Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has blamed Nigeria’s stalled progress on corruption, insecurity, and what he described as weak leadership under President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement on his X handle, Obi said more Nigerians are slipping into poverty because leaders have failed to prioritise the welfare of the people. He cited United Nations figures showing that about 34 million citizens could face severe food shortages, while 133 million, roughly 63% of the population, are living in multidimensional poverty.

The former Anambra State governor noted that inflation, now close to 30%, combined with unemployment and poor economic management, has eroded the middle class. He argued that other countries facing similar or even worse conditions have managed to recover through disciplined leadership and sound policies, pointing to Argentina as an example.

Obi highlighted that Argentina’s poverty rate, which stood at over 52% with inflation above 200% in early 2024, has dropped significantly under its new president – with poverty now at 38.1%, extreme poverty at 8.2%, and inflation reduced to 2–3% monthly within two years.

Drawing a comparison, he said both Argentina’s president and Tinubu started their terms in the same year, stressing that while two years may not be enough to fully transform a country, it is enough to begin meaningful reforms if leaders are honest and focused.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested Prophet Adefolusho Aanu Olasele, also known as Abbas Ajakaiye, the founder of The Turn of Mercy Church, over allegations of smuggling large quantities of cannabis from Ghana into Nigeria.

According to NDLEA officials, the 50-year-old cleric was picked up on Sunday, August 3, right after delivering a sermon at his church in Okun Ajah, Lekki. Operatives had been keeping the area under watch for hours before moving in as he stepped out of the building.

The agency revealed that the pastor had been on the run for weeks, fleeing to Ghana after two major seizures of cannabis linked to him. On June 4, officers intercepted 200 kilograms of the substance at Okun Ajah beach. Another 700 kilograms were seized on July 6 from a delivery van said to be working for him.

Investigators say he confessed to using waterways to move the drugs from Ghana into Lagos. He also admitted that he escaped arrest on two earlier occasions before finally being caught this month.

In Lagos, another suspect, Benjamin Udo Ukoh, was found with over 15 kilograms of imported “Canadian Loud” cannabis. In Nasarawa, operatives seized more than 3,000 kilograms of skunk from three people. Kano operations uncovered hundreds of kilograms of drugs, along with tramadol pills and injection ampoules.

NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers for the coordinated raids and urged them to sustain their momentum. He stressed that enforcement must go hand-in-hand with public education to tackle the country’s drug problem.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the Nigeria Police Force for arresting and detaining human rights activist Omoyele Sowore. Sowore had gone to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday to honour an invitation from the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit over a petition.

He arrived with his lawyers and members of the ‘Take It Back Movement’, but was taken into custody and has remained there since. By Thursday, Sowore claimed that his arm had been broken while in detention, alleging that he was assaulted and sprayed with chemicals by officers.

Reacting on his X page, Atiku described the incident as a disgraceful misuse of power that must be condemned by all who stand for justice. He said Sowore’s only “crime” was speaking out against injustice, nepotism, and bad governance, yet he was attacked, injured, and humiliated under the watch of the police.