It’s the week of Feb. 17, Bitcoin plunged and we might be experiencing another crypto contagion.

The biggest news of the week is that the crypto market is reeling after Bybit suffered the largest hack in industry history, with over $1.4 billion in Ethereum (ETH) and staked Ethereum (stETH) drained from the exchange.

The attack has triggered a wave of liquidations, particularly in Ethereum futures markets, as panic sets in.

On Feb. 14, the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, promoted the launch of a new Solana memecoin called LIBRA, which pumped and dumped. The story is still developing, but so far there have been multiple allegations of market manipulation and insider trading.

I'll be posting updates to The Street and Roundtable next week, so make sure you follow me there to get the latest.

Now for some good news! President Donald Trump shared an XRP-related article from Coindesk on his social media platform, Truth Social, which is spurring bullish sentiment. The article discussed the CEO of Ripple, Brad Garlinghouse, and his optimism about U.S. deals and hiring after Trump's election win.

Also, Brazil’s securities regulator approved the world’s first spot XRP ETF, which is managed by Hashdex, a global crypto asset management firm with over $1 billion in assets under management.

Brazil may have beaten the U.S. with a spot XRP ETF launch, but the U.S. SEC has acknowledged filings from multiple asset managers, including Bitwise, for their spot XRP ETF applications. The acknowledgements have initiated a 21-day public comment period before final decisions are made. According to Bloomberg analysts, there is a 65% chance of approval in the U.S.

For Bitcoin, Asset management firm Bitwise has pledged to donate $150,000 from its Bitcoin ETF (BITB) profits to support Bitcoin open-source developers. This initiative is part of an ongoing commitment, with 10% of BITB’s gross profits allocated annually to Bitcoin development.

Meanwhile, Strategy also known as MicroStrategy announced a plan to raise $2 billion through 0% convertible senior notes to purchase more Bitcoin.

This move is part of their "21/21 Plan", aiming to raise $42 billion over three years for Bitcoin acquisitions. The company now holds 478,740 BTC, and despite reporting a $670.8 million net loss in Q4 2024, its stock has surged 372% over the past year.

As of Feb. 18, the Bitcoin memecoin DOG, is now tradable on Solana, thanks to a two-way bridge launched by MineLabs. This bridge allows seamless movement of the token between Bitcoin and Solana, enabling fast trades with fees under a penny inside a Meteora liquidity pool.

This has been a strange year for the crypto market. Wasn't 2025 supposed to be the year that the world's top cryptocurrencies skyrocketed in value, fueled by all the pro-crypto optimism surrounding the Trump administration? Instead, only a handful of the top 20 cryptocurrencies (as ranked by market cap) are actually up for the year.

Two that particularly stand out are XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) and Litecoin (CRYPTO: LTC). XRP is up 24% for the year, while Litecoin is up 20% for the year. By way of comparison, Bitcoin is up only 2% for the year. That's an anomaly, given that Bitcoin historically leads the market higher. So how much longer can XRP and Litecoin maintain their momentum?

XRP

Let's start with XRP, which stands out as the clear winner in the crypto market right now. It is the best-performing large-market-cap crypto of 2025. And, over the past three months, it is up a head-spinning 400%.

There's a good reason for this spectacular performance, and it has to do with the pro-crypto, pro-business approach of the Trump administration. Keep in mind: Ripple, the company behind the XRP crypto token, has faced regulatory questions about the status of XRP for more than four years now. A Securities and Exchange Commission court case lodged against Ripple has been ongoing since December 2020.

So the thinking here is that all of these regulatory headaches are going to disappear in 2025. Paul Atkins, the newly appointed pro-crypto head of the SEC, could end the case once and for all. And a new regulatory framework for crypto will make it easier for Ripple to get back to business as usual. All of that bodes well, of course, for XRP, which is the crypto token powering Ripple's blockchain-based payment operations.

XRP has a second major catalyst, as well. This is the anticipated approval of spot XRP ETFs sometime by mid-2025. After the spectacular success of the spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2024, it's easy to see why there is so much optimism in the market right now.

One could argue that the arrival of the new spot Bitcoin ETFs was the key reason why Bitcoin more than doubled in price last year. So XRP bulls are clearly hoping that XRP also has the potential to double in price.

In terms of being able to maintain its market momentum past 2025, XRP seems to be in a good position. It would be nice to see a few more positive signals from the Trump administration regarding Ripple and XRP, of course. But it looks like the regulatory shackles are finally coming off this year, and that could send XRP soaring in value for at least the next 12 months.

Do you believe that a Nigerian crypto platform can rival Binance?

Meet the 25-year-old with a mission bigger than himself: “to prove that African innovators can build at a global level and create systems that change lives.”

Moore Dagogo-Hart is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Zap Africa, Nigeria’s pioneering non-custodial crypto exchange. Zap is the fastest-growing crypto exchange in Nigeria, and Moore is one of the key minds who has played a pivotal role in making this possible.

The Early Genius  

Before co-founding Zap Africa, Moore had already demonstrated a knack for building groundbreaking technology. From a young age, he was gifted with the ability to understand and design complex systems. He believes technology is the closest thing we have to magic. That it is a tool that can rewrite economic realities, create wealth, and break down barriers.

In 2018, he built a top-charting mobile game, Color Match, at just 18 years old which charted #2 on Play Store and #4 on the App Store. He also developed an AI-powered risk detection model to detect sexual predators in chatrooms in 2020.

As a high achiever, Moore placed 3rd at Facebook’s #Hackathon4Justice in 2019 and was the winner of the Goldman Sachs’ University Hackathon in 2020.

From Goldman Sachs to Building Africa’s Future 

Moore’s career officially began in 2021 as a software developer at Goldman Sachs. Here, he contributed to their financial security systems and gained firsthand experience in high-risk and high-stakes financial modelling. This was when realised his passion lay in building entirely new systems, not maintaining already existing ones. So, he quit.

He left Goldman after a couple of months to start his own company. He went on to co-found Solarsoft, where he built Africa’s first ever fully functional NFT wallet, Nebula. This development pioneered Web3 and digital asset ownership adoption in Africa. However, despite its success, the app was later removed from the App Store by Apple due to Apple’s crypto regulations.

This marked a key moment in Moore’s journey. When many would have seen this event as a failure, Moore took it as a lesson in decentralization, compliance, and the challenges of building blockchain-based systems in a centralized tech world like ours.

The Birth of Zap Africa: Africa’s First Non-Custodial Crypto Platform 

The year was 2022. Many Nigerian crypto platforms were collapsing, one after the other, and trust was at an all-time low. Moore and his childhood friend, Tobiloba Asu-Johnson, then came together to form what would become Zap Africa.

They watched as friends, family and everyday people saw their life savings disappear overnight, and they knew there was a better way. So, they decided to create a solution. In less than three years, Zap Africa has emerged as Nigeria’s fastest-growing crypto platform under Moore’s leadership, processing ₦2 billion in transactions within its first three months.

Moore engineered Zap’s financial model, ensuring automated revenue generation, liquidity optimization, and scalable trading infrastructure. This basically means that he designed Zap’s financial system to work automatically, making sure the company earns money efficiently, has enough funds available for users to trade without delays, and can handle a growing number of transactions smoothly.

He was also heavily involved in executing a historic marketing play leveraging the $TRUMP coin, which brought in 10,000 users in 6 hours, marking the biggest growth spike in Zap’s history.

Moore’s vision for Zap is not restricted to Nigeria only but to the entire continent and beyond. He wants Zap to redefine Africa’s financial landscape, making wealth creation, decentralized finance, and borderless transactions a reality for all.

Beyond Crypto: Engineering Africa’s Tech Future 

Moore is a man with many skills under his belt. In 2022 as well, he also founded Syx Labs, a deep-tech company solving complex problems in AI, blockchain, and fintech. Syx Labs is not your average software company; it’s an innovation lab designed to engineer Africa’s technological future.

They specialise in AI-driven financial models and fraud detection systems as well as blockchain-powered authentication and security solutions. They describe themselves as the “next-gen real estate and fintech platform tailored for the African market.”

Zap into the Future 

Zap is on a mission to redefine the continent’s financial landscape by making wealth creation accessible to all and borderless transactions a reality.

Growing up, Moore witnessed the economic inefficiencies and limitations that hold Africa back firsthand, and he also recognized the unmatched potential of Africans. Now, he is determined to drive change and foster real economic freedom.

Zap isn’t waiting for permission. They are building the future.

The former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has surprisingly transformed into a vocal critic of government policies and a champion of the people’s interests, as evident from his recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and his successor, Governor Uba Sani

Not only has he taken a firm stand against the Tinubu, whom he strongly campaigned for, but he has also urged opposition parties to form a coalition to wrestle power from the ruling party.

In one of his many criticism, he had said “The problems that led to the creation of the APC remain unresolved, but I no longer believe the APC is interested in addressing them. The distance between me and the party is widening.”

Speaking further, he stated, “ There are internal mercenaries in the PDP, hired and motivated to destroy the party. The Labour Party is also facing similar issues. Peter Obi himself told me, ‘I don’t know what’s happening in the party I contested with.”

Naija News reports that El-Rufai seems relentless in his desire to wrestle power from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tinubu and also his successor, Sani

But one must question the reason for the former governors’ activism. Does this come from a place of true patriotism, or is this a path of vengeance to wrestle power from those he once supported?

Tinubu, El-Rufai And Uba Sani

It is no news that El-Rufai’s ministerial nomination into Tinubu’s cabinet was blocked by the Senate due to a damning security report.

Will it be far-fetched to assume that El-Rufai’s discontent stems from what he perceives as a betrayal by the Tinubu’s administration?

Though he has repeatedly claimed that he did not seek any political appointment from the president, his sudden opposition raises questions.

El-Rufai earlier stated that he made it clear long before Tinubu won the presidential election in 2023 that he hads no interest in any appointment.

According to him, “I was cabinet minister 22 years ago and was clear to Asiwaju that I was not interested in any position in his future government. The pathetic manner all of you latter-day converts to the Tinubu government make an issue of something that I never wanted in the first place is perhaps a reflection of the level of your moral flexibility.”

He also insisted that he would have criticised Tinubu’s government if he were a member of the cabinet.

In the same vein, El-Rufai has shown his disdain for Gov Sani’s support for Tinubu’s administration.

El-Rufai and Sani were allies before the 2023 general elections. The governor, who was El-Rufai’s advisor, had on many occasions pledged his loyalty to the former governor until he won the governorship race in 2023.

However, after taking over power, Sani’s relationship with El-Rufai turned sour.

An ad hoc committee set up by the Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate all finances, loans and contracts awarded under El-Rufai administration had indicted the ex-governor and some of his appointees of siphoning ₦423bn state funds

Recently, El-Rufai accused Sani of sycophancy and pandering to Tinubu for personal gain.

His criticism came after Sani’s remarks during an interview, where the governor expressed surprise at the growing criticism of Tinubu’s administration from some founding members of the APC.

El-Rufai alleged that Sani’s unwavering support for Tinubu was linked to over ₦150bn in federal reimbursements received by Kaduna State in the past 18 months.

“Every day I see this governor embarrassingly and sycophantically rambling, I used to wonder why? However, confirming that Federal Government ‘reimbursements, interventions, and grants’ in excess of N150bn have been given selectively to Kaduna by Tinubu in the last 18 months now explains everything.

“By all means, defend Asiwaju for the conditional cash transfer. Asiwaju has earned it, coming from you. The people of Kaduna State will judge at the right time and place. Have a nice day,” El-Rufai said.

The Wind Under El-Rufai’s Wings

While El-Rufai might wish to wrestle power from the APC, one question remains: does he have the political weight to cause a ripple?

Recently, El-Rufai and allies of ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, held a private meeting with the leadership of the Social Democratic Party in Abuja

The closed-door meeting, which took place at the SDP national secretariat, had sparked speculations about potential political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Among the notable attendees were Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha an ex-presidential candidate and former Chief Security Officer to the late Gen Sani Abacha and Atiku’s former spokesman, Otunba Segun Showunmi.

Although the specific agenda of the meeting was not disclosed, it is being described as part of a broader strategy to forge alliances among opposition figures with the aim of presenting a formidable challenge to Tinubu in the next election cycle.

Showunmi confirmed the meeting in a Facebook post, describing it as a “strategic gathering” convened by SDP Chairman, Shehu Gabam, to evaluate the state of opposition politics in Nigeria.

While it is possible for El-Rufai to join forces with the opposition to strengthen his prowess, we must also not forget that he equally has enough enemies ready to challenge him.

Thoughts Of A Political Analyst

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Naija News, political analyst, Tunji Ojo has opined that El-Rufai latest outburst is all political, insisting that he does not have what it takes to unseat Tinubu and his successor, Sani.

“It is all political, it is all hard wired politics. Because it’s not only Tinubu. Even El-Rufai friend Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has also come out to criticise Tinubu because the assumption is that Tinubu’s presidency is not in support of Lamido.

“They believe that he prefers Ado Bayero to Lamido. Despite the fact that Tinubu assisted in bringing Lamido to power. Kwankwaso was the governor before Ganduje took over and upset the apple cart by removing Lamido Sanusi. When Ganduje removed Sanusi it was El-Rufai that gave him Chancellor of Kaduna State University

“When people don’t have a chair at the table they would cry. El-Rufai said that he was a founding member of APC. He participated in the registration, formation of the constitution, drafting and all of that.

“El-Rufai has a running battle with three senators of the state, Shehu Sani, and some others. He made sure they did not come back and that was in 2019. He made sure those senators did not come back because they were opposed to his borrowing plan in Kaduna State. Uba Sani initially tried to cover up for El-Rufai but the Kaduna people were disenchanted with him. He was not delivering on governance. Insecurity was worsening in his first year. There was something like the chibok attack in one community where teachers and pupils were carted away by bandits and several other abductions. When people of Kaduna State began to accuse Uba Sani of being a failure he had to speak out that his hands and legs are tied that his predecessor mortgaged the state finances and they are paying so much in term of huge debt that El-Rufai collected when he was governor.

“The state House of Assembly accused El-Rufai of corruption and misappropriation and they set up a committee to investigate and that itself was a huge slap on El-Rufai face.

“El-Rufai felt betrayed that Uba Sani whom he took a bullet for made a senator, and governor could not stand up for him. What really hurt him was that he has being pencilled down as the Minister of Power by Tinubu but when his nomination was suspended by the Senate they went to meet President Tinubu not just for El-Rufai but for Festus Keyamo. They cleared Keyamo but failed to clear El-Rufai for supposed security petitions and since that time El-Rufai has become bitter. El-Rufai felt that any petition written against him should have been waived and his nomination confirmed. There is nothing that El-rufai says that is new.

“El-Rufai is right. He is not saying anything new. But he would not say these things if he had gotten his ministerial nomination,” he said.

When asked if El-Rufai might be trying to push his political ambition as president, Ojo expressed doubt that El-Rufai was strong enough to challenge Tinubu.

“Can El-Rufai our of power wield such an influence over Northern Nigerians? he has made so much enemies. Am not sure he is a political threat to the re-election bid of President Tinubu. Tinubu as I know him is a master strategist.

“Tinubu is a master strategist. Tinubu knows the value of Uba Sani. He prefers Uba Sani to El-Rufai.

“Tinubu does not want to run with it in that El-Rufai is a nuisance or is of no effect. There is a saying a leper might not be able to milk a cow but he can spill the milk. But if you ask Tinubu to choose between El-Rufai and Uba Sani he will choose Uba Sani.

“Some people advised Tinubu not to allow the nomination of El-Rufai to fly that he is a lesser evil in the whole permutation of 2027.

“I am not taken in by all the activism and heroism of El-Rufai because if there is a reshuffle and El-Rufai is made a minister he will not be speaking this way. El-Rufai was a former loyalist of Atiku, then he became loyalist of Obasanjo and then became a loyalist of Buhari. You should not believe people like that. How many ministers have resigned out of conviction of  this government is bad let me just resign,” he added.

[NaijaNews]

Newscastle United are targeting a summer move for Bayer Leverkusen striker, Victor Boniface DAILY POST reports.

Boniface has a contract with Leverkusen until 2029 but would be allowed to leave the Bundesliga champions if the offer is right.

Saudi club Al Nassr submitted a €70m bid for the Nigeria international last month but later rescinded their plan.

Al Nassr instead opted to sign Colombia and Aston Villa hitman, Jhon Duran.

According to the Chronicle, Newcastle United are already in talks with Boniface’s representatives.

DAILY POST recalls, the 24-year-old joined Bayer Leverkusen from Belgian Pro League outfit Union Saint-Gillloise in 2023.

He has scored 31 goals and provided 11 assists in 52 games across all competitions for Die Werkself.

[DailyPost]

In 2025, the cost of living in Nigeria varies greatly between cities, with some urban areas being much more expensive than others. This difference in living costs is due to factors like business activity, demand for housing, available services, and local resources. Some of Nigeria’s most expensive cities are major centers for business, politics, and industry, where the high demand for goods and housing has led to rising costs.

Here are five most expensive cities to live in Nigeria in 2025:

1. Lagos

Lagos is the most expensive city in Nigeria in 2025. As the country’s business and economic hub, it attracts many businesses, which drives up the demand for housing and services. This has made living in Lagos costly, with high rent prices. Known for its busy city center and wealthy neighborhoods like Ikoyi and Victoria Island, Lagos also has expensive food, transportation, and other daily costs. With a Rent Index of 24.30, Lagos is even the most expensive rental city in Africa.

2. Abuja

Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, is another high-cost city in 2025. Being the political heart of the country, it draws government officials, international workers, and business professionals, all contributing to the city’s high living costs. Expensive areas like Maitama, Asokoro, and Wuse are filled with luxury homes, and the prices for goods, services, and transportation remain high, making Abuja a costly place to live.

3. Port Harcourt

Port Harcourt, the oil capital of Nigeria, ranks among the most expensive cities to live in 2025. The city’s strong oil industry brings in workers and businesses from all over, which increases demand for housing and services. Popular areas like the Government Reserved Area (GRA) are known for their expensive properties. Along with high rent, costs for goods, transportation, and other services are also elevated due to the city’s economic growth.

4. Enugu

Enugu, known as the “Coal City,” has become more expensive in recent years. The city is growing as a commercial center, with more people moving in for work and business opportunities. This has driven up housing costs, especially in the city’s more popular areas. As Enugu continues to develop with more businesses and infrastructure, living expenses, including food, transportation, and utilities, have also increased.

5. Owerri

Owerri, the capital of Imo State, has seen a rise in living costs in 2025. The city’s growing economy, especially in real estate and services, has led to higher property prices and rent. Areas like Nekede, New Owerri, and World Bank Road are becoming expensive as demand for housing increases. Prices for goods and transportation have also gone up, making Owerri one of the most expensive cities in Nigeria.

Son of General Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s former military ruler, Sadiq Abacha, has expressed admiration for his late father, stating that his leadership remains significant despite persistent scrutiny.

Sadiq, in a Facebook post on Saturday, suggested that his father was a victim of jealousy and subtle betrayal but insisted that history would ultimately be kind to him.

“The man Abacha—you have always been the one they envied with silent deceit. History shall remember you for being a better leader, no matter how much they try to put you down. As a son, I am most proud of you today. You indeed are the man they wish they were half of”, he wrote.

He ended his message with a Hausa proverb: “Duk wanda yayi jifa a kasuwa,” which translates to “whoever throws a stone in the market…”—a phrase often interpreted as a warning that actions have consequences.

Sadiq’s statement comes just days after the launch of the long-awaited memoir by former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, which has triggered extensive discussions.

A major highlight of the book is the controversial annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which Babangida admitted was won by MKO Abiola.

The former leader disclosed that while he regretted the decision, the move was largely orchestrated by forces within his government, allegedly led by Abacha, without his full awareness.

The late Abacha, who ruled Nigeria from 1993 until his passing in 1998, remains one of the country’s most debated figures.

While his government is credited with economic stabilisation and strong security policies, allegations of corruption and human rights violations continue to shape his legacy.

[Punch]

A man cancels a free and fair election. When crisis ensues, he panics and steps aside, foisting a one-legged contraption on the country. Soon, his co-conspirators are fed up with the pretence. They sweep away the props and seize power. And a plague feasts on the nation 

A man cancels the freest and fairest election his county has seen. He knows the consequences will be calamitous. He cancels it and allows his country to slide into the most brutal dictatorship it has ever known. The brute is his best friend. All who stand stubbornly in the way are mowed down and buried. Kudirat. Rewane. Onagoruwa Jr. Etc. Some escape the bullets and live with fractured minds. Ibru, Adesanya etc. Those who are fearful of dying or of the opposition being decapitated run into exile to live like refugees. The country is treated as a leper for seven whole years. 

A man anulls a credible election and puts his country on the precipice. Riots break out. Poor folks run back to their villages. The land convulses. A strike squad is formed. Mustapha and Omenka settle on the country. Press freedom flees. Journalists become pet dogs; otherwise, they become bushmeat. People are thrown into dungeons for wincing. Death squads roam while torture squads sit in the basements, bending minds.  

A man cancels free and fair elections. His friends seize the government and throw the winner of the election into a dungeon. His sin is that he refused to forsake his mandate. They keep him there. The world cries for his freedom. Mandela curses the oppressors. Traditional rulers go to bow and lick the feet of the junta. They keep the winner of the election in the dungeon till he dies. Till he dies. 

Before Judas sold Jesus he was the treasurer of the ministry. He was part of the good works of that cohort. He was stealing from the purse but perhaps not enough to cripple the group. On the outside, he was chief amongst the miracle workers whom Jesus led. After Judas sold Jesus, no one said Judas bought food for me when I was hungry. Or Judas helped my wife to slaughter a goat. Or Judas introduced innovations into treasury management. Judas had committed a destiny-defining crime. His only reward would be infinite opprobrium. No caveats. Demons understood the conclusive enormity of his greed and treachery and besieged him. Judas didn’t seek a gathering to tender vacuous apologies or build a library. 

Despite fates like Judas’ every man deserves a second chance. Man is fallible. Nobody is a saint. And time wipes away the pain of transgressions. We are enjoined to forgive. But as a country, we must keep records. Grant amnesties but keep records. Grant amnesties but don’t become amnesic. We can understand Authrur Eze. But Tinubu now says he owes it all to the man who annulled June 12. Dangote says the man who annulled June 12 and destroyed the Abioola mandate is the father of the private sector. Some state governors might say without him, they would have had no states to govern. The gods must be amused. 

We have become incurable worshipers of our leaders. At every major gathering, one former Nigerian leader will be eulogised. He will be called a great man

Because these gatherings aren’t infrequent, all former leaders have been extolled to high heavens

So Balewa, Zik and Awo were all great. Gowon and Murtala were great. Obasanjo was wonderful 

Shagari was fabulous. He died poor. IBB is now outstanding. Abacha, they also say was great and humane. Obasanjo, during his second coming, was a messiah. Yar’adua was marvellous. Jonathan was fantastic. Buhari, the incorruptible, was impeccable. Now Tinubu is loved more than hot Agege bread by many. 

So why exactly is Nigeria poor? Why have our contemporaries like Indonesia and Singapore left us being? We have given our past leaders the highest honours. But our best youths fleeing the country. The names of our leaders hang on national monuments and we bow before them. But we have become bankrupt in China. We have abundant natural resources. We have overflowing human capital. So why are we the poverty capital of the world? We live by the river, but we wash our hands with spittle.

Babangida and his friend Abacha ruled for a combined 13 years. Gowon ruled for 9 years. Obasanjo did 11 years. Buhari did about 10. We celebrate these people every day. We call them heroes. We can excuse Obasanjo who transitioned to civil democratic rule and returned to pay off our debts. But how can this country gather to celebrate Babangida, who cancelled a credible election and triggered a chain reaction that led to the death of many people and the looting of the national treasury? We agree we have been decimated by chronic bad leadership yet we venerate all our leaders. 

If the aim of a presidential library is partly to Immortalize a president and document history, then a library for Babangida will only serve to immortalize the perfidy he committed. Babangida should have let sleeping dogs lie. He is a Maradona. He ought to know not to stir the hornet’s nest. Sitting and watching some of victims , one after the other, to shower him with encomium, in that dubious sanctification ritual called a book launch, might be his ultimate step over, but hasn’t he roused some sleeping dogs? 

I love books. I think memoirs by our past leaders, especially if confessional, will help the country. So Babangida  could have quietly documented his memoir and released it without fanfare. In absolute penitence. Without the nauseating speeches. Without the donations. Without the grandiose dream of a presidential library. Without bruising sensibilities. 

The question Nigerians must answer is this. Is it forgetfulness or folly? Who did this to us? Sorry, Mama Kudirat. Sorry. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is “not ready” to sign a deal that would give the United States preferential access to his country’s rare earth minerals, a Ukrainian source told AFP.

US President Donald Trump wants Ukraine to give US companies access as compensation for the tens of billions of dollars of aid delivered under his predecessor Joe Biden.

Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser on Friday predicted that Zelensky would sign the deal soon, but the contours of the proposed agreement have not been made public.

“In the form in which the draft is now, the president is not ready to accept, we are still trying to make changes and add constructiveness,” a Ukrainian source close to the matter told AFP Saturday.

“There are no American obligations in the agreement regarding guarantees or investments, everything about them is very vague, and they want to extract $500 billion from us.”

“What kind of partnership is this? … And why do we have to give $500 billion, there is no answer,” the source added.

The source said that Ukraine had offered amendments.

Ukraine is seeking security guarantees from the United States as part of any deal signing away its natural resources and critical minerals.

The disagreement over the deal comes amid a war-of-words between Zelensky and Trump, who branded his Ukrainian counterpart a “dictator” in a social media post earlier this week.

 [Vanguard]

Since Afenifere leader Pa Ayo Adebanjo passed away on February 14 at 96, many have praised his significant contributions to Nigeria as a frontline nationalist, a key role player in the politics of the first and second republics, and an uncompromising devotee of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Active in the First Republic Action Group, the Second Republic Unity Party of Nigeria, and Alliance for Democracy from 1999, Baba Adebanjo fought tirelessly for democracy. He consistently advocated for true federalism and the country’s political and economic restructuring based on the 1963 Republican Constitution.

Pa Adebanjo was also a well-known activist who stood for equity, truth, and justice. He fought against all forms of injustice and oppression including military dictatorship.
In this respect, I recall his relationship with President Bola Tinubu.

When Asiwaju Tinubu, then a founding chieftain of the defunct AD, decided to run for Lagos governorship, Pa Adebanjo fully supported him, championing transparency in the process that produced him as the candidate of his party. Despite the initial opposition within the party, Baba Adebanjo and other young party members opted for open party primaries, helping Tinubu to emerge as the candidate. Tinubu went on to win the governorship election and was inaugurated on May 29, 1999.

Grateful for the support, Asiwaju maintained a strong relationship with Baba Adebanjo. Even when their political paths diverged, Tinubu held Baba in high regard. The President said this much in his incisive tribute to Pa Adebanjo, which I quote in part thus:
“In moments of national crisis, Baba’s courage shone brightest. When democracy hung in the balance after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, he joined the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) as one of the leading voices against military dictatorship, helping to galvanise a movement that became the bedrock of our collective struggle to reclaim democratic governance.

“His unwavering commitment to truth and justice extended to my journey as a governorship candidate in 1999. Baba Adebanjo’s steadfast support was instrumental in my election as Governor of Lagos State under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy.

“Though our political paths diverged in later years, my respect and admiration for him never wavered. Until his death, I shared a deep personal bond with Baba Adebanjo; he was like a father figure.”

Many in Tinubu’s position might have taken issue with Baba, who sometimes openly criticised him. But not Asíwájú. As an Omoluabi—a person of good character—Tinubu respects elders and institutions, giving honour where it’s due.

How do I know President Tinubu highly regarded Baba Adebanjo? As a journalist and editor, I was well-known to Baba Adebanjo. I interacted with and interviewed him on many occasions during my active years in journalism. So when I became Asiwaju’s Media Adviser, I became the envoy of sorts, the message-bearer for both. Baba Adebanjo would telephone me, saying, “Rahman, Rahman, so fun Oga e pe mo fe ri. To ba wu yin ke wa, to ba wu yin ke ma wa. Tie na la fe so fun,” meaning “Tell your Principal I would like to see him. If he likes, let him honour my invitation. It’s to his benefit if he comes.”

We visited Baba at his residence in Lekki, Lagos, several times. On other occasions, Baba called at Bourdillon, the Ikoyi residence of Asiwaju, along with his entourage.

There is, however, a hilarious and instructive story about the two, which speaks to the admiration and high regard President Tinubu had for Baba, which essentially is the focus of this article. It was during the 90th birthday of Baba Adebanjo, sometime in April 2018. I remember vividly that that particular birthday fell on a Sunday. But a birthday colloquium came up on a Thursday, three days before the actual birthday. We had lodged in our dairy for Asiwaju, the birthday lecture, as well as other activities and events lined up to celebrate the distinguished elder statesman. While focusing on the birthday date, I forgot the preceding Thursday event at Landmark Event Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos. Luckily for me, around 9am that Thursday, the traditional ruler of Oke-Ila in Osun State, Oba Dokun Abolarin, telephoned me, saying he was in Lagos and asking if Asiwaju was coming for the birthday lecture. Knowing I had failed to alert Asiwaju about the lecture the previous night, I smelled trouble.

I immediately raced to Bourdillion in Ikoyi. When I went upstairs to see Asiwaju, he was reading newspapers, oblivious of any early morning engagement that day, particularly that of Baba Adebanjo. I informed him about the event and apologised that I had my mind set on the birthday date on Sunday. The lecture was slated for 10 am, and time was already 10 am. Asiwaju, livid, sprung to his feet. By this time, my colleague Ademola Oshodi had joined me in Asiwaju’s room. Without any prompting, we prostrated and apologised again.

Those close to President Tinubu know he is a very proficient politician in Yoruba as he is in English, complete with street lingo. Still seething in anger, Asiwaju said in Yoruba, “Hen hen, idobale yin yen ni emi ma te’ bati. Ma de ibi lecture, won a ma so pe mo moo mo pe de ni ki nba le da ijoko won ru,” meaning, “So it’s this your prostrating that will now count. I will get to the event now, and they will allege that I deliberately came late so I can cause a stir and disrupt the lecture.”

Somehow, Asiwaju quickly prepared to attend despite our tight schedule as we were meant to travel to Abuja that same day. We got to the occasion around noon after the program had been on for about two hours. One important personality I could not readily remember was on the podium.
Though we arrived late, Tinubu’s presence stirred excitement, and he delivered a heartfelt speech.

As President Tinubu predicted, his arrival caused a big stir and a temporary halt in the programme. As we made to leave, another commotion that did not subside even after our departure ensued. I suspect Asíwájú’s departure might have signaled the virtual end of the program.

That was not the end of the story, though. A couple of days later, I heard Uncle Jimi Disu, a known Asiwaju critic, on his regular programme then on Classic FM, talking about Baba Adebanjo’s birthday lecture, alleging that Asíwájú ‘sauntered’ into the programme uninvited and disrupted the birthday lecture of the nonagenarian. I could not believe my ears. I went on that program afterward to debunk what he said. I narrated what happened, that Asiwaju had tremendous respect for Baba and that he would have avoided the kind of situation that played out if I had briefed him of the timing of the programme.

This incident underscores the critical role of aides in supporting leaders to function effectively. Aides must guide them accurately, as their actions and inactions can significantly impact leadership outcomes. An oversight on my part unintentionally fueled what would have resulted in animus between Baba Adebanjo and Tinubu.

–Rahman is Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Media, Publicity and Special Duties.