The United States District Court in Northern Illinois has given Chicago State University (CSU) 48 hours starting from Saturday to release President Bola Tinubu’s academic records to an opposition candidate in Nigeria’s February presidential election, Atiku Abubakar.

In a ruling delivered on Saturday, the judge, Nancy Maldonado, after dismissing Tinubu’s objection, gave the university until 12 noon on Monday to release the documents to Atiku.

Maldonando dismissed Tinubu’s objection to the 20 September decision of a magistrate judge of the court, Jeffery Gilbert.

The judge on Saturday fully affirmed Gilbert’s ruling ordering the CSU to release Tinubu’s academic records as requested by Atiku. She insisted Atiku had the right to have access to the records.

“For the reasons stated in the Court’s accompanying Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Court overrules Tinubu’s objections (44] and adopts Judge Gilbert’s recommended decision [40] in full.

“The Court therefore grants Abubakar’s application under 28 U.S.C. § 1782. [1],” Maldonado ruled.

She said the CSU must complete all necessary filings with regard to the release by 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

“Respondent CSU is directed to produce all relevant and non-privileged documents in response to Requests for Production Nos. 1 through 4 (as narrowed by Judge Gilbert and adopted by the District Court in its opinion) in Abubakar’s subpoena, by 12:00 p.m. (noon) CDT, on Monday, October 2, 2023.

“The Rule 30(b)(6) deposition of CSU’s corporate designee must be completed by 5:00 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, October 3, 2023,” the court ordered.

Atiku had asked for the documents for use in Nigerian courts to support his argument that Tinubu forged a diploma certificate he claimed to have obtained from CSU in 1979 and submitted to Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC, for the 2023 presidential election.

This, Atiku argued, goes to the root of Tinubu’s qualification to contest the last presidential election.

Although Atiku lost his case against Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which delivered its judgement in early September, he hopes to reintroduce the issue backed with the documents from the CSU in his appeal which he is pursuing against the election court’s decision at the Nigerian Supreme Court.

Atiku had told the US district court that he had up to 5 October to file the documents from the CSU against Tinubu at the Supreme Court.

Tinubu mounted stiff opposition to the release of the documents to Atiku, arguing that “the Nigerian election proceedings and the Nigerian courts” had explicitly rejected the documents Atiku sought to obtain and tender in his case aimed at overturning the results of the 25 presidential elections.

Tinubu’s second reason is that Atiku’s request “is unduly intrusive because it allows Applicant (Atiku) to conduct a fishing expedition into Intervenor’s private, confidential, and protected educational records.”

Court order not confirmation of Atiku’s forgery allegation

But dismissing Tinubu’s objection on Saturday, Maldonado said she was only affirming Atiku’s right to have access to the CSU documents, not confirming the merit of his allegations against the Nigerian president or his comments on the validity of the country’s presidential election.

“In reaching this conclusion, the Court emphasises that it is expressing no view on the merits of Abubakar’s underlying claims regarding Tinubu or his graduation from CSU, or on the validity of the Nigerian election.

“Nor is the Court taking any position on what any of the documents or testimony from CSU may or may not ultimately show. The Court simply finds, on the narrow question before it, that Abubakar is entitled to the production of documents and testimony that he seeks from CSU,” a summary of the judgement read in part.

‘No more order of stay’

Given the time constraints Atiku has to file the CSU documents at Nigeria’s Supreme Court, Maldonado cautioned Tinubu not to bother applying for a stay of the order, as such application would be denied.

She said his only option is to take up such an application for a stay of execution at the US Court of Appeals.

“Given the October 5, 2023 filing deadline before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the Court will not extend or modify these deadlines.

“Further, the Court notes that at the recent emergency hearing, the possibility of a stay pending an appeal to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals was raised. The Court cautions Tinubu that any request for a stay before this Court will be denied, as the Court finds any stay impracticable in light of the fast-approaching Supreme Court of Nigeria deadlines.

“Tinubu is, of course, free to request a stay directly from the Seventh Circuit should he file any appeal. Judgment is entered in favour of Atiku Abubakar.”

As of Sunday morning, it was not clear if Tinubu had filed an appeal at the US Court of Appeals.

Tinubu’s CSU documents ordered for release

The court ordered CSU to release four sets of documents relating to Tinubu as requested by Atiku.

They are true and correct copies of:

*An exemplar of a Chicago State University diploma issued to President Tinubu in 1979;

*Mr Tinubu’s diploma issued in 1979;

*Any exemplar of a Chicago State University diploma that “contains the same font, seal, signatures, and wording as contained in Exhibit C to the First Liu Declaration, which purports to be a CSU diploma issued to Tinubu on or about June 22, 1979″; and

* The CSU documents that were certified and produced by Jamar Orr (an associate general counsel at CSU) as well as communications relating to these documents.

The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has directed its members to prepare for an indefinite strike starting on October 3rd.

The strike is the labour union’s response to the Nigerian government’s removal of fuel subsidies, which has led to a sharp increase in fuel prices.

NUPENG members include the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), who are responsible for transporting fuel across the country.

A strike by NUPENG could cripple the fuel distribution network and lead to shortages across Nigeria.

The union has accused the government of being insensitive to the Nigerian people’s plight and failing to provide adequate social safety nets to help people cope with the rising cost of living.

NUPENG has also warned that the strike could have a devastating impact on the Nigerian economy.

The government has said it is committed to dialogue with NUPENG and other labour unions but has refused to reverse its decision to remove fuel subsidies.

The strike is a significant test for the Nigerian government and could have far-reaching consequences for the country.

[BusinessDay]

The organised Labour Unions, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Saturday vowed that they would embark on the nationwide strike on October 3, 2023.

The union in its 63 Independence anniversary message charged Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic, religious and political differences, to join the nationwide strike.

The labour unions charged royal fathers and other well-meaning Nigerians to advise the government to listen to labour and lessen the suffering across the country.

The unions stated, “This nation can work for all of us. This nation can be made beautiful but good things do not just happen; they are worked out. Liberty is not a ripe fruit that falls to the ground on its own accord. With our hands joined together as the owners of Nigeria, in truth and one heart, we can work for our freedom. Let us awaken this giant and make it work for us.”

In an independent anniversary message titled Nigeria: ‘The travails of a mismanaged giant’, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said the struggle from October 3 is for Nigeria to rise and shine once more as a beacon of hope and prosperity for all its citizens.

Ajaero noted that Nigeria, with all its flaws at conception, possesses a great potential to be amongst the best economies of the world.

The statement reads, “As we mark this Independence Day, let us do so with a renewed sense of purpose. Let us acknowledge our past, confront our present challenges, and collectively work towards a brighter future for Nigeria.

“Together, we can reclaim the greatness that has eluded us for too long. It is time for Nigeria to rise and shine once more as a beacon of hope and prosperity for all its citizens. Remember, when we stand as one refusing to be divided, we will triumph. We call on all Nigerians to join us on the 3rd day of October around Nigeria to begin our march to freedom through the indefinite nationwide strike.

“To this end, the Nigeria Labour Congress beckons on all of us to join hands from all parts of the nation; the North, the East, the West and the South to build the needed coalition to make our nation truly an independent nation.

“As we celebrate Nigeria’s 63rd independence anniversary, it is important that we draw our attention to the fact that this nation was once a great nation filled with great hope inspired by great leaders until inept and corrupt leaders took over the helms of affairs and ran the country aground. The crisis of leadership is truly the crisis of our national development.

“The continued mismanagement of our resources has made it difficult for us as a nation and as a people to make sustainable progress rather, we have continued to march backwards with every preceding year looking worse than the previous one.

“Regrettably, the decades that followed were marked by a series of missteps, mismanagement, and missed opportunities. The erosion of ethical governance, rampant corruption, and political instability became defining features of our nation. Instead of harnessing our potential for the collective good, our leaders often pursued personal interests, leaving the masses to grapple with the consequences.

“There is no other way to explain the fact that about 43 years ago, Nigeria had a vibrant Airline called Nigeria Airways with a large fleet of Aircraft flying to several parts of the globe and owning large properties which span almost half of Ikeja GRA and in London and capital cities of Europe. We had a national Shipping line that had in its fleet several Vessels which competed favourably with other shipping lines all over the world.

“Yet, as a nation, we have managed to deliberately become a nation with neither a national Airline nor a national shipping line. We became a nation that derives happiness in making a mockery of ourselves as was typified by the Nigeria Air debacle where we had to fake the ownership of an Airline by shamelessly borrowing and repainting an Aircraft from Ethiopian Airlines.

“This period of independence must serve as a time when all of us have to seriously seek to question ourselves and thoroughly re-examine our actions as a people and as a nation.

“We have to soberly reflect on why we have moved from a once prosperous nation to become a country that is the poverty capital of the world with over 133 million multi-dimensionally poor people. This number has since increased after the hike in the price of petrol (PMS) by His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“It is indeed an opportunity to find how we have moved to a nation that had a refinery that was operational in the 1960s which grew into another three refineries in the 1980s but which have been deliberately made obsolete by those we have entrusted the leadership of our nation.

“Nigerians must seek to find out why we have become a nation that must import a product which can easily be refined in our nation and why the conscious sabotage of our economy by those who occupy the helm of affairs in our country? We must make a conscious effort to find out what the phantom called fuel subsidy is, how much was it worth, who was receiving the monies claimed to have been spent and why the obvious lies when the Direct Sales and Direct Purchase (DSDP) agreement was the framework for the import and distribution of products in Nigeria?

“Also of great importance is the willful bastardisation of the Naira and the attendant Dollarisation of the economy by the nation’s leaders. We need to find out whether truly a genuine foreign exchange market exists in its true sense in Nigeria. Why would the value of the nation’s currency continue a free fall when the value of accruals from crude is rising? What magic has made it difficult for the value of the Naira to remain stable against the Dollar especially when the Dollar is being pummeled all over the world?

“Workers all over Nigeria would want to find out why almost all the privatized entities were sold at a giveaway price to the so-called investors. Why is it that most of them have either been stripped and scrapped or are no longer operational? Who are the real buyers of these entities? We will want to find out who bought the GENCOS and DISCOs, and who bought the Ikot–Abasi Aluminium Smelter company.

“Why it is no longer producing but has been shut down? Nigerians deserve to know and we must ask this question: what is going on here?

“This Independence Day celebration should allow us to ask those who are leading us why they have refused to fund public Universities appropriately and have instead decided to establish and own private universities. We may wish to know why they have turned Nigeria from a country where foreigners took pride in coming for education to a country where the majority of the citizens go abroad to obtain quality tertiary education. We would want to know why the elites have managed to price education out of the reach of the poor.

“It is also an opportunity for Nigerian workers to ask our leaders why our hospitals have been turned into places to go and die instead of places to go and be healed. We would want to find out why our healthcare system used to boast of the patronage of influential individuals and families from all over the world has suddenly become anathema both to foreigners and the Nigerian rich. We want to find out why the rich throng abroad to treat minor ailments instead of making use of our health facilities.

“We want to find out what happened to the Ships in the defunct Nigeria Shipping line and what happened to the Aircraft and properties of Nigeria Airways that were scattered all over the world. Who acquired them and at how much and where is the money from their acquisition? It will also be interesting to find out who acquired the Steel companies and why none of them is producing steel today.

“Much more, Nigerian workers will want to find out why it has become difficult for an army that fought the Civil war and won, fought in Lebanon, Sierra Leone and Liberia to defeat the Boko Haram insurgents. We want to find out whether it is a deliberate tool to keep Nigeria in perpetual crisis.

“One of the most painful aspects of Nigeria’s journey has been the economic struggles faced by the majority of our citizens. Despite being blessed with abundant natural resources, poverty and unemployment have become entrenched in our society. The promise of prosperity for all remains elusive, as a significant portion of our population continues to live in abject poverty.

“Moreover, social disparities have widened, with a yawning gap between the privileged few and the marginalized many. Access to quality healthcare, education, and basic
infrastructure remains a distant dream for millions of Nigerians. This inequality not only undermines our social fabric but also hampers our collective progress.”

[NaijaNews]

Former Manchester United captain, Gary Neville has called on the Premier League to introduce the semi-automated offside.

This follows a controversial incident in Tottenham Hotspurs’ 2-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday evening.

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have apologized to Liverpool, admitting that Luis Diaz’s goal against Tottenham Hotspur should have stood.

Diaz broke in behind the Spurs defence before firing past Guglielmo Vicario into the bottom corner.

However the linesman had his flag up for offside. And although VAR intervened, the TV cameras didn’t show the offside lines, with the Colombian seemingly onside.

Neville tweeted: “Goal-line Technology and Offside have been the two pillars of accuracy with VAR.

“I’ve lost some confidence in the last month on offsides and this today erodes it further. Bring in the automated system straight away.”

When a semi-automated system is used, there is no need to draw or activate lines.

Instead, a virtual offside line is generated automatically in addition to accurately identifying skeleton points — including head, toes, upper arm and knees — on multiple players simultaneously.

[DailyPost]

I signed off last week while lamenting an emblem of suffering and shame for us as an oil-producing country. I rounded off noting that we are an oil producing country but because we serve the God of Small Things, we curiously import refined products for domestic consumption because all our four refineries have for years been unserviceable.

The consequences of official corruption that triggered the suffering and shame are not on a hill far away. They are biting us here at the moment. Not even strange updates on certificate scandals, curious technicalities in electoral judicial system confirming even dubious mandates and sickly governor directing from another state capital impeachment strategy of his hale-and-hearty deputy can cause distractions from the devastating consequences of poor economic choices our governments have made and are still making.

That Onyeka Nwenu’s classic documentary on “squandering of the riches” can be instructive today as we celebrate Nigeria’s 63rd independence anniversary. It is clear that we seem to have lost our sanity to the combined effects of debt burden and fuel subsidy conundrum. Which means we have been serving the God of Small Things.

But, certainly all of us cannot relocate to the West because of the economic challenges of the moment. We will be around to fight until something happens! And so we will continue to suggest to our leaders to study to show themselves approved on how to serve the God of Big Things for the public good of the most populous country in Africa.

And so I pray to the God of all possibilities that the eyes of the heart of our leaders may be enlightened, so that they will see what has been happening in the Middle East, our neighbours where leaders seem to have deepened their understanding about how to serve the God of Big Things. The Middle Easterners including the small but powerful Israel have dazzled the world while we are busy at all times serving the God of Small Things: the world continues to wonder why we, who are supposed to be the light of even the black people of the world are drifting from darkness to darkness.

Let’s see what a small nation, Israel an OECD member with a population of fewer than 10 million people are doing to glorify the God of Big Things. The nation, Israel, however includes those who are eligible for Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return: the global total rises to 15.3 million people of which more than nine million are in Israel while the rest are outside Israel.

They serve the God of Big Things, not through Christianity even as they are the source of Christianity. This discussion point isn’t about religion. It is about enhancement of humanity though knowledge, which now covers the earth as water covers the sea as it is written. We are also referring to the God of Knowledge here.

Let’s look at the power of Startup, small but mighty Israel uses as a weapon to dazzle the world. Let’s deepen our understanding of what is going on there even as our state actors here bastardise the knowledge industry.

The Tel Aviv startup ecosystem has long been a favoured destination for international venture capital, and is a proven track record of producing top entrepreneurial talent.

From nothing to ‘Nonstop City’
Tel Aviv’s reputation is all the more impressive given the city on the outskirts of the ancient Arab port city of Jaffa was only founded in 1909 by immigrants from Europe.
From the outset, the new city had to stand out from its neighbour and think outside the box to prosper in an area with few natural resources.

Even after Tel Aviv officially separated from Jaffa in 1934, its inhabitants struggled to compete with the more established settlement – a challenge that encouraged Tel Avivians to adopt an innovative mindset. If you serve the God of Big Things, you will have an innovative mindset.
It’s said that Israel’s compulsory military service further fuelled an enterprise ecosystem due to its use of problem solving and networking strategies – vital skills in business building. There’s a historical component to Tel Aviv’s unique personality too. Given the country’s geographic centrality between Europe and Asia, entrepreneurs in the region have a strong background in developing products for export.

All the ingredients were there. But just how did a city that started out selling oranges become one of Startup Genome’s top-10 ranking global hubs for startup funding and talent?
Defined by Chutzpah

‘Chutzpah’ is derived from an old Hebrew word that means – roughly – ‘audacity’. It certainly takes audacity to look to the smallest businesses in society for the biggest ideas, and to model a city on a bustling startup ecosystem. But, as the 20th century progressed, that’s what Tel Aviv did, pouring money into supporting the startups developing tech and fostering innovation in Israel and further afield.

A bedrock of this mindset is the national backing for research and development projects. Stock in R&D is high, and Tel Aviv’s Municipality Press Office claims that 90 percent of the world’s largest tech companies have R&D centres in the city’s greater metro area.

A staggering feat, especially when you consider the country’s relatively small population and land mass. This natural willingness to look to the future for new ideas has fed into Israel becoming a true tech hub, able to ride the highs and lows of global economic growth and crisis. Aharon Aharon, former CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority, said that, “it is well understood … the high-tech industry in Israel holds the key to pulling us out of … crisis.”
What defines Tel Aviv’s tech startup scene is writ large in the city’s data: Israel ranks third in the world by number of AI and machine learning startups. The global average for early-stage startup funding is US$431 million. In Tel Aviv, the average is US$3 billion. Israel exports US$6.5 billion in cybersecurity products and services every year.

Tel Aviv’s startup ecosystem. Photo: NoCarmels.com

Meanwhile, Deloitte’s research into Tel Aviv’s startup ecosystem shows that the Israeli government started tech incubator programmes as early as the 1990s, demonstrating a consistent push for greater openness and accessibility of opportunity that has existed from the top-down for many years.
This commitment to startups led to an increase in the flow of experienced entrepreneurs and Venture Capital firms into Tel Aviv, which in turn prompted further government investment – and so on in a steady cycle of progress. This has prompted calls of encouragement from the city’s startup founders, including Uri Levine, entrepreneur and co-founder of Waze, who said; “The ecosystem has matured a lot over the past decade, with more experienced angel investors, higher aspirations, and an ecosystem that embraces change.”

Tel Aviv finds itself in the position it’s in today thanks to this desire to embrace new ideas and keep the city’s business scene open to all solutions – local and overseas.

Telling the tale of Tel Aviv tech
From a small settlement on a far-flung shore of the Mediterranean to a so-called ‘Startup Nation’ leading the rest of the world in generating new business ideas…There is a generation of Israeli entrepreneurs who have spent time inside of multinational corporations; Amazon, Google, Facebook, and other big names. This has contributed significantly to the maturity of the ecosystem and to the development of a new generation of management.

When will the generation of Nigerian entrepreneurs who have spent time inside of multinational corporations, Amazon, Google, etc return home to replicate what is happening in UAE’s Dubai and Tel Aviv?

The value of the city’s whole startup ecosystem is US$47 billion. Big money, but even more impressive when you consider that the global average is US$10.5 billion. Tel Aviv is as close as you get to startup paradise. Tel Aviv startup ecosystem ranks 2nd in Europe, Mideast and Africa, behind London.

According to the Times of Israel, Tel Aviv is home to the fifth-highest number of unicorns worldwide; placed third in the world for cybersecurity investments, with startups raising $1.7b in 2022.

Tel Aviv nabbed second place as a tech hub for startups with the highest enterprise value behind London and ahead of Paris, turning the city into one of the fastest-growing ecosystems in the world, a new report compiled by Dealroom showed the other day.

Tel Aviv tech startups boasted a combined enterprise value of $393 billion in 2022, second only to London among Europe, Middle East and African cities, fifth in Asia and Oceania, and seventh in the Americas. Since 2018, Tel Aviv’s startup ecosystem has grown 3.5 times in value, faster than the Bay Area, New York, Beijing, London, and Paris during the same period of time.

The report includes 2022 data from both startups founded in the greater Tel Aviv area that maintained their main centre of business (HQ) there and those that relocated their HQ outside of Tel Aviv. As such, its findings predate the widespread social upheaval over the government’s recent judicial overhaul prompting a number of Israeli startups and tech firms to transfer their funds and investments abroad amid fears of economic and political fallout.

Tel Aviv-headquartered startups raised $6.9 billion in venture capital investment in 2022, falling short of the $8.8 billion attracted in 2021, but almost double the amount raised in 2020. The city ranks third in terms of total VC investment in the EMEA region in 2022, after London and Paris and ahead of Berlin, the report showed.
Tel Aviv unicorns: Tel Aviv is also home to the fifth-highest number of unicorns worldwide, boasting 95 unicorns as of 2022 of which 75 became unicorns since 2018, according to the report. Unicorns are startups that reached a $1 billion valuation. Findings of the report showed that many Tel Aviv-headquartered and -founded unicorns, such as Iron Source and Gett, have been breeding new entrepreneurial talent, as staff alumni leave to found more startups in Tel Aviv and abroad. When are we creating an ecosystem that will bring back our talents from abroad?

Next week, we will move to deconstruct the vision of a remarkable Middle East leader, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who has tackled challenges in the race for excellence that built UAE/Dubai. He appears to have also served the God of Big Things. One wonders why our compatriots in northern Nigeria haven’t studied the vision of such a remarkable leader.

Many of our leaders do not read. They either do not have the time to spare or they lack the inclination. Reading culture is generally on the decline, even among students – as well as teachers – whose job it is to read. These days, students generally study or read to pass their examinations, not to excel or be on top of the subject of study. Many also are the teachers who simply pour out notes that were constructed decades ago. That is why we have all manner of professionals who, at best, are only textbook gurus with no practical application of the knowledge impacted on them in the years spent at school. In those days, we formed study groups called Teach Your Teacher (TYT); we read “over syllabus”, as they say, and came to class prepared to test the preparedness and brilliance of our teachers. How to make money, and make it quick with little or no hard work, is now the vogue. These are no longer the days of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who burned the midnight lamp while, for others, frolicking around and enjoying the goodies of the night were the spoils of office.

My experience around men in the corridors of power teaches that they are not as informed as we usually think they are; they are obsessed with what they think are the needs of the people which, unfortunately, are not always so; they think they work themselves out for the people and feel let down and disappointed to realize that their efforts are not appreciated. The feedback mechanism of many of those in power leaves much to be desired; which is why they always get wiser after they leave office. While in office, they are shut up from reality by the coterie of aides, palace and court jesters, and influence peddlers. Bureaucrats are seldom pro-people but usually serve selfish interests. Whatever name it is called; government everywhere is a cult. Even in a theocracy, in churches and mosques, the elites rule. The masses everywhere are far removed from the levers of power. Who says organization, says oligarchy!

There are two things I think those in the corridors of power must bend over backward to do. The first is that they must find the time to read. They should read books, read news stories, read commentaries and opinion articles. They should read opinions critical of their person and government. They should also find time to go round to see things for themselves. Sitting in the office all day long receiving visitors, treating files and listening to the fables of court jesters is one of the greatest mistakes that leaders make. That way, they hardly can feel the pulse of the people they govern. They can hardly know the true state of things. They cannot connect with reality. It takes a lot of courage and persistence for any leader to break out of the prison of officialdom always woven around them. It is usually not in the interest of those in the corridors of power for the Boss to see reality as it is and not what they say it is. The world is re-created in their own image to serve selfish ends. Make no mistake about it, a leader who disconnects – or allows himself to be disconnected – from the people, is a failed leader. That is the reason I have chosen, today, to bring some of the things I read during the past week to the attention of our leaders. It may be that they will come across them; find the time to read and, possibly, find a few useful things in them.

The second is this: “We have sold forward crude contracts; so, our crude is encumbered as some of the crude we haven’t produced don’t belong to us. We have sold forward FX contracts; so, some of our future FX earnings are encumbered. Essentially, some of the FX we are yet to earn do not belong to us. Under the infrastructure tax credit scheme, some of our major company income tax payers were awarded roads to either rehabilitate or construct and are entitled to utilize the total investment cost incurred in the construction or refurbishment of the eligible road as Tax Credit against their future CIT liabilities until full cost recovery is achieved. In essence, some of the future Company Income Tax is encumbered. From inherited crude oil production volume of 2.05 million bpd in May 2015 (and a production capacity of 2.13 million bpd) which was close to our OPEC quota, by May 2016 production crashed to 1.4 million bpd, a 30-year low at the time but we had no idea that worse was to come. By the time the Buhari administration was exiting, crude oil production volume had crashed to 998,602 barrels per day in April 2023 (against our OPEC Quota of 1.8 million barrels per day), which is insufficient to cover our crude oil swap obligations and our Carry Arrangement with the IOCs, much less generating revenue! NNPC infamously was unable to remit a dime to FAAC as from January 2022. Do you now see why we cannot provide Dangote refineries with feedstock given that even our crude/PMS swaps are locked in future contracts? We have borrowed so much; such that our cost of debt service (interest and not principal) currently exceeds our revenue! So, all our future earnings are encumbered to service debt only. At N87 trillion debt stock, Buhari borrowed Nigeria back into colonization and spent our future earnings on top! In eight years, in an environment of depleted foreign reserves, we created so much Naira supply that we more than doubled the total Naira supply from N21 trillion as at May 2015 to over N55 trillion as at May 2023. So, this N1,000/US$1 exchange rate is morning yet on judgement day. I am not sure we have a full dimension yet of the havoc the Buhari government wrecked on our economy. The chickens have come home to roost”

This third one is specifically directed at the governors of the South-west states: “While the ANAMBRA State Government of Charles Soludo is PUBLICLY advertising vacancies in Anambra Health Sectors for ONLY ANAMBRA PEOPLE, Lagos State General Hospitals are filled with Anambra people while Yoruba medical professionals are doing “japa” to get jobs. And it is the same in private hospitals. You can have a company owned by a Yoruba man and see Igbos employed into high offices. But a company owned by Igbos, even on Yoruba land, will have IGBOS imported from all over their villages to fill it up. GTB was floated by the YORUBAS but you can find many Igbos employed there. It is a very structured organization operated by MERIT. GT doesn’t care about ethnicity. It is good. But go to banks floated by Igbo people; you will struggle to find non-Igbos on their staff list. Even their branches in the remotest parts of Yoruba land have far more Igbos than Yorubas.

Go to Nollywood. You are not likely going to find a single non-Igbo in the cast and crew of any of their productions, not even messengers and drivers, even Yoruba Babaláwo roles are taken by Igbos who speak Yoruba well! But come to our own film productions, you find Igbos everywhere as stars and prominent casts and crew. When I was at the Anambra State University, everybody from VC to the janitors were Igbos. In those days, nearly every, if by chance not all, academic and non-academic staff of UNN were Igbos. But at LASU, OSU and all our state universities in the south-west, you can find Igbo academic and non-academic staff. Prof. Kenneth Dike and Prof. Eni Njoku, both Igbos, were the first VC of UI and UNILAG respectively.

You can’t go ANYWHERE in the South-East as a Yoruba man and try to become the chairman of a school PTA, let alone a holder of political office! But the Igbo man will struggle to emerge as chairman of Residents Associations, CDAs and CDCs and, in fact, will want to emerge as governor in Yoruba land! For every ONE Yoruba man who is miraculously able to buy LAND anywhere in Igbo land, I will show you at least 1,000 Igbo men who own LAND even in Abeokuta. Lagos is a given for them. It is impossible for the Yoruba people to form a business community in Igbo land where they could have as much as ONE plot of land to themselves. I never saw any such thing in the six years which I spent in Igbo land. But in Yoruba land, you find Igbo traders forming ALL-IGBO business communities over several acres of land.

Many Igbos moved their polling units from the South-East into Lagos in particular and the South-West in general at the last General Elections. Our own people sang and danced for them under the banner of the Obidient Movement. But even the few Igbo who tried to vote for Asíwájú Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Igbo land were beaten mercilessly. Peter Obi got about 50% of the votes in Lagos, beating Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, but in Anambra, Asíwájú was so unpopular he got less than 1% of the votes!

As the IGBOS are coming from the EAST, the Hausa-Fulani are coming from the NORTH, both pursuing the same agenda of upstaging the YORUBA from their ancestral land as a first critical step to taking over Nigeria. It has ALWAYS been about those two since 1914. Yoruba are OMOLÚÀBÍS. We are LIBERAL. We are WELCOMING and EASY-GOING. But we are COMPLACENT PEOPLE who do not seem to know the first lesson in SELF-PRESERVATION. We are a people being railroaded towards destruction. The writing on the wall is bold, so bold!”

Food for thought; not so!

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 general election, Peter Obi, has enjoined Nigerians not to despair over the agonizing situation in the country 63 years after independence from colonial rule.

Obi tasked Nigerians to remain resolute and hopeful that a new Nigeria is still possible.

Obi, in an Independence message to Nigerians, on Saturday, said: ”Even amidst grave uncertainties and apparent hardship, the citizens of Nigeria are experiencing due to persistent leadership failure after 63 years of our nationhood, the situation might be critical, but certainly not hopeless.”

The LP presidential standard bearer noted that the real reason Nigerians have remained visibly mired in poor governance and poverty after 63 years is that successive administrations through policies actions and inactions have attempted to suppress conscientious people, for them to remain at the helm of power.

He said, “The evidence of elite consensus on the way forward on structure and nation-building remains a core problem.”

Obi drew analogy between a nation’s life and parameters of modern technology; “if the input is garbage in then the output will be garbage out.

“When you Google a subject, the response you get will be based on the questions you input. Every nation invariably determines its own fate and destiny; and gets a leadership they deserve.

“Nigeria cannot be an exception. If we subscribe to rogue leadership, then we must face the attending consequences,” he declared.

Obi also said, “At 63 years, what type of questions are Nigerians asking of their leaders and what type of answer are we expecting?

“If at 63 years we cannot conduct an election to allow the will of the people to prevail, what type of country do we expect?

The presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, has said Nigeria is celebrating its 63rd independence at a crossroads.

According to him, the nation which is yet to attain its full potentials has so much to be grateful for, especially for the industry of its youths in various fields, whose achievements have led to the hoisting of the national flag across the globe.

Atiku said this in his Independence Day message to Nigerians, in Abuja, on Saturday.

The former Vice President and Wazirin Adamawa explained that this year’s Independence Day “is coming at a time when the country is at a crossroads in many aspects of our national lives.

“Sixty-three years ago, when this great country acquired independence, it was upon the promise of abundant prosperity and the principle of social justice.

“As a nation, we have continued to struggle to manifest the dreams of our founding fathers in upholding the promises of shared prosperity and social justice.

“We have encountered great moments when the flag of our dear country flew tall on the global stage through the industry of our sportsmen and women, the prolific distinction of our academia and the top notch artistry of Nigerian talents in the global music scene.

“The talents and doggedness of young Nigerians who have refused to give up on the country are the inspiration for a greater future that we celebrate today.

“The energy of the Nigerian youth is a formidable force in the consternation of manpower and skills that power the global economy.

“Across the globe, and in various fields of human endeavour, the youth of this country have proven to have the competence to rival any of their peers from any part of the world.

“That success – the gallantry of our youth – is the primal element of what we celebrate today as a nation.”

He went on to say, “Therefore, for me, the challenge before us all is in ensuring that the political leadership in the country that we call home should be worthy of our pride as a people and not of telling embarrassment.

“Our democracy has triumphed so far due to the fidelity of our conviction that a democracy, when properly nurtured, should bring out the best in us and of us.

“As Nigerians, we are all not unfamiliar with the hardships in the economy, security, and other vital aspects of our society.

“While I enjoin us all to submit our strengths in faith to the Almighty God, we must be prepared to do our best to pull the country back from this point of uncertainty to a place of common safety.

“I congratulate fellow Nigerians, alongside friends and well wishers of our dear country across the globe, and wish you a happy Independence Day.

“God bless you all, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Unveils provisional wage increment

President Bola Tinubu has said that his administration is introducing a provisional wage increment to enhance the federal minimum wage without causing undue inflation.

To this end, the President said for the next six months, the average low-grade worker shall receive an additional N25,000 per month.

He promised a thorough housecleaning of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, which he described as the den of malfeasance, adding that his special investigator will soon present his findings on past lapses and how to prevent similar reoccurrences.

These among others were contained in Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast, this morning, to mark Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary.

The President commended the founding fathers and mothers of the country, stressing that without them,there would be no modern Nigeria.

He, however, was silent on the indefinite strike by the Organized Labour expected to commence on Wednesday, October 3.

Full text of broadcast:

Dear Compatriots,
It is my unique honour to address you on this day, the 63rd anniversary of our nation’s independence, both as the President of our dear country and, simply, as a fellow Nigerian.

2.On this solemn yet hopeful day, let us commend our founding fathers and mothers.

Without them, there would be no modern Nigeria. From the fading embers of colonialism, their activism, dedication and leadership gave life to the belief in Nigeria as a sovereign and independent nation.

3. Let us, at this very moment, affirm that, as Nigerians, we are all endowed with the sacred rights and individual gifts that God has bestowed on us as a nation and as human beings. No one is greater or lesser than the other. The triumphs that Nigeria has achieved shall define us.

The travails we have endured shall strengthen us. And no other nation or power on this earth shall keep us from our rightful place and destiny. This nation belongs to you, dear people. Love and cherish it as your very own.

4.Nigeria is remarkable in its formation and essential character. We are a broad and dynamic blend of ethnic groups, religions, traditions and cultures. Yet, our bonds are intangible yet strong, invisible yet universal.

We are joined by a common thirst for peace and progress, by the common dream of prosperity and harmony and by the unifying ideals of tolerance and justice.

5.Forging a nation based on the fair application of these noble principles to a diverse population has been a task of significant blessing but also serial challenge.

Some people have said an independent Nigeria should never have come into existence. Some have said that our country would be torn apart.

They are forever mistaken. Here, our nation stands and here we shall remain.

6.This year, we passed a significant milestone in our journey to a better Nigeria. By democratically electing a 7th consecutive civilian government, Nigeria has proven that commitment to democracy and the rule of law remains our guiding light.

7.At my inauguration, I made important promises about how I would govern this great nation. Among those promises were pledges to reshape and modernize our economy and to secure the lives, liberty and property of the people.

8.I said that bold reforms were necessary to place our nation on the path of prosperity and growth. On that occasion, I announced the end of the fuel subsidy.

9. I am attuned to the hardships that have come. I have a heart that feels and eyes that see. I wish to explain to you why we must endure this trying moment.

Those who sought to perpetuate the fuel subsidy and broken foreign exchange policies are people who would build their family mansion in the middle of a swamp.

I am different. I am not a man to erect our national home on a foundation of mud. To endure, our home must be constructed on safe and pleasant ground.

10.Reform may be painful, but it is what greatness and the future require. We now carry the costs of reaching a future Nigeria where the abundance and fruits of the nation are fairly shared among all, not hoarded by a select and greedy few. A Nigeria where hunger, poverty and hardship are pushed into the shadows of an ever fading past.

11.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. 

12.My government is doing all that it can to ease the load. I will now outline the path we are taking to relieve the stress on our families and households.

13.We have embarked on several public sector reforms to stabilize the economy, direct fiscal and monetary policy to fight inflation, encourage production, ensure the security of lives and property and lend more support to the poor and the vulnerable.

14.Based on our talks with labour, business and other stakeholders, we are introducing a provisional wage increment to enhance the federal minimum wage without causing undue inflation. For the next six months, the average low-grade worker shall receive an additional Twenty-Five Thousand naira per month.

15.To ensure better grassroots development, we set up an Infrastructure Support Fund for states to invest in critical areas. States have already received funds to provide relief packages against the impact of rising food and other prices.

16.Making the economy more robust by lowering transport costs will be key. In this regard, we have opened a new chapter in public transportation through the deployment of cheaper, safer Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses across the nation. These buses will operate at a fraction of current fuel prices, positively affecting transport fares. 

17.New CNG conversions kits will start coming in very soon as all hands are on deck to fast track the usually lengthy procurement process. We are also setting up training facilities and workshops across the nation to train and provide new opportunities for transport operators and entrepreneurs.

This is a groundbreaking moment where, as a nation, we embrace more efficient means to power our economy. In making this change, we also make history.

18. I pledged a thorough housecleaning of the den of malfeasance the CBN had become. That housecleaning is well underway. A new leadership for the Central Bank has been constituted. Also, my special investigator will soon present his findings on past lapses and how to prevent similar reoccurrences. Henceforth, monetary policy shall be for the benefit of all and not the exclusive province of the powerful and wealthy.

19.Wise tax policy is essential to economic fairness and development. I have inaugurated a Committee on Tax Reforms to improve the efficiency of tax administration in the country and address fiscal policies that are unfair or hinder the business environment and slow our growth.

20.To boost employment and urban incomes, we are providing investment funding for enterprises with great potential. Similarly, we are increasing investment in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

21.Commencing this month, the social safety net is being extended through the expansion of cash transfer programs to an additional 15 million vulnerable households.

22.My administration shall always accord the highest priority to the safety of the people. Inter-Service collaboration and intelligence sharing have been enhanced. Our Service Chiefs have been tasked with the vital responsibility of rebuilding the capacities of our security services.

23.Here, I salute and commend our gallant security forces for keeping us safe and securing our territorial integrity. Many have paid the ultimate sacrifice. We remember them today and their families. We shall equip our forces with the ways and means needed to perform their urgent task on behalf of the people,
24.We shall continue to make key appointments in line with the provisions of the Constitution and with fairness toward all. Women, Youth and the physically challenged shall continue to be given due regard in these appointments.

25.May I take this opportunity to congratulate the National Assembly for its role in the quick take-off of this administration through the performance of its constitutional duties of confirmation and oversight.

26.I similarly congratulate the judiciary as a pillar of democracy and fairness.

27.I also thank members of our dynamic civil society organizations and labour unions for their dedication to Nigerian democracy. We may not always agree but I value your advice and recommendations. You are my brothers and sisters and you have my due respect. 

28.Fellow compatriots, the journey ahead will not be navigated by fear or hatred. We can only achieve our better Nigeria through courage, compassion and commitment as one indivisible unit.

29. I promise that I shall remain committed and serve faithfully. I also invite all to join this enterprise to remake our beloved nation into its better self. We can do it. We must do it. We shall do it.!!!
30. I wish you all a happy 63rd Independence Anniversary.
    31.Thank you for listening.
31. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.