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PDP died after my shocking exit – Ex-President, Olusegun Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday said the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, died after he and the party’s former National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali, left it.
He stated this in Abeokuta at a symposium titled ‘Purpose and Utilitarian Values of Presidential Libraries’, held as part of the programme for his 80th birthday celebration.
Mr. Obasanjo, who was the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the troubled main opposition party, was replying to comments by Mr. Ali about their past relationship in government.
He quickly added that Nigeria would not die like the PDP.
Mr. Obasanjo, who was elected president twice on the platform of the PDP, stressed that the party is dead, sunk and gone.
He recalled that he asked Mr. Ali to lead the party because of his integrity, saying PDP was controlling 30 out of the 36 states.
He said Mr. Ali as the national chairman ensured the stability and effectiveness of PDP, and lamented that the party is now down and out following an intractable internal crisis.
“Ahmadu Ali is truthful and that was why I brought him to head the PDP and all went well. When Ahmadu Ali was the national chairman. We were controlling 30 out of the 36 states. When Ahmadu and I left, the fortune of the PDP began to sink”, he said.
“Whether you believe it or not, today PDP is sunk and gone. May the fortune of Nigeria never sink like that of the PDP” he said, with the audience responding in a thunderous “Amen.”
Mr. Obasanjo while also responding to encomiums poured on him by dignitaries at the event, said the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library was established to correct one of the mistakes he made when he first led Nigeria as a military Head of State.
The mistake, he said, was not collecting and archiving materials connected to his time during the civil war.
“Somebody among the speakers said God has always given me the opportunity to correct my wrongs. I will say God has done that for me not in all cases but in most cases and this Presidential Library is actually an act of God which he has given to me to correct one of my mistakes of the past and I have said this very often.
“I was in the war front, it was very one significant thing in my life and in the life of Nigeria. I was military Head of State, it was one significant thing in my life and in the life of Nigeria.
“But I was not as mindful as I should have been about collecting materials that were connected with those events, the war front and civil war both on the vandals’ side – we called them rebels’ side or if you like the Biafrans’ side – they called us vandals, we called them rebels.
“But we did collect something. When I was also the military Head of State, I didn’t pay much attention to collect materials, where I should have paid attention to. So, by 1988, it occurred to me that these were mistakes, I looked at some of the materials we got from the war fronts, they were in very bad state of neglect so what I did was to try and micro-film what we could micro-film.
“I also learnt a lesson; when you are in a position to keep materials and preserve them for prosterity, you should do so and I never knew there will be another opportunity. So, God created another opportunity for me to correct the mistakes of the past.
“God is the God and for some of us He is not God of second chance but God of many chances and I will be eternally grateful to God for the opportunity he has given me.
“But more importantly, whatever I might have achieved, I take responsibility; but whatever I might have achieved, it would not have been possible without the people who have helped me in life to be able to achieve what I have achieved.
“Take the Presidential Library for example, if not for the members of Board of Trustees, I would have fallen by the roadside and that would have been another mistake, because it got to a stage that things were rough, things were rough and we were just putting heads together. It is God of many chances.”
He urged the youth who attended the programme not to be mindful of their current positions, whether poor or weak, assuring that if he (given his poor background) could make it this far, they can also make it.
He advised them to share whatever ideas they have with others, for the growth and development of Nigeria.
The former President said having passed the kiln of life, including marking time in prison without being killed by his jailers, he has nothing more to fear, save God.
In his remarks, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations,UN, Andrew Young, said that without Obasanjo, Africa might still be in a desperate position.
“It is time for Nigeria to realise and make amends where it is lagging behind”, Mr. Young said.
“There is no human being in Africa that has experienced what Obasanjo has gone through in the last 50 years. One thing about him is that he is the same way, same person, whether in New York, UN, World Bank, White House or China. He does not change. He does not give a damn who he makes mad,” he said.
He said Mr. Obasanjo should be celebrated, adding that “the Presidential Library will help others to understand his work.”
Similarly, Tracy Roosevelt, grand daughter of a former U.S. President, Franklin D Roosevelt, explained that a Presidential Library is a place, meant to bring together the memories of the past and to also bring men and women together for higher goals.
Ms. Roosevelt said Mr. Obasanjo gave the gift of the library to his people, to share the memories of his past with his people.
“There are 14 presidential libraries in the the United States of America, but the first Presidential Library in Africa was created by Obasanjo in Abeokuta,” she said.
Nigeria’s Inflation Drops to 15.10% as NBS Reports Deflationary Trend
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 15.10 per cent in January 2026, marking a significant drop from 27.61 per cent recorded in January 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The report also showed that month-on-month inflation recorded a deflationary trend of –2.88 per cent, representing a 3.42 percentage-point decrease compared to December 2025. Analysts say the development signals easing price pressures across key sectors of the economy.
Food inflation stood at 8.89 per cent year-on-year, down from 29.63 per cent in January 2025. On a month-on-month basis, food prices declined by 6.02 per cent, reflecting lower costs in several staple commodities.
The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently attributed recent economic adjustments to ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilising prices, boosting agricultural output, and strengthening domestic supply chains.
Economic analysts note that while the latest figures indicate progress, sustaining the downward trend will depend on continued policy discipline, exchange rate stability, and improvements in food production and distribution.
The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 15.10 per cent in January 2026, marking a significant drop from 27.61 per cent recorded in January 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The report also showed that month-on-month inflation recorded a deflationary trend of –2.88 per cent, representing a 3.42 percentage-point decrease compared to December 2025. Analysts say the development signals easing price pressures across key sectors of the economy.
Food inflation stood at 8.89 per cent year-on-year, down from 29.63 per cent in January 2025. On a month-on-month basis, food prices declined by 6.02 per cent, reflecting lower costs in several staple commodities.
The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently attributed recent economic adjustments to ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilising prices, boosting agricultural output, and strengthening domestic supply chains.
Economic analysts note that while the latest figures indicate progress, sustaining the downward trend will depend on continued policy discipline, exchange rate stability, and improvements in food production and distribution.
The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.
Alpha Morgan to Host 19th Economic Review Webinar
In an economy shaped by constant shifts, the edge often belongs to those with the right information.
On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Alpha Morgan Bank will host the 19th edition of its Economic Review Webinar, a high-level thought leadership session designed to equip businesses, investors, and individuals with timely financial and economic insight.
The session, which will hold live on Zoom at 10:00am WAT and will feature economist Bismarck Rewane, who will examine the key signals influencing Nigeria’s economic direction in 2026, including policy trends, market movements, and global developments shaping the local landscape.
With a consistent track record of delivering clarity in uncertain times, the Alpha Morgan Economic Review continues to provide practical context for decision-making in a dynamic environment.
Registration for the 19th Alpha Morgan Economic Review is free and can be completed via https://bit.ly/registeramerseries19
It is a bi-monthly platform that is open to the public and is held virtually.
Visit www.alphamorganbank to know more.
GTBank Launches Quick Airtime Loan at 2.95%
Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd (GTBank), the flagship banking franchise of GTCO Plc, Africa’s leading financial services group, today announced the launch of Quick Airtime Loan, an innovative digital solution that gives customers instant access to airtime when they run out of call credit and have limited funds in their bank accounts, ensuring customers can stay connected when it matters most.
In today’s always-on world, running out of airtime is more than a minor inconvenience. It can mean missed opportunities, disrupted plans, and lost connections, often at the very moment when funds are tight, and options are limited. Quick Airtime Loan was created to solve this problem, offering customers instant access to airtime on credit, directly from their bank. With Quick Airtime Loan, eligible GTBank customers can access from ₦100 and up to ₦10,000 by dialing *737*90#. Available across all major mobile networks in Nigeria, the service will soon expand to include data loans, further strengthening its proposition as a reliable on-demand platform.
For years, the airtime credit market has been dominated by Telcos, where charges for this service are at 15%. GTBank is now changing the narrative by offering a customer-centric, bank-led digital alternative priced at 2.95%. Built on transparency, convenience and affordability, Quick Airtime Loan has the potential to broaden access to airtime, deliver meaningful cost savings for millions of Nigerians, and redefine how financial services show up in everyday life, not just in banking moments.
Commenting on the product launch, Miriam Olusanya, Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd, said: “Quick Airtime Loan reflects GTBank’s continued focus on delivering digital solutions that are relevant, accessible, and built around real customer needs. The solution underscores the power of a connected financial ecosystem, combining GTBank’s digital reach and lending expertise with the capabilities of HabariPay to deliver a smooth, end-to-end experience. By leveraging unique strengths across the Group, we are able to accelerate innovation, strengthen execution, and deliver a more integrated customer experience across all our service channels.”
Importantly, Quick Airtime Loan highlights GTCO’s evolution as a fully diversified financial services group. Leveraging HabariPay’s Squad, the solution reinforces the Group’s ecosystem proposition by bringing together banking, payment technology, and digital channels to deliver intuitive, one-stop experiences for customers.
With this new product launch, Guaranty Trust Bank is extending its legacy of pioneering digital-first solutions that have redefined customer access to financial services across the industry, building on the proven strength of its widely adopted QuickCredit offering and the convenience of the Bank’s iconic *737# USSD Banking platform.
About Guaranty Trust Bank
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) is the flagship banking franchise of GTCO Plc, a leading financial services group with a strong presence across Africa and the United Kingdom. The Bank is widely recognized for its leadership in digital banking, customer experience, and innovative financial solutions that deliver value to individuals, businesses, and communities.
About HabariPay
HabariPay is the payments fintech subsidiary of GTCO Plc, focused on enabling fast, secure, and accessible digital payments for individuals and businesses. By integrating payments and digital technology, HabariPay supports innovative services that make everyday financial interactions simpler and more seamless.
Enquiries:
GTCO
Group Corporate Communication
[email protected]
+234-1-2715227
www.gtcoplc.com
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