Nigeria Needs ₦150 Trillion for Stable Power, Yet Mele Kyari Went Away With ₦210 Trillion in NNPC — Netizen Laments Widespread Corruption https://t.co/GaU2UiW3Fp
Together Towards the New Nigeria That Is Possible
On this June 12, Democracy Day, I had useful meetings with my partners in the building of the New Nigeria that is Possible: our great party’s National Leader, H.E. Senator Seriake Dickson, and our party’s Vice Presidential candidate, H.E. Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. The NDC, as a party that is barely four months old, despite the challenges, remains the party of the future, and the fruitful discussions at the meetings clearly underscore this fact.
The leaders and members of a committed political family must be willing to make sacrifices and show tolerance and accommodation, even in difficult circumstances. This shared understanding is essential for building trust, strengthening unity, and sustaining the vision we collectively hold for national transformation.
We are all committed to this goal. The NDC remains the vehicle that will convey Nigeria through purposeful, compassionate leadership, with firm commitment to productivity and democratic ideals towards the New Nigeria that is POssible. -PO
“Elections are rigged in Nigeria because Nigerians want it to be rigged. I will do whatever is possible to protect votes come 2027 election, but it is now left for Nigerians to decide if their votes will count. Because if you vote and stay in your polling unit and insist your votes must count, it will be counted. But some Nigerians would rather vote and go home, then hours later go to night vigil to start praying, because they think they are the only ones God created. The problem of Nigeria is leadership”.
-Mr. Peter Obi, NDC presidential candidate on his recent visit to Washington, D.C.
OF FREEDOM AND DEVELOPMENT
Being the Text of the 2026 Democracy Day Speech by Governor Alex C. Otti, OFR, on Friday, June 12, 2026
1. The most appealing promise of democracy is the allowance for plurality of opinions, the freedom to interrogate ideas and the opportunity for periodic reflection. This day presents to us, members of the Nigerian community, a special invitation to evaluate our pace on the democratic track, interrogate assumption and estimate our measure of progress on 2 fronts, first, since the dawn of the Fourth Republic in May 1999 and more importantly, over the last 33 years following the annulment of the 1993 presidential election won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, GCFR. The point of looking back is not to cast blames or point fingers for subpar outcomes but to shape behaviour and reset priorities. Millions of our compatriots are disillusioned, the gulf between the pre-1993 expectations and the lived experiences of many is widening and as I said on this day 12 months ago, it would be uncharitable to dismiss the legitimate concerns of the men and women who bear the brunt of these contradictions. Even then, we shall be removing ourselves from the promises of the future if only we stay fixated on the frustrations of the present. Yes, a lot may have gone wrong but there is still so much to fight for — for ourselves and those coming after.
2. The years between 1993 and 1999 were defined by the courage and resilience of our compatriots who made very difficult sacrifices to remove Nigeria from the shackles of military dictatorship; they held nothing back, not even their lives. A great price was paid to restore democracy to this land. It then follows that we have to regularly remind ourselves that the rights, freedom and privileges we enjoy today are borne from the toil and tears of thousands of men and women who refused to give in to the threats and shenanigans of military dictatorship. Many of the warriors who fought through multiple trenches to defeat the terror of leadership by the barrel of the gun are no longer with us but in their passing, they left us eternal lessons in courage, patriotism and faith. It is fitting that a day like this is set aside to honour the memories of these brave patriots and fighters and to remind all of us, the living, that the struggle for freedom and development remains unfinished.
3. Many of us have lived through the setbacks and disappointments of the Fourth Republic but it would be defeatist to give in to the cynicism of the hour; agreed that we could have done a lot better on several critical development frontlines, with particular respect to the welfare and security of the population, I, however, do not share the pessimism of those who insist that it has been all doom and gloom. Even then, it is important to make it clear that it is not democracy that has failed, we have only been let down by the errors in our independent and collective decisions. The blame for the disappointments of the post-1999 years belongs entirely to us, as leaders and citizens, not to democracy or its foundational principles. Those who came ahead of us were unyielding in their conviction that democracy is the only genuine vehicle for national development and millions of us today still hold strongly to the same idea but as I had said before, the advantage of democracy itself is the freedom to interrogate even the assumptions that we hold most dearly. As we mark the 2026 Democracy Day celebration, we are duty-bound to rethink our disposition to the ideals and values that sustained the pro-democracy efforts of the last decade of the 20th century here in Nigeria.
@brfootball This disgrace is sweeting me! 😂😂😂 All South Africa seems to know is how to fight their fellow Africans, but when it comes to football, they just can't play! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
This disgrace is sweeting me! 😂😂😂 All South Africa seems to know is how to fight their fellow Africans, but when it comes to football, they just can't play! 🤣😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣
Despite Three Years of Tinubu's Food Emergency, Nigeria hungriest ranking index declined to among the worst nations globally.
In celebrating his supposed successful three years in office, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu listed some achievements in the agricultural sector, firstly, his declaration of emergency on food security in July 2023, followed by the acquisition of 2,000 tractors and 9,000 farming implements, stated as Nigeria's largest agricultural mechanisation programme.
Yet the outcome of this has been the opposite. Nigeria's hunger index has worsened significantly. Nigeria's hunger index ranking was 103rd out of 123 countries surveyed in 2022/2023, and this figure had since worsened to 115th out of 123 countries surveyed in 2025/2026. Consequently, Nigeria is now classified among the world's most hungry or food-insecure nations in the world, with the World Bank forecasting that 33 million Nigerians could experience severe hunger.
In fact, Nigeria has the highest number of hungry people in the world.
I have always maintained that Nigeria have no reason to be seen among the hungriest nations in the world when we have fast, uncultivated land in the north, which is our greatest asset today.
We must transparently invest in Agricultural production, which will guarantee food security, but create huge employment.
A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO
In continuation of my quest to deepen knowledge and impact positively on our society, yesterday June 10th, in London, I held a series of important engagements, including a fruitful meeting with Alex Vines, Director of the Africa Programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).
Our discussions focused on strengthening strategic relationships and fostering a deeper understanding of Africa’s evolving role in global affairs. It was emphasized that Africa must no longer be viewed merely through the prism of statistics or humanitarian concern, but as a serious and equal partner in shaping the future global order, much like India, Indonesia, and other emerging centres of influence.
During our engagement, it became increasingly clear that Africa, and Nigeria in particular, must be placed at the centre of international conversations on partnership, trade, governance, innovation, and sustainable development.
Constructive dialogue and mutual respect remain essential to building meaningful cooperation between Africa and the international community.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
Exponential increase in revenue with excessive borrowing: Yet more hardship for Nigerians!
In celebrating three years of his administration, President Bola Tinubu included, among his achievements, an increase in revenue from N16.8 trillion in 2022 to N35 trillion in 2025. An increase of over 100%.
Shockingly, while Nigerians expected a reduction in borrowing with the exponential increase in revenue, the opposite is the case. In just three years, President Bola Tinubu’s government seems to be obsessed with excessive and imprudent borrowing, with our total debt currently about N200 trillion—a deeply disturbing increase of over N100 trillion.
In addition to the exponential increases in both revenue and debt, it is also important to note that Nigeria has earned far more than the budget revenue targets due to global and regional geoeconomic and political tensions.
Alarmingly, even with the astronomical increase in both revenue and debt, almost all key socio-economic and governance indicators are worse than in 2023. Multi-dimensional poverty has increased from 87 million people in 2023 to over 140 million people in 2025. Rapidly increasing unemployment and a decline in GDP per capita from $1,597 in 2023 to $1,223 in 2025, and the list goes on.
Just more and more hardship for Nigerians! The question Nigerians and even the international community are asking is, “Where did all the money go?”
Nigerians deserve a detailed and transparent explanation of what happened to our economy and financial resources since 2023, and a stop to the imprudent, unaccountable, and opaque management of our common patrimony.
A new and productive Nigeria is POssible, and Nigeria will be OK! -PO
I just received the sad news of the train derailment along the Warri–Itakpe rail corridor in Delta State.
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate mishap, and I pray for the quick recovery of those injured.
I urge the relevant authorities to investigate the immediate and remote causes of this derailment swiftly, ensure full accountability, and implement measures to restore public confidence in our rail systems. -PO
At the Convention Centre of the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, I joined His Excellency, the Vice President Alhaji Kashim Shettima GCON, my brother Governors, distinguished guests, and investors from across Nigeria and around the world for the opening ceremony of Invest Lagos 3.0.
It was an honour to stand alongside other distinguished leaders and share the unfolding story of Abia State, a story of resilience, transformation, and opportunity. I began by expressing my gratitude to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whose vision and selflessness created this platform for states to showcase their strengths. Lagos is a megacity, but Nigeria needs more thriving cities to absorb growth.
I shared how Aba, following two decades of effort, now enjoys 24-hour electricity through Geometric Power. This achievement is the foundation for industry, manufacturing, and investor confidence. From Aba, we will be transmitting reliable power to Umuahia and other parts of the state, because we understand that energy is the lifeblood of economic growth.
In three years, we have completed over 400 roads, introduced electric buses, and built infrastructure that makes movement easier and greener. Healthcare has also been central: Abia is ranked Nigeria’s most health-emergency prepared state (SBM 2025 Report), with hundreds of centres refurbished, over 800 professionals recruited, and 15% of our budget dedicated to the sector. Our most ambitious vision is the Abia Medical City, already prepared with 200 hectares of land and access roads, now awaiting investors to help us build a world-class healthcare destination.
I also highlighted the Abia Industrial and Innovation Park (AIIP) in Owaza, Ukwa West LGA, where we have resources in oil and gas, and are laying the foundation for industries that will power the future.
In my remarks, I emphasized that Abia is not competing with Lagos but complementing it. Nigeria’s growth requires multiple thriving cities, and Abia is ready to deliver.
To our investors, like Lagos, Abia State is open, prepared, and positioned for growth. Together, we will shape a Nigeria where businesses prosper, healthcare flourishes, and innovation leads the way.
Excessive Borrowing Without Accountability: Further Affirmation of Imprudent Governance.
President Bola Tinubu's administration has engaged in remarkably imprudent borrowing, escalating Nigeria's total debt to approximately N200 trillion. This represents an increase of over N100 trillion within a mere three years, a stark contrast to the roughly N49 trillion accumulated during President Muhammadu Buhari's eight-year tenure, which would have projected to around N80 trillion. As millions of Nigerians grapple with the shock of this unsustainable debt accumulation, the situation is exacerbated by the government's reckless approach to borrowing and a profound absence of accountability and transparency in the utilisation of these funds.
For instance, data from the Federation's Budget Office reveals that the Bola Tinubu government borrowed N11.89 trillion in the first three quarters of 2025 (January to September), exceeding the planned borrowing target of N10.34 trillion by approximately N1.54 trillion. Under a responsible and accountable government, such an overshoot would necessitate rigorous scrutiny and explanation from relevant governmental bodies. Regrettably, this is not the reality under the current administration.
Compounding this issue, only N3.10 trillion of the borrowed funds was allocated to capital expenditure during the same January-September 2025 period. This constitutes a mere 17.66% of the N17.58 trillion earmarked for capital projects, leaving a deficit of roughly N14.48 trillion, or 82.34% of planned capital expenditure unfunded.
The most disturbing aspect of the financial management fiasco under Bola Tinubu is that there is no explanation or information regarding how the balance was utilised or deployed. The question that Nigerians are rightly asking and deserve an answer to is what happened to the balance? Was it deployed for recurrent expenditure/ consumption, for the entertainment of guests to Aso Rock or transferred to the Renewed Hope Agenda 2027 Election Campaign Fund? Nigerians deserve an answer on how our economy and resources are most unpatriotically managed.
A New and Productive Nigeria is POssible, and Nigeria will be OK!
-PO
“I have evidence that the ADC primary election was rigged. I was on the field and monitored the primary election. Whatever Atiku's people tell you, remember that a thi€f will never tell you he is a thi€f.”
— Former SGF, Babachir Lawal.
I kid you not if Tinubu were to be an Igbo man and failing this wildly, Igbos would have been the loudest against him.
Those people don't cover for a wayward child.