Quick Read
QuickRead: Atiku and Obi on joint ticket for 2027. Four other stories we tracked and why they matter
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have denied claims on a joint presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 election.
The same week, President Bola Tinubu described Nigeria’s pre-2023 economic condition as unsustainable.
These and three other stories we tracked dominated public discourse in the country last week.
1. Atiku and Obi speak on rumoured joint presidential ticket
On December 1, the duo of Atiku and Obi denied speculations that they are in discussions for a joint presidential ticket ahead of the next general election.The rumours followed the release of a video showing the duo having breakfast at the former VP’s residence in Adamawa State last weekend.
However, in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 election said the meeting was more of a reunion between two old friends and had nothing to do with politics.
He said: “Let us not jump the gun. The fact is that Obi accepted to be the keynote speaker at the 20th anniversary of AUN and the 16th Founder’s Day, which was a milestone. Obi is part of that celebration.
“The university was founded by Atiku Abubakar, who was more like his host. But people think it is because of politics. We all know our friends. The truth is that politics cannot separate friends.”
Why it matters
Although the two presidential hopefuls have dismissed insinuations on what brought them together, the meeting nevertheless signals the commencement of politicking and horse-trading associated with the next election.It suggests that the opposition figures are now aligning with the yearning of Nigerians for a granite coalition that will wrest power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) when they go to the ballot in less than three years.
2. Tinubu on Nigerians’ living conditions pre-2023
President Tinubu on December 2 lamented that Nigeria’s pre-2023 economic condition was unsustainable.
He described it as a facade that masked the nation’s financial struggles.
Tinubu, who spoke at the convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, highlighted the dire state of the nation’s economy when he assumed office in May 2023.
He said: “We took the baton of authority at a time when our economy was nose-diving due to heavy debts from fuel and dollar subsidies.
“These subsidies, meant to support the poor, ironically made life harder for the average Nigerian. The good life we thought we were living was a fake one capable of leading the country to total collapse unless urgent, strategic efforts were taken.”
Why it matters
The president may have reopened the discussion on the management of the country’s economy under his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari’s watch.
However, instead of blaming the Buhari administration for its shortcomings, the president should come up with well-tailored strategies to address the problems in all areas where his predecessor failed to regain the trust of Nigerians in his government.
3. Mass defection hits LP
At least five members of the House of Representatives have dumped the Labour Party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Four lawmakers – Tochukwu Chinedu Okere (Imo), Donatus Matthew (Kaduna), Akiba Bassey (Cross River), and Esosa Iyawe (Edo) dumped the party on December 5.
The fifth lawmaker, Daniel Chollom (Plateau), left the party a few days later.
READ ALSO: Atiku’s ex-aide, Afegbua, tells north to forget presidency in 2027
However, the party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, vowed to take legal action against the defecting lawmakers.
The statement read: “The party has also decided to open a ‘Hall of Shame’ register for these lawmakers or any elected official of the party who engages in fraudulent defection without first relinquishing the mandate obtained under the party’s ticket.”
Why it matters
The defection of five lawmakers from the LP shows a party in total disarray.
The crises that gripped the party since its modest achievement in the last general election suggest a party built on a shaky foundation and may ultimately lead to its demise if left unresolved.
The party’s problem as a whole indicates a deeper problem that may not bode well for the workers-oriented party ahead of the next general election.
4. EFCC’s recovery of Abuja’s massive estate
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 1 secured the final forfeiture of 753 units of duplexes and other apartments in Abuja to the Federal Government.
The commission, however, came under criticism for hiding the identity of the property owners.
In a statement defending the EFCC’s action, its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said the commission’s actions were guided by the legal framework governing forfeiture proceedings.
“The allegation of a cover-up of the identity of the promoters of the Estate stands logic on the head in the sense that the proceedings for the forfeiture of the Estate were in line with Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, which is a civil proceeding that allows for action-in-rem rather than action-in-personam,” the statement read.
Why it matters
The EFCC’s recovery of the properties has reinforced the call for stricter punishment for corrupt government officials to deter others who see public offices as platforms for quick wealth.
This development also confirms the assertion that stealing has been elevated to statecraft in a country where the majority of citizens live below $1 per day.
5. Group demands UK parliament’s support for Yoruba Nation
Yoruba Nation group under the aegis of the Yoruba National Youth United Kingdom on December 3 sought the United Kingdom Parliament support on the quest for an independent Yoruba Nation.
This came a few days after the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) splinter group, the Biafra Republic Government in Exile declared a United States of Biafra in Finland.
In the letter addressed to the Speaker of the UK House of Commons, Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle (MP), the group urged the parliament to support its self-determination struggle.
The letter read: “ The UK’s role in the creation of Nigeria involved the amalgamation of diverse ethnic groups, including the Yoruba, often disregarding existing treaty agreements and the consent of the governed. This historical backdrop has contributed to ongoing tensions and calls for self-determination among the Yoruba people.
“The Yoruba Self-Determination Movement (YSDM) under the leadership of Professor Banji Akintoye seek clarification on the government’s stance regarding these historical injustices and how it plans to address them.”
Why it matters
The Yoruba Nation group’s quest for split from the Nigerian State underscores the need for the government to find genuine solutions to the misgivings of ethnic nationalities.
The government’s intolerance of genuine criticism and disregard for the feelings of the citizens explain the rising tension in the land, with its dire consequences for the country’s fragile unity.
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