NEWS
Tinubu Should be Cautious of Those Pushing Him to Drop Shettima in 2027 – Ex APC Chieftain

Jackson Ojo
Ahead of 2027 general election there are ongoing political alignments and realignments across the country. However, the political landscape was shaken few weeks ago when feelers came out that President Bola Tinubu my drop Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate.
MIKE ODIAKOSE reports that in this interview a former Chieftain of the APC and Security Expert, Chief Jackson Lekan Ojo, maintained that Shettima remains Tinubu’s best option for 2027 and those urging him to drop his deputy are actually targeting the president as the principal target. Excerpts:You recently resigned from the APC and even left partisan politics totally.
What informed your decision?Jackson Lekan Ojo is my name, I am a security expert and public affairs analyst.
Recently I resigned my membership of the APC and quit politics totally so that I can be a free citizen, so that nobody can dictate to me what I will say, so that whatever is my opinion cannot be taken as anti-party activities, so that my loyalty will be to Almighty God and my conscience alone, not to a party leadership, not to a party.
Recently there were speculations that President Bola Tinubu may drop Vice President Shettima as his running mate. How do you see this development?
I have been hearing a lot of things that Mr. President is not going to pick Vice President Shettima as his running mate in 2027 if he is contesting. I have said it sometimes ago that there is no way Tinubu can get another vice president that will be so intelligent, that will be so educated, that will be so loyal, that will be so popular like Kashim Shettima.
A lot of people do not see a lot of qualities in Kashim Shettima. I have listened to him in the past before the campaign. I never loved him before. Before the campaign I listened to him and I discovered that whenever he is quoting he will be quoting dates, he will he quoting hour and even possibly minutes. This is a banker of global repute, this is a man that understands the principle, the policy, the tradition and culture of the South West.
I can refer to him as a Lagos guy. Being a banker he dealt with a lot of people, he built friendship across the country, across the globe and yet despite all these qualities of his this man did display arrogance.
During the campaigns this man offended a lot of persons defending his principal.
Where will Tinubu get somebody like this again?
I want to advise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that there are some political elements in his cabinet and in his party that Kashim Shettima is becoming a threat to their ambition.
Kashim Shettima’s popularity, intelligence, education and exposure is a threat to them and they believe that one way or the other, they have to separate them (Tinubu and Shettima). That is one side, there are some other sides.
Even within APC they don’t want Tinubu to come back again. The only thing they can do is to cause problem – that is called principle of divide and rule.
It is a strategy to cause problems between these two political gladiators. So, at the end of the day they will rule, they will go to Tinubu to tell him some things in order for him to hate Shettima and they will turn round to go and meet Shettima to him some things in order to make him hate Tinubu. Tinubu should be very careful.
I am no longer a member of APC, I am no longer a politician but I remain a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
I can express my views and give my advise when necessary. Those people that want Shettima to fall out are those people that want Tinubu to fail. These are people that are building serious barricade between these two people. They know the implications that it Tinubu did not run with Shettima in 2027 he is going to lose the entire North East, some parts of the North West and some parts of the In North Central.
They are doing these things and telling Tinubu as if they are helping him but meanwhile they are doing these things to effect the downfall of Tinubu in 2027.
Some Nigerians feel Tinubu and Shettima may not be on very good terms considering comments made by the Vice President during a recent book launch. What is your reaction to this development?
During the book launch this man (Shettima) wants to appreciate some personalities and who are these personalities – he wanted to appreciate some personalities like former President Goodluck Jonathan for the world to know that Jonathan listens to his aides. Two, Adoke himself for the world to know that Adoke is a good Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation for him to advice his principal not to do what he wanted to do (remove an elected governor).
Three, Aminu Tambuwal – in order to show that when Tambuwal was the Speaker of the House of Representatives he was so bold enough to advise Mr President that if you bring this thing (notice of suspension of an elected governor) it will fail because it is not tenable by law.
And there there was another person that advised Mr President that I concur with my senior partner. It was an expression to appreciate former President Jonathan, Adoke and Tambuwal. But loe and behold, all these enemies that are trying to cook up enmity between Tinubu and Shettima they came to the public again to twist and misinterpret this. Mr President should be very careful. Mr President I am not one of your fans but then I wouldn’t want anyone to separate you and Shettima. These people are looking for ways to separate them.
They are not principally against Shettima, they are principally against Tinubu and that is why they are cooking up all these. I advise Mr. President and my former party to be very careful because the goodness between the opposition and the ruling party and the peace within and between the opposition and the ruling party can translate into peaceful co-existence within Nigeria; it will not bring about the insecurity we are passing through and if there is no insecurity definitely there will be economic development. That is my concern. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
NEWS
Gov Adeleke, Osun PDP Caucus Endorses Tinubu’s Re-election Bid

From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and the leadership caucus of the the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state have endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s second term bid.They assured of working for the success of the re-election bid of the President, who is the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the country.
They made this known on Monday at the Osun State PDP Leadership Caucus meeting held at the Government House, Osogbo. Similarly, following extensive consultations, debates, surveys, opinion sampling from traditional rulers, community leaders, civil servants, retirees, religious leaders, market men and women, interactions with members of the PDP and the general public across major towns and villages in Osun State, on issues pertaining to recent political development in the state, the Leadership Caucus of Osun PDP hereby reviewed as follows: “That all politics is local, and as such, the feelings and aspirations of voters and party members are critical to decisions on party affiliations.”That the majority of the members of the APC in Osun State are opposed to the APC, which did not originate from the Governor in the first instance. Some APC leaders based on entrenched interests have demonstrated hostility and resentment towards Governor Ademola Adeleke. Some went on social media and national television to call Governor Adeleke all kinds of unprintable names.”That the majority of PDP members in Osun State are not happy about the idea of the defection of Governor Adeleke to wherever he goes to show their love, support and loyalty to his leadership.”That the state governor, the state government, and the PDP as a political party remain very popular and acceptable above all other political parties in Osun State.”Consequently, the leaders hereby resolve as follows:”That the PDP in Osun State recognizes the fact that Osun State is the ancestral home of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which makes the President the son of Osun State. “Therefore, the PDP in Osun State hereby, adopts, and endorses President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in the 2027 Presidential election.”That PDP in Osun State re-affirm it’s adoption and endorsement of Governor Ademola Adeleke for re-election in the 2026 Governorship election on the platform of the PDP.”That Governor Ademola Adeleke and all members of the PDP in Osun State should remain in the PDP.”That the leadership of the PDP in Osun State is directed to disseminate the resolution to all structures of the party in the state and that, the state governor is enjoined to forge ahead with governance and implementation of the administration’s five point agenda.”NEWS
Kogi Promises to Reposition Basic Education System

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi state government has promised to reposition its basic education system as part of its desire to enhance effective learning and providing solid foundation for Children’s education.The state’s Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones gave the assurance during the 2025 matriculation ceremony of new students at the Kogi State study Centre of the National Teachers Institute (NTI) in Lokoja.
The Commissioner also restated government’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at providing quality education at all levels of learning. Jones emphasised the importance of teacher training, noting that the future of children lies in the hands of teachers.Represented by the ministry’s Acting Permanent Secretary, Omolayo Berikisu Onozare, Jones appealed to the matriculating students to remain committed to their academics.He highlighted Gov. Ahmed Ododo’s significant budgetary allocation to the education sector, stressing that the training of teachers cannot be compromised under any guise.The Director General and Chief Executive of NTI, Professor Sadiya Daura, said the institute’s programmes were designed to equip students with necessary skills for national growth and development.Represented by the Kogi State Coordinator of NTI, Alh Tijani Yusuf, Daura warned students against indiscipline, emphasising the institute’s zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct.She urged them to strive for impact in their lifetime after training.On his part, the Director News and Publications, Kogi State Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Samuel Atuluku, expressed concern about the “get rich quick syndrome” among young people.Atuluku appealed to parents to ensure proper discipline of their children and wards to change the narrative and secure a greater future for them.The highlight of the ceremony was the administration of the matriculation oath to new students enrolled in NCE, Bachelor Degree, and Postgraduate Degree programs in Education.The event marked a significant milestone for the students, who are expected to benefit from the institute’s programs designed to equip them with necessary skills for national growth and development.NEWS
C’River, NIGCOMSAT Train 200 Youths on VSAT

By Ene Asuquo, Calabar
The Cross River State Government and the Nigerian Communication Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT) through collaboration is training about 200 youths drawn across the 18 local government areas of the StateIn his remarks at the training workshop in ASUU building, University of Calabar, the Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Edet Otu who was represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Science, technology and Innovation Dr.
Justin Beshel, emphasized that the training of these youths on VSAT technology will advance technological development and create employment for the 200 youthsHe stressed that Cross River is shifting from being the civil service State to a digitally incline State, taking advantage in the demands in the global Space of technology, stating that the 200 youths were drawn from the 18 local government areas of the state through online registrationAccording to Beshel, “These youths are meant to be trained on Very Small Aperture Terminal(VSAT) and also in space technology”. He stressed further that there is a high demand of labour in this sector and the state is trying to catch- in to create the man power that is needed internationally, maintaining that partnering with NIGCOMSAT, “the youths are brought to be empowered through innovation in satellite technologyIn her opening address, the Managing Director, NIGCOMSAT, Jane Egerton- Idehen who spoke in the event through the programme Coordinator, Maureen Neekwe said the program in cross river is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at equipping young minds with cutting – edge knowledge in satellite technology and digital communicationShe emphasized that the program is designed to foster innovation, enhance technical skills, while creating opportunities for youths in the ever- evolving space – tech industryNeekwe maintained that participants in the workshop will gain practical experience in setting up and configuring VSAT systems.