General News
Faces, Backgrounds of Those Who Want to Rule Nigeria
Yes, the 2015 race for Aso Rock, Nigeria’s seat of power has started — and candidates have completely immersed themselves in the battle of the presidential election!
Leadership newspaper took a look at the contenders are reported that the ‘fireworks’ going off across the various political parties occasioned by the build-up to the elections leave much to be desired.
The presidential seat will certainly be keenly contested for, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) working tooth and nail to retain and indeed, consolidate their grip on power, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) continues to make a case to the electorate as the veritable alternative to the ‘15 years of misrule’ by the PDP.
According to the newspaper, constitutionally, the various political parties will have to come up with a flag bearer as a first step towards the inevitable ‘clash’ on Election Day and as expected, the process towards this is anything but easy, as it has thrown up a number of distinguished Nigerians who want to be sworn in as president on May 29, 2015.
The question, therefore, is whom does the cap fit? In no particular order LEADERSHIP Friday has assembled politicians who are vying for the presidency in 2015 and has examined the edge each possesses over the rest.
President Goodluck Jonathan:
The sitting president of Nigeria on the platform of the PDP, no doubt, is at the centre of the 2015 presidential election.
He will remain a favourite in this contest, because he is the man to beat. Like a boxing champion returning to the ring to defend his title, GEJ is preparing for the 2015 election.
It is widely perceived, however, that his reneging on the alleged one-term pact he signed to in 2011 with the governors and the reality that he has performed below expectations are reasons for the resentment towards him by both party members and a large part of the population, including his political godfather, former president Obasanjo.
But he is still the most powerful politician at present, being the president and commander-in-chief of the nation’s armed forces.
Thus, whichever way things go, he will play a very active role in who wins in the 2015 election. Beating a sitting president has so far not been possible in Nigeria, no matter how unpopular he is.
To defeat this one will require the mobilisation of the whole country in neutralising the rigging machinery often associated with his political party.
Sam Nda-Isaiah:
The publisher of Leadership Newspapers is described as “the new kid on the block” by political strategists and therefore the real face of the “change” the APC sports as its slogan among all the aspirants on the platform.
At 52 and from the private sector, he is the youngest presidential aspirant and thus represents the school of thought earnestly seeking a generational shift in the political power equation of the country.
His being a Christian from the North makes him capable of eroding Jonathan’s pivotal and key support in and from the region.
Sam has another critical advantage. Northern Muslims feel very comfortable with him in a way they do not with others, like Prof Jerry Gana.
His candidacy, therefore, in spite of his political CV (according to political experts), has the potential of uniting the whole North.
His fresh face and lack of political baggage might see him coasting to victory. His candidacy would also put a lie to PDP’s claim that APC is a Muslim party.
He is a member of the Asian think-tank, the Global Institute for Tomorrow (GIFT) based in Hong Kong, an association that has taken him to numerous brainstorming sessions in Singapore, China, India and Hong Kong in search of solutions to today’s global problems and the promise for tomorrow.
Sam has always belonged to the progressive tendency that has been in opposition since 1999.
He was the first to start advocating publicly that Nigerian opposition parties must fuse in order to form a common front to wrest power from the PDP in the interest of the nation.
General Muhammadu Buhari:
This is still the only presidential aspirant who gives the opposition sleepless nights, because of his reputation as an honest and disciplined leader.
Gen Buhari seems to be the most influential man from the North and his voice will echo power come 2015.
Buhari is a very well respected former head of state. He is often described as being as straight as an arrow. His greatest strength is that he is very popular with the masses of the North and that will play a key role as he goes into the elections.
Buhari was selected to lead the country by middle and high-ranking military officers after a successful military coup d’état that overthrew civilian president Shehu Shagari on December 31 1983.
During his regime, he ran a public campaign against indiscipline known as War Against Indiscipline (WAI). Buhari served as the chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), a body funded from the revenue generated by increase in price of petroleum products, to pursue developmental projects around the country.
A 1998 report in New African praised the PTF under Buhari for its transparency, calling it a “rare success story”. His influence and credibility will play a vital role in the weight that the opposition pulls.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar:
A man with nine lives, he is a veteran of so many wars with presidents, the most evident being the one with his ex-boss, former president Olusegun Obasanjo.
The former vice-president of Nigeria seems to be mustering his energies to take another shot at the presidency on the platform of the APC before retiring.
Age, we know, does not seem to be on his side. He played a decisive and prominent role in the factionalism that hit the PDP, his former party.
One of the consequences of that rebellion was the block shift of five PDP governors in one day and the mass defection at the National Assembly of members to APC.
This, according to political strategists, was a signal of the end of the PDP’s monopoly as the only national party in Nigeria. At present, we are faced with one reality, and it is that PDP may no longer remain the one united force — at least not before 2015.
Atiku’s strongest point is the financial war chest at his disposal, with which he can dislodge perceived opponents within the party.
Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso:
The governor has undoubtedly done well in his state and will be banking on that to speak for him. He also has the political sagacity and finances at his disposal with which to prosecute his ambition.
He is one of the PDP governors who crossed over to the APC when the president reneged on his alleged promise not to seek a second term in office.
The two-time governor, former minister of defence and ambassador would most certainly make a fine president, but he has to successfully battle the other powerful and credible aspirants in the primaries, if he is to fly the APC flag.
He started work in 1975 with WRECA. He joined partisan politics in the aborted Third Republic, where he contested elections to the House of Representatives; he won and became the deputy speaker.
At the time, he belonged to the Peoples Front faction of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) led by General Shehu Yar’adua. Kwankwaso is known for his transformation agenda in Kano State, widely referred to as “Kwankwasiyya”.
He has been able to attend to the plight of the common man and this has given him acceptance and credibility in the state.
Governor Rochas Okorocha:
Governor Rochas’ popularity, occasioned by his free education campaign across the country on a charity basis and his having given the presidency a shot in the past, has put him in a comfortable position in the build-up to the elections.
Rochas cuts it as a true Nigerian, speaking the major languages in the country – Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa, and he also has the financial muscle to flex in prosecuting his ambition.
Governor Rochas has done well in his home state of Imo and that he will be banking on as a reference point.
Okorocha was a commissioner in the Federal Character Commission and a member of the National Constitutional Conference when democracy was restored in 1999. Okorocha had earlier competed in the primaries to be PDP candidate for governor of Imo State, but lost to Achike Udenwa.
He moved to the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and was an unsuccessful presidential aspirant on the party’s platform in 2003. He returned to the PDP and President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him special adviser on inter-party affairs.
Okorocha formed the Action Alliance (AA) party in 2005, planning to become its presidential candidate for the 2007 elections. On March 2 2013, Rochas led an All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) faction and decamped to All Progressives Congress.
He was later elected by his colleague governors in the opposition as chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum.
Prof Akasuba Abiola:
One of the wives of the late business mogul, Chief M.K.O Abiola, she hopes to make history as the first female president of Nigeria.
She will certainly be relying on the affirmative action and the fact that women have done creditably well in their assigned duties.
Prof Akunyili of blessed memory readily comes to mind. She will also hope to ride on the name and reputation of her husband, who was denied the presidential mandate he is widely believed to have won.
If she clinches the primaries, her party has the financial muscle and structure with which to see her being sworn in as president.
But she will have to defeat the president at the primaries first. Going by the agitation by women groups, which are struggling for gender balance and equity, Akasuba may whip up quite some support.
Muhibeedeen Aliyu:
Prof Mahmood Muhibeedeen Aliyu is a strong academician who is passionate about leading the country to greater heights and he believes the best platform for this is education.
Aliyu is aspiring on the platform of the APC, although he recently described the party’s N27million presidential nomination form fee as against PDP’s N22million as ridiculous.
Aliyu is a professor of Business Education at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He holds a doctorate degree in the same field.
As a university professor, he has supervised various workshops aimed at fostering national development. He is a researcher with in-depth experience and is well known for his community service. He has headed various departments in different institutions where he taught.
He was the head, Business Education Department, College of Education, Minna. He was the secretary, P.G. Committee, Department of Vocational & Technical Education, ABU, Zaria. He was also the coordinator, L.V.T Programme, Business Education.
Aliyu is an activist who strongly believes it is time for the emergence of a new crop of well-meaning leaders in the country. He has written many books, to foster national development.
Certainly the 2015 general elections will be a defining moment in our national history and evolution, with the hope of a smooth transition for the fourth consecutive time since 1999. With violence, corruption, religious intolerance and underdevelopment plaguing Nigeria’s quest to be among the twenty most developed nations of the world, whoever becomes president will have a lot on his or her plate, as Nigerians earnestly yearn for good leadership.
Federal government said it is committed to the implementation of stricter, more organized drone regulations to balance innovation with national security.
This came as stakeholders at the 6th Dronetecx Conference and Exhibition in Lagos called for stronger regulation and a comprehensive national policy framework for unmanned aircraft systems as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) launched a Drone Portal.
Speaking at the conference, representatives of Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and NCAA, said Nigeria is intensifying efforts to balance innovation with national security as drone operations continue to expand across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, oil and gas, logistics, construction and security.
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser, represented by Commodore Oscar Mbanu, deputy director, Defence Affairs, said the federal government had adopted a strict but innovation-friendly regulatory framework requiring security clearance, end-user certification and operational approval before drones can be deployed.
He disclosed that a multi-agency drone task force involving the NCAA, security agencies and other relevant bodies had been established to strengthen monitoring, enforcement and accountability, while the End-User Certificate system would help track imported drones and prevent misuse.
Also speaking, Mahmud Kambari, permanent secretary, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, represented by Mrs Rubiyatu Aliu, director of Air Safety and Administration in the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, announced the launch of a new digital drone registration portal and Flyer ID scheme introduced by the NCAA in partnership with Dronetecx to improve oversight and proper registration of operators.
She urged drone operators to comply with regulatory requirements, warning that innovation must operate within the law.
Captain Chris Najomo, director general of NCAA, said the Federal Government was moving from policy discussions to implementation with plans to establish a comprehensive national drone policy and roadmap approved by Mr Festus Keyamo, minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
He noted that the framework would complement existing aviation regulations and provide clearer direction for investors and operators in the rapidly growing industry.
Mr Fortune Edu, conference organiser and founder of Dronetecx, said Nigeria must urgently position itself as a leading player in Africa’s emerging drone economy or risk losing opportunities to countries already advancing in the sector.
He explained that the proposed national framework would support innovation, research, advanced air mobility and job creation while preparing the country for future drone applications including cargo delivery and passenger transportation.
Stakeholders at the conference expressed optimism that stronger collaboration between government agencies and industry operators would accelerate the safe growth of drone technology and support national development.
Dr. Olasupo Olusi, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Industry, has described the media as Nigeria’s most important development partner, noting that effective communication remains critical to national growth and institutional impact.
Speaking during an interactive session with media partners in Lagos, Olusi said journalists play a central role in shaping development outcomes by amplifying progress, accountability, and national aspirations.
“The media is the biggest agent of development anywhere,” he said. “Communicating what needs to be done and what has been done is critical in the journey of any development institution.”
Olusi used the engagement to unveil major milestones in BOI’s ongoing transformation agenda, which he said is focused on strengthening support for Nigeria’s private sector and driving inclusive economic growth.
On the BOI he met when he was appointed, Olusi said: “I inherited a very strong institution. The Bank of Industry was already one of the leading development finance institutions in Africa, and certainly a respected institution in Nigeria. I usually describe it as inheriting a Rolls-Royce.” He noted that the current leadership is innovating and repositioning the Bank to become even more effective in delivering long-term financing and developmental impact for Nigeria’s private sector.
“I came with the mindset of a development economist who truly believes in impact-making,” he said.
Olusi revealed that BOI has established an Impact Fund financed through a percentage of the Bank’s annual profits to support strategic national investments.
According to him, the Fund invested $15 million in the New Africa Medical Centre of Excellence in Abuja and N25 billion in the National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC) to improve access to financing for MSMEs lacking collateral.
“The objective is to remove the long-standing barriers preventing small businesses from accessing finance,” he explained.
The BOI boss also announced plans to commence non-interest banking operations following final regulatory approvals from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He said the initiative would provide inclusive financing options for Nigerians who prefer non-interest financial products.
In addition, Olusi disclosed that BOI has established more than 20 youth and skills hubs nationwide focused on ICT, agro-processing, fashion, printing, and entrepreneurship development.
“These hubs are designed to help young Nigerians learn, innovate, package products, and eventually establish sustainable businesses,” he stated.
Reaffirming BOI’s commitment to Nigeria’s economic transformation, Olusi said the Bank remains focused on creating measurable impact across communities and sectors nationwide.
“The opportunities for making a difference in Nigeria are enormous across all sectors and spheres of life,” he added.
Google’s annual I/O developer conference is a hub for exciting product updates. This year, “The Android Show: I/O Edition” offered an early preview of Android’s future. Packed with groundbreaking news, these updates will transform our Android interactions. Android, the world’s most popular OS with over 3 billion active devices, continues to innovate, bringing practical benefits and new possibilities.
For people in Nigeria, these advancements promise easier, safer, and more personal digital lives driven by Gemini Intelligence. From handing off your to-do list to unbreakable theft protection, dive into how Android’s 12 latest offerings will empower users across the continent:
1. Hand Off Your To-Do List with Gemini App Automation
Google is introducing Task Automation, allowing Gemini to navigate multi-step tasks across your apps so you can focus on other things. Instead of manually switching between apps and copying data, you can simply point your camera at a travel brochure in a hotel lobby and say, “Find a tour like this on Expedia for a group of six.” You can also long-press your power button over a grocery list in your notes app and ask Gemini to build a shopping cart with all the items for delivery. Gemini handles the logistics in the background while keeping you in complete control.
Availability: Already in beta on S26 and P10 Pro devices, and launching on Galaxy Fold8 and Pixel 11 later this year.
2. Speak Naturally with “Rambler” (Powered by Gemini)
Google is announcing Rambler, a revolutionary voice typing feature in Gboard that captures your underlying intent rather than just transcribing your exact words. Because we don’t always speak the way we want to write, Rambler lets you talk naturally—including self-corrections, repeats, and filler words like “ums” and “ahs”—and turns those raw thoughts into a polished, concise message. It is built for a global community and can seamlessly switch between multiple languages, like blending English and Hindi, within a single sentence.
Availability: Rolling out first to Pixel devices starting in Q3 2026.
3. A Personal Browsing Assistant with Gemini in Chrome
Google is announcing a built-in personal browsing assistant for Chrome on Android, designed to help you research and understand web content without ever leaving the app. By tapping the Gemini icon on your toolbar, the assistant opens at the bottom of your display so you can ask specific questions about the webpage you are currently viewing. Whether you need a quick summary of a long article or a detailed explanation of a complex topic, this tool seamlessly enhances your mobile web experience.
Availability: Rolling out to select Android 12+ devices with 4GB+ of RAM in the U.S. starting at the end of June.
4. Instant Image Customization with Nano Banana
Google is introducing Nano Banana, an innovative feature that lets you instantly create and customize images directly within your Chrome browser. For example, if you are studying for an online exam, you can simply ask your browsing assistant to turn a text-heavy page into an informative infographic. Similarly, if you are scrolling through apartment listings, you can ask the assistant to alter a photo of an empty room to include modern living room essentials, allowing you to instantly visualize ideas on the go.
Availability: Available in Chrome for Android starting next month.
5. Share with Anyone Using Quick Share & AirDrop
Google is announcing a massive expansion to Quick Share, making it compatible with AirDrop to solve the universal hassle of sharing files between different phone brands. If you are at a family gathering and want to share a video with friends using iOS, you can simply use Quick Share on your Android phone to generate a QR code. Scanning this code lets you instantly share high-quality media across devices via the cloud, breaking down the barriers between operating systems.
Availability: Expanding to more partners including Samsung, OPPO, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, and HONOR this year.
6. OSmosis: Wireless iOS-to-Android Transfer
Google is announcing OSmosis, a completely overhauled, wireless iOS-to-Android transfer process that makes switching phones easier than ever. You can now wirelessly migrate your passwords, photos, messages, favorite apps, contacts, and even your precise homescreen layout directly from your iPhone to your new Android device without needing a cable.
Availability: Launching first on new Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices later this year.
7. Pro-Grade Creator Tools Natively on Instagram
Google is announcing an expanded partnership with Meta to bring pro-level camera and editing features natively to the Instagram app on Android flagships. Android creators can now enjoy Ultra HDR capture for lifelike, vibrant colors, along with built-in video stabilization to keep footage smooth while walking or dancing. The update also includes deep Night Sight integrations, ensuring you can capture the perfect shot even in the dimmest settings.
Availability: Rolling out to flagship devices throughout Q3 and Q4 2026.
8. Reclaim Your Time with “Pause Point”
Google is introducing Pause Point, a new digital wellbeing tool designed to help you stop mindless, autopilot scrolling. When you try to open an app you have identified as distracting, Pause Point gives you a mandatory 10-second breather to ask yourself, “Why am I here?” During this pause, you can do a quick breathing exercise or set a strict timer for your app usage. To ensure you stick to your goals, turning the feature off completely requires you to restart your phone.
Availability: Available in Q4 2026 across all countries and languages.
9. Unbreakable Biometric Theft Protection
Google is announcing a powerful new anti-theft measure that enhances the “Mark as lost” feature with biometric authentication. If your device is snatched, you can now lock it using your fingerprint or face in addition to the standard passcode. This provides an immediate, unbreakable layer of security, meaning that even if a thief spied on your PIN before stealing your phone, they will not be able to turn off device tracking or re-access your personal data.
Availability: Rolling out as a built-in feature on devices running Android 17.
10. Express Yourself with Noto 3D Emoji
Google is announcing Noto 3D, a massive update to the way we express ourselves with nearly 4,000 newly designed emoji. Moving away from flat 2D icons, these new 3D emoji bring a touch of physicality and weight to your digital conversations. Whether you are sending a wrapped burrito or a joyful smile, this visually vibrant collection bridges the digital divide, representing the difference between a message simply being received and a true presence felt.
Availability: Available across Google platforms, starting with Pixel phones later this year.
11. Fill Out Forms in a Single Tap with Gemini Personal Intelligence
Google is announcing an evolution to Autofill with Google, powered by Gemini’s Personal Intelligence. This new feature allows Android to automatically fill in complex forms across your apps and Chrome browser. By securely pulling relevant information from your connected apps or saved photos—such as passport details or frequent flyer numbers—your device saves you from the universal hassle of typing out tiny text on a mobile screen.
Availability: Rolling out in Q2 2026 for phones, and Q4 2026 for laptops and tablets.
12. Build Custom Widgets with Gemini Intelligence
Google is introducing Create My Widget, taking the first step in generative UI to give you more ways to make your device truly yours. You can now build entirely custom widgets just by describing what you want using natural language. For example, a meal prepper can ask for a widget that suggests high-protein recipes every week, or a cyclist can create a weather dashboard that surfaces exact wind speed and rain stats right on the home screen.
Availability: Launching in Q3 2026 for phones, watches, laptops, and tablets.
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