society
Fear, Fractions and Factions: Why the APC Government Fears the Coalition More Than an Election Defeat.
Fear, Fractions and Factions: Why the APC Government Fears the Coalition More Than an Election Defeat.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
In a country bruised by decades of misgovernance, economic sabotage and elite manipulation, one would assume that any attempt to salvage the democratic space through coalition-building would be celebrated. Unfortunately, that is not the case in Nigeria. What we are witnessing is not a democratic government promoting political plurality, but a ruling regime that has become allergic to dissent and terrified of unity among the opposition.
The fear is EVIDENT. The panic is LOUD. The desperation is SHAMELESS.
The recent waves of government-led intimidation, including the bullying of event centres meant to host the official unveiling of the opposition coalition and the curious emergence of factional crises within the newly adopted platform, are nothing short of coordinated political sabotage. These are not coincidences; they are state-sponsored tactics driven by an irrational fear of being held accountable in 2027.
Why the Fear?
The question on every conscious Nigerian’s lips is simple: Why is the APC government so scared of this coalition?
It is because, for the first time since 2015, Nigerians from all walks of Life (market traders, students, civil servants, religious leaders and even former APC loyalists) are beginning to find hope in something that is not wrapped in a broom. The coalition, despite its imperfections, is perceived as a potential people’s movement not just a merger of political interests. That frightens the cabal that currently profits from Nigeria’s status quo.
This coalition represents a direct threat to the monopolistic control APC has over Nigeria’s electoral machinery, state resources and security institutions. A united opposition disrupts the illusion of invincibility the APC has built over time, especially since it has used defections and factionalism as tools to divide and conquer any opposing force.
Bullying Tactics: A Hallmark of a Dying Regime.
It is a tale as old as African politics; when an authoritarian-leaning government sees its grip slipping, it doesn’t tighten its belt; it reaches for the baton. From pressuring event centres to cancel bookings, to using the Department of State Services (DSS) and police to intimidate political opponents, the APC is clearly exhibiting what Chinua Achebe called “the MADNESS of the FALLING TREE.”
This regime thrives on chaos. If it cannot CO-OPT you, it will CRUSH you. If it cannot DIVIDE you, it will DEMONIZE you. If it cannot DISCREDIT you, it will FABRICATE a crisis within your ranks.
The emergence of new factions in the opposition party barely 48 hours after the coalition’s unveiling is suspect. As former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu once warned, “Nigerian politics is not just a game of INTEREST; it is a game of INFILTRATION.” These factions do not represent ideological disagreements; they are symptoms of a larger plan to weaken the coalition before it gains grassroots traction.
A Regime Built on Fear, Not Performance.
The APC government’s paranoia is not baseless, it is earned. Under its watch, Nigeria has become the global capital of poverty, food insecurity has skyrocketed and insecurity continues to claim lives daily. The fuel subsidy removal was done with the swiftness of a dictator’s pen but without a sustainable economic cushion for the people. Naira devaluation has made basic commodities unaffordable. Foreign investors are fleeing. Universities are constantly on strike; and now, they borrow to pay salaries in most states.
According to data from the Debt Management Office (DMO), the Buhari administration left a debt burden of ₦48 trillion. In just two years, President Tinubu has doubled it to ₦96 trillion, without providing basic subsidies for education, transportation, health or fuel. This level of borrowing (combined with hyper-inflation and high unemployment) has made the APC extremely vulnerable to voter revolt in 2027. Hence, the coalition must not be allowed to breathe.
Senator Shehu Sani said it best: “The APC is not afraid of the opposition’s incompetence; it is afraid of the opposition’s unity.”
Defections Mean Nothing Without Will-power.
One may argue that almost all state governors are defecting to the APC, thus neutralizing the threat posed by the opposition. However, this assumption fails to recognize that in today’s Nigeria, party loyalty no longer means ideological alignment, it means self-preservation. Most of these defectors are driven by fear of EFCC investigations or the desire to secure second-term tickets, not any genuine love for APC.
Moreover, Nigerian voters are more politically aware today than in 2015. The #EndSARS generation is not silent anymore. The diaspora is mobilizing. The youth are watching. The citizens have seen what a united front like Labour Party could achieve even without deep structures. Imagine what a real coalition with grassroots presence, electoral agents and shared manifesto could do in 2027.
As political analyst Jide Ojo notes, “The 2023 elections broke the myth that only the ruling party can win. It showed that with passion, coordination and purpose, the so-called political giants can be retired.”
The Strategy of Intimidation Will Backfire.
By trying to suffocate the coalition in its infancy, the APC is planting the seeds of its own downfall. History has shown us that popular movements are strengthened by oppression. The African National Congress (ANC) in apartheid South Africa, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Zimbabwe, and even NADECO in Nigeria, all thrived under government intimidation.
Trying to destabilize a people’s project with DSS & EFCC intimidation and political faction creation only gives it more attention and moral legitimacy.
Governor Nyesom Wike once said, “You cannot be in government and still behave like an opposition. You have all the instruments of governance. Use them to govern, not to persecute.” Sadly, the APC behaves like a wounded opposition even while holding power.
A Call to the Nigerian People.
This moment is bigger than parties or coalitions. This is a fight for Nigeria’s democratic soul. The coalition may not be perfect, but it is currently the only serious alternative that the APC fears. That alone is worth defending. Let the people (especially the youth) rally around the idea, not just the personalities. Let the agenda (not just the anthem) be revolutionary.
We must not allow this moment to be stolen by the usual games of betrayal, bribery and internal sabotage. The price of failure is too high. Nigerians must recognize that this government’s obsession with crushing the coalition is not about protecting the people; it’s about protecting the looters of the future.
In Summary
The APC government’s fear of the coalition is not rooted in morality but in survival. They know what they’ve done. They know what they’ve failed to do and they know that a united opposition armed with the people’s voice is the one thing that could end their reign.
To quote the late Dora Akunyili: “You cannot cover a smoke with bare hands.”
The more the APC tries to suppress the coalition, the more obvious their guilt becomes. Nigerians must rise and defend this window of change, before it’s too late.
Written by George Omagbemi Sylvester
Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
FRSC@ 38: SHEHU MOHAMMED STEERING NIGERIA’S ROAD SAFETY REVOLUTION TO GREATER HEIGHTS
By Deputy Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem (Rtd) fsi, MNIM, anipr
When Mallam Shehu Mohammed assumed leadership as Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), he inherited not just an institution with history, but a national mandate that touches every family, every highway, and every community in Nigeria. At 38 years, the Corps stands tall as Africa’s model road safety agency, and under his stewardship, that legacy is not merely preserved, it is being boldly redefined.
Nigeria’s highways were once synonymous with fear. Before 1988, the World Health Organisation ranked Nigeria among the most dangerous countries in the world to drive. It was a troubling indictment that demanded courage and clarity of purpose. The establishment of the FRSC under Decree No. 45 of 1988 laid the foundation for reform. But sustaining and advancing that reform across decades requires visionary leadership, the kind now exemplified by Mallam Shehu Mohammed.
Today, under his command, the Corps is consolidating its position as one of the most technologically advanced and operationally efficient law enforcement institutions in Nigeria. With renewed strategic focus, the present leadership has deepened the Safe Systems Approach built on people, processes, and technology, ensuring that safety interventions are not reactive, but preventive and intelligence-driven.
One of the defining hallmarks of his administration is accelerated digital transformation. Within six months, over 3,000 personnel were trained to strengthen operational competence and technological adaptability. More than 95 per cent of the Corps’ administrative and operational processes are automated, supported by over 30 web-based applications that enhance traffic governance nationwide. From the National Crash Reporting Information System (NACRIS) to the upgraded e-ticketing platform, innovation is no longer optional; it is institutional culture.
Emergency response under the current Corps Marshal has become faster and more coordinated, with nationwide response time reduced dramatically from 50 minutes to 15 minutes. The 122 toll-free emergency line and 24-hour National Call Centre continue to serve as lifelines for distressed road users, reflecting a leadership that understands that every second counts.
Strategic stakeholder engagement has equally flourished. Safe corridor initiatives have been strengthened, collaboration with transport unions intensified, and enforcement around articulated vehicles tightened. The result is a significant reduction in tanker-related crashes, a development that speaks to deliberate policy direction and disciplined implementation.
Under Mallam Shehu Mohammed’s leadership, data has become a central pillar of enforcement and planning. Through strengthened collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission, the National Bureau of Statistics, and the Nigeria Customs Service, the Corps has advanced harmonized data systems that support evidence-based interventions. Transparent weekly crash trend reporting now guides targeted deployment and corrective strategies.
Nigeria’s standing on the global stage has also been reinforced. The country remains an active participant in the renewed UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030) and continues alignment with international road safety conventions. These achievements build on the solid foundation laid by past leaders from Olu Agunloye and General Haladu Hannaniya to Chief Osita Chidoka, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, and Dauda Ali Biu, but under the present Corps Marshal, the momentum has unmistakably intensified.
Operationally, the Corps’ footprint now spans 12 Zonal Commands, 37 Sector Commands, over 300 Unit Commands, over 700 Station Offices, 59 Zebra Emergency Ambulance Points, and presence in all 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria. Yet beyond physical structures lies a stronger institutional spirit, one driven by discipline, professionalism, and accountability.
From a nation once ranked among the most unsafe for motorists to a continental pacesetter in road safety management, Nigeria’s transformation story is inseparable from the strength of its leadership. At 38 years, FRSC is not simply celebrating longevity; it is celebrating purposeful stewardship.
Mallam Shehu Mohammed represents a generation of reform-minded leadership committed to smarter mobility systems, data-driven enforcement, and people-centered safety administration.
His tenure reflects continuity with courage sustaining the Corps’ proud legacy while boldly steering it toward greater innovation and measurable impact.
The road ahead is demanding. But under his steady command, Nigeria’s highways are safer, its systems smarter, and its future brighter.
Fashion/Lifestyle
Introducing “Atupaglowco” : Where Fragrance Meets Feeling; The Story of Our Beginning
Introducing “Atupaglowco”: Where Fragrance Meets Feeling; The Story of Our Beginning
Every great journey begins with a sense of anticipation. For us, it began with a simple belief that a space should do more than exist, it should speak comfort and glow.
In a world filled with noise, stress, and endless motion, we realized something powerful. Fragrance can transform not just rooms, but moods. A familiar scent can calm anxiety. A warm aroma can turn a house into a home. A gentle glow can bring peace after a long day. This realization gave birth to “Atupaglowco.”
Atupaglowco was not created to sell diffusers, room sprays, or candles. It was created to create experiences. To create moments. To create atmospheres where people can breathe, reflect, and feel whole again.
The name itself represents more than a brand. It represents warmth. It represents light. It represents presence. We remember the early days, the planning, the testing of scents, the moments of doubt, and the moments of excitement. Each candle poured was a step of faith. Each fragrance blended was a piece of our vision coming to life. We weren’t just building products; we were building something meaningful.
Our diffusers were designed to quietly fill spaces with elegance.
Our room sprays were crafted to instantly refresh and revive environments. Our candles were made to bring calm, beauty, and a soft glow into everyday life.
Atupaglowco was born from passion, patience, and purpose. This launch is not just the start of a business. It is the start of a movement to help people create spaces they love. Spaces that inspire rest. Spaces that inspire joy. Spaces that glow.
We believe fragrance is personal. We believe glow is emotional. We believe every space deserves both.
Today, we proudly introduce Atupaglowco to the world.
This is only the beginning.
Ajadi Hails Oyo Speaker Ogundoyin at 39, Describes Him as Beacon of Purposeful Leadership
A leading governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has congratulated the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Edward Ogundoyin, on the occasion of his 39th birthday, describing him as “a symbol of resilience, maturity and purposeful leadership in Nigeria’s democratic journey.”
In a congratulatory message made available to journalists on Tuesday, Ajadi praised Ogundoyin’s steady rise in public service, noting that his emergence as Speaker at a relatively young age reflects the possibilities of responsible youth leadership when combined with discipline, vision and service.
“Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin’s leadership has shown that age is not a barrier to excellence,” Ajadi said. “At 39, he stands tall as one of the most impactful Speakers in Oyo State’s history—calm, inclusive and deeply committed to democratic ideals.”
Ogundoyin, who represents Ibarapa East State Constituency under the Peoples Democratic Party, has served as Speaker since 2019 and was re-elected to lead the 10th Assembly in June 2023. His tenure has been marked by legislative stability, improved executive–legislative relations and youth-inclusive governance.
Ajadi commended the Speaker for fostering unity within the Assembly and prioritising laws that strengthen grassroots development across Oyo State. “His humility, accessibility and focus on people-oriented legislation have earned him respect beyond party lines,” he said. “He exemplifies the kind of leadership Oyo State needs—one anchored on service, accountability and progress.”
The governorship aspirant further described Ogundoyin as a rallying point for young Nigerians aspiring to public office. “In a country searching for credible leaders, Ogundoyin’s story offers hope,” Ajadi added. “He has shown that when young leaders are trusted with responsibility, they can deliver stability and results.”
Ajadi wished the Speaker many more years of good health, wisdom and greater service to Oyo State and Nigeria at large, praying that his leadership journey continues to inspire a new generation of public servants.
Ogundoyin, one of the youngest Speakers in Nigeria, has continued to attract goodwill messages from political leaders, civil society actors and constituents, as Oyo State marks another year in the life of a lawmaker widely regarded as a steady hand in the state’s legislative affairs.
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