low labour force participation occasioned
by the staggering unemployment rate in Nigeria would be reversed. According to him, this was the impression of an unfavourable
society, which the Human Capital Development (HCD) Programme was designed to avert under the present administration of President Tinubu.
Following the factionalistion of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the governors elected on the party’s platform will meet tomorrow to consider many options for the resolution of the crisis in the main opposition party, THISDAY has learnt.
This is just as the former Senate President, Senator David Mark; former Governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam, and the Director General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, have emerged the top contenders in the race for the position of the national chairman of the party.
The crisis rocking the PDP took a dangerous twist on Friday when its national leadership broke into two factions with Yayari Ahmed
Mohammed, and the acting National Chairman, IIIiya Umar Damagum, leading each of the two factions. PDP’s factionalisation followed the suspension of its National Legal Adviser, Adeyemi Ajibade, and the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, by a faction of the National Working Committee (NWC) led by the acting national chairman, Damagum, on Friday, after the 593rd meeting of the NWC held on Thursday. Ibrahim Abdullahi and Okechukwu Osuoha were appointed by the faction to replace the duo in acting capacities.
But in a counter statement, the National Publicity Secretary, Ologunagba announced the suspension of Damagum and the National Secretary, Samuel
Development
Democratic White House candidate, Kamala Harris is in “excellent health” and fit for the presidency, according to a medical report published by the White House yesterday, as her campaign challenged rival Donald Trump to publish his own health records.
“Vice President Harris remains in excellent health,” her physician, Joshua Simmons, said in the report, adding that she “possesses the physical and mental resiliency required to successfully execute the duties of the presidency.”
A few hours later, Harris spokesman, Ian Sams challenged Trump directly to release his medical records, asking, “What’s he hiding?”
But as Harris’s team ramped up
Anyanwu, by the NWC due to what the statement described as the series of complaints raised against the duo.
However, shortly after Damagum’s suspension was announced, news broke that Justice Peter Lifu of a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a restraining order against his removal by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) as the acting national chairman of the party until December 2025.
Before the gale of suspensions on Friday, PDP had scheduled a NEC meeting for October 24 to elect a substantive national chairman who will complete the tenure of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, while Damagum is expected to revert to his position as National Vice Chairman (North).
To resolve the crisis, THISDAY gathered from a source close to the governors that one of the options before the governors is to facilitate the sack of the entire members of the NWC by the NEC and the appointment of a caretaker committee that will run the affairs of the party until December 2025 when the tenure of the present NWC will expire.
According to the source, another option is to ask the two factions to return to the status quo and allow Damagum’s successor to emerge at the NEC meeting on October 24, 2024, as originally planned before the factionalisation.
“Ayu’s replacement was supposed to have emerged on the April 18, 2024 NEC meeting but the decision was suspended because many states had not concluded their congresses. When the NEC meeting was rescheduled, it coincided with the period of lesser Hajj and was postponed. Now that all the states have concluded their congresses, a new NEC meeting was scheduled for October 24 to
pressure for details on the physical health and mental acuity of the 78-year-old Trump, the former president’s campaign pushed back hard.
It issued a statement, saying he was also “in perfect and excellent health to be Commander-in-Chief” and charged that Harris lacked his strength to lead the country.
A journalist asked Trump in August whether he would release his medical records and he replied, “Oh sure, I would do that very gladly, sure.”
He has not released any detailed medical records since then.
Meantime, Harris’s most recent physical exam, conducted in April, was “unremarkable,” Simmons said.
choose Ayu’s successor, whose tenure will expire in December 2025, along with other members of the NWC,” the source explained.
Reacting to the court order restraining the PDP from removing Damagum until December 2025, the source said he was not sure Damagum would use the court case to scuttle the peace efforts.
“Damagum was in Bauchi State to brief the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed on the outcome of the NWC meeting when his suspension was announced and when the court order barring the PDP from removing him was issued. I am not sure he initiated it. It is expected that he won’t use the court order to scuttle the peace efforts,” the source added.
The source further disclosed that one of the outcomes of Damagum’s visit to Bauchi was that the warring parties should maintain the status quo, pending the meeting of the PDP governors tomorrow.
According to him, Damagum and his NWC were also told that such a crisis was not needed as the party was preparing for the NEC meeting.
However, the crisis deepened yesterday as a top national officer of the party was said to have ordered that the offices of the National Legal Adviser, Ajibade, and the National Publicity Secretary, Ologunagba be broken into and the keys changed.
But the order was yet to be carried out as other top officers were not comfortable with it.
One of the national officers queried why the keys to the offices of the affected officers should be changed when "till this moment, the keys to the offices of the former national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu are still intact."
The party officer said: "The two were suspended under questionable
In a detailed report, Simmons noted that Harris suffers from seasonal allergies and hives, which are managed by non-prescription as well as prescription medications. Harris is also slightly nearsighted and wears contact lenses, the report said.
Republican Trump became the oldest presidential nominee in US history after 81-year-old President Joe Biden withdrew from the White House race in July. Harris is 59.
Biden passed the torch to Harris after a disastrous debate against Trump raised concerns in the Democratic Party about his own mental sharpness.
But Trump’s apparent vitality means that his age has not so far
circumstances. Why the rush to break into their offices, as if they were expelled from the party?'' he queried.
THISDAY also gathered that to stop the duo from accessing information about the party, another top officer has given the order they should be removed from the NWC WhatsApp forum.
Fresh facts also emerged that one of the allegations against Damagum was that he abused his office by donating money that exceeded his financial limits to the flood victims in Maiduguri, Borno State.
"The financial approval limits of the office of the acting national chairman was N10million, but when the acting national chairman went to Borno State to commiserate with the flood victims, he announced the donation of N35million without
weighed against his chances in the polls, in a knife-edge battle with Harris in the November 5 presidential election.
Harris’s campaign drew attention to a recent series of articles in the New York Times that raised concerns about the fact that Trump had failed to disclose basic information about his health.
The newspaper also published an analysis of Trump’s language showing that his speeches are increasingly long, “confused” and include vulgarities, a trend seen by experts as a possible sign of cognitive decline.
Trump has continued to insist he is fit, and on Saturday, his campaign republished statements from his
getting the necessary approval to do that by the NWC of the party," one of the national officers told THISDAY.
Meanwhile, despite these crises, the party's critical stakeholders have intensified a search for a suitable candidate from the North-central zone as substantive national chairman in their NEC meeting on October 24.
According to the investigation, the names of former Senate President, Senator Mark; former Governor of Benue State, Senator Suswam; Director General of the
former White House doctor, Ronny Jackson, that were released following the July assassination attempt on Trump in which a bullet grazed his right ear.
In the statement dated July 26, Jackson, who is now a Republican congressman from Texas, said Trump was doing “extremely well” and “rapidly recovering” from the wound.
Trump’s campaign also re-upped a note from another doctor who examined Trump in September 2023.
In the note, Bruce Aronwald declared him to be in “excellent” health but provided few details and did not say what tests Trump had undergone as part of the physical.
The campaign said Trump had maintained “an extremely busy and active campaign schedule unlike any other in political history,” and asserted that Harris’s campaign schedule showed her to be “wholly unqualified to be President of the United States.”
PDP Governors’ Forum, Agbo, and Mr. Conrad Utaan, stand out as possible candidates from Benue State.
THISDAY gathered that Mark's aspiration is being promoted with the backing of some retired generals.
As of press time, it is not known whether he has agreed to stand for the election at the October 24 NEC meeting of the party.
Next among those enjoying considerable acceptance is Suswam. Suswam told THISDAY at the weekend that his aspiration was not a do-or-die affair.
According to Suswam, "Yes, I am in the race to become the next national chairman because I believe that I can unite the party through honest leadership. I will ensure that impunity and all that the PDP is negatively known for
Trump’s personal and White House doctors have at times made seemingly exaggerated claims about his health while providing few details. In 2015, as Trump was running for the presidency, his doctor Harold Bernstein declared that Trump would be “the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.” And Jackson said in 2018 that with a better diet Trump could live to be 200. If Trump wins the election in November, he would be 82 at the end of his second term.
will become a thing of the past,” Suswam said.
On his part, Utaan also enjoys considerable support because of his age and youthful exposition to issues.
Last week, the newly elected local government chairmen of the PDP in Benue State endorsed him for the national chairmanship of the party. Similarly, Agbo, a former deputy national secretary of the PDP and one-time chairman of the party in Benue State, also enjoys enormous support.
He was popular among the state chairmen of the party as the then chairman of the state chairmen. He is currently the Director General of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
Agbo is said to be enjoying the support of some governors.
SHETTIMA: TINUBU’S ADMINISTRATION WILL EMPOWER NIGERIANS WITH COMPETITIVE SKILLS FOR EXPORTS
Development Strategy Document and Gender Transformative Human Capital Development Policy Framework held in Lafia, the state capital.
The vice president emphasised that the administration's goal was to empower Nigerians with globally competitive skills.
This strategy, he noted, would enable Nigerian workers to excel both domestically and in the international job market.
"Nasarawa State's commitment to the Human Capital Development (HCD) Programme, a lifeline for our nation, is built on the collective realisation that enough is enough. Enough of the cycles that have held us back; enough of the legacies of unplanned high fertility rates and alarming maternal and under-five mortality rates; enough of our vulnerable populations facing low life expectancy.
"Enough of the distressing data on our education system—whether it is the mean years of schooling, the high pupil-to-teacher ratios, or the staggering number of youths not in employment, education, or training - the unemployment rates, the growing informal sector, and low labour force participation must be reversed.
"This is the dystopia our Human Capital Development Programme is designed to avert, under the mandate of President Bola Tinubu. For so long, at the National Economic Council, we have debated the ideal nation we wish to build and the pathways to achieve it."
Shettima noted that the quest for a reversal of the nation's human capital challenges was at the heart of the HCD programme, which focuses on workforce development, education, and health - critical work he said
the Tinubu’s administration had undertaken at the national level.
The unveiling of a blueprint for Nasarawa's future, he maintained, was a reaffirmation of the administration's shared belief that the way forward for the nation lies in solutions fashioned to suit the unique realities of each state.
The vice president regretted the tragic reality of the ECOWAS region being ranked the lowest in the global Human Capital Development Index, assuring however that it should not be something to feel disheartened about.
"Rather, it is an invitation for every country, and indeed sub-national entities, to rise to the challenge," he added, pointing out emphatically that "every child must have access to quality education, equitable healthcare, even as the nation's workforce must be equipped with the skills necessary to thrive in the 21st-century economy."
Explaining that the government
was not just committed to ensuring Nigerian youths acquire employable skills, he said the ambition transcends mere local success to empowering them to "export the acquired skills globally, competing at the highest levels of the international marketplace."
"Our partnerships with the private sector are critical in achieving this. By facilitating access to resources, expertise, and innovation, we aim to make human capital development the cornerstone of a more prosperous and competitive Nigeria," he added. Shettima attributed the launch of the strategy document and policy framework in Nasarawa State to the leadership and vision of Governor Abdullahi Sule, describing it as a forward-thinking approach that makes a difference.
Announcing that the government
NUPRC: ENTRY FEES FOR INVESTORS EYEING NIGERIA’S SEVEN OFFSHORE ASSETS, 24 ACREAGES GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE
Town, South Africa, which ended at the weekend, NUPRC’s Chief Executive, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, announced several oil and gas investment opportunities in Nigeria, saying that the 2024 licensing round would be a game changer for the country.
To harness Nigeria’s 209.26 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas reserves and 37.5 billion barrels of crude oil reserves in other to create prosperity for Nigerians, the NUPRC boss said the licensing round features more than 31 oil blocks, supported by a strong regulatory framework under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Komolafe said: “31 blocks will be available, including seven deep offshore assets from the ongoing mini-bid round and 24 acreages for bidding this year.
“These blocks are spread across key terrains such as the continental shelf and the Niger Delta, with notable offerings such as PPL 300-CS and PPL 301-CS in the Benin Basin, as well as various Niger Delta deep-water
assets like PPL 3017, which already have existing discoveries.”
According to The Whistler, Komolafe explained that the licensing round offers entry fees and bonuses that are competitive compared to other countries that are competing for investors.
He said: “For example, signature bonuses for blocks in the Middle East and North Africa can reach $10million, while Southeast Asia’s signature bonuses typically range from $1million to $3million.
“Nigeria’s incentives and reduced front-loaded fees are expected to attract a broad range of investors.
“Nigeria’s oil and gas future is also tied to the development of key matured fields, which offer substantial opportunities for growth. These include OML 145 – Nsiko Field, OML 118 –Bonga Southwest/Aparo Field, and OML 130 – Egina South Field.”
He stated that these fields are essential to Nigeria’s long-term strategy
for enhancing production capacity and maximizing reserves.
Komolafe urged investors to seize the opportunity presented by the 2024 Licensing Round and invest in Nigeria.
He added: “It offers benefits such as regulatory certainty, attractive fiscal regimes, ease of doing business and reduced entry barriers.
“We have issued a licensing round guideline and published a licensing round plan for the blocks on offer. The licensing round features several blocks selected across varied geological terrains — from the promising onshore basins to the lucrative continental shelves and the unexploited depths of our deep offshore basins.”
He explained the geographical advantages that facilitate oil and gas production and export, which include Nigeria’s population of 207 million and 853 km of coastline.
“With 49 producing companies, 251 fields in production, 2,717 Oil-producing strings, and 125 gas wells already
operational, the sector is primed for expansion,” Komolafe added.
He said expanding the oil and gas sector has become easier with the Presidential Executive Orders and industry reforms.
He said, “These include Executive Order No. 40, which provides a range of tax incentives, exemptions, and remissions to encourage investments, particularly in deep-water oil and gas projects, and Executive Order No. 41, which focuses on strengthening local content compliance while ensuring that the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010 is balanced to attract foreign direct investment without hindering development.
“Executive Order No. 42, which aims to reduce contracting costs and streamline timelines, making it easier for investors to enter and operate in the Nigerian market.”
Dangote Targets Crude
Oil from OMLs 71, 72, in
Meanwhile, Dangote Group is targeting to supplement its crude feedstock for its refinery with crude oil from its two Nigerian oil assets –OMLs 71 and 72- in the first quarter of 2025.
The company holds an 85 per cent stake in West African E&P Venture, which in turn has a 45 per cent working interest in the two assets, alongside the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, which owns 55 per cent.
S&P Global Commodity Insights reported that Dangote was seeking a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel for its planned oil production.
The FPSO will produce and store crude oil for the enhancement of the 650,000 barrels per day capacity refinery’s operations.
A source at the Dangote Group told THISDAY that the company
targets the first quarter of 2025 for the commencement of crude oil production in the two oil blocks.
The other stakeholder in West African E&P is Nigerian upstream player, First E&P, which operates OMLs 71 and 72.
The leases, which contain the Kalaekule and Koronama oilfields, are shallow water assets located in the south-east of the Niger Delta, about 22 kilometres from the onshore Bonny terminal.
Discoveries were first made on the blocks in 1966, and Shell began production there two decades later. Crude oil output peaked at 21,000 bpd in 1999, before declining in 2003. Global Commodity Insights reported that the fields hold recoverable resources of almost 300 million barrels of oil and 2.3 trillion Cubic Feet (Tcf) of natural gas, adding that production could start in 2026, reaching 43,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) by 2036.
L- R: Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage & Retailing, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ogbugo Ukoha; President, National Association of LPG Marketers (NALPGAM), Abideen Olatunbosun; Managing Director, NIPCO Plc, Suresh Kumar; and former President, NALPGAM, Mr Nosa Ogieva-Okunbor, at the association’s 2024 National Conference held
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has lamented the excessive hostilities against Africans seeking passage through each border across the continent, calling for a united front among African countries.
This is just as the former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, drummed up support for fellow Africans to embrace peace for meaningful and sustainable development.
The army chief raised the concern at the weekend at a dinner tagged: 'The King's Banquet' which was also the last of events held after the unveiling of ‘Elevate Africa’ in honour of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III and his wife, Olori Atuwatse in Abuja.
Addressing the audience, Musa said he felt pained seeing such inhuman treatment of fellow Africans in the course of his travels across the continent.
The defence chief, however, noted that beyond such noticeable blights, Africa has made significant progress over the turn of the decades.
He said: "I have had the privilege
of travelling to most African countries and I bet if you appear in any of them, you will believe you are home because the feeling is just the same. We walk, talk, and act alike. It is, therefore, important that we embrace ourselves. I feel very bad when I travel to other African borders and see how hostile we are to each other.
"It is one thing that pains me greatly. We must learn to appreciate one another. We do business with others, but we don't do it ourselves. I think we need to break those barriers. I think that is what we need to break. Africans should be able to travel across counties and be received as family members. That is the only way we can grow.
"As Africans, nobody should speak for us. We must stand strong and bold and speak for ourselves wherever we are. We refuse to be intimidated by anyone because we are Africans and the cradle of civilisation. As the Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, I am proud to stand before you and acknowledge the significant progress our continent has made in recent years," he explained.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, has faulted the claim by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that domestic airlines were in a poor state of health.
Sanusi said that if the operations of Nigerian carriers were to be grounded due to their financial status, none would survive in view of the results of the financial audit the agency carried out on the airlines.
Reacting to the NCAA's claim, he argued that if the NCAA had concluded that most airlines were in a poor financial state, it would be evidence of a larger, systemic problem rather than individual mismanagement.
He argued that rather than placing the entire burden on the airlines, the NCAA and the Ministry of Aviation should investigate and address the underlying causes of financial instability.
Speaking at the South-West Regional Air Transportation Summit in Lagos last Wednesday, the acting
Director-General of NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, had declared that if the agency should strictly abide by the dictates of the financial audit conducted on Nigerian carriers, all airlines in Nigeria might go under. Najomo, who was represented by the Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards (DAAS), Godwin Gyang Balang, at the event, however, said while the Nigerian economy was facing significant macroeconomic and developmental challenges, these challenges were by no means insurmountable.
But in his reaction, Captain Sanusi identified factors that inhibited the growth and profitability of Nigerian carriers, which included multiple taxations.
“Excessive taxes and fees can cripple airline profitability. Airlines face operational taxes, charges for landing, airspace usage, and other regulatory fees, which increase their cost burden significantly. Reducing these would allow airlines to operate more efficiently and become more financially viable,” Sanusi said.
Earlier in her speech, Patience Jonathan drummed up support for fellow Africans to embrace peace if they hope to have any meaningful and sustainable development. She appealed for a massive sensitisation to be carried out at the grassroots for the message of unity to spread seamlessly.
"We are here to promote a positive and inspiring narrative about Africa. This is because Africa
is blessed with professionals and talented people who have great potential. This potential, therefore, needs to be harnessed to create opportunities for growth and development. We need a united front to promote Africa. The time to tell our story is now.
"The public partnership, which is key to Africa's development, is one of the initiatives that has impacted the power, education, and
transportation sectors of this great country. With the continent rich in human and natural resources, the Africa We see can become a wonder to the world.
"Unfortunately for many decades, Africa has been branded as the continent of conflicts. However, we all know that without peace, there can be sustainable developments. Therefore, we need to sensitise our people to embrace peace and
focus on issues that unite rather than divide us. This sensitisation should begin from the grassroots," she explained.
Also speaking at the event, the lawmaker representing Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Ned Nwoko, recommended the removal of certain barriers hindering the growth of the continent as well as the introduction of a single currency for trade among African countries.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has stated that the hike in the price of petrol has inflicted pains on Nigerians, stressing that it was “draconian” of President Bola Tinubu to allow an increase in the price of the all-important product, from the comfort of his annual vacation in the United Kingdom.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited last Wednesday, increased the price of petrol across its retail outlets in
the country.
Obi, in his X post yesterday said his prayer was for Tinubu to act in the best interest of the citizens before returning to the country because many Nigerians were “living under unnecessarily precarious conditions”.
“This is neither how an economy’s resources should be managed nor how a nation should be governed. In this new measure, there is neither sound economics nor necessary compassion.
“We are told that the NNPCL is now a limited liability company, regulated by agencies such as the NUPRC (Nigerian Upstream
Petroleum Regulatory Commission) and NMDPRA (Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority), yet there seems to be growing confusion about the roles and responsibilities of the NNPCL and these regulating bodies.
“Interestingly, both the NNPCL and the regulatory agencies are supposed to be under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria serving as the substantive minister. Who, in this arrangement, is regulating who?
“With the unprecedented but avoidable hardship that Nigerians
are enduring, the responsibility for providing a full explanation, offering alternative options, and most importantly, reversing the sudden price hike falls squarely on the Honorable Minister of Petroleum Resources/President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“To casually inflict such a draconian measure on the populace from the comfort of an annual vacation amounts to taking the people’s welfare lightly and for granted,” Obi explained. Obi stressed that the development had aggravated the country’s economic crisis.
Fidelis David in Akure
As the federal government approved a sum of N70,000 minimum wage for civil servants, the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa yesterday announced the implementation of N73,000 minimum wage for state government workers.
The governor also expressed the commitment of his administration to the welfare of the people of the state.
Aiyedatiwa made the announcement during the kick-off of his campaign in Ondo town, Ondo State, ahead of the November 16 governorship election.
The governor declared that although the federal government approved N70,000 as the new minimum wage, “Ondo will go a step further by paying N73,000 to our workers.”
Addressing the mammoth crowd and the party faithful, Aiyedatiwa who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 16 election, urged them to convert their supports into votes for the APC to ensure the continuity of developmental initiatives across the state.
He said: “On November 16, I urge everyone gathered here and those who are not present to convert your support into votes for the APC to ensure the continuation of our significant progress in the state.
“Based on reports and my observations, I am confident that you all want this administration to continue beyond 2024. I see the love and appreciation from you, and I do not take it for granted.
The best way to demonstrate this love is to vote for continuity, which
will bring even more dividends of democracy.”
Highlighting some of his achievements in his 10 months in office, Aiyedatiwa stated “During my time in office, we have initiated several important projects, including those started by the late governor. In agriculture, we’ve taken significant strides, boosting food production across the state.”
He added: “We’ve also approved over a billion naira for land clearing and launched various rural road construction projects to facilitate our farmers’ activities and improve productivity in rural areas.”
He boasted that his administration’s efforts have made doctors more willing to stay in the state instead of leaving for opportunities elsewhere, disclosing that his administration has increased
doctors’ salaries and allowances. In his remarks, the state chairman of the APC, Mr Ade Adetimehin, urged the electorate to vote for the party to maintain its power. He emphasised Governor Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to infrastructural development across the state.
He reminded party members of the importance of safeguarding their voter cards, which are essential for ensuring the party’s continued leadership.
Also speaking, the Director General of the campaign and member of the House of Representatives, Abiola Makinde, said Aiyedatiwa encouraged supporters to return to their local communities and mobilise voters for the governor, stressing the need for a strong turnout in the coming election.
Bill in Q2 2024, Down By 40% Says DisCos generated N431bn revenue in Q2 2024, up by 47%
Ejiofor Alike
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said the federal government incurred an electricity subsidy obligation of N380 billion in the second quarter (Q2) of 2024.
This is just as the agency said that distribution companies (DisCos) generated N431.16 billion between April and June of 2024.
NERC, in its quarterly report released at the weekend, said the electricity subsidy bill dropped by
N253.24 billion (40 per cent) from N633.3 billion recorded in Q1.
The drop, according to the commission, was due to the upward review of tariffs for Band A customers in April.
“It is important to note that due to the absence of cost-reflective tariffs across all DisCos, the government incurred a subsidy obligation of N380.06 billion (52.51 per cent of total NBET invoice) in 2024/Q2 (average of N126.69 billion per month),” NERC said.
“Between 2024/Q1 and 2024/
Q2, the subsidy obligation of the government reduced by – N253.24 billion, from N633.30 billion (90.57 per cent of total GenCo invoice) to N380.06 billion (52.51 per cent of total GenCo invoice).
“The significant decrease in the subsidy obligation of the FGN is a result of the policy directive of the government to implement reviews of tariffs charged to Band A customers while the tariffs for Band B-E customers remain frozen at the rates payable since December 2022,” said the report.
The NERC said in the absence of
a cost-reflective tariff, the government covered the resultant gap (between the cost-reflective and allowed tariff) in the form of subsidies.
The commission said for ease of administration, subsidy was only applied to the generation cost payable by DisCos to NBET at source in the form of a DisCo’s Remittance Obligation (DRO).
“The total revenue collected by all DisCos in 2024/Q2 was N431.16 billion out of N543.64 billion billed to customers,” NERC said.
“This translates to a collection
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The International President of the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, Dr. Christos Christou, has raised the alarm over what he described as a huge increase in the number of malnourished children in northern Nigeria.
Christou, who said this at the weekend at a press briefing in Abuja after he visited Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, noted that between January and August this year, there was a 51 per cent increase in admission of children with severe malnutrition compared to the same period last year.
He said people in northern Nigeria had been through a lot with overwhelming levels of malnutrition, frequent outbreaks of
vaccine-preventable diseases, and lack of medical facilities and medical personnel, which were compounded by continuous insecurity.
He said: “During my visit to Maiduguri, I visited the hospitals and clinics where MSF works. We support the local healthcare system in tackling malaria and other diseases, as well as in providing access to maternity services. Recently, we had to launch a cholera treatment centre, after a cholera outbreak was officially declared. All this has happened in the background of a catastrophic malnutrition crisis.
“One of my colleagues, a Nigerian doctor who has been working with MSF for more than eight years, told me that this year is very different.
Every year, he said, during this season, we see terrible numbers of malnourished children coming to
the hospital in a severe condition. But this year, at a time when the peak is supposed to be over, the number of patients admitted to the hospital is not going down.
“Worse, the condition in which they arrive is even more severe than usual. Very often people don’t have access even to basic medical care where they live and do not have enough money or available transport. As a result, they reach us too late.”
He stated that many organisations, which were providing support in Maiduguri and other parts of northern Nigeria, had to reduce their budgets or even stop their operations.
“For the past few years, MSF has seen a significant increase in the number of admissions for malnutrition. “The numbers in 2022
and 2023 were already critically high. But between January to August this year, we have seen a 51 per cent increase in admissions of children with severe malnutrition, compared to the same period last year. Over the first eight months of this year, we have treated 52,725 children with severe malnutrition, a life-threatening condition, across the whole of northern Nigeria.
“On top of this, outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles are recurrent in Nigeria and one of the leading causes of death among children. Between January – August this year alone, we had already treated over 12,500 cases of measles. That’s nearly double the same period last year. Outbreaks of infectious diseases significantly increase mortality risks for children under the age of five.
Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, yesterday said it was high time the federal government carried out a holistic review of education policies to meet contemporary challenges.
Oba Ogunwusi, who is also the proprietor of Ojaja University, Ilorin, stated this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital yesterday at the maiden combined convocation ceremonies of the university located at Eiyenkorin, Ilorin, the state capital. Ooni, who acknowledged progress
made in the sector over the years, stated that a lot still needed to be done to rescue tertiary education from a steady decline.
According to him, “while it is true that a lot has been done and is still being done to rescue the Nigerian tertiary education from a steady decline, the truth remains that a lot more still needs to be done within the framework of relevant and appropriate policy interventions and most importantly sound and flawless policy executions."
He stated: “No doubt, we all know that crafting a beautiful policy (if only
on paper) is not a problem in Nigeria. The real issue lies in their relevance, appropriateness, timing and tracking for the 21st century.
“If Nigeria will turn things around for good as we desire and take its appropriate place in the committee of leading educational nations globally, then we need to have a comprehensive review of our policies, policy-making processes as well as policy implementation paradigm. That is what can change the narratives."
The monarch, who has been the Chancellor of the University since
2016 as Crown Hill University before it was renamed Ojaja and became the proprietor of the institution, acknowledged the challenges in running a world-class tertiary institution.
“My experience has revealed also that running a world- class tertiary institution requires a lot of funding and capital investment.
"It is a huge challenge to build an environment conducive to learning and character development in an ever-changing world. The goalpost keeps shifting. While I acknowledge it is daunting, it is equally doable.
efficiency of 79.31% which represents an increase of +0.20pp when compared to 2024/Q1 (79.11 per cent),” NERC added.
On revenue collection performance of all DisCos, NERC said Ikeja and Eko DisCos recorded the highest collection efficiencies of 94.67 per cent (N87.36 billion) and 88.03 per cent (N75.33 billion), respectively.
“Conversely, Yola DisCo recorded the lowest collection efficiency of 55.67 per cent (N4.78 billion),” NERC said.
“A comparison of DisCos performance in 2024/Q1 and 2024/ Q2 showed that six DisCos recorded improvements in collection efficiency in 2024/Q2 when compared to 2024/ Q1 with Yola DisCo recording the highest increase of +12.64pp.
“Conversely, five (5) DisCos recorded declines in collection efficiency with Kaduna having the most significant decrease (-10.04pp) during the period.”
According to The Cable, NERC said the cumulative upstream invoice payable by DisCos was N399.53 billion, consisting of N343.76 billion for DisCos remittance obligations (DRO)-adjusted generation costs from Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) and N55.77 billion for transmission and
administrative services by the market operator (MO).
“Out of this amount, the DisCos collectively remitted a total sum of N318.65 billion (N271.87 billion for NBET and N46.78 billion for MO) with an outstanding balance of N80.88 billion,” the commission said.
“This translates to a remittance performance of 79.76 per cent in 2024/ Q2 compared to the 96.93 per cent recorded in 2024/Q1.”
On April 3, NERC approved an increase in electricity tariff for customers under the Band A classification. The commission said customers under the classification, who receive 20 hours of daily power supply, will pay N225 per kilowatt (kW) — up from N66.
Following the development, the agency said the approved tariff would reduce electricity subsidy for the 2024 fiscal year by about N1.14 trillion. Meanwhile, the commission has said that distribution companies (DisCos) generated N431.16 billion between April and June of 2024. In its latest report for the second quarter (Q2) of 2024, NERC said the revenues from customers in Q2 2024 increased by 47.84 per cent from N291.62 billion recorded in Q1.
Segun James
The Minister of State for Defence, Mr Bello Matawalle, has condemned the alleged statement credited to former Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, calling for protest from Nigerians.
Amaechi was alleged to have called on Nigerian youths to rise in protest against anti-people government policies.
But reacting in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, Mr. Henshaw Ogubike, the minister of state condemned Amaechi’s call in the strongest of terms.
He cautioned the former minister against inflammatory remarks that threaten the peace and stability of the nation.
He also accused the former minister of inciting violence and unrest among the Nigerian populace.
Matawalle also expressed deep concern over the dangers posed by such rhetoric.
“It is both reckless and irresponsible
for a former public servant of Amaechi’s standing to incite Nigerians against their government at a time when President Bola Tinubu is working tirelessly to address the challenges facing the nation through various reforms that are yielding results.
“It is absurd, preposterous, and shameful for anyone to exploit the genuine situation of our citizens for selfish political gain,” he said.
The minister further reiterated Tinubu’s commitment to safeguarding the peace and security of every Nigerian, warning that any attempts to destabilise the country through incitement will not be tolerated.
“We will not allow anyone to fuel violence or manipulate the prevailing situation of our people,” the statement said.
Matawalle also cautioned the former minister against casting aspersions on the government's genuine intentions for the people.
“It is expected that Amaechi joins hands with the government to move the country forward, rather than choosing to stay aside with myopic assertions,” he added.
L-R: Children of the celebrant, Chukwuemeka Ugwu-Oju; Chiamaka Ugwu-Oju; Founder of NESH Foundation and husband of the celebrant, Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Uju; the celebrant and former Chairman of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, Enugu State, Mrs. Nkechi Ugwu-Oju; and former Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Tunde Fowler, during the cutting of the 60th birthday celebration cake for Nkechi in Lagos...weekend
Wale Igbintade
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has called on technocrats to be actively involved in the political affairs of Nigeria, warning that if they refused to participate in politics, they would end up being governed by their inferiors.
Speaking at the 54th Annual Accountants’ Conference organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), with the theme: ‘Governance Reimagined: Mapping the Future,’ Otti warned that "we shall be doomed if we remain aloof and imagine that we shall be spared when the ship ultimately wrecks".
He stressed the need for accountants and other technocrats to quickly get involved in the politics of their local communities, adding that the best way to develop a new template for governance was to create a new culture of community participation in public affairs.
He said: "The assignment before us is to evolve new ways of tackling the existential problems that confront us because we shall be doomed if
we remain aloof and imagine that we shall be spared when the ship ultimately wrecks. The unfortunate truth is that there may be no lifeboats to jump into
"One takeaway from my message today is that we can no longer afford to be docile. We must be interested because according to Plato, ‘one of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors’
"We have to quickly get involved in the politics of our local communities because ultimately, the best way to develop a new template for governance is to create a new culture of community participation in public affairs, starting from where we live, where we work and all the places where we want to see things change for the better.
"Let me assure us that we shall get it right if we step out of our comfort zones and begin to mobilise ourselves to work for a better future. This is a race for the future and only the willing and determined will win. Let us come together and write a
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
Former President Muhammadu Buhari, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, have expressed their condolences to the Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over the tragic loss of his daughter, Fatima.
Fatima died on Friday after a protracted illness at the age of 25.
Her demise has elicited several reactions and condolences from families, friends, and other notable Nigerians.
In a statement issued yesterday by his media aide, Garba Shehu, the former president said he was shocked and pained by the death of Kyari’s daughter, adding that she was loved and cherished by her family and friends.
He said: “I am shocked and deeply pained to learn about the passing away of your daughter, Fatima.
“It is very painful to accept that she has left the world at such a tender age, but Allah, who gave her to you, knows best. My deepest and most
heartfelt condolences are with your family in this hour of intense grief.”
On his part, Ganduje in a message released in Abuja by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Edwin Olofu, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of Fatima, describing her passing as a great loss, not only to the family but also to those who cherished her.
Ganduje lamented that no words can fully capture the pain of losing a child.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Mallam Mele Kyari and his entire family in this very difficult moment. We pray that Almighty Allah grants the departed eternal rest and gives the family the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss,” he said.
Also, Governor Abiodun in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, said the death of the young lady was devastating and shocking.
He prayed for God to rest the soul of the deceased and comfort the family she left behind, adding that the family needs the prayers of all Nigerians at this trying moment.
more fitting narrative of our dear nation over the next few decades," Otti explained.
The governor recalled that Nigeria was once a nation of optimists, who held very strong hopes that 'we were on the ascent on the development ladder'.
He said it would have been very difficult to believe that Nigeria will still be struggling with electricity problems in 2024.
According to him, the assurance was that by the dawn of the new millennium, the problem of a perennial power failure would be a thing of the past, adding that Nigerians have failed to live up to the expectations of millions of people around the world who had imagined in the 1950s and early 1960s that this land will attain superpower status, or
something very close, by the dawn of the new millennium.
Highlighting his journey to change the political dynamics of Abia State, which started in 2014, Otti urged Nigerians not to give up on the country.
"We have gathered this afternoon to talk sincerely to ourselves and ask a few soul-searching questions. Sharing the same auditorium with some of the most accomplished experts in the field of accounting, I am convinced that the intellect, reach, and influence to begin the process of changing our worrisome reality can be found in this large pool of people. Although some opinions insist that our problem is not lack of ideas but failure to execute.
"The truth is that the people are tired of hearing the regurgitation of
excuses by those with access to public microphones. They just want things to work — their children going to schools where they are taught in a conducive environment by properly trained and motivated teachers. They want access to basic amenities including electricity, pipe-borne water, and good roads.
"Our people want a community where the institutions of state are effective and responsive; they want the emergency services to respond as soon as they are contacted, without hindrances or excuses, they want to go to the courts and get justice in good time, they want to go to bed each night with both eyes closed, certain that they will not be jolted awake by masked gunmen, or find themselves in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by kidnappers for whom
the sacredness of human life is an abstract idea that can only be scorned.
"For our young ones, all that they ask for is an opportunity to make a living and pursue their dreams without structural limitations. Unfortunately, many of us are yet to fully appreciate the hemorrhage of human talent from our country fuelled by the ‘japa’ phenomenon,” Otti explained.
The Abia State governor said it was depressing to observe that the opportunities they took for granted after their tertiary education in the 1970s and 1980s had disappeared for the majority, however brilliant they might be.
“So, we have regressed. Unfortunately, all of us, in one way or the other, have contributed to this sorry situation,” Otti added.
The remains of Senator Jonathan Zwingina, who died recently, will be buried on April 22 in his hometown in Guyuk, Adamawa State after a funeral service.
He was 70.
According to a statement signed on behalf of the Zwingina family and the funeral committee by former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani and a former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, the funeral rites would kick off in Abuja on Wednesday evening with a commendation service at First Baptist Church.
This would be followed by a Night of Tributes on Thursday at Armed Forces Officers’ Mess, Asokoro.
On April 21, there would be a Night of Commendations and Tributes in Yola.
In the statement, the burial
committee paid tributes to Zwingina as follows: “Senator Zwingina's contribution to Nigeria’s development spans across several sectors of our nation’s life: He was a Scholar, Technocrat, Public Servant and Politician of high repute. He left an indelible mark on our nation's history.
“He was a leading voice in the struggle for democracy and was the Director General of the late MKO Abiola’s Hope ‘93 Campaign Organisation during the iconic June 12th, 1993 presidential election. His intellectual depth, eloquence and unwavering commitment to democratic ideals resonated deeply with Nigerians.
“Following the return to democratic rule, Senator Zwingina was elected twice to represent the good people of the Southern
Senatorial District of Adamawa State. While in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from 1999 to 2007, he served as the Senate Deputy Majority Leader of the fourth Assembly.
“Due to his multivalent experience in public service, he was appointed the Chairman Senate Committee on Works and Housing. He also served as member, Senate Committees on Information; Establishment; Internal Affairs; Special Projects; Privatisation and Economic Affairs.
“In the Senate, he was a vocal advocate of due process, promoter of national development priorities with particular emphasis on policy, good governance, the oversight role of the parliament in government accountability to the people, among others.
“Prior to his time in the National
Assembly, Senator Zwingina played a pivotal role in shaping national discourse as a Director of the Mass Mobilisation for Social Justice SelfReliance, and Economic Recovery (MAMSER) programme during President Ibrahim Babangida's military administration.”
at the centre had already moved beyond the first phase of the HCD by adapting strategies to current realities and shifting from theory to implementation, he said Nasarawa's entry at this pivotal stage was a promising sign of progress.
Earlier in his speech, Governor Sule, thanked stakeholders for supporting the Human Capital Development programme, noting that Nasarawa State Investment and Development Agency was established to help improve the economy of the state.
He said the youths in the state would be engaged positively in agriculture, health, and entrepreneurship, just as he assured that the state's strategic document on Human Capital Development would be strictly implemented to guide its interventions in various sectors.
Also speaking, Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change, Rukaiya El-Rufai, said the National Human Capital Development programme was unveiled in 2018 to address poverty, fostering socio-economic growth, and
improving human capital across the country.
She thanked the vice president for leading the National Economic Council (NEC) and the National Human Capital Development programme.
Also, the Senator representing Nasarawa West constituency, Ahmed Wadada, said Nasarawa State is leading in laying the structure for Human Capital Development in Nigeria.
He added that the most important creatures are humans and, therefore, they must be equipped to carry out
their endeavours successfully, adding that education is the cornerstone of human development and as such, it must be given to all citizens.
On her part, the Director-General of Nasarawa Human Capital Development Agency, Hajiya Habiba Suleiman, noted that the HCD strategy document for Nasarawa State presented during the event contains the direction for the development of human capital in the state. "Human Capital is the most valued asset any government can provide for its people," she said.
The House of Representatives has passed for first reading of a bill to establish the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal University of Nigerian Languages, which could add another university
to the existing institutions.
Sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, and eight others, the bill aims to promote the learning of Nigerian languages.
According to Section II, Part I of the bill, the university will
Faisal Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, son of former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, is dead.
A family source who did not want to be mentioned confirmed his death, saying the deceased was involved in an accident.
It gathered that the accident happened along Kaduna-Zaria highway yesterday evening.
“The accident occurred along the Kaduna-Zaria highway this evening. He was taken to an undisclosed hospital where he was declared dead. His father was at the hospital; his corpse
Rotary
Yinka Olatunbosun
The Rotary Club of Lagos made a significant impact on local education with a recent visit to the Government Senior College and Lagos State Senior Secondary School (Special).
This initiative forms a part of the theme of Basic Education and Literacy in the month of September, in the Rotary calendar. The event was a vibrant showcase of community spirit, educational support and student talent.
The day began with focus on improving the learning environment. At Government Senior College Surulere Lagos, the Rotary Club undertook a revamp of the school’s water supply system, ensuring access to clean water for the students.
This critical enhancement not only benefits the students’ health but also promotes a conducive learning environment. Additionally, the Rotary Club donated a variety of books to the school, enriching the students’ learning resources and fostering a
has been conveyed home for burial arrangements.”
Makarfi, a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report.
A civil engineer by training, Faisal attended Kaduna International School and then proceeded to Adesoye College, Offa, Kwara State for his secondary education. He attended the University of Greenwich, London, for undergraduate and master’s degree and enrolled for PhD at the same institution.
culture of reading. These contributions are pivotal in supporting the school’s educational goals and improving literacy rates among the students.
Following their efforts at Government Senior College, the Rotary Club visited Lagos State Senior Secondary School (Special) on this same day. Here, the premiere Rotary club continued their mission by refurbishing the school’s computer laboratory, providing six new computers and ceiling fans to create a more comfortable learning atmosphere. This upgrade is expected to greatly enhance the students’ digital literacy skills, a vital component in today’s technology-driven world. The event was filled with engaging activities that captured the students’ attention and fostered a sense of community. Rotary Club President Adetunji Lamidi addressed the students, emphasising the importance of education and the role of youth in shaping the future. His inspiring words set the tone for the day, encouraging students to strive for excellence.
“encourage the advancement of learning and provide opportunities for all individuals, regardless of race, creed, sex, or political beliefs, to acquire higher education in Nigerian languages and cultures.”
It also seeks to develop academic and professional programmes that lead to diplomas, degrees, and postgraduate research, focusing on practical skills in Nigerian languages and cultures to foster national development.
Once established, the univer-
sity would act as a catalyst for effectively utilising Nigeria’s natural, economic, and human resources through postgraduate training, research, and innovation. It aims to collaborate with other national institutions involved in the training and development of Nigerian languages and cultures while promoting comprehensive training and research activities, including outreach and continuing education.
The university’s mandate, as outlined in Section 1(2), includes
training high-calibre professionals in Nigerian languages, providing consultancy services, and conducting research while facilitating knowledge acquisition in various Nigerian languages.
The President, as the visitor to the university, is required by Section 14(2) to conduct visitations at least once every five years.
This section also stipulates that university bodies must assist the visitor during these inspections.
The President has the authority to remove council members,
except for the pro-chancellor and vice-chancellor, based on recommendations from the council regarding misconduct or inability to perform their duties.
Section 15(1) states that if the council believes a member should be removed, they must recommend this to the minister, who will then relay it to the President for approval.
The bill is expected to be scheduled for a second reading in the coming weeks, leading to a public hearing to gather input from stakeholders.
The standard-bearer of the Labour Party (LP) in the Edo State governorship election, Olumide Akpata, he won’t challenge the outcome in court.
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo, was declared winner of the September 21 poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who
Former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, will deliver the keynote address at the 23rd Annual Conference of Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ).
The event will be chaired by University of Lagos (UNILAG) Vice Chancellor, Professor Folashade Ogunsola.
Tagged: ‘Dream. Dare. Do.’, the event aims to inspire and empower women leaders, with
got 247,274 votes.
Akpata, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), came a distant third with 22,763 votes. In a statement yesterday night, Akpata said his decision not to challenge the election results “transcends mere political calculation.”
“Today, as the statutory window for filing petitions at the gubernatorial election tribunal closes, we stand at a pivotal juncture in Edo State and Nigeria’s democratic journey,” the statement reads.
a hybrid format allowing for both physical and virtual attendance.
The Executive Director of WIMBIZ, Omowunmi Akingbohungbe, stressed the significance of the conference, which remains the flagship event of the organisation.
She emphasised WIMBIZ’s long-standing commitment to empowering women, particularly in leadership roles.
Akingbohungbe stated that the conference has played a key role
“After extensive deliberations with my legal team and key stakeholders, I have made the decision not to challenge the recent election results before the tribunal. “This choice, borne out of deep reflection and rigorous analysis, transcends mere political calculation.
“It is a statement on the state of our democracy and a clarion call for all who cherish the principles of free and fair elections.
“As a legal practitioner with over three decades of experi-
in inspiring over 330,000 women since inception.
“We are constantly advocating for equal representation of both genders in leadership positions across all sectors. We have seen quite some improvement in the financial sector with 30 per cent.
On her part, Chair, Conference Planning Group (CPG), Opeyemi Oduwole stated that the theme of this year’s conference reflects the urgency for women to step into
ence, alongside my deputy, a distinguished Senior Advocate of Nigeria, we have scrutinised every facet of this election.
“Our conclusion, reached after consulting with some of the nation’s finest legal minds, is not just about the outcome of a single election but about the very foundations of our democratic process.” Akpata claimed that the irregularities that marred the election such as vote-buying, questionable collation procedures.
their power, especially in these challenging economic times. She cited examples of companies like Disney and FedEx, which thrived after economic downturns, demonstrating that adversity often sparks opportunity. “The conference is that charge we need to dare, dream, and do it.”
She added that the event promises a diverse agenda, including five plenary sessions, three hands-on workshops, and a business pitch competition.
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
In commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, a non-governmental organisation, the Lakeside Rotary Club, has called for special intervention for girls in the national budgets.
District Governor of Rotary International, Club D9128, Mike Nwanoshiri, made the call in Abuja yesterday when the NGO
visited the Kuchigoro community and distributed 1,000 reusable sanitary pads, sewing machines, liquid soap, as well as a free training programme on how to produce the pads in Abuja.
He said the programme, which has been designed to take care of the hygienic aspect of womanhood, would be made easy and affordable for the women and girls, with the intervention
of the government and other partners, whose roles are to support, encourage and empower them.
He said: “We will continue to do the project and we will spread it to other communities where the Rotary Club is existing. We encourage that whenever we call for a programme, the chief should encourage the people to come
out. Ours is to support, encourage and empower them. “We would like the government to know that there’s a lot to be done for the girl child. When working on the national budget, it should be remembered that these girls are the future mothers. If they are not treated well, they will not be able to perform in society, hence the intervention of the Rotary Club,” he explained.
Editor: Festus Akanbi
The latest move towards a total deregulation of petrol pricing and removal of subsidy by the Bola Tinubu administration which has led to another upward price adjustment by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited portends positive and negative impacts on the sustainability of the country’s economy, as well as the survival of the long-suffering citizens, writes
Peter Uzoho
Last Wednesday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) ceased to be the exclusive off-taker of petrol from the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery and as a middleman between theAliko Dangote-owned refinery and petroleum marketing companies. The NNPC has been the sole importer and supplier of petrol into the country, a responsibility handed to it by Nigeria’s extant laws as the nation’s last resort supplier.
With its withdrawal from the exclusive petrol supplier arrangement in a move towards deregulation and operation according to the dictates of a free market, NNPC has increased its pump prices nationwide. Lagos is now N998 per litre, up from N855, and Abuja is now N1,030, up from N897.
Before the latest price increase, NNPC was buying from Dangote at an international market price of N898 per litre and selling to marketers at a subsided price of N700 per litre. However, with the new pump price increase, it was revealed that NNPC is now buying from the refinery at N977, also, according to the prevailing international market price.
President Tinubu made his first attempt at ending the petrol subsidy and introducing total deregulation of the downstream during his inauguration on May 29, 2023, in his famous ‘Subsidy is gone’ announcement’. However, the policy could not be sustained as the government secretly reintroduced subsidy into the system. The development threw NNPC into heavy financial strain and indebtedness to offshore suppliers to the tune of $6.8 billion.
The reversal of subsidy removal policy triggered a petrol supply challenge, with scarcity and long queues at filling stations becoming regular occurrences every month across the country.
With the latest price adjustment, it means that in less than 17 months of the current administration, the price of petrol has risen by over 430 per cent from May 29, 2023, till date.
The Gainers
The greatest beneficiaries in this new petrol marketing regime which is now based on market forces are the oil marketing companies, NNPC and the government.
The marketers had been calling for an end to any form of meddlesomeness in the pricing of petrol. They cited its disincentive to investment, competition, efficiency, and innovation in the downstream sector as well as its burden on the Nigerian economy.
The oil marketers including members of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), among others are now excited that a new market regime supportive of their business sustainability and growth has come.
The new regime, it is believed, will also impact positively NNPC’s operations and allow it to make a profit and deliver value to its shareholders, rather than running at losses while bearing financial risks for the government. The company has been more like the fall guy in the subsidy conundrum as it manages to please the government, the marketers, and the public at the expense of its business survival.
Notwithstanding the pains the latest deregulation and subsidy removal will have on the Nigerian masses, it is also expected to help strengthen the country’s economy by saving some trillions of naira being expended by the government to import petrol and sell at losses. The new pricing regime, according to marketers,
analysts, and the like, will help to eliminate arbitrage in the system and discourage the smuggling of products to neighbouring countries where prices are higher.
Some of the private petroleum products marketers, who confirmed that the government had deregulated petrol pricing, said competition has returned to the downstream sector.
A former Chairman of MEMAN, Mr. Tunji Oyebanji, said removing subsidy was inevitable as the government could no longer bear the burden.
“I believe the price of PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) has finally been deregulated, and subsidy has finally been eliminated. Henceforth, the price of PMS will be determined by market dynamics. This is inevitable as the government could no longer bear the burden of the subsidy.
“A good measure the government has taken to mitigate the development is the sale of crude oil to local refineries in Naira at a fixed exchange rate. This will protect consumers from the negative impact of the fluctuations in exchange rates,” he said.
The spokesperson of IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, said the new petrol prices have shown that total deregulation of the downstream sector has taken place.
“It is a price template that shows that the total deregulation of the oil and gas sector and the implementation of the Petroleum IndustryAct have taken off,” Ukadike stated.
With subsidy on petroleum products now removed, he said NNPC would now sell as they buy from Dangote Refinery, adding, “NNPCL is no longer a middleman for oil marketers. Marketers are to buy petrol products from Dangote Refinery. It has become a willing buyer, selling relationship. We are
embracing the new NNPCL price template.”
The Losers
No doubt, irrespective of the justifications for subsidy removal, the policy is viewed by many as anti-people and a way to further impoverish the citizens. The new petrol price increases will lead to another round of hikes in food prices, transportation, and other services prices, which are core to the survival of the citizens, especially with no corresponding rise in people’s income.
With the epileptic power supply and the high electricity bills, the question begging for answers is: how then will artisans, commercial bus drivers, and motorcycle operators, who depend on petrol, be able to cope with the current fuel price?
With the cost of food and transportation already high, how will market women and households survive additional price jumps that will be witnessed in the coming days and weeks?
What happens to Nigerian workers, with low wages and who are still struggling to start receiving the new N70,000 minimum wage approved by the federal government?
Amid this confusion and in its reaction to the latest petrol price increase, organised labour under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked the federal government to immediately reverse the hike including the previous increases.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, said the hike did not produce any good results but had only made the people poorer.
He expressed dismay that the present administration had continued to increase the pump price of petrol without commensurate capacity of Nigerians or mitigatory measures.
According to the Director General of NECA, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, the announced increase in the price of petrol, notwithstanding its justification, has the potential to further erode the purchasing power of Nigerians, while putting more pressure on both organised and unorganised businesses.
Oyerinde said: “There’s no gainsaying that petrol remains the predominant source of energy for many sectors, including transportation and household uses. Thus, this new increase will further distort the cash flow potential of many, leading to likely increase in the general cost of living.”
Also weighing on the matter, the Founder/ Chief Executive Officer of Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, said that the latest increase in PMS price was regrettably ill-timed and did not reckon with the prevailing difficult economic conditions in the country.
Yusuf stressed the need for social, economic, and political considerations in policy choices of this nature, adding that commercial considerations alone should not completely override them. According to him, there is always a place for political economy in the interest of the vulnerable segments of society.
He said: “The Nigerian economy is not ripe for full-blown deregulation and market principles on all fronts. The social costs of such policy choices are typically very high. This is an economy with very weak social safety nets where over 100 million people are wallowing in various variants of poverty.”
WOLE OSINUPEBI argues that the Opposition parties are a let down
Democracies require an active opposition in order to be useful. After elections, a winner emerges and the other parties have a duty to keep the winning party and its candidate on their toes. In Nigeria, the Labour Party did well in Lagos State in the presidential election and shook the All Progressives Congress (APC) so much they had to throw in that the unsustainable ethnic card for the gubernatorial elections. A sordid deed that continues to haunt them till today.
The LP went to court and rather than dispute the election results they questioned the legitimacy of APC’s presidential candidate. While the matter in court was on legitimacy, the word on the street was that the elections were rigged.
As the court case was going on, cracks began to appear in the party. We heard that their chairman was not supposed to be their chairman. In addition the party treasurer alleged that the chairman played with party funds. To top all these, LP members in the National Assembly decided to accept the N160 million bulletproof SUV’s the assembly members had allocated to themselves. It would appear such luxuries were anathema to LP given the ascetic posturing of their leader. But the same leader later announced to the nation that the cars were entitlements due to the positions held by members of the National Assembly. In other words, the apparent party ideology had nothing to do with real life. It would have been such a powerful political statement if LP National Assembly members had rejected the vehicles and used their personal cars.
LP’s main support group, Obidients, refused to understand political expediency. Any voice that appeared to be against their hero and leader was beaten down violently and noisily. Wole Soyinka who has an international profile and humanitarian track record was mercilessly attacked. But words are Soyinka’s forte.
Back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The PDP painfully let us down by betraying their own strategy. The presidential candidate for this season was meant to be from the South-east. Mr. Peter Obi would have fit this slot very well. Nyesom Wike also wanted the slot. But they fielded Atiku Abubakar, and in the process reduced the number of their possible voters. True, we’re quite religious and believe in magic and soothsayers. Perhaps they had been told by seers that demographics and covenants would be held aside this time. Unfortunately, the futurologists were wrong.
The elections are over and the winner has formed a government. We expect the opposition to begin its job of keeping the government on the straight and narrow path. It is also expected that they begin to create alliances and open discussions on the alternative paths government policy should tread. What’s a credible alternative to oil, given that fossil fuel revenue is on the decline? Nations like Saudi Arabia, even though they are the world’s largest oil producer are investing seriously in tourism. What is the solution to 20 million children out-of-school? Has it occurred to our leaders that there may be no Nigeria if out-of-school children burst into the streets? How about the exchange rate crisis? Or the massive emigration of young, well-trained Nigerians. If credible suggestions by opposition leaders are adopted by the incumbents it would be of benefit to all. If Nigeria tips over. opposition figures shouldn’t imagine they will gain ascendancy. This is simply because they’re cut from the same cloth as their adversaries and indistinguishable from them. Whoever does the tipping over will claim the
spoils. It is therefore of interest to every politician that this boat, Nigeria, never falls over the precipice.
We see LP’s Obi travelling to every location where there’s a disaster or death. It’s good to empathise, but is there any political advantage in these movements? It’s obvious that no vote will come to him directly from some of those places except he enters into alliances with their prime movers. What time does he have to make plans and strategise when he’s everywhere every day? Photo ops don’t count at elections. Some visits simply have no electoral value. Certain visits simply signal political vacuousity.
It would appear to a casual observer that a large majority of the opposition to the incumbent is through rumours and anecdotes. Stories are published every day of some profligacy or other misdeeds. On scrutiny most are found to be untrue. Some happened long ago and are no longer relevant. Many are fictional. And of course some are facts. It’s fine to harry ones opponents and give them grief at every turn. The down side of this tactic is that the impact on the public diminishes with each account that is found to be untrue.
Some people believe our democracy will evolve and stabilise after some time. I believe this as well but I don’t think we have time. Our rapid population growth and the fast information transmission through the Internet are two indices that have made Nigeria more prone to political unrest. What can the opposition do differently in order to ensure they win? One, they must form alliances that cut across the regions of the country. The plan to win cannot be based on ethnicity alone. Two, they need to have ideological coherence. The leader cannot claim frugality and minimalism when leaders at a lower level are going in the opposite direction. Three, opposition leaders must develop positions on topical national issues, even if they have to hire consultants to synthesise these viewpoints. Finally, supporters should not be empowered to make virulent public statements that have the ability to further corrode their party position. Statements, visits and all public interactions must constantly push the stated ideology of the party.
Why should we be interested in a strong and virile opposition? We can only derive the full advantage of democracy when the incumbents know they can be replaced. People-centred policies and action will be the outcome when the ruling party is fully conscious that there is a resourceful and focused party on the other side.
There is a concern that elections in Nigeria are won through rigging. No doubt, rigging happens. But we also know that it is extremely difficult to overwhelm parties that have strong supporters at a polling booth. It is also challenging especially in this era to have blanket rigging all over the country. This simply means our opposition parties need to develop card carrying, dues
EGUAREKHIDE
LONGE tells the Aradel story on NASD
NASD is the Over The Counter (OTC) stock exchange licensed by the Nigerian Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). It was licensed in 2012 to trade the shares of public unlisted companies. Prior to its being licensed, and following from the epic global financial markets collapse in 2008/2009, several investors in companies that had undertaken private placement of shares on the Nigerian Capital Market and those that had also invested in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) at the time, found themselves stranded in their inability to get title (share certificates) to their investments and worse still to identify an organized way of selling the shares of the companies they had subscribed to, if they needed to.
Some then resorted to bilateral means of trading these shares looking for counterparties personally or through capital market agents to secure opportunities to sell or buy these shares at prices that were mutually negotiated.
It was under these circumstances that the NASD PLC. was licensed in 2012 and it appropriately posited that it was a platform set out to create liquidity transparently.
An OTC market permits shareholders of companies to simply engage their stockbrokers to approach the stock exchange, adhere to the exchange’s admission requirements of companies to be traded on its platform, which is inclusive of nature of the business the company is engaged in, historical financial performance, the individuals behind the company and its management and other relevant details.
Having been through these requirements successfully, the shares of the company can trade on the OTC stock exchange for this shareholder (who brought in the initial shares for trading) and others who would subsequently come to trade their shares in the company in question.
The history informs that the initial shares for trading for Niger Delta Exploration And Production Company PLC. (NDEP) was 2,500, reluctantly submitted for trading on the NASD OTC stock exchange by a staff of the company that urgently sought liquidity but was persuaded by their spouse (or relative) not to bring the shares to the market for trading.
These shares were, however, admitted to the market on August 1, 2013 at a price of N350 per share (nominal value of N10 per share).
It bears adding here that Niger Delta Exploration and Production Company (NDEP) is an original indigenous downstream oil and gas company built from the scratch by Nigerian professionals in the oil and gas industry. After 11 years of being hosted on the NASD OTC stock exchange platform, with various peaks and troughs and peaks again the company at some point in time in 2024, closed on the market at a peak price of N9,867.38/share. A truly dizzying trajectory from its initial admission days of N350.
Thus, in the 11-year period of review of Aradel PLC. it attained a dizzying trajectory of capital gains (excluding dividends and bonus shares issued) of 2,719% or a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35.47%.
Maybe this does not sound too dramatic. Then listen to this; on January 1, 2023, NDEP shares (now Aradel Holdings PLC.) opened at a price of N197.78. During the year Aradel paid dividends (interim and final) of N200/ share. Aradel opened trading on the market in 2024 at N1,089/share. As indicated above, it reached a peak of N9,867.38/share on September 4, 2024.
The shares of Aradel have been redenominated to N0.50 nominal value which means each share of Aradel has been split to 20 shares. After the stock split (September 30, 2024) the price was split to N469.95/share. On Wednesday, October 9, 2024 Aradel closed at a price of N641.06; another jump of 36% in less than a fortnight.
This is the potential of price discovery in
the transparent market NASD OTC stock exchange has created, and this is readily available and easily accessible to all public companies.
OTC markets are often incubation platforms; not necessarily all the time, but a lot of the time. OTC markets are the first point of contact for companies in their early to mid-life growth stage, looking to orient themselves to the discipline of financial markets.
Thus, at some point, it is traditional that such growth companies seek to interact with the broader market platforms and desire to project their enterprises on (in some cases) an international stage. They then seek to move to firm listing markets where they opt to expand their value propositions to the next level of their growth phases.
Aradel PLC. has come to that point in its decision on NASD OTC stock exchange. A truly natural process. Thus, in the week ahead, Aradel will be migrating to the Nigerian Exchange Limited to list its 4,344,844,360 shares of N0.50 nominal value at the last closing price of trading on the NASD OTC stock exchange on Friday, October 11, 2024.
Aradel as at October 4, 2024, with a market capitalization of N2.968trn constituted 74% of NASD PLC’s total market capitalization. Thus, it will be trite to mention that the departure of Aradel Holdings PLC. from the NASD OTC stock exchange will be severely impactful.
However, the DNA of NASD PLC. has internalized this model in its operations; Price Discovery against the backdrop of a Transparent Market to create liquidity for Growth Companies.
There are more and certainly will be more Aradels in the Nigerian economy.
This is keenly realized by the Board and Management of NASD such that it has broadened the offerings with five major platforms namely:
One, the OTC stock exchange (trading public unlisted securities). Two, the NASD Enterprise Portal (NASDeP – the growth company platform). Three, commercial paper issuance on NASD. Four, the NASD Digital Securities Platform (N-DSP). Five, VentureRamp (The NASD donor crowdfunding platform).
Companies like Aradel have given NASD PLC. the opportunity to do a lot more on the Nigerian capital market. With the capital market including only 17% of the GDP of Nigeria, there is a lot of creative work ahead for the board, management and all the stakeholders of NASD PLC.
NASD, with its OTC origins is highly strategically placed to contribute significantly to evolving the value that has been espoused by the current administration in Nigeria as growing the economy to a US$1trillion size within the next 10 years.
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
A slew of crisis and divisions is hampering the Opposition in holding the government to account
In a democracy, opposition parties are expected to offer credible alternative to the governing party and enhance transparency and accountability in governance. By playing their role effectively, they help to put the people in power on their toes. Unfortunately, the current opposition parties in Nigeria are in disarray, torn apart by self-inflicted crises arising either from the inordinate ambition of members or the virtual overthrow of their constitution by a succession of self-serving leaders. Today, Nigerians who look up to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) to anchor responsible and virile opposition that can articulate alternative policies and views are getting increasingly disappointed.
The current opposition is weak, uncoordinated, compromised, and ineffective. The LP which controls one state (Abia) and whose presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, won in 12 states has been enmeshed in a crisis of ownership that makes the platform incapable of playing any credible role in the polity. The ANPP is no more than a one-man show. But the bigger challenge is in the main opposition PDP whose leadership cadre is now engaged in a macabre game of suspension and counter suspension. Nothing portrays the party as lacking focus than the local government elections held in Rivers State. In line with the convention of the party, Governor Fubara ought to control the PDP structure at the state level like his colleagues. But a largely compromised PDP leadership handed the structure to his predecessor and current Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
while we lament the disarray within and between our opposition parties, what requires serious homework is the meaning, content and substance of our political parties. But democracy cannot survive without a credible opposition.
It is in the interest of our democracy that there be credible opposition platforms that can effectively respond to the excesses of the ruling party to safeguard the integrity of the political process
SUNDAY NEWSPAPER
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On the whole, the nation’s political party system is dysfunctional. Even the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is coherent in appearance mostly because it is in power and has patronage to share. To date, the concept of a political party among our politicians remains that of a badge or acronym for contesting elections. In real terms, our parties have no belief content and are only equal to the superficiality of their principal members. It is therefore difficult to even speak of viable opposition parties when no one knows what the ruling party stands for. You cannot posit nothing as an alternative to nothing. In essence,
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The PDP has repeatedly failed in adhering to its internal rules as they affect the filling of vacancies in the National Working Committee of the party. For instance, the provisions of the party’s constitution are precise on ‘Micro zoning’. The acting National Chairman of the party, Iliya Damagun ought to have stepped down for someone to emerge from the North Central Zone, to serve out the tenure of the former substantive national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu. The current acting chairman is an oddity because he comes from the Northeast Zone. Same goes for the office of the party’s National Secretary. In February, the PDP leadership in the South-east zone asked the National Working Committee (NWC) and other organs of the party to ratify Sunday UdehOkoye as the party’s national secretary. The substantive occupant of the position, Samuel Anyanwu had stepped aside to contest last November’s Imo State governorship election on the PDP platform but lost to the incumbent governor, Hope Uzodinma of the APC. Anyanwu has refused to relinquish his position and like Damagun, he is using the courts to stay put. Unfortunately, the bickering and infighting within the PDP are not about the interest of the people but rather about cold calculations for the 2027 general election. During the 64th Independence anniversary last week, the party’s presidential candidate in the last election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said that the country is gradually drifting towards a one-party state due to a lack of strong opposition. But he has not shown any leadership on addressing the issue beyond issuing occasional statements.
It is in the interest of our democracy that there be credible opposition platforms that can effectively respond to the excesses of the ruling party to safeguard the integrity of the political process. For that to happen, the PDP, LP and ANPP must reinvent themselves. And there is no better time than now for a resilient opposition that can help mobilise the people around alternative views.
Letters in response to specific publications in THiSDAY should be brief(150-200 words) and straight to the point. interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. we also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer
Israel’s ongoing offensive against Palestinians in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip is plunging millions into impossible situations, exposing the fairness of all in war as an atrocious injustice.
Who is the monster in the Middle East? It should be Hamas, the militant iran-backed pro-Palestine group. On 7th October 2023, it launched an unprecedented attack against Israel, breaching its supposed impenetrable security, killing 1200 Israelis and taking many others hostage.
The monster in the Middle East should be Israel, which has since the attack launched an unprecedented crackdown against the Gaza Strip. More than 42,000 people have been killed, thousands more injured, and life irreversibly altered even for unborn Palestinians.
The monster in the Middle East should be the US and UK, which continue to back the devastating Israeli offensive — and the International Community, which choosing the
easy escape route of international law, prefers largely to stand by. The monster in the Middle East could yet be Iran, which backs Hamas, and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which has been drawn into an increasingly complicated war.
The monster in the Middle East could yet be the vagaries of history, which seems to give each of the parties in the renewed hostilities a slice of justification for digging in their heels and putting millions of women and children in harm’s way.
The monstrous conflict in the Middle East is a product of warped histories and complicities which are conspiring to sentence innocent Palestinian women and children to a living hell. But of all possible monsters in the conflict in the Middle East, Israel stands out for its complicated engagement with the history of the region and its egregious refusal to countenance any arrangement that may bring lasting peace to the region. Israel has starkly and strenuously refused to make significant
concessions for peace, stubbornly clinging on to the land it has annexed, and blindingly branding all who disagree with it as enemies.
In this expedition of enmity, it has been actively backed by the US in what is actively a collaboration of death against many innocent women and children.
No matter how superior a party to a war is, once the first shot is fired, there is no certainty how it will end or who would suffer what casualty. This is what makes the unpredictability of war so dangerous.
But what is going on in the Gaza Strip cannot even rightly be described as a war. Rather it is a genocide perpetrated by the colonizer against the colonized. This oppression and operation streaked with blood has been decades in the making.
Israel’s annexation and subsequent occupation of Palestinian lands did not inspire as much horror in the rest of the world as it should because of the staunch support of the
USA and UK, and the unflinching hypocrisy of the international community.
But it was always going to inspire fierce resistance from a people suddenly turned to strangers and slaves on their ancestral lands. That is undoubtedly what has happened. Through invasions, displacement, curfews, embargoes, airstrikes, horrific psychological and emotional persecution, generations of Palestinians have been born into the struggle, lived through it and died in becoming generations of martyrs for their cause.
There have also been poets like Mahmoud Darwish and Fadwa Tuqan who have deployed literature as resistance, resilience, and rebellion against a ruthless foe with Darwish famously asking,”where should we go after the last frontiers, where should the birds fly after the last sky?”
Kene Obiezu,
Imagination was fired up one well-spent afternoon in Victoria Island, Lagos with Ger Buckley, the Head Cooper for Jameson Irish Whiskey - on a trumpeted Lagos tour - as he painted with words vivid imagery of the doggedness behind his multi-generational craftsmanship in coopering for a famed whiskey brand. Yinka Olatunbosun writes
No one could have guessed with accuracy what the content of his hand luggage he wheeled in with ease was till he opened it. Heavy work tools – aged – yet efficient in delivering the best casks and barrels to mature whiskey came into view. The conversation left one salivating as though Ger Buckley had traded his craftsmanship for the role of a salesman.
This Irish foreman in the whiskey business has been in the trade for about 40 years. He is a fifth-generation Midleton Cooper who has used the same methods and tools as his grandfather. Since the age of 16, he had worked with his hand. Born into the generational love of forestry, Cooper wears the shoes his father left some years ago. As the Head Cooper for Jameson Irish Whiskey, he shared the tales of his craft- a profession that is fast shrinking in size in our highly digitised world.
For starters, Buckley’s job as the head cooper involves overseeing the supply and maintenance of all the barrels that Jameson whisky is matured in. He makes sure that the distillery’s one million oak casks are in peak condition at all times.
That afternoon, every sentence from him was important because it doesn’t exist in the school curriculum. It evolved from his years of experience, learning and re-learning in the cooperage.
The interview in itself felt like a masterclass in whisky making.
“75% of a whiskey’s taste comes from the wood – so the wood and the distillation process have an equal effect on the taste,’’ he began, setting the tone for understanding why the wood is so important to whiskey.
You may have stumbled once or twice on barrels without paying particular attention to the shape or even the ingenuity involved in building each one. Without hesitation, Buckley explained how coopering starts.
“You have to decide what types of woods you can use or not use. Some woods are poisonous. The oak is the king of all the woods. It’s the most valuable. It enhances the taste of whiskey. About 75 per cent of the taste is from the wood. Sometimes, when I open up a barrel, I invite people to smell it. It is a fantastic smell of the barrel from the whiskey. What you smell is the oak.”
Mental travel uncorks a bottle of Ireland’s most popular whiskey; pours into a transparent glass cup and as the lips part to take a sip, Buckley’s voice jolts one’s mind back to reality.
While explaining the concept of toasting the wood, he showed how that process contributes to the classification of the whiskey as double or triple-distilled.
“The main cask we use is the American barrel. One is Europe. They give different flavours. TheAmerican barrel is sweet. It gives vanilla flavour. The way we treat the barrel is different. When you make a barrel for the first time, you heat the wood to bend it.
“This is me making a new barrel,” he said, showing pictures of himself at work. “You can see that it’s quite straight. We lay the fire inside and we heat the wood to bend it. That’s the first cooking of the wood. It’s really important that you cook.
“What you’re doing is to bring out the flavours in the oak. We set the fire to make the wood black and get a lot more sweetness. We come back a second time and we do it again. We call it double distilled.”
With over two million barrels in the warehouse, a cooper is perhaps one of the world’s most hardworking craftsmen as Buckley’s account continued.
“After the heating, we lost about 40 per cent of the whiskey through evaporation. The air passes through and the casks interact with the environment where they are placed,” he revealed.
In his introduction to whiskey making, Buckley made a revelation: “The first thing you do when you make a whiskey in the morning is to make a beer. When you make a beer, you distil the beer. The Egyptians have been distilling for thousands of years to make perfumes. It was found in Egypt that the natural yeast in the air can cause
fermentation.”
That was a moment to be a proud African. But the black continent is not the only resource spot for the time-tested cooper.
“My job is to go to Kentucky to make sure that the barrel is double charred. The cooking of the wood is very important and there are different levels to it. There’s an alligator charred where the wood looks like alligator skin.”
Indeed, creating that distinct taste in Jameson whiskey came by accident. But the craft itself has been sustained over time. Buckley delved into what his day looks like at the cooperage where he scrutinizes every barrel.
“There may be leaks,” he said. “Some barrels may be broken. I would repair the big cherry casks. As time went on, I became the foreman- the head cooper and my responsibility included making sure that all the barrels in the warehouse are properly maintained and in good condition. Every barrel that comes to Midleton is handled by a cooper and examined visually for any defects. What we don’t want is to put a barrel in a warehouse and have a leak. Wood is still wood. It can still break at any time.”
Usually, Buckley and his team would travel to other cooperages in the world to source for barrels.
“We visited France, Spain and America and we would visit forests. We are very mindful of where we get our wood. When we get new barrels, we want the farmer to be certified to ensure that the forest is sustainable and the wood is traceable, and it is from a healthy forest.”
Beyond felling trees, Buckley is also championing sustaining practice in coopering by encouraging more trees to be planted to replenish the ones that had been fuelled.
“Any barrel made from poisonous trees will make poisonous whiskey. We make barrels from palm trees and oak, and we use different oaks for different flavours,” he added.
Realising that the craft may go extinct in time, Buckley and his contemporaries are committed to training more people in the craft of coopering.
“Our warehouse programme is regarded as the number one cooperage management in the world. It’s been recognised in whisky magazines. Every time you use a barrel, you get less contribution to oak. At the third fill, you’re going to get less. Third fill barrel is important. If you use a first fill-in whiskey, it will be too much oak. It will be overpowering. You want to use some older wood to blend it to get the balanced taste.”
Buckley said his tools - after retirement - might be preserved at a museum.
“The tools speak to me every day. They are the same tools I started with almost 40 years ago. I have no new tools. The tools here with me are not the ones I use on a daily basis. I wouldn’t let those tools leave my shop. Those tools have sentimental value to me. My old tools belonged to my granddad and they were passed on to me.
“I have two daughters but maybe a grandson may come along. One is in Medicine and the other is in Law. I have trained two coopers over the last ten years and my latest trainee qualified in March. It’s not university training. There are so few coopers in the world right now. Maybe someone can come along and take up the trade. That company may be anxious to see someone in my family take up the coopering. That would be seven generations.”
Aside from keeping the craft as a family tradition, Buckley is keen on sharing the knowledge so that the craftsmanship is sustained.
“At other cooperages, I do masterclasses and I show them tools that have never been seen. I loaned them for five months before I got it back.”
Although coopering is male-dominated, Buckley acknowledged the growth in the
population of women coopers.
“I would have no issue having a woman as the next cooper because there are a lot of machines that can be used now for coopering that does all the heavy work. It is still physical but it is not beyond the bounds of a woman cooper. The funny thing is that the craftspeople that I have met who are women are better, more meticulous, and more careful, and I think the same will happen if we have a woman cooper.
“In the past, a cooper’s hand was swollen, bruised, with cuts. When a cooper goes out to have a few drinks, he could dress up in a beautiful suit but you couldn’t see his hands because he’d fold them. If you saw his hands, you would know how hard he had worked with them. The hands always gave them away.
For Buckley, every barrel is different and has its unique challenge. Overcoming those obstacles, he finds solace in repurposing the barrels as utility items.
“I make furniture from my barrels. I made this for my granddaughter. I made toys from barrels. I made chairs, tables, and candle holders from barrels. It’s good for fencing and floors. I have made
floors out of barrels. There is no waste for the barrels.” While in Lagos, Buckley relished every bit of the urban life and its assortment of personable people.
It was his second time in Nigeria and his primary assignment was to enjoy a fiveday event curated daily by Jameson partners, showcasing how Jameson is distilled and how to enjoy the brand with friends.
The event, which ran from September 27 to October 1, was christened The Jameson Distillery on Tour (JDOT) and held at the iconic National Theatre, Orile Iganmu Lagos. It featured live music, gourmet food, fashion, skating and the ultimate Jameson party.
“The people are friendly and amazing. Nigerians are really good-looking people, which makes me feel really small. The last time I was here, the guy staying with me at the hotel was Anthony Joshua. He was really friendly. His arms are like three sizes of my legs. He is about six foot six. I wish I looked like that,” he said lightheartedly. His face took a serious shade when he added: “If Nigeria has the infrastructure that you’ve got in the US, they will dominate many fields.”
Governor Umo Eno’s wife, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, has passed away. With her passing, she has left behind not just a grieving family but also the responsibilities of the First Lady’s office. Her death marks a sad chapter in Akwa Ibom’s history as she is the first serving First Lady to die in office. In response, the governor appointed his daughter, Helen Eno-Obareki, to step into her late mother’s shoes, at least temporarily.
Helen, who had worked closely with her mother as a special assistant, was chosen to carry on the legacy of the deceased’s charitable works. Her appointment stirred mixed reactions, with some wondering if being a First Lady is a role anyone can take up. The governor, however, insists this is not an appointment of a new First Lady but merely a coordination of her mother’s existing initiatives.
In Nigeria, First Ladies aren’t appointed; they come as part of the package with the governor. Yet here we are, with Helen taking on a quasi-First Lady role, raising eyebrows and questions about what the role truly requires. The governor explains that this is a natural move, given Helen’s experience and the closeness she had with her mother.
While some see the move as practical, others wonder if it’s another sign of political dysfunction. Can a daughter simply replace her mother, even if temporarily, in such a public role? The office of the First Lady, especially with its social projects, carries a weight that goes beyond familial ties.
Governor Eno, determined to sustain his late wife’s initiatives like the Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), seems confident in Helen’s ability to manage the office. He made it clear this isn’t about political expediency but about preserving a legacy. Yet, in a country like Nigeria, where logic often takes a back seat, the appointment still feels unusual to many.
While tradition would say the First Lady comes with the governor, this new dynamic in Akwa Ibom challenges those expectations. What a pity indeed. The daughter might do well, but can she really fill her mother’s shoes?
Times change, and with them, old things may be revived. Toyin Subair was once a household name in Nigeria’s media landscape. His company, HiTV, was a promising contender in the payTV market. Despite early success, it collapsed in 2011. Now, Subair finds himself in a position of influence once again.
With Subair’s role as Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Special Duties and Domestic Affairs, many are wondering if he’ll attempt a comeback for HiTV. After all, Subair is now one of the most powerful men in the presidency, with the wheels of influence in Abuja available to him. This power could open doors that were previously closed to him.
Some readers may remember how HiTV had been a bold venture. It was the first platform in Africa to offer a terrestrial pay-per-view TV service. With competitive pricing and even a deal to air the English Premier League,
HiTV attracted significant attention. For a moment, it looked like HiTV could challenge DStv.
However, rapid expansion proved to be its downfall. Critics argue that Subair’s company overreached and failed to meet financial obligations on the EPL rights. DStv quickly reclaimed its dominance, and HiTV’s decline became inevitable. By 2011, it was out of the game, and Subair quietly moved on.
Now, many are asking: will Subair revive HiTV? His political position certainly gives him the power to try again. Yet, the media landscape has changed dramatically in the last decade. Competition is fiercer than ever, with streaming services now dominating.
The big question is whether Subair has learned from the mistakes of the past. If he does attempt a revival, he will need more than just power and influence. True success would require careful planning and a deeper understanding of the market.
It’s been said that when two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers. In Kwara State, the two giants at odds are Bukola Saraki and Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. Their ongoing political battle has captured the attention of many, but the real question is: who is paying the price?
Saraki, a former Senate President, has criticised Abdulrazaq for demolishing structures across Ilorin. One recent example was the Crystal Place Mall, which was taken down despite being a major business hub. According to Saraki, this demolition reflects a petty, antipeople agenda.
Abdulrazaq, on the other hand, insists that his actions are part of an urban renewal plan for Ilorin. He argues that many properties, like the ones Saraki criticises him for, were dubiously acquired during Saraki’s tenure. The governor claims he’s simply reclaiming public land.
The two men’s rivalry runs deep, and their public jabs only intensify the tension. While Saraki accuses Abdulrazaq of launching a personal vendetta, the governor maintains
that this is about restoring order and fairness. Meanwhile, the people of Kwara watch as their city becomes the battleground.
The stakes are high in this feud. Abdulrazaq has openly targeted properties associated with Saraki’s allies, which has fuelled accusations of political bias. Yet, the governor shows no signs of backing down, determined to reshape the state’s capital and, as some have noted, pinch Saraki until he tears off eight pounds of flesh, one for every year he is governor.
For the people of Kwara, the fight between these two political heavyweights leaves them questioning the true priorities of their leaders. Shouldn’t governance be about the people, not political grudges? While these two clash, ordinary citizens bear the consequences, however light they are.
Both Saraki and Abdulrazaq have legacies to protect, but the future of Kwara should not be caught in the crossfire. Will they eventually put aside their differences and focus on leadership, or will the people continue to see governance as a byproduct of their feud?
They say life is sweet for those who work in God’s vineyard, and Bishop David Oyedepo is no exception. Recently, the Federal Government approved an airstrip for Canaanland, his ministry’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State. Now, the man of God can travel the skies directly from his church, free from the hassle of regular airports. It seems the road to heaven might not be paved, but the runway surely is.
This new development is just the latest in a series of blessings showered upon Oyedepo. In September 2024, on his 70th birthday, the Bishop received not one, but two Rolls Royce Cullinan gifts. That wasn’t all; one of his sons even donated a staggering one billion naira to feed over 50,000 people at the church’s celebration.
While some might grumble—and have grumbled—about the grandeur of these
gestures, it’s hard to deny the significant influence Oyedepo has had over the years. His ministry is global, his teachings impactful, and his congregation loyal.
Of course, critics on social media are questioning the need for such extravagance in a religious setting, but there’s an old saying: “Heavy lies the crown.” The Bishop’s leadership has not come without sacrifices, and perhaps these gifts are symbols of the high regard in which his followers hold him. After all, in a world where private jets and luxury cars are common among business moguls, why not a runway for a spiritual leader?
In the end, whether it’s an airstrip or Rolls Royce, the Bishop’s soft life is a reflection of decades of service, dedication, and unwavering faith. A man who has given so much to his ministry deserves to enjoy a few of life’s finer things. After all, even the labourers in God’s vineyard deserve a taste of the soft life. oyedepo
Access Bank is once again expanding its reach, and at the helm is Aigboje AigImoukhuede. Known for his keen sense of leadership, Aig-Imoukhuede is taking the bank into Namibia, a new frontier. As Access Bank continues to grow, so does its reputation as a major player in Africa’s financial landscape.
Aig-Imoukhuede’s achievement is part of Access Bank’s larger vision. With existing operations in five Southern African countries, the Namibian venture strengthens its position in the region. Really, it’s not just about presence, but about creating more gateways for intra-African trade. By doing so, Access Bank is helping to unlock financial opportunities for businesses and individuals alike across the continent.
The story of Aig-Imoukhuede and
Access Bank is one of perseverance and vision. Together with his old friend, the late Herbert Wigwe, he transformed Access Bank into a powerhouse. Now, after taking over the reins once again, he continues to lead with the same energy and purpose.
Financial inclusion has always been a priority for Access Bank. By establishing a presence in Namibia, clearly, Aig-Imoukhuede intends to provide greater access to financial services for the unbanked. Thus, this expansion also aligns with broader economic goals for the region, helping to foster more economic growth. It’s a win for Namibia, Africa, and the bank’s shareholders.
Aig-Imoukhuede’s return to leadership shows that legacies are not easily forgotten. His friendship with Wigwe laid the foundation for Access Bank’s rise, and now, under his guidance, the bank continues to flourish.
The notion, if not concept, of ‘Citizen of the World’ can have an ordinary or technical meaning. The truth is that every human person born into this world is necessarily a citizen of this world. However, it is not every person born into this world that is so recognised or issued with a world identity document. In international relations until UNGA 79, a ‘citizen of the world’ is any person that is issued with a ‘World Passport’ by the Switzerland-based World Service Authority, an organisation in Switzerland. The world passport is given to people considered to be stateless (Les apatrides). And true enough, people that already possess a national passport of any country and still want the world passport, can also be given. The world passport serves as an identity as a citizen of the world.
It is important to note that many countries of the world do not accept the ‘World Passport’ as a good and correct means of self-identification. Garry Davis, an American bomber pilot in World War II, was inspired by the provision of Article 13(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and therefore established the World Service Authority in 1953 as a non-profit organisation. His objective was to educate about world citizenship, world law, and world government, with the ultimate objective of ending nationalistic wars. In fact, Garry Davis, who lived from 27 July 1921 to 24 July 2013, renounced in May 1948 his American nationality in order to promote world citizenship. Most unfortunately, several governments see the World Passport as an “official fantasy.’’
With the adoption of the ‘Pact of the Future Document’ at the 79th UN General Assembly, the world appears to have shifted from the notion of a ‘Citizen of the World,’ either as conceived by Garry Davis to be ‘a neutral, apolitical document of identity’ or ordinarily as world citizenship by education and inspiration, to the new notion of a ‘Global Citizen.’ A global citizen understands global questions and seeks a planet that is more peaceful and worth living. However, in the context of the ‘Pact of the Future,’ the notion of a Global Citizen is a completely digitised person that is not defined by national sovereignty or belong to any country.
Pact of the Future and ‘Global Citizen’
Thus, the world is currently witnessing a new dimension to globalisation, which is the digitisation of the human being, especially in terms of identity and de-sovereignty of people or de-nationalisation. The implications of the development has prompted Dr Sherri Tenpenny to cry out in the United States against the implications for Americans. In this regard, how do we understand the new conception of a global citizen? What are the implications of the ‘silence procedure,’ provided in it and which, in any case, cannot be said to be new? Is global citizenship in the larger interest of the African and black people?
When the late Congolese President, Mobutu Seseko came up with the policy of authenticity and the policy was translated into a very thought-provoking and melodious song, Yayweh Nakomitunaka by Verckys Kiamuangana Orchestra in 1972 and renewed in 2006 by his daughter, Ancy Kiamuangana, the Vatican proscribed the record because of the thrust of the record that whatever is good and honourable is painted in white and whatever is demonic and bad is always painted in black. The musician therefore asked himself why God created black colour for African people.
So embittered by the politics of colour and why this was so, the musician advised Africans and other black people to rethink and never to forget their origins. But considering that the musician was trying to query God and apparently to avoid ethnic hatred, the Vatican vehemently kicked against the circulation of the record, Nakomitunaka. In this regard, global citizenship cannot but have the potential to completely obliterate any quest meant to remember Africa’s genesis and originality. This observation makes the exegesis of the Pact of the Future necessary at this juncture.
Grosso modo, the pact underscored Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI), international peace and security, Global Digital Compact, transformation of global governance, youth development, and the impact of the Pact and Compact for the future. The Pact seeks to impact by compacting and transforming global governance. In this regard, multilateralism is to be sustained more effectively by making it just, more representative, more networked, inclusive and financially stable. Reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and particularly the reform of the international financial architecture, are some of the commitments agreed to in the Pact. For instance, the UN wants to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. It also wants the enjoyment of all human rights through the UN human rights mechanisms. More interestingly, the UN wants to deepen cooperation and partnerships between the UN and all other stakeholders.
The Global Digital Compact, as an annexure to the Pact of the Future is particularly noteworthy because of its roadmap for global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance ‘through the establishment of an AI Scientific Panel, Global Policy Dialogue on AI and exploration of the establishment of a global fund for AI capacity building.’ And perhaps most noteworthy is the fact that ‘it is the first comprehensive global framework for digital cooperation. It explicitly includes human rights and concrete commitments to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda and puts emphasis on the role of non-state stakeholders.’
In essence, the Pact of the Future is designed to be a landmark commitment not only to rethink trade and development and to work towards an equitable and sustainable economy for all, but to also address various global challenges (including
The essence of the submission of Dr Sherri Tenpenny is that the ‘Pact for the Future’ calls for everyone to have biometric digital IDs and the sanctioning of dissident opinions. She is said to be wrong. Agreed! But based on her well-established pedigree as an osteopathic physician, she cannot but have a hidden message that she is trying to send to the world indirectly but which appears not to have been well couched in the UN Pact for the Future. The position of this column, Vie Internationale, is its belief in a Yoruba idiom that ‘what is behind six is more than seven,’ or in the English saying that there is no ‘smoke without fire.’ It believes that there is something about biometric identity for everyone that is in the offing. This is informed by the international politics of the COVID-19 vaccines. Consequently, Nigeria, in particular, and Africa, in general, should assume that there is an agenda for the introduction of a biometric identification of global citizens. If the assumption has merits, what will Nigeria and Africa do in responding to the presumed agenda? It cannot be sufficient to assume that Dr Tenpenny is wrong. If she is wrong, why is she not sanctioned for seeking to mislead the whole world? Why should democratic freedom be taken advantage of to mislead? As there have been different speculations about how to reduce Africa’s population and strengthen Africa’s dependency on Europe, Africa needs to engage in critical thinking more than ever before
counter-terrorism, UN peace operations, violent extremism, etc.) through a multilateral framework. In achieving this, the world leaders made 56 pledges to provide more financial funding, work harder towards the maintenance of peace and security, promote science and technological innovation, as well as carry the youth along.
What appears to be concerning about the Pact for the Future is the raised issue of digitisation and digitalisation. Digitisation is more about the process of converting analogue data into a digital format, while digitalisation refers to the integration of digital technologies into business operations. There are fears that human beings may be involved in the business operations. The way Dr Sherri Tenpenny, an American anti-vaccination, controversial activist, and osteopathic physician explains it can be frightening if looked into from the perspective of how neocolonialism can eventually be strengthened using technology.
As observed by Dr Tenpenny, United Nations’ Pact for the Future says that ‘everyone will be expected to have a biometric digital ID that marks them not just as citizens of an individual country, but as a global citizen.’ More important, Dr Tenpenny has it that ‘anyone that has a dissonant opinion will be labelled as misinformation. Perpetrators for unapproved information will be fact-checked and punished by the system, which will be operated and enforced by artificial intelligence.’
There is the report that the AAP FactCheck tried to reach out to Dr Tenpenny to get ‘evidence to support her claims but did not receive a response. The Pact for the Future is not a binding agreement adopted by the UNGA during the Summit of the Future held from September 22 to 23 in New York.’ This AAP FactCheck raises more questions than answers. First, has the UN a plan for a digital identification system and punishment for dissident opinions? Is it sufficient to argue rightly that, because nothing was mentioned about biometric identification in the Plan, there cannot be an intention to introduce a biometric identity for everyone? The Pact has been negotiated for several years without success. Was there no time that the issue of biometric identification for everyone was raised? If it was raised, why has it not been finally accommodated in the final document? In international diplomacy does the final document often agreed to by signatories a comprehensive reflection of all the discussions that transpired during the discussions that led to the adoption of the final documents?
More interestingly, how do we explain the rationale for the video of Dr Tenpenny? She is a certified osteopathic practitioner. Her practicing license was once seized and returned. She opposed the anti-COVID-19 vaccines. Many times, she was agreed with, and many times, she was disagreed with. In this context, if Dr Tenpenny is wrong, does her submission point to or not point to an intention to have a plan to introduce a biometric identity for every citizen of the world? There is no smoke without fire.
Secondly, the AAPFactCheck (vide www.aap.com.au) reportedly based its conclusion on the point that Dr Tenpenny never responded to its inquiry on evidence. Is this sufficient to insinuate or even conclude that there is no intention to have a plan for biometric identity for citizens of the world? In fact, why did Dr Tenpenny cry out to the US Congress about the implications of a biometric identity that is not planned for? Could it simply be that she is raising an alarm? By raising an alarm, does she want a biometric identification for the global citizens by raising it indirectly?
‘Silence Procedure’ in International Relations Without jot of doubt, the AAPFactCheck might have lent much credence to the falsity of Dr Tenpenny by going to the extent of investigating the matter at the level of many seasoned academics: Kathryn Jacobsen, Professor of Health Studies, at the University of Richmond; Ronald Labonte, Professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa; Dr Adam Kamradt-Scott, an Associate Professor of One Health diplomacy at the Tufts University, etc. However, what really could have been behind Dr Tenpenny of seeking to misinform the general public? It is against this background that we seek an explication of ‘Silence Procedure’ as raised by Dr Tenpenny which is also thought-provoking. Silence Procedure is about the opportunity of at least 72 hours given to all UN Member States to raise objections on a draft UN resolution or decision as well as to explain or give their rationales for their position. One rationale for the adoption of the procedure is the impact of COVID-19 which did not allow for in-person meetings but which prompted the UNGA and the Social Council to adopt a version of the Silence Procedure. The procedure does not currently permit voting basically for technical reasons. As noted in UNGADecision 74/544 of 27 March 2020, the UNGA adopted the ’procedure for taking decisions of the General Assembly during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)’ and also notes ‘the limitations recommended on meetings within the United Nations premises as precautionary measures aimed at containing require the spread of COVID-19.’ Etymologically, Silence Procedure is a resultant from the Latin expression qui tacet consentire videtur, meaning ‘he who is silent is taken to agree’ or silence is consent.’ In French language, it is interpreted as procédure d’approbation tacite or procedure of indirect approval.
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I have not heard o. This was my exact comment the moment I saw a news report that Daddy was upset with the appellation. The report says that Nigerians are calling him the name as a result of the hardships they are currently facing.
Nothing can be more painful than a stupid nickname. Growing up in Shomolu, we gave nicknames to people and this usually resulted in fights. Like “otun obo,” this was vulgar and was given to the guy because he could not play football. How that inability got linked with the nickname continues to beat me. We also had others like kesko, santana, bremner, little bremner, cocoa, aje okuta ma mu mi, yamiri, egbe, suegbe, atole, orobo su fe and many more that I would not like to mention.
So, this report is really vexing me as to why anybody would deem it fit to name our Executive President and the single most important Nigerian since Festac 77 that kind of name. What pain sef, where is the pain, me I am not seeing any pain o. Can you go through surgery without pain even though this particular surgery dem no give us anaesthesia?
One of my egbon in discussing the matter said: “Tinubu has given us shock treatment, these are the things that we should have done gradually from 20 years ago, so the man is doing them now, so we must endure.” My egbon na APC and I agree with him because I am looking for Tinubu
Do…
In Shomolu, the “alagbara” was the one who could fight and beat people. We will all go under his cover so that other bullies will not come at us. But as we grew, we now realised that it was no longer physical power but rather brainpower was the magic. This is what General Ibrahim Babangida would be ruing now in retirement and in old age. He was the one that famously said: “We have the monopoly of legitimate force.”
That time, any small thing, he and his brother Abacha will roll armoured tanks and soldiers wey never baff straight to Ikorodu Road and be beating up fuel price protesters or June 12 protesters. With all their power and military might, didn’t he run away and say he was stepping aside? Was he able to remove fuel subsidy with all his gra gra? Didn’t NADECO wrestle him to the ground? Didn’t the NLC push him into the gutter that today what is left of him is to be telling us nursery rhymes as to how they would have messed him up if he hadn’t annulled the election.
Mbok, come and see how cunning
and brainpower is doing things. Kai, IBB, we have not only removed subsidy, we have moved fuel to N1,300. We have also devalued the naira to N1,700 and we are on our way to achieving a one party state all without wearing khaki or threatening people with bullets, teargas and detention and the rest. You should come for a masterclass on how to demystify opposition and turning them into scallywags. Abi you no see NLC? Each time we increase fuel prices, they will write letters asking us to stop. They will threaten strike and stand under the sun, singing solidarity forever, and two days after, they will go to Imo State and receive a slap after which they will quietly go home and sleep. I tell you, real power is not gra gra. You and Abacha tried. Even Obasanjo tried it and Oshiomhole wrestled him down. Who born monkey to remove subsidy during Oshiomhole’s time as NLC president? Today, we have not only removed subsidy, we have removed the word from our dictionary and are watching fuel prices increase to N3,000 per litre in our lifetime and nothing happened. Na brain work,
something from him.
See Nigerians, we have removed subsidy, we have appointed the best cabinet ever, our football team carry second in Cup of Nations, we have solved traffic problem in Nigeria, we are making people more healthy by trekking, we have stopped the reckless use of power in our homes, now people do a timetable for the use of appliances, and so much more is coming and you are now calling us T-Pain?
T-Pain kill all of you there. We are restructuring the economy, making men stay more at home by increasing the cost of condoms and many more such initiatives.
I will be the first to report anybody that calls daddy that name. What rubbish! You know Nigerians are a very ungrateful lot, they never show gratitude for the great sacrifice that our leaders make. Shebi we bought a tokunbo jet for our president, is that not a sacrifice? Tell me which president of our calibre from Equatorial Guinea down to Cuba is using a tokunbo jet that is smoking and yet we remain highly ungrateful. Sir, shebi I have been begging you to invite me and you have been ignoring me and you went to invite Reno. Shey you see how the people reacted.
Please invite me so that I can come and submit the names of the people calling you that name. I have started compiling their names. I want to submit it to you personally because I don’t trust anybody. T-Pain ko, T-suffering ni. Ungrateful people. Msheww.
NYeSom wIke AS THe okoNkwo of oUr TIme
Somebody just likened Chief Wike to Chinua Achebe’s famed character, Okonkwo in his very powerful book, Things Fall Apart. I have looked for the person’s name to quote him before they accuse me of plagiarism but can’t find it. The man in the brilliant write up told us about Okonkwo who had been warned not to be part of a plot to kill Ikemefuna, “a boy that called you father.” Of course, Okonkwo did not listen because he didn’t want to be seen as a weakling so he used his machete and cut the little boy’s throat. His head fell over and rolled into the stream for fish to eat. This, like we all know, led to the downfall of the great man, Okonkwo. This writer who did not put his name on the write up went ahead to beg Wike not to “kill” Fubara, a boy that calls him “Oga”. His article would have come from Fubara’s statement where he had said he was kneeling down so many times for Wike to beg him for peace.
Well as for me, Wike can do an Okonkwo for Fubara if he can, my own is just that they should stop burning down local government secretariats. The violence must stop abeg. There is no reason why we should be having all of this violence because two bald headed men are fighting over who owns the longer –you know what.
ASArI DokUbo’S ScArY VIDeo I don’t know if Editor Davidson would mind this one oo, because if there is anybody to be beaten it should be him and not me. Me, I am just doing my work. This Asari man is scary o. Did you watch the video where he was warning Wike to stop sending his helicopters over his house? My people, with those big eyes, he can stare down a helicopter o. He does not need a gun to do that one. As he was speaking, his eyes bulged and if you now combine it with the beards and the menacing way he was saying it, na scary movie o.
This is why I can never join the army or police, I swear. So, they will send me to go and catch this one and I will enter his house? Mbok, just one look
from his eyes and the growl that will come out of his beautiful mouth ehn, I will drop the gun and run away o. People have mind to be looking for this Oga’s trouble o. Me, I don’t have that kind of mind o and I will really advise Wike not to go near him o. This Oga is not joking o. I have saved the video to show my nephew Sammy who has taken over my room. All he does is watch cartoons and won’t let me watch my usual – you know na. I will show Sammy that video of Asari to scare him out of my room.
Kai, bro if you vex, na Davidson, I have his address and phone number. Thank you.
MUSTAfA CHIke-ObI:
This son of a legend is truly a kind spirit. His new job as Chairman of Bank Directors has really brought out the Florence Nightingale in him. Mbok, don’t vex o that I am using Nightingale for a man. Edgar, you need to understand CBN’s new policy. Edgar, you cannot say that about Segun. Edgar, very few banks have private jets. Edgar, you need to understand the policy to comment on.
That’s him always trying to explain to me, defend and engage on issues that affect his constituency because he knows that I must fire.
I used to fire o and still fire because of my very firm belief that the sector holds a very critical capacity to help this nation, and as such, its integrity must be upheld by all stakeholders.
Mustapha is one of the best you can find. An extremely brilliant person who has done well for himself and the sector in the areas of his jurisdiction.
He is among the five, including one Asue Ighodalo and another Aigboje, that can stop, reorder and restructure an impending attack from me on an issue or a person that has gone wrong.
This week, he was in full bloom. He engaged, reordered and muted my position with very strong and incisive arguments on a very pressing issue and for that, I will give him the Shomolu Nobel award for pacification.
He is a good man and a person Nigeria really needs at this time. Cabinet appointment? Make we dey pray.
TOCHI wIgwe: STeppINg INTO Her fATHer’S SHOeS
A lot of us got introduced to her during the series of tribute services organised for her parents who lost their lives in a tragic accident. She came across as very courageous, intelligent and bold. Her beauty rises up to high heavens. She stood there like a soldier and rendered one of the most moving tributes that I have ever heard. I remember telling myself that in her shoes, it would have been a tear-fest considering the remarkable contributions her parents had made on humanity. Anyways, today I am happy to announce that she has just joined the Board of the HOW Foundation, the platform that her parents had set up to impact youths through education, health and capacity building. The foundation owns the world class Wigwe University which just commenced its first session this
September. Here is wishing her the very best of times at the foundation even as I warn the world to watch out for her because she’s her father’s daughter. Congrats
rOTIMI AMAeCHI: TUrNINg
THe TAbleS
This is what happens to men with no vision. You never see the
consistency. This one that was “part of the problem” is singing another tune today o. “Eleyi” who saw nothing wrong in the pestilence of the past government is now singing another sad song. Shebi he built rail to another country and other such fantabulous things during his time, today he is asking Nigerians to protest because he cannot buy diesel for
My brother, it is looking like we are being faced with an “audio” minister. Mbok, before I go and fire and put myself in trouble, shebi the correctional facilities are under his ministry? Shebi he was the one that suspended some ogas there during the last Bobrisky scandal and got visited by the black man wey no dey baff?
My brother, I’m not sure if I am not older than him so I won’t call him egbon. The interview with Ruth Osime on ARISE TV the other day where one man was telling us horrendous stories about the correctional facilities should make you either cry or resign. Mbok, as I listened to the man, I lost my erection. Overcrowding, no health facility, corruption, loss of lives, poor documentation, dead facilities and erasure of human rights?
Prisoners still retain their human rights and must be treated with dignity at all times. That statement as quoted by the
pundit that there are no rights here as told by your official is poor and shows just how debilitating the whole thing has reached.
Can we now stop the powdery showcasing of our abilities and institute very robust prison reforms along the areas of health, amenities, infrastructure, welfare, prisoner rights, capacity training for the officials and the inmates amongst others?
If not that the place dey fear me, I would have gone for a visit. I fear the place more than anything in this world and will not go anywhere near it. That is why I respect myself and try to be law abiding. If not, I would have gone in there and refuse to leave until you do something about the conditions.
For now, let’s be doing activism from a laptop. It’s safer. My brother, do something otherwise, people will continue using godfather to rent apartments instead of checking in o. Kai.
his generator. It is people like this that have made Charly Boy give up on activism. And if he continues and joins Joe Igbokwe, me sef will retire. Mbok, can’t they just stay in one lane so that we know who we are firing? They will cross carpet and when they are no longer relevant, they will now turn to activists
Please let me even ask? Is it your diesel? Shebi you can buy for your mother, we that cannot buy for our mother, why not let us be, abeg? Thank you and God bless.
SeUN OSIYeMI: SeAN peNN Of gbAgADA?
If you have ever been caught by Lagos VIO, I am sure you would have joined me in joy when we heard that an Abuja judge had given the order that they can no longer impound cars or anything like that.
Those people with their white and black are a terror. They will carry their zebra-coloured cars and go and hide behind a U-turn or blind corner to catch you. It’s like that is the only thing they train them in their training school -strategic locations to put their checkpoints. Once they catch you, they will take you to their stations and na there the corruption will start. I did a Rufai on them one day. They just stopped me for no reason and moved me to their office and just as the negotiation started without even telling me why they caught me, I said wait let me call Mr. Governor and opened my phone and showed him the Governor’s number. The man open mouth and shouted “Aye mi.”
Well, our celebration has been short-lived because the next minute I am seeing everywhere that one commissioner in Lagos has said that the judgment no concern them. What is even wrong with these Lagos people now? Where do we get the most notorious VIO in the country apart from Lagos? I have not seen VIO in any other part of the country o, Lagos own na early Monday morning you see them positioning themselves- Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Anthony Village, as you are descending the bridge, Herbert Macaulay, Yaba and other such places that you cannot enter “koro” and dodge.
Anyways, that was how this morning, I decided to even find out the commissioner who made the statement and na Sean Penn I see. Aghhhhh. Sean Penn wey we dey play football together for Gbagada that year? When did he become commissioner? I know he had left banking and had gone into business, building one of the most magnificent hotels in Lagos. I also know that he had contested to enter the Lagos State House of Assembly in Gbagada and that was the last o.
So, Sean Penn is now commissioner o. See person that used to kick and bully me on the football pitch, see person that I used to beg Dapo not to kick him; see person that will be using his footballing prowess to snatch our girlfriend because the man fine and sabi play. We no dey like am that year o.
Now commissioner for VIO, well done bro. The next time your people catch me, I will show them their commissioner picture as a grassroots footballer with skinny legs. Well done bro.
In his lifetime, the late banking titan, Herbert Wigwe, dedicated his time and resources to the service of humanity. He gave much attention to social interventions. The two areas that he believed would make the greatest impact on people were healthcare and education.
Through his HOW Foundation, the late Group Chief Executive of Access Holding adopted so many primary healthcare centres in Rivers State — at least, one in each local government area — to refurbish, rejig with quality equipment and manpower and run for five years before handing over to the state.
The philanthropist was so passionate about service to humankind that he committed billions of naira to this purpose.
Just as it is written in the Bible, Proverbs 10:7, “Sweet is the memory of the righteous,” though gone, his memory and legacy have continued to reverberate as his good deeds have continued to be recognised and rewarded.
This came to the fore recently when the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, ACEGID, unveiled a garden named the Herbert Wigwe Memorial Fountain and Garden in his memory.
The occasion, as gathered, was the celebration of the centre’s 10th anniversary at the Redeemer’s University Ede, Osun State.
During the unveiling ceremony, the Director, ACEGID, Prof. Christian Happi, spoke glowingly of the late philanthropist, as he described him as one of the greatest humanitarians to have been born in the continent of Africa.
Prof. Happi stressed that the garden is dedicated to honouring the life and legacy of Wigwe, who was a strong advocate and supporter of ACEGID.
He remarked that he first met Wigwe a few years ago through a discussion about how they would work together and became good friends, noting that Herbert Wigwe was a very kind and passionate man who believed in philanthropy and using wealth for the betterment of others.
Prof. Happi further emphasised that from ACEGID’s conception, Wigwe was a staunch champion of their work and mission. He noted also that as ACEGID grew from an idea into an internationally recognized disease research institute, Wigwe continued to support them, reminding them of the impact they can make when they have supporters like the deceased.
Dignitaries at the event included Aliko Dangote, Herbert Wigwe’s family, a representative of the Osun State Government, Hon. Teslim Igbalaye, the Redeemer University community, the ACEGID community, friends and wellmeaning Nigerians.
When Mr. Olumide Akpata made his intention to contest in the governorship election of Edo State known, many were taken aback. The fears in some quarters were that the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association was too soft and perhaps too polished for the murky waters of Nigerian politics.
But rather than entomb his living dream, he pursued them with all imaginable vigour. As fate would have it, he was able to worm himself into the hearts of his people in the state. He proved to all that it was a wellthought-out plan; he campaigned far and wide, courting those who matter in his state.
He was overjoyous when he emerged as the governorship candidate of his party, the Labour Party (LP). He consulted far and wide, campaigned vigorously and spent money as if it was going out of fashion. But as the saying goes, “politics is not for the fainted heart.” His heart was broken after he came out a distant third in the September election.
No doubt, he suffered what many have described as a baptism of fire at the polls after he was forced to bow for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo.
Society Watch gathered that since he suffered the defeat, he has remained calm and yet to get over the shock, particularly because of the huge amount of money he expended on the ambition that was given a kiss of death.
In their own rights, successful banking guru Walter Akpani and his lovely wife, Winifred, can aptly be described as the authentic power couple. They are famous and accomplished. Walter is often likened to a fine wine that improves with age. To a great degree, this analogy captures the essence of his remarkable career in the Nigerian banking industry, just as some wines become more appealing and sought-after over time, Akpani has only grown in stature and influence throughout his extensive career.
As the Managing Director and CEO of Providus Bank, Akpani stands out as one of the most accomplished bankers in Nigeria. His journey began as a pioneer staff member of ICON Stockbrokers, and he has since played pivotal roles in several financial institutions, including serving on the restructuring team at Commercial Trust Bank, contributing to the establishment of Standard Trust Bank Plc (now United Bank
A mother’s love is a force unlike any other, transcending boundaries and overcoming obstacles with unwavering strength.
It’s in this spirit that oil guru Otunba Funsho Lawal orchestrated a magnificent final burial ceremony for his mother, Salamotu Lawal, penultimate weekend. The celebration of life that was held at the prestigious Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos, was a truly spectacular affair, showcasing the high esteem in which the late Salamotu was held. It reflected the stature of her son, a wellconnected oil guru whose network spans industry leaders, monarchs, top politicians, socialites, and celebrities.
Gaily dressed guests were treated to an array of heartfelt tributes, vibrant performances, and a beautifully curated atmosphere that honoured the legacy and memory of a beloved matriarch. The event resonated deeply with the community, leaving a lasting impression on his friends and business associates.
As friends and family gathered to pay their respects, stories of Salamotu’s warmth, generosity, and strength filled the air, reminding everyone of the profound impact she had on those around her. It was a grand farewell, a celebration not just of a life well-lived, but of a love that continues to inspire.
for Africa), and helping to launch Platinum Bank Limited. With over three decades of experience in the banking sector, Akpani is not only a change agent but also a respected figure within and beyond the industry. His strong interpersonal skills and deep industry knowledge have enabled him to cultivate an extensive network of contacts across various strategic sectors of the Nigerian economy. While he is rubbing shoulders with other financial wizards around the world, his wife rules her own world as an oil guru with her leading oil company, North-West Petroleum which she founded 20 years ago. Winifred is an embodiment of numerous virtues: diligence, excellence, integrity and many more, to name a few. A force to be reckoned with in Nigeria’s economic sector, her entrepreneurial exploits readily qualify her as one of the most audacious women Nigeria can boast of.
Energy tycoon Adewale Tinubu affects the candour of a General and the passion of a poet as he leads a revolutionary phase of Nigeria’s upstream evolution.
Tinubu, described as ‘The King of African Oil’ by Forbes magazine and one of the top 10 CEOs in the world by AskMen, is a name that requires no introduction.
The consummate hard-working Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, is building a billion-dollar company in Africa and delivering on the tough things, diversifying and leading his company into a new era of success and sustainability.
As Oando has evolved, so has the landscape in which it operates. International oil politics, domestic challenges like crude oil theft—which negatively impacts national revenue—and the divestment of upstream assets by several of the five major International Oil Companies (IOCs) have all posed significant hurdles. Yet, despite these headwinds, a bright ray of hope has emerged on the mottled landscape of the Nigerian
economy, and it is visible to all.
Gradually, the man fondly known as JAT, has turned dynamism and a boots-on-theground leadership style into an art form. He is restoring hopes in the Nigerian upstream petroleum sector with his concatenation of innovative intervention and ingenuity in promoting vibrancy and capacity utilisation in the industry.
Tinubu and Oando’s growth has been nothing but organic. Oando is like a huge book with many chapters and Tinubu feels incredibly grateful to play a significant part in the story. Before he turned 30, he had already built for himself a reputation as a market leader in Nigeria’s emerging oil and gas sector at the time.
In 1994, Tinubu co-founded Ocean and Oil Services Limited —he teamed up with Omamofe Boyo and Onajite Okoloko— originally as a trading
company with extensive operations exporting Nigerian petroleum products.
As the head honcho of the company, the trained corporate lawyer turned that small oil trading company into Africa’s leading indigenous energy solutions provider listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the first African company to have a cross-border inward listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
From that humble beginning, Tinubu has gone to carve for himself an enviable position as one of Nigeria’s most venerable dealmakers and inserted himself atop the pecking order in the league of major Nigeria’s oil industry. Evidence abounds. Since 2000 when he struck his first gold with the acquisition of Unipetrol, he has been involved in many deals considered audacious that only the man known as champion extraordinaire could have taken such.
The NeSG/aFaF National art competition comes to an exciting end, displaying the potential of Nigeria’s thriving art industry and setting the stage for the next generation of art leaders to soar. okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports
That so much anticipation—even to the point of being described as aroundpalpable—swirls the NESG/AFAF National Art Competition as it approaches its climax shouldn’t really surprise anyone who has keenly followed the developments in the local art scene in recent weeks. So, as the big reveal, which is scheduled for this Sunday, October 13, evening at the Abuja’s iconic Transcorp Hilton Hotel, looms, it is expected that the anxiety level of the contestants must be running high and nerves highly strung.
Indeed, the event—a collaboration of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, abbreviated as NESG, and the Africa Art Fund, otherwise called AFAF—as one of the highlights of the NESG’s 30th anniversary celebrations opening concludes a keenly contested competition, whose call for entries opened on August 7 and closed on September 14.
Expectedly, out of the total 304 entries—a figure informed industry analysts would rate impressive for a newly-instituted competition—most were from major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu. And as the stats further revealed, younger artists (1824) submitted 177 entries, while those aged 25-34 contributed 119 entries—all revolving around the theme theme, “Collaborative Action for Growth, Competitiveness, and Stability.” On the whole, the organisers put the average age of the contestants at 24.
So far, out of the talented pool of contestants, 30 finalists have made it to this decisive, adrenaline-charged stage, where the finalists’ works will be featured in an exclusive exhibition.
Award presentations will also take place during the opening event, with the eventual winners of the N6 millionworth prize—N3 million for the first prize, N2 million for the second, and N1 million for the third prize—announcing themselves from these entries.
These top 30 winners will, as a further perk, benefit from AFAF’s growth programme, featuring a seven-week internship with online and physical workshops. And talking about the workshops, they will cover essential skills like portfolio development, grant writing, and studio visits. As a takeaway, each participant can expect at least 100 hours of mentorship and hallmarks of professional growth. Additionally, they will gain industry exposure, making at least 10 connections through studio visits, internships, and networking events. This will potentially create a vibrant community of 50+ creatives collaborating beyond the competition. Given that the competition is designed to provide a platform for young artists to gain exposure and funding—a fact that speaks volumes about its relevance—it stands to reason that
the African Art Fund will host a pivotal conversation session with Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya, the 2006 UNESCO Living Human Treasure, on October 15 at 3:45pm as part of the activities commemorating its 30th anniversary.
After all, behind this project, which is considered a key step towards nurturing Nigeria’s next generation of art leaders and is informed by the country’s growing global reputation for its vibrant art scene, AFAF’s collaboration with the NESG pivots on its potential to boost Nigeria’s creative economy. Indeed, Nigeria’s thriving art sector is revelling in its expanding global reputation, and developing the next generation of art leaders is critical for long-term creative and economic progress. By cooperating with the NESG, AFAF is set to capitalise on this potential, creating opportunities for artists, creatives, and the economy as a whole. This is because, according to a World Bank report, the Nigerian economy has demonstrated endurance in the face of adversity, emerging from its severe recession in four decades as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and oil prices recovered. However, long-term growth depends on diversifying
the economy and leveraging areas such as the creative industry.
Professor Onobrakpeya’s presentation, which is based on the topic “Driving Social Change for Economic Growth through Art,” will for this reason highlight the significance of artist workshops, exemplified by his Harmattan Workshop Series, which biannually provide collaborative spaces for artists to experiment, share ideas, and develop new techniques.
Despite infrastructure and education challenges, visual arts festivals and workshops, as Onobrakpeya’s experience has taught him, play a vital role in driving economic growth and social change. It is for this reason that events like Art X Lagos, Osun Oshogbo Festival, Lagos Biennial, and Dakar Biennale, which attract thousands of visitors, generating demand for local services such as hospitality, retail, and transportation, readily come to mind. These festivals also foster business partnerships, skill development, and regional cultural visibility, creating opportunities for artists, young creatives, and event professionals. “As we cultivate younger artists’ creativity, we must learn from pioneers who have significantly contributed to the creative industry’s development and sustainability,” African Art Fund’s Ifesinachi Nwanyanwu enthuses.
This pioneering initiative by the collaborating duo, the NESG and AFAF, underscores the resolve to empower
Yinka Olatunbosun
Long queues winding up at the labelled food stands signalled the start of a feast inside Banana Island, Ikoyi Lagos, last weekend. The assortment of food and costumes has become a regular sight at this festival, which brings families and neighbours together every year.
This year was not different as the annual Multicultural Festival once again brought together countries to celebrate their cultures. The event, which took place on October 5 to mark Nigerian Independence Day, featured numerous countries showcasing their traditional foods, dances, and heritage. Among the participants, South Korea stood out with an impressive display of culture.
Themed “Tour the World,” the festival was a kaleidoscope of unique cultures showcased through food, dances, and other things. Aimed at creating an opportunity for residents and visitors to explore different cultures and foster cultural immersion, the festival has become a staple in Banana Island’s cultural calendar.
As a home to many expatriates, Banana Island was abuzz as guests arrived at the venue in droves, taking pictures while satisfying their palette curiosity. Every food stand was christened after the country it represented, making it convenient for guests to make their food choices.
During his remarks at the event, Kim Changki, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN), explained the importance of South Korea's participation in the festival. He emphasised that it provided a chance to promote Korean culture and create an avenue for cultural exchange between Nigeria and the other countries represented.
“It is an opportunity to promote Korean culture, like K-pop, Korean food, and Kdramas,” he said. “In May, we had a K-pop festival in Lagos. We don’t have many big events here in Lagos this year, so this Multicultural Festival is a great platform with many countries participating and many people attending. I want to promote Korean food, and we prepared eight kinds of dishes, including Samgyetang, Jajangmyeon, Bulgogi, and Bibimbap.”
In addition to the food, the country entertained the audience with a performance by Femmevoice, a Nigerian dance group, and the winners of the 2024 K-pop Festival.
The festival was highly competitive, with each country attempting to showcase the best of their cultural traditions. Each booth displayed the respective countries' national flags, food, and traditional artifacts. Visitors were invited to sample different foods and enjoy cultural performances.
A view of the food
Nigeria, the host country, was represented by several ethnic groups, including Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and Calabar, each of whom showcased their distinct foods, dances, and attire. Other participating countries included Zimbabwe, Indonesia, the Philippines, Ghana,
India, Jamaica, Pakistan, Côte d'Ivoire, and South Africa. The Banana Island Multicultural Festival was a vibrant celebration of cultural diversity, bringing people from around the world together in a spirit of unity and mutual respect.
Heartbreak. Passion. Compromise. Expectations. The story of love may be a unique experience for the individuals in love, but the whole notion of being in love is absolutely universal. In Joshua Omeke’s poetry and prose collection Hymns of a Deepman (2024), the agelong concept of love is explored as a natural human longing alongside other preoccupations that probe the vestiges of humanity such as maternal love, villainy, war, and cultural identity.
Oscillating between the minds of a man and a woman, the poet evokes in select poems love stories—sweet and sour—to unfurl the crust of human feelings.
In the piece titled ‘Tale That Amuses My Emotions,’ he conveys a tale of unconventional love—one that overlooks imperfections and promises to last a lifetime. Using metaphor, Omeke captures the essence of motherhood in ‘My Mother is a Spider.’ Like an artist’s precision on canvas, he paints with clarity the picture of a doting mother, a father figure who provides for her children. Using cultural references like ‘African marimba drum,’ he idealises the persona of an African mother along the lines of societal battles and boundaries that she surmounts and
breaks daily.
With ‘Proud Lover,’ Omeke lets the reader into the mind of a non-committing lover—a male stereotype. This character, unapologetically, expresses his perspective on a failed relationship. An embodiment of selfishness, this male character hinges his unfaithfulness towards his partner on his being ‘a guy.’ Using an arrogant tone, the poet demonstrates the ease with which a man moves on from a failed relationship under the direction of his phallus.
The pains of heartbreak run deep in another piece titled ‘Earthquake in Tokyo Love.’ The poetic lines illustrate how the walls of expectations crash in when a relationship ends, while healing takes a longer time when one of the pair doesn’t let go.
Passion is meant to run through the reader’s veins in ‘Total Seduction.’ The poem, laden with imagery, recounts episodes of desires, romanticising with the thought of unfulfilled yearning.
Afrocentrism seeps through some of the lines in this collection. Through allusions and references, the poet celebrates his cultural identity. For instance, in ‘The Hope in My Bucket,’ he writes, “A beauty in melanin, proud and strong.” This reference to black skin echoes the sentiment in negritude poetry. Similarly, in the poem ‘Epitome
The funeral rites of the late Sir Daniel Chukwuemezie
Worldson Uwaezuoke, father of THISDAY’s former deputy editor (Sunday) and editor (arts and review), who passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at the age of 99 years and three months, have been announced by the family.
According to a statement by Sir Barr. Daniel Chike Uwaezuoke, the late Patriarch’s eldest son, the obsequies, which will begin on October 15 with a service of songs at the Christ Church Cathedral, Uwani, Enugu, at 5pm, will be followed by
of Beauty,’ the poet eulogises the subject’s ‘ebony skin.’
Using archival images from a popular activist
family, Ransome-Kuti, as well as other political figures in Nigeria’s history such as Ojukwu and Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the poet seems to have assembled history on a playlist.
Drawing upon biblical allusions, he creates pieces centred around biblical characters. Acase in point is ‘Funeral at Red Sea.’ He recounts Pharaoh’s episode, using it as a spotlight on subject matters like tyranny, idolatry, and freedom.
Digging deeper into history, the poet further interrogates freedom in ‘Footsteps to Western Yards.’ Using the Badagry port of the trans-Atlantic slave past as the subject, Omeke re-evokes the pain of past cruelty that commodified human lives. Echoes of the slave trade could be read in ‘Victory Acerta’, ‘Hello Garvey’, and ‘Alae Iacta Est’, among others.
Arguably in most of his prose, he removes the ebbs, giving way to the free flow of global discourse. For example, ‘Nature Boy’ is built on a question-and-answer format to generate conversation among nations about their resources or lack of. Again, social reality becomes the concern of the writer in this prose poem collection. Racial discrimination proves to be the highlight of ‘Letter From Khumalo’, which dredges up SouthAfrica’s apartheid history using a letter-writing technique.
•HymnsofaDeepmanisOmeke'ssecond poetrycollectionpublishedbyAustinMacauley Publishers.
another a week later at the Uwaezuoke’s compound in Ifite, Ogbunike, in Oyi LGA, Anambra State, where his earthly remains will be interred the following day, October 25, after a funeral service at St. Mark’s Anglican Church in Ogbunike.
There will be a reception shortly afterwards in the premises of Okolomesike Primary School in Ifite Ogbunike. The activities will be concluded with an outing service at St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Ogbunike, on Sunday, October 27.
A distinguished career policeman and pioneer indigenous Central Criminal
Registrar, Sir Daniel served over two decades in the Nigeria Police, with training stints in the UK. He was trained at esteemed institutions in the UK, like the West Riding Police Constabulary Headquarters in Wakefield, Yorkshire, in 1955 and the legendary Scotland Yard Fingerprint School in Chelsea, London, eight years later. He also had a brief stint with the then East Central Broadcasting Service, Enugu, and later the Nigerian Television Authority, where he retired in 1984 as the principal executive officer.
Sir Daniel is survived by his wife of 69 years and numerous children and grandchildren in Nigeria and the UK.
The tensions surrounding the political crisis in Rivers State may have eased albeit temporarily, the questionable role of the judiciary in escalating the situation must be addressed to safeguard the future of democracy, Davidson Iriekpen writes
the recent crisis that engulfed Rivers State following the clash between supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara has brought to the fore the role played by the judiciary.
To many, the conflict between the two political gladiators, which started in October 2023 after some members of the state House of Assembly loyal to the minister attempted to impeach the governor, worsened after the judiciary was dragged into the fray.
Whether it was the crisis in the state assembly or the just concluded local government elections, it is mostly believed that the third arm of government did not douse the situation. Instead, it helped to aggravate the situation.
Last week’s confusion, which led to the setting ablaze of three local government secretariats in the state, was attributed to the conflicting decisions of courts of coordinate jurisdiction on the local government elections.
While the state High Court presided over by Justice I. Igwe on September 4, 2024, ordered the state’s Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct the local government elections in the state, using the 2023 voters’ register compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Peter Lifu on September 30 restrained INEC from releasing the voters’ register to RSIEC, technically stopping the parties from going ahead with the polls.
In a suit instituted by the Action People’s Party (APP) against RSIEC, the state government and the governor, Justice Igwe, mandated the Nigeria Police Force as well as the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to provide necessary security during the election process.
He said the defendants were bound by Section 7, sub-section 1 of the Constitution and Section 5 (A) of the RSIEC Law Number 2 of 2018 to make provisions and conduct the local government polls, especially following the expiration of the tenure of the former elected officials on June 17.
The judge also cited, as a necessity, the recent decision of the federal government mandating states without democratically elected local government to do so within three months, following the judgment of the Supreme Court on local government autonomy. He urged all necessary arrangements to be made to ensure the conduct of the election on October 5, 2024, as announced
by RSIEC.
These orders were, however, overturned by Justice Lifu of a Federal High Court in Abuja, just five days before the elections when the state had put all necessary in logistics in place for the polls.
Justice Lifu ordered INEC not to make the certified voters’ register available to RSIEC until all relevant laws have been fully complied with.
The judge, while delivering judgment in a suit brought before him by the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the legality or otherwise of the processes leading to the fixing of the October 5, 2024 for the elections, also barred the Inspector General of Police (IG) and the Department of the State Services (DSS) from participating and providing security for the conduct of the elections.
Justice Lifu held that the update and revision of the voters’ register by INEC ought to have been concluded 90 days before an election date can be legally fixed in law.
The Supreme Court had on July 11, 2024, delivered a landmark judgment on the financial autonomy of Nigeria’s 774 local governments. The apex court also condemned the dissolution of elected local government councils by state governors.
Delivering the lead judgment read by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim in the suit filed by the
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), against the state governments, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, chaired by Justice Mohammed Garba, disagreed with the position of the state governments and ordered that the allocations belonging to the local governments must be paid to local government councils that are democratically elected.
Withholding allocations to local governments would ground many of Nigeria’s 774 local governments. It could also bring untoward hardship to the citizens, who should enjoy the dividends of democracy at the grassroots.
This was why, shortly after the judgment, the federal and state governments, through the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), met and agreed that the judgment should be implemented after three months to give room for local government areas without elected officials to do the needful.
No doubt, the two court conflicting orders over the Rivers State local government elections led to a near breakdown of law and order in the state before and during the elections as Wike’s loyalists in both the APC and PDP embarked on protests in their efforts to stop and frustrate the conduct of the polls.
On the other hand, Fubara’s supporters queried why the judgment of the Supreme Court and the resolution of the NGF should be thwarted by Justice Lifu.
They cited Section 84, subsection 15 of the Electoral Act 2022 which bars courts from stopping the conduct of elections.
Many legal analysts were also shocked that Justice Lifu made attempt to stop the conduct of the elections ordered by the apex court.
On many occasions, legal and political pundits had frowned at the questionable role of some Nigerian judges who have become part of the challenges facing the country’s democracy with their conflicting orders especially those by courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
They had predicted that if the trend was not stopped, it could set the country on fire, yet nobody listened.
While successive Chief Justices of Nigeria as the chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), refused to take drastic actions against judges who indulged in these ignoble actions, the incumbent, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun after she was sworn in as substantive CJN, had vowed to restore the dignity of the judiciary.
The new CJN had noted that the issue of “forum shopping” by some lawyers was not only rampant but had often given rise to the emergence of conflicting orders by courts of coordinate jurisdiction. However, barely a week after she stated this, Kekere-Ekun was confronted with the menace of conflicting court orders on Rivers local government elections by a court of coordinate jurisdiction.
This is why former President Goodluck Jonathan called on the NJC to take immediate and drastic actions against such behaviour. While urging all political actors in the crisis to be circumspect and patriotic in the pursuit of their political ambition and relevance, Jonathan warned: “The political situation in Rivers State, mirrors our past, the crisis of the old Western Region. I, therefore, warn that Rivers should not be used as crystals that will form the block that will collapse our democracy.”
Fubara’s supporters and some analysts believe that President Bola Tinubu should call Wike to order for peace to reign in the state. They alleged that the minister’s actions are destroying the country’s democracy.
But the minister had attributed the crisis to Fubara’s refusal to obey the judgment of Justice Lifu, insisting that refusal to obey court orders breed anarchy.
In the last few weeks, former presidential candidateofNewNigeriaPeople’sParty(NNPP), AlhajiRabiuKwankwaso,hasbeentalkingtough on how his party would defeat other political parties in 2027.
Basking in the euphoria of the defections from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to his NNPP, the former governor of Kano State has been accusing the APC of bad governance and predicting its downfall.
He had equally described the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a completely dead political party.
But what he does not realise is that if APC has failed Nigerians as he claimed, he is among the few politicians that created the problems due to their selfish motives.
Havingknownhowdifficultitwouldbetodethrone the APC being the party in power, Kwankwaso had the opportunity to form alliance with the PDP and Labour Party, just as the coalition of political parties formed APC to sack the PDP in 2015. Butbecauseofprideandselfishness,Kwankwaso andotheroppositionleadersrefusedtoformalliance and he ended up coming a distant fourth position in the election.
He had even dismissed the idea being the running mate of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, on the grounds that he was far ahead of the former Anambra State governor in politics. However, the outcome of the election has today shownwhoisaheadofeachotherinNigerianpolitics between him and Obi.
Now,aheadofthe2027elections,ratherthanstrategising on how to form an alliance or a possible merger, he has been overheating the polity with tough talks, and taunting other political parties.
Meanwhile, all his attention was focused on the North as he thinks that winning the North alone is enough to give him the presidency in 2027.
He should better learn from the mistake of former President Muhammadu Buhari, which robbed himself of victory thrice before he eventually won in 2015 with the support of now President Bola Tinubu.
It took Buhari’s CPC to merge with other parties to form theAPCbeforehecouldwinthe2015presidentialelection.
If Kwankwaso is really serious about 2027, the time to start the merger or alliance talks is now, instead of overheating the polity.
The Friday’s factionalisation of the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party is the consequence of the party’s failure to maintain discipline among its members, promote justice and fairness, and sanction the agents of external forces, who hijacked its leadership, and were leading it to the slaughter house, e jiofor Alike reports
The National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja and the offices of the supporters of the ruling party in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have erupted in jubilation last weekend when the news of the factionalisation of the national leadership of the PDP broke with Yayari Ahmed Mohammed and IIIiya Umar Damagum, leading each of the two factions.
With each of the two leading opposition parties - the PDP and the Labour Party (LP) - parading two national chairmen, the ruling APC may already be coasting to victory in the yet-to-be held 2027 general election.
Before its national leadership was factionalised, internal discipline, party supremacy and internal cohesion had vanished from the PDP.
PDP is the only political party where a prominent member can choose the candidate of any other party of his choice to support in any election without facing any disciplinary action.
Any prominent member of the PDP can also go to the press to threaten and mock all the governors elected on the platform of the party, malign the party’s leadership and de-market its candidate in an election without any sanction.
PDP ran into troubled waters when it failed to address the genuine grievances arising from the emergence of its presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the 2023 general election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Delta State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, respectively.
After losing the presidential ticket to Atiku in a hotly contested presidential primary, the then Rivers State governor and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was alleged to have lobbied to become Atiku’s running mate.
A former senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, had while speaking on ARISE NEWS Channel, claimed that: “He (Wike) called me 19 times in two hours when Atiku was going to mention his vice-presidential candidate, lobbying me with everything possible to influence Atiku to announce him as his running mate.”
However, Atiku settled for the then Delta State governor, Okowa, as his running mate.
Apparently aggrieved that he lost both the presidential and the vice-presidential tickets of the party, despite what he strongly believed was his enormous contributions to rebuild the party, Wike mobilised four other PDP governors under the umbrella of G-5 to work against the victory of the party in the 2023 presidential election.
According to insiders, the FCT minister
had stood by the party when it was abandoned by Atiku; former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki; former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, and other PDP governors, who had defected to the APC ahead of the 2015 general election.
One of Wike’s loyalists told THISDAY that after losing the two tickets, the former Rivers State governor, though still in the PDP, started building a new alliance with the APC leaders, a party he had once described as cancer at stage four.
Speculations of his imminent defection to the APC had heightened following his reported meeting with the then presidential candidate of the APC, President Bola Tinubu in London.
Despite courting the leaders of the ruling party, Wike and his camp were never called to order as the PDP neither made deliberate efforts to address their grievances nor sanctioned them for anti-party activities.
Wike’s loyalists believe that he justifi-
ably felt betrayed by the PDP leaders who had left the party to be destroyed in the hands of the agents of the ruling party when Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was piloting the affairs of the main opposition party.
According to one of Wike’s loyalists, he unilaterally deployed enormous resources to rescue the PDP from the grip of the agents of destructive forces but Atiku and others who under the umbrella of the nPDP, had left the party in “carcass,” returned and hijacked the presidential ticket when it was obviously the turn of the southern part of the country to produce the president.
According to the Wike’s loyalist, the FCT minister was also displeased with Tambuwal, whom he allegedly supported his presidential ambition in 2018, only for the former Sokoto State governor to throw his weight behind Atiku against him in the party’s presidential primary in 2022.
Consequently, Wike and his G-5 governors worked against Atiku in the presidential election and facilitated Tinubu’s victory, claiming they were fighting for justice and the return of power to the southern part of the country.
Expectedly, Wike was compensated with the position of the FCT minister where he has been working for the APC, while retaining his membership of the PDP.
But despite being PDP members, Wike and his loyalists worked against the victory of the party in the recent governorship election in Edo State.
Wike’s recent war of words with the PDP governors over the political crisis in Rivers State was also another consequence of the party’s failure to put its house in order.
With the PDP failure to address these internal wranglings, it was not surprising that its national leadership, which had already been hijacked by the agents of the APC, was factionalised into two last Friday.
Before the factionalisation of the party’s leadership, the running of the affairs of the party by Damagum had been characterised by intrigues, and shadow-boxing, which made it difficult for the top organs of the party to hold meetings as at when due.
The NWC members at last Thursday’s meeting were split sharply along the line of those loyal to the FCT minister and those purportedly rooting for the supremacy of the party’s Constitution. However, the Wike-backed faction led by the party’s National Chairman, Damagum on Friday suspended the National Legal Adviser, Adeyemi Ajibade, and the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and set up a committee to probe their alleged disloyalty to the party.
In a statement on Friday morning, the factional acting National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga said the decision to suspend the duo was reached at the 593rd meeting of the NWC held on October 10, 2024. Manga and Okechukwu Osuoha, were appointed as replacements for the duo.
But in a counter reaction, the factional National Publicity Secretary, Ologunagba, in a detailed statement, announced the suspension of Damagum and the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, by the NWC due to what the statement described as the series of complaints raised against the duo.
With this latest development, it is obvious that external forces, which had hijacked the party, have destroyed it for the APC to coast to victory in the 2027 general election.
Though Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, later on Friday, gave a restraining order against the removal of Damagum until December 2025, two national leaders have emerged for the party, setting it on the path of imminent implosion.
The setting up of a seven-member panel to investigate killings and destruction of property at some local government secretariats in Rivers State by Governor Siminalayi Fubara is certainly one good way to put an end to frequent destruction of public infrastructure in the state.
Recall that last Monday, hoodlums razed sections of three LGA secretariats in the state - Emohua, Eleme and Ikwerre - to prevent the elected local government chairmen and councillors from resuming their duties.
Five persons were also reportedly killed during the violence that occurred at some LGA secretariats.
The pre-and post-election crises in the state were exacerbated by conflicting court orders and pushback from the All
Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Following the crisis, the governor last Tuesday inaugurated the panel to unravel the causes of the violence and individuals responsible for the attacks on LGA secretariats in the state. He vowed that his administration would bring the perpetrators to book no matter the personalities involved.
However, since the offences involved are of criminal nature, which may require the intervention of the police for the arrest and prosecution of culprits, one wonders how the governor can bring these monsters to book, given his strained relationship with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun over the alleged partisan role of the police in the crisis in the state.
Already, Fubara’s camp had raised the alarm
on an alleged plot by the police authorities to frame members of the camp with fabricated charges and embark on their massive arrests.
According to Fubara’s camp, that was how the IG ordered similar raids on the leaders and supporters of the PDP in Edo State who were detained in Abuja a few weeks prior to the recent governorship election in the state to weaken the party and reduce its chances of victory in the governorship election. They believe the same forces fighting Fubara in Rivers State were the same forces that fought the PDP in Edo State.
Again, with the shameful role of some Nigerian judges who have become part of the challenges facing Nigeria’s democracy, the likely event of one of the parties procuring court orders to stop the probe is strong.
Whether Fubara has the capacity to deal with these monsters or not will be known in the coming weeks.
crisis is getting out of hand and the risks are too high for us to ignore. Sadly, this is a country where we never learn our lessons.
I worry about Rivers in many ways. First: the threat to national security. When oil-based kidnappings and pipeline sabotage began in the state in 2005 or thereabouts, we thought there was really nothing to worry about. Today, we have territories run by militants and ex-militants. Second: the threat to the national economy. As I have argued here many times, the economic challenges we are facing today are fundamentally because we are not earning enough petrodollars, and this can be traced to many factors, including the negative impact of the unrest in the Niger Delta on investments in the petroleum sector over the years. We can do with some peace in the oil-producing region.
My worry has now moved another level: the disturbing role of the judiciary in the desecration of our democracy. How can a court rule that the police should not provide security during an election? What is that? The constitutional role of the police is to secure life and property. Every Nigerian deserves to be protected no matter his or her political choices. It is fundamental. How on earth can a court rule that police should not provide security? At this rate, bandits and oil thieves, operating through lawyers, will soon procure court injunctions banning the police, the army and other agencies from providing security
CELEBRATING MACARTHUR
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation commemorated its 30th anniversary of development work in Nigeria on Wednesday, while Dr Kole Shettima, the Africa director, marked his 25th year as director of Nigeria office. MacArthur’s contributions to key sectors in Nigeria — ranging from health and education to human rights and media — have been huge and impactful. The Cable Foundation, which I head, is a beneficiary of MacArthur’s support for investigative and solutions journalism. Shettima has been an exemplary leader, mentor and motivator, supported by the extraordinary Dr Amina Salihu and other colleagues. Congratulations are definitely in order. Legacy.
at certain locations in the country. We are gradually getting to that stage.
The police actually withdrew from council headquarters in Rivers state on Monday and hell was let loose shortly after, with at least three buildings vandalised and set on fire by political thugs. That is the story of Nigeria in 2024 — sadly on the 64th anniversary of our independence and 110th year of amalgamation. Are we going forward or backward? President Bola Tinubu must, as a matter of urgency, call the warring factions to order before bigger and irreversible damage is done to this country. Politics cannot be everything and everything cannot be politics. People must know how to win and how to lose, how to advance and how to retreat. No individual is bigger than the society.
I decided not to write on Rivers but I would still want to remind the National Judicial Council (NJC) of its responsibility. These funny injunctions might be doing the bidding of politicians, but the judiciary has become a laughing stock. It looks like the judiciary has totally taken over our democracy, determining who should be party chairman, who should be deputy governor, who should be governor and when the police should provide security or when not to. This is downright dangerous. The lawyers who help to ridicule the judiciary with frivolous applications must also come under scrutiny if we want to run a decent society. Things are getting out of hand. There
must be a limit.
Compare this to Italy, where a court jailed two prosecutors, Fabio De Pasquale and Sergio Spadaro, on Tuesday for professional misconduct. They hid vital evidence that would have exonerated Shell and Eni in the OPL 245 trial. A Brescia court, chaired by Roberto Spanò, ruled that the prosecutors were obligated to present every document — even if it favoured the other side. But in a similar trial in Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, former attorney-general of the federation, was falsely accused of buying a N300 million property from the OPL 245 “bribe” — even when all the evidence points to the fact that the house in question is owned by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
In fact, documents showed that Adoke had taken a bank loan of N300 million in 2012 to buy the property valued at N500 million. But on failing to pay up his N200 million equity contribution after a year, he lost the offer. The vendor returned the N300 million to the bank, retrieved the land papers and sold the property to the CBN. I saw the transaction documents. But the prosecutors still went ahead to tell a federal high court that it was a bribe from OPL 245 resolution. Yet, in another case before the FCT high court, the same prosecutors admitted that the N300 million was a bank loan. Contradiction. The courts discharged and acquitted Adoke, but the prosecutors went unpunished.
With the unending hikes in the price of petrol, there is a campaign for Nigerians to adopt vehicles powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) as the antidote. CNG is cleaner and far cheaper. It has become very popular in countries like Iran, Argentina, Brazil and China. The downsides, though, are also there: cost of conversion and the mammoth space required for the cylinder. My opinion has been that mass transportation vehicles powered by CNG should have been sufficiently incentivised to be on the ground long before now. It would have made it much easier to manage the impact of high petrol prices on the masses. But, trust us, we prefer to put the cart before the horse. Typical.
Those who have been following the trajectory of the Covenant University (CU) are not that surprised that the privately run institution has been scoring high marks. It is the vision of the founder, Bishop David Oyedepo. CU has just been named the best university in Nigeria by THE Rankings, a comprehensive global ranking of universities. CU has been ranked Nigeria’s No 1 four times since 2019, exchanging places with only the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s premier university funded by the federal government. The CU story confirms what I have always believed: that every ingredient to make Nigeria great is here with us. When we get the leadership right, we will go places. Vision.
The governors are not deciding the outcome of the LGA elections merely because they have the resources and the structures to determine electoral outcomes at the subnational level (otherwise, they would have been determining 100% the outcomes of all other elections held at the state level). Governors have an oversize influence on local elections simply because the SIECs, which conduct LGA elections, are fully in their pockets. The ‘independent’ in the name of SIECs is a semantic mockery. The SIECs are anything but independent. The governors constitute (and decide when to constitute) the SIECs. The governors fund and decide when to and how well to fund them. As long as this arrangement remains in place, the governors will continue to impose their puppets as LGA chairpersons and councillors.
My sense is that there is an emerging consensus on the need to break governors’ chokehold over SIECs, and by extension LGA elections. However, opinion is divided on what to do. There are those who believe SIECs can be made truly independent. Some others prefer that all elections should be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Senate is working on creating a federal agency just for local council elections. I have my reservations about some of the options and also have my preference, but that is neither here nor there. What is important is that we need to fashion a way to take our LGA elections from the big joke that the governors have turned them into.
Outcomes of LGA elections should reflect the choices and the diversity of the local communities. Put another way, we need to make our local politics/elections truly local again (it used to be). It is when local officials are those truly elected by the local people that the elected will feel an obligation to be answerable to the people and be responsive to their needs and when the people will feel empowered to hold the elected to account. Financial autonomy to LGAs will not mean much if the people do not have a say on who runs their affairs and if those entrusted with power do not think they need the people to
get into and stay in office.
Of course, the status quo favoured by the governors would not simply disappear because of Supreme Court’s ruling or merely because of our expectations. The outcome of LGA elections conducted in 12 states after the judgment of the apex court has made that point abundantly clear. There is some serious work to be done by all of us not only to make LGA elections truly free, fair and credible but, more importantly, to improve the quality of governance and service delivery at the local level across the country. As I have said repeatedly here and elsewhere, Nigeria will be a considerably better place if our LGAs (with the resources and responsibilities assigned to them) are run in a more responsive, accountable, competent, efficient and effective manner. Financial autonomy, which the Supreme Court has granted, is good thing but it can’t be the cure-all. It can only be a starting point.
MacArthur
Last week, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, an American philanthropic organisation with offices in Nigeria, India and USA, rolled out the drums to mark some momentous milestones. The first, and the highpoint, was the celebration of its three decades of identifying and walking with Nigeria, staying the course, and making significant and catalytic interventions targeted at supporting the Nigerian government, civil society organisations and individuals to tackle some of the key constraints to human development and overall national development in the country.
MacArthur Foundation came into Nigeria in 1994, at a time when the country was embroiled in the political and economic uncertainty that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and when a ruthless military dictatorship was unfolding. This was a period when many Nigerians and friends of Nigeria were doubtful of what the future held and not sure if the country would even hold together.
In any case, I was not planning to write on the OPL 245 saga. It is in the past. The current troubles in Nigeria are sufficient for the day thereof. We have enough crises in our hands, which are now further fuelled by another upward adjustment in the price of petrol. NNPC says it is market forces at play, but Nigerians are crying that the pains of Tinubu’s reforms are getting out of hand. Tariffs are rising. Prices are rising. Inflation is biting hard. Incomes are losing value. I am old enough to say this is one of the toughest times in the history of Nigeria. I would only rate 1983/84 a little tougher because we were queuing up to buy essential commodities as a result of their unavailability in the open market.
I still decided not to write about the new petrol price. It is now clear that Tinubu is determined to free the pricing of petrol. No matter the pains and complaints, he will not change his mind. While this will align with what obtains in most countries, I now hope our leaders will also align with the demands of good governance. I hope Nigerians will organise themselves to demand accountability, to look into every kobo being saved from subsidy removal, and to demand that the money is spent on making life better through improved healthcare, education and critical infrastructure. Otherwise, we will just suffer reform pains for nothing. Our latter end will be worse than the former.
Did you hear this? On October 5, the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) conducted election in the 31 LGAs of the state. Prof Inyang Ating, the returning officer for Essien Udim LGA — home of Senate President Godswill Akpabio (APC) — declared PDP’s Enobong Patrick Friday winner with 55,612 votes, while APC’s Usoro Ntiedo got 686 votes. The following day, though, AKISIEC announced APC as the winner of Akpabio’s LGA. We know elections in Nigeria are full of wonders without numbers, but I must pay special homage to AKISIEC for the miracle that happened between Saturday and Sunday that transformed the scores and handed victory to APC. Wonderful.
Other donor organisations operated from a safe distance, either in their home countries or in neighbouring countries. Some closed shop or scaled down.
But it was at this moment of national turmoil and doubt that MacArthur Foundation decided to pitch its lot, in country, with Nigeria. Under the able leadership of Professor Bolanle Awe, eminent historian and gender activist, the foundation started life in Nigeria with a population and reproductive health programme, which contributed to saving lives through improvement in health services and reduction in maternal and infant mortality in the country.
Since that entry in 1994, the foundation has not wavered on Nigeria. It not only stayed but also expanded its portfolio to other equally impactful areas like human rights and justice sector reforms, gender and social inclusion, and capacity development for higher education. In the last 30 years, MacArthur Foundation has awarded close to 1000 grants amounting to about $320 million to 500 organisations and individuals, according to Professor John Palfry, the current president of the foundation who was on hand to witness the celebration with some members of his senior team and a member of the foundation’s board, Professor Funmi Olopade.
The cross-section of Nigerians—from far and wide and across generations and sectors—that turned up in Abuja last week for the 30th anniversary event is an acknowledgement of and an ode to the MacArthur brand of philanthropy. A proud and grateful Professor Awe, now a nonagenarian but still lucid, was on hand to join the celebration and move to the beats.
The foundation’s second milestone was a couple of activities organised to mark the winding down of the bet it took on Nigeria nine years ago. The Big Bet On Nigeria commenced in 2016 and terminates in a few months. The overall goal of the intervention is to reduce corruption by supporting Nigerian-led efforts that strengthen transparency, accountability and participation.
The On Nigeria programme is indeed a big bet on the country. It accounts for more than half of MacArthur’s grant in its 30 years of operating in the country. Specifically, the foundation has given out more than $150 million in grants to more than 200 grantees and subgrantees in four cohorts: media and journalism; behavioural change; criminal justice reform; and advocacy and accountability. Grantees cut across anti-corruption agencies, academia and think tanks, civil society and media. Beyond providing grants, MacArthur has also invested in building the capacity of its grantees, challenging and helping them to devise strategies for sustaining their important work beyond the life of the programme, and nurturing a coalition of change agents and partners within and outside of government. Beyond the well-documented impact of the big bet on Nigeria, its effects will continue to reverberate in years and decades to come. The third milestone is understated but equally significant and can be classed as the connecting thread between the other two: the celebration of Dr Kole Shettima’s 25th year at the foundation. Dr. Shettima joined MacArthur in 1999, took the torch from Professor Awe and has kept it alive and aloft since. One of Nigeria’s leading political scientists, he is the country director of the foundation. Along with Erin Sines, he is the co-director of the On Nigeria Programme.
Unassuming and approachable, Dr Shettima seems incapable of the kind of the hubris common with a breed of grant makers in this clime. His passion, compassion and ethics are unmistakable, even when he doesn’t go around advertising them. He has contributed not only to sculpting the work and image of MacArthur in Nigeria but also to shaping the values and outlook of his colleagues in the Abuja office. An encounter with any of them, from the highest to the lowest, leaves a firm impression of how he has successfully moulded a passionate and professional team. He is a great leader and an all-round great man. He deserves his flowers.
On May 17th 2024, this column published a piece with the tittle “An Emperor and His Nemesis”. It was a prognostic analysis of the impending political crisis in Rivers State because of the suffocating hold of ex-governorWike on his surrogate, Siminalayi Fubara, the incumbent governor of the state. Recent events in the politics of the state, especially the just concluded successful local government election coup by the governor, indicate an inevitable nasty end to Mr. Wike’s untidy career as an overbearing political godfather. We may indeed be witnessing Mr. Wike’s speedy race into political irrelevance and inevitable Harakiri.
The drama of unrelenting political bad behaviour in Rivers State has entered a decisive street corner. Incumbent governor Mr. Siminalayi Fubara has dealt what looks like a killer blow on his principal political adversary godfather. The Governor, pushed to the wall for most of his one and half year tenure, has managed to survive on political life support. It has beena combinationof legalsomersaultsandpolitical gymnastics.
Conflicting court orders and judgments have climbed on each other just as political strategems have wrestled with each other. But last weekend, Governor Fubara’s latest political ingenuity paid off. He organized a local government election with all candidates for the 23 local governments drawn from a strange APP –All Peoples Party. In a political quicksand, all but one of the local government council chairmanshipswerewonbycandidatesofthestrange party. By this masterstroke, Governor Fubara has further spinned the ever turning political wheel on his chief adversary, FCT minister, Nyesom Wike. This outcomes means that the grassroots political machinery of the state is now squarely in the hands of the embattled governor.
In the interim, all the political outcomes seem to favour the governor even though the aftershocks are still gathering storm. But most of the significant political voices in the state and around the country have come out openly to condemn Mr. Wike’s long standing nuisance value in the politics of the state. While the Rivers storm continues to blow, most speculations are that Mr. Wike’s imperial reign over Rivers politics seems to be entering its final days.
Noonecanignorethetragicaftermathoftherecent local government elections either. At least three local government secretariats have been razed. Property has been destroyed while some lives have been lost. The credibility of the Nigeria police as an agent of law and order has been badly degraded as accusations of partisanship fly around. Predictably, the judicial battles are far from over. The Abuja Federal High Court has ruled in favour of the legitimacy of the pro-Wike opposition House of Assembly. Governor Fubara has since rushed to the Supreme Court to challenge this ruling.
In the aftermath of the post-Local government election agitations and violence, the partisans have revertedtotheirexpectedrecourse.GovernorFubara has taken recourse to government’s responsibility to investigate the violent reactions and identify their authors. On their part, the disaffected partisans have continuedtoprotestandprepareforfurtherdisorder and court mischief.
The Rivers political crisis is far from over. At best, the grassroots will be dominated by governor Fubara while the legislative power in Port Harcourt may be shared between the governor’s loyalists and his opposition legislators.The rest is a matter for political navigation.
Unfortunately,astheunfoldingdramagoeson,there is very little real governance going on in the state. If thisturfwargoesonandworsens,Riversstatemaybe another sad case of a state with immense resources but an arrested development. The ordinary people of the state may end up as the ultimate losers in this drama of an emperor with his ultimate nemesis.
The nasty wrestle between Governor Fubara and his mentor reveals the full gamut of intrigues that usuallycharacterizetherelationshipbetweenpolitical god fathers and their surrogates. Mr. Wike did an untidy job of handing the baton of state governorship to his former state Accountant General. The illicit logic was perhaps that the critical challenge of all former governors in Nigeria is the extent to which they control the bag of nasty tricks played with public money while they were in office. Who better to guard your money secrets when you leave office than the chief book keeper of the state?That thinking seems to be what fueled the emergence of Mr. Fubara.The childish logic behind that calculation
seems to have gone up in smoke now that governor Fubara, has rediscovered that he is first and foremost a state governor and not an errand boy of a departed emperor. His recognition seems to be that he needs to be in both office and in power in order to command credibility no matter how they got to office.
The trouble is perhaps that Mr. Wike schemed to put Fubara in office and not in power from the beginning. The governor seems to have realized that the opposite is what he needs. He needs to be in both power and in political office. The key hubris committed by Mr. Wike is that he did not allow Fubara to be minimally in office. He therefore reportedly surrounded the new governor with commissioners whom he himself chose. He reportedly dictated the portfolios, reporting line and created a separate line of reporting which ultimately ended with him in far away Abuja. Most importantly, all the state legislators were sponsored and loyal to Mr. Wike.
As it were,Wike was also to informally run Rivers State from his duty post in Abuja. He alsoputinplaceacoterieoflocalgovernment chairpersons in all 23 local governments. Effectively, the entire political structure of Rivers state was in Mr. Wike’s back pocket. He himself openly boasted that he had paid the nomination fees of all political office holders in the state.
In order to keep his home base in tact politically, Wike maintained an eagle eyed watch over the state as an extension of his political manor. He had while in office either alienated or marginalized all major political voices in the state. An army of political jobbers and handpicked war lords maintained surveillance for Mr. Wike from inside the governor’s office, the state assembly and the local governments. An imperial rule was put in place over an entire state and has lasted for nearly 9 years.
But in pursuit of his imperial oversight over the state, Mr. Wike forgot a few rules of power incumbency. A man in a powerful political office such as that of a state governorship would want to be seen to wield the power of his office. Secondly, there can be onlyonecaptainonboardashipofstate. The commissioners were either serving Wike or Fubara. Similarly, the state legislators could not afford to be at variance with
the governor who pays their salaries, allowances and sundry costs. Most importantly, the rule that governs the relationship of a political godfather and his surrogate is ruled by distance. The political god father must keep his distance.
Agodfatherwhoinsistsonhavingoverridinginfluence over his surrogate and also sharing political visibility and the limelight with the surrogate is preparing for suicide. Wike wanted both control, influence and visibility. At the slightest opportunity, he was present in Rivers state, attending church events,childnamingceremoniesandinconsequential political hangouts. He readily converted them into childish political sermons and an opportunity to visit key constituencies and holding sundry political meetings. Confronted with such a god- father, the incumbent who wants to survive in office has only one choice: commit political regicide in order to regain his freedom and realize the object of his ascendancy.
Ordinarily, President Tinubu should have intervened to ease the political tension. Instead, the role of President Tinubu in the crisis is a bit more problematic. He had a primary responsibility to ensure peace and security in Rivers state failing which he would be confronted with an impossible national security challenge. He needed to protect Wike who had become his political axe man in Rivers in order to use him to guarantee APC support in the strategic state.
Ostensibly, Wike had risked his political neck in order to guarantee both electoral victory and political support for Tinubu and the APC in Rivers. The President needed to play multiple impossible roles: impartial political arbiter as head of state, interested political leader of an embattled APC in Rivers, the protector of the political interest of his minister of the strategic FCT. That was the source of the early agreement that restored minimal cooperationbetweenWikeandFubara.Butthatrespite evaporated soon enough because it was untenable and not founded in any sensible appreciation of the realities of Rivers politics.Tinubu’s earlier intervention was too heavily weighted in favour of Wike to be tenable.
Butthegroundsofthatagreementwereprecarious and tenuous. It did not have understanding or control ofthecrucialfactorsthatdeterminewhathappensin Riverspolitics.Theflowofmoneytooilthemachinery of support cannot be controlled from Abuja at this point. There is no open campaign and so ‘political money’ cannot be used to buy support in the state. There is a limit to Wike’s personal war chest. He is not contesting an election in the state and cannot run riot with FCT resources as he probably could
with state resources as Rivers state governor. Only Mr. Fubara has control over the money and power required to keep political support in Rivers State. Most importantly, time has passed in favour of the governor and his consolidation of power. He has reached out to his Ijaw roots.They in turn have taken possessionoftheirsoninpower.Fubara’sgovernorship is no longer a private arrangement between him and Wike. It is now an Ijaw governorship pitted against an upland conspiracy symbolized by Wike. In recent times, Ijaw nationalism has acquired an unmistakable militancy which it has weaponized in pursuit of resource control at national and international levels. Niger Delta nationalism in pursuit of resource equity in Nigeria has become part of the international vocabulary about minority rights in the new world. The ability of the Ijaw to make life impossible for the rest of Nigeria is no longer in doubt. That capacity is even more enlarged in the context of states like Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta especially. Therefore, Mr. Wike’s open threats to Fubara’s governorship reminded the governor that he is primarily an Ijaw son. As the political table seems to have turned in favour of Fubara, Tinubu has no choice than to retreat and find cover under the fire power of the changed canvas of the confrontation. He cannot afford to endanger the national oil and gas golden goose of the Niger Delta. He cannot also afford to back a minister who seems to be losing his support base very fast. It is safer to play and sound neutral and statesmanlike. This is why Tinubu has retracted to the “law and order” safe trench while leaving Wike to fend for himself. Meanwhile, the crisis has altered the political landscape of partisan alliances in Rivers state. Key political heavy weights of the old PDP in Rivers have repositioned on the side of the governor and away from the ever belligerent Wike. Key political figures like Odili, Secondus, Opara, Omehia and some in the Amaechi APC have swung towards the governor. Unfortunately, there is no end to the number of political enemies thatWike made during his imperial overlordship of the state as governor. These have now become natural allies of the governor. Inside his own party, the PDP, Mr.Wike may not find the support to fight a local battle in the state. A state that had previously been celebrated as a PDP state is now so badly shaken that it is neither a PDP state nor an APC state. Wike has himself become something of a political bat, neither a bird nor a mammal. He is neither APC nor PDP.
At the national level, he is tolerated by the APC hierarchy as the president’s hatchet man and ‘friend’ but a risky political capital. If Tinubu admits him into APC, it will be a risk he took alone and may have to pay for later. The PDP at the national level cannot re-embrace Wike because he is a divisive figure who hasgrosslydamagedthepartyandliterallyneutralized its national and state chances.
Theinterestingpoliticalspectaclethatliesaheadin Rivers State is not the plight of Fubara.The governor has finally dug into the essential power nexus of the state and also eroded the grassroots power base of his traducer.
What lies ahead is the fate that lies ahead of Mr. Wike. His home base is degraded. His political solidarity in the state is splintered. What remains of it are merely mendicants and lightweights, people who rely on Wike for handouts to keep afloat. Most politically consequential Rivers people have moved on away from Wike.
His national partisan affiliation is doubtful. His continued political relevance now hands mostly on his relationship with President Tinubu and his nuisance presence as FCT minister. If he loses the confidence of Tinubu or loses his portfolio as FCT minister, he might as well find himself an exile home in Abuja.What remains of it are merely mendicants and lightweights, people who rely on Wike for handouts to keep afloat. Most politically consequential Rivers people have moved on away from Wike. He has to face the many tragic possibilities that await a political god father when they run out of relevance and options. First, he could be chased into involuntary exile by his erstwhile surrogate.The man he created and installed could make life impossible for him by eroding all his leverage on resources and patronage.Hemightevenneedthewrittenpermission of the incumbent to visit his home village in extreme cases.Thegodfathercouldbeliterally“killed”politically by being denied political followership and relevance in his erstwhile power base.
Inallthesegruesomepossibilities,whatwewitness is the previous man of power, a deserted emperor walking towards a deserved Harakiri.
Femi Fani-Kayode
ehold,Iwillmakethem of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not but do lie — behold, I will make them to come and worship at thy feet and to know that I have loved thee” - Revelations 3:9.
There can be no doubt that the scripture above is referring to the Zionists and fake Jews who currently make up the State of Israel.
Worse still in John 8:44 Jesus actually referred to these fake Jews as “the children of the devil”.
The Book of Revelations says that they are of “the Synagogue of Satan” and that “they claim to be Jews but are not”.
Jeremiah 23:3-8 compounds the point by telling us that when Jesus returns He Himself will gather the real Israelites back to Israel.
Despite what people believe this great event has not yet taken place and the so-called establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 was not the one sanctioned or envisaged by God and the Holy Bible.
This begs the question, if the Israel of today is not the one envisioned and promised by the Holy Bible then who and what exactly is it and for whose purpose was it established, God’s or satan’s?
Who and what is this boastful, vain, calamitous and fatherless monstrosity that boastfully flies the Star of David and that has brought so much havoc to the world?
Who and what is this strange, arrogant, cantankerous, overbearing and belligerent entity that falsely lays claim to being a divine resurrection of the Biblical Promise Land but is instead a torment to its neighbours and an ugly scar to the world?
These are questions for another day but what can be said for now and hardly disputed is the following.
In view of its racist laws and disposition and the monumental carnage and horror that it has visited on the innocent and defenceless women and children of Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon over the last one year and given the heinous crimes that it has subjected the Palestinians to over the last 76 years, the Israel of today can best be described as a vicious, bestial and callous ethno-supremacist, fascist, apartheid state that has no right to exist.
It is also a citadel of religious bigotry and extremism and a repugnant and repulsive repository and sewer of the most insidious and vicious form of Zionist propaganda and Jewish proselysation.
It is an evil and genocidal entity whose intention is to eliminate and eradicate every single Arab man, woman and child in the Arab Gulf and all the nations and territories that exist between Egypt and Iran and forcefully occupy their land. If Nazi Germany forfeited the right to exist as a consequence of the Holocaust perpetuated against the Jews before and during World War 11 why should Israel not forfeit the same right for doing precisely the same thing to the Palestinians 80 years later?
For those who dispute the fact that apartheid is alive and well in Israel I urge them to consider the words of Gideon Levi, a highly celebrated and respected Israeli journalist, who said the following at the Oxford Union a few years ago.
“I am an Israeli. I was born in Israel. I am even perceived to be an Israeli patriot. I care about Israel. I belong to Israel and I am attached to Israel. Don’t speak about symmetry because there is no symmetry.
I would even suggest there is no conflict. Was there a French-Algerian conflict?
There was a brutal French occupation in Algeria which came to its end. There is no Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There is a brutal Israeli occupation which must come to an end one way or the other. In our dark backyard there is a regime that today is by far one of the most cruel brutal, tyrannies on earth. Not less than this. I know what I say because I covered it for 40 years and this regime cannot but be defined as apartheid. Two peoples live in one piece of land and one people has all the rights in the world and I am talking only of the occupied territories. Two people share one piece of land there. One people has all the rights in the world, the other people has no rights whatsoever. It looks like apartheid, it talks like apartheid and it is apartheid. Nobody can contradict it: nobody who has been there and nobody who is fair enough to look.
Go to the Jordan valley, see their prosperity in the settlements and then go and see the Palestinians who live there with no electricity, without water, without any rights and then tell me if it’s apartheid or you might invent it another title. When I steal your car I am not in a position to put conditions in returning the car. First of all return the car and the only way to return the car is by giving EQUAL RIGHTS TO THE PALESTINIANS”.
If there are still any righteous and God-fearing men left in Israel, Gideon Levy, who is a regular contributor on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera, is one of them. It takes courage to swim against the tide and speak truth to power when you are a Jew that still lives in Tel Aviv. Kudos to him.
Many talk about the frightful and horrific events of October 7th when the Al Qassam Brigade, the armed wing of the Palestinian resistance movement known as Hamas, struck a devastating retaliatory blow against their oppressors, killed over 1,000 Jews including women and children and abducted over 200 others yet they conveniently forget that Israel struck the first blow in 1948 by killing over 700,000 innocent and defenceless Palestinians, including women and children, and displacing over one million and taking over their homes during the infamous Nakba!
Worst still ever since that time and for the last 76 years hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank have been murdered by Israeli security forces and armed right wing militant settlers, tens of thousands of Palestinian men, women and children have been illegally detained in Israeli prisons whilst Gaza, a tiny strip of land of over 2.5 million Palestinians sandwiched between Israel and the sea was turned into the world’s largest and most degrading concentration camp second only to Auschwitz by the Zionists!
As if that were not harrowing enough let us consider the fact that well over 60,000 civilians, most of whom are still buried below the rubble and three quarters of whom are women and children, have been killed in Gaza by the Israeli Defence Force in the last one year alone!
85,000 tonnes of explosives have been dropped on Gaza by the Israeli Defence Force in the same period and 75% of buildings and infrastructures have been blown up and flattened.
In addition to that ALL of the universities and 95% of schools have been destroyed together with all but one of the thirteen hospitals. Simply put there is no Gaza left!
to cover up what is clearly an evil intent, was NOT a fake document.
Quite apart from that the unspeakable atrocities that have been committed by the rogue Zionist state over the last one year confirms the assertion that the greatest mistake that the world ever made was to allow the State of Israel to be re-established in 1948.
What was essentially an act of charity and kindness borne out of pity and guilt on the part of the Allied Powers after World War 11 may well be the catalyst to World War 111 today and could lead to the utter destruction of humanity. This is indeed food for thought.
Going forward many are beginning to question the right of Israel to exist let alone defend herself. Does an alien invader, an occupier of other people’s land, an ethnic cleanser and a murderous hegemon have the right to continue to rob, subjugate, oppress, butcher and slaughter the indegenous landowners? Does having white skin and European origins confer on the Ashkazi Jews the right to wreak havoc on the Palestinians, the Arabs and the entire Middle East? Are the Jews really a master race that are above all others, that are above international law and that can do no wrong? Was President Emmanuel Macron of France not right when he said that the West should stop supplying arms and lethal weapons to Israel? Is it not time for the United States of America, who are clearly complicit in Israel’s genocide, to regain its sovereignty and independence from AIPAC, the State of Israel and the Jewish lobby in their country? Is it not time for them to review their rabidly pro-Israel policy and join the rest of the civilised world? These are pertinent questions which must be answered at the soonest.
Women, children, infants, babies, students, aid workers, refugees, nurses, doctors, teachers, lecturers, UN officials, hospitals, university campuses, churches, mosques, refugee camps and virtually every other structure and living thing in the strip have not been spared.
A few days ago, CNN reported the following: “According to the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders at least 128 journalists have been killed since the beginning of the war, nearly all of them Palestinian media workers in Gaza killed as a result of Israeli airstrikes. Some of the journalists died while wearing protective gear identifying them as members of the press. Multiple news organizations and free press groups have accused the Israeli military of deliberately targeting journalists.”
One would have thought that the mass slaughter of their colleagues alone if nothing else would have moved the Western media agencies to report the events in Gaza and now Lebanon in a more factual, balanced and objective manner but they have refused to do so and instead continue to cover up the heinous war crimes and crimes against humanity that Israel is indulging in with such impunity.
Those that applaud the barbaric, inhuman and callous actions of the Zionists in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran forget that after the Zionists have finished killing everyone in the Middle East and establishing their ‘Greater Israel’ at the expense of Arab, Muslim and Christian lives, they will seek to subjugate, destroy and bend the rest of the global South to their will.
This is a challenge that we must prepare for and now is the time to build the necessary global, military and regional alliances to resist and thwart it whenever it comes.
Yet the establishment of a ‘Greater Israel’ is not enough for the Zionists: what they really aspire to achieve is the total and complete capitulation and domination of the entire world, the eradication of all of the great faiths including Islam and Christianity and the enthronement of world Jewry.
For them this quest borders on an obsession. It is their ultimate and long term objective and those that doubt it should read the Talmud and the Torah.
They should also read a major literary work known as the Protocols of the Elders of Zion which, contrary to the lie that many Jewish and Western historical revisionists have been peddling and propagating for years in an attempt
This is especially so given the fact that 80% of Israelis have rejected the idea of a two state solution and believe that the Palestinians are sub-human creatures that deserve to continue to live in subjugation and bondage.
In case we are in any doubt about just how perverse, depraved and out of touch with reality most Americans are when it comes to Israel we should consider the words of Gov. Tim Walz who is the running mate to Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming American presidential election.
During the vice presidential debate with Senator J. D. Vance last week he said, “The expansion of Israel is an absolute necessity for the United States”. Whilst the civilised world is calling for restraint, a ceasefire, a cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the crisis many in America are calling for an expansion of Israel’s borders and the establishment of Netanyahu’s dream of a Greater Israel! That can hardly be the way forward.
Those that still doubt the Zionist quest for a Greater Israel would do well to consider the words of Bezalel Smoritch, the Israeli Finance Minister, who said the following.
“I openly declare that we want a Jewish state that includes Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon”.
They should also consider the words of Israeli Heritage Minister Amichi Eliyahu who suggested that a nuclear bomb be dropped on Gaza and that the few Palestinians that may survive it should be driven into the Sinai desert!
Again they should reflect on the words of Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamer Ben Givr, who has been convicted by the Israeli courts on terrorism charges on several occasions and who said,
“My right, my wife’s, my children’s, to roam the roads of Judea and Samaria (meaning the West Bank) are more important than the right of movement of the Arabs. This is the reality and that’s the truth. My right for life comes before their right to movement.”
On other occasions Ben Givr has said even more outrageous things like calling for the storming and destruction of the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem which happens to be Islam’s second most sacred and most famous mosque in order to make way for the building of a Jewish temple on the same spot and he has also called for the summary execution of all Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons in order to make space for others!
Fani-Kayode is former Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation
Peter Obi to Tinubu
“To casually inflict such a draconian measure on the populace from the comfort of an annual vacation amounts to taking the people’s welfare lightly and for granted” – Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, berating President Tinubu for the sudden fuel price hike from the comfort of his annual vacation.
Well, well, well… what an eventful week! So eventful I was unsure of what topic to write about. I started out wanting to do a followup to my last article, ‘On States, Regions and Federalism’. I also wanted to make an important clarification on the Unification Decree of 1966, having forgotten to add that it was repealed a year later. And while I was still thinking, violence broke out in Rivers state after the LG election as the war between Chief Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara advanced to the next stage. I was still trying to catch my breath when the NNPC Ltd announced another increase in the price of petrol. I became confused on the choice of topic. Can you see my predicament?
When I started writing, I wanted to explain that while one military government announced the end of federalism and adopted a unitary system in 1966 (typical of the way military runs things), another military government reversed it in 1967 but it still turned out to be a pseudo-federalism — in the sense that the military high command, represented by the National Military Government (NMG) headed by the supreme commander of the armed forces, still called the shots. Military
governors were appointed by the supreme commander. They were his subordinates. There were many ripples from the new arrangement as the civil war eventually broke out, but that is a topic for another day.
I also wanted to write, for the benefit of
those who may not know, that “republic” does not mean unitary system. I saw a bit of confusion over that. A republic simply means a country is ruled by those elected into power by the citizens — compared to a monarchy where the king or queen has absolute powers.
Although Nigeria became independent in 1960, it was not officially considered a republic because the Queen of England was still the head of state and was represented in that position by the governor-general of Nigeria, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, in a role conferred on him by a special arrangement with his northern allies. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, as prime minister, was the head of government.
In 1963, Nigeria officially became a republic and the role of governor-general was abolished. Azikiwe became president and head of state but the executive powers were with the prime minister as head of government. A parliamentary system separates the positions of head of state and head of government — unlike in a presidential system where the president is both the head of state and head of government. Countries such as the UK, Australia, Canada, Jamaica and New Zealand are officially not republics as the King of England is their head of state. However, for practical purposes, they are republics since they have elected representatives. The king is only a ceremonial leader.
I was still piecing my thoughts together when the Rivers state crisis progressed to another phase. I decided to abandon the federalism topic and write about Wike and Fubara as they fight over who should be Rivers’ head of “state” and head of government. In the first republic, we had premiers and governors under the parliamentary system. They shared duties. Premiers were the chief executives of their regions and ran government business, while governors were the ceremonial heads, performing such functions as making consequential announcements and declaring parliaments open. In a presidential system, governors hold executive powers and do not report to an individual.
In Rivers state, there is clearly a battle between Fubara, the elected governor, and Wike, his benefactor who handpicked him as his successor. The war started as soon as Fubara took office, with Wike complaining openly that his successor was destroying his political structure in the state. To be sure, this is not the first fight between godfathers and godsons in our political history. This war happens all the time. We saw it in Kwara in 1983 and 2003, Anambra in 2003, Oyo in 2006, Lagos in 2019, Edo in 2020 and even in Delta in 2023. However, the Rivers state
In the last three months, 12 states across five of the six geo-political zones have conducted local council elections. Eight other states have announced plans to hold council polls between next week and February 2025. This rash of local elections is in response to the affirmation by the Supreme Court on July 11th that, as mandated by the constitution, local government areas (LGAs) should be run only by democratically-elected administrators. But there is hardly anything that separates the council elections held before and after July 11th. The quality of LGA elections remains below par.
Irrespective of the political diversity and the local issues at play, the political parties that the governors belong to (or are affiliated with) always enjoy a clean sweep in the local polls in the states. There are many states in this country where presidential, gubernational, federal and state parliamentary elections are fiercely contested, where presidential and governorship elections are won narrowly and where available seats for Senate, House of Representatives and state assemblies are split between at least two political parties. But those same states become remarkably one-party states once it comes to LGA elections. Clearly,
something doesn’t add up here.
The farce cuts across party lines, as the 12 local elections held after July 11 have confirmed.
The All Progressives Party (APC) swept all the available seats in Ebonyi, Kebbi, Kwara, Imo, Sokoto, and Benue states where it is the ruling party; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) replicated the same feat in its own domains in Bauchi, Enugu, Plateau and Akwa Ibom (where it magnanimously conceded, and in strange fashion, one out of 31 LGAs to APC); the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ensured that it had a perfect score in Anambra State, the only state it controls; and the Action Peoples Party (APP), a totally unknown party, had a slam dunk in Rivers State (securing 22 out of 23 LGAs) because it is the proxy party of the current governor of the state.
The Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) are expected to follow the trend by picking all the local seats available when Abia and Kano states hold their LGA elections in the next few weeks.
To situate how farcical this clean sweep pattern is, let us look at two electorally diverse/ competitive states that have conducted local elections after July 11th: Plateau and Sokoto states. In the 2023 general election, the main parties polled as follows in Plateau State: 42%
for LP, 28% for APC and 22% for PDP in the presidential election; 48% for PDP, 44% for APC and 7% for LP in the gubernatorial election; PDP won two senatorial seats while APC got one; PDP secured five seats while APC got three seats in the House of Representatives; and for the state House of Assembly, PDP secured 13 seats, APC got nine and Young Progressives Party (YPP) won two. However, this intense level of political competition and diversity disappeared when it came to LGA elections, as PDP, the ruling party in the state, cleared all the chairmanship slots in the 17 LGAs.
It is a different party but the same pattern in Sokoto State. In the 2023 general election, PDP got 49% to APC’s 48% in the presidential election; APC won the governorship with 52% to PDP’s 47%; APC secured two senatorial seats to PDP’s one; APC got eight seats while PDP secured three seats in the House of Representatives; and in the state House of Assembly, APC won 20 seats to PDP’s 10. However, the diversity completely vanished at the LGA level, as APC produced all 23 chairpersons and all 244 councillors. Governors across party lines, and for various political and financial reasons, want the local councils in their breast pockets. Their first preference is to run the LGAs with appointees
who are beholden and answerable only to them. In clear violation of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, governors used to routinely dissolve democratically-elected councils and appoint caretaker committees to run the LGAs. By the time the Supreme Court ruled on this obvious, wilful and flagrant violation of the constitution, caretaker committees were running the show in local councils in 20 of Nigeria’s 36 states.
The governors are now rushing to conduct LGA elections because, with the Supreme Court ruling, they have no cover to continue with their preferred but illegal option. But they have, without great exception, moved on to their second preference: conducting sham LGA elections. And this is easy to do, and is being done by all irrespective of party and religious affiliations, because there is another cover that is still fully in place: the state independent electoral commissions (SIECs), as presently configured, are extensions of state governments. So, the governors have moved, grudgingly, from Option A to Option B while retaining absolute control of those running the councils. Head or tail, they win.
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