Today we remember MKO Abiola.

He came like a dream and lived as a legend.

Of his accomplishments, he was a marvel: a child born into poverty but surrounded by such a wealth of culture and community that, from an early age, he understood that the greatest glory came from serving people.

A prodigy of Baptist Boys High School where his identity as a muslim did not stop him from benefiting from scholarships set up by missionaries; and ultimately coming fourth in the international chartered accountancy exam in England.

MKO believed in Nigeria and in Nigerians and loved both above all else.

He would have been a success anywhere, but like many patriotic Nigerians of his time, he chose Nigeria for his stage.

And what a stage it was for much of his adult life, marked by feats of business and personal success that was matched by his prodigious philanthropy.

If there was a final test that caused a man that seemed to be an unstoppable force of nature to stumble, it was the quest to ensure that Nigerians would say farewell of poverty.

He set forth on his attempt but, alas, he did not succeed.

However, that his final chapter culminated in the pursuit of a better Nigeria for all probably defined him best.

MKO believed in Nigeria and in Nigerians and loved both above all else.

So as divided as the country may be today, fractured and riven by suspicion and fear; as dispirited as many citizens may feel when confronted by the lack of visible progress on insecurity and broader prosperity, on this 27th anniversary of MKO’s death, we would do well to remember that the unity some threaten to upend may be a pre-condition for winning the fight for our country and its future.

And that the quest to end poverty in Nigeria isn’t for one man, whether MKO or whoever leads our country, however brilliant and blessed he may be, but for us all.

• Contributed by Dr Hafsat Abiola President KUDIRAT INITIATIVE FOR DEMOCRACY (KIND); Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin President, Women Arise

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has dismissed the growing alliance of political heavyweights seeking to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, describing the coalition as a mere distraction that is bound to fail.

Speaking to a group of journalists and politicians in Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said Nigerians will stand behind the President to ensure the full realisation of his reform agenda.

He specifically criticised the anti-Tinubu coalition taking shape under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), labeling it a distraction unworthy of the President’s attention.

“Nigerians will never go back to Egypt,” Sanwo-Olu declared, adding that the motive behind the alliance is to derail the progress made under Tinubu’s leadership.

“The target is to distract the Commander-in-Chief and derail the social and economic gains that we can see and feel, but President Tinubu knows the game and will never fall for their bait,” he said.

The coalition includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark, ex-Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi, and former Governors Nasir el-Rufai and Rauf Aregbesola.

While some view the group as a credible alternative platform, Sanwo-Olu insisted it is simply an assembly of disgruntled politicians.

He argued that the President’s record — from stabilising the foreign exchange market to launching a national student loan scheme and initiating far-reaching tax reforms — offers a compelling case for continuity.

Sanwo-Olu also pointed to increased oil production, infrastructure development, enhanced revenue allocation to states following fuel subsidy removal, and the national minimum wage review as further evidence of progress.

“President Tinubu is not only a builder of men but a visionary leader whose impact is evident across the nation,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Asked whether the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was concerned about the ADC or its backers, the Governor responded: “No one should be concerned or distracted by what ADC or any other group is attempting to orchestrate.

The truth is clear, the people can see the difference, and history is on his side.”

“They have nothing but bitterness to offer; they are bound together by their illogical resentment against President Tinubu, not by any edifying ideology. They will run out of steam.”

On what advice he would give the President amid growing opposition rhetoric, Sanwo-Olu said: “Simple.

The President should stay the course. Millions of well-meaning Nigerians across party lines and compatriots, who understand what it takes to govern the most populous black nation on earth and revive a troubled economy, are behind him and trust his leadership.”

“We know how far we’ve come under President Tinubu’s leadership. The focus should remain on delivering results, deepening reforms, and building a stronger Nigeria. Any attempt to shake that foundation will be futile,” he added.

Air Vice Marshal Shehu Adamu Fura (retd.), Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reconciliation Committee, has officially resigned from the party and declared his allegiance to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Fura’s departure, confirmed in a resignation letter dated July 3, 2025, and addressed to the PDP Ward Chairman in Pantami Ward, Gombe Local Government Area, marks a significant loss for the PDP in the state.

His defection is seen as a major development, coming at a time when the party is striving to consolidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A respected figure in Gombe politics, Fura was a contender in the PDP’s 2023 governorship primaries, where he finished third.

His influence in the party, especially in grassroots mobilization and internal dispute resolution, was considered critical.

As head of the state’s Reconciliation Committee, he played a pivotal role in fostering unity among party factions following the 2023 elections.

In his resignation letter, Fura cited personal reflection and extensive consultations as reasons behind his decision to leave the PDP.