Category: Nigerian Tribune

I was called at the tender age of 16. There was always a strong burden in my heart for the things of God and for seeing lives transformed. As I grew older, the call became clearer. I eventually realised that it was more than an interest; it was a divine assignment.

Interestingly, God allowed my ministry calling to develop alongside my banking career. I learnt that your profession can be your workplace, but your calling is your kingdom assignment.

Banking taught me discipline, excellence and how to work with people, while ministry taught me dependence on God. I therefore never saw the two as enemies. I saw my professional experience as part of my preparation. Sometimes, God does not take you out of the marketplace before giving you ministry; He teaches you ministry right there in the marketplace. Joseph is a good biblical example. He became a government administrator before becoming the answer to a national crisis.

How do you reconcile the demands of being a senior executive in banking with the spiritual responsibilities of being a pastor?

It requires grace, discipline, excellent time management and plenty of prayer. I have learnt that you cannot do everything, but you must faithfully do what God has committed to you. I prioritise, delegate where necessary and ensure that my relationship with God is not sacrificed on the altar of responsibility.

The corporate world taught me that if everything is your priority, then nothing is your priority. Ministry reinforced that lesson spiritually. There are also moments when you simply have to say, ‘Lord, I cannot do this by my strength again; You will have to help me.’ That is grace manifesting.

As a woman operating in spaces traditionally dominated by men, what have been some of your greatest challenges, professionally and in the Church?

There have certainly been moments when I had to prove myself, not because I lacked ability, but because sometimes people see the woman before they see the competence.

However, I have learnt not to fight every battle. Character speaks eventually. Competence speaks. Consistency speaks. When God is behind you, you do not have to spend all your energy announcing yourself.

In the Church, women also have to navigate expectations, traditions and perceptions. But I believe God is opening more doors for women to serve according to their gifts. As we say in Yoruba, ‘A kii fi agbara mu eniyan ti Olorun ba gbe,’ you cannot permanently suppress whom God has lifted.

What should be the Church’s response to the increasing hardship and economic pressure confronting Nigerians?

The Church must pray, but our response cannot end with prayer. Prayer should produce action. We must provide support, create opportunities, teach financial literacy, encourage entrepreneurship, develop employable skills and care for vulnerable people.

The early Church did not merely preach to hungry people; they also shared what they had. We must move from simply saying, ‘God will provide,’ to asking, ‘Lord, how can You use me as part of the provision?’

Faith without compassion can become noise. Nigeria needs a Church that will be a light not only from the pulpit but also in the community.

Beyond occupying positions, what do women uniquely bring to leadership in the Church?

Women often bring empathy, resilience, attention to detail and the ability to nurture people while pursuing an assignment. A woman can notice that something is wrong before anybody says anything! Sometimes we call it discernment; sometimes our husbands call it, ‘How did you know?’

But seriously, women often see the person behind the position. We can build systems, but we also build people. Leadership is not merely about sitting at the head of the table. It is about ensuring that the people at the table grow, contribute and eventually become leaders themselves.

Many Christians pray for financial breakthroughs but lack financial discipline. Is financial success more about prayer?

Prayer is essential. We can pray for increase, but if increase comes without discipline, the money can disappear faster than it came.

The Bible teaches us to work, plan, save, give and manage resources wisely. Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us that God gives us the power to make wealth, but that power must be exercised responsibly.

Financial success, therefore, is a combination of God’s grace, wisdom, diligence, discipline and sound financial principles. While we pray for financial breakthrough, we should also pray for financial wisdom. Sometimes, the miracle is not more money; it is learning how to manage the money already in our hands.

What lessons can Nigerian Christian organisations learn from the corporate world about governance, succession, accountability and leadership development?

The Church can learn that good intentions are not substitutes for good systems. There should be clear roles, accountability, proper documentation, financial controls, leadership development and succession planning.

A healthy organisation should continue functioning effectively even when its key leader is unavailable. That is why succession planning and developing people are so important. Even Moses had Joshua. Elijah had Elisha, and Paul had Timothy.

A good leader does not merely occupy a position; he or she prepares people, develops capacity and creates a legacy that can continue beyond their tenure.

What sacrifices have you made to successfully combine marriage, motherhood, career and ministry?

There have been sacrifices of time, convenience, sleep and sometimes personal desires. You cannot be everywhere and do everything. There have been occasions when I had to choose the greater responsibility over what I personally wanted.

I have also learnt that behind every successful woman is not necessarily someone doing everything for her. Sometimes, it is simply the grace of God helping her survive the days when everybody needs something from her at the same time!

It has required family support, understanding from loved ones and, above all, grace.

What would you say to women who feel guilty because they cannot perfectly balance career, marriage, motherhood and ministry?

First, stop trying to be perfect. No woman gets every aspect of life right every single day. Some days, you are an excellent professional; some days, you are simply trying to remember where you kept your mobile phone!

Balance is not always 50/50. Sometimes, one area needs more attention because of the season you are in.

Do not compare your journey with another woman’s highlight reel. Ask God, ‘What is my assignment in this season?’

Grace is seasonal. What God requires of you when your children are young may be different from what He requires when they are grown.

You are a human being, not a machine. God is your Helper, not your perfection inspector.

What would you identify as the defining moments in the 30-year journey of the Ikeja Model Area?

There have been many defining moments, particularly seasons of transition, growth and expansion; challenges the Church overcame; leadership development; and, most importantly, lives that have been transformed. Thirty years is not merely a celebration of longevity; it is a testimony of God’s faithfulness.

There were moments when circumstances could have discouraged us, but God kept the work moving. That is why DECROSSIKJ @ 30 is not simply saying, ‘We have been here for 30 years.’ It is saying, ‘God has been faithful for 30 years.’ Thirty years of ministry cannot be achieved by human strength alone. It is grace speaking.

You serve under Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, the General Overseer of the Church and a legendary musician whose ministry has touched generations. What have you learnt from his leadership?

I have learnt the value of consistency, humility, discipline and staying relevant without losing your foundation. Evangelist Ebenezer Obey has demonstrated that you can influence generations without abandoning the values that brought you there.

One of the greatest lessons is longevity. It is easy to start well; it takes grace and character to remain faithful over decades. I have also learnt that influence is not merely about how many people know your name. It is about how many lives are better because you passed through their lives. A tree that has stood for decades must have learnt how to survive different seasons.

What has kept Decross Gospel Mission united and relevant across generations?

Fundamentally, it is God’s faithfulness, but also our commitment to the Word, prayer, fellowship, leadership and carrying people along. Every generation must feel that there is a place for them. Tradition gives us roots, but relevance gives us reach. You need both.

The Church has remained relevant because while the message remains biblical, the methods can evolve. We do not change the gospel because the generation changes; we find effective ways to communicate the unchanging gospel to a changing generation.

If you had Nigeria’s political, business and religious leaders in one room, what would be your strongest message to them?

My message would be simple: Lead for the people.

Nigeria does not lack brilliant people. What we need is leadership that understands that leadership is stewardship. Whatever position you occupy today, you will eventually give an account for it.

The political leader will account for the people entrusted to him. The businessman will account for his influence and resources. The religious leader will account for the souls and people placed under his care.

How can the Church move from merely praying for Nigeria to producing people of integrity who will transform society?

We must disciple people beyond Sunday. If we teach integrity in Church but tolerate dishonesty in everyday life, we have failed to disciple them.

Christianity is not only about speaking in tongues on Sunday; it is also about keeping your word on Monday. We should deliberately develop people who will carry Christian values into government, business, education and other sectors. We need leadership programmes, mentorship, entrepreneurship, professional development and strong ethical teaching.

We should be raising politicians, bankers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, civil servants and other professionals who can stand in Parliament, the boardroom, classroom and marketplace without losing their convictions.

We should also teach people to consider the consequences of their actions. Yes, God forgives when we genuinely repent, but forgiveness does not always remove the consequences of our actions. We must therefore weigh our decisions carefully and consider how they affect other people.

What is the one lesson God has taught you that you want the next generation of Christian women and leaders never to forget?

One of the deepest lessons God has taught me is that the assignment must never become more important to you than the One who gave you the assignment. Never become so occupied with serving God that you lose your relationship with God.

Positions will change. Titles will change. Organisations will change. Seasons will change. But your relationship with God must remain your foundation. To the next generation, I would say: do not despise little beginnings, do not rush God’s process and do not compromise your character to arrive faster.

It is better to arrive slowly with God than to arrive quickly without Him. At the end of the day, I want my life to say, ‘She served her generation according to the will of God.’ That, for me, is success.

Former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to travel to Europe for a three-week vacation, arguing that the timing exposes a troubling gap in political leadership.

Reacting to the trip in a post on X on Sunday, Atiku said Nigeria was not facing a constitutional vacuum, but a clear vacuum of political leadership.

He noted that although he had lived and travelled abroad extensively himself, there was a fundamental difference between a private citizen’s travels and the responsibilities that come with occupying the office of President.

He questioned the President’s choice to spend three weeks away in Europe.

According to him, leadership goes beyond the constitutional right to hold office; it requires the judgment to recognise when a country needs its leader present.

He illustrated this with the image of a father who might travel when all is well, but would not reach for his suitcase and head to the airport if his house were on fire with his family trapped inside.

He argued this was the core of his objection – not that a president should never rest or travel, but that Nigeria was in crisis, and the President had opted for a boarding pass instead of addressing the fire at home.

He wrote, ‘Nigeria may not be facing a constitutional vacuum today, but there is a disturbing vacuum of political leadership.

‘I have travelled, lived and spent time abroad, and I have never pretended otherwise. But there is a fundamental difference between the travels of a private citizen and the responsibility of the sitting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

‘Consider what Bola Tinubu is leaving behind. Petrol priced beyond the reach of ordinary people. Families rationing food. Transport fares that have turned a journey to one’s own village into a luxury. Insecurity that buries Nigerians week after week. And in the middle of all this, President Tinubu has packed his bags for three weeks in Europe.

‘The Vice President is abroad on official duty. That makes the President’s decision even more difficult to understand. Leadership is not merely the constitutional right to occupy an office; it is the judgment to know when your country needs you at home.

‘A father may travel when all is well. But when his roof is burning and his family is trapped inside, he does not pick up his suitcase and head for the airport.

‘That is the issue here. It is not that a President must never rest or travel. It is that Nigeria is burning, and the President has chosen a boarding pass over the fire extinguisher.

‘Millions of Nigerians are being grounded by hardship while their President is airborne. The people can barely afford to move, but the President keeps moving.

‘A government that cannot feel the pain it inflicts will never summon the will to end it.

‘Tinubu made Nigeria expensive. I will make Nigeria affordable again. -AA.’

The former vice president’s comments came shortly after Tinubu departed Abuja on Sunday for the European leg of his 2026 annual leave, in a send-off attended by government officials, security personnel and military officers. Footage of the departure showed the President arriving at the airport in a motorcade, walking with aides and boarding his aircraft as officials saluted and colleagues waved him off.

According to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu will begin his trip in London before returning to Nigeria to join campaign activities ahead of the January 2027 election.

Speaking to journalists at the airport, Presidential Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, defended the timing of the break, describing it as an opportunity for the President to recover after months of demanding engagement with state affairs.

He explained that Tinubu had spent the past six to seven months immersed in major decisions affecting security, the economy and other areas of governance, noting that these changes had been significant even as the 2027 election campaign season begins.

Former Cross River State governor and presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has dismissed Nigeria’s petrol-subsidy controversy as a scam, arguing that petrol could sell for about N200 per litre if the country properly harnessed the other products derived from crude oil.

Duke’s position provides a fresh counterpoise to the competing proposals of President Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi over the future of petrol subsidy.

Tinubu abolished the subsidy in May 2023 and has defended the decision as necessary to free public funds for development. Atiku has promised to restore a targeted subsidy to reduce living costs, while Obi supports its removal but wants the savings transparently invested in productive and social sectors.

Duke, however, rejected the premise on which the debate has been conducted.

‘Look, I don’t believe there’s any subsidy in fuel,’ he said. ‘For a barrel of crude oil, there are about seven by-products. The two consequential ones are diesel and petrol-PMS and AGO-and kerosene, aviation fuel and all those things.

‘You sell them at commercial rates, okay? Work it out. You can almost sell petrol today at N200 a litre, not the N1,000-plus.

‘So that thing about subsidy, I think, is the biggest scam that has been perpetrated, maybe globally.’

The former governor said it was inexplicable that Nigeria remained energy-poor despite possessing virtually every known source of energy.

‘You’re an energy-blessed country,’ Duke said. ‘You have all known forms of energy existing in Nigeria-from the crudest, which is human labour, to hydrocarbons, solar, hydro, uranium and now lithium.

‘You have all those things. Why are we still energy-poor? Because the political will is not there. But even beyond the political will, we’re not thinking through this.’

He said Nigeria’s continued flaring of natural gas while households, businesses and industries struggled with high energy costs exposed the contradictions in the country’s economic management.

‘We easily flare two billion cubic feet of gas a day,’ he said. ‘That is equivalent to 20 million litres of diesel. If you had a turbine to power all of Africa, it would not consume 20 million litres of diesel daily.

‘So, it’s akin to the abundance of water while the fish is thirsty.’

Duke said every country was expected to exploit its comparative advantages rather than use international prices to justify hardship at home.

‘When I hear excuses like, ‘Oh, it’s cheaper in America,’ or, ‘We’re cheaper than it is in America,’ every country has its own endowments,’ he said.

‘You’ve got to use what you’ve got to get what you want. We are an energy-blessed country. The people should feel their blessings.’

He also questioned why Nigeria supplied gas to other West African countries while remaining unable to meet its domestic energy requirements.

‘You have a West African Gas Pipeline, but you don’t have any self-sufficiency in gas in your country,’ Duke said. ‘There’s something wrong somewhere. We’re not thinking.’

He maintained that Nigeria’s energy crisis was neither inevitable nor beyond solution, but the government must develop its resources with citizens’ welfare and industrial productivity as the principal objectives.

‘Why are we still energy-poor?’ he asked. ‘The political will is not there. We’re not thinking through our problems.’

The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has said that the president left Abuja for a three-week vacation in Europe to rest and ‘refuel’ ahead of the intense campaign activities expected as the 2027 election season gathers momentum.

Dare, while addressing the media on Sunday, explained that the break followed months of intense engagement by Tinubu on matters concerning the country, particularly security and the economy.

He said the president would continue to receive updates and remain involved in key government decisions while away.

‘The President has had several months-six, seven months-of being engaged with state matters. We’ve seen monumental changes, monumental decisions taken with our security, with our economy and so many other things as pertains to the running of the affairs of this country,’ he said.

According to Dare, the president’s leave comes as political activities intensify, with several months of campaigning expected before the 2027 elections.

‘And at this point, the campaign season has just started. We have four, five months of serious campaigning. Of course, governance will still continue,’ Dare said.

He said Tinubu needed the break to recharge before the demanding campaign period, while emphasizing that the president would not be completely disconnected from government business during his stay in Europe.

‘And at this point, it’s important that the President also refuels. And even though he’s going on leave, we know that he’ll be engaged with state matters on a daily basis. He will receive briefings from his ministers, from the service chiefs as the case may be, and from every other person who is handling very key decisions in our country,’ he said.

Tinubu departed Nigeria on Sunday as government officials, security personnel and military officers gathered at the airport for his send-off.

Footage from the departure showed the president arriving in a motorcade, accompanied by aides, before boarding the aircraft as military personnel saluted and officials waved him farewell.

The trip is part of Tinubu’s annual leave for 2026 and follows an earlier announcement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Onanuga had said the president’s first destination would be London, United Kingdom, before returning to Nigeria after the working vacation to participate in the campaign for the January 2027 election.

The Federal Government has announced plans to increase annual admissions into Nigerian medical schools to about 20,000 within the next three years, as part of efforts to address the country’s healthcare workforce needs and reduce the pressure driving professionals to seek opportunities abroad.

The Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, disclosed this while receiving the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Medical Simulation Committee, which is proposing the establishment of world-class medical simulation centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

He said the expansion of medical education must be accompanied by improved practical training facilities to ensure that the growing number of students entering the healthcare professions receive quality hands-on education.

Alausa, in a statement on Sunday by his Special Adviser, Media and Communications, Mr Ikharo Attah, said annual admissions into medical schools had increased from about 5,000 students when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office to almost 12,000 currently, adding that the government was targeting about 20,000 medical students annually within the next three years.

‘Today, I’m happy to report that we’re admitting almost 12,000 students primarily now. Our goal in the next three years will be to increase the number of annual medical student enrolment in medical school to about 20,000,’ he said.

The Minister also disclosed that nursing enrolment had recorded a significant increase, rising from about 38,000 students three years ago to more than 120,000 students across nursing schools in the country.

He added that admissions into pharmacy and dental programmes had also doubled, reflecting the Federal Government’s broader push to expand the pipeline of healthcare professionals.

Alausa said the proposed TETFund Medical Simulation Centres would play a critical role in supporting the expansion by providing modern facilities for practical training in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and other allied health professions.

‘I would like to thank the members of the committee that has worked so hard and assiduously to get us to this point in which we are now talking about building several simulation centres across the country to provide world-class training for our medical students, dental students, nursing students, pharmacy students and other allied healthcare professionals,’ he said.

According to him, the initiative is in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his commitment to expanding Nigeria’s healthcare workforce while improving the quality of education and professional training available to Nigerian students.

The Minister commended the Chairman of the Medical Simulation Committee, Dr Wale Suleiman, and other members for their work in developing the proposal for the centres.

He also acknowledged the contributions of key professional and academic stakeholders, including the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council, the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and a professor in the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat at the University of Abuja Medical School.

Alausa said the expansion of healthcare education represented another demonstration of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to improving the quality and accessibility of tertiary education in the country.

‘This person, President Bola, is committed to providing the best and the highest quality of education to every child in this country,’ he said.

‘We are seeing it, we are seeing the result now. It’s another manifestation of President Bola’s fervent and benevolent belief in the progress and benefit of the future of Nigeria,’ he added.

The Minister assured that the government would continue to support the development of the proposed simulation centres as part of efforts to provide Nigerian students with world-class professional training.

He said the initiative would ultimately contribute to strengthening the country’s healthcare workforce and ensuring that more Nigerians are trained locally to meet the nation’s growing demand for medical and allied health professionals.

THE 2026 Poongryu Festival in Lagos brought Nigeria and the Republic of Korea closer through music, dance and traditional performances.

Held at Terra Kulture on Victoria Island on August 15 and organised by the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN), the festival showcased Korean culture and promoted cultural exchange between the two countries.

The event also commemorated Korea’s National Liberation Day, known as Gwangbokjeol, observed on August 15 every year.

For the organisers, the date was significant because it linked the Korean concept of Poongryu to a major moment in the country’s history.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nigeria, Yo-an Jeong, said the festival was held on a particularly meaningful day.

‘We could not have chosen a more meaningful date for today’s festival. The 15th of August is Gwangbokjeol – Korea’s National Liberation Day,’ he said.

According to the Ambassador, Poongryu has no single English translation but reflects a uniquely Korean appreciation of music, nature, beauty, art and the company of others.

He explained that the concept goes beyond entertainment and is tied to moral and spiritual values passed down through generations in Korea.

‘At its heart is a simple but profound teaching: Honour and care for your parents at home; serve your country faithfully in society; and in everything you do, turn away from what is wrong and choose what is good,’ Jeong said.

He noted that these values had helped shape what he described as the Korean spirit of respect, responsibility, harmony, discipline and service.

He said these principles remain relevant in modern Korea, even as the country continues to develop and its culture gains global recognition.

The ambassador also explained the historical significance of Gwangbokjeol, beginning with Korea’s 36 years under Japanese colonial rule.

He recalled that Korea spent 36 years, from 1910 to 1945, under Japanese colonial rule, during which policies were introduced to suppress the Korean language, identity and cultural traditions.

Despite the difficult period, he said the Korean people preserved their language, traditions and cultural identity through families and communities.

On August 15, 1945, colonial rule ended, and Korea regained its freedom. The day became known as Gwangbokjeol.

Jeong explained that the Korean word ‘Gwangbok’ means ‘the restoration of light’, describing the recovery of Korea’s freedom and national sovereignty.

He said the culture that survived the colonial period did more than endure; it continued to grow and eventually became a major global cultural force known as K-Culture.

‘The K-Pop you listen to, the Korean dramas you watch, and the Korean films enjoyed around the world are modern expressions of a cultural spirit with deep roots in Korean history,’ he said.

He added that K-Culture had not emerged overnight, stressing that its roots were deeply connected to Korea’s history and its influence had spread across the world.

He said the meeting of Korean culture with Nigeria’s creativity, passion and energy showed how cultural exchange could strengthen friendship between nations.

‘Freedom gives a nation its dignity; culture gives a nation its soul. When cultures meet in freedom and mutual respect, friendship between nations grows stronger,’ he said.

A major attraction of the festival was the performance by Choori Band, a six-member traditional Korean music and dance troupe that travelled from Korea for the event.

The group is known for reimagining traditional Korean performances for contemporary audiences by combining music, dance, storytelling, humour and audience participation.

Through traditional rhythms and modern sounds, Choori Band delivered an energetic performance that explored new possibilities for Korean traditional arts.

The group entertained the audience with a series of performances, including ‘Pump It Up’, ‘Matroo’, ‘Rainbow Taryeon’, ‘Dooguba’, ‘Bukcheong Blues’, ‘B_less’, ‘Breaking,’ and ‘Space Show’.

The festival also provided a platform for Nigerian talents interested in Korean popular culture.

The audience was treated to a K-Pop dance performance by the third-place winners of the 2026 K-Pop Dance Festival Lagos, while the first-place winner of the 2026 K-Pop Singing Competition delivered a vocal performance.

Jeong said the participation of the Nigerian winners showed how Korean culture was being embraced and creatively interpreted by young Nigerians.

He said cultural exchange became more meaningful when people shared their traditions and others creatively made them their own.

‘Culture becomes richer when it is shared – and even richer when others make it their own,’ the ambassador added.

He described this as the true meaning of Poongryu, stressing that it was not simply a performance to watch but a celebration to experience together.

The festival also attracted textile artist and gallery owner Chief Nike Okundaye, who commended the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria for organising the event.

Okundaye described the festival as a reflection of the growing partnership between Nigeria and Korea, noting that Nigerians’ positive outlook and creativity were producing results.

Many young Nigerians, particularly those interested in Korean culture, music and entertainment, attended the event.

AS political stakeholders, especially the opposition parties, eagerly look forward to the G100 summit expected to hold on Monday at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has clarified that the goal of the summit is not to anoint a single presidential candidate, but to build a framework for cooperation that will make opposition parties stronger ahead of 2027.

But in a reaction obtained by Sunday Tribune on Saturday, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the opposition’s new initiative at unity, labeling it a gang-up of unserious elements that would amount to nothing.

National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, speaking to Sunday Tribune on Saturday, explained that the thrust of tomorrow’s gathering is to build a bridge of unity among opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.

Asked if opposition parties would come together to present a common front, Abdullahi said that was not the immediate objective.

‘The way I understand it, that is not the objective of the summit. It’s to prepare terms for cooperation not necessarily single candidate,’ he said.

‘I don’t want anyone to run away with the impression that the reason is to look for a single presidential candidate. If that doesn’t work, then they say opposition collapse again.’

On expectations for Monday’s meeting, Abdullahi said the ADC was looking forward to exploring areas of collaboration.

‘We are looking forward to exploring opportunities for cooperation. Like I said, there are many areas that opposition parties can collaborate and work together. So, we will see how far we can go. Opposition working together makes all of us strong,’ he stated.

Summit to set framework for 2027

Key leaders of Nigeria’s opposition, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra governor, Peter Obi, are expected to attend the summit.

Themed ‘A Framework for Opposition Cooperation and Coordination’, G100 convener, Salihu Mohammed Lukman, said the meeting is not meant to decide presidential candidacy in one sitting, but to establish a formal architecture for transparent and collective negotiations.

‘The first question before party leaders is not who leads the ticket. It is what we are, together, prepared to do for this country,’ the statement said.

Expected at the gathering are National Working Committee members of the ADC, Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

G100 signatories and members of the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives.

The G100 said it is convening the summit as a facilitator and observer, not as a substitute for the constitutional authority of the parties.

‘The decisions arising from this process will remain the responsibility of the parties themselves,’ Lukman maintained.

Count us out of summit -Labour Party

The Labour Party (LP), however, said it would not be involved in the Monday summit, declaring that it is already a coalition in itself and has a well-established structure across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Ken Asogwa, stated that the party’s decision not to participate in the G-100 Summit was not because it was opposed to the idea of political parties forming a coalition to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) but more of the fact that the LP had a better structure and coordination.

He noted, ‘It is never a bad idea for people to have a coalition to defeat the ruling APC. What we are saying is that we, as a political party, we were already a coalition, in the sense that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are integral members of the Labour Party.’

According to him, the Labour Party is unique because the membership of the NLC and the TUC is recognised in the constitution of the party.

‘You can agree with me that there is no polling unit area, there is no corner in Nigeria; not even a ward, where you cannot find either a retired or a serving civil servant. So, by sheer membership of the NLC and TUC in the Labour Party, every civil servant in Nigeria is technically a member of the Labour Party,’ he explained.

The LP spokesman said the party’s structure was therefore rooted at the polling-unit level, rather than merely at the ward level.

‘So, we can’t be going into a coalition. We can’t have such a well-structured platform and go into a coalition that is not well-defined for us’, Asogwa added.

He stated that while the LP was not ‘averse to coalition’, its platform was open to political parties and groups seeking to collaborate against the APC.

‘We have already made our platform available for anybody who wants to engage in any form of coalition. We can’t leave a well-structured party like ours and collapse our ambition into something that is not clearly defined,’ Asogwa said.

He explained that the conveners of the G-100 Summit had yet to clearly define what they meant by presenting a unified front against the APC.

‘The conveners of the G-100 Summit have not been able to come out with what they mean by presenting a unified front against the APC. So, when that is well-defined, maybe we may decide to tinker with our position,’ he said.

The Labour Party spokesman maintained that the party would contest the 2027 general elections as a well-structured political organisation.

‘For now, Labour Party is going into this election as a well-structured political party, the best-structured political party in Nigeria today, as it is,’ he told our correspondent.

Asogwa said the party’s strength had increased significantly since the 2023 elections following efforts by the current leadership to deepen its relationship with the labour unions.

‘We had this potential even before the 2023 election, the potential we have in the NLC and the TUC. We had it even before the last election, but the former leadership of the party never harnessed that potential.

‘So, the current leadership of the party today has gone to marry the labour unions, the TUC, the NLC and the affiliate unions. And today, we are stronger than we were in 2023,’ he further stated.

He said the party would not abandon the structure it had painstakingly built for an undefined coalition, adding, ‘We can’t take time to build a formidable structure as we have built today and just abandon it on the altar of a coalition that has not been well-defined.’

However, Asogwa said the Labour Party remained willing to consider any clearly defined coalition proposal that was presented to it, noting that, ‘when it is properly defined, we may decide. We will sit down as a political party to understand what they are proposing, whether it is in tandem with what we already have.’

He added, ‘Our platform is open to other political parties who feel that they need to coalesce or collaborate in order to defeat the ruling APC. We have thrown our arms open. We are ready to welcome every shade of opinion. We are ready to welcome everyone who thinks that they need to coalesce into our structure to defeat the ruling APC.’

Meanwhile, the Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) told the newspaper that the summit would be an open platform to canvass and articulate opposition strategies to wrestle power from the APC in 2027.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of the INWC, Comrade Ini Ememobong, discussions will be wide-ranging, including the possibility of settling for a united opposition candidate to confront the APC’s President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

‘The summit will provide a framework for opposition cooperation and coordination.

‘The single candidacy is a destination and the meeting will provide a direction to the destination’, Ememobong disclosed to our correspondent.

Incidentally, the camp is not recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and will not present candidates for the polls.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, chaired by Honourable Abdulrahman Mohammed and backed by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, is the one recognised by INEC for now, pending the final determination of pending litigation before the courts.

SDP ready to work with true democrats

In its contributions, National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Ayenigba, declared that ‘the SDP is very much part of the G100 initiative and is occupying a frontline position in the scheme of things of the National Rescue Movement.’

He maintained that the party is committed to always working with true democrats and patriots who truly meant well for the country.

‘The SDP national leadership and its presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, will participate in the summit of Nigerian opposition political parties under the auspices of the G100.

‘The framework for opposition cooperation and coordination ahead of 2027 general elections is expected to be forged at the Summit.

Greatest force against a repeat of 2023 is Nigerian voters – Atiku’s aide

Also speaking on the G100 summit, Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, said the most decisive coalition ahead of the 2027 elections is already being formed outside the conference rooms among millions of Nigerians battered by economic hardship.

According to Shaibu, though ‘cooperation among opposition parties is important, especially where it is anchored on credible principles, electoral integrity and the overriding interest of Nigerians… I believe the most consequential coalition ahead of 2027 is already forming outside the conference rooms – among millions of Nigerians whose purchasing power has been destroyed by President Tinubu’s policies.’

When asked if the planned G100 summit on forging cooperation could prevent a repeat of 2023 elections where presidential candidates split their votes and gave victory to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu amidst the cynicism that the opposition parties cannot speak with one voice, Shaibu argued that the ordinary citizens have already formed the coalition to stop the incumbent president.

‘The worker whose salary can no longer buy what it bought three years ago, the trader whose customers have disappeared, the farmer crushed by transportation and input costs, the student burdened by higher fees, and the family that can no longer afford basic food do not need politicians to teach them how hardship feels,’ he said.

‘Tinubu took away their purchasing power. In 2027, they will take away his mandate.’

On the question of a single opposition candidate against the incumbent and APC presidential candidate, Shaibu said that remains a decision for the parties themselves.

‘Whether opposition parties ultimately agree on a common candidate is a matter for the respective parties and the democratic processes guiding them,’ he stated.

‘What is increasingly clear, however, is that Nigerians themselves are finding common ground: the cost of living is unbearable, the present economic direction has failed ordinary families, and the country urgently needs a government that will make life affordable again.’

He, however, said that voters will determine 2027.

‘So, while political cooperation can strengthen the opposition, the greatest force against a repeat of 2023 will be the Nigerian voter. Hunger does not belong to ADC, PDP, Labour or APC. Poverty has no party card,’ Shaibu said.

‘The real coalition in 2027 will be the coalition of Nigerians determined to recover the purchasing power President Tinubu took from them.’

They are confused elements -APC

The ruling APC, however, has said it is neither bothered nor rattled by the Monday summit of the opposition parties.

Speaking with Sunday Tribune in a telephone interview, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, dismissed the group as confused elements.

He said:’ Nothing concrete will come out of them. We will rather concentrate on our campaigns on how to win the next general elections and consolidate on our achievements. Their sense of entitlement to transportation will lead them to nowhere.’

Honourable Bala Ibrahim, APC Director of Publicity, said Nigerians are satisfied with the performance of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and would continue to vote for it.

He said:’ We aren’t rattled. Their gang-up won’t in any way make us have sleepless nights.

‘We have the support of Nigerians; G-100 can’t be greater than G-Nigeria. Nigerians are satisfied with us and will want to continue with APC.’

AS humans, we cannot communicate, so the communication experts say in the popular Axioms of Communication. By that, they mean that human beings possess an innate ability to talk. Man is a talking animal, so says Holly Weeks, an adjunct lecturer in Public Policy and Leadership at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. In her paper, ‘Taking Stress out of Stressful Communication’, published in Harvard Business Review’s 10 Best Reads on Communication, Weeks contends that, notwithstanding that human activities are dotted with speech and talking, we more often than we like run into stressful communication-some sensitive exchanges that hurt or haunt us in no small ways. She also submits that, despite having to live by talking, humans cannot avoid stressful communication. For instance, because every human being can talk, you would want simply to take communication for granted. But speech does have problems, and communication problems are spread across every form of communicative activity-verbal and non-verbal.

Just as we have noted that stressful conversations are unavoidable, we must also note that the stress in the conversations could be intentional or inherent in the activity in which we are engaged. In a situation of public communication, whether political or organisational, stressful conversations would erupt willy-nilly. The case of the poke by the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on the subsidy removal policy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a case in point here. Yes, Atiku might just have set out to communicate what he tagged the Atiku Economic Recovery Plan (AERP) to Nigerians when he released the statement through his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, on 20 August; the fact that he challenged a core policy thrust of the incumbent administration made it a stressful conversation on the part of the recipients. The same night Atiku released what looked like the foundation of his economic policy for the 2027 campaign; the presidency highlighted the stress inherent, and it has become a contentious piece of conversation since then. It has also become a source of huge stress for political actors, media aides of the president and the ruling party, as well as other spokespersons, who believe that they can contribute to the ongoing national debate. It was a major talking point among presidential hopefuls at the conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, last week. The Presidential Villa has almost daily taken on Atiku, either accusing him of a volte-face on his earlier positions in years past or describing him as someone talking from an archaic economic point. The Atiku declaration has also provided content for most television talk shows, political actors, and others in their attempt to showcase their knowledge of the issue at hand.

Atiku, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said that he would introduce a targeted subsidy regime that would accelerate domestic refining if elected in 2027-a statement the Presidency, in a quick reply by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, tagged as a show of desperation for power. Onanuga also accused the former number two man of a volte-face.

According to Atiku, if elected in 2027, he would implement the Atiku Economic Recovery Plan (AERP), which he said would replace the nation’s import-subsidy architecture and imbue it with a targeted, capped, transparently budgeted and independently audited production subsidy, which he said would be designed to lower energy costs and accelerate domestic refining.

‘My proposal is not to resurrect the old subsidy regime. We will move subsidy from importation to production, from middlemen to Nigerian refineries, and from unverifiable claims to verifiable barrels. The principle is simple: the subsidy will follow the barrel,’ Atiku said, and added: ‘Under the AERP, qualifying public and private Nigerian refineries would receive domestic crude at a preferential price, subject to strict production, efficiency, transparency and domestic-supply conditions.’

The Presidency had immediately fired back at Atiku, accusing him of a volte-face. It also tagged the ADC presidential candidate ‘a man who least comprehends current national realities’, adding that he spoke, ‘like a man from [an] archaic past’.

Onanuga wrote: ‘Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and perennial candidate for the presidency of Nigeria, has finally revealed his economic plans to Nigerians, should he be elected as President by January next year.

‘Against expectations that he would announce a more creative and ingenious alternative to the programme being executed by the Tinubu administration, Atiku Abubakar behaved like a man from an archaic past who least comprehends the present economic dynamics and suggested that he would restore the much-abused, wasteful, pillaged, corruption-ridden fuel subsidy regime, which the Petroleum Industry Act made illegal from the end of June 2023.’

After the initial attack on Atiku, the presidency has continued to top up its messages as it doubled down on the former Vice President, while the ADC presidential candidate has also continued to insist he would not back down on his proposal.

Without even going into the veracity of the claims on either side, we first have to give kudos to Atiku for coming out with this firestorm of an issue which immediately caught the attention of all in the 2027 electioneering campaign process. We need issue-based campaigns, and this is one example of such. Suddenly, the debate shifted from 31 governors and the threat of a one-party state or that the 2027 election was a fait accompli, and the complaints about rudderless opposition, and now it is about the fuel subsidy regime and what it means for all. This is an issue everyone has been papering over in the last three years.

President Bola Tinubu ignited the fire on 29 May 2023, when he suddenly announced, ‘subsidy is gone!’ With that, petrol, which was selling at less than ?200 per litre at the pumps, jumped to over ?1,000 across the country. Right now, it is more than ?1,200 in the South-West and an average of ?1,300 in the far North, South-East and South-South. The president, in making the announcement, did not project a detailed policy around the pronouncement. After the announcement came the palliatives to the states and the CNG transportation initiative. By simply saying subsidy was gone, the president had put Nigerians at the mercy of the fuel suppliers, who could sometimes change their figures twice in a day. We saw a quick somersault of figures at the pumps, which compelled Nigerians to pay more. Added to that, the government implemented the massive devaluation of the naira, which came with some-if you like-window-dressed adjectival phrases. That one took the naira from around ?600 to the US dollar to ?1,600 at the first instance. It recently settled at around ?1,350 to $1.

The combined effects of these two policies amounted to misery and financial strangulation for the working class, while those looking unto God for jobs were reduced to beggars or the proverbial living dead. On the contrary, the federal, state, and local governments have had their incomes quadrupled. So, as the citizens wallow in misery, the convoys of their governors grew longer with armoured versions of vehicles that are produced in faraway lands. A video recently surfaced online of the Katsina governor, in which the convoy was littered with armoured Escalades and all manner of treated SUVs. That is typical of many states.

If these are the realities Nigerians have associated with the ‘Subsidy is gone’ pronouncement of President Tinubu, can we then blame Atiku for stoking the fire and igniting an argument even though on a campaign trail? Nigerians want cheaper fuel; whatever will make them pay less would be attractive.

The presidency stated that even though Atiku used to believe that the subsidy regime must be eliminated and canvassed the same point in the build-up to the 2023 election, ‘he has now opportunistically recanted the major plank of his economic doctrine and turned a renegade.’

‘It is not difficult to explain why Atiku has latched onto the abandoned subsidy regime, five months to the election. Desperate for power, he needed to make a promise that he knew, if he were candid with our people, does not make fiscal sense, is retrogressive, and is against the genuine interest of the people. But before his suggestion hoodwinks the people, we must quickly subject the promise to a serious examination, especially in the context of Nigeria’s present economic and petroleum realities,’ the statement by Onanuga read.

Incidentally, many of the defenders of the president have been busy attacking the person of Atiku. Some have said that he was igniting confusion, which was difficult to ignore. When they do that, they make the conversations more stressful. Atiku, as a citizen of Nigeria, is entitled to his opinion. The government is also entitled to its choices. Both parties must, however, defend their options and convince the people why the option they chose was the best for the people, whether in the short or the long run. The people would remain the ultimate deciders of what is right or wrong as they endorse or reject either idea with their votes. The government has likened the sufferings associated with the subsidy removal and naira devaluation (or is it undervaluation) to the pains of childbirth. Luckily, it has had three years to implement the programme. Everyone knows that no woman can last three years in the labour room. By that time, the first child should be ripe for a sibling. So, at this time, government communicators should be telling us the gains from the subsidy labour room. If the essence of their discussion remains that the president has been pushing more money to the states and local governments, that would amount to a self-defeating argument. The leadership recruitment process in the states in this Fourth Republic has shown that true and conscientious leaders may be hard to come by. A situation where it is either a cabal imposes a governorship candidate or a group of moneybags stakes their funds to install a governor can hardly produce a leader who would provide incisive governance. Little wonder, the fatter the FAAC allocations, the more astronomical the rise we see in the recurrent expenditure of the states and the local governments. In several instances, the governors simply pocket the funds belonging to the local governments and use that as ‘pocket money’.

Rather than attack Atiku for raising the debate on subsidy removal at this time, defenders of the status quo should show us the good things we have reaped from the removal of the subsidy. Maybe they should also explain why the government is still borrowing money, despite the subsidy removal and the devaluation of the currency. Both policies incidentally attack the purchasing power of the average worker. The least-paid public worker goes home with ?70,000, barely enough to transport him to work, yet he has a family of four or more to feed, school fees to pay, and health challenges to attend to. He also has no assurance about how to raise the next rent. Discussions should therefore turn to public accountability, rather than name-calling, tagging, and what have you. How does the money the country makes work for the people? What benefits are Nigerians deriving from the oil God has given them, and how do we hold our leaders to account for the funds they oversee? For the government in power, the people need to hear what they are doing to fix the dilapidated infrastructure, the collapsed Ajaokuta Steel Company, the massive rail projects that should link the North to the South, the ongoing superhighways and plans to add others, including the Abuja-Lagos and Port Harcourt-Maiduguri superhighways, among others. They should also poke at Atiku’s subsidy plan. How will he do it differently, and how will he avoid the usual rent-seeking that followed the subsidy bazaar of the past?

The Ondo State Government said it has intensified efforts to improve power supply, boost agricultural production and attract industrial investments as part of measures to drive economic growth and improve the standard of living of residents of the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, disclosed this while reviewing the achievements of the present administration in the last 18 months.

Adeniyan said the initiatives were anchored on the government’s ‘Our EASE’ agenda of ease of living, ease of doing business and ease of governance, stressing that ‘the central idea is to put the people first, deliver projects that matter and build a foundation for sustainable growth.’

According to him, the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in the state had taken steps to address the power challenges confronting households and businesses through alternative energy initiatives, mass metering and the establishment of a regulatory framework for the electricity sector.

He disclosed that the State Executive Council recently approved a $1.6 million 350-kilowatt hydropower project as well as a 7.5-megawatt gas-fired turbine project to provide power to government facilities across the state.

He added that the government had commenced the distribution of transformers to communities, while the ‘Light-Up the Lucky Light’ solar programme and the O’Datiwa Mass Metering Programme were also being implemented to improve electricity supply and reduce the burden of energy costs on residents and businesses.

‘The strategy is to combine regulation, alternative energy, consumer protection and infrastructure development while laying the foundation for state-level electricity generation,’ Adeniyan said.

On agriculture, the CPS said the administration had committed more than N10 billion to the sector, with emphasis on food security, investment, value-chain development and support for farmers.

He said the government was opening up large areas of farmland to attract private investment, while rural roads were being constructed and rehabilitated to facilitate the movement of agricultural produce from farms to markets.

Adeniyan disclosed that more than 500 youths had been trained and empowered in modern agricultural practices, while the administration had inaugurated the Ondo State Cocoa Revolution and Management Board to strengthen the state’s position as Nigeria’s leading cocoa producer.

He said the state had also inaugurated a Strategic Committee on compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation, while 14,000 smallholder cocoa and oil palm farmers had been profiled under the FAO GEF-7 programme across eight local government areas.

On industrialisation, Adeniyan said the administration was pursuing major investments in the Ondo Deep Sea Port, refinery, Free Trade Zone and fertiliser plant as part of efforts to transform the state into a major industrial hub.

He said the government’s investment drive had also contributed to the return of the Dangote Group to the state, with plans to establish what he described as Nigeria’s largest industrial zone in Ondo State.

According to him, the state government had signed several memoranda of understanding with investors, including a $50 billion investment agreement involving Backbone Infrastructure Nigeria Limited and Sunshine Infrastructure JV.

He said the proposed investment included a 500,000-barrel-per-day refinery and a 1,471-hectare Free Trade Zone in Ilaje, while another $4 billion petrochemical, fertiliser and cement project was also being pursued.

Adeniyan said the various investments were expected to create jobs, strengthen local production, diversify the state’s revenue base and stimulate economic activities across the state.

‘We are not just attracting investments for the sake of it; the objective is to create jobs, support local businesses, diversify government revenue and position Ondo State as a competitive investment destination,’ he said.

The CPS said the three sectors were part of the administration’s broader development strategy, which also included road infrastructure, healthcare, education, security and youth and women empowerment.

He added that the administration’s focus remained on implementing projects and policies capable of delivering tangible benefits to residents and laying a foundation for sustainable economic development in Ondo State.

As the world continues to expand into a more technology-driven and competitive economy, with millions of youths globally taking advantage of emerging opportunities in education, innovation and digital skills, a Nigerian entrepreneur and tech expert, John Akhigbe, has urged Nigerian youths to embrace education and acquire the skills needed to compete in the global space.

Akhigbe, who spoke on the need for greater investment in young people, noted that financial limitations should not be allowed to prevent youths from pursuing education or developing themselves for the opportunities emerging across the world.

Speaking with newsmen during the unveiling of 100 free General Certificate Examination (GCE) forms for indigent students in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State, he disclosed that youths must be empowered with the education, skills and opportunities required to become productive members of society.

He said the rapidly changing global economy had made education and continuous learning increasingly important, urging young Nigerians to look beyond immediate challenges and prepare themselves for a future where skills and knowledge would determine access to opportunities.

According to him, government alone cannot bear the responsibility of preparing the country’s growing youth population for the future, stressing that individuals, private organisations and community leaders also have important roles to play.

Akhigbe said this was part of the motivation behind the annual educational intervention of the Glade Crescent Foundation for Youth Empowerment, which he founded to support young people, particularly those whose families may struggle to meet the cost of education.

The latest intervention, which took place at the Emmanuel Primary School playing ground in Ojota on Friday, August 21, 2026, saw 100 students from low-income families receive GCE forms at no cost.

The programme, now in its seventh year, according to Akhigbe, was conceived to ensure that students who have the ability and desire to continue their education are not forced to abandon their ambitions because of financial difficulties.

He said, ‘For several years, we have supported students with GCE forms because we believe that financial circumstances should never prevent a talented young person from continuing their education.’

He added that the initiative was not merely about distributing examination forms but about giving young people a sense of possibility and encouraging them to take their future seriously.

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‘Today is not simply about giving out GCE forms; it is about providing opportunities and hope. It is about telling our young people that their dreams matter and that their community believes in them,’ he said.

The technology expert, who spent his childhood in Ojota, also called on successful Nigerians to consider investing in young people within their communities, arguing that relatively small interventions could make a significant difference in the lives of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

He further linked the initiative to broader efforts to improve access to education, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying increased opportunities for young people would ultimately benefit the country.

Also speaking at the event, APC chieftain Hajia Salamatu Baiwa commended the initiative and urged more individuals to support educational development at the grassroots.

Baiwa said Akhigbe had sustained the intervention for several years, assisting young people with GCE forms and other educational needs.

‘John has been on this journey for over six years, helping young people with GCE forms and other educational needs,’ she said.

She also said the establishment of NELFUND had further strengthened efforts to reduce financial barriers to education, describing access to education as critical to the ability of young Nigerians to improve their lives and contribute meaningfully to society.

The event also featured a counselling session by Funke Ogunnaike, who encouraged the beneficiaries to develop clear goals, remain focused and make responsible decisions as they pursue their education.

The students, who expressed appreciation for the support, were urged to see the opportunity not simply as assistance with an examination but as another step towards building the qualifications and skills needed to compete in an increasingly demanding global environment.