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Oyegun-must-go Project Heats Up in APC

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 Oyegun_BuhariProminent forces within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may have secured President Muhammadu Buhari’s backing to dispense with national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Ripples reports.

Investigations revealed that the Board of Trustees (BoT), National Executive Council (NEC) and most members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party as well as leading National Assembly members have decided to do away with Oyegun.

Oyegun, it was gathered, has become a dispensable commodity according to the forces against him because of his mishandlings of several issues in the party.

The national chairman is being accused of committing serious infractions that have created needless troubles for the party.

It was learnt that all these infractions have been collated and explained to the Presidency, which has since decided to go with the Oyegun-must-go project.

Sources said President Buhari was initially opposed to the campaign to send Oyegun packing because their relationship dated back to 2007 when the President contested under the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) with Oyegun playing prominent, visible roles.

Buhari was said to have balked at the idea, according to findings, because of the suspicion that the move was just a campaign of calumny against the former Edo State governor.

He was however swayed over after the infractions committed by Oyegun and how they have affected the fortunes of the party were tabled before him.

The President was said to have told the party chieftains that with all the evidence against the national chairman, he was no longer fit to continue in office.

Buhari however reportedly insisted Oyegun should be given a soft-landing to avert a major backlash that will trail a forced resignation or sack.

Prominent among the infractions the anti-Oyegun elements presented was his handling of the Kogi governorship supplementary debacle that produced Yahaya Bello.

It was learnt many NWC and NEC members actually endorsed James Faleke to fly the party’s ticket but they were allegedly shut down by Oyegun.

Oyegun, many of them alleged, was bought over by Bello, a wealthy business merchant, with a whopping N300million “as fuel money” after a visit to the chairman in Abuja.

This ‘fuel money’, APC chieftains alleged was why Oyegun stuck out his neck for Bello even when some prominent members begged for Faleke to continue the inconclusive election.

It was learnt that the party’s leaders succeeded in proving this allegation to Buhari at a meeting last week in Abuja.

The national chairman is also accused of hobnobbing with Senate President Bukola Saraki, who is facing trial at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) over charges of false declaration of assets.

Oyegun was said to have angered party chieftains when he recognised Saraki few days after his emergence in defiance of the APC’s directives.

His enemies were believed to have told Buhari it was despicable for the chairman to have recognised Saraki even when it was obvious the President was livid about his emergence and avoided him for months.

“If our chairman could recognise a rebellious Senate President when the President was still angry with the process that produced him, it shows he was throwing his weight around.

“Look at how the mess has created troubles for the anti-corruption war. The National Assembly is clearly obstructing the President’s policies and programmes.

“By recognising him without clearance from the Presidency, Oyegun compromised the party. He boasted Saraki’s defiance and slighted Buhari,” a source privy to the Oyegun-must-go project confided.

The source added that the March 22 NWC meeting in Abuja will be the beginning of the end for Oyegun while his fate might be sealed on March 23 when the BoT meeting holds.

The March 24 NEC meeting, according to the plan, will serve as the platform to push Oyegun out.

Already there are pressures on him to turn in his resignation so as not to give the impression that he was edged out.

Oyegun, who returned from a 10-day leave on Monday, it was learnt, has been lobbying to save his job.

But sources said the party has suffered greatly under him.

“We are drifting. There is no discipline and we are not in charge. We need a chairman who can rein in things for the President so that Buhari can concentrate on the business of governance,” a NWC member told Ripples on Monday night.

 

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Tinubu Appoints Yiltsen from Plateau as Pioneer MD for North Central Development Commission

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In a move signaling a significant milestone for regional development in Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Tsenyil Cyril Yiltsen from Plateau State as the pioneer Managing Director of the newly established North Central Development Commission (NCDC). The appointment is subject to the confirmation of the Nigerian Senate, according to a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Thursday.

The North Central Development Commission was created to address the infrastructural deficit, socioeconomic imbalance, and long-standing development challenges faced by states in the North Central geopolitical zone. These include Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Niger States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

A Regional Leader at the Helm

Tsenyil Cyril Yiltsen’s selection as the pioneer Managing Director is being lauded as a strategic choice given his roots in Plateau and his reputed experience in regional planning and governance. With years of service in both public and private sectors, Yiltsen is expected to bring vision and coordination to the commission as it sets its development agenda.

Leadership Team Reflects Zonal Diversity

Alongside Yiltsen, President Tinubu also announced other board members, drawing representatives from across the North Central zone to ensure balanced representation:

Cosmas Akiyir from Benue State will serve as the Board Chairman.

James Abel Uloko (Benue) has been nominated as Executive Director.

Princess Atika Ajanah (Kogi) is appointed Executive Director, Projects.

Hajia Bilgis Jumoke Sanni (Kwara) will serve as Executive Director.

Hajia Aishatu Rufai-Ibrahim (Nasarawa) takes a similar role as Executive Director.

Muhammad Bashar (Niger) is also appointed Executive Director.

This inclusive composition underscores the administration’s intention to ensure that all states within the region have a voice in the planning and execution of development programs.

Mandate and Expectations

The NCDC is modeled after other regional commissions such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the North East Development Commission (NEDC). Its mandate includes addressing infrastructural decay, promoting human capital development, resettling displaced communities, improving access to healthcare and education, and stimulating economic growth.

Analysts note that the challenges facing the North Central region—ranging from insecurity and poor rural infrastructure to the effects of climate change on agriculture—require an institution with both capacity and autonomy. With its inauguration, expectations are high that the NCDC will help harmonize federal and state development plans and accelerate impactful projects.

Political and Public Reactions

Initial reactions from stakeholders across the North Central region have been mostly positive. Civil society groups and political leaders have commended the federal government’s commitment to equitable development, while urging the Senate to expedite the confirmation process to enable the commission begin operations promptly.

Observers, however, also stress the need for transparency, accountability, and community engagement as key pillars for the commission’s success. As one political analyst put it, “The success of the NCDC will not just lie in its funding but in the ability of its leadership to build trust and deliver measurable results.”

Conclusion

With the appointment of Tsenyil Cyril Yiltsen and a strong team of directors, the North Central Development Commission is now poised to begin its work. As the region watches closely, the coming months will be crucial in laying the groundwork for what could become a transformative institution for millions of Nigerians in the heart of the country.

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Defence Minister Denies Claims That Terrorists Outgun Nigerian Military

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Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, has dismissed recent claims from the House of Representatives suggesting that terrorists operating within the country possess more advanced weaponry than the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Speaking during a ministerial briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, the minister firmly rejected the allegation, stating that the military is better equipped in both weaponry and technology.

“That statement is completely false,” Abubakar said. “We have far more sophisticated arms and surveillance equipment, including drones.”

He emphasized that the fight against terrorism in Nigeria is not a traditional military conflict, but rather a guerrilla-style war that demands different strategies and responses.

“This is not a conventional war,” he explained. “Terrorists use surprise attacks and rely heavily on informants within local communities. They strike unpredictably, making it a unique challenge.”

Despite the difficulty in monitoring every area simultaneously, the minister maintained that the Nigerian military holds a significant advantage in terms of equipment and capabilities.

“Our inability to be everywhere at once doesn’t mean we’re underpowered. We’re making progress because we have superior tools and strategies,” he concluded.

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Delta Speaker, 21 Other PDP Lawmakers Defect to APC

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In a significant political shift, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, along with 21 other lawmakers originally elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This mass defection has effectively turned the Delta Assembly into an all-APC legislature, with the remaining seven members already belonging to the ruling party.

Announcing the development during Tuesday’s plenary session following the Easter recess, the Speaker said the decision was the outcome of extensive consultations with constituents and political leaders statewide. He cited Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as the legal basis for the defection.

Guwor expressed gratitude to his colleagues for their service and urged them to prioritize the completion of outstanding bills as the current legislative session nears its close. He noted that the defection aligns with a broader political realignment in the state and a strategic move to cooperate more effectively with the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu.

“The mass defection of PDP lawmakers, led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to the APC is in the best interest of the state and its people,” Guwor stated.

He explained that the decision followed a series of consultations held on April 23 and culminated in an official reception of defectors at the Government House and the Cenotaph on April 28, 2025.

“We are fully committed to partnering with the Federal Government to deliver improved development outcomes for Deltans,” he said. “We commend Governor Oborevwori for his bold and strategic leadership, and as a legislative body, we fully support his decision.”

The Speaker confirmed receipt of 22 letters—his own included—formally notifying the House of their change in party affiliation. He attributed the move to internal crises within the PDP, particularly at the national level and within the South-South zonal structure, which he said led to factionalism and disunity.

Citing constitutional backing from Section 109(1)(g), Guwor affirmed the legitimacy of the defections, stating, “With this development, the Delta State House of Assembly is now entirely composed of members from the APC. We thank our constituents for supporting this progressive direction.”

A motion to adopt the change of party affiliation letters was moved by Majority Leader Hon. Emeka Nwaobi and seconded by Hon. Ferguson Onwo, who represents Isoko South II.

Speaking with journalists after the plenary, Hon. Nwaobi reiterated that the defections were driven by the instability and leadership struggles within the PDP. He emphasized that the lawmakers’ choice to join the APC was constitutionally sound and driven by a shared commitment to stability and effective governance.

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