The World Gathers for Ojude Oba as Glo Celebrates 20 Years of Powering Tradition
Ejiofor Alike
Today, Ijebu Ode in Ogun State will be in focus as international tourists, cultural enthusiasts, visitors, and sons and daughters of Ijebuland gather to celebrate Ojude Oba festival, the magnificent showcase of Yoruba heritage, marked by regal splendor, deep cultural pride, and enduring
spirit of unity.
Ojude Oba, meaning "the king’s court," is more than a festival; it is a living mosaic of ancestry, spirituality, and kinship. Each year, the Ijebu
people—dressed in dazzling traditional attire—honour the Awujale, their revered monarch.
This year marks the 20th milestone of Globacom’s sponsorship of the iconic celebration, which has transformed into a cultural covenant—a vibrant alliance between corporate vision and ancestral pride. For the past two decades, Globacom
Permutations on 2027 Heat up Race for Gov AbdulRasaq's Seat as NGF Chairman
The race for the chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has assumed an interesting dimension as the battle is now being hinged on a power rotation arrangement rooted in the 2027 presidential election permutations, THISDAY has learnt.
THISDAY gathered that the Governor of Imo State and Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma; the Governor of Ogun State and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Dapo Abiodun; and the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji; are the top contenders in the race as the southern governors are said to be clamouring for the position to shift to the zone to boost President Bola Tinubu’s re-election chances.
The governors had during the May 2013 re-election battle of former governor of Rivers State, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, as the chairman of NGF, which badly divided members, passed a resolution on a two-year term for its chairman, which stipulated that the re-election of its chairman would no longer be automatic.
This decision followed the unpretentious interest of the presidency under the then President Goodluck Jonathan, who was bent on having an NGF chairman that would be loyal to it since the period of four years was a long time to have an “opposition personality” in that office.
At the time, Amaechi’s feud with Jonathan had begun to aggravate the battle for the 2015 elections, which ultimately saw Jonathan out of office, defeated by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
It was the account of Amaechi’s confrontation with Jonathan that prompted the former president to dread seeing Amaechi return as NGF chairman because he feared he could use the forum’s office to mobilise against him.
However, Amaechi, with the backing of more governors, including those elected on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), won the election with 19 votes to defeat the Jonathan-backed then-Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, who polled 16 votes.
But with Jonathan's loyalists insisting that they won with their 16 votes, the NGF was polarised and the PDP Governors’ Forum
Trump Warns Musk of Serious Consequences over Spending Bill Criticism
United States President, Mr. Donald Trump, yesterday threatened his former adviser, Elon Musk with “serious consequences” if the tech billionaire seeks to punish Republicans who vote for a controversial spending bill.
The comments by Trump to NBC News come after the relationship between the world’s most powerful person and the world’s richest imploded in bitter and spectacular fashion this week.
The blistering break-up — largely carried out on social media before a riveted public on Thursday — was ignited by Musk’s harsh criticism of Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful” spending bill, which is currently before Congress.
Some lawmakers who were against the bill had called on Musk — one of the Republican Party’s biggest financial backers in last year’s presidential election — to fund primary challenges against Republicans who voted for the legislation.
“He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that,” Trump, who also branded Musk “disrespectful,” told NBC News on Saturday, without specifying what those consequences would be.
He also said he had “no” desire to repair his relationship with the South African-born Tesla and SpaceX chief, and that he has “no intention of speaking to him.”
Just last week, Trump gave Musk a glowing send-off as he left his costcutting role at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
But their relationship cracked
THE
within days as Musk described as an “abomination” the spending bill that, if passed by Congress, could define Trump’s second term in office.
Trump hit back in an Oval Office diatribe and from, there the row detonated, leaving Washington stunned.
With real political and economic risks to their falling out, both had appeared to inch back from the brink on Friday, with Trump telling reporters “I just wish him well,” and Musk responding on X: “Likewise.”
Trump spoke to NBC yesterday after Musk deleted one of the explosive allegations he had made during their fallout, linking the president with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Musk had alleged that the Republican leader is featured in unreleased government files on former associates of Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while he faced sex trafficking charges.
The Trump administration has acknowledged it is reviewing tens of thousands of documents, videos and investigative material that his “MAGA” movement says will unmask public figures complicit in Epstein’s crimes.
Trump was named in a trove of deposition and statements linked to Epstein that were unsealed by a New York judge in early 2024. The president has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the case.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: (Trump) is in the Epstein files,” Musk posted on his social media platform, X.
WORLD GATHERS
sponsored Ojude Oba but has championed its global renaissance. In an age of cultural dilution, the company has chosen to amplify tradition—bringing the story of Ijebu to the world. The anticipated designation of Ojude Oba as an official African Heritage Event by UNESCO underscores its cultural significance, a recognition made possible through persistent advocacy and support from Glo. Because of the foresight of the Chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jr., Ojude Oba has been transformed from a regional celebration into an international attraction. Today,
was created as a breakaway faction. It was on this ground that a resolution for a two-year nonautomatic term was passed and successive chairmen of NGF had since followed and respected the resolution, ensuring that they spent only two years in office, albeit re-electable.
However, with the politics of the 2027 election showing different tendencies, the clamour to have a southern governor head the NGF has gained momentum as part of the efforts to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
However, there is a growing speculation that the current NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulrahman AbdulRasaq, whose two-year tenure ends this June, is unwilling to schedule a meeting this month for an alleged fear of members requesting an election.
AbdulRasaq will be two years in office this June and will have completed one term as NGF
chairman.
However multiple sources close to the NGF claimed he is not likely to call for an election this month because he wants to serve for four years as opposed to two years.
However, THISDAY gathered that some of the southern governors, who have been canvassing support for an NGF chairman from the same region as the president, insisted on having an election or a consensus candidate from the south to succeed the current chairman when the group meets next week.
In the meantime, some of the governors being positioned for the office of the NGF include the Governor of Lagos, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Governor of Imo State and chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum, Senator Uzodimma; Governor of Ogun State and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Abiodun; the Governor of Ekiti State, Oyebanji; and the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Though a majority of the governors from the south were said to have initially conceded the position to the governor of Lagos State, his now frosty relationship with the president is believed to have truncated this plan.
Tinubu’s cold relationship with the governor of his home state, SanwoOlu, became public knowledge when the president ignored the governor at a recent public function by refusing to shake hands with him.
THISDAY gathered that it is against this backdrop that Sanwo-Olu may no longer be in contention.
But the other governors are said to be mobilising support already, preparatory to the next meeting of the NGF this June, where another chairman is expected to emerge from the south.
Uzodimma, a second-term governor and unrepentant backer of Tinubu, has been everywhere in the last few months canvassing the president’s re-election.
He first mooted the idea of
Tinubu’s endorsement at the meeting of the progressive governors before it was sealed at the party’s summit soon after.
Abiodun is another second-term governor, considered a perfect fit for the job. His choice is believed to be instructive given the proximity of Ogun State to Lagos and could also enhance mobilisation.
Governor Oyebanji is one of the most favoured for the job, given his calmness and leadership disposition. He is likely to emerge as the first governor of Ekiti State to win his re-election back-to-back as a result of his performance and ability to manage both man and material resources effectively. On his part, Aiyedatiwa, the current governor of Ondo State, is being touted by some interest in the party because of his capacity for mobilisation and the fact that even though a first-term governor, he appears to be popular among his colleague governors for constantly playing sincere neutrality.
Gov Alia Accuses Unnamed National Assembly Members, Other Politicians of Sponsoring Benue Attacks
Akume not silent on insecurity, SGF’s office clarifies
Wale Igbintade
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia, has accused unnamed politicians and members of the National Assembly of sponsoring violent attacks in the state.
Although he did not name the politicians, the governor said the attacks were well planned and executed by terrorists and that an interim report of a judicial panel he set up indicted many big names.
He alleged that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume and his associates had not spoken out or taken action on the wave of killings and violence, particularly in the Sankera region.
But, in a swift reaction, the Office of the SGF refuted claims that Akume has remained silent or inactive in the face of insecurity plaguing the state.
Alia vowed to take up the matter as soon as he receives the full report later this week.
Hundreds of people have been killed in violent attacks in several communities in Benue State.
Speaking during a television interview on Friday night, Governor Alia said an interim report of a judicial panel he set up showed that politicians were orchestrating the attacks.
He said the state was under siege from terrorists and bandits, adding that the recent attacks that claimed several lives was beyond herders-farmers clash.
Alia added that he would take decisive action once the full report of the panel is presented later this week.
He said the attacks are beyond herder-farmer clashes, adding that
the state is currently under siege from bandits.
“We are under siege,” Governor Alia said on the programme when asked if he thought the state was under terror attack.
“The way these attacks come and the intel we receive, it is a directed calibrated plan and then executed. On a daily basis we are receiving that intel. Of late, each of those intel we receive, 60 to 65 per cent of it is quite accurate,” he added.
The governor noted that he no longer viewed the attacks as a clash between farmers and herders, stating that they now involve specialized killers—terrorists who engage in a form of guerrilla warfare.
“And then when you realise what is going on, it is beyond just conflict, it is beyond just an ethnic fight between herders and farmers in our state, it is directed, it is planned and then it is executed, it is some terrorism.
“For some reason, none of them is ever caught, they come in in the thick of the night, hit, run and nobody sees a trace. So, it is some terrorism that is eating us up,” he said.
“We set up a judicial panel to sort out for us why we kept having attacks from within and from without and we have received an interim report. Between Tuesday and Wednesday next week, I am going to get a full report from the panel,” Alia said.
“It is very unsettling because some politicians who are very functional, and are in the National Assembly, and are in Abuja, are the architects and arrowheads of not just instigating but harbouring and keeping these people; keeping
them in the bushes and taking care of all their bills and buying all the gadgets for them.
“This is extremely unacceptable. If they do not like the lives of the people and are fighting for their own political position, I think I am serving the interest of the common masses and it is my right to protect them,” Alia explained.
“We are under siege, the way these attacks come and the intel we receive, it is a directed, calibrated plan and then executed.
“So, once we receive this report the coming week, we are going to take it up and take it seriously,” he added.
However, the Office of the SGF yesterday refuted the claims that Akume had remained silent or inactive in the face of insecurity plaguing the state.
Reacting to the governor’s remarks in a statement, the Special Adviser on Public Affairs in the SGF’s Office, Terrence Kuanum, described the accusations as misleading and lacking a full appreciation of the workings of federal administrative processes.
“It is the official policy of the SGF not to be drawn into public controversies, especially on matters as sensitive as national security. However, the statement made by the governor compels a necessary clarification,” Kuanum said.
According to the SGF’s office, Akume has consistently worked, both within and beyond the scope of his official duties, to ensure the issue of insecurity in Benue and other parts of the country receives attention from President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council.
Kuanum stated that expecting the SGF to regularly appear in the
media to discuss security efforts is a misunderstanding of his role.
“His actions are more asymmetrical but equally effective. His responsibilities are channeled through internal mechanisms of governance and communication,” he explained.
The statement also defended the National Assembly members from Benue State, who the governor has allegedly branded as Akume’s cronies.
Kuanum highlighted the efforts of Senators Titus Zam and Emmanuel Udende, as well as House members, in consistently raising motions on the worsening insecurity in Benue.
“These motions have contributed significantly to drawing federal attention to the region’s crisis,” he noted.
On the governor’s claims regarding the panel of inquiry report, the SGF’s office reminded him of due administrative processes, including the vetting and issuance of a government’s White Paper, which must precede public conclusions or accusations.
“If Governor Alia has credible evidence implicating individuals in Abuja, he should forward their names to the President and the Federal Security Council. Making such disclosures public without following due process could pose national security concerns,” Kuanum warned.
The SGF’s office further advised the governor to adopt a more inclusive and grassroots-based approach in addressing security challenges, urging a clear and consistent position on the actual sources of insecurity — whether internal actors, foreign terrorists, or both.
FOR OJUDE OBA AS GLO CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF POWERING TRADITION
scholars, tourists, and admirers from across the globe converge on Ijebu Ode, drawn by a spectacle that unites pageantry with purpose. For the Ijebus, Glo has become more than a network; it is a symbol of identity, pride, and homecoming.
Globacom’s contributions extend beyond ceremonial. Through media campaigns, immersive storytelling, and cutting-edge technology, the company has cast Ojude Oba onto the global stage, enabling Nigerians in the diaspora and the wider world to experience its grandeur. This digital amplification bridges generations and geographies, turning a local festivity
into a form of soft diplomacy and cultural preservation. Glo has also used the festival as a platform for grassroots empowerment. From establishing fully-equipped POS kiosks to donating tricycles, grinding machines, and generators, the company has helped many Ijebu residents embark on entrepreneurial paths. This year, Glo introduces a consumer promo featuring Suzuki Celerio cars, tricycles, and other essential tools. One of the vehicles will go to a community-nominated hero, reinforcing the festival’s spirit of collective upliftment.
As Plato once noted, “What
is honoured in a country will be cultivated there.” Globacom has honored Ijebuland’s spirit and, in doing so, cultivated its soul. The parade of Regberegbes (age grades), Baloguns (warriors), and elegantly adorned horsemen is more than a spectacle—it is a proud affirmation of cultural continuity, made sustainable through corporate stewardship.
To sponsor a festival is one thing; to nurture its essence and future is another. Through infrastructure, community engagement, and cultural reverence, Globacom has redefined what corporate responsibility can mean. It has not simply joined a
celebration—it has helped it flourish.
As Kwame Nkrumah observed, “Culture is the seed of development and the flower of our identity.”
Globacom has watered that seed year after year, cultivating pride, cohesion, and economic vitality. The surge in visitors and commerce during Ojude Oba is no coincidence—it is the fruit of vision planted deep in the soil of tradition.
In these 20 years, Glo has woven technology into the tapestry of tradition, uniting innovation with identity. Its green emblem now stands for more than connectivity—it signifies community, heritage, and hope.
On this diamond anniversary of partnership, one is reminded of Goethe’s wisdom: “A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day...” Ojude Oba is all three—music, poetry, and portrait—and through Globacom’s enduring support, it remains a masterpiece the world can witness. As the regal processions – the Regberegbes and the Baloguns - pass before the Awujale today, their rhythms will echo gratitude—not just to history and ancestors, but to a visionary company that understood from the beginning that to invest in culture is to invest in eternity.
Olawale Olaleye
IN THE SPIRIT OF SALLAH…
President Bola Tinubu (right), and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, when the minister paid a Sallah homage to the president at his residence in Lagos…yesterday
SALLAH HOMAGE…
President Bola Tinubu (right), and former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, when the former governor paid a Sallah homage to the president at his residence in Lagos…yesterday
2027: Presidential Ambition of Key Promoters Tear Opposition Coalition Apart
The opposition coalition against President Bola Tinubu’s re-election is facing fresh hurdles as a clash of interests of its key promoters has stalled the group’s final decision on the choice of its adopted political party, THISDAY has learnt.
THISDAY gathered that the group could not agree on the choice of the political party due to the presidential ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, and ex-Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.
The group had scheduled to meet on May 30, 2025, but could not meet due to this development.
Investigation revealed that the coalition members were divided on two options: Adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and registration of a new political party, All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
THISDAY gathered that Atiku, former governor of Edo State, John Oyegun; former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Bello Tambuwal; and former governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, are the arrowheads of the push for the adoption of the ADC. It was gathered that Amaechi and the League of Northern Democrats (LND) are insisting on the registration of ADA.
However, the presidential ambition of the key actors is said to have stalled any final decision on the choice of the party to be adopted.
THISDAY gathered that the mood of the nation at the moment is that the presidency should remain in the South to complete the North-South rotation arrangement.
A source privy to the permutations told THISDAY that the attempt by Atiku’s camp to draft Obi as his running mate in the 2027 general election failed due to this consideration.
Atiku, it was learnt, has been unable to get another alternative running mate
MTN Foundation: We Have Invested N32bn in Intervention Schemes, Projects for 30m Nigerians
James Sowole in Abeokuta
The MTN Foundation has disclosed that it invested over Nbillion in projects and interventions that have touched the lives of more than 33 million Nigerians.
The Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, Mrs Odunayo Sanya, disclosed the figure, at the launch of Agriconnect, held at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The intervention entitled:
"Empowering Farmers Through Mobile Enabled Agricultural Intelligence" aimed at empowering no fewer than 1,000 farmers, was initiated by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, in conjunction with the Ogun State Government and partners, including the MTN Foundation and HUAWEI.
Sanya said the MTN Foundation’s interventions and empowerment programmes aligned with national priorities and Sustainable Development Goals.
She said: "We have touched the lives of more than 33 million Nigerians across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), impacting communities through our strategic focus on capacity building, health, and economic empowerment, of which the AgriConnect Initiative
is a crucial component.
"I am proud to share that the MTN Foundation will be supporting this program by providing mobile data and other essential resources and support to ensure its success.
"At the MTN Foundation, our vision is a Nigeria where no community is left behind. The AgriConnect Initiative brings us one step closer to that vision, demonstrating our commitment to inclusive development and sustainable growth.
"Through AgriConnect, we are leveraging mobile-enabled agricultural intelligence to equip farmers with real-time weather updates, market prices, and best practices that will improve yields and boost incomes.”
Addressing the gathering, Governor Dapo Abiodun, reiterated his administration’s commitment to agriculture as a catalyst for economic growth and rural development.
“Our focus is not just on boosting productivity, but on creating a holistic, technology-driven ecosystem that empowers our farmers with timely information and sustainable support.”
He announced that 1,000 farmers have been randomly selected from the Ogun State Farmers’ Information Management System (OGFIMS)— Nigeria’s first digital database of its kind, currently hosting 160,000 registered farmers.
from the South-east. While Atiku is said to have considered an Amaechi option a potential failure, the likes of Emeka Ihedioha, Osita Chidoka, and other potential running mates from the South-east who are believed to be working for the former vice president, are said to be concerned about the adverse effects of being seen to be working against Obi.
Ex-governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, is also said to have been overwhelmed by agitation for the presidency to remain in the South.
According to a source, ''if Atiku drops his ambition and nominates a running mate from the north to run with Obi, the coalition might make a headway.
He listed Governor Bala Mohammad of Bauchi State, Governor Lawal of Zamfara State, and former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, as Obi’s potential running mate if Atiku drops his ambition.
However, Atiku's spokesman, Mr. Paul Ibe, told THISDAY that the issue of presidential ambition is secondary, as it amounts to “putting the horse
before the cart.''
“We are at the foundation level of the coalition. This is like building a house; we have a solid foundation before other things, and we want to ensure that there is a square hole and a square peg.
''There is no need to jump the gun.
When we get to the bridge, we shall cross it," he said.
One of Obi’s spokespersons, who declined to speak on the record, said: "Obi is a member of the Labour Party at least for now. He is also involved in the coalition. We are watching the
developments and will speak out when the time is right.''
But the convener of the League of Northern Democrats, Dr. Umar Ardo, told THISDAY that what is stalling the adoption of a political party is the promoters' perceived political ambitions, which they have discreetly refused to disclose.
We are almost at a crossroads because of the hidden agenda of the political ambitions of our main promoters and their supporters. We hope to sort them out soon, Ardo said.
Nigerian Drifting Towards One-party State, Full-blown Dictatorship, Ozekhome Warns
Constitutional lawyer and human rights advocate, Professor Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has raised the alarm that Nigeria is “gradually driving without knowing it towards a one-party state,” a trajectory he said could lead to full-blown dictatorship if not actively resisted by the populace.
Speaking during a television programme yesterday, Ozekhome expressed deep concern over the current political landscape, lamenting what he described as “bootlicking at its highest level”
and the increasing trend of political decampments and cross-carpeting by elected officials.
He argued that such actions demonstrate a lack of ideological grounding among politicians, who appear to prioritise personal gain over party principles.
“It’s like beans, akara, and moimoi; they’re the same,” Ozekhome stated, criticising the lack of scruples among those who switch parties.
He contended that this erosion of ideological differentiation is a dangerous move, as a one-party state inevitably leads to unchecked power.
He said: “In a one-party state, dictatorship reigns supreme. Everybody will agree. National Assembly pocketed, judiciary will be pocketed, and everybody will be saying ‘yes, yes, yes.'”
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria drew historical parallels, citing the example of the PDP’s 16-year rule when they famously boasted of governing for 60 years, only to implode.
He suggested that while President Bola Tinubu has strategically placed his people in critical sectors of governance, this could lead to a scenario where Tinubu “virtually
runs against himself” in the 2027 elections if the opposition remains fractured.
Ozekhome also expressed dismay at the public’s apparent docility, which he likened to a “Stockholm Syndrome.” He argued that the average Nigerian, pushed to the wall by hardship, would rather retreat than challenge their aggressors, leading to a state of “helplessness and hopelessness.”
He urged Nigerians to be resilient and hold their governments accountable, reminding them that “the power is yours; it is not theirs.”
Afrexim Bank Plans Ultramodern Health Facilities to End $2bn Capital Flight from Africa Due to Medical Tourism
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has outlined an ambitious plan to revolutionise healthcare service delivery in Africa with the establishment of ultramodern medical facilities across the continent. It said the aim is to make a positive impact on Africa's healthcare landscape, thus bringing an end to the loss of over $1–$2 billion annually due to outbound medical tourism.
In an interview with journalists in Abuja, the bank's Managing Director, Export Development, Oluranti Doherty, said their immediate goal was to establish state-of-the-art medical facilities across the various regions of Africa beginning with the African Medical Centre of Excellence
(AMCE) in Abuja.
Doherty said the target of Afrexim Bank is that by the time similar healthcare facilities are set up in other regions of Africa, they will be able to complement and strengthen each other.
Africa is currently losing over $1–$2 billion annually due to outbound medical tourism, according to the World Bank and African Union.
Doherty said that the first of the four-pronged ultramodern medical centres envisioned by the bank is the AMCE, which was inaugurated last Thursday in Abuja by President Bola Tinubu.
According to her, AMCE was designed to address issues around the African healthcare landscape and to reverse the negative impact of outbound medical tourism by
Giving more details on the construction of the AMCE in Abuja, Doherty said the first phase of the project gulped $300 million
She explained that Afrexim Bank is deploying additional $150 million towards the expansion of the AMCE Abuja to include a research institute, office apartments for medical practitioners in the country and across Africa, who want to come and make use of the hospital facility.
"The African Medical Centre of Excellence Abuja is the first and headquarters from where others in Central Africa, South Africa, North Africa are expected to spring up. At the moment, we are finalising the feasibility study on the expansion project in conjunction with Kings College, University Hospital
London.
"It involves a hotel component for patients who want to have their family members accompany them and be close to them during treatment to offer love needed for the recuperate. It also involves residency for the medical staff. "There is also a plan to develop a medical and nursing school within the centre to complement its operations.” Doherty said that AfrExim Bank hopes to replicate the project in other regions of Africa. She added that AMCE would commence operations this month with out-patient diagnosis, oncology and nuclear medicine and that it would scale up with In-patient services by the end of the month.
"By the third month, the centre will roll out its full services," she said.
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
BARKA DE SALLAH...
L-R: Founder/Chairman, Doyin Group of Companies, Prince Samuel Adedoyin; Founder/Chairman, Eleganza Group of Companies, Chief Razaq Okoya; President Bola Tinubu; Managing Director, Eleganza, Mrs. Shade Okoya; and her son, Raheem, during Sallah homage to the president in Lagos…yesterday. Photo: State House
Without Restructuring Nigeria, Reforms Doomed,
Agbakoba Tells Tinubu's Administration
Wale Igbintade
Renowned constitutional lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has warned that President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms will not deliver meaningful results unless Nigeria urgently restructures its political governance framework.
In a detailed assessment titled: ‘Two Years Assessment of President Tinubu: The Political Governance Fundamental’, Agbakoba acknowledged the courage behind Tinubu’s major economic policy decisions, including fuel subsidy removal and forex deregulation, but said these reforms are being undermined by an over-centralised federal system that stifles economic participation and traps over 200 million Nigerians in unproductive informality.
According to Agbakoba, the current federal structure is “90 per cent dysfunctional,” with 774 local governments and 36 states almost entirely dependent on the federal government for funding
and direction.
He described the local and state tiers as “collection points” rather than engines of development, warning that Nigeria’s bureaucracy is too centralised and inefficient to support broad-based economic growth.
“Economic reforms operate within political systems. When those systems are fundamentally flawed, even the best policies deliver suboptimal results,” he stated.
The former NBA president pointed to Nigeria’s informal sector, which constitutes the majority of its working population, as being excluded from formal economic opportunities due to poor governance, weak local institutions, and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
He stressed that true economic development must begin from the bottom of the ladder.
Using agriculture as a case study, he criticised the federal government’s top-down approach to policy, arguing that it fails to account for local realities such
as climate, soil conditions, and market access.
“When agricultural policy is made in Abuja instead of the communities where farmers live and work, the system locks out those who should be its beneficiaries,” he said.
He cited successful examples from countries like Spain, where decentralised governance allows regions and municipalities to develop targeted policies that drive economic growth from local resources such as olive oil and grapes.
While praising Tinubu’s economic corrections, Agbakoba argued they are “necessary but insufficient” in the absence of a broader governance reset.
He warned that such reforms may actually worsen inequality by concentrating benefits among elites already embedded in formal structures.
“We are building a 20-storey edifice on a cracked foundation. Unless the governance foundation is fixed, Nigeria’s development agenda will remain stuck,” he said.
Agbakoba called Nigeria’s governance framework a “capacity trap,” with the federal government overloaded and state and local governments underpowered.
This, he said, breeds inefficiency and discourages investment due to excessive red tape and poor policy implementation.
Central to Agbakoba’s proposition is the need for restructuring, a shift from the current “unitary system disguised as federalism” to a truly multilevel governance model where each tier has defined autonomy and responsibilities.
“Restructuring is not just political—it is economic. Sustainable high-growth economies function through active local governance. Nigeria cannot grow if only the federal level is functional,” he noted.
Agbakoba argued that empowering local institutions to provide services, enforce contracts, and facilitate business development would unlock the economic energy of millions currently excluded.
Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi; Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah; Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hanatu Musa Musawa; and Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) have extended heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and many fans of one of Nigeria's greatest folklorists, songwriters, and musicians in the Igbo language, Mike Ejeagha, who passed on to eternity on Friday at 95.
The president, in a statement issued yesterday by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, noted that Ejeagha used his music and distinctive storytelling style to preserve and project Igbo culture and customs, inspiring generations.
"May the spirit and values of Gentleman Mike Ejeagha's music continue to remind us that music has the power to revive, heal, and redirect energy towards worthy causes that help build our nation," President Tinubu said.
The president commended Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for honouring the music icon while still alive.
In his message, Atiku reflected on the resurgence of Ejeagha’s music, through the efforts of Brain Jotter.
“It is heartwarming to note that, thanks to Brain Jotter, highlife maestro Mike Ejeagha had his ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ encore dance before the curtain was drawn.
“Rest in music, Gentleman Mike Ejeagha,” Atiku wrote.
On his part, Obi on his X handle, said Ejeagha’s “transition marks the end of an era, but not the end of his voice — his songs will continue to echo through generations as testaments to wisdom, culture, and truth.”
Similarly, Governor Mbah said the late singer’s death created a void that would be too difficult to fill.
The governor assured that his government would further immortalise the legend in death.
Mbah had celebrated the folklorist during his lifetime by reconstructing the popular Obinagu Road and the adjoining Chief Mike Ejeagha Crescent leading directly to his residence in Abakpa Nike, Enugu, a long wish of
the icon left unfulfilled by successive administrations in the state.
On her part, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Musawa, also extended condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Ejeagha, praying for the repose of his soul.
She described the late icon as a legend who made sterling contributions to Nigeria’s culture through music and folklore.
"The nation has lost a treasure trove of cultural heritage and musical genius. Mike Ejeagha's contributions to Nigerian music are immeasurable, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.
"Mike Ejeagha's impact on Igbo culture and music is undeniable. His extensive discography, comprising over 300 recordings archived in the National Archives of Nigeria, is a testament to his dedication to preserving and promoting our rich cultural heritage.”
Meanwhile, HURIWA has called on both the federal and Enugu State governments to immortalise Ejeagha’s legacy and institutionalise his vast body of work.
In a statement issued yesterday by the National Coordinator of
HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the association emphasised that Ejeagha should be remembered as a national philosopher and cultural intellectual, whose music elevated Nigerian and African traditions to global admiration.
HURIWA noted that while the Enugu State Government had made commendable efforts to honour the music legend—such as renaming a road after him in 2024—the federal government is yet to take any visible step to immortalise him at the national level.
Born on April 4, 1930, in Imezi Owa, Ezeagu LGA, Enugu State, Ejeagha carved a timeless legacy with his unique blend of traditional Igbo folk music and storytelling. His musical journey began in the 1960s, and by the 1980s, he had become a household name with classics like Omekagu, Uwa Mgbede Ka Mma, and Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche (Gwo gwo gwo ngwo).
Before his passing, Ejeagha’s music experienced a powerful resurgence in 2024, when comedian and content creator Brain Jotter, used his 1983 track, Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche, in a viral dance video.
Agbakoba proposed a combination of executive orders, legislative reforms, and administrative restructuring.
“The President can devolve key responsibilities like driver’s licensing, local trade, agricultural policy, and microfinance regulation to subnational governments.
“The National Assembly should amend the constitution to create distinct legislative lists for federal, state, and local governments, enabling effective devolution and fiscal federalism.
“Federal ministries should focus on setting standards rather than direct implementation, allowing subnational bodies to manage local economic priorities.”
Agbakoba insisted that local governments must be constitutionally empowered to handle core services like education, healthcare, waste management, and market regulation, functions
currently usurped by state governments. A restructured Nigeria, he said, would foster multiple centres of economic growth rather than a narrow focus on Abuja and a few urban hubs.
“The goal is to replace a system of rent-seeking with a system of broad-based economic participation,” he said. “When local governments work, when state governments are empowered, and when bureaucracies shift from control to facilitation, Nigeria’s entrepreneurial energy will be unstoppable.”
Agbakoba warned that “Tinubu’s administration is at a critical crossroads and must embrace a paradigm shift in political governance.”
He said failure to restructure would ensure continued failure of even the most well-designed economic interventions.
Terror Financing: British-Nigerian Art Dealer, Ojiri Jailed for Concealing £140,000 Transactions
Alex Enumah in Abuja
British-Nigerian art dealer, Ogeneochuko Ojiri has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison after failing to report a series of high-value art transactions involving Nazem Ahmad, a man suspected of financing Hezbollah.
The 53-year-old, who once appeared on the BBC programme Antiques Road Trip, admitted to selling approximately £140,000 worth of artwork to Ahmad, despite being aware of his alleged links to the proscribed terrorist organisation.
Ojiri had pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges after admitting to selling valuable artworks to a man accused of financing Hezbollah.
He specifically admitted to eight counts under the Terrorism Act 2000 for failing to disclose suspicious transactions during his business activities.
Notably, Ojiri is the first person charged under Section 21A of the Act, which makes it a criminal offence to withhold information that could prevent terrorism financing.
Prosecutors told the court that Ojiri was fully aware of Ahmad’s background and deliberately concealed their dealings.
It was alleged he manipulated invoices related to the art sales and saved Ahmad’s name under an alias on his phone. The court heard that Ojiri was “motivated by greed and a desire to ‘boost the reputation’ of his business, the Shoreditch-based Ojiri Gallery, by ‘dealing with such a well-known collector.’” While delivering the sentence at the Old Bailey, Justice CheemaGrubb criticised Ojiri’s actions, stating, “You knew it was your duty to alert the authorities but you elected to balance the financial profit and commercial success of your business against Ahmad’s dark side.”
Ojiri was given a custodial sentence of two years and six months, with an additional one year on an extended licence.
According to his barrister, Kevin Irwin, Ojiri was arrested on 18 April 2023 in Wrexham while filming a BBC show. Irwin added that his client’s “humiliation is complete” as he faced sentencing. On the same day Ojiri was arrested, Ahmad was sanctioned by the UK government.
Authorities subsequently seized artworks stored in two UK warehouses, including pieces by Picasso and Warhol, valued at nearly £1 million.
MITIGATING RISKS AND DISASTERS…
Gowon: Civil War was Most Challenging Time of My Life
Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd.), has described the Nigerian Civil War period as the most difficult period of his life.
Gowon made this known yesterday in Abuja after being honoured with a Lifetime Integrity and Achievement Award at the 5th Convention of the Christian Men’s Fellowship, Abuja Anglican Diocese.
Gowon explained that his decisions during the civil war were never driven by hatred but by a difficult necessity to preserve national unity.
He urged people to always stand for the truth and stressed the need for forgiveness, reconciliation, and unity across faiths and ethnicities.
“I always remember the civil war. It was the most difficult period of my life.
“It was not my choice, but I had to be there and had to do what I did in order to keep this country together.
“It was never a hatred against any
people, I can assure you,” he stated.
Reflecting on life after that period, the former head of state stressed that his decisions had often been guided by prayers and a desire to act with integrity and compassion.
“As far as this heart is concerned, everything that I do, it is through prayers.
“I ask God to help me to do the right thing the way He thinks it should be done, with love and respect for all the people.
“That is why, at the end, what do we have to say? As they say, "No victor, no vanquished,” he added.
Gowon also lauded the progress Nigeria has made since the civil war.
He called on all citizens to support the government’s efforts to uphold peace, love, and mutual respect.
The Chairman of the occasion, former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by John-Kennedy Opara, former Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, congratulated the honourees for their
Nigerian Pilgrims Safe After Makkah Hotel Fire in Saudi Arabia, NAHCON Confirms
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed that all the 484 Nigerian pilgrims in a hotel on Shari Mansur Street in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, which was affected by a fire incident, are safe and accounted for.
The incident occurred around noon (KSA time) yesterday.
The affected hotel, identified as Imaratus Sanan, was accommodating pilgrims from six Nigerian Private Tour Operator Companies.
Despite the scare, NAHCON has reported no casualties, adding that all pilgrims have been safely relocated to Mina.
A section of Imaratus Sanan Hotel on Shari Mansur Street in Makkah, where 484 Nigerian pilgrims were accommodated, was affected by a fire incident, which occurred yesterday.
A statement signed by Assistant Director of Information and Publications Division, Fatima Usara, on behalf of the Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, noted that emergency response by Saudi authorities and the hotel management helped to contain the fire swiftly and prevent it from spreading all over the building.
The statement read: “The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)
has confirmed that all 484 Nigerian pilgrims affected by a fire incident at their hotel on Shari Mansur Street in Makkah are safe and accounted for.”Following the incident, NAHCON’s Chairman/ CEO, Professor Abdullahi Usman, accompanied by the Commissioner of Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, Alhaji Aliu Abdulrazak, and Deputy Makkah Coordinator, Director Alidu Shutti, promptly visited the site. Their visit, according to the statement, was to assess the situation and ensure the welfare of the affected pilgrims was prioritised.
Expressing concern during the visit, Abdullahi “ordered for immediate relocation of the affected pilgrims to a new accommodation.” He also “commiserated with the affected pilgrims, assuring that the Commission will provide every possible support within its capacity to cushion the impact of the incident.”
According to the statement, inspections of the new building have already been completed, and arrangements for resettlement are in progress.
NAHCON also appreciated the swift actions of Saudi Arabia’s emergency services and the cooperation of the hotel staff in managing the situation.
consistency in living with integrity.
Quoting Psalm 25:14, he called on men to live right and stand for integrity, regardless of the situation.
The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Henry Ndukuba, who presided over the convention,
commended the honourees and urged Christians to uphold truth, integrity, and courage.
According to him, the theme for the programme is apt because there is a need to encourage Christians to stand for the Lord right from their homes. He also encouraged Christians to
stand strong in the society, in their workplaces and in their businesses.
Quoting Psalm 15:1-5, he stressed that God was still in search of men and women of honour and integrity, who are defined by what he described as the “four Hs”. He listed the four attributes to
include the heart, head, habit, and humility.
President, Christian Men’s Fellowship, Abuja Diocese, Mr Isaac Chukwudi, said the choice of the event’s theme was informed by the prevalence of bankruptcy of integrity in the country.
Labour Party to FG: Implement Electoral Reform to Immortalise Mohammed Uwais
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The Labour Party (LP) has urged the federal government to immortalise the late former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mohammed Uwais, by implementing the far-reaching electoral reform recommendations he championed during his lifetime.
This call was made by the Chairman of the Labour Party National Caretaker Committee, Senator Nenadi Usman, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday.
Usman described the late jurist as a towering figure in Nigeria’s legal and democratic history, whose legacy must be preserved through meaningful action.
“To truly honour Justice Uwais’ memory,” she stated, “the federal government should move swiftly to implement the recommendations of the Uwais Electoral Reform Report—a document that embodies his enduring commitment to democratic integrity and national development.”
The report, which was submitted
in 2008 under the administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, proposed sweeping reforms aimed at ensuring the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), curbing electoral fraud, and strengthening democratic institutions.
Many of its recommendations have remained largely unimplemented over the years.
Usman described Justice Uwais’ passing as a national tragedy and an irreplaceable loss to both his family
and the broader Nigerian society.
“Justice Uwais’ principled leadership as Chief Justice of Nigeria elevated the judiciary and left a lasting mark on our nation’s jurisprudence. His legacy is a guiding light for future generations of legal minds,” she said. She stressed that beyond tributes and condolences, the most fitting tribute to the late legal icon would be concrete steps toward electoral transparency and justice—principles to which he dedicated his life.
Obi Decries Unpaid Five-year Salary Arrears for UNIZIK Workers
The former governor of Anambra State and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has decried the plight of a group of teaching and non-teaching staff of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, who have not been paid salaries for five years, and called on the federal government to urgently intervene in the matter.
Obi made the call after meeting with the affected staff, who narrated their shocking and heartbreaking
The workers were reportedly employed between 2019 and 2020 and despite their valid appointments, they have been excluded from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), rendering them ineligible to receive their lawful earnings.
According to Obi, the situation is not merely a case of delayed salaries, but one of total exclusion from the federal payroll system.
“They have written petitions and appealed to various bodies, both within and outside Nigeria, yet
the situation remains unchanged,” he said.
According to him, the consequences of the prolonged salary denial have been dire, and recounted harrowing stories shared by the staff, including eviction from houses, family breakdowns, untreated medical conditions, and in some tragic instances, the death of colleagues who could not afford basic healthcare.
Condemning the situation, which he described as a reflection of systemic neglect, Obi noted that while the nation continues to decry
the poor state of its education sector, the basic obligation of paying educational workers is being ignored.
“This is not just a labour issue; it is a moral and humanitarian one. A nation that neglects its educators and university staff undermines its own future. Their dignity, like that of every Nigerian worker, must be protected,” Obi said.
He urged the federal government to take swift and decisive action by enrolling the affected staff onto the IPPIS platform without further delay and ensure that all outstanding arrears are promptly paid.
Babangida Bemoans Mokwa Flood Disaster, Describes Incident as Unfortunate, Act of God
Dipo Laleye in Minna Former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.), has described the Mokwa flood in Niger State that led to the death of over 200 people as “unfortunate but an act of God”.
Babangida said this when he received a state government delegation led by the Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba, on a Sallah homage at his Uphill Residence, Minna. While commiserating with the people of Mokwa and the entire Niger State over the recent flood disaster
in Mokwa Local Government Area, Babangida enjoined the residents of the state to continue to pray for the souls of the deceased. He said: “What happened in Mokwa is unfortunate, but it is ordained by Allah. It is beyond our powers, and this is why we should all continue to pray for the souls of the deceased.”
The former military president commended the administration of Governor Umaru Bago for its developmental strides and called for sustenance, even as he assured of his continued support.
David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
L-R: World Bank Disaster Risk Management Specialist, Ms Natalie Andrea Wandel; Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar; World Bank's Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialists, Mr Francis Samson Nkoka; and Ms. Mary Elinor Boyer, during the working visit of the bank's delegation to NEMA Headquarters in Abuja…recently
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
MAMA
Rest On!
We mourn with our
beloved friend Kola Adesina on the passing of his mother Mrs. Adejumoke Awero Adesina who slept in the Lord on the 16th of May, 2025.
We stand in solidarity with the entire Adesina family during this period of grief and pray for the repose of her gentle soul.
AWERO ADESINA
REMEMBERING NIGERIAN HEROES…
Nigeria Lost $450m to Petrol Subsidy Fraud in Six Years, Bawa Reveals in His Book
The former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has stated that Nigeria lost $450 million to subsidy fraud under the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) scheme between 2006 and 2012.
Bawa documented this revelation in his new book, ‘The Shadow of Loot & Losses: Uncovering Nigeria’s Petroleum Subsidy Fraud’.
Bawa, who served as the chairman of the anti-graft agency from February 2021 to June 2023 and a key investigator on the EFCC’s special team that probed the subsidy fraud, added that Nigeria spent over N16.5 trillion in petrol subsidy since the return of democracy in 1999.
In the book, the former EFCC boss said some of the indicted oil marketers were prosecuted
and jailed, while 80 per cent of the stolen funds were recovered.
“Our investigations revealed that, as admitted by the oil marketing companies involved, fraud related to petroleum subsidies exceeded N68 billion, which translates to over $450 million in direct fraudulent activities. This fraud involved 59 out of the 141 companies that participated in the PSF scheme from 2006 to 2011. We also uncovered fraudulent claims amounting to N19.6 billion on issues related to traders (sellers), of which the oil marketing companies denied knowing anything about,” Bawa wrote.
“Our investigation further identified an attempted fraud of N9.4 billion wherein oil marketing companies forged documents to align with altered dates on the mother vessel bills of lading to secure higher subsidy payments. However, due to existing
American School Adopts New Teaching Model to Improve Nigerian Curriculum
Abraham Lincoln American Academy has adopted United States curriculum to enhance the quality of education in Nigeria, aiming to build a generation of critical thinkers and globally competitive students.
The Head of School in Abuja, Jessica McAllister, who spoke at the academy’s graduation ceremony at the weekend in Lagos, stressed the importance of parental involvement and curriculum innovation in ensuring a lasting educational impact.
She noted that every decision made by a parent contributes to the child’s development and that the academy’s learning environment offers an advantage in preparing students for the future.
“Every action you take is training your child in one way or another, if you enroll them in a school like Abraham Lincoln American Academy, they will get the right foundation. If you don’t, you risk a different outcome. There’s no
middle ground, it’s either forward or backward.”
According to her, the school blends Nigerian curriculum standards with the American system, particularly in areas like history and geography, in compliance with national educational requirement and core subjects such as English language arts are delivered through integrated strands one focusing on grammar and foundational skills, the other using non-fictional texts to teach science, geography, and critical thinking.
McAllister explained that the school adopt the flipped classroom approach which prioritises student interests and active engagement over traditional memorisation.
She noted that the school is not just teaching children but shaping future leaders and innovators with a focus on creativity, discipline, and exploration to model what a modern, globally relevant Nigerian education can look like.
contingencies in the application of the guidelines, these altered bills of lading dates were ultimately not utilised.
“Interestingly, there were no recorded infractions in 2006 and 2007. However, by 2008, 2009, and 2010, we uncovered significant fraud totalling N11.5 billion, N4.88 billion, and N10.3 billion respectively. 2011 marked what I consider the peak period of petroleum subsidy fraud, during which we identified fraudulent activities amounting to N41.7 billion. In total, the fraudulent schemes
accounted for approximately N68 billion, of which around 80% has been recovered. The unrecovered funds are associated with cases still pending in court or involve promoters who have since passed away.
“These direct losses in revenue, alongside many additional undisclosed amounts and indirect revenue losses, could have been used to finance essential public services, infrastructural development, and social welfare initiatives. Sadly, the fraudulent drain on public funds has exacerbated the fiscal deficit, resulting
in budget cuts in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and social welfare programs.
“Table 6.1 presents the financial reports of subsidy payments under different administrations since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. Over the last 25 years of democratic governance, Nigeria has expended a staggering N16.5 trillion on subsidies.”
Bawa added that a “substantial portion of the expenditure” was linked to false claims and theft from the national treasury.
The former EFCC chairman
said the accumulation of debt to finance subsidy payments and other expenditures created an unsustainable fiscal situation.
He said the fraudulent diversion of subsidised petroleum products to black markets and export channels resulted in significant fuel shortages, thereby contributing to inflationary pressures in the economy. He added that corruption and fraud within the petroleum subsidy system also deterred foreign investment, particularly in the downstream sector of the economy.
Zulum Donates N100 Million to Wounded Soldiers, Families of Slain Military Personnel
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has donated N100 million to aid the families of slain soldiers and those wounded in the ongoing fight against insurgency in the northeast region.
The donation was made yesterday at an Eid El-Kabir Sallah luncheon hosted jointly by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, at Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri.
Governor Zulum, who
presented a cheque of N100 million to the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdussalam Abubakar, stated that each of the soldiers wounded in action would be given N500,000, while the remaining amount would be distributed among families left by the soldiers killed in action in the ongoing fight against insurgency.
The presentation of the cheque was witnessed by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Oluyede; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar; and the Force Commander, Multi-National Joint Task Force
(MNJTF), Major General Godwin Mutkut.
Other prominent personalities present include a member of the House of Representatives, Bukar Talba; Secretary to Borno State Government, Alhaji Bukar Tihani; Head of Service, Dr Muhammad Ghuluze; Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe; APC Chairman, Hon. Bello Ayuba, among many senior government officials.
Governor Zulum commended the resilience and patriotism of the Nigerian Armed Forces, emphasising that their sacrifices should
never be forgotten. He said: “Your commitment on the frontlines, often under extreme conditions and far from your families, is not lost on us. We remain eternally grateful for your service and will never take your sacrifices for granted.”
The governor also assured the military leadership of his continued support, stating, “Borno State will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Nigerian Army and all security agencies in the fight against insurgency and rebuilding our communities for a peaceful and prosperous future.”
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has revealed that God warned him that his firstborn would die if he leaves the RCCG. Adeboye disclosed this during the June edition of the Holy Ghost Service, themed “Destined for Greatness (Part 2),” on the midnight of Saturday, June 7, at the Redemption City of God,
Ogun State.
Adeboye, while speaking on the importance of divine direction and spiritual consistency, made reference to a sermon earlier delivered by his son, Pastor Leke Adeboye.
He lamented that many young Christians today frequently move from one church to another, constantly identifying as first-timers in
new congregations.
Adeboye stated that when he got born again, there were three major ministries that were prominent and thriving at the time, but despite the allure of joining them, God instructed him to stay in the RCCG.
“When I got born again, there were three major ministries that were making waves, and they were very good. There
were different temptations to go from one to another,” he recalled.
“But God said to me, ‘Son, I brought you here. This is where you will stay. The day you leave this denomination, your firstborn will die,’” he added.
He noted that RCCG was relatively unknown at the time, and its headquarters were a small building in Ebute-Metta, Lagos.
Wale Igbintade
L-R Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum; Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdussalam Abubakar; and Secretary to the Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani, during a presentation of N100m cheque by the governor to wounded military personnel and families of slain soldiers in Maiduguri…yesterday
Editor: Festus Akanbi
Rising Allocations, Sinking Hopes in States
Nigerians expect state governments to complement the federal government’s efforts by transparently deploying their increased allocations to provide tangible benefits such as improved infrastructure, social services, and economic relief that reflect the promised gains of fuel subsidy removal, writes Festus Akanbi
As activities marking the second anniversary of the current administration gather steam, one question that the Nigerian people are asking in most of the public discussions on the anniversary is what happens to the savings from the removal of fuel subsidy, which was announced during the president’s inauguration.
While announcing the tough measure, President Bola Tinubu, who also announced a foreign exchange reform, promised to spend the savings to cushion economic problems and restore hope in the country.
The president said the removal of fuel subsidy has helped reduce Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption from several million litres to about 30 million litres.
He explained that following the removal, the country now has an accurate understanding of its petrol consumption, which has significantly disrupted smuggling activities.
The president said that the petrol subsidy was holding back investment in critical areas such as infrastructure, education, and health.
He added that as a result of the subsidy, Nigeria has been unable to equip its school facilities, and healthcare system and provide social welfare programmes that will bring a better return on investment.
Bumper ‘Harvests’ to States
The fuel subsidy removal, hailed by economists as a necessary step to restore fiscal sanity, has brought about an unprecedented increase in allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
In 2024 alone, FAAC shared N28.78 trillion with the three tiers of government, a 79 per cent jump from the N16.28 trillion disbursed in 2023, and a leap from N12.36 trillion in 2022, according to data from FAAC and Agora Policy.
Much of this bounty flowed to state governments, offering what many described as a rare opportunity to reset their fiscal outlook and invest heavily in social and economic development. Yet, observers argue, the opportunity is being squandered.
Given the inactivity of the local government, attention is shifted to the state government, which is closer to the people as it handles key issues like primary and secondary school education and healthcare for the people.
However, analysts say that state governments continue to go unchallenged on how revenue accrued to them is spent because in Nigeria, public discourse on governance
often tilts toward the federal government, yet the most glaring failures in the delivery of essential services and public accountability are unfolding at the states’ level.
The reality is that despite a significant increase in revenue since the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the exchange rate, state governors have largely failed to translate the windfall into tangible improvements in the lives of their citizens.
The SavingsOfficial figures of the savings from fuel subsidy removal vary, but the Minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Wale Edun, says Nigeria has saved $20 billion from petrol subsidy removal and market-based pricing of the foreign exchange rate.
This figure was corroborated by the Chairman of Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, who stated that from the ongoing reforms by the federal government, Nigeria has saved between $20-$25 million daily, which, according to him, has stabilised the naira.
FG Reels Out Projects
Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris said, funds being saved from the stoppage of subsidy were being used to execute what he described as high-impact projects and schemes by the Tinubu administration. He listed such projects and schemes as student loans, physical and digital infrastructure, low-cost consumer credit, agricultural production, and targeted social investments.
Idris stated that following the subsidy removal, Tinubu was gradually guiding Nigeria into an unprecedented energy transition phase, launching a presidential initiative to move the country from fossil fuels to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as fuel for vehicles and machinery.
He said the federal government had approved fresh N110billion for payment of tuition for 120,000 students of public tertiary institutions that applied for loans through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and that 500,000 civil servants nationwide were
targeted as beneficiaries in the first set of the consumer credit scheme, which is to enable Nigerians have access to funds to purchase locally-made goods on credit.
The Burden of Rising Costs
The federal government account doesn’t tally with the result of a 2024 Afrobarometer survey, which reveals deep public dissatisfaction with the subsidy removal policy. According to the survey, 62 per cent of Nigerians believe that the removal of petrol subsidy has made life worse, intensifying the burden of rising costs and economic hardship.
Only 18 per cent of respondents said they believe the savings from the subsidy removal are being put to good use, highlighting a widespread perception of mismanagement or lack of visible impact from the policy shift.
“Since they removed the subsidy, life has only become harder for people like us. Prices keep rising, including food, transportation, and even school fees. They said the money saved would be used to improve our lives, to fix roads, build hospitals, and provide support.
But we haven’t seen anything change,” Wale Adeowo, a Lagos-based teacher, lamented.
A joint report by the World Bank and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) found that 129 million Nigerians, over half the population, now live below the national poverty line, up from 104 million in 2023. This means that an additional 25 million people fell into poverty within a year. Analysts say the pressures from subsidy removal, high inflation, and a sluggish labour market have pushed more households into precarity.
Pressure Mounts on States
Observers argued that while much of what the Minister said is verifiable, there is still a yawning gap between what Nigerians expect. The fact is that Nigeria is big and so hugely populated that the impact of what the minister reeled out seems to be lost on the majority.
Analysts said it is worrisome that despite the increase in statutory allocation to the states due to the money being made from subsidy removal, this is not translating to improved welfare of the people. They said that although President Tinubu may not be in a position to dictate to the states how they spend their money, he needs to find some ingenious ways to make this happen, given that it is his reform that is driving the national economy.
They maintained that the time had come for governors to take greater charge of their responsibilities to the people.
They maintained that the only verifiable
proof of an increase in revenue is the rise in yearly budgetary provisions. This is because budgetary provisions of most states this year have gone up significantly to reflect the increase in Federal Allocations since the advent of the present administration. For instance, states like Lagos, Rivers, Ogun, and Niger have crossed over to the trillions trajectory. Despite this windfall from savings from fuel subsidy removal, workers in many states are still being owed salaries, new hands are not being recruited into the civil service to check the high rate of unemployment, and ex-workers are still living in poverty caused by the failure of most state governments to pay the backlogs of pensions and gratuities owed to them.
According to an Abuja-based economist and Policy advisor, Chinwe Abuwais, while the immediate impact of subsidy removal on the lives of Nigerians is undeniable, it also holds an equal seed of opportunity for progress if the leaders make the right choices. She added that swift and decisive action is necessary to alleviate the burden and ensure the transparent allocation of funds into strategic sectors that will foster long-term development and prosperity for all Nigerians. This path, according to her, will pave the way for positive and inclusive development across the nation.
Apart from some palliative programmes introduced at the federal level. Some states introduced their relief measures, such as Ounje Eko, a subsidised food programme and transport subsidy for BRT buses in Lagos, but these interventions have been either unsustainable or insufficient to stem the tide of hardship.
Critics say that for many governors, the increased allocation has merely expanded the scope for patronage politics. New convoys, bloated bureaucracies, and inflated contract awards are more visible than road repairs or school renovations.
Therefore, to ensure the gains of subsidy savings reach every Nigerian, there must be an urgent, transparent, and accountable framework jointly developed and implemented by the federal and state governments, focused on investing in critical infrastructure, targeted social welfare programmes, and mass transportation systems.
This requires coordinated planning, strict monitoring of disbursements, regular public reporting, and the active involvement of civil society to ensure that every kobo saved directly improves the lives of ordinary citizens, especially the poor and vulnerable.
Nigerians still waiting for the gains of fuel subsidy removal
Fidelity Bank Changes Narratives with Fitch Rating
For a bank that has been in the news lately, the Fitch Ratings, which upgraded Fidelity Bank’s National Long-Term Rating to ‘A+(nga)’ from ‘A(nga) is seen as a breath of fresh air and a morale booster, writes Festus Akanbi
For many reasons, Fidelity Bank has been in the news in recent times. Some of the issues included the controversial N225 billion judgment debt and allegations of insider trading.
However, the recent Fitch rating, which is described as the endorsement of the bank’s capital buffers and improved profitability, has been described as a game changer for the financial institution.
Two weeks ago, the Global credit rating agency, Fitch Ratings, affirmed Fidelity Bank Plc’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘B’ and upgraded its National Long-Term Rating to ‘A+(nga)’ from ‘A(nga)’. The upgrade, announced on May 29, 2025, reflects the bank’s strengthened capital buffers and improved profitability, signalling continued positive momentum in its performance.
The Fitch rating came as a succour for the bank, which recently dismissed speculations about its financial strength following a Supreme Court judgment over a legacy debt put at N225 billion.
In a recent statement signed by its Divisional Head, Brand & Communications, Dr. Meksley Nwagboh, the bank refuted allegations that it was heading towards bankruptcy from a judgment over the legacy debt awarded to a company, Messrs SAGECOM Concepts Limited.
The bank assured its customers and the public that regardless of the judgment debt, it was not under any threat of bankruptcy or liquidation.
Unlocking Gains of Capital Raise
Interestingly, while some of its peers are still yet to put their houses in order, as the 2026 deadline for bank capitalisation draws nearer, Fidelity Bank is getting recognised for its efforts to stabilise the bank, meet the new capital threshold and solidify its hold on the nation’s banking landscape.
Fitch explained that the rating upgrade is underpinned by Fidelity Bank’s successful capital raise through a rights issue and public offer and a notable improvement in profitability, driven by higher interest income and a stable base of low-cost current and savings deposits.
According to Fitch, Fidelity Bank’s market positioning remains strong. As Nigeria’s sixthlargest bank, it commands approximately 5% of total banking sector assets. The bank’s balance sheet is reinforced by a high proportion of lowcost deposits, which accounted for 93% of total deposits as of year-end 2024, among the highest in the Nigerian banking industry.
The affirmation and upgrade by Fitch is expected to enhance investor confidence and support Fidelity’s continued efforts to scale its operations both locally and internationally.
One of the key drivers of the improved rating is the bank’s robust capitalisation. Fitch reports that Fidelity’s Fitch Core Capital (FCC) ratio rose to 29.9% at the end of 2024, well above the regulatory minimum. The agency also noted that further capital-raising efforts are expected to position the bank to meet the N500 billion minimum capital requirement for internationally licensed banks before the 2025 deadline.
Promise Kept
Analysts described Fitch’s rating as a testimonial for the leadership of the bank, which has defied all the distractions by holding onto the original plan to take the Fidelity Bank to its commanding heights before the expiration of the deadline for the recapitalisation processes in the Nigerian banking system.
This position was shared by the Managing Director/CEO of the bank, Dr. Nneka OnyealiIkpe, who described the rating as an affirmation of the resilience of the bank’s business model, the strength of its risk management practices, and the bank’s unwavering focus on delivering sustainable value to stakeholders.
“Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment, we have continued to maintain strong asset quality, solid profitability, and
ample liquidity. This recognition reinforces our position as one of Nigeria’s most resilient and customer-focused financial institutions,” she stated.
With the recent share purchase, Dr. OnyealiIkpe’s total shareholding in Fidelity Bank has risen from 94,644,260 units to 112,644,260 units—an increase of 19.02%. Her stake now represents 29.03% of total director shareholding, up from 25.56% as of December 31, 2024.
Season of Recognition
Fitch’s pronouncement on Fidelity Bank came on the heels of many other awards of recognition earned by the bank. For instance, the bank was recently honoured with the Most Improved Commercial Bank of the Year award at the inaugural Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards on Friday, May 23, 2025.
Organised by Nigeria’s premier financial media platform, Nairametrics, the awards were launched to recognise individuals, institutions, and policy reforms that have significantly shaped Nigeria’s capital markets.
The initiative seeks to spotlight excellence in areas such as regulatory leadership, corporate governance, investment performance, and financial innovation.
Stellar Performance
To show for these harvests of recognition, Fidelity Bank declared a stellar 2024 financial year. The bank posted an exceptional 210% growth in Profit Before Tax (PBT), reaching N385.2 billion—the largest year-on-year PBT increase recorded in the Nigerian banking industry for the year.
As proof that its full-year 2024 performance was not a fluke, the bank has continued to demonstrate remarkable financial resilience, solidifying its position as one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions. Recent reports highlight the bank’s impressive growth trajectory, including its re-entry into the N1 trillion market capitalisation club and a 167.8% increase in profit before tax (PBT) to N105.8 billion in Q1 2025.
Fidelity Bank’s financial performance has been exceptional, with a 64.2% year-on-year increase in gross earnings to N315.4 billion in Q1 2025. The bank’s total deposits have surged to N6.6 trillion, driven by a 21.4% increase in
foreign currency deposits. Analysts said these figures highlight its ability to attract and retain capital, ensuring liquidity and operational efficiency.
In terms of stock performance, results from the Nigerian Exchange showed that Fidelity Bank’s stock performance has been impressive, with a 237% oversubscription in its capital raise venture. Analysts predict continued growth, with gross earnings expected to reach N1.5 trillion and profit before tax projected at N415.4 billion in 2025. The bank’s ability to meet the N500 billion capitalisation target set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) underscores its financial resilience and regulatory compliance.
The bank has demonstrated a strong commitment to regulatory compliance and risk management. By maintaining capital adequacy ratios above the required thresholds – liquidity ratio at 54.7% and capital adequacy ratio (CAR) at 20.3%,
compared to the minimum requirement of 30.0% and 15.0%, respectively- the bank not only ensures its stability but also contributes to the overall health of the banking sector.
Lifting Small, Medium Enter- prises
Fidelity Bank’s commitment to supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) plays a crucial role in its significance to the economy. By providing tailored financial solutions and resources for SMEs, such as the recently launched SME Hub, the bank contributes to job creation and economic development, further cementing its importance in the financial ecosystem.
As its way of giving back to society, Fidelity Bank Plc and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) recently signed a strategic partnership aimed at bolstering the growth and expansion of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the African continent.
The partnership, which will grant Fidelity Bank access to provide friendly interest rate loans to MSMEs referred by SMEDAN, is projected to empower Nigerian entrepreneurs, particularly in the area of finance, capacity-building, and market access.
Speaking during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, represented by the Executive Director of Lagos and SouthWest Businesses, Dr. Ken Opara, highlighted its longstanding commitment to the nation’s MSME sector noting that, for over two decades, Fidelity Bank has been at the forefront of pioneering innovative solutions to support small businesses.
Onyeali-Ikpe said the partnership between Fidelity Bank and SMEDAN is not a mere signing of an agreement but a renewed commitment to empowering MSMEs, recognising their pivotal role in driving economic growth, creating employment, and fostering national development in the years to come.
Further demonstrating its leadership, Fidelity Bank spearheaded the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recapitalisation drive with a highly successful Public Offer and Rights Issue, which was oversubscribed by 237.9% and 137.7% respectively, solidifying investor confidence in the bank’s strategic direction.
A Lagos branch of Fidelity Bank Plc
Onyeali-Ikpe
www.thisdaylive.com
opinion@thisdaylive.com
TWO YEARS OF BATTLING INSECURITY
The Tinubu administration is making a difference, reckons ISMAIL AUWAL
See Page 20
IBRAHIM
BANGURA AS SIERRA
LEONE’S PATH TO REDEMPTION
Emameh Gabriel argues that Ibrahim Bangura is the leader Sierra Leone needs to bring development to the country
See Page 20
EDITORIAL
THE RESURGENCE OF BENUE KILLINGS
PTUNDE OLUSUNLE argues that the former Vice-President remains the dreaded one in
2027
IS ATIKU ABUBAKAR ‘SERUBAWON?’
olitics in Nigeria over the years has alwaysbeendenominatedbynotable peculiarities. This of course is relative to time and season. The gamut of its aesthetics resides in the frills and thrills, dramas and theatrics, which it throws up. Electioneering engenders colourful rallies in stadia and open arenas, complete with songs, chants and dance. Oftentimes, such events build up into resplendent carnival crescendos in the African sunshine. Roadshows offer similar excitement, music booming and blaring from loudspeakers mounted on branded automobiles, electrifying the streets and cities, as huge processions accompany mobile platforms. It is the season when aliases are minted and sobriquets conjured, when major political dramatis personae are conferred with novel honorifics and nomenclatures.
Nigeria’s First and Second Republic politics featured notable legends like Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo; Samuel Ladoke Akintola; Augustus Meredith Adisa Akinloye; Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi; Busari Adelakun and Adeniran Ogunsanya, from Nigeria’s present day South West. From the South East came icons like Alvan Azinna Ikoku; Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe; Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe; Michael Iheonukara Okpara, while today’s global North had the Abubakar Tafawa Balewas; Sa’adu Zungurs; Aminu Kanos; Yusuf Maitama Sules, among others. Awolowo was nicknamed *Awo* evidently derived from the full spelling of his surname, while the fearless, daring Adelakun was festooned with the alias *Eruobodo,* which means the “river fears no one.” For his panAfricanist endeavours, Azikiwe was commonly referred to as *Zik of Africa,* while Aminu Kano was the *Baba’n Talakawa,* on account of his strident advocacy for the proletariat, the downtrodden.
Aliasing on the political trail subsists even up until the present. Lamidi Adedibu a colossus in the politics of Oyo State in his time, was reputed for his affinity with the underprivileged. As many urchins and street kids who accessed his expansive home in Molete, Ibadan, were assured of regular meals, the staple being *amala,* yam flour. While Adedibu in one breath was the exemplar of *amala politics,* he was also famously known as *Alaafin Molete.* *Alaafin* is the title of the king of Oyo, a foremost kingdom in Yoruba and Nigerian history. Adedibu was said to have been eminently influential in his district, Molete, Ibadan, his hands strengthened by the swarming army of youngsters beholden to him as their ultimate benefactor. His wishes were his commands. The title of *Alaafin,* arguably the Number One royal in Oyo State, was therefore appropriated and honorarily bestowed on him. For as long as he lived, Adedibu was a major factor in the politics of Oyo State, whose voice indeed echoed in *Aso Villa,* seat of national governance.
Nigeria’s botched Third Republic brought forth Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke as Governor of Osun State, in January 1992. He was a very cosmopolitan and charismatic personality who was born in Enugu in Nigeria’s South East. He was noted for the remarkable styling of his headgear, which pointed skywards like that of a chef, as against the norm in Yoruba land. He contested for the governorship of Osun State on the platform of the extinct Social Democratic Party, (SDP) and won, just months after the creation of the entity in August 1991.
The manner of his first time sweep of the gubernatorial poll earned him the sobriquet
*Serubawon,* the one dreaded by his adversaries. Isiaka Adeleke’s younger brother, Ademola Adeleke who like his older sibling is Governor of Osun State, has since adopted and popularised his brother’s signature cap. Such are the variegated spin-offs of politics in our own part of the world.
Conversations around Nigeria’s 2027 presidential poll have begun rather early. The administration of President Bola Tinubu is barely two years in office, yet the national space has been drowned in the din of an election which is more than 700 days away. Cross-carpeting and defections have assumed fever-pitch as politicians try to secure their places in the political scheme, post-2027. Governors, parliamentarians, government appointees, serving and retired continue to move around like yo-yos. Their whole lives, their eternal relevance seem solely predicated on the sustenance of their proboscis, deep inside the torso of our collective patrimony. Many politicians in the present milieu have become permanent fixtures in our politics. As though they are the only Nigerians capable of adding value to governance and nation-building.
Proclamations about Tinubu being the sole presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the 2027 presidential ticket have been made. He will run unopposed. Olusegun Obasanjo, the First President of the ongoing Fourth Republic, was challenged at the 2003 presidential primary of his party at the time, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), by no less a politician and statesman, than Alex Ekwueme, Nigeria’s Second Republic Vice President, a foundation member of the PDP. This underscores the politics of accommodation promoted by Obasanjo a strong President in his own era. Affirmations are equally being chanted, as affixture to the *on your mandate we shall stand* chant, popularised by Tinubu promoters during the 2022/2023 electioneering exercise. Mere mortals are making matter-of-fact declarations and pronouncements with the manner of certitude and conviction about the future which presupposes they know the plans and workings of the mind of the Almighty God Himself.
Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has remained a very formidable
factor in Nigeria’s politics since the days of the primordial SDP, back in 1992. Despite being a newcomer to partisan politics having just retired from public service at the time, Atiku posted a notably strong performance for a newbie at the party’s presidential primary in 1993. This ensured he was a decider in the subsequent emergence of Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, (MKO), as presidential candidate of the SDP. Abiola beat Baba Gana Kingibe, in the runoff between both men, in Jos that year, largely because of Atiku’s personal sacrifice. Atiku continued to hone his skills as a politician, build cross-national friendships and relationships and to align with democratic elements even under the dreadful regime of Nigeria’s former pseudomaximum ruler, Sani Abacha. He was tracked to his Kaduna home by Abacha agents and attacked. Anumber of armed security operatives on guard in his house were neutralised just as he escaped by the whiskers and went into exile. Atiku was Governor-elect of Adamawa State, early 1999. He was awaiting inauguration when he was chosen to pair Obasanjo’s presidential ticket, after the PDP presidential primary. Instructively, the primary took place in Jos, where the SDP presidential primary in which he previously participated, held six years before. The Obasanjo/Atiku ticket won the presidential election proper and Atiku Abubakar became the First Vice President of Nigeria subsisting Fourth Republic. Talk about one politician who has friends and associates across all of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas and you find that in Atiku Abubakar. He needs not grope in the dark searching for acolytes. And because he is ever in touch with his affiliates and foot soldiers, they rally spontaneously to his beckoning and causes. If there is one politician today whose name evokes trepidation in the ranks of the establishment, that person has to be Atiku Abubakar. His vast public service experience; his successful forays into the private sector; his profound knowledge of the Nigerian conundrum; his deft organisational skills; his flexibility as a team player; his charm and charisma, combine to underline his formidability. Concerned Nigerians in recent weeks and months, have been reaching out to Atiku to lead the charge for change in the nation’s political leadership. While the overall socioeconomic health of the nation is draped in gloss and fine print by incumbents, the situation is excruciating on the streets. There is palpable hunger, worsened by skyrocketing inflation. Insecurity continues to pummel the citizenry by way of kidnappings, banditry, insurgency and wanton killings across the breadth of the country. Depression has accentuated suicide rates as many succumb to despair and despondency. The national space is thick and dark with tangible foreboding.
True, Nigeria’s opposition parties are almost irredeemably discombobulated as we speak. The very thought ofAtiku commitedly attempting to sew a pathway out of the tatters, however, is very concerning to the status quo. The experience of the 2023 presidential election where the APC capitalised on the fact of the dismemberment of the PDP behemoth into three political smithereens remains very fresh.
Olusunle, PhD, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), is an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Abuja
t Wo Years oF battLIng InseCurIt Y
The Tinubu administration is making a difference, reckons IsmaIL auWaL
There are stories that do not scream. They unfold not on television, social media scrolls or in the exaggeration of viral tweets but in moments of stillness, in places where peace used to be a stranger and is now fully settled. They whisper from war rooms lit by strategy, not spectacle. From farmlands where once no child dared to run, now echoing with laughter. From police outposts resurrected brick by brick, from rubbles and ashes. I believe this is one of those stories, a chronicle of how Nigeria, through quiet resolve and determined strategy, began to reclaim itself from the grip of chaos.
In the days before May 29, 2023, Nigeria resembled a federation of fragilities. Boko Haram’s menace in the Northeast had become a grim tradition. The forests of the Northwest served as capitals for bandit warlords, and separatist violence in the Southeast had turned whole communities into no-go zones. In Kaduna State, officials recorded 1,192 people killed and over 3,300 kidnapped in one year alone. By 2023, more than 35,000 had perished in the decade-long insurgency in Borno. In the oil-rich Niger Delta, pipelines suffered more attacks than some military formations. We had not only inherited chaos; we had normalized it.
But then came a change not the kind that arrives with fireworks or national applause, but the kind you almost miss until it begins to reshape your mornings. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought with him a clarity of purpose, and in the shadow of that vision emerged a key figure—Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, whose name evokes a different kind of fear now: fear among criminals that Nigeria has stopped sleeping.
Recently the NSA was called upon at the APC midterm conference to give an account of this salient sector in the last two years. With no drama or innuendo, Ribadu gave an excellent account using facts and figures. Many in the room nodded because like millions of Nigerians they could identify how reign of terror that once stopped many people from going home now cave in to strategic warfare.
In two years under Tinubu’s leadership and Ribadu’s supervision, the story is pleasant for every dispassionate follow of events. In terms of figures, over 13,500 terrorists and armed criminals have been neutralized. More than 17,000 arrests made. Over 11,200 hostages freed. More importantly, over 124,000 insurgents and their families surrendered, handing over more than 11,000 weapons. These are not just numbers, they are milestones engraved in human relief. They are the sighs of parents who once despaired of seeing their children return from school, or from bandits’ camps.
In the Northwest, especially Zamfara and Kaduna, 11,250 hostages have been freed, and some of the most dreaded warlords—Ali Kachala, Boderi, Halilu Sububu—are no longer here to perpetrate their reign of terror. The government also deployed a comprehensive system of non-kinetic approach using dialogue and community engagement. Dubbed the Kaduna Model, it’s a precursor to a full-scale initiative called Operation Safe Corridor Northwest, which is in the works. Through it, 35 repentant bandit leaders laid down their arms. It is not forgiveness out of weakness, but a recovery strategy. In the Northeast, where peace seemed like a myth, Borno is witnessing what can only be called thoughtful rebirth. Over 13,543 insurgents neutralized. Over 102,000
surrendered. In the charred heartlands of the Timbuktu Triangle and the marshy lairs of Tumbu Islands, soldiers pushed insurgents into retreat. Eleven thousand recovered weapons and 252,596 rounds of ammunition lie in silent testimony. Villages once erased from maps are reappearing in census reports. Resettlement has moved from policy to practice, and the air hums again with the sound of trade.
The Niger Delta, once a corridor of corruption and criminal oil syndicates, witnessed a quiet economic resurgence. Crude oil production, which had dipped to less than a million barrels per day before 2023, climbed to an average of 1.8 million barrels in 2025. This was not a fluke. It was the product of relentless operations. Operation Delta Safe dismantled 1,978 illegal refineries, 3,849 dugout pits, and 3,773 cooking ovens used to process stolen crude. The pipelines turned green—operational—for the first time in years. And then, history was made: oil production was scheduled to resume in Ogoniland, a region silent for over three decades, this time with community consent and federal protection.
In the Southeast, the tide is turning. IPOB’s once-feared sit-at-home orders are losing their grip. Fifty police stations have reopened. Separatist strongholds are collapsing. The streets of Enugu, Owerri, and Abakaliki hum again, not with threats, but with trade, traffic, and talk.
Perhaps the most underreported but crucial front is cyberspace security. Ribadu’s war room doesn’t just fight with boots on the ground—it wages battles in the cloud. The Binance case exposed billions in crypto-linked economic sabotage. Dozens of suspicious accounts tied to terrorism and separatism were frozen. The newly established National Digital Forensic Laboratory now supports military and law enforcement investigations. A robust plan to protect critical national infrastructure has been activated and enforced.
And still, Ribadu does not claim the spotlight. When he speaks, it is to remind us of the horrors we survived—the Kaduna train bombing, the Owo church massacre, the 1,841 inmates who vanished from Kuje and Owerri. He asks us not to clap but to remember.
This is not to declare total victory. The Sahel still burns with jihadist fury, and regional instability laps at our borders. Arms still flow illegally, and climate-driven conflicts remain a threat. But there is a difference now: Nigeria is not merely reacting. It is anticipating. It is prepared.
Auwal writes from Abuja, and can be reached via ismaaga6@gmail.com
IbrahIm bangura as sIerra Leone’s Path to redemPtIon
emameh gabrIeL argues that Ibrahim Bangura is the leader Sierra Leone needs to bring development to the country
“The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality” –
Dante Alighieri’s timeless warning echoes through Sierra Leone’s current crossroads. As America’s recent visa restrictions place this West African nation in the company of states like Venezuela and Turkmenistan, the country finds itself not merely at a political juncture, but at a civilisational one.
These reverberations coincide with the gathering storm of a generational election. In this twilight of decision, the nation’s character is being tested. Sierra Leone needs more than a politician; its people crave a statesman, one who embodies what Plato termed a “philosopher-king”: that rare fusion of intellectual rigour and pragmatic leadership the republic desperately requires.
The U.S. visa restrictions, a modern form of political ostracism, did not emanate in a vacuum. They mirror Chinua Achebe’s diagnosis of “the trouble with Nigeria” (and by extension, Africa): “the failure of leadership”. When the world’s preeminent power groups Sierra Leone with nations ruled by strongmen and failed states, this constitutes not merely a policy shift, but a damning verdict on the governance of the country.
The ancient Greeks spoke of “kairos”, those decisive moments when history holds its breath. For Sierra Leone, such a moment has arrived.
Freetown’s cotton trees have borne witness to six decades of promise and peril since independence. Yet today, as dawn breaks over the Lion Mountains, its children inherit a cruel paradox: a land rich in diamonds yet starved of opportunity; a democracy with elections but enfeebled institutions; a people of formidable resilience now confronting America’s diplomatic frost.
This country, its leaders, its parties, its decision makers, must take a hard look inward. Now is the time to turn to the best among them: the thinkers, the seasoned hands, those who have walked the long road of service. And in that light, one name stands out, Dr. Ibrahim Bangura. Oxford scholar. African Union advisor. A son of Freetown, shaped by its struggles and steeped in its spirit. This is his moment. If ever there were a leader who could restore this nation’s fading voice on the world stage, it is him.
Like Mandela understood that to end apartheid, it required both resistance and reconciliation, Dr. Bangura grasps that Sierra Leone’s redemption needs neither revolutionary rhetoric nor meek compliance, but what the political theorist Max Weber termed “the ethic of responsibility”.
A tree does not grow tall in a day – this Limba proverb encapsulates Dr. Bangura’s journey. Born to a politically-engaged Fullah/Susu family, his path mirrors Sierra Leone’s own trajectory: from the tumult of post independence idealism, through the dark valleys of conflict, toward the hard won wisdom of reconciliation. Dr. Ibrahim Bangura stands before the people of Sierra Leone as that rare figure who combines the wisdom of the scholar with the courage of the reformer, the vision of the philosopher with the practicality of the development expert. His experience has been an unspoken preparation for this precise historical moment, much like Churchill’s wilderness years prepared him for Britain’s darkest hour.
The journey of this remarkable son of Freetown reads like a roadmap for national renewal. Born into a politically engaged Fullah/Susu family, Dr. Bangura’s intellectual odyssey took him from the hallowed halls of Fourah Bay College to the rigorous academic environments of Leipzig and Oxford. Yet what distinguishes him is that rare quality
the Romans called “virtus” - not merely knowledge, but the character to apply it wisely. His over twenty years of service with the African Union and United Nations were not spent in air conditioned offices drafting theoretical papers, but in the field transforming ex-combatants into farmers in Liberia, preventing electoral violence in Ghana, and bringing light to rural clinics in Niger.
Dr. Bangura’s vision for Sierra Leone is both practical and bold. First, he will restore trust abroad through transparent diplomacy. Second, he will drive economic revival by channelling diamond wealth into tech and farming. Third, he will equip young people with proper education, reliable power, and real job prospects.
The All Peoples Congress now faces what German philosophers term a “Scheideweg” - a decisive fork in the road. The party can continue with business as usual, or it can embrace this moment of transformation by selecting a leader whose very biography embodies the change Sierra Leone needs. Those who argue that the Freetown native is “too academic” forget that America’s founding fathers were precisely such men of ideas and action - what Jefferson called “an aristocracy of talent.” In an era where Ghana’s Nana Akufo-Addo (a human rights lawyer) and Liberia’s George Weah (a football legend turned reformer) have redefined leadership in our region, must Sierra Leone remain trapped in outdated models?
As the country stands at this crossroads, the words of Martin Luther King Jr. ring across the decades: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” For Sierra Leone, that arc now bends toward a fundamental choice between the politics of the past and the statesmanship of the future. The visa restrictions need not be the country’s epitaph, but could become the catalyst for its national rebirth.
In Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, we find that rare leader described in the Igbo tradition as “the tree whose branches touch the sky while its roots remain firmly in the earth.” His vision combines international sophistication with local understanding, intellectual depth with practical solutions. The question before Sierra Leone as a nation is not whether he is ready to lead, but whether the people are ready to be led towards their better angels. For as the ancient African proverb reminds us: “When the music changes, so must the dance.” Sierra Leone’s music has changed. The world is watching to see if Sierra Leone will now change its dance. In Dr. Bangura, they have the choreographer who can guide their steps toward the future they deserve - a future of dignity, prosperity and restored standing in the community of nations.
Gabriel writes from Abuja
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
THE RESURGENCE OF BENUE KILLINGS
Security agencies could do more to contain the violence
In the past few weeks, Benue State has been a graveyard of innocent children, women, and indeed men - victims of incessant conflict and unprovoked attacks by suspected herders. Statistics may not be reliable, but more than 200 people have been killed since the renewed attacks commenced two months ago. As things stand today, no community in the state seems to be safe. Not even the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps where hundreds of thousands had fled to escape the all-pervasive violence.
While we commiserate with the government and people of the state on the growing brutality targeted at innocent citizens, we are worried that these incessant attacks can only worsen the general feeling of insecurity across the country. Especially when they are being perpetrated mostly by some roving gangs of killer herders. Governor Hyacinth Alia has declared that Benue State is under siege from terrorists and bandits, saying that recent attacks are beyond the perennial clash between herders and farmers. “The way these attacks come and the intel we receive, it is a directed calibrated plan and then executed,” Alia said last week. “For some reason, none of them (killers) is ever caught. They come in in the thick of the night, hit, run and nobody sees a trace. So, it is some terrorism that is eating us up.”
In response to the growing lawlessness, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Olufemi Oluyede, has temporarily relocated to Makurdi. But while that may be good for the optics, the situation in Benue State requires much more. The culture of impunity persists around Benue/Plateau States and indeed beyond because the relevant security agencies have not succeeded in apprehending and bringing to justice the entrepreneurs of violence. Until that is done, there may be no end to these indiscriminate and unwarranted killings that portray Nigeria in bad light before the international community by depicting us as a people who place little or no premium on the sanctity of life.
The culture of impunity persists around Benue/Plateau States, and indeed beyond, because the relevant security agencies have not succeeded in apprehending and bringing to justice the entrepreneurs of violence
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Under the banner of ‘The Voice of the Voiceless Women in Apa’, hundreds of women trooped out in Ugbokpo, headquarters of Apa local government area of Benue State, last week to protest the killings and destructions. The protest followed last Sunday’s bloody incursions on Ijaha, Ibele, Ochekwu and Edikwu Ankpali communities by these armed marauders, which claimed dozens of lives and left several others injured in a state that is now firmly under the grip of violent men. In their statement, the bereaved women claimed that herdsmen had forcefully entered their farms and homes “to kill and destroy our children, husbands, and loved ones, including our fellow women. And today, our children can hardly go to school, our lives are in danger, and our future is in a shambles.”
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Conflicts between farmers and herders are common and vicious in the country’s Middle Belt over grazing land for cattle. Itinerant herders and indigenous farmers often clash when cows left to graze openly and deliberately stray on to farms. These are worsened by the climate crisis occasioned by desertification, while farmers and the villagers also allege land-grabbing and ethnic cleansing. Indeed, these tensions are often exacerbated by overlapping ethnic and religious divisions. In the aftermath of the enduring violence, children, women and the elderly are killed without compulsion. That has been the pattern over the years, although recent killings defy simplistic explanations.
The Prohibition of Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 (as amended) in Benue State was meant to address the problem. But it is a law the state cannot enforce. Expectedly, the killings have impacted heavily on farming activities in a largely agrarian Benue State described as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” producing significant amounts of Nigeria’s staple food crops such as yams, maize and soybeans. With many of the local communities said to be occupied by outlaws, farming is now practically impossible. The greater danger is that if what is fast becoming a premeditated genocide continues, it can only breed reprisal attacks and an endless spiral of bloodletting.
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LETTERS STUDENTS AND THE
With the annual West African Examination Council (Waec) examinations coming to an end last week, many senior secondary school students who partook in the exams descended into debauchery in the full glare of onlookers and the relentless scrutiny of social media.
The pictures are all over the internet. Wild dancing resembling orgies, school uniforms battered by markers, and loud, amorous behaviors that were as repulsive as they were reprehensible were in abundant supply.
What one sees at first glance is a generation that has lost touch with the gravity of the challenges before them, the need to take their future seriously and the overriding imperative to be circumspect, respectful, and prudent. In a country where prudence can save lives, it is especially important that the kids learn to be prudent as they cross the teenage threshold and step into adulthood in a world that is a ruthless to adults as it is to
teenagers.
BIZARRE SIGNOUT CULTURE
In a way, their refusal to reflect and fall sober at the steep challenges life in Nigeria presents is a protest in itself, an act of resistance and rebellion. It is defiance decorated with delirium even if it is disturbing enough to parents and their society.
In a country where bandits have refined the art of targeting school children, there is everything to celebrate in completing the great escape from secondary school. In a country where many school buildings lie in ruins, with chairs and lockers falling into disrepair, completing secondary school is worth celebrating. In a country where the registrar of a major examination body turns on the waterworks to distract the naïve from his incompetence and ineptitude in handling national examinations, finishing secondary school is worth celebrating.
In a country where life can be snatched from one unaccountably in a matter of
seconds, it is important to celebrate little wins because no one is sure if anything as it could all end the next minute.
So, while no one can blame the students for celebrating the end of their secondary school education, their attention must be drawn to the grave dangers of exorbitant, over-the-top celebrations that mask the scale of challenges they face to pursue higher education or contribute meaningfully to their country, and call into question their training and discipline.
Education is more about character than it is about scholarship. This timeless recognition of the imperative of education to mould responsible and respectable character even before it forges the receptacle of scholarship was famously recognized by the immortal Mahatma Gandhi who described education without character as one of seven social sins.
But from whence are the students supposed to learn character? In a country
where the society daily faces an egregious erosion of its ethics by odious public office holders, indiscrete religious and traditional leaders and amorous music artistes, who will bell the cat?
For children and young people in Nigeria, it is becoming increasingly harder to believe in the cause of the country, invest their hopes in the cause of the country and defend the country they call their own. At a time when all many young people want to do is leave, they must brace themselves up for the challenges of being Nigerian and living in Nigeria.
The fact that teenagers are wildly celebrating finishing secondary school even while they await results should stir conversation, reflection and crucially, circumspection.
Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com
Polity
Two Years Assessment of Tinubu: Political Governance Fundamental
Redirecting Nigeria’s Development Agenda Beyond Economics.
Introduction:The Misdiagnosis Problem
President Bola Tinubu was elected on May 29, 2023. His first term in office will end on May 28, 2027. We are now at midterm. Many midterm performance assessments have been conducted, most based on economic factors: inflation rates, employment, exchange rate stability, GDP growth figures, poverty levels, and similar metrics.
Amidterm assessment is generally based on economic performance, but in the case of Nigeria, I am not sure this approach is appropriate, given the underlying structural problems. The country suffers from a flawed federal system where power is excessively centralized, creating inefficiencies and bottlenecks that economic policy cannot resolve.
Wrong diagnosis leads to wrong treatment that produces wrong results. Nigeria must confront its structural political deficit otherwise economic interventions will continue to yield suboptimal results, regardless of their technical soundness. I will therefore depart from assessing President Tinubu’s midterm based on economic factors alone. Let me explain.
Structural Reality: 90% Dysfunction
Everyone knows that Nigeria operates a deeply flawed, over-centralized political system that cannot be characterised as a federal system. The result is 774 local governments and 36 states (90% of Nigeria’s governance architecture) fully depend on the Federal Government. Local and state governments are primarily collection points for federal allocations rather than centres of productive governance. The result is that economic activity is artificially concentrated at the federal level while the natural drivers of bottom-up economic growth (local governments and states) remain dormant and excluded.
The administrative governance structure is a huge hindrance to economic development. The administrative system is not designed to enable optimal economic performance but rather to control and regulate economic policy by layers of bureaucratic interference. Private sector is stifled by lack of innovation and entrepreneurship. The bureaucracy is simply too unwieldy to deliver optimal results to drive investment and economic growth.
More critically, this centralized economic planning excludes majority of Nigerians from economic participation. Over 200 million Nigerians are trapped in an informal sector that is unproductive and disconnected from formal economic opportunities. The political system allows the extraction of enormous economic value by rent-seekers and plutocrats who position themselves at the centralized chokepoints of resource allocation.
Economic Implications of Political Over-centralization
Economies grow from the bottom up, not top down. This fundamental principle explains why countries with robust local governance structures consistently outperform highly centralized systems. When local governments cannot effectively manage local resources, local challenges, and local opportunities, the entire economic ecosystem suffers.
Consider the agricultural sector, which employs majority of our people. Agricultural productivity is inherently local—soil conditions, climate patterns, market access, and farming techniques vary significantly across Nigeria’s diverse geography. Yet agricultural policy is mostly formulated and implemented from Abuja, creating a one-size-fits-all approach to an inherently localized economic activity.
This centralized approach excludes smallholder farmers, local traders, and communitybased enterprises from accessing credit, technology, and markets, trapping Nigeria’s largest economic sector in subsistence patterns while well-connected agribusiness interests
capture the formal value chains.
International Perspectives: Learning from Successful Models
European economies offer instructive examples. Countries like Spain built significant portions of their economies around simple agricultural products—olive oil, grapes, and apples. The key difference lies not in the products themselves but in the governance structures that support their production and commercialization.
In Spain, regional governments have substantial autonomy over agricultural policy. Local governments manage rural development programmes, and municipalities coordinate directly with farming communities. This multilevel governance approach allows for responsive, adaptive policies that reflect local conditions whilst contributing to national economic objectives.
Nigeria’s fixation on oil and gas reflects the centralized governance model where complex resources are managed from the centre. Meanwhile, simple crops that could drive broad-based economic growth—tomatoes, rice, yam, beans, cassava—remain underdeveloped precisely because the governance structures needed to support them are dysfunctional.
Tinubu’s Economic Reforms: Necessary But Insufficient
President Tinubu deserves credit for implementing long-overdue economic structural reforms. This is known as market correction. The removal of fuel subsidies and deregulation of the foreign exchange market were courageous decisions that previous administrations avoided due to political costs. These reforms are economically sound and necessary for long-term stability.
However, the critical question is not whether these reforms were correct—they were—but whether they can achieve their intended impact in the context of Nigeria’s governance structure. Economic reforms operate within political systems, and when those systems are fundamentally flawed, even the best economic policies produce suboptimal results.
Also, these federal-level reforms do not address the fundamental exclusion of majority of Nigerians from formal economic participation. Without complementary governance reforms that empower local institutions, these macroeconomic adjustments may worsen inequality by concentrating benefits among those already connected to formal economic networks.
The Missing Follow-through I believe the challenge with Tinubu’s eco-
nomic reforms lies in their execution within a dysfunctional governance framework. Fuel subsidy removal was intended to free up resources for productive investment, but if state and local governments lack capacity and autonomy to deploy them effectively, reform benefits remain unrealized. Similarly, forex deregulation aimed to improve market efficiency will not happen if the regulatory environment remains centralized and unresponsive to local business conditions. Efficiency gains cannot translate into broad-based economic growth.
Foundation Problem: Building on Unstable Ground
Nigeria’s development challenge resembles building a 20-storey edifice on a cracked foundation. No matter how impressive the superstructure—federal economic policies, national development plans—the underlying cracked foundation will limit what can be achieved.
When local governments are not allowed to register births and deaths, and also not allowed to manage basic education, water, sanitation, health, when municipalities cannot issue driving licenses, the entire system operates below capacity. Local governments are the building blocks of economic development because they create the institutional environment within which businesses operate.
The Capacity Trap
Nigeria is in a capacity trap. The federal government is overburdened with responsibilities it cannot effectively manage. Subnational governments are underpowered to handle functions they are best positioned to execute. This misalignment creates inefficiency at every level.
Federal ministries attempt to manage local issues from Abuja, creating bureaucratic delays and contextual mismatches. Meanwhile, local governments with intimate knowledge of community needs, lack resources and authority to address them. The result is governance that satisfies no one and develops nothing.
This administrative dysfunction manifests as excessive bureaucratic interference in private sector operations. Businesses face multiple layers of approvals, permits, and regulatory compliance that are designed more for control than facilitation. The unwieldy bureaucratic machinery creates bottlenecks that slow economic activity and discourage investment, while the distance between decision-makers and implementers ensures that even well-intentioned policies are poorly executed.
Without functional local institutions to provide basic services, regulate markets, enforce contracts, and facilitate access to credit and technology, informal enterprises remain trapped in survival
mode rather than growing into productive businesses.
The Path Forward: Political Governance as Economic Strategy
Achieving Nigeria’s ambitious target of becoming a one trillion-dollar economy requires growth rates of 7-8% sustained. Such growth rates are impossible within the current governance structure because economic energy across all levels of society cannot be unleashed.
Arevolution in political governance will admit a rush of new economic actors currently trapped, useless and unproductive in the informal sector. When local governments can effectively support local businesses, when communities can organize their own development initiatives, and when state governments can create enabling environments for regional economic clusters, Nigeria will witness an explosion of entrepreneurial energy that has been suppressed for decades.
Restructuring as Economic Imperative
The solution requires restructuring, rebalancing, or devolution. Regardless of terminology, the imperative is clear: Nigeria must transition from its current unitary system disguised as federalism to genuine multilevel governance where each tier has meaningful autonomy and responsibility.
Genuine multilevel governance is not merely a political preference—it is an economic necessity. Countries that achieve sustained high growth rates do so by mobilizing economic activity across multiple levels of governance. When only the federal level is truly functional, economic growth is artificially constrained by the capacity limitations of that single level.
More important, functional multilevel governance creates multiple entry points for economic participation, allowing entrepreneurs to access services and build businesses through local institutions rather than navigating federal bureaucracies in Abuja.
Implementation Framework: Executive Actions, Legislative Reforms and Administrative Restructuring
Implementing genuine multilevel governance will require constitutional amendment, but beyond constitutional amendment there are certain executive actions and administrative restructuring the President can undertake to redirect the country.
Executive Actions
The President can immediately transfer specific functions to state and local governments through executive orders. Issues like driver’s license, agriculture, microfinance banks, labor regulation, including minimum wage prescriptions, business incorporation, state taxes, trade within states, etc can be devolved administratively.
Legislative Reforms
The National Assembly can utilize Sections 4(1) and 315(1)(a) & (4) of the Constitution to replace the 1999 Constitution and prioritize devolution of powers and fiscal federalism. I recommend that the National Assembly create a new legislative list for Federal, State, and Local Government. Local Governments should have clearly defined legislative powers within the constitution.
Powers relating to infrastructure such as road construction and maintenance, street lighting, and waste management should be clearly assigned, along with primary healthcare, education, social welfare, business licensing, market regulation, tax collection (community tax, tenement rates), voter registration, conduct of local elections, and management of public facilities like cemeteries to local governments. Currently, State governments have largely usurped these functions and crippled the 774 local governments that are supposed to be a source of energy and economic activity. The same should apply to states.
olisa Agbakoba, SAN
tinubu
INTERVIEW
Bryan Deaver:
500-bed AfriExim-funded Hospital in Abuja will Stimulate Economic Growth
As the world-class hospital- African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) Abuja midwifed by the AfriExim Bank is about to commence operations, the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Bryan Deaver, spoke to Onyebuchi Ezigbo about the mission of the organisation to drive medical excellence. He added that the $300 million health facility is intended to offer different levels of innovative healthcare services while lowering costs by building local capacity and reducing our reliance on expensive foreign treatment
AMCEwasenvisionedto addressinadequacies inhealthcarefacilities inNigeriaandAfrica asawhole,howdoyou hope to achieve this ambitioustarget?
Africa is currently losing over $1 billion to $2 billion annually due to outbound medical tourism, according to the World Bank and African Union. AMCE was designed to reverse this trend by providing advanced, specialist healthcare services locally. With a 500-bed, multi-specialty hospital and a partnership with King’s College Hospital, London, we are offering services that match global standards, right here in Nigeria. Our focus on oncology, cardiology, hematology, and general medicine is aligned with the region’s highest disease burdens. Our facility also includes West Africa’s first 18 MeV cyclotron, enabling more precise cancer diagnostics. AMCE is a practical African solution to an African healthcare gap.
NigeriaandindeedmostAfricancountriesarecurrentlybattlingpoverty,with the majority of their citizens not able to access quality healthcare sometimes duetohighcost,whatimpactwillAMCE haveontheordinarymasses?
More than half of Africa’s 1.3 billion people don’t have access to basic healthcare (WHO), and it’s even worse in rural communities. In Nigeria and many other African countries, poverty makes it hard for most people to afford quality care because of high costs. That’s why AMCE is built on a model of affordable excellence—offering different levels of access while lowering costs by building local capacity and relying less on expensive foreign treatment. To make sure no one gets left behind, we’re setting up the AMCE Foundation to provide support and help create a fairer healthcare system. This means everyone, no matter their background, can get the care they need and deserve. We’re also teaming up with health insurance companies to open up affordable healthcare options for their members—so even more everyday people can benefit from the specialised services AMCE offers. Our goal is to serve over 350,000 patients in the first five years. But it’s not just about medical care—we’re also investing in local supply chains, creating jobs, and training healthcare workers to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for everyone across Africa.
Intermsofpersonnel,whatpercentage of local content will AMCE maintain, especiallyatthemanagementlevel?
As an African Medical Centre of Excellence, AMCE is committed to building a truly continental and global workforce. We are intentionally recruiting top talent not only from Nigeria, including both homebased and diaspora professionals, but also from across Africa, with experts from countries such as Ghana, Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa. In addition, we are bringing in specialised expertise from around the world, including India, to ensure we provide the very best care. This approach goes beyond simply filling positions. It
is about creating a centre where African medical professionals can thrive, grow, and lead. For many years, thousands of doctors and nurses have left Africa in search of better opportunities abroad. At AMCE, we are reversing this brain drain by providing world-class infrastructure, advanced training, and clear leadership pathways that make staying or returning an attractive choice and . Thanks to our partnership with King’s College Hospital, our teams will benefit from world-class mentorship and professional development. Most importantly, Nigerians and other African professionals will not just be part of the workforce; they will be leading the management and direction of the Centre.
At AMCE, social responsibility isn’t an add-on, it’s at the heart of what we do. We’re creating over 3,000 jobs across clinical, administrative, and support functions, opening new opportunities for people across the region. But it goes beyond jobs. We’ve already
rolled out several community health initiatives focused on areas that matter most, free health screenings, cancer and cardiovascular checks, blood drives, and targeted outreach on Sickle Cell Anaemia, which remains underfunded despite its high prevalence in Africa. We’re also big believers in buying local. By sourcing from local suppliers and investing in health education, we’re helping to stimulate inclusive economic growth. And as part of our commitment to long-term impact, we’ll be supporting research into diseases that don’t always make global headlines but deeply affect our communities.
Howmuchhastheprojectcostsofar?
AMCE Abuja represents a strategic investment of over US$300 million, funded by Afreximbank and partners. This includes construction, top-tier medical equipment, including West Africa’s first 18 MeV cyclotron, and the systems needed to support a high-performing, resilient health institution. The project is part of Afreximbank’s broader healthcare investment strategy, which seeks to support intra-African trade in health services and pharmaceuticals and reduce the estimated $1–2 billion lost annually to outbound medical tourism.
Africa carries nearly a quarter of the world’s disease burden, but only about 3% of the global health workforce is based here. That gap is staggering, and it’s one of the biggest reasons we’re building the AMCE. We’re not just here to treat patients; we’re here to help train the next generation of healthcare professionals. In partnership with King’s College Hospital, we’ve developed a training framework that includes residency programmes, hands-on mentorship, and continuous professional development. We’ll also focus on hospital management, research, and strengthening the entire health system so local talent isn’t just trained but empowered to lead. We’re also preparing to launch the AMCE Medical and Nursing School, another big step toward building a strong, homegrown health workforce that can meet Africa’s needs today and tomorrow.
At AMCE, we’re proud to offer cuttingedge medical services in critical areas such as cancer care, heart health, blood disorders, and general medical services. We offer advanced diagnostic services such as PET CT scan, and Spect CT Scan, amongst others, along with treatments like stem cell therapy, bone marrow transplants, modern cancer treatment options, and complex heart surgeries. AMCE Abuja stands as a true beacon of hope, delivering world-class care right here at home. This means fewer people will need to travel abroad for treatment, easing both the emotional strain and the heavy financial burden that often come with seeking healthcare overseas. But our mission goes beyond treatment. We’re building a strong foundation for the future through robust medical training, residency programmes, clinical trials, and the establishment of a Medical and Nursing School. By nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals and driving research, we aim to create lasting change in Africa’s health landscape.
Absolutely. We truly believe that collaboration and research are key to making real progress in healthcare. We’re already working closely with local health organisations such as the National Institute for Cancer Research & Treatment (NICRAT) and other institutions across Africa to build strong, lasting partnerships. These partnerships focus on joint research projects, developing the healthcare workforce, and training local talents to create sustainable growth. Our goal is to strengthen healthcare systems, support the next generation of medical professionals, and develop innovative, evidence-based solutions that meet the unique needs of our communities. We’re committed to creating a culture of shared knowledge and continuous learning because that’s how we’ll deliver accessible, high-quality care to every African.
• Bryan Deaver
Building
The eyes do not lie when they see beauty. And they certainly don’t when they meet Delphine Okoronkwo, the Chief Executive Officer of the beauty brand, Bare to Beauty. But for the serial entrepreneur, beauty is more than skin deep. It’s a powerful form of self-respect, empowerment and identity. Vanessa Obioha writes.
Beauty is a powerful vehicle for empowerment, identity, and transformation
You may be forgiven for mistaking Delphine Okoronkwo for a beauty queen. With her flawless skin, statuesque height, and glowing face that could make the moon envious, she is such a sight for sore eyes and easily fits the mould of pageant contestants. Though she once modelled and still appears as a brand influencer, she never ventured into beauty pageants.
Of course, she is aware of this misconception about her persona, and this sometimes brings a smile to her face.
“It is more about the aura you project,” she said. “I believe every woman is a queen in her own right when she embraces her power, purpose, and presence. The way I carry myself with intention, elegance, and confidence, often aligns with what people associate with a “beauty queen.” But for me, true beauty is about substance. It’s not just about appearances but how you influence, uplift, and inspire others through your journey and presence.”
Okoronkwo emerged in the spotlight in her 20s. In the 2010s, she was one of the most sought-after celebrity makeup artists, with clients including Nollywood stars and prominent society women. She was frequently listed among young women making waves in Lagos’s entrepreneurial scene.
Today, she is known as a serial entrepreneur with interests in both construction and beauty. It was in 2012, that
she explained. “A good example is my mum, Mrs Mercy Nene Okoronkwo. Watching her turn passion into provision definitely planted seeds in me. But I also believe I’ve cultivated this spirit through exposure, curiosity, and experience. I’ve always been a go-getter, always questioning how things could be done better, smarter, or more beautifully. I think true entrepreneurs are born with that drive. But it takes dedication, vision, and resilience to truly turn that potential into impact.”
As a child, she showed interest in beauty and make-up.
“I was always the one doing friends’ makeup, mixing products, and paying attention to the tiniest beauty details that others might miss,” she recounted. “But I would say I truly developed a strategic knack for the business of beauty in my early twenties. That was when I began to deeply study the industry. Not just trends, but the science, market gaps, consumer behaviour, and branding. I recognised early that beauty wasn’t just an art form, it’s a powerful vehicle for empowerment, identity and transformation. That realisation turned my passion into a purpose and, eventually, a profitable enterprise.”
celebrating.
“For too long, African women have been underrepresented or misrepresented in the global beauty narrative. Beauty products can either alienate or affirm us, depending on whether we see ourselves reflected in the shades, textures, messaging, and values,” she explained.
“When a woman finds a foundation that truly matches her tone or a skincare product that understands melanin, it’s more than convenience, it’s validation,” she continued.
“Bare to Beauty is a brand built on that understanding. We formulate with melanin-rich skin in mind, and our mission is to normalise the idea that African beauty is luxurious, diverse, and worth celebrating. Our role in this movement is to restore agency to African women by giving them products that highlight, and not hide their natural beauty. We’re not just selling beauty; we’re selling confidence, representation, and identity.”
More so, she believes that beauty is a form of self-respect.
“It’s how we honour ourselves, how we show up, care for our bodies, and express our identities.”
Okoronkwo left paid employment to set up her businesses. She founded Deldamivo Nigeria Limited, a construction, projects, procurement and logistics company in 2013. That same year, she founded Bare to Beauty, offering beauty services, and in 2018, she launched Bare to Beauty Cosmetics, a skincare brand. She also opened Del’s Place Mall in Lekki, a stylish hub for emerging businesses.
The eldest child of her parents, Okoronkwo had dreams of becoming a successful medical doctor.
“I was passionate about helping people and fascinated by the idea of healing. But life has a beautiful way of redirecting us. Today, I’m a successful entrepreneur in multiple industries, particularly in beauty, and I find fulfilment in empowering others and building brands that inspire confidence.”
Although not from an influential background, she credited her parents for their support and sacrifices. “They made sure we attended the best schools both in Nigeria and abroad. Their sacrifices, values, and disciplines laid the foundation for who I am today.”
A graduate of Microbiology from Igbinedion University and holder of a Master’s degree in International Business from Brunel University, London, Okoronkwo’s love for beauty and business runs deep. She attributed her entrepreneurial flair to both nature and nurture.
“I come from a lineage of hard-working, resourceful individuals, especially women who made the most of what they had,”
Future plans include expanding her business globally, investing in education and mentorship for young women, and eventually launching philanthropic projects that support healthcare and entrepreneurship in Africa.
Her scientific background also gave her an extra edge in the highly competitive beauty industry.
“I understand the chemistry behind skincare and makeup; how ingredients interact with each other and with the skin. When we formulate products at Bare to Beauty Cosmetics, I’m not just looking for what’s trending. We’re focused on efficacy, stability, and skin compatibility, especially for melanin-rich complexions. I ensure our products are evidence-based, safe, noncomedogenic, and paraben-free to actually improve the skin barrier, not just cover imperfections. It’s this fusion of science and artistry that allows us to create products that are both luxurious and safe.”
Sustainability is also at the heart of her creations.
“At Bare to Beauty, we prioritise clean, ethically sourced ingredients. We work with manufacturers who uphold cruelty-free standards, and we’re slowly incorporating recyclable and biodegradable packaging into our product lines. But it doesn’t stop there. We also aim to educate our consumers on mindful beauty consumption. Choosing quality over quantity, and investing in products that nourish long-term rather than creating waste. Sustainability is not a checkbox for us—it’s a core value that influences our formulation, production, and distribution choices.”
While the beauty industry in Nigeria is brimming, Okoronkwo believes that funding, underdeveloped local manufacturing infrastructure, inconsistent regulatory standards, and high import duties, still pose a challenge.
“There’s also a gap in beauty education both for professionals and consumers, which affects product trust and proper usage.
However, digital platforms, increased awareness, and the rise of local brands are beginning to bridge these gaps. I believe the more we invest in infrastructure, training, and industry collaboration, the faster we can build a globally competitive beauty sector from within Africa.”
Oftentimes, beauty is often viewed with a Western lens where a fair complexion is the ideal. This often relegates African women because of their black skin. At Bare to Beauty, Okoronkwo is consciously changing that narrative by normalising the idea that African beauty is worth
“Beauty is deeply personal,” she added, “and it transcends filters, trends, or validation from others. It’s found in confidence, kindness, resilience, and creativity. As a beauty entrepreneur, I see makeup and skincare as tools not to conceal who you are, but to help you shine more boldly as who you’ve always been. That, to me, is real beauty: authenticity with intention.”
Her philosophy of beauty is reflected in her brand name, Bare to Beauty. She explained the concept behind it.
“‘Bare to Beauty’ is a love letter to every woman who’s ever doubted her reflection. It symbolizes the journey from raw authenticity to refined confidence. We all start ‘bare’vulnerable, untouched, sometimes unsure. But with self-love, care, and enhancement (not transformation), we bloom into our most radiant selves. The brand is built around this philosophy: that you don’t need to become someone else to feel beautiful—you only need to reconnect with the most powerful version of yourself. Our products are designed to celebrate the “before” just as much as the ‘after.’”
Juggling two seemingly unrelated industries — construction and beauty — may seem daunting to most. But for Okoronkwo, both are just different expressions of vision and transformation.
“It might sound unconventional, but I see both industries as forms of creation. Whether I’m building a brand or a building, it’s about structure, vision, and transformation.”
Her formula for balancing the demand of both sectors is systems.
“I have strong, dedicated teams in both sectors, and I’ve learned how to compartmentalize. How to be fully present in one space without neglecting the other. Time-blocking, strategic delegation, and a solid support system are essential. And beyond that, I embrace duality. I’m proof that a woman can wear heels and a hard hat, and do it all with style and excellence.”
If there is one beauty product that Okoronkwo believes every woman should have, it is a high-quality moisturizer with SPF.
“It’s the foundation of every great beauty routine,” she said. “Hydrated, protected skin glows from within and holds makeup better. Many people underestimate the importance of sun protection especially with melanin-rich skin, but it’s crucial for maintaining even tone, elasticity, and long-term skin health. It’s not just about makeup, it’s about preserving and protecting your canvas,” she said.
For Okoronkwo, beauty in her world is not perfection, but power. Whether she’s mixing formulas or laying foundations, she moves with grace, intent, and a radiant belief that every woman deserves to shine.
Okoronkwo
...Amazing
60 Cheers and a Tee-off for Nsima
and famous Who is after IGP Kayode Egbetokun?
way a former NDDC boss, power magnate, and political stalwart could—by staging a birthday bash that doubled as a tourism campaign, a political handshake, and a golfing masterclass.
Held at the lush greens of Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, the weekend celebration was equal parts statesmanship and spectacle. Golfers from across the country swung in for a tournament that had less to do with handicaps and more with pageantry. By dusk, it became clear: this was not just a birthday—it was a statement.
Governor Umo Eno, flanked by cabinet members and dignitaries, called the celebrant “a man who has made sustainable marks not just in Akwa Ibom, but in Nigeria and indeed, the world.” Praise flowed freely. “Obong Ekere,” the governor said, “has once again brought Akwa Ibom into the spotlight.”
For a man who once chaired the state’s Emergency Management Agency and helmed the Niger Delta Development Commission, Ekere’s path from technocrat to political heavyweight has been both ambitious and bumpy. A former PDP loyalist turned APC standard-bearer, he famously crossed party lines after losing the 2015 primaries, later emerging as APC’s gubernatorial candidate in 2019. He didn’t win—but he didn’t vanish either.
The birthday was an elegant reminder: influence, like good wine, often matures off the ballot. The celebrant, clad in trademark agbada and calm charisma, thanked God “for always being there.” He lauded the governor for his “exemplary sense of brotherhood,” signalling a softening of partisan lines.
The event wasn’t short of subtext. In a region where birthdays often double as power barometers, Ekere’s 60th was both reunion and reconnaissance. As saxophones sang into the night and toasts clinked in rhythmic rounds, one thing was clear: this was no quiet milestone. It was a reintroduction. Ekere is not done yet.
In the restless theatre of Nigerian power, where ambition tiptoes behind protocol and reform often walks a lonely road, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, finds himself in a familiar storm. Not one of his own making, perhaps—but of his resolve.
Appointed in June 2023 by President Bola Tinubu, Egbetokun entered the fray not as a novice to power but as its long-time observer. From his early days lecturing mathematics to commanding rapid response squads across the federation, the man has stitched together a CV both cerebral and combat-tested. Reform, in his hands, was not a campaign slogan—it was calculus.But change is rarely quiet. And now, like clockwork, the whisper campaign has begun.
Faceless blogs. Cryptic opinion pieces. Anonymous “concerns” leaked to pliant platforms. If one listens carefully, there’s a certain cadence to the critiques: not policy,
but personality. Not misconduct, but mischief. The old guard, insiders suggest, isn’t pleased.
“Some expected the baton. Others just want the old ways back,” one senior officer quipped under strict anonymity. “What we’re seeing is the pushback of entitlement.”
Sources within the Force describe Egbetokun as the sort who burns midnight oil until 4 a.m., chasing the elusive goal of a more disciplined, modern police. His insistence on upholding service rules, especially around retirement and postings, has reportedly bruised egos. But among the rank-and-file, the sentiment tilts in his favour. Quiet admiration meets quiet rebellion. Classic Nigeria.
And then there’s his longstanding link to the President—Tinubu’s onetime Chief Security Officer, now his top cop. That bond, too, has drawn envy and speculation in equal measure.
But Egbetokun has said little, preferring action over argument. Perhaps, in his quiet, there’s a wager: that the noise will fade, and
egbetokun
reforms will endure. Who is after the IGP? That’s not the question. The better one might be: who fears what he represents?
Sanwo-Olu: The Man Who Carried a City, and Turns 60
Some men walk through office, but there is Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who carries his. Now, as Lagos prepares to blow out 60 candles for its governor on June 25, the moment feels less like a birthday and more like a bookmark in a still-unfolding epic.
This is not your average “public servant celebrates milestone” piece. This is Lagos, where milestones aren’t just marked—they’re engraved in concrete, glass, and policy.
And someone’s already written the book. Literally.
Enter ‘The Man Who Carried a City,’ a new 250-page coffee-table tribute penned by Lanre Alfred, Nigeria’s answer to Gay Talese if Talese covered politicians in caftans and flood resilience strategies. Known for chronicling the lives of Nigeria’s elite with a velvet scalpel, Alfred’s eighth book doesn’t just document Sanwo-Olu’s story; it curates it.
There’s the whimsical chapter titled ‘The Clockmaker’s Spawn,’ threading the governor’s disciplined upbringing into his calibrated governance. Then ‘Lagos in His Lungs,’ a lyrical portrait of a man so
attuned to his city that you half expect him to breathe in BRT timetables and exhale drainage blueprints.
But beneath the book’s gilded prose lies a harder truth: Sanwo-Olu hasn’t had an easy ride. From the #EndSARS protests to navigating COVID-19 in Nigeria’s largest metropolis, he has governed through firestorms—and somehow emerged soot-free.
It helps that he listens. “The Politics of Listening,” as Alfred names it, is not a metaphor— it’s modus operandi. Even his suits get a chapter. (Yes, His Tailored Creed argues his wardrobe is a metaphor for governance: structured, functional, never louder than the mission.)
This isn’t just biography—it’s strategic mythmaking, wrapped in full-color gloss and intellectual sincerity. And in a nation where political literature often reads like promotional pamphlets, Alfred’s work dares to offer both polish and perspective.
A Royal Tale: Tunji Olugbodi, Wife to Be Crowned in Ara Kingdom
By the time the drummers strike their first beat on June 14 in Ara Kingdom, a new story will begin. Dr. Tunji Olugbodi, the marketing magnate with a storyteller’s mind and a strategist’s heart, is about to become Asiwaju of Ara. At his side, his wife of nearly three decades, Olabiyi Atinuke, will ascend as Yeye Asiwaju.
It’s not just another chieftaincy title. This is Ara, Osun State, where tradition sits grandly on a woven stool, where honour must be earned, not inherited. And in Dr. Olugbodi’s case, it has been earned the long, deliberate way—over three decades of building brands, ideas, and people. Few in Nigerian advertising haven’t heard the name. Fewer still have avoided Verdant Zeal, the multi-contextual marketing firm he built in West Africa standard-bearer. He’s chaired boards, shaped national narratives, and even found time to minister to souls as
Julian Osula:
a church deacon. From Cambridge panels to Lagos billboards, his fingerprints are everywhere. His wife, ever his partner in progress, mirrors his commitment to service and quiet impact. But kings do not confer crowns on résumé. They do so on reputation. And His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr. Olubayo Windapo, the Alara of Ara, seems to know what his kingdom needs: visionaries grounded in values, dreamers with deliverables.
As part of the festivities, the symbolic Sod Turning of the Tunji Olugbodi Productions (TOP) Film Village and Resort will take place—an ambitious cultural project unveiled by none other than the Ooni of Ife himself, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR.
And so, on that day, amid drums, blessings and a gentle swirl of ancestral dust, Ara will crown not just a man and his wife—but perhaps, a new model for legacy: earned, not inherited; modern, yet deeply rooted.
Nigeria’s De facto Ambassador of Opulence
Some men wear power like a heavy cloak. Julian Osula wears it like a tailored Tom Ford suit—quiet, impeccable, and impossible to ignore.
In a country where wealth often arrives loudly, Osula’s ascent has been anything but. Born in 1966 in Nkalagu but rooted in the royal soil of Benin City, he took the long road through law school, cut his teeth at merchant banks, then quietly flipped the script—trading courtrooms for Cartier, court briefs for Richard Mille.
Today, he is not just a businessman. He is Nigeria’s de facto ambassador of
opulence—the man luxury brands whisper about when scouting new markets. From Stiple Gate to Julian’s Luxury, his empire sells more than accessories. It curates status. It packages aura. And everyone from celebrities to C-suite royalty wants in.
So why does the very rich and very famous trust him?
Because Osula doesn’t just sell luxury. He lives it—unapologetically, immaculately. His Instagram, with its strong of following 86,000-plus, reads like a Sotheby’s catalogue with soul: high-end watches, pristine Bentleys, a soft-spoken caption here, a touch of flair there. But don’t
Mr and Mrs olugbodi
mistake the glamour for gaudiness. Underneath is a studied understanding of value, taste, and timing.
That’s the secret: Osula is not flashy. He is strategic. He’s brokered deals with global houses like Chopard and Richard Mille not by chasing trends, but by becoming the trend—the gatekeeper for Nigeria’s upper crust who don’t just want luxury, but the right kind of luxury. And while the world shifts under the weight of new money and digital disruption, Osula remains old-school in the best way: firm handshake, firm values, and an uncanny ability to build relationships that last. He is proof that in a crowded marketplace, substance still sells.
Osula doesn’t just own luxury. He defines it—and somehow, with all the trappings of wealth around him, still manages to smile like a man with nothing to prove.
Sanwo-olu
osula
ekere
Between the President and His Godsons … Good Times are Here
For weeks, the streets outside the palaces of Lagos’ stylish monarchs—the Oniru and the Elegushi—stood bare. No sirens, no official motorcades, and conspicuously, no police vans. The air, once thick with royal ceremony, had grown quiet. Word around town was that a certain godfather was displeased.
At the heart of the silence was news of President Bola Tinubu’s simmering frustration with two of his protégé-kings: Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal of
Iruland (Oniru) and Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom. Their alleged involvement—direct or indirect—in Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s political misadventure to oust Lagos Speaker Mudashiru Obasa left the president reportedly incensed. That neither monarch picked up the phone to verify whether the governor truly had Aso Rock’s blessing made matters worse. In Lagos politics, loyalty isn’t just currency—it’s ritual.
Security details were swiftly allegedly withdrawn, leaving the kings to improvise.
Whispers, Winks, and the Weight of Legacy: Will Omisore Run Again?
In Osun State, where politics often plays out like highlife music—layered, rhythmic, and full of innuendo—the beat is picking up once more. And at the centre of the murmurs is a familiar name with an equally familiar rhythm: Senator Iyiola Omisore.
For decades, Omisore has been the quiet metronome behind Osun’s political tempo. Deputy governor at the dawn of the Fourth Republic. Two-term senator. Former National Secretary of the APC. And, most recently, a figure of intrigue—watching from the wings as defections, alignments, and youth fervour redraw the political map ahead of the 2026 governorship contest.
But if recent events are any indication, the orchestra may be calling him back onstage.
In April, a swelling wave of Omisore loyalists—many from his once-formidable
By all accounts, the Rivers State drama now reads like a Greek tragedy rewritten in pidgin—featuring betrayal, suspension, emergency rule, and a father-son spat gone public.
Youth Support Forum—resurfaced in the People’s Democratic Party, pledging allegiance not to Omisore, but to Governor Adeleke. And yet, the symbolism was unmistakable: even in his absence, Omisore remains the gravitational centre of their movement. The Forum may have been renamed, but its political DNA is hard to edit.
To some, this is evidence that the Senator is done—retired, resigned, rebranded. But insiders suggest something more delicate: the kind of quiet recalibration only seasoned players know how to execute.
Because Omisore doesn’t campaign. He consults. He doesn’t announce. He appears. He doesn’t shout. He whispers—and Osun listens.
With a royal lineage, an engineering mind, and an almost clerical mastery of political coalition-building, Omisore is both a technocrat
Private guards in tailored suits stood in, while whispers of “presidential fury” swirled through the corridors of power. Obasa, beloved in Bourdillon circles, was later reinstated—with the moral equivalent of a presidential side-eye to all involved.
But Nigerian politics, like Nigerian weddings, is rarely without drama— and always open to reconciliation.
Cue the Sunday photo-op: Tinubu, flanked on either side by his onceestranged godsons, smiling in Lagos. No official statements, no apologies— just optics. And in Nigerian statecraft, optics often trump everything else.
By Tuesday, the duo was in Abuja—an audience at the Villa, faces composed, the proverbial agbadas crisp. While the presidency remained tight-lipped, aides described it as a “consultation” on youth, security, and community development. In other words: the dance has resumed, the beat adjusted.
So, are the kings forgiven? Highly probable. Is trust fully restored? Almost certainly.
and tactician. His past defeats—most recently in 2018—may have dimmed his star temporarily, but they did not eclipse it. So, will he run?
He hasn’t said. He doesn’t need to. Not yet. But if the 2026 race is a chessboard, then someone, somewhere, is already moving pawns in Ile-Ife. And if Omisore is not yet in the ring, the ring may soon find its way to him.
After all, in Osun politics, some comebacks don’t roar—they hum.
As Fubara Continues to Search for His Missing ‘Sim’
Governor Siminalayi Fubara—suspended, displaced, and disarmed—emerged this week from political purgatory for yet another closeddoor meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos. No details were leaked, of course. This is Nigeria, not Netflix. But insiders whisper that the conversation was about peace. Or, as Fubara calls it, “coming down from our high horses.”
High horses, however, aren’t easily tethered. Not when the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, still speaks of Fubara as “my son,” even as he levels accusations of betrayal that border on Shakespearean woe. “I weep,” Wike confessed to reporters earlier this week, comparing Fubara’s defection to a son pointing a gun at his father. He has made it clear: forgiveness is conditional, loyalty is non-negotiable, and history is his to narrate.
Back in Port Harcourt, the official residence of the governor is still curiously silent. Fubara is still not the landlord, and the swapped security
details remain so. Admiral Ekwe Ibas (rtd), the person currently in Fubara’s shoes, is still at the work desk of administration in the state. Calm prevails, but calm is not the same as order. This is a state technically under emergency rule, governed by decree, and steered by hush.
To some, Fubara’s recent apology tour— first to Wike, then to Tinubu—seems like capitulation. To others, it’s diplomacy with a human face. Someone notable, a Niger Delta elder, even called it a “sacrifice for peace.” Perhaps. But in Rivers, even peace has a patron.
What’s certain is this: Fubara is still in search of his political ‘Sim’—that spark of authority, independence, or at least a stable seat at the table. Until then, he remains, in the eyes of many, a governor without a house, a son without a father, and a leader negotiating his right to lead.
Time to Support Tokunbo Wahab’s Efforts for a Cleaner Environment
In Lagos, a city that thrums with relentless energy and improvisation, the not so unusual is happening—cleanliness is making a strong comeback.
The Lagos State Government has announced that it has given a nod to the return of the suspended monthly environmental sanitation exercise. According to the reports on this issue, all of this is to complement already existing efforts to make Lagos cleaner, safer, and flood-free.
Gone will be the stalls that once gripped pedestrian bridges in a chokehold. Oshodi, once the poster child for organized chaos, will now breathe again. The air? Still humid. The streets may almost be spotless.
None of this is schedule as a miracle—it’s method. And at the center of this revival is Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos’s new maestro of environmental order.
Wahab’s strategy isn’t pretty, but it is precise. Bulldozers have done in days what policies delayed for years. Informal settlements
under Apongbon’s Elegbata Bridge? Cleared. The once-swallowed arteries of Adeniji and Oja Oba? Reclaimed. Where others offered apologies, Wahab delivered action.
Yet, the vision extends beyond his desk. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his second act, appears undeterred in pushing the city’s larger promise: a Lagos that works. His silence on sentimentality is deliberate. In its place: the steady drumbeat of old strategies reborn.
The monthly environmental sanitation exercise—suspended in 2016—is making its slow, deliberate return. And not a moment too soon.
Drains remain clogged. Plastics still sneak into lagoons. Trucks to cart refuse are in short supply. But this reboot is not nostalgia—it’s necessity. Lagos is a city sprinting into its own future, and it cannot do so while wading through its waste.
There are challenges, of course. Critics decry the pace, the method, the force. But in a megacity where urban neglect has too often
been the norm, the return to order feels, frankly, overdue. And so, like a song we didn’t know we missed, the rhythms of a cleaner Lagos return. Not yet perfect, not yet permanent— but unmistakably present. It’s right about time.
It was the kind of visit that gets both the political class whispering and the pop culture crowd squinting: Governor Ademola Adeleke, billionaire mogul Adedeji Adeleke, and global music star Davido paid a courtesy call to President Bola Tinubu in Lagos last week. It wasn’t a secret. Davido himself served the photo evidence—smiles, agbadas, and all—on Instagram like fresh jollof at a Sunday brunch.
But what does it all mean?
In Nigeria, where politics is a theatre of symbols, optics like this don’t just happen. Not with a sitting president. Not with the Adeleke clan, long seen as a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) powerhouse. And certainly not with Davido, who, while not overtly partisan, has often been the melodic voice behind his uncle’s (successful) gubernatorial campaigns.
So, when the musician who once bemoaned the state of Nigeria in interviews is suddenly seen grinning beside the Commander-in-Chief, social media ignited. Critics cried double standards, asking why Davido gets a pass while others— like Toyin Abraham or Eniola Badmus—were digitally flogged for similar proximity to power. “Na celebrity we like, so we close eye?” one tweet read.
Of course, in the Adeleke ecosystem, power, wealth, and fame are tightly braided. Adedeji Adeleke isn’t just Davido’s father—he’s a financier, a university founder, and a man whose political footprints stretch well beyond Osun. That the family is meeting Tinubu might signal détente, alliance—or simply realpolitik.
The truth? Nobody knows for sure. It could be a soft handshake behind a harder bargain, a courtesy call masking future ambitions, or just one of those “Nigeria is bigger than politics” moments. But something is simmering, and in this country, such visits rarely end in just tea and pleasantries.
One thing’s clear: the photos were posted, the timing was intentional, and the silence afterwards is speaking louder than words. So again, what’s cooking? Stay tuned.
Oba Abdulwasiu OmogbolahanLawal, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Oba Saheed Ademola elegushi
Omisore
wahab
Fubara
Adeleke
Abdulrasheed b awa and His f airytale
ASUe IgHoDAlo: we STAND Up
Morning guys, you all know that when it comes to Asue Ighodalo, I am compromised. I cannot be neutral when his matter comes. I am ‘too’ on his side. So when they are offering him political amnesty, whatever that means, I just shrug and keep hope alive.
Let me tell Nigerians that team “AI” as we are known, remains highly optimistic about our prospects of redeeming the mandate freely given to us by the great people of Edo State. Forget about the Appeal Court judgment, those are hiccups on the way. Asue is still very very positive at his prospects, his confidence in the judiciary remains strong and much more importantly, his resolve to stand on the side of truth and justice remain unshakable.
Kai, you see that I will make a very powerful media aide. You see how I write this statement with so much class and elegance, not that thing that them Onanuga used to write or that one they call Lere that will be annoying people all over the place. Mbok, anybody that is looking for media aide that has sense, come and take me o.Asue is our future.
This one sef has written a book. I just saw a report that this guy who used to head the EFCC has written an “explosive” book detailing the shenanigans that were the fuel subsidy scam.
Mbok, the only thing explosive about the book is the irony it portends. So this guy spent his days in the office researching a crime that he was appointed to fight.
Na wa for some people sha! So as EFCC chairman, how many of these people did he catch? Instead of catching them, you were busy interviewing them, collecting data, researching to write this ‘wonderful’ book.
This is another scam, I tell you. So what are we supposed to do with this book
He is erudite, engaging and very clear as to the issues, and much clearer about perceived solutions and this is why powerful rightthinking “Edolites” are standing with him and not with that one that still needs to attend adult education. Anyways, na here we dey and God is on the throne, we await with hope. Come and beat me.
rAUf AregbeSolA: A DArk kNIgHT lINgerS
This one has had his Saul of Tarsus moment. For those of you “wey no dey go church,” let me remind you. In the book of Habakkuk Chapter 4 vs 1, Saul was going to persecute Christians and the light blinded him and he fell from his “keke Marwa” and something happened to him and he now started preaching.
It is looking like this Baba has had his own moments as he seems to have moved full circle from most likely being the “babakekere” to Tinubu to a full grown amala eating Judas Iscariot. It appears his own Saul of Tarsus moment wasn’t about falling from a Donkey; it must have been a very
when you were in a position to catch these people but instead you were writing books like Wole Soyinka? The next thing we will hear soon is that you want to turn the book into a movie and we will all go and rest.
Oga, common go and sit down with your book. You sat down there watching the economy being destroyed by unscrupulous people as EFCC chairman and you did little or nothing and now you are coming to write a book. Which kind of “yamayama” book? If I catch you ehn, you will write the real book Nigerians want to read – your failure as EFCC chairman. Yes, that is the real book we want to read.
powerful slap from “Esu” that must have woken him up and pointed him out of the cocoon. Baba is reported to have contributed very significantly to the APC loss in Lagos during the last presidential election and the loss of his former Oga’s nephew in Osun State, and now he is fraternising with Atiku and maybe Obi.
My people, this is a movie we must see to the end especially as they are all regrouping, aligning and realigning for 2027. Na here we all dey. We are watching, grab your popcorns. Thank you.
obA elegUSHI AND obA lAwAl: pelTeD IN THe rAIN
Mbok, I don’t want to laugh before these two turn me into a cockroach. Did you guys see the recent pictures of the duo with our President? They had disrobed and went to see our Lord and then took pictures looking like two people that rain had removed the roof from their houses and pelted them with a hailstorm.
Mbok, everybody in Lagos has heard the story. It’s all over
and being discussed in not such hushed tones. The talk is about the role they have played in recent upheavals in Lagos and the seeming punishment that has been thrown their way.
Mbok, as wise kings, they did what they needed to do – disrobed and went to “beg.” My only issue with this is the fact that they did not carry me with them. I had sent the signal to them that when the inevitable was about to occur that I would like to be in the team but did they answer me? They went in the night while I was sleeping and pronto, what did I see? Photos of very handsome Elegushi and notso-handsome Oniru standing beside - aside the greatest politician since Nelson Mandela - the marvellously appointed President Bola Tinubu. You know, a wise man in Shomolu once told me that when power pass power, any attempt not to recognise that is like standing in front of a moving train, and we all know what happens with that. Our Obas have taken wise counsel and have jumped out of the path of a moving train and me wey the whole thing no concern will still be standing? I don run away oooooo.
Aregbesola
oba elegushi
eno
Ighodalo
bawa
AHmeD YerImA: How Do we Tell THIS ASAbA STorY?
Prof is one of the most erudite in this country and when he came up with the idea of telling the story on Asaba, I jumped on it. Immediately I announced that we now have a credible script after he had spent very rich time in Asaba discussing with elders and custodians, the storm started.
Edgar, you don’t want to tell this story- it will turn some heroes into villains, better walk away. Edgar, we will mobilise against you, you cannot use our pain to profit from the federal government, another said. Edgar, you need to talk to one oga, he is the only person who understands Asaba and if you don’t, he will sue you. Edgar, this is Nigeria’s best-kept secret, leave it. Edgar, our king is one of the most brilliant lawyers in the world, be careful.
All these wahala are exciting me and I am asking, who owns the rights to history? Why can’t this story be told so that we get closure and teach present day leaders the pain of misgovernance? Why can’t we use this story to pull the strings of national unity.
Who is this person that will fight me with juju and the courts if I don’t go through him? Mbok, am I afraid? God, no, as long as he does not give me erectile dysfunction, any other thing he or they throw at me, I am ready. Asaba is a critical part of our national history. The people are beautiful, the culture is rich, and their monarchy is one of the most revered in the world. It is the capital of the third largest movie industry in the world, its heritage is one of the richest in Africa and it is very strategically placed as a bridge town between the East and the rest of Southern Nigeria. I simply am in love with Asaba and its people and as such, we will tell this story as powerfully as we can. Nigerians get ready for Asaba which will be my most poignant, emotional, historic and powerful stage play ever. Prof, are you standing, are you ready? Let’s jump in. Wow.
Umo eNo: A TerrIfYINg experIeNce
I had seen the clip months ago. Someone had shown me in Abuja and I was shocked and amazed. In the clip, the governor’s daughter had made some scary allegations. I first thought it was AI-generated but the person who showed me was an Akwa Ibom insider. I was weak with pity. I didn’t believe the allegations, I still don’t and must say that the governor’s reaction claiming that it was a result of the trauma of losing such a powerful figure in their lives remains plausible and engaging. This once, I stand with His Excellency because I have gone through the same. When my lovely and eternally beautiful wife, Mena Joseph Edgar, passed, I was accused of many things o. I was told that I killed her, that I was wicked to her, all sorts.
Me people, the trauma of such a loss is indescribable. It can make you run mad, I swear. When I rush to report to those who have influence – they will say, “Edgar, don’t worry, it’s people dealing with the trauma of loss.”
The issue with us in Nigeria is that when we experience such damning loss, we the survivors “rough” it. We don’t seek help. We don’t go into grief management. We will just be saying it is well and be preparing for a “befitting,” burial not minding the psychological blow we just suffered.
To the Umo Eno family, I say please take heart and continue to grow
in strength and please, please, please go into therapy NOW. Very important. Please do accept by condolences once again.
bAbAjIDe SANwo-olU: HolD oN To Hope “Edgar, shebi you are supporting Sanwo-Olu, wait until they stop taking your calls in Ekiti.” That was my neighbour who was reacting to my essay on the Tinubu-SanwoOlu wahala. As you all would have known, President Tinubu gave Sanwo-Olu “isho” the other day by ignoring him, signposting the depth of their issue.
The clip went viral and Nigerians rallied round with comments. I
KATe HeNSHAw: YoU
cANNoT bUllY me
This eternal beauty came to this fight to cheat. Yes, the mercurially influential Ruth Osime had invited both of us to her very-wellwatched programme to discuss the Macron debacle. Apparently, Bridgette had shoved her husband who happens to be the President of France and Ruth wanted a male and female perspective. This was going to be a real war. Everybody knows how screen goddess Kate behaves when it comes to women issues, she is a champion and everybody knows how I also behave when it comes to men issues. I no dey gree. So, the battle was well anticipated and it was going to be explosive and the studio was being refitted just in case anybody was thrown to
the wall.
Mbok, that was how Kate entered with hazel eyes o, her skin glowing like the River Euphrates. Her sensual lips gravitating ever so slowly and her aquiline nose doing things to me.
My brothers, I fail una o. I weak. I was shaking and to make matters worse, when she attacked – men can sleep with dogs - she will lightly touch me and goose pimples will flow all over my body and I will just smile and not be able to marshal out my points. I am very ashamed to say that Kate won, not with the strength of her arguments but with the sensuously demurred classic beauty and elegance she deployed. It was really an unfair battle. Thanks.
chimed in as usual with a very powerful essay on Whatsapp which found its way to so many platforms.
My oga, Sir Kayode Otitoju forwarded it back to me that a retired High Court judge sent it to him and so many other very strong APC and PDP people called either in support or against it. My people, I really don’t like being bullied and when I see someone being bullied, my first recourse is to jump to his side. I have no real official position as to what SanwoOlu would have done to annoy daddy like this, but from what we have been hearing, the “beating” is too much.
Shebi we have been begging, by now the begging should have shifted ground but from what I am hearing, it’s like the more we beg, the more the thing is getting worse. That is why we advised SanwoOlu to stand up as a man and take whatever treatment that is being meted to him with dignity and realise that man cannot die twice. But then again, if for political expediency he needs to continue with the begging, I am ready to follow because I have experience in begging these people. Come and see the way I begged Chief Afe Babalola when I offended him.
By the time I finished grovelling and rolling on the ground and reciting poems, he not only forgave me, he dashed me money. So, bros, I am ready o whenever you are. Let’s go and beg joor.
rIHANNA: lIfT me IN TeArS Mbok, let me detour small. Rihanna is a global star that I don’t really like. In fact, I think the noise around her is too much abeg, wetin she dey sing and then I stumbled on “Lift me Up” the song she did for the massive film “Wakanda.” Mbok, I play this song every morning when I wake up and every night before I sleep. The thing gives me chills. I am prone to anxiety attacks and my mornings are especially very sad. I wake up in panic and fear. I fear death, fear police, fear for my health, fear for everything and then there is a chat that soothes me. But when the chat comes late, I die in fear.
Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” is soullifting. Her strong vocals, her emotionally-packed delivery, the acoustic nature of the sound and the beautiful video that accompanies it, comforts me.
“Keep me safe and sound,” she sings. “Hold me when you go to sleep, give me life, give me hope. I need love, I need lovehold me, hold me” - these are some of the lyrics that hold me. I will now be playing it over and over again to scare away the demons. Just like King David abi na Saul in the Bible who needed music to keep him sane. Na wetin this song dey do for me be that. Mental health is very key and most of us don’t recognise when there is a problem and will be roughing it. I no dey rough anything, I dey shout. From hypochondria to anxiety and panic attacks and loss of confidence and fear of the unknown, I wrestle with these and nobody should come and tell me to read the Bible or take it to the Lord, Rihanna is not doing too badly. Thank you.
Henshaw
Tongues wag over Sijibomi Ogundele’s Status
When Sijibomi Ogundele, a luxury real estate whizkid established the Sujimoto Group 10 years ago, the dream was to establish an institution with a transformative impact; an establishment that would leave a legacy and be committed to recreating the real estate sector in the country.
That Ogundele has achieved his target is an understatement. Today, he has succeeded in creating a business that has become the pride of the country as well as redefining the sector. Sujimoto has been positioned, not only as a moneymaking venture but also to impact the lives of many in Nigeria.
It was gathered that the company has employed hundreds of youths across the country.
In just one decade, the smoothtalking and intelligent man has proven that he is not your regular run-off-the-mill business magnate, but an exemplary blessing to Nigeria.
Apart from real estate, he has also spread his tentacles and diversified into other sectors of the economy, such as financial services, hospitality, agriculture as well as technology.
To say that he has conquered his world is stating the obvious and no doubt, he has cut the mustard
However, tongues have begun to wag over the handsome man’s single status. A source revealed to us that though he has been romantically linked with many beautiful and high-flying ladies in the past, he has not found any of them good enough as a wife.
Many expected that he would unveil his wife-to-be when he celebrated his 40th birthday four years ago, but this was not to be so, and the tongues have continued to wag.
Finally, MKO Abiola’s Abandoned Project Revived
The late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, famously known as MKO Abiola, meant many things to many people—tycoon, philanthropist, humanitarian, and more.
The late businessman had a vision - to occupy the number one position in his fatherland. For him, the position would avail him a lifetime dream of doing more for the people, especially the less privileged. He chose the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), on whose platform he contested on June 12, 1993. His compatriots from across the country overwhelmingly voted for him. But the military junta would not have any of it and the election was annulled.
“Foul play!” the people shouted. “You cannot abort a pregnancy after the child has been born,” Abiola was quoted as saying. Finally, he was motivated by the people to reclaim his mandate. The respected pillar of sports, publisher and entrepreneur lost his life in the process.
Though this is no longer news, that was not the only unfulfilled dream of the late billionaire. Abiola had a plan to put up a mansion to be named ‘Presidential Lodge’ on Oba Oshile Road, Government Reservation Area, Ibara, Abeokuta,
Without a doubt, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is one of the most respected politicians in the country. His residences both in Abuja and his country home in Igbese in Abia State, are a Mecca of sorts. The homes are visited daily by his loyalists as well as political associates.
He could also be considered one of the luckiest in the game of politics since the beginning of the Fourth Republic. He was the youngest person to take the oath of office as a governor in Nigeria at 39, and since then his profile has continued to rise astronomically.
At different times, Kalu has suffered undeserved humiliation in the nation’s political space. But like a true fighter, he has always emerged as a hero. Perhaps, this explains why he has, once again, become a reference point and a colossus in the game today.
Not a few were flabbergasted when the former Abia governor lamented in a recent interview that he has never benefited anything substantial since he joined politics in 1998.
The man, fondly known as OUK, claimed he has never gained personally from his political career, stating that instead, he has consistently spent his own money to support both his political ambitions and public service roles.
Kalu insisted he remains a businessman at heart. According to him, his priority has always been investing in businesses that create jobs for Nigerians.
Ogun State. But that was not to be. After his death, the building was abandoned, overgrown with weeds and inhabited by reptiles and mentally deranged men.
Society Watch gathered that the building, which was conceived to serve as Abiola’s personal presidential lodge upon assumption of office, has multiple rooms. The sitting room is fit to host a gathering of about 1,000 persons at a time, and there is a helipad atop for helicopters to land. In fact, if completed, the building would have been one of the best of its kind in the whole of the country, if not Africa. The construction had gone well with speed, as the building firm hurried to meet the delivery date slated ahead of his envisaged swearing-in as president of Nigeria in 1993. Trust the man with high taste, hundreds of millions of naira were expended on the project
But following the annulment of the poll, and his eventual arrest after the declaration, the contractor pulled out of site and has not returned ever since.
However, we have reliably gathered that the abandoned building has now been taken over by a specialist hospital, Redwood. It was gathered
Lamentation of Orji Uzor Kalu
Construction Giant, Alobo-Bakare, Celebrates
That Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the National Assembly is a worthy ambassador is an understatement. The former governor of Ogun State is a pride to the whole state and worthy of emulation by others seeking leadership positions.
In fact, there is a popular saying in the state that anyone seeking an elective position should go and take some tutorial from the man, fondly known as OGD.
He has proven that the people of Ogun East never made a mistake by voting him into the Senate. He has redefined representation.
How would you define a senator who has sponsored 17 bills in two years as a lawmaker? Impressive!
Some of his bills include the South West Development Commission Establishment Bill 2023, which has been passed into law and the outfit has commenced operations. This also encouraged other regions in the country to seek
millions of naira to bring it back to shape.
He narrated how he made huge donations to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) when it was formed in 1998. He also claimed that even as a governor, he singlehandedly funded the state with his money.
‘’I never benefitted anything from being governor. In fact, I lost a lot. The federal government even took several of my businesses. Politics has been more of a burden than a benefit to me,” he said.
He emphasised that he had already achieved substantial financial success before venturing into politics.
“I made so much money before I turned 24. I didn’t need political office to succeed financially. I brought the money they used in forming the PDP. Ask any founding member — I contributed most of the funds in 1998 and 1999,” he said.
When asked where the funds came from, Kalu credited his thriving business ventures. “I was the biggest importer of rice, sugar, confectionaries, and other goods. I also traded in petroleum products,” he explained. “Back then, the dollar was strong. I gave President Obasanjo over $1 million for his campaign and donated $500 million to the PDP. Apart from TY Danjuma and Atiku Abubakar, no one else at the time had the financial capacity to make such contributions,” he claimed.
To many of his friends and admirers, the maverick construction giant, Otunba Hakeem Alobo-Bakare, is known as a chronic go-getter who has been driven right from childhood to better the systemic structures, standards and styles of living in his society.
And as he grows, the tall and hunky politician has never lost steam in his quest through his dynamic focus on the construction profession, humanitarianism and philanthropy.
Also, as an entrepreneur, he made it to the top despite all hurdles and is consistently lifting other entrepreneurs and bringing them to the limelight.
Though his great achievements have continued to endear him to industry watchers, he has refused to lay back, continuing to build
development commissions while it was also granted and established.
Other bills with OGD’s imprints include the Federal College of Aviation, Ilara Remo Ogun State Establishment Bill, 2023, Federal Medical Center, Ijebu Ode Establishment Bill, 2024, Terminal Illness Trust Fund, Media Practitioners Registration Council of Nigeria Establishment Bill 2024, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure Act, Amendment Bill, among several others.
OGD has been tirelessly working to fulfil his campaign promises. His efforts have not only improved the educational landscape of Ogun East, but have also inspired a new generation of leaders.
With his proven track record of delivering on his campaign promises, OGD has demonstrated his commitment to the people of Ogun East, as he continues to work tirelessly for the betterment of his constituents.
The basic responsibility of a lawmaker is to make laws and perform oversight functions. But
an unassailable and intimidating profile. For this and more, he is being admired and loved by his friends, admirers and close associates. So, whenever his birthday approaches, they see an opportunity to extend their appreciation and reciprocate his love and magnanimity.
Society Watch gathered that the man with multiple chieftaincy titles would have the opportunity to shout in a loud voice to thank his Creator for yet another 365 days on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. It was gathered that he has invited his friends and close associates to celebrate the day. But it’s not all merriment, AloboBakare, in his characteristic manner has chosen to celebrate his memorable moment with the less privileged, the downtrodden and the poor.
Abiola
Ogundele
Kalu
Alobo-Bakare
Daniel
that the hospital has spent several
that is not the only function for OGD. A lover of youth, and a visionary leader with a penchant for human development and empowerment, he has empowered more people than all previous Senators from Ogun East put together. This feat is as a result of his political will, dogged commitment and relentless resilience to keep serving the good people of Ogun East and making their lives better.
A publicAtion
Celebrating the Animation Magic with Young Talents
a vibrant celebration of children’s creativity and animation, marking a new milestone in Nigeria’s growing animation community, recently brought together instructors, parents and young artists at the a lliance Française in Ikoyi, Lagos. Yinka o latunbosun
The ToonTopia Festival, held at the Mike Adenuga Centre, Alliance Française premises in Ikoyi, Lagos, was a vibrant celebration that brought together animation instructors, parents, and children. As the first-ever Children’s Day animation festival organised by the National Theatre in partnership with SMIDS Animation, it marked a new approach to showcasing children’s artistic talents. The event featured a dynamic mix of colorful paintings, drawings, and creative activities, including film screenings, workshops, and dance therapy. By catering to the interests and needs of the younger generation, ToonTopia aims to promote cultural preservation through the engaging medium of animation. With 75 children between the ages of 8 and 12 participating, the festival provided a platform for young creatives with untapped artistic skills to tell authentic stories through animation. This showcase underscores the National Theatre’s commitment to building an inclusive cultural ecosystem that fosters knowledge and drives economic growth.
The Director-General of the National Theatre, Tola Akerele, revealed how this one-day festival came to fruition despite the existing programmes for Children’s Day celebrations. “Children like digital stuff, so it is exciting for them,” she said. “We partnered with SMIDS because they are leaders in animation, and for the National Theatre, we are looking for ways to promote creativity, and this is more about innovation.”
On the animation screenings that kicked off the festival, Director-General Tola Akerele highlighted the cultural significance of the films, emphasising the importance of showcasing them to the public at the
inaugural event. “A lot of these movies are centred on African heritage and they are passing this message through this means,” she explained.
Akerele also shared excitement about a forthcoming four-week programme with Grandma Wura, which will culminate in a production. “The skills you get from that include team work and collaboration, being punctual, learning your lines and that’s why I’m very
reports
excited about that programme,” she noted. Regarding ToonTopia, Akerele revealed that the overwhelming response from children was heartwarming. “We selected participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Some kids made special appeals that they have been doing it for many years and that they have their YouTube Channel. We just wanted passionate children. The engagement is really good and we would probably do this next year and have it for three days.”
Akerele also observed that Nigeria’s animation community is gaining momentum. Recent collaborations, such as Animation Nigeria’s project with the French Embassy and the National Theatre’s partnership with a UK company to train scriptwriters, demonstrate the growing interest in animation.
Damilola Solesi, Founder and Creative Director of SMIDS Animation Studios, spoke enthusiastically about the festival. This Bowen University graduate has made significant contributions to the animation industry through entrepreneurship and mentorship. For her, animation goes beyond just making cartoons, defying the common misconception.
“There are so many other utilisations for education, empowerment and in passing across messages about our culture,’’ she explained. “It’s important to pass our culture through this medium. We have been running a two-week summer camp every year for the past eight years. ToonTopia is just a follow up on bringing more children outside our circle to learn more about the magic of animation. We are interested in how we can spark creativity in the children and more importantly see the opportunities that we can have with them.”
Sosesi also argued that at the core of animation filmmaking is the unique storytelling
experience that can be appropriated for pedagogic purposes. She emphasised that animation filmmaking offers a unique storytelling experience that can be harnessed for educational purposes.“Storytelling and the owner of the media is very important in that it drives narratives. The global animation industry is a multi-billion dollar one and it is a way to generate revenue for the government. It is important as storytellers to encourage the younger generation to tell more positive stories about our country and out people,” she said. “We have a wealth of stories, including historical ones, that showcase our identity to the world.”
Highlighting the vast potential of the animation industry, she noted that its multibillion-dollar global value. Animation, she argued, not only generates revenue for governments but also provides employment opportunities for young people. “By engaging our youth in animation, we can help them develop a positive perspective on their heritage.”
She expressed gratitude to the National Theatre for their partnership in the festival and looked forward to an even bigger event next year. “The collaboration has been instrumental in bringing this festival to life, and we are excited to build on this momentum.”
A representative of the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa and a Special Adviser to the President on Arts and Culture, Moriam Ajaga, encouraged the children to believe in their creativity.
“Your stories matter, your ideas are important, and the world is waiting to see what you will create. Many top animators started just like you with simple drawings and big dreams. Animation allows your dreams to walk, talk, and even fly.”
Children at the festival
Another view of children at the Festival.
A banner stand at the Festival
In Praise of Shadows
Jess Castellote
Afew days ago, I stumbled across an essay by a Japanese writer I had never heard of before---Junichiro Tanizaki. Written in 1933, its title was In Praise of Shadows. Despite its age and the vanished world it describes, Tanizaki's reflections on shadow and dimness felt surprisingly current. With quiet elegance and a very poetic tone, he meditates on the beauty of shadows, on the richness of dim spaces, and on how traditional Japanese aesthetics embrace what we moderns, with our obsession with light, often miss. His words stayed with me. They made me reflect on how we view art today---how we almost instinctively prioritize clarity, colour, and brightness. Museums, galleries, and even coffee table art books place a premium on illumination. Our visual language is built on the assumption that to see is to see light. But Tanizaki suggests we may have lost something in that pursuit. What if shadow, far from being a lack, is a presence in its own right? What if we have forgotten how to see shadow?
Shadow is more than the absence of light. It is presence. It carries its own beauty -- subtle, evocative, and often more complex than light itself. Light reveals, shadow suggests. Brightness declares, shadow whispers. When we first installed works from our permanent collection at the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, we selected a striking bronze sculpture by Ben enwonwu titled 'Africa Dances.' It is a work that pulses with motion: limbs extended, head lifted, the energy of the dance captured forever in metal. Rather than follow the common convention to position it in the centre of a room—lit from all sides, detached, floating—we placed it near a wall with a single, powerful beam of light. The result was spectacular. A second sculpture, one made purely of shadow, emerged on the wall behind it. elongated, sinuous, trembling with suggestion, this shadow figure became as expressive as the bronze itself. A dialogue emerged between viewer and sculpture, but also between matter and absence, between the tangible and the implied. This wasn't accidental -- it was an act of faith in shadow.
The American architect Louis Kahn once remarked, "The sun never knew how great it was until it fell on the wall of a building." His point was about transformation, about how light gains form and character through encounter. But the same can be said for shadow: it becomes compositional when it falls on a surface, stretching, shifting, and gaining shape. Perhaps "a shadow never knew how wonderful it was until it fell on a receptive surface." At that moment, shadow becomes more than absence; it gains direction, shape, and character. That's
DISCOURSE
exactly what happens with the shadow of Africa Dances at YSMA. Cast onto the museum wall, it becomes a presence in its own right, a gesture made in silence and darkness.
I've come to think of shadow in two distinct ways, though we often use the same word for both. There's the shadow—singular and defined—like the one cast by Enwonwu's sculpture. It's not just an afterthought but a presence that dances alongside the bronze itself. When that single beam catches the sculpture, the shadow it throws becomes a companion to the work, extending the dance into dimensions the solid form alone cannot reach. I find myself watching visitors' eyes move from bronze to shadow and back again, witnessing their discovery that the artwork exists in this conversation between substance and projection.
But then there's the other kind—shadows, plural, overlapping and gentle. This is the quality Tanizaki wrote about, the soft dimness that fills a traditional Japanese room or the quiet corners of our more contemplative gallery spaces. Here, no single shadow announces itself; instead, layers of gentle darkness build upon each other, creating depth rather than contrast. In these spaces, visitors lower their voices instinctively and slow their pace. The artwork doesn't reveal itself all at once in such lighting. It unfolds gradually, offering different aspects as the eye adjusts and discovers. Both experiences—the bold, singular shadow and the gentle wash of shadows—have their place in how we encounter art. One declares while the other suggests; one performs while the other envelops.
At YSMA, we've embraced this. Our gallery walls are painted a quiet, balanced grey, not cold or clinical, not too warm or distracting. This subtle tone sits between light and dark, reducing glare and allowing artworks to breathe. Rather than overwhelming the eye, the space encourages a slower kind of looking. Shadows have room to move and become co-creators. The shadow of Africa Dances is not an incidental effect, it is part of the experience. The wall does not merely display the sculpture; it receives and reflects it. The gallery becomes a space not for spectacle but for seeing.
Shadow is the sculptor of volume. In our flat, glowing digital age, where screens eliminate depth, shadow restores dimension. Without it, the world would be eerily smooth. A face would lose its contours, a fold of cloth its weight, a tree its mystery. Painters like Caravaggio and Rembrandt built their entire visual language around shadow. They painted darkness into which light entered, not the other way around. Photography, too, is a medium of shadow. From
its earliest days, photographers learned that darkness was not emptiness but a compositional tool defining mood, structure, and intimacy. In architecture, shadow gives a building its soul. In sculpture, it makes form tactile. Without shadow, the visible loses its richness. Shadow sculpts, anchors, and deepens. There is a serenity to dimness, especially in interior spaces. Rooms lit not by uniform brightness but by restrained, directional light invite a different kind of attention. They awaken a slower kind of looking, a more reflective presence. In such places, we pause more. We notice details. not all shadow is the same. Like light, it carries tone. Afternoon shadows glow with ochre; moonlight shadows slip into blue. Indoors, the effect depends on the source: candlelight makes shadows dance, while fluorescent light renders them harsh. Artists understand this deeply. Shadows are not black; they are purples, blues, dusty browns. Painters instinctively reach for these tones to evoke mood and time.
Perhaps museums are among the last places where shadow is still taken seriously. In a culture obsessed with visibility and exposure, museums offer spaces where the unseen is allowed to remain partially hidden, where things can whisper instead of shout. At YSMA, we talk often about "quiet drama", not theatricality, but the slow unfolding of attention. Visitors don't
always notice at first. But over time, many say they feel more immersed, more connected. We avoid drowning the galleries in uniform brightness. Instead, we allow artworks to emerge slowly from shadow, into focus, and back again. Visitors often linger longer in our dimmer rooms. It is not darkness we offer, but a kind of deliberate restraint, an invitation to dwell.
This sensitivity to dimness extends beyond museums to domestic settings—especially bedrooms, reading corners, or living rooms— where low light has always created comfort and intimacy. I am a strong advocate of warm light in homes. Light like the golden hue of late afternoon or the gentle glow of incandescent bulbs bathes everything in subtle warmth, softening edges and deepening colour. A standing lamp, a shaded bulb, the flicker of a candle, these don't just illuminate; they shape atmosphere. We often overlook this when we pursue brightness at all costs. Offices and stores now glow with the cold, blue-white light of fluorescent tubes and LED panels that flatten the world, erasing shadow, texture, and tone. In nigeria we know well the familiar silence that follows a power outage. In those moments, we reach for torches or mobile phones, whatever light we can find. The room shifts. Light becomes softer, more focused. Shadows stretch and flicker. The world takes on a different texture, more intimate, more human. A single point of light in a dim room transforms the space, creating room for quiet presence. In that half-light, faces soften, voices lower. The edges of things become less defined---but more evocative.
To praise shadows is not to scorn light, but to understand that vision is born from contrast. A room without shadow can feel flat, like a sentence without pauses. Life without shadow would be without subtlety, without rhythm. In a time so saturated with visibility, there is a kind of resistance in shadows, and complexity in embracing it. There is dignity in gentle dimness that allows details to emerge slowly. This kind of shadow is not oppressive but generous. In it, textures speak louder than colours. Forms appear more tactile. Dimness slows us down. Our gaze becomes less analytical, more contemplative.
So, the next time you walk into a gallery, a museum, or your own living room, pause. Let your eyes adjust. Look at the tone—warm or cold—of the light in the room. notice how light reveals, but how shadow completes. Look at the penumbra, the silhouettes, the shifting greys. Let yourself enter that soft world behind the visible. There, in the quiet, in the half-light, you might find not only new dimensions of the object, but new ways of seeing it.
An all-female group exhibition titled Daughters with Wings set Lagos on a cultural excursion when it opened on May 10, at 202 Gallery by Artspilt. Despite opening shortly after International Women’s Month, the show drew upon the collective’s shared interest in retelling stories that resonate with African women and are relevant to global feminist discourse. Served on a platter of mixed techniques, these young artists—namely Adaoma nnabeze, Chinaza nkemka, Titilola Fagbemi, Hannatu AgeniYusuf, Victoria Makinde, Ashiatat Shiabu, and Goodness nnabeze—revved up the art scene with evocative paintings and installations that explored the familiar to deepen the understanding of the unfamiliar. For instance, Goodness Nnabeze, a firstclass graduate of the university of nigeria, nsukka, presents delicate linework and layered compositions that reflect the transient nature of human existence and the
EXHIBITION
deep connection to the natural world. Merging painting with sound and poetry, nnabeze immerses the audience in a multisensory visual journey. With elements of uli motifs, nnabeze stays true to the nsukka art school heritage while exploring identity, culture, and consciousness.
For Adaoma, who is also a product of the nsukka Art school, her eye-catching mixed-media pieces showcase her artistic growth and experimentation. Her practice is grounded in a deep sensitivity to nature and a willingness to push material boundaries. Working primarily with colored thread and fibre, she constructs layered, organic compositions that reflect human connection, emotion, and fate. Her use of thread, which alludes to fiber optics, serves as a metaphor for the interconnected nature of thought, memory, and experience.
The self-taught artist Chinaza showcases her water-themed series of paintings, captured in a large piece and four other miniatures. Bearing semblance to virtual images on electronic devices, her work is inspired by violent waves and the human spirit.
Working primarily in acrylic and oil, Hannatu paints imaginative figures that probe human emotions, while interrogating the politics of the female hair, allowing her audience to contemplate her forms against the backdrop of the contemporary issues they stir.
Curated by celebrated nigerian poet and cultural thinker Ijeoma umebinyuo, this ongoing show aligns with umebinyuo’s lifelong advocacy and intellectual practice— a continuation of the dialogue she began in her widely acclaimed TeDx talk, “Dismantling the Culture of Silence”, as well as her seminal poetry collection, Questions for Ada. As an important voice in global feminist discourse, umebinyuo now turns to visual art as a medium of resistance and reflection.
One of the paintings at the exhibition
The Dancer (bronze) by Ben Enwonwu
IN THE ARENA
FG’s Different Standards on Osun, Edo Council Funds
The
federal government’s decision to seize allocations meant for local government areas in Osun State over council polls stands in stark contrast to its silence on the sacking of democratically-elected council chairmen in Edo State, Davidson Iriekpen writes
Since the local government elections in Osun State in February, the councils have been underfunded following an appeal by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the federal government to withhold funds due to them from the Federation Account.
APC had condemned the local government elections, alleging that they were illegally conducted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
They also accused the governor of violating his oath of office by conducting the polls and colluding with his party to disrupt peace by refusing to comply with the February 10, 2025, Court of Appeal ruling that ordered the reinstatement of the sacked elected local government officials.
The state government and the PDP, however, countered the APC argument, pointing at a case the APC lost at the same Federal High Court, the appeal on which was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on January 13, 2025 for lack of diligent prosecution.
They added that the state Independent Electoral Commission conducted another election on February 21, 2025, where a new set of LG officials emerged.
Despite the appeal by the state chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to the federal government not to heed the plea of the APC, it has since withheld the February, March and April allocations of the local governments, while that of May has not yet been determined.
Currently, the state government has dragged the federal government to the Supreme Court to seek an order to release the seized funds and restrain it from further withholding the funds.
It argued that based on a proper interpretation of Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)—which guarantees the existence of democratically-elected local government councils in all states—the federal government’s act of withholding or seizing statutory allocations due to the councils, without justification, threatens their existence and therefore violates the clear provisions of the Constitution.
The state cited the Supreme Court judgment in the dispute between the Lagos State government and the federal government, where the court declared that the withholding of the allocations to the state was illegal and unconstitutional.
Besides, many believe the federal government’s decision to withhold allocations to local councils in Osun contrasts sharply with its inaction in Edo
State, where despite the sack of democraticallyelected local government executives, allocations continue to flow. This disparity has led to allegations of double standards against the APC-led federal government, which is also accused of bias, hypocrisy and inconsistency.
Recall that shortly after assuming office, Governor Monday Okpebholo, acting on the advice of the Edo State House of Assembly, suspended all 18 local government chairmen and their deputies for what was supposed to be two months over alleged insubordination. But unfortunately, this has become forever.
Before then, Okpebholo had petitioned the state assembly, accusing the chairmen of refusing to submit financial records of their respective councils to the state government—an act he described as gross misconduct and insubordination.
The state assembly subsequently ordered the suspended officials to hand over to the legislative leaders of their local governments.
The suspension was seen as a blatant disregard to both the ruling of the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, and the Supreme Court judgment in a suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, which reaffirmed absolute autonomy and independence of local governments as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.
Ironically, among the first to react to the action was Fagbemi himself who unequivocally declared the action illegal and unconstitutional.
Speaking in Abuja on December 19, 2024, the AGF stated that the actions of the Edo State government violated the autonomy granted to LGAs by the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment of July 11, 2024. He stressed that removing from office or suspending any elected official of the local government in the country is the prerogative of councillors in the said LGA and not state assemblies.
“One thing that I know and can say without fear is that under the present dispensation, no governor has the right to remove any local government chairman. That much I know. If I did not know before, since July 11, 2024, I became aware that removal of any local government chairman or official would be the prerogative of that local government, through their legislative house,” the AGF stated.
However, the state government berated the AGF, saying that Governor Okpebholo and the state assembly have the power to remove local government officials from office.
“Financial autonomy is about giving them access, but that does not mean state governments do not have control over how they use that money.
The Supreme Court cannot amend the Constitu-
p OLITICAL NOT e S
tion. Lateef Fagbemi might be the law officer of the federation, but he does not represent the constitution of the country and he does not represent other laws made validly under the provisions of the constitution by the Edo House of Assembly.
“The House of Assembly has the powers to oversee the activities of the governor, and similarly, the governor has the right to exercise oversight over local government chairmen. The current constitutional construct recognises a two-tier federal design. It is clearly stipulated in the Constitution,” the state government insisted through a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor (CPS), Fred Itua.
As the controversy raged, a High Court in Benin City, presided over by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba, ruled in a suit filed by the suspended chairmen, ordering that they should return to office. However, the state government felt unconcerned and ensured that the suspended local government officials did not return to office.
Despite various court judgments ordering the reinstatement of some of the council chairmen, the state government has not complied as Governor Okpebholo has since gone ahead to handpick leaders to head the councils in clear violation of the Supreme Court decision.
The question agitating the minds of many Nigerians is: Why did the APC-led federal government seize the statutory allocations of Osun LGAs and allow those of Edo State, which are being run by non-democratically elected officials to receive their allocations?
This is why many have condemned the decision by the federal government to withhold the Osun State local governments’ funds, holding that it does not only amount to hypocrisy but also shows its bias, inconsistency and double standard in applying the rules.
The federal government must be fair and just to all the states irrespective of party affiliations. Its action in Osun State lacks any known judicial backing.
Already, the Osun State PDP has described the federal government’s action as politically-motivated, and called on Fagbemi to rise above personal and partisan considerations, and act as the guardian of justice and fairness for all Nigerians, regardless of party affiliation.
The party added that since Fagbemi had previously served as lead counsel to former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, a known political enemy of Governor Adeleke, the AGF ought to recuse himself from any matter directly or indirectly affecting the political ecosystem of the state, and allow the law courts to decide as appropriate.
Army playing politics with Benue Killings?
Barely few hours after Nigerians were elated by the statement posted by the Nigerian Army that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, had temporarily relocated to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, due to the incessant killings of innocent villagers by herders and militia groups, the state government has denied that the COAS relocated to lead the military’s operations against bandits in the state.
Speaking on ARISE NEWS Channel on Thursday, the state Commissioner for Power and Transport, Matthew Oga, clarified that Oluyede’s visit to the state was not a relocation.
“He came on a personal visit. During his visit, he had a close-door meeting with His Excellency, the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia.”
He continued: “He then proceeded to have an expanded meeting with security heads, after which he informed the governor and the people of Benue State that he would visit the scene of the incident to conduct an on-the-spot assessment.”
“He went to Naka and concluded his visit the next day. He then departed the state, and I can assure you he is back in his office in Abuja.”
Before the state government’s shocking revelation, many Nigerians had hailed Oluyede’s reported relocation to the state, saying the move would address the incessant killings of innocent villagers by suspected herders and militia groups and bring to an end the era of playing politics with the security of the state.
For too long, many Nigerians were thinking that
the federal government was playing politics with the lives of the people of Benue State.
The soldiers stationed in the state were said to have stated that they did not have the mandate to attack the violent herdsmen killing the people unless the herdsmen attacked them first.
Many have alleged conspiracy between the invaders and some heads of security agents in the state, especially the military.
Nigerians had also expected that Oluyede would use the opportunity to investigate the alleged complicity of some soldiers and their commanders who are alleged to be sympathetic to the invaders.
Unfortunately, the reported relocation was false and this has deepened the conspiracy theories.
Fagbemi
General Oluyede
BRIEFING NOTES
Dickson’s Wise Counsel on Opposition Coalition
As some members of the coalition that sacked the Peoples Democratic Party-led administration in 2015 begin to mobilise against the ruling All Progressives Congress-led administration of President Bola Tinubu, claiming that the party they foisted on Nigerians has inflicted hunger on the people, ejiofor Alike calls on Nigerians to ponder over the wise counsel of the former governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Seriake Dickson
Former Bayelsa State governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, recently reminded members of the coalition now mobilising against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 that they are the same political actors who spearheaded the movement against former President Goodluck Jonathan, brought an end to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) era, yet failed to deliver on the promises they made to Nigerians.
Indeed, former President Muhammadu Buhari; President Tinubu; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; immediate-past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai; former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; ex-Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; and other opposition had formed an alliance that birthed the All Progressives Congress (APC), which sacked the PDP in 2015.
When the coalition visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s hilltop residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on December 21, 2013, it was Tinubu who told the former president that Nigeria, under Jonathan, was a sinking ship and urged Obasanjo to steer the ship to the right direction.
But under the APC-led administration of former President Buhari, which took over from Jonathan, hunger, human rights abuses, impunity, hardship, poverty, insecurity, particularly banditry, kidnapping and invasion of Nigerian communities and farmlands by foreign herdsmen, as well as other ills witnessed under Jonathan’s administration, worsened.
It is therefore surprising to many Nigerians, especially Tinubu’s supporters, that as the barely two-year-old Tinubu’s administration is grappling with the challenges created by Buhari’s eight years of misrule, Atiku, El-Rufai, Amaechi, Aregbesola, Malami, and others who were part of the pre-2015 faction and key actors in Buhari’s administration, are ferociously mobilising Nigerians against Tinubu in 2027.
Speaking at his recent 60th birthday event in Abuja, Amaechi, who left power only two years ago after nearly 24 uninterrupted years in power, complained of hunger.
“We’re all hungry - all of us are. If you’re not hungry, I am. For us, the opposition, if you want us to remove the man in power, we can remove him from this power,” he said.
However, Amaechi’s critics wonder why he did not complain of hunger between May 1999 and 2023, when he was the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly for eight
years, the governor of Rivers State for eight years and minister under Buhari’s administration for almost eight years until he resigned to contest for the APC presidential ticket in June 2022.
Atiku, speaking earlier at the event, had described himself, Amaechi, and El-Rufai as “conspirators.”
“You may call me a conspirator; you may call me anything, and that is why we are in this alliance to make sure we don’t allow them to continue weaponising poverty. Of course, one of our star conspirators is Rotimi Amaechi.
“We will continue to conspire with you to make sure we minimise poverty and we don’t use state machinery to weaponise poverty,” he said.
El-Rufai, whose state became a killing field under his watch as governor from 2015 to 2023, and who was a key ally of Buhari’s administration, which reduced Nigeria to the poverty capital of the world, also claimed that Nigeria is in its biggest trouble since 2014 under Tinubu’s two-year-old administration.
“Nigeria is in its biggest trouble since
1914. We are together working, conspiring to build a coalition to take Nigeria back on track because it is off track,” he reportedly said.
But in his wise counsel, Dickson, who also spoke at Amaechi’s birthday event, recalled that the past conspiracy by the same actors, which ended Jonathan’s administration in 2015 did not become the silver bullet as was promised.
Dickson expressed disappointment that after 11 years, the coalition spearheaded in 2015 by El-Rufai and others had failed to tackle the country’s challenges.
“When I came in here and climbed up here, I saw a lot of you. And as my brother (El-Rufai) said, there are a number of you who are expert conspirators, who know how to assemble coalitions and then take out governments, as you did to my party in 2015.
“And when you did so, particularly to a clueless government, so-called, now 11 years down the line, we thought that there would have been no weaponisation of poverty and that all the challenges of Nigeria would have been gone.
“And the only advice I can give, not being a professional coalition builder and conspirator
as some of you are, is at this time, ‘shine your eyes.”
Dickson has good reasons to be worried as some of the principal actors in the present alliance also played significant roles under Buhari’s administration that reduced Nigeria to the poverty capital of the world, ruined the economy, promoted ethnic and religious bigotry, watched as Benue and Kaduna states became killing fields, inflicted insecurity on the rest of the country and left Nigerians divided along ethnic and religious lines more than ever before.
Under Buhari’s administration, a key faction member was in charge of a ministry that supervised the worst jailbreaks in Nigeria’s history.
The criminals that escaped from the various prisons nationwide under his watch contributed to the nationwide insecurity being blamed on Tinubu’s government.
Reacting to Amaechi’s “I’m hungry” comments, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike said the former Minister of Transportation was hungry for power and not for food.
Wike said: “We’ve time to listen to junks in Nigeria. I don’t know why a man (Amaechi) would choose his 60th birthday to tell lies to Nigerians that you’re hungry.
“He was speaker in 1999-2007. He was a governor too from 2007 to 2015. He also became a minister from 2015-2023. He never spoke about hunger....,” Wike said.
The ruling APC has also accused Atiku, El-Rufai and Amaechi of “self-serving desperation” for power.
In a statement issued by APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party described the trio, who spoke at Amaechi’s 60th birthday lecture as “displaced rentseekers” clinging to a bygone era of political and economic privilege.
“These three individuals have occupied Nigeria’s highest political offices between 1999 and 2023… In all 24 years, the trio, individually or collectively, could not and did not eradicate poverty in their states or the country,” the statement said.
“When Amaechi declared, ‘I am hungry,’ he must mean… he is hungry and desperate to return to his felt entitled dependency on state resources and patronage,” the party said.
With all the mudslinging, Nigerians should indeed shine their eyes about the choices they make in 2027, as Dickson has wisely advised.
N10m Bribe: NIS Officer’s exemplary Conduct
The conduct of an officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Ugochukwu Orji, who rejected a N10 million bribe from a fleeing alleged ritualist, Onyeka Obu, accused of killings in Enugu State, is not only worthy of emulation, but calls for celebration. Obu, popularly known as Ozo Ezeani as well as “E dey play E dey show”, was accused of burying several people in a pit, including a pregnant woman, for ritual purposes at Umumba Ndiagu, a community in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Whilst police operatives arrested three suspects linked to the crime, Obu fled the scene.
But his attempt to flee Nigeria through the Badagry-Seme Border Area of Lagos
was aborted when some NIS personnel at the border area arrested him.
The native doctor was said to have offered N10 million bribe and an iPhone to Orji, who recognised and held him from fleeing the country.
But the NIS official declined, and later handed him over to the Lagos State Police Command, which later moved him to Enugu State for prosecution.
It is good to know that despite the hardship and hunger in the country, where many security agents are soiling their hands in acts of corruption, there are few like Orji, a junior officer, who has held his head high and turned down a whopping N10million.
For this exemplary conduct, he certainly deserves commendation both
from the federal government and NIS. Little wonder the Governor of his home state, Abia, Mr. Alex Otti, did not hesitate to appreciate Orji for making the state proud.
The governor praised him for representing the state well and demonstrating honesty and being a good ambassador of the state.
Otti encouraged him to continue to serve with integrity and honesty.
The Enugu State Government has honoured Orji for demonstrating a high level of honesty and integrity.
In fact, the NIS should give him double promotion for projecting the image of the agency in positive light and to encourage others to be patriotic and incorruptible.
Tinubu
Dickson
Governor Otti and Orji
Nigeria’s Enemies beyond Two Years of PBAT: The Dynamics of a Bleak Future
Opinion about the first two years of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) is mixed. Many observers described the first half as positive.And true, there are many pointers to justify the positivity. Foreign policy can be seen as a major area of success bearing in mind that PBAT’s shuttle diplomacy earned Nigeria a commitment of $50bn worth of foreign direct investments. Observers who see foreign policy as a failure do consider that Nigeria’s international image is not good with the non-appointment of diplomatic plenipotentiaries to head Nigeria’s embassies abroad. No one is wrong. It is the point of emphasis that is different.
However, if one considers the fact that Nigeria’s foreign policy is being given a new attitudinal foundation to guide Nigeria’s international behaviour, that is the introduction of the diplomacy of the 4-Ds (Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora) as an instrument to achieve strategic autonomy, there can be no disputing the fact that PBAT’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, is a competent diplomatic pilot. Non-appointment of ambassadors can be due to many factors above his powers. Lack of funding can be a reason.
The need to wait until 2027 election time can be another reason. In this regard, PBAT may want to reserve some diplomatic postings for some political supporters, especially those who have the great potential to influence his electoral victory. PBAT may also want to first of all stabilise the domestic base for his ruling political party, the All Progressives Congress, before appointing ambassadors-designate. Whatever is the case, it is precisely the goodness in the first two years that also point to the bleakness in Nigeria’s future. The enemies within are not only quite stronger than the enemies without, but continue to wax stronger. The enemies are killing Nigeria softly every day with policies of remissness and braggadocio.
The Enemies Within
The first enemy of the people of Nigeria is the Government of Nigeria either at the federal or state level and we have drawn attention to this observation several times in this column. For the umpteenth time, I have said that the Federal Government of Nigeria is very fraudulent by collecting deposits from the public for houses that would not be built. Explained differently, Government placed an advert asking Nigerians who were interested in buying low, medium, high-level semi-detached and detached bungalows in various parts of the country to apply. The location of the housing project for Lagos State was in FESTAC Village. I was an applicant for a medium-detached bungalow in FESTAC. I paid the required amount of deposit.
The originator of the project,Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, then Federal Minister of Works and Housing, wanted to build very affordable units of houses across Nigeria but he was replaced by Major-General Abdulkareem Adisa who complicated the matter. The required initial deposit was N40,000 under Alhaji Jakande but was increased to N200,000 under General Adisa. The total cost of purchase of my own detached-bungalow was initially N200,000. It was increased to N800,000 and the new deposit required was N200,000, that is, 20% of the total selling price, hence my initial deposit of N40,000 was increased to N160,000. My wife took salary advance from the then Universal Trust Bank to pay the deposit. Up till this time of writing, no news about the project. No housing project in the FESTAC village. No allocation of any house. No refund.
In my eyes, the worst pen-robber not to say armed robber, the worst enemy of Nigeria is the Federal Government. The houses were meant to be built between April 1994 and December 1994. Allocation of the houses was scheduled to be made in December 1994. Today is June 8, 2025, that is, more than THIRTY-ONE YEARS since payment of deposit in February 1994, no house has been built. All successive governments have not been bothered about the plight of depositors. In fact. Major-General Adisa empanelled a committee to investigate Alhaji Jakande to inquire whether he engaged in financial malpractices regarding the housing
projects. He was found very upright. No one believed that he could build any house with only N200,000. But what happened to the deposits and the housing scheme in Lagos, FESTAC? Only God can tell. Yet, the Federal Government is purporting to be solving housing problems, allocating houses to footballers for winning cups but refusing to talk about houses for which it contractually collected deposits, and still have the effrontery of coming into the open to preach the sermon of financial holiness, integrity, and patriotism.
Without whiff of doubt, if the Federal Government is openly robbing the people of their hard-earned and legitimate money, and the same Government is accusing some people of theft, of money laundering or threatening tenants of revocation of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), how do we describe the criminality of the Federal Government? The Government of Nigeria signed the 2003 international convention against corruption. Is taking money from the people for housing schemes without allocation of such houses not an act of corruption? Is it not more fraudulent than the acts of the armed robbers and kidnappers?
The disregard for public complaints is unpatriotic. It is killing Nigeria softly and Nigeria’s future can never be bright if patriotism is consciously being killed. Perhaps one should ask if there is any essence in talking about the Renewed Hope Housing and Urban DevelopmentAgenda when the Government is oppressing some Nigerians for being honest and is trying to
With this kind of development, the future of a united and vibrant Nigeria cannot but be very bleak. International conspiratorial funding of the Boko Haram, whether it has evidential credentials or not, remains a truism. There is no disputing the fact that Boko Haram has remained strong for more than a decade, meaning that it has the means of self-sustenance. Keeping quiet over the Boko Haram in government, it is self-suicidal. The Fulanisation and Islamisation of Nigeria agenda is a pointer to self-destruction. It appears the agenda has been thrown into the dustbin of history but the manifestations of the agenda are yet to give any relief to the people. The conduct and management of national affairs give the impression that there is normalcy and there is nothing like struggle for separation. True enough, there are struggles for self-determination. The expulsion of FrancoAmerican military bases in some Francophone West African countries has pushed the jihadists to seek refuge in the coastal states, and particularly in Nigeria. In fact, relationship between France and Francophone West Africa is increasingly becoming more difficult, implying that Nigeria’s role in the ECOWAS requires a re-strategy. And perhaps most disturbingly, Nigeria’s future can never be bright if Government is remiss, ineffective, inefficient, and cares less about public complaints. All these kill Nigeria softly and do not make the future of Nigeria bright
please some others, basically the anti-Nigeria elements. One Yoruba saying or question is that if you are not certain about yesterday, what about today? This brings us to the case of government Ministers, especially the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Like the Foreign Minister and the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, I am not left in any jot of doubt that Nyesom Wike is an objectivist and also a hard worker. However, he has a knack for terrorising people with threats of revocation of C of O. He often gives two weeks ultimatum for payment of ground rent. Whereas, for houses that were purchased from the Federal Government as far back as 2004 and fully paid for in 2004, the C of O are yet to be issued or signed for delivery as of today. I paid my ground rent up till December 31, 2024. But because of N8,874= being payment for the year 2025, my name is listed as one of the ‘ground rent defaulters.’
This is most damaging to my person. I am not a defaulter even if the Minister is claiming that payments are to be made in advance in January for the current year. I am openly asking the Minister to explain why he has not been able to sign my C of O for which I fully paid in 2004. What is responsible for the non-issuance of my own C of O? Admittedly, he was not there in 2004, but he has been Minister for two years. And commendably enough, what had not been done by his predecessors since 2004, Minister Wike did that on 14 May, 2024 with his advertised Letter of Demand for Ground rent. This was the first letter I ever received for payment for the purchase of property from the Government. It served as legal evidence of ownership.
I made payment for the previous 19 years in May 2004 but active Minister Wike has not been able to issue my C of O. Reportedly, he has not signed it. Why should it take more than one year to sign a C of O? Some friends told me that I am only wasting my time for waiting for Government to do the right thing. They believe Government will not write to inform me about the matter. They want me to go there and ‘settle’ the Nigerian way which I find difficult to do. I have never done it and I will not do it. Government cannot steal my money and I will still go back to give bribe to have my right. My responsibility is to make noise about it even if no one is listening to it, and to compel Government to address its remissness, ineffectiveness, and inefficiency in political governance. I will not be part of any process that promotes corruption and political chicanery in whatever form. This reminds me of my election by consensus as Coordinator for the Lagos State Chapter of the NAVC (National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corps) during the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The NAVC was under the ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission). I accepted my election and inauguration by the ICPC with joy but in the wrong belief that Government was serious about fighting corruption. The NAVC Lagos State Chapter, under my leadership, acquired an office and began public enlightenment programmes aimed at fighting corruption from the grassroots. Government was fighting corruption from the top selectively. At the time many men and women of good will offered to assist the NAVC, the ICPC came up with untenable excuses to stop the activities of the NAVC nationwide. All efforts and investments put in place amounted to nought. I withdrew from any fight against corruption since Government itself is a problem unto itself and that probably ended the existence of the NAVC since then.
Can Nigeria have any bright future with the current style of political governance that promotes dishonesty of purpose? What type of future can any good stratum of society have when the system is that of lobbying for your right with money? What future has a country that cannot keep its record right? I was first given a plot number 2953 for which I was to make payment in May 2024. In June 2025, the plot number has been changed to 1570 and without prior notification for my records purposes. My flat and house have not changed. Why should honesty of purpose become behaviourally an offence and dint of patriotism is hated by the Government in Nigeria?
The Enemies Without
Who is an enemy? Is he or she real, imaginary or imagined? It is often argued that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. In this regard, there can be three types of enemies based on reality, shared interest, and logic. Let us name the enemies as ‘A,’ ‘B’, and ‘C.’ If ‘A’ is the enemy of ‘B’ (reality) and ‘B’ is also the enemy of ‘C’ (shared interest), then ‘A,’ mathematically speaking, should be the enemy of ‘C’ (logic). In the context of Social Sciences, we do not talk about enmity. If ‘A’ is considered the friend of ‘C’ based on logic and shared enmity or political interests, then B is a common enemy to ‘A’ and ‘C.’ Consequently, it is logically argued that if there is a common enemy, why not team up and make friend with the common enemy in order to acquire greater strength in fighting the direct enemy? This is the rationale for looking at it from the perspective of friendship.
Further still, if we consider the dynamics of what makes ‘A’ an enemy of ‘B’, are the dynamics of the enmity between ‘A’ and ‘B’ the same as what informs the friendship or enmity between ‘B’ and ‘C’? This analogy is raised here because Nigeria’s ‘enemies without’ are necessarily an extension of the ‘enemies within.’ We observe here that the Government of Nigeria is a priori an arch enemy unto itself in two different but complementary ways.
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government. Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, managing director of Fargo Petroleum and Gas Ltd accused of forging documents to claim N3.7 billion subsidy payment, remains on the run. These are just a few of the court cases over the scam. In the end, the total amount that was stolen under the policy “to protect the poor” ran into probably trillions of naira during the lifetime of the subsidy.
Mr AbdulRasheed Bawa, a member of the EFCC special team that probed the scam, has just written a book, ‘The Shadow of Loot & Losses: Uncovering Nigeria’s Petroleum Subsidy Fraud’, on the scandal. Bawa, who later became chairman of the EFCC, tells in heartbreaking details the monumental scam. The book reveals the extent of the evil that was visited upon this country in the name of petrol subsidy. It is a damning story, a story of the atrocious collusion by politicians, business moguls and government officials to rape the national treasury to stupor — through ghost importing, over-invoicing, manipulation of bills of lading, round-tripping, double claims, diversion and smuggling.
For those who may not know, I used to be a petrol subsidy fanatic. I started turning my back on it only in January 2012 when Jonathan unsuccessfully tried to end it. I saw and heard things that were not lawful to utter. I used to support petrol subsidy principally because of the notion that Nigeria as an oil-producing country should not be selling petroleum products at the same prices as non-oil producing countries. I used to argue that nearness to raw material should make a product cheaper, often illustrating it with the fact that tomato is cheaper in Keffi than Ketu. I was never impressed with the argument that oil, as a globally traded commodity, commands different pricing economics.
I vehemently opposed the argument
MOKWA MAYHEM
A flood submerged Mokwa, Niger state, last week, killing more than 200 people, with over 1,000 still missing, according to media reports. As many as 2,000 homes were destroyed in the havoc. Pray, how do you console a man who watched his wife and newborn baby swept away by the flood? Devastating! However, before we start blaming the disaster on adultery and fornication, the truth is that climate crisis is real. Seasonal flooding will not end soon. Just as many countries are prone to hurricanes and typhoons, many Nigerian states are vulnerable to flooding. What we need now is proactive leadership — the type that plans ahead to save lives and property. Foretold. Forewarned.
that selling petrol cheaper in Nigeria was making smuggling to neighbouring countries a profitable and pleasurable enterprise. My counter-argument was that government was punishing ordinary, law-abiding Nigerians for its own failure to police our borders. I just believed petrol was too critical to the cost of living to be left to market forces. In fact, I said the only thing Nigerians were enjoying was petrol subsidy and all attempts to remove it must be fiercely resisted. For every argument in favour removing subsidy, I had a ready counter — whether or not it was viable. I did not realise I was aiding and abetting an organised crime of gargantuan proportions.
Theoretically, I am still pro-subsidy — I believe that all fingers are not equal and the government must step in to help the poor by “balancing the equation”. However, I now believe such funds should go into more impactful areas such as agriculture, health and education, not petrol. Bawa calculated, based on data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), that we spent about N17 trillion on petrol subsidy from 1999-2023, viz: N812 billion (1999-2006), N794 billion (2007-2009), N3.9 trillion (2010-2014) and N11 trillion (2015-2013). This is not how to spend N17 trillion.
When President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, his first policy pronouncement was “subsidy is gone”. His predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, had not made any provision for subsidy for the second half of 2023. Tinubu effectively brought it forward by one month. The truth, of course, was that Nigeria was heading for ground zero. The NNPC had been importing petrol at N600/litre and selling it at roughly N190. The worst part was that in the past,
we used to pay for subsidy from our oil earnings. However, from around 2020, we were actually borrowing to import petrol and sell at a third of the cost. We even mortgaged our future oil earnings to import petrol!
Still, anytime I reflect on the jump in the pump price from less than N200 to over N800 (it crossed the N1,000 mark at some point) in the past two years, I ask myself whether this is really happening. The consequences have been grim: high transportation costs for motorists and low-income earners, as well as high energy costs for businesses. The fall in the value of the naira compounded a dire situation for a country that relies heavily on imports, including pharmaceuticals, clothing, education and medical treatments. It was as if the whole world was going to crash on us. Yet, it was not as if we were left with many options. The economy was running on empty. We were close to liquidation.
When Tinubu marked his second anniversary in office, I read comments and analyses, both local and foreign, on his stewardship. The contradictory views are quite fascinating. The polices which some commentators are commending are the same others are condemning. Take, for example, his two most far-reaching policies: removing petrol subsidy and liberalising the FX market. While these policies have shot the cost of living to the highest in a generation, they have also tackled a regime of corruption that had been damaging the economy for decades. And while many economists and investors are taking to the dancefloor in pleasure, the less privileged are reeling on the floor in pains.
Although I was critical of the way and manner Tinubu went about his twin policies (which I thought and still think were neither well planned nor properly executed), he took a decision that had
And Four Other Things…
WASTED GENERATIONS
In May 2016, eight secondary students from Kano state who came to Lagos for a quiz competition died in a road accident near Ibadan, Oyo state, on their way back home. Their bodies were then flown back to Kano for burial. They were not worthy of air travel while alive. In May 2025, 22 athletes who represented Kano at the national sports festival in Abeokuta died in a road accident while returning home. The state government awarded N1 million as compensation to each family — more than enough to have bought flight tickets in the first place. Of course, we are not in control of our lives and people die in air crashes, but this says a lot about the welfare of these athletes. Wasted.
HANDSHAKE HORROR
Since the impeachment of Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa as the speaker of Lagos house of assembly, the relationship between President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide SanwoOlu has gone terribly sour. Not even the reinstatement of Obasa after the botched “coup” has repaired the strains. The internet was initially buzzing with the rumour that Obasa was impeached at Tinubu’s instance. The rumour mongers said it was because Obasa was interested in running for governorship, a position they said was reserved for Seyi, Tinubu’s son. The turn of events terminated the rumour. But no matter Sanwo-Olu’s offence, Tinubu shouldn’t have snubbed shaking his hands in public. Humiliating.
TWO YEARS OF TINUBU: TWO STORIES BEHIND THE POSITIVE NUMBERS
determination of President Tinubu to do things differently. The first happened a day before President Tinubu’s trip to Rome, Italy, on May 17, 2025, for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV. Invited by the new Pope, the President’s decision to attend the event, accompanied by Catholic bishops, was remarkable in the context of the President’s religion and that of his vice-president. In the build-up to the 2023 election, the opposition claimed the two leaders would turn the country into an Islamic state. That did not happen. Instead, they are running an administration that is blind to religion. Christians, Muslims, and adherents of other religious leanings get their dues.
I was at the residence to see the President around 2 pm just after he had performed the diplomatic ceremony of receiving letters of credence from some ambassadors. From that period, he was in his home office, working on files and receiving governors, top government functionaries and other guests who had visited till around 11 pm. Those who visited included Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Secretary to
the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi(SAN), Minister of Solid Minerals Development Mr. Dele Alake, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and former Osun State governor, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, as well as top businessmen including Alhaji Samad Rabiu of BUA Group. In that long period, the only other thing that went into that office was his lunch. It’s not an isolated pattern. The fact deducible from all this is a bewildering work ethic. President Tinubu works unusually long hours. He devotes virtually all his time to the Nigerian project. So, his success is a product of hard work. His uncommon courage and audacity are well known. His policy options, particularly removing the unsustainable subsidies on fuel and forex, were things leaders before him found appropriate and desirable if the country must move forward but lacked the courage to implement. Fuel subsidies were corruption-laden, while the multifarious foreign exchange windows incentivised
been very difficult for past presidents. Some would take the decision and quickly backtrack after the public backlash and labour strikes. What I have found more intriguing today is that petrol can be N900/ litre this week and N875 next week. When oil prices change, the prices of petroleum products react. The FX market is now following the same pattern — the naira is going up and down from time to time, just like major currencies. With no fixed rate, many speculators are now in the middle of nowhere.
Tinubu’s policy seems to be: “no subsidy, no subsidy scam”. You can’t claim payment for what doesn’t exist. Bawa’s revelations are, for me, a final nail in the coffin. Not even one kobo should ever go into petrol subsidy again. We have crossed the Red Sea and must never go back to Egypt. The next challenge is for Nigerians to start holding their leaders accountable and responsible for a judicious use of the “savings” since there are no more deductions for subsidy from the federally collected revenues. The NNPC can no longer withhold revenues from the federation account under the nebulous headline of “subsidy deductions” — although I know we are still paying some legacy bills.
Above all, it is now left for us, as active citizens, to make it a duty to put the president, governors and council bosses under the spotlight, to make sure these “saved” funds are targeted at providing amenities that will benefit most Nigerians, especially the poorest of the poor, amenities that we can feel and touch (not “audio”), amenities in healthcare, education, roads and other critical infrastructure that will be impactful and meaningful. I don’t think we need to be begged to be more active. Otherwise, of what benefit is abolishing subsidy only to spend the savings on waste and graft? That would mean we are suffering for nothing. Our latter days could end up worse than the former.
NO COMMENT
Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi, former transportation minister, marked his 60th birthday with a claim that sent vibrations around the nation: “We are all hungry. If you are not hungry, I am.” It was obviously a political statement ahead of the 2027 elections. But Chief Nyesom Wike, his former ally turned foe, would allow that to pass. The FCT minister, who succeeded Amaechi as governor of Rivers in 2015, fired back: “He was speaker from 1999 to 2007, governor from 2007 to 2015, and minister from 2015 to 2023. He never spoke about hunger during those years. It is clear he cannot stay out of power.” Meanwhile, is it true the venue of the “hungry” birthday bash costs N30 million only? Hahahaha.
arbitrage. For instance, between January and June 2023, fuel subsidies alone gulped N3 trillion, and the bulk went into the pockets of the oil cabal.
An important subtext of this story could be glimpsed from Mr. President’s response when I asked him about the influx of governors, lawmakers, and top chieftains of other parties into the All Progressives Congress. He replied: “Yes, they are coming because they have seen the success of our policies. The economy has virtually rebounded, and the country has turned the corner. Do you think they would defect to our party if I’m not doing well, and the policies have turned awry?”
President Tinubu hardly allows any opportunity to bask in well-earned moments of glory to elude him. He often says, “I have a bragging right here. It is my turn to brag over this.”
The President is, however, not unmindful of the fact that the macroeconomic gains achieved by his administration thus far have not fully impacted the streets and pockets of
our people. He has also spoken of this. At the inauguration of Phase 1 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road referenced earlier, President Tinubu appealed to Nigerians to be patient with him.
“I know your expectations are still very high at this stage, and our people are still going through difficult times. I take this opportunity to appeal to all Nigerians that hope is here, and it is realisable,” he said, adding: “You would be proud of the benefits; there is light at the end of the tunnel. Inflation is coming down; we have eliminated the corruption in the exchange rate; the corruption in fuel subsidy is now limited to the barest minimum. It is all for you, the people; we are reducing the cost of manufacturing and encouraging manufacturing locally. We give all incentives for everyone to abide by the principle. May God bless our country; may God bless Lagos State and keep our fighting soldiers safe,” he said.
•Rahman is a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Special Duties.
ENGAGEMENTS
A Mid-term of Phantoms
President Tinubu and his squad have been observing their mid term. I would not exactly say they have been celebrating as they were reluctant to roll out the red carpets and call in the clowns of ceremony. Instead, the presidency has caused an elaborate avalanche of Power Point presentations and elaborate holographs of his achievements published in all major national newspapers and online platforms. His key officials, party hacks and sundry spokespersons have been crowing on what a pleasure road to paradise Nigerians have been travelling in the last two years.
In one outlandish and embarrassing outburst, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Mr. Squealer or poor imitation of Goebbels was quoted claiming that Tinubu’s great economic reform has started yielding fruits. Nigerians are now making tons of money producing and exporting Zobo, crude local herbal drink known and consumed by a minority of low class citizens in the northern fringes. I have never heard that Zobo ever had an export market or any market outside Nigeria. Beyond such outlandish and unsubstantiated adolescent claims, no one else in the administration has had the courage to conjure up any economic or social benefit of the great Tinubu economic transformation. But the mid term phantom festivities have progressed nonetheless since the administration needs to be seen marking a significant mile stone.
Elite economists and publicists in quest of substantiating data have instead resorted to international ratings by agencies like Fitch and the World Bank for projections on Nigeria’s economic prospects. Among local economists, silence is the norm. No one who respects his certificate dares make any pronouncements that sound like an endorsement of the Tinubu policy landscape. No one wants to be waylaid and flogged in the streets for bearing false witness. It is far better to remain silent and try to navigate one’s way around spiraling inflation and impossible living costs. Beyond a slew of sponsored articles and statistics fed from official quarters, no respectable medium dares paint a rosy picture of the tragic times in which we now live. In fact on the eve of Tinubu’s Mid term point, a few fair minded publications extended invitations to key officials of the administration to come face editors to present a score card of the administration’s mid term score card. The officials invited include the Governor of the Central Bank, the Minister of Finance and the Economy, the Chief Economic Adviser to the President etc. One week past the Mid Term point, hardly any of these administration “big men” has thought it safe or wise enough to face reporters or risk their fat necks on the guillotine of public scrutiny for fear of public opprobrium for what may turn out to be outright baseless lies. But the fake statistics and dubious claims have continued to fly around the public space.
Between the elaborate bogus claims and phantom statistics, ordinary Nigerians are somewhat perplexed. People are at a loss as to which country Tinubu’s propagandists are referring to. The statistics hardly accord with the general hollowness and desperation of the common man’s life. There is even more doubt as to whether the copious claims about achievements of the regime really refer to present day Nigeria or maybe some astral universe in which wishes have become realities.
Defying all manner of doubts about his commitment to real development, the President himself took an unusually bold and unfamiliar leap last weekend. Having gone ahead to award one of the largest infrastructure contracts in modern Nigerian history, the Lagos-Calabar highway, the President was determined to prove doubters wrong as to whether the project would be completed within his tenure. He has commissioned some 30 kilometers of the 785 km highway, a laughable less than 5% of the entire length of the project. This is one of the rare occasions when a Nigerian leader has commissioned a major national project in pieces and pieces!
Predictably, the usual coterie of clappers and
cheerleaders were on hand to praise the President to high heavens. It is quite significant that the usual collection of government-bred Nigerian oligarchs of manufacturers, bankers, traders and wheeler dealers were on hand to witness the joke. The private sector was there in full since in any case these briefcase oligarchs are all creatures of government in its familiar buccaneer iteration. It is doubtful whether any of these industry and private entrepreneurs would commission a mere 5% of any project belonging to their organizations. To decorate the scenery with celebrity and lend it some presumptive credibility, Wole Soyinka was in attendance as an extension of his controversial serial endorsements of Tinubu’s presidency. In every way, the premature commissioning has taken place. But no one has yet said when the rest of this Alaska Highway would be completed.
Nor has anyone told us what is so strategic in the swampy stretch between the Lagos lagoon and the swamps of Calabar. This road is just the Nigerian equivalent of the infamous Alaskan highway, a showpiece shiny highway that literally leads from and to nowhere in economic terms. By its nature and motivation, the proverbial Alaskan Highway is a beautiful freeway with all modern amenities designed and built way before anyone has had time to figure out what purpose the highway is designed to be or who exactly it is meant to serve. The road exists. It matters little where it is coming from and where it is leading. Just build it and the traffic will come. People are always coming from somewhere and heading somewhere whether or not it makes sense. A road remains a road. As my friend Yemi Ogunbiyi says in the title of his memoir, “ the road never forgets.”
I am ignorant as to what trade takes place between Lagos and Calabar or what volume of cargo traffic passes through the projected route. I am not so
sure where the highway will head next when it terminates in the creeks of Calabar. Nor am I sure that the heavy commercial traffic of cargo from Lagos to the South Eastern hinterland would prefer to travel to Calabar instead of straight to Onitsha, Owerri, Aba , Nnewi and Awka. That would seem to be the more natural route of cargo, passengers and trade. There is a more direct way of accessing these trading and cargo centres from Lagos. And it would probably cost much less to modernize and expand the existing LagosBenin-Onitsha-Owerri-Calabar highway than the trillions we are shelling out on this new phantom highway.
I was brought up to think that economically strategic roads are about the transportation of people, goods and services from where they are abundant to where they are most desired. Big roads make recovery revenue by charging tolls along heavy traffic routs in order to recover their costs and pay back these dubious loans. But on this project, silence is the answer. The pursuit of grandeur in and for itself seems to have become an end is in itself. Build it and they will come. I would not know what became of the Calabar Export Processing Zone and Tinapa tourist and retail heavens. I don’t know how much commercial traffic from Lagos goes to Calabar in search of these white elephant schemes.
Some citizens have defied these phantom second anniversary ceremonies and claims. Important questions are being asked about real life conditions under Mr. Tinubu’s two horrible years. Anno horribilis would be Queen Elizabeth II’s characterization of such years in British life as were witnessed during the Covid-19 years. Tinubu’s holocaust is worse because it is not the result of an unintended happening. Tinubu’s economic holocaust on Nigerians is not an act of nature or an accident of history. It is intentional blunder born out of pathetic ignorance of public policy and economic engineering. We are dealing with a deliberately foisted human tragedy of epic proportions. Through a largely thoughtless policy gamble, an entire nation has been hurled into unnecessary calamity. Energy prices have been raised. Money can hardly buy anything. The poverty population has overtaken the rest of the populace. Everything that makes life
worth living is now priced beyond the reach of the many. If indeed Tinubu’s gambit were in aid of a so- called reform of the economy and society, it would be understandable. No one can see the economic blueprint and destination let alone fathom the social objectives of the Tinubu government. We all know the Buhari wilderness where Tinubu met us. We know what the pump price of gasoline was when he came. We know for how much the dollar exchanged as Buhari headed for the exit. We can recall the cost of a return economy ticket to London then. We know what we used to pay for electricity or cooking gas. Essential drugs used to be affordable to many. Now, most Nigerians burdened with the yoke of Tinubu’s indirection are yearning to be returned to the worst of Buhari’s days than to be left in the wilderness of this rudderless and strange paradise with no compass. Tinubu dropped by on his inauguration date and casually dropped the bombshell that “fuel subsidy is gone”. Other thoughtless reflexes followed in a stream. But two years down the road, no one has told us where the economic policy is leading. No one has defined the economic or social destination. When a multitude of over 200 million citizens are being led on empty stomach to a journey without a defined destination, to trudge on and follow is a bit foolish. To hope, following something called “renewed hope agenda” is an even more tragic folly. Hope cooks no food. Hope is no destination for those who love life nor is it a plan of action. Hope without direction or definable targets is a chimera, a never land that ends in an abyss of catastrophe.
Predictably, there is a narrative that has been rehashing the achievements of the Tinubu presidency. It depends on where you are standing to watch this rough masquerade. If you are within the precincts of Aso Villa or the many feeding points of government patronage in Abuja and all over the country, you are likely to see and hear the claims of grand achievements by the government propaganda apparatus. The uniting message of the “renewed hope agenda” is that Nigerians should believe in Tinubu’s political sagacity and leadership track record as bases of hope in the future of the country. But people are very hungry and desperate. Many are insecure even inside their own homes. A nation that thrives on hope and belief is now being asked to believe some more and have faith in the power of the unknown. The faith that has kept us this far has not brought us anywhere near the gates of paradise!
A four year presidential tenure is a tricky time frame in the political calendar of any such democratic nation, the first two years are for setting an agenda and activating it in the form of actionable programmes, policies and projects to give the administration an identity and direction. The third year is a dress rehearsal for the politics of re-election as the ongoing agenda rolls on.Tinubu has wasted two valuable years and is entering the third year in active preparation for the politics of a possible re-election in 2027. The populace can hardly see what the administration has achieved in two years to qualify for consideration for reelection. This is Tinubu’s political conundrum and albatross. How to account for lost time and justify yet another campaign for tenure extension: that is Tinubu’s political burden. Incidentally, the remaining two years of Tinubu’s tenure is not time reserved for him and his party alone to bestride and stro; around in the political space. It is time and space only for him to share with an aggressive opposition coalition. Tinubu knows the gathering opposition and they know him well. His record is abysmal, thus arming the opposition with tools to do him grave harm. The opposition has confessed that they share severe hunger with the majority of Nigerians. A “hungry” political opposition is not the easiest opponent in a duel. Tinubu’s political future beyond this first term is a puzzle wrapped in curiosity and dressed in Nigerian uncertainty. The great question remains this: can the leader of a failed government and an unpopular party defy political gravity and win re-election?
• Tinubu
Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe
email:duro.Ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com
Tolu Arokodare Celebrates First Goal for Nigeria in Draw with Russia
Duro Ikhazuagbe
After coming from the bench to score n igeria’s equalizing goal in the hard-fought 1-1 draw with Russia last Friday, Tolu Arokodare, has said that his journey with the Super eagles has just started.
The Genk goal-goal scoring machine in the Belgian Jupiler League made his Super eagles debut last March and has now played four matches with a goal to show.
Yesterday, Arokodare took to his Instagram account to celebrate his first goal in Nigeria’s green and white jersey.
“First international goal, the journey has only just started.
We thank God,”observed the ebony Shoe winner as best African player in Belgium this past football season.
After Super Eagles has conceded an own goal through Semi Ajayi, Arokodare came off the bench in the second half to score a goal to help nigeria draw 1-1 in Friday’s friendly with Russia in Moscow.
However, in his review of the international friendly, Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, appears not satisfied yet with his wards.
He probably wanted to see eagles build on the win against Jamaica in the unity Cup tournament in London a fortnight earlier.
Chelle has therefore charged the Super eagles to continue to work on their pressing game ahead of crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
In September, the Super Eagles will resume the qualifying series for the 2026 World Cup with a home game against Rwanda and then an away trip to group leaders South Africa.
Chelle said he has made many changes to the squad and the new players need to adapt to how the team press forward.
“We have made lots of changes to the squad, our usual pressing game was a bit difficult, the new players are yet to fully understand how we want to play, so we need to keep working on our playing pattern and try to find balance,” he said.
The Franco-Mali gaffer admitted that Russia presented his team with a stern test.
“It was not an easy game because we played against a very good team,” he remarked.
“Russia have a good team with lot of pressure and technical quality.
“They had their chances in first half and they took it, we had our chance but the goalkeeper saved it.
“In the second half, Russia had two chances, but we had
Coco Gauff Beats Sabalenka to Win First French Open Title
Coco Gauff won the first French Open singles title of her career by fighting back to beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a rollercoaster final on Saturday evening.
American second seed Gauff claimed a 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-4 victory after a tense battle between the WTA Tour’s two leading players in testing conditions.
It is the second Grand Slam singles triumph of Gauff’s career, adding to the US Open title she won in 2023, also by beating Belarus’ Sabalenka.
“I think this (Grand Slam) win was harder than the first because you don’t want to get satisfied with just that one,” said 21-year-old Gauff. Gauff recovered from a difficult start where she trailed by a double break, eventually finding her rhythm and benefiting from a huge number of mistakes from 27-year-old Sabalenka.
“This hurts so much. Congratulations to Coco - she was a better player than me,” said Sabalenka, who was also bidding for her first Roland Garros title.
A stiff breeze played havoc with serve in the opening two sets, leading to the pair exchanging 12 breaks in an
entertaining if not highquality affair.
Gauff, who lost in the 2022 final, settled quicker in the deciding third set to move a break up and kept her nerve to serve out victory.
She had to survive another break point before winning her second championship
point, falling to the clay on her back when Sabalenka pushed a forehand wide.
With her parents Candi and Corey dancing euphorically in the stands, Gauff shared an affectionate hug with Sabalenka before running off court to celebrate with her family.
Kane Scores Winner in England’s Struggle Against Andorra
Harry Kane scored the only goal as england overcame a stubborn Andorra side 1-0 to continue their unbeaten start to qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Boss Thomas Tuchel had warned supporters they may need patience as the Three Lions attempted to break down a well-organised home defence - and that prediction proved correct.
His side were jeered off at the break as they failed to find the net in the first half against
2026 wOrLD CUp QUALIFIer
opponents ranked 173rd in the world.
After a laboured first-half display, England took the lead five minutes into the second half through captain Kane, but failed to secure the comfortable win many expected.
The Bayern Munich striker was found in the box by Curtis Jones and, when his initial effort was saved by Iker Alvarez, the ball fell to Noni Madueke who swept a low cross into the six-yard-box for Kane to tap in.
a chance and we scored,” concludes the nigeria coach.
Chelle emphasised that eagles didn’t play well the first half but seized the momentum in the second to get the equalizer.
“We didn’t play well in first half, we didn’t enforce our pressing game so well, but we were better in the second half with our pressing and that made the difference for us.”
Ronaldo Rejects Offers to Play at Club World Cup
Portugal Captain Cristiano Ronaldo has said that he will not play at this month’s Club World Cup after turning down offers from participating teams.
The 40-year-old is out of contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr at the end of June.
In May, FIFA President Gianni Infantino raised the prospect of Ronaldo joining a teaminvolved at the Club World Cup after Al-Nassr’s failure to qualify.
“I will not be at the Club World Cup,” said Ronaldo.
“Some teams reached out to me. Some made sense and others did not, but you can’t try and do everything. You can’t catch every ball.”
Ronaldo posted on social media that “the chapter is over”following Al-Nassr’s final league game of the season in May, leading to speculation he was set for a move.
However, sources have told BBC Sport that the club are confident of extending
Ronaldo’s deal. Speaking before Portugal’s Nations League final against Spain today (20:00 BST), Ronaldo said a decision on his future was “almost final”. The striker joinedAl-nassr in 2023 after the termination of his deal with Manchester United. He has scored 99 goals in 111 appearances for the club, including 35 times in 41 matches last term.
Ronaldo scored the winner in a 2-1 victory against Germany on Wednesday to book Portugal’s spot in the nations League final this Sunday evening.
Juric Takes over as Lookman’s New Coach at Atalanta
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman now has a new coach atAtalanta, following the departure of Gian Pero Gasperini at the end of the season, Soccernet.ngreports. Gasperini just exited Atalanta at the end of his contract after an impressive eight-year stint that saw him raise the level of the club from a mid-table club to consistent European football contenders.
La Dea tried to get him to get him to pen an extension, but he ultimately chose to join Serie A rivals Roma. However, Atalanta have now announcedIvan
Juric is their new manager. Although he was just sacked from his job at Southampton after failing in his attempt at saving the club from relegation, Juric is a seasoned Serie A campaigner.
The 28-year-old defender had a rollercoaster ride at the club, as he featured in 44 games in two seasons before getting his transfer to Premier League club nottingham Forest.
Last season, Juric had a very short stint with Southampton, as he was appointed as a replacement for Martin Russell, midway into the campaign. There, he coached Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo. However, he did not achieve anything.Aribo played 16 games under Juric, while Onuachu featured in 15.
Tolu Arokodare (centre) sandwiched between two Russian defenders during Friday’s international friendly with Nigeria in Moscow
Coco Gauff...wins her first French Open title
Sleaze in the Season of Subsidy
After years upon years of legal back and forth, a special offences court in Lagos state recently jailed two subsidy fraudsters. Mamman, son of Ahmadu Ali — former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who was once minister of education — was awarded 14 years imprisonment. Also to spend 14 years in prison is Mr Christian Taylor, his co-defendant. They were found guilty of collecting N2.2 billion in subsidy payments for “importing” 20 million litres of petrol when, in fact, they did not bring in even half a gallon. At the time of the offence, N2.2 billion translated
to a cool $13 million. That was enough to buy a private jet — or address the little matter of buying drugs for our hospitals.
That was the story of petrol subsidy in Nigeria — when we went all out to “protect the poor” by burning scarce public resources on financing the ego and libido of the rich and the powerful. This is yet another conviction in the subsidy scam series since 2012, when President Goodluck Jonathan directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe allegations of fraud. He had suspended the deregulation of the downstream sector in response to
TUNDE RAHMAN
GUEST COLUMNIST
public protests against the increase in petrol price from N67/litre to N140 on New Year’s Day. He also reduced the price to N97 after a turbulent week of opposition-inspired “aluta continua”, Lagos and Kano being the epicentres. As a result of the probe by the EFCC, three individuals and one company have now been convicted. In addition to Ali and Taylor, Brila Energy Limited and its representative, Rowaye Jubril, were convicted in 2017. Jubril was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment while Brila was ordered to refund nearly N1 billion to the
Continued on page 60
Two Years of Tinubu: Two Stories Behind the Positive Numbers
Economists and commentators have written and said much about the positive trajectory and indicators signposting Nigeria’s economic growth. These indicators indicate that the reforms embarked upon by President Bola Tinubu since assuming office two years ago have begun to engender successful outcomes. The reforms are paving the way for economic recovery. The facts are self-evident and they speak for themselves too.
According to a World Bank report, the GDP grew 3.4% in 2024, the highest in a decade. Inflation is tumbling and is currently
at 23.7%. The government is meeting its debt obligations. After the Central Bank of Nigeria cleared the forex backlog amounting to $10 billion, the debt-service-to-revenue ratio fell from around 100% to below 60%. Foreign reserves, which instill confidence in investors to come in and exit with their profits as they wish, now stand at $38 billion.
Just as remarkable is how national revenues have increased exponentially, resulting in unprecedented increases in allocation to sub-nationals. Such growth has been a significant shot in the arm, giving them the much-needed fiscal impetus to fund projects and cater to the welfare of their
people. The increased revenue also helps partly finance key infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway. Last week, President Tinubu inaugurated the completed Phase 1, Section 1 (30km by six lanes) of the 750km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
These strides have been phenomenal. But there is more work for the government to do. The administration also has a few challenges to tackle. The macroeconomic gains highlight the need to impact microeconomics. The positive economic statistics must impact the living standards of the most significant number of our people.
They must affect their living standards, especially the cost of essential goods and services. The government needs to reduce unemployment significantly, just as it needs to make the country much safer. However, as I have often argued, President Tinubu’s achievements in two years are not mere happenstance. They did not come by wishful thinking. They result from a bold vision outlined in his Renewed Hope Agenda, uncommon courage, and unrelenting hard work.
This piece explores just two stories that speak to the courage, audacity and
L-R: Head of Abraham Lincoln Academy, Abuja, Jessica McAllister; Special Guest, Ronald Cillier; Reddu Bosshoff; and others during the graduation ceremony of the academy in Lagos…yesterday.
