The ongoing economic crisis has reached every corner of the nation, touching the rich and poor, urban and rural dwellers alike. With inflation rates climbing to about 33% as of August 2024, living costs have risen dramatically. Food prices alone have skyrocketed by more than 30%, placing a significant strain on household incomes. Families that were once able to get by are now struggling to afford necessities like food, fuel, and healthcare. 

This is not a crisis we can afford to ignore. 

Many Nigerians feel their government, both at the local and State levels, works against them rather than for them. Government institutions, law enforcement agencies, and tax offices are often seen as riddled with inefficiency and bribery. This makes navigating daily life even more difficult for average citizens, who must contend with constant bureaucratic hurdles. It’s the average citizen who bears the brunt of these systemic flaws. 

Amid these crises, Nigeria’s democracy itself is under threat. Citizens’ faith in democracy is fast eroding. When the economic, governance, and security systems fail, the public’s ability to participate in governance and enjoy basic rights promised by democracy is severely hampered. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Rivers State, a region whose political crisis has become a significant threat to Nigerian democracy.

Despite several attempts to stabilise the situation, the crisis deepens, creating nationwide concern. Due to its oil resources and geographical location, Rivers State, one of Nigeria’s most strategic states, has become a focal point for political conflict. The State’s political turmoil has far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s democratic health, as instability in one of the nation’s most economically significant states sends shockwaves through the broader political landscape.

Efforts by political leaders and mediators to resolve the crisis in Rivers have so far proven unsuccessful. Tensions in the State are continuously high, making it a potential battleground for violence. This situation has become so concerning that democracy advocates across Nigeria worry about the ripple effects this crisis could have nationwide. If left unresolved, the unrest in Rivers may undermine the very foundation of Nigeria’s democracy, leading to a potential outbreak of violence.

One of the key reasons this crisis poses such a grave threat is its impact on democratic institutions. The judiciary, police, and security agencies,  which are meant to uphold the rule of law and protect citizens, were intensely scrutinised during the Rivers crisis. In particular, the judiciary has been accused of being politically influenced, leading to a loss of public trust in its impartiality. In Rivers, conflicting court rulings have further eroded confidence in the justice system. This manipulation of legal outcomes raises severe concerns about the future of democracy in the State and, by extension, the nation.

Similarly, the media’s role in shaping public perception and its potential impact on the crisis cannot be overlooked. The media, often accused of bias and sensationalism, can escalate or de-escalate the crisis through its coverage. Its influence on public opinion can either fuel or dampen the flames of political discord. This perception undermines the credibility of these institutions, making them seem like tools of political elites rather than defenders of public safety.

The perceived compromised stance of the Nigerian police on the Rivers crisis has increased the potential for violence, as citizens increasingly lose confidence in the capacity of police to be an impartial law enforcement institution. The general perception is that Nigerian police is an active participant in the crisis. 

The effect of this crisis is not limited to Rivers State alone. It also has broader implications for the national government, particularly the legislative and executive arms. Many Nigerians are now questioning the federal government’s ability to intervene and restore order in the State. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s main opposition party, also feels the strain. Because all the key actors profess to belong to the party, the party’s inability to resolve the political turmoil in Rivers is further damaging its public image. Already viewed by many as an ineffective opposition, the PDP risks losing even more public trust as the crisis drags on. A 2023 public opinion poll showed that only 34% of Nigerians had confidence in the PDP, compared to 42% in 2021. The internal divisions within the party, exacerbated by the conflict in Rivers, threaten to fracture it further, potentially weakening Nigeria’s democratic process.

At the core of the Rivers State crisis is a fierce power struggle for control over the State’s vast resources and a vague unknown entity called ” political structure”. Unfortunately, rather than focusing on the development of the State and the welfare of its people, political actors in Rivers are more concerned with personal gain. The fierce competition for political dominance has led to violence, instability, and the neglect of the State’s economic potential. Despite being one of Nigeria’s resource-endowed states, Rivers remains underdeveloped, with inadequate infrastructure and high unemployment. In 2023, the unemployment rate in the State was estimated to be 33%, reflecting the failure of successive governments in the last ten years to translate its natural resources into tangible benefits for its citizens.

Several factors have exacerbated the crisis, including personal ego clashes between political actors, a sense of imperial entitlement among the elite, and the combative nature of political discourse in the State. Political figures in Rivers often engage in inflammatory rhetoric with little regard for diplomacy or civil discourse, which does not represent the average Rivers man who is decent and polished. This toxic communication has only deepened the divisions, making resolution more difficult. However, there are potential solutions to this crisis. Dialogue, compromise, citizens’ action and focusing on the common good can help bridge the political divide. It’s essential for all stakeholders to unite against the crisis, setting aside personal ambitions for the greater good. None of the actors should assume the role of Emperor-in-Chief of Rivers State. It would only lead to self-destruct.

Rivers’ current political crisis bears a troubling resemblance to the events in Western Nigeria during the early 1960s. Known as the “Wild Wild West” era, that period of political instability, violence, and lawlessness culminated in Nigeria’s first military coup in 1966. The crisis in Western Nigeria showed how unchecked political impunity and violence could threaten the very fabric of democracy. Many fear a similar outcome could occur in Rivers if the political actors involved do not change course. The failure to learn from history may turn Rivers State into a ticking time bomb, threatening the country’s democratic future.

Democracy thrives on institutions that remain impartial and strong, but developments in Rivers State threaten critical guardrails like security agencies and the judiciary. Security forces, particularly the police, have been accused of aligning with political factions, eroding public trust and escalating violence. Former President Goodluck Jonathan has voiced concern that the conflicting judgments issued by the judiciary on political matters are eroding confidence in the justice system. The Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council must step in and save the judiciary from self-destruction arising from the Rivers’ crises. 

Governor Siminialayi  Fubara has a duty to steer Rivers towards stability. Having been elected to govern, he is responsible for driving the development of the State and should be allowed to provide leadership. His failure to discharge that responsibility of leadership will stain his legacy. Former Governor Nyesom Wike, now the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, must focus on his new role and allow the current governor to handle Rivers’ challenges.

As history has shown, violence is not a solution to democratic issues. The burning of Local Government Area secretariats and other violent acts break the rule of law. Such actions damage the State’s reputation, set her development in reverse gear, and undermine the very foundations of democracy. Political actors must recognise that self-help and violence are counterproductive in resolving democratic challenges. The Inspector General of Police has to live above board and act in the spirit and letter of the law to protect lives and properties. 

Political leaders involved in the Rivers crisis must urgently exercise restraint and responsibility. The people of Rivers deserve a break from the constant chaos and conflict that has plagued their State. Rivers’ people who bear the brunt of this crisis must rise to the occasion, foster discussions, express dissatisfaction with irresponsible politicians and demand good conduct.

As a stakeholder in Rivers’ politics and her development, speaking out is my moral duty. Silence is no longer an option in the face of such widespread destruction and lawlessness. 

I refrained from commenting on the crisis for nearly a year, hoping that reason would prevail. However, it has become clear that without solid voices defending democratic values, the state risks descending further into instability. Intellectuals and other thought leaders must step forward to provide reasoned discourse and help guide the State through these turbulent times. Rivers risks sliding into anarchy without these voices, and Nigeria’s fragile democracy could be at risk.

Nigeria has changed dramatically in the last few decades. Unfortunately, it is not for the better. Strange events and ugly developments that were hitherto unimaginable in this part of the world a few years ago have become our daily reality. Going through regular national news reports and commentaries, one finds it difficult to accept that this is still the same country we grew up in — with so much hope and expectations. A little while ago, many would have laughed off the idea of openly raising money through social media channels to pay ransom to kidnappers. When in the past we read reports of suicide bomb attacks and similar acts of terror in places like the Middle East and Afghanistan, did we not convince ourselves that such occurrences were impossible here? Today we know better. On the economic front, things have changed even more dramatically. Neighbours whose compatriots once flooded the streets of our urban centres in search of jobs and means of survival now mock us openly, deride our currency and make jest of us on social media platforms. Who could have thought this possible in the 1970s or even 2000s? Shall we talk about the alarming poverty and unemployment rates, the unmitigated collapse of public education, loss of faith in public institutions and all the other socio-economic problems that have forced many bright minds to pack their bags and move elsewhere (the ‘japa’ syndrome) because for them, there is just no other way to make it. How about millions of families for whom the bare necessities of life have become articles of luxury? It gets more alarming when one realises that majority of the families and individuals who would now think twice before buying a regular loaf of bread were until a few years ago, comfortable middle-income earners.

We were once a nation of optimists who held very strong hopes that we were on the ascent on the development ladder. It would have been very difficult to believe that we will still be struggling with electricity problems in 2024. The assurance was that by the dawn of the new millennium, the problem of perennial power failure would be a thing of the past.

The truth, and we must never be ashamed to admit it, is that we have failed to live up to the expectations of millions of people around the world who had imagined in the 1950s and early 1960s that this land will attain superpower status, or something very close, by the dawn of the new millennium. A lot has gone wrong in the last 64 years of our political independence but the least profitable way to use our time at this auspicious gathering is to devote any part of it to blame trading. We know of course that for many politicians and many public commentators, our worst setback was the incursion of the military in national politics. The military on their part had often cited “patriotic zeal” and failure of the “political class” for their unsolicited interventions. For the masses, however, there is no distinction between the military rulers and the political elites; both are simply lumped together as “leaders” and blamed for the seemingly unending woes of the country. These “leaders” include bureaucrats in the civil service, university administrators, judicial officers, community leaders and everyone else who exercises some form of authority in different jurisdictions. In a continuing cycle of blames, the “leaders” often point to the “system” for its failure and this is always supported by claims of coming to power with “very good intentions.” Unfortunately, there is no clarity on the “system” construct and how to interrogate its involvement in our national woes. The truth is that the people are tired of the regurgitation of excuses by those with access to public microphones. They just want things to work — their children going to schools where they are taught in a conducive environment by properly trained and motivated teachers; they want access to basic amenities including electricity, pipe-borne water and good roads. Our people want a community where the institutions of state are effective and responsive; they want the emergency services to respond as soon as they are contacted, without hindrances or excuses, they want to go to the courts and get justice in good time, they want to go to bed each night with both eyes closed, certain that they will not be jolted awake by masked gunmen, or find themselves in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by kidnappers for whom the sacredness of human life is an abstract idea that can only be scorned.  For our young ones, all that they ask is an opportunity to make a living and pursue their dreams without structural limitations. It is unfortunate that many of us are yet to fully appreciate the haemorrhage of human talent from our country fuelled by the ‘japa’ phenomenon but the situation has assumed an alarming proportion. As someone who has worked with hundreds of very smart young people in different capacities, it breaks my heart to see that so many of them have been forced by circumstances to take their talents and values to other places. We may not like what is happening but unfortunately, not much has been done to convince the younger generation of Nigerians that there would be light at the end of what has been a very long, dark tunnel. Our best brains in health sciences, software engineering, and finance could have stayed back to serve their fatherland if we had put our acts together.

 Commendations and appreciations are in order to the brave and courageous ones who have resisted the temptation to leave. Thank you for your patriotic services, that is if you are not waiting for an opportunity to leave! At any rate, it is depressing to observe that the opportunities we took for granted at the conclusion of our tertiary education in the 1970s and 1980s have disappeared for the majority, however brilliant they may be. So, we have clearly regressed. It may not be very pleasing to our ears but the truth is that all of us, in one way or the other, have contributed to this sorry state of affairs. For many of us who had the advantage of quality education in public schools, the idea of training our own children in private schools, or perhaps overseas for those who can afford the cost, tells a pathetic story of its failure. There is no mild way of saying it because we refused to pay attention to what was unfolding before us. What is happening today is that we are simply paying for our failure to read the signs and do what was needed to resist the destruction of the structures and institutions that helped us to fulfil our dreams forty, fifty years ago.

We must now become very desperate to undo whatever it was that dimmed the hopes and dreams of an entire generation. The theme of this Conference, Governance Reimagined: Mapping the Future, is very apt for a time like this because it invites us to reflect on where we are and then imagine where we could be if we made a few but very important foundational changes. As we had said on several platforms, getting out of the present quagmire requires a new paradigm because just like Albert Einstein said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking we used when we created them.” The assignment before us is to evolve new ways of tackling the existential problems that confront us because we shall be doomed if we remain aloof and imagine that we shall be spared when the ship ultimately wrecks. The unfortunate truth is that there may be no life boats to jump into.

We are often not as powerless as we imagine especially in a democracy where the king has the same voting right as a commoner. The reality of the time invites us to gird our loins and get to work. The first step to progress is to believe that Nigeria is not beyond redemption and that we have within us, all that is required to fix it. It is also important to appreciate that there is very little we can do about the past but if we start doing the right thing today, we can remap the future as the theme of this Conference invites us to. The natural question to follow is: what is the right thing? How can a young accounting professional be the champion of the new paradigm that can turn things around for a country of about 220 million citizens? What new paradigm are we even talking about? Why is clarity of essence in this conversation? Simple: The days of empty jargons are long gone because we can no longer mask our failures with words that have no meaning to the ordinary person. It will therefore serve us well to understand what we seek to achieve, and what is expected of us as individuals and as a collective.

One, the right thing speaks to our obligations and duties as citizens. Thankfully, we learnt so much about citizenship even as pupils in primary school. The time to make the most of that knowledge might just be now. As accountants, I am certain that almost everyone in this room pays their taxes and other statutory fees to the government regularly so we may not have much of a problem in that area. How about being effective in our responsibilities as leaders, discharging our duties faithfully and to everyone, without ill-will or affection? How often and quickly do we contact the law enforcement agents when we are confronted with inordinate requests or presented with evidence of fraudulent transactions in the course of our duties? Do we see the wrong things and then choose the convenience of inaction? Do we seek to be part of the wrong thing for financial or other benefits? Do we still keep faith with our civic obligation of joining the process of electing leaders who will serve the best interest of the people or are we often too busy that we concede our rights to participate in the electoral process to persons who are easily manipulated — individuals who are only motivated by chants and lures of ethnicity and religious posturing? How many of us are active in the political circuit or do we only consider ourselves as ‘core professionals’ who have no business being in politics? Well, the evidence of the last 25 years of democratic practice has shown that politics should be everyone’s business because its outcome impacts everyone. Like Charles de Gaulle once said, “politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.”

These are excerpts from the Lead Presentation by Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, the Executive Governor of Abia State at the 54th Annual Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria on Tuesday October 8, 2024, at Abuja.

Some members belonging to a faction of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) have publicly disowned Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as the leader of the party, burning the Kwankwasiya group’s iconic red cap.

The factional National Chairman of the party, Dr. Gilbert Agbo, who led the anti-Kwankwasiya campaign at the party’s secretariat in Minna, Niger State, accused the former Kano State governor and his Kwankwasiya group of being threats to the progress and existence of the party.

Speaking at the North-Central Zonal meeting of the faction in Minna, Agbo stated that Kwankwaso’s suspension by the National Working Committee in Lagos automatically terminated his membership and stake in the party.

Agbo who also led the burning of the group’s iconic red caps, maintained that the move signified a clear separation from the Kwankwaso’s leadership.

He added that the Kano State governor, Kabir Yusuf was also expected to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee for allegedly failing to comply with the party’s principles and supremacy.

Reacting to the development, the leader of the Kwankwasiya Movement in Niger State, Mallam Danladi Abdulhamid described Agbo-led national chairmanship of the party as illegal.

Abdulhamid stated that the move by the faction was meant to serve Agbo’s personal interests rather than the interests of the people.

He insisted that Kwankwaso remained the national leader of the party under Dr. Ahmed Ajuji’s leadership as chairman.

[Leadership]

At least 1,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State have defected to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), aligning themselves with the Kwankwasiyya movement led by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

The defection took place in Tofa and Ghari Local Government Areas of the state.

They were welcomed by the state party chairman, Dr. Hashimu Suleiman Dungurawa, during a ceremony held at both locations.

Daily Trust reports that the event was marked by the flag-off of the NNPP’s chairmanship campaign ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

Among the notable attendees were the NNPP candidates for the elections, Yakubu Ibrahim Adis of Tofa and Hashimu Mai Sabulu of Ghari.

Both candidates voiced confidence in NNPP’s growing strength in the region, especially with the influx of new members.

The mass defection is seen as a significant boost for the party as it prepares for the elections, solidifying its foothold in Kano, a key base of Kwankwaso’s political influence.

[DailyTrust]

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, has said that the removal of the Premium Motor Spirit(Petrol) subsidy by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has brought about price parity.

According to Channel Television, Kyari disclosed this in a recent interview with journalists.

He spoke on the back of the recent hike in fuel by NNPCL retail outlets to N1,030 per liter from N898.

Speaking on the important of fuel subsidy in June last year, Kyari said that it lead to an end to price arbitrage and deincentivized fuel smuggling to neighbouring countries.

“In the last 40 sometime years, PMS has always been subsidized. Fuel Subsidy created arbitrage, that is difference between the price in one location to the other.

“When Mr President announced the removal of fuel subsidy in June what it did was to calibrate price. There is no longer in the value of anyone taking the product to the borders”, he said.

Recall that in June 2024, Tinubu announced fuel subsidy removal which saw the price of fuel increase to above N517 per liter from around N238.

DAILY POST reports that the price hike increased several times in the last months as it stood at N1030 per liter in Abuja.

[DailyPost]

The Divisional Police Officer of Agbarho Police Station in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State was ambushed and killed on Sunday night.

The Delta Police Command confirmed the incident to The Nation on Monday morning. 

Spokesman of the Command, SP Bright Edafe, said: “It is confirmed, the DPO Agbarho was killed and the Orerokpe DPO was injured. It was an ambush”.

The DPO was said to have resumed at the station just a few days ago.

According to sources, the DPO with his Orerokpe counterpart, CSP Paul and their men were ambushed around 1am at Owodokpokpo – the rail station axis of the town, while on their way for an operation. 

It was learnt that the Orerokpe DPO was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in critical condition. 

Several residents of the area who spoke with The Nation on Monday morning recounted their sleepless night as a result of the heavy sounds of gunshots.

[TheNation]

The World Bank says 26 poorest countries worldwide “are deeper in debt than at any other time since 2006,” while being increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters and other catastrophes.

In its analysis, the World Bank found that these 26 nations, which have an annual per capita income of less than 1,145 dollars a year, “are poorer today on average than they were on the eve of Covid-19, even though the rest of the world has largely recovered.”

“Yet international aid as a share of their GDP [gross domestic product] has dwindled to a two-decade low, starving many of much-needed affordable financing,” the World Bank said in a press release.

According to the world bank, the 26 nations examined are home to some 40 per cent of the global population most affected by poverty.

It added that 22 of the 26 low-income countries listed are in Africa, plus Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and North Korea.

Government debt is now 72 per cent of economic output on average, the highest level recorded in 18 years.

According to the World Bank, the ability of low-income economies to obtain low-cost financing has largely been exhausted, making the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) “their single-largest source of low-cost financing from abroad.”

The IDA plays a key role in the fight against global poverty. It provides grants and nearly interest-free loans to the most vulnerable economies and is crucial for the 26 poorest of them, according to the World Bank.

The World Bank also noted that low-income economies are much more prone to natural disasters than other developing countries.

According to the report, natural disasters caused annual losses averaging two per cent of economic output between 2011 and 2023, five times higher than the average for low-middle-income countries.

The costs of adapting to climate change are also far higher for low-income economies.

(dpa/NAN)

The Minister of Sports, John Enoh, has condemned the Libyan authorities’ treatment of the Super Eagles team ahead of its second leg match slated for Tuesday in the country.

The Nigerian contingent, who were billed to land in Benghazi for the second leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya, scheduled for Tuesday, was unexpectedly diverted mid-flight to Al Abraq, a small airport typically reserved for hajj operations.

The unexpected diversion left the players and officials stranded without any assistance from the Libyan Football Federation, which failed to provide transportation.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Monday, Enoh said he had reported the incident to all necessary authorities, adding that the focus was the safety of the senior men’s team.

The minister described the current situation of the Super Eagles as an ‘almost hostage’ situation.

The statement reads, “I strongly condemn the obnoxious treatment meted out to players and officials of the Senior National Team, the Super Eagles, who arrived in Libya yesterday, the 13th of October, for the reverse version of the match played on Friday in Uyo, the AFCON 2025 Group D qualifiers.

“The National Team was en route to Benghazi but was diverted on approach the airport(with very scant attention to their safety) to Al Abaq Airport, which is hours away from Benghazi, where their match is slated to take place.

“All through the night, I have escalated the matter and involved all necessary authorities. From the Foreign Affairs Minister, the National Security Adviser, the DG NIA, Amaju Pinnick, our CAF Executive member. I have also remained in touch with both the president of the NFF, who is on the ground with the team and the Chairman of Value Jet, owners of the plane that airlifted the team to Libya.

“All hands must be on deck to protect our National Team. The Team have succinctly stated that they have been unattended to for upwards of about 15 hrs since arrival, with no food, no accommodation, left in a mosquito-infested environment and cordoned off by Libyan security not to step out of the airport, and they have access to nothing. To say the least, they face an almost ‘hostage’ situation. These are sportsmen set to compete in an AFCON qualifying match come Tuesday!

“For now, our primary concern is the safety of the members of our national team. With the events of the past hours, their safety is not guaranteed, and the team insists they’re unable to go ahead with the match not just because of the trauma and consequent psychological torture but also because of fear for their safety.

The minister stated that he had directed the Nigeria Football Federation President to lay a formal complaint to the Confederation of African Football to take action on the matter.

He said, “As Sports Minister, I have instructed the NFF president to lay a formal complaint to CAF without prejudice to any actions already taken. This must be on record and thoroughly addressed. This morning, I was on a conference call with the CAF President and CAF Secretary General.

“While the CAF President’s concern seems to be what to do to get the national team to participate in tomorrow’s match, I have instead informed CAF that the concern of the Government and people of Nigeria is first, the safety of the team and their safe return, urging that CAF should focus on working with us to achieve this. There must be a serious adverse conseqùence to the Libyan football federation for this unspeakable behaviour.

“This can not be done by insisting that Nigeria still takes part in this match, given the very obvious situation. I strongly condemn the obnoxious treatment meted out to players and officials of the Senior National Team, the Super Eagles, who arrived in Libya yesterday, the 13th of October, for the reverse version of the match played on Friday in Uyo, the AFCON 2025 Group D qualifiers.

“The National Team was en route to Benghazi but was diverted on approach the airport(with very scant attention to their safety), to Al Abaq Airport, which is hours away from Benghazi, where their match is slated to take place.”

Enoh stated that he has escalated the ill-treatment meted out to the Super Eagles by the Libyan authorities since they landed at the Al Abaq Airport on Sunday to all concerned authorities.

He added, “All through the night, I have escalated the matter and involved all necessary authorities. From the Foreign Affairs Minister, the National Security Adviser, the DG NIA, Amaju Pinnick, our CAF Executive member.

“I have also remained in touch with both the president of the NFF, who is on the ground with the team and the Chairman of Value Jet, owners of the plane that airlifted the team to Libya. All hands must be on deck to protect our National Team.

“The Team have succinctly stated that they have been unattended to for upwards of about 15 hrs since arrival, with no food, no accommodation, left in a mosquito-infested environment and cordoned off by Libyan security not to step out of the airport, and they have access to nothing.

“To say the least, they face an almost ‘hostage’ situation. These are sportsmen set to compete in an AFCON qualifying match come Tuesday! For now, our primary concern is the safety of the members of our national team.”

The world is in turmoil. Various peoples are planning, strategising and re-strategising. The Middle East is meeting, especially as war is being brought to its doorsteps. The Americans want their November elections quickly out of the way so they can focus on their domination the world, irrespective of who wins the elections.

Their European first cousins are quite busy with the same agenda, but also how to handle their domineering first cousin in the North. Some ask: should Europeans not abandon the unwinnable war in Ukraine just as Benjamin Netanyahu has abandoned the Israeli hostages in Gaza and, let President Zelensky fool himself around the world with his stupid “Victory Plan”?

Russia and China are fairly focused even as South America and the Caribbean are uniting to find solutions to their problems.

All are busy strategising, except Africa bogged down with an African Union, AU, which has impaired vision and a poor leadership at its Commission whose chair, Moussa Faki Muhammad, is beholden to a fumbling France. As the rest of the world prepares for a possible international conflagration, African leaders are busy hopping from one foreign capital to the other attending ‘summits’.

When African leaders fly to Washington attending US-Africa Summit, Beijing for China-Africa FOCAC, Tokyo for Japan-Africa TICAD, Moscow for Russia-Africa Summit, Istanbul for Turkey-Africa Summit, Seoul for South-Korea- Africa Summit, Brussels for EU-Africa ‘Partnership’ and is summoned by a confused Zelensky for an Ukraine-Africa Summit, what time would they have to govern? Are there no costs to the African countries for these travels with retinue of officials who must be paid Estacode? The 55 African countries are behaving like cows led by a foreign herder or his under-aged child, armed with nothing more than a stick.

 While we wait for the next African leaders’ summit, perhaps called by Kosovo, it is time we start thinking. For a start, why can’t African leaders have a common position at these endless summits rather than allow the host to pull individual African leaders into a side room for so called bilateral talks?

Africa is suffering from such low esteem that after October 4, 2024 when the European Court of Justice, ECJ, ruled that European countries must stop stealing the fisheries and agricultural products of Western Sahara and, the European Union arrogantly vowed to continue, no African country raised a voice! Yet the Europeans are supposed to be our partners who for centuries have been lecturing the world about separation of powers and obeying court judgements. So, why don’t we have the courage to tell them to obey the final judgement of their own court?

A fundamental thing Africa lacks is leadership, and you do not need to be an elected or appointed leader of the AU, to provide that leadership. One of the most trying periods in Africa was in 1975-76 when the US insisted that the pro-people MPLA party in Angola, must be stopped from governing the new country. Rather, it instructed Africa to choose one of its two puppets: Holden Roberto of the FNLA or Jonas Savimbi of UNITA.

 When this was resisted, the US cobbled a force composed of the FNLA, UNITA, American mercenaries and Apartheid South Africa’s military to overrun Angola. When this was not working well, it sent its Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, on a trip through Africa directly warning African countries not to recognise the MPLA government. But at the January 11, 1976, OAU, now AU, Summit in Addis Ababa, then Nigeria Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed, stood up to denounce the US. He declared that: “Africa has come of age. It’s no longer under the orbit of any extra continental power. It should no longer take orders from any country, however powerful.”

Nigeria was not holding any position in the continental organisation when it took that principled stand that swayed the continent and, led to the recognition of the MPLA government.

Today, 48 years later, Nigeria needs to once again, step out to lead Africa out of a quagmire. First, let me alert the African people that the joint statement by the EU President von der Leyen and High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell that Europeans will not obey the European Court ruling on resources being stolen from Western Sahara, is not so much about a wilful and pointed rejection of a decision of their own court. It is more a plan to ensure a type of unending Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Africa. The Palestinian conflict has its roots in the November 2, 1917 colonial Britain gift of Palestinian lands to European Jews and adherents of Judaism. Britain gave the lands it did not own, to other peoples.

This is what the United States also did in Africa. On December 4, 2022, it issued its infamous ‘Proclamation on Recognizing The Sovereignty Of The Kingdom Of Morocco Over The Western Sahara.’ It read in part: “I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim that, the United States recognizes that the entire Western Sahara territory is part of the Kingdom of Morocco.”

So, the US purports to give the Western Sahara lands it does not own, to Morocco. What the European Union is doing, is simply to implement the US proclamation which will ensure an unending conflict on the African continent.

Nigeria needs to step in and lead Africa out of this Euro-American trap. What we need to do is first to tell the EU it cannot be lawless in Africa. Two, that Europeans must obey their own court by stopping the theft of Western Sahara wealth. Three, drag the EU to the International Court of Justice, ICJ, over the matter just as South Africa, dragged Israel over the massacre in Gaza. Four, take the EU and its leadership before the United Nations. Five, demand that Morocco obeys the outstanding judgements of the ICJ, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the European Court. Six, get the AU to sanction Morocco for its occupation of a member country, and assist the Saharawi to live in peace within secured borders.

To effect these, the Tinubu administration should immediately stop any trade with Morocco on products like phosphate and fisheries looted from Western Sahara. It should ban all sardines from Morocco unless the latter can prove that they are not from Western Sahara waters. Also, it should stop the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline passing through Western Sahara unless it gets the endorsement of the POLISARIO government.

Generally, Nigeria should help get Africa to reset so it is no longer played around like ball on the world field.

Super Eagles forward, Victor Boniface, has raised his voice after the team were left stranded at Al Abraq International Airport in Libya, ahead Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights.

Blueprint reports that Super Eagles players and officials were stranded at the airport after arriving in Libya on Sunday evening, a development which has prompted the NFF to mull boycotting the game.

Speaking on the incident via his X account on Monday morning, Boniface, a Bayer Leverkusen forward said the Nigerian team have been stranded at the Libyan airport for about 13 hours.

“Been at the airport for almost 13 hours no food no wifi nowhere to sleep. African we can do better,” Boniface wrote.

[blueprint]