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Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has said rejection of Governor Seyi Makinde by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) leaders in the Southsouth Zone is a confirmation of its position that his presidential ambition is dead on arrival.

APM Southsouth leaders had in a newspaper advertorial yesterday passed a vote of no confidence in Makinde accusing him of lacking substance political will and focus to lead the party aright.

‘He came to the party with a promise of lies and has been wallowing in an ocean of dishonesty political compromise and incompetence. If he cannot be honest to his party men how can he be honest to Nigerians he aspires to lead?’ the APM leaders queried.

SSACO yesterday in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity Bisi Oladele said the rejection was a vindication of the position of Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation that Makinde was only playing a spoiler’s game using a fake presidential bid to negotiate soft landing ahead of the 2027 general election.

It said Governor Makinde knew he could not win the presidential election but was trying to use his position as a serving governor to undermine the votes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the Southwest.

‘The good news is that he will not only lose to President Tinubu in Oyo State his lackey – Bimbo Adekanmbi – who he is desperate to install for an undemocratic third term will be flatly defeated by Senator Sharafadeen Alli whose Oyo AHEAD agenda will put Oyo State on a faster development lane from next year.

‘SSACO is glad that more stakeholders are now seeing through Makinde’s lies and rejecting his antics confirming that no Nigerian takes Makinde seriously again. His ambition is what it is: a smokescreen and dead on arrival’ the statement said.

The campaign organisation also pointed to Makinde’s political structures in Oyo State ”which is crumbling daily as associates and party leaders resign in droves thereby isolating him for his selfish decisions.”

‘If a man cannot manage his party in his own state how can he manage Nigeria?’ a Southsouth APM leader queried at the meeting on Tuesday.

‘The Southsouth stakeholders are therefore in sync with the reality in Oyo State that Makinde is a man who does not recognise established party structures same way he abandoned those who supported him to win the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections.

‘In the past few weeks no day passes without one aide or the other resigning from his sinking executive council (exco). It has shown that Governor Makinde who cannot manage his own men in Oyo State needs not be taken seriously about his ambition. It is dead on arrival’ the statement concluded.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said his political differences with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and their opposing positions ahead of the January 2027 presidential election will not diminish his personal affection for the opposition politician.

President Tinubu said this in a birthday tribute to Kwankwaso who turned 70 yesterday.

He described the former Minister of Defence as a longstanding friend and influential figure in Nigeria’s political development.

The President who is seeking re-election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Kwankwaso the vice-presidential candidate of the opposition Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and running mate to Peter Obi are currently on opposing sides of the political divide.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Mr. Peter Obi the Founder of the party Senator Seriake Dickson and former Senate President Bukola Saraki also felicitated Kwankwaso on his landmark birthday.

But in what appeared to be an affirmation of personal friendship above partisan considerations President Tinubu maintained that their political rivalry would not undermine the relationship they have built over more than three decades.

‘That we are in different political parties and competing on different platforms in the January 2027 election will not remove my affection for Senator Kwankwaso’ the President declared.

President Tinubu recalled that his relationship with Kwankwaso dates back to 1992 when both served in the National Assembly during the aborted Third Republic with Kwankwaso in the House of Representatives and himself in the Senate.He noted that their political paths crossed again in 1999 when they were elected governors of Kano and Lagos states respectively at the beginning of the Fourth Republic.

According to the President their shared experience as members of the pioneering class of governors in the current democratic dispensation helped forge a relationship that has endured despite their subsequent political disagreements.

‘Senator Kwankwaso and I have had a longstanding association dating back to our time in the National Assembly in 1992 he in the House of Representatives and I in the Senate and later in 1999 when we both emerged as governors of our respective states.

‘As members of the Class of ’99 Governors we both played pivotal roles in laying the foundation for the democracy the nation enjoys today’ President Tinubu stated.

The President also reflected on their political journey acknowledging that although they had taken different political routes over the years circumstances brought them together in 2013 during the formation of the APC.

‘Shaped by different political choices our political paths differed until we coalesced in 2013 to form the All Progressives Congress. Since then history and service have kept us intertwined’ he said.

President Tinubu also acknowledged Kwankwaso’s contributions to governance and national development particularly his service as a two-term governor of Kano State Minister of Defence senator and presidential candidate.

The President who recognised Kwankwaso’s current position as a vice-presidential candidate described him as an important political figure whose contributions to the nation’s democratic evolution deserved acknowledgement irrespective of partisan affiliations.

‘I must acknowledge Senator Kwankwaso’s immense contributions to Kano State and Nigeria as a two-term Governor former Minister of Defence former Senator former presidential candidate and now a presidential running mate.

‘Senator Kwankwaso remains an influential figure and a progressive politician’ President Tinubu said.

Kwankwaso who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is currently the vice-presidential candidate to Obi on the NDC platform in the January 2027 election.

The President wished Kwankwaso continued good health and fulfilment expressing hope that he would remain actively involved in the country’s democratic process.

‘As the former governor marks this milestone I wish him good health personal fulfilment and many more years of engagement in the nation’s democratic process’ President Tinubu stated.

Also the NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi described Kwankwaso as an accomplished public servant whose partnership will help rescue Nigeria from years of bad governance.

In a birthday tribute to Kwankwaso the former Anambra State governor applauded Kwankwaso’s decades of public service describing him as an elder brother friend and partner united with him by a shared commitment to national development.

In the tribute through the Peter Obi Media Office the NDC presidential candidate said his relationship with Kwankwaso had deepened through their conversations and common vision for the country.

‘With the passage of time I have come to appreciate the bond between us deeply the many conversations we have shared and the common commitment to Nigeria that continues to shape our service’ he said.

Obi said Kwankwaso’s experience in the legislature Federal Executive Council (FEC) Kano State government and national politics had prepared him for further service to the country.

‘As you mark your 70th birthday on October 21 I honour not only an accomplished public servant but also a very dear elder brother friend and partner whose life has been dedicated to serving our people’ he said.

The NDC presidential candidate said their partnership was driven by a shared determination to build a country where Nigerians could live in dignity security and prosperity.

‘As we continue to hope for and work toward a better Nigeria I remain grateful for our partnership and for our shared conviction that our nation can become a place where no child is deprived of opportunity no family is left in poverty and every Nigerian can live with dignity security and hope’ Obi added.

In a separate birthday message to the former Kano State governor NDC’s National Leader Seriake Dickson said: ‘You have inspired generations with your belief in Nigeria. Your membership of our great party Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and partnership with His Excellency Peter Obi in the presidential race has drawn more of our people into believing in the possibility of a new Nigeria where everyone is safe prosperous and nobody is oppressed.

‘May this milestone bring you good health peace joy and renewed strength for the journey ahead – the journey to create a better future for Nigerians.’

Also in a statement by its National Chairman Senator Cleopas Moses the party congratulated its vice-presidential candidate on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) the National Working Committee (NWC) members and supporters in Nigeria and the diaspora.

The party praised Kwankwaso’s record in public service particularly his tenure as Kano State governor during which he championed the Kwankwasiyya political movement.

‘At 70 you remain a towering symbol of courage selfless service progressive politics and people-centred leadership’ the statement said.

Also Saraki lauded Kwankwaso’s contributions to education and the development of young Nigerians.

In a message posted on his X handle Saraki described Kwankwaso’s commitment to providing educational opportunities for thousands of young Nigerians at home and abroad as one of his enduring legacies.

The former Senate President said many of the beneficiaries of Kwankwaso’s educational initiatives were making valuable contributions to Nigeria and beyond.

‘One of the lasting measures of leadership is the opportunities that we create for others’ he said.

Saraki added that Kwankwaso’s investment in education provided opportunities for young people to develop their potential and contribute to society.

The Soun of Ogbomosoland Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye has placed the Balogun of Ogbomosoland Dr Saka Balogun on indefinite suspension for allegedly refusing to sign the Oath of Allegiance to the throne.

The order was contained in a letter personally signed by Oba Olaoye titled ‘Letter of indefinite suspension from the title of Balogun of Ogbomosoland’ dated 20 October 2026.

ýAccording to the letter the oath of Allegiance to the Throne is neither optional nor ceremonial but a prerequisite for recognition as a member of the Executive Council of Chiefs of Ogbomosoland.

‘It was a fundamental requirement for the proper assumption and exercise of the responsibilities and authority attached to the title’ the letter read in part.

Oba Olaoye said the appointment letter of assumption of office issued to Balogun on 19th December 2025 stated that the customary Oath of Allegiance to the office of Soun of Ogbomosoland is a prerequisite for full participation in the Council of the Executive Chiefs.

He added that until the Oath is formally signed Balogun will not be seated among the other Executive Chiefs.

The monarch however alleged that despite the understanding reached before his installation Balogun had failed to sign the oath and had demonstrated no intention of fulfilling the obligation.

ý’Of even greater concern are your public statements and conduct particularly the interview in which you threatened to take the stool of the Soun to court.

‘Such pronouncements are deeply regrettable and constitute a grave affront to the dignity of the throne the sanctity of the Palace and the institution you were privileged to serve’ the letter added.

ýThe monarch described the reported threat as an affront to the dignity of the throne and the institution of the Palace adding that the conduct had embarrassed the traditional institution and undermined its standing.

ýConsequently Oba Olaoye directed Balogun to stop presenting himself or acting in any official capacity as the Balogun of Ogbomosoland for the duration of the suspension.

ýHe also barred him from exercising any authority privilege or responsibility associated with the title and from undertaking official engagements making representations or issuing communications in the name of the office.

ýThe monarch maintained that the traditional institution of Ogbomosoland was founded on respect for constituted authority adherence to established customs and the fulfilment of obligations attached to traditional titles.

ýHe added that no title holder should expect to retain the privileges and recognition of an office while persistently rejecting its fundamental requirements.

The Zamfara State Government donated 500 bags of grains to communities displaced by banditry attacks in Bukkuyum Local Government Area to cushion their hardship.

The state Deputy Governor Mani Malam Mummuni announced the donation during a condolence visit to the affected communities.

The attacks reportedly displaced six communities.

A press statement by the deputy governor’s Press Secretary Shehu Adamu Gusau said Mr Mummuni expressed deep sympathy over the displacement of law-abiding citizens and the destruction of their property and shelter assuring that the government would do all it can to ameliorate their plight.

In a separate condolence visit to the Gwashi community the deputy governor expressed the government’s sadness and deep concern over the killing of nine security personnel and several civilians by bandits.

He sympathised with the families that lost their loved ones and wished those injured a quick recovery. He noted that the security personnel’s sacrifice would never be in vain.

In Bukuyum the deputy governor was received by the Emir of Bukuyum Sarkin Danko Alhaji Mohammed Usman.

The Emir attributed the recurrence of banditry attacks in his emirate to unilateral peace and reconciliation deals usually sealed between the people and bandits adding that the deals had failed to produce a lasting solution.

The Sarkin Danko further urged his subjects to desist from holding peace talks with bandits whom he described as untrustworthy.

He thanked the state government for its commitment to ending security challenges in the state and appreciated the donation of grains to victims of banditry attacks in his emirate.

Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) REDMI has stressed the importance of mobile battery life in improving productivity across all facets of human endeavour.

In an emailed note it said that at five per cent battery nobody cares how good a phone’s camera is.

‘You are looking for a charger. That is the reality behind one of the less glamorous but increasingly important parts of the smartphone conversation in Nigeria: battery life.

‘A phone can be the device for your work calls WhatsApp banking navigation music movies social media and content creation but none of that matters when the battery runs out at the wrong time’ the company noted.

Over the past few years it said smartphone makers have responded by making batteries bigger and bigger. ‘But the interesting part is not simply that batteries have grown. It is how quickly our expectations have changed’ it said adding that the REDMI Note Series offers a useful way to trace that change by starting at 4000mAh. It recalled that when the REDMI Note 8 arrived with a 4000mAh battery and 18W fast charging that was a serious amount of battery for a mainstream smartphone.

The following generation the REDMI Note 9 moved to 5020mAh and added support for 18W charging and 9W wired reverse charging. Then the numbers settled around 5000mAh.

‘The REDMI Note 10 came with 5000mAh and 33W fast charging. The REDMI Note 11 Note 12 and Note 13 kept that 5000mAh class as the series continued to develop in other areas.

‘For a while 5000mAh was simply what you expected from a phone in this category then REDMI started pushing the number again.

‘The Note 14 moved to 5500mAh. The Note 15 went further to 6000mAh with 33W charging and 18W reverse charging. At this point the difference between generations was no longer just about squeezing a little more capacity into the same phone’ the company noted adding that battery life had become part of the product’s identity.

‘But then the numbers changed dramatically. 7700mAh is no longer reserved for a power bank’ it noted.

The REDMI Note 17 comes with a 7700mAh silicon-carbon battery and 45W turbo charging. Xiaomi rates it for up to 2.62 days under its internal testing conditions with up to 26 hours of video playback.

That is a substantial jump from the 6000mAh battery of the Note 15. But the more interesting thing is where Xiaomi has taken the rest of the range.

The REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G pushes the battery to a huge 8340mAh and charges to 67W HyperCharge.

Then there is the REDMI Note 17 Pro Max 5G which arrives with a massive 10000mAh silicon carbon battery and 100W HyperCharge. It also supports up to 27W wired reverse charging.

So the current range is not simply a story about one phone having an unusually large battery.

There is a progression: 7700mAh on the REDMI Note 17. 8340mAh on the REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G. 10000mAh on the REDMI Note 17 Pro Max 5G.

‘That distinction matters because it shows how far the category has moved. A battery capacity that would once have sounded more appropriate for a power bank is now sitting inside a mainstream smartphone family’ it said arguing that it matters because a smartphone in Nigeria is rarely doing just one job.

A student may use it to attend a virtual class download course materials watch videos and stay on WhatsApp; a small-business owner may use the same device to speak to customers receive transfers update social media and keep track of orders.

Someone commuting across Lagos may have Google Maps running WhatsApp notifications coming in music playing and a few calls to make before reaching their destination.

A creator can spend hours shooting video checking footage editing and uploading and sometimes the phone is simply what you use to pass time while stuck in traffic.

None of these activities is particularly unusual anymore. Smartphones have become part of everyday life’s infrastructure. That makes battery capacity less of a technical talking point and more of a question of how often you have to stop using the phone to think about charging it.

Then there is the charging side of the equation. A bigger battery solves one part of the problem. Charging speed addresses the other.

The jump from 18W on Note 8 and Note 9 to 33W on later generations was already noticeable. Now the Note 17 Pro 5G reaches 67W HyperCharge while the Pro Max 5G goes to100W.

The Pro Max’s 100W charging is particularly significant because Xiaomi pairs it with that 10000mAh battery rather than treating capacity and charging speed as separate selling points.

According to Xiaomi’s internal testing a 20-minute charge provides enough power for all-day use under its test scenario while a 10-minute charge provides up to seven hours of video playback. These are controlled laboratory results not a promise of identical results for every user.

Reverse charging has also become part of the story. The REDMI Note 9 supported 9W wired reverse charging. The Note 15 increased that to 18W and the REDMI Note 17 supports up to 22.5W wired reverse charging. The Note 17 Pro Max 5G takes that to 27W.

That sounds small until your earbuds are dying before a trip or another compatible device needs enough power to get through the rest of the day.

Looking back the journey from 4000mAh to 10000mAh is ultimately a record that exceeds most expectations.

A few years ago a 5000mAh phone felt like plenty. Today Xiaomi offers 7700mAh 8340mAh and 10000mAh options in the REDMI Note 17 Series family.

For a Nigerian smartphone user the appeal is easy to understand. ‘Sometimes you just want to leave home use your phone normally and not spend the rest of the day wondering where the next charger is coming from’ the company said.

Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle has given vehicles to eight members of Zamfara State House of Assembly who recently returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The vehicles are intended to facilitate the lawmakers’ return to Zamfara State and to enable them resume political engagements and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election.

The gesture follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reported directive urging the lawmakers to return to the state and work towards strengthening party unity and cohesion ahead of the polls.

Matawalle former governor of Zamfara State reportedly ordered the immediate release of the vehicles to ease the lawmakers’ transportation challenges and support their political activities in their constituencies.

Presenting the vehicles to the eight lawmakers Managing Director of Nigeria Agriculture Insurance Commission (NAIC) Mr Yazid Danfulani described the gesture as one of the attributes of Matawalle to ensure unity cohesion and political understanding among stakeholders of APC in Zamfara State.

This singular effort is also being viewed by party stakeholders in Zamfara State as part of efforts to consolidate the reconciliation process involving the lawmakers and the minister.

The vehicles were provided following the lawmakers’ return to APC after a period of political disagreement.

The Zamfara Information Technology Development Agency (ZITDA) received an award from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for Sub-National Digital Transformation and Institutional Leadership.

The agency received the award during the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) Workshop held at the UBEC Digital Resource Centre Abuja.

This recognition reflects Governor Dauda Lawal’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing digital literacy promoting technology-driven development and expanding access to digital skills across the state.

Under Governor Lawal Zamfara State has continued to implement strategic initiatives to equip students civil servants entrepreneurs and other citizens with essential digital skills to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world.

Through ZITDA the state is strengthening digital inclusion building human capacity and laying the foundation for a sustainable digital economy where technology serves as a catalyst for inclusive growth improved public service delivery and economic opportunities for our people.

Receiving the award ZITDA Executive Secretary Habib Gajam said it was not merely recognition of institutional performance; it affirmed the progress Zamfara State is making in its digital transformation journey under the purposeful leadership of Governor Lawal.

‘We appreciate NITDA for this recognition and reaffirm our commitment to deepening digital literacy strengthening institutional capacity and ensuring that the people of Zamfara State are well-positioned to participate in and benefit from the opportunities of the digital age’ he said.

The League of Veteran Journalists has disowned a group identified as the Veteran Journalists’ Association of Nigeria over a lecture scheduled for October 26 at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre Iyaganku Ibadan Oyo State.

The league in a statement signed by its chairman Banji Ogundele described the organisation as a ‘phantom’ body and warned members of the public against being misled by the purported organisers of the lecture.

It said there was only one recognised body of veteran journalists the League of Veteran Journalists established in 1988.

The league said it issued the statement to clarify its identity and prevent what it described as an attempt by individuals on a self-serving mission to tarnish the image of the journalism profession.

It added that the organisation comprised journalists and media practitioners who had spent at least 25 years in the profession.

Among its members according to the statement are veteran journalists Aremo Olusegun Osoba Felix Adenaike Bamiji Ojo Layi Agbaje Tunde Akingbade Agboola Sanni Kola Animasaun and Jare Ajayi.

Others listed include Bose Oyewole Oladele Idris Biodun Oduwole Lanre Ogundipe Shade Haastrup Akin Onipede and Bolaji Kareem.

The league said its objectives included promoting journalism upholding and protecting press freedom and ensuring compliance with the profession’s code of ethics.

It also listed public enlightenment through discussions analysis and reviews as well as the protection of members’ welfare and interests among its core responsibilities.

The organisation urged the public to take note of the clarification warning against activities that could bring the profession into disrepute.

The Zamfara State Government said it was stepping up security measures amid rising bandit attacks including plans to train 1000 forest guards for deployment across the state.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture Mahmud Mohammed Dantawasa disclosed this during a briefing at the Government House in Gusau.

He identified Bindin and Falale in Maru Local Government Area; Damba and Wanke in Gusau; Bagega in Anka; and Moriki in Zurmi as communities affected by recent attacks.

Dantawasa said the attacks had heightened fear among residents and disrupted farming trading transportation and other economic activities.

He said the state government had allocated four security battalions to Bakura Shinkafi Kaura Namoda and Anka local government areas to improve security coverage.

He added that the government was preparing for dry-season security operations to protect farmlands as agricultural activities increase.

Dantawasa said the 1000 forest guards would be deployed across the state to strengthen security in forested and rural communities. They would operate under supervision and in coordination with authorised security agencies.

He urged residents traditional rulers and community leaders to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious movements and credible threats.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has called for sustained investment in human capital development as a critical requirement for unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential and accelerating the growth of local goods and services.

The institute made the call at its second-half Advocacy Roundtable themed: ‘Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential: The Critical Role of Human Capital in Driving ‘Made in Nigeria’ Growth.’

The President/Chairman Governing Council of CIPM Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir said Nigeria’s economic challenge is not a lack of natural resources or talent but the nation’s inability to adequately develop and harness its human capital.

Drawing a comparison between Nigeria and Singapore Gobir noted that while Nigeria is richly endowed with oil gas minerals fertile land and a youthful population countries with fewer natural advantages have recorded significantly stronger economic outcomes by prioritising investments in people skills institutions and enterprise.

‘Before we insist on what is Made-in-Nigeria are we investing sufficiently in those who must make it?’ Gobir asked. ‘We cannot build a world-class economy with an underdeveloped workforce. Neither can we aspire to global competitiveness while treating human capital development as an afterthought’ he added.

The CIPM president stressed that the future of Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda would be determined not merely by available resources but by the capabilities productivity and skills of the nation’s workforce.

He called for stronger collaboration among government industry academia and professional institutions to bridge critical skills gaps improve workforce productivity and position indigenous enterprises for sustainable growth.

Representing the Honourable Minister of Industry Trade and Investment the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu said developing the right workforce capabilities remains central to achieving Nigeria’s ambition of reducing dependence on imported goods and strengthening local production.

According to him the government is working to align skills development with the needs of manufacturers and key sectors of the economy while also promoting investments in small and medium-sized enterprises through institutions such as the Industrial Training Fund and the Bank of Industry.

‘We need to develop the skills of our workforce to produce what we need. We must focus on agricultural processing digital skills and technical competencies that meet local demand and support manufacturing growth’ he said.

Also speaking at the event the MD/CEO of May and Baker Nigeria Plc Mr. Patrick Ajah advocated stronger collaboration between industry and educational institutions to address the country’s skills deficit and improve workforce readiness.

He urged policymakers to ensure educational curricula are aligned with industry needs and called for increased exposure of students and lecturers to practical workplace experiences.

‘Large organisations must begin to partner with educational institutions because they have the facilities and equipment required to give students practical exposure and industry-relevant skills’ he stated.

Ajah also stressed the importance of employee welfare competitive remuneration succession planning and continuous workforce development in building sustainable organisations and boosting productivity.

On her part the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sam and Sara Ventures Limited Mrs. Folake Oyemade said Nigerians have consistently demonstrated resilience creativity and enterprise whenever the right opportunities are provided.

She argued that the success of the Made-in-Nigeria campaign would largely depend on the quality and competitiveness of locally manufactured products.

‘Nigerians will always gravitate towards Nigerian-made products once the quality is right and the products are competitively priced’ she said.

Also contributing to the discussion Mr. Ayuba Gadzama MCIPM General Manager HR and General Services BUA Foods Plc representing Mr. Dotun Adako FCIPM called for greater investment in technology entrepreneurship and workforce reskilling particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure Nigerian businesses remain competitive in a rapidly

changing economy.

He also advocated sustained public awareness campaigns and stronger collaboration among employers educational institutions and government to build consumer confidence in locally manufactured products.

The roundtable concluded with a strong consensus that Nigeria’s ambition to build a globally competitive Made-in-Nigeria economy will depend less on the resources beneath the ground and more on the knowledge skills productivity and innovation of its people.

As stakeholders chart a path towards industrial growth and economic transformation participants agreed that investing in human capital is no longer a policy option but a national imperative.