Hon. Darlington Ekejiuba

The Disturbing Reports from Osun State University I have read with deep concern the troubling reports of soldiers invading students’ hostels at Osun State University, Osogbo, during which students were allegedly assaulted, humiliated, dispossessed of their personal belongings, and female students subjected to degrading treatment, including rape. Every Nigerian deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Our Armed Forces are renowned for their courage, discipline, and sacrifice in defending our nation. They are not known for such barbarity against the very citizens they are sworn to protect. I therefore urge the military high command to conduct a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation into these allegations. Anyone found culpable should be brought to justice. Holding offending personnel accountable will not only ensure justice for the victims but also preserve the honour and integrity of our Armed Forces while serving as a deterrent against future abuses. A nation that respects human dignity builds confidence in its institutions. We must never tolerate impunity or the abuse of power. A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

My Vision for a Productive and Prosperous Nigeria Today, being the 1st of July, 2026, I wish to humbly recall that when I decided to contest for the office of President of Nigeria, I pledged to place Nigeria on the path of unity and national transformation. Now, as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, I will, in the coming weeks and months, provide insights into the roadmap that I am confident will help curb abuse in government, halt the decline in the quality of life of Nigerians at all levels, and usher in an era of unity, peace, sustained progress, and prosperity. This vision is anchored on a commitment to unity, inclusion, social justice, equity, and the freedom of every citizen to pursue lawful dreams. Central to this proposed roadmap are significant reforms in education and healthcare, which are at the core of human capital development. Robust human capital is indispensable infrastructure for national progress. It serves as the fundamental capital upon which daily life, economic expansion, and the delivery of essential public services depend. These are foundational areas that we must reform with energy and determination if we are to reap the demographic dividend of our youthful population. From the outset of my presidency, we will establish a task force dedicated to drastically reducing the menace of out-of-school children. We will place greater emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to support our drive for massive industrialisation, anchored on our agricultural endowments and value addition across value chains organised around industrial parks to be located in development zones across the geopolitical regions of the country. Funding and improving the equipment of TVET institutions, through partnerships among government, the private sector, and social entrepreneurs such as faith-based educators, will facilitate apprenticeship opportunities in the private sector, similar to the German dual education system. The situation in which unemployment remains high while Nigerian entrepreneurs establish businesses elsewhere because skilled labour is scarce must be confronted decisively. Doing so is essential for the common good and for facilitating our transition from a consumption-driven economy to a production-driven one. Character and civic education, emphasising the values that foster trust - an essential ingredient for enterprise and leadership - as well as shared national values, will receive significant attention within the tripartite approach to governance that we propose. A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO