Access, UBA, Ecobank Lead Nigeria's Stock Market Rally in One Week
As domestic stock market extended its positive momentum, closing higher for the seventh consecutive week,
As domestic stock market extended its positive momentum, closing higher for the seventh consecutive week,
Linus Aleke in Abuja
Nigeria has secured convictions for 44 out of 54 individuals, who were recently arraigned in Phase 7 of the Kainji Detention Facility Terrorism Trial, according to the National Counter Terrorism Centre – Office
of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA).
This is just as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has insisted that hunger and poverty were the major drivers of insecurity in Nigeria, stressing that vulnerable populations were more
easily recruited into insurgent groups. He also stated that non-kinetic warfare produces more sustainable outcomes in the fight against insecurity.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, however, disclosed that no fewer
than 5,650 terrorists were killed by the airstrikes of the Air Component of Operations Hadin Kai and Fansan Yamma in the North-east and Northwest operational theatres in two years.
According to a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Head of Strategic Communication, National
Counter Terrorism Centre – Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), Mr. Michael Abu, the Nigerian government has secured convictions for 44 out of 54 individuals recently arraigned in Phase 7 of the Kainji Detention Facility Terrorism Trial.
Abu said the remaining 10 cases were adjourned during proceedings held across four courts, presided over by four Federal High Court justices. He said the country had with the recent 44 convictions, secured a total of
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Shun politically-motivated projects, ex-president tells commission Okonjo-Iweala: Over N7tn
has been sunk
into the NDDC since inception Akpabio blames leadership crises, corruption for historical underperformance
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
President Bola Tinubu has tasked the Samuel Ogbuku-led management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to increase its efforts in developing the region, especially in human capital development.
This is as former President Goodluck Jonathan urged the commission to prioritise people-oriented infrastructure over politically-motivated projects, just as the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, disclosed that over N7 trillion has been sunk in
The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday described the opposition coalition as a healthy development for Nigeria’s democracy, but expressed doubt in its future and effectiveness.
This is just as the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the adopted political party of the opposition coalition, has explained why the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi; and other prominent members of the coalition have yet to resign from their political parties.
Speaking to journalists after casting his ballot in the Lagos State local government elections in Surulere, Gbajabiamila, who said the coalition would prevent Nigeria from becoming a one-party state, doubted if it would go far.
He, however, added that the move could promote broader political engagement across Nigeria’s multiparty system.
“It’s a welcome development with the coalition. It’s not the first time we’re seeing this. It’s a welcome development. In every democracy, we must have
785 cases involving terrorism financing and other terrorism-related offences.
This, according to him, is a reflection of the country’s intensified efforts to combat violent extremism, dismantle funding networks, and strengthen national security through judicial enforcement.
“The verdicts delivered from the trials resulted in prison sentences ranging from 10 to 30 years, all to be served with hard labour, underscoring the severity of the crimes and the Nigerian justice system’s resolve to uphold accountability and deter future transgressions.
“The trials commenced on Wednesday, July 9, with an opening ceremony during which the National Coordinator of NCTC -ONSA, Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, delivered remarks on behalf of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Meanwhile, the CDS, General Musa has insisted that poverty and
action in select small-and mid-cap stocks, as well as particular interest in banking stocks.
The six investigated Tier-1 banks also saw a rally in stock price, leading some to their highest peak since listing on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).
For instance, Zenith Bank reached a 52-week high when its stock closed on July 11, 2025, at N69.7 per share.
The stock price of Zenith Bank gained N12.20 per share from N57.50 per share it opened for trading, adding N501.05 billion in one week to bring its market capitalisation to N2.86 trillion.
UBA’s stock price on NGX closed July 11, 2025, at N43.55 per share to reach its 52-week high on the NGX.
The Pan-African financial institution's stock price increased by
the NDDC since inception and urged the commission to deliver measurable results.
Meanwhile, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has blamed leadership crises and internal corruption for the NDDC’s historical underperformance.
Tinubu made the remark yesterday at the 25th anniversary celebration of the NDDC, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
The president has described the Niger Delta region as "the goose that lays the golden egg", noting that the region is very important to the nation.
some level of opposition; otherwise, we’ll run into a one-party state. But I’m not sure where it would go,” he said.
He emphasised that the strength of any democracy lies in a vibrant and credible opposition that can hold the ruling party accountable.
Gbajabiamila said, “There has to be some level of opposition in a democracy. However, for whatever the coalition is worth, I am not sure where it will go — that is, if it will go anywhere.”
He reiterated that the presence of alternative voices in the political space was important for national progress and political maturity.
Earlier this month, leaders of the coalition convened at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, where they formally adopted the ADC as their platform to challenge the APC in 2027.
Meanwhile, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives cast his vote at Lagos PU 014 on Elizabeth Fowler Memorial High School in the Adeniran Ogunsanya area of Surulere. He arrived at the polling unit, which has a total of 669 registered voters, at exactly 12:28 pm with a retinue of supporters and some government officials, eventually casting his vote at exactly 12:31 pm.
Gbajabiamila described the election
illiteracy were the major drivers of insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking during an operational visit to Adamawa State at the weekend, according to a statement by the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the CDS emphasised the dual approach of the Armed Forces in combating insecurity - kinetic and non-kinetic strategies.
Musa noted that while kinetic and non-kinetic strategies were important, the non-kinetic approach often yielded more sustainable outcomes.
He highlighted the strong link between development and security, stating that when citizens benefitted directly from governance, they would more likely support and protect the system.
In a related development, the CAS, Air Marshal Abubakar, has disclosed that no fewer than 5,650 terrorists were killed by the airstrikes of the Air Component of Operations Hadin Kai
N293.43 billion when its stock price added N7.15 per share to boost its market capitalisation to N1.79 trillion as of July 11, 2025. Other investigated Tier-1 banks’ stocks recorded a significant rally last week over investors' sentiment trading.
For example, GTCO, which listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) last week, saw its stock price at N94.10 per share, adding N10.9 per share from N83.2 per share it opened for trading.
The additional 2.29 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each listed raised GTCO's market value by N397.04 billion in one week to bring its market capitalisation to N3.43 trillion as of July 11, 2025. Also, as Access Holding’s stock
The president said his administration's legacy project, the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, will serve as a viable alternative to the East-West Road.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, Tinubu said that the flagship infrastructure project “will foster trade and connectivity across the region while opening up new investment prospects in the hydrocarbon belt and spurring the growth of eco-tourism and blue economy-based industries in the region”. He disclosed that he had directed
as free and fair but lamented the generally low voter turnout.
He said: “So far, I’ve seen peace; I’ve seen quiet; I’ve seen free and fair elections. A little bit disappointed about the turnout, which is where we need to work on. There is generally a low turnout, from what I’ve seen.
“Perhaps because people don’t fully understand the importance of local government elections, which are even more important than any other election. We need to sensitise our people. We need to educate them about the importance of grassroots government.
“But so far, it’s peaceful and quiet. It’s free and fair. There are no skirmishes anywhere, and that’s what we all want for any election.”
ADC Explains Atiku, Obi, Others’ Non-resignation from PDP, LP
In a related development, ADC has explained why Atiku, Obi, and other prominent members of the opposition coalition have yet to resign from their political parties.
In an interview with THISDAY, the Interim National Publicity Secretary
and Fansan Yamma in the North-east and North-west operational theatres in two years.
The Air Chief also disclosed that from June 2023 to date, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai neutralised over 3,496 terrorists and destroyed 775 structures and logistics hubs and 218 combat vehicles.
"Similarly, the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma neutralised over 2,154 terrorists, destroyed 669 structures and 271 motorbikes in the Northwest," he said.
Speaking yesterday at the NAF 2025 Mid-Year CAS Parley with Veterans at the NAF Conference Center and Suites, Kado Abuja, Air Marshal Abubakar said that in the Niger Delta Operational Area, Operation Delta Safe significantly disrupted crude oil theft, resulting in improved national crude oil production and contributing positively to the economy.
He stated that within the last two
price increased by N2.30 per share to N24.80 per share from N22.50 per share, its market value gained N122.63 billion in one week to bring its market capitalisation to N1.32 trillion.
Similarly, ETI’s stock price appreciated by N2.95 per share to close last week at N33.95 per share. This added N54.13 billion to the pan-African financial market’s value, increasing its market capitalisation to N622.97 billion as of July 11, 2025.
Capital market analysts had predicted that the stock market section of the NGX would maintain its positive momentum in the second half (H2) of 2025. They noted that the stock market growth in H1 2025 was expected to be driven by improved macroeconomic sentiment, favourable market
the board and management of the commission, through the Minister of Regional Development, to complete and deliver abandoned critical projects, including the Kaa-Ataba Bridge, Okrika-Borokiri Bridge, Bonny Ring Road, Gbaregolo Roads and Bridges, and the East-West Sampou Roads and Bridges, among several others. Tinubu commended the NDDC leadership for their efforts to improve the commission's service delivery and encouraged them to sustain the momentum and continue working towards enhancing the region's development.
of the ADC, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the officials of the parties obtained permission to enable the off-season elections already announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be completed before formally disengaging from their previous political parties.
Abdullahi said that the affected officials of ADC have supporters who are participating in the PDP, LP, and other political parties before the coalition party was formed.
He said: ''For Atiku and Peter Obi, they have supporters who have obtained nomination forms to contest various off-season elections.
''We are aware that they are yet to resign from their former political parties. They would be instrumental to their supporters’ successes.
''Their supporters need them for their electoral victories, so the leadership. We are aware that they have yet to resign,” he said.
Meanwhile, a former legal adviser
years, the NAF acquired 15 brand-new aircraft comprising six T-129 ATAK helicopters, two AW-109 Trekkers, three Beechcraft King Air aircraft, and four Diamond 62 platforms.
He further revealed that an additional 49 platforms were expected before the end of 2026, including three CASA 295s, 10 AW-109 Trekkers, 12 AH-1Z helicopters, and 24 M-346 fighter aircraft.
These acquisitions, the CAS said, had significantly improved NAF's operational capabilities.
According to him, "in the past year alone, the NAF has flown over 4,500 hours in 2,304 sorties for 1,974 counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency missions.
"Additionally, over 4,670 hours were flown in 2,713 sorties for 2,610 anti-banditry operations, and 1,450 hours in 453 sorties for 366 countercrude oil theft missions.
"Between January and June 2025, we have already flown 3,583 hours
conditions, and increased investor interest.
According to them, the H2 2025 performance depends largely on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) policy direction, clarity on banking recapitalisation efforts, inflation trends, and global commodity price movements. Meanwhile, investors remain focused on dividend declarations and the H1 2025 earnings season to shape market sentiment.
The stock market had delivered a strong performance in the first half of 2025, closing at 119,978.57 basis points, representing a year-to-date (YtD) gain of 16.57 per cent from its opening level of 102,926.40 basis points.
Consequently, the market capitalisation gained N13.2 trillion
"Beyond infrastructural development, the NDDC must continue to prioritise human capital development, as it remains the primary index of progress. Projects and programmes that directly impact the lives of ordinary people in rural communities must be prioritised.
“In this regard, I commend the board and management for the Light Up the Niger Delta initiative, which has not only reduced night crimes and enhanced security but has also extended trading hours and improved social life across the region," Tinubu said.
The president also urged the commission to place special emphasis on
of the PDP, Jacob Mark, has issued a scathing assessment of the current coalition involving some PDP members, dismissing it as “political window shopping” rather than a serious alliance.
Speaking during an interview on the ARISE NEWS Channel, Mark was emphatic in his rejection of what he described as a misguided and illegitimate political trend among some party figures.
“You cannot belong to two political parties. You must belong to one,” he said.
“So, when people say they are doing a coalition, they are in PDP, and then they are in ADC, I don’t take them seriously,” he said.
Mark criticised individuals who have not officially resigned from the PDP but are already engaging in coalition politics.
He emphasised that a proper coalition must be an agreement between parties, not individuals freelancing across the political spectrum.
“A coalition that will work is a coalition that will be a working arrangement between political parties, not individuals, particularly those who are here in Abuja,” he said.
When asked whether prominent figures like David Mark and Atiku fall
in 1,728 sorties across these critical operations. These air operations have yielded tangible results."
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief of Administration, NAF, Air Vice Marshal Idi Sani said the Chief of Air Staff’s parley with veterans was more than a ceremonial reunion.
He noted that it was a deliberate and strategic engagement designed to foster community, deepen institutional memory, and preserve the values that have shaped the Nigerian Air Force over the years.
Meanwhile, the gallant troops of the 37 NDA Demonstration Battalion have intercepted and apprehended three suspected gunrunners in Kaduna State as part of its significant strides against the proliferation of arms and terrorist activities in the country.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, in a statement yesterday, noted that this operation, conducted on Thursday, was a result of
from N62.763 trillion at the beginning of the year to close at N75.96 trillion at the end of June 30, 2025.
On market performance for H2 2025, a group of analysts at Afrinvest Limited noted that, “looking ahead in H2, we maintain our market projections as most of the current market dynamics still align with our prognosis at the beginning of the year.
“For full year 2025, we still project a 30.4 per cent gain in our base-case scenario, driven by expectations of sustained pace of banking sector capital raise, fixed-income yield moderation, fiscal policy reforms & accelerated CAPEX spending, improved FX stability, and the possibility of some major corporate listings on the NGX.”
empowering the youth and women of the region, saying that the NDDC must constructively engage the youth, steering them away from violence and militancy towards entrepreneurship and other legitimate means of self-development. He said: "This administration prioritises youth development, and I encourage the NDDC to collaborate with the Ministry of Youth Development to leverage the various initiatives available.
"Furthermore, there can be no sustainable development without peace, security of lives and property,
Continued
under the label of political “window shoppers,” Mark said: “This is what I expect every other person serious about coalition to do. So, he’s out of the window shopping.” But he made it clear that others, including former Vice President Atiku, belong to two parties.
“Certainly, until he (Atiku) resigns, until he resigns from the PDP, I will not take him seriously. You cannot be shopping for a presidential ticket in ADC and shopping for a presidential ticket in PDP at the same time. That is not allowed by law.”
Mark also offered a blunt diagnosis of the PDP’s internal decline, blaming successive party leaders for eroding its disciplinary structures.
“People who took over from us degraded the party, degraded its disciplinary, working machinery, and made the party a laughingstock,” he said.
On the long-standing issue of defection and lack of consequences for anti-party behaviour, Mark was unsparing, “People walk in and out, come back, every time you go where you want, come back and take a slot in the PDP again… Now, in our time, you dare not try that. We will expel you.”
meticulous planning and actionable intelligence that led to the interception and subsequent arrest of the suspects - Yakubu Jibril 45, Abubakar Yahaya 45, and Isiya Sani 30. The suspects, General Kangye said, were caught red-handed while travelling in a black Golf 4 vehicle with Registration Number ABUJA 385 K7 along the Kauya–Old Afaka–Sabon Birni Road in the Igabi Local Government Area of the state.
He stated that a thorough search of the vehicle revealed a significant cache of arms and ammunition, indicating their nefarious intentions to supply criminal elements in remote areas. Among the items seized, he revealed, were nine AK-47 rifles, 389 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) live ammunition, 54 rounds of 5.56 x 45mm (NATO) ammunition, 17 rifle magazines, GSM handsets, other incriminating items, and a cash sum of three hundred and sixty-five thousand, six hundred naira.
A group of analysts at Cardinalstone in its report titled ‘2025 Mid-Year Economic Outlook’ said, “improved macroeconomic sentiment, driven by faster-than-expected GDP growth, a downward trend in inflation, and early signs of currency stability, has set the stage for renewed investor confidence.
“Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI) participation is also picking up, buoyed by greater FX clarity and improved capital repatriation mechanisms, and the recent M&A activities in the oil and gas sector signal stronger corporate earnings ahead, particularly in the upstream and services segments. These drivers reinforce our constructive stance on Nigerian equities going into the second half of the year.”
Low voter turnout yesterday marred the local government elections held in Lagos State as multiple polling units reported sparse participation in the polls, which ended at 3 pm.
Despite the low turnout, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu expressed satisfaction with what he described as “the peaceful and well-coordinated conduct of the local government elections across the state.”
However, a former deputy governor of the state, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, has called for the cancellation of the elections, alleging that there was a plan to rig the exercise.
The elections were conducted under heavy security to pick the chairmen and councillors for the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
Fifteen out of 19 political parties fielded candidates for the polls.
In spite of the assurance of the state Independent National Electoral
Commission (LASIEC) that the LG poll would be hitch-free, voters expressed dissatisfaction over the endless wait for the electoral officials’ arrival at their polling units.
In most units, elections did not begin until after 10 am. At Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area and Oshodi Local Government Area of the state, voters were seen waiting for the LASIEC officials at their polling units, which were among the over 13,000 created for the exercise.
According to the voters, many left after waiting for hours without seeing any electoral officials at their polling units.
In the Lagos Island axis, where Governor Sanwo-Olu cast his vote, an electoral officer was seen at 9:30 am searching for the polling units he had been deployed by LASIEC.
Also, in Shogunle and Oshodi parts of the state, residents were seen waiting anxiously for election officials to arrive.
At five polling units, including
John Shiklam in Kaduna and Juliet
The Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, has listed five important areas that require urgent constitutional reform to support the creation of a state, guarantee fiscal federalism, and ensure the creation of additional states.
Speaking yesterday in Kaduna at the North-west zone public hearing on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution, Sani said the constitution must cease to be a document of convenience for the powerful but a charter of empowerment for the people.
Sani, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, said the creation of states, creation of state police, fiscal federalism, recognition of traditional institutions, and gender equity are areas that should be given urgent priority in the constitutional amendment.
He described the constitutional review as a moment of national reckoning and urged participants to rise to the challenge of nation-building.
“Our constitution must cease to be a document of convenience for
the powerful and become a charter of empowerment for the people,” the governor said.
According to him, "the public hearing is more than a technical review, but a deliberation about who we are as a people, our values and the kind of future we wish to secure for posterity.”
Sani, a proponent of state police, said its creation will help in tackling insecurity at the grassroots.
He recalled that as a Senator in the 9th National Assembly, he sponsored several constitutional and legislative bills aimed at establishing state police.
He said the renewed agitations for decentralised policing are not only desirable but inevitable, stressing that security cannot be national if it is not local.
Sani also called for fiscal federalism and equitable resource control, criticising the current over-centralised structure.
He said: "States must be empowered not only to legislate on local matters but to control and benefit more directly from the resources found within their jurisdictions."
Sani added that ‘’fiscal federalism is not a concession; it is a constitutional imperative.”
Egbapeju, Olori, Temidire Government Primary School, and Alhaji Abibatu Street, all located in Shogunle, small crowds of residents gathered, many unsure of what to do next as they patiently awaited the arrival of the ballot boxes.
Sanwo-Olu Hails Peaceful Exercise
Meanwhile, Governor Sanwo-Olu has expressed satisfaction with the elections.
Speaking after casting his vote at Polling Unit 006, Ward E, Lagos Island Local Government Area, at exactly 11:10 a.m., the governor lauded LASIEC for its efficient handling of the polls.
Accompanied by his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the governor praised the calm atmosphere and the professionalism of electoral officers.
“As you can see, everything is okay here. Voting is ongoing, the officers are on the ground, and I have just performed my civic responsibility. The atmosphere is peaceful, party agents are present, and within three to four
minutes, everything is concluded,” he told journalists.
Sanwo-Olu acknowledged what he described as “minor logistical delays” in the early hours of the day, mainly related to transportation restrictions. However, he noted that the situation was quickly addressed, and election materials and personnel were effectively deployed.
Osun State Governor, Ademola
Adeleke, has confirmed he is planning to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for another party ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
Adeleke had been rumoured to planning to dump PDP for All Progressives Congress (APC).
Adeleke, through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, yesterday in a statement confirmed that the governor is still consulting over his political move into another party.
Rasheed disclosed that Adeleke held meeting with PDP leadership caucus which consisted of his deputy, cabinet members, Special Advisers, federal and state lawmakers among others at the Government House, Banquet hall, yesterday.
He confirmed the leadership of
The shareholders of NIPCO Plc have commended the company's board and management for approving a dividend payout of N1.31 billion, translating to N7 per share, at the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Abuja.
The dividend yield, the highest in the company's 21 years of operation, excited the shareholders, who praised the company's robust performance despite economic challenges.
In his remarks, the Chairman of NIPCO Plc, Chief Bestman Anekwe praised the core investors' sagacity and business sense, citing the company's rapid growth and recognition in the industry.
PDP passed vote-of-confidence in Adeleke and vowed to follow him wherever party he desired to move to.
According to him, “Osun PDP leadership caucus passed a vote of confidence on Governor Ademola Adeleke, unanimously supporting any decision the governor takes on the growing rumour of defection to another political party.
“The leaders who praised the governor’s leadership and performance in office mandated him to continue consultations with all stakeholders locally and nationally.
“The caucus meeting has in attendance representatives of all sections of the party and government namely the National Assembly caucus, the State Assembly caucus, the State Executive Council, the State Executive of the party, the Special Advisers’ Forum, the elders caucus
and the state chapter of ALGON leadership.
“After briefing from Governor Ademola Adeleke and exhaustive deliberations by leaders, the meeting issued a communique to signal its direction on the issue at the moment.
“In the communique, the PDP state leadership resolved to follow Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke wherever he goes.
The meeting however recognized that the Governor is still consulting on next lines of action.
“The meeting was attended by Governor Ademola Adeleke; deputy governor, Prince Kola Adewusi; Senate Deputy Minority leader, Senator Lere Oyewumi; Hon Bamidele Sallam; Hon Clement Olohunwa; Hon Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro; High Chief (Mrs) Modupeole Adeleke; South
West Vice Chairman of the PDP, Engr Kamoruden Ajisafe;Osun state chairman of the PDP, Hon Sunday Bisi.
“Also at the meeting were, “House Speaker, Rt Hon Adewale Egbedun; Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Ireyode Oyewusi; Secretary to the state Government, Hon Teslim Igbalaye; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon Kazeem Akinleye; former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Senator Oluwole Alabi, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, Rt Hon Lasun Yusuf; Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa; Rev Bunmi Jenyo; the state chairman of ALGON, Hon Sarafadeen Awotunde; the Special Adviser Politics to the state governor, Hon Muniru Raji; SUBEB Chairman, Hon Ibukun Fadipe; and the state secretary of the party, Hon. Bola Ajao.”
He hailed the patience of shareholders, noting that their investment would continue to yield benefits.
Anekwe said the company has demonstrated its ability to navigate challenges and deliver value to its shareholders, adding that the company's robust performance is a reflection of its strong management team and experienced board members.
"The company's future outlook is promising, with plans to continue delivering value to its shareholders. NIPCO PLC is poised for further growth and success, and its shareholders can look forward to continued returns on their investment," Anekwe said.
Earlier, the Chairman of Confluence Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mohammed Shakur Ayanda described the dividend payment as a "commendable leap" by the company.
According to Ayanda, the company's ability to pay a high dividend despite the challenges in the oil and gas sector is a testament to the excellent management team and experienced board members.
"We are delighted with this result, and it gives us hope of better returns on our investments in the years to come," he said.
A founding shareholder and former director of NIPCO, Yakubu Suleiman noted that the
company performed better than its peers in the sector, attributing the success to the company's excellent management team and experienced board members.
"Shareholders have every cause to jubilate for the year ended 2024 for the great efforts of the board and management of the company," he added Another shareholder, Ezinwa Chukwudi also praised the board and management for their prudent management of resources, which resulted in the impressive dividend payout.
"Receiving the dividend payments promptly, even before leaving the AGM venue is a feat that was widely appreciated," he added.
L-R: Group Head, Agric and Solid Minerals Finance, Sterling Bank, Dr. Olushola Obilanye; Director of Strategy, Cavista Holdings, Mr. Kabir Shagaya; Head, Agricultural Value Chain Production, Integration and Services, NIRSAL Plc, Mr. Baba Robert; Dean, Lagos Business School and Project Lead, Nigeria Cassava Investment Accelerator, Professor Olayinka David-West; Head, Technical Services Department, National Agricultural Development Fund, Mr. Ernest Ndubuisi Ihedigbo; and Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Agriculture, Ayodeji Sotinrin, at the World Cassava Day event in Abuja…recently
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Garba Shehu, the former presidential spokesperson, has said former President Muhammadu Buhari, rejected a proposed N10 million food budget for the State House during his tenure.
Shehu made the revelation in
his memoir titled ‘According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience’, which was launched in Abuja on Tuesday. The book recounts his eight years of service under Buhari and offers behind-the-scenes insights into governance at the State House.
According to Shehu, shortly after
Buhari assumed office in 2015, he was informed that the State House food budget - covering meals for the president, vice-president, guest houses, and official banquets - needed to be increased to N10 million.
“When they told him N10 million was needed, he screamed and demanded it be reduced,” Shehu said.
“Look at my table, what do I eat? How much does it cost?” Buhari reportedly asked.
The former spokesperson described Buhari’s daily meals as “simple” and “healthy”.
“Regarding his simple lifestyle, as president, most of the things he ate were very basic food that is
After Wike’s Thanksgiving, Anglican Church Moves to Stop Use of Church’s Services as Political Platforms, Issues Guidelines
Worried by the backlash that followed the Minister of the Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike’s use of the church’s platform to attack political figures, the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has issued official guidelines regarding the reception of politicians and government officials in church services and programmes across all its parishes.
In a memo signed by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria,
Anglican Communion, The Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, during the Episcopal Consultation held in the Diocese of Nike, Enugu, the church acknowledged concerns about the increasing use of church services as political platforms, which risk compromising the integrity of Christian worship.
The church came under attack last week when Wike, during a thanksgiving service he held in the church for the successful completion of some projects, attacked some political figures in the country.
In response, the church said it has provided directives for welcoming political and government figures during its gatherings.
In a statement issued by the church’s Director of Communication, Korede Akintunde, the guidelines affirmed the importance of maintaining a welcoming and respectful atmosphere while safeguarding the church’s neutrality, core values, and divine mandate.
According to the memo, “the church remains open to all persons, including politicians and government
officials, in both its services and other programmes.
“In keeping with its calling and inclusive nature, the church must not engage in or promote partisanship.
“The church must diligently avoid speeches, conduct or events that may incite division or foster political bias within the body of Christ.
Henceforth, the following protocols are to be observed: “There must be a prior discussion with any guest who is expected to address the congregation, to offer appropriate guidance.
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party (LP), Senator Nenadi Usman, has urged the presidency not to intimidate Vice President Kashim Shettima into denying or retracting the truth of what he said during a book launch in Abuja last week.
Shettima had at the launch of the book narrated how the former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoki and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator Aminu Tambuwal told former President Goodluck Jonathan that he had no power to remove a governor from office or even a councillor.
In a statement by her Senior Special Adviser, Media, Ken Eluma Asogwa, Usman: ''At the public presentation of the book “OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block”
authored by former Attorney General Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) in Abuja on Thursday, Vice President Kashim Shettima made a remark that was as honest as it was instructive.
''He recounted how, in 2013, during the declaration of a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states, both the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and the AGF, Adoke stood firm in advising President Goodluck Jonathan that he lacked the constitutional powers to remove any elected officeholder, including a sitting governor.''
According to Usman, ''Vice President Shettima’s acknowledgment of that principled stance, particularly as it related to his own tenure as Governor of Borno State, was a refreshing demonstration of candour until a follow-up statement from his office attempted, rather clumsily, to
distance his remarks from the current situation in Rivers State.”
Senator Usman further said, ''It is disingenuous for the Vice President’s handlers to pretend not to know that Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which governs the declaration of a state of emergency, has not changed since 2013. That section confers no power whatsoever on the President to remove a sitting governor under any guise, including the declaration of emergency rule.''
Accordingly, she said, ''We commend Vice President Shettima for his rare moment of honesty in drawing attention to what was clearly an unconstitutional act - the illegal removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara earlier in March under the pretext of political chaos and breakdown of law and order by President Bola Tinubu.”
However, she stressed, What is deeply troubling is the speed and intensity with which the vice president
has been compelled to walk back his words. The question must be asked: Who is intimidating the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?
''If someone of Shettima's level, armed with immunity from prosecution and other ancillary protections of his office, cannot freely express a factual opinion without being coerced into a retraction, then it is a damning reflection of the human rights climate under the current administration.
''Indeed, it is no surprise that Nigeria continues to plunge to the bottom of human rights rankings across Africa.
''We reiterate our appreciation to Vice President Shettima for speaking truth to power, even if only momentarily. But we strongly urge those pulling strings behind the scenes to cease from undermining the dignity of the office of the vice president.
recognisable and associated with and consumed by the lower strata of the Nigerian society: tuwo (dough-like dishes made from grains), pap, akara (bean cake), beans, wheat, plenty of salads, poultry and mutton. He ate healthily,” Shehu added.
Shehu said shortly after assuming office in 2015, Buhari was briefed by the Permanent Secretary at the State House, Nebolisa Emodi, that N400 million had been released to purchase five customised MercedesBenz vehicles.
“The proposal to buy the vehicles had been made at the twilight of President Jonathan’s administration,” Shehu wrote.
“But Buhari asked, ‘What is wrong with the cars left behind by the former president?’ and added, ‘They are all right for my use.’”
Shehu noted that Buhari declined the purchase and directed Emodi to cut down operating costs at the Presidential Villa and strengthen internal financial controls.
He said Buhari continued using the vehicles left behind by Jonathan, only switching after one broke down on the way to the airport.
“He instructed that all State House expenses must stay within the approved budget and that reliance on the so-called Presidential Intervention Funds must end,” Shehu said.
Shehu also said Buhari spent the early months of his administration consulting with permanent secretaries and heads of agencies to understand the challenges facing the country. This, he noted, contributed to the delay in appointing ministers - a move that drew criticism at the time.
In one anecdote, Shehu said during one of Buhari’s medical trips, when Yemi Osinbajo was acting president, some officials - not Osinbajoapproached Abba Kyari, the late chief of staff, about a security vote.
“Malam Abba told them that the president kept nothing to that effect,” Shehu wrote, emphasising Buhari’s tight control over public funds.
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the National Assembly, has officially announced her resignation from the Labour Party (LP), announcing her defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general election.
Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, Kingibe described her move as a calculated and deliberate political decision, noting that her formal induction into the ADC would be marked with “fanfare.”
“I’m totally and completely committed to ADC,” she affirmed.
“But, as the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, don’t expect me to just take a lunch break and go collect a card. I want to do so with noise and fanfare.”
Responding to questions about her confidence in ADC’s leadership and the evolving opposition political coalition, Kingibe expressed optimism while
acknowledging that the party is still in its formative stages.
“It’s something that is evolving,” she said.
“So you cannot say, while your child is still crawling, that you are not happy with how he’s going to run. You wait. We are growing.” On whether her defection could cost her Senate seat based on constitutional provisions, the senator argued that the internal crisis and the existence of two clear factions within the Labour Party legally justified her decision to leave.
“I ask you to please read the constitution. There are two factions — clear factions — of the Labour Party,” Kingibe said.
“The perfect definition that the constitution gives for somebody to decamp without penalty applies in this case.”
“Even INEC got two sets of results and candidates, though they didn’t accept any. So if you ask me to stay in the Labour Party, which faction do you want me to stay in?”
Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Force Commander, Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Major General Godwin Mutkut, has stated that state forces have a common enemy in Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, who have plagued West Africa, the Sahel Region, and Lake Chad Basin for over 15 years, draining resources and causing widespread loss of life and property.
This is just as the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said a high-profile commander of ISWAP identified as Ibn Ali has surrendered to troops with his weapons and cache of ammunition in Bama Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State.
General Mutkut made this statement in Cameroon during a strategic operational visit to the 4th Joint Military Region of the Cameroon Armed Forces, led by Major General Saleh Mahamadou, at the headquarters of Operation Emergence 4.
The two top military leaders also pledged to conduct robust collaboration to decisively counter insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin as part of a strategic move to enhance security and stability in the region.
The Force Commander of the MNJTF said the purpose of his visit was to share insights, address challenges, and forge a joint coordinated strategy to overcome the region's security threats.
He stated that the renewed synergy would extend beyond the MNJTF and Operation Emergence 4, encompassing all stakeholders dedicated to securing the Lake Chad Basin.
According to a statement by the Chief Military Public Information Officer of the Army, MNJTF, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, the Force Commander also called for continued support from troop-contributing countries to strengthen the mission.
In response, Major General Mahamadou commended the MNJTF's efforts in improving security and fostering economic activities in the
AT NDDC'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY, TINUBU, JONATHAN TASK COMMISSION ON N'DELTA REGION’S DEVELOPMENT
and adherence to the rule of law.
The NDDC must continue to work towards sustaining peace in the region," he added.
The president emphasised the importance of agriculture in the Niger Delta, noting the region's vast potential beyond oil and gas.
He encouraged the NDDC to invest in agricultural initiatives that would unlock and maximise the region's agrarian resources for the benefit of both the region and the country.
While congratulating the commission on the silver anniversary, he called on the people of the Niger Delta to continue to support his administration's programmes and policies.
Also, in his address as a guest of honour at the event, former President Jonathan called on the NDDC to prioritise long-term, people-focused infrastructure over politically motivated short-term projects, saying frequent leadership changes have stunted the commission’s impact.
He said, “In just 25 years, the NDDC has had over 11 CEOs. I thank the President for retaining the current CEO. Let the next 25 years be defined by legacy projects, not just visions and promises. Resist the temptation to award projects without proper funding,” Jonathan advised
Noting Jonathan’s concerns, the Senate President, Akpabio, blamed
leadership crises and internal corruption for the NDDC’s historical underperformance.
He stressed that: “For over 20 years, NDDC operated from a rented apartment at N300 million per year, without connection to the national grid. Yet diesel contracts were preferred over a one-time N70million grid connection".
He described Ogbuku as the right leader that will reposition the commission, adding: “We have found in Dr. Ogbuku a man worthy to take NDDC to the next level".
During her keynote address, Director General of WTO, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, urged NDDC to deliver measurable results.
She observed: “Over N7 trillion has been sunk into the NDDC since inception. How many solid roads have you built? The Niger Delta still ranks low on human development. A lot needs to be done to meet the aspirations of the people".
Earlier in his welcome address, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Ogbuku, assured stakeholders of a new era of impact driven by partnerships.
“We don’t want to be defined by our past. We’ve decided to create a future for the Niger Delta through partnerships with IOCs(international oil companies), traditional rulers, and stakeholders,” he said.
Lake Chad Basin.
He noted that his troops were more than ready to provide any support and collaboration that could leverage the strength of both forces.
The Force Commander also paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of the Northern Region of Cameroon, Midjiyawa Bakare, where he assured the governor that there would be a change in the ongoing counter-terrorism operation in the Lake Chad Region.
Meanwhile, DHQ has said a high-profile commander of ISWAP identified as Ibn Ali has surrendered to troops with his weapons and
cache of ammunition in Bama Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, made this known in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja.
Kangye said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai conducted operations between July 4 and July 10 in the general areas of Platari, Sambisa Forest, and the Timbuktu triangle, eliminating scores of terrorists.
He said that a large number of terrorists, including adult males
and females and children, also surrendered to troops as operational tempo heightened across the theatre.
According to him, troops also conducted operations in Gwoza, Kaga, Mafa, Ngala, Abadam, Bama, Biu, Konduga, Damboa, and Dikwa LGAs, as well as Madagali LGA of Adamawa State.
“During the encounters, some terrorists were killed in action, five of their collaborators were arrested, while four kidnapped victims were rescued.
“Some quantities of arms and ammunition were also recovered.
“They also retrieved and safely detonated some IEDs, while the sum of N822,500 was also recovered.
“Similarly, a high-profile terrorist commander identified as Ibn Ali surrendered to troops with his weapons and cache of ammunition in Bama LGA of Borno State,” he said. Kangye said the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in collaboration with Hybrid Forces and other security agencies, intensified operations along both kinetic and non-kinetic lines across all theatres during the period under review with resounding outcomes.
Okon Bassey in Uyo
In line with the political developments in the state, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has surrendered the leadership and political structure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State to Governor Umo Eno.
Akpabio officially performed the handing over exercise of the political structure of the party at the first meeting of APC stakeholders in the state held at the state Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, the state capital.
In accepting the development, Governor Eno urged the party's
leadership, from the ward level upwards, to accept the movement and merge with open arms, in order for everyone to be a beneficiary of the movement.
"This is a merger, and as the Senate President has said, we must, therefore, approach it with love, unity, and understanding. There have to be some sacrifices from both ends.
"Let the leadership and members bring down the rhetoric so that we all can come together in droves and build a truly united APC in our state.
"We have heard stories where some ward leaders have brought out lists of requirements for people who want to join the party as if it is a marriage
ceremony. Honestly, that should not be. We should be happy that Akwa Ibom is getting united, and we are all better for it," he said.
Eno assured the stakeholders, especially Senator Akpabio, of his readiness to work together with the party's hierarchy and support the ideology and interest of the Party for the overall good of the people of the state.
"I just want to tell our people and the party that I am here to work with you. I am here to contribute to the growth of the Party. We will work with you, and give you that honour that you so rightly deserve".
The Senate president described
Governor Eno as a great unifier, a man of foresight and vision, stressing that the governor's leadership has brought peace and unity to Akwa Ibom and repositioned it for future growth.
He said Eno's movement into APC as a merger, and not an acquisition, urged all members to join hands to work for the progress and overall interest of the state.
The Senate President called on the governor to integrate the state, citing his position in the Senate. He announced the modification of the party's slogan to encourage integration, love, unity, and progress.
James Emejo in
Abuja
A Northern group, Arewa Think Tank (ATT), yesterday lauded President Bola Tinubu's recent meeting with his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva.
The group expressed optimism that the engagement between both leaders will boost agricultural development in Nigeria, after the Nigerian leader vowed to clear all impediments to the sector's growth.
ATT disclosed this in a statement signed by its Convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu.
In another development, the group also commended the federal government
for declining US President Donald Trump's request to accept Venezuelan deportees.
AAT pointed out that Nigeria had enough of its own challenges to contend with.
At the bilateral meeting between Tinubu and Lula held at the Copacabana Forte, alongside some members of both countries' cabinets, Tinubu noted that bureaucracy contributes to delays in realising the agricultural sector's potential in Nigeria.
Following the meeting however, Yakubu expressed satisfaction with the Nigerian leader who told the Brazilian president that his administration would remove all bottlenecks to improve food
and Agricultural production in Nigeria.
"Arewa Think Tank is delighted that President Bola Tinubu has assured that all bottlenecks hindering the realisation of the agricultural sector's potential, including livestock production, will be removed to enable food sovereignty and export.
"We are excited and satisfied that
President Tinubu informed the Brazilian leader and delegation that Nigeria was already undergoing reforms to reposition the economy for global competitiveness, particularly in agriculture, where it already has a competitive advantage.
"We understand that at that meeting, President Tinubu stated that all technicalities in agreements
between the two countries will be streamlined and fast-tracked in trade, aviation, energy transition, food and agricultural development, mining, and natural resources exploration."
Yakubu further noted that it was heartwarming that Nigeria will leverage Brazil's research and development services which is rated as one of the highest producers of food and agricultural products.
"Another exciting development from the meeting is that President Lula assured that all agreements with Nigeria would be regularised, and the MoUs would be updated and signed without delay during President Tinubu's next visit."
L-R: Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; Life Bencher, Prof. Yusuf Ali (SAN); and Chairman Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), during the Call to Bar ceremony in Abuja…recently
Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa states yesterday made a case for the establishment of state police to address the growing insecurity across the country.
The three states made their position known at a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution at the North Central Centre B, comprising Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa State, and the Federal Capital Territory.
In their separate presentations at Lafia, Nasarawa State, Governors Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa all
spoke in favour of creating state police.
In his opening remarks, former Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the North Central Centre B public hearing, Ahmed Wase, urged participants to feel free to make their contributions.
A statement issued yesterday by the media unit of the Committee on Constitution Review quoted Alia as saying that state policing has become necessary, given the difficulty in taming criminality by a centrally structured police force.
He lamented that the absence of state police has been responsible for the failure to properly implement the anti-open grazing law
To Promote Peaceful Coexistence, Imo Govt Reads Riot Act to Herders, Gives July 24 Deadline to End Open Grazing
The Imo State Government has issued a directive to herders across the state to end open grazing on or before July 24, 2025, as part of efforts to promote peaceful coexistence and safeguard public order.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr. Anthony Mgbeahurike, during a stakeholders’ meeting with cattle breeders and herders held in Owerri, the state capital.
Mgbeahurike emphasised the government’s commitment to preserving social and economic stability while ensuring harmonious relations between farmers and herders.
“The government has provided critical support in the past, including free cattle vaccination against anthrax,” he stated.
“However, we can no longer tolerate unchecked roaming of livestock, which disrupts urban life and causes tension.”
He stressed that herders must avoid the destruction of farmlands and, in cases of accidental damage, offer prompt
and adequate compensation to affected farmers.
As part of the new regulatory efforts, Alhaji Shuaibu was officially recognised by the government as the new leader of cattle herders in the state.
Mgbeahurike charged him with the responsibility of ensuring full compliance with the state’s grazing directive among all herders.
In response, Shuaibu thanked the government for its continued support and acknowledged the concerns raised over open grazing.
“We are committed to cooperating with the government,” he assured.
“We will inform all herders about this directive and work to uphold peace, order, and hygiene in our communities.
We also commend Governor Hope Uzodimma’s inclusive leadership.”
The government reiterated that the new policy will be strictly enforced after the deadline, urging all stakeholders to comply in the interest of lasting peace and development.
enacted by the Benue State Government. Represented by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Fidelis Mnyim, the governor said, “A governor cannot command any of the security agencies or deploy them to troubled areas.
“For instance, we have an anti-open grazing law in
Benue, but we cannot implement it because the governor is said to be the Chief Security Officer but on the contrary, cannot direct the police even on arrest.” Alia also recommended the timely dispensation of electoral matters, explaining that “There should be a shift from oral-based evidence to documentary evidence. Let a documentary jurisprudence
be established,” he requested.
On his part, Mutfwang, also represented by his Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Philemon Daffi, said, “Plateau is in full support of state police. We support it because it will go a long way in tackling the perennial insecurity in the state.
“No state in the country has suffered insecurity like Plateau
State. And so, we are for state police and we want other security agencies to be added as well,” he stated.
On electoral reform, the Plateau State governor said the people are opposed to the conduct of local council elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission instead of the state’s independent electoral commission.
Yinka Olatunbosun
All is set for a feast of performances, intellectual discourse, and exhibition in Abeokuta as Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, turns 91 today.
The Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE) marks its 16th anniversary, continuing its legacy as a vital platform for cultural dialogue, artistic innova-
tion, and intellectual engagement, inspired by the enduring influence of Professor Wole Soyinka.
From its inaugural edition in 2010 - marking Soyinka’s 76th birthday - WSICE has grown into a globally respected platform where art, advocacy, and African identity converge.
This year, the tradition continues with events scheduled for July 13 in Abeokuta, Nigeria, and July 24–25
in London, United Kingdom, in partnership with The Africa Centre.
The overarching theme for the 2025 edition is “Decolonisation of African Youth: Agenda for Our Future Leadership,” and invites participants to interrogate post-colonial realities while envisioning new pathways for African futures. It will unfold across two continents - Nigeria and the United Kingdom - with landmark events scheduled for
July 13 in Abeokuta, and July 24–25 in London.
With a powerful crosscontinental celebration of creativity, culture and youth leadership, featuring performances, poetry recitals, exhibitions, roundtables, film screenings and live music, the grand celebration takes place tomorrow, Sunday, July 13, at Soyinka’s “Ijegba Forest of Literature.”
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, has stressed the need for Africa to unite in solidarity to forge a climate resilient, equitable and a sustainable future for all in the continent.
Speaking at the Africa Social
Impact Summit (ASIS) 2025 coconvened by the United Nations in Nigeria and Sterling One Foundation, which was held on 10 –11 July 2025 in Lagos, Mohammed in a video message, said three billion people reside in countries that allocate more resources to interest payments than to vital sectors like health and education.
“Africa is stepping up with vision, leadership and courageous solutions. Now, it is the turn of the international community to rise to the occasion. Let us unite in solidarity to forge a climate resilient, equitable and a sustainable future for all,” she said.
She explained that Africa required a renewed surge of global solidarity from governments, development banks, the private sector and philanthropic organisations to unlock the finance, the technology, and the partnerships essential for transformative change across the continent.
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The Jukun people of Benue State have called for the establishment of a separate local government for them in the state and asked President Bola Tinubu to intervene in a long-standing injustice against them.
The National Association of Jukun Wanu (NAJUWA), an umbrella body of the people
both at home and in the diaspora, alleged that they have been marginalised for ages by the Tiv.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, NAJUWA’s Chairman, Mr. Moses Amankye and Secretary General, Musa Atase, appealed to the president to compel the Benue State Government to review and amend the Chieftaincy Laws
of 2016.
They argued that the existing laws fail to recognise the traditional leadership structures of the JukunWanu, despite their historic presence and legitimacy.
“The Benue State Traditional Council must acknowledge our traditional stools,” they said.
They noted that the community’s chiefdoms at
Abinsi and Agyogo (Wurkum Makurdi) date back to official records from 1934.
The association also demanded the full implementation of recommendations from previous commissions of inquiry into the Tiv-JukunWanu conflict, especially the Justice Oki Report of 1995 and the Commassie Report of 2003.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), has commended President Bola Tinubu for his “timely” and “reassuring” intervention in the political crisis that rocked the state earlier this year.
Speaking at the grand finale of the 25th anniversary of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt yesterday, Ibas said the President’s decisive actions restored order and strengthened governance in the state.
“Let me express our sincere appreciation to His Excellency, Bola Tinubu, for his unwavering commitment to peace and stability in Rivers State and the
broader Niger Delta.
“His intervention in restoring order and governance in the state was timely, firm, and deeply reassuring. Mr. President continues to demonstrate strong political will for regional development, economic equity, and national cohesion. We are indeed grateful,” Ibas said.
The oil-rich state had plunged into political crisis following a fallout between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The rift led to chaos in the state assembly and tension in the state.
In response, President Tinubu declared a six-month state of emergency in March, suspending Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and appointing Ibas.
Ozekhome Faults Amendment of 1999 Constitution, Demands Brand-new, People-driven Constitution
Constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has said that repeated amendments to Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution will not be able to address the country’s foundational issues, describing the document as a “curse” to national development.
Ozekhome stated that only a brand-new, people-oriented constitution can rescue Nigeria from its political, economic, and security crises.
“What we need is a brandnew constitution that is peopledriven. You can’t amend a bad document. A document that is already afflicted with an ailment cannot be amended.
“If you have a problem in your house — the building is cracking — how do you solve it? Some people say, ‘Let’s amend the present constitution.’ Amendment, one million times, cannot solve the problem,” he said during a television interview at the weekend.
The human rights activist
argued that the current constitution, handed down by the military in 1999, was not created by the people and has continued to promote over-centralisation of power in Abuja, crippling regional growth and autonomy.
“It was imposed on us by a military government. We need a people’s constitution that truly reflects our wishes,” he insisted, adding that “as it is, the constitution is a curse to Nigerian development. No state is producing; every state is relying on Abuja. Abuja has become too centralised and powerful — that is why everybody goes there.”
The constitutional lawyer criticised the existing presidential system modelled after the United States, describing it as “too costly” and “unsustainable.”
“We use about 70 to 80 per cent of our national budget for recurrent expenditure and debt servicing, leaving only 20 to 30 per cent for capital projects. That cannot lead us anywhere.
The move sparked both praise and legal backlash.
In June, Fubara and Wike resolved their rift after a peace meeting with Tinubu, pledging to work together to restore stability in Rivers State.
They were later seen at a public gathering after the peace talks.
Reflecting on the commission’s journey, Ibas said the NDDC had grown into a “beacon of regional integration and intervention,” and had contributed significantly to bridging infrastructure gaps, improving livelihoods, and sup-
porting community aspirations across the Niger Delta.
“As host state to the headquarters of this very important commission, and a principal stakeholder in its work, Rivers State acknowledges a unique relationship with the NDDC.
“Our state has been both a contributor and beneficiary, from road construction and rural education to youth empowerment, water, and health projects. The impact of these efforts across the length and breadth of our state cannot be denied,” he noted.
President Donald Trump yesterday targeted Mexico and the European Union (EU) with steep 30 per cent tariffs, dramatically raising the stakes in already tense negotiations with two of the largest US trading partners.
Both sets of duties would take effect August 1, Trump said in formal letters posted to his Truth Social platform. The president cited Mexico’s role in illicit drugs flowing into the United States and
a trade imbalance with the EU as meriting the tariff threat.
The EU swiftly slammed the announcement, warning that it would disrupt supply chains, but insisted it would continue talks on a deal ahead of the deadline.
Since returning to the presidency in January, Trump has unleashed sweeping tariffs on allies and competitors alike, roiling financial markets and raising fears of a global economic downturn.
But his administration is coming under pressure to secure deals with trading partners after promising a flurry of agreements.
So far, US officials have only unveiled two pacts, with Britain and Vietnam, alongside temporarily lower tit-for-tat duties with China.
The fresh duties for Mexico announced by Trump would be higher than the 25 per cent levy he imposed on Mexican goods
earlier this year, although products entering the United States under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are exempted.
“Mexico has been helping me secure the border, but what Mexico has done is not enough,” Trump said in his letter to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
“Starting August 1, 2025, we will charge Mexico a Tariff of 30 per cent on Mexican products sent into the United States.”
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has been drawn into confusion over the status and appointment of Yomi Odunuga as the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the SGF, Senator George Akume.
Two different statements yesterday by the Director,
Information and Public Relations, OSGF, Segun Imohiosen and the Special Adviser on Public Affairs, OSGF, Terrence Kuanum, mirrored the ongoing confusion.
Imohiosen had issued a statement denying the appointment of Odunuga, who on Thursday issued a statement on behalf of Akume, wherein the SGF pledged his commitment to President Bola Tinubu and
vowed not to step down as the SGF and vie for the position of Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as was being speculated.
He said the SGF had at no time made such an appointment.
Imohiosen explained that the appointment of special advisers at the federal level was the sole prerogative of the President and the Commander-in- Chief of the
Armed Forces.
The statement said: “The attention of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has been drawn to news currently circulating on social media and some online news platforms, on the purported appointment of Yomi Odunuga as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Ojadah, is set to be honoured with the esteemed chieftaincy title of Aare Shobaloju of Ayeka Kingdom in Ondo State, in recognition of his exceptional leadership, dedication, and service to humanity.
The conferment ceremony, which will take place at the palace of the Lumure of Ayeka Kingdom, Oba Babatunde Michael Ayeyo, will be a grand celebration of Ambassador Ojadah’s achievements and contributions to societal development.
As a distinguished personality in international trade and invest-
ment diplomacy, Ambassador Ojadah has worked with various diplomats in high-level dialogues, including the European Union (EU), African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN).
His commitment to promoting peaceful co-existence, sustainable development, and humanitarian services has earned him numerous awards and recognition.
The title of Aare Shobaloju is a significant honour that reflects the Ayeka Kingdom’s commitment to recognising and rewarding excellence. Ambassador Ojadah’s selection for this prestigious title is a testament to his selfless service and dedication to humanity.
No country in the world has a monopoly of politics or braggadocio of visa restriction. Every country within the framework of equality of sovereignty and exclusiveness of territorial integrity has the right to determine who is eligible to be issued a national passport to travel out of the country, as well as determine who is to be issued with an entry visa. More importantly, the conditions of issuance of a national passport and entry visa also fall within the exclusive preserve of every sovereign state.
The issuance of a national passport is a recommendation by the issuing authority to another sovereign authority, through its diplomatic mission in a host country. The possession of a national passport is also a certification that the holder is not only a true citizen of the issuing authority but also that the holder is of good behaviour, not criminally, and therefore eligible for consideration for possible issuance of a visa entry. On the basis of this recommendation, the visa issuing authority not only accepts the recommendation but subjects the recommended visa applicant to further investigation to be sure that the recommendation derived from the national passport is genuine. Put differently, the visa authority does not trust anyone. At the point of issuance of a passport, a would-be holder might not be criminally.
Apart from this, no country wants to issue a visa that enables a visa applicant to become a landed immigrant. This largely explains why conditions for the issuance of any category of visa are very stringent, diversified and not a finality. If a visa applicant induces a visa interviewing official into error and therefore wrongly issuing him or her a visa, the final decision whether entry into the visa-issuing country will be allowed or not is taken after disembarkation. It is at the point of entry that the final period of stay to be allowed is often approved. A visa normally contains a time limit during which a travel must take place. This should not be confused with the validity of the visa itself. Thus, there is travel time stay limit. It is against this background that the placement of visa restrictions by the United States and the United Arab Emirates on Nigerians is hereinafter explained.
International politics of issuance of visa entry into any country is quite interesting. For examples, Malta received 45,578 applications for entry visa in 2024 but 16,905 were denied. This meant that only 63% of the applicants were accommodated and 37.09% were refused visas. Grosso modo, the reasons for visa denial are generally not given but the deductive dynamics are not far-fetched. The reasons, which are not peculiar to Malta, include inadequate documentation, suspicions of likelihood of not returning back to home country, insufficient proof of funds, non-credibility of sponsors or relations living in the country to be visited, self-misrepresentation during visa interviews, not showing up promptly for visa interview, inability to respond to questions asked by the interviewing officers, prior immigration violations, previous visa denials, lack of detailed itinerary for the trip, improper dressing during visa interview, etc. These reasons are often given for rejection of entry visas by most diplomatic missions in the world.
In the specific case of Nigerians refused visa entry, especially into European Union countries (Schengen Visas), incomplete or false documentation is a major reason. Nigerians have been frequently accused of holding fake visas, forged invitation letters, false hotel bookings or forged bank statements, etc. What is noteworthy here is not simply the problem of visa restriction that will be explicated hereunder, but the fact that the eventual entry into another country, like the United States, does not mean permanent admissibility. It is, at best, about tolerance and conditionality. First, there is the issue of number of entries approved to travel to and fro within the period of stay allowed. Is it single entry or multiple entries? Secondly, the people holding the US-issued Green Card, who
opt to naturalise and become American citizens, no longer have security of the mind or assurances of permanency of their residency. For instance, last Friday, 11th July, 2025, US Ministry of Justice started investigating Green Card holders who had obtained US citizenship through naturalisation. The Washingtonian government led by President Donald Trump wants to strip some Americans of their citizenship status, underscoring that prioritising denaturalisation is the current preoccupation of the US Ministry of Justice.
The prioritisation of denaturalisation is consistent with Donald Trump’s new expression of the 1823 Monroe Doctrine of Isolationism and the current saga of Making America Great Again (MAGA). In other words, in order to make the United States Great Again, some people who purport to be Americans by their act of naturalisation should begin to engage in selfreappraisal. Donald Trump is planning to deny them of their right to US citizenship, an intention that is directly in conflict with the declared and well-known US foreign policy attitude and behaviour.
The foreign policy behaviour of the United States, especially under President Donald Trump, is a major departure from that of his predecessors. It is a direct reflection of his foreign policy attitude. The general belief that the United States foreign policy is mainly predicated on the need to protect
For reasons of psychology of human differences, I admit that Nigeria’s refusal to accept the deportation of unwanted Venezuelans in America might have informed the US decision to place visa restrictions on Nigerians. If this is so, how do we explain the UAE’s visa restrictions on Nigeria? I also agree that there might have been a jot of reciprocity based on Nigeria’s introduction of e-visa which may not be pleasant for the United States. However, for me, Donald Trump wants a Nigeria that will be another depository for unwanted prisoners and refugees. President Donald Trump thinks that Nigeria and Rwanda are the same in terms of strategic miscalculations. While Rwanda can collect money from the United Kingdom in acceptance of unwanted refugees by Britain, Nigeria cannot think the Rwandan way. Donald Trump does not want foreign prisoners on American soil, why does he think that Nigerians cannot think and will accept? Why should he think that the mere mounting of pressure on Nigeria can do the magic? Could it be because of the general saying that nothing is impossible in Nigeria? I am not left in any whiff of doubt that there will be considerable respect for Nigeria the moment the quest for strategic autonomy reaches one quarter way. Strategic autonomy is self-reliance. The four pillars of it, as exemplified in the diplomacy of the 4-Ds, underscores the Nigerian Diaspora. If Donald Trump wants to deport, he should encourage and assist the Nigerians doing very well to come back home to help. This is quite better than pushing American persona non grata to Nigeria.
democracy, human rights, as well as advancing international understanding of American values, is wrong. And true enough, the US Department of State has it that it has responsibility to protect the United States and Americans; advance democracy, human rights and other global interests; promote international understanding of American values and policies, and support US diplomats, government officials, and all other personels at home and abroad (vide Bureau of Public Affairs, “Diplomacy: The US Department of State at Work,” June 2008).
What is more important about the protection of the United States and Americans is the mania of the protection. The Mania includes nurturing common interests and values between Americans travelling abroad to do business or who are resident abroad; and preventing enemies from threatening the United States or its allies with weapons of mass destruction. And perhaps more relevantly and interestingly, US foreign policy attitude uses the Department of State to ‘ensure America’s homeland security by promoting policies and practices to keep travel, trade, and important infrastructure safe.’
Most importantly, the Department of State is given the mandate to serve on the frontline of America’s borders, facilitating the entry of legitimate visitors to the US while denying visas to those who do not qualify or do us harm’ In the US Embassy’s press release of 7th July, 2025, the issue therein contained is not about denial of visas, but about the validity of period of stay the holder of a visa has. While the validity of the visa period requires travelling out to the country issuing the visa within the stipulated time approved, the validity of the period of stay requires the holder of the visa not to exceed the approved time of stay.
Explained differently, there is no good basis for a holder of a three-month valid visa not to travel out before the expiry of the three months and for the holder of a visa with either three months or six months or one year of approved stay not to leave the country and return home or go elsewhere. The diplomatic saga that has emerged following the notice of visa restrictions on Nigerians by the US Embassy is currently raising many concerns. Are Nigeria and the United States truly partners?
The mere fact that the United States came up unilaterally to inform about its new visa restrictions on Nigerians and the mere fact that it also prompted a quick response from Nigeria, who has pleaded with the United States to ‘respectfully’ review the policy decision, clearly show that there was no mutual consultations before the US Embassy press release.
The United States might have deliberately taken the visa restriction policy decision to compel a concession, either within the context of reciprocity or an intention to make a new and special demands on Nigeria. There is no disputing the fact that, for a long time now, Nigeria has been issuing a long-term visa, ranging from one to five years to the citizens of the United States. Consequently, if the United States is now taking the bad end of the stick, questions cannot but be raised, especially as to why many countries are coincidentally placing visa restrictions on Nigeria. Apart from the United States, there is the same problem at the level of the United Arab Emirates. Donald Trump has told Africans to stay back home and help develop their countries. Is the visa restriction meant to compel Africans, and particularly Nigerians, to stay in Nigeria? Whatever is the case, Nigeria’s quest for strategic autonomy appears to be a good antidote to the various visa braggadocio.
Nigeria’s Strategic Autonomy as Antidote From the foregoing, there is no disputing the fact that the United States of Donald Trump wants to remain the primus inter pares in international politics. Even though President Donald Trump preaches the gospel of every country should make efforts to develop itself, there is nothing to suggest that he really wants any other country to have the capacity and capability to challenge Americans, in general, and himself, in particular. The attitudinal disposition of Donald Trump is ‘holier than thou.’ This is what is currently serving as a catalytic agent of the increasing anti-America and Donald Trump in global politics. The American-led Breton Woods institutions are being vehemently opposed by the BRICS. The United States wants to be a credible mediator but wishes a mediation outcome that only reflects or protects American interests. And more funnily enough, President Donald Trump is promoting genocidal crimes in the Israelo-Hamas and Israelo-Iranian conflicts and yet, he has the audacity to be seeking a Nobel Prize for Peace. He may be eligible if there is a new meaning to peace and if peace now means making war and disregarding international humanitarian law.
Interrogatively put again, what is peace if diplomacy is another expression of war? What really is peace if national protectionism is increasingly over-emphasised to the detriment of shared global values? Why should Donald Trump be too myopic not to recognise that countries affected by US policies would normally react positively or negatively? Behaviourally, US policy behaviour is overemphasising security, that is, for as long as the United States is secure, the conduct and management of global affairs can be done on the basis of laisser faire.
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Concerns are mounting over the failure of some state governments to seize the opportunity to develop independent power systems, following the decentralisation of electricity through the New Electricity Act of 2023, writes Festus Akanbi
Nigerians are worried that despite the constitutional amendment that empowers states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity within their jurisdictions, the nation’s economy continues to stagger under the crippling weight of inadequate power supply.
Under the current dispensation, large and forced to rely on costly and unreliable alterna-
The promise of decentralisation remains of investment, and poor regulatory coordination frustrate meaningful progress. This energy dysfunction undermines productivity and industrial expansion and reinforces Nigeria’s in potential, yet persistently underpowered.
In June 2023, President Bola Tinubu signed a new Electricity Act into law to give states the power to generate, transmit and distribute electricity within their jurisdiction. This, Nigesolutions to the electricity problems in Nigeria.
The 2023 Electricity Act is a replacement for the Electricity and Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 and was meant to bring about the de-monopolisation of Nigeria’s electricity generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity at the national level and empower states, companies, and individuals to generate, transmit and distribute electricity.
The law further provides that the funds set aside for the development of host communities will be received, managed, and administered for infrastructure development in the host communities by a reputable trustee/manager to be jointly appointed by the respective GENCO and their host community.
It created a scenario whereby states are empowered to generate, transmit, distribute, and regulate electricity within their borders and only submit to national oversight by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The Waiting Game
On paper, at least six Nigerian states of Abia, Delta, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Ondo, and Edo, have generation projects separate from the national grid as of June 2025.
has joined about a dozen other subnational
governments in their bid to exercise regulatory respective domains.
projects vary from large CNG IPPs to modest generation.
grid power generation projects, the impact on residents and businesses has remained limited and largely symbolic.
Many of these projects, though operational, cover only select locations such as government leaving the wider population trapped in chronic power shortages.
the state remain underserved. Similarly, while Edo boasts large-scale plants to the average household remains erratic due to poor last-mile distribution and inadequate infrastructure. In Nasarawa and Jigawa, solar mini grids reach only a fraction of rural communities, while urban centres continue to rely on and Ondo, where energy access outside project growth or reduce the cost of doing business. This disconnect underscores the urgent need for scale, integration, and strategic investment if these state-led power initiatives are to translate into real socio-economic transformation.
The Facilities
Independent Power Project in Aba, Abia State, provides electricity to over 4,000 shops, deployed
“Aba Power Project” (a 181 MW embedded, privately operated plant) supplies power locally, typically independent of the national grid.
In Delta, the Asaba 8.5 MW Independent Power Plant (IPP) was commissioned in 2020 to power government infrastructure in Asaba. Mini grids were also initiated at universities in Delta (e.g. 1.6 MW at Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Delta State). Under the was signed in January 2024 to deploy hybrid mini-grids: 21 sites in Jigawa and 5 sites in Nasarawa. According to plans, this project will serve approximately 7,747 customers with
operated by private developers. For Edo, there is the Azura-Edo Independent facility that began operation in May 2018; Ossiomo Power Plant (95 MW) at Ologbo supplying
Edo in Phase 1.
The question is to what extent these initiatives cover most of the people of the states whose businesses are being frustrated by the general shortage of electricity supply in the country.
power due to the high cost of installing independent power generation. Power generation, especially at a meaningful scale, requires massive upfront investments in infrastructure, plants, transmission lines, and substations.
private-sector funding or secure long-term
Analysts also pointed out regulatory and bureaucratic delays as one of the problems. Sources say many states are still building the legal agencies) needed to attract and regulate IPPs.
According to the report, the fact is even where generation is possible, the poor state of transmission and distribution infrastructure, which is still largely controlled by the federal delivery of power unreliable or economically unviable.
The report added that most state governstructure, and manage complex energy projects, including PPAs (Power Purchase
many state governments cannot provide sovereign guarantees or credit enhancements to
business activities and stunting economic growth at the state level. Without reliable electricity, businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), face soaring operational costs as they are forced to depend on expensive and often unreliable generators. This reduces -
courages investment.
In Lagos, which is the economic capital of
to diesel as the distributing companies continue to operate unpredictably.
manufacturers operate below capacity due to erratic power, while artisans, welders, tailors,
The agriculture value chain is also disrupted, with perishable goods going to waste due to the absence of cold storage. Digital and tech businesses struggle with downtime and high costs of powering IT infrastructure, while service providers pass these costs on to consumers,
unattractive to investors, domestic or foreign. It also widens regional inequality, as states unable to guarantee steady electricity lose out to generation, such as Lagos or Edo.
In essence, without power, there is no real productivity, and without productivity, statelevel economies cannot thrive, diversify, or lift citizens out of poverty.
The Convener and Executive Director of PowerUp Nigeria, a power consumer advocacy group, Adetayo Adegbemle, raised concerns over the pace and seriousness of states that have sector following the decentralisation of electricity governance.
Adegbemle said while the decision to decentralise electricity regulation was a welcome and progressive one, many of the states that sought autonomy seemed unprepared for the practical responsibilities that come with it. According to him, the decentralisation process
training personnel and developing regulatory models tailored to local realities.
He said some states are only just realising that from the national grid will be invoiced at full cost, and they’ll need to decide whether to pass of subsidy. That realisation has caused many to pause.
Adegbemle said the remaining states were their own.
Rauf Aregbesola’s story is still unravelling, argues TEMITOPE LAKISOKUN
Loyalty in Nigerian politics wildly in value. Today’s ally is tomorrow’s adversary, and yesterday’s hero is today’s villain. Few contemporary of Rauf Aregbesola, the former governor of Osun, whose dramatic shift from being one of President Bola Tinubu’s most has reignited debates about betrayal, legacy, and the wilful distortion of political history.
The parallels between Aregbesola’s current predicament and the infamous rift between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola are striking. Some say this comparison is a bit of an overreach, but I beg to differ. Both sagas revolve around broken alliances, accusations of treachery, and the bitter fallout of power struggles. Yet, as time has by the victors, only for later generations to revisit it with clearer eyes (and sometimes, raised eyebrows).
why don’t we talk about Winston Churchill, the man who famously said, “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.” The funny thing is that even Churchill couldn’t fully control his legacy. Modern historians have since dug up his controversial colonial-era policies, his less than stellar moments during World War II, his dismissive attitude toward Indian famine victims, etc.
This article examines why the demand for history to be “kind” is often just a euphemism for selective amnesia.
Rauf Aregbesola was once a linchpin of the Tinubu political machine. As commissioner for works in Lagos State under Tinubu’s governorship (1999–2007), he earned a reputation as a no-nonsense, bulldozer-style administrator. When he later became governor of Osun State (2010–2018), he implemented policies that mirrored Tinubu’s playbookinfrastructure, education reforms, and youth empowerment. For years, he was the poster boy of loyalty.
But in Nigerian politics, loyalty is a one-way street. It only runs upward until someone higher up decides to reroute it. The unravelling began when Tinubu, Nigeria’s ultimate political godfather, backed his kinsman, Isiaka Oyetola, to succeed Aregbesola as governor in 2018.
Aregbesola, who probably had another successor in mind, did as Yoruba Zeus directed. Big mistake! Oyetola turned out to be a man supremely unsuited for stand for principles bigger than himself, the strength to hear dissenting voices, or even the fundamental integrity to honour commitments. The fallout has been spectacular. By 2022, Aregbesola, then serving as Minister of Interior, openly broke ranks with his boss, aligning with own faction.
The Tinubu camp, never one for subtlety, branded him a traitor, much like Awolowo’s supporters condemned Akintola for “selling out” to the Northern political elite in the 1960s. But here’s the thing about political “traitors,” their stories are rarely as simple as the labels slapped on them. For decades, Ladoke Akintola was the Yoruba political bogeyman, the man who “betrayed” Awolowo by cosying up to the North. The narrative was black-andwhite: Akintola was the villain, Awolowo the wronged hero. But in recent years,
intelligent Yoruba have taken a second look. Some now argue that Awolowo’s own uncompromising stance might have contributed to the schism.
Politicians love to plead for history’s “kindness,” as if future generations will just nod along like lobotomised zombies. The same mindset that demonised Akintola is now at work against Aregbesola. But just as Akintola’s legacy is being reassessed, so too will Aregbesola’s. Future historians will ask: Was his break with Tinubu a betrayal, or a reaction to godfatherism gone rogue? Did his governance leave a lasting impact, or will it be buried under political mudslinging? And most importantly: Will history remember him as a traitor, or a politician who, at almost 70, audaciously broke ranks?
who were prematurely judged, only for time to offer a more nuanced take. Awolowo was once regarded a rebel; today, he’s a hero. Akintola was a “traitor”; now, some see him as misunderstood. Aregbesola’s story is still being written. His current status as Tinubu’s “black sheep” may dominate today’s be based on hashtag battles or the drivel of keyboard warriors. The combatants of these petty battles will at best be mere footnotes when the full story is told. And that is if they’re lucky.
As Churchill’s legacy shows, no amount of memoir-writing or chest-thumping can erase the messy bits. History doesn’t do “kind.” It does “true.”
And in the end, that’s all that matters.
POSTSCRIPT: And now, for a theological plot twist worthy of Nollywood! If we zoom out and squint, Aregbesola’s feud with Tinubu might just be the universe’s way of saying, “My guy, you overdid it with the hero worship thing.” Aregbesola and infallible.
He defended policies, went to war on his behalf, and probably had a photograph of his Asiwaju on his person day and night. But as the Good Book warns, “Thou shalt have no other Gods before Me”
So here we are: Tinubu, the once allknowing godfather, now playing the role of “retributor” by exiling Aregbesola. And Aregbesola seems to be pulling a classic “Saul-to-Paul” redemption arc, reborn as Nigerian politics serving heavenly satire? Either way, we can’t be certain whose sense of humour.
Lakisokun, a Communications Professional and Political Consultant, writes from Lagos
TAJUDEEN SULEIMAN argues that civil servants do not owe apologies for performing their duties
The former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), is a man I hold in high esteem for his forthrightness and knowledge of the law. I have read most of his media interviews and I’ve always been impressed by his candour. But most especially by what I perceived as a strong desire to set records straight on important issues in which he was involved.
So, you can imagine my shock when at his recent book launch, he deviated from his accustomed bluntness into the arena of theatrics and make-believe. Perhaps it was, in the tradition of biographies, an attempt to remove the stains of alleged corruption on an otherwise brilliant legal career.
While speaking at the book launch, he stated that he had “forgiven” former Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, was the chairman of EFCC when the anti-graft agency prosecuted Adoke for alleged money laundering. The case was eventually struck out.
This is probably why Adoke also urged Magu, who he described as a friend, to “seek forgiveness” from others like him who, in his view, suffered during Magu’s tenure at the EFCC.
While Adoke’s gesture may be seen by some as magnanimous, it raises important questions about the nature of public service, accountability, and personal responsibility within a democratic state governed by law.
Ibrahim Magu was not acting as a private citizen or as a political actor. He was a civil servant appointed to carry out the mandate of the EFCC — to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. In doing so, he acted not on personal whims but under the authority of the law and in pursuit of the Nigerian state’s interests in transparency, anticorruption, and public accountability.
The suggestion that Magu must seek forgiveness implies that he committed a personal wrong. This is misleading and unjust. If Magu wronged anyone, it would have to be demonstrated within the context of abuse of power, malicious prosecution, or personal vendetta. Absent any court ruling or official indictment establishing such misconduct, it is inappropriate to speak of “forgiveness” in moral or interpersonal terms.
Magu neither owed Adoke nor anyone else a personal loyalty. His allegiance, like that of every civil servant, was to the Nigerian state and its constitutional responsibilities.
Investigations Are Not Persecutions
Adoke, as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, ought to know that investigations are different from persecutions. He and the others to who he wants Magu to apologize, were investigated and, at points, prosecuted by the EFCC during Magu’s tenure. Whether those actions were politically motivated is a legitimate topic of public debate — especially given Nigeria’s complex political
landscape. However, the legal and moral framework within which Magu operated required him to investigate all allegations of corruption, including those against high-ranking
The fact that someone was subjected to investigation does not automatically render the investigator culpable of wrongdoing. The proper venue to contest any overreach or illegality is the court of law, not the court of sentiment.
Adoke and others who feel aggrieved have every right to express their experiences. But recasting institutional accountability as personal injury risks distorting the historical record. It paints civil service actions as private vendettas and sets a dangerous precedent: that those who serve the state diligently, especially in sensitive roles, must apologize for stepping on powerful toes. apologize to those they investigate, then no one will have the courage to do the job. The EFCC, like other institutions of accountability, depends on the courage of individuals who are willing to endure unpopularity in the pursuit of public good. If there are lessons to be drawn from the turbulence of the anti-corruption war in Nigeria, they must include a recommitment to rule of law, respect for institutional processes, and a recognition of the line between public duty and personal grievance.
Magu, like any other public servant, is not above reproach. But unless it is shown that he acted maliciously or outside his mandate, there is nothing to forgive. And more importantly, there is nothing to apologize for.
In a nation struggling to hold its leaders accountable, we must be careful not to create a climate where those who dare to enforce the law become targets of moral guilt-tripping. Adoke and others may feel wronged. That is their right. But they must also acknowledge that in a functioning democracy, no one is immune from scrutiny — not even former Attorneys General.
The right to reply must include the right to set the record straight. Ibrahim Magu acted for the state. He owes explanations only to the law — not apologies to its subjects. By asking him to apologise for doing his job, Adoke has, uncharacteristically, cast aspersion on a public servant whose offence was acting within the mandate of his office. Rather than Magu expressing regrets over his action while in office, it’s Adoke that should pick up the phone and make apology to him for impugning on his character before the world.
Mr Suleiman is an Abuja-based Journalist. He can be reached via :tajudeensuleiman@yahoo.com
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
LThere is adequate notice to the authorities to brace for potential disasters
We have lost thousands of people to flooding in the past decade while millions remain displaced
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After years of working in investment banking, Feyisayo Alayande found herself craving a more impactful role, one that goes beyond making the rich richer. Now, as Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, she uses the same sharp tools of corporate finance to create jobs, support entrepreneurs, and rebuild confidence for the average Lagosian, Vanessa Obioha writes
problems, with an impact that extends beyond business into society at large.
Feyisayo Alayande’s modus operandi has always been to help people. She’s the kind of friend who, when you go out for dinner, quietly picks up the tab or makes sure no one feels the weight of the bill. When it comes to organising or solving problems, she moves with the ease of someone who’s done it a thousand times. That instinct has its roots in her upbringing. She grew up seeing her parents, who both worked in the finance sector, always lending a hand, offering support, and opening doors to people. Surrounded by such acts of generosity, it was only natural for Alayande to follow suit. But that was not the only
thing she inherited from them. Like her parents, she also toed the finance path, studying Business Economics at the University of Reading in the UK, followed by a Master’s in Management at Imperial College London.
She began her career as an investment banker, working with institutions such as the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) in the UK and FBNQuest, the investment arm of First Bank Nigeria Plc. But somewhere along the way, Alayande began to crave more than what she described as “making rich people richer.”
“I actually want to be able to take those skills and make a difference to my society at large,” she said during a recent encounter in her office. Alayande identifies as a development finance expert whose core focus is using corporate finance tools to solve everyday
“It’s beyond just their business,” she explained. “It affects residents in Lagos. It affects people in Nigeria. It affects people globally because it’s what is helping to build the economy, helping to help individuals and residents in a particular economy. Development work is work that helps us as a nation and a community. The finance aspect is about using core corporate finance skills to create that level of development.”
With this purpose in mind, Alayande began researching institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB). She later joined inclusive finance bank Letshego, where she held various roles, including Country Project Manager and Head of Products, Digital and Marketing.
When the opportunity came to work with the Lagos State Government in a role that aligned with her passion, she didn’t hesitate. In January 2024, Alayande was appointed acting Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) and confirmed in December of the same year.
The LSETF was established to provide financial support to residents of Lagos State, to tackle unemployment through job and wealth creation. It is a task that Alayande and her ‘A team’ are taking seriously, focusing on the two broad demographics of the agency: job seekers and entrepreneurs.
For instance, in the one and a half years since she assumed office, the agency trained about 20,000 residents in Lagos last year, placing 60 per cent in jobs.
“We’re looking to increase that number this year,” she added.
On the entrepreneurial side, the agency has supported the creation of 250,000 jobs.
“We give access to finance as one of our interventions. We give loans from N50,000 to N5 million. Interest is about nine per cent per annum, which is about 0.75 per cent monthly. It’s probably the only single-digit loan you can find out there. That’s because Governor Sanwo-Olu has insisted that we do not go beyond single digits. And thankfully, we actually had a good collection rate.”
Last year, the agency recorded a 90% repayment rate, which rose to 92% in Q1 2025. Thanks in large part to technology.
“We leveraged tech to help us with upfront assessments,” she explained.
Partnerships with credit bureau agencies have also been key to verifying applicants and conducting KYC. LSETF now has liaison offices in 28 LCDAs across the state to ensure businesses exist and residents can easily access support.
“There’s been a marked improvement in our processes over time. The automation and tech help us make more accurate assessments.”
But Alayande is clear that finance alone is not enough. Many entrepreneurs, she said, are also seeking guidance on how to run a business.
“It’s not only access to finance that is an issue for entrepreneurs. There’s also, how do I structure my business? What does that look like? How do I register my business? How do I get access to the market? How do I get digital literacy skills such as financial planning, insurance, investments, all of those other things beyond finance and loans? It has been the value-add that we’ve been able to put on the table on our business support program and that’s been a very successful one.”
Next on the agenda for her is an Export Readiness Program, supported by partners like AfDB and AfreximBank.
“The whole idea is to help beneficiaries who have successfully paid off their loans get access to markets in maybe three or four trade fairs. There’s no reason why their products cannot be ready, qualitywise and presentation-wise, to an international market, or Pan African market. That’s the kind of role that we’re playing to get our beneficiaries beyond Lagos.”
Certain criteria must be met before applicants can access the loan such as providing their details and bank statements. But the most critical is that they must be a resident of Lagos. The agency has therefore partnered with the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) to help identify residents of Lagos. Equally important is the tax ID.
“We don’t necessarily have control over what you’re paying in taxes. We just need to confirm that you’re a registered taxpayer.”
Alayande’s role also involves building partnerships to help the agency expand its reach.
“The government obviously cannot do it alone but one thing we find that’s consistent across bodies is that Lagosians are resilient. They want to work. They want to make a difference. That’s what has helped our journey so far, in terms of the demand for our solutions. The demand for our programs is extremely high, and we have limited resources, so we’re constantly having to manage the small money we have. How do we make sure it goes far and helps people in Lagos who want to work? We’re thankful we have a good brand. We have a support network of wellmeaning Lagosians who give their time for free, and they actually partner with us to give free master classes and free advisory sessions. That helps you understand that Lagosians are helpful. They’re willing to help, and that marries the gap we’re trying to fill, because if you find people that are willing to help and people that want to work, we will be able to get things going.”
Partners include the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the German development agency GIZ, and King’s Trust International (KTI).
Alayande strongly believes that the unemployed in the state need urgent attention. And her message is very simple:
“No one should suffer in silence. Speak up, ask for help. Reach out to any of the Lagos state agencies. There are so many options out there for support. And once you can upskill, reskill, or get access to the right support, then you can either get access to a job, start or scale your business.”
The experience so far for Alayande has been mixed. On one hand, it gives her immense purpose.
“Being able to get up every day and see that the decisions you’re making are actually helping people’s lives, transforming lives, and making a difference is genuinely rewarding.”
But as it has been fulfilling, it has been challenging. She shared that she works three times as hard as when she was in the private sector. Yet, she is grateful for the opportunity.
“I’m thankful that I get to work in purpose.”
Despite her busy schedule, Alayande still has time to unwind. She calls herself a plant mum – evidenced by the plant decor in her office – and a foodie. “I love to eat. I love to explore new cuisines. So I’m constantly trying out new food and restaurants.”
Nothing, however, compares to her family, particularly her two children.
“They are my pride and joy,” she said with a smile.
In the rarefied circles of Nigerian enterprise, certain names resonate with the unmistakable weight of vision and accomplishment. Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, the urbane Group Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL), is foremost among them.
His leadership continues to chart a course of dynamic transformation for the Southwest’s legacy conglomerate, with the latest feather in his well-adorned cap being the groundbreaking of the ultra-modern Odua Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
This is not merely the laying of foundation stones for another luxury apartment building. It is a masterstroke of strategic asset optimisation, a testament to the forwardthinking philosophy Ashiru has instilled at OICL. The project, domiciled under the group’s real estate subsidiary, Wemabod Limited, will transform an underutilised property into eighteen premium residences, a threefold increase that enhances value and addresses Lagos’s pressing housing needs.
At the prestigious ceremony, Ashiru described the project as a “strategic milestone” in the OICL’s portfolio transformation. His words underscore a clear, calculated vision: to turn legacy assets into sustainable, income-generating investments that redefine our urban landscapes. One only needs to observe the calibre of men his vision attracts to understand its potency. Standing alongside him were industry heavyweights like Abdulrahman Yinusa, the Group MD of OICL; Engr. Nureni Adisa, Chairman of Wemabod, and Bashir Oladunni, the cerebral MD of Wemabod.
This success is but a continuation of a storied career. From his distinguished decades in the banking sector to his transformative two-term tenure as Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Ogun State— where he famously superintended an unprecedented influx of investment—Ashiru has always possessed the Midas touch. The Odua Court is simply the latest evidence that under his chairmanship, the Odu’a Group is not just preserving a legacy but forging a vibrant, prosperous future.
with KAYODE ALFRED 08116759807, E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com
There’s a quiet energy shifting beneath the surface at NNPC Towers in Abuja. No oil spill, no leak; just the unmistakable current of new leadership.
Bayo Ojulari has taken the wheel.
Appointed in April as Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Ojulari inherits a company as vast as it is burdened: Africa’s largest oil firm, shaped by decades of ambition and inertia. Now, from boardroom whiteboards to refinery pipelines, a new tempo is being set.
With Ojulari, it really is not just about oil. It’s about hope, energy security, and the need to redefine the company’s story. The story, as he sees it, includes $30 billion in fresh investment by 2027, a production climb to three million barrels a day, and a transformation of NNPC’s long-idle refineries from steel carcasses into humming machines of progress.
But the job isn’t only domestic.
In a matter of days, Ojulari will touch down in Vienna, joining other global energy leaders for the ninth OPEC International Seminar. There, Nigeria’s new oil captain will pitch not just barrels and bonds, but a vision. One rooted in transparency, performance, and an appetite for reinvention.
At home, he’s already made it clear: NNPC’s future won’t be dictated by yesterday’s scripts.A reconfigured structure, data-led decision-making, and value-focused partnerships are all on the table. Even the narrative, long draped in opacity, is getting a facelift.
It’s bold talk, backed by an even bolder todo list. But insiders say Ojulari is no stranger to complexity. Nor is he daunted by expectation.
For a country whose fortunes remain deeply tethered to crude, his leadership is being watched closely. As he steps into the global spotlight in Vienna, one thing is clear: the Bayo era at NNPC has begun, and the world, like Nigeria, will be paying attention.
Madumere’s, echo with meaning, memory, and a quiet defiance of history’s harsher notes.
On July 4, while fireworks danced across American skies, friends and admirers across Nigeria celebrated the 61st birthday of the former Deputy Governor of Imo State. The date is more than symbolic. It mirrors the man: resilient, principled, and rarely afraid of the fireworks that come with political integrity.
A technocrat with Texan roots and an Owerri heart, Prince Madumere is the kind of figure who once traded gridiron tackles in Houston for the muddy challenges of governance back home. His story is a long march through party corridors, courtroom battles, and corridors of power—always with an eye on public service.
As Chief of Staff and later Deputy Governor, he helped navigate Imo through one of its most turbulent chapters, coengineering a security plan that pushed
In Lagos politics, the spotlight often lingers on the loudest voice in the room. But sometimes, it tilts quietly and deliberately toward the man who says little and does much. Lately, that man is Dr. Tunji Alausa. His journey is anything but typical. A trained nephrologist with a résumé stitched together in London, Chicago, and Milwaukee, Alausa was, until recently, best known in clinical circles. But Lagos is a city where former accountants and chief bureaucrats have found their way into the governor’s lodge. Alausa, now Minister of Education, seems poised to follow the script—if not rewrite it.
Appointed Minister of State for Health in 2023, then reassigned to head Education less than a year later, Alausa’s leap across ministries raised eyebrows, but it also raised his profile. In a country where technocrats are rarely central players, he is inching
Some departures are dramatic. Others are delayed. Abdullahi Ganduje’s was both a curious resignation from the apex of Nigeria’s ruling party, followed days later by a soft landing on a freshly padded tarmac.
Recently, He stepped down as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, citing “urgent personal reasons.” The speculation came quickly: rifts with the presidency, shifting political winds in Kano, or perhaps just a long-overdue return to less combative ground. No sooner had the ink dried than his next destination was announced— Chairman of the Board at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
toward the centre.
Whispers of his gubernatorial potential began as a rumour. Then came the public nod from the League of Concerned Lagosians, a political bloc not known for casual endorsements. With it, murmurs turned to certainty. No campaign posters yet, but the machinery may already be humming.
Unlike some aspirants, Alausa has no sprawling grassroots base. But Lagos’ recent political history suggests this might not be a problem. The city has a knack for turning quiet insiders into front-runners, provided they carry the blessing of the city’s political architects. And Alausa, by several accounts, just might.
Still, questions linger. Can a physician-turnedminister navigate the sharp elbows of Lagos politics? Can technical competence translate into electoral muscle? It is too early to say. But early indicators suggest that he is not merely being watched—he is being positioned.
back waves of criminality. His refusal to rubber-stamp political succession plans led to legal trials and an attempted impeachment, which was ultimately nullified by the courts.
Yet amid the hardball politics, Madumere has nurtured a soft spot: correctional centres and orphanages. For years, he’s marked his birthdays not with galas, but with quiet visits to those society has forgotten. It’s personal. As a political prisoner once held without cause, he knows what it means to feel unseen.
This year, as tributes poured in from across party lines and diaspora circles, supporters prepared a modest but meaningful celebration. Behind the smiles and songs lies a man still shaping his legacy. He calls it “The Journey of Grace”—a slow-burning promise to lead again, to serve again, to build a more humane Imo.
Whether you call him a political stabiliser, a bridge builder, or just a man of conviction, one thing is certain: Prince Madumere isn’t done yet. At 61, the world is still clapping and watching.
Call it a transfer of altitude. From party helm to airport board, the former Kano governor may no longer steer the party’s national machinery, but he now presides over Nigeria’s airways infrastructure. A different kind of turbulence, perhaps.
Supporters insist there’s no fallout. “No misunderstanding, no bad blood,” said Kamal Sarki, head of Tinubu Care and Concern, a local APC affiliate. The group insists Ganduje’s resignation was voluntary, and that opposition forces are spinning fiction from routine party dynamics. “The President and Ganduje remain aligned,” they say. “There is no crack in the ceiling.”
Sceptics might raise a brow or two. After all, voluntary exits are rarely this
timed, and political grace is seldom dispensed without some calculus. But in Nigeria’s ever-choreographed game of chairs, a board seat at FAAN isn’t a fall from grace. It’s a quieter corner with respectable cushions.
For Ganduje, who once stood at the noisy intersection of party strategy and regional power play, the FAAN appointment offers less limelight, more legacy. For now, his allies say the realignment is a signal of continuity, not exile. “Enemies will be disappointed,” they warn. And maybe they will. In the Nigerian political sky, even a cloudy descent can end with a polished runway.
One hundred days may not define a governor, but nearly two months after crossing that benchmark,
appears to be stretching his limbs from political slumber.
When the governor marked his first 100 days in office back in early May, the celebration was modest, as were the achievements. A handshake with the National Security Adviser, a few courtesy visits, a reception in Okene, and attendance at governors’ meetings were listed like gold stars on a kindergarten chart. Governance, we were told, was underway. But 50+ days later, the scoreboard remains mostly unchanged.
The newly created Ministry of Housing, for example, still has no visible project. In a state housing two of Africa’s largest cement manufacturers, workers continue to haemorrhage salaries on rent while the government lays no foundation, literally or figuratively. Not even a pilot estate. Not a single room-and-parlour.
This is not simply administrative lethargy; it’s a misreading of the moment.
Expectations were not sky-high. Citizens did not demand a revolution within six months. But they do expect a pulse, a signal that governance
is more than calendar-filling and ceremonial handshakes. What they’ve received so far feels like the bureaucratic equivalent of marking attendance without showing work.
The tragedy of it all is that Kogi has resources. It has strategic positioning, natural assets, and a young population desperate for leadership that sees past perfunctory headlines. Yet here we are, counting meetings and recycled rhetoric as milestones.
Governor Ododo was not swept into office by accident. His ascension was choreographed by a political godfather now struggling with his own public reckoning. That alone demands that Ododo prove himself on his own merit. But so far, merit seems to have taken a backseat to mediocrity.
The silence from Lugard House is not just disappointing, it’s expensive. Every week without action is a week lost to opportunity.
The governor still has time to pivot. But he must first wake up to the reality that photoops aren’t legacy. And that Kogi’s people deserve more than the appearance of motion. They deserve movement.
In the land of bata beats and ballot games, Osun State’s governor is back in the headlines: not for his dance steps this time, but for a political choreography of a different sort.
Ademola Adeleke, the self-styled “dancing senator” turned governor, is facing swelling speculation that he’s ready to waltz out of the Peoples Democratic Party and into the arms of the All Progressives Congress. The move, observers say, could come with a princely gift: an automatic APC ticket for his 2025 re-election bid.
But the governor is having none of it.
“This is not in my plan,” he declared over the weekend, swatting away the rumours like a fly buzzing near a bowl of party jollof. Yet even as he speaks, the whispers grow louder. Within APC circles, high-ranking insiders continue to claim the move is only a matter of timing, not intent.
The defection drama comes as the PDP faces a slow-motion unravelling, with
governors in Akwa Ibom and Delta already crossing party lines. Each exit delivers a fresh sting to Nigeria’s oldest surviving party. In Osun, the pressure is even more acute, given Adeleke’s populist appeal and the state’s political volatility.
Fuelling the intrigue was a cryptic social media post by former PDP lawmaker Wole Oke. Hinting at loyalty, mischief, and something vaguely prophetic, Oke made many not-so-subtle references to Adeleke, somehow advising him to stay put and fight like a man.
The APC, now firmly in control at the federal level, remains the political gravity centre. For embattled governors, it offers something the PDP increasingly cannot: shelter. Still, for now, Adeleke is tapping his feet in place. No steps forward, no turns. Just a promise: “I’m not going anywhere.”
But in Nigerian politics, a dance is rarely just a dance. And the music, it seems, has only just begun.
Adeleke
Adelabu says he is focused on power. But not the electric kind.
In recent weeks, Nigeria’s Minister of Power has moved quietly through Ogbomoso and Oyo, meeting chieftains,
courting factions, and making clear that his sights are set not on voltage, but on votes.
The former central banker turned cabinet official wants to be governor of Oyo State in 2027. He’s already rehearsing his campaign script. And he doesn’t seem to be waiting for anyone’s permission.
Which raises a different sort of question for the presidency and the people: is it time for Adelabu to make way for someone whose ambition lies in kilowatts, not campaigns?
The Ministry of Power needs a fulltime steward. Nigeria’s electricity sector is teetering: saddled with N5 trillion in debt, persistent outages, ageing infrastructure, and a national grid with the temperament of a toddler. The government’s latest push toward a cost-reflective tariff regime has triggered more questions than confidence. Consumers grumble, generators roar, and no one is quite sure what they’re paying for.
Adelabu, for his part, has promised
At 25, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is neither young enough to plead inexperience nor old enough to claim legacy. Yet here it stands: caught between unfinished bridges and newly commissioned hope.
Born in 2000 from the country’s uneasy pact with its oil heartland, the NDDC came with lofty mandates: build roads, deliver power, heal the land, and soothe the grievances of a region rich in oil but poor in trust. Twentyfive years later, that mission reads like both a prophecy and a post-mortem.
Critics count over 13,000 projects either uncompleted or abandoned. Billions spent, some say; little felt, many reply. From failed fibre optics training to cancelled waste truck schemes, there’s enough to fuel cynicism. But lately, something seems to have shifted to positive effects.
Instead of simply awarding contracts,
the commission now speaks in the language of transformation. The new mantra is results, not receipts. Roads like the 27-kilometre OgbiaNembe stretch now connect once-isolated communities. Lights are back in places like Okitipupa after years of darkness. And in a surprising twist, oil majors like Shell and NLNG are now co-financing critical infrastructure.
What changed? Insiders point to a quiet administrative overhaul. Gone is the old model of patronage; in its place, a return to the 13 directorates outlined in the commission’s founding Act. There’s even talk of measurable KPIs, of KPMG audits, of reintroducing the public to the idea that governance can be predictable. Still, transformation takes more than ceremonies. For every bridge completed, there’s a classroom missing. For every ribbon cut, there’s a road still washed away by neglect. And while governors toast the commission’s new
Ekiti’s
In politics, legacy is not claimed. Instead, it is earned, seen, and remembered. But in Ekiti State, as Governor Biodun Oyebanji enters the latter stretch of his first term, many are quietly asking: where is it?
reform. He has spoken of liquidity fixes, transmission upgrades, renewable expansion, and stakeholder engagement. But while the plans pile up, performance has not. Power generation has barely moved since 2015, and distribution remains patchy even for premium-paying Band A customers. One cannot serve two masters. The road to Agodi is long and winding, and the detours required to reach it are incompatible with running one of Nigeria’s most complex ministries. Adelabu may very well have the capacity to govern a state. But right now, he governs a sector in urgent need of clear direction.
If his heart lies in Oyo 2027, then the honourable move would be to step aside and allow someone else to refocus the ministry’s compass. Power, after all, is not just about ambition. It’s about results. And this is no time for distracted leadership.
Nigeria deserves better than flickering attention. Let there be light—and focus.
To be clear, no one expects a governor to transform the world overnight. But leadership leaves traces, visible marks of intent, impact, and vision. So far, critics argue, Ekiti’s landscape tells a quieter story. A recent commentator went as far as suggesting the only consistent pattern of delivery has been “upkeep” to political elders. Others have questioned why, nearly three years in, there is little beyond routine governance to show.
One such voice, Isaac Fayose, known for his unabashed commentary, noted the absence of any major project launch on Democracy Day. His observation echoed a broader sentiment: that despite rising federal allocations and increasing national opportunities, Ekiti seems caught in a pause mode.
Even the flyover in AdoEkiti, cited by some critics as the most visible undertaking of this administration, has become more of a conversation starter than a game changer. Critics say the slow pace of construction now mirrors the tempo of governance. The state, they argue, is not short on resources but possibly on urgency.
Still, this is not a eulogy for a term not yet concluded. There is time— not endless, but enough—to change tempo, to shift focus from political rituals to real, structural reform. Health, housing, education, agriculture, these are not abstract sectors. They are the daily texture of Ekiti life.
A governor’s legacy is not defined by what he promises, nor even by what he starts, but by what the people can point to when the speeches end. In Ekiti, they are still waiting to point. And time, though not exhausted, is no longer abundant.
TAJUDEEN OLUSI AND THE FRAILTY IN POWER
If you are very conversant with Lagos politics, this name would not be strange to you. The wellrespected prince is the Chairman of the powerful GAC. The GAC is the Governor’s Advisory Council and it is a body that was originally set up to provide advisory counsel to the governor in Lagos. This body has however morphed into a powerful body that works very closely with the oga to keep things in check. Now after the wahala between Sanwo-Olu and his ‘Daddy’ and the role the GAC under Prince Olusi played, I am not very sure they still have that influence. But again, politics is about permanent interest and not permanent friendships. Anyways, that was how I went to look for this legendary mythical figure in Ebute Metta. I got his number from someone and gave him a call and he told me to come around last Monday and I went.
I was kept waiting for four hours while people with better connections were coming and going. I just sat there, chewing my nails. His people
I woke up suddenly a few nights ago and checked the time, it was 2am. I grumbled because I needed my eight hours of sleep. Why am I waking up at this time?
Then Bola Ige came to mind. The Cicero of Esa-Oke hit my sub-consciousness. Why not do a play on him? I thought and at that moment I called Yemi Shodimu. “Edgar, I am still sleeping,” he replied. I called William Benson, the maverick director and he didn’t pick. So, I sent a message to Muyiwa Ige, the scion of the late great philosopher. The text was delivered but he did not read it. At about 8am, I saw his reply, “Edgar, let’s talk in the evening,” and we talked.
Muyiwa speaks like a member of the British Royal family, his English is clean and sweet. “Edgar, did you watch my interview with my father?” I answered yes - I hadn’t watched it. “My father deserves a GCON,” and I responded, “I agree.”
Yes, I truly agree. Chief Bola Ige was a giant. A
had looked at my earrings and my dreadlocks and must have concluded that, this one na musician wey never blow, make he wait small. When I was finally ushered in, I met a very frail-looking old man. I hear he is in his 80s and it showed. He must have been very handsome in his youth as I could still see the fine lines on his face. He had grey scraggly beards, the type Gbaja has and he is very tall. A simple man who looked very kind but well respected by the way his aides fawned over him. He liked me instantly. I gave him a bottle of schnapps, knelt down and said, “I am Duke of Shomolu,” and he looked at me with curiosity and asked “Which Shomolu” and I told him that it was the one near Bariga. We talked very briefly about politics, ethnicity and support for the arts and then I said – Baba, abeg command someone to give me money make I go Ekiti. Then he asked if I knew Teslim, that I should call him…
As I walked away, the nagging question on my mind was where are these frail old men getting all of these powers from? Mbok, he looked so delicate and sweet and reminded me of my grandfather but unlike that
scholar, a brilliant advocate of Nigeria, a poet, a man that they no longer build. People like him no longer come to Nigeria from heaven. God has changed the criteria of those that should be born in Nigeria. Instead of intellectual giants, it is people like Wike and Reno that are being mass-produced for us.
Chief Ige continues to be on my mind since that fateful night and for very right reasons. When you see the crop of leaders that now rule us and you compare them with the likes of Chief Ige, you will just be weeping like a man who just saw his wife step out of a brothel.
His “siddon look” categorisation of things that were happening at the tail end of his life still resonates today as the very few good men that we have today can only “siddon look” as barbarians ravage our sensibilities almost on a daily basis.
Muyiwa, yes Muyiwa, you are not alone in this call but will the Atilla, the Jagaban listen?
one who quickly went to join his ancestors, this one is still in Ebute Metta and making things happen. I truly do like him, may not like what he represents – pseudo monarchical hold on power. I still like him the way you would like your sweet old grandpa.
THE ‘SURULERE’ IN JIDE BENSON
After being born and bred in Shomolu, my Yoruba is still a little bit shaky but at least I know that the word ‘patience’ resonates in the Yoruba word ‘surulere.’ Yes, that is what my homeboy Jide Benson needs to have as he vies for the chairmanship of that local government. By the time you read this, the inevitable would have happened. By this, I mean that the elections would have happened, winner from APC announced and the whole of the “boys” in Surulere will converge under the various bridges drinking and smoking whatever they are smoking in celebration, and Desmond Elliot will lead caravans around the place, distributing chin chin and boli to their people. Sadly, Surulere will not benefit from
the brilliance of Jide who is a thorough bred intellectual and visioner. Surulere will not benefit from his wealth of corporate experience, his ideals and ideas and very positive things his euphoric thought processes will throw on the table. Instead it will eagerly remain in absolute captivity, wallow in its infrastructural decay and remain by standing as the rest of Lagos drives through it on the brilliant Western Avenue Express Road.
A sad plot, but its inevitability throws me into a giddy ironic excitement as the pain of Jide’s inevitable loss will mix with the painful sadism of our helplessness. Make I rest.
DELE FAROTIMI AS A ‘YORUBA’ SHAKESPEARE
I don’t know what they put in the beans they gave my brother to eat inside that place they put him for 21 days o. Since he came out, his English has been at Shakespearean levels. He is even blowing the thing much more than that Bini former politician who used to scatter walls with his gargantuan English.
Oya, let me quote Dele on his take on Wike: “Poster boy of ruin, cacophonous, parasitic, narcissistic,
Lilliputian, gluttonous, myopic, and completely untouched by any desire for immortality.”
My people, I am telling you very succinctly that before he went on that journey, his English was not this very robust o. But since he came out, the thing has become very colourful and clear. There must be something inside that place that must have affected his vocab.
He talks more now like a philosopher. His words are much more fearless and punchier and even his demeanour is now more Mandelalike. I tell you something positive came out from that journey.
My advice to him is that any time he feels like the vocab is reducing, he should just rush back to the Ekiti Commissioner of Police for another 21-day retreat so that he can regain the power of the words because me I am really liking this o. Kai, my brother, see as you just finish son of a GM. Na wa.
BABACHIR LAWAL: LOW, DOWN AND DIRTY
Who is this man again sef? Is it not the one that was mired in a grasscutting scandal the other day or am I mistaken? Shebi the walls of decency have totally collapsed and we have now imposed a revolving door that allows various characters to come in and out of our sensibilities without any morals or shame.
If not the kind of society we run, will this one even have the face to appear at a bus stop talkless of coming on live TV and be telling someone to shut up for asking a simple question. I tell you there are some jobs that I cannot do. I used to think it is only the role of a university lecturer that I cannot take. Kai, the other day I went to UNILAG. Come and see the things that I saw. I swear, if I am a lecturer, I will enter jail so I just respected myself and avoided that job.
The other job that I cannot do is TV presenter. As that Baba is telling me to shut up, I go tell am shut up too. Make everything scatter abeg. What arrogance! If you have nothing to say, why not just stay in your hamlet and judge matters in your harem, instead of coming out to publicly embarrass yourself like this?
Lucky him, I for show am Shomolu style, I swear.
NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN: ON THE MARCH AGAIN
This soap opera has started a new series. The whole thing is much more exciting than Big Brother Africa. This series comes with all of that and more – sex, lies, fashion, drama and suspense. It is definitely 18+ rated as it comes with adult themes.
Well, in this new season, Natasha has won in court. The court has declared that the suspension was too harsh. It annulled it and asked for Madam to go back even though it still gave her a fine to pay.
The Senate has, however, given conditions for her to come back and Madam has sent her veils and “abaya” to dry cleaners in preparation for a grand entry. Her oga is on standby to walk her in and they have rented a donkey for it.
The Senate is showing signs that they are not too eager to have Madam back. Her perfume used to irritate their noses and she may now start attacking their oga again who has been uncommonly dragged in this matter.
Well for me, na to siddon look as our papa Bola Ige don talk. Abi what else can we do since we cannot even hold her hand in support because if you try, na sexual harassment case will jump at you. Na just to laugh, Nigeria my country.
PRIMATE AYODELE: LATTER DAY
PROPHET
This is a major problem the way I see it because if this prophet sees vision for me, that will be it o. I woke up around 4am to write this column and I have been writing and cancelling this Baba own o. Fear and courage is just cascading through my body but the urge to yab him is so strong that I
have decided to take this risk. Some of us held tight to one of his prophecies before the last election where he was quoted to have said that if Tinubu wins, that we will suffer o. That prophecy was one of the things we held on to as we prayed for a different outcome for the elections. My people Tinubu “won” and we truly suffered o. From the day Tinubu uttered “subsidy is gone,” everything scattered. We started to eat grass and the prophet was now looking like a perfect replacement to Godspower Oyewole.
But his recent prophecies and proclamations are giving us his fans
She is shameless, she is sexually irresponsible, she owes salaries and she carries the name of a man she’s no longer married to. Kai, see 21st century spokesmanship according to the great and iconic Lere Olayinka, the very garrulous spokesman of Nyesom Wike. These ones do not have time for the niceties and the elegant diplomatic retort of iconic spokesmen like Victor Oladokun and other superior spokesmen.
Being a spokesman used to be such a beautiful task. It involved the elegant use of words, aptly delivered without losing its bite but leveraging sweet persuasion to make very hard-hitting points. This “dem” Lere style is something out of the densely populated Oshodi motor park. Their own is downright “roforofo,” reminiscent of the Fela Kuti anthem: ‘I no be gentleman at all o’. For them, it is bullish, brutish, abusive and verbally violent assault on opposing figures while carefully avoiding the issues. Let me give an example. Assuming I am the one unfortunately interviewing Lere on my almost dead podcast: “Mr. Lere, what is your take on the seeming insecurity under Wike in Abuja?”
This will likely be his response: “Duke
you are mad. Didn’t they kick you out of secondary school? Were you not sleeping with housemaids and didn’t your wife slap you the other day? Well, Duke, you also eat too much and you came to beg me for money the other day and it is because I did not give you that you are asking me this silly question. Look, let me warn you Mr. Duke or whatever you call yourself, if you dare ask me any stupid question again, I will tell the whole world that you are addicted to porn…”
My people, this strategy in public defending is what I call the “Balu bla ba la bu” strategy and what this simply means is that, if you are selling a bad product or the case is very bad, you dodge the issue and go for the neck of the person making enquiry, simple. Very beautiful strategy.
Or how do you defend this – my father is very rich; he was a GM of many companies and I drove a Benz in school. I drive a Rolls Royce and Amaechi’s wife is not an industrialist. Seriously, if you were in Lere’s position, and a Rufai Oseni takes you up on these bogus claims, is it to be talking like Pat Utomi or you immediately assume “agbero” status and grab Rufai”s neck? Lere is the man of the times, I swear. Na him we deserve. We never ready. Kai.
a cause of worry. For some time now, he has been linking Tinubu with such great biblical Kings like Nebuchadnezzar and Melchizedek. Tinubu has somehow found his way into the prophet’s good books. How he did that remains a mystery that only Professor Peller, the famed late magician can assist us to unravel. Well, my dear Prophet, whatever makes you happy makes me happy. Let the support and prophecies in favour of Tinubu continue o. It is not a problem o abi is it me, a tiny orphan form Shomolu that will now come and be querying your mighty words? Tinubu forever, my lord, Tinubu forever. God bless you sir, please if I annoy you, don’t vex o.
If there is any need to send a prophecy down here, please do for the Editor, his head is bigger than my own. Thank you.
Laide is a serial entrepreneur. A young visionary and a “doer.” He and his partner Obinna delivered the iconic Purple Lekki Mall. If you know what these people went through to deliver that iconic building, you will marvel. Covid, FX volatility, rapid rise in cost of material and the likes. They went through all of that and more and delivered on a spectacular project that today shimmies the skyline and has served as a major pull to Lagosians. Then tragedy. A young and very vivacious Nigerian lad got involved in a sad accident on the fifth floor and lost his life. This event shocked all stakeholders. He was the only son of his very beautiful mother and this really shook all stakeholders to the core.
Laide mostly was more shocked. He reached out: “Edgar, I need you on this and my mandate was very clear. We need to reach out to the family at this point and not only extend our condolences but must support them throughout this ordeal.”
Throughout the matter, I listened intently as Laide was only concerned about the welfare of the family – what of the mother, how do we reach her, how is she feeling? Oh, what of the father, what of the other members of the family? What can we do to support? She is in London, do I fly there to meet with her?
This was compassion at the height. The fact that this sad occurrence was hitting his bottom-line like a Tsunami was not his issue but the thought of the immediate family was uppermost in his mind, and that to me is leadership at its very core.
May Obinna’s soul rest in peace and may God continue to give his family, especially his very distraught mother, the strength to pass through this period. Sad and very touching.
“Edgar, you must help me hail my daughter so that we can both push her to go for her doctorate.” The pride in his voice was unmistaken, there is nothing sweeter in this world than to have achieving children, especially with the kind of world that we live in.
Magnus and Helen are so proud that they have flooded all of us with pictures of their stupendously brilliant and pretty daughter.
Here I am sending my own congratulations even as I also join your proud parents in begging you to go for that Doctorate. Do it my girl, we are all rooting for you. Do it. Love yo
According to the late US Educator and member of the House of Representatives, William H. Murray, “The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.”
If there is one man that providence has moved into his life, it is no other person but the former governor of Oyo State, Rasheed Ladoja.
The billionaire politician has never shied away from telling anyone that to be the Olubadan of Ibadanland is his most cherished ambition. This is one dream he has always pursued with great determination.
Even when the former governor of the state, Abiola Ajimobi, attempted to review the Olubadan chieftaincy declaration and other related chieftaincies in Ibadanland, the move didn’t sit down with the former governor and Ibadan high chief.
In a swift reaction, he berated the state government for proposing to review the chieftaincy declaration because this would have knocked him off the line of Obaship of the ancient city.
He went to court, claiming that the people of Ibadan had a longestablished, rancour-free tradition of succession to the throne which should not be broken.
He fought tooth and nail for his lifelong ambition, remaining resolute and determined and prayerful. Today, his perseverance seemed to have paid off.
Following the passing of Oba Owolabi Olakul ehin last Monday, Ladoja’s prayer may have been answered. Pending any unforeseen circumstances, it remains a matter of time for him to receive the staff of office to ascend the throne he has treasured all his life.
It was gathered that his residence has turned into a Mecca of sorts as friends and admirers continued to troop there to celebrate with him in anticipation of the great day he would finally wear the biggest crown in the whole of Ibadanland.
Since the former Chairman of Skye Bank, Tunde Ayeni, left the banking industry, he has seemingly been involved in one controversy or another, such that many marvel at his strength and conviction to endure such battles.There was a time when he ruled his world as a professional in the nation’s financial sector. At a relatively young age, he made waves in the banking industry and controlled major shares in many financial institutions, as well as other sectors of the economy.
In 2011, Ayeni became Chairman of Skye Bank, now known as Polaris Bank, following the merger of five banks, including Bond Bank, which he founded in 2000.
Sadly, he began to experience a kind of antithesis in his flourishing career, following the order by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the management of Skye Bank.
The order came on the heels of an alleged cash liquidation of the bank. He was, therefore, sacked alongside other top management of the bank.
Since the unfortunate development, many have called for his head, following the way he allegedly ran the bank until it was rescued by the apex bank.
Although no court of law has pronounced him guilty on the allegations, it appears his
The late Scottish theologian and author, William Barclay, was celebrated for writing several books with great appeal. In one of his very inspiring quotes, Barclay, also a renowned
seeming headache has not abated in any way.
Apart from the pain in the banking industry, the billionaire businessman is also engaged in several wars with his numerous mistresses. Just as many have thought that the hullabaloo about his troubled tango with Adaobi Alagwu – a relationship he described as the gravest mistake of his life and one that nearly cost him his sanity, dignity, and assets – has died down, it seems that the trained lawyer is moving onto yet another fight with another woman.
As gathered, Ayeni is in court to retrieve a plush apartment in Banana Island, Lagos, from his alleged ex-mistress, Gail Fajembola.
The legal representatives of Olutoyi Estate Development & Services Ltd recently submitted a formal petition to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, alleging that the lady unlawfully converted and leased out a luxury apartment located in Banana Island, Lagos.
In the petition dated June 13, 2025, Fajembola was accused of fraudulently taking possession of the property and leasing it to unsuspecting tenants. The petition stated that the apartment was originally granted to Ms. Fajembola strictly on compassionate grounds.
The petition further alleged that Fajembola, through her company—GIF Energy Resources
Limited—rented out the apartment for over three years, receiving rental income estimated to exceed 100 million without the knowledge or approval of the rightful owner.
television and radio presenter, said: “There are two great days in a person’s life: the day we are born and the day we discover why.”
Interestingly, among the few great personalities in the world who may be said to have internalised the true essence of Barclay’s thought-provoking words is Otunba Funso Lawal, the Chairman, Sogenal Petroleum, who turned 70 on Friday, July 11.
Society Watch gathered that the iconic chairman spent the day with his creator, as he visited the Kabbah in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for prayers.
Lawal, who was formerly the chairman of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), used the birthday occasion to launch
his much-awaited Otunba Funso Lawal Foundation.
The foundation will provide financial assistance to Nigerians pursuing higher education in secondary and tertiary institutions, while it will also pay hospital bills of those in need of good healthcare across the country.
Over the years, Lawal has lifted countless souls with his magnanimity. He has also lavished his favours on millions around the globe, providing a torch that lights the dark path of the hopeless in society.
Though he does not court publicity for his humanitarian gestures, his worthy deeds have not gone unnoticed, as he has been deservedly honoured at home and abroad.
Can you hazard the age of ever-radiant Helen Prest-Ajayi? When you consider the fact that she was 19 when she won the coveted Miss Nigeria pageant in 1979, you will not but be stunned at her ageless beauty. Almost four decades later, she still fits into the description of a beautiful woman, as many women her age with such stunning beauty are often described.
At 65 and with three adult daughters, she still turns heads whenever she steps out. Little wonder, she still adorns many fashion magazines alongside her daughters. Despite this, the beautiful woman is not happy as she continues a running battle over the estate of her late husband, Dr Tosin Ajayi, who passed away in 2020.
The former beauty queen and her daughter, Tomisin Ajayi, were dragged to court by Mrs. Adenike Oluyemisi Ajayi and her children (Tomi Deru, Olumide Ajayi, Omolade Soetan, Mayowa Okeowo, and Bisola Ajayi).
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State seemed to have stirred up the hornet’s nest over his administration’s decision to probe the cause of death of former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu by conducting a coroner’s inquest. The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo, had disclosed that some concerned groups
Mrs. Adenike had earlier claimed that Prest was only a concubine to her husband, faulted her claim that she was Dr Ajayi’s only wife and challenged her to produce legal proof of marriage.
So, penultimate Thursday, Helen testified before a Lagos High Court, presenting volumes of documents and pictorial evidence to establish her 25-year marriage to the late famous physician, Ajayi.
Ms. Prest told the court that her marriage to the deceased, who was the Managing Director of First Foundation Medical Engineering Company, was conducted in 1996 under Kalabari Native Law and Custom, with her full consent and the blessing of her family.
She gave her testimony during ongoing proceedings before Justice Oluwatoyin Odusanya, which concerned the management of Dr. Ajayi’s estate.
and citizens within and outside the state had submitted petitions to the Ministry of Justice seeking the invocation of a coroner’s inquest.
Ajulo, however, claimed that the petitioners did not disclose their identities, adding that the widow of the late Akeredolu, Betty, and others were suspected by the petitioners of being behind the demise of the former governor.
Akeredolu died in December 2023 after succumbing to prostate cancer, an ailment he battled for a long time during his tenure as governor of the Sunshine State.
Among the leading critics of the government’s move are a former minister of state for transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, who advised the governor to drop the idea in the interest of peace in the state. He described as unthinkable the government’s endorsement of the exhumation of late Akeredolu’s body.
The Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Ondo West LGA of the state described the government’s plan as “insensitive and provocative ” The party went further to say that the move was an affront to the legacy and family of the late governor, adding that it suspected the state government might be using state resources to settle personal or political scores.
Across the state, everyone seems to believe that the planned coroner is indeed a ploy by the Aiyedatiwa’s administration to settle personal scores.
The questions begging for answers include why the government is making such a move now; who stands to benefit from Akeredolu’s death, and who are the faceless petitioners? The government needs to find answers to these questions to douse the tension the matter has generated.
Exploring themes of identity, culture, and human experience through her meticulous ballpoint pen compositions, Jacqueline Suowari – internationally acclaimed as the “Queen of the Ballpoint Pen” – has garnered recognition from prominent organisations and world-renowned media outlets.
Okechukwu Uwaezuoke writes
“An Eveningwith Jacqueline Suowari,” the invite announced. It was for some fancy art thing at Bakendales Café, an art-deco-inspired space along Glover Road in the upscale Ikoyi neighbourhood of Lagos. Apparently, this Abuja-based female artist – increasingly known in serious art circles to be really good at drawing with ballpoint pens – must have made a big enough impression for such a distinguished gathering that included the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, and his wife, Leigh, to have deemed it worthy enough to attend.
hosted by Emeka Nweze, a Lagos-based collector, and drew in a crowd of art lovers, collectors, and connoisseurs. It featured only 10 limited edition pieces from her “Hair With Me” series. “What came to life in the most beautiful form, and I’m truly grateful to God for making it possible,” the artist gushed in a recent Instagram post.
Not long before this event, two of Suowari’s monumental drawings were featured at a recent international group exhibition held as an ancillary event of the West African Economic Summit in Abuja. These works combine meticulous pen drawings with Afro-urban elements, painted in vivid acrylic primary colours that pulse with the rhythm of her inner warmth.
Enhanced by fabrics that add a tactile quality, these artworks showcase Suowari’s unique style. Her sprawling masterpieces, some stretching over ten feet wide, explore themes of identity, culture, and the universal language of the body. With each stroke of her pen, the University of layered narratives that transcend technical virtuosity, transporting viewers to a world of vibrant colours and textures. As a result, her art conjures powerful emotions that linger long after the viewer has walked away, leaving an indelible impression on their subconscious – an impact that proclaims her skill and artistry, earning her the nickname “Queen of the Ballpoint Pen,” a title that seems increasingly apt as her global recognition grows.
Her rising star status was further evident on May 20, when Suowari joined four other esteemed speakers at the World Bank Group Youth Summit 2025’s plenary session, held at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C. The summit’s theme, “New Horizons: Youth-Led Innovation for a Livable Planet,” underscored the pivotal role young innovators play in shaping a sustainable future.
In the session “Creative Industries as a Driver of Economic Resilience: Youth Innovation in Arts, Media, and Fashion,” Suowari shared insights with industry leaders, including Germán Cufré,
Global Manager of Digital Infrastructure Investments and Creative Industries at IFC; Farida Raafat, CEO and founder of DALYA NYC & Two Eighty-Four Agency; Maryam Bukar Hassan, founder and award-winning poetvocate of True My Voice; and Piyusha Khot, Innovation Lab Co-Lead for the WBG Youth Summit 2025. This opportunity showcased her expertise and
Suowari’s achievements have been recognised by prominent organisations. She was named Descent (MIPAD) in 2025, a notable honour on individuals of African descent who are was recognised by the Global Arts in Medicine Fellowship (GAIMF) in 2025, which focuses on the intersection of art and medicine, highlighting the ways in which creativity can heal and bring tribute to her dedication and talent.
Suowari’s artistic talent has garnered widespread recognition, with features in prominent media outlets like CNN, ForbesAfrica, and Great and Layers,” earned an AMVCA nomination, further underscoring her creative genius.
A pivotal moment in her career came in 2018 whenAvant Gallery in the U.S. began exclusively representing her work, propelling her art to a global audience. Since then, her work has been shown in esteemed locations worldwide, including Art Miami, the World Trade Center, Prizm Art Fair, London, Paris, Lagos, and Abuja.
To think it all began with modest beginnings! From there, she rose to international acclaim by honing her craft with the ballpoint pen, transforming it into a powerful tool for self-expression. of her creativity and skill, capturing the essence of human experience with remarkable depth. As she once shared with CNN, “I like to look at each stroke as a human experience… the gathering and layering of all the strokes create the person and their character.”
This approach infuses her art with a visceral quality, inviting viewers to connect with the emotions and stories behind each piece. By capturing people in vulnerable or contemplative states, her portraits reveal an honesty that transcends words. Her study of body language and subliminal behavior has given her a unique insight into the human experience, allowing her to create art that resonates deeply with audiences.
As she shared with Arise News in 2022, her art is driven by two key goals: helping people connect with their true identity and live authentically, and reminding artists and audiences alike that creativity knows no bounds.
Suowari’s artistic journey really began at the passion for drawing. Encouraged by her mother, she explored various creative outlets, including dance, poetry, and painting. This early foundation laid the groundwork for her multidisciplinary approach, which she has since honed into “The Jacqueline Suowari Experience”.
with audiences, who, as she notes, “could feel the honesty in my strokes”.
While her path to recognition was not without its challenges, Jacqueline’s perseverance emotion through her art has resonated deeply
dedicated advocate for mental wellness, identity, and youth development through art. Her collaborations with NGOs, cultural bodies, and international organisations have leveraged her platform to raise awareness about critical issues and drive meaningful change.
In a nation often enamoured with the optics of infrastructure - towering flyovers, imposing government edifices, and gleaming new highways - Senator Uba Sani, the Governor of Kaduna State, is carving out a unique legacy. His administration, while making impressive strides in infrastructure across both urban and rural Kaduna, is charting a deeper course — one that views roads and buildings not as ends, but as enablers of a larger mission: the liberation of people from the vicious cycles of multi-dimensional poverty. In just over two years in office, Uba Sani has redefined what it means to govern, taking leadership beyond brick-and-mortar and placing Kaduna on a bold trajectory of human capital development.
In Kaduna State, a striking example of visionary governance has emerged, under the leadership of Senator Uba Sani. While his administration has overseen massive infrastructural investments, especially in rural communities, these visible achievements are not the summit of his ambitions. Governor Uba Sani’s leadership boldly ventures into the realm of human capital development, the vital foundation upon which sustainable growth and societal transformation depend.
Unlike many political leaders whose focus remains largely on erecting physical projects, Governor Uba Sani is a firm believer that to lift the greatest number of Kaduna’s people from the grips of multi-dimensional poverty, government must invest heavily in healthcare, education, agriculture, safety and security. These pillars, he argues, are the bedrock of a resilient society and the pathways to prosperity. His philosophy aligns closely with that of the globally renowned philanthropist, Bill Gates, who famously asserted: “By unleashing human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity — and that path is an exciting thing to be part of.” Governor Uba Sani’s governance is informed by this compelling truth. He understands that multi-dimensional poverty — where deprivation manifests not only in income but in education, health, nutrition, and opportunity — cannot be eliminated by infrastructure alone. It demands deliberate and strategic investments in people.
Governor Uba Sani’s tenure represents a transformative chapter in Kaduna’s development story. From the outset, he set a clear vision: while roads and buildings are essential, the ultimate aim is to empower people through health, education, and economic opportunity.
Kaduna State has indeed witnessed a surge in infrastructural projects under his watch — rural roads that connect farmers to markets, health centers upgraded to provide quality care, schools rehabilitated and built anew, and security facilities enhanced to protect lives and property. These initiatives have brought tangible relief and improved living conditions, especially in communities long neglected.
But Governor Uba Sani insists this is just the beginning. His government’s investments in human capital address the root causes of poverty and social vulnerability, seeking to create a virtuous cycle of opportunity and growth.
Good health is a prerequisite for human flourishing. The Governor’s administration has prioritised the revitalisation of healthcare infrastructure across Kaduna, coupled with initiatives to improve service delivery, maternal and child health, and access to essential medicines.
Recognising that illness can entrench families in poverty, the Kaduna State government has supported immunisation programmes, trained health workers, and enhanced rural health clinics. These efforts have reduced mortality rates and improved overall well-being, enabling children to attend school and adults to engage productively in economic activities. Health investments are not merely reactive but preventative. Governor Uba Sani’s administration supports community health education, emphasising nutrition, sanitation, and disease prevention. By reducing the
health burden, Kaduna is building a healthier workforce and more resilient communities.
Governor Uba Sani’s unwavering commitment to education is perhaps the most defining feature of his administration. He regards education not as a service to be administered, but as a powerful tool for individual empowerment and societal transformation.
His comprehensive, systems-based approach to educational reform embodies this conviction. It spans improving access, modernising infrastructure, enhancing teacher capacity, and leveraging technology to deliver quality learning experiences.
At the KADA EduPACT International Summit 2025, Governor Uba Sani articulated a bold vision for the Kaduna State Education Model. He emphasised moving beyond fragmented efforts to a unified, datadriven, forward-looking strategy that centers children and youth within the state’s development agenda. His administration has reduced tuition fees in state-owned tertiary institutions by 40%, leading to significant enrollment increases. This ensures that no child is denied education because of financial hardship — a major barrier in many parts of Nigeria.
Moreover, his administration’s Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROOSC) Project exemplifies his resolve to eradicate educational exclusion. Over 1,000 classrooms have been constructed or rehabilitated; 62 new secondary schools commissioned; and instructional materials worth millions distributed. A digital-first strategy supports school operations, while real-time data dashboards track enrollment, attendance, and completion to guide policy.
Governor Uba Sani recognises that academic education is only part of the solution. For youth empowerment and economic resilience, skills acquisition and vocational education are critical.
To this end, his administration has established three Institutes of Vocational Training and Skills Development at Rigachikun, Samaru Kataf, and Soba, all commissioned in June 2025 by Presi-
dent Bola Ahmed Tinubu. These centers are certified by the National Board for Technical Education as Nigeria’s best-equipped skills development hubs.
The Institutes offer training in welding, solar technology, information technology, artificial intelligence, and other trades, preparing Kaduna’s youth for the rapidly evolving job market. These centers aim to position Kaduna as a national hub of technical excellence, bridging the persistent skills gap that hampers local economic growth.
The iconic Panteka Market, Africa’s largest informal skills center, has undergone modernisation, equipped with state-of-the-art tools and training aligned with the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework. This upgrade is designed to uplift over 38,000 apprentices, preserving traditional craftsmanship while introducing modern techniques and certifications.
Governor Uba Sani’s human capital investment philosophy extends fundamentally to agriculture — a sector where the majority of Kaduna’s poor find their livelihood.
He understands that when people live in poverty, many rely on subsistence farming with little or no cash income. Such dependence leaves families vulnerable to climatic shocks, food insecurity, malnutrition, and the inability to afford education or healthcare.
Thus, Governor Uba Sani is aggressively investing in agriculture and agribusiness. Kaduna’s agriculture budget has skyrocketed from N1.4 billion in 2023 to N74.2 billion in 2025, reflecting the priority accorded to food security, rural livelihoods, and economic diversification.
He has initiated large-scale projects like the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Chikun LGA, backed by the African Development Bank, aimed at transforming Kaduna into Nigeria’s agro-industrial capital.
The Governor’s vision aligns with a continental aspiration: Africa should more than double its agricultural productivity, transitioning from a net food importer to a net exporter. This shift would underpin food security, rural prosperity, and broad-based economic growth.
Governor Uba Sani is well aware that no amount of development can thrive without peace and security. His administration has made the restoration of safety a top priority.
Through a combination of community engagement, intelligence-driven operations, and inter-agency collaboration, Kaduna has
witnessed profound improvements in security. Safe communities enable children to attend school, farmers to cultivate their lands, and businesses to flourish. The Governor acknowledges that security is integral to human capital development — without it, education, health, and economic initiatives falter.
Governor Uba Sani’s vision for human capital is complemented by efforts to broaden financial inclusion and economic participation. His 2023 Executive Order on financial inclusion resulted in the registration of over 2.5 million previously unbanked Kaduna citizens, facilitated by innovative fintech solutions like Credo and PocketMoni. This initiative has empowered thousands to save, access credit, and engage in entrepreneurship — crucial to lifting households out of poverty.
The Kaduna Economic and Financial Inclusion Summit (KEFIS) held earlier this year, further amplified this agenda, fostering partnerships that enable inclusive economic growth.
What distinguishes Governor Uba Sani is his holistic, human-centered approach to governance. For him, infrastructure is indispensable but insufficient. He understands that roads and buildings are pathways to opportunity only when people are healthy, educated, and secure enough to take advantage of them.
His administration’s multi-sectoral investments are deliberate, mutually reinforcing interventions aimed at unleashing human potential. These investments embrace a future where Kaduna’s youth can dream, learn, and earn with dignity.
His governance reflects a broader African aspiration captured by Bill Gates’ words: “By unleashing human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity.” Kaduna is on that path, guided by a leader who measures progress not only in kilometers of road built but in lives transformed.
Governor Uba Sani’s vision materialises concretely in initiatives like the KADA EduPACT International Summit 2025. The summit developed a Strategic Roadmap focusing on six pillars: expanded access and equity; quality teaching and learning; sustainable financing; digital transformation; gender equity and inclusion; and system resilience and governance.
This roadmap aims to ensure education is accessible to all, particularly marginalized groups such as girls, learners with disabilities, nomadic populations, and children in conflict-affected areas.
By redesigning curricula to nurture critical thinking, digital literacy, and global citizenship, Kaduna is equipping its youth with the competencies needed in a rapidly changing world.
Governor Uba Sani’s leadership is a beacon illuminating a new paradigm in Nigerian governance — one that goes beyond the allure of infrastructure to embrace the profound and lasting power of human capital development. Under his stewardship, Kaduna State is not just building roads or erecting structures; it is constructing futures. It is nurturing health, cultivating knowledge, fostering skills, ensuring security, and enabling economic participation. This comprehensive approach is Kaduna’s human renaissance — a bold experiment in inclusive, sustainable development.
Governor Uba Sani’s governance challenges the rest of Nigeria: true development lies not in monuments of concrete and steel, but in the limitless potential of the people. By investing in their health, education, agriculture, and security, Kaduna is charting a path from poverty to prosperity — a path as inspiring as it is necessary.
As the Governor himself articulated, “Let us build an education system that is inclusive, technology-driven, and resilient — one that reflects the best of our people and their boundless potential.” This is governance beyond brick-and-mortar. This is leadership that truly serves. This is the future Kaduna envisions, and it is a future worth embracing.
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email:ejiofor.alike@thisdaylive.com
With the court judgment faulting the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, which has swelled the growing list of nullifications of suspension of members of the National Assembly by the federal lawmakers, it is hoped that the illegality will stop, Davidson Iriekpen writes
For those who have been keenly following developments in the National Assembly since 1999 when democracy was enthroned, the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja penultimate week faulting the six-month suspension slammed on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate, was not a surprise but a laid down precedent.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako, the court described the suspension as “excessive.” It faulted the provision of Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules, as well as Section 14 of the Legislative Houses, Powers & Privileges Act, declaring both as overreaching.
It stressed that the two legislations failed to specify the maximum period that a serving lawmaker could be suspended from office.
According to the court, since lawmakers have a total of 181 days to sit in every legislative cycle, the six-month suspension handed to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was akin to pushing her away from her responsibilities to her constituents for about 180 days.
It held that though the Senate has the power to punish any of its members who breaches the rules, such sanction must not be excessive to deprive the constituents of their right to be represented.
However, Justice Nyako awarded a fine of N5million against Akpoti-Uduaghan for her “satirical apology” post on her Facebook page on April 27. She ruled that the social media post was made in disobedience of a valid court order prohibiting parties to the suit from making comments to the press or on social media regarding the subject matter of the pending suit.
The judge also ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan to tender an unreserved apology in two national dailies and on her Facebook page within seven days of the judgment to “purge” herself of the contemptuous act against the court.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed the suit on March 3, initially, to halt an investigation by the Senate and its Committee on Ethics into alleged misconduct, stemming from Senate’s proceedings where she had an altercation with the Senate President, Akpabio, over her assigned seat.
Despite the initial restraining order issued by the former judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu asking the Senate to stay action on its disciplinary proceedings, the Senate proceeded to suspend her on March 6 for six months.
This led Akpoti-Uduaghan to file a contempt complaint against Akpabio and other relevant Senate officers for disobeying the order halting the disciplinary action against her.
As the matter continued to stir up public commentaries in the media, Akpabio urged the court to bar parties to the suit from speaking to the press or sharing social media posts about the matter.
However, late last month, Akpoti-Uduaghan mocked the Senate president with a satirical apology posted on her official Facebook page.
In the aftermath of the post, Akpabio’s legal team filed an application in court, accusing Akpoti-Uduaghan of breaching the gag order banning interviews and such a social media post while the court case lasted.
But Akpoti-Uduaghan countered the application, urging the court to dismiss it.
But the court partly ruled in favour of the Senate and Akpabio in some areas. It said the refusal to allow Akpoti-Uduaghan to speak during a plenary on the grounds that she was not seated in her designated seat was not a violation of her rights.
The court further held that the Senate has the constitutional authority to discipline its members for violating its Standing Orders. It held
that a senator is only permitted to address the plenary from the seat formally assigned, adding that Akpoti-Uduaghan acted contrary to Section 6(2) of the Rules when she attempted to speak from an unallocated seat.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has joined the growing list of lawmakers who have successfully challenged their suspension by the Senate in court. But the National Assembly has often ignored court judgments. The question now is: When will the National Assembly stop slamming unreasonable suspension on its members?
In May 2017, a Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the suspension of Senator Ali Ndume by the Senate. Judge Babatunde Quadri ruled that the Senate had no constitutional backing to suspend a member beyond 14 days. He ordered the Senate to pay all of Ndume’s withheld salaries and allowances.
A year later, in May 2018, Ovie Omo-Agege, then senator representing Delta Central, secured a similar judicial victory. A Federal High Court, Abuja, ruled that his 90-day suspension over the comments he made during a debate on electoral reforms was unlawful. The court held that the legislature lacked the power to suspend a member in the manner it did.
Despite the above, the Senate still proceeded
to suspend Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District in 2024, for three months for accusing its leadership of fraudulently smuggling projects into the 2024 budget.
It is not only in the Senate that this happens. In 2010, a Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the suspension of Dino Melaye and 10 others by the House of Representatives for alleging criminal diversion of funds by the Dimeji Bankole-led leadership of the House.
In all of these suspensions, the lawmakers were not allowed to attend plenaries and were prohibited from attending committee meetings and participating in oversight functions.
Furthermore, their salaries, allowances and other entitlements were not paid, while their senatorial districts and constituencies wee also denied representation.
Where it derives the powers from, many are still wondering?
Perhaps, following the latest judgment, it was reported last week that the Senate is considering tougher disciplinary sanctions for its members, as the upper chamber passed the first reading of a bill seeking to amend the current framework for punishing lawmakers who violate its rules.
The proposed legislation, titled “Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025,” was sponsored by Kaka Shehu (APC, Borno Central), seeks to introduce more stringent penalties for lawmakers found guilty of misconduct and streamline the existing process, which often involves setting up special committees to investigate and recommend sanctions.
Although the draft of the amendment has not yet been made public, it also seeks to ensure that specific offences attract clearly defined punishments without the need for prolonged deliberations or ad hoc investigations. Many have described the action of the leadership of the National Assembly in shutting down voices of dissent among its members as civilian dictatorship.
It is more disturbing that it is when leaders who call themselves progressives that such draconian laws are being enacted to suppress any dissent opinion against these leaderships.
The Senate should note that no matter how tough the disciplinary sanctions are, it is embarking on a futile journey as dispute arising from the sanctions will still be subjected to judicial interpretation.
Vice President Kashim Shettima stirred the hornet’s nestrecentlywhenhesaidaformerAttorney-Generalof theFederation(AGF)andMinisterofJustice,Mr.Mohammed Adoke (SAN), advised former President Goodluck Jonathan not to remove him as governor of Borno State when a state of emergency was declared in the state.
SpeakinginAbuja atthepublicpresentationofabook titled‘OPL245:InsideStoryofthe$1.3billionNigeriaOil Block’, authored by Adoke, Shettima stated that during the final four years of Jonathan’s administration, he was the most demonized individual.
Shettimawasgovernoroftheinsurgent-riddenBorno State from May 2011 to May 2019. At the peak of the insurgency,onDecember31,2011,Jonathandeclareda stateofemergencyinsomelocalgovernmentsinBorno and Plateau states.
On May 14, 2013, Jonathan declared a state of emergency for the entire terrorist-plagued states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
ThevicepresidentsaidAdoketoldthethenpresident thathedidnothavethepowerstoremoveasittinggovernor, not even a councillor. He also said AminuTambuwal, the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, told thenPresidentJonathanthathecannotremoveasitting governor from office.
HesaidAdokesoughtfortheopinionofanotherSenior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in the cabinet, KabiruTuraki, who said: ‘I’m concurring with the opinion of my senior colleague’.
ShettimapraisedAdokeandTambuwalfortheircourage, convictionandunwaveringcommitmenttotheirprinciples.
WiththerevelationbyShettima,manyarewondering
where he was when President BolaTinubu declared the same state of emergency in Rivers State in March and suspendedthesittinggovernorofRiversState,Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, and all the elected members of the state House of Assembly?
Though Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution gives the president the power to declare a state of emergency in any part of the country, it does not give him the power to remove or suspend the democratically-elected governors and other officials from office.
Where was the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi to stand stall on the issue like Adoke? Why couldn’t he advise Tinubu appropriately that it would be unconstitutional to take such action?
Ejiofor Alike writes that with the precarious state of the Nigerian economy, and the frightening number of out-of-school children in the country, which is the highest globally, President Bola Tinubu’s announcement of a scholarship programme for students from the Caribbean countries just less than two months after the federal government scrapped foreign scholarships for Nigerian students to avoid waste of resources, is a misplaced priority
Since he assumed office, President Bola Tinubu, like his predecessors, has been embarking on foreign trips to woo investors and attract the much-needed foreign investments to Nigeria.
However, none of his foreign trips produced a very shocking outcome like his recent visit to Saint Lucia in the Caribbean.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Saint Lucian Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre in Gros Islet, according to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president announced that a scholarship programme for students from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to study in Nigerian universities would commence in the next academic year.
Tinubu said the gesture was part of broader efforts to strengthen people-to-people ties and boost cooperation in education, trade, and development between Nigeria and the OECS.
According to him, a joint implementation committee comprising representatives from Nigeria and OECS member states has been set up to finalise modalities and ensure the timely rollout of the scholarship scheme.
The statement by the presidential spokesman noted that the scholarship scheme and other bilateral initiatives were part of Tinubu’s broader push to deepen ties between Africa and the Caribbean.
On his part, Prime Minister Pierre welcomed the scholarship programme as “a timely and practical expression of solidarity”.
“We expect students to begin their studies in Nigeria in the next academic year, based on the President’s directive. This is immediate action,” the Prime Minister said.
Given Nigeria’s status as the ‘Giant of Africa,’ there is nothing wrong with a country of over 200 million population and the biggest black nation on earth, offering scholarships to sister countries with a combined population of less than 650,000 but such gesture should only be considered if the performance of Nigeria’s economy reflects her giant of Africa status.
However, having made a mockery of her enviable status and attained a new status of the poverty capital of the world, ravaged by excruciating debt burden, insecurity, ailing economy, corruption and the highest number of out-of-children globally, Nigeria is not in a position to offer scholarships to even the least country in the world.
It is ironic that a country with the highest number of out-of-school children in the world,
according to a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is offering scholarships to other countries.
In 2024, UNICEF had raised the alarm that Nigeria’s education system was facing an alarming crisis, with 10.2 million children of primary school age, and another 8.1 million of junior secondary school age out of school, while 74 per cent of children aged 7–14 lack basic reading and math skills.
The statistics are frightening in North-east and North-west, which account for 66 per cent of the out-of-school children. North-central is the third worst in terms of the number of out-of-school children.
The report identified poverty as the driver of children’s absence from school, as 65 per cent of the out-of-school are from the poorest homes.
The World Bank’s April 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief for Nigeria shows that the rates of poverty in the country have increased significantly with about three in every four people living in the rural areas poor, while three in every five people living in the urban areas are also poor.
A country with such chilling statistics on poverty level should not, under any circumstances, offer scholarships to other countries.
Today, with an estimated 20 million Nigerian children out of school, it is shocking that Nigeria is playing a ‘Father Christmas’ role in the education of Caribbean students when her own children are roaming the streets as almajiris, beggars, hawkers, scrap metal dealers, and truck pushers, and with others resorting to violent crimes as kidnapping, banditry and terrorism.
Tinubu’s gesture is particularly strange as it came less than two months after the federal government scrapped foreign scholarships for Nigerian students to save scarce resources.
The federal government had in April announced the cancellation of the foreign scholarship scheme under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA), describing the scheme as a “waste of resources.”
Before the cancellation, the previous beneficiaries of the scheme had cried out, accusing the government of denying them their entitlements.
The BEA Programme, established through strong diplomatic ties and mutual cooperation, enabled Nigerian students to study in partner countries such as China, Russia, Algeria, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt, and Serbia.
Though the federal government had claimed that all supplementary allowances due to Nigerian
scholars had been paid up to December 2024, some of the parents of the beneficiaries had faulted the claim.
While disclosing that additional funds had been requested to settle all outstanding entitlements affected by exchange rate fluctuations, the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, announced the government’s decision to discontinue the programme.
Obviously referring to the behaviour of some of the beneficiaries, who were complaining of non-payment of allowances, Alausa expressed displeasure over what he described as the “blackmailing” behaviour of some scholars under the scheme on social media.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the newly elected officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Alausa said the government would redirect the funds towards domestic scholarship programmes that would benefit more students across the country.
Justifying the government’s decision, Alausa said: “2024, when I assumed office, I was asked to approve N650 million for 60 students going to Morocco under the BEA programme. I refused. It’s not fair to Nigerian students.
“I reviewed the courses—some students went to Algeria, a French-speaking country, to study English, Psychology, and Sociology—courses we teach better in Nigeria.
“By the end of 2024, all outstanding scholarships will be cleared. The 2025 scholarships are pending due to the budget appropriation process. They will be paid in the coming months. However, we will not continue the programme beyond 2025,” the minister said.
“In 2025 alone, the government planned to spend N9 billion on just 1,200 students. It’s unjust to spend such a huge amount sending students abroad to study courses available locally while millions of Nigerian students receive no support,” he stated.
He added: “We have evaluated every course these 1,200 students are studying abroad—every single one is available in Nigerian universities. We are cancelling the BEA. It is not the best use of public funds.
“That money will now be used to fund local scholarships and support more students.”
Surprisingly, the same government that scrapped foreign scholarships for her own citizens, describing it as a waste of resources, is offering scholarships to the students of other countries.
President Tinubu should cancel this scholarship offer and channel the resources to the education of Nigerian students, who are in dire need of education.
When it was reported last week that the Kano emirate crisis took a new turn with the16th Emir of Kano, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, accusing supporters of the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, of attacking his palace and removing one of the gates, the questions that came to mind was: What is the Supreme Court waiting to give the appeal on the dispute accelerated hearing? Does the court want the state to be set ablaze before it acts?
Tensions within the Kano Emirate have remained high following the state government’s reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.
The reinstatement came after the
review of the emirate law, which had created four additional emirates. The move has been challenged in court, with Aminu Ado Bayero refusing to relinquish his claim to the throne.
Since March when the Court of Appeal in Abuja directed all parties in the Emirship tussle, to exercise caution pending the hearing of their appeals at the Supreme Court, nothing has been heard about the matter.
It is surprising that the apex court is still delaying to hear appeals pending before it.
It is also surprising that the suit filed by some governors on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to
challenge the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State has still not been determined.
Maybe by the time the appeal would be heard, Governor Sim Fubara would have been reinstated and the suit becomes a mere academic exercise.
In the United States where President Donald Trump is daily unleashing obnoxious policies on the people and institutions, the courts, from the High Court to the Supreme Court, are there to swiftly checkmate him swift rulings.
This is not the case with the Nigerian courts where cases are delayed till they lose relevance and the judgments become mere academic exercise.
With various groups across the country pushing for former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest in 2027 and campaigns to extend the tenure of Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa gaining traction ahead of 2028, Alex Enumah and Wale Igbintade explore the possibility of their eligibility
Plots to draft former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan into the 2027 presidential race are thickening in the northern region. Already, scores of groups have reportedly held several meetings and sensitisation tours to gauge the mood in key northern states, citing Jonathan’s perceived record as a unifier and a “leader who sacrificed personal ambition to protect Nigeria’s democracy.”
But the question is: Having taken the oath of office twice, is he legally eligible to run for president in 2027 if he succumbs to pressure to contest?
Before the 2015 elections, the issue was raised by various groups and individuals who were against Jonathan. But he won all the various suits filed to challenge his eligibility.
For instance, in the suit filed by one Cyriacus Njoku, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, that Jonathan’s tenure should count from May 6, 2010 when he was first sworn in on the strength of the doctrine of necessity activated by the National Assembly, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of a Federal Capital Territory High Court dismissed the prayer of the plaintiff and declared that President Jonathan’s tenure commenced on May 29, 2011, when he was sworn in after winning the presidential election and not earlier.
When Njoku approached the Court of Appeal, it also cleared the coast for the then president to seek a re-election.
In a unanimous judgment, the panel of justices maintained that the first oath Jonathan took on May 6, 2010, was only to enable him to complete the un-expired tenure of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as stipulated in Section 146(1) of the Constitution, maintaining that his first tenure as substantive President of Nigeria commenced on May 29, 2011, when he was administered the second oath of office.
In another suit filed by Richard Mneaga and Shuaibu Lill, seeking to bar him from seeking re-election in the 2015 at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, Justice Evelyn Anyadike struck out the suit, saying the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to drag the president to court based on section 308 of the Constitution which gives him immunity not to sue or be sued.
However, in 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law a bill passed by the National Assembly, which stipulates that a person who assumes the office of the president or governor to complete the tenure of an elected president or governor due to death, resignation, impeachment, or permanent incapacity, is only eligible to be elected to that office for one additional term of four years.
The amendment, now referred to as the Fourth Alteration Act, which became effective on June 7, 2018, included sub-section 3 to sections 137 and 182 as a disqualifying factor.
Section 137(3) and 182 (3) provide: “A person who was sworn in to complete the term for which another person was elected as president shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term.”
The provisions ignited huge debates when it was rumoured in 2022 that Dr. Jonathan would contest the 2023 presidential election.
Former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva and Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, found themselves in a similar situation.
Senior lawyers like Femi Falana (SAN), Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), Reverend John Baiyeshea (SAN), Professor Konyinsola Ajayi SAN, Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Mr. Dayo Akinlaja (SAN) and Chief Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) have all argued for and against the effects of the amendment on Jonathan and now Aiyedatiwa’s eligibility to further contest elections.
While Falana, Akinseye-George, Baiyeshea and Konyinsola felt that Jonathan can no longer contest any presidential election, Ozekhome, Kehinde and Akinlaja contended that the new provisions cannot be applied retrospectively to bar Jonathan, who entered his tenure before the law took effect. They argued that the law cannot
be applied retroactively.
All the lawyers, however, agreed that the Ondo State governor, Aiyedatiwa, is ineligible to run for another term based on Section 137(3) in the Fourth Alteration of the 1999 Constitution.
For the former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, though the issue appears uncertain over Jonathan’s eligibility, he stated categorically that the Ondo State governor is caught by the new amendment.
The position held by Ozekhome, Dr. Reuben Atabo (SAN) and others was upheld in a judgment delivered on May 27, 2022, by a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The judgment was given by Justice Isa Hamma Dashen on a suit, marked: FHC/ YNG/CS/86/2022, filed by Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham (who claimed to be
members of the APC).
Justice Dashen held, among others, that Section 137(3) of the constitution did not bar Jonathan from contesting the 2023 presidential election because the provision could not be applied retroactively.
The judge held that Section 137(3), which came into effect on June 7, 2018, “cannot apply retrospectively, except the Legislature, in clear terms, expressly stated their intention for it to be so.”
The judge also referenced an earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal in Abuja delivered on March 3, 2015, in an appeal by Cyriacus Njoku, who said he was a member of the PDP. The judgment resolved the question about Jonathan’s eligibility in the face of the provision of Section 137(1)(b) of the constitution.
Section 137(1)(b) provides that: “A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections.”
In Sylva’s case, he was first elected governor in 2007. But in 2008, his victory was annulled by the Court of Appeal, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election within 90 days. The court also ordered that he should hand over to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Werinipre Seibarugo, as acting governor. When the election was re-conducted, Sylva won again and was sworn in for the second time. When he sought re-election against Seriake Dickson, he lost.
In 2023, as Sylva was about to contest another election, one Demesuoyefa Kolomo, who claimed to be a registered voter and a member of the APC, sought Sylva’s disqualification on the grounds that he had been sworn in as governor in 2007 and 2008.
In his October 9, 2023 judgment, Justice Okorowo upheld Kolomo’s case.
Relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Marwa vs Nyako, the judge held that the drafters of the constitution stated that nobody should be voted for as governor more than twice and that the parties to the suit agreed that Sylva had been voted into office two times.
But, in its October 31, 2023 judgment on the appeal, marked: CA/ABJ/CV/1061/2023 filed by Sylva, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal held that the Federal High Court, Abuja lacked the jurisdiction to have heard and determined the case filed by Kolomo.
The court held that, having not been an aspirant who participated in APC’s governorship primary, Kolomo lacked the locus standi to approach the court to challenge the nomination of the party’s candidate.
For Aiyedatiwa, following the death of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, as deputy governor, he was sworn in as governor on December 27, 2023, to complete the tenure. However, in November 2024, he contested, won and was sworn in again in February 2025.
But a lawyer, who is in support of another term for Aiyedatiwa, Shola Elekan, argued that Aiyedatiwa’s election as deputy governor in 2020 is constitutionally distinct from the office of governor, adding that it does not count as one of the two elections referenced in Section 182(1)(b).
“The legal question is whether this ambition violates Section 182(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution or any provision of the Electoral Act 2022. It is my firm legal conclusion that Governor Aiyedatiwa is fully eligible to contest for another term because he was not elected as governor twice as stipulated in Section 182(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”
In 2010, then Governors Sylva, Ibrahim Idris, Aliyu Wammako, Murtala Nyako and Liyel Imoke, who were elected in 2007 but had their election nullified, and won re-election in 2008, approached the Federal High Court in Abuja in 2010, claiming that their tenure began to count from when they assumed office upon winning the rerun election.
Justice Adamu Bello, in a judgment on February 24, 2011, held that the tenure of the governors legally started in 2008 when they took fresh oaths of office and allegiance following the nullification of their April 14, 2007 elections by the courts.
INEC appealed the judgment at the Court of Appeal in Abuja and lost, prompting it to appeal to the Supreme Court.
In January 2012, the Supreme Court, in its judgment, set aside the concurrent decisions of the two lower courts and ordered the five governors to vacate office on the grounds that their tenure could not be extended beyond the four years allowed by the constitution.
In the lead judgment of a seven-member panel of the apex court, Justice Walter Onnoghen (as he then was) said: “I hold the considered view that since the acts performed during the period prior to the nullification of the election remain valid and subsisting and the same person contested and won the re-run election thereby taking another set of oaths and since what was nullified was the election, the oaths they took on May 29, 2007 remains valid.”
five-year visa policy. It is a lie. Instead, the country only added e-visa to the options (to replace the visa-on-arrival policy). With the e-visa — a brainchild of Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior — applicants do not need to visit the Nigerian embassy. All they need to do is apply online. When it is approved, the visa will be sent electronically to them. The old visa-on-arrival system was clumsy and time-wasting, bedevilled with so many complaints by applicants. The new e-visa is single entry and valid for 90 days. The US has not reciprocated this one though, perhaps because they do not want to receive 200 million visitors from Nigeria in one day.
As it also turned out, it was not only Nigeria that was affected by the new US policy. Ghana’s validity was also reduced to three months and single entry. Should we say the Ghanaian president also cancelled the five-year reciprocity agreement? And, perhaps, the Ghanaian media also failed to report it? In any case, the US government has issued a clarification, saying the new policy was for security and technical reasons and has nothing to do with the speculation. “The reduction in validity is part of an ongoing global review of the use of U.S. visas by other countries using technical and security benchmarks to safeguard U.S. immigration systems,” the US Mission in Nigeria said.
Actually, the US announced weeks ago that it
CRUDE, UNREFINED
Mr Bayo Ojulari, the group CEO of NNPC Ltd, has released what many Nigerians will call a bombshell: that the company’s refineries might be sold. This is an anti-climax. The refineries stopped working donkey years ago but every government discovered that “turn around maintenance” is a very good source of slush funds, so we kept flogging the dead horses and creating billionaires in dollars. One of the reasons for reduced inflow of petrodollars today is because we mortgaged our crude oil to repair these refineries a few years ago. Meanwhile, according to Alhaji Aliko Dangote, we have spent over $18 billion on rehabilitating these refineries whereas he built a new one for $20 billion. Scandalous.
was going to place visa restrictions on a number of countries whose citizens overstay their visas or have criminal records. Over 30 countries were listed. Nigeria was on the list which included Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, South Sudan, Gambia, Egypt, Gabon and Burkina Faso. This was widely reported, first by the Washington Post. Countries where wealthy Nigerians go to acquire a second passport to gain visa-free access to the US were also listed for restrictions. Trump campaigned on containing immigration to the US and he has been devoting a large percentage of his attention to implementing it. Again, this is very much in the public domain.
On Thursday, another mischief was unleased when Shettima spoke at the public presentation of Adoke’s book. In expressing appreciation to the author, he said a state of emergency was to be imposed on Borno state in the heat of the Chibok abductions in 2014 and he was to be suspended as governor but Adoke, as the attorney-general, advised President Goodluck Jonathan against it. He said this as a tribute to Adoke while delivering his goodwill message. But by the time it was shared and reported on social media, the vice-president was quoted as saying Tinubu did not have the powers to suspend Sir Siminalayi Fubara as governor of Rivers state when he declared a state of emergency. Ironically, Shettima said the same thing in
November 2017 at the launch of Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi’s ‘On a Platter of Gold’, a book on the 2015 elections. Abdullahi was a minister in the Jonathan administration. I was at the event which took place at the same Yar’Adua centre. Shettima said he was to be suspended as governor but Adoke’s legal advice saved his neck. He was a senator in 2017 and his statement was reported normally. No sensation, no drama. But he said the same thing in 2025 as vice-president and his statement was no longer treated as a compliment to Adoke but as an attack on the president. Same words, same message, different reporting, different interpretations.
I understand interpretative journalism. I trained as a journalist, by the way, and I took courses in interpretative journalism. It gives context to stories, adding value beyond mere reporting. However, it does not allow the reporter to invent quotes or take a statement out of context. As Professor Wole Soyinka once said, “I like to be quoted in my own words.” The context of Shettima’s statement was purely about the role Adoke played in his political career. All he did was pay tribute to Adoke. His media aide, Mr Stanley Nkwocha, swiftly issued a strong rebuttal, but my fear is that there will be more mischiefs as we approach 2027. It is Shettima today. It would be someone else tomorrow.
OBI’S OPTIONS
Mr Peter Obi will not be leaving the Labour Party soon. He said this himself. He is part of the coalition of opposition parties under the aegis of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) quite all right, but for now, he remains a member of the LP. “If anybody asks you which party Peter Obi belongs to today, tell them Peter Obi is in the Labour Party. If anybody asks you about the coalition, tell them, ‘Yes’, the coalition is for 2027,” he said. Confused? Let me try to explain my take. The LP is contesting in many elections between now and 2027. If Obi leaves now, that can kill the LP — as well as his presidential ambition. If the ADC does not include him in its 2027 calculations, he stays back in the LP. Sorted.
Would it have been better for Mr Boss Mustapha, former secretary to the government of the federation, to have kept quiet than claim the only thing opposition contributed to President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in 2015 was three million votes? By his own admission, Buhari had his regular 12 million votes in 2003 and 2011 (possibly had 12 million in 2007 as well) which were mathematically insufficient to make him president. When he finally had a national platform in 2015, he got three million more votes and became president. I want to believe that Mustapha did not think through his words. It is like saying my aunt would have been my uncle if she was a man. Meaningless.
that all bottlenecks hindering the agricultural sector’s potential, including livestock production, would be removed to enhance food security and exports.
Noting that bureaucracy and administrative hiccups contribute to delays in realising the agricultural sector’s well-acknowledged potential, the President disclosed that Nigeria was already undergoing reform to reposition the economy for global competitiveness, particularly in agriculture, where it already has a comparative advantage.
Discussions at the meeting centred mainly on agriculture, including livestock development, environment, aviation, trade and investment, and the Green Initiative, which designs climatepositive migration solutions for addressing climate change risks, market challenges, and innovation opportunities.
All the technicalities in actualising the agreements between Nigeria and Brazil, according to President Tinubu, will be streamlined and fast-tracked in areas of trade, aviation, energy transition, food and agricultural development, as well as mining and natural resources exploration.
President Lula, on his part, promised that all agreements with Nigeria would be regularised, and MOUs would be updated and signed without delay during President Tinubu’s next visit to the country. He also pointed out that the lingering bureaucratic delays between the two countries would be removed for quick results.
Brazil has recorded tremendous achievements in research and development. The country is easily regarded as one of the top global producers of food and other agricultural products. President Tinubu’s visit demonstrates Nigeria’s readiness to establish a strong partnership with Brazil to tap into this feat to stimulate growth in food production and animal husbandry.
However, on Sunday, July 6, while addressing the BRICS summit, President Tinubu restated his position on global trade, international financing, climate change, and healthcare, as well as his belief in and support for BRICS. The President advocated a re-evaluation of the current global financial system and healthcare distribution, calling for more consideration, equity, and inclusion for the poor and emerging economies,
particularly in Africa.
According to President Tinubu, environmental degradation, climate crisis, and inequalities in the healthcare system deserve more attention, as they contribute to hindering growth and development in Third World countries.
At the Summit, President Tinubu affirmed Nigeria’s support for the position of BRICS on the need to focus on collective, fair and equitable global development. “Nigeria, therefore, associates with what I have heard here today, and all that has been taking place in BRICS. The next issues are financial restructuring and re-evaluation of the global structure,” he told the BRICS member–states, pointing out that environmental deprivation, climate crisis, and global healthcare inequalities were shared concerns pertinent to Africa.
“Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most,” the President said, adding: “The African continent is creating the path through the African carbon market initiative and the Great Green Wall. We believe
Having said that, however, I am of the view that Shettima himself has to be very careful about his public statements. He appears as someone who likes to talk straight from the heart but he would be better served if he applies some filter in view of the prevailing political circumstances. If people are plotting to roast you, don’t make it easy for them by dousing yourself in petrol and standing beside naked fire. There has been a lot of talk in the media about whether or not he will be retained as running mate in 2027 by Tinubu. Those fuelling the speculation will be too happy to twist and taint his words and set him on a collision course with the president. It is a familiar game in our politics. But Shettima and US visa aside, I worry about the looming hazards in this season. There will be more stories and posts filled with mischief and misinformation. Some people believe all is fair in love and war. Anything goes. This is a danger to the human society. I myself was a victim of fabrications and trolling in 2023 and while I can claim I am immune, it is not everyone that has taken the vaccine against fake news and blackmail. Fact checkers will be very busy but I bet they will be overwhelmed. The epidemic is hard to contain. My biggest fear is the possible chain of consequences. People have been attacked, maimed or killed and reputations ruined for life as a result of misinformation. Scary.
And now this. Hon. Philip Agbese, deputy spokesperson of the house of representatives, is over the moon. He told journalists on Thursday he had made an astonishing discovery: that the green chamber has become a global reference point. “It is so beautiful that my friends from America, the UK, and other parts of the world have informed me that the US congress, the British house of commons, and other internationally respected parliaments are now sending their representatives to Nigeria to study how the house of representatives is doing it,” he said. Indeed, they have a lot to study regarding “oversight”, rubber-stamping and the art and science of budget padding. Hahahaha.
that eventually, COP-30 will strengthen our resolve to embrace a healthy global environment strategically.”
Nigeria, the world’s sixth-most populous country and one of Africa’s major economies, undoubtedly shares convergent interests with other BRICS members.
President Tinubu affirmed this much: “Nigeria strongly believes in South-South cooperation. We can, therefore, not be passive participants in global decision-making. So, issues such as financial restructuring, debt forgiveness, climate change, environmental ruin, and global healthcare must be resolved. We must be the architects of a future that addresses the specific needs and concerns of youths, who represent 70 per cent of our population in Nigeria. Therefore, Nigeria remains guided by our long-term vision, 2050, and nationally determined contribution.
“We are taking bold steps to accelerate renewable energy adoption, mainstream climate action, promote nature-based solutions, strengthen urban resilience, champion SouthSouth cooperation, align with global renewal framework and achieving universal health coverage for all.”
It is instructive that President Tinubu has used every opportunity on the international scene to demand an equitable global trade, accessible financing, sustainable technology transfer, and climate justice. He canvassed the same issues while addressing the 78th United Nations’ General Assembly in New York in September 2023, at UN Climate Change Conference, otherwise called COP28 in Dubai, United Arabs Emirates, in January 2024 and at the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Kampala, Uganda, also in January 2024, where he was represented by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, among other international forums.
Indeed, the gains of attending the recent BRICS Summit and President Tinubu’s friendship with President Da Silva are already manifesting in many respects. Firstly, on the heels of President Tinubu’s visit to Brazil last year, Brazil’s Vice President, Geraldo Alckmin, visited
Nigeria this year to build on the agreements reached between Presidents Tinubu and Da Silva, particularly on the Green Initiative. Secondly, on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS summit, the Managing Director of Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, met with his counterpart from Brazil, where he was informed that President Lula had given a firm directive to Brazilian agricultural institutions and companies to invest heavily in Nigeria. Even back at home, the impact has been no less.
On June 25, 2025, the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer represented by Dr. Dahiru Mohammed officially signed a strategic partnership agreement with Brazil’s renowned Campos Group to provide technical expertise for the Irrigate Nigeria programme.
For some years now, agriculture has been among the highest contributors to Nigeria’s GDP. This collaboration is thus a big boost for Nigeria’s quest to strengthen the agricultural value chain and reduce import dependency through large-scale technology-enabled farming. Campos Group, known for its central role in Brazil’s agricultural revolution under the PRODECER Programme, brings over four decades of expertise in developing irrigated agricultural zones and transforming previously under-utilised lands into thriving agro-industrial hubs.
There is much more. But to further reinforce these agreements and consolidate the initial gains, signing a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Brazil has become imperative. This is an ample pathway to bilateral cooperation in various aviation areas, including maintenance, mutual flight operations, and environmental certification. We can glean from the foregoing what a full membership of BRICS would yield for Nigeria. Notwithstanding President Trump’s misguided threat, it will help the country reap the full benefits of associating with the group.
•Rahman is Senior Assistant to President Tinubu on Media & Special Duties.
Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election will be a nasty duel between two chaotic coalitions of politicians. Both coalitions are curiously fuelled by fear. For the APC ruling coalition, it is the fear of being challenged and possibly thrown out of power. It is that fear and its insecurity that fuelled the drift of the APC towards degenerating into a virtual one party oligarchy. In the panic and anxiety, the APC was busy swallowing up politicians and frightened parties into a virtual single party. That was before the birth of the ADC coalition. As a counterweight, we have just witnessed the birth of the ADC, a yet incoherent coalition of equally frightened politicians. They are dedicated to sacking Bola Tinubu from his lucrative job and rent free Abuja accommodation. The fear on the side of the ruling APC is the fear of losing incumbency power with all that traffic of money and influence. On their part, politicians in the opposition ADC coalition are mostly in mortal fear of a future lifetime in the political wilderness. It is the fear of lifelong political irrelevance, of imminent poverty of means and name recognition. United by fear and desperate for power, both camps are poised to wage a nasty political war with interesting dimensions in 2027. Already, there is nervous panic within the APC and the government. Aso Rock minions are screaming aloud even if the wolf is merely still a shadow. Even before they get to know what the ADC is all about, incumbent choristers are predictably swearing by Mr. Tinubu’s survival powers. On their part, the gathering opposition politicians have served Mr. Tinubu quit notice. There is however a very consequential difference between both camps and the fears that currently rule them. The APC coalition has a defined leadership. It is all about Mr. Tinubu and the survival of his presidency onto a second term. On this, there is no guess work. The APC bloc is in power and office. APC devotees know and can swear by Mr. Tinubu. They know Mr. Tinubu well, warts and all. They know their man, his political strengths and weaknesses. They know his limitations as a leader, his controversial resume, his shifting classmates, his bad English and atrocious elocution. The APC clan know the line up of their leadership- the Akpabios, Wikes, Gandujes, the Umahis and Matawalles of this world. There is no guesswork as to where the money for the 2027 war chest is going to come from. Fighting an incumbent government means fighting the entire machinery of state, the security apparatus, the business support muscle of the state and its logistical prowess.
On the contrary, the ADC coalition is a zone of infinite uncertainty. No one knows its precise leadership. If you ask me, it is a ship with multiple captains. All the arrow heads of the coalition are all “presidents” in waiting. If you lock all of them up in one room with a mandate to emerge a day later with a leader who shall wear the mantle of ‘president’ come the 2027 election, you will be shocked when the door reopens. There will be many ‘presidents’ all dressed up to run: Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai, Kayode Fayemi, etc.
In effect, beneath the fanfare of the announcement of of a coalition, very little is settled about the leadership, structure or strategies of the new coalition. It is still a nebulous promise dressed in hope. But hope is not an agenda nor a programme. Perhaps it is still early in the day but the public needs to get a clearer idea of who is going to lead this pack in order to hedge sensible bets. The initial impression of the coalition as a conclave of equals leaves room for a struggle for leadership which could destabilize the coalition. Inbuilt in the potential leadership tussle are certain constants of Nigeria’s political reality. The north-south balance of power, the Christian-Muslim dance, the generational question and the reality of an emerging
youth majority and urban population question.
If indeed the ADC coalition overcomes its inherent leadership contradictions, it may have to resort to the mechanisms of a party primary in order to sort itself out on the matter of power sharing. Once a party convention resolves the leadership power sharing questions, the coalition should pretty much be ready to face the APC.
Prior to now, the Tinubu political machinery was at an advanced stage to dominate the entire political space by 2027. A gale of defections and decampments from everywhere into the ruling APC raised fears of the onset of a curious one -party state. Those who were not migrating to the APC were left in the other besieged parties, waiting either to be annexed by the all mighty APC or cast away in a looming political wilderness.
The few significant parties outside the APC orbit were well within easy reach of the devious squad of the ruling party and its many recruitment agents. Mr. Tinubu’s political Warrant Chief, Mr. Wike , assigned himself the job of destabilizing the PDP permanently. Inside the besieged APC, he recruited his own conclave of compliant governorsthe Group of 5 - who had all been promised ambassadorial jobs by the Tinubu government. The rest of the herd of Nigerian politicians outside the ambit of the APC were scattered and groping. The idea of a political coalition was always alive for those who know the Nigerian political landscape. It was a matter of when. The broad aim was clear: chase away Mr. Tinubu from a job he grabbed and can hardly do.
Yet, chasing Tinubu out of the Villa may not be so easy. Nor is it the most difficult task before the
ADC coalition. Tinubu is not a political soft cookey. He has vast experience. He is either equipped with vast troves of cash or knows too many people who can drown the Atlantic in cash at short notice. He has a very deep and stubbornly predictable home base. The Yorubas are many and politically sophisticated. They do not need to be lectured on their collective self interest or their interest in the Nigerian enterprise. That home base can be marshaled into political solidarity when threatened in the larger Nigerian landscape. It may not be enough to guarantee anyone an automatic residency in the villa. But it guarantees Tinubu some political asset base to fall back on.
Tinubu is backed by a massive political party which Buhari built on the tottering edifice and ruins of the dying PDP. Tinubu’s APC inherited an unwritten political alliance with the street north followership of the xenophobic Buhari and his army of imported armed zealots and jihadist fundamentalists. Thus armed, Tinubu will not be an easy pushover.
The gathering ADC opposition is also a vast political war machine but one that is still mostly a potential power base. Its power lies in the demographics of injured masses. Over ten years of APC rule has severely injured the vast majority of ordinary Nigerians across board. Among the rural and urban majority hunger and hardship are raging like wild fire. Nearly all the indices of poverty are in free play among Nigerians. A party and leadership that had inflicted such hardship on most people deserves the penalty of rejection at the ballot. That is the hope of the ADC coalition.
The APC government has a trove of claims to justify wasting the last two years. It has claimed all manner of bogus achievements under the banner of something called “renewed hope agenda”. It boasts an avalanche of Power Point presentations ranging from phantom GDP projections, hundreds of millions of dollars borrowed, cash payouts to students, traders, etc. Taxes, levies and charges abound. Morgues
and undertakers are doing big business. Over and above the appeal to a populist crowd, the emergence of the ADC quickly highlights an urgent need in the Nigerian political party system. The emergence of the ADC is a necessary progression towards an ideal two party architecture. Whatever the APC stands for, Nigerians expect the opposition ADC to counter it at the level of ideas, policies and socio political vision. For whatever it worth, the emergence of an opposition coalition is a positive development for the development of the Nigerian political party system. The great majority of viable and credible democracies around the world have evolved into two party systems. By its acronym and scant policy statements, the APC is a presumptive ‘progressive’ party. It opposes a non -existent conservative formation. But the truth of course is that the APC is both a progressive , centrist and Conservative Party all rolled into one. Most of its leaders and members are starkly ignorant and illiterate of where they stand on the spectrum of political ideals. It does not matter what the APC stands for or does not stand for. Whether it likes it or not, the ADC has to stand for something in direct opposition to the ruling party. Therefore, against the widespread hunger of today, the ADC must stand for food for all; in place of the massive un- employment, it must posit opportunities to put Nigeria back to work; in place of widespread insecurity, the new coalition must posit a template for a more secure Nigeria. Tax relief for the poor must replace draconian taxes, levies, tariffs and wicked charges on fuel, energy, medicines, books and transportation.
In sum then, the ADC must articulate a bottom up social democratic platform. This must be in the form of an actionable manifesto in the hands of every literate Nigerian. Above that, the new party must communicate and drive for an elite consensus on this alternative social democratic template. In effect then, the mandate sought by the new coalition must be based on a practical commitment to a fairer Nigeria.
L–R: Mentee, WISCAR Women in Law Mentoring Programme, Opeyemi Araromi; Judge, Lagos State Judiciary, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye; Mentee, WILMP, Katherine Kpanja; Founder and
Amina Oyagbola; and Judge, Lagos State Jusdiciary, Justice Mujibat Oshodi-Oki, at the official launch of WISCAR’s Women in Law Mentoring Programme in Lagos…recently
Some months ago, I called Mr Kolapo Olapoju, editor of TheCable — the online newspaper I founded 11 years ago — and alerted him to the dangers ahead. I told him the next presidential election will be the dirtiest in our history. I advised him to hold regular seminars with his team so as to prepare them to study emerging trends in the misinformation and disinformation arm of the media, particularly WhatsApp, X and Facebook, and be prepared to work overtime to tackle the menace. I half-joked that TheCable would inevitably come under heavy intimidation and blackmail from the usual suspects for fighting misinformation — and that he needed to vaccinate his guys ahead. He laughed.
Two things happened last week that instilled the fear of God in me afresh. The first was the change in the US visa policy towards Nigeria and several other countries. The second was the statement attributed to Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the presentation of a book, ‘OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3bn Nigerian Oil Block’, authored by Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke, former attorney-general of
spine. I am used to misinformation and mischief. Trust me, I have seen enough of the lot to last me a lifetime. Still, this was a new low.
The United States issued a statement announcing the introduction of a three-month, single-entry visa to Nigerian citizens. This is to replace the current five-year visa which was introduced a few years ago. Someone immediately sat down and — out of mischief, ignorance, clout-chasing, whatever — wrote that President Donald Trump took the action because President Bola Tinubu unilaterally revoked a reciprocity agreement that mandated the two countries to issue five-year visas to applicants. He, or she, alleged that Tinubu reduced the visa validity to three months and single entry and, therefore, the US was only responding in kind and all the blame should be heaped on Nigeria.
The manipulative and mischievous post was shared with me by someone from Ghana. I did not think twice before doubting it — based on common sense. Why would any president cancel a reciprocal five-year visa agreement with the US and reduce it to three months knowing very well that there would be instant retaliation? Who does
that? The writer went on to say uncomplimentary things about the Nigerian media, accusing us of failing to report the repudiation of the agreement by the president. Common sense again: visa validity policies are never a secret. Visa requirements and conditions are online. All it takes to confirm is a visit to the immigration website. So, so simple! Soon enough, about 10 of my contacts sent the same post to me. Some were cautious enough to ask me if the information was true. Some were already gloating, forcing me to wonder if they were on the side of Nigeria or the US. For the life of me, I will never understand why some people feel they have hit a jackpot anytime there is negative news about Nigeria. Their joy knows no bounds. If it is good news, they become depressed and broken-heart. When fake news aligns with your prejudices and biases, you are unlikely to crosscheck the facts or be circumspect. Instead, you will, excitedly, start forwarding it to your WhatsApp groups in search of wild, uninformed and cynical commentary. As it turned out, Nigeria did not cancel the
President Donald Trump never ceases to amaze with his haughty and self-aggrandising governance style, endless huffing and puffing, brinkmanship, and tendency to weaponise America’s often-stated exceptionalism and unilateralism.
Last weekend, as member states of the fledgling association of the Global South and a growing economic bloc, otherwise called BRICS, were holding their 17th Summit in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, Trump threatened to impose a fresh tariff hike on them, labeling the group a gang-up against America.
He warned that any country aligned with the policies of the BRICS alliance that diverge with US interests, would be hit with an extra 10% tariff. “Any country aligning itself with the anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an additional 10% tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump wrote on his Truth social media.
Trump’s threat emerged after BRICS members
criticised US tariff policies, proposed some reforms to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and discussed how major currencies are valued. After the two-day meeting in Rio de Janeiro, BRICS Finance Ministers issued a statement criticising tariffs as a threat to the global economy. They noted that they have brought “uncertainty into international economic and trade activities.”
Trump has always been disdainful of the BRICS since its formation. In 2024, he threatened 100% tariffs on BRICS countries if they moved ahead with their currency to rival the US dollar. After the association’s recent meeting, he uttered the same threat, saying members of the group were out to de-legitimise the US dollar.
The BRICS nations must demonstrate unity of purpose in responding to President Trump. More than ever before, they need to be focused, act in unison, and continue to harp on their collective interest. It’s just as expedient that BRICS members demonstrate they are driven by the need to get a fair deal for their countries within the international system, and that the
association is by no means a gang-up against America.
BRICS was designed to enhance the member nations’ economic interests and promote their international standing. This may be interpreted as a push against the US and Western Europe, but BRICS nations also have a responsibility to pursue and defend their interests.
In this context, one key advantage of BRICS nations is their large population, which translates to a bigger market. BRICS member states account for more than half of the world’s population.
Last year, the list of BRICS member countries expanded beyond the original group of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
In January this year, Nigeria became BRICS’ ninth partner country, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
Because of this partner-country status, President Bola Tinubu attended the 17th Summit of BRICS last week at the invitation of Brazilian President
Inacio Lula Da Silva. The Nigerian leader arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, July 4. The next day, July 5, he went into a bilateral meeting accompanied by some of his ministers and governors with the Brazilian leader and some of his cabinet members.
Along with the President, cabinet members, including Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture; Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Minister of Environment; and Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development; and Mohammed Mohammed, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), participated in the summit.
State governors such as Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger) were also present at the bilateral talks.
During the meeting, President Tinubu informed his Brazilian counterpart, Lula Da Silva,