NEWS
Tinubu’s Shettima Decision: Loyalty Triumphs over Months of Political Speculation
From Muhammad Muhammad Al-amin, Maiduguri
For months, the political atmosphere in Nigeria was filled with speculation over one of the most closely watched questions ahead of the 2027 presidential election: Would President Bola Ahmed Tinubu retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate?
The debate dominated newspaper headlines, television discussions and social media platforms, with political analysts offering different interpretations of what the President’s next move might be.
Within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), supporters and observers weighed various permutations, while opposition parties watched closely.As the speculation gathered momentum, several influential northern politicians were repeatedly mentioned as possible replacements for Shettima. Among the names were the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa Rtd; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; former Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong; Ibrahim Masari; former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Former Kano State Governor and APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda; and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni.
The rumours were fuelled by arguments that the APC might reconsider its Muslim Muslim ticket to accommodate a northern Christian ahead of the 2027 election. Others believed the party might introduce a fresh political calculation aimed at strengthening its electoral chances.
Despite the widespread speculation, President Tinubu remained silent, allowing political commentators and party stakeholders to continue making assumptions about the future of the vice presidential slot.
The uncertainty, however, came to an end when the President officially retained Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election. The formal submission of the Tinubu Shettima ticket effectively ended months of rumours and confirmed that the President had chosen continuity over political experimentation.
The decision immediately generated reactions from across the country. Many APC leaders and supporters described it as a demonstration of confidence, loyalty and stability within the governing party.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, welcomed the decision, describing Shettima’s re-nomination as a reflection of the President’s trust in his deputy and appreciation of his contributions to the administration.
Similarly, political stakeholders from the North-East applauded the President’s decision, describing it as recognition of the region’s strategic role in national politics and governance.
Support also came from groups such as the Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairers and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), which endorsed the Tinubu Shettima ticket, arguing that continuity in leadership would provide stability as the administration continues to implement its economic and security policies.
Beyond political calculations, the President’s decision sends an important message about loyalty in leadership. Since assuming office in May 2023, Vice President Shettima has remained one of the administration’s most visible defenders, representing the President at numerous national and international engagements while supporting government policies.
Although public office is often characterised by shifting alliances and changing political interests, the decision to retain Shettima suggests that trust and consistency remain important considerations in high level political partnerships.
For many observers, the development also demonstrates that political rumours, regardless of how widespread they become, do not always determine the outcome of strategic decisions. Months of speculation, media projections and political lobbying eventually gave way to the President’s own judgement.
As the APC prepares for the 2027 election, attention is now expected to shift from debates over the vice-presidential ticket to the broader campaign on governance, economic reforms, security and the party’s bid for another four-year mandate.
The Tinubu-Shettima ticket now enters the next electoral cycle with renewed certainty. Whether that decision translates into electoral success will ultimately depend not on political speculation, but on the confidence Nigerians place in the administration’s performance.
In the end, President Tinubu’s decision has done more than settle an internal party debate. It has reaffirmed an existing political partnership, rewarded loyalty in the eyes of many supporters, and reshaped the conversation as Nigeria gradually moves toward the 2027 general election.
How Family Planning Can Save Nigeria’s Population Pressure
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
As Nigeria marks World Population Day on Saturday, health experts are warning that rapid population growth is putting unsustainable pressure on maternal healthcare delivery across the region.
This surging population growth is overwhelming public medical infrastructure, creating critical shortages of vital personnel and essential lifesaving supplies in many urban primary healthcare centers.
As a result, reproductive health services are becoming increasingly overstretched, forcing experts to call for immediate, strategic interventions to safeguard vulnerable mothers and newborns across the Southwest.
The experts emphasised that family planning was the most effective tool to save mothers’ lives, reduce teenage pregnancies, and ease hospital overcrowding.
With contraceptive prevalence at just 18 per cent and thousands of young women lacking access, they are urging governments to prioritise funding, youth-friendly services, and accurate sexuality education.
World Population Day is observed on July 11 annually, with the 2026 global theme as, “Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people for their futures”.
The Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) South -West Coordinator, Mrs Elizabeth Abimbola, said Nigeria’s rapidly growing population was putting additional pressure on health facilities, providers, and contraceptive supplies in the Southwest.
Abimbola noted that from PPFN’s experience, the growing demand was stretching outreach programmes and the availability of contraceptive commodities.
Citing data from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), Abimbola noted that 53.99 per cent of women surveyed (21,083 of 39,050) were aged 15 to 29 years.
According to her, the above data shows that more than half of women are within the reproductive age group.
However, she added that 18,246 women aged 15 to 29 years were not using any contraceptive method.
This, she said, indicated a significant unmet need among young people.
The PPFN South-West coordinator observed that the majority of PPFN’s family planning clients were adults aged 30 years and above.
She added that fear of judgment by providers or community members, spousal approval, misinformation, and myths about side effects also discourage uptake.
Abimbola further referenced the 2024 NDHS, which shows that 18,246 women aged 15 to 29 years are not using any contraceptive method.
This, she said, indicated a substantial unmet need for information and services among younger women.
To address this, she remarked PPFN implemented the Comprehensive Life Skills Health Education curriculum in 45 secondary schools in Oyo.
Abimbola said PPFN had introduced an e-Health application for confidential telemedicine, counselling, and referrals.
She explained that digital innovation improves access, protects clients’ privacy, and helps reach more young people.
She added that PPFN also upgraded facilities and diversified method mix through one-stop-shop centres to ensure nationwide access to SRH services.
She warned that unmet need led to unintended pregnancies, closely spaced births, and pregnancy-related complications.
On government support, Abimbola acknowledged progress in collaboration with partners and integration of Family Planning (FP) into primary healthcare.
She advised the government to prioritise investments in Family Planning, youth-friendly services, and sexuality education with increased domestic funding.
Dr Olufemi Aworinde, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, said Nigeria’s population growth was outpacing health infrastructure and worsening maternal health outcomes.
Aworinde noted that the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), projected Nigeria’s population at 237.5 million in 2025 with a fertility rate of 4.5.
He, however, emphasised that infrastructure and personnel were not growing at the same rate, leading to burnout and poor quality of care.
Aworinde said teenage pregnancies were producing the deadliest complications in Oyo, including death, anemia, obstructed labor and unsafe abortions.
He added that stigma forced many teenagers out of school and out of antenatal care, so they presented late with anemia, malaria and small-for-gestational-age babies.
The consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist described family planning as one of the most important tools for reducing maternal mortality.
Aworinde, however, listed availability, affordability, acceptability, policy failure and health worker shortage as the biggest gaps.
He also debunked myths around contraception.
He urged policymakers to treat population growth as a development crisis, not just a health issue.
He cited projections that Lagos alone could reach 80 million people in under 30 years with 60 to 70 per cent being young people.
He, therefore, urged the government to invest in infrastructure, water, food and jobs.
The consultant reiterated that most maternal deaths could be preventable and Nigerians must understand the role of planning.
Also, a Senior Registrar at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Dr Olufiade Oyerogba warned that Nigeria’s rapid population growth was stretching maternal and reproductive health services.
Oyerogba, of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UCH, said Nigeria’s rapid population growth continued to place enormous pressure on the healthcare system, especially maternal and reproductive health services.
She said hospitals were seeing increasing numbers of pregnant women in antenatal clinics, labour wards, and emergency units.
Citing WHO estimates, she said Nigeria contributed a significant proportion of global maternal deaths.
The gynaecologist remarked that teenage pregnancies are commonly linked with serious complications.
According to her, teenage pregnancies are associated with anaemia, hypertensive disorders, obstructed labour, preterm birth, and low birth weight babies.
She added that many teenagers present late for antenatal care, emphasising that it increases the risk of poor maternal and neonatal outcomes.
On closely-spaced births, she said pregnancies within 24 months of a previous birth carried high risks.
While she said she does not have verified institutional figures, she noted these complications are regularly encountered.
The doctor described family planning as one of the most effective public health interventions, saying it enables women and couples to plan the timing and spacing of pregnancies.
According to Oyerogba also, women who space pregnancies by at least two years experience better recovery.
Oyerogba said many patients still believed myths about contraception.
She advised patients to seek counselling from trained healthcare providers, while cautioning people to avoid relying on myths or information from unverified sources.
She urged the government to match population growth with investments, strengthen primary healthcare and ensure consistent availability of family planning commodities.
To families, she urged open communication and support for girls’ education.
“The public should embrace healthy birth spacing and attend regular antenatal care.
“A healthy population is not simply about numbers. It is about ensuring every pregnancy is planned and every childbirth is safe.
“On the 2026 theme, reproductive choices are fundamental human rights, investing in women’s health and family planning is one of the smartest investments any nation can make.
“When women are healthy and empowered, families prosper, communities become stronger and national development accelerates,” Oyerogba stressed. (NAN)
By David Torough, Abuja
The Senior Pastor of, Kingsway International Christian Centre (KiCC), Pastor Mathew Ashimolow has called on leaders to emulate the leadership model, style and kingdom-minded approach of Pastor Korede Komaiya.
Ashimolowo made the remark during his visit to the newly dedicated Dreamland complex at Master’s City, Warri, where he ministered on the theme, “Timely Technology for Timeless Truth.
”Speaking at the event, he emphasized the need for a generation of leaders who are spiritually grounded and equipped for contemporary challenges.
According to him, “This time requires leaders who are spiritually deep, mentally sharp, emotionally stable, and financially wise. What we see here today is the result of Pastor Komaiya’s kingdom-mindedness, heart and unwavering commitment to God’s work.”
Commending the vision behind the project, Ashimolowo noted that many leaders would have prioritized personal luxury over such a monumental kingdom investment.
“One thing I can tell you about this big work is that, many people would not build something this massive when they could build mansions for themselves. Yet, he still lives more or less in a rented place and modestly because his heart is kingdom-first,” he said.
He further stressed the importance of sacrificial leadership and investment in God’s work, adding that leaders must set the example for those they lead.
“Kingdom-mindedness is not common in this generation, especially among founders. If you cannot invest in your own ministry, how do you expect your members to invest? People are watching your priorities and your commitment,” Ashimolowo stated.
Expressing his admiration for the project, he recalled his reaction when he first saw images of the completed facility.
“I had never been here before, but when they sent me pictures after the finishing touches were completed, I was overwhelmed. I found myself speaking in tongues because I did not know what else to do,” he added.
The newly dedicated Dreamland complex, located at Master’s City, KM 3 Refinery Road, Warri, Delta State, features two four-storey wings equipped with elevators, a central heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, as well as a state-of-the-art main auditorium built to international standards.
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Thursday explained that the cost of completing the abandoned Millennium Tower project in Abuja has increased to between N300 billion and N400 billion.
The FCT Minister added that the increment in the cost of completing it based on the present budget of the administration, has made it financially unviable because it would affect other ongoing projects.
Wike stated this during an inspection tour of inspecting the ongoing construction of the extension of Collector Road CO1 linking Nile University area in the Institution and Research District with Lugbe, Abuja and the Arterial Road N1, from Wuye District to Ring Road II, Abuja.
The minister revealed that he has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to step in, reconsider the complex as a strategic national project, and assume its funding.
According to the minister, tying down such an enormous capital outlay to a single project would effectively cripple the territory’s finances and force the administration to abandon several other critical infrastructure projects needed across Abuja.
Responding to inquiries about the long-delayed landmark, Wike emphasised the need for a realistic approach to the city’s development priorities.
He said, “Well, you know that’s a national project. And I believe that it’s one project that the government should reconsider. It should be a tourist centre project. The capital involved is too huge for the FCT to handle as a single project”.
Tracing the genesis of the signature edifice, Wike noted that the contract was originally awarded decades ago under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
However, the minister said years of neglect, economic shifts, and delayed execution have pushed the financial requirements to an unprecedented high.
Wike further explained, “We have discussed with the contractor. Remember that the project was awarded under Obasanjo’s regime
“As I speak to you, it’s not less than 300 to 400 billion Naira that the contractor is talking about. And if you look at it, how do we carry out such a project? It means that every other project in Abuja we will have to abandon. But we are still talking to the President that he should reconsider it as a national project. So, that’s where we are”.
Despite the setback posed by the massive cost of the Millennium Tower, Wike expressed strong satisfaction with the pace and quality of ongoing infrastructure development across the territory, particularly praising major construction firms handling critical corridors.
On ongoing projects, Wike assured residents that all ongoing infrastructure projects awarded by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will be completed before the end of the year, expressing confidence in the contractors handling the various road projects across the capital city.
Wike said the Tinubu administration remained committed to delivering every project it had initiated, insisting that no road project would be abandoned.
“What should concern you is whether there is any project we have started and abandoned. Look at even the projects that were awarded since 2010. We have tried to see that all are completed, and the ones that this administration has awarded will also be completed,” the minister said.
He added: “I don’t want to be pessimistic. I’m very optimistic that all the roads that we have gone for inspection, after the commissioning and flag-off, will also be done. As far as I’m concerned, the latest by the end of this year.”
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
A former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Jackson Lekan Ojo, has declared that no administration from 1999 to date has surpassed the achievements of the Obasanjo/Atiku administration.
Reacting to the recent attack on the former vice president by Presidency officials, Ojo lampooned them and stressed that there is nothing to show on the scorecard of the Tinubu administration apart from mounting debts.
According to him, “Most of the guys in the Presidency are unnecessarily loquacious. They speak, they are not thinking, they speak but they are not communicating.
How can somebody on this planet earth in this administration refer to the Obasanjo administration as wasted years. Honestly, most of the things we are enjoying today are from the Obasanjo/Atiku regime.“The debt forgiveness is from the regime; the first time that we have EFCC that they are using today as a tool is from the Obasanjo/Atiku regime; the GSM revolution is from the regime; Due Process that a lot of government officials are no longer following today in the award of contracts is from the regime; ICPC is from the regime.
“Do you know that it was Atiku Abubakar that checked Sharia law, appealing to everybody and they respect him and the country was peaceful until Obasanjo second tenure when he started nursing tenure elongation and Atiku disagreed with him.
“That was why Obasanjo was not able to penetrate Northern Nigeria. That time he has already written off the office of the vice president.
“Obasanjo achieved all these things during his first tenure when Atiku was the chairman of the National Economic team. There wouldn’t have been political stability at that time because Obasanjo was not a democrat; he was a military man. It was Atiku as vice president that stabilized democracy. It was during this period that people like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala were brought home to this country when Atiku was chairman of the Economic team. People like Nuhu Ribadu, Oby Ezekwesili, Adeshina, and a host of others were brought in.
“Who is the Okonjo-Iweala in this administration, who is the Ezekwesili in this administration? Who again can serve as chairman of EFCC like Ribadu or El-rufai?
“Do you know during that time you can remember names of all Ministers because they were performing but how many Ministers today do Nigerians know their names?
“If Obasanjo was not nursing tenure elongation during his second term he would have been able to work well with Atiku. All the telecommunication and other achievements we are talking about today were all achieved during the first tenure when Atiku was chairman of the Economic team.”
Dr Ojo also faulted claims by the presidency that the Obasanjo/Atiku administration is responsible for huge pension debts.
Speaking at the 2027 general election, Dr Ojo expressed optimism that the ADC presidential candidate has the capacity to upstage President Tinubu.
“It is not Atiku’s battle. Today in Nigeria Atiku is the most popular, most relevant, he has the geopolitical spread. He has relationships with the South East and South West by marriage; he has business across the country, he has the capacity.
“He has the political clout and sagacity to defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The battle ahead is the battle of the populace. 90 percent of Nigerians are living below the poverty line.
“There is no time in Nigeria’s history that we don’t have a middle class but today we have only the rich and the poor. Small scale industries are no longer working. How much do you barb your hair now? What you used to pay for a return ticket for a flight between Lagos – Port Harcourt cannot even party for transport by land today. The air is not affordable, the roads are not safe. What is this government doing?
“How much was University school fees before. Is it this deception called a student loan? You are giving students loans when they are going to pay when there are no jobs after graduation. In the future if they want to contest for any position they will tell them they owe the Federal government. You are impoverishing people and you are plugging them into tactical indebtedness.
“How much is fuel today. When Buhari was paying subsidy how much did he borrow? Now that we are not paying for subsidy we have out borrowed Buhari’s eight years within three years. How much did Obasanjo and Atiku borrow during their time?
“The battle in 2027 is between the people, the APC and Renewed Hopelessness. People are crying. Kidnapping was limited during the Goodluck Jonathan administration to North East but today North East, North West, South East, South West, North Central are all affected.
“What is the achievement of this administration? This administration has failed woefully. This is the most corrupt administration in the history of military and democratic government in this country. This is the first time that we are hearing anything about a fake parastatal.”
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