… Accuses Gov of Running ‘One-man Show’

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed Governor Alex Otti of Abia state, for lack of
transparency and accountability since he came into office in 2023.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Partners in the state, which held late on Sunday, Abia state APC Chairman, Dr.

Abia state chapter APC chaitman, however, assured the people and residents in the state of a competent hand devoid of propaganda and a one-man show.

According to him, a “better and truly new Abia” is still possible under the right leadership.

The Renewed Hope Partners is a support group of the party solely mobilizing support for the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of 2027 general elections.

According to Ononogbu, the inauguration marks the beginning of the journey aimed at repositioning Abia State for the Renewed Hope Crusade, and I believe so because I can see on the faces of everyone here, the search for a truly new Abia State.

He said: “When we read and listen to social media hype and praises, regarding the state of Abia, one often wonders if it is the same Abia State that we live in.

“Abia State today is nothing but a “A One Man Show” anchored on a very well oiled propaganda machinery. Accountability is long gone. Checks and balances non existent while conflict of interest is now a norm.

“A government of one man show from his private home and for selected friends and cronies. A government where the governor operates as the chief executive, chief accountant and the auditor.

“An administration that would prefer to convert a newly built government house to a 5 star hotel, while operating necodemously from his personal house. And for the roads being built newly, the style of collation, scrutiny, and award of the contracts falls below acceptable standard of state (F&GPC) and best practice.”

The APC chieftain declared that the Renewed Hope Partners must come to terms with the fact that they are support groups of the party and must partner with the party in its collective efforts to reach out to the grassroots across the country.

“When our people are well informed, they will stand firmly to rebuke and resist the sugar- coated lies of the deceitful coalition oppositions.”

He assured that the party will not only win at the federal level in 2027 “but APC will also win in Abia State.”

He also called on all the APC stakeholders in the state to be more united, saying “in the spirit of the ongoing reconciliations as directed by the President and accepted by all the critical Stakeholders of Abia APC , I urge all APC members in Abia State who for one reason or the other have been staying away from the activities of the party in the state to come back home.”

By David Torough, Abuja

A coalition representing four local government areas in Zamfara North Senatorial District has launched a scathing attack on Governor Dauda Lawal, branding his administration a “monumental failure” after two years in office.

In a statement on Wednesday, the coalition—made up of Kauran Namoda, Birnin Magaji, Shinkafi, and Zurmi communities—accused Governor Lawal of abandoning his campaign promises and worsening the region’s insecurity, poverty, and infrastructure decay.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Chairman Yakubu Ibrahim Shinkafi lamented the dire conditions residents now face.

“People can no longer sleep with both eyes closed.

“Yet, during the 2023 campaign, he promised to end insecurity and hunger within two weeks.”

The coalition highlighted the unrelenting wave of banditry, kidnappings, and extortion plaguing their communities.

Shinkafi claimed thousands have lost their lives, while others have been forced to pay millions in ransoms, even as the state government celebrates its second year in office.

“What is he celebrating? He is celebrating failure,” Shinkafi remarked bitterly.

“The situation has deteriorated. Bandits now operate with confidence while the government remains silent.”

Governor Lawal, who came into office in 2023 on promises of swift action to tackle insecurity, had assured voters that peace would return within two weeks of his inauguration. But two years on, residents say the crisis has only deepened.

“Not only has peace remained elusive, but insecurity has now become a permanent nightmare,” the coalition’s statement read.

The group commended the Nigerian Army and other security forces for their sacrifices but argued that the state government has failed to provide necessary support and leadership.

“There is no adequate intelligence cooperation, no visible engagement with communities, and no strategic direction from the governor,” the statement added.

“He has abandoned his duties and disconnected from the people’s plight.”

Beyond security concerns, the coalition criticised the collapse of essential services, pointing to deteriorating healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

“The hopes people had when Governor Lawal took office have turned into despair,” Shinkafi said.

“Our communities are calling for a serious reassessment of priorities. We demand leadership and an end to the deception.”

“Zamfara State deserves better,” the statement said .

“We will not allow our lives to be destroyed under the weight of a failed administration.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC), has commended Nigerians for their understanding and support to President Bola Tinubu-led administration in the last two years.

Mr Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary made the commendation on behalf of the party, while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on the midterm anniversary of the Tinubu-led administration.

He said that the country was on a progressive path under Tinubu, adding that more support and understanding were needed from the citizens.

“We applaud Nigerians for their invaluable understanding and support so far and we crave their continued support to Mr President for the second half of the tenure and beyond.

“The support will enable the administration unpack the fullness of the Renewed Hope Agenda for the overall good of Nigerians,”Morka said.

He noted that in the face of daunting generational challenges, Tinubu’s administration had demonstrated political will never before recorded in our contemporary political history.

Morka said that like a confident surgeon, Tinubu had enacted and continued to enact policy reforms skillfully designed to give the country, not just a chance for urgent resuscitation, but a real shot at rejuvenating its wellness.

He said that the APC leadership remained conscious of the challenges Nigerians were going through because of the inevitable policy reforms the Tinubu-led administration had to take in the interest of all.

He added that in all, the best interest and well-being of the current and future generations remained at the core of Tinubu’s thinking and actions.

Morka noted that some of the reforms of the administration include; the removal of fuel subsidy and harmonising multiple exchange rates among others.

These he said were inevitable and crucial steps to stabilising and positioning the economy for steady and sustainable growth.

“At midterm, the pall of gloom over our nation has been lifted and replaced by a dawn of rebounding optimism and progress.

“Signs and indications have never been clearer in our recent history, of a resurgent economy heralding strong prospects of a vibrant and prosperous future for our country, “Morka said.

He said that the Tinubu-led administration’s relentless war against oil theft had helped boost oil production, adding that our production now standing upwards of 1.8mbpd.

The APC spokesman said this surpassed the Organisation of Petroluem Exporting Countries (OPEC’s) quota, for the first time in recent history.

According to him, the massive reforms and investments in oil and gas sectors totaling over 8 billion dollars, had improved the ease-of-doing-business in the country.

He said that the development had revitalised stock market for enhanced profitability and attracted Foreign Direct investments (FDIs) in excess of 50 billion dollars.

Morka added that under the administration, the country had posted trade surpluses all for consecutive quarters since 2023.

“The historic Gross Domestic Product (GDP), growth of 3.38 per cent in Q4 of 2024 has been lauded by both the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) as incontrovertible index of a rebounding economy.

“In its determination to enhance peace and security, the administration has left no stone unturned in its renewed fight against terrorism and banditry.

“Thankfully, the massive supports for military welfare and funding of the Armed Forces have resulted in the neutralising of more than 13,500 terrorists and arrests of nearly 18,000.

“With many internally-displaced persons (IDP’s) camps being shut down and displaced persons returning to their homelands, farmers are now accessing their farms with attendant crash in food prices,” Morka stated.

He said the administration had done remarkably well in the education and health sectors as well as improving basic infrastructure across the country.

“In the critical health sector, the administration has equally left indelible footprints by approving 21 strategic policies with direct bearing on the health of Nigerians.

“It has disbursed more than N80 billion to revatilise more than 8,000 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“Empirically, a lot more have been accomplished in the creative industry, solid minerals, power, energy, oil and gas sectors among others,’’ he said.

Morka advised Nigerians to continue to support the administration, saying that Tinubu is determined to serve Nigerians better in the concluding half of his four-year tenure,” he said.(NAN)