Last week’s cabinet reshuffle by President Bola Tinubu has generated a lot of mixed reactions. While many saw it as a masterstroke, others are either indifferent or knock the move as being underwhelming. I have had the privilege of discussing the shuffle on about 20 media platforms 13 of which were on the day after the announcement. All the major broadcast media, print, and television stations wanted to know my position on the president’s decision, so I graciously obliged.

This piece chronicles my thoughts on the president’s decision to overhaul his cabinet. The takeoff point is the announcement of the decision which was on the evening of Wednesday, October 23, 2024. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy for the President announced on his X-handle that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate implementation of eight far-reaching actions to reinvigorate the administration’s capacity for optimal efficiency pursuant to his commitment to deliver on his promises to Nigerians. The eight actions include The renaming of the Ministry of Nigeria Delta Development to the Ministry of Regional Development to oversee the activities of all the Regional Development Commissions.

Others are the immediate winding up of the Ministry of Sports Development and the transfer of its functions to the National Sports Commission to develop a vibrant sports economy; The merger of the Federal Ministry of Tourism and the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture to become Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy; The re-assignment of ten ministers to new ministerial portfolios; The discharge of five Ministers; The nomination of seven new ministers for onward transmission to Senate for confirmation; The appointment of Shehu Dikko as Chairman of the National Sports Commission; and the appointment of Sunday Dare as Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication and Orientation working from the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

He thereafter went on to name sacked ministers, the newly appointed ones, and the redeployed ones. It needs to be understood that we have an executive president who has the constitutional backing to appoint, suspend, dismiss, and reshuffle his aides among whom are ministers, heads of agencies and parastatals, special advisers, and special assistants. They are all lieutenants of the president just the same way as commissioners, heads of agencies, advisers, and assistants to the governor of a state are. It is utterly within the prerogative of the president or Governor to carry out a shake-up.

Tinubu bided goodbye to a total of six ministers namely: Uju-Ken Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs; Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism; Prof. Tahir Mamman SAN, Minister of Education; Abdullahi Gwarzo, Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development and Dr. Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, Minister of Youth Development. The sixth minister was Dr. Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs who had earlier been suspended on abuse of office allegation since January this year. For me, there are no surprises here.

The only disappointment is that many more should have been on the list as more than half of the president’s ministers were appointed based on political patronage and not on merit. Many of them have either no clue about what they were appointed to do or have no capacity to deliver. Truth be told, however; the political system wasn’t fair to some of them especially those who were appointed into newly created ministries last year. These are the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Ministry of Steel Development, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Youths, and Ministry of Art, Culture and Creative Economy. This is because when they were appointed in August 2023, they had no funding, sufficient office space, and personnel to work with until early this year when the 2024 Budget was signed into law.

Questions have been asked on why the former governors who are in Tinubu’s cabinet were kept at their duty posts. They were not sacked nor reshuffled despite the glaring underperformance of some of them. They have become sacred cows and untouchables due to calculations and permutations about the president’s re-election bid in 2027. Sincerely speaking with the exemption of the Minister of Works and Minister of FCT, other former governors in the president’s cabinet are either overwhelmed or incompetent. Apart from the former governors, citizens have issued queries to the president about why he kept the Ministers of Power, Environment, Finance, Special Duties, and Water Resources despite their obvious non-performance or hurtful policies. Obviously, those who have strong political godfathers or are deemed to be political assets were left off the hook.

Seven new ministers were welcomed on board the president’s cabinet and it is heartwarming that President Tinubu harkened to the advocacy that ministerial nominations should be accompanied by the portfolio in which the nominee will serve. This should be standard practice at all levels of governance. This will enable the Senate or State Houses of Assembly as the case may be, to carry out proper screening of the nominees. The appointment of Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu the widow of Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, the late Biafra leader, as Minister of State Foreign Affairs has been lauded by the All Progressives Grand Alliance where she is a chieftain. The president may have done this to curry favour from the opposition political parties and give his cabinet a semblance of a “Government of National Unity”. Remember, Nyesome Wike is from the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party. Likewise, Adebayo Adelabu, the incumbent Minister of Power was appointed when he was a member of the Accord Party in Oyo State before he defected back to the All Progressives Congress after he assumed office.

People are asking what objective criteria were used to demote Senator John Enoh from the Ministry of Sports to Minister of State (Industry) in the Ministry of Trade and Investment and Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite from Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to Minister of State Finance. If you do not know, the Minister and Minister of State are not of equal status. In fact, the learned silk and current Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamu has said it is unconstitutional and should be scrapped. He said this in his valedictory speech on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, as Minister of State for Labour in former President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.  Another observation is the appointment of the Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation and the Minister of State for Steel Development. Do these ministries deserve to have two ministers at the helm of affairs? Meanwhile, the Ministry of Solid Minerals from which the Ministry of Steel was carved out still has only Dele Alake as the Minister. I think it is inappropriate to appoint a medical doctor, Morufu Alausa as Minister of Education. He should have been left in the Ministry of Health where he was Minister of State.

If President Tinubu found it expedient to scrap the Ministry of Sports and Ministry of Tourism, why did he not merge the Ministry of Police Affairs with the Ministry of Interior or Defence? Better still why didn’t he ask the Police Service Commission to take over the function of the Ministry? I am unhappy that the president did not bridge the gender gap in this shuffle. He sacked four female ministers and appointed two. He failed to live up to his campaign promise to give Nigerian women 35 per cent in appointive positions. He also did not improve on youth inclusion and excluded persons with disabilities.

I however commend the president for restructuring his cabinet ahead of the submission of the 2025 budget to the National Assembly. If this had been done after the laying of the budget for the lawmakers’ consideration, it would have caused a lot of dislocations. On the whole, what’s most important to Nigerians on this cabinet reshuffle is the reduction of the rising cost of governance which the president has again patently ignored by increasing the number of ministers and ministries. Ultimately, Nigerians expect that there will be priority for the welfare and security of citizens as mandated by section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as altered.

X: @jideojong

The Nigeria Football Federation, on Tuesday, confirmed the dates and venues for the country’s senior men’s national team final two Group D matches for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification series against Rwanda and Benin, The PUNCH reports.

According to NFF, the Confederation of African Football has scheduled November 14 and 18 as the days for the two games.

The Super Eagles will travel to Abidjan for their Matchday 5 fixture against the Benin Republic, scheduled for Thursday, November 14, at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.

This match will start at 8 pm Nigerian time (7 PM Ivorian time) and will be officiated by Senegalese officials, with Issa Sy named as the centre referee. He will be joined by Djibril Camara and Nouha Bangoura as assistant referees, while El Hadji Amadou Sy will serve as the fourth official. Ivorian Rene Williams Sere will be the commissioner while Angolan Inacio Manuel Candido will be the referee assessor.

The three-time Africa Champions will play their final game of the qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Monday, November 18.

The game, set to kick off at 5 PM Nigerian time, will be officiated by Moroccan referee Samir Guezzaz, who will be supported by assistants Zakaria Brinsi and Abdessamad Abertoune.

Kech Chaf Mustapha will serve as the fourth official, while Ghana’s Prosper Harrison Addo will take the role of match commissioner, and Somalia’s Ali Mohamed Ahmed will act as the referee assessor.

The Eagles currently top their Group D with 10 points from four games, four points ahead of second-placed Benin Republic, while Rwanda has five points. Bottom-placed Libya has only one point and is out of the running for qualification.

A win or draw against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Abidjan will secure the Super Eagles a ticket to the finals in Morocco, scheduled for December 2025/January 2026 with a game to spare.

The Eagles boycotted their last qualifier against Libya after suffering poor treatment where they had their flight diverted to another city and also held hostage at the Al-Abraq airport on the outskirts of Benghazi for almost 20 hours without food, water and internet facilities.

[Punch]

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, has suspended Rauf Aregbesola, a former governor of the state, over alleged anti-party activities.

The party accused the former minister of interior of “creating splinter groups in the APC” and making “public outbursts” against President Bola Tinubu, Bisi Akande, a former governor of Osun, and Gboyega Oyetola, minister of marine and blue economy.

The state working committee of the Osun APC said it found merit in the allegations leveled against the former minister by the executives of the party in Ilesa East LGA where he hails from.

In a letter to the national working committee (NWC) of the party, Tajudeen Lawal and Alao Kamoru, chair and secretary of the APC in Osun, said Aregbesola breached article 21 (2) of the party’s constitution.

“Following complaints of anti-party activities levelled against Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola by the llesa East Local Government executive committee, the State Executive Committee (SEC), after reviewing the allegations and in accordance with the powers vested in it by article 21(3) (vi) (c) of the party’s constitution, hereby suspends Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from the party pending the outcome of an investigation into the allegations by a disciplinary committee,” PUNCH quoted the letter as saying.

“The State Executive Commíttee has constituted a disciplinary committee to investigate and provide Ogbeni Aregbesola with the opportunity to respond to the allegations of activities deemed to be in violation of Article 21 (2) of the party’s constitution, particularly relating to anti-party activities that undermine the collective interests of the APC.”

They said the disciplinary committee would give Aregbesola a chance to defend himself.

RIFT BETWEEN TINUBU AND AREGBESOLA

Tinubu and Aregbesola fell out in 2020 when the former minister revamped the Mandate Group — a core of Tinubu’s loyalists — and usurped the closely-knitted caucus for individuals he could trust.

The former Osun governor relaunched the group without Tinubu’s approval and named Abdullahi Enilolobo, his protege, as the new leader.

In 2022, there was an attempt by close associates and friends to reconcile both men in the build-up to the 2023 general election – but that did not yield any tangible result as they still do not see eye to eye.

[TheCable]

One of the dominant themes in public discourse that has continued to attract both academic and media scrutiny in Nigeria is the leadership question. A lot has been written and many words expressed to describe the leadership situation in our country. It is the view of many that our major problem is “leadership”. Indeed, the legendary literary giant, Chinua Achebe once famously remarked in his book, The Trouble with Nigeria that “the trouble with Nigeria is simply a failure of leadership…”

It is to be noted though, that this “problem” of not having “good leaders” has been a generational accusation. In the colonial Nigeria, patriotic nationals of Nigeria, mostly young people but highly intelligent and courageous, worked tirelessly to confront the colonial leadership and the oppressive symbolism that it represented.

By the time their collective aspiration materialized and the lever of power fell in their hands, it was not long before they, themselves became victims of accusation of incompetence and corruption. The younger elements of their time were so impatiently pissed off with them, that, they staged a bloody coup to forcefully remove them from power.  And of course, they too became a “worse version” of what they complained agains.

The lesson to be noted in this, is that our search for good leaders and the proclivity for each generation to accuse the ruling class of their time of being incompetent, corrupt and visionless is as old as this country.

From all of these, it is sometimes difficult to really understand the nature of our leadership challenge, as it is clear that the dynamics of power struggle and oppositional politics can sometimes eclipse genuine leadership success.

Similarly, since leadership assessment in our clime is subjective and determined by sociopolitical or ethno-religious affiliations, the search for the ideal leadership has been made harder, if not illusory. Indeed, the leadership concept itself and its suppositions is as problematic as its ideation.

Who is a Leader?

One frightening thing about the conceptualization of leadership among Nigerians, especially from the standpoint of media narratives, is that the leadership of the country is often constructed as the people holding public offices. Our focus has always been to highlight the activities of public office holders as the ultimate and final generational leadership.

A nation’s leadership starts from the household to the larger society. Every father is a leader, every mother is a leader and every child is a leader. From being a class captain to becoming the president of a nation, the core values and skills of leadership are the same: responsibility, problem-solving, vision, fairness, firmness, prudence, transparency, temperance, resourcefulness, patience, responsiveness, creativity, accountability, fear of God among others.

These are the enduring values that a leader must possess. One doesn’t need to hold political office to have these values and skills, nor should they get to public office before possessing them.

A Clamour for Leadership Education

Therefore, I hold the view that leadership must be part of the basic everyday skills that every citizen should possess. Leadership training must be as important as basic education for literacy and numeracy. As a nation, we should have embedded curriculum that teaches leadership skills and principles, both as practical skills and indoctrinated values. For me, I believe  if you want to change a people, teach them what you want them to change to.

There are those who become leaders by default or by circumstances of privileged pedigree and not because of personal merits.  Yet, the best of leaders are those who have been trained, tested and exposed to the nitty-gritty of leadership in addition to their innate ability.
 Furthermore, the average person does not have the wherewithal to evaluate leadership competence because there is no widespread knowledge about leadership as a skill.

Leadership is such a serious thing that being certified should be one of the requirements to hold certain strategic positions in the society. Evidence abounds that technical skill on jobs are not enough for people to lead competently; there is the need for real and special training in the art and science of leadership for people to succeed today.

I therefore subscribe to the argument that people should, of necessity, go through intentional leadership training before they can lead at some certain levels in the society. We all need to be well exposed to the call of leadership and how to manage a mass audience of people with differing characteristics, needs and tendencies.

As a result, we currently run a compulsory subject called Ekiti Values Education (EVE) with a considerable module that focuses on leadership development. The subject aims to teach young Ekiti children comprehensive aspects of leadership, responsibility of a leader and practical leadership exposure. It aims to raise their self-awareness about their individual roles as a member of the future leadership and to prepare them to face the challenge of nation building.

Even as we grapple with the challenges of this generation, we owe the future generation, in addition to providing pedagogical framework, the responsibility of personal example. This is because it is in the nature of young people to emulate their leaders.

So, where we have found ourselves as leaders, be it as traditional rulers, community leaders, religion leaders, business leaders, union leaders, professional leaders, academic leaders, judicial, legislative or executive leaders, we have a duty to be the paragon of example for the next generation.

Conclusion

I want to thank the authorities of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria for providing this platform through which topical issues of relevance to national development are discussed. I am more than confident in our Guest Speaker to do justice to the topic at hand.
Let me conclude this remark with a quotation from the Maxwell Leadership Bible on our Lord Jesus Christ leadership model:
“The best leadership simply expresses who we are. Jesus led from who He was: God incarnate, the perfect expression of the Father. As He pursued His divine mission, He influenced others. Similarly, as we pursue who God called us to be, our leadership will be most natural and effective”.

* His Excellency  Biodun Oyebanji is the Governor Ekiti State

The Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has challenged the northern elite to fix the economic, political and security crisis in the region as a way of fixing the country’s problems.

Onaiyekan spoke yesterday in Abuja when the League of Northern Democrats (LND), led by former governor of Kano State, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, paid him a courtesy visit.

The cardinal, who commended LND for championing a northern renaissance, challenged them to inquire why there was too much poverty and insecurity in the northern states, when compared to the south of Nigeria.

He stated, Let’s face it, if the north does not move well, Nigeria cannot move well. It’s the same discourse. If Nigeria does move well, Africa cannot move well.” 

According to him, “I think we must face the reality that the way northern Nigeria is today is not what we can be proud of. All the various indices of good governance and standard of living, we have a very poor record. If Nigeria is poor, the epicentre of the poor is the north. 

“And when there is a league of northern democrats, who are interested in addressing the issues and finding out, why is it that things are not moving as they should, I think things will move because a league of elite northern democrats should be able to engage those who call themselves political leaders, especially as some of you have had good experience in government.

“So, you can tell them, listen, look around you, are you proud of what you see? Out-of-school children all over the place, and it is not an excuse to say we are poor because if we continue about being poor, the issue will remain. 

“We are in a federal government and federal resources are being distributed, so what has happened.” 

Onaiyekan added, “There is no room for one section of the country to be lagging behind. What it does mean is that the entire nation should be interested in what you people are doing. If for no other reason but for what they normally call enlightened self-interest.”

He stressed the need for all regions of the country to move together, adding that his doors are open to leaders from other parts of the country who share the same interest of ensuring good governance. 

The cardinal said the country needed many leagues of democrats to improve the quality of governance.

He stated, “Your initiatives of coming together to form the league of northern democrats for the purpose of trying to reinvent the north is a welcome development. I support what you are doing.

“Go further, ask questions, because when you reinvent the north, you are on the sure positive way to reinvent Nigeria. When you reinvent Nigeria, Africa would reinvent itself. We are the largest black nation in world.” 

Onayekan called for harmonious relationship between Christians and Muslims in the north. He said a peaceful relationship between Christians and Muslims was another sure way to build a stable and united northern Nigeria.

The Catholic cardinal went down memory lane to discuss how the Nigerian inter-religious council was formed during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He said though the expected goal of complete religious harmony was yet to be desired, with time Nigeria would realise the goal. 

Earlier, Shekarau told Onaiyekan that the visit was to acquaint him with the group’s plans to reinvent the north from poverty and the challenge of insecurity by engaging leaders from the region.

Shekarau, who was a two-time governor of Kano State, told the Catholic cardinal that his group was not partisan, but was worried about the level of poverty and insecurity in the northern states.

The former governor stated, “We are an apolitical group, who are worried with the level of economic, security developments in the 19 northern states. We have members from all political parties. Our mission and goals are to reinvent the north from its present economic situation.”

[ThisDay]

Responding to the widespread demands for a cabinet reshuffle, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made changes on October 23, replacing five cabinet members with seven new ones. Additionally, the president merged certain ministries, such as Sports and Culture, and streamlined leadership in regional development bodies like the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). He also introduced five new regional development agencies, ensuring representation across all geographic zones of the country, bringing the total to six.
For better coordination, President Tinubu consolidated these regional agencies under a single ministry, transforming the former Niger Delta Ministry into a supervisory body for all six agencies.

Many Nigerians recognize that the most pressing obstacle to economic growth is the country’s inability to generate enough revenue to cover its increasing expenses. This challenge is worsened by the costs associated with running a large presidential system of government and declining revenues, particularly from oil—Nigeria’s main income source. Crude oil production has been hampered by delays in implementing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which took nearly 20 years to become law under former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021.

Compounding the problem, significant amounts of oil have been stolen by organized groups, as noted by Tony Elumelu, chairman of Heirs Oil. Elumelu reported that a substantial portion of the oil produced by his company and transported through the Forcados pipeline was siphoned off by these syndicates. To address this, a task force was established to combat oil theft.

These efforts are beginning to show positive results, with production rising to between 1.5-1.6 million barrels per day. To further boost income generation, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), led by Engineer Gbenga Kolawole, has set a goal to increase production by one million barrels within 12-24 months. Achieving this would push Nigeria’s daily production to 2.6 million barrels by 2025—a level not seen in about 20 years.

This context is crucial for understanding that the current administration has pinpointed the main issue impacting Nigeria’s economy: low revenue generation and productivity, despite untapped potential within the workforce. To address these challenges, the government is working to boost oil production, curb theft, and remove barriers to private sector involvement in previously restricted sectors, making it easier for investors to participate.

Moreover, the government is taking targeted actions to assist the poor, such as reducing income inequality through progressive taxation. This approach includes differentiated electricity tariffs, where wealthier citizens pay higher rates (Band A), while lower-income groups benefit from reduced rates in Bands B, C, D, and E.

By implementing this tiered electricity pricing, the wealthy effectively subsidize energy costs for poorer households. Additionally, starting in January, the government plans to adjust taxes so that wealthier individuals bear a greater share of the burden, alleviating pressure on poorer citizens who have suffered from past economic policies.
Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, head of the tax reform committee appointed by President Tinubu, recently announced at a forum in Abuja that a 25% tax on high-income earners will take effect in January next year. Additionally, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, had also started implementing taxes on private jet owners who previously avoided such payments—not necessarily due to deliberate evasion, but potentially due to oversight by the relevant regulatory agency.

These actions indicate that the current administration aims to improve conditions for low-income citizens without fully adopting a socialist approach.
These tax reforms are among the initiatives intended to reduce the burden on many Nigerians. Other efforts include conditional cash transfers to vulnerable groups and significant investment in the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, which offers a more affordable alternative to petrol and aims to cut transportation costs—a major concern for many Nigerians as transportation is a pivotal factor driving the cost of living crisis.

Beyond these policies designed to mitigate the effects of subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, which led to the naira’s devaluation under President Tinubu’s reforms, the country’s foreign reserves have increased to about $38 billion, thanks to efforts by the finance team, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The heads of the two economic management organs of goverment Wale Edun and Yemi Cardoso have also reported positive developments in some of economic fundamentals of our country such as the percentage of income dedicated to debt management dropping from 92% to 68% and positive Foreign Direct Investment, FDI inflow into the economy.

Despite these highlighted improvements and efforts to create a safety net to cushion the impact of reforms on the poor, the nation faces widespread socioeconomic challenges, leaving many Nigerians struggling. However, it’s important not to succumb to a victim mindset in these difficult times. As humans, survival often comes from being cautious of the unknown, but psychology suggests that thriving requires a shift to a determined, “no retreat, no surrender” attitude to adapt to tough circumstances.

For too long, many Nigerians have seen themselves as victims of harsh government policies without acknowledging their own role in the current situation. While the economic difficulties affecting a large portion of the population have roots in the actions of corrupt officials and politicians, they are often facilitated by citizens who sell their votes during elections, making many complicit in the cycle of corruption that has hindered progress in the country.

This complicity makes all Nigerians, in a way, participants in the consequences of corruption, which is widely recognized as a major barrier to the country’s development. The challenge is one of shared responsibility of all citizens, as corruption pervades government institutions, political offices, and electoral processes.

This issue of wrong headed policies hobbling productivity and promoting consumption as well as unbriddled graft in the public sector have significantly stalled progress throughout Nigeria’s 64 years of independence, and the current administration is attempting to address it through significant reforms. While a direct confrontation with corruption may not be the immediate priority of incumbent administration due to the need to priotise and focus on key areas, such as reducing financial leakages, increasing revenue through higher oil production, job creation to lower unemployment (currently at 33%), and curbing inflation (now at 32.7%), the fight against corruption can become a priority once these initial goals are met.

By and large , while the country continues to face considerable challenges, in many ways, all Nigerians are implicated in the systemic dysfunction that has marked the nation’s history since independence and we must resolve to collectively move our country forward by making the sacrifice today for a better tomorrow.
Let me explain why it’s essential for us to step out of our comfort zones and confront the turbulent times brought on by ongoing reforms necessary to build the momentum needed to overcome current challenges. No one enjoys undergoing surgery, but sometimes it’s the only way to cure a serious health issue, leaving one with no choice but to accept it in hopes of regaining health after the removal of a tumor or cancer.

This analogy mirrors the situation many Nigerians face today. It’s a hard reality for many to accept, but life is becoming increasingly difficult and we must seek to rise above the fray. While there is hope for improvement, the widespread complaints about the current hardships are alarming. Many Nigerians are anxious about the long and challenging road ahead before they can transition from hardship to prosperity. This concern was echoed and further accentuated by Indermit Gill, a Senior Vice President of the World Bank Group, during the recent Nigerian Economic Summit Group’s 30th anniversary in Abuja from October 16-18.

Gill’s prediction that it will take Nigeria 10-15 years to achieve economic relief may dampen the spirits of those of us who believe that after two years of reforms, the economy will start to improve. Our optimism is based on the expectation that significant benefits will emerge after 24 months of transformative reforms.
However, the World Bank’s lengthy forecast of 10-15 years for economic momentum can be disheartening for those of us who see light at the end of the tunnel. Consequently, we encourage our fellow citizens to be patient and resilient, as the groundwork for a better life has already been established and is beginning to show promise based on the new economic indices-increased oil production, reduction in percentage of income applied in debt service from 92% to 68% and ramped FDI inflow.

It’s important to note that the 10-15 year timeline for these reforms to bear fruit as postulated by the World bank official is a general estimate used by development experts and economists. This period could be shorter, as evidenced by how the introduction of GSM services by early providers like Econet (now Airtel) and MTN in Nigeria exceeded expectations due to unique factors in our economy.

Additionally, we should remember that during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, experts, including Melinda Gates from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, predicted widespread fatalities in Africa, including Nigeria. Fortunately, the actual death toll in Africa was much lower than in technologically advanced countries like the USA, which suffered over a million deaths.

Furthermore, it’s worth recalling that an American think tank, led by former Nigerian envoy Ambassador John Campbell, had forecast that Nigeria would disintegrate by 2015. Although Campbell later clarified he did not make such a definitive prediction, Nigeria has surpassed that timeline and remains united.
To summarize, the extensive socioeconomic reforms implemented by the current administration since May 29, 2023—about 18 months ago—are aimed at resetting our nation. This effort is crucial because we have been on the wrong path since the military coup of 1966, just three years after becoming a republic in 1963 and six years post-independence from British colonial rule, which began in 1885 following the Berlin Conference that partitioned

In my opinion, the presidency shouldn’t be overly concerned about President Tinubu being nicknamed “T-Pain” by Nigerians feeling frustrated by the hardships. As humans, we naturally respond to pain and pleasure, so those suffering from the impacts of the president’s stringent reform policies have every right to express their feelings in whatever manner they choose.

If calling the president “T-Pain” provides some comfort to those affected by the reforms, even if it seems a bit harsh or playful, then that’s acceptable. Psychologists might suggest that this nickname could serve as a coping mechanism for Nigerians facing tough times. Perhaps, if President Tinubu successfully navigates the current economic turmoil, he could eventually earn the title of “Miracle Worker” from those who once referred to him as “T-Pain.”
Given this context, criticizing leaders is part of the political landscape and can serve as comic relief in an otherwise grim situation, even if the humor has a darker edge. Wasn’t it the same Tinubu, during his 2022/2023 presidential campaign, who was mocked for allegedly speaking nonsense, like “bala bulu”? Did he attempt to halt the spread of such disinformation?

For many Nigerians, it has been an eye-opening experience to realize that the opposition’s claims about Tinubu’s slurred speech as a sign of a serious health issue were unfounded. After winning the election in May of last year, he suddenly became articulate. It was as if a magic wand had been waved to eliminate the health issues his opponents claimed he had.
It is now evident that the allegations of Tinubu’s incoherence during the campaign were fabricated and part of the political gamesmanship of that time. I believe that just as he overcame those pre-election attacks, he will also succeed in improving the economy and, consequently, the living standards of ordinary Nigerians in the near future, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Moreover, President Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari (2015-2023), was also labeled ‘Baba Go Slow.’ Goodluck Jonathan (2010-2015), who Buhari succeeded, was called ‘clueless,’ and his wife, Patience, was mockingly referred to as ‘hippopotamus.’ Similarly, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (1985-1993) was nicknamed ‘Maradona’ after the famous Argentinian footballer known for his exceptional dribbling.

It’s worth noting that the practice of assigning negative labels to leaders by their constituents is not unique to Nigeria. Similar instances have occurred in the United Kingdom, where the late Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990) was given the title ‘Iron Lady’ due to her lengthy battle with powerful labor unions that dominated the workforce in the UK before her time at No. 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British prime minister.

In the USA, former President Ronald Reagan (1981-89) had the moniker ‘Nuke Head’ attached to his name because of his perceived penchant for starting wars during his tenure.
In light of the above, nicknaming political leaders by those they lead is not an anathema but a universal phenomenon, as outlined above. Therefore, the Nigerian presidency cannot stop or ban by fiat those who are expressing their angst or resentment towards President Tinubu and referring to him as T-Pain, as my good friend Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Publicity, is reportedly trying to do.

After all, President Tinubu is also popularly called ‘the Jagaban,’ and I believe he is unperturbed by the nickname—whether it portrays him in a positive or negative light.
Back in the days when then-Information and National Orientation Minister, the late Dr. Dora Akunyili, did not find it acceptable that our youths had rebranded Nigeria in their own lingo with the moniker ‘Naija’ and she banned it and tried to stymie it, she failed to succeed. As it turned out, her disapproval of the use of the term ‘Naija’ by our youths as an alternative to the name Nigeria was an exercise in futility because the nomenclature—‘Naija’—is apparently here to stay, as evidenced by its continued use against the dictate of the then-minister’s fiat or diktat.

One cannot help but recognize the resilience of Nigerians and their ability to navigate tough times, as evidenced by the numerous video skits and comedies dominating TikTok and other social media platforms.
The referenced comics that are making light of the otherwise very rough times that a critical mass of Nigerians are going through are, believe it or not, helping to diffuse the palpable tension in the polity. The rib-cracking jokes and comedies are too numerous to catalog in this piece. But one can bet that hardly anyone engaging with social media has not come across content parodying the dire straits in which Nigerians find themselves as they navigate the new environment created by the reform measures of President Tinubu’s administration, which are expected to ultimately help reset Nigeria.

Although the reforms are taking their toll on Nigerians today, Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda’s goal is clearly to be the harbinger of prosperity for our compatriots and posterity. As optimists, we pray that this mission is realized sooner rather than later. Already, inflation is ebbing, and our national debts are being paid off. Hopefully, bank interest rates will drop when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) decides to ease the tight monetary control measures it introduced to rein in inflation following the convergence of the two foreign exchange windows inherited from its predecessor resulting a massive devaluation which has made the economy flush with naira.

Sometimes, the bad things that happen in our lives put us directly on the path to the best things that will ever happen to us. Social scientists refer to this as Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), which is a positive transformation that can occur after experiencing adversity, trauma, or challenges. This manifests in the form of increased resilience, coping skills, and purpose, such that losing a job sparks entrepreneurship and success by adopting an attitude of resilience, as enunciated by Friedrich Nietzsche: “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger,” and “Fall seven times and stand up eight,” which is a Japanese proverb.

The quotes above underscore and illustrate that adversity is not a dead end but a detour, because challenges can foster growth, wisdom, and strength—every experience, good or bad, shapes us. As we all get tossed up and down by the turbulent waves of hardship that have been occasioned by the incumbent administration’s socio-economic reform measures, we must develop coping mechanisms that will enable us to thrive in the face of adversity. It is worth remembering that, as human beings who must learn to respond to change, whether good or bad, our primary focus should not be on the hardship we are currently experiencing, but on how we respond to it and grow from it.

President Tinubu has assured us that he is diligently working to alleviate these difficulties through various relief measures aimed at easing the impact of his bold but difficult policy changes.
Of course, no person is without flaws, and President Tinubu, like all humans—especially those in politics—has his imperfections. However, his commitment to steering Nigeria out of its current economic struggles is evident. His success, however, depends on the support of the citizens, who must stand by him as patriots.

Therefore, I urge everyone to exercise greater patience, as the president is indeed responding to the concerns and struggles of the long suffering masses. He has been making adjustments, such as replacing underperforming ministers, setting clear performance benchmarks, and reducing government expenses by reducing number of people on entourage of officials and foreign trips to only critically important ones , as well as limiting official cars and security details—steps that many of us have long advocated for. Even then, like the proverbial Oliver twist some Nigerians are still asking for more by demanding for radical changes in the cabinet and drastic cut in cost of governance from President Tinubu who has continuosly averred that he is not soliciting the sympathy of Nigerians because he asked for the job, but appealing for the patience and support of the critical mass of down cast Nigerians to deliver on his mandate, which is a fair requirement and l urge us all to oblige him.

Magnus Onyibe, an entrepreneur, public policy analyst, author, democracy advocate, development strategist, alumnus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Massachusetts, USA, and a former commissioner in the Delta State government, sent this piece from Lagos, Nigeria.
To continue with this conversation and more, please visit www.magnum.ng.

The 23-year-old stated that contrary to what people think, her mother and every member of her family were against her marriage to the politician.

She disclosed this during her a live on Instagram.

The mother of two disclosed that she met her husband during an outing with one of her ex-boyfriends.

She said, “I went to visit my boyfriend and I was so angry about why we had to go sightseeing, but when we got there I met a cute man.

“The moral of the story is that your boyfriend should not stop you from seeing your husband.

“When I started with my husband I forgot I was to have boyfriends; of course, I had like 20. When people think I don’t have a choice, I’m like what?

“People were saying mummy forced me not knowing that she was against the marriage, my full family said no.”

Nwoko married Regina Daniels in May 2019 in Aniocha Local Government Area, Delta State despite the huge gap in age.

Explaining why he married the 23-year-old actress, the 63-year-old politician said he tied the knot because Regina Daniels was from his place.

“For her particularly, I married her because she is from my place. I wanted to marry a wife from my place, and I was looking for the right person. By the time I met her, I knew she must be the one,” Nwoko had said.

[NaijaNews]

Governors of the 19 northern states met in Kaduna yesterday, alongside top traditional rulers from the region, where they discussed various issues and challenges affecting the region, and resolved, among others, to reject the Nigeria Tax Reform Bill sent to the National Assembly recently by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Monday’s meeting was part of the Northern States Governors’ Forum’s initiative to engage key stakeholders over pressing matters, including insecurity, poverty, the education crisis and other socio-economic challenges affecting the region.

Governors in attendance included: Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Dauda Lawal Dare (Zamfara), Abdullahi A. Sule (Nasarawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), and Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa). Deputy governors from other Northern states were also in attendance.

The meeting, which held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, also had in attendance notable traditional rulers, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III; Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba Al- Amin El-Kanemi; Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli; Ohinoyi of Ebira land, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Anaje; Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar; Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Najib Hussaini Adamu; Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu, among others.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, was also present at the event.

‘Tax reform not favourable to North’

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the group decried the contents of the recent Tax Reform Bill that was forwarded to the National Assembly, saying they were against the interests of the North and other sub-nationals, especially the proposed amendment to the distribution of Value Added Tax (VAT) to Derivation-based Model.

President Bola Tinubu had on the 3rd of this month transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration.

Tinubu, who was on vacation in London by then, sent the bills via a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen. The letter was read on the floor of the House during plenary that day.

The bills are the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which is expected to provide the fiscal framework for taxation in the country, and the Tax Administration Bill, which will provide a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes in the country and reduce disputes.

The others are the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, which will repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which will create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman.

Tinubu said the bills were designed to support his administration’s objectives and strengthen fiscal institutions in the country.

“The proposed tax bills present substantial benefits that align with my government’s objectives and fiscal reform on the economic growth by enhancing taxpayer compliance, strengthening our fiscal institutions and fostering a more effective and transparent fiscal regime,” he said.

The president further stated that he was confident that if the bills were passed, they would encourage and stimulate the economy.

Explaining their decision to reject the Tax Reforms Bill yesterday, however, the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Governor Inuwa Yahaya, while reading the communique of the forum’s meeting said: “This is because companies remit VAT using location of their headquarters and tax office and not where the services and goods are consumed. In view of the foregoing, the forum unanimously rejects the proposed Tax Amendments and calls on members of National Assembly to oppose any bill that can jeopardise the well-being of our people.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Northern Governors’ Forum is not averse to any policies or programmes that will ensure the growth and development of the country. However, the forum calls for equity and farness in the implementation of all national policies and programmes so as to ensure that no geopolitical zone is short-changed or marginalised”, the group said.

‘We’re worried’

The forum’s chairman, while reading the communique, also said that the economic hardship currently faced by Nigerians is more pronounced in the Northern region than the Southern region due to what he called “disparities in economic inequality.”

Speaking further, he said: “On the present economic hardship affecting the country, the forum is appealing to all citizens to remain calm, as the states and federal government are working hard to implement measures that will cushion effects of the hardship”.

The governor noted that the #EndBadGovernance protests which took place in August, served as a wake-up call for all northern leaders.

According to him, youth restiveness is a growing concern, driven by illiteracy, poverty, and a lack of economic opportunities.

He said it was essential for leaders to adopt measures to alleviate the suffering being experienced through targeted social welfare programmes, support for small and medium enterprises, and policies that would attract investments to their states.

“Our young people are calling out for change, and it is our responsibility to listen and act. We must scale up efforts to tackle the root causes of youth restiveness by investing in education, skills development, and job creation. Let us focus on creating pathways for the youth to channel their energy into productive ventures, thereby reducing their vulnerability to crime and social vices.

“The economic hardship faced by many Nigerians today is undeniable, and considering the North-South disparity in economic inequality, it is even more pronounced in northern Nigeria. This calls for urgent intervention,” he said.

The chairman further added that they must work with the federal government to ensure that fiscal policies are sensitive to the realities of the day.

“As we speak today, most of our Northern states are in darkness due to the vandalisation of electricity transmission infrastructure. This, not only underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure but also the need to build additional transmission lines and diversify our energy supply to better connect our region and improve our energy resilience.

Daily Trust reports that most parts of the northern region have been in darkness for almost 10 days due to a fault on the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, a development that has further worsened the hardship being experienced in the region.

“Northern Nigeria holds immense agricultural potentials, which, if fully harnessed, can significantly alleviate hunger and boost economic growth,” he said.

The governor also commiserated with victims of terrorism, banditry, and other criminal activities in the North, including the victims of the Maiduguri flood and the recent tanker explosion in Jigawa State.

He said they would continue to work with the federal government and relevant agencies to provide the necessary support and relief to those affected.

In the communique, the group further said: “Particularly, we commend the untiring commitment of the Chief of Defence Staff, General C. G. Musa, whose professionalism and innovative approach has made difference in security architecture of the country at large”.

The group also resolved to provide adequate support to farmers, including access to financing, modern farming techniques and infrastructure such as roads and irrigation systems.

“Agriculture should not only be seen as a means to feed our people but also as a catalyst for industrialisation and job creation across the region. “That can be achieved through re-industrialisation of the North, especially by reviving the textile value chain and development of other agro-allied industries”, it said.

The group further called for roles for traditional rulers, saying, “Forum advocates for increased roles for the traditional institutions to maximise cooperation with security agencies in the fight against kidnap for ransom, banditry, cattle rustling, communal clashes, farmers/herder clashes and other forms of criminality.

“Forum acknowledges the recent gains made against criminals, especially the elimination of bandits and terror leaders.

“Forum emphasised that traditional institutions are critical in the quest for lasting peace and security in the region”.

The group also commended President Tinubu for the reform initiative in the livestock sub-sector and agreed to provide the necessary political will and commitment to ensure its success.

Our interventions would be felt – Uba Sani

In his remarks, the host for the event and Kaduna State Governor, Sani, said the Northern Governors Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council would make their marks as effective platforms for addressing the security and developmental challenges confronting the North.

He emphasised the need for the leaders to work together to realise their vision of a secure, peaceful and prosperous North.

He further used the opportunity to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for reinvigorating the war against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements in the region.

He said the establishment of a joint military command and launch of Operation Fansan Yamma are clear demonstrations of the federal government’s commitment to tackle the multidimensional challenges of insecurity confronting the region.

Almajiri, out-of-school children, major problems– Sultan

Also speaking at the event, the Sultan said the issues of almajirai and out-of-school children remain serious challenges confronting the northern Nigeria.

He urged the governors to include these issues in their discussions, emphasising the need to address them urgently.

The Sultan added that as leaders, they would support the Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Commission.

“The issue of out-of-school children and Almajiri is a core problem for all of us. When you go around the states, towns, cities, and villages, what you see is very unpleasant.

“We have so many children—hundreds, if not thousands, or millions—roaming about. This commission must be supported by all of us so that it succeeds. I am sure if it succeeds, we will all say yes, we are on the way to the world of freedom. Once you educate somebody, you have given him the freedom to be himself, to work for himself, and to work for humanity.

“We are ready to work with you, and you can reach out to us anytime. I have a strong belief that this set of Northern governors will turn the tables and make the North a better and safer place.

“Please, listen to us when we say certain things; we are not criticising you. We are stating things as they are, as we hear from our people. All you need to do is listen patiently because a leader must be patient with the people he is leading.

“You cannot know it all. You don’t know it all and will never know it all. When you bring good people close to you, and they advise you and you act on it, you will take the glory, and people will say this governor is excellent, not knowing there are people working for him 24/7. So, let’s work together because there is a new sense of direction and commitment with the present governors,” he said.

ACF speaks

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), while reacting to the governors’ position, said this is not time for party politics and party loyalty.

Speaking with Daily Trust yesterday, the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba encouraged the governors to get more involved in grassroots affairs, especially things to do with the socio-economic conditions of the people.

While commending the governors for their position, he said it is an indication that some people are aware of what the North is going through.

“The call by the governors and traditional rulers is very much in order because one of the things that have been happening is that most elected public officials have been mute about the suffering of the people in the North.

“The position of the governors is actually commendable. We called for more active involvement of the governors towards addressing problems in the North,” he said.

[DailyTrust]

The Federal Government has confirmed the arrest of three Chinese nationals and two Nigerians suspected of illegal mining in Nasarawa State.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, made the disclosure in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Monday in Abuja.

Alake said that the suspects were arrested at an illegal mining site located at Rafin-Gabas, Agwada, in Kokona Local Government Area.

He stated that the ministry’s mining marshals, established to secure mining sites across the nation, made the arrest in a recent operation following credible intelligence.

“The suspects were arrested for mining without lawful authorisation. Some of the minerals being mined include fluorite, zinc, lead, and tin.

“The arrested suspects confessed to having been on illicit activities at the site spanning five cadastral units since December 15, 2021.

“The company defied all lawful advice to regularise their activities and continued syphoning the nation’s resources, causing significant revenue losses to the Federal Government,” he said.

According to the minister, more than 200 illegal miners have been arrested so far, and about 140 are undergoing prosecution across the country.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to reforming the mining sector, emphasising that the mining marshals would remain steadfast in ensuring a secure and safe environment for legitimate investors.

[DailyPost]