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Crisis rocks Lagos APC as party stalwarts attack Tinubu over Tokunbo Abiru
Leaders and members of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the antics of the national leader of the party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu in foisting his personal choices for public offices on the chapter.
This has become highly embarrassing especially for members of the apex body of the chapter, the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), who are now at loss on how to explain their relevance to party and non party members.
The latest drafting of Tokunbo Abiru the erstwhile Managing Director of Polaris Bank to contest the vacant Lagos East Senatorial ticket on the platform of the party, was done in such a way that left members of the GAC, stupified and dumb founded.
Having being detailed to shop for qualified party members to fly the flag of the party in the November bye election occasioned by the death of Bayo Oshinowo. GAC members went to work, while at it, information got to them that Abiru has being picked by Tinubu and that their labour was a mere academic exercise.
These politicians became down cast as it has been a tradition for Tinubu to send the GAC on a wild goose chase only to unleash his position on them and use them as the horsemen to hold the leash against the anger of his minions.
The pain of Party members on the other hand stems from the glaring fact that Tinubu recruits technocrats for public offices, leaving them in the cold after years of staying with the party through thick and thin.
“It has become a sin for one to be a party member in Lagos. You are seen as foolish and unusable ” said Funmi Falola from Ikorodu federal constituency.
“In the last general elections 201 of us bought forms for the state House of Assembly ticket, only for Tinubu to unilaterally picked all the forty candidates of the party, without making all aspirants test their popularity in a primary, the best we got was a refund of the money we expended on purchasing APC’s nomination, and expression of interest forms from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other promissory notes that are yet to materialise.
Tunji Ojo a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) taunted Lagos APC members, saying “they will forever remain subservient in their party, because not only have they been enslaved by the lie that, “Power is not served a la carte”, the disdain of their self-styled leader for politicians will never make him consider them for any good, no matter how close they might be to the thing.
“He would always take it over them to someone else. He just doesn’t want them to grow and be self-reliant politically, because they know the game as much as he does. The “Baba Sope” culture is too lucrative and working magic for him to mull embracing collegiate leadership.
“Interestingly and sadly for Lagos APC members, he always serves power a la carte, even to those, who never dreamt or planned to be in politics. I pity those who are quick to stand behind their party’s silly decisions even at their collective expense. They have conceded their rights to every aspiration to the leader. Lagos APC politics is stupid. They’re all slaves!”
A party member said “We are indeed in slavery in Lagos APC. If you know how angry party members are but no one can talk even the GAC leaders are fed up.
“As regards filling the vacant Lagos East slot Tinubu gave the GAC the assignment to shortlist aspirants, but they couldn’t do it because midway they got feelers that he has annointed Abiru.
“Everybody is waiting for external aggression to free Lagos APC from Tinubu vicious grip, because those who should do it internally are suspicious of each other and profit heavily from Tinubu for betraying each other.
“We will wait for the emergence of a National Working Committee of the party that is not beholden to Tinubu, before there can be internal democracy in Lagos APC.
“One man compiled the list of the forty man Tunde Balogun led state executive of the party, he sanctioned the 57 man council chairman list, he chose all the 24 man House of Representatives members from Lagos, the three Senators were his choice.
“The state cabinet members were all his choice except two slots he apportioned for Governor Sanwo-Olu. You can get to director level in Lagos civil service without Tinubu’s blessing.
Pundits said Tinubu drafted Abiru into the senatorial race preparatory to his presidential ambition in 2023.
Abiru is said to be instrumental to the 2023 funding agenda and he just facilitated and sealed a N200m loan for each of the 57 councils in Lagos State.
The N12bn Polaris bank loan is apparently the first in the line of three other loans that are are supposed to be used to purchase equipment for the local governments.
Insiders have warned that these loans will not be used for any purchases but will be deployed towards the 2023 ambition of Tinubu.
Stakeholders in the banking industry have questioned the propriety of the loan transactions and have petitioned the EFCC and other security agencies to investigate the Bank, Abiru and the Lagos local Governments as the transaction is clearly illegal and designed to pull cash from the system in violation of financial regulations.
Analysts have observed that it is these type of transactions that denied Abiru a renewal of his term by the CBN and his tenure at Polaris Bank must be thoroughly investigated.
Abiru a former Lagos State Commissioner for Finance is reputedly an age long bagman for Tinubu and is likely being groomed to take over from Babajide Sanwoolu in 2023
The National interim leadership of the party is unhappy with these developments as they see it as a pointer to more crisis in a Lagos APC that is already nursing simmering internal discord and anger and a major inhibitor to the overall growth of the Party.
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Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”
He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”
Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.
He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.
“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”
The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.
He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”
“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”
Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.
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Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency
The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.
In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.
Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote
Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.
The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.
‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.
President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded
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Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience
Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.
The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.
In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.
He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”
The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.
Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.
“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”
Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.
“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”
The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.
By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.
The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.
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