News
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.
READ ALSO: In another news – “Campaign of Calumny”: Fresh S3x Scanda! On Akpabio? Details Emerge – “In a fresh move, alarm has been raise over another séx scanda! towards the leadership of Nigeria Senate President”. Click link here to continue reading
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.
Winner Emerges As AI Predicts 2027 Presidential Election Between Tinubu, Obi, Atiku (See Result)
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 Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) has alleged the killing of a 58-year-old Nigerian cleric, Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Fakunle, an indigene of Iye, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was allegedly killed on at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg.
National President of NICASA, Rev. Frank Onyekwelu, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the circumstances surrounding the cleric’s death had left his family, friends and members of the Nigerian community devastated.
According to him, two suspects allegedly gained access to Fakunle’s residence and opened fire on him, reportedly shooting him more than seven times.
Onyekwelu described the incident as a “horrific and senseless act of violence” and condemned the killing, expressing concern over the continued loss of Nigerian lives to violent crime in South Africa.
He said, “This was not merely an ordinary loss of life; it was a horrific and senseless act of violence that has robbed a family of a loved one and the Nigerian community of another precious life.”
Onyekwelu said NICASA had reported the incident to the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, adding that a murder case had been opened at Jeppe Police Station.
He called on the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing.
“We demand a thorough and credible investigation that will establish exactly what happened, identify all those responsible, apprehend the perpetrators and ensure that they are brought before the courts to face the full might of the law,” he said.
NICASA also urged Nigerian diplomatic authorities in South Africa to continue engaging with relevant South African authorities and monitor the progress of the investigation until justice is served.
NELFUND has rejected allegations that the Federal Government’s student loan scheme is being used to favour supporters or children of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyerr, dismissed the claim as “completely ridiculous.”
Moreover, he said the structure of the application system does not allow political affiliation to determine who receives the loans.
Sawyerr spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.
He explained that the loan scheme is operated through an electronic application process.
Applicants are required to provide personal and academic information, including their names and matriculation numbers.
According to him, the system is designed to establish whether an applicant meets the requirements for the programme.
It does not collect information that would enable NELFUND to determine whether a student belongs to the APC or supports another political party.
“I have not heard this allegation, but I can tell you that it’s a completely ridiculous idea that the administration of Bola Tinubu is focused on trying to fund people who support the party. We are talking about students; many of them are yet to vote, some of them are going to be voting for the first time, [and] many of them are not party members.
“How, in any event, do we determine who is a party member and who isn’t? Even if you are running a manual process, how do you do that? You can’t. It’s unlikely to yield you any result.
“It is a process you have to apply for this loan electronically. If you don’t have a name, you can’t apply for this loan. You provide your matriculation number; you have to be in a public institution,” he said.
The NELFUND boss said the allegation also failed to take into account the nature of the beneficiaries targeted by the programme.
He noted that many students accessing the loans are young people who have not yet participated in an election. Some are also not members of any political party.Executive Branch
Sawyerr therefore maintained that using political affiliation as a basis for deciding beneficiaries would be impractical under the existing system.
He said NELFUND’s focus is on Nigerian students who meet the conditions for the loan and are enrolled in eligible public tertiary institutions.
Sawyerr described the demand for the scheme as “overwhelming”, saying many students and their families were struggling to meet the financial demands of tertiary education.
“The demand has been overwhelming, because clearly a lot of people have struggled to get into these institutions,” he said. “They are hanging on by the skin of their teeth to stay in the institution, and this programme came as a rescue for them.”
He disclosed that NELFUND had so far disbursed about N162 billion in upkeep allowances to students.
The fund is also examining application and disbursement figures as demand increases, with the agency seeking to understand the financial requirements needed to sustain the programme.
The student loan initiative was introduced by the Federal Government as part of efforts to reduce financial barriers to higher education.
President Bola Tinubu signed the Student Loans Act into law in April 2024, paving the way for the current NELFUND structure. The scheme provides interest-free financial support to eligible Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions.
It covers approved institutional charges and upkeep support for qualified beneficiaries.
The programme was designed to give students access to funding without requiring them to depend entirely on their parents or guardians to remain in school.
NELFUND has repeatedly stressed the importance of an electronic process in managing applications and disbursements.
The system allows applicants to submit their information for verification before their applications are processed.
Sawyerr further insisted that the system does not discriminate based on religion, ethnicity or gender.
“We have a system that is focused on people who are Nigerians and meet the standard. The system doesn’t recognise your gender. There is no bias in the system at the front end or the back end.
“This is a system that doesn’t care whether you are of one tribe or the other. This system does not have a view or an opinion on whether you are a Christian, a Muslim, or an African traditional religionist; it doesn’t want to know.”
The NELFUND chief also spoke about the impact of the scheme on student retention.
He said available figures indicated that the programme had contributed to a reduction in the number of students dropping out of tertiary institutions, with the reduction put at about 20 per cent.
Sawyerr also addressed concerns surrounding repayment of the loans.
He maintained that beneficiaries would not be subjected to an unreasonable repayment burden, noting that repayment would be tied to their ability to pay after completing their studies.
Under the current structure, repayment is expected to commence two years after beneficiaries complete the National Youth Service Corps programme.
The NELFUND boss also disclosed that funds President Tinubu announced would be recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and channelled into the student loan scheme had not yet been received by the fund.
The UK Government has appointed Alastair Long as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa, with a mandate to deepen economic ties and expand commercial partnerships between Britain and the continent.
The UK Department for Business and Trade welcomed Long to the position, according to a statement issued on Monday by the British Deputy High Commission.
The mission said Long would work with African governments, investors, businesses and institutions to strengthen economic relations between the UK and African countries.
It added that his responsibilities would include expanding commercial partnerships, supporting UK and African businesses, attracting investment and helping to build sustainable, resilient and productive economies across the continent.
“Long returns to a region he knows well, having previously served as Deputy Trade Commissioner and then HMTC for Africa between 2019 and 2022.
“Before taking up his current position, he served as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain from August 2023,” the mission said.
Long said he was thrilled to resume his work in Africa.
He described Africa as the future, saying he had witnessed the continent’s “boundless energy and ambition” during his previous assignments.
“The UK is committed to being a partner that supports African and British growth by listening to African priorities and bringing the very best the UK has to offer.
“I look forward to engaging across the continent, with the UK business community, and with the UK Government team, to realise as many mutual opportunities as possible.”
Long succeeds John Humphrey, who had served as the UK Trade Commissioner for Africa since June 2022.
The British Deputy High Commission said Long inherited strong UK momentum in Africa and would bring extensive trade expertise to the role, as well as the focus and energy required to deepen partnerships and unlock further opportunities for mutual benefit.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the HMTC leads the UK’s overseas efforts to promote trade, investment, export opportunities and trade policy objectives.
The Commissioner works closely with the wider diplomatic network and other government officials to coordinate Britain’s overseas efforts to promote UK trade and prosperity.
The office also has responsibility for the Department for Business and Trade’s work in Africa, including growing the overall trade and investment relationship, improving market access for British companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, and developing trade policy.
Long joined the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in 2002 and has held previous postings in the Middle East and North Africa.
He was educated at Clare College, Cambridge University, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.
NAN
SO SAD: Nigerian Bishop Shot Dead In Shocking Attack
New Files Allege Sudan Military Built Chlorine Weapons Program
Former Nigerian Senator dies At 62
Former Super Eagles Star Loses Life Savings, Duped By A Pastor of ₦1.2 Billion
I’m A Married Man, I Can Never Get Myself Involved With Such A Thing, Delta Gov Aide Reveals Why He Offered Comfort ₦500,000 Job
