Business leader and founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Atedo Peterside, has warned Nigerian leaders against underestimating the grave dangers posed by deepening poverty, rising political tension and eroding public trust in key state institutions.

In a statement shared on his official X account following an interview on ARISE TV with Charles Aniagolu, Peterside said extreme poverty now affects an estimated 140 million Nigerians, creating conditions that could threaten national stability if left unaddressed.

“Our leaders should not underestimate the rising toll that extreme poverty is taking on approximately 140 million Nigerians,” he wrote.

“If all the oppressors gather in a single ruling party then the battle lines will be crystal clear. Security of life and property is already under threat.”
Peterside drew attention to the widening inequality in the country, noting that while a vast majority of Nigerians struggle to survive, a small segment of the population controls a disproportionate share of national wealth. He warned that this growing imbalance is fuelling social pressure and resentment across the country.

According to him, extreme poverty goes beyond economic hardship and has become a major security concern. He explained that widespread deprivation makes citizens, particularly young people, more vulnerable to crime, violence and manipulation by criminal and extremist networks.

“When people are pushed to the brink by daily struggles, they become easier targets for recruitment into criminal and violent activities,” he cautioned, especially in communities with limited economic opportunities.

The ANAP Foundation president also raised concerns about Nigeria’s political climate, warning that the concentration of power within a single political bloc could sharpen divisions and intensify political conflicts.

He argued that such an environment risks turning politics into a zero-sum battle rather than a democratic process, further endangering peace and national cohesion.

Peterside expressed particular concern over declining public confidence in democratic institutions, especially the judiciary and the electoral system. He noted that many Nigerians no longer trust that disputes, including electoral grievances, will be resolved fairly through legal channels.

“People have lost faith in the judiciary and may increasingly resort to self-help to resolve electoral disputes if INEC bungles the next general elections,” he warned.

He stressed that credible elections are critical to national stability, cautioning that flawed polls could inflame existing tensions and trigger unrest, as citizens who feel disenfranchised may conclude that their voices no longer count.

Peterside urged leaders to confront these challenges urgently, warning that failure to do so could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s security and democratic future.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under the leadership of its Acting National Chairman, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), on Tuesday evening held a high-level, closed-door meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, as the party intensifies efforts to resolve its lingering internal crisis and reposition itself ahead of future political contests.

Turaki arrived at Jonathan’s office in Maitama at about 5:45 pm, leading a delegation that included all members of the NWC as well as a select number of state party chairmen. The delegation moved in a convoy of six sport utility vehicles, underscoring the importance attached to the engagement.

Although details of the meeting were not immediately disclosed, reliable party sources said discussions were centred on the deepening leadership and structural challenges confronting the PDP, the need for unity and discipline within the party, and strategic steps required to restore public confidence in Africa’s former ruling party.

The talks are also believed to have extended beyond party affairs to include broader national issues, with Jonathan expected to offer guidance based on his experience as a former president and elder statesman. Party insiders described the meeting as a consultation aimed at tapping into Jonathan’s influence and moral authority to help stabilise the PDP at a critical moment.

The engagement comes at a time when the PDP is grappling with internal divisions, factional disputes, and growing pressure from both the ruling party and emerging opposition forces.

Observers see the visit as part of a wider effort by the party’s leadership to rally senior stakeholders and chart a coherent path forward.

…More details are expected to emerge as the meeting progresses.

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has asked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to immediately resign his appointment and face his “obsession with Rivers State politics,” following a heated exchange over the leadership and affairs of the party in the state.

In a strongly worded statement on Monday, Basiru faulted what he described as an “uncouth tirade” by Wike against his person and office, insisting that his position on party supremacy and respect for sitting governors was both orthodox and constitutionally grounded within the APC.

Basiru said it was shocking that a member of the Federal Executive Council would react so aggressively to his assertion that governors remain the leaders of the party in their respective states and must be accorded due respect by party organs.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our records indicate that Minister Nyesom Wike is not a member of our party,” Basiru declared, stressing that Wike therefore lacked the locus standi to interfere in APC affairs. He added that, as National Secretary, he was duty-bound to protect the interests of the party and its structures nationwide, including Rivers State.

Dismissing allegations by Wike that he and other APC leaders were scrambling for an alleged N600 billion “largesse” in Rivers State, Basiru described the claim as “cheap blackmail” and a familiar tactic of the former Rivers governor. He challenged Wike to substantiate the allegation or be prepared to defend it in court.

The APC scribe also rejected what he termed veiled threats from the FCT minister, warning that Wike was “overplaying his political card.” Basiru said his confidence was rooted in faith and democratic struggle, recalling his role in the pro-democracy movement against military rule, at a time he claimed Wike was not politically visible.

Basiru further noted that Wike’s public support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not translate into APC membership, arguing that millions of Nigerians outside the party also supported the President.

“His attempt to destabilise our party in Rivers State will not be tolerated,” Basiru said, cautioning that Wike could not import “the spirit of the PDP” into the APC.

He concluded by stating that it was improper for a serving minister in an APC-led government to foment discord within the party using the influence of public office, insisting that the “honourable thing” for Wike to do was to resign from the Federal Executive Council.

The latest exchange underscores deepening political tensions in Rivers State and highlights the fragile alignment between the ruling APC and influential non-party actors within the Tinubu administration.

The Rivers State Government has approved a comprehensive Youth Agribusiness Training Programme aimed at empowering young people, strengthening food security and driving sustainable economic growth across the state.

The approval, granted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, underscores the administration’s resolve to reposition agriculture as a viable, profitable and youth-driven sector, while addressing the twin challenges of unemployment and economic diversification.

According to the state government, the programme is designed to equip youths with practical skills, modern agricultural knowledge and entrepreneurial capacity across key agricultural value chains. These include crop production, livestock farming, aquaculture, agro-processing, agribusiness management and agricultural technology.

By focusing on hands-on training and mentorship, the initiative seeks to move young people beyond subsistence farming into commercially viable, market-oriented agribusiness ventures. Participants will be exposed to modern farming techniques, value addition processes and agribusiness best practices, enabling them to become self-reliant and competitive contributors to the state’s economy.

Officials said the programme aligns with Governor Fubara’s broader vision of youth empowerment, job creation and economic resilience. With agriculture recognised as a critical driver of inclusive growth, the training is expected to open new income streams for youths, reduce dependence on white-collar jobs and encourage innovation within the agricultural sector.

Beyond individual empowerment, the initiative is projected to have wider socio-economic benefits for Rivers State. Increased youth participation in agriculture is expected to boost local food production, reduce food shortages, stabilise prices and strengthen rural economies. By promoting value addition and agribusiness development, the programme also aims to create employment opportunities along the agricultural supply chain.

The training is scheduled to hold from January 19 to 29, 2026, at the School-to-Land Authority, Centre of Excellence, Rumuodomaya, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, with daily sessions commencing at noon.

The Rivers State Government has urged interested youths with a genuine passion for agriculture and agribusiness to take advantage of the opportunity, describing it as a strategic investment in the future of the state.

Signed by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr. Victor Kii, the statement reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to building a resilient agricultural sector, empowering the youth population and laying the foundation for a more prosperous Rivers State.

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has stated its commitment to completing the sand-filling and reclamation project in Okochiri, Okrika Local Government Area, and the 4.5-kilometre Nonwa-Uedeme-Ogu Road linking Tai and Ogu-Bolo Local Government Areas of Rivers State.

Speaking during an inspection of the projects, the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, reiterated the Commission’s resolve to ensure that all ongoing projects across the region were completed and inaugurated for the benefit of the people.

Iyaye expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at the Okochiri reclamation project and noted that it would help the community gain more land for economic activities.

He said: “We are here in Okochiri to monitor and appraise the performance of the contractor working for us. We felt the need to assess the project’s progress to ensure timely completion.

Iyaye said the reclamation project was significant to the Okochiri people because it had increased their land space, noting that it had helped to boost the Okochiri International Beach Festival and Carnival, which, according to him, “promotes peace amongst the people.”

Earlier, during a courtesy visit to the Amayanabo of Okochiri, King Ateke Tom, at his palace, the NDDC Executive Director remarked that the Commission had tremendous respect for the traditional institution.

He informed the monarch that he was in Okochiri to inspect the Commission’s ongoing projects in the area and ensure they were completed on schedule.

Iyaye Said: “For us to succeed, we believe that we need the cooperation of everybody. We need the cooperation of the traditional institutions, the state governments and the youth.

Responding, King Ateke Tom commended the NDDC for executing impactful projects in his domain, especially for the sand-filling and reclamation project. He observed that the projects would enhance the economic development of the Okochiri kingdom.

Briefing the NDDC Executive Director on the project, the contractor, Dr Jude Moroh, commended the Commission for undertaking the project, noting that the area, which had previously been a mangrove swamp, had been sand-filled.

Also speaking at the reclamation site, the Secretary of Ijaw Youth Council, Eastern Zone, Mr Tamunokuro Dango, said the Okochiri people were happy with the progress of work at the beachfront.

He noted: “We are delighted because this project has enhanced our economic and social activities, improving the lives of our people.”

Inspecting the Nonwa-Uedeme-Ogu Road, Alabo Boma Iyaye assured that the NDDC, under the leadership of the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, was actively working to implement the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He stated that, as an intervention agency, the NDDC would endeavour to leave its footprints in communities within the NDDC mandate states, working in collaboration with the state governments.

The contractor for the road project, Hon. Deinma Iyalla, affirmed that the NDDC had transformed the area by linking various communities through good roads. He assured that the first phase of the project would be completed by the end of January.

The NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, also inspected ongoing work on the 1,500-seater Ogu Civic Centre and the Ogu Community Pavilion in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.