The Labour Party, headed by Keir Starmer, on Friday won an outright majority in the lower house of the British parliament.

The Labour Party swept to power after crossing the 326-seat threshold for a working majority in the House of Commons.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded defeat in the general election minutes before any media outlet declared that the threshold of 326 seats was reached.

Here are 24 things to know about UK PM elect Keir Starmer

1. Sir Keir Rodney Starmer was born in Southwark, London on September 2, 1962.

2. He grew up in the town of Oxted in Surrey.

3. He was the second of the four children of Josephine (née Baker), a nurse, and Rodney Starmer, a toolmaker. His mother had Still’s disease.

4. His parents were Labour Party supporters, and reportedly named him after the party’s first parliamentary leader, Keir Hardie, though Starmer said in 2015 that he did not know whether this is true.

5. He is a British politician and barrister. 

6. He has served as Leader of the Labour Party since 2020.

7. He has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015, and previously served as Leader of the Opposition from 2020 to 2024 and as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013.

8. Starmer will succeed Rishi Sunak as prime minister following the Labour Party’s victory at the 2024 general election.

9. Starmer attended the selective state Reigate Grammar School which became a private school while he was a student.

10. He was politically active from an early age and joined the Labour Party Young Socialists at the age of 16.

11. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Leeds in 1985 and gained a postgraduate Bachelor of Civil Law degree at St Edmund Hall at the University of Oxford in 1986.

12. After being called to the bar, Starmer practised predominantly in criminal defence work, specialising in human rights.

13. He served as a human rights adviser to the Northern Ireland Policing Board and was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 2002, later citing his work on policing in Northern Ireland as being a key influence on his decision to pursue a political career.

14. During his time as Director of Public Prosecutions, he dealt with a number of major cases including the Stephen Lawrence murder case.

15. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to law and criminal justice.

16. Starmer was elected to the House of Commons at the 2015 general election.

17. As a backbencher, he supported the unsuccessful Britain Stronger in Europe campaign in the 2016 European Union membership referendum.

18. He was appointed Shadow Minister for Immigration by Jeremy Corbyn but resigned from this role in June 2016 as part of the wider shadow cabinet resignations in protest of Corbyn’s leadership. Accepting a new post under Corbyn that year as Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Starmer advocated a proposed second referendum on Brexit. Following Corbyn’s resignation after Labour’s defeat at the 2019 general election, Starmer succeeded him as party leader by winning the 2020 leadership election on a left-wing platform.

19. As the Labour leader, Starmer has repositioned the party away from the left and toward the political centre.

20. He has emphasised the importance of eliminating antisemitism within the party, a controversial issue during Corbyn’s leadership.

21. His supporters have praised him for his antisemitism reforms and for helping to improve Labour’s credibility with the electorate in the aftermath of the previous leadership, while his critics have accused him of unfairly treating leftist Labour members.

22. In 2023, Starmer set out five missions for his government, targeting issues such as economic growth, health, clean energy, crime and education.

23. Starmer led Labour to a landslide victory in the 2024 general election, ending fourteen years of Conservative rule.

24. His landslide victory was similar to the one achieved by Tony Blair at the 1997 general election, the last time a Labour opposition ousted a Conservative government.

[TheNation]

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Lagos State Command has beefed up security at its entrance in the wake of a planned protest.

The Nation reports Friday that operatives of the Lagos State Anti-Crime Outfit – Rapid Response Squad and men of the Department of State Services are among the joint security forces stationed at all routes leading to the EFCC office located at Awolowo Road in the Ikoyi area of the state.

On Thursday, the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale said intelligence at the disposal of some Civil Society Organisations showed that a former governor and two former ministers are behind the protests being organised against the EFCC.

This is coming after the commission had raised the alarm that some groups were planning a series of protests against it. 

A user on X.com identified as #PidomNigeria had shared the demands of the protesters – Concerned Nigeria Youths, in a letter dated July 4, 2024, and addressed to the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede.

The protest is due to take place with a hashtag on X.com as #ReformEFCC.

As seen by PUNCH Online, the demands include, “Respect our fundamental human rights, Stop indiscriminate arrest and invasion of people’s homes/businesses in the middle of the night like armed robbers, Stop the stereotyping and profiling of young innocent Nigerian youths, Be more professional and civil in your operations,” among others.

The protest will take place in some other states across the country — Edo, Enugu, Kwara, Oyo, Gombe, and the Federal Capital Territory, among others.

[Punch]

THE CNN American Presidential Debate showed humanity is in a catch-22 situation while the European high speed far-right turns on the cliffs, threaten to plunge humankind into an uncertain world.

The far-right turns have been taken in countries like Switzerland, Hungary, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Serbia, France and to some extent, Germany.

The only light visible at the end of the European tunnel is the British elections in which the Labour Party is set to end rudderless Tory rule. The British Conservative Party rule has been so chaotic that it has in the last 14 years produced five Prime Ministers: David Cameroon, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. Despite this welcome change, it is difficult, to distinguish the migration policies of the main British parties. They follow the emerging pattern in most of Europe where the policies of the far-right, right-wing, centrist, liberal, labour and left-wing parties on migration and commitment to a common humanity are blurred.

In fact, some European governments have lost all sense of humanity in dealing with the issue of migration as they deliberately ensure that migrants are drowned in the seas, or they do the drowning themselves.

The British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, in its documentary of Monday, June 17, 2024 titled ‘Dead Calm: Killing in the Med?’ provided irrefutable evidence of Greece deliberately forcing migrants to their death in the seas or intentionally drowning them.

The BBC, which analysed 15 such cases, reported that: “In five of the incidents, migrants said they were thrown directly into the sea by the Greek authorities. In four of those cases they explained how they had landed on Greek islands but were hunted down. In several other incidents, migrants said they had been put onto inflatable rafts without motors which then deflated, or appeared to have been punctured.”

In one of the cases, a Camerounian man, and his fellow travellers, Didier Martial Kouamou Nana and Sidy Keita from Cameroun and Cote d’Ivoire, were hunted down by Greek authorities after they landed in September 2021 on the island of Samos.

They were beaten and thrown into the sea without life jackets. The first two drowned while the survivor managed to swim to shore.

A Somali migrant who was caught in March 2021 by the Greek army on arrival on the island of Chios, was handed over to the Greek coastguard. The latter zip-tied his hands behind his back and tossed him into the water. Luckily, one of his arms broke free and he swarm to safety. But the other three victims, tossed into the waters, died.

One of the most heart-wrenching cases the BBC verified, occurred in September 2022 when a boat carrying 85 migrants had its motor cut out near the Greek island of Rhodes. The Greek coastguard which responded to their May Day call, loaded them onto a boat, then put them in life rafts. Survivor Mohamed said the raft he and his family were given had not had its valve properly closed, so they began to sink. He said: “We immediately began to sink, they saw that… They heard us all screaming, and yet they still left us.” Seven or eight children had died before the Turkish coastguard arrived.

One year before the BBC report, the most criminal case against Greece occurred on June 14, 2023 off south-western Greece. A fishing trawler crammed with over 700 migrants sent a distress call the morning before. The Greeks merely sent out an helicopter to circle the ship. It was only at 11pm, a Greek coastguard boat arrive. Three hours later, the ship sank claiming over 600 souls.

Survivors claimed the ship capsized when the Greeks tried to tow it while the Greek Government claimed the vessel refused assistance.

Italy might be worse than Greece. While the latter ensures that distressed migrants at sea die out of deliberate neglect, Italy backs its actions by law. Its Piantedosi Act of February 24, 2023 makes it a criminal act for any vessel already having rescued migrants on board to rescue other distressed migrants at sea even if they were seen drowning.

As we might know, the policy of the current British government is to round up alleged illegal migrants, fly them to Rwanda and dump them in camps.

Given these official policies and acts, physical attacks on migrants in some European cities and a consensus towards a far-right swing, Europe might be losing its soul.

In the case of the USA, not a few were alarmed by the lacklustre performance of a clearly tired, slow and uninspiring 82-year-old President Joseph ‘Joe’ Robinette Biden in the June 27, 2024 CNN American Presidential Debate. After 36 years in the Senate, eight years as Vice President and four years as President, Biden should have given way to a younger, more energetic and mentally alert Democratic Presidential candidate. But a caucus, desperate to cling on to power, has pushed him to the point where four months before the Tuesday, November 5 Presidential election, questions are being asked whether Biden is mentally and physically fit to run.

It is not that some of us who are worried are Democratic Party or Biden supporters. We are just concerned that the road is being cleared for the return of his predecessor, Donald Trump, a mercurial character convicted on sundry cases, including “hush money” paid to porn actress, Stormy Daniels. We are worried that a narcissist adult who does not seem capable of distinguishing between truth and falsehood and, openly tried to carry out a coup against the American state, may be sworn in next January as the President of ‘God’s Own Country’.

But it is debatable whether Trump would have been worse than Biden in the on-going genocide in the Palestine. Biden poured $12.5b aid into Israel even when it was obvious that what is afoot is genocide against the Palestinians. To collectively punish the Palestinian populace, he stopped US aid to the UN Peace and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees.

As the Palestinian casualties rose, Biden said : “I have no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed.” So for him, the issue is not the massacres, but that the figures might not be high or high enough. Thrice, the Biden Presidency vetoed the UN Security Council, UNSC, resolutions calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Palestinian War. Finally, as worldwide protests mounted, he submitted a ceasefire agreement to the UNSC to which he claimed Israel had agreed. It turned out that this was false.

The far-right swing in Europe, and the threatened Trump return might mean that the West is defining its own humanity and that its mask of civility has pulled off.

Britain’s new Labour government has pledged immediate action to grow the economy after clinching a landslide election victory to oust the Conservatives, but its task could be hampered by strained state finances following huge Covid expenditures.

The centre-left Labour administration led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised investment in key areas such as health and education but also stresses the need to balance the books.

This after government coffers were further hit by subsidies for energy bills after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent oil and gas prices rocketing.

– Stability –

Starmer will want to avoid a repeat of October 2022, when the then-Conservative government’s proposed unfunded tax cuts spooked markets and tanked the pound.

It also sank the chaotic premiership of Liz Truss, who lasted just 49 days before she was replaced by Rishi Sunak.

Truss then lost her seat in Thursday’s election.

Britain’s economy is currently on a more stable footing after exiting a mild recession and as inflation returns to normal.

Labour “will benefit from the economic recovery”, noted Ashley Webb, UK economist at Capital Economics research group.

However, eight years after Britain voted for Brexit, businesses still lament economic fallout caused by the country’s departure from the European Union, with little prospect of change in the near future.

Starmer has ruled out returning Britain to the European single market, customs union, or bringing back free movement of EU nationals.

– ‘Safe haven’ –

“I want investors to look at Britain and say it is a safe haven in a turbulent world, a place where I can invest with confidence in a world where perhaps other countries are tilting to more populist politics,” Labour finance spokesperson Rachel Reeves said ahead of Thursday’s UK vote.

She has also said that “change will be achieved only on the basis of iron discipline”.

British public debt has flirted with a level totalling 100 percent of gross domestic product in recent months — a situation not seen since the 1960s.

“The reason for Starmer’s popularity (is) because he offered a changeless change,” said James Wood, senior teaching associate in political economy at the University of Cambridge.

“He basically is a Conservative in a red tie,” Wood said in reference to the colour associated with the Labour party and Starmer’s prudence around spending.

Ahead of the election, Labour increasingly won support of company bosses and key UK publications — including the Financial Times —  who believe the party can successfully manage the economy.

Following Labour’s landslide, business chiefs on Friday urged Starmer to prioritise economic growth.

The Confederation of British Industry declared that “now is the moment to get behind growth”, while manufacturers’ organisation MakeUK said Labour “faced an “urgent need to kick start the UK’s anaemic growth levels of recent years and boost investment in our infrastructure”.

The City of London Corporation, which is the local authority for the capital’s financial district, called on Starmer to place the powerful sector “at the forefront of Labour’s plans to drive growth”.

– Spend and tax –

Included in Labour’s spending plans is the creation of publicly-owned Great British Energy, with the aim of slashing bills as millions of Britons still struggle with a high cost of living.

The party has an ambition also to hike defence spending to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product from around two.

According to Daniel Sopher, senior partner at tax specialists Sopher + Co, “tax is going to go up” to fund public services.

“There’s only so much to what one can increase debt to,” he told AFP.

At the same time, with Labour having been elected with a big majority, the party’s leadership may feel pressure from its own members to relax budget rules, according to analysts.

“I don’t think that anyone in the markets will be made nervous by yet another change of the fiscal rules,” said Jonathan Portes, an economist at King’s College London, noting that the Conservatives have altered them numerous times since winning power in 2010.

“Obviously the fiscal rules are going to change, the question is how will they change and will they change in a way that is sensible.”

[Vanguard]

British leader Rishi Sunak conceded defeat Friday to Keir Starmer’s main opposition Labour party in the UK general election, saying, “I take responsibility for the loss”.

“Today, power will change hands in a peaceful and orderly manner with goodwill on all sides,” said Sunak, as his Conservative party appeared heading for historic defeat to Labour.

The result ends 14 years of Conservative government during which five prime ministers ran the country.

Sunak became the prime minister on October 25, 2022, the youngest British Asian and the first Hindu to be in that position.

The 42-year-old is the youngest British Prime Minister since Robert Jenkinson.

AFP

Lawyers representing Aminu Ado Bayero, 15th emir of Kano, have withdrawn in the ongoing Kano emirate tussle before the state high court.

At the resumed court session on Thursday, Abdul Muhammed, counsel to the first respondent, informed the court that he had an affidavit of fact dated July 3, attached with a notice of appeal and a motion of stay of proceedings.

He urged the court to stay proceedings pending the hearing and determination of the motion at the appeal court.

“When a judge of a high court is aware of application in a higher court, the notification in the dependency in the lower court must be in affidavit of facts,” he said.

“It is expected that a trial court should stop the hearing on the matter pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

He told the court that they were served with the court processes on Thursday morning.

He sought an adjournment that would enable them to respond but the court refused his prayers.

He therefore announced his withdrawal of service from the case.

Sanusi Musa, another member of the team, announced their withdrawal from the case on behalf of the other counsels for the first respondent.

“Myself and other counsels apply for the withdrawal of our representation and appearances,” Musa said.

Hassan Kyaure, counsel to the third, fourth and fifth respondents, told the court that he has filed an application for an extension of time and counter affidavit in response to the originating motion.

Kyaure prayed the court to set aside the Kano State Emirate Council repeal law as due process was not followed. He also asked that a fine of N1 billion be awarded against the plaintiffs.

Sunday Ekwe, counsel to the sixth respondent, told the court that he had nothing to present.

Responding, Eyitayo Fatogun, counsel to the applicant, urged the court to discount the respondent’s affidavit of facts pursuant to order 39, rules 1 and 2 of the court.

“The motion refers to a proposed notice of appeal not a notice of appeal. It shows that the affidavit of facts is just to delay the proceedings. My lord, the business of today is for the hearing of all pending applications,” he said.

Fatogun asked the court to dismiss the third, fourth and fifth respondents’ applications on the issue of Kano Emirate Repeal Law because the issue is not before the court.

THE RULING

Delivering the ruling, Amina Adamu-Aliyu, presiding judge, refused the application for a stay of proceedings.

“The respondent did not disclose any special fact to warrant any stay of proceedings,” she said.

The judge adjourned the case until July 18 for ruling on the applications for extension of time, notice of preliminary objection, setting aside ex parte order, joinder application, and for the judge to recuse herself, among others.

The applicants in the suit are the attorney-general of Kano, the speaker, and the Kano house of assembly.

Respondents are Aminu Bayero, Nasiru Ado Bayero, Ibrahim Abubakar II, Kabiru Muhammad Inuwa, Aliyu Ibrahim Gaya, inspector-general of police (IGP), director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigerian Army.

In May, the court restrained Aminu Bayero from parading himself as the Emir of Kano pending the determination of the suit.

The court also ordered the police to take over the Nassarawa palace where Bayero has been sheltering since he returned to Kano after his dethronement.

[TheCable]

Sam Omatseye’s article, brimming with vitriol and sanctimonious posturing, demands a rebuttal rooted in truth and literary eloquence. Omatseye, in his misguided zeal to malign Atiku Abubakar, reveals more about his own biases and mercenary penmanship than about the man he seeks to discredit. It is time to set the record straight and highlight the strengths of Atiku Abubakar, a statesman and an endangered species whose vision and dedication to Nigeria’s unity and progress far surpass the myopic self-interest Omatseye attributes to him.

The Chess Player and the Strategist

Omatseye derides Atiku for seeing himself as a chess player, implying a lack of humility. Yet, in the intricate game of politics, the ability to strategize and anticipate moves is paramount. Atiku’s approach is not one of vanity, but of calculated foresight and a deep understanding of Nigeria’s complex socio-political landscape. Unlike the unnamed politician, presumably Bola Tinubu, who flaunted his power with a self-deprecating quip, Atiku’s humility lies in his persistent efforts to build bridges across Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and religious divides.

Visits and Symbolism: A Misguided Allegory

Omatseye’s allegorical comparisons of Atiku’s visits to historical betrayals and sinister handshakes are a testament to his propensity for hyperbole. The handshake between Atiku and Buhari is not a clandestine plot but a public display of his commitment to national unity. Atiku’s visits are not sneaky or deceitful, like Odysseus returning in disguise, but open gestures of reconciliation and dialogue.

Misplaced Criticism of Political Alliances

Omatseye’s insinuation that Atiku’s alliances are opportunistic ignores the political realities of Nigeria. Politics, by its very nature, involves the forging of alliances (and Omatseye needs to be reminded of alliances of his paymaster that led to the formation of the APC). Atiku’s partnership with figures like Nasir el-Rufai is not a sign of duplicity, but a pragmatic effort to unite various factions for the greater good. The allegation that Atiku exploits ethnic sentiments is ironic coming from a Tinubu apologist, considering Tinubu’s notorious manipulation of ethnic and regional loyalties to consolidate power.

The North and Atiku’s Legacy

The critique that Atiku only remembers the north when seeking votes is baseless. Atiku’s investments in manufacturing, agriculture, banking, education, healthcare, and infrastructure, particularly in the north, are well-documented. The American University of Nigeria, founded by Atiku, stands as a testament to his philantrophy and commitment to providing quality education and fostering development in the region. In contrast, Tinubu’s legacy in Lagos, marred by allegations of corruption and cronyism, offers little to commend.

Poverty and Development: A Flawed Narrative

Omatseye’s selective presentation of poverty statistics in the north is a disingenuous attempt to lay the blame at Atiku’s feet. Poverty in the region is a multifaceted issue exacerbated by years of neglect by successive governments. Atiku’s efforts, though significant, cannot single-handedly rectify decades of systemic challenges. Moreover, Omatseye conveniently overlooks the socio-economic disparities that persist in Lagos, Tinubu’s stronghold, despite his years of governance.

Intellectual Posturing and Misappropriation

Omatseye’s invocation of intellectual heavyweights like Michel Foucault and Zadie Smith to critique Atiku’s appeal to northern sentiments is misplaced. Foucault’s exploration of power dynamics and Smith’s discourse on identity could equally be applied to critique Tinubu’s divisive politics. Atiku’s vision, in contrast, seeks to transcend prefabricated identities and foster a cohesive national identity.

A Dangerous Politician or a Visionary Leader?

Labeling Atiku as the most dangerous politician, second only to Peter Obi, is a gross mischaracterization. Atiku’s political career is marked by his advocacy for restructuring Nigeria, promoting decentralization, and empowering local governments. His vision for Nigeria is one of inclusive growth and sustainable development, a stark contrast to the status quo of political patronage and centralization championed by Tinubu.

In conclusion, Sam Omatseye’s article is a tapestry of half-truths and unfounded allegations woven together with the thread of bias. Atiku Abubakar’s strengths lie in his strategic acumen, his commitment to national unity, and his tangible contributions to Nigeria’s development. Omatseye’s diatribe, far from discrediting Atiku, exposes the hollowness of his own arguments and the mercenary nature of his pen. It is time for Nigerians to see through the smokescreen of political propaganda and recognize the genuine leadership and vision that Atiku Abubakar offers. As Ralph Waldo Emerson aptly said, “A great man is always willing to be little,” and it is in this spirit of humble service that Atiku seeks to lead Nigeria to a brighter future.

*Paul Ibe is a Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and Presidential candidate of the PDP (2023).

Envy and jealousy, according to psychologists, are complex emotions that have fascinated writers, poets, and thinkers for centuries. While they are often portrayed negatively, they also offer insights into human nature and relationships.

Experts say envy arises when we desire something that someone else possesses. It is a feeling of discontent or resentment triggered by another person’s success, possessions, or advantages. Unlike jealousy, which involves a fear of losing what we already have, envy focuses on what we lack.

Envy can be both motivating (spurring us to improve) and destructive (leading to bitterness and hostility). Jealousy on the other hand emerges from a fear of losing something we value—whether it’s a relationship, status, or possession. It often occurs in intimate relationships when we perceive a threat to our connection with a partner. Jealousy can be sometimes protective (alerting us to potential dangers) or possessive (leading to controlling behaviour).

Both envy and jealousy are in most parts, destructive. Envy can poison relationships, erode self-esteem, and breed resentment while jealousy on the other hand can lead to suspicion, insecurity, and even violence. The two emotions often damage trust and create rifts between individuals.

Certainly, envy is the worse of the two emotions and it is generally long-lasting and it shows in the behaviour, the demeanor and even the speech peculiarities of the afflicted person. Envy is a disease, an affliction and almost incurable, simply because an enviable person is inherently not contented with his state in life. An envious person is not happy with his or her own face, not happy with his or her body structure; height, physique, and features like legs, lips, nose, mouth, forehead, breasts and buttocks, and may not even be happy with his home background. And because those who happen to be more blessed are always around, their mere sight is a tormenting reminder of the envious person’s deficiencies.

Nigerian philosopher, song-writer and musician Chief Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi put it succinctly in his celebrated song ‘The man, his son and his donkey’ where he opines with air of finality that success in one breeds envy and resentment in the other. A brilliant person who tops his class in examinations is automatically the subject of envy to, especially the dullards in his class or the lazy ones who never apply themselves to serious studies. The same goes to all professions; lazy lawyers who are incurably envious of their more successful colleagues and contemporaries and indolent civil servants who are forever miserable because others with proven productivity have climbed the ladder faster.

A professor-friend’s wife, a medical doctor, affirmed several years ago that ‘it takes the special grace of God for someone to embrace the success of another person’! It may sound alarming but life experience has taught all successful individuals that their roaring successes have always been source of sadness to most of their friends, colleagues, associates and even relations who have not been as lucky or successful.

Someone [a university graduate, but out of job] was taking me to Mississauga in Canada to inspect a franchise in 1996, half way to our destination, he stopped his car and parked by the roadside. “Egbon”, an endearing word for an elder, “I have a confession to make and I need your prayers” he said. “Go ahead, what’s it?” I was curious. “I don’t know how to say it. Do you know I always feel sad whenever a friend’s achievement is brought to my notice? I have never attended any house-warming ceremony.  It is that bad. If I visit a friend and his furniture is better than mine, I will not go to that friend’s house again!” he said, looking morose with wickedness written all over his face. “But you are a religious leader in this country”, I didn’t know what exactly to tell him. He started the engine again and his car hit the road.

The malady of envious people is due to their inability to appreciate the fact that human beings are wired differently and the Creator of the universe endows his/her/its creations and creatures differently and apportions luck, favour, and grace to individuals in varying degrees. Unquestionably so! Aside that, attitude and character, major ingredients in the determinant agency of success or failure are attributes that follow individuals in their path to success or ruin in life.

Envious people are madly desirous of what others have, and because they don’t have what it takes to have that which they crazily crave, they turn their failure to anger, resentment or even cruelty and arrant unreasonableness. And this leads them to bad-mouthing and character-assassinating the object of their paranoia.

“You can’t really blame envious people. People who are envied are the beneficiaries because being envied spurs people to better themselves. Nobody envies failure. The more outstandingly successful you are, the more the envy and jealousy you incur”, a younger colleague and financial expert Tunji Asiwaju explained while discussing the subject of envy.

Envious people are petty, mean, very mean, always brooding and senselessly critical of others, permanently sad and generally unpleasant to be with. They contrast their ugliness with the beauty of others, contrast their verbosity and incoherence with the oratory of others, contrast their awkwardness and gracelessness with the sunny nature of others, contrast their meanness of spirit with the largeness of others and generally contrast their lack of taste and heartwarming aesthetics with others who are blessed. With the closed and clogged mindset inherent in the envious person it is always difficult for such wretched characters in society to ever wean themselves of this terrible anti-social cancer.

All of us must develop a brighter and more positive attitude to life and recognize the fact that although we might all have been created equal because of the commonality [until coning technology and artificial insemination came in] in the process of procreation, all other extraneous factors make us unequal and that throughout life all of our efforts are geared towards creating equality. Competitiveness rather than envy and pulling others down is the better way of bridging gaps.

Jealousy as bad as it is, pales into insignificance when compared with envy. Jealousy, as earlier mentioned may propel one to ensure not losing something/someone dear, envy on the other hand poisons both the envious and the envied, simply because the envious has no other desire than to frustrate, destroy or pull down the envied with poisonous tongue. Or rat poison.

Shakespeare has a description for both the envious and the jealous, and details of his characterisation of both overflows in his plays and poetry. Brilliant man. Clever man. Even though he says there is no art to tell a man’s character by reading his face, he still tells us in ‘Julius Caesar’ Act 1, Scene 2, the relationship of Cassius’s ‘lean and hungry look’ with his jealousy and hatred for Julius Caesar and the invocation of the ambition and in-built envy of Brutus and his gang.  

It may therefore be appropriate to take a clinical look at the spiteful envious people and their perennially jealous kinsmen whenever and wherever you meet them.

Hear them speaking of the brilliant career-woman who has just been appointed the CEO of a major Commercial Bank “Don’t mind her.  That Stella, she’s my childhood friend. She slept her way to the top” exclaimed the envious smelly Theresa, her friend.

“No. I’m going to stop you from night-shift. That your doctor in your Ward. Or I stop you from working altogether” the lousy possessive jealous husband, screaming at his hospital matron shapely wife!

You can’t mistake them.

Death, wretched death is always the ultimate of all envious people simply because they can never be happy or contented with their lot in life and there would always be people around them who are more resourceful, more successful, more prosperous, and more famous, more admired, more popular, more articulate than they are or can ever be. As long as the objects/subjects to be envied are in abundant supply the more the pain and anguish of the envious people. Hence, all little-minded and pathologically mean-spirited envious people die of frustration after living a wretched life.

Envy, man’s worst affliction!

Copyright:

High Chief Tola Adeniyi, syndicated columnist, author, playwright, poet, dramatist, philosopher and mystic. May 29, 2024.

It’s the first increase in number of judges since the creation of Ondo State in 1976

In a historic move to strengthen the judiciary for more efficient dispensation of justice in Ondo State, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa on Thursday signed into law the Bill to add eleven to the number of judges in the State.

The new law increases the number of judges in Ondo State from 24 to 35 in what would be the first of such development since the State was created in 1976.

In his address, Governor said: “Today, we make history with the signing into Law of this Amendment Bill. We mark a significant milestone in the annals of our great State. For the first time ever, since the creation of our State, we are increasing the number of judges in our Judiciary by 11! This invariably brings the total number of Judges in the Ondo State Judiciary to 35. It is indeed a momentous occasion that demonstrates our unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and the Rule of Law.

“This achievement is a testament to our administration’s dedication to strengthening the fabric of our society. We recognize that the judiciary is the backbone of our democracy, and by enhancing its capacity, we empower our citizens, foster a more just and equitable society and enhance the administration of justice in our dear State.

“It is imperative to salute the Rt Hon Speaker, Hon Olamide Oladiji, other Hon members of the Ondo State House of Assembly, my Lord, the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Hon Justice Segun Ayedun Odusola and his associate Judges, the Hon Attorney General and all other stakeholders for their untiring efforts to make this vision a reality. Your patriotism, doggedness and expertise have yielded a triumph for our Sunshine State and its good people.”

Governor Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the judiciary, including the recent approval and mobilization of contractors.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday inaugurated the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) and launched the Economic Stabilization Programme to ensure food security, improved power supply, enhanced social welfare and healthcare, increased energy production, and overall economic transformation.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the 31-member Council held at the Council Chambers in Abuja, President Tinubu, who chairs the Council, underscored the need for innovative solutions to the country’s economic challenges, noting the importance of public-private partnerships in driving economic reforms.

''We have the challenge of energy security in Nigeria. We need to work together to improve our oil and gas sector, and we must also increase electricity generation and distribution throughout the country.

''We are determined to do that with your cooperation, collaboration, and recommendations. As a nation, it is so shameful that we are still generating 4.5GW of electricity.

''We must increase our oil production to two (2) million barrels per day within the next few months and we are determined to remove all entry barriers to investments in the energy sector while enhancing competitiveness,'' the President stated.

President Tinubu announced measures, which will run concurrently with the National Construction and Household Support Programme, to stabilize the economy, enhance job creation, and foster economic security.

The measures under the Economic Stabilization Programme are as follows:

(1) Energy Security

The Energy Security Initiative, which includes power, oil and gas, aims to:

- Increase on-grid electricity to be delivered to homes and businesses from about 4.5 gigawatts to 6 gigawatts in six months;

- Increase oil production to 2 million barrels per day within the next 12 months; and

- Remove barriers to entry for investments into the sector to enhance competitiveness.

(2) Agriculture and Food Security

Under this plan, the aim is to:

- Increase staple crops grown by small-holder farmers from 127 million MT in 2023 to 135 million MT this year;

- Bolster production by partnering larger-scale commercial farmers;

- Support qualified farmers with satellite imagery for land use planning, crop rotation, and monitoring of agricultural expansion.

(3) Health and Social Welfare

In the health and social welfare sector, the federal government shall:

- Make essential medicines available at lower cost for 80-90 million Nigerians;

- Expand healthcare insurance coverage for 1 million vulnerable people via a Vulnerable Group Fund in collaboration with state governments;

- Redeploy 20,000 healthcare workers to provide services to 10-12 million patients in areas where they are most urgently needed;

- Power up 4,800 primary healthcare centres (PHCs), second tier, and third tier hospitals using renewable energy sources.

(4) Fiscal Measures

Some of the interventions to improve access to finance for the housing sector, MSMEs, and the manufacturing sector are:

- Youth-owned enterprises: Support for new and existing youth-owned enterprises across all 36 states of the Federation, creating 7,400 MSMEs within the next 6-12 months;

- MSME support: A six hundred and fifty billion naira (N650 billion) facility will provide lower-cost short-term facilities to youth-owned businesses, manufacturers and MSMEs across various industries; food processing, pharmaceutical, agriculture, and wholesale and retail trade. This financing will be based on their current and future receivables, company rating, and market demand for products;

- A Manufacturing Stabilization Fund will rejuvenate up to two hundred and fifty companies and deliver lower cost (9.0%-11.0%) long-term facilities to large, medium-scale, and light manufacturers that produce finished goods for domestic and export markets;

- Sub-national Matching Fund: A Grow Nigeria Development Fund consisting of a single-digit interest rate loan portfolio with the Bank of Industry and a matching fund agreement with sub-national governments to grow MSMEs;

- Expanding the Bank of Industry's Rural Development Programme: A fund to support rural economies in developing 300 new MSMEs for each state, including the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), resulting in 11,100 new rural-based MSMEs across the Federation;

- Mortgage Finance Acceleration Facility: A facility that delivers affordable housing for all segments impacted by the cost-of-living challenge. This will support the construction of an additional 25,000 housing units.

These fiscal measures will improve access to finance for MSMEs and, in the process, create 4.7 million direct and indirect jobs over a six to 12-month period.

Emphasizing the significance of the task ahead, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who is the Vice-Chairman of the Council, stated that President Tinubu is committed to proffering solutions to the nation’s economic challenges and not apportioning blame.

''I want to emphasize that when there is a will, there is always a way, and the President does not believe in apportioning blame. He believes in preparing solutions," the Vice-President said.

The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun made a presentation on the highlights of the Accelerated Stabilization and Advancement Plan earlier submitted to the President.

The plan details economic issues to be resolved in 2024 by sub-committees in the key sectors of agriculture and food security, energy (oil, gas, power), health and social welfare, and business support.

Other members of the Council include the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, twelve ministers, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Members from the Organized Private sector include: Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Mr. Tony Elumelu; Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu; Ms. Amina Maina, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir; Dr. Funke Opeke; Dr. Doyin Salami; Mr. Patrick Okigbo; Mr. Kola Adesina; Mr. Segun Agbaje; Mr. Chidi Ajaere; Mr. Abdulkadir Aliu; and Mr. Rasheed Sarumi.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)