Category: The Nation – Nigeria

International Workplace Group has announced plans to double its presence in Nigeria with launch of, Spaces, to strengthen the country’s flexible work economy.

At the unveiling in Lekki, Lagos, IWG Country Manager, Ayo Akinmade, said the expansion reflects demand for modern, cost-efficient work environments that back business agility and innovation.

He said: ‘IWG is an international business operating in 127 countries, with more than 9,000 locations in 900 cities. In Nigeria, we have 23 locations, and the introduction of Spaces marks a major milestone.’

He said Spaces offers a more open setup than IWG’s other brands – Regus and HQ – and is to help businesses scale without constraints of traditional office leases.

‘The difference with Spaces is that it has more space and flexibility. Businesses can grow and expand without being tied to long-term leases. In Lagos, this is our 13th location. We also have six in Abuja, and we’re expanding to Owerri and Kano,’ he said.

The launch comes as Nigeria’s economy continues to diversify, with startups, freelancers, and multinational firms embracing flexible workspace models.

Speaking for MHQ, Helen Oshinusi said the partnership aligns with MHQ’s mission to redefine corporate culture and promote sustainability in workplace design.

At a time when health systems worldwide are under pressure from workforce shortages, health inequalities and the opioid crisis, a medical doctor, Temitope Oriolowo, has distinguished herself as a physician and strategist working to reshape care delivery across Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Currently working as the Programme Lead for the Supporting Armed Forces Reserves in Healthcare initiative at the NHS Confederation, she provides national leadership on a workforce reform programme commissioned by the UK Ministry of Defence and the Department of Health and Social Care.

Under her guidance, NHS organisations and independent providers have adopted reservist-friendly policies that have improved staff retention, job satisfaction and deployment readiness.

‘Workforce policy is not just about contracts or numbers; it’s about creating systems where people can thrive, and patients can trust the care they receive,’ she said.

Oriolowo’s journey began in Nigeria, where she studied Medicine at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, and worked during the height of the country’s HIV epidemic. Those early years exposed her to the realities of stigma, poverty and limited access to care; experiences that shaped her commitment to system-level transformation.

At the Solina Centre for International Development and Research, she worked on national HIV and tuberculosis programmes, developing frameworks for task-shifting, integrating mental health into counselling and promoting advocacy strategies in rural communities. At MedGlobe Volunteers, she helped design interventions to reduce treatment dropouts and strengthen health posts.

‘Those years taught me that systems, not individuals, drive population health outcomes. We need resilient structures, not just heroic workers,’ she recalled.

Relocating to the United Kingdom, she pursued a Master of Public Health at Glasgow Caledonian University, where her research examined the experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, she has contributed to UK health strategy by working with NHS organisations, the Royal College of General Practitioners and Shaping Health International on workforce development, primary care and quality improvement.

She has also emerged as a strong advocate in tackling the UK’s opioid crisis, framing it as not only a drug problem but also a mental health and systems issue. She stated, ‘Opioid misuse is not simply a drug issue; it is a mental health, inequality, and system design issue,’ she said.

Meanwhile, Oriolowo’s contributions have earned her recognition as a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health, as well as a place in international policy circles.

She focuses on scaling proven solutions, embedding equity in public health strategies and ensuring that digital innovation is co-created with the communities it seeks to serve.

‘We have effective treatments, strong research and growing global collaboration. Now the challenge is scale; ensuring that innovation reaches the community level, where the impact is felt most,’ she noted.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned that schools denying vaccination teams access during the ongoing Measles-Rubella (MR) campaign risk sanctions, even as it announced incentives to encourage full compliance with immunisation across the territory.

Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, however, revealed that the Administration is introducing a reward package that includes enrolment of vaccinated children into the FCT Health Insurance Scheme, free health coverage for compliant schools, and recognition awards for communities and institutions that achieve full immunization targets.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Fasawe said the incentives were aimed at driving cooperation while reinforcing the government’s duty to protect children from preventable diseases.

‘We are introducing positive incentives to encourage schools and parents. Children vaccinated during the campaign’s extended period will automatically be enrolled in the FCT Health Insurance Scheme.

‘Immunisation is not just a health intervention; it is a legal, moral, and social duty that safeguards our collective future,’ she said.

She described as ‘deeply worrisome’ reports that several schools within the FCT had refused vaccination teams entry, calling it a violation of the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003.

‘Denying a child access to vaccination is not merely an administrative lapse; it is a violation of Sections 13 and 14 of the Child Rights Act, which mandate every parent, guardian, and institution to ensure that children are immunised,’ she said.

The Mandate Secretary revealed that the FCTA had compiled a list of non-compliant schools and issued warning letters reminding them of their legal obligations.

She added that the Administration would intensify advocacy through religious and traditional leaders while exploring legislation to promote compliance.

To strengthen accountability, according to her, the FCTA has also approved new directives for all public and private schools, which include mandatory immunisation verification during admission or transfer, maintenance of a Child Health Register in every school, collaboration with nearby Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) for on-site vaccination, inclusion of immunisation awareness during assemblies and PTA meetings, and monthly compliance reports through the Education Secretariat.

Fasawe disclosed that about 1.6 million children had been vaccinated from the 2.6 million target population across the FCT, prompting a three-day mop-up exercise involving 132 vaccination teams to reach unvaccinated children.

‘Our vaccination teams have worked tirelessly across the six Area Councils, supported by the FCT Health Insurance Scheme, which provided reflective jackets for 600 field workers.

‘However, refusal by some schools undermines this national effort and puts entire communities at risk,’ she lamented.

Fasawe reaffirmed the FCTA’s commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on health equity and universal coverage, warning that erring schools would face administrative sanctions under existing FCT Education and Public Health Regulations.

She commended compliant schools for supporting the vaccination drive and urged others to emulate their example.

On her part, the Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, appealed to parents, school administrators, and community leaders to embrace vaccination, assuring that the vaccines used in the campaign were safe and effective.

‘These vaccines will not harm our children. We must take responsibility for the future of our children and uphold the legacy of this administration by ensuring every child is protected through immunisation,’ she noted.

Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Rufai Garba, also cautioned against vaccine refusal, describing it as a harmful act that threatens both individual and public health.

Garba urged Nigerians to trust science and take lessons from past public health victories such as the eradication of smallpox.

He noted that vaccination remains one of the most effective tools for disease prevention and for protecting future generations.

‘Refusing vaccination puts communities at risk, overwhelms hospitals, and exposes families to preventable illness and financial hardship,’ he warned.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Friday warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors that their strategy of excluding him from key decisions will lead to the party’s collapse.

Wike, who gave the warning at a monthly live media parley monitored by The Nation in Abuja, expressed frustration for being sidelined from major consultations despite his long-standing influence within the party.

He said: ‘Have I not said it before now that the booby trap you are setting will consume you? The way these present governors are doing, they will bury this party’.

He directly challenged the logic of his exclusion, questioning whether his current role as a Minister or his past contributions rendered him irrelevant.

‘I am the FCT Minister. Are you telling me that because I am not a Governor, you will hold a PDP stakeholders’ meeting and exclude me, and then expect the party to survive?’ he said.

Wike dismissed the idea that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was to blame for the PDP’s internal crises, asserting that the problems were self-inflicted.

Wike said: ‘All these talks about APC are rubbish. Is it APC that makes you take wrong decisions? You mean two or three people because they are Governors and receive large allocations, will go and decide, and you tell me to follow? Follow who?’

On the upcoming PDP national convention, the Minister accused the party leadership of failing to complete essential groundwork.

‘If they do the right thing, will anybody stall the convention? They have not done the congresses and other things that should be in place,’ he said.

His warning comes as the PDP grapples with internal defections and legal battles threatening its planned convention slated for November 15 and 16, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He said: ‘Have I not said that so many Governors will leave? Is this the first time you have heard me say so? It is very embarrassing. The Governor was the Chairman of the Convention Committee. It is very embarrassing.

‘Diri was the Chairman of the Zoning Committee. Even though I knew from the beginning that they were all playing games. I knew from the beginning, I said it before. There is nothing I said that has not come to pass. Tell me one,’ he said.

He added: ‘With what is going on politically, PDP will continue to lose if there is no change. It is very embarrassing; I know from the beginning that some PDP members are playing games. House that has died since. PDP did not do the right thing. They should follow due process to the national convention.

‘If you think you will sideline people to hold the convention, it will not be possible. If a proper convention is to be held, I will attend, but if the convention is not a proper one, I will not attend.

Wike said the leadership had failed to complete necessary congresses and other key processes, which he claimed were stalling progress.

‘If they do the right thing, will anybody stall the convention? They have not done the congresses and other things that should be in place,’ he said.

The PDP has, in recent months, faced internal crises and a wave of defections involving top members such as Governors Peter Mbah (Enugu); Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta);and Umo Enoh (Akwa Ibom).

The party is also battling multiple legal suits over its forthcoming convention.

He added: ‘Assuming I am not a minister, by the role I have played in the PDP till now, is it right to say I cannot be consulted in taking decisions of the party? Certainly not.’

CapitalSage Holdings has announced the appointment of Mr. Nath Ude as the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CapitalSage Technology Limited, the financial services arm of the Group.

The appointment, contained in a statement ion Friday by CapitalSage Holdings, took effect from October 13, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the company’s ambition to accelerate digital-led financial transformation and consolidate growth across key markets.

As Group CEO, Ude will oversee the company’s financial services businesses, including Kolomoni Microfinance Bank (Nigeria and The Gambia), ERCAS, Regius Asset Management, Regius Capital, CreditAssist Investment, Tiki by Kolomoni, and SageBrush Wealth.

He will also manage operations spanning Nigeria, The Gambia, Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to the statement, the appointment aligns with CapitalSage Holdings’ strategic vision to expand its footprint and advance its mission of empowering individuals and businesses through inclusive, technology-driven financial solutions.

Described as a transformational banking executive, Ude brings over three decades of experience across Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Before joining CapitalSage, he served as Managing Director/CEO of Nova Merchant Bank, where he achieved significant milestones, including over 100 percent growth in profit before tax in 2022, zero operational fraud for three consecutive years, and the deployment of Africa’s first Infosys Finacle X1 system.

He also held senior executive positions at Union Bank of Nigeria, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Standard Chartered Bank (South Africa), and Citibank, where he led major initiatives in enterprise innovation, process automation, and digital optimisation.

Speaking on the appointment, Chairman of CapitalSage Holdings, Opeyemi Oduwole, said his appointment signals our next phase of growth, one defined by deeper innovation, stronger execution, and pan-African expansion.

‘Nath Ude’s experience in technology-led transformation and strategic governance will play a critical role in accelerating our growth strategy and delivering greater value to stakeholders.

‘The Board is confident that he will lead CapitalSage Technology into its next chapter as a key enabler of Africa’s fintech evolution,’ he said.

Ude expressed excitement about his new role, stating, ‘With over three decades in banking and technology across Africa, Asia, and Europe, I’ve seen how innovation can transform not just institutions but entire economies. What excites me most about CapitalSage is its vision and the people driving it-a team committed to building technology that doesn’t just move money but moves lives. I look forward to working with the team to scale our footprint, deepen inclusion, and create lasting value across Africa.’

With Ude’s appointment, CapitalSage Technology is poised to strengthen its fintech infrastructure, expand its innovation pipeline, and deepen its impact in Africa’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

The company continues to redefine how Africans save, invest, collect, and manage money through secure, seamless, and inclusive digital solutions designed to bridge financial access gaps across the continent.

It was a day filled with joy and gratitude as Ajogbo Grammar School Senior, Ota, Ogun State, received a major facelift through the renovation of its school hall, a heartfelt project sponsored by alumnus and founder of Transtech Consulting, Tolulope Joshua Oginni. The commissioning ceremony, held on October 15, was attended by students, teachers, dignitaries, and community leaders.

The newly renovated hall was officially commissioned by His Royal Majesty, Oba Olabode VT Thomas Fagbayi, Oni Tigbo of Tigbo Ilu Kingdom, Awori Land, who also presented an Award of Appreciation to Oginni for his selfless contribution to the school.

In his address, Oginni expressed deep emotions as he recounted fond memories from his school days, describing the project as a personal mission rooted in gratitude.

He said, ‘Though it has been 18 years since I graduated from this school, I never forgot my roots. Ajogbo Grammar School is part of my story. This hall is not just a hall to me; it is a reminder of where it all began, my foundation, my growth, and the journey that shaped who I am today.’

Oginni, who served as Social Prefect during the 2001-2007 set, noted that giving back to the school was not an act of charity but a duty to the community that helped shape his future. ‘By God’s grace, we have started, and we will continue, and we will do even more,’ he added.

The joy on the faces of students, teachers, and old students was unmistakable, as many described the transformation of the hall as a sign of renewed hope and pride for the institution.

Principal Mrs. Olukemi Moronke Sorinolu commended Oginni for his generosity and commitment, calling his gesture ‘a shining example of true leadership and gratitude.’

In closing, Oginni dedicated the project to God, saying, ‘Success is indeed a beautiful thing, but it becomes truly meaningful when we remember where we all started from.’

The newly renovated hall now stands as a lasting legacy and a beacon of inspiration for the Ajogbo Grammar School Senior community.

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has commissioned a Digital Learning Center (DLC) at Ujabhole Grammar School, Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area, Edo State.

The building of the centre was to bridge the digital divide and promote digital inclusion across the country.

Senator Tinubu, who virtually commissioned the project, said it was part of her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

Represented by Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the First Lady said 296 digital learning centers have been established across the country.

She said plans were on to build additional 148 centres this year, with a view to build 592 centers by 2027.

Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, described the Digital Learning Center as a testament to the renewed hope initiative and the SHINE agenda Senator of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

Anani stated that Governor Okpebholo has shown dedication to revolutionising education in Edo State.

She said it was pertinent to equip students with cutting-edge technology, e-learning resources, and interactive tools, to enhance their skills and enable them compete and excel in the 21st-century knowledge economy.

Principal of Ujabhole Grammar School, Mr. Asemote Wisdom, thanked Senator Tinubu for the initiative and expressed optimism that it would enhance the technological skills of teachers and students.

The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Aderemi Oseni, has said Oyo State people were yearning for a change in 2027.

He said the change the people wanted was return of All Progressive Congress (APC) to power in the state.

Speaking in Ibadan at the first anniversary and endorsement rally organised by Remi Oseni Committee of Friends (ROCOF) progressive workers and traders group, Oseni affirmed commitment towards building a progressive state where workers, traders, youths and women could thrive with dignity and hope.

He described the event as a movement driven by passion to rebuild and reposition Oyo State and Nigeria on the platform of Renewed Hope Agenda.

The lawmaker noted that the party would not rest until its members’ names appeared on the ballot papers in 2027 as agents of good governance reform and transformation.

He said his group, ROCOF, would mobilise at least one million votes across Oyo State to ensure the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

Oseni described the President as a visionary reformer, whose Renewed Hope Agenda was laying a solid foundation for a prosperous Nigeria.

He said ROCOF structure, built from the grassroots, had become a veritable platform to support Tinubu’s developmental agenda and advance progressive governance in Oyo State.

For the third consecutive edition, the Golden Eaglets – once synonymous with global dominance – have failed to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The Flying Eagles’ struggles are equally glaring, as nations like Ghana and Morocco have overtaken Nigeria in the youth hierarchy, with Morocco recently crowned U-20 world champions in 2025.

On the women’s side, the Flamingos and Falconets, who once offered glimmers of hope, have also faltered – their consistent podium dreams now reduced to occasional flashes of potential.

What went wrong? How did a country that once groomed future legends like Nwankwo Kanu, Emmanuel Amuneke, Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala lose its footing so dramatically?

A top official of Golden Eaglets, who served during Nigeria’s triumphant campaigns in 2013 and 2015, believes complacency and poor planning have crippled the youth football system.

‘It’s quite unfortunate that we have found ourselves in this position,’ he lamented. ‘Winning used to be our birth-right. All we had to do was show up and take the trophy.’

He recalled how the Golden Eaglets’ past glories were built on meticulous long-term preparation and clear developmental pathways.

‘In 2013, we began preparations as early as December 2011 in Calabar, and our first competitive match didn’t come until almost a year later. That’s how teams were moulded,’ he explained. ‘But these days, camps are opened barely a month to qualifiers, leaving coaches scrambling to select and train players. That’s not how champions are built.’

He argued that Nigeria’s failure is not about a lack of talent but the absence of structure and consistency.

‘Talent has never been our problem – preparation is. Those 2013 and 2015 squads had structure, motivation, and discipline. Today, we’ve replaced planning with fire-brigade approaches.’

The official also lamented the disappearance of incentive systems that once kept young players motivated.

‘Back then, little gestures like showing the players their bonuses before games made them fight harder. These boys come from humble backgrounds; motivation matters. Today, that human touch is gone.’

Former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles player Taiwo Enegwea readily admitted that the decline stems from the shrinking window for preparation and grooming.

‘During our era, we used at least a year, sometimes more, to prepare. Now, they have one month – or even less. That’s not enough time to build a cohesive team,’ Enegwea who currently work as an assistant to Coach Emmanuel Amuneke at Heartland FC of Owerri, told Nation Sport.

Enegwea emphasized that consistent preparation creates familiarity and chemistry among players, which can’t be achieved through hurried camps.

‘We must start early and keep these boys together long enough to understand each other. If not, every set comes in as strangers, and we expect miracles,’ he stated.

He called on the NFF to return to the model of structured, year-round development programmes that feed directly into the youth national teams: ‘We need to plan ahead, so by the time qualifiers come, the team already understands the philosophy. That’s how we can revive the Golden Eaglets legacy.’

Erstwhile Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze who first came into international limelight at the inaugural UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup held in Portugal in 1997, echoed similar sentiments, stressing that the problem is not only about time but integrity in player selection.

‘The players must see the national team as a platform to make a name for themselves,’ the former PAOK Thessaloniki and West Bromwich Albion defender said. ‘The coaches, too, must be honest in their selection. Pick players with hunger and determination to excel, not those brought in through influence.’

The Super Eagles left back at Japan/Korea 2002 World Cup warned that Nigeria’s youth football will continue to falter unless merit and commitment become the only yardsticks for national team invitations.

‘You can’t win with politics. We used to have players who would fight for the badge. That passion has to return,’ quipped Udeze.

Meanwhile, Nigeria Football Federation President Mallam Ibrahim Gusau has admitted that the current state of youth football development is worrisome but insists that the federation is taking concrete steps to rebuild from the ground up.

‘I must be worried because the future of our football starts from the youth level,’ Gusau stated. ‘The good news is that the NFF and FIFA have come up with talent development programmes for Under-15 boys and girls. We’re very high on it – we’re starting afresh.’

Gusau revealed that the federation is ending the era of ad-hoc screening exercises that assemble teams from scratch weeks before major competitions.

‘In the near future, it won’t be business as usual. We’re creating structured development centres in every zone. Our Under-15 players will be groomed from these centres, ensuring continuity and proper monitoring.’

To support the new framework, Gusau disclosed plans for new infrastructure, including a dedicated hostel facility where young players will train and live during school holidays.

‘We must create an enabling environment to allow our young players stay together long enough to understand themselves and the coaches’ philosophies. That’s why we’re building this hostel. From there, they can grow through the ranks into the U-17, U-20, and beyond.’

He also emphasized the need for coaches to have more time with their teams:’ They need time to instil tactical understanding and build team spirit. The days of assembling players randomly before tournaments must end. With this new plan, our future stars will be nurtured systematically.’

Nigeria’s youth football system stands today at a critical juncture – between nostalgia for past glory and the reality of present decay. The Golden Eaglets’ absence from consecutive World Cups, the Flying Eagles’ inconsistency, and the underwhelming returns from the Falconets and Flamingos all point to a system that needs rebuilding, not patchwork solutions.

Yet, amid the gloom, there are glimmers of hope. With Gusau’s renewed grassroots focus and FIFA-backed initiatives in motion, the country might just be taking its first real steps toward reclaiming its lost dominance.

As the Golden Eaglets top official aptly summarized :’Our talent has never been in doubt. All we need is proper planning, structure, and the will to do things right. Once we get that right, Nigeria will rise again.’

I was the pioneer State Youth Leader of the PDP from 1998 to 2008, and later served as the party’s Vice Chairman from 2016 to 2024. What happened was a huge disappointment to us. The PDP gave Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah the ticket, campaigned for him, defended his mandate, and stood by him through thick and thin – even under the rain and sun, we stayed at INEC to ensure our victory was protected.

But the appreciation he showed to the PDP – the party that made him governor – was to defect to the APC. And mind you, that defection was not an impromptu decision. It had been in the works for a considerable amount of time.

From the beginning, Governor Mbah was never really a party man. He wasn’t part of the PDP’s formation. He joined in 2003 when Governor Chimaroke Nnamani appointed him Chief of Staff, and later Commissioner for Finance. After 2007, following his encounter with the EFCC, he relocated to Lagos and focused on his oil business.

From that time until 2022, he remained inactive in Enugu politics – neither in his ward, local government, nor at the state level. He used the PDP as a vehicle for power, not as a home. But we built this party from the ground up – since August 30, 1998 – and no one can destroy what they didn’t build.

The PDP in Enugu remains intact, strong, and formidable.

Do you agree with the reasons the governor gave for leaving the PDP?

Not at all. His plan didn’t start today. After winning the election, he never visited the wards, local governments, or even the party secretariat to thank members. He never held a single meeting with the party’s leadership at any level.

His appointments also exposed his mindset – he sidelined party loyalists who toiled for him and filled key positions with technocrats. Governance needs professionals, yes, but politics also rewards loyalty. Party work is serious business – if you invest, you should reap.

Instead, he treated the PDP as disposable. But we are not shaken. The so-called crowd at Okpara Square during the defection rally was largely hired. Many people told me they were brought in early in the morning and left hungry till evening. After the rally, there was no traffic jam – a clear sign it wasn’t a genuine grassroots event.

So, there are still prominent PDP members who didn’t defect and are ready to rebuild the party?

Absolutely. I chair the Enugu State PDP Stakeholders Forum, and from day one, we appealed to him not to leave. We told him that if his problem was with anyone – be it Nyesom Wike or Sam Anyanwu – we could mediate. Wike is not a spirit; he’s human. If it’s a misunderstanding, we could resolve it.

But the truth is, Governor Mbah’s decision wasn’t about party issues. It was personal.

The governor said his defection was to ‘connect Enugu to the centre’ for the state’s benefit. Do you buy that argument?

That’s just political rhetoric. Anyone looking for an excuse to make a controversial move will always find one.

What ‘connection to the centre’ are we talking about? Elections are barely a year away if the proposed electoral reforms take effect. What can he possibly achieve within that time? Ebonyi is already connected to the centre – do they have two ministers? The answer is no.

Connecting to the centre has become a deceptive slogan. Governor Mbah’s defection is personal. Don’t forget he once joined other governors to sue the EFCC. When that failed, he recalibrated. Initially, the APC wasn’t even his first choice – he considered the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and later the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) before settling for the APC, mainly to protect personal interests.

But Enugu people are not deceived. They are feeling the pinch of his policies – rising taxes, higher rents, incomplete infrastructure. Where is the water project he promised in 180 days? Now it’s two years later, and we’re still waiting. Even the Austrian contractor fled.

Most of his so-called technocrats are disconnected from reality. His government is isolated – even his few political appointees have been sidelined. Imagine the Secretary to the State Government saying he doesn’t know his ward!

So, you’re saying the PDP is already rebuilding?

Yes, we have started rebuilding. The grassroots remain solidly PDP. Those who left are mostly appointees – House of Assembly members, commissioners, aides – people dependent on government patronage. But the real party structure is intact.

Let him go with his followers; we are reorganising from the wards upward. The local government and general elections will prove a point. We’ll field credible, grassroots candidates who can look voters in the eye and say, ‘Here’s what I’ve done.’

You mentioned there will be a crisis. What kind of crisis?

Not in the PDP – our house is in order. The crisis will be in the APC. Why? Because the governor is entering a party where structures already exist. APC members who contested elections and lost are patiently waiting for 2027. Now, he’s bringing in an entire team of defectors – House of Assembly members, Reps, senators – all eyeing tickets. Who will the party favour?

He’s already fighting APC leaders like Ugochukwu Agballah. His allies even stormed their meeting venue and destroyed canopies. How do you enter a party by breaking its structure? That’s a recipe for chaos.

The APC’s crisis has already started in Enugu. Ben Nwoye doesn’t know where he stands; Agballah is in court, and those who attended the defection rally say they haven’t been called for any meeting since. The calm you see in Enugu today is deceptive – it’s the calm before the storm.

Governor Mbah claimed 80 per cent of PDP executives defected with him. How do you respond?

That’s insignificant. Even if 80 per cent of executives left, they don’t represent the grassroots. Most of them were handpicked during congresses that were conducted in Government House. Many went with him simply because he appointed them.

The real PDP – the members who built this party from 1998 – are still here. We are reorganising and holding our meetings as usual. We are waiting for guidance from the national leadership, but we are not folding our hands.

Let me tell you: it will not be Uhuru for the APC in Enugu. Governor Mbah may have called the whole Southeast to Okpara Square, but none of them mentioned Nnamdi Kanu or the plight of Igbo traders whose shops were demolished in Lagos. And he says he’s connecting to the centre?

That’s not a connection – that’s a journey to nowhere.