From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The National Executive Director of Foundation for Patriotic Citizens and Sustainable Development Pat Obiene has asked Nigerians to condemn the haste with which President Bola Tinubu signed the electoral amendment act into law.

He said the horridness in signing the documents is highly disappointing, selfish, undemocratic, callous, and insensitive to the plight of the Nigerian people.

Pat Obiene in a statement issued to our correspondent via email said, this was the best time Nigerians ought to occupy Abuja “but we missed it”.

“So how do you expect members of the National Assembly in that condition to do the right thing?.

So we commend those federal lawmakers who are able to stand up and defend the sovereignty that belongs to the people from whom this constitution and the government derives all its powers and authorities”.

According to him, the President cannot just sign the electoral act amendment into law without listening to what the people are saying.

“Right Now the Foundation for Patriotic Citizens and Sustainable Development is planning to mobilize 1000 civil society groups, NGOs, professional bodies, trade organizations from each of the thirty-six (36) states including the FCT. That means thirty-seven thousand NGOs, Civil Society Groups, Faith Based Groups amongst others across the country. We intend to also mobilize thirty seven million 37,000,000 Nigerians with one million 1,000 000 from each state.

“Fellow Nigerians, if we are able to mobilize and organize ourselves in this manner, we will be able to recall the federal lawmakers, and the same applies to state lawmakers. We can see that the elected political class in Nigeria is afraid of their lack of responsible popularity and therefore had decided that the only way they can be declared winners of the 2027 general elections is to legitimize or the use of Manuel collation of results to determine the actual winner.

“We can see that the elected political class in Nigeria is afraid of their lack of responsible popularity and therefore had decided that the only way they can be declared winners of the 2027 general elections is to legitimize or the use of Manuel collation of results to determine the actual winner.

“Is this not enough provocation to you ordinary Nigerians to collectively stand up against the law breakers in  this their voyage of anti-democratic tendencies that will further suppress the provisions of section 14 and its subsequent sections that clearly support the supremacy of the people at the point the government is about to take an enduring decision.

“We must all accept this Clarion call to stand up against injustices of any form, abuse of power of any form. Nigeria is not under a Monarchic system where the natural leadership is by inheritance.

“Therefore, the people of Nigeria must rise up to demand the recall of some of these National Assembly members nationwide.

I can assure you Nigerians, if we can put all our energies, time and resources together and focus on recalling these guys no matter whatever the challenge maybe. You will be shocked that His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will succumb to what the people are saying.

“Our organization is fully ready for action and we trust God that we shall be able to sustain the process nationwide till we get a positive answer to the issues of bad governance in Nigeria”, the statement read.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The FC Barcelona/Prosperity Cup International Coaching Clinic got underway in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, with a charge to football managers to explore the money-spinning component of the sport.

‎Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Prof Nimibofa Ayawei, who gave the charge while speaking at the opening ceremony of the coaching clinic, noted that football, and indeed sports generally, was huge business, adding that football managers in the state should begin to pay attention to details and explore the money-spinning potentials of football.

‎ Ayawei urged the grassroots coaches to be diligent and patient to learn from the FC Barcelona officials, maintaining that the exercise would impact positively on the coaches when the competition commences.

‎Regional Head, Premium Trust Bank, Yenagoa, Dr. Danjuma Omeje noted that the bank will continue to accord priority to the development of sports in the State, pointing out that they have been in collaboration with organisers of the Prosperity Cup in the last three years.

‎Noting that Premium Bank donated a new coaster bus to Bayelsa Queens last year, Dr Omeje said they would continue to collaborate with organisers of the Prosperity Cup for the over-all development of football in the State.

‎In an address, Director General of the tournament, Mr. Ono Akpe, opined that the essence of the programme was to improve the skills of the grassroots coaches in the State.

‎ Akpe, who noted that the continued training of grassroots coaches was already impacting on the growth of football in the state, used the opportunity to appreciate the governor, Senator Douye Diri, for his huge investment in sports development in the state. He equally commended the sponsors of the tournament for their steadfastness.

‎Also speaking, Bernat Villa Gorriz, the Team Lead of the FC Barcelona delegation, asserted that he was pleased with the organization of the programme particularly the enthusiasm of the coaches, stressing that his dream was to see these coaches rise to the peak of their career.

‎Sylvester Okonkwo of Whiz-kid ventures from Netherlands, who facilitated the FC Barcelona/Prosperity Cup partnership, noted that the objective of the programme was to develop grassroots coaches with the FC Barcelona methodology and style of play.

‎Two participants, Anthony Fouye, Chairman of Bayelsa Football Coaches Association and Dift Seinitonkumo Edike of FC California of Odi, expressed gratitude to the organizers of the programme for the laudable initiative, noting that the exercise is already reflecting on the performance of grassroots football coaches.

‎Day one of the FC Barcelona/Prosperity Cup International Coaching Clinic was rounded-off with a scouting programme in which Citiboi Feeders tackled Bayelsa United Feeders while the second match of the day was between Bayelsa Starlets and FC Silina at the Samson Siasia Stadium.

‎The scouting programme continues Tuesday, February 24, 2026, immediately after the coaching clinic, with Excellent FC hosting Crusaders F.C. at the Samson Siasia Stadium at 3.00p.m. while in the second match Kingdom Stars will entertain Light FC at 4.00p.m. at the same venue.

From Aliyu Askira, Kano

Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to late President Muhammadu Buhari, has voiced deep concern over what he described as the deteriorating security situation across parts of Northern Nigeria.

In a post shared on X, Ahmad said it was “heartbreaking” to witness communities once regarded as peaceful now gripped by fear, with residents facing loss of lives, disrupted livelihoods and struggling local economies.

Ahmad lamented that insecurity has continued to escalate in several northern areas, leaving families and businesses vulnerable.

“It is so heartbreaking seeing how insecurity continues to worsen in some parts of the North,” he wrote.

“Communities that once thrived in peace have been living under constant fear with loss of lives and the collapse of people’s livelihoods and economies.”

Northern Nigeria has faced persistent security challenges in recent years, including banditry, kidnappings and communal clashes, affecting both rural and urban communities.

The former presidential aide stressed that tackling insecurity should not be viewed solely as the responsibility of government authorities.

“This is not a challenge for the government alone, it is a collective concern that involves leaders, traditional institutions, security agencies, stakeholders and the general public,” he said.

According to Ahmad, meaningful progress will require unity, trust-building and improved intelligence sharing among communities and security agencies.

Ahmad emphasised that sustainable peace cannot be achieved in isolation, urging a coordinated approach rooted in justice and development.

“This is the time for all of us to unite in finding lasting solutions and we know that lasting solutions cannot be achieved in isolation, it requires trust, intelligence sharing and sustained commitment to justice and development,” he added.

He concluded his message with a prayer for stability, asking Allah to grant lasting peace to the region and the country at large.

As security concerns continue to dominate national discourse, Ahmad’s remarks reflect growing anxiety over the pace of progress in restoring safety across Northern Nigeria.