The Academic Staff Union of Universities ((ASUU), has kicked against any plan to include private universities in the country as beneficiaries to Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) interventions.

The President of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke who stated this during a two-day interactive session between TETFund and all unions of beneficiary institutions on Wednesday, said that such a move will lead to proliferation of private universities devoid of quality.

While speaking on TETFund projects in many public tertiary institutions, Osodeke urged the Fund to work more on the monitoring method of its projects across the country to ensure that quality projects are established.

He also called on TETFund to apply sanctions on non-performing institutions and advocate for the abolition of what he referred to as “stakeholders fund.”

“ASUU will continue to embark on strike untill the right thing is done in our tertiary institutions. Stakeholders fund should be abolished,” he said.

Speaking on ‘The Role of Trade Unions in TETFund Intervention Activities’, former President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, commended the Fund for its strident commitment to the elevation of tertiary education in the country.

Wabba noted that the NLC has benefitted a great deal from the ideological clarity and consistency of the unions in the tertiary institutions.

“The patriotic and historical resistance of the Congress against the debilitating influence and impact of neo liberal policies of successive government in Nigeria drew a lot of inspiration and verve from the intellectually sound position s advanced by unions in our tertiary institutions,” he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, disclosed that the interactive session was conceived as a proactive engagement against the backdrop of the prevailing challenges in the subsector.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said it cannot win the war against corruption alone, but through the collective efforts of every Nigerian.

The Commission stated this on Tuesday, when it received Post-Graduate Auditing and Forensic Management Students of Nile University at the Commission’s Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.

Represented by the Acting Director, Public Affairs Department, Wilson Uwujaren, the Acting EFCC Chairman, Abdukarim Chukkol, said, “Fighting corruption is not for EFCC alone, because no matter what we do on our own, we can’t win this war without the buying in of the people, and young people like you.

“You have a role to play in this exercise. One of our former Chairmen said that one of the most important stakeholders that we have in fighting corruption are the citizens, and you are all citizens, as you have a great role to play in this fight.”

The Acting EFCC boss further highlights that corruption is one of the problems that is affecting the progress of Nigeria.

“…there is nowhere you look at in our society today that you can’t find evidence of corruption. Our nation is highly blessed in terms of resources, materials resources, but despite the potentials that we have as a nation, we have not been able to make progress because of corruption,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of Media & Publicity Unit of the EFCC, ACE1 Dele Oyewale, stressed the need for new Ideas in driving the anti-corruption fight.

He specifically called for new insights through digital applications, creative resistance to corruption and musical engagements of youths and other Nigerians to shun all shades of corruption.

Oyewale said, “We need fresh thinking to tackle corrupt practices. As youths, digital interventions, creative resistance to graft and musical re-orientation are important.

“The task of fighting economic and financial crimes is a task for everyone, because we are all suffering the effects of corruption across the country, we should also be involved in fighting it”.

Since 1999, there is hardly any Nigerian president who has not said—or of whom has not been said—that he is no magician. So when the wife of the president, Mrs Remi Tinubu, made the same statement regarding her husband, it was déjà vu. Here we go again! Nigerian leaders gallantly fight political battles to get political power, only for them to be close enough to observe the scale of responsibilities involved and instantly lose their will to perform. When they say they have no magic, they are frontloading excuses for a governance record that will not do more than offer a few additive gains that might hopefully trickle down a long food chain. They create an alibi to distance them from an impending administrative crime scene.

Unfortunately, precisely what they say they are not—transformational leadership—is what Nigeria needs.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo started out in power yelling to the world that the country he had been elected to rule had been vandalised by his predecessors and he would rebuild from ground zero. His various anti-corruption initiatives—which set the tone for the showy way Nigeria pursues corruption allegations today—were a drive to reform a polity that had been degraded by military rulers. During his 2003 swearing-in, Obasanjo said, “Four years ago, we had no illusion that we will put right in a few years the destruction of two decades. We did not possess a magic wand with which to achieve instant transformation.” His successor initiated a series of probe to investigate the alleged financial mismanagement that racked up while Obasanjo was in office. So much for repairing what had been damaged.

Shortly after Dr Goodluck Jonathan became president in 2011, he too would make a similar self-disavowal. At an interdenominational service preceding Nigeria’s 51st anniversary, he announced he was not a magician to make the nation’s wishes come true, but God would use him all the same. What made his attenuation of leadership expectations even more ironical was that he was supposedly running a “transformation agenda.” His supporters picked up the refrain about his not being a magician. They would spend substantial time reminding us how thoroughly despoiled the country had been before their man became president, and that it would take him a significant amount of time to achieve meaningful progress. Like his predecessor(s), he too never fully rose to the occasion history had thrust upon him. 

Former President Muhammadu Buhari had hardly been elected before he started extricating himself from responsibility. Like the previous presidents who told us what they were not—and never settled on what they were—Buhari was quick to tell us that his “old age” would limit his performance. While age and health impacted Buhari, they were not the primary causes of his disappointing rule. He was both apathetic to offer distinguishing leadership and also lacking in fellow feeling. At the height of collective suffering, at a specific point in our history when people starved to the extent that a man exchanged his child for food, Buhari’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina, went on a radio station to preach patience. He said, “It (governance) is not a magic wand that can be waved, and everything happens. It is a process, and a painstaking one that something good would come out from.” For all their promises that if we believed and waited, we would eventually see “the good of the land,” what came out of it?

Exactly a year ago on AIT, the same Mrs Tinubu who said her husband was no magician also said the same of Buhari. He was no magician, she said, but Buhari had laid a good foundation for her husband to thrive if he became the president. For some funny reason, these leaders—their spokespersons and partisan supporters—tend to fall back on the language of magic to disenchant themselves, to rid the public of any illusion of any potential radical change their administration portends, and to opt for mediocre leadership that adds a few gains here and there but leaves the status quo intact.

Maybe “Tinubu is no magician” is the excuse that will replace “16 years of PDP” that sustained them since 2015 but is now shorn of any charisma. I know some people might want to argue that these leaders are being careful not to raise expectations, and that incremental gains count for something too. Well, understandable, but what we are looking at here are leaders prefacing their own administration with self-defeating rhetoric, setting the bar low—and lower—for themselves, and still failing.

When a Nigerian leader says, “I am not a magician,” it is a shorthand for saying they have neither a clue nor an overriding vision. The best they can do is build a highway here, inaugurate a secretariat there, pay salaries and pensions, show up to give worn and uninspiring speeches on special occasions, dutifully represent the country internationally, and just mark time until it is either time to either re-contest or go home. When a leader says they have no magic, they mean they are mediocre who did not know the scale of what they signed up for and are now intimidated by the reality of what their job entails.

Looking at Nigeria today—and perhaps the whole of Africa—you will realise that what they say they are not is exactly what we need: leaders who can perform magic. When a society is as low as we are on every ground of human development indices, we first need transformational leadership that can enforce radical changes before gradually settling for incremental gains to sustain growth and development. Things are so bad, so degraded in this country, that mere incremental gains will only scratch the surface of our problems. Government after government, we get treated to the same story of leaders admitting they lack transformational magic. The best they ever do is micromanage to add small gains to the little they found on the ground. While incremental gains are still gains, what plays out in Nigeria are mere additions not calculated to be generative and therefore roll back quickly when they encounter slight stressors.

We need leaders capable of transformation, not the ones who wring their hands while moaning about the dire situation they inherited. Finding one is no mean task. Such a leader must have intelligence and strength—physical and moral—to pull off the feat. We are talking about a leader who is convinced that our time has come to stop wandering in the wilderness and start to live as humans, not another talker who will tell us to “suffer now and enjoy later” as if we have not heard that to death. Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day speech was full of such enjoinment to endure as that is not the story of our Nigerian lives. He said, “We must endure this trying moment…reform may be painful, but it is what greatness and the future require…. There is no joy in seeing the people of this nation shoulder burdens that should have been shed years ago. I wish today’s difficulties did not exist. But we must endure if we are to reach the good side of our future.”

How often must we listen to this corny talk of suffer-now-enjoy-later? By now, we should all be tired of leaders who admit they have no transformational magic inside their bellies. They are not what we need. Our situation urgently requires leaders who can think deeply, dream of greatness, and act decisively. If one gets to Aso Rock and finds they are a misfit, they need not waste our time and theirs telling us what they lack. They should return home and we will send another representative who knows what they are doing.

Last Sunday, ‘Premium Times’ reported that President Bola Tinubu had decided to appoint Olanipekun Olukoyede as the substantive chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). A legal practitioner, Olukoyede served as secretary of the commission for two years before he was suspended along with Ibrahim Magu (then acting chair) and a few other officials in 2020. The concern raised by the online newspaper about the choice of Olukayode is anchored on Section 2(3) of the EFCC Act, 2005 which stipulates that the commission chairman “must be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or equivalent; possess not less than 15 years’ experience.” According to the report, Olukoyede, “who has primarily played administrative roles in EFCC for less than a decade, cannot be said to have attained 15 years of cognate experience, especially when he has never worked in the mainstream law enforcement operations of the commission or any related agency.” 

Beyond the issue of qualification raised by ‘Premium Times’, I have two additional concerns about the appointment. One, at a time the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) is chaired by Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, appointing another Yoruba man to head EFCC would be the height of recklessness. In case the president is not aware (a Villa disease, especially under his predecessor), most Yoruba people I know are becoming increasingly embarrassed by a number of his appointments. I have received many of those WhatsApp messages that list critical offices in the economic/financial sector and the ethnic affiliation of appointees. There is already a whispering campaign in Abuja of a budding ‘Republic of Oduduwa’, based on these appointments. I hope someone will bring the issue to the attention of the president.   

Interestingly, barely three weeks after the current administration’s inauguration, on 20^th June to be specific, I wrote ‘Tinubu and the Buhari Error’ where I warned the president not to play ‘Amunibuni’ with a rehash of similar counsel his predecessor failed to heed. “Of the several columns I wrote on the lack of sensitivity in critical appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari, one stands out. I used a Yoruba word, ‘Amunibuni’, to situate my intervention,” I recalled in the piece with excerpts from the March 2021 column: “That making strategic concessions is beyond Buhari administration is an embarrassment, even for many northerners. That is because they are also aware that the appointments being cornered by a tiny clique is not to promote any ‘Northern agenda’ (whatever that may mean) but rather in pursuit of the personal interest by those who nominate these individuals. This explains why they go for their in-laws, kinsmen, friends, and the like. Yet nepotism in critical appointments engenders collective insults in the manner of ‘Abunibuni’”.    

I went ahead to do a disquisition on what the Yoruba term means and the message it embeds within the context of Nigeria’s political arrangement before I concluded with an admonition for Tinubu three months ago: “Even when he did nothing to improve the material condition of the average Fulani man, the damage President Buhari did to people of that ethnic stock in eight years was enormous. And as a Yoruba man, I wouldn’t want President Tinubu to do that to me. I am aware that there are thousands of appointments still to make and most of these things ultimately even out. But signalling is also important, especially by a new administration. That is why presidential handlers need to be circumspect lest they attract insults to Yoruba people who have always advocated for a peaceful and secure Nigeria that works for all citizens and where there is equity and justice in the distribution of opportunities…In making critical appointments, I hope the president will be mindful of the ‘Amunibuni’ syndrome. His appointments must be inclusive and reflect all our diversities. I shall be watching!” 

 Whatever may be his qualifications, it should be obvious that in a diverse society like ours, to appoint Olukayode as Chairman of EFCC will make no sense under prevailing circumstances. I hope whoever may be behind the idea will perish the thought. The second point I want to make concerns the whereabouts of the suspended EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa. In a terse statement on 14^th June this year, Nigerians were told that Bawa’s suspension was so he could answer to “weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him,” with his office temporarily occupied by the commission’s director of operations “pending the conclusion of the investigation.” From that time till now, Bawa has neither been taken to court nor charged with any offense. He was simply locked up by the Directorate of State Security (DSS).  

Arresting and keeping people in incarceration indefinitely is the hallmark of military dictatorship. It is a throwback to the era of the late General Sani Abacha when every opponent was deemed a ‘prisoner of war’ and dealt with accordingly. But we are now in a democracy and the only bulwark against tyranny is to apply the law and follow due process in a bid to safeguard the rights of citizens. The presidential system of government we practice in Nigeria is anchored on that sacred principle. Given Tinubu’s pro-democracy credentials under the military, he is the last person one would expect to trample on the liberties of others. There can be no justification for what is happening to Bawa, whatever may be his alleged crime. 

Even more dangerous for the health of our democracy is the insinuation in the ‘Premium Times’ report that Bawa may soon ‘resign’ to pave way for the appointment of Olukayode. We should all be worried by these curious under-the-table resignations that mirror Mafia operations. It started with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Godwin Emefiele was last seen inside the courtroom holding a big bible, but Nigerians have since accepted the tale that he ‘resigned’ with his office already taken over by another person. The four deputy governors who served with Emefiele at the apex bank also similarly ‘resigned’ and have been replaced. In a true democracy, such an opaque way of handling serious state matters is unacceptable. Unfortunately, we have a National Assembly whose members are not alive to their responsibility. 

While nobody is shedding tears for Emefiele, who can be described as the architect of his own downfall, the Bawa case is slightly different. It is not lost on the international community that the helmsman of an institution created to tackle graft in Nigeria is himself caught in allegations of unwholesome practices. That only compounds our image problem as a country. But if after almost four months of incarceration no charge has been brought against him, it can only mean that Bawa’s ordeal is more political than criminal. That is a gross abuse of power. The federal government must therefore conclude its investigation regarding the “weighty allegations” against Bawa without further delay. Bawa must also be availed of his rights under the law. And for President Tinubu and his handlers, I hope they understand the implication of their instinctive recourse to authoritarian impulses to even scores with those who may have rubbed them the wrong way while pursuing ‘Project Emilokan’: It can only imperil our fragile democracy. They must also understand that power is transient. 

The Tinubu Divide  

Two weeks ago, a respected former Minister from the North (and an ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar) forwarded to me a WhatsApp message. In the message taken from an X (formerly known as Twitter) post, the writer imputed that the promised strike by the Labour unions was a deal with Tinubu to ensure that Atiku would be unable to register the papers from Chicago State University (still being expected at the time) at the Supreme Court. Shortly before I received the message, I had seen a statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, which suggested that Labour had agreed with the federal government to suspend the strike. Since this is someone to whom I am close, I thought I should correct the misconception in the shared post. So, I replied to him: “I don’t think the strike will continue. I am reading something that they (FG and Labour) may have reached a deal.” His terse response came almost immediately: “Are you also dem dem?” with an Emoji which depicts suspicion. Put in street language, I was being accused of having collected my share of ‘CORN-palliatives’.   

As disappointed as I was by his message, I refused to take offense, knowing it goes with the season. I knew before the 2023 general election that the outcome would be divisive given the near-fanatical support enjoyed by three leading candidates. But I never expected the level of toxicity and hatemongering being witnessed on Nigerian social media landscape. In Nigeria today, it is difficult to sustain any meaningful conversation with political crusaders without being accused of impropriety, especially if you refuse to validate their prejudice. What I find even more strange is that young people are making enemies of one another because of support for either Atiku or Tinubu—two (former) friends who have done several things together over decades and whose children could still have their meeting points for mega deals. This of course is an issue for another day. 

Interestingly, while some of us run away from social media because we have neither the temperament nor the dexterity to handle those who wish to conscript us into their wars, former Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR), Dr Joe Abah appears to be an expert in navigating that terrain. Amid reports of men being assaulted in Abuja for ‘stealing’ the manhood of other men after a mere handshake, there has been animated discussions on X with Abah a protagonist. “If you say that someone made your preeq disappear, at least show people the blank slate before you ask them to start beating the person na,” he wrote in one of his interventions as others add their perspectives on this latest Nigerian contribution to the world of ‘science and technology’. In another post, Abah volunteered to be used as an experiment by those with the expertise of making ‘the thing’ to vanish. “I don born finish. I no too need am again like that,” he posted.  

However, the whole conversation did not go down well with a young man who considered it his business to prescribe what others must discuss on social media. “Ezemmuo, we’re in the mood (sic) of a very national issue involving our president’s CSU certificate. What’s your position as a senior lawyer Sir?” Without skipping a bit, Abah responded: “The most important national issue is people allegedly losing their preeqs. As a senior lawyer, I say show us the blank slate before you start beating the person. If it didn’t actually disappear and is just unresponsive, we call a Figure-Eight witness to cross-examine you.”  

I will not be surprised if the young man read the reply, shook his head, and probably muttered, ‘Chai, Ezemmuo too don chop agbado’! May God deliver our country from the toxicity of this season! 

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji–Ojo, on Wednesday reiterated the need for the Federal Fire Service (FFS) to undergo a transformative rebranding and expansion of its responsibilities.

He said this at the Commissioning of Firefighting Trucks and Ford Rapid Response Vehicles at the Federal Fire Service headquarters, Garki, Abuja.

Tunji-Ojo said once signed by the President Bola Tinubu, a proposed fire and rescue service bill will play a key role in Nigeria’s national development.

The proposed rebranding of the Fire Service as the Federal Fire and Rescue Service seeks a shift in focus towards comprehensive risk assessment and a commitment to safeguarding lives and property.

“The Federal Fire Service, very soon when the bill on fire and rescue service is assented, we will play a major role in our national development. For any country to attain its potential, the position of fire service cannot be taken for granted. I say this to the FFS, you are a sleeping giant. The time to wake up to your responsibility is now,” he said.

The minister added, “Nigeria is one of the world’s biggest economies. This means that for us as a people, we cannot continue to neglect the issue of fire service. My personal opinion, as well as my position as a minister of the interior, is that the fire service should be and will be a major employer in Nigeria.

“Beyond just considering our barriers, we need to realize that the ideas we possess transcend any obstacles we might encounter during our development. I said this when I visited the Fire Academy, it is time for the fire service to rise up to a higher responsibility.

“Your responsibility isn’t just about combating fire. Your duty includes forecasting danger, and we need to transition from an era of corrective activities to an era of a proactive approach, leading to preventive measures that can save us billions of lives.

“As your minister, I don’t want to just value the number of buildings saved from fire. Rather, I want to see the effectiveness of your preventive measures. Your responsibilities go beyond firefighting; they encompass rescue management. You are supposed to be, and must be, the first respondent during emergencies. Your responsibilities extend beyond fire management to protecting lives, and properties, and rescuing people during emergencies such as accidents, road traffic collisions, and even natural disasters. These remain part of your duty,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo added that the agency is expected to start collecting information, assessing risks, and protecting the health and safety of workers in their line of duties.

“This framework should identify and assess the full range of foreseeable fire and rescue-related risks, make provisions for prevention and protection activities, and respond to incidents appropriately.Planning for solutions is more efficient than solving problems. When you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. We must invest more in preparation for smoother execution.

“You will rise high because the era of minimal preparation is over. We want the training centers to be more than just facilities for the Federal Forest Service officials. We aim for all residential buildings, commercial buildings, markets, and every business-oriented entity with a workforce of more than 10 or 15 to employ more fire rescue and safety officers, prominently by Monday.

“A fire that razes a whole building often starts from a tiny spot. Timely intervention could save billions of assets and lives. Thus, your responsibility entails training our youth in fire and emergency rescue management. It might alarm you, but catastrophes can strike anywhere. Several of our commercial centers are dangerously unequipped to respond to emergency situations.

“We cannot persist in automatic mode and hope things will change. It’s senseless to keep repeating a flawed method and expect superior results. Our gathering here is not to maintain the status quo in emergency training,” minister added.

Earlier, the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Engr Jaji Abdulganiyu in his welcome address, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for repositioning and empowering the service by increasing firefighting and emergency assets.

He also acknowledged the Interior Minister’s efforts to elevate the Fire Service and raise expectations for the future.

While encouraging zonal and state commands to make optimal use of the new assets to enhance emergency response, Abdulganiyu warned members of the public against obstructing and attacking firemen during rescue operations.

President Bola Tinubu has ap­proved the appointment of new and returning chief executives for fresh terms in office across mul­tiple agencies under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.

Among the new appointees are EVC/CEO, Nigerian Com­munications Commission (NCC), Aminu Maida; MD/CEO, Nige­rian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Nkechi Egerton-Idehen and DG/CEO, National Information Technol­ogy Development Agency (NIT­DA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi.

Others are National Commis­sioner/CEO, Nigeria Data Pro­tection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, and Postmaster General/CEO, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Tola Odeyemi.

A statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, noted that the new appointments were in line with President Bola Tinu­bu’s determination to maximally leverage on Nigeria’s proven tech­nological and digital economic prowess to reposition the nation’s economy toward greater finan­cial inclusion.

He said the president also approved the appointment of a new Special Adviser on Technol­ogy and Digital Economy, Idris Alubankudi.

He noted that by this directive of the president, the above-men­tioned appointments take imme­diate effect.

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye has reacted to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, saying all members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG worldwide stand with the people of Israel.

Pastor Adeboye stated this in a video clip posted on his verified X handle on Wednesday.

The cleric, who noted that his prayers are with the people of Israel, said, “Hello my beloved brothers in Israel, I want you to know that we are praying for you, that all members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God all over the world are standing by you at this critical moment.

“The almighty God, the only one of Israel, will give you absolute victory and give you permanent peace from now on in the mighty name of Jesus.

“It is my prayer for all our brethren in Israel that the Almighty will grant you absolute peace from now on in Jesus name. #Israel #peace.”

Recall the Israel-Hamas war claimed hundreds of innocent civilian lives and with thousands of casualties since the war broke out on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of Nigerian pilgrims.

In a statement signed by the CAN President, Most Rev. Daniel Okoh, on Wednesday in Abuja, the apex Christian organisation advised that the airlifting of Pilgrims be suspended until normalcy returns in the area.

“Furthermore, the ongoing war holds significant implications for Nigeria’s faith communities. It is crucial for religious leaders and communities in Nigeria to actively promote understanding, compassion, and peaceful coexistence among diverse religious groups.

“We must resist the temptation to allow this conflict to deepen divisions or inflame religious tensions within our nation, Nigeria,” he said.

Okoh also appealed for an immediate cessation of hostilities and violence between Israel and Palestine, appealing to both parties to embrace dialogue and diplomatic solutions to end the war.

The CAN President lamented that the recent surprise attack by a militant group on Israeli citizens, resulting in the tragic loss of numerous lives and abduction of several persons, including women and children, was a distressing event that undermined the pursuit of global peace.

“CAN firmly condemns any act of violence that threatens the lives of innocent individuals, regardless of their nationality or religious background. While recognizing Israel’s right to self-defense, we emphasize the importance of proportionality and the avoidance of harm to innocent civilians in any military response.

“The loss of innocent lives on both sides of the conflict is a tragic consequence of this escalating situation, and we extend our deepest condolences to all those who have suffered the loss of their loved ones in these incidents,” CAN stated.

He stressed the sanctity of human life and the principles of justice and peace, as upheld by the Christian faith, urging all parties involved to engage in dialogue and seek diplomatic solutions.

“In light of these developments, CAN prays for the repose of the souls of those who were killed in the violent attack and the resultant war, as well as reconciliation, healing, and enduring peace in the region. May God Almighty comfort their families.

“We also call upon the international community, including the United Nations and relevant stakeholders, to redouble their efforts in facilitating a just and lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“Finally, we encourage all religious congregations in Nigeria to engage in fervent prayers for peace and unity in the region, for the protection and well-being of those affected by the conflict, and for the speedy release of the abducted individuals.

“Let us remember that our faith calls us to be peacemakers and agents of reconciliation, even in the midst of conflict and adversity,” Okoh stated.

Nigerian Afrobeats singer, David ‘Davido’ Adeleke, has finally addressed photos circulating on social media amid reports that he welcomed a set of twins with his wife, Chioma.

In a terse statement on his official X page, Davido responded directly to the images of himself and Chioma in a hospital, which were used to announce the alleged birth of their children.

The rumour started on October 10, 2023, with reports suggesting that Davido and Chioma welcomed a baby girl and a boy at the Grady Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

However, while not confirming or denying the reports, the singer cautioned the public against sharing old images as recent ones to support their narratives.

He simply wrote, “Stop circulating old pictures thank you ”

Stop circulating old pictures thank you 

— Davido (@davido) October 11, 2023

The singer and Chioma lost their son, Ifeanyi Adeleke, on October 31, 2022.

Ifeanyi drowned in a swimming pool in Davido’s residence in Banana Island, Lagos State, days after his birthday.

One Umar Bello Sadiq, a suspected fraudster has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly defrauding Faridah Nasir Bayero, wife of the Emir of Bichi, Nasir Ado Bayero the sum of N20 million.

He was arraigned alongside his company, Marula Global Links before Justice Zuwaira Yusuf of the Kano State High Court on three count charges of misappropriation and issuance of dud cheques.

According to EFCC, Sadiq had obtained the sum of N20,000,000 from the Emir’s under the guise of investing same into a mining business.

Meanwhile, after collecting the said money, he allegedly diverted the money to his personal use.

Sadiq had pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

One of the charges reads: “That you UMAR BELLO SADIQ AND MARULA GLOBAL LINKS LTD on or about 6th May, 2021 and 25th November, 2021 at Kano within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N20, 000, 000.00 entrusted to you by Faridah Nasir Bayero for the supply of Industrial Resources and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 309 of the same code.”

However, after pleading nof guilty, the prosecution counsel Sadiq Kurawa prayed the court for a trial date.

On the other hand, the defence counsel, Shuaibu Muazu moved a bail application for his client and the sitting judge granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500, 000.

He was also ordered to provide two sureties in like sum who must be his blood relatives and matter was adjourned till November 24, 2023 for commencement of trial.

After a hectic day last Sunday, I was already hauling myself into bed early when my phone rang. I missed the first call but the second came quickly thereafter and Baba (Prof. Banji Akintoye) broke the news to me that the Yoruba Nation fighter, Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, has been released from what many have described as “protective custody” in the Republic of Benin. Igboho was kept first at Porto Novo and later at Cotonou. Baba mandated me to craft a news story to that effect. Igboho, he said, would be boarding a flight from Benin Republic to Germany – and not Nigeria – to reunite with his family at 11.00 pm. I said very well but counselled him to wait till 11.00 pm before releasing the press statement on Igboho’s release, which came after two years of a forced sojourn in a foreign land after he was chased out of his own country by the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

A failed attempt at the assassination of Igboho when his Ibadan, Oyo State home was bombarded by security goons forced him to quickly relocate from the country. Some of his family, friends and associates, even pets, that the security goons met at Igboho’s home located in the Soka area of Ibadan were not as lucky as the Yoruba Nation freedom fighter himself. Igboho managed to reach Cotonou but his attempt to travel from there to Germany with his wife was thwarted, according to reports, by a combination of Nigerian and Beninoise security operatives. But for the vigilance and active opposition of the Yoruba population at the airport, Igboho would have been crated back to Nigeria as was the case with the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Like his military junta failed to "crate" Umaru Dikko from London to Nigeria, Buhari’s civilian administration also failed to have Igboho bundled from Cotonou to Abuja.

Thereafter, legal and diplomatic actions began on many fronts for and against the repatriation of Igboho from Benin Republic to Nigeria. The Nigerian government used its weight as the giant of Africa and the powerhouse of the West African (ECOWAS) sub-region to lean on its Republic of Benin counterpart to send Igboho back to Nigeria under the guise that he was a subversive element and terrorist undermining the security and territorial integrity of Nigeria. On the other hand, pro-Igboho elements led by the Yoruba Nation leader, Prof. Banji Akintoye, exerted pressure on the Beninoise government not to jeopardize Igboho’s safety by repatriating him to Nigeria. Igboho, they insisted, was a freedom fighter and nationalist activist and the peaceful agitation for a Yoruba Nation to be carved out of Nigeria is a legitimate nationalist aspiration recognized by the Charter of the United Nations Organization.

In the end, the Beninoise government bent over backward to satisfy both ends: Igboho would not be allowed to continue on his journey from Cotonou to Germany, where it was feared he could begin to torment the Buhari administration just like Simon Ekpa of IPOB has used his base in Finland, another European nation, to promote IPOB interests and activities, but he would also not be returned to Nigeria as demanded by the Buhari administration.

The Yoruba indigenous group, mostly found in the south-east and south-south, accounts for 12% of the population of Benin Republic (nearly two million people), coming after the Fon 39% and the Adja and Mina (over 12%). There are 34 Yoruba Obas in Benin Republic. When we add the population of Yoruba migrants, then, the Yoruba constitute about one-quarter of the total population of the Benin Republic. While French is the country’s official language, Fon, Yom and Yoruba have the status of national languages. A visitor to Benin Republic, and even to its neighbour, the Republic of Togo, who is unable to speak French, will have no problem if he can speak Anago, which is what they call Yoruba.

Prof. Akintoye and other Yoruba Nation leaders who have also relocated from Nigeria to the Republic of Benin leveraged on this huge population (which no political leader can ignore) to mount pressure on the Beninoise government on Igboho. After courts in the Benin Republic freed Igboho, the Benin Government kept him in a “safe house” first in Porto Novo and later in Cotonou while a flurry of diplomatic and political activities continued to determine his fate. Now that Buhari is out of the way, Igboho has finally received the green light from the Benin Government for him to proceed on his journey to Germany, two years after!

Once Prof. Akintoye broke the news to me, I returned to bed. Two hours later at 10.00pm, Baba’s call woke me up again. Is the news ready? I had not even scribbled it! So, I quickly drafted a terse three-paragraph newsbreak and sent it to Baba for clearance: “Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, has been released from protective custody in the neighbouring Republic of Benin. According to the Yoruba Nation leader, Prof. Banji Akintoye, Sunday Igboho’s release came a few hours ago and he is right now on his way to Germany to be reunited with his family. Further details later” I forwarded it to Baba and Baba okayed it: “Bola, lots of thanks. It is very apt” after which I rolled it out.

The “further details” that were promised came with Sunday Igboho himself speaking on his release and the next line of action. He said: “Good day everyone. I remain myself, Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho. First of all, my sincere appreciation goes to God Almighty, the master of the universe, for making this day possible. I want to say a big ‘thank you’ to all Yoruba sons and daughters all over the world for their love and support before and after the loss of my dear mother, though she’s still being kept in the morgue, waiting for me to return and give her the befitting burial that she deserves.

"I give special thanks to President (Patrice) Talon of Benin Republic and to all the members of his cabinet. My gratitude goes to my heroic father, Professor Banji Akintoye, and to Professor Wole Soyinka for their support in the course of the struggle. May God reward you, Baba, for standing courageously for our Yoruba nation and for me! You promised to stand by me through my ordeal in the Benin Republic and you have fulfilled your promise. I will not forget to appreciate former President Olusegun Obasanjo (and) Baba Ayo Adebanjo for their role, even though only God gives freedom.

"Let me use this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to all religious leaders, pastors, alfas and traditional worshippers for their prayer day and night. Our royal fathers, Obas and Chiefs in Yoruba land, your love and support are so well appreciated. But we need more of your support to deliver our land from the slavery of the Fulani because Yoruba land is ours. Although I have many Obas on my list, Olugbon of Orile Igbon and deputy chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas, Oba Francis Olushola Alao; Kabiyesi Oba Topson Oni Bariga of Bariga, Oba Tejuoso; Oni Kenta of Orile Kenta; Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom, Oba Frederick Akinruntan Obateru; your love is well appreciated”

Igboho said he had a long list of people and organizations to appreciate but that the list is too long for him to exhaust in this particular statement. It nevertheless includes Mega Rally, USA under Prophet Ologunloluwa and the Directorate under the leadership of Barrister Ogedengbe; Ilana Omo Oodua, Canada; Igbega Omo Oodua, USA and Canada; Chief Dele Momodu, all media outlets (internet, print and electronic); “all my brothers from the East” and many others who wanted to remain incognito. He ended with a plea to all Yoruba sons and daughters to join hands ``to make Yoruba land great”

One chapter has just been closed in the Yoruba struggle for self-actualization. In the coming days and weeks, we will hear all manner of stories about the undercurrents that led to Igboho’s freedom. Who played what role and what were the conditions attached, if any? Will Igboho be free to return to Nigeria any time soon and under what conditions, if any? What role, if any, did the presidency of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu play in Igboho’s release? Has the Nigerian government reviewed its uncompromising stance on Igboho and is he no longer a terrorist and security threat? Has Tinubu himself softened his stance on Yoruba Nation and its agitation for self-determination?

Another question is whether the release of Igboho will give a new lease of life to the Yoruba struggle for self-determination. Will the street rallies, which Igboho led successfully before he was run out of town by the Buhari administration, return? Will Igboho’s release add fillip to the sagging morale of other Yoruba Nation activists and give the tottering Yoruba self-determination struggle a shot in the arm? Will activists stop the bickering over post and position; receive the impetus to resolve doctrinaire disputes and stop trading incessant accusations of financial malfeasance? Will the leadership re-dedicate itself anew to the task of rekindling the hope of millions of Yoruba Nation devotees at home and in the Diaspora? Time, as they say, will tell!