From our Correspondent

The Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, has taken the former Abia state Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to the cleaners, describing him as politically unsophisticated and political ‘Kindergarten’ no comparable to former labour party,LP, 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The body’s reaction was coming in the wake of Kalu’s recent media outing on Channels TV against Obi.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka, National president of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), questioned Orji Uzor Kalu’s decision to appear on Channel TV and discussed Peter Obi.

During the media chat, Senator Kalu had asserted that he is the most prominent, important politician in the Southeast, having achieved more politically than Mr. Peter Obi.

According to the statement, “Ohanaeze Youth Council said in the report that Kalu Stated “Peter is not my leader. I’m the most important politician from the South-East zone. I won two states in 2007 under the Progressive People’s Alliance,PPA.

OYC Quoting Kalu’s statement “I have run for president before. My 4.9 million votes are still there since 2007. I achieved a lot with PPA. We had ministers, ambassadors, and several appointments under President Yar’Adua”

Igboayaka urged the former governor to desist from media engagements that are causing him embarrassment, noting that Orji Uzor Kalu is unable to rival Peter Obi’s level of political influence, acceptability and popularity in the South-east and Nigeria at large.

“Orji Uzor Kalu should humble himself and endeavor to gain and learn political popularity and acceptability from Mr. Peter Obi.

“Peter Obi is a trailblazer as the first politician from Igboland, both living and deceased, to have secured victories in five Southeast states during a presidential election.

He stated that Obi has also made history as the first opposition presidential candidate to have won in Lagos and Abuja against the ruling All Progressives congress,APC.

Ohanaeze Youth Council Furthermore noted that Obi has distinguished himself as the first Nigerian politician to have built a robust nationwide supporters across the 36 states, affectionately referred to as the “Obidient Movement”.

“Peter Obi is the only politician in Nigeria who has motivated electorates to participate in voter registration. Peter Obi has become a political institution, redeeming hope in Nigeria’s electoral system and voting process.

“The Nigerian populace had become disillusioned with voting and electioneering, however, Peter Obi proved to be a political magnet, reattracting Nigerians to the voting system.

“Unfortunately, Nigeria’s political system allows mediocre ones like Orji Uzor Kalu, incompetent political shenanigans, political profiteers and looters to dance a dance of shame in our political cycle.

“In a decent and working state Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu should be moving in shame on the street with his mask.”

Comrade Igboayaka has rejected the notion from Orji Uzor Kalu that the PPA emerged victorious in two states, characterizing it as an erroneous narrative that stemmed from electoral malpractices engineered by Professor Maurice Iwu, who served as most corrupt Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the time.

Similarly, in Imo State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), due to internal conflicts, adopted the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) as their platform, resulting in Ikedi Ohakim’s emergence as the winner of the 2007 Imo gubernatorial election, Comrade Igboayaka noted.

“Kalu cannot secure victory in any credible and transparent election within his home base of Abia state, the Southeast, and Nigeria as a whole”. He stated

Igboayaka who lambasted Kalu, cautioning him to prepare for his forthcoming political retirement in 2027, in light of the burgeoning ballot revolution driven by the Obidient Movement across Nigeria.

Kalu should be cognizant that Nigerians’ last hope hinges on Mr. Peter Obi’s 2027 presidential project, which will entail a defensive Ballot Revolution across Nigeria’s 36 states.

Orji Uzor Kalu must recognize that Peter Obi’s name will appear on the ballot in 2027, under any available party platform.

Furthermore, any individual or group considering electoral manipulation and rigging in 2027, should be aware that they risk plunging Nigerians into a crisis comparable to Somalia.

By: Fabian Apechihin

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State on Friday hosted a private dinner in Makurdi for key political figures reportedly planning to align with his administration ahead of the 2027 elections.

Among the attendees were former Benue governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) leader, Gabriel Suswam, former NAFDAC Director-General, Paul Orhii, and several lawmakers from opposition parties.

According to APC Publicity Secretary, James Orgunga, the meeting was “a prelude to future defections and collaboration,” adding that it was designed for allies and politicians willing to work with Governor Alia in moving the state forward.

However, Suswam’s media aide dismissed claims of an imminent defection, describing the reports as “mere speculation.” He emphasized that any political decision by Suswam would follow broad consultations and a formal public declaration — not a private dinner.

The gathering comes amid growing internal tension within the APC, fuelled by a lingering rift between Governor Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume. The division has deepened party fault lines and is believed to be pushing Alia to consolidate support beyond the APC’s traditional structure.

By Hassan Taiye

Strong indication emerged Thursday in the Senate that presentation of budgetary proposals for 2026 fiscal year by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly will not happen soon.

This is as the Senate through its committee on Finance , directed the managers of the Nation’s economy to in two weeks time , furnish it with documented performance report on the 2024 budget implementation and expectations for the implementation of capital component of 2025 budget .

The Chairman of the Committee , Senator Mohammed Sani Musa ( Niger East), gave the directive after about one and half hours closed door meeting the, committee had with the Minister of Finance , Wale Edun , Accountant General of the Federation , Samsudeen Ogunjimi and Director – General of the Budget Office , Tanimu Yakubu .

According to him , the committee resolved that presentation of Medium Term Expenditure Framework ( MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper ( FSP ) for 2026 to 2029 fiscal years , can only follow after submission of the requested reports to it by the economy managers on the 23rd of this month .

He said : ” We have had the position at which the 2024 budget is, and what the position also of the 2025 budget. And the expectations we are having for the ministry to, as a matter of urgency, bring the MTEF for 2026 to 2029. And the minister has briefed us, and we have collectively agreed that we are making progress, but we need to make more progress.

“We have heard from the Accountant General, we have heard from the Director of Budgets, where we are with the budgets. The payments that have so far been released, the warrants that have so far been signed. And also, regarding the 2025 authority to incur the expenditure for agencies to be able to release their capital projects.

“We have all heard that, and we have agreed that we are making progress. And we expect that, with what Mr. President has done just this week, sending a letter to the National Assembly, requesting for more approvals to loans, to be able to see that the 2025 budget is also taking adequate care of.

“We have all agreed that we will want documented evidence of the performance of 2024, and our expectations for the 2025 budget, before we start talking about the MTEF for 2026.

“And the Honourable Minister of Finance has agreed to oblige us to give us that progress report. And we have agreed to reconvene, because this meeting is just adjourned. We are going to reconvene on the 23rd of October”

Earlier before the Committee went into closed door session with the economy managers , while the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Wale Edun said high performance is being recorded in the implementation of the capital component of 2024 budget and good performance for 2025 , the DG budget office said otherwise .

According to the DG budget office , during the two fiscal years ( 2024 &2025), budgetary implementation were somewhat turbulent as some of the underlying assumptions were not met .

He said : “We have indeed had a turbulent year — one in which most of the assumptions underpinning the 2024 and 2025 budgets turned out differently from projections.

“Oil revenue, assumed at $75 per barrel, fell short by between $10 and $15 due to global price fluctuations. Inflation also rose beyond projections, affecting borrowing costs and debt service performance, which significantly exceeded targets.

“Furthermore, the unforeseen fiscal implications of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2022 have compounded our challenges.

” Under the Act, 30% of gross oil revenue and 30% of oil and gas profits are retained for upstream operations, while the Federal Government also bears the NNPC’s operating costs. This has reduced the Federation Account allocation by nearly 70% of what used to accrue.

“In addition, crude oil output has been lower than projected in the MTEF approved by the National Assembly”.