Ribadu: Strong Institutions, Attitudinal Change Crucial to Win Anti-graft War in Nigeria
James Sowole in Abeokuta
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has said building strong institutions and attitudinal change on the part of Nigerians are crucial to win the anti-graft war in the country. Ribadu disclosed this yesterday while delivering the 9th Oba Sikiru
Adetona Annual Professorial Lecture of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, entitled, 'Corruption and National Security: Impacts and Consequences.'
Represented by the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, the former EFCC Chairman said corruption had undermined
the fabric of the state’s legitimacy, weakened institutions and diverted critical resources that are meant to develop the country. While saluting the Awujale and
Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, the NSA described the traditional ruler as a
Kwankwaso Condemns Defection of Govs, Lawmakers, Says Joining Another Party after Winning Election Highest Form of Betrayal
Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano
The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general election and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has condemned politicians who defected to rival political parties after winning elections on different political platforms, describing such action as the greatest political sin. Kwankwaso made his position
known yesterday in Kano while receiving scores of defectors from the Takai Local Government Area (LGA) of Kano South into the NNPP at his Miller Road residence.
Some key politicians in Kano State, including Senator
Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila representing Kano South, and a member representing Rano, Kibiya and Bunkure federal constituency in the state, Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, among others, had recently defected from Kwankwaso’s NNPP
to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the former Kano State governor described such defectors as those who, after winning elections on the back of the support of the masses, betrayed the people by
defecting to the opposition camps. He recounted the resilience of the Kwankwasiyya movement, despite attempts to derail it in the past, especially in 2015.
Continued on page 5
Northern Govs Demand Review of Security Strategies, Seek Creation of State Police
Hail Tinubu’s sustained commitment to tackle security challenges Gov Sani allays fears on abuse of state police by governors
John
The 19 northern governors under the auspices of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) have demanded an immediate review of Nigeria’s security strategies and the creation of state police to tackle the resurgence of Boko Haram activities in some parts of the North-east, killings by bandits in the North-west and North-central, as well as the general insecurity across the country.
This is just as Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has debunked the fears that governors could abuse state police, stressing that the legal framework to be enacted by the National Assembly will restrict the power of state police to the fight against insecurity and criminalities and not political cases.
In a communique issued yesterday at the end of their meeting with the Northern Traditional Rulers Council (NTRC) at the Government House, Kaduna, the governors called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the enactment of the legal framework for the take-off of the state police.
Shiklam in Kaduna
UBA, Fidelity Bank, Airtel Africa, 16 Others Account for 84% of N68.34tn Market Capitalisation on NGX
A total of 19 blue chip stocks out of over 150 companies quoted on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and other Exchanges have contributed about 84 per cent or N57.4 trillion out of the N68.34 trillion overall market capitalisation as of May 9, 2025.
The rally in the stock market last week impacted some of these companies following an impressive unaudited result and accounts for the first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2025.
The stock market gained N1.69 trillion to close at N68.34 trillion from N66.648 trillion at the beginning of trading.
Airtel Africa Plc, a telecommunication giant company listed on the NGX and London Stock Exchange (LSE), was the most capitalised company on the Exchange as of May 9, 2025.
During the period under review, the market capitalisation of Airtel Africa stood at N8.11 trillion, followed by BUA Foods Plc that closed at N7.52 trillion.
Dangote Cement Plc closed May
The communique, which was read by the Chairman NSGF and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, commended President Bola Tinubu for his sustained commitment to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges and the infrastructural deficits in the north but acknowledged recent setbacks in efforts to combat insecurity and other social vices.
The communique noted that after exhaustive deliberations on matters of regional interest, particularly security, the northern governors “resolved to liaise with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to work out modalities of how to increase support to the federal security forces.
“The forum also resolved to strengthen peculiar local initiatives in combating all forms of security challenges.
“The forum also resolved to urgently set up inter-state platforms to coordinate surveillance on our joint borders.
“The forum reiterated its support for the creation of the State Police and called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the enactment of the legal framework for its take-off”.
It added that the next meeting of the forum would be held on August 30, 2025.
Speaking further on the outcome of the meeting, Governor Yahaya called
“We all know the history of this movement. Unfortunately, in 2015, some individuals joined us with dishonest intentions. They brought disunity and tried to destabilise the movement. But thank God, the movement did not derail,” he said.
Kwankwaso reflected on his past electoral experiences, noting that each election had served as a lesson.
“When the 2019 elections came,
and visionary leader who is always known to be standing for the truth and fighting against corruption and misgovernance.
The NSA said: “We cannot talk about the insecurity in Nigeria without acknowledging that corruption has played a role in eroding public trust, compromising law enforcement effectiveness and in some cases enabling impunity.
“Whether it is the diversion of funds meant for military hardware or the undermining of due process in arms procurement, the impact is clear weakening of national capacity to respond to threat.”
9, 2025, with a market capitalisation of N7.4 trillion.
Recent events have seen the stock price of Airtel Africa, BUA Foods and Dangote Cement Plc, maintaining a flat price of N2,156.9, N418 and N432per share, respectively.
THISDAY gathered that the stock price of Dangote Cement gained 1.85per cent Week-on-Week (WoW) to close May 09, 2025 at N440 per share from N432 per share it opened for trading.
MTN Nigeria Communication Plc came close with N5.98 trillion by market capitalisation amid recovery in Q1 2025, unaudited results and accounts.
MTN Nigeria declared a turnaround performance in its unaudited Q1 2025, declaring N133.7 billion profit after tax in Q1 ended March 31, 2025 from a loss of N392.7 billion declared in the first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2024.
From the profit & loss figures, MTN Nigeria announced N202.55 billion profit before tax in Q1 2025 from a loss of N390.67 billion in Q1 2024.
for redoubled efforts in ending the killings and ensuring the safety of lives of the people.
He expressed condolences to the governments and people of Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, and Yobe states over the recent tragic killings.
Yahaya said: "These mindless acts of violence against innocent citizens remind us of the urgent need to redouble our security efforts and ensure that adequate security measures are vigorously implemented for the safety of our people.
"The resurgence of Boko Haram activities in some parts of the North-east and the outbreak of violent killings in the North-central call for immediate review of strategies and greater synergy between federal, state and local security architectures."
The governor also spoke on the position taken by the forum on the tax reform bills during its last meeting, noting that, "the position we took on the tax reform bills engendered the reactions of a broad spectrum of Nigerians.
"I am pleased to report that through the platform of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), the National Economic Council (NEC), and in consultation with the leadership of the National Assembly, we found a way forward
everyone saw what happened, and the most recent one also taught us valuable lessons,” he added.
He emphasised that the Kwankwasiyya movement was people-centred and not driven by financial inducement.
“This movement is for the people. It is a movement that right-thinking individuals should reflect on deeply. It’s not about money. Even what happened in Kano South should
Ribadu, however, said that the country’s security and corruption challenges were not beyond redemption, but the path to their resolution runs through the corridor of integrity, leadership and institutional reforms.
The former Chairman of the EFCC added: “Therefore we must fight corruption not by responding, but by building a strong system that prevents corruption itself.
“Arrest and prosecution of corrupt officials in Nigeria are only reactive, we must build a system that will make it impossible for the people to be corrupt even if they want to be.
The company announced a total revenue of N1.06 trillion, representing an increase of 40.5 per cent from N752.96 billion in Q1 2024.
Despite remaining at N5,700, the market capitalisation of Seplat Energy Plc remains N3.35 trillion.
Geregu Power Plc and Transcorp
Power Plc maintained N2.86 trillion and N2.46 trillion market capitalisation as of May 9, 2025, respectively, while BUA Cement Plc was at N2.83 trillion in the period under review.
THISDAY also gathered that six banks among the 19 companies contributed 12.8 per cent or N8.76
trillion out of the total N57.4 trillion.
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc leads the chart in the banking sector as the most capitalisation stock, reaching N2.36 trillion, followed by Zenith Bank Plc with N2.01 trillion market capitalisation as of May 09, 2025.
Aradel Holdings Plc, N2.19
trillion; Fidelity Bank Plc, N1 trillion; United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, N1.18 trillion; Access Holdings Plc, N1.14
and Transcorp Hotels Plc, N1.57 trillion.
Tinubu Asks Supreme Court to Dismiss PDP Governors’ Suit against Rivers Emergency Rule
Alex Enumah in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the suit filed by some governors of the states controlled by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging his suspension of all the elected officials of Rivers State under an emergency rule.
Tinubu had on March 18, 2025, declared the state of emergency and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all the state lawmakers.
The president immediately appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete
that will lead to a mutually beneficial resolution of the matter."
This, according to him, is a demonstration of the power of constructive engagement.
The governor commended President Tinubu for his listening ear and commitment to inclusive governance.
"We recommend that, going forward, such a collaborative approach should guide all matters of intergovernmental relations in the interest of the people."
He also lamented the deplorable state of infrastructure in the north.
He, however, commended President Tinubu for his commitment to completing the ongoing road projects in the region.
"The state of infrastructure in Northern Nigeria remains a cause for major concern. While we acknowledge President Tinubu’s commitment to completing the ongoing KadunaKano-Katsina-Maradi rail line, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway, and the AKK gas pipeline among many others, other projects like the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line, Kano-Maiduguri expressway, and Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu expressway, which were awarded in the past, remain in a serious state of neglect.
"In the same vein, no state of the
be taken as a lesson. Some people collected spaghetti and N2,000 to elect someone. But in Kano, the poor stood firm. If it had been left to those selling their votes, the NNPP wouldn’t have won,” he said.
Kwankwaso criticised those who betrayed the people by defecting to the opposition camps.
“This is the highest form of betrayal in a democratic setting. I don’t know of any greater political
“Corruption is endemic in the country; it cuts across individuals, too, not the government alone. So, the fight must be institutional and attitudinal.
“People must resolve to fight corruption, it cannot only be the government, the people must join in the fight too, because who also must not take must also not give, what is our common wealth must not be stolen by anyone. The fight must start from all of us, not for the government alone”
Ribadu also said that the country is deploying all its arsenals to combat its security challenge, saying that due
Ibas (rtd.) as the Sole Administrator of the state.
PDP governors in 11 states filed the suit to challenge the president’s action.
However, one of the governors, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has since defected to the All Progressives a Congress (APC).
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has also declared support for Tinubu’s second term, and is rumoured to be planning a switch to the ruling party.
The suing states, represented by their respective attorneys-general, were
North-east was captured in the federal government’s superhighway project.”
Speaking further, Yahaya lamented the fading glory of the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC), noting that with proper restructuring, competent management, and effective oversight, "we can restore it to its former glory as a catalyst for regional economic development."
Yahaya also spoke on the Almajiri phenomenon in the north and the lack of job opportunities for the youth.
According to him, the situation continued to pose serious challenges to human capital development efforts.
"As the rainy season approaches, we must implement proactive measures to mitigate the perennial farmer-herder clashes and address climate-related challenges like floods and droughts,” he added.
He commended traditional rulers for their invaluable role in maintaining social harmony.
In his remarks, Kaduna State Governor, Senator Sani, said the governors made progress on many fronts but added that there were still many challenges.
He called for the development of a roadmap to address issues of security, peace, and governance in Northern Nigeria.
sin than when vulnerable people vote for you, rejecting deceivers and enemies of progress, and you turn around to join those same enemies after winning. Had the people known, they wouldn’t have voted for you,” he stated.
He urged aspiring leaders to take heed of the political lessons from Kano, warning against undermining the Kwankwasiyya movement.
“Fighting the Kwankwasiyya
to the nation’s superior firepower, over 160,000 Boko Haram combatants have surrendered, more than 300 commanders neutralised, while another 2,500 insurgents had been rehabilitated and reintegrated back into society.
He said that the government of President Bola Tinubu recognised that security is no longer the exclusive domain of the military and has therefore always called for the support of all, including the local governance, civil society religious leaders, traditional institutions, youth, women groups, private sector and technology partners to achieve a more
initially seven when they first filed the suit in March, but later grew to 11.
The president was not sued directly as a defendant in the suit.
The plaintiffs sued him through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the first defendant, while the National Assembly, is the second defendant.
A notice of preliminary objection filed on May 9 by the AGF to defend the president’s action challenged the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to entertain the suit.
In a notice of preliminary
Sani said the NSGF and the NTRC "are unique in many respects despite our diversity; the two bodies have found a way of forging consensus on critical issues and marching forward as united platforms. "This approach has solidified Northern unity and garnered national respect for the forum and the council. We must continue in this spirit", he added.
Speaking later in an interview on ARISE NEWS Channel, Sani debunked the fears that governors could abuse state police.
He argued that the legal framework to be enacted by the National Assembly would restrict the power of state police to the fight against insecurity and criminalities and not political cases.
He disclosed that when he sponsored a bill for the creation of state police in the Senate, many northern and southern governors were opposed to the creation of state police.
“But today, most states in the north and south have created vigilante services,” he said.
According to him, the members of these vigilantes were being sent on suicide missions to fight bandits and other terrorists, who carried sophisticated AK-47 rifles, which the vigilantes were not allowed to
movement is a grave mistake for any politician. One may not understand until he engages in that fight—and then he’ll realise how tough it is to battle a solid wall,” Kwankwaso said.
He reaffirmed the unity of the movement and its mission to uplift the common man.
“Whether you’re in this movement with or without an appointment; whether you got a
secure nation.
Paying tribute to the royal father, Ribadu described Oba Adetona as a traditional ruler par excellence, a very courageous voice in the fight against corruption and chief promoter of good governance.
Speaking at the event, the ProChancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of OOU, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ashiru, described Oba Adetona as a living legend in leadership and traditional royalty.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Deji Agboola, also described the Awujale as a royal icon, an enigma, a philanthropist, committed
objection obtained by Premium Times yesterday, Tinubu asked the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the suit did not fit into the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court which under Section 232 (1) of the Nigerian constitution is exercisable only in a dispute between the Federation of Nigeria and a State or between states.
The AGF claimed the plaintiffs (the states) have not disclosed any dispute between them and the Federation and did not also disclose any cause of action, citing previous court judgements.
carry by law. He noted that with the creation of state police, the enabling law would allow state policemen to also bear sophisticated arms to be able to tackle bandits and other terrorists.
The northern governors’ meeting was attended by 14 of the 19 Northern governors, including the Governors Dauda Lawal (Zamfara); Sani (Kaduna); Yahaya (Gombe); Umar Namadi (Jigawa); Nasir Idris (Kebbi); Ahmed Fintiri (Adamawa); Kefas Agbu (Taraba); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Mai Mala Buni (Yobe); Mohammed Bago (Niger); Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto); Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau); Radda (Katsina); and Ahmed Ododo (Kogi). However, the governors of Borno, Kwara, Kano, Benue, and Bauchi states were represented.
Before yesterday’s meeting, the North-west Governors’ Forum had earlier on Friday night held their meeting at the Government House, Kaduna, where they discussed challenges facing the zone.
In an interview with journalists yesterday morning, the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Katsina State, Umar Radda, said the meeting discussed issues of insecurity and growing concern over drug abuse among the youths.
contract or not, I believe we all are in the right frame of mind and grateful to God. The poor now understand everything, and that’s what brought us to this moment we’re witnessing. Go back to your communities and bring more people on board.
“Let me remind you: This movement favours the people in every aspect. It’s a movement to be proud of. Our constant goal is to uplift the common man,” he said.
educationist and courageous leader who has successfully written in the annals of the country’s history a highly inspirational story to inspire generations yet unborn to embrace selfless service.
Congratulating the royal father on his 91st birthday, the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu explained that Oba Adetona’s majestic reign has not only been defined by longevity but by legacy of wisdom, courage and uncommon progressive and visionary leadership.
trillion; First Holdco Plc, N1.07 trillion; Lafarge Africa Plc, N1.32 trillion; International Breweries Plc, N1.5 trillion,
Kayode Tokede
NINETY-NINE HEARTY CHEERS TO AFENIFERE LEADER...
L-R:
The Economist: Nigeria Must Fix Power Sector to Realise African Leadership Role
Says
few Nigerians to bear cost of grid upgrade as firms, others
The Economist, a British weekly magazine, has stated that Nigeria cannot truly claim to be Africa's economic powerhouse until it fixes its electricity supply challenges.
In an article on the state of power supply in Nigeria, the 181-year-old newspaper noted that roaring generators now literally provided the soundtrack to urban Nigerian life, producing more than twice as much power as Nigerians got from the national grid.
According to the globally renowned news medium, decades of underinvestment in Nigeria’s power supply meant it had not kept pace with the country’s growth, with more than 90 million of its 230 million people
living without access to electricity.
It blamed this on what it termed deep dysfunction in the sector and a gaping lack of funds, saying that things were unlikely to improve soon, despite the pledges by the federal government to raise supply.
“As costs go up and service fails to improve or deteriorates, opting out entirely becomes ever more attractive. The government’s response looks muddled: it wants to integrate more solar power into the grid, but is also mulling banning the import of solar panels.
“If the electricity problem is not fixed, the economy will also continue to operate below capacity. Nigeria cannot be Africa’s economic powerhouse until it can power its houses,” the magazine argued.
‘Freedom Way’ Wins Best Overall Movie at 2025 AMVCA
Vanessa Obioha
In a night that celebrated the beauty and brilliance of Nigerian cinema, Blessing Uzzi’s ‘Freedom Way,’ an action thriller exploring the challenges faced by young Nigerians, clinched the coveted Best Overall Movie award.
The event held last night at Eko Hotels Convention Centre, Lagos, also saw Awam Amkpa win Best Director for ‘The Man Died,’ a feature adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s prison memoir of the same title.
‘Seven Doors’ scored a double win in the lead acting categories, with Chioma Chukwuka and Femi Adebayo clinching Best Lead Actress and Best Lead Actor, respectively.
A visibly moved Adebayo could only say,
“Thank you, thank you,” as he accepted the award.
In the Best Supporting Actor and Actress categories, Mercy Aigbe and Kunle Afolayan took the awards respectively.
Hosted by Ik Osakioduwa and young newcomer David Oke, the ceremony spotlighted young talents, starting with a performance by the dynamic dance group Dream Catchers.
Awards were presented across 27
categories, including 18 non-voting and nine audience-voted.
For the Industry Merit awards, actor and film producer Sani Muazu and veteran actor Nkem Owoh were recognised for their outstanding roles in the film industry.
For the Industry Merit Award, actor and film producer Sani Muazu and veteran actor Nkem Owoh were honoured for their outstanding contributions to the industry.
The Trailblazer Award, given to a promising and innovative talent, went to Kayode Kasum, known for directing ‘Áfàméfùnà: An Nwa Boi Story’ and ‘Far From Home.’
Though absent, the award was received by filmmaker James Amuta, who described Kasum as “a diligent filmmaker and director.”
Iyo Prosper Adokiye won Best Digital Content Creator for his viral piece “We listen to, we don't judge,” but was unavailable to accept the award.
The presentation took an unexpected turn when comedian Basketmouth threw a playful tantrum over his film's loss in the writing category.
In the newly introduced Best Score category, Tolu Obanro won for his composition in ‘Seven Doors.’
Describing Nigerians as uniquely deprived, it reiterated that just under half the country were not connected to the national grid, which it said had never carried more than 6 gigawatts (GW).
In comparison, the article noted that South Africa, which had suffered blackouts and load-shedding still
managed 48GW of grid power for its 63 million people, while Bangladesh, poorer than Nigeria and home to about 170 million people in an area a sixth of Nigeria’s size, generated around 16GW.
“In Nigeria, when production reached a high of more than 5GW one day in March, the surge made the
exit
grid collapse. The lack of grid power is a massive drag on the economy and Nigerians’ quality of life.
“Frequent power cuts in hospitals cost lives. Air-conditioning is a luxury.
Tech entrepreneurs are forced to build their own power plants to run their data centres. More than half the country’s manufacturers no longer even bother to try to connect to the grid, according to the power minister.
“In 2023, Nigerians spent N16.5 trillion ($10.3 billion) on generating off-grid power, equivalent to 60 per cent of the entire government budget for the following year. That brings total supply to some 20GW, a quarter of the country’s estimated power needs.
Suspected Herdsmen Kill 23 in Fresh Benue Attacks
At least 23 persons have been reportedly killed in separate attacks by suspected armed herdsmen in four Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State.
The communities that witnessed the attacks in the last 24 hours were in Guma, Logo, Ukum and Kwande LGAs.
It was gathered that while nine persons were killed in Logo LGA, eight were killed in Ukum, while six were also killed in Guma and Kwande LGAs.
A source in Kwande LGA, Dr. Ray Anumve, disclosed that armed herdsmen and suspected Jukun militants on Friday attacked Turan communities in Kwande LGA, killing nine persons.
He said: “The coordinated bloody attacks were carried out by armed herdsmen and suspected Jukunspeaking assailants across multiple locations in Turan, Kwande LGA of
the state, resulting in deaths, injuries, and displacement. The assailants spoke Fulfulde and Jukun.”
He said the Mbaav Clan, Mbadura Council Ward, near Tse Yande compound, Gusa crossing, River Katsina-Ala, was besieged when the assailants crossed the river and attacked farmers who were returning from their farms.
He said Agwei, a farmer, was killed while his brother and son were left with severe injuries, adding that they were both receiving treatment at a clinic in Jato-Aka.
“They also attacked Anwase, Mkomon Area, Mbaikyor Council Ward, killing one Mr. Iortsor, while at Waya, Yaav Council Ward, a motorcycle rider was shot in the stomach, resulting in protrusion of his intestines. He is receiving treatment at a clinic in JatoAka,” he said.
While lamenting the frequency
of attacks in the area, Anumve also disclosed that multiple fatalities were recorded in an earlier attack at Ikurav-Ya Clan, particularly at Tyuav and Usambe Sha Hua, Liev I Ward, where “the casualty figures and property damaged are still being compiled by locals and community leaders.”
Another source in Ukum LGA said that nine persons were confirmed dead yesterday in Jootar “and more dead bodies are being recovered from the bush as a result of the herdsmen attacks.”
Among those killed in the attack were Jonathan Ordooga, Aondogu Torse, Cheater Torse, Yagba Torse, Tersugh Mbaaiiga, Terhemen Emmanuel, Henenshima Apirgwa and Orfega Atuku.
Meanwhile, in Guma LGA, a source who identified himself as Mr. Paul disclosed that there was mounting tension in Yelewata, Nyiev Council Ward, following the flooding of the
community by armed herdsmen from neighbouring Nasarawa State. He said: “The tension escalated after the armed herders macheted a youth from the community on May 8, 2025. The victim is currently battling for his life at a government hospital in Makurdi.”
A source in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity said the attacks had become a daily occurrence. He said, “On May 9, Ukpiam in Mababai Council Ward was attacked; they killed three people and today, Saturday, May 10, Umenger in Mbadwem Council Ward was attacked. But for Umenger, we have not received reports yet on the casualties.
“Already, people have fled their homes even though it is farming season. But security agencies who are on the ground are trying their best to ensure that the herders pull out from the communities.”
Satirical Letter: Akpoti-Uduaghan Accuses Akpabio of Attempting to Curb Right to Free Speech, Delay Trial
The suspended senator representing Kogi Central at the National Assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio of attempting to curb her right to free speech, maintaining that her recent satirical letter to the Senate president was never in breach of a court order barring parties before the court from speaking with the media.
In a counter affidavit filed in opposition to a motion on notice
by Akpabio, the suspended senator pointed out that while the content of her viral letter centred around her sexual harassment allegations against the Senate President, the matter before the court was her alleged unlawful suspension from the Senate.
The Kogi State senator had approached the court to restrain the Senate from taking any disciplinary actions against her pending the hearing of a suit against the leadership of the upper chamber.
Responding, Justice Emeka Nwite granted the request on
March 4, and summoned the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions amongst others to appear before the court in respect of the matter.
However, the Senate went ahead to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months on the following day, March 5. Following accusation of bias by Akpabio, Justice Nwite had recused himself from hearing the matter, which was then assigned to Justice Binta Nyako.
At the hearing on April 4, Justice Nyako had barred Akpabio, Akpoti-
Uduaghan as well as their respective lawyers from speaking with the media on the substantive issue and fixed May 12 for hearing of all pending applications. However, the Senate President who is the 3rd defendant in the suit, on May 5 brought an application seeking an order of court, directing the suspended senator to delete the viral satirical letter from her Facebook page and also tender an apology to the court for violating the order barring her from speaking with the media.
George Okoh in Makurdi
E mmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Alex Enumah in Abuja
Wife of Olu Abo of Ilu-Abo, Olori Rachael Falae; Afenifere National Leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti; former Ogun State Governor, Senator Gbenga Daniel; Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and others during Fasoranti’s 99th birthday celebration organised by the University of Ibadan Alumni Association, Ondo State branch, at Federal University of Technology, Akure…yesterday
CONGRATULATIONS TO NEWEST COUPLE…
Delta Govt: We’ve Consistently Taken Strategic Steps to Boost National Revenue from Crude Oil
Sylvester Idowu in Warri
The Delta State Government has said it has consistently taken strategic steps over the years to boost national revenue by ensuring peace and development in oil-producing communities across the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, stated this during a television interview at the weekend.
Aniagwu, responding to comments made by a Delta APC stalwart, Collins Eselemo, emphasised that Delta State could not have emerged as the country’s highest oil-producing state without investing in the peace
and development of its oil-producing communities.
According to Aniagwu, “Governor Oborevwori has brought significant development to our state.
"Former Governor Okowa did not commission the OgulahaOkonti-Odimodi Road, as claimed. However, Okowa constructed and inaugurated the 20.29km Obotobo I, Obotobo II, Sokebulou, and Yokiri roads in Ogulagha, Burutu Local Government Area.
"Eselemo fails to understand that the people living in the creeks have homes there. They own vehicles and need accessible roads. One of the key reasons we have not experienced significant pipeline vandalism in Delta
Producers of MAKEMATION Announce Final Week Run in Nigerian Cinemas
Yinka Olatunbosun
MAKEMATION, the most talked about, coming-of-age AI/tech themed family drama of this decade has officially announced its final week run in Nigerian cinemas.
This will be followed by a carefully curated staggered release that will take place across Africa and beyond.
Produced by Rise Interactive Studios, the film is a moving portrait of how AI and other emerging technologies are reshaping everyday life through the eyes of young Nigerians.
This explains why it has struck a powerful chord across the country for not just its entertainment value but its potential for sparking real conversations in living rooms, classrooms, and boardrooms alike. Children and young adults that were hitherto hooked on Hollywood flicks, gave the movie a fighting chance.
The overwhelming response from audiences, many of whom saw their realities reflected on screen for the first time in a story like this, reveals something deeper: a growing hunger for bold, relevant storytelling that speaks to the now.
Created and produced by Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, the film is currently in the top 70 highest-grossing Nollywood movies of all time and is likely to continue to rise in ranks on the charts and in the hearts of lovers of great stories, children, young adults, families and techies who have been the champions of the movie, as it enters its final weekend in the Nigerian box office.
Since its debut in Nigerian cinemas on April 18, 2025, MAKEMATION has resonated with a multigenerational audience.
In its three-week run to date, it has been greeted with rave reviews and high praise including being described as “a film of eternal impact and value” as well as a “masterclass in life and innovation”.
It will now officially leave the cinemas in Nigeria on May 15th, 2025, as one of the top home-made releases of the year to give the producers room to prepare for and commence the implementation of the next sets of roll out activities in the coming weeks.
The entire production team, led by Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, extends heartfelt gratitude to all Nigerians for watching and expressing satisfaction with the film.
“We recognise that MAKEMATION is a niche new perspective film but from the previous screenings within and outside Nigeria, we’d seen great reactions that assured us that we’d made a globally competitive film that would entertain, educate and make our people proud.
However, nothing ever prepared us for the consistent and organic glowing reviews of the movie as we’ve experienced these past weeks,” the first time film producer said.
The emotional connection and curiosity from Nigerians about a film like this that stands at the intersection of youth, and pop culture and tech, fuelled its local success and will now serve as the launchpad for its global entree.
is that we extended development to the creeks, where most of the oil is extracted.
"Previously, they would tell the people that development was only on paper, confined to pipeline areas. But instead of keeping development in the pipeline, the Delta State Government, starting with Okowa’s administration and now deepened by Governor Oborevwori, took development directly to the people.
"Eselemo questions the economic importance of developing the creeks, but that is precisely why Delta is a leading oil-producing state, because our brothers and sisters in the creeks have been empowered and included.
"He is asking why we develop those areas. It’s a shameful question. Imagine how shallow his reasoning is, especially coming from someone who is himself from the creeks.”
The commissioner also mentioned that Governor Oborevwori’s
leadership facilitated the defection of former PDP members in the state to the APC to drive further development.
“We joined the APC to broaden the spectrum of development in Delta State. We have extended a hand of partnership to our brothers and sisters we met in the APC. Naturally, not everyone will be on the same page from day one, but with time, full integration will happen.
"Talking about developments in Eselemo’s local government area, we have completed all road projects in Burutu Town. The Ayakoromo Bridge is under construction, and work is ongoing on the Ogulaha-OkontiOdimodi Road.
"We are also building the 47-kilometre Ohoror-Bomadi road, and Eselemo is fully aware of this. If he wants to talk about development, I am more than willing to engage him.”
Responding to Eselemo’s claim that the Julius Berger bridges in Effurun and Warri are within a 400-meter stretch, Aniagwu dismissed the allegation as false and misleading.
“He claimed that the bridges being constructed in Effurun and Warri are only 400 meters apart. That’s not true. One of the bridges alone exceeds 400 meters in length and we are building three.
“Let him tell you whether the Enerhen Junction is just 400 meters from the DSC Roundabout. Let him say if PTI Junction is just 400 metres from Enerhen Junction, or from the DSC Roundabout. Clearly, he is not telling the truth.
“And it’s not just bridges we are building, we are also expanding the corridor. Everyone who travels through that corridor has commended Governor Oborevwori for his commitment to infrastructure.
"So, I want to know what exactly
my brother Collins is unhappy about. Is it our move to the APC or the state’s infrastructural progress? That needs to be clarified.
“Collins used to be more coherent in his arguments than what I witnessed tonight. Responding to the issues he raised is difficult because even he doesn’t seem to know what exactly his problem is with our move to the APC."
On allegations that the state owes over N400 billion, Aniagwu debunked the claim, describing it as false and completely detached from reality.
“No one owes N400 billion. Since Governor Oborevwori assumed office, he has not borrowed a single dime. "In fact, he has repaid over N280 billion in loans and contractual obligations, many of which were inherited from the previous administration and tied to bridging finance.”
Pope Leo XIV Says Choice of Name Reflects Social Commitment
Pope Leo XIV yesterday said he intended to follow his predecessor’s path as pontiff, and praised Francis’s “complete dedication to service,” explaining that his name choice reflected a commitment to social causes, according to the Vatican.
Addressing a meeting of cardinals two days after being elected the 267th pope, Chicagoborn Robert Francis Prevost said a pontiff was “a humble servant of God and of his brothers and sisters, and nothing more than this”.
Describing himself as Saint Peter’s “unworthy Successor” in one of his first addresses as pontiff, Leo praised Francis’s dedication
“to (the) sober simplicity of life”.
“Let us take up this precious legacy and continue on the journey, inspired by the same hope that is born of faith,” he said, according to a transcript of his speech to the College of Cardinals published by the Vatican.
The first leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics to come from the United States, the new pope also said he chose to be called Leo XIV as a homage to Leo XIII, a 19th-century pontiff who defended workers’ rights.
“I chose to take the name Leo XIV” because his late namesake “addressed the social question in the context of the first great
Industrial Revolution”.
He said the Church’s social teaching is needed today “in response to another Industrial Revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.”
In his first homily as pope Friday, Leo urged the Church to restore the faith of millions, warning that a lack of faith often went hand-in-hand with “the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.”
The Augustinian, who was made cardinal by Francis in 2023, had been on many Vatican watchers’ lists of potential popes ahead of the conclave.
Over the coming days, his actions and words will be closely scrutinised.
On Sunday (today), he will address the faithful once again from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, giving the Regina Coeli prayer. He plans to meet with foreign diplomats at the Vatican next week and on May 18 he will preside over his inauguration mass at St Peter’s Square, which is expected to draw world leaders and thousands of pilgrims.
FG to Airlift over 64,000 Pilgrims for 2025 Hajj, Owerri Airport Records First International Flight
Chinedu Eze
The federal government has selected a total of 64,188 Nigerians for this year’s holy pilgrimage.
This is just as the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State, has recorded its first international flight, as Nigeria’s major carrier, Air Peace yesterday airlifted about 315 pilgrims in its inaugural 2025 Hajj operations from the airport.
Vice President Kashim Shettima weekend flagged off the inaugural airlift of pilgrims from Nigeria to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for
the 2025 Hajj.
The grand ceremony at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State, marked the airport’s first international flight.
Flagging off the inaugural airlift, Shettima applauded Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State for promoting unity, religious tolerance, mutual respect and inclusion by hosting the inaugural flight ceremony in his state, noting that the gesture is emblematic of Nigeria unfolding into harmony with itself as a nation.
The Vice President conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill to
the pilgrims, saying: “The President, in his characteristic foresight, has once again made available all the necessary resources to ensure the success of the 2025 Hajj.”
Shettima cautioned the pilgrims against overlooking the dignity of the Nigerian flag they are carrying, even as he reminded them that the success of the Hajj operation rests on their shoulders. His words: “And to our dear intending pilgrims, know that you are more than spiritual travellers. You are ambassadors of Nigeria. You carry with you not only your faith, but also
the pride and dignity of this nation. Your conduct, your devotion, and your unity must reflect the values we hold dear. This responsibility is not light. It is noble.”
Meanwhile, Air Peace deployed its wide-body equipment, Boeing B777-300 aircraft, debuting as the first large aircraft to land and take off from the airport.
The landing and take-off of the aircraft demonstrated the capacity and readiness of the airport, which was recently installed with airfield lighting, to handle international operations of global standards.
L-R: Father of the bride, Dr. Fidel Kpaduwa; his wife, Nneka; Groom, Mr. Uchechukwu Emenike; Bride, Mrs. Nneoma Emenike; Mother of the groom and Director Christojas Couture Nigeria, Lagos, Lady Stella Emenike; and her husband and Chief Executive Officer, Christojas Couture Nigeria, Chief Chris Emenike, at the wedding reception of the couple in Lagos …recently.
TACKLING INSECURITY ON HIS EXCELLENCIES’ MINDS…
Atiku Accuses EFCC of Lawlessness, Political Persecution, Pretence in Fighting Corruption
CondemnsKazaure’sarrest,continueddetention
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of engaging in acts of lawlessness and political persecution under the guise of fighting corruption.
Atiku issued this scathing condemnation of the anti-graft agency in reaction to the arrest and continued detention of former federal lawmaker, Hon. Muhammad Kazaure, a known critic of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Kazaure, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, and Yankwashi Federal Constituency in Jigawa State, was reportedly arrested in Kano last week and moved to Abuja
A 16-year-old candidate during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Olamide Aderibigbe, scored 98 in mathematics.
Aderibigbe, a student of Starville International School, Jabi, Abuja, also scored 86 in Physics; 68 in English and 84 in Economics.
The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, while giving a breakdown of the 2025 UTME statistics, noted that 12,414 of the over 1.9million who sat the UTME scored 300 and above, with only 4,756 scoring 320 and above.
Last year, out of 1.9million candidates who sat the 2024 UTME, only 8,000 candidates, or 0.5 per cent, scored above 300 points in the examination.
The 2025 UTME results were officially released to
by EFCC operatives. Since then, he has allegedly been held incommunicado, with no official charge or explanation provided to his legal team or family.
In a statement issued yesterday and signed by Atiku himself, the former vice president decried what he described as a disturbing pattern of arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions, and disregard for constitutional rights—hallmarks that, according to him, have come to define the operations of the EFCC under the current administration.
“The EFCC has once again plunged headlong into its wellworn pattern of lawlessness, arresting and detaining citizens with brazen disregard for due process and without offering any justification for its actions,”
the public on Friday, with over 1.5 million candidates scoring below 200, which is considered the average benchmark.
The UTME, which is scored over a total of 400 marks, tests candidates across four core subjects.
While the Use of English is mandatory for all, candidates are allowed to choose three other subjects relevant to their intended course of study.
Reacting to the performance data, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the results reflect the effectiveness of government efforts to curb exam malpractice.
Speaking yesterday, Olamide’s father, Niran Aderibigbe, expressed gratitude to God over the result of his son.
“He hopes to study architecture in covenant university of the University of Ibadan.”
the statement read.
Kazaure is well known for his fiery criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, often accusing it of corruption, poor governance, and democratic backsliding. His arrest, Atiku claims, is part of a broader effort by the government to intimidate dissenters and muzzle opposition voices.
“We are left with no choice but to conclude that Kazaure’s ordeal is a direct consequence of his fearless and unrelenting criticism of this administration,” Atiku asserted.
“This government’s hypocrisy is as staggering as it is shameless: While it strikes cosy deals with politically connected figures tainted by corruption, it unleashes the machinery of the state to harass and silence its critics,”
Atiku said.
“This is not the first time we are witnessing such abuse,” Atiku said, referencing the recent detention of popular social media personality, Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan. “His release only came after massive public outrage and pressure. This continued pattern of impunity must end,” Atiku added.
EU Pledges €300m New Projects in North-west, North-east
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The European Union (EU) has pledged the sum of €300 million for new projects in the North-west and North-east of Nigeria.
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, made this known at the 2025 annual Europe Day celebration in Abuja.
Mignot said the EU and Nigeria shared a dream of a better,
rule-based, more prosperous, sustainable, equal world that reflects the realities and needs of the 21st century.
According to him, for this dream to come true, we need to work together, and you, Nigerians, have a major role to play in Africa and the world.
“Since my arrival last September, I have seen concrete progress daily in our partnership, in particular, through the roll-out of our EU Global Gateway strategy
to offer more opportunities to the people.
“Especially, the women and the youth, and through the 300 million euros of new projects that we are launching this year in the North-west and North-east of the country.
“I also see our common willingness to enhance our relations, particularly in trade and investment, for which we are proud to be your number one partner.
“In this fast-changing world,
the EU is for Nigeria a stable and reliable partner and so is Nigeria for us,’’ he said.
Speaking further on partnership, the envoy said that the bloc was building the same partnership with its sister organisation, ECOWAS.
He added that the bloc was seeking the same alliance with Africa as a whole, adding that foreign ministers from the bloc would meet in Brussels to prepare for the EU-AU summit.
British-Nigerian Art Dealer, Ojiri, Pleads Guilty to Terrorism Financing in UK
British-Nigerian art expert and television personality, Oghenochuko ‘Ochuko’ Ojiri, has pleaded guilty to terrorism financing offences linked to high-value art sales involving a sanctioned individual accused of supporting Hezbollah.
Ojiri, 53, a former guest expert on the BBC programme ‘Bargain Hunt’, admitted to eight counts of failing to disclose suspicious activity
under the Terrorism Act 2000.
According to BBC, the charges stemmed from a series of transactions between October 2020 and December 2021, during which Ojiri sold artwork worth £140,000 to Nazem Ahmad, a man sanctioned by the United States in 2019 and by the United Kingdom’s government in 2023 for alleged ties to the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah.
The case, heard at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, marked the first-ever prosecution of its kind under terrorism financing legislation in the UK.
“There is one discussion where Ojiri is party to a conversation where it is apparent a lot of people have known for years about [Ahmad’s] terrorism links,” said prosecutor Lyndon Har-
ris during court proceedings. He added that while Ojiri’s gallery, Ramp Gallery (now operating as Ojiri Gallery), had hired a third party to provide compliance advice, “the advice was not properly acted on.”
Ojiri is said to have dealt directly with Ahmad, conducting negotiations and personally congratulating him on his purchases.
Onitsha Improvement Union Set for Centenary Celebrations
Yinka Olatunbosun
Onitsha Improvement Union Lagos Chapter is set to celebrate Onitsha Day Lagos on May 17. This year’s event marks a significant milestone as the group marks its centenary anniversary.
At a press briefing held in Lagos, the Chairman Organis-
ing Committee, Akunne Lloyd Ofili Udo, built the anticipation for this grand cultural event that would feature cultural displays, performances, keynote speeches and award presentation.
“Onitsha Day is a celebration that showcases the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Onitsha people. This year’s event promises to be an
unforgettable experience with a focus on “Ifeji Abu Onicha Erika” and “Igwebuike” which is unity and collective strength that will lead to progress and community development of the Onitsha metropolis,” said Udo.
Onitsha as a commercial city holds the largest market in West Africa with an unspoken rich cultural heritage.
Expected attendees at the event include top government officials, dignitaries and Onitsha indigenes led by the Obi of Onitsha and his entourage, alongside musical troupes. Other attractions include masquerade displays as well as special appearances by prominent Onitsha sons and daughters.
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
L-R: Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni; Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani; and Gombe State Governor and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, briefing journalists after the meeting of northern governors and Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council in Kaduna…yesterday
Boko Haram: Zulum Bans Sale of Petrol, Releases 35 Patrol Vehicles, Motorcycles to Security Agencies
Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has banned the sale of petrol in filling stations across the Bama Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, and also approved the release of 35 patrol vehicles and motorcycles to enhance the operational capabilities of the military and youth volunteers in Izge town.
The patrol vehicles and motorcycles were meant to improve mobility for local security volunteers, enable them to respond swiftly to threats, and also support military operations in their community.
Zulum, who gave the approval at the weekend during an assess-
ment visit to Gwoza, commended the Nigerian military and the local community for their gallantry in repelling recent attacks.
“I am here to examine the situation on the ground and find out from you what your real problems are, so we can address them,” he stated.
“We are optimistic that, insha Allah, we shall never lose again. I want to commend the military, notwithstanding some of the comments made by some people, including myself. When we said we have started witnessing a resurgence of Boko Haram, that doesn’t mean we are belittling the Nigerian military; we are just stating the reality so that we can come together to address the looming crisis, so that we don’t
lose ground.
“We shall do everything possible, insha Allah, to ensure Izge is not displaced. I want to commend the people of Izge; they are gallant and resilient. We will do whatever it takes to maintain law and order in Izge. Tell us what is supposed to be done, and we shall do it,” Zulum explained.
According to the governor, the donated facilities include: Five Toyota Hilux and 30 motorcycles, among other operational logistics.
Zulum also disclosed plans for gradually resettling displaced communities, assuring residents of continued government’s support to restore peace and stability.
The governor noted that several communities, including Ashigasha, Warabe, Guduf, Wala, and many
other smaller villages, would be resettled.
Zulum was accompanied on the visit by the member representing Gwoza at the state House of Assembly, Abdullahi Buba Abatcha; Head of Service, Dr Muhammad Ghuluze; Commissioner for Local Government and Emirates Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele; Permanent Secretary, Government House, Mustapha Ali Busuguma; Chief Adviser to the governor, Dr. Mairo Mandara, among other officials.
Meanwhile, Governor Zulum has directed the immediate ban on the sale of petrol in filling
stations across Bama LGA, including Bama town and Banki.
The directive followed consultations with security agencies as part of ongoing efforts to address security challenges in the area.
The governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Malam Dauda Iliya, disclosed this in a statement yesterday in Maiduguri.
“I have directed the immediate ban on the sale of petrol in Bama town, Banki, and other parts of Bama Local Government Area with immediate effect,” Zulum said.
He warned that anyone found
violating the directive would face the full wrath of the law.
“Let me make it clear, there will be no sacred cows in the enforcement of this ban.
“Security agencies have been given strict orders to clamp down on any filling station or individual contravening this directive. Anyone found culpable will be dealt with accordingly,” he said.
Zulum reiterated his administration’s commitment to restoring lasting peace in the state and called for the support and cooperation of residents in the ongoing fight against insurgency.
Nigerian Pastor, Timothy Omotoso, Rearrested in South Africa
A Nigerian televangelist, Timothy Omotoso, has been rearrested weeks after he was acquitted of multiple rape charges.
South African police authorities and the Home Affairs Department confirmed that the televangelist was arrested early on Saturday morning in East London.
An online report said that the 66-year-old pastor at the Jesus Dominion International church based in South Africa was arrested in 2017 on 32 charges, including rape, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Several young women, some of whom were still in school
at the time, testified that they were handpicked by Omotoso, who would pray for forgiveness after each encounter with them.
However, Omotoso was released last month, nine years after he was jailed to be tried on charges of raping and sexually assaulting several young women from his church.
Omotoso was acquitted last month on all 32 charges of rape, trafficking, and sexual assault against him.
Confirming the development, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola said Omotosho’s rearrest was based on immigration
matters, adding that he will appear in court on Monday. He said, “Well, I know it’s Omotoso. He was arrested this morning around 5 o’clock in East London as he was finishing the church.” said
“Inspectorate immigration of the Department of Home Affairs, together with the South African Police Service and TRT (Tactical Response Team), did effect the arrest.
“The arrest is based on immigration matters. He will appear in court somewhere around Monday, and everybody will know exactly what charges he’s facing. But it’s immigrationrelated matters.”
Osinbajo Advocates Citizens’ Welfare as True Measure of National Greatness
Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has emphasised the importance of service-oriented leadership in politics and governance, describing it as both imperative and a privilege.
Osinbajo made this call while delivering the keynote address at the Rotary International District 9141 Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on the topic: ‘The Magic of Connection: The Imperative and Privilege of Service.’
He stressed that politics should be centered on providing essential services such as quality education, accessible healthcare, and a robust social security system,
which he described as basic rights of every citizen.
The VP referenced Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s introduction of free basic education in Western Nigeria as a historical example of impactful and selfless governance, noting that the policy was implemented despite its high financial cost.
Recalling their role in drafting the All Progressives Congress (APC) manifesto in 2014, Professor Osinbajo said one of the key debates was around embedding a strong social investment programme, which eventually led to initiatives like the national school feeding scheme, TraderMoni, among others.
The former vice president sup-
ported the view that a nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens.
He further decried the pervasive level of corruption on the continent of Africa and stressed that the continent was not lacking in talent but rather suffered from the underutilisation of its human resources.
Addressing the elite, Osinbajo issued a challenge for self-reflection, urging them to consider whether their achievements were borne out of genuine service to others.
He also called for better budget prioritisation and fiscal policies aimed at improving the lives of the nation’s most vulnerable populations.
Deputy Speaker, Kalu, Under Fire over Aide’s Alleged Indictment in Fraud Case
Wale Igbintade
A women’s advocacy group, Women for Positivity (WP), has called on the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, to publicly clarify his role in the alleged ENASCO fraud scandal, in which his Chief of Staff, Mr. Sam Hart, and other company directors have been reportedly indicted.
In a statement released in Abuja, the group’s leader, Mrs. Roseline Alajemba, criticised Kalu’s silence on the matter, saying it “speaks volumes,” especially given
the serious allegations of attempted fraud involving public funds in Abia State.
The group further accused Kalu of political treachery, claiming he has a history of “snitching” on political leaders for personal or party gain.
According to her, similar tactics were used in 2019 against APC candidate Dr. Uche Ogah, allegedly with the involvement of Mr. Hart.
Alajemba questioned the appointment of Hart, a known PDP loyalist and former appointee of exGovernor Okezie Ikpeazu, as Kalu’s Chief of Staff, suggesting
it was a reward for past political espionage.
She also mocked Kalu’s claim that the South-east would deliver 70 per cent of votes to President Bola Tinubu, noting that a state assembly member from Kalu’s own Bende constituency recently defected to the Labour Party.
“Is that how he plans to deliver 70 per cent to APC?” she asked.
In a separate development, the Abia Conscience Movement, led by Mr. Akubokwu Onuoha, dared Kalu to deny the allegations, warning that more revelations are forthcoming if he remains silent.
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
Editor: Festus Akanbi
08038588469 Email:festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com
Banks Feast on Profits, Customers Starve from Illegal Deductions
As banks bask in record-breaking profits, millions of frustrated customers are left reeling under the agony of unexplained deductions and hidden charges, exposing a cruel paradox in the financial sector, writes Festus Akanbi
AsNigerianbankscontinue to count their blessings for a mouth-watering quarter of the year, their customers on the other hand, are gripped by seething outrage as they decry the relentless assault on their hard-earned money through deductions, fees, and commissions, feeling trapped in a cycle of exploitation.
Today, Nigerians have no choice but to entrust their money to the towering fortresses of banks, gleaming structures where fortunes grow for a privileged few while the masses are bled dry.
Like ravenous predators, these banks lurk in polished lobbies, waiting to pounce with endless charges—SMS fees, card maintenance, transfer levies, each deduction a sharp claw scraping at meagre savings.
And as the cycle of excessive charges continues and dreams wither, the poor are pushed further into the abyss of poverty, their hard-earned naira transformed into are left clutching shadows.
Ironically, while the customers are complaining, it is time for a celebration in the various bank boardrooms where the quarter is being celebrated.
10 Banks Generate N1.45tn from E-banking, Others in Q1 2025
A THISDAY analysis of banks’ performance last week showed that amid the threat posed by Fintech companies’ aggressiveness with zero charges on customers’ deposits and transfers, a total of 10 Nigerian banks generated N1.45 trillion from electronicbanking charges, account maintenance fees, among other charges imposed on customers
This is an increase of 104.5 per cent from
The 10 banks: United Bank for Africa
backdrop of growth in customer base.
Nigerian banks are competing with Fintech companies such as MoMo Payment Service
Palmpay, and others charge customers zero charges on fund transfers to another Fintech company or bank.
The current outcry from bank depositors came on the heels of the latest increase in bank charges.
posed by telecoms operators. More banks are expected to implement similar changes in the coming days.
In a message entitled ‘Important Update on the Charges of SMS Transaction Alerts,’ Fidelity Bank explained: “Due to an industry-wide increase in SMS costs by telecommunications providers, the charges for SMS transaction alerts have been revised
we continue delivering secure, timely, and
customers of the new rates and emphasising the importance of SMS alerts in monitoring account activity. However, the bank also provided an opt-out option, directing customers who prefer not to receive SMS alerts to update their preferences via its website.
of the Centre for the Promotion of Private was expected due to changes in telecoms banks for transferring the entire burden to customers.
sectors in Nigeria, even in tough economic empathy and be willing to absorb some of these rising costs instead of pushing them
Similarly, Ayodele Akinwunmi, Senior Relationship Manager at FSDH Merchantnated from the telecoms sector and not from the banks themselves.
“The banks are simply relaying the impact of new telecom charges. These SMS alerts are transmitted via telecom networks, using the phone numbers customers provided.
The Central Bank mandates that banks must inform customers of account activities
The increase in SMS alert fees raises concerns about customer impact, especially among low-income earners and small businesses. These groups often rely on instant Frequent transactions could now translate pushing some to disable alerts entirely to avoid rising costs.
The SMS alert system allows customers on their accounts, helping them monitor any unauthorised or suspicious transactions. Customers who no longer wish to receive to opt-out.
“If you prefer not to receive transaction alerts via SMS, you can update your preferences by completing the transaction alert form on our website and sending it
Court Option
But as bank customers continue to sulk over the development, a former president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria hope is not lost as any aggrieved customers can approach the courts if they observe irregular deductions from their accounts.
Unegbu spoke against the backdrop of complaints by bank customers on unexplained, multiple deductions from their accounts. According to him, the best thing is for customers to initiate court cases against such banks, even while accepting that the justice system is slow.
He noted that the banks make millions of naira by deducting from their customers N5 or N10 per transaction but people see it as small, so they just ignore it.
“When you consider that they have millions of customers that they take such charges from, you will know that it is a lot
guidelines on bank charges, urging customers to take cognisance of the document and seek redress when they received charges outside the guidelines.
“That document explicitly states the legal charges that banks are entitled to from their customers.
“But most Nigerian banks charge much more than what is recommended, which is against all principles of banking. Such things do not happen abroad. And the problem is that most customers do not complain.
“If customers get such charges, they should start by writing to the banks to complain. any positive results. “If customers can develop the habit of complaining, the banks will start
He said that the CBN had a complaint desk for such issues, adding that the desk
According to the CBN guidelines, transactions below N5,000 will incur a maximum fee of N10; transfers between N5,000 and transfers beyond N50,000 will incur a charge of N50.
The guidelines state that account card maintenance costs have been eliminated because the accounts already have maintenance fees. Savings accounts will be charged a card maintenance cost of N50 every quarter rather than N50 every month.
institution that violated any of the terms in the per violation, or as the CBN may determine from time to time.
The bank advised customers to give deposit money to banks at least two weeks before resolving any issues, failure of which it would intervene.
it returned N65 billion to bank customers
Representatives mandated its Committee on Banking and Currency to investigate the issue of excess charges and illegal deductions by commercial banks in Nigeria.
This was a sequel to a motion by a member at plenary.
The lawmaker stated that some Banks and Financial Institutions in Nigeria indulge in the through excessive charges and unauthorised deductions.
ent Commercial Banks are groaning over excessive charges on their accounts, saying the Financial Institutions known as Deposittheir income.
Some bank customers
Uba Sani’s tenure is marked by a commitment to inclusive governance, equity, and peace,writes ANTHONY EMMANUEL
THE PRINCE AND HIS BOYS RIGHTING THE WRONGS
Kaduna State, long seen as a microcosm of Nigeria’s ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity, is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. Once a flashpoint for ethno-religious conflict, the state is now experiencing a period of rare and welcome peace. The man at the helm of this shift is Governor Uba Sani, whose leadership since May 29, 2023, has placed inclusion, equity, and dialogue at the core of governance.
The stability now evident across Kaduna’s communities is not a coincidence. It is the product of a deliberate and sustained policy direction that prioritizes fairness in political appointments, equitable distribution of infrastructure, grassroots engagement, and cultural sensitivity. For many, this is the dawn of a new Kaduna, where everyone, regardless of tribe, creed, political affiliation feels seen and heard.
Governor Uba Sani’s administration has consciously veered away from the zerosum politics of the past. Where previous administrations were often accused of sectional favoritism, Sani has taken a panKaduna approach. Political appointments have cut across the three senatorial districts—Kaduna North, Central, and South, demonstrating an intentional shift toward inclusive governance.
One of the most symbolic moments of his tenure came when he appointed the current Head of Service from Southern Kaduna, a region historically marginalized in public service leadership. This move, widely praised by civil society groups and traditional rulers, underscored the governor’s willingness to right past wrongs and set a new tone for governance.
According to APC chieftain and philanthropist Mr. Joseph Ciroma, popularly known as Hasken Kudanci, Governor Sani’s inclusive style is not just political; it is transformational.
“We have not seen this kind of wisdom in our dear state before,” Ciroma said. “Governor Uba Sani’s political appointments cut across the state. His empathy, especially toward Southern Kaduna, is genuine. His actions speak louder than words.”
Unlike predecessors who seldom visited certain parts of the state, Governor Sani has been a constant presence in Southern Kaduna and other vulnerable areas. Since assuming office, he has made over 15 visits to Southern Kaduna alone, an unprecedented feat for any sitting governor in recent history.
These visits are not symbolic. They often result in practical interventions: security reinforcements, relief materials, school rehabilitations, road projects, and community dialogues. By physically showing up, the governor has succeeded in dispelling distrust and signaling that every citizen matters.
“If you don’t identify with the people being confronted by security challenges, how do you understand their problems? How do you solve them?” Ciroma asked rhetorically. “Governor Sani’s presence brings hope and healing.”
Kaduna is home to over 60 ethnic groups and a nearly even Christian-Muslim population split. Historically, this diversity has been both a strength and a challenge. Previous governments often struggled to manage this delicate balance, leading to recurring violence and mutual suspicion.
Governor Sani has chosen to embrace this complexity as an opportunity rather than a
threat. Through his Kaduna Reconciliation and Integration Strategy, the administration has facilitated community peace summits, interfaith dialogues, and traditional institution engagements. These have brought formerly estranged groups to the same table, creating shared commitments to peace.
Religious leaders, too, have been incorporated into governance through periodic roundtables aimed at promoting tolerance and addressing grievances before they escalate.
Recognizing that equitable education fosters long-term unity, Governor Sani has launched multiple educational reform projects targeted at bridging regional disparities. His administration is currently rehabilitating over 100 schools across underserved communities in Southern Kaduna and other rural areas.
To further democratize opportunity, the governor has expanded scholarship schemes to accommodate students from conflictaffected and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, regardless of ethnicity or religion. A significant number of the beneficiaries hail from hard-hit communities that once bore the brunt of conflict.
Additionally, the government has introduced Peace Education modules into select secondary school curricula, fostering a culture of coexistence from an early age.
Under the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP), the governor has prioritized the construction of feeder roads across all senatorial districts, particularly targeting agrarian communities that were previously inaccessible. These roads not only connect remote villages to markets and services, but they also serve as a conduit for peace, helping to integrate communities into the broader economic and administrative fabric of the state.
In recent months, water supply projects have been commissioned in Zangon Kataf, Kachia, and Kajuru—all in Southern Kaduna—addressing decades-long complaints of neglect in basic infrastructure.
While Kaduna remains vigilant in the face of ongoing national security challenges, Governor Sani has recalibrated the state’s response by decentralizing security planning. Local vigilantes, community watch groups, and traditional institutions are now formally recognized as stakeholders in security matters.
A revamped Community Policing Framework has also been introduced, allowing for intelligence sharing between rural communities and formal security agencies. This has led to a reduction in rural banditry and an increase in public confidence in security structures.
In the race towards 2027, the more you look, the less you see, contends JOSHUA OCHEJA
Afire is burning in the political realm due to a flurry of defections. The source of this fire can only be speculated. The last time I checked, speculation is guesswork, and in Nigeria, the more you see or know, the less you understand. Those attributing it directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu fall into this category. They have greatly undermined the role of his “boys,” whose relevance hinges on productivity rather than mere activity. If you know the president and how his mind works, you would envision him laughing and taking notes. He can be politically arrogant. I don’t envy his “boys.” Their task is daunting, especially with the “Prince” watching your every move.
Italian philosopher, Niccolò Machiavelli, in his work, “The Prince”, a 16th-century political treatise, confounded readers when he alluded that immoral acts are justifiable if they achieve political glory. He posited that politics has its own rules. Politicians can sometimes be ruthless in this regard. In the 6th chapter of the book, “Conquest by Virtue” he stated that “Princes who rise to power through their skill and resources (their “virtue”) rather than luck tend to have a hard time rising to the top, but once they reach the top, they are very secure in their position. This is because they effectively crush their opponents and earn great respect from everyone else. Because they are strong and more self-sufficient, they have to make fewer compromises.”
Those who know the story of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would agree with Niccolò Machiavelli that he conquered by virtue. What is the meaning of Emilokan? Who gets away with such political arrogance other than “The Prince”? He did not obtain the seat easily, and as such, some of his actions are viewed as extreme. I had a conversation with a friend, and he was fuming about how the president wants to create a one-party state. I allowed him to ventilate before asking a question that calmed his nerves. I asked if there was no opposition; was it a violation of the Constitution? He has yet to provide an answer. I do not think the aim is to create a one-party state. The “Prince” is too smart for that. I think the aim is to undertake regional realignment to dismantle some myths about numbers in determining political outcomes in the country. This is historical. I stand to be corrected.
In the 7th chapter, (Conquest by Fortune), “when a prince comes to power through luck or the blessings of powerful figures within the regime, he typically has an easy time gaining power but a hard time keeping it thereafter, because his power is dependent on his benefactors’ goodwill. He does not command the loyalty of the armies and officials that maintain his authority, and these can be withdrawn from him at a whim.” This chapter does not relate to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Who was his godfather? Were the powerful figures within the Buhari regime in his favour? How did he secure the APC presidential ticket? What brought about the slogan Emilokan? However, we can see a picture in the 2015 presidential elections. The incumbent wanted “A Breath of Fresh Air”, to free itself from the shackles. But the powers that be wanted “Change” and they effected it. Let me digress. All politicians are Machiavellians. In recent times, two have been prominent. I don’t know if they are friends, but their penchant for public nuisance is legendary, especially when swimming against the tide. They also share a common trait: they present themselves as saints. You can’t beat them in any argument. However, they forget
that they are also politicians. Once the title ‘politician’ is attached to your name, you have automatically signed out of morality. This much was advanced in “The Prince,” where Machiavelli suggested that “politics should be guided by practical considerations rather than traditional ethical principles, as traditional morality might not be suitable for the complexities of political life.”
Surprisingly, today, one of them is busy gallivanting about a political coalition for 2027. He said, “We are trying to offer Nigerians a real alternative — something different from what they have seen before”. And I smiled. I tried to understand what he meant. It sounded like music to my ears. Maybe that was why Bob Geldof, Irish singer-songwriter and political activist said “You can’t trust politicians. It doesn’t matter who makes a political speech. It’s all lies - and it applies to any rock star who wants to make a political speech as well.”
In my opinion, he needs to read chapter six of “The Prince” so he can have some peace. The “Prince” can only make a few compromises with allies. At this stage, he cannot be held to ransom for very obvious reasons. He conquered by virtue and not by fortune. For the other, it’s dicey because he must be careful not to make any wrong move. But his options are limited. The coast is unclear about the platform he should utilize. I can bet it’s tight for him. Anyways, I wish him good luck. I like him though regardless. I need to say something about politics and politicians. There is always an interest that is not public interest. According to Nikita Khrushchev, a Russian politician who served as the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1963, “Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.” This is instructive, and it takes me to chapter 18 of “The Prince”. (In what way princes should keep their word). “A prince is praised for keeping his word. However, in reality, the most cunning princes succeed politically. A prince, therefore, should only keep his word when it suits his purposes, but do his utmost to maintain the illusion that he does keep his word and that he is reliable in that regard.” That is the way of politicians. It is always about when it suits the purpose.
Political maneuvers are akin to football strategies. The “Prince” won’t stay passive amid mounting plots to unseat him. It is a cardinal rule.
Ocheja is a Researcher and Military Historian
Emmanuel writes from Kafanchan, Kaduna State
LUKMON ATOBATELE
Amid the noisy political scenes and fading public trust, Ogun Deputy Minority Leader, Lukmon Atobatele, stands out for his people-first leadership. Reflecting his blend of Egba roots and corporate discipline, Adedayo Adejobi writes on how this lawmaker is backing purpose with action. EDITED BY: VANESSA OBIOHA/vanessa.obioha@thisdaylive.com.
Lukmon Atobatele: From Boardrooms to Assembly
In a sun-drenched corner of Abeokuta South, Honourable Lukmon Atobatele steps into a newly built classroom—a space he once feared might collapse during a local ward meeting. Today, sturdy walls and fresh paint replace the cracked cement and rusted roof that once symbolised government neglect.
“I couldn’t just sit and do nothing,” he says with quiet resolve.
It wasn’t campaign season. There were no cameras. Yet within a week, he mobilised personal resources to transform the structure.
“That moment,” he reflects, “was when I truly fell in love with grassroots politics.”
This act of service encapsulates the essence of the man now serving as Deputy Minority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly. His politics is not merely a vocation; it’s an extension of his values, shaped by years in the corporate sector, grounded in family tradition, and tested on the unforgiving terrain of Nigerian public life.
Born into a distinguished family in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Atobatele’s identity is deeply rooted in heritage. The son of High Chief Sikirulai Atobatele, the incumbent Balogun of Egbaland (Prime Minister), and the late Bilikisu Atobatele, he grew up under the guiding presence of tradition, responsibility, and faith.
“I’m a true son of the soil,” he says proudly. “And that comes with expectations—not just to succeed, but to serve.”
Atobatele’s early years were spent navigating Lagos traffic to attend Ogba Primary School, before moving to Abeokuta Grammar School, where he completed his secondary education. In 1997, he enrolled at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, earning a B.Tech in Applied Physics, and later, an MBA in Marketing Management from the same institution.
“Education was a gift my parents insisted I cherish,” he says. “They saw it as an investment—and they were right.”
For over two decades, Atobatele honed his acumen in Nigeria’s banking sector, working across institutions with an unblemished record.
“In banking,” he says, “your word is everything. Integrity is nonnegotiable.” That ethical conduct would become the bedrock of his leadership.
While many are pulled into politics by opportunity, Atobatele’s journey was more contemplative— slow-brewed through experiences in entrepreneurship, construction, and community engagement. He founded Lukazai Nigeria Ltd, a multifaceted enterprise with interests spanning building, solid mineral exploration, and general merchandising. But beyond business, a stirring restlessness called him to public service.
“I was doing well in business,” he recalls, “but I wanted to be part of the solution, not just an observer. I wanted to be useful.”
Atobatele’s formal foray into politics began with the All Progressives Congress (APC). A visit to his first ward meeting, held in a near-collapsing classroom, shocked him. Rather than walk away disillusioned, he invested his funds to rebuild the venue, earning both admiration and loyalty at the grassroots.
“I didn’t get the ticket that year,”
The frustration is real,” he says. “But disengagement only gives power to those who don’t care about change
he says candidly. “But I didn’t stop contributing.”
When the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) approached him in 2022 during a candidate substitution window, he accepted the mantle.
“It was divine timing,” he reflects. He contested and won, securing a mandate from a constituency weary of promises but hungry for action.
In an era when public trust in politicians ebbs away, Atobatele remains resolutely anchored in his upbringing. “I would never do anything to tarnish my father’s name,” he says. “My values and my faith keep me grounded.”
His religious and cultural titles— Dagunja of Egbaland, Jagunmolu of Igbeyin Land, and Baba Adini of several Islamic groups—reflect a deep connection to his roots. Yet they do not insulate him from criticism or scrutiny.
“In politics,” he notes, “you must live in glass houses. Every action counts.”
From subsidised food markets to emergency water provision, Atobatele’s approach to governance is unapologetically people-centred.
“I prefer to under-promise and over-deliver,” he says. “Abeokuta is a small place. My reputation is my currency.”
Healthcare is a priority that has shaped much of his legislative advocacy. “If I had executive powers,” he says emphatically, “I’d prioritise free medical care. These drugs are expensive—too many people are suffering in silence.”
He doesn’t wait for policy to catch up. On his initiative, he has funded health insurance for over 100 elders and chiefs, ensuring they receive regular medical care through the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme.
Each year, he collaborates with Nigerian-American medical teams to deliver free surgeries and health outreach, including treatment for hernia, fibroids, breast lumps, and cataracts. Over 2,000 patients have benefited from these missions, many of them for the first time in their lives.
“I handled flights, feeding, logistics,” he says. “The state supported us with security and accommodation. It’s a partnership.”
With support from the Mastercard Foundation, he has also trained 245 youths in soilless farming, offering not just skills but a future.
Public service, he admits, is a delicate balance. “You can’t please everyone,” he says. “During campaigns, I told people: I will only promise what I can deliver.”
So far, he’s made good on that commitment, even as he continues
to await the release of constituency project funds. In the interim, most of his interventions have been selffunded—a fact he shares not out of vanity, but transparency.
“It’s not sustainable,” he admits. “But for now, we do what we must.”
Atobatele is acutely aware of the disillusionment among Nigerian youths, especially when it comes to politics.
“The frustration is real,” he says. “But disengagement only gives power to those who don’t care about change.”
His advice?
“Vote. Advocate. Even run. The system is flawed—but change starts with participation.”
To those seeking to rewrite their narrative, he offers simple, enduring counsel: “Be truthful. Put God first. Your character will take you further than any connection.”
Asked what legacy he hopes to leave behind, Atobatele doesn’t mention titles or legislation. “I want
to be remembered as someone who stood for people, not just policies,” he says. “Leadership should be a bridge to opportunity.”
Whether it’s expanding education, championing the marginalised, or confronting systemic neglect with decisive action, his north star remains clear: compassion, courage, and character.
His faith in the PDP also remains unshaken.
“The party will survive beyond 2027,” he insists. “What we’re seeing is not a collapse, but a renewal. Every political movement faces trials—it’s how we respond that defines us.”
As the sun sets behind the low hills of Abeokuta, Atobatele walks through a crowd of constituents, exchanging greetings and listening intently. There are no speeches today, no photo ops. Just presence and purpose.
And in that quiet, steadfast presence lies the enduring story of a man who believes that politics is not about power, but people.
Atobatele
with KAYODE ALFRED 08116759807, E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com
...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous
Bimbo Ashiru: The Quiet Architect of Goodness
Some men move through life like a fanfare: all brass and cymbals. Others, like Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, glide like a wellwritten verse: measured, kind, quietly profound. There’s a certain hush that accompanies men of true honour, not silence, but that particular stillness that gathers when decency enters a room.
Ashiru is not one for theatrics. But make no mistake, his résumé is gilded. Former Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry. Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited. Architect of one of Nigeria’s boldest real estate consolidation efforts. Under his watch, Odu’a has morphed from a storied relic into a contender for panAfrican dominance, with visions of 250,000 square meters of warehousing and a housing footprint that could shelter a small city. Yet, these achievements, impressive as they are, often play second fiddle to something far rarer: his character.
When one friend recalled a years-old conversation, “Ola, you’re good at what you do, and I will find work for you at every opportunity,” the promise sounded ordinary. But in a world where such words dissolve like sugar in tea, Ashiru’s stuck. Time and again, he opened doors not for applause, but because it was the right thing to do.
And the testimonies flow like quiet tributaries to a greater truth. “He will do you good and never look back,” wrote one grateful recipient of his grace. “He is ever ready to lend a helping hand,” another added. “A true Omoluabi.”
The Yoruba word Omoluabi is a cultural honorific, a declaration of integrity, dignity, and moral clarity. Ashiru wears it not as a title but as skin. In his world, to build an enterprise is fine. To build people? Better.
The legacy of Ashiru will be measured not just in square footage or boardroom conquests, but in the quiet revolutions of the heart: the lives he lifted, the promises he kept, the grace he gave freely. Because sometimes, greatness comes not in a roar, but in a gentle, unrelenting hum of goodness.
Tinubu, Kano, and Gamble for the North: A Deal or Mirage?
Nigerian power is like a winding corridor where alliances shift like desert sands. Within this space, President Bola Tinubu seems to be making what might be his boldest political gamble yet: wooing the North, beginning with the formidable Rabiu Kwankwaso and the restive streets of Kano. With 2027 already casting its long shadow, the president seems determined to redraw his political map.
The move is strategic. Kwankwaso, former Kano governor and NNPP presidential candidate, commands a cult-like following in the North-west. A reported rapprochement with Tinubu, allegedly sweetened with promises and positions, has sparked intrigue and infighting within the APC. Meanwhile, northern APC hopefuls eyeing 2027 governorships have begun to fret and whispers swirl about Kwankwaso being offered a return ticket - or worse, dominance in a region others have laboured to cultivate.
Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi
Once upon a runway, long before Ankara prints swaggered across Paris or Lagos-style ruled the racks in Selfridges, one woman spun a dream from wax print and royal heritage and dared the world to watch.
That woman is Queen Ronke
Still, this attempted alliance is more than a transaction; it’s a signal. Critics think that Tinubu knows that no one could win the Nigerian presidency without Northern blessing. As Hakeem Baba-Ahmed aptly noted, Northern support isn’t optional, it’s essential. But therein lies the paradox: while Tinubu courts the North’s political elite, the region’s masses simmer with discontent. They see a government tilting southward, economic zones in Lagos, ministerial portfolios favouring the South-west, and roads that vanish once they leave the capital.
So, can a handshake with Kwankwaso plug a dam of northern resentment?
Possibly not. Northern elders like Tanko Yakassai are cautioning against any illusion of regional sufficiency. The presidency, he reminds us, remains a national affair. And in a region where political memory runs deep, the ghost of former President Shehu Shagari and
the fall of the First Republic still hover. Power, hoarded or misused, has a way of imploding.
In the end, Tinubu’s northern outreach might prove visionary or foolhardy. For now, it’s a tango of ambition, suspicion, and calculated charm. But as any student of Nigerian politics knows: the North is watching, the South is calculating, and 2027 is not waiting.
Queen Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi:
15 Years, One Crown, a Catwalk
Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, and this year, she is celebrating 15 years of Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL), the flagship festival that turned a fledgling idea into a movement, and then into a marketplace of power, pride, and pattern. Not bad for a monarch who moonlights as fashion’s fiercest fairy godmother.
When Queen Ronke launched AFWL in 2011, most global fashion houses barely raised an eyebrow at African creativity. It wasn’t “luxury” enough. Not “global” enough. But Her Majesty, part Nigerian royalty, part British-trained lawyer, fulltime cultural force, had seen the future, and it was draped in Kente.
Fast forward 15 fast-paced years: AFWL has platformed over 1,000 designers and artisans, flung open palace doors for beadwork, batik, and bold silhouettes, and established itself as the definitive showcase of African fashion excellence in Europe. “It’s more than a runway,” the Queen says. “It’s a
Will President Tinubu’s Ally, James Ibori, Join the List of Defectors in Delta?
In Nigerian politics, Delta State has become the latest stage where defections pirouette with poetic irony. Once a fortress of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the state is now witnessing a slow, rhythmic unravelling, almost musical in its inevitability.
Last week, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Dennis Guwor, announced, with what some call calculated grace, his departure, along with 21 lawmakers, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Days earlier, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa
had made their own choreographed exit, leaving the PDP’s state chapter resembling a house emptied of its furniture but not its ghosts.
Amid this political waltz, the question everyone is whisperingsome hopefully, others nervously - is whether Chief James Ibori, Delta’s political godfather and ally to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will follow suit.
Ibori, the man who helped build PDP’s foundations in Delta brick by brick, now stands at a peculiar crossroads. A unifier, a grassroots juggernaut, and arguably still the most influential figure in the state’s political tapestry. Supporters insist Ibori remains the
revolution.”
Indeed, from fashion forums to mentoring schemes with the University of Northampton, and digital programs with Henley Business School and Parsons New York, AFWL hasn’t just dressed the world - it’s educated it.
And the empire keeps expanding. There’s Africa Fashion Week Nigeria. Africa Fashion Week Brazil, documentaries, textile hubs, musicals, and awards. Queen Ronke has built a veritable Versailles of African culture, with every hemline stitched with purpose - empowerment, education, entrepreneurship.
Fifteen years later, the gamble has become gospel. As the Queen herself put it, “We believed in our heritage when no one else would.” Today, the world is catching up, catwalking to a rhythm she composed, one outfit at a time.
And to that, one is right to say: long may she reign - in silk, sequins, and sass.
cornerstone of PDP’s legacy. But legacies, like p arty loyalties, have been known to evolve under the right conditions.
And what are those conditions?
Consider a deflated PDP plagued by internal fractures. Consider a Tinubu presidency seeking southern consolidation. Consider Ibori’s longstanding ties to the president and his strategic instincts. Would it be that surprising if he crosses the aisle, not out of disloyalty, but as part of a grander alignment?
Yet, Ibori has said nothing. His silence is not absence; it is theatre. In Delta politics, every pause is deliberate, every silence strategic. So, will he? That is the wrong question. The better one might be: what does Ibori stand to lose - or gain - by staying? Either way, one thing is certain: the next step he takes will not be accidental. It will be choreography.
Tinubu
Ibori
Ashiru
Aisha Achimugu: Triumph and Trials of Top Female Socialite
Once a figure of quiet ambition in Nigeria’s engineering and consultancy sectors, Aisha Achimugu’s name now sings across headlines with a mix of reverence, intrigue, and scandal. The
Managing Director of Felak Concept Group and the first female consultant on Nigeria’s Deep Sea Port initiative, Achimugu was, until recently, better known for breaking barriers than making front-page news. Today, her legacy hangs delicately between boardroom triumph and courtroom drama.
The turning point came not in a business meeting, but on a sundrenched Caribbean island. In January, Achimugu marked her 50th birthday with a celebration that was equal parts Hollywood and high soc iety. Guests - who arrived via chartered jetssipped champagne beneath the stars of Calivigny Island, serenaded by international acts, while rumour trails followed the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu back to Nigeria. The party ignited controversy over its extravagance and timing, drawing sharp commentary about public perception and elite indulgence.
Is Rivers Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, Getting Things Right?
Somewhere between a constitutional emergency and a command performance, Rivers State now finds itself under the stewardship of Vice Admiral IbokEte Ibas (rtd), the federally appointed Sole Administrator. With epaulettes swapped for executive orders, he now helms a state in political freefall—suspended governor, frozen legislature, and all. But is he the solution or simply another actor deepening the drama?
At first blush, Ibas came draped in the rhetoric of rescue. “No personal ambition,” he declared, only duty. A statesman of calm, pledging servant leadership and the rule of law. Yet beneath the decorum, the script is more complicated.
The Senate, not exactly known for swift oversight, recently appointed a special 18-member committee to monitor Ibas’ administration. A noble move or legislative theatre? Already, the Sole Administrator has drawn fire for appointing local government
But the glitter faded fast. By March, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Achimugu wanted in connection with a sprawling money laundering and Ponzi scheme probe. Her arrest caretakers without public consultation. Critics argue he’s building authority, not consensus.
Civil society isn’t clapping either. A coalition of 35 groups previously sounded alarms loudly. They accused Ibas of veering off the democratic map, using federal might to suppress institutions, and playing judge, jury, and governor. Their tone was less worried and more outraged: the word “authoritarianism” made a firm appearance.
Then there’s the curious case of the absent administrator. Twice invited by the House of Representatives to engage in oversight discussions. Twice, a no-show. No apology, no explanation - just an empty seat and increasingly furrowed brows on the lawmakers’ side. And even though Ibas eventually responded to them, in Nigerian politics, silence is never just silence; it’s a message wrapped in calculation.
So is Ibas getting things right? It depends on who’s answering - and what “right” means. Stability? He’s delivered
in Abuja in early April marked the beginning of a legal saga involving over 136 bank accounts, 21 companies, and multi-billion naira transactions allegedly linked to unlicensed financial activities. Her name surfaced alongside that of Maxwell Odum, the embattled promoter of MBA Trading and Capital Limited.
While Achimugu was granted administrative bail under court order, the case remains very much alive. The presiding judge has since been suspended, casting a further veil over the proceedings. Meanwhile, EFCC investigators continue to link her to suspicious flows of funds between her businesses and companies under investigation for fraudulent investments.
So, who is Achimugu? Visionary entrepreneur or financial operator in designer heels? Perhaps both. In the court of public opinion - and eventually of law - her story is still unfolding. One thing is certain: from opulence in Grenada to interrogations in Abuja, Achimugu’s tale is no longer just about influence. It is now about accountability.
calm, if silence counts. Legality? The jury is still out. Transparency? The Senate is watching.
In Rivers, the fog hasn’t lifted; it’s only grown denser. The question isn’t whether Ibas has power. It’s whether he’s using it to repair or to rule.
The Time is Now for Atiku to Pull His Political Strength
stands once more at the edge of history: not as a perennial contender, but perhaps as its eventual victor. Ignore the heckles from former aides turned presidential praise singers; the Waziri of Adamawa is not packing his bags for retirement. He’s reassembling his orchestra.
From the recycled sermons of Daniel Bwala, who now lectures his ex-boss about divine timing from his new seat in the presidential choir, to the jittery statements leaking from Aso Rock, one truth rings clear: Atiku rattles them. And why wouldn’t he? A man doesn’t contest six elections, survive political exile, beat IBB to a northern consensus ticket, and still retain relevance unless he possesses something deeper than mere ambition.
What once read like a political tragedy - a string of “almosts” and “could-havebeen” - now feels like a prelude. For the first time since 2003, the ground under Atiku is not shifting but settling. The North feels spurned. The economy bites hard. Zoning rhetoric is stale bread to a starving electorate. And the coalition Atiku is now piecing together is not some abstract handshake but a deliberate,
In a country where public communication is often reduced to sterile press statements and vague reassurances, Femi Soneye has managed to pull off a rare feat: he has made corporate communication at NNPCL interesting. Not just interestingengaging, strategic, and, perhaps most critically, trustworthy.
Since stepping into the role of Chief Corporate Communications Officer at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in October 2023, Soneye has brought more than polish to the job. He has brought purpose. In a sea of bureaucratic fog, his voice has become a clear channel - an informed, deftly tuned signal transmitting clarity from the heart of Nigeria’s most scrutinized institution.
It’s no wonder, then, that he has just been crowned Nigeria’s Spokesperson of the Year 2025 by the Nigerian Insti tute of Public Relations. Besting contenders from the Nigeria Police Force, Shell, and NIMASA, among others, Soneye stood out not merely for eloquence but for efficacy.
structured attempt at salvaging opposition politics from its selfinflicted wounds.
Forget the sermonising about destiny. Politics, after all, is about timing, not a divine lottery. And timing seems to be dancing to Atiku’s rhythm.
President Bola Tinubu’s house looks like it is not just divided; it’s leaking -losing northern support. Supporters would have observers believe that the myth of invincibility is cracking, and Atiku’s long memory (of party betrayals, incumbency games, coalition math) now serves him as a weapon, not a burden.
To many, Atiku remains a relic of old politics. But perhaps, in these fractured times, what Nigeria needs is precisely someone old enough to remember what unity looked likeand shrewd enough to recreate it.
The time for quiet reflection has passed. This is the moment for Atiku to pull his political strength: not as a fallback, but as a final, formidable play.
Soneye’s record reads like a case study in modern strategic communication. He didn’t just rebrand NNPC’s imagehe rehumanised it. Through social media engagement, media-friendly messaging, and transparent updates, he’s helped the public see not just a monolithic oil giant, but an organization willing to listen, explain, and evolve. Under his watch, the Port Harcourt Refinery rehabilitation narrative didn’t spiral into chaos - it was managed into credibility.
Internationally, he’s repositioned NNPCL as more than just a local behemoth. His leadership during appearances at the Nigeria International Energy Summit and COP28 in Dubai sent a clear message: NNPC isn’t just surviving - it’s showing up on the global energy stage.
The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) called it professionalism. The NIPR called it excellence. The rest of us might call it refreshing.
Achimugu
Ibas
Like the final act of a political opera decades in the making, Atiku Abubakar
Atiku
Soneye
Pat Utomi’s Shadowy Contraption
AKINWUMI ADESINA: THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Somebody has gone to sell a pipeline dream to this man and it’s looking like he has carried his bowtie and begun to believe the hype. For years, he has been vaunted as a possible presidential material because of all the bow ties he wears all over the world.
That was how he went to deliver a lecture at Bolaji Balogun’s Denham something company and was now comparing the per capita of Nigeria in 1960 to what it is today. My people, the presidency just unleashed egbon Bayo on him and that one in his usual guerrilla tactics, scattered Adesina.
You see Uncle Bayo never fails in this his one style. Once anybody says anything about his principal, his inevitable response is to come at the personality and almost never at the issues being raised. This is bullying in every sense of the word and it looks like it is the only thing they teach them at that their APC training school.
Just try it, have any discussion with any APC-inclined person including my brother Niji and all you will get is an attack on your person and that’s
I really would not like to use the word ‘cowardly’ anywhere near this highly revered Professor of no mean intellect, but this his latest reported gambit is very close to that. Which one is Shadow Government again? This is what Yoruba people used to exclaim “Ni bo la tun ja si ba yi.”
We see a hurtling moving train with no breaks and our response is a utopian-like structure – shadow government. I have not heard of anything this meaningless in a long time.
Prof has always been very utopian in his approach to politics, hence his not-toobrilliant outing. From failed presidential to gubernatorial attempts, it’s all been very dreary and grey and it is because of
it – Duke, when last did you bathe?
Duke, your in-laws don’t like you, and I will shout how that relates to the fact that more people have been killed in Plateau State than in the Ukraine-Russian war.
Anyways, my brother Adesina, Nigeria politics is not for the bow tie, tea swigging and international circuit-galivanting technocrats. Have you seen Wike, Obasa, Melaye? That is where we are in Nigerian politics. Mbok, face your cocktail circuits and enjoy the coffee before they pour ewedu on your suits. Na advice.
KEMI BADENOCH: PIE IN THE FACE
Ntoi. That is what I have for this very annoying person. If I was meeting her this morning, I would do a Dino Melaye for her. You know how Dino used to put his fingers on his face, pull down his lower eyelid and throw out his big tongue and say “ntoiiiiii.” That is what this lady deserves.
Upon emerging as the Conservative leader, instead of her to calm down and focus on improving her party’s lot, na to abuse Nigeria. Ohhhh Nigeria is smelly, policeman steal my papa shoe, armed robber came
things like this.
Is it this Tinubu era that is not hearing word, or the hordes of failed politicians in his state - Delta people who are jumping ship up and down - that will now come and listen to this his shadow government?
Mbok, can someone please help me ask what’s the aim or objective of this shadow thing when we should be looking seriously at how we will emancipate ourselves from this kind of monarchy that we have found ourselves?
Abeg, let this oga allow us hear word abeg. Even in our tears, we should be crying with our eyes wide open and not be confused or misled with big big English and contraptions that are in effect very meaningless and of no use to us in this our present state.
Thank you.
to our house and stole our towels. All sort o.
Now she has led her party to the worst electoral defeat of all time. Losing 600 seats and 15 councillors in the local election. For the first time, the Reform Party emerged as the main opposition. If they even bring this one to come and lead APC, everybody will run back to PDP, I tell you. Now her people are looking at removing her and I am wondering what were they thinking of before.
I really do wish her well, if they remove her, she can come here and join the Labour Party and kuku help them bury the party. Those ones, I hear, have gone to suspend the only Governor that they have. Kemi should be their Chairman. Lol.
DELE MOMODU: A STRONG VOICE OF OPPOSITION
It’s amazing how Ogbeni Momodu seems to be standing by his convictions. Everybody is running after amala and stomach infrastructure. Whole states are decamping and sitting governors are looking for planes to fly them to APC and in the midst of all of this, Mr. Momodu is standing by his
conscience.
He must be seriously commended because it is not easy in this jungle. Sticking out your neck and standing by your convictions and saying it as it is, is really a lonely place to stand. Funny enough, Mr. Momodu if he was going to sell his bowl of porridge would have benefitted far more than all these goons who are fluffing around the president judging by his history with Mr. Tinubu. For those of you who do not know or were not even born, Mr. Momodu and Mr. Tinubu had eaten eba with no meat in exile. They have together fought military tyranny and endured personal risks in fighting against tyranny. So now that he is facing incestuous tyranny, he could easily just fall and enjoy the gravy train. He would have been given the choicest of positions, the choicest of travels and all of that, but the good upbringing mummy Momodu must have instilled in him in Ife would not allow him to sell his dignity for a morsel. Mr. Momodu, please stand up and take your flowers. You are now becoming very very rare and you must be encouraged and saluted. Well done. People like you and me are not plenty even me sef, na one leg in one
Oseni
Badenoch Adesina
Momodu
Utomi
TRIBUTE
Edwin Clark: A Life of Service, Wisdom, and Legacy
Today, as we reflect on the extraordinary life of Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, it becomes clear that we are not merely remembering the passing of an individual. Instead, we are celebrating a phenomenon, a titan whose impact transcended the realms of his immediate environment and resonated far beyond. Chief Clark was not just a man; he was a beacon of hope, a tireless advocate for justice, an embodiment of wisdom, and a guardian of people’s rights and heritage. His journey through life serves as a profound testament to the power of resilience, the pursuit of justice, and the unyielding commitment to the development and betterment of humanity. His name will forever remain synonymous with service to the people and the enduring ideals of democracy, equity, and social justice.
Chief Clark’s life story is one of persistence, fortitude, and a deep commitment to the betterment of his people. He spent his early years in the rural landscapes of the Niger Delta, a region rich in natural resources but severely neglected by successive Nigerian governments. Despite his humble beginnings, Chief Clark’s story is one of remarkable rise—an ascent defined by his intellectual curiosity, his dedication to the cause of education, his political activism, and his lifelong advocacy for the rights of the Niger Delta people. From the dusty streets of Kiagbodo to the hallowed halls of power, Chief Clark became one of Nigeria’s most respected statesmen, revered for his unwavering principles, brilliance, and unyielding desire to make the world a better place. His life is a journey punctuated by many accomplishments, setbacks, struggles, and triumphs, each contributing to the legacy of a man whose name will forever echo through the annals of Nigerian history.
Chief Clark’s life is not just a story of political achievements or academic excellence but a testament to the power of vision, resilience, and sacrifice in pursuing a better world for all. His legacy transcends his physical existence; his spirit lives on through the people he uplifted, the institutions he helped build, and the cause of justice he championed. As we remember and celebrate the life of this incredible statesman, we take a deep dive into his contributions to Nigeria’s development, the struggles he endured, and the lessons his life imparts to us all.
Early Life: Humble Beginnings and the Rise of a Voice
Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark was born on May 25, 1929, in Kiagbodo, a rural town in the heart of the Niger Delta. Clark comes from a family with a deep understanding of the significance of education, so his early years were shaped by the values of integrity, hard work, and the belief that knowledge was the key to overcoming the many challenges faced by his people. From a young age, he experienced firsthand the difficulties of growing up in a region rich in natural resources yet plagued by underdevelopment, neglect, and environmental degradation. Despite contributing billions to Nigeria’s economy, the area has been denied the benefits of its vast resources. This early exposure to the inequities of the system would shape Clark’s worldview and ignite his lifelong passion for justice, accountability, and the upliftment of the Niger Delta.
Chief Clark’s journey into activism and politics was not an easy one. Like many great leaders, he faced adversity, criticism, and opposition from various quarters. But what set him apart was his unyielding spirit. His commitment to justice never wavered, even amid political pressures, societal norms, and personal risks. During these early years, Chief Clark developed the qualities that would define him for the rest of his life: courage, integrity, resilience, and an unwavering belief in the power of the people.
AVoice for the Niger Delta: The Struggle for Justice and Equity
Chief Clark’s life work was primarily defined by his unwavering advocacy for the rights and development of the Niger Delta. The region, which provided the lion’s share of Nigeria’s oil revenue, was also home to some of the most impoverished communities in the country. Environmental degradation, including oil spills, gas flaring, and deforestation, ravaged the land, leaving behind polluted rivers and barren landscapes. While the country extracted oil for its revenues, the people of the Niger Delta were left with little to show for it.
As a true champion of the oppressed, Chief
Clark took it upon himself to give a voice to the voiceless. He became a fierce advocate for the Niger Delta people, demanding that they receive their fair share of the nation’s resources. His fight was about protesting the exploitation of the region’s resources and addressing the systemic neglect of the people who lived there.
Clark’s advocacy was rooted in a fundamental belief that the Niger Delta people deserved justice and that their natural resources should be used to improve their lives, not line the pockets of corrupt politicians or greedy corporations. He was not merely a critic of the system; he was a reformer, a builder who sought solutions to the problems that had plagued the region for decades.
One of his most notable contributions to the Niger Delta’s struggle was his role in the formation of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC). Established in 2007, DESOPADEC was created to address the developmental needs of oil-producing communities in the state. Chief Clark’s tireless advocacy and vocal criticism of the political elite helped bring this vital institution into existence, ensuring that the people living in the heart of Nigeria’s oil wealth would finally see some of the benefits of the resources they helped produce.
Clark’s efforts to hold political leaders accountable for mismanaging the region’s wealth were unrelenting. He consistently challenged Delta State governors—regardless of their political affiliations—when he believed they were not acting in the people’s best interests. His criticisms were never personal; they were based on a deep commitment to ensuring that the resources of the Niger Delta were used for the betterment of its people rather than being squandered or misappropriated. Whether it was calling out the government for failing to deliver on promises of infrastructure, healthcare, or education or demanding a proper audit of state finances, Clark was never afraid to speak truth to power. His efforts to expose corruption in government and corporate circles, particularly about oil revenues, were instrumental in increasing transparency and accountability in managing public resources in Delta State.
A Pioneer in Education: AVisionary Leader for the Future
While Chief Clark’s contributions to political advocacy were widely recognised, his impact on the education sector cannot be overstated. He understood that true empowerment could not come from oil wealth alone; it had to be rooted in knowledge, skill, and education. Education, for Clark, was the key to breaking the cycles of poverty and underdevelopment that plagued the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole. Education was, therefore, one of the cornerstones upon
social standing. However, it was in his advocacy for the Niger Delta that Chief Clark truly made his mark in Nigerian politics. Although the Niger Delta is the epicentre of Nigeria’s oil wealth, it has long been neglected by the federal government. Oil exploration had ravaged the environment, and the people of the region continued to live in abject poverty. As a leader of the South-South People’s Assembly (SSPA), Chief Clark became a fierce advocate for the equitable distribution of Nigeria’s oil revenues and a vocal critic of the environmental degradation caused by the oil industry.
His leadership in the 2005 National Political Reform Conference was instrumental in pushing the interests of the Niger Delta to the forefront of the national agenda. Clark fought vigorously for the region’s autonomy and a system of governance reflecting the true diversity of Nigeria’s ethnic and regional groups. His passion for justice and equity in the Niger Delta, where many local communities had been left behind in the wake of oil exploration, became a central theme in his political activism.
Clark’s influence extended beyond political leadership; he was also a key player in the fight to restore democracy in Nigeria. As a prominent member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a pro-democracy movement, Clark played a significant role in the campaign to end military rule and restore democratic governance. His courage and determination during this tumultuous period earned him the admiration of many, and his advocacy for democratic principles contributed to Nigeria’s peaceful transition to civilian rule in 1999.
A Living Archive of History: Witness to a Nation’s Struggle
which Chief Clark built his legacy. For him, knowledge was not only power but the key to unlocking opportunities and transforming the lives of individuals and entire communities.
Chief Clark began his career as an educator, a profession he held in high regard for its potential to shape the lives of the youth. He started at the Warri Provincial College, where his innovative teaching methods and dedication to his students quickly gained him recognition. Soon after, he rose to become the principal of Bomadi Grammar School, a prestigious institution in the Niger Delta. At Bomadi, Clark’s influence extended far beyond the classroom. He inspired a generation of young minds to strive for greatness. He instilled in them the belief that education could be the key to escaping the limitations imposed by their circumstances.
His passion for education was not confined to the walls of the classroom. Clark was instrumental in establishing the University of Benin in 1970, during his tenure as the federal commissioner for education. His vision for higher education in Nigeria was grounded in the belief that universities should be more than just academic institutions; they should serve as engines of social change and development. The University of Benin, today a beacon of educational excellence, owes much of its existence to Chief Clark’s tireless advocacy for education and his determination to make higher learning more accessible to Nigerians, especially in the under-resourced region of the South-South of Nigeria. Little known is his influence in the establishment of the Government Secondary School, Trou-Ebeni, the first secondary school in the whole of Bayelsa West Senatorial district, that has produced many great people from that area, including the past governor of the state, Senator Seriake Dickson.
A Stalwart in Politics: A Tireless Advocate for the Niger Delta
Chief Clark’s political career was just as monumental as his educational contributions. He emerged as a key figure in the struggle for the development and rights of the Niger Delta people, a group long ignored and marginalised by the Nigerian state. As a statesman, Clark played a pivotal role in shaping Nigerian politics during the 1970s and beyond, championing the cause of equitable resource distribution, federalism, and social justice.
In the 1970s, Clark served as Nigeria’s federal commissioner for education, where he implemented the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme, which aimed to provide free primary education to every Nigerian child. This bold and visionary policy laid the foundation for the educational advancements that followed in Nigeria, ensuring that future generations had access to quality education regardless of their
Chief Clark’s life was a living archive of Nigeria’s history, a treasure trove of firsthand accounts and personal experiences that provided invaluable insights into the country’s journey through colonialism, independence, military rule, and democracy. As a young politician, Clark witnessed firsthand the country’s struggle for freedom and the following turmoil. He was a keen observer of the political and social forces that shaped Nigeria in the years after independence, and his reflections on these events helped to illuminate the challenges and triumphs that defined the nation’s development.
One of the most poignant periods in Clark’s life was his experience during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970). As a young leader, Clark was deeply involved in promoting peace and unity during the war, working behind the scenes to facilitate dialogue and understanding between the warring factions. His efforts to encourage reconciliation and healing in the aftermath of the war shaped his worldview, reinforcing his commitment to justice, equity, and national unity. In later years, Clark became one of the foremost advocates for preserving Nigeria’s historical memory. His recollections of the civil war and Nigeria’s transition from military to civilian rule were invaluable, offering future generations a roadmap for navigating the country’s complex political landscape. Clark’s wisdom and understanding of Nigeria’s history were instrumental in his role as a statesman and mentor to younger leaders.
A Mythical Figure in Human Form: A Man of Humility and Wisdom
Despite his towering accomplishments, Chief Clark never allowed his successes to overshadow his humility.At his core, he remained a man deeply grounded in the values of service, integrity, and compassion. Yet, his impact was so profound that he became more than just a man; he became a symbol—a mythical figure whose legacy transcended the sum of his accomplishments. His leadership in the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), an organisation formed to advocate for the rights and development of the Niger Delta, further solidified his status as a mythical figure. Under his stewardship, PANDEF became a powerful force in Nigerian politics, engaging withthefederalgovernmentandinternational organisationstoaddresstheregion’smostpressing issues,includingenvironmentaldegradation, poverty,andsocialexclusion.Hisabilitytounite diversegroups,includingethnicandpolitical factions,underacommoncausewasatestament tohisextraordinaryleadershipskills.
Dr. Kabi is an experienced executive, writer,andstrategistwithover30yearsof leadership in general management, government affairs, and corporate social responsibility.
Michael Kabi
Clark
INTERNATIONAL
Franco-US Military Bases in Nigeria: Nigeria’s Certainty of Self-Destruction
In the event of the establishment of any French or American military base in any part of Nigeria, Nigerians must expect self-destruction which has the potential to begin with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) himself. The reasons are many and not far-fetched. First, Nigerian leaders are always toying with Nigeria’s international personality and leadership credentials rather than seeking to sustain them. There was the time Morocco sought to shift its alliance from the Maghreb Union in North Africa to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the West African Region. Nigeria, under President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) favoured Morocco’s membership of the ECOWAS, but completely ignoring that Morocco’s membership of the ECOWAS would directly undermine Nigeria’ influence in the ECOWAS region. His Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, ignored the fact that Morocco was also being externally sponsored so that manufactured goods from Europe which could not be exported to the ECOWAS directly would now be freely exported through Morocco.
Secondly, there was also the background story of the United States Africa Command with its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. In the early 2000s, the Africa Command (AFRICOM) was to relocate its headquarters from Germany to Africa because of some German domestic protests. Even though several countries, like The Gambia, showed keen interest in playing host to it, the Gulf of Guinea countries were preferred. The targeted country of interest was Nigeria but the Nigerian opposition to it was stiff. Consequently, the United States postponed the idea of relocation for ten years in the hope of better days to come.
Now that French andAmerican bases in the Niger Republic have been declared unwanted, efforts are being made to relocate them to Nigeria. The Federal Government of Nigeria has openly and vehemently denied any possibility of such relocation to Nigeria, but many are the media reports still pointing to the possibility.
Nigeria’s
Opposition to Foreign Military Bases
Denial is an art and part of diplomacy. It is not expected that the Government will readily accept having negotiated or accepted the idea of relocation of Franco-American military bases to Nigeria. What is well known and undeniable is the fact of negotiations with many countries, including Togo, Benin, Ghana, and Nigeria to accept the relocation of the military bases to them. It is also when known that Nigeria was the preferential target state. Nigeria has openly denied the intention to host any foreign military base in Nigeria.
In this regard, however, some very notable scholars and observers – Abubakar Siddique Mohamed of the Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training, in Zaria; Kabiru Sulaiman Chafe Arewa Research and Development Project in Kaduna; Attahiru Muhammadu Jega of the Bayero University, in Kano; Jibrin Ibrahim of the Centre for Democracy and Development, Abuja; Auwa Musa (Rafsanjani) Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre in Abuja; and Y.Z. Ya’u of the Centre for Information Technology and Development, in Kano – drew the attention of PBAT and the leadership of the National Assembly in an open letter dated 3rd May 2024 to the dangers of relocating the Franco-American military bases to Nigeria. The dangers are real and should be further explicated in light of all the other environmental conditionings. It is against this background that we observe and posit that the relocation of any foreign military base in Nigeria has the potential to engender the beginning of Nigeria’s self-destruction, in general, and PBAT’s self-destruction, in particular, as well as put an end to the quest for strategic autonomy in Nigeria which is what is currently polishing Nigeria’s international image.
The first opposition and challenge was the extent to which a policy adopted at the time of independence can be continuously sustained until today. The policy was that of non-alignment. The policy never meant that Nigeria could not align but that, in the event of the need for alignment, the decision must be consistent with Nigeria’s national interest. It was on the basis of this consideration that Nigeria would not accept to blindly follow
and End of Strategic Autonomy
the lead of any ideological bloc and that the Anglo-Nigerian defence pact was fought and thrown to the garbage of history in 1961 for two main reasons. The pact enabled the British Royal Airforce not only to overfly Nigeria’s territorial airspace but also to carry out its aircraft tests in Nigeria. Additionally, the pact also empowered the Royal Air Force to maintain its maintenance staff in Nigeria. These considerations were inconsistent with Nigeria’s foreign policy stand.
Without any whiff of doubt, when the Anglo-Nigeria Defence Pact was negotiated and done, the belief was that it was done based on the mutuality of national interest in 1957. It was negotiated as a prerequisite for Nigeria’s scheduled independence for October 1, 1960 after Nigeria had agreed to the idea of a mutual defence pact in 1958. Unfortunately and fortunately, the elections that followed in 1959 prompted a new environmental conditioning, that of pan-Africanism and non-alignment, both of which were hostile to whatever had the potential to undermine the sovereignty and political independence of any African country.
Even though the coalition government of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) and the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) played active parts to ensure the passage of the Defence Pact in the Parliament, the opposition to the pact was too strong to the extent that the national interest that was considered, state or otherwise, was jettisoned as a tenable rationale. Nigerians were not only opposed to any form of military presence in Nigeria, the already independent African States were preaching the gospel of non-alignment. In
ECOWAS under PBAT has been accused of serving neo-colonial interests. The accusation is one of the major rationales given for the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the ECOWAS and for establishing the AES. Will the acceptance of a French military base in Nigeria not justify the accusation and fears of the AES countries? Will the international image and personality of PBAT not be specially tainted? PBAT is presented by the AES as a stooge of foreign powers. Why should this perception be further justified and not jettisoned? What will happen to Nigeria’s foreign policy innermost concentric circle at the level of sub-regional security which Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari says is intertwined with that of the immediate neighbours? What about the foreign policy consultation doctrine propounded by Professor Akinwande Bolaji Akinyemi. And perhaps most interestingly, foreign policy under PBAT appears to be one major area of achievement with the diplomacy of 4-Ds as an instrument of attaining strategic autonomy, as well as evolving a foreign policy grand strategy. Will there not be an end to this foreign policy strategy? Any foreign policy agenda that undermines the quest for strategic autonomy is selfdestruction. Military bases in Nigeria should never be contemplated. Government should make a public statement on its stand to prevent unnecessary speculations.
this regard, how do we interpret non-alignment if Nigeria under PBAT is to play host to Franco-American military bases? Has the Cold War that informed the adoption of the non-alignment principle been finally thrown into the dustbin of history? True enough, the general belief is that the post-Cold War era began as from the end of 1989. But is there no fresh Cold War not in the making as of today? Are people not speculating on the making of a multipolar world?
Secondly, it was also because of the need for non-alignment that Nigeria formulated exceptions to the principle of non-intervention as provided under Article 2(7) of the United Nations Charter. Nigeria, through External Affairs Minister, Dr Jaja Wachukwu, made it clear that the brutal killing of President Sylvanus Olympio in 1963 could not and should not be taken as an affair falling within the domestic jurisdiction of any country. Reports had it that the foreign mercenaries that invaded Togo and killed the Togolese leader had the support of France.
It is useful to note that the bilateral ties between Nigeria and France were not good since Nigeria declared French Ambassador, Raymond Offroy, persona non grata on January 5, 1961 following disagreement over French atomic bomb tests in the Reggane area of the Sahara desert. France was not happy with this development and therefore similarly hurt Nigeria’s application to become an Associate Member State of the European Economic Community by refusing to sign the agreement that would have enabled in 1966 Nigeria’s associate membership of the EEC in Lagos.
More importantly, Nigeria also said apartheid and racial segregation could not fall under the non-intervention rule of the United Nations Charter. The global community agreed with Nigeria meaning that Nigeria at the time of independence was a leader with very clear foreign policy direction. Nigeria cared much less about the attitudinal disposition of France even during the civil war of national unity when France adopted the policy of dichotomy between political differences and economic interests. After the war, General Gowon announced the policy of ‘No Victor and No Vanquished.’ This encouraged France to propose assistance to Nigeria but Nigeria politely rejected the offer of assistance. PBAT has many lessons to learn from the foregoing cases.
Thirdly, when President Olusegun Obasanjo tried to sign a Military Cooperation Agreement between Nigeria and the United States, the senior military stakeholders were not carried along. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Victor Malu, who was appointed by General Obasanjo, in spite of the fact that Lt.-General Malu had not only convicted General Dipo Diya in a military tribunal for a phantom involvement in a coup d’état against General Sani Abacha, and had also sentenced General Obasanjo to jail, was against the military cooperation agreement. In fact, Vice Admiral Ibrahim Ogohi, the then Chief of Defence Staff, made it clear to the Americans that what Nigeria needed was logistic support and not training. Consequently, the agreement with the United States was thrown into désuétude. Lt.-General Victor Malu was eventually fired. The point remains the hostility to foreign military presence in Nigeria. It is against this background that the certainties of self-destruction should be explicated in the event PBAT accepts the relocation of Franco-American military bases to Nigeria.
Certainties of Self-Destruction
The most critical characteristic of Franco-Nigerian relations is mutual suspicion which has not been reconcilable and which arises from their policy attitudes. We have argued several times in the past that the popular saying that there are no permanent friends or enemies but permanent interests cannot be applicable to the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and France. This is because France never wanted and still does not want Nigeria to be capable enough to influence Francophone West Africa, especially Nigeria’s immediate neighbours, against French interests in Africa. This is because France has various development agreements with Francophone Africa and the agreements confer privileges, rights, immunities in different sectors of national development on France. In the same vein, Nigeria does not want France to use the same Francophone countries to the detriment of her regional integration efforts. Consequently, every politico-economic effort taken by France is always closely monitored. If it is rightly argued that only interests can be permanent and the permanent interest of both France and Nigeria is to ensure that one is not taken by surprise, it is the permanency of an interest that also defines the permanency of an enemy or a friend. In other words, there can be permanent friends and enemies. It is useful to recall that Professors Rafiu Ayo Akindele and Bola A. Akinterinwa have differentiated between Nigeria’s contiguous neighbours and France as Nigeria’s neighbour by geo-political propinquity in the sense of shared values in global politics.
In the event of relocation of the French military base in Nigeria, will there be an end to the mutual suspicion? Will the mutual suspicion be aggravated? Will the relocation be helpful to the promotion of better entente with Niger Republic? How will Nigeria be perceived by the Francophone countries which are resisting neo-colonialism? Where will the principle of non-alignment be placed in Nigeria’s foreign policy calculations? Can Nigeria afford the luxury of joining France to undermine the interests of Francophone Africa? Any attempt to accommodate any foreign military base in Nigeria cannot but amount to self-suicide.
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Tinubu
IN THE ARENA
Consecration of Judicial Misconducts by NJC
The recent sanctions imposed on three judges by the National Judicial Council for breaching judicial procedures are too lenient to deter compromised judges who contribute to the rot in the judiciary, Davidson Iriekpen writes
As part of its move to curtail judicial misconduct, the National Judicial Council (NJC) recently slammed a one-year suspension without pay on three serving judicial officers, including a Justice of the Court of Appeal, for various acts of judicial misconduct. The disciplinary actions were among several key resolutions reached at the council’s 108th meeting under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
The council found Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division, guilty of abuse of office as a judge of the Federal High Court, Uyo Judicial Division.
“Justice Jane E. Inyang was found to have abused his office by issuing inappropriate ex parte orders for the sale of Udeme Esset’s petrol station and other businesses at the interlocutory stage of the case.
“The act of judicial misconduct occurred while His Lordship presided over Suit No. FHC/UY/ CS/46/2023, at the Federal High Court, Uyo Judicial Division, before her elevation to Court of Appeal,” the statement read.
Similarly, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, was also suspended for one year without pay. In addition, he was placed on the council’s watch list and barred from elevation for five years.
“The complaints against Hon. Justice Ekwo arose from Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/184/2021, wherein His Lordship delivered a ruling in a pending application without hearing the parties. His Lordship ignored an application to set aside the proceedings of the court conducted in the absence of the parties. Subsequently, His Lordship proceeded to deliver a ruling dismissing the charge against the defendants. Consequently, His Lordship was found to have violated Rules 3.1 and 3.3 of the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the council explained.
This is not the first time Justice Ekwo would be sanctioned. In 2023, he was found culpable of abusing his discretionary power by wrongly granting an ex-parte order in a case marked FHC/ ABJ/C/626/2023, filed by Juliet Gbaka and two others against Seplat Energy Plc and 12 others.
Before then, he was in the eyes of the public for granting frivolous orders and delivering contro-
she come back?” an analyst queried.
“Allowing a judge to return to the Bench after suspension is like asking a police or military officer convicted for official misconduct to resume duties after serving his jail term,” the analyst added.
Outside of the country, Nigeria has become a laughing stock due to judgments and orders emanating from the courts.
Many have described the judiciary as one of the biggest threats to the survival of Nigeria’s democracy and reiterated the urgent need for its revitalisation since other institutions depend on it for the country to thrive.
In 2022, a retiring justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Ejembi Eko, accused the council of applying double standards in the discipline of erring judicial officers. He said while some judges found culpable of misconduct were barred from getting promotions, others that committed similar breaches, had their promotion stalled for some years.
Since Nigeria enthroned democracy in 1999, judges are increasingly being derided because justice is given to the highest bidder.
versial and incongruous judgments, one of which was the sack of then Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, from office for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) without any legal backing.
Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Zamfara Division, was also suspended for one year without pay and placed on a three-year watch list. He was found guilty of granting orders restraining security agencies from carrying out their statutory duties in Suit No. FHC/GS/ CS/30/2021 between the Zamfara State Government vs EFCC, and overruling the Supreme Court. In addition to suspending him without pay for one year, the NJC also barred him from elevation for three years.
NJC also issued a letter of caution to Justice A. O. Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, over a petition filed in Suit No. FHC/CS/2021 between Chief Adesanya Musediku and the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2.
Other disciplinary matters included the empanelling of nine committees to investigate 27 judicial officers over various allegations.
Ordinarily, Rule 3.1 of the Judicial Code of Con-
duct requires judges to be “true and faithful to the Constitution and the law and (to) uphold the course of justice….”
The 1999 Constitution also guarantees fair hearing in judicial and legal proceedings as a fundamental right. Accordingly, Rule 3.3 of the Judicial Code of Conduct requires all judges to ensure that they afford to all parties in proceedings before them a “full right to be heard according to law.”
Unfortunately, many judges in the country do not comply with the dictates of the laws, due to pressure on them and corruption. Also, their actions show that they do not care or learn from the mistakes of other judges.
This is why many have argued that NJC’s sanctions are not severe enough to deter judges from committing acts of misconduct.
Ordinarily, a judge who deliberately violates the tenets of fairness and impartiality with impunity should have no place on the Bench.
Many judicial analysts have urged the council to revisit the matter and consider permanent removal of the judges from office so that the judiciary won’t become a sanctuary for impunity.
“If a judge could be suspended from office for one year without pay, why on earth should he or
POLITICAL NOTES
Hardly are judgments or orders in sensitive business and political cases delivered without insinuations and allegations of influence or bribery.
Some Nigerians are disappointed that corruption has tainted the judiciary. What they have seen over the years is that instead of the third arm of government to use its judgments and orders to straighten the path of progress for the country, some unscrupulous judicial officers themselves want to dip their hands into the cookie jar.
In August, when the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) issued a joint report naming the Nigerian judiciary as “the second highest receiver of bribes in the country” after the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the NJC faulted the report, dismissing it as “not only subjective but speculative.”
Justice administration is a very serious business, and the judiciary as an institution derives legitimacy from the implicit confidence reposed in it by the masses over whom it sits in judgment. When the impression, real or perceived, is created that high net-worth individuals can approach the courts to procure judgments and orders at the expense of less-privileged members of the public, then the foundations of the justice system would have been eviscerated.
Is Abure Wallowing in a Dream Land?
In what could be described as a joke taken too far, the faction of the Labour Party (LP) led by Julius Abure last week suspended Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, and senator representing the Federal CapitalTerritory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, from the party indefinitely.
ThefactionalNationalSecretary,UmarFaroukIbrahim, who made the announcement, listed other suspended members to include: Darlington Nwokocha,Victor Afam Ogene, Amobi Ogah, and Seyi Sowunmi.
On May 2, the faction inaugurated a five-member disciplinary committee headed by the party’s deputy national chairman, Ayo Olorunfemi, to investigate some members over alleged anti-party activities.
Announcing the report of the disciplinary committee, Farouk said the national executive “ratified the recommendations of the panel”.
Farouk said the Chair of the LP Caretaker Committee,
Nenadi Usman, was omitted from the list because she is not a registered member of the party.
Thelogicalquestionsmanyanalystshaveaskedare:How can a man sacked from office by the highest court in the country,theSupremeCourt,besuspendingotherleadersof theparty?Fromwheredidhederivesuchauthorityfrom?
Recently, the Supreme Court sacked Abure and his National Working Committee (NWC) when it set aside earlierdecisionsoftheFederalHighCourtandtheCourtof AppealthatrecognisedhimastheLPNationalChairman.
The court held that both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to pronounce AbureasLPnationalchairman,havingearlierfoundthatthe substantiveissuebeforethecourtwaspartyleadership—a matter deemed an internal affair of the party.
It noted that since the case filed at the Federal High Court centred on LP’s leadership, it was not justiciable,
and set aside both the trial and appellate court decisions recognisingAbureaschairmanandstruckouttheLP’ssuit for lack of jurisdiction.
The court alluded that the tenure of Abure as national chairman of the party had expired.
Surprisingly,sinceafterthejudgment,Abureheldonto his position, claiming the court did sack him.
ManybelievethatifNigeriaweretobeacountrywhere theruleprevails,Aburewouldhavesincebeentoldinclear terms by security agencies to stop parading himself as the national chairman of LP.
WhereistheIndependentNationalElectoralCommission (INEC) in all of this, if one may ask? Is it not aware of the embarrassment Abure and group are causing the polity? Was a copy of the judgment not given to them in the full glare of Nigerians for it to make a pronouncement on the controversy?
Justice Kekere-Ekun
JusticeKekere Ekun
BRIEFING NOTES
Can House Summon Benue, Zamfara Govs?
The invitation of Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State; his counterpart in Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, and the leaderships of the two state houses of assembly by the House of Representatives is considered by many as being against the spirit of Nigeria’s federal system of government, Ejiofor Alike writes
Many analysts believe that the House of Representatives recently overreached itself when it summoned Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State; his counterpart in Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, and the leaderships of the two state houses of assembly to appear before it on Thursday, May 8.
The curious summon was said to have been prompted by a petition brought before the House on March 27, 2025, by the legal representative of the civil society group, Guardians of Rule of Law and Democracy, Mr Ihensekhien Samuel, alleging illegal suspension of lawmakers in both states.
Zamfara and Benue states have become epicentres of persistent insecurity, in recent years due to unrelenting attacks by bandits and violent herdsmen.
The two state houses of assemblies have also been embroiled in protracted crises.
Crisis had hit the 32-member Benue State House of Assembly over the controversial suspension of 13 lawmakers for three months for allegedly opposing the removal of the state Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, by the governor.
In Zamfara State, the crisis in the 24-member state House of Assembly led to the emergence of a parallel nine-member minority faction, led by Hon. Bashar Aliyu Gummi, whose members were suspended by the Hon. Bilyaminu Moriki-led majority faction.
Though the majority factions in the two assemblies are duly constituted to carry out their legislative functions, there were what seemed like politically-motivated calls for the National Assembly to take over the two assemblies.
The House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Petitions summoned the executive and legislative arms of the two states to appear before it to explain why their constitutional functions should not be taken over.
According to a statement issued by the Head of Media, House Committee on Public Petitions, Chooks Oko, the summon, personally signed by the Committee Chairman, Mike Etaba, “is sequel to a petition written by a civil rights organisation, Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law urging the House to take over the functions of the two Houses of Assembly.”
Following the failure of the two governors to appear before the House Committee last Thursday, the committee rescheduled its meeting to May 14.
But analysts who are opposed to the summon insisted that under the country’s federal structure, the National Assembly can only summon the President and Commander-in-Chief of the
Armed Forces and the heads of the various security agencies to discuss issues concerning insecurity.
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, through its chairman, Adebo Ogundoyin, described the summon as an “overreach of constitutional powers” and a “direct challenge” to Nigeria’s federal structure and the autonomy of state legislatures.
According to him, the investigative and oversight powers of the National Assembly under sections 88 and 89 of the constitution are “limited to federal matters”.
Speaking on the issue, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Garki Branch, Abuja, Obioma Ezenwobodo, stated that the federal lawmakers have no legal authority to summon the governors, insisting that the actions of the governors can only be reviewed or supervised by their state Houses of Assembly.
“As a matter of fact, by virtue of Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) the National Assembly’s power
to make laws for a state is envisaged when the State House of Assembly cannot perform its functions by reason of the situation prevailing in that state.
“By Section 11(5), it was made clear that a State House of Assembly shall not be deemed to be unable to perform its functions so long as it can hold a meeting and transact businesses “Deducting from this provision and marrying it with Section 96 that provides for a quorum of one-third majority for a State House of Assembly to transact business, would it be safe to conclude that the Houses of Assembly in both Benue and Zamfara states cannot muster one-third majority to transact the businesses of the houses?” he queried.
Similarly, a former governorship candidate in Zamfara State, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, also told members of the House of Representatives that they lack the constitutional authority to summon a democratically elected governor of a state.
Writing on behalf of the Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPSD), the former National Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), stated that Nigeria is a federation with the
duties, functions and responsibilities of the three tiers of government clearly spelt out in the constitution.
Shinkafi argued that the National Assembly’s power to summon citizens under its investigative authority in Sections 88 and 89, is limited to matters concerning federal laws, appropriations, and oversight of federal agencies.
According to him, the power of the National Assembly is not unlimited power to summon everyone, adding that summoning a governor for clearly state matters exceeds the National Assembly’s authority as Nigeria is a federation, where states have autonomy under Section 4(6) and (7).
He said nothing in Section 11(4) “shall be construed as conferring on the National Assembly power to remove the Governor or the Deputy Governor of the State from office.”
However, the opposition PDP, through the Benue State Publicity Secretary, Tim Nyior, welcomed the summons, describing the suspension of the 13 state lawmakers as “legislative rascality” that had deprived nearly two million people in Benue State of their legitimate representation.
Also, the Austin Agada-led State Working Committee (SWC) of the APC loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, welcomed the summons.
While welcoming the summons, the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Daniel Ihomun, said the suspension of the 13 lawmakers had driven the state gradually to anarchy.
But the governor’s APC faction, through the state Publicity Secretary of the APC caretaker committee, James Orgunga, said the situation in the state did not warrant the National Assembly to take over the state assembly.
In Zamfara, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Lawal on Media and Communications, Mustafa Kaura, said the National Assembly lacks the constitutional right to invite a serving governor to appear before it.
Also, the state PDP spokesperson, Halliru Andi, stated that the invitation seemed to be politically motivated rather than a legitimate constitutional step.
He argued that all the blame directed at Governor Lawal on the issue of insecurity in the state was politically motivated and sponsored by members of the immediate-past administration.
“How does one expect the PDP government in the state to end banditry within two yearssomething that APC governments at the state and federal levels couldn’t end in 12 years?”
Andi queried.
Indeed, the summon of Governors Lawal and Alia is considered by many as being politicallymotivated.
Uzodimma Eats the Humble Pie
Finally, the Imo State Government last week agreed to reverse the appointment of Justice Theophilus Nzeukwu as the acting Chief Judge of the state, as directed by the directive of the National Judicial Council (NJC).
The NJC had penultimate week voided Nzeukwu’s appointment for being in violation of the Nigerian Constitution. It further directed the governor to appoint the most senior judicial officer in the State High Court’s hierarchy as the acting Chief Judge of the state in conformity with Section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The council also asked Nzeukwu to show cause within seven days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for presenting himself to be sworn in as
the acting chief judge.
The Commissioner for Information in Imo State, Declan Emelumba, had attempted to hoodwink the public when he claimed that Governor Hope Uzodimma initially appointed Justice Nzeukwu as acting chief judge based on credible reports available to him, which had indicated that the judge was the “most senior judicial officer not encumbered by unresolved issues.”
He, however, said the state government later reviewed the NJC’s directive on the appointment of the acting Chief Judge and saw that it made a mistake.
It was good that the state government rescinded its earlier decision to force Justice Nzeukwu, the fourth on the hierarchy of the state’s High Court judges, on the state.
The governor and his attorney general
cannot say that they were not aware of the constitutional provision and the fact that the NJC had been consistent in ensuring that this constitutional provision was not violated.
The framers of the constitution knew that if the governors were allowed the opportunity to appoint and remove the state chief judges, they would politicise and bastardise state judiciaries. Even the Supreme Court had in several judgments, affirmed this important constitutional provision to keep the governors in serious check.
NJC should continue to stand firm and resist this impunity by governors as it has been doing.
In any future case, the NJC should sanction, not only the unqualified judge who presents himself for swearing in as acting chief judge, but also refer the state attorney general to the appropriate lawyers’ disciplinary committee for not advising the state governor appropriately.
Uzodimma
Need to Sanitise Nigeria’s Electoral Process
The conviction of two professors who served as the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Returning Officers during the 2019 elections by the courts should encourage the commission and security agencies to prosecute more academics and others involved in electoral malfeasance so as to sanitise Nigeria’s electoral process, Wale Igbintade writes
The Court of Appeal in Calabar, Cross River State recently upheld the three-year prison sentence slammed on Professor Peter Ogban, who was found guilty in 2021 of manipulating senatorial election results in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019
Ogban’s conduct was strongly condemned by the court, which described it as a betrayal of other academics and civic duty. It expressed disappointment that a university professor would be involved in the fraudulent manipulation of election results.
A Professor of Soil Science and lecturer at the University of Calabar, Ogban served as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer during the 2019 elections in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District. He was arraigned before Justice Augustine Odokwo of the Akwa Ibom State High Court on a two-count charge of fraudulently tampering with the election results in favour of the APC in the senatorial district.
According to court records, about 5,000 fraudulent votes were added to the APC tally to boost Senator Godswill Akpabio’s chances against the PDP candidate, Chris Ekpenyong.
Despite the manipulation, Ekpenyong, a former deputy governor, eventually won the seat.
After listening to the arguments by counsel, Justice Odokwo said the prosecution was able to prove its case against Ogban beyond any reasonable doubt. He found the professor guilty of manipulating and falsifying the scores of election results in Oruk Anam and Etim Ekpo Local Government Areas (LGAs) in favour of the APC. The judge consequently sentenced him to a 36-month jail term and a fine of N100,000. When the judgment was delivered, not only was it hailed across the country, but it was also described as a landmark decision in the nation’s jurisprudence.
The reason for this is not far-fetched. For so long, election riggers were scarcely brought to book, and this development became an incentive for unscrupulous politicians and their cohorts in INEC to manipulate results of elections.
But no sooner had the professor been sent to prison than the case turned into a mockery of justice when another judge, Justice Pius Idiong, granted him a controversial N10 million bail, pending appeal.
As the conviction was hanging on his neck, his lawyers swung into action swiftly with an appeal at the Court of Appeal, which penultimate week, upheld the judgment of the lower court.
Also, last February, another Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo sentenced another academic, Professor Ignatius Uduk of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), to three years in prison for a similar offence committed during the 2019 general election.
Uduk, a Professor of Human Kinetics, served as Collation/Returning Officer for Essien Udim State Constituency in the March 2019 elections. He stood trial on a three-count charge filed against him by INEC for announcing and publishing false results and perjury.
After suffering a series of delays and adjournments since the case was filed in December 2020, Justice Bassey Nkanang held that the prosecution counsel, Clement Onwuewunor, discharged the burden of proof that the defendant published false election results.
While the judge discharged and acquitted the defendant on count one, he found him guilty on counts two and three, and consequently, sentenced the professor to three years on each of the two counts.
The subsequent conviction of Uduk was an impressive icing on the cake. So is the decision of the Court of Appeal upholding the conviction of Ogban.
Many believe that if INEC were to summon the courage to prosecute many academics accused of electoral malfeasance, the way it did in the case of the two professors for their ignoble roles in the 2019 elections, it would help a great deal to sanitise Nigeria’s electoral process.
The then Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr. Mike Igini, should be commended for ensuring that the scholars were prosecuted for their despicable conduct.
While it’s proper to also commend the courts for convicting the professors, it is important to note that many RECs also abused their positions without any consequences.
Till date, nobody knows what INEC has done in the case of the suspended REC in
Adamawa State, Mr. Hudu Yunusa-Ari, who caused a stir when he illegally declared the APC governorship candidate, Aisha Dahiru, popularly known as Binani, the winner of the supplementary polls in the state.
When Yunusa-Ari made the declaration, votes were still being counted, and the PDP candidate and governor of the state, Ahmadu Fintiri, was in a clear lead.
Despite his rush to file a fundamental rights enforcement suit to stop his arrest and prosecution, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed his suit and ordered his arrest and prosecution.
Yunusa-Ari is just one example in a pool of many RECs who are card-carrying members of political parties, which is against the law. These RECs do everything possible to ensure that their parties win while other RECs who are not members of any party, are either pressured or induced financially.
Despite the introduction of technologies like the smart card reader and the permanent voter card, BVAS and IReV, elections in the country are still characterised by malpractices.
After every election, the verdicts from local and international observers are always that the election is characterised by malpractices and substantial non-compliance with guidelines and the law.
Some of the electoral frauds include forgery of permanent voter cards, interference with a ballot box or ballot papers, dereliction of duty by election officials, impersonation, falsification and alteration of results, underage voting, bribery, and electoral violence.
There are cases of vote-buying on Election Day by most of the political parties and their candidates. Political thugs, on many occasions, chase away voters, while security agents have been fingered in mass thumb printing of ballots for their masters. Politicians deploy weapons and thuggery to win at all costs.
Hanging on to technicalities, the courts often close their eyes to all these frauds. The implication is that over time, the electorate has become disillusioned with democracy with voter apathy escalating.
Repeatedly, INEC has reiterated its helplessness to rein in offenders. Under the Electoral Act, it cannot investigate or arrest offenders, but can prosecute.
It is believed that in Nigeria, electoral fraud begins from the party primaries. Although INEC has observer status during this exercise, it has no power to intervene.
Professor Attahiru Jega, in his wisdom, initiated the deployment of university academics as election officials in the 2015 general election.
Ironically, while reacting to the 2019 general election, he had expressed disappointment with university lecturers for “allegedly conniving with politicians to undermine the integrity and outcome of this year’s general elections.”
With the conviction of the two professors and the complaints against many others, it is obvious that not all academics are men of honour and character as Jega had thought.
Many who act as the commission’s returning officers at federal, state and local government levels have connived with politicians and their political parties to alter and write results in their favour. INEC, itself, is not immune from malfeasance and manipulations, as it has been facing criticism for toeing this path of malpractice. It became worse after the last general election, particularly over the failure of the IReV platform.
The commission, which has been jubilating over the convictions of Professors Uduk and Ogban, knows very well that there are other academics accused of infractions during the 2019 and 2023 elections but refused to charge them to court.
For there to be integrity in elections in Nigeria, there must be consequences for bad behaviour, adding that the moment electoral officers know that assisting politicians to rig elections can land them in jail, they will think twice.
As the commission prepares for the next general election in 2027, it behoves it to insist on character and integrity in the appointment of election officials instead of appointing questionable and compromised characters recommended to it by politicians.
The time to start headhunting credible individuals to conduct the elections as officials is now. It should cast its net wide to include other professionals in its search for honourable officials.
In addition, President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the National Assembly should do everything possible to provide a legal framework for the implementation of a wide range of reforms for the electoral body.
Yakubu
Egbetokun
Akpabio Ykb
ENGAGEMENTS
2027: Rehearsing an Unlikely Coronation
The Tinubu presidency has shown utter disrespect for Nigerians. It is above all insensitivetothesufferingandhardship ofmostNigerians.Insteadofrenderinga sensiblemidtermaccountofitsmandate, theadministrationiscelebratingtheonset of the 2027 presidential election race. A clear two years to the end of its tenure, major political voices in the ruling party are already predicting a sweepingTinubure-electionvictoryandhiscoronation as the king hereafter.
The administration has cornered public opinion and its vulnerable opponents into a mindset that the most urgent national challenge of the moment is the 2027 election. The central question of the polity is being recast as: who succeeds Tinubu? Of course, there is a truism that groundless optimism is the most common disease of political animals. Show me a politicians that is not optimistic of victory at the next election and I will point at a platoon of wise fools!
We are at the mid term of a tenure that promised Nigerians nearly every opposite of the Buhari interregnum. Mr. Buhari, easily the most disastrous leader of modern Nigeria before theTinubu catastrophe, had runthenationliterallyagroundbeforetenureexpiration saved him from himself and rescued the nation from what was clearly the world’s most tragic instance of bad governance. Mounting debts, incoherent policies, perennial absenteeism of the leader, disastrous elocution,embarrassingaloofnessandindustrialscale corruption were the hallmarks of the Buhari era. In the history of Nigeria, never had a Central Bank Governor been charged with the magnitude of treasury looting as Buhari’s Godwin Emefiele.
Then cameTinubu on the wagon of one of the most disgraceful elections in national history. A mandate secured on a razor thin majority of less than 30% of registered voters ushered in what has so far turned outtobeNigeria’smostcluelessdispensations.Tinubu promised nothing. He said little that any one found coherent. No one recalls making sense of his campaign gibberish, They said he promised to right the wrongs of the Buhari era even though he was running on the same party ticket as his Daura friend. In all fairness, no one remembers what exactly Tinubu said he was going to do with power. His only mission was to pack into a rent free Aso Villa. But two years after, here we are with a presidency that has turned our lives into two years in purgatory.The only Nigerians who now harbor any hope of a reprieve from hell are the few partakers in the feast of pork and patronage in Abuja. Nearlyeveryindicatorofhardshipisondigitaldisplay in today’s Nigeria. The majority can ill afford the next meal. Hunger has emerged as a national epidemic for thefirsttimeinourhistory.Accesstoelectric powerhas shrunk to the extent that even the Presidential Lodge inAbujacanhardlyaffordtopayitspowerbillsandnow has to install a solar panel to save costs.
Insecurity has enveloped the entire national space, compellinginformedpeopletosuggestthattheMinistry of Defense should be scrapped and replaced with an omnibus Ministry of Internal Security as all available securityinfrastructureandpersonnelalloverthecountry havebeendeployedtojointinternalsecurityoperations with hardly any tangible results. Bandits,kidnappers,serialabductorsandsundrygun men and women rule the highways and streets while official security personnel have since been outgunned bynon-stateagentsandvigilantesofunknownnomenclature. A supposedly modern Nigerian state with well fundedarmedforcesandoverdecoratedofficersisnow shamelessly enlisting the services of native hunters, medicine men and charmers to stave off the forces of insecurity across the land.
Itisthismyriadofafflictionsandfailuresthatthreaten the existence of the Nigerian state. It is these threats to national existence and the integrity of the Nigerian state that those who voted in 2023 are demanding that Tinubu and his gang should account for. At this mid term hour, Nigerians are asking for affordable food, essential drugs, affordable building materials, accesstoaffordableeducationinschoolswithoutleaky roofs and guarantee of basic safety in their daily lives. It is accountability for these pressing basic needs and problems that demand urgent attention as theTinubu governmentmarkstwoyearsinoffice.Nationalpolitical offices that were meant to go round and give us all a sense of belonging to one nation have been cornered into one corner of our commonwealth.
To ignore these basic needs of the people and shunt publicattentiontothe2027successionpoliticalbattle is the height of insincerity and political deceit.To jump fromthatfraudtospeculationastowhyTinubudeserves asecondterminofficeisworsethanmassdeceit.Itcan onlybethattheadministrationisinvestingmoreenergy
in mass deceit and amnesia than the real grind of governance.Theeffortsofthegovernment seem to be geared more towards succession politics than real time governance on a daily basis.
Theobstacletothisdeceptivepoliticsisperhaps the possibility of an opposition coalition to challenge the APC in 2027. To counter this obstacle, whatever fickle opposition there is in the political space is being squeezed into a survival mode.The PeoplesDemocraticPartyanditsmascot,Mr.Atiku Abubakar,havebeenreducedtoanunsettledchaotic herd. No one knows which executive now runs the party as conflicting factions engage each other in either fisticuffs or silly litigations in various courts across the land. Corrupt judges that have to adjudicate in these cases are having a ball with theirbankers.Thespecialsquadofdestabilisersled bytheubiquitousFCTMinister,Mr.NyesomWike, arehavingabusytimedisorganisingthePDPallover the country. If indeed the PDP survives between now and the eve of 2027, it will be a ghost of its former robust self.
TheTinubutaskforceonpolitical‘realignment’is leavingnothingtochance.Itrecognisesthepotential danger posed by the Peter Obi–led Labour Party. An increasingly popular political movement led by a charismatic political ‘good man’ cannot be ignored.Obi’sLabourPartyanditsback-upObidient MovementpresentedaveritablethreattoTinubu’s ascendancyin2023.Therefore,twoactivefactions of demolishers are at work on the Labour Party.
One faction of thugs led by one Lamidi Apapa has been busy challenging both the legitimacy and very existence of the party in court. A slightly more targeted attack is being led from within by Mr. Abure who ordinarily would be the Chairman of the party. In a recent move, Mr. Abure and his fellow travellers have suspended a slew of high level party members including a senator and the only state governor on the ticket of the party, Mr. Alex Otti of Abia state.
Beyond these party based destabilization antics, the incumbent government and ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has unleashed squads of recruiters all over the country who are busyattractingdefectorsandconvertsfromother partiesintotherulingparty.Sofar,theresultshave beenimpressive.Themostspectacularoutcomehas beenrecordedinDeltaStatewheretheincumbent governor and his immediate predecessor have defected to the APC. In addition, these political leadersdecampedfromthePDPwithalltheirlocal governmentleaders.ItissignificantthatDr.Okowa, theimmediatepastgovernorofthestatewasalso the vice presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 election. The Delta defection is therefore an arrow in the heart of the PDP in the strategic Niger Delta region.
There have been numerous other defections
into the APC from other parties and political formations across the country.There is now a palpable fear in the political space that if the rate continues, the vast majority of politicians in the country would by the eve of the 2027 election be in the APC.
Fears have been expressed about the possibility of Nigeriaendingupasaone-partydemocracywithother parties ending up as fringe minority parties. Former president Goodluck Jonathan has added his voice to those of opposition politicians like Atiku Abubakar in this regard. But some key opposition politicians have waved this possibility off, insisting that what is going on is the result of a political herd mentality.
Politiciansaretroopingtotherulingpartywherethey thinkthebulkofpatronageisflowing.Nigerianpolitics is principally about instant pork and patronage. Very few Nigerian politicians want to be left out in the cold ofpoliticalwilderness. TheAPChasdeployedpoverty to attract membership.
Thereishoweveranoverridingpoliticalcuriosityand worryaboutthegaleofdefectionsandmassmigration into the APC in particular. At a time of grave national disquietaboutworseningsocialandeconomicconditions throughout the country, it is curious that the mass of political followers should be tempted to join the very political party whose leadership has literally run the countryaground.Clearly,theremustbeforcesbeyond nakedpoliticalsentimentsdrivingtheentiremovement.
The consequences are many and could be dire. An earlystartofcampaignsforelectionsthataretwoyears away could lead to a vast dissipation of resources and political energy that would in fact make the fledgling opposition forces more attractive. The gathering of divergent political interests and tendencies in one inchoate ruling party could inject disequilibrium into the mechanism of the ruling party and lead to a preelection implosion. A very large political party could prove difficult to manage and therefore come apart on its own weight.
This is not to under estimate the optimistic projections of Mr. Tinubu’s strategists and planners. On the moreoptimisticside,itisquitepossiblethatwhatAPC strategistsareplanningisfora2027racewithlittleor nosignificantinternalorexternaloppositionmovement. If most political voices were to be drowned inside one party,thechoiceofcandidates,especiallythepresidential candidate,wouldbeaserialritualendorsement.Inamore orlessonepartyconfiguration,Mr.Tinubuwouldliterally bereturnedunopposedashisparty’scandidateatevery partyprimaryconventionandbeelectedwithminimal opposition. In line with that simplistic line of thought, Mr. Tinubu could head effortlessly to a coronation at Eagle Square.
There is a lazy trait in this line of thinking that conformstoMr.Tinubu’sauthoritarianmodeofpoliticsand leadership. He has railroaded the National Assembly into becoming a glorified rubber stamp conclave with literallynooppositiononvitallegislationslikethereversion to the old National Anthem, tax bills, successive
national budgets etc.
Moreworrisomely,Mr.Tinubuhascarriedonmorelike an emperor than a democratically elected president. He identifies his interests in the system. He then gets people to convert these interests into legislative bills orprojects.HethenproceedstoprocureaNationalAssembly rubber stamp or Executive Council approval. It is popularly speculated that each approval sought by thepresidenthasapricetagandoncethetransactional details are fine tuned, the road is clear either to railroad an unpopular legislation or the award of yet another Lagos to Calabar Alaskan highway contract.
The road to a second term coronation for theTinubu presidency is however strewn with booby traps and political land mines.The assumption that all politically minded Nigerians will end up in the APC by the eve of 2027 is naïve and even a bit foolish. The vast majority of voting Nigerians will hardly become card carrying members of any party.
Irrespective of who is in the parties, the solid majority of ordinary Nigerians remain the victims of the incompetence of this government.They are not about to join any parties and do not need to do so to reject an unpopulargovernmentatthepolls.Thegreaterthelevel of incompetence of the government, the higher their demand for voters cards and the greater their hunger to vote out the fraudulent bunch. We had a foretaste of this in 2023.The combined population of voters for both the Labour Party and the PDP overwhelmed the minority that voted for the APC.
It was the instrumentality of INEC’s dubious complicity and the division in the votes of the PDP and Labour Party that saved the APC thinly from deserved humiliation.
What is likely to abort the infantile projection of a Tinubu coronation in 2027 is therefore the continued rejection of the APC by the majority of the poor, deprived and angry Nigerians who do not care about formal party membership.The challenge of the next election is for INEC to expand its voter portal to accommodate all those who want to vote in 2027. And for the majority of Nigerians, the challenge of 2027 is not the mass migration of members into the APC. Party members are always a negligible variable in voter turnout. It is the mass of non- partisan voters that troop out to make their voice heard that matter most. They will decide who succeeds Tinubu, not the unthinking herd of “follow follow” party migrants. Ultimately, then, the political destiny of the country still rests with the calibre of opposition coalition that the incompetence of the APC forces into existence. That opposition coalition must be everything that the APC has failed to be. We desire and deserve a credible, competent and coherent opposition with a clear national outlook. It must consist of personsof characterwithprovenrecords.Aboveallelse,weneeda socialdemocraticcoalitionthatcancarrythemajorityof Nigeriansalongapopulistpathtocreateanddistribute Nigeria’s wealth for the good of all.
MEETING ON HOW TO TACKLE INSECURITY IN THE NORTH…
SIMON KOLAWOLE
Between Marketing and Demarketing Nigeria
There was an outbreak of controversy recently over statements made by Mr Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, about Nigeria at an international forum. Speaking at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, the US, Obi compared poverty statistics in Nigeria to those of Vietnam and China. He said more people were getting poorer in Nigeria whereas the other countries had pulled millions of their citizens out of poverty. Obi said: “The question then is, what exactly did these countries do to be able to achieve the desired growth and development? That is where political leadership comes in. These nations, unlike Nigeria, have competent leadership.”
Many Nigerians kicked, pointing out that his statements at foreign events often paint the country in bad light. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state angrily accused Obi of having a “disturbing pattern of behaviour” which “de-markets Nigeria” abroad. Sanwo-Olu said: “Obi made unflattering remarks not just about the incumbent Nigerian government, but also about Nigeria. I also find Mr. Obi’s pattern of behaviour disturbing. When prominent Nigerians go overseas, they ought to project Nigeria positively. They do not have to do that for the government. But we all owe a duty to market Nigeria on the global stage rather than de-market her. That is what true patriotism is about.”
Sanwo-Olu accused Obi of contributing to the poverty problem, adding: “I find it somewhat ironic that a man like Mr. Obi, who did not build a single school or a stand-alone hospital throughout his eight-year tenure as governor of Anambra, or sustainably provide credit facilities, would criticise the government of Nigeria which is actively doing that.” Obi has defended himself, maintaining that he was only telling the hard truth about Nigeria. “World Bank has just shown that 75% of Nigerians in rural areas are poor. Is World Bank demarketing Nigeria?” he fired back. Obi also pointed to UNICEF’s statistics which say Nigeria has the second-highest number of malnourished children in the world.
Interestingly, I very much understand Obi’s position as well as Sanwo-Olu’s reaction. I have a story to tell. While I was studying for a master’s degree at the University of Sussex in the UK in 2005, I had experiences that challenged my takes on Nigeria. My classmates were from all over the world - Ghana, Kenya, Mexico, Argentina, Italy, India, Estonia, the US, Japan and Azerbaijan. Holding seminars with students and teachers who had different worldviews and reading assorted academic essays by authors who had conflicting positions broadened my horizon and made me conclude that the world is actually not as simple as black and white. We tend to ignore grey and its many shades.
My first challenge was: how do I present my country to the world truthfully and wisely? Should I deceive myself by lying that everything was going well and we were on the right track? Should I tell the “hard truth” by washing our linen before foreigners, thereby further reinforcing the global cynicism about Nigeria? As time went by, I realised that my classmates, including the ones from other African countries, were discussing issues about their own countries with tact and optimism. They hardly uttered bad words about their countries even when we know they had serious challenges common to developing countries. They discussed their countries frankly but positively. I was amazed.
Until then, I had taken pride in highlighting all the bad things about Nigeria, particularly how corruption was stalling our development - all in an attempt to be “honest”. In fact, when I was about to choose a topic for my dissertation, my suggested topics revolved around corruption in Nigeria, but my supervisor, Professor Mick Moore, nudged me to write on something less sceptical, something that would contribute to the discourse on governance and development
Peter Obi
in my country. I came up with a proposal to do a research on informal sector taxation, with Lagos state as my case study. I got support from the Centre for the Study of the Future State, of which he was the director.
I had had a somewhat embarrassing experience during one of the seminars when I took a course on management of public finance. I was asked to make a presentation on tax reforms in Nigeria. The course conveyor was Charles Harvey, a professor of economics who had worked extensively in Africa. He helped in setting up Botswana’s central bank in 1975 and also lectured at the University of Botswana. He had enormous knowledge about Africa, having also worked in Zambia and Burkina Faso during his 30-year sojourn on the continent. I presented a case study of the reforms at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), then led by Mrs Ifueko Omoigui. I thought I did a decent job.
But after all my sweat, Harvey announced: “Your problem in Nigeria is corruption. You have no reason to be where you are.” Should I say he was lying, especially when I had just received a text message from home informing me of the sharing of N50 million bribes at the National Assembly to get support for President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third term bid? In my weekly column, I myself had often been writing about corruption. I went mute, unable to decide the answer to give Harvey. He went further: “Is it true that your crude oil is stolen every day in connivance with government officials?” Should I say yes? Should I say no? I tried to play safe by saying: “It’s not impossible.”
I went away feeling like a hypocrite. There was nothing Harvey said about Nigeria that was a lie. But having seen how my colleagues were not badmouthing their own countries to prove that they knew how to speak the truth, I was beginning to recoil into my shell and was becoming more circumspect about the things I said about my country before foreigners. I realised along the line that if foreigners want to hear the most negative things about Nigeria, it is Nigerians themselves that will tell them. They don’t need to go asking Ghanaians or Kenyans. On our own, we will download everything, even more than they asked for. Anytime I read Wikileaks on the US cables concerning Nigeria, I cringe.
Our own Eedris AbdulKareem sang “Nigeria jagajaga” to speak “the hard truth” about his country (and I did not
detect any lie in that song). King Yellowman, the legendary Jamaican reggae DJ, sang: “Jamaica nice! Jamaica nice! Jamaica nice!” Bob Marley sang lovingly about Trench Town. Peter Tosh reminisced adoringly about Westmoreland. Till today, Jamaicans sing about their country’s beautiful beaches and lovely islands. As a teenager, I longed to travel to Jamaica and even wanted to live there based on these songs. It was much later I realised Jamaica was also in the grip of poverty, drug abuse, gun violence and political turmoil - some morbidities you find in many developing countries.
While I was still struggling with how to present my country to foreigners during my time at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Sussex, I attended a one-day conference at the Said Business School, University of Oxford, in May 2006. It was put together by Oxford Entrepreneurs. The first session I attended was addressed by Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, then MD of Access Bank Plc. He spoke on the topic: “From Ideas to Profits - An Investors’ Guide to Africa”. He narrated how his team bought the bank and transformed it in just four years. This, he said, was an indication of what the African economy had to offer to those with the ideas and the right attitude.
What I found quite interesting in Aig-Imoukhuede’s presentation was that he took time to highlight Africa’s problems. He did not shy away from facing the truth. He listed the problems associated with the legal system, financial system, economic and social indicators, political stability, infrastructure, human capital and bureaucracy. At a stage, I was like: “Isn’t this guy discouraging investors?” But he was obviously setting the stage for how to transform the problems to prospects and prosperity. These same problems actually offer opportunities for the world to invest. He listed fertile areas for investment as infrastructure, agribusiness, telecoms, tourism, finance and natural resources.
“Africa, with a population of 800 million people, is the second largest continent,” he elucidated. “There is growing demand and limited competition. It is an emerging market, far from mature. Africa is a virgin market. It is untapped. Currently, only about 1% of the private capital in the world is invested in sub-Saharan Africa, yet African markets easily outperformed the world averages last year and over the past three years. Africa currently offers the highest returns on foreign direct investment of any region in the world and African stock markets have soundly outperformed the S&P 500 in last four years. Egypt topped the global table. Ghana’s stock market was the world’s third-best in 2005.”
Aig eventually narrowed down to Nigeria, citing the telecoms sector as a clear evidence of the “hungry” nature of African market. “Nigeria has witnessed tremendous growth in tele-density from about one million GSM subscribers in 2001 to about 22 million by December 2005. MTN is Africa’s (Sub-Sahara) fastest growing telco with nine million subscribers in four years. IBTC Equity Fund is Nigeria’s largest and most successful mutual fund with over 163% returns since 1999. Citibank Nigeria is most profitable Citigroup franchise in Africa. It accounts for 20% of Citigroup’s Africa operation,” he said. He ended his presentation with a battle cry: ignore Africa at your own peril!
As I boarded the train on the three-hour journey from Oxford back to Brighton, I was a happy man. I had finally found a way out of my dilemma. I felt I could now talk about Nigeria without being apologetic or deceptive. I wouldn’t pretend that there are no problems. We have plenty problems. Embarrassing problems. But I would also not be so negative as not to talk about our little progress and the plenty opportunities that abound. Indian, Lebanese and Chinese entrepreneurs are all over Nigeria exploring opportunities and making billions. This same country. Truly, we cannot all see Nigeria the same way. But my conclusion remains that the world is not always either black or white.
And Four Other Things…
FIRST OF ALL
The federal government has, once again, launched the “Nigeria First” initiative, making it compulsory for MDAs to prioritise locally made goods and services in all government procurements. It is only what is not locally produced that can be sourced abroad. If it works, it should improve local capacity, output and job creation. Virtually every administration launches “Nigeria First” in one form or the other and makes good noise about it before it peters out right before our eyes. I don’t want to be negative about this, so I would just advise that, for a start, government officials should start flying Air Peace — instead of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic — to London. Am I communicating? Simple.
RENT POLICE
Kogi state has joined Lagos in the rent control craze. The Kogi house of assembly is working on a bill to establish a rent control board and set up a rent control task force to enforce standard rates and compliance across the state. As I wrote last week, our lawmakers (and policymakers) often define an issue by the “solutions” they already have in their heads. They avoid sequential analysis of a knotty problem and bypass the rigorous thinking needed to solve it. The rent situation in Nigeria today is a result of the housing deficit and the fallen naira which affects landlords and tenants alike. Rent controls will only encourage willing landlords and willing tenants to trade in the dark. Inevitable.
PINCH OF SALT
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, founder of Loveworld Incorporated (you know it as Christ Embassy), is a globally renowned conspiracy theorist, hitting the height five years ago when he linked 5G technology to COVID-19. He has manufactured a new one: that Africans are being asked to avoid salt so that they would buy sodium-infused drugs. He asked his church members to “eat more salt”. In fact, nobody said Africans should not eat salt — the instruction is to eat less. Too much salt has been scientifically proven to be injurious to cardiovascular health and is implicated in high blood pressure, stroke and kidney failure. Fellow Africans, please proceed with sense. God will not shame us. Amen?
NO COMMENT
Mrs Ify Obinabo, the Anambra commissioner for women and social welfare, has raised the alarm over a prolific 18-year-old apprentice who has impregnated 10 girls (women?) in the last five months. He is so deft at this thing that his roll call includes the daughter of his boss. This earned him instant dismissal but did not end his promising career as he returned to his village to continue his mission, impregnating eight more girls in three months. This is no mean feat by global standards. At this rate, he will have fathered 84 more children by the time he’s 25. On a serious note, though, are we sure the young man is not targeting a place in the Guinness World Records? Impreg-a-thon. Hahahaha.
after
at THE Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House in Kaduna… yesterday
