Attendees: The session saw attendance from governors including Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), alongside deputy governors representing Katsina, Yobe, Niger, and Oyo states [cite: Among those present were the Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule., Deputy governors who represented their principals at the meeting included those of Katsina, Yobe, Niger and Oyo states.].

Expected Agenda: While the official agenda was not publicly released at the time of reporting, discussions were expected to focus on the country’s prevailing security challenges.

Rufai Oseni on National Insecurity: In separate news, journalist Rufai Oseni stated on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ that Nigeria is not yet prepared to tackle kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism, asserting that the crisis is driven by elite and governmental complicity rather than a lack of resources [cite: In other news, Nigerian journalist, Rufai Oseni, has said Nigeria is not yet ready to end the kidnapping, banditry and terrorism confronting the nation., reports that Oseni, speaking during Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ on Wednesday, alleged that Nigeria’s persistent insecurity stems from deep-seated complicity within the government and elite class rather than a lack of resources.].

Security Breach Concerns: Pointing to an attack in Woro, Kwara State, where bandits killed residents despite prior warnings given to security forces, Oseni questioned how the perpetrators discovered that locals had reported the threats [cite: Oseni cited the attack in Woro, Kwara State, where bandits killed innocent Nigerians after residents had informed security authorities of a threat., He further questioned how the bandits knew that the people had informed security operatives.].

Contradictory Stances: Writing on his X handle, the former aide to Senate President Godswill Akpabio pointed out that Atiku had previously campaigned for the removal of the subsidy during the last election cycle, making his current reversal unconvincing [cite: Okolugbo, a former aide to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, questioned Atiku’s decision to now support the restoration of fuel subsidy, recalling that the former Vice President had pledged in 2022 to remove the subsidy., “So, I’m tired of this debate on fuel subsidy. Atiku, you cannot bring back fuel subsidy, you are only doing this because you want to win the 2027 election by all means., You couldn’t have said you’re going to remove the subsidy just at the last election and now you’re going to bring it back.].

Economic Warnings: Okolugbo cautioned that bringing back the subsidy would drag the country back to economic difficulties, noting that previous practices resulted in massive deficit financing and severe salary payment delays for states [cite: Of course, we want the economy to do a lot better than it is now, but you cannot bring back subsidy and take us back to the dark old days when we were printing 30 trillion naira yet not able to pay salaries, the state couldn’t pay salaries.].

Zonal Shift and Electoral Outlook: Asserting that Atiku has no viable path to victory, Okolugbo added that political power currently resides with the south and will likely not return to the north until 2031 [cite: Okolugbo, a former aide to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, questioned Atiku’s decision to now support the restoration of fuel subsidy, recalling that the former Vice President had pledged in 2022 to remove the subsidy., “I assure you that Atiku cannot win this election, there’s no pathway., Maybe you’ll wait till 2031 when it goes back to the north. For now, it is the turn of the south.”].