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Peter Obi: Don’t Attack Bishops for Speaking on Nigeria’s Woes

Former Anambra Governor Peter Obi has strongly condemned attacks by aides and supporters of President Bola Tinubu on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and Cardinal John Onaiyekan, describing the response as an intolerance of truth that deepens Nigeria’s challenges rather than addressing them.

In a detailed statement titled “When a Government Declares War on the Truth,” posted on his X account on August 5, 2026, Obi now the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) defended the bishops’ principled interventions on the country’s economic hardship, insecurity, inflation, poverty, and governance.

He argued that religious leaders, including those from the CBCN, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), and others, speak from direct observation of citizens’ suffering and should be listened to rather than vilified.

The controversy stems from a July 28, 2026, meeting at the State House in Abuja between President Tinubu and a CBCN delegation led by Archbishop Matthew Man-oso Ndagoso of Kaduna (CBCN president).

The group included Cardinals John Onaiyekan and Peter Okpaleke, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, Bishop Matthew Kukah of Sokoto, and others.

The bishops presented concerns over worsening insecurity, economic pressures on the poor, poverty, the need for credible elections, tertiary education, democratic stability, and issues such as the return of mission schools and equal treatment of religious groups.

Tinubu responded by defending his administration’s reforms, stating that the economy had been rescued from the brink of bankruptcy, was stabilising, and that better days lay ahead.

He also outlined security measures including enhanced intelligence, institutional restructuring, equipment procurement, and armed forces expansion, while assuring that terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping would be defeated.

Cardinal Onaiyekan, the 82-year-old Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, later recounted the exchange in media interviews, including on Arise News.

He said the bishops told the president the nation was “bleeding” and that the economy was not adequately supporting the poor, but Tinubu “quite clearly” disagreed and maintained the economy was doing well.

Onaiyekan emphasised that the bishops’ message reflected extensive internal consultation, not personal or partisan views, and stemmed from a moral duty to address the realities facing Nigerians.

He also raised concerns about electoral integrity, the risk of one-party dominance, and the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He noted the bishops were not seeking office and had no political ambitions.

CBCN President Ndagoso publicly backed Onaiyekan, stating that the cardinal’s comments aligned with the conference’s position.

Presidential aides reacted sharply. Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, accused Onaiyekan of an “abuse of clerical privilege” for publicly sharing his account of a private meeting and questioned the appropriateness of the disclosure.

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication, described Onaiyekan’s comments as “more political than spiritual.”

He argued the cardinal was speaking for Catholics (institutions he claimed were rooting for Peter Obi) rather than all Christians, and defended Tinubu’s right to disagree based on “facts, statistics and numbers.” Other voices close to the administration similarly framed the intervention in partisan or religious terms.

Obi rejected the framing of the bishops’ comments as partisan or purely religious. He stressed that the Catholic Church “has never functioned as an opposition party in Nigeria.” Across military and civilian eras, the CBCN has served as a “principled voice on national issues and the nation’s conscience,” commending governments when due and speaking truth when required, guided by Christian social teaching on truth, justice, and the common good. Similar concerns, he noted, have been raised by Muslim and other Christian organisations.

He cited historical precedent: when Pope John Paul II visited Nigeria in 1998 and delivered hard truths to General Sani Abacha (including on the detention of Moshood Abiola), there was no public vilification.

Obi contrasted Tinubu’s reported respectful participation in the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in Rome with the domestic response to Nigerian Catholic leaders.

The former governor argued that the bishops simply articulated daily realities experienced by millions: worsening insecurity, deepening poverty, crippling inflation, struggling businesses, and fading hope issues that cut across religion and ethnicity.

Reducing the critique to a “religious affair,” he said, exploits division. “Are insecurity, poverty, inflation, unemployment, and hardship problems exclusive to a particular faith? Do these challenges recognise religious or tribal boundaries?”

Obi highlighted Onaiyekan’s stature, outstanding academic results in the old Northern Region, decades of service in peace, dialogue, scholarship, and national unity, and eligibility for consideration for the papacy as making personal attacks particularly damaging to public discourse.

He drew on his own experience as Anambra governor, where criticism from traditional rulers and religious bodies improved outcomes in education and health.

He invoked the principle that good governance requires truth: surrounding leaders with sycophants disconnects them from reality, while punishing truth-tellers silences honest feedback.

“The CBCN did not insult the President and can never do so… It gave voice to the suffering of Nigerians. The proper response was to thoughtfully address the issues raised, not attack those who raised them,” Obi stated.

Vilifying figures like Onaiyekan, he warned, signals that “silence is safer than honesty,” a culture under which no democracy can flourish. He urged religious leaders to continue speaking and those around the president to provide honest appraisals.

Obi also referenced recent external commentary, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s reported description of Nigeria as “a now disgraced country,” as underscoring the depth of the nation’s challenges.

Northern Bloc Forges United Front, Launches Security Plan

Stakeholders from across Northern Nigeria gathered in Kaduna on Wednesday for the Northern Peace Summit, organised by the Arewa Cohesion for Peace, Unity and Development Initiative (ACI).

Participants declared that stronger collaboration among governments, security agencies, traditional institutions, religious leaders, and local communities is essential to defeating insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes that have long plagued the region.

The summit, themed “Unity, Cooperation and Collective Action Against Insecurity,” brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, senior government officials, heads of security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners, youth and women groups, academics, and public policy experts.

Organisers framed the event as a shift from rhetoric toward practical, sustainable strategies to restore peace, strengthen regional cooperation, and accelerate socio-economic development.

Dr. Abdullahi Idris, Convener of ACI, opened the gathering by stressing the need for solutions equal to the scale of the crisis.

He noted that insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and related violence have devastated communities, destroyed livelihoods, displaced thousands of families, weakened social cohesion, disrupted education and agriculture, and slowed development across many northern states. “The time has come for Northern Nigeria to rise above political, ethnic and religious differences and work together for the common good. We can no longer afford the luxury of blame or silence. Our collective resolve must be stronger than the challenges confronting us,” Idris said. He urged stakeholders to prioritise regional stability over sectional interests and emphasised sustained cooperation rather than fragmented interventions.

Discussions focused on improving dialogue between communities and government institutions, addressing root causes of insecurity, tackling corruption, and expanding community-based peacebuilding.

Participants highlighted the need to rebuild trust between citizens and public institutions through better coordination among security agencies, enhanced intelligence sharing, and stronger grassroots vigilance.

Traditional rulers and religious leaders were described as indispensable partners in promoting reconciliation, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence. Youth and women were identified as groups that must be fully integrated into the design and implementation of security and peacebuilding programmes.

The summit is expected to produce a comprehensive regional peace and security framework with clear policy recommendations and implementation strategies for governments and relevant institutions.

ACI also outlined plans to institutionalise quarterly peace dialogues and establish a network of community peace and youth ambassadors to sustain engagement, monitor progress, and strengthen grassroots ownership of peace initiatives.

At the end of the event, participants were expected to adopt a communiqué containing actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening regional collaboration, enhancing community security, improving intelligence-sharing mechanisms, restoring public confidence in security institutions, and promoting sustainable peace and development across Northern Nigeria.

Donald Duke Faults Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway a Misplaced Priority

Former Cross River State Governor and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) 2027 presidential candidate Donald Duke has sharply criticised the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, calling it a costly misplaced priority that Nigeria cannot afford amid pressing economic challenges.

In an interview on Arise News’ Prime Time programme (aired Tuesday), Duke argued that government spending must reflect the country’s economic realities rather than pursue grand infrastructure that does not address core needs. “I’ll bring this up. Take the Lagos-Calabar highway. I know the country cannot afford it,” he said.

He questioned the engineering and economic logic of constructing a major highway along the coast from Lagos to Calabar, pointing to the difficult terrain. “You cannot build a road on the coast from Lagos to Calabar. I mean, you can’t even go through Bayelsa. Bayelsa is swamp. Even Yenagoa, the capital, is swamp. You’ll probably have to build about 100 or 200 bridges to go through those swamps.”

Duke expressed doubt that the roughly 700–750-kilometre project would progress far, claiming it is unlikely to go beyond Epe in Lagos State.

He noted that completed sections already extend a few kilometres into Cross River and Akwa Ibom from the Calabar end and are advancing toward Ondo from the Lagos end, but added: “I don’t think that road is going to go beyond Epe, and I think the road serves other purposes because I drove once on the road and all I saw on the right flank going towards Epe was land reclamation and all that.”

He emphasised that an existing road already links Lagos to Calabar: “There is already a road to Calabar. I’ve driven from Lagos to Calabar several times. If the road is poor, fix it.”

The former governor, who served as Cross River governor from 1999 to 2007, argued that the resources committed to the highway would deliver greater impact if redirected to electricity, healthcare, and education. “The amount going to be spent on that road could be better spent providing electricity or upgrading your healthcare system,” he said.

He highlighted inadequate health funding, stating that the capital budget released for health the previous year was barely N36 million (as disclosed by the minister himself): “That’s pathetic for a country of 230 million people. Not to talk of the schooling system that is hardly funded.”

Duke urged prioritisation, revenue system reforms moving beyond heavy reliance on profit taxes that encourage avoidance, and making energy affordable to boost productivity.

He also called for broader governance restructuring to cut high costs, including questioning the need for a bicameral legislature.

Dimkpa Pledges to Rebuild Nigerian Karate Federation

The newly elected President of the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN), Engr. (Dr.) Chukwudi Dimkpa, has declared his readiness to rebuild and reposition Nigerian karate, unveiling an ambitious blueprint focused on unity, grassroots-to-elite athlete development, international competitiveness, and stronger institutional governance.

In his inaugural message on August 5, 2026, Dimkpa outlined immediate priorities: convening the first meeting of the new board to define strategic direction and actively reuniting the Nigerian karate community through constructive engagement with all stakeholders.

He emphasized reconciliation after a prolonged leadership dispute, calling on members to set aside past differences and work in an atmosphere of mutual respect and shared purpose.

Key elements of the roadmap include immediate preparations for Nigeria’s participation in the Japanese Ambassadors Cup, the Union of African Karate Federations (UFAK) Championships, and other international events. The federation will also establish a sustainable development pathway for athletes spanning grassroots to elite levels.

Dimkpa pledged continuous education and certification programmes for coaches, referees, and technical officials to keep Nigeria competitive continentally and globally.

He stressed collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC), UFAK, the World Karate Federation (WKF), state associations, and development partners. Additional commitments cover transparency, accountability, sound corporate governance, expanded sponsorships, and partnerships to improve funding, athlete welfare, and infrastructure.

Success, he said, will be measured not only by medals but by institutional strength, programme quality, and opportunities for every aspiring Nigerian karateka.

“Our athletes deserve a united Federation. Our coaches deserve an enabling environment. Our officials deserve the support to perform effectively. Above all, Nigeria deserves a Karate Federation that reflects the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and excellence,” Dimkpa stated. “The future of Nigerian karate begins today.”

Dimkpa’s affirmation as president follows a contentious period. In the October 2025 KFN elections at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, Mrs. Fausat Dehinde Yekini (also known as Iyalaje) defeated him by eight votes to five and was initially declared the winner.

A leadership crisis ensued, with competing claims leaving the federation without a clear substantive president for months and stalling activities.

In March 2026, Dimkpa publicly accepted a ruling by the NSC’s Election Appeals Committee and called for unity, extending a hand of fellowship to Yekini and the broader karate family.

The dispute continued into mid-2026, with NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade signalling resolution. By early July 2026, the NSC formally affirmed Elekwachi Chukwudi Dimkpa as president, ending the impasse. Olopade urged reconciliation and an open-door policy.

Engr. (Dr.) Chukwudi Dimkpa, FNSE (Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers), is a registered engineer, businessman, and longtime karate stakeholder from the South-South.

He has served as South-South zonal chairman/representative and board member of the KFN, contributing to policy, athlete development, and sponsorship.

He founded and sponsors the Strata Base National Open Karate Championship (seniors) and Cadet/U14 events, which have drawn athletes from more than 20 states, identified talent that progressed to national youth competitions, and promoted discipline and youth engagement as alternatives to social vices.

In 2025 the World Martial Arts Council Nigeria awarded him its Power of Sports for Peace recognition for youth empowerment and peace-building through combat sports.

Beyond karate, Dimkpa is Group Managing Director/CEO of Strata Base Group (with interests in oil and gas, engineering, construction, real estate, and advertising), a polo enthusiast and former Port Harcourt Polo Club leader, philanthropist via the Chukwudi Dimkpa Foundation, and holder of traditional titles. He trained in Shotokan karate in the early 1990s under Shihan Charles Mezie-Okoye.

Court Affirms 2026 Electoral Act: NDC Loses Eligibility Battle

In a significant ruling with implications for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed a suit by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) challenging provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 that govern the qualification and disqualification of candidates for elective offices.

Justice Muhammed Umar held that the action, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/635/2025, lacked merit.

The court found that the contested sections complement rather than conflict with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and that challenges to a candidate’s eligibility arising from party primaries must be pursued strictly within the pre-election window provided by law.

The NDC, a relatively new opposition platform registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) earlier in 2026 amid prior legal controversies over its recognition, filed the originating summons against the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and INEC.

The party sought declarations that Sections 138 and 77(5) of the Electoral Act 2026 were unconstitutional.

It argued that Section 138 improperly excluded qualification (or disqualification) as a ground for questioning the return of a candidate in election petitions for offices including the presidency, governorship, Senate, House of Representatives, and state Houses of Assembly.

The NDC contended this clashed with constitutional provisions on eligibility in Sections 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 177, and 182 of the 1999 Constitution.

It further asked the court to hold that issues of candidate qualification could still be litigated after elections had been held, and it challenged Section 77(5), which ties eligibility to participate in party primaries or conventions to membership listed in a digital register submitted to INEC at least 21 days beforehand.

The suit reflected broader tensions around electoral reforms ahead of 2027, with newer parties like the NDC testing the boundaries of the updated legal framework enacted by the National Assembly and assented to by the president.

Justice Umar first upheld preliminary objections to the competence of the suit.

He ruled that the plaintiff was primarily inviting the court to interpret constitutional and statutory provisions rather than presenting a concrete pre-election dispute.

The mere attachment of INEC’s election timetable to the originating processes did not convert the matter into one contemplated under Section 285 of the Constitution.

The judge also struck out the case against the Clerk of the National Assembly, finding that the NDC failed to serve the mandatory pre-action notice required before commencing proceedings against that defendant.

On the substantive issues, the court rejected the claim of inconsistency. Justice Umar emphasised that the Constitution itself sets out the qualifications and disqualifications for elective offices.

The Electoral Act, by contrast, supplies the procedural framework and timelines for resolving disputes that arise from party primaries.

“Any aggrieved party who intends to challenge any candidate that emerged at the primary election of a political party on grounds of disqualification… must do so at the pre-election level,” the judge stated.

He held that Section 138 complements the constitutional scheme rather than conflicting with it: “The provision of Section 138 of the Electoral Act 2026 complements the provision of the Constitution, but is not in conflict with it. The contention of the plaintiff that Section 138 is inconsistent with the Constitution is of no merit.”

Regarding Section 77(5), the court declined to invalidate it, noting that the Court of Appeal had already pronounced on the provision in an earlier decision. Lower courts, Justice Umar stressed, are bound by the doctrine of judicial precedent.

15 Years After UNEP Report, HYPREP Says Ogoniland Remediation Is Yielding Results

Fifteen years after the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its groundbreaking Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland on 4 August 2011, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) says it has achieved significant milestones in cleaning hydrocarbon-contaminated land, restoring mangroves and shorelines, expanding access to potable water and healthcare, and creating jobs and skills training for local communities.

The 2011 UNEP report documented extensive pollution from decades of oil operations in the Niger Delta region of Rivers State, Nigeria.

It found hydrocarbons in soil to depths of more than five metres, widespread groundwater contamination, including benzene levels in some drinking-water wells more than 900 times World Health Organization guidelines, damaged mangroves and fisheries, and serious risks to public health and livelihoods.

UNEP estimated that full environmental restoration could take 25–30 years and recommended an initial $1 billion fund, emergency measures such as clean drinking water, and the creation of a dedicated remediation authority.

HYPREP was established under the Federal Ministry of Environment to implement the report’s recommendations.

The formal cleanup was launched in June 2016. Project Coordinator Professor Nenibarini Zabbey and agency statements in 2025–2026 have highlighted progress across environmental remediation, infrastructure and socio-economic programmes.

HYPREP reports that 30 of the 65 sites investigated and recommended for remediation by UNEP have been closed out after cleanup and certification, including by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA.

Seventeen medium-risk complex sites, covering soil and groundwater contamination, roughly 125 hectares are under active remediation, while detailed characterisation of 18 high-risk complex sites often in or near residential areas, continues ahead of full remediation contracts. Additional undocumented polluted sites beyond the original UNEP list are also being assessed.

Mangrove restoration is presented as one of the project’s flagship successes and described as among the world’s largest efforts for oil-degraded mangrove ecosystems. More than 1.5 million seedlings (primarily red, white and black mangrove species) have been planted.

Over 1,000 hectares of shoreline have undergone cleanup, and 560 hectares have been restored with multi-species mangroves showing high survival rates (around 90% in monitored areas) and returning biodiversity, including crabs, oysters, shrimp, mudskippers, fish and other species. Phase 2 of shoreline cleanup and mangrove restoration is underway, targeting additional hundreds of hectares.

The restored Ogoni mangrove wetlands have received Ramsar Site of International Importance designation, supporting long-term conservation, carbon sequestration and potential ecotourism.

HYPREP has also reported progress in removing oily sludge and solid hydrocarbon waste, with community involvement through “Mangrove Vanguards” (trained local youths and women, a significant share of them female) who manage nurseries, planting and monitoring.

The agency states that the project has created more than 7,000 direct jobs through remediation, restoration, monitoring and related activities.

Over 5,000 Ogoni youths and women have been trained in 21 skill sets, ranging from commercial diving and underwater welding, mechatronics, cybersecurity, full-stack development, GIS, mud logging and seafaring to welding, solar/CCTV installation, data analytics and creative arts and provided with start-up kits.

Additional training covers mangrove nursery management, cassava farming support, programmes for people with special needs, and maritime certifications. Scholarships and educational grants have supported more than 1,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, including batches of PhD and master’s awards. Business grants to SMEs and engagement with former artisanal refiners are also cited as part of socio-economic recovery and peacebuilding efforts.

A socio-economic study of Ogoni has been completed, with results expected to guide further development planning.

HYPREP links these efforts to broader goals of improving human development indicators and aligning with Sustainable Development Goals.

Access to safe drinking water has expanded, with reports of schemes and booster stations serving 40–50 communities (including wind- and solar-powered facilities in sparsely populated areas) and ongoing construction of additional headworks.

Healthcare interventions include near-completion of the Ogoni Specialist Hospital (with oncology capacity) and the Buan Cottage Hospital, renovation and equipping of existing facilities, donation of ambulances, medical outreaches, and a multi-year human health biomonitoring study involving the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer.

The Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration is advanced (reported in the 90%+ range in various updates), intended as a research and capacity hub. The Ogoni Power Project is progressing as a sustainability initiative to support local entrepreneurship and development.

2027: Amaechi — We’ll Do Whatever Tinubu Wants At The Field

Rotimi Amaechi, the vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has issued a defiant challenge to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that the opposition is prepared to confront whatever strategies the incumbent deploys on election day.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, Amaechi responded to repeated assertions by the President and his allies that Tinubu would secure victory “at all costs.”
“Let the president continue to tell the public that he would win the election at all cost until we get to the field,” Amaechi said.

“Whatever the president wants us to do at the field, we will do it. I’m not worried about what he wants to do. We will meet at the field.”

He framed the contest in existential terms for the country. “Nigeria has to be rescued. What the president and his men are doing is insulting my faith,” the former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation added.

The remarks come as Nigeria’s political temperature rises with the 2027 polls approaching.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) processes are underway, candidates’ particulars have been published, and campaigns are set to intensify. Tinubu is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, paired again with Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Atiku and Amaechi form the ADC ticket after the party’s primaries earlier in 2026, in which Atiku emerged as the presidential nominee and Amaechi was later selected as his running mate following consultations.

Amaechi’s comments carry particular weight given his political history with Tinubu. In the 2022 APC presidential primary, Amaechi finished second to Tinubu after refusing to step down, a stance later praised by figures including Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka.

He subsequently left the APC, aligned with the ADC, and has repeatedly criticised the Tinubu administration’s handling of the economy, insecurity, and governance.

Tinubu Signs Off 80% Salary Boost for Armed Forces

President Bola Tinubu has approved salary increases ranging from 30% to 80% for personnel of Nigeria’s Armed Forces, with the highest percentage rises going to the lowest ranks. The new pay structure, announced on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, will benefit approximately 250,000 military personnel and take effect from September 1, 2026.

The announcement came in a State House press release issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. It was also shared via official presidency channels.

The raises are structured inversely with rank, prioritising junior personnel:

• Officers above the rank of colonel, including Brigadier-Generals, Major-Generals, Lieutenant-Generals and Generals will receive a 30% salary increase.

• Personnel from the rank of colonel down to warrant officer will receive a 50% increase.

• Those from private to staff sergeant will receive an 80% increase.

This graduated approach is designed to provide the greatest relative boost to the most junior ranks, who form the bulk of the fighting force and often face the heaviest operational burdens in ongoing internal security operations.

The revised package will raise the annual salary bill for the Armed Forces from ₦660 billion to ₦924 billion, an increase of ₦264 billion.

President Tinubu linked the decision directly to the sacrifices made by service members in the fight against banditry, kidnapping and terrorism in various parts of the country.

In the statement, he was quoted as saying:

“The men and women who help to keep us safe in our homes must be supported and appreciated in the course of their duties to our nation.

“Our administration will continue to prioritise troop welfare and modernise the armed forces by providing the weapons and technological tools needed to discharge their duties.

“Our administration believes that no nation can achieve greatness without security. We therefore remain resolute in mobilising all military and law enforcement assets to eliminate security threats and protect the lives and property of all Nigerians.

“I urge our servicemen to take our gesture as a sign of our deep appreciation of the services they render to our fatherland. Together we shall prevail over the enemies intent on destroying the fabric of our nation.”