Congratulations to all the African countries representing our continent at the World Cup. Your performances have made Africa proud.
Special congratulations to Cape Verde, a nation with a landmass of 4,033 sq km, which is less than 0.5% of Nigeria’s landmass of 923,768 sq km, and a population of about 550,000, which is less than 0.25% of Nigeria’s population of 230,000,000. For context, Cape Verde has about 200,000 fewer people than Ogbomoso. Yet, they reached the knockout stage of the World Cup.
Cape Verde has once again demonstrated that greatness is not determined by size or population, but by planning and disciplined execution. When systems work, even the smallest nations can compete with the best in the world.
Nigeria’s absence from the World Cup is not a consequence of a lack of talent. It is the result of years of poor administration, weak institutions, and leadership that has consistently failed to build sustainable systems.
This is the lesson for us as a nation: if we can get leadership right, strengthen our institutions, plan and execute properly, and reward talent over connections, Nigeria can become a global success story, not only in football but also in other areas.
A new Nigeria is POssible … and Nigeria will be OK. -PO
Worsening Leadership Crisis in the Country Now Evident
The ultimate cost of uncompassionate leadership, as evident in the country today, is turning citizens’ frustration into deep, volatile resentment. It is even more traumatising when the leader presiding over that collapse demonstrates clear incapacity and a lack of compassion.
The government and people of Oyo State, more than 50 days after the abduction of the schoolchildren without any tangible effort toward their rescue, should rightly feel bitter and abandoned.
Since this unfortunate incident, I have spoken publicly about it twice, including appealing directly to the kidnappers to release the children. I also called the Governor twice to assure him of my solidarity, understanding that this issue is not just an Oyo problem but a Nigerian tragedy.
On Friday, July 3, I decided to travel to Ibadan with Prof. Pat Utomi to express solidarity with the Governor, as more than 50 days had elapsed without the rescue of the children and with numerous others still being held captive across the country.
During our two-hour meeting, I shared my experience in addressing insecurity as Governor of Anambra State. I recalled how President Olusegun Obasanjo, and later Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, would personally call us several times whenever we faced major security challenges.
But, to my utmost shock, I discovered that, contrary to my assumption that they had been in regular communication over the matter, Governor Seyi Makinde had not received a single call from President Bola Tinubu.
I remember the only case of a school kidnapping during President Goodluck Jonathan’s era - the Chibok girls. It drew local and international attention. Even though the security agencies provided almost daily updates on their efforts, Nigerians and the rest of the world were outraged that it took President Jonathan over two weeks to call the then State chief Executive.
I vividly recall that the current President, Bola Tinubu, led a team of vocal critics who called for President Jonathan’s immediate resignation over the incident, citing his delay in calling the state governor. That call for IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION should actually be the case in this matter.
Today, under President Tinubu, there have been more than 13 school kidnappings, yet the President has found it difficult to call the affected state’s chief executive after more than 50 days (over 7 weeks). This is outrageous. I suspect the same may also have been the case in other school kidnapping incidents.
I cannot imagine any issue more important than the lives of our kidnapped children, their teachers, and the many other Nigerians being held captive across the country. It is now an indisputable fact that governance has completely collapsed under this administration.
The situation reflects a total lack of capacity and compassion, compounded by glaring insensitivity.
Amid such an apparent display of incompetence, the President should either resign or, at the very least, abstain from seeking re-election for the sake of our dear country. This call is patriotic, not political. A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO
Grand Corruption: Nigeria’s Greatest Threat.
The recent report from the IMF consultation further raises concerns about the scale of grand corruption under the Tinubu government. The IMF now reveals that about N8.83 trillion in expenditure undertaken in 2025 is not reflected in the budget. This expenditure is not budgeted and is therefore not under legislative oversight or administrative scrutiny. This is horrible.
N8.83 trillion is as follows:
1.About 2% of our GDP.
2.Over 35% of Nigeria’s 2025 N23.96 trillion capital project budget. In fact, the amount is more than the actual released capital funding for 2025.
https://t.co/Hta3LViCB8 is more than the entire combined budget for education (N3.52 trillion) and health (N2.38 trillion).
If such an amount is properly used and accounted for, it could transform Nigeria’s public health and education sectors. It could create hundreds of cottage industries that can provide jobs for thousands of graduates and build a solid foundation for economic development. But we cannot account for it. This is not an isolated incident.
This is a pattern of grand corruption that has become part of this administration.
We have a lot to worry about regarding the state of corruption under President Tinubu. The sort of corruption that is ingrained in total disregard of elementary rules of public finance management poses a grave danger to national security and the stability of the Nigerian state. The capture of the Nigerian state and the plunder of its resources are actions that undermine the basis of state stability and deepen poverty and state failure.
This recent revelation proves that the APC government is grossly corrupt, incompetent, and insensitive. With the growing poverty and the urgent need for significant upgrades to social and physical infrastructure, a responsible and responsive government would ensure that N8.83 trillion is prudently utilised to address these gaps. But not the Tinubu administration.
A few days ago, I called on President Tinubu to resign from office for incompetence, lack of capacity, lack of compassion, and failure to improve on his campaign promises. Some people thought perhaps the call was excessive. But with the daily revelations of pervasive corruption in this administration and its total lack of commitment to the welfare and security of Nigerian citizens, the only reasonable action is for President Tinubu to resign from office. The collapse of elementary forms of due process under Tinubu and the increased evidence of rampant looting of Nigerian public finances reinforce the need for greater accountability. It is now time for Nigerian citizens to rise within the law and hold this administration to account.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
Celebrating a Life of Faith and Service in the Lord's vineyard
Yesterday, I travelled to Ibadan with Professor Pat Utomi to join family, friends, the clergy, and the faithful in celebrating the remarkable life of His Grace, Archbishop Alaba Job, on the occasion of his 88th birthday, 60 years of priestly ordination, and 55years of episcopal ordination.
The celebration reflects a lifetime devoted to God, selfless service, peace, justice, and the upliftment of humanity. His inspiring example reminds us that true leadership is measured by sacrifice, integrity, compassion, and a commitment to serving others. At a time when our nation yearns for principled and selfless leadership, His Grace’s life remains a beacon of hope and an enduring testament to what it truly means to serve God and humanity.
I congratulate His Grace, and pray that God Almighty continues to bless him with good health, wisdom and strength as he remains a source of inspiration to the church and our nation.
After the celebration, we passed through one of the secondary schools Professor Utomi attended, Loyola College, Ibadan, and within there we saw an INEC voter registration exercise going on, and we stopped. We used that occasion to thank those registering, and appeal to those who haven't to do so before the closing date.
We encouraged them to remain committed to the democratic process, and reminded them that voter registration is the first step towards building the New Nigeria we all desire. We told them that every registered voter represents hope for a nation where leadership is driven by competence, character, compassion, and a commitment to the common good.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
@Symply_rhoda1 I have this issue in one of my rooms at home and I live upstairs , funny enough the upper part of the wall is dry while the lower part up to the middle is always wet causing this same problem 'cold wall and pilling' any solution to this ?anybody please with an answer thanks
Chance Visits to INEC Registration Centres
On my return to Anambra State yesterday, and on my way to attend some scheduled engagements, I made impromptu visits to the INEC voter registration centres at the Civic Centre, Nibo, and Nrijiofor Primary School, Nri.
I was pleased to see Nigerians registering to vote. I took the opportunity to commend those who had turned out and to encourage every eligible citizen to do the same. I reminded them that the journey to good governance does not begin on Election Day; it begins with voter registration. Registering to vote is not just a civic responsibility — it is an investment in the Nigeria we all desire.
I urged everyone who is eligible but has not yet registered to do so without delay. I also appealed to those who have already registered to encourage their family members, friends, neighbours, and colleagues to take advantage of the ongoing exercise before the deadline.
Every registered voter strengthens our democracy and brings us one step closer to building the secure, united, productive, and prosperous Nigeria we all seek.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
Education Crisis: Calls for Fundamental Change, Not Just Policy
The Federal Government has finally admitted to its poor management of the education sector. Recently, the Minister of Education acknowledged that the policy separating junior and senior secondary schools has failed to improve educational outcomes. This is evident in recent examination results. In 2024, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) reported that only 38.32% of candidates passed English and Mathematics in the WASSCE. In 2025, only 32% passed the computer-based WASSCE. This poor performance has been consistent across major examinations over the past two years.
This admission is tragic because education is the most vital contributor to human capital development, which forms the foundation for growth and economic development of any society. We cannot overcome economic stagnation without prioritising education, healthcare, and job creation to lift millions of unemployed youths out of poverty. As successful Asian nations have demonstrated, educational excellence requires sustained investment in curriculum development, motivated teachers, and better learning environments.
Unfortunately, the government continues to neglect the sector. In the 2026 budget, education received only ₦3.52 trillion, just 6.17% of total expenditure, down from 7.87% in 2025, and well below UNESCO’s recommended 15–20%. This low allocation indicates a failure to recognise education as a driver of sustained economic growth.
Education advocate, Mr Alex Onyia @winexviv , recently revealed that Nigeria failed to sponsor students to the International STEM and Mathematics Olympiads due to a lack of funding. It is heartbreaking that the government can sponsor hundreds to irrelevant international conferences yet fail to support its brightest students on the world stage.
The Minister’s admission reflects a broader failure of public leadership. The issue is not the JSS/SSS policy itself, but the lack of commitment to properly fund, manage, and deliver quality education.
In Anambra State, we proved that committed leadership can transform educational outcomes. Through effective funding, oversight, provision of laptops, generators, internet connectivity, and other learning aids, we turned the sector around. For example, our effort in providing computers across all secondary schools (public and private in the state) was recognised by HP Africa Head, who declared that Anambra had procured the largest number of laptops for school children of any subnational government in Africa.
For the future of our society, we must deliberately invest in education, healthcare, and job creation. As I have always said, failing to do the right things is equivalent to abusing society, and the society we abuse today will take its revenge on us and our children tomorrow.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
The Disturbing Reports from Osun State University
I have read with deep concern the troubling reports of soldiers invading students’ hostels at Osun State University, Osogbo, during which students were allegedly assaulted, humiliated, dispossessed of their personal belongings, and female students subjected to degrading treatment, including rape.
Every Nigerian deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Our Armed Forces are renowned for their courage, discipline, and sacrifice in defending our nation. They are not known for such barbarity against the very citizens they are sworn to protect.
I therefore urge the military high command to conduct a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation into these allegations. Anyone found culpable should be brought to justice. Holding offending personnel accountable will not only ensure justice for the victims but also preserve the honour and integrity of our Armed Forces while serving as a deterrent against future abuses.
A nation that respects human dignity builds confidence in its institutions. We must never tolerate impunity or the abuse of power.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
I just read the statement issued by Bayo Onanuga on behalf of the Presidency, which supposedly trying to put a defence for the Chief of staff, Gbajabiamila.
However, I think the Presidency's statement was clearly intended to shut down public scrutiny. Ironically, it has achieved the exact opposite. It answered some questions, but in doing so, it exposed even bigger ones.
Let us assume, for a moment, that every allegation against Prince Adeyemi is true. Even then, the statement leaves glaring gaps that no amount of rhetoric can paper over.
You are asking Nigerians to believe that one private citizen woke up one morning, invented a presidential agency, forged his own appointment, secured office space inside the Federal Secretariat, recruited staff, held meetings with diplomats, corresponded with government institutions, allegedly opened a CBN account through official channels, and if the official budget documents are anything to go by, the same "non-existent" agency found its way into the Appropriation Act with an allocation running into billions.
If that is truly what happened, then this is no longer just the story of an alleged fraudster. It is also the story of spectacular institutional failure. Either government systems were astonishingly easy to deceive, or there are questions that still have not been answered.
The statement conveniently glosses over the budget issue. That silence is deafening.
How does a fictitious agency appear in the national budget? Budget allocations do not descend from heaven. They pass through ministries, the Budget Office, executive review and legislative approval. Who introduced the line item? Who processed it? Who signed off on it? Who failed to ask whether the agency even existed?
Those are not political questions. They are governance questions.
Then there is the issue of the Federal Secretariat office. Offices inside government complexes are not roadside kiosks. How was the space obtained? Under whose authority? How long did it operate? Who interacted with the occupants? Who looked the other way?
Again, silence.
Then comes the most curious part of the story.
The Presidency says the very person allegedly identified as the link between Adeyemi and the purported appointment, Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, had died in a hotel fire just five days before Adeyemi's arrest.
That is an extraordinary detail. Yet we are given almost nothing beyond it.
Was there an autopsy? Was there a coroner's inquest? What did investigators conclude about the fire? Were his electronic devices, communications and financial records examined? If he was central enough to be named in the statement, why is the public expected not to ask what became of the investigation into his death?
These are not conspiracy theories. They are the obvious questions any serious investigator would ask.
The Presidency wants Nigerians to focus exclusively on whether Adeyemi is an impostor. Fair enough. The courts will determine that.
But the Presidency cannot ask the public to ignore the conduct of government institutions in the same breath.
This is bigger than one man.
If the council was fake, explain how it entered the budget.
If the appointment was forged, explain how government systems repeatedly interacted with the supposed beneficiary.
If official channels were deceived, explain where the safeguards failed.
If there was no insider involvement, show the documentary trail that proves it.
Accountability does not begin and end with charging one individual. It also requires explaining how the machinery of government appeared to validate, accommodate or fail to detect what is now described as a complete fabrication.
The public deserves more than a carefully written press statement. It deserves answers backed by records, timelines and evidence.
Until those answers are provided, this matter is far from settled.
*Barr. Solomon Dalung*
Ex Minister of Youths & Sports
My Stance on Road Development
There is a pertinent reason I have consistently advocated that we should refrain from initiating new road construction projects until we have thoroughly rehabilitated and maintained our existing road network. Instead of undertaking new ventures and dualization projects that offer marginal benefits, our primary focus ought to be on repairing the critical roads already in place.
Consider, for instance, the Asaba–Benin Road. This thoroughfare is a vital artery within Nigeria's transportation infrastructure. Travellers traversing from Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Rivers, Imo, Ebonyi, Cross River, Abia, Enugu, and portions of Benue and Kogi States to Lagos are compelled to utilise this route.
Despite its significance, substantial sections of this road are in a lamentable condition. It has become a major impediment, precipitating persistent traffic congestion and inflicting undue hardship on travellers, businesses, and transport operators.
Regrettably, this situation is not unique; it reflects the reality on many of our busiest national highways.
Our efforts should be directed towards the reconstruction and maintenance of our current road infrastructure before we announce plans for new road projects. The Nigerian populace requires functional and motorable roads, not merely projects that garner public attention.
Efforts aimed at superficial improvements for political gain should not supersede the urgent need to address the condition of our existing, critical roadways.
A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO
Voter Registration: The First Step in the Journey to a New Nigeria
Yesterday, while passing through Waru Wazobia in Abuja, I made a chance stop to interact with our people. I seized the opportunity to encourage them, especially our youths and women, to take advantage of the ongoing voter registration exercise.
The power to change Nigeria does not begin on Election Day; it begins with voter registration. Registering to vote is not just a civic responsibility; it is an investment in the future we all desire.
I urge every eligible Nigerian who has not yet registered to do so without delay. Those who already have their voter cards should encourage their family members, friends, neighbours, and colleagues to register as well.
A new Nigeria will not happen through wishful thinking. It will be built by citizens who participate, who believe, and who act. Let us continue to choose hope over despair, participation over apathy, and nation-building over division.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
My Vision for a Productive and Prosperous Nigeria
Today, being the 1st of July, 2026, I wish to humbly recall that when I decided to contest for the office of President of Nigeria, I pledged to place Nigeria on the path of unity and national transformation. Now, as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, I will, in the coming weeks and months, provide insights into the roadmap that I am confident will help curb abuse in government, halt the decline in the quality of life of Nigerians at all levels, and usher in an era of unity, peace, sustained progress, and prosperity.
This vision is anchored on a commitment to unity, inclusion, social justice, equity, and the freedom of every citizen to pursue lawful dreams.
Central to this proposed roadmap are significant reforms in education and healthcare, which are at the core of human capital development.
Robust human capital is indispensable infrastructure for national progress. It serves as the fundamental capital upon which daily life, economic expansion, and the delivery of essential public services depend.
These are foundational areas that we must reform with energy and determination if we are to reap the demographic dividend of our youthful population.
From the outset of my presidency, we will establish a task force dedicated to drastically reducing the menace of out-of-school children. We will place greater emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to support our drive for massive industrialisation, anchored on our agricultural endowments and value addition across value chains organised around industrial parks to be located in development zones across the geopolitical regions of the country.
Funding and improving the equipment of TVET institutions, through partnerships among government, the private sector, and social entrepreneurs such as faith-based educators, will facilitate apprenticeship opportunities in the private sector, similar to the German dual education system.
The situation in which unemployment remains high while Nigerian entrepreneurs establish businesses elsewhere because skilled labour is scarce must be confronted decisively. Doing so is essential for the common good and for facilitating our transition from a consumption-driven economy to a production-driven one.
Character and civic education, emphasising the values that foster trust - an essential ingredient for enterprise and leadership - as well as shared national values, will receive significant attention within the tripartite approach to governance that we propose.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
I was delighted to welcome my brother and National Leader of our great party, the NDC, His Excellency Henry Seriake Dickson, to my residence in Abuja.
I took the opportunity to brief him on the highly productive engagements and consultations I have undertaken across the North West states, which have yielded very encouraging results.
HE Dickson confirmed the successful submission of my candidacy and also announced that my name has been duly uploaded on the INEC portal as the Vice Presidential candidate to His Excellency Peter Obi on the platform of our party.
We remain steadfast, united, and fully focused on the mission ahead. - RMK
@akintollgate Which kain talk be this Akin..haba naa..why are you trying so hard to give these guys a soft landing ?..why re you hell bent on excusing this ineptitude of the Lagos state government or who is in charge....This guy na wa ...
What Truly Should Be Our Priority Now as Leaders of a Nation?
This question has become necessary, given where we are today as a nation and where we are supposed to be.
While completing my INEC nomination form yesterday, Section E, Question 1 caught my attention. It asks: “Have you ever been adjudged a lunatic or been declared a person of unsound mind?” The answer is either Yes or No. That question got me thinking: Can we, as the political leaders of today’s Nigeria, truly say we are exhibiting the characteristics of a sound mind?
When Nigerians, including children and security personnel, are being abducted into the bushes, citizens cannot travel safely on our highways, several million Nigerians are uncertain where their next meal will come from, and several billions are being siphoned frivolously through non-existent agencies and projects, should politics really be our primary preoccupation?
A sound-minded leadership would have declared these existential challenges a national emergency and immediately mobilised all relevant institutions, security agencies, experts, community leaders, and other critical stakeholders to confront them with urgency and resolve. At a moment like this, the survival, security, and stability of Nigeria must take precedence over every other consideration. This is a time for decisive action, not political calculation or the pursuit of partisan advantage.
Further in the same Section E, Question 6, was: “Have you ever presented a forged certificate to INEC?” Again, the answer is either Yes or No. This raises another important question: Why shouldn’t INEC, in the interest of ensuring that our leaders are exemplary in following the rules and to strengthen public confidence in our electoral process, publish the academic certificates and credentials submitted by every candidate seeking elective office?
Transparency strengthens democracy and builds public trust. Nigeria’s problems are too serious for politics as usual. It is time for leadership defined by competence, character, capacity, compassion, and commitment to service.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
@Johnsonhays95@SodiqTade Who ever this is go and get ur PVC if you don't have ..but if you have ensure to come out and vote..stop being persimmistic and hopeless ..if we don't vote then it makes it easy for them if we vote massively and defend our vote ..Victory is sure