Over the course of the last quarter of a century of the ongoing Fourth Republic since 1999, the practicing Northern politicians have all but systematically guaranteed that there are no respected elders or leaders of thought in the North anymore.

With that decidedly deliberate singular mission successfully accomplished, they likewise went on to systematically discredit the traditional institutions, alongside their respected rulers in almost similar fashion.

Thereafter, the same politicians equally dragged the member of Ulama, or the religious leaders, into the murky waters of their corruption-infested and morally bankrupt political space, such that the latter have effectively lost the respect and admiration of the population, along with their hitherto familiar age-old vice-like grip on the society.

Now, the long-abandoned masses are finally beginning to come to terms with the sad reality that the modern-day politicians are, in fact, the 'real enemy' on the ground, and are now beginning to explore a veritable means of exacting the dreaded proverbial revenge of the masses, by way of an unfortunate and ill-advised potential mass revolt that is always feared under such circumstances.

But the inexorable consequence of the actions of the politicians is that we no longer have the usual three - pronged fallback trident in the form of our respected community elders, traditional, and/or religious institutions in place to collectively rein in the aggrieved masses.

The teeming masses, as we all very well know - and we sure have them in their millions up North - are driven by their emotions, for the most part, rather than by any rational thought in their own reasoning and resulting actions. But, over the years, the politicians have progressively emasculated the familiar voices of reason that have always been relied upon to caution and make them see reason.

The Western - style democracy that we have now come to embrace for the entirety of the last twenty-five unbroken years of the Fourth Republic has obviously not been copied and pasted properly by our active politicians. This is particularly so here in Northern Nigeria, where the vast majority of the leading lights amongst its practitioners, with admittedly very few exceptions here and there, have largely turned out to be not only people without genuine leadership credentials, but also lacking in the required moral code that is essential for purposeful leadership.

To, therefore, formally conclude that our practicing politicians have been for us the equivalent of the proverbial bull in a china shop may not be far from the reality, truth be told; reason being that they have effectively succeeded in systematically destroying the very essence of the social fabric that has historically held our fragile society together and served it well for ages.

The final determination as to whether this objectionable act of theirs was by accident or design is still up in the air. But the fact of the matter is that they have slowly, yet meticulously, destroyed our social fabric, one strand after another. And we are all paying for such an unforgettable and unconscionable act of indiscretion on their part - all in the name of practicing their preferred peculiar and patented brand of politics.

Sadly, the chickens are finally coming home to roost, and our society has inexorably been the worse for it.

Hopefully, our politicians are now beginning to see and appreciate the full extent of the negative side of their continuing neglect of our gullible population that they have refused to educate and provide with life enhancing skills, in the form of the latest rounds of the hitherto unimaginable violent reactions during the ongoing protests in some of our states.

The same thugs whose services you love to engage for your familiar shenanigans during elections, and those teeming idle minds you perennially manipulate for your electoral benefits every four years, can equally be induced to inflict incalculable damage on the larger society during these kinds of wild protests that may very well have been engineered from

God - knows - where!

Talking generally this time around, our past false steps in the form of the continuing parental neglect for our children over the course of the last several decades are finally coming back to haunt and cause us predictable problems.

When parents in their millions fail to provide the required care, parental guidance and moral upbringing for the cherished children they have consciously brought into this world, it is only a matter of time before the entire society begins to reap its reserved comeuppance for such a profound neglect.

And when the inevitable begins to manifest itself, no one will be exempted from the wrath of these long - abandoned children, including our hitherto sacred places of worship, as we have just witnessed in the last few days.

May Allah SWT grant us the much-needed presence of mind and wherewithal to turn the corner at this critical and defining moment for all of us and make the necessary amends, before we all get consumed in the end. And every single parent has an important role to play in that regard, including everyone else in the neighbourhood.

That is what used to be the case when we were growing up; where your neighbour felt free to discipline you even before your own parents got to know about the specific nature of the wrong you might have committed to deserve the punishment. And the parents were very happy and appreciative of that, with no questions asked.

That way, our parents and grandparents collectively succeeded in putting the society in check with minimal fuss, and we need to begin to retrace our steps to revisit and reenact those good old practices, once again, in our own collective best interest.

Abdullahi Usman

3

The banking industry is always in the news for many reasons, but the last one week has offered enough to fill newspaper pages. While the government wants the banks to pay tax on the excess profits they made last year, a bank chairman openly upbraided some institutions for buying private jets for their executives. The two issues have dominated discussions in many circles and I was therefore not surprised that they did find their way, with a dose of humour, into a lively and educative webinar discussion organized by Coronation Group and Coronation Securities on Tuesday, August 6. The theme was ‘’Understanding Bank Capitalization: Rights Issues and opportunities for investors’’, and Dr Okey Umeano, the chief economist of securities and exchange commission (SEC) was the keynote speaker.

Discussants were Bolanle Adekoya, Partner in PwC; Head, Capital Market Accounts Advisory Services Practice for West Africa; Ayokunle Olubunmi, Head, Banking and Non-Bank Ratings at Augusto and Olusegun Owadokun, deputy chief executive of Coronation Securities. The star-studded event was moderated by Wole Famurewa, an anchor at CNBC. It was designed as a teaching session to educate investors, especially the retail investors, on the intricacies of the banking recapitalization, the significance of rights issues and how to make the right investment decisions. Coronation Merchant Bank is the issuing house to many banks, notably Access Holdings’ 17.77 billion ordinary shares offered as rights issue. The offer closes next week and there are indications that both the institutional and retail shareholders have been quite excited about the offer.

With the deluge of new equities coming to the capital market, the webinar was quite timely and Umeano did justice to the topic. He advised investors to carefully analyze the financial statements and other documents of the issuer, particularly the reasons for the offer before a final investment decision is made. ‘’Read all the offer documents sent to you and think in terms of diversification. You must always diversify your portfolio; so, bear in mind that rights issue could lead to concentration of portfolios’’, he told participants. He said that SEC and the CBN are collaborating and working a lot more closely, leveraging their respective IT capabilities, to ensure that the investing public is well protected and served. ‘’The two regulators are now working faster and better with the use of technology, and are committed to better services. SEC wants a very transparent market and continued education of the investors, and that’s why I commend Coronation Merchant Bank for putting together this webinar’’, Umeano said.

Umeano noted that the banks will have to raise about N4.2 trillion in new capital, mostly though public offerings and right issues. There may also be some M&As. He stated that rights issues have been the most popular and the most widely adopted of the three in the last five years for the following reasons: the issuer bears lower cost in right issue, not only in terms of fees, but also in advertising costs. Right issues do not bring new shareholders, and so the ownership structure is maintained; the register is easier to manage; they’re usually priced below market value, and if unsuccessful, there’s the option of selling the unsubscribed portion as a public offer. The chief economist reiterated that the issuer has a statutory obligation to disclose everything about the right issue to the investors, especially purpose of the offer; risks; timelines and post offer implementation plans.

To illustrate the potentials for banking growth, Umeano noted that the Nigerian economy is made up of a large portion of informal sector that is largely unbanked or underbanked. ‘’Banks should explore opportunities in the informal sector and in other parts of Africa which requires a lot of investment capital. He explained the roles of SEC as a regulator and the parts played by the various parties in an offer. He concluded that there is potential for growth in Nigeria’s capital market and the economy as a whole, and assured of regulatory support for banks during recapitalization. ‘’Banking is a growing sector; many applications for banking license are in the offing and those who have recently come into the sector are doing well’’, he concluded. In her contributions, Bolanle Adekoya asked investors to pay attention to ‘’the banks’ track records’’, adding, ‘’equity is a long-term play; look out for dividend payout records; educate yourself about our capital markets; some of our companies are undervalued. Rights issues help you to avoid dilution’’. She said that the capital market has the potential to contribute up to 30% of GDP. ‘’The banking industry has a good track record in rights investments’’, she concluded.

Olusegun Owadokun, Deputy Chief Executive, Coronation Securities, deepened the discussions by explaining that banks would actually prefer to grow their capital base organically by not paying dividends and reinvesting earnings. But since that is not always the case, and the shareholders deserve their rewards, rights issues are always the preferred option.

There were many questions from participants, who clearly were retail investors, during the Q&A; and the discussants were up to the task. One person asked, ‘’What is the guarantee that the capital the banks are raising would not be used to pay the windfall tax?’’. I added, quite mischievously, ‘’and also buy private jets’’. The laughter was loud enough to move the needle on the Richter scale! When the laughter subsided, Kunle Olubunmi of Augosto calmly explained that since much of the excess profits were not realized, the impacts of the so-called windfall tax would be minimal. He urged the investing public not to lose sleep over it.

US Vice-President Kamala Harris has picked Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota, as her running mate in the forthcoming presidential election.

Harris announced her choice of Walz on Tuesday.

Waltz caught the attention of Democrats after he called Donald Trump and JD Vance “weird”.

“He’s just a strange, weird dude,” Walz said of Trump during a fundraising event.

The 60-year-old politician led Minnesota through the 2020 protests over George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis.

Walz also deployed the national guard to help quell riots that broke out during the demonstrations.

“As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his,” Harris said.

“It’s great to have him on the team.”

Harris became the official Democratic presidential nominee on Monday after securing the support of 2,350 delegates, the threshold required to earn the nomination.

President Joe Biden said one of his best decisions was picking Harris as his vice president.

The 59-year-old is the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead a major-party ticket.

Harris and Walz will now face Trump and Vance in the November polls.

[TheCable]

Since May 29, 2023, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu became Nigeria’s president, virtually all Nigerians have been experiencing significant socio-economic challenges that have deeply affected them, including this writer. From rising unemployment rates to soaring inflation and inadequate access to healthcare, the struggles of everyday Nigerians have become more pronounced. As the Tinubu-led government embarks on its journey, there is an urgent need for it to adopt a more human-centric approach in its governance. This is a call for the government to wear a human face by prioritizing empathy, inclusivity, and accountability in its policies and actions.

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is not an exaggeration to opine that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has faced significant criticism regarding its approach to governance, particularly concerning its perceived lack of empathy, inclusivity, and accountability in policies and actions. Observers have noted that the government’s focus does not adequately reflect the needs of its diverse population, and its programs often appear detached from the realities faced by the common citizen.

Empathy, a crucial element of effective governance, seems to be lacking in the Tinubu-led government. The policies and initiatives rolled out frequently fail to resonate with the struggles of the average Nigerian, leading to widespread disenchantment among various communities. There is a growing sentiment that the government has not prioritized the welfare of its citizens, as reflected in the economic challenges and social issues that continue to plague the nation.

Inclusivity is another area where the administration has been found wanting. Despite calls for policies that encompass a wider range of perspectives and experiences, many marginalized groups feel sidelined. The government’s decision-making processes often do not reflect the diverse fabric of Nigerian society, resulting in policies that may benefit only a select few rather than the broader populace.

Accountability is essential for building trust between the government and its citizens, yet reports indicate that the Tinubu administration has struggled to uphold this principle. There have been concerns about the government’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law, with instances of neglect and failure to act in cases that require decisive and just intervention. Such shortcomings raise questions about the government’s ability to hold itself accountable for its actions and decisions.

Given the foregoing, it is not a surprise that not a few Nigerians are presently urging the Tinubu administration to address these critical issues of empathy, inclusivity, and accountability to foster a more harmonious and thriving society, particularly as his speech on Sunday, August 4, 2024 to calm the nerves of #EndBadGovernce protesters which commenced on August 4, 2024 was widely critiqued to be empty as it did not address the core demands of the protesters.

Therefore, recommitting to the values that prioritize the welfare of all citizens is imperative for the government as it aspires to build a truly democratic and just nation.

Paradoxically, Nigeria, with its rich cultural diversity and abundant resources, has tremendous potential for growth and development. However, for many citizens, the reality is starkly different. Economic policies often seem disconnected from the lived experiences of the people. The rising cost of living, coupled with inadequate infrastructure, has left many struggling to meet basic needs. Youth unemployment is alarmingly high, pushing many young Nigerians to seek opportunities abroad, often risking their lives in the process.

Furthermore, issues such as inadequate healthcare systems, lack of access to quality education, and widespread insecurity continue to plague the nation. In light of these challenges, the government’s role in addressing these issues cannot be overstated.

The reason for sounding critical in this context cannot be farfetched as governance is not merely about policies and decisions but about people. The true essence of leadership lies in understanding the needs, aspirations, and challenges of the populace. A government that wears a human face is one that listens to its citizens, engages with their concerns, and actively works to improve their quality of life.

At this juncture, it is germane to urge the government to from henceforth be engaging with communities across Nigeria to understand their unique challenges. Not only that, policies should be crafted not in isolation, but through consultation with citizens, civil society organizations, and local leaders.

Again, government should henceforth begin to focus on social welfare by prioritizing social safety nets to support the most vulnerable populations. This includes improving access to healthcare, education, and affordable housing. Investing in these areas will yield long-term benefits for the nation.

In a similar vein, the government should also focus on youth empowerment programs. The reason for pushing for the foregoing efforts from the government cannot be farfetched as given the fact that with a large youth population, programs aimed at skill development, entrepreneurship, and job creation cannot be dismissed with mere wave of the hands. In fact, providing opportunities for the youth will not only curb unemployment but also harness their potential for national growth.

Still in the same vein, there is need for Tinubu-led to strive for transparent governance. Promote transparency and accountability in government dealings. Citizens should have access to information regarding government budgets and spending. Engaging the public in oversight through citizen-led initiatives can foster trust and improve governance.

On security and stability, address the root causes of insecurity, which often stem from unemployment, poverty, and social injustice. A holistic approach that involves dialogue, community engagement, and effective law enforcement is essential for lasting peace.

As the Tinubu-led government navigates the complexities of governance, it has the unique opportunity to make a profound impact on the lives of Nigerians. Wearing a human face is not just a moral obligation; it is a strategic necessity for sustainable development and social cohesion.

By adopting a more empathetic, inclusive, and accountable approach, this administration can bridge the gap between the government and the governed, fostering a sense of trust and partnership. In doing so, it can help transform challenges into opportunities, ultimately leading Nigeria toward a brighter, more equitable future. The time to act is now, Nigeria deserves a government that truly understands and prioritizes the well-being of its people.

In the realm of communication, cartoons wield a unique power. They distill complex issues into simple yet impactful visuals, transcending language barriers. Recently, I stumbled upon a thought-provoking cartoon by Nigerian actor and film maker, Frank Donga. This cartoon, shared on his social media handle, paints a vivid picture of Nigeria’s hunger crisis.

The cartoon, created by Frank Donga, captures the essence of Nigeria’s hunger situation. At this juncture, it is expedient to dissect the elements in this context.

Donga’s characters are gaunt, their ribs protruding. Their sunken eyes reflect despair and deprivation. These figures represent the millions of Nigerians facing food insecurity, while the central motif is an empty plate. It is not just a symbol of hunger; it is a mirror reflecting the harsh reality. Families across Nigeria struggle to put food on their tables, grappling with rising food prices and scarcity.Without a doubt, Donga’s attention to detail is striking as it amplifies the urgency of the hunger crisis.

In fact, Donga’s cartoon is not merely an artistic expression; it is a call to action, and it truly speaks truth to power as it implicitly criticizes policymakers, and why are our leaders not addressing this crisis? Why do they dine in opulence while their citizens starve?

As a mass communication tool, the cartoon highlights the media’s responsibility. It urges journalists, influencers, and citizens to amplify the hunger issue. Therefore, Donga’s use of satire compels us to pay attention.

Again, by sharing this cartoon, Donga invites collective responsibility. We must move beyond tribal sentiments and unite to tackle hunger. It is not an isolated problem; it is a national emergency.

Without a doubt, Frank Donga’s cartoon transcends humor; it is a poignant commentary on Nigeria’s hunger situation. As mass communicators, we must heed its message. Let us amplify the voices of the hungry, advocate for policy changes, and work toward a Nigeria where no one goes to bed with an empty stomach.

The reason for the foregoing view cannot be farfetched as, sometimes, a cartoon speaks louder than words.

Without a doubt, political cartoons are essentialelements in the context of political journalism. This is as they offer a lustrouslycoloredoption to news reporting, providing light relief from the ever-increasingly disconsolate political dissertation. In fact, given the ability to distil news and opinion into a caricature, cartoons present reachable and instant commentary and analysis of current affairs.

Therefore, it is not a misnomer in this context to opine that cartoons are a unique form of journalism which contrast with conventional forms of communication. The images can cast a powerful interpretation on the day’s news.  They explain and explore stories in manners that articles cannot. Not only that, it is adjudged to be more effective than writing or video, and they capture the imitable human nature of their subjects in order to humanize the topic they depict.

Therefore, it is expedient to explain that the cartoon been critiqued in this contextis been conveyed to other X users is by the comment: “Be patient! We are working to make things better for you.  Calm down! The country is broke. Are you blind? Work hard. Don’t be lazy. Don’t let our enemies use you against us. Oya, go & wait outside. I’ll throw some rice to you from d window. Nobody should sit near my new Benz o!” Expectedly, not a few of his followers responded to the cartoon as they tweeted back.

Against the backdrop of the foregoing view, John Bishop tweeted, “Perfect summary of the Nigerian and most African leaders”. Dgreatasiwaju@Dgreatasiwaju1 tweeted, “You just narrated a country called Nigeria, the way their leaders treat them”. In order not to sound boring in this context by reciting the responses to the Donga’s cartoon and comment on his X handle, it is germane to opine that the cartoon also reminds one of how the Senate President, GodswillAkpabio, recently mocked Nigerians who planned to take part in the nationwide protest against economic hardship, saying he and other members of the National Assembly would be “Eating” while they (Nigerians) protest.

It was reported in the media that the Senator made the acerbic and mockery comment at the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities, Youths and Women Group Sensitization Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Without a doubt, the cartoon resonates in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s speech on #EndBadGovernance protest in paragraph 6 where he said, “Under the circumstances, I hereby enjoin protesters and the organizers to suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue, which I have always acceded to at the slightest opportunity. Nigeria requires all hands on deck and needs us all – regardless of age, party, tribe, religion or other divides, to work together in reshaping our destiny as a nation. To those who have taken undue advantage of this situation to threaten any section of this country, be warned: The law will catch up with you. There is no place for ethnic bigotry or such threats in the Nigeria we seek to build”.

Unfortunately, not a few Nigerians are unanimous in their views that contemporary political leaders in Nigeria who are wont to plead that Nigerians should exercise patient and bear with them as a better Nigeria is in view are not in any way leading by example as their collective lifestyles and utterances do not suggest that they are equally heeding the call for austerity.

In fact, Nigeria’s economic hardship has become an unwelcome companion for millions of citizens. As the cost of living soars and poverty levels remain distressingly high, the people look to their political leaders for solutions. But mere promises and rhetoric are no longer enough. It is time for Nigerian politicians to lead by example, demonstrating their commitment to shared sacrifice and empathy. Therefore, there is an urgent need for austerity measures among political leaders.

The foregoing call cannot be said to be a misnomer as not a few Nigerians are at the moment facing a cost-of-living crisis that has left families struggling to make ends meet. While public officials enjoy substantial earnings, ordinary citizens grapple with hunger, unemployment, and inadequate healthcare.

Against the backdrop of the foregoing view, it is not an exaggeration to opine that the disconnect between the ruling class and the masses has fueled frustration and anger, leading to mass protests across the country as been witnessed, particularly on August 1 and August 2, 2024. In fact, these demonstrations reflect the collective cry for change, accountability, and genuine leadership.

“Someone should tell the president that what he said on Sunday was what the Hausa man calls dogo turenchi (long grammar). The broadcast showed that Tinubu’s understanding of what Nigerians are going through is zero. He spoke about the #EndBadGovernance protest being some people’s political agenda. If there is indeed an agenda, it must be secondary to the real rebellion of the belly going on. My people say malevolent medicines don’t work unless believable stories are woven round the spell (ejo ni aa ro fun oogun ki o to je). There would not be popular support for the protest if there was no general anguish in town. The hundreds on the street are (were) those who had the strength to go out; the millions who are at home are even more trenchant in their protest. What they say are not prayers. The president needs to go out, feel the street and do another broadcast “

They did what locusts do to farms. They spared almost nothing. They ate road slabs, pilfered roofs and stole ceilings. They attacked and looted at least one mosque – and at least one church. They hammered concrete slabs and squeezed out of them iron rods for sale. Well-paved roads suffered their anger because the beauty of the asphalt offended them. In a library, they stole dustbins and spared books. Trash is valuable, book is worthless. They attacked public and private buildings; they looted doors, wrenched windows off their hinges and stole installed tiles. They are the perfect proof of what the unbuilt child will ultimately do to well-built structures.

The sickest, scariest part of the world is our North. In his inaugural address on January 20, 1961, American president, John F. Kennedy, issued a warning which talks directly to today’s Nigeria, particularly the North. He said: “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich”. The out-of-school children in our North are in multiples of millions; they are the death of Nigeria and its elite. Their hunger unleashed a maelstrom of destruction on every part of that region last week, forcing the various states there to declare 24-hour curfews. The round-the-clock curfews remained active at the weekend but the rampaging genies stayed stubbornly out of the bottle. Some of the protesters were said to be with Russian flags on Saturday in Kano. What do they really want?

“The children that came out did not even demand anything other than to break offices and attack police,” Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State told Arise News on Thursday night. I don’t think that truth is the truth. In Daura, they did zanga zanga and massed at General Muhammadu Buhari’s house. They went with a message. In Sokoto, they carried leaves, put their anger on the boil and massed at the palace of Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar. They went there with a message that threatens democracy.

Russia ‘rules’ in Niger Republic and media reports said some protesters in Kano were seen waving Russian flags. What is incongruous in that? Were we not told repeatedly that there is no recognized boundary between Niger Republic and Nigeria’s border communities? The NSCDC in Kano at the weekend complained that aliens, particularly Nigeriens, were among arrested protesters in Kano. I read that and asked what was wrong in citizens of Niger Republic lending a helping hand in bringing down their brother’s Wall of Jericho. Where were the security forces when the government of Niger Republic publicly interfered in our elections in 2019? Or have we forgotten that two governors from that country — Issa Moussa of Zinder and Zakiri Umar of Maradi — were part of those who came and campaigned for Buhari in Kano in January 2019 for his reelection? The alien governors came, wore APC attires, and members of the APC presidential campaign team in Kano celebrated and feted them.

Today’s president of Nigeria. Bola Tinubu, was the national leader of the APC when that brazen misadventure happened. I can’t remember hearing what he said against it. Abdullahi Ganduje, Tinubu’s party chairman today, was the Kano State governor who hosted those aliens. The Nigerian government celebrated the meddlesome interlopers in photographs wearing Pepsodent smiles. Thoughtful Nigerians loudly complained against that foreign interference; opposition PDP chairman, Uche Secondus, asked INEC to sanction APC and Buhari for that misadventure. “They came with monies and mercenaries to influence elections in Nigeria,” Secondus shouted. INEC promptly replied him: “Their presence does not violate the constitution.” Case closed – that time. Now, the Nigerien chicken has roamed back home to roost. The ruling people and their agents should just shut up and lick their wounds.

The president made a broadcast on Sunday (yesterday). He spoke with the chord of Lizard who fell from the top of the Iroko tree and shook its head: If no one praises me, I praise myself. Did he say anything on the painfully sore soles of Nigerians? If he did, I missed it. He will probably address that in his next broadcast.

Someone should tell the president that what he said on Sunday was what the Hausa man calls dogo turenchi (long grammar). The broadcast showed that Tinubu’s understanding of what Nigerians are going through is zero. He spoke about the #EndBadGovernance protest being some people’s political agenda. If there is indeed an agenda, it must be secondary to the real rebellion of the belly going on. My people say malevolent medicines don’t work unless believable stories are woven round the spell (ejo ni aa ro fun oogun ki o to je). There would not be popular support for the protest if there was no general anguish in town. The hundreds on the street are (were) those who had the strength to go out; the millions who are at home are even more trenchant in their protest. What they say are not prayers. The president needs to go out, feel the street and do another broadcast.

If what you eat is exhausted, you go for what is classed as taboo. That proverb sounds like what a leader of the French Revolution, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, said about the last option of the hungry: “When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich (Quand le peuple n’aura plus rien à manger, il mangera le riche).” From one end of the street to the other, a scary video shows children of the North blasting slabs fittingly placed on gutters, scavenging for iron rods. They did it with uncommonly calm fury, daring the state.

A government ICT centre in Kano was invaded and stripped of all its assets. Children without basic education can’t appreciate computers and their possibilities. There is a lesson there for our policy makers. First things first.

Kaduna’s Governor Sani said more: “If you look at the developmental indices, I made it clear to everyone last week that as far back as 2016 in the northwest part of Nigeria, there was nothing but kidnappings and banditry. We have found ourselves in this problem because of the lack of seriousness of the leaders, including myself.” That was a very candid admission of complicity in the tragedy that has unfurled in the north. Sani added that everyone in northern Nigeria who held a leadership position, including the business community, should reflect on why over 70 percent of adults are financially excluded, why 65 percent of people are living below the poverty line, and why 70 percent of Nigeria’s 18.3 million out-of-school children are domiciled in the north. “That is why, if you look at the protest today, most of the states that participated are from northern Nigeria…” the governor said.

That Kaduna where Governor Sani sits was where the maker of the North, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, sat and made a very sound difference in the lives of his people. Sardauna’s biographer, John Paden, says when Bello was a mere councillor in charge of the Sokoto districts, he ensured that “education was the key.” When he became the premier, he held on to that conviction that the system must run well in such a way that “there was no resentment from below.” Paden adds: “The Sardauna felt that if this system broke down, the whole of the society would break down.” What the Sardauna feared has happened. The system he built has broken down. Governor Sani said so. The fury on the streets of the North is the confirmation.

On Saturday, Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, expressed shock over what he called the involvement of children in the protests in his state. He said over 95 percent of the protesters were under 14. To him, most of the children were unaware of the reasons behind their actions. He said the situation was “astonishing”. “It’s astonishing to see a six-year-old child carrying a placard. They must have been directed by someone.” Many of the children, he said, were not from Borno State. So, where did they come from? Were the unknown ones from Niger or Chad? The governor needs to tell us.

How many children of Borno do Borno and its governor know? Some people’s blessings are as limitless as the waters of the Atlantic. Children of northern Nigeria compete with the sands of the desert in matters of number. Sometimes you are tempted to ask what music they listen to in that very expansive clime?

Queen of songs, Onyeka Onwenu, died last week; God bless her sweet soul. With King Sunny Ade in 1989, Onyeka did a duet on life and the need to plan it well. They labelled the album ‘Wait For Me.’ The song suggests that if your loin is virile enough to sire a million children, your hands must be strong enough to make billions to feed them. You can’t have “plenty children” and offload their care to society. The duo sings that a nation can’t have sad families and still be a happy country. They sing:

Having babies, no be joke oh,

You go feed them

You go give them cloth

Bring them up too…

If you never ready to carry the load

Why put am for another person head?…

Plenty children dey, but no food to eat

Oh my friend, this kain life na so so wahala…

King Sunny Ade and Onyeka Onwenu are not done. They also have these lines which are even more national in aim:

Happy parents, na happy children

Happy family na happy country…

If you love life, you go plan am well…

The album is 35 years old. Nothing has changed since it was released. Indeed, if you sing that Sunny Ade/Onyeka Onwenu song in the north, you are not likely to escape the sanctimonious sanctions of the leaders there. The singers sang nonsense, they would say. When families are wracked by hunger and anger, a million presidential broadcasts will not make patriots of them. “Happy family na happy country” The streets of Nigeria, north and south, are full of sad children of hunger and daring kids of anger. It is apparently worse in the North. The Almajirai who used to live on leftovers can’t get leftovers again. Everyone who still can afford some food is sticking to rations that serve their hunger. No excess food for excess children. The problem is real.

Nigerians are very hungry but it appears the North is hungrier. It will be hungry. Because of the choices it made yesterday, it can’t go to the farm today, can’t go to the stream to fetch water; the willing among them can’t go school. When you add mass hunger to mass illiteracy, you get perfect poison. Thunder claps of hunger are celting the stomach of Nigeria and there is no rescuing the afflicted. No country has what we have as street children in northern Nigeria and knows peace. It is not possible.

Like it happened in France of 1793, we’ve just heard a no for the very influential religious authority in northern Nigeria. The North’s feudal hierarchy, its autocracy and the clergy lost the street. The Ulama lost their command; the emirs lost their mane. The two lethal groups failed to convince the hungry that what they were feeling was politics and not hunger. The result, sadly, is the free reign of terror in that realm. If it was pupils of Muslim clerics that raged into a mosque and sacked the worship house from ceiling to floor, then the mallams should beware. Their domesticated lions have matured; the hungry cats want the wild and the food it offers.

There were protests also in the South – particularly in the South-West. Everyone who lives there should thank the protesters for staying the course peacefully. We should thank the state governments, particularly the governors of highly combustible Oyo, Osun, and Lagos, for not sleeping on duty and for fencing off their states from violence. We should also thank the police and other security forces in these states for not craving the taste of blood.

The biggest casualties of the protest in Yoruba land are, however, the pro-government political elite to whom double standards is honourable. They shaved clean the head of Agbe, bird of the creeks; they scraped clean the hairs of Àlùkò, bird of the desert; when it was the turn of their own bird, Àtíòro, they said their blade had lost its sharp edge. There is one word for that behaviour in Yoruba – it is Àgàbàgebè. We wait to see how they will find their vociferous voice again after this era.

The time is long overdue, surely, to abandon, permanently, the anachronistic resort to lethal means by the security agencies of governance. No nation is so underdeveloped, materially impoverished, or simply internally insecure as to lack the will to set an example. All it takes is to recall its own history, then exercise the will to commence a lasting transformation, inserting a break in the chain of lethal responses against civic society.

I set my alarm clock for this morning to ensure that I did not miss President Bola Tinubu’s impatiently awaited address to the nation on the current unrest across the nation. His outline of government’s remedial action since inception, aimed at warding off just such an outbreak, will undoubtedly receive expert and sustained attention both for effectiveness and in content analysis.  My primary concern, quite predictably, is the continuing deterioration of the state’s seizure of protest management – an area in which the presidential address fell conspicuously short. Such short-changing of civic deserving, regrettably, goes to arm the security forces in the exercise of impunity and condemns the nation to a seemingly unbreakable cycle of resentment and reprisals.

Live bullets as state response to civic protest – that becomes the core issue. Even teargas remains questionable in most circumstances, certainly an abuse in situations of clearly peaceful protest.  Hunger marches constitute a universal S.O.S, not peculiar to the Nigerian nation. They belong indeed in a class of their own, never mind the collateral claims emblazoned on posters. They serve as summons to governance that a breaking point has been reached and thus, a testing ground for governance awareness of public desperation. The tragic response to the ongoing hunger marches in parts of the nation, and for which notice was served, constitutes a retrogression that takes the nation even further back than the deadly culmination of the watershed #EndSARS protests. It evokes pre-independence – that is, colonial – acts of disdain, a passage that induced the late stage pioneer, Hubert Ogunde’s folk opera, “Bread and Bullets”, earning that nationalist serial persecution and proscription by the colonial government. 

The nation’s security agencies cannot pretend unawareness of alternative models for emulation, civilised advances in security intervention. Need we recall the nationwide 2022/23 editions of what is generally known as the YELLOW VEST movement in France? Perhaps it is time to make such scenarios compulsory viewing in policing curriculum. In all of the coverage that I watched, I did not catch one single instance of a gun leveled at protesters, much less fired at them even during direct physical confrontations. The serving of bullets where bread is pleaded is ominous retrogression, and we know what that eventually proves – a prelude to far more desperate upheavals, not excluding revolutions.

The time is long overdue, surely, to abandon, permanently, the anachronistic resort to lethal means by the security agencies of governance. No nation is so underdeveloped, materially impoverished, or simply internally insecure as to lack the will to set an example. All it takes is to recall its own history, then exercise the will to commence a lasting transformation, inserting a break in the chain of lethal responses against civic society. Today’s marchers may wish to consider adopting the key songs of Hubert Ogunde’s “Bread and Bullets”, if only to inculcate a sense of shame in the continuing failure to transcend the lure of colonial inheritance where we all were at the receiving end. One way or the other, this vicious cycle must be broken.

‘Wole SOYINKA, the first Black Nobel Laureate in Literature, writes from A.R.I. Abeokuta.

President Bola Tinubu yesterday addressed the nation in the wake of the recent so-called nationwide protest, a complete misadventure which turned out to be nothing more than a smokescreen for mayhem, looting, insurgency and regime change through patently unconstitutional means instigated by failed politicians who woefully lost election.

These failed politicians, led by Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, being keenly aware that they can never win a free and fair election in this country, duped a gullible section of the youths into believing that protest, rather than nation building, is the answer to national development.

In the process, they deployed incitement and instigation, ethnicism and religion, regionalism and division into a crooked protest they had all along planned to be infiltrated by thugs, miscreants, vandals, arsonists and all manner of godless elements determined to destroy their own country.

Our President's speech has been welcomed by the overwhelming majority of Nigerians because it calmed nerves, reassured the populace and set out a clear and coherent path forward for national rebirth and renewed hope.

Expectedly, those who hoped for destruction of the entire country through the protest have been propagating baseless narratives condemning the speech, claiming President Tinubu did not address the demands of the protesters.

The bitter truth is that the majority of Nigerians never supported the protest, were always suspicious of the intent of its mandateless organisers and sponsors, and, had absolutely no interest in burning down their own country.

Those criticising the President's speech are mainly those disappointed that the overwhelming mass of Nigerians rejected their call to anarchy and largely stayed back home rather than be hoodwinked to key into a clandestine plot to tear our nation apart.

While the genuine demands of the peaceful protesters are being addressed by President Tinubu, as elucidated in his address, the ridiculous, unreasonable, undemocratic, unconstitutional and criminal demands of the organisers of the protest lack legitimacy on a number of fronts.

The organisers of the protest are either failed politicians or persons without mandate, many of whom are mere social media loudmouths and noisemakers who can never win elections even within their own families, not to talk of in their villages, wards or larger constituencies.

Several of them live abroad, where their families are safe and sound, while they instigate crisis, violence, arson, looting and destruction back home.

They encourage the children of the poor to burn down our country under the guise of a protest their children are not participating in.

They seek regime change through abominably unconstitutional and undemocratic means.

The truth is that there is absolutely nothing wrong with President Tinubu's address except for those maniacally salivating for the impossible and undoable from him.

In short, regardless of what our President might had said in the address, they would still had condemned the speech.

Indeed, the only thing that would had placated them would have been for President Tinubu to become a traitor, turncoat, coward and anti-democrat by betraying his mandate, resigning for absolutely no reason and plunging the nation into complete chaos and disintegration.

In short, they are inconsolable that Nigerians have rejected the protest and have decided to go back to work and rebuild this nation.

They have failed and will continue to fail.

I urge all our dear fellow countrymen and adorable women to go back to work, to pray for our nation, to support our President in rebuilding this country, and to continue to key into the vision of renewed hope for Nigeria.

May God guide and protect President Tinubu.

God bless Nigeria!

Onokpasa, a lawyer, writes from Abuja.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rubbished the Sunday nationwide broadcast by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following the tension in the country after Nigerians stormed major streets across states to express their grievances on the challenging situation in the country.

Naija News reports that the protests, tagged #EndBadGovernance, were organized to decry the hunger crisis and the unfavourable economic situation in Nigeria since the incumbent government took over power.

President Tinubu, however, addressed the nation yesterday, urging the protesters to suspend their action, reiterating his government’s commitment to ensuring a better Nigeria.

However, the country’s main opposition party, PDP, has criticized the broadcast which is said did not address the demonstrators’ demands.

PDP said Sunday’s address shows insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians.

The opposition camp stressed that it was clear that the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration is already overwhelmed and has no answers to the myriads of problems occasioned by its anti-people policies that are suffocating life in the country.

“The PDP asserts that the speech by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the ongoing protests in the country clearly confirms the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration’s insensitivity towards Nigerians and the very precarious situation in the country,” PDP’s spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, said in a statement issued on Sunday.

He also expressed disappointment tha the President’s speech did not order an investigation into the brutal killing of unarmed Nigerians by security operatives during the ongoing protests.

READ PDP’s FULL STATEMENT BELOW

“Protests: @officialABAT ’s Speech Diversionary, Fails to Address Issues

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) @OfficialPDPNig asserts that the speech by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the ongoing protests in the country clearly confirms the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration’s insensitivity towards Nigerians and the very precarious situation in the country.

“Our Party is appalled that despite the fact that it took President Tinubu the prodding of the PDP to speak to the nation, it is distressing that the speech failed to offer any concrete measure to address the excruciating hardship in the country.

“Mr President’s speech failed to respond to the demand by the citizens for immediate measures to reduce the price of petroleum products, halt the fall of the Naira and urgent intervention in the provision of food items to starving Nigerians.

“It is equally shocking that the speech did not order an investigation into the brutal killing of unarmed Nigerians by certain unscrupulous operatives of the APC-controlled security agencies while demanding good governance, protection, security and welfare, which are the primary purposes of government.

“Instead, the speech dwelt on APC’s counter-productive action of disregarding the feelings and pains of the people by focusing on self-praise, claims of imaginary achievements and empty projections in the face of apparent and obvious failure of the APC in every aspect of governance.

“Such only reinforces public apprehension that the APC administration is uncaring and impervious to the suffering and pains of millions of Nigerians, particularly the youths whose dreams, hopes and aspirations are being dashed by the APC.

“It is clear that the APC administration is overwhelmed and has no answers to the myriads of problems occasioned by its anti-people policies that are suffocating life in the country.

“The APC must admit failure and be willing to accept alternative views and suggestions at this moment, recognizing that what Nigerians need now is a solution and not rhetoric.

“Our Party calls on President Tinubu to come to terms with the fact that the nation is in dire straits under his watch. He should address the demands of the people, particularly to reduce the cost of petroleum products, stabilize the Naira and take immediate steps towards the provision of food items to Nigerians.

“President Tinubu should cut the size of governance, expenditure on luxury items and free more resources for immediate intervention towards the wellbeing of Nigerians.”

[NaijaNews]