On Breakfast Express, Ope weighed in on growing political speculation surrounding Seyi Makinde and rumours suggesting he may be working closely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 political realignments.
Ope said he remains unconvinced by claims that Makinde is secretly aligned with the presidency, noting that the Oyo governor has consistently spoken in favour of a stronger multi-party democratic structure in Nigeria. According to him, Makinde appears uncomfortable with accusations that the opposition space is being weakened or politically suppressed.
He traced Makinde’s political evolution from his early struggles within the Accord Party to his eventual rise within the Peoples Democratic Party, where he emerged governor of Oyo State.
Ope also reflected on the formation of the G5 governors in 2022 , a group that included former governors from Benue, Rivers and Enugu states alongside Makinde describing that period as a turning point in the governor’s national political relevance. He questioned what Makinde stood to gain politically from joining the G5 at the time, especially considering he was the only member still seeking re-election while others were already completing their final terms in office.
Comparing Makinde’s political trajectory with that of Nyesom Wike, Ope argued that Wike remains far ahead in terms of political structure, influence and strategic experience within Nigeria’s power dynamics.
The discussion reflects the increasing focus on alliances, opposition politics and strategic positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.
#SeyiMakinde #NigeriaPolitics #PDP #G5 #Wike #Tinubu #OyoState #2027Elections #BreakfastExpress #Politics
On Breakfast Express, discussions around President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s participation at the Africa CEO Forum 2026 in Kigali sparked broader conversations about governance, security and economic development in Nigeria.
Toun acknowledged the value of attracting investments and projecting Nigeria positively on the global stage but questioned the timing and effectiveness of such economic conversations when insecurity continues to affect many parts of the country.
She argued that while the president may be acting as the nation’s “chief marketing officer”, more attention must be given to his role as chief security officer, especially amid persistent killings, kidnappings and instability.
Ope, while agreeing that security remains a critical issue, noted that Rwanda itself is not without challenges despite being widely regarded as one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies. He pointed to concerns around poverty, democratic freedoms, and the long rule of President Paul Kagame, but still acknowledged Rwanda’s economic strides and global perception for stability and order.
He further argued that Nigeria’s influence on the African continent remains unmatched in terms of population, human capital, market size, and financial capacity. According to him, major continental discussions around trade, investment, and regional integration cannot realistically exclude Nigeria because of the scale of its economy and strategic importance.
However, he stressed that economic diplomacy and foreign investment drives cannot be separated from realities on the ground. Ope maintained that insecurity damages investor confidence, as global audiences constantly see reports of killings, terrorism, and abductions across the country. In his view, no amount of international promotion can fully succeed if safety and stability remain unresolved challenges at home.
#BreakfastExpress #Tinubu #Nigeria #Rwanda #Kigali #AfricaCEOForum #Security #Investment #Governance #EconomicDevelopment
Discussing the conviction of Prophet Ajiboye Abayomi Olayinka on Breakfast Express, Toun raised concerns about parental responsibility in safeguarding children, especially within religious and social environments.
While condemning the abuse and exploitation of the minors, she questioned the role and whereabouts of the parents during the period the incidents allegedly occurred, stressing that the primary responsibility for a child’s protection rests with guardians and caregivers.
Her comments add to broader conversations in Nigeria about child safety, oversight, and the need for parents to remain actively involved in their children’s lives, particularly in spaces where authority figures wield significant influence.
#Nigeria #ChildProtection #Kwara #Ilorin #Justice #Parenting #ReligiousInstitutions #HumanRights #BreakfastExpress
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu participated in the 13th edition of the Africa CEO Forum 2026 in Kigali, where African leaders and business executives discussed economic growth, investment and regional integration under the theme “Scale or Fail: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership".
During the presidential panel, Tinubu defended ongoing economic reforms in Nigeria, arguing that efforts to remove structural bottlenecks, improve transparency and simplify the business environment could attract nearly $20 billion in foreign direct investment in 2026.
The president also stressed the importance of supporting indigenous investors, citing government backing for the Dangote Refinery as a major step toward making Nigeria a net exporter of refined petroleum products and aviation fuel.
On natural resources, Tinubu declared that Nigeria would intensify policies promoting local value addition, insisting that exporting raw minerals without processing would no longer be encouraged.
He further advocated for the development of a unified African commodity exchange platform to deepen intra-African trade and strengthen economic cooperation across the continent.
Ahead of the summit, Tinubu held bilateral talks with Paul Kagame focused on strengthening economic ties and regional security collaboration between Nigeria and Rwanda.
The Nigerian delegation included Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Trade and Investment Minister Jumoke Oduwole.
#Tinubu #AfricaCEOForum #Kigali #Nigeria #Rwanda #FDI #Trade #EconomicReforms #DangoteRefinery #Africa #BreakingNews
A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced Prophet Ajiboye Abayomi Olayinka, founder of the Mission House of Divine Land of Joy and Prayer Ministry, to life imprisonment for the rape and sexual assault of three minors.
The court also handed the cleric an additional 14-year sentence for conducting illegal abortions linked to the abuse cases.
According to proceedings, the prosecution presented evidence showing the victims were assaulted within church premises, with testimonies alleging that the cleric exploited his position of authority to intimidate and manipulate the minors into silence.
Justice Hammed Aliyu Gegele reportedly described the convict’s actions as a grave abuse of trust and a disgrace to religious leadership.
The case has sparked renewed conversations in Nigeria around child protection, abuse within religious institutions, and the need for stronger safeguarding mechanisms for minors.
#Kwara #Ilorin #Nigeria #ChildProtection #Justice #SexualAbuse #CourtVerdict #BreakingNews #HumanRights
Former councillors who served across the 20 local governments in Ogun State between 2016 and 2019 staged a protest at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta over unpaid severance, furniture allowances, and salary arrears.
The ex-lawmakers, numbering about 349, said they had waited seven years for the payment of their statutory entitlements, lamenting that prolonged financial hardship had severely affected many of them.
Protesters carried placards demanding immediate payment and appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene, especially amid reports that severance packages for more recent local government officials are being processed.
Some of the former councillors claimed that several of their colleagues had died while struggling with financial and medical difficulties linked to the unpaid benefits.
Reacting to the protest, the governor’s aides stated that the affected councillors did not serve under the current administration but assured that the matter would be reviewed if their claims were verified.
#OgunState #Nigeria #LocalGovernment #DapoAbiodun #Protest #Governance #PublicService #Politics #BreakingNews
The United Nations has called for independent investigations into deadly air attacks in northern Nigeria, following reports that more than 100 civilians may have been killed.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed shock over allegations that Nigerian military airstrikes hit a market in Zamfara State, reportedly killing at least 100 civilians and injuring many others.
The Nigerian military has long maintained that its operations are directed at armed bandits and terrorist groups operating in conflict-prone areas, while rights organisations including Amnesty International have urged transparent investigations into civilian casualties.
The developments have renewed global attention on the conduct of military operations and the protection of civilians in conflict zones across the region.
#Nigeria #UN #Zamfara #HumanRights #MilitaryOperations #VolkerTurk #AmnestyInternational #Security #BreakingNews
The Nigeria Police Force in Imo State has officially disbanded its Anti-Kidnapping Squad, popularly known as Tiger Base, along with the Scorpion Unit and Lion Squad, as part of a major security restructuring.
The reform directive is said to follow instructions from the Inspector-General of Police aimed at improving professionalism and restoring public trust in policing operations.
In their place, the command has established a new unit known as the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), which will focus on tackling kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms through intelligence-led policing and rapid response operations.
Authorities say the restructuring is designed to improve accountability and address long-standing public concerns over alleged abuses, including torture, extortion, and unlawful detention linked to some disbanded tactical units.
The new VCRU personnel have reportedly undergone specialised training, with a civilian oversight mechanism also introduced to monitor operations and strengthen transparency in law enforcement activities.
#ImoState #NigeriaPolice #SecurityReform #VCRU #AntiKidnapping #TigerBase #PoliceReform #PublicSafety #BreakingNews
The Chief Medical Director of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Prof. Ememabasi Bassey, has appealed for urgent intervention from both the Federal and State Governments following a shutdown of hospital operations and an indefinite strike by doctors.
The crisis reportedly followed a raid by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on May 12, 2026, during an attempt to arrest a senior medical professor over a disputed medical report linked to an ongoing fraud investigation.
The incident allegedly led to chaos within the hospital premises, with reports of gunshots, tear gas deployment and injuries to staff, resulting in a full withdrawal of services by the Nigerian Medical Association and other health sector unions.
Prof Bassey warned that the situation poses serious risks to patients, especially in critical units such as intensive care and neonatal care, urging restraint while higher authorities intervene to restore order.
The EFCC, however, maintains that its operatives were carrying out a lawful investigation after earlier requests for cooperation were not addressed.
#UUTH #EFCC #Nigeria #Healthcare #DoctorsStrike #AkwaIbom #MedicalCrisis #PublicSafety #BreakingNews
The Presidential Air Fleet of Nigeria reportedly received about 4.24 billion naira in disbursements between June and December 2025, according to data from a civic tracking platform monitoring government spending.
The funds were said to have been released in eight separate transactions into the Presidential Air Fleet naira transit account operated under the State House.
Records indicate that the highest concentration of spending occurred in July 2025, with multiple transfers amounting to over 2.4 billion naira within a single week.
The breakdown also shows additional disbursements in June and December, covering operational and forex-related transit expenses linked to fleet maintenance and official presidential air operations.
The figures have sparked renewed public debate over the cost of maintaining the presidential fleet and broader government expenditure transparency versus the standard of living of the people they govern.
#Nigeria #Presidency #PublicSpending #Transparency #StateHouse #Governance #Budget #Accountability #BreakingNews
Former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman has been sentenced to 75 years in prison for money laundering involving 33.8 billion naira in what is being described as one of the country’s more significant corruption convictions in recent years.
The judgment was delivered by a federal court in Abuja after he was found guilty on multiple counts relating to the diversion of funds linked to government power projects during his tenure from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said the ex-minister has been “out of circulation” since his conviction, prompting an arrest warrant to be issued by the court.
According to reports, Mamman had recently indicated interest in contesting the 2027 governorship election in Taraba State under the ruling political platform before the sentencing.
The case has drawn renewed attention to corruption within public office and enforcement of accountability in Nigeria.
#Nigeria #EFCC #SalehMamman #Corruption #CourtCase #PowerSector #Abuja #Governance #BreakingNews
