The Lagos State Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), James Adeshina, said opposition unity is critical to presenting Nigerians with a credible alternative in 2027 general elections.

Adeshina, who is also Publicity Secretary of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), said on Sunday in Lagos that the G100 coalition initiative by opposition leaders could contribute to building a stronger and better-coordinated opposition.

Applauding PRP Presidential Candidate Donald Duke’s involvement in the initiative, Adeshina said that opposition parties needed to learn from the division of votes among several presidential candidates in the 2023 elections.

Adeshina said: “Donald Duke’s involvement in the G100 initiative is a positive development, because Nigeria needs a stronger, more credible and better-coordinated opposition ahead of 2027.

“As the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, Duke has demonstrated political maturity by putting the broader national interest above personal ambition.

“His position that he is prepared to support whoever emerges from a credible and transparent process shows that the opposition must learn from the mistakes of 2023, when votes were divided among several candidates.”

Adeshina, however, cautioned that opposition unity should not be driven solely by the desire to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) or share political positions.

He said any alliance must be based on principles, transparency, democratic decision-making and a common programme to address Nigeria’s challenges.

“It must be based on clearly defined principles, a transparent decision-making process and a democratic internal mechanisms.

“There must be a common programme capable of addressing Nigeria’s economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, poverty and institutional weaknesses.

“The PRP welcomes every genuine effort to bring opposition parties and Nigerians of like minds to the negotiating table,” he said.

Adeshina said participating parties must retain their identities and structures while working toward presenting Nigerians with a credible national political alternative.

“Duke’s participation should therefore be seen not as a personal political adventure, but as part of a broader conversation about how the opposition can present Nigerians with a competent, united and credible alternative in 2027.”

G100 is an emerging coalition initiative involving opposition figures and political actors seeking greater collaboration and coordination ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo says he will introduce a bi-annual free mandatory medical screening for every Nigerian if elected president in 2027.

Adebayo made the pledge while outlining his proposed reforms for Nigeria’s health sector at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Personality Interview Series on Sunday in Abuja.

He said the absence of family doctors and regular health checks meant that many Nigerians only sought medical attention after developing symptoms.

Adebayo said that the initiative would shift the country’s healthcare system from treating illnesses to prevention and early detections.

He said that common illnesses accounted for a large proportion of health presentations in the country and could be reduced through effective preventive healthcare and access to affordable medicines.

The SDP presidential candidate said that diseases such as cancer could be managed if detected early, stressing that his administration would provide for improved cancer screening in the country.

According to him, every Nigerian will be provided with a government-accessible medical record linked to their National Identification Number (NIN) which would double as their medical insurance number.

“Once you are a Nigerian living in the country, you should have a medical insurance number that is the same number as your NIN.

“Once you have that, you are entitled to mandatory and free medical screening twice a year. So you will get a text message telling you about the day for your medical screening,” he said.

Adebayo described the term “medical tourism” as a euphemism for the failure of Nigeria’s healthcare system, attributing the situation to inadequate investment in the sector.

He quoted Chapter Two of the Constitution as stating that the welfare and security of the people shall be the priority of the government.

The presidential candidate explained that the welfare of citizens must encompass access to food, healthcare, housing and employment.

He said that primary healthcare would form the foundation of his proposed reforms, with greater emphasis on disease prevention, vaccination and availability of essential medicines.

Adebayo said that if elected, his administration would also prioritise the welfare of doctors, nurses, radiographers and other healthcare professionals to discourage migration of medical personnel abroad.

He promised to provide healthcare workers with improved working conditions, including housing, transportation, free education for their children, training and other incentives.

The presidential candidate emphasised the need for expansion of medical education, saying that Nigeria was turning away many young people seeking admission to study medicine despite the country’s shortage of medical professionals.

He said public hospitals would get significant investment in infrastructure, including isolation wards and other facilities, for effective infection control if elected president.

Adebayo said that healthcare could not be separated from other areas of national development, including electricity, roads, food security and housing.

He said poor roads could endanger the patients being transported by ambulances, while unstable electricity could damage medical equipment and disrupt the healthcare delivery system.

Adebayo also linked nutrition and housing to public health, saying malnutrition could weaken citizens’ immune systems, while inadequate housing and water supply could undermine hygiene.

He said that if elected president, he would adopt an integrated approach to social-sector investment in which healthcare policy would be linked with nutrition, sanitation, housing and other basic amenities.

“The combination of preventive healthcare, improved medical infrastructure, better welfare for health workers and investment in social services would ultimately reduce Nigerians’ dependence on foreign hospitals.

“We need to put all these things together so that medical tourism will be a thing of the past,” Adebayo said.(NAN)

From Aliyu Askira, Kano

Some Kano based journalists returning from an All Progressives Congress (APC) political gathering in Kano were attacked by suspected thugs in a vehicle conveying media workers and other occupants.

The incident occurred shortly after the political event at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, with the attackers allegedly targeting journalists as they left the venue.

A Radio Nigeria, Pyramid FM Kano vehicle was reportedly vandalized during the attack. The assailants were said to have used machetes and knives to smash the vehicle’s windows and damage parts of the bus.

Five journalists were reportedly caught up in the incident.

They were identified as Shafiu Abdullahi Panshekara, Abdulmajid Habib Isa Tukuntawa, Yakubu Abubakar Gwagwarwa and Ibrahim Hussaini, all of Radio Nigeria’s Pyramid FM, as well as Abdulbaki Ali Ahmed Sharifai of Guarantee Radio.

Other occupants of the vehicle included the orderly to the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Mariya Mahmud Bunkure; some Department of State Services (DSS) personnel; and the political adviser to former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Reports said the attackers continued to strike the vehicle despite the presence of journalists and security personnel inside.

The occupants were said to have been left frightened as the assailants repeatedly attacked the vehicle before they could move away from the scene.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of journalists covering political activities, particularly as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to gather momentum.

No information was immediately available on arrests made in connection with the attack or the extent of injuries sustained by those inside the vehicle.

NUJ Kano has formally filed a complaint to Kano State Police Command through PPRO Abdullahi Kiyawa who promised to ensure proper protection to journalists practicing in the state and promised to investigate the ugly incident which he described as unfortunate.