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Why Tinubu must go in 2027 — Atiku, El-Rufai, Amaechi
…Our elites don’t understand poverty – Kano Emir, Sanusi
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Governors of Kaduna and Rivers States Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, as well as other opposition figures involved in the coalition against President Bola Tinubu, have reiterated their resolve to oust the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from power in 2027.
The trio spoke separately during a public lecture with the theme “Weaponisation of poverty as a means of underdevelopment: A case study of Nigeria,” to commemorate Amaechi’s 60th birthday, in Abuja on Saturday.
In his remarks during the event, Atiku noted that while growing up, he, like many others, knew Kano as one of the wealthiest northern cities with citizens catered to.
He said, “I never saw people sleeping outside or outside their shops because then, there were no bridges or flyovers. Recently, I saw people sleeping on the streets and under the bridges who were driven out by poverty.”
“There is a state agency in Kano responsible for taking care of such people and enlightening them, and they started doing their work. What happened? They were invited to Abuja and were told to stop.”
“That is why I said I wanted to amend the topic of today to add ‘State Weaponisation of Poverty.”
“This particular government is weaponising poverty. That is why we are in this alliance – to make sure we don’t allow them to continue to weaponise poverty.”
Speaking in a similar vein, the celebrant, former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, explained that his refusal to support Bola Tinubu in 2023 was rooted in his knowledge that Tinubu didn’t have the capacity for the job.
Amaechi said, “I told Tinubu in Yola, I will not support you; I will not work for you. I did not work for him; I did not vote for him. It was the issue of capacity.”
“Some of us who are here are also those who vote on an ethnic or religious basis. Innocent, uneducated people are manipulated to vote based on ethnicity and religion—that’s why we are here.”
“When we leave here, we go to plot to go and grab power; no Nigerian leader cares for you.”
“You that voted Muslim/Muslim ticket, let the Muslim market come out now. For us in opposition, if you want us to remove this man, we can remove this man from power.”
“We want to submit to the opposition if the opposition will take us out of this problem.”
“They are weaponising poverty by stealing the money they should have used to build hospitals and schools.”
“The benefit of the fuel subsidy removal is in their pockets.”
He said he was ashamed because things have gone so bad that carrying the green Nigerian passport internationally has become a burden.
Amaechi said, “I’m ashamed; I was detained in Germany for 30 minutes. I did nothing; I was going for a medical check-up. They asked for my return ticket; I showed them. They said, Wait, just because I was carrying a green passport.”
While calling on Nigerians to stand up and hold leaders accountable, he recalled his days as a student union activist with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), when he and other colleagues would meet in Kano under the cover of night and disperse into the city without fear of molestation.
This, he noted, was no longer possible because abductions and other forms of criminal activities have become the order of the day because of multidimensional poverty.
According to him, during his time as Rivers State Governor, a lot of times when he noticed an upsurge of crime, he instructed the finance commissioner to pay contractors and other categories of workers what was owed them, and like magic, the crime rates plummeted.
His former Kaduna State counterpart, Nasir El-Rufai, in his intervention, said the celebrant has been a “co-conspirator” in a number of endeavours they’ve both been involved in on the political scene.
El-Rufai expressed disappointment that Nigerians keep repeating the same mistake of electing the worst among us into positions of authority.
He said, “We are in this coalition to put Nigeria back on the right track.”
Speaking on the topic of the day, the prelate of the Catholic Church in Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, admonished politicians to see their vocation as a service to God.
He explained that politics should not be an avenue for the accumulation of personal wealth but to render service, which ultimately means uplifting the quality of lives of citizens to the glory of God.
The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, while speaking earlier, noted that he came face to face with poverty when he ascended the throne.
The ex-Central Bank of Nigeria governor said, “Many of the elite in Nigeria do not know what poverty is. As an economist and former CBN governor, I see the numbers. I did not know poverty until I became Emir.”
“And you go to the village and see the water they drink, the houses they live in—two-block classrooms without roofs.”
“Do we actually love the people, or do we just love ruling over them? What are our priorities?”
“We make overpasses and underpasses for ourselves in the cities, while those in the rural areas cannot reach hospitals. We are in crisis; how do we get out? should be our focus.”
Sanusi charged those saddled with the responsibility of leadership to inculcate the virtues of empathy with those they’ve been given a responsibility to lead.
A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Usman Yusuf, on his part, explained that most of the cases being handled in hospitals today were not medical but poverty-induced social problems.
Yusuf blamed corruption and bad governance for the multidimensional poverty in Nigeria. He said unless citizens live up to their responsibilities and vote for what is right.
Earlier, the guest lecturer, Dr Chidi Amuta, noted that unlike in other climes, in Africa, democracy as a system of governance has remained stunted because post-colonial parliaments were decreed into existence on the backs of poor people.
He said, “The form of political organisation preceded the content of the lives of the people. An unproductive political elite foisted formal democracy on the people who were mostly poor. This is the major reason why democracy has remained stunted in most of Africa.”
Amuta equally noted that the categorisation of poverty in Nigeria as “multidimensional” unsettled our politicians.
He said, “While the politicians are used to saying that we have an internal poverty republic of about 100 million people, the new NBS categorisation now puts Nigeria’s poverty population at a disarming 133 million.”
“This represents 65 per cent of the fictional total population of about 220 million. In simple language, this means that those who are not poor have now been overwhelmed by the poor.”
“The poor are now omnipresent, literally all over us, in fulfilment of the Biblical saying that ‘the poor you will always have with you.’”
Dignitaries at the event include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Uche Secondus; Ex-Chief of Army Staff General Tukur Buratai; former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; and ex-governors of Benue, Niger, Cross Rivers, and Bayelsa States: Gabriel Suswam, Babangida Aliyu, Liyel Imoke, and Senator Seriake Dickson.
Others include Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Orji Kalu, and former Minister of Youths and Sports Bolaji Abdullahi. (Vanguard)
Two persons sustained gunshot injuries on Wednesday during an attempted arrest by police officers at the River Niger Head Bridge, Onitsha, Anambra State, causing panic and disrupting vehicular and pedestrian movement in the area.
The incident, which occurred around noon, caused gridlock along the busy Onitsha-Awka Expressway, as a confrontation reportedly broke out between the security operatives and some hoodlums.
Eyewitnesses near the scene said the victims were shot during the confrontation and later became unconscious before they were rushed to a nearby hospital.
One of the sources said, “The incident occurred this afternoon. It arose from a confrontation between the police officers and the victims. They were being stopped by the officers for questioning. In an attempt to arrest them, they resisted the arrest and the police fired some shots at them.
“The incident resulted in heavy skirmishes around the Bridgehead Market as people scampered to safety. The area remained in chaos until the arrival of another batch of police team. The victims were later rushed to a nearby hospital.”
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the incident occurred when the suspects allegedly resisted arrest, resulting in gunshot injuries.
Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police, Nnanna Oji Ama, had visited the scene and addressed the crowd, adding that an investigation had commenced to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to him, the CP subsequently visited the victims at the hospital, where he assured them of the command’s support and pledged to personally ensure that their medical expenses were covered.
He said, “The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji, while addressing the crowd in Onitsha over the incident arising from a confrontation during an attempted arrest, stated that the immediate priority of the Command is to ensure that the victims recover fully.
“The incident occurred when suspects allegedly resisted arrest, resulting in gunshot injuries. The Commissioner of Police subsequently visited the victims at the hospital, where he assured them of the Command’s support and pledged to personally ensure that their medical expenses are covered.
“The CP further ordered a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, particularly the events leading to the discharge of the firearm.
“He stressed that the investigation will establish the facts and ensure that appropriate action is taken based on its findings.
“The Commissioner of Police appealed for calm and urged members of the public to remain peaceful and allow the investigation to run its course.”
Ikenga reiterated the command’s commitment to professionalism, accountability, respect for human life and the rule of law.
“Meanwhile, traffic and human movement around the Head Bridge area have been de-escalated, with free flow of vehicular and human movement now restored,” he added.
Three churches in Lagos State have been shut down by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) over noise pollution as part of an enforcement exercise targeting 11 establishments in Agege and Mushin.
The affected churches are Holy Temple of Christ on Ayetoro Street, behind NIPCO Filling Station, Mushin; Christ Covenant Gospel Church, Western District, along Ikorodu Road, Fadeyi, Mushin; and Christ Apostolic Church, Oye Iyanu, located at Mushin Road, Church Bus Stop, Itire.
LASEPA carried out the enforcement operation on Tuesday after the affected establishments had received warnings and notices over environmental violations.
The agency said the establishments were given opportunities to correct the problems but failed to meet the required standards.
The shutdown of the three churches was linked to noise pollution, with the agency maintaining that religious activities and other operations must comply with environmental regulations to protect residents and maintain peace within communities.
LASEPA also sealed Akorohunfayo Central Mosque on Akorohunfayo Street, Fadeyi, Mushin, over noise pollution.
Other establishments affected included Biolarique Bakery Academy on Mushin Road, Mushin, which was sealed for failing to comply with the agency’s directives.
Tiles & Marbles on Silver Street, Olorunsogo, Mushin, was also shut over air pollution.
Five scrap yards operating in Agege and Mushin were equally sealed.
The facilities were accused of various environmental offences, including failure to provide evidence of an E-Waste Permit, environmental pollution and non-compliance with directives issued by LASEPA.
The affected scrap yards are Abubakar Scrap at Pipeline, Ifako-Ijaiye, Agege; Benjamin Scrap Yard on Ladoje Street, Oko Oba, Agege; Starlas and Sons Scrap Yard, also on Ladoje Street, Oko Oba, Agege; Jamin Scrap Yard at Jungle Bus Stop, Iju Road, Agege; and a Scrap Yard on Olu Aina Street, Daleko, Mushin.
LASEPA General Manager, Dr Babatunde Ajayi, said the agency would continue to monitor establishments across Lagos and enforce environmental regulations where operators fail to comply.
He urged religious organisations, business owners, facility operators, scrap dealers and other residents to obtain the necessary permits, follow environmental rules and take steps to prevent activities that could affect public health or the wellbeing of people living around their facilities.
The agency said further monitoring and enforcement exercises would continue across Lagos as part of efforts to maintain a cleaner and safer environment.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has approved the appointment of 23 Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants to support his administration in various areas of governance.
The appointments, contained in a Public Service Announcement signed by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, take effect immediately.
Nine of the appointees were appointed Special Advisers, while 14 were appointed Senior Special Assistants.
Among those appointed as Special Advisers are Hon. Chukwudi Ezinwa, Labour Union and Association Matters; Hon. Sunday Nnamani (Orlando), Special Duties; Mr. Williams Chukwu, Agriculture; Prince Afam Agana, Infrastructure Compliance; and Humphrey Onyima, Investment Strategy and Public Relations.
Others are Hon. Tony Ugwu, Rural Development; Chief Ernest Nweze, Party Coordination and Mobilisation; Hon. Emeka Onunze, Monitoring and Evaluation; and Mr. Robinson Odo (mni), Labour and Productivity.
Those appointed as Senior Special Assistants include Pastor Kenneth Asogwa (Ebube Muonso), Heritage and Community Relations; Pastor Tochukwu Ogbodo, Social Engagement; Barr. Lucky Chukwu, Public Affairs; Belonwu Nnaji, Cultural Orientation; and Hon. Steve Odo, Tourism.
Also appointed are Hon. Francis Ikewette Ede, Public Communication; Mr. Sunny Okafor, General Duties; Hon. Chinedu Okwu Otaka, Social Orientation and Mobilisation; Otaba Cosmas Ikechukwu, Protection of Public Utilities; Pius Okeagu, Assets Management; and Rt. Hon. Innocent Emeka Ugwu, Inter-Party Affairs.
The remaining appointees are Mrs. Eucharia Offor, Human Resource Management; Mr. Kenneth Oforma, Policy and Communication; and Kelvin Ede, Research and Strategy.
The state government said the appointments are effective immediately.
The new appointments are expected to strengthen the administration’s capacity across key sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, investment, labour, rural development, public communication, tourism, human resources and community relations.
The full statement:
ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
The Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has approved the appointment of the following persons as Special Advisers (SPAs) and Senior Special Assistants (SSAs):
1. *Hon. Chukwudi Ezinwa* — Special Adviser on Labour Union and Association Matters
2. *Hon. Sunday Nnamani (Orlando)* — Special Adviser on Special Duties
3. *Mr. Williams Chukwu* — Special Adviser on Agriculture
4. *Prince Afam Agana* — Special Adviser on Infrastructure Compliance
5. *Humphrey Onyima* — Special Adviser on Investment Strategy and Public Relations
6. *Hon. Tony Ugwu* — Special Adviser on Rural Development
7. *Chief Ernest Nweze* — Special Adviser on Party Coordination and Mobilisation
8. *Hon. Emeka Onunze* — Special Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation
9. *Mr. Robinson Odo (mni) — Special Adviser on Labour and Productivity*
10. *Pastor Kenneth Asogwa (Ebube Muonso)* — Senior Special Assistant on Heritage and Community Relations
11. *Pastor Tochukwu Ogbodo* — Senior Special Assistant on Social Engagement
12. *Barr. Lucky Chukwu* — Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs
13. *Belonwu Nnaji* — Senior Special Assistant on Cultural Orientation
14. *Hon. Steve Odo* — Senior Special Assistant on Tourism
15. *Hon. Francis Ikewette Ede* — Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication
16. *Mr. Sunny Okafor* — Senior Special Assistant on General Duties
17. *Hon. Chinedu Okwu Otaka* — Senior Special Assistant on Social Orientation and Mobilisation
18. *Otaba Cosmas Ikechukwu* — Senior Special Assistant on Protection of Public Utilities
19. *Pius Okeagu* — Senior Special Assistant on Assets Management
20. *Rt. Hon. Innocent Emeka Ugwu* — Senior Special Assistant on Inter-Party Affairs
21. *Mrs. Eucharia Offor* — Senior Special Assistant on Human Resource Management
22. *Mr. Kenneth Oforma* — Senior Special Assistant on Policy and Communication
23. *Kelvin Ede — Senior Special Assistant on Research and Strategy*
The appointments take effect immediately.
Signed:
Prof. Chidiebere Onyia
Secretary to the Enugu State Government
Wednesday, 19th August, 2026
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