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What Ex- Officer Should Instead Of Seeking Help
The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has explained the cause of the face-off between his principal and some military officers allegedly involved in land grabbing.
Naija News reports that Wike and some military personnel were involved in a face-off on Tuesday, after the Minister was denied access to the land in contention.
However, during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Olayinka disclosed that the owner of the land, former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral, Awal Gambo, was scammed by the company that had originally allocated the land.
According to him, the former Naval Staff Vice Admiral, instead of seeking help to resolve the land dispute, resorted to using military force.
He said, “That particular land was allocated to a company in 2007, Santos Estate Limited for park and recreation. The company did not do anything on the land because that place is a parkway, is a walkway, is a road corridor. You don’t build there.
“Then in 2022, the company wrote to the FCTA, the Minister I want approval from you to convert the purpose to commercial, from park, to build park. You know what park is? Not permanent structures. Probably in anticipation of the Minister’s approval for conversion.
“The man decided to partition the land allocated to him for park and recreation, he now partitioned the land and sold to people including the former chief of Naval Staff.
And that is why I want to say here that the former Chief of Naval Staff was scammed, he was scammed. And he has realized that he was scammed. Instead of him to now come out and seek help, he resorted to use military might.
“Now, in 2022, the Minister of FCT declined that request. Did not grant the request for change of land use made by that company. That is where it ended. But he had already sold the land to people. Giving them the impression that the land use will change.”
Olayinka also faulted the military officer who denied Wike access, claiming that he was obeying orders.
He said, “I saw the military officer yesterday telling us that he was acting on order, and I’ve also read online that a military man should obey the last order. And I’ve asked myself, which order? Like the Minister also asked yesterday which order?
“You obeyed the last order, yes but that order has to be lawful, the order has to be reasonable. For instance, if I am a military officer and my superior gives me an order to go and shoot somebody, or let’s say my boss gives me an order to go and rape my daughter, will I obey the order because the order is coming from my superior?
“Or because somebody is dragging a girlfriend with my superior and that superior now sees this person dragging girlfriend with him walking on the street, and he says, shoot this person, because it is an order, I should obey it.
A military man should go and mount guard in a public building under construction, that is the issue here. Building under construction, military men that was reposted to the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awal Gambo, as his personal security detail, to secure him, to guard him, to protect him. He now chose to make himself vulnerable and send those people on that errand.
“It’s like somebody now there, I have security to protect me. And I now choose to send them to go and be protecting my property that is under construction. I don’t seem to get it.”
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has approved the payment of a 13th-month pension bonus to all pensioners in the state, as well as a one-off welfare support of N10,000 in November 2026.
Speaking at the Ibom Hall grounds in Uyo on Friday, during the presentation of a merit award by the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners and an endorsement of his second-term bid, Eno said pensioners deserved to rest well after their meritorious service to the state.
Eno said he was particularly impressed by the pensioners’ sense of gratitude and assured them that the state government, under his leadership, would continue to prioritise the welfare of pensioners and elderly citizens.
He said, “This is indeed humbling to me. It shows that you are truly technocrats with a laudable sense of organisation. You may be retired but not tired. I celebrate and appreciate you greatly.
“I am now directing that N10,000 be added to the November 2026 pension payment of every pensioner in support of your welfare.”
He urged them to enrol in the state’s health insurance scheme, which he said was free for people aged 65 and above, to enable them to enjoy quality healthcare.
Eno recalled that he had promised to clear the backlog of gratuities, adding that N100bn had so far been paid from the accumulated N111bn owed since 2012. He assured the pensioners that the outstanding balance would be cleared before the end of his first term.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for making funds available to states, saying this had enabled him to fulfil his promise to clear the gratuity arrears.
Eno called on the pensioners to vote massively for Tinubu in the 2027 elections, saying this would ensure the continued availability of funds for the prompt payment of gratuities and pensions, as well as other welfare packages.
He also urged pensioners from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District to vote for the re-election of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Responding, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Mazi Godwin Ikechukwu Abumisi, commended Eno for what he described as his compassion and care for pensioners in the state.
Abumisi also praised Eno’s leadership and development efforts and urged pensioners across the state to support his second-term bid in 2027.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Pastor Sylvester Nkodo, thanked Eno for his leadership, saying his commitment to the welfare of elderly people and retired public servants was heartwarming.
“Governor Umo Eno is a true leader with the heart for humanity who deserves prayers and support from the people. I urge pensioners to support his administration,” he said.
The National Assembly has confirmed that 28 State Houses of Assembly have approved the proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria, paving the way for the constitutional amendment bill to be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
According to the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the 28 approvals exceed the two-thirds majority required under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, which translates to 24 states. The National Assembly can therefore proceed with the next stage of the process towards presidential assent.
The bill was forwarded to the 36 state assemblies on September 16, 2026, for consideration, with October 15 initially set as the deadline for them to communicate their decisions. Ogunlana, however, said his office would continue to receive and verify reports from the assemblies ahead of the bill’s transmission to Tinubu.
The 28 states that have approved the proposed establishment of state police are listed below:
Adamawa
Delta
Edo
Kwara
Nasarawa
Ogun
Osun
Oyo
Plateau
Rivers
Taraba
Zamfara
Enugu
Anambra
Imo
Ekiti
Kebbi
Akwa Ibom
Bayelsa
Benue
Cross River
Abia
Yobe
Kaduna
Lagos
Kano
Sokoto
Ebonyi
A new political prediction has emerged ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with a state-by-state electoral map showing the states former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi are projected to win.
The prediction, published by Statecraft, outlines the expected performance of the three major political figures across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to the prediction, Tinubu is projected to win 15 states and the FCT, Atiku is expected to secure nine states, while Obi is tipped to emerge victorious in 12 states.
The map, which uses orange, blue and white colours to distinguish the three presidential contenders, provides a breakdown of the states each candidate is projected to win.
States Tinubu Is Projected to Win
According to the prediction, Tinubu is expected to win.
The FCT is also included in Tinubu’s projected victories.
States Atiku Abubakar Is Projected to Win
The former vice president is projected to win nine states.
States Peter Obi Is Projected to Win
Meanwhile, Obi is projected to secure 12 states.
The breakdown suggests a competitive presidential contest, with the three political figures projected to command support across different regions of the country.
Interestingly, the prediction places Tinubu ahead with 15 states and the FCT, followed by Obi with 12 states and Atiku with nine states.
However, it is important to note that the map represents Statecraft’s political prediction and not an official election result, an opinion poll or a declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The actual outcome of the 2027 presidential election will be determined by voters when Nigerians head to the polls.
The prediction has also raised questions about the possible political realignments, regional voting patterns and factors that could shape the contest in 2027.
JUST IN: Nigerian Gov Approves 13th-Month Bonus
Full List: 28 States That Approved State Police
