Senibo

Today, I am honoured to join distinguished Nigerians in celebrating a statesman and elder of our nation, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, GCFR, on the occasion of his 84th birthday and the public presentation of books documenting his remarkable life, service, and contributions to Nigeria and Africa. General Abdulsalami occupies a unique place in our national history. At a critical moment in Nigeria's journey, he demonstrated uncommon courage, patriotism, and selflessness by guiding our nation through a peaceful transition to democratic governance. His actions helped lay the foundation for the democratic dispensation that Nigeria continues to build upon today. As we celebrate General Abdulsalami today, we are reminded that true leadership is measured not by the accumulation of power, but by the positive impact one leaves on people and institutions. His life continues to demonstrate that service to the nation must always be guided by responsibility and a commitment to the common good. May Almighty God continue to grant him good health, wisdom, and strength to keep serving humanity and our nation. Thank you, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. -PO

Earlier this week, I received a letter from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Dental Students Association, appealing for urgent intervention and support of about ₦40,000,000 to upgrade their laboratory and scale up the department’s graduation and induction quota as part of their re-accreditation process. Out of respect for the national mourning following the passing of our former President, I refrained from making any public statements during that period. Now that the mourning has officially ended, I felt it was important to act without delay. Today, I visited, because we cannot, in good conscience, continue to allow our young people to suffer due to leadership failure. As part of my unwavering commitment to advancing education and healthcare in our dear nation, I made a modest donation of ₦15,000,000 to the University of Nigeria Dental Students Association to assist in their continuous education as students of the medical and dental department of the school. I continue to question the kind of country we are building, where our leaders and public servants spend millions on luxury cars and ignore critical areas of development, health, education, and pulling people out of poverty. It is a tragedy of misplaced priorities. When we fail to prioritise education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation, but invest billions in conference centres and bus parks, we betray our youth and undermine the future of our dear nation. We must invest in the future of the Nigerian youth. A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

It is alarming that we now live in a country of titles and honours without any passion for the people's plight. While the Presidency basks in the euphoria of titles, St.Lucia, our people are being killed at home. A nation where children cannot go to school because some of the teachers have not been paid for almost three years, similar to what I complained about lecturers a few weeks ago. This is not a functioning nation. When I said that the President embarking on an 8-day state visit to St. Lucia at this critical time was inappropriate and unacceptable, it was not a lack of respect for the country of St.Lucia; rather, it is about the timing and duration for a President whose nation is in turmoil. Timing is everything, and right now, at this time, Nigeria is bleeding. But the handlers of the President defended the trip, citing cultural ties and economic gains and said he would also proceed from there to the BRICS summit, and this is the reason for the 8-day trip. But at this critical time when our people die daily and our schools and hospitals are not functioning, we should focus on fixing our country. Having been in St. Lucia for the past 4 days, we have not seen any agreement being entered or signed that would contribute to Nigerias development but rather we are watching Mr. President collect a personal honour and title in St. Lucia, because they know we are a country of titles and honour and crave accolades instead of actual development. Just today, as the President received titles in St. Lucia, at least 37 people were killed in Yobe State, in a Boko Haram attack, and currently, today, protesters in Kwara state have been protesting unemployment, banditry and high insecurity in the state. Since the President left for his trip to St. Lucia, a nation 1/6th of Lagos state in size and 1% of Lagos population of 18milliom several Nigerians have lost their lives to insecurity and one form of banditry to another, nothing has been done for the schools and striking teachers. Today alone several teachers are protesting in Abuja, our schoolchildren are still out of classrooms, teachers are unpaid and are currently protesting even while the president was receiving a title, families are fleeing their homes, and people are living in fear. During the period the president has travelled, 200 Nigerians have died in various crisis-related incidents across the country. Russia, a country at war, has not lost as many innocent civilians as Nigeria, which is not officially at war. Other than Katsina where Mr. President went to attend a wedding, he has never spent a night or slept in any Nigerian state other than his home in Lagos for an official tour and even have never visited some of the most troubled states like Niger State, Taraba or Plateau to spend even a single day with the people, yet he is spending eight days in a Caribbean Island. A nation in pain cannot afford a leadership in denial. At a time when blood is being spilt on our soil, when children are orphaned and communities erased overnight, with families separated at IDPs, our children are not in school, and teachers are not paid and basic hospitals are not functional, our leadership must be present. For those mentioning the upcoming BRICS summit to justify the trip, note that the summit is for the 6th and 7th, and no president or prime minister from the initials BRICS state and new members have separated their countries for the summit. In fact, China and Russia, two of its most powerful members, will not be attending. China said they have to attend other pressing issues and so mentioned scheduling conflicts and Russia supposedly because of the war which has prevented the president from travelling in recent times India Premier Minister which is yet to leave its country, will, apart from attending BRICS, be doing a 5-nation tour all within the same 8 days.

It is with the utmost sadness that I once again reaffirm what I have consistently said: Nigeria has become a crime scene. How else does one explain the recent revelation by the Senate, which uncovered the audited accounts of the NNPC from 2017 to 2023? The Senate uncovered ₦210 trillion in financial irregularities, ₦103 trillion in so-called “accrued expenses”, and another ₦107 trillion in unaccounted “receivables.” No documentation. No accountability. No consequences. This is not just another scandal, it is a clear and damning confirmation of a nation held hostage by monumental corruption. Our national budget within the said period of 2017 to 2023 is as follows: 2017 ₦7.440 trillion. 2018 ₦9.120 trillion 2019 ₦8.916 trillion 2020 ₦10.590 was initially approved and in June revised to ₦9.974 trillion due to COVID. 2021 ₦13.588 trillion. 2022 ₦17.130 trillion 2023 ₦21.830 trillion Total: ₦88.010 trillion Our total national budget within the said period was not up to 50% of the said financial discrepancies and irregularities. This is a criminal institutionalised betrayal of the Nigerian people and a grave threat to the future of the society our children will live in. No responsible nation can continue to function like this without confronting this truth. This criminality masquerading as governance must be stopped and dismantled for a better Nigeria. A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO