COVER
June 12: Tinubu, Opposition Leaders in War of Words
By Johnson Eyiangho, Eze Okechukwu and Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja
As Nigeria celebrated its 26 Democracy Day, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of pursuing “conquest” not “governance,” alleging that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat from creeping authoritarianism, elite cronyism, and institutional subversion under the current administration.
In a strongly worded Democracy Day statement on Thursday, Atiku warned that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is dismantling the democratic foundations hard-won since the historic June 12, 1993, election. He described the current government as one that governs with the intent to dominate, subdue, and silence, adding that Nigeria is teetering on the edge of a “dangerous precipice.”“The ruling party and its federal government now govern with the unmistakable intent to dominate, subdue, and silence,” he said.“Their tactics are not subtle. Opposition voices are being systematically erased. Contracts for multi-billion-naira infrastructure are funnelled to cronies and family associates of the president. National institutions, once symbols of unity, are being brazenly renamed in honour of a sitting president, as though the country were a private estate. What we are witnessing is not governance, it is conquest.“This government represents the lowest ebb in our democratic journey. Institutions have been weaponized. Policies are crafted not to empower the people but to entrench fear, obedience, and control. The common Nigerian has been abandoned at the altar of elite comfort. And make no mistake: this is the antithesis of everything June 12 stands for.”Recalling the sacrifices made during the June 12 struggle, including his own decision to step aside for the late MKO Abiola, Atiku lamented that the ideals for which many died—including Kudirat Abiola, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, and Alfred Rewane—are being eroded.He emphasised that the battle for Nigeria’s democratic soul has reached another critical juncture, calling for a united opposition front not driven by the pursuit of power, but by a moral duty to rescue the country from despotism.“This is not just a political contest; it is a moral crusade,” Atiku said, urging Nigerians to rise in defence of democracy, justice, and national dignity.“As long as oppression thrives, June 12 lives on, not just as memory, but as movement,” he concluded.Democracy in Recession under Tinubu’s Rule – Peter ObiThe Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has said democracy has been in recession since President Bola Tinubu took over power two years ago.Obi said this in response to the speech delivered by the President to a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja, on Thursday.According to him, after a comprehensive look at the two-year reign of President Tinubu, it was safe to conclude that a lot is not right in governance and policy delivery of the administration.The Ex-Anambra State Governor’s response was contained in a Democracy Day message titled:“Democracy in Decline: Reflecting on Two Years of Tinubu’s Governance.”Obi rated the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) low in virtually all indices of governance including: corruption, prudence, economy insecurity and politics, during the period under review.The LP standard bearer noted that a lot is going wrong and called on the President to note that, “Governing by remote is not what Nigerians need, you need to go round and get firsthand.”He advised the President to stop touring outside Nigeria and use his remaining 2 years to tour the 36 Nigerian states instead.According to him, “Mr. President, you have already made over 30 international trips, spending nearly 150 days abroad. If you tour Nigeria’s 36 states and dedicate just 2 days to tour each state, it would take only 72 days for you to do so, less than half the time you have already spent in other areas of the country on foreign trips. You need to go around the country to see.”Addressing the challenge of deepening democracy, Obi appealed to President Tinubu, “to emulate late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who was honest enough to admit the process that brought him into office was wrong and not sufficiently credible,’ and insisted on rapidly doing what is right to save our democracy.”Obi recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan saved our nascent democracy by accepting defeat even before the election result, announced in the dark.OBI also painted a gory picture of power supply and unemployment, which he pointed out are getting worse while the government uses propaganda to paint a picture of the actual situation in the country.‘It’s a Pleasure to See You in Disarray,’ Tinubu Mocks PDP, LPPresident Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a swipe at opposition parties, declaring that it was a “pleasure” to witness the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) in disarray.The president made the remarks on Thursday during a joint sitting of the National Assembly to mark this year’s Democracy Day, where he also welcomed defectors from the opposition into the All Progressives Congress (APC).“You are all welcome to the progressive fold. Nobody should close the door,” Tinubu said in a jab at the internal divisions plaguing opposition parties. “It is indeed a pleasure to witness you in such a disarray.”The president mocked parties that appear shaken by recent defections and political realignments, saying that rather than panicking, they should introspect.“Political parties fearful of members leaving may be better served by examining their internal processes and affairs, rather than fearfully conjuring up demons that do not exist,” he said.In a more sardonic tone, Tinubu added, “For me, I will not say, try your best to put your house in order. I will not help you to do so, either.”The comments came amid reports of growing cracks within both the PDP and LP, with several key members expressing dissatisfaction and exploring options with the ruling APC.Tinubu’s statement drew mixed reactions from lawmakers present at the session, with APC members applauding and opposition figures visibly displeased.President Tinubu has previously emphasised the importance of a strong opposition for democracy, but his latest comments suggest little sympathy for parties struggling to maintain internal unity.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s bilateral relations with Germany, with renewed focus on economic cooperation, investment promotion, energy partnerships, and the effective implementation of existing agreements.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, made this statement during a visit to the Ministry in Abuja on Monday by the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Nigeria, Stefan Rössel.
The minister welcomed the ambassador and his delegation, expressing Nigeria’s appreciation for Germany’s longstanding partnership and support for the country’s economic reform programme, particularly in the early stages of implementation.
He recalled that when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Nigeria, the Federal Government was pursuing significant economic reforms that required support from international partners, including Germany, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European Union.
The minister said Germany’s support has contributed to Nigeria’s progress in its reform efforts, adding that the country remains grateful for the cooperation and assistance it has received from its development partners.
He also acknowledged Germany’s role in facilitating high-level engagements between the two countries, particularly in trade, investment and energy cooperation, noting that discussions during the Nigerian President’s visit to Germany advanced talks on key energy agreements.
Senator Bagudu further commended Germany’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and international engagement, emphasising the importance of sustained partnerships to address evolving global economic and political challenges.
He noted that Nigeria and Germany had built a strong foundation for bilateral cooperation over the years, with significant opportunities to expand their partnership in areas that support economic growth and development.
The minister disclosed that discussions had covered cooperation involving €25 million and €300 million in export credit guarantees, identifying these as important areas for continued engagement as Nigeria seeks to expand investment opportunities and strengthen its capacity to utilise available resources effectively.
According to him, Nigeria’s reform efforts have created an opportunity to place greater emphasis on attracting investment, strengthening productive capacity, and translating international partnerships into tangible economic outcomes.
He assured the German ambassador that the ministry was prepared to work closely with the German government and its relevant institutions to deepen bilateral relations and broaden areas of mutual interest.
Earlier, Ambassador Rössel expressed appreciation for the warm reception he received, describing the relationship between Nigeria and Germany as strong and longstanding.
The ambassador, who arrived in Nigeria a few weeks ago, reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to building on the partnership’s achievements and to exploring opportunities for further cooperation.
He acknowledged that both countries were operating in an increasingly complex global environment characterised by evolving strategic, political and economic challenges.
Despite these circumstances, Ambassador Rössel expressed confidence that the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Germany would provide a solid foundation for addressing emerging issues and sustaining mutually beneficial cooperation in the years ahead.
He also welcomed the ministry’s readiness to continue working with Germany, noting the importance of maintaining established partnerships while adapting to evolving circumstances.
In her remarks, the Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, congratulated Ambassador Rössel on his appointment, welcomed him to Nigeria, and expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with him and with relevant German agencies.
She emphasised the importance of translating bilateral agreements and shared commitments into practical outcomes, noting that effective implementation remained critical to achieving the partnership’s objectives.
Dr Uzoka-Anite assured the ambassador that the ministry would continue to facilitate collaboration and support efforts to ensure joint initiatives progressed efficiently and delivered meaningful results.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Deborah Odoh, also welcomed the German delegation, describing Germany as a reliable partner whose technical expertise, knowledge exchange and experience had contributed to Nigeria’s development.
She said the ministry expects the ambassador’s tenure to create further opportunities to strengthen cooperation and to advance the longstanding relationship between the two countries.
The courtesy visit reaffirmed Nigeria and Germany’s shared commitment to sustaining bilateral engagement, deepening economic cooperation, and exploring opportunities for expanded investment and development collaboration.
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
As part of efforts to reposition the newspaper for optimum corporate performance, the management of Asset Newspapers Limited, Publishers of DAILY ASSET, has announced the appointment of David Torough as the Editor of the Abuja-based national daily.
A statement by the management said the appointments were part of the company’s new strategy to further penetrate the various states in the country and raise its readership and patronage.
“DAILY ASSET is widely acceptable across the country and to maintain our leadership position, we need to increase management presence, hence the need to create new Bureau offices in some locations outside Abuja and Lagos,” the statement quoted the Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief, Dr Cletus Akwaya to have said.
In a statement yesterday, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the fast-growing daily, Dr. Cletus Akwaya said the appointment was part of the new strategy to properly situate the paper for better productivity.
“DAILY ASSET has a commitment with the Nigerian people. We are determined to weather the storm and give Nigerian readers a Newspaper that satisfies their yearnings and reading pleasure and we can only do that with the right set of professionals,” the statement said.
Akwaya, a former Commissioner of Information from Benue State said the difficult times being faced by Nigerians posed a great challenge to the media as the people deserved credible information with which to make choices.
“We have a bond with the people, to offer credible information at all times in the best tradition of the Nigerian Press and on this scale of objectivity, truth and fairness, we pledge to remain steadfast no matter the challenges,” Akwaya was quoted to have said.
He said the newspaper will maiantin its daily print run and circulation to all states of the federation and urged advertisers to take advantage of the deep penetration of the Daily Asset brand to send their messages.
Torough, the new Editor has had a steady rise in the Newspaper in the last five years.
A graduate of Mass communication of the Benue State University, Makurdi, Torough joined the company in 2022 as Benue State Correspondent. He was spotted for his brilliance and redeployed to Abuja the following year and promoted to Deputy News Editor. He was subswuently named Deputy Editor of the paper, a position he held until the recent appointment.
Torough has attended several journalistic workshops and trainings to properly equip himself for the task ahead.
The statement also said the Management named Eze Okechukwu as Deputy Editor.
Before his elevation as Deputy Editor, Eze has been Deputy Politics Editor and DAILY ASSET Newspaper correspondent covering the Senate, having joined the organization in 2021.
Born on March 10, 1975, Eze holds a Masters Degree in Mass Communication from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Eze began his journalism career with Daily Star, Enugu and later worked with Daily Trust Newspaper, Abuja as sports reporter.
Aside from his journalistic excellence, he has a great deal of passion for sports.
From Ngutor Dekera, Kaduna and Aliyu Askira, Kano
Northern governors and traditional rulers yesterday called for the suspension of mining activities across the region for six months, blaming illegal mining for worsening insecurity in many states.
The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna. The meeting, chaired by the Gombe State Governor and NSGF Chairman, Muhammadu Yahaya, had in attendance the 19 northern governors and chairmen of the 19 states’ traditional councils.The Forum expressed concern over the escalating violence in parts of the North, including the killings and abductions recently recorded in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano states, as well as renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe.“The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and good people of the affected states,” the communiqué said, noting that the attacks on schoolchildren and other citizens had become “unacceptable tragedies” that required urgent collective action.It commended President Bola Tinubu for what it described as the Federal Government’s “firm response” to recent abductions and insurgency threats, especially the rescue of some abducted pupils.The governors also saluted security agencies for their sacrifices on the frontlines.“We resolved to renew our support for every step taken by the President and Commander-in-Chief to take the fight to insurgents’ enclaves in order to end the criminality,” the Forum stated.A major highlight of the meeting was the North’s renewed push for the establishment of state police, with governors and traditional rulers insisting that decentralised policing had become inevitable.“The Forum reaffirms its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of state police,” the communiqué added, urging federal and state lawmakers from the region to “expedite action for its actualisation.”On illegal mining, the governors said criminal mining networks were fuelling violence and providing resources for armed groups.As a corrective measure, they asked Tinubu to direct the Minister of Solid Minerals to impose a six-month suspension of mining activities in order to allow for a full audit and revalidation of licences.“The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria. “We strongly recommend a suspension of mining exploration for six months to allow proper audit and to arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining,” it said.To strengthen the fight against insecurity, the governors also announced the creation of a regional Security Trust Fund.Under the proposed arrangement, each state and its local governments will contribute ₦1bn monthly, to be deducted at source under an agreed framework.They said the fund would help provide sustainable financing for joint operations, intelligence-driven interventions and coordinated security responses across the region.At the end of the meeting, the Forum reaffirmed its commitment to unity and collective responsibility.“Only through unity, peer review and cooperation can we overcome the pressing challenges before us,” it declared.The Forum agreed to reconvene on a date to be announced.Meanwhile, Nigeria’s worsening security crisis took a grim turn on Monday as bandits launched fresh attacks in Kano State, abducting 25 villagers, even as the Federal Government raced to secure the release of more than 300 Catholic school children kidnapped in Niger State.In the early hours of Monday, armed bandits invaded Unguwar Tsamiya—popularly called Dabawa—in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, whisking away nine men and two women after shooting into the air and assaulting residents. The attackers also rustled two cows.A resident lamented the community’s helplessness: “We cannot do otherwise; most of us cannot leave because we have nowhere to go. This is our place, our land and everything is here.”The assault came less than 24 hours after a similar attack on Yan Kamaye in Tsanyawa LGA, a community along the volatile Katsina border.In Niger State, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has assured distraught families of St. Mary’s Co-Education School, Kontagora that the more than 300 students and staff abducted on November 21 will return home “soon.” Ribadu, who led a high-level federal delegation to the school on Monday, said the abductees are safe, though he offered no specifics on their location or the status of rescue operations.According to Daniel Atori, spokesman for the Catholic bishop overseeing the school, the NSA reassured officials: “The children are where they are and will come back safely.”The St. Mary’s attack is part of a worrying resurgence of mass kidnappings reminiscent of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction. Security analysts warn that banditry has evolved into a “structured, profit-seeking industry,” with hundreds of Nigerians abducted in November alone.The Kontagora school abduction occurred the same week 25 girls were kidnapped in Kebbi State—victims who authorities say have since been rescued through “non-kinetic” means. About 50 of the St. Mary’s hostages have also managed to escape.Ribadu’s delegation, which included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), reaffirmed the government’s commitment to securing the freedom of all abducted citizens.As communities from Kano to Niger continue to bear the brunt of these violent incursions, the escalating spate of kidnappings underscores the urgent national demand for a more decisive and coordinated security response.
UBA Wins N156bn Debt Recovery Case Against Stallion Group
ShareThe Court on Friday ruled in the Bank’s favour on all issues and granted all its prayers. United Bank for...
Senator Abba Moro: It is Time to Go Home
ShareBy Cleopas Agada For seven years in the National Assembly, what has Benue South actually felt? For a man who...
NCDs Fastest-growing Disease Burden in Nigeria — Pate
ShareThe Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have become one of the...
2027: Adeleke Inaugurates Aare Asejere’s Campaign Council
ShareFrom Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, yesterday charged newly inaugurated members of the Osun...
INEC Seeks Stakeholders’ Collaboration for Credible, Peaceful Elections
ShareThe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), security...
Reps Reject Child Marriage, Demand Protection of Girl Child
ShareBy Ubong Ukpong, Abuja The House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously called for urgent and coordinated actions to protect Nigerian...
Court Awards N125, 000 Cost against Odumodublvck
ShareAn Abuja High Court on Wednesday awarded N125, 000 against a rapper, Tochukwu Ojogwu, popularly known as “Odumodublvck”, for asking...
Hunger Changed My Mind, Timini Egbuson on Embracing YouTube movies
ShareNollywood actor Timini Egbuson has reflected on his changing perception of YouTube movies, joking that he might have struggled financially...
Peller Announces Livestream with Peter Obi
SharePopular Nigerian TikTok streamer, Hamzat Adelaja, popularly known as Peller, has announced an upcoming livestream with the presidential candidate of...
Nigeria’s inflation drops from 15.39 Per Cent to 14.63 Per Cent in September
ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Thursday disclosed that Nigeria’s inflation has eased from 15.39...