Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the Federal Government to pay greater attention to Nigerians’ concerns about ongoing economic reforms, insisting that public confidence must be built through transparent communication, credible evidence of progress and responsiveness to citizens’ experiences.

Shettima made the call yesterday at The Duke’s Masterclass 2026, held at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, where he was represented by his Special Adviser on Economic Affairs, Dr Tope Fasua.

The Vice President said the success of the administration’s economic policies would depend not only on their implementation but also on the government’s ability to demonstrate tangible results and address the challenges confronting citizens.

“Government must continue to communicate, however, its policies clearly, demonstrate progress with credible evidence, and listen attentively to the experiences of citizens,” he said.

Shettima defended the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu, including petrol subsidy removal, foreign exchange market liberalisation, fiscal restructuring and revenue mobilisation, describing them as measures intended to correct longstanding economic distortions and strengthen Nigeria’s productive capacity.

He explained that the policies were designed to attract investment, improve business confidence, enhance the deployment of public resources and establish conditions for sustainable economic growth.

However, he maintained that announcing policies was insufficient without building public understanding and confidence in their implementation.

The Vice President particularly challenged Nigeria’s elite, professionals and middle class to acknowledge the difficulties facing ordinary citizens while explaining the objectives of the reforms.

“Your role is not to defend every government action uncritically, nor to dismiss the concerns of citizens. It is to help create a more informed and constructive national conversation,” he stated.

He urged professionals engaging traders to recognise the pressures confronting businesses and advised those interacting with young graduates to acknowledge employment challenges while encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation.

According to him, constructive criticism and informed public participation are essential to effective governance and the sustainability of economic policies.

“Constructive scrutiny strengthens governance. Informed public participation strengthens democracy,” Shettima said.

He further stressed that leadership required the flexibility to adjust policy implementation in response to evidence and changing economic circumstances without abandoning established objectives.

Turning to the challenges of artificial intelligence and social media, the Vice President warned that technological advances were increasing the speed and sophistication of misinformation, posing risks to public confidence and institutional reputations.

“A photograph can be manipulated, a voice can be cloned, and a video can be fabricated just with a simple prompt on social media to make an individual appear to have said or done something that never happened,” he warned.

Shettima urged public institutions to strengthen information verification, correct false claims transparently and communicate through trusted channels, adding that speed should never take precedence over accuracy.

He also called for improved digital literacy and responsible use of artificial intelligence.

On economic opportunities, Shettima identified banking, financial technology, oil and gas, agriculture, real estate, construction, commodity exports and the creative industry as sectors capable of supporting investment and employment.

He nevertheless acknowledged the need to address unreliable electricity, inefficient transportation, insecurity, limited access to finance and weaknesses in education and public institutions.

He called for stronger domestic production, export expansion and support for small businesses, while urging that economic opportunities be extended to women, young people and rural communities.

In his opening address, the Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Bimbo Ashiru, warned that poor leadership decisions and inadequate crisis preparedness could destroy institutional credibility.

“Reputation cannot be manufactured at the point of crisis. It is built over time through our decisions, our conduct, our values and the consistency between what we say and what we do,” he said.

Ashiru noted that geopolitical tensions, technological changes and economic disruptions were making leadership increasingly difficult, requiring organisations to strengthen accountability, transparency and crisis management.

He disclosed plans to extend the masterclass to London in March 2027.

Also speaking, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku, recounted his involvement in international conflict resolution, particularly negotiations surrounding South Africa’s transition from apartheid and political tensions in Bangladesh.

He stressed that successful mediation required a thorough understanding of the issues dividing opposing parties, the interests of their leaders and the appropriate timing of public communication.

“Because if you communicate the progress prematurely, you might sabotage the whole process,” Anyaoku said.

The Chairman of AXA Mansard and Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, Kola Adesina, criticised Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges, arguing that public institutions and businesses should be judged by service delivery rather than explanations for poor performance.

“Rather than giving people megawatts of electricity, we are giving them excuses,” he said.

Adesina also condemned corruption, inflated public contracts and failures of accountability, warning that such practices weakened infrastructure, damaged public trust and endangered lives.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Duke of Shomolu Foundation, Joseph Edgar, explained that the masterclass was designed to equip organisations and individuals with practical strategies for anticipating crises, managing their consequences and protecting institutional reputations.

He said the initiative complemented the foundation’s use of theatre to promote social cohesion and strengthen public engagement.

Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Rivers State in the forthcoming 2027 election, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, has vowed to run an all inclusive administration that would ensure political harmony in the state, if elected into power.
Hon. Chinda, who is also the preferred governorship candidate of the Rainbow Coalition, said this shortly after he was unveiled along side other candidates of the political arrangement at a grand rally in Port Harcourt.
He said the coalition was committed to ending political divisions and promoting unity among the various political parties in the state.
Hon. Chinda also promised to make Rivers State experience peace, progress and development during his tenure as governor of the state.
“We are no longer divided on party lines.We are no longer playing the politics of the winner takes it all’’, he said.
Hon. Chinda, who spoke on behalf of the other candidates of the Rainbow Coalition, said the coalition’s vision extends beyond electoral victory, adding that its proposed government would accommodate people, irrespective of political affiliations, gender and religious belief.
“We are going to run a government for the people, with the best interests of Rivers people first,” he said.
Hon. Chinda also commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, for bringing political stakeholders together under the umbrella of the Rainbow Coalition, while lauding Governor Siminalayi Fubara for presenting flags to the candidates.
He expressed optimism that the alliance would promote peaceful elections, a smooth transition of power and development projects capable of improving the lives of Rivers residents.
While presenting flags to chosen candidates of the Rainbow Coalition, Governor Fubara called on members of the Coalition and his supporters to put past disagreements behind them and work together under a common leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He acknowledged Chief Wike’s role in his political journey and described the Minister of the FCT as the leader of the Rainbow Coalition.
Governor Fubara said the political groups had come together as one family and should no longer maintain separate camps.
He also pledged to support the coalition’s candidates and President Tinubu’s re-election bid, expressing optimism that cooperation among political stakeholders would strengthen the alliance.
Also speaking, Chief Wike urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties across the country to support President Tinubu’s re-election.
He called on politicians to set aside party differences and work together towards the coalition’s political objectives.
Chief Wike said the Rainbow Coalition represents a common political platform for stakeholders from different parties who had agreed to support the President and candidates seeking elective offices in Rivers State.
He also urged PDP members in Rivers, Kwara, Ogun and other states to support President Tinubu, while calling for support for the coalition’s candidates contesting the governorship, National Assembly and Rivers State House of Assembly elections.
The former Rivers State governor also addressed divisions within the PDP, rejecting attempts to portray him as merely a factional leader of the party.
He further criticised some opposition figures over their political ambitions and records in public office, particularly former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Meanwhile, former Senator Magnus Abe has also called on Mr Amaechi to withdraw from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential arrangement with Alhaji Abubakar and support President Tinubu.
Senator Abe argued that the presidency should remain in Southern Nigeria, insisting that political leaders should respect the principle of power rotation between the North and South.
He recalled the controversy surrounding former President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid, arguing that Mr Amaechi had previously opposed Dr Jonathan’s ambition on the grounds of power rotation.
“Today, the same man who led us to go against our son and our brother is now trying to lead us to go and support somebody from the North when it is the turn of the South.
“On behalf of all of us here gathered in Rivers State, we want to call on Amaechi to immediately respect his own position and resign as the vice-presidential candidate to Atiku Abubakar, because it is the turn of the South, and Rivers State will stand by the agreement between the North and the South,” he said.
Senator Abe also reaffirmed the coalition’s support for President Tinubu, declaring: “We are not just with Tinubu, We are with Tinubu. We are for Tinubu. We are by Tinubu. We are in Tinubu. We are Tinubu here in this coalition”, Senator Abe declared.
The event featured the presentation of candidates for various elective positions under the Rainbow Coalition.

John Bibor, Ephraim Godslove, Lazarus Ada, Chidibem Juliet & Okugbere Oghenetijiri

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, some political groups in Rivers State have endorsed the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office.
The groups: Rivers State Door-To-Door Movement and Non Indegenes Without Borders spoke with The Tide during the unveiling of candidates of The Rainbow Coalition in Port Harcourt.
They not only reaffirmed their commitment to the re-election of President Tinubu, but pledged to work towards ensuring victory for candidates of the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State.
Responding, Coordinator of the Rivers State Door-To-Door Movement, Mr Rayman ThankGod, said his group was committed to grassroots mobilization across the state, adding that his organization has setup it’s network across all electoral units in the state.
According to him, the group, which has established its presence across the 23 local government areas, was prepared to intensify its mobilisation efforts to promote the coalition’s agenda.
“As the name implies, we are known for our grassroots mobilisation. That is the essence of the Rivers State Door-to-Door Movement,” he said.
He added that the group had been in existence before the campaign’s official commencement and was ready to reach out to communities across the state through its network of members.
Mr ThankGod said his organization had not received support from any quarters, adding that the activities of The Rivers State Door-To-Door Movement was being financed by himself.
Speaking on the achievements of President Tinubu’s administration, he argued that four years might not be sufficient to demonstrate the full impact of its policies and projects, stressing that the administration should be given more time to implement its plans for national development.
On her part, National Leader of Non-Indigenes Without Borders, Hon. Eunice Obire, described the coalition as a welcome development, noting that it has brought people from different political parties together in support of a common political direction.
Hon. Obire said the alliance could promote unity and development in Rivers State, pointing to the turnout at the gathering as evidence of public interest in the movement.
She maintained that cooperation among the participating political parties could strengthen their collective electoral prospects, arguing that unity would give the coalition an advantage over parties contesting independently.
According to her, the coalition was not limited to the presidential election but extended to other elective positions, including governorship, senatorial and House of Representatives seats.
“The coalition is not just for the presidency alone. It covers the entire range of elective positions,” she said.
Hon. Obire added that supporters had a responsibility to work towards the success of the candidates selected under the coalition’s arrangement.
The Rainbow Coalition is seeking to consolidate support across political groups in Rivers State ahead of the forthcoming elections. However, the extent to which the alliance will influence voting patterns and electoral competition remains to be seen.

Samuel Otuogbai, Christopher Samuel, Sarah Pascal & Orlu Salvation