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.

By Stephen Angbulu

President Bola Tinubu’s recent appointment of the first-ever Special Adviser on Homeland Security was driven by pressure from service and intelligence chiefs over what they considered the National Security Adviser Office’s overreach into operational military matters, Sunday Punch has learnt.

Multiple presidency and security sources familiar with the appointment and the circumstances surrounding it say that the move was triggered by a combination of professional friction between the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, and the heads of the armed forces and intelligence-community concerns about the quality of analysis reaching the President.

A senior presidency source said the dissatisfaction within the security establishment had been building for months and was beginning to erode the cohesion of the national security architecture.

The source said, “The truth of the matter is that the service chiefs and the intelligence community are not happy with Ribadu. He is getting involved in operational matters that should be totally out of his purview. What is the job of the National Security Adviser? It is to coordinate the security and intelligence agencies, synthesise information and advise the President, not to dabble in operational matters of the armed forces, the police, or the DSS.”

The source pointed to what they described as a structural overreach.

“Now, you have a strange thing that has never happened before; we now have an ONSA tactical team. It’s like he has his own command now.

“You’ll now hear of an ONSA tactical team going on the street. You don’t run a command. You don’t run a military formation. That means dabbling in operational matters.”

On May 11, 2026, Tinubu approved the appointment of Major General Adeyinka Fadewa (retd.) as Special Adviser on Homeland Security.

The appointment was announced in a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and issued by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr Ibrahim Kana.

According to the statement, the appointment reflects the administration’s commitment to strengthening internal security