Politics
No one can stop my passion, zeal to improve Nigerians’ livelihood – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari in the course of the week reiterated the determination of his administration to uplift the quality of life of the citizens in spite of the harsh socio-economic realities.
He said that the passion and zeal for improving the livelihood of Nigerians had not dwindled, calling for more steadfastness as Nigerians.
The president gave the assurance when he received former State Chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.
He, however, urged political leaders to stay focused and uphold the ultimate objective of promoting interest of the country.
The president said the self-centeredness that led to the loss of about a million lives between 1967-1970 must not be allowed to repeat itself.
The president, who is also the Minister of Petroleum Resources, had also consented to the acquisition of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited by Seplat Energy Offshore Ltd., a Nigerian outfit.
ExxonMobil, the parent company had earlier entered into a landmark Sale and Purchase Agreement with Seplat Energy to acquire the entire share capital of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited from Exxon Mobil Corporation of the U.S.A.
The agreement would also enable Seplat Energy to acquire share capital from Mobil Development Nigeria Inc., and Mobil Exploration Nigeria Inc., both registered in Delaware, USA.
Mr Femi Adesina, the president’s spokesman stated on Monday in Abuja that the president’s consent was in consonance with Nigeria’s drive for increased indigenous participation in the energy sector.
Also on Monday, the president congratulated the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Sports Federations and Associations on the performance of Team Nigeria at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Team Nigeria posted an impressive outing at the competition, finishing seventh on the medals table with 12 gold, 9 silver and 14 bronze.
On the same day, Buhari forwarded the name of Muhammad Sabo Lamido to the Senate for confirmation as Executive Commissioner, Finance and Accounts, for the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
Buhari, in a letter addressed to President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, said Lamido was being nominated due to the death of Hassan Gambo, who occupied the position until his demise.
The president also received the new Executive Members of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
At the meeting with the NMA officials, Buhari disclosed that the Federal Government had disbursed N100 billion to indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare investors as loans to expand their capital base.
He said it was also meant to boost local production of medicines and medical consumables.
Buhari stated that the loan was extended through the Central Bank of Nigeria’s support to the private pharmaceutical sector.
The president also announced the appointment of former Permanent Secretary, Ecological Project Office (EPO), Dr Habiba Muda-Lawal, as Special Adviser to him on Policy and Coordination.
Buhari also hosted the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organization, Simon Lalong, in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
Lalong, who is also the Governor of Plateau, said he was in the Presidential Villa to thank the president for approving the University of Jos as a national cancer centre.
He also lauded Buahri for granting presidential pardon to the former Governor of the state, Joshua Dariye.
According to him, the people of the State will remain grateful to the president for delivering a lot of democratic dividends to the State.
Also on Wednesday, President Buhari joined members of staff and political appointees in the State House in congratulating the Permanent Secretary, Tijjani Umar, on his 59th birthday.
The president congratulated Umar, his family, friends and professional colleagues on the auspicious occasion.
Buhari appreciated Umar’s efforts, sacrifices and dedication to effective management of the State House.
Buhari unveiled the 2023 National Population and Housing Census Project Document, aimed at promoting robust and informed national conversation on procedures for the census.
He unveiled the document at the National Stakeholders Summit on the 2023 census, organised by the National Population Commission (NPC), in collaboration with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday.
Buhari also hosted representatives of victims of Kaduna train abduction in Abuja, on Thursday.
According to the president, the Federal Government was doing everything within its powers to ensure the safe return of the remaining abducted passengers of the ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna train.
He said, ”since the terrible and cowardly attack by the criminal elements on March 28, the nation had joined them to endure a period of difficulty and emotional pains.”
READ ALSO: Kanu’s life in jeopardy – lawyer writes Buhari’s ministers, Onyeama, Malami
Buhari also explained his reason for discarding the use of lethal military force in extracting the remaining abductees.
The president, therefore, condoled with the families of the victims and those who lost their loved ones.
Buhari also on Thursday received the new President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray and his Management Team, telling them the kind of sub-regional body West African leaders desire and must have.
Buhari, also on Friday in Abuja, received the Management of BUA Group at the State House led by the Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu.
He also inaugurated the National Crisis Management Doctrine (NCMD), to bridge the gap created by extensive deployment of security services through fostering collaboration among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The NCMD, which was developed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in coordination with relevant MDAs, would ensure greater successes in tackling national crisis.
The president concluded the week with a closed-door meeting with Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo in the presidential villa, Abuja, on Friday.
Uzodinma, who spoke to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting thanked the president for graciously granting his request that the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Owerri be converted to Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) Teaching Hospital.
He also disclosed that he sought president’s approval for the Alvan Ikoku College of Education to become Federal University of Education, Owerri
The governor spoke extensively on the forthcoming 2023 General Elections.
HE urged the media to pay more attention to issues like the depletion of the country’s crude oil output and the unsettling security situation in the country.
Real Madrid president Real Madrid has confirmed the return of José Mourinho after incumbent president Florentino Pérez secured a landslide victory in the club’s presidential election, extending his rule until 2030.
Pérez won re-election with a commanding 65% of the vote, defeating challenger Enrique Riquelme, who secured 35%, according to the club’s Electoral Board.
The result reinforces Pérez’s long-standing leadership, which has now spanned more than two decades across two separate terms.
SEE ALSO: Bruno Lage Sacked As Benfica Move To Secure Mourinho
Speaking after his victory, Pérez described the outcome as a strong endorsement of his vision for the club’s future, insisting that Real Madrid will continue to thrive both on and off the pitch.
The president also used the moment to confirm a major sporting development—the return of José Mourinho, a move that immediately sparked excitement among supporters.
Mourinho, who previously enjoyed a successful spell at the club, is widely regarded as one of the most influential managers in modern football.
Pérez said the club remains committed to competing at the highest level in Europe, with ambitions of securing a record-extending 16th UEFA Champions League title while continuing the redevelopment of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
He also reaffirmed his stance on the club’s ownership model, stressing that Real Madrid will remain a member-owned institution despite growing global trends toward private ownership in football.
The announcement has been widely interpreted as the beginning of a new competitive era for the Spanish giants, with expectations rising among fans following both the election result and Mourinho’s return.
Pérez ended his address with a call for unity among supporters, including those who did not vote for him, promising to continue addressing concerns while focusing on sporting success.
The political rivalry between Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has escalated once again as both men exchanged heated words ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The confrontation follows renewed political realignments in Delta State, including Governor Oborevwori’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party he previously defeated in the 2023 governorship election.
SEE ALSO: 2027: Tinubu Will Defeat Atiku If Election Is Rigged — Babachir
Oborevwori has since pledged full support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, describing the President as his “number one project” and a key political ally whose victory would benefit Delta State.
However, Omo-Agege, who recently left the APC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), accused the governor of political fear and abandoning party structures in the state.
“He is not a threat” — Oborevwori
Responding to criticisms, Governor Oborevwori dismissed Omo-Agege’s political relevance, insisting he poses no electoral threat.
“He is not a threat because I’ve won him before,” the governor said, adding that many of the senator’s supporters had already left him before his exit from the APC.
Oborevwori also accused Omo-Agege of political betrayal, claiming he had previously turned against key figures who supported his rise.
“He betrayed James Ibori, he betrayed Great Ogboru, he betrayed O’tega Emerhor. So if he says he wants to betray me, he’s not a threat,” he stated.
“He panicked and ran into APC” — Omo-Agege
Omo-Agege fired back, alleging that the governor defected to the APC out of fear of losing political ground.
“The governor panicked, chickened out, and ran into the APC,” he said.
He insisted that his performance in the 2023 elections proved his continued strength in Delta politics, particularly in Delta Central.
“If Sheriff believed I was not a threat, why didn’t he stay back in the PDP and take me on in 2027?” he asked.
Governance and ₦3.15 trillion controversy
Both politicians also clashed over governance performance and state finances.
Oborevwori defended his administration, saying infrastructure development had improved across all local government areas, with contractors being paid promptly.
“First time in history, no contractor is being owed,” he said, citing ongoing projects such as Effurun Roundabout, DSC Roundabout, and PTI Junction.
Omo-Agege, however, described the administration as underperforming despite receiving over ₦3.15 trillion in three years.
He alleged that about ₦750 billion remained idle in the Central Bank of Nigeria while critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure suffer neglect.
Tinubu vs Obi political divide deepens
The rivalry has also taken a national dimension, with both politicians backing different presidential candidates for 2027.
Oborevwori declared support for President Tinubu, calling him Delta’s “in-law” and urging residents to back his re-election.
“Tinubu is my number one project,” he said.
Omo-Agege, on the other hand, declared his support for former presidential candidate Peter Obi, stating that he would contest under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
“My presidential candidate in 2027 is Peter Obi,” he said.
Political tensions rise ahead of 2027
Observers say the renewed exchange signals an early start to a high-stakes political battle in Delta State, with shifting alliances and competing loyalties likely to shape the 2027 elections.
With both camps firmly entrenched in opposing political directions, Delta State is expected to remain a major flashpoint in Nigeria’s unfolding political landscape.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would emerge victorious against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar if the 2027 presidential election is determined by electoral manipulation.
Lawal made the statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, where he weighed in on the growing political permutations ahead of the next general election.
According to him, no politician in Nigeria currently possesses the capacity to outmaneuver Tinubu if election rigging becomes the deciding factor in the race for Aso Rock.
ALSO READ: VDM in Trouble as Presidency Seeks Legal Action Over Alleged Fake Tinubu Audio
“If the parameter for winning elections in Nigeria is rigging, nobody can face Bola Tinubu in this country. If Atiku’s strength is in manipulating results, I wish him luck; he will meet the master rigger in front,” Lawal said.
The former SGF further argued that President Tinubu would record a landslide victory if the election outcome were determined by such means, describing the president as a formidable political strategist.
Lawal also took a swipe at Atiku Abubakar, distancing himself from the former vice president’s political ambition and insisting that he would not support his bid for the presidency.
He stated that after studying Atiku’s political history and leadership record, he believes an Atiku administration would perform worse than the current government led by Tinubu.
“I have studied his antecedents and realised that his presidency will be worse than Bola Tinubu’s,” he said.
The former SGF also criticised Atiku for what he described as insufficient engagement with Nigeria’s worsening security situation, including recurring cases of kidnapping and violent attacks in different parts of the country.
Despite his criticism of both Tinubu and Atiku, Lawal maintained that he is yet to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 election.
“I am supporting nobody. I don’t want to be part of anything for now,” he stated.
His comments come shortly after his resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he accused the party of manipulating its recent presidential primary in favour of Atiku.
Lawal alleged that results from the exercise were altered to produce a predetermined outcome, claiming that candidates who won in some areas were replaced by individuals loyal to the former vice president.
He said the alleged irregularities influenced his decision to leave the party, which he described as a “rigging machine” ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, the ADC leadership has denied the allegations, insisting that the primary election was conducted transparently and reflected the wishes of party members.
Edo Queens Clinch Second NWFL Premiership Title
NGX Poised for Dollar Denominated DPRP IPO, Pioneer African Exchanges Linkage Project
SERAP Sues NNPC Ltd over ₦5.9bn Incorporation, Rebranding Expense
Osun Accuses MURIC of Misinformation Campaign
Why NYSC Stopped Orientation Exercise for Corps Members in Niger State
Nigeria’s Crude Output Grows to 12m Barrels on Utapate, Cawthorne
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Tems Sets New Record On Billboard Hot 100 Chart