Despite widespread criticism, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that Nigeria is on the verge of recovery, citing successes in security, financial discipline, and grassroots development.

Tinubu stated this during his first Presidential Media Chat, which was broadcast nationwide.

During his speech, Tinubu emphasized security improvements, claiming significant progress in making previously dangerous routes safe to travel.

“Two decades of wanton killings have been addressed. Today, you can travel the roads. Before now, it was impossible,” he said, adding that the military remains vigilant against both internal and external threats to ensure the safety of citizens.

On fiscal management, the President emphasized the administration’s efforts to abandon the former “ways and means” paradigm, claiming that the government now runs with financial control and budgetary discipline.

“We have more revenue being generated and distributed,” Tinubu noted.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has taken a major step towards resolving differences among members in Adamawa State.

A resolution committee assembled by the national headquarters of the party met with officials of the party in Adamawa State on Monday as a first interactive step to achieve harmony within the party.

The APC which produced the Adamawa State Governor in 2015, failed in its return bid in 2019 and failed again in 2023 to get back to power.

The party which lost narrowly in each case and blamed it on intraparty rancour, noticed the same sort of lingering rancour after the 2023 election, hence the decision to set up a reconciliation committee.

The committee began its meeting with party officials Monday afternoon telling the officials to see victory in 2027 as a reality that they must achieve.

The committee which is under the leadership of Senator Mohammed Mana, who represented Adamawa North District in 2007-2011, has Isa Baba as Secretary and erstwhile senators Abubakar Halilu Girei, Bello Tukur and Binta Garba as well as Mrs Bridget Zidon, Martins Babale and Yusuf Yakub as members.

In his opening remarks during the meeting at the APC state secretariat in Yola, the chairman of the committee, Muhammed Mana, said the APC is a grassroots political party and mending fences will enable it to wax stronger and take power from the ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

He commended the National Security Adviser, NSA, Malam Nuhu Ribadu who is the party leader in the state for striving towards ensuring that the aggrieved members of the party are reconciled so that the party can regain its lost glory in the state.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the party in the state, Idris Shuaibu, expressed optimism that the reconciliation will enable the party win the 2027 governorship election.

The brewing constitutional crisis in Edo State over the suspension of all the 18 local government area chairmen won’t end any time soon.

This is as officials of the state government have declared that the chairmen remain suspended.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has warned of an imminent break down of law and order should the state government refuse to back down.

The PDP spoke on Monday through its chieftain, Hon. Ose Anenih described the unfolding events as “a shocking rebellion against the rule of law and the President’s authority.”

The government’s stand comes despite the declaration of the suspension as illegal by both the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and a High Court sitting in Edo State.

The AGF recently reaffirmed that only local councillors, not governors or state assemblies hold the constitutional authority to suspend or remove elected local government officials.

Similarly, Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo High Court issued a mandatory injunction on Friday, declaring the suspension null and void and restraining the state government and other parties from meddling in local government operations until the substantive case is heard.

However, state officials have disregarded this ruling, signaling what appears a direct challenge to law officer of federation and disobedience to court order.

Barrister Andrew Emwanta, a member of the governor’s administrative panel, while appearing on national television, declared that “the Constitution has placed local governments under state control, and that remains the law.”

He added that, “Financial autonomy is about giving them access; but that does not mean state governments do not have control over how they use that money.

“The Supreme Court cannot amend the constitution.”

In a similar vein, Kassim Afegbua, another panel member, also countered the AGF.

He had this to say when he appeared on Arise TV: “Lateef Fagbemi might be the law officer of the federation, but he does not represent the constitution of the country and he does not represent other laws made validly under the provisions of the constitution by the Edo House of Assembly.”

The governor’s spokesperson, Fred Itua, was also quoted to have said that “The decisions by the Edo State House of Assembly, vis-a-vis, the Governor of the State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, are entirely justified.

“It is essential to note that the apex Court is both a court of law and a policy court, and while it has the power to make policy decisions, it cannot exercise this power when the Constitution is clear on a matter.

“The House of Assembly has the powers to oversight the activities of the Governor, and similarly, the Governor has the right to exercise oversight over local government chairmen.

“The current constitutional construct recognizes a two-tier federal design. It is clearly stipulated in the Constitution.”

Reacting to the government’s stand, Anenih described the unfolding events as “a shocking rebellion against the rule of law and the President’s authority.”