By Our Reporter

The exodus of political appointees from the administration of Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde has continued, with the resignation of the Chief of Staff, Hon. Segun Ebenezer Ogunwuyi.

Ogunwuyi, a former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly and the House of Representatives, announced his resignation in a letter dated October 12, 2026, effective that day.

In the letter addressed to the governor, he described his service to the state as a great honour, expressing pride in the achievements recorded by the administration.

“I respectfully write to resign my appointment as Chief of Staff to the Governor of Oyo State, with effect from today, 12th October, 2026,” he stated.

Reflecting on his time in government, Ogunwuyi said he was grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the development of the state.

“Serving the Government and the good people of Oyo State has been a great honour. It has been deeply fulfilling to be part of the exceptional team that has worked relentlessly to deliver the remarkable achievements of this administration,” he said.

He added that he remained proud of the administration’s collective efforts to promote the growth and prosperity of Oyo State.

“I remain immensely proud of what we have collectively accomplished in advancing the growth, development and prosperity of our dear State,” the former chief of staff stated.

Ogunwuyi also expressed confidence in the state’s continued progress, while thanking Makinde for the opportunity to serve.

“As I take this decision, I do so with profound gratitude for the opportunity to serve, with confidence in the continued progress of Oyo State,” he said.

He concluded the letter by assuring the governor of his highest esteem and reaffirming his loyalty to Oyo State and Nigeria.

Ogunwuyi’s resignation comes amid the departure of several political appointees from Makinde’s administration in the last two months, raising fresh attention to the changing political dynamics within the government.

His exit is particularly significant given his position as the governor’s chief of staff, a key role in coordinating government activities and facilitating the implementation of the administration’s policies.

His resignation has fuelled speculation about a possible political realignment towards the All Progressives Congress (APC), amid internal wrangling within the governor’s political camp, sources familiar with the developments have said.

A source familiar with the political developments in Oyo State told our correspondent that Ogunwuyi’s resignation could be linked to internal wrangling within the governor’s political camp, amid speculation that he might be considering a move to the APC.

“There have been internal disagreements within the political camp, and Ogunwuyi’s resignation has further fuelled speculation about possible realignments ahead of the 2027 elections.”

“There are suggestions that he could be considering joining the APC, but we cannot say that definitively at this stage,” the source said.

Although Ogunwuyi did not disclose his reasons for leaving the government in his resignation letter, sources familiar with the situation suggested that internal political disagreements could be connected to the latest departure.

There was, however, no official confirmation that he had decided to join the APC.

From Maurice Ugwoke (Enugu)

The Enugu State Government has denied involvement in Saturday’s incidents involving members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport and the party’s state secretariat in Enugu, alleging that the airport confrontation arose from the party’s attempt to hold a rally without the necessary approval.

The government also dismissed reports that the secretariat incident claimed a life, saying one party member, identified as Ifeanyi Nworie, sustained gunshot injuries and was receiving medical attention.

The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Ọnyia, stated the government’s position while addressing journalists at the Government House, Enugu.

Ọnyia said the government had investigated the circumstances surrounding the incidents after reports allegedly linked it to the attacks.

“The attention of the Enugu State Government has been drawn to the false reports associating it with the Saturday, October 10, 2026 incidents involving the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) and the party’s Enugu State Office at GRA, Enugu,” he said.

According to him, the airport incident was a matter between the NDC and federal authorities, but the state government made inquiries to establish what happened.

He said the NDC had published a notice inviting members and supporters to what it described as its “Grand Statewide Campaign Flag-off 2026” at the airport. The notice was also reportedly published on the Facebook page of the party’s governorship candidate in the state.

Ọnyia said the police had advised the party to obtain approval from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) before security personnel could be deployed to the airport for the event.

He alleged that the party proceeded without securing the required approval.

“Further findings, however, revealed that the NDC did not secure the approval of FAAN to host a grand statewide rally at its facility. Security agencies, therefore, advised the organisers of the rally to rethink it,” he said.

According to the SSG, the party nevertheless mobilised its members to the airport, where an attempt to gain entry into the facility resulted in a confrontation with airport authorities.

He said security agencies intervened and dispersed the party members to restore order around the airport, which he described as a strategic national asset.

Ọnyia said the government’s account was consistent with the statement issued by the Enugu State Police Command on Sunday, October 11.

On the incident at the NDC state secretariat, the SSG said security reports indicated that a violent clash had occurred and that the police were investigating the matter.

“We can, therefore, authoritatively report that there were no deaths as falsely claimed by some reports and NDC leaders,” Ọnyia said.

The government condemned political violence and maintained that Governor Peter Mbah’s administration was committed to protecting residents irrespective of their political affiliations.

Ọnyia said the administration’s security investments were intended to sustain peace and create an environment conducive to business, investment and tourism.

He also called on political parties and politicians to embrace peaceful campaigns and issue-based engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The SSG questioned the decision to plan a statewide campaign flag-off at the airport without the approval of the relevant authorities.

He also disputed allegations that the governor’s Chief Security Officer was present at the NDC secretariat and supervised the shooting.

The government also accused opposition parties in the state of trying to create the impression that Enugu was unsafe and that the administration was intolerant of dissent. These claims were made by the government and were not independently established in the statement.

The government reiterated its commitment to citizens’ democratic rights, including freedom of association, peaceful assembly, campaigning and voting for candidates of their choices

By Nkem Okereh 

The presidency has described the latest World Bank ref is rn as an affirmation that the president Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms are working in the country and placing it on a good footing

The World Bank in it’s October 2026  report on Nigeria’s Development Update, titled Beyond the Federal Purse: How Higher Revenues Reshaped State Priorities, showed that  the economy grew 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, up from 3.9 per cent in the first half of 2025, despite the impact of the conflict in the Middle East.

In its reaction, the President in a statement by his Special Assistant on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, noted the World Bank’s finding showed that the poverty rate has stabilised for the first time since 2019, adding that the Bank expects poverty to decline gradually as GDP grows faster than the population.

He said the World Bank projects growth to average at least 4.4 per cent between 2026 and 2028.

On prices, the report noted that inflation fell from 27.6 per cent in January 2025 to 15.2 per cent in December 2025. Higher global fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict have since slowed the decline, but the World Bank expects inflation to ease to about 12 per cent by 2028.

Onanuga said the World Bank further found that, “internally generated revenue grew in real terms in 31 of 35 states; 21 states reduced their debt-to-GDP ratio between 2021 and 2025 and Nigeria’s overall public debt is expected to fall from 40.0 per cent of GDP in 2025 to 38.1 per cent in 2026.”

“These findings confirm that the difficult but necessary decisions to remove the petrol subsidy, unify the foreign exchange market and strengthen fiscal discipline have raised revenues, stabilised the economy and created fiscal space for every tier of government to invest in its people.

“The dividends of reform are becoming visible. But more work remains to ensure they fully translate into better living standards for every household, starting with lower food prices and decent jobs for our young people

“We will continue to expand targeted cash transfers, which have already reached more than 10 million households. We will accelerate the deployment of CNG, raise agricultural productivity, and improve access to affordable healthcare and quality education, so that the prosperity being created is shared by all.

“I urge state governments to use their higher revenues more prudently and prioritise projects that improve the living standards of Nigerians, and the health and education of our people.

“I commend the Economic Management Team led by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, state governors and all stakeholders for their cooperation in implementing these reforms. I assure Nigerians that the best is yet to come under the Renewed Hope Agenda 2.0, which will accelerate the delivery of shared prosperity for all Nigerians.” the statement quoted president Tinubu as saying