KOGI STATE: HISTORY, GOVERNANCE AND THE CHALLENGE OF BUILDING A NEW NIGERIA After participating in the inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council of our party, the NDC, yesterday, I travelled to Kogi State today, 27th October 2026, as part of my ongoing series of town hall meetings across the country. In Lokoja, I paid a courtesy visit to the Maigari of Lokoja, His Royal Highness Dr. Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Kabir Maikarfi IV. I sincerely thank His Royal Highness for receiving us at such short notice. I informed him of our town hall meeting in Lokoja, after which he graciously took time to share with us some of the history of the city. He told us about the historic Holy Trinity Primary School, which was established in 1865 by the Most Reverend Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther and missionaries of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion. It is regarded as the oldest primary school in Northern Nigeria. He also told us about the historic 'Iron of Liberty' monument. Visiting these historic sites was both enlightening and sobering. The Holy Trinity Primary School reminded me that, 161 years after its establishment, Nigeria still has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world. It is concerning that we have not done enough to preserve these legacies or build on the foundations laid by those who came before us. At the 'Iron of Liberty,' I was reminded of the historic collaboration between missionaries and the authorities in the struggle to end the slave trade in Nigeria. My visits to these sites reinforce my comments yesterday about spending all my holidays as President in Nigeria. They also highlight the abundant tourism potential of Kogi State and Nigeria as a whole. From these historic sites, I proceeded to our town hall meeting, organised by our party and candidates, where we had a lengthy and engaging conversation about the contemporary challenges facing our country. During the interaction, we discussed several issues affecting our nation, including corruption, agriculture, tourism in Kogi State, the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company and other important matters. My response was to reiterate our position that endemic, entrenched and institutional corruption remains at the core of many of the challenges confronting Nigeria today and must be decisively addressed. I reiterated my commitment to uniting and securing our country around a common purpose: investing in health and education, strengthening our productive capacity and pulling our people out of pervasive poverty. I concluded my visit by consoling a business owner whose complex was recently gutted by fire. I also visited traders at Kpata Market, where I interacted with them and received first-hand information about the prevailing economic situation, including the rising cost of goods. The traders complained of low patronage due to reduced disposable income among consumers. I thank the large crowd that attended the event for their warm reception and the fruitful interaction we had. My sincere gratitude goes to the organisers of our town hall meeting in Lokoja, our candidates, and all our party members and participants. A New Nigeria is Possible, and Nigeria will be OK. -PO

EXIT OF A TITAN I am deeply saddened by the passing of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the revered Afenifere leader and elder statesman, at the age of 100. Baba lived a life defined by courage, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to democracy, justice, and a better Nigeria. His passing is a great loss to his family, the Yoruba nation, and our country. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, the entire Afenifere family, and all those who mourn this great patriot. May God grant them the strength to bear this painful loss and grant Baba eternal rest. His legacy of principled leadership, selfless service, and steadfast commitment to democratic ideals will continue to inspire generations. -PO

A NEW AND PRODUCTIVE NIGERIA IS POSSIBLE, AND NIGERIA WILL BE OK Yesterday, 26th of October, our Party, the NDC Campaign council was inaugurated in Abuja. As part of my remarks, I told Nigerians how our richly endowed nation, the giant of Africa, is now the world’s poverty capital. Regrettably, over 140 million Nigerians are multidimensionally poor, representing more than 60% of the population. Corruption remains widespread, while insecurity affects every part of our country. Unemployment and inequality are at record levels, and Nigerians face severe and avoidable hardship. Even with the removal of the fuel subsidy and reckless borrowing, with a debt of over ₦165 trillion, there has been little or no corresponding increase in productivity. In the last three years, President Tinubu has foisted on Nigeria a reign of corruption and duplicity, resulting in extreme poverty. Today, President Tinubu has made history as the leader who has created the largest number of poor people in the world. This year, he has made about 16 million Nigerians extremely poor. Just last Saturday, President Tinubu, while launching his re-election campaign in Kaduna, blamed past and opposition leaders for the hunger and poverty that have ravaged Nigerians. What is clear is that President Tinubu does not have the competence, the capacity, the character, compassion or the commitment to solve the problems he created. He lacks the energy and the resolve to get Nigeria out of the current worsening crisis. Under President Tinubu, despite his promise to fix electricity, Nigeria now has the lowest consumption of electricity. Without reliable power, businesses cannot expand efficiently, hospitals cannot provide dependable services, schools struggle to operate effectively, and households face additional financial burdens. We will pursue an electricity reform programme focused on reliability, affordability, investment, and accountability. We will work with relevant federal and state institutions, regulators, operators, and investors to address the weaknesses affecting generation, transmission, and distribution. Under President Tinubu, Nigeria is more divided than ever, more terrorised than ever and more insecure than ever. Under President Tinubu, Nigeria has fallen into a crisis of values, such that our budgets are no longer credible and our laws are forged. Nothing is sacred. Nothing is spared from degradation, not budgets, not laws, not institutions. From our engagements with Nigerians across the country and all segments of society, the message is clear: Nigerians want and deserve a better, more productive nation, one in which good governance is visible, firmly established, effectively practised and embraced as part of our national culture. I, Peter Obi, with my very dear elder brother, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, implore and beckon all of you, committed members of our great party, the NDC, and all Nigerians, to join us in this crusade of rebuilding our dear and most endowed nation, Nigeria. Today, we begin a renewed journey towards a New Nigeria, united by shared purpose, founded on fairness, justice and equity, and committed to productivity, inclusion and development. We envision a nation where government prioritises the security and welfare of its people, good governance prevails, and public officials remain accountable. It will be a law-abiding society of healthy, skilled and educated citizens, where every child attends school and learns to read and write. No Nigerian should live in a displaced-persons camp, and corruption must no longer weaken our institutions or the fabric of our nation. A New Nigeria is our vision. A New Nigeria is our mission. Corruption today has become more pervasive under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s APC-led government. No state institution has been spared, and since 2023, its effects have spread throughout national life.

I received with profound sorrow the news of the passing of our dearest mother, Prof. Kamene Okonjo, beloved mother of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and revered matriarch of the Umu Obi Obahai Royal Family of Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State. Mama lived a remarkable life of service, dignity, wisdom, and devotion to her family, community, and humanity. Her passing is a great loss, not only to the Okonjo family and the people of Ogwashi-Uku, but to all who were privileged to know and draw inspiration from her life. At this difficult moment, I extend my deepest and heartfelt condolences to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala @NOIweala , the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, His Royal Majesty, Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo II, the entire Okonjo family, the people of Ogwashi-Uku, and all of us who mourn this great matriarch. May Almighty God grant the family the strength and comfort to bear this irreparable loss, and may He grant our dearest mother, Prof. Kamene Okonjo, eternal rest. -PO