APC’s Web of Lies: Broken Promises, Dead Refineries and the Battle for 2027.

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

Despite $3 billion sunk into “reviving” Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries, Nigerians still buy fuel like beggars at a banquet.

Since coming to power in 2015, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has mastered the art of propaganda. Every hardship is rebranded as sacrifice, every failure repackaged as reform and every empty promise sold as “next-level change.” But propaganda, no matter how loudly it is screamed, cannot put food on the table or fuel in the tank.

Nigerians are no longer buying it. The APC has built a political machine that runs on lies, deception and carefully manufactured illusions, but reality always catches up. In the southwest, a region once hypnotized by Tinubu’s political wizardry, the disillusionment is thick in the air. 2027 is around the corner and Nigerians, bruised by years of falsehoods, are preparing to respond.

The $3 Billion Refinery Mirage.
Between 2021 and 2023, the federal government approved over $3 billion for the rehabilitation of Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries. Contracts were awarded, announcements were made and glossy presentations painted a picture of an imminent industrial rebirth. The then-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, confidently told Nigerians that “the Port Harcourt refinery will begin partial operations by December 2022.”

Yet here we are in late 2025:

Port Harcourt Refinery – repeatedly declared “70% completed” in press releases but still not operational.

Warri Refinery – silent as a graveyard, despite “ongoing rehabilitation.”

Kaduna Refinery – perpetually in the pipeline of promises, with zero fuel refined in over a decade.

The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) estimates that over $25 billion has been spent on refineries in the past 25 years, with nothing to show for it. That is not mismanagement; it is an industrial-scale scam.

Professor Pat Utomi, political economist, captured it aptly: “Nigerians are victims of a state that eats its own people. These refinery turn-around projects are not about energy security; they are about political rent and patronage.”

Lies, Lies and More Lies.
The APC propaganda machine thrives on repetition. They said subsidy removal would end fuel scarcity (yet Nigerians still queue at filling stations. They said refineries would work by 2023) it is 2025 and nothing has changed. They said hardship would be temporary, inflation has climbed to 33% and food inflation sits at over 40%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Every administration under APC has promised industrial revival, but what Nigerians get is imported fuel, collapsing naira and empty stomachs. As Fela Anikulapo-Kuti once sang: “Na confusion break bone.” APC has weaponized confusion to mask its failures.

The Pain on the Streets.
Step into any market in Lagos, Ibadan or Akure and you will hear the same refrain: “We are tired.”

Transport costs have doubled. A bag of rice sells above ₦80,000. Parents withdraw children from schools because tuition is unaffordable. Workers spend half their salaries on fuel and transport. The World Bank in its 2025 mid-year report confirmed that over 71 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line, the highest in Africa.

Yet, government officials move around in convoys of luxury SUVs, feeding fat on state resources while preaching “sacrifice” to the poor.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General, warned in a recent lecture: “You cannot reform your way into prosperity if trust is absent. Citizens must believe that government sacrifices alongside them.” But APC’s leaders have shown no sacrifice, only excess.

The Southwest Wakes Up.
The irony is sharpest in the southwest, the political fortress of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. For years, Tinubu built his empire on the claim that he was the “architect of modern Lagos” and the pathfinder for Nigeria’s future. His word was gospel; his endorsement was victory. But hunger has no tribal loyalty.

Today, Yoruba traders, transporters and students are openly questioning APC’s failures. In 2023, Tinubu campaigned with the slogan “Renewed Hope.” Two years later, the only thing renewed is hopelessness.

As Yoruba elder statesman Ayo Adebanjo of Afenifere famously said: “You can deceive some people for some time, but you cannot deceive all the people forever.” The southwest, once APC’s most reliable voting bloc, is drifting into rebellion.

The 2027 Question.
With elections looming in 2027, APC faces its greatest test yet. The propaganda that worked in 2015 and 2019 may not work this time. Nigerians are wiser, angrier and more desperate. The opposition is sharpening its weapons and civil society groups are mobilizing.

Political scientist Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim argues: “The APC’s survival in 2027 depends not on propaganda but on tangible results. Nigerians are exhausted. They want food, fuel, jobs not excuses.”

The stakes are higher in the southwest. If APC loses its grip there, its national dominance will collapse. Tinubu knows this, which is why his government pushes endless media campaigns to mask failures. Propaganda cannot cover empty stomachs.

What Should Have Been Done.
Instead of wasting $3 billion on phantom refinery repairs, the government could have:

Privatized the Refineries Properly – Allow credible investors to run them transparently.

Supported Modular Refineries – Small-scale refineries across the Niger Delta have proven capacity but face regulatory strangulation.

Diversified the Energy Sector – Invest in solar, gas, and renewable sources, reducing reliance on imported petrol.

Plugged Corruption – NEITI’s reports reveal billions lost yearly to oil theft and opaque contracts. Accountability, not propaganda, should have been the priority.

As former U.S. President Barack Obama once said: “Africa doesn’t need strong men, it needs strong institutions.” Nigeria’s refinery failure is proof that strong men without strong institutions will always fail.

The Way Forward.
Nigeria cannot afford another four years of PROPAGANDA-DRIVEN GOVERNANCE. The people must demand accountability for every kobo spent on the refineries. Independent audits should be published. Those who looted funds under the guise of “rehabilitation” must face justice.

Civil society, opposition parties and ordinary Nigerians must unite to break APC’s cycle of deception. 2027 must not be about ethnic loyalty or propaganda slogans; it must be about survival, truth and competence.

As Chinua Achebe reminded us in The Trouble with Nigeria: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” Unless leadership rooted in honesty and vision emerges, the APC’s reign will be remembered as an era of lies, waste and national betrayal.

Ultimate Verdict.
The APC has thrived on lies for too long, but every lie has an expiry date. Nigerians are not fools; they are victims of a ruthless system. The $3 billion refinery mirage is a symbol of APC’s deception; shiny on paper, hollow in reality.

In 2027, the people will have their say. When that day comes, APC’s propaganda may no longer be enough to shield it from the truth.

Buratai Hails National Icons: Yahaya and Daurawa Recognized with Honourary Degrees

Sokoto, Nigeria – A defining moment of national pride and academic excellence played out on Saturday, September 6, 2025, when Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) conferred honorary doctorates on two towering figures in Nigeria’s military and moral spheres.

Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya (Rtd.), CFR, former Chief of Army Staff, was awarded the Doctor of Science (D.Sc. Honoris Causa) for his outstanding contributions to national defence, counter-insurgency operations, and military reforms. On the other hand, Sheikh Muhammad Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, a revered Islamic scholar and peace advocate, received the Doctor of Letters (D.Litt. Honoris Causa) in recognition of his unwavering commitment to Islamic education, moral rejuvenation, and national cohesion.

The double conferment, which formed the highlight of UDUS’s 42nd Combined Convocation Ceremony, was met with thunderous applause from dignitaries, academics, and students. The university hailed the honourees as embodiments of its core values: knowledge, peace, security, discipline, and ethical leadership.

Former Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd.), congratulated the duo, describing the honours as “a national recognition for lives lived in service, sacrifice, and the upliftment of society.”

“Gen. Faruk Yahaya has stood firm as a patriot who strengthened Nigeria’s security architecture, while Sheikh Aminu Daurawa shines as a beacon of moral integrity and peacebuilding. Their recognition goes beyond their personal achievements—it represents the hopes of all Nigerians working towards a safer, stronger, and morally upright nation,” Buratai said.

Profiles of the Honourees

Gen. Faruk Yahaya (Rtd.), CFR: Widely respected for his tenure as Nigeria’s 22nd Chief of Army Staff, Yahaya is credited with strengthening counter-terrorism operations, improving troop welfare, and enhancing the discipline and combat readiness of the Nigerian Army.

Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa: A renowned Islamic scholar and Commander of the Kano State Hisbah Corps, Sheikh Daurawa has spent decades advancing Islamic education, promoting peace, and curbing social vices. He is known for facilitating marriages for widows and vulnerable groups, delivering impactful Tafsir sessions, and inspiring millions through his da’awah and reforms.

Observers described the awards as symbolic: honouring the sword that secures the nation and the pen that guides its soul. Together, Yahaya and Daurawa represent Nigeria’s quest for balance between security and spirituality, strength and morality.

Tinubu Then and Now: From Fuel Tax Opponent to Fuel Tax Enforcer.

(A Political Irony Cast in Fuel Flames)

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

In 2003, he called it “double taxation.” In 2025, he signed it into law.

In the annals of Nigeria’s political history, few things expose the duplicity of power like policy reversals. In 2003, then-Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stood before Nigerians as a fiery defender of the masses, lashing out at President Olusegun Obasanjo’s proposal of a fuel tax. He called it “DOUBLE TAXATION,” condemned it as an anti-people policy and vowed to challenge it in court. Fast-forward to June 2025 and that same Tinubu (now President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) has signed into law a sweeping tax reform that imposes a 5% surcharge on petrol and other fuels, effective January 2026, under the guise of funding clean energy initiatives.

The irony is blistering. The man who once denounced fuel taxation as economic strangulation now brandishes the very policy instrument he once demonized. Nigerians are left to ask: has Tinubu betrayed his own words or has power exposed a truth he once concealed?

The Heavy Burden of Fuel Taxes.
Fuel in Nigeria is not just another commodity; it is the lifeblood of the economy. With epileptic electricity and industries relying heavily on diesel-powered generators, any increase in fuel price sends shockwaves across every sector. A 5% surcharge, no matter how noble the intended purpose, translates into higher transport costs, food inflation and spiraling costs of goods and services.

Dr. Bismarck Rewane, a respected economist and CEO of Financial Derivatives Company, has long warned: “In Nigeria, any policy that touches fuel pricing is a policy that touches every Nigerian pocket.”

Already, Nigerians are grappling with the aftermath of subsidy removal in 2023, a policy that saw fuel prices skyrocket by more than 200%. Inflation, officially pegged at over 33% by mid-2025, has ravaged household incomes. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports that food inflation is above 40%, while unemployment remains at a crushing 37%. In such a climate, adding a fuel surcharge is nothing short of pouring salt into a festering wound.

Tinubu’s Contradiction: From Courtrooms to Aso Rock.
Let us revisit Tinubu’s words in 2003. Back then, when Obasanjo’s administration sought to introduce a levy on fuel, Tinubu (as Lagos Governor) declared:

“This is double taxation, an exploitation of the people. We will resist it and if necessary, challenge it in court.”

That same Tinubu, now wielding presidential authority, has turned his back on the principle he once defended. What has changed? Is it the man, the times or the seduction of power?

Political scholar Dr. Jideofor Adibe puts it bluntly: “Nigerian politicians rarely hold consistent positions on policy. What they oppose in opposition, they implement in power. It is not about principle but expediency.”

This hypocrisy is at the heart of Nigeria’s governance crisis. Policies are not measured by long-term developmental value but by political convenience. Today, Tinubu’s reform is packaged as “PROGRESSIVE TAXATION for CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION,” but to ordinary Nigerians, it is yet another mechanism of state-sanctioned hardship.

The Global Energy Argument; And Its Flaw.
Defenders of the surcharge argue that the world is moving toward renewable energy and that Nigeria must raise funds to finance its own green transition. Indeed, global institutions like the International Energy Agency (IEA) have emphasized the urgency of moving away from fossil fuels. Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, paradoxically suffers from poor energy access, with over 85 million citizens lacking electricity.

However, as Professor Pat Utomi, a leading political economist, once observed: “You cannot tax poverty into prosperity. A government must first build productivity before loading burdens on its citizens.”

Unlike advanced economies where fuel taxes fund infrastructure and clean energy, Nigeria’s history is littered with failed interventions. Billions allegedly spent on power reforms have vanished into bureaucratic black holes. The Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), set up in the 1990s, became a political cash cow. Why should Nigerians now trust that this 5% fuel surcharge will not go the same way?

Opposition Cries Foul.
Unsurprisingly, opposition parties have seized on this contradiction. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) issued a scathing statement:

“Tinubu opposed fuel taxes when it suited him politically. Today, he imposes the same tax on a suffering population. This is not leadership; this is betrayal.”

Labour unions, too, are preparing for confrontation. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed mass action if the surcharge is not reversed. Its president, Joe Ajaero, thundered: “This government cannot continue to impoverish Nigerians under the false banner of reform. We will resist with everything we have.”

History Repeating Itself.
George Santayana once warned: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Nigeria is the perfect example. Obasanjo’s attempt to tax fuel in 2003 collapsed under public outrage. Now, two decades later, Tinubu has resurrected the same ghost.

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka once described Nigerian governance as a “cycle of déjà vu.” Today, his words ring true. Every administration recycles old, failed policies under new labels. The tragedy is that Nigerians are forced to pay the price again and again.

The Larger Question: Leadership or Self-Interest?
At the heart of this debate is a moral question: should leaders hold themselves accountable to their past words? Tinubu’s reversal is not just a policy decision; it is a credibility issue. By signing a law he once condemned, he sends a dangerous message that political positions are mere costumes to be worn and discarded at will.

Political scientist Larry Diamond once wrote: “Democracy collapses when leaders lose credibility, because legitimacy is the only currency that sustains power.” If Tinubu continues down this path, his administration risks eroding whatever remains of its legitimacy.

Alternatives Ignored.
Critics argue that instead of taxing fuel, the government should:

Cut Wasteful Spending: Nigeria’s budget still allocates billions to frivolous items, including luxury convoys and political perks.

Plug Revenue Leakages: The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) reports that over $46 billion has been lost to oil theft and mismanagement in two decades.

Expand Tax Base Fairly: Less than 10% of Nigerians are in the formal tax net. Why punish the poor majority with fuel surcharges instead of taxing the wealthy elite more effectively?

Professor Kingsley Moghalu, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, emphasizes: “Reform must be people-centered. You cannot build a nation by squeezing its weakest members.”

Final Reckoning: A Nation at the Crossroads.
Tinubu’s 2025 fuel surcharge is not just an economic decision, it is a moral and political paradox. The man who once called fuel taxes “double taxation” now enforces them on the very people he once claimed to defend. Nigerians are watching, and the echoes of 2003 are alive.

The question is not whether clean energy is necessary, it is whether this government has the trust, integrity and capacity to channel fuel taxes into genuine transformation. Without transparency and accountability, this policy will go the way of every failed Nigerian reform: another burden on the masses, another betrayal by the political class.

As Chinua Achebe warned in The Trouble with Nigeria: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.”

Once again, Nigerians stand at the mercy of leaders who promise one thing and deliver the opposite. And once again, it is the people who will pay at the pump.