…Abiodun mourns

The wife of Ogun State’s first civilian governor, Madam Lucia Onabanjo, has died at the age of 100.

Her demise was announced by her daughter, Olubukunola Onabanjo, in a statement on Tuesday.

According to Onabanjo, the matriarch of the Onabanjo family passed away peacefully on Monday.

The statement partly reads, “The family of Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo, former Governor of Ogun State, announces with deep sorrow, yet with gratitude to Almighty God, the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

“Chief (Mrs.) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo (1925–2026) was called to glory on Monday, January 11.

“We thank God for her long and fulfilled life, and for the enduring legacy of love, strength, and faith she leaves behind. May her soul rest in perfect peace.”

Her husband, Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, was the first civilian governor of Ogun State, serving from 1979 to 1983.

He was also a prominent journalist, widely known for his weekly column, Ayekooto, until his death in 1990.

Meanwhile, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has expressed deep condolences to the family of a former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo, over the passing of their matriarch, Chief (Mrs.) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo, who reportedly died at the age of 100.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by Kayode Akinmade, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Governor Abiodun, the governor described the demise of Mrs Onabanjo as the end of a glorious era, noting that she lived a highly exemplary, fulfilled and distinguished life devoted to God, family and humanity.

Abiodun said that although the loss of a mother is always painful, regardless of age, Mama Lucia’s transition at 101 was also worthy of celebration, given her impactful life and enduring legacy.

He explained that Mama Onabanjo stood firmly by her husband, the late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, through his historic struggles for democracy, human rights and social justice in Nigeria.

The governor said, “After a glorious epoch in which she joined her husband, our Papa, Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, in the fight for democracy, the delivery of its dividends on a massive scale, and the advancement of human rights and social justice, Mama has now been reunited with Papa in glory.

“Mama was a treasure and a source of joy to all who knew her. She consistently supported us with her prayers and goodwill, spreading joy, comfort and hope to everyone around her.

“I commiserate with the Onabanjo family, even as I celebrate them for the great gift that Mama was to all of us.

“She stood by her husband through thick and thin and raised children and grandchildren who are today highly distinguished in diverse fields of human endeavour, breaking records and contributing meaningfully to society.

“We bless the Lord for her long and fulfilled life, her legacy of love, strength, deep faith and commitment to development.

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has said President Bola Tinubu will not sacrifice the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, amid the lingering political crisis in the state.

Fayose made the assertion during an exclusive interview on Arise Television aired on Tuesday, while reacting to the power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, which has continued to fuel political instability in Rivers State.

According to Fayose, Wike remains more politically relevant to President Tinubu than Fubara, insisting that the President has little incentive to abandon the former Rivers governor.

“But let me say this to Nigerians, the Asiwaju that I know, will not get rid of a Wike for a Fubara. Wike came from Rivers to give support to President Tinubu,” Fayose said.

He argued that Wike’s continued political value lies in his performance as FCT minister and his ability to deliver electoral victories for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Wike is in Abuja performing, we’ve never had it so good in Abuja, even a blind man can’t deny that,” Fayose said.

“The local government in Rivers, APC won them courtesy of Wike. The coming local government in Abuja, APC will still win it. So, what else will the President want from Wike?” he queried.

Commenting on Governor Fubara’s reported move to seek the President’s intervention, Fayose suggested it was an indication of the governor’s political arrogance.

“If Governor Fubara has gone to meet the President (in France), then it shows he needs help. When you don’t praise God, when you refuse to humble yourself and look for peace, you’ll just be running helter-skelter. What he’s looking for is inside his pocket.”

Fayose also weighed in on the internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), dismissing claims that President Tinubu is responsible for the party’s woes.

“The challenges in the PDP is not the fault of Asiwaju,” he said. “Failure in my home, God forbid, is not the fault of my neighbour.”

He described the PDP as a party undermined by internal divisions and self-inflicted conflicts.

“The PDP caused themselves an insurrection. It’s a house that divided against itself and the nature of man is survival of the fittest,” Fayose added.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday said President Bola Tinubu was neither missing nor absent from his duties.

This followed comments credited to Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, who questioned the president’s visibility.

The party, in a statement signed by its Lagos State Spokesman, Mr Seye Oladejo, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Lagos on Tuesday, said the President remained fully engaged in the business of governance, both within and outside the country.

Oladejo urged political actors to focus on issues of substance rather than optics.

According to him, the president is not missing, nor is he absent from his constitutional responsibilities.

“He is actively involved in the complex and demanding work of statecraft, which includes policy coordination, security oversight, diplomatic engagements and economic reforms.

”Governance is not measured by constant public appearances or media check-ins. It is assessed by the quality of decisions taken, the policies implemented and the outcomes delivered in the national interest.”

He also said that Tinubu had continued to discharge his duties with focus and resolve, guided by the constitutional mandate given to him by Nigerians.

“His schedule and engagements are driven by national priorities, not by the need to satisfy political commentary,” he said.

Oladejo added that the Tinubu administration had remained active on several fronts, including economic reforms, security coordination and international diplomacy.

He noted that these efforts were aimed at repositioning Nigeria for sustainable growth and global relevance.

He advised political leaders to engage constructively by offering ideas and alternatives that would contribute to national development, rather than raising questions that could create unnecessary public anxiety.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obi, also a former Anambra governor, had questioned the whereabouts of Tinubu amid what he described as deepening economic hardship, insecurity and leadership silence.

In a statement posted on his verified X account on Monday, Obi said his concern was driven by the scale of challenges confronting the country and the perceived absence of direct presidential engagement at a critical time.

He alleged that President Tinubu spent 196 days outside the country in 2025, adding that this exceeded the time he spent within Nigeria during the same period.

He also claimed that Nigerians had not heard directly from the president since December 2025.

It would be recalled that Tinubu on Dec. 28 departed Lagos for Europe to continue his end-of-year break and in preparation for an official visit to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

The president was invited by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to participate in the 2026 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026).

Tinubu on Sunday arrived in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to attend the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which began on Monday.

(NAN)