The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Yobe State, Baba Wali, has pledged to sustain and build on the achievements of Governor Mai Mala Buni if elected governor in the 2027 governorship election.

Wali made the commitment on Saturday during a visit to the Gudi Emirate in Fika Local Government Area as part of his consultations with traditional rulers and other stakeholders ahead of the election.

The APC candidate said his seven-year experience working in the Buni administration had given him a clear understanding of the policies, programmes and development agenda of the current government.

He assured residents that, if elected, his administration would prioritise continuity while introducing measures aimed at consolidating the gains already recorded by the present administration.

Wali expressed appreciation to Governor Buni for giving him the opportunity to serve in his government, describing the experience as valuable to his political and administrative career.

“I will be forever grateful to the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, for allowing me to work in his administration for seven years.

“If I win the election, my administration will continue from where Buni stopped.

We will continue with the good works of the present administration and build on the achievements recorded so far for the benefit of the people of Yobe State,” he said.

Wali also acknowledged the contributions of former Yobe governor and current Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam, to his career.

He said Geidam provided him with significant support and opportunities during his time in government, adding that he remained grateful for the role the former governor played in his development.

Explaining the purpose of his visit to the Gudi Emirate, Wali said he was at the palace to seek the prayers, guidance and support of Emir Ismaila Gadaka and the people of the emirate ahead of the 2027 election.

He also appealed to the traditional institution and residents of the emirate to support the APC and its candidates at both the state and national levels, including President Bola Tinubu.

“We are urging the Emirate of Bade to support us and all the APC candidates,” Wali said.

The APC candidate further maintained that his experience in government had exposed him to the challenges confronting Yobe State and equipped him with the knowledge needed to provide effective leadership.

He said his administration, if given the mandate, would focus on consolidating existing achievements and addressing areas requiring further attention.

Responding, the monarch assured Wali of the emirate’s support, noting that traditional institutions would continue to support political candidates whose emergence would contribute to the development and well-being of the people.

The monarch, however, urged political leaders to put the interests of the people above political considerations and ensure that government policies and programmes translated into tangible development across the state.

A professor at Obafemi Awolowo University, Tunji Ogunyemi, has warned that restoring petrol subsidy could push more than 15 states in Northern Nigeria into severe financial crisis within three months.

Ogunyemi issued the warning while speaking on Open Forum 360, a podcast hosted by Dare Adekanmbi, on Friday.

He was reacting to the proposal by the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to introduce a form of petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.

The university don argued that bringing back subsidy would reduce the amount of money available for distribution through the Federation Account, a major source of revenue for most state governments.

According to him, any significant reduction in Federation Account allocations could leave many states unable to meet their financial obligations.

“I think it is calamitous, to say the least, if we reverse the subsidy regime in Nigeria in favour of returning the subsidies,” Ogunyemi said.

He described the Federation Account as the financial lifeline of more than 30 states, arguing that only a handful of states could operate without depending heavily on federal allocations.

“The Federation Account is the jugular of more than 30 states in the federation. Only about four states in Nigeria can survive without the Federation Account,” he stated.

Ogunyemi cited Lagos, Delta and Rivers among states he said had stronger internally generated revenues and could cope better with reduced federal allocations.

He contrasted them with states such as Taraba, which he said rely significantly on Federation Account revenue.

“So if you now say reduce the accrual from the account, I tell you more than about 15 states in the north will collapse. They will collapse within three months,” he warned.

Salary, Pension Payments at Risk
The professor also cautioned that a reduction in government revenue could make it difficult for states to pay workers and pensioners.

He said states could return to the period when governments struggled to meet monthly salary obligations, while pension payments could also become increasingly difficult.

“The second is that states will return to a regime of incapacity to pay salaries, let alone pensions,” he said.

Ogunyemi further warned that the Federal Government could also experience financial difficulties if its share of national revenue declined.

He noted that between 60 and 70 per cent of federal government expenditure goes towards recurrent spending, describing the spending as largely consumption-related.

According to him, reduced revenue would leave the government struggling to finance even essential recurrent obligations, while funding for infrastructure and other capital projects could suffer.

Debt Servicing Concerns
The don also raised concerns about Nigeria’s ability to service its debts if government revenue falls significantly.

He warned that difficulties in meeting debt obligations could negatively affect the country’s financial standing and creditworthiness.

Ogunyemi also questioned the political implications of Atiku’s subsidy proposal, suggesting that the promise could be aimed at winning public support ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

He argued that Atiku, having served as Vice-President, should provide Nigerians with clearer explanations of the potential fiscal consequences of restoring subsidy.

Atiku Clarifies Subsidy Proposal
Atiku had initially promised to restore petrol subsidy, arguing that Nigerians had not benefited sufficiently from its removal and questioning how the savings from the policy had been utilised.

He later clarified that his proposal was not a return to the previous import-subsidy arrangement.

The former Vice-President said he favoured a targeted and capped intervention designed to support domestic refining and production, with transparency and auditing mechanisms to prevent abuse.

President Bola Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy on May 29, 2023, during his inauguration, declaring that “fuel subsidy is gone.”

The announcement was followed by a sharp increase in petrol prices, contributing to higher transportation and living costs across the country.

The Federal Government has continued to defend the policy, arguing that subsidy removal was necessary to reduce fiscal pressure and free up resources for governments at federal, state and local levels.

The Ministry of Finance said the reforms generated an estimated N15.8 trillion in resources for the Federation between June 2023 and December 2025.

The Osun State Government has received the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, with Governor Ademola Adeleke calling for reforms in the state police command and the release of persons he described as political detainees.

Zungura assumed duty in Osun on Monday and paid a courtesy visit to Governor Adeleke alongside senior officers of the command.

During the meeting, the new police commissioner pledged to work closely with the state government to restore peace, stability and public confidence in the police.

The development comes amid strained relations between the Adeleke administration and the police command during the build-up to and aftermath of the August 15 governorship election.

According to a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Zungura assured the governor that his administration would pursue impartial policing and address security concerns across the state.

“I promise to work with the state government for peace and stability of the state. I will be fair to all, and I will prove my commitment in the next few weeks. Osun is a peaceful state, and we will work to address all outstanding issues,” Zungura said.

Adeleke, however, said post-election peace had not been fully restored and urged the new commissioner to take urgent steps to rebuild public confidence in the police.

The governor also raised concerns over a recent police operation in Ikire, where two people were reportedly killed. He alleged that the Divisional Police Officer in the area had been implicated in the incident and called for disciplinary action.

“Based on all details of the attacks, I request immediate commencement of disciplinary action against the DPO. He has become a threat to the people he was posted to protect,” Adeleke said.

The governor outlined five key demands which he said would help restore peace and normalcy to the state’s political environment.

First, Adeleke urged the new CP to rebuild public trust by ensuring that police officers operate professionally, impartially and in a manner that puts the interests of residents first.

He also called for stronger cooperation between the state government and the police command, stressing that his administration was seeking “no favour other than fair policing.”

Adeleke further asked Zungura to reorganise the internal operations of the command and address units he alleged had been compromised or perceived as partisan.

“I know you will be worried that Osun people see certain police units as the home base of APC thugs. There is a need to dissolve many police operational units because they have been compromised,” he said.

The governor also requested the full participation of the police command in meetings of the State Security Council. He alleged that the predecessor of the new CP last attended such a meeting in 2024.

His fifth request was the release of Accord Party members whom he described as political detainees, as well as an end to what he termed politically motivated arrests of the party’s members.

“I also call for the release of several Accord members arrested and indeterminate as political detainees. Further arrests of our members should also stop,” Adeleke said.

The governor assured the police command of his administration’s support but stressed that such assistance would not be influenced by political considerations.

“Our government is ready to support police operations without any strings attached. What we seek is fair policing,” he said.

Zungura’s deployment followed the transfer of the former substantive Commissioner of Police in Osun, Ibrahim Gotan, amid concerns over the neutrality of the command ahead of the governorship election.

Adeleke, who secured a second term in the August 15 election, said his administration was extending an olive branch to all stakeholders in the interest of peace.

“Osun deserves peace. Osun deserves justice. Osun deserves a police command that enjoys the confidence of all citizens, regardless of political affiliation,” the governor said.

“Let us work together to heal our state, rebuild trust and give peace a permanent home in Osun.