By Saint Mugaga

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last Kogi State Governorship Election, Alhaji Yakubu Ajaka, has dismissed recent political moves by former Governor Yahaya Bello as mere theatrics aimed at misleading the people of the state.

Ajaka, in a statement issued on Sunday, said it was “Unfortunate that Yahaya Bello still believes the people of Kogi can be misled by his usual political antics,” stressing that Kogites are now politically aware and would no longer be swayed by deceit or intimidation.

He stated that President Bola Tinubu does not need the kind of manipulative politics associated with Bello to earn the trust of Nigerians, but rather genuine performance and credibility.

“President Tinubu doesn’t need deceit or intimidation to earn the trust of Nigerians. What he needs is performance and credibility,” Ajaka said.

The SDP chieftain questioned Bello’s political relevance, recalling that the former governor failed to deliver his own senatorial district during the last general elections.

According to him, “It is laughable that someone who couldn’t even deliver his senatorial district during the last election now claims he can deliver Kogi in 2027,” Ajaka added. “The people of our state are wiser and will no longer be used as pawns in anyone’s political games.”

Ajaka maintained that Kogites would vote based on performance, not fear or manipulation, asserting that a new generation of conscious citizens is ready to take charge of the state’s political future.

“When the time is right, credible individuals with true political voice and moral standing will rise to deliver the President and the state to a better future. The era of deceitful politics and intimidation is over,” he said.

Ajaka, who contested against Bello’s anointed candidate in the 2023 governorship poll, has remained a vocal critic of the former governor’s political style, often accusing him of misgovernance and divisive politics.

By Saint Mugaga

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said his interview with BBC Hausa Service was misrepresented by some sections of the media denying that he ever promised to step down for a younger person in the presidential race.

Atiku’s denial was contained in a statement by his media adviser, Paul Ibe.

The former vice president stated that his statement was unambiguously on what he told his interviewer.

According to him, he encouraged young people, as well as other prospective presidential aspirants, to enter the contest, stressing that “if a young candidate were to emerge through a competitive primary, he would readily support such a candidate without any hesitation.”

He said while he welcomes interpretative journalism as a legitimate aspect of reporting, “stretching interpretation to the point of mischief is unacceptable and must not be encouraged.

“For the records, therefore, the insinuations attributed to the Waziri Adamawa from his BBC Hausa interview are inaccurate and do not reflect what he actually said.”

…Names President Tinubu first among mentors

… As APC youths honour Abbas with ‘Legislator of the Year’ award

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has said that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in collaboration with the 10th National Assembly, is determined more than ever before to tackle insecurity and engender economic prosperity for Nigeria.

This is just as the speaker named President Tinubu as his role model due to his ability to network across the country and maintain relationships for over four decades.

Speaker Abbas made this known in Abuja on Sunday at ‘An Evening with 004’, an informal engagement between the Speaker and Nigerian youths, organised by the Office of the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Speaker was accompanied by his wife, Hajia Fatima Abbas Tajudeen, and his children who witnessed as the APC Youth Wing honoured him with the ‘Legislator of the Year (National Category)’ award.

The event, which was to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, saw the Speaker inspiring the youth with his life as a teacher, accountant, and politician.

Led by the National Youth Leader of the APC, Mr Dayo Israel, the youths freely asked Speaker Abbas various questions about his background, politics, health, security, economy, entrepreneurship, women’s inclusion, and the House under his leadership.

The Speaker stated that the Tinubu-led administration is working hard towards ensuring the security of lives and property, as well as creating an enabling environment that will make crimes and criminality unattractive to the youth.

He stated: “There’s no country in the world that can achieve any meaningful progress without adequate security. The President and the National Assembly, I’m sure if you observe, have worked very hard to put non-kinetic measures in place to ensure that security around the country is improved. Like my own state, (Kaduna) just two weeks ago, the UK Ambassador to Nigeria gave my Governor (Senator Uba Sani) an award for the improved security within the state.

“I believe within the next two years, and certainly the next four years of this administration – God willing, we will no longer be talking about insecurity, because the government will do whatever is necessary to ensure that we create more than any other thing the enabling environment that will mitigate and prevent insecurity.”

The Speaker emphasised the inadequacy of Nigeria’s annual budgets. He however expressed optimism that the tax reform initiatives of President Tinubu will substantially raise the revenue profile of the country.

Speaker Abbas said: “I want to assure you that this present administration is doing its best. If you look at the historical figures in budgetary provisions particularly for education and for health, you will see that there has been a reasonable appreciation of the figures that we have recorded in the last two budgets.

“One thing I want you to go home with is that Mr President and the National Assembly have been able to cross a major hurdle that has been bedevilling our budgets. And what is that? Paucity of revenue. If you remember the 2025 budget was increased significantly. But even with that, we are not where we ought to be.”

He noted: “But the good news today is that both the National Assembly and Mr President have come up with a revolutionary initiative that within the next one to two years, we will substantially increase the revenue profile of Nigeria several-fold. And that is the tax reform initiative brought by Mr President. Once it comes into effect, I sincerely believe that Nigeria’s budget will improve at a minimum by five times what we have today. And that will be the time when we will say we can look at sector by sector, agency by agency, to give them what they require.

“But as of now, the revenue we have is simply inadequate to satisfy any agency. And that’s why we have what is called the Envelope System… ‘just make do with whatever that’s given to you.’ But I assure you that, with Mr President in the driver’s seat, that era will soon come to pass. That will be the time we can provide for each agency what they actually require, and that will be the time we can start talking about what the international standard is, what they are supposed to get as against what they are getting today?”

The Speaker also used the occasion to speak on efforts by the parliament to address national sundry issues.

He also attributed the unity and peace in the House to the overwhelming support from members, noting that they are according their due rights and benefits irrespective of political, religious, and ethnic differences.

Speaking on the lessons he had learnt on his journey, which he will pass to his children, the Speaker advised youths in Nigeria to be honest and transparent in their dealings, saying these virtues attract public trust and success.

Speaker Abbas said: “Be open and honest in whatever you do. Once you are open and honest, you can never get it wrong. Even when you make mistakes, people will understand that it is a mistake.”

He added: “I believe that the youth of Nigeria need to really learn this little – little – that when they imbibe this in whatever they do in their life, not necessarily politics or leadership in any way, even in their daily life, they will see tremendous results, they will get the support of the people. That is my message to the youth.”

Speaker Abbas also explained why President Tinubu is first among his mentors.

He said: “I have so many role models. Asiwaju is one of them, definitely because of his antecedents in being able to support people right from the time he was a senator to governor. And I have seen him with a set of people over a journey of 40 years, and he is still with them. Not too many Nigerians – not too many – will be able to sustain relationships for such a very long time. So, he is my role model as far as that is concerned.”

The Speaker noted that his proudest moment as a legislator was when President Muhammadu Buhari assented to a record 22 of his bills under the last Assembly (out of the record 74 sponsored by him).

Speaker Abbas stated that it was an “unprecedented achievement” for a lawmaker to have 22 of his bills signed into law, as law-making is the core responsibility of a legislator. “I was very proud and happy,” he said.

On the gender bills under consideration by the National Assembly in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution, Speaker Abbas recalled how the youth successfully pushed for the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ bill, which led to the reduction in the age qualification for elective public offices.

“If we achieve that, we are further pushing the agenda of inclusivity to all Nigerians. So many things need to be done but we need to do them one at a time. I am very optimistic that the 10th Assembly provides a golden opportunity for the women of Nigeria to actualize their dreams in the democratic and electoral processes of this country.

“I will be there to ensure that those aspirations succeed for the benefit of mankind.”

When asked to speak about her husband, Hajia Fatima described Speaker Abbas as “an extraordinary man; very kind, very honest.”

Advising young women with her three lessons in marriage, Hajia Fatima listed “prayer, a lot of patience and always stand by each other.”

On the award, the youths said it was “in recognition of your exemplary leadership, visionary stewardship, and outstanding legislative impact at the national level.”

On the certificate, they wrote: “As Speaker, you have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to deepening democracy, promoting good governance, and advancing policies that drive national development and strengthen the voice of the people.

“Your dedication, courage, and service to our nation have distinguished you as a true patriot and statesman, inspiring trust, hope, and excellence in legislative practice across Nigeria.

“With utmost respect and honour, we celebrate you as our Legislator of the Year 2025 (National Category).”

The 109 senatorial youth leaders of the APC also presented a head bust to the Speaker in recognition of his positive impact.