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BOMBSHELL: We Lost Election Because I Didn’t Bribe INEC — Obasanjo

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2023: I didn’t endorse Tinubu for presidency – Obasanjo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lost a local government election in Ogun State in 1998 because former President Olusegun Obasanjo would not bribe officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The former president made the assertion in Abeokuta at a high-level consultation he organised on ‘Rethinking Western Liberal Democracy in Africa’.

According to Chief Obasanjo, party leaders had informed him that there should be money allocated for the police and INEC, but he rejected the proposal on the belief that INEC officials and policemen were government workers earning salaries monthly.

He made it clear to the politicians and professors at the debate that he was not always comfortable with the phrase, ‘Nigerian factor’, when discussing democracy and other issues affecting development.

He disclosed that he came across the ‘Nigerian factor’ slang when the nation held the first local government election and his party lost because politicians accused him of refusal to take cognisance of the Nigerian factor while planning for the election.

Chief Obasanjo said, “When things go wrong, you say the Nigerian factor. The first thing I learnt in politics was this thing I called Nigerian factor. In 1998, we had the first local government election. We had parties, and here in Abeokuta, we met in my office and they came up and said, ‘look, this is money for INEC, money for police.’

“At a stage I said, ‘what nonsense! Is police not being paid, and INEC too?’

“They said ‘that’s how we do it. I said ‘you cannot do that.’ So, they didn’t do that. And of course, we lost all the local governments. We lost all. And then they came to me and said, ‘Baba, you see? If you had allowed us to do it the way we used to do it, we would have won’. And I felt guilty.

“During the next election which was State Assembly, I just stayed in my house. I said ‘well, do whatever you want to do, I will not be part of it’. So, I didn’t even go. But, the result was the same. One of the people who got money didn’t even distribute it to where he was supposed to distribute it.”

Calling for realism, the former President noted that a hungry person would sell his vote for just N1000.

“When you are hungry, whatever anybody tells you cannot go in. Poverty is a great enemy of democracy. Ignorance or lack of education is a great enemy of democracy. And we seem to be deliberately fomenting poverty and lack of education,” Obasanjo added.

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TCN Restores Power Supply to Katampe Substation After Shiroro Line Fault

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The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has restored bulk power supply to its Katampe 330kV Transmission Substation in Abuja following an earlier disruption caused by a fault on the Shiroro–Katampe 330kV Line 1.

The development was disclosed in a statement released by TCN management on Friday, October 9, 2026.

SEE ALSO: Kainji–Birnin Kebbi Power Line: TCN Begins Final Phase of Restoration

According to the statement, bulk power supply was restored to the Katampe substation at 4:15 p.m. through the Gwagwalada–Katampe 330kV Line 1.

TCN explained that the Shiroro–Katampe 330kV Line 1 remains out of service due to a fault, necessitating the use of the Gwagwalada–Katampe line to restore supply to the substation.

The company also announced the suspension of planned maintenance work on the Gwagwalada–Katampe 330kV Line 1 to enable the line to continue supplying the Katampe substation.

The suspended maintenance work involved replacing defective line isolators and the associated earthing switch.

TCN apologised to electricity consumers in the affected areas for any inconvenience caused by the disruption and maintenance arrangements.

 

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2027 Elections: FG Warns Politicians Against Promises on Fuel Subsidy

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The Federal Government has warned politicians against making promises that could reverse Nigeria’s economic reforms, insisting that it will not restore fuel subsidy amid renewed debate over the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC) petrol discount.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, saying the government would not bring back subsidies on petroleum products.

“This government is not bringing back subsidy on fuel products. We need to be clear,” Oyedele said.

ALSO READ: NNPC Petrol Discount: Oyedele Explains How Lower Margins Could Boost Profits

The minister also criticised politicians who, according to him, make promises to win elections without fully considering the implications of implementing them.

He suggested that some politicians make sweeping promises during election campaigns only to offer excuses when confronted with the realities of governance.

“I think I would pardon people who say all manner of things because they want to get elected. It’s almost like ‘whatever I need to say, when I get there, I’ll give excuses.’ But we have the data,” he said.

Oyedele added that he felt a personal responsibility not to remain silent about the economic realities known to the government or allow populist positions to push Nigeria in the wrong direction.

“I feel the personal responsibility that I cannot see what I see and keep quiet, or populism to move our country in the wrong direction,” he said.

NNPC Petrol Discount Sparks Fresh Subsidy Debate

The minister’s remarks come amid renewed debate over fuel subsidy following the Federal Government’s announcement of a 30-day petrol discount at NNPC retail stations.

The initiative was introduced as a temporary measure to provide relief to Nigerians amid elevated global crude oil prices and concerns about the cost of petroleum products.

NNPC Retail had also announced a N66-per-litre petrol discount to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, with the offer scheduled to run until October 31, 2026, across its retail stations nationwide.

The company maintained that the discount was a customer-relief initiative and did not represent a return to the petroleum subsidy regime.

The distinction has become central to the debate, with the government insisting that temporary price relief at NNPC stations does not amount to restoring the subsidy policy abolished in May 2023.

The administration has maintained that the current arrangement differs from the former subsidy system, under which the government intervened to cover part of the cost of petrol.

FG Defends Economic Reforms

During the interview, Oyedele also referred to a World Bank update, saying the institution had acknowledged a reduction in poverty levels and increased spending on infrastructure, particularly roads.

He urged Nigerians not to reverse the progress he said had been made, arguing that the country was approaching a point where the benefits of ongoing reforms should begin to emerge.

 

 

 

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Kaduna Moves to Clear 5-Year Promotion Backlog for 24,000 Teachers

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The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has commenced a promotion exercise for 24,000 eligible staff as part of efforts to clear outstanding teachers’ promotions dating back to 2021.

The development was disclosed on Friday as the administration of Governor Uba Sani intensifies efforts to address promotion backlogs, recognise teachers’ years of service and improve staff welfare across the state.

The exercise covers outstanding promotions from 2021 to 2026 and is expected to provide eligible teachers and other staff with opportunities for career progression.

SEE ALSO: Kaduna Clears N18bn Pension Arrears, Raises Agric Funding to N100bn

According to the announcement, eligible personnel will undergo an assessment process, after which promotions will be implemented for those who successfully meet the requirements.

The initiative is part of efforts to strengthen the education sector by recognising the contributions of teachers and supporting their professional development.

The state government has emphasised the importance of investing in teachers, noting that a motivated and valued teaching workforce is essential to building a stronger education system.

The exercise is also expected to address long-standing staff concerns relating to career advancement within the state’s basic education sector.

 

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