Ideas leave a trail.

As planned today, I visited Dutse, Jigawa State, to commiserate with Governor Alhaji Umar Namadi Dan Modi and the people of Jigawa over the tragic petroleum tanker incident that took over 180 lives and over 80 still hospitalized. Those who died and were hospitalized are mainly young people in their prime productive years. This is a national tragedy. I pray for the departed souls and strength for their bereaved families. I also pledge to donate to the victims. I appreciate and thank the government for the efforts they are making to alleviate the suffering and help those in the hospital. Again, I use this as a point of contact to condole all the victims of the tanker explosion and spillage and to urge tanker drivers to be more careful. I also call on governments at all levels to provide our people with a source of livelihood to avoid things that will jeopardize their lives. The frequency of tragedies in our nation has become a concerning issue that calls for special supplications for God's intervention even as relevant stakeholders and governments at all levels should strive to put in place infrastructure and laws that will help prevent such ugly incidents. Tragedies occur when necessary human action is not adequately taken to mitigate misfortune. -PO

I am deeply saddened and outraged by the unending killing and death in our society. The senseless killing of 16 young men in Nibo, Anambra State remains condemnable. This despicable act is not only a profound loss to their families but also a stark reminder of the escalating violence that continues to plague our communities. Life is sacred, and no one has the right to take it. Such heinous actions reveal a disturbing disregard for human dignity and the rule of law. Our nation cannot progress if we allow violence to become the norm, and we must work collectively to address the underlying causes of this growing menace. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the Nibo community, the Government of Anambra State, and all those affected by this tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. I call on the authorities to act swiftly in bringing the perpetrators of this horrific crime to justice and ensuring that such incidents are never repeated. Nigeria must become a nation where safety and justice prevail over violence and lawlessness. May God grant the departed eternal rest and give their families, along with the Government of Anambra, the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss. -PO

Yesterday, I had the privilege of mentoring some of our young Nigerians at the SMFest event in Owerri. At the event, I reminded them that the road to greatness demands grit, flexibility, and the courage to evolve. Yes, Nigeria is challenging right now, but those of us who are older are finding strength in the passion of the younger generation. And we say—don’t give up! Whether it's in business, skills development, education, or politics—don’t give up! Life will throw obstacles your way, but stand firm. If you need to, step back, rethink your strategy, evolve, and come back stronger. Success comes to those who stay the course, even in tough times. Seeing the innovation and determination of our young people gives me hope. I believe they will transform Nigeria, making us a globally competitive force. I will continue to support that growth and believe in the change they’re driving." A new Nigeria is emerging right before our eyes. Let's keep at it. A new Nigeria is well within our reach and very POssible. -PO

Why I Congratulated Gen. Gowon at 90 My felicitation with Nigeria’s former military Head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, on his 90th birthday anniversary, which was celebrated by a cross-section of Nigerians, has been received with mixed feelings by some Nigerians, and some have expressed their sentiments publicly, and privately to me. I share in some of them, and I feel that as a leader in the vanguard of providing direction for our country to shift base away from all our shortcomings, including the issues that caused our avoidable cruel civil war, I needed to show to the World that the ultimate heroism is forgiving the enemy and moving forward. Indisputably, the darkest part of our 64-year journey as a nation is the 30 months of civil war from 1967 to 1970 and God almighty whose way is not our way must have a reason why he kept the Chief Prosecutor of the war who is General Gowon alive to be 90 years today and the man who saw the end of the war, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to be there at 87 years super-heading all the moves to see a reconciled and just Nigeria. There was also a developing new spirit why the same country, Nigeria, gave the Biafra leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, a heroic national burial on 2 March 2012, when he joined his ancestors, coincidentally under my tenure as Governor of Anambra state. The status of the burial given to Dim Ojukwu remains the boldest indication to the World that Nigeria as a country is disposed to moving forward in the spirit of reconciliation. There are various ways human beings can respond to acts of evil, especially one that claimed millions of lives. One is the tragedy of revenge, and another offers the hope of forgiveness in an attempt to forget. The latter conforms neatly with the template I adopted in greeting Gen Gowon at 90 years old. In all my dealings with human beings, I try to be guided by my faith as a Christian in a strong message preached by Jesus Christ himself and underscored in reflections in St Paul’s letter to the Colossians 3:13: “Bear with each other and forgive one another: if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” And to Ephesians 4: 31-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” Whatever reason I will give for joining the rest of Nigerians to greet General Gowon, May never truly conform with some persons, especially direct victims of the war, but anger, hurt, and bitterness are the commonest responses to cruelty. It fuels sectarianism, it leads to resistance and avoidable blood feuds that we are witnessing across the globe, and even in our country and it does not abate. There is something about forgiveness, it sets the person doing it free. Forgiveness is more a process than an instinct. It’s hate that has put our society, blessed by God to be the greatest land in the black World, down, but this hate has to stop. I was under ten years old when the Nigeria/Biafra war started in 1967. Most of my supporters across the country joining me get a new Nigeria were born after the war, and I didn’t feel I should drag them back to the dark side of our history by being unforgiving. I feel such an act will derail the message of a New Nigeria that we insist is POssible. ‘Must you greet him? Why didn’t you keep quiet?’ some angrily say to me, but that will still be injurious to our journey to a new Nigeria where all political vices, including but not limited to ethnic, religious, bitterness, and regional segregation, are eliminated. Various personal experiences of victims of injustice across the globe who have chosen to put ugly things behind them visibly demonstrate the transformative power of forgiveness in healing personal and collective wounds.

Yesterday, I was in Awkunanaw, Enugu State, for the Official Opening of Araceli Aid Foundation Academy, a school whose mission is to give the less privileged children in our society access to quality education. The Araceli Aid Foundation Academy is an offspring of the Araceli Aid Foundation, a not-for-profit organization sponsored by an American philanthropist, Anne Rossmeier, to support schools and improve the living conditions of indigent and destitute individuals in our society. Following my firm belief that quality education is not only the right of every child but is also their currency for future opportunities, I was glad to honor their invitation. I was even more gladdened to see such private individuals making visible investments in education for the progress of society. I also promised to partner with the organization on this noble mission by helping to sponsor some indigent students in the school. I thank the family of Anne Rossmeier for this great contribution to our society. I learned that about 50% of the children in the school enjoy full and partial scholarships. This is a commendable step in our struggle to give our children across the nation access to a better life through education. From Awkunanaw I visited Queen School Enugu to join in their 70th Anniversary Celebration. The school, for the past 7 decades, has remained committed to educating the girl child and making them great and responsible members of society. I rejoice with them on achieving this momentous landmark. While walking around the school premises, and from the information I gathered from the Senior Prefect, the school needs a lot of support, especially in the area of infrastructure and other amenities. I, therefore, call on the Old Girls Association of Queen's School, on the occasion of this 70th anniversary, to do more in supporting their alma mater with its many needs. I also expressed my readiness to partner with the Old Girls of the school in rebuilding some of the dilapidated structures. We can adopt a 5-year project plan which, if well followed, by the time we come back in 5 years for the 75th anniversary, we will also celebrate the remarkable infrastructural growth in the school. These seeds of educational investments we have continued to sow across the country will continue to germinate into greater development and productivity for the nation. A New Nigeria remains POssible! -PO

On Tuesday the 15th, my journey from Onitsha in Anambra State to Anyigba in Kogi State by road once again underscored my consistent appeal for all tiers of government to prioritize the repair and completion of existing road infrastructure, rather than launching new projects that may not be completed anytime soon, further adding to the growing list of abandoned projects scattered all over the country. The journey, which should normally take around three and a half hours, took us over seven hours. The route through Obollo Afor, Otukpa Branch, Ejule, and Anyigba was exhausting. On the return trip, we took an alternate route via Ogugu and Enugu-Ezike, departing Kogi State around 2:00 p.m. and not arriving back until about 9:00 p.m. – all for a meeting that lasted just 30 minutes. This is my travel experience across the country this year. In the first quarter, I had cause to travel from Calabar to Uyo, a trip that should take about an hour, but it ended up taking four hours. I travelled from Port Harcourt to Bayelsa, thinking I would use the East-West Road to Warri, but it became a treacherous journey. Warri to Benin was a similar experience. In August, I travelled from Abuja to Kaduna, where I spent over two hours on the Kaduna bypass alone. The Onitsha to Benin route was no different. My recent trip from Benin to Auchi and back was excruciating, and one cannot help but wonder. I know these things cannot be fixed overnight, but my appeal is that there should be total commitment to alleviating the suffering of the Nigerian travelling public, rather than launching new projects. The resources should be directed toward improving the existing roads and easing the burden on commuters. -PO

I am privileged to join other Nigerians of goodwill to celebrate a highly respected leader and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, on his 90th birthday anniversary. In a time of hate, you stood for love. At a time of strife, you stood for peace. At a time of division, you stood for unity. Your life of service to our great nation, Nigeria, stand as one of sacrifice, leadership, and unity. Your steadfast commitment to preserving the peace and sovereignty of Nigeria during a challenging period in our history will forever be remembered and revered. Your exemplary leadership and statesmanship remain an inspiration to younger and many generations of Nigerians. As we celebrate this milestone, I pray that God continues to grant you good health, wisdom, and the grace of true fruitfulness. May your legacy continue to guide us as we strive to build a more united, prosperous, and just Nigeria. Happy 90th birthday, Sir. -PO

Yesterday, I joined other notable figures, that included the esteemed former Presidents of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to attend the 67th birthday celebration and the remarkable presentation of 50 books by the renowned legal Professor Mike Ozekhome SAN, CON, OFR, FCIArb, LL.M, PhD, LL.D, Litt.D, https://t.co/0fvoQyFskT. Professor Ozekhome’s contributions to the legal profession and his commitment to justice have left an indelible mark on Nigeria's legal landscape. His body of work, as celebrated through these 50 volumes, is a testament to his intellectual prowess, relentless pursuit of truth, and dedication to the rule of law. In an era where strong voices of reason and principle are needed, Professor Ozekhome stands out as a beacon of hope, fighting for the oppressed and championing the cause of the downtrodden. His work transcends mere legal practice; it represents a legacy of courage, integrity, and the fight for a just and equitable society. His books are not only scholarly works but also a reflection of his life’s mission to uphold the dignity of humanity and protect the sanctity of Nigeria’s Constitution. As we celebrate his life and achievements, we must also recommit ourselves to the values he holds dear: justice, equality, and the defense of human rights. -PO

I extend my warmest congratulations to the newly appointed Chief Imam of the National Mosque, Prof Iliyasu Usman. This significant appointment reflects your dedication, wisdom,and exceptional leadership. May Allah grant you the wisdom and strength to carry out the special spiritual assignment. And may your exemplary service to Islam, the Muslim community and the nation help to engender the much needed peace by deepening spirituality in our national lives. I trust that your tenure will continue to foster peace, unity, and prosperity in our beloved country. May the Almighty Allah continue to guide and protect you in the discharge of your duties. -PO

While it is arguable that with the President and Vice President absent from the Villa , there is no vacancy in the Presidency, in a situation where both the President and Vice President are out of the country, as reported in the media yesterday, it's concerning for a country with such myriads of domestic problems. The President had told us he would only be gone for 14 days. The 14 days have passed now, and we are waiting to see him in the country. One would have expected him to return earlier than expected, considering the volume of work that needs to be done in a troubled nation like ours. The untold hardship that has been unleashed on our people as a result of some of his administration's policies is unimaginable and we need his urgent attention to pilot the nation out of this present situation. Again, since the President is reportedly in Paris, France, which is just about 833 nautical miles from Stockholm, Sweden, one wonders why he did not just attend the 2-day working visit to Sweden. He could simply have done it on his way back from France with his new powerful jet, which would have taken him a little over 2 hours. This would have saved time and the very scarce national resources we need critically at this time. Instead, he delegated the Vice President, who needed to travel 3055 nautical miles, over nine hours, and (about 4 times the travel time from Paris) Abuja, Nigeria, to Stockholm, Sweden, to represent him at the event. It would take about 4 times the time and distance it takes to travel from Paris to Stockholm to travel from Abuja to Stockholm. This does not represent the kind of fiscal responsibility and common sense that is expected of leaders whose people are facing severe hunger and poverty. This is the time to show true and committed leadership to the people by making decisions that prioritize the well-being of the people and effective management of the nation's scarce resources in alleviating the sufferings of the people. A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

Thank you, my dear @oluwaloninyo . Let me sincerely apologize on their behalf. These days, I have learned to avoid criticizing or getting easily annoyed with Nigerians and, in particular, Nigerian businesses, given the harsh and difficult environment they have to navigate. The situation in our country demands that we always apply caution as we try to understand each other's circumstances and factor them into our judgment of them. This should act as a reminder that many are doing their best despite the challenging circumstances and that patience and understanding can go a long way. -PO

Yesterday, I and my very dear brother, Sen. Datti Baba-Ahmed were in Kaduna to personally pay our condolences to a dear elder brother and Former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, and his family, on the death of their son, Faisal Makarfi. We prayed to God to console the family over such a sad occurrence and grant them, and all of us, the fortitude to bear the sad and irreplaceable loss. May Almighty Allah, who called Faisal home at this time, forgive his sins and grant him Aljanna Firdausi. May God continue to protect and bless the Makarfi family, always. From there, we visited one of the almajiri schools in the State, which I had been supporting, to see the progress they have so far made. Earlier in the year, when I first visited the school, I found out that they had very dilapidated infrastructure, no functional toilet system, and no source of water supply, which were very important to them. I then made a financial donation towards providing these critical facilities for the children. Arriving there today, I was happy to see that by my earlier support, their infrastructure has greatly improved, they now have a very decent toilet system with 2 functional boreholes. Being impressed with this achievement, I donated another N5 million to the school and assured them of my support in ensuring that the children continue to enjoy a better education, which is their currency for future opportunities in life. We remain committed to building a Nigeria that gives our children the right training and empowerment to access brighter opportunities in life. A New Nigeria remains POssible! -PO

Like every other patriotic Nigerian, I sincerely sympathize with our dear Super Eagles over their ordeal in Libya on their way to play the Morocco 2025 AFCON Qualifier return leg match, which was later delisted by CAF following the players' decision not to play the match. The neglect and abandonment they and their officials suffered at a remote Libyan airport is highly regrettable and justifies their alternative decision of returning home. While we await the outcome of an investigation ordered by CAF, I wish to use this opportunity to commend the players for their patriotism, patience, and forbearance in the face of the unfair treatment by our Libyan brothers. I appeal to them not to allow this sad experience dampen their zeal or break their spirit. On the other hand, it should recharge their determination to fight to win the match whenever it takes place, to qualify for the Morocco 2025 AFCON, and, to win the championship. In times like this, when Nigerians are left dejected by the sorry state of affairs in the country, every victory by the Super Eagles would not only serve to unite the country but also give Nigerians something to celebrate. The sad experience of our national team in Libya should encourage all of us to work hard to bring more respect and dignity to our nation. With the right leadership in place, Nigeria surely will rise again. Indeed, a new Nigeria is POssible. -PO

Sadly, the ugly news of the loss of lives has become so rampant that one can hardly keep pace of the counts. It's yet another sad day in our nation as the very precious lives of our brothers and sisters were lost in very painful circumstances. Reports from Jigawa State have it that over 90 lives were lost to a fuel tanker explosion last night, with over 50 people suffering varying degrees of injuries. Police reports from the incident confirm that such a high number of casualties were recorded because people gathered in their numbers to scoop fuel from a fallen fuel tanker. This repeated practice of rushing to scoop and fetch petroleum products from accident scenes involving tankers has continued to cost us precious lives in their numbers. Understandably, times are extremely hard, and out of desperation and poverty, our people take dangerous risks just to make ends meet. But we cannot continue to lose precious lives in this tragic manner. A combination of poverty and dangerous ignorance has raised the risk in common accident. I sincerely commiserate with the families of the victims, the government, and the people of Jigawa State over this tragic incident while praying to God to give them, and all of us, the fortitude to bear this very sad loss. May God Almighty forgive the sins of the dead, grant them eternal rest, and grant quick and full recovery to the injured. -PO

Today, the world marks World Food Day, a very significant global event that raises awareness about the issues of hunger and food insecurity and serves as a reminder of the need to commit to food security and fight hunger to a standstill. This global observance is particularly important to us in Nigeria, where food prices are skyrocketing every day, and basic food items are becoming unaffordable to most people. Severe hunger has now become an unfortunate member of many households in Nigeria - the once giant of Africa, a nation that has the most arable land in the continent. Nigeria's struggle with a food crisis and hunger today is saddening, considering the richly blessed and vast arable lands with which we are endowed as a nation. In the past, I used to lament that the majority of Nigerian households spent most of their income on food alone, sparing none for savings and other critical exigencies. Today, it is heartbreaking to note that most Nigerian households are no longer able to afford sustenance food with their income. Food prices are soaring , food inflation is skyrocketing, the food crisis is worsening by the day, and hunger has graduated to a national crisis. In a Food Security Update Report released last week, the World Bank likened Nigeria's worsening food security crisis to war torn countries like Yemen, noting that we have a significant rise in the number of people facing acute food shortages and an epidemic of hunger. Today, the Global Hunger Index ranks Nigeria among the 20 most hungry nations in the world. In August 2024, it was reported that more than 31.8 million Nigerians were acutely short of food due to security challenges and the removal of fuel subsidies. It was also reported that 15.6 million children in Nigeria were facing hunger. The United Nations predicted that 82 million Nigerians, about 64 percent of the country’s population, may go hungry by 2030 if the government fails to tackle the menace of food insecurity. The domestic food inflation in Nigeria remains among the highest globally, with food prices increasing by 37.5% year-on-year as of August 2024. I believe these reports, sad as they are, only paint a lenient picture of the severity of the food crisis and hunger in reality. Over the years, I have maintained that moving the country from consumption to production remains the surest way of combating food insecurity and pulling the nation out of the present food crisis. I have equally stated, unequivocally, that the greatest asset our nation has is the vast uncultivated lands in the North coupled with our huge demographics. Therefore, We must be intentional with our agricultural investments. A state like Niger State, which is twice bigger in landmass than the Netherlands (excluding water) can neither feed itself nor feed the nation, while the Netherlands exports over $100 billion worth of agro products annually. If we can prioritize investment in agriculture by combating insecurity which has kept farmers away from the farms, and adopting modern ways of mechanized farming, we will be able to combat hunger and achieve food security for the nation. A nation booming in productivity, free from hunger, with an abundant food supply remains our commitment to a New more prosperous Nigeria. It is POssible! -PO

Yesterday, I returned to Grimard College of Nursing Sciences in Anyigba, Kogi State, to honor a pledge I had earlier made three months ago. I had, in my earlier visit to the College, donated ₦10 million to support learning. Both the Proprietor and the Rector informed me then that their most urgent need for accreditation was a 32-seater coaster bus for the student’s clinical experience visits. In my further discussion with the Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Adaji, he mentioned that since a brand-new bus now costs over ₦100 million, a fairly used one costing between ₦20 million and ₦30 million would suffice. Today, I returned to the College to present a fairly used bus within the range mentioned by the Proprietor, to assist the students in their critical clinical experience assignments. Additionally, I donated ₦5 million to cover the cost of registration, insurance, and other expenses for one year. I extend my sincere thanks to the Proprietor, Management, and staff of the institution for their warm reception and commend their tireless efforts in contributing to the betterment of humanity through education and health apostolate. I assured them that I would continue to support them in my modest way as we work together towards a new Nigeria that is POssible. -PO

In furtherance of my commitment to help in building a future society rooted in good Health and Education, I visited three Educational and Health institutions today and made varying donations totaling N70m in support of these institutions. Firstly, I had the honour of participating in the commencement of the new Shanahan University in Onitsha, which was launched today. I spoke to the students about the importance of prioritizing their education, as it remains the surest path to success. In support of the university, I made a token donation of N50 million towards the infrastructural development of the institution. From Shanahan University, we proceeded to Waterside Midwifery, Onitsha, where I made an additional donation of N10 million to support their progress and improve the quality of training for personnel who are crucial in reducing Nigeria’s unacceptable levels of infant mortality. My next stop was the Borromeo School of Nursing Sciences, Onitsha, where I reaffirmed my belief in the vital role that nursing schools play in our healthcare system. To further this cause, I donated another N10 million to assist in their continued efforts. Continuing with my unwavering commitment to advancing health and education, my upcoming visits to Anambra State will be to the University of the Niger and Iyienu College of Nursing Sciences. We must build our society by improving measurable indices of development. A new Nigeria is POssible is possible through greater education and enlightenment. -PO

The never-ending incidents of killings, kidnappings and other violent crimes across the country have continued to be of concern to many. The situation has continued unabated and is worse by the day. Non-state actors have continued to inflict pain and sorrow on families whose loved ones are often kidnapped and sometimes killed in gruesome manners. In particular, I condemn, in totality, the unfortunate killing of some crew members of Supersports TV, who were attacked in a tragic ambush along the Ihiala-Orlu Road, Anambra State, a few days ago. These media practitioners were on their way to Uyo to perform official duty for their medium and, indeed, the nation when the tragic incident happened, resulting in their death and the kidnap of others. Two days ago, a few persons were also reportedly killed while some others were injured in a terror attack carried out by criminals in the Agatu local government area of Benue state. These violent attacks, many of which go unreported, have now continued to define our daily existence in our once-secured nation. We are gradually losing count of the people who have lost their lives to insecurity in our nation. How much longer do we allow our people to die before we decide enough is enough? I condole with the families who have lost dear ones to these recent attacks while praying for eternal rest on the dead and quick recovery for the injured. We are all in this together as a nation and will continue to demand for the security of lives and property of every Nigerian. -PO

On behalf of my family, I condole with my dear elder brother and Former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, on the loss of his son, Faisal Makarfi. I also condole with my dear younger brother, Mele Kolo Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited, on the death of his daughter, Fatima Kyari. My heartfelt condolences go to all of them, including my dear elder sister Dame Pauline Tallen, whom I visited last week on the death of her only son, Richard Adamu Tallen. One can only imagine the pain of losing children with very promising future at such young age. The vacuum created by their death will surely be felt in all the families, but we can only accept the painful incidents as the will of the Almighty, who alone has the power of life. May God Almighty, who called them home at this time, forgive their sins and grant them Aljanna Firdausi. May God continue to protect and bless the Makarfi, Kyari, and the Tallen families, always. -PO

Reversing the Sudden Fuel Price Increase: As Nigerians continue to groan under extremely difficult economic conditions, largely caused by the Federal Government's wrong policy choices, the NNPCL has once again raised the price of fuel (PMS) without providing any explanation. This is both unfortunate and insensitive, considering the wide-ranging negative consequences for our economic survival and well-being. This is neither how an economy’s resources should be managed nor how a nation should be governed. In this new measure, there is neither sound economics nor necessary compassion. We are told that the NNPCL is now a limited liability company, regulated by agencies such as the NUPRC and NMDPRA, yet there seems to be growing confusion about the roles and responsibilities of the NNPCL and these regulating bodies. Interestingly, both the NNPCL and the regulatory agencies are supposed to be under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria serving as the substantive Minister. Who, in this arrangement, is regulating who? With the unprecedented but avoidable hardship that Nigerians are enduring, the responsibility for providing a full explanation, offering alternative options, and most importantly, reversing the sudden price hike falls squarely on the Honorable Minister of Petroleum Resources/President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We hope and pray that he acts in the best interest of the majority of Nigerians, who are living under unnecessarily precarious conditions, and that he does so before his return from his working vacation. To casually inflict such a draconian measure on the populace from the comfort of an annual vacation amounts to taking the people’s welfare lightly and for granted. A New and more compassionate Nigeria is indeed Possible! -PO