The talk at the bus stop this morning wasn't about the price of garri for once. It was about whether the main opposition party, the PDP, is about to tear itself apart for good. People here remember the last election cycle, and the feeling is that if the big men in Abuja keep fighting, it's the regular members and supporters who lose out. We're the ones left without a strong voice when it's time to vote.
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki and the party's own National Caretaker Working Committee have come out with a clear message: it's time to make peace. This call comes right after a judgment from the Court of Appeal, though the details of that ruling weren't shared with us on the ground. The word from the top is simple—stop the fighting and come together. For families who have always supported the PDP, this plea for unity is a relief, but many are tired of hearing it. They've seen these calls before, followed by more arguments.
Saraki put a real fear into people's hearts with his warning. He said if the party keeps taking its problems to court for a long time, it could be stopped from putting up any candidates at all in the next elections. Imagine that—no one to vote for from the party you've supported for years. That kind of talk makes the political arguments feel very personal very fast. It's not just about power in Abuja; it's about having a choice on your ballot paper in your local constituency.
The party's caretaker committee is echoing Saraki's call for everyone to embrace reconciliation. They're the ones supposed to be steering the ship right now, and their voice adds weight to the message. The feeling in the market is that this is a serious moment. When both a former leader like Saraki and the current temporary bosses say the same thing, maybe people will finally listen. But there's also a lot of skepticism. People have been let down by promises of unity before.
While the PDP tries to sort itself out, life and other news go on. Over in Lagos, superstar Tiwa Savage just launched her new Music Foundation. It was unveiled at The Delborough Lagos on March 9. That's the kind of positive news young people here want to hear more about—opportunities, not political fights. Her foundation's first big plan is to pick 100 African creatives for a free, four-day training session in Lagos from April 23 to 26. For the artists and musicians struggling to make it, that's a real chance, something tangible.
In other government news, President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to confirm a tax expert, Taiwo Oyedele, as the new Minister of State for Finance. Down here, talk of tax policy makes people nervous. We just hope any new policies remember the small business owner and the market trader. Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is talking up support for the entertainment industry, which fits right in with Tiwa Savage's new project. At least someone is focusing on the creative energy of the youth.
Far from the political and entertainment scenes in Lagos, people in Ondo State are dealing with a much darker reality. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is vowing to come down hard on kidnappers and anyone who helps them. He warned that no sponsor, godfather, or collaborator would be spared if they're found. This isn't just talk for him; he's worried because one area in the state has seen three separate kidnapping incidents in just the last two months. For families in those communities, every day is filled with fear.
The governor also shared that security agencies have already arrested about 90 suspects linked to kidnapping and related crimes in the state. That's a big number, and it shows how serious the problem has become. For the PDP, the next step is clear: they must find a way to reconcile, or risk leaving their supporters without a candidate to vote for when it's time to choose leaders who tackle these kinds of security crises. The party's internal peace is the first thing that needs to be secured.
