Politics

‘Nigerians facing hardship’ — Obi faults Borno speaker’s call for new aircraft for Shettima

Published

1 year ago

October 30, 2024

Ekwutos Blog

Peter Obi

‘Nigerians facing hardship’ — Obi faults Borno speaker’s call for new aircraft for Shettima

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, has faulted a call by Abdulkarim Lawan, speaker of the Borno state house of assembly, for the purchase of a new aircraft for Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

On October 25, the vice-president aborted his trip to the 2024 Commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa.

Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, had said Shettima’s trip was cancelled due to damage to his aircraft.

Reacting to the development, the Borno speaker said Shettima needed a new aircraft urgently, adding that the vice-president’s life was at risk.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, Obi said the Borno speaker was insensitive with such a comment, adding that he was “obviously unconcerned about the prevailing economic situation in the country”.

The former governor of Anambra said the call was provoking, noting that the speaker is ‘probably oblivious of the fact that Nigeria, at present, has continued to manifest every trait of a failed state”.

“That Nigerians are facing untold hardship at this moment is no secret,” the statement reads.

“We are today among one of the eleven worst-governed African nations in the last 10 years. We are also among the 20 most hungry nations in the world, with our people facing worsening mass poverty, extreme hunger, and starvation.

“Our nation remains the poverty capital of the world, with our per capita income crashing further from $1700 in 2023 to $1109 this year.

“Are these not the issues that should be prioritised by committed leaders?

“Our national electricity grid has so far collapsed 8 times this year alone and 105 times in the last ten years, plunging our small businesses into great losses and households into darkness.

“In the past 15 months, several businesses have closed down or become distressed due to the harsh economic environment in the country.

“Are these not the issues that should preoccupy us as leaders, rather than being consumed by our selfish desires for needless luxury at the expense of the people we are called to serve?

“What does Nigeria’s vice-president need a new jet for, and what value are all presidential and vice-presidential trips adding to our present situation?

“It was not until 2014 that Indonesia, with sustainable economic growth of over 6% annually for the past 10 years, adding about 50% to both her GDP and GDP per capita, decided to buy a presidential jet, used by both the president and vice president.

“The Vice President travels mostly in the country’s national airline, Garuda Indonesia.

“And since we have recently undeservedly bought one, it should be used on essential, inevitable trips of the president and vice-president.

“I appeal to the president, vice-president, and our public office holders that our present precarious situation calls only for minimal and highly contributory inevitable travels.

“It is time to sit down and find solutions to our litany of challenges for the wellbeing of the people and the development of our country.

“Nigeria will rise again if the leadership can commit to selfless service. A new Nigeria is possible if we can get our priorities right.”

Politics

Nyesom Wike wishes de@th on any politician supporting ‘’betrayers’

Published

3 hours ago

February 7, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

FCT Minister and former governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, has said that any senator, House of Representatives Member, Minister, or governor who supports betrayers will suffer betrayal in their lives and that such person will join their creator when they experience their own betrayal.

Wike who is currently in a running battle with his godson and incumbent governor of Rivers state, Sim Fubara, said this while speaking at a public function in the state today February 6.

Speaking to the crowd at the public function, Wike said

‘’Wether you are a Senator, House of Reps member, a Minister or Governor, and you support betrayers, people will continue to betray you in life. You see people who betray and support them, betrayal is your portion! Betrayal is your portion! and that day you will not have mouth to say anything and there you will collapse and there you will go and they will announce such person has died because that is the seed you have planted because whatever you plant, you reap and so since you are sowing betrayal, betrayal will always follow you.

Watch! Every governor who is doing his second term and has ambition to put a successor and is supporting betrayals, you will never survive it. Betrayal will follow you. From the day your successor comes in. My own took so many months, your own will start immediately the person has been inaugurated. That is what the gods of the land have told me to tell all of you’’

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUdaCp1jD01/?igsh=MWVnZXoyaGNmOGJ5dA==

Politics

How Buhari shocked me 6 months into his administration – Oyegun

Published

8 hours ago

February 7, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Chairman, Policy Manifesto Committee of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, John Odigie-Oyegun, says former president Muhammadu Buhari gave him the shock of his life, six months into his administration as Nigeria’s leader.

Oyegun made this disclosure on Friday when he featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.

He revealed that as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, he went to tell Buhari that he was not delivering his election promises to Nigerians but that the late president told him he would not rule with strictness, but rather wanted to show Nigerians that he is a true civilian president.

The former APC National Chairman lamented that it became business as usual, from there.

“I was national chairman of the APC. Six months or less into our assuming office, fairly alarmed, I went to the late President Buhari for a one-on-one talk. I said Mr President, this is not what the people were expecting. They wanted a bit of the old president Buhari.

“And he explained to me, Mr Chairman, I have learned my lesson. I was shocked. And don’t forget at that time, a lot of prominent Nigerians took their holidays abroad, just to be sure and see what this new sheriff in town will be.

“Buhari told me he wants to now show the people that he’s a true civilian president in Agbada. And by the time we finished the conversation, I said Oh God, we are finished. Because, if he’s not ready to be strict, what’s the point?

“Weeks later, months later, years later, I was proven correct. And of course, it became business as usual, only that they are a new set of tenants in Aso Rock. That was a shocker,” he said.

Politics

Electoral Reform: Dino alleges senate’s plot to rig 2027 election

Published

1 day ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Former lawmaker, Dino Melaye Esq, has raised concerns over the Senate’s reported rejection of the electronic transmission of election results.

The move, according to Melaye, is a clear endorsement of election rigging and an indication of a sinister plan to rig the 2027 elections.

In a statement on Friday, the former lawmaker criticized the Senate’s decision, stating that it undermines the credibility of the electoral process.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC chieftain, also stated that the move opens the door for electoral manipulation and fraud.

He further warned that the rejection of electronic transmission of results is a step backwards for democracy in Nigeria.

Melaye called on lawmakers and citizens to stand up against “this blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people and ensure that future elections are free, fair, and transparent”.