The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has challenged opposition leaders to move beyond criticisms and present practical, well-articulated alternatives to addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges. 

Yilwatda’s advice is contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, in Abuja.

Tooki quoted the national chairman as stating this at the 10th National Assembly Award Dinner Ceremony held on Wednesday in Abuja.

Yilwatda, who was represented by Daniel Rejenieju at the event, said opposition leaders should desist from merely condemning government policies.

He said the removal of fuel subsidy by the President Bola Tinubu-led APC administration was an inevitable and necessary decision to rescue the nation’s economy from imminent fiscal collapse.

The national chairman described the former subsidy regime as an unsustainable system that only enriched a privileged few, while denying the country the resources required for critical national development.

He urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in their support for the bold economic reforms being implemented by the  Tinubu-led administration.

Yilwatda expressed confidence that the temporary hardship associated with the reforms would ultimately give way to sustainable economic growth, fiscal stability and shared national prosperity.

According to him, a courageous leadership is defined by the willingness to take difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions in the overall interest of the people.

He stated that Tinubu had demonstrated exceptional courage by implementing reforms that successive administrations acknowledged were necessary but lacked the  political will to execute.

Yilwatda explained that the current economic difficulties represent the short-term consequences of reforms designed to correct years of structural distortions, adding that the long-term gains would far outweigh the present sacrifices.

Highlighting the positive impact of the administration’s reforms, he identified the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as one of the most transformative social intervention programmes under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He noted that millions of students across tertiary institutions had benefitted from the initiative regardless of ethnicity, religion or political affiliation, thereby expanding access to higher education and reducing the financial burden on Nigerian families.

The national chairman further stated that the reforms had promoted greater fiscal discipline among citizens by encouraging prudent spending, responsible financial planning and a renewed culture of productivity.

He also noted that increased allocations to states and other sub-national governments had strengthened their capacity to pay salaries promptly, undertake infrastructure projects and deliver meaningful development to their people.

While acknowledging the temporary hardship occasioned by the reforms, he appealed to Nigerians to remain patient and united in support of Tinubu’s administration.

Yilwatda emphasised that lasting national transformation required resilience, sacrifice and collective commitment.

The PBAT Continuity Project, PCP in Ondo state says the landmark achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in every part of Nigeria will give him an overwhelming victory come 2027.

The PCP in a statement by its Director-General, Pastor Femi Agagu maintained that Tinubu remains the candidate to beat both in Ondo state and Nigeria in the next election because of his impressive track record which has, no doubt, brought succour and renewed hope to Nigerians.

The PBAT Continuity Project was reacting to a recent comment by an APC aspirant on a national television, suggesting that the APC in Ondo is in crisis, thus posing threat to Tinubu’s victory in 2027.

Agagu urged the general public to disregard such outbursts as misleading. He assured that Tinubu would get overwhelming votes in Ondo state going by his impacts on the sunshine state.

“Ondo state has always been for Tinubu and come 2027, we will still vote for him massively, the people are ready, Tinubu’s impacts are felt across the state, Students of Ondo state origin are benefitting from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), residents are also enjoying from Construction of roads, economic reforms and other life impacting projects under the present administration”.

Agagu specifically mentioned the appointment of three key ministers from Ondo state by President Tinubu as another reason why the people of the Sunshine state are eager to vote overwhelmingly for him in the next election, urging APC members to shun any act capable of undermining the achievements of the party in the state.

The PCP Director-General commended the minister of interior, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo a.k.a BTO for his huge support towards the reelection of President Tinubu in Ondo state by sponsoring many support groups to propagate the good works of the President across the length and breath of the state.

Agagu explained that with the huge support given by Tunji-Ojo, the collective effort of APC leaders across the state and the monumental goodwill enjoyed by the President, the 2027 Election will be handsomely won in Ondo State.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three suspects linked to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to life imprisonment.

According to reports,
Justice Salim Ibrahim ordered that the life sentence should take effect from the date of the convicts’ arrest.

He handed down the sentence after convicting Abdulrazak Umar (also known as Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (Yunusa bin Musa) and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar) on charges connected to terrorism and the kidnapping incident.

The defendants had earlier pleaded guilty to some of the allegations brought against them by the Federal Government, while denying others.

They were arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.

The Federal Government accused the trio of belonging to Darul Salam, an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants, all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, conspired with other suspects, including Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab, between January and May 2026 to facilitate the abduction of school children and teachers in Oyo State.

They were also accused of concealing information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds of the attack despite being aware of the plot.

During proceedings, the defendants admitted to concealing information about those responsible for the school attack and acknowledged their membership of Darul Salam.

While all three pleaded guilty to counts four and six of the charge, only Umar admitted guilt on additional counts bordering on providing training and instructions to members of the group through a WhatsApp platform titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace”.

However, they pleaded not guilty to the remaining counts.

Following their guilty pleas, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the prosecution team, urged the court to sentence the defendants on the counts they admitted.

Before the sentencing, counsel for the defendants pleaded with the court for leniency, describing them as first-time offenders who had shown remorse by pleading guilty.

The defence counsel argued that the charges they admitted were not directly related to the kidnapping itself and appealed to the court to consider their family responsibilities, noting that they were married men with children and had aged parents dependent on them.

He urged the court to give them an opportunity for a second chance.

However, prosecution counsel argued that the convicts were aware of the activities of those involved in the attack and, as responsible citizens, ought to have reported the information to security authorities.

The Federal Government had alleged that the defendants committed offences contrary to provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, including sections relating to conspiracy, aiding terrorism, concealment of terrorist activities and membership of a proscribed organisation.

The court, after considering the submissions of both parties, convicted the defendants and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

On May 15, gunmen invaded Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire LGA, abducting 46 people comprising 39 pupils and seven teachers.

The Assistant Headmaster of L.A. Primary School, Joel Adesiyan, was killed while attempting to escape during the raid, while a Mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was killed by his abductors.

The remaining victims regained their freedom on July 10 following an intelligence-led military operation targeting the kidnappers’ hideouts in the Old Oyo National Park.