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Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, has voiced alarm over the mass emigration of talented young Nigerians, describing this phenomenon as a sign of a troubling loss of hope for the country.

At the launch of the Unveiling and Rebranding Nigeria Initiative in Abuja on Saturday, Jega urged committed citizens to work towards restoring optimism about Nigeria’s future.

He highlighted the country’s current challenges, including its status as the “poverty capital of the world” and the rise of the “Japa” trend, where young people leave for better opportunities abroad.

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“This trend symbolizes a dangerous loss of hope, one that dedicated patriots must counter by restoring faith in the country’s future,” he stated.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s past, Jega noted that the post-independence period once positioned the country as a source of inspiration across Africa and among Black communities worldwide, praising the selfless leadership of the First Republic for laying a solid foundation for nation-building.

Jega also urged Nigerians to reject the notion that Nigeria is a failed state.

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“We must reject the narrative of a failed state and work to reform our systems, bridging divisions to build a nation that serves all its citizens,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, represented by Lanre Isa-Onilu, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, insisted that citizens deserve more than empty promises.

He stressed the need for government actions to reflect commitments made to the people.

“To keep our commitments, we must ensure that our implementations reflect the promises made to our citizens. The issue of leadership is intertwined with the challenge of managing relationships,” Idris noted. He asserted that citizens need tangible results, not just promises.

Idris also discussed plans to nationalize cartoon content to better reflect Nigeria’s cultural values.

He pointed out the importance of engaging children with media that resonates with their heritage, announcing an upcoming animation festival in Lagos to showcase local talent.

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URNI Patron, Ambassador Hassan Tukur, highlighted that Nigeria’s advancement depends on leadership characterized by integrity and competence.

He called for a revival of the strong connections that once united Nigerians across ethnic and religious lines, attributing the nation’s socio-economic challenges to a lack of effective leadership.

Tukur urged leaders to prioritize job creation, resource mobilization, and national unity to address these pressing issues.

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The PDP National Progressive Youth Initiative, a leading youth faction within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has issued a stern warning to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his allies in the National Assembly, specifically addressing what it deems continued attacks on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

In a statement on Friday, the youth group condemned Rep. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, representing Ideato North South Federal Constituency of Imo State, for his public criticisms of Wike, noting that Ugochinyere frequently aligns himself with Governor Fubara’s stance in Rivers State.

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The group’s statement follows Ugochinyere’s recent media claims that pro-Wike factions are using court actions to limit Governor Fubara’s access to Rivers State funds.

Ugochinyere asserted, “The APC and the pro-Wike faction are currently filing a lawsuit at the Federal High Court to block allocations meant for Rivers State. This is the second time the Wike group has attempted to create a constitutional crisis. They already have a pending case to seize all state and local government funds, and now they’re using the Wike-APC faction to file yet another suit to halt the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee.”

In response, the PDP Youth Initiative, led by President Comrade Billy Matthew Nwachukwu and Secretary-General David Terna Gondo, rebuked both Fubara and Ugochinyere, accusing them of deflecting from issues of transparency and accountability.

“They appear reluctant to embrace accountability,” the statement said. “The PDP will no longer tolerate any attacks on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who is tirelessly advancing Nigeria’s development through his infrastructure agenda in the Federal Capital Territory.”

The group also raised questions about Fubara and Ugochinyere’s motives, suggesting that their criticisms may stem from a desire to avoid scrutiny over their own responsibilities, particularly in holding local government elections.

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“They have engaged in unprincipled tactics,” the group added. “Sadly, some individuals have entered the National Assembly through dubious means, claiming to have paid substantial amounts for committee roles despite lacking a legitimate income source.”

The PDP youth wing urged the constituents of Ideato Federal Constituency to demand more from their representative.

“If he cannot fulfill his legislative duties, he should acknowledge his limitations and allow someone more capable to represent them,” the statement continued.

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The group warned it would mobilize a protest at the National Assembly if Speaker Tajudeen Abbas does not address Ugochinyere’s conduct, calling Wike an invaluable asset to the country and President Tinubu’s administration.

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial Zone, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dismiss additional underperforming ministers to expedite the realization of his “Renewed Hope” agenda for Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, Ndume welcomed the recent reshuffling of the federal cabinet and the establishment of a new ministry for regional development, which will oversee various regional commissions across the country.

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He noted that while these changes are positive, there are still some ministers who are “missing in action.”

This call comes in the wake of President Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday, during which six ministers were dismissed and seven new ones appointed. The president also reallocated the portfolios of ten existing ministers.

Additionally, Ndume, who previously served as Chief Whip of the Senate, recommended that President Tinubu convene a national economic summit to develop local solutions to the nation’s economic challenges.

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He proposed that the summit be led by prominent figures such as former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili, and others including Mansur Muktar, Akinwumi Adesina, Aruma Oteh, and Tope Fasua.

“This national economic summit should be spearheaded by these distinguished Nigerians, who can generate recommendations that are more suitable for the populace than the often harsh prescriptions from the IMF and World Bank,” Ndume stated.

He expressed confidence that if the recommendations are sound, President Tinubu would implement them, benefiting the country significantly.

The senator praised Tinubu’s initiative to reduce governance costs amid ongoing economic difficulties and encouraged other branches of government to adopt similar measures.

An Abia State High Court sitting in Bende Judicial Division has reiterated its earlier order prohibiting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from conducting State, Local Government, and Ward congresses in Abia State.

The court’s ruling, dated October 25, is in connection with the suit marked HB/3/2024, filed by claimants Francis Etuzu, Chidindu Kalu Kalu, and Enyinnaya Ogbu.

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This decision comes just hours before the party’s rescheduled State Congress set for Saturday, October 26.

Justice C. U. Okoroafor, who presided over the case, also ordered that contempt proceedings be initiated against several party officials, including PDP National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Abia PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman Alwell Asiforo Okere, and Caretaker Committee Secretary Kenneth Madubuike.

The court order stated: “That Leave be and is hereby granted the Claimants/Applicants to serve Forms 48, 49 and all other processes in respect of contempt proceedings in this suit on the Defendants i.e. Senator Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary P.D.P) Alwell Asiforo Okere (PhD) (Chairman Caretaker Committee Abia State P.D.P) and Kenneth Madubulke (Secretary, Caretaker Committee, Abia P.D.P) by substituted means, by delivering of same to any adult inmate in the PDP Abia Secretariat at Onyerobi Close, off House of Assembly Road, Umuahia, Abia State or by pasting same at the PDP Abia State secretariat at Onyerobi Close, off House of Assembly Road, Umuahia and/or by electronic means via each of the party’s personal WhatsApp phone number.”

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The court further reminded all parties involved that the previous order made on July 23, 2024, remains in effect until the final determination of the case.

The claimants had initially secured an order on July 23 prohibiting the PDP from holding its ward congress, originally scheduled for July 27.

The July 23 order also prevented the PDP from extending the tenure of the Okere-led State Working Committee (SWC).

The court had issued restrictions preventing the party from conducting any congresses or rescheduling them until the motion on notice filed by the claimants is heard and determined.

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The order specified: “It is hereby ordered that leave be granted to the claimants/Applicants to serve the originating summons and other processes in this suit on the defendants in Abuja, outside Abia State. That claimants/applicants are hereby granted leave to serve the originating summons, orders, and all other processes in this suit by substituted means by delivering same to any adult inmate and/or by posting same at the headquarters of PDP, Wadata Plaza, FCT, Abuja.”

Furthermore, it stated: “That the defendants either by themselves, their representatives, servants, agents, assigns, or howsoever called are hereby restrained from holding or carrying on the PDP party congress in Abia State on 27-07-2024 or to reschedule it to be held on any other date or location pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed.”

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The ruling emphasizes that the PDP is barred from making any decisions or giving directives that would further extend the tenure of the last state, local government, and ward executive officers of the party in the state pending the resolution of the motion on notice.

Voting has started at several Polling Units (PUs) across Kano, where residents are casting their ballots to elect chairmanship and councillorship candidates.

Our correspondent reports that while voting is yet to begin in some PUs, many others have already commenced in both the metropolitan areas and in Local Government Areas on the outskirts.