🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Dele Momodu defends Atiku Abubakar against calls to withdraw from 2027 presidential race
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress and publisher, has rejected calls for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step aside from the 2027 presidential race. Momodu described the campaign against Atiku as “unbridled chicanery” in response to activist Zekeri Idris Jnr, who argued that Atiku's projected age of 80 by 2027 made him unfit for the presidency. Momodu stated on X that those targeting Atiku should instead focus on holding the ruling government accountable. He cited several global leaders, including former United States Presidents Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Bernie Sanders, former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President Muhammadu Buhari, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and Liberian President Joseph Boakai, as examples of individuals who served effectively at an advanced age. Idris had previously released a video urging Atiku's allies to persuade him to withdraw, claiming that Nigeria's challenges require different energy and that no young Nigerian would vote for an 80-year-old candidate. Idris also suggested Atiku should act as an elder statesman by uniting younger contenders like Peter Obi and former Kano Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Atiku, who lost to President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 election, is reportedly considering the African Democratic Congress presidential ticket for 2027.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Actress and adult entertainment consultant, Seyi Hunter, highlights Nigeria's complex relationship with sexuality, noting that many Nigerians privately consume sexual content despite public denials. In an interview with Saturday Beats, Hunter described this behavior not as hypocrisy, but as Nigerians being private individuals, often leading "double lives" to align with societal or religious expectations. She pointed out that Nigeria frequently tops charts on adult entertainment sites, yet few admit to watching such content. Hunter also emphasized the importance of communication for sexual compatibility in relationships, stating that 50 percent of sex and intimacy relies on it. She shared a personal experience, noting that attraction alone does not guarantee compatibility.
Must ReadThree individuals, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani, are facing life imprisonment after the Federal Government filed a 10-count terrorism charge against them for their alleged involvement in the abduction of 44 schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The charges, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, include conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism, kidnapping, participating in terrorist acts, belonging to a proscribed terrorist group, providing material support for terrorism, concealing information, inciting terrorist acts, engaging in cyber-related activities for terrorism, and illegal mining to finance operations. The Federal Government stated that the offenses contravene various provisions of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022. Two teachers abducted during the May 15 attack were later killed in captivity. Meanwhile, retired two-star general Ishola Williams supported Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s call for an independent international investigation into the abduction and rescue. Williams noted that such calls have historical precedent, referencing the Chibok schoolgirls' abduction. He suggested that internationally recognized independent organizations like Amnesty International would be better suited for such an investigation, as a state governor constitutionally lacks the authority to formally invite the United Nations. Williams also questioned intelligence failures that allowed the abduction to
Must ReadThe Federal Government announced plans to increase Nigeria's annual grain output from 11 million tonnes to 25 million tonnes through the Renewed Hope Smallholder Agricultural Financing Programme. This initiative, launched in Zaria, Kaduna State, aims to boost local food production and reduce food inflation by improving access to quality farm inputs, increasing crop yields, and strengthening national food security. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, stated that the government is committed to reducing food inflation by increasing production rather than relying on imports. The program will distribute about two million bags of agricultural inputs through registered farm aggregators, who will also provide extension services and implement a Guaranteed Minimum Price mechanism. The Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayodeji Sotinrin, explained that the intervention would provide farmers with subsidized fertilizers, certified hybrid seeds, and other essential inputs through the bank’s single-digit, nine percent interest financing facility. The pilot phase will benefit approximately 500,000 farmers, with plans to expand to two million farmers next year and eventually five million nationwide. The Group Managing Director of Arzikin Noma Africa, Adeoluwa Michael Adeshola, emphasized that sustained private sector participation and prompt loan repayment are crucial for the initiative's long-term success.