Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, has dismissed former governors Nasir El-Rufai, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi as “political laggards and underachievers,” insisting that their records in office cannot be compared to President Bola Tinubu’s performance in just two years. Onanuga, who is Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, made the remarks on Monday in a post on X (formerly Twitter). His reaction followed El-Rufai’s recent interview on Channels Television where the ex-Kaduna governor claimed Tinubu has no clear path to victory in the 2027 presidential election, even with the advantages of incumbency. El-Rufai had argued that like former…

The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has faulted the Federal Government over meetings held on the welfare of university lecturers without its participation, warning that such gatherings are invalid and may worsen the crisis in the sector. CONUA, a breakaway union of university lecturers officially registered in October 2022, was formed after years of disputes within the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Speaking with newsmen, CONUA National President, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, said it was unacceptable for government to be meeting with only one union on issues affecting the entire university system. “As of today, we have the Congress of…

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has predicted that the 2027 presidential election may go into a runoff, with no candidate emerging as outright winner in the first round. Speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, El-Rufai argued that President Bola Tinubu has “no pathway to victory” in 2027, insisting that at best, he would come third if the election is free and fair. El-Rufai, who was a major campaigner for Tinubu in 2023, said Nigerians will cast their votes based on performance, not political party labels or defections. “I was governor of Kaduna state; I was one of Bola…

Union Bank of Nigeria has completed its merger with Titan Trust Bank Limited, following a final approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The deal comes three years after Titan Trust acquired majority shares in Union Bank, one of Nigeria’s oldest and most respected financial institutions, in 2022. It also happens at a time Nigerian banks are racing to meet the CBN’s new minimum capital requirements ahead of the March 2026 deadline. Under the new arrangement, Union Bank has fully absorbed Titan Trust Bank’s operations and assets. The combined entity will now continue under the Union Bank brand, while…

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR, has expressed sadness over the demise of former Inspector-General of Police, IGP and immediate Past Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Ehigiator Arase, CFR.  In a statement on Sunday, Kalu extended his heartfelt condolences to the immediate family of the deceased, the current IGP, Kayode Egbetokun and the entire Nigeria Police Force, saying that Arase’s passing has left an unfillable void in the nation’s law enforcement community. Describing Arase as a dedicated former Police Chief, the Deputy Speaker said that his tenure was marked by…

A former Osun State lawmaker, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the strict enforcement of the executive order reducing prices of essential drugs and medical equipment. Oyintiloye, who was a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council, said many Nigerians were still groaning under the high cost of medicines despite the directive issued in June 2024. The executive order had removed tariffs, excise duties and VAT on key medical consumables and equipment to lower production costs and boost local manufacturers. Speaking in a statement on Sunday, the former lawmaker for Obokun State Constituency expressed…

Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has warned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could run into major trouble in 2027 if it fields former President Goodluck Jonathan or ex-Anambra governor Peter Obi as its presidential candidate. In a lengthy post on his X account on Sunday, Keyamo said the opposition party has been struggling since it refused to zone its 2023 ticket to the South, a move he claimed cost it vital support in the South-South and South-East. He particularly pointed out that nominating Jonathan carries a constitutional danger tied to section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution…

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Abia State chapter, has accused the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Cliff Agbaeze, of sidelining its members in the disbursement of the African Union Development Agency–New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) Smallholder Farmers Initiative. AFAN which also accused the Commissioner of generating fake farmers’ list as beneficiaries of the initiative, called for probe of the format adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture in generating the list of beneficiaries. Abia State one of the seven pilot states selected to implement the continental programme aimed at empowering smallholder farmers with access to finance, improved inputs, training…

North-East governors have raised alarm over looming floods, food shortages and worsening energy poverty in the region, urging urgent intervention from the Federal Government. The governors, under the North-East Governors’ Forum, issued the warning in a communiqué at the end of their 12th meeting held on Saturday in Jalingo, Taraba State. Forum chairman and Borno State governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, said forecasts from credible agencies point to a serious flood disaster in the coming months. “The Forum took into cognizance the forecast of credible agencies on climate risk and the impending flood disaster in the subregion. We call for proactive…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described Saturday’s local government elections in Rivers State as a success. Wike, who voted at his polling unit in Rumuepirikom, Obio/Akpor LGA, praised the exercise as smooth and in line with the Supreme Court’s directive that only elected councils can access funds from the Federation Account. The former Rivers governor said the polls were a vital step in strengthening grassroots democracy. “Now that the local government election is taking place, elected representatives will receive funds directly from the Federation Account. The Supreme Court has made it clear that there…