and unemployment. He recently dismissed claims that he was avoiding former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, stating: “There are very few human beings who are as close as I am to Atiku. So I can’t be running from him.”
As the 2027 election approaches, Obi’s campaign continues to gain momentum, particularly among young Nigerians and diaspora communities. His message of inclusive governance, dialogue over coercion, and political solutions to national crises resonates with voters frustrated by the status quo. His pledge to release Nnamdi Kanu and engage all agitators in dialogue represents a sharp departure from the current administration’s security approach. Whether this stance will translate into electoral success remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly positioned Obi as a candidate willing to take bold, unconventional positions on Nigeria’s most contentious issues. The Nigerian government has consistently maintained that Kanu is facing serious terrorism and security-related charges and that due judicial process must be allowed to run its course. However, with international pressure mounting, an active appeal process, and major political figures like Obi calling for Kanu’s release, the case continues to be a defining issue in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Obi Promises to Release Nnamdi Kanu if Elected, Says ‘He Has Done Nothing Wrong’
