The residents of the Alag­bole-Ajuwon and Akute axis in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State are pained and angry. So also are their counterparts along the Agbara-Lu­sada-Atan corridor in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area. They are all aggrieved over the reckless aban­donment of their roads. The imme­diate past administration of Senator Ibikunle Abiodun did. He did it with impunity and a lack of empathy for the suffering of the common people.

It is not unusual for a government to leave behind an uncompleted proj­ect in the face of dwindling resources. Just like life itself, the unexpected can happen. But there is a reasonable level such projects will reach without caus­ing more hardship than envisaged for the community concerned. Willy-nil­ly, former governor Amosun awarded the contract for the construction of these roads and ordered the demo­lition of houses along the corridor only for the contractor to disappear into thin air midway into the project. Since then, life has remained miser­able for the hapless residents as ev­ery onset of the rainy season always comes with a nightmare.

Recently, borne out of frustration, some social media freaks took on the matter with a pinch of salt, directing their rightful indignation at the in­cumbent Governor, Dapo Abiodun. However, he took the scathing criti­cism of his administration in good faith and immediately swung into ac­tion. This week, he took time out of his busy schedule to visit the sites for the an on-the-spot assessment of the projects. There and then, he promised that relief would soon come their way and the untold hardship would be a thing of the past. It’s a horrific site to behold, indeed. Only the individuals with stone hearts can leave the scene with dry cheeks. It’s better imagined than experienced.

There is nothing impunity cannot do. And it’s the bane of governance in this country. In most cases, leaders capitalise on people’s lack of indigna­tion capacity to do things haphazard­ly and get away with them.

As Governor Abiodun is one per­son who does not believe in the blame game, he has promised to take on the challenge of the infrastructure deficit he inherited from his predecessors for the ultimate realisation of his trans­formation agenda for the good of all and sundry.

On Monday, precisely July 8, 2024, he gave a matching order to the con­tractor handling the construction of the Denro-Ishashi-Akute road to ensure the completion of the project within two weeks.

The Governor also disclosed that work would soon begin on the Alag­bole-Ajuwon and Akute-Ajuwon roads in the Ifo Local Government Area of the state. He noted that the construction of the Denro-Ishashi- Akute Road started almost three years ago, directing the contractor to mobilise to the site immediately and ensure the completion of the project in two weeks.

He further reiterated his promise to ensure equitable provision of in­frastructures across the state, adding that this is being followed religiously. He said his administration had kept faith with his promise to ensure that road construction is evenly spread across the 20 local governments in the state.

Hear him: “My pledge is that I have come here today to see things for myself. There are two roads that are considerably important to our people.

“First of all, the Denro-Ishashi- Akute road, I have given the contrac­tor a matching order that the road must be completed in the next two weeks, asphalt and the bridge.

“I want to assure you all that it is your time now. It is your right. You voted for us. I am a promise-keeping governor. I will not make empty prom­ises.

“Now, within the next two weeks, a maximum of three weeks, active con­struction will start on Alagbole-Aju­won and Akute-Ajuwon roads.

“Today, here, we’ve reconstructed Olusegun Osoba-Toyin Street, Denro- Ishashi-Akute is under construction. We have so many other roads we’ve constructed here. But because there is so many deficits in the infrastructural development in this area, at times, it appears as if we are not reconstruct­ing them as fast as they want us to.

Assuring the community of his administration’s commitment to en­sure equitable infrastructure devel­opment, Abiodun explained that the deficit he met on the assumption of office had made him wonder what the previous administrations were doing.

He said although the past admin­istration had good intentions for the people of the state, he decried the reckless manner in which the project had been abandoned after structures had been demolished and single carriageways turned into dual carriageways.

“When I assumed office on the 29th of May, 2019, the deficit that we met on assumption of office was such that we began to wonder what the previous administration was doing.

“In some instances, they appear to have good intentions, they go to the roads, they demolished houses, roads that should not be more than a single carriageway, they turned them to dual carriageway By so doing, they removed all the asphalt that was there serving the people and abandoned these roads.

“We inherited quite a lot of these roads. Some of those roads are federal roads, and you know our people can­not differentiate between federal and state. They will geo-locate their pains where and when they are feeling it,” Governor Abiodun lamented.

In keeping with his promise to give every section of the State a true sense of belonging, he listed other roads that had been penciled down for construction including Hercu­les-Giwa (Oke Aro Rd), some section of Akute- Ijoko road, and the road leading to Yakoyo. He stated that his administration had to draw up the priority list taking into consideration vehicular traffic and the economic impact of some of the roads it had embarked upon to date, adding that his administration would continue to put the people first.

He went on: “Let me give you an example of the road that goes from Agbara-Atan-Lusada road. When I assumed office, trailers carrying containers were falling off on that road. That is the road that leads to the biggest industrial estate not just in Nigeria but one of the biggest in Africa.

“It is a road that counts for hun­dreds of thousands of employees and employers. So, it is important for us in Ogun State. I had to prioritize it, and it is a federal road.

“So, we have to draw up a priority list and the priority list amongst oth­ers factored in the vehicular traffic, the economic impact.

“Ijebu-Ode-Epe road is a road that evacuates people from the Lekki cor­ridor to the Eastern flank of Nigeria. That road was non-existent. I had to prioritize that road. Sagamu-Abeoku­ta Road, the road leading to the state capital, was not good. People were dying. I had to prioritize that road, another federal road, and so many other roads.

“Today we can brag and say not only have we constructed 600 kilo­meters of highways or roads, both in­ter-state, intra-state, inner-city roads, but, I beat my chest that there is no local government in Ogun State today that does not have at least one or two roads that we have reconstructed in the last five years and that is in line with been equitable and fair,” he said.

The Governor’s inspection tour did not leave out the 20-kilometre Agbara-Lusada-Atan in Ado Odo/ Ota Local Government Area which has been in a deplorable condition. On Wednesday, precisely July 10, 2024 while speaking to newsmen on his ac­tion plan for the project, he promised that the ongoing construction work on the road would be completed in September. He also stressed the im­portance not only to the economic well-being of the State but the nation as a whole.

Recalling the meeting he had with industrialists in the area before his assumption of office, he promised to put the road in a better shape soon. According to him, the road was in a terrible condition, leading to trailers and other articulated vehicles falling on their sides. However, concerned with the plight of the residents, he said his administration decided not to wait for the Federal Government be­fore commencing its reconstruction.

Governor Abiodun expressed op­timism that the road would revive businesses and the socio-economic de­velopment of the area on completion. He said he was on the road to see the level of work done so far and assured that it would be dualised from the La­gos-Badagry road end to the Agbara Industrial Estate gate, while a single lane would be constructed to Atan to aid movement.

Unveiling the glad tiding, he said: “I am here today to have an on-the-spot assessment of how the contractor is doing. I have given them certain time­lines, and I want to ensure that they are working in tandem to ensure they meet those timelines.

“I have said to them that they must ensure that from the Lagos-Badagry end, the dual carriageway is complet­ed to the entrance of the industrial es­tate, the OPIC entrance so that trucks and trailers that coming from the port can enjoy the dual carriageway easily going in and out effortlessly so we can increase productivity and enhance their operations.

“We will now focus on one lane be­yond the OPIC entrance all the way to Atan first. Let’s finish that so our peo­ple can enjoy the driving pleasure all the way from Lagos-Badagry to Atan on one side.

“One side is 4.75 wide. It will take at least four vehicles. Let’s finish that because this road has cost us so much.

“You can imagine a few months ago, you award a contract. Before the ink dries up on that contract, the cost of asphalt has increased three times in one day. So I said, let’s finish this because we are committed to it. We are a promise-keeping administra­tion. We only make promises that we can keep.”

Similarly, the hardship being en­countered by motorists plying the Lagos-Abeokuta Express Way will soon be a thing of the past, as Gov­ernor Abiodun and his Lagos State counterpart, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu have received the approval of the Federal Government to commence reconstruction of the ever-busy road. Recounting the bureaucratic bottled neck experienced in their failed at­tempts under the previous adminis­tration of ex-president Muhamma­du Buhari to take over the road, he disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had graciously approved the transfer of the road to the state. De­spite the transfer, he explains, the state still faces stiff opposition from some federal officials, forcing his government to formally award the contract in May, with or without the necessary transfer papers.

He narrated his awful experience arising from undue obstinacy of the federal officials: “The Lagos-Sango- Abeokuta road is a federal govern­ment road and has been in a very bad shape for long. Because of the suffer­ing our people pass through on the road, I and my counterpart in Lagos jointly wrote a letter, using a single letterhead to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), seeking for the trans­fer of that road for us to reconstruct.

“After waiting for a month with­out a reply, we wrote a reminder. That road was not handed over to us until the present federal government came on board. The contract for the road has since been awarded since May this year.”

Governor Abiodun, therefore, described the sponsored attacks on his administration on social media by some faceless individuals as un­warranted, saying he would not be distracted by propaganda but remain focused on serving the people who en­trusted their mandates to him.

“My attention was drawn to vari­ous sponsored media attacks on my person and my administration. These media attacks are focusing on roads by attempting to disparage me and ac­cuse me of either neglect or not being responsive or being uncaring.

“The only reason I am here as Gov­ernor is to serve the good people of Ogun State and that I am irrevocably committed to it,” he stated.

While seeking the cooperation and understanding of residents, the governor threatened legal action against those critics misrepresent­ing his administration. He promised not to be deterred by the antics of his detractors.

…Ogbonnikan writes from Abeokuta, Ogun State capital

Our Senate is a luxury. Akpabio, the Senate President, can’t choose his words carefully.

Recently, he reminded a female senator that the Senate is not a nightclub. He was rebuking her for not obtaining his permission before speaking. In his flippancy and uncouthness, idleness could be gleaned.

Senator Akpabio received a letter from Ganduje, APC chairmen, and read it in plenary. Then, robotically, he revved the engines of the Senate and dumped Ndume. That sequence would have been fitting in a one-party communist state like China. Ndume’s sin was that he criticized the president. He said the president had good intentions but was inexplicably inaccessible and aloof, and his government was filled with crooked gatekeepers and kleptocrats. That was deemed apostasy. So the president must have fumed and ordered the National Assembly, through the party, to punish the rascally Ndume.

But the heretical letter didn’t stop there. It asked Akpabio to tell Ndume to resign from the party. Since the Senate has become the president’s distinguished handkerchief, Akpabio didn’t flinch while reading aloud the portion that asked Ndume to leave the party. The hallowed senate chambers might not be a nightclub, but isn’t it degenerating into a motor park where crude jokes mingle with acts of savagery, and the outrageous don’t often provoke any outrage?

Some have argued that the quality of the legislature is a reflection of societal decay. They had said the same thing about the clergy in churches and mosques, that they reveal the average morality of the collective. But these warped justifications of mediocrity only quicken the rot. A country that borrows to pay salaries must avoid frivolity as much as possible. Our leaders like to say we must not protest against bad governance so that foreign investors do not run away. But do they ever care about how our creditors feel when they see our leaders frittering away our resources wantonly? The Senate has to be scrapped because we have no financial strength to carry a huge white elephant on our lean back.

The country must trim down. We can’t run two legislative houses with members who live like nags and lack the sobriety to draft laws for development. The present Senate looks like an exorbitant superfluity. A surplus we can slough off to breathe better. This federation, just like the states, can thrive on a reformed unicameralism. However, this reformed legislature, as must happen in the states, should be filled with only part- time lawmakers. With a fundamental change in orientation, the lawmakers can understand their roles.

Making laws from Tuesdays to Thursdays, eight hours daily. That will be sufficient for the country. What the
country needs the most is ethical re-orientation. Not more laws. The masses need role models and transformative leadership that can birth enduring institutions. Living examples of moral probity laying down visions. Since laws are not made every day, the part-time lawmakers will have enough time for committee work, hearings, oversight visits, etc.

The part-time engagement will allow them to pursue other careers alongside legislative and associated responsibilities. The current bloated legislature isn’t just draining the country of resources with humongous perks and privileges the current lawmakers get; it sets the tone for profligacy across the arms. The legislature exists to check other arms of governments and re-orient them through legislation. But if the legislature becomes the epitome of slothfulness and wastefulness, then how can they be effective ethical standard bearers?

The country has an abundance of upright and noble citizens who can represent the people and make laws without fleecing the state. Only sitting allowances ought to be paid. Only those willing to contribute to the development of the country should contest. Lawmaking is a civic responsibility.

The only role our Senate plays that can’t be taken up by the existing House of Reps is the expression of equality of states. All states, regardless of population, contribute an equal number of senators. But since, in our case, all states must produce a federal minister by law, that expression will be preserved. A unicameral legislature is sufficient. We have never really embraced true federalism. So what exactly do we need a Senate for? All its present functions can be handed by the House of Reps where most members are also idle and passive.

But if we populate the single chamber with politicians, then the mischiefs that ail us might still persist. That single chamber will need a framework of statesmanship to lead and sustain a national rebirth. A situation where a Ganduje will transmit a letter for the removal of the whip if he criticizes the government’s Olympic preparation must be checked. The new legislature must have the gravitas to withstand the most overbearing president.

We could craft a unicameral legislature that fuses the House of Lords with the House of Commons. So, under this arrangement, only half of the seats will be filled by elections. The other half will be filled by statesmen and noble citizens nominated through a rigorous process from traditional and religious institutions; the military, police and other security agencies; civil society and professional bodies; etc. The participation of these stakeholders and institutions will offer backbone stability to our fragile democracy. Whatever inherent ideological democratic deficits this idea produces can be ameliorated by allowing only elected persons be elected by members to the leadership positions.

With a unicameral house of stakeholders and elected politicians, the legislature will help to protect and leash the country against political waywardness. A house of part-time lawmakers would be cheaper and more efficient. To complement this legislative rightsizing and refocusing, the country must reconsider a return to the parliamentary system of government. Our presidential system feels like borrowed oversized shoes. They don’t fit. We have neither the finance nor the electorate sophistication to run it.

We can start with a constitutional amendment to fix the federal legislature. From it, the states will have a practical model. If we can’t find a transformational president, then we must seek alternatives. Once we have a responsible and thinking federal legislature, the reforms needed in the other arms and across the agencies can begin.

Let’s scrap the Senate. And redesign the House of Representatives. Let’s start from there.

It is remarkable that two of the most prominent political actors who topped the news this week

on account of their blistering attacks on the performance indices of the Bola Tinubu administration were about the most energetic enablers of Asiwaju’s presidential aspiration.

Senator Ali Ndume was until this week, the Senate Chief Whip, and Comrade Salihu Lukman was also until recently, the national vice- chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Senator Ali Ndume apparently buoyed by Senator Kashim Shettima’s influence in Borno, supported Tinubu’s presidential aspiration and dynamically pushed for his victory in his Borno South senatorial district.

Indeed, Senator Ndume followed up his support for Tinubu’s successful presidential bid by also assuming the role of director- general of the campaign for Senator Godswill Akpabio’s Senate Presidency project.It is worthy of note that it is almost the tradition that whosever leads the successful campaign that brings in a new Senate President either gets the position of Senate Leader or chairmanship of a juicy committee, and notably, the Committee for Appropriations.

In Ndume’s case, he got neither. He was bested by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele as Senate Leader and then, by Senator Olamilekan Adeola for the position of Appropriations chairman.

He was settled with the position of Senate Chief Whip, the number four position in the ruling party and then with the vice-chairmanship position in the Committee of Appropriations.

Was it at this point of losing those two positions that he became bitter? Or was it at the point of losing access to the president? Or even more pointing, was it at as he claimed in his own words when he discovered that the aides of the president were the least competent persons in the land?

Those are deep questions that demand much introspection.

Remarkably, Ndume’s campaign for Tinubu was against the desire of another prominent son of Borno South, Mr Daniel Bwala who had prior to the 2023 election forsworn Tinubu’s presidential aspiration. Bwala’s rejection of Tinubu was based on the Muslim-Muslim tilt that he saw as inconsiderate of a religious balance. Indeed, Bwala followed up by etching one of the most quoted lyrics regularly sung by the opposition that “human brains don’t work when you join APC.”

A year after, Ndume who canvassed Tinubu has now been shuttled to Siberia with an open declaration that he
could well leave his chilly political confinement for any other opposition party.

Meanwhile, Bwala after his tour of duty with the Atiku Abubakar campaign in the PDP has returned to the APC reaping where he did not sow.

Unlike Ndume who cannot get access, Bwala apparently gets access to Tinubu either in Nigeria or abroad.

Senator Ndume in at least two blistering interviews reduced the Tinubu presidency to the unenviable bottom of being beyond comparison with the Muhammadu Buhari administration. According to him, that uninviting assessment arose from the emergence of a kakistocracy in the administration.

For emphasis, a Kakistocracy refers to a government presided over by the worst and most incompetent persons in a country.

This correspondent believes that the term may be too far-reaching and may only be parroted by the most extreme of Tinubu’s critics. It, however, suffices that Ndume ordinarily as chief whip should not be a critic.

Rather, as the chief whip of the Senate, he was to marshal senators towards the attainment of the party’s positions on issues.

Unfortunately, he was not able to do so, citing what he claims was the lack of access to the president.

Whether he was too blunt in his assessment of the situation can only be judged by examining the efforts he made towards obtaining the required access.

But it must be said that in a virile democracy that truly lives to its name the Chief Whip is a very sensitive position who commands the loyalty of lawmakers with his ability to apply the whip.

The letter dismissing Ndume as Chief Whip was authored by the national chairman of the APC, Dr Umar Ganduje and the national secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.

Some have described the letter as indecorous on the claim that unelected political actors appear to have shoved away the two elected senators from their positions. It is quite shocking and a reflection of the low esteem that the Senate may have tumbled to in the present dispensation.

It was in respect of that depiction that Comrade Salihu Lukman described the Senate under Senator Akpabio as a parastatal of the executive branch of government.

Lukman, of course, has his own axe to grind with the APC. He resigned his position as National Vice Chairman of the party and subsequently dumped his membership of the party after venturing on the same issues as expressed by Ndume.

Shockingly, the APC senate caucus has become a supple conclave shorn of institutional memory or its powers of articulation.

It is unarguably on account of these letdowns that the former APC national vice-chairman, Lukan now refers to the 10th Senate as a parastatal of the administration.

It is a term worse than the rubber stamp that was derisively etched on the Ahmad Lawan Senate.

Cocaine, opioids and alcohol addiction is in the same league as tobacco addiction, says the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada’s largest research and mental health teaching hospital. Members of the opioid family include heroin, morphine, codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl, according to the Johns Hopkins University medical website. 

Unbelievable! Cocaine, heroin, codeine, and morphine sharing the same podium with cigarettes? 

Surprise dropped my jaws, disbelief wrinkled my forehead. I had thought cocaine and opioids were the GOAT of narcotics. Little did I know the nicotine in tobacco qualifies the cigarette for the big league, to

How on earth did cocaine and its siblings become comrades-in-harms with cigarettes? It’s because inhaled cigarette smoke delivers nicotine to the brain within 20 seconds!

Home to breakthroughs in psychiatric research and the revolutionary discovery of dopamine receptors, CAMH says: “Nicotine releases a chemical called dopamine in the same regions of the brain as other addictive drugs. It (nicotine) causes mood-altering changes that make the person temporarily feel good. Inhaled smoke delivers nicotine to the brain within 20 seconds, which makes it very addictive—comparable to opioids, alcohol and cocaine.”

According to the foremost Canadian hospital, a simple way of identifying addiction is the cohabitation of 4 Cs in an addict. The 4 Cs are: (1) CRAVING (2) Loss of CONTROL of amount or frequency of use, (3) COMPULSION to use, and (4) Use despite CONSEQUENCES.

Relatedly,  addiction explains a chronic condition experienced when a substance or behaviour is withdrawn from the user, e.g. someone addicted to coffee might feel restless if he doesn’t get coffee when the craving arises.

Globally, millions of people battle various forms of addiction such as gambling, masturbation, hard drugs, overeating, kleptomania, shopping and alcoholism.

In general, there are four levels of addiction: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. A study published in the American Psychological Association says religious faith and spirituality may help people recover from substance abuse. The research, “Religious Denomination Affiliation and Psychological Health: Results From a Substance Abuse Population,” was authored by Thomas G. Plante, Ph.D, et al.

Let’s go back to me. How did I eat my frog? Firstly, I took myself to the mountain of transfiguration through the valley of awareness. That was when I brought myself to the realisation that cigarette was evil for my body. I criminalised cigarette and viewed it as the most despicable consumable product. When I laid it upon my mind to stop, I began to see smokers like me as victims pinned down under the weight of Zuma Rock. I knew it would take more than a mere wish to rescue me from under the yoke. 

So, I personally took the matter to God. This is the second stage of the fight. I went on my knees in prayer. I didn’t run to no pastor or imam or babalawo because I knew that God, my Maker, would hear my supplication quicker and clearer than He would hear it from any third party cassocked, turbaned or ‘lawani-ed’ as a saintly servant of God brandishing scented scriptures. Did He not say, “Ask and it shall be given. Seek and ye shall find. Knock and it shall be opened?” No mortal intercessor can convey the needs of the child better to the Father in filial terms than the child, except the child be illegitimate. I’m a legitimate child of God. Christ finished the work of intercession on the Cross and flung open the door to the Father for all.

At the second stage, I stumbled many times. Before leaving home in the morning, I would pray to God to guide me against smoking but would find myself still heading to Muhammed’s kiosk up the street. That’s when I would remember there was something I needed to discuss with Sola Tomoloju aka Sholay or Lai Ibidunni aka Layo Osha or Ayo Akinola aka Lado or Fela aka Orunmila or egbon Kole Ebisemiju aka Katuzi or the late Kayode Tomoju aka Sir Kay. All these great men lived opposite the mallam’s kiosk. Did they smoke? They belched smoke like a locomotive train.

I knew I shouldn’t go there. I knew I couldn’t escape smoking once I got there. I would say to myself, “Tunde, pádà. Turn back. There’s no way you won’t smoke there.” But I would warn myself strictly, “Listen, you mustn’t stay more than two minutes there o. Just brace up yourself. Do everything pá pà pá and leave,” – I would find myself helplessly propelled by an unseen force towards Muhammed’s kiosk. Little did I realise that the conversation within me was a raging battle inside my conscience between good and evil. It wasn’t the devil. It was a battle of choice, of free will.

As the war within me raged and I approached Muhammed’s kiosk, I would meet one of my fellow smokers, especially Sir Kay, who was fun to be with. “Professor, you look good,” he would say, adding, “Collect two Consulate and Tom Tom from Muhammed, I’ll pay.” While contemplating telling him to pay and that I would come and smoke later, Sir Kay would  bring up a political topic, “Dis our political class ehn, dem don finish us.” My resolve would evaporate. I would light the cigarette, take a puff, and tears would well in my eyes. I would flick the ash of the cigarette as it burned without smoking it, holding the conversation and blinking away my tears.

Seidu was another mallam in my area whose kiosk hangared a hodgepodge of stuff comprising mosquito coil, chewing stick, paracetamol, aboliki, kuli kuli, sugar, Maggi, tin tomato, milk, pencil, kola, soap, blade and, of course, cigarettes. Every kiosk-owning mallam in Lagos sold cigarettes.

Muhammed and Seidu were Fulani from the Niger Republic. Their credit facilities were better than any known Nigerian bank. Even though you owe, you would be given fresh commodities if you pay for the new ones you’re buying. At the end of the day, they would whisper to you gently, “Me, I dey go market next week,” informing you of your debt and the need to pay. I wonder if those folks ever made a profit. I never really owed, though. Whenever I said, “I’II stop smoking,” I’m sure they would say in their minds, “You, major shareholder, stop smoking? Abi I dey craze? You no go ever stop in Insha Allah!”

Separately, both would openly say, “E good make you stop. Me, I wan stop too. Siga no good at all,” and other fellow smokers would join in the conversation, expressing their views on the goodness and badness of smoking. This was when nobody cared where anybody came from. It was when the Fulani were the yardstick for trust and frugality. This was long before Muhammadu ibn Buhari came and put a knife into what held us together… things fall apart as madmen and specialists took the reins.

Later, I changed my tactic by changing my route; I refused to pass by Muhammed or Seidu’s kiosks. But, at times, I would have succeeded in evading all cigarette-selling mallams all day only for me to want to chill out with a bottle or two in the evening and I would inexplicably find a cigarette between my fingers. “Ha, Tunde!” I would sigh, feeling myself a letdown.

For many, smoking and drinking are Siamese twins. Separating the two is akin to using a sword without its handle. Smoking is the scabbard, alcohol is the sword, both work hand in glove, like the two hands of the grandfather clock; when you see one, know the other is coming behind, counting – tick-tock – telling smoke-weakened lungs, kidneys and liver, “Your cock has a few more corn to eat before its final crow. The body is willing but the organs are weak. RIP, soon.”

I succeeded in separating alcohol from smoking. Though I still drink rarely, I no longer rum like a pirate. I stopped ‘beering’, I now seldomly wine red wine, whisk whiskey, swish vodka if brandy isn’t available and down some scotch to scorch the cold in me – all in line with the advice of Apostle Paul in Timothy 5:23, which says, “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities (KJV).

Something happened when I visited Israel on a pilgrimage many years ago. We visited many religious sites. Some of them bore the inscription, “Silence” or “No noise, please.” Our guides would tell us the solemnity attached to the place of visit but as soon as Nigerian pilgrims got in, they would begin to shout, casting and binding to Hades all manner of imaginary spirits, speaking in a million tongues.

These were the same people who would stuff their pockets with boiled eggs, fruits, etc after mealtimes even when they knew there would still be an overabundance of food when they returned for their next meal.

I had stopped smoking then. But I always bypassed them on my way to the bar whenever they gathered in the hotel lobbies, praying for long periods,  disturbing other hoteliers. Some of them would eye me from afar as I nursed my $6 beer, and I would mind my beer, saying in my mind, “I don’t serve a Pharisee God.”

. Concluded.

On July 17, 2024, Senator Ali Ndume was removed as Chief Whip of the Senate and replaced with Senator Tahir Monguno following a directive contained in a letter sent to All Progressives Congress Caucus in the Senate signed by Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Senator Basiru Ajibola, APC National Chairman and National Secretary respectively. In the letter, Senator Ndume was alleged to “have been making uncouth and rabid outbursts against the government, before the international and before the global community is not only harmful to the government’s image alone but also undermines the party’s unity and cohesion and in addition, undermines the government’s efforts to bring in foreign direct investments to Nigeria”

What is the “uncouth and rabid outburst” made by Senator Ndume?

The letter referred to a televised interview with Arise Television where Senator Ndume expressed the concern that the APC government of President Bola Tinubu is going down, because, according to him, the government is being run by kakistocrats, which he explained to mean “a government run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens”. He went further to add that the ‘government is populated by kakistocrats and kleptocrats’, explaining that kleptocratic component refers to people “who are in government for what they can make for themselves”. Accordingly, the letter to the Senate requested Senator Ndume to “honourably resign the membership of APC and join any opposition party of his choice formally instead of hiding behind the veil of grass activism to decimate the hard-earned cohesion and goodwill that …the APC is enjoying within and outside the country.

In an ideal democratic setting where the organs of the party are functioning, a competent organ of the party would have been convened to deliberate on the issues raised by Sen. Ndume. In fact, if the organs of the party are functioning, instead of raising the issues in a television station, the issue would have been raised at a meeting of a competent organ of the party. Such a competent organ would have been the National Caucus, National Executive Committee (NEC) or National Advisory Council. Rule of fair hearing would have required that Sen. Ndume or anybody making such weighty allegations is invited and called upon to explain. The truth is, if organs of the party are functioning, the problem of lack of access to the President wouldn’t have arisen.

Somehow, the letter directing the removal of Sen. Ndume confirmed the allegations of a government of Kakistocrat. Dr. Ganduje and Sen. Ajibola and perhaps a small group of party leaders who have caged the President usurped the powers of organs of the APC and proceeded to pass judgement on Sen. Ndume. It is very doubtful if members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party are given the benefit of being part of those who took the decision to remove Sen. Ndume as the Chief Whip of the Senate. It is also doubtful if members of the APC Caucus in the Senate are consulted before the decision is taken to both remove Sen. Ndume and appoint Sen. Monguno as his replacement. It is simply an action taken by party leaders with fanatical mindset of blocking any attempt to scrutinise the President and actions being taken either directly by him or by his representatives, in whatever guise.

Beyond issues of fair hearing, the substantive allegation made by Sen. Ndume is that President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is inaccessible. Those he refers to as Kakistocrats and Kleptocrats have caged the President so much so that even Ministers are not able to access him. These are not new allegations. The way the government is being managed is quite worrisome. Anybody who knows Asiwaju Tinubu and how he has operated throughout his political life, will certainly know that it is unlike Asiwaju Tinubu to be insular. Many of the decisions taken betrays the true Asiwaju Tinubu. For instance, it is doubtful if Asiwaju Tinubu as Governor of Lagos State for eight years has had any instance of reversing any of the decisions he took. But as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the last one year, Nigerians are beginning to lose count of the number of decisions he took and ended up reversing them.

Unlike the true Asiwaju Tinubu who as Governor of Lagos State was surrounded by competent and visionary appointees, he is surrounded by third rated appointees or Kakistocrats as rightly described by Sen. Ndume. A vintage Asiwaju Tinubu, confronted by the kind allegations coming from Sen. Ndume would have publicly engaged Sen. Ndume and proved him wrong. It is debatable whether after proving him wrong he will call for his removal. By extension, therefore, it is also contestable if a normal Asiwaju Tinubu would have allowed the organs of the party to have been demobilised in the manner that is being done now. The truth is, President Asiwaju Tinubu has lost his credentials of being a democrat, a progressive politician and an Awoist. That is the main essence of the criticism made by Sen. Ndume.
The point is that there is a big difference between the old Asiwaju Tinubu, who was the Governor of Lagos State and was as an astute politician, constantly engaging and having strong relationship with people, from the Asiwaju Tinubu who is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the last one year who has become insular and inaccessible. Decisions taken in the last one year have betrayed the progressive orientation envisioned when APC was formed, or even any claimed Awoist credentials. In fact, it is very embarrassing that there is very weak correlation with even the campaign promise made by President Asiwaju Tinubu as contained in the Renewed Hope 2023, which was the campaign document of President Asiwaju Tinubu.

The way things are, it is almost as if President Asiwaju Tinubu has resolved that he will only be a one term President. Under his watch living conditions of Nigerians is continuously getting worse. Instead of making effort to develop clear plans to address the situation, the government is becoming more intolerant to criticism. In the last one week, the government has developed a fanatical mindset of condemning and criminalising criticism so much so that it is resorting to bribing religious leaders to declare that protests are ungodly. Everything is being done to suspend free speech in the country. It is almost as if we are back in the Abacha era, or even worse. As it is, personal liberties of citizens are being threatened. Fair hearing is no longer guaranteed. Sadly, we are having democracy without democrats.

All patriotic Nigerians must wake up to the responsibility of rescuing the country. How can we have a democracy that produce leaders who are intolerant to criticism? Why should we allow a situation whereby so-called leaders of the ruling party will behave like officials of military tribunals who operate with the fanatical mindset of condemning everyone accused of wrongdoing without the benefit of fair hearing? It is quite interesting that Dr. Ganduje and Sen. Basiru could ask Sen. Ndume to ‘honourably resign the membership of APC and join any opposition party of his choice formally’. Already, with nonfunctioning organs, the APC has basically dismissed all its members.
Nowhere in the Constitution of APC where the National Chairman, National Secretary, or any official, or even the National Working Committee is given the powers to summarily remove any principal officer of the National Assembly. It is a shame that the APC Senate Caucus will permit such an act of illegality. By so doing, they have set a precedence that will further erode the independence of the National Assembly. Already, with the way Sen. Godswill Akpabio has been conducting himself almost reducing the Senate Chamber to the status of a parastatal of government, the action of the APC under the leadership of Dr. Ganduje to direct removal of principal officers for criticising President Asiwaju Tinubu’s government highlight the fanatical mindset undermining Nigerian democracy.

Any democracy that cannot accommodate criticism is no democracy. A democracy that subverts fair hearing is a dictatorship. A democracy that permits a ruling party to demobilise its organs and inadvertently expels its members is worse than a military government. All patriotic Nigerian political leaders must unite to restore Nigeria’s democracy. Nigerian opposition leaders must unite to build a truly strong political party to rebuild Nigerian democracy. All our opposition leaders and orphaned leaders of APC must come together and unite. Sen. Ndume being the newest APC orphan is welcome to join the effort of political leaders in the country to restore and rebuild our democracy. So long as APC, its leadership and Asiwaju Tinubu’s government have taken the self-destructive path, which is equivalent to a declaration of working end their tenure in 2027, patriotic Nigerians must help them to ensure their defeat in 2027!

Nigerian-born Canadian Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism, Dr. Akolisa Ufodike, says Nigerians, especially youths, intending to migrate, should choose from the numerous opportunities available for them to migrate regularly and succeed.

Ufodike stated this when he visited Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, in Abuja. 

The visit was to explore strategic collaboration and partnerships on issues of multiculturalism and immigration, leveraging each other’s strengths to promote the interests of Nigerians in the diaspora, and work closely to promote regular migration.

The Minister offered to serve as a Resource Person for the Commission, sharing his expertise and experiences to support initiatives of National interest. 

In terms of regular migration routes, Nigerians are the highest ranked foreign trained doctors, second highest ranking country for International Students in Canada and also the fourth highest ranked country seeking permanent residency in Canada.

Dabiri-Erewa stated: “We are delighted to have you visit us and explore ways to work together.

“Your offer to serve as a Resource Person is a testament to the commitment of Nigerians in the Diaspora to giving back to their country.”

She added that the visit underscores the importance of collaboration between Nigerians in the Diaspora and NiDCOM in promoting regular migration and harnessing the potential of the Diaspora community for National Development.

She said NiDCOM remains committed to engaging with Nigerians in the Diaspora to promote regular migration, entrepreneurship, and investment in Nigeria.

[EagleOnline]

States across the federation have been unsettled by the ongoing plan by some faceless Nigerian youths to begin a 10-day nationwide hunger and hardship protest to draw the federal and state governments’ attention to the worsening plight of the citizens.

LEADERSHIP Weekend’s investigation in some states showed that the governors and security agencies are not comfortable with the plot and, therefore, appealed for dialogue with the government at all levels.
According to media reports, the organisers of the protest have slated August 1 to August 10, 2024 to begin the mass action across the country.

Citing the loss of life and property that characterised the #EndSARS protest in the country, the governors and other stakeholders pleaded with the organisers to shelve their plan, adding that the issues raised by them were already being addressed.

The rally organisers say “this hunger is too much.”

The federal government confirmed knowledge of hunger rally plan on Thursday when it said the “identities of many of the brains behind the protest are known, along with their collaborators who are safely residing abroad, and the government is taking necessary actions to stop their subversive plans.”
The director-general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja, said the agency’s nationwide structure had identified the sponsors of the proposed protest and likely flashpoints.

He said the government will take measures to forestall any violent occurrences in the identified locations.
He stated that the intentions of those behind the planned protest were not about governance or the state of the economy but a decoy to destabilise the country, cause mayhem, and carry out arson, killings, and maiming of innocent citizens for narrow political reasons.

In his reaction to the planned national protest against hunger and hardship, Gombe State governor Inuwa Yahaya admonished the youth in the state not to join it.

He gave the charge when he addressed the youth at the flagged-off dredging exercise of drains in the state capital to avoid flooding, where many youths were recruited to conduct the exercise.

The governor urged the police to enforce law and order and stop any demonstrations in the state.
His Yobe State counterpart, Mai Mala Buni, urged the youths, especially in the North East region, to stop planning nationwide protests, saying such a move would be dangerous and counterproductive.
Buni said this during the launch of the Ethical and Re-orientation Campaign tagged ‘Operation Gyaran Hali’ organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Ethical Re-orientation in Damaturu, the state capital.

The governor advised the youths on the responsible use of social media to shape a positive narrative about the state and the country.

He said, “No Nigerian youths, especially from the North East in their right senses will stage a protest that will disturb the hard-earned peace that people are enjoying in the North East after years of Boko Haram insurgency.”

He said the North East was yet to recover from the impact of the deadly Boko Haram insurgency, which has left the region in ruins, with millions of people’s lives and property worth billions destroyed.

“We all have not forgotten what we have gone through during the dark days of the insurgency. Only those who have no senses will pray to go back to those years when people were running for their dear lives, not to talk about what to eat.”

He said another round of protests would worsen the precarious security situation and economic hardship currently bedevilling the region and the country.

The Kano State commissioner for information, Baba Dantiye, said the state will monitor the situation and ensure all proactive measures are taken appropriately.

The executive director of Citizens for Development and Education (CDE), Ambassador Ibrahim Waiya, a civil society organisation in Kano, called for calm among Nigerians, saying street protests aren’t the best option to address the dilemma.

He said the economic challenges in Nigeria are enough to motivate the citizens to take to the streets to show their anger. Still, the low level of civilisation and exposure and the conflicting sentiments around religion and ethnicity may not allow for well-coordinated protests, which could translate into something else, just like the EndSARS protest.

In Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago on Thursday extracted a commitment from youth organisations and organised labour not to participate in the hunger protest slated for next month.
Consequently, the governor approved a N2 billion bursary for Niger students in tertiary institutions, up from an initial N500 million.

At an expanded security council meeting, the governor echoed the position of labour and youth organisations regarding their resolve not to join in the 10-day nationwide protest against hunger and economic hardship in Nigeria.

He said, “We, as youths of Niger State, have distanced ourselves from the nationwide protest because we are peaceful and want peace and tranquility. You can start demonstrations, but you cannot end demonstrations. To youths agitating for this protest, let us end this agitation and communicate and dialogue on the best way forward.”

“The food I am giving out at 50 percent subsidy was originally meant for export, but due to the hardship faced by the people, we have opened our warehouses to feed Nigerlites,” he added
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, the Shehu of Borno, Dr. Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi and the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev Dr John Bogna Bakeni and other stakeholders appealed to the citizens of Borno and the country at large to shelve the planned hunger protest and embrace dialogue.

At a stakeholders meeting convened by Governor Zulum at the Government House, Maiduguri, the governor said he was appealing to the people of Borno State and Nigerians to shun any protest that would bring hardship to Nigerians.

The stakeholders meeting comprised the members of the state executive council , traditional rulers, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Network of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the state, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ ), the Nigerian military, and the police, among others.
The Shehu of Borno, Dr Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi, joined Governor Zulum in appealing to the people of the state and the country at large to shun the proposed protest and embrace constructive engagement.

Also, Bishop John Bakeni, the chairman of CAN in the state, said what dialogue and constructive engagement cannot do, protest cannot solve.

“This is because even after the protest, we will still come back for dialogue, so why waste energy taking part in destruction when there is constructive engagement? Issues are not resolved in protest but in dialogue. The issue at hand is a wake-up call to us. We as leaders must work for justice,” he said.
In Ebonyi State, Governor Francis Nwifuru, the minister of works David Umahi and the senior programme manager of Development Integrity Intervention Goal, DiG Foundation, Mr. Anele Okoro-Agha, declared that Ebonyi youths and CSOs will not take part in the proposed prrotest

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Weekend, the chief press secretary to the governor, Dr. Monday Uzor said the federal government is working assiduously to end the hardship being experienced in the country and called on the people of the state to be patient with the President.
Similarly, Umahi urged the people of Ebonyi and Southeast to reject calls for protests against the current government.

The minister made this appeal on Wednesday during the unveiling of Tinubu’s legacy road projects to stakeholders and residents of the state.

In Akwa Ibom State, the commissioners for information, Iniobong Ememobong; agriculture, Offiong Offor, and economic development, Emem Bob, said the administration of Governor Umo Eno, through various food and agricultural interventions, had reduced tension and given people hope of a return of normalcy in the food price regime.

Mrs Offor said the government had set up a Bulk Purchase Agency (BPA) to purchase food in large quantities for onward free disbursement to the very poor with government vouchers in the 2,272 gazetted villages across the 31 LGAs.

Demonstration Is A Constitutional Right – CSOs

Reacting to the planned protest, the chief executive, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade Debo Odeniran, declared that protest is a fundamental human right that the government should not deny.

He stated, “Everybody has a right to peaceful protest as this a fundamental right that should not be disputed. However, the protest has to be structured, and there will be a demand that will be understandable to the target audience.

“The protest should be itemised and directed to the government stating what they want. And there should be suggestions or demands for what they want and ways how the government can attend to it, as there should be a spokesperson for negotiation.

“If it’s a 10-day thing, it should be stated; and you don’t just put a mark on the endpoint without stating the objective before arriving at the protest days, because: what if all the demands were met on the second day?”

Adeniran told the protesters not cause a breakdown of economic activity as people are already facing hardships. He, however, said CDHR and another CSO, CACOL, were yet to decide whether they would be joining in the protest.

On his part, the Ebonyi State senior programmes manager, Development Integrity Intervention Goals, Mr Anele Okoro-Agha, said the CSOs had not been notified of the planned protest, adding that the organisation will mobilise for the protest.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Weekend in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital yesterday, the director/CEO of AHDC, Prof Gabriel Umoh, lamented the pains Nigerians have to go through by a single pronouncement of Mr President that “fuel subsidy is gone”, knowing fully well that everything in Nigeria – transportation, production and every other businesses – depend on energy.

He signed on to the action but kicked against it being used as a weapon to drive destructive causes. He advised the demonstrators against destroying public assets established with taxpayers’ money.

“The whole problems stem from a single pronouncement by the President that subsidy has been removed, and the sector is the engine room driving the economy. If the oil sector is stable and the government fight corruption sincerely, recover the stolen funds and plough it back into the economy, the system will be fixed,” Umoh, a Professor of Agricultural and Development Economics at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), explained.

On its part, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) declared support for the protest and called on security agencies to respond to Nigerians’ yearnings with civility.

Its national chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, urged the citizens not to allow the planned peaceful protest to be hijacked.

Gabam highlighted that the struggle for a better Nigeria is a collective responsibility, regardless of political differences and dispositions.

The senior special assistant to the governor of Delta State on civil society and NGOs, Comrade Victor Ojei, popularly called Wong Box, has said rather than engaging in potentially dangerous protests, youths must advocate for systemic change via alternative means and hold leaders accountable for creating a Nigeria that prioritises the welfare and security of its citizens.

Ojei, who is the facilitator of the Young Nigerian Rights Organisation (YNRO), said there is no need for a protest, considering the severe insecurity prevalent in all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

“We face numerous threats from hoodlums and criminals who exploit such platforms to engage in robbery, looting, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.

“What we need as a nation is not more protests but a focused effort on researching alternative solutions to our current challenges. The government must create a functional welfare system and study other countries with people-oriented systems to ensure the welfare and security of our citizens.

“However, history has shown, as with the ENDSARS protest, that such mobilizations can result in unnecessary loss of life,” Ojei advised.

On its part, a Bauchi State-based rights group, Prison Inmate Development Initiative (PIDI-Nigeria), said that youths’ planned protest against the current hunger and hardship in the country is aimless without a rigorous blueprint for authorities to use to end the crisis.

The group leader, Mr Mbami Sabka, stated this in an interview on Friday with LEADERSHIP Weekend in Bauchi.

He said while it is a constitutional right of citizens to peacefully protest to air their grievances over issues they feel are not going well in the country, such moves must have a clear-cut design to achieve the desired results.

Northern Students, Others Pull Out

Meanwhile, Arewa Concerned Citizens Forum (ACCF) has condemned the planned August nationwide protest, describing it as an attempt by desperate politicians to undermine President Bola Tinubu-led government.

The group, in a statement by National Coordinator Matthew Victor Bobai and general secretary Hon. Rabi Aminu Zaria, said the protest was ill-timed, misguided, and potentially harmful to the nation.

The duo said, “These protests are not only synchronised and well-coordinated but also have the potential to cause collateral damage and distract the Tinubu government from its efforts to rebuild the nation.”

The Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) has also dissociated itself from any upcoming protest seemingly directed against the administration of Governor Uba Sani.

The union’s national president, Tabara Kato, revealed this during a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Thursday in Kaduna.

He expressed deep satisfaction with Governor Sani’s administration’s policy trajectory and lauded the equitable and inclusive execution of projects across the state.

The Confederation of All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups (CASG) has cautioned Nigerians regarding the upcoming nationwide protest saying such protests may lead to anarchy.

The CASG warns that advocates.

In a press conference held yesterday, the director-general of CASG, Kailani, proposed peaceful and constructive engagement instead.

Another group known as Concerned Northern Youths and Students called on youths and students across northern Nigeria to withdraw from the nationwide protests.

Students National Senate President Jibril Sani Bello, who also serves as the group’s coordinator, made the call at a press conference following a general meeting of student leaders from the north on Wednesday in Kano.

He also called on the students to appreciate President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s plans for Nigerian students who enjoy interest-free loans to support their education.

Youths in Kwara State may not participate in the hunger protest that some youths in the country are planning.

The chairman of Kwara State’s chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ali Nasir, indicated this during an interview with our reporter in Ilorin, the state capital.

Nasir said the youths in the state believe in the principles of dialogue as against protests and would only participate if dialogue failed to produce the desired results.

Security Agencies Place Personnel On Alert

Meanwhile, security agencies have mobilised the personnel to put the situation under control.

The Nigerian Air Force suspended “passes and leaves” for its personnel following the nationwide protest.

A circular cited by LEADERSHIP Weekend asked Commanders to step up security measures, monitor the situation and train personnel on crowd dispersal methods.

The circular reads: “Intelligence suggests likely nationwide protests and breakdown of law and order due to unresolved issues of minimum wage, hence the need to emplace strict security measures across all units.

“Furthermore, commanders are to review and forward complaints against violent protests. Commanders are to monitor and forward situation reports daily to acquit all personnel with complaints and train for crowd dispersal scenarios in line with the rules of engagement.”

When contacted, the director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, said the ban on leave and passes in the NAF is not unusual during perceived threats.

In Akwa Ibom State, the commissioner of police (CP), Waheed Ayilara, reiterated his zero tolerance for violence and his determination to sustain the state’s peaceful ambience.

In Ebony State, the police public relations officer Joshua Ukandu said the command had yet to receive a letter on the protest, adding that if the letter were brought to the command, modalities for the protest would be issued to the organisers.

In Sokoto, the police spokesperson, Ahmad Rufai, said the Command planned to engage stakeholders in dialogue to reach a compromise.

“We plan to hold a dialogue with stakeholders, starting Monday, with community leaders throughout the state,” he said.

Meanwhile, the commandant-general of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC), Dr Abubakar Ahmed Audi, said he had already deployed undercover officers nationwide to monitor and curb violence during the planned nationwide hunger protest.

The NSCDC boss, who spoke through his national spokesperson, CSC Babawale Afolabi, stressed that the Corps will stop at nothing to secure all Critical National Assets and Infrastructure of government (CNAI)

While highlighting their major mandate to include safeguarding CNAI, disaster management, training, supervision, and issuing practicing licences to Private Guard Companies (PGCs), he added that their role had further been expanded to include the protection of farmers and mining sites, amongst others.

Audi, who further revealed that his men would be deployed strategically to identify flash points, said that in view of the foregoing, all zonal commanders, state commandants, component commanders and special forces across all formations had been directed to be on red alert.

“Our synergy with other sister security agencies remains strong and undiluted as we continue to ensure the peace and stability of the nation without compromise,” he said.

[Leadership]

Niger and Zamfara are among the few states in the North-west and North-Central regions, endowed with huge deposits of minerals and other natural resources, and for years, several communities in the two states have been into local mining as their second source of livelihood, after farming.

Weekend Trust investigations revealed that the two states are endowed with several minerals, including talc, gold, ball clays, silica, sand, marble, copper, iron, felspar, lead, kaolin, casserole, columbine, mica, quartzite, and limestone, among others.

Participation in the local mining in those communities has become the norm among the people, as every household is actively engaged in one aspect of mining or the other, depending on the capability or economic status of the family.

Each household engages in the activities, ranging from digging the pits, stone grinding, thrashing, or washing the sand in search of natural resources, particularly gold. Very few among the locals serve as agents of the major gold dealers.

Residents conduct mining locally, taking their gold and other minerals to places like Lagos, Port-Harcourt and sometimes to countries like Ghana and Benin Republic, among others, for onward sale to major dealers.  On some occasions, the dealers visit the two states to buy gold and other minerals directly from the miners or through their agents.

The link between gold mining and banditry 

Until the emergence of banditry in the two states, local mining had been taking place in several communities in Niger and Zamfara states without much negative impact, apart from the major hazard of mining pits’ collapse.

Even after the incidents of banditry started in the two states, initially, there was no link between the mining activities and the violent act. While the criminals were kidnapping for ransom, engaging in cattle rustling and carrying out attacks on villages and towns, the residents on the other hand, concentrated on mining and farming as their sources of livelihood.

In Zamfara State, Weekend Trust gathered that the link between banditry and mining emanated from the miners, who developed the habit of killing one another in the course of their activities.

Alhaji Yusuf Bello, a local miner in Mutunji village, Maru Local Government, told Weekend Trust that, “Sometimes when a miner gets expensive gold, his colleagues connive and kill him in order to take away the gold. You know they carry Dane guns for protection because most of the mining sites are located in remote areas.

“However, as humans, sometimes they envy their colleagues whenever they get huge gold. So, at times, they kill their colleagues with a view to taking away the expensive mineral they have found.

“This is how killings among the miners started, and that was also the starting point of banditry in this part of the country. Both banditry and mining are about getting money,” he said.

Our correspondents learnt that after the bandits have rustled cattle and other animals and birds in the villages and towns, they will then compel the people to sell other properties to pay ransom for their loved ones to regain their freedom. Then, the bandits realised that whenever they demanded ransom, the relatives of their victims always asked to be given some days to enable them to sell their gold to pay.

This is said to have made the bandits change their tactics by using informants among the locals to know who had gold or any expensive mineral in the communities, so that he or his relatives would be abducted.

According to Idris Musa, a resident of Ruwan Dorawa village: “It is through this method that the bandits got to know that most of those that were paying ransom as and when due to free their loved ones, were from the gold mining families.

“That is how the bandits got attracted to mining activities. They got to understand that a lot of money was being made from it. The bandits, therefore, engaged in mining in many ways,” he further explained. 

He said currently, most of the mining sites in the state are either owned or controlled by bandits’ leaders, recalling that “about three months ago, one of the bandit kingpins, Kachalla Halilu, allegedly got gold worth N150 million in Kanye village, Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

“Kachalla focuses more on mining than banditry nowadays. He has hired dozens of local miners who are currently working for him at various mining sites across the state. Also, in Mada village, Gusau Local Government Area, more than half of the mining sites operating in Fegin-Mahe and Ajiya villages and parts of Zurmi Local Government Area are said to be owned and controlled by bandits’ leaders.

Muhammad Sanusi, a resident of Zurmi town, told Weekend Trust that, “We always wonder why the local mining continues in this part of the state despite the security challenges we are facing. You will never hear that bandits attacked mining sites in this area.

“But the bandits have launched several attacks on villagers, abducting and killing scores of people besides the large number of domestic animals and other belongings they cart away or destroy. This is to tell you that there is a strong link between the bandits and miners,” he said. 

Also, a resident of Tsafe town, Iliyasu Abubakar, alleged that the famous bandits’ leaders, Bello Turji and Ado Alleiro, were involved in mining activities. They are said to own mining sites in Maru, Bukkuyyum, Maradun and Tsafe local government areas, among other places.

Also, checks in Dansadau district indicated that there are no fewer than 18 villages where bandits are carrying out mining activities, with another 18 villages in Zurmi    Local Government, while in Birnin Magaji, the residents have entered an agreement with a bandit kingpin, Dan Karami, to control all the mining sites in Gotal and Shamshalle villages and allow them to live in peace.

Sometime in September last year, one of the bandits’ leaders in the state, Damina, placed a levy of N200 million on the people of Mutunji village in Maru, after he heard about a huge amount of gold scooped by one of the local miners in the village. And when the people failed to pay the levy, Damina abducted 150 members of the community, Weekend Trust gathered.

It was further gathered that virtually all the bandits’ leaders operating in Zamfara State are into illegal mining activities to get more money to buy sophisticated weapons, in order to sustain their operations.  

Having realised the strong link that exists between banditry and mining, the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, in January this year, signed an Executive Order prohibiting traditional rulers from issuing consent letters for mining across the state.

A statement issued by the governor’s spokesman, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed that the Executive Order was signed to stop one of the worst trends in the fight against banditry.

According to him, the order banned all consent letters for mining. “This includes consent letters to individuals, companies, or organisations for mining activities,” it stated.

In his remarks while signing the Order, Governor Lawal said the decision was taken due to the severe danger posed by the frequent issuance of consent letters for mining to individuals and groups.

He said: “The mining activities in Zamfara have been identified as a significant factor contributing to the worsening security situation of the state, especially the menace of banditry.

“As a responsible government, it is crucial that we take decisive action to resolve the issue of illegal mining operations that have been contributing to the crisis. That’s why I have signed the executive order. We are taking all necessary steps to rectify the problems related to the issuance of consent letters, which have been abused,” he said.

In Niger State, the narrative is similar, as victims of terrorism and banditry said, despite the unfortunate explosion that rocked the Galadima-Kogo community in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state on February 21, 2022, leading to the death of four officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), miners were seen going to the mining sites for work.

“It was surprising. We were running to IDP camps in Zumba, and miners, mostly foreigners, were going to the site. And even when we were at the IDP camps the following day, we saw them passing. We wondered why they were not attacked,” one of the residents said.

The February bomb explosion was one of the severest attacks launched on communities in the state. Residents said millions of naira worth of property and several deaths have been recorded through the activities of terrorists in most of the mineral-endowed LGAs of Shiroro, Munya, Rafi, Paikoro, Mariga, Mashegu, and Kontagora, among others. Despite these attacks, mining activities have been going on freely, especially by mining companies.

Sources said the only attack on a mining site was that of June 29, 2022, at a site belonging to some Chinese nationals at Ajata-Aboki, Gurmana ward of Shiroro LGA, during which four of the Chinese nationals were kidnapped, and no fewer than 43 lives reportedly lost, while other people were severely injured.

The criminals, numbering over 100, launched the bloody attack in broad daylight, that fateful day, leading to the death of seven mobile policemen guarding the site and 30 soldiers who moved from Erena for reinforcement.

Residents, who spoke with Weekend Trust, attributed the attack on the mining site to an alleged breach of agreement by the company’s managers.

One of the locals said: “Amidst this ravaging insecurity, one can hardly understand the reason behind the granting of operational licence to expatriates to carry out mining activities in highly risky and volatile areas.

“This negligence by the government has the potential to invite chaos and instability to the affected areas, and it will undoubtedly endanger the lives of residents in the area,” the local added.

Weekend Trust was told that the mining site had been in operation for over two years before it was attacked, but that within the two years, several attacks were launched in the communities around the site and the miners were not touched.

Subsequently, when the concerns over the connection between mining and insecurity in the state heightened, the immediate past government under Abubakar Sani Bello, in July 2022, announced the suspension of mining activities in Shiroro, Munya and Rafi LGAs.

The then Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, said in a statement that the decision became necessary as a result of escalating insecurity in the affected areas.

The state government warned that any operator caught engaging in mining activities in the areas mentioned would face the full wrath of the law.

“The state government has directed security agencies in the state to profile all mining sites in the affected local governments with a view to ascertaining their genuineness,” the statement read.

Similarly, the current Niger State governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has on several occasions, linked the festering insecurity in the state, especially in Shiroro and Munya LGAs to the activities of miners, who are believed to be engaged in terrorism financing through percentage payments to terrorists to sustain their stay.

On September 25, 2023, the current administration announced its decision to profile miners across the state due to complaints that they were paying bandits and terrorists to allow them access to mining sites.

Garba Sabo Yahaya, the state’s Commissioner for Mineral Resources, who was asked to supervise the profiling process, said the decision was due to a petition submitted at the ministry.

“We want to have the actual data of the miners in the state. The profiling will include their location, and when there is intervention from the government, we can easily locate them. Also, there is information from some quarters that miners are sponsoring bandits. People alleged that they pay bandits to allow them to do their mining business.

“So, profiling them will enable us to know who is who and his location and if need be, we will be able to trace him. Right now, there’s a letter I received alleging that miners are sponsoring bandits. So, we are going to liaise with the Ministry of Home Security to tackle this issue,” he said.

He said that while profiling was the first step, a task force would be constituted to flush out illegal miners across the state.

Also speaking, Muhammad Ismaila Danbaba Mambo, Chairman, Miners Association of Nigeria, Niger State chapter, said profiling of miners was a good step taken by the government, but disagreed with the claim that miners were paying terrorists to access their mining sites.

“Niger State is blessed with a lot of mineral resources, and we have been championing that for a long time as leaders in the sector. So this profiling is a step to protect the operations of even the miners and every other citizen in the state.

“This profiling will go a long way to even help the leaders of the association, in the sense that government and we, the leaders will be able to know who operates here and what documents he or she has to back his stay in the state as a miner.

“But I want to say without apologies that there is no miner, legally licenced and operating in Niger State that connives with or has any affiliation with bandits. I have thrown this challenge before, and I will continue to do it. No single miner has been arrested for collaborating with bandits or sponsoring bandits. No miner has been arrested with even an AK47 in Niger State. The governor can allege that banditry is linked to mining activities, but that needs to be proved; he has to go a long way,” he said.

Mambo, however, said: “But when you talk of social crimes, labourers engage in smoking and drug abuse, and I will never deny that one. But we have no relationship with bandits. Some people said bandits do pass miners without attacking them. Bandits see miners as poor people; people who have nothing to give them.  If not poverty, how can someone dig a hole to the extent that if it collapses, he dies there? So, when bandits see them, they feel they cannot get money from them.”

Despite all the measures taken by the previous and present administrations in the state, killings and kidnapping of farmers have continued, while mining activities have continued uninterrupted.

The recent collapse of a mining pit belonging to the African Minerals and Logistics Limited, a federal government-licenced miner, also confirms the presence of miners in the security-ravaged communities even as scores of residents have vacated their homes.

Residents told our correspondent that a day after the pit collapsed, bandits visited the area to confirm the claims.

Speaking with Weekend Trust, the President of Lakpma Youth Forum, Babangida Zaharudeen Kudodo, said miners have direct or indirect connections with terrorists and bandits that have attacked their communities for the past 10 years.

“Any sensible person or individual must believe that miners must have connections with bandits or terrorists. For example, in the last administration in Niger State, if you recall, Erena Road in Shiroro LGA was under construction when the criminals came several times to kidnap construction workers, but can you imagine that a mining site, which is also along that same road, none of its workers was kidnapped even once? So, what is happening if they don’t have connection with the terrorists and bandits?

“Why would they allow the miners to continue working, but they will not allow others to work? And everyone knows that these people who are mining in those places are making huge amounts of money,” he said. 

Also speaking, Jibrin Umar, a resident of the area said, “The thing is that miners are negotiating with terrorists or bandits to allow them to stay peacefully. So, bandits have no issues with the miners. Are you aware that these mining companies give a percentage in gold or cash to bandits?

“Whatever they mine in a day, bandits have a percentage out of it. If they (bandits) collect the raw gold as their percentage share, they sell it back to the company and collect cash, and some of them enter the towns too to sell the raw gold to buyers. That is what has been happening,” he alleged.

The Commissioner of Police, Zamfara State Command, Muhammad Shehu Dalijan, maintained that there was strong connectivity between banditry and mining not only in Zamfara, but anywhere in the country where the two activities are taking place.

Dalijan said: “In the case of Zamfara, my area of jurisdiction, most of the bandits are the illegal miners. They are the owners of majority of the mining sites spread across the state. They control them either directly or indirectly.

“The essence of denying people access to their farmlands is to prevent them from seeing what they (bandits) are doing at the mining sites. They don’t want people to know what they are doing or what they are getting through the mining; that is why they are preventing them from going to their respective farms.

“The bandits are also using the money they are getting through mining to buy weapons. Again, most times, the bandits abduct young people purposely to take them to mining sites to work for them. So, you see the connectivity. You see how strong the relationship between the banditry and mining is,” he said.

Other security experts who spoke with Weekend Trust, said what is now expected of Zamfara and Niger state governments is to further investigate the connection between mining and banditry by identifying the owners of mining sites and sponsors of banditry, with a view to addressing the menace.

There are concerns over the incessant attacks and humiliation of Nigerians in foreign lands.

This is as citizens continue to move out of the country in droves amid the prevailing hardship in the country.

In the last few months, there have been reports of maltreatment of many Nigerians abroad, even by fellow African countries.

However, despite the cries for justice from their loved ones, they hardly get one.

Reports show that over the past seven years, more than 350 Nigerians have been murdered extrajudicially in foreign countries.

Most of them fell victim to non-state actors with no justifiable reason for their deaths.

Most recently, precisely on June 26, 2024, a wave of protests broke out outside the Republic of Benin Embassy in Abuja, as Nigerians, particularly youths, rallied to demand the release of Pastor Benjamin Egbaji.

The Nigerian cleric, who is a native of Cross River State, has been detained in Benin for over a year.

Pastor Egbaji, who heads a church, Église De Miracle Et Action Du Saint Esprit in Benin, was accused of rape by Pede Victoire, a citizen of Benin.

Egbaji has remained in detention without trial. He is said to be subjected to harsh conditions, including being chained in a hospital.

The protesters decried the prolonged detention of Pastor Egbaji without due process and the lack of a fair trial.

Recall that in response to these injustices, the previous administration under President Muhammadu Buhari established the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), tasked with addressing the mistreatment and welfare of Nigerians abroad, with a particular focus on those unjustly imprisoned.

Chronicles of Nigerians killed in foreign lands

NiDCOM’s chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in 2022 revealed the alarming rate of killing of Nigerian students in Northern Cyprus.

According to her, over a span of six years, 13 Nigerians had been slain.

In July 2022, the murder of 39-year-old Nigerian, Alika Ogorchukwu, by an Italian man shocked the nation.

Ogorchukwu was beaten to death on a busy street, in full view of onlookers.

In the same month, two Nigerian security guards, Tosin Amos-Arowoshegbe and Chibueze Momah, were gunned down while on duty in Vaughan, Canada.

Another citizen, Chizoba Favour Eze died in an Ethiopian prison after being brutally beaten by prison officials. Chizoba was left untreated for days, eventually succumbing to her injuries.

Nigerians in South Africa have faced relentless xenophobic attacks. Since 2016, over 200 Nigerians have been killed extrajudicially.

Others remain in jail without trial

Sadly, many Nigerians have continued to languish in various prisons abroad due to minor offenses or no offence at all.

In 2021, data published by Patriotic Citizens Initiatives, a civil society group, indicated that 170,000 Nigerians were serving terms for drugs/human trafficking and other minor offences across the world.

This reflected a sharp rise from the 16,300 recorded in 2012, out of which 6,500 were on death row.

PCI also said that as many as 8,000 Nigerians were incarcerated in Chinese prisons, 3,719 in Canadian prisons, while British jail houses were home to some 750 Nigerian inmates.

India also held about 1,000 Nigerian prisoners. Indonesia imprisoned 200 Nigerians, with 40 of the inmates on death row.5 Oct 2023.

Even in neighbouring Benin Republic, over 3,000 Nigerians are being held behind bars.

Ayobamidele Kehinde, the International Director for Dynamic Ambassadors For Social Transformation and Orientation Initiative, told DAILY POST that the story of Benjamin Egbaji is one of many among the attacks on Nigerians in the neigbbouring West African nation.

He said, “I want the Nigerian people, the good people in Benin Republic and indeed the people of the world to rise up; this thing I am telling you is not just about Benjamin Egbaji, but Benjamin Egbaji’s case is just like a case that is opening up a can of worms that we have.

“There are thousands of Nigerians in Benin Republic prisons who have not committed any offence or committed minor offences and they are sentenced to prison just because they are Nigerians.

“I want to give you an instance; when this whole thing started, I called a prominent businessman in Benin Republic and said please one of our prominent brothers is having a case, how can you help.

“The man pleaded with me, he said ‘here, don’t just by mistake get into any trouble, they will finish you and every of your investment they will go with it’”.

Also speaking with DAILY POST, Mr Abdur-Rahman Balogun of the Media and Public Relations Unit of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, attributed most of the cases to what he described as “communication gap” and lack of respect for rules to foreign lands.

According to him, “Whenever we hear of any case, we link up with our embassy’s interesting countries.

“And then to do a total investigation. Because in most cases, like I said, we discover that some of our nationals are at fault. In some cases we discover that it is a communication gap.

“Look at the case in Dubai. There was a law that says you should not be taking pictures of the airport.

“A lady got there and saw a scene and started recording. They got her arrested and sentenced her to prison.

“They have their own law and if you get there, you have to obey.”

In the case of Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, Balogun said the Nigerian government was interested in the case and was making necessary efforts to make sure his rights were not trampled upon.

“Yes, we received a letter dated March 5, 2024, from his lawyer over the issue. We reached out to our ambassador in Benin Republic, who is also on the matter.

“The matter is already in court. But notwithstanding, we sent some lawyers there to make sure they didn’t trample on his fundamental human rights,” he revealed.

When informed that the pastor is currently being chained to bed and his health is failing, Balogun said he was just hearing that for the first time

“Well, I am just hearing that for the first time. He has a lawyer. It is when you don’t have a lawyer that you will panic.

“Apart from his lawyer, we also supported him with two lawyers,” he added.

[DailyPost]