Politics

APC and opposition clash over FG’s revenue growth claim

Published

6 months ago

September 4, 2025

The All Progressives Congress and opposition parties on Wednesday clashed over President Bola Tinubu’s claim that Nigeria has already achieved its 2025 revenue target.

While the APC insisted that the President has placed Nigeria on the path of economic recovery, the African Democratic Congress, Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party and the Coalition of United Political Parties accused Tinubu of celebrating statistics while citizens struggle under severe economic hardship.

Also, economists expressed scepticism about the President’s assertion that the Federal Government had stopped borrowing locally, as they called for clarification from the managers of the economy.

The experts pointed to the continuous debt market operations by the Debt Management Office and the Central Bank of Nigeria, questioning the president’s assertion and its alignment with the current economic realities.

For years, Nigeria has depended heavily on crude oil, which accounts for about 70 per cent of government revenue and over 90 per cent of foreign exchange earnings.

Successive administrations have repeatedly promised to diversify the economy, yet oil has remained the main source of revenue.

In 2023, upon assuming office, President Tinubu launched a series of reforms aimed at repositioning the economy.

One of his most significant steps was the removal of fuel subsidy, a policy that has since triggered severe economic hardship. The removal pushed up transport costs, worsened food inflation, fuelled a foreign exchange crisis, and deepened the overall cost-of-living burden for millions of Nigerians, while freeing more revenues for the government.

Although federal allocations to states have increased under Tinubu’s administration, the impact has not been felt at the grassroots level.

Poverty, insecurity, and other social vices have continued to escalate, forcing many Nigerians to seek greener pastures abroad.

While the reforms have delivered some marginal gains, the weight of hardship on ordinary citizens remains overwhelming.

However, on Tuesday, Tinubu announced at the Presidential Villa that the country had hit its 2025 revenue projection in August, attributing the feat to gains from the non-oil sector.

According to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President disclosed this while receiving the founding members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change and The Buhari Organisation, led by former Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.

“The economy is now stabilised. Nobody is trading pieces of paper for foreign exchange anymore. The economy is now predictable. You do not need to know the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, to obtain foreign exchange or import goods,” Tinubu said.

“The President highlighted the significant growth in non-oil revenues accruing to the Federation, federal, state, and local governments. From January to August 2025, total collections reached N20.59 trillion, a 40.5 per cent increase from N14.6 trillion recorded in 2024. This strong performance aligns with projections, placing the government firmly on course to achieve its annual non-oil revenue target,’’ the statement added.

According to the statement, the President also said that the Federal Government is no longer borrowing from local banks to buttress the strong fiscal performance since the start of the year.

TInubu, who linked the development to his economic reforms, promised that his Renewed Hope Agenda would continue to prioritise infrastructure renewal, healthcare, food sovereignty, and security.

The ruling APC backed Tinubu’s declaration that Nigeria had hit its planned revenue target in August.

The Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH.

He said, “We support the President because if the target revenue for the year has been met in August, it then shows that the budget is capable of implementation. It means that what is set in the agenda of the budget will be implemented and that the government would not, as had been the case before, borrow money to be able to fulfil the budget of 2025.

“And then that eases pressure on the part of the government to now begin to have money to deliver the infrastructural development that it had targeted in the course of the year.”

Duru insisted the government’s achievement would have a spiralling effect on the economy.

“It will have a trickle-down effect on all borrowings. So the government would not be under any pressure. It also shows that the government can fund and finance the relevant projects that it needs to address the infrastructure deficit in the country, including overhead costs, which has been the major issue in the country,” he stated.

On the perception that the current administration may still have its eyes set on bonds and other loans from the IMF, the APC chieftain argued that it was a figment of the imagination of critics.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, challenged critics of the President’s assertion on meeting the government’s revenue target and not borrowing locally to provide contrary facts.

Bwala, who spoke on Wednesday evening, accused the opposition of being blind and purposeless in their criticism of the President’s statement.

He said, “The problem the opposition has is comprehension. They have sight but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear.

“If you hear what Mr President said yesterday, it is quite clear, concise and self-explanatory.

“I challenge the opposition to come with facts and numbers to counter that; and I will kindly urge the press to ask them for specifics; otherwise, they are just attacking without purpose.”

But the opposition parties faulted the celebration of revenue figures in the face of biting inflation, high food prices, and currency depreciation.

Speaking in an interview with one of our correspondents, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed the President’s declaration as absurd.

He described the APC-led Federal Government’s economic policy as strange, stressing that the revenue target has no meaningful impact on the lives of the citizens.

The ADC Publicity Secretary stated, “What is the essence of the revenue target if it has no direct impact on the lives of the people? What is the purpose of this revenue target if it does not have a direct impact on improving the lives of the people?

“Their economic policy is weird because any economy that does not put the people first cannot really claim to be doing anything. People don’t feel it. The reality that they are proclaiming is different from the reality of the life of the ordinary Nigerian. Nigerians want to see impact. They want to see improvement in their lives.”

He expressed concern that most Nigerians remain trapped below the poverty line.

Abdullahi continued, “I will give you one quick example. You know, the minimum wage, the APC-led government set it at N70,000. Even if it is fixed, it puts the majority of Nigerians below the poverty level.

“The majority of Nigerians will still live below the poverty level. So, that’s what we don’t understand about this claim about generating revenue targets when it does not have any impact.

“When the people cannot see it, they cannot see it. What is the purpose of revenue? They have borrowed so much money, leaving the country with so much debt. And we cannot see what they used the money for.

“And it’s on that basis that the President is claiming that they have met the revenue target. So, it’s absurd. You know? It’s absurd.”

The New Nigeria People’s Party also dismissed the President’s claim, arguing that governance is not just about increasing revenue.

The NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, said, “My question is, if Tinubu meets his revenue targets, has he met the target set out to ensure he looks after the welfare of the people of this country? His government is a tax-and-spend government.

“He believes that when revenue is coming in, that means it is working. Meanwhile, you are turning the screw on the people of the country who are already suffering. Everything shouldn’t just be restricted to revenue.”

The NNPP stated that while the President may have achieved his personal target, he has yet to meet the expectations of the citizens.

“Yes, it is good that the government makes money. But has the same government cut down its costs? Are the revenues meant to buy SUVs, regulate the Presidential Villa and augment the presidential fleet? These are the questions.

“So, no matter how low or high the bar is, the President set the target himself and has marked his own exam. But what about the target we set for him as a people? He hasn’t met our own target. Inflation is still high, and the naira has lost value. It’s presently at N1,600. So, let him talk about the targets we have set him for as a people.”

Also reacting, the CUPP National Secretary, Peter Ameh, in an interview with The PUNCH, said President Tinubu is disconnected from the realities facing Nigerians.

“I think the president is misunderstanding the yearning and the problems of Nigerians. He’s misunderstanding it in a great deal because he himself, as a president, is disconnected from reality. He has created an alternate universe for himself where he thinks that he’s living in the presidential field and doesn’t know what Nigerians are going through.

“He doesn’t know what Nigerians are going through. So, he thinks that taxing Nigeria and collecting revenue that does not have a direct reflection on the lives of the people is an achievement.

“One of the things he has done is that when he collects his revenue, what are the priorities of investments where he puts this money? Which area is he putting the money into that reflects on the lives of the people? It’s not about meeting the revenue target; Is the life of Nigerians better? Is he investing in healthcare? Is he investing in agriculture? Is he investing in our SMEs that will generate more revenue?

“What he’s doing, the president has decided to tax us, generate enough revenue, yet he’s making so much, he’s still borrowing so much money. If we are meeting this revenue target, then our level of borrowing should have reduced,” he submitted.

The CUPP scribe alleged that both the revenue and borrowed funds are being diverted to finance the private lifestyles of those in power.

“What he’s doing with the money is like, he’s spending more on transportation costs, on overseas travel, he’s spending a lot of money, and he’s spending more on luxury; luxurious lifestyles of those in government.

A factional spokesman for the Labour Party, Tony Akeni, berated the President and his party for what he described as a habitual resort to falsehood.

“I am happy Nigerians now know that the middle name of the APC is lies. This is because you cannot say you have walked away from taking loans and then try to hide in-between local and international ones. Yet, you were making this declaration on the international stage.

“Are you aware that Chatham House, London, has taken him up on this falsehood? They have countered him. And you will see that the contradiction is traditional with President Tinubu and his political party.

“It is all to pump false confidence in the country and give weapons of arrogance for the followers of the APC and their zealots to keep pushing the wrong narrative to deceive Nigerians.”

He wondered why the government was taking loans if it had met its revenue target.

“But there is nothing like that because if they have reached their thresholds or their targets of local revenue generation, why would they add to the burden of Nigeria by borrowing extensively from the foreign arena, where the interests are higher, conditions more stringent and where the fallouts result in more pains and sufferings both in the immediate period and the time to come.

“So the position of the Labour Party is that it is all lies and Nigerians should be doubly vigilant because any time a lie is told, it means there is a tough conspiracy behind the curtain.’’

In a related development, economists have expressed scepticism about the President’s statement on not taking local loans anymore.

A renowned economist, Professor Akpan Ekpo, expressed surprise at the claim, stating, “Maybe he has information we don’t have. But they are still borrowing externally. DMO is still issuing financial papers, and then the Central Bank is still involved in the debt market, and the Central Bank is part of the government. They are involved in Open Market Operations and all those things. So, I don’t know what he means by not borrowing.”

He further noted that meeting revenue targets would be positive, with funds ideally directed towards crucial sectors like health, education, and infrastructure.

“If they have met the revenue target, that’s fine. I would hope that the remaining will be used to address issues in the economy of Nigeria. We should put the money into health, education and infrastructure. When I heard the President say that, I was surprised. I don’t know what he means,” he said.

Prof Ekpo also emphasised that borrowing can be beneficial for financing infrastructure, provided transparency is maintained. “If the country is not borrowing, it’s not something to be proud of, because sometimes it’s good to borrow to finance infrastructure, once they are transparent.”

Also, Prof Segun Ajibola of Babcock University highlighted that the half-year figures released by relevant authorities up to the end of June showed Nigeria had barely crossed half of its 2025 revenue target.

He stressed the need for further clarification from the Minister of Finance and the Debt Management Office regarding the President’s statement.

“Looking at the figures released as of the end of June, the half-year figures by respective authorities, the fiscal authority, the monetary authority, and even the debt management office. At that point, it showed that Nigeria barely crossed half the target for 2025.

“So, I wouldn’t know what might have transpired in July and August. I am not in possession of more accurate data than government functionaries. Maybe, we need to hold our breath and wait for further clarification, especially from the Minister of Finance and also from the Debt Management Office,” Ajibola said.

If indeed the annual revenue targets had been met in August, as stated by the President, Ajibola called for ideas on how to better utilise any potential surplus revenue from September to December, saying, “If indeed we have been able to meet the annual revenue target in August, then it is wonderful. What then happens to the revenue flow from September to December? We can start brainstorming on what to do with that surplus.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Arthur Stevens Asset Management, Tunde Amolegbe, offered an alternative interpretation, suggesting that the President’s statement might refer to not exceeding the projected N13 trillion fiscal deficit.

“The truth of the matter is that you know, some of these statements one needs to put in perspective. It’s very possible that what he meant was that we are not going to borrow beyond the N13tn gap, which was estimated in the project in the first place.

‘’You remember that at the beginning of the year, because of the difference in the projected oil price that was used in the budget, compared to what the market price was, it was projected that the N13tn deficit might grow beyond that.

“However, now that it appears that the country has been able to increase production of crude, and also oil prices seem to have reached a level that is close to our price estimate used for the budget, it is very possible that what the president meant was that we are not going to go beyond the N13tn (fiscal) deficit that has been projected in the budget. Not that there won’t be any need to borrow,” he pointed out.

Amolegbe projected that continued borrowing will be necessary until the year-end, noting the recent DMO treasury auctions. “I suspect that we will probably still need to borrow between now and the end of the year. I mean, the DMO conducted a treasure auction yesterday (Tuesday). They conducted an auction a few weeks ago. I suspect there are other auctions still coming up.’’

A former Chief Economist at Zenith Bank, Marcel Okeke, was more direct in his assessment, calling the claim “laughable” and “unrealistic”. He questioned the historical precedent of the government exceeding revenue projections by August in any fiscal year.

“Has it ever happened in this economy? By August, in any fiscal year, has the government made and exceeded its revenue projections? In order not to insult the president, I would say that the claim he made is laughable. But the claim doesn’t look realistic. It doesn’t seem as if it reflects reality because, from what we have been reading, there are a number of ongoing borrowing negotiations, whether from within or from without.

“They have surpassed their revenue targets by August, and they have stopped borrowing. I don’t know how to wrap my head around it.’’

A Professor of Forensic Accounting at Copperstone University, Zambia, Richard Mayungbe, described the Nigerian economy’s recent performance as a result of successful diversification from crude oil dependence.

Speaking on the President’s announcement, Mayungbe said the development reflects a deliberate effort to strengthen non-oil revenue streams.

“The President has diversified the economy from solely relying on crude oil to generating revenue from non-oil sources. This is a major boost for the country and ensures economic resilience,” he said.

According to him, restarting the economy after years of slow growth is a gradual process that requires courage and decisive leadership. He praised the administration for taking bold steps, including the removal of the oil subsidy, noting that the decision had already been necessitated by fiscal realities during the last days of the previous government.

He further highlighted improvements in foreign exchange management, pointing to the unification of multiple FX windows and the stability of the naira. “You no longer have to depend on the Central Bank for access to foreign exchange. Most banks now allow naira cards to be used internationally, which is a sign of a stabilising economy,” Mayungbe argued.

However, in a review of the half-year done by multiple investment houses, borrowings had been projected to increase in H2.

Cardinal Stone mid-year outlook titled, ‘Charting The Sustainability Path,’ noted that Nigeria mostly relied on the domestic market for deficit financing in the first half of the year, with the government issuing about N3tn via Treasury Bills and Bonds, suggesting that a further net issuance of about N10.08tn may be required to cover the estimated deficit for 2025.

During the first half, the Federal Government sought National Assembly approval for $21.00bn, €2.20bn, and ¥15.00bn under its rolling borrowing plan.

Projecting, the analysts said, “We expect a notable increase in external sourcing in H2 25. Precisely, the government has set its sights on raising $1.20bn through the Debt Management Office and a further $2.00bn at concessionary rates through multilateral sources.

‘’These numbers suggest that a cumulative total of N4.90tn (using the official exchange rate of $1,530.00/$ as of June 1, 2025) may be sourced from abroad, with the balance of N5.19tn likely to be raised from the domestic market after catering to rollovers.

“We are of the view that a part of the external borrowings may be used to finance the $1.12bn Eurobond maturity due in November and cumulative coupons of c.$1.38bn,” the report added.

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Politics

PDP faction slams candidate withdrawals in FCT elections as ‘anti‑democratic’

Published

23 hours ago

February 20, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

A faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed “utter dismay” over the withdrawal of some of its chairmanship candidates from the forthcoming Abuja Local Council elections, calling the move “anti-democratic in every sense.”

The party also warned that it reflects a troubling trend in the party’s leadership.

In a Friday statement on its social handles, the National Working Committee of the party said: “The National Working Committee of the Party @OfficialPDPNig has received with utter dismay the news of the withdrawal or stepping down of some Chairmanship Candidates of our Party from the forthcoming Abuja Local Council elections.”

Describing the development as a symptom of a broader problem, the party accused some leaders of fostering what it termed “voodoo democracy.”

It read, “As sad as this development is, it is a pointer to the type of voodoo democracy promoted by those parading as leaders of the PDP, whose only interest is to ‘hold’ the party for the President.”

The statement also warned that such actions could foreshadow attempts to manipulate presidential elections.

It continued, “This is exactly what they intended to do to Nigerians, when close to the Presidential elections, they can compel, induce or cajole all the other candidates to step down or withdraw for the President to have a smooth sail back to Aso Rock Villa, despite the abysmal performance of his administration.”

The PDP said it had previously acted against such behavior within the party: “It was for ignoble, reckless and shameless acts like these that we excommunicated them from our party, in order to rebuild a strong opposition party, prepared for a struggle to return to power by 2027.”

The statement concluded with instructions for voters: “Furthermore, voters should go to the polls prepared to protect their votes and ensure that Presiding Officers transmit Form EC8A immediately after announcing the result at the polling unit.”

The press release was signed by Comrade Ini Ememobong, MNIPR, National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party.

PDP chairmanship candidate for the Bwari Area Council election, Julius Adamu, on Wednesday withdrew from the race in favour of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Joshua Musa.

The stand-down, marked by a show of supporters and political heavyweights, took place on Wednesday in Bwari, where FCT Minister Nyesom Wike was present.

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Politics

Aiyedatiwa vs Tunji-Ojo: Political cold war sparks killings, violence in Ondo state APC

Published

24 hours ago

February 20, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

In line with the directive of the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, congresses to elect party officials at the ward, local government and state levels were scheduled for February and March this year.

However, concerns are mounting that the exercise in Ondo State could be marred by crisis amid a perceived supremacy battle between Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, popularly known as BTO.

The alleged battle for control of Ondo APC took a deadly turn on Wednesday when two people were reportedly killed and five others injured during violent clashes at the ward congress in Odode-Idanre, the headquarters of Idanre Local Government Area. The incidents occurred as the ruling party conducted congresses across its 203 wards in the state.

The unrest is believed to be a spillover from Tuesday’s disruption at the party secretariat in Akure, where suspected hoodlums stormed a stakeholders’ meeting and assaulted party leaders.

Among the victims was Raphael Adetimehin, younger brother of the state APC caretaker chairman, Ade Adetimehin, who sustained machete wounds after attackers allegedly mistook him for his brother due to their resemblance. Eyewitnesses reported that his vehicle was set ablaze before he was rushed to the General Hospital in Idanre, where he remains in a coma.

By party tradition and structure, the governor is widely regarded as the leader of the party at the state level, just as the President occupies that position nationally. As a minister appointed by the President, Tunji-Ojo technically falls within that federal hierarchy.

However, recent developments suggest that the Ondo State chapter of the APC has quietly split into two blocs — one aligned with Governor Aiyedatiwa and the other with the Interior Minister.

Although neither Aiyedatiwa nor Tunji-Ojo has openly acknowledged any rift, subtle signs of tension have fuelled speculation. At the recently concluded 50th anniversary celebration of Ondo State, both men publicly displayed cordiality. A viral video showed them exchanging warm embraces at the Government House in Alagbaka. They also sat side-by-side at the grand finale held at the Akure Township Stadium, where Tunji-Ojo represented President Bola Tinubu. At least outwardly, there was no visible sign of animosity.

Behind the scenes, however, party sources claim the minister has been playing an increasingly influential role within the state chapter. Tunji-Ojo is said to have cultivated strong ties with party elders and stakeholders, providing financial support and attending to their needs — gestures that have reportedly earned him loyalty and reverence among some members. He is also believed to be coordinating various support groups working for President Tinubu’s re-election across the state.

Some beneficiaries of the minister’s outreach have allegedly accused Governor Aiyedatiwa of not doing enough to strengthen party structures, despite being the state’s chief executive.

The alleged rivalry came into sharper focus on Tuesday when political thugs invaded the APC state secretariat in Akure during a pre-ward congress stakeholders’ meeting. The attackers reportedly assaulted several party leaders, including the state chairman, Ade Adetimehin; the Ondo State representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Otito Atikase; former Sports Commissioner Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye; and former Water Resources Commissioner Yetunde Adeyanju, among others.

In the aftermath, allegations emerged from some quarters that the governor’s camp orchestrated the disruption, claiming he had not approved the timing of the meeting. However, no official confirmation has substantiated those claims.

The former commissioner, Adeyanju, who was allegedly rough-handled by the thugs said, “The thugs came and were shouting, ‘we are from Aiyedatiwa.’ They specifically mentioned Aiyedatiwa, that ‘Aiyeatiwa sent us. We don’t want congress in Ondo State. The governor is in charge. The governor is the leader of the state and the governor is in charge. Nobody can query the authority of the governor and anybody that wants to talk about congress in Ondo State will be assassinated. If you talk about congress in Ondo State, you will be assassinated.’ They said that Aiyedatiwa owned the state, so, nobody should talk about congress.

Corroborating Adeyanju, the state party chairman, Adetimehin said, “The chairman of the committee (from Abuja) said we should hold a stakeholders meeting today (Tuesday). We both agreed to hold the meeting by 12pm. Then we sent this out for all of us to attend. Then I told the governor that I heard from the grapevine that some people were mobilising to the secretariat to destroy the meeting. He said no that such a thing cannot happen under his watch, that he would take charge. He (Aiyedatiwa) said he would caution anybody behind it, but 30 minutes later, the place was invaded with thugs, with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons. They beat hell out of all the leaders and members, except those who are for them. They beat me and dragged me on the floor; they took away my two phones and money from my pocket, with my wristwatch.”

However, Governor Aiyedatiwa denied any involvement in the disruption. The stakeholders’ meeting was eventually held later on Tuesday evening at the party secretariat — albeit in the absence of the state chairman.

The governor maintained that supporters of various aspirants were responsible for the violence, insisting he had no hand in the attack. He further clarified that the earlier gathering which was disrupted was not an officially recognised stakeholders’ meeting.

“But this one was an impromptu stakeholders’ meeting because of the congresses at the ward and local government levels. As he said, the meeting was shifted to 2pm because it was initially fixed for 10am and I said I would not be able to make it at that time. Later on, I got a call from one of them saying there were some problems around, or some miscreants around the party secretariat. I asked him to call the Commissioner of Police, and I also called the Commissioner of Police to ensure the place was protected because I was going to attend the meeting.

“I asked that security operatives be deployed to protect the place. Later, I got to know that some miscreants, who had sympathy for one aspirant or the other, those who are contesting for one position or the other, were moving around and trying to create some kind of fracas among them, which led to some disturbances.”

A chieftain of the party and Director-General of the pro-BTO group known as the Grassroots Movement for Tinubu, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, confirmed the internal crisis in the state APC relating to the governor and the minister, but blamed the governor for not managing the situation well as the leader of the party in the state.

Yusuf-Ogunleye, who was a former Commissioner for Sports in the state, alleged that Tunji-Ojo had been taking care of the party after it was abandoned by the governor. According to him, the gesture had earned the minister significant popularity, leaving the governor jittery.

He stated, “Let me tell you, there is what is called an inferiority complex. When the governor abandons the party — the people who brought him into power — it is BTO who steps in to take care of them. For instance, during the last Christmas period, when the governor was distributing rice to every local government, the rice was delivered to and received by political office holders and not party members.

“The party was abandoned, and it was BTO who brought rice and gave 20 bags to each ward, irrespective of affiliation. He is not shunning the party; he is taking care of it. But the governor is not happy about it because he (Tunji-Ojo) did not allow party members to suffer.

“If not for BTO today, there would be no APC in the state. That is the truth. That is why you see all the party leaders on his side. But the governor is not comfortable. They are saying BTO wants to become governor. You (Aiyedatiwa) have not even spent a year in office. You still have about three years in this tenure. Why not concentrate on governance and build the party? As a governor, why are you beating your party people? More than 17 party leaders are in different hospitals in the state now after the attack yesterday (Tuesday). Why resort to violence?”

On the contrary, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor declared that Aiyedatiwa remained the leader by virtue of his position as the state governor and that he had been carrying everyone along in the spirit of fairness while playing a strong leadership role in the party.

He denied any rift between his principal and the minister.

“The governor is the leader of the party and father to all party members. He has always provided leadership that embraces all groups and interests in the party since he became governor. He is the first governor in the history of the state to hold quarterly stakeholders’ engagements with party leaders, and this has fostered unity and a sense of belonging in the APC in the state.

“On the crisis in the ward congress in some parts of the state, the pockets of issues recorded have nothing to do with the governor, and that is why he called on security agencies to restore order at the party secretariat on Tuesday. The governor has also called on security agencies to investigate the crisis that took place in Idanre earlier today (Wednesday) and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

“He has also appealed to all aspirants contesting for party positions to call their followers and supporters to order as his administration will not tolerate any breakdown of law and order in any part of the state,” he stated.

In the same vein, the state Commissioner for Information, Idowu Ajanaku, said there was no rift between the governor and the minister, adding that as leader of the party in the state, Aiyedatiwa has provided effective leadership and fostered unity among members.

“I am not aware of any crisis anywhere, the governor is the party leader , no argument about that,” Ajanaku said.

In a situation like this, one would naturally ask about the role of the party elders, who had previously claimed to be unaware of the matter.

However, it now appears they acknowledge that there is crisis brewing within the party and have promised to intervene, particularly concerning the attack on the secretariat on Tuesday.

The chairman of the elders’ forum, Pa Erastus Akeju, said, “This dichotomy between BTO and the governor is new to us; we were not aware of it. It has not been brought before the elders. BTO has not reported to us that the governor is after him. The governor has not reached out to us to say that BTO is challenging him.

“We are just waiting for an opportunity to see what is really happening. You see, when there is no report of violence or disagreement — physical disagreement, I mean — we cannot simply go to the governor and ask, ‘Are you quarreling with BTO?’ or ask BTO, ‘What is between you and the governor?’ We would be told, ‘Nothing.’ So it is only now, as the issue has escalated publicly into a physical confrontation, that we can say, ‘All right, it’s time for the elders to intervene.’”

A political affairs analyst, Lanre Alewa, described the cold war between the governor and the minister as unhealthy for the ruling party, particularly with the general election fast approaching. He also stressed the need for the two APC chieftains to rein in their supporters, whom he described as the major cause of the crisis.

He said, “The minister and the governor were together at the recent 50th anniversary celebration of Ondo State. They were on the podium together, and the minister visited the governor at the Government House. They were visibly together. So, some people may claim they are fighting, but I have not seen anywhere that the minister directly accused the governor, or the governor directly accused the minister.

“At times, these political jobbers, who call themselves supporters, cause such issues. They must be called to order by their principals so they do not destroy the party.

“They just go out into the streets and act as they please. You cannot ascribe that to the governor or the minister — that would be wrong. I have not heard either of them say anything to that effect. However, if such a dispute exists, the national leadership should intervene and settle the matter amicably.”

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Politics

Kanu’s freedom, Igbo presidency possible through alignment with Tinubu – Cubana Chief Priest

Published

3 days ago

February 18, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Popular socialite and businessman Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has called on the people of the South-East to support with President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections in order to secure the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Reacting on Wednesday to a viral video where a South-East monarch urged the President to either release Kanu or return him to Kenya, the celebrity barman praised the monarch for taking the message directly to the seat of power.

He noted the monarch’s physical presence in Abuja was necessary to ensure the President heard the plight of the South-East.

Writing in Pidgin, Cubana Chief Priest wrote, “God bless you, Your Royal Highness for partaking in Nigeria. If Your Highness did not participate in Abuja, how Asiwaju wan take hear this message. If to say dem no record this video play for una, them for call his royal highness sell out say him don go collect money.”

He urged the region to “align” with the current administration rather than maintain a stance of opposition, saying, “Alignment is key, we no fit fight government, Asiwaju go free MNK. His Royal Highness don put am for Baba body. Let’s get along with Nigeria.”

The socialite further urged the South-East to reconsider its political stance ahead of the next elections, stating that Tinubu won the 2023 election without significant votes from the region.

Addressing the 2023 elections, he reminded his followers that President Tinubu emerged victorious without the majority of the South-East vote, suggesting that a repeat is likely in the future unless the region changes its approach.

He also suggested that active support for the current administration could be the “best stake” for the Igbo people to eventually produce a president.

He wrote, “Last election, Tinubu won without South-East, it’s clear he will win again. So why not give him the votes so he can do what we ask of him in return.

“Hopefully, he will hand over power to an Igbo man. He made Buhari president, a Hausa man. He made himself, a Yoruba man president. What makes you think he won’t make an Igbo man president if we clearly support him for one more term?

“Igbo best stake is on Asiwaju. Just think it out. Man has the best political structure in the country to win election make we no waste our votes.”

PUNCH Online reported on Tuesday that a traditional ruler from the South-East, Dr Lawrence Agubuzu, the Eze Ogbunechendo of Ezema Olo Kingdom, urged Tinubu to release Kanu, or return him to Kenya, where he was arrested, warning that his continued detention was fuelling agitation among youths in the region.