The Vicar of St. James Anglican Church, Asokoro, Abuja, Reverend Ben Idume, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his foresight in appointing former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), describing the President as a “visionary leader.”

Speaking during a thanksgiving service held to mark the successful completion of several projects by the FCT Administration under Wike’s leadership, Rev. Idume said the appointment had silenced critics and proven that Wike was capable of delivering results.

“I will not fail to thank President Tinubu who appointed this man to be minister because. The President, himself, is a visionary president. He can see vision somehow. That was why he saw that this man (Wike) can do something,” the cleric said.

“Tinubu can see vision, whether he closes his eyes or opens them. So, the President is a visionary president, so we thank him for making us happy in the FCT.”

Rev. Idume addressed the initial opposition Wike faced upon his appointment, especially from individuals questioning his religious background and southern origin.

“When he became a minister, some people said over their dead bodies, he would not be a minister. ‘How can a Christian be a minister? Have you ever heard it once? How can a southerner be a minister? Have you ever heard it? It can never be done,’” he recalled.

Despite those doubts, the cleric said Wike had risen above expectations and brought pride to the Christian and southern communities in the FCT.

“This church is thankful to God that a Christian minister, a southern minister, has come to rewrite the history of the Federal Capital Territory,” Idume added.

Wike attended the thanksgiving service accompanied by several prominent figures, including Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, former Benue State governor Samuel Ortom, former Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri, suspended Rivers Assembly Speaker Martins Amaewhule, PDP National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume.

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike openly supported Tinubu’s presidential bid in 2023 and was appointed as FCT Minister in 2024.

Despite serving under an APC-led administration, Wike has stood by his decision.

“I have no regrets, I have no apologies. If the opportunity comes I will do the same thing,” he said during a PDP thanksgiving event in Ahoada East and West LGAs of Rivers State.

He has consistently stated his continued loyalty to the PDP, even while serving in the federal cabinet.

Youths from Ebonyi State have declared their unwavering support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The endorsement was made on Saturday during the official inauguration of the Ebonyi State chapter of the South-East Renewed Hope Agenda (SERHA).

Speaking at the event, Belusochukwu Enwere, the group’s National Coordinator, praised the youths for aligning with the vision of the President.

Enwere described SERHA as a socio-political organisation composed of forward-thinking individuals from the South-East, comprising men, women, and youths across various religious and ethnic backgrounds.

According to him, President Tinubu has made significant contributions to national development, particularly in critical sectors.

“The establishment of South-East Development Commission is an opportunity for us and indeed Nigerians should join hands for the reelection of our dear President,” Enwere said.

Also speaking at the event, James Alaka, the SERHA Coordinator for Ebonyi State, reiterated the state’s support for Tinubu’s reelection bid.

He applauded the President for his inclusive governance style and dedication to solving the pressing issues facing the South-East, saying it reflects a genuine commitment to fairness, competence, and national progress.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has in the past two years, laid a solid foundation for economic revitalisation with signs of progress and this all already visible,” Alaka stated.

“He has shown courage, determination and a clear vision in steering the country towards recovery and growth,” he added.

Alaka also thanked Tinubu for appointing Senator David Umahi as Minister of Works, highlighting the historical significance of the appointment.

“Most importantly, I wish to thank Mr President for given us Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, the first time in the history of Nigeria,” he said.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has firmly denied reports claiming he plans to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), calling the speculation baseless and politically motivated.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Dauda Iliya, Governor Zulum addressed circulating rumours that he and five other governors were planning to leave the APC.

He categorically dismissed the claims.

“We have become aware of a fictitious and mischievous social media report circulating in certain quarters, alleging plans by me to decamp from the All Progressives Congress to the African Democratic Congress, alongside five other governors,” the governor stated.

“This is entirely false and exists only in the imagination of its sponsors. They are detractors who have made no meaningful contribution to the progress of Borno State or Nigeria.”

“It is a classic example of cheap, politically motivated speculation designed solely to distract us and create unnecessary political tension,” the statement added.

Governor Zulum reaffirmed his strong allegiance to the APC and reiterated that his focus remains on advancing development in Borno State.

“My loyalty to the APC remains firm, and my dedication is solely to the welfare and progress of Borno State.”

“I urge the good people of Borno and the general public to disregard this fabrication. We have no time for cheap politics; our hands are full of the noble task of rebuilding and developing our dear state.”

In his message, he urged media organisations and the public to verify any political information through credible sources before dissemination.

“I call on media outlets and the public to verify information from credible official sources and to ignore the desperate fabrications of those seeking relevance through disinformation.”

“We remain resolute in our commitment to serving Borno State under the banner of our great party, the APC,” the statement concluded.

National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said Nigeria was on the verge of collapse prior to President Bola Tinubu’s assumption of office in May 2023.

He made this assertion while addressing attendees at the 50th anniversary of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 18th Regular Course in Abuja on Friday.

Ribadu attributed the country’s fragile state at the time to widespread insecurity and economic turbulence, outlining what he described as five persistent and critical security threats across different regions.

“When this administration took office on May 29, 2023, the security situation was threatening the very cohesion, stability, and integrity of our Nigerian state,” Ribadu said.

“We inherited five intractable security challenges that had brought our nation to the brink.”

According to him, these challenges included the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, banditry in the North West and North Central, separatist movements in the South East, oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, and rising urban crime nationwide.

Ribadu explained that Boko Haram and its affiliates had taken over 35,000 lives and displaced millions.

He also cited statistics from conflict-tracking bodies, stating that banditry had killed more than 12,000 people and displaced over a million, with around the same number of children out of school by late 2021.

He pointed to a series of violent incidents in 2022 and 2023 as examples of the fragile security situation.

These included the Abuja-Kaduna train bombing, an attack on Guards Brigade personnel in Abuja, the massacre at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, and the jailbreak at Kuje Correctional Centre.

On the topic of separatist violence, Ribadu disclosed:

“Between October 2020 and June 2021, the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, ESN, were responsible for attacks on 164 police stations, the deaths of 128 officers, and the injury of 144 more.”

“30 prison attacks were recorded, including a jailbreak in Umuahia in which 1,841 inmates escaped.”

He also shared figures from recent counter-insurgency operations.

“Our operations in the North East have yielded results. Over 13,543 terrorists and criminals eliminated, 124,408 Boko Haram fighters and family members surrendered, 11,118 weapons recovered, and more than 252,000 rounds of ammunition destroyed.”

Speaking on the situation in the oil-rich Niger Delta, Ribadu highlighted progress in curbing illegal refining and boosting production.

“Our oil production today rose to an average of 1.8 million from 1 million that we inherited,” he said.

“All oil pipelines are now green and operational. 1,978 illegal refineries, 3,849 dug-out pits, and 3,773 cooking ovens have been destroyed.”

He further noted that oil production was set to resume in Ogoni land for the first time in over 30 years.

Turning to the South East, Ribadu emphasized a decline in separatist influence and improved law enforcement presence.

“We are containing the separatist agitation through strategic operations and community engagements. Stay-at-home orders are becoming increasingly ineffective,” he said.

“Over 50 police stations destroyed in earlier attacks had been rebuilt,” Ribadu added, noting that “security personnel had returned to their posts in many affected areas.”

While acknowledging that some issues persist, the NSA concluded that the Tinubu administration’s multi-pronged approach is gradually stabilizing the country.