SUNDAY 18TH MAY 2025

Foreign, Domestic Investors Drive Nigerian Stock Market Transactions to Record

Kayode Tokede

Shrugs

Will Contest on Labour Party’s Platform

L-R: Groom's parents, Dr. Ernest and Mrs Adaobi Nwapa; Newlyweds, Chuck and Nonye Nwapa; Bride's parents, Mrs. Michelle Ukoh, and her husband, Mr. Chukwu Francis Ukoh; and presidential candidate of Labour Party in 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, during the traditional wedding reception of Chuck and Nonye, at the

Tinubu Appoints Anyim, Nnamani, Shema,

Aremu, Shaibu, 17 Others into Federal Parastatals

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of 22 individuals as chief executives, chairmen of various federal agencies and commissions, marking another significant step in the administration’s commitment to revitalising public institutions and deepening governance reforms.

The appointments were made yesterday evening via a list posted by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, via his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956.

The appointees include former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim; former Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema; former Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu; and former Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Isa Aremu.

Nnamani from Enugu State was named Chairman of the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS); former Governor Shema named Chairman of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), while former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim from Ebonyi State was appointed Chairman of the National Merit Awards.

Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu was appointed

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Despite his relationship with the promoters of a coalition of opposition political parties who are seeking to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general election, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has told his supporters that he would contest the next presidential election on the party’s platform.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Obi; former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and others had on March 20 in Abuja announced the formation of a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.

However, with Atiku’s Peoples

Adewale Adeniyi, has disclosed that the agency recorded an unprecedented revenue of N1.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, representing over 100 per cent increase from the N600 billion it collected during the same period in 2023.

Adeniyi attributed this remarkable growth to the transformative reforms under President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, as revealed in an upcoming State House documentary, marking the president's second anniversary.

According to a statement issued yesterday by presidential spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Comptroller-General emphasised that the revenue surge emanated from improved technological deployment, enhanced port operations, tightened enforcement on revenue leakages, and

N334.01 billion in the first four months of 2025.

The proportion of participation by FPIs increased from 13.77 per cent in the first four months of 2024 to 32.32 per cent in the first four months of 2025, the highest so far.

The CBN recently implemented significant reforms in the foreign exchange market aimed at enhancing transparency, compliance, and market stability.

These reforms are part of the CBN’s broader strategy to create a fairer, more stable FX market and

Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Sports, reinforcing the administration’s focus on youth development and sports promotion.

A renowned labour activist and former Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) from Kwara State, Isa Aremu, was appointed Director-General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies.

At the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), President Tinubu approved the appointment of Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani from Zamfara State as Managing Director.

He is to work alongside Abubakar Umar Jarengol from Adamawa State, who was named Executive Director (Operation/Technical), and Babaranti Ayandayo Rasheed from Osun State as Executive Director (Finance and Administration).

In the area of women and social development, Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir from Borno State was appointed Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development, while Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe from Ondo State was named Director-General of the National Senior Citizens Centre, Abuja.

The President also appointed Dr. Segun Aina from Osun State as Director-General of the Academic Staff College of Nigeria, a key institution for academic development and retraining in the tertiary education sector.

Democratic Party (PDP) and Obi’s LP mired in internal political crises, the prospects of unity in the opposition have remained uncertain.

Speaking to a group of young supporters in a seven-minute, 16-second video, which was circulated yesterday on the LP’s WhatsApp platform, Obi accused the APC-led government of being behind the crises in the two main opposition parties – PDP and the LP.

The former Anambra State governor narrated how the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu, had forced the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to resolve its internal crisis.

When contacted by THISDAY, Obi’s

a renewed culture of accountability across Customs commands.

"We collected N1.3 trillion in Q1 2025 alone. This is not due to higher import volumes. Imports have dropped due to foreign exchange constraints. What has changed is efficiency, transparency, and enforcement," Adeniyi was quoted as saying.

Adeniyi disclosed that the NCS was preparing to launch the $3.2 billion E-Customs Modernisation Project, which will digitise cargo processing, surveillance, and payment systems across Nigeria's ports and borders.

"We're laying the foundation to move from a manual, paper-based system to a fully digital service. The E-Customs Project is central to our future. Once fully deployed, we

support economic growth through better monetary policies. In tandem with these reforms, the CBN so far in 2025 has maintained the status quo on the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), to curb inflation and stabilise the naira, a move supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Analysts stated that the Nigerian stock market shows less volatility signs amid a new era of unpredictability, marked by tariff threats and rising global tensions, that may prompt emerging market investors to look

At the National Population Commission, Senator Jalo Zarami, from Yobe State and Dr. Joseph Haruna Kigbu from Nasarawa State were appointed Federal Commissioners, as part of efforts to strengthen national data systems and population planning.

From Kano State, Hamza Ibrahim Baba was appointed National Program Manager of the Government Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Program (GEEP), a federal initiative

supporting small businesses and informal sector enterprises.

Abubakar Adamu from Benue State was named Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, while Mohammed Lawal Ibrahim of Kogi State and Abdullahi Mohammed of Katsina State were appointed Executive Directors (Finance/Admin) and (Monitoring and Implementation), respectively, at the Nigeria–Sao Tome Joint Development Authority.

Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura from Zamfara State was named Director-General of the Centre for Citizenship and Leadership Training, an agency tasked with promoting leadership values and civic education.

Senator Kabir Abdullahi Barkiya from Katsina was appointed Chairman of the Nigerian Agricultural Land Development Authority, while Dr. Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu from Kaduna State was appointed Executive Secretary of

the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education.

Also on the list is Professor Almustapha Alhaji Aliyu from Sokoto State, who was appointed Managing Director of NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML), a critical subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). The new appointees are all expected to bring strategic oversight and political depth to their new roles.

Unfazed by FG’s Criminal Charges, Natasha Vows to Respond to Defamation Suit with Evidence

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The suspended Senator representing Kogi Central at the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has expressed her readiness to counter the federal government’s criminal suit against her with what she described as “factual and statutory defences.”

This comes after her legal team, led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Ehiogie WestIdahosa, confirmed at the weekend that it had formally received the summons filed at the Federal Capital Territory

spokesman, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, and the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, confirmed the authenticity of the video.

Obi explained to his audience that what appears to be an internal crisis in the two dominant opposition political parties has the government’s imprint written all over them.

In response to a question on which platform he intended to contest the 2027 election, Obi said: “I will continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party.”

While answering another question from a youth who was disturbed about what appears to be Obi’s aloofness towards the LP’s crisis, the former Anambra State Governor said: “What is happening in the Labour Party and

project it will add $250 billion in cumulative revenue over 20 years," Adeniyi said.

Adeniyi added that the newly launched Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme is now onboarding pre-vetted importers, allowing compliant businesses faster processing and reducing port congestion.

"It's about trust and efficiency. If you're compliant, you get green-lane treatment. This is how modern customs systems work globally," he said.

The Customs CG confirmed that the agency has intensified its anti-smuggling operations and closed long-standing revenue leakages.

He said over N64 billion was recovered from previously underassessed or undervalued imports in

for shelter in frontier markets that are relatively safe from US President Donald Trump's trade policy shifts.

On the flip side, domestic investors have also shown sustained strong appetite for quoted stocks with a transaction of N1.84 trillion in the first four months of 2025 as against N1.56 trillion in the first four months of 2024, representing an increase of 17.7 per cent.

The proportion of domestic investors’ transactions however dropped from 86.23 per cent of total market turnover in the first

High Court.

The charges leveled against her are rooted in alleged defamatory statements against the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The suit, marked CR/297/25, was instituted by the federal government on May 16, 2025, over comments made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, aired on April 3. The charges are predicated on Section 391 of the Penal Code, which deals with defamation and imputations intended to

the PDP is caused by the government. Quote me anywhere.

“We had a problem in our party (APGA) in the past. Yar’Adua was the president. I went to him then; he called the INEC Chairman (Prof. Maurice Iwu) and told him ‘I don’t want any problem in any party.’ We were forced to fix it.

“But today, in all the parties, there are problems. These are deliberate problems caused by the system. These are some of the things I want to clean up if I have the opportunity.

“Parties will function very well because you can’t have a system working without a strong opposition,” he explained.

Obi charged Nigerians to take responsibility for ensuring that their

the last nine months, while major smuggling rings at the Seme, Idiroko, Katsina, and Sokoto borders were dismantled.

According to him, the new joint border patrol task forces established in coordination with the Nigerian Army, DSS, and police have also yielded positive results.

"We're no longer just chasing smugglers in the bush. We're using data, surveillance drones, and port intelligence to act in real time. Once systemic leakages are now being plugged," Adeniyi said.

To ease trade and reduce business costs, the Comptroller-General disclosed that NCS is fast-tracking the roll-out of the National Single Window.

This digital portal, he said, will integrate all government agencies

four months of 2024 to 67.68 per cent in the first four months of 2025, attributable to foreign investors closing the gap.

The report indicated upbeat across the buy and sell sides of foreign transactions.

Foreign inflows jumped to N420.3 billion in the first four months of 2025, about a 209 per cent increase over the figures in the first four months of 2024.

Outflows, on the other hand, increased by 130.64 per cent from N119.81 billion in the first four months

harm reputation.

The government accused the senator of “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person.”

Key witnesses listed by the prosecution include Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, alongside Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, Maya Iliya, and Abdulhafiz Garba—both identified as investigating police officers.

In a statement issued Friday night, Dr. West-Idahosa disclosed

votes count, adding that even if agents are paid by political parties to look after their interests, the ultimate decision about the people’s votes counting rests with voters.

He appealed to Nigerian youths and the electorate not to be discouraged because positive change would also be resisted by those who are beneficiaries of the old order.

Obi equally noted that left to him, there should be a retirement age for politicians seeking public office.

He explained further that by the time the 2027 election holds, he would be 65 years old, adding that he would not want to be contesting for elections in his 70s.

The Obidient Movement had last week dismissed speculation that Obi

involved in cargo clearance.

"Right now, you deal with up to 15 agencies manually. With the Single Window, you'll do it all online, in one place. This will slash clearance time and costs," the CG explained, adding that clearance timelines at Apapa and Tin Can Ports have already dropped from 21 days to 7–10 days for compliant importers,” he added.

Adeniyi said the agency had introduced fast-track lanes for agroexports and was working with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to streamline outbound cargo processes in line with the government's push for non-oil exports.

"We're promoting exports aggressively. Last year, Nigeria exported over N340 billion worth of

of 2024 to N457 billion in the first four months of 2025

Capital market analysts attributed the upbeat at the stock market to the increasing attractiveness of the Nigerian market to foreign investors, ongoing economic reforms, resilient earnings by Nigerian companies, exchange rate differential, ongoing banking recapitalisation, and the reform in the oil sector.

FPI transactions at the NGX had more than doubled from N410.62 billion in 2023 to N852.03 billion in 2024. The increase in foreign

that the legal team had taken delivery of the court filings on behalf of the senator.

The legal firm stated: “We received the court notice this (Friday) afternoon on behalf of our client, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The charges leveled against her are rooted in alleged defamatory statements against the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio. “We shall take all necessary legal steps to defend our client. We intend to adequately prepare with all relevant facts and present the same before the court during the trial.”

was set to run as a vice-presidential candidate to Atiku in a new coalition being formed ahead of the 2027 elections.

The statement signed by the Director of Strategic Communication and Media for the Obidient Movement, Nana Kazaure, firmly declared that the report lacked any basis in fact and did not reflect Obi’s current political position or objectives.

While confirming that discussions about possible coalition were ongoing, the group stressed that Obi’s priority remained to forge a united front to address Nigeria’s deep-seated challenges, including corruption, bad governance, hunger, poverty, and the growing population of out-of-school children.

solid minerals and agro commodities through formal channels, up by 38per cent. We're targeting even more in 2025," he said.

The Comptroller-General stated that the customs service was also undergoing internal transformation, with over 1,800 officers trained in advanced data analytics, risk profiling, and artificial intelligence.

"Customs is no longer just about physical inspection. We are becoming an intelligence-led organisation, and our officers are being retrained to match global standards.

"The president gave us a clear directive: ‘Block leakages, facilitate trade, and raise revenue without burdening Nigerians.’ That is what we are doing. And the results are beginning to speak for themselves," Adeniyi added.

transactions supported resilient domestic demand to push NGX to its highest-ever turnover of N5.587 trillion in 2024. It had recorded N3.578 trillion in 2023. Analysts stated that the Nigerian stock market shows less volatility signs amid a new era of unpredictability, marked by tariff threats and rising global tensions, that may prompt emerging market investors to look for shelter in frontier markets that are relatively safe from US President Donald Trump's trade policy shifts.

PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT VISIT…

Sultan Urges Nigerians to De-emphasise Religious, Ethnic Differences

Commends DSS DG for building Tinubu Darul'Ilm Centre for Islamic Studies in Kaduna

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammed Sa'ad Abubakar III, yesterday urged Nigerians to de-emphasise religious and ethnic differences and work together for the development of the country.

The Sultan made the commendation at the inauguration of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Darul'Ilm Centre for Islamic Studies in Kaduna.

The facility was built and donated to the Danbushiya community by the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Tosin Ajayi.

Sultan Abubakar said the problems facing Nigerians are surmountable if Nigerians work together.

"The coming together of people of different faiths and ethnicities will help bridge the gaps of disunity and de-emphasise the problems of this country.

“We believe in our country, we believe in our ability to surmount all

problems. When you have challenges and you overcome those challenges, they make you move forward. We are going through difficult times in this country, but we are not the only ones.

There are so many countries going through difficult times, but we believe that there are no problems that cannot be surmounted…” he said

Speaking further, the Sultan said continuous interaction among Nigerians would reduce the problems of religious differences to the barest minimum.

He said: “The coming together of people of different faiths and ethnicities will help bridge the gaps of disunity and de-emphasize the problems of this country.

The monarch noted that the ability of other nations to overcome their differences was responsible for their economic development and greatness.

Sultan Abubakar also commended President Bola Tinubu for promoting religious tolerance in Nigeria, adding

First Lady, Remi Tinubu, Expands National Food Security Initiative to Vulnerable Groups Nationwide

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to addressing food insecurity and empowering the nation’s most vulnerable population through the expansion of the Renewed Hope Initiative’s (RHI) Food Outreach Scheme.

She affirmed that the programme, which officially began on March 8, 2024, will continue to deliver critical food assistance to women, persons with disabilities, and marginalised communities across the country.

The First Lady, who was represented by the Wife of the Vice President and Vice Chairman of RHI, Hajiya Nana Shettima, stated this weekend at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia, Abia State, where she oversaw the handover of food supplies to Abia State’s RHI Coordinator, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, the Wife of the State Governor.

She said, “As I hand over these essential food commodities to Abia State and the RHI State Coordinator, I urge the beneficiaries to use these items for the well-being of their families. We, at RHI, are implementing several

impactful interventions that are touching lives across the nation, and we are pleased that our efforts are yielding positive outcomes.”

Since its launch, the Food Outreach Scheme has reached the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and eleven states, including Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Oyo.

The initiative is scheduled to reach Enugu and Kaduna next.

Funded by The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) and an anonymous donor, the programme targets one state per month for food distribution.

Mrs Tinubu used the occasion to announce the rollout of several other new initiatives under RHI’s five core pillars—Social Investment, Economic Empowerment, Education, Health, and Agriculture—for the year 2025.

“Under Social Investment, RHI is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Environment to establish ‘The Environment Club' for senior secondary school students and 'The Environment Society' for students in tertiary institutions nationwide. These initiatives aim to promote environmental cleanliness and tree planting.

that the president’s effort was responsible for the economic gains recorded across the country.

He also hailed the president for appointing Ajayi as the DG of the DSS, stressing that the appointment has helped the president build several bridges of cooperation across the country.

The monarch said the decision of Ajayi, "a Christian," to build an Islamic school for orphans and the less privileged, was an enduring legacy that would be remembered.

He described the project as “a big

statement" and urged Nigerians to emulate him.

"Doing things like this will make Nigeria a better place,” the Sultan said.

"The presence of heads of sister security agencies here today shows the synergy amongst our security services and the trust they have in Tosin Ajayi," the Sultan said.

Speaking earlier, Ajayi, who was represented by a retired director of the DSS, Alhaji Ahmed Zalmar, said the idea of building the school started years ago when he served in Kaduna State.

According to him, the law establishing the DSS empowers it to prevent five major threats to internal security namely espionage, insurgency, sabotage, subversion, and terrorism.

He said he identified education as a key method of dousing discontent among the population.

According to him, "The latest of such is the building and donation of the well-furnished modern Islamic school with support from my friends and associates, which also reflects the core mandate of President Tinubu.

"It is also part of my policies to

improve the nation’s internal security architecture through conventional and non-conventional engagements." He said he chose to channel his support for the well-being of vulnerable and needy groups through several social projects, including the building of schools, places of worship, and sports centres, among others. Ajayi explained that he had never used operational funds or budgetary provisions for the philanthropic gestures aimed at winning the hearts of vulnerable populations toward defeating insurgency and terrorism.

How Capital Hotel Grew Revenue By 128% in 2024 Through Strategic Investments, Cost Management

Ejiofor Alike

Capital Hotel PLC, owners of Abuja Continental Hotel, has delivered a strong financial performance in 2024 by growing revenue by 128 per cent, through strategic investments and cost management.

Speaking at the hotel's 44th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Abuja, the Non-Executive Director, Abdulkadir Aminu, who delivered an address on behalf of the company's chairman, Ramesh Kansagra, told the enthusiastic shareholders that the company's revenue rose by 128 per cent to N17.98 billion in 2024 from the N7.89 billion recorded in 2023.

According to him, the company's growth could be attributed to its strategic investments and cost management initiatives, which have positioned it

well for sustainable growth in the years to come.

He identified part of the investment to include the hotel’s extensive renovation, complete revitalization of the Ladi Kwali Centre and the addition of a new Paddle Court, which all contributed to the increased revenue base of the organisation.

"The company's focus on delivering exceptional services and experiences has earned it a reputation as a top player in the hospitality industry. The company's commitment to excellence is evident in its attention to details and dedication to providing exceptional services

"The hotel's state-of-the-art facilities and exceptional service delivery have made it a preferred destination for Meetups, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) events. The

company's investments in infrastructure and human capital have paid off, with a significant increase in bookings and revenue " Kansagra explained.

According to him, the company's strong financial performance is a testament to its resilience and adaptability in a dynamic market, adding that strategic investments and cost management initiatives have positioned it well for sustainable growth in the years to come.

He stated that the company’s Board of Directors, management team, and staff have all played a crucial role in driving the company's growth and success, just as he expressed his heartfelt appreciation to them for their dedication and hard work.

"The company's outlook for 2025 is positive, with a projected GDP growth rate of 4.17% and a reduction

in the fiscal deficit. Capital Hotel PLC is committed to devising and implementing innovative strategies that will empower the company to thrive within Nigeria's vibrant and constantly evolving economic landscape," Kansagra pointed out He said the company's focus on delivering outstanding value to its guests and stakeholders will continue to drive its growth and success, stressing that with its state-of-theart facilities and exceptional service delivery, Capital Hotel PLC is poised for continued growth and success.

"The company’s commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction will remain its top priority. With a strong financial performance and a growing profile in the hospitality industry, Capital Hotel PLC is well-positioned for a bright and prosperous future," he added.

At North-central Zonal Congress, Moro Says Nigeria Won’t Slip into One-party State, PDP Not Collapsing

Serike

Adinoyi in Jos

The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, has declared that contrary to insinuations, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not collapsing, as he expressed confidence that Nigeria will not be a one-party state.

Senator Moro spoke in Jos, Plateau State yesterday during the party’s North-central Zonal elective Congress held in Jos, Plateau State.

The Senate Minority Leader was

optimistic that with the emergence of the new leaders, the party would bounce back and continue to grow stronger.

He said, “It has been a very successful event. You can see the enthusiasm; delegates from across the Zone, including the FCT, are excited and happy that the exercises are taking place today. As you well know, this is one in a series of activities the PDP has lined up in response to the seeming crisis within the party.

“These activities are all leading up to the National Convention for the election

of a brand-new party leadership. Let’s not forget that the apparent crisis in the party stems from a leadership struggle.

But with new leaders being elected from the Ward to the local government, then to the State and now the zonal levels, and eventually at the National Convention, this process will breathe new life into the PDP.

“The party will continue to grow stronger. With the impressive turnout here, representing all corners of the North Central zone, and with leaders

like former Governor Saraki and the rest of us present, I can confidently assure you that the PDP is not collapsing, contrary to insinuations.

“I have no fear of Nigeria becoming a one-party state. Not at all. I don’t believe that’s a likely outcome. Yes, defections have a ripple effect, and the initial shock can be significant. But after that, PDP members will regroup, recommit, and rededicate themselves to the cause. I am confident that the PDP is coming back stronger.”

L-R: Managing Director, Lekki Port, Mr. Qiang Wang; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; Executive Director, Finance and Administration, NPA, Vivian Richard-Edet; and Board Chairman, Lekki Port, Mr. Abiodun Dabiri, when the NPA management team paid performance enhancement visit to Lekki Deep Seaport in Lagos…yesterday

John Shiklam in Kaduna

TOWARDS AN ENDURING PARTNERSHIP...

NNPC Shuts down Port Harcourt Refinery for Planned Maintenance

Promises delivery of sustainable energy security for Nigeria

Barely six months after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) completed the overhaul of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) at a cost of $1.5 billion, the state-owned oil company yesterday shut down the facility for what it described as “planned maintenance”.

A part of the facility known as the ‘old plant,’ was commissioned in 1965, with a processing capacity of 60,000 barrels per day.

Both the old and new plants have a combined refining capacity of 210,000 barrels per day (bpd), making PHRC the largest refining complex in Nigeria.

After years of inactivity and failed multiple rehabilitation efforts, the refinery resumed operations on November 26, 2024, following a significant overhaul that cost $1.5 billion for the entire complex.

Although the national oil company did not indicate how long the maintenance will last, it was gathered that the exercise could last one month in the first instance.

A statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Femi Soneye, noted that the shutdown was part of a broader initiative to assess and improve the refinery's performance.

According to him, the company is collaborating with relevant

stakeholders, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to ensure that the maintenance activities are carried out efficiently and transparently.

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) wishes to inform the general public that the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) will undergo a planned maintenance shutdown. This scheduled maintenance and sustainability assessment will commence on May 24, 2025.

“We are working closely with all relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Midstream and

Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to ensure the maintenance and assessment activities are carried out efficiently and transparently,” the NNPCL statement added.

Olufemi stated that the NNPCL remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering sustainable energy security for Nigeria.

He added that further updates will be provided regularly through the company's official channels, including its website, media platforms, and public statements.

It's unclear if the NNPCL will ramp up imports in the absence of the 60,000-bpd refinery, which it announced was refining 1.4 million

FG to Nigerians: Avoid Scammers, Seized Abuja Estate Not on Sale Yet

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development yesterday warned Nigerians to beware of scammers who were already marketing the seized 753-unit housing estate in Abuja.

The clarification, the ministry said, had become necessary as reports reaching it indicated that scammers were already on the move to defraud Nigerians, claiming they had slots from the housing ministry to sell the houses.

According to a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the

ministry, Badamasi Haiba, the fraudsters were already asking for N500,000 for the purchase of ‘non-existent’ expression of interest forms.

The ministry said it had just taken over the estate from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as directed by President Bola Tinubu, noting that the houses will be completed by the ministry.

“The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development wishes to alert the general public that it has not yet commenced any process for the sale of the 753unit housing estate which it took custody of from the EFCC, a few

days ago,” the statement said. It added that all the necessary infrastructure will be provided before offering the houses to the public for sale and for the special needs of the government.

To this end, the ministry noted that minister in charge, Ahmed Dangiwa, had in that regard announced that the ministry would set up a technical committee to carry out physical assessment of the facility.

This, it stressed, is to conduct integrity tests for the buildings and ascertain the infrastructure needs that will make the estate habitable and finally come up with the disposal strategy.

“The public is hereby informed that the ministry will give a clear and adequate announcement, as well as strategy outlined for the sales of the houses, as directed by President Bola Tinubu.

“Accordingly, the general public is therefore warned not to fall victim to fraudsters, and are advised to directly contact the ministry's officials through the departments of Public Building and Housing Development, and the Press and Public Relations for clarification before they commit any resource as regards to the purchase of the houses,” it said.

Sierra Leone Reports More than 3,000 Mpox Cases, 14 Deaths

litres when it resumed production in the last quarter of last year.

However, some retailers had raised concern that the shutdown could lead to fuel shortages and price hikes.

They have therefore urged the NNPC to ensure that fuel supply remains uninterrupted during the maintenance period.

In March 2021, the federal government approved the $1.5 billion expenditure for the refurbishment and modernisation of the refinery complex, which was to be carried out in three phases. Since then, the project has faced several challenges and missed many timelines.

South East Development Commission Eyes $1bn Asset Base

Festus Akanbi

The South East Development Commission (SEDC) has said it is targeting a $1billion asset base through its South East Investment Company (SEIC) by 2035 and a $50 million South East Venture Capital Programme to fuel start-ups and inclusive innovation.

This ambitious plan, according to the commission, aims to drive economic development and unlock the full potential of the region.

The commission stated this in a statement issued on Friday to mark the 100 days of its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Okoye, in office.

The statement noted that since its inception, the commission has moved swiftly to establish a coherent strategic direction, define programmatic focus, and build a functional administrative backbone with offices in Enugu, Abia, and Abuja.

organised private sector leaders, academic institutions, and more than 1,000 citizens.

“Already, 3,500 volunteers have registered to support SEDC’s mission,” it added.

Reflecting on the journey so far, Okoye II said, “The last 100 days reflect our shared commitment to turning the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda into real, lasting change for the South East. I am deeply grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for entrusting me with this role and to the thousands of volunteers who have rallied around this cause.

“Together, we are building not just an institution, but a movement, one rooted in vision, driven by collaboration, and destined to shape a future we can all be proud of for the South East.”

Looking ahead, the statement said SEDC now shifts its focus to full-scale program implementation, deepening its engagement with state governments, the private sector, civil society, and development partners.

Mpox is caused by a virus from the same family as smallpox, manifesting itself in a high fever and skin lesions.

The number of cases of mpox registered in Sierra Leone since the beginning of the year has hit 3,011, with 14 dead, according to new government data. All of the regions in the West African country have now registered cases, according to the latest health ministry figures released late Friday. The new figures were nearly 50 per cent rise in registered cases since the previous update 10 days ago, on May 13, when 2,045 cases and 11 fatalities were registered since the start of the year.

The Kano State Government yesterday marked the first anniversary since the reinstatement of Muhammad

The WHO declared its highest level of alert in 2024.

A police training centre in the capital Freetown has been refurbished into a 400-bed facility to deal with the increasing cases, authorities said.

A decade ago, Sierra Leone

First identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970, the disease had generally been confined to a dozen African countries before spreading more widely from 2022.

was one of the countries worst affected by an Ebola epidemic, which between 2014 and 2016 killed about 4,000 people, including nearly seven per cent of health professionals.

Other African states have seen rising cases of mpox, with thousands of cases notably afflicting Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi and Kenya.

“Key initiatives launched in this period include the South East Investment Company (SEIC), designed to drive bankable regional projects with a $1 billion asset base target; a $50 million South East Venture Capital Fund to support startups and inclusive innovation; and the South East Grassroots Recreation Infrastructure Development (SEGRID), a grassroots sports and youth development initiative,” it said.

The commission said it has engaged with all five South-east governors through virtual public sessions with over 30 federal ministries and agencies, key development finance institutions,

“With a long-term ambition to catalyse a $200 billion regional economy by 2035, the commission enters its next phase with clarity, purpose, and a sense of urgency to deliver tangible results, empower communities, and unlock the full potential of the region,” it said.

In February 2024, the Senate passed a bill seeking to establish the SEDC.

The bill seeks to establish a commission to manage infrastructural development, such as the construction and rehabilitation of roads, houses, and other infrastructure in the South-eastern region.

Kano Govt Celebrates Sanusi’s First Anniversary as 16th Emir

prayers, saying it remains committed to traditional institutions.

Speaking during the special prayer session held in honour of the Emir, the state Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam

Gwarzo, expressed the commitment of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration to preserving and upholding the dignity of traditional institutions across the state.

Governor Yusuf reinstated Muhammad Sanusi as the 16th

Fulani Emir of Kano on May 24, 2024, after signing the Kano Emirates Council (repeal) Bill 2024 into law on May 23, 2024, sacking the emirs of Kano, Bichi, Karaye, Rano, and Bichi. Gwarzo underscored the vital

role traditional institutions played in promoting peace, preserving cultural heritage, and fostering unity among communities.

“Our traditional institutions are pillars of wisdom, peace, and stability. The administration

of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf holds these institutions in the highest esteem and will continue to collaborate closely with them to promote the collective interests of the people of Kano State,” the deputy governor said.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

Sanusi III as the 16th Emir of Kano with special

Director/CEO of Advonics Services Nigeria Limited, Mr. Emmanuel Egboh (left), and the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, when the latter paid the former

courtesy visit at his office in Ikoyi...weekend

AVIATION MATTERS…

Two Persons Hospitalised as Training Aircraft Crash-lands in Ilorin

State government expresses relief accident was non-fatal

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Two persons have been hospitalised after a training aircraft operated by the Aviation Training School crash-landed at the Ilorin airport, the Kwara State capital on Friday evening.

The Director of Public Affairs of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, stated this in a statement issued yesterday and made available to journalists in Ilorin.

Meanwhile, the state government has expressed profound relief that the accident was not fatal.

Oladeji said the affected victims who were the two occupants of the Diamond training aircraft have been hospitalised, adding that the NSIB has begun an investigation into the accident.

According to the NSIB, the incident occurred at 17:28hours during a simulated instrument approach on Runway 05 at the Ilorin International Airport.

She stated the aircraft veered off the runway and came to a stop on the grass verge.

“Two occupants were on board. Both sustained serious injuries and were swiftly evacuated to a medical facility, coordinated by the Nigerian Airspace

Ondo

Management Agency (NAMA),” the statement said.

Oladeji added that the NSIB Go-Team was preparing to depart from Abuja to Ilorin for an on-site investigation.

Commenting on the incident, the Director General of the NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr. said: “Our thoughts are with the injured, and we commend the swift medical and emergency response.

“Now, our focus is on understanding exactly what went wrong. Every investigation is an opportunity to improve safety. We are deploying our team to Ilorin to ensure that no detail is overlooked,” he said.

Badeh promised to ensure a thorough, independent, and professional investigation that supports ongoing efforts to enhance aviation safety in Nigeria.

The bureau DG also promised to provide further details as the investigation progresses.

Meanwhile, the NSIB has urged the public and media to avoid speculations and await verified updates from the authorities.

Reacting to the accident yesterday, the state government has expressed profound relief that it was not fatal.

The state’s Commissioner for Tertiary

Guber Poll: Aiyedatiwa, PDP Candidate Know Fate June 4

The Ondo State Election Petitions Tribunal has fixed June 4 to deliver judgment in the suits challenging Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s victory in last year’s governorship election.

Aiyedatiwa had secured a landslide victory by winning in all the 18 local government areas.

Not satisfied with the outcome of the polls, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Agboola Ajayi filed a petition at the tribunal.

Education in Kwara State, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu, said both accident victims were promptly taken to the hospital in Ilorin, where they are currently receiving medical attention.

In a statement by the Press Secretary, Ministry of Tertiary Education Omotayo Ayanda, the commissioner commended the swift and professional response of the college authorities and medical

personnel, emphasising the importance of emergency preparedness and strict adherence to safety protocols in aviation training institutions.

She also assured the public that a full investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident and to implement measures that will help prevent future occurrences.

“The Kwara State Government remains committed to the safety and well-being of all residents and will continue to support initiatives aimed at improving safety standards across all sectors.

“The Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, extends his thoughts and best wishes to the affected individuals for a speedy recovery,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Rector of the College, Captain Yakubu Okatahi, has provided additional details about the incident. He said, “Our instructor was on a routine training flight when, unfortunately, the aircraft had an accident during landing. We thank God that there were no fatalities. Both the pilot and instructor were promptly evacuated to the hospital last night.”

Minister Condemns WASSCE Night Exam with Torchlight in Delta, Seeks WAEC’s Investigation

The Federal Ministry of Education has condemned the incident involving candidates sitting in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at night using torchlights.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, expressed his displeasure in a statement issued on yesterday in Abuja by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo.

Boriowo quoted the minister as outlining the situation captured in the widely circulated video as “completely unacceptable”, adding that all necessary measures would be taken to prevent a recurrence.

He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to ensuring a conducive environment for learning and assessment.

Alausa criticised the poor conditions under which the examination was conducted at Unity Secondary School in Asaba, Delta, under the

supervision of the State Ministry of Education.

“The ministry’s attention has been drawn to the conduct of an examination in an unsuitable environment, as seen in footage circulating on social media.

“This reveals an inappropriate setting for such a critical academic exercise, and it occurred under the oversight of the Delta State Ministry of Education”.

The minister stated that the ministry is working in collaboration with the Delta

government and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to investigate the matter and ensure appropriate corrective measures are taken.

“The outcome of the investigation will be made public as necessary,” he added. Alausa reiterated his commitment to improving educational infrastructure and ensuring that students across the country have access to safe and enabling environments for teaching, learning, and assessment.

Total Payouts Hit N23bn as IG Disburses N2.8bn to Police Families of Fallen Officers

The Chairman of the threemember panel, Justice Benson Ogbu, fixed the date after parties adopted their final written addresses.

The petitioners had asked the tribunal to nullify results of the election for not complying with the Electoral Act as amended.

Governor Aiyedatiwa’s counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), urged the tribunal to dismiss the petitions for lack of merit and evidence of electoral malpractice.

Justice Ogbu fixed the final judgment on June 4.

Other political parties that filed petitions at the tribunal were the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Linus Aleke in Abuja

The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun, has presented Group Life Assurance and Family Welfare Insurance cheques totaling over N2.85 billion to the next-of-kin of 1,235 fallen officers.

This is the tenth phase of the disbursement, and it brings the total amount paid under the insurance scheme to N23 billion.

So far, it has benefitted 8,311 families of fallen heroes and covered benefit arrears from 2018 to 2024,

according to Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The event was attended by members of the force management team, senior police officers, stakeholders from the insurance sector, and beneficiaries of the initiative.

Egbetokun reaffirmed the NPF’s commitment to honouring the sacrifices of officers who lost their lives in active service, describing the police as an institution founded on service, integrity, and sacrifice.

He stressed that while no amount

can replace a lost life, the welfare of officers and their families remains a top priority.

The IG highlighted that this initiative has cleared long-standing death benefit claims under the 2018/2019, 2021/2022, 2022/2023, and 2023/2024 insurance policies.

Before this phase, N20.1bn had already been disbursed to 7,076 beneficiaries across nine phases.

He said: “Through sustained efforts, the Force had successfully disbursed benefits to 7,076 beneficiaries in nine phases,

amounting to N20.1bn.

“Further demonstrating this commitment, the IG announced the disbursement of an additional N2.86bn to 1,235 beneficiaries.

“This tenth phase, which was disbursed today, 23rd of May 2025, brings the total insurance benefits paid to N23bn, benefiting 8,311 families.”

Egbetokun expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continuous support and reiterated the Force’s resolve to ensure no next of kin is left in uncertainty.

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

L-R: Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN; Managing Director, Advonics Services Nigeria Limited, Mr. Emmanuel Egboh; and Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mrs. Bunmi Kuku; and Director of Aviation Security, Mr. Albert Ifegbai (behind), during the launch of Nigerian 100 Years of Aviation in Lagos…yesterday

PERFORMANCE REVIEW…

L-R: Independent Non-Executive Director, Capital Hotel Plc (owners of Abuja

Ndume

Makes U-turn, Commends Tinubu for

Appointing Northerners into Federal Agencies

After criticising President Bola Tinubu over what he described as imbalance and lopsidedness in his appointments, which he said violated Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, the Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has commended Tinubu for appointing northerners into key federal government parastatals and agencies.

Tinubu had on Friday appointed 12 individuals from the three geographical zones in the North into strategic national positions.

The list included Yazid Shehu Umar Danfulani (Zamfara) as Managing Director, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC); Alhaji Hamza Ibrahim Baba (Kano) as Programme Manager, Government Enterprise and

Empowerment Programme (GEEP); Alhaji Abubakar Umar Jarengol (Adamawa) as Executive Director, Operations – Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC).

Others are Sama’ila Audu (Katsina), Executive Director, Administration – Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF); Professor Musa Garba Mai Tafsiri (Kebbi), Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education and Comrade Isa Aremu, (Kwara) as Director-General, Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), among others.

Ndume in a statement issued yesterday described the appointments as a reflection of President Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance.

Ndume had last April expressed concern over

lopsidedness in the Tinubu administration’s appointments, which he described as a clear violation of the Federal Character principle, enshrined in the Constitution.

Citing Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, Ndume had maintained that such imbalance and clear violation of the Constitution could deepen political discontent and fuel

opposition coalitions against the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

But in his latest statement, the former Senate Leader said he was impressed by the action of the president, which he noted has shown that he is a leader with a listening ear.

He said: “President Tinubu is someone who surrenders to constructive criticisms.

“I have known him to be a fair-minded, cosmopolitan person. Yes, we are all bound to make mistakes. No one is infallible.

“I could recall that our leaders in the North, including my humble self, who felt jolted over recent appointments into key federal positions, raised our voices, screaming against the perceived imbalances.

“The hallmark of a good leader and statesman is to quickly adjust himself when he takes a decision or makes a policy pronouncement that a large section of the people finds unpopular and uncomfortable with.

“President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has demonstrated several times that he is a responsive leader.

Shell Nigeria Gas, Stakeholders Move to Deepen Gas Distribution for Power Generation

Ejiofor Alike

As part of the efforts to deepen the distribution of gas for generation of power by industries and other businesses, Nigeria’s premier gas distribution company, Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) last week engaged more than 100 gas off takers in the Agbara Ota industrial zone in Ogun State. The meeting was aimed at

consolidating the gains from the supply of gas to the businesses.

Set up in 1998 as a fully Shell-owned company, SNG currently operates in Abia, Rivers and Ogun states providing gas to customers through distribution pipelines of approximately 150kilometres.

SNG interacted with the off takers in customers’ fora to receive feedback and explore

ways of improving gas supply.

The theme of the customer’s forum at Agbara Ota was “the Natural Gas Partner of Choice, Powering Nigeria,” and it was also attended by industry partners and officials of the Federal Government, the Ogun State Government and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

“Our commitment is to build, operate and maintain a gas

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved immediate relaxation of curfew imposed on the three warring communities of Ifon, Ilobu and Erin Osun in the state.

The move was said to be a sequel to the gradual return to total peace in the area, more so, to allow hitch-free celebrations of the forthcoming Eid El Kabir festival in the affected communities. This was contained in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, obtained in Osogbo yesterday.

“Following near total return to peace in the warring communities of Ifon-Ilobu- Erin Osun, it gladdens my heart, as the Chief Security Officer of Osun State, to direct that the hitherto 6 pm-6 am curfew will now be between 9 pm to 5 am of the

following day. This is with effect from tomorrow, Sunday, 25th May, 2025.

“I commend the three towns and other stakeholders for the peace and harmony currently taking shape, I urge that you should please keep it up.

“However, I hereby direct that a contingent of all security personnel, comprising the Army, Police, DSS and Civil Defence, should accordingly continue to keep a 24-hour surveillance in the three communities.

“Finally, I am using this medium to wish our dear Muslim and non Muslim brothers and sisters in the three towns of Ifon, Ilobu and Erin Osun, as well as Osun State in general, a happy Eid El Kabir festival in advance,” the statement read.

Alimi, further explained that with the new directive by the governor, the hitherto imposed 6pm to 6am curfew already in place has been accordingly relaxed.

distribution system that is not just reliable, but resilient, transparent, and growth-oriented, to support businesses, industries and ambitions,” General Manager, Shell Energy Nigeria, Markus Hector said, while welcoming guests. “This session is an opportunity for honest feedback, shared learning, and co-creating a better path forward. Your voice matters and we want to hear it.”

Oborevwori, Mutfwang, David Mark Urge Nigerians to Live in Peace

Charles Ajunwa

Nigerians have been called upon to continue to live in peace with one another irrespective of their ethnic, tribal and religious backgrounds.

The Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori; his counterpart in Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang; and the former Senate President, Senator David Mark, made the

call yesterday at the funeral service of the late Mrs. Helen Erina Aziken, mother of the former Group Politics Editor of Vanguard newspaper, Mr. Emmanuel Aziken, held at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Agbor, Delta State. They asked Nigerians to emulate the peaceful life lived by the deceased who attained the age of 85.

Governor Mutfwang who

was represented by Nehemiah Mutfwang at the funeral ceremony, enjoined Nigerians to emulate Helen Aziken’s “life of peace”, adding that, “we see peace as her greatest legacy and greatest achievement.”

Mutfwang said: “Her departure is an immense loss, not only to her immediate family but also to the entire people of Omumu Agbor Ikan South Local Government Area

of Delta State.

“Mrs. Helen was a believer in Christ Jesus and a selfless mother who dedicated her life to raising God-fearing children who are contributing immensely to nation building. She was a symbol of hope, whose immeasurable contributions to her community, as well as her unwavering commitment to peace and unity, will be deeply missed.

Nigerian Students Win Grand Prize in Huawei’s Global ICT Competition

Okonji

Two groups of Nigerian students from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, who participated in the Huawei ICT Competition 2024-2025 Global Final yesterday, won two grand prizes in the competition, which commenced on Tuesday and

ended on Saturday with an awards ceremony in Schenzhen, China.

The two teams participated in the final contest in the Computing and Network technology tracks and won the grand prize, alongside other teams from different universities of the world.

Other teams that also won the grand prize came from

different universities in China, Morocco, the Philippines, Brazil, Tanzania, Algeria, Singapore and Serbia.

The competition, which had four categories in the areas of Network, Cloud, Computing and AI Innovation, was keenly contested by students from different parts of the world that made it to the final stage.

in China

The Huawei ICT Competition is an annual global event designed for students and teachers from colleges and universities. It offers an international platform for competition and exchange, enabling participants to strengthen their ICT knowledge, improve practical skills, and foster innovation using the latest technologies and platforms.

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Governor Adeleke

Continental Hotel), Nurudeen Abubakar; Managing Director, Ravi Bachu; Non - Executive Director, Abdulkadir Aminu; Company Secretary, Eme Samuel Ozeh; and Non- Executive Director, Paul Obi (SAN), at the 44th Annual General Meeting held in Abuja…recently

Emma

in schenzhen, China

Gombe, Bauchi Officials Meet NNPCL, AOML to Resolve Operational Concerns over Kolmani Oil Field

Segun Awofadeji in Gombe

Government officials from Gombe and Bauchi states, the two host states of the Kolmani Oil Field, have held a two-day meeting with the representatives of NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) and the African Oil Movement Limited (AOML), the operators of the Kolmani Oil Field, to address and resolve operational concerns in the oil field.

The high-level engagement, which took place at the Government House Gombe on May

21 and 22, 2025, was convened to seek clarifications on several actions already undertaken by AOML and to correct observed lapses in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), in a bid to forestall issues that have plagued other oil-producing regions.

The Gombe State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Sanusi Ahmed Pindiga, in a statement made available to journalists yesterday in the state, disclosed that the Joint Committee representing both Gombe and Bauchi states identified four critical areas of

concern, including land acquisition, mishandling of Freedom to Operate (FTO) fees, non-compliance with Community Social Responsibility (CSR) by AOML and communication gap.

To address the identified issues, the commissioner said, the Joint Committee resolved that land acquisition would be finalised once AOML provides the necessary payment documentation, while NEPL will follow up with AOML on settling the FTO fees for drilling.

Also, a thorough Needs Assessment will be carried out in

N56.85bn Disbursed as NELFUND Marks OneYear

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has said over 550,000 loan applications were received and N56.85 billion disbursed to cover tuition fees and upkeep allowances in one year.

The Fund made this known in a statement issued yesterday to mark one year since its launch on May 24, 2024.

The Fund said in just 12 months, it had transformed access to education financing with over 600,000 students registered, over 550,000 successful loan applications, and N56.85 billion disbursed to cover tuition fees and upkeep allowances.

The implementation of the student loan scheme was President Bola Tinubu’s flagship project in the education sector.

Barely a month after his

inauguration as president, Tinubu signed the Access to Higher Education Act, which created a legal framework for granting loans to indigent or low-income Nigerians to facilitate the payment of their fees in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The law, re-enacted, created the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.

NELFUND is responsible for handling all loan requests, grants, disbursement, and recovery.

The Fund’s Director, Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi in a statement issued yesterday, said in just 12 months, it had transformed access to education financing with over 600,000 students registered, and over 550,000 successful

loan applications and N56.85 billion disbursed to cover tuition fees and upkeep allowances.

It added that the milestone showed the federal government’s bold commitment to empower Nigerian students by removing financial barriers to higher education.

She said: “In just 12 months, NELFUND has transformed access to education financing with over: 600,000 students registered, and Over 550,000 successful loan applications. N56.85 billion disbursed to cover tuition fees and provide upkeep allowances.”

According to her, the achievement demonstrates the power of purposeful policy backed by strong execution.

host and impacted communities to guide Community Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, while a structured communication protocol will be established to ensure effective engagement between the Kolmani Oil Field

operators and all stakeholders.

“Participants at the meeting expressed appreciation for the timely intervention and reiterated their collective commitment to ensuring that the Kolmani Oil Field project progresses in a man-

ner that benefits all stakeholders and adheres to the law.

They also reaffirmed their hope that the long-awaited Northern oil and gas dream will finally be realised, bringing economic prosperity to the region.”

Police Extradite Nigerian Fugitive from UAE over Multi-million Dollar Fraud

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), through the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), and the National Centre Bureaus (NCB), Abuja, have extradited a Nigerian fugitive, Abubakar Aboki Muhammed, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

He was extradited on Friday, May 23, 2025.

Muhammed was the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice by NCB Abuja following an extensive investigation into a case of obtaining money by false pretence, forgery, and money laundering.

The police said the case

from backpage

It is unlikely we would be witnessing the kind of mass exodus to the governing party that we see if the key policies and initiatives of the President Tinubu administration, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy and abolition of multiple exchange rates, which created initial bump, are not delivering favourable outcomes. Even though the key presidential candidates in 2023 all agreed the two policies had become imperative to salvage the economy, the story would have been markedly different for the APC today if the policies were not yielding good fruits.

In his leadership of the country, President Tinubu had demonstrated rare courage and boldness in making those decisions from which his predecessors shied away. The president and his party are certainly reaping from the current positive political and economic trajectories.

Importantly, however, the recent defections are a natural realignment of politicians, common in our democratic evolution. We do not have to dig too far. I have stated this position elsewhere. It bears restating. In 1999, at the rebirth of democracy and the present political dispensation, the PDP won 21 governorship seats, the defunct All Peoples Party got nine, and the Alliance for Democracy six governors. By 2003, the rampaging PDP machine had “snatched” a total of 28 governors, leaving the ANPP with seven governors, while the AD had just one governor to its name - Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as he then was. He had survived President Obasanjo’s onslaught on the South-west.

2007 was the era of President Obasanjo’s do-or-die politics. The PDP somehow still had 28 governors. Under the PDP’s watch, things even went bizarre. Elections became a bazaar. The party organised a sham election everyone dubbed the worst in our electoral history. The late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who won the 2007 presidential poll, admitted it was massively rigged. My point, therefore, is defections are not new in our politics.

originated from a report filed in July 2023 by an Abuja-based international businessman, who was defrauded by Muhammed under the guise of being a shipping agent.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, investigations revealed that Muhammed misrepresented himself to the complainant, securing a contract to facilitate payments and freight of 10 high-end vehicles, valued at $307,500.00, from the UAE to Nigeria via designated registered shipping companies.

Adejobi said after establishing

And it is not akin to attempts to impose one party on the country. It’s normal in the run of politics; it’s free entry and free exit. The PDP boasted it would rule for 60 years. However, when the opposition at the time got its acts together and formed a united front with the leading parties in the North and South coalescing to form the present APC, they unseated an incumbent president. They terminated the PDP rule in 2015 after just 16 years. Asiwaju Tinubu, now President, was in the vanguard of that unprecedented effort. He was one of the leaders who cobbled the alliance that propelled General Muhammadu Buhari to power in 2015.

It is relevant to state here that while in opposition, Tinubu never wavered. No matter the provocation or persecution, he refused to jump ship, remaining consistent within the progressive enclave. He continued to build the progressive forces until the APC defeated the PDP in national elections in 2015. The current and disparate opposition must emulate him, build their parties, and aim at forming a united front. Neither President Tinubu nor the APC will do it for them. The President succinctly made this point at last Thursday’s APC National Summit at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

“I just need to tell those who say a one-party system is no good: you don’t blame a people bailing out of a sinking ship when they have no life jackets. I’m glad for what we have, and I’m expecting more to come. That is the game. Welcome to progress; sweep them clean,” he said.

At that summit, which was themed “Renewed Hope Agenda: The Journey So Far,” the party leadership, its 22 governors, and National Assembly leadership endorsed him for a second term in office. That summit could pass for a mini-convention. The Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo, Hope Uzodimma, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje engaged in a battle of wits

trust, Muhammed fraudulently received the full payment through a third-party account at FCMB belonging to Anas Usaini, a Kano resident, which was subsequently used for money laundering activities in Dubai.

He said: “Upon receipt of the payment, Muhammed provided the complainant with a forged bill of lading for the vehicles and subsequently became uncontactable. He was apprehended in Dubai on April 15, 2025, and was extradited to Nigeria to face prosecution at the Federal High Court, marking a significant success in the ongoing fight against transnational financial crime.

in their move to adopt President Tinubu as the APC consensus presidential candidate for 2027. Party chieftains and members were also falling heads over heels to be part of the endorsement. It was a celebration with prominent musicians like Wasiu Ayinde Marshal and Dauda Kahutu, alias Rarara, on the bandstand. President Tinubu and the APC can hardly be blamed for having their day in the sun. The opposition elements allowed the governing party to further flourish with their indiscipline and inability to organise and perplexing tendency to self-destruct.

Indeed, for the opposition to make any appreciable impact in the 2027 elections, those parading themselves as the leaders must be ready to put in the work, forgo self-serving ambitions, and forge a cohesive front. The discord we are witnessing today within the opposition parties aided the election of President Tinubu in 2023. How could the opposition have won in 2023 with a disunited front?

Former vice president Atiku Abubakar ran a divisive race as PDP presidential candidate, telling the North he was its candidate who could protect the Northern interest. His presidential running mate in the 2019 election, Mr. Peter Obi, ran the 2023 election essentially on both ethnic Igbo and Christian religious agenda as the candidate of the Labour Party. He won the entire South-east and had majority votes from the South-South and parts of the core middle-belt states.

Meanwhile, five PDP governors led by the then-governor of Rivers State, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, had left the party to join ranks with President Tinubu. The PDP clearly lost the debate a long time ago and resorted to cheap slander. At the moment not much has changed within the ranks of opposition parties. With the opposition parties in disarray, still roiled by internal strife and disunity, history is bound to repeat itself in 2027.

-Rahman is a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Special Duties.

Contd.

- DEFECtiONs, tiNUBU’s ENDORsEMENt, AND 2027

Linus Aleke in Abuja

NIIA-KAS International Conference on ECOWAS at 50: Beyond a Brighter Future with Challenges

he NIIA-KAS-GIZ Conference on ECOWAS at 50: Democracy, Governance and Political Stability as Challenges’ was the title of the Vie Internationale of last week Sunday. It was a preview analysis of the conference based on the concept note given by the conference organisers. From the title, impression was given that the GIZ would be taking active part in the conference. However, the conference eventually took place on Tuesday, 20th and Wednesday, 21st May, 2025 as programmed, but without the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) which withdrew its participation. Consequently, for record purposes, it was only the NIIA, in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) that organised the conference, which took place in an oxygenated rotunda and serene environment of the NIIA.

The organisation took place at a time of need, not because the ECOWAS is celebrating 50 years of existence on 28 May, 2025 but particularly because the Treaty establishing the ECOWAS was done in Lagos in 1975 and the celebration of the 50th anniversary is also taking place in Lagos. More important, the initiative to establish the ECOWAS was basically Gowonian and Nigerian. The dilemma with which the ECOWAS of today is currently faced was given birth to under the chairmanship of a Nigerian, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT). By implication, should an ECOWAS that was established on the basis of a Nigerian initiative be allowed to go into désuétude under Nigerian chairmanship?

The popular opinion in Nigeria is that it is not proper to build a house and wait to witness its destruction.

At the level of the preliminary discussions at the conference, General Gowon made it clear that Mauritania was part of the negotiations at the beginning, hence people talk about an ECOWAS of 16 members. True, Mauritania started with others and officially joined, but withdrew in 1999 because of ECOWAS’ opposition to governmental mistreatment of black African Mauritanians. Mauritania withdrew to join the Maghreb Union but this never solved its problem. Thus there were many issues to address in the past 50 years by the ECOWAS.

Issues Raised at the Conference

First, there was the question of how the ECOWAS started before the signing of the Treaty establishing the ECOWAS. As revealed by General Gowon at the conference, at the end of Nigeria’s civil war on 12 January, 1970, following the instrument of unconditional surrender by General Phillip Effiong, the government of General Yakubu Gowon felt the need to express gratitude to many countries in West Africa for their support for a united Nigeria.

This appreciation should be understood against the background that the Gowonian government had sought the understanding and support of the British at the initial stage of the war, but to no avail. He again sought the support of the United States, but to no avail. This situation prompted Nigeria to seek the assistance of the then Soviet Union which was readily given in principle. Before any Soviet aid could be given, the British and the United States quickly reviewed their policy attitudes in an attempt to prevent their influence from being replaced by the Soviet Union. It is also useful to note that when talking about support, it was not about grant or humanitarian altruism. Nigeria wanted to purchase arms, weapons with which to prosecute the war. The British and the Americans refused to sell anything to Nigeria. It was the factor of the Cold War politics that eventually made them to see more clearly and to quickly accept to reverse their policy of refusal.

There was also the impact of the lessons from the then Dahomey (now Benin Republic) which was used by the International Red Cross to package weapons to be sent to Biafra under the pretext of humanitarian aid. The experiences largely informed the quest for sub-regional and regional unity, economic cooperation, and security. In this regard, General Gowon first carried along the Togolese leader, President Gnassingbé Eyadéma in the preparations. This was the background story of the preliminary discus-

sions that led to the birth of the organisation on 28th May, 1975. But what has happened since then and what does the next 50 years look like? These are some of the questions addressed at the NIIA-KAS conference.

A second issue was promptness of leaders and the younger generation. The prompt attendance of General (Dr) Yakubu Gowon and Professor Akinwande Bolaji Akinyemi not only attracted much concern but was also specially commended. They attended promptly and also stayed in the 2-day conference from the beginning to the end while some of the younger conference participants were frolicking around. The elders showed exemplary discipline. It is important to also note that the multilingual, typical, and soft-spoken former Nigerian Foreign Minister, General Ike Nwachukwu, came with them and also stayed throughout. Discussions by participants focused on their quietness and very positive contributions. The unexpressed question on the lips of many participants was whether it was because of their military background. The answer cannot be yes because ProfessorAkinyemi was not of the soldiering background, which raises questions about how ECOWAS leaders behave today.

The third issue was whether the ECOWAS had passed or failed in the past 50 years. The various paper presentations not only assessed ECOWAS of the past, but also investigated the ECOWAS of the future. Some believed the ECOWAS has failed in its mandate while some argued to the contrary. In fact, the participation of secondary school pupils from Kings College, Methodist Boys High School, and Holy Child made the

Grosso modo, the organisation of the conference was quite timely and worth its efforts. All the six sessions were highly satisfactory in organisation, conduct, deliberation, and management. The funding role of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung was particularly commended. The conference was not only very thought-provoking with the revelations of new empirical information from many career diplomats that had been directly or indirectly involved in the making of the ECOWAS and management of its affairs or at the level of Nigeria’s foreign policy. Ambassadors like Wole Coker, Florence Ukonga, Olusegun Akinsanya, Olayiwola Laseinde, and Ayo Olukanni, etc., made a lot of contributions that complemented existing theoretical knowledge of ECOWAS at 50. Expectedly, the Conference is most likely to be continued at the summitry level on May 28, 2025 possibly at the NIIA which has been well refurbished to the level of acceptable international standard. With holding reception and restauration rooms, the NIIA is now truly becoming an International Institute in Africa, an African Institute in Nigeria, and a Nigerian Institute in Lagos. Both the Foreign Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and Professor Eghosa E. Osaghae, the Director General should be specially commended as the Conference also clearly points to the march towards a new strategically autonomous Nigeria in the making

conference more colourful with their debate on ECOWAS at 50. Some of the pupils argued convincingly that the organisation has failed in the achievement of its objectives and some also, with cogent reasons, said such an argument was not tenable, that the business of the ECOWAS was ongoing. The pupils were a source of sweet inspirations.

Fourthly, there was the reaffirmation by General Yakubu Gowon of his innocence about the unsuccessful 1976 Lieutenant-Colonel Bukar Suka Dimka Coup. The coup took the life of the Nigerian Head of State, the 37-year old General Murtala Muhammed, ‘along with his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Akintunde Akinsehinwa, and his driver, Sergeant Adamu Michika, in his black Mercedes on 13 February 1976.’ True, the bloodless General Murtala Muhammadu coup of 29 July, 1975 removed General Gowon from power. Very interestingly, the coup enabled General Murtala Muhammed, who is on record to have led the July 1966 counter-coup that brought the then Colonel Yakubu Gowon to power. He brought General Gowon to power in July 1966 and also removed him in 1975 while attending an OAU summit in Kampalla. In this case, the popular belief, rightly or wrongly, has been that the Dimka coup was sponsored by General Gowon. At the conference, General Gowon made it crystal clear that he was never instrumental to the coup. Fifthly, and perhaps more disturbingly, there was the issue of the omnipresence of Nigerians in West African countries and lack of attitudinal culture among ECOWAS Community Citizens. Professor Ibrahim Abdulla of the University of Sierra Leone Logo, Freetown, presented a very good paper on “Cities, Citizenship and Marginal Others: Re imaging ECOWAS after 50 Years.’ However, interest in his paper vanished into thin air when his first opening utterance was ‘Jack.’ He was referring to General Yakubu Gowon who along with Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, had been consensually referred to as ‘Baba ECOWAS’ and ‘BABA Nigerian Foreign Policy,’ respectively. Professor Abdulla did not just stop there by further clearly showing the audience that he consciously referred to General Gowon as Jack discourteously. Whenever everyone stood up to applaud Gowon, Professor Abdulla was always the only one sitting down. In fact, during his presentation, he said ‘if Nigeria is reasonable…’ By implication, he referred to Nigeria, as a country, as a people, as a culture, as a government, etc., as unreasonable. We duly protested against this. In fact, the disregard for General Gowon and Nigeria prompted many interventions on the role of Nigeria in ECOMOG II and how Nigeria saved the lives of many Sierra Leoneans. The tension was a bit high and to douse the tension, General Gowon, in his fatherly manner, asked Professor Abdulla to come to the centre of the rotunda to make peace. Ambassador Remi Ajibewa and Professor Bola A. Akinterinwa even went there on his behalf to prostrate before the two ‘Babas’ to plead that the attitude of Professor Abdulla should not be taken as an offence, but Professor Abdulla refused to bow down or prostrate in the Yoruba tradition. He was obstinate and General Gowon still forgave him. When this behaviour is considered at the level of intra-ECOWAS relationships, the issue of application of the principle of reciprocity in Nigeria’s foreign policy cannot but be always raised. Who respects Nigeria in West Africa or Africa? If Nigeria has a good standing and is duly respected, will the issue of expanding influence of great powers raised by Professor Alade Fawole arise?

Whatever is the case, the conference was designed to have an international character and it did have it. International scholars came from Senegal, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Ghana and they all presented very thought-provoking. To what extent does this impact on ECOWAS future and the return of the AES countries?

Beyond a Brighter Future

Going beyond the success or failure of the ECOWAS at 50 are many other critical questions to which the organisation must still address. First is how to relate with Russia in the foreseeable future. This issue is very critical for many reasons: His Excellency, Mr Weert Boerner, the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Lagos, advised, not to say requested, in his remarks at the conference that the ECOWAS should never depend on Russia because the Russia of President Vladimir Putin is not ‘reliable.’ The advice or request raises more questions than one: does the interest of the ECOWAS as an organisation mean the same as that of Germany or the European Union in terms of relationship with Russia? Which faction of the ECOWAS should not depend on Russia? With the breakaway of the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS) countries all of which currently enjoy the support of Russia, can they stop depending on Russia? If it is the ECOWAS of 12 countries that the Consul General had in mind, can the ECOWAS afford the luxury of hobnobbing with Germany or the European Union against the interests of the Member States of the regional organisation?

One rationale for the current problem with which the ECOWAS is faced is the strategic miscalculation of underscoring unconstitutional changes of government to the detriment of the peoples’ complaints against the mainmise, exploitation, and disregard by the former colonial master, France. ECOWAS did nothing about bad governance which prompted public complaints and the people’s coups which the military only helped to actualise.

•Tinubu

Editor: Festus Akanbi

08038588469 Email:festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com

Waiting for Impact of Economic Reforms?

Despite recent positive credit approvals by international rating agencies on the Nigerian economy amid ongoing reforms by monetary and fiscal authorities, the impact is yet to permeate the system as disposable income remained largely impaired, James Emejo writes

Nigeria’smostrecentcredit ratings have acknowledged some of the bold reforms currently being implemented by the government, especially the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), leading to salutary impacts on macroeconomic thresholds.

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) currently rates Nigeria’s long-term foreign currency credit rating at B-, with a stable outlook, attesting to Nigeria’s creditworthiness.

Fitch upgraded Nigeria’s sovereign credit rating to ‘B’ with a stable outlook following reforms and improvements in macroeconomic stability, and reflected the government’s commitment to policy reforms, including exchange rate liberalisation and monetary policy tightening.

Also, Moody’s Investors Service rated the country at “Caa1” for both its long-term foreign and local currency issuer ratings which indicated a positive outlook.

Macroeconomic indicators, particularly Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemploy- ment rate, inflation, interest rates, and the balance of payments (BOP) are crucial for understanding and managing an economy, providing insights into its overall health, performance, and potential future trends.

With recent improvements in inflation, price stability, and BOP, it is no wonder that rating institutions have decided to issue positive assessments to the country.

Hardship Still Elevated

However, the country’s macroeconomic success appeared to be at variance with economic reality - as living standards and poverty remained largely elevated despite a reduction in inflation and exchange rate stability.

The seeming lack of congruence between macroeconomic advances and economic reality was one of the topical issues addressed by CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, after the 300th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) last week in Abuja.

On the back of improvements in inflation and price stability, the apex bank resolved to leave the monetary policy parameters unchanged at current levels.

The MPC voted unanimously to hold policy, retaining the MPR, the rate at which commercial banks borrow from the central bank, at 27.50 per cent.

The committee also retained the asymmetric corridor around the MPR at +500/-100 basis points, the Cash Reserve Ratio of Deposit Money Banks at 50 per cent and Merchant Banks at 16 per cent, and left the Liquidity Ratio unchanged at 30 per cent.

Cardoso acknowledged the relative improvements in some key macroeconomic indicators which are expected to support the overall moderation in prices in the near to medium term.

He identified specific areas of improvement including the progressive narrowing of the gap between the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) and Bureau De Change (BDC) windows, the positive balance of payments position, and easing the price of PMS.

He said the committee was satisfied with the progressive moderation in food inflation and, therefore, commended the government for implementing measures to increase food

supply as well as stepping up the fight against insecurity, especially in farming communities.

Nonetheless, there are growing concerns that the reforms and resulting global approvals appeared to benefit foreign investors at the expense of vulnerable Nigerians as actual prices of goods and services remained out of reach for most Nigerians.

Boost in Investor Confidence

Cardoso, nevertheless assured that the reform initiatives that have been widely celebrated will “begin to yield greater results as time goes on”, painting out that the approval came at a critical juncture when other economies are limping.

The CBN governor stressed that the bank’s reforms have instilled confidence in the economy and the central bank whose credibility had since been eroded before the assumption of the new administration.

According to him, such reforms were key to bringing foreign investments that would in turn create jobs and prosperity for Nigerians.

He said, “Let me comment that the Fitch upgrade is particularly important because it was coming at a time when there were global economic headwinds and shocks, and there was a lot of uncertainty.

“So, it’s important for us to realise that despite all that, there was a move by Fitch to upgrade, and I think that is a very positive signal.

“Now, in terms of how these whole macroeconomic fundamentals are playing out, although there have been positive endorsements from all kinds of bodies that make it a point of duty to observe and critique the moves that various countries are making to ensure they have stability in their economies.”

He said, “Investors don’t go to where there is instability. So, I think that is the first thing to understand on the journey, and this is a journey.

“Investors don’t go out to invest to lose money. They go out to invest because the economy is stable, and they can plan. With that stability comes confidence, with confidence comes investment, and with investment comes growth and outputs.

“I think that’s the trajectory that you will find in all countries of the world. We have been through a long period of instability.

“And I think that clearly what is being recognised is that the Nigerian economy is now stable, and there’s interest in those who want to invest to now invest.”

Fixing Economy, Not Silver Bullet

Cardoso further explained, “Clearly, the inflation numbers speak for themselves. The overall trajectory is in the right direction. Not one particular aspect of managing the economy is a bullet that will solve all the problems.

He said, “It’s a multiplicity of dif- ferent endeavors, and that is why the

combination of the efforts that are being made and are yielding results in terms of stabil- ity—and don’t forget, the central bank is the custodian of stability in an economy.

“If you look at the exchange rate, for example, volatility has reduced from over four per cent a year ago to less than half of one per cent around now.

“So, that’s an indication of stability, and with the increasing collaboration between the fiscal and the monetary side, the journey that we are going through will begin to yield greater results as time goes on I have no doubt about that.”

The CBN governor also addressed naira’s depreciation amid global economic uncertain- ties in recent times, noting that a lot of the measures taken by the CBN to stabilise the economy helped to moderate the depreciation of the local currency, adding that devaluation had been modest compared to other countries during the period of global uncertainty.

He said, “I dare say that if those actions had not been taken when they were, the results would have been a lot more disastrous. So, it’s a good thing that we started these reforms early and that we stayed the course to the point where we built buffers that can withstand shocks that come in.

And that dovetails into your issue of reserves.

“If you look at and make the comparison between Nigeria during the last month or two when the whole issue of global tensions got heightened. Let’s face it—right now, we’re in a period of heightened uncertainty.

“And if you are all observing, you’ll find that the various currencies of the world were under attack and were having to defend themselves.

“You’ll find that relative to other countries, Nigeria came out very well engaged. We were able to ensure that our depreciation was very modest and that the stability was pretty much there.”

Analysts’ Perspectives

Speaking to THISDAY on the issue, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Bristol Investments Limited, Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, attributed the reforms’ lack of impact to the government’s disposition to increase revenues rather than be concerned about citizens’ welfare.

He said, “Nigerians are not benefitting from the economic reforms even as multilateral institutions are rating these reforms high because the reforms are designed to improve the revenue and credibility of the country and not to reduce the poverty situation of its citizens.

“Removal of fuel subsidy, the merging of foreign exchange rates, increase in electricity tariff, increase in value-added tax and other taxes, etc, will continue to reduce the disposable income of ordinary citizens while increasing the revenue of the country.”

The former Director General of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) said, “As inflationary trends continue to rise, prices of goods remain high, and goods are no longer affordable to Nigerians.

“My recommendation is that the government should endeavour to put the welfare and survival of its citizens into consideration, even as the reforms are being propagated. They should take the reforms in phases while providing succour to ameliorate the impact of the reforms.”

On his part, Managing Director/Chief Executive, SD&D Capital Management Limited, Mr. Idakolo Gbolade, said reform will take a while to make a meaningful impact on the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians, and called for accountability in policy implementation by government agencies.

He said, “The current reforms will take some time to permeate the economy because of long-term causative factors like high inflation, high cost of doing business, insecurity, and government bureaucracy.

“The federal government reforms on the petroleum sector, for example, will only begin to impact on the economy when the government refineries are working at full stream and other local refineries have a constant local crude oil supply.

“The various reforms in agriculture, health, energy, and digital economy will also take longer to be impactful because of long-term decadence in these sectors.

“The federal government needs to hold various drivers of government policies ac- countable for the slow effect of government reforms and demand accountability from MDAs regarding performance.”

Cardoso

FINANCE

Assessing FMBN’s Mortgage Banking Digitisation Efforts

In a rapidly changing banking environment, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has embarked on a wide-ranging digitisation initiative aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and accessibility in mortgage service delivery, writes Emmanuel Addeh

With a significant shift from the traditional, paper-heavy processes that had long hindered the speed and reliability of mortgage operations in the country, the FMBN has recently begun positioning itself to serve its customers better, aligning Nigeria’s mortgage infrastructure with global best practices.

These efforts come when housing deficits and access to affordable financing remain pressing challenges for millions of Nigerians. For decades, the mortgage application and disbursement process under the bank was marked by bureaucratic delays and limited access to information for prospective homeowners.

However, things appear to be changing. By embracing digitisation, the bank aims to eliminate these inefficiencies, reduce turnaround times, and build a system that is both user-friendly and accountable.

Going beyond operational improvements, the digitisation push by the Usman Osidi-led organisation is also seen as a step toward rebuilding public confidence in government-led housing schemes by making processes more transparent and accessible.

Since taking office on February 19, 2024, days after its appointment by President Bola Tinubu on February 15, the management of the mortgage bank appears to have hit the ground running, launching what it described as a transformative seven-point agenda. Osidi says this is aimed at repositioning FMBN as a modern, efficient, and accessible mortgage institution.

At the heart of this agenda has been the efforts at ‘deepening process automation’, a commitment that has led to the development and rollout of a robust Internet banking platform by the foremost mortgage institution.

This innovation allows National Housing Fund (NHF) contributors to seamlessly register, make contributions, apply for mortgage loans, monitor repayment progress, and request refunds from any location and at any time. All that is required is a digital device and an available internet.

According to the bank, FMBN’s digital transformation over this period has not just been about upgrading technology, it is about empowering citizens, enhancing trust, and breaking down long-standing barriers to homeownership.

By digitising its operations, FMBN points out that it has made it easier for low and middle-income earners, particularly those in the informal sector, who make up over 80 per cent of the nation’s population, to participate fully in Nigeria’s housing finance ecosystem.

FMBN’s Internet Banking

Managing Director and Chief Executive of FMBN, Osidi, is very aware of the transformative power of optimising processes and has been a vocal proponent of digitisation as a cornerstone for transforming Nigeria’s housing finance sector.

In a recent address, Osidi emphasised the importance of integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into the bank’s operations:

“We must be deliberate in executing whatever strategic intents we have committed ourselves to implementing. The implementation of the Strategic Blueprint would be achieved if the Bank leverages the use of ICT, not only in its strategy project management endeavours, but across its work processes and product platforms,” he said.

To buttress this, the FMBN internet banking platform, accessible via ibank.fmbn.gov.ng, according to the bank, offers round-the-clock access to key mortgage services. NHF contributors, it says, can log in at their convenience to remit contributions, apply for loans, request account statements, or track their financial activities.

This digital freedom means users are no

longer limited by banking hours or the need to physically visit FMBN branches. To ensure accessibility across demographics and locations, the platform supports multiple payment options, including card transactions, USSD codes, and bank transfers through Remita and Etransact.

“These options ensure that even contributors in rural or underbanked areas can meet their NHF obligations with ease. The platform’s user-friendly interface simplifies the experience,” the FMBN stated.

Why It Matters

The launch of the internet banking platform comes at a crucial time for Nigeria. With a large youth population entering the workforce and a rapidly growing urban population, the demand for accessible mortgage solutions is at an all-time high.

Traditional processes can no longer meet the scale or speed required to address the national housing crisis. For instance, in the past, the path to homeownership for a teacher in Lagos, a tailor in Kano, or a mechanic in Port Harcourt was long and uncertain. Endless visits to physical branches, unexplained delays, and the lack of transparency made homeownership feel like a far-off dream. Today, the FMBN has said that the same journey can begin during a lunch break, with a few taps on a smartphone.

Real-Time Transparency

Osidi also highlighted the role of digitisation in enhancing transparency and combating corruption within public institutions, stressing that “Digitalisation, Discipline Will Drive Transparency, Stamp Out Corruption in Public Institutions.”

According to him, “The crop of new players in the real estate sector serves as a wake-up call for us, the ‘traditional players’ to equally rapidly adopt technology, but more importantly, pursue business opportunities by way of collaboration and partnerships…”

Through these initiatives, Osidi said he aims to position FMBN as a modern, efficient, and customer-centric institu-

tion, capable of meeting the evolving needs of Nigerians in the housing finance sector.

Therefore, one of the most transformative benefits of the FMBN internet banking platform is the clarity it brings to contributors. In the past, some workers did not know the status of their NHF contributions or whether employers were faithfully remitting on their behalf.

Mortgage Access

Besides, the platform acts as a digital gateway to all of FMBN’s mortgage loan offerings, including NHF Mortgage Loans, Home Renovation Loans, Construction Loans, and Rent-to-Own Products.

“Applicants can submit requests, upload documents and monitor application status without stepping into a physical branch of FMBN. Loan processing is faster, thanks to digital verification tools, and errors are minimised through automated checks.

“Once approved, loan repayment is equally convenient. Borrowers can log in to view repayment schedules and make payments online, consequently encouraging timely repayment and reducing the risk of default. This system not only benefits contributors but ensures a more stable and sustainable mortgage portfolio for the Bank,” the FMBN maintains.

Enhanced Refund Requests

Through the Internet banking platform, FMBN now enables contributors to initiate refund requests directly through the portal. Eligible contributors who have retired completed their repayment cycle, or met specific criteria can track their application from start to finish.

The funds are deposited directly into their registered bank accounts once approved. This digital refund process eliminates long-standing frustrations associated with delayed or lost refunds, enhancing service satisfaction and reinforcing the bank’s credibility.

Driving Financial Inclusion

Perhaps one of the most significant impacts of FMBN’s digital push, according to the bank, is its contribution to financial inclusion. By removing physical and bureaucratic barriers, the FMBN Internet banking platform opens the NHF scheme to underserved populations

like artisans and tradespeople, informal sector workers, self-employed professionals, as well as rural residents with limited access to traditional banks.

“These groups can now register independently, make flexible contributions, and even access non-interest loan products aligned with their income patterns. This inclusivity supports the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) financial inclusion strategy and aligns with the broader national housing agenda championed by President Tinubu, that every Nigerian deserves decent and affordable housing,” it stated in a note.

Driving Diaspora Engagement

Looking beyond national borders, FMBN says it’s using its digital tools to reach Nigerians in the diaspora. Through its specialised NHF Diaspora Mortgage Loan product on the verge of a launch, diaspora Nigerians will be able to register, contribute to the NHF scheme, and access mortgage services remotely. This will provide a secure, trustworthy platform for overseas citizens to invest in real estate back home while deepening their ties with Nigeria.

Digital

Space Security

“Security is central to FMBN’s internet banking experience. With advanced encryption, multifactor authentication, and secure payment gateways, the platform protects customer data and financial transactions from cyber threats.

“The use of OTP verification, BVN consent, and email confirmations adds multiple layers of protection, ensuring that users transact with confidence. The bank also maintains a dedicated ICT helpdesk platform to provide support, resolve technical issues, and assist users in navigating the digital interface,” it pointed out.

Core Banking App

According to the bank, behind the scenes, the Core Banking Application (CBA) of FMBN powers the efficiency of the Internet banking platform. Custom-built for FMBN’s mortgage banking needs, this back-end system automates every aspect of the bank’s services, including contributor and employer registration, loan disbursement and repayment tracking, contribution monitoring, and refund processing.

The CBA, the bank says, also supports advanced modules such as treasury management, financial reporting, risk accreditation, and human resources management.

This, it points out, makes the CBA not just a banking tool but a comprehensive digital infrastructure that enhances both operational performance and organisational agility.

Ripple Effects

The true impact of FMBN’s digital shift extends far beyond mere convenience. By moving services online, FMBN insists it has achieved something remarkable: Making housing finance accessible to Nigeria’s vast informal sector.

It added that: “Market women, artisans and freelance professionals who were once excluded from formal mortgage systems can now register and contribute with ease, their economic status no longer a barrier to homeownership.”

Beyond Paperwork

Under Shehu Osidi’s leadership, FMBN is not only improving access to mortgage finance but also restoring hope and dignity to millions of Nigerians with dreams of owning a home. The path to homeownership no longer winds through crowded banking halls or gets lost in piles of paperwork.

“Today, that path lives in the palms of the hands of Nigerians, accessible anytime, anywhere, with just a few taps on a screen. This is the future of mortgage banking in Nigeria, and FMBN, as Nigeria’s premier mortgage finance institution, is boldly leading the charge,” the bank notes.

Osodi

www.thisdaylive.com

opinion@thisdaylive.com

IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

The appointment of Abubakar Sambo as Commissioner for Education in Kaduna State is a choice well made, argues JAPHETH GWAMUOKOR

See Page 20

PIWUNA: ASUU’S NEW HELMSMAN

ASUU elects

Christopher Piwuna, a man well-versed in the struggles, as president, writes

JEFF GODWIN DOKI

See Page 20

Toll fees will push up already high transportation fares, argues

NIGERIANS NEED DEMOCRACY DIVIDENDS

Works Minister, Dave Umahi, recently held a ministerial press briefing wherein he announced the imminent return of motor tolls on our highways. Making a case for the collection of road use levy, the Minister argued that it was necessary to ensure sustainability of the built roads. Nigerian Tribune, Friday, May 15, 2025 captured the ministerial submission in the following excerpts. “In the past, we built roads, but unfortunately, they didn’t last up to 50 years. As they were being built, they started failing. This has placed a huge burden on FERMA and the Ministry of Works...We have 35, 000 kilometres of roads nationwide. With the new legacy projects, we are looking at over 38, 000 kilometres. It is unrealistic to rely solely on Nigeria’s budgetary provisions to fund and maintain all these roads. This is why we are adopting public - private - partnership model. The goal is not only to construct these roads but also to ensure their maintenance.” Toll fees are already in place in some federal roads. The planned gradual extension of the “tax” to users of other highways, is however, avoidable and unprogressive, both from democratic and economic standpoints.

Mr David Umahi’s stance on the necessity of toll gates for effective road maintenance is faulty as it relies on symptom as rather than root causes of the situation. The underlining factor in Nigeria’s underdeveloped road transport is a systemic failure of standards. Non durability of Nigerian roads is less about mopping up extra funds for their maintenance and more about judicious management of the road construction chain. Nigerian governments, at federal, state and local levels, do not need to impose toll fees on our roads to achieve road maintenance. When toll levies were religiously collected across the country in the 1980s and 1990s, it did not result in a better state of our thoroughfares. The highways continued in progressive deterioration even as the toll levies were increased and extended to more roads. It was on account of the terrible state of intra - city and inter - state roads that the Petroleum Task Fund set up by the Abacha regime in 1996 devoted the chunk of it’s resources on roads rehabilitation. The question then is why didn’t toll levies save our roads from collapse? If the scheme failed spectacularly under the stricter environment of military rule, what chances does it stand today?

earlier World Bank revelation concluded that contract cost of a kilometre of road in Nigeria hovered between N400m and N1b against the World Bank benchmark of N238m in Africa.

The analysis by Abuja based Centre for Democratic Justice is interesting and worth sharing in some detail.

“In 2013, the Federal Government awarded the contract for the reconstruction of the 127km Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at N167bn ($1bn at the time it was awarded)

Interestingly, and also in 2013, a similar contract was awarded for the 1,028km Lagos-Abidjan road project. The Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) estimated this project to cost between N167bn and N240bn.

In other words, the number of kilometers to be covered by the ECOWAS project is eight times higher than Nigeria’s LagosIbadan Express road project; and the cost per kilometer is far lower than that of Nigeria.

At the projected maximum cost of N240bn, the cost of the ECOWAS road per km will be N234m whereas the six-lane Expressway road contract awarded by the Federal Government at N167bn cost N1.3bn per kilometer.

In the Limpopo Province of South Africa, to build a kilometer of paved road, it will cost N33m or $194,000, while the maintenance cost stands at N7.6m ($45,000).

In 2006, the Lagos State Government signed a 30-year concession agreement with the Lekki Concession Company to finance, build, operate and maintain the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

deteriorating roads in Nigeria is compromise. Officials entrusted with supervision of construction processes accept gratification to lower standards. It’s a vicious cycle in which construction companies bribe officials to get approval for shoddy work done and cart away huge sums only for rehabilitation contracts to be awarded shortly after. As the Ngige experience emphasises, regular and strict supervision of each construction stage is the way out. Senator Chris Ngige holds the record as the former Governor of Anambra State with the highest quality roads. More than 20 years after, the roads Ngige built in Anambra State are still standing strong. Resolved on deflecting Mr Peter Obi’s election petition with performance, Ngige scrupulously monitored road projects himself. The close follow - up paid off with delivery of solid roads. If Umahi’s Works Ministry gets it right with adherence to standard specifications in construction, maintenance cost will drastically reduce, removing the need for toll levies.

It’s also important to remind the proponents of toll gate policy that the staying power of democracy is government’s responsiveness to the needs of the people.

More importantly, there are strong indications that the public works sector does not lack the funding required to deliver quality road infrastructure. Road construction services which are categorised under capital expenditure have consistently earned high allocations in federal and state budgets. Given the political capital that goes with provision of good roads, especially in the democratic era, the claim of insufficient funding for the Works ministry cannot be sustained. If anything, the public works sector appears to be squandering Nigeria’s resources in the name of road development. Nigeria’s road construction cost is about the highest in Africa. In a December 13, 2024 editorial on abandoned road projects, The Punch stated: “Most contracted roads are often produced with inflated bills.” This assessment is widely shared by Nigerians and was indeed the finding of a World Bank report in 2000. A 2013 study inspired by the

At a cost of approximately N1bn ($5.9m) per km, the Lekki-Epe Expressway project also far overshoots the World Bank benchmark.” (https://autojosh.com

And on 17 July, 2023 Arise News reported the picture painted by a civil society group. The Network for Actualisation of Social Growth & Viable Development described “the 50 kilometres Port Harcourt Ring Road contract awarded by Rivers State Government at N195.3b standing at approximately N4b per kilometre as the most expensive road in the world.”

Nigerians’ subscription for democratic dispensation is hinged on the expectation that the welfare of the people shall be the highest law. Speaking at an international forum in Abuja on May 14, 2024, vice president, Kashim Shettima stated that the Renewed Hope Agenda was not just a policy framework. “It is a statement of commitment, a covenant between us and the people...centred on promoting democracy, driving economic development.” What Nigerians look forward to now is government intervention in socio - economic needs such as housing, healthcare, agriculture and education. In the second republic, Shehu Shagari’s presidency attempted a low cost housing scheme for low income earners. The second phase of that modest effort was aborted with the coup of 31st December 1983.Today, the need for affordable housing has soared alongside growth in population.

This has sparked spike in cost of living, especially rises in fuel, electricity and food costs. Implementing toll fees will push up already high transportation fares further. Let the federal government scrap the tolling policy and dismantle the toll gates. EDITORIAL QUESTIONS ON THE FOREST GUARD

In the face of the extravagant nature of our road contracts, the system requires a surgical overhaul. This will free up padded funds for road maintenance and other purposes. Shedding the sector the weight of inflated costs would yield enough for resources to service road infrastructure and get rid of toll gates. Achieving high standards in the construction stages is the next step in realising durable roads. A major cause of poor quality and therefore rapidly

The citizens are already groaning from low purchasing power of the naira as a result of the currency’s recent massive devaluation.

IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

The appointment of Abubakar Sambo as Commissioner for Education in Kaduna State is a choice well made, argues JAPHETH GWAMUOKOR

To casual observers, the minor cabinet reshuffle by Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State midweek was just an administrative routine. But to critical and far thinking watchers of the Uba Sani administration, it was well beyond the announcement of three individuals swapping ministries and a new hand being introduced into the state’s executive council. It essentially affirmed Governor Sani’s positive believe in the power of education as a tool for personal growth and national development and to that extent deserving of all the investments to ensure the attainment of excellence in that sector. It is, therefore, not surprising that he has been uncompromising in this pursuit because it is a liberator of the mind that embraces it. And, so deserving of all necessary support for the growth and development of the state.

In this wise, Governor Uba Sani, in a minor cabinet reshuffle, deliberately made an appointment that stood out and has been the talk of town. It was his choice of the Commissioner for Education in the person of Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo. Prof. Sambo has served as Vice Chancellor of Kaduna State University and the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, at different times. He was also the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN). The consensus among analysts and commentators is that hiring a VC to such a position is rare and it can only be possibly explained by the fact that Uba Sani attaches so much importance to the education sector.

Interestingly, Prof. Sambo replaces Prof. Muhammad Sani-Bello, who has now been redeployed to head the newly created Ministry of Information. A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Ibraheem Musa, last Wednesday said the appointments takes immediate effect, adding that: “Governor Uba Sani expects Prof. Abubakar Sambo to reinvigorate the Education Ministry to deliver on his administration’s agenda, which is aimed at improving access to education, building and rehabilitating infrastructure, enhancing the capacity of teachers, harnessing the capacity of ICT, prioritizing girl-child education and strengthening security in schools,” the statement read.

Without a doubt, the appointment of Prof Sambo is expected to boost the state’s education sector given his impressive track record in academia and administration. He is expected to hit the ground running to deliver on his mandate as spelt out by Governor Uba Sani.

A quick flip through the bio of the new Education Commissioner reveals that Governor Uba Sani must have decidedly gone for the best available in his bid to put a round peg in a round hole.

The new appointee comes into office with an intimidating resume. He is a professor in energy studies and former vice-chancellor of Kaduna State University. He also served as the vicechancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, for nine straight years from 1995 to 2004.

From 1990 to 1994, he served as the deputy vice-chancellor (academic) of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. He also served as the director-general of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) from 2005 to 2012. In 2011, he was appointed as special adviser to the president on energy.

An erudite scholar, Prof. Sambo has served on several high-level panels and committees both in Nigeria and internationally.

He was the Chairman of the Nigerian Committee for Partnership with Brazil on Energy (2007–2008), a Member of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Standing

Committee on Research and Development and Coordinator of the Energy Thematic Group (2020), a Member of the ECOWAS Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) Consultation Committee (2021), and a Member of the African Union High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies.

The new Commissioner for Education, needless to say, is an accomplished academic, administrator, and a recipient of the National Productivity Order of Merit (1997) and Officer of the Order of the Niger (2000).

As far as qualification goes, the new Education Commissioner is literally loaded and a lot is therefore expected of him to help Governor Uba Sani drive his agenda for education in the northwestern state.

All things considered, this appointment underscores the importance Governor Uba Sani attaches to education as a catalyst for development. It represents a significant shift in the educational landscape of the state and reflects the governor’s vision of leveraging education as a tool for sustainable development and self-growth.

Governor Uba Sani has consistently emphasized the role of education in fostering economic growth, social cohesion, and individual empowerment. By appointing a seasoned academic like Prof. Sambo, who has a proven track record in higher education management, the governor signals his commitment to reforming the educational sector in Kaduna State. Prof. Sambo’s extensive experience in academia and administration positions him uniquely to understand the challenges and opportunities within the educational system.

No doubt, Kaduna State, like many states in Nigeria, faces significant challenges in its educational sector, including inadequate infrastructure, the number of out of school children] and a curriculum that often fails to meet the needs of the modern economy.

Prof. Sambo’s appointment comes at a crucial time when there is a pressing need for innovative solutions to these challenges. His background in educational leadership equips him with the insights necessary to implement policies that can enhance the quality of education, improve teacher training, and ensure that students are better prepared for the workforce.

One of the key area where Prof. Sambo can make a substantial impact is in promoting inclusivity and access to education. The governor’s administration has prioritized education for all, recognizing that equitable access is essential for social justice and economic development. Prof. Sambo’s experience in managing a diverse university environment will be invaluable in creating programs that cater to marginalized groups, including girls, rural communities, and children with disabilities. By fostering an inclusive educational environment, the state can harness the potential of all its citizens, driving collective growth and development.

Gwamuokor, an educationist with interest in STEM education, writes from

PIWUNA:

ASUU’S NEW HELMSMAN

ASUU elects Christopher Piwuna, a man well-versed in the struggles, as president, writes JEFF GODWIN DOKI

Christopher Goson Piwuna is a Professor of Psychiatry with the University of Jos, Nigeria. On May 12, 2025, he was elected as the new President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) during the 23rd National Delegate’s Conference held at the University of Benin, Benin city. Christopher Piwuna’s emergence as the President of ASUU is perceived by many analysts as historic and phenomenal in at least two ways among others. First, it is the very first time the minority tribes in Nigeria have produced an ASUU President. Second, he is the first ASUU President with a medical background. But over and above all, Piwuna seems to have possessed a good plentiful store of experience in ASUU principles, ASUU struggles, and, of course, ASUU’s ideology. He served as Financial Secretary of the union at the University of Jos branch in 2013. He became chairperson of ASUU University of Jos Branch in 2015. He rose to the rank of National internal Auditor of the union in 2018. He was elected ASUU vice president in 2021, a position he held until his election as ASUU President on May 12 2025. So, what manner of man is Comrade Chris Piwuna?

Chris Piwuna is a man of many distinguished parts. He is an intellectual worker, an activist and a social mobilizer. He is a detribalized Nigerian and has always been involved in ASUU struggles and has always tried to shape the union’s democratic direction. He is also involved in university administration and he is the current Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Jos. While he served as chairperson of ASUU University of Jos branch, Piwuna had insisted that unionism knows neither tribe nor ethnicity. Proof of this is that he fought tirelessly for the welfare of other sister unions in the university system like SSANU, NASU and NAAT. But in whatever role he had played, Piwuna has always advanced humanity through his principles, courage, uprightness and simple humility. Piwuna relates with all colleagues like comrades of equal status. He is quite cheerful and will always exude a kind of subdued humor with his trade mark, shy smile. Perhaps, it will be no exaggeration to state that it is Piwuna’s simple humility that has made him to tower so high today as evidenced in the overwhelming number of votes he got from delegates across the country. But he is also a passionate lover of life and laughter.

The newASUU President is a fearless and bold activist who is also courageous and controversial not just for the sake of being so or to gain cheap popularity. No! Chris Piwuna is someone who talks frankly and take actions based upon his deep convictions. He is a courageous man who does not hide his position on crucial issues. He has spent great energy and time exhorting the academic community to be upright and brave while at the same time castigating the Nigerian leadership for its total neglect of the education sector and its obsessive corruption which has made a nation, so abundantly endowed, to be wallowing in poverty.In his acceptance speech, the new ASUU leader, in his usual detribalized manner, identified one of the problems that has kept the Nigerian nation traveling on reverse gear---disunity. The famed African literary genius Chinua Achebe had captured this reality, many years ago, in his book The Trouble With Nigeria(1983): Nothing in Nigeria’s political history captures her problem of national integration more graphically than the chequered fortune of the word tribe in her vocabulary. Tribe has been accepted at one time as a friend, rejected as an enemy at another, and finally smuggled in through the back door as an accomplice…..In Nigeria, in spite our protestations, there is plenty of work for tribe.

Piwuna comes across as a man with an unquenchable commitment to fight for justice, freedom and human rights. But he will always insist that this kind of commitment can only be realized if all Nigerians join hands together irrespective of their ethnic and religious differences. In speech after speech, the new President has

shown a distaste for tribal sentiments and the whole idea of ‘ours and theirs’ syndrome which has always been an obstacle to the development of nationhood in Nigeria. So, how do we solve the problem of national integration?

In his acceptance speech also, the new comrade President declared boldly that ASUU, as a union, transcends tribal, ethnic and parochial interests. He also called on all ASUU members to be united. But more than that, Piwuna believes in unity and a synergy between both teaching and non-teaching staff in the university system The new comrade President believes that ASUU is a union that fits the honest, anti-imperialist intellectual who is armed and prepared to fight, in a certain measure, for the elimination of injustice and the mass participation of the people in the ordering of public affairs. This, he insists, can be achieved only when all unions on campus work for the actualization of the same goals and aspirations. The obvious implication is that the new comradePresidentisanadvocateofafreesociety where all citizens will be given priority, where Nigeria as a country will come first, where all citizens will work together sharing in their joys and griefs, their sorrows and ecstasies. The new comrade President has in mind a new Nigeria where all citizens will insist that education is a right and not a privilege; a new Nigeria where all citizens will have faith in the capacity of the people to change their lives, to demonstrate that people are subjects and not just passive objects of development, to insist on certain minimum professional ethics and democratic principles, to reject a society based on corruption, to reject the rule of fear, to reveal that the children of ordinary peasants and workers have a right to free education, to insist that it is the primary responsibility of any responsible government to provide education for all its citizens. But over and above all, the new President would want all Nigerians to unite in order to criticize the policy of privatization of education and the whole program of looting and plundering of our commonwealth. It could be perceived that Piwuna’s ideas smack of a pan-Nigerian outlook.

Finally, one can say with considerable justification that the new ASUU President has some noble ideals just like some other great Nigerian citizens before him. And this brings us to the question whether his ideals would be aspirational or realistic? Would his ASUU colleagues and Nigerian citizens be willing to stand for and speak the truth? The new comrade President has promised, in his acceptance speech, that he is very willing to tear down the veils behind which the truth is hidden.

It is common knowledge that one of the cardinal principles of ASUU is to seek, to find and to tell the truth at all times even at great hazard. It is left to be said that the entire nation is waiting to see the new President engage the Nigerian leadership on issues of education and public affairs.

Abuja

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

QUESTIONS ON THE FOREST GUARD

Nigerians deserve more operational details about the Forest Guard

Although details remain sketchy, President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment and deployment of armed forest guards across the country as part of efforts to reclaim Nigeria’s vast forestlands from criminal elements and strengthen national security. In a recent social media post by the special adviser to the president on public communications and orientation, Sunday Dare, implementation will be coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Federal Ministry of Environment. “The president directed that the forest guards be well trained and armed to flush out terrorists and criminal gangs hiding in the forests,” Dare said.

Nigeria boasts of more than 20 million hectares of natural forests, 966 designated forest reserves, eight national parks, 28 game reserves and 12 strict nature reserves. Considering that insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, etc., have turned these endowments of nature into criminal fiefdoms, we understand the justification for the establishment of Forest Guard. However, we do not believe that the federal government is handling the issue the right way. At a period when many stakeholders are clamouring for locally controlled security forces that can respond quickly and effectively to the needs of their communities, Nigerians deserve more operational details about this Forest Guard, including how their personnel would be recruited.

issue of arms bearing, the federal government may consider placing the new outfit under the Ministry of Interior with established interface with the Ministry of Defence, rather than the Ministry of Environment. It may also be more productive to expand the activities of the existing National Park Service and saddle the personnel with providing intelligence in support of ongoing military operations, especially in the Northeast. They can then be armed with light weapons for self-defence against bandits, criminal gangs and from wild animals.

We must take back our forests and forest reserves from criminal gangs that have turned them into bases from where they launch attacks on homes, schools and road users

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In the 60s and 70s, forestry was a foreign exchange earner for the country through large-scale exportation of timber and wood. Sadly, the reserves have become havens for criminal activities. In Nigeria today, the spate of kidnappings for ransom has become frightening. Inordinate killings are rife. Every Nigerian seems to be living in terror spaces daily, as no time is safe, and no place is sacred. Rather than serve as sanctuaries for endangered plant and animal species, our forests and forests reserves have become the operational headquarters for criminals. From traditional rulers to retired army generals to professors in our universities, nobody is safe from these criminal gangs who have taken over many ungoverned forests across the country. The notorious Sambisa Forest in Borno State, a once flourishing game reserve, still serves as the stronghold of Boko Haram terrorists.

Beyond the challenge of overcentralisation is that of a possible duplication of efforts. Therefore, in establishing the Forest Guard, the federal government must ensure a clear delineation between its role and that of the military to avoid the issue of undue rivalry. Basically, its role must be complementary and supportive to the military, serving as the first layer of defence in the overall protection of our forests. The presidential statement does not suggest that. Yet, the responsibility to flush out terrorists and bandits who hide inside forests for criminal activities may be way beyond the capacity of a traditional guard outfit, except the plan is to create another quasi-military force that may further complicate the current security architecture.

For better coordination and control due to the

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Therefore, we must take back our forests and forest reserves from criminal gangs that have turned them into bases from where they launch attacks on homes, schools and road users. President Tinubu had promised in January 2024 that his administration would confront this menace with the establishment of Forest Guard. But while the idea is good, Nigerians would like to know more about this special security unit being created, their standard operating procedures, recruitment of their personnel and other such critical information. Nigerians would also want to know how the outfit will network with other security agencies to collectively rout the criminals hibernating in our forests.

Over and above all these issues is that of an enabling law to back the establishment of the Forest Guard. As of today, there is none!

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 to the Editor

LETTERS CIVIL SERVANTS AND TENURE EXTENSION

This is to draw attention to a growing practice which threatens the credibility, renewal, and fairness within the Nigerian Civil Service, and that is tenure extensions beyond statutory retirement age in the Federal Civil Service.

Let us all be warned that if the practice is not checked, it may quietly institutionalize injustice and weaken the very reforms the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda seeks to achieve.

It is an increasing trend

where certain career civil servants are granted tenure extensions beyond their statutory retirement period thus drawing serious concerns to the drawbacks of this nefarious practice. Though occasionally rationalized on the grounds of continuity, this practice undermines succession planning, stalls institutional rejuvenation, and denies deserving officers opportunities to serve and grow. This pattern also contravenes

the Public Service Rules (PSR) and retirement protocols, erodes morale and institutional equity, risks fostering favoritism and undermining accountability. Accordingly, if not checked, it may quietly institutionalize injustice and weaken the very reforms the Renewed Hope Agenda seeks to achieve. It is imperative that this administration and all relevant authorities discourage, reject, and investigate such anomalies wherever they exist.

Strict adherence to civil service regulations must be enforced, and mechanisms to detect and prevent tenure abuses strengthened.

President Bola Tinubu should immediately wade into this as Nigeria’s future lies in systems that reward fairness, discipline, and forward planning—not selective privileges. We look forward to an anticipated action on this matter of urgent national importance.

Emmanuel Udom, Kwali, Abuja

Each day after school, nineyear-old Chavah Daniel follows a predictable routine. First, she completes her homework, then takes her mother’s phone, not to take selfies or call a friend, but to play games.

“I play outside with my friends sometimes,” she said, “but I also have tutoring twice a week for my Common Entrance Examination.”

Ten-year-old Crystabel Williams follows a similar path. However, in her case, as the eldest of her two siblings, her responsibilities come first. “I do my house chores, then my homework after which I prepare for the next day at school before I can now play.”

For Crystabel, that play includes hide and seek or taking her mother’s phone to play Block Breaker. These moments of digital play stand in sharp contrast to the childhoods of their parents, many of whom spent afterschool hours outdoors.

Before screens took over, the average Nigerian child interacted with just one: the television, and only from 4 p.m., when stations began broadcasting. Today, screens are ubiquitous. Generation Alpha is immersed in a constant stream of blue light at school, at home, and even during play.

When Play Meant Outdoors

Before the copious use of mobile phones, tablets and apps, childhood was defined by imagination, outdoor games, and storytelling. These memories are now lovingly resurrected on TikTok reels and Instagram posts. The days of running barefoot and free, chasing tyres, clapping hands to Tinko Tinko, or reenacting tales of the tortoise from folklore are long gone.

Childcare nutritionist and project manager Glory Daniel recalled these days with fondness.

“As a child of the 1980s, I have fond memories of a much simpler time before modern technology took over our lives,” she began. “Back then, playing outside with friends: skipping rope, suwe, flying kites, riding wheels and tyres, ludo, otori (hide and seek), Tales by Moonlight, ten-ten, who is in the garden, wording (jokes), riding bikes around the neighbourhood, and letting our imaginations run wild was the norm. Playing outside was pretty much our only option! After school and on weekends, all the kids in my suburban neighbourhood would gather and figure out ways to entertain ourselves.”

Hameedat, a UK-based Nigerian mother described these games as being more than just fun. “I grew up playing games like ten-ten, suwe, boju boju. These weren’t just games; they taught us rhythm, strategy, teamwork and joy in simplicity,” she said.

“We played outside until it got dark, invented our own games, and had a deep connection with our environment, community, and traditions. There was little to no digital exposure. no smartphones, no YouTube, no social media.”

Today, the contrast is stark. A 2021 Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) study showed children now spend between three and ten hours daily on screens, whether watching TV, gaming, or surfing the internet.

Too Much Screen Time, Too Little Real Play

With children spending more recreational time indoors than outdoors, glued to their digital devices, many parents are concerned. Not just by the potential developmental risks, but also by safety concerns that keep children indoors. “During our time, we had playmates, and our parents do not worry about anyone harming their children,” said serial entrepreneur Lina Williams. “But these days, the fear is constant. Many of us lock our kids inside.”

Glory concurred: “We didn’t need screens or WiFi to have fun. We had less screen time. We spent less time watching television as this was the only screen we knew. The TV stations would typically resume at 4 pm and shut down at 10 pm. Many children’s programmes were mostly aired in the early evenings before adults came in to watch the news and other programmes which we could not relate to. Now, the screens are everywhere. The TV stations run for 24 hours and there are more TV stations now than what a kid in the 80s or 90s knew about.”

She also decried the fading of oral traditions.

“We were told folktales about the Tortoise, featured in almost all the African folktales we were told by our parents, grandparents, and teachers. We grew up believing different things about the tortoise, about how it got its rough shell and how it was a mischievous animal. No one talks about the tortoise

Raising Children in a Digital Age

As Children’s Day, celebrated every May 27, draws near, Vanessa

Obioha explores how growing up with screens differs from a more analogue childhood. She speaks to mothers and children navigating the complexities of digital-age parenting.

anymore and kids nowadays do not believe any of the tales we believed in the 80s and the 90s. I’m so grateful I got to be a kid during that era before increased digital immersion drastically changed childhood.”

Hameedat is equally worried about overexposure.

“The screen time can easily get excessive and there’s a lot out there that isn’t age appropriate. The influence of social media and digital trends is strong even toddlers are picking up slang and attitudes from online platforms.”

Both Lina and Glory admitted to monitoring their children’s digital habits.

“I try as much to reduce her screen time by opting for educational and ageappropriate content that encourages learning and engagement,” said Glory.

“I control what she watches online. And she is not allowed to pick up my phone or her tablet without my consent,” added Lina.

What We Gain and What We Lose

While many parents mourn the lost innocence of unplugged play, they also recognise the digital age’s upsides.

“My child is growing up in a digital age where screens are everywhere from educational apps to entertainment. They’re learning faster, becoming more tech-savvy, and are often more aware of the world than we ever were at their age, even learning emotional intelligence through certain platforms,” said Hameedat.

“Digital devices offer children valuable opportunities for learning, creativity, and social connection and a strong cognitive ability; children today are much more connected, with immediate access to an unlimited amount of information,” added Glory.

But all of these come at a cost.

“Children’s attention span has diminished over the years, largely due to constant stimulation by screens,” said Glory. “There are lots of harmful content and behaviours online. It also reduces face-toface interactions.

“They’re also losing some of the slower joys of childhood unstructured play, patience, physical activities, and real-world interactions. There’s a risk of becoming too overstimulated or disconnected from their immediate environment,” said Hameedat.

Passing Down Play

To preserve childhood traditions, some parents are intentionally sharing their own games with their kids.

“My daughter and I play the Tinko Tinko game,” said Glory. The game involves two partners or a group of people facing each other, clapping and interchanging palms and slamming the hands of their partner in a rhythmic pattern while singing the theme song: Tinko! Tinko!! Tinkoko Tinko.

Wasiu Adegbola, a civil servant and father of six also plans to teach his children some of the childhood games he grew up with.

“There are local games I am trying to pass on to them like suwe, paper canoe, and building sand houses.”

But for Hameedat whose children are growing up abroad, the fear of cultural loss looms larger. “It’s not just about the games; it’s about the memories, the culture, and the way those games built community. They taught us social skills in ways that screens can’t. I worry that if we’re not intentional, those experiences may disappear. That’s why I make conscious efforts to introduce those games at home and even teach them the songs and stories we grew up with. If we don’t pass them on, they’ll fade.”

Children See More Than Just Fun

Parents may worry about the digital recreation permeating classrooms and homes, but for children like Chavah and Crystabel, digital play is more than a distraction; it’s also a learning tool. Chavah enjoys puzzle and logic games, as well as suwe and Tinko, which her mother taught her. Crystabel watches animations like King Julien on Netflix and YouTube.

“I learn good morals and skills, like interior design, from cartoons,” she said. “I want to make my parents proud.” Both Chavah and Crystabel expressed a desire to create their own games.

“I would create a treasure hunt around the yard game,” said Chavah.

Crystabel, on the other hand, leaned toward a more purposeful design.

“I would create a game that is educational for children and helps adults save wisely.”

Chavah urges adults to try to understand their world.

“Grown-ups must put themselves in our shoes and investigate the complexities of the world we live in today. It is a journey that demands patience, sensitivity, and adaptability.”

Finding the Balance

As screens become a permanent fixture in children’s lives, many parents believe the solution lies in balance. “Digital tools can be incredibly educational when used properly,” said Hameedat. “It’s about balance and ensuring the content they’re exposed to helps build them, not break them.”

Childhood may never return to what it once was. But with intention, guidance, and a little nostalgia, today’s children can still experience the magic of play, both online and offline.

children playing games on digital devices

2027 Politics: Ben Kalu’s Needless Battles With South-east Governors

If the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) hope to secure votes and reasonable support from the South-east zone in the 2027 general election, this is the time they must call the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, to order and separate themselves from his ill-advised current brand of politics.

There is no doubt that Kalu’s power tussle with South-east governors will never be a plus to APC in the region. Instead, the path he has chosen will certainly jeopardise Tinubu’s chances in 2027.

Tinubu and all the people that claim to represent his interest need to make more friends in the South-east than to create enemies or to initiate secret political power rivalries.

It remains to be known why Kalu believes he will proceed further from where he currently finds himself today by daring those he should woo to accept him as a leader?

To navigate his 2027 reelection ambition, what Tinubu needs now are men and women, including young ones, wise and humble enough to win powerful friends for him. He does not need politicians who believe they have arrived and that this is the time to take over political leaderships in their zones.

I am therefore of the opinion that it would be better for President Tinubu to work with experienced grassroots politicians with genuine structures and support or with dynamic young leaders who understand how to win acceptance and support of entrenched forces.

This is opposed to celebration of social media noise from empty opportunists boasting of leadership positions merely derived from recent plum appointments, positions or other happenstances.

Like many others before him, I agree that an ordinary upstart in any area of life can genuinely grow to rapidly emerge a leader, especially when Grace choses to smile at such an upstart. This is also possible if such an upstart to whom nature has smiled on, genuinely and humbly appreciates his true position within the socio-economic and political structure; is humble enough to admit it and to work with the existing leaders and seniors.

This is the attitude one expects from Kalu, who though Nigeria’s number six citizen today (if there’s anything like that), must know his level of political influence at his zone before his lucky emergence as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

It is believed that if Kalu does this and taking cognizance of the Grace he enjoys today, even the real leaders of the political structures in the South-east and beyond will have no option than to accept him as one of the top emerging leaders of the existing structures and the polity.

It is at this point that he would genuinely emerge as a true asset to APC in 2027, and not by making rather provoking utterances like claims that Tinubu has done so much for the South-east and that Mr. President will therefore get up to 70% of South-east votes in 2027.

If anything, such utterance either sounds like a deliberate deception of President Tinubu and his party or like the worst display of insensitivity towards the hurting sentiments of the good people of the South-east.

It is unfortunate today that Kalu does not seem to accept the need to be realistic and to consider the genuine feelings of his people in the South-east before taking certain actions or making certain utterances.

Given the high office he currently occupies, it seems his aides and other praise singers around him have sold the wrong propaganda to him that he has already emerged the political leader of the South-

east and that he is that one man today who should be relied upon to deliver the South-east to President Tinubu.

This probably explains his current attitude, utterances and relationship with existing political leaders and elders, including elected serving state governors.

Although he has consistently dismissed media reports of possible rifts between him and governors of the South-east states of Abia, Enugu, Anambra, Imo and Ebonyi since the launch of the Peace in South East Project, which was unveiled in Bende in 2024, insiders say his attitude, utterances and actions show otherwise.

This explains why he resolved to rub shoulders with the owners of firm structures instead of making efforts to buy into them.

While one may not say outrightly now how this his chosen political strategy may pan out in the 2027 elections for him, it is important to point out that it does not seem to

be the right approach that can help launder the poor image of President Tinubu and that of his party, the APC in the South-east.

So, it baffles any informed political observer why Mr. President and his party, APC, are still condoning Kalu’s infantile choice of confronting rooted leaders, with the belief that it is a viable political strategy?

As the so-called number six official in Nigeria, we agree that Kalu, with near zero personal political structure in the South-east, has enjoyed enormous God’s grace, given his rapid elevation to his current plum position.

But given the way he is going about it today, any concerned observer is bound to say he seems to have grossly overrated his political strength in the South-east today.

Take the case of his home state, Abia State, a Labour Party state under firm control of Governor Alex Otti, does it not sound ridiculous to hear a Kalu labouring hard to give an impression that he currently has what it takes to deliver it to Tinubu and to APC?

The truth is that Governor Otti has done so well with his developmental projects in the once neglected state that he has emerged Nigeria’s most respected and loved state governor, not only in Abia, where he is sure

of reelection. As a result of good governance, the masses and their leaders in Abia are solidly behind Otti. Insiders and keen observers alike agree that Dr. Otti, even before he finally emerged the state governor actually gained unrivalled support of the common people of Abia, across the state, including in Bende Federal Constituency, which Kalu currently represents.

Besides his real political influence in Abia State of today, Otti has high reach network of politicians across the country and is known to have the ears of President Tinubu though they are not in the same political party.

Compared to Otti’s genuine influence and support in Abia, even Kalu’s Peace in the South East Project must be seen for what it is, a mere publicity and social media stunt that has had no effect in the zone.

Kalu must be playing politics whenever he assures Tinubu that he will return to him 70% of South-east votes. Is the handsome young lawmaker even sure of his own reelection?

His state, Abia, being a Labour Party state with labour in clear majority, both in the State Assembly and National Assembly, do we need to tell Kalu here again that his reelection to the House of Representatives in 2027 will be a herculean task considering the micro zoning in his Bende Federal Constituency which is against him?

Insiders know that in 2023 elections, Kalu only rode on certain local sentiments to win the legislative seat. Today, if there is any thing he should be doing, it should be to pray that he wins his seat again on the platform f the APC before boasting of giving 70% of South-east votes to the president and to the party.

As an objective observer, who is not dragging any political position with Kalu and his political enemies today, I can tell you that from his attitude and unprovoked confrontational approach to politics against more rooted state governors and other entrenched elder political lord’s in the South-east region, he is doing more damage to Tinubu and APC than he seems to know.

If he hopes to do better in the South-east in 2027 elections, President Tinubu needs to curtail this his so-called number six man and other such representatives of his party in the region.

Besides his ill-advised battles with South-east governors and other leaders, Kalu has committed other blunders that may not help his future political fortunes. For example, some stakeholders in Abia State politics today describe his appointment of someone that is linked to sundry allegations in the state as his Chief of Staff as evidence of lack of due diligence on his part. This is worsened by his curious decision not to respond to concerned calls on him to explain the extent of his involvement in the ENSCO saga.

He is also believed to be at loggerhead with some South-east governors, especially Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and Nwifuru of Ebonyi State for allegedly doctoring the list of nominees of the South-east Development Commission. This is currently seriously challenging his political image in the region.

Kalu as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, may have, without doubt, emerged a leader of considerable significance today, but it seems necessary to tell him that with the right attitude and approach, he still has so much to achieve. He needs to know that to achieve true leadership position, he may need to make more sober assessment of his strategies, claims and true political value to APC, Tinubu’s reelection ambition and his Bende Federal Constituency in the 2027 elections and beyond.

Ezewudo writes from Arochukwu, Abia State.

Uche ezewudo

tinubu

Kalu

Leading with Love Yemi davids

Considered an outsider when appointed as the Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos Chapter, last year, Pastor Yemi Davids is now seen as the bridge between the young and old in the polarised Christian body. He tells Vanessa Obioha his thoughts on mindset change, leadership in Nigeria, and his mission to restore trust in the church.

We Need Love-centred Leadership in Nigeria

It has been a demanding period for Pastor Yemi Davids, founder of Global Impact Church. Since he was appointed Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos Chapter, last August, his responsibilities have grown more complex, requiring more attention. Yet, if the pressure weighed on him, it didn’t show. Walking into his tastefully furnished office on a recent Thursday afternoon, dressed in navy blue trousers and a crisp white shirt, Davids exuded the calm confidence of a strategist. His composed demeanour and sharp wit complemented his approachable charm, which was evident throughout our conversation. At one point, he joked about his love for rearing animals, saying, “I like to raise them for seven months, and then eat them afterwards.”

An indigene of Ogun State, Davids comes from a humble background. His mother, determined to give him a good education, often found herself at odds with his father, who preferred he attend a public school in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, where they lived.

“There were lots of arguments between my mother and father because of that decision,” he recalled.

fellowship thing. It was not easy then.”

His parents would eventually accept his decision after also becoming born again.

Davids would go on to become a campus pastor at Obafemi Awolowo University, where he studied Urban and Regional Planning, and even wrote to Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church Worldwide for mentorship while in university. He got a reply two years later. He founded Global Impact Church in his 20s and now in his late 40s, he has assumed a role that could sometimes be challenging.

Last August, Davids emerged as the Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Lagos chapter. PFN is an umbrella body for several Pentecostal churches in Nigeria, promoting unity and cooperation among them, but the body is sometimes riddled with internal politics, thereby making some clergymen stay on the sidelines, particularly the younger pastors.

“Things have happened in the Pentecostal body in Lagos for some years that have kept some part of the body of Christ in Lagos away, perhaps based on their perception,” he shared. “Some of us were also kind of not fully involved, but we’ve been involved one way or the other. The national president, Bishop Wale Oke wanted some inclusivity, that is, those people who had not been fully involved or not even involved at all. His own thought was to let someone in that bloc step out to contest.”

Davids revealed he was approached to contest for the leadership of Lagos Chapter. Ordinarily, he shared, he wouldn’t have contested.

“I would have wanted someone else to contest. It took a lot to be persuaded to do it. Maybe because I also understand how the body — the body of Christ — works. Not one church can do it, so it has to be a collective effort. Because I have a passion for that on the side, that also made me consider it. So I said, okay, at least it’s not that I’m assuming the role automatically, there will be an election. I remember praying that, even if it’s just by one vote, let me lose the election so it wouldn’t look like I said no, and the system also said no. But I won the election.”

of education they had is different but they did their own part. Don’t now say because you are more tech-savvy and more exposed, you can now dishonour them. No, don’t do that. You’re going to grow old one day. So, the question is, can you please learn some things from them that will help you grow while you have your newness, your paradigm, which is fine, praise God. But there are things you can pick from them. But if you don’t honour them, you will lose that thing, and you’ll pay dearly for it.

He buttressed his point with the story of Saul and David.

“Saul was so passionate about killing Goliath that he gave his armour to David but David said he can’t use it, rather he chose to use his sling and stone. Can you imagine if Saul had insisted he used his armour? If David had tried that, he would have been dead. So, the older people must agree that the ways of doing things now are different.”

Part of the work Davids is also doing at PFN Lagos Chapter is training pastors, particularly those with politics and governance shaping through the Directorate of Politics and Governance (DPG).

“I once said something in a forum some time ago that we are used to Bible schools in Nigeria, well, Africa, and which is good, but don’t forget, if you train a lot of carpenters and you don’t train painters, you will have good carpentry work, but bad painting. Bible schools are good, but don’t blame the members of the church when they go into politics and they mess up because there’s no training for them.”

He clarified that the DPG is not tasked to support a political party, or have a particular party to win an election. Rather it is to “educate the body of Christ about PVC, about voting, and how we can also develop the kind of training systems. Believe me, if things are going to be different in Nigeria, it’s going to take maybe two or three decades but the journey must start now because if we don’t, things are going to get worse.”

As one who is passionate about African leadership, he considers love as the foundation of leadership.

“What we are missing is love-centred leadership where the love for humanity comes first and inspires the kind of projects you embark on as leaders.”

“But my mother hustled to pay my fees. She was very entrepreneurial, finding opportunities like subcontracting painters for buildings to make ends meet.”

It was during his secondary school years at Abeokuta Grammar School that he discovered his calling, joining the Scripture Union and beginning his journey in ministry.

“When I come home, our neighbours attend Baptist church. My mom used to attend Anglican. So, the neighbors that go to Baptist would persuade her to let me attend their church. You know, that kind of energy as young boys. I used to go with them to Baptist church. That Baptist experience started the journey.”

His dedication to ministry was not embraced by his parents initially.

“My mom and dad were not really born again then,” he shared. “And you know, in secondary school, the energy is there, and there are certain things we were taught. So, when you go home for a holiday, and you refuse to do certain things, they are puzzled. They ask you why, and you tell them that you are born again; they are like, what is that? And then maybe your grades were not up to par, they would easily conclude that it’s that

With this new mantle of leadership, the clergyman is committed to unifying the body but first, he has to confront his most daunting challenge: mindset.

“It’s just our society where you have older people who are in the system, and maybe set in their ways. And you’re coming with innovative ideas and new things, and you don’t want to push because you have to put yourself in their shoes, too. That process for a younger person sometimes can be daunting.”

Davids is now seen as the bridge between the old and the young, working towards restoring trust in the church.

“If I’m sent to you, and I know you don’t trust me, I’ve lost my job. So, God sent us as pastors to people, but when the people you are sent to don’t like you, don’t believe in you, then it’s going to be a lot of work. What can we do to change that?”

“And about being a bridge,” he continued. “The challenge we also have with younger people is this, they try to take the old generation for granted but I strongly discourage that. I’m close to them (the old) a bit, and understand their own situation. Like your parents, they can never think like you, because the kind

Concerning criticisms about the church being responsible for some of the problems in Nigeria, Davids said he has mixed feelings about such thoughts.

“First, I’m happy to think like that. That means they’re expecting a lot from the church,” he said but on the other hand, “I don’t like when they put the inefficiencies of governance on the church. Face the government. Don’t make it look like the church caused the bad roads. People say that most of the warehouses are now used as churches, was it the church that chased away the factories? No. In fact, it’s a plus that the church is making good use of the warehouses but don’t blame them for the exodus of most of these factories. Most of them left because of maybe escalation of exchange rates, economic policies and it didn’t start with the current government.”

If there is one thing Davids hopes the body would achieve is regulation in the church so that people will not fall victims to fake pastors which has become rampant.

However, he hopes to leave a legacy of relevance at the end of his tenure.

“I don’t like the wrong sentiments about pastors and churches out there today, I would want a mind shift. And I would also want younger leadership. I would love to hand it over to a younger person.”

Davids

HighLife

Charles Akinola: Right Peg in Right Hole

By every measure—academic rigour, administrative acumen, and a knack for transformative governance—Dr Charles Akinola was never going to stay on the sidelines for long. On May 8, 2025, President Bola Tinubu did what one might call the inevitable: he appointed Dr Akinola as the inaugural Managing Director of the South West Development Commission (SWDC). In that moment, policy met pragmatism. And yes, a square peg found its square hole.

The news sparked applause not only from technocrats but from royalty. The Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye II, called it “gratifying.” Across Yoruba land, the appointment felt less like a political gesture and more like a long-overdue strategic deployment.

Akinola brings more than flair to the table. He brings three decades of navigating public policy and international development—with sleeves rolled, numbers crunched, and livelihoods lifted. From Harvard lecture halls to the scrubbed corridors of state government in Osun, his journey has been less about titles and more about traction.

As Chief of Staff to a sitting governor, Akinola was the quiet engine behind wage reforms, educational revitalization, and economic restructuring. Earlier, as Director General of the Office of Economic Development and Partnerships, he designed and delivered O-REAP, an audacious agricultural program that turned policy into plate.

And then there’s the poetry of it all. Dr Akinola didn’t just advocate for the South West Development Commission. He chaired the committee that birthed it. Now, the midwife becomes the steward.

It’s rare in public appointments to see such elegant symmetry: the man who shaped the vision is now tasked with its execution. For a region itching for infrastructure, investment, and inclusive growth, Akinola is not just a safe bet. He is the blueprint

with KAYoDe ALFreD 08116759807, E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous Who Will Fund Atiku’s Presidential Elections?

He’s run for Nigeria’s presidency almost as many times as Nigeria has held democratic elections since 1999. Six tries, six flameouts. Yet Atiku Abubakar, the indefatigable former vice president, is back on the starting block, again.

But this time, the question is not whether he’ll run, it’s who will pay for the privilege. Atiku is rich. Of course, he is. A man who once helmed Nigeria’s customs and built a sprawling logistics empire doesn’t come cheap. But even for a wealthy septuagenarian with a vault of political IOUs, financing a Nigerian presidential campaign in 2027 is no solo sport.

In 2023, insiders whispered that former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was not just Atiku’s running mate but also one of the financial contributors. With Okowa’s clout dimmed and governors defecting faster than umbrellas in a harmattan storm, the PDP looks more like a drying river than a party with presidential ambitions.

Meanwhile, rumours abound: some say

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady of the

more governors are eyeing the ruling party. Others claim Atiku, Peter Obi, and even Nasir El-Rufai have quietly settled on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a vessel for a grand opposition coalition. Still, the question of money hangs over it all like dust over an Abuja expressway.

In the age of billion-naira billboards and vote-charming caravans, Nigeria’s elections are not run on goodwill alone. The APC’s war chest is swollen. Obi’s Labour Party has grassroots fervour and diaspora dollars. But Atiku? He has political breadth, yes—but breadth doesn’t write cheques.

And yet, he might just be the establishment’s last, best fallback: not too radical, not too risky. A northern elder with southern reach. The only man who can thread 25% of the vote in twothirds of Nigeria’s states without setting off elite panic.

Still, even a familiar face needs new financiers. The stage is set. The players are restless. And in a country where loyalty shifts

First Lady’s Politics of Peace and Love

Federal Republic, has chosen a softer, more surprising language: peace. Not as a campaign promise or media choreography, but as quiet architecture—a methodical, almost motherly shaping of public life with dignity kits, digital hubs, and deep-chest freezers.

Her politics of peace is neither passive nor ornamental. It manifests through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), a humanitarian engine humming beneath the noise of national headlines. Just last week in Rivers State, 500 women across 23 local government areas received economic lifelines - ovens, generators, and freezers. In Ibadan, she cut the ribbon on a digital centre named after Chief (Mrs.) Onikepo Akande, planting another seed in Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem. Ten more centres are in the pipeline, spanning from Katsina to Yobe, each a quiet rebellion against exclusion. When Mrs. Tinubu speaks, her tone is

pastoral, but her agenda is structural. “Our programs are not political,” she said at the Ibadan ICT launch, and perhaps that is the most political statement of all. Her office has nudged health, technology, and women’s empowerment into the heart of the national conversation.

Cervical cancer prevention, digital literacy, gendered poverty reduction—these are not glamorous causes. They don’t make for campaign rallies, but they do change lives. Twelve million girls were vaccinated against HPV in nine months. A billion naira was injected into the National Cancer Fund. These numbers whisper what billboards cannot: a method, not a moment.

Of course, in the grand hall of Nigerian politics, even kindness gets questioned. Critics wonder if it’s all optics. But ask the women of Port Harcourt or the schoolchildren of Oyo State, and you’ll get no political treatise: just thanks.

So, is this peace? Certainly. Or perhaps it’s just a First Lady who prefers policy with a pulse, care with a consequence and impact without applause. And in today’s Nigeria, that feels like a revolution in soft focus.

Oluwatosin Adedeji: The Quiet Pillar Behind a Tax Titan

In the whirlwind of public service, where spotlights burn hot and scrutiny is relentless, some figures remain intentionally out of focus. Oluwatosin Adedeji is one of them.

While her husband, Dr. Zacch Adedeji— Nigeria’s current tax czar and a reformer with a penchant for internal efficiency—has risen steadily through the corridors of policy and fiscal strategy, Oluwatosin has stayed largely in the shadows. And yet, if proximity to power is a form of influence, she may be one of the quiet architects of his ascent.

Their story, stitched in loyalty and ambition, began long before boardrooms and headlines. Friends describe her not as a socialite or a public player but as a stabilizing constant—a listener, strategist, and at times, the unfiltered mirror her husband needed during tough policy choices.

Of course, her name emerged controversially last year when reports

alleged irregularities surrounding her appointment as Chief Accountant at the National Sugar Development Council, then under her husband’s leadership. Critics pounced. Supporters countered with context: competence, they said, shouldn’t be dimmed by proximity.

But that episode—however uncomfortable—misses a broader truth. For Zacch, who is recalibrating the Federal Inland Revenue Service with reforms to internalize 80% of agency functions and reduce consultant dependency, home has never been mere escape. It is the headquarters.

By every indication, Zacch is deliberate, and Tosin is part of that deliberation—his compass, especially when the political winds change. She rarely grants interviews, and her public trail is sparse, almost calculatedly so. Whether by choice or necessity, she has become the kind of figure Nigerian public

For Senator Solomon Adeola, It’s a Proud Moment

In the quiet town of Ilaro, nestled in the industrial heart of Ogun West, drums of joy are beating. Not metaphorically. Literally. The people are celebrating, and for good reason: their polytechnic, long a bastion of technical training, has finally been elevated to a Federal University of Technology. And the man behind the curtain—or rather, firmly at the centre stage—is Senator Solomon Adeola, better known to his people as “Yayi.”

It is the kind of legislative triumph that sings. For a district

long passed over in the federal university sweepstakes, this moment isn’t just about infrastructure or degrees; it’s about visibility, validation, and vision.

President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the bill, announced with a flourish by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, confirmed what many in Ogun West had hoped for but hardly dared to expect: that their years of lobbying, led doggedly by Yayi across three Senate sessions, had finally paid off.

“I started this journey in 2016,” Yayi recalled, a rare mix of political stamina and local loyalty in his voice. “We were

life

the only district in Ogun without a federal university. Now, we’re on the map.” And indeed, they are—firmly inked in federal ink. For the people of Ogun West, this is a reckoning. With robust infrastructure already in place, and a pipeline of skilled personnel, the new Federal University of Technology, Ilaro, arrives not as an aspiration but as a ready-made institution. A declaration that Ogun West is not an afterthought but a destination. For Yayi, it’s also a prelude. With whispers of a governorship bid humming in the background, this moment feels less like a political crescendo than the opening chords of a bigger symphony. If the university is a gift to his people, it is also a signal: Yayi isn’t done yet. Not by a long shot

Tinibu

In an age when Nigerian politics often trades in loud gestures and louder silences,

Abubakar

Adeola

Akinola

like Lagos traffic, who bankrolls Atiku may well determine if his seventh act ends in history or in quiet retirement.

often forgets: the intentional enabler, not seeking applause but impact by proxy.

Zacch and oluwatosin Adedeji

Dangote’s Worthy Inclusion in TIME100 Philanthropy 2025

Africa’s most prominent industrialist, Aliko Dangote, has once again earned global recognition, this time not for his formidable business empire, but for his far-reaching philanthropic influence. TIME Magazine has named him among the 100 most influential global figures shaping the future of giving in its 2025 TIME100 Philanthropy List.

Listed under the Titans category, Dangote’s profile in the issue highlights a powerful truth: wealth alone does not define influence—impact does. Through the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), endowed with $1.25 billion, his philanthropy has moved beyond traditional charity to structural interventions addressing Africa’s critical challenges. TIME acknowledges this, noting how Dangote has systematically channelled his resources to “give back to the continent that facilitated his success,” in ways that are both immediate and long-term.

In the last year alone, ADF has recommitted to an unprecedented food relief operation, aiming to distribute over one million bags of rice

Remembering Otunba Michael Balogun Two Years After…

By now, the name Otunba Michael Balogun has passed from the page of business headlines into the gloss of legacy. But two years since his passing, one still feels the echo of his voice—in finely cut pinstripe suits, hands clasped in prayer, eyes twinkling with a mix of commerce and conviction.

To call him a banker is to say the Eiffel Tower is tall. It is the truth, but a truth that misses the poetry.

Balogun did not merely find First City Merchant Bank (now FCMB). He reimagined what banking could mean in Nigeria: owner-managed, private-sector driven, unapologetically excellent. Long before fintech made suits look slow, Balogun insisted that dignity and discipline were cornerstones of finance. His bank had a private dining room before most had corporate plans. Staff wore dark suits, not as an affectation, but as an assertion.

Born in Ijebu-Ode in 1934, his life tracked

There are birthdays, and then there are moments that feel like quiet revolutions wrapped in cake and candlelight. On May 18, the world gains not just another day, but a renewed presence in the form of Dr. Elizabeth Jack-Rich—philanthropist, entrepreneur, wife, mother, and daughter of two nations.

the arc of Nigeria’s transformation. He read law at the London School of Economics, worked as a Crown Counsel, and then pivoted into finance at the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank. But his grand leap came in 1983, when he opened the doors to FCMB—styled not just as a bank, but as a personal expression of entrepreneurial faith.

A devout Christian with a Muslim heritage, he embodied the gentler paradoxes of Nigeria’s plural identity. His philanthropy, anchored in the Otunba Tunwase Foundation, flowed toward children’s health, education, and community care. He built a pediatric centre in Ijebu-Ode and gifted it to the University College Hospital, Ibadan without fanfare.

He held titles as rich as his legacy: Otunba Tunwase of Ijebuland, Olori Omoba, and Asiwaju of Ijebu Christians. Yet none of these ever outshone his quiet credo: that wealth meant little unless it served others.

Otunba Balogun died in London on May 18, 2023. He was 89.

across Nigeria. This sits alongside its $100 million multi-year investment in combating childhood malnutrition, one of the largest interventions of its kind on the continent.

Beyond nutrition and hunger, Dangote’s philanthropic footprint extends deeply into healthcare, with collaborative vaccine initiatives involving the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other global actors.

Education also remains a pillar, with recent pledges including $10 million to the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology in Kano, and an expansion of vocational training and school infrastructure across underserved Nigerian communities.

That Dangote’s influence has been reaffirmed in 2025, more than a decade after his first appearance in TIME’s global list of influential people, is a testament to sustained commitment. It is also a reminder that African philanthropy—when strategically aligned with indigenous needs and led from within—can reshape futures at scale.

Today, bankers still quote his standards, communities still benefit from his kindness, and history continues to nod approvingly at the man who dared to build a monument— first in finance, then in hearts.

Celebrating Elizabeth Jack-Rich as She Turns a New Year

Born in 1993 to a Jewish-Israeli father and a Nigerian mother from Ondo State, Elizabeth Jack-Rich grew up with more grit than glamour. Her early years read like a fable of faith meeting fire—a girl from modest means who refused to remain unseen. From bus attendant to business magnate, her story defies gravity.

Today, she stands at the helm of Elin Group, a multifaceted conglomerate with stakes in energy, aviation, agriculture, and real estate. But even as her empire spans continents, her mission remains anchored in service. Through the Elizabeth Jack-Rich Aid Foundation, she channels success into social impact—building futures, funding dreams, and fostering dignity for Nigeria’s underserved.

Education sharpened her resolve. A graduate of the University of Applied Sciences and Management, Porto-Novo, with advanced studies at Cambridge and Harvard, Dr. Jack-Rich blends intellectual discipline with

instinctive empathy. That combination powers her women-centered initiative, ORUWODI, which equips rural women with tools for economic independence— not out of charity, but as a blueprint for generational change.

Her philanthropic reach is matched only by her boundless optimism. She is the type to declare that she has been blessed to impact her generation.

Married to Tein T.S. Jack-Rich— oil magnate and former presidential aspirant—the power couple is a study in shared vision and amplified influence. Together, they model a fusion of ambition and altruism, reminding Nigeria that greatness need not be loud to be lasting.

So today, the one being celebrated is a true beacon. Dr. Jack-Rich isn’t merely a woman of influence. She is a reminder that hope, once stirred, can become contagious. And oh, what a beautiful contagion that is.

Aisha Babangida: Another Beautiful Year for the Humanitarian

The present world is one in which quiet power often hums louder than noise. But in this same world, Aisha Babangida has mastered the art of doing much and saying little. With her birthday pinned today, Sunday, May 25, there’s something both poetic and purposeful about the life she leads: a humanitarian whose compass points steadily toward the underserved, the unseen, and the uncelebrated.

Born into one of Nigeria’s most recognizable families, Aisha could have easily chosen the ceremonial life of a socialite. Instead, she inherited her late mother’s conviction like a well-worn heirloom and refashioned it for her own generation. As Chairperson of the Better Life Program for the African Rural Woman, she took a legacy rooted in compassion and scaled it for impact—regionally, financially, and structurally.

But Aisha is no curator of nostalgia. She is a builder.

Since 2016, she has seeded change with the

founding of the Egwafin Microfinance Bank, offering financial access to those for whom traditional banking remains a locked door. In 2018, she launched the Women Enterprise Alliance, a bold platform connecting female entrepreneurs to capital and mentorship in a market that often asks women to bootstrap without boots.

And there’s more: the Tasnim Foundation, quietly paying tuition for girls in rural villages; the Aisha Babangida Leadership Foundation, training tomorrow’s leaders today. These aren’t token gestures. They are system-level nudges disguised as kindness.

Her worldview is global—Webster University Geneva, Wharton, INSEAD— but her heartbeat is local. She speaks of microfinance, not as a concept but as a justice tool. She doesn’t simply empower women, she alters the architecture of access.

So, yes, it’s her birthday. But in a country aching for doers, it feels like a celebration for all of us. Her honours—the Crans Montana Gold

Medal, Youth Mentorship Awards, and more—are less about prestige and more about proof.

Another beautiful year in the bag? Certainly. But for Aisha, the work is always ahead, never behind.

Abdulsamad Rabiu’s Quiet Revolution

In an era where billionaires often recede behind high gates and higher margins, Abdulsamad Rabiu emerges—not as a tycoon cloaked in distance, but as a man pulling the levers of goodwill in broad daylight. He has money, yes—billions of it— but far rarer is what he does with it: infusing capitalism with conscience, and proving, one grain of rice at a time, that business can, in fact, have a soul.

After a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Rabiu left with a mission. Within weeks, Nigeria’s rice market, long held hostage by hoarders and speculators, saw prices tumble— from a peak of N110,000 per 50kg bag to nearly half that. No subsidies. No grandstanding. Just sheer industrial muscle and strategic compassion.

BUA Group, Rabiu’s economic empire, is not new to lifting markets. It has done it with cement, sugar, flour, and even pasta. But this latest rice revolution hits differently. Because in Nigeria, rice is more than food—it is ritual, it is comfort, it is survival. By flooding the supply chain, Rabiu collapsed a predatory pricing system and defanged a cartel. That’s not just intervention— it’s insurgency. Of the noblest kind.

But Rabiu doesn’t stop at markets. He has frozen cement prices on public projects, cushioning national infrastructure at a time when inflation would rather chew it up. Alongside Aliko Dangote, he’s also pledged N20 billion yearly to revive the Cement Technology Institute, ensuring tomorrow’s builders don’t just carry blocks— but skill, pride, and vision.

In all this, there are no televised handouts. No hashtagged fanfare. Just results—precise, scalable, and replicable. And in the wings, President Tinubu’s phrase lingers: economic patriotism. It fits Rabiu like a well-cut suit.

To call him a philanthropist is accurate but insufficient. He is a practitioner of humanized capitalism—where rice becomes dignity, cement becomes hope and business finally becomes a force for the common good.

Dangote

Balogun

Babangida

Jack-rich

rabiu

eter o bi: A wandering p ilgrim

SeYI TINUbU:

From rome wITH Love

From what I see ooooo, there is no way that Nigeria should not break all diplomatic ties with the Vatican and just ban the importation of crucifix from the place. Mbok, did you see how they gently redirected our first son? That is just so wrong, if the man wanted to go and hug the Pope, then he should have been allowed to.

It is not up to Vatican officials to decide if or when our son can greet the Pope or do anything else he wishes inside the Vatican, including using the Pope’s private restroom.

I wish leprosy on the hand of that “oyibo” who gently redirected our leader the way we used to redirect flood water in Shomolu when it flows to where “e no suppose flow.”

This is the thing with the outside world. They do not understand us, talk less of understanding our hierarchy. I blame Bayo Onanuga for this lapse. He should have sent the memo to his Vatican colleagues ahead of time, warning them of the dignitaries on our delegation and instructing them on what to do.

Imagine touching the elbow of our Seyiif you see how the thing is paining me ehn. Even when Obama touched Queen

If you map Mr. Obi’s movements, like I have been doing for the past year, you will scream. The man is everywhere. No wonder he wears only black. Even his sneakers and socks are black, and I am sure he wears black undies or perhaps nothing under?

From Vatican to Umuahia, to one birthday party in Lekki to Abeokuta, and then back to Umunede before proceeding to London, to Kigali, and back to carry Onyeka to the hospital, all in one day o.

This one has passed Ajala – the iconic Yoruba man who was famed to have travelled all over the world on his scooter.

Mbok, the whole thing is beginning to look one kind and I am sure it is not only me that is complaining. I can bet my last 10k that even Madam is complaining about inactivity in the other room because with these kinds of

Elizabeth, didn’t you see the uproar?

Now this low official that I am sure is not even qualified to open the door for our son is now getting world attention by this crap he just did. He will soon write a book now on this encounter. Please, a full apology should be demanded from the Vatican for this breach and in that apology they should re-invite our son for a private dinner and audience with the Pope because the new Pope has to hear that speech: “My father is the best President ever in Nigeria.”

Pope Leo must hear that speech o or else…

ATeDo peTerSIDe: A DIFFereNT TUrN

I put in a call to this legendary personality. “My Lord,” I said, “I am compiling a book on power and Fashola has contributed an essay and I want you to contribute one too.”

“Edgar, I am wary,” was his response. “Wary ba wo? My egbon,” I replied. He said, “I do not want to be accused of plagiarism because my thoughts on power are not original to me.”

I shouted see this man o. People have been accused of not going to school and they became president ooo. Not one but two in this our Nigeria, so why are we bothered?

But then again, people are made up of

movements, it will be the version that in Shomolu we call “quickie.”

I could be wrong o, but I think this strategy of maintaining relevance towards the next election is tiring, too much in the face and would lead to dissipation of energy when the time comes for action. In fact, he is beginning to encounter what they call “see finish” in the public. Abi didn’t we all see how they nearly bounced him at the Vatican the other day?

Me sef, I even witnessed one. During Chief Obasanjo’s last birthday ceremonies, as we walked towards the reception, he was just walking “like that,” very few people went to greet him. In fact, more people greeted me than him as “we don see am too much.”

When I asked, someone said, “He go soon come back next Saturday.” Kai!

My Oga, you need to pull back and be more selective in your appearances abeg. This thing na strategy, not gra gra

different clothes and this is one of the most erudite that you can find. People like him will soon “finish” because we are no longer producing his type anymore.

So, I said, “My lord, all we need to do is just to quote the sources,” and he went “but I am not sure if those who the quotes have been attributed to are the real owners of the quotes.”

I said kai, which kind wahala be this o. Lord, let’s just say these are not my original thoughts but I subscribe to them. He agreed and submitted the most profound essay on power and influence in Nigeria today with those quotes well acknowledged but with a deep fountain of personal knowledge that shows pure clarity on the topic. Thank you so much sir, you really should do much more of these so that we can all learn from you. Kai, well done sir.

DINo meLAYe: mAkINg A STroNg poINT

Call him anything but the man used to get sense at times. In one of his rare showings of wisdom, Melaye posted a clip of him taking President Buhari to the cleaners when that one went to address an international gathering on education with faulty educational

qualifications.

Melaye posted his umbrage against Buhari when that one was still in power and then asked a simple question: how many of our legislators can talk like this today?

My people, that answer is very very obvious to us all. In fact, to get a better view of the answer just google Pastor Tunde Bakare and you will see exactly how he described the present day legislature and then you will get the clear answer to Melaye’s question. You will notice that I am speaking in parables. Well, if you are a close friend of the NANS president and you have seen his black eyes and “koko” on his head, you will understand my roundabout talk this morning.

I don’t have a head for anybody to come and use to train in boxing. Just go and watch the two clips and get what I am trying to say. Thank you.

DAvIDo, IT’S A New DebATe

We are all just so full of pessimism and angst. So, this poor little boy does something phenomenal – he brings back the Zigima king to the limelight. On sampling one of his songs in his latest hit, he invited the 65-year-old man to Lagos on a lap of luxury to fete him. In response, one evil mind posted why

Tinubu Davido peterside

melaye

obi

Davido is fraternising with Igbos, and ended by saying that those ones will soon betray him. In response, David replied: “I am Igbo by blood,” reminding us that his maternal grandmother was Igbo.

Immediately, the fire of tribalism “enter” the matter. Such a wonderful gesture of a young musician paying tributes to an icon now ran into the turbulence of tribalism and ethnicity.

Before you know it, one obviously jobless lecturer in LASU posted that all her children must marry Yoruba, and that she only relates with people in the Yoruba language.

Before we jump into the national pride part of speaking to people only in Yoruba, we must then see this within the context of her response to Davido’s quip of being Igbo by blood.

Mbok, why all these na? This is one of the reasons that I still don’t like Buhari because he brought back these ethnic divisions very powerfully just when we were almost forgetting those divides and allowing music, sports and a growing economy to mute them.

He now came with his huge teeth to scatter everything with his obtuse approach to appointments, his damaging of the economy, making all men run back to their individual shelters.

Mbok, Nigerians, Igbo or not, Yoruba or not, let us just enjoy the beautiful song Davido just released. I tire.

LekAN FAToDU: A SporTY kIND oF LeADer

Lekan is the Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission and he is a damn good one. Since his ascension, Lagos sports have started waking up. Can you imagine archery in Lagos? Yes o. Through a well packaged effort working with the private sector, a world class archery facility has been built within the Teslim Balogun Stadium and various competitions within the sport have been held, including international incursions.

Lekan’s touch has also seen the stadium host international table tennis tournaments, one of them sponsored by my brother Yemi Edun.

As I write, Lekan has led a powerful delegation to the ongoing National Sports Festival, watching and seeing what they will come out with.

Lekan’s story is worth telling. He was one of those commissioner nominees that could not pass through the State House of Assembly due to the then cold blood between the exco and the House. In return, he was given the “slightly lower” portfolio of sports and see what he has turned this half opportunity into. Just felt like doing this today to congratulate him and to further inspire him to greater heights my brother.

oLUmIDe AkpATA: SecoND cAreer LoADINg

This my brother is a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and former gubernatorial candidate in Edo State for the Labour Party, but it is looking like he just found his true calling.

Mbok, the dance step that he displayed at a recent burial of his relative in Benin would make most of our Afrobeats stars green with envy.

Various clips of the event show him shaking his head, jumping up, landing on his back, twirling on the floor, jumping again, and sliding on his bele in a snake-like manner and with the crowd shouting “Go Olu, go Olu, go Olu”. Mbok, as I watched this spectacle, even me sef, I began to bop my head and exclaimed, this guy can dance. The next thing I saw him bending, his hands on his knees, his mouth wide open, sweat dripping from his handsome face as he whooped, and oozed charm as the music hit him.

I tell you, it is not only one road that leads to market o. If Edo people say no be Olumide they want as governor, then Nigeria must say na Olumide as national dance champion. I am telling you that I have not seen a better dancer in that age category o.

Aghhhhhh, as I am writing, I just see Olumide again, jump up, twist in the air -in the way we used to call western

rolling. And while in the air, he is smoking an imaginary cigarette and then lands on his back, with his legs spread apart. He humps on his back and by this time the crowd just gives up and starts hailing him king. Please, send me a POS machine near his village let me transfer N2,000 to him. He must be rewarded and encouraged.

NNekA oNYeALI-Ikpe: peAce be STILL

The news was dark and wickedFidelity Bank to go bankrupt - the online platform screamed and before you knew it, the news went viral.

Fidelity Bank that had just released powerful results and was coasting into being a tier 1 bank, giving the FUGAZ a run for their money was all of a sudden a subject of errant news reporting.

Apparently, the bank had inherited a legal issue as a result of their acquisition of the old FSB. The issue involved a customer, G. Cappa and the old bank. The case had gone up to the Supreme Court and the court gave judgment in favour of the customer.

But Fidelity Bank, according to their statement had reapplied to the Supreme Court to better clarify their judgment as regards the exchange rate to be applied on the judgment sum and the highest court in the land had ordered that status quo remained until this was determined.

But this “kukuruku” media outlet went to town screaming the bank is going bankrupt and you know what that means in an industry that is overly sensitive.

Thankfully, the bank moved with expert speed to calm frayed nerves by releasing a detailed report on the happenings, showing very clearly that it was on top of the matter,

and as such there was no need for worry.

To also add strength, the CBN released a statement restating the turgidity of the banking system, reassuring the public that it was up to the mark in its regulatory and oversight functions.

What the public needs to know is that if Fidelity Bank succeeds with its appeal, the judgment sum could drop to as low as N30 billion and then a negotiated repayment plan would be reached. That is how these things work.

The bank in my estimation remains strong with a vibrant board led by the great mathematician, Chike Obi and also with one of the most inclusive management teams led by my sister, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe. Some will say Edgar but why are you not firing, like one of my ogas called in dismay – “Edgar, I am surprised that you are silent.”

My people, the facts are clear na, why would I fire? I am not one to join the bandwagon. This was an inherited liability, I am sure when the transaction was consummated, Madam Nneka was still doing young sissy in her village stream. The case had gone through due process and the bank had defended itself to the best of her ability but the system thought otherwise and the bank has sought clarity so as to know the next step. So why should I fire?

onyeali-Ikpe:

Such talent we have not seen since Etim Esin was kicked out of Belgium. Kai.

VIcTor oSImHeN IS mAkINg US proUD

Did you see how Victor spotted a Nigerian flag in a crowd of thousands and how he ran towards the flag, beating security, officials to go straight to the person carrying the flag and exchanging it with his jersey?

Such patriotism leaves me in tears. This country is truly great. Did you also see the Chelsea female team dancing to a Nigerian tune after they won a tournament?

The world envies us, we just don’t know. We are truly a great country. We are loud, vivacious, talented and a country of hustlers. See Victor coming all the way from which ghetto to command such attention in Europe and you say we are a funny country?

My brother, well done and may God continue to bless you so that you continue to show the world that Nigeria is truly one of the best.

koLA ADeSINA: mUmmY IS goNe

Our must affable egbon Kola Adesina, Director Sahara Group, Chairman Axa Mansard and member Presidential Committee on something, just lost his mum.

Kola is one of Nigeria’s most influential people today, a powerful pull on the talk circuit and a major employer of labour. He would not have been all these if not for his parents. If you hear his Shomolu story, you will quickly start saving the money for the aso ebi to join the thousands who are gearing up to honour mama for not only the gift of Kola but also nurturing him to the point of being one of our greatest talents. Kola and I once sat down to share our Shomolu stories, and realised that we must have hawked things – me bread, him possibly plantain, along the same routes. His experience has made him the huge corporate player that he is today while mine has made me start wearing dreads. But no problem- there is god. The most important thing therein is that Kola is a billionaire, his mother just died at over 80 and we must focus on giving mama a more than befitting farewell. She was excellent. My egbon, kindly accept my deepest condolences. God bless you.

erNeST ebI: HeLLo oN THe oTHer SIDe

This was a powerful former Deputy Governor of the CBN. I had just walked into the one-year memorial of my friend Victor, Yellow Chilli’s wife somewhere in Victoria Island when my brother Tony Ndah called me. “Edgar, there is no afang here o,” and I said I noticed. No wonder Yoruba people don’t like igbo people. How won’t they serve afang and they invited me?

I sat down beside one still very good looking gentleman who was in white and I introduced myself to him and he exclaimed: “Aghhhh Duke of Shomolu, I don’t miss your column in THISDAY every Sunday, please ask my wife.” I said, “ohhh, thank you so much sir, but you should really be thanking Editor Davidson because he is the one that corrects all the typos.”

Then he introduced himself, “I am Ernest Ebi,” and I screamed “ohhhh the CBN Ernest Ebi.”

Mbok, na newspaper we used to read about these ones o. These ones were running CBN with a clear head o and his beautiful wife was also an inspiration while I was in the capital market. We hugged and became friends and when his wife came, he said, “Oya Nne, tell the Duke how we love his column,” and she smiled. We hugged and I asked if it was possible that these people even prepared just one plate of afang for me? Kai. Nice meeting you sir, it was indeed my pleasure. Thanks

Lagos 2027: Tinubu, Gbajabiamila, Obasa, Others Top List for Plum Job

Though the race for Lagos State governorship is still two years away, the gladiators are already girding their loins in readiness for a battle royale. Political stakeholders and groups across the state of aquatic splendour are already rooting for their preferred candidates.

Among the names already generating buzz are Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu; Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the president and former Speaker of the House of Representatives; Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and other heavyweights.

But ahead of the election, the importance of the IBILE factor in Lagos has come to the fore like never before. Lagos is organised into five administrative districts, collectively called IBILE, namely Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Epe.

Society Watch reliably gathered that the political kingmakers in the state, particularly in the ruling party, All

Progressives Congress (APC), are already having sleepless nights on the best way out of the seemingly difficult task of picking the best candidate.

While Gbajabiamila’s sterling record as a seasoned legislator, rising to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief of Staff to the president put him head and shoulder above the others, his age has become a factor. Gbajabiamila will be 64 in 2027, and reportedly seen to be ‘too old’ to govern a state so “complex and fast-moving like Lagos.”

However, his supporters are upbeat about his chances and are said to be banking on his close ties to the president and longstanding political experience, which they believe make him a strong contender for the plum job.

Aside from being the son of the president, not much has been said about the administrative experience of Seyi. But for his large crowd of supporters, he

remains the best to bring the dreams of the founding fathers of Lagos state to fruition. It was gathered that a Seyi Tinubu-Mudashiru Obasa’s ticket is presently gaining momentum among political stakeholders in the state.

Oyo Assembly Breeds Bad Blood Among Monarchs

Over time, Princess Fifi Ejindu has taken steady yet measured steps along the aisle of entrepreneurship in Nigeria. With her gaze fixed on the future, she has evolved into a living encyclopedia, offering valuable insights on how to run a successful business. In architecture, real estate, and luxury design, her influence is almost unmatched, exemplifying the boundless potential of African entrepreneurship. Beyond her rising profile in business and the significant strides she has made on the global stage, Ejindu, the founder of Starcrest Group of Companies, is also frequently in the news for her humanitarian efforts. Her inspiring philosophy is encapsulated in the words of Mother Teresa: “Let no one come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”

Those whose paths have crossed hers are quick to testify to her uncommon humanity and compassion, qualities that have endeared her to many both within and outside the country. Though known to be as busy as a bee, the beautiful business mogul, with a high net worth, wore an enchanting sparkle on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, when she turned a year older. It was yet another opportunity for the world to honour and celebrate the woman whose contributions to the nation’s economy cannot be ignored.

Though the birthday was lowkey, it was an assemblage of her few close-knit friends and business associates at her palatial Maitama home in Abuja. Some of her fans and admirers showered her with torrents of tributes and encomium via phone calls and messages.

The highly educated, brilliant, and well-cultured woman is renowned for spearheading initiatives that provide funding, mentorship and platforms for African women in business, reinforcing the idea that financial independence is a crucial pillar for gender equality.

Her influence extends into women’s empowerment, while her commitment to uplifting young African entrepreneurs and fostering talent in the creative sector has made her a symbol of progressive leadership.

If not nipped in the bud quickly, an incident that would most likely shake Yorubaland to its very foundation would soon rear its ugly head. This would disrupt the peace and unity of the region as well as breed bad blood among the royal fathers.

On Thursday, May 15, a bill seeking to establish the Alaafin of Oyo as the permanent Chairman of the Council of Obas and Chiefs passed its second reading on the floor of the Oyo State House of Assembly presided over by Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin. The bill was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters for further scrutiny.

Also, part of the amendment to the chieftaincy law is that in the absence of the Alaafin, the Olubadan of Ibadanland will preside; and if both are absent, the Soun of Ogbomoso will chair the Council.

The development, Society Watch gathered, has drawn the ire of traditional leaders and stakeholders from Ibadanland and Ogbomosoland in Oyo, who have expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed legal amendment by the lawmakers.

In a joint statement issued on Monday in Ibadan and signed by Mogajis, Baales,

Nasiru Danu’s Inextinguishable Flame of Philanthropy

In Islam, it is said that charity is more than a transaction, but an act of worship, a means of purifying wealth and soul. Charity does not decrease wealth, and every dime spent for the sake of Allah carries unimaginable rewards Businessman and philanthropist, Nasiru Danu, holds dearly to this precept. The Chairman of Casiva Group and founder of NHD Foundation is a quiet, humble gentleman who does a lot for his people without noise and fanfare. The suave Danu could pass, arguably, as one of the most charitable billionaires around, as his flame of philanthropy appears inextinguishable. Recently, Danu, the Sardaunan Dutse, extended his good deeds to the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa’iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS)

A blossoming love story between an Ijebu-Ode prince and an Ikorodu jewel is set to culminate into a union that will attract dignitaries from all walks of life in Lagos, Nigeria and beyond.

The royal family of Anikilaya Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode will welcome a new bride, courtesy of one of their princes, Olanrewaju Onanuga.

Olanrewaju, the son of Omoba Olabode Onanuga, a socialite and a successful businessman, has found love in Fadekemi in the home of Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, representing Lagos East Senatorial District.

To this end, the families of Senator Abiru and his lovely wife, Feyisola and that of Onanuga and his beautiful wife, Oluyemi,

monarchs, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, the Ibadan Compounds Peace Initiative, prominent sons and daughters of Ibadanland, and Mogajis from the Soun Ruling Houses of Ogbomoso, the bill was considered as a distortion of historical tradition and an affront to other royal institutions in the state. It was stated that the chairmanship of the council had always been rotational and should remain so to reflect fairness and equity among all royal stools in the state.

Reacting to the proposed bill, the President of the Ibadan Mogajis, Asimiyu Ariori, as well as the ICPI Coordinator, Nurudeen Akinade, reiterated that their opposition was “not driven by personal interest, but rooted in historical precedent and a desire to ensure unity and peace across the state.”

They, therefore, warned the House against creating unnecessary tension, while urging lawmakers to respect the tradition and uphold the rotational leadership model for the Council of Obas and Chiefs.

Islamic Centre as he inaugurated a N150 Million project at the Centre in Abuja. The multi-million naira project is a furnished 11-room building that will serve as the Imam’s residence at the Islamic Centre in the Guzape area of Abuja. It was built in memory of his late father, Haladu Danu.

Speaking at the public launch attended by the crème of the Nigerian political and religious circles, Danu said one of the greatest acts of worship in Islam is giving and spending for the sake of Allah. He thanked Allah for giving him the means and privilege of doing good deeds for his sake. Danu, who is also the Tafida Babban Daura, noted that it’s a rare privilege for him to inaugurate such a project, adding that he’s immensely grateful to the JIBWIS Centre for providing him the opportunity.

have firmed up arrangements ahead of the wedding ceremonies.

As it stands, all is set for the traditional and holy solemnisation of the young lovebirds.

According to a family source, the Nikkai ceremony is billed to be held this weekend in the palatial home of Senator Abiru in Ikorodu, Lagos State, while the engagement and wedding will be held next weekend on the Island.

Onanuga hails from the same ruling house as the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Alaiyeluwa Dr Sikiru Adetona. He is also a cousin to Otunba Anikinlaya, Omoba Abiodun Onanuga and nephew to Omoba Adebayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu

ejindu

Lanre Onanuga Hooks Senator Abiru’s Daughter, Fadekemi

Debo-Ogundoyin

Danu

Onanuga and fiancée

A Fabric of Resilience Woven with Passion

Nike o kundaye’s 74th birthday bash, lit up by the o sun State governor’s tribute, threads together an inspirational tale of resilience from a childhood of loss to global artistic triumph. o kechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

Fate – startlingly unpredictable in its ways – oftentimes pulls a white rabbit off the hat when it comes to changing narratives. Take the inspirational story of Olufunmilayo Oyenike Okundaye, for instance. Her early life – fitting well into all known grass-to-grace archetypes– had all the colourations of a bumpy start. First, losing her mom at just six years old was tough enough; then her grandmother slipped away from this earth-life just a year later. But then, those losses – fraught with uncertainties as they were – led her to a rather unexpected guardian: her great-grandmother, the head of local weavers, who eventually brought her up and taught her what she needed to learn about weaving textiles and making adire fabrics.

Adversity, as fate would have it, became the woman fondly called Mama Nike’s unwitting muse, nudging her towards her true calling. When lack of funds threatened to derail her education, she hijacked the setback and turned it into a catalyst for her passion. At just 14, she made a break for it – literally running away from home with her trusty sidekick Justina to escape a fate worse than homework: marriage to a polygamous junior government minister. Her first stop was Olosunta Travelling Theatre, where she honed her craft before boldly breaking free to forge her own path. This bold move marked the beginning of her journey to Osogbo, the vibrant hub of artistic expression that would soon become her creative Mecca.

This explains why the Osun State Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke rolled out the drums on Friday, May 23 for the inimitable Mama Nike on her 74th birthday, deeming it a “well-deserved tribute and celebration” in the truest sense. In addition, the Osun State government has another ace up its sleeve. Sources close to the government spilled the beans that Mama Nike is set to be crowned the Global Ambassador and Queen of the Adire Osun Carnival, a vibrant celebration of Yoruba culture that is scheduled to take Osogbo by storm in November. And the master plan behind this grand fiesta? Governor Adeleke’s vision to reclaim Osogbo’s rightful throne as the Adire capital of the world! With Adire Osun Carnival, the state is set to unleash a kaleidoscope of creativity, highlighting the rich heritage of Yoruba culture in all its glory.

Embracing the vibrant art scene of Osogbo, Mama Nike’s creativity truly flourished. It was here that she dipped her toes into the world of indigo-dyeing and adire-making under the mentorship of the legendary Ulli Beier and his wife Georgina at the town’s informal art school. With her artistic flair and marketing mojo, she effortlessly wormed her way into the tight-knit art community

of those years, becoming a beloved fixture in the local scene. Her first gallery, aptly named “Africa No. 1 Shop”, was a modest affair – literally, her bedroom! But the real game-changer came in 1974 when she scored a coveted spot among just 10 African artists selected to teach traditional weaving in the US. Accompanying her husband Twins Seven-Seven on his instructor gig at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine, Mama Nike seized the opportunity to explore new horizons. She not only got her museum fix but also picked up new skills, including quilt-making.

Dramatically, Mama Nike’s life story attests to her unbridled spirit, having defied conventions and soared to great heights. From polygamous plot to artistic triumph, she broke free from the complexities of her life as one of Twins Seven-Seven’s wives, took matters into her own hands, and catapulted herself to new heights. With her modest gallery and studio work behind her, she continued to rise. Today, she is not just a celebrated artist but a chieftainess twice over – the Yeye Oba of Ogidi-Ijumu and the Yeye Tasase of Osogbo. And there is her frequent jet-setting across the globe, lecturing at top universities in the US, Canada, and the UK, all without a traditional university degree and owing her education to the school of hard knocks!

Actually, she owes her international acclaim to her textile artistry, which has been displayed at various institutions, including her iconic Nike Art Centre in Lagos, Abuja, Osogbo and her hometown Ogidi-Ijumu. Her workshops in Europe and North America have been revelatory, while her vibrant paintings, infused with Yoruba mythology, have secured her place among the art world’s upper echelons. Since her 1968 solo debut at the Goethe-Institut, her figurative masterpieces have been the subject of intense scrutiny and admiration. As a result, her works have found a home in esteemed collections like The Smithsonian Museum, The Gallery of African Art, and The British Library, with other high-profile institutions and private collectors, including the former US Vice-President Walter Mondale, proudly displaying her art in their spaces. Given her artistic heritage – a mother and aunt who were both artists, and a father with a multitude of talents – it is little wonder she has left such an indelible mark on the art world.

This remarkable woman, who recently took her rightful place on ARISE TV’s honours list as one of the women of power during International Women’s Month, has defied the odds with her

unbridled joie de vivre. Despite navigating life’s twists and turns, including years of hardship, she’s retained her sunny disposition and effervescent charm. Whether in poverty or prosperity, she’s remained a

beacon of warmth and generosity, proving that true happiness can’t be bought – but it can certainly be infectious! Her disarming smile and effortless charm have won hearts, making her a delight to be around.

Chief Nike Okundaye

A view of the interior of the Nike Art Centre in Lagos.

Poetry Meets Mentorship at Int’l Boy Child’s Day Celebration

stories by Yinka Olatunbosun

Way Word Jones, a performance poet, was one of the highlights of the Boy Child Conversation Conference in Lagos organised by Debra's Palace Initiative to celebrate the International Boy Child’s Day recently at Pistis Conference Centre, Lekki Lagos.

The poet fired up the young students with his magical poetry titled ‘Boy Wonder’ which interrogates the societal expectations for the boy child. Using humour and storytelling technique, the poet captured the attention of the boys.

Daunting statistics on the boy child have triggered conversations around how boys are trained to become responsible adults. Global statistics hold that boys are 30percent more likely to drop out of school and are three times more likely to die by suicide than girls. This disturbing fact has motivated concerned individuals and organisations to work towards protecting the future of the boy child.

Many mentors were selected to address these young boys drawn from select secondary schools

WOrkshOp

in Lagos. One of them was the wife of Lagos State Governor, Ibijoke Sanwo-olu who called for intentional efforts towards supporting the development of the boy child. While addressing the gathering, she urged stakeholders to address the emotional and psychological needs of boys across various backgrounds.

“Boys today grapple with a range of issues from societal expectations and stereotypes to emotions including emotional suppression, mental health stigma, educational and career pressures, and many more. Conversations like this inspire pragmatic approaches, foster empathy, encourage healthy relationships, and strengthen community support as a safety net.

“This in turn will help the government in building an inclusive society where no one is left behind. At the office of the first lady, our slogan for the boy child initiative is ‘Better informed, we do best.’ Our key objective is to raise awareness on the rights and welfare of the boy child, to promote educational opportunities for male children, especially the indigenous, to facilitate the rehabilitation of vulnerable boys through appropriate referrals to build

a new generation of transformed young men who will contribute positively to the society.”

The event which attracted stakeholders in boy child development such as educators, civil society leaders, faith-based groups and parents is created to foster holistic, strategic interventions aimed at raising emotionally resilient and mentally balanced young men.

Since inception in 2021, Debra’s Palace Initiative has reached over 2500 boys through its flagship Boy Talk programme which offers mentorship, creative summer schools, scholarship support and life skill training.

The founder, Debra's Palace Initiative, Damilola Chinedu explained why the global celebration of the boy child is necessary.

“We celebrate the International Day of the Boy Child because we recognise that boys, too, are hurting. Boys are vulnerable. Boys need to be seen, heard, mentored, loved, and guided. We cannot build a balanced society by raising and empowering only one side. The emotional, mental, and moral development of the boy child is just as crucial to the well-being of families, communities, and the future of our nation.

“Our celebration is not just about recognising boys—it’s about deliberately investing in them. It’s about sparking conversations, building safe

spaces, offering mentorship, and teaching responsibility, empathy, and life skills. It’s about showing boys that they matter, that they are not alone, and that they have a part to play in shaping a better world.”

The event was done in collaboration with Pistis Foundation, Chess in Slums Africa, and Abbey Mortgage Bank.

An Artist’s Captivating Story in A Confessional Painting

Janet Adenike Adebayo’s departure from science may have played a part in her artistic expression, albeit unconsciously. Without enrolling in a formal school for the arts, she began painting full-time in 2019. Prior to that, she would create comic books with her brother as a child using inks. As a student of Food Science and Technology for six years, she spent most of her pastime on painting buoyed by the encouraging words from her friends. Later on, she began to pay even more attention to the rudiments of art when she underwent a year tutelage with a professional artist. But one thing kept holding her back- perfectionism. Still, her hunger for growth as well as the passion egged her on to create more paintings, embracing a unique style. A few times, she was on the verge of dumping her science studies for visual art but self-discipline helped her to finish that course. Thus, it was a blue moon moment for Janet Adenike Adebayo when she got a whiff of a looming exhibition in the United Kingdom some months ago. The show, ‘Moonlight,’ an initiative of Creative Youth and Fuse International- funded by Art Council England- was held for four weeks in April at Bucklands Wharf, Kingston. To kick off, participants were encouraged to tell stories of personal freedom through their art and Adebayo submitted a brilliant painting titled ‘The BTS of Elegance’ meaning the behind-the-scenes of

Aprolongedsoundcheckandan appreciative audience ushered in a night of spectacular music performances by the finalists of the Amplify Bootcamp Live Showcase. The event organised by the French embassy in Nigeria in collaboration with Creative Industries Initiatives for Africa (CIIFA) was held on Friday, 9th May, at Alliance Française de Lagos, featuring four Nigerian emerging music artists: Ife, Esoterica, Mannie Tseayo and Salako. Ife was the opening act who left many spell-bound with her vocals and guitar skills. A graduate of music and performing arts, she serenaded the audience with cultural storytelling in her mother tongue blending alternative folklore, Afro-soul, highlife, and indigenous rhythms. Having collaborated with notable artists such as Smarty, ILLBliss, Zoro, and Rudeboy, her music has also gained many international recognition, featuring in global productions like Apple TV’s Ted Lasso.Offstage, Ifé is a passionate advocate for girls’ education across Africa. Mannie Tseayo showed some dexterity in her showmanship with her ability to oscillate between a sweet,

Visual art

elegance. Formed with layers of acrylic paintings, the image of a woman in the work speaks to its authentic story of inner struggles that is universal and highly relatable. Using a patterned body motif, the artist unfurls a deeper meaning to this singular work offering insights into how public perceptions and outward appearances conflict with internal crises. The layers of orange, purple and brown colours that formed the mosaic skin technique in ‘The BTS of Elegance’ create an illusion of an x-ray into the subject, proving to be a window into womanhood and its untold stories. In the painting’s mirror reflection, the different hues symbolise the varied emotions. some days are cheery, others are blurry. While reflecting on this technique, a curator and creative director, Yenwa Gallery, Ugonna Ibe-Ejiogu described it as her stylistic signature which “carries emotional and conceptual weight; reimagining personal and societal narratives with tenderness and defiance.’’

The ‘BTS of Elegance’ presents an opportunity for Janet to look inwards for personal freedom. Sinc, societal expectations can potentially constitute mental slavery for some women, issues of this latitude were explored in this painting with near-poetic texts as introspection. For instance, a woman who is typically expected to marry, have biological children is misjudged in the

court of public opinions as a misfit of sorts- as a complete woman. Janet presents an image of a strong woman who taps from inner energy and validation to excel in this painting. While many on the outside see the glamour of success, they usually are oblivious to the gruelling efforts that preceeded the new status. For the artist, success or elegance doesn’t just happen overnight. . An experience served as an eyeopener for Janet.

Having taken a course in social and care work, she saw first-hand during a hospital training programme how women suffer many health issues in silence. That experience also offer her insights into the world of women, fortifying her with the creative resilience required to contribute to global discourse using her art. Prior to this exhibition, Janet had also worked on Normadic Art Gallery’s exhibition titled “Transtemporal Travel,” where she discovered the idea of scroll as a good way to travel back in time as her choice of subject matters. Janet introduces scrolls from plain-woven fabric, coated and made durable for painting and writing. The partial burning is to create a dramatic outcome, impression and finishing, to protect the edges. This confessional artist delved into her past, probing her parents’ separate lives in her childhood till her adulthood to present some works that crystallise this part of her growth. Other shows she had participated in include Identity-Who are you? By 1952 Africa (2022), Spectrum: A Group Exhibition by Dica Art gallery (2022), Contemplation: In celebration of women's history month by Yenwa Gallery (April 2022), HER VIM exhibition by Kakaaki Gallery (June 2021), Project 40 Charity Art Exhibition: Contribution of Plein air paintings to benefit children with disabilities and Down syndrome May 8, 2021, A mini-art exhibition on the television channel (TVC) April 1, 2021 as well as Art Love Expo Exhibition (2019).

Afrobeats, R&B, and rap—what she proudly calls “Alternative-Pop” was born in Abuja and raised in the church choir, she recorded her first song at just eight years old. With five EPs and eight singles to her name, her standout track “Old Ways” features Odumodublvck. Mannie has opened for top Nigerian acts like Davido, Tems, and Rema, and in 2024, she won Best Female Artist at the Made in Abuja Awards. Mannie’s performance that evening brought goosebumps and tomboy energy to the stage. Her Tiv Rockstar persona was an easy sell and infectious as she fused storytelling with her backdrop images and unmatched stage presence. Esoterica, who kept the meaning of her stage name as a mystery is a Lagos-based Nigerian indie artist known for her captivating blend of folk, soul, and afrobeats. Inspired by global artists such as Frank Ocean, Bon Iver, Lauryn Hill, Asa, Bill Withers, and Etta James, her music serves as a personal journal through which she explores her evolving relationship with herself and the divine. Her call-and-response technique was engaging, creating a mutually rewarding synergy between the artist and the audience. Salako’s

reputation must have travelled ahead of him. His anti-climactic approach was an attempt to ease his audience into his departure from the stage which lit up way before he started singing. This Afrojazz artist, arranger, producer and festival curator has solidified his position as a leading figure in the African jazz scene and he is the organiser of the Abuja International Afrojazz festival. As a performing artiste, Salako has shared the stage with renowned musicians and has performed at prestigious events, including the Lagos International Jazz Festival, Nigerian Presidential Inauguration 2019, and the European Union Day celebration, a sold-out show at The Fridge concert Series 35 in Dubai. Salako's music is a rich blend of jazz and African rhythms, showcasing his impressive 3-octave vocal range. With his strides in the music industry, many wondered if he needed a bootcamp. Of course, with undulating voice channeling the improvisation, Salako needed more than just a strong stage presence to capture his audience.

a painting titled 'the Bts of Elegance'

Esoterica in performance

a rare view of participants at the Boy Child Conversation Conference in lagos

dreamy voice and a raspy,

IN THE ARENA

When INEC’s Silence is Not Golden

The Independent National Electoral Commission’s curious silence on the Supreme Court’s judgments on the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party is perceived in several quarters as an abdication of its responsibility as the impartial regulator of the political parties, fuelling allegations that the commission is aiding the destabilisation of the two major opposition parties, Davidson Iriekpen writes

With the 2027 general election still two years away, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is already under scrutiny amid allegations that it is colluding with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to give the party an undue advantage by aiding the ongoing attempts by the aggrieved leaders of the opposition parties to destabilise the parties.

Since the 2023 general election, both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) have been enmeshed in prolonged internal crises that are threatening to tear them apart.

Following the legal battle between Sunday UdeOkoye and the embattled National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the Supreme Court recently affirmed the supremacy of political parties over their internal affairs.

Consequent upon this, the National Working Committee (NWC) in a letter with reference number: PDP/DOM/GF.2/ VOL. IF/25-061, dated May 05, 2025 and signed by the Acting National Chairman, Iliya Damagum and the acting National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, conveyed to INEC the resolution taken at its 600th meeting.

In the said meeting, the NWC had directed the Deputy National Secretary to act as National Secretary in line with the provision of Section 36 (2) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).

It was based on this that Damagum and Koshoedo signed the nomination form for the PDP candidate in the Anambra State governorship election with a letter with reference number: PDP/DOM/ GF.2/VOL.1J/25-065 and dated May 07, 2025.

But Anyanwu denied it, insisting that he signed the nomination form when INEC rejected the earlier nomination form signed by Damagum and Koshoedo.

However, there was no letter or any documented evidence presented by any of the two camps showing that INEC rejected the form signed by Damagum and Koshoedo.

Anyanwu, who presented a copy of the nomination form he signed with Damagum to prove his claims, insisted that a governor and a member of the Bukola Saraki-led reconciliation committee called and pleaded with him to sign the nomination form, which he did.

Unfortunately, after accepting either the form signed by Damagum and Koshoedo or the one

signed by Damagum and Anyanwu, INEC has refused to publicly make its position known on the duly recognised national secretary of the PDP.

The question, therefore, is: If political parties should be allowed to manage their affairs as declared by the Supreme Court. If the PDP had appointed Kodesho as its acting national secretary, why would INEC reject the nomination form he signed, as claimed by Anyanwu?

It is for these reasons that many members of the party are accusing the electoral umpire of complicity in the crisis rocking the party.

The same allegations are trailing the commission’s silence on the crisis bedevilling the LP after the Supreme Court judgment.

Incidentally, it was INEC that started the crisis.

Upon the expiration of Julius Abure’s tenure as national chairman of the party, he organised a national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, without the commission’s presence, insisting that it had complied with the law by notifying the electoral umpire.

But INEC declined to monitor or recognise the said convention because, according to it, it was not conducted in line with the party’s constitution.

Subsequently, Abure instituted an action against the commission, seeking judicial affirmation of his chairmanship at the Federal High Court in Abuja, which later recognised his leadership of

the party.

On the other hand, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi; his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed and other members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) convened a meeting in Umuahia on September 4, 2024, where they sacked the entire Abure-led NWC.

They also appointed Nenadi Usman, a former Minister of Finance and ex-senator representing Kaduna South, to lead a 29-member caretaker committee and facilitate the election of a new party leadership within 90 days.

Upon an appeal on January 17, 2025, the Court of Appeal ruled that its earlier decision in November 2024, recognising Abure as the party’s chairman, remained valid and had not been overturned by any court.

Usman vehemently faulted the decision and challenged it at the Supreme Court. While the appeal was pending at the apex court, Abure filed a cross-appeal.

In its judgment, the Supreme Court set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal and dismissed Abure’s cross-appeal seeking affirmation as national chairman. It held that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case, being an issue of internal affairs of the party.

p OLITICAL NOT e S

The apex court resolved three issues submitted for determination in favour of the appellant, and held that both the trial court and the Appeal Court had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit of this first respondent. It consequently held that the appeal filed by Usman was meritorious.

Since the Supreme Court delivered the judgment, INEC has refused to take an official position, fuelling speculations that the commission is aiding the destabilisation of the party for the benefit of the ruling APC.

So bad is the situation that LP candidates for the local government elections in Lagos have been thrown into confusion over which of the three factions of the party in the state is authentic.

While reacting to enquiries on why it has not taken a position on leadership crisis in the LP despite being in possession of the certified true copy of the Supreme Court judgment, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, in a statement noted that the commission was carefully studying the verdict and would communicate its decision to the public in due course.

The questions bothering many observers now are: How long would it take INEC to study Supreme Court judgment and make its position known to the public?

Was the commission’s recent recognition of George Moghalu as the party’s governorship candidate for the Anambra State election slated for November 8, 2025 a validation of Abure’s leadership by the commission?

In the party’s primary conducted by Abure’s faction on April 5 at Finotel Hotel, Awka, Moghalu, had defeated John Nwosu, by polling 573 votes, out of 601 accredited votes.

But in a parallel primary election conducted by the Obi and Otti-backed faction of the LP, a sitting member of the Anambra State House of Assembly representing Onitsha South Two, Jude Umenajiego, polled 180 votes, to defeat John Nwosu, who polled 69 votes.

However, in a dramatic twist, INEC recently recognised Moghalu as the authentic candidate.

The protracted crises in the two major political parties are evidence of the failure of the commission to guide, advise and regulate the parties.

INEC ‘s perceived failure to be firm is being viewed as a deliberate effort to weaken opposition parties.

Aiyedatiwa in Tenure elongation web

ThereportthatthesupportersoftheOndoStateGovernor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, have commenced discreet moves to lobby the National Assembly members for the amendmentofSection183(3)ofthe1999Constitution (FourthAlteration,No.16)Act,2017issimplylaughable. Whywouldonemanwanttheconstitutionofacountry tobeamendedsimplybecauseofhispersonalambition?

Recall that the law, which came into effect on June 1, 2019, during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, stipulates that a person who assumestheofficeofgovernortocompletethetenureofan electedgovernorduetodeath,resignation,impeachment, or permanent incapacity, is only eligible to be elected to that office for one additional term of four years.

Based on this constitutional provision, Aiyedatiwa, whobecamegovernoronDecember27,2023,following

thedeathofhispredecessor,Mr.OluwarotimiAkeredolu (SAN), is entitled to only one additional term.That term commencedonFebruary25,2025,followinghisvictory in the November 2024 governorship election.

However, barely three months into his tenure, following the February swearing-in, Aiyedatiwa’s supporters have allegedly begun campaigning on social media for his re-election in 2028, arguing that he remains eligible to contest the election.

They stated that Aiyedatiwa, who was sworn in as deputygovernoralongsidethelateGovernorAkeredolu onFebruary25,2021,isstillqualifiedtoseekre-election in 2028, despite assuming the office of governor on December 27, 2023.

They backed their argument with Section 182(1)(b) of the Constitution, which provides: “No person shall

be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if he has been elected to such office at any two previouselections,”andarguingthatthegovernordidnot emerge through an election in 2023 and that the first time he would be elected as governor was November 2024 election.

Already, there are speculations that the governor’s supporters are negotiating with senior lawyers to approach the Supreme Court for further interpretation of the constitution in respect of the subject matter. Rather than be dissipating his energy on frivolous pursuits,wastinghisresourcestohirelawyersandallowing himself to be distracted, the governor should channel his strength on making considerable impact on the lives of the people and delivering quality infrastructure that wouldmakehistenure,howevershort,tobeedgedingold.

Yakubu

Aiyedatiwa

BRIEFING NOTES

Badaru Playing Politics With Insecurity

A recent claim by the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, that Boko Haram and other terrorists’ drones are normal drones used by civilians and not sophisticated, and his dismissal of the National Security Summit being proposed by the National Assembly, have raised concerns that the minister is playing politics with the country’s insecurity, e jiofor Alike reports

Playing politics with insecurity has become the pastime of Nigeria’s political leaders, a development, which has contributed to the unending insecurity across the country.

A typical case was the recent attempt by the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, to downplay the weapons used by terrorists to attack military targets across the country.

Badaru had dismissed the drones used by these terrorists to attack security operatives, describing them as “normal, civilian drones,” and “not sophisticated drones”.

“The drones they use for attacks are just small drones that even the media use, but with the capacity to carry 1 or 2 kg of explosives that they can detonate. That is what they have for now,” the minister said at the seventh edition of the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing Series, held at the National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja.

According to Badaru, “it is not a sophisticated drone, and it is not an armed drone with strategic guidance; it is an improvised system.”

But speaking at a recent media briefing held in Maiduguri the Borno State capital, the Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, countered Badaru’s claims.

At the media briefing, Abubakar raised concerns over the growing use of “armed drones” by the Boko Haram terrorists in the North-east, warning that such tactics were difficult to detect using conventional radar systems.

He explained that some of the drones deployed by the insurgents were similar to the ones used in countries like Israel and Ukraine.

“Since November last year, we’ve seen terrorists deploying weaponised drones—similar to those used in Israel and Ukraine. These drones are hard to detect with conventional radar,” Abubakar said.

This was not the first attempt by the defence minister to downplay the country’s security challenges.

He had during a recent inter-ministerial briefing, dismissed the proposed security summit by the Senate, suggesting that developing a security strategy would be more effective than convening a summit.

Badaru, who downplayed the importance of the proposed security summit by the Senate, stressed that it cannot substitute for well-thought-out military strategies.

Badaru

Reacting to his comments, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele warned Badaru to refrain from making statements capable of sparking tension between the executive and legislative arms of government.

The Senate’s angry reaction forced Badaru to rescind his position and pledge full support for the summit.

Describing the proposed summit as “a timely initiative to tackle Nigeria’s growing security concerns”, Badaru expressed his commitment to participate in the two-day event and ensure its outcome translates into concrete actions.

The defence minister had also differed with the House of Representatives over the lawmakers’ claims that insurgents possessed more sophisticated weaponry than the military.

The lawmakers had described the recent attacks on military targets as evidence that Boko Haram insurgents were better equipped than the Nigerian troops.

In his contribution to a motion by Ahmed Satomi (APC-Borno) on the fire incident at the 127 Battalion armoury in Giwa Barracks and the increasing wave of attacks on military bases in Borno and Yobe states, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), claimed that over the years, Boko Haram insurgents carted away arms worth trillions of naira in their attacks on military formations in the North-east.

“How can we guarantee the safety of the Nigerian people in the circumstance that the platforms that are meant to protect these people have been taken away by the enemies of the people?” he queried.

Earlier in his lead debate, Satomi had noted that several military installations came under heavy assault, resulting in the loss of lives of soldiers and civilians.

Also contributing to the motion, Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno), said Boko Haram was staging a dangerous comeback, now using sophisticated, weaponised drones to launch attacks.

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum last Wednesday corroborated the position of the federal lawmakers.

Speaking as a guest during a television

interview, Zulum said: “The army does not have the necessary equipment on ground to fight the insurgency. Right now, the insurgents are using drones to fight soldiers on the ground.”

He added: “A few days ago, I visited the Chief of Army Staff. He said he is looking for about 32 drones and he would end the insurgency.”

Zulum insisted that President Tinubu should “listen to those that can distinguish between the right and wrong - those that can tell him the right thing and not sycophants.

“A few days ago, I said there is an insurgency in Borno state. Some people said there is no insecurity in Borno State. We should not politicise insecurity.”

But Badaru dismissed the claims by the federal lawmakers that terrorist groups wield superior firepower over the country’s armed forces, insisting that the challenge was not a lack of firepower but rather the unpredictable tactics used by terrorists, often aided by informants within local communities.

“Yesterday, the House of Representatives said that the terrorists have better weapons than us. That is absolutely not true. We have much more sophisticated weapons and we have much more sophisticated drones.

“The issue is, this war is not a conventional war. It’s like a guerrilla war. They watch us; they have informants around us.

“They help the people that we try to protect, and they give them information, then they jump at us the way we don’t expect when they know that our surveillance mechanism is watching other directions.”

Badaru’s excuses have fuelled calls for his sack by those who considered him unfit to manage the country’s worsening security crisis.

The Afenifere Youth Vanguard for Peace in Nigeria (AYPN) had stated that Badaru lacks the competence and commitment required to secure the country.

“There is no excuse for what is happening under Badaru’s watch. The Defence Ministry is not a reward for political loyalty; it is the backbone of Nigeria’s safety, and it has collapsed under him,” said president of the AYPN, Olatunji Fadare.

“Badaru is too old, too out-of-touch, and too distracted by ambition to lead a wartime ministry. If we were at peace, maybe he could coast. But we are fighting for our survival — and he’s not even present,” Fadare said.

The group also accused the minister of being distracted by his alleged presidential ambition.

reviewing Crackdown on Criminals’ Hideouts in edo

Lately, Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has come under serious criticisms for ordering the demolition of some houses believed to be associated with kidnappers, and other criminal elements.

Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”

In alignment with this constitutional imperative, the governor has shown strong commitment to fighting crime. While the governor’s strong commitment to fighting crime is heartwarming, what is worrying is the way he is handling this important assignment without any judicial process.

For instance, capitalising on the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition)

Law, 2025 and the Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law, 2025, the governor has been accused of demolishing houses suspected to be used for criminal purposes indiscriminately without any valid court order.

While the legislature makes laws and the executive implements the law, it is the duty of the judiciary to interpret it.

Though sections of the laws state that any building used for nefarious activities would be demolished, many legal analysts argue that this is subject to judicial pronouncement in line with constitutional democracy.

If a kidnapper is caught, the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the owner of the house knowingly harboured the suspect. This is where the court has to step in.

Governor Okpebholo, like his predeces-

sors, has been acting unilaterally, issuing orders to demolish buildings without any court ruling, effectively positioning the state government as the judge, and jury, raising concerns about potential abuse of power.

Today, innocent families are watching their life savings crumble to dust, all because of the crimes of their children or tenants they may never have truly known.

When executive power lacks checks and balances, it can lead to dictatorship. Governor Okpebholo may have good intentions with this law, but if not implemented properly - like many other laws in Nigeria - it could be misused against those who disagree with the government.

He must ensure that anyone accused of supporting kidnappers or internet fraudsters receives a fair trial, particularly homeowners who are often uninvolved.

Okpebholo

Attention Shifts to Appeal Court on Edo Election

As the Court of Appeal reserves judgment on the Edo State governorship election, it is expected that the judges will carefully examine the issues dispassionately, wale Igbintad e writes

The Court of Appeal in Abuja recently reserved judgments in the appeal and a cross-appeal filed challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024 governorship election held in Edo State in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner.

A three-member panel of the court, presided over by Justice M. A. Danjuma, after listening to the final arguments by the lawyers of the parties, announced that the date of the judgments would be communicated to them.

The appeals are those filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate for the election, Asue Ighodalo, marked: CA/ABJ/ EPT/ED/GOV/01/2025, and another (a cross appeal) by the APC and Okpebholo marked CA/ ABJ/EPT/ED/GOV/04/2025.

After the September 21, 2024 election, INEC had declared Okpebholo the winner of the election, having polled 291,667 votes, while his closest challenger, Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, got 247,274 votes.

Olumide Akpata, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), finished a distant third with 22,763 votes.

But Ighodalo and the PDP approached the state Election Petition Tribunal to challenge the outcome.

They told the court that the governorship election was invalid because of alleged non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022. They also prayed the court to nullify the declaration of Okpebholo as the winner on the ground that the election was allegedly marred by irregularities.

However, in its judgment delivered on April 2, the tribunal held that their petitions were without merit, adding that the petitioners failed to establish why the outcome of the election should be set aside.

Consequent upon the judgment, Ighodalo and PDP approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the decision, while Okpebholo filed a cross-appeal.

The lawyers for the appellants, while arguing the appeals, prayed the court to reverse the judgment of the election tribunal.

Specifically, counsel to Ighodalo and the PDP, Robert Emukpoeruo (SAN), urged the court to allow the appeal and set aside the judgment of the tribunal.

He argued that in relation to the appellants’ allegations of non-compliance, the tribunal failed to

appreciate the nature of the non- compliance complained of.

He noted that there was no record of serial number on Form EC25B as required by Section 73(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, adding that “The tribunal said we required evidence of polling agents or witnesses to prove how the forms were filled or not filled.

“That was not our case. Our case was that the Form EC 25B did not contain the serial number,” he said.

The appellants’ lawyer argued that the tribunal was also wrong to claim that the documents his clients tendered at trial were dumped on the tribunal. He also noted that as against the tribunal’s finding, oral evidence was not needed in the nature of the case of the appellants, who were petitioners before the tribunal, stating that his clients did not challenge the conduct of the election, but the conflict in the results collated and announced.

In conclusion, he pointed out that part of his clients’ contention was that the results that were collated at the ward level were not the results declared at the polling units.

However, the lawyers for the respondents urged the court to affirm the judgment by the tribunal and dismiss the appeals. Their counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) argued that the petition, which they filed before the tribunal and the appeal are totally an academic exercise.

Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), for the APC, and Kanu Agabi, (SAN), for the INEC also argued in similar manner in praying the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgment of the election tribunal.

Recall that after the tribunal’s judgment, the supporters of the PDP and its candidate, as well as many legal experts, had faulted the conclusion by the judges that the petitioners simply dumped documents on them and failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.

They accused the three-man panel of working to produce a predetermined judgment, noting that the judges were not patient and meticulous enough to peruse the documents tendered before the court.

The PDP and their supporters stated that they were miffed beyond words at the pronouncements of the judge which were contrary to the Electoral Act.

Many legal experts also wondered if the panel was expecting the petitioners

to produce witnesses from all the polling units where malpractices took place in a tribunal that had a very limited time to hear the petition.

“If the petitioners were complaining of over voting in 133 units and documentary evidence from the polling units showed that the number of votes cast exceeded the number of accredited voters, what else were the judges expecting to see and hear?” one of the lawyers, a SAN, queried.

Citing Section 51 (2) of the Electoral Act, he argued that the judges did not need a witness to prove over-voting, adding that what they needed to do was to go through the documents to see things for themselves.

He equally cited the Supreme Court’s judgment in Ihedioha vs Uzodinma, where the APC only presented two witnesses and got a favourable judgment.

Other lawyers further wondered what documents INEC submitted to counter the documents of the petitioners.

Many analysts have argued that the INEC, which conducted the election, did not dispute or fault the documents before the tribunal.

Analysing the verdict for instance, Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor while citing Section 137 of the Electoral Act, explained that in cases of noncompliance, oral evidence is unnecessary when documentary evidence is available.

He lamented that the judiciary failed to demonstrate its commitment to justice.

“What did the judge want PDP to prove when they showed INEC’s documents and extracts from INEC’s BVAS, and also presented the Certified True Copy of INEC’s sheets? What else did the judges expect them to prove that there was over-voting?” Ifaluyi-Isibor queried.

“We had absolute confidence in the documents we tendered in court and in our legal team. The evidence from INEC materials clearly showed that Edo people overwhelmingly voted for Ighodalo. However, INEC declared someone else as the winner, prompting us to seek justice in court,” he said.

According to him, the tribunal’s pronouncements contradicted the Electoral Act: “If we are challenging over-voting in 133 polling units and have documentary evidence proving that the number of votes cast exceeded the number of accredited voters, why would the court demand witnesses? The Electoral Act, Section 51(2), clearly states that in cases of over-voting, witness testimony is not required.”

Ifaluyi-Isibor referenced the Supreme Court’s ruling in Ihedioha vs. Uzodimma, noting that in

that case, the APC presented only two witnesses, and the court ruled that documentary evidence alone was sufficient to prove noncompliance with electoral guidelines.

“We presented three key complaints: noncompliance, over-voting, and incorrect collation of scores. For over-voting, we submitted certified INEC documents proving the discrepancy. It was shocking that the judge expected us to bring 133 individuals from different polling units to testify when the evidence was already before the court.”

He criticised the tribunal for dismissing documents that had already been accepted as exhibits, stating that even INEC did not dispute their authenticity. He added that Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act mandates INEC to record the serial numbers and quantities of sensitive election materials, including ballot papers and BVAS machines, before the election.

He said: “Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act mandates INEC to record the serial numbers and quantities of sensitive election materials, including ballot papers and BVAS machines, before the election.

“In over 300 polling units, this was not done, which should have invalidated the results. Yet, the judge insisted we needed witnesses to verify what was already documented.”

On the issue of incorrect collation, Ifaluyi-Isibor pointed out that INEC allocated thousands of votes to the APC in several polling units without justification. He maintained that the tribunal had the responsibility to examine the evidence and declare the rightful winner.

He said: “BVAS records show the number of accredited voters with corresponding photographs. If official results say 52 people voted in a polling unit, how do we end up with 1,000 votes, with 800 going to the APC? These anomalies were presented to the court, in line with previous rulings by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.”

“PDP pleaded about three cases: One was about non-compliance, the second was over-voting, and the third was an incorrect collation of scores. In the case of over-voting, they tendered documents which are INEC Certified True Copy. These were INEC documents to prove over-voting. We were shocked that the judge wanted us to bring 133 individuals from each polling unit to prove overvoting. How was that to happen when there is documentary evidence, not PDP documents but INEC documents? The court had accepted these documents as exhibits and INEC did not cry foul to her own documents.”

Justice Dongban-Mensem

Okpebholo

Igahodalo

Building Inclusive African Economies for Sustainable Growth

ikem Okuhu

But for Mauritius, Seychelles and many of the countries on the northern part of Africa, the entire continent are way behind in the attainment of the 17 sustainable development goals set by the United Nations, and apart from some of Africa’s peculiar problems of leadership challenges, requisite talent and labour capabilities, the major inhibiting factor militating against development has been finance.

A heritage of colonialism has created a culture of dependency. Many African countries still look upwards towards Europe for guidance and direction on national economic management and prescriptions on development choices. In the desperate search for funding, African countries have entered into contracts that have mostly left them shortchanged as far as income is concerned. This stems mostly from the tendency to remain resource generators, but far away from the table where added values are laid out and shared.

For instance, according to the Special Adviser on Africa to the United Nations’ Secretary General, Cristina Duarte, “Ghana exported $9.58 billion in gold in 2024, yet it only retained 14% of the value due to the nature of multinational agreements. The DRC produces over 70% of the world’s cobalt, yet only 1% is refined in the country before being exported. Zimbabwe was ranked as the third-largest producer of chromium in 2023, yet most was exported in raw form. Today, the chocolate market is valued at $119.4 billion, and collectively, West Africa produces 70% of the world’s cacao beans, but benefit less than 1% of the global chocolate market.

In Somalia, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by foreign fishing fleets costs the economy $300 million a year.”

Nigeria, on her part, is still battling to add value to its crude oil exploration and production, importing petroleum products worth more than $25 billion annually, even when its earnings from the export of crude oil hovers between $10 billion to $12 billion.

The culmination of these have led to slow capital accumulation. African countries and African businesses play at the peripherals of world trade and overall global business.

In a 2004 research publication titled, Financing Africa’s Future Growth and Development, Ernest Aryeetey, of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana noted how the weak foundations of most African economies prevented the continent from benefiting from the globalization trends of the 1990s, even when a number of East Asian nations measurably profited.

The failure to diversify exports by investing on value creation, Aryeetey further argued, “left the continent virtually ignored by the dynamic forces that swept the international trading and financial systems with the aid of advanced information and telecommunication technology.

To develop the continent, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation estimates that Africa needs from $900 billion to $1.3 trillion annually over a long period to escape the underdevelopment trap and hope to leapfrog close to where the rest of the advanced world is.

Since the structure of present earnings, donations and borrowing are grossly inadequate in bridging the gaps, many Africans have advanced development options capable of supporting African countries to solve lingering African development problems.

Prescriptions for reforms have ranged from devaluation, fiscal discipline, and, as far as African economic activists are concerned, reparations for years of slavery and colonialism.

But reparations, as an economic rescue

solution appears far-fetched given its measurement contradictions; how do you determine the degree of affliction from colonialism and slavery on each of the nations and the commensurate swathe of reparation due therefrom?

Given that slavery also had the active and beneficial participation of many physically and politically powerful Africans, how do you discount these roles in the payment of reparation, assuming that route was even remotely possible.

To develop Africa; for the region to have the chance of catching up with the rest of the world, the continent must be intentional about it and seek internal means of solving her problems. In the milieu of economic prescriptions, none will be as effective as the one designed by Africans for Africa.

Interestingly, it was the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, an NGO many Africans see as neo-colonialist, that gave the sort of “Africa-for-Africa prescription that appeared practical.

Before the Tony Blair Foundation wrote this in February 2025, the African Tony, Tony Elumelu, had been evangelizing the continent with an economic model which he calls Africapitalism, a concept predicated on the belief that Africa’s private sector can and must play a leading role in the continent’s development.

When the Tony Blair Foundation therefore speaks of “homegrown solutions” to Africa’s economic challenges, they are talking about Tony Elumelu’s Africapitalism, using different words.

For the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Africa has to prioritise homegrown solutions and strengthening intra-African collaboration, “the

continent can define its developmental trajectory and reduce its vulnerability to external policy shifts. How leaders across the globe choose to respond to the shifting geopolitical landscape could determine whether this era enables progress or deepens existing inequalities.”

“The adoption of an “America First” trade policy signaled a shift towards prioritising domestic economic interests over multilateral agreements. The decision to withdraw from the World Health Organisation raised questions about global health cooperation and the future of international partnerships.

The announcement of a 90-day suspension of development-cooperation disbursements and the move to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have created uncertainty around US foreign assistance. The president’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement demonstrated a retreat from global climate commitments, while the “Unleashing American Energy” policy prioritised domestic oil, gas and critical minerals, highlighting a focus on energy independence and resource extraction,” the Foundation wrote on their website (institute. global) under the headline, “Africa First”: A New Vision for Africa’s Growth and US Engagement.”

At the risk of being interpreted as cynical, the prescription from Tony Blair Institute for Global Change is not different from what Tony Elumelu had preached for years now, and I guess the call for homegrown solutions should, as a matter of urgency, begin with giving resonance to an African voice that had been able to condense the direction into a simple, easily communicable philosophy – Africapitalism.

Looking inwards for development direction and priorities must impel the sourcing of Africa’s development capital within the continent, and this will demand a lot from the continent’s financial institutions. Far from

bumper profits, the financial institutions on the continent must help in the design of the framework for the floating of cheap capital for the industrialisation and infrastructure explosion on the continent.

With his “America First” policy, Donald Trump is in a hurry to return home, businesses that have been outsourced to other economic jurisdictions, such as China. Even if, as is practically difficult, he does not succeed, his efforts are to get greater value for the American people, whether it is in the cost of returning those goods to America or in the cost of inputs that he believes can be made on American soil.

In the same vein, African financial institutions must seize the initiative from government and policy drivers, in championing the “Africa first” economic direction (Africapitalism, if you like). While integration has been impossible for the African Union to achieve, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provides the rallying ground for the exchanged that will catalyse change. It is at this gathering that economic cross pollinations capable of leading to the birthing of cheap financial pools for the continent’s development will happen.

Luckily, African banks are increasingly spreading all over the continent. A bank like the United Bank for Africa (UBA), has already spread to 20 Africa countries. Access Bank is also in 19 countries, Zenith Bank, 4, Ecobank, 33 and Standard Bank, 20.

The intentional collaboration of African banks for a higher African common economic purpose will achieve three things quickly. First, it will send a message to the west, and even east, that Africa is ready and that will instigate a behavioural change, impact on Africa’s negotiating power and add confidence to the jaunty steps of Africans on the world stage.

Secondly, it will trigger more purposedriven diaspora investment home-flow. Africans have huge capital in the Diaspora, with remittances accounting for less than 10 percent of what is possible, but with opportunities back home appearing more assured, remittances will rise to more than 70 per cent while investments from Diaspora Africans will increase quite impressively.

The margins in Africa are higher than in Europe, Asia and the Americas, and since capital is perpetually in search of fertile grounds to multiply, it is expected that the continent will be the new beautiful bride for Diaspora investments flow.

Thirdly, with Africans creating their own terms of engagement before the world, donor agencies and foreign venture capitalists will alter their arrogance, and begin to engage the continent on more even and more respectful terms. Seeing the continent is cooking homegrown alternatives will trigger a change in behaviour by their foreign economic powers.

On a final note, this intervention will seek the cultivation of venture capitalists and angel investors for the innumerable startups and scalable businesses stymied by lack of capital and capacity on the continent. In the past, we have been treated to television reality shows like, The Apprentice and Dragon’s Den. Africans have watched many others through satellite television. But the continent needs the emergence of the sort of investors that lifted geniuses like Steve Jobs, Mark Zukerberg and Elon Musk to the billionaires’ club. The emergence of this category of people will lead to massive job creation, incubation of talents and the amplification of continental infrastructure. Africa will be better is it stops developing in silos. The continent’s development must be intentional and it must also be inclusive given the cultural and historical interconnectedness of the people.

Ikem Okuhu, an author, communications expert and brand strategist, writes from ikem@c-suitecafe.com.

• elumelu

THE TROUBLE WITH NWAEBONYI AND ‘NWANIGERIA’

the community “is some people’s village”, lecturing him that the image of the nation does not start from when your airplane is descending. “So, what happens in a place like Akwa Ibom… when you descend, you see water and creeks. So, we should eliminate the creeks in this case?” he asked, rather sarcastically. Akpabio, as obligated by senate rules, put the motion to a voice vote and the “nays” easily had it. But it was such an embarrassment that the conversation took place at all in the “hallowed” chambers of the National Assembly. It was a new low.

I initially hesitated to comment on Nwaebonyi’s antics after reading a well-articulated response by Mr Ugochimereze Chinedu Asuzu, a public affairs analyst, on social media. I believed he had adequately covered the ground with these powerful and poetic words: “And there, in one dismissive sentence, the senator reduced the lives of countless Nigerians to a mere blemish on his senatorial lens. To him, the humble homes around the airport are not evidence of government’s neglect but rather architectural embarrassments that should be hidden from foreign eyes. It’s a familiar trick of the powerful; beautify the road to the palace and forget the beggars by the gates.” What else can I say? What more can I add?

Trust the social media: pictures of what they said were taken of Nwaebonyi’s village soon started circulating. There were plenty eyesores: dilapidated huts and barefooted children and women fetching water from make-shift wells. I don’t believe everything I see on social media, but these damning images were not controverted. Even if they were, I would be surprised if his village is any better. I don’t know much about the history of the 43-year-old senator — whether or

MURDER IN IBADAN

Kehinde Alade, a teenager, was killed last week by a stray bullet in Ibadan, Oyo state. “Stray bullet” is not the right expression, as the policeman deliberately discharged the weapon to stop Kehinde’s father, Odunayo, from getting away with a traffic offence of driving against one way. Alade said he did not stop for the police because he didn’t want his twin sons to be late for WASSCE paper.

Trying to justify the murder, Mr Adesagba Adekoya, chairman of the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA), dug in, saying Alade was a “recalcitrant and obstinate traffic offender”. Please make me understand: is any traffic offence punishable by shooting or killing? In what world? Unbelievable.

not he was born into affluence, and how he eventually made his money — but I would not be surprised if he also went to school barefooted as a kid. It is such a common story in our country that there is nothing strange about it.

But we would be making a big mistake to think Nwaebonyi is alone. He only displayed the mindset of a typical Nigerian “big man” who feels appalled at the sight of the poor. When they see beggars on the road, they are horrified. When they see shacks and shanties, they feel like throwing up. For them, this is an aesthetic embarrassment, an irritation. The lasting solution, as far as they can think, is to get rid of these eyesores. Fling the poor away from the public eye as far as possible so that they will not be seen in the city again. The regular Nigerian big man lacks the capacity, or the empathy, to see that poor people are a product of poverty, and that you cannot get rid of the poor until you address poverty.

Nwaebonyi is a typical “NwaGovernment” — the special breed of Nigerians who feed at the expense of the public treasury. Even their toothpick is paid for from the public purse. The moment they join government — either elected or appointed — and begin to enjoy the naira rain, their goggles become darkened. They begin to chase the less fortunate off the road with siren-booming 4WDs. Those who used to take night bus will now be flying in the sky, either commercial or private. All they can now see are rotten roofs. They cannot understand why such should exist, more so in the cities. As Ras Kimono sang, “See them flying ’pon the sky/While I and I walk ’pon the land/ Still dem want I and I dead.”

The “NwaGovernment” class consists of people

whom Chinua Achebe, the inimitable novelist and proverbist, reminded that “those whose kernels were cracked by benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble.” Humility is not their thing. They are gods. They cannot comprehend that fingers are not equal. They cannot understand that no human being wants to wear rags or live in shanties — just that their kernels have not been cracked by the benevolent spirit. With people like Nwaebonyi in power, the poor will not even be lucky to have kernels. They will be made to disappear from sight. That is why we demolish shanties without providing social housing or addressing the root cause of homelessness.

Nwaebonyi is also like those “NwaNigeria” who care more about how outsiders perceive them rather than who they really are. Many Nigerians love the outward appearance. They wear beautiful attires to parties but their houses are untidy. The senator was talking about a “good image of the nation”. Exactly. If those poor villagers can be relocated or their shanties whitewashed to look presentable to foreigners flying into Nigeria, Nwaebonyi, “NwaGovernment” and “NwaNigeria” will be greatly relieved and satisfied. It will attract the legendary foreign investors. The relocated people may continue to drink from the well and the whitewashed houses may continue to stink of penury. Problem solved. My biggest worry, over which I have written a lot in the last few weeks, is the quality of thinking in government: in policymaking and lawmaking. Is this really the best Nigeria has to offer? I don’t know if the lack of rigour is getting worse or not, but every day I keep seeing evidence that we don’t know what we are doing. The Nwaebonyi misadventure is just a case in point. Same week, a bill was being considered

And Four Other Things…

ZANY ZULUM

Professor Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno state, amazes me at times. He does not behave like someone who understands that his public utterances as a leader must show some responsibility. Hear him: “The army does not have the necessary equipment on ground to fight the insurgency.” What is the public supposed to do with that information? Why can’t he tell the authorities directly? He even divulged security information to the media, saying: “A few days ago, I visited the chief of army staff. He said he is looking for about 32 drones and he would end the insurgency.” Ouch! Expect the usual suspects to rejoice at this statement and declare that “after all, he is only speaking the truth”. Careless.

2027: ARE WE SET FOR UPSET OR CORONATION?

and a coalition candidate can win or lose. So, those getting over themselves about a predictable outcome based on the current state of play need to calm down a bit. The only certainty, now and eventually, is that only one winner will emerge. Both (or all) camps cannot win.

The consensus among the clear-eyed members of the opposition camp is that President Tinubu is vulnerable but formidable. They are right on both counts. The degree may vary, but every Nigerian president who has stood for re-election since we embraced the presidential system in 1979 has been vulnerable. President Shehu Shagari was in 1983; President Olusegun Obasanjo was in 2003; President Goodluck Jonathan was in 2015; and President Muhammadu Buhari was in 2019. The reason is simple: elections are usually a referendum on the incumbent and most incumbents struggle in their first terms.

But Tinubu’s vulnerability is in a special class: he got elected in the first instance with a low margin (36.61% of the votes comparable only to Shagari’s 33.77% in 1979); Tinubu is widely perceived to have alienated the key actors and the zones that helped him to secure the needed numbers in 2023; and Tinubu’s signature reforms have unleashed the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. His vulnerability differs in that it touches the vast majority of Nigerians where it matters most: in their pockets and their stomachs.

But the opposition is also right in seeing Tinubu as a formidable proposition—he is even more formidable now than when they first encountered him as a candidate in 2023. All incumbent presidents should be seen as formidable, until they are not. Incumbency confers many unearned advantages especially through untrammelled access to state resources and assets. This is more so in developing countries where almost everything revolves around the state and especially in a place like Nigeria where the central philosophy of politics is patronage. Tinubu, the first machine-politician to occupy the presidency, will definitely not be shy in pressing state apparatuses and the power of patronage to his advantage.

This is why the move for a coalition of parties and personalities makes eminent sense. To stand any chance against a vulnerable but formidable Tinubu, the leading opposition parties would need to band together. And from all indications, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), not the Social Democratic Party

(SDP), is the favoured vehicle. Agreeing to a united platform on time is also good for the opposition. This was the path taken in 2012/2013 by APC, the only opposition coalition to have caused an upset in our presidential history. ADC hopes to be the next APC. Maybe. Maybe not.

Forming a coalition does not necessarily guarantee victory. Opposition parties have always tried to come together to enhance their electoral chances against the dominant, favoured or ruling party. They do this under different arrangements, mostly through alliances and mass migrations but sometimes through mergers. The arrangements sometimes hold but most times do not. The only time we didn’t see the move for a coalition of opposition parties was at a time when there was no need for such: during the stillborn Third Republic when the military decreed two political parties.

At the dawn of the current republic in 1999, the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the All People’s Party (APP) worked out a quaint arrangement to pose a credible challenge to the favoured Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Chief Olu Falae, AD’s candidate, flew the flag of APP and had Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi of APP as running mate. Two parties banded against one, but the alliance still fell short. In the presidential poll, PDP secured victory in 27 states plus FCT, leaving the AD-APP alliance with only nine states (though the two parties had won the governorship elections in 14 states earlier—eight by APP and six by AD). So, while having a coalition is a necessary first step when up against a formidable candidate, it is neither enough nor the end goal. The end goal is having a winning coalition.

(As a quick aside, what we are witnessing is a potential battle of coalitions on both sides—the opposition banding together and the ruling party enhancing its size by swallowing the opposition. In this my coalition-is-bigger-than-yours face-off, both sides are angling and hoping for a winning coalition. There are those who contend that the election will be decided by the people not the politicians. True. But what this hopeful contention misses is that there is a reason our politicians put a lot of store on political structures: they are, until tested and overturned, the surest path to assembling a winning coalition.)

The opposition parties have some hurdles to scale to turn their emerging coalition into a winning coalition. The first hurdle is ensuring that the coalition does

IT’S ALL POLITICS

There has been a rash of endorsements of President Tinubu for a second term in office, although he has not officially told us he wants to run. In the midst of the excruciating economic pains affecting poor Nigerians as a result of necessary and inevitable reforms, the preoccupation of the political elite is the politics of 2027 — less than two years into a four-year term. They are in a maddening struggle to outdo one another in the endorsement contest, after leading opposition figures kicked off the game with the coalition threat. I have said this again and again: nothing excites Nigerians like politics. We were born to play politics. We derive our ultimate pleasure from political permutations and punditry. Priorities.

not fracture. It is an open secret that at least two of those holding the talks are priming to run for presidency: Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi. Will either of them stay in the coalition if he does not or stand a chance of emerging or if he does not emerge as the presidential flagbearer? If whoever loses out opts to run on the platform of another party, then we are back to a three-way horserace which is likely to advantage the incumbent. It has been mooted that the two could run together in the coalition party, as they did in 2019, with Atiku as the candidate and Obi as the running mate. This is an interesting proposition, underlaid with two assumptions. One, that Obi has an incentive to run as someone’s running mate. And two, that if he agrees to subsuming his interest in running at the top of the ticket, both personalities would retain the votes they secured separately in the 2023 presidential polls. Politics, Nigerian politics, does not necessarily yield to such neat arithmetic. This may be the definition of a non sequitur: assuming that all the northerners who voted for Atiku in 2023 (in heed of the your-own-is-your-own slogan) and the other northerners who currently believe their zones have been sidelined will all line up behind him to do just one term or that the bloc votes that Obi received as the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023 will be transferred to a ticket on which he is a running mate. But then in politics nothing is impossible.

The next hurdle for the coalition will be how it handles the unwritten agreement about the rotation of power between the north and the south. In this wise, the coalition’s best shot will be to present a southerner who can do only one term so that the south can complete its two terms and the presidency returns to the north in the next electoral cycle. One approach will be to zone the presidency of the coalition to the south and ensure that the eventual candidate signs a public undertaking. But this is not likely to work, as it will always be difficult to stop an incumbent president from seeking for re-election. The other option is to go for a southerner who can serve only four years because he is term-barred. That naturally leads to President Jonathan. Though Jonathan has been speaking in proverbs lately, but it is doubtful that he has the stomach to take on an incumbent.

The last hurdle for the coalition will be selling itself

by the house of reps to make voting compulsory for every eligible Nigerian. According to the promoters, this is because that is what is done in Australia. How much research goes into the preparation of these bills? How much critical thinking is applied before they are tabled for debate?

You would expect that the promoters of the bill would have taken the time to ask Nigerians why they register to vote but fail to turn up on the day. From even a random sampling, I discovered that many Nigerians find the entire process too tedious, too cumbersome and too time-consuming. This is to say nothing about the physical stress on the voting day, or the usual technological hitches, or the threat of violence under the watchful eyes of the security agencies. This is aside the fact that the votes may not count at the end of it all with the rigging and other forms of manipulation. But you know the solution? Just make a law, impose a six-month jail term and all the voters will rush to the polling units. Simple!

I can go on and on listing various policies and laws that are so poorly thought out, laws that mean nothing and achieve nothing. Someone says the best way to make a useless law is to make a law that cannot be enforced. We need more intelligent reasoning in government. Come to think of it, Nwaebonyi could have made a case for the beautification of the surroundings of the airports without using condescending words like “shanties” and “eyesore”. But he is just like many lawmakers who propose bills or move motions or raise their hands to talk before thinking through. This is absolutely disturbing. Many lawmakers make things worse with the kind of ideas they promote. It is an “ear sore”.

NO COMMENT

Mr Callistus Okafor, factional chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has poured more petrol to his party’s furnace by announcing his exit from the third force of 2023. “My own faction, we met, and we said that this is the time. I hereby announce to Nigerians, based on the decision as a team in the Labour Party, the five million Nigerians who are under my control, today pull out from LP to team WaZoBia Nigeria,” he said, adding: “Peter Obi, when he came to the party, he supported (Julius) Abure, who has become his archenemy today.” Wait, five million members? From where to where? I know freedom of speech is constitutionally guaranteed, but I don’t know about freedom to fabricate figures. Hahahaha.

creditably. It is not enough to assume that Nigerians all want Tinubu out or that they would vote for anyone but the incumbent. It is also not enough to assume that having all those who ran against Tinubu in 2023 in the same tent would automatically translate to an aggregation of the opposition votes of 2023 in 2027. Elections, our elections, do not lend themselves to such neat or automatic aggregation. Equally, it is not enough to think the only way Tinubu can win is to steal or buy the votes.

They have to make a compelling case about what they stand for, not just who they stand against. That case would not be made by just railing against the incumbent or threatening regional veto or going on ad nauseum about the supposed death of democracy or the danger of a one-party state. Neither will that case be made by claiming a faux sainthood or by coming across as just a coalition of the disgruntled and the displaced who want to use Nigerians to exact a revenge for them. They need to differentiate themselves by showing that they have an alternative vision of politics, that they are offering a different approach to governance and they are likely to do things remarkably differently in the same circumstances. And the task of differentiation will be harder if the hardship in the land begins to ease. There might be a sizeable number of Nigerians ready to give Tinubu another chance or just be willing to wait out another four years instead of betting on another person. These are not insurmountable hurdles. More than what the incumbent does, how the opposition handles these hurdles will go a long way to determine whether a second upset is probable or a coronation is inevitable. This doesn’t mean Tinubu is a passive player or that he would surrender all the cards to the opposition. It also does not mean that Tinubu is home and dry, even with all the showy endorsements and the cards stacked against the opposition. He has a lot of work to do to stand a credible chance himself. Incumbency, as he will know by now, is not all advantages. It is equally a burden. He has more work to do than welcoming or seducing migrants from the other parties. He still has plenty work to do in the plenty time remaining. But the opposition is in a position to make it easier or harder for him. At this moment, the ball is with the opposition but in its half of the pitch. It can keep the ball, be overpowered to lose it or gift it. We will keep a close eye on this prematurely flagged-off game.

ENGAGEMENTS

A Referendum on Nothing

The APC as the ruling party has developed a rather curious sense of comedy. It is in a way futuristic and steps ahead of the country over which it rules. From the utterances of its chief priests and prime pontiffs, it has already held the next presidential elections a clear two years ahead of 2027. It has even declared the results well in advance. In that futuristic comedy, it has declared incumbent president Mr. Bola Tinubu as the winner. The crowd has already gathered at Eagle Square for a grand inauguration. For the APC, the president has already been reelected for a second term.

From the length and breadth of the country, partisan hawks and jesters have been busy in the last fortnight with gloating over a foregone Tinubu re-election. National and State party executives led the pack in declaring Tinubu the sole candidate of the party for 2027. Major party faithful all around the country have followed suit. Strategically, they have carefully arranged themselves around geopolitical zones mostly in order of demographic gravity. The more populous zones like the North West have naturally led the pack. The futuristic electoral tsunami has been fuelled by the recent and ongoing deluge of mass defections from other parties into the APC. Those defecting in droves need the reassurance of an assured foregone victory in order to jostle for vantage positions in their new party. These defections have helped fuel the illusion that Nigeria is about to degenerate into a one party state. In the euphoria f the moment, the Nigerian state presided over by Mr. Tinubu has forgotten that political parties constitute the building block of a viable multi party democracy. It ought to be in the best interest of an enlightened government that the party system remains vibrant and viable. But in this place, the false impression of politics as warfare has tended to blind the APC and its leadership into a conquest mode.

The myth of a foregone Tinubu succession victory is the second chapter in the APC’s carefully choreographed 2027 strategy. The first was to hoodwink the entire nation into ignoring the myriad social and economic crises of the moment and shift focus to the contest for 2027 presidential election. The gambit has largely succeeded. Every politicians is now fixated on the 2027 race. The political elite including the opposition have largely fallen for this deception. Instead of keeping Tinubu and the APC with strict accountability for the mandate given them in 2023, nearly everyone is busy speculating about the outcome of the 2027 presidential election. What happened to the epidemic of hunger all over the land? Why is no serious solution being sought to the resurgence of the Boko Haram scourge? Why are our myriad graduating kids not finding work? Why has every hospital become more of a morgue? Silence. Even more silence at state and national levels. It is as if there will be no life before 2027. The masses are not amused. But what they are seeing is both shocking and bemusing. Yet it is real in digits colour. People who contested to make our lives better just two years ago have abandoned us mid stream to be swallowed by the ogres of want and poverty. It is also as though the presidency is the only consequential political office in the land. Even state governors in rival parties who have been sitting around doing little or nothing these many months are busy threatening their electoral grassroots that they are about to join the APC. This is happening even in the most unlikely places.

The other day when President Tinubu went visiting with Governor Soludo of Anambra State, he was rewarded with a promise that Anambra has endorsed him for reelection in 2027. This is coming from a governor in a state where Labour Party’s Peter Obi does not need to campaign to win the majority vote. In tandem, Tinubu’s Works Minister, Dave Umahi, has cajoled Governor Alex Otti and Peter Obi on the need for the South East political elite to join the national Marionette chorus on the Tinubu mass endorsement.

Purely from a narrow APC perspective then, the 2027 presidential election contest is looking more like an impending referendum. It promises to be a referendum first on Tinubu’s overall job approval rating as president of Nigeria. Nigerians would be called out to approve or disapprove of his leadership record on a scale that measures him against previous Nigerian leaders. It does not matter that the man’s basic qualification for the job remains cloudy. It does not matter that no one recalls any memorable speech he has made as president. It does not even matter that he has initiated no clearly articulated policy on anything. Let alone come across as enlightened, informed or conversant with any aspect of national life. Yes, the man is an astute politician, adept at power mongering and playing. Is that what the impending referendum will be all about?

It may be a referendum on the economy in which Nigerians are invited by INEC to approve or disapprove of Tinubu’s handling of the economy. Matters like the dying exchange rate, the tanking purchasing power of the Naira, the raging inflation, the sky high food prices may feature as

referendum items. On the scale of social service, Nigerians would be invited by the APC and INEC to approve or disapprove of the disappearing healthcare system, the declining educational system, the roofless classrooms, the universities turned cult covens and ritual murder centres and cybercrime hubs. The Tinubu /APC referendum will invite us all to endorse a nation in darkness. Not to talk of the intractable insecurity as evidenced by the return of Boko Haram, the spread of ISWAP and the increasing helplessness of our military. A formidable military force that took only two years to end the Nigerian civil war has spent over 12 years without containing a roving band of hungry gunmen and zealots!

Fortunately, Nigeria is far from a oneparty democracy in spite of its tattered party system. The seasonal migration into the APC does not confer on the APC the status of a monopoly of partisanship. Nor does the overall population of the APC in any way confer on the party a demographic majority of Nigeria’s voting population. On the contrary, the main body of Nigerians who detest the APC and its policies far overwhelm the party’s noisy chest beating. Nor can the mass migration into the APC confer on Mr. Tinubu the charisma and esteem which he hardly possesses. The man is merely tolerated as a systemic throw up, not loved by even his immediate home base. Leadership endorsement through a referendum-like election is only possible when the leader commands a groundswell of popular approval and personal electricity. I cannot see it anywhere in Tinubu’s Nigeria.

This is not to under estimate the capacity of Mr. Tinubu and his ethnocentric minions to manipulate the political process and blackmail the political elite into making the next election look like an intra -party referendum. Mr. Tinubu is reputed to sit on a nearly limitless trove of cash resources both from prior undertakings and deals and from the current incumbency. His capacity to

deploy these resources to political effect has never been in doubt. And for as long as money and what it can buy remains the determining factor in Nigerian politics, it would be childish to write off Mr. Tinubu. More seriously, Tinubu has so far demonstrated a huge appetite for authoritarian flirtations. He rules more like an emperor than an elected president in a republican democracy. He holds his key ministers to no known standards of accountability. He has repeatedly failed to restrain members of his family from acting like royalty. From his Lagos days till the present, he brooks little dissent. He humours and rewards loyalists to his personal cause.

Under Tinubu, authoritarian streaks have emerged. Journalists are being arrested and detained randomly. Known opponents of government and outspoken critics are routinely invited for interrogation by the police, the DSS and the EFCC. Mr. Pat Utomi has been sued by the DSS for the laughable crime of sitting in his bedroom to declare the formation of a shadow government under a presidential system, not a Westminster parliamentary system. Something that should have qualified for an after dinner laughing session is being weaponised by the state to serve an authoritarian end.

The illusion in the APC that the entire party could be cornered into a loud ovation for a sole Tinubu candidate for the 2027 ticket is straight from the playbooks of classic African dictators. The more one listens to the spokespersons of the APC, they echo the rhetoric of Mobutu, Nguema, Eyadema, Biya , Mugabe and even a bit of Kagame. It is all too familiar in a continent replete with sit tight dictators.

Perhaps the more urgent task facing the APC is that of transforming into a modern political party under a more enlightened leadership. A political party led by the Ganduje’s of this world belong in the museum of African politics and would always be an insult to the forwardlooking outlook of Nigeria’s vibrant population.

• Tinubu

Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe

email:duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Super Eagles Set to Fly Out to London Today for Unity Cup

Duro Ikhazuagbe

The fromplayers the domestic league called up for an invitational tournament in London as well as the Super Eagles backroom staff will depart from Lagos today.

The Super Eagles will take on arch-rivals Ghana in the tournament named Unity Cup on May 27, before they play a second game against Jamaica or Trinidad & Tobago.

Some of the homebased players invited for these matches include Ahmed Musa, Ifeanyi Oyebuchi, Papa Daniel and Nduka Junior.

The Super Eagles will play another friendly against Russia in Mos -

cow with a different squad on June 6.

Earlier in the week, Super Eagles Head Coach, Eric Chelle, selected rave-of-themoment in France, Moses Simon, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, and midfielder Wilfred Ndidi among a total of 25 Super Eagles who will execute theUnity Cup Tournament in London.

Chelle, who admitted that “we’re looking forward to taking part in the Unity Cup as it will give us the chance to try out a few new players in different roles, helping us to strengthen our squad before the matches in September and October,” included the standout Nigeria Premier Football League players who are flying out today in the houseparty for the Unity Cup.

LALIGA eA SpOrTS

Tickets to Europe, Relegation Battles Still to Play for in Final Games

The 2024/25

LALIGA EA

SPORTS season reaches its conclusion this weekend with Matchday 38, and there is still a lot at stake in this final round.

Although FC Barcelona have already clinched the title, and the top six all know their European tickets are secured, the race to finish seventh and eighth continues, while there is one relegation spot still to be decided too in the Spanish topflight.

The weekend’s action which started at the Estadio Benito Villamarín, with Real Betis and Valencia CF ending their face off 1-1. Betis are precariously sitting 6th on the log with hopes of playing the Europa league or Conference. That will be determined by some of the results today

Most of the Matchday 38

fixtures took place on a very busy Saturday, starting with the 16:15 CEST meeting of Real Madrid and Real Sociedad at the Bernabéu. It was a special match for both clubs, with the two head coaches, Carlo Ancelotti and Imanol Alguacil, overseeing their final games in the dugout before their upcoming summer departures.

But at the end of 90 minutes, Real Madrid won 2-0 to seal their runners up spot behind winners Barcelona.

However in the relegation battle, CD Leganés currently occupy 18th position dropped out of the topflight despite defeating Valladolid 3-0 to finish the season 18th on the La Liga log.

But RCD Espanyol who were 17th-placed and only two points ahead in the drop zone won beat Las Palmas 2-0 to go 14th in the final standing. Las Palmas dropped out and relegated to the lower division, finishing 19th.

Djokovic Makes Another Tennis History, Wins 100th ATP Singles Title

Abattling Novak Djokovic made another bit of tennis history as he clinched his 100th ATP

Serbia’s Djokovic, who has won almost all there

is in tennis, is just the third man in the Open era to achieve the feat after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer.

Prosperity Cup: Battles for N10m Prize Money Gets Tougher

The annual Bayelsa State Government-sponsored Prosperity Cup football tournament among communities and other football clubs in the state enters the Last 16, after over 200 round of matches across various centres.

The quest for the N10million prize money in Nigeria’s biggest grassroots

football tournament is getting hotter as the tournament is gradually taking shape.

Atotal of 231 teams registered for Season 7 of the spectacle with over 24 centres hosting the preliminary round of matches in the competition.

Yenagoa Local Government Area produced the highest number of teams and centres in the tournament with 93 teams in the LGA jostling for glory in the competition. Among the seven centres in Yenagoa

LGA Bishop Dimieari Grammar School, BDGS centre had 16 teams the highest number of teams in a centre. Kpansia, Biogbolo, Opolo, Tombia and Swali centres housed 13 teams each while Ogboloma centre accommodated 12 teams.

Brass Local Government Area, the LGA that produced Ewo-ama FC, the tournament’s maiden champions, registered 19 teams playing in two centres, Sangana and Twon Brass centre. Twon Brass centre had 13 teams while Sangana centre had

six teams. Nembe Local Government with just a centre had seven registered teams as duo of Nembe City FC and Okoroba FC qualified for the local government final and the round of 32 of the showpiece. In Ekeremor local government a total of 20 teams registered for the tournament in three different centres, namely Ekeremor, Egbema-Angalabiri and Agge Centre which produced the highest number 12 teams.

The 38-year-old had won all seven of his previous matches against Poland’s Hurkacz but had to grind out victory this time around, coming from a break down in the third set to win 5-7 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-2). Djokovic’s children ran onto court afterwards to congratulate their father, with wife Jelena watching in the stands.

“I had to work for it, that’s for sure,” he admitted. “Hubi was probably closer to the victory the entire match than I was.

“An incredible match with a full stadium, a beautiful atmosphere. I’m just grateful to clinch the 100th here.”

Victory also gave Djokovic some welcome time on the clay, with the French Open beginning on Sunday.

He arrived in Geneva without a win on the surface, having lost his first match in four of his past five tournaments.

A relieved Djokovic now travels to Paris - where he will face American Mackenzie McDonald in the first round - with his bid for a standalone record 25th Grand Slam title firmly on track.

However, it remains to be seen how quickly he will recover from a final lasting three hours and eight minutes.

Olusegun Samuel in yenagoa

Super Eagles expected to future in the Unity Cup tournament in London this week

singles title with a comeback victory over Hubert Hurkacz in Geneva.

Djokovic

UNITING THE NATION...

SIMO N KOLAWOLE

The Trouble with Nwaebonyi and ‘NwaNigeria’

While we were kept busy by the festival of endorsements of President Bola Tinubu’s yet-to-be-declared second term bid along with the flurry of bulletins from the coalition trying to unseat him in 2027, we might have missed the tantrums of Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, the senator representing Ebonyi north. He also happens to be the deputy chief whip of the senate. Nwaebonyi is so disgusted by the sight of poor people living within the vicinity of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, that he moved a motion on the floor of the senate passionately proposing that the “eyesore” buildings be done away with because it was not good “for the image of Nigeria”. He looked sad and sickened.

To be fair to Nwaebonyi, those were not his exact words. Let me now reproduce his submission more

accurately: “If you are descending into the airport, the type of infrastructure within the environs does not represent a good image of Nigeria, and I think that the FCT minister should capture that in his next budget to either relocate the habitats or renew the area, because the buildings in the community are the mirror of the country. As you descend into the Abuja airport, if you consider the view, you will agree with me that it is an eyesore and doesn’t give a good image of the nation. I urge all my colleagues to support this important bill that will transform the country.” And — mind you — he did not flinch!

Some of his colleagues actually thought he was trying to entertain them at the plenary but the senator let it be known that he was dead serious. Senate President

Godswill Akpabio, who likes to make light of everything under the sun even when he is holding the gavel, did not really sound impressed. “Senator Nwaebonyi, which part of the airport?” Akpabio asked him. “If you’re coming from the airport, the first place you see on the right is the presidential wing, thereafter you will come across a very beautiful flyover. You’ll now descend towards the road that comes to the airport. When you get to the airport road, you’ll see a road completed with streetlights particularly in the night. Very beautiful.” Nwaebonyi was not ready to take the bait or beat a retreat. He insisted he was referring to “shanties at the back of the Abuja airport”. Akpabio reminded him that

2027: Are We Set for Upset or Coronation? WAZIRI ADIO

The politics of 2027 is now fully upon us and has even become the only game in town. It is what explains the sustained surge in open and disguised political activities right from the beginning of 2025. It is the driving force behind the moves and the counter-moves by the leading political actors. It is, simultaneously, the aminating spirit behind the feverish quest for an opposition coalition and the unceasing wave of defections to and hasty endorsements within the ruling party.

The 2027 electioneering period has been brought forward, informally and regrettably, by more than a year. Politicking, the all-consuming passion of Nigerian

politicians and the always excitable segments of the populace, has crowded out all else. And even this far out, the line has been drawn: all things being equal, the next presidential race is likely to be between President Bola Tinubu, verbally anointed on Thursday as the sole presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and whoever emerges as the candidate of whatever party is adopted as the unified opposition platform for the next general election. A further caveat is appropriate here: things are not always equal in politics—almost always, there is an X factor, some dramatic twist. Nevertheless, it appears we are set for another

tantalising electoral contest. It may end up as a battle royale or as an anti-climax. As expected, leaders of the two groups are convinced they have a clear path to victory. But it has been demonstrated time and again that politics is anything but a science. In politics, anything is possible, especially when there is substantial amount of time and complex dynamics at play. There is a possibility that the opposition, if they get and keep their act together, might muster an upset, as we witnessed in the 2015 presidential election. There is also a possibility that the incumbent, if it sustains its totalising momentum, may manage not just to limp over the line but to completely steamroll the opposition. There is also a possibility that either of the parties may win or lose not solely on the basis of its own acumen but on account of what the opposing party does or does not do. Even when you control for the usual games that most of our politicians play to different extent, Party A may win simply because Party B refuses to rise to the occasion. At this fuzzy but exciting point of the race, nothing is guaranteed. Our electoral history has shown, even if to different degrees of statistical significance, that an incumbent

TUNDE RAHMAN

Defections,

“When the debate is lost, slander becomes the loser’s tool.”

It looks like the Greek philosopher Socrates had Nigeria in mind when he made the statement above. How does one rationalise a situation where notable opposition figures choose the rather pathetic path of self-immolation instead of putting their political camps in order, strengthening their ranks, and presenting actionable alternative ideas to the people? These opposition figures have made a mountain out of a molehill. They are crying foul over the gale of defections to the governing All Progressives Congress and lamenting the so-called

trend toward a one-party state.

Recently, Delta State governor, a former presidential running mate, several senators and House of Representatives members, entire state cabinet and House of Assembly members, and many other chieftains in the opposition camp defected from their various political parties to the APC. More party chieftains, including at least two serving governors and a former Peoples Democratic Party governor from the northwest region, are expected to join the APC soon.

One of the serving governors that is set to cross over to APC is the Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno. Last Thursday, during the state executive council

meeting, Governor Eno declared that it was no longer news that he had decided to defect to APC, saying, “Anybody who claims he is not aware of my intention to leave PDP is still living in the 18th Century.” The governor also directed his commissioners and political appointees to move with him to APC as Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his appointees and lawmakers sensationally did. The Akwa Ibom State governor added he had long admired President Tinubu from a distance and would want to align with him in APC.

Defections have now become a raging issue in our politics. This gale of defections into APC could be primarily attributed to two factors, notably the

appalling state of the major opposition parties and the performance of President Bola Tinubu in just two years in office. The major parties like the PDP, Labour Party and even the Kano-based New Nigerian Peoples Party have been torn apart by internal acrimony and factional crisis. Several leaders of the parties are laying claims to the same leadership positions, fighting and struggling, and dragging their parties in the mud such that their centres can no longer hold. Some of the chieftains and members of these parties now seek accommodation in the governing party.

Senator Nwaebonyi

L-R: Librarian, University of Lagos, Prof. Olatokunbo Okiki; Global President, Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), New Bussa, Ms. Omoye Evbota; President, FGC, Idoani, Mr. Aex Akindumila; UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola; Global President, FGC, Ugwolawo; and Member, Lagos Leadership Committee, Unity Schools Old Students Association, Mr. Uchenna Orazulike Nnoli; Team Lead, Media and Publicity, USOSA, Lagos, Mimi Leke; and Team Lead, USOSA in Lagos Zone 4, Mrs. Kikelomo Alamu; during a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor of UNILAG and first female VC of the institution by the management team of USOSA at her residence in Akoka, Lagos…recently.