By isa Abdul, Abuja

Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) has revealed that senators are unhappy and grumbling about how Senate President, Godswll Akpabio, has being running affairs of the Senate.

The senator also alleged that Akpabio is harbouring a bias against him, adding that he remains suspicious of his activities and influence within the National Assembly.

Speaking on the Sunday edition of Mic On Podcast, the Edo senator said Akpabio is “paranoid” whenever he interacts with some senators hinting that the Senate President would exclude him from the chamber if had the opportunity to do so.

The Delta former governor added that he could not explain the exact reason for Akpabio’s bias, despite his role as a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his contribution to President Bola Tinubu’s election victory in 2023. He said:

“Don’t forget that I was a founding governor of the APC and deputy DG of Bola Tinubu Campaign Council that gave us victory. I’m not saying I am responsible for the victory, but I worked for it, and I’m happy we got it.

“He (Akpabio) is so paranoid about anything that has to do with me. Everybody in the Senate knows that if Senator Akpabio had his way, he will lock me out of the senate because he has misled himself into thinking that I am probably the devil he knows. There are many angels he doesn’t know.”

Oshiomhole went on to predict that the leadership dynamics of the next Senate would differ from the current arrangement, claiming that many lawmakers were dissatisfied with Akpabio’s leadership style.

“The 11th Senate will not be like the 10th, this I can say. It can’t be. Senators are grumbling about his style of leadership. But we try to manage, and I’ve tried to assure him that ‘Look, Mr Senate President, I am a very fulfilled person.’

“Whatever job I am given to do, I ask God to give me courage and even greater wisdom to do that job to the satisfaction of my constituents. The Senate President’s bias against me is very well known. I will not join in speculating as to the reason for his bias,” he stated.

Oshiomhole, asserted however that the Senate President remains accountable to fellow lawmakers because the position is determined by the collective will of senators.

“If you understand the way the Senate works, the Senate president is first among equals. Only the persons favoured by the senators are elected.

“Remember, if Senator Yari had got the majority, he could have become the Senate president. It is not about what anybody wishes. It is about who the senators want.”

By Son Tertsea, Abuja

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has vowed that if elected in 2027, his administration would pursue dialogue with bandits and other violent groups willing to abandon criminality, while deploying force against those who remain committed to violence.

Obi revealed this position in an interview with Rufai Oseni on BlackBox where he promised a “balanced approach to restoring security and national cohesion in the country.”

The ex Anambra State governor maintained that lasting peace would require engaging individuals and groups prepared to embrace reconciliation and contribute positively to nation-building. He stressed:

“In uniting the country, anybody who wants peace, I will talk with him; I will negotiate with him. Anybody who wants war, we will go to war.”

According to him, Nigeria must create pathways for rehabilitation and reintegration for individuals who genuinely renounce violence and demonstrate readiness to change.

The NDC presidential candidate argued that societies advance when they provide opportunities for redemption rather than permanently condemning people for past mistakes.

He buttressed his point with what he learned during a visit to a university in the United States:

“I once visited a university in America where the entire faculty are people who came out of prison.

“From the dean to the registrar, professors spent years in prison for one offence or the other.

“So, if you say you want to change and be part of this new Nigeria we are talking about, we have reached a point where we have to tell ourselves the truth”, he said.

Obi also linked security to national unity, insisting that every part of the country must feel represented in government and national development.

He said his vision for Nigeria is anchored on inclusiveness, fairness and equal opportunities with no ethnic group or region feeling marginalised:

“I will unite the country and ensure that nobody is left behind. No tribe is left behind; there would be inclusiveness. We will show love and care for everybody.”

The remarks add to the ongoing debate over whether negotiation, military action or a combination of both offers the most effective strategy for tackling Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.

In recent days, critics of negotiations with bandits have pointed to resolutions of the Senate and comments by senior lawyer Femi Falana, who warned that government-backed negotiations with terrorists could violate existing laws and send the wrong signal to criminal elements

By Felix Umande, Makurdi

Governor Hyacinth Alia has approved the appointment of Hon. Mathias Agbo Omikpa as Special Adviser on Rural Development and Community Mobilization.

The appointment, announced by the governor on Wednesday, is in furtherance of his administration’s commitment to deepening grassroots governance, strengthening rural infrastructure, and enhancing effective community mobilization across Benue State.

Hon. Omikpa is an accomplished administrator, human resources professional, entrepreneur and politician. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and a Diploma in Personnel Management from Benue State University, Makurdi.

He brings extensive experience in administration, political coordination and enterprise management. Until his appointment, he served as Executive Director of OMIX Group, Ugbokolo since 2012, where he oversaw operations, agricultural and enterprise management, staff supervision, and business development.

His public service record includes stints as an elected Councillor representing Amejo Ward in Okpokwu Local Government Area; Director General of the Daniel Onjeh Campaign Organisation; and Campaign Coordinator for the Buhari/Osinbajo Presidential Campaign in Benue South Senatorial District.

He also served as a member of the Federal Government’s Extended Special Public Works Programme Selection Committee in Benue State and was a participant in the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council during the 2023 general elections.

Governor Alia expressed confidence that Hon. Omikpa’s wealth of experience and dedication to public service will contribute significantly to strengthening rural development initiatives and community mobilization efforts across the state.

The governor said the new adviser is expected to play a key role in driving policies and programmes that improve rural infrastructure, empower local communities, and ensure government interventions reach the grassroots effectively.