Given the unacceptable reality that Former President Donald Trump was on course to defeat President Joe Biden in the American November Presidential election, I had shut off myself from news regarding American politics. When the former won the election in 2016 against Hillary Clinton, I started avoiding the CNN and any cable TV news channel that are substantially obliged to carry the news of the American President. Excited at the subsequent growing American alienation from his self-destructive presidency, I returned and enjoyed watching him unravel.

In the belief that he was a fluke, and certain that Americans would collectively sigh never again, I joined in saying good riddance to bad rubbish. Tragically, it was premature optimism. He was about to be gifted the American Presidency again by Joe Biden, and then Kamala Harris emerged. Harris is all that Trump is not. I can put the contrast no better than Nate White “he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace – all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed. So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief”.

“Now, polling conducted in the immediate run up to this week’s Democratic convention in Chicago shows the vice president entering not just with momentum, but with a slight advantage over Trump nationally and in most key battleground states — a dramatic reversal from the big hole President Joe Biden was in before he abandoned his candidacy just four weeks ago”.

After reading an article written by my close friend Reuben Abati titled “RITUALS, BLOOD AND DEATH, THE SPIRITUAL SIDE OF ASO VILLA”. my sisters called me to verify the experience Abati had narrated- in the light of my related experience as political adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo. The gist of the article was that the presidential palace politics under President Goodluck Jonathan was demonology personified.The inquiry coincided with my revelry at the dramatic entrance of Kamala Harris into the race for the American presidential election and how it had turned things around for the Democrats.

The change of baton bore semblance to a peculiar occurrence in the 2003 governorship contest in one of the Yoruba states (as alleged). The spiritual consultant to the governor (seeking reelection) had requested the names of all the candidates who would be contesting against him. The governor dutifully provided the names of all those who had indicated their participation in the governorship contest. The spiritual handler then assured the governor that he had binded all the fellow contestants and rendered them of no consequence. At the last minute, one of the political party platforms was compelled to change the candidate contesting on its platform. Now, the new candidate was not among those who have been thwarted by the spiritualist. The net effect was that the new candidate went ahead to win the election.

Abati recalled “I was given an apartment to live in inside the Villa. It was furnished and equipped. But when my son, Michael arrived, one of my brothers came with a pastor who was supposed to stay in the apartment. But the man refused claiming that the Villa was full of evil spirits and that there would soon be a fire accident in the apartment. He complained about too much human sacrifice around the Villa and advised that my family must never sleep overnight inside the Villa”

“I thought the man was talking nonsense and he wanted the luxury of hotel accommodation. But he turned out to be right. The day I hosted family friends in that apartment and they slept overnight, there was indeed a fire accident. The guests escaped and they were so thankful. Not long after, the President’s physician living two compounds away had a fire accident in his home. He and his children could have died. He escaped with bruises. Around the Villa, while I was there, someone always died, or their relations died. I can confirm that every principal officer suffered one tragedy or the other; it was as if you needed to sacrifice something to remain on duty inside that environment”.

I had a tangentially comparable personal experience. I was in Lagos when I received a call from one of the political bigwigs in the inner circle of President Obasanjo. In the belief that I was in Abuja, he requested I should come and see him right away. When I told him I was in Lagos, he was flustered. Why should this man become so agitated on account of my non availability, I wondered. So I called an Aunt who usually prays for me and told her of what had just transpired. After praying on it, she called back to tell me that something bad was about to befall the man’s son and wanted to transfer the danger to me. Two weeks later, the man, indeed, lost a son.

I had worked closely with a President who would occasionally wondered aloud how he could have signed off on some memo he objected to especially those with monetary implications or a significant political appointment. You might have heard of members of political cabals who uniformly lost their first born. In my town, all the seven kingmakers who colluded to install a king who was not the choice of the oracle died one after another within a year. There is equally a fable that a decline in the population of hyena in the Kaduna-Abuja forest portends a bad omen. Apparently, hyena is a core element in the preparation of charms targetting somebody’s life at the top echelons of government.

President Obasanjo narrated a spectacle he witnessed. He had gone for a weekend retreat at Otta. He received a guest who was decked in suit and tie. He was playing a popular Yoruba recreational game (Ayo) with an elderly relative. For whatever reason, the man in suit started deriding the Yoruba cosmology as quackery. When he would not relent, the elderly man playing ayo asked him if he really believed what he was saying. So after a few seconds the Yoruba veteran then directed him to remove his jacket, he complied. He again ordered him to remove his shirt and trousers. He did. Obasanjo had to intervene when the man was going to remove his underwear as instructed.

In 1983 at Okemesi, it was time to conduct the primary election to choose the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN candidate for the state house of assembly election. One was a young charismatic candidate who was overwhelmingly favoured to win the primaries. The other was a mild mannered university academic and Okemesi Prince. The latter narrated his experience at the election to me.

He had a midnight visit on the eve of the primaries comprising a delegation of leading traditional chiefs who could not countenance the idea of a prince losing the election. So they requested from him ingredients for a ritual sacrifice comprising a rat, withered fish, salt, palm oil and the like. They then assured him he would prevail in the contest.

At the primaries the following day, supporters of each candidate were instructed to queue behind their candidate. The voters behind the charismatic candidate were, at a glance, three times more than those behind the prince. When they voted, the result showed the exact opposite of the distribution of the voters. It indicated the prince defeated the other candidate by a wide margin and all of this was in the open. Because the result was unbelievable, the voting process had to be repeated thrice with the same outcome.

It will require a special kind of credulity to believe that those engaged in the desperately transactional pursuit and sustainous of political power will not prioritise a recourse to the marabou, Adahunse and false pastors and prophets in the order of Temitope Joshua as of the essence. The bigger the stakes, the longer the extent to which politicians will go to court divine intervention in their affairs. An ambassador to Riyadh once came to report that a vice president had sequestered the consulate in Jeddah to house marabou engaged to cause the death of his principal.

You will recall the drama surrounding the choice of Samuel Akinsanya, as the odemo of Isara as narrated in the autobiography of Professor Wole Soyinka, Ake. If you want to see and hear the oracle speak, all you need to do is to visit and pay homage on the Ooni of Ife. At the level of rhetoric, Nigerian politics is a reflection of the behaviour of the larger society where Newell S. Booth observed that whilst 95% of the Yoruba professed Islam or Christianity, the answer to the question of what percentage practice the traditional religion was equally 95%!.

I had elsewhere argued that among the Yoruba, there is indeed something of a paradox in the contradiction between the subconscious individual belief in the relevance of Ifa to the resolution of any resurgence of crisis in human experience and a conscious social and collective disavowal of its reality. It is a paradox that is borne out in the ambiguity of individual and private accommodation of Ifa by those who simultaneously profess Christianity and Islam.

This subject matter, however, provides the opportunity to caution against the common generalisation of the practitioners of Yoruba traditional religion as amoral. Irked at the persistent and prevailing defamation and demonisation of Ifa, Professor Wande Abimbọla retorted “There are people we call Onisegun, they are not Babalawo. Babalawo does not do evil and if they stray from the straight and narrow path they become liable to the severest punishment.

Professor Bolaji Idowu corroborated that it is laid down that a babalawo must not abuse his office in any way.. Therefore no babalawo should use his position to enrich himself in any way; he must not refuse anybody his service on account of money-if any person is too poor to pay the customary pittance for divination, the babalawo must divine for him free of charge; or if the person cannot afford the prescribed sacrifice, the babalawo must take whatever he can afford….it seems, in fact, that the babalawo is under a vow of poverty, to spend himself in service of the community…now that materialism is the order of the day, this sacred injunction is largely disregarded, and there are many who appear not to know it at all. Charlatans abound ”

The President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo, has attributed the persistent fuel queues across the country to a weak distribution chain within the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

Speaking at the 3rd edition of the PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit in Abuja yesterday, Osifo called for urgent reforms to address the issue.

According to him, Nigeria’s distribution chain is outdated and insufficient to meet the demands of its large population.

“There is no country in the world as big as Nigeria, with our population, that relies on a single point of product importation and uses trucks to distribute across the nation,” he said.

He explained that this method is vulnerable to disruptions, including bad roads and flooding, which can lead to fuel scarcity.

The PENGASSAN President emphasised the need for the government to develop and strengthen the country’s value chain to ensure a more efficient and reliable distribution system.

He warned that without these improvements, the country would continue to face recurring fuel shortages.

Osifo also addressed other critical issues facing the oil and gas industry where he noted that the high cost of production in Nigeria, which is 15 to 20 per cent higher than in other parts of the world, is partly due to the burden of security on oil and gas companies.

He called on the government to take over security responsibilities from investors, which would significantly reduce production costs.

Osifo further urged the government to strengthen laws and sanctions against those involved in oil theft, while he advocated for harsher penalties to deter bad behaviour and encourage integrity within the industry.

He said, “Our distribution chain has challenges, that the distribution chain is weak in the downstream section of the oil and gas industry.

So that is why today you see queues in most of the stations. The problem may be solved today, but tomorrow it will surface”.

“Because there is no country in the world that is as big as Nigeria, that has the same population that we have in Nigeria, that brings its product to a particular area and uses trucks to take it around.

Because whenever there are challenges, whenever loads are bad, whenever you have floods, those trucks cannot pass through a certain area and what is going to happen? we are going to have scarcity.

So we must do everything possible to strengthen that area. So as PENGASSAN, we have called for this in the past, and we also reiterate that today, that the value chain must be developed”.

[Leadership]

The federal government says it has set up at least 40 ageing desks basically meant for care of senior citizens in 40 different Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs), saying one individual agency or ministry can’t handle issues related to ageing.

Although the government did not list the MDAs that have the section, it, however, warned against discrimination and stigimatisation of the older persons in various sectors, adding that old age should be seen as a beautiful thing to cherish and not to despise.

The Director-General of National Senior Citizens Center (NSCC), Dr Emem Omokaro, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday during an inaugural training programme for Quality Assurance Assessors certification in the Geriatric Social Care Skills Sector.

The NSCC boss also revealed that the government has developed a Care Quality Assurance System for Nigeria which she said national benchmark and minimum standard for the accreditation of care settings are embedded.

She said, “No one person, no single ministry can handle aging alone because what they do is different statutorily. NSCC has dug deep to understand different mandates of relevant agencies, and we went on a very high-level advocacy, meeting technical partnership.

“I want to say that NSCC now has 40 ageing desks in 40 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Of those partnerships, we ensured that there was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). As it is now, we have the Ministry of Health and the National Board for Technical Education.

“These are the foundations that the NSCC is laying by working with different professionals bit by bit, by developing the Nigeria Care Quality Assurance System in the country.

“It is a system, that is why we have national policy guidelines on the geriatrics social care, quality assurance and Standard Operating Procedures. We also have the national benchmark and minimum standard for the accreditation of care settings with domiciliary in social care agencies.

“Before now, anybody will have the permission to do anyhow. Working with the partners, we are bringing standards, qualities, because our older persons deserve it. It is a right to have care that is appropriate, acceptable and available.”

Dr Omokaro stressed that care for older persons in line with global best practices is a skill that requires training.

“For anyone to have this skill you need to be trained, and for you to be trained, you need training providers. So as you have seen here heads of Geriatrics, Consultant Geriatricians, Family Physicians and Nurses from our tertiary institutions, they may have all the knowledge, but they are not certified to assess skills.

“So, these trainees here are nominees of these tertiary institutions who will earn the certification. As Quality Assurance Assessors, you must be able to assess competency, attitude and all other technical things.”

On its part, the National Board for Technical Education, described skills as the global currency of labour, saying to be a competent person, there must be competency based assessment and certification.

The Director of Vocational Technical and Skills Development, Engr Suleiman Yusuf, who represented the agency, said, “If you’re aware, the Federal Government approved Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework, and this is why NSCC is coming under, and is being supervised by NBTE.

“The framework covers all facets of training, and Nigeria has joined the league of qualification framework, looking after competencies, not academic qualification for engagement.”

[DailyTrust]

Popular comedian Ayodeji Richard Makun, also known as AY, has bemoaned how challenging being a Nigerian is.

He lamented that being a Nigerian gets tougher by the minute.

In a statement on his X handle on Thursday, AY wrote, “Being a Nigerian just gets tougher and tougher by minutes.”

Meanwhile, reality TV star Josephine Ijeoma Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has reacted to the recent increment in the fees for the processing and acquisition of Nigerian passports.

She lamented that the increment was not justified as the Nigerian passport is barely respected around the world.

On her X handle, she wrote: “Increasing the price of our passport that when you get to some countries sef because of the passport you go be like who sh*t for body….is what they are increasing… Omo this country don fall flat…. Nothing good seems to be coming out at all.”

[DailyPost]

THE United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on Monday August 19, made another public claim that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had accepted a peace proposal to end the war in the Palestine. The US christened its latest claim a “bridging proposal”.

However, going by previous US announcements, this is maybe another false claim by the Biden administration.

As in past, the US puts the burden on Hamas to accept the so-called proposal. Again as it claimed in previous offers, this is the best offer. However this time, the US proclaims that this could potentially be the last peace offer. In other words, as far as the super power is concerned, if its latest gambit fails, there may no longer be peace proposals to end the war.

The US has appointed itself the Peacemaker-in-Chief of the Israeli-Palestinian War. Every second, it shouts from the roof tops that it is working assiduously for a ceasefire. It also parcels what it claims are peace deals. But, so far, they have turned out to be dubious packages of propaganda designed to give the impression that it is a peace maker; Israel is a peace lover and that Hamas is a bunch of unrelenting terrorists wedded to violence. Meanwhile, the war continues with the US creating an Iron Dome to shield Israel from missiles of international condemnation and adherence to international law.

The cyclic pattern of US actions in the past ten months, follow a template. First, it increases military aid to Israel but claims strenuous efforts to make peace. Then it announces a peace deal, proclaims Israel’s alleged authorship or acceptance of the deal and, claims Hamas is obstinate. Next, it asks peace lovers to pressure Hamas acceptance; Hamas accepts, Israel denies the deal and the US repeats the cycle.

Earlier this year, a peace deal allegedly accepted by Israel was announced. It included the release of wounded, sick and elderly hostages held in Gaza and an extendable six-week ceasefire that could allow for more aid to be delivered to besieged Gaza. Hamas was alleged to be delaying the peace deal. But all Hamas asked was for a permanent ceasefire and release of all hostages. An angry Israel rejected the peace deal and, as possible punishment for the Hamas insolence, increased its bombardment of Rafah City in southern Gaza.

This cycle has been most apparent within the last three months. On Friday, May 31, 2024, US President Joe Biden surprised the world with an announcement that Israel had proposed a peace plan! He claimed it was one that would ensure a ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages. To him, the only obstacle was Hamas accepting it. He told the Palestinian group that the alleged Israeli plan was the best way to end the conflict. Turning to the world, he said: “It’s time for this war to end and for the day after to begin.”

Many were doubtful that Israel would package a peace plan. But it didn’t matter who gives birth to a peace plan so long as it works.

Same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel had authorised its negotiators to present the peace plan to the Palestinians.

This plan technically included the core Hamas demand for a permanent ceasefire. It had three phases. First, is a six-week ceasefire during which the Israeli military would withdraw from population centres in Gaza and, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners would be exchanged for hostages. Also, the Palestinian civil populace would be allowed to return to Gaza and 600 aid trucks would be permitted to enter Gaza daily.

In the second phase, both sides were to negotiate terms for a permanent end to hostilities. Biden had added that: “The ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.” The third phase included a major reconstruction plan for destroyed Gaza.

This peace package was in contrast with the rhetoric coming out of Israel. But if Biden, a major backer of Israel said this peace deal was not only acceptable to the latter, but that Israel had actually packaged it, why doubt him?

Biden also made a show of addressing Israelis who may not support their country’s peace proposals: “As someone who’s had a lifelong commitment to Israel, as the only American President who has ever gone to Israel at a time of war, as someone who just sent the U.S. forces to directly defend Israel when it was attacked by Iran, I ask you to take a step back, think what will happen if this moment is lost.”

But many doubted the US. They thought it was another American ploy to be seen as a peace broker; make Israel, widely accused of genocide, to smell fresh like roses and portray Hamas as a warmonger.

For instance, when this peace package was presented to the United Nations Security Council for passage, the Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said it was nebulous. He added: “The Council should not agree to any agreement that has vague parameters…what specifically has Israel agreed to?” Despite its scepticism, Russia did not use its veto. So, the resolution passed by 14:0 votes.

Immediately this resolution was passed on Monday, March 25, 2024, the US moved to the next stage of the drama: present Hamas as an unreasonable and belligerent group opposed to peace. US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, claimed that with the passage, if Hamas were to agree to the resolution, fighting could stop immediately. She warned Hamas to beware that the world is “united behind a deal that will save lives and help Palestinian civilians in Gaza start to rebuild and heal. United behind a deal that will reunite hostages with their families after eight months in captivity.”

Hamas immediately accepted the resolution and it seemed peace had come at last. But alas, it was all a US-Israeli ruse. Israel’s rejection of this peace deal which President Biden had claimed was crafted by it, was instantaneous and venomous.

Apparently, this so-called peace deal was supposed to be a propaganda stunt. So, Israel was very angry the US had allowed it pass at the UN Security Council by merely abstaining rather than vetoing it.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant who was in Washington when the resolution was passed, said it was scandalous. He added: “We have no moral right to stop the war in Gaza until we return all the hostages to their homes.”

Five months after the US claimed that once the UN passed the peace resolution and Hamas accepts, hostilities would come to an end, no such thing has happened. Rather, the US this week announced another of its dubious peace plans which like previous ones, is unlikely to lead to peace.

Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, civil society organisations, CSOs, and Arewa youths, yesterday called for the immediate release of protesters during the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest held between August 1 and 10, 2024.

This came on a day rights lawyer and chairman of Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond, ASCAB, Femi Falana, SAN, said his group will not hesitate to sue the Federal Government should it fail to either arraign those arrested before August 25 or release them.

He also disclosed that of the 2,111 suspects arrested during the protests, 1,403 had been remanded in prisons across the country.

27 of the protesters, according to one of their lawyers, Deji Adeyanju, are to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja today, after two failed attempts to arraign them by the police.

Speaking on the issue in Abuja yesterday, Cardinal Onaiyekan, while making a case for the immediate release of the suspects, said the unarmed protesters are not the cause of Nigeria’s problems.

He said: “It is not unarmed protesters who are the cause of our problems. Our president told us he is ready to dialogue with all those who are unhappy, but he needs to take the initiative now.

“Is this how to ask for dialogue? There is need to completely change our attitude. The people (protesters) were just ordinary young people who are hungry.

‘’The only way to show that you feel our pain is to do things that will relieve the suffering and pain of the people. That is what the government is there for.

“When we talk about youth nowadays, we are not talking about small boys or girls, we are talking about people who are 35 and below. Most of them have graduated, and most of them have skills.”

On his part, Mr Falana in a statement, titled ‘’Halt The Clampdown On Protesters,’’ said: “Instead of subjecting the #EndBadGovernance protesters to unwarranted clampdown, the Federal Government should either release or arraign the scores of detained suspects before appropriate courts without any further delay.

‘’Whenever the suspects are going to be arraigned, they must be given adequate notice to be able to contact the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and their family members to make arrangements for their defence.

‘’However, if all the suspects are not charged before August 25, 2024, the Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond, ASCAB, will approach the Federal High Court to demand their immediate release.

‘’ASCAB has also resolved to defend the cases filed against the protests by two state governments (Lagos and Ogun) and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT
‘’More fundamentally, it’s important to remind the Nigerian state again that beyond legalism, the solution to the political problem of which protests are mere symptoms lie in the honest application of socio-economic justice.

“Elements of this socio-economic justice include policy instruments fashioned to fight hunger, ignorance, disease and the scandalous inequality which define the Nigerian society today.’’

The statement read further: ‘’Out of the 2,111 arrested suspects, 1,403 have been arraigned in various courts. Painfully, the suspects were ordered to be reminded in prison custody due to lack of legal representation.

‘’The suspects were denied legal representation, even though the Nigerian Bar Association had publicly announced its intention to provide lawyers to defend them.

‘’We have also confirmed that individual lawyers who had applied for bail of the detained suspects in police stations were not informed that they were going to be arraigned in the courts.

‘’We submit that the decision of the authorities to deny the suspects legal representation constitutes a violent breach of their fundamental right to fair hearing, guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

“This is highly discriminatory and illegal on the ground that politically exposed persons who are arrested for looting the treasury to the tune of several billions of naira are usually informed in advance of the dates and of their arraignment in courts.

“Such highly-placed suspected looters are always granted bail in liberal terms and even authorised by trial judges to travel abroad for medical treatment.

“It does appear that the security forces have decided to take advantage of the anti- government protests to clamp down on radical citizens and thereby expose the country to unprecedented ridicule.

“For instance, Comrade Michael Adaramoye (a.k.a. Lenin) has been detained for over three weeks in the anti-robbery department of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja because he answers the sobriquet, “Lenin”.

‘’Messrs Elejo Opaluwa and Mosiu Abolaji are also detained in the same police station for belonging to a socialist organisation which supported the protest.

‘’Seven Polish students who were taking part in an exchange programme in Bayero University, Kano, were arrested for taking photographs during the protest. They may be charged with espionage to give the impression that the protests were instigated by foreign interest groups.

“The offence allegedly committed by the 783 suspects arrested in Kano is that they displayed the Russian flag during the protest. A tailor who was sewing the flag was also arrested by the police.

‘’It may be difficult to press charges against the suspects in a country where the flags of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and other European countries are hoisted by majority of hotels in Nigeria, while churches hoist the flag of Israel based on the erroneous belief that it is a Christian country.

‘’During the recent invasion of the national secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Abuja, some Marxist books and other radical works were carted away because they were allegedly used to incite and organise the #EndBadGovernance protests in the country.

‘’As if that was not enough, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr Joe Ajaero, has been summoned by the Nigeria Police Force for ‘interview’ on criminal charges relating to ‘criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime’.

‘’Yesterday (Wednesday), a team of the Nigeria police force invaded the house of the Principal of Stars of Nations Schools in Nasarawa State, Mrs Helen Batubo, in connection with the protests.
“Mrs Batubo is the stepdaughter of Mr. Drew who owns the school and runs the bookshop on 2nd floor of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC‘s Labour House in Abuja.

‘’Since there is no scintilla of evidence to justify the allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime, the police should cancel the planned interrogation of the President of the NLC and return the books seized from the bookshops as they have not been banned in the country.

‘’We are compelled to call on the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, to cause an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing of 22 citizens that occurred during the protest.
“At the end of the investigation, the culprits should be charged with murder in the state high courts where the heinous offences were committed.

“Finally, it is pertinent to remind the Federal Government that some of the leaders of the 2020 #EndSARS protests were charged with frivolous offences, while others had their passports seized and accounts frozen.

“Over 160 people were killed in Lagos and other cities, yet the massive clampdown on #EndSARS leaders has not stopped aggrieved youths from protesting against official policies that are considered inimical to the interests of the Nigerian people.’’

Listing the 2,111 arrested suspects with their states of arrest, the statement read: ‘’Kano—873; Jigawa –403; Katsina—120; Gombe—111; Sokoto—110; Borno—99; Yobe—90; Bauchi-60; Plateau—51; Kaduna—50; FCT—50; Nasarawa –40; Niger—25; Zamfara –19; and Cross Rivers State—10.’’

CSOs react

Reacting yesterday, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Head of Transparency International (Nigeria), expressed concern over government’s continuous detention of the protesters without arraignment, noting that some people not involved in the protests were arrested as patients in hospitals were also targeted.

Rafsanjani called on government to either prosecute or release the detained protesters wihout further delay.

While emphasizing that detaining them could be a means of siphoning public funds, he said further: “It is very sad that the government, which makes laws for citizens to comply with, is the one breaking the law. The government has not complied with Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“Additionally, we have noted that some people who were not even part of the #EndBadGovernance protests were arrested.

“To worsen matters, some people who were in the hospital were arrested in the name of pursuing protesters. In Katsina, security agencies allegedly went to the hospital, threw tear-gas canisters and killed some patients.

“We don’t know what the government aims to achieve by dehumanizing and incriminating its citizens at all costs. Meanwhile, the military and police are being terrorized by terrorists.

“Instead of harnessing their efforts and resources to tackle insecurity in the country, they are busy chasing people who are complaining of suffering in the hands of wicked public officials and non-state actors.

“The government should either prosecute or release the detained protesters. Detaining them could even be another way of siphoning public funds in the name of feeding the detainees.”

You can’t silence everybody, undermine the rights of Nigerians – CISLAC

Also reacting yesterday, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, said: “We appeal to the government and security agencies to de-escalate the tension that is growing as result of continued detention of protesters.

“This action is sending a very bad signal and it is capable of mobilizing tension in the country because there were so many people who were not involved in destructive protests who are now in custody.

“So government should do everything possible to take them to court if they must take them to court, otherwise they must release those who were not involved in violent protest, and this is the only way Nigerians can see that the government is just and fair.

“You cannot silence everybody and undermine the rights of Nigerians, and those security people who are doing this are actually helping to destroy Tinubu and his legacy, and not promoting him.

“Therefore, we are calling on the President to see those who are perpetrating this brutality and attacks on Nigerians, especially those who were not involved in any violence. The protesters are not his enemies but those destroying his reputation.’’

FG’s commitment to human rights questionable –Yiaga Africa

In his reaction, the Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, said: “I think it raises questions on the commitment of government to upholding human rights and the tenets of democracy.

“This unlawful detention of protesters whose crime is just coming out to protest against policies of the government that are anti-people is really unfortunate and unacceptable.

“The President needs to make good his promise and his commitment to respect human rights and the rights of protesters, and calling security agencies, especially the police that have held this people in detention to release them forthwith.

“This is because the continuous detention of these people is not only hurting their rights but also actually putting to question the commitment of the government to democracy.

“To prevent detainees from accessing legal counsel or representation is the most unfortunate, draconian, unacceptable thing to do within our constitutional democracy.”

JAF reacts

Similarly, the Joint Action Front, JAF, also yesterday demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the protesters, including Micheal Lenin, Mosiu Adigun, Eleojo Opaluwa, Kunle Wizeman, among others.

Dr. Oladipo Fashina, Chairperson of JAF, described police justification for the attack as a ‘smokescreen’ and called for the resignation of the Inspector-General of Police and prosecution of police officers involved in the killing of protesters.

Fashina stated: “We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Micheal Lenin, Mosiu Adigun, Eleojo Opaluwa, Kunle Wizeman, and hundreds of others who have been unjustly arrested across the country over the nationwide protests.

“Sadly, according to media reports, at least 40 protesters have been murdered by security agencies across the country. While we hold the Tinubu regime responsible for the killings, we demand the resignation of the Inspector General of Police and prosecution of police officers involved.”

Release suspects to avert further protests

The Arewa Youth Assembly also yesterday called for the release of the protesters, saying the fact that government had not been able to arraign them was an indication it had no charges against the protesters.

Coordinator of the group, Mohammed Salihu Danlami, noted that indefinite detention of the protesters is brewing a bigger protest.

He said: “We are advocating release of all the protesters languishing in various prisons. They were simply disenchanted with government policies and took to the streets to protest peacefully, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“Even if they became culpable in unlawful acts, it should not take more than 48 hours before they are arraigned in court. Doing otherwise is a gross violation of their fundamental human rights and is in itself an unlawful act by the government.

“Two perceived wrongs can’t make a right. The government is totally wrong on this. It should know that indefinite detention of these protesters is already brewing a bigger protest.

“What government should do to avert a looming protest is to assuage anger by releasing these youths. The Federal Government has said it has programmes for the youth. Which programmes? For which youths?

“Is it the more than 1,000 young Nigerians languishing in detention? Or is it the ones who were extra-judicially murdered by security agents? The problem we have in Northern Nigeria is that most of our elites are sycophants.

“They are afraid to speak truth to power because they feel if they do, President Ahmed Tinubu will be angry and they will not have money, or perhaps they won’t get that contract or appointment they are expecting from his administration.”

Detention unconstitutional – Rights lawyer

Reacting, rights lawyer, Temi Salami, said continued the detention of the protesters is a violation of Section 36 of the Constitution, which requires suspects to be taken to court within 24 or 48 hours if the court is not within jurisdiction.

Salami described the detention as a clear violation of the protesters’ rights, likening it to the Abacha era and a sign of Nigeria becoming a police state under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He stated: “It is against our laws to detain any suspect beyond 48 hours without an arraignment. Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) specifically states that anyone arrested must be taken to court within 24 or 48 hours at the maximum, if the court is not within jurisdiction.

“Detaining the #EndBadGovernance protesters for nearly three weeks is a gross violation of their fundamental rights, and it seems the Tinubu administration is taking us back to the Abacha era. Nigeria is gradually becoming a police state under President Bola Tinubu.”

Over 30 lawyers to storm court over arraignment of protesters - Adeyanju

Meanwhile, ahead of the much anticipated arraignment of the protesters by the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, today, one of their lawyers, Mr Deji Adeyanju, yesterday, disclosed that over 30 lawyers would be at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

Adeyanju told Vanguard in an interview yesterday that they were preparing for the arraignment that had been delayed since last Thursday.

He said: “We are looking forward to the arraignment and and we are hoping that they will arraign the protesters tomorrow (today). We are also preparing in anticipation of their arraignment.
“We are expecting over 30 lawyers at the Federal High Court in Abuja in defence of the protesters.

27 protesters to be arraigned

“We are looking at 27 #EndBadGovernance protesters from the numbers we have to be arraigned in court.

“The police have also arrested some other people we are not aware of that we have now been made aware of today (yesterday). They were arrested two weeks ago in Abuja.”

Police remand warrant of 14 days long expired

“The remand warrant the police obtained for 14 days has long expired, we are optimistic that they will be charged.

“We went to the police station to see the protesters but we were still not allowed to see them but we can confirm that one of them was seen by her family two days ago.

Protesters badly treated

“They are being made to sleep on the bare floor in an extremely difficult situation, and they are largely very unkempt.”

We’ll soon file suit against FG

“We are in the process of filing a suit against the Federal Government on the unconstitutional act on the fundamental rights of the protesters by the President.

“The act of government is unconstitutional and unlawful, protesters cannot be kept for over two weeks for mere allegation of protesting, while bandits have abducted and killed an emir in the north and nothing is being done.

“The energy being used to attack and silence protesters should be used to solve the insecurity problem in the country.”

UNESCO calls for protection of journalists covering protests worldwide

In a related development, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, has raised the alarm that in recent months, multiple journalists covering protests in different parts of the world have been subjected to various forms of attacks, including killings, injuries, arbitrary detentions, and confiscation of their equipment, while exercising their rightful duties as journalists.

UNESCO noted that all authorities concerned have the duty and responsibility to ensure the safety of journalists covering protests around the world, in accordance with international norms and human rights obligations.

It said: “In times of crisis, as in times of peace, journalists are crucial lifelines to verified information for citizens. They facilitate public debate and dialogue that are pathways to democratic solutions. Authorities must guarantee the safety of journalists covering protests, in line with international freedom of expression standards.

“Within the UNESCO Series World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development, UNESCO has previously highlighted the growing risks to the safety of journalists covering protests.

“A UNESCO report on the safety of journalists covering environmental issues, published for World Press Freedom Day in May 2024, revealed that 194 journalists, groups of journalists and media houses have been attacked in the context of environmental protests in the past 15 years.

“UNESCO is monitoring attacks and threats against journalists that undermine their legitimate role of informing populations with accurate and verified information. “

[Vanguard]

The Shamsuddeen Usman Foundation (SUF) says it is working to establish the first artificial intelligence (AI) centre in Nigeria to develop education.

Sadiq Usman, a trustee of the foundation, said this while speaking with reporters in Abuja on Thursday.

Usman said Nigeria could use AI to leapfrog “to the fourth industrial revolution”.

“We at the foundation feel that Nigeria and Nigerians must not be left behind in the fourth industrial revolution which is well under way,” Usman said.

“We in Africa are still trying to catch up with the first and second industrial revolution; we’re still talking about building energy, infrastructure, roads, but the world is talking about and moving to the fourth industrial revolution.

“But the beauty of it is that you can leapfrog to the fourth without achieving the second or the third.”

Usman said the foundation and a book –
Public Policy and Agent Interests: Perspective from the Emerging World – by Shamsudeen Usman, a former minister, would be officially unveiled on September 26.

“The book, together with the Foundation, would be publicly unveiled on Thursday, September 26 – one week and a day after his 75th birthday,” he said.

“This book is a unique publication on both the impetus for, and impediments to growth and development in emerging economies.

“It provides a fascinating and penetrating insight into the workings of government and the boardroom, in terms of policy formulation and implementation, economic management as well as the overall growth paradigm in the developing world, with Nigeria as a case study.

“It is also an account of the interactions between the government, its agencies and the private sector and how such engagements impact national growth, investments and the overall performance of the economy.

“The book will therefore be a veritable reference material for policymakers, technocrats, business leaders and public officials on the workings of government and governance and the tradeoffs they have to make in designing and implementing public policy.”

Usman added that the proceeds from the book launch would be used to support the work of the foundation.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo are some of the dignitaries billed to attend the event.

[TheCable]

In recent years, a disturbing trend has emerged among Nigerian youths as many have begun to dismiss education as a "scam." This sentiment is often fueled by frustration over the challenges of securing employment or financial stability after years of academic pursuit. But while these frustrations are valid, the narrative that education is a scam could not be further from the truth. Education remains the most reliable key to a successful life, and it is crucial that this message is reiterated.

Firstly, it is essential to understand what education truly offers. Beyond the certificates and degrees, education equips individuals with critical thinking skills, the ability to solve complex problems, and the knowledge to navigate an increasingly complicated world. It opens doors to opportunities that would otherwise remain closed and provides a foundation upon which individuals can build careers, businesses, and innovations that shape society.

Consider the success stories of many Nigerians who have excelled in various fields. From the tech industry to the arts, finance, and even politics, education has been a common denominator among those who have risen to prominence. Take, for instance, the tech industry, where Nigerian youths like Iyinoluwa Aboyeji and Prosper Otemuyiwa have made significant strides. Their success stories are not just tales of talent and hard work; they are testaments to the value of education in providing the knowledge and skills needed to compete on a global scale.

Furthermore, education is not just about formal schooling. It encompasses the acquisition of skills, whether through vocational training, apprenticeships, or self-taught endeavors. The critical point is that learning, formal or informal, enhances one’s ability to adapt to the evolving demands of the job market and to create opportunities in a rapidly changing world.

The narrative that education is a scam often arises from the misconception that a degree is a direct ticket to wealth. While education can indeed pave the way for financial success, it should be viewed as a tool, not a guarantee. The global economy is complex, and success often requires a combination of education, perseverance, networking, and sometimes, a bit of luck. However, dismissing education entirely because it does not immediately lead to wealth is akin to throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Moreover, the belief that education is a scam can have detrimental effects on society. When youths abandon the pursuit of knowledge, they limit their potential and inadvertently contribute to the cycle of poverty and unemployment that they seek to escape. A society that undervalues education is one that is likely to lag behind in innovation, economic growth, and social development.

It is also important to address the systemic issues that contribute to the frustrations of educated youths, such as unemployment and underemployment. While these issues are real and pressing, they are not reasons to dismiss the value of education. Instead, they should motivate efforts to reform educational systems, align curricula with market needs, and create an environment where educated individuals can thrive.

Without a doubt, education is far from being a scam. It remains the most potent tool for personal and societal transformation. Nigerian youths must be encouraged to view education as an investment in their future, rather than a waste of time and resources. The journey may be challenging, but the rewards of education, knowledge, empowerment, and the potential for success, are undeniable. Let us continue to champion the value of education, for it is the key that unlocks countless doors to a better, more prosperous future.

In fact, this perception is fueled by the harsh realities many graduates face in the labor market, where securing a well-paying job often seems more like a stroke of luck than a reward for years of academic effort. With stories of unemployed graduates, underpaid professionals, and the seeming prosperity of those who bypassed higher education flooding social media, it is easy to see why this notion has gained traction. However, despite these challenges, it is crucial to affirm that education is not a scam. Rather, it remains the key to personal and societal progress.

Let's not sugarcoat the situation; Nigeria's job market is tough. The economy is strained, and the demand for jobs far outweighs the supply. Many graduates find themselves in a seemingly endless loop of applying for jobs, attending interviews, and facing rejection. For some, the situation is so dire that they resort to taking jobs far below their qualifications just to make ends meet. This grim reality is often pointed to as evidence that education is overrated, but this perspective misses the bigger picture.

Education is much more than a direct path to employment. It is a foundation upon which individuals build their knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities. While it is true that a degree no longer guarantees immediate employment, the skills acquired through education, such as communication, problem-solving, and analytical thinking, are invaluable in navigating today's complex world. These skills are transferable and can be applied in various sectors, including entrepreneurship, which is increasingly becoming a viable path for many graduates.

In fact, success is no longer defined solely by securing a white-collar job or becoming wealthy overnight. The world is evolving, and so are the ways in which people achieve success. Education equips individuals with the tools to adapt to these changes, to innovate, and to create new opportunities for themselves and others. The rise of technology, for instance, has opened up new fields that were non-existent a decade ago. Many successful individuals today are those who have leveraged their education to excel in these emerging areas.

While it may not always yield immediate financial rewards, the long-term value of education cannot be overstated. Educated individuals are more likely to enjoy better health, have a broader understanding of the world, and participate meaningfully in society. Education also opens doors to further learning and development, allowing individuals to continually improve themselves and their prospects. In the long run, the benefits of education, both tangible and intangible, far outweigh the temporary setbacks of unemployment or financial struggles.

In fact, beyond individual benefits, education plays a critical role in nation-building. A well-educated population is essential for the development of a robust economy, the strengthening of democratic institutions, and the fostering of social cohesion. Countries that prioritize education tend to have lower poverty rates, higher levels of innovation, and more stable political environments. In Nigeria, the challenges facing the education system are numerous, but abandoning the pursuit of knowledge is not the solution. Instead, there should be a collective effort to address these challenges and improve the quality and accessibility of education for all.

The idea that education is a scam is a short-sighted response to the real and pressing challenges facing Nigerian graduates today. While it is true that the journey from graduation to financial stability can be fraught with obstacles, it does not diminish the value of education. Rather than viewing education as a mere ticket to immediate wealth, it should be seen as a lifelong investment in personal growth and societal progress. Education remains the key to unlocking opportunities, driving innovation, and ultimately, building a better future for individuals and the nation as a whole.