A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano, Alhaji Alhassan Yaryasa, has described the recent resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje as APC National Chairman as both wise and timely.

According to him, Ganduje stepped down just in time to avoid being publicly disgraced.

In a telephone interview with our correspondent on Sunday, Yaryasa revealed that had Ganduje not resigned voluntarily, there were strong signs that he would have been compelled to leave.

“We knew there was a plan to bring Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso into the APC and possibly be running mate of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.”

“Whatever the case may be, the decision taken by Ganduje to resign is the best option for him before they disgrace him out of office,” Yaryasa stated.

He further alleged that there were behind-the-scenes efforts to force Ganduje out if he failed to align with the Presidency’s agenda.

Yaryasa, a former Coordinator of the Tinubu Campaign Organisation for Kano South, praised the former chairman’s contributions to the party both at the national and state levels.

He emphasized that Ganduje should be commended for strengthening the party and bringing in influential defectors.

“Don’t forget Ganduje was able to bring key politicians from other parties into the APC, such as senators and Reps members who recently defected from other parties and joined the APC,” he noted.

“So, it’s better for him to leave the position honourably before they force him to resign and disgrace him,” he added.

When asked about the future of the APC national chairmanship, especially concerning the Northwest geo-political zone, Yaryasa called for adherence to party rules and fairness in determining the next appointee.

“Whichever zone is supposed to produce the National Chairman of the party should be given the chance to do so. This is necessary in order to ensure fairness,” he concluded.

The apex Igbo socio-cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has publicly urged former Nigerian military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, to confront his conscience, confess his role in the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, and offer a heartfelt apology to the Igbo people.

This call came in response to Gowon’s recent claim that the war was not targeted at the Igbo ethnic group, but was instead aimed at curbing secessionist threats following the political crisis of 1966.

Ohanaeze rejected this position outright, labelling it a “gross misrepresentation of historical facts” and an “affront to the collective memory and dignity of the Igbo nation.”

According to Ohanaeze, Gowon failed to act decisively during the 1966 Northern riots, which saw widespread killings of Igbo people.

They accused him of failing to protect the lives of Nigerians, particularly the Igbo populace, during those violent episodes, which they described as “unimaginable atrocities.”

The group stated:
“We are compelled to address and clarify the deeply entrenched biases and distorted narratives perpetuated by General Gowon.”

In a scathing critique, Ohanaeze Ndigbo argued that Gowon, now 91 years old, remains “a pawn in the hands of colonial powers and the Fulani oligarchy, both of whom orchestrated his actions during what became an unjust war against the Igbo.”

They challenged the former leader to drop the long-held narrative of Nigerian unity which, they say, is rooted in falsehoods and manipulation.

“He must abandon the military mentality and the rehearsed narratives advocating for a united Nigeria, narratives built upon deceit and instead testify honestly, without fear, to both the Nigerian public and the world,” the organisation insisted.

Furthermore, Ohanaeze called on Gowon to speak the truth about the Aburi Accord, a peace initiative they believe could have averted the full-scale war.

The group claims that colonial interests led to the abandonment of this critical agreement.

“His military aggression against the Igbo was not a reaction to secessionist ambitions; rather, it was a calculated initiative aimed at safeguarding British economic interests in the oil-rich Eastern region of Biafra and retaliating against perceived threats post-1966 coup,” they stated.

In their closing remarks, Ohanaeze offered a moral and spiritual perspective, suggesting that Gowon’s advanced age is a divine opportunity for reflection and atonement.

“God has kept him alive for two reasons: to surrender to his conscience and seek divine forgiveness, and to take the lead in healing historical wounds by promoting efforts in reconciliation, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of the Igbo people.”

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Nigeria’s 36 state governors to publicly disclose how security vote allocations totaling billions of naira have been spent since May 29, 2023.

The group also urged governors to invite anti-corruption agencies to investigate those expenditures.

In a Freedom of Information request dated June 28, 2025 and signed by Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP demanded that governors “publicly account for how they have spent security vote allocations since May 29, 2023, and invite anti-corruption agencies to investigate the expenditure.”

SERAP further called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to “track and monitor the disbursement of the funds.”

“In the wake of the Benue massacre and well‑documented ongoing cases of insecurity in several states, there is a legitimate public interest for governors to account for how they spend security votes,” SERAP said.

The organisation lamented that governors continue to “grossly fail to guarantee and ensure the security and welfare of the people” despite receiving millions under the guise of security votes. It noted this is “contrary to section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution.”

SERAP warned that secrecy in security vote disbursement has “fuelled corruption and weakened the ability of citizens to hold their leaders accountable.”

The group emphasized that governors can no longer claim immunity from scrutiny under the Freedom of Information Act, citing a landmark Supreme Court ruling affirming that the Act applies to all levels of government, including state institutions .

“The Supreme Court has made clear that state governors can no longer hide under their unfounded claim that the Freedom of Information Act does not apply to them,” the statement said.

SERAP added that failure by any governor to comply within seven days would trigger legal action aimed at enforcing transparency.

Highlighting the stakes, SERAP referenced a World Bank report which classifies Nigeria as “fragile and conflict-affected,” warning that unchecked insecurity has fueled extreme poverty and declining human development indicators.

“The judgment sends a powerful message that state governors can no longer escape accountability for how they spend security votes.”

“Disclosing details of spending public funds as security votes by your state would serve to engage the Nigerian people in an honest conversation about the security problems in several states and what the governors are doing to respond to them.” SERAP concluded.

Suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has officially disbanded all his socio-political support organisations, most notably the widely influential Simplified Movement in a significant gesture aimed at fostering peace across the state.

Announcing the decision during a meeting on Saturday in Port Harcourt with his political family, including former Chief of Staff Edison Ehie, ex-cabinet officials, local government chairpersons, elders, women, and youth leaders.

Fubara explained the gravity of the move: “The sacrifice for total peace will be heavy,” he told the gathering, urging supporters to embrace the decision in good faith.

The announcement follows a major peace negotiation brokered less than a day earlier by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja, bringing together Fubara, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State House Speaker Martins Amaewhule, the first meaningful step toward resolving the ongoing political impasse in the state.

At the Simplified Movement’s office, Fubara reassured attendees that the decision was made with collective interests at heart, emphasising the need for peace, stability, and developmental progress:

“I cannot abandon you people. This is the time for me to prove that I care for you. I make a commitment here that whichever way it goes, I will not abandon anybody. But the sacrifice we must make to achieve total peace will be heavy, and I want everyone to prepare for it.”

He acknowledged the disappointment and anxiety the peace agreement may provoke among loyalists but noted that leadership often requires difficult choices for the greater good.

Fubara lamented the crisis’s toll on governance and development across Rivers State, expressing optimism that reconciliation would rejuvenate stalled projects.

He also acknowledged Wike’s early contributions to his political rise:

“Nobody can take away the role the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, played. That’s the truth,”

“Yes, we might have our differences, but nobody can wish away the risks he took.” he added.

Calling for unity, he posed a rhetorical question to his followers:

“If we believe we are one family and that our interest is to support the President, then what’s the issue? If you say you’re with me, this is the time to prove it. Because it’s not even about me; it’s about the overall interest of the state.”

Fubara closed with a local metaphor to underscore the need for patience and humility:

“In my place, there’s a fish called Atabala — you call it Tilapia. The mother Tilapia tells the young ones, ‘If you want to grow as big as I am, you must hide your head in the mud.’ We’ve done our best. What we need now is peace so we can grow.”

Renowned investigative journalist and public commentator, David Hundeyin, has openly criticised Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, over what he describes as a troubling lack of clarity regarding his political intentions for the 2027 general elections.

In a strongly worded post on his X handle, Hundeyin accused Obi of being the “single biggest roadblock” to building a credible opposition capable of unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next election cycle.

“P.O. is the single biggest roadblock to mounting a challenge that has any chance of succeeding in 2027. The simple reason is that he has REFUSED TO DECLARE what he wants to do and where he stands,” Hundeyin wrote.

He expressed concern that Obi’s silence is creating uncertainty and confusion within opposition ranks and called on him to either declare an independent bid or openly align with the emerging anti-Tinubu coalition.

“Does he want to run independently like in 2023, or does he want to work with the so-called coalition to oust Tinubu 20 months from now? Nobody knows. Not the coalition, not the people around him, and I suspect, not even he himself,” he added.

Hundeyin warned that a repeat of the 2023 scenario—where opposition parties failed to unite in time—would likely doom any serious challenge to the incumbent administration.

He painted a grim picture of what could happen if Obi delays his decision again.

“The worst possible outcome between now and 2027 is for him to keep dilly dallying and telling contradictory things to different people, so that when this supposed coalition finally emerges, he will now announce 13 months to the election that he will run independently, and then we end up with another split opposition like last time out,” Hundeyin cautioned.

Reiterating that his stance stems from deep concern for Nigeria’s future and not personal feelings toward Obi, the journalist called on those close to the former Anambra governor to deliver a wake-up call.

“I care about Nigeria and its future WAYYYY more than I care about Peter Gregory Obi, so anyone who has his ear should better tell him to come out and declare where he stands and what he wants to do, so that we can collectively chart a path forward,” he wrote.

In an emotionally charged close, Hundeyin warned against letting indecision hinder national progress, urging Obi to take a stand—or step aside.

“One man’s political gamesmanship or lack of resolve, or indecision, or whatever the fok this is cannot be what keeps us inside the US State Department’s national jail for another 4 years of our productive lives.”

“If he wants to run alone, he should declare it NOW so that the country can back him. If he wants to work with the rest of the opposition, he should also come out and SAY SO OPENLY.”

“And if he is not ready to act like the leader that is needed at this moment in history, he should kindly step away and let a more resolute person take the wheel. This is not a fucking game,” he concluded.