Dr Sunday Okafor

EBONYI STATE: SECURITY, CORRUPTION, NATIONAL UNITY AND THE DIGNITY OF EVERY NIGERIAN My grassroots sensitisation tour brought me to Ebonyi, the Salt State, today, 29th October 2026, following yesterday’s visit to Akwanga, Nasarawa State, as our nationwide Town Hall Series continues. In Ebonyi, I made a stop at Nkalagu and Ezillo to greet and acknowledge our supporters and briefly visited the market in Ezillo, where I interacted with our hardworking women who trade and bring farm produce to market. In Abakaliki, I joined our party supporters on a road walk to the venue of our town hall meeting. At the town hall, participants raised concerns about insecurity, particularly kidnapping and banditry; corruption; government borrowing; and the deteriorating condition of our hospitals, schools, and other essential amenities. The most touching contribution came from a participant representing persons living with disabilities, who spoke about the challenges they face and the apparent lack of adequate support from government and society. I assured the participants that, upon election, our foremost priorities will be to unite the country, decisively tackle insecurity and confront corruption, while pulling our people out of poverty. To our brothers and sisters living with disabilities, I reiterated that the compassion of a nation is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens. We will work with state governments to ensure their inclusion, proper care and dignity. We will also invest massively in education and healthcare, including at least one fully functional primary healthcare centre in every political ward across Nigeria, while working to reduce the cost of living and expand opportunities for all. I sincerely thank the participants, our party members, the organisers and the good people of Ebonyi State for their warm reception, enthusiasm and active participation. A New Nigeria is POssible, and Nigeria will be OK! -PO

HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHER AND FELLOW PARTNER IN SERVICE TO NIGERIA, RABIU MUSA KWANKWASO As you mark your 70th birthday on October 21, I honour not only an accomplished public servant but also a very dear elder brother and partner whose life has been dedicated to serving our people. With the passage of time, I have come to deeply appreciate the bond between us, the many conversations we have shared, and the common commitment to Nigeria that continues to shape our service. Your path through the legislature, the Federal Executive Council, the governorship of Kano State, and national public life represents decades of experience, duty, and meaningful engagement with the Nigerian people. Turning seventy is not merely a significant milestone; it is a moment to look back with gratitude on a life devoted to service, the wisdom gained through experience, and the opportunities that remain ahead. As we continue to hope for and work toward a better Nigeria, I remain grateful for our partnership and for our shared conviction that our nation can become a place where no child is deprived of opportunity, no family is left in poverty, and every Nigerian can live with dignity, security, and hope. My dear brother, may God bless you with renewed strength, good health, wisdom, and many more productive years. May the years ahead be filled with peace, fulfilment, and the satisfaction of seeing the values we cherish take firmer root across our nation. Warmest congratulations on your 70th birthday, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso @KwankwasoRM . I honour you on this special occasion and pray that the chapter ahead will be filled with abundant blessings and many more purposeful years. -PO

ENDSARS LEKKI TOLL GATE: NEVER FORGET OCTOBER 20, 2020 Today, October 20, 2026, marks the sixth anniversary of the Lekki Toll Gate shootings, a painful reminder of the price Nigerian youths paid in their demand for a better country. On that fateful night, peaceful #EndSARS protesters were met with gunfire. Lives were lost, many were injured, and the nation was left with questions about justice, accountability, and the sanctity of human life. We must never forget. We must never normalise injustice. As we remember the victims, I reaffirm my belief that a New Nigeria is possible—a country where citizens are protected, not brutalised; where young people are heard, not silenced; and where government power is exercised with responsibility and respect for human rights. Nigeria must become a nation where no citizen is punished for demanding good governance and a better future. May the souls of the departed continue to rest in peace. May their sacrifice strengthen our resolve to build a Nigeria where this tragedy will never be repeated. A New Nigeria is POssible. A Nigeria where every life matters. -PO

Nigeria In Focus: At The Roundtable in Paris, France Today, I participated in a roundtable discussion at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) office in Paris, France. The dialogue brought together policymakers, diplomats, development experts, representatives of international organisations, and members of the international media to discuss Nigeria’s future and its role in an increasingly interconnected world. Our discussions focused on development cooperation and the need to strengthen bilateral partnerships that can accelerate economic growth, improve the lives of our people, create productive opportunities, and support sustainable national development. I reiterated my firm belief that Nigeria possesses the human and natural resources required to become a united, secure, prosperous, and globally competitive nation. What we need is competent, accountable, and compassionate leadership that prioritises investment in people, education, healthcare, productive enterprise, the rule of law, and strong institutions over a politics of consumption. Nigeria’s future is bright, but realising its promise requires deliberate choices. We must move from consumption to production, from poverty to prosperity, and from wasted potential to shared progress. Through good governance, fiscal responsibility, and mutually beneficial international partnerships, we can build an economy that works for all Nigerians and restore our nation’s rightful standing in the comity of nations. A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

MY VISIT TO THE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA Today, I honoured the invitation of the newly inaugurated President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Eric Okoye, and other former Presidents of the Association to attend his inauguration ceremony at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos. On the sidelines of the event, I interacted with the new President and members of MAN and reiterated the enormous potential of Nigeria’s manufacturing sector. With the right government policies, an enabling business environment, and stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, Nigeria can significantly increase the contribution of manufacturing to our GDP. Manufacturing currently contributes about 7.5% of Nigeria’s GDP, compared with about 14% in Egypt, 15% in Morocco, 25% in Vietnam, 19% in Indonesia, and 20% in Bangladesh We must therefore deliberately move from a consumption-driven economy to a productive economy, one that produces, creates jobs, adds value and competes successfully in the global market. A stronger manufacturing sector will expand employment opportunities, strengthen our productive capacity, reduce our dependence on imports, increase exports, and improve the standard of living of our people. I congratulate the new President and his team and wish them a successful and productive tenure. I look forward to continued engagement with the manufacturing sector as we work towards building a more productive and prosperous Nigeria. A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

My Visit to the Nigerian Air Force Facility Further to my message yesterday, I visited the Nigerian Air Force facility in Abuja today to formally sign the condolence register following the unfortunate aircraft crash. The visit gave me another opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made daily by the men and women of our Armed Forces and other security agencies in the line of duty. These courageous Nigerians put their lives on the line to defend our nation and protect our people. We must never take their service and sacrifice for granted. I extend my deepest condolences to the Nigerian Air Force and to the families, colleagues, and loved ones of those who lost their lives. May God grant eternal rest to the departed and give their families the strength and fortitude to bear this painful loss. May God continue to protect all those who serve our country. -PO