Emmanuel Nwajagu @shellscholar

The Infinite Possibilities of Sport Today, accompanied by Ladipo Johnson, the NDC candidate for Lagos Central Senatorial District, and Aisha Jimoh, the NDC candidate for the House of Representatives, Lagos Island Constituency II, we went to the Onikan Stadium to watch the local league match between Enugu Rangers FC and Ikorodu City FC. As the match unfolded, I thought about the enormous possibilities of sport and how countries such as Brazil and Jamaica have used it to engage young people, fight crime, and create opportunities. It pained me to see how poorly we are developing sports in Nigeria. A stadium with a capacity of about 10,000 had fewer than 2,000 spectators. Nigeria has no shortage of sporting talent. What we lack is the vision and commitment to turn that talent into opportunities for our young people. Sport is not merely entertainment; properly developed, it can be a powerful tool for youth development, employment, and social transformation. A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO

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During his 2006-2014 tenure as Anambra governor, Peter Obi reclaimed Onitsha stadium grounds by relocating LG offices built on them and rebuilt the 5,000-seat Chuba Ikpeazu Memorial Stadium. He constructed the Godwin Achebe Stadium in Onitsha South plus other mini-stadia, initiated Awka Township Stadium, restored school sports with facilities and grants (raising national rankings), organised Unity and Traders Cups, and supported athletes including stipends for old Rangers.

Yesterday, I spoke with ARISE News on the Anambra debt question and other issues affecting our nation. In the interview, I clarified the facts surrounding the multilateral development funds accessed by Anambra State, the financial position I left behind in 2014, and the urgent need to focus on the hardships confronting Nigerians rather than on political distractions. I am Sharing this interview to correct factual details, clear all doubts, and put the issues in their proper perspective. A new Nigeria where leaders are proud of their past is POssible. -PO youtu.be/uYifD4eZPmU?si…

MY VISIT TO DELTA STATE On Thursday, 24th September, I joined our Governorship Candidate in Delta State, Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, other Delta State candidates, our party leaders, and members of our party for the launching of the NDC campaign office in Asaba, Delta State. It was another opportunity to continue to spread our message and commitment to a better Nigeria. We must unite, secure our dear nation, and move it from consumption to production, create jobs, and pull our people out of poverty. I sincerely thank our Governorship Candidate, other leaders, and members of our party in Delta State for their commitment to a better Delta State and Nigeria. I also sincerely thank the good people of Delta State for the wonderful reception and hospitality accorded to us. A New Nigeria is Possible, and Nigeria will be OK. -PO

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THE 22ND ALL NIGERIA EDITORS CONFERENCE Yesterday, Friday, 25th September, I attended the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, with the theme: “The Ballot, The Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” held in Enugu State. In my remarks, I called on our editors to continue to reinforce their role as bulwarks protecting our democracy. I also emphasised the need for editors to use their privileged position in society to hold us politicians accountable, investigate our records and demand excellence from all of us contesting to become Excellencies. Editors must continue to scrutinise the qualifications and past records of those seeking public office, expose past wrongdoings and ensure that the Nigerian people have access to the information they need to make informed decisions. Leaders must exemplify the best values of society. The conference also afforded me the opportunity to interact directly with participants during the question-and-answer session and to listen to their perspectives on the state of our democracy and the role of the media in strengthening it. I thank the Nigerian Guild of Editors for the invitation to participate in this important conference, and I wish them a successful conference. A New Nigeria is Possible, and Nigeria will be OK. -PO.

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Where Is Nigeria’s President? The dynamic President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, delivered a remarkable address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The international community has commended his leadership and the substance of his address. It is a reminder of what leadership can produce when competence, capacity, compassion, commitment and character come together in the service of a nation. Against this background, many are asking: Where is the President of Africa’s most populous nation, a country of more than 200 million people - more than Ghana - whose leader has been absent from the global stage for three consecutive UNGAs? Nigeria’s President, who ought to be representing the country and providing leadership for Africa at the international level, has not attended any of these three global gatherings. Where is he, particularly at a time when the country faces significant challenges, both domestically and internationally? Although our Vice President, Kashim Shettima, was present, the question remains: Where is the President? Let us continue to pray for his return and for his leadership in addressing the many challenges confronting the nation. A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO Check out this video, "ghana president at un" share.google/uBKw1UKhpaRyDj…

ON THE ANAMBRA DEBT QUESTION I have remained silent over the past few days because I have been grieving the loss of my very dear elder brother and friend, Chief Okey Ezeibe. However, the time has come for me to address some of the matters that have occupied public discussion in recent days. I respectfully urge everyone to concentrate on the existential challenges confronting Nigeria and the hardships endured by its citizens, rather than on the needless distractions that have become widespread in our politics. I wish to assure the public that I have no disagreement with my dear elder brother, Governor Soludo, or with any governor in Nigeria. I am not seeking the office of governor in any state, and I will not seek that position again, even if the Constitution is amended. Accordingly, I appeal to governors to support whichever presidential candidate they choose while also permitting and assisting other presidential candidates and contenders for other offices to campaign freely and without interruption in their states. Ultimately, voters should be allowed to determine whom they wish to serve them. Regarding the multilateral funding inaccurately described as “debt owed by Peter Obi” in Anambra State, I wish to state unequivocally: As Governor of Anambra State, I did not approach any financial institution to borrow funds or issue a bond on behalf of the state. Indeed, at his farewell ceremony, the then Director-General of the DMO, Abraham Nwankwo, appointed me chairman and declared that, during his 10 years in office, I was the only state governor who had not approached him for a loan facility. When I left office, the Anambra State Government owed no unpaid salaries, gratuities, or pensions. Neither did it owe any contractor or supplier who had completed work that the government had verified and certified. Regarding development financing from the World Bank, these are concessionary development-support funds secured by the Federal Government for states selected by it to address specific needs. Repayment is spread over 25 to 30 years. The Anambra State Government must therefore differentiate among three separate figures: the total amount approved for the multiyear development program; the amount Anambra State actually drew during my tenure; and the funding balance outstanding when I handed over on 17 March 2014. The government has combined these distinct categories, added them together, and described the resulting US$123.77 million as “loans left by Peter Obi.” That is an incorrect application of public-sector accounting. The eight facilities identified were primarily World Bank and IFAD development programs negotiated by the Federal Government, with participating states receiving access to the funds through subsidiary arrangements. They were not conventional commercial loans that I personally secured during my tenure. This does not suggest that Anambra had no repayment responsibilities; rather, each facility must be examined in light of its approval, effectiveness, drawdown, and repayment record. The clearest contradiction appears in the government’s own figures. It states that the original facilities amounted to approximately US$123.77 million and that US$92.35 million remained outstanding in June 2026. However, the DMO’s published records showed Anambra’s total external debt at approximately US$18 million when I began my tenure in March 2006, about US$30 million in March 2014, when I left office, and approximately US$45.15 million as of 31 December 2014, nine months after my departure. The Anambra State Government must therefore clarify how a state whose recorded external debt was about US$30 million in March 2014 and US$45.15 million in December 2014 could supposedly have inherited US$123.77 million from Peter Obi, who left office in March of that same year.

On the day I left office, I left more than US$150 million as the dollar component of my investment in Anambra State as governor. I hereby provide documents that can be verified with the various banks. Had it remained untouched, this investment was expected to provide Anambra State with approximately US$10 million in annual income. Even if their assertion were accurate—which it is not—that Anambra owed US$123 million, the government could have used the US$10 million generated annually from my savings to reduce the debt. It has now been 13 years since I left office, which would amount to US$130 million. The debt should have been fully settled by now. Had they retained the funds I left in the bank, including the compound interest on the principal and the additional income, the total would be approximately US$335 million today. If they had chosen to repay the US$92.35 million funding, the entire amount would have been covered, leaving approximately US$242 million to be reinvested. That sum would have generated about US$20 million annually for Anambra State. Let me reiterate that, when I left office, I left Anambra State in a strong financial position—the strongest of any state in Nigeria—and I stand by that position. Through this clarification, I wish to state categorically that I will neither engage nor trade words with anyone regarding my tenure in Anambra State. My focus will now be on issues affecting the suffering Nigerian masses, which is the reason for my presidential ambition. A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO

We said NELFUND was a scam, but people argued. Tinubu cut tertiary education funding and pushed universities to raise fees. We paid ₦20k per year and didn’t need NELFUND to afford university.

Nigeria Stories @NigeriaStories

a week ago

JUST IN: Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), has said public universities across Nigeria may need to charge at least ₦1 million in tuition per student to achieve financial self-sustainability.

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@NigeriaStories We said NELFUND was a scam, but people argued. Tinubu cut tertiary education funding and pushed universities to raise fees. We paid ₦20k per year and didn’t need NELFUND to afford university.

@instablog9ja We said NELFUND was a scam, but people argued. Tinubu cut tertiary education funding and pushed universities to raise fees. We paid ₦20k per year and didn’t need NELFUND to afford university.

We said NELFUND was a scam, but people argued. Tinubu cut tertiary education funding and pushed universities to raise fees. We paid ₦20k per year and didn’t need NELFUND to afford university.

Instablog9ja @instablog9ja

a week ago

Public Universities Must Start Charging At Least ₦1 million Tuition Per Student — Former LASU VC, Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), has said public universities across Nigeria may need to charge at

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Anambra donates 50 vans, three armoured trucks to Police Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar on... fb.me/27F2sZk7e

OBI/KWANKWASO TALKS NIGERIA, THE KADUNA TOWNHALL Yesterday, after my visit to the Sheikh Muhammad Sambo Memorial Islamic Institute in Rigachikun, Kaduna, I joined my running mate, His Excellency, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and candidates of our party for an interactive town hall meeting organised by the party. The town hall, which is a continuation of our series of engagements with citizens following the one we recently held in Port Harcourt, again afforded us the opportunity to interact directly with our fellow citizens, listen to their concerns, answer their questions and hear their contributions on the critical issues facing our country today. Our response was to reassure our dear compatriots of our commitment to uniting our nation, pulling our people out of poverty, investing in healthcare and education, and aggressively tackling insecurity, so that our people can safely return to their homes, communities and farms. We also spoke about the need to address the endemic corruption and inefficiencies in the fuel subsidy regime, reduce the burden of fuel costs on Nigerians, and create an economy that supports our citizens to live decent and dignified lives in their own country. Let me use this opportunity once again to call on our opponents to also speak directly with the people and listen to their feedback. The very essence of democracy is people-centred governance. Leaders and aspiring leaders must therefore leave their comfort zones and interface directly with the people they seek to serve. I thank our party leadership and the organisers of this town hall for a job well done, and I congratulate the good people of Kaduna State for their renewed commitment to supporting a leadership that listens to and respects their concerns. A New Nigeria is POssible, and Nigeria will be OK. -PO

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Peter Obi was ahead of his time. This was the beginning of that education revolution in Anambra. Towards the end of his tenure, the state rose from No. 26 to No. 1 in WAEC. He personally visited all the schools in Anambra

@tope_yakubu @Ezenwamoke

Bringing Sanity To Anambra Was One Of My Greatest Achievements – Peter Obi bit.ly/1gmOR5B

Obi Presents 1.5 Billion Naira Cheque To Schools bit.ly/1hlssr7

Today At Bonny Main Market In Bonny LGA With My Capacity Woman Leader @kruzyluv

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