Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has refuted claims that his recent visit to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FTC), Nyesom Wike, and other ministers in Abuja was part of efforts to influence tribunal judgement in his favour.

Recall that the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), David Ombugadu, is challenging Sule’s victory in the March 18 governorship election in Nasarawa State.

Addressing newsmen in Lafia at the weekend, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Sule, Mr Peter Ahemba, said the governor’s visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration with the FCT Administration and attracting development to the state.

Ahemba said it was aimed at discussing how to execute a metro line from Apo to Keffi, as well as partnership to build the 13, 000 hectares at Guruku/Kabusu Mega City that is only about 5km away from Maitama II.

He said no amount of false alarm and media propaganda would save the PDP from imminent defeat at the tribunal.

“A day before the visit to the FCT minister, the governor was visited by the Minister of Police Affairs, as well as the Health and Social Welfare in company of Global Alliance Vaccines Initiative (GAVI), at the Nasarawa governor’s lodge in Abuja. The governor also visited the Minister of Mineral Resources the same day with the aim of attracting development to the state.

“An opposition party that has the interest of the people at heart and is interested in propelling good governance through constructive criticisms will applaud the governor’s initiative of timely seeking partnership with the new FCT minister because it is a right step in the right direction,” he said.

Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has alleged plans by the President Bola Tinubu administration to unleash a regime of propaganda on the country in the days ahead.

Atiku, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, yesterday, said the “fake news” about the lifting of the visa ban by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was just a “tip of the iceberg.”

Atiku, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, claimed that President Tinubu has already appointed over 15 media aides to dish out propaganda as a policy of state and distract Nigerians from the deep pains his administration has caused them.

“From information available to us, Bola Tinubu is set to push propaganda to overdrive as he heads out for the United Nations General Assembly. He will claim to have attracted foreign investments amounting to $100 billion but will fail to provide key details. It is all propaganda. It is all a load of baloney.

“In India, he claimed they had received pledges of over $14 billion just as his predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, claimed in 2018 that he had secured pledges of up to $6 billion. This is nothing but audio investments.

“Last month, the NNPC claimed to have obtained a loan of $3bn with which it would help stabilise the naira. We raised the alarm that it was all a ruse to deceive Nigerians. Now, we have been justified as the naira is now approaching $1/N,000 on the black market.

“After his trip to the UAE, Tinubu claimed the visa ban had been lifted immediately. Now, they have shifted the goalpost after the UAE authorities revealed that the news was false. This is the sort of embarrassment Nigeria will continue to attract in this season of balablu.

“The report by FTSE revealed that Tinubu’s so-called FX unification policy was failing and Nigeria was degraded from frontier market to unclassified. Having failed to bring economic rebirth, he has now recruited over 15 media aides instead of recruiting more economic experts.”

Atiku added that “ it was laughable that Tinubu, who vowed to hit the ground running from the first day, had held only one cabinet meeting since his inauguration nearly 120 days ago.

“Tinubu removed petrol subsidy without any plan whatsoever and decided to hand over a few bags of rice to millions of poor Nigerians. Till date, the minimum wage remains N30,000 or $31 per month based on the parallel market exchange rate.

“In the meantime, we ask Nigerians to remain patient as the judicial authorities do their job in righting the electoral fraud that has brought Nigerians to their knees.”

The Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA), yesterday, said with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent approval of the nomination of Olayemi Cardoso to serve as the substantive Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), some 48 hours after appointing Zachaeus Adedeji as the acting chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), president appeared to be pushing an unseemly pro-ethnic agenda.

In a statement by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwuniko, the group said, “With a little over 100 days on the saddle, the president’s appointments have shown he appeared to have special consideration for people from his South-West region, especially those with links to Lagos State.

“If President Tinubu’s appointment of new services sparked new hope and drew deserved plaudits in that it recognised the nation’s diversity, his subsequent appointments curiously depart from that template.

“That the disastrous, previous administration of General Muhammadu Buhari, rtd, towed a visionless, divisive path, in the overwhelming tribalistic appointments it made, should never excuse this course that fundamentally degrades the legitimate dream of a new, progressive, inclusive Nigerian state.

“Today, the stakes are extremely high and Nigerians are mindful that a failure to achieve democratic stability, through a meritorious, transparent, inclusive governance process may imperil the country’s future as a coherent state. Mere political rewards and seeming ethnic nationalism should not drive the national journey. It is a perilous, avoidable option.’

“We recall here that the central driving mantra and foundational philosophy on which the ruling All Progressives Congress sold its presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now President, to Nigerians, was ‘Renewed Hope’. Nigerians bought into it and voted the Asiwaju and APC to power because it deeply resonated with the populace. But what is the reality?

“Key appointments traversing the nation’s crucial security, judicial and economic sectors are now unabashedly cornered by the South-West region. A quick, non-exhaustive check-list would include: Petroleum Minister: Bola Tinubu; Chief of Staff: Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Justice: Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Folashodun Shonubi who now gives way to a substantive CBN boss Olayemi Cardoso.

“Others include: Minister of Marine & Blue Economy: Bunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy: Bosun Tijan; simultaneously, the Chairman of Senate Committee on ICT, Afolabi Salisu, and that of House of Representatives, Adedeji Olajide Odidiomo are both from the South-West; Minister of Power: Adebayo Adelabu; Minister of Transport: Adegboyega Oyetola; Minister of Solid Minerals: Dele Alake; Chief of Army Staff: General Taoreed Lagbaja; Police IG: Kayode Egbetokun; Comptroller-General Customs: Adewale Adeniyi; Comptroller-General Immigration: Adepoju Carol Wura-Ola; FIRS Chairman: Zacchaeus. Adedeji, et cetera, “HURIWA stated.

Also, another civil society group, South West APC Support Groups (SASG), hassaid, “This unfolding pro-ethnic gambit is not surprisingly provoking pushbacks from regional organisations, including the ‘favored’ South-West.

“Some S/West APC stakeholders under the aegis of South West APC Support Groups (SASG) earlier in the day alleged that states in the zone are being sidelined in the appointments of presidential aides announced so far, as only the ‘Lagos boys’ are snatching the slots.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Otunba Dele Fulani, the SASG expressed worry that the trend might be extended to ministerial and board appointments for MDAs if not addressed immediately.

Besides Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s objections to its zone’s alleged peripheral action by the Tinubu administration, the Arewa Economic Forum also recently accused Tinubu of ethnic bias in the selection of appointees into crucial economic sectors.

“We are afraid to state that a situation whereby the appointees in crucial economic sectors are not only from the Southwest but also connected to the Lagos axis suggests a deliberate ‘Yorubanisation’ and ‘Lagoslisation’ of the polity,” chairman of the forum Ibrahim Shehu Yahaya, recently said.

Suspended CBN Governor May Face Trial

Why Deputy Governors Were Dropped

There were hints yesterday that the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele and other top officials of the bank may face trial after all.

This follows the stalling of the plea bargain move between the Federal Government and the embattled apex bank boss.

It was learnt that Emefiele and the affected officials of the apex bank have “not made substantial concessions on some refunds expected from them.”

Sources said that trillions of naira were being tracked by a federal agency but only a few billions of naira was offered as refundable by some of those linked to the suspicious transactions.

Emefiele is being held by the Department of State Service (DSS).

It was gathered that some interceding forces and Emefiele have not made progress on the plea bargain terms.

Despite Emefiele’s offer to step aside in August, the other aspects of plea bargain process were “not substantially met.”

It has also been confirmed that the four deputy governors were dropped because of their alleged complacency when Emefiele was in the saddle at the apex bank.

The Presidency was shocked by the “massive scale of fraud and flagrant violations of the CBN Act,” it was learnt.

It was also learnt that following interventions, the government’s investigation, initially coordinated by a security agency, had recommended plea bargain option with Emefiele, who wanted it.

Apart from Emefiele offering to step aside, other terms were the withdrawal of court cases against the government and the refund of substantial cash allegedly linked to him and others.

But there were strong indications that the plea bargain option may have suffered a setback.

The source said: “Where trillions were being queried, some of those affected have offered to refund about N32 billion only.

“The engagement of the Special Investigator has also uncovered more mismanagement of resources and questionable expenditures in CBN than what some security agencies dug up.

“The findings of the Special Investigator have uncovered a massive rot.”

A source within the Presidency, said the CBN was stinking. He declined to volunteer information on the plea bargain dimension.

The source said the government might prosecute anyone indicted.

He said: “I don’t know whether plea bargain has collapsed or not. I don’t even know if that is on the table to start with. But I know the CBN Governor and the Deputies have been removed.

“The investigations across board are going on and Iam sure the govt will prosecute anyone who has compromised the country.”

Investigation confirmed that the four deputy governors were replaced because of their alleged complacency.

The Presidency source said none of the deputy governors complained when Emefiele was allegedly mismanaging the CBN.

“Most of the DGs “actively collaborated with Emefiele on policies and decisions not in line with the CBN’s mandate,” he said.

Those affected were Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi (Deputy Gov Operations and Acting Governor); Aisha Ahmad (Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability): Adamu Lamtek (Deputy Gov Corporate Services) and Kingsley Obiora (Deputy Governor, Economic Policy).

The source added: “Investigation is still ongoing. The special investigator sure uncovered a lot of rots which implicated the Deputy Governors.

“There is no way the Deputy Governors would have remained with the scale of corruption, poor corporate governance and complacency that happened under Emefiele.

“Allowing them to remain will mean the government has condoned all that went down under their watch.”

Court Halts Notes Redeeming Efforts

The Federal Government has made moves to block the redemption of about 62 promissory notes issued to consultants/contractors engaged by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to retrieve their shares of the Paris Club refunds.

The Federal Government, while faulting the procedure for the issuance of the promissory notes, has prayed a Federal High Court in Abuja to void the notes already issued.

In the suit, now before Justice Inyang Ekwo, the Federal Government and three others, listed as plaintiffs, want the court to, among others, set aside all the promissory notes and issue an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and their agents “from exercising any proprietary rights” over the promissory notes.

Listed as defendants in the suit are: FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Ned Munir Nwoko, Gregory Nangor Lar, Riok Nigeria Limited, Prince Orji Nwafor Orizu, Olaitan Bello, Dr. Ted Iseghohi Edwards, and Panic Alert Security System Limited.

Other plaintiffs in the suit are: the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the Accountant General of the Federation.

The 62 promissory notes, valued at $418,953,668, were issued to the defendants on September 27, 2021 by the Debt Management Office (DMO) following judgments and orders of mandamus obtained against the Federal Government and the Minister of Finance by the defendants, who were said to have been engaged by the Federal Government and ALGON.

The plaintiffs are contending, among others, that the promissory notes are invalid, having been wrongly issued in violation of relevant laws.

They added that although the promissory notes were executed by the then Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the Director General of the DMO, the notes were not signed as required.

The plaintiffs argued that “the promissory notes in issue were wrongly and unlawfully changed on the assets and revenues of the federation instead of the assets and revenues of the states and local governments, who incurred the applicable loans/debts”.

A Principal State Counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Oyinlade Koleosho, stated in a supporting affidavit that the promissory notes were wrongly and invalidly issued against the assets of the federation.

The lawyer averred that sections 314 and 317 of the Constitution have separated the assets of a state or local government from the assets of the federation or the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Koleosho added that the 62 promissory notes issued to the defendants are invalid because they were charged on the assets of the Fed Govt, who is not indebted to any of the defendants (contractors/consultants).

The plaintiffs also claimed that the Federal Government of Nigeria did not engage any of the defendants, saying there is no valid consideration for the promissory notes issued to them (defendants).

According to court documents, FSDH Merchant Bank Limited was issued 10 promissory notes for the total value of $67,925,661.00, at the rate of $6,499,561.00 per note (allegedly for the benefit of Nwoko).

Gregory Nangor Lar, who is described as Nwoko’s agent, was issued two promissory notes “for the account/benefit of the second defendant (Nwoko) for the total value of $732,511.00 at the rate of $366,256.00 per note”.

Riok Nigeria Limited was issued 10 Federal Government of Nigeria promissory notes issued for the total value of $142,028, 941.00, at the rate of $14,202,895.00 per note.

Prince Orji Nwafor Orizu was issued 10 promissory notes for the total value of $1,219,440.00 at the rate of $121,944.00 per promissory note.

Olaitan Bello is said to have been issued eight promissory notes for the total value of $215,195.00 at the rate of $21,524.00 per promissory note.

Dr. Ted Iseghohi Edwards is said to have got 10 promissory notes for the value of $159,000,000.00, at the rate of $15,900,000.00 per note.

Panic Alert Security System Limited was also issued 10 promissory notes for the value of $47,831,920.00 being the total value of the 10 notes, with a value of $4,783,192.00 per note.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over “the failure to stop the former governors who are now serving as ministers in his administration from collecting life pensions and other ‘retirement benefits’ from their states while they serve as ministers.”

The ministers mentioned in the suit are: Badaru Abubakar; Nyesom Wike; Bello Matawalle; Adegboyega Oyetola; and David Umahi. Others are: Simon Lalong; Atiku Bagudu; and Ibrahim Geidam.

SERAP said, “the ministers are to be joined in the suit as Defendants.”

In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1855/2023 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Tinubu to instruct the former governors who are now serving as ministers to stop collecting life pension, and other ‘retirement benefits’ from their respective states.

SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Tinubu to instruct the former governors who are now serving as ministers to forthwith return any pensions and ‘retirement benefits’ collected by them since leaving office to the public treasury.”

SERAP is also seeking: “a declaration that the failure by President Tinubu to publicly instruct former governors who are now serving as ministers to stop collecting life pensions, exotic cars, and other ‘retirement benefits’ from their states while serving as ministers is a violation of his constitutional oath of office.”

In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “Compelling and directing President Tinubu to stop the former governors from collecting any ‘retirement benefits’ while serving as ministers would serve the public interest, especially given the current grave economic realities in the country.”

SERAP is also arguing that, “The appointment of those who collect life pensions and other ‘retirement benefits’ as ministers is an arbitrary and unlawful exercise of discretion and presidential power of appointment.”

According to SERAP, “While many pensioners are not paid their pensions, former governors serving as ministers get paid huge severance benefits upon leaving office, and are poised to enjoy double emoluments on top of the opulence of political office holders.”

SERAP is also arguing that, “The Tinubu government has constitutional and international legal obligations to stop the former governors from collecting any ‘retirement benefits while serving as ministers.”

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part: “The appointment of former governors who collect life pensions while serving as ministers is implicitly forbidden by the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international legal obligations.”

“Constitutional oath of office requires public officials to abstain from all improper acts, including collecting ‘retirement benefits’ while serving as ministers. This is clearly inconsistent with the public trust and the overall objectives of the Constitution. A false oath lacks truth and justice. The oath statements require the oath takers to commit to uphold and defend the Constitution.”

“Stopping the former governors from collecting double emoluments would ensure that the country’s wealth and resources are used for the common good and benefit of the socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians rather than to satisfy the opulent lifestyle of a few politicians.”

“Compelling President Tinubu to stop the former governors from collecting any ‘retirement benefits’ would ensure that the exercise of presidential power of appointment is entirely consistent with requirements of the Nigerian Constitution and the fundamental principles of integrity and honesty.”

“The following former governors are now ministers in the Tinubu administration: Badaru Abubakar (former governor of Jigawa State and Minister of Defence); and Nyesom Wike (former governor of River State and FCT Minister).”

“Others include: Bello Matawalle (former governor of Zamfara State and Minister of State for Defence); Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola (former governor of Osun State and Minister of Transportation); and David Umahi (Minister of Works).”

“Others are Simon Bako Lalong (former governor of Plateau State and Minister of Labour and Employment); Atiku Bagudu (former governor of Kebbi State and Minister of Budget and Economic Planning); Ibrahim Geidam (former governor of Yole State and Minister of Police of Affairs.”

“The states currently implementing life pensions and other ‘retirement benefits’ for former governors reportedly include Jigawa, Kebbi, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Yobe, and Rivers. These states owe workers’ salaries and remain the poorest in the country.”

“Several of the pension laws in these states include provisions for six cars every three years, a house in Lagos worth N750 million, and another in Abuja worth N1 billion, unrestricted access to medical attention, and pensionable cooks, stewards, and gardeners.”

“Other provisions include 100 per cent annual salaries of the incumbent governor, security operatives and police officers permanently assigned to former governors.”

“In President Tinubu’s inaugural speech as president, he promised that his administration would be guided by ‘the principle of the rule of law, a shared sense of fairness and equity’, and that ‘Nigeria will be governed according to the constitution.’”

“These commitments are consistent with the constitutional duties under sections 5, 130 and 147, and oath of office, under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”

“By the combined reading of these provisions, the Tinubu government has a legal obligation to appoint as ministers former governors whose conduct is entirely consistent and compatible with constitutional and international legal requirements.”

“The country’s international legal obligations especially under the UN Convention against Corruption also impose a legal commitment on public officials to discharge a public duty truthfully and faithfully.”

“Life pensions for former governors serving as ministers are entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption.”

“The convention specifically in paragraph 1 of article 8 requires the Tinubu government to promote integrity, honesty and responsibility in the management of public resources.”

“Furthermore, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo in a judgment dated 26 November, 2019 also indicated that double emoluments for former governors are unacceptable, unconstitutional and illegal. Indeed, former governors collecting ‘retirement benefits’ while serving as ministers would clearly amount to taking advantage of entrusted public positions.”

“‘Public function’ means activities in the public interest, not against it. The alleged collection of ‘retirement benefits’ by former governors now serving as ministers amount to private self-interest or self-dealing. It is also detrimental to the public interest.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Operatives of Anambra State Police Command have arrested a man, Chinedu Ezeudu, for allegedly selling nude pictures and videos of a woman on social media.

Ezedu, a native of Ndi Ikpa village Ezinato community in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, was accused of leaking the materials after attempts to get money from her through blackmail failed.

He allegedly sold the nude videos of the young woman to persons who requested it for N3,000.

The suspect was arrested after the victim made a report to the office of the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Children’s Welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo.

The Media aide of the commissioner, Miss Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, who confirmed the incident, shared the nude after the victim refused to pay the ransom demanded.

“The victim said she lost her memory card in March 2023 but was later chatted up by the suspect in June, with a request for a huge amount of money in order not to leak the nude videos.

“When she refused to pay, the suspect threatened to post the video on all social media platforms but was confronted by the husband of the victim and asked to delete the video. Before then he had already duplicated it.”

She said despite the warnings, the suspect released the video on Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media platforms, and sold them to those who requested.

Ikeanyionwu said, “When the incident was reported to the office of the commissioner for women and social welfare Anambra State by the victim accompanied by Hon Ejike Okechukwu, the suspect was quickly arrested by the Anambra State Police Command.”

She stated that the suspect would be arraigned before the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court in Awka once the investigation is concluded.

Gas retailers have warned that the price of 12.5kg cooking gas may hit N18,000 by December if the Federal Government does not restrict the activities of the terminal owners.

The President, Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, Olatunbosun Oladapo, told The PUNCH on Sunday, that the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas also known as cooking gas has “gone astronomically high at terminals as a result of a sudden increment from between N9-N10m per 20 metric tons to N14m per 20 metric tons.

“There is a ridiculous hike in gas prices going on right now, and I am afraid that if the Federal Government does not step in to checkmate the activities of these terminal owners, price could reach as high as N18m per metric tons by December. This means that a 12.5kg could go as high as N18,000.”

According to him, terminal owners were “hiding under the guise of high foreign exchange to increase price to further increase the suffering of the masses.”

Olatunbosun said there was no justification for the increment, as the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited still supplied the market.

He said, “NNPCL currently takes 59 per cent of the gas produced by NLNG, although NLNG has also increased its price from N6m to N8m. Now, because NLNG has increased price, NNPCL and terminal owners have increased price to N14m.

“The increase in price that would take effect is not the fault of retailers. It is the fault of NLNG and terminal owners. Even NNPCL is hiding under the guise that they are now privatised to increase prices. As of last week, 1kg was N800 at the terminal, now it is N1,200, and could reach N1,500 by December if care is not taken.”

He added, “Now, the ordinary man would not be able to buy gas. How many minimum wage earners can afford gas now? Everyone is turning to firewood and charcoal. The surprising thing was that they visited President Tinubu last week, and promised to work together with his administration to make life better. Now they have come back and started doing something else. Where are all the palliatives and busses they promised to donate? We have not seen anything.”

The PUNCH had reported an intended hike in cooking gas prices in August. Prices had since shot up, with 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas going as high as high as N10,000.

Although gas terminal owners did not have a visible association, spokespersons for NavGas, Friday Agwu, and Nipco Plc’s Askay Kumar, blamed the hike on forex and the international market.

“No one is selling at N1,200/kg. I have not heard such high price yet,” Kumar told The PUNCH via a telephone conversation on Sunday. He however declined to respond when asked how much the landing cost was.

Friday blamed the price on forex and raise in price of crude oil at the international market.

“Flat price increase and forex challenges, and LPG responding to crude price increase at the international market,” he said via a whatssap message to The PUNCH.

Nigeria has a lot of issues, for instance, who do you blame for immigration officers wearing slippers or flip-flops with their uniforms at the airport, or Uber drivers accepting trips and proceeding to charge you higher than the app for an offline trip? For us to get the country we want, we have to change our mindset—Osi_Suave

In the country of Armenia, in 1988, Saanielle sent their young son, Armand, off to school. Samuel squatted before his son and looked him in the eye. “Have a good day at school, and remember, no matter what, I’ll always be there for you.” They hugged and the boy ran off to school.

Hours later, a powerful earthquake rocked the area. In the midst of the pandemonium, Samuel and Danielle tried to discover what happened to their son but they couldn’t get any information. The radio announced that there were thousands of casualties.  Samuel then grabbed his coat and headed for the schoolyard. When he reached the area, what he saw brought tears to his eyes. Armand’s school was a pile of debris. Other parents were standing around crying.

Samuel found the place where Armand’s classroom used to be and began pulling a broken beam off the pile of rubble.  He then grabbed a rock put it to the side, and then grabbed another one.

One of the parents looking on asked, “What are you doing?” “Digging for my son,” Samuel answered. The man then said, “You’re just going to make things worse! The building is unstable,” and tried to pull Samuel away from his work.

Samuel just kept working. As time wore on, one by one, the other parents left. Then a worker tried to pull Samuel away from the rubble.  Samuel looked at him and said, “Won’t you help me?”   The worker left and Samuel kept digging.

All through the night and into the next day, Samuel continued digging.  Parents placed flowers and pictures of their children on the ruins.  But Samuel just kept working.  He picked up a beam and pushed it out of the way when he heard a faint cry. “Help! Help!”  Samuel listened but didn’t hear anything again.  Then he heard a muffled voice, “Papa?”

Samuel began to dig furiously.  Finally, he could see his son.  “Come on out, son!” he said with relief. “No,” Armand said.  “Let the other kids come out first because I know you’ll get me.” Child after child emerged until, finally, little Armand appeared.  Samuel took him in his arms and Armand said, “I told the other kids not to worry because you told me that you’d always be there for me!”

Fourteen children were saved that day because one father was faithful.

The story above is not a distraction but part of my drift, but first, let us go back to the immigration officer wearing slippers at the airport and the Uber driver engaging in dishonest practices, the fuel attendant who short-changes the customer, we are guilty of paying to get admission for our kids, we pay bribes and give bribes even when they are not solicited. We bribe even the deities that we worship, the reason why even our ancestors are requesting kola nuts and spirits from the other world.

They reflect broader challenges within Nigerian society. To understand these issues deeply, I am herein exploring the concept of “government” in the Nigerian context, the role of the people, and the need for a mindset shift.

In the Nigerian context, and for scholarly purposes we can say that government is of two forms, (a) Formal Government: a formal government structure consisting of elected officials, civil servants, and law enforcement agencies. This formal government is responsible for creating and enforcing laws, maintaining order, and providing essential services, and (b) an Informal Government: which includes various individuals and groups that exercise power and influence outside of official channels. This can range from community leaders to religious figures to criminal organizations.

I know that many of us will see the last phrase criminal organization one which I have intentionally used, or applied. I would explain, but first let me look at the role of the people, we call it Citizen Responsibility: In a democratic society (and don’t ask me about our democracy), citizens have a crucial role to play. They are not just passive recipients of government services; they are active participants in shaping the nation’s destiny.

One of the primary roles of citizens is holding government officials accountable for their actions. This includes reporting cases of misconduct or corruption, demanding transparency, and participating in elections.

I can further elaborate that People as Government is a concept that involves a Mindset Shift: there needs to be a collective mindset shift among the Nigerian people. Citizens must recognize that they are, in essence, the government. The formal government is made of people who in the scheme of things years before leadership roles are just everyday ordinary people, first, you are Nigerian, you are a citizen before you become a leader. You gravitate between formal and informal, every one of us is a leader of some sort, either as a husband, brother, son, wife, or daughter, we are leading some people or something.

We are in a way expected to be part of an Active Engagement: which means being informed about government activities, demanding accountability, and actively participating in the decision-making process. We must be able to through Community Empowerment: Build strong and responsible communities. Where citizens work together at the local level to address issues like security and service delivery, to create a more conducive environment for good governance.

These things cannot happen because we refuse to see ourselves as government, when former vice president Osinbajo said that the government needs to do this and do that, you wondered who is government, Nigerians require education and awareness campaigns that emphasize the importance of active citizenship, ethics, and civic responsibility driven by patriotism.

There must be a high dose and sense of Ethical Leadership not just within the government but in other spheres of influence. But like the immigration officer, leaders who model integrity must work to inspire positive change.

We must go back to Grassroots Initiatives: utilizing a Community-Led Development model that empowers communities to take charge of their development. When communities have a say in local projects and resources, it promotes a sense of ownership and responsibility. Governors beret the president, yet are guilty of the same when they deal with local government leadership, and then those dudes do the same to councilors. We operate some criminal organization where no one wants to be responsible.

What we call Youth Engagement is essentially building a replacement cartel where no one wants to be government but blames government. So, the current government doesn’t see the need to save the child, Armand, they don’t see the future of Nigeria and like Samuel, no one wants to go the extra mile to drive positive change through advocacy, innovation, and community initiatives.

We are all government, we are the Civil Society, and we must be ready to play our role in advocating for good governance, transparency, and accountability. We must realize we are both formal and informal government actors.

We are in this era of citizen journalism expected to play the role of a free and independent media as a crucial watchdog. Exposing corruption and misconduct, putting pressure on ourselves as authorities to act. We must like Samuel make sacrifices; we must move one stone after the other. We must act as a government!

For us to change anything, a holistic approach is needed, involving a mindset shift among citizens, active civic engagement, grassroots initiatives, and advocacy for transparency and accountability. Ultimately, Nigerians themselves have the power to shape the government and country they want through collective action and responsible citizenship, and for that to happen we must start thinking of ourselves as government—May Nigeria win

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The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has released a 5-point agenda which he hopes to achieve over the next four years.

Keyamo released the agenda on Sunday through his social media handle.

Keyamo was appointed by President Bola Tinubu as the minister for the aviation sector which faces a severe foreign exchange crunch and high cost of aviation fuel.

He said his first agenda is to “Ensure strict compliance with safety regulations and continuous upward movement of Nigeria’s rating by ICAO. “

He also promised to “Support the growth and sustenance of local airline businesses whilst holding them to the highest international standards in the aviation industry.”

According to him, there would be“Improvement of infrastructures in the aviation industry and development of human capacity within the industry.

“Optimizing revenue generation for the federal government.”

Since Keyamo took over, he has taken several decisive actions to reset the aviation industry. He suspended the Nigerian Air project of the Muhammadu Buhari-led government and ordered probe into the matter.

The minister ordered the shutdown of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos from October 1, 2023, for total maintenance work at the airport.

He has also begun works on the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

However, the airline operators believe the Nigerian government favours international airlines at the detriment of local airlines.

Allen Onyema, the Chairman of Air Peace said, “The local airlines also have trapped funds with the Central Bank, not just the foreign airlines. So, the AON, we don’t want a situation where the foreign airlines are threatened in isolation. We have a case too. Just as they have trapped funds in Nigeria, we also have. These monies are in their bank accounts. They can change it though the I&E window, they can go through the Central Bank.

“We support that Nigeria should pay airlines of foreign origins their money but at the same time, the government should look into what is happening in the Nigerian government funds. Most of us have naira and dollars with the CBN and they have not given us our naira or dollars.”