SUNDAY 16TH NOVEMBER 2025. by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

Whistleblowers: Sole Arbitrator Who Gave Award to First Bank Over GHL is a Shareholder of First Bank

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Akaahs,

Fagbemi: No Christian, Religious Group Persecution in Nigeria

Says FG taking necessary steps to end insecurity

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has stated that there was no systematic targeted killing of Christians or any religious group in Nigeria as being suggested in certain quarters.

that the federal government is taking all necessary steps to ensure that killings and banditry are brought to an end.

and intensifying efforts to curb killings, banditry and other forms of criminality nationwide.

Fagbemi acknowledged the insecurity challenges ravaging the country, noting, however,

He said the federal government was “winning the war against terrorism”

The AGF stated these yesterday at the coronation of the 21st Elerin of Erin-Ile,

His Royal Majesty Oba Jimoh Adebowale Adesoye (Adetona I), held in Erin-Ile, Oyun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State.

US President Donald Trump had, in a post shared on his

Truth Social account and the White House’s X handle, claimed that Christians were being persecuted in Nigeria. Trump redesignated Nigeria

Against All Odds, Ex-Minister, Turaki, Elected PDP National Chairman

PDP LEADERS…

L-R: Chairman, Board of Trustees, Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Adolphus Wabara; Deputy National Chairman South, PDP, Taofeek Arapaja; Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang; former Acting National Chairman, PDP, Umar Damagum; Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri; Bauchi State Governor and Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed; Oyo State Governor and host, Seyi Makinde; and Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, at the National Convention of the PDP in Ibadan, Oyo State…yesterday

We Can No Longer Depend on Volatile Oil Revenues or Foreign Loans, Says FIRS Boss, Adedeji

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has said Nigeria can no longer rely on volatile oil revenues or foreign loans to fund development.

He said the country must design a tax system that is broad-based, technology-enabled and trusted by citizens, as the country’s revenue challenge is not merely about the numbers but structure, mindset and execution.

Adedeji, who delivered the maiden edition of the

Distinguished Lecture Series of the University of Ilesa, Osun State, explained that revenue diversification is no longer a policy preference but a national imperative.

Speaking on the topic ‘Economic Resilience in an Era of Dwindling Revenue,’ the FIRS boss said it was important to restructure the productive base of the economy away from crude oil and embrace a system with multiple engines of growth in agro-processing, the digital economy, the creative industry, and solid minerals, among others.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dare Adekanmbi, quoted the FIRS chairman as saying, “We have made some gains, but resilience demands more than marginal improvements. It requires structural change, bold reforms and unwavering commitment to fiscal sustainability.

“The first pillar is the need to generate more revenue from within fairly, efficiently, and sustainably. Nigeria cannot continue to depend on volatile oil revenues or foreign loans to fund development.

“We must build a tax system

that reflects the actual size and structure of our economy. This requires moving beyond a narrow band of large, formal companies and capturing economic activities in the informal sector, the digital economy, and high-net-worth individuals who remain outside the tax net.

“It also involves closing compliance gaps through stronger enforcement, simplified procedures, and better taxpayer education. With digital innovations like TaxPro Max, e-Tax Clearance Certificate, and tax intelligence, FIRS is already

ODDS, EX-MINISTER, TURAKI, ELECTED PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN

Chuks Okocha, Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja, Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan, and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

A former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki (SAN), was yesterday elected as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Ambassador Taofeek Oladejo Arapaja emerged as the National Secretary.

Turaki, an indigene of Kebbi State, and Arapaja, from Oyo State, emerged at the national convention of the party in Ibadan, Oyo State, where delegates from 17 states across the country cast their votes to choose national officers.

In what political analysts described as a belated effort to restore internal discipline among members, the faction of the party opposed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike,

as a “country of particular concern”.

He also warned that the United States could enter Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” to protect the Christian population.

But Fagbemi insisted that no religious group is under persecution in the country.

“We should reject any insinuation that there is a Christian genocide in the country. The government is taking all necessary steps to ensure that killings and banditry are nipped in the bud.

“Christians are not being systematically targeted or killed

if established, the allegations can lead to the setting aside of the award under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act (ACA) of Nigeria.

Akaahs had recently dismissed the case of GHL on the grounds that the oil firm failed to prove allegations of breach against the bank. However, some whistleblowers in Nigeria's stock market have alleged that Akaahs, who was the sole arbitrator at the tribunal,

has expelled the minister; former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose; factional National Secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu and eight others belonging to the Wike-led rival faction for alleged anti-party activities.

The main opposition party also dissolved the entire party structures in Imo, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers states.

Others expelled from the party include: National Legal Adviser, Adeyemi Ajibade (SAN), Umar Bature, AbdulRahman Mohammed, Mao Ohuambuwa, George Turner, Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Ammah and Dan Orbih.

Meanwhile, the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, and his Plateau State counterpart, Caleb Mutfwang, have distanced themselves from the expulsion of the FCT minister and other PDP leaders.

Wike’s Senior Special

in Nigeria; no religious group is under persecution in the country,” the minister added.

The minister argued that the killings recorded in parts of the country cut across religious and ethnic lines.

“There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria. There is no persecution of any religion, sect or ethnic nationality,” he insisted.

According to him, violent attacks were not limited to any particular group or faith, stressing that states such as Zamfara and Sokoto, predominantly Muslim areas,

violated the law and public policy when he failed or refused to disclose his interest in First HoldCo Plc, the parent company of FBN.

The 'Stock Market Whistleblowers' in a statement issued yesterday claimed that the retired Supreme Court Justice owns 595,057 Units of shares in First HoldCo Plc, a situation that gave rise to a conflict of interest, having acted as an arbitrator in a case involving a firm where he is

Assistant (SSA) on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, has also mocked the main opposition party, saying that those who announced the minister’s expulsion were intoxicated.

This is just as the Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has formally announced that he would defect from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, marking one of the most significant political realignments in the North-east ahead of the 2027 general election.

With this development, Kefas emerges as the first PDP governor from the north to defect to the APC since the 2023 general election.

The motion for the expulsion of Wike and others, which was unanimously supported by members of the PDP at the ongoing National Convention in Ibadan, was moved by one of the founding fathers of the party, Chief Bode George and

have suffered repeated incidents of killings and banditry.

“Killings are happening in Zamfara, Sokoto and other Muslim-dominated areas. That is not to say the situation is okay, but it shows clearly that violence is not targeted at any religion,” he said.

According to him, "violent attacks were not limited to any particular group or faith. We should reject any insinuation that there is a Christian genocide in the country.

"The government is taking all necessary steps to ensure that killings and banditry are

a shareholder.

The whistleblowers, who claimed to be stockbrokers licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Finance, said they were making the revelation to aid the fight against corruption and misconduct in the Stock Exchanges of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and ensure market integrity.

"With the above preamble, we make the following

leading the way in automating compliance and making tax administration smarter and more data-driven. Domestic revenue mobilisation is not just a fiscal task; it is a nation-building strategy,” Adedeji said.

He noted that FIRS, as the nation’s central tax authority, was already helping Nigeria transition from vulnerability to strength.

“FIRS is not just a tax collector. It is a strategic institution at the heart of Nigeria’s fiscal sustainability agenda, and it is undergoing one of the most profound transformations in its history.

“To rebuild public trust in the tax system, we are modernising not just our systems but also our mindset and culture towards greater professionalism, integrity and service orientation.

“FIRS is not waiting for resilience to be handed to it. We are building it from the ground up. Through automation, legal reforms, multi-level collaboration, and institutional renewal, we are laying the fiscal foundation for a Nigeria that can weather storms, adapt to change and grow sustainably,” he added.

seconded by Bauchi State Governor and Chairman of PDP’s Governors’ Forum, Senator Bala Mohammed.

Moving the motion for their expulsion, George argued that the conduct of the 11 PDP members had become “inconsistent with the party’s collective interest.”

The Bauchi State governor, who quickly seconded the motion, later put it on vote and majority of the delegates affirmed it.

Meanwhile, Senator Ben Obi who announced the election of Turaki as national chairman, said he was elected with 1,516 votes to defeat his opponent, the 2023 governorship candidate of the PDP in Katsina State, Lado Danmarke, who scored 275 votes.

Danmarke had earlier withdrawn from the race before the convention.

Continued on page 6

nipped in the bud,” he added.

The AGF also urged Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, noting that the current reforms are geared toward building a stronger foundation for national development.

“We all know the present situation is not rosy, but there is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

Fagbemi also praised the choice of the new Elerin, saying the monarch’s experience would benefit the people of Erin-Ile, while urging residents

statements to be released to the Nigerian media to ensure openness, transparency and full investigations", they said, just as they urged the media to conduct their independent investigations of their assertions.

"As stockbrokers, we are privy to the transactions of Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs (JSC, rtd), especially as it relates to his shares in First HoldCo PLC, where First Bank of Nigeria Limited is the main subsidiary.

Kabiru Tanimu Turaki

Alh. Hamza Akuyan Koshe

Dr. Daniel Ambrose W. ArapajaTaofeek Gbola-Oladejo

Ihediwa Richard Nnabugwu

Isa Abubakar

Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel

Hon. Theophilus Daka Shan

Ini Ememobong Essien

Aribisala Adewale Idowu

Bara'u Shafi'i

Ogbu Anthonia Chinenyenwa

Solarin Sunday Adekunle

Farida Umar Hamid

Aigbokhaevbo Harrison O. Hamsatu Adamu

Hon Tina Puna Musa

Usamatu Maharazu

Elec-Njaka Chikere

to support him in driving the town’s development.

Speaking at the event, Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Ibrahim Bata, said the traditional institution remained a strategic partner in governance.

He urged the monarch to continue building bridges of unity among his people and to uphold the culture of peace and dialogue for which Erin-lle is known.

"We are aware and hereby report that on April 7, 2025, he purchased 148,888 Units of shares of First HoldCo PLC, bringing his total holdings of First HoldCo PLC to 595,057 Units", the statement read. Meanwhile, they further disclosed that, besides First HoldCo PLC, Akaahs holds various units of shares in the banking, telecoms, and other sectors of the Nigerian economy. They listed the companies to include: Daar Communications

National Chairman

Dep. Nat'l Chairman (North)

Dep. Nat'l Chairman (South)

National Secretary

Dep. Nat'l Secretary

National Treasurer

National Financial Sec

National Organising Sec

Nat'l Publicity Secretary

National Auditor

National Legal Adviser

National Women's Leader

Dep. National Organising Sec

Dep. National Publicity Sec

Dep. National Treasurer

Dep. Nat. Women Leader

Dep. National Financial Sec

Dep. National Auditor

Dep. Nat'l Youth Leader

He added: “The state government remains committed to supporting all traditional institutions in their efforts to promote growth, security, and social harmony within their communities.”

Oba Jimoh Adebowale Adesoye, in his remarks, pledged to commit his reign to the progress of Erin-Ile, noting that youths, who constitute about 65 per cent of the productive population, would be central to developmental initiatives in agriculture, healthcare, food security and security.

Plc, DAAR - 50,000 units; Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Dansugar - 12,000 units; Dunlop Nigeria (Dunlop) - 50,000 units; Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) - 6,890 units; Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) - 80,083 units; MTN Nigeria Communications Plc (MTN) - 120,250 units; United Bank for Africa (UBA) - 160,650 units; Lafarge Africa Plc, WAPCO - 14,723 units; Zenith Bank Plc - 60,937 units.

GIVING BACK TO THE SOCIETY…

L-R: Director, Sanitation Services, Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Dr. Hassan Sanuth; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health District II, Dr. Dayo Lajide; HRM

Chairman, Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Hon. Adetola Abubakar; Executive Director, JMG Limited, Otunba Francis

Yomi Ganiu, at the commissioning of a Solar Power System donated by JMG Limited, in Lagos…recently

Group

Edun, Cardoso Hail S&P Outlook Upgrade to Positive, Pledge Deeper Reforms for Nigeria’s Economic Turnaround

CBN gov seeks collaboration to build robust credit system

Festus Akanbi

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso have welcomed S&P Global Ratings' decision to revise Nigeria's sovereign outlook to Positive from Stable, pledging that the government will press ahead with coordinated policies to entrench macroeconomic stability.

This is just as Cardoso called for collaboration to build a robust credit economy that supports development and empowers citizens.

In a statement issued yesterday, Edun described the upgrade, which maintained Nigeria's long- and short-term ratings at 'B-/B', as a resounding validation of the fiscal, monetary, and structural reforms

Mr. Solarin Adekunle was also elected the Deputy National Organising Secretary while other candidates were elected unopposed.

PDP Dissolves Party Structures in Imo, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Rivers

PDP also yesterday dissolved the entire party structures in Imo, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers states.

The motion for the dissolution, which was presented at the ongoing elective national congress, the party’s highest decisionmaking organ, by the host Governor, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, was seconded by the party’s National Auditor, Daniel Obiechina Okechukwu.

In the motion, Makinde sought the ratification and

spearheaded by President Bola Tinubu's administration.

"This development is yet another clear signal that the difficult but necessary reforms we are undertaking are gaining traction and earning strong recognition from respected global institutions," he said.

The upgrade brings S&P in line with Moody’s and Fitch Ratings, which earlier this year improved Nigeria's credit standing, marking a rare consensus among the world's three leading rating agencies on the country's reform trajectory.

"This alignment reflects tremendous confidence in the direction of our fiscal, monetary, and structural reforms, and in the renewed strength and stability of our economy," Edun noted.

He pointed out that S&P's action mirrors the agency's acknowledgement of brighter growth prospects, bolstered

approval of the elected executive committees of the PDP at various levels in states and zones where congresses have already been concluded.

The Oyo State governor explained that the congresses were held across the country between 2024 and 2025 to elect party executives at the ward, local government, state, and geopolitical zone levels, including national ex-officio members.

He noted that the congresses were conducted freely, fairly, and substantially in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, the PDP constitution, and party guidelines in all geopolitical zones and most states.

Makinde added that the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Working Committee (NWC) had approved the congresses and the officers elected during

external reserves, and more effective monetary policy transmission—outcomes now emerging as the reforms bed down.

"These positive signals reinforce our commitment to staying the course," the minister stressed. "While we are fully

aware that more work lies ahead, the foundations we are building today will support inclusive and sustainable growth for years to come."

Edun commended President Tinubu for his "unwavering leadership and political courage" in implementing long-overdue changes, while saluting Nigerians' resilience during the adjustment period.

"We will continue to implement well-coordinated policies that restore macroeconomic stability, attract investment, and create opportunities for our citizens," he assured.

"The confidence shown by global ratings agencies strengthens our resolve to deliver a stronger, more dynamic, and more prosperous Nigerian economy."

Similarly, Cardoso, also welcomed the decision of

US Embassy in Nigeria Resumes Full Operations as American Government Shutdown Ends

Sunday Ehigiator

The United States Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria have resumed full operations following the reopening of the American Government.

On October 1, the US government shut down embassies and consulates worldwide, announcing that the shutdown would reduce public communications.

the process.

He stated, “In the case of Imo, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers, the Convention hereby dissolves all party structures at the ward, local government, and state levels.

“The Convention has authorised the publication of this decision to serve as official notice to the public.”

Fintri, Mutfwang Denounce Expulsion of FCT Minister, Others

But in denouncing the expulsion of Wike and others, Mutfwang, in a press statement issued last night by his Director of Press, Gyang Bere, stated that the issue was neither discussed by the PDP Governors’ Forum nor at the National Executive Committee of the party, (NEC) before the

The diplomatic missions particularly said they would not post routine updates “until full operations resume,” except for urgent safety and security information.

After a 43-day shutdown, US President Donald Trump signed a spending bill last Wednesday to reopen the government.

It was the most extended such closure in the country’s history.

In a statement over the weekend, the US Embassy in Nigeria notified visa applicants and relevant service users that it had resumed full operations.

“American citizen services and visa services are proceeding as scheduled,” the embassy said.

Trump signed the budget after the House of Representatives voted 222-209 to approve it, two days after

NATIONAL CHAIRMAN

motion was presented.

Mutfwang further noted that expelling the party leaders at this crucial time is not a strategic step towards resolving the internal challenges currently confronting the PDP.

He reiterated the need for unity, dialogue, and collective effort in rebuilding and repositioning the party.

Similarly, Governor Fintiri, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, noted that the expulsion was not in the best interest of the party, adding that he will not be party to any attempt that could further plunge the PDP into unending crisis.

''As a faithful party member, my position is clear: I stand for the peace and stability of the PDP, and I will not support anything that could lead to its disintegration.

''I believe that peace and reconciliation are the only ways forward for our great party,” the statement explained.

Kefas Dumps PDP, to Join APC Wednesday

In another development, the Taraba State Governor, Kefas, has announced that he will defect from the PDP to the APC on Wednesday.

The governor disclosed this weekend during an inspection visit to the ongoing renovation works at the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo, the state capital, which has been selected as the venue for the high-profile declaration rally.

Speaking to journalists, Kefas said his decision to dump the PDP was driven by his commitment to secure the future of Taraba State for the benefit of its people.

the Senate narrowly approved the same package. However, the short-term budget provides funding only to keep the government open until January 30, 2026, when lawmakers will once again need to find a way to fund it. This means there is a possibility the US government will shut down again in January if Democrats and Republicans fail to reach an agreement.

He said: “I will officially transition from PDP to APC on November 19th. This movement is about the destiny and future of the people of Taraba. We are expecting many visitors for the ceremony, and everything is being put in place to ensure it is a historic event.”

When pressed to clarify the terms or conditions attached to his defection, the governor said there were no hidden conditions attached.

Meanwhile, the members of the Taraba State Executive Council have declared full support for the governor’s decision.

The Commissioner for Science and Technology, Muslim Aruwa, who spoke on behalf of the state cabinet, said the governor would be joined by his appointees and political allies in his movement to the APC.

Oba of Ketu, Dr. Isiaka Adio Oyero Balogun; Executive

Meshioye;

General Manager, JMG Limited, Mr. Rabih Jammal; and Vice Chairman, Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Hon.

WELCOMING DEFECTORS TO RULING PARTY…

L-R: Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu; and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, welcoming President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, at the Jos airport for the welcoming rally in honour of defectors from PDP, LP, PRP, NNPP and ADC to the APC…yesterday.

President Tinubu Raises Alarm over Rising Graduate Unemployment, Tasks Varsities

Fidelis David in Akure

President Bola Tinubu yesterday expressed concern over the increasing number of graduates entering the labour market, stressing the importance of aligning university curricula with employability, entrepreneurship and job creation.

This is just as he urged Nigerian universities to strengthen their role in driving national development through cutting-edge research, innovation, and improved industry collaborations.

Tinubu stated these while speaking at the award of postgraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees to graduates

as part of the 36th Convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).

The president, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, said: "I must admit that while today's occasion gives much joy, it is overwhelming to note the number of graduates that are to be added to the labour market. It is, therefore, needful to pay close attention to the relevance of our curricula to employability and job creation", and emphasise that all hands must be on deck to ensure that FUTA graduates are not only self-reliant, but

consistently so.

"While it is agreed that the government alone cannot provide job opportunities directly for the teeming graduates of our higher educational institutions, the government will continue to create an enabling environment for investments and businesses to thrive; this administration recognises the critical role of science, technology and innovation in our national development.

"We are, therefore, committed to policies that strengthen education, promote research funding, and foster collaborations between universities and industries. We are also pursuing the

on Job-driven

digital economy agenda, renewable energy initiatives, and infrastructure development, all of which open new opportunities for your graduates to contribute meaningfully to national growth and development."

Tinubu also urged young graduates to explore the agricultural value chain, which he described as a goldmine capable of generating jobs and wealth.

He outlined ongoing reforms in the education sector, including the revitalisation blueprint for university education, increased interventions from TETFund, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund), and the recently introduced Tertiary

Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), aimed at cushioning the hardships faced by university workers.

In her address, the ViceChancellor, Professor Adenike Temidayo Oladiji, highlighted FUTA’s significant achievements over the past academic year, noting that the university maintained its ranking among the top 10 universities in Nigeria in the 2025 Times Higher Education ranking.

The vice-chancellor also disclosed several groundbreaking feats, including FUTA’s successful hosting of the maiden Colloquium of Tertiary Institutions in Ondo State, and the reconfirmation of the university’s Department of Meteorology and

Curricula

Climate Science as a World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Regional Training Centre for another five-year term.

Earlier, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, applauded FUTA, describing it as a global force in technological innovation and a strategic partner in the state’s development agenda.

The governor, who was represented by the Director General of the Performance and Project Implementation Monitoring Unit (PPIMU), Mr. Razaq Obe, said he held an immutable belief in the power of education and remained immensely proud of the role FUTA plays as a beacon of light and a catalyst for development.

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has decried what he described as another stunning display of misplaced priorities by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration for sending a 749-member delegation to COP30.

Obi noted that China, a world

power with a far larger economy and population, sent 789 delegates to the same event.

The former Anambra State Governor shared his thoughts in a post titled: “In Delegations, Nigeria competes well”, on his verified X handle, yesterday.

He said, “Again, in a bitter twist of irony, we thank Nigeria for having the third-largest delegation at COP30, with 749

delegates, similar to China with 789 delegates.

“While Nigeria needs to have a strong voice in global climate discussions, this spectacle comes at a heavy cost to our people, with about 150 million living in multidimensional poverty, struggling daily with food insecurity, inadequate healthcare, and limited access to basic services.

“Yet, our leaders travel in large numbers, funded by taxpayers, attending climate talks abroad while the citizens they are meant to serve continue to suffer.

“Compared to China, which had about the same contingency, China has a high HDI, while Nigeria has a low one, with a key measure of life expectancy at the lowest 54 years, against China’s 79 years.

NIWA Managing Director, Oyebamiji, Resigns to Pursue Gubernatorial Ambition in Osun

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, has formally resigned his appointment to contest the Osun State governorship election scheduled for next year.

This was disclosed yesterday in a statement issued by the

AMBO (Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji) Media Office.

According to the statement, his resignation complies with Section 84 (12) of the 2022 Electoral Act (as amended), to enable him to participate in the Osun State governorship primary, scheduled for next month.

Oyebamiji expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for finding him worthy

of national service, noting that his time in government at that level enabled him to draw on a wealth of nationallevel experience as the chief executive of a critical agency like NIWA.

The statement quoted him as saying, "This is what I consider a rare opportunity that I will live to cherish forever. I equally thank my boss and the Minister of

Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, for recommending me to the President for the appointment in the first instance.

"As I prepare for another phase in my public service journey, I carry with me the exposure and experience garnered at the national level, which I believe will come in handy wherever I find myself in the future."

Africa CDC Confirms Outbreak of Deadliest Known Pathogen, Marburg Virus Disease, in Ethiopia

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Ethiopia has confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in the south of the country, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said yesterday.

The Marburg virus is one of the deadliest known pathogens. Like Ebola, it causes severe bleeding, fever, vomiting, and diarrhoea and has a 21-day incubation period.

Also, like Ebola, it is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids and has a fatality rate ranging between 25 and 80 per cent.

The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Ethiopia’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed on Friday that at least nine cases had been detected in southern Ethiopia,

two days after the Africa CDC was alerted to a suspected haemorrhagic virus in the region.

“The National Reference Laboratory in Ethiopia has confirmed Marburg virus disease (MVD).

“Further epidemiological investigations and laboratory analyses are underway, and the virus strain detected shows similarities to those previously identified in East Africa,” Africa CDC said.

Africa CDC said Ethiopian health authorities had acted swiftly to confirm and contain the outbreak in the Jinka area. It added that it would work with Ethiopia to ensure an effective response and reduce the risk of the virus spreading to other parts of East Africa.

An epidemic of the Marburg virus killed 10 people in Tanzania in January before being contained in March.

A LEADER WITH KIND HEART…

Journalists Still Face Arrests, Harassment, Unlawful Detention in Nigeria, Says CPJ

Wale Igbintade

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has disclosed that at least three journalists in Nigeria have been detained since August over allegations of violating the country’s Cybercrime Act.

In a report published over the weekend, CPJ said authorities continue to use the law to harass the media despite its reform.

The law was amended after media rights groups and journalists clamoured for a review, citing its abuse of criminalising “stalking”.

In August, Azuka Ogujiuba, publisher of the Media Room Hub news site, was arrested

twice in Abuja for publishing a court injunction related to a disputed land sale, she told CPJ. The first time, she was held for five hours; the second time, for three days, while police searched and retained her phone for five days.

Ogujiuba was released on August 11 after friends intervened, the article was taken down, and an apology was written.

On September 9, Ekiti State Police Command detained Sodeeq Atanda, a reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), on allegations of cyberbullying, criminal defamation, conspiracy, blackmail, and malicious

Army Confirms Borno Ambush by Terrorists, Denies Abduction of Brigade Commander

Linus Eleke in Abuja

The Nigerian Army has confirmed that troops of 25 Task Force Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Borno State ran into an ambush laid by terrorists.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, who confirmed the attack in a statement, said the troops were ambushed while on their way from a successful mission in Sambisa Forest.

She said two soldiers and two members of Civilian JTF lost their lives in the incident.

However, the army spokesperson denied the reports that the Brigade Commander was kidnapped.

“Troops of 25 Task Force Brigade, routine patrol to secure communities around Wajiroko in Azir Multe, Damboa Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State,

came under a sudden and heavy insurgent fire while returning from a successful patrol within the fringes of Sambisa Forest.

“The patrol team, which was led by the Commander of 25 Brigade, Brigadier General M. Uba and comprised troops of 25 Task Force Brigade and members of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), courageously fought through the insurgents’ ambush with superior firepower, forcing them to withdraw in disarray and to abandon their mission.

“During the encounter, two brave soldiers and two heroic CJTF members paid the supreme price while on active service to the nation.

While commending the troops for their gallantry, the Army high command commiserates with families and associates of the deceased gallants for their heroic sacrifice to the nation.”

misrepresentation. Atanda was responding to a letter summoning him for questioning, following a complaint by a university vicechancellor over FIJ’s allegations of sexual harassment.

FIJ founder Fisayo Soyombo told CPJ that Atanda was detained for 11 hours, then released without charge after multiple calls for his release.

On September 18, police detained Fejiro Oliver, the pen name for an investigative journalist and publisher of the Secret Reporters news outlet, at his office in Abuja. He was flown to Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Oliver’s real name is Tega Oghenedoro.

On October 3, Oliver was charged with cyberbullying,

according to court documents.

The charge sheet alleged that Oliver made several “malicious” publications on his Facebook account in July and August “aimed at destroying the reputation” of the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, by calling him “defamatory names" and accusing him of incompetence and “rigging”.

In his reporting, Oliver

has consistently alleged mismanagement by Oborevwori, according to CPJ’s review of the Secret Reporters site. The same charge sheet accused the journalist of “cyberstalking” Delta senator, Ede Omueya, with Facebook posts between May and July “aimed at destroying his reputation”.

In Renewed Vigour, Marwa Warns Drug Barons, Traffickers to Quit or Get Ready for Tougher Times

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) has warned drug barons, traffickers and their cartels to quit the criminal trade or face a harder time during his second tenure.

President Bola Tinubu reappointed Marwa for a second five-year term on Friday, November 14, 2025. He told the management

staff, officers, men and women of the agency who gathered to welcome him at its National Headquarters in Abuja that his second tenure will be hell and bleak for those who fail to quit the illicit drug trade.

NDLEA’s Director in charge of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement issued yesterday.

Marwa expressed appreciation to the president for the recognition of ongoing efforts against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.

“We thank the President and Commander-in-Chief for the special recognition of our collective efforts and the new mandate for us to continue with the war against drug abuse and trafficking. I thank the management, officers, men and women of the agency, who continue to provide service to the nation 24/7, despite the risks that you all face,” he stated.

He also acknowledged the unflinching support of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and

Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun; and NDLEA’s local and international partners. For the drug cartels, Marwa said, “First, this word must go to the cartels. The cartels have not seen anything yet. I promise them this second tenure is going to be hell and bleak for them. Drugs shall not pass, in or out or within Nigeria.”

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment towards President Tinubu’s mandate.

Nigeria Targets N160bn from Wheat Production

The federal government yesterday said it has earmarked 40,000 hectares of land for 2025/2026 dry-season wheat production and has registered 80,000 farmers, with an expected output value of approximately N160 billion.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this during the official flag-off of the 2025/2026 dry season wheat production programme under the National Agricultural Growth and Agro Pocket Project (NAGSAP) in Jere Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State.

Speaking at the ceremony, the minister said that out of the 40,000 hectares earmarked for wheat production this dry season, 3,000 hectares have been allocated to Borno State, representing 6,000 registered wheat farmers.

He said: “Under the 2023/2024 dry season wheat production programme, a total of 107,429 registered farmers were supported with critical subsidised inputs, resulting in an output valued at N474,628,000. During the 2024/2025 dry season, 279,297 registered farmers received support, with an output valued

at N893,750,004 billion.

“For the current 2025/2026 season, the programme is targeting 80,000 registered farmers with an expected output value of approximately N160 billion.”

Kyari emphasised that the NAGSAP programme will deploy Agricultural Extension Agents to guide farmers on modern agronomic practices and provide continuous field-level advisory services.

“In addition, Fertiliser and Seed Quality Control Officers will be mobilised to ensure that all inputs delivered to farmers meet the required standards,

thereby guaranteeing higher productivity and improved yields,” Kyari added.

According to him, the wheat component of the NAGSAP programme covers sixteen states of the federation.

“These are Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara. The inclusion of Cross River last year expanded wheat production into the southern region for the first time and strengthened our national capacity to diversify production across ecological zones,” he said.

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim (with microphone), and 1,000 beneficiaries of N100,000 bursary award at Fortune University, Igbotako, Ondo State…yesterday

Nigeria’s Democracy and the Civil-Military Fault Line

By Pratt Elias

In this piece Pratt Elias, examines the deeper implications of the recent confrontation between a minister and a naval officer in Nigeria. In this essay, he argues that the incident exposes a widening fault line in Nigeria’s civil-military relations and poses a serious threat to the country’s democratic stability.

On 11 November, a brief confrontation between Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and a young naval officer swept across the country with the velocity of a nation primed for spectacle. A minister bristling with fury. A uniformed officer unmoved. Mobile phones capturing every second. The videos spread, commentary erupted, and the nation quickly split into camps.

For some, the minister’s abrasive tone was the scandal. For others, the young officer’s composure transformed him into a folk hero, a symbol of resistance against elite impunity. But beneath the frenzy lies a far more consequential question: What does it mean for a democracy when a uniformed serviceman obstructs a constitutionally empowered civilian authority and a significant portion of the public applauds?

This was not a clash of personalities. It was a warning, subtle but unmistakable, that something fundamental in Nigeria’s civilmilitary relations is beginning to shift.

At first glance, the encounter appeared straightforward: a minister attempting to access a site he described as an illegal development and a naval officer refusing to yield. Voices rose, tempers flared, videos circulated. Yet the true significance lies elsewhere. A serving officer blocked a minister performing a statutory duty. In any stable democracy, such a moment would trigger immediate concern, not because ministers are flawless, but because the Armed Forces cannot decide which civilians they will obey.

Every democracy rests on a core doctrine: the military must remain subordinate to civilian authority. This is not symbolic; it is structural. Carl von Clausewitz, in On War, described military force as a continuation of political intercourse carried on with other means. The military is therefore never an autonomous power. It is an instrument of the state, deriving its legitimacy from obedience to civilian direction. Clausewitz warned that once military power drifts outside political control, it becomes a threat, not a safeguard.

For Nigeria, a country scarred by coups and military rule, this doctrine is not an abstraction but a condition for national survival. The Constitution vests operational command in the President because the military must never become a self-directing force answerable to sentiment or personal loyalties. That is why the 11 November incident cannot be dismissed. The moment a junior officer feels entitled to obstruct a minister performing lawful duties, military discipline begins to drift away from

constitutional restraint toward personal discretion and emotion, exposing the system to disorder.

A democratic society must be careful about the heroes it elevates. Applauding a soldier who confronts a minister may feel satisfying in a country frustrated by governance failures, but such applause is dangerous. It normalises the belief that a uniformed officer may assess, judge, and reject the authority of an elected or appointed official based on personal views or popular sympathy.

A widely circulated legal essay deepened the confusion by portraying the officer’s conduct as constitutional loyalty, relying on case law concerning property rights and state self-help. Those decisions, however, do not govern civil-military obedience. They regulate the limits of state power over citizens, not the obligations of the military to the civil authorities they serve.

To those who argue that the minister may have been acting improperly or beyond his powers, the constitutional remedy is not a naval officer’s instant judgment on the roadside. In a functional state, the recourse is judicial review, administrative oversight, or internal reporting within the security architecture. During peacetime, and knowing fully well that he was dealing with the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, the officer’s duty was to comply and then report through his chain of command. Substituting personal discretion for constitutional procedure is not the rule of law; it is its undoing.

One detail makes the situation even more troubling: the supposed superior who allegedly deployed the naval officer is a retired officer. A retired officer has no operational authority, no place in the chain of command, and no right to redeploy or direct serving personnel to another duty location without the consent of the proper deployment authority. Once serving officers begin to act on the informal directives of retired figures, the military re-enters the grey zone Nigeria has struggled for decades to escape, a space where shadow chains of command thrive and discipline fractures into private loyalties. This is not professionalism. It is institutional deterioration.

Nigeria confronted this danger once before. When President Olusegun Obasanjo returned as civilian president in 1999, he inherited an Armed Forces deeply intertwined with politics. Senior officers had served as governors, ministers, and administrators under successive military regimes. The boundary between barracks and government had vanished. President Obasanjo understood that unless the civil-military boundary was rebuilt immediately, the Fourth Republic would collapse. He instituted rapid measures to address the problem. This was not vindictiveness; it was democratic hygiene, a necessary reset to restore the constitutional wall between military structure and political

authority.

He followed this with reforms to professionalise the military, dismantle shadow patronage networks, and reassert the principle that military legitimacy flows only from obedience to civilian authority.

Which is why the 11 November incident is so troubling. The very pathologies President Obasanjo sought to eliminate—ambiguous loyalties, retired officers influencing serving personnel, soldiers acting as filters to civilian authority—resurfaced in that brief encounter. A junior officer blocked a minister. A retired officer stood behind him. A substantial segment of the public applauded.

This is exactly the danger President Obasanjo feared: not dramatic coups, but subtle coups of sentiment in which the military is recast as the moral counterweight to elected leadership. Democracies rarely fall with tanks on the streets. They erode through small, celebrated breaches of civilian supremacy.

The confrontation of 11 November was not merely embarrassing. It was a quiet alarm, a sign that the boundaries sustaining Nigeria’s democracy are fraying. A soldier defied a minister. A retired officer was implicated. And a substantial portion of the public approved.

Nigeria cannot afford to forget what Clausewitz taught. Democracy survives only when the military remains firmly under civilian authority.

The response must therefore be firm and immediate. The military high command should reaffirm civilian supremacy through clear directives and, where necessary, disciplinary action. Political leaders must exercise authority with the legitimacy that commands respect rather than provokes defiance. And the public must recognise that cheering a man in uniform today may empower the very force that could one day dismantle their democracy. The remedy lies in institutional accountability, not viral defiance.

What happened on 11 November was a breach of constitutional provision. Under Section 1(a) of the Federal Capital Territory Act, the minister shall have a right of access at all times to any land or building within the Federal Capital Territory for the purpose of ascertaining that the provisions of this Act are not being contravened. Whether this moment becomes a turning point or a warning unheeded will test the maturity and resilience of Nigeria’s democracy.

There is an additional danger. Members of staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration carrying out lawful assignments may now be exposed to physical threats if citizens begin to imitate the 11 November episode by resorting to force to defend their interests, whether legal or illegal. The outcome is predictable: a breakdown of law and order.

Pratt Elias writes from the Atlantic Coast

SIXTY-FIVE HEARTY CHEERS...

We’ll Hunt Down Terrorists, Protect Our People, Air Force Chief, Aneke, Reassures Nigerians

In

coordinated strikes, NAF

destroys bandits’ camp in Zamfara

Linus Eleke in Abuja

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Kelvin Aneke, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF) unwavering commitment to eliminating terrorists and other criminal elements threatening the peace and stability of Nigeria.

This is just as the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has carried out precision airstrikes that destroyed a major terrorist stronghold in the Sauri camp, Tsafe Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State.

Aneke gave the assurance over the weekend during an operational visit to the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY) Sector 2/213 Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Katsina State.

He charged NAF personnel

to intensify their efforts in fulfilling the directive of the President and Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Tinubu, to decisively eliminate all threats to the safety and security of Nigerians.

The CAS emphasised that

NISO to Disconnect Electricity Supply to Owerri after Attack on Its Workers by Imo Govt’s Officials

TCN announces arrest of five suspects for vandalising power assets in Benue

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has announced that it would disconnect power supply to Owerri, the Imo State capital, after government officials allegedly attacked and whisked away some of its workers in the state.

This is just as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), stated that five suspected vandals from Upu Community in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State were arrested by a local security group while vandalising

the Otukpo–Yandev 132kV Single-Circuit transmission line.

In a statement it issued yesterday, the agency gave a deadline of 6pm yesterday for the government to release its officials safely or the state capital will be effectively removed from the national grid.

The NISO stated that government operatives allegedly acting on behalf of the Imo State government forcefully entered and vandalised the control rooms at the Egbu 132/33kV transmission substation.

“Information received

from Owerri indicates that the state government operatives allegedly acting on behalf of the Imo State Government forcefully entered and vandalised the control rooms at the Egbu 132/33kV transmission substation in their bid to force the operators to grant an illegal outage.

“After forcefully carrying out disconnection at gunpoint, all NISO personnel on duty at the affected facilities were held hostage and forced to open the breakers by the operatives,” the statement added.

According to NISO,

all efforts to reach the government for an amicable settlement failed.

The statement added that the Chairman of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC), Bede Okpara, who confirmed awareness of the incident, indicated he would revert with further information.

“As at the time of this report, no update has been provided, and no government agency or representative of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission has contacted NISO regarding the matter,” NISO added.

Foreign Students in UK Now Eligible to Switch to Innovator Founder Visa Without Leaving Country

International students in the United Kingdom will be eligible for an Innovator Founder visa without having to leave the country, provided they meet specific requirements, according to an immigration White Paper approved last month.

The bulky 82-page immigration White Paper was released in May.

Foreign students can apply for an Innovator Founder visa

if they want to set up and run an innovative business in the UK, different from anything else on the market.

The business must have growth potential and demonstrate the ability to create jobs and expand into national and international markets.

The visa route takes effect on November 25 and lasts for three years. There are no limits on the number of

times it can be extended, and applicants may be able to apply for settlement after 3 years in the UK.

To apply, applicant must have their business (idea) assessed by an endorsing body, meet an English language requirement, be at least 18 years old, and have enough personal savings of at least £1,270. However, applicants will need to meet with their

endorsing body after 12 months and 24 months to show business progress.

The changes came the same week that foreign students were given 18 months to find employment after graduation, down from the current 2 years.

The Home Office said the changes, which take effect from January 1, 2027, were necessary to ensure graduates contribute effectively to the economy.

the unprecedented support of the federal government— through the acquisition of modern platforms, advanced weaponry, and enhanced professional training—places a solemn responsibility on the Nigerian Air Force to deliver decisive outcomes.

According to him, Nigeria’s security landscape has grown increasingly complex, with ruthless non-state actors spreading violence and causing significant loss of innocent lives.

He reminded personnel that the sacrifices of fallen NAF heroes demand unwavering resolve, urging them to remain agile, innovative, and ruthlessly precise in confronting security threats.

“We cannot relent for a moment,” he warned. “The nation is counting on us to

restore peace and reclaim every inch of territory challenged by insurgents and criminals.”

Aneke commended the troops for their courage, precision, and professionalism despite the region's operational challenges. He vowed that the NAF would not rest until every threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty is neutralised.

“Wherever they hide— whether in forests, valleys, or remote villages—our forces will find them, and we will strike with precision. Our mission is clear: to hunt them down and protect our people.”

He urged personnel to sustain operational momentum and ensure that every mission reflects the NAF’s core values of discipline, service, and patriotism.

EFCC Charges Former Banker after Bank Detects Fraudulent Diversion of Customer’s $510,000 Wale Igbintade

A new-generation bank has uncovered an alleged $510,000 diversion carried out by one of its former staff members, Obinna Nwaobi, leading to his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Federal High Court in Enugu.

In a statement, the EFCC confirmed that Nwaobi was brought before Justice C.O. Ajah on a five-count charge bordering on criminal diversion, fraudulent conversion, and abuse of office.

The commission said the suspect allegedly manipulated a customer’s domiciliary account and diverted $510,000 for personal use.

Investigations began after the new-generation bank detected irregular transactions

during routine scrutiny by its strengthened anti-fraud unit. The bank immediately escalated its findings to the EFCC, prompting a comprehensive investigation that led to Nwaobi’s arrest and prosecution.

The bank noted that the incident further highlights the importance of robust internal controls and reaffirmed its commitment to sanitising the banking sector. It explained that it has invested in enhanced fraud-monitoring systems, continuous staff ethics training, and stronger compliance processes to safeguard customer funds and maintain public trust.

The EFCC told the court that Nwaobi used his position to access and manipulate account records without authorisation.

L-R: The third car winner of the Golden Penny 65th Anniversary Promo, Austine Eshebor; Brand Operations Media Manager, Golden Penny, Omo-efe Ohworakpo; third car winner’s nephew, John Ainomah Valentine; Chief Scientific Officer, Head of Quality, FCCPC, Akinwumi Sunday Isola; and Brand Manager, Pasta, Golden Penny Foods Limited, Abiola Akinrole, during the presentation of the third car reward in the ongoing Golden Penny 65th Anniversary Buy & Win Promo in Lagos…recently

Editor: Festus Akanbi

08038588469 Email:festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com

As NDIC Wades into Crisis of Customer Trust in Nigerian Banks

In Nigeria’s controversyladen banking landscape, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation has drawn a firm line in the sand: banks must resolve customer complaints within two weeks or face direct intervention. but how far will this ultimatum go in finally compelling the banks to do right by their customers? Festus Akanbi asks

Inn a banking sector still haunted by the ghosts of past collapses and buﬀeted by the dizzying pace of digital transformation, the latest pronouncement from the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) arrives as both a reassurance and a rebuke.

At the Lagos International Trade Fair during the NDIC Day, the Director of the Claims resolution Department, olawale Sule, delivered a message that cuts through the noise: banks must resolve customer complaints within two weeks or risk having such grievances escalated directly to the NDIC.

Harvests of Unexplained Deduc-

tions behind the announcement, however, lies a deeper story, one of weary customers and wearying indiﬀerence. Across Nigeria, depositors face a daily assault of unexplained deductions, delayed reversals, and failed ATm withdrawals that leave them stranded. For many, these are not abstract inconveniences but experiences that cut into livelihoods and breed mistrust.

The NDIC’s directive is therefore both timely and necessary. Still, it also exposes how fragile depositor conﬁdence has become in a system that handles trillions yet sometimes seems indiﬀerent to the individuals whose funds sustain it.

Over the past decade, Nigeria’s ﬁnancial ecosystem has been reshaped by the explosion of digital banking. mobile apps, ATms, and instant transfers have brought convenience, but they have also introduced complexity and risk.

Falling Institutional Capacity

The Central bank of Nigeria (CbN) has sought to maintain momentum through policies such as the 2020 Guidelines on the operations of electronic Payment Channels and the 2019 Guide to Charges. Still, the growth in digital usage has outpaced both institutional capacity and consumer protection. by mid-2025, banking assets had exceeded N100 trillion, with over 70 per cent of all transactions taking place through digital channels. Yet in just six months this year, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) recorded over 3,000 complaints against banks, more than any other sector. Fintech ﬁrms followed with more than 1,400 cases, while the electricity sector ranked a distant third.

The NDIC’s intervention thus speaks to a system straining under its own success. Nigeria’s digital payment architecture has

grown so rapidly that the mechanisms for redress are creaking. every failed transfer or unreversed debit represents not just a technical glitch but a blow to trust, the currency on which any banking system ultimately runs.

The Ultimatum

The two-week directive is therefore more than bureaucratic instruction; it is a lifeline for customers. It formalises what has too often been left to chance. once a customer complains, the countdown begins. If the bank fails to act within 14 days, the NDIC steps in. For the ordinary Nigerian, this creates a tangible path to justice, a signal that the system, however belatedly, hears them.

Still, the directive exposes the inadequacies of the status quo. Two weeks can feel like an eternity to a trader whose PoS device shows a payment that never reﬂects or a worker whose salary has vanished into digital limbo. For every customer who eventually secures a refund, countless others give up. The bureaucracy involved in complaint escalation, the opacity of internal processes, and the casualness with which banks treat these matters make redress elusive. The helplessness of depositors has become a deﬁning feature of the modern banking experience.

beneath the headlines, the NDIC’s renewed activism reflects a broader recalibration of regulatory roles. Since its establishment in 1988, the Corporation has shouldered the mandate of deposit insurance, bank supervision, and failure resolution. Its powers have expanded under the NDIC Act No. 30 of 2023 and the banks and other Financial Institutions Act (boFIA) 2020, which grant it the authority to liquidate failed institutions and prosecute offenders. Its coverage levels —N5 million per depositor in Deposit money banks, Non-Interest banks, and mobile money operators, and N2 million per depositor in Microfinance, Mortgage, and Payment Service Banks —now protect about 99 per cent of Nigerian depositors. but while its legal arsenal has grown formidable, implementation remains uneven. Despite layers of oversight from the CbN and NDIC, complaints about unauthorised deductions, phishing, and delayed reversals persist. The FCCPC has recorded a 20 per cent annual rise in fintech-related grievances, a trend fuelled by Nigeria’s deepening

digital adoption, which saw ﬁntechs process over N500 trillion in transactions last year. The NDIC’s escalation framework, a toll-free helpline, dedicated email, online portal, and oﬃces across the country, is designed to make redress accessible. Sule, in his remarks at the trade fair, urged depositors to use these channels and to remain vigilant against fraudulent “wonder banks” that lure unsuspecting Nigerians with promises of impossible returns.

He also reminded the public that any legitimate ﬁnancial institution must be listed on the NDIC’s oﬃcial website, an often-ignored resource that could prevent countless cases of fraud.

Beyond Policy, Process

beyond policy and process, the issue strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s economic well-being. The banking sector contributes roughly 4.5 per cent to GDP and underpins Africa’s financial connectivity. Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Deputy President, Leye Kupoluyi, praised NDIC’s interventions, noting that the reliability of Nigeria’s banks sustains their regional dominance. Yet reliability must go hand in hand with accountability. When unresolved complaints freeze small-business cash flows or disrupt inventory cycles, the ripple effects reach deep into the economy. For the millions of Smes that depend on prompt access to funds, a single delayed reversal can mean the difference between continuity and collapse.

Globally, eﬀective complaint resolution is recognised as a pillar of ﬁnancial inclusion. The U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) resolves about 90 per cent of consumer complaints within 60 days. Nigeria’s twin-tiered system, the CbN’s 72-hour resolution rule and the NDIC’s two-week escalation window aim to outperform that standard.

Indeed, NDIC studies show that deposit insurance and swift redress mechanisms can boost public savings by up to 20 per cent. The expansion of coverage from N500,000 before 2020 to N5 million today has already prevented bank runs during periods of economic uncertainty.

Legacy Challenges

Still, challenges abound. many banks remain weighed down by legacy systems and staﬀ shortages, making prompt resolution diﬃcult. The digital literacy gap further

compounds the problem: countless users lack the knowledge to lodge formal complaints or recognise fraudulent schemes. regulators, too, must embrace technology to speed up response times. Artiﬁcial intelligence could triage complaints, while greater transparency around penalties would deter indiﬀerence.

In practice, the NDIC’s rule can change lives. Consider a Lagos trader who experiences a failed N150,000 PoS transaction. He reports it to his bank and is promised a resolution “within days.” When nothing happens after two weeks, he escalates to the NDIC through email or the toll-free number. Within days, the matter is investigated, the funds returned, and trust, at least temporarily, restored. multiply this scenario by thousands, and the directive’s signiﬁcance becomes clear.

For the NDIC, the initiative is not merely administrative. It is an eﬀort to rebuild the moral contract between banks and their customers. Conﬁdence is the cornerstone of banking; once eroded, it takes years to rebuild. by drawing a hard line on complaint resolution, the NDIC signals that regulators can act as proper protectors rather than passive observers.

Yet the outcome ultimately depends on compliance. banks must internalise the directive not as an obligation but as a commitment to service. regulators must move beyond pronouncements to measurable enforcement, public scorecards showing which banks meet deadlines and which do not. And depositors must play their part by knowing their rights, keeping records, and following through on escalations.

In the final analysis, the NDIC’s twoweek deadline is a small but significant test of institutional empathy in a system too often defined by indifference. It is a chance to prove that banking in Nigeria can be both profitable and fair, both digital and dependable. For now, many customers still feel powerless, their complaints unheard, their deductions unexplained, their faith worn thin.

The new directive gives them hope that someone is finally listening. Whether that hope endures will depend on what happens after day fourteen, whether the NDIC’s words translate into action, and whether banks begin to see each complaint not as an inconvenience but as a measure of integrity. Because in a financial system built on trust, the real currency isn’t naira, it’s confidence.

Bank’s customers waiting to lodge complaints

Paris, the Golden Loop of Mike Adenuga’s Empire

• How City of Light Became the Silent Compass GuidingAfrica’s Most EnigmaticTycoon

Paris has a way of casting a spell on anyone who walks its boulevards with purpose, attracting dreamers, merchants, and bold visionaries. Among them is Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr., whose ties to the city have recently extended to TotalEnergies’ headquarters at La Défense, where a new oil and gas accord now bears his imprint, writes Lanre Alfred

The story unfolded again on a crystalline Thursday in Paris, as Conoil Producing Limited and TotalEnergies sealed a production contract considered one of the boldest bilateral moves for Nigeria’s energy resurgence. The signing brought Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. face-to-face once more with a city that has long recognised his genius. Wearing the insignia of Commandeur of the Légion d’Honneur—a distinction France reserves for its most esteemed allies—he signed with his characteristic poise. Opposite him, Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies, affixed his signature with the calm assurance of a man finalising a pact both historic and inevitable.

The scene unfolded like a reflection of earlier alignments between Adenuga and France, alignments that began long before this moment at La Défense, seeded by daring vision, nurtured by trust, and matured through transcontinental camaraderie.

Paris has long served as an unseen axis in Adenuga’s story, a second hearth, an atmospheric twin to his Lagos spirit, where ambition finds both polish and expansion. Business deals flourish there with the ease of lilies beside the Seine. Friendships deepen with wine-warm sincerity in its salons. Honours accumulate like laurel wreaths in its palatial halls. Adenuga carries the city in his breath, elegance, daring, and even in the name of his Dassault Falcon jet, “Sisi Paris,” a flying testament to a bond that borders on the mystical.

There is no gainsaying Paris witnessed the ignition of many of Adenuga’s grand pursuits. Years ago, within the walls of BNP Paribas, one of Europe’s most formidable financial houses, a great support eased the birth of his telecommunications dream. Globacom rose to command a continental footprint, its green insignia spreading across West Africa with the calm inevitability of dawn. BNP Paribas’ confidence became a keystone in the architecture of his empire, offering both capital and affirmation at a time when few would wager on an audacious Nigerian revolutionary entering a heavily fortified telecoms arena.

Satellite constellations soon joined the narrative. Eutelsat, the Paris-rooted global giant, found common rhythm with Adenuga’s Globacom during advanced partnership negotiations. Their September 2021 accord at the Élysée Palace, witnessed by French President Emmanuel Macron, ushered a broadband revolution into remote Nigerian villages through hundreds of satellite Wi-Fi relay stations. That collaboration painted a vivid portrait of French-Nigerian alignment, with Adenuga standing at the centre like a bridge forged from gold and grit.

Telecommunications towers and orbital satellites rarely share kinship with oil rigs and offshore production vessels, yet Adenuga’s Parisian ties weave them into a single, coherent tapestry. They flow with quiet purpose toward the wider ambition: lifting Nigeria’s developmental arc, strengthening national sovereignty through indigenous corporate power, and widening the frontier of African enterprise across continents.

The Conoil–Totalenergies Accord: Another Parisian Chapter

The contract sealed at TotalEnergies’ La Défense headquarters signals fresh momentum for Nigeria’s hydrocarbon future. Conoil Producing Limited, the country’s foremost indigenous upstream operator, stands firmly at the helm of this collaborative thrust. The agreement promises a surge of new productivity, expanded technical synergy, and deeper international confidence in Nigeria’s ability to lead its own resource narrative.

TotalEnergies holds vast experience in upstream advancement, and Conoil retains the nimble ingenuity of a home-grown powerhouse rooted in the Delta’s soil.

The handshake between Adenuga and Pouyanné resembled the sealing of a covenant shaped by decades of trust. TotalEnergies’ Paris headquarters seemed an apt arena for such an unfolding—its steel-glass geometry rising like a modern cathedral of energy diplomacy.

Yes, Adenuga was looking so great that day! No thread upon his frame was ever accidental, no pattern without parable. He does not merely wear clothes; he communes with them, anointing his garments with the weight of memory, history, and personal creed. In his style, you do not find flamboyance for its own sake, but a philosophy woven with ancestral dignity and a stately reverence for time. He is a man for whom fashion is not frivolity, but a coded gospel — an aesthetic manifesto through which he narrates identity, invokes legacy, and proclaims success as an act of harmony.

His suit, often made to the discipline of symmetry

and stillness, speaks of a man who values precision — not merely in cloth but in policy, conduct, and conscience. Each fold holds its breath like a statesman’s pause before a weighty declaration. Each crevice is a contour of a man whose leadership is both tailored and tensile, resistant to the wrinkles of whim or compromise.

He has turned his closet into a cathedral — not of ego, but of ethics. When Adenuga steps out, it is not merely an appearance. It is a procession of purpose. Every thread hums with significance. Every hemline hymns the heritage he carries. Every sleeve, every cuff, every neckline is a silent decree: that beauty is not only what is worn, but how it is worn — and that leadership, too, must be well-tailored to fit his citizenship of humanity

This is not a man dressed in garments. No indecision ever stains the cuff. For even in the sartorial, he reflects that quiet business philosophy — clean, composed, without clutter.

A City That Recognises His Genius

French admiration for Adenuga has rarely been subtle. The Republic has twice decorated him with its highest national honour: first as Chevalier and later as Commandeur of the Légion d’Honneur. These distinctions rarely find African recipients, yet Adenuga’s contributions commanded France’s attention. President Emmanuel Macron extolled him publicly, portraying him as an emblem of economic cooperation and cultural alliance between the two nations.

Adenuga’s aura carries the composure of an artist whose palette includes continents. His appreciation for French cuisine, fine craftsmanship, and the city’s elegant rhythms complements his business acumen. Stories abound of his ease inside Parisian restaurants, ordering delicacies with a casual familiarity that signals both respect and belonging.

Alliance Française: Mike Adenuga Centre: A Cultural Beacon

Paris’ affection did not remain unreciprocated. Lagos pulses today with one of Africa’s most sophisticated cultural landmarks: the Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Centre. The complex stands as an architectural and diplomatic masterpiece, an ode to French culture, supported by a titan who saw the value of building bridges through language, art, and shared intellectual heritage.

The centre’s magnificent edifice rises along Lagos’ skyline as both cultural embassy and artistic atelier. France supplies the language; Adenuga supplies the fire. Exhibitions blossom inside its galleries. Concerts spill into its courtyards. Diplomatic receptions echo through its corridors. Paris breathes through the building like a serene muse, binding Lagos to France with silkthreaded intimacy.

This partnership extended beyond the man himself. His daughter, Bella Disu, has also received distinguished French recognition, reinforcing the family’s long-standing link with

France’s civic and cultural cosmos.

Where Commerce Meets Culture

Indeed, Adenuga’s relationship with France thrives on an extraordinary balance. Banking alliances buttress his empires; telecommunications synergies refine their edges; cultural diplomacy burnishes his legacy; and French aviation carries his ambitions through the clouds. “Sisi Paris,” his aircraft, glimmers with sentimental symbolism which reveals something deeper. Paris remains for Adenuga a place of quiet contemplation, decisive manoeuvring, tasteful indulgence, and restorative anonymity. It offers a sanctuary where he may calibrate the machinery of empires far from Nigeria’s public spotlight. Each visit leaves an imprint, strengthening a bond that grows richer with each passing season.

Globacom and Conoil, his twin engines of influence, carry strong French imprints. At Globacom, satellite advancement came alive through Eutelsat; telecom infrastructure deepened through partners like Nokia Alcatel-Lucent; financing history carries the unmistakable signature of BNP Paribas

At Conoil Producing, modern upstream infrastructure mirrors French engineering excellence; and Adenuga’s recent partnership with TotalEnergies carries the legacy forward.

France functions almost like an invisible shareholder in Adenuga’s destiny, supporting, applauding, and evolving with him. Through it all, Adenuga has always conducted his affairs with near-mythic discretion. The public rarely hears his voice, yet his actions roar across industries and continents. The Paris signing fits this pattern: a quiet ceremony, a powerful contract, a seismic outcome for Nigeria’s energy landscape.

This new deal aligns with a familiar rhythm: Adenuga’s ventures enter Paris through one door and emerge through another with renewed power. The city contributes technology, capital, institutional strength, and diplomatic warmth. Adenuga contributes scale, vision, ingenuity, and a relentless pursuit of African excellence. Together, they craft outcomes that echo through industries and continents.

A New Dawn for Nigeria’s Energy Future

Nigeria stands today at a crossroads of energy demand, global transition, and internal industry reform. The Conoil–TotalEnergies partnership offers a sturdy path toward renewed exploration, expanded output, and sustained national relevance. Paris serves once more as a midwife to this renaissance.

Adenuga’s signature on the agreement carries silent assurance. It promises discipline in execution, innovation in method, and excellence in delivery. It signals that the energy future of Africa’s largest economy will not drift unanchored; it will be shaped by deliberate alliances powered by the continent’s own titans.

Paris may be called the City of Light, but for Adenuga, it becomes something more luminous: a city of destiny, a city of turning points, a city that mirrors the brilliance of a visionary whose shadow stretches across nations.

And as the ink dried at La Défense, the city chanted again its timeless vow: to keep faith with Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr., as he keeps lifting Africa’s story toward the firmament.

Chairman of Conoil Producing, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr (left), and Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanné, at La Défense, Paris... recently

THE KOGI’S ARITHMETIC OF HOPE

Usman Ododo is quietly revolutionising governance in the state, reckons ABUBAKAR ICHEDI MOMOH

Kogi’s new governor seems to have misplaced the Nigerian politician’s instruction manual. He rather not shout, seems alarmingly uninterested in pubic shows . Instead, Ahmed Usman Ododo spends his days poring over progress charts. In a country where politics is often theatre, he appears to have chosen the role of the stage manager — invisible, precise, and yet indispensable.

Ododo, a former auditor and accountant , governs as though allergic to euphoria . To a political class accustomed to slogans and ceremony, this managerial minimalism is disconcerting. Kogi’s quiet transformation is being built on spreadsheets, steady payments, and restoration of workers hope.

Ododo’s most visible success lies in the arithmetic of governance. Within his first year, the government announced that it had cleared about 98.8 billion in accumulated debts—arrears owed to contractors, pensioners, and various agencies. Whether every figure holds under audit matters less than the signal it sends; fiscal discipline, prompt payment of salaries and pensions. After 13 years, leave bonuses for workers have resumed.

More striking was his decision to approve a minimum wage higher than the federal benchmark—a gesture that re-centres welfare in a system long dominated by austerity. Rather than boast about reforms, Ododo let the monthly alerts on workers’ phones do the talking. For thousands of families, the reliability of income has brought a new calm. The governor’s obsession with regularity, says one finance official, “is less about politics and more about dignity.”

Kogi’s fiscal order has also improved transparency. Payment schedules are published; procurement processes, though still imperfect, are more open. By imposing strict cash management and renegotiating debt lines, the administration has built liquidity to fund public works without excessive borrowing. In a country where many states survive on overdrafts, this alone marks a small revolution.

Ododo’s approach to infrastructure is as methodical as his accounting. Rather than chase one or two monumental showpieces, he opted for a broad-based rollout: ten kilometres of township roads in each of the 21 local government areas. The logic is simple—spread impact, not headlines.

Across Lokoja, Ankpa, Kabba, and Okene, new roads and drainage systems are under construction. For commuters, it means shorter journeys and less flooding; for farmers, easier access to markets. The governor has resisted the Nigerian temptation to concentrate development in the state capital. Each local council, he insists, “must see government presence in its soil, not only in the gazette.”

Beyond roads, Ododo’s team has launched or completed several structural landmarks. At Kogi State University, Kabba a new administrative complex and modern faculty buildings are rising, part of a plan to improve tertiary learning conditions. At Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, fresh laboratories,hostels and lecture halls now stand where bushland lay two years ago.

The state has also embarked on larger ventures designed to reshape its economic geography. The Kogi International Market— now under development in Lokoja— aims to become a regional trading hub for agricultural produce and manufactured goods. Plans for a Kogi Airport and a Free Trade Zone are moving through design stages, with feasibility studies highlighting the state’s central position as Nigeria’s logistical bridge between north and south. These projects, if realised, could turn Kogi into an inland commercial gateway.

Perhaps the most tangible progress, however, is at the grassroots. Over the past few months, Ododo has commissioned

dozens of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in rural communities. Each facility—solarpowered, water-supplied, and modestly equipped—serves as a lifeline for villages once dependent on distant hospitals. For mothers and children, the difference is not rhetorical: it is the difference between access and absence.

The governor’s emphasis on peoplecentred governance has extended to education and healthcare, two sectors often left in the shadows of Nigerian politics. His government reaffirmed free basic and secondary education, backed by public funding rather than proclamations. The state has paid over 600 million in West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees for more than 18,000 final-year students—later expanding the scheme to twice that number. Teachers’ attendance is now monitored digitally in some pilot schools, part of a broader push to restore classroom discipline.

Health care has seen an equally deliberate renewal. The Kogi State Health Insurance Scheme, previously limited to civil servants, now covers more than 255,000 residents, including pensioners and students. To stem the exodus of medical staff, Ododo approved a 300,000 monthly incentive for doctors—a policy that has already slowed departures. By focusing on retention rather than replacement, he is strengthening human capacity from within.

These social policies lack the grandeur of mega projects, yet they carry quiet potency. They target the anxieties of daily life— school fees, hospital bills, unpaid wages— and replace them with predictability. For ordinary citizens, predictability is development.

Kogi’s fertile plains have long made it one of Nigeria’s agricultural jewels, though much of that potential lies untapped.

Ododo’s government is trying to change that equation. Over 10,000 farmers have received improved seedlings, fertiliser, and farm tools through the state’s partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The administration is encouraging cooperatives for rice, cassava, and cashew cultivation, pairing input support with guaranteed off-take. The African Development Bank’s selection of Kogi for an Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) is a strategic win. The facility, when completed, will process farm produce locally, cutting post-harvest losses and boosting value addition. Ododo’s long-term vision is to shift the state from a civil-service economy to an agro-industrial one. “Agriculture is not only about food,” he said recently. “It is about jobs, exports, and dignity.”

Security remains the quiet spine of Ododo’s governance. Kogi’s geography—bordering nine states and bisected by major highways—makes it a target for kidnapping and banditry. Instead of centralised rhetoric, the governor has pursued decentralised vigilance. He approved the recruitment of 1,050 community hunters—50 from each local government—to assist formal agencies in intelligence gathering and patrol.

LOST TALENTS ON OUR ROADS

Remember the lost, support the living and act to prevent more heartbreak, urge MOHAMED MALICK FALL & SHEHU MOHAMMED

Every day, lives are shattered. Dreams are cut short. Families are left in silence. On our roads, tragedy unfolds, not in distant lands, but in our own streets and communities. Children, young people, parents, neighbours—gone forever.

This is no ordinary loss. This is a pandemic of sorrow. A hidden crisis claiming millions each year. According to the WHO 2023 Global status report on road safety, road crashes claim approximately 1.19 million lives and injure nearly 50 million people annually, with the greatest burden borne by low- and middle-income countries.

In Africa, road trafﬁc remains the leading cause of death among youth aged 5–29, with pedestrians and cyclists among the most vulnerable. Each number is not just a statistic; it is a life, a story, a promise unfulﬁlled.

On this World Day of Remembrance for Road Trafﬁc Victims, we pause, remember, and mourn. But remembrance is not enough, we must act.

In Nigeria, every life lost on the road is a talent lost to our nation: a young person, a parent, a worker, taken too soon. A quiet room where laughter once lived. A deserted playground. An empty stage. These are the spaces where absence speaks the loudest.

Road trafﬁc injury is one of the leading causes of death for children and young people; the leaders, innovators, artists, teachers, and builders of tomorrow. When we lose them, we lose potential, progress, and hope.

Too often, our response is muted. Laws are weak, enforcement is inconsistent, and road deaths are treated lightly. A crash is called an “accident,” as if fate alone is to blame. But we know better: these are preventable tragedies. Every crash has a cause. Every injury leaves a mark that can last a lifetime.

We must acknowledge the tireless work of emergency responders, police, paramedics, and doctors. They face heartbreak daily, rushing to scenes of carnage, lifting bodies, comforting the wounded, offering solace where sorrow overwhelms. They are heroes, but even their courage cannot compensate for unsafe roads and broken systems.

The World Day of Remembrance calls on us to Remember. Support. Act. We remember the lives lost. We support those left behind—the families, the injured, and the communities. We act with urgency, compassion, and resolve.

Action begins with awareness. Every road user must understand that safety is a shared responsibility. Roads are not racetracks. Vehicles are not weapons. Speed kills. Distraction kills. Carelessness kills. Respect saves lives.

Action requires enforcement. Trafﬁc laws must be clear, fair, and applied consistently. Speed limits are lifelines. Seatbelts, helmets, and child restraints are shields against death. Every driver, passenger, and cyclist must feel the weight of responsibility.

Action demands infrastructure. Safe roads, clear signs, pedestrian crossings, street lighting, and proper markings save lives. Governments, communities, and civil society must design roads that protect rather than endanger.

Action calls for empathy. Victims and their families deserve support, psychological care, medical aid, legal assistance, compensation, and recognition. The pain of loss should never be deepened by neglect.

On this day, we honor those taken too soon and the resilience of those who survive. We pledge not to let their talents vanish into silence. Their stories will guide us; their memory will drive us to change.

Every life saved is a victory. Every law enforced is progress. Every child protected is a promise kept. We have the knowledge, the tools, and the will. What remains is action; bold, urgent, persistent.

To the families of those lost: your grief is seen. Your sorrow is shared. Your loved ones are not forgotten. Their memory lives in every campaign, every policy, every act of prevention.

To our leaders: the cost of inaction is measured in lives; the cost of indifference, in tears. Invest in road safety. Strengthen laws. Build safer streets. Educate citizens. Every measure matters. Every moment counts.

To every citizen: your choices matter. Your speed matters. Your attention matters. One second of caution can save a lifetime. One act of responsibility can prevent unimaginable pain.

On this World Day of Remembrance, we say again: Remember. Support. Act. Not tomorrow, not later, but today. Let us turn grief into resolve, loss into action. Roads must become safe again. Talents must not be lost again. Lives must be valued. Families must be spared. Together, we can rewrite the story of our roads.

Remember the lost. Support the living. Act to prevent more heartbreak. Every life matters. Every family matters. Every future matters.

Mr Fall is the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria while Mr Mohammed (mni) is the Corps Marshal/ CEO of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)

Momoh PhD, Public Commentator lives in Lokoja

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

TACKLING MONEY-FOR-BALLOT CULTURE

Those arrested for inducing voters during the Anambra State gubernatorial election should be prosecuted

Based on media accounts and the reports of various observer groups, there are two broad outcomes from the recently concluded governorship elections in Anambra State. The ﬁrst is cause for cheer, the second, a cause for jeer. Together, they suggest that Nigeria’s democracy remains very much a work in progress. Groups which have issued reports so far include the Anambra Election Observation Hub—a coalition of civil society organisations including Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), ElectHer, and TAF Africa.

One central ﬁnding is the noticeable improvement in the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), especially in the technical aspects of the electoral process which had to do with the voting and counting process as well as the collation and uploading of results. The second ﬁnding is that there was widespread vote buying by agents of the parties and candidates at the election. This regrettable development was also serially captured in many social media reports.

has become a recurring challenge is why we should all be concerned. In 2018, the report of the coalition of local and international observers on the Ondo State gubernatorial election attested to the same prevalence of vote-buying. One of the observers, Mrs. Virginia Marumoa-Gae, of the United States’ International Republican Institute (IRI) had painted a disgraceful picture of how the slogan, “see and buy” was used to lure voters to show their thumb printed ballot papers in exchange for money. If anything has changed since then, it is in the audacity of these entrepreneurs of cash-for-ballot.

The financial inducement of voters constitutes an abuse of the constitutional right of the people to choose their leaders in a free, fair, and credible manner

Given the significant gap between the incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the other 15 candidates in the announced results, it has been suggested, even by the observers, that the shenanigans had no effect on the final outcome of the poll or that the result could have been otherwise. Indeed, the Anambra Election Coalition Hub declared that the official results released by the INEC are consistent with its independently verified estimates. Still, the presence of vote buying in our elections over a quarter century into the 4th Republic is an indictment of the democratic practice, and demands serious action against confirmed perpetrators. We therefore urge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute individuals arrested for involvement in vote-buying during the election.

The ﬁnancial inducement of voters constitutes an abuse of the constitutional right of the people to choose their leaders in a free, fair, and credible manner. Our elections should not become bazaars for the highest bidders. Unfortunately, that transactional voting

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Poverty and illiteracy are major contributory factors especially with the rural and urban poor who tend to view election periods as a time to get something off politicians who are in the habit of forgetting their promises until the next election cycle. But this is also not a new phenomenon. Election bribery goes back to the First and Second Republics and was the excuse used by the military to abort the Third Republic. We cannot as a nation continue to condone this ugly political “culture” which is making a mockery of our democracy. The interest of the country should not be subordinated to the personal interest of desperate, ethically challenged leaders who adopt a zero-sum approach to winning elections.

The reality is that until Nigerian politicians imbibe a culture that reﬂects and promotes good governance, transparency and accountability, our democracy will remain imperilled. Therefore, curbing vote buying, ﬁnancial inducement, and the general deployment of cash to game the electoral process is critical to the survival of our democracy. To the extent that vote-buying undermines the essence of democratic freedom to choose, robs the electoral process of moral credibility and denies its outcome legitimacy, we cannot continue with elections in which outcomes are determined by who commands the biggest purse.

Going forward, the federal government and its enforcement agencies must design concrete strategies to deal with this crime in such a way that it deters potential violators of the law. A starting point is to diligently prosecute all the people arrested for inducing voters during the Anambra State gubernatorial election.

Letters in response to specific publications in THiSDAY should be brief(150-200 words) and straight to the point. interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. we also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer

LETTERS

CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA’S PUBLIC HOSPITALS

For too long, patients and their relatives have been victims of massive institutional corruption and rip-off in Nigeria’s public hospitals. One of the most disturbing areas is the unethical practice surrounding payments for blood. This issue has lingered for years and urgently needs to be addressed.

Across the country, in virtually all public hospitals, federal, state and local government owned, patients, especially pregnant women, are required to provide blood before certain procedures. This is usually done through donation by a relative or by paying for blood units through the hospital.

However, in most cases, the blood paid for is never used for the patient. When the blood is not needed, no refund is made to the patient or family who paid for it. Instead, the same blood is later

resold to other patients who face similar situations. This has become a daily occurrence in hospitals nationwide.

Patients who attempt to question the system or request a refund are often frustrated with unnecessary bureaucracy or made to go through long, tiring processes. Many give up in the end, losing both their money and faith in the system.

Beyond the issue of blood payments, corruption in public hospitals extends to how money is collected and handled. In many hospitals, payments for services are still made in cash, rather than through electronic means.

This practice makes it easy for large sums of money to go unremitted to government accounts.

In some facilities where POS machines are available, hospital cashiers

deliberately avoid using them, claiming “network failure” or “lack of electricity” as excuses. These actions deny government the revenue it is due and create loopholes for diversion of funds.

This pattern of institutional corruption has been allowed to thrive for too long. It not only exploits vulnerable patients but also tarnishes the image of the nation’s health sector. The lack of transparency and accountability in public hospitals undermines trust and discourages citizens from seeking care in government facilities.

It is time for the authorities to act decisively.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and all State Commissioners for Health must take urgent steps to end these unethical practices. Clear policies should be introduced to ensure that: all payments in public hospitals are made electronically

to curb leakages.

Patients are refunded immediately when they pay for blood that is not used. Hospitals should maintain proper records of blood donations, payments, and usage. Strong oversight mechanisms are established to monitor ﬁnancial activities in all public hospitals.

Patients who raise concerns or demand refunds are protected from victimization. This corrupt system has gone on for too long, and it is time to draw the line. Our hospitals must be sanctuaries for healing, not centers of exploitation. The federal and state governments must demonstrate that they are serious about accountability and good governance in the health sector.

Tochukwu Jimo Obi, Obosi in Anambra State

Strategic Communication for Strategic Autonomy: The Challenge of Trump’s Gun-a-Blazing Intervention

The United States of President Donald Trump has threatened Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) with a gun-a-blazing intervention for notdoingwhatisnecessarytocurbChristiangenocide in the country. The threat has been generating much controversy. One school of thought has it that there is truly the challenge of Christian genocide in Northern Nigeria. Another school has argued to the contrary, explaining that Muslims are also killed. The proponents of Christian genocide recall several past empirical cases and the Government’s little or don’t care attitude. The opponents simply deny any genocide and argued that there is a general problem of insecurity in the country that is ascribable to other different factors.

Whatever are responsible for insecurity in Nigeria, the popular view of the political analysts is that Government has the responsibility to protect either within the context of state responsibility or principle of international responsibility to protect (IR2P). The problematic is to the extent that President Trump has considered Nigeria as a country of ‘particular concern’ a designation that is also generating a counter perspective in which President Donald Trump is also considered as a ‘President of Particular Concern.’

As to what should be done in response to the US threat of gunsa-blazing intervention, it is still pending. References are made to the historical fact that everywhere the United States intervened, the jihadist terrorists purportedly being fought have always ended up as the successor government in such countries. The cases of Afghanistan and Iraq are noteworthy. By implication, it is being suggested that the Boko Haram jihadists can become the future ruling government in Nigeria. It is against this possibility that there is the need for strategic communication for strategic autonomy in Nigeria and why the National OrientationAgency has to be specially engage in general enlightenment on what guns-a-blazing intervention means, what the implications are, and what the responsibility of every citizen should be.

Challenges of Trump’s Gun-a-Blazing Intervention

President Donald Trump’s threat of a guns-a-blazing intervention in Nigeria constitutes a major challenge for national, sub-regional, and regional security in Africa. This is because any guns-a-blazing intervention is necessarily aggressive, all-force, which is always fraught with reckless military attacks.

At the national level, it first raises the violation of Nigeria’s political sovereignty by violating the provision of Article 2(7) of the UN Charter on non-intervention in the domestic affairs of other sovereign states. It is also contrary to the tradition of first securing the approval of the UN Security Council, as well as getting the prior consent of the Government of Nigeria. As such, the intended unilateral military action on the territory of Nigeria without the consent of Nigeria is a serious challenge with serious implications. The threat does not give room for mutual respect for national sovereignty.

Additionally, US unilateral guns-a-blazing intervention has the potential to strengthen the pro-Boko Haram elements in the various arms of government. This implies that the initial point of focus cannot but shift from Christian genocide to jihadist extremism. The intervention cannot but also be another area of insecurity in addition to the existing religious extremism, armed banditry, ethnic clashes, and struggle for resource control. The seriousness of the matter is to the extent that it can also precipitate a second civil war in Nigeria as the agitators for self-determination can easily take advantage of the situation. Although the threat of guns-a-blazing military intervention may also involve the cancellation of the US development aid to Nigeria, the threat has woken up the leadership of Nigeria from its slumber. This is a new challenge on its own.

More concerning at the national level is the extent to which Nigeria can be truly considered as a secular State. Constitutionally, Nigeria is declared a Secular state but opponents of this perspective often refer to the same 1999 Constitution as amended to justify their argument. It is argued that it is not normal in one single country to have a dual system of law in political governance. In the Northern region, it is the Sharia Code while it is the Criminal Code that obtains in the southern part of Nigeria. In fact, it is asked why Sharia is mentioned 73 times in the Constitution, why Grand Khadi is mentioned 54 times, why Islam is mentioned 28 times and why Muslim is mentioned 10 times and there is no single mention of Christian, Christ, or Church, etc., in the Constitution.

In the eyes of Christians, Nigeria is never a secular nation-state. With any U.S. guns-a-blazing military intervention in Nigeria, the issue of secularity cannot but be raised and remain a challenge.

Secondly, at the plurilateral level, the power of national sovereignty cannot but be further sustained, and by so doing, the hegemonic domination by the big powers cannot but be also further contested. It is the national consciousness of the need to promote national sovereignty to the detriment of Euro-American hegemonic domination that is responsible for asking France and the United States to relocate their military bases in Niger Republic in spite of the fact the military bases had been assisting in the containment of jihadist extremism.

Thirdly, at the multilateral level, U.S. guns-a-blazing intervention necessarily raises the extent to which there can ever be peace in the world: the competition for global leadership is waxing stronger and weapons industry cannot thrive without the existence of crises and conflicts. An Italian Political Scientist, Riccardo Petrella, has said that ‘on fait la guerre parce qu’elle est rentable’ meaning ‘one engages in war because it is profitable.’ Why should anyone want to promote war for the purposes of economic profit or killing people just for money? Riccardo Petrella gave one more thought-provoking explanation.

He said ‘d’ici quelques années, si vous éliminez la guerre, le PIB mondial chutera. D’après le système dominant, il ne chutera pas si on est dans un autre système. Mais c’est pour cela que les dominants à l’heure actuelle ne veulent pas réduire les armements, ne veulent pas réduire les occasions de guerre, parce qu’imaginez-vous la France sans la guerre, qu’est-ce que ça serait comme économie? Imaginez-vous les Etats-Unis sans la guerre, ils deviendraient pauvres, des économies pauvres. Donc aujourd’hui, on est rentré dans une phase oú on fait la guerre parce que c’est rentable. Et vous n’aurez aucun dirigeant actuel du monde qui arrêtera la guerre.’

In English language, it means ‘in few years to come, if you eliminate war, the global GDP will fall.According to the current system, it will not fall if one is in another system. But it is for that those currently dominating do not want reduction in arms, do not want to limit the cases for war, because you can imagine a France without war, what would be the situation of the economy? Imagine a United States without war, they will become poor, the economies will be

Without jot of doubt, strategic communication is like a biological umbilical cord that ties the fetus to the placenta and delivers oxygen and nutrients while removing waste during the pregnancy of a woman. In other words, strategic communication connects Nigeria’s quest for strategic autonomy, on the one hand, and Nigeria’s national capacity and capability, on the other. In this regard, there is, on the one hand, President Trump’s threat of guns-a-blazing military intervention aimed at stopping the killings of Christians in Nigeria. On the other hand, how should the Government of Nigeria respond to the threats? How should the Government carry the people of Nigeria along in its response to the threats? How should the Government garner the people’s trust and legitimacy? What really should be the best form of strategic communication to be adopted? These questions are raised because the way strategic communication is oriented and managed cannot but largely determine the outcome and nature of strategic autonomy. Government will need to go beyond narrative framing to underscoring citizen diplomacy through media relations by working with domestic and international media outlets. Demonstrations of commitment and capability are quite necessary. This is the time there must be coordination between and among all arms of government, especially in speaking with only one voice. And more importantly, Government must prepare for the implications in the event there is no military intervention and the image of President Donald Trump has to be tainted at the end. This is one challenge that must not be ignored.

poor. Consequently, today, one has come to the phase of engaging in war because it is profitable.’

How do we interpret the profitability of war in the context of Riccardo Petrella’s point and as a challenge in the context of Nigeria? First, the U.S. is planning a guns-a-blazing military intervention in Nigeria purportedly to save the Christians from genocidal attacks. Are there no other ulterior motivations? True, President Trump’s political constituency has a significant Christian content. Since he enjoyed significant support of the Christians and he promised them to protect Christian faith wherever it is threatened, there may be honest truth in the guns-a-blazing as his objective in Nigeria. However, why the choice of guns-a-blazing and not the choice of dialogue and pressure first? Why should President Trump choose Nigeria as a theatre for promoting his policy of Making America Great Again? What really can be the gain for any US punitive military intervention in Nigeria?

As rightly observed by John Mearsheimer, U.S. ‘military confrontation with Nigeria will be economically costly, diplomatically damaging, and strategically counter-productive.’ (vide “Nigeria Strikes Back – Trump’s Threat of a vicious Military, John Mearsheimer African Sovereignty, Youtube; https://you-tube/ ThzkG9GPRds?si=djCMMpWV5LMBF). In this regard, it can be posited that the likely losses of the United States cannot be as much as what is there to gain following its intended guns-a-blazing intervention in Nigeria. For example, U.S. interest in the oil resources in the Niger Delta is on the decline while the interest is now more in the northern part of Nigeria which has been adjudged to be playing host to strategic solid minerals. The United States and other big powers are much interested in the solid minerals. The mining interest cannot but be adversely affected in the event of US military intervention in Nigeria.

And true enough, the United States is still exploring how to convince Nigeria to accept the relocation of the AFRICOM from Stuttgart in Germany to Nigeria. Even though we know that such likelihood is remote, strategic military cooperation cannot but be made difficult in the event of US guns-a-blazing intervention. In essence, the foregoing raise one fundamental question on whether the world needs an international order that accepts the use of unilateral force to address problems of international insecurity or whether to accept an order that will be guided by rules of law as particularly espoused by the United Nations. These are issues that Nigeria’s quest for strategic cannot have to deal with. This is also why there has to be a strategic communication in re-presenting Nigeria to the world and making the world understand Nigeria’s own conception of strategic autonomy.

Strategic Communication for Strategic Autonomy

The word, ‘strategic’ qualifying communication, is a plan, technique, or tactic of using communication to achieve a specific goal, fulfilling a mission or influencing an audience. Communication in itself can be internal or external in character. It can also be informative, persuasive, collaborative or about emergency plans or about public relations.

And true, there are several methods of communicating strategically. One method is the use of public diplomacy which is the technique of influencing foreign publics. This technique may include the issuance of official statements, cultural exchanges, organization of educational programmes and international broadcasting. For example, the Germans have their Goethe Institute, the French have their Alliance Française, and the United States and the United Kingdom have their Voice of America and the British Council respectively.

In Nigeria, there are also peculiar means of strategic communication. For example, the Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum (ABMPF) recently organized a high-level security summit on Monday, November 10, 2025. The summit was held in Birnin Kebbi and chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto,Alhaji Muhammad Sa’adAbubakar III, alongside Lt.-General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Rtd.), former Chief of Army Staff and former Minister of Interior. The summit, which brought together broadcasters, policy makers, security experts, etc., was to evolve ‘practical communication strategies capable of enhancing public trust, countering violent extremism, and supporting ongoing national security reforms.’ The summit is largely organized in reaction to President Trump’s threat of guns-a-blazing in Nigeria. More important, the summit does not only fall within the domain of public diplomacy, but also under the method of media relations. The summit was organized by media broadcasters. Besides, media relations involve press releases, interviews, media briefings, and press conferences.

A third method of strategic communication is digital and social media communication which involves targeted content, influencer partnerships, audience analytics and real-time engagement. Crisis communication is another method which requires the adoption of a rapid response frameworks, damage control statements, as well as scenario planning. It is essentially about preventing reputational collapse. Stakeholder engagement, which is about community or townhall meetings, policy consultations, surveys and roundtables, information campaigns involving videos, SMS broadcasts, radio jingles, posters, and branding and reputation management, is another method of strategic communication. There are also the methods of internal communication, requiring the use of newsletters, internal briefing, staff meetings, organizational culture, giving strategic narratives involving story-telling, myth-building, narrative competition, as well as lobbying and advocacy communication which is generally targeted to influence policy makers.

•Tinubu •Trump

Tokunbo Fasuyi: Building a Legacy of Trust in Healthcare

A UK-based Nigerian healthcare expert, Dr. Tokunbo Fasuyi, wants to change the way Nigeria views medical tourism and healthcare in general, but first, he must rebuild trust. Vanessa Obioha writes

It is not uncommon for wealthy Nigerians to seek medical care abroad rather than visit local hospitals. The reasons are not far-fetched — from systemic failures to poor infrastructure, the list is long.But what if quality healthcare doesn’t always require getting on a plane? What if you could have a guide to help simplify that journey?

This is where Dr. Tokunbo Fasuyi and his team at Aegis Private Health Consultant, a UK-based premier health concierge, come in. Aegis aims to serve as a guide to patients’ health, combining advanced telemedicine, global medical partnerships, and in-country specialist care to redefine what access to quality healthcare looks like. The vision, according to him, is to “set a global standard in healthcare experiences where excellence meets personalisation.”

“Aegis was born from a simple and powerful idea that everybody who leads at the highest level should not have to fight to stay healthy,” said Fasuyi. “They deserve health care that is proactive, personal and deeply human.”

Having worked in the UK for nearly two decades, Fasuyi has observed a recurring pattern: people who appear healthy on the outside but are slowly deteriorating because they ignore warning signs. He hopes to change that.

More importantly, he wants to challenge the belief that travelling abroad is the best route to good healthcare.

“There is this mindset back home that if somebody is trained abroad, that person is automatically better than people who train in Nigeria. I don’t believe that at all. I believe that it is both an inherent ability and the opportunity that one gets outside.”

Fasuyi, who studied medicine in Nigeria before pursuing postgraduate studies in the UK, maintains that Nigerian doctors are among the best in the world.

To change the perception that “abroad is always better,” he believes one fundamental issue must first be addressed — trust.

“Abroad seems better not because of the doctor’s skills but trust,” he said.

“Trust means that when I go to see a doctor, if it is malaria, it is malaria. It is not malaria with a touch of typhoid. If it’s typhoid, it is typhoid.”

He explained that patients’ scepticism often undermines treatment outcomes.

“There is that belief that until I have a particular treatment, I won’t get better. I’ve seen senior colleagues give people a placebo, which is basically nothing, but psychologically, the patient believed that they were getting something, and they got better. And we know there’s a place for that in medical practice, in a way that patient perception can affect the outcome of their health.”

Beyond trust, lack of access to information also strains doctor–patient relationships.

“When I say information, I mean to be able to ask your

physician what is wrong with you, and to be involved in the treatment that you want to get from your physician.”

Many Nigerians who travel abroad for healthcare, he said, are not necessarily seeking more advanced medicine. They’re seeking doctors they can trust.

“A lot of the time, when they come abroad, they just want somebody that they can trust. That when they say, ‘This is what it is,’ that is what it is. Somebody they can communicate with and have a relationship with,” he said. “People who come abroad for treatment are just not looking for answers. They’re looking for quality information, like a Health Guide that can tell them what is going on and the options available. And also get them involved in the treatment. So that’s what Aegis is all about. It’s not just a service. It’s about personalised treatment. It’s high time people understood that

when you come abroad, we are not just treating the condition but also the patient.”

In his opinion, not everyone needs to travel abroad for treatment.

“That’s the truth. They don’t need to; they just need somebody they can talk to, one that can guide them on what to do to make the best of their health.” He, however, understands that some people will not be easily persuaded not to come abroad, and that’s okay.

The best medicine, as they say, starts with trust. And Fasuyi is hoping to build that in patients by first of all putting value in everything they do. From the conversations to the explanations.

“Over the years, what I realised is that when you take out time to explain to people what the issue is, it helps,” he explained. “In the UK, for instance, the consultation room is arranged so there’s no power disparity between doctor and patient. In Nigeria, doctors often sit across the table like authority figures. That setup already creates a distance.”

For Fasuyi, human connection plays a vital role in building trust in patients.

“You want to truly connect with the patient as a human being before you start to talk about their problem. You want to fully understand and connect with their feelings. You also need to be honest and transparent. There should also be active listening. You want to be able to give patients room to express themselves without being judgmental. As a doctor, you want to be able to help your patients make informed decisions.”

Overall, Fasuyi believes that health is wealth, and Nigerians must learn to prioritise preventive care over reactive responses.

“We need to go from being reactive to being proactive. I’m sure you know that a lot of the time, our access to healthcare is usually reactive. Something has gone wrong, and then, when it’s almost really bad, people start looking for help. So people need to stop waiting for illnesses to strike before they seek care. They need to be responsible and take ownership. They need to embrace what we call preventive health. Why? Because when diseases are picked up on time, it is easier, cheaper, and better treated. Early intervention saves a lot.”

Fasuyi

Reuben Ab Ati

A Monumental Celebration

How do you celebrate someone who has been described as monumental? By honouring him in fitting proportions. Vanessa Obioha writes about how Reuben Abati’s 60th birthday mirrored the brilliance and breadth of his journey.

I’m a Product of the Diligence of Those Who Taught Me...

Guests were beginning to troop out of the hall when Dr. Reuben Abati climbed the stage. With former President Goodluck Jonathan taking his leave after his speech, not a few thought the book presentation to mark the 60th birthday of the man many have described as monumental had come to an end.

But what does monumental really mean? According to the Oxford Dictionary, it signifies something great in importance, extent, or size. It’s a fitting adjective for Abati — journalist, writer, scholar, politician, former presidential spokesman, and now the articulate anchor on The Morning Show on Arise News. That word came alive recently when the Ogun State–born public intellectual turned 60, celebrated in truly monumental proportions.

Those who stayed behind at the book presentation witnessed a lesson in gratitude and memories. Standing tall on stage in his maroon suit and matching bow tie, Abati

industry titans, friends, and colleagues all gathered to celebrate the man whose intellect and influence have defined public discourse for decades.

In his remarks, Abati did not just roll out names like a class captain, rather, he relayed witty memories of encounters with each guest, captivating his audience with his humour and recall. Recounting how The Guardian publisher Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru once introduced a new formal dress code to the editorial board, he remembered how Prince Julius AdelusiAdeluyi mocked his dress sense back then.

“In those days, when I first came from the bush… I used to teach at Ogun State University. Prince used to say to me, ‘You can’t succeed in this Lagos oh, if you are wearing these harmattan clothes,’” he said to a wave of laughter in the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs’ hall, where the presentation was held.

“When he sees me now in my bow tie,” he added, “he says ‘Yes, we are getting there.’”

The bow tie has since become Abati’s signature look on The Morning Show. Hardly does he appear on screen without his colourful accessory, which often speaks to the life he has led.

Born on November 7, 1965, in Abeokuta, Abati’s brilliance shone early. He graduated from the University of Calabar at 20 with a First-Class degree in Theatre Arts, earned a Master’s from the University of Ibadan two years later, and completed his PhD in Theatre Arts by 24. He later studied law and pursued other interests in journalism, management, leadership, international law, and diplomacy.

Although he began his career in academia, teaching at the University of Ibadan and later Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University), journalism soon beckoned. He contributed to magazines like Hints, Chanelle, and The Hammer. His contributing articles to the Guardian newspaper soon drew the attention of the newspaper’s leadership.

“Dr Olatunji Dare and the others told me that if I have to leave the university, the only place for me is the editorial board of the Guardian,” he told the audience.

Abati also served as the running mate to Ogun State governorship candidate Leke Shittu in the 2019 elections. Today, he is best known as the witty and well-informed cohost of The Morning Show on Arise News.

At the party hosted by Prince Obaigbena, his colleagues spoke glowingly of his work ethic. ARISE TV international correspondent, Adefemi Akinsanya recounted how he is always the first to comment on her notes, and the first to check when they’re delayed.

“It just shows that there is somebody who cares about the work that I do.”

“Dr. Abati is somebody who observes, he profiles people,” said the Arise News Anchor, Vimbai Muntihiri-Ekpeyong, recalling how once he introduced her as ‘Our favourite Naija Wife.’ The label, she said, has stuck since then.

The accolades continued at the grand finale held at Eko Hotels and Suites on Saturday, November 8. There, the former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi extolled him, describing him as a man of intellectual excellence and diligence.

“Those of us who started from the pen profession are proud of him. He is our pride. He was able to transition from print to electronic media seamlessly, not everyone can do that. He is still an unfinished project, and I wish him progress, growth, and prosperity.”

President Bola Tinubu, in a message delivered through his Special Adviser on Public Communications and Orientation, also lauded Abati’s passion for journalism.

“We celebrate you for bringing creativity to the sector. You are a model and an inspiration. The President prays that you continue to serve for many more years as a journalist.”

For the General Manager of Eko Hotels, Mr. Danny Kioupouroglou, he has never seen such a depth of gathering for one man.

“At the book launch, we had in attendance two former presidents, kings, governors, technocrats, politicians, and top media personalities. That shows the kind of person Dr. Reuben Abati is.”

It may have been Abati’s birthday, but his wife, Kikelomo, also shared in the praise. Guests lauded her as his light and anchor — a compliment he himself has often echoed. Jokingly, he reminded them that he married not just beauty but brains. “When we’re not busy doing other things,” he quipped, “we’re writing books.”

spent more than ten minutes expressing his appreciation to friends, mentors and colleagues who had honoured his invitation.

Indeed, the high and mighty had graced his celebrations, which began with a book presentation on Friday, November 7. Former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, former Ogun State governors Gbenga Daniel and Olusegun Osoba, Chairman of THISDAY and ARISE Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah, who delivered the keynote, Special Adviser to the President, Hadiza Bala Usman, the Chairman of Access Holdings PLC and Coronation Group Limited, Mr. Aigboje AigImoukhuede, as well as other monarchs,

Thus, in 1992, he joined the Guardian’s Editorial Board and rose through the ranks to become deputy chairman, chairman, and, as he puts it, “became even more notorious around the country.”

Abati became known for insightful commentaries that resonated with both elites and everyday Nigerians. His writings spanned politics, culture, and the comic absurdities of life. His sharp intellect and humour made him a perfect fit for Professor Pat Utomi’s television programme Patito’s Gang, where he copresented and occasionally filled in as host when Utomi pursued his presidential ambition. His influence grew beyond journalism when he was appointed Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Reuben Abati served with me very well. He is like a younger brother to me,” said the former president in his goodwill message.

For Obasanjo, he found a son in Reuben Abati, who “has matured, understood, stood clear, and now is in the path of success.”

Under the Peoples Democratic Party,

When the couple took to the dance floor at their dinner party, all eyes were on their quiet display of affection and gratitude as they swayed in each other’s arms.

The evening featured a short documentary chronicling Abati’s journey, as well as musical performances, fine dining, and heartfelt tributes celebrating a life of creativity, intellect, and service.

But in all the tributes, one gesture stood out: Abati dedicating one of his books, ‘A Love Letter and Other Stories’, to his teachers. (‘Portraits: People, Politics and Society,’ and ‘How Goodluck Jonathan Became President’ were dedicated to Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and Jonathan, respectively).

“I’m a product of the diligence of those who taught me,” with characteristic wit, adding that he learned from both those who taught him the good and the bad.

From book presentations to dinner parties, every detail of his 60th celebration reflected the scale of his impact. And rightly so. For a man whose career has shaped journalism and public thought in Nigeria, only a celebration of grand proportions would do. But as many agreed, the story of Dr. Abati is still being written.

Dr. Abati and his wife, Kikelomo

HighLife

Heavy Weight on Ododo

The drama began with a headline: reports that traditional rulers in Okunland had rejected Governor Ahmed Ododo’s re-election bid. Within hours, the story took on a life of its own as it was echoed on the radio, stretched across WhatsApp groups, and dissected in beer parlours from Kabba to Isanlu.

By nightfall, the Okun Area Traditional Council pushed back. No ruler, they said, had endorsed or rejected anyone. Their only recent meeting was on security, not politics. The report, they warned, was fiction packaged as news. Yet, in the public mind, where smoke curls, fire normally follows.

Ododo’s relationship with Okunland was already delicate. According to critics, the governor has yet to balance the scales of development. They point to Kogi Central’s steady stream of projects, including roads, offices, and infrastructure, while Okunland waits. To them, Ododo’s government feels distant, and its attention is unevenly spread.

Security worsens the tension. Kidnapping and banditry have crept into the hills and highways. Farmers stay home. Traders close early. Community leaders, once patient, now write open letters demanding stronger action. The silence from Lokoja, they argue, amplifies their frustration.

Appointments have also drawn scrutiny. Key positions remain clustered around familiar political strongholds. Okun elites whisper about exclusion, a feeling that their loyalty earns little return. The government insists otherwise, citing projects like the new university in Kabba and renovated clinics, but those gestures have yet to quiet the mood.

The traditional council’s statement, sharp and deliberate, was less about Ododo and more about boundaries. The monarchs wanted no part in the theatre of power. Yet, their disavowal only sharpened public curiosity: if the kings won’t speak, who will defend the governor’s case in Okunland?

It is very normal for politics in Kogi to turn on perception. And in Okunland today, perception weighs heavier than proof. Therefore, Ododo’s challenge is not the rumour itself but the sentiment that made it believable. And whether this will really affect his re-election bid is something the rest of us will see.

Triumphs

with KAYoDe ALFreD 08116759807, E-mail:

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous Mike Adenuga: The Billionaire Who Moves in Silence

Mike Adenuga does not chase the camera, nor does he tweet his thoughts or pose for glossy profiles. Yet his fingerprints sit on the cables beneath Africa’s internet, the oil beneath its soil, and the quiet acts of generosity that rewrite small destinies every day.

He is called “The Bull,” a nod to the force with which he built his empire. In oil, he broke through when few Nigerians could. In telecoms, he toppled giants by offering per-second billing, an idea dismissed as impossible until he made it routine. In this sense, Adenuga did more than just enter industries, going further than necessary to rewire them.

The man’s genius is practical, almost mathematical. Strategy is his instinct, execution his habit. Those who work with him speak of sleepless nights, unrelenting focus, and a command structure that runs like an orchestra: precise, intense, efficient. Yet beyond the boardroom, he remains an enigma, a figure of whispered

myth.

His giving is as deliberate as his business. He once rebuilt a trader’s life after reading about her misfortune in a newspaper. No press release, no photo. Just help; dispatched, completed, forgotten. Across Nigeria, students, hospitals, and flood victims tell similar stories, all linked by an invisible hand that never asks for credit.

When Forbes listed him among the world’s billionaires, he asked to be taken off. Wealth, to him, was not a ranking. It was a responsibility. He built a reception hall for his mother’s burial, then gave it to the church when the service ended. To Adenuga, possession is a brief assignment; purpose is the point.

Someone has said that he resembles men like Chuck Feeney and Yvon Chouinard, who also saw wealth as a tool, not a trophy. Yet his rhythm is distinct: African, restrained, enduring. Indeed, Adenuga plays his game with no audience, no applause; only impact. The scoreboard is silent, but the results speak louder than sound.

Shuaibu Audu: A Banker Turns Steel 45

At 45, Prince Shuaibu Audu has learned the art of balance: the poise of a banker, the instinct of a politician, and the quiet weight of legacy. His name still carries the echo of his father, the late Abubakar Audu, yet his path is shaped by boardrooms as much as ballots.

President Bola Tinubu’s birthday message to the Minister of Steel Development captured a subtle truth. He called Audu “innovative” and “purposeful,” a phrase that fits a man who swapped global finance for the hard business of rebuilding Nigeria’s steel industry, a task that defeated many before him.

The ministry itself is symbolic. Steel once promised Nigeria industrial self-reliance. Decades of neglect turned that promise into nostalgia. Audu’s assignment is to make it relevant again. Since his appointment in August 2023, he has been sketching a new vision, bringing the precision of a banker to the politics of production.

Before politics, Audu spent two decades

Obi and Soludo: Old Kings, New Rivalries

It could have begun any other way, but no; it was with a football metaphor. Peter Obi, ever the careful wordsmith, called himself a Champions League player and placed Anambra’s governor, Charles Soludo, somewhere in the juniors. Soludo shot back: Obi was a “clubless” wanderer, a politician without a team or trophy.

The sparring followed Anambra’s 2025 governorship election, a race Obi did not contest but could not ignore. Soludo had just secured a second term and was celebrating when the old rivalry resurfaced. Cameras caught Obi urging the governor to “concentrate on working for the people.” Soludo replied with an economist’s precision and a boxer’s flourish. Their exchanges have history. In 2022, Soludo dismissed Obi’s presidential run as “going nowhere,” prompting a torrent of online backlash. That feud cooled when politics demanded restraint. But in Anambra, where politics is theatre, rivalries never die but only hibernate.

The irony is that both men share more than

they admit.

Each governed the same state. Each prides himself on reform and frugality. Each sees himself as the better model for Nigeria’s rebirth. Soludo lectures with the calm of a Cambridge scholar; Obi campaigns with the fervour of a street preacher. Both believe the other misunderstands the game.

Analysts say their clash is philosophical. Soludo speaks of macroeconomics and banking reform; Obi speaks of savings and schools. One dreams in graphs, the other in spreadsheets. Their disagreement mirrors Nigeria’s own divide between technocratic vision and populist pragmatism.

mastering investment logic at IBTC, Stanbic, and the Bank of New York. He helped build the pension fund industry that now anchors Nigeria’s retirement system. Those who worked with him recall a methodical mind, more likely to check figures twice than raise his voice once.

Educated in Leicester, Reading, and Oxford, Audu’s credentials read like a study in global exposure. Yet his challenges are decidedly local: old mills, rusty infrastructure, bureaucratic fatigue. His confidence lies in systems, not slogans. Those who expect steel plants to roar overnight misunderstand how bankers think. They plan for compounding, not miracles.

His 45th birthday came with presidential praise, prayers for wisdom, and a national wish that his blend of discipline and daring would yield results. For a man raised in politics but refined in finance, the road ahead is less about noise and more about proof.

To some, the bickering is comic relief from grim headlines. To others, it reveals the delicateness of Anambra’s political elite, where ego time and again outpaces achievement. Still, it keeps both men in the public eye: one inside Government House, the other pacing the national stage, waiting for another whistle to blow.

From one perspective, Ayo Fayose has always loved a fight. At 65, the former Ekiti State governor still walks like a man who expects the next round to begin any moment. His political story, full of bruises and recoveries, reads like a long boxing match between fortune and defiance.

Born in Afao Ekiti in 1960, Fayose rose from modest beginnings to become a two-term governor, twice defeating incumbents in one of Nigeria’s most unpredictable states. His hold on the grassroots earned him admiration that borders on folklore. People still recall his habit of sharing meals with workers, eating amala by roadside joints, chatting like a man untouched by office.

That easy populism fueled both his rise and his troubles. His first term ended abruptly in 2006 with impeachment; the second, a decade later, came wrapped in controversy over election conduct and corruption probes. Yet, he always found a way back into the ring. Recently, after seven years

in court, he celebrated a legal reprieve with his trademark grin. Fayose’s years in power left a trail of infrastructure projects and bold rhetoric. He styled himself as a voice of opposition during the Buhari era, hurling words that stung and amused in equal measure. Even now, his politics resist quietness. His friendly visits to President Bola Tinubu, an old adversary, sparked gossip about possible realignment. Critics call him volatile. Supporters call him fearless. Both agree he makes politics feel alive. In an age when politicians speak in careful tones, Fayose remains impulsive, theatrical, and strangely transparent. You always know where he stands, even when he’s standing on shaky ground. At 65, the man is more reflective, though no less vivid. His life suggests that grace is not the absence of scandal but survival through it. Fayose has stumbled, shouted, risen again, and, somehow, stayed interesting.

Adenuga

Audu

nothing. Today, Yahaya Bello

Yahaya Bello: Haunted by the Past

spends most of his mornings in courtrooms, surrounded by files thicker than suspiciously heavy state budgets, as prosecutors unpack a story of cash, secrecy, and political bravado turned brittle.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is still trying him on 19 counts of money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion. The case, before Justice Emeka Nwite in Abuja, reads like a diary of transactions: N10 million here, N50 million there, withdrawals stacked like dominoes across months and local governments. The figures feel surreal, Witnesses describe the same rhythm— money entering state accounts and vanishing within hours. Access Bank’s compliance officer listed the days when N300 million arrived and disappeared almost instantly. Funds meant for 13 local governments, he said, flowed into private hands through cheques and shadowy names.

For Bello, the courtroom is now the stage

that replaced the campaign ground. The man who once denied the existence of COVID-19, calling it “glorified malaria,” now faces a contagion of his own making: an avalanche of allegations too large to swat away. Even his dramatic escape from arrest in 2024 (shielded, reports say, by his successor’s convoy) feels part of an old script that has lost its audience.

Once, Bello embodied youthful power in Nigerian politics: confident, defiant, and impatient with rules. Now, each hearing peels away another layer of that image. His supporters insist the trial is political; his critics see it as justice delayed but unfolding.

The court has adjourned proceedings until early 2026. Outside, the air thickens with speculation, fatigue, and irony. Bello once told his followers that history would be kind to him. It might, as some commentators have shared, if history ever stops laughing long enough to write.

Ajulo: Making Ondo’s Justice Ministry Work Smarter

Kayode Ajulo carries his law like a calling, not a career. In Akure, where legal bureaucracy normally moves at the pace of humidity, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State has brought something unusual: clarity. His reputation, which is steady, disciplined, and quietly reformist, now defines the ministry’s new rhythm.

Ajulo is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, an Officer of the Order of the Niger, and a scholar of fine legal taste. Yet titles barely contain his reach. He lectures at Adekunle Ajasin University, consults internationally, and serves as Diocesan Registrar for the Anglican Communion. In each role, the same purpose echoes: justice that serves people, not papers.

His rise has been unconventional. In 2011, he was abducted during his senatorial campaign under the Labour Party, a moment that could have hardened him. Instead, it deepened his empathy for the vulnerable. That experience still shapes his work as a pro bono advocate

Egalitarian Mission Africa.

Colleagues describe his ministry as “structured with conscience.” He has streamlined case management, encouraged ethical prosecution, and urged judges to see citizens, not just defendants. His leadership signals a shift from routine administration to institutional reform, an uncommon feat in state governance. Ajulo’s mentorship philosophy has become a quiet movement among young lawyers. “If you faithfully follow seven successful lawyers,” he says, “you will become the eighth.” It’s both a proverb and a professional roadmap, a reflection of his belief that justice is sustained by continuity, not charisma.

His influence now travels beyond Ondo. Governments across Africa seek his counsel; students quote his lectures. Yet he remains rooted in service, often choosing substance over spotlight.

In a field crowded with ego, being elegant, firm, and deeply human, Ajulo’s style feels almost old-fashioned. Perhaps that is the real

Gbenga Ashafa’s Measured Hope

anxieties. Yet, it is now that Gbenga Ashafa speaks the language of patience. The former senator and housing chief believes Nigeria is inching, quietly, toward prosperity. To him, recovery is not an explosion but a climb, one that is slow, deliberate, and already underway.

At the 45th anniversary of the FS Club in Lagos, Ashafa looked cheerful, even buoyant. He told reporters that under President Bola Tinubu, the nation was “easing toward prosperity, little by little.” He pointed to fewer Nigerians migrating abroad, more young people learning trades, and the faint hum of local industry returning to life.

It was the kind of optimism that comes from spreadsheets rather than slogans. Ashafa, once Permanent Secretary of the Lagos Lands Bureau and later Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority, has spent decades translating policy into projects. He is no stranger to how long reform takes— or how fragile progress can be.

His faith in Tinubu’s leadership is both political and personal. The two share a long

history from Lagos governance circles, and Ashafa frames Tinubu’s presidency as a continuation of that technocratic legacy. “We have not got there yet,” he said, “but we will get there.” Being measured, linear, confident, this is clearly conviction delivered in an engineer’s cadence.

Ashafa credits recent economic stability to Tinubu’s fiscal reforms, citing the World Bank and IMF’s approval as validation. Yet, even he concedes that the productive sector remains weak and job creation is sluggish. His call, therefore, was less triumphal than pragmatic: stay the course, refine the machinery, keep faith in the system.

For a nation weary of promises, Ashafa’s optimism is almost quaint. Still, it carries the weight of someone who has built things before (namely, policies, railways, housing estates) and seen them stand. Maybe that’s the point. His hope is not blind. It’s professional.

Frank Papas and the Quiet Behind the Lights

Even legends of the night have moments when the lights dim. Franklin Okamigbo, known across Lagos as Frank Papas and the undisputed “King of Night Club Bizness,” recently paused his rhythm to announce his mother’s passing. His tribute, tender and unguarded, revealed a man far from the velvet ropes and neon glow.

He called her “my teacher, my confidant, my true wingwoman.” When these words stop feeling like a eulogy, they begin to feel more like a confession, that of a son acknowledging the woman who steadied his orbit. “You are the strongest person I’ve ever met,” he wrote, “extremely intelligent, cheerful, and an extraordinary grassroots organiser.”

To most, Okamigbo is the suave architect of Nigeria’s nightlife revolution. His Club Papas brand reimagined entertainment in the 2000s, blending exclusivity with warmth. When he partnered with Papas at K’s Place

in Victoria Island, he turned a simple lounge into a cultural landmark. Lagos had seen clubs before; none had his precision or polish.

He later built Papas at The Place, merging dining, music, and motion. Each venture carried his signature: elegance without arrogance, order within the chaos. For an industry often dismissed as reckless, Okamigbo offered discipline and style. He made nightlife feel like an art form.

In recent years, he shifted toward real estate, leading Champions Properties Limited, his own attempt to build permanence after decades of fleeting nights. Awards followed, including a Future Leadership Award, though he kept his energy low-key, speaking more through results than rhetoric.

His mother’s death has drawn that composure inward. Her life, rooted in faith and community, shaped the steadiness behind his charisma. Her passing, he wrote, “is farewell to my sweet mother, Daalu

Ezinnem O.”

For a man whose name became shorthand for Lagos nights, grief has brought a new light; still bright, but softer now, glowing from within.

Rauf Aregbesola is back on the road. The former Osun State governor, expelled from the APC and now the national secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), will tour every federal constituency in Osun from November 18 to December 10. The man who once ruled the state is now knocking on its doors again. The ADC calls it a “grassroots mobilisation drive.” Political observers call it a test run for 2026. From Ila to Iwo, the convoy will roll through nine constituencies, meeting party loyalists, wooing defectors, and trying to turn a minor party into a credible force. It is both symbolic and practical: a comeback measured in miles.

Aregbesola’s decision to lead the tour himself feels like drama and strategy combined. His voice, still sharp and animated, carries the nostalgia of his “Omoluabi” days. But his political footing has shifted. The once-powerful governor who built Osun’s mega schools and wage controversies now operates outside the APC’s vast machinery. His exit from the Tinubu orbit left him politically homeless. The ADC offers a new banner, though one light on structure and heavy on ambition. The party has a single federal seat nationwide, no deep pockets, and internal squabbles. Yet Aregbesola, ever the mobilizer, sees opportunity in the vacuum left by weary voters.

Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration dismisses him as a man of old debts and half salaries. But Aregbesola remains a name that stirs reaction: cheers in some wards, curses in others. In Osun politics, he is both legacy and lesson: proof that loyalty fades, but recall power lingers.

So he is touring again, microphone in hand, testing whether the crowd still listens. The real journey, though, may be quieter. It is the walk back from exile, through the same streets that once crowned him, and toward an electorate deciding if it remembers him fondly or merely recalls him.

Bello

Aregbesola

He once ruled Kogi with the swagger of a man who feared

Ajulo

Okamigbo

reform: a justice system led by a man who still believes the law can be noble.

Nyesom w ike as m y m an of the Year

I call Nyesom Wike Man of the Year. Mbok, Nigerians have never seen a man much more colourful than a sitting President. It is now almost a daily cacophony. He is either fighting PDP, disrupting land grabbers in Abuja, showing us latest dance steps, having hilarious media briefings where he is sitting down on a throne and spewing instructions and orders to the rest of Nigerians or spitting at a brilliant young officer.

Any way you look at it, Wike is much more popular than the sitting President.

If you carry out a poll today, you will see that, except only when Trump threatens Tinubu or an increase in fuel price or when the

LT. YerImA: Hope for A BrIgHTer

Tomorrow

You will notice that I am not discussing the issue. The cause, the actions and the effect on Nigeria is not my problem today. Next week, when everybody has moved on, I will now come and release my 100-page memo on the matter, but be rest assured that I will not stand with Wike on the matter. You can take that to the bank, I assure you.

But let’s examine the reaction of this well-trained soldier in the face of the unwarranted hostility by the elder minister. His courage and calmness under fire were remarkable. I watched the video intensely so many times to read his body language. He started with warm respect for the minister, warm but very firm and as the minister increased the salvo, he slowly moved from warm respect to respectable defiance and finally ended in admirable push back. This boy has done the Nigerian Armed Forces proud. He has shown that force and power are not everything, but common sense, laced with a clear understanding of a chain of command and respect for his oath and authority, is what is needed. “I am a commissioned officer.” This statement should have made the minister back down and say, ohhh,

president is causing a traffic jam in Lagos with his 100-car motorcade, nobody really talks about Tinubu. But Wike? Na constant mention. It’s like the man wakes up in the morning and calls his aides and says, “Oya, what trouble should we cause today?” And they will put their heads together, bringing up suggestions. Fubara? Tick, PDP? Tick. Peter Obi? Tick. Seyi Makinde? Tick.

Oya Navy? And they will all shout “Oyaaaaaaa!” and off they go, straight to the site in full gear, complete with media team and dark glasses. All Nigerians will later hear is: “You are a fool; common shut up; I was in university when you were

brilliant, I will take this up with your superiors. What that boy was saying with that statement is that, please, respect the uniform; I represent the Nigerian Armed Forces. But no, Emperor Wike will have none of that.

“I am not a fool,” was him saying, No, I am well trained and I know exactly what I am doing here. Please take this to those who sent me, as I don’t want to be court martialed.

Each time the boy added “Sir” to his statement was him respectfully reprimanding oga, as in, “oga, please respect yourself.”

I salute this boy and those who have trained him. This has shown that the Nigerian Armed Forces have a brilliant future and that discipline and courage are still brimming within the rank and file.

If na me be that Lt. Yerima, I swear, Lt Edgar will be facing charges for lifting up a serving Minister of the Federal Republic in the air and slamming him to the ground. You cannot be calling me a fool in the presence of TV cameras because you don’t know which of my babes is watching. Well done, Lt. Yerima and the Nigerian Navy. Thanks to General Buratai and the Chief of Defence Staff for coming out very strongly to defend the integrity of the armed forces against such an attack, even

circumcised.” When the battle is raging more fearsome, he will attempt to suffocate the fine soldier with spittle.

Kai, nothing can wrestle a man down to the floor in minutes than a foul spittle laced with “snuff.” You all know snuff na, that brown thing that our elders used to take through the nostrils or through the mouth, and they will now be sneezing all over the place.

My grandfather almost killed us with that thing; that was what Lt. Yerima was most likely being attacked with that day he stood for Nigeria.

Mbok, all hail the man of the year. Nyesom Wike for President, abeg. Thank you.

though the weapon used was spittle. I no kuku get land for Abuja wey dey can revoke. Kai.

YeLe Sowore: THANk YoU So VerY mUcH

I want to thank from the bottom of my heart the intervention of this huge activist in the matter between Senator Ned Nwoko and his estranged beautiful wife, Regina Daniels. You see, let me tell you why we all should be interested in this case. This case carries with it so many serious issues that we all should learn from – drugs, domestic violence, generational relationships, in-law relations, diabolism in marriage, polygamy, child care and spousal abuse.

These things are happening regularly in most homes, but we do not really get to hear about them, and as such, we cannot learn from them. This is why this opportunity that these two have given us should be seized upon and studied. Sociologists, marriage counsellors, therapists, religious bodies, traditionalists and indeed everybody must follow this train wreck very closely so that we can learn from it and strengthen society.

This is why I am thanking my brother Sowore so much for wading in. Before he came, the Senator was riding high

because of his legal background and exposure as a serving Senator. His releases and information from his side were logic-driven, legally sound and driving home to the point. But Regina, on the other hand, was just throwing out emotional dribble that only satisfied the fickle social media crowd she is used to. No real meat that we can use to better dissect the issue. Oh, he has my sex tape, oh, I have suffered in Ned’s house, oh, I am a queen in my house and nothing in Ned’s house. What are we to do with that one?

Now Yele has jumped in and quickly released her passport showing that he may have travelled with her as an underage, or he may have married her underage, which could, for the first time, throw a criminal charge at Ned. Ned, under pressure, has released a very serious statement aimed directly at Sowore, countering his allegations and attempting to throw out hard evidence that he married her at 19 years of age.

Now the real battle has begun, and I have carried my notebook and biro, ready to learn. Una know say, me too, I am a polygamist, so you see why this thing really concern me. Thank you.

roTImI AmAecHI: I Agree wITH YoU Tinubu is not invincible; he was defeated in Lagos, and it can be done

Wike

Sowore

Amaechi

Yerima kukah

again. This was Rotimi Amaechi at an event in Abuja the other day. This has been his mantra since he joined the coalition against Tinubu, and I agree with him. There is nobody in this world who is invincible when it comes to politics and even sports. This is why oyibo people have an English word that they call ‘Upset.’

When the great Brazilian football team enters the field, everybody expects them to wallop the next team, and then, once in a while, the unexpected happens. The weak team will just give them a whacking. This is what Rotimi is expecting.

On paper, it’s looking like Tinubu is invincible – the power of incumbency, cross-carpeting of governors, control of everything controllable in the country, but then again, in politics, it’s not over till it’s over.

This Trump thing, insecurity, discontent amongst powerful and influential Yorubas, and the economy, are all things that can be used to build a strong push against his second term.

I think Amaechi knows this, hence his confidence. When he was asked about the other issue of writing results, he countered with a strong solution – voting en masse.

For me, this is where I stand. Soludo just won a reelection with just 400,000 votes. Voter apathy is just the main issue, not even the rigging. How can a country of about 200 million people now elect a whole president with just 600,000 votes? Voter apathy is what is killing us, and our oppressors do everything within their power to ensure that the situation remains the same. So, would I vote Amaechi as President? God forbid. But is he making sense? Yes. Guys, let’s come out, register and vote so that we can have a very exciting exercise. Even Tinubu himself will be bored if only Seyi and his boys come out to vote. Let’s have fun, guys, let’s register.

MATTHew HASSAN KUKAH: AN OrATOr pAr excelleNce

This man is not getting older o. He is still looking the way he looked when he used to talk during the IBB regime. He was the keynote speaker at the launch of Dr Abati’s three books during the latter’s 60th birthday. The gist of the party is next week.

The Rev. Father in a blue suit took us through a very sweet and powerful oratorical exercise. With no sign of grey hair, no wrinkles, and almost looking like a boy “yo yo”, he mesmerised the audience, which had prominent personalities like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, both former presidents. As he spoke, I stopped listening and started wondering what exactly is this man eating or doing that he has refused to age. As I pondered, the solution came to me very quickly: he is not having sex. Yes, as a reverend father and Bishop, he must have sworn the oath of abstinence, and that may be just why he was not ageing. Let me explain. The act itself is very good for the ageing process. It is the wahala you get while securing it is what used to make some of us old. The money you will spend, the long talk, the negotiations, the fight, the wondering of so many things that come before, during and after the act that used to make someone age before his time, abi you no see me with grey hair everywhere.

Father Kukah no get any grey hair,

has peace of mind, not “passwording” his phone, and doesn’t need to lie about his whereabouts, saying he is travelling to Abuja when he is on one side street in Sokoto. Mbok, pure rest of mind and the man is looking very, very young and handsome. See what abstinence can do to someone?

Congrats, my dear Bishop Kukah. Thank you.

cHArleS SOlUDO AS THe lAST MAN STANDINg? Let me quickly send my congratulations to Charles Soludo for his re-election. It has been announced

regINA DANIelS: cOMe TO Me

Well, as a very good citizen of this country and as someone who does not like seeing people cry, especially very beautiful lightskinned damsels like this one in question, I have decided to also wade in like my brother Sowore. While Sowore has decided to take the legal route, I have decided on the softer side by offering Regina a haven in my house until the ill wind blows off.

I take my cue from my late Pastor at the Fountain of Life when I, too, was going through my own polygamy problem. After listening to Duchess, who was very angry that I had gotten a second child out of wedlock, and my position, which was very clear, was I to kill the child because I had taken marital vows? Pastor Odukoya of blessed memory gave us a decision which at that time I thought was a stupid one, but 18 years after, I have now seen that it was a wise one. Foluke, I will offer you a halfway house where you will go and stay with the sisters of the church till things cool down. That day, I looked at this Baba and felt like throwing him Wike spit. Mbok, if she leaves and “konji” hold me for night, who will I turn to? The other madam just born, and the other

one is not talking to me because of the new baby. So the only fit as a fiddle one out of the three, this pastor now wants to move her out of service. It took all of my Lt Yerima patience not to insult Baba that day. I just said Foluke, let’s go. Today, I am offering Senator Ned Nwoko and Regina the same advice. Please, let me take Regina in at least until tempers cool. It is not safe for her to be living alone, especially if it is true that she has a drug issue. She needs to be under my care. I will take very good care of her, abi what else am I doing in Lagos? I will make sure nothing evil happens to her. As a fellow polygamist, I understand the nuances that go into these kinds of relationships, and as such, I will be in the best position to take care of her, calm her down, pet her and then whatever she decides to do after, work with her in achieving the goals. If she wants to go back to the Senator, I will deliver her. If she does not want to, I will work with Sowore to kick him out. And if she wants to naturalise into an Edgar, what else can I do, because at that point I will be helpless. Mbok, who can send me her number? Thank you.

that he won with a landslide, defeating all candidates, including the young actress who has now invited her 292 voters to lunch to thank them. When I broadcast Prof Soludo’s victory, some of my very close friends who are APC apologists reached out –“Edgar, you don’t understand politics, Anambra is of no strategic value to us,” they echoed. Soludo is Tinubu’s man, as he aligns with the president, and I was just looking at these mumu people.

So, you must align with the president to win votes, as people’s votes don’t count in your republic? Well, no matter what Soludo did or didn’t do, he has shown that he can at least win a reelection without having to cross-carpet like his other colleagues, including that second-term Diri, whose cross-carpeting is still being studied at various Political Science departments in universities across the country. Well done, sir, and God bless.

NNAMDI KANU: DOeS He HAve A pOINT?

I watched a video clip of this Mazi Kanu asking the judge one simple question- mbok, what law am I being tried on? From what I have read and heard, because the judge was not shown in the clip, is that the man could not answer that question, which now made Mazi flare up and scream, “You don’t know the law.”

Mbok, this thing can at times be funny. How do you find it so difficult to get closure on a case that is so open and shut for over 10 years?

When that other country caught his counterpart, it did not take seven days, and the man was convicted. Here we are doing adjournment, changing judges, wearing designer suits, arresting his lawyers and still no traction.

At this pace, I may have to join the free Mazi Kanu train because no man deserves to go through what this guy has gone through for over 10 years. Remanded in prison and on trial all of these years. Mbok, just free the man and let us drink water if you cannot even tell him under what law you are trying him on. Thank you.

OlUbUNMI TUNjI-OjO: IS THIS TrUe?

I have just read from very unofficial sources that this gentleman, who just happens to be our Minister of the Interior, may have just arrested his own son to teach him a lesson. Please, if this is true, Honourable Minister, God bless you. You will have to come and teach me this thing o as I am very weak.

My children “chance” me. They talk to me anyhow and even “block” me because I love them too much. The other day, my favourite child Chantal gave it to me o. The verbal attack was just too much, so I also blocked her. She now started boasting that you love me too much, and as such, you cannot do anything, and it’s true. I don’t have the mind to give them a head butt, and I know that I am spoiling them silly.

So, when I heard that you had allegedly used the police to arrest your son to teach him a lesson, I was happy. Yes, if this is true, this is a man. Mbok, can I come for a quick lesson because I need my heart to be hard to do the right thing? If not, these children will crawl all over me o.

Minister, please, how did you manage if this is true? I need help, and very quickly. Was it the MOPOL you used or the normal police? Please, call me ooooo. Thank you.

Daniels

Day Konga Group

CeO, Nnamdi ekeh, Made Nigeria proud

Nigeria’s maverick entrepreneur and Group Chief Executive Officer of Konga, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, last weekend made history for himself and Nigeria when he stood before the whole world to be honoured with two global awards of distinction by Forbes and Euro Knowledge.

The Oxford-trained Prince Ekeh was bestowed with the Distinguished Euro Knowledge Award for Emerging Leadership in Digital Transformation: e-Commerce, Digital Infrastructure and Financial Technology, as well as the Forbes Best of Africa e-Commerce Leadership Award 2025, for his extraordinary contributions to Africa’s digital economy.

He is the first African of his age to receive such double honours in one night.

The upscale audience at the House of Lords, London, went rhapsodic when Prince Ekeh’s illustrious profile was read that memorable day of October 25, 2025.

Forbes had done a comprehensive due diligence on the young tech entrepreneur right from his early secondary school days, during which his numerate skills began to manifest, earning him the second position in a National Mathematics Competition in Nigeria, up to Switzerland where he completed his secondary education at Leysin American School, Switzerland (2008-2010); and through his A levels/Foundation at Warwick (20102011); then to University of Lancaster (majoring in Economics and Politics, with a minor in Entrepreneurship) from 2011-2014, before capping his brilliant academic career with an MBA at the University of Oxford (2021-2022).

His leadership skills have received international recognition, with features in Forbes Africa and his inclusion among the Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD).

Beyond business, Prince Ekeh drives social impact through the Leo-Stan Ekeh Foundation, which deploys digital infrastructure in educational institutions, offers scholarships and has improved the lives of over 250,000 people in Nigeria by extending to them access to education and digital inclusion.

He founded Yudala when he was serving his fatherland as a corps member in the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC. The company has grown, becoming a beehive of commerce employing over 250 staffers.

Despite his father’s fat purse and the comfort around the family, Prince Ekeh has stayed humble, teachable and always given to hard work. After several years of switching positions and learning from the best professionals within the Zinox Group, the young Ekeh deployed his experience to engender growth for Yudala. To achieve this, he led his team to beat off competitors to acquire Konga in 2018, and has since turned the once floundering firm into the fastest growing e-commerce firm on the continent.

Dignitaries who attended the event included Dragons’ Den star, Richard Faileigh and Reebok Co-founder, Joe Foster, who also received awards.

Nicholas Ukachukwu’s Political Misadventures Linger

Nigerian politicians have been severally described as incurable optimists.

More than a few of them are ordinary paper tigers filled with over-bloated ego, such that in reality they cannot even win a ward in an election. But their supporters would make them believe they can indeed win a country.

This is exactly the case with Nicholas Ukachukwu, who was the flagbearer for the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the last governorship election in Anambra State.

Before the election, the serial contender carried himself like the next governor of the state. He looked Governor Charles Soludo in the eyes and called him unprintable names. The election campaign took a dangerous turn as contestants abandoned agenda-

based campaigns and resorted to mudslinging, insults and throwing of tantrums.

Ukachukwu reportedly threw money around like a drunken sailor with the belief that it would pave the way for him to get the plum job. But alas! He was disappointed again as he was pummeled by the incumbent governor.

Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 422,664 votes to defeat Ukachukwu, his closest rival, who polled 99,445 votes.

Perhaps if Ukachukwu had been told the truth about his political standing, he would have continued with his business where he calls the shots. With yet another defeat, people have begun to wonder if Ukachukwu would ever realise his most cherished ambition.

Tunde Afolabi: A Glittering Light in Nigeria’s Oil Sector

Octogenarian oil tycoon, Chief Tunde Afolabi, has devoted his life to the empowerment of human capital and fostering growth in those around him.

One of his life’s philosophies is that true wealth transcends mere financial success; it is measured by the positive impact one has on the lives of others.

Chief Afolabi, who is the Chairman of Amni International, also seems to believe that too much exposure leads to tainted glitz. That could be the reason the businessman has managed to stay partially invisible among the elite class of Nigeria’s urban society, despite his status as one of the nation’s wealthiest men.

He credits divine Providence for what he has achieved in life and business. This is the reason he dedicates his entire life to the worship of the almighty God. His belief is firmly rooted in the Bible verse, Psalm 127:1, that says “Unless the LORD

builds the house, the builders labour in vain.”

With age, his focus has shifted from merely accumulating wealth to enriching lives through charitable endeavours and substantial donations. He remains deeply committed to advancing development, research, and humanitarian causes. His consistent generosity has not only contributed to the upliftment of his community but has also played a critical role in his enduring success in the business world.

This and many others, his friends and associates assert, have been his staying power.

A few weeks ago, during his 75th birthday, the energy tycoon expressed profound gratitude to his creator for bestowing on him, not only good health and fortune, but also the ability to contribute his quota to society.

Is Omoworare a Spanner in the Wheel of Omisore’s Progress?

In politics, the fiercest daggers are often not wielded by enemies at the gate, but by brothers and friends at the table.

Curiously, the average politician - especially in this part of the world - considers such an act not a sin in the sight of Almighty God, but merely a survival tactic.

Specifically, this is the scenario currently playing out in Osun State, as the election for the governorship of the state is scheduled to hold soon. Among political watchers, all eyes are on Senator Babajide Omoworare and Senator Iyiola Omisore.

It was gathered that Omoworare, a twoterm senator and a former majority leader in the Lagos State House of Assembly, is threatening the ambition of Omisore, whom many consider the favourite flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Omoworare, who hails from the same Ife East Senatorial District as Omisore, has reportedly

vowed not to step down for his kinsman in the forthcoming primary election scheduled to hold in December 2025.

The seemingly fraternal conflict has drawn attention particularly because Omoworare and Omisore had, until recently, been considered not just friends or political allies, but brothers and even business partners.

However, all evidence points to the fact that the thin line holding their friendship may soon snap under the weight of their individual ambitions.

For the 68-year-old Omisore, a former deputy governor of the state, the battle for the number one seat must be won, as this could be his last shot.

He has, therefore, reportedly vowed to crush any obstacle that might become a spanner in the wheel of his progress.

Orange Drugs’ Boss, Tony ezenna, in pensive Mood

“No one in your life will ever love you as your mother does. There is no love as pure and strong as a mother’s love.”

It is definitely an understatement to say that all that Orange Drugs’ Tony Ezenna has achieved today can be attributed to his mother, Ezinne Comfort Ezenna.

Ezinne loved her children, and she did everything to make them better people. A look into her eyes will convince you that her love for her children is the purest love you can find on planet earth.

Despite her limited education, she was able to inculcate discipline and an enterprising spirit in the lives of her children. Even after the death of her husband, Sir Ernest Ezenna (Chairman, Eastern Industrial Chemist), 40 years ago, she proved that she was a woman of valour who overcame vicissitudes and obfuscations to singlehandedly train and mould them into what they are today.

The business mogul and his siblings inherited her dexterity, entrepreneurial spirit, sound moral and Christian values. Little

wonder the businessman is now in a pensive mood with the passing of his dear mother and the matriarch of the Ezenna family. As revealed, the woman fondly called Ada Jesus died on Saturday,

November 9, 2025.

Though death is a necessary end, her death at the age of 88 was still hugely shocking to the entire family. But they quickly took solace in the fact that the loving mother lived a fulfilled life. She was described as a good Christian who followed and worshipped God with all the resources bestowed on her. Her service to the poor and needy is legendary and shall never be forgotten.

A source revealed that until her death, her heart beat for the poor, a selfless giver, a lover of education, an unassuming philanthropist and a devout Catholic who gave out to the downtrodden ceaselessly.

She was a great source of support and hope for indigent members of society. Some of her profound works include establishing tuitionfree Primary and Nursery schools, where many pupils received free education. It was hinted that she will be buried at her husband’s country home, Owerre-Akokwa, Ideato North LGA, Imo State, on January 15, 2026.

Ukachukwu

Afolabi

Omoworare

ezenna

An Invitation to Find Poetry in Disintegration

Next of kin Series 8 turns disintegration into an art form in an age obsessed with reinvention, where even collapse comes dressed as transformation, writes okechukwu Uwaezuoke

Modern life sits precariously atop its own clever inventions — those fragile towers of thought, ego, and culture whose stability feels about as reassuring as a house of cards on a windy day. Yet the instinct to rebrand this slow-motion collapse as “transformation” has, curiously, become something of a cultural reflex. It is this peculiarly human urge — to find poetry in breakdown and to mine chaos for meaning — that anchors Next of Kin Series 8, the Thought Pyramid Art Centre’s annual showcase. The initiative, now in its eighth edition, has quietly evolved into one of Nigeria’s most closely watched platforms for emerging visual artists.

This year’s theme, Fragments of Being, does more than acknowledge the fragility of existence; it leans into it. It probes what it means to exist in pieces — to be reshaped by time, memory, and the restless turbulence of a world that shifts even as its inhabitants cling to routine and ritual. If earlier editions of Next of Kin hinted at promise, this one speaks with a surer voice — the kind that comes from lived moments rather than experiment. Since its founding in 2018, the initiative has become a crucible where potential meets persistence and occasionally transforms into something extraordinary. Its alumni form a kind of constellation across the Nigerian art landscape: Antonia Nneji, Forbes-listed and unapologetically feminist; Ikechukwu Ezeigwe, who moved from the Next of Kin stage to the Bonhams auction block; and Christian Allison, whose hyperreal canvases seem to test the limits of perception. The newer generation — Idowu Emmanuel, Cletus Oche, Yakno Ene, Olalekan Adeyemi Julius — continues that trajectory with equal conviction, each interpreting the contemporary condition through personal fragments of insight and experience.

Fragments of Being marks a quiet turning point for the series. The title itself balances philosophy and feeling, suggesting both introspection and a subtle unease. The participating artists are not asked simply to create works of visual appeal, but to question what remains of the self when time, culture, and circumstance have each taken their share. What does it mean to live in fragments — and still recognise coherence in what survives?

Ovie Omatsola, the project’s initiator and curator, frames the question succinctly: “So many things have been happening recently, with people suddenly changing and taking up new characters. Many have forgotten who they are, so we thought to see how our visual artists can interpret that through research.” His observation resonates beyond the art world. It reflects an age of spiritual fatigue and digital self-curation — a time when algorithms quietly determine which versions of identity are allowed to persist.

In such a context, Next of Kin’s invitation feels

almost restorative. For artists navigating the tensions of survival and expression in Nigeria’s fast-shifting cultural landscape, the call to self-examination offers both challenge and catharsis. Their task is not merely to represent, but to excavate — to sift through the sediment of experience in search of something enduring, however elusive.

The Thought Pyramid Art Centre, which hosts the series, has grown from a conventional gallery into a cultural catalyst with a strong educational backbone. With locations in Abuja and Lagos, it operates as much as a laboratory for thought as a venue for display. Its mentorship-driven model and structured opportunities have made it a rare constant in a creative economy prone to uncertainty. Here, young artists find not just exhibition space but an ecosystem designed to sustain them long after the applause fades.

The format of this year’s edition remains familiar: 20 finalists, selected from across Nigeria and beyond, will compete for the Main Prize, a ₦6 million solo exhibition scheduled for 2027. The figure is less a symbol of prestige than a vote of confidence — a commitment to continuity in an industry where early promise too often dissolves into silence. The open call, which closes on November 30, has already drawn widespread anticipation, setting the stage for a finalists’ exhibition on April 5, 2026 — a date likely to be marked by both celebration and scrutiny.

What distinguishes Next of Kin from similar initiatives is not scale but sensibility. It retains an intimacy that larger competitions often lose — a sense of dialogue rather than display. Its ethos suggests that art is not merely an adornment of culture but a tool of introspection, capable of illuminating the contradictions that define contemporary life. In doing so, it stands apart from the spectacle-driven art circuits that dominate the global calendar.

To describe Next of Kin merely as a competition would therefore be misleading. It functions more as an ecosystem — a space where mentorship, critique, and creation coexist. The emphasis lies as much on process as on product, on the slow, uneven labour of becoming. In that respect, it mirrors life itself: fragmented, unpredictable, and quietly redemptive.

Despite its thematic depth, Fragments of Being does not take itself too seriously. There is a note of irony beneath the solemnity — the recognition that humanity, having built its own fragile constructions, now finds beauty in their collapse. The participating artists seem to grasp this paradox instinctively, their works oscillating between gravity and wit. The result promises to be an exhibition that not only provokes reflection but also accepts the absurdity of the search for meaning.

By the time the exhibition concludes next April, Fragments of Being will likely have achieved what the most resonant art always does: to make visible what ordinary life conceals. It will hold a mirror not only to its artists but also to its audience — a mirror cracked yet still reflecting light.

For eight years now, Next of Kin has refused to stand still. It has become a cultural compass — not just of what Nigerian art looks like, but of what it feels like to be Nigerian, to be human, to be endlessly becoming. And if the world is indeed collapsing in slow motion, Thought Pyramid’s artists — backed by the steady hands of Nigeria Machine Tools and Trustbanc Group — are, at least, documenting the fall beautifully.

A viewer contemplating a painting at one of the Next of Kin series exhibitions Guests at one of the exhibitions

Cletus Oche, the Main Prize Winner of the seventh edition of the Next of Kin series

The Benin Protest and the Battle Over Heritage

The protests should be seen as an insistence on authenticity than as an assault on art, says

Okechukwu Uwaezuoke

For the art community, Sunday, November 2, in b enin City should have been a day for celebration. b ut, as it turned out, history proclaimed in clear terms that it refuses to be sealed behind museum glass. The m useum of West African Art ( mo WAA), the ambitious multimilliondollar project meant to reclaim the glory of the b enin b ronzes, became a theatre of protest. videos show a cluster of protesters ordering foreign guests off the grounds, their anger palpable, their voices ringing with the sense of a story interrupted. It is easy to see mo WAA as a triumph on paper: state-of-the-art preservation labs, gleaming galleries, and the compelling promise of a homecoming for the looted treasures of 1897. Yet paper and stone cannot conjure legitimacy. The bronzes themselves—the very reason this temple was imagined—remain elsewhere, caught in disputes over control that are as political as they are cultural. This, the museum without its essence is, inevitably, a museum without its soul.

Local resentment has been simmering for some time. A resident told the bb C that much of the anger stems from what many perceive as a hijacking of an e do project. “The b enin o ba [king], traditional rulers, and the government of e do are not happy about it,” the resident explained. e do was even part of the museum’s name at first, before it was quietly excised, a symbolic erasure that stings. e xecutive director Phillip Ihenacho maintains the change was motivated by a desire to cast mo WAA as a West African, rather than solely Nigerian, institution. b ut ambition, however noble, cannot paper over local suspicion.

Then, there is also the fact that history has a long memory. b elgium-based Nigerian artist Godfrey Williams- o korodus recalls watching the National m useum in b enin ransacked during the 1989 SAP riots, ivory tusks in the hands of looters, prisoners fleeing the blaze. “I knew then that this is not a safe place for a museum,” he writes. And his reflection is instructive: moWAA began on uncertain ground. The state governor was at odds with the r oyal court, and the fissures were never repaired. When asked what might happen when political winds shift, one can almost hear his question echo through the museum’s empty halls: What happens to the treasures if the caretakers

themselves cannot agree? Williams- o korodus’ own struggle with establishing an Ifa museum mirrors this tension between vision and legitimacy. For decades, he has accumulated over 500 objects on Ifa divination, dreaming of returning them to Yorubaland, yet hesitant because a museum cannot flourish without communal consent. His efforts were met with opposition from scholars, intermittent support from traditional leaders, and the occasional disheartening silence. Yet he persists, believing that forces greater than mortals themselves guide the work. His story reads like a parable for mo WAA: ambition is admirable, but it is hollow if it is not rooted in the people it seeks to serve.

The history of the b enin b ronzes themselves only sharpens the irony. Looted in 1897 during a b ritish punitive expedi -

tion, they are more than carved wood and bronze; they are the lifeblood of a kingdom, repositories of ritual, history, and identity. Their absence from mo WAA is felt as a wound, a reminder that restitution is never simply a matter of returning objects—it requires dialogue, trust, and a willingness to reckon with centuries of dispossession. mo WAA has responded with courtesy, cancelling preview events and urging visitors to avoid the campus until calm returns.

“We are deeply grateful to all our guests — many of whom travelled long distances to be here — for their understanding, patience, and resilience. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this situation may have caused,” the museum’s statement reads. Admirable as this is, a polished apology cannot substitute for legitimacy earned in the court of local conscience.

This is the crux: museums are not merely buildings; they are political and cultural organisms. Without genuine inclusion of local stakeholders—traditional rulers, community leaders, and ordinary citizens— mo WAA risks becoming a monument to ambition rather than a homecoming for heritage. The protests, therefore, were not an assault on art, but an insistence on authenticity, a demand that history be reclaimed in form as well as spirit.

Sunday’s unrest should not be seen as a failure but as a lesson. mo WAA may yet fulfill its promise, but to do so it must answer the question louder than any chant at its gates: Whose museum is it, really? Until b enin City’s voices are not just heard but integrated into its governance, the museum will stand in limbo—shimmering, ambitious, and, at its core, incomplete. And until that reconciliation is achieved, no gallery, no matter how dazzling, can fully reclaim what was lost in 1897.

A Scholar’s Roadmap for Fiscal Reinvention

Legal perspectives of Treasury Single Account and Secured Credit Transactions in Nigeria by Professor Anugbum Onuoha, Princeton & Associates Publishing Co. Ltd, Lagos, 2025

timi Jenkins Okponipere

At a time when fiscal indiscipline and opaque financial systems continue to erode public trust across the developing world, Professor Anugbum onuoha’s new work, Legal Perspectives of Treasury Single Account and Secured Credit Transactions in Nigeria, arrives as a necessary intervention. Published in Lagos by Princeton & Associates, this 421-page volume combines the precision of a lawyer, the breadth of a policy thinker, and the passion of a reformist. It is, without question, a major contribution to the literature on public finance and property law in Africa.

Professor onuoha is no ordinary academic.

A Professor of Property and Secured Credit Law at rivers State University, he brings to this work a rare combination of professional disciplines: estate management, law, and public administration. That foundation gives the book both its multidimensional strength and its sense of practicality. beyond the university walls, he has served his state and country with distinction — as Special Adviser on Lands and Survey, as a member of the rivers State executive Council, and as Commissioner (Legal Affairs) at the rivers State Independent electoral Commission. His present role as resident electoral Commissioner for Edo State further reflects a scholar who understands governance not as an abstraction but as lived reality. The man himself hails from rumuepirikom in rivers State, a community that has produced some of the country’s most visible public figures. Yet Professor Onuoha’s influence has always rested on intellect rather than proximity to power. In academia, his legacy includes the introduction of the Colloquium on Private and Property Law Development in Nigeria — a transformative forum that elevated discourse within the legal faculty of rivers State University. His philanthropy,

particularly his scholarship programmes for indigent students, conﬁrms that his concern for justice extends beyond theory to lived experience.

When I first held this book in my hands, I was struck by its elegance — a clean, well-designed cover enclosing ideas of genuine weight. The foreword, written by Professor Isaac Zep-obipi, the vice Chancellor of rivers State University, immediately sets the tone: a recognition of onuoha’s intellectual capacity to map a new fiscal and legal pathway for Africa. The prose itself is lucid and unpretentious. Although the subject matter — the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and secured credit regimes — might suggest forbidding legalese, the author’s language flows easily, even for readers outside the law.

only in 2015, remains a relatively new area of study.

The editing is of a high standard, though not without a few minor lapses. Some abbreviations are incorrectly rendered — “FCT” is misattributed, “NASeNI” appears as “NASeI,” and so on — small matters that will no doubt be corrected in a second edition. What endures is the clarity of thought and the depth of research. The book is rich with case law and statutory analysis, an impressive feat given that Nigeria’s TSA policy, introduced

I was particularly impressed by the author’s comparative lens. Onuoha draws on fiscal experiences from the United Kingdom, the United States, Ukraine, Nepal, vietnam, the Dominican republic, mexico and Azerbaijan — an array of jurisdictions that demonstrates his determination to situate Nigeria’s reform efforts within a global framework. This comparative study is not mere ornamentation; it sharpens his central argument that Africa’s fiscal renaissance cannot occur in isolation from international best practices. His analysis of the Nigeria Tax Act No. 7 of 2025 — one of the country’s most consequential legislative measures — is timely and incisive. At the heart of the book lies a conviction: that Africa’s sustainable fiscal future depends on proper tax reforms and an efficient Treasury Single Account system capable of managing and safeguarding public revenue. The author’s reasoning is sound and his evidence compelling. He proposes, in essence, a roadmap toward a more transparent and accountable system of public finance.

If there is any limitation, it lies in the book’s

minimal reference to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NePAD) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). both are crucial to understanding how secured credit transactions might evolve within a borderless African marketplace. Yet, one senses that the omission stems less from oversight than from focus — this is, after all, a study primarily concerned with Nigeria’s ﬁscal architecture. Future editions would, however, beneﬁt from a more expansive treatment of these frameworks, given their growing relevance to intra-African trade and credit mobility.

By tracing the evolution of ﬁscal law through statutes, judicial decisions and policy instruments, Professor onuoha poses an implicit question: can Africa’s economic rebirth be engineered through law?

my own reading of his argument suggests a conﬁdent yes. For him, transparency, prudent management, and harmonised credit systems are not bureaucratic ideals but the scaﬀolding of sustainable growth. His work is therefore not just about Nigeria — it is, at its core, a vision for Africa’s economic future.

Legal Perspectives of Treasury Single Account and Secured Credit Transactions in Nigeria is more than a legal text; it is a moral and intellectual statement.

It speaks to policymakers, bankers, lawyers, and administrators alike, oﬀering a pragmatic yet hopeful framework for reform. Its tone is measured, its arguments rigorous, and its scholarship impeccable.

Were I to advise the publisher, I would suggest a retail price of about N30,000 — the equivalent of twenty U.S. dollars — a modest sum for a work of such enduring value. In a continent where public ﬁnance has too often been treated as a mystery best left unexamined, Professor onuoha’s book stands as a clarion call for transparency, order, and reform.

This is serious scholarship — and, more importantly, a vision of how ideas, not aid, might yet shape Africa’s future.

• Dr Okponipere, Esq., writes from Lagos .

an artist impression of MOWaa

IN THE ARENA

Killings: Where are the Attorneys-General?

The sheer incompetence and docility of state Attorneys-General in vigorously prosecuting suspected perpetrators of heinous crimes have continued to fuel insecurity and lawlessness across the country, further justifying the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, by the United States President Donald Trump, writes Davidson Iriekpen

It is a fact that of all the cabinet portfolios in the country, whether at the federal or state level, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, as well as the Attorneys-General and Commissioners for Justice at the state level, are the only ones recognised by the 1999 Constitution.

For instance, while Section 151 (1) of the 1999 Constitution specifically states: “There shall be an AGF who shall be the chief law officer of the federation and a minister of the government of the federation, sub-section 2 of the statute book specifically defines the qualifications or criteria for the occupant of the office.

Section 174(1) goes ahead to state that the AGF shall have powers to “(a) to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria, other than a court-martial, in respect of any offence created by or under any Act of the National Assembly; (b) to take over and continue any such criminal proceedings that may have been instituted by any other authority or person; (c) to discontinue at any stage before judgment is delivered any such criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by him or any other authority or person.”

The relevant subsection also stipulates that in exercising his powers, the AGF shall have regard to the public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process.

while the powers of the AGF cover the entire federation, those of the state attorneys-general are limited to their respective states. For instance, Section 195 (1 and 2) of the Constitution states thus: “There shall be an attorney-general of a state who shall be the chief law officer of the state and a commissioner for justice of the government of that state.”

Section 211(1) defines the powers vested on state attorneys-general which include the power “(a) to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria, other than a court-martial, in respect of any offence created by or under any law of the House of Assembly; (b) to take over and continue any such criminal proceedings that may have been instituted by any other authority or person; (c) to discontinue at any stage before judgment is delivered any such criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by him or any other authority or person.”

The power conferred upon the AttorneyGeneral of a state, according to subsection 2, may be exercised by him in person or through officers of his department.

Like the AGF, in exercising his powers as stated in subsection 3, the attorney-general of a state shall have regard to the public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process.

In spite of these recognitions and the powers conferred on the occupants of these offices, many have demonstrated lack of capacity to meet the demands of the office.

Many observers believe that one of the reasons why there are so many heinous crimes, such as culpable homicide, kidnappings and other forms of lawlessness in the country is because the AGF and state AGs have abdicated their responsibilities.

Almost daily, Nigerians are being killed, kidnapped, or maimed, while properties worth billions of naira are destroyed. Yet the AGF and state AGs ignored the fact that prosecuting suspects could help stem the tide, restore order, and rebuild public trust in the rule of law.

One of the reasons why the United States

president, Mr. Donald Trump, designated Nigeria a Country of particular Concern or threatened to intervene in the killings of Christians, is due to the consistent failure to prosecute the terrorists perpetrating these crimes and their sponsors.

Currently, the country has federal and state laws against terrorism, murders, culpable homicides and kidnappings, yet these crimes thrive like stocks due to the incompetence of the AGs.

Apart from Lagos State where successive attorneys-general since 1999 have vigorously pursued and initiated reforms aimed at sanitising the state justice system, others have practically been docile.

Gone are the days when AGs at the federal or state levels are seen as fully equipped and ready to prosecute important cases in courts. A majority of them have simply turned themselves into errand boys who are only interested in prosecuting political opponents and critics of government, while violent criminals who are the real enemies of the state walk freely.

In Nigeria, the prosecution of suspects

for offences such as murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, theft and other basic crimes, such as traffic offences, to create sanity in the country is within the purview of the state AGs to vigorously pursue. But these officers have abdicated their responsibilities.

Though many state AGs have argued that they do not always have the cooperation of the police, a federal agency, to investigate and prosecute criminal cases in their states, this argument had long been faulted by Justice Christopher Balogun of the Lagos High Court who in a ruling in the case between the people of Lagos State vs Ndi OkerekeOnyuike, held that the attorneys-general of the state do not need police investigation to prosecute criminal cases.

In the ruling, which was upheld by the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, the judge submitted that since the power of the police is discretionary, the state AG can file criminal charges against anybody at a state court of law.

In 2016, despite the docility and nonchalance of the then Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, including the incumbent, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), in prosecuting federal crimes, he, nonetheless, granted fiats to state Attorneys-General to prosecute suspects accused of federal offences within their jurisdictions. Unfortunately, that directive has yielded little to no tangible results. It is perhaps consequent upon this verdict that a human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), recently said it is the failure of both federal and state governments to prosecute suspected terrorists, bandits, killer-herdsmen and murder suspects that have emboldened them to carry out more attacks.

while condemning Trump’s “false and reckless” statement, Falana said Nigeria must not deflect from the deeper issue, the government’s failure to secure its citizens.”

He argued that it is the constitutional responsibility of the federal and state governments to protect the lives and property of the people, adding that the failure to do so had compelled several parents to negotiate with terrorists and pay hefty ransoms to secure the release of their abducted children and loved ones.

“Crimes like murder, kidnapping, and armed robbery are state offences. Terrorism is a federal crime, but since 2016, the Attorney-General of the Federation has empowered state Attorneys-General to prosecute terror cases. Yet, where are the results?” Falana asked.

endless Conflicting Orders from Courts

Just when Nigerians were thinking that the two conflicting orders stopping the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) billed for Ibadan, oyo State, between November 15 and 16, were an aberration, another Federal High Court in Abuja last Tuesday gave another order restraining the party from proceeding with the exercise.

Like the two previous orders, the current one by Justice Peter Lifu also barred the Independent National electoral Commission (INeC) from supervising, monitoring or recognising the outcome of the convention if held.

The presiding judge, Justice Lifu, issued the order while delivering a ruling in an application filed by a former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido. Lamido had sued the party for allegedly denying him the opportunity to buy the chairmanship nomination form to enable him to participate in the convention.

on october 31, Justice James omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja stopped the PDP from going ahead with the convention. He said evidence before the court showed that the party failed to hold valid state congresses contrary to the 1999 Constitution, INeC guidelines, as well as PDP’s constitution.

but in a dramatic twist, on November 4, an oyo State High Court presided over by Justice A.L. Akintola, ordered the PDP and the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to proceed with the convention. He issued the order following an ex parte application filed by Folahan malomo Adelabi. by Friday, two other court orders were made again. This is judicial rascality at its height. It not only amounts to forum shopping but a mockery of the country’s democracy.

The courts that were supposed to deduce that it is an ego fight for the soul of PDP, have allowed

itself to be rubbished by the gladiators. many Nigerians are wondering where are the Supreme Court’s decisions warning lower courts to stay away from the internal affairs of political parties in all of these orders?

It is imperative for the National Judicial Council (NJC) to take drastic and urgent action to put a stop to this anomaly once and for all. The council must sanction these erring judges who are ridiculing the judiciary otherwise with the 2027 elections fast approaching, the issue of conflicting orders and judgments would rear its ugly head and make a mess of Nigeria’s democracy.

These sanctions must be stringent to serve as a deterrent to other judges who may wish to embark on this journey of judicial rascality. many believe that because previous sanctions were like a slap on the wrist, they did not send the right messages to the judges.

Fagbemi

BRIEFING NOTES

Tinubu’s Neutrality in Anambra Election

The obvious neutrality of the All Progressives Congress-controlled administration of President Bola Tinubu in the recent governorship election in Anambra State as manifested in the absence of the APC governors in the state on the election day, and the transparency of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the conduct of the election and collation of results accounted for the credibility and integrity of the exercise, ejiofor Alike reports

When the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (NEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), declared that elections would be so credible under his watch that losers would congratulate winners, many Nigerians were skeptical as they thought that this promise would end up like INEC’s previous failed promises that had destroyed the confidence of Nigerians in the commission.

Answering questions during his confirmation by the Senate, Amupitan said: “Our ultimate goal is to make elections so credible that even the loser will be able to congratulate the winner in good faith just as a judge delivers judgment and both sides accept it as fair and just.”

Amupitan matched his words with actions and proved all doubting Thomases wrong with the commission’s fair, credible and transparent conduct of the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State.

The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Governor Charles Soludo, was declared the winner of the election.

Though the losers have yet to congratulate the winner, Amupitan did not fail in his promise as the noticeable malpractice in the election - vote-buying - was obviously not the fault of INEC.

The candidates and leaders of the various political parties cited vote-buying as the major irregularity.

Speaking after casting his vote, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, told journalists that he had received reports that some political parties were paying between N20,000 and N30,000 for each vote.

Also, speaking on the widespread vote-buying, Governor Soludo declared that he was sure of victory even if his opponents paid N100,000 for each vote.

Similarly, the candidate of the APC, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, had also raised the alarm over alleged widespread vote buying during the election.

Ukachukwu’s counterpart in the LP, George Moghalu, also lamented the reported cases of vote buying, warning that monetising the voting process encouraged political corruption.

It was obvious from these comments that the conduct of the election by INEC was satisfactory despite the refusal of the losers to congratulate the winner.

In the past, INEC started destroying the credibility of an election before the exercise by deploying partisan Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), to manipu-

late the process for the emergence of a pre-determined winner against the wishes of the helpless voters.

But in the case of Anambra election, Amupitan ensured that no controversial REC was deployed and this ensured that the processes leading to the election were generally adjudged fair and transparent.

The collations of results of some of the previous elections were shrouded in secrecy and controversies, with INEC officials and security agents conniving to manipulate the results.

While compromised INEC officials and security agents stayed behind at the commission’s offices overnight, doctoring the results, the agents of political parties were forcefully dispersed with teargas and asked to return in the following morning for collation of the doctored results.

Also unlike in the previous elections, over 90 per cent of the results of the Anambra election were already uploaded on INEC’s portal as early as 8pm, for accessibility by the political parties.

The commission also worked overnight, collating the results instead of postponing the collation and conniving with security agents to disperse the agents of the parties to create a conducive environment for the manipulation of the results.

It was not surprising that local and international observers as well as

civil society organisations poured praises on INEC for its logistical coordination and effective deployment of technology under Amupitan’s leadership.

A coalition under the EU Support for Democratic Governance Programme (EUSDGN) II, confirmed that the election was better organised than previous polls.

The Election Observation Hub (EOH), a coalition of civil society organisations, including Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), ElectHer, and TAF Africa, which collectively deployed 711 observers, commended improvements in different aspects of the election management, including logistics, security management, and technology deployment.

An accredited international observer group, International Association of World Peace Advocates, represented by Ambassador Emmanuel Nkweke, commended INEC’s preparedness and professionalism, noting that voting materials, BVAS deployment, and the presence of security agencies were “exceptionally well-coordinated.”

On her part, the Director of Programmes at Yiaga Africa, Ms. Cynthia Mbamalu, applauded the commission for the early arrival of materials and personnel, describing the early deployment as a “positive sign of transparent elections.”

She added that Yiaga Africa prioritised the early start of polling as a key benchmark of credibility.

Observers linked the smooth conduct

p OLITICAL NOT e S

of the election to INEC’s extensive preelection preparations.

Quoting reports from INEC Situation Room, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the INEC Chairman, Mr Dayo Oketola, also cited the efficient logistical coordination by the commission under Amupitan’s leadership.

However, while giving credit to Amupitan and his team, it should also be noted that the neutrality of the APC-controlled federal government and President Bola Tinubu made the job of INEC boss easier as undue pressure was not mounted on the commission by governors.

In the previous elections, some governors flooded other states on the days the commission conducted off-season governorship elections in those states and mounted pressure on INEC officials and security agents to truncate the will of the people.

In his address after being declared the winner, Soludo had expressed appreciation to Tinubu, describing him as a “true democrat” who demonstrated commitment to ensuring a free and fair election in the state.

He also lauded Amupitan, declaring that “this is the best election INEC has organised in Anambra so far.”

Soludo commended the commission’s ICT department for ensuring transparency through the real-time upload of results on the IReV portal.

Again, after receiving his Certificate of Return, Soludo hailed Tinubu for providing a level-playing field.

He said: “There is hope for Nigeria. I praise President Bola Tinubu for allowing a free and fair electoral process in Anambra.”

The governor also hailed the electoral body for conducting a free, fair and credible election.

“The state made history as the first state where the new INEC chairman had his first litmus test and came out successfully,” he added.

On its part, Lagos State Chapter of the APC also commended Tinubu for defending Nigeria’s democracy by maintaining neutrality in the election.

The party, in a statement by its Spokesman, Mr Seye Oladejo, stated that “the President has once again shown that he remains the most credible defender of Nigeria’s democracy by encouraging transparency and refusing to interfere in the electoral process.”

The question agitating the minds of Nigerians is: Will President Tinubu maintain the same neutrality in the upcoming elections in Ekiti and Osun states as well as other future elections?

That Massive police Deployment to Anambra

If the Nigeria Police and other security agencies provide the same level of security they provide during elections to areas that are under attack by bandits, Nigerians will not be slaughtered and kidnapped the way they are being attacked today.

For the just-concluded Anambra State gubernatorial election, about 60,000 security agents were deployed for the exercise.

While the police alone had 45,000 personnel, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had 10,000 personnel.

Others were from the army, NDLEA, Immigration, and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Each time there are elections at the state level, the police authorities would deploy thousands of policemen to maintain peace.

It is surprising that similar number of security

agents are not always deployed to areas under attacks by terrorists or bandits who invade communities.

Nigerians are always inundated with news and stories of how bandits invade communities without resistance from the security agents.

Not for once have people seen thousands of security operatives deployed to areas facing security threats.

After the killings of over 200 persons in Yelwata community in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State recently, it took President Bola Tinubu to order the service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest those behind the dastardly killings.

President Tinubu had said: “Kayode, how come no arrest has been made? I expect there should

be an arrest of those criminals.”

It was only then that the IG announced that 28 persons had been arrested. Till date, nobody knows what has happened to these suspects.

Many believe that because elections are for the interest of the ruling class, who are aspiring to various offices, the voters are better protected during elections and allowed to die in the hands of terrorists when elections are over.

The IG and the service chiefs should provide the same level of security available during elections to areas that are under attack because it is only those who are alive that vote.

Nigerians want to see that their lives are protected under any circumstance, not only during elections. It is time for the leaders of security agencies to think outside the box.

Amupitan

egbetokun

Wrongfully Retired Army Officers Seek Tinubu’s Help

With the reinstatement and promotion of former DSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, on the directive of President Bola Tinubu, expectations are high that the Commander-in-Chief will extend similar justice to the 38 senior Army officers whose careers were unjustly truncated in 2016. wale Igbintade writes

For the people of Cross River State, the reinstatement and promotion of their daughter and former Spokesperson of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, to the service on the directive of President Bola Tinubu, is cheering news.

Ogar was in 2015 compulsorily retired from service following allegations of professional misconduct against her by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Many believe that she was unjustly targeted because of the professional manner she discharged his duty during the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, which members of the Buhari government were not comfortable with.

Reacting to her reinstatement, the President of the Cross River State Indigenes Development Association (CRIDA), Sankara Dickson Unung, in a statement, praised President Tinubu’s actions, stating that he has demonstrated a powerful commitment to justice, fairness, and reward for merit.

“Mrs. Ogar served the nation with integrity, courage, and professionalism, and her reinstatement is a triumph of truth and faith,” Unung said.

CRIDA expressed gratitude to the Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Adeola Ajayi, for facilitating Ogar’s reinstatement and congratulated her on her steadfast faith and resilience.

“We stand solidly behind President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. We see in his leadership a new dawn of justice, merit, and inclusion for all Nigerians.” Unung affirmed.

Similarly, some of the 38 senior officers of the Nigerian Army whose careers were truncated by the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Buratai (rtd), in 2016 have also been urging President Tinubu to extend similar justice to them.

They believe that if the president could order the reinstatement of Ogar, as CommanderIn-Chief, he can equally mandate the Army authorities to reabsorb them into the force.

Since the president assumed office in 2023, some of the officers have been appealing to him, the Minister of Defence, the Army Council, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to mandate the military authorities to comply with court rulings ordering their

reinstatement.

The officers were forced out of service without recourse to due process, fair hearing and rules of disengagement in the Nigerian military.

Most of the affected officers, who are still young and have a lot to offer Nigeria, were neither queried nor indicted by any panel nor charged before any court-martial. They were flushed out for reasons that smacked of high-level disregard for law and witch-hunting by the authorities of the army.

The 38 officers subsequently petitioned the then-President Buhari in line with the military’s rules to seek redress. But even after petitioning the former president, their fates still hang in the balance.

Having lost confidence in the ability of the military authorities to give them justice, several of the officers approached the National Industrial Court (NIC) to clear their names and rebuild their careers. As of the last count, the Army had lost all the cases, as it could not provide any shred of evidence to substantiate the false accusations against the officers.

But despite the various courts’ judgments, which were all in favour of the officers, the Nigerian Army and former President Buhari refused to reinstate the soldiers, who are some of the country’s brightest in internal and external security operations.

One of the officers, Ojebo Ochankpa, died in 2017 while waiting for justice, leaving a widow and three children.

A security expert, Labaran Saleh, regretted that the stories of the personnel “remain a cautionary tale for the country.”

The expert noted that none of them faced any formal charge or a court-martial panel before their dismissal. He argued that one of the reasons why there is no motivation in the armed forces is the way some officers are randomly selected for victimisation and forced out of service.

Saleh said the Armed Forces Act prescribes steps to be taken in punishing offences, but doesn’t empower the Army Council to arbitrarily punish or retire officers. He warned that if the 38 officers do not receive justice, “the direct and proximate result is the destruction of the morale of those still in service, with the resulting impact on efficiency and commitment. The impact on the effectiveness, cohesion, and dedication of the Army is best imagined.”

“Why will the Nigerian Army not obey court orders? Are they above the law?”

Saleh queried.

On July 27, 2023, one of the affected officers, Lt. Col. Abdulfatai Mohammed, submitted a letter to President Tinubu’s office, urging the president to prevail on the army to obey the court orders that declared his retirement illegal. Mohammed said he wrote the letter based on the “avowed commitment to justice” the president indicated in his “inauguration speech.”

His letter revealed a harrowing tale of woes, pains, hardship, difficulties, and injustices he and his colleagues had experienced. It displayed, particularly, the insensitivity and indifference of the Nigerian Army to their plight.

Mohammed is one of several officers who went to the NIC to clear his name. Others who obtained judgments ordering their reinstatement include Generals Ijioma and Saad, Colonels Nwankwo, Hassan, Suleiman, Arigbe, Dazang and AS Mohammed.

Military analysts have argued that the case of the 38 officers is a litmus test for this administration’s avowed commitment to the rule of law.

According to them, Tinubu should insist that the military authorities obey the rule of law by ensuring that the Nigerian Army complies with the valid and subsisting court orders.

They noted that the Army has a history of revisiting wrongful retirements and correcting them by reinstating the affected officers.

They cited the case of Major General Ahmadu Mohammed, who was reinstated in January 2016 after being compulsorily retired.

Gen. Mohammed was the General Officer Commanding 7 Division in 2014 when his troops mutinied and fired at his vehicle.

The soldiers accused him of dereliction of

duty and sending them to the battlefield with minimal logistics support, thereby leading to many deaths. Most of those soldiers were court-martialled and sentenced to death. Similarly, Amnesty International accused General Mohammed of ordering the deaths of many Boko Haram prisoners at the Maimalari Barracks and indicted him in their report forwarded to the federal government. However, in January 2016, the Nigerian Army recalled and reinstated him. In a press statement, the Nigerian Army’s spokesman at that time, Brig Gen SK Usman, said: “Although it is not an aberration for the international human rights body to raise such an observation, however, it did not take into cognisance the circumstances leading to his illegal retirement and the legal procedure that was followed in his reinstatement. The compulsory and premature retirement of Major General Mohammed did not follow due process and was rather arbitrary. The senior officer was never charged, tried, let alone found guilty of any offence that justified his premature retirement.

“The action was therefore a clear violation of extant rules, regulations, as well as Terms and Conditions of Service of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. This obvious violation prompted the senior officer to seek redress using the appropriate legal means. Consequently, the realisation of these omissions called for a review of the case by the Army Council and his subsequent reinstatement into the service.”

Saleh noted that Mohammed’s case set a precedent that should be applied in the case of Army 38.

A retired senior officer, who pleaded anonymity, said: “For me, it feels like a case of cheating. You see, these young men have had their careers stolen from them. No one should ever be made to feel that way; it leaves a sour taste, and that is unfair.”

The senior officer added that a letter was recently written by renowned human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), on the matter, yet nothing has been done.

With the Army exhausting its appeal on the judgments in favour of the officers, stakeholders are appealing to President Tinubu, the AGF, Fagbemi (SAN), and the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, to compel the Army to comply with the decisions in the interest of justice and fairness.

president Tinubu

General Oluyede

General Shaibu

CONGRATULATIONS TO NEWEST COUPLE…

L-R: An Auntie of the Groom, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwosho;

and Mrs. Luphina Ukaigwe, at the wedding ceremony of the couple in Lagos… weekend.

Ezekwesili, Utomi, Falana, Bugaje, Others Lead New Citizens’ Movement for Credible Elections in 2027

A broad coalition of political leaders, civil society advocates, labour figures, and democracy campaigners has launched a new national movement to rescue Nigeria’s electoral system from decades of manipulation, insecurity, and institutional decay.

The coalition, known as the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE), emerged from the 2025 National Political Summit on Credible Elections and Political Stability of Nigeria, held last Tuesday in Abuja.

Convened by the National Consultative Front (NCFront) in partnership with the Labour & Civil Society Front (LCSF), the summit brought together more than 600 delegates, representing political parties, government agencies, the private sector, the diaspora community, academia, and civic networks.

Themed “Critical & Mandatory Constitutional Amendments for Credible Elections in 2027,” the gathering aimed to develop a unified national framework to rescue Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the next general election.

The event opened with messages from former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former presidential candidate Peter Obi.

Other prominent contributors included NLC President Joe Ajaero; Pat Utomi, who chaired

the organising committee; former Minister and keynote speaker Oby Ezekwesili; Usman Bugaje; Shehu Sani; IPAC Chairman Mamman Dantalle; Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim; and legal expert Adewole Adebayo.

Discussions were dominated by concerns over Nigeria’s worsening security crisis and the implications of external warnings, particularly from United States President Donald Trump, on the country’s internal political stability.

Speakers argued that the government’s failure to address rising banditry, terrorism, and violent crime has emboldened non-state actors and weakened public trust in state authority.

They warned that Nigeria’s sovereignty is now vulnerable to foreign intervention because the state has failed in its primary obligation to guarantee safety.

Delegates described the deteriorating security landscape as a direct threat to the 2027 elections, noting that large swathes of the country may be inaccessible if urgent reforms are not implemented. Many insisted that credible elections cannot take place under an atmosphere of fear, forced displacement, and systemic voter suppression.

Participants also criticised Nigeria’s political parties, noting their weak internal democracy, abuse of candidate-selection processes, and poor regulation.

They argued that political parties have become platforms for transactional politics rather than institutions that produce

Benin Republic Extends Presidential Term to

Lawmakers in Benin approved a constitutional amendment yesterday that extends the presidential term of office from five years to seven and creates an upper house of parliament.

The limit on the number of presidential terms remains set at two in the West African nation.

Current Head of State, Patrice Talon, will step down next April after a decade in power.

Seven Years

His candidate, Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, is the clear favourite to win the April presidential election. The amendment was adopted by a large majority of MPs, with 90 votes in favour and 19 against. The senate will be composed of at least 25 parliamentarians, some appointed by the head of state and others serving ex officio, such as former presidents.

credible leaders. This, they said, has created a governance crisis in which unprepared or compromised individuals ascend to public office.

Stakeholders unanimously condemned the entrenched culture of rigging, inducement, ballot snatching, vote suppression, falsification of results, and post-election litigation that has characterised Nigeria’s elections

for decades.

They stressed that unless these practices are dismantled, the credibility of the 2027 polls will remain in doubt, and the legitimacy of the next government could be severely undermined.

Speakers noted that public confidence in elections has collapsed because outcomes often fail to reflect the votes cast at polling units.

Many recalled instances in past elections where judicial decisions, not citizens’ ballots, determined winners. This, they argued, has damaged Nigeria’s democracy and discouraged voter participation.

At the end of deliberations, the summit adopted several recommendations to transform the country’s electoral architecture.

A significant emphasis was

placed on ensuring that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) receives its funding directly from the Federation Account to prevent undue influence from any branch of government. There was a strong call for the commission to operate an open budget system, allowing civil society to scrutinise its expenditures and procurement processes.

Nigeria’s Judiciary Faces Fresh Scrutiny as Webinar Exposes Hidden Gender Barriers, Calls for Urgent Reform

A national webinar has ignited a powerful call for gender reform in the Nigerian judiciary.

The Women in Leadership in Law (WILIL) project webinar convened leading judges, lawyers and policy experts to examine gender bias and work-life challenges.

Speakers at the event, organised by the National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria (NAWJN) in collaboration with the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), revealed deep systemic issues that continue to hinder women across judicial institutions.

and Accessibility in Court Settings”, they highlighted how caregiving pressures and cultural expectations limit women’s access to leadership roles.

At the webinar themed “Enhancing Work-Life Balance

Participants stressed that women still manage most domestic duties despite rising representation on the bench.

This burden creates what experts called a poverty of time that slows career advancement.

The webinar also showcased the successful revival of the Abia State Judiciary crèche. The facility has boosted productivity and morale among mothers working in the courts.

Sanwo-Olu’s Aide Blames NPA Policies for Apapa Gridlock, Slams Long-standing Operational Inefficiencies

Wale Igbintade

The Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation and Logistics, Adekoya Hassan, has criticised the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for its decision to divert operational focus from Lagos Port to Warri Port, describing the move as “unpopular” and driven by internal policy failures rather than the traffic conditions in Lagos.

In a statement released yesterday, Hassan questioned persistent congestion along the Apapa Port corridor.

He emphasised that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has consistently demonstrated commitment to resolving the gridlock, but that the NPA’s policies remain the greatest obstacle to smooth cargo movement.

Hassan attributed the recurring congestion in the

Apapa area to long-standing operational inefficiencies, which he said are fostered by the NPA.

He identified multiple toll points, an inefficient e-callup system, favouritism and racketeering in port operations, abuse of power by senior officials, and the circulation of misleading narratives through truck unions as major contributors to the bottleneck.

“These are the real causes

of the congestion, which the NPA has failed to address for years. The governor remains committed, but under the current policies, seamless cargo movement is nearly impossible,” Hassan said. He stressed that with genuine policy reforms aligned with current economic realities, the Apapa gridlock could be eliminated, making the diversion of cargo operations to Warri Port unnecessary.

EA Partners GEF, UNDP to Provide Plateau Community with Solar Mini-grid

Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Global Environment Facility (GEF), Cloud Energy, Plateau State Energy Corporation, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), have built a 50-kilowatt solar mini-grid for Namu community in the Qua’an Pan Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State.

This is just as the Lagos State

Government has commended JMG Limited for donating a stateof-the-art solar-powered energy system that would guarantee 24-hour electricity supply to the Ketu Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC).

The Namu community, known for its large-scale rice production in Plateau State, has for over decades, suffered lack of access to electricity and water. In his remarks at the commissioning ceremony, the Managing Director/Chief Execu-

tive Officer of REA, Abba Aliyu explained that Africa Mini-grid Programme (AMP) of REA is a flagship initiative to support access to clean energy and enhance financial viability, promoting large-scale commercial investment in renewable energy in Africa.

Performing the commissioning, Governor Caleb Mutfwang declared that stable and clean electricity remains central to his administration’s strategy for improving agro-allied production,

stimulating local enterprises, and expanding the rural economy.

UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, commended the robust collaboration, noting that sustainable energy remains a key driver of economic resilience, climate-action goals, and local peace-building.

Also speaking, the Project Manager of the Africa Mini-Grid Programme, Bala Tyoden said that the community will make productive use of the facility.

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Executive Director, Orange Group, Lizzy Ezenna; the Couple, Mr. and Mrs. Nonso Chukwu Orji; Executive Chairman, KenBarth Pharmaceutical Limited, Mr. Micheal Orji; Director, KenBarth Pharmaceutical Limited, Mrs. Bernadine Orji;

Angola Honours Exemplify African Solidarity

In African diplomacy, narratives often focus on colonial powers, superpower rivalry or internal conflict. Nigeria’s role in Angola has been less visible in mainstream memory. by explicitly recognising the Head of State, General murtala muhammed and Nigeria’s contribution, Angola is helping to rewrite a fuller history, writes Adewale Olalekan

On November 11, 2025, Angola marked half a century since its emergence from colonial rule. The celebrations are not merely festive— they are deeply commemorative. They reflect on decades of struggle, liberation, conflict, and reconstruction. The significance of Angola’s independence resonates far beyond its borders: for the African continent, the Cold War context, and the changing landscape of post-colonial diplomacy.

It is in that broader context that Angola’s government, under President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, decided to bestow honours on select individuals who played decisive roles in its journey. Among them, the late Murtala Muhammed stands out as a symbol of Nigeria’s commitment to pan-Africanism and justice.

Nigeria’s role in the Angolan Liberation Saga

To appreciate the honour, one must revisit a bold chapter of Nigeria’s foreign policy under Murtala Muhammed’s leadership. In 1975, the liberation of Angola from Portuguese colonial rule was followed almost immediately by a bitter internal struggle over which liberation movement would govern: the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA). The Cold War and apartheid-South African forces loomed large.

In this fraught environment, Nigeria under Murtala Muhammed made two decisive moves:

•Recognition: Nigeria officially recognised the MPLA government, becoming among the first African states to do so.

•Support: Beyond recognition, Nigeria provided crucial diplomatic, moral and financial backing. Some sources note financial assistance in the tune of US$17 million (or even more in other archival estimates) to Angola’s budding government.

These acts were significant not simply for the numbers, but for the message: that African states could act in solidarity with each other, in defiance of external pressures and ideological division. In the context of the Cold War, that was no small feat.

Murtala Muhammed: Legacy and Moment

Murtala Muhammed’s tenure as Head of State of Nigeria was brief (July 1975 to February 1976), but his domestic and foreign policy initiatives left a powerful mark. Known for his decisiveness, his motto of “no-nonsense” governance and his insistence on accountability, he also championed Nigeria’s role as a moral voice in Africa.

In Angola’s commemoration, that legacy is being highlighted in a new light. The Angolan award — the Class of Honour Medal — is conferred “in recognition of the unwavering support and solidarity extended by General Murtala Muhammed and the Nigerian people towards the political emancipation of the Republic of Angola.”

It is also worth noting that his boldness included taking on foreign oil companies threatening Angola’s independence. At the ceremony, the President of the Angola–Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry,

Tangyalamba Veloso, recalled how Murtala challenged foreign firms: “He told them, if you pull out of Angola … you will also pull out from Nigeria and lose all your money.”

That anecdote captures the spirit: Africa helping Africa, not simply through passive statements, but through concrete action.

The Ceremony and Its Symbolism

On October 30, 2025, Abuja received official communication from the Angolan Ambassador, H.E. José Bamoquina Zau, notifying the family of General Murtala Muhammed of the forthcoming decoration during the independence celebrations.

At the event in Luanda, President Lourenço presented honours not only to Murtala Muhammed posthumously, but also to two other eminent Nigerians: former President Olusegun Obasanjo and distinguished diplomat Ibrahim Agboola Gambari. The trio’s recognition underscores Nigeria’s multi-dimensional contribution to Angola’s trajectory: liberation, peacebuilding and diplomacy.

For Angola, and for Africa, the occasion is rich in symbolism: three Nigerians honoured in the capital city of a nowsovereign nation — a reminder that the continent’s progress has been shaped by bold leadership, transnational solidarity and principled action.

why the recognition Matters

In African diplomacy, narratives often focus on colonial powers, superpower rivalry or internal conflict. Nigeria’s role in Angola has been less visible in mainstream memory. By explicitly recognising Murtala Muhammed and Nigeria’s contribution, Angola is helping to rewrite a fuller history: one of African states supporting one another. The publication by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms this partnership. The ties between Angola and

Nigeria are not historical footnotes— they matter now. Nigeria and Angola enjoy “cordial and mutually beneficial relations, strengthened through cooperation in trade, energy, security, and multilateral engagements.”

The award, offers a fresh platform for deeper bilateral engagement, anchored in shared history.

The recognition signals that pan-Africanism remains more than rhetoric. It invites reflection on how African nations can still act collectively to shape their destiny. Murtala Muhammed’s gesture of supporting Angola’s emancipation in the 1970s resonates with current calls for deeper African unity—economically, security-wise and diplomatically.

For Nigerians, the award serves as a reaffirmation of our country’s historical leadership role on the continent. It is a reminder that Nigeria, at critical junctures, did not shy away from the hard work of solidarity and diplomacy. In the domestic sphere, this legacy can inspire renewed confidence in Nigerian foreign policy’s potential.

Challenges and Questions Ahead

While the moment is celebratory, it also invites sober reflection.

•Recognition beyond the ceremony: Will this gesture translate into tangible outcomes—expanded trade, joint infrastructure, enhanced energy collaboration—or will it remain symbolic?

•Continued relevance of liberation legacies: With independence now decades past, how do such legacies shape current policy? Does recognition of past solidarity make a meaningful difference in today’s complex geopolitical and economic environment?

•Pan-Africanism in practice: The ideal of African states supporting one another remains compelling, but what institutional or policy frameworks today channel that support effectively? The award opens a window to these larger conversations.

reflecting on Murtala’s Lessons Murtala Muhammed’s short tenure did not afford him time to leave monumental domestic reforms—but the ones he did begin, and the stance he took internationally, are instructive. Four lessons stand out:

•Decisive leadership: In 1975, recognising the MPLA was not the easiest or the most expedient move— it involved risk. But it communicated the principle.

•Africa-first diplomacy: Nigeria’s support for Angola showed that African states could prioritise African liberation over Cold War alignment.

•Symbol and substance: The anecdote of confronting oil companies reveals a readiness to back principle with action—and that makes diplomacy credible.

•Legacy building: Even though he was assassinated in February 1976, Murtala’s legacy endures—not only in Nigeria but across Africa, as this new honour attests. (He was killed on 13 February 1976, just after initiating many of his reforms.)

what Means for Nigeria–Angola relations Moving Forward

The honour is more than a diplomatic courtesy—it is a foundation for future partnership. The joint commission between Nigeria and Angola has recently been active, and the renewed attention may inject new momentum into several areas:

•Energy collaboration: Both countries are oil & gas producers; understanding shared challenges could yield joint ventures.

•Trade and infrastructure: Enhanced trade flows, corridor development and investment linkages could be accelerated.

•Security cooperation: With regional threats evolving (in the Gulf of Guinea, for instance), Nigeria and Angola could deepen maritime security cooperation.

•People-to-people ties: Cultural, educational and civil society exchanges grounded in historic solidarity underscore shared roots and future promise.

A Moment, Not Just a Medal

In honouring Murtala Muhammed, Angola has done more than award a medal. It has invoked a chapter of African history in which solidarity, courage and principle mattered in shaping t he continent’s path. For Nigeria, it is a proud moment—yet also an invitation to remember that leadership is not only about rhetoric but about action. In the spirit of Murtala Muhammed, may Nigeria and Angola march forward together, rooted in the past, reaching for the future.

* Olalekan writes from Lagos

L-R: Son of the late Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed, Mr. Abba Risqua Murtala Muhammed; President of Angola, Mr. Joao Lourenco; and Daughter of the late Head of State, Dr. Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode; at an award ceremony in honour and recognition of the late General’s role in securing Angola’s Independence, as part of activities marking the country’s 50th Independence annivesary in Luanda...recently

Late General Muhammed

ENGAGEMENTS

Dividends of the Trump Threat

It is Soyinka in his dreadful play, “Madmen and Specialists”, who insisted that “Even poison has its uses… You can use it either to kill or to cure.” In a sense, US President, Donald Trump, has fed NigeriansabigdoseofHemlock.Itisnowuptousto dieorlivebyhispotion.Theproudandunvarnished Nigerian collective psyche may be used to abuse and shock from our succession of domestic tyrants. But direct threat of military invasion and humiliation from a powerful foreign leader is an unfamiliar dose of poison for Nigerians. Yet this unusual threat and castigation by the world’s current Number One apprentice autocrat may have its uses after all.

It has already revealed the state of the Nigerian state and society, revealing clear weaknesses in the structure and cohesiveness of our creaky federation. Between the government and the people, there are clear lines of multiplefissure.Trump,whohasscantregardforNigeria and its current leadership had alleged genocide against Christians in the country. He had proceeded, with little verifiableevidenceandscantyCongressionalauthorization (31 out of over 500) to pass judgment on Nigeria as a country in which it is suicidal to profess Christianity. He could hardly disguise the pressure from Evangelical conservativelobbyistsandtheirrichNigeriandiasporaand home-basedbillionairesbackers.Thisisnothing surprising from theTrump factory of serial falsehoods. After all, he hadearlierseenanti-whiteracistgenocideinSouthAfrica for which he excoriated the South African president in a WhiteHouseshowofshame.Hehassincewelcomedany number of white supremacist South Africans into the United States as ‘special refugees’. Let us wait and see how many planeloads of his Nigerian Christian brethren hewillwelcomeasspecialrefugeesintotheUnitedStates in the months ahead.

This is not to dismiss the now familiar practice of targeting churches and Christian communities by terrorists and anarchists in some parts of the country. We need to quickly admit that in some parts of the country, it is hazardous to be a follower of certain faiths, either Christianity or Islam. You risk life and limbs by being so identified.Butthedangerisfromfundamentalistrascals and sectarian criminals than the result of an officially sanction genocidal agenda.

ThepublicresponsetotheTrumpthreatinNigeriahas been instant and multi -faceted. Nigerians, long immune from any form of external military or other threats since after independence in 1960, have only known internal domestic stress. In a sense, then, the Trump bluster against Nigeria has perhaps been more of a necessary stress test for the Nigerian state and Nigerians. The stress has shown us a mirror image of the state of the nation. For Nigeria under President BolaTinubu and his near totalitarian party- the APC, the Trump threat has beenmorelikeastinginthebacksideofadrunkenchimp. Several incoherent statements have since emerged ostensibly from Aso Rock. Government has denied any systematictargetingofanysectintheseriesofindustrial scale killings that now form Nigerian’s new normal. The Minister of Information has flatly denied the genocide claim while admitting that general insecurity has led to manykillingsinpartsofNigeria.Commendably,Mr.Tinubu has managed to place his squad of attack hounds and unguardedmegaphonesonaleash.Theusualloudmouths have gone into hiding! Yet there is as yet no systematic diplomatic response to Trump.

Nonetheless, defence and security forces seem to have been roused into a rude awakening. The army is conducting more attacks of terrorists havens. The Air Force is conducting more bombing raids on suspected terrorist and jihadist enclaves. Government has also expressed interest in working with the United States to curtail jihadist activities and general insecurity.

But the dividends of the threat are not limited to the government of the day. Among the vast majority of ordinary Nigerians, however, so much has emerged thatspeaksvolumesaboutthewaywenoware.Aminority of Nigerians especially among the urban elite who understand a bit of what Nigeria as a nation means, a certain patriotic note is loud and clear. They admit that wemaynotbeinaperfectstatebutthatNigeriaremains the only nation in the context of which the sovereign citizenship of Nigerians makes sense. To that extent, Trump has no right to threaten us without expecting stiff resistance from Nigerians irrespective of creed, ethnicity or political affiliation.

Predictably, among the Moslem youth, the Trump threat is more of an open invitation to resist America and become martyrs in the process. A minority of youth welcometheprospectofanAmericanmilitarypresence even in the form of military bases.

YetmanypoliticalvoiceshaverisenwhoseetheNigerian federation as a long standing burden that has blocked the full realization of the full potentials of Nigerians and the communities that make it up.This minority has welcomed the Trump threat as a one way to unbundle the Nigerian leviathan and free the component units from the burden of an unworkable federation. These

are people who have chosen to see Trump as something of a messianic figure. Adherents of this view are either separatists or advocates of regionalism. They would want the country to return to the pre-civil regionalism.

Totheoutrightunrepentantseparatists,there hasbeenopendancinginthestreets.Evenamong theelite,thethreathasbeengreetedasashort cut to the separation of the component units

of a nation that has refused to work for the good of its citizens. Some see the Trump threat as a pathway to the realization of the many waiting ‘republics’ -Biafra, Oduduwa,Arewa,NigerDeltaetc. thatseparatistshave long been angling for.

For the political elite, there is a North-South silent divide.The northern political elite has gone somewhat quietafterthenewsthattheUSiscontemplatingmassive financialsanctionsonpoliticians’assetshiddeninDubai,

Saudi Arabia and London. This category of politicians have gone underground and largely silent. For the political opposition, theTrump threat is just another clear statement of disapproval of the policies and credibility of the government of the day. indictment against the governmentoftheday.Thereisinjusticeinthelandhence thegovernmenthasturnedablindeyetothekillingsalong the line. Killers and criminals from certain parts of the country go largely unpunished for religious and cultural reasons. Other political interests insist thatTrump has seentheimbalanceinNigeria’sgeopoliticalconfiguration and structure of citizenship benefits.

Perhaps the most obvious adverse dividend of the Trump threat has been to underline the absence of an elite consensus among Nigeria’s national elite. Hardly anyvoicesofunanimityhaverisentoarticulateNigeria’s collective national interest in the face of an imminent external diplomatic and even military aggression. At best, our national elite has been split among ethnic, regional, religious and material interest lines. No one, except perhaps some legacy media outlets have articulated the Nigerian national interest against an external adversary.WhatdoesNigeriameantoitscitizens?What does Nigeria mean for our children?What does Nigeria mean for Africa’s economic future and identity? Silence onallfrontsincludingthosewholiveofftheNigerianstate! Yet, theTrump threat offers Nigeria many diplomatic advantages.WeneedtstrengthenourAfrica-centredness. We need to become a stronger voice in BRICS.We need tofreeoureconomyprogressivelyfromitslongstanding dependence on the BrettonWoods institutions and the clutchofWallStreetbanks.Aboveall,weneedtoconvert our ties with China into a better structured relationship. In all this, there is an urgent call for Nigeria to become more mature in its diplomatic and political links with the rest of the world. But the necessary precondition to this is internal cohesiveness based on reinforced secularity and impeccable internal security.

…For Segun Adeniyi, It’s 60 O’Clock

At that age, people expect the young to cede their seats to you in the bus or train. Seniors enjoy a great deal of privileges conferred by the blackmail of age. The grey old Pa or Ma that walks into a waiting lounge or crowded coach expects their grey hairs or walking stick to automatically convey their entitlement to the seats reserved for “Seniors”. From age 60, people begin to look forward to this entitlement of age. So, when you get to that magic age of 60, you are automatically enrolled into the privileged class of Seniors. But these days, that age no longer comes with the deficits of tired physical looks and other reminders that time has passed. We now have people who look more like ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ claiming to be 60!

Modernity has literally shifted forward the attainment of Senior status. If I had not written a tribute to Segun ten years ago when he turned 50, I would have argued to no end that he is now 60. The last time I was in Abuja and Segun insisted on picking me and my wife up himself from the airport, I was struck by his boyish appearance and smart outfit. Of course he insists on driving himself In and around Abuja even after having enjoyed a chauffeur-driven existence as late President Yar’Adua’s Information and Media Adviser. Such is his habitual simplicity and lack of the pomposity.

Beyond the admission into the universal class of Seniors, age 60 can be quite significant. Modern medicine and the age of touch screen virtual reality may reassure us differently. But the reality is that you have to begin to take stock at 60. Some mistakes can no longer be corrected. There is not enough time to begin again. Some adventures and risks become increasingly senseless. Some dance steps become more appropriate for your children. The choices we made in our 30s and 40s become trademarks, millstones that we wear around our necks for ever after.

Physiologically, certain components of the original design, especially ‘moving parts’ may no longer work as intended. The 60- year old Nigerian hangs on a balance of historical disadvantage. They are too young to qualify as the ‘independent generation’, They were also too young to have directly experienced the civil war. But they are bearing the burden of these historical misfortunes and exigencies.

In Segun’s case, he has related to me more like a younger brother than just a friend. He has felt my pains, understood my trying moments

and frequently gone above and beyond to identify with me. Above all, I have followed his journalism and public affairs career almost religiously. I have also worked closely with him in other collectives informed by overwhelming national interest. I have always been struck by his very nationalistic outlook and robust humanism.

In terms of his journalism trajectory, what has not stopped to amaze me is the ease and foresight with which he embraced new journalism. This is a tradition best exemplified by the careers of major American journalists like Bob Woodward and Carl Benstein who have covered and written books on centers of power in Washington especially the While House and the Capitol. In this tradition, the reporter immerses himself in his subject and chronicles the object of his news interest for the benefit of a larger audience. The main thrust of this journalism is the reporter as historian.

In Segun’s case, he has displayed an unusual acute sense of history in identifying major historical moments at which the interests of Nigerians have transcended geo-politics and ethnicity. His books, “Abiola’s Travails” and “Politricks: National Assembly Under Military Rule” come readily to mind. Invariably, the reporter’s partisanship is never at issue because he has none. Of course the reporter as a citizen is entitled to a certain partisanship in the real world of the politics of his nation but his sense of history is never tainted by that partisanship. But the professional code of journalism insists on a certain objectivity of presentation, there is a larger citizen obligation that dictates that journalists also imply their larger and higher partisanship. True to this tradition, Segun chronicled the last days of the Abacha years – “The Last 100 Days of Abacha”. In the process, he indicates both why both the Abacha reign of terror and its tragic consequences were inevitable. He does so by capturing, from a reporters eye, the great moments of that brief period in our national history. There is an underlying insistence in this narrative that Nigeria deserved a higher level of leadership than Mr. Abacha provided. When he opted to serve as spokesperson for the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, not a few of his readers and admirers expressed concern. To the more incisive ones, his decision to serve in government

almost invariably meant that he would be lost to journalism. Looking back now at his stewardship, it would seem that Segun saw his role as that of a providing a more credible link between the citadel of power and his primary constituency: the media.

Self- effacing and almost shy and occasionally reclusive, Segun never allowed his elevation to a strategic government role to rob him of his modesty and courtesy. Nor did he experience a crisis of mission; he knew where he was coming from and was sure of where he would return.

As with all public officers, he may not have pleased all his friends and colleagues because he had a job to do.

After months of shielding the equally shy Yar’Adua from direct media exposure, Segun realized his moment when he finally allowed the ailing president to grant a very memorable and exhaustive interview to The Guardian. Mr. Yar’Adua was finally able to take off the veil and reveal his firm grasp of core national issues and what he intended to do about them. Nigerians were perhaps able to perceive for the first time, the intellectual depth of the man who previously said little as he struggled to navigate the limitations of terminal ill health and altruistic national commitment.

Secondly, in a tradition where Presidential spokespersons had previously been condemned to silence after office on account of an unstated code of official secrecy, Segun broke the myth and walked away largely with his personal integrity in tact. The controversy around the Yar’Adua book was never about Segun’s personal honesty of intention but rather desperate attempts by the power players he fingered to becloud their own complicity in the uncanny outcomes that the book bears witness to. To crown it all, after Aso Rock, Segun spent a brief refresher stint at Harvard and walked straight back into the THISDAY newsroom from where he went to Aso Rock, thus renewing his covenant with both journalism and his readers. Since after his brief encounter with power under Yar’Adua, Segun has written books that have kept abreast of major currents in national life. He has written about the political Tsunami that toppled President Jonathan and enthroned Buhari as President : “ Against the Run of Play”. He has also written a very incisive book on sexual harassment in Nigerian Universities: “ Naked Abuse: Sex for Grades in Nigerian Universities. As his encounter with the Nigerian reality continues and expands, the public still expects more intellectual harvest from the fertile mind of this unique man of letters.

• Trump

email:duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Nigeria, DR Congo in Winner-takes-all

Final Clash for Intercontinental Ticket

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Ninety minutes now separate Nigeria from joining

2026 wOrLD CUp pLAYOFF

already qualiﬁed Bolivia and New Caledonia, with Iraq, Jamaica and Panama also well-placed to make it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Six-nation Playoﬀs in Mexico March next year.

Nigeria’s Wahid enitan oshodi has been reelected as Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) during the continuation of the Annual General meeting (AGm) held online on Saturday.

Additionally, olabanji oladapo, the former Secretary General of the Nigeria olympic Committee (NoC), has been conﬁrmed as a member of the ITTF Council following the ratiﬁcation of the Council members.

Oshodi, who also serves as President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ITTF Africa), secured his re-election in the ﬁrst round of voting contested by 15 candidates worldwide.

He emerged among the top seven, alongside representatives from the United States, China, Turkey, Australia, ecuador, romania, and Jordan. of the three African candidates; oshodi, egypt’s Alaa meshref, and South Africa’s Hajera Kajee, oshodi was the only one elected to the eightmember vice President team. oshodi and China’s Liu Guoliang are the only returning members from the outgoing executive board, while six newly elected of-

Democratic republic of Congo who stopped

President

ﬁcials will join the board for the ﬁrst time. Oshodi will serve another four-year term (2025–2029) alongside ITTF President Petra Sörling, continuing to champion Africa’s representation at the global level.

A seasoned sports administrator, legal practitioner, and civil engineer, Oshodi has held several leadership roles in Nigerian and African sports. He served as Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Social Development from 2011, organising the 2012 National Sports Festival and overseeing infrastructure development.

As President of the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation from 2013, he promoted youth development and international competitiveness, hosting ITTF Challenger tournaments. oshodi’s rise in continental leadership began in 2016 when he was elected vice President of ITTF Africa (Western region). He became Deputy President of theAfrican Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) in 2021 and was elected President in 2024, with a focus on expanding access and participation in table tennis across Africa.

With his re-election, oshodi will continue to play a pivotal role in advancing the sport globally while strengthening Africa’s presence within the ITTF.

Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions last Thursday in the semiﬁnal of the African Playoﬀs in Rabat, Morocco, are the stumbling block that the Super eagles must surmount today to reach the Intercontinental mini-tournament where two tickets are at stake for the picking to World Cup to be jointly hosted by USA, Mexico and Canada next summer.

on head-to-head, the Super eagles and the Congolese Leopards are no match. While eagles have attended the World Cup six times, the Leopards have only the scandalous 1974 appearance to their history. Eagles have reached the round of 16 on two occasions while the Leopards lost all three matches, including a better-forgotten 9-0 crushing defeat by then Yugoslavia in Gelsenkirchen – where they were also beaten 3-0

by brazil. They also lost 0-2 to Scotland in Dortmund. Since then, they have been dreaming of a return to the mundial. Today’s final playoff in Morocco, presents the best route for the Congolese to dream of picking the African ticket to Mexico. It however remains to be seen how Super eagles who got this second chance after failing in the Group C qualifiers, will allow that.

eric Sekou Chelle’s record with Nigeria is four wins and a draw, with 14 goals pumped into the opponents’ net and four conceded, and most Nigerians agreed that were he the one who managed the qualifying campaign from the beginning, the Eagles would have nicked an automatic ticket and have no need to come to the playoﬀs. Chelle is not expected to change his winning starting XI. Although Wilfred Ndidi, the only player that

would have been missing from the line up, has been cleared by CAF to play in today’s final. Ndidi who picked up a yellow card in the clash with Gabon last Thursday was initially thought to miss the match because he had a caution from the qualifiers. However, CAF clarified yesterday that cards collected in the qualifiers are not carried over to the Playoffs. Only suspension are not cancelled.

With the return of Semi Ajaiyi from suspension, Chelle is very much likely to stick with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali in goal with benjamin Fredericks, Ajaiyi, Calvin Bassey and Zaidu Sanusi in his back four. Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi and Frank onyeka is the preferred choice in midﬁeld.

2023 Africa Player of the Year osimhen is likely to have Samuel Chukwueze and moses Simon or Akor Adams as partners up

front. Ademola Lookman, Chidera ejuke and Tolu Arokodare are options available for Chelle upfront.

The rampant osimhen, with 31 goals in 45 matches for the Nigeria senior team, has netted 160 goals and 36 assists in 275 club career matches, and is presently one of the most feared forwards in world football. osimhen holds the key to Eagles ﬂying over the Leopards tonight in morocco.

However, Chelle and his army must beware of the Congolese predator named Chancel mbemba (also captain of the team), as well as Cipenga, Noah Sadiki and Silas Katompa. The Coach Sébastien Desabre’s Leopards boast a close-knit rearguard, and there are also Cédric bakambu, meshack elia, Samuel essende, and the dangerous Pyramids FC of egypt forward Fiston mayele.

...Ekong Says Eagles Will Be Up to Leopards’ Challenge

Nigeria’s Captain, William Troostekong, has admitted that the Leopards of Democratic republic of Congo will be a mountain to climb in tonight’s Final of the FIFAWorld Cup Africa Playoff Tournament, but assured that the Super Eagles have the ammunition to prevail. both countries, who share five African titles between them, clash in a high-stakes game that will produceAfrica’s representative at the Intercontinental Playoffs for two more slots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals. That tournament

will take place in mexico in four months.

“There is no doubt that the Congolese will be a big challenge. They got here because they are tough and ambitious, and also want to go to the World Cup.

“However, we have a large group of players here, 24 of them, out of which only about four of us have been to the World Cup (in 2018). There is that adrenalin ﬂowing in their system to go to the World Cup and I see it as a big motivation for us to conquer on Sunday (today).”

ekong, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi and Chidozie Awaziem

are the only members of the present squad who were part of the squad to russia 2018.

Coach Éric Chelle’s ensemble must beware of a number of predators in the Congo squad, including Spain-based Cédric bakambu, France-based Nathaniel Mbuku, former Russia U21 star Theo bongonda and Pyramid of egypt’s Fiston mayele.

english Premiership’s Noah Sadiki and Spain-based Charles Pickel are to hold in midﬁeld, while the attackminded Aaron Wan-bissaka leads a compact defence that also includes captain Chancel

mbemba, who is looking forward to his 101st cap.

Chelle has all his 24 players available for selection, including Iwobi who will be winning his 91st cap and Simon moses who will collect his 87th, and ekong said on Saturday afternoon that the entire group is focused on emerging victorious on Sunday evening.

“We would have preferred to have taken the automatic ticket but it didn’t work out. Now, we are here and we have a second chance and we do not intend to bungle it.” Sunday’s match will kick oﬀ at 8pm.

Oshodi Re-elected ITTF ExecutiveVice

Super Eagles players in last minutes game-plan review ahead clash with DR Congo in Rabat, Morocco tonight

When I saw the video of Chief Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), engaging a soldier in a shouting match, my mind raced back to an experience I had some time in 2010. Fuel tankers used to block the road in front of THISDAY offices at Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos state, making it virtually impossible for us to drive out after the close of work. After negotiations, the tanker drivers agreed to leave a little space between the lanes so that we could drive against traffic for up to 100 meters before turning onto Warehouse Road. This option was more realistic than creating a space for up to 700 meters if we were to avoid driving against one way. This brought us the needed relief.

On this occasion, some of us left the office around 10pm and took the agreed route — only to be stopped by soldiers attached to OP Mesa, a joint military task force. I was the editor of THISDAY then. I approached the officer leading the team to explain the situation. He was hostile. He ordered us to turn back. The more I pleaded, the angrier he got. He then decided to detain us. As more of my colleagues — using the same route — arrived at the spot, the band of detainees, or should I say hostages, expanded. We decided to call his commander. When he saw me making a call, he smiled, shook his head, and warned: “The person you are calling had better be senior to me, otherwise…” I got through to the commander and he asked me to give the phone to the officer, who refused to take the call. The commander kept assuring me he would sort it out and advised me not to argue with the officer. He didn’t need to advise me, though — the Great Zik said only a fool will argue with a man holding a gun. Shortly after, the commander got through to the officer via the official channel. The mien of the officer changed. He, maybe, felt humiliated. He said my colleagues could go, apparently trying to keep me for longer. Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, then Sunday editor of THISDAY, sensed the game and calmly told him: “Please, officer, this is our boss. We cannot leave him behind.”

Take-away: unless you are drunk, please do not fight with a soldier. I was born under military rule, schooled under military rule and started life under military rule. I saw things that are not lawful for a man to utter. Please, do not mess with soldiers, no matter how close you are to the president. Military training is different. There is a reason the police are called a “civilian force” while the military are “the armed forces”. Police are trained to maintain law and order among fellow citizens (hence their titles are Mr, Alhaji, Dr, etc). Soldiers deal with “enemies”. Do you see them with handcuffs? They don’t take prisoners. That is why soldiers are only deployed to enforce order as a last resort.

Before making my comments and observations on the avoidable altercation between Wike and Lt AM Yerima, I must necessarily commend the naval officer for his cultured conduct. As Wike rained insults on him, he stood his ground and replied with decorum. “You are stupid!” “I am not stupid, sir!” “You are a fool!” “I am not a fool, sir!” That was quite decent. I want to assume that it is because Yerima is a naval officer. If it was an army officer, I cannot guarantee something unfortunate would not have happened. And all we would do thereafter is to be observing “one-minute

Wike silence” up and down. In the least, Wike would have staggered away from the scene with marks across both cheeks.

I would like to say this. Why argue publicly with a junior officer when you can talk to his superior? In the military, order flows from the top. It is a regimented service. No soldier is going to leave his duty post because some politician said he should. He did not post himself there. He was not posted there by the FCT minister. He was posted there by his superiors. The minister cannot issue a counter instruction to him. If a soldier is under instruction not to allow anyone into a location, there will be unpalatable consequences for him should he fail to comply with the order. That is how the military operates globally: soldiers do not take instructions from anyone outside the hierarchy of command.

May I say as well that it was wrong of Wike to call a soldier in uniform a “fool”. That is a red line no one should ever cross. That is technically an assault on Nigeria as a country, not just an individual. If you don’t respect the man, please respect the uniform. Nonetheless, I also have serious issues with the deployment of soldiers to guard a private property. I consider this to be an abuse of privilege but we often overlook the anomaly because Nigeria is a country where anything goes. It is not just a private property, it is owned by a retired military officer. In a country battling insurgency, terrorism, pipeline vandalism and other security challenges, we surely could make better use of our soldiers.

Now that we have dealt with the preliminary issues, let us consider the substantive matter. I will attempt a summary. According to Wike, the land was allocated to a company to build a public park. The company tried to convert it to residential but approval was not given. Yet, it sold a portion of the land to a former chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Sambo, who started construction. Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) served a stop work order but this was ignored and construction continued, with soldiers deployed to site. Sambo is yet to tell us his own side of the story, but his lawyer is quoted as saying all the necessary papers are in place. The FCTA denies this.

Some of the issues for consideration here are: (1) should

anybody — civilian or military — ignore a government order to stop work on a construction site? (2) does the FCT minister (or, in the case of a state, the governor) have the right to visit or inspect a construction site believed to be violating the law, even if it is owned by a military officer? (3) if yes, what crime did Wike commit then by visiting the site? (4) if no, does that mean planning approvals can be breached as long as it is by a military officer? (5) assuming Wike was right to visit the site following the reported assault of FCTA officials, was his manner of approach appropriate and worthy of a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? My answer to the first question is that nobody has a right to ignore government order. The land in question is not even owned by the military — it is the personal property of a former chief of naval staff. But even if it is military land, it is still subject to government rules and regulations. We should never create or nurture the notion that the military is above the law. If anything, military is governed by discipline, and what is discipline if you ignore lawful orders? While I have argued that there is a communication channel that should be explored to deal with matters relating to the military because of its peculiarities, I do not suggest that the military is above the law. Nigerian laws apply to all.

The FCT minister is the chief landlord of Abuja, just as the governor is the chief landlord of a state. That is what the Land Use Act stipulates. They have the right to allocate and revoke lands. They have the final say on approvals. Nobody has ever challenged the powers of an FCT minister or a governor to allocate and revoke lands, or to stop illegal constructions. We read of demolitions of illegal structures every day. As per my second, third and fourth questions, therefore, my answer is that the minister has the right to visit a construction site. This right does not discriminate between civilians and military officers. Everybody needs a building approval, whether you are a cleaner or a general.

But that is the simplest part of the issue. The more complicated part is that there are widespread reports that Wike has been revoking land titles and re-allocating same less than transparently. You cannot revoke land in public interest and re-allocate it in private interest. The media had been awash with reports of unwholesome revocations and re-allocations. I understand that Wike also revoked the land of a former president. My sense is that Gambo had vowed that Wike could take other people’s land for fun — but not his own. Gambo may want to argue that what he has simply done is to deploy “ethical” resistance to a lawful order. Nevertheless, he must obey the rules of construction.

Finally, while I insist that military officers are not above the law and that Wike has the legal right to inspect the construction site, I must quickly add this biblical wisdom: all things are lawful but not all things are expedient. Wike created an unnecessary spectacle. The public show was avoidable. There are more civilised ways of handling the matter. I would, however, conclude my comments and observations by imploring Sambo to obey the laws of the land. If he has valid approvals, he should present them to the authorities for verification. This is a pure civil and personal matter. It has nothing to do with the military. Above all, it will also be good for the military guys to call themselves order.

And Four Other Things…

STORM SOLUDO

Prof Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has been re-elected governor of Anambra state in a resounding style. He polled 422,664 votes while Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the runner-up, could only garner 99,445 votes. With no IReV or BVAS to blame — or Prof Mahmood Yakubu to bash — this time around, Soludo’s opponents decided to accuse voters of selling their conscience for a bar of gala and a can of malt. While we should continue to educate the people on vote trading, it is quite simplistic to attribute Soludo’s re-election to just one factor. In any case, Soludo must now face the task of leaving a legacy by 2030. Congrats!

REPAIRING PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday held its national convention in Ibadan, Oyo state, after a series of ridiculous and troubling court injunctions and counter injunctions. My standard position has always been that if there is a subsisting court order, it must first be obeyed and then appealed against. However, I fully endorse the decision of the party to ignore the noises from the courts. Why? The Supreme Court has ruled that judges should stop adjudicating on the internal affairs of the political parties. How many times do we need to litigate and re-litigate what the apex court has made a definitive pronouncement over? Why can’t we allow this democracy to work for once? Frustrating.

FLY, EAGLES, FLY

I’m not ashamed to admit that I am one of the few Nigerians hoping against hope that the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2026 World Cup holding in the US, Canada and Mexico. We had no business scraping the bottom of the pot in a year that Africa got nine automatic spots, but it is what it is. It took us 120 minutes to get rid of Gabon in the first African play-off match on Thursday. We face Congo today to determine who will fly the African flag in yet another qualifying play-off in March. The truth is that we were not at our best during the qualifying series as a result of administrative failures — and injury to Victor Osimhen, our talisman. Wishing us all the best today. Goaaaaaal!

NO COMMENT

What’s going on here? The Nigerian Air Force Secondary School, Ikeja, Lagos state, has informed parents and guardians that their wards will take papers in new subjects in the 2026 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The only problem is that nobody has taught students the new subjects yet! That is what happens in this “immediate effect” society that we live in. Government introduces new subjects, no teachers, no textbooks, no syllabus — and declares that implementation will take “immediate effect”. This is astonishing. As Nigerians say on social media, if they explain Nigeria to you and you understand, then they didn’t explain it well. Hahahaha…