

News
FORMER PRESIDENT OBASANJO WAS NOT AN IDEAL LEADER TO EMULATE – TINUBU
In a recent display of his characteristic self-importance, former President Olusegun Obasanjo once again took to the public stage to bestow his unsolicited wisdom on leadership and governance in Nigeria. From his lofty perch, he blamed those who served after his tenure for the nation’s myriad challenges.
Unfortunately, the former leader’s habit of casting aspersions on every subsequent administration has devolved into a recurring pastime, overshadowing the expectation of an elder statesman to join a constructive dialogue on attaining national progress.
In his latest critique of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he pejoratively called ‘Baba Go Slow’ and President Bola Tinubu, who he tagged ‘Emilokan’, Chief Obasanjo used the platform provided by Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University to unfurl his latest treatise on leadership and public morality. He also used the forum to write off Nigeria as a failing country.
The irony of Chief Obasanjo using the platform that celebrates Achebe to sermonise on the ideals of good governance, statecraft, economic management, and corruption should be apparent to discerning minds. When he was alive, Chinua Achebe was a universally acclaimed moral, cultural and literary icon with scant regard for Obasanjo.
It is on record that Professor Achebe rejected the third highest national honour bestowed on him by the Obasanjo-led administration in 2004 on the grounds of the prevalence of abuse of power, corruption, poor leadership, and, in particular, state-sponsored brigandage endorsed by Chief Obasanjo in Achebe’s home state of Anambra. In Anambra, the former president actively supported the abduction of a sitting governor, Dr Chris Ngige, by non-state actors led by Chris Uba, a younger brother of Obasanjo’s senior aide.
In rejecting the 2004 national honour by the Obasanjo administration, Achebe declared: “Nigeria’s condition today under your watch is…too dangerous for silence. I must register my disappointment and protest by declining to accept the high honour awarded me in the 2004 honours list.”
Brazen illegality and assault on the Constitution of Nigeria reached a disturbing height under the leadership of Chief Obasanjo. During Obasanjo’s era, the unconstitutional impeachment of four governors who belonged to his party occurred. The governors impeached by minority members of the Houses of Assembly were Joshua Dariye of Plateau, Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo, Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti and Diepreye Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa. A man under whose watch all of these egregious infractions occurred should certainly not be the one to give any lecture on leadership and corruption. He should not be taken seriously as he reeks of profound hypocrisy of the worst form.
Former President Obasanjo has continuously pumped himself up as the economic wizard of Nigeria. But a reality check showed he was nothing of such. He left unresolved many, if not all, of the problems of Nigeria, which he itemised in his lecture. He even recently admitted that his government made a mistake by not focussing on gas development, as the Tinubu administration does today. All oil and gas players know that Nigeria has more gas than oil. The only positive of the Obasanjo era was fiscal and monetary policy management buoyed by a consistent rise in crude oil prices throughout his eight-year tenure. This rise in crude oil prices started in 2000 and peaked in 2013 when it reached over 100 dollars per barrel before a decline in 2014, which set the oil-dependent economy downward. The current economic crisis the All Progressives Congress administrations have been battling since 2015 is the product of the poor choices in economic management made by Obasanjo and the two successors from his party. Obasanjo prides his government on paying the $15 billion debt owed to the Paris Club. Still, it was not a wise decision as it was done when the country’s critical economic infrastructure across sectors was in shambles.
While oil receipts brought money into the country, Obasanjo failed to fix the deplorable federal roads or expand the national road network. He did not repair the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Lagos-Abeokuta road leading to his hometown in Abeokuta, the Otta-Idiroko road, and many others.
His administration also should have paid more serious attention to universities and polytechnics. In a joint vote of no confidence in our tertiary institutions, Obasanjo and his deputy, Atiku Abubakar, sought to profit from their weaknesses by establishing their private universities. As a sitting President, Chief Obasanjo abused his office to advance personal interest against the spirit and letters of our constitution when he corralled leading businessmen, women and government contractors to donate billions of naira for his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library and Resorts in Abeokuta and his Bell University in Otta.
After wasting billions of naira on a failed third-term project in 2007, Chief Obasanjo hurriedly organised a sham electoral process that would go down in history as the most fraudulent election held in Nigeria since 1960. The beneficiary of the sham election, Umaru Yar’adua, admitted that the election was seriously flawed and, as Justice Muhammed Uwais’s panel recommended, worked towards electoral reforms. It is hypocrisy writ large when a man who presided over the worst election in Nigeria demands the sack of the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
For eight years, the Obasanjo administration made no significant investment in security by modernising the Armed Forces. He did not redesign the national security architecture or change the military doctrine. The most critical investment in our armed forces, especially the military, since the administration of President Shehu Shagari in 1980 was made by the APC-led administration of President Buhari from 2015-2023. When President Buhari assumed office in 2015, the Air Force had fewer than three serviceable fighter jets, and the Navy barely had one serviceable vessel. Within eight years, President Buhari acquired over 40 new fighter jets of different capabilities, including 12 Tucano jets. He also acquired naval ships to strengthen the Navy. The APC administration of Buhari developed the air wings of the Army and Navy and changed the entire Armed Forces into one of the most potent fighting forces in the world.
President Tinubu has continued to sustain the same support and funding to the military and other security agencies. It is the reason the country is winning in the multi-pronged fight against Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other perpetrators of violent crimes. In the last year, over 400 terror and bandit kingpins have been eliminated, and thousands of Nigerians have been freed from their abductors. The insecurity that engulfed Nigeria started under the Obasanjo administration with militancy and kidnapping of expatriate oil workers in the Niger Delta, which later became a festering wound from which the nation has not recovered. Boko Haram, which became a violent movement in 2009, began its build-up under Obasanjo’s regime.
On matters of integrity, honesty, and morality in public leadership, Chief Obasanjo is certainly not a paragon of virtue for anyone to model after. Nigerians can still remember the messy public spat between Chief Obasanjo and his then-vice president, Atiku Abubakar, over PTDF money that led to a Senate Public Hearing in 2004. The sordid details of the public hearing included unsettling evidence of how Obasanjo instructed his Vice President to buy Sport Utility Vehicles for his mistresses with PTDF funds. There was also the Halliburton bribe scandal, which the US Congress probe revealed. Bribe payments were made to the highest political authorities at the Villa while Obasanjo was in charge.
Nigerians will also remember how the Obasanjo administration invested $16 billion on electricity, which left the country in utter darkness. The colossal amount spent on power was so embarrassing that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Obasanjo’s successor, ordered a probe. Similarly, Obasanjo’s privatisation programme was scandalous. It did not deliver real value for the country. His administration cheaply sold national assets to cronies who stripped the assets of the state-owned enterprises. A case in point was the aluminium smelter company ALSCON in Ikot-Abasi, Akwa-Ibom State, built by the military government at the princely sum of $ 3.2 billion. It was sold for 130 million dollars. Obasanjo also sank money into Turn Around Maintenance of our refineries, which never worked, leading to the massive importation of refined petroleum products.
Such was the miasma of corruption under Obasanjo that the former governor of Abia, Orji Uzor Kalu, his party member, petitioned the EFCC, accusing Obasanjo of gross abuse of office.
If Chief Obasanjo had addressed the many problems he critiqued in his poorly written Yale lecture when he ruled Nigeria for eight years, President Buhari and President Tinubu would have had a much lighter burden of fixing the country.
While the Tinubu administration diligently works to overcome the country’s economic challenges, it would be better and more advisable for former President Obasanjo to temper his self-righteousness in his public discussions regarding our nation’s temporary difficulties. Instead, his remaining years would be better spent reflecting on the missed opportunities during his own time in leadership, both as military head of state and civilian president.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
News
Phyna Detained at Abuja Hotel Over ₦3.5 Million Damage After Fight

Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner Josephine Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has been detained at Dalchifit Hotel in Gwarinpa, Abuja, following a violent altercation that reportedly caused property damage estimated at ₦3.5 million.
The incident, which occurred on October 14, 2025, allegedly stemmed from a ₦200,000 debt dispute between Phyna and the hotel management. According to reports, the confrontation escalated when Phyna claimed that hotel staff allowed touts to enter her room, leading to a scuffle and significant property destruction.
Police officers attached to the Gwarinpa Division were called to the scene and have since begun investigating the matter. Sources confirmed that CCTV footage from the hotel is being reviewed to determine the sequence of events and establish accountability for the damages.
In a series of emotional social media posts, Phyna recounted her ordeal, alleging that her safety was compromised when the intruders broke into her room. She described the experience as “traumatic,” especially as it came barely weeks after the death of her sister, which she is still grieving.
“They broke into my room and tried to attack me. I was terrified and confused. How can a hotel let that happen? I’m still in shock,” she reportedly said in one of her posts.
While the hotel management has yet to issue an official statement, insiders at Dalchifit Hotel confirmed that they are cooperating with authorities to resolve the issue. The management is said to be insisting on compensation for the damaged property before releasing the reality star.
Phyna’s legal team has reportedly engaged with the police to ensure a fair investigation, as fans on social media express concern and demand her immediate release.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has not yet made a formal statement but confirmed that the case is under review.
Phyna, who rose to fame after winning Big Brother Naija: Level Up in 2022, has since built a strong brand presence in entertainment and influencer marketing. The current controversy marks one of her most serious public incidents since leaving the show.
News
Manchester United End Anfield Drought with 2–1 Win Over Liverpool

Manchester United claimed their first victory at Anfield in nearly a decade as Ruben Amorim’s men edged Liverpool 2–1 in Sunday’s Premier League clash, marking a landmark result in the Portuguese coach’s tenure.
Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring early before Harry Maguire’s late header sealed the win after Cody Gakpo had levelled for Liverpool. The result handed United back-to-back league victories for the first time under Amorim and eased mounting pressure on the manager, who described it as “the biggest win” of his 11-month reign.
“I don’t have many wins with Manchester, so this is really important,” Amorim said. “It’s back-to-back, it’s at Anfield that is really important. Every detail of this game.”
Despite the significance of the triumph, the 40-year-old boss refused to get carried away.
“I want you guys (the media) to continue with the negative narrative that’s best for me,” he joked. “We need to try to win three games in a row and then forget about top-four talk. This doesn’t change anything; we are the same team we were 90 minutes ago.”
Amorim praised his players’ response after conceding. “When we suffered the goal, we managed that moment well that’s a key point for our team,” he said. “It wasn’t a perfect performance, but the spirit was amazing.”
He also hailed the travelling supporters who backed the team throughout. “It was really important for our fans, because they are struggling. Today they saw a different team. To come here, to this stadium, and sing during the game that’s massive for us. This win is for them.”
Follow BONA NAIJA for more
Most Popular
News
Ned Nwoko Gives Reason for Clash with Regina Daniels

Nigerian lawmaker and businessman, Senator Ned Nwoko, has addressed reports of a marital dispute involving him and his wife, Nollywood actress Regina Daniels, which have dominated social media in recent days.
In a viral video, Regina Daniels accused her husband of domestic violence, claiming she had fled their home due to repeated abuse. The clip has since sparked widespread reactions online.
However, Senator Nwoko has now denied the allegations, alleging that Regina has been battling substance abuse, which he claims is the root cause of their problems.
In a lengthy statement posted on Sunday, titled “Regina’s Unprovoked Carnage and Rampage in My House and in My Absence,” the senator accused the actress of violent behavior, including damaging property and assaulting domestic staff.
“Regina was not always like this. Her current battle with drugs and alcohol abuse is the root of our problem. She must continue her rehabilitation program, or I fear for her life and safety,” he stated.
Nwoko further alleged that Regina had attacked three members of staff and destroyed cars and windows in the house, insisting that none of his other wives had ever accused him of violence.
“Regina is the violent one here,” he said. “I have set a clear condition for her to accept rehab in Asokoro or outside Nigeria, especially Jordan, where she will not have access to drugs.”
He also claimed that while he took their son, Moon, to the hospital, chaos erupted at home, allegedly involving two of Regina’s “drug suppliers,” whom he identified as “Sammy” and “Ann.”
As of press time, Regina Daniels has not publicly responded to Nwoko’s statement.
Follow BONA NAIJA for more
News
Defence HQ Denies Coup Attempt, Says Independence Anniversary Cancellation Not Linked to Any Plot

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed as false and misleading reports suggesting that the cancellation of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary was connected to an alleged attempted military coup.
In a statement on Sunday, the DHQ clarified that there was no coup attempt or any plan to destabilize the country, describing the report as a fabrication aimed at causing unnecessary panic among citizens.
“The Defence Headquarters wishes to state categorically that the report linking the cancellation of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary to an alleged attempted military coup is false and misleading,” the statement read in part.
The military urged members of the public to disregard the rumor and cautioned media organizations and social media users against spreading unverified information capable of undermining national security.


The statement reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ unwavering loyalty to the Constitution and commitment to democratic governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Follow BONA NAIJA for more
Business
Unity Bank Corpreneurship Challenge Empowers 578 Young Entrepreneurs, Awards ₦16 Million to 30 New Winners

No fewer than 578 young entrepreneurs across Nigeria have benefitted from Unity Bank’s Corpreneurship Challenge the Bank’s flagship entrepreneurial development initiative launched a few years ago.
Over this period, the Bank has invested in supporting budding entrepreneurs across multiple sectors to start businesses, create jobs, and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.
The ongoing initiative recently produced 30 new winners, who received a total grant of ₦16 million during the Batch B, Stream II edition of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation course, held across 10 states of the federation.
The winners, innovative young entrepreneurs developing solutions across various value chains such as fashion design, bag making, pastry and beverage production, event management, and vegetable farming, emerged after pitching their business ideas during the challenge at NYSC Orientation Camps in Lagos, Delta, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kwara, Benue, Abia, Kogi, Rivers, and Plateau States.
At the NYSC Orientation Camp in Ipaja, Lagos State, Fiyinfoluwa Titilayo Ojo, who pitched a soap-making enterprise, emerged the overall winner to clinch the ₦800,000 grand prize. Ndukwe Chiamaka Joan, with her innovative Small Chops business proposal, claimed ₦500,000 as first runner-up, while Barakat Modinat Olamide secured ₦300,000 to support her beverage-making venture.

Expressing her excitement after emerging as the overall winner in Lagos, Fiyinfoluwa Titilayo Ojo described the experience as life-changing, stating, “I’m truly grateful to Unity Bank for this opportunity. Winning the Corpreneurship Challenge has given me the push and confidence I needed to scale my soap-making business. Beyond the grant, the experience taught me how to structure my business better and believe in its potential. It’s amazing to see a bank that genuinely invests in young people’s dreams.”
Across the remaining nine states, 27 other winners also emerged after pitching diverse business ideas ranging from fish and poultry farming to printing, piggery, and cake production.
Over the past six years, the Unity Bank Corpreneurship Challenge has become an integral part of the NYSC programme, aligning with the Federal Government’s drive to upskill young graduates and promote entrepreneurship amid the scarcity of white-collar jobs. Each edition attracts thousands of entries from corps members whose business plans are evaluated for originality, marketability, job creation potential, and overall business acumen.
Speaking during the grand finale in Lagos, Unity Bank’s Divisional Head, Retail & SME, Mrs. Adenike Abimbola, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to empowering Nigerian youth through enterprise. She said:
“At Unity Bank, we believe that the energy and creativity of young Nigerians are vital to the nation’s economic transformation. The Corpreneurship Challenge is our way of nurturing this potential — by giving corps members the financial boost, mentorship, and confidence to turn their ideas into thriving businesses. Seeing over 578 young entrepreneurs already impacted motivates us to keep expanding the initiative and deepening our support for the SME ecosystem.”
The Corpreneurship Challenge has earned Unity Bank national recognition for its role in youth empowerment and job creation, attracting over 2,000 applicants per edition.
In partnership with the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, the initiative continues to serve as a launchpad for youth-owned enterprises, offering grants of up to ₦800,000 to help corps members turn their business dreams into reality.
Follow BONA NAIJA for more
-
Entertainment2 weeks ago
Big Brother Naija Live Update: KOLA, SULTANA Evicted #BBNaija
-
Music3 weeks ago
Odumodublvck Drops “Industry Machine” Feauturing Wizkid Ahead of 23-Track Album
-
Entertainment2 weeks ago
Imisi Crowned Winner of Big Brother Naija Season 10
-
Biafra3 weeks ago
Judgement Day: Tension in Abuja as Court Rules on Nnamdi Kanu’s No-Case Submission Today
-
Music News2 weeks ago
Odumodublvck Set to Drop ‘Industry Machine’ The Album Featuring Davido, Wizkid, Skepta & Stormzy
-
Music3 weeks ago
Sarz Drops Debut Album Featuring Wizkid, Asake, Skillibeng
-
Music3 weeks ago
Spyro Releases Debut Album The Men, The Boys & Your Guy
-
News2 weeks ago
First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu Celebrates World Teachers’ Day 2025
-
Entertainment3 weeks ago
VIDEO: AYRA STARR & REMA SHUT DOWN GLOBAL CITIZEN FESTIVAL 2025
-
Music News3 weeks ago
Nigerian singer Peruzzi to release new single “Die It” at midnight