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Afghanistan Better Than Nigeria Under Buhari, Ortom Blasts APC
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday, said Afghanistan was currently better than Nigeria under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ortom said statistics have shown that Afghanistan currently fares better than Nigeria under the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
He made the remark in response to claims by a member of the APC and an aspirant of the Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu House of Representatives seat, Philip Agbese, that he has turned “Benue State into Afghanistan.”
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, the governor, who described Agbese as a “blind Bartimaeus” in the Bible, noted that the Buhari government has turned Nigeria into a killing field.
A statement by Ikyur titled: “Agbese as Blind Bartimaeus” reads: “We read the widely published news, credited to one Philip Agbese who claims to be an aspirant for the Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu House of Representatives seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“In that news story, he made scathing remarks against the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom. He claims that the governor ‘has turned Benue into Afghanistan’.
“This is absurd. Although this is undeserving of attention, we feel constrained to respond to it, if not for anything, at least, for the unsuspecting members of the public to be properly informed.
“For anyone who may have read the news item as claimed by the APC member, it is obvious that this is a typical example of the attitude of political jobbers who grab at anything to survive.
“How can Agbese allege that Governor Ortom is turning Benue into Afghanistan? It is Nigeria, currently led by President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC that can be likened to Afghanistan.
“Available statistical indices from reliable and respected organizations clearly show that Afghanistan is at the moment better off than Nigeria under APC.
“What then becomes of Nigeria under APC which they have turned into a killing field? Here, there is no sanctity of lives as terrorists reign freely from state to state?
“Our future development is threatened as school children are being kidnapped daily with reckless abandon. It is no longer safe for anyone to travel freely on our roads. Is it not clear that the APC is leading Nigeria to the Golgotha?
“Agbese is truly in the dark. Nigeria is currently experiencing escalating insecurity challenges with no end in sight. This has engulfed the entire country with terrorists and bandits becoming so emboldened that they operate only in the daytime. Is Agbese not aware of how three Benue citizens were kidnapped in Zamfara State on their way to Kebbi State for their National Youth Service?
“The outgoing United Nations Representative, Edward Kallon a few days ago gave scary reports on terrorism in the country. He said the Global Terrorism Index had listed Nigeria as the Third Most Terrorised Country in the world. Is this also the making of Governor Ortom?”
The governor lamented that Nigeria’s economy has virtually collapsed under the Buhari-led administration.
He said: “Nigeria’s economy under the APC administration has virtually collapsed. At the moment, the exchange rate of naira to a dollar is almost N600 a Dollar. In 2015 when the APC took over the reins of government, the Naira was exchanging for about N180 to a Dollar.
“The cost of living is also skyrocketing. Every sane citizen that has the responsibility of catering for a family will agree that the standard of living in the country is daily going beyond the reach of everyone. Already it has gone beyond the reach of an average Nigerian.”
The governor also dismissed Agbese’s claim on the delay of salaries in the state, stressing that the challenge is a national problem.
He stressed that his administration is prompt in the payment of salaries to workers in the state.
“Agbese harps so much about salaries and pensions. Let it be known to him and all his co-travellers that the issue of delay in payment of salaries is a national problem. It is not peculiar to Benue state alone.
“Even at that, the Ortom administration is prompt in payment of workers’ salaries while also working tirelessly to find ways to clear the salary arrears and end the pension crises which was occasioned at the height of the inflation era under the APC-led administration.
“This is why the administration has domesticated the Pension Law in the state. As of today, the Benue State Government has saved more than N1.5billion into the PENCOM Account. This means that workers retiring a few years from now will not need to worry about their pension or gratuities.
“In any case, is it not laughable for someone who claimed to be a lawyer and is aspiring to be a federal lawmaker to be unable to distinguish areas of how to direct his campaigns? How can he be relying solely on unsubstantiated claims of delay in payment of workers’ wages to liken Benue to Afghanistan?”
Ortom accused the aspiring lawmaker of exhibiting ignorance which could be akin to someone who has lost touch with his home.
The governor challenged Agbese to base his campaign on how to emerge victorious during the polls and stop spreading falsehood about him.
“Philip Agbese is exhibiting a pathetic ignorance akin to the blind Bartimaeus in the Holy Scriptures. He’s not conversant with the real sufferings of Nigerians and Benue State. I feel this should be deleted, please. Or it is either the young man has completely lost touch with home, or he has only spoken up to act a script to be noticed so that the emperor of his party will impose him as a sole candidate for Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu federal House of Representatives ticket.
“Instead of campaigning against the incumbent, Hon. Francis Ottah Agbo, Agbese is sounding incoherent because of the towering achievements of the person he should be challenging. Electorates from this federal constituency should be wary of this acclaimed lawyer who has chosen to take side with the oppressors rather than show empathy.
“Whichever way it is, we appeal to the conscience of those close to Agbese to get his ears and whisper to him that churning out falsehood is not the way to winning the heart of the electorates.
“He should base his campaign on countering his opponents in the forthcoming elections rather than hoping to hide behind Governor Ortom to win electoral favours.
“Agbese should concentrate on campaigning against Dr Ottah Agbo who is a formidable opponent and leave Governor Ortom out of his local politics,” he added.
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had lauded the courage and commitment of troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
Abubakar gave the commendation during a morale-boosting visit to the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, Borno.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, yesterday, in Abuja.
The CAS said their sacrifices were etched in the history of the nation, and in the hearts of millions of Nigerians who sleep safer because of the troops’ vigilance.
He emphasised that their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity have not gone unnoticed, saying his visit underscored the vital role airpower plays in neutralising threats and protecting communities.
Abubakar pledged continued investment in cutting-edge technology to empower frontline units.
According to him, the NAF remains steadfast in its mission, guided by leadership, strengthened by unity, and driven by the selfless service of its personnel.
The visit comes at a critical moment, reinforcing the importance of public support for military operations and spotlighting the human element at the heart of national defence.
Nigeria’s soft drinks and beverage market continues to show strong growth potential, making it the leading consumer of soft drinks in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association.
A statement by the VDMA disclosed during a press conference held in Lagos ahead of drinktec 2025, that Nigeria consumed over 53 billion litres of soft drinks in 2024, placing it well ahead of other African countries such as Ghana and South Africa.
Despite challenges such as inflation and a weakening naira, Nigeria’s growing population, rising urbanisation, and expanding middle class are key factors driving demand in the beverage sector.
Bottled water led the segment with 48.7 billion litres sold in 2024, a figure projected to rise by 27% to 62 billion litres by 2028.
Carbonated soft drinks followed with 3.4 billion litres, expected to reach 4.4 billion litres by 2028, while energy drinks are forecasted to grow by 30% over the same period. Juices, though relatively small, are also on an upward trajectory.
“The Nigerian beverage market is expanding quickly due to increasing accessibility and affordability,” VDMA stated, citing data from Euromonitor International.
Set to take place in Munich from 15 to 19 September 2025, drinktec is the world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry.
VDMA, a key exhibitor and technical partner for the event, revealed that Nigerian participation is expected to be strong, especially as the country anticipates economic recovery.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has condemned the recent ban placed on a song by Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, describing the development as a return to the culture of censorship and a threat to the right to free expression.
Abdulkareem had waxed a song titled “Tell Your Papa” which criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued from New York University, Abu Dhabi, yesterday, Soyinka criticised the action and its wider implications, saying it echoed past attempts to stifle artistic and socio-political commentary in Nigeria.
“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem,” Soyinka said in the piece posted on PM news.
He expressed irony in suggesting that the ban did not go far enough, stating, “It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is member, should also go under the hammer.”
Soyinka noted that he had not listened to the banned song but stressed that the issue transcends content and concerns a fundamental democratic principle.
“It cannot be flouted. That, surely is basic. This is why I feel that we should look on the bright side of any picture and thus recommend the Aleshinloye cartoon – and others in allied vein – as an easy-to-apprehend, easy-to-digest summation of the wisdom of attempting to stifle unpalatable works of art or socio-political commentary,” he said.
He also pointed out the irony that censorship often benefits the targeted artist.
The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him,” he added.
The literary icon warned that such censorship was not only counterproductive but also dangerous to democratic development.
“We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseum. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizures of the fundamental right of free expression,” Soyinka said.
He warned that the ban creates “a permissive atmosphere of trickle-down power,” where state authorities feel emboldened to clamp down on dissent.
Soyinka’s statement also touched on broader issues of impunity and mob violence in Nigeria, lamenting the recent lynching of 19 youths in Edo State.
“My heart goes out to friends, colleagues and families of victims and traumatised survivors of this senseless slaughter. Our thirst for justice must remain unslaked,” he said.
Referencing the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, Soyinka criticised the culture of impunity, saying, “Identified killers were set free to gloat, and paste their photos on the Social Media… in full daylight glare, in the presence of both citizen voyeurs and security forces.”
He called for accountability, warning that “as long as the culture of impunity is given the sheerest strain of legitimacy in any given cause, such gruesome assaults on our common humanity will continue to prevail.”
Soyinka concluded by urging the relevant regulatory body to reverse what he described as a “petulant irrationality,” warning that any government that only tolerates praise-singers “has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.”