Tochukwu Ezeoke: For Village Boys Movement, It’s Obi Or No One Else

Tochukwu Ezeoke: For Village Boys Movement, it’s Obi or no one else. Tochukwu Ezeoke, headmaster of the Village Boys Movement, says the group will only support Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election.

He added that the group’s political engagement is anchored entirely on Obi’s expected appearance on the ballot.

Ezeoke spoke during an exclusive interview with Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica, where he described the movement as a grassroots awakening among young Nigerians rather than a traditional political campaign.

A media entrepreneur, Ezeoke said the initiative developed organically across the country without the support of political elites or godfathers.

“The Village Boys Movement is working on the premise of the statement by Peter Obi that he will be on the ballot in the 2027 elections. So it is either Peter Obi or nothing else for us,” he said.

He explained that the movement initially took shape quietly “across social media platforms, university campuses, marketplaces, technology hubs and community gatherings” before spreading to different regions.

“From Enugu to Kaduna and from Ibadan to Uyo,” he said, more young Nigerians began identifying as ‘Village Boys’, a label he described as reflecting a wider political and social consciousness.

“This is not branding, it is an awakening,” he added, noting that the movement signals a shift in how young people see their role in Nigeria’s politics.

Ezeoke also connected the emergence of the group to reactions against the ‘City Boys Movement’, which drew attention online through videos of youths displaying branded luxury cars.

“That moment triggered a realization among many Nigerian youths that their loyalty was being commercialized and their identity reduced to cheering for elite structures,” he said.

According to him, the Village Boys identity gained traction without central coordination, as youths sought to redefine their place in the country’s political and cultural space.

Beyond its symbolism, he said the movement is focused on mobilising citizens ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Our goal is to mobilize Nigerians to make the right choice in the 2027 elections. We are telling Nigerians to consider their lives and decide if the government has kept to its promise of renewed hope or if they have been sunk into hopelessness,” he said.

He noted that the group is not imposing decisions on voters but encouraging democratic participation.

“The choice is for everyone to make. We are only mobilizing to ensure everyone comes out to make their choice through the ballot,” he said.

Obidients

Reflecting on current economic realities, Ezeoke argued that many Nigerians are already experiencing the consequences of past political decisions.

Recalling fuel prices, he said that on the eve of President Bola Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, 2023, he filled his car tank for less than N4,000 in Abuja.

“Today I will spend over N50,000 to fill the tank of that same vehicle. That’s how ridiculous things have become,” he said.

He described the situation as a direct outcome of choices made during the 2023 elections and urged Nigerians to think critically as the next electoral cycle approaches.

ADC Strongly Condemns Maiduguri Bomb Blasts, Asks Tinubu To Return Home

ADC strongly condemns Maiduguri bomb blasts, asks Tinubu to return home – says President should focus less on politics.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the bomb blasts that struck Maiduguri, Borno State, on Monday night leaving 23 people dead and hundreds others injured. In a statement issued on Tuesday by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party expressed sympathy with the victims and their families.

The ADC also raised concerns about what it described as a lack of leadership focus at a critical moment, noting that President Bola Tinubu is currently outside the country while senior officials responsible for national security are reportedly engaged in partisan political activities. According to the ADC, the protection of lives and property must take precedence over political distractions and diplomatic ceremonies. It therefore calls on President Tinubu to urgently return to the country and attend to his primary job of protecting lives.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) strongly condemns the bomb blasts that have shaken Maiduguri, Borno State, leaving innocent Nigerians dead and many others injured.

Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the people of Maiduguri, a city that has endured more than its fair share of pain over the years. Terrorism anywhere in Nigeria is an attack on all Nigerians. At moments like this, the country must stand together with the people who have been affected.

We commend the courage of first responders and security personnel who are working to assist the injured and restore calm. But this tragic incident also raises the persistent questions about the state of security in our country. Maiduguri, which in recent years had begun to experience a measure of stability after the darkest days of the insurgency, should not be returning to a situation where coordinated bomb attacks once again threaten the safety of ordinary citizens going about their daily lives.

Moments like this demand the full and undivided attention of the nation’s leadership. It is therefore troubling that the President is currently outside the country at a time when such a serious attack on national security occurred.

At a time when Nigerian soldiers and civilians are being wilfully killed by terrorists, those charged with protecting the country are focused on politics of self-succession. The National Security Adviser is going after opposition figures and calling bandits his “brothers”, while the Minister of Defence is on television planning the APC national convention. This is not leadership. It is a dangerous distraction, and it is costing lives.

In case this government has forgotten, those being killed by terrorists are not just numbers. Those soldiers being mowed down by bandits are people’s children, husbands, fathers and families. In any serious country, a devastating security breach would command the full attention of government. Leaders would return home, address the nation, and take responsibility.

Instead, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is abroad, exchanging pleasantries with the King and Queen of England while Nigerians mourn and soldiers are being buried. Not a word has been spared for the victims or the brave soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service of Nigeria. The oath of office is clear, the primary duty of government is the protection of lives, and that duty is certainly not being met by this APC government.

Bandits

The protection of lives and property is the most basic responsibility of any government. It cannot be treated as secondary to political distractions or competing priorities. The ADC therefore calls on President Tinubu to return immediately to the country and show, for once, that he cares about something else other than his politics.

We also think it is about time that government started to take full responsibilities for every life lost that could have been protected by paying compensation to the families of victims, whether military or civilians. Although no amount of money can fully compensate for a lost life, but by penalising itself this way, government would have started to accept responsibility.

It is no longer enough for government to merely issue condolences and condemnations. It is its first job to protect lives. And Nigeria cannot continue on a path where the loss of lives becomes routine.

We are only in the third month of the year, and already thousands of Nigerians have been k1lled in violent attacks across the country, while the President continues to make merry, enjoying the sweetness of the only thing he truly cares about: politics. This is unacceptable, as it is condemnable.

Signed:
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi National Publicity Secretary African Democratic Congress (ADC)

Kaduna Court Jails Three For Fraud

Kaduna court jails three for fraud. Justice A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna has convicted and jailed the trio of Aliyu Hassan, Samuel Olamide and Solomon Joseph Christian for fraud.

They were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on separate one-count charge, bordering on criminal impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

The charge against Hassan reads: “That you, Aliyu Hassan (a.k.a Ottaviani Loverules Giovanni) on or about the 9th of February, 2026 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, impersonated one Ottaviani Loverules Giovanni (a citizen of Brazil) via Facebook platform and in such assumed character, you defrauded one Kerry the sum of N90,000.00 (Ninety Thousand Naira, only) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under the same law.”

Olamide’s charge reads: “That you, Samuel Olamide (a.k.a Johnny) on or about the 9th of February, 2026 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, impersonated one Johnny (a United States of America) citizen via TikTok platform and in such assumed character, you defrauded one Jackie Sanders (an American ) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under the same law.”

Christian’s charge reads: “That you, Solomon Joseph Christian.(a.k.a Jenort) sometime in February, 2026 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one Jenort via Facebook (a social media platform) and in that assumed character benefited the sum of $USD150 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under the same law.”

They all pleaded “guilty,” following which the prosecution counsel, M.U Gadaka prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Isiaka convicted and sentenced them to five years imprisonment each or to pay N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, respectively.

Court

In addition to the sentence, Hassan forfeited N90,000.00 (Ninety Thousand Naira) and a Samsung Galaxy Note 8 mobile phone with IMEI No SM-N9500, being the proceeds of his crime. Olamide forfeited a Samsung Galaxy S21 mobile phone with IMEI No 35198153052814, being the tool of his crime and Christian forfeited iPhone 14 Pro with IMEI NO 35771267218661 and the sum of $150 (One Hundred and Fifty Dollars) being the proceeds of his crime. All the forfeitures were to the federal government.

The convicts were arrested in Agwa, Kudende area of Kaduna following credible intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities. They were charged to court and convicted.