By Our Reporter

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has declared that no court ruling, political pressure or alleged manipulation can force him out of the 2027 presidential race, insisting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot use the judiciary to escape the judgment of Nigerians at the ballot box.

Atiku, in a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, said he remained firmly in the presidential contest and would not abandon the struggle to provide Nigerians with an alternative political direction.

Reacting to the latest court ruling, the former Vice-President cautioned against interpreting the decision as the will of the Nigerian people, maintaining that the ultimate power to determine the country’s political leadership rests with voters.

“Let no one mistake the latest court ruling for the will of the Nigerian people. No manipulation, conjecture or concoction can erase our place in this contest, silence our campaign or deny Nigerians the right to choose their future. We are on the ballot, and the people must be allowed to decide,” he declared.

Atiku also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of deploying political pressure, courtroom manoeuvres and other tactics to weaken opposition parties and undermine the country’s multi-party democracy.

He questioned the ruling party’s confidence despite its claims of controlling 32 governors and attracting politicians from opposition parties, arguing that a government confident in its performance should have no reason to fear a free and credible electoral contest.

According to him, the alleged efforts to weaken opposition parties, alongside attempts to compromise the voters’ register through artificial intelligence-generated photographs, false names and fictitious identities, represent a dangerous development for Nigeria’s democracy.

He warned that such actions, if allowed to persist, could push the country towards a one-party political system.

The former presidential candidate challenged the Tinubu administration to defend its performance before Nigerians rather than resort to what he described as political manoeuvres aimed at frustrating genuine opposition.

Taking a swipe at the Federal Government’s economic management, Atiku listed the removal of fuel subsidy, the depreciation of the naira, rising food prices, factory closures and the worsening economic hardship as major failures of the administration.

He also expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation, pointing to the persistent activities of bandits and kidnappers, which he said had continued to hold communities hostage.

“Market stalls stand empty. Feeding your family has become a daily struggle. Fuel prices keep rising, and silent pain fills homes across the country,” he said, describing the economic realities confronting ordinary Nigerians.

Atiku urged Nigerians not to lose hope or surrender their democratic rights, insisting that their votes remained the most powerful instrument for changing the country’s leadership.

He further assured his supporters that he was not withdrawing from the presidential race, declaring that neither threats, blackmail nor judicial interventions would discourage him from pursuing his political ambition.

“Let me be clear to every Nigerian who has stood with us: I am in this race. I am not going anywhere. We will be on the ballot. No threat, blackmail or court manoeuvre will make me abandon you or the cause we share,” he stated.

Reaffirming his opposition to a possible one-party state, Atiku said Nigeria’s democracy must remain open to competing political parties, diverse opinions and genuine electoral choices.

He challenged the APC and its leaders to test their popularity at the polls if they were confident in their numbers and achievements.

“If those in power believe in their numbers and their record, let us meet at the polls in a free, fair and credible contest,” he said.

The former Vice-President called on his supporters to remain calm, united and resolute, stressing that his campaign would continue to focus on the rising cost of living and the need to restore economic opportunities and democratic accountability.

He concluded with a direct message to President Tinubu, declaring: “Bola cannot use the courts to escape the judgment of Nigerians at the ballot box.”

Atiku served as Nigeria’s Vice-President between 1999 and 2007

By Nwajiobi Ijeoma, Nnewi

The Chief Executive Officer of Palms Realty and Investment Limited, Amb. Ikebunwa Lotanna on Friday, November 6 celebrated Industrialist and a business mogul, Dr. Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto on his 74th birthday, calling him a proud son of Nnewi.

In his words :

“Today, I celebrate an extraordinary son of Nnewi whose life represents enterprise, vision, resilience and an enduring commitment to excellence.

“Dr. Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto is more than a successful businessman and industrialist. He is one of the distinguished sons of Nnewi whose remarkable achievements have helped put our great town on the global map. Through his entrepreneurial journey, industrial investments and contributions to economic development, he has become an important part of the story of Nnewi’s enterprise, ingenuity and industrious spirit.

“He is a proud son of Nnewi whose accomplishments have brought honour to his roots and inspired generations to believe that greatness can emerge from anywhere when vision is matched with hard work, courage and determination.

“Beyond his remarkable business achievements, I celebrate him as a father figure to many, a mentor, a generous supporter of people and a man whose influence extends beyond the walls of his enterprises. His life reminds us that true greatness is not measured only by what a man builds for himself, but also by the lives he touches, the opportunities he creates and the legacy he leaves behind.

“Your journey from Nnewi to the global business community is a testament to what determination, strategic thinking and an unwavering belief in possibilities can achieve. You have given our people another reason to take pride in their identity and aspirations.

“As you celebrate another year, I pray that Almighty God grants you sound health, renewed strength, greater wisdom and many more fruitful years. May the years ahead bring you greater fulfilment, peace and continued opportunities to inspire humanity.

” Thank you for being an inspiration, a worthy ambassador of Nnewi and a shining example of what vision, hard work and purposeful leadership can achieve.

“Happy Birthday, Sir! May your legacy continue to grow, and may you enjoy many more years of good health, happiness and remarkable accomplishments.

By Our Reporter

Nigeria’s external debt stock rose by 6.6 percent to $145.02 billion in 2025, from $135.99 billion in 2024, according to the World Bank.

The World Bank detailed the country’s external borrowing profile in its International Debt Report 2026, which tracks external borrowing and debt-service trends across low- and middle-income countries.

Published on Friday, the report put Nigeria’s public and publicly guaranteed llllllllllllldebt at $62.4 billion, while private non-guaranteed debt accounted for $54.48 billion.

Short-term debt stood at $28.14 billion, the multilateral said.llllll

NIGERIA’S $5 BILLION SWAP DEAL BACKED BY $6.7 BILLION IN DOMESTIC SECURITIES

The World Bank also said Nigeria obtained $5 billion through a total return swap (TRS) arrangement in 2026, pledging about $6.7 billion in domestic government securities as collateral.

The institution said the transaction had a three-year maturity and a collateralisation ratio of approximately 133 percent, meaning the value of securities pledged was about 33 percent higher than the financing obtained.

The institution said the TRS arrangements have been identified in Angola, Argentina, Colombia, Nigeria and Senegal since 2024, with financing amounts ranging from about $1 billion to $9.3 billion.

“Maturities have generally ranged from one to three years, and disclosed collateralization ratios have typically been between 133 and 198 percent,” the report said.

The World Bank said collateral for the transactions included domestic government securities, external sovereign bonds, US treasury securities or a combination of the instruments.

The report also said Nigeria raised $2.3 billion through a dual-tranche international bond issue, making it the third-largest issuer in the region.

The bond sale, according to the Bretton Woods organisation, comprised a 10-year tranche with an interest rate of 8.625 percent and a 20-year tranche at 9.125 percent.

READ ALSO: Tinubu dumps $20.5bn borrowing plan, seeks approval for $7.7bn loan

On Nigeria’s debt burden, the World Bank put the country’s external debt-to-exports ratio at 212 percent in 2025, while external debt-to-gross national income stood at 51 percent.

Debt service accounted for 19 percent of exports, while debt service-to-gross national income was 5 percent.

The report showed that Nigeria’s average interest rate on new borrowing from official creditors was 1.9 percent in 2025, compared with 9.6 percent for private creditors.

The World Bank said new borrowing from official creditors had an average maturity of 25 years and a five-year grace period, while private creditor financing had a 12-year maturity and an eight-year grace period.

According to the report, external debt across low- and middle-income countries rose 5.5 percent to a record $9.4 trillion in 2025.

“Access to international finance has improved, but the price of that finance has not,” the report said.

Haishan Fu, the World Bank Group’s chief statistician and director of development data, welcomed the return of private lending, but said it came with significant costs.

Fu said while the return of private lending to low- and middle-income countries is welcome, “these countries are borrowing more, paying more, and in many cases leaving less for long-term development”