Author: Daily Post Nigeria

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has reacted to the resignation of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

In a statement posted on his verified X handle on Sunday, Bwala stated that he had already said it six months ago that Obi would not contest the 2027 presidential election under the ADC.

According to presidential spokesman, his statement has come to pass

“I said it 6 months ago that Obi will not run under ADC, now it is coming to fruition. Not a single tweet from Obi’s propagandists about what they complain about.

“If it were a topic on Bwala, Oseni Rufai would have made 20 tweets,” he wrote.

DAILY POST reports that Obi on Sunday announced his resignation from the ADC, citing internal battles and division as reasons.

2027: ‘I said it’ – Daniel Bwala reacts to Peter Obi’s defection from ADC

The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has urged northern leaders to unite and tackle insecurity in the North-West and North-Central geopolitical zones of the country.

The association’s national president, Khalil Mohammed Bello, made the call in a statement issued on Sunday and made available to DAILY POST in Damaturu.

According to the statement, the prolonged crisis has resulted in the avoidable deaths of thousands of innocent Nigerians, the destruction of property worth trillions of naira, and the rustling of thousands of livestock.

“Particularly distressing is the incident reported by Amnesty International in Kwara State, where several pastoralists, including women and children, were allegedly arrested and detained at an NYSC orientation camp in one local government area.

“Reports indicate that over 150 detainees lost their lives due to disease and poor living conditions”, Bello said.

KACRAN’s National President stated that if northern leaders are truly committed and sincere, the region has the competence, capacity, and human capital to end insecurity in these two zones.

“The region is endowed with former Heads of State, eminent politicians, retired and serving generals, civil servants, revered traditional rulers, captains of industry, and other critical stakeholders.

“If they work together, they can identify the root causes of insecurity and resolve them through dialogue, lawful enforcement, and other constructive measures”, he said.

Bello also argued that there is no justification for the people of northern Nigeria to fold their arms and continue to blame President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a challenge that is largely internal and solvable by themselves, saying “ownership, not abdication, is required”.

“In KACRAN’s assessment, Mr President has taken commendable steps to address insecurity in the North, including appointing northerners as National Security Adviser and Ministers of Defence, and appropriating over N5 trillion to the Defence Ministry”, he said.

The KACRAN National President expressed optimism that northern leaders will, as a matter of urgency, act to restore peace, unity, love, and mutual respect among the people of the North-West, North-Central, and Nigeria at large.

KACRAN urges northern leaders to unite against rising insecurity

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, says the decision to rehabilitate the 90.9 kilometre Òṣogbo-Iwo-Ibadan road by the Federal Government would ease the transportation stress frequently experienced by travellers.

Oba Akanbi who commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the rehabilitation, noted that the project would enhance economic and commercial activities between Osun and Oyo states, while also improving connectivity across several communities.

The Oluwo spoke in an address delivered on behalf of all royal fathers from Osun West Senatorial District on Sunday in Iwo.

He lamented that prior to the Federal Government approval, the arterial road had been abandoned for almost 10 years.

The monarch, who insisted that the road had been shabbily done such that it began to show deficiencies as early as 1990, added that the newly created Osun State Government in 1991 engaged in patching exercises on the road to address the failure experienced by road users.

Oba Akanbi revealed that he personally took it upon himself to patch the road with cement after several entreaties to former President Muhammadu Buhari did not yield results.

“I started to patch the road with cement personally. The federal government led by late President Muhammadu Buhari said the road was a state road and therefore was not in his priority,” he said.

The monarch noted that traditional rulers across Osun West Senatorial District gathered at his palace to revisit the 49-year-old road history and to mark a new phase in its reconstruction.

He disclosed that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, had contacted him two months earlier, assuring that the Federal Government would take over and reconstruct the road.

Providing historical context, the monarch explained that “the road was originally divided into Ibadan-Iwo and Osogbo-Iwo segments, both awarded in 1977, with construction spanning multiple contractors before eventual inauguration in 1990.”

He stated that “the road began to deteriorate shortly after completion, prompting interventions by successive administrations, including efforts by former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, which he said yielded limited results.”

Oba Akanbi explained that commuters had resorted to alternative routes, spending up to three hours on journeys that should ordinarily take less than one hour due to the road’s poor condition.

He said, “Upon my enthronement, I cleared bushy sections, mobilised materials, and rehabilitated portions of the road daily for months to make it motorable again.”

Also speaking, the Akire of Ikire, Oba Abdulazeez Olatunbosun Adebamiji, described the project as a dividend of democracy, stating that traditional rulers could not afford to be ungrateful for the intervention.

Similarly, the Alayemore of Ido-Osun, Oba Olayinka Oyetunde Ishola said the rehabilitation followed sustained advocacy by royal fathers.

While praying for the success of the President Bola Tinubu administration, he expressed optimism that it would open up communities and would not be the last federal project in the district.

Oluwo hails Tinubu over rehabilitation of neglected Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan road

Former Nigerian international, Peter Osaze Odemwingie, has questioned how Nigeria will win a World Cup when the country’s good players play for England and other countries.

Odemwingie stated this while calling on players of Nigerian descent born abroad to embrace their roots.

The former West Brom striker had dual heritage with Russia and Nigeria, but opted to represent Nigeria and made his debut for the Super Eagles back in 2002.

Speaking to Brila, the 43-year-old also suggested why some current players who have dual nationality opted to play for England and other European countries instead of Nigeria.

Recall that the likes of Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Tammy Abraham, Noni Madueke, and Michael Olise all decided to play for England and France, respectively, instead of Nigeria.

“Parents have a big role to play, but, you know, these days this generation pride is plenty they do shakara for Africa, that is another part of the problem,” Odemwingie said.

“I won’t judge anybody. Imagine one day the whole football squad of England will be Nigerians. It’s Nigerian genes that are showing themselves how Nigeria go win the World Cup when our talents go out to serve other people.

“One day we will have the opposite effect when people will want to play for Nigeria and bring the World Cup trophy home because these players are good players, they grew up in a better football environment, maybe tactically and technically sound.”

How will Nigeria win World Cup when our good players play for England’ – Odemwingie

The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga has described the exit of former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi as another example of political opportunism ahead of the 2027 elections.

DAILY POST had reported that Obi announced his resignation on Sunday through his verified X account.

In his statement, the former Labour Party presidential candidate said the same Nigerian state and its agents that created what he described as unnecessary crises and hostility within the Labour Party which forced his exit now appear to be finding their way into the ADC.

In a reaction to this on his X handle Onanuga Bayo said, “We told you so. The political nomad is on the move again. Ignore all those puerile reasons he gave in these illogical musings, a self-serving letter to his mob. Peter Obi is a politician made of jelly, an opportunistic fellow.

“He can’t fight Atiku or Amaechi for the ticket of ADC. He pursues the easy road, that will only lead him to doom, like in 2023. He always blames the government without doing a soul-searching of himself. Welcome, Peter to the 2027 race,” he stated.

2027: Political opportunist moves again – Onanuga mocks Obi for exiting ADC

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has announced his departure from the African Democratic Congress, citing worsening internal crises within the party and broader national challenges.

In a statement shared on Sunday on X, Obi said his decision followed deep personal reflection and “silent pains” he had been carrying while navigating Nigeria’s political environment.

He described the country’s system as increasingly toxic, saying it had become marked by intimidation, insecurity, suspicion, and discouragement, which he argued often undermines sincere public service.

“We now live in an environment that has become increasingly toxic, where the system that should protect and create opportunities often works against the people,” he said.

Obi also said he had been subjected to unfair criticism and internal pressure within political spaces he previously joined in search of solidarity and reform-minded leadership.

“Some who publicly identify with you privately distance themselves or join in unfair criticism,” he stated, adding that humility is often misinterpreted as weakness in Nigeria’s political culture.

He clarified that his departure from the ADC was not due to personal issues with the party leadership, including former Senate President David Mark or former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, both of whom he said he continues to respect.

According to him, his decision was driven by what he described as the infiltration of unresolved political conflicts and recurring legal and internal disputes that have distracted the party from national issues.

“Let me state clearly: my decision to leave the ADC is not because our highly respected Chairman, Senator David Mark, treated me badly, nor because my leader and elder brother, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, or any other respected leaders did anything personally wrong to me. I will continue to respect them.

“However, the same Nigerian state and its agents that created unnecessary crises and hostility within the Labour Party that forced me to leave now appear to be finding their way into the ADC, with endless court cases, internal battles, suspicion, and division, instead of focusing on deeper national problems and playing politics built more on control and exclusion than on service and nation-building,” he said.

Obi said he has no personal desperation for political office, stressing that his focus remains on national welfare rather than positions.

“I am not desperate to be President, Vice President or Senate President. I am desperate to see a Nigeria where people can live in dignity, without hunger, fear, or displacement,” he said.

Despite leaving the party, Obi reaffirmed his belief in a better Nigeria, insisting that competent and compassionate leadership remains possible.

“A new Nigeria is possible,” he declared.

PETER OBI ADDRESS TO THE NATION..

(FORMAL DECLARATION OF NEW POLITICAL DIRECTION WILL BE BY 2PM)

‎Fellow Nigerians, good morning.

‎I woke up this morning after my church service with a deeply reflective heart, and despite every constraint, I felt compelled to share these thoughts with you.

‎

‎Many people do not truly understand the silent pains some of us carry daily—the private struggles, emotional burdens, and quiet battles we face while trying to survive and serve sincerely in difficult circumstances.

‎

‎We now live in an environment that has become increasingly toxic, where the very system that should protect and create opportunities for decent living often works against the people—a society where intimidation, insecurity, endless scrutiny, and discouragement have become normal.

‎

‎More painful is when some of those you associate with, believing you would find understanding and solidarity among them, become part of the pressure you face. Some who publicly identify with you privately distance themselves or join in unfair criticism.

‎

‎We live in a society where humility is mistaken for weakness, respect is seen as a lack of courage, and compassion is treated as foolishness—a system where treating people equally is questioned simply because you refuse to worship status, tribe, class, or power.

‎

‎Personally, I have never looked down on anyone except to uplift them. I have never used privilege, position, or resources to oppress others, intimidate the weak, or make people feel small. To me, leadership has always been about service, sacrifice, and helping others rise.

‎

‎Let me state clearly: my decision to leave the ADC is not because our highly respected Chairman, Senator David Mark, treated me badly, nor because my leader and elder brother, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, or any other respected leaders did anything personally wrong to me. I will continue to respect them.

‎

‎However, the same Nigerian state and its agents that created unnecessary crises and hostility within the Labour Party that forced me to leave now appear to be finding their way into the ADC, with endless court cases, internal battles, suspicion, and division, instead of focusing on deeper national problems and playing politics built more on control and exclusion than on service and nation-building.

‎

‎Even within spaces where one labours sincerely, one is sometimes treated like an outsider in one’s own home. You and your team become easy targets for every failure, frustration, or misunderstanding, as though honest contribution has become a favour being tolerated rather than appreciated.

‎

‎And when you choose to leave so that those you are leaving can have peace, and you step out into the cold, you are still maligned and your character is questioned. Despite all your efforts to continue working for a better Nigeria and engaging people with sincerity and goodwill, those who do not wish you well continue to attack your character and question your intentions.

‎

‎There are moments I ask God in prayer: Why is doing the right thing often misconstrued as wrongdoing in our country? Why is integrity not valued? Why is the prudent management of resources, especially when invested in critical areas like education and healthcare, wrongly labelled as stinginess? Why are humility and obedience to the rule of law often taken to be weakness rather than discipline?

‎

‎Let me assure all that I am not desperate to be President, Vice President, or Senate President. I am desperate to see a society that can console a mother whose child has been kidnapped or killed while going to school or work. I am desperate to see a Nigeria where people will not live in IDP camps but in their homes. I am desperate for a country where Nigerian citizens do not go to bed hungry, not knowing where their next meal will come from.

‎

‎Yet, despite everything, I remain resolute. I firmly believe that Nigeria can still become a country with competent leadership based on justice, compassion, and equal opportunity for all.

‎

‎A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO

Kingsley Ehizibue is full of excitement after helping Udinese record a 2-0 victory over Torino, DAILY POST reports.

Ehizibue opened scoring for the Zebras in the first half’s stoppage time.

It was the defender’s second goal in his last two games for Kosta Runjaic’s side.

Thomas Kristensen sealed the win with the second goal six minutes after the break.

Ehizibue reflected on the performance of his team in the game.

“It’s a great day for me. I thank God for this environment, I’m happy to be with my teammates and my captain.
This is an important season, we want 50 points and now we have 47, we’re on the right path,” he told the club’s official website.

The 30-year-old has scored twice in 30 league appearances for Udinese this season.

Serie A: Ehizibue reflects on Udinese home win over Torino

As the African Democratic Congress battles a succession of court disputes and an internal leadership crisis with barely days to go before a critical regulatory deadline, strong signals have emerged that two of its most prominent figures — Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso — may be on their way out.

The potential exit of both men has raised fresh anxieties about the fate of opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections. Professor Kamil Sani Fagge, a political analyst, Bayero University Kano, speaks with THE WHISTLER on what it all means for Nigeria’s democratic future.

There is a view that the ADC was never really a serious political vehicle — that it was always a platform of convenience. Does the reported exit of Obi and Kwankwaso prove that?

ADC raised a lot of hope — for Nigerians and for politicians alike. There were genuine expectations that if the party’s ambitions materialised, it would provide a credible opposition to the ruling APC, especially given the calibre of politicians who moved into it. Despite the internal crises, which to a large extent have been fomented by the government and the ruling APC, I think there were still hopes that ADC could become a strong alternative opposition platform.

But what is happening now is that this hope is gradually being dashed in the minds of many Nigerians.

The outstanding court cases bedevilling the party, combined with the fact that we have barely seven or eight days before the deadline, are making people increasingly pessimistic. Some of the big names that people were counting on to unite within ADC have already left.

The Bauchi State governor, for example, was expected to join, but he went elsewhere. Now there are strong rumours that Obi and Kwankwaso are also on their way out. So yes, that view is not unfounded.

Who bears more responsibility for the unravelling of the alliance between Obi and Kwankwaso — the principals themselves, or the party structure that was supposed to hold them together?

I think it is primarily the principals themselves. What really motivated them to join ADC is the same thing that is motivating them to leave — personal interest. They are not concerned with principled politics. They are not concerned with any ideology. They are not concerned with any programme or ideals beyond their own personal interests.

That was what moved them into ADC, and that is what will move them out of it. Obi and Kwankwaso, like Atiku, like Amechi — they are all in it for their own personal interests. The party structure obviously has its own weaknesses, but you cannot separate the crisis from the motivations of the individuals involved.

What do you consider the most likely reasons driving this exit — the internal crisis within ADC, incompatible political ambitions, or pure 2027 strategic repositioning?

All three are connected, but the dominant thread running through all of them is personal interest and strategic calculation for 2027.

The internal crisis within ADC has provided a convenient cover, but the underlying driver is that each of these politicians is assessing where they can best advance their own 2027 agenda.

They are not asking what is good for the opposition, or what is good for Nigeria — they are asking what is good for themselves. That is the honest answer.

If both men exit, what are their realistic options? Can either remain a credible presidential contender without a major party structure?

It will be very difficult. Their movement out of ADC will, first of all, take a chunk of their followership with them — but into different directions, which means fragmentation. The more important consequence is that by leaving, they will have successfully divided the ranks of the opposition.

And a divided opposition cannot mount any serious challenge to the APC. Without a strong, united platform, the credibility of any presidential ambition is severely undermined.

People vote for parties, but they also vote for the sense that a candidate has the machinery and the coalition to govern. If you are moving from party to party in the months leading up to an election, that does not inspire confidence.

Does this development effectively kill any hope of a united opposition front against the APC in 2027?

It deals a very serious blow. The ruling APC has already secured enormous structural advantages.

They now have 32 governors on their side, and the majority of those are seeking a second term, so they will fight hard for both themselves and the presidency.

Look at INEC — there are strong indications that the current electoral commission is more aligned with the ruling party, and there are legitimate concerns about whether the judiciary, despite its recent ruling on ADC’s leadership, will remain a neutral arbiter. The National Assembly is, in practice, operating almost as an extension of the executive.

Add to that the incumbency advantage, the stranglehold over party primaries, and the sheer weight of money politics — no opposition party can match the APC naira for naira.

So when you then compound all of that with a divided opposition, the ruling party’s path to 2027 becomes extremely comfortable.

If you were advising either Obi or Kwankwaso right now, what would your single most important counsel be?

I would tell them to stop and think about the plight of ordinary Nigerians. Nigerians are suffering — and I use that word deliberately.

The ordinary man is carrying an impossible burden: insecurity, inflation, poverty, hunger. Nigeria is now regarded, by multiple indices, as one of the world’s poverty capitals.

Some estimates put the number of Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty at 70 to 80 percent of the population.

These are not just statistics — these are the people these politicians claim to represent. That suffering should have been the entire basis of any credible opposition agenda. But because the politicians are consumed by their own interests, these issues are being abandoned.

My counsel is simple: justice is the key to stability and peace in any society. Where you have poverty and hunger at this scale, you have a high-risk crisis waiting to happen.

These politicians owe it as a duty — not just to voters today, but to generations yet unborn — to leave behind a peaceful and functional Nigeria. Right now, they are doing the opposite.

INTERVIEW: Obi, Kwankwaso’s Exit From ADC Will Be Victory For APC— Prof. Fagge is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali, has joined the Yobe governorship race following the collapse of consensus talks among aspirants.
Alkali disclosed this while speaking with journalists on Sunday in Damaturu.

He said four other aspirants had already obtained their nomination forms, signaling the breakdown of earlier agreements aimed at producing a consensus candidate.

“I therefore obtained the form to join the movement. No one has ever shown me where to sign or even asked me to speak,” Alkali said.

He added that the development confirmed that the consensus arrangement among the aspirants had failed.

He explained that his understanding of the party’s consensus model was based on voluntary agreement among aspirants to support a single candidate.

“That is the meaning of consensus. Now that this has not happened in Yobe, I have decided to go ahead with my ambition,” he said.

The former police chief said he arrived in Damaturu at the weekend to verify the validity of his nomination forms.

According to him, he also consulted party guidelines and relevant stakeholders before proceeding.

On whether he would step down if party leaders asked him to support another aspirant, Alkali said it would depend on the conditions presented.

“I would, if I agree to the terms,” he said.

He urged his supporters to remain steadfast and committed throughout the primary election process.

Alkali said they should stand by him irrespective of whether the primary election took place as scheduled or otherwise.

2027: Ex-IGP, Usman Alkali joins Yobe governorship race

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will know their group foes in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, 19 May, DAILY POST reports.

CAF announced that 48 countries including co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will take part in the qualifiers.

They will be drawn into 12 groups of four teams each, with the top two teams in each group qualifying for the final tournament.

The opening match of the competition will hold on Saturday, 19 June 2027, while the final is slated for Saturday, 17 July 2027.

CAF is yet to decide the country that will host the opening match, and final.

The Super Eagles will finish in third position at the AFCON 2025 finals hosted by Morocco.

AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Super Eagles to discover opponents May 19