Of all Nigerian political elite, our current military-baked ‘new-breed’ politicians have come to be regarded by most Nigerians as the most cynical.  Twenty-six years into the Fourth Republic, Nigerians remember with nostalgia that not even the departing colonial British administrators were this contemptuous.

Unlike our founding fathers that put their differences and individual ambition aside to foist a working federal constitution which defined how we were to live together in peace and justice, as brothers even though tribes and tongue may differ, our current leaders, driven more by greed for power and its dividends, have continued to take Nigerians for a ride. Thinking they could decree unity or wish away tribes, forgetting that tribes are the building blocks of African society, they have wasted billions of taxpayers’ money tinkering with our current unworkable ‘unitary’ constitution. They have done everything except revisiting the national question, which is about the challenges of living together in justice and respect as civilised human beings as was the case until January1966.

Of course, we have had different administrations, including that of President Obasanjo, who probably genuinely believed attainment of economic justice, equitable allocation of resources, and effective and sustainable production and distribution of appropriate goods and services is the ultimate solution to the national question. But we have seen how this was marred by massive looting of the nation’s resources under Obasanjo and Jonathan, especially by those who saw undermining the nation’s economy as an answer to distributive injustice arising from non-resolution of the national question.

We have also seen the effort of the current administration of Tinubu, who believes promoting efficiency within the existing structure will usher in all-round prosperity and life abundant for people of Nigeria, leading to equitable and peaceful cohabitation of the various communities in Nigeria. Even while the jury is out, there is already a basic misconception that leaders of ethnic nationalities in Nigeria who are at different levels of cultural development want life more abundant for their citizens.

It is just as well that the House of Representatives, last Tuesday, rejected a constitutional amendment bill seeking to rotate the office of the president and vice president among the six geopolitical zones of the country. Deputy Minority Leader Aliyu Madaki led the opposition to the bill, saying that issues the bill intends to cure have been addressed by the Federal Character Commission, warning that the issue of rotation should not be included in the constitution, but allowed to remain the way it is.

The dead proposed bill was at best diversionary. The truth is that rotation of the presidency, like past social engineering efforts of the military, including NYSC, quota system of admission into tertiary institutions and bureaucracy, and other government brainwaves turned into government policies in a desperate attempt to ignore the national question, would have failed.

 Zero sum struggles for power at the centre is a symptom of our unresolved national question, just as it is a phenomenon associated with our new-breed politicians.

With our independence constitution, which indeed addressed the national question, the centre was not as attractive. Ahmadu Bello did not think twice before ceding it to Tafawa Balewa, a minority from southern Bauchi, where the Fulani were only being tolerated. Zik had a chance to be prime minister at the centre, but conceded it to Tafawa Balewa, according to him, to promote the unity of the country. The only national leader that seriously aspired to go to the centre, ostensibly to replicate his miracle in the west, was Obafemi Awolowo. And having lost the 1959 election, he offered to serve as Finance Minister under Zik.

That the north has since 1954 dominated the centre was not an accident. At the 1950 Ibadan constitutional debate, the North’s demand for control of fifty percent of members of the House of Representatives, which was not informed by the population factor, as a condition for remaining a part of Nigerian federation, was acceptable to all stakeholders, including the outgoing colonial government, which was ready to do anything to accommodate their preferred successors.

The northern leaders, who never hid their desire to belong only to Nigeria they could control, got what they wanted. The Yoruba, being federalist by nature, wanted a federal constitution or regionalism where the centre will not interfere in how they manage their own affairs The Igbo, a landlocked nation with hostile neighbours, canvassed for a unitary system for a multicultural and heterogeneous society. But in the end, they succumbed to the superior argument of the British umpires, including Oliver Stanley, who reminded them that Nigeria is a multicultural and multilingual society where ethnic nationalities were at different levels of cultural development.

That the age of ‘divine right of Kings’ ended around 1600 did not stop northern leaders from developing a mindset of being born to rule. There was, therefore, continued insistence by the northern hegemonic class including Ahmadu Bello, who according to Clark, swore he would never support southern leaders with real executive power. There was also the late elder statesman, Maitama Sule, Nigeria former permanent representative to the United Nations, who said,” Everyone has a gift from God. The Northerners are endowed by God with leadership qualities. The Yoruba man knows how to earn a living and has diplomatic qualities. The Igbo are gifted in commerce, trade and technology.”  Similarly, not too long ago, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai, tried to justify the northern monopoly of power on the grounds that the north has the population, especially if we accept that democracy is a game of numbers.

Except for the new-breed politicians of the Fourth Republic that breed nothing but corruption, I am not sure old politicians from the east and the west envied the north for its monopoly of power that has brought nothing but misery to the northern masses.

As for the east, despite being out of power but serving only as ever- willing bride to the northern hegemonic group to satisfy the demand of politics of participation and identification, the east was adjudged the fastest growing economy in the world in the early sixties. The west, which accepted its role as that of opposition, was ahead of the two other regions, paying higher minimum wage than even the federal government and sending more western region youths on foreign scholarship than the colonial master ever did for the whole of Nigeria in three years.

What made all the difference was the independence constitution, which not only provided an answer to the national question by defining how we live as human beings in control of different culture, language and the education of their children, but also allowed groups/regions to develop at their own pace without interference from others.

But the coalition partners made up of the hegemonic ruling cast in the north and their ever-willing bride were envious of the independence and giant strides of the western region. They, in breach of the constitution, interfered in the affairs of the west. In 1962, Chief SL Akintola, the premier of the west, was removed from power by 82 votes to 29 for anti-party offences. Chief Adegbenro was constitutionally sworn in as replacement. Premiers Ahmadu Bello and Okpara refused to recognise him as stipulated by the constitution, despite the Privy Council judicial pronouncement that upheld the action of the governor of western region.  A subsequent attempt to pass a vote of confidence in Adegbenro at the western house was resisted by a few NCNC members who started throwing chairs. This was all the coalition partners who did not declare a state of emergency in the north or in the east, where there had been Tiv popular uprising and Isaac Boro insurrection suppressed by the military, needed to declare a state of emergency in the west.

With the declaration of a state of emergency, Awo was detained in mosquito-infested Lekki while Akintola was installed premier of the west without an election. While in detention, Awo was charged with treasonable felony – attempt to overthrow her majesty’s government and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. The military finally intervened in January 19666 to end the First Republic while the ‘living’ constitution was thrown into the dustbin.

While our current new-breed leaders play the ostrich, concerned Nigerians stakeholders are saying if we don’t know where we are going after 59 years in the wilderness, it makes sense to return to where the rain started to beat us.  It is for this reason many Nigerians believe we had more freedom and attracted more respect from the colonial masters than our new-breed politicians that have since the beginning of the Fourth Republic swindled Nigerians of billions of naira on self-serving periodic constitutional review without addressing the fundamental issue of the national question.

We all know that our current crisis of nation building, including the Boko Hara insurgency, immigrant Fulani herdsmen criminals, bandits, kidnapping for ransom, massive corruption, are all but symptoms of the unresolved national question.

Aliko Dangote, founder of the Dangote Group, says he would not have built the 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery if he had fully understood the challenges involved.

Dangote spoke on Monday while receiving a delegation from the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) at the Dangote refinery in the state.

According to NAN, he said the scale of the refinery exceeded initial expectations.

“Honestly, if we had fully understood the magnitude and challenges involved, we may not have even attempted it, but it is because we didn’t know what we were into initially and the courage, or maybe, naivety that got us this far,” Dangote said.

He said the refinery was designed to handle large volumes, with up to 600 product vessels and about 240 crude oil tankers expected annually.

The billionaire said the challenges faced during construction included working on swampy terrain, extensive land clearing, and dredging 65 million cubic metres of sand from 20 kilometres offshore.

He said all the efforts were aimed at protecting local fishing communities.

“We had to uproot thousands of trees manually. Sand-filling alone took 18 months, but we made a deliberate decision to preserve the livelihoods of those living nearby, especially fishermen,” Dangote said.

When asked by an engineer how Nigerian professionals could be given more opportunities and take control of their future, Dangote said, “we appreciate that”.

“There are many more projects coming, and with them, we will continue to develop our engineering base,” he said.

“Even when we don’t have enough jobs to give, we must still train people.

“Skills are assets — whether they are used here or abroad. We want Nigeria to earn from exporting knowledge, not just oil.”

He said the project, initially planned to deploy up to 50,000 foreign workers, eventually used only 12,000 to 14,000 expatriates.

Dangote said most of the company’s workforce — including fitters, welders, and engineers — are Nigerians.

‘85% OF COMMISSIONING WORK IN DANGOTE REFINERY DONE BY NIGERIANS’

Speaking further, the entrepreneur said “85 percent of the commissioning work was done by Nigerians”.

“It is not because I am an engineer, but because they have proven to be among the best,” he added.

“Today, we are our own EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractors. We are building this country ourselves.”

Dangote urged members of the NSE branch to view the visit as a step toward aligning with a national vision of self-sufficiency and industrial excellence.

[TheCable]

Last Thursday, I was going through This Day and, on Page 34, I saw a news story titled “DSS Files Charge Against Utomi Over Planned Shadow Government”. I didn’t know how to react, whether to fall on the floor rolling with laughter because it sounded so ludicrous, or whether to cry, because such a serious security agency which Nigerians look upon to take care of their internal security, could be wasting precious time on such instead of concentrating fully on Bandits, Kidnappers, Insurgents, so-called Herdsmen, and all the other new criminals that have emerged to cause Nigeria‘s internal insecurity. The news story stated that the Department of State Services (DSS) had gone to the Federal High Court, to get a perpetual injunction to stop Professor Pat Utomi and his associates from establishing a Shadow Government! The DSS claims that the Shadow Government is contrary to Sections 1(1), (2) & 14(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution). 

One wonders if the DSS or its legal representatives understand what a Shadow Government is, at least, in Prof Utomi’s context, as the term ‘Shadow Government’ could have several appearances, and how needless their action of filing a suit in this regard is. To most Nigerians, it appears like a not-so-subtle attempt to stifle Nigerians’ right to freedom of thought and expression, which is enshrined in Sections 38(1) & 39(1) of the Constitution. See Shuaibu & Ors v Utomwen & Ors (2022) LPELR-58237(CA) per Biobele Abraham Georgewill, JCA on the right to freedom of expression. How does inaugurating a group that shadows government, monitoring whether government delivers good governance and churns out sound economic and public policies, translate to being a group that wants to control government and seize the sovereignty of Nigerians contrary to Sections 1(2) & 14(2)(a) of the Constitution? This is called accountability, checks and balances, encouragement of transparency in governance, and possibly opposition, if the Shadow Group disagrees with government policies; these are essential elements of democracy, and cannot be said to be unconstitutional. Unless there are many more facts that the public is unaware of, beyond Prof Utomi’s television interviews and social media activities which were referred to in the aforementioned news story, it is preposterous to conclude that he’s in breach of the aforementioned Section 1(2) & 14(2)(a) of the Constitution. 

Appearances of Shadow Government 

In the first context, you have a Shadow Government which is a clandestine group, such as a secret cult, populated with members from the different arms of government and all walks of life, and together, the members exercise immense powers over every aspect of government and its policies. This context is not applicable to Prof Utomi’s group, as it’s neither clandestine (some of the names of the members and their designations were published in the aforementioned news story), nor does his group wield any power.

In the second context, a Shadow Government could be an informal group that isn’t publicly accountable, possibly one that comprises of family members, cronies and associates of a political leader/top government official, but is well informed about all the important aspects of governance, even more so than those who may hold office and wields power over government policies, aka ‘Kitchen Cabinet’. We know that this certainly does not and cannot describe Prof Utomi and at least, one of the alleged members of his team, Dele Farotimi, who is a critic of Government. Even as a Politician aspiring to be the APC Delta State Gubernatorial candidate for the 2019 election, sometime in 2018 after the Delta State APC Primaries, a video trended in which Prof Utomi described his fellow APC Members as ‘evil’, because not only was he excluded from the Party Primaries which he was to participate in, the venue of the intra-party event wasn’t even shared with him! Obviously, Prof Utomi, who one can safely conclude has since left APC, is certainly not an inner caucus member of the powers that be, and this context of the definition of Shadow Government is inapplicable to his group, as he is even seen by some as a disgruntled former APC Member who turned sour after failing to achieve his political goal. Prof Utomi wasn’t even given any usual consolation prize appointment, like other party members who don’t get or don’t win their elective positions are usually given.

In the third context, like in the UK, a Shadow Government is simply the strong opposition having its own Shadow Government complete with a Shadow Cabinet who study the policies of the corresponding Cabinet actually in office, criticise them, develop alternative/substitute policies and hold government accountable. For example, the UK Secretary of State for Education is Bridget Phillipson (she had been Shadow Minister with the same portfolio when Labour was the opposition), while the Shadow Minister of Education is now Laura Trott of the Conservative Party. It is in this third context that it makes sense to consider Prof Utomi’s Shadow Group, though they do not appear to have a full Shadow Cabinet, nor can they be said to be a strong opposition, at least, not in the way and manner the Conservative and Labour are to each other. 

In the first context of the clandestine Shadow Government, there should certainly be concern, because no one but the members of their secret group know what their motives and goals are; even the knowledge of the existence such groups or their membership is usually mostly cloudy. In the second and third contexts, the essence of a Shadow Government is obviously not to overthrow the incumbent government. If anything, the second group wants to keep the government in office, so they can continue to wield power, while the third group gains popularity and experience from their shadowing, in preparation for taking up office if their Party wins the next election, as in the case of Bridget Phillipson who took over the substantive Education portfolio she had previously shadowed, when Labour won the election. In short, in the third scenario, such as Prof Utomi’s, unless government is trying to stifle all opposition and in so doing, this may be tantamount to breaching some fundamental rights such as the right to freedom of thought, expression, peaceful assembly, association and freedom from discrimination contrary to Sections 38(1), 39(1), 40 and 42(1)(a) of the Constitution, ordinarily there’s really nothing wrong in having an organised opposition. In Ransome-Kuti & Ors v AGF & Ors (1985) LPELR-2940(SC) per Kayode Eso, JSC, the Supreme Court held inter alia that, fundamental rights stand above the ordinary laws of the land. 

Functions of SSS

The action filed against Prof Utomi, is civil in nature. But, since what the Plaintiff is asking the court for in the case appears to be misconceived, seeing as trying to form a viable opposition is Prof Utomi’s right and cannot by the stretch of a vivid imagination, be said to be him trying to take control of the Government of Nigeria contrary to Section 1(2) of the Constitution, nor can him and his group be said to be trying to wrestle sovereignty from the people of Nigeria whom it belongs to, contrary to Section 14(2)(a) of the Constitution, I decided to examine the action of Prof Utomi through a criminal lens, particularly because the SSS (DSS) exercises criminal jurisdiction. 

The National Security Agencies Act 2006 (NSA Act), the establishment law of Nigeria’s Security Agencies, namely the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and State Security Service (SSS) makes no mention of the DSS as one of the three national security agencies (see Section 1 (a)-(c) of the NSA Act), though the claim by the SSS is that DSS is its alter-ego, the same as SSS, or something like that.

The functions of SSS which are not at large, but border on dealing with crimes that affect the internal security of the country, are set out in Section 2(3) of the NSA Act; and we can easily rule out Section 2(3)(b) which deals with non-military classified matters. See Section 9(1) of the Official Secrets Act 1962 on the definition of classified matter. Prof Utomi, who wasn’t informed of the venue of the Party Primaries in which he was to participate in, and was unable to discover the location of the venue through his own investigative efforts, is unlikely to be in possession of any classified information. There’s nothing classified about Government’s public policies, and letting Nigerians know the pitfalls therein, whether better ideas are put forward or not. This is called freedom of expression. It is bad enough that Chapter II of the Constitution, that is, the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy that makes Government accountable to the people, is not directly justiciable, then to use all kinds of means of stopping people from expressing their opinions/displeasure resembles an autocratic, and not a democratic environment. 

As for Section 2(3)(a) of the NSA Act which provides for the prevention and detection of crimes that affect the internal security of Nigeria, internal security includes things to do with treason, insurgency, terrorism, subversion, spying and sedition. The first three offences have to do with violence, the fourth and fifth, leaking political or official information/secrets to another country and we can rule them all out in Prof Utomi’s case, since the DSS has brought a civil and not criminal against him. The sixth, Sedition, is inter alia, publications or actions which tend to bring the Government, President or Governors into disrepute, or incite hatred and disaffection against them, or promote hostility amongst different sections of Nigerians. See Sections 50 & 51 of the Criminal Code Act (CCA). However, in DPP v Obi (1961) LPELR-24982(SC) per Adetokunbo Adegboyega Ademola, JSC, the Supreme Court, inter alia, enumerated circumstances in which a publication or an action wouldn’t be seditious, such as when it shows that the President or Governor was misled or made a mistake in any measure, or pointing out errors in the measures. It appears that Prof Utomi’s actions fall within this exception, and are also protected by the aforementioned fundamental rights. 

Even Section 2(3)(c) of the NSA Act which endows the National Assembly and the President with powers to assign other responsibilities to the SSS that are deemed necessary, such responsibilities are also not at large - they must be related to Nigeria’s internal security. 

Conclusion 

Is the DSS now trying to insist that everyone must support the Tinubu administration, and those who are not in support are a threat to its existence? With the wave of defections to the ruling APC going on at the moment, Nigerians are asking whether the country is moving towards a one-party State, which could be undemocratic, because one of the drawbacks of a one-Party State is that it promotes less accountability from the ruling party. In a country where the level of accountability on the part of the Federal Government has been rather low, and that of the Governors, even less, it would be like having no opposition and zero accountability in a one-Party State. 

As for the SSS or DSS, they already have their work very well cut out for them with the numerous threats against Nigeria’s internal security, and they should face this squarely without distraction. Insurgency in the North East and Banditry/Farmer-Herder Crisis or whatever it is called in the North Central, seem to be on the rise again. It would be better if the SSS (DSS) concentrates more on these important matters bordering on insecurity, instead of wasting time on absurdities. Have they even watched any of Prof Utomi’s interviews on television? Mostly, only people who have some basic knowledge of economics can relate to his submissions. The average man on the street may not even have a television to watch Prof Utomi, or electricity supply to tune in, let alone understand and be influenced by Prof Utomi’s economic theories. 

The irresistible conclusion about the DSS’s suit against Prof Utomi is, as we say in legal parlance when we want the court to dismiss our opponent’s application, that it is ‘misconceived, frivolous and vexatious’!

His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV—the first American‑born pontiff in the Catholic Church’s 2,000‑year history—was inaugurated on Sunday, 18 May 2025, in St Peter’s Square, the worldwide headquarters of the Church.

In his homily, the 267th pope told the congregation:

“I was chosen, without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy.”

The remark was striking for its humility, reminiscent of his predecessor, Pope Francis, whose Spartan, down‑to‑earth approach to life and the papacy led him to forgo the traditional papal mansion and the mill­ion‑dollar gold Fisherman’s Ring. Instead, Francis opted for a more modest gold‑plated version.

From Pope Leo XIV’s homily and body language—echoing Francis’s example of washing the feet of society’s least privileged—it is clear that the new pontiff seeks to be servus servorum Dei, “a servant of the servants of God,” and to unify not only Catholics but Christians and humanity at large.

Although he is white, Pope Leo XIV, like Francis, appears determined to embrace every race. His homily, delivered in Italian, was immediately translated into English, Spanish, and Japanese. Diversity was also evident on the altar: many of the celebrating clergy were non‑white—Black and Brown men from every continent.

In my assessment, this reflects the Americanness of the Chicago‑born pope. Following his Augustinian calling, he left the United States for Peru—much less affluent—to become, like Saint Peter, a “fisher of men,” striving to bring lost sheep back to God’s flock.

Later in this essay, I will compare the Catholic Church’s record with its Black members—who comprise roughly 20 percent of all Catholics worldwide—with the United States’ record of welcoming Black Americans into national leadership, even though blacks are a mere 14% of the population.

⸻

The Making of Pope Leo XIV

Media interviews with his brothers, John and Louis Prevost, reveal that Leo XIV (born Robert Prevost) had long aspired to the priesthood:

“As a child,” they recall, “he would drape a towel over his shoulders and pretend to preach homilies.”

While serving in Peru he extended his outreach to Africa. As recently as 2024, he presided over the consecration of the chapel at the Augustinian International House of Theology in Nairobi, Kenya. In his invitation to President  Bola Tinubu for the papal inauguration, he wrote:

“Your great nation is particularly dear to me; I served in the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s.”

On a lighter note, President Tinubu notwithstanding that he is a Muslim by faith, but being liberal-minded, honored the pope’s invitation to the Vatican City. And he was looking dapper in his Savile row suit in Saint Peter’s Square with his son Seyi in tow. I do not know if l am the only one who noticed, but for the first time, l spotted a striking resemblance between father and son to the extent that it could be said that Seyi is a spitting image of his dad. Maybe President Tinubu should adorn himself in suits more often so that he may not be too stereotypical in his dress sense.

Also, the symbolism of President Tinubu meeting in Saint Peter’s Square Mr. Peter Obi, the Labor Party presidential candidate for the first time since their electoral face-off in 2023 is noteworthy. 

It reminds me of how US President Donald Trump met in the same Saint Peter’s Square with Ukrainian president Vldomir Zelensky for the first time after their not-too-friendly encounter in the White House. Equally, US Vice President J. D Vance, who appeared to have been hostile to Zelensky during the referenced Oval Office meeting, as a guest of the pope at the inauguration was also seen in a convivial posture with the embattled Ukrainian president in Saint Peter's Square. 

In light of the above, somehow, the Vatican City is fast acquiring the image of a Haven of Diplomacy and Enclave of Peace without any extraordinary effort of the new Pope Leo XIV to make the catholic church a beacon of peace as he elaborately enunciated in his inauguration speech.

⸻

Two Millennia of Continuity—and Calls for Reform

Since Jesus entrusted the Church to Saint Peter, Catholicism has grown to more than 1.4 billion faithful (some estimates say 1.5 billion). Though often called the world’s oldest continuously functioning institution, the Church’s doctrine and leadership structures have seen relatively modest reforms—despite efforts by modernizers such as Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday.

Leading nearly 18 percent of humanity makes the pope, resident in Vatican City (a sovereign state enclaved within Rome, Italy), a spiritual head of a population larger than that of China (≈1.4 billion) or India (≈1.4 billion). Were all Catholics gathered in one territory, they would form the most populous nation on earth—comparable to the combined total of Africa’s 54 countries which is roughly over l.4 billion people.

The Church’s global scope is captured in the very word catholic, from the Greek katholikós, meaning “universal” or “all‑inclusive.” The term appears in the original Greek New Testament in Acts 5:11 and Acts 9:31, though later translations rendered it simply as “church.”

It is surely within the Greek sense of katholikós—“inclusive” or “universal”—that the reforms begun by Pope Francis, and which Pope Leo XIV seems determined to continue, are being driven. The goal is to make the Church as truly universal as the First Council of Nicaea (AD 325) envisioned—even before the era of Jesus Christ, who was acclaimed as the head of the Church.

The most visible sign of reform is that the papacy is no longer the exclusive preserve of Europeans or South Americans; a North American now leads the Catholic Church. An American from Chicago has become Pope Leo XIV.

Few observers noticed the symbolism when U.S. President Donald Trump released an artificial intelligence image of himself in papal vestments. Some critics claimed he was mocking Catholicism. In truth, Trump—ever leveraging his brinksmanship—was sending a subtle signal that significant change was afoot.

Consider the timeline. After Pope Francis’s funeral on 26 April 2025, 133 cardinals from every continent entered the conclave on 7 May. In just 24 hours—and only two rounds of voting—they elected Robert Prevost of Chicago as Pope Leo XIV. 

Politics, no doubt, had been at play during the funeral period. I have no hard evidence, yet the AI image and the rapid election speak volumes.

Although the world’s four largest Catholic populations are in Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines, and the United States, the Church is growing fastest in Africa and Asia. Roughly 40 million Africans joined the faith between 2022 and 2023. It is plausible—perhaps within our lifetime—that an African or Asian pope will emerge; Pope Leo XIV is still only 69.

Africa already accounts for about 20 percent of Catholics worldwide, led by the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. Yet the continent has no decisive voice in Church leadership. Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria was a strong contender in 2013, when Pope Francis was chosen; in the latest conclave Cardinals Peter Turkson (Ghana) and Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (DRC) were also front‑runners, but none prevailed.

The College of Cardinals now includes 29 members from 23 African countries; 18 of them are electors, and all but three were appointed by Pope Francis—testimony to his influence, much as a U.S. president shapes the Supreme Court through appointments. Right now, President Donald J. Trump enjoys similar leverage in Washington.

In the United States, where Black people constitute only 14 percent of the population (versus 20 percent of global Catholics who are Black), the majority‑white electorate nonetheless accepted and elected a Black leader. In 2008, Barack Obama—son of a Kenyan father—became America’s 44th president. By contrast, the Catholic Church has yet to elect a Black pope even though Blacks constitute 20% of the 1.4 billion flock worldwide.

The larger point is that politics pervades every human enterprise; as Aristotle observed, we are “political animals.” Africa, lacking both economic and military clout, still holds the short end of the stick. Just unfair trade has relegated the continent to a supplier of raw materials, Africa has remained a victim while more powerful nations—like the United States under President Trump since 20 January 2025—have retaliated and are forcing renegotiation. Lamentably without the US type of financial and military muzzle, Africa cannot compel her exploiters to renegotiate trade with her on equal and fair terms and thus remains vulnerable.

Likewise, Africa still has no permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, even though 54 of the 193 U.N. member states are African.

With an American, renowned for championing inclusivity and equity as the pope, a Black pope may be in the making in the not-too-distant future.  

On the socioeconomic front, can the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA help to give the continent better bargaining power? And would the new world trade order being forged by President Trump open the window for Africa to get a seat at the table in the comity of nations?

Those are the pertinent questions that need to be pondered by leaders of Africa and indeed conscientious leaders of the superpower nations of the world. 

That is assuming there is still justice in this world.

Magnus Onyibe—entrepreneur, public‑policy analyst, author, democracy advocate, and development strategist

LAGOS, May 19, 2025 : It was a happy reunion on Monday as the lost-but-found- Adeola, the 41-year old daughter of Actress Jumoke George finally reunited with her mother and family in Lagos on Monday.

This was sequel to an alarm raised by Jumoke George about not hearing from her daughter in four years during an interview on the Talk to B show hosted by Abiola Bayo.

Following the interview, the host, Biola had reaching f out to the Federal Government of Nigeria through Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), whose Chairman immediately got in touch with the Ag Nigerian High Commissioner, Amb Ugo Chime who both facilitated her transportation back home 

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, NIDCOM Chairman/CEO, was at hand in Lagos office of the Commission where the very excited Adeola, thanked the NiDCOM Chairman, the Acting Nigeria Ambassador in Mali, Amb. Ugo Chime, and popular actress, Abiola Bayo, who highlighted her mothers ordeal on her programme “ Talk with B” as well as Actor Niyi Johnson who was also in attendance.

Dabiri-Erewa welcomed Adeola, and hoped that others would learn from her story, a story of being deceived into a job that never was.

She warned others to resist any temptation of any supposed job offers in Libya, Mali as its all journey to slavery.

She said she was promised, through someone close to her , to get employed in a Pharmacy. Only to get there to be told she had been sold to a “ madam”,a move she vehemently resisted.

Adeola said she did not get in touch with her family, out of shame of unfulfilled dreams, and expressed happiness to be back.

Adeola had been living with her grandmother in Ibadan and was last seen after informing the family she was travelling to Lagos.

Abiola Bayo, the host of the program, Talk with B, expressed deep gratitude to the Federal government for its speedy intervention. 

E-signed.

Abdur-Rahman Balogun 

Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit NiDCOM, Abuja.

“This town is located in beautiful natural surroundings, as you can see. But the water is bad, and the land is unproductive.” 2 Kings 2:19

It is time to break everything that has caused barrenness in your life. Barrenness is infertility, unfruitfulness, unproductiveness. While beauty is simply attractiveness, gorgeousness, well arranged, etc. So, when you see a thing looking beautiful and yet not productive, then there is a clear case of disagreement. There is a problem. And this is what some of us are currently going through in life. Your physical looks, your education, location, age, connection and even background are not in agreement with your current level and position in life. You know very well that this is not where you are supposed to be, considering the grace and endowments in your life, but you cannot say exactly what has gone wrong. It’s like something is pulling you back and you don’t know what to do to break out of the invisible barriers.  You helplessly and angrily watch people with less qualification overtake you.

Maybe, it is a family or medical condition that you cannot fully explain the cause. Some live close to the blessing, but unfortunately languish in penury, pain and sorrow. Yet, some do everything that is expected of them, but have their dreams aborted at the point of breakthrough. You experience unidentifiable forces resisting all your efforts to advance into your destiny. You cannot live the life that God wants from you. If you are going through any of these, I would like to tell you that you have come to the point of your deliverance. Today, everything that has held your life in bondage will be broken in the  name of Jesus!

This was exactly what the people of Jericho were going through. Their city was well situated. It was close to the richly-endowed River Jordan. It had streams running through it, and well secured because of its topography. But the land was barren and the water from the streams was bad; causing death, infertility and miscarriages. Terrible! What was the problem? The city was labouring under a heavy curse. Now, you remember what Joshua did after destroying the place during his time? He said that the curse of the LORD will be upon the city; that anybody that will try to rebuild it will lay the foundation with the cost of his firstborn and set up the gates with the life of his youngest child. Now, hundreds of years after, during the ungodly reign of Ahab, in disobedience, a man from Bethel called Hiel rebuilt the city. When he laid the foundation his first son, Abiram, died. And when he had finished and set up the gates, his youngest son, Segub, died. Presumably, his other children had died in between. So, Jericho has been labouring under this terrible curse until this particular encounter with Elisha the prophet. Before we continue, please get my books Breaking Generational Curses: Claiming Your Freedom and Power of Midnight Prayer by Gabriel Agbo now, so that you can fully appreciate what we are discussing here.

The prophet Elisha was just fresh from receiving the anointing from the ‘Prophet of Fire’ Elijah, when the elders of the city, with tears, ran to him seeking for help, “We have a problem, my lord…,’ They told him all they were going through. And prophetically, the man of God ordered them to bring a new bowl with salt. He went to the spring that supplied water to the town and threw the salt saying, “This is what the LORD says: I have made this water wholesome. It will no longer cause death or infertility.” And immediately the water and land were healed from that day. Praise God! Thank God the people and the elders of Jericho recognized that they had a problem and went to the right place.

What is your problem? What is happening in your life? Your relationships, Job and Family? What is happening to your nation? Are they beautifully situated by unproductive?? Are you labouring without a commensurate result? Are you toiling through the night without a catch? I just remembered Peter. He toiled all night without catching any fish. But when Jesus came into the situation, the story changed. Today, I pray that very curse over you be broken in the mighty name of Jesus! God wants you to be fruitful. God said that it is his wish that every part of your life be productive and prosperous. Till next week. God bless!

Grumbling about banks’ profit is a favourite Nigerian pastime that gets louder and louder in the first quarter of the year when their financial performance for the previous year is announced. But lately, the grumblers have shifted attention to bank charges, with some arguing that the lenders are too profitable and should waive these deductions from customers’ accounts. ‘’How do the banks make so much profit while the rest of the economy is collapsing?’’; ‘’Banks are stealing from their customers through dubious charges;’’ and ‘’Let’s boycott Bank XYZ…’’ are some of the commonest protestations.

On Wednesday, May 14, The Guardian published an article with a rather ghoulish title, ‘’The blood profits of Nigerian banks’’, written by Dr. Emmanuel Owhoko, identified as a public policy analyst, author and journalist. The piece drips with obvious irritations about banks’ ‘’growing quest for abnormal profits through use of arbitrary charges, devoid of empathy for emotional state of customers’’. It suggests that bankers are just a lazy bunch that does nothing other than to debit customers’ accounts and convert the proceeds into huge profits. But the essay is based on ignorant assumptions and poor knowledge of the operations of banks. As a former banker, I feel compelled to intervene in a very simple manner.

First, why do banks make so much profit? The reason is simple. Their unique role and peculiar functions confer on them some advantages that other industries don’t have. A typical bank sells a wide range of services to millions of customers every day and night, including weekends and public holidays. Such a business will most likely be profitable unless it is mismanaged. A top tier Nigerian bank has millions of customers (Access Bank has over 60 million, for example) and each of these customers has one thing or the other to buy from their bank. Even if you have a savings account from which you rarely make withdrawals, your bank is making money off you by lending your money at a higher interest rate than it’s paying you. It’s called financial intermediation; and it’s the main reason a bank exists and the core source of its income.

In addition to lending (and there are many types of it), banks also offer a wide range of other services such as financial advisory; wealth management; investment banking; foreign exchange services, etc, to millions of its customers and get paid for them. In some cases, a bank is part of a holding company that offers a lot more varied and diversified services such as insurance; pensions; fintechs and payments. It therefore follows that almost every adult person, including students, is in a regular need of one banking service or the other. Such inevitability offers the industry unique benefits that can only translate onto profits.

Unlike a manufacturing business, a bank does not import raw materials; has no complex machines and conveyor belts that break down; does not pay customs and excise duties for spares and inputs and does not deal with the problems of unsold goods, huge inventory costs and products recall. The peculiarity of banking business and its inherent advantage became clearer last year. While many Nigerian manufacturers with dollar-denominated loans suffered huge losses due to Naira depreciation, banks actually recorded fat gains from their massive dollar holdings.

A bank simply makes the bulk of its revenues from financial intermediation – taking money from the surplus side and giving it the deficit side with a margin. So, consider a bank with a loan book of N500 billion at an average interest rate of 20%. How much interest income is that? There is no business as lucrative as money lending, right from history; and there’s no reason for a bank not be profitable, unless it is mismanaged. But banking is also a very risky business (actually, the technical name for a loan is ‘’risk asset’’) with its own peculiar challenges. Many banks, including some very big ones overseas have failed. Nigeria has also recorded many cases of bank failures. One bad loan can almost sink a bank. This is why it is a highly regulated industry.

Dr. Owhoko writes in his article which I referred to earlier: ‘’Implicitly, these charges constitute huge burden on the average bank customer who contends daily with depletion in his or her account balances. Corporate customers or businesses are also not spared from these questionable charges that have become a drain on the balance sheet of companies’’. A bank is a commercial and profit-oriented business whose services and activities are well regulated. A bank must stay profitable, safe, sound and stable. To that extent, Banks and other Financial Industry Act (BOFIA), the law that guides banking businesses, stipulates that all services provided by a bank must be paid for by the customer. In other words, there’s no free lunch in the banking hall. A customer - whether corporate or individual – should never expect to obtain free services from a bank. The charges that Dr. Owhoko and many others complain so stridently about are just the cost you pay for the services your bank renders to you.

I often wonder why the same people who whine about bank charges are eager to pay various telecommunications charges; cable TV subscription; dry cleaning bills; air tickets; restaurant bills and other sundry obligations without complaints, but are quick to bicker over bank charges. Are banks charity organizations? Don’t they understand the risks involved in keeping trillions of customers’ deposit safe? If you think that bank charges are too high, you may wish to consider keeping your money at home and watch it grow!

A bank provides the safest and most reliable place to keep your financial treasures. But it comes with huge costs to the banks. Charges on customers’ account are therefore meant to help offset these costs so that the banks could continue to operate in a safe, sound and stable manner. The idea that these charges, which are typically in small amounts, are the main sources of banks' profit is erroneous. Banks make the bulk of their income from interest earned on loans, investments and other assets. Minor debits like account maintenance fees and SMS charges constitute a small portion of the bottom line.

Nigerian banks should be commended for their important roles in the economy. They provide funding for big and small businesses like Dangote Industries; the airline industry; manufacturing sector; public sector and even small businesses like schools; restaurants or a corner shop. Instead of bellyaching over minor charges, Nigerians should ask their governments to provide security, stable electricity and adequate infrastructure that banks spend so much to provide.

Etim, a retired banker, is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Policy and Politics

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has successfully concluded another phase of empowerment initiatives and projects commissioning in the Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District.

The events, which began Friday, May 16th came to an end on May 18 with projects commissioned in Abak, Ikot Ekpene, and Essien Udim Local Government Areas, with Constituents benefitting from projects facilitated by Akpabio.

In Abak council Area, Senate President Akpabio commissioned several projects, such as roads, ICT Centers, classroom blocks, ultra-modern markets, police stations among others.

The Chairman of Abak Local Government Area, Ime Charles, and the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, expressed their delight and gratitude for the impactful developments.

In Ikot Ekpene, the Senate President commissioned a one storey 12 classrooms block at State College, Ikot Ekpene among other projects located in the area.

The final stop was Essien Udim LGA, where Senator Akpabio commissioned life-changing projects like health centers, ultra modern markets, classroom blocks, ICT hubs, roads, and a police station in Nto Nsek Village.

The Chairman of Essien Udim Local Government Area, Hon. Ntiedo Usoro, alongside CP Baba Azare, once again conveyed their appreciation for the Senator’s dedication to community development.

The three-day tour represents the second phase of empowerment for the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, in fulfilment of his campaign promises to his Constituents in 2023.

Jackson Udom,
Special Assistant, Media To The President Of The Senate

In today’s Nigerian church, particularly within Pentecostal circles, the phrase “Born Again” has been reduced to a tired cliché, frequently declared but deeply misunderstood. For many self-acclaimed ministers of God, being born again is nothing more than quitting smoking, dropping the bottle, and walking away from illicit affairs. They flaunt these changes like badges of spiritual honour, parading them as the ultimate evidence of salvation.

But let us be clear:”Born Againism” is not behaviour modification, it is heart transformation. The idea that one can claim spiritual rebirth just by avoiding a few visible vices is not only misleading, but it also trivializes the profound message of Jesus Christ. The Saviour did not endure Calvary just so men could stop smoking and drinking. He died to radically change the heart of man, not merely his habits.

Too many self-proclaimed ministers preach a gospel of surface-level change. To them, being born again means looking “clean,” praying loudly, dressing modestly, and shouting “Hallelujah” at every opportunity. Their sermons obsess over alcohol, trousers, hairstyles, and nightclubs, while ignoring the weightier matters; pride, corruption, bitterness, tribalism, and greed. These ministers major in the minors and overlook the transformative depth of genuine salvation.

Let us not forget the words of Jesus in John 3:3, when He said to Nicodemus: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” That is not a call to switch from cigarettes to chewing gum. It is a divine mandate for spiritual rebirth, one that breaks the old nature and births a new creation entirely. As Paul affirms in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

The tragedy is that many pastors who shout about abstinence are themselves drowning in spiritual filth, manipulating congregants, hoarding wealth, engaging in tribal politics, and nursing unforgiveness. Some of them would not touch alcohol but would not hesitate to break a home or exploit the vulnerable. What hypocrisy!

Jesus warned about this kind of religious pretense in Matthew 23:25-26: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.”

That warning might as well be addressed to today’s spiritual showmen, those who abstain from wine but are intoxicated with power, who avoid women but seduce followers with false prophecies and manipulated dreams. They have replaced the authentic gospel with a hollow performance.

Let us face it: even cultists and scammers can quit alcohol and womanizing. Some do it to maintain their edge. But salvation is not about changing habits for convenience; it is about changing allegiance, from self to Christ, from darkness to light.

In Nigeria, the “born again” label has become cosmetic. It is more about how you dress, how you sound when you pray, and whether you attend vigil or not. We now judge spirituality by appearance, not by fruit. Meanwhile, those who carry Bibles to the office still inflate contracts, collect bribes, and treat subordinates with disdain.

Some pastors go as far as policing appearances, monitoring skirt lengths and makeup shades, yet remain silent about gossip, unforgiveness, tribal hate, and political compromise within their own ranks. Is this the gospel of Christ or a man-made religion that only targets what the eyes can see?

If being born again does not affect how you treat your spouse, how you handle money, how you conduct business, or how you lead others, then you are not born again, you are just well-behaved.

It is time to confront self-acclaimed ministers of God and call them to accountability. The gospel must not be reduced to a three-point checklist of “I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, and I don’t womanize.” That is religion, not regeneration. That is morality, not spirituality.

Born againism must touch every sphere of a person’s life: how you think, how you forgive, how you speak, how you handle authority, and how you respond when no one is watching. It must reflect in your politics, your business, your family, and your daily conduct. Anything less is a poor imitation.

Philippians 2:5 charges believers: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” That is the ultimate benchmark. Not what you quit, but who you have become.

To every pastor and preacher who thinks abstaining from beer and sex makes one born again: you are leading people into deception. Preach Christ, not cosmetics. Teach transformation, not tradition. Point people to the cross, not a code of conduct.

Born againism is a divine encounter, not a checklist. It is time to return to the true gospel, deep, sincere, and life-altering.

And to the man or woman who claims to be born again yet is still full of pride, bitterness, and hypocrisy: stop fooling yourself. Real salvation changes the heart, not just the habits. So, let the Church wake up, and let the ministers stop lying to themselves.

Greatness started in the realm of human creation in eight stages of human development, according to ego psychologist Erik Erikson: a form of ascending from being an infant to toddlerhood to preschool years to early school years to adolescence to young adulthood to middle adulthood to late adulthood. I could imagine how the growth of a child will turn out to be great if it is not the assemblies, interactions, continuous learning (thorough and compendious), and affections both covert and overt. This is the citadel that a man called Dele Momodu spurted from; his journey into the rise of success cannot be underestimated with the level of dedication, diligence, dutifulness, and hard work. His interpersonal relationships are superb and imbued with a high sense of humility as he celebrated his 65th birthday last week with encomiums showering on him from friends, families and well-wishers all over the world.

Dele Momodu mounted the ladder of greatness with consistency and tenacity from his mother’s advice that he should not give up, from being a graduate of Yoruba language at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) to obtaining a master’s degree in English Literature, growing up to establish his own brand of magazine and newspaper, proving the golden word of an adage that says a child who knows how to wash hands will eat with the elders.

One unique relationship that paved the way for Dele Momodu is that of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO) that was both professional and deeply personal, rooted in shared ideals and a commitment to Nigeria’s democratic future. Ovation Magazine’s dream started when Momodu began his journey with MKO in 1988 when he joined the Concord Group of Newspapers, owned by Abiola. He started as a staff writer for African Concord magazine; Momodu quickly soared through the ranks, becoming the pioneer staff of Weekend Concord and later its news editor. His dedication and editorial prowess secured him the position of literary editor at Classique, a celebrity magazine owned by May Ellen Ezekiel, making him one of Nigeria’s highest-paid editors at the time.

This brings the deeply personal and transformative story about a life-changing experience he narrated in the midst of his friends that Chief Moshood Kashimonwo Abiola ordered him to visit him in his home through a call from his godfather, Chief Alex Duduyemi, who sensed his distress in London. He was on the brink of suicide due to financial despair and personal struggles when driving aimlessly in London, overwhelmed by a sense of failure. This timely intervention led to a profound conversation that helped him regain hope and purpose. And surprisingly, MKO gave him a cheque for 4,000 pounds in a banter exchange with Bashorun and asked him, ‘Can’t you put a signature on the thigh of a woman?’ The statement that changed his life is ‘Daddy, I don’t have money’. In 1991, it was a huge sum of money for the Ovation Magazine boss; he utilised it wisely to form his empire that upstaged the relevance in the world at large. Momodu described his emotional reaction to this act of kindness, highlighting Abiola’s generosity and the profound impact it had on him. These stories not only shed light on Dele Momodu’s personal journey but also underscore the themes of resilience, divine intervention, and the profound influence of mentorship and generosity in shaping lives.

Dele Momodu and Buhari

One crucial attraction you cannot keep off Akinrogun of Gbonganland is the testimony Sextus gave Marcus Aurelius in his book Meditations that “To show intuitive sympathy for friends, tolerance to amateurs and sloppy thinkers. His ability to get along with everyone: sharing his company was the highest of compliments, and the opportunity an honour for those around him.” Apollonius’ admonition in the same book is “to have learnt how to accept favours from friends without losing your self-respect or appearing ungrateful”. This is why you will see Momodu as a centre of attraction to the world of politicians, business moguls, celebrities, and monarchs.

Dele Momodu is widely recognised for his ability to maintain relationships across Nigeria’s complex political landscape. His network includes influential figures from various political parties and ideologies, and he has often been seen navigating these differences with a combination of tact, diplomacy, and a commitment to national unity. As a media icon in Africa, for promoting African excellence and culture, his work has helped in bridging the gap between Africans in the diaspora and those on the continent, making him one of the most respected figures in Nigerian media and public life.

Dele Momodu and Tinubu

Dele Momodu has paid his dues to journalism; may politics pay him too!

Temitayo writes from Benin City, Edo State Capital