Ahead of the 2027 general election, the Allied People’s Movement (APM) has joined in the call on the United States of America (USA) authorities to release details of president Bola Tinubu’s alleged drug records in the country 

Recall that former vice president and presidential candidate of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubarkar, had approached a US court, requesting for the public disclosure of the over 40 years old record of the president’s alleged drug deal in gs in the country 

President Tinubu has however fought back in a separate case, challenging the Atiku’s call for the alleged records to be made public 

Joining in the call, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) urged the United States authorities to release the findings of a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report on alleged drug-trafficking records linked to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

The opposition party argued that efforts to keep the report from the public will heighten suspicion of guilt and desperation for a cover-up.

The party in a statement  issued by it’s National Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Abubarkar, on Sunday, said the FBI findings should not remain entirely hidden, stressing that  some portions may be sensitive

The APM emphasised that information that does not endanger lives or compromise investigative methods can still be made public.

The statement noted that the US authorities could release portions of the report while protecting witnesses, investigators and sensitive investigative techniques, adding that keeping the matter under wraps could have wider consequences for Nigeria, beyond the political controversy surrounding the President.

“The APM notes that the US authorities can release aspects of the report that will not endanger lives, expose witnesses, investigators or techniques used in the investigation.

“The APM urges the United States authorities to note that withholding such information is of enormous harm to Nigeria’s security, national integrity and Democratic growth,” it said.

The APM also called on Washington to uphold transparency in the international fight against drug trafficking and corruption, stressing that the controversy has assumed international significance because Tinubu is a major contender in the 2027 presidential election.

It said the allegations continue to damage Nigeria’s image globally, pointing to the 1993 $460,000 forfeiture judgment by the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois involving accounts traced to Tinubu after an investigation into drug-related transactions.

The party went further, arguing that the judgment has implications for Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the presidency under Section 137 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

“The effect of the $460,000 forfeiture judgement is that by virtue of section 137 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), President Tinubu remains ineligible for election in Nigeria,” the APM said.

It also invoked Nigeria’s obligations under international agreements dealing with drugs and money laundering, without elaborating on the specific conventions it had in mind. With the 2027 presidential election drawing closer, the APM said Nigerians should have access to information relevant to their choice of a presidential candidate.

“Against the backdrop of the coming Presidential election, the APM urges the United States authorities to assist Nigerians in their decision to elect a leader with clean records and not an individual encumbered by drug-related allegations and corruption cases,” the party said.

By Tony Chuddy 

National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), Professor Nentalwe Yilwatda, has warned that proposals by former Vice President and presidential candidate of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, to return the old fuel subsidy regime could reverse the economic gains recorded under the ongoing reforms of president Bola Tinubu

Professor Nentalwe stated that proposals will come with with negative consequences for workers’ wages, education, infrastructure and the fiscal stability of states.

The APC National Chairman, who gave the warning in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, on Sunday, said the proposal to reinstate fuel subsidy would return Nigerians to fuel queues, threaten the payment of the current minimum wage and lead to the cancellation of education grants for Nigerian students, among other negative consequences for the masses.

Recall that the ADC presidential candidate had caused stir a cross the political class ahead of the 2027 general election, when he declared that he would return petrol subsidy, if elected Nigeria’s new president in January 2027

The declaration has stored comments from especially the presidency and members of the ruling  APC who have continuosly criticised Atiku’s planned return to subsidy regime

President Bola Tinubu, has on May 29, 2023, during his inauguration, declared that fuel subsidy was gone, in line with his campaign promise. Although the removal triggered an increase in the prices of goods and services, the APC-led Federal Government has consistently maintained that the policy has yielded significant economic gains for the country.

Professor Nentalwe warned while receiving a delegation of economic stakeholders in Abuja, that the subsidy debate should go beyond political rhetoric and consider the fiscal burden and wider consequences for states, workers, education and infrastructure.

APC National Chairman stated, “The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar’s proposal to restore fuel subsidy raises fundamental questions about how such a policy would be financed and sustained without returning Nigeria to the cycle of fiscal pressures that characterised the previous arrangement.

“Subsidy may appear attractive because it promises cheaper petrol, but Nigerians must also ask the bigger question: who pays for the subsidy and what happens to the resources that government must divert to finance it? A policy cannot be judged only by its immediate benefit at the pump. We must examine its impact on government revenues, salaries, pensions, education, healthcare, infrastructure and the overall capacity of government to meet its obligations to citizens.

“A return to a fiscally unsustainable subsidy regime could have consequences far beyond the price of petrol. When government revenue is squeezed, the first victims are often the critical sectors that directly affect the welfare and future of our people.”

He noted that many states previously struggled to pay workers’ salaries and pensions, with some resorting to partial payments, adding that increased federal allocations following subsidy removal had improved states’ finances, urging caution against reintroducing subsidy and returning to past fiscal pressures.

The statement added, “The APC chairman also drew attention to the education sector, recalling the prolonged disruption of academic activities in Nigerian universities under the previous administration. Nigerians should be concerned about policies that could weaken the capacity of governments to finance education and other essential public services.

He added that  the sustainability of improved workers’ salaries must be considered in the subsidy debate, stressing that governments must have the capacity to meet their recurrent obligations. He said higher wages should not come at the expense of funding infrastructure, education, healthcare and other essential services.

The APC chairman also said the ongoing reforms were improving Nigeria’s digital payment system, allowing more Nigerians, particularly young people, freelancers and content creators, to make and receive international payments.

According to the APC National Chairman, “Our young people are no longer limited by geographical boundaries. A Nigerian content creator, software developer, consultant or freelancer can provide services to clients anywhere in the world. But that opportunity requires a financial and payment system capable of supporting the global digital economy.

“We must therefore be careful about policies that could undermine the progress being made in strengthening Nigeria’s financial and digital ecosystem. The APC National Chairman also highlighted the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, describing it as an important intervention that has expanded access to tertiary education financing and reduced the immediate financial burden on many families.

“He said sustainable financing for education was critical to ensuring that young Nigerians are not forced to abandon their studies because their parents cannot afford tuition and other educational expenses.”

Professor Yilwatda said the subsidy debate should focus on building a strong and sustainable economy rather than relying on costly government interventions.

He acknowledged the hardship caused by subsidy removal, stressing the need for stronger measures to cushion its impact on vulnerable Nigerians.

The statement continued, “The hardship Nigerians have experienced is real, and government must continue to respond to it. But the answer cannot simply be to return to a system whose long-term fiscal implications created serious distortions in our economy.

“What Nigerians deserve is an economy that can sustainably finance good wages, quality education, healthcare, infrastructure and social protection without depending on an opaque and expensive subsidy system. Whenever anybody proposes a return to subsidy, Nigerians should ask: how much will it cost?

“Where will the money come from? What programmes will be sacrificed to finance it? And for how long can the government sustain it? These are legitimate questions that must be answered before the country embarks on another expensive policy experiment.”

From Isaiah Umaru (Minna)

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, has called on the federal and Niger state governments to protect worship centers in the state an d rising security challenges

The Christian body  called for increased security presence at places of worship, particularly during Friday Jumu’at prayers and Sunday services, following the mass abduction of worshippers during jumu’at, two weeks ago n Borgu Local Government Area of the state.

Niger state CAN Chairman, Bulus Yohanna, made the call during his homily on Sunday at St. Michael Catholic Cathedral, Kontagora.

The CAN chairman , who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kotangora Diocses, said the entire Borgu Emirate, including Borgu and Agwara Local Government Areas, required a strong and permanent security presence to protect residents, particularly those in rural communities.

“The whole of Borgu Emirate, which includes Agwara and Borgu LGAs, needs strong and permanent security presence so that those in the rural communities can live without fear of being abducted.

“For us, an attack on any place of worship, irrespective of religion, is an attack on the sanctity of places of worship and a threat to the wider community,” he stated 

Bishop Yohana condemned the abduction of the Muslim worshippers and urged authorities to strengthen security around places of worship.

He disclosed that “millions of Christians and all the churches across the state have intensified prayers for the safe returns of the abducted worshippers in Borgu local government area.

“As a Body, we have set aside today (Sunday) to call on all Nigerlites, Christians and churches across Niger State to use this Sunday service to cry to God and to pray specifically for the safe return of the abductees and for God to help our security agencies.

“We are praying and we believe God has heard and answered our prayers already,” he added.

He, however, commended the federal and state governments, as well as security agencies, for their roles so far towards rescuing the kidnapped victims.