News
Fuel Subsidy Removal Hardship: SWAGA Urges Calm, Patience
* Begins Nonpartisan Distribution Of Succour In Kwara
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The leading support group for the election of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA), has reiterated that post subsidy removal requires a calm and patient approach from Nigerians given that the country’s economy had suffered huge battery in the last four decades.
The group made this declaration in Ilorin on Tuesday during the flag off of palliative distribution to cushion the effect of removal of fuel subsidy.
According to the group, the distribution of bags of rice in Ilorin to Kwarans captured is just the beginning of other supports and succour already designed by SWAGA which only coincided with the national plan by the federal government.
“But most importantly, we urge Nigerians to be calm at this time. No amount of money, material benefits can assuage in totality what we are giving out.
“However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is well aware of all these and also realises that Nigeria’s economy has to be in firmer footing given what the economy had suffered in the last forty years.
“The President is not ready to play any blame game because our situation does not require such. We, at SWAGA, understand that we have to go beyond partisanship and bring in all Nigerians.
“President Tinubu is not the President of APC or SWAGA but Nigeria’s president. So our outreach in terms of palliative distribution must be non partisan,” said Hon Oyetunde Ojo, former House of Reps member and convener of SWAGA.
Stating that SWAGA would monitor full implementation of palliatives disbursements to states, he added: “President Tinubu has consistently reiterated that Nigerians should ask their respective governors for details of proceeds from subsidy removal sent to all states.
“We move around a lot and we report back to the presidency what we see.”
Also speaking, Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said he was confident that President Bola Tinubu would turn around Nigeria’s economy in the next four years, adding that the president needs the prayers of all Nigerians.
Represented by his deputy, Mr. Kayode Alabi, the Governor said: “By the grace of God in the next eight years Asiwaju Tinubu would have turned around the economy of the country, but we need to support him with prayers. He cannot do it alone. I know he is a good administrator and a team player. In politics, some people will smile and laugh with you but behind they will plot your down fall.
“There is time for everybody. This is Tinubu’s time. That is why the enemies could not bring him down. They tried with the change in Naira, caused fuel scarcity and did every hang-up, but could not bring him down.
“I have never seen a politician like President Bola Tinubu. Any day I meet him one on one I will tell him to write a book about his political journey so that future politicians will draw a lesson from his experience.
“For a man that moved from the private sector into politics against all odds, Tinubu fought a sitting government to a standstill. It is very difficult to fight a sitting government anywhere in the world. A president can turn the richest man in the world to a poor man under three months.
“All the apparatuses of government fought against Asiwaju Tinubu not to get the ticket and rose against him, he still won. You know why? His heart is richer than his pocket. Tinubu has uplifted a lot of people. That is why I am not surprised he is the Nigerian president today.”
Chairman of SWAGA, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, who was also at the event, said that the palliative distribution showed that the organisation of SWAGA goes beyond just election winning.
“Have you seen any other party do the things we have been doing in terms of reaching out to ordinary Nigerians?” he asked rhetorically.
Reacting in a similar vein, Raji Ibrahim, coordinator, NCAA/SWAGA, said that the work of giving succour to ordinary Nigerians in the light of the removal of fuel subsidy resulting in economic challenges must not be left to Federal, and state governments alone, adding that the rice Palliative is just the beginning of more packages from SWAGA.
“We will initiate monetary packages, food stuffs and employment opportunities to be distributed in a nonpartisan model for all Nigerians,” he added.
End
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in a dispute over the party’s candidates emerging from the Benue State APC primaries for the 2027 general election.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by Engr. Sesugh Akaagba and other aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.
The plaintiffs had, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, 2026, sought six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates in Benue State through its June 29, 2026 correspondence, or any subsequent communication, to INEC, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to immediately transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
When the matter first came up on July 8, 2026, the court declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear and respond before any decision was taken. The matter was adjourned to July 16.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel representing the APC and INEC were present in court, while the plaintiffs were represented by Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, alongside his legal team.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since issues had been joined by the parties particularly with INEC now before the court, the defendants were required by law to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending determination of the substantive suit.
When counsel to the plaintiffs urged the court to caution APC and INEC against taking any further action that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge responded that it was “not a matter of advice but of law,” stressing that the defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.
The court consequently restrained APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The defendants did not object to the restraining order.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted that all parties had voluntarily submitted to its jurisdiction by duly filing and exchanging their respective processes.
It held that there was no procedural or jurisdictional impediment to the expeditious determination of the substantive action, and directed that the matter be heard without further delay.
In furtherance of the objective of preserving the res and safeguarding the efficacy of the judicial process, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit, restraining any act or omission capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
The court further directed that INEC be served forthwith with the originating and all consequential processes.
The effect of the subsisting order is that INEC is restrained from tampering with the existing list of candidates pending final determination of the suit, and from receiving, recognising, or acting upon any purported substituted list of National Assembly candidates from Benue State submitted by the APC.
The matter was adjourned to July 21, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former First Lady Patience Ibifaka Jonathan recently celebrated a significant family milestone as they attended the graduation ceremony of their son, Ariara Goodluck Jonathan, at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
The proud parents joined family members and well-wishers to witness Ariara receive his degree, marking the successful completion of his academic programme. The occasion was filled with joy as the Jonathan family commemorated the achievement, highlighting the importance they place on education and personal development.
The graduation ceremony attracted warm congratulatory messages from friends, associates, and admirers, who wished the graduate continued success in his future endeavours.
The Following names joined the political family of Sen. Dr. George Akume today after leaving the sinking Alia ship .
Under the leadership of Barr. Emmanuel Jime .
The are ;
Chief Nelson Alapa
Douglas pepe SAN senatorial Aspirant zone A,
Engr Peter Ashiekaa
QS Clement Beetseh
Former commissioners
Joy Luga
Ann itodo
Barr martins Shaagee
Miss Dorcas
Prof Usar Joseh
Prof Cephas Tushima
Chief Patrick Idoko
Hon Patience Akor
Hon Fred Idoko
Hon Lawrence Ekpo Onoja Jnr
Hon Andrew Abah
Hon Agbo Innocent Ikwumonu
Hon Simon Omachoko
Hon David Egboja
Dr John Garba
Among together,
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