“When the righteous are in power, the people rejoice but when the wicked rule, the people groan” — Proverb 29:2

I watched in horror as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his inauguration on 29th May 2023, rather flippantly, announced the removal of fuel subsidy without having any plans that would mitigate the resultant pain on citizens. One would have expected that before taking such serious policy decisions, he would study the financial status report of the country, assemble his cabinet and consult widely particularly with his national security team on the policy’s national security implications.

Those that know his antecedents say that this semingy rushed policy announcement was not accidental but a premeditated plan to roll out these bitter pills before assembling his cabinet after which he would direct them to go and convince their people to accept the painful policy that they had no input in enacting.

There is a real concern that President Tinubu’s government will be run by a shadowy few with his cabinet having little or no input in the formulation of important policy matters. This dictatorial style of governance which to me smacks of contempt for the people, is said to be the way he ran Lagos state as its governor.

This singular policy action has exposed either President Tinubu’s inexperience at the national stage or crass arrogance or both. It is obvious that he is advised by some elitist, shadowy, armchair theoretical economists who know absolutely nothing about the sufferings of our people.

These armchair economists were clearly acting out a script handed to them by the World Bank which has been pushing for this type of shock therapy to Nigeria’s economy without regards to the consequences on its citizens. My suspicion was partially confirmed by the presence of the Bank’s representative in Nigeria sitting next to the Chairman of the newly created fiscal and tax policy committee at its maiden press conference given at no less a venue than the Presidential Villa.

The World Bank representative was effusive in praising President Tinubu’s economic policy describing it as being bold and timely. This painful policy is a lethal prescription handed down to Tinubu by the World Bank.

This policy is nothing but a cocktail of impulsiveness, chaos, hubris, and incompetence which has negatively impacted the lives of all Nigerians. The immediate and debilitating rise in the cost of living resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy debunked the official propaganda that only a few Nigerians and citizens of countries neighboring Nigeria benefited from the subsidy.

No one doubts that the current fraudulent “subsidy” regime is unsustainable but, the timing and the rushed and poorly thought through approach is wrong. No country, no matter how strong it’s economy can withstand the shock of a combination of sudden removal of fuel subsidy, currency devaluation, increase in energy prices, excruciating debt burden, astronomical rise in inflation, very high interest rates and increase in the cost of living. Other shocks are, shutting down of businesses and massive layoff of workers, hunger in the land, hopelessness and the real possibility of citizens unrest in a country beset with multiple existential security challenges.

President Tinubu in his desperate bid for legitimacy from his masters in the West, seems uncaring about the immediate and far reaching negative impact this reckless and impulsive policy on fuel subsidy removal and massive devaluation of the Naira is having on the citizens or Nigeria, a country that is heavily import dependent.

In a country with 65% (133m) of its population in multidimensional poverty, he has added millions more in one fell swoop, healthcare is more inaccessible now than ever, millions more children have been added to the 20 million children already out of school. Most importantly, there is real hunger in the land, a bag of Maize, the most common food staple in the north, now sells at N60,000 (at N1,300 per Mudu) which is way out of the reach of the average citizen. In many of our villages, no one can give you a change for N1,000. This is how poor our people are.

I watched a heart-rending viral video that depicts the daily sufferings of our people all across the country. It was taken in Katsina town showing a mother of four children aged between 3 -10 years whose husband had abandoned them and left town because he could not feed his family. This single mother of four young children would go out daily to find food for her children. Unfortunately, she got hit  by a motorcycle that fractured one of her legs.

The family went hungry because she was unable to pay for healthcare or go out to bring food home for days. In the video clip, this mother and her 4 children looked severely malnourished (Marasmic) as one would see in refugee camps in a war zone. She is the lucky one because her story was told to the world. There are millions of Nigerians, mostly women and children, in much worse situations.  

The President’s response to this self-inflicted suffering he brought on the people is like that of a drowning man flailing his arms and gasping for breath. His nonreassuring national broadcast was full of lamentations, complaints and empty promises with numbers that just didn’t add up. A simple example is when he said that he had directed the release of 200,000 Metric Tonnes of grains from strategic reserves to households across the country not knowing that the federal grain silos are literally empty.

The government’s plan on rolling out palliatives is a case study of voodoo economics that will not make any meaningful impact on this self-inflicted pain. Tinubu’s government hasn’t learnt any lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic when state governors were given money and foodstuffs which they hoarded in warehouses and used for their political campaigns. This is exactly what will happen to the N5b and five trucks of rice given to each state especially with the looming possibility of a rerun of the Presidential election.

How more insensitive and disconnected from the sufferings of the people can our politicians be? I wondered aloud. At a time when millions are groaning under excruciating economic hardships, the National Assembly just allocated N40bn for buying 465 exotic and bulletproof cars for their members and principal officials, and N70bn as ‘palliatives’ for new members.

Our leaders should be very very worried by the complete silence in the country in spite of the excruciating difficulties people are going through. Millions of Nigerians cannot feed, commute, pay school fees or afford basic necessities of life. It does not seem like these leaders care about the pains they have inflicted on the citizenry these two months.

A wise man once said that “democracy means nothing to a hungry, angry, insecure, homeless and unemployed citizen”.

I urge all men and women of conscience to raise their voices and call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of urgency abandon this disastrous economic policy.

SILENCE IN THE FACE OF EVIL IS ITSELF EVIL.

Usman Yusuf is a Professor of Haematology-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation.

Former Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Lauretta Onochie, has denied reports that she was thrown out of an apartment in the United Kingdom.

Reports had emerged on Saturday that Onochie, who also served as a special assistant on new media to former President Muhammadu Buhari, became stranded after she was kicked out by family members.

She, however, dismissed the reports via X social media platform on Sunday, saying it was her cousin whom she sheltered that wanted to force her out.

Onochie said she retrieved her house from the said family member after a long-fought battle that did not allow her have access to her belongings.

She wrote on X, “WHAT A BATTLE, I RECOVERED MY HOME.

“My Cousin, Victor Ashiedu Fejokwu and his wife, Ruth Emereze were stranded, infact homeless at the time. I took pity on them, took them in, to house them in my home.

“A year ago, when I started making plans to return to continue housing them, they blocked my phone number. I had no access to my letters. Consequently, I missed quite a number of appointments.

“Having the key to the property, I turned up at the door, twice. They installed bolts and bolted the door from the inside and refused to let me in.

“They stopped contributing to the rent when they both have jobs, preferring to host lavish parties.

“I tried again for the last time. When I knocked, his wife sneaked from the garden into the house, to bolt the front door against me.

“Miraculously. Miraculously. She forgot to lock the garden door through where she sneaked into the house. I got access to the house through that door.”

Onochie further stated that they became nasty and when she called the police, they were dealt a heavy blow and told to vacate the house.

She added that they moved out two days ago and they will reap what they did to her.

Onochie said, “They became nasty. Of course, I called the police who dealt them a heavy blow, telling them they must vacate for me unless I was willing to continue to house them. The cowardly thug ran away before the arrival of the Police. The other young lady, went to my bed and spread herself out. Of course, I got her out.

“Then they started pleading to stay.

NO WAY! Two days later, they shamefully moved out.

“BUT WILL I BE NICE TO PEOPLE AGAIN?

Absolutely! It’s my nature to help. I will continue to be me. We reap what we sow.

“Ashiedu and his wife, will reap what they did to me. Bountifully.”

The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has predicted the possibility of Naira bouncing back and this time greater than the United States dollar.

Our correspondent reports that based on findings in the black market buying rate of the dollar is about N915, and sells at N918.

Sequel to the upward slide, businesses and the cost of living of Nigerians coupled with the fuel subsidy removal have been badly affected.

Adeboye gave this prediction during the church’s monthly thanksgiving service on Sunday, monitored by our correspondent with the September theme; ‘Uncommon Miracles’.

According to the revered Clergy, there was a period when Naira, competed favourably with United States dollars.

He said, “The days when Naira will be stronger will come back; those glorious days will return when that happens you will know.”

Adeboye noted that miracles connoted something that is unique, stressing that a lot of times they may not be comprehensible by many.

He explained how God granted him usual testimonies, some of which many people couldn’t believe.

“Miracle is totally unusual. God can give you a miracle that will be difficult to share,” Adeboye added.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has emerged victorious in all 18 Local Government Areas in the Edo State local government.

The election was held on Saturday in all of the local government areas in the state.

The results released by the state independent electoral commission showed that PDP swept the votes in all the local government areas in the State, according to Channels Television.

Apart from the PDP, other major political parties that participated in the election for Chairmanship and Councillorship of all the wards include the Labour Party, LP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC.

At the time of filing this report, the APC and the LP are yet to issue an official statement on the outcome of the election.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, says no fewer than 8.3 million Nigerians are in dire need of humanitarian assistance in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

Edu said the figure is part of the total 16 million Nigerians affected by various humanitarian crises, with the three states worse hit.

The minister said this in a statement by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Mr Rasheed Zubair, on Sunday in Abuja.

She said aside from the North-East, Benue in the North/Central had been tagged the capital of humanitarian crises in Nigeria by the United Nations.

“We have a huge task on our hands, as we speak now, over 16m Nigerians are affected by humanitarian crises either man-made or natural disaster with over 8.3m of them based in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

”Several states in the North Central; and others spread across the country.

“The UN said Benue had become the humanitarian need capital in Nigeria, and as such, a lot of work needs to be done in the humanitarian angle,” she said.

She added “One of the agendas of Tinubu’s administration is to ensure that poverty is alleviated in Nigeria in line with the SDG goal one.

“The president is coming up with a very robust program to lift Nigerians out of poverty.

“Our work is to see how we can get those in poverty out and those on the verge of getting into poverty increase to social safety to protect them from falling into poverty.

“In a couple of weeks, we will be fully launching into this plans to take over 136 million Nigerians out of poverty as implementation has started to help cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.”

She said the ministry had come up with innovative ways of thorough verification of the social register for accuracy and transparency.

“We are bringing innovations to ensure transparency in Conditional Cash Transfer by carrying out a thorough verification of the social register, validating and then expanding it to accommodate more persons.

“We will be working with the World Bank while seeking approval from the President to begin the Conditional Cash Transfer to Nigerians,” she said.

The minister promised to upgrade, rejig and expand the social safety net programme to accommodate more people through a transparent process.

“We want to increase the Social Safety Net for Nigerians in a transparent manner by counting the numbers together just as we counted COVID-19 cases using a digitalised system.

“We are very conscious of the fact that Mr President’s passion and true intentions are to ensure that we can lift Nigerians out of poverty.

“Party politics is over, now is time for governance, President Tinubu is a president for everyone irrespective of political party,” she said.

She therefore assured Nigerians that the ministry would soon come up with an accurate and acceptable social register to curb the challenge associated with disparity in the register.

”Ministry would soon come up with a more acceptable Social Register, one that will be verified, validated.

” It will also be expanded to include those who should be there while taking off those who no longer belong within that bracket.

”We will also work with all tiers of government as well as various communities to identify persons eligible for the scheme.” she added.

THE Federal Government on April 27, 2023 declared the value of Nigeria’s proven gas reserves estimated at about 206.53 trillion cubic feet, with a valuation of well over US$803.4tn, adding that the

country had the most extensive gas resource in Africa.

In September 2015 at the historic UN Summit; Nigeria along with many other countries adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The European Union in more recent years proposed categorizing natural gas as a green energy source, as this would impact favourably on Nigeria due to the country’s abundant natural gas reserves.

SDG: (7) “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”

Natural Gas Forms

With the context provided above, can we now explore what this means in terms of natural gas forms; then we deep dive into actual value implementation and socioeconomic impact.

1. Piped Natural Gas (PNG): Known as dry natural gas, it consists primarily of methane and is suitable for distribution through pipelines for heating, electricity generation, and industrial use. Examples - The Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) built in 1989 to supply gas from Escravos in Niger Delta area to Egbin power station, The West African Portland Cement (WAPCO) Plants and a few others. In more recent times; The Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Natural Gas Pipeline (AKKP) foreseen to transport natural gas from Ajaokuta, in Kogi State to Kano, in Kano State, through several states and urban centers, as part of the Trans Nigeria Gas Pipeline. Good initiative, the Chinese have this contract- we wait and see.

2. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG): Natural gas that has been cooled to a very low temperature and converted into liquid form for easier storage and transportation. The Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) is the pioneer player here. It operates six liquefaction units (LNG trains) producing 22 million tonnes per year of LNG, this amounts to roughly 10% of the world's LNG consumption, Solid company! Well run by the best of the best. Let me not digress and get carried away by the huge potential impact of the company --I will get back to this subsequently.

3. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): Natural gas that is compressed to a high pressure and stored in containers for use as a vehicle fuel or in some industrial applications. Generally wide spread in terms of use, a significant number of companies have adopted CNG as fuel for power generation, comes with an estimated cost savings of 25-30 percent when compared to diesel fired generating sets, off course cleaner energy and lower operations and maintenance. A fairly notable number of companies are operating in this space and are expanding very rapidly. The Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu have expressed interest in developing this space as a cushion to the removal of the subsidy on PMS. We believe this is a noteworthy project; can be delivered in time with the appropriate team in place and more importantly political will and right private sector partnerships.

4. Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs): These include propane, ethane, butane, and pentane, which are separated from the natural gas stream and used for various purposes such as heating, cooking, and petrochemical feedstocks. One simple form for explanation purpose is Liquified Petroleum Gas – LPG (or cooking gas) contains 70% Butane and 30% Propane, with a flash point. Widely used around the country.

5. Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) Products: These are derived from natural gas through chemical processes, producing products like synthetic fuels, waxes, and specialty chemicals. This is where refining capacities come to play with its significant impact. We have been told the Port Harcourt Refinery will be streamed sometime in 2024 and we all wait earnestly for the Dangote Refinery, they can produce these.

6. Dimethyl Ether (DME): A clean-burning alternative fuel produced from natural gas, often used as a substitute for diesel. This is not widely used in Nigeria, but the refining process for DME can be

           produced through another form of liquefaction.

7. Ammonia: Produced from natural gas through the Haber-Bosch process, ammonia is used primarily in the production of fertilizers. Huge potential here, another refinery extract that has tremendous value both locally and abroad.

8. Methanol: Also produced from natural gas, methanol has a wide range of applications, including as a chemical feedstock and fuel.

Getting to Work

President Tinubu as substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources sets up a hands-on committee comprising of expert folks that will drive the process reporting directly to him with very clear mandates;

tasks and deliverables under his Excellency’s capacity. Invites the leadership of the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) and other leading production companies--seek to collaborate to develop LNG/CNG service

stations across different parts of Nigeria.

LNG is the most cost efficient energy source in comparison to AGO, and CNG. See below;

A couple of assumptions here on engine size, forex and CAPEX.

LNG can be deployed around the country in retail outlets, trucks, buses, private vehicles drive in and refuel. It is clean, efficient and provides significant cost savings. It can be done!!

Considerations here;

LNG is typically sold through long-term contracts or spot markets. Long-term contracts involve agreements between suppliers and buyers for a fixed quantity of LNG over a specified period, often

several years. Spot markets, on the other hand, involve the sale of LNG on a short-term basis, usually for immediate or near-future delivery. The pricing of LNG can be linked to various factors such as oil prices or natural gas market indices. The process involves negotiation between sellers and buyers to determine terms, pricing, and delivery schedules. This is where the commercial discussions require concessions and the collaboration of FGN and the LLNG to partner on willing buyer willing seller basis. It can be done!

Others

1. Liquefaction: Natural gas is primarily methane. To convert it into LNG, it needs to be cooled to extremely low temperatures, typically around -162 degrees Celsius. This cooling process causes the gas to change from a gaseous state to a liquid state, which allows for more efficient storage and transportation.

2. Transportation: The LNG is transported in specialized cryogenic tanker trucks or ships designed to keep the LNG at its very low temperature. This minimizes any vaporization or loss during transportation.

3. Storage: Upon arrival at the service station, the LNG is transferred to storage tanks. These tanks are heavily insulated to maintain the low temperature and prevent the LNG from warming up and converting back into a gas.

4. Vaporization: When the vehicle is ready to be fueled with LNG, a process called vaporization takes place. This involves using a vaporizer to heat the LNG and convert it back into its gaseous state, making it suitable for use as a vehicle fuel.

5. Dispensing: The vaporized LNG is then fed through dispensers, similar to the traditional PMS or diesel pumps, into the fuel tank. Vehicles that run on natural gas (CNG or LNG) have specially designed tanks to store the gas safely.

6. Filling Process: Filling an LNG-powered vehicle is similar to filling a PMS or diesel vehicle, but it might take a bit longer due to the lower energy density of natural gas. The fueling process is designed to be safe and efficient.

Important to note that operating an LNG service station requires specialized equipment for the liquefaction, storage, and vaporization of the natural gas. These facilities need to adhere to strict safety

and environmental regulations to ensure the safe handling of LNG.

The process outlined above evidences how LNG is processed and distributed for sale at service stations. I admit it appears complex but it is a well-established process that enables the use of LNG as a cleaner and more cost effective alternative fuel for vehicles. LNG is considered a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuels Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) - this is largely in existence and the FGN is already making assertions towards this aspiration. However work needs to be done to achieve the end value. The process for CNG retailing is quite similar to LNG, however the infrastructure, hence CAPEX may vary. The discussions around the securitization of the molecules through concessions has to be agreed upon with the steer of the President and the committee members. I note here for emphasis; nothing can be achieved without a strong sense of patriotism and the will power to get things done. It can be done. Less I forget; what are the socioeconomic benefit of this for our dear country and citizens in the short medium and long terms;1. Reduced cost of energy – with PMS at an average cost of N600 per ltr depending on the location in the country, this initiative will begin with massive transportation of our people, farm produce and other goods using this God given natural resource well harnessed to power vehicles.

2. Job creation – can we begin to imagine the number of jobs this entire value chain will generate both directly and indirectly. Drivers, dealers, attendants, welders, to mention a few

3. Foreign exchange savings and earnings – so we have the natural gas; yes we need to deploy resources in the short term to build the required infrastructure, but ultimately when this is done we benefit from recurrent import of finished products, natural gas is priced in USD, but all the other requirements are done locally and will be evidenced in pump price. The earning from this will support LNG T7

4. Reduction in food inflation—ever since the removal of subsidy we have had galloping inflation numbers, NBS reports 24.08% inflation in July 2023 up from 22.79% in June. Imagine a hub that allows us transport food in large volumes using LNG/CNG powered trucks. I know we still need to work on security matters in the hinterland, but reduced energy will drive down costs.

5. Clean energy – no diesel polluting our air resulting in sickness and deaths
6. Foreign Investment – so we create the framework that allows foreign investors to see the opportunity and potential here. We can partner with them for the acquisition of the busses on a Build Own Operate (BOO) or even BOOT model.

Folks it can be DONE!!

I conclude this with this inventive: “our collective innovations, ideas, interventions and offerings determines the pace and outcome of our growth, we will succeed as long as we engage productivity,

integrity, zeal and most importantly patriotism”

Dapo Adeyoyin is the CEO of Dapik Energy an Energy development, consulting and advisory firm out of Lagos. Nigeria.

Prof Akinwumi Isola’s Efunsetan Aniwura, (1981) his first play written in 1961-62 while he was a student at the University of Ibadan, is highly celebrated. It is a historical drama which reflects proceedings of the 19th century reign of the heroine, second Iyalode (Queen of women) of Ibadan, Efunsetan Aniwura. Aniwura – one with a surplusage of gold – a fiery, Egba-born but wealthy Ibadan slave owner and merchant, held the title from 1867 – 1874. The unwritten law among the coffle of slaves she kept was that no female slave must get pregnant. Thus, when Adetutu, one of her female slaves was audacious enough to get impregnated by a fellow slave called Itawuyi, upon hearing the news, Efunsetan’s immediate but fierce retort was, afefe ti fe, a ti ri’di adiye! Translated, it means, the wind has blown and the hidden rump of the fowl has been exposed.

So many reasons have been adduced by historians for Efunsetan’s outlawing of procreation among her over 2000 slaves. One was the emotional instability she emerged with from the death during labour of her only daughter child in 1860. This necessitated an absence of a progeny to inherit her tremendous wealth. This powerful Ibadan woman chief, aside her many slaves, also owned several farms, exported agric produce to Porto-Novo, Badagry and Ikorodu and traded in tobacco, while also manufacturing a local product called Kijipa which she exported to America. Efunsetan also traded in arms and ammunition and was on record to have granted credit facilities on ammunition she sold to Aare Latoosa and his warriors in 1872 while they were on military expeditions.

The Efunsetan Afefe ti fe, a ti ri’di adiye expresses excitement at the final unraveling of a long-held secret, the denouement of a cryptic play whose ultimate exposure ends in tragedy. Literally, the hen’s naked and ugly rump is hidden from view by feathers that give it a seeming aesthetic beauty. The moment the breeze blows the feathers, exposing the contours of the rump, the hen is presented to the world in its original form – the bumpy, uneven surface – as opposed to the smooth, feathery assemblage of quills that the world saw hitherto.

Last week, Ogun State quaked like a city afflicted by a thunderstorm. Respected journalist-turned politician and Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Wale Adedayo, was the wind that blew the feathers off the Ogun hen’s rump. As the thunderstorm raged, it left hanging in the space a foul and smelly tang that was offensive to the nose. In a petition addressed to former governor of Ogun state and a leader of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Chief Olusegun Osoba, copies of which were sent to the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, (ICPC) Adedayo called for the investigation of Governor Dapo Abiodun, alleging that he was a kingpin of the mismanagement of local government funds in the State. Specifically, the now suspended chairman claimed that Abiodun withholds statutory allocations paid to councils in the state from the federation accounts. He also alleged that this blind thievery began immediately Abiodun took over the reign of office in May, 2019, leading to “zero allocation” of funds to develop the councils.

Adedayo also claimed that ecological funds due to the councils too had “developed wings without trace” as well as an N8 billion sum released by the Buhari government to the 20 local governments under the SURE-P assistance. This, he said, was also swallowed by the Abiodun administration, with no single payment to the councils. Adedayo claimed that upon enquiry from the state government, the councils were reportedly told that the deductions were due to funds the councils reportedly owed the state government, to which Adedayo said, “But I know for a fact that my Ijebu East Local Government is NOT owing Abeokuta one Naira!”

Allegations of theft of local government monies by state governors in Nigeria have had a long gestation. Several scholarly offerings in the area of local government administration have contextualized the local government as where the elusive redemption of the poorest of the poor of Nigerians can come from. This is because of its centrality and proximity to the grassroots of locality administration. However, local government administration is itself suffocating under the strangulating hold of corruption and fief grips of state governments who see them as cash cow where they can get easy largesse, allegedly filching the bulk of their heists from them and resulting in total asphyxiation of grassroots governance.

Local governments did the magic of the highly talked about developments in Nigeria during the First and second republics. From locally sourced revenues like tenement rates, motor park fees and allied taxes, councils raked in sufficient money to construct roads, bridges, award scholarships to deserving students in their localities and had enough for other social services. However, since the Ibrahim Babangida government, local governments have gradually lost steam, arriving at this lamentable intersection where governors have collectively offered to be pallbearers of the remains of council administration. The most dispiriting aspect of cries about massive bleeding of the blood of local governments is that successive federal governments, though aware of this fraud, have kept silent.

To ensure that their thievery of local government funds goes undetected, many of the 36 state governors perfected several methods of hiding the sleaze and the loot. In a Premium Times report, the authoritative newspaper was told by sources among local government chairmen in Ogun State that monies enter council accounts in the morning, and they develop wings by evening. It is a pattern adopted by many of the state governments.

The other pattern adopted by some state governors, which I have on good authority is also deployed in Ogun State, is swearing council chairmen to traditional oath. The recitation of the oath is that anyone who swears to it would never reveal the cryptic details of the local government heists.

I was told that the Ogun chairmen, shortly after they took office, were made to swear to the oath of non-disclosure of details of the council heists. Wale Adedayo, known by the sobriquet, Babalawo, steeped in the practices of traditional Africa, must have been persuaded to squeal by his conscience and the means he possessed to unlock the code of the oath he took alongside the other chairmen.

But for the fact that EFCC and ICPC are perceived to be either dead as dodo or gasping for breath, some characters should be in the cell now. State governments are alleged to have so compromised operatives of the commissions that they can only bark but would never go after well-heeled and federal government-connected state governments like Ogun to bite them. Otherwise, the modus operandi of discovering the veracity or otherwise of the suspended Ijebu local government chairman’s claims against the Ogun State governor are too clear for any feigning of pretense.

Wale Adedayo deserves commendation by all lovers of truth, accountability and traceability of Nigeria’s joint patrimony for his audacity to be different. This is why, with his graphic revelation of the alleged pattern of stealing of council funds by the Ogun State government, Nigerians should be egged on to equally, severally and jointly ask that that the federal government drills down on the truth or otherwise of the allegations. If the Abiodun government is thereafter found not guilty, Adedayo deserves censure for defamation. If the reverse is the case, government should be made public example of so that other governors can loosen their vice grips on the neck of council administration in Nigeria. The Bola Tinubu presidency must show that it has zero tolerance for the incubus of corruption by showing interest in the Wale Adedayo allegations. If it does not, it will be an ugly optic of connivance by government at the federal with its “good boys” in the state to steal the people blind. That Abiodun is a member of the APC as the president makes this need to double down on the allegation of corruption more pressing and auspicious.

Having said this, the twist that immediately occurred after Adedayo had leveled the allegation has not stopped confounding those who had raised cymbals in celebration of the anti-corruption credential of the now suspended council chairman. Shortly after the news of the petition hit town, local government chairmen in Ogun State, led by their leader, Hon Babatunde Emilola-Gazal, were reported to have filed down to beg Governor Abiodun who has the Swords of Damocles hanging over him. In a viral video, the chairmen, like a conquered fiefdom, prostrated to the governor “to forgive” their colleague.

As part of the twist, Adedayo was also said to have been part of the begging crowd, donning agbada. He was alleged to have made spirited attempt to beg the governor to forgive him, saying it was ise Esu, devil’s work. This is why I am personally afraid for the suspended chairman. I doubt if he had heard the fable of afi fila p’erin – the man who killed an elephant with his cap? Fully translated, it is afi fila p’erin, ojo kan ni’yi re mo, meaning the man who kills an elephant with his cap enjoys the adulation of his exploits only for a moment.

If Adedayo didn’t understand this, he should then race down to I. B. Akinyele’s highly authoritative Iwe Itan Ibadan which contains a far more believable and relatable story with same teaching. Akinyele was Olubadan of Ibadan from 1955-1964. In late 19th century, Ibadan took wars to neighbouring Yoruba towns, one of which was to Ilesa in today’s Osun State. The war was called Ogun Ilesa and it occurred in the late 1860s. Balogun Akere, highly resented among other warriors, led the battle for the Ibadan. There was thus mutiny among the Ibadan forces who perfected plans to get rid of their army General. As the warriors sat on how best to commit the regicide, one of them called Ajobo Seriki, originally from Ikire, cleared his throat and told them that if the Ibadan warriors would promise not to pay him with evil, he would help rid them of their General. According to him, he had a loin cloth, bante which, upon wearing it, and if he prostrated even to an Iroko tree, it “would fall before daybreak.” If he thus wore it to prostrate for Balogun Akere, within three days, he would die. When he was given a collective go-ahead and he went on all fours before the Balogun, the General died on the third day in 1869. His friend, Oyewo, also died the third day and it was reckoned that Ajobo Seriki prostrated to him as well. From the war front, Balogun Orowusi was appointed as his successor and he later became Baale, the head chief of Ibadan.

When the war ended and they got back home in Ibadan, an inner conspiracy among the chiefs of Baale Orowusi erupted and it was directed at Ajobo who had now been made Balogun. Ajobo had become stupendously rich and highly loved for his generosity and philanthropy. This further incensed the other chiefs, coupled with Ajobo’s own arrogance of power. Baale Orowusi thus ordered Ajobo to leave town or commit suicide in June, 1871. Ajobo however enlisted kings like the Alaafin, Awujale, Alake and Aseyin to help him make peace with Orowusi and the chiefs. The Ibadan monarchy had already acceded to this mediation, especially when Ajobo promised to come the following day to prostrate to them for atonement when, overnight, someone went to the chiefs to ask if they had forgotten that it was Ajobo who prostrated to Balogun Akere which led to his death. The next day, the conspiracy thickened and Ajobo was asked to leave Ibadan or commit suicide. He chose the former and early in the morning of a day in August, 1871, on his way out on exile to the Ijebu area, to hand over the staff of office back to Baale Orowusi, he prostrated to him. Orowusi died that month.

The two stories of Afi fila p’erin and the fall of Ajobo should tell the suspended chairman of Ijebu East local government that, as commendable as his anti-corruption fight is, it contains gross implications. First, in a Nigerian politics that shares physiognomy with cesspool, it may mark the end of his sojourn with politicians at the top because he has killed elephant with a cap and murdered Ogun State’s Balogun Akere with his bante. Second, such fights as his, akin to biting the bullet, are battles of no return. Only proper valiant undertake them. No one fights such battles haphazardly. Once a fighter places their hands on the plough, it would be a fatal mistake to turn back. As the Yoruba say, he who differently seeks the head of an ahun – tortoise and its legs cannot but have the totality of the ahun. The chairman should ask the biblical Lot’s wife why she turned to a pillar of salt. It was half measure determination. Again, no one stands under a roof and throws stone at the rooftop. After writing such damning petition, the now suspended chairman should have tendered his letter of resignation. The rest battle should have been fought from without.

Your Excellencies, greetings from Citizenville. It is not fashionable that anyone from this valley of citizens would nurse the pretension of counselling you as you perch on your high pedestals all over Africa. But times have changed. This is 2023.

Many of you still live in the era of England’s King James I (reigned 1603–1625) who famously propounded the self-serving theory of the Divine Rights of Kings. Like James, many of you think you are gods; you fail to come to terms with your mortality. But Your Excellencies, you’re not irreplaceable. There was a head of state before you; there will be many after you expire.

African Whirlwind

There is trepidation in high places because of the gale of coups sweeping through some countries, especially in West Africa. The only guarantee against a military coup is good governance. Witness what happened in Nigeria in 1976 when a group of soldiers shot their head of state in Lagos and tried to take over the government. Ordinary civilians poured onto the streets in support of the government headed by the slain General Murtala Mohammed.

The supreme irony of these times is that recent coups in Africa have been bloodless while elections have been brutally gory. Your shameful conduct gives democracy a bad name. Don’t you know that if you have the support of the people, they will defend you to the last man? It is futile, for example, for deposed President Ali Bongo of Gabon to beg us to make ‘big noise’ for his release from detention. Noise? You’re on your own, Sir! In the final analysis, the people are the state!

Americans and Europeans have no apologies when articulating their national or regional interests. Who is looking out for Africa? Our leaders are busy negotiating deals for their families and cronies at the expense of their people. Nigeria is currently saddled with some mind-boggling judgement debts on account of dubious deals negotiated by government officials to the detriment of their fatherland. In many cases, as long as the neo-colonialists give generous bribes to African leaders, they can steal the whole continent. How many of you are prepared to stand up for your people?

Europe Is Re-inventing Itself

While many of you are having a ball at the expense of your people, Europeans are facing up to the reality that the system of looting Africa and planting local surrogates as leaders will soon be over.

Europe’s total population is projected to fall by 5% between 2010 and 2050. Notably, the decline is projected at 17% among 25 to 64 year-olds. This will translate to less demand for goods and services and therefore less growth; and less dynamic societies. If things continue the way they are, with a dwindling population and less number of African slave-countries to loot, Europe will be in trouble. It is plain common sense, not charity, that is making some European and North American countries encourage new  immigrants; otherwise some of those countries will simply die out.

By comparison, a study conducted by Amadu Jacky Kaba revealed that, Africa’s population increased by over 1 billion, from 228.7 million in 1950 to 1.341 billion in 2020: 431 million in Eastern Africa; 404 million in Western Africa; 247.5 million in Northern Africa; 193.5 million in Middle Africa; and 64.5 million in Southern Africa.

Of the 1.341 billion people in Africa in 2020, 755.92 (56.4%) million are aged 24 and younger; and 533.5 (39.8%) million are under the age of 15. In demographic terms, Africa is blessed with the right population mix for great transformation. However, its leaders are neither prepared for current challenges nor future prospects. They cling on to power even where they’ve been ravaged by old age or become incontinent.

Can’t Stop Sunrise

President Paul Barthélemy Biya’a bi Mvondo, what are you still doing in Cameroun’s presidential palace at the age of 90 and having spent 48 years at the helm? You became Prime Minister on 30 June 1975 and President on 4 November 1982, The country is falling apart under your geriatric gaze. Please leave.

President (General) Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, you are the longest-serving president (1979 to date) of any country ever and the second-longest consecutively-serving current non-royal national leader in the world (after Cameroun’s Paul Biya). Your country is the third richest country in Africa with a per capita income of $8,462.30, yet 70% of your people live in penury. It’s time to go.

President (General) Denis Sassou Nguesso, you have been in and out of presidential power since 1979. If there’s anything you wanted to achieve for the Republic of the Congo, you ought to have done so long ago. You have stayed too long in the bush latrine. All manners of flies have started perching.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, I confess that I am one of your erstwhile admirers. You are a well grounded African patriot who will not point to his father’s compound with the left hand. But all good things must end. If you’re still nursing the dream of instituting a dynasty in Uganda, remember the African fable of how Fate neutralised the tortoise.

President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea, after 30 years in power, you will go down in history as the ultimate dictator.  Under your watch, Eritrea has never had a functioning constitution. No elections. No legislature. You are the sole executive, judiciary and military power in Eritrea. No tears will be shed if coupists knock on your door.

President Paul Kagame, your place in history as a true African liberator and patriot is assured. Whether as a general or a statesman, you have proven your worth. Now, identify a successor and exit the scene. Anyone who says Rwanda can’t do without you is hoping to attend your funeral.

President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, press freedom is non-existent under your government. Your country is placed 176th out of 179 countries in the 2020 ranking of Reporters Without Borders. You’ve monopolised power since 1999. Leave the throne before the throne leaves you.

President Hage Gottfried Geingob, you were the first Prime Minister of Namibia from 1990 to 2002, and served as prime minister again from 2012 to 2015. Between 2008 and 2012 you served as Minister of Trade and Industry.In November 2014, you were elected president of Namibia. For 33 years you have been in the corridors of power. Must you wait until you’re smoked out?

President Faure Gnassingbé, son of General Gnassingbé Eyadema who was the arrow-head used by the French to assassinate Togo’s President Sylvanus Olympio in 1963 because Olympio’s first loyalty was to Togo rather than France. You snatched power after your father’s death and have cuddled it for 18 years. France is happy with you only because you’re their stooge. Beware, someday soon, the people will rise…

Arise Africa!

The African Union ought to be more than a mere talk shop. African heads of state find their voices only when there’s a coup because they fear that it could happen to them. See how the European Union is making one powerful entity of its member countries! AU either wakes up or it will consign itself to irrelevance. As far as Africa’s future is concerned, nobody can stop the sunrise!