On May 7, 2025, legendary Indian actor Rajinikanth showed his full support for Operation Sindoor, the military action recently launched by the Indian Armed Forces. This operation was a direct response to the devastating attack on civilians in Pahalgam, which took the lives of 26 people, including 25 Indians and one Nepali national. The attack, attributed to Pakistan-backed terrorist groups, led to the decision to strike terrorist camps and infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Rajinikanth took to social media, posting a heartfelt message of solidarity: “The fighter’s fight begins… No stopping until the mission is accomplished! The entire NATION is with you. @PMOIndia @HMOIndia #OperationSindoor JAI HIND.” His words echoed the collective sentiment of the nation, rallying behind the Armed Forces and reinforcing the unity in times of crisis.

Operation Sindoor focused on neutralizing the terrorist threat with precision.

Also, the Indian Army targeted nine specific locations used by terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, ensuring that no Pakistani military sites were involved in the operation. This careful approach was meant to avoid unnecessary civilian casualties and keep the operation measured, yet impactful.

Rajinikanth’s statement didn’t go unnoticed, as other Bollywood stars also voiced their support. Celebrities like Chiranjeevi, Jr. NTR, and Samyuktha took to their social media accounts, offering words of encouragement to the armed forces.

The Pahalgam attack, which had occurred in the scenic Baisaran Valley, deeply shocked the nation, with terrorist activities from groups backed by Pakistan at the heart of the tragedy. In retaliation, Operation Sindoor was designed to take down key terrorist hideouts and prevent any further attacks on Indian soil. The operation was carried out with extreme care, aiming to limit collateral damage while effectively striking at the root of the terrorist networks.

The presidency has suggested that it may not be God’s will for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to become Nigeria’s president, urging him to accept this reality with grace. Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, shared this view during a recent interview on TVC. He spoke about the future of opposition politics and the need for political unity in the country.

Bwala advised Atiku to accept the current political situation and work together with President Tinubu to help build Nigeria’s future. “If I had the chance to meet him, I would say: ‘Your Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, you need to believe in destiny. God grants power to whomever He chooses, and from what we’re seeing, it doesn’t seem like it’s your time to govern Nigeria,’” Bwala said.

He also encouraged Atiku, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to join forces with Tinubu’s administration and leave a meaningful legacy, “even if it’s realized through someone else.”

“There are other ways to contribute,” Bwala continued. “You and President Tinubu have been friends for years—work together and help create the Nigeria you both envision. Your legacy could be one of achieving your dreams through your friend.”

However, Bwala warned that if Atiku insists on running for president again, his political future might not unfold as he hopes. “As we’ve already seen, Atiku has lost a significant portion of his political base—probably 60 to 70 percent. Younger politicians who once followed him are now eager to forge their own path, and they have no plans of backing down,” he said.

Bwala’s comments come as opposition parties see a wave of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Atiku himself has expressed uncertainty about running for the 2027 presidency, stating that it would depend on finding a viable platform.

Daniel Bwala, media and policy adviser to President Bola Tinubu, has advised Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to reject any offer to run as a vice presidential candidate in 2027. Bwala believes such a move would damage Obi’s political standing and alienate the strong support he enjoys, particularly from the youth-driven Obidient movement. He noted that Obi’s appeal is tied to his ambition to lead the country, not to play second fiddle.

Speaking during a Channels Television interview, Bwala said, “Peter Obi would be making the biggest mistake of his life by accepting to be anyone’s running mate. His supporters had only one deal with him – to run for president. If he abandons that, most of them will walk away.” He added that even Obi himself might not be comfortable playing a supporting role, given how far he has come on his own political journey.

Bwala also said defeating President Tinubu in 2027 would be nearly impossible, arguing that the President now has the advantage of incumbency and the political structure to rally support across party lines. He said more governors and lawmakers from other parties are aligning with Tinubu because, despite criticisms, people recognize that he’s working to unite the country and deliver results.

“To be honest, there’s no politician alive in Nigeria today with the kind of reach and political strength President Tinubu has,” Bwala said. “He may not be perfect, but he has both the heart and the head for leadership.”