News
Jonathan to battle Obi in NDC *Ex-President insists Nigeria must rise again!
Indications are fast emerging that Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, may not have a free ride to picking the ticket of the 2027 edition on the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), after all.
The former Governor of Anambra State, might be squaring up against Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s former President and Obi’s boss at a time, who is being pressurised into making a go at the nation’s number one job for the third time.
In recent years, calls for the former President to throw his hat into the ring for another go at the job, which he left when he was defeated in the 2015 presidential election have been off and on by some interest groups, without any clear indication.
But it now appears that the former Deputy Governor, and Governor of Bayelsa State, Vice President and later President might be pecking at the bait right now after the agitators came knocking at his doors once more.
That indication came on Thursday, when a group of youths, under the aegis of the Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan, on converged on the Abuja residence for the same purpose, at which point he promised to begin full consultations on the matter.
The demonstrators, chanting songs and slogans asking Jonathan to run for president again in 2027, had besieged his Taraba Close in Maitama, home in Abuja, overflowing into nearby streets and causing significant traffic disruption.
Amid blasting music, the visitors, who also waved placards with messages such as GEJ: Nigeria is dying, save it!, GEJ, Nigerian youths break the medicine wey dem do you, and ‘GEJ, if you no run, we quench, described Jonathan as a unifying figure capable of rescuing the country from its current challenges.
Calming his visitors down, the ex-President said: “Thank you for showing interest in your country. If you have no interest in your country you’ll not bother to be here. I can say that you’re showing signs of being patriotic Nigerians and I will encourage you to continue to be patriotic to the country.
“It is only patriotic citizens that build their country. Unpatriotic citizens will destroy their country, take the money to other countries to enjoy their lives. So, you must be patriotic. And things are very clear. The key thing we need in this country is peace.
“So, as young people – more than 80 per cent of you here are young people – I don’t even know how old some of you were when I was President. The key thing in this country is peace and we’ll continue to advocate for peaceful and credible elections in the country.
“If we don’t have peacefull and credible elections, most citizens will not bother to get involved and we’re here to advocate for that. It’s very there to us and indeed you. The young people must be fully involved in the electoral process, especially your rights to vote.
“I’ve observed elections in more than 14 or more African countries – some I’ve been there two times and even South East Asia. Nigeria has the lowest turnout of elections in every election circle. We have the highest voter apathy. And it shows that people are not even interested in elections.
“We have the worst – the least – I have never been in a country that has the low numbers we have in terms of voters. I think INEC needs to do something about it. They need to study the circumstances and maybe study the cause and do something about it.
“As young people, you must be involved in the electoral process. If I ask how many of you have voters cards, may be 50 per cent of you don’t have voters cards. And you’re asking me to go and contest elections. So, you must be patriotic, you must participate in the electoral process.
“You’re asking me to come and contest the next election. The presidential race is not a computer game. But I’ve heard you and I’ll consult widely. But the most important thing is that in Nigeria that the new people will have hope – the Nigeria that will plan for its grandchildren.
“These countries people travel abroad to go and enjoy, things don’t happen overnight. Leaders after leaders plan for their grandchildren and build their countries. So, every year, you see things being added and added until they’re in this semi-paradise countries they enjoy.
“The japa syndrome in Nigeria has to stop. The highest level of disdain shown to Nigerian youths abroad has to stop. Even African countries that we helped – African countries that even as students, half of our scholarship money were contributing to solve problems in those countries are treating Nigeria as if we’re all a bunch of idiots. It has to stop.”
Justice Akintoye Aluko of the Federal High Court, Lagos on Tuesday ordered the remand of Paul Jibrin Oweleke in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged cybercrime offences linked to social media broadcasts that allegedly called for overthrow of President Bola Tinubu.
Specifically, Oweleke, in a two-count charge was accused of publishing posts on his online platform known as “Oweleke TV”, urging the Nigerian military to remove the President from office in a manner similar to takeovers in some West African countries, an act the agency said bordered on incitement and the use of a computer system to disseminate content considered prejudicial to national security and constitutional governance.
Oweleke’s broadcasts, the agency stressed, were capable of inciting public disorder and promoting disaffection against the government, which will undermine the country’s democracy.
Legal argument had ensued immediately after Oweleke, pleaded not guilty to the charges, with his lawyer kicking vehemently against the prayer of the agency that the court should order his remand pending the commencement of trial, on the ground that a bail application had already been filed and served on the prosecution.
But Aluko, who was persuaded to grant the prayer, went with the DSS, while adjourning the matter to June 16 for the hearing of the bail application, stating that Oweleke, would remain in the facility of the agency pending the outcome.
By June 29 all medical doctors in public hospitals in Nigeria will drop their stethoscopes and other instruments of healthcare, unless the Federal Government settles all unpaid allowances, salary arrears, delayed training funds, and worsening welfare concerns of its members across the country’s health sector.
This was the notice served to the government on Monday, through The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the umbrella under which the doctors operate, after rising from Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) held in Kano.
In the 21-day ultimatum to the government, the doctors warned that it would not be able to guarantee industrial harmony if the issues remain unresolved within the 21-day period.
In the resolution conveying their position, signed by Mohammad Suleiman, President, Shuaibu Ibrahim, Secretary-General, and Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, Publicity and Social Secretary, on Friday, the body regretted that government had failed to fulfil several commitments to doctors despite repeated assurances and engagements.
“The association hereby declares an industrial dispute with the federal government of Nigeria on the outlined matters above and cannot guarantee industrial harmony after the 21-day window period given to address all the demands,” the communique reads.
The association said it is giving the federal government the 21-day window to commence concrete actions towards the development and implementation of a national healthcare workers assault prevention and response protocol
and the initiation of the necessary legislative process to address the menace.
NARD also demanded the release and payment of the 2026 medical residency training fund (MRTF) to all eligible resident doctors nationwide within the next 21 days.
The association questioned the unpaid salary and promotion arrears in several federal and state health institutions, as well as discrepancies in professional allowances reflected in members’ May 2026 salaries.
It highlighted the welfare issues affecting house officers, including salary delays, unpaid arrears, and difficulties with internship placement and onboarding processes that remain unresolved.
It also accused Motunrayo Omidiran, executive chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), of delaying the issuance of letters of compliance to federal health institutions, noting that the delay has hampered recruitment efforts, manpower shortages, and brain drain in the sector.
NARD expressed worries about the increasing assaults, harassment, intimidation, and violent attacks against doctors while on duty, demanding the arrests, investigation, and prosecution of perpetrators.
It called for the establishment of a national healthcare workers’ assault prevention and response protocol within 21 days by the federal government and security agencies.
Abuja has switched into chest-beating mode, two days to June 12, Nigeria’s Democracy Day, while celebrating the milestones it claims President Bola Tinubu has achieved in the last three years in office.
Top officials of the government, were on hand on Monday to marshal out the wins of the President during an engagement with media men across the country, with Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, declaring that Nigeria had since left its hitherto fragile status and moving steadily toward long-term prosperity.
His take is that despite pains associated with ongoing reforms embarked by the President, he said available evidence point to a nation on the path of recovery, growth and institutional strengthening, adding that the celebration of Nigeria’s 27th anniversary of uninterrupted democratic governance and the third year of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration, remained significant.
Idris, who described Democracy Day as a historic moment for national reflection, accountability and celebration of the sacrifices that secured democratic governance in Nigeria, also recognised Tinubu’s efforts in restoring democracy to Nigeria, while paying tribute to late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola, the symbol of Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
His words: “The 2026 Democracy Day celebration carries special significance because it coincides with the third anniversary of the Tinubu administration, providing an opportunity to assess the impact of government policies and reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Twenty-seven years of uninterrupted democratic governance is a milestone worthy of celebration. It reflects the determination of Nigerians to uphold democratic values, strengthen institutions and build a more prosperous nation.”
George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who represented President Tinubu, told his audience: “Government will never claim that every challenge has been solved. Inflation has been painful, insecurity still threatens lives and livelihoods, and the effects of reform do not land evenly or immediately.
“However, evidence shows that Nigeria is moving in the right direction,from fragility toward firmer footing, from stop-gap actions toward systemic reform, and from scattered interventions toward a more connected programme of delivery.
“President Tinubu remains fully aware of difficulties confronting citizens and is committed to ensuring that the benefits of reforms became more visible. Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, remains on a positive trajectory over the last two quarters. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, said the economy recorded a growth rate of 4.07 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 3.89 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.
“The figures demonstrate growing investor confidence, increased market activity and improving productive exchange across sectors. President Tinubu signed four major tax reform laws in June 2025 to simplify compliance, enhance transparency and boost domestic revenue generation. “Since the Student Loan Act was signed into law in April 2024, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, has supported over 1.058 million students nationwide.
“More than N184 billion had been disbursed for tuition and upkeep allowances, describing the initiative as one of the most impactful interventions in the education sector. The public impact analysis shows that over 1.058 million students have already benefited from the scheme.”
Showcasing the figures on the reach of its social protection programmes, the SGF stated that the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, designed to support 15 million households, had reached over three million vulnerable households by August 2025.
He stressed that nearly one million Nigerians across the country’s 774 local government areas had benefited from interventions under the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme and CreditCorp, which he said, had also expanded access to formal credit, with over 200,000 Nigerians benefiting and N37 billion disbursed in 2025 alone.
On healthcare, the SGF said the administration has intensified efforts to improve access to quality medical services through implementation of the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA Act, and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
He disclosed that resources had been provided to support more than 8,000 primary healthcare centres, with plans underway to expand coverage to 13,000 facilities nationwide.
The President, he added, had directed mandatory health insurance implementation across ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, to deepen health coverage.
Akume also highlighted anti-corruption gains recorded by the administration, noting that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, have continued to recover stolen assets and prosecute offenders.
He revealed that the EFCC contributed over N50 billion in recovered funds to support the student loan programme.
In what he described as a major international endorsement of Nigeria’s reform efforts, the SGF announced that the country was officially removed from the Financial Action Task Force, FATF, grey list in October 2025, following improvements in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks.
“Accountability in this administration is sacrosanct,” he declared.
On security, Akume said the government remains committed to defeating terrorism, banditry and other criminal threats.
He noted that while insecurity had not been completely eradicated, significant progress is being made through increased investment in security agencies, enhanced regional cooperation and improved operational capacity of the Armed Forces.
“The good news is that we are succeeding,” he stated.
Akume commended members of the military and security agencies for their sacrifices and urged Nigerians to play more active roles by reporting suspicious activities to authorities.
According to him, “security must become our collective national project.”
The SGF stressed further the importance of national cohesion, religious tolerance and shared values in sustaining democracy.
He disclosed that the Federal Executive Council, FEC, had approved the National Values Charter to promote discipline, citizenship, reciprocity, service and tolerance across society.
He also reaffirmed government support for the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC, as a platform for strengthening Christian-Muslim relations and national stability.
Looking ahead, Akume signalled the administration’s intention to seek a renewal of its mandate in the 2027 general elections, insisting that government remains focused on completing reforms initiated since 2023.
“Our responsibility is to finish what we commenced in 2023. As we approach the 2027 election cycle, we shall scale what is working. Our task is not completed yet, and under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, more dividends of democracy will be delivered,” he said.
He described June 12 as more than a symbolic date, saying it represents both the memory of democratic sacrifice and the obligation of elected leaders to remain accountable to the people.
“This government is prepared to be judged by evidence,” Akume said, as ministers lined up to present sector-by-sector reports on the administration’s performance.
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