Today’s Headlines: My Support For Tinubu Is Personal-Atiku Son, Obasanjo Criticises Tinubu Borrowing

Abba Abubakar, son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has explained that his decision to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign is based on his personal convictions rather than the political position of his father or other relatives.

Abubakar, who founded and chairs the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation (HBTO), made the clarification during a press conference organised by the group in Abuja. He acknowledged that his political choice could attract public attention because it differs from the position many people might expect him to take given his family background.

He maintained, however, that every individual has the right to make independent political decisions based on personal judgment and conscience. According to him, family relationships should not prevent anyone from supporting a candidate they believe in. The organisation’s chairman also pledged to provide 10 buses as part of the group’s activities supporting Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised concerns about the Federal Government’s continued reliance on domestic and foreign loans to finance public spending, warning that excessive borrowing could place a heavy burden on future generations.

Obasanjo, who led Nigeria between 1999 and 2007, questioned whether continued borrowing and dependence on international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund would provide lasting solutions to the country’s economic problems. He argued that Nigeria should reconsider its approach to financing development rather than assume that loans alone would resolve its challenges.

The former president made the remarks on Friday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the Ajibosin Platform, a public forum focused on using artificial intelligence to address challenges at the grassroots and promote national development. The event was held under the theme, “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Solve Grassroots Problems and Accelerate National Development.”

His comments added to the ongoing debate over Nigeria’s debt levels, government expenditure and the long-term consequences of borrowing to fund national projects.

Participants in Nigeria’s maritime industry have called for measures to improve access to affordable financing for local shipowners, identifying high interest rates, demanding collateral conditions and long repayment arrangements as major obstacles to the sector’s growth.

The concerns were raised on Thursday in Lagos during the 2026 Annual Summit of the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria. The gathering focused on finding ways to provide indigenous shipping operators with access to capital without exposing them to unsustainable financial risks.

The summit was themed, “Low-risk capital for indigenous shipowners: Overcoming regulatory, financial bottlenecks.” Speaking at the event, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola identified the difficulty of securing long-term loans at commercially viable rates as one of the most serious challenges confronting local operators.

Industry stakeholders argued that addressing these financial barriers would help Nigerian shipowners compete more effectively and strengthen the country’s maritime capacity. They also emphasised the importance of improving financing arrangements and reviewing regulatory obstacles that discourage investment in indigenous shipping businesses.

Senator Abdulaziz Yari, a former Zamfara State governor and Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, has expressed optimism that President Bola Tinubu will win re-election in the January 2027 presidential contest.

Yari’s position was contained in a statement issued by the media office of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and circulated to journalists in Abuja on Saturday. The statement said he believed the administration’s record, combined with the party’s campaign activities, would help convince voters to give Tinubu another term.

The former governor reportedly spoke with journalists in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where he had joined Tinubu and other prominent Nigerians for the Umrah pilgrimage. He expressed confidence in the campaign council’s ability to mobilise support, while also referring to his faith in Allah as part of his optimism about the election.

Yari’s remarks reflect the APC campaign leadership’s confidence in its chances ahead of the 2027 polls, although the final outcome will depend on voters and the electoral process.

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