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Peter Obi, Otti differ on nationwide protests
Two leaders of the opposition Labour Party, Peter Obi and Alex Otti have differed on the nationwide protests being planned by yet-to-be-identified persons.
Obi, the party’s former presidential candidate has declared support for the protest but Otti, the only Labour Party governor in the country, said the organisers should let the government address their concerns rather than protest and that the protest could turn violent beyond the intent of the organisers.
The proposed exercise has since elicited several reactions, with President Bola Tinubu asking Nigerians to shelve the exercise and allow him more time to tackle the nation’s challenges.
In his comment, Mr Obi said the planned protest was triggered by hunger and hopelessness among Nigerians.
He spoke when he visited Governor Otti in his private residence. The details of their discussion were provided by the governor’s spokesperson, Ukoha Njoku, on Sunday.
“On the issue of protest, within the Nigerian Constitution, protest is allowed. All I plead for is for those who are protesting to do so within the law and in a civil manner that allows us as a nation to show that we live within the law,” Mr Obi said.
“Everybody knows that things are difficult and I always say that when they talk about the sponsors of protest, the sponsors are very simple, it is hunger, it is hopelessness among the youths.
“So, we all have to listen to what Nigerians are going through and I thank our governor (Otti) for doing so. It is critical and important,” he stated.
‘What security agencies should do’
Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, said that rather than disrupting the protest, the security agencies should manage it within the law.
“What I have to say to the security agencies is to ensure that they manage the situation, again within the law. We should not try to be overbearing. It should be something that we do within the law,” he said.
On his part, Governor Otti said although protests are allowed by law, he is worried that the proposed protest could be hijacked by hoodlums to cause violence.
“The real challenge is who can ensure or assure us that it will be done within the ambits of the law. We have seen protests hijacked. My fears are that this one will also be hijacked,” he said.
The governor said the law requires protesters to “inform and get the approval of security agencies, particularly police,” before engaging in it.
“Somebody should take responsibility for getting that approval. So, if you don’t have the approval, then it will be against the law for you to go out on the streets to protest,” he claimed.
Mr Otti, also a member of the LP, argued that Nigerians unwilling to join the protest have the right to do so.
“Secondly everyone has a right of free movement. So, if you block the road and you stop people from moving around, then, you have broken the law. So, there are several parts to it that may not be under the control of whoever is calling for the protest,” he said.
The governor suggested that the concerns by those calling for the protest had been made known and that they should give the government the opportunity to address the concerns.
“Hunger is real and that is true. But how do you solve the problem”?
“The problem we found ourselves in the country is economic and I will say that we are actually paying the price for bad governance that didn’t start today,” Mr Otti said.
“So, there are very, very few options left than this difficulty that we are going through. If we are patient and go through it, then after that, I believe the economy will reverse and things will begin to look better.”
President BolaTinubu has been described as a Champion of Democracy whose Renewed Hope Agenda is on course to transform Nigeria and prosper the citizens
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi stated this Thursday in a statement he personally signed to mark the 2025 Democracy Day anniversary.
The Minister said- “I am delighted to on behalf of the management of the Federal Ministry of Works, convey our profound felicitations to a champion of democracy and vision bearer of the Renewed Hope Agenda, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on this auspicious commemoration of the 26th anniversary of unbroken democracy in Nigeria, this 12th June 2025.
“Your Excellency, we are enthused to celebrate this remarkable event courtesy of your rewarding leadership stewardship. Your struggle for the redemocratization of Nigeria and your emergence as the 5th democratically elected President of the 4th Republic are a clear indication of God’s unction in your enduring vision to achieve the purpose of our democratic journey which is economic prosperity and social justice. History will be kind to you for raising dispassionate standards and taking bold decisions that will return our country to the path of greatness in the continent of Africa.
“In the works sector, you have made gratifying progress in deepening and fast-tracking the gains of democracy through your record-breaking accomplishments in road infrastructure, which are distributed equitably across the 6 Geo-Political Zones. You have continued to blaze the trail in the passionate delivery of enduring infrastructure, which is critical for the nation’s developmental progress,especially your initiative to expand the nation’s road network and interconnect the major economic corridors through the four Renewed Hope Legacy Projects. Under Your Excellency, we savour a brand new era of regenerative democracy where the institutions and authorities work deliberately and collectively to achieve a nation of equal opportunities irrespective of tribe, religion, or social class. For this, we salute the leadership of the National Assembly and the Judiciary, which are the pillars of our democracy.
“May God continue to prosper the aspirations of Your Excellency and grant you the grace and enablement to achieve all that you desire for the nation. Please accept the warmest congratulations, esteemed regards, and best wishes of the management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Works.”
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has joined in the public outcry and condemnation of Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s disruption of operations at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall) in Lagos on Wednesday morning.
The former Edo State governor had arrived late for a scheduled flight from Lagos to Abuja and tried to force himself through, while in the blocked movement to and from the tarmac.
He also tried attempted to cause breach of public peace by instigating two other passengers to protest. He transferred N500,000 to one of the women as bribe to instigate her to appear in a video with him.
Reacting to the incident in a statement seen by Nationwide Reports, Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, condemned Oshiomhole’s conduct in a series of posts on his official X handle.
Emphasising the importance of adhering to flight protocols, he stated, *”Aviation is not molue. It is not run on vibes.”
Achimugu added that passengers arriving after check-in closed are considered “no-shows” and may only be rebooked subject to seat availability and applicable fees. “If your flight departs at 0630hrs and you stroll into the airport at 0612, you are late,” he wrote.
Members of the media team covering Kogi State Government House, have benefitted from training on ethical conduct expected of them in the discharge of their duties.
The training which was organized by a Non-Governmental Organisation, the Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation (CESVO), took place at the Government House in Lokoja, at the instance of the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor of Kogi State, Hon. Ismaila Isah.
Speaking during the training, the Executive Director of the organization, Prince Salihu Yakubu emphasized the importance of integrity and emotional intelligence in public service.
He described the media team as a critical link between government and the people, noting that the training was designed to enhance professionalism and improve service delivery in all aspects of professional life.
“This training fulfills the promise we made during our award presentation to support the media office through capacity building. We are impressed by the leadership of Hon. Ismaila Isah, and this initiative is a testament to his ethical responsibility and commitment to excellence,”he stated.
Prince Yakubu, who is also the founder of the Nigeria Youth Parliament covered seven key areas of workplace ethics during the training.
The areas covered include emotional intelligence, workplace ethics, leadership conduct, and team synergy.
According to him, the goal is to nurture a culture of ethical responsibility and teamwork among the staff.
“Our aim is to build the capacity of the media team to function effectively, foster healthy working relationships, and set the office apart as a model of ethical leadership in service to the people of Kogi State”.
He also stressed the importance of removing personal sentiments from professional responsibilities, urging staff to adopt a nationalistic mindset in their service to the state.
He further recommended the adoption of a formal staff code of conduct to guide operations and strengthen accountability within the media office.
In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of Hon. Ismaila Isah, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Yabagi Mohammed, expressed gratitude to CESVO for what he described as a well-rounded and impactful training.
“This 7-unit course will not only boost productivity but also improve the overall atmosphere of the workplace, making the media team more effective and cohesive,” he said.
Similarly, Senior Special Assistant on Print Media to the Kogi State First Lady, Muhammed Ohikwo, commended the initiative and acknowledged the efforts of Hon. Ismaila Isah in creating an enabling environment for ethical reflection and professional development among members of the media team.
The training was part of CESVO’s ongoing initiative to instill ethical values and enhance the delivery of public service through strategic capacity building.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of certificate to all the trainees with a charge for them to be ambassadors of ethical standards in public service and professional conduct.
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