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Peter Obi Calls for Reflection and Rebuilding as Nigeria Turns 64
As Nigeria marks its 64th independence anniversary, Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has called on Nigerians to reflect deeply on the nation’s journey since gaining independence.
In a heartfelt statement, Obi urged citizens, especially leaders, to take this day as an opportunity not only to celebrate but also to engage in sober reflection.
Obi acknowledged Nigeria’s vast resources—natural, human, and material—that position the country for greatness.
However, he stressed that the country’s current state of affairs calls for introspection, especially for leaders whose actions and inactions have contributed to the challenges the nation faces today.
He posed critical questions about Nigeria’s progress in key areas like poverty alleviation, education, and economic stability.
“Have we lifted our people out of poverty, or have we driven more into it? Have we made education accessible to every Nigerian child?” Obi asked.
He noted that despite the rich potential of the nation, Nigeria is underperforming in almost every measure of development, from security to economic productivity.
Obi pointed out that Nigeria ranks poorly in global indices of security, peacefulness, and corruption, with widespread disregard for the rule of law.
Comparing Nigeria to other countries that gained independence around the same time, Obi lamented that Nigeria stands out as a nation in decline, urgently in need of rescue from further decay.
On this day of celebration, Obi urged Nigerians to make a solemn commitment to build a nation free from tribal disunity, religious disharmony, and the state capture that has dragged it into failure.
He called for the creation of a New and Productive Nigeria that prioritizes the well-being of its citizens.
“That is the independence we should celebrate,” Obi said, emphasizing that Nigeria’s greatness remains possible.
JAMB has announced that it will release the results of over 379,000 candidates who sat for the rescheduled UTME this Wednesday. The resit, which ran from Friday to Monday, was organized following several reports of technical and human issues during the initial exam. These issues, which were especially noticeable in Lagos and the South-East, affected candidates’ performance and sparked nationwide concern about the exam’s fairness.
JAMB admitted to system failures and took responsibility. Last week, Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, while announcing the makeup exam, emotionally accepted blame and assured affected candidates they would get another chance. Out of the original 1.9 million candidates who sat for the UTME, more than 1.5 million scored below 200 marks, raising eyebrows about the exam’s credibility.
JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed that the resit results would be made public on Wednesday. He noted that 379,997 candidates were affected—over 200,000 from Lagos and more than 170,000 from the South-East. According to the registrar, the issues were due to sabotage, and affected candidates were notified via text messages starting last Thursday.
So far, of the nearly two million results processed, only 0.24% of candidates scored 320 and above, while just 0.63% scored 300 and above. Around 3.76% scored between 250–299, 17.11% fell within the 200–249 range, and over half—50.29%—scored between 160–199. The rest scored below 160, with a very small number getting less than 100.
APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe has pointed fingers at Nigerian traders for the continued surge in food prices across the country. In a Facebook post on Saturday, the outspoken supporter of President Bola Tinubu’s administration accused traders of being too greedy to reduce their prices.
He added that even as statistics suggest that the cost of food is starting to drop, traders have refused to comply. Furthermore, he expressed frustration, saying the refusal to lower prices shows a deeper problem of selfishness among citizens. According to him, Nigerians are their own worst enemies, driven by greed and a habit of taking more than they need.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to travel to Rome this Saturday to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The invitation came directly from Pope Leo XIV, who emphasized the importance of the president’s presence during this significant moment for the Church and a world facing many challenges.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, will be officially installed as the 267th Bishop of Rome on Sunday, May 18, at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
President Tinubu will be accompanied by key Catholic figures, including the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji of Owerri, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos, and Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto.
Notably, Pope Leo XIV has a special connection to Nigeria, having worked at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s. After the ceremony, President Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja on Tuesday, May 20.
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