NewStats: 3,263,639 , 8,180,882 topics. Date: Saturday, 07 June 2025 at 02:07 AM 226v67

Those decamping to APC from PDP are doing so primarily because of the uncertainty hanging over the PDP.

Even PDP Governors are fretting because they're not sure if PDP will not be embroiled in complicated and entangled legal warfare that may result in the PDP not being able to field candidates.

And even if they're able to field candidates, elected PDP candidates may still be tossed out of office enmass if the courts determine that the wrong faction conducted their primaries, for example.

This is a big dilemma for PDP politicians.

And people wanted the ruinous subsidy retained.

Now, with the benefit of hindsight, their leaders go on Arise to say subsidy should not have been removed until palliatives were in place.

Another of their favourite phoney line is, the President should have removed subsidy in stages.

In reality, we know neither of those options would have resulted in the total removal of subsidy as we thankfully have today.

Any President that announces removal in stages would only succeed in removing the first stage because ASUU, NLC and the rest of them would have made the next phase of removal impossible, and anticipation of subsequent phases would have sent goods and food prices as high as full removal did, except we would not have had full removal and prices of everything would still have gone up.

As for having palliative in place before removing subsidy? That's laughable. In this Nigeria? How much palliative can a govt put in place before people would say oya, you can now remove subsidy. And where was the money to even continue to pay the subsidy.

What the fraudulent subsidy cabal needed was a shock therapy that gave them no time to start sponsoring protests. That shock, that gave them no time to react, was exactly what the President delivered.

Nigeria's most decisive, boldest, and most reformist head of state/President since independence, 65 years ago. Full stop.

That first 30km is a challenging section cutting through some built up areas in Lagos. It was inevitable that that section will take longer.

The next section to Ondo State will be easier and I expect they'll do up to another 100km, and go past Ondo State within the next 2 years.

construction has started from the Calabar end too.

I think this project has a good chance of being completed within the original 7 year time frame. Even if it takes 10 years, it will not be the end of the world.

Most big and complex projects around the world are often delivered later than expected, except your name is China.

Another win for Mr Tinubu's government.

Mr Tinubu has also succeeded in increasing crude oil production from 1 million barrels per day under Mr Buhari to over 1.5 million barrels per day.

Yet a group of losers who were part and parcel of Mr Buhari's government claim they want Mr Tinubu out in 2027.

And that's despite a big chunk of Nigeria's crude going to Dangote refinery.

This major success is down to Mr Tinubu's ability to increase crude oil production from less than 1 million barrels under Mr Buhari to over 1.5 million barrels in just 2 years.

Yet, it is Messrs El Rufai, Malami, Buratai etc that served in Mr Buhari's government during which crude oil production steadily fell to economically suicidal level that are now gathering to form a coalition to reclaim the Presidency.

As Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian army under Mr Burutai could not tame the illegal activities in the Niger Delta theat led to crude oil production falling so low.

Now, Mr Tinubu has done a wonderful job of increasing production by over 50%, yet this group of Northern born to rule personalities are now telling us they want to return to government, having left just 2 years ago!

To think some Southerners are bent on bringing these failures back to govern them is just unbelievable.

the bill now!

We can deal with your own f**k up later.

Empresa:

Tinubu is forgetting he will need Lagos money for next election.

He won't.

The entire Lagos budget is peanuts to the Federal government.

mrvitalis:
Who said the coalition is crumbling?

It may not be crumbling, but there is no obvious enthusiasm for it.

Most Nigerians are not talking about it or appear to be interested.

To be fair, it isn't just about the coalition, it is a thing about politics and politicians in general.

Most Nigerians are just tired after several decades of unfulfilled promises.

As for the coalition, when Nigerians look at those behind it, they see the same set of politicians who have been in power in one role or the other for the last 25 years, and did nothing.

You can't blame people for their lack of enthusiasm.

OldNairalander:

Then again, I tried to understand what actually changed in of revenue accrued to the states but it wasn't making sense to me.
Let's assume state A receives N500 million per month as allocation in 2022 which is equivalent to around $900,000.
Today, same state is receiving 1 billion, 100% increase! That's massive but scratch a little further and you will discover that 1 billion today is only worth around $625,000.
It gets more confusing when you consider the fact that this oil subsidy was paid in dollars therefore, subsidy recovery is equally in dollars. .

I don't think it works exactly like that.

I'm not an economist so whatever I say is just my best guess.

During the last years of Mr Buhari's government, I believe the govt was spending an estimated $4.5 billion a year on subsidising fuel, and a few billions more to maintain dual naira/dollar exchange rates.

Let's estimate both subsidies to be around $7 billion per year.

Mr Tinubu scrapped both subsidies. That means most of that $7billion is now available for spending on other things like capital and recurrent expenditure (after it is shared between
Federal and State governments), payment of loans, and some savings in the foreign reserve.

Secondly, during the last year of Mr Buhari's govt, Nigeria was producing 1m barrels of crude oil per day. Mr Tinubu's government has succeeded in increasing that above 1.5m barrels.

The extra 500,000 barrels means additional dollar revenue to the federal and state governments. Note that the CBN keeps the dollars and and releases the equivalent naira for sharing by the government's.

Thirdly, on the domestic front, under this government, tax revenues are going gangbusters due to FIRS in particular, generating record revenues. With more revenues coming on, the States' share also increases.

As to why despite a disadvantageous exchange rate - compared to some years back, States are now able to do more, it comes down to one simple fact:

The amount they are sharing with the FG is about 3.5 times what it used to be while the exchange rate has only increased by a factor of 2.3 or thereabout from around $680 - $700 where it was before.

Above all, the money is regular, unlike before where there simply was not enough money available for sharing, and during some months, there was nothing to share so many States depended on borrowing.

Since last year, the cash tap has been gushing and doing so consistently. The States are awash with cash right now. It now depends on how each Governor decides to use that money for the benefit of his people.

That's what I think has happened.

A free trade zone requires federal government approval.

A State can create something like an enterprise zone or something like that, but it will not have many of the tax advantages that companies located in a proper free trade zone get.

7.5/10

For comparison:

Mr Buhari 5.5/10
Mr Jonathan 5/10. Nigeria made so much money from crude oil under this man's istration but it was totally squandered. Every time I think of Mrs Deziani alleged making off with over $2 billion, I shudder to think. Mr Jonathan was in power, but not in control.

I don't have any tangible knowledge about Messrs Obasanjo and Yaradua's istrations.

Another major reform that previous Presidents ran away from.

This matter may still end up in court.

That will cause PDP a lot of headache since a lot of their plans for 2027 will have to be put on hold until certain court cases are resolved.

In my Church, we serve breakfast every Sunday. You can pop in to eat whether or not you're a member.

People from the area come in to eat, with no questions asked.

And my Chuch has very modest finances. None of our Pastors is rich, and only 2 young Pastors with young families are paid salaries. Small salaries self.

What we contribute on Sundays can barely finance the Church and take care of the welfare for who need help.

But we like our Church like that. We are like a family, and there is zero focus on money.

It is very wrong to say all Pastors are corrupt or use churches as a business.

Celestialsword:
majority of the people that followed the governors to their El dorado party are not card carrying of that party, they all have something up their sleeves.

They have plan B

I can't speak for all regions, but elections in places like Ondo, Ogun, and may be Ekiti are heavily influenced by cash on election day. He who pays win.

Most ordinary voters in those states don't carry party allegiance on their head like you find in many other states. Majority of them in the aforementioned states will be influenced on election day by who pays the most.

Unfortunate as that is, the reality is that APC will probably outspend PDP or any other party by a factor of 2 in those 3 states.

Another problem for Mr Atiku is that, even a PDP state like Oyo, the Governor that is opposed to the presidency going to the North in 2027 will not spend a dime to Mr Atiku whichever party he uses.

From Lagos to Ondo, I dont think Mr Atiku will get a lot of votes from the SW.

Justnation:





Mr man for your information, aregbesola was tinubu's henchman and longtime political strategist.
Without aregbesola, tinubu lost osun state.

If aregbesola genuinely forces against tinubu, he will reveal tinubu's weaknesses and key points.
Tinubu will fumble and fail if the likes of aregbesola, fayemi, ambode, etc stand-up against him.

As 2027 approaches, we can expect social media analysts to proliferate.

So, Mr Aregbesola can personally deliver 20,000 votes in Lagos or Osun?

Mr Fayemi can personally deliver 5,000 votes in Ekiti? Can he deliver 1000 votes in each of Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ogun or Lagos.

Who cares about the likes of Mr Fayemi in the SW.

Some of you commenters are funny.

Also Mr Aregbesola to lead in the South West

This coalition people must be living on cloud cookoo land.

Mr Amaechi to lead in the South South?

None of these 2 people can deliver 100,000 on their respective regions.

And Governors are expected to take orders from these zonal leaders?

frugal:


Representative. You can see Atiku’s name there too.

You know full well that's just a smokescreen.

Mr Atiku is in charge.

You have to give it to the Fulanis.

The have mastered the art of subjugation.

From a Presidential contestant who got over 6 million votes nationwide to your fellow presidential contestant now appointing you as leader in your own region

So Mr Obi needed someone from Adamawa to appoint him as a leader in the South East.

No be small thing o.

Babangidapikin:
Federal Government just dey make money dey keep quiet dey chop .

All the debts they're paying back is chopping abi.

Besides, Mr Dangote is talking about the future, not today.

inoki247:
I never kuku use him Fertilizer before....

Na Indorama I don dey used to...

..

That's the point of a free market economy.

It gives you, me, and others options to choose from.

If you prefer Indorama or their price, buy from them. Those who prefer Dangote can buy from him.

We are seeing that too with petrol prices. We are now able to compare filling station prices and decide who to buy from.

It's beautiful.

That's serious money.

Excuse my maths, doesn't that translate to about $2.5 billion.

Thank God, we are developing other sources of foreign revenue, and slowly moving away from over dependence on crude oil.

This is rather desperate.

Where did us Nigerians gather to tell you we are all against the government.

This attempt to manipulate us into a coalition we did not agree to be part of is a sure sign that you people's coalition is lackluster and not gathering momentum.

Dey your dey please.

Excellent.

Put the right people in the right positions, they say this person is Yoruba, that one is Yoruba too.

If someone is Yoruba and is doing a great job for the country, how does it matter.

The Attorney General did a great job with local government autonomy. Now, today's great news.

Would it be better to put someone in that position just to satisfy ethnic balance? We saw how some of the previous Attorney Generals compromised the interest of the country.

All Presidents must be given the free hand to fill the most important positions in their governments based on merit, not tribal origin. Other positions can be spread around for ethnic balance.

In any case, the Attorney General is from the North.

The people of Ondo and I guess Ekiti have zero link to Oyo.

Most trace their origin to Ile Ife.

Their Kings accept the Ooni's status. Not Alaafin.

Also, you can’t force yourself to be THE leader. Most Yoruba Kings and people see the Ooni as occupying a uniquely special position.

Ooni is THE leader. Alaafin is A leader, but not on the same pedestal.

Can Alaafin call Ondo or Ekiti monarchs for a meeting?

The Ooni can, and most Obas will have no problem getting in their vehicles are head to Ile- Ife.

The article is peppered with several references to Mr Salihu's former position as National Vice Chairman of the APC in the North West.

But no where was it mentioned that the man was kicked out under Buhari or that he has been with Mr Rufai in the SDP.

Punch intentionall presented a narrative that leaves the unkowing reader to believe that Mr Salihu is still part of the APC.

He hasn't been for many years.

Fair enough.

He should provide proof that Ms Duru paid him money.

See confidence.

Now and and again, I still go back to listen to the famous and now historical 'Emilokan' speech to remind myself of the importance of self belief in my professional and business circles.

When you tell a sitting President, it is my turn, and there is nothing you can do about it, and you make it happen. It is incredible.

As far as I am concerned, that Emilokan speech is an epochal political speech in the history of Nigeria. It will never be forgotten.

They need to put a funding target over a specific time frame. Money is the key.

A target to raise 10 billion dollars over 7 years for regional development is achievable.

Lagos will need to contribute at least 40% of the funding.

A Diaspora Bond backed by guarantees from the 6 state govts can raise $1 billion over 7 years.

A similar bond for local investors can raise another $1.5 billion

Annual mandatory contributions by each of the other 5 states with contribution size reflecting the size of each state's economy can raise another $1.5 billion.

The rest can be raised through other sources.

What a headline

The Lagos government official basically said they already practice local government autonomy and lauded the fact that it has letter to better performance by Lagos Local councils.

So, the official and Lagos state government believe local government autonomy has been a good thing for the state.