Senator Mudasiru Husain has criticized the coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, and Peter Obi, stating that no alliance founded on calumny can unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Husain, who represented Osun West Senatorial District in 2011, argued that the coalition is motivated by old grudges rather than genuine love, vision, or unity for Nigeria.

A statement from the senator, who is also a prominent 2026 Osun State governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), emphasized that the coalition’s stakeholders aim to destabilize Tinubu’s purposeful leadership, which is already reshaping Nigeria’s socio-economic trajectory.

He said, “But let’s be honest. What binds these individuals? Not vision. Not unity. Not even shared principles.”

“What they have in common is ambition, often personal, and in many cases, driven by old grudges. These are not the foundations of a credible alternative.”

“President Tinubu has far surpassed the influence of any force they can muster.”

“His political instincts, strategic depth, and unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s future place him far ahead of any challenge this coalition might present.”

Husain added, “I know this not just as a politician, but as someone whose journey was shaped under the progressive banner that Tinubu has championed for decades.”

“His mentorship, his selfless sacrifices, and his foresight laid the foundation for many of us who now have a voice in public service.

“I understand the desperation within the opposition ranks. Peter Obi’s insistence on running solely under the Labour Party already shows that unity is elusive. Meanwhile, defections continue from their camp into the APC, which speaks volumes about where true leadership lies.

“Let’s not forget President Tinubu’s achievements. In less than two years, he’s rebalanced Nigeria’s economic framework and is building bridges across ethnic and political divides”.

“People are taking note; even those who once stood against him are beginning to realign, embracing a new era of progressive politics.

“As I look ahead to 2027, I see a stronger, more unified Nigeria under President Tinubu’s leadership. The noise will rise, but it won’t shake the foundation we’ve built. Our focus remains steady, our values clear.”

Prince Arthur Eze, the Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, has described President Bola Tinubu as “God’s gift to Nigeria,” commending his leadership, reform-focused governance, and emphasis on national unity.

In a documentary being prepared by the State House to mark President Tinubu’s second year in office, Eze expressed his admiration for the President, noting his belief that Tinubu’s leadership was divinely ordained.

“God doesn’t make mistakes. That man, Tinubu, was created for a purpose. God gave him the power to change lives,” Eze stated.

According to the renowned businessman and philanthropist, Tinubu stands out as a unifier with a sincere and humble approach to leadership.

“Tinubu has no enemies. He is a unifier. He speaks with humility and honesty; that’s why we admire him,” he added.

Drawing from his personal experiences during the Nigerian civil war and his deep ties to the Southeast, Eze highlighted the current administration’s strides in promoting inclusion and development in the region.

“What Tinubu has done for the Southeast, nobody else has. He gave us the Minister of Works, the Minister of Science and Technology, and the Southeast Development Commission. This is an opportunity for the Igbo to unite with the rest of Nigeria,” he emphasized.

Eze also voiced strong support for the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, expressing confidence in Tinubu’s fulfillment of his campaign pledges.

He acknowledged the challenges Tinubu inherited upon assuming office, saying, “God has given him the wisdom to change Nigeria for the good of the present and future generations.”

Urging unity and cooperation from all Nigerians, Eze called for collective support of the President’s vision.

“He’s not a man of division, whether Christian or Muslim, he respects all. All he asks is that we pray to God and work together,” he said.

He concluded with a prayer for national progress and leadership guidance.

“May God guide Nigeria and President Tinubu. He gave him this power and will help him complete the job.”

The Benue State Government has firmly dismissed claims that Governor Hyacinth Alia is considering a departure from the All Progressives Congress (APC), amid recent reports suggesting internal party tensions.

In a statement released on Sunday, Sir Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, labeled the report as false and a reflection of “yellow journalism” often practiced by certain online platforms.

Kula emphasized that while opposition governors are now aligning with the APC due to its “policies and wonderful performances” under President Bola Tinubu, it would be “laughable and lame for a media house and its sponsors to even think the governor would contemplate leaving the party he is sponsoring in the state.”

Reiterating Alia’s unwavering loyalty, Kula said there was no ambiguity about the governor’s commitment to the APC.

“He had been an active participant in the affairs of the party, including the recent endorsement of President Tinubu as the APC sole candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential elections,” he noted.

He pointed to Alia’s attendance at both zonal and national party events as further evidence that contradicts “the false narrative of a strained relationship with the Presidency.”

Addressing the claim of internal crisis, Kula insisted: “Again, the APC leadership in the state is in no crisis as claimed in the unfounded report.”

“The party under the chairmanship of Hon. Benjamin Omale, has a super working relationship with the governor, and has been performing its functions effectively, both at the state and national level, as was seen recently during the APC Summit in Abuja.”

Kula also expressed concern over what he described as deliberate misinformation.

“It is appalling and disappointing how a medium could blatantly publish lies to cast doubts on the attendance of a personality like a state governor in an occasion he attended along with his colleagues with full media coverage.”

He urged the public to be cautious of unreliable news sources, saying: “We urge readers and the general public to yet again, disregard this fake news report and to always rely on credible sources of information rather than fake information mediums.”

Concluding the statement, Kula made it clear that Governor Alia has no intentions of leaving the ruling party.

“The governor has no plans to defect from the APC, especially as Benue State stands to benefit more under the party and the Tinubu led presidency.”

“He will continue to deliver good governance to the people of the Benue State on the APC platform they elected him,” he said.

Dr. Lawrence Ezeh, Enugu Science & Tech Commissioner

The Enugu State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Lawrence Ezeh, has commended Governor Peter Mbah for significantly advancing digitalisation, innovation, and technology-driven development in the state within just two years in office.

Speaking to journalists on Monday in Enugu, Dr. Ezeh highlighted Governor Mbah’s transformative efforts in positioning Enugu as a hub of disruptive and impactful innovation across multiple sectors.

According to Ezeh, “Gov. Mbah ensured effective implementation of robust digital infrastructure, training and retraining of all government employees and functionaries, eliminating paper usage, enshrining proper information and data management, facilitating online transactions and effective citizens engagement.”

He emphasized that the governor, known for his deep appreciation of innovation and technology, has gone beyond rhetoric to actively support their integration across government structures and public services.

One major achievement, Ezeh said, is the introduction of e-governance through the establishment of digital infrastructure aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency, and citizen engagement across ministries and government departments.

He added, “Through the Ministry, Gov. Mbah introduced Geographic Information System (GIS) to the Ministry of Lands; and the system capabilities can help the state optimise land administration processes, prevent encroachment and support sustainable development initiatives.”

The commissioner also highlighted collaborative innovation projects, including a partnership with the Project Development Institute (PRODA) to produce a multi-biomass briquette cooking stove.

This initiative addresses energy challenges while offering affordable and sustainable cooking solutions.

“In 2024, the state invested heavily in youth empowerment through skilling up and up-scaling in tech-innovation, through these youth empowerment programmes cultivated a vibrant ecosystem of innovation, enterprise, leadership and ensuring a prosperous future for generations to come,” he said.

Ezeh further revealed that the Ministry initiated the regulation of traditional medicine practice, aiming to enhance public health and bridge the gap between indigenous and modern healthcare.

“This is to safeguard public health, uphold ethical standards and promote collaboration between traditional healers and modern healthcare professionals,” he noted.

To consolidate its long-term tech vision, the state established Enugu Smart Tech Ltd., an independent entity in collaboration with e-School Africa.

The company will support the rollout of 260 Smart Schools, one in each ward, under construction across Enugu.

“This initiative effort between the state government and e-School Africa is set to revolutionise education through the provision of state-of-the-art tech devices to the 260 Smart schools currently under construction across the 260 wards in Enugu State,” he said.

He explained that the Smart Schools are designed to close the digital divide and ensure equal access to tech-enabled education for both rural and urban students.

The collaboration brings in technical expertise and a sustainable approach to digital learning.

On the promotion of traditional medicine innovation, the ministry recently organized a trade fair and introduced certification for traditional healers, fostering credibility, research, and economic empowerment.

“The Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Trade Fair was not just an exhibition, it was a reference point on how indigenous knowledge is treated in policy and practice,” Ezeh stated.

“The key impacts included: creating credibility and trust; economic empowerment; and research catalysis; as this initiative underscores the ministry’s broader philosophy: innovation doesn’t have to mean abandoning the old, it can also mean elevating it.”

Another groundbreaking innovation was the completion of the coal briquette stove, developed using Enugu’s abundant coal dust.

The commissioner described it as a “game-changer” for both households and small industries.

“The stove is a game-changer in more ways. Designed to use compressed coal dust, readily available in Enugu’s resource-rich terrain, it offers a cleaner, safer alternative to traditional firewood or inefficient stoves,” he said.

Ezeh noted its potential for broad adoption, citing benefits like environmental sustainability, affordability, and industrial utility, while positioning Enugu as a leader in local green technology solutions.

He also highlighted the successful hosting of the Enugu Tech Festival, which attracted more than 15,000 participants from across Nigeria.

The festival, he said, has become a critical platform for nurturing talent, fostering partnerships, and energizing the startup ecosystem.

“The three-day unprecedented event attended by over 15,000 participants nationwide included tech entrepreneurs, software developers, university researchers, and venture capitalists and it provided fertile ground for partnerships, networking and mentorships,” Ezeh stated.

He added that the event featured hackathons, pitch sessions, and innovation labs, producing real-time innovations and elevating Enugu’s status in the national tech space.

“Even as the festival’s success signals more than public enthusiasm, it reflects the administration’s ability to convene stakeholders and accelerate grassroots innovation,” he said.

In his concluding remarks, Ezeh lauded the governor’s visionary leadership for building a development model centered on ideas, sustainability, and self-reliance.

“Not simply reactive, but proactive. Not dependent on Federal allocations or donor aid but anchored in the power of ideas and local solutions. While challenges remain, scaling innovation, sustaining funding, and ensuring equitable digital access across rural zones, the trajectory is unmistakable,” he said.

“The foundational groundwork has been laid, and the future is being built with intentionality. The Future of tech-innovation is invented in Enugu State.

“Under the stewardship of Gov. Mbah and the ministry, Enugu State has emerged as a living laboratory for disruptive and transformative change, rooted in tradition, driven by technology, and propelled by public engagement.”

Senator Tony Nwoye, representing Anambra North Senatorial District, has spoken out against the continued closure of Ogbo Ogwu Market in Onitsha by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), labeling the action as a “clear case of regulatory overreach.”

In a statement released over the weekend, Nwoye called on both the Federal Government and the Anambra State Government to urgently intervene and put an end to what he described as a “gross injustice.”

The market, which has been shut since February 2025 following a NAFDAC raid targeting the sale of counterfeit drugs, saw more than 5,000 shops sealed.

However, the senator emphasized that the punitive action extended beyond pharmaceutical vendors, affecting a wide range of traders.

“Entire sections of the market, including traders dealing in non-pharmaceutical items such as paints, plumbing materials, and accessories, were unjustly shut down,” Nwoye said.

While reiterating the importance of accountability, he added that “traders found culpable in dealing with fake and contraband drugs in the market should be punished.”

He recalled visiting the market shortly after the raid alongside prominent figures including former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, as well as other lawmakers.

According to him, the delegation met with affected shop owners and witnessed the severe toll the closure had taken on their businesses and livelihoods.

NAFDAC’s financial demands also came under sharp criticism from the senator.

He condemned the agency’s requirement of a ₦500,000 fee per shop, later raised to ₦700,000, for reopening, labeling it “exploitative” and saying it lacked “any legal basis.”

“To punish over 5,000 traders indiscriminately without due process is to violate both the spirit and letter of the law,” he stated.

“This is not regulation, it is economic persecution.”

The statement highlighted that over 1,000 traders have already paid the imposed fee, while many more remain unable to meet the financial demand.

Nwoye also questioned why such extensive sanctions had not been implemented in other markets across the country and called for an immediate refund to those who have already made payments.

He appealed to Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to take stronger action to bring the issue to a resolution.

“Ogbo Ogwu Market must be reopened without further delay,” he declared.

“I stand in solidarity with the traders and will continue to use all legislative and legal means to press for justice.”

Concluding his statement, the senator urged authorities to ensure fairness and transparency in regulatory enforcement across Nigeria, cautioning against policies that undermine economic activity and violate the rights of citizens.