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)

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak came to the job as an afterthought, yet his days in Number 10 were numbered before he received the ceremonial blessings of King Charles III.

For a long time after Brexit, the Tories and sections of the British public, still in post-Brexit ecstasy, were madly in love with Boris Johnson. He was incompetent and a congenital liar but a good poster boy of that era. After David Cameron fell on his sword, the Brits wanted someone to extend the comedy of post-Brexit, and Johnson was a good fit.

Then came COVID-19, a global crisis that tested the leadership of nations. Johnson, US President Donald Trump, and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro were perhaps among the world’s most incompetent leaders of the pandemic era. Their denial and mishandling of the situation took a tragic toll on their citizens.

The former Sunak

In Britain, Sunak was Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time. While he let his appetite for beer get the better of his judgment once or twice during the lockdown, his boss, Johnson, observed lockdown rules only in the breach. As the British economy – like economies around the world – reeled under the effects of COVID-19, Johnson, the sailor of the British ship, was floating on his sea of beer in garden parties while, at the same time, asking people to keep the rules he was breaking.

Much of the credit for steering Britain through that problematic time must go to Sunak, whose programmes, including £330 billion in emergency support for businesses and a furlough scheme, helped keep the country afloat.

Of course, it was only a matter of time before the chaotic Johnson era ended. You would think Sunak would naturally step in, given his outstanding role in managing the COVID-19 crisis and his sound knowledge of the economy.

But no. The mild air of xenophobia, which was also partly responsible for Brexit, had heavily infected Tory backbenchers, too. Even though Sunak’s parents (with Pakistani and Indian roots) immigrated to Britain from East Africa in the 1960s, in a world where you discount identity politics at your own risk, there was still a certain “otherness” about Sunak’s ancestry, his family fortune and his Hindu religion, that made the British establishment uncomfortable.  

Britainistan

With Sadiq Khan as London Mayor, Suella Braverman in the Tory top brass and Hamza Yousaf highly placed in Scotland – not to mention Savid Javid and Priti Patel – the rising profile of Indians and Pakistanis, the Raj-anisation of British politics, real or imagined, was a concern. But there was even a more profound concern – the rising economic clout of these ethnic minorities.

In 2017, the Indian diaspora in the UK was estimated to contribute around six percent of the country’s GDP, and by 2019 the combined wealth of this ethnic nationality was estimated at £338 billion. With an average income of £34,300 in that same year, British Indians had the highest average income among ethnic nationalities in that country.

When it was time to replace Boris Johnson, the country that copied Piper’s art from Egypt and popularised it didn’t need anyone to tell the Tory party that handing over the keys of Number 10 to Sunak could signal the echo of an unfamiliar tune. They kicked the idea of having Piper Sunak further down the road.

Liz mishap

Instead, they settled for Liz Truss, a former rebel and basher of the Crown, but a Brit, through and through, to lead the party. Truss didn’t last; her incompetence threatened to bring Britain to its knees. The Tories soon got rid of her, but apart from further endangering the British economy, her brief reign had also emboldened the Labour Party. Keir Starmer, Labour leader and the next British Prime Minister is a gift to Britain from Tory hubris.

After the fall of Truss, with the Tories bereft of options and confronting the threat of an early election, backbenchers exhumed Sunak to clean up the Augean stable. Things were so bad two years ago when Sunak was chosen to lead the Tories that The Economist’s October 19, 2022 edition likened the situation to Britaly, a sarcastic reference to the carnage in Italy in the 1940s.

Inflation in Britain was at a record high, with basic foodstuffs and energy prices going through the roof. About 33 percent of the population outside fixed mortgage contracts was struggling to pay, and the British economy, which was 90 percent the size of the German economy, had shrunk to 70 percent.

Sunak record

The story is different today. Inflation is down 2.8 percent, compared to around 8 percent two years ago, and unemployment is also down. The British economy is more robust than two years ago, and fewer people outside fixed mortgages struggle to pay. All of that would hardly matter now. As Britain goes to the polls, Sunak has only one in four chances of keeping his seat, and the Tories are bracing for one of the worst defeats ever in nearly two centuries.

Fourteen years of Tory reign have tested the party’s ingenuity and revealed its resilience, especially in the wake of COVID-19 and the aftermath of Russia’s war in Ukraine. But the years have also revealed Tory dark racial underbelly and brought upon it the inevitable consequences of overstay and familiarity. The party was rotting from the inside. Sunak only managed to defer its eventual collapse.

But Sunak was not a saint. He was not altogether blameless. Those who cheered the rise of the first non-Caucasian to Number 10 are shocked that the pair of Sunak and Braverman, both ethnic minorities, has inflicted a human repatriation policy worse than anything known in recent history.

Weep not Africa

Africa will not shed a tear at his departure. The continent owes him nothing. In his two-year premiership, he only used “Africa” when discussing the UK-Rwanda asylum repatriation in Parliament. His nearest visit to the continent where he was born in 1980 was at the English Channel, from where immigrants were bundled off to Rwanda in defiance of the rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (EUHR) and the UK Supreme Court.

His penchant for dodging Parliamentary scrutiny, the perception that he lacks the common touch, and his inability to rein in party rebels have also combined to put a nail in his political coffin.

But Britain will remember him as a godsend in its hour of need. I’m not too worried about what’s next for Sunak. A brief look at what far less gifted former British Prime Ministers are doing shows that he’ll be all right.

Next life

Boris Johnson earns significant amounts from speaking and writing, as do Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Teresa May. Tony Blair, unfairly despised as the poodle of George Bush because of the war in Iraq, even earns up to £200k for a single speech and has the Tony Blair Institute, which advises governments worldwide.

This must feel like a funeral moment for the Tories and the obsequies of the third prime minister in five years. But Sunak is young and immensely gifted. He is not finished quite yet. His death might have been slightly exaggerated.

Ishiekwene is the Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the new book Writing for Media and Monetising It.

The continued scarcity of cash in banks’ ATM raises serious concerns about the integrity of the banking system, writes Sonny Iroche  

The Nigerian banking sector is facing a crisis of trust and transparency due to an unusual pattern of cash dispensation. There is a growing trend in the complex web of issues surrounding the scarcity of cash at banks’ Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and banking hall tellers, juxtaposed with street vendors offering cash at a premium through Point of Sale (POS) machines, which is particularly prevalent in the Lagos area. 

Since the Buhari-Emefiele Central Bank of Nigeria Naira redesign sometime in 2023, leading to scarcity of the domestic currency, the Naira, a new and unethical trend of the proliferation of POS has emerged, leaving cash-trapped bank customers with no other choice than to patronize these streets cash vendors and hawkers.

It is crucial to investigate the allegations of collusion between top bank officials and these street cash hawkers, leading to extortion and economic sabotage. It calls for better monitoring and accountability from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the top managements of some Nigerian banks, who are fingered in this malpractice to address this malfeasance and restore public trust in the banking system.

This unwholesome practice has put a big dent on the financial landscape in Nigeria, which has been marred by the troubling trend in recent years – a pattern of cash scarcity at traditional banking channels, such as ATMs and tellers, while street vendors equipped with POS machines offer cash at a premium. This phenomenon continues to raise serious concerns about the integrity of the banking system and the role of some top bank officials in perpetuating this practice. The allegations of collusion between bank executives and street hawkers have cast a shadow of doubt over the transparency and accountability of Nigeria’s financial institutions.

The scarcity of cash at bank ATMs and tellers has become a common experience for many Nigerians, leading to frustration and inconvenience. Customers often find themselves unable to access their funds through traditional banking channels, forcing them to turn to street vendors who charge fees for cash withdrawals. This artificial scarcity of cash raises questions about the motives behind such practices and points towards a systemic issue within the banking sector.

The alleged collusion between top bank officials and street hawkers is a serious allegation that cannot be overlooked. The brazen display of signs such as “POS Available” by street vendors suggests the impunity and a coordinated effort to lure cash-trapped customers and exploit their need for cash. This unholy alliance between bank executives and street hawkers not only undermines the trust and confidence of the public but also erodes the credibility of Nigeria’s financial system, and further exacerbates the frustrations of banks customers. 

Furthermore, the circulation of dirty and worn-out notes by banks, contrasted with the availability of crisp new notes from street hawkers lurking around and displaying their wares during celebrations, such as wedding receptions, birthdays and other parties, highlights a disparity in currency management practices. The deliberate withholding of clean notes by banks, only to be distributed at a premium by street vendors, is a clear indication of economic sabotage and profiteering at the expense of the general public. This unethical behavior not only harms the economy but also perpetuates a culture of indolence, corruption and impunity.

It is incumbent upon the Central Bank of Nigeria and the top managements of Nigerian banks to be held accountable for this malfeasance in currency management. The failure to address these issues not only undermines the credibility of the financial sector but also jeopardizes the financial security of customers. The security agencies must take immediate and decisive action to investigate and prosecute those involved in this extortion scheme, ensuring that justice is served and deterrence is set for future wrongdoings.

In conclusion, there is no other country that readily comes to mind, where such practice occurs. This unusual pattern of restricted cash dispensation by some Nigerian banks, characterized by scarcity at traditional channels and the availability of cash through street vendors at a premium, is a troubling phenomenon that demands immediate attention. The allegations of collusion between top bank officials and street hawkers raise serious concerns about the integrity and transparency of Nigeria’s banking system. It is essential for the Central Bank of Nigeria and the top managements of Nigerian banks to take proactive measures to address this malfeasance and restore public trust in the financial sector.

The security agencies must play a crucial role in investigating and prosecuting those involved in this extortion scheme, sending a clear message that such unethical practices will not be tolerated. It is time for accountability and transparency to prevail in Nigeria’s financial institutions, ensuring that the interests of the public are protected and the integrity of the banking system is upheld. Only through concerted efforts and decisive actions can Nigeria overcome this crisis and build a more resilient and trustworthy financial sector for the future.

Iroche is Chairman, GenAi Learning Concepts Ltd

The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, is a cantankerous old fossil – irascible, quarrelsome and testy, no doubt. Whether as a local government chairman, chief of staff, minister or governor, he is bad-tempered, cranky and grouchy; a man not only at war with himself but perpetually with others. Such behaviour is totally unbecoming of a leader.

Leadership demands a healthy dose of humility. But as governor of Rivers State for eight years, Nyesom Wike was at war with everyone, abusing all who dared cross his path. With him, every criticism, no matter how constructive is a definite no-no. His entire worldview is governed by the “us against them” mentality and in pursuit of this cock-eyed philosophy of life, he takes no prisoners, which explains his war of attrition with his successor and anointed political godson, Siminalayi Fubara.

Even as that war rages in his home state with debilitating consequences, Wike, characteristically has opened another battlefront, this time in the FCT against Senator Ireti Kingibe.

Ideally, both the minister and the senator ought to work together for the good of the FCT and the people therein. Not being a state, Abuja has no legislature but the territory is subject to the laws made for it by the National Assembly and administered by the President in accordance with Section 299 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

But such synergistic relationships based on co-creating outcomes will always be an anathema to Wike, through whom the president administers Abuja in his capacity as the FCT Minister because nobody can be his coequal. And Kingibe, elected by an overwhelming majority of the Abuja electorate on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), desires a minister she could partner with for the good of the FCT and not a boss with an exaggerated opinion of himself.

That is the genesis of the fight. Ireti Kingibe voiced out her frustration in a television interview on Sunday, complaining that Nyesom Wike has sidelined her in running the FCT, even as she proclaimed that they were not friends. The pain was palpable. Yet, she was decent and didn’t descend into the rancid arena of name-calling.

While acknowledging that Wike has done some commendable jobs in the FCT, she, however, lamented that it has not trickled down to the masses. For instance, she complained that in the 2024 FCT supplementary budget of nearly N100 billion, only N19 billion has to do with the people and her constituents are grumbling. As their elected representative in the National Assembly, it behoves her to pay attention to their complaints.

Anyone who knows Wike’s antecedents will attest to the veracity of Kingibe’s claims. The minister is a brick and mortar business aficionado with zero penchant for human capacity building, which explains why despite the immense resources available to the state under his watch, Rivers reported the third highest rate of unemployment with 43.7 per cent, coming only behind Imo State with 48.7 per cent, and Akwa-Ibom State with 45.2 per cent.  

Expectedly, Wike, a man with such a thin skin, who is not known for taking prisoners, went for the kill.

Speaking at the flag-off of the construction of Mabushi Bus Terminal in Abuja on Monday, he vowed that Kingibe won’t return to the Senate in 2027.

“I overheard somebody on Arise TV this morning. Unfortunately I hear the person is a member of the National Assembly and it is unfortunate I say so. With all due respect, what you don’t know, you don’t know, what you know you know, and the good thing for you is to tell people you don’t when you don’t know, then people will educate you,” he said so condescendingly.

Then, being someone not given to decorousness, he hubristically postured: “The Honourable Minister of State and my humble self have not been in office for more than 11 months and the person is angry that they are praising us. If you don’t want or you are angry about that, go and hug a transformer.”  

But what he said next, which is typical, should give every well-meaning Nigerian and lover of democracy cause to worry.

“I challenge that legislator,” he thundered, “If you are very popular, 2027 come and run under Abuja, we will fail you. Do you think that what happened last time, will happen again? It will not happen again. Luckily for me, I am the FCT Minister now. So that is my territory and I’m not afraid.”

Of course, what happened last time was that in the 2023 elections, the Abuja electorate, egalitarian, urbane and enlightened, and thoroughly embarrassed by the scandalous records posted by the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government rebuked the ruling party by rejecting its candidates, including Tinubu. Ireti Kingibe is a primary beneficiary of that loud rebuke.

In the last one year since that rejection at the polls, things have become direr in Nigeria. Tinubu promised to continue from where Buhari stopped. And what a fantastic job he has done, not only consolidating on the tragic failures of the Buhari administration but redefining, literally, the meaning of cluelessness in governance.

So, the only way what happened in 2023 will not happen again in 2027 is if Wike and his band of election riggers have perfected the devious scheme of writing election results as they did in Rivers State last year.  

Wike did not tell Nigerians who his co-plotters are. But we can hazard a guess. Tragically, this is a government that is barely one year in office in a country where all the indices of human development have gone south and rather than working strategically to pull Nigeria out of the pit of despair, all that bothers them is how to wangle their way back to power in 2027.

And don’t forget, Wike has no vote in Abuja having not transferred his voter registration from Rivers State to the FCT. And it is not likely he will do so because he will also be going back home to ensure that he “fails” his nemesis – Fubara. But even if he transfers his voting location from Obio-Akpor to the FCT, he has only one vote. So, how will that stop Kingibe’s re-election if the people decide otherwise?

Ezenwo Nyesom Wike owes Senator Ireti Kingibe an unreserved apology for his needless outburst. But he will not because truth be told, he represents all that is off beam with our democratic peregrination since 1999. He is the ugliest face of Nigeria’s democracy. He and his ilk have become so entitled that they now take Nigerians for granted.

As General Colin Powell, the 65th U.S. Secretary of State, once noted, “We have come to live in a society based on insults, on lies and on things that just aren’t true. It creates an environment where deranged people feel empowered.” That is the society that Wike and his unhinged accomplices have foisted on all of us willy-nilly.

But the good thing is that Nigerians now know what they are planning to do in 2027. Definitely, they are not preparing for elections. They want to, once again, snatch it, grab it, and run with it, while asking their hapless victims to go to court. I doubt if anyone will hearken to their advice this time around.

But Nyesom Wike may also be right, in a sense, that what happened the last time will not happen again. The good thing is that he has tipped Nigerians off on what he and his partners in electoral malfeasance plan to do in 2027, which is an encore of the 2023 Rivers election debacle. But he has given Nigerians a three-year notice and as an Igbo proverb says a wise cripple does not die in a predicted war.

Of course, he is banking on the historic docility of Nigerians and their inexplicable, almost surreal pliability and ability to absorb every nonsense thrown at them by those who have captured the Nigerian state. But who says Kenya cannot happen here? Right now social and political tensions have reached breaking point.

Nyesom Wike and his ilk will find out sooner than later that Nigerians, having been pushed to the wall by con artists masquerading as leaders, may well have decided, going forward, to resist the shenanigans that hallmarked the 2023 polls. After all, the only thing they will lose if they do so will be their chains. The 2027 elections which the Emperor of Abuja is boasting about may well be the tipping point.

Ikechukwu Amaechi, Editor-In-Chief of TheNiche, is a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

On two separate occasions I attempted writing a book and dropped the idea shortly after mulling it, simply for want of time. Of course, I have since resolved to suspend writing the book till such a time when I would be able to take a fairly long leave to a serene environment. Like I’m planning to win the World Series of procrastination, you may say!

And so, when I see busy folks like Azubuike Ishiekwene write books, I doff my hat for them and always wonder how they are able to do it in spite of their tight schedules.

Anyway, I am already exploring the possibility of selling my book idea to him or, better still, ask him to tutor me on how to navigate between my current work schedules that hardly avail me time for social life and creative adventure.

Ishiekwene’s new book, ‘Writing for Media and Monetising It’, is not just timely; it is a classic that provides a step-by-step guide and mentoring on how journalists, content creators, bloggers and even ‘citizen journalists’, among others, can make money through writing for the media.

Amid a shrinking white collar job space, with hundreds of graduates of not just mass communication and journalism studies, but of other disciplines being churned out by our tertiary institutions annually, there is the need to creatively think out of the box. To survive the current times, graduates must learn skills that would enable them survive, writing is one of such skills they must learn.

But is there really money in writing for the media in a competitive world like ours where the survival of the fittest is the law of the concrete jungle? In Nigeria, there are no fewer than 100 universities and polytechnics-both public and private-producing graduates in mass communication every year, with the existing media organisations being unable to absorb all of them.

Among the few that are lucky enough to be offered jobs by the media organisations, a majority of those with the privately-owned media houses are having challenges with prompt salary payment.

And then to survive, some journos engage in all sorts of unethical practices, thereby denting the image of the profession. While it is true that poor or lack of pay to journos is not a justification for unethical practices, the ‘brown envelope’ culture is a great incentive.

If most media organisations do not only pay workers paltry salaries but also owe their workers, how can one ascertain the possibility of making money through writing for the media? I am one of those who often wonder if it is possible for people to earn money through writing for the media. It may be in other climes, certainly not in Nigeria. But reading Azu’s book provided me a new perspective.

Azu’s new book soared my mind to previously unattainable heights of insight on how journalists and even non-journalists alike can earn money writing for the media. But what do you expect from an editors’ editor, a media entrepreneur, a wordsmith who has spent over three decades doing what he knows how to do best: writing for the media.

The quintessential Azu

Azu, to use the almost worn-out cliché’, is different thing to different people. But one thing that almost everybody who really knows him well can attest to is the fact that he is a very prolific writer. This columnist with over 30-year experience in journalism practice has written, week in, week out, about virtually everything in Nigeria.

Like Max Amuchie said, Azu “writes about Nigeria, its history, the state of the union, and its place under the sun”. I have since made it a point of duty to read his column every week and I am privileged to read it even before it is officially published.

And his style is enthralling. A media entrepreneur, author and attested essayist, Azu is also a teacher who has taught pro bono at the  Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, and also at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ) Ogba-Lagos. His love for writing and the passion to see writers live a decent life by making money through writing, are no doubt, part of the reasons why he authored ‘Writing for Media and Monetising It’.

What’s in the book?

In this book, Azu not only tells us how to make money through writing, he also teaches us how to be better writers. To master the art of writing, he recommends, like good writers before him always do, that one needs to read voraciously. While harping on reading, Azu noted: “I expanded my reading list by adding some of my favourite and evergreen writers like Charles Dickens and Mark Twain. I also returned to some leading African writers, especially Chinua Achebe and Camara Laye”.

The book tells a writer how to select what subject to write on, how to create his/her style, how to connect with audience, how to find and use literary resources and, of course, how to mind the law. In chapters 9,10,11,12 and 14, Azu dwelt on using artificial intelligence, syndication, writing for global audiences, how a writer can brand his content and reinvent his or herself in changing times.

To my mind, chapter 13 is the most interesting. It talks about the central theme of the book which is, making money. Here, Azu examines the likes of Linda Ikeji, Abdulsalam Idris, Tunde Ednut and Adeola Fayehun who are making it big through content creation. Interestingly, the author provides, in pages 133-134, seven tips for anyone wishing to make money through content creation.

But who needs the book?

The book provides guide on how to improve one’s writing and also make money from content creation. To that extent, this is a book that should interest not just students of mass communication and their literary studies counterparts, but also journalists, journalism teachers, content creators, bloggers and media entrepreneurs. As a matter of fact, the book offers something for anyone in clear, simple writing. Therefore, I recommend this didactic book that is intended to expose financial opportunities to this category of people.

The Minister of aviation and aerospace development, Mr. Festus Keyamo has called for the inclusion of Africa foreign affairs minister in the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

He stated this while making his contribution during the plenary discussion on the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Declaration (YD) and the Single African Air Transport Market, noting that it is driving the full implementation and operationalization of the YD and SAATM.

He stated that African ministers of foreign affairs are responsible in drawing the agenda of the African Union (AU)Summit and thus its expedient for them to be sensitised on the need to bring the issue of YD and SAATM to the front burner for political decisions to be taken.

The minister said for African leaders to surmount the problems besetting the full operationalization of YD and SAATM African ministers will be responsible for presenting civil aviation to the forefront.

According to him, “To make SAATM work, it is not African Civil Aviation ministers alone to drive them, we need to mobilise the African Union to remove the domestic restrictions, as the political leaders in Africa are the ones bestowed with the  power to give directive to their ministers on the way forward.”

Meanwhile,  the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has commended the Nigerian Government for clearing the backlog of foreign airlines trapped funds of over $831 million United States Dollars, within the short time of the current administration in office.

The commendation was made by Mr. Kamil Al-Awadhi, the regional vice president, Africa and Middle East of IATA, during his opening welcome address on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the ongoing IATA Wings of Change Focus Africa holding in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Spokesperson of the ministry, Odutayo Seyi said Kamil, while noting the negative impacts of foreign airlines, trapped funds in some countries singled out Nigeria and commended the swift manner the Government of Nigeria addressed the issue, thereby bringing confidence in Nigeria among the comity of nations in the global civil aviation.

The IATA Wings of Change Focus Africa Conference themed “Towards a More Resilient and Sustainable African Aviation” serves as a premier industry event in Africa, gathering aviation leaders, regulators, and subject matter experts to engage in discussions on the key challenges and opportunities in air transport started on July 2 and would ended on July 3, 2024.

[Leadership]