Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South in the National Assembly, has expressed his belief that Nigeria would be in a better state today if Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s candidate in the 2023 presidential election, had emerged victorious.

According to Abaribe, an Obi-led administration would have steered the nation in a more inclusive and equitable direction compared to what is currently being experienced under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, the senator criticized Tinubu’s administration for what he described as a deepening culture of nepotism.

He argued that Peter Obi’s leadership style would have been starkly different, emphasizing fairness and inclusivity.

“If Peter Obi had won, you would likely see a better Nigeria today.

First of all, he would not practice nepotism at the level we are witnessing now. It’s not in his character; that’s just who he is.

He would have led with a sense of fairness, not just for a select few but for all Nigerians,” Abaribe stated.

One of the examples Abaribe cited to support his claim of nepotism was President Tinubu’s decision to appoint four ministers from Ogun State, while several other states received only one ministerial appointment.

This, according to the senator, mirrors a trend that began under former President Muhammadu Buhari but has intensified under Tinubu’s leadership.

Abaribe noted that Buhari’s favoritism toward certain regions and groups was largely unchallenged, creating a precedent that Tinubu has seemingly built upon.

However, Abaribe was adamant that Nigerians, particularly those from the South-East, should stop expecting fairness from any president.

Instead, he urged people from the region to focus on rebuilding and revitalizing their communities.

“It is high time we in the South-East stopped waiting for the federal government to prioritize our needs.

We must take the initiative to make our region more livable, cohesive, and prosperous.

Relying on external fairness has not served us well over the decades,” he said.

The senator also addressed the arrest of Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra in exile, in Finland.

Ekpa has been accused of instigating violence in the South-East from abroad, with his messages reportedly fueling unrest in the region.

Following his arrest, Ekpa reportedly denied being the so-called Prime Minister, further raising questions about his credibility.

Abaribe highlighted that Igbo leaders and communities have long condemned the actions of Ekpa and others like him, who, from the safety of foreign countries, issue directives that exacerbate violence at home.

He stressed that their influence has caused significant harm to the people of the South-East.

On the issue of violence in the region, Abaribe called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

He argued that Kanu’s release would play a key role in de-escalating tensions, as many individuals currently causing chaos in Kanu’s name might cease their activities once he is freed.

“Kanu’s release is crucial. His prolonged detention has given room for others to exploit his name for personal or destructive purposes.

Letting him go will take away that excuse and could help restore calm to the South-East,” Abaribe stated.

Former spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has expressed his concerns about the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, which he believes have left Nigeria in a dire economic situation.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Ologbondiyan criticized the approach taken by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, arguing that the decisions were rushed and lacked sufficient measures to cushion the effects on the masses.

Ologbondiyan stated that the phased removal of the petrol subsidy, coupled with adequate palliatives, could have been a more effective strategy.

He pointed out that during the PDP’s administration, subsidy removal was handled gradually, ensuring that Nigerians were not left to bear the brunt of the changes abruptly.

“What has brought Nigeria to its knees are the twin decisions made by President Bola Tinubu, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira.

These policies have severely impacted the average Nigerian,” he remarked.

The former PDP spokesperson also questioned the effectiveness of the current administration’s palliatives, which have largely focused on distributing subsidized rice.

He argued that Nigerians require much more than food relief, emphasizing the need for a robust public transportation system.

“The APC government is asking Nigerians to buy rice at N40,000 per bag as a form of relief, but people’s needs extend far beyond rice.

What about affordable transportation? A functional public transport system would reduce the need for individuals to rely on private vehicles, which consume costly fuel,” he explained.

The governors reportedly discussed the pressing need for comprehensive reforms that would address the economic challenges facing the country without exacerbating the suffering of the citizens.

Reflecting on the PDP’s past leadership, Ologbondiyan reiterated that the party’s approach to reforms was rooted in careful planning and public engagement.

“Under the PDP, subsidy removal was phased and accompanied by tangible palliatives that made life easier for Nigerians.

What we see today is a government that is not engaging with the public meaningfully and is offering inadequate solutions to major economic problems,” he said.

Ologbondiyan further criticized the PDP’s current approach to opposing the administration, describing it as insufficient.

He called on his party to engage more actively with the government to propose alternatives that would better serve Nigerians.

“It’s unfortunate that even as PDP, we seem to be paying lip service to the need for robust engagement with the sitting government.

We should be presenting well-thought-out alternatives to these policies instead of just criticizing from the sidelines,” he added.

The Federal Government has reinstated Professor Joseph Ikechebelu as the new acting Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK).

In a letter dated November 18, 2024, President Tinubu nullified the controversial appointment of Professor Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh as the seventh substantive Vice-Chancellor.

Odoh’s appointment was deemed illegal as it was carried out by the now-dissolved 10th Governing Council of the university.

The letter instructed Ikechebelu to immediately resume his duties as the acting Vice-Chancellor, effectively restoring him to the position he briefly held earlier this year.

Sani-Gwarzo, in his correspondence, directed Ikechebelu to oversee the administration of the university while forwarding matters requiring council approval to the Minister of Education until a new council is constituted by the President.

This move aims to restore stability to the institution, which has faced governance challenges in recent months.

Professor Joseph Ikechebelu, a renowned scholar and experienced administrator, had initially been appointed as acting Vice-Chancellor in June 2024 but was removed in July by the former Governing Council.

His reinstatement is seen as a step toward addressing leadership disputes and ensuring smooth operations within the university.

In a related development, the Federal Government has also reinstated Victor Modebelu as the Acting Registrar of UNIZIK.

Modebelu previously held this position but was replaced by Rosemary Nwokike, whose appointment as substantive registrar was recently terminated by President Tinubu.