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Obasanjo: Why I Refused To Make El-Rufai My Successor In 2007.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that he once declined a proposal to support former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as his successor at the end of his administration in 2007.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking during the second edition of the Ajibosin Platform Annual Symposium in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday, Obasanjo stated that although El-Rufai was highly capable, he was not yet mature enough at the time to handle the complexities of governing a nation like Nigeria.
According to Nivo News, El-Rufai served under Obasanjo’s administration between 1999 and 2007, first as the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises and later as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The former president made the revelation while responding to comments from ex-Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, who had earlier shared how El-Rufai introduced him to Obasanjo at the age of 34—a meeting that led to his appointment as Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
Interrupting Chidoka’s keynote address, Obasanjo remarked, “Let him tell you. He didn’t mention that. He was pushing when I was leaving government that his friend, El-Rufai, should be brought in as my successor.” Turning to Chidoka, he teased, “No be so?” to which Chidoka nodded in agreement.
Obasanjo further explained that he turned down the idea because he felt El-Rufai still needed time to develop politically and personally. “I did not yield to the pressure. Later, he asked why I didn’t agree, and I told him El-Rufai needed to mature. Years later, when he observed El-Rufai’s performances, he admitted I was right,” he said.
The former leader went on to commend both Chidoka and El-Rufai, describing them as exceptional individuals who contributed immensely to his administration’s success.
Reflecting on leadership, Obasanjo emphasized the importance of training and character development, noting that politics often lacks structured preparation for leadership roles. “Even among armed robbers, I was told there is apprenticeship. But in politics, there is none. That’s not good enough,” he added.
In his remarks, Chidoka argued that Nigeria’s challenges stem not from a lack of ideas but from weak systems and institutions. He asserted that effective leadership is measured by the enduring systems it builds rather than charisma or eloquence.
“Moral conviction must translate into governance machinery, rules, and institutions that make competence predictable and corruption difficult,” Chidoka said. He urged the need for stronger accountability mechanisms that measure leadership performance through national dashboards and institutional monitoring frameworks.
The State Wing Executive Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has ordered all public primary and secondary school teachers in Abuja to commence an indefinite strike from Monday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The union also directed parents and guardians to keep their children at home until further notice, citing unresolved welfare concerns and what it described as government inaction.
This followed a communiqué issued after an emergency SWEC meeting held in Gwagwalada, Abuja, over the weekend and signed by the state leadership of the union.
Teachers were instructed to fully comply with the strike directive and await further instructions from the union leadership, as the industrial action remains in force until their demands are addressed.
According to the communiqué, the strike became necessary after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum earlier issued to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, which elapsed without a satisfactory response.
The union recalled that although previous interventions led to the suspension of an earlier strike, several key issues affecting teachers’ welfare were still unresolved.
It also expressed concern that a committee set up to address outstanding entitlements submitted its report in August 2025, but the findings have not been made public or implemented.
While acknowledging the payment of the new minimum wage and some salary arrears, the union insisted that major concerns remain unattended.
The NUT further demanded reforms in promotion processes and a review of the 2024 promotion exercise.
After what it described as unsuccessful engagements and expired deadlines, the union declared that all teachers in the FCT will remain on strike indefinitely until their demands are met.
Nigerian actor and filmmaker Emmanuel Ikubese has spoken about the breakdown of his marriage to celebrity makeup artist Anita Adetoye.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The couple tied the knot in March 2020 in a widely publicised wedding that attracted attention nationwide. However, by February 2021, speculation about a split began after Ikubese deleted their wedding photos from Instagram and both parties unfollowed each other on social media.
Speaking on the Archives of Becoming Podcast, Ikubese described the end of the marriage as a painful personal setback. He said it made him deeply question himself, especially as someone who had always hoped for a stable family life.
According to him, achieving marriage had felt like a major life goal, and its collapse left him feeling as though he had failed. He added that the public nature of their wedding made the experience even more difficult, leaving him exposed and emotionally shaken.
He explained that the experience pushed him into deep reflection about his identity and life direction, describing it as a turning point that forced him to re-evaluate himself. He also noted that he could only speak from his own experience and not on behalf of his ex-wife.
Ikubese further revealed that the breakup brought him significant emotional pain and altered how he viewed life, eventually drawing him closer to his faith as he searched for answers.
“It was an identity thing. If you don’t find your identity, you always find yourself in moments like this… God needed a reset, and that was the reset for me,” he said.
“I had always desired a family… The wedding I had was very high-profile… and I just felt like I’d failed.
“It changed my life… it felt like I had to go back to God and ask, ‘Where did I miss this?’
“I was always a lost Emmanuel… fame just felt good… I didn’t even understand why I was in the industry… 2020 was just a crash.”
Former Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has explained why he left the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying his experience in the party became unbearable and forced him to move on.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He made this known during an interview on the Mic On Podcast hosted by Seun Akinbaloye, where he reflected on his time in the ruling party and his decision to exit.
Melaye said the political environment he found himself in at the time no longer aligned with his values, adding that he had to step away to reassess his direction in politics.
He compared the decision to a major personal turning point, stressing that it was not made hastily but after deep reflection on his future.
According to him, leaving the party was necessary for his personal and political survival as the situation had become difficult to manage.
He said the experience marked a significant change in his political journey, prompting him to seek a new path that better suited his beliefs and ambitions.
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