Very few business organisations are as lucky as NNPCL, Nigeria’s state-owned oil company founded over 50 years ago. Since its founding, the corporation has consistently failed to perform its basic functions and meet its organisational objectives; and rather than being liquidated or put up for sale for these failures, NNPC routinely undergoes some form of moulting, shedding its skin and assuming a new look. The façade might look brilliant, but it’s only skin-deep.

NNPC was founded about the same time, or earlier than successful global state-owned oil companies like Saudi Aramco, owned by Saudi government; Petronas (Malaysian government; Equinor ASA (formerly Statoil, owned by Norway) and Petrobras, owned by Brazil.

While these other ones have grown into transnational giants with oil fields and refineries across the globe, NNPC has become a cesspool of corruption, incompetence and decadence. But the corporation is very adept at playing games and worming itself into the heart of politicians, just to stay alive. This month, the government changed its status as a monopolist, responsible for sole importation of petroleum products, to a monopsonist, the sole buyer of Dangote Refinery’s petrol. NNPC is the ultimate amoeba of Corporate Nigeria, and the implications are worrisome.

It was Aliko Dangote himself that announced that the federal government had mandated the NNPC to be the sole off-taker for petrol from his refinery. It has many implications for availability and pricing of the product. After many years of operating as an inefficient, corruption-ridden monopolist, exclusively importing fuel for years, the corporation has just turned into a monopsonist – a single buyer of Dangote’s petrol. In many economies, monopolies enjoy high profits and sometimes efficiency due to lack of competition, but in the case of NNPC, Nigerians were served with persistent fuel scarcity; inefficient business models and opacity in operations.

If the corporation could not deliver imported fuel to Nigerians, what’s the guarantee that it will manage the distribution of Dangote petrol without hiccups? How did NNPC incur a $6 billion indebtedness to its offshore petrol suppliers when its local customers were even paying in advance for the products? This indebtedness has cut off petrol supplies into the country and led to the acute scarcity we have today. What is the guarantee that NNPC will not owe Dangote and mess up fuel distribution in the country?

The inefficiencies inherent in its operations would greatly impede NNPC’s capacity to purchase and distribute products to other retailers. How would the transactions be funded? Credit sales? Bank credit? IOUs? Is the corporation credit worthy? Note that the Dangote Group is still indebted to the tune of about $3 billion to some Nigerian banks, being part of the loans secured to fund the construction of the complex.

Can the Group therefore afford to be further weighed down with an indeterminable exposure to a dysfunctional state enterprise? In its 2023 audited annual report, the corporation announced that it spent a whopping N7 billion on unspecified items lumped as ‘’others’’, while N10 billion was spent on NNPC Foundation. What constitutes the ‘’others’’? Such opacity is not permitted in modern business practices driven by good corporate governance.

As a sole off-taker, NNPC has become a major determiner of petrol price at fuel stations across the country. This is why Dangote could not announce the price at which his product would be sold at the pumps. ‘’That depends on NNPC’’, he told reporters last Monday when asked the retail pump price, adding, ‘’the federal executive council has asked the NNPC to determine the price’’. In other words, the country is still in a situation in which the government, instead of the market, remains the fixer of petrol price. That puts the Tinubu administration in a bind, with the immediate consequence being that the government will continue to face the wrath of labour unions whenever prices move up.

Petrol subsidy was expected to die a natural death as full deregulation kicks in once the Dangote Refinery commences production. The government was expected to completely hand off price-fixing duties; and allow the regulators to oversight the business, the way the CBN manages the banking industry. But since NNPC is still involved as a buyer’s monopoly (another name for monopsony), the refinery might be ‘squeezed’ to settle at a controlled price. Alternatively, the government may continue to subsidize the product – buy high from the refinery and sell lower to Nigerians.

Either way, a pricing dispute between the refinery and NNPC is inevitable, and that would be bad for Dangote. In trying to fend off pressures from labour and motorists, the government may shift the blame on Dangote for being excessive in its pricing, instigating the regulators in the mid-stream and low-stream segments of the market (who had never been particularly fond of Aliko Dangote and his refinery) to clamp down on the business mogul. I pity Aliko Dangote. His patriotism has become his albatross. He can’t say ‘’No’’ to this government; and the President, being the Minister of Petroleum, doesn’t brook disagreement. Interesting days are ahead!

My take is that NNPC should no longer enjoy any monopolistic or monopsonist status because it is incapable of managing its own affairs. Its bloated, inept, crooked and opaque. Dangote Refinery should be allowed the freedom to appoint as many off-takers or distributors as possible. In fact, there’s no reason why the refinery cannot even own its own filling stations either solely or in partnership with existing outlets, and sell directly to Nigerians, as it happens in other countries. Nigerians have expected that the new refinery will end perennial fuel scarcity and long queues. My hope has been that petrol would hover between N500 and N700 per litre at the pumps. But with this new arrangement of inserting NNPC into the mix, the prospects are daunting.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, has commenced an indefinite leave of absence attributed to pressing family medical challenges.

In a statement on Saturday, Ngelale revealed that he had submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, informing him of the development.

The leave will affect his roles not only as the President Tinubu’s spokesperson but also as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.

Ngelale described the decision as “agonizing,” saying it was made after extensive consultations with his family over the past several days.

He cited a “vexatious medical situation” that has worsened at home as the primary reason for his leave.

“While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home,” he wrote.

The president’s spokesman expressed his intention to return to work when circumstances permit, saying, “I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit.”

Ngelale requested privacy for himself and his family during the challenging period.

The leave comes amid President Tinubu’s ongoing state visit to China where the Nigerian leader has held discussions with President Xi Jinping and participated at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit.

[thewhistler]

Flora Ugwunwa won silver for Nigeria in the women’s javelin F54 final at the ongoing Paris 2024 Paralympics on Saturday.

This marks Ugwunwa’s third consecutive Paralympics medal, following gold medals in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021.

The Nigerian athlete threw 19.26 meters to claim the second position on the podium and secure silver medal ahead of Salehi Elham of Iran.

She made her silver winning throw after the second attempt but could not improve on it despite four more attempts.

The medal is Nigeria’s first in Para-Athletics, and the country’s fourth medal overall at the ongoing Paralympic Games.

Nurkhon Kurbanova of Uzbekistan, Ugwunwa’s fierce rival, won gold medal with a 21.12 meters.

Kurbanova’s throw broke Ugwunwa’s former world record of 20.25 meters she had set at Rio 2016.

The Uzbek had lost the gold medal to Ugwunwa four years ago and had to settle for silver.

Kurbanova had dominated the six-athlete final, throwing beyond 20 meters on each attempt.

The 30-year-old broke Ugwunwa’s record on her third throw, registering 20.27 meters before breaking her own record in her fifth attempt.

Onyinyechi Mark won Nigeria’s first gold medal after outlifting her opponents in the powerlifting finals in Friday.

Her victory earned Team Nigeria their third medal at the Paris Paralympics.

On Wednesday, Esther Nworgu won the silver medal in the women’s up to 41kg para-powerlifting event.

Eniola Bolaji also won a bronze medal in the women’s singles SL3 badminton event a few days ago.

[TheCable]

Programme: CITY TALKS WITH REUBEN ABATI

Time: 12:00pm

Guest: Majeed Dahiru
(Newspaper Columnist and Energy Security Advocate)

Topic: Fuel Price Hike: The People's Agony

Date: 7th September, 2024

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/92877141732?pwd=VEJWb29OL2VVekZUTHRpdWYxK0xxZz09

Meeting ID: 928 7714 1732
Passcode: 600206

Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, the economic hardships faced by Nigerians have only intensified. While the populace was already grappling with the rising cost of living and dwindling purchasing power, recent developments have exacerbated the situation, leaving many wondering if the nation’s plight has gone from bad to worse, from frying pan to fire.

The latest blow came as the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) increased the pump price of petrol yesterday, from ₦568 to ₦855, ₦897 (depending on the location per litre). The move has no doubt sent shockwaves through every sector of the economy, and kept tongues wagging, even as people have begun to ask if President Tinubu-led government has a human face.  For a country where transportation costs dictate the price of virtually every good and service, this increase feels like an unforgivable betrayal to a populace already on its knees.

It will be recalled that when Tinubu took office, there was a glimmer of hope that his administration would bring relief to millions of Nigerians struggling under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and poverty. However, instead of easing the burden, the government’s policies have only deepened the crisis. The removal of fuel subsidies, which many saw as necessary for long-term economic stability, has had immediate and painful consequences. Prices of goods and services have skyrocketed, and the daily life of the average Nigerian has become a test of endurance.

In fact, the recent gasoline price hike feels like the final straw for many Nigerians. Public transportation costs have surged, making it even more difficult for workers to commute, while businesses that were already grappling with higher operational costs are now in for a bigger challenge. This domino effect is expected to push more Nigerians into poverty, further widening the gap between the rich and the poor.

The federal government’s justification for the increase has been met with skepticism and anger. Officials argue that the hike is necessary to stabilize the economy and reduce the burden of subsidies on government finances.  For instance, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy to President Tinubu has defended the increase, which took effect on September 3, 2024, bringing the average cost to N897 per liter. He suggested that relief may come with the operationalization of the Dangote Refinery and other local refineries, which could help stabilize fuel prices in the long run.

However, for the millions of Nigerians who can barely afford a meal, this explanation rings hollow. The question on everyone’s mind is: How much more can we endure?

In fact, the sense of frustration and helplessness is palpable. Many are beginning to question whether this government understands the realities on the ground or if it is completely out of touch with the daily struggles of the masses. The perception is that while the elite continue to live comfortably, the rest of the country is being pushed closer to the brink.

As Nigerians brace for even tougher times ahead, one cannot help but wonder if the worst is yet to come. The phrase “from frying pan to fire” seems apt to describe the current situation, each new policy, instead of alleviating the suffering, only seems to add fuel to the fire.

The federal government must urgently reassess its approach and consider the immediate needs of the people. Otherwise, the social fabric of the nation could unravel, leading to unrest and instability. The question remains: how much more will Nigerians be asked to endure before their voices are truly heard?

Without a doubt, the sudden increase in petrol prices yesterday in Nigeria is a stark reminder of the government’s insensitivity to the plight of its citizens. For many Nigerians, who are already struggling under the weight of economic hardships, this hike feels like being pushed from the frying pan into the fire. The cost of living has skyrocketed in recent months, with basic necessities becoming increasingly unaffordable for the average person. This latest move by the government only deepens the despair, further eroding the public’s trust in their leaders.

This price increase, coming at a time when the country is grappling with inflation and high unemployment rates, shows a lack of empathy and a disregard for the well-being of the people. The government’s decision to raise fuel prices without providing any cushioning measures or alternatives for the populace demonstrates a lack of a human face in policymaking. It suggests that the government is more concerned with balancing its books than with the daily struggles of the citizens, who are now forced to choose between fuel and food.

The voices of ordinary Nigerians reflect the widespread anger and frustration. “This is not governance; it is punishment,” says Chukwudi, a commercial bus driver in Lagos. “How do they expect us to survive when everything is going up except our income?” Another resident, Fatima, a small business owner at Ogba, in Ikeja, Lagos, laments, “We voted for change, but what we got is suffering. The government is pushing us to the brink.” These sentiments are echoed across the country, where many feel abandoned by those in power.

The consequences of this price hike are far-reaching. Transportation costs will rise, affecting the prices of goods and services nationwide. Small businesses, already struggling to stay afloat, may be forced to close, leading to further job losses. The ripple effect will undoubtedly exacerbate the existing economic challenges, making it even harder for the average Nigerian to make ends meet. The government’s actions seem to be pushing the country towards a breaking point, where the social fabric could be torn apart by widespread discontent.

In light of these developments, it is clear that the government needs to urgently reassess its approach. There is a need for policies that are not only economically sound but also socially responsible. Nigerians deserve a government that listens to their concerns and makes decisions with a human face. The current trajectory is unsustainable and, if not addressed, could lead to even greater unrest and instability in the country.

Roman Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, has asked the All Progressives Congress APC-led Federal Government to take immediate steps to reduce the current pump price of fuel, to alleviate the suffering in the land.

Kukah whp spoke on Friday in Abuja, during the official unveiling of The Progressive Institute TPI, the intellectual arm of the APC, said Nigerians are hungry.

“A girl was asked, which party are you? APC, LP or PDP? She said ‘I am hungry’, so we Nigerians are hungry. You have to find a way of reducing this price of fuel.

“Unless democracy is anchored on sound foundation, we will be building on sand. I am concerned about the quality of democracy in Nigeria. We need to fix the problem with democracy in Nigeria”, he stated.

Present at the event are the APC national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio represented by his deputy, Barau Jibrin; Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Senator George Akume; Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum PGF and Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma; Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; ministers; APC states Chairmen and many others.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) swept into power on the wings of the promises of “Change” in 2015, and “Renewed Hope” in 2023, respectively for a country battered by economic mismanagement, corruption, and insecurity. The APC’s message of renewed hope under President Bola Tinubu was meant to inspire trust, but for millions of Nigerians today, that hope feels more like a mirage, especially as the economic reforms initiated by the administration seem to cause more pain than relief.

Upon assuming office, President Tinubu made bold moves that his government claimed were necessary to “heal” the economy. The removal of fuel subsidies was one such step, aimed at redirecting resources towards more impactful development projects. The administration argued that the subsidies were draining the country’s finances and benefiting only a few at the expense of the many. However, this has led to an increase in fuel prices, which in turn spiked the cost of living. Transportation, food, and even basic household goods are now beyond the reach of many ordinary Nigerians.

“The government said things would get better, but it seems like it is only getting worse,” laments Iya Wale, a market woman in Ikeja. “I can no longer afford the same things I used to buy for my family. My children eat less, and the money I make is not enough to sustain us.”

This sentiment is echoed across the country, as people wrestle with the day-to-day realities of surviving under a government that promises healing while implementing policies that compound their struggles. For those at the bottom of the economic ladder, the APC’s renewed hope is quickly losing its luster.

At a busy bus stop in Surulere, Lagos, an elderly man in his 60s named Musa angrily voices his frustration: “I voted for change, but what I see today is hardship like I’ve never known before. Fuel is too expensive, food is too expensive, and now they say they are sharing palliatives, but I haven’t seen a grain of rice reach my house.”

Musa’s concerns are shared by millions. The much-talked-about palliatives, intended to cushion the blow from the economic reforms, have yet to reach the most vulnerable. Those who do receive them often report receiving amounts too meager to make any meaningful impact.

Ngozi, a schoolteacher in Enugu, expresses her worry for the future: “The cost of education has increased, and my salary remains the same. I fear for my children’s future. How can I afford to send them to school if things continue this way?”

The APC administration has outlined several plans aimed at long-term economic stability. These include infrastructure development, improvements in the power sector, and job creation initiatives. However, many Nigerians are asking a critical question: how much longer do they have to endure the pain before they see any tangible benefits?

As government officials speak of reforms aimed at revitalizing the economy, many citizens feel they are bearing the brunt of policies that serve only to benefit the elites. One Lagos commuter noted with bitterness, “Those in power don’t feel this pain. They still live lavishly while we suffer. If this is the hope we voted for, then we are truly lost.”

The wide gap between government officials and the masses has never been more pronounced. As Nigerians face fuel hikes, inflation, and soaring costs of basic goods, many are left questioning if their voices matter to those at the helm of power. It seems as if, in the bid to fix the economy, the very essence of people’s daily struggles is overlooked.

In a biting tone, a civil servant in Port Harcourt says, “When they talk of a sacrifice, who is really sacrificing? It’s us, the common people. They sit in their big houses, eating well, while we worry about affording a meal each day.”

The phrase “Renewed Hope” now carries a bitter aftertaste for many. As more voices speak up about their hardships, it is evident that while the government seeks to heal the economy, it has inadvertently caused more pain for those it was meant to help.

There is a growing call for the government to temper its policies with compassion. Nigerians want to see real, immediate relief. Whether through more accessible palliatives, wage increases, or policies that ensure the average citizen can make ends meet, the message from the masses is clear: the people cannot continue to bear the full weight of economic reforms.

One young man, Olumide, a motorcycle rider in Abuja, pleads, “If the government really wants to help us, they need to listen. We are suffering out here, and it feels like nobody cares.”

The APC came into power promising a renewed hope that would uplift all Nigerians, but for many, this hope feels distant and elusive. The pain of the economic healing process is palpable across the country. If the administration wishes to regain the trust and support of the people, it must urgently address the gap between policy and reality. The Nigerian masses are crying out, not just for hope, but for immediate relief. And for their sake, this hope needs to be renewed with action, not just words.

An investigative report by journalist Greg Donahue, published on August 14 in The New York Times, has revealed a disturbing neglect of brain disease patients in New Brunswick, Canada—a region dominated by forestry and agriculture, including extensive pesticide use.

The article highlights the tension between government authorities, regulated industries, and neurologists who are directly treating affected patients.

Donahue’s report exposes how health officials in New Brunswick appeared to manipulate an investigation into a cluster of neurodegenerative diseases to avoid disrupting the local economy.

The province, known for its forestry and agriculture industries, particularly blueberry farming and paper production, has seen widespread use of glyphosate, a controversial herbicide linked to numerous health issues.

The report details how Dr. Alier Marrero, a neurologist who first noticed the unusual cases, was stymied by provincial authorities who sought to downplay the possibility of a new disease linked to environmental exposure.

Despite mounting evidence, including high levels of glyphosate found in patient samples, the provincial government halted a federal investigation that was initially launched to explore the potential connection between the disease cluster and pesticide exposure.

The investigation’s derailment raises concerns about the influence of industry on public health policies. The New Brunswick government’s actions, including the removal of certain patients from the study and restricting communication with federal health authorities, suggest an effort to suppress findings that could implicate local industries in the health crisis.

As a result of the province’s handling of the situation, Dr. Marrero now treats 430 patients with undiagnosed conditions, 111 of whom are under 45 years old. Despite these alarming numbers, the provincial health authorities have dismissed the possibility of a common environmental cause, leaving many questions unanswered and patients without proper diagnoses.

This case in New Brunswick is part of a broader pattern where industrial interests and government officials collaborate to suppress evidence of environmental harm, leaving victims to fend for themselves in their quest for justice.

[National Daily]

Former Governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, was born on April 4, 1952. If baby Adams had come into the world three days earlier, he would have been born on April Fools’ Day. Adams is now 72 years old, long past 40, the popular age society set as the bar for fools to sink or swim. Oshiomhole is not a fool, he was only born on April 4, the same day and month all hell broke loose in 1968 when Martin Luther King Jr. was killed. 

April 4, unto us a baby is born. Old age doesn’t always beget wisdom, though experience is its forte. 

This fact is lost on Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s National Assembly, and education policymakers, whose aversion to genius and scholarship informed the barring of under-18 students from accessing tertiary education. 

Dressed in the robes of fake leaders, Nigeria’s blind visioners in Asso Rock and beyond bark, ‘Kill them before they grow’, at young admission seekers milling around the almighty gates of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, with Bob Marley’s song, “I Shot the Sheriff,” playing in the background. 

Oshiomhole loves dancing. As a comrade in the trenches of the Nigeria Labour Congress, he must have danced to Fela Anikulapo’s Beasts of No Nation, in which the Abami Eda describes himself as Basketmouth. Basketmouth is the street slang for the big-mouthed. When Oshiomhole talks, baskets overflow. But a Yoruba proverb warns, òpò òrò ò ká’gbòn, aféfé ló ń gbe lo, a basket full of words is worthless. Whenever he feels strongly about an issue, the force of his oration appears compelling even if what he belches is just hot air, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Adam was the name of the first human created by God, so say the Holy Bible and the Holy Quran. Adam means ‘Son of the Red Earth’. Aliyu is one of the 99 names of Allah. It means ‘The Most High’ or The Exalted One’. As ‘the Son of the Red Earth’, Oshiomhole’s thoughts and actions are expected to be deep-rooted in the soil of wisdom. As ‘The Exalted One’, his words are expected to typify dignity. 

But Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, while on a campaign trail in Edo State a few days ago, defiled his two names. Without regard to wisdom or civility, Oshiomhole threw decency to the dogs as he pronounced his former begotten son and incumbent Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his wife, Betsy, childless. A Muslim reportedly converted to Christianity by his late wife, Clara, Oshiomhole’s characteristic aggression is typical of converts.

When caught midair in the breaking light of dawn, witches become confused and they drop to the ground. They also confess. Oshiomhole said, “I was shock (sic) yesterday to see Mrs Obaseki, the First Lady, saying that our candidate has no wife; I’m sorry that she has to say that because here’s a woman who has no child. Between him (sic) and Obaseki, they have no child, they’re childless. They are even not ready to adopt. I mean, I don’t blame anybody shouldn’t (sic) have a child but people who have love for children, they go to motherless home(s) and adopt children, they have not adopted, they are both in their 60s. 

“So, you married, I don’t know whether it’s a contract one, but whatever it is, but they have no child. Now, our candidate not only have (sic) children, he has invested in the education of those children, such that you watch them on live television, covered by your media stations where the first that spoke is a lawyer, the second one is a medical doctor, and they addressed the crowd in Edo-South, in Edo-Central, in Edo-North, and their mother was there.” 

I can’t tell why witches are repetitive but I suspect the electoral whipping Obaseki gave Oshiomhole in the 2020 governorship election in Edo has created a hatred in Oshiomhole’s heart large enough to accommodate 10 wounded lions as he described Obaseki and his wife as childless four times in a one-minute video clip. Osho Baba, na wetin?

The tirade quoted above was what Betsy Obaseki got for declaring at a rally that only the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the Edo governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, was married. Though she didn’t specifically mention any candidate as being unmarried, the undertone of her message wasn’t lost on her audience. The Betsy innuendo was what Oshiomhole, a former national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, couldn’t take, and he decided to run the errand meant for media aides and party roughnecks, all for his political son, Monday Okpebholo, the APC governorship candidate. What a great national leader Oshiomhole is!

Betsy could have done the more involving breaststroke swimming style in the sewage of Edo’s political bitterness but she didn’t, she chose the stylish backstroke, maybe for its steaze or womanishness. But Oshiomhole would drag anyone, male or female, without a child, to the bottom of the sewage for child-ish baptism because he’s the god of Edo who gives children.

According to the University of California San Francisco’s Memory and Ageing Center – Weill Institute of Neurosciences – there are three major areas of the brain responsible for speech and language. They are the Bocca’s area, Wernicke’s area and the Angular gyrus. 

In a research, “Speech and Language,”  published on its website, the university says, “When someone has trouble understanding other people (receptive language) or explaining thoughts, ideas and feelings (expressive language), that is a language disorder.”

UCSF, a world-class citadel of knowledge, added, “When someone cannot produce speech sounds correctly or fluently or has voice problems, that is a speech disorder.”

In a society where pettiness is a virtue within the ruling class, Betsy’s preoccupation with marriage and Oshiomhole’s fixation with childlessness reflect the shallowness of the characters who populate Nigeria’s corridors of power.  

The lack of roadmaps by Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Muhamadu Buhari, Bola Tinubu, and governorship, legislative and local government council candidates standing election entrenches us firmly at the bottom of global development. The silence that greets misgovernance in Nigeria concretises our national doom.

At election times, the Nigerian electorate bickers over frivolities and expects candidates who had no manifestos to wave the magic wand after snatching and robbing like mafiosos.

In our electoral childishness, childlessness was a talking point in the Edo governorship election in 2020 when Oshiomhole was accused of not fathering a child with his Cape Verde wife, Iara. Oshiomhole, who has children with his late wife, Clara, could choose not to have children anymore. In Nigerian politics, the shoe is always on the wrong foot. The PDP threw the first stone in 2020, and now the APC is casting a rock. 

It’s ironic that Oshiomhole who is kicking against Betsy’s remarks today, had in 2016, accused then-Senator Dino Melaye of not capable of ‘maintaining a decent matrimonial home’ after Melaye said on the floor of the Senate that there was the need to enact a law that would stop Nigerians marrying foreigners from paying dowries in dollars – in a veiled reference to Oshiomhole.

The former Edo governor thundered in a statement, “It’s an open secret that Senator Melaye cannot maintain a decent matrimonial home hence he could descend to this pedestrian level of using the hallowed chambers to categorise women as if they were pieces of items for purchase.”

In Africa, children are viewed as inheritances from God. It’s wrong to needle anyone with children or lack of them. When I was a child, I remember I was occasionally taken to the house of my father’s childhood friend, the late Mr Jacob Asha Afainiya, because his wife, the late Mrs Olajumoke Comfort Afainiya, who was my mom’s childhood friend, had not conceived, despite the two couples marrying about the same time.

The Afainiya couple got their firstborn, Seun, when my parents had their third, Florence, now deceased. I occasionally stayed with the Afainiya family, who lived a stone’s throw from us in Mushin, in the belief that my ‘head’ would call from heaven children for the Afainiya couple – ori omo lo ma n pe omo waye. That’s the African belief. It also shows the importance which Africans attach to children. And I enjoyed going to the Afainiyas because mummy Afainiya made okra soup like no other mother.

One day, in the presence of both couples, I told my mom to cook her okra like mummy Afainiya’s, and everyone present laughed. When I got home, I cried for my basket-mouthedness as my mom descended on me. 

Nigeria, it’s high time we based our campaigns on developmental issues and stop running our mouths like torn baskets, please.

[EagleOnline]

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has revealed the real reason his predecessor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, fell out with him.

Obaseki revealed the cause of their fallout at Opujie Primary School, Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area.

He spoke during the continuation of the campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party for the upcoming September 21, 2024 governorship election.

He said his declaration of state burial for Chief Tony Anenih, a top chieftain of the PDP and a highly revered elder statesman, during his first term as an All Progressives Congress governor was the unforgivable sin he committed against Oshiomhole.

He said the former governor, who now represents Edo North Senatorial District, has not forgiven him since then.

Obaseki, who spoke at Uromi, where Chief Anenih hailed from, said: “When Chief Anenih died, I was not in PDP, but I declared a state burial for him because of his contributions to our dear state and Nigeria.

“This was one of the things that created issues between me and Oshiomole, who never wanted it.

“He considered it an unforgivable sin, which he could not overlook.

“But I have to do what is good.

“We are all one.

“Edo State is one.

“And that is why I am here today.

“For Edo to be one and united, I have to support Esan for governor.

“And not just an Esan man, but a capable, competent, intellectually sound person with a good track record in the person of Asue Ighodalo.

“The candidate the APC brought was a Benin man and that the APC never believed in an Esan governorship agenda or an Esan man becoming governor until it dawned on them so they hurriedly packaged one through the back door.”

Obaseki declared that the need to move Edo State forward requires a candidate like Ighodalo, adding: “The PDP candidate is more experienced and competent to take Edo to the next level and so I urge you all to come out en-masse and vote on the 21 and elect him as the next governor by voting for the PDP.”

In his address, Ighodalo thanked the people, saying: “Uromi is a great place with great people.

“It is the pride of Esanland.”

He promised to complete all ongoing projects in Esanland.

He said: “I will complete everything and create more.

“We will complete all ongoing projects in Esan North East and across all Esanland.

“Be it water, roads, hospitals, schools or anything, we will complete them and create new ones.

“Edo will be self-sufficient under my administration and become a state other states will come to.

“With us, Edo will not suffer poverty

“Let us support the good work to continue.

“Obaseki has done well and we will build on the foundation.”

Earlier in his welcome speech, the LGA Chairman, Dr. Inedegbor Kelly, thanked the governor for promising Esan people the governorship and fulfilling it.

Kelly said the governor not only fulfilled the promise, he gave Esan credible and competent candidates in the persons of Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie.

He asserted that PDP is Esan North East and Esan North East is PDP, assuring the governor of victory in the local government.

A former council Chairman, Hon. John Yakubu, also affirmed the submission of the local government boss while reechoing that PDP will produce more than 75 percent vote in Uromi.

Senator Clifford Ordia, the Director General of the Asue Ogie Campaign Council, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen; the state PDP Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, all urged the people to come out enmasse and vote the PDP with the umbrella as symbol.

Prince Joe Okojie, while eulogising the governor in sweet Esan melodious songs, told the people that Obaseki promised him at the beginning of his first tenure that he will handle over Edo State to Esan son as governor and that seven years plus, Obaseki has done it.

Okojie said the APC people know that they have lost the election, hence they are doing everything to see they intimidate the PDP people using police, for which they have also failed.

He then sent a strong warning to one of Uromi sons, who is a member of the police force, but parading as a politician and APC is using him: “I advise him to resign and be a proper policeman or resign so we know where he stands.”

He said Uromi people cannot be intimidated and that on that day they all come out and vote massively for PDP and vote the umbrella.

Prominent APC leaders led by Alhaji Musa Isiwele then led hundreds of defectors to join the PDP, saying that they can’t support incompetence.

[EagleOnline]