Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Nigeria is losing significant economic value, jobs and opportunities by exporting raw materials instead of processing, branding and marketing finished products, a new report by Rome Business School Nigeria (RBSN) has found.

The report, titled: ‘Rethinking ‘Made in Nigeria’: Value chains, global positioning and economic identity transformation,’ said Nigeria’s persistent failure to build globally competitive industries was not due to a lack of entrepreneurial talent or natural resources, but weaknesses across its value chains, industrial infrastructure, branding and production systems.

It said the country must move beyond encouraging Nigerians to patronise locally made products and instead develop a globally competitive ‘Made in Nigeria’ brand built around quality, innovation, trust and international standards. According to the report, Nigeria supplies about 40 per cent of the world’s raw shea nuts but captures only about one per cent of the global shea products market, estimated at $6.5 billion.

It said the bulk of the value is created outside Nigeria, where raw shea is processed into cosmetics and other premium products and sold under international brands.

The report said a similar pattern exists in cocoa, leather, spices and other agricultural commodities, with Nigeria producing raw materials while other countries undertake processing, branding and marketing and consequently capture higher returns.

It also found that only about 15 per cent of the value generated from Nigeria’s petroleum industry is retained domestically, compared with more than 40 per cent in Brazil.

The report said the low level of domestic value retention was contributing to unemployment, import dependence, high production costs and weak industrial capacity.

It noted that businesses in Nigeria are forced to contend with poor roads, unreliable electricity and high logistics costs, which increase the cost of locally manufactured goods and undermine their competitiveness.

The report further estimated that more than 40 per cent of fresh agricultural produce is lost after harvest due to inadequate storage, poor roads and weak cold-chain systems, resulting in smallholder farmers losing more than 30 per cent of their income.

It also highlighted the weak export performance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which account for 96.9 per cent of businesses, employ 87.9 per cent of the workforce and contribute 46.32 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.

Despite their economic dominance, the report said MSMEs account for only 6.21 per cent of exports, indicating that most businesses remain focused on survival rather than developing globally competitive products.

Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil also remains a major concern, with crude accounting for 74.98 per cent of exports in the second quarter of 2024 and 65.44 per cent in the third quarter, according to the report.

It added that manufacturing contributes about nine per cent of GDP, while factories operate at approximately 57 per cent of installed capacity.

Speaking on the findings, the Founding President and Dean of RBSN, Prof. Antonio Ragusa, said Nigeria had the resources and human capital required to become a manufacturing powerhouse but must shift from exporting commodities to creating value through processing, innovation, branding and competitive production.

Ragusa said ‘Made in Nigeria’ should be repositioned from a patriotic slogan to a mark associated with quality, innovation, trust and international competitiveness.

The Head of Academics at RBSN, Sam Igwe, said Nigeria had the capacity to develop a strong national brand capable of increasing the global appeal of its products, similar to the international influence achieved by Afrobeats.

He called for stronger institutions, modern industrial infrastructure and efficient supply chains capable of producing goods that meet international standards, while urging greater investment in national branding.

The General Manager of RBSN, Olakunle Asummo, described the findings as a wake-up call to policymakers, investors and manufacturers.

He said Nigeria’s entrepreneurial capacity would only translate into sustainable economic growth if businesses had access to reliable infrastructure, quality certification, modern packaging, financing and globally recognised standards.

The report also identified consumer trust as a major obstacle to the growth of locally made products, noting that many consumers choose imported goods because of concerns about consistency, quality assurance, packaging, warranties and consumer protection.

It recommended that future ‘Made in Nigeria’ initiatives focus on five areas: international certification, world-class product design, premium packaging, authentic storytelling and strong consumer protection.

The report said strengthening these areas would enable Nigerian products to compete more effectively in international markets, create jobs, reduce poverty and support sustainable economic growth.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for stronger national and international cooperation to tackle emerging security threats confronting Nigeria and other parts of the world.

He said Nigeria was facing ‘multifaceted’ security challenges requiring coordinated and sustainable responses from governments, international organisations, faith leaders and other stakeholders.

The President spoke in Abuja yesterday at the international conference on security organised by Jama’atu Izalatil Bidiah wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS Nigeria) in partnership with the Muslim World League of Saudi Arabia.

The conference, which had the theme: ‘Diversity and social peace: partnership for a promising future,’ brought together Muslim and Christian leaders, scholars and representatives from Saudi Arabia and other African countries.

Represented by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Tinubu said his administration remained committed to working with other countries and international organisations to build a stable and secure Nigeria while contributing to global security.

‘Working within the Committee of Nations, [the government is] collaborating every day to ensure that security remains not only in our country but in the entire globe,’ he said.

He said the conference was significant given the evolving security situation and the need for authorities, faith leaders and other stakeholders to examine emerging threats to national and digital security.

Tinubu said the deliberations should produce practical recommendations to complement the government’s efforts to address insecurity.

He urged Nigerians to preserve national unity despite their differences.

The President commended the Muslim World League for choosing Nigeria as the venue and assured participants of the Federal Government’s support for initiatives promoting peace and security.

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, urged religious leaders to make churches and mosques centres of peace.

To him, religion should promote human dignity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence rather than hatred and division.

Yilwatda urged clerics to use their influence to foster peaceful relations among Nigerians of different faiths and cautioned against using religious convictions to incite violence.

‘Let us preach faith without hatred, conviction without contempt, and truth without incitement,’ he said.

The APC chairman said genuine faith must compel believers to protect the lives, dignity and freedom of people of other religions.

He recalled his childhood in Yola, Adamawa State, where his father, a pastor, maintained a close friendship with a Muslim leader.

He said the relationship between the two families taught him that religious differences should not prevent peaceful coexistence.

However, Yilwatda said his family later lost its home and possessions during communal violence in Bauchi, an experience that showed him the devastating consequences of violence committed in the name of religion or ethnicity.

‘We may worship differently, but we suffer together. We dream together. We can build together, and ultimately, we can rise and fall together,’ he said.

He also cautioned political leaders against exploiting religion and ethnicity for political advantage, urging traditional rulers to promote dialogue and reduce suspicion among communities.

Yilwatda urged Nigerians to be cautious about sharing claims capable of deepening religious and ethnic divisions, particularly information that could inflame tensions.

He called for a society where children inherit schools, homes and opportunities rather than displacement camps and memories of violence.

The Federal Government has distributed starter packs to 18,510 Nigerians trained in vocational and entrepreneurial skills to enable them to establish businesses and create jobs.

The beneficiaries, drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, completed a two-week training programme as part of the first batch of the Renewed Hope Vocational and Skills Training Programme of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

Speaking at the closing ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, said the programme was designed to move beneficiaries beyond temporary relief by equipping them with practical skills and productive assets capable of generating sustainable livelihoods.

The beneficiaries were trained in automobile technology, agricultural technology, baking and confectionery, carpentry and furniture making, catering services, electrical installation, housekeeping and hospitality services, jewellery and bead making, masonry, plumbing, welding and fabrication, fashion design and sewing, grinding machine operation, vulcanising and tyre services.

They also received training in entrepreneurship, business management, financial literacy and customer relations.

Doro said the intervention was part of the ministry’s broader ‘One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response’ system, which seeks to move Nigerians on the National Social Registry through a structured pathway from registration to skills acquisition, productive assets and enterprise, ultimately leading to graduation out of poverty.

He said the government was not merely giving beneficiaries certificates but putting trades in their hands and providing the equipment needed to begin working immediately.

According to him, the government recovered, refurbished and redeployed vocational equipment that had remained unused in warehouses for years.

The minister urged beneficiaries to protect and maintain the starter packs and to use them to establish businesses that would create employment opportunities in their communities.

‘The starter packs you receive today are not gifts in the ordinary sense. They are productive assets, an investment in your future, and a statement of confidence in you. Protect them, maintain them, and put them to work, building businesses that create jobs for others in your communities, not only income for yourselves.’

The National Coordinator of NSIPA, Assoc. Prof. Badamasi Lawal, said the beneficiaries were trained not only to become self-employed but also to become employers of labour.

He added that the agency would monitor the use of the starter packs to ensure they were deployed for their intended purpose.

The National Programme Manager of N-POWER, Dr Nsikak Okon, said the government has established mechanisms to track beneficiaries and ensure that the starter packs are properly utilised.

He said all beneficiaries have been enrolled on a digital portal equipped with GPS to monitor their locations and track their progress.

According to him, the portal also contains details of the starter packs allocated to individual beneficiaries, enabling them to report discrepancies or defects.

Okon also added that a call centre has been established to enable beneficiaries to report challenges and seek assistance.

Each beneficiary received a ?60,000 transport allowance to support travel during the two-week training period.

Enactus Nigeria has, over the past 25 years, supported and empowered over 20,000 tertiary students with entrepreneurial, leadership, and innovation skills, its Country Director Michael Ajayi has said,

The aim, according to him is to equip young Nigerians to develop solutions to pressing social and economic challenges and driving economic sustainability.

Ajayi, made this known in a statement against the backdrop of growing debates among Nigerian youths on the relevance of formal education to wealth creation and success.

Ajayi said while entrepreneurial success could be achieved through different pathways, the increasing perception that education was no longer important because of a few exceptional success stories could undermine investment in human capital and the development of skilled professionals, entrepreneurs and responsible leaders.

He explained that Enactus Nigeria’s approach combines education with innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity, discipline and problem-solving to equip students with practical skills for addressing social, economic and environmental challenges.

According to him, through experiential learning, Enactus students work in multidisciplinary teams to identify community needs, develop innovative solutions, mobilise resources and implement projects that create measurable social and economic impact.

Ajayi said a major component of the organisation’s programme is the annual Enactus Nigeria National Competition, which brings together student teams from tertiary institutions across the country to showcase and defend their community projects before business executives, industry experts and development leaders.

The 2026 National Competition, themed ‘Re-Imagining Transformation,’ is scheduled for Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

He said that the winning university team would represent Nigeria at the 2026 Enactus World Cup in Brazil, while the competition would also provide an avenue for identifying promising student innovations for investment, scaling and commercialisation.

‘Our long-term impact is in developing Nigerian students to become responsible future leaders,’ Ajayi said, adding that outstanding innovations should not end as competition entries but should evolve into businesses capable of creating jobs, generating wealth and improving lives.

As preparations intensify for the 2026 National Competition, the Country Director expressed profound appreciation to the organisations that have supported Enactus Nigeria’s mission over the years through funding, mentorship, technical expertise and strategic partnerships.

Ajayi urged investors, development finance institutions, corporate organisations, philanthropic foundations and strategic partners to support the transformation of promising student innovations into sustainable enterprises capable of creating jobs and improving livelihoods.

He acknowledged the invaluable contributions of partners and sponsors, including KPMG, SC Johnson, Chevron Nigeria, Schneider Electric, Sahara Group, Unilever, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), FirstBank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Sahara Foundation, LEKOIL, Coca-Cola Nigeria, the United States Embassy in Abuja and the United States Consulate General in Lagos, Sterling Bank, Interswitch, First E and P(first exploration and petroleum development company limited), Sovereign Trust, Nigeria Society of Engineers, African Capital Alliance Foundation, Verve, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Renaissance (Africa Energy Company Limited) among several others.

Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) has rejected the claims of Chief Executive Officer of Ken-Eva, Mr Kenneth Nwiya, over a trademark name of its investment and economic summit scheduled for next month.

Nwiya had announced his immediate withdrawal from ongoing settlement talks with the chambers over what he described as the use of the trademarked name, ‘Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit’, alleging bad faith, intimidation and abuse of law enforcement processes.

Nwiya, who reportedly spoke at a news conference in Abuja, alleged that while negotiations were being facilitated by the Trademark Registry, the chambers petitioned Nigeria Police against him on allegations he said were false and malicious.

He claimed that Ken-Eva Consult Ltd. is the lawful owner of the intellectual property rights to the ‘Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit’ trademark, having filed the first application for its registration in 2023.

He said the settlement discussions were initiated after the chambers approached his company seeking permission to use the trademarked name, adding that he participated in the negotiations in good faith with the expectation of reaching an amicable resolution.

But the chambers in a statement issued by the Secretary of the NDCCITMA Board, Chief Solomon Edebiri, said it had initially resolved not to take issues with Mr. Nwiya over what it described as frivolous, baseless and misleading claims concerning the alleged indiscriminate use of his trademark.

The chambers said it had become necessary to set the records straight and draw the attention of the public to the facts surrounding the matter.

The statement said: ‘For the records, it is pertinent to state that, contrary to an advert placed on AIT and circulating on some media outlets, NDCCITMA did not at any time approach the claimant to seek permission to use the purported trademark name’.

The chambers explained that following the conception of the name and acronym ‘Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit’, it proceeded with the necessary registration process.

According to NDCCITMA, its application was received and approved by the relevant department of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Industry on August 16, 2025, while the application purportedly filed by Mr. Nwiya was received on September 3, 2025.

The chambers, therefore, questioned the basis of the claimant’s assertions, noting that, to its knowledge, there was no credible evidence of an earlier approval or acceptance of the claimant’s application by the relevant government agency.

NDCCITMA described the allegations as an attempt at blackmail and an affront to the aspirations of the people of Niger Delta, stressing that the proposed summit was conceived to promote economic development, investment, trade and regional cooperation in Niger Delta.

The chambers further said that, despite interventions by personalities from the region aimed at resolving the disagreement amicably, Nwiya had allegedly continued along what it described as a path capable of undermining the summit and weakening the collective aspirations of the people of Niger Delta.

NDCCITMA consequently urged the public, particularly stakeholders in Niger Delta, to disregard what it described as the claims and assertions of the claimant.

The chambers also challenged Nwiya to produce valid documentary evidence establishing an earlier application and approval for the use or registration of the disputed name, predating NDCCITMA’s application and the acceptance document dated August 16, 2025.

The chambers reaffirmed its commitment to the successful hosting of the 2026 Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit, describing the event as a collective initiative aimed at advancing the economic interests and development of Niger Delta.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed concern that some governors’ alleged failure to implement the 2025 agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities could trigger another strike in the nation’s universities.

The students’ body stated this yesterday following ASUU’s decision to authorise 20 affected university branches to issue 14-day ultimatums over the non-implementation of the agreement.

The development has already triggered industrial action at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, where the union’s branch has commenced a strike.

In a statement by its President, Akinteye Afeez, NANS acknowledged the right of university lecturers to demand the implementation of agreements reached with the government, but urged ASUU not to make students bear the consequences of the dispute.

NANS said repeated strikes had subjected students to prolonged academic disruptions, delayed graduation and extended programmes, with serious psychological consequences.

The statement read in part: ‘While we recognise and respect the rights of university lecturers to demand their rights, we strongly appeal to the leadership of ASUU to ensure that Nigerian students are not made to bear the consequences of disputes arising from the implementation of an agreement to which they are not parties.’

The students’ body urged ASUU to direct its engagement towards the state governments and institutions responsible for outstanding aspects of the agreement rather than shutting universities.

It said the failure of some state governments to implement the 2025 agreement was a major concern, particularly in the affected institutions.

NANS also warned governors that allowing avoidable industrial action to cripple universities in their states would amount to a serious dereliction of responsibility.

‘Any governor who, despite the increased allocations accruing to states, allows avoidable industrial action to cripple the university system in his state is irresponsible and unfit to be a Governor,’ the association said.

It called on all state governments with affected universities to immediately honour their obligations under the 2025 agreement and resolve outstanding issues affecting academic staff.

NANS said students should not be sent away from classrooms because of what it described as the ‘irresponsibility, ineptitude, and callousness’ of governors.

‘We appeal to these Governors to place the interests of students at the centre of their governance. The classroom must remain the last place where the consequences of an administrative failure are borne by innocent students,’ the statement said.

The students’ body, however, said it remained committed to constructive engagement with ASUU, the Federal Government and university managements to ensure uninterrupted academic activities.

‘Nigerian students deserve uninterrupted education,’ NANS added.

Prominent political leaders, senior government officials, and grassroots mobilizers are set to headline discussions at the Oyo State Emerging Political Leaders Summit 2026, scheduled for August 24-25, 2026, at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Ibadan.

The summit, themed ‘Bridging the Gap, Uniting Political Strength, and Mobilizing Emerging Leaders for 2027,’ is being positioned as a strategic political convergence platform aimed at bringing together influential emerging political leaders, stakeholders from across political parties, independent mobilizers, community political leaders, and other grassroots actors ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the organisers, the summit is designed to promote political reconciliation, strengthen grassroots coordination, deepen inclusion, and broaden support for the APC in Oyo State, while building wider momentum for the re-election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

Among the leading figures billed for the event include the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Dr. Zacchaeus Adedeji who will serve as Chief Facilitator.

Adedeji is expected to deliver a session on ‘Fiscal Renewal, Revenue Mobilization, and the Economic Future of Oyo State in the Context of Nigeria’s Progressive National Agenda.’

Organizers say the session will connect Oyo State’s future to broader national reform efforts, while helping emerging leaders better understand the link between politics and economic governance.

Also expected at the summit is the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, who is the Special Guest of Honour, while Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, will deliver the keynote address on ‘Bridging Political Divides, Building Strategic Alliances, and Mobilizing Òyó State for Progressive Victory in 2027.’

His speech is expected to focus on coalition-building, political alignment, and the strategic steps required to unify political strength in the state ahead of the next electoral cycle.

Other featured speakers include Comrade Ayodele Wisdom Olawande, Honourable Minister of Youth Development, who will speak on ‘Youth Mobilization, Political Inclusion, and Building a New Generation of Electoral Victory’; Mr. Dayo Israel, National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on ‘Emerging Political Leaders and the Future of APC Grassroots Mobilization in Òyó State’; and Barrister Ismael Ahmed, OON, Executive Chairman of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, on ‘Energy Reform, Youth Enterprise, and the Politics of Economic Hope.’

Also listed among the speakers are Barrister Seyi Tinubu, who will address ‘Youth Engagement, Political Consciousness, and Mobilizing the Emerging Generation for 2027’; Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, who will speak on ‘Reconciliation, Political Relevance, and the Power of Inclusion in Òyó State Politics’; Chief Engineer Dotun Sanusi, with a session on ‘Private Sector, Grassroots Mobilization, and Building Political Strength for Òyó’s Future’; and Honourable Engineer Aderemi Abass Oseni, who will speak on ‘Grassroots Representation, Political Inclusion, and Mobilizing Emerging Leaders for APC Victory in Òyó State.’

The summit is expected to host more than 1,000 participants from across Òyó State, including Emerging Political Leaders, stakeholders from the APC, PDP, APM, and other political parties, independent mobilizers, community political leaders, youth leaders, women leaders, civil society stakeholders, and media actors.

A major highlight of the event will be the launch of the 50 Below 50 Project, Òyó State Chapter, alongside the signing of the Generational Inclusion Pact by Senator Sharafadeen Alli, APC Òyó 2027 Governorship Candidate, with Emerging Political Leaders across the state.

Organizers described the summit as a timely political intervention aimed at reducing fragmentation among key actors, restoring the relevance of strategic stakeholders, and building a broader progressive coalition capable of shaping the political future of Òyó State.

Thousands of travellers were stranded across the country’s major airports yesterday as aviation workers embarked on a strike.

The industrial action, according to them, is over alleged anti-union practices, casualisation of workers and withholding of statutory funds, including the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) by domestic airlines.

The strike, ordered by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), in collaboration with the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), led to suspension, cancellation and rescheduling of flights by airlines. The aviation unions were backed by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC)

At the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 in Lagos, as well as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Terminal in Abuja, officials of the three unions in the early hours of yesterday barricaded entrances of the departure terminals, preventing the airlines from attending to passengers.

The airlines whose flight operations were worst affected included Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, Ibom Air, Enugu Air and Aero Contractors.

Customer Service Officers attached to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) took time to assuage angry passengers who could not undertake their flights on the affected airlines.

ATSSSAN National President, John Ogbe, attributed the strike to the expiration of consecutive 14-day, seven-day, and three-day ultimatums given the airlines on the issues in contention.

The other contentious issues are the airlines’ failure to regularise qualified casual workers and withholding more than N25 billion in statutory funds due to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other aviation agencies.

Ogbe stated that a recent intervention meeting on the issues by the Ministry of Aviation ended without progress after the Airline Operators of Nigeria ( AON) declined to engage.

He warned that if the dispute remained unresolved, the industrial action would expand to all the remaining domestic airports nationwide starting today.

Airlines advise passengers

Air Peace, in a statement, lamented the impact of the strike on its operations.

The airline apologised to its passengers for the disruption and inconvenience caused by the ”circumstances beyond” its control.

The statement reads in part: We wish to inform our esteemed passengers and the general flying public of temporary disruptions to our flight operations arising from the picketing of our airline.

‘Passengers scheduled to travel later today(yesterday) are being contacted and provided with relevant updates as the situation evolves.

”We will continue to closely monitor developments and will provide further updates as necessary.”

United Nigeria Airlines (UNA), said it suspended 32 of its flights to protect the safety of its passengers and crew.

Spokesman for the airline, Chibuike Uloka, said UNA’s eight serviceable aircraft were fully booked before the picketing. He assured passengers that UNA would resume full operations once normalcy returned.

Also, Enugu Air said its passengers were advised to check their email, SMS and official social media platforms for updates,

The airline added it encouraged those requiring assistance on rebooking and other enquiries to contact its customer service team.

Chief Executive Officer of one of the affected carriers, who asked not to be named, called on the Federal Government to investigate the action of the labour unions.

He lamented that the strike impacted his airline’s flights out of Abuja.

He explained that their operations out of Lagos were disrupted because the unions concentrated their picketing at General Aviation Terminal (GAT).

On the cost of the strike on his airline, he said: I can’t say that now. We have to do a study and see the cost of the impact of the strike.

‘This shows that the aviation sector has a bigger problem than we think. If the unions are taking it upon themselves to picket the airlines because they are not paying five per cent, then it has a problem because the agency has means of collecting the five per cent.

‘Nigeria is a country of law, and we are law-abiding citizens. I think the Federal Government should investigate this because people are taking laws into their own hands.’

An official of one of the unions said the latest action followed an unsuccessful attempt by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to broker peace at a meeting between the unions and airline operators on the contentious issues. According to him, the unions attended a meeting convened by the minister, but one of the airlines communicated back that it would not be available for discussions.

He said: ‘The airline has been discouraging other airlines from industrial democracy.

‘Our picketing of its counters is strategic. We have to start with the airline because it’s a major carrier in the country.

‘At present, we are only picketing their Lagos operations. We all know that most airlines depart or land in Lagos.

Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi, has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of allegedly importing political violence into the district ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The Nation recalls that Adeleke had called for Fadahunsi’s arrest over an alleged inciting remark against supporters of the Accord Party following the killing of 12 APC members in the state.

Reacting to the governor at a press conference in Osogbo on Wednesday, Fadahunsi alleged that more than 40 people had been killed in Osun East in the last year, accusing the state government of failing to prevent the violence.

He further claimed that 30 APC members had been killed within the last month, alleging that the attacks were intended to intimidate opposition supporters and discourage them from coming out to vote.

According to him, ‘Adeleke created terrorism from Ede into Osun East, the stronghold of APC, for us to be destabilised, so that people will not go out en masse to cast their votes.’

Fadahunsi, who chronicled several incidents of violence in Ijesaland, alleged that four people were killed while 16 others sustained gunshot injuries during a crisis over the control of local government administration.

He also accused some appointees of Adeleke and the governor’s political allies of being behind some of the incidents, alleging that the violence was linked to political interests in the area.

The senator’s allegations come amid heightened tension in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, following reports of killings and clashes involving supporters of rival political parties.

He said, ‘In the last one year, over 40 people were killed in the district unchecked by either the police or the governor. Members of Amotekun Corps killed 4 people in Akinlalu while six others sustained gunshot wounds.’

Fadahunsi also alleged that some individuals with links to cult groups had been used to perpetrate violence in Ijesa land.

Fadahunsi said the situation had become worrisome ahead of the August 15 election, alleging that opposition supporters had been targeted.

He claimed that 12 APC members were killed within 24 hours in recent attacks, while several others sustained injuries.

‘Go to Wesley Guild, there are corpses everywhere. The former Speaker, Timothy Owoeye, and Remi Omowaiye are in hospital instead of planning for the election,’ he said.

He alleged that the violence was aimed at creating fear among voters in Osun East, while claiming that Ede, the governor’s home town, remained peaceful, saying ‘We observed that it is only Osun East that this governor from Ede is terrorising.’

‘Adeleke created terrorism from Ede into Osun East, the stronghold of APC for us to be destabilised, so that people will not go out en masse to cast their votes.’

Fadahunsi said he had led a protest to the palace of the Owa of Ijesaland to draw attention to what he described as politically motivated killings in the area.

He urged traditional rulers and security agencies to ensure that voters were not intimidated or prevented from exercising their franchise.

‘I want to urge the security agencies to ensure arrest of anyone who may want to prevent our people from coming out en masse,’ he said.

‘If they want to return to power by force, it is not possible. Let us do our election free and fair, not by introducing terrorism in my district to chase away the people,’ Fadahunsi said.

Fadahunsi urged residents of Osun East to remain resolute and participate in the election, assuring APC supporters that their votes would determine the outcome.

He said the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), would emerge victorious in the election.

‘By August 15, when all these have ended, let them be going around to be talking grammar where they feel. The people of Osun State have understood the game that they are devilish and they are ready to reject them. AMBO will win the governorship race,’ he said.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, said on Wednesday that it will be a disservice for Nigerians to vote another president other than Tinubu in 2027, saying campaign for his re-election must be based on facts and figures.

The Speaker, who spoke when he hosted the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement led by its National Coordinator, Comrade Sunday Adekanbi Asuku, on a courtesy visit to his office said there are enough performance statistics to justify the second term bid of the President.

While declaring that it will be easy to sell the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate to Nigerians and secure well over 10 million votes for the President, Speaker Abbas stated that the re-election campaign will rest on facts and figures, showing how the Tinubu administration has made remarkable progress since taking over in 2023.

The Speaker warned that it will be a great disservice for Nigerians to vote for another presidential candidate after enduring the programmes and policies of the Tinubu administration, only for another President to reverse them.

With High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, as the Founder/Grand Patron, PBAT Door-to-Door Movement seeks to mobilise nationwide support and secure at least 10 million votes for President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Speaker Abbas said, ‘I am glad that in your speech, you mentioned the approach and the methodology of your campaign, to make it differ from what it used to be in the past, where people made noise with no substance.

‘This is a campaign that should be guided by facts and figures. Let people see and feel what the government has accomplished in the past three years.

‘And it will not be a difficult thing because we all know what this government has done in all the 36 states of the federation. So, it will be a campaign that will be guided principally by wisdom, issues, maturity, and facts and figures. Once you stay on course with these five noble things that I mentioned, you cannot get it wrong.’

According to the Speaker ‘there is no establishment at the national level that is closer to the grassroots than the House of Representatives. The parliament remains a major pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.

‘I assure you we will continue to be part of the ambassadors that will continue to enlighten the people about the wisdom of continuity, because in a country where over 40 out of 60 years of its existence was managed badly, no president or leader, no matter how good they are, will correct the wrongs of the past within four years.

‘So, it will be a very terrible mistake for Nigerians to reverse the modest gains that we have recorded from 2023 to date. People have sacrificed because of the policies that have been brought on board to solve those historic, decadent policies. People have paid prices for it. So, for us to now pick somebody to discard, all those sacrifices and modest achievements will not be justice to ourselves.’

Earlier, Comrade Asuku said the ‘thank you visit’ was at the instance of Tompolo. He commended Speaker Abbas for supporting the inauguration of the Movement.

He said, ‘It is safe to say that this Assembly-this House-is one of the best that Nigeria has witnessed in recent times. This is because we have a father, an erudite scholar; we have a square peg in a square hole, and I can attest to the fact that with a fine brain like you at the helm of affairs in the House, Nigeria will be in safe hands.’

While noting that the Movement is made up of organic supporters of President Tinubu, Asuku described the President as ‘a leader who is confronting our fears head-on.’

Stating that, ‘This government has done well,’ he said members of the Movement have taken it upon themselves and will stop at nothing to ensure electoral victory for President Tinubu.

Asuku, however, stated that the Movement is not out to drive a parallel campaign leadership with the APC. He said that is why the support group seeks to involve people like Speaker Abbas to ‘get your blessings and mentorship.’

He said, ‘This Movement will stop at nothing until we can galvanise nothing less than 10 million votes from our own angle. We don’t really know what the APC as a party will bring, but at the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, we will at least beat our chest that, yes, we are mopping up nothing less than 10 million votes for Mr. President. This is because the APC under his leadership has done well.’