Saidu Imran 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬

Yesterday, I had the honor of visiting Benue State, traveling from Makurdi, the state capital, to Gboko, where I paid a courtesy call on the revered Tor Tiv. I am profoundly grateful to His Majesty for the gracious welcome and for the opportunity to discuss the development, peace, and welfare of our people. I particularly commend the Catholic Bishop of Gboko, Most Rev. Father William Avenya, for his steadfast dedication to education. During my visit to the College of Nursing Sciences established under his leadership, an institution I have supported since its inception, I pledged an additional ₦10 million to help strengthen its operations. Supporting education and healthcare is an investment in our collective future. We then proceeded to Yelwata, where we stood in solidarity with the people and families affected by the tragic massacre. The pain endured by these families, especially the children who lost their parents, is profoundly distressing. To address some of their immediate needs, I committed ₦5 million for the construction of a borehole to improve access to clean water, as well as ₦10 million to support the education of children orphaned by the massacre. No child should be forced to let the tragedy that has affected their family determine the course of their future. Although no financial contribution can restore the lives lost or remove the suffering endured by their loved ones, we have a responsibility to do everything within our power to renew hope, preserve dignity, and create opportunities for those affected. Education must continue to serve as a bridge to a brighter future for these children. The day concluded with a town hall meeting held as part of our continuing engagements across the country. I was joined by my elder brother and NDC Vice Presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as well as other candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Benue State. These engagements enable us to hear directly from our people, gain a clearer understanding of their concerns, and consider practical responses to the challenges facing our communities and nation. We are firmly of the view that leadership begins with listening and must ultimately be judged by the meaningful difference it makes in people's lives. I remain firmly persuaded that leadership exists to serve. We must increase our investment in education, healthcare, security, and human development. Our goal must be to build a country in which every Nigerian, regardless of personal circumstances or place of birth, can live with dignity and realize their full potential. I would like to express my appreciation to the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia. Before my visit, I sent him a message, and he personally returned my call to assure me that I would receive a warm welcome in the state. This exemplifies the true essence of statesmanship: placing humanity and mutual respect above political differences. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Benue State for their warm reception and hospitality. May God continue to bless Benue State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. A New Nigeria Is POssible! -PO

I am profoundly saddened and deeply disturbed by reports of violence directed at members and coordinators of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Obidient Movement in Delta State. I unequivocally condemn the attacks against our coordinators, supporters, and fellow citizens who were merely exercising their democratic rights. Political violence has no place in a democracy and can never be justified. No political aspiration is worth the life of a Nigerian, and no dispute should be resolved through intimidation, physical attacks, or the destruction of property. It is particularly troubling that, at a time when Nigeria urgently needs responsible leadership, some individuals continue to believe that political influence can be secured through thuggery, fear, and violence. Political authority should be attained through persuasion and the trust of the people, not by intimidating opponents. I urge the Government and the security agencies to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation into these attacks, identify those responsible, and ensure that they face justice, irrespective of their political affiliations. The safety and security of our members must be assured. We will not be intimidated or silenced, nor will we relinquish our democratic space to violence. Our response will remain peaceful, lawful, and determined. Nigeria belongs to every one of us. No political party or individual has exclusive ownership of the democratic space. Every Nigerian is entitled to organise, gather, express their views, and freely elect their leaders. Our nation needs constructive ideas rather than intimidation, responsible leadership rather than thuggery, and democratic contest rather than political violence. I stand in solidarity with everyone affected in Delta State. A New Nigeria must be founded on justice, liberty, peace, and respect for the dignity of every citizen. May God bless Delta State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. -PO

GOOD DAY, MR PRESIDENT: NIGERIANS DESERVE ACCOUNTABILITY Good day, Mr President. I congratulate you on spending a night in one of Nigeria’s states outside Lagos and Abuja. I hope you enjoyed the warmth, hospitality, and delicious cuisine of Akwa Ibom, which I am sure is even better than those of the destinations where you have spent over 260 days outside Nigeria since coming into office. I sincerely hope this visit will inspire you to travel to the remaining 33 states of the federation, spend time with the people and, more importantly, explain what your administration has done with the ₦15.8 trillion saved from the removal of fuel subsidy, the over $100 billion you have borrowed, the increased revenues accruing to the government from taxing Nigerians, and the additional government revenues which your administration celebrated last year as having surpassed its target. Nigerians deserve to know how many that were pulled out of poverty within this period, how many out-of-school children were returned to school, and how many functional primary healthcare centres you have built. They also deserve to know how much electricity supply has improved, especially given your promise that if you do not fix power, Nigerians should not vote for you. They deserve an explanation of how you have secured the country, which still ranks among the most terrorised countries in the world. Mr President, Nigerians deserve answers. They deserve to know what has been done with the resources entrusted to your government. The New Nigeria we want to build will be based on accountability, transparency, and the physical, measurable impact of our public resources on the lives of citizens. A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO

Do not Undermine Democracy I have received with shock the news of an order by the Federal High Court in Abuja nullifying the emergence of the Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and all the actions he has taken. This is unsettling and surprising. I do not challenge the ruling of the court. The court of law is constituted to determine disputes according to the law. My concern is that three months before a general election, it is in the public interest to have certainty. It is not good to have too many uncertainties about candidates and parties a few weeks before a presidential election. This instability is obviously engineered by the ruling party, just as they have done against me in the Labour Party and continue to do so to close down civic space for a robust campaign. It is also from the same rulebook that manufactures violence against us in our campaigns. One mark of democracy is that at all times, it is voters and not courts that choose leaders. I trust in the judiciary. As a public officer, I have shown deep respect for the judiciary. I appeal that we protect the integrity of democracy by not undermining the free and fair choice of candidates. The sustenance of democracy in Nigeria, in the midst of encroaching military rule in West Africa, should strengthen our resolve to protect opposition politics and not stamp out opposition parties. It is because of the importance of opposition to the sustenance of democracy that I have always promised that, as President, I will take a special interest in ensuring opposition parties are stable and thriving, and that opposition candidates are not persecuted out of electoral contests. This is a time to strengthen our democracy by allowing the opposition to thrive. A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO