"I know what I have been going through as a person in abuse of my human rights just because I contested a Presidential election which I have legitimate rights to do."
Heartbreaking 😔
Any society where lawlessness overrides the rule of law is not destined to be a haven for investors. Recent reports showing that Nigeria’s human rights indicators have worsened merely highlight severe shortfalls in government protection for civil liberties, personal security, and basic living standards.
I know what I have been going through as a person in abuse of my human rights just because I contested a Presidential election which I have legitimate rights to do. So I imagine what small business owners, regular citizens, and vulnerable communities face every day. If this level of lawlessness can happen to someone with a registered company and legitimate means, what hope does the ordinary Nigerian have?
This morning, my youngest brother called me frantically, informing me that a group of people had invaded his company property in Ikeja, Lagos, and were demolishing the building. He had just come in from Port Harcourt and was denied entry to the property by security men who told him the building was being pulled down. They even informed him that this demolition had started over the weekend. As a peace-loving Nigerian, he quickly started processing to go to court immediately, not knowing what must have resulted in this, as they moved fast to destroy his home without any restraint.
I rushed to Lagos from Abuja after the call this morning and headed straight to the property. On arrival, I was met by security people who tried to bar me from entering the property. I humbly pleaded with them that the property belonged to my brother’s company, and from the records, the company had owned the property for over a decade. They told me they had a court judgment, and I immediately requested it. You would not believe that the court judgment they claim was issued against an unknown person, and squatters. I went further to ask about a demolition order or permit, and there was none.
How do you sue an unknown person? How does a court issue a judgment in such a farce of a case? No one was served. No name was written. Yet they showed up with excavators and began destroying a structure that had stood for over 15 years.
I immediately asked the excavators for the person who had sent them, and they said they didn’t know anyone, but they were only informed to come and demolish the house. I immediately told them to tell whoever it is that I would like to speak with them, if they can call my number, which I shared with the excavators, so that I can speak with whomever gave them the order to demolish the property.
I stood there from 10am to 2pm, waiting to get a call at least and nobody called or came. The contractor even said he didn’t know who sent him. Two men later came and said they would like us to go to a police station. I asked if they even had a demolition order but they had nothing. The whole situation screamed of coordinated lawlessness and impunity. Our country has become lawless.
I just started reminiscing about how just over the weekend, I had a meeting when someone told me how he has investments in Ghana, Senegal, and the Benin Republic, but won’t touch Nigeria despite his market being here. I asked him why. His answer was piercing: “Nigeria is a lawless country. Until we have laws that protect people, nobody will invest in Nigeria.”
I am just shocked. How did Nigeria get to this level of lawlessness?
What kind of country are we trying to build when the rights of citizens, their lives, their properties, and their voices are trampled upon daily?
I remain committed to a better Nigeria where lawlessness will be a thing of the past, protection of life and property, respect for human rights, care for the less privileged, and basic education for all children.
A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO
“The 2027 election isn’t between the NDC and APC or any other political party; it is between the opprèssors and the opprèssed.”
— Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, NDC Vice Presidential Candidate
I just listened to a fireman on @ARISEtv now. He said they have three fire trucks in the whole of Calabar the state capital, two are out of service, hence only one fire truck was available to put out the fire.
Nigerians only have one duty in 2027, come out en masse and run APC out of office.
How can the head of tax collection be a member of a political party's fundraising committee?
If the head of the NRS has so much free time on his hands, perhaps he should take a sabbatical and then work for that political party
You are destroying institutions in the name of politics
Beyond Football: The Match for a Better Nigeria
This weekend, Europe comes alive again with football. Millions of Nigerian youths will be glued to television screens, streaming matches, debating tactics, celebrating victories, and admiring the organisation, discipline, and excellence that make European football the envy of the world. But here is a question worth asking: Why can’t Nigerian football be just as good?
The answer is not a lack of talent. Nigeria has produced world-class footballers who have excelled in Europe because they found systems that reward merit, invest in infrastructure, ensure security, and are governed with competence and accountability. Great football does not exist in isolation. It grows where there is good governance.
The stadiums, academies, transport systems, healthcare, security, electricity, and institutions that support football are products of leaders who make the right choices and citizens who insist on accountability. Nigeria has the talent. What we have lacked is leadership that creates an enabling environment for that talent to flourish.
As I have decided, in the next 150 days, to engage Nigerian youths wherever they gather—in town halls, campuses, online spaces, and even football communities—my message is simple: The future you admire in Europe can be built in Nigeria. But it starts with your vote.
Imagine a Nigeria where our local league is competitive, our stadiums are full every weekend, our clubs attract sponsorship, our coaches receive proper training, and young footballers no longer see emigration as their only path to success.
Nigeria will not emerge through wishful thinking. It will emerge when young Nigerians decide that elections matter as much as football matches. Every goal scored in Europe is a reminder that excellence is possible. Every well-managed league is proof that systems work when honest leadership is in place.
The 2027 presidential election is therefore more than a political contest. It is an opportunity for Nigerian youths to choose the kind of country they want—a nation that exports talent because it is respected, not because its citizens are escaping failed governance.
Cheer for Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, Inter, AC Milan, or any club you support. Enjoy every match. But when the final whistle blows, remember that the greatest match awaiting Nigerian youths is not in Europe. It is in Nigeria.
It is the match for good governance. It is the match for jobs, security, education, sports development, and national renewal. And unlike football, where only twenty-two players are on the pitch, every Nigerian youth has a place in this match.
Stand up. Mobilise. Vote. Defend your vote.
If Nigerian youths can passionately follow European football every weekend, they can also passionately build a Nigeria where our own football—and our nation—becomes a source of pride.
The journey towards better Nigerian football begins with the path to good governance. And the path to good governance begins with the decision of Nigerian youths to stand up and be counted in 2027.
Every weekend, starting today, I will come to you with a reminder of January 16, 2027, and our future. We can create world-class standards right here at home.
It’s in your hands, and that new Nigeria is POssible. -PO
MY ADDRESS TO MARK THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE 2027 PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGNS
21 August 2026
Dear Compatriots,
Members of the Press,
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
Wednesday, 19 August 2026, marked the official start of the campaign period for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
There is no doubt that this is a defining moment for our democracy. This moment gives Nigerians the opportunity to assess the records, ideas, and plans of those seeking their mandate to lead their country at a time of grave uncertainty in our rapidly changing world.
I consider myself quite privileged to be one of those seeking your mandate to deal with these challenges facing our country.
I enter this contest with one firm conviction: Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work.
Nigeria faces several serious challenges. Some of them are indeed of existential proportions.
According to the IMF, 63%, or over 140 million Nigerians, live at or below the national poverty line, while humanitarian agencies estimate that 35 million people will need food assistance during the 2026 lean season. About 3.6 million Nigerians remain internally displaced, largely because of conflict and insecurity. Each year, millions of young people enter the labour market, yet too many struggle to find productive opportunities. Weak infrastructure, unreliable power, insecurity, and the excessive cost of doing business continue to burden households and constrain enterprise.
These are more than statistics. They reflect the daily realities of Nigerian families, farmers, workers, students, and businesses.
Yet I do not believe Nigeria lacks the ability to overcome these challenges. We have the people, resources, market, talent, and enterprise. What we must do now is turn these strengths into security, productivity, and shared prosperity.
LEADERSHIP MUST DELIVER RESULTS
My successful private-sector experience, studies in institutions of repute on policy and business matters, and my service as Governor of Anambra State have shaped my understanding of public leadership. Government must manage resources responsibly, set clear priorities, and measure the outcomes of its decisions. Public office is not a reward; it is a responsibility to the people.
In Anambra, I prioritised the foundations of long-term development: education, healthcare, infrastructure, fiscal discipline, and institutional capacity. I do not present that record as perfect, but as an experience from which Nigerians can draw their own conclusions.
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso brings a different but complementary governing experience.
As Governor of Kano State, he focused strongly on education, technical training, scholarships, infrastructure, and human-capital development. His administration’s investments in education and skills showed an understanding that the people are a state’s most important long-term resource.
Our experiences are different, but our conclusion is the same: Nigeria must invest in its people and manage public resources with discipline.
BUILDING AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS
Nigeria needs more than reactive reforms. We must focus on the questions that matter:
Are Nigerians better off than they were four years ago? Can they afford food, education, and healthcare? Can businesses produce, expand, and create jobs? Can young people find productive work? Can farmers work safely and get their produce to market?
President Tinubu has signed the Electoral Act 2026, and it removes certificate forgery as a ground for challenging election results at tribunals. Politicians can no longer be disqualified over fake credentials. But for hardworking Nigerians, submitting a fake certificate means job loss, blacklisting, and prosecution. For the political class, the rules are different. A double standard has been written into law, and the 2027 elections will be contested under this new reality.
Let's end this cycle of killings.
The killings in Ungushi, Sokoto, where 32 Nigerians reportedly lost their lives, and the recent attacks in Ukum, Benue, where more lives have been lost and several others injured, are deeply painful.
These are not just numbers. They are parents, children, farmers, and breadwinners whose lives have been cut short, leaving families devastated and communities in fear.
We cannot continue with a cycle of killings, condolences, promises, and inaction. The government at all levels must prioritise addressing insecurity.
We need better intelligence, proactive security, swift responses, protection for vulnerable communities, and the diligent prosecution of perpetrators.
The government must endeavour to protect the lives and property of its citizens. Nigerians should be able to sleep peacefully in their homes, travel safely on our roads, and go to their farms without fear.
I extend my condolences to the families and communities affected by these senseless killings. May God comfort the bereaved, may Almighty Allah forgive the departed, and may our nation find lasting peace.
A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO
MY MESSAGE TO NIGERIANS ON THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE 2027
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
My dear Nigerians,
As the 2027 presidential campaign officially begins, I call on every Nigerian to reflect deeply on the state of our nation and the kind of country we want to leave for the next generation.
Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads. Our people are facing a difficult economic reality. The rising cost of food and essential goods has placed enormous pressure on families.
Millions of young Nigerians are searching for meaningful employment and opportunities, while businesses are struggling with high operating costs and an uncertain economic environment.
At the same time, insecurity continues to threaten communities across the country. Too many families have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violence.
Our farmers need security to return to their farms, our children need safe schools, and every Nigerian deserves to live without fear.
Our education and healthcare systems require urgent investment. Our infrastructure must be improved, our institutions strengthened, and public resources managed with greater
transparency and accountability.
These challenges are serious, but Nigeria is full of hope. We have the people, resources and potential to build a prosperous and secure nation. What we need is leadership with the competence, courage and commitment to put the interests of Nigerians first.
This is why I have chosen to work with His Excellency, Peter Obi, on the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.
Our partnership is not about region, religion or personal ambition. It is about Nigeria. We believe in a country where government serves the people, where hard work is rewarded, where young people can build successful futures at home, and where every citizen has a fair opportunity to prosper.
To our young people, women, workers, farmers, entrepreneurs and professionals, I ask you to join us in this journey.
Let us move beyond politics of division and focus on the issues that affect our daily lives. Let us demand accountability, competence and results from those entrusted with public office.
The 2027 election presents Nigerians with an opportunity to choose a new direction.
I therefore call on all Nigerians to support the Obi–Kwankwaso ticket and all candidates of the NDC and join us in the task of rebuilding our nation.
Let us campaign peacefully, responsibly and with the national interest at heart.
Together, we can build a stronger nation and Nigeria will be OK. - RMK
Osun: While celebrating, let us also remember those who paid the ultimate price for democracy
Once again, I congratulate Governor Ademola Adeleke and the good people of Osun State on the outcome of the election and, more importantly, on safeguarding the democratic process. The people have spoken through the ballot, reaffirming the fundamental principle that power belongs to the people.
As we celebrate this success, let's not forget those who made the supreme sacrifice for our democracy during the Osun election. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives under different circumstances during the electoral period. I believe these families deserve our collective compassion, solidarity, and support. I therefore hope that the families of those who lost their loved ones will be identified and reached through visits, condolences, and appropriate compensation, irrespective of the political side to which they belonged.
Elections should be about the people, their choices, and their aspirations — not about the loss of precious lives. No political victory is worth the blood of a Nigerian.
My prayer is that our democracy will continue to mature to a point where elections no longer come at the cost of human lives, and where political differences can always be settled through issue-based campaigns and the rule of law.
May God comfort all the families who have lost loved ones and grant the departed eternal rest.
With the right conduct of elections, a New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
H.E Peter Obi.
No public office blemish, no corrupt cases, no shady pasts - walks the talk & has proven that there's an upright way to do politics.
You're the man we say you are & thrice the man you think you are.
In my lifetime, you will be president and THAT IS NEXT YEAR.
Osun: When the People Stand, Democracy Wins
I warmly congratulate Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election and the good people of Osun State on this important democratic victory. They - Osun people - have spoken with courage and clarity, reaffirming that the power to choose their leaders belongs to the people. Through his commitment to the people, compassion for their needs, and the strength of his work and achievements in office, Governor @AAdeleke_01 has earned their renewed confidence and been entrusted once again with their mandate.
I particularly commend the courageous youths of Osun who rose to the occasion and peacefully defended their democratic mandate. Their vigilance and determination demonstrate that when citizens stand firmly to protect their votes, the forces of good can overcome the forces of darkness.
The lesson from Osun is clear: democracy is strongest when citizens are alert, conscious of their civic responsibility, and determined to ensure that their votes count. Every genuine vote must be respected, and every lawful mandate must be protected.
This is also a clarion call as we approach 2027. Nigerians must remain informed, participate actively, vote, and protect their votes. The Nigerian people are the ones experiencing hunger, deprivation, insecurity, and hardship; therefore, they are also the ones with the power, through their votes, to bring about the change that will end these conditions.
I urge all political actors to place the interests of the people above partisan considerations and to embrace peace, unity, and the rule of law. Elections should never be battles of violence, but contests of ideas, competence, character, and service.
May the Osun experience strengthen our confidence in the democratic process and inspire Nigerians everywhere to remain vigilant and committed to building a just, secure, prosperous, and truly people-centred nation.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
Depressing visit to helpless citizens of a country of plenty.
Yesterday, after the funeral mass of Most Rev Obiora Akubeze in Benin City, I travelled to Enugu to meet nearly 1,000 kidney patients. It was one of the most disheartening visits I have had.
I encountered people facing the most difficult moments of their lives, helplessly, in a country of abundance, among them children.
Nigeria has over 25 million people with kidney disease. We have fewer than 200 kidney centres and barely 500 functioning dialysis machines, when we ideally need about 5,000 functioning dialysis machines. This is completely unacceptable.
I must commend the organiser of the charity project, Emmanuel Onyeka Okoh (Okwuluora), for his selfless humanitarian service to Nigerians who cannot help themselves. I assured him of my ongoing support, starting today with my initial donation to his work with the kidney patients.
The Federal Government, and Government at all levels must take the lead in actively investing in health to guarantee a healthier population for all.
A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO