Today’s Headlines:Tinubu Borrowed Nigeria Into Slavery-Okonkwo;Obasanjo’s Verdict on Tinubu’s Reforms

A spokesperson for African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, Kenneth Okonkwo, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for allegedly putting Nigeria in a state of slavery.

Okonkwo claimed that Tinubu had made Nigerians poorer and left them insecure.

The ADC chieftain made the remarks in a post on X while responding to Tinubu’s statement that Nigeria would not return to Egypt in relation to the fuel subsidy issue.

Okonkwo wrote: “Egypt, spiritually, is a place of bondage for the children of God. It is a nation that enslaved the children of God for a long time.

The 13th edition of the Financial Times Africa Summit brought together African and international leaders, policymakers, business executives, investors and other influential stakeholders to discuss the continent’s economic prospects, investment opportunities, political leadership and development challenges. This year’s high-profile gathering featured such eminent personalities as Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama; Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote; Kirsty McNeill, the UK minister for international development; Taiwo Oyedele, Nigeria’s minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, among other distinguished participants.

I also attended the event as a senior media professional, where, before a distinguished international audience, I witnessed former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo lay bare Nigeria’s economic predicament under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. What struck me was not merely the bluntness of his remarks but also the agreement they attracted from many of the dignitaries present. Obasanjo had articulated what millions of Nigerians have been saying at home: the country is in distress, and the Tinubu administration has yet to convince them that its economic reforms are delivering meaningful relief.

Nigerians have called for an investigation after a viral video allegedly showed a young man leading boys dressed in JIBWIS volunteer uniforms in a chant threatening attacks on Christians in Enugu State.

The footage circulating on social media shows the man leading the boys as they march down a street, singing in Hausa. The chant calls for an AK-47 rifle to enable the singer to travel to Enugu and open fire on people attending church services on Sunday.

The translated lyrics describe Enugu as a land of “infidels” and feature sounds that imitate gunfire.

The uniform seen in the footage is associated with the First Aid Group (FAG) of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), the organisation’s humanitarian and volunteer service arm, whose members are locally known as ’Yan Agaji.

The Social Studies Education Postgraduate Students’ Association of Nigeria (SSPSAN), University of Abuja Chapter, has pledged support for President Bola Tinubu and other political candidates in the 2027 general elections following the nomination of one of its members, Hon. Julius Adamu, as chairman of the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB).

The association announced its position at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, where its chairman, Comrade Yakubu Muhammed Billa, thanked the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for nominating Adamu for the position.

Billa said the nomination had encouraged association members, adding that Adamu’s educational background and administrative experience made him well-suited for the appointment.

He said Adamu obtained a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Abuja between 2009 and 2014 and had experience in both the private and public sectors.

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