NewStats: 3,265,551 , 8,187,177 topics. Date: Sunday, 15 June 2025 at 05:29 PM 2j2e43

Emu4life:

Makkah is the Arabic Pronunciation while Mecca is English

Oh, thanks.

I would have to type many things just because I want to say thank you

It's not funny I swear.

Is Makka different from Mecca?
Or are they the same?

Because, I hold so much love and respect for that city- Mecca.

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election has opined that democracy is in decline. He also argued that Nigeria lacks democratic qualities.

In a post made in his verified X(formerly Twitter) handle, he also accused the government of mismanagement, while urging Nigerians not to lose hope.

Democracy in Decline: Reflecting on Two Years of Present Government

Today, June 12, is slated as Democracy day. Most unfortunately, in our present state, our dear country Nigeria cannot be justifiably classified as a democratic country. The vital indicators of democracy are noticeably absent. Some do not even exist.

Democracy is said to be ‘a government of the people, by the people, and for the people,’ yet none of these three measures exist in our democracy today. Rules, regulations and requirements to participate in elections or be elected for are not followed, consequently, individuals who are to be disqualified ab-initio are now holding public offices.

As we mark June 12, a day symbolizing the struggle for true democracy in Nigeria, it is deeply troubling that under this present istration in a short span of two years, our nation has witnessed broad erosion of democratic principles. There has been a corresponding decline in security and the quality of life for millions of Nigerians. We have traversed from rigged elections to collapsing social services; from soaring poverty to rising corruption; and from a seemingly stable economy to a parlous economy.

It is most troubling that in its two years in office, the present government has brought the nation to the point where our leaders now celebrate and endorse failure, lies, and propaganda. The government today, rather than show genuine ability and measurable progress, focuses on manipulating narratives, gaslighting the public, shifting blame and weaponizing governance. Meanwhile, Nigerians live in a worsening and worrisome insecurity, widespread corruption, hunger, and general despondence. There are no clear benchmarks for measuring tangible development, as we continue to witness the collapse of key indicators - like education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation- which are parameters for measuring national progress.

Simple comparisons of what has happened in the past two years, now relies on propaganda and misinformation to mask the mis governance.

Our country today can best be described as a nation declining fast in all its facets. The security of lives and property has worsened, and the rule of law is virtually non-existent. These are the hard-verifiable facts:

1. On May 29th, 2023, when this government was sworn into office, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at $364 billion. As of today, it has declined to $188 billion, a decline of almost fifty percent (50%).

2. Nigeria’s GDP per capita was $1,640 as of May 2023, but today it has dropped drastically to about $835, a devastating decline of about 50%.

3. Nigerians living in multi-dimensional poverty increased from 38.9% to 54% within this period, with about 129 million Nigerians now living below the poverty line. The World Bank reported recently, that 75% of Nigerians in the rural area now live in poverty as at 2025, and even more than previously recorded in the urban areas.

4. Our education sector has deteriorated significantly. Today, more than 18.3 million Nigerian children are out of school, the highest number in the world. The quality of education in Nigeria is also fast deteriorating. Many of our children are being taught sciences without any science lab and computer studies without any computers. Students are now writing WAEC and other national exams in darkness relying on candles. There are now even glitches in their exams.

5. Health services have worsened drastically. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency decried that less than 20% of over 30,000 Primary Healthcare Centers across the nation are fully functional.

I have even recently visited some Health Centers where delivery rooms were without toilets. The United Nation recently reported Nigeria as the world's worst country to give birth, with one death recorded every seven minutes.

6. Nigerian businesses continue to collapse at alarming rates. Within the past two years, approximately 7 million Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) shut down and folded up across Nigeria. Over 80 manufacturing companies have permanently closed their operations.

Funding costs cost of raw materials and energy costs have surged to an incredible level making these manufacturers shut down.Over 15 major multinationals (including GlaxoSmithKline, Diageo, Procter & Gamble, and Shoprite) have exited Nigeria due to the harsh operating environment.

7. Our hunger crisis arising from food insecurity has deepened in these 2 years. Based on the Global Hunger Index (GHI) reports, Nigeria’s hunger situation has taken a hit, as we are now one of the hungriest countries in the world.

Millions can no longer afford food due to high costs of food and nonexistent disposable income.

8. Our national population is experiencing a mental health crisis as the mental health and stress level within this period has increased drastically.

Nigeria is now one of the top three (3) most stressed countries in the world. Fifty nine percent (59%) of Nigeria’s population are under daily stress. Mental health experts and advocates have warned the present situation in Nigeria is having extremely adverse effect on the population as it contributes to anger, anxiety, and depression levels in the country. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 20 million Nigerians are now affected by mental illness.

9. Despite the trillions of naira purportedly saved from the removal of fuel subsidies (a policy initially justified as a means to curb borrowing), this government has, within two years, borrowed far more money than the istrations of President Umaru Yar’Adua, President Goodluck Jonathan, and President Muhammadu Buhari combined.

Today, Nigeria’s overall public debt is estimated at close to ₦188 trillion. Nigerians were informed that these borrowed funds would be allocated to critical sectors of development. Still, there has been no significant improvement in education, healthcare, or poverty alleviation; critical sectors that are vitally important for national development.

10. Brazen Corruption is at its worst under this istration. Nigeria has now become a crime scene. Now our national budget is routinely inflated and padded without consequences. One of the most glaring manifestations of this, is the extensive padding of the 2025 national budget. BudgIT revealed that about ₦7 trillion was questionably inserted by the National Assembly. These figures suggest a pattern of inflated costs and misappropriation of funds.

11. Power generation rate which the istration claimed to have increased is yet another propaganda. The only increases in power are the excessively high electricity tariffs being paid by Nigerians. The incessant blackout arising from multiple collapse of the national grid is a clear indication of the sorry state of our power and electricity industry.

In 2022, the electricity tariff for Nigerian consumers averaged around ₦64 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). By 2025, there has been a substantial mark up in electricity tariffs, with Nigerians now paying approximately ₦225 per kWh to be in darkness.

What we have now is a more-traffic and more darkness situation for our citizens.

Nigerians should not forget the promise of Mr. President while campaigning on 22nd December 2022: "If I Don't Give You Constant Electricity in The Next 4 Years, Don't Vote For Me For Second Term".

It’s been 2 years of grid collapses and constant darkness. This is already midterm of the istration. We look forward to when he will fulfill this categorical promise.

12. Unemployment remains alarmingly high in the country. Although the government has attempted to manipulate the statistics to suit its narrative, the reality is that unemployment is worsening, especially amongst youths in their productive age. A majority of Nigerian youths are “not in education, employment or training” (NEET) category. Multiple reputable organizations, including the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), have cautioned against reliance on the nations’ data, as they are inconsistent with the realities on ground.

The ILO has noted that Nigeria’s youth unemployment and underemployment rates remain dangerously high. There are also concern on the government’s reporting unemployment figures without addressing the underlying employment challenges, as the revised figures do not reflect the true hardship in the labour market of over forty percent (40%).

Finally, I respectfully appeal to President Tinubu to emulate late President Umaru Yar’Adua who was honest enough to it the process that brought him into office was wrong and not sufficiently credible and thus insisted on doing what is right to save our democracy. And similarly, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who saved our nascent democracy by accepting defeat even before the election results were announced. We must end this troubling governance era that is filled with impunity, state capture, and absolute disregard for the rule of law and the checks and balances required of any worthwhile democracy.

Accordingly, this istration must:
1. Start upholding the rule of law and ensure there is transparency and real progress to the people. The President should stop touring outside Nigeria and use his remaining 2 years to tour the Nigerian states instead.

Mr. President you have already made over 30 international trips, spending nearly 150 days abroad. If you tour Nigeria’s 36 states and dedicates just 2 days to tour each state, it would take only 72 days for you to do, less than half the time you have already spent outside the country on foreign trips. You need to go around the country to see firsthand what the citizens you are serving are going through. Governing by remote control is not what Nigerians need.

2. We must endeavour forthwith to end insecurity and resettle all Nigerians living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. It is unacceptable that millions of our fellow citizens remain displaced in their own homesteads and fatherland, while the rest of us live in comfort, and some, in opulence.

3. Allow the national electoral body in the country to be truly independent. The very agency that is supposed to serve as an independent electoral body for Nigeria elections has lost its neutrality and credibility and now operates as an extension of the APC government, thus undermining democracy, eroding public trust, and turning elections into orchestrated endorsements rather than credible contests.

4. Aggressively tackle the economic problems by expanding agricultural and manufacturing productivity, through measures that will secure our farmers to go back to the farms and reduce production costs for manufacturers—in order to boost employment, which will, in turn, contribute to the nation’s growth and generate even more revenue for the government. This is a better approach than attempting to increase taxes in an unproductive economy, which will only lead to less growth.

This is time to stop the propaganda and lies and let us make Nigeria the democratic nation that it supposed to be.

I respectfully call on all Nigerians not to give up, but to put all hands on deck. Now is the time to demand ability, genuine leadership, and a government that prioritizes the welfare, security and democracy of its people over empty rhetoric and propaganda.

A New Nigeria is POssible.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. -PO

Peter Obi

She looks like...

But the children no try at all.

The Joy and Sadness of Sports

Today, after my engagements at the London Business School, I had the honour of watching the Unity Cup match between Nigeria and Jamaica at the Brentford Stadium in the UK.

The match ended 2-2 and was eventually decided by a penalty shootout, with the Super Eagles emerging victorious. It was not just a game—it was a moving celebration of our unity, culture, and the indomitable spirit of Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora.

Sitting among fellow Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, I witnessed once again how sports cement our unity, uplift us, and remind us of our shared hopes for a better, stronger nation. I commend the organizers for reviving this important event and for using it as a platform to showcase our heritage and the incredible talent of our young people. Congratulations, our Super Eagles, for making us proud.

However, our celebration was cut short just at the train station going by the heartbreaking news of the ugly incident involving 22 of the Kano sports delegation returning from the just concluded national sports festival in Ogun state who were feared dead in a tragic road accident.

As we continue to initiatives that promote unity and national pride, let us also spare a moment to reflect on the lives lost and the families who now mourn.
My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims, the National Sports Commission and the Kano state Government during this difficult time.

May the souls of the departed rest in peace.

-PO

Peter Obi

Flooding in Niger State: A Tragic Reminder of Our Shared Humanity

I received with deep sadness the tragic news of the devastating flooding in the Mokwa Community of Niger State, which has claimed over 100 lives and submerged more than 3,000 homes. This is a heartbreaking and deeply distressing development for our nation.

The scale of destruction is unimaginable - entire families have been displaced, livelihoods destroyed, and whole communities thrown into mourning. My heart goes out, with deep comion, to all the victims, their families, and the entire Mokwa community. At a time like this, we are reminded of the importance of empathy, solidarity, and swift action to one another through grief and loss.

I commend the Niger State Government for and the tireless efforts of emergency workers engaged in rescue and relief operations. At the same time, I urge the Federal Government, and other humanitarian organisations, to intensify their interventions by ensuring the timely provision of essential relief - shelter, food, clean water, and medical care - to all those affected.

This tragic disaster is yet another urgent call for Nigeria to reassess and significantly strengthen our disaster preparedness systems. We must invest in sustainable and proactive solutions that protect lives and property, particularly in vulnerable riverine communities, as the rainy season continues.

I extend my deepest condolences to the government and people of Niger State, and to every family that has lost a loved one. May God Almighty console them, forgive the sins of the departed, and grant them eternal rest. -PO

Peter Obi

Today, I had the privilege of speaking at the London Business School, hosted by the Africa Business Club, on the theme “From Promise to Prosperity: Charting Africa’s Development with Political Will and Vision.”

During the engagement and Q&A session, I stated that Africa is not poor, but its natural wealth is just being poorly managed.

Africa is a continent blessed with everything you can think of. We have about 30% of the world's known mineral reserves and over 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land. 60% of global solar energy potential is in Africa, yet we are still talking about energy poverty.

We have the youngest population on earth, over 60% of our 1.4 billion people are young and productive. By 2050, 40% of the world’s youth will be African. That’s potential waiting to be unlocked.

But the reality is different. Despite all this, we are still home to extreme poverty, insecurity, and rising unemployment. Our problem is simple, failure of leadership.

While Asia now contributes over 35% of global GDP, Africa contributes less than 3%. This is largely because Asian leadership focuses on education, healthcare, production and poverty reduction, whereas in Africa, the opposite tends to be the case.

We must invest in education, health, productivity and poverty reduction. We must feed our people. We must secure our lands and lives. We must cut wasteful spending and invest in our people.

Africa doesn’t lack potential. What we lack is purposeful, able, and competent leadership.

To move from promise to prosperity, Africa must prioritize competence, character, capacity, comion, and integrity in leadership.

A new Nigeria and Africa are POssible.

-PO

Peter Obi

Tinubu's government is a government of the more you look, the less you see.

Ran to media houses a few days ago to publish that Nigeria paid all her debts to the tune of about $5 billion, only to be seeking to borrow another $22 billion.

Who are they trying to deceive nor impress by these propagandas propagated by all these paid APC media machines?

Thank you Sir

Nigeria remains a relentless scene of corruption.

I have consistently maintained that for this country to make progress, Nigeria must cease to function as a crime scene and be repositioned for genuine development.

This entrenched corruption - persistent and deeply rooted - must be nipped in the bud if there is to be any meaningful turnaround.

How else can we explain the distressing revelations by BudgIT, which uncovered a staggering ₦7 trillion in questionable projects inserted into the 2025 national budget? I am convinced that this figure represents only a fraction of the actual amount misappropriated. These findings are deeply troubling and confirm my long-held position that we have turned our country into a crime scene. We must urgently and aggressively combat corruption, misappropriation, and fiscal recklessness in order to manage our resources effectively and efficiently, and invest in critical areas of development: health, education, and lifting our people out of poverty.

The ₦7 trillion uncovered as fraudulently inserted into the 2025 budget is even greater than the combined allocations to the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and the Ministry of Agriculture - ministries that are fundamental to national development.

To be precise:
•The Ministry of Education was allocated ₦3.52 trillion,
•The Ministry of Health received ₦2.48 trillion,
•The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation was allocated ₦260 billion, and
•The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security received ₦636.08 billion.

Combined, these four ministries were allocated ₦6.896 trillion—an already inflated amount—yet still less than the ₦7 trillion dubiously inserted into the budget.

That ₦7 trillion figure is even more than the ₦6.1 trillion allocated to national security—at a time when Nigeria is among the most terrorised nations in the world.

This brazen impunity by our leaders is precisely why the country cannot invest adequately in education—hence the existence of nearly 20 million out-of-school children. It is the same corruption that has crippled primary healthcare, resulting in alarming levels of malnourished children. We face widespread hunger, yet our leaders neglect agricultural investment due to persistent mismanagement and lack of ability. The same disregard affects our capacity to fund national security effectively, or to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which are vital to national growth.

These glaring acts of corruption reinforce my position: Nigeria has been reduced to a crime scene.

We must confront this corruption, misappropriation, and fiscal recklessness with unwavering resolve. Our national resources must be transparently managed and strategically invested in key sectors—health, education, and poverty alleviation—to secure a better future for our people. We must turn this nation around.

A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO

Peter Obi

After attending the inauguration of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, I returned from Rome this morning energised by the Pope's message on fighting poverty. The Pontiff's homily reaffirmed my earlier conviction that eradicating poverty can only be achieved through deliberate sacrifices towards areas of critical development indexes, health, education and pulling people out of poverty.

Upon my arrival in Abuja, I paid a visit to the construction site of the Anglican Hospital in Kubwa, which is a medium health facility being established by the Anglican diocese of Kubwa, after which I thanked the proprietor, Rt. Revd. Duke T. Akamisoko, for the great work he is doing and in my of his noble initiative, I donated a sum of ₦10 million to advance his efforts.

Thereafter, I visited the Anglican Comprehensive Secondary School in Kubwa, established by the same diocese.
Again, education, as I have maintained,, is the most critical investment towards development.
To the great work being done by the diocese, I donated another sum of ₦10 million.

Education, health and pulling people out of poverty remain the three most powerful tools for securing a better future for our children and our society. I remain committed to promoting each of them, as this is the most effective pathway to drastically developing our country.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

Peter Obi

The security situation in Borno state is concerning and very unsettling. What is happening in the Marte area of the state is not just a local emergency; it is a national alarm bell that must not be ignored. Governor Babagana Zulum, by choosing to spend the night in a town under threat, has once again demonstrated what leadership should look like: present, proactive, and people-centred. His courage is not for commendation alone; it is a challenge to those in authority to match words with decisive action.

We cannot claim to be building a secure and united Nigeria when one of our own, a sitting governor, is left pleading for federal to prevent an entire local government from falling into the hands of terrorists. Over 300 communities stand exposed, while more than 20,000 of our fellow Nigerians are displaced yet again. These are not just numbers, they are families, children, and communities whose hopes are hanging by a thread.

Governor Zulum has raised critical concerns: that insurgents are regrouping around Lake Chad and the Mandara Hills; that Marte is on the verge of collapse; and that the window for action is closing. These are facts. And it is not enough to acknowledge them; we must respond with urgency and sincerity.

We cannot afford to continue this culture of delayed response and distant governance. Our security forces need reinforcements. Our displaced citizens need protection, not promises. And our leaders, particularly at the federal level, must show the will to act swiftly and consistently.

I have always maintained that Nigeria works best when leadership is driven by comion, competence, and courage. Governor Zulum has shown all three. The Federal Government must now do the same. If we fail to protect Borno, we fail the idea of Nigeria itself.

This is not about politics. It is about people. It is about protecting the soul of our nation.

Let us act quickly, decisively, and justly.

A new Nigeria is POssible.

-PO

Peter Obi

Welcome back Sir

Back from the Vatican

I have just returned from the Vatican, and it was a deeply solemn and reflective visit. My participation in the inauguration ceremony was in line with my previous witnessing of inaugurations, swearing-ins, and official ceremonies across the world, this was no exception. Such occasions carry profound moral and spiritual significance. This was never a political event and should remain untouched by politics. Some moments are best reserved for quiet contemplation.

After the inaugural Mass, I did not attend the Papal Audience and therefore did not have the opportunity to meet the Holy Father personally. That honour was reserved for heads of state and accredited diplomats. For those who desire such an encounter, the Papal Audience continues traditionally.

What should truly command our attention, however, is the content and moral force contained in the Pope’s homily, particularly his urgent call to fight poverty and promote a spirit of brotherhood that transcends ethnic, political, and religious boundaries. The deeper meaning of the gathering lies not in ceremonial gestures, but in whether those present internalised his message and will return with the resolve to act.

The fight against corruption is the essential first step toward building societies where resources are directed to what truly matters - education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and infrastructure. These should be our major concern and the lasting message we carry home from the Vatican. May we, in whatever station we occupy, rise to the task of building a more just, comionate, and prosperous nation. -PO

Peter Obi

Tah!

This is Aba and Benin.

This type of road can never be found in our obodo oyinbo region of Nigeria.

I'm back, after a long time of being away from Nairaland due to some special assignments that were assigned to me to carry out outside the shores of Africa, I noticed that many things have changed on the forum.

Now, back to the topic;

Nigeria my country should wake up and invest in education and other critical sectors like health, labour and employment, etc.

This should be a wakeup call and all tribal inclination to this honest call should be discouraged in its entirety.

I just came across the official results from JAMB showing the recent exam figures.
According to the data shared, a total of 1,955,069 candidates sat for the exam.
Shockingly, out of this number, only about 420,000 candidates scored above 200, while over 1.5 million scored below 200.

This means that over 78% of the total candidates failed to meet the 200-mark threshold — a reflection of the deep-rooted challenges in our educational system.

The latest JAMB results once again highlight the consequences of decades of underinvestment in education, a sector that should be central to our national development strategy.

Currently, Nigeria's total university enrollment stands at approximately 2 million students. By comparison, the National University of Bangladesh — a single university — has over 3.4 million students enrolled, despite the country having only about 75% of Nigeria’s population. One university in Bangladesh sures the entire university enrollment in Nigeria.

Bangladesh, which once lagged behind Nigeria in virtually every measurable development index, now sures us in all key areas of development and in the Human Development Index (HDI).

Similarly, Turkey, with a population of about 87.7 million people, has over 7 million university students — more than three times Nigeria’s total university enrollment.

I have consistently said it: education is not just a social service; it is a strategic investment. It is the most critical driver of national development and the most powerful tool for lifting people out of poverty.

We must now invest aggressively in education — at all levels — if we are serious about building a prosperous, secure, and equitable Nigeria.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

Peter Obi

It's Man U again

Goal for Man U

.

Up Blues

3rd goal for Chelsea

Goal for Chelsea

You mean Yoruba sorry Wike's group?

Neddyogu:


Good gesture oo, but na that bolded part wey need small clarity. Who fit explain?

What that means is that John Udeagbala described Prof. Udegbunam as a destined individual, who possessed spiritual gifts gotten from his(Prof. Udegbunam) father's mother.

Greenback:
Ummm?
I thought it was one Okwukwu (abi na Doctor Who) we were hearing o!! Anyway, congratulations 🎉

Btw, deeply concerned self appointed æffõnjãs ministers of Igbo affairs are coming to explain better 😁😁😁

Maybe the election was re-conducted, I don't know because I've not been following the trend.