Former presidential candidate Yahaya Ndu advocates for legalizing artisanal refineries and South-East presidency

He criticized the destruction of these local setups and the ongoing debate about fuel subsidy restoration, calling it an insult to Nigerians. Ndu highlighted that during the civil war, the Biafran side avoided fuel scarcity by refining products locally, contrasting this with the destruction of over 5,000 cottage refineries in contemporary Nigeria. He proposed assisting, monitoring, and standardizing these operations, providing access to crude and technology, and ensuring environmental protection.

Ndu also called for major political parties to cede their presidential tickets to candidates from the South-East, drawing parallels to the post-June 12, 1993 consensus that favored the South-West. He argued that the South-East has suffered significantly and deserves similar political fairness. Additionally, Ndu warned against placing state police under the exclusive control of partisan politicians, suggesting that traditional rulers, religious figures, youth, and women leaders should manage state police formations to prevent political abuse and ensure citizen protection.