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Sen Kalu rejects NYLF’s call to run for president, reaffirms support for Tinubu
Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has rejected calls from the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) urging him to run for president in 2027.
The NYLF, a coalition of 40 groups, made the request after a courtesy visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The group’s President, Comrade Eliot Afiyo, named Obasanjo as its patron and listed Kalu and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as their preferred contenders for the 2027 presidency.
The group also suggested that the Governors of Zamfara and Adamawa States, Dauda Lawal and Umar Fintiri, serve as running mates.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday by his media office and signed by George Maduka, Senator Kalu firmly dissociated himself from any presidential ambition, reiterating his commitment to supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Kalu emphasized that there is no division within the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding the party’s 2027 presidential candidate and urged the opposition to refrain from using his name for political distractions.
The statement read in part: “Nigerian politics operates within a framework of a federal and presidential system, allowing citizens the right to vote and be voted for.
Senator Kalu has the right to decide what position he should be considered for, and the presidency in 2027 is not one of them.
He has publicly endorsed President Tinubu for re-election and remains committed to the work required to support him.”
Kalu further expressed confidence in Tinubu’s economic reforms, stating that achieving long-term stability, inclusivity, and adaptability requires the President to serve a full eight-year tenure.
“Since Nigeria’s return to democracy, no leader has shown the courage to reform the dwindling economy as Tinubu has.
Kalu believes the best Nigerians can do is to support and re-elect the President in 2027 to complete the good work he has started.”
The former Abia State Governor also highlighted his long-standing friendship with Tinubu, dating back to their time as governors in 1999, and reaffirmed his unwavering support for the President’s progressive economic policies.
News
Delta Governor Oborevwori gifts 65 SUVs to traditional rulers
In response, the Chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Major General Felix Mujakperuo (Rtd.), Orhue I, described the gesture as a timely and symbolic intervention that strengthens grassroots governance and peace-building across the state.
•Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori
The Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has presented 65 brand new Sports Utility Vehicles, SUVs, to traditional rulers across the state.
During the presentation of the 60 brand new Prados and five Land Cruisers to the beneficiaries, Oborevwori described traditional fathers as “tools of service” for guardians of peace and stability.
Governor Oborevwori said that the decision to provide rugged SUVs was deliberate, given the rural and difficult terrains in which many traditional rulers operate.
He emphasised that traditional rulers are not merely custodians of customs, norms and traditions but vital intermediaries between government and the people at the grassroots.
Oborevwori explained that the state’s traditional rulers have made governance easier and more effective for him.
In response, the Chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Major General Felix Mujakperuo (Rtd.), Orhue I, described the gesture as a timely and symbolic intervention that strengthens grassroots governance and peace-building across the state.
He assured the governor of the traditional institution’s unwavering support for his administration.
News
BREAKING: Another Newswatch Magazine Co-Founder Passes Away – Yakubu Mohammed Dies at 75
In a somber development for Nigeria’s journalism community, Yakubu Mohammed, a co-founder of the iconic Newswatch magazine and its former deputy chief executive officer, has died at the age of 75.
Mohammed’s passing, announced recently, follows closely on the heels of the death of his longtime colleague and fellow co-founder, Dan Agbese, who succumbed to a prolonged illness on November 17, 2025, at age 81.
This marks yet another significant loss among the pioneering generation that launched Newswatch in 1984, revolutionizing investigative journalism in Nigeria.
Alongside Dan Agbese, Ray Ekpu, and the late Dele Giwa (who was tragically assassinated via a parcel bomb in 1986), Mohammed helped establish Newswatch as a trailblazing weekly newsmagazine known for its bold, fearless reporting and commitment to truth during a turbulent era in Nigerian history.
Reports indicate that Mohammed had been battling an undisclosed ailment before his death. Just months prior, in October 2025, he released his memoir, Beyond Expectations, which provides deep insights into the magazine’s founding, its challenges, and its enduring impact on Nigerian media.
The deaths of Agbese and now Mohammed represent profound blows to the legacy of Newswatch, which set new standards for ethical, investigative, and interpretative journalism in the country.
Tributes are expected to pour in from media practitioners, political leaders, and the public as the nation mourns another pillar of its press freedom movement. May his soul rest in perfect peace.
News
U.S. delivers ‘critical military assets’ to battle terrorists, bandits
Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, visited the U.S. to quicken the process for the supply of 12 AH-1Z fighter jets by Bell Textron of California.AH-1Z, a modern attack helicopter, is equipped with advanced sensors and precision-guided weapons with night-fighting capabilities.
The US Africa Command (AFRICOM), has confirmed the delivery of critical military supplies to Nigeria to support the ongoing security operations against terrorists and other non-state actors.
“This delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and emphasises our shared security partnership,” said AFRICOM on its official X account yesterday.
AFRICOM, however, did not name the “critical military” tools.
Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, visited the U.S. to quicken the process for the supply of 12 AH-1Z fighter jets by Bell Textron of California.AH-1Z, a modern attack helicopter, is equipped with advanced sensors and precision-guided weapons with night-fighting capabilities.
The supply of the critical military tools came after Washington launched deadly strikes on terrorists in the Northwest on December 24.
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