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2027 Election: Work Against North If Obi Can’t Become President, Archbishop Tells Igbos
The Methodist Archbishop of Okigwe Archdiocese, Most Rev. Biereonwu Livinus Onuagha, has strongly declared that Mr Peter Obi becoming Nigeria’s president in 2027 would be the best thing to happen to the country.
Onuagha endorsed Peter Obi for president in 2027, calling him intelligent, focused, and Nigeria’s best hope for change
The cleric criticised El-Rufai’s involvement in the ADC, warned against political instability, and urged power rotation to the South.
In a recent statement, the bishop however, noted that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration will be more acceptable to Nigeria than having a Northern man to become the president of the country when the Southern Nigeria has not completed its eight-year tenure of office like the Northerners had under late President Muhammadu Buhari.
Onuagha who also stated that it is only Mr. Peter Obi that will bail Nigeria out of the wobbling situation it finds itself under the present administration but noted that Nigerians and Ndigbo in particular will prefer Tinubu to continue if Mr Obi fails to win the next presidential election.
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Describing the fledgling political coalition in the African Democratic Congress ADC as something that will not yield any fruit result if they fail to allow Mr Obi to be their presidential flag bearer, Archbishop Onuagha said that the greatest disservice the coalition will do to itself is have a Northerner as its flag bearer.
“In fairness to the North, they have people who are qualified to rule Nigeria but fairness demands that they should step aside now and allow anybody will do better for the Southern extraction of the country or they allow Tonubu to complete his tenure.
“Nigeria does not need a Northerner to be the president now. What Nigeria need now is president from Southern extraction of the country. Nigerians should rather give total support to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, if they cannot get Mr Peter Obi to rule the country.
“Do you know why am saying this, Igbo’s have never gotten the type of favour from Federal Government, like we have this time around. Yes that is being selfish, but it is the truth.
“However let’s talk about those who are gathered formed the African Democratic Congress ADC, foremost among them is Malian Nasirh El’ Rufus, former Governor of Kaduna State, everybody know his antics and activities in the immediate past administration.
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His administration encourage farmers herders clashes and you all know the Southern Kaduna crisis and his stand. Christian in the that state have a lot of nasty story to tell about their ordeal while his administration lasted.
“What is he even coming to do in power again. Is it because he lost power under the present administration. Tinubu did not give him any position and now he is seeking with other to remove him, so that they can start from where they stopped under immediate past administration.
“I believe the Igbo’s are safer in the hands of President Tinubu, than in the hands of the likes of El’ Rufai, and other Morthern cabal who have now teamed up to wrestle power out of the hands of President Tinubu.
Whom did Tinubu succeed, was it not Buhari that handed over power to Tinubu, after spending eight years in office. How can one justify that after eight years, the North is asking for power, to return to the office of the president, that is total selfishness. That is total injustice and unacceptable. That is against the power sharing formula.
“For equity and fairness the Southern should continue in office. In fairness to to the Southern extraction of Nigeria, it is either Obi is allowed to become the president or President Tinubu to continue to complete his eight years tenure of office for the Southern Nigeria, but total no to giving it to the North because it is not their turn.
“South East, South West, South South are Middle Belt are pat of this country they should be allowed to rule this country, one section of the country cannot continue to rule in the country, it is not done in any
part of the world. It cannot be allowed only in Nigeria. Nigerians should not allow certain thing to happen in this country, we cannot continue to be passive towards certain things that happen in the country.
“If Tinubu is not good, somebody else from Southern Nigeria should be elected instead of the Northernes who are trying to wrestle power out of the hands of President Tinubu, people like former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Anubakar, El’ Rufai, David Mark and others should go home and sit down and allow the Southern Nigerian person to flag their flag, only by so doing there will be equity and fairness and their plan will be achieved.
“No doubt Nigerians are crying because of strict measures the present administration came up with, especially, the removal of Fuel Subsidy, but I think the Igbo’s are better in the hands of Tinubu. The only thing the Igbo’s don’t like is the wickedness and selfishness that is happening in Lagos State, under Governor Sanwo Olu. However, the people of Lagos knows that Igbo’s are the dominating population in Lagos so whatever they are doing it is for the moment.
“It is unfortunate that Governor Sanwo Olu, who’s mother is a Christian, a Methodist Christian, we can’t understand why under his administration the Igbos are subjected to humiliations and he is watching, supporting abd enjoying it.
Yes, Mr Peter Obi our own brother is also in the coalition, When we talk about Peter Obi, a good son of Ndigbo, established, sensible, intelligent and focused, a man with a lot of integrity and an illustrious son of Ndigbo, he has good intentions for Nigeria but the powers that been do not want him. He has tried but didn’t succeed, he has all its takes to bail on Nigeria out and I will sincerely ask the obedient to rally round him but if Obi fails to emerge the candidate of ADC Coalition, they should rally round President Tinubu for his second tenure to deliver us from the greedy people that want to enjoy the turn of the Southern Nigeria.
“If we give an inch and try to push President Tinubu out without have Obi in, we will surely go into political quagmire that we may not know how to come out of it. This is a golden opportunity and I pray that Peter Gregory Obi will succeed or he will understand if Tinubu is allowed to continue.
“You can see the confusion they are placing Obi in ADC, they are blocking him. Atiku said Nigeria wants only a Northerner and not an Igbo or Yoruba. The Northern like him have made up their mind to enslave us forever and that should not be allowed to happen. It is either we get Obi to be president or we comply with Dave Umahi call.
“I want to tell every Nigerian that Peter Obi is the best thing that will happen to Nigeria, but since Nigerians want him and the ruling class don’t want him and are blocking the way, what else can he do. If we go on the streets to protest the Military will take over and who knows who will become the head of state if the military takes over.
“Please we need to think deep before we leap this time around. Sentiments apart, if we can’t have Obi become the president, let us liste to Dave Umahi. With all the loopholes, with all the wobbling under the present administration, it is better for us in this wobbling situation than to enter into a situation that many of us will regret. North, it is not your turn, wait for the South to complete their turn.”
The Federal Government has approved an increase in the feeding allowance provided for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) during their orientation course, with implementation expected to begin in 2027.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, disclosed this while addressing members of the 2026 Batch C, Stream One corps members at the Cross River State Orientation Camp in Obubra.
Nafiu said the Budget Office had been informed of the upward review of the feeding budget.
He explained that the adjustment was expected to take effect next year, although the specific amount of the increase was not disclosed.
The development comes amid ongoing discussions about the welfare of Nigerian youths participating in the national service scheme.
Recall the Federal Government had began implementing reforms in the NYSC, Politics Nigeria earlier reported.
Feeding is an essential part of the orientation programme, during which corps members undergo military drills, lectures, physical exercises and other activities designed to prepare them for the service year.
The proposed increase is expected to provide additional support for feeding arrangements at orientation camps.
However, details regarding the revised allocation and how much additional funding each corps member would receive were not provided during the announcement.
Beyond the feeding allowance, the NYSC Director-General urged the corps members to develop sound financial habits and prepare responsibly for life after the service year.
He advised them to avoid unnecessary spending, exercise restraint in their financial decisions and cultivate the habit of saving.
Nafiu also commended the corps members for their resilience and willingness to serve the country, noting the importance of their contributions to national development.
He encouraged them to make responsible choices throughout their service year and take advantage of opportunities that could improve their future prospects.
The Director-General placed particular emphasis on the safety of corps members travelling between their places of residence, orientation camps and places of primary assignment.
He advised them to avoid travelling late in the evening, recommending that they stop their journeys after 6 p.m. and continue the following day.
He warned against the practice of resting in exposed public places or sleeping in groups at filling stations while travelling, noting that such situations could make corps members easy to identify.
“Refrain from resting in public places and avoid sleeping in groups at filling stations, as this makes you easily identifiable.
“Proceed to military installations, police stations or DSS offices, and contact the NYSC hotline,” he advised.
Nafiu further assured the corps members that efforts would be intensified to engage relevant stakeholders in addressing infrastructure needs at the Obubra Orientation Camp.
He said there would be further engagement with stakeholders to support the establishment and rehabilitation of facilities at the camp.
The condition of orientation camp facilities remains an important aspect of corps members’ welfare, as the camps provide accommodation, feeding, training and other essential services during the initial phase of national service.
Improved infrastructure can also support the delivery of orientation activities and help create a more suitable environment for corps members and camp officials.
The NYSC chief also encouraged the participants to acquire practical skills that could improve their employability and provide alternative sources of income after their service year.
He urged them to look beyond their academic qualifications and use the orientation period to consider additional areas of personal and professional development.
“Acquire skills in fields that will benefit you, such as cosmetology, traditional hairstyling techniques and similar disciplines,” he said.
The Director-General’s visit also provided an opportunity for camp officials to brief him on activities and conditions at the Cross River State Orientation Camp.
National Youth Service Corps NYSC
National Youth Service Corps NYSC
Presenting an assessment of the camp, the NYSC Cross River State Coordinator, Mrs Adejoke Oyenuga, described the visit as a demonstration of the Director-General’s commitment to the welfare of corps members.
Oyenuga disclosed that 1,064 corps members had been registered at the camp.
She added that the participants had successfully adapted to the structured environment and routine of the orientation programme.
The registration figure reflects the number of corps members recorded at the camp during the period covered by the assessment.
The orientation exercise is intended to familiarise participants with the objectives of the NYSC scheme, encourage discipline and teamwork, and prepare them for their subsequent deployment to places of primary assignment.
The proposed increase in feeding allocation, together with the planned engagement on camp infrastructure, forms part of the issues raised during Nafiu’s interaction with the corps members and camp management.
A federal high court in Abuja has thrown out a suit filed by Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, in which he sought to block the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other government agencies from freezing his bank accounts or seizing his assets.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik dismissed the case on Thursday, ruling that it amounted to an abuse of court process.
The Cable reported that El-Rufai had dragged the ICPC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) before the court as first to fourth respondents.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/368/2026, was filed on February 24 by his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
The judge found that el-Rufai had filed similar suits before both the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court, accepting the respondents’ argument that running parallel cases before courts of the same level created a risk of conflicting judgements.
Abdulmalik also held that a court could not be used to prevent law enforcement agencies from performing their statutory duties, and described the suit as speculative and lacking in merit. She struck out the names of the EFCC, DSS and AGF as respondents, finding that the suit disclosed no reasonable cause of action against them.
The ICPC had asked the court to dismiss the case outright, arguing that el-Rufai fragmented a single, ongoing criminal investigation into three separate suits filed before two different courts within 12 days.
According to the commission, he filed one suit at the Federal High Court on February 20 challenging a search warrant, a second at the FCT High Court on March 3 challenging a remand order, and this third suit on February 24.
In the dismissed suit, the former governor asked the court to restrain all four respondents from freezing his accounts or seizing his assets while the substantive matter was being heard.
He argued that the severance pay he received after his governorship, which ran from 2015 to 2023, could not reasonably be considered proceeds of unlawful activity, and that properties purchased with those funds were lawfully owned.
Beyond the injunctions, el-Rufai sought N1 billion in general, exemplary and aggravated damages, citing psychological distress, anxiety and reputational harm he said would arise from any unlawful forfeiture proceedings. He also claimed N100 million in legal costs.
The AGF’s representative, Maimuna Lami-Shiru, Director of Civil Litigation and Public Law, argued that an interim forfeiture order was not a final forfeiture order and that seeking one did not, on its own, violate el-Rufai’s rights, as the ICPC, EFCC and DSS were each legally empowered to apply to a competent court for such orders during investigations.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take further measures to strengthen the naira, saying a stronger exchange rate would help reduce the pressure on petrol prices and the wider cost of living.
TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, made the demand on Wednesday in Abuja after a meeting of the union’s National Administrative Council (NAC). He said the exchange rate remained one of the major factors affecting the prices of fuel and other essential commodities in the country.
Osifo said the government should work towards moving the naira to between N700 and N800 to the dollar. He argued that the currency remained undervalued despite recent improvements in the foreign exchange market.
“We cannot be tired talking about exchange rate because it is central to literally everything. Today, the official rate is just a little above 1,300 Naira to the USD, but we see that government can still do better.”
He said a stronger naira would have an effect beyond the foreign exchange market.
According to him, it would also reduce the cost of petroleum products, food, fertiliser, equipment and other items that depend heavily on foreign exchange.
The TUC president also commended the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, for measures aimed at stabilising the naira and improving macroeconomic conditions.
However, Osifo said the current exchange rate was still not satisfactory to the labour centre.
“We commend the CBN governor Cardoso for the great work that he is doing in the Central Bank, but we can still do much more because we still believe that 1300 Naira to $1 is still undervalued.”
He explained that the position of the union was not that the naira should be returned to the levels where it was considered overvalued.
Rather, he said the government should pursue policies that would allow the currency to trade at a stronger and more sustainable level.
“From all international commentators, from economic think-tanks, both local and international, from scholars, currently our Naira is undervalued and is not trading at the strength it should.
“Yes, we knew that before, when it was around N400, it was overvalued, but today at N1,300 it is still undervalued. So, government should do everything possible to move the Naira to the right value.”
Osifo linked the exchange rate directly to the continued pressure on Nigerians, particularly through the prices of petroleum products.
Petrol Station Price
TUC had previously argued that intervention in the foreign exchange market could help lower the cost of crude supplied to domestic refineries and, in turn, reduce petrol prices.
The union’s latest position comes as workers continue to deal with the effects of high living costs.
TUC said the government should therefore pay attention not only to broader economic indicators but also to the impact of economic policies on households and workers.
Osifo said some macroeconomic indicators were beginning to show signs of improvement, including inflation and exchange-rate stability.
He, however, maintained that the government needed to translate such improvements into tangible relief for Nigerians.
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