Afeez Adedigba, the taxi driver who went viral for wearing his wife’s dress while operating a ‘Micra’ taxi in Ibadan, Oyo State, has revealed the reason behind his surprising choice of attire.

In a viral video, Adedigba was spotted driving while wearing his wife’s clothing.

In an interview with a media personality, Ayo Adams, on Monday, the driver explained that his clothes were soaked by the rain, so the quickest solution was to wear his wife’s dress, which was readily available. 

He said, “This is not the only cloth of my wife that I have. They are about two. The first time I took the dress, it was raining heavily, and all my clothes were drenched. I had no choice but to take hers since I was still interested in working that day.

“So now, I wear the dress when it rains and put on mine when it stops. That’s why it is always in my vehicle.’

He revealed he was unfazed by passengers’ comments, adding that he was focused solely on earning money and delivering it to the vehicle’s owner.

“It has been quite an age I’ve been driving this micra. And I only seek God’s favour on the job. I moved to driving when I couldn’t raise funds to start the sales of tyres that I learnt at a tender age,” he said.

Adedigba also shared that he has one wife and four children, who motivate him to work hard to provide for their needs.

[Vanguard]

https://www.tiktok.com/@theayoadams/video/7407547331412888837

“ I’m gradually losing my life. I don’t even know how to call people for a job. Please, Nigerians, forgive me.”

It’s been four months since Nollywood star Junior Pope died in a boat mishap while shooting ‘The Other Side of Life,’ the ill-fated movie by burgeoning filmmaker Adanma Luke.

Expectedly, Ms Luke has experienced a series of life-altering incidents since the unfortunate incident, which claimed the lives of five persons on her movie set.

First, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) suspended her for breaching safety protocols. The police also launched an investigation while filmmakers and actors boycotted her productions.

Before the incident, the 34-year-old producer was known for producing movies such as Iga (Love in Chain) (2020), Narrow Affection (2023), and School Trouble (2014).

Ms Luke’s suspension, which was recently lifted, did little to ease the public outcry and grief. Things got heated on Monday when Ms Luke revealed that she was becoming mentally unstable and sought forgiveness from Nigerians

In an emotional Instagram live video on Monday, the Nollywood producer shared that she could no longer put on a brave face for those still mourning and appealed to Nigerians to consider her side of the situation.

“I don’t have much to say; I’m just here to say I’m sorry,” she said, visibly distressed. “I’m sorry, Nigerians. I’m sorry I took away your loved ones from what people are saying.

“I’m very sad. As much as I try to be strong, I still don’t see myself being strong. I’m so sad that this had to happen on my set. I’m so sad they had to work for me at that time. I’m not God.”

Destined to happen

The 34-year-old producer expressed her regret over the tragedy, explaining that the location had been frequently used for filming without any prior incidents.

“It has been destined to happen. It is meant to happen, but then why me? I never liked the internet or drama, but this puts me out there. A lot of people, a lot of people, have been dragging me. A lot of people have been calling that Adanma don’t talk, let this die down, don’t talk, but I go through a lot. I go through so much. I’m trying to heal, but it’s not coming back. We all love JP (Junior Pope). We all love other people who also lost their lives, my crew members.

“I didn’t do it on purpose. I have been filming at that location, that particular place, for a very long time. Why it had to happen to me is what I don’t know. Every morning, I see myself on the prayer altar asking God, why me? Why me? Why me? Please, Nigerians, I’m sorry—the whole world. We all love JP. We all love JP. I’m sorry.”

Boat plight

The Anambra-born actress recounted her experience on the set, noting that specific issues were overlooked despite her efforts to ensure safety.

She said: “I haven’t visited Asaba in the past two years until that incident. When I wanted to shoot that job, I asked for a better location, and they took me there. The first time I went there, I wondered what was up. Why are they not providing life jackets for us? We had to see the place before we went to the principal shooting.

“Then my PM (Production Manager) told me that ‘that is how they do it there and that a lot of people have been crossing, that nothing has happened, that they’ve been shooting there.’ I wasn’t the first person to shoot a movie there. They shoot there all the time. I wasn’t even filming in the water. It was a means of transportation to the place. It’s not like I did it on purpose. It wasn’t my duty, but I’m taking all the blame. I’m carrying all the crosses. But please, Nigerians, I’m sorry. It has happened.”

No vacation

Adding to the pressure, the embattled producer has had to defend herself against rumours suggesting she went on vacation after the tragedy.

This newspaper’s checks on Ms Luke’s Instagram posts from around the time of the incident reveal a series of comments from trolls discouraging her from moving forward with her life.

Despite not posting for a while after the incident, many have used the platform to blame her, demanding that she remain burdened by guilt over the tragedy.

Addressing the backlash, the Slayers Wears CEO said: “People are even saying I went on vacation. I’m here for business. I travel to help myself. I’ve been indoors, doing nothing, and yet still catering for the families that lost their loved ones.

“Where do you expect me to get all this money from? I need to work. I need to make money. My baby was not even up to three months when this thing happened. You all can’t even imagine what I went through. But please, Nigerians, forgive me. Forgive me. I know I can’t bring back the dead, but…I’m sorry, please.”

Despite offers from friends to take her on a break to regain her sanity, the producer admitted she’s unable to find peace. She said: “My friends are even telling me to come. Just come. Let’s take you on a vacation. Let’s go. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t because they wanted me to get my sanity back. They want me to be okay, but it’s not coming. I do not see myself doing all that.

“I’ve been doing this. I didn’t even know what depression was until this whole incident happened. I’m gradually losing my life. I’m regretting a lot of things. I don’t even know how to call people for a job. Please, Nigerians, forgive me. Forgive me for employing people for a job. I don’t know what to say, but I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m losing my life.

“I’ve done a lot that is not even there on the ground. I’ve done a lot that people don’t come out to say on social media. But once it comes to Ada, ‘Ada did this.’ They’ll want to kill me. I believe that if anything happens to me now, everybody will now rest.”

Background

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the tragic boat accident claimed Actor Junior Pope alongside four other crew members in the Anam River in Anambra on 10 April. Before Junior Pope’s death, he expressed concerns about the lack of life jackets during river crossing.

A preliminary report by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) on 25 May revealed that the driver’s distraction caused the accident and that the boat was not certified by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

In response to the incident, the Actors Guild halted movie shoots nationwide on 11 April and launched an investigation. The guild also introduced new safety standards in bylaws and lifted the temporary ban on riverine filming in July.

On 13 April, Adanma Luke said she was traumatised over the incident, revealing that she narrowly avoided being on the ill-fated boat due to a last-minute change in plans. She confirmed that while life jackets were available, Junior Pope refused to wear one because it was dirty.

Junior Pope was buried in his hometown of Ukehe, Enugu State, on 17 May, while other victims, including sound engineer Precious Ofurum and makeup artist Abigail Fredrick, were interred in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, respectively.

[Premium Times]

Shafi’u Umar Tureta, an aide to Aminu Tambuwal, a senator, has been remanded in a correctional facility for allegedly insulting Ahmad Aliyu, governor of Sokoto, on Facebook. 

Tureta was charged before a magistrate in Sokoto on Monday.

According to Premium Times, Fatima Hassan, the magistrate, barred journalists from covering the proceedings.

The police’s first information report (FIR) shows that the government charged Tureta with circulating injurious falsehood and engraving matter known to be defamatory, which was said to have contravened the Penal Code.

The aide was said to have committed the offences in July.

Tureta was also accused of sharing a document that purportedly showed that Aliyu scored F9 in English Language in the senior school certificate examination (SSCE).

The aide was also said to have posted a video showing the spraying of dollar notes during the birthday celebration of Fatima, the governor’s wife.

Tureta was also accused of sharing videos to mock the governor for not “being fluent in English”.

Tureta is the special assistant on local and digital media to Tambuwal.

Tambuwal served as governor of Sokoto from 2015 to 2023. The former governor is currently a senator representing Sokoto south.

THE ARREST 

Armed security operatives reportedly invaded Tureta’s residence on Sunday to effect the arrest.

In a statement on Monday, Amnesty International Nigeria called for the “unconditional release” of the aide, adding that the arrest is “unacceptable”.

The human rights organisation said the Sokoto government intends to remand Tureta on “bogus” charges.

“This surge in human rights violations by the Sokoto state government is unacceptable and must end now,” Amnesty said.

“Instead of targeting critical voices, the government of Sokoto state must prioritise addressing poverty, out-of-school children littering the streets of Sokoto and ending rampant insecurity that had left eastern part of the state at the mercy of gunmen, with hundreds killed in Isa and Sabon Birnin LGA and thousands displaced.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto also condemned Tureta’s arrest, adding that it is not a crime to post public videos of a governor.

“We, first of all, wish to draw the attention of the Governor to the fact that the visuals in question must have been recorded by camera men attached to his own office or his family and initially leaked to the public by the same personnel,” Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, Sokoto PDP spokesperson, said.

“It is also not a crime under Nigerian law to make public, videos of the Governor’s public engagements or of events attended by his family, however embarrassing they may be.

“It is therefore, his task or that of his aides to ensure that such materials do not get to the public arena.

“The PDP wishes to caution the Sokoto State Government of its fast worsening human rights record, occasioned by its notoriety for harassment and assault on dissenting opinion.

“We hereby, counsel Ahmed Aliyu to turn his energy towards improving on the dismal performance of his regime, rather than the desperate struggle to stifle freedom of expression in the state.”

[TheCable]

After reading the book, Stepping on Toes: My Odyssey at the Nigerian Ports Authority, written by the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, I could not help the nudging feeling of triumph at how, finally, sunshine emerges in the horizon of national rejuvenation.

In a country grappling with challenges of declining institutional memory and opaque governance, the book – chronicling her 60-month stewardship at the country’s top blue economy institution – is both an educational resource and timely   exposé with potential to trigger positive revolution in the country’s bureaucratic ecosystem.

Chronicled, step by step, in the seventeen chapters is the meandering path of a trailblazer, who found herself thrown into a world that was not kind to the feminine kind, as the first female Chief of Staff to the governor of Kaduna State, and then as the first MD of the NPA in its first 61 years of existence.

As the chapters unfold, we meet a battle-tested woman who was prepared for the task, especially through her experience at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) when she was wrongfully accused by her former boss, Dr Aliyu Modibbo, then cleared by the Department of State Security (DSS) and eventually posted to the Abuja Enterprise Agency as the Chief Executive Officer – which became the ascending rung of her action-packed career trajectory.

Bala-Usman had one advantage going for her, which is her experience in partisan politics at the earlier years of her career when she contested for the House of Representatives seat representing the Musawa/Matazu Federal Constituency of her home state, Katsina.  Perhaps, this provided her an edge, as the political experience hones one’s instincts, and makes you able to think on your feet and to stand your ground when it mattered the most.

In my estimation, Stepping on Toes is a statement of defiance against a superior force that was intent on herding a zealous reformer into the wrong path. Hence, the takeaway, that as young people struggling to make a change, we must not be pushed to the wrong direction, even when these powers are the ones that gave us the privilege, the platform and the voice in the first place. We must stay true to what we believe is best for our nation despite the pressure from the sharks in the water.

The book documents many reforms and milestones which, ordinarily, would have gained accolades and promotion, for Bala-Usman in (former) President Muhammadu Buhari’s government known for anti-corruption; but which ironically became a thorn in the flesh to some vested interests, and eventually led to her witch-hunt and subsequent ‘sack’.

As she assumed office on July 18, 2016, the MD initiated a collaboration with BudgIT, the open governance technological platform, in order to ensure that key research, industry policies and innovations were effectively communicated, and that critical data was generated and made available to the public. A Revenue Invoice Management System aimed at improving service offering, partner, partner relationships, creating an efficient payment method, maximizing revenue and eradicating loss associated with fraud and revenue leakage was also launched.

She also immediately engaged in resolving a dysfunctional scaling system which resulted in junior officers on higher steps of their grade level earning more than their seniors by grade. “This irregularity meant that staff, especially those in positions considered lucrative, were prepared to do everything possible to stop their own promotion,” it expatiated.

Interestingly, chapter 6, entitled, “Apapa traffic congestion and Eto”, unveils the issue of an underground economy, reportedly worth over N12b annually, which was built around corrupt practices by officials of task forces around the Apapa ports. This depicts the failure of successive task forces set up by the federal and state governments to tackle the traffic congestion around the ports, especially at the Lagos axis; and a pointer to how people profiteered from the chaos at the ports.

The MD solved this knotty imbroglio with the development and deployment of the Electronic truck call-up software, known as Eto, which reduced human interaction in management of trucks, thereby tying off avenues for graft, and ultimately restored sanity to the ecosystem.

In chapter seven, “Dredging of Calabar channel”, the author revealed how the country was saved from paying $22Million USD to a company that made claims in a job it did not perform. According to the book, “The company claimed it carried out the dredging activities between November 14 and January 2015, but neither the Harbor Master nor the Port Hydrographer was aware of any dredging activity at the time. The company did not at any time communicate with the management of the NPA during these purported dredging activities.”

In chapter eleven, “Dismantling OMSL’s secure anchorage area”, the reader comes face to face with the reality of rent-seeking economy in Nigeria. A private company had set up and was operating a Secure Anchorage Area (SAA) within the Lagos Pilotage District for about four years without any legal relationship with the NPA, generating tens of millions of US dollars without remitting any to the coffers of the NPA or any government agency.

It is instructive to note that, regarding the supposed security the vessels using the SAA were being provided, it is the statutory responsibility of the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to provide this service at no cost to vessel owners. When Bala-Usman finally pulled down the sham rentier edifice, she was accosted by hoodlums, who claimed she had “taken away food from them”, threatening to physically harm her.

Curiously, instead of her boss giving her accolades for her most intense efforts at sustaining the spirit of good governance and anti-corruption the Buhari government was known, hers became an albatross. Things came to a head in chapters 14 and 15, when Bala-Usman realized, to her utmost shock and dismay, that her own boss was not happy with her.

Integrated Logistics Limited, otherwise known as Intels, had a contract to monitor and collect revenues of the NPA, in the service boat management operations, since 1997 until 2020 when the contract expired. However, at the expiration of the contract, and as the NPA was about finalizing a tender’s process for a fresh contract tenure, the then Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, directed Bala-Usman to stop, asking for “restoration of suspended contracts between Intels and the NPA”.

The letter from the Director General of the Bureau for Public Procurement, Mr Mamman Ahmadu, as he weighed in, was instructive: “the correct procedure is that contracts should be won through a proper procurement process that complies with the provisions of PPA, 2007. Furthermore, there is need to avoid the kind of monopoly being enjoyed by Messrs. Intels, which has cascaded into the entitlement mentality being demonstrated by the firm.”

Personally, Stepping on Toes inspires me to keep asking questions. Hadiza Bala Usman did not stop, even when the handwriting on the wall was clear. Eventually, she was told to ‘step aside’, a term that is a novelty in Nigeria’s public service rules.

However, even before the investigative panel finally cleared her of the trumped-up charges of non-remittance of $165millionUD into the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the court of public opinion had already set her free, having seen through the entire charade.

My organization, Connected Development (CODE) and its flagship project, Follow The Money, started by asking questions. Then, in 2012 when I first asked for monies voted to save the children of Bagega in Zamfara State, officials at the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Environment, asked, “Who are you? Who sent you? Why are you asking?”

So, because no single kobo that was approved had got to this community, I started the online hashtag campaign #SaveBagega, which finally attracted the attention of the world, and made former President Goodluck Jonathan do the needful.

From that day, we never stopped helping the government to close leakages where the monies could have been wasted. For instance, in 2019 alone, we saved the Nigerian government N50 billion. This is why Stepping on Toes is a timely and indispensable resource for those who want to change the narrative, not only in my beloved country, but in the other twelve African countries where we operate, inspiring citizens to make a change, one community at a time.

Hamzat Lawal (Hamzy!) is a renowned activist and campaigning currently mobilizing, organizing and leading a group of young people in bringing needed changes across African communities using Follow The Money. He is currently the Chief Executive of Connected Development (CODE).

On Tuesday, August 9, 2022, Kenya held its general election during which the President, governors, senators and members of the National Assembly were elected. The results of the elections were announced on August 15, 2022. William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto (57) had 7,176,141 votes, that is 50.5% of the total votes while Mr. Raila Odinga (79) had 6,942,930 votes, that is 48.8%. The results were announced by Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (1EBC). 

On September 5, 2022, Kenya’s Supreme Court affirmed the election of Mr. William Ruto as President of Kenya. He was sworn in on September 13, 2022 as Kenya’s fifth post-independence President. 

On March 24 this year, Senegal, a country not too far from us with a population of 18million people held its Presidential election. A former tax Inspector, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye (44), was elected President. His party had 54% of the total votes. He was sworn in on April 2 in Dakar.

On May 29 this year, South Africa had its Presidential election, the ruling party, African National Congress (ANC), won 159 of 400 seats—short of 201 seats needed to have a majority. After winning 40% of the total votes, the African National Congress was forced into coalition with Inkatha Freedom Party and the Democratic Alliance. 

On June 29, the ANC Leader, Mr Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (71), a billionaire and the 13th richest man in South Africa, was sworn in as the President of the Republic. 

On February 25 last year, Nigeria had its Presidential election. On March 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the results. Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu of APC scored 8,794,726 votes, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of PDP scored 6,984,520 votes, Mr. Peter Obi of Labour Party had 6,101,533 votes while Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso of NNPP scored 1,496,687 votes.

Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu scored 38.61% of the total votes cast, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar scored 29.07%, Mr. Peter Obi scored 25.4% while Rabiu Kwankwaso scored 6.40%. There were 93.4 million registered voters. The turn out was only 26.71 % in a country that is assumed to be over 200 million.  

Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu scored 25% of the votes cast in 30 states more than 24 states Constitutionally required. He was sworn in on May 29 last year as President of the Republic.

The election was not confirmed by the Supreme Court until October 26 last year. In short, President Tinubu GCFR waited for over five months as President, in suspense.

Definitely something fundamentally is wrong with our constitution. There are many defects in our 1999 constitution. My worry is that the constitution guarantees winner takes all. The constitution guarantees politics of exclusion. As it is now, unless you are very very close to the executives or you belong to a caucus of the ruling party in the centre or in the states, you can never be given an opportunity to serve however brilliant, competent or patriotic you are. Certainly, Nigeria’s problem did not start with the implementation of the 1999 Constitution but it had made worse our problems. 

Our journey in the Presidential system of government began on October 18, 1975, when the then Head of State, Brigadier General Murtala Mohammed GCFR (8 November 1938 – 13 February 1976), inaugurated the Constitutional Drafting Committee, headed by Chief Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams SAN (16 December 1920 – 26 March 2005) at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos. Professor Akinwande Bolaji Akinyemi (82) from Ilesha in Osun state, was then the Director General of the Institute. 

He declared the stand of the then Supreme Military Council on that day. 

The following were his declarations (a) unambiguous commitment to a federal system (b) Elimination of “cut-throat political competition based on a system or rule of winner-takes all,” characteristic of Nigeria’s political past. (c) De-emphasising of institutionalized opposition to the ground in power and development of “consensus politics and government” based on a community of all interests. (d) Decentralisation of power e) Evolution of a free fair electoral system to ensure adequate representation at the centre (f) Depoliticisation of the census (g) The formation of “genuine and truly national political parties.” However, because of the “harmful effects of a proliferation of national parties,” criteria were to be evolved whereby their number could be limited. Interestingly but in vain (echoes of Ghana’s “Union Government”, “the Supreme Military Council is of the opinion that if during the course of your deliberations, and having regard to our disillusion with party politics in the past, you should discover some means by which government can be formed without the involvement of political parties, you should feel free to recommend.” But this was to be as much a non-starter as the Constituent Assembly ‘s decision to insert a clause outlawing military coups. 

(H) Establishment of an executive presidential system, in which the President and the Vice-President would be elected and granted clearly defined powers. The method of their assumption of office would have to “reflect the federal character of the country.” So, too, would the choice of members of the Cabinet, who need not in future be drawn from the legislature alone.

(I) Constitutional restriction on the number of new States. 

On January 11, 1976, General Murtala Mohammed attended the Addis Abba extraordinary summit conference of the Organisation of African Unity (O.A.U.) on the liberation struggle in Africa. On that day he gave a speech titled “AFRICA HAS COME OF AGE”. The speech was a denouncement on America’s role in Angola. He declared “Mr. Chairman, Africa has come of age. It is no longer under the orbit of any extra continental power. It should no longer take orders from any country, however, powerful. The fortunes of Africa are in our hands to make or mar. For too long have we been kicked around; for too long we have been treated like adolescents who cannot discern their interests and act accordingly. For too long has it been presumed that the African needs outside “experts” to tell him who are his friends and who are his enemies. The time has come when we should make it clear that we can decide for ourselves; that we know our interests and how to protect those interests; that we are capable of resolving African problems without presumptuous lessons in ideological dangers, which more often than not have no relevance for us, not for the problem at hand.

Nigeria has come to this Assembly determined to co-operate with you, Mr. Chairman, and with all member States to put a stop to foreign interference in our Constitutional matters, As an African nationalist of distinction, I trust you will guide our deliberation to fruitful conclusions of which our people will be proud of. I thank you.”

To me the denouncement of America by General Murtala Mohammed looked contradictory when on October 18 1975 he has just forced on us without a referendum or a plebiscite, the American Presidential system of government. 

Maybe if he has not been assassinated, thirty-two days after his speech in Addis Ababa on February 13, 1976, we would not have adopted or retained the Presidential system of government today. His successor, General Olusegun Obasanjo carried on with that policy, without review.

On September 21, 1978, the then Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, promulgated Decree Number 25 which proclaimed the 1979 Presidential Constitution. Twenty-four hours earlier, he dissolved the Constituent Assembly. 

In a broadcast to the nation on that day, General Obasanjo declared, “we have accepted the Presidential form of government and the supporting structures and institutions which go with the system. We have accepted the principle of separation of powers between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary and the clauses entrenching the powers, functions and the independence of each of these estates of the realm. We believe that the fundamental principles and directives of state, the provisions of safeguarding the rights and liberties of individual and such other provisions meant to ensure greater sense of accountability and probity in public life, are essential elements in giving a new and fresh sense of direction to our national life. 

In short, the Supreme Military Council saw the constitutional document as a most commendable framework within which party-political activities can be resumed. Indeed, in the light of our experience in government, we went further to make such minor adjustments as we believe necessary to ensure the effective and efficient functioning of government, come October, 1979.

We have also made some other amendments which we believe were necessary to strengthen the continued existence of a disciplined and just society as well as ensure consistency and continuity of national policy. I am sure, you are now all very conversant. Essentially, these amendments concern:

(a) The strengthening of the judiciary by relieving the judicial officers of the responsibility for mundane administrative matters which detracts them from the more important business of efficient and quick dispensation of justice (b) Bringing the conditions of service of judicial officers in line with those of other public officers, while bearing in mind the special nature of the judicial service (c) Consciously using certain institutions such as the Armed Forces, the Federal Courts as-vehicles to stress and promote the indivisible unity of the nation rather than the competitive aspect of a Federalism 

(d) Ensuring consistency and continuity of our national policy on such matters as the development of indigenous languages, the promotion of such notions as equal access to justice and maintaining a non-expansionist foreign policy based on co-operation and peaceful co-existence with our neighbours. 

We are, of course, aware, and I am sure that no member of the Constituent Assembly can claim that the constitution is a perfect document. Neither is the Supreme Military Council claiming that all the necessary adjustments which the general public may consider desirable or necessary have been made. But I believe that the essential thing has been done: that is to have a document which, despite all its imperfections, is capable of launching us in the right direction. 

Of course, the constitution as a living document, can be changed, as and when necessary, in the light of the experience gained in working it. This, I believe, is the most we can hope for, given all the circumstances including the short-time constraint, in which the constitutional issues were debated, discussed and approved.

The coming months would pose testing challenges not only to the participants in the ensuing political activities, but also to the mass media who have responsibility of interpreting and informing the public of the issues, as well as correctly conveying the public mood to those vying for political leadership. 

I am sure you will rise to the occasion and not let the nation down.”

It is left for all to judge whether the hopes of General Murtala Mohammed and General Olusegun Obasanjo had been met with the implementation of the Presidential System of Government. 

That is not to say that the process for the Presidential Constitution went unchallenged, of course it was challenged. I remember that two members of the Constitutional Drafting Committee wrote a minority report disengaging themselves from the Presidential System of Government. They were Dr. Y. Bala Usman, then Senior Lecturer in History at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Dr. Segun Osoba, then Senior Lecturer in History at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Their reports were not considered by the Constituent Assembly. The then Chairman of the Constituent Assembly, Mr. Justice Egbert Udo Udoma (21 June 1917 – 2 February 1998) made sure that their minority report did not see the light of the day. 

I remember three of my colleagues who covered the proceedings of the Constituent Assembly at that time, Femi Ogunsanwo of THE DAILY TIMES, Mohammed Haruna of THE NEW NIGERIA, Tunde Thompson of DAILY SKETCH and myself tried in vain to get a copy of the minority report. 

Since then, till today, there has been a clamour that the Presidential System of Government is not suitable for us. It is getting stronger these days. Let us take an example with the issue of our culture and tradition.

 In the third Schedule of the 1979 Constitution, the following were named as members of the Council of state. They were “the President, who shall be the Chairman; the Vice-President, who shall be the Deputy Chairman; all former Presidents of the federation and all former Heads of the Government of the Federation; all former Chief Justices of Nigeria are citizens of Nigeria; the President of the Senate; the Speaker of the House of Representatives; all the Governors of the States of the Federation; the Attorney-General of the Federation; and one person from each state, who shall as respects that State be appointed by the Council of Chiefs of the State from among themselves”. 

In part II Section 178 of the same 1979 Constitution declares that there shall be a State Council of Chiefs which shall comprise of “a Chairman and such number of persons as may be prescribed by Law of the House of Assembly of the State; the Council shall have power to advise the Governor on any matter relating to customary law or cultural affairs, intercommunal relations and chieftaincy matters; the Council shall also have power to advise the Governor whenever requested to do so on---(a) the maintenance of public order within the State or any part thereof and (b) such other matters as the Governor may direct”.  

If you look at the 1999 Constitution, one will notice the absence of the institution of traditional rulers. No institution represents our culture better than the institution of traditional rulers.

The Russian novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote that "to destroy a people you must sever their roots ". James Baldwin added that " know from whence you came, if you know from whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go".

The Wikipedia tells us constantly that people without culture and tradition are a lost people yet our constitution has deleted that vital institution out of existence.

Traditions are a vital part of how we interact with the world around us. They provide a sense of identity and belonging that helps to shape our culture and our lives. Valuing your traditions is an important part of developing a strong sense of self and understanding the cultures that shape us.

At the core of traditions is a shared set of beliefs, values, customs, and rituals that are passed down from generation to generation. These traditions can be passed down through family, religion, or even communities. They serve as a reminder of who we are and our connection to the past. By valuing traditions, we honor the people who came before us and the struggles they faced in order to make our lives better.

Valuing your traditions also helps to connect you to your cultural roots. It allows us to appreciate and celebrate the unique qualities of our heritage. This can be done through learning about traditional foods, stories, and practices. Learning about these things can help us to understand our identity and how we fit into the larger cultural landscape. This can also help build bridges between generations and foster a sense of unity amongst family members and communities.

Traditions also provide a sense of purpose and can help guide us in making decisions about our future. They can provide us with a framework for making decisions that reflect our values, beliefs, and customs. Valuing our traditions helps us stay true to who we are and reminds us of the importance of preserving our culture for future generations.

Valuing your traditions is an important part of developing a strong sense of self and understanding the cultures that shape us. It allows us to appreciate and celebrate the unique qualities of our heritage, provides us with a framework for making decisions that reflect our values, beliefs, and customs, and helps create bridges between generations and cultures. Taking time to honor your traditions can bring immense joy and fulfillment in life, so don't forget to value them!

Traditions are an important part of our lives. They give us a sense of belonging and identity, provide us with a connection to our past, and help us to better understand our place in the world. In short, they are essential to our lives and the way we live them.

The importance of traditions lies in the fact that they provide continuity in our lives. They give us a sense of roots and belonging, as well as providing structure and stability. They also foster a sense of community, as we join together in celebrating and honoring our shared history. Traditions also provide us with important moral lessons and values, teaching us about respect for others, loyalty, responsibility and other important life skills.

Traditions are also important because they can help to preserve culture. By keeping the same customs, language and rituals alive, we ensure that our culture does not fade away with time. By celebrating holidays, attending special events or participating in traditional activities, we keep our culture alive and thriving.

Traditions also help to create a stronger bond between individuals or groups of people. Participating in traditions gives us an opportunity to come together and celebrate something special while connecting with each other on a deeper level. Many times, these connections can last long after the initial event ends. It is these connections that help to build strong communities and relationships throughout society.

 Traditions are an important part of life that allow us to connect with our past, build strong communities, teach valuable life skills, and help preserve our culture for future generations. It is important to value the positive aspects of our traditions while recognizing when it is time to let go of outdated ones. By doing this, we ensure that our traditions remain alive and relevant for many years to come.

Traditions are an integral part of any culture, providing a sense of identity, continuity, and community. Valuing your traditions is essential to preserve the shared values and practices that are unique to each cultural group. keeping traditions alive is essential for passing on knowledge and history from one generation to the next, helping to shape the future of that culture.

A clamour to change this Constitution today is being championed by so many people because they know that it is unworkable for us. 

Among the many who want this change are Ambassador Tunde Adeniran, Senator Uba Sani, Mr Femi Falana SAN, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, Senator Shehu Sani and many more including my boss, Chief Olusegun Osoba, two-time governor of Ogun state, whom I served as Oyo state Editor, when he was the Managing Director of Kwara state owned NIGERIAN HERALD forty-nine years ago. The name that strikes me most is that of Chief Eleazar Chukwuemeka Anyaoku (91) from Obosi in Anambra state. He married an Egba Princess, Ebunola Olubunmi Solanke in 1962. At ninety-one, the struggle to change our Presidential System of government may turn out to be his last struggle. He led a delegation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in THE VILLA recently in his crusade for a change of the constitution.

Chief Emeka Anyaoku had his education at the Merchants of Light School, Oba and the University of Ibadan. He attended courses in Cambridge, England, Institute of Public Administration, London, Cavillam Institute, France; management trainee, later regional assistant, Commonwealth Development Corporation, London and Lagos, 1959-1962, joined Nigerian Diplomatic Service, 1962, member, Nigeria Permanent Mission to the UN, New York, 1963-1966, assistant director, International Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, 1966-1971, director, International Affairs Division, 1971-1975, assistant, secretary-general, Commonwealth Secretariat, London, 1975-1977, deputy secretary-general, Commonwealth Secretariat, London, 1977-1983, Minister of External Affairs, November-December, re-appointed deputy secretary-general , Commonwealth Secretariat, 1989, assumed office July 1990; deputy chairman, later vice-president, Royal Commonwealth Society, London since 1972, member, Committee of Management, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London, 1972, former director and chairman of the African Centre, London, member of the governing councils of the overseas Development Institute (ODI), The International Institute for Strategic Studies, London, and Save the Children Fund; secretary for the committee reviewing Commonwealth inter-governmental organisations, 1966, secretary for the Commonwealth Observers Team covering the Gibraltar Referendum, 1967, and secretary to the Commission to find a resolution to the 1969 Anguilla crisis, lead secretariat team accompanying Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group to Southern Africa, 1986. Dr. Emeka Anyaoku holds the Chieftaincy title of the Obosi of Nnanyelugo.  

When people like Chief Anyaoku talks, I am sure they know what they are talking about. He and his likes should be encouraged in their condemnation of the Presidential Constitution that we are operating.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has selected 23 fund managers to oversee the $10 billion Nigeria Global Investment Fund (NGIF).

According to a presentation document seen by Nairametrics, this ambitious fund aims to attract both international and local capital into critical sectors of the Nigerian economy, including agriculture, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, and fintech.

The NGIF, established by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, is a pivotal component of Nigeria’s industrial revitalization strategy, which seeks to transform the nation’s economic landscape by reducing its overreliance on oil revenues.

The fund is structured as an umbrella entity, housing multiple sub-funds, each dedicated to specific sectors critical to Nigeria’s development.

55 applications received for fund managers 

The selection of fund managers followed a rigorous evaluation process overseen by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC).

Out of 55 applications, 23 fund managers were chosen based on criteria such as their experience in managing public-sector partnerships, financial stability, international investment expertise, and adherence to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.

The fund managers include prominent names such as AFC, Coronation Asset Management, Stanbic IBTC, AIICO Capital, FBNQuest Asset Management, and more.

These fund managers will each oversee specific sub-funds within the NGIF, which has been structured to house 14 distinct sub-funds and 49 individual funds.

The 14 sub-funds under the NGIF will focus on the following priority sectors: Automotive/Light Manufacturing, Agriculture, Pharmaceuticals/Healthcare, Oil & Gas, Energy, Fintech/Banking, Heavy Industries, Real Estate, Mines/Solid Minerals, Creative Economy/Tourism, Aviation, Infrastructure, Education, and IT.

Each sub-fund is tasked with raising an average of $500 million, contributing to the overarching goal of raising $10 billion in the first phase of the NGIF.

The selected fund managers are aligned with these priority sectors based on their expertise and experience. For instance, Greenwich Asset Management, Coronation Asset Management, and Meristem Wealth Management are aligned with sectors such as Real Estate, while FBNQuest Asset Management and InfraCorp are focused on Infrastructure. Each fund manager will not only raise funds but also ensure that investments are strategically deployed to maximize impact across these sectors.

Support from Afreximbank 

• In addition to selecting fund managers, the government has also secured significant backing from Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) such as the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), which has committed a $3 billion country risk guarantee to de-risk the fund.
• There is an additional $2 billion earmarked for direct investments into key industries. This funding will support projects through mechanisms such as project finance, equity investments, risk insurance, and advisory support, further strengthening the NGIF’s capacity to drive economic transformation.
• The NGIF is poised to play a crucial role in bridging Nigeria’s significant infrastructure gap, estimated to require $14.2 billion in annual investment over the next decade.
• By mobilizing private capital, the fund will target sectors identified as having the highest potential for economic transformation and job creation.
• This fundraiser is part of a broader agenda to create a $1 trillion economy within the next ten years, as outlined in Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

What you should know 

• In April 2024, Nairametrics reported that the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) invited eligible firms to indicate interest in providing services as Nigeria Diaspora Fund managers.
• This was based on an announcement made by Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, on her X account. ,
• According to the minister, these fund managers will be responsible for the development and establishment of a multi-sectoral, multilateral, private sector-led investment fund to form the $10 billion Nigeria Diaspora Fund.
• It was also reported that the ministry extended the deadline for companies interested in managing the $10 billion Diaspora Fund to apply. The deadline was moved from May 6 to May 13, 2024.

[Nairametrics]

Emerging details have shed light on the sudden removal of Yusuf Bichi, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS).

According to sources who spoke with Guardian, President Bola Tinubu’s decision is rooted in his administration’s ongoing efforts to intensify the fight against terrorism and kidnapping across Nigeria.

Insiders revealed that Bichi’s dismissal was influenced by his alleged interference with National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu’s strategy to stamp out terrorists.

Ribadu reportedly felt that Bichi was undermining his coordinating efforts to execute the President’s directives aimed at ridding the nation of security threats.

The source said, “Ribadu feels Bichi has been sabotaging his coordinating efforts to carry out the marching order given by the President to rid the country of terrorists and kidnappers.”

In a series of high-profile security reshuffles on Tuesday, Tinubu approved the appointment of Mohammed Mohammed as the new Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), alongside Adeola Ajayi, who will now lead the DSS as Bichi’s replacement.

President Tinubu in a statement released through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, announced the appointment.

The new DSS Director-General, Adeola Ajayi, rose through the ranks to attain his current post of Assistant Director-General of the Service. He had, at various times, served as State Director in Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Kogi.

[NaijaNews]

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has attributed the continuous hike in the prices of fertiliser products in the local market to multiple problems of exchange rate fluctuation, high inflation rate that is currently at 33.4 percent and the cost of transportation of the products from the factory to the end users.

NSIA disclosed this yesterday at the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI-NPK) stakeholders’ roundtable themed ‘The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative: Imperatives for Food Security’. NSIA’s team lead for the project, Mr Iruwansi Itoandon said the logistics for the movement of fertilisation costs about N60,000 per ton. “That is what you have to add,” he said.

He said the retail price of fertiliser is determined by domestic and external factors, some of which are not controlled by the authority.

President of Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria, Sadiq Kassim said the standard price from the factory is between N29,000 and N32,000 depending on the factory’s location and the order’s destination.

According to some stakeholders at the meeting yesterday, the price of 50kg of generic MPK fertiliser (both MPK 20.10.10) sells for between N46,000 and N54,000.

The PFI was conceived to address challenges in Nigeria’s fertiliser sector, which had long been hampered by inefficiencies and an over-reliance on imports.

To date, the initiative has delivered 90 million bags of locally blended high-quality fertilisers to farmers. Notably, despite the disruption of supply chains during global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, the initiative ensured a steady supply of fertilisers across the country. Still, the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations on key imported raw materials persists in exacerbating cost pressures, adding another layer of complexity to the value chain. Recognizing these challenges, the NSIA is actively working with its partners to ensure that the PFI continues to deliver on its mission to support Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Managing director and CEO of NSIA, Aminu Umar-Sadiq, represented by head, corporate planning, Sybil Etuk said PFI aligns with the authority’s mandate to strengthen the agricultural sector, uphold import substitution as a critical lever for National development and ultimately create shared value for all stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MoFI) has said it is planning to convert the PFI into a company with all the structures of a corporate organisation for the greater achievement of its objectives.

“We are planning to make it into a company because noting that it’s an initiative, it will not reach the level we are all now praying or imagining it will be so that is why I initially said corporate governance and what this means is we are going to set a well-fledged company with a strong board consisting of people that know what they are doing in the industry to manage this fertiliser business/production very well that will satisfy all,” executive director, portfolio management at MoFI, Tajudeen Datti Ahmed stated.

FEPSAN president proposed that the PFI, with FEPSAN, establish a fertiliser institute to build the technical and financial capacity of players within the ecosystem.

“As we celebrate the PFI’s achievements in improving agricultural productivity and bolstering food security, greater inter-agency collaboration is envisioned to direct the initiative into full private sector control for its continued success and the sustained development of our country Nigeria,” he said.

[Leadership]

Twenty one states of the federation are seeking loans amounting to N1.65 trillion to fund their 2024 budget deficits despite the increase in the allocations they have received from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in the last one year. 

From June 2023 to June this year, all the 36 states and the 774 local governments received a total of N7.6 trillion from FAAC. This increase in revenue is largely due to the removal of petrol subsidy by the federal government on May 29, 2023. 

Findings by Daily Trust show that the 36 states are projected to receive N5.54 trillion from FACC for this year as against the N3.3 trillion disbursed to them last year.

Under the current revenue-sharing formula, the federal government receives 52.68 percent; while states and local governments get 26.72 percent and 20.60 percent respectively. Such federation revenues, in addition to internally generated revenues of each tier, are expected to facilitate development across the three tiers of government, and also ensuring that the governments fulfill their financial obligations. 

The FAAC allocations to local governments for June were paid directly to the state governments.

 The Supreme Court had, on July 11, affirmed financial autonomy for the local governments. The apex court directed that the financial allocations meant for all the 774 local government areas in the country be paid to them directly. It said it is unconstitutional for state governments to keep and manage allocations on behalf of the local governments. 

States’ borrowing patterns 

Investigations by Daily Trust show that 21 states have expressed intentions to borrow a total sum of N1.650 trillion from both internal and external sources to fund their 2024 budget deficits.

Other states are yet to upload their borrowing plans. 

According to details of the borrowing plans made public, the Adamawa State Government is to borrow N68.46 billion; Anambra N245 billion; Bauchi, N59.08 billion; Bayelsa, N64 billion; Benue, N34.69 billion; Borno, N41.71 billion; Ebonyi, N20.5 billion; Edo, N42.71 billion and Ekiti State, N27.15 billion. 

Others are Jigawa, N1.78 billion; Kaduna, N150.1 billion, Kebbi, N36.7 billion; Katsina, N163.87 billion; Kogi, N37.08 billion; Kwara, N30.76 billion; Osun, N12.36 billion; Oyo, N133.4 billion; Nasarawa, N32.93 billion; Gombe, N73.75 billion; Enugu, N103 billion and Imo, N271.34 billion.

Breakdown of states’, LGAs allocations in 1yr 

The monthly FAAC allocations to the 36 states and the 774 local governments from June last year to June this year stood at N7.6 trillion. This represents an increase of over 40 per cent. 

In June 2023, states got N299.92 billion; local government councils (LGCs), N221.79. July: states, N310.670 billion, LGCs, N229. 409 billion. August: states, N319.52 billion; LGCs, N236.23 billion. September: states, N361.19 billion; LGCs, N266.54 billion. October: states, N287.07 billion; LGCs, N210.90 billion. November: states, N379.41 billion; LGCs, N278.04 billion. December: states, N396.693 billion and LGCs, N288.928 billion.

In January this year, state governments got N379.407 billion; LGCs, N278.041 billion. February: states, N366.95 billion; LGCs, N267.15 billion. March: states, N398.689 billion; LGCs, N288.688 billion. April: states, N403 billion; LGCs, N293 billion. May: states, N388.419 billion; LGCs, N282.476 billion. June: states, N461.979; LGCs, N337.019 billion.

Allocations from Value Added Tax also rose year-on-year by 228.8 percent to N2.42 trillion in the first five months of 2024, up from N736.06 billion in the first five months of 2023. 

The 13 percent derivation fund received by oil producing states also rose by 234 percent to N519.83 billion in the first five months of 2024, up from N155.5 billion in the first five months of 2023.    

20% of June allocation enough to build 320 PHCs

In June this year alone,   the FAAC allocations to both states and local governments crossed the N1 trillion mark with N1.3 trillion.

If the standard of N500 million outlined by the World Health Oganisation (WHO) for establishment of an averagely equipped primary healthcare centre facility is anything to go by, 20 percent (N160 billion) of the June allocation is enough to put in place 320 of such health facilities nationwide.

There’s need for accountability – Experts 

The Executive Director of the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, Umar Yakubu, said there is a need for accountability regarding how the allocations to the states are being spent. In an interview with Daily Trust, Yakubu noted that the removal of the petrol subsidy has led to a significant increase in revenues, especially at the states and local governments. 

He said: “The major issues is that governments think the more they make revenue, the more they solve problems because the accountability mechanism is so weak and the audit processes are not good enough to check excesses. 

“So, what you have is more Naira into the system and the few who have access to them will convert them to dollars, which is the major reason our foreign exchange market has not stabilised because of too much Naira chasing few dollars. 

[DailyTrust]

“Therefore, we call for accountability which has to be in place to check corruption because as you can see, more money has come, but no state is recruiting, no state is increasing pensions or allowances of workers or event increasing capital expenditures because they are just siphoning money without accountability”, he said.  

Also speaking to Daily Trust, a development expert, Victor Agi, said if the issue of accountability at the sub-national level is not tackled head-on, the challenges at the grassroots would continue. 

 Agi said state governments must be accountable with the increased revenues to drive growth at the grassroots.  

“One of the issues is that people always blame bad governance on the federal government, forgetting that governors also get huge allocations to develop their various states. 

“In the last one year, revenues have grown by almost 50 per cent, yet the governors can’t improve welfare of their workers and the people in general. For instance, the president signed the national minimum wage of N70,000 and some of the governors are kicking that they can’t pay despite increase in revenues. This indicates that something is wrong. 

“What is more disturbing is that the same issue will now be encountered in the local governments now that their allocations will be paid directly. There is need for more awareness from civil society to ensure that development at the grassroots is implemented now that revenues have increased,” he said.

The Federal Government says it is working on introducing a training scheme equivalent to the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, for graduates of the Nigeria Certificate in Education, NCE.

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr Olawande Wisdom, made this revelation during the opening of the BEMORE OYO 2024 Summer Bootcamp in Ibadan on Monday.

Wisdom said the ministry would partner with the Ministry of Education to introduce new training reforms, one of which is the equivalent of NYSC training for NCE holders and others.

According to him, social vices had been around for long but the training of youths by organisations such as the Boys’ Brigade, Girl Guides and others had kept many away from them.

“The major priority of the ministry is citizenship and training, and we are bringing them back.

“We have NYSC for those who finished from universities, but what of those who finished from NCE and others?

“So, we want to set up training such that you don’t need to go to other states to have it – you can have it in your state and the camp.

“A lot of reforms are going on and we are trying as much as possible to bring a renewed hope to people; to the girls and boys,” he said.

[DailyPost]