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The presidency has fired back at former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for his comments about President Bola Tinubu’s government on rising public debt and borrowings.

Peter Obi, in a statement on Thursday, noted that countries should not borrow recklessly without a clear path to repayment through productive investment.

He, however, lamented that most of the borrowings by the Tinubu administration do not satisfy the requirements of the law or economic common sense.

The former Governor of Anambra State made the submission in response to the recent declaration by President Tinubu that debt is not leprosy.

However, Obi submitted that borrowing can both be a leprosy and a killer cancer if not done for the right reasons and properly managed.

He expressed concerns that Nigeria is borrowing for consumption and not production.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain charged the Tinubu government to ensure borrowings work for the Nigerian people, not just to defend or justify them.

In response, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, countered Peter Obi’s claims on borrowing, stressing that every sovereign nation takes loans.

Responding to the post, Onanuga wrote: “Mr Peter Obi, you’re bringing up the same old arguments again with your sensationalist approach.

“What are you trying to say about borrowing? Every sovereign nation borrows money, and as President Tinubu correctly pointed out, borrowing is not a disease.

“If you really want to know, the government has been taking loans to pay for important infrastructure projects, not to spend on everyday things.

“The fact that we are getting money and have lenders who are willing to lend shows that our country is trustworthy and able to pay back the money.

“As a politician, you need to go beyond basic thinking and deal with today’s problems using calm reasoning, not by reacting with strong emotions on the streets or online.”

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said the Supreme Court judgment on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has effectively ended internal wrangling within the party.

Wike made the remarks while addressing journalists at his residence in Abuja.

The former Rivers State governor maintained that the apex court ruling has settled issues surrounding factional divisions in the party.

“The PDP is one. The judgment has put to rest reactions of factions within the party,” he said.

Wike also commented on the leadership situation within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), noting that the matter remains unresolved.

“The Supreme Court referred the ADC back to the Federal High Court. The ADC is still in problem,” he added.

The minister further expressed reservations about certain individuals in the political space, clarifying that his position is not against political parties themselves.

“Not that I don’t like the party, I hate the individuals involved. I don’t like them. They are part of the people that have plunged Nigeria into problems,” Wike said.

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…as APC figures and state leaders rally behind with nomination forms

By Gloria Ikibah

Governor Siminalayi Fubara has received an early political lift in the build-up to the 2027 general elections, following a show of support from prominent figures within the All Progressives Congress and other political stakeholders in Rivers State.

A group of party leaders and elders moved to secure and present the governor’s nomination and expression of interest forms, signalling a broad-based endorsement that cuts across party lines.

The delegation, was led by Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a serving member of the House of Representatives representing Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency, indicated that the decision was reached after consultations among influential voices across the state. The move, they suggested, reflects what they see as the wider interest of Rivers people rather than narrow political considerations.

Those behind the initiative also framed the development as consistent with Nigeria’s political traditions, where stakeholders often mobilise support for candidates they believe should continue in office.

“This is not new. Even at the national level, stakeholders have, in the past, procured nomination forms for preferred candidates. It is a democratic tradition rooted in collective will,” he said.

Hon. Abiante said the move reflects widespread confidence in Governor Fubara’s leadership, stressing that it was shaped by public opinion rather than individual ambition or financial strength.

“It is not about how deep your pocket is.

“It is about what the people feel. And the people of Rivers State have made their position clear—they want continuity,” he said.

He also drew attention to what he described as the governor’s record in office, citing ongoing infrastructure development, expanded access to underserved communities and growing economic prospects, particularly across riverine areas.

“In places like Andoni, access was a long-standing challenge. Within months, that narrative changed.

“Communities once cut off are now connected and positioned to contribute meaningfully to the blue economy,” he added.

The lawmaker also cited the rehabilitation of key public infrastructure, including the State Secretariat, and improvements in citizens’ welfare as evidence of purposeful governance.

Beyond projects, Abiante stressed governor Fubara’s leadership style and described him as humble, people-oriented, and deeply attuned to the needs of ordinary citizens.

“This is a leader who understands the pains of his people and responds with action,” he noted.

The lawmaker further revealed that Governor Fubara neither initiated nor influenced the move, insisting it was a spontaneous decision by stakeholders determined to sustain the current trajectory.

“He did not send us. This is the voice of the people speaking through their leaders. We have come on their behalf,” Abiante stated.

According to him, the message from across the state is unequivocal: the governor must heed the call to seek re-election.

“The people have contributed their resources to make this happen. He cannot turn his back on them. Rivers people are firmly behind him,” he declared.

With the nomination forms already obtained, the group is preparing to hand them over to the governor on Friday, 1 May 2026.

The planned presentation is likely to sharpen the emerging political dynamics in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections, placing Siminalayi Fubara squarely at the heart of the developing race.