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Progressive Govs’ Forum lauds Abdulrazaq on achievements

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  • Says Kwara witnessing massive infrastructure devt

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has been described as a star progressive governor in Nigeria whose excellent performances in many key sectors are amazingly breathtaking.

The Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Folorunsho Aluko, who led a five-person media team of the Forum on a 2-day working visit to the state, said he could not believe that Kwara has achieved so much under AbdulRazaq, especially in the areas of physical infrastructure and social support programme, civil service welfare, youth development, gender inclusion, agriculture and sports.

Aluko said they visited the state to inspect and document legacy projects of the administration, as they have also been doing to other APC-controlled states, noting that it is easy to forget good legacies when they are not archived.

“I came to Kwara State with my team on a mission. On getting here, I am proud. The signature projects of His Excellency AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Governor of Kwara State, are breathtaking. From the social support programme, infrastructure, civil service welfare, youth, gender empowerment, business, innovation and technology, to sports, we are really impressed with what we saw,” he told reporters on Friday after concluding the facility tour in the capital city.

“In terms of sports specifically, we saw the squash court that has ten courts identifiable by different colours and that accommodate both the youth and old, even those with special needs. This is the first of its kind in Nigeria to have ten courts domiciled within the same arena.

“The table tennis arena is also outstanding. This is also one of the best you can find anywhere in Nigeria…. The massive renovation of the main bowl and the indoor sports hall is also very wonderful.

“We have also visited the garment factory, innovation hub, visuals arts centre, film factory, and others. On the whole, I would tell you that no one would have believed that Kwara State has been able to achieve these in the last five years.”

The delegation, on arrival on Thursday, paid courtesy visits to Government House and some other offices, where they got briefings on some of the legacy projects of the administration, ahead of touring some of their locations for firsthand information.

Some of the projects visited include the Garment factory; Ilorin International Conference Centre; Innovation Hub; under remodeling Kwara Hotel; 12-storey ultramodern Revenue House; Centre for Contemporary Arts and Films; Sugar film factory; the Squash Court which is located inside the State Stadium Complex; and Flower Garden; among others.

They were variously received by the Special Adviser and Counsellor to the Governor Alhaji Sa’adu Salau; Special Adviser on Media, Bashir Adigun; Commissioner for Communication Bola Olukoju; Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology Damilola Yusuf-Adelodun; Commissioner for Works and Transport Engr. Abdulquawiy Olododo; Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Oloruntoyosi Thomas; and Executive Chairman, Kwara State Sports Commission Coach Bola Magaji; and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Rafiu Ajakaye.

Aluko said their visit also serves to checkmate negative reporting, which he noted undermines the positives in the country, especially in APC controlled states.

He said it was unfair that negatives are allowed to dominate the media space, thereby discrediting many outstanding public officers in the society.

He said they will continue to utilize their publications — the PGF Weekly Pulse, PGF Monthly e-bulletin, and the newly-launched Legacy Documentation and Preservation Initiative — as fundamental tools to achieve their objectives.

He commended AbdulRazaq on his 10-year Agriculture Transformation Plan that focuses on promoting food security through support for farmers and better approaches in addressing the farmers-herders conflict across agrarian communities.

“I would like to advise politicians to always be prepared and come into power with enough knowledge and experience like we have in the Governor of Kwara state. And I won’t tell you lies: Governor Abdulrazaq and other progressive governors are a blessing to Nigeria,” he said.

“Like I said, all the progressive governors are actually performing governors. But with our visit, we have seen again beyond what we imagine was happening. So, for Kwara State, we are convinced in terms of good governance and innovative and transformative leadership. The Governor of Kwara is qualified to be called a star progressive governor.”

Salau, for his part, thanked the media team for the visit and encouraged them to focus on producing their publications in at least three popular local languages for wider coverage.

“The things people look for in government are good governance, justice, fairness, transparency and accountability, and on several occasions, the Governor has received awards on all these qualities that people look for all over the World,” he said.

Olukoju said most of the projects the administration embarked upon were popular choices of the youth whose affairs she noted occupy the heart of the Governor.

She said the government often interfaces with the people to harvest the views and needs of the populace before formulating policies to impact their lives.

“The Governor is really concerned about youth development in the state. And going by statistics, Kwara has a teeming youth population, and we decided on how we can engage them productively,” she said.

Adigun said the Governor is doing a lot to strengthen key infrastructure, which he noted had mostly collapsed in the past.

Olododo said not less than 170 roads have been constructed by the administration within just one year of its second term, adding that the Governor also facilitated the construction of at least 284 kilometers of federal road projects across the state.

Yusuf-Adelodun said the government is building the capacity of at least three thousand youths in textile production through the garment factory, with a view to boosting Nigeria’s textile industry.

This training will allow different companies across the World to see Kwara as a destination for garment production, she said.

Agric Commissioner Oloruntoyosi said the government is offering massive support for farmers and building the capacity of agric extension agents for knowledge transfer to increase farm yields.

“For us in Kwara, the 10-year Agric Transformation Plan has been an important document and a roadmap to achieve food security. Yes, we are blessed with land, but it is not just about crop production. It is about how we can improve our productivity in quantity and quality,” she said.

Coach Magaji said Kwara is taking a lead in many sporting events, especially in Squash Court game and table tennis, adding that the state has produced national champions in the under-10, under-13, and under-16 categories in the last four years.

This is due to the support the sports sector enjoys from the government, Magaji said.

He said the administration has renovated a lot of sporting facilities in the state stadium, including the Olympic-size swimming pool, outdoor basketball, outdoor volleyball, and squash court, with eight of them additionally built.

He said the indoor sports hall is also being fixed in a way not seen before since it was constructed in the 1970s.

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Politics

Eggon Political Forum Endorses Ombugadu as Consensus Candidate for 2027 Nasarawa Governorship Race

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In what many observers are describing as a watershed moment in the political history of Nasarawa State, the Eggon Political Forum has officially endorsed Rt. Hon. Dr. David Emmanuel Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the consensus candidate of the Eggon Nation for the 2027 governorship election.The announcement was made at a grand assembly held at Albert Event Hall in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area, where leaders, stakeholders, and representatives of diverse groups gathered to deliberate on the future of Eggon political aspirations. The Forum, a non-partisan body devoted to fostering unity and political stability among the Eggon people, emphasized that the decision was the product of months of consultations, assessments, and feedback from across the state and beyond.The Forum acknowledged that six prominent Eggon sons had secured party tickets for the governorship contest, namely: Hon. Shuaibu Umaru Kubi (ACCORD), Gen. Nuhu Angbazo (ADC), Hon. Chris Mamman (ADP), Hon. Ibrahim Kassimu Aboh (APGA), Rt. Hon. Dr. David Emmanuel Ombugadu (PDP), and Mr. John Tanko Kigbu (YPP). While commending all six candidates for their courage and commitment to public service, the Forum explained that the need for unity and collective interest compelled them to adopt a single candidate. This, they argued, would prevent the fragmentation of Eggon votes and strengthen the community’s chances of producing the next governor of Nasarawa State.According to the communiqué, the Forum’s assessment was guided by several political considerations: party stability, grassroots presence, popularity across the state, structural strength of the political platforms, track records in previous positions of responsibility, governance experience, and manifesto credibility. On these grounds, Ombugadu was adjudged to be the most suitable candidate, having demonstrated consistency, political maturity, and a broad appeal across Nasarawa State.In a communiqué signed by Alh. Umaru Gwamna (Cingarin Eggon), Chairman of the Forum, and Hon. Chief Istifanus Dennis Abaku (Dan Masani Akun / Uban Garin Ende), Secretary, the Forum appealed to the other five Eggon candidates to rally behind Ombugadu in the spirit of unity. “We respectfully appeal to the five other candidates to kindly support and rally round the adopted candidate to ensure victory in the forthcoming elections,” the Forum declared.The Forum further extended its appeal to other ethnic nationalities in Nasarawa State, urging them to align with the Eggon people in supporting Ombugadu’s candidature. It stressed that while divergent interests are natural in politics, the collective interest of the land must remain supreme.Shortly after the endorsement, the Forum led a high-powered delegation to the palace of the Aren Eggon, His Royal Highness Justice Ahmed Ubangari Alaku, to formally notify him of the resolution. Speaking on behalf of the Forum, Chairman Alh. Umaru Gwamna briefed the paramount ruler on the aims and objectives of the Forum and explained the decision to adopt Ombugadu as the consensus candidate. He emphasized that the Forum deemed it necessary to seek the royal father’s advice and blessings as the Eggon Nation embarks on this united political journey.In his response, the Aren Eggon commended the Forum for its efforts to unite the Eggon people and described Ombugadu as a “blessed son of the Eggon Nation” who has consistently made his people proud. He noted that Ombugadu is not only an asset to the Eggon Nation but to Nasarawa State at large, wishing him success in the forthcoming governorship election. His Royal Highness also admonished all Eggon candidates and their supporters to shun politics of bitterness, propaganda, blackmail, and hatred, reminding them that leadership ultimately comes from God. “We as men can only do our human arrangements, but God alone can make it happen,” he cautioned.The royal father concluded by offering his blessings and wishing Ombugadu well in his political pursuit.The endorsement and royal affirmation are being hailed as a historic opportunity for the Eggon Nation, which has long aspired to produce the governor of Nasarawa State. With unity of purpose and the backing of traditional authority, the Forum expressed optimism that 2027 could mark the realization of this dream. Political analysts note that the move could significantly reshape the dynamics of the forthcoming election, as the Eggon people constitute one of the largest ethnic groups in the state. By consolidating their support behind a single candidate, the Forum hopes to maximize their influence and bargaining power in the wider political landscape.The Eggon Political Forum’s decision underscores the importance of unity, consultation, and collective interest in the pursuit of political power. As the countdown to the 2027 governorship election begins, all eyes will be on Rt. Hon. Dr. David Emmanuel Ombugadu, who now carries not only the weight of Eggon aspirations but also the blessings of their revered traditional ruler.

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Tinubu Assures Investors Nigeria Is Open for Business, Welcomes Coca-Cola’s $1bn Plan

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By Francis Wilfred 

President Bola Tinubu has assured local and international investors that Nigeria remains open for business, saying his administration is implementing reforms aimed at creating a more predictable, competitive and investment-friendly environment.

Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the 75th anniversary celebration of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) in Abuja on Monday, the President said the government is addressing key challenges facing businesses under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Our message to investors, both Nigerian and international, is clear: Nigeria is open for business,” Tinubu said,

He noted that reliable infrastructure, efficient logistics, access to foreign exchange, stable regulations and a supportive tax system are critical to attracting investment and expanding production.

According to Yomi Odunuga, the President said ongoing economic reforms are designed to build a more productive and competitive economy, reduce dependence on imports, strengthen local manufacturing and create jobs for Nigerians.

Tinubu welcomed the Coca-Cola System’s proposed $1 billion investment in Nigeria over five years, announced in 2024, describing it as a strong vote of confidence in the country’s economy. 

He said the administration is focused not only on the volume of investment attracted but also on its impact on employment, skills development, technology transfer and local sourcing.

“We are interested not only in the amount of capital that comes into Nigeria, but in what that capital does here,” he said.

The President also praised NBC’s continued expansion of production capacity, including new production lines in Oyo and Kano states, describing such investments as vital to strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving policies, infrastructure and regulations to support businesses, while urging the private sector to complement government efforts through investment, innovation and job creation.

Tinubu further highlighted the importance of human capital development, commending NBC’s Supply Chain Academy for training over 1,400 young Nigerians and supporting women’s empowerment and community development initiatives.

He urged investors to take advantage of opportunities across Nigeria, expressing confidence that the country can build a stronger economy driven by local production, exports and globally competitive industries.

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Politics

Kano  Governorship: Accord Party Governorship Candidate Gashash Getting More Endorsement From Kano Electorates.

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By Jabiru Hassan.


The movement for Democratic Protection and good governance (MDSG) declared it's full support to the Accord Party Governorship Candidate Ambassador Dr. Mukhtar Gashash in the forthcoming general elections.

In a chat with our correspondent in kano, the national president of the movement, Alhaji Dauda Mohammed Ali,  stated that it is time for the people of kano state to bring new steward who is seriously planning to transform the state with highest regard.

He expressed his confidence that Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash will do his best to ensure that kano state becomes more examplary at both sector without bias which is the task previous administrators failed to achieve.

Alhaji Dauda Mohammed Ali reiterated that " this time around, our movement is working day and night to make sure that Kano people mostly youths remained Committed to actualize real change in the state's politics, leadership and transformation under the Accord Party government".

He called on the people of kano state especially the eligible voters to vote Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash due to his Transformation plans for the progress of kano state and it's citizens at both Urban and rural settlements.

Responding to a question about Accord party's strength in kano state, Dauda Mohammed Ali disclosed that in today's democracy, competent candidates should be tipped for an elective positions not the popularity of the political parties stressing that Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash has been found to be the best option for kano state due to his track record on competency, transparency as a real democrat.
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