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Tinubu: Nigeria’s Democracy Unstable Due to Insecurity and Hopelessness

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By Derrick Bangura

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former Lagos State Governor and presidential candidate, said on Thursday that Nigeria’s democracy has remained unstable because it has been buffeted by insecurity, hopelessness, a lack of education, and general suffering in the country.
He, on the other hand, stated that he decided to run for president in 2023 because he wanted to fix things by bringing hope and real change to the country.
Tinubu told all Nigerian patriots that the country needed a competent leader who could unite the people, address insecurity, and restructure the crippling economy for the benefit of the masses at this critical juncture in its history.

He spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, as part of his consultations with members of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers in preparation for his presidential bid in 2023.
The former Lagos State governor was accompanied to the venue of the meeting held at the Traditional Council Chambers, by the Deputy Governor, Bisi Egbeyemi and top brass of the Southwest Agenda 2023, led by Senator Dayo Adeyeye.
Addressing the Council, presided over by the Chairman, Council and Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejumo, Tinubu averred that he was in the state to consult the traditional rulers that he would be contesting the 2023 presidency, so that he could get their prayers and support.
“We have struggled for democracy and today, we have democracy, but we are not stable yet. There is insecurity, hopelessness, lack of education, and suffering in the land. By now, we should have a good farming system and opportunities to produce for other nations to buy.
“We are here to answer the call of our children by educating them the right way, so that we can leave a Nigeria that is united, prosperous and abundant for them. We chose democracy and we must not fail in this task.
“I’m contesting this race to renew the hope and make the future great for our children. For Nigeria to stand united and develop, we require patience and wisdom. We have to be united, that is the only way we can be great.
“That was why we formed APC based on principles. I want to tell you that Nigeria needs serious change. I knew how Lagos was when I took over and we had never failed any election. There must be continuity in governance for progress to be attained.
“I was the first governor in Nigeria to start paying the WAEC fees of secondary school students. I shall do it again as a President,” he said, adding that he decided to consult the traditional rulers before declaring, because of the enormous respect he placed on culture and tradition.
His words: “I have been on Nigeria’s project since the 70’s. I was with MKO Abiola in SDP. I was a senator before he came out. I was the youngest senator of that era. I was about becoming Director of Finance of ExxonMobil, but I rejected it.
“I said I wanted to serve Nigeria. They gave me a leave of absence to go and do politics for four years and come back, but I only spent two years as a senator, when military came and terminated our tenure.
“But I have an option, which was to either go back and enjoy at ExxonMobil, but I decided that I will fight for Nigeria instead of going back to enjoy. We believed that there must be democracy in Nigeria, there must be freedom and there must be opportunities.
“We joined hands with Soyinka, Enahoro and others. Governor Kayode Fayemi was in University of London then, brilliant and he joined the struggle. He worked so hard, in fact, he is an excellent man. So, looking at all these, we should all know that this democracy must not fail.
“We have to collaborate, unite and promote ourselves instead of fighting. We all see what is happening in Ukraine today, we don’t need such experience here. We must elevate our technology and make use of available opportunities to develop Nigeria and that is what we are coming to do.”
Adeyeye said Tinubu had made great investment to the development of Ekiti in terms of human resources and that the traditional rulers must appreciate him.
“That APC is in Ekiti today is traceable to God and Tinubu. He struggled for it and restored progressive politics here. He has made many Ekiti people commissioners, Special Advisers and local government chairmen in Lagos.
“Tinubu honoured our own hero in Ekiti, Adekunle Fajuyi by building a house for him. He had helped so many people, including myself. Tinubu brought a paradigm shift to Lagos governance, in fact, he is a miracle worker. As a governor of Lagos State, he was ranked first and no wonder he remained the last man standing when the then AD lost grip of the Southwest.
“That is why many of us dragged him into the presidential race, hoping to replicate what he had done in Lagos on a national scale.” Nobody can stand shoulder to shoulder with him among all the presidential candidates, regardless of political party. He is the greatest man-builder in Nigerian history. “At the moment, this is the best man to rule Nigeria for serious development business,” he said.
Oba Adejumo, speaking on behalf of the council, said the constitution allowed any qualified Nigerian to aspire for any position, and he prayed to God to help him realize his ambition.

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Akpabio Hails Okpebholo’s Supreme Court Victory, Calls It Triumph of Democracy

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Akpabio

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has congratulated Governor Monday Okpebholo on his affirmation as the duly elected governor of Edo State by the Supreme Court, describing the ruling as a “triumph of democracy and the will of the people.”

Akpabio, in a statement personally signed and released on Friday in Abuja, applauded the apex court’s decision, saying it validated the mandate freely given to Okpebholo in the September 2024 gubernatorial election.

“What the apex court in the land has done is to affirm the will and wishes of the overwhelming majority of the people of Edo State. It shows that the election was transparent, free and fair,” Akpabio stated.

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He added that, “The declaration by the Supreme Court in favour of Sen. Okpebholo against Mr Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has proven that elections are won at the ballot and by people who have identified with the grassroots.”

The Senate President said the judgment reaffirms the strength of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the popularity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State.

“This judgment has again reaffirmed the fact that democracy is at play and the people of Edo have wholeheartedly embraced the All Progressives Congress (APC) and popularly elected their preferred choice of Senator Okpebholo as their governor,” he said.

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According to Akpabio, the ruling not only confirms Okpebholo’s mandate but also “paves the way for him to continue delivering exceptional service to the good people of Edo.”

He praised the governor’s performance in the past seven months, expressing confidence in his capacity to deliver more during his four-year tenure.

“My distinguished brother, His Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo, on behalf of my family and constituents, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I extend my warmest congratulations to you and the wonderful people of Edo on this landmark victory at the Supreme Court.

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“I wish you success and I assure you of the Senate’s support and collaboration in ensuring the state’s progress and development.

“Congratulations once again, Gov Okpebholo. I look forward to a robust working relationship with you,” Akpabio added.

In a unanimous decision, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Mohammed Garba dismissed the appeal filed by the PDP candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo, for lacking merit.

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The apex court upheld the earlier rulings of the Court of Appeal and the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, both of which declared Okpebholo of the APC as the valid winner of the election.

The court ruled that the appellant failed to provide credible and admissible evidence to support claims of electoral malpractice, including over-voting and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

It further held that the PDP candidate failed to call relevant witnesses to back up some of the evidence he tendered, particularly those involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

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Some of the documents presented, the court noted, were simply “dumped” on the tribunal without demonstrating the alleged irregularities in 432 of the 4,519 polling units across the state.

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NELFUND Begins Upkeep Payments to Over 3,600 Students After Bank Detail Update

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NELFUND Disburses Over N20bn in Student Loans, Assures Transparency

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has commenced the disbursement of upkeep payments to students who successfully updated their bank account details from digital wallets to commercial bank accounts.

This was announced in a statement released on Friday in Abuja by the Director of Strategic Communications of the Fund, Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi.

Oluwatuyi described the development as a significant breakthrough in addressing earlier disbursement delays.

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“Over 3,600 students, who previously registered with digital-only banking platforms, have now successfully received their backlog of upkeep payments after updating their details to conventional commercial bank accounts on the NELFUND portal,” she stated.

“We appreciate the patience and understanding of all affected students during this period. Your resilience and cooperation have made this progress possible,” she added.

The NELFUND spokesperson advised students who have yet to update their bank details to raise a support ticket via the official NELFUND portal to request access for the update.

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She further urged affected students to report through the IT office of their respective institutions, which would compile and forward all related cases to NELFUND for prompt resolution.

“NELFUND remains committed to ensuring that no eligible student is left behind. This resolution process is part of our broader effort to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and student-centered delivery of our support services,” she said.

Oluwatuyi encouraged students to continue engaging only through official NELFUND channels and to assist their peers who may need help navigating the update process.

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She also provided contact options for inquiries, stating that the fund can be reached via email at info@nelf.gov.ng or through its official social media handles: X (formerly Twitter) @nelfund; Instagram @nelfund; and Facebook & LinkedIn: Nigerian Education Loan Fund – NELFUND.

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Akwa Ibom APC Gears Up to Receive President Tinubu as Governor Umo Eno Joins Party

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has announced its readiness to host President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other top party leaders as it officially welcomes Governor Umo Eno into its ranks.

Speaking at a press briefing in Uyo on Friday, APC chieftain and former presidential aide, Senator Ita Enang, disclosed that the party was fully prepared to receive the president, Vice President Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman, and governors elected on the party’s platform for the historic reception.

Governor Umo Eno had on June 6 formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, in a move widely described as a political game-changer in Akwa Ibom.

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Enang, a former Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly and Niger Delta Affairs, said the governor’s defection had effectively aligned the state with the central government.

He assured Governor Eno and his supporters that the APC would embrace them wholeheartedly and honour all agreements reached.

“As progressives, we shall work with the governor and his supporters to ensure that they fit into the party without hitches,” Enang stated. “We will also work with them to align programmes of the state government with the ideals and manifesto of the party.”

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He further described the governor’s move as a “merger” that promises significant benefits for Akwa Ibom and its citizens.

The planned reception is expected to mark a major political event in the state, signaling a realignment of forces ahead of future elections.

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