The immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is preparing to fight President Bola Tinubu in at least two courts, Saturday Vanguard can report.

The prospects of the battle are to be staged in the courts of the land where El-Rufai expects to clear his name of the allegation of being a security risk, and also in the court of public opinion where political actors expect him to be a major barricade to the president’s re-election in 2027.

The stage for the coming battle follows what both friends and foes of the former governor assert as his public humiliation by the Tinubu administration of being a security risk unfit for ministerial office.

In a way that has garnered public interest, Mallam as he is fondly referred to by his close associates, has excited the political class with gyrations across the North in the last two weeks.

Besides two public meetings with the Social Democratic Party, SDP chiefs, the former governor has consolidated his identity with the political opposition with a visit to the suspended lawmaker representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Senator Abdul Ningi.

The proclivity towards the opposition follows what friend and foe describe as the public humiliation served on the former governor.

El-Rufai according to multiple sources despite his immense contributions both strategically and financially to the emergence of Tinubu as president had pledged not to serve in the new government.

The former governor had reportedly preferred a sabbatical in academia.

He was, however, courted by the president with a plea to help revive the energy sector. Even before his ministerial announcement, El-Rufai it was gathered had started laying down plans and processes to tackle the sector. His preparation flowed from his years as director-general of the Bureau for Public Enterprises, where he was involved in the energy reform programmes of the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

However, to the shock of all El-Rufai was dropped during the Senate ministerial screening on the claim that he failed security clearance.

The shock of the failure to get a security clearance numbed several political actors given his strategic role in moving the hands of Northern governors to back Tinubu ahead of the All Progressives Congress, APC convention. Besides, it was gathered that the former governor played key roles in facilitating the election of the president in some Southwest states not controlled by the APC.

A senior government official from one of the Southwest states on the condition of anonymity said:
“He played a key role in funding us in my state and I can tell this because I was personally involved,” the official from one of the Southwest states said.

Besides the significant contribution as attested by the official from the Southwest State, El-Rufai in the twilight of the Muhammadu Buhari administration also shocked many with his decision to, along with others challenge the Federal Government over the naira redesign project of the federal government.

Defending why he opposed the Buhari government on the naira redesign policy, El-Rufai had claimed it was meant to instigate the polity against the APC by those around the former president who failed in their bid to stop Tinubu from getting the presidential ticket.

“They also sought to achieve any one or more of the following objectives: create a nationwide shortage of cash so that citizens are incited to vote against APC candidates across the board resulting in massive losses for the Party in all the elections.”

However, despite his stellar role in helping Tinubu to power, a source close to El-Rufai disclosed that the camp of the former governor believed that it was wrong for him to have been so publicly humiliated and to have been tagged a security risk.

One of the confidants of the former governor told Saturday Vanguard:

“You think Mallam will allow this tag to abide on him? I can assure you that he is going to clear his name in court.
El-Rufai is a man who has many contacts internationally and he is not one to allow his reputation to be smeared by the reason given by the Senate of being a security risk,” the source said in revealing the prospects of court action to enable the former governor to clear his name.

Besides the resort to the court of law, the former governor it was gathered is also mobilising to play a role against Tinubu in the court of public opinion ahead of 2027.

Whether El-Rufai would stand as a candidate or mobilise against the president in 2027 in the same way he did in supporting him in 2023 is, however, a matter that is yet to be determined.

Saturday Vanguard reports that the strategic facilitation provided by El-Rufai to Tinubu came after he had in the past lampooned Tinubu as a godfather. He had at a lecture in May 2019 averred that it was possible to defeat the godfather of Lagos.

A year later at a webinar to commemorate the 63rd birthday of Rauf Aregbesola in May 2020, El-Rufai had said that Tinubu was not his man.

While congratulating Aregbesola, El-Rufai said, “I want to congratulate my brother, Ogbeni (Aregbesola), on his birthday. You know I’m your man any day. I’m not Asiwaju’s man and you are Asiwaju’s man, but I am your man any day. Asiwaju and I have differences but you and I have no differences.”

Vanguard News Nigeria

Nigerians were welcomed to the new month with a new hike in electricity tariffs. Many Nigerians thought it was an April Fool’s joke, but when they saw the new rates, nobody was laughing.

Then, all of a sudden, we realised that some of us were placed in different bands of electricity consumption. For the band A consumers, the increment was a staggering 300 percent. I think by now, many Nigerians are waiting for the trumpet to sound, signalling the end of the world.

I believe that increasing electricity tariff at this time is insensitive and sinful on the part of the government. I remember saying on this page that the major reason for the astronomical rise in the price of goods and services is the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira at the same time. Because most goods and services in the country depend on the price of fuel and the exchange rate, this has caused the inflation rate to shoot up through the roof.

Recently, we have started to see some gains in the exchange rate, and Nigerians were expecting to see a drop in the price of goods and services. However, what did the government do? They increased the price of electricity, further eroding the gains. I can bet that the new increase will naturally affect businesses, and they will pass the price of goods and services to the consumers.

Sometimes, I ask myself, “is it a sin for good things to happen to Nigerians?” No Nigerian will buy the reasons given by the federal government for the increase. Why increase electricity tariff when you have poor electricity infrastructure?

The collapse of the national grid is no longer news; it has become a frequent occurrence.

The government should have waited until at least next year before even thinking of a hike in electricity. This is the worst time to increase the tariff.

I think President Bola Tinubu should reverse it immediately before he earns the moniker of the most insensitive Nigerian president ever. No matter his good intentions of turning the fortunes of the country, giving a hat-trick of harsh policies in less than a year that are strangulating the masses will only make him unpopular.

Again, I am tempted to ask why place Nigerians on different bands of electricity. In my view, that’s discrimination. Every Nigerian should have 20-24 hours of electricity. This is a basic necessity that should be provided to all citizens, regardless of their economic or social status.

The government’s decision to increase electricity tariff at this time is not only insensitive but also detrimental to the well-being of the Nigerian people. The country is already struggling with the high cost of living, and this additional burden will only exacerbate the situation.

It is worth noting that the electricity sector in Nigeria has been plagued by a myriad of challenges, including poor infrastructure, inefficient management, and a lack of investment.

The government has been promising to address these issues for years, but the results have been disappointing. Instead of tackling the root causes of the problem, the government has resorted to passing the burden onto the citizens.

This move is not only short-sighted but also counterproductive. By increasing the cost of electricity, the government is effectively discouraging businesses and individuals from using it, which could lead to a further decline in the already poor electricity supply.

This, in turn, could have a ripple effect on the entire economy, leading to job losses, reduced productivity, and lower economic growth.

Moreover, the decision to place Nigerians in different electricity bands is a clear case of discrimination. It is unfair and unjust to charge some citizens more for a basic service that should be equally accessible to all. This move is likely to further exacerbate the already-existing inequality in the country, which could lead to social unrest and political instability.

The government’s justification for the increase, which includes the need to improve the electricity infrastructure and ensure a reliable supply, is understandable.

However, the timing and the manner in which it has been implemented are highly questionable. The government should have taken a more holistic approach, addressing the underlying issues in the sector and involving the citizens in the decision-making process.

Instead of increasing tariffs, the government should have focused on improving the efficiency and management of the electricity sector, attracting more investment, and exploring alternative sources of power generation.

This would have not only improved the quality of service but also reduced the burden on the citizens.

As I previously said, the government’s decision to increase electricity tariff at this time is insensitive and detrimental to the well-being of the Nigerian people. It is a short-sighted move that is likely to have far-reaching consequences on the economy and social fabric of the country.

The government should reconsider this decision and instead focus on addressing the underlying issues in the electricity sector in a more comprehensive and inclusive manner. The well-being of the Nigerian people should be the top priority, and any policy decision should be made with their best interests in mind.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed new criminal charges against Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The 26-count charge borders on accepting gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption, receipt of property fraudulently obtained, and conferring corrupt advantage on his associates.

The charge sheet, marked ID/23787c/2024, and dated April 3, 2024, was filed by Rotimi Oyedepo, a senior advocate of Nigeria.

The EFCC alleged that Emefiele was guilty of abuse of office between 2022 and 2023 in Lagos.

The former CBN governor will be arraigned on Monday, April 8, before Rahman Oshodi, judge of an Ikeja high court, in Lagos.

The commission alleged that Emefiele “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $2,136,391,737.33 without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians”.

The EFCC further alleged that Emefiele, between 2020 and 2021, in Lagos, “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary, act to wit: allocating foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $291,945,785.59, without bids, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians”.

Emefiele was also alleged to have, in 2021, in Lagos, “directed to be done in abuse of the authority of your office, as the governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, an arbitrary act, to wit: special allocation of foreign exchange in the aggregate sum of $1,769,254,793.16, which act is prejudicial to the rights of Nigerians”.

Emefiele’s co-defendant was alleged to have collected $110,000 for Emefiele as a reward for allocating foreign exchange by the central bank in favour of one Raja Punjab in November 2020.

According to the charge, the offences committed contravened Section 73 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Emefiele is currently facing a 20-count amended charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, procurement fraud and conspiracy to commit a felony.

In July 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed Jim Obazee, former chief executive officer (CEO) of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN), as a special investigator to probe the activities of the CBN and related entities.

On December 22, 2023, Obazee’s team submitted its report to Tinubu — revealing alleged fraudulent activities and malfeasance in Nigeria’s apex bank.

In the report, the special investigator’s panel accused Emefiele of consenting to the “unlawful removal” of $6.23 million from the vault of the apex bank’s Abuja office.

[TheCable]

A lot of Nigerians do not know the difference between civil wrong and criminal offence. 

I can say that 90 percent of Nigerians cannot tell the difference between civil wrongs and criminal offences. 

This may be the reason that once you feel someone has wronged you, then boom, you taste blood. Call the Police, call the Department of State Services, call the Army, have him arrested and thrown into jail or detention. In fact, despite changing the name prison to correctional center, most Nigerians think a holding facility is for vengeance by suffering the person instead of correction.

It is no longer news that some Internet users have posted online, X platform that Nathaniel Bassey is the father of Mercy Chinwo’s child. This was considered offensive or wrong leading to a Petition to the Inspector General of Police by Nathaniel Bassey that these online users be fished out, arrested and prosecuted for criminal defamation. It is like using a wrong to correct a wrong.

Civil wrongs like defamation of character are in a category of wrongs like owing money or not paying your debt. It is not a police case. It should lead to civil action for defamation of character by the person aggrieved. The end result for civil action is to seek relief for damages in monetary terms. It does not lead to criminal prosecution, conviction and prison terms. However, Nigerians in power or the rich and influential seem not to care about these differences between civil wrong and criminal offence. Once, you wrong them, then they will let loose the police or state security forces on you as a way of “teaching you a lesson.” That’s pure oppression or abuse of state forces. There are over 100 Court Judgments condemning this practice. See the Supreme Court cases of Kure vs COP, Nwoboshi vs FRN for instance.

I am not saying that people should be allowed to make careless comments online and go scot free. Rather, the appropriate legal action should be taken. In this case, it should be a civil suit. The duty of the police does not extend to the protection of your reputation. Your reputation is personal to you. Any injury to your reputation is a personal civil wrong committed against you and should lead to personal action and not Police investigation and prosecution. If we assume for a moment that there is any crime in it, why not report to the police division in charge? The office of Inspector General of Police is not in the ordinary course of business, made for receiving complaints about minor criminal offences involving two fighting. It is for serious business supervising police operations all over the country.

Unfortunately, once it is a big man that writes the petition to the police, they will jump on it and start harassing weaker people. They will hardly tell the rich no, this is a civil case and it is outside our jurisdiction. This is how the Police yields itself to abuse of state power. 

Interestingly, even in terms of the substance of the alleged criminal defamation, it is not a criminal offence in Lagos where the complaint is originating from. The best you can make of the post is to say that:

1. Nathaniel Bassey is fertile and has fathered a child or

2. Nathaniel Bassey has committed adultery.

Both are not criminal offences in Lagos. Fathering a child is no offence in Lagos. Adultery is equally not a criminal offence. The Supreme Court of Nigeria has laid this to rest in the case of Aoko v. Fagbeyemi (1961) 1 ALL NLR 400 that adultery is not a criminal offence.

You can take civil action on allegations of adultery but not a criminal case. 

I hope you find this useful.

The federal government announced on Friday the reasons behind the sudden national increase in electricity prices, citing its inability to continue providing N2.93 trillion in power subsidies this year.

The information was provided by Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, at a media conference in Abuja that was organised by Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation.

The Minister of Power made the point that raising the price of energy has become necessary in order for the federal government to cut spending and use the money saved to strengthen the nation’s supply and generation of power.

Adelabu clarified, however, that the 15% of electricity users who receive at least 20 hours of electricity are not impacted by the new tariff increase, and the 85% of users who do not reside in Band A would still receive subsidised power supplies.

The minister stated that the government subsidy will decrease from approximately N2.93 trillion to N1.5 trillion as a result of the small rate hike, freeing up funds for additional investments in the power industry to enhance generation, transmission, and distribution.

The minister clarified that in order to prevent worsening the situation of Nigerians, the administration of President Bola Tinubu was hesitant to eliminate all electrical subsidies due to its empathy for their suffering.

“We cannot remove 100 subsidy because of the suffering of Nigerians. We cannot allow our people to suffer.

According to Adelabu, the cost is still less than that of alternative energy sources like solar and diesel.

The minister also revealed that several projects had been completed in accordance with the 2018 agreement Nigeria and Germany struck to enhance the nation’s electricity supply.

As part of the N2.3 billion agreement between the two countries, Siemens provided three mobile stations and ten power transformers for installation.

This is in response to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) being fined by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Friday for falsely classifying all customers as Band A customers as soon as the federal government announced the pricing rise.

Speaking at a news conference that was attended by the ministers of power and information, Dr. Musiliu Oseni, vice chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, announced the sanction on AEDC.

Additionally, Dr. Oseni issued an order to all other distribution companies in the country to either fully reimburse their consumers for whatever excess money they charged them by Thursday of the following week, or face harsh penalties.

Oseni issued a warning, stating that discos must attend to electrical users as soon as possible or face severe penalties under applicable legislation.

This coincides with the fact that the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) was penalised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Friday for falsely classifying all customers as Band A customers as soon as the federal government announced the rise in tariff.

[OpinionNigeria]

Speaking at a news conference that was attended by the ministers of power and information, Dr. Musiliu Oseni, vice chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, announced the sanction on AEDC.

Additionally, Dr. Oseni issued an order to all other distribution companies in the country to either fully reimburse their consumers for whatever excess money they charged them by Thursday of the following week, or face harsh penalties.

Oseni issued a warning, stating that discos must attend to electrical users as soon as possible or face severe penalties under applicable legislation.

This coincides with the fact that the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) was penalised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Friday for falsely classifying all customers as Band A customers as soon as the federal government announced the rise in tariff.

The minister said, “Let me reassure every Nigerian that this review is a strategic step toward a more sustainable, efficient, and equitable electricity sector. It lays the groundwork for significant improvements in service delivery, infrastructure development, and economic prosperity. Our focus must therefore remain steadfast on ensuring that the electricity sector’s transformation benefits all Nigerians, supports our industries, and propels our nation towards its bright future.

“You would also recall that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024 into law to further strengthen the governance structure in the Power Sector and mandates the GENCOs to set aside five percent of their actual annual operating expenditure from the preceding year for the development of the host communities. The Act also removed Electricity from the Exclusive list to empower state government to generate and distribute electricity to residents,” Idris said.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is so inordinately inebriated by his IMF-motivated decision to remove subsidies on petrol that at every opportunity he has he brags about it in giddily superlative terms.

For example, during a meeting with the Nigerian community in France on June 24, 2023, he couched his decision to impose the Tinubu fuel tax (to borrow from his 2012 characterization of Goodluck Jonathan’s subsidy removal) on Nigerians in epiphanic, providential, and inspirational terms. 

 He told Nigerians in France that during his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023, he was suddenly overcome by a mysterious force of unusual courage, which propelled him to veer off his prepared speech to announce the removal of fuel subsidies. “When I got to the podium, I was possessed with courage, and I said, ‘subsidy is gone!’” he said with a smug glow of perverse, meanspirited self-satisfaction.

Again on November 22, 2023, Tinubu boasted to investors at the 10th German-Nigerian Business Forum that his courage to remove petrol subsidies and visit unheard-of economic violence on poor, luckless Nigerians was a gargantuan feat of derring-do worthy of acknowledgement in the Guinness World Records.

“Nigeria voted for me for reforms, and from day one of my inauguration, I started the reforms,” he said. “To me, if you didn’t mention me in the Guinness Book of Records, I’d strive to find a way to insert myself because I did it without expectation.” 

Well, the IMF, whose approval he desperately seeks and on whose behalf he is harming Nigerians, has approbated his policies, which should be more important to him than an entry in the Guiness World Records for sadistic governance. 

“The new [Tinubu] administration has made a strong start, tackling deep-rooted structural issues in challenging circumstances,” the IMF said on February 14. “Immediately, it adopted two policy reforms that its predecessors had shied away from: fuel subsidy removal and the unification of the official exchange rates.”

The IMF then instructed that “electricity subsidies are costly, do not reach those that most need government support and should be phased out completely.” 

On February 16, that is, exactly two days after this IMF directive, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu announced that the government would withdraw electricity subsidies. That’s precisely why the government has approved a more than 200 percent hike in electricity tariffs this week. As I’ve repeatedly said, the IMF is the de factor ruler of Nigeria. Tinubu and his henchmen are mere cushy neo-imperialist surrogates.

Well, I don’t know of any halfway rational human being in the world who will see courage in choosing to hurt the dispossessed who can’t fight back. There is no courage in trampling on the poor, the weak, and the defenseless.

 There is no courage in kicking people who are already down, people who are down on their luck, and people who are down in the dumps as a consequence of being serial victims of a steady succession of cruel and self-serving governments who are servile errand boys of the racist sadists at the IMF. 

There is no courage in oppressing the oppressed. That's cowardice. That’s callousness. It’s unrelieved maliciousness. And it’s not something to be proud of, not something to make a song and dance about. On the contrary, it’s something to be mortally ashamed of.

Real courage comes from standing up to bullies, which the World Bank and the IMF are, and from defending the defenseless against oppressors. Courage comes from shielding the weak from the untoward designs of the strong and the unjust. It comes from protecting the underdog from the unprovoked aggression of the top dog. 

Since Tinubu came to power nearly a year ago, he has never implemented any policy that gives even an ounce of solace to the poor. Instead, like Muhammadu Buhari before him, he is a proud reverse Robin Hood who takes from the poor to enrich the already rich, with the recent IMF-directed astronomical increase in electricity tariffs—which makes electricity in Nigeria more expensive for “Band A” users than I pay in the United States—the latest example.

The only people who will benefit from the latest tariff hikes are Tinubu’s friends who own power generation and distribution companies. As a Tinubu-supporting friend pointed out to me on Friday, “This is a government of the elite, for the elite, and by the elite.”

In the United States where the IMF is headquartered, there are electricity subsidies for low-income households, yet it wants none for anybody in Nigeria. The primary federally funded electricity subsidy program here is called the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

 LIHEAP provides eligible households with financial assistance for energy bills, emergency energy services to prevent disconnection, and low-cost home improvements, known as weatherization, to help make homes more energy efficient.

LIHEAP is funded by the federal government, but the program is administered at the state level, which means eligibility requirements and the form of assistance offered can vary from one state to another. 

Generally, to qualify for LIHEAP, a household's income must fall below a certain threshold, which is typically set at a percentage of the federal poverty level or a percentage of the state's median income level.

In addition to LIHEAP, some states, utilities, and non-profit organizations offer additional assistance programs or subsidies to help low-income households with their energy needs. These programs may provide direct bill assistance, energy-efficient home improvements, or emergency aid for utility shutoff prevention.

Yet, the IMF has bludgeoned the Nigerian government into removing subsidies for electricity that isn’t even constant and reliable. And being the slavish lackeys that they are, they obeyed like dutiful, well-trained poodle dogs. Of course, it’s because it doesn’t hurt them, their immediate families, or their associates. 

The IMF never tells Third Word leaders to increase the minimum wages of workers. Maybe that’s why Tinubu’s Guinness-World-Records-size courage is absent when it comes to approving a minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

 The 30,000-naira minimum wage that the Muhammadu Buhari regime approved for workers expired in March. The Tinubu government had promised that a new minimum wage would start on April 1. That has turned out to be a cruel April Fools’ joke on Nigerians.

The last we heard of this issue is that the minimum wage committee would “reconvene mid-April to continue further negotiations and consultations on the new minimum wage expected to be announced by President Bola Tinubu on May 1, 2024.”

This is the same committee that requested 1.8 billion naira (which it later scaled back to 1 billion naira) just to sit in comfort and decide how much the least remunerated government worker will receive. “Start with N500million first,” Tinubu wrote in a leaked memo.

As senator Shehu Sani quipped on Twitter, “The minimum wage committee… allocated the maximum wage for themselves.” What exactly does the 37-member committee—made up of governors who don’t pay the current 30,000-naira minimum wage even when money realized from petrol subsidy removal has tripled their monthly allocations— want to use a billion naira (later reduced to 500 million naira) to do?

There was no committee when petrol subsidies were removed. There was no committee for the removal of electricity subsidies, which will now ensure that Nigeria descends into total darkness. But when it comes time to increase the minimum wage of workers, an expensive committee is needed.

In other words, where the welfare of everyday folks is concerned, Tinubu loses his magisterial, self-affirming courage. He transforms from a lion to a chicken. His courage only emerges when he oppresses the poor and recedes when he is required to help the poor. May God save Nigerians from Tinubu’s courage. 

Now, wasn’t that a really commendable move by Airpeace? “Something unique from Nigeria” is the message. The sewing and finishing of the outfit and the seamless, mature simplicity presents a uniqueness that is at once pleasant and compelling.  Good taste, elegance and a firm bearing signposts the now-in-the- news outfit of Airpeace airhostesses on one of its international routes. Then, you have the graceful carriage of the wearers! Behold, the bold move of a Nigerian airline, as it inflicts a breath of Naijarama on the rest of the world.

And this is only a beginning. Other Nigerian varieties from Kano, the Kanuri, the Tiv, Akwete, Eko, Bini and much more should, and will yet, hit the international aviation superhighway.

Airpeace staff carried it off with a boldness and artistic self-certainty that stands out in bold relief. Think of the outfits of staff of other airlines, both local and international. What, for instance, confronts you in Ghana besides the “Akwaaba” greeting? Kente material is synonymous with that country, but let us get on with the business of the day.

Isi Agu means “Head of a leopard”.  Is that what the Airpeace staff were seen wearing? Isi Odum means “head of a lion”. Is that what Airpeace staff were seen wearing? Come, let us go back to a piece which appeared on this page on April 15, 2023; wherein the Isi Agu matter was the subject of great concern and interest. The said piece will be reproduced here in large measure, to put the issue in perspective once again.

“Remember President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Imo State? The presumed Igbo garment he wore on top, which the state governor the then Ohaneze President-General and the “Igbo leaders and dignitaries” present also wore, is the issue here. To all Nigerians, and the world at large, the Igbo leadership elite turned up in Imo State, decked out in the traditional Igbo outfit of Efe Isi Agu, to receive Buhari on behalf of Ndigbo.

But were they really dressed in the right attire? I think not. And the reason is simple: The clothes they wore had the head of a lion (Odum) and not the head of a leopard (Agu) emblazoned on them. Thus, they saw themselves as wearing the traditional Igbo outfit for the highest possible occasion in the land on that occasion, when they were not.  They would not have dressed the way they did if they knew better.

The point to note, and which is being made here, is that anyone parading the material that is routinely paraded everywhere today as the Igbo traditional attire, especially for men, should be told that Agu is not Odum, and Odum is not Agu. It is as simple as that. With the nascent, and even possibly pubescent, Igbo elite totally unaware of what they have walked themselves into, we now have about two generations of the young and old who do not know that Agu is not lion. Poor cultural education and the emergence of upstarts as cultural and leadership icons in Igboland are to blame for this.

That is why, everywhere today, the predominantly red background of this unduly thick material, within and around which is embedded the head of a lion, is the major defining motif for Isi Agu dress. But then, you also now find the head of a horse, or a dog with a hairy head area, donning the red material. And these still get passed off as traditional Isi Agu dress. Who knows, we may yet find one with the head of a snake, a drowning fish, or a wounded porcupine, as Efe Isi Agu”.

The article under reference went further thus: Umahi wiped the subsisting shame of Igbo cultural bigwigs, intelligentsia, and political elite when he and his people wore the correct Isi Agu (leopard head) outfit to a rally of the APC held in his state. Igbo leadership, including Ohaneze chieftains, received Buhari in Owerri dressed in the wrong outfit of “Isi Odum” (Lion Head), which over 90% of the Igbo population actually assume is Isi Agu.

Look wherever you may, the story is the same. This goes for Ndigbo in the Diaspora, where the situation is much worse. Our dear brother and friend, Alex Oti, the man whom I believe will bring Abia State to its long overdue glory, has an official picture where he is seen donning the same material, with the head of a lion (Isi Odum). Oti is a double-rated lion in the business and intellectual circles in his own right. So, he may wish to substitute the Isi Odum with Isi Agu, to send out a signal that will guide his ailing and failing political and elite peers – as well as the youths.

But, wait a minute! Where, how and why did all this confusion spring up? If the word “isi” means head in Igbo language, does “Agu” mean the head of any and whatever animal you can print on a piece of cloth with red background? Certainly not!

And that raises a simple and straightforward question: “Which animal’s head should be on the red background material for it to be rightly called Isi Agu dress; which would thus make it the authentic Igbo attire it is claimed to be? The confusion in this regard is further compounded by the fact that some men whose traditional title is “Ogbu Agu” (Leopard Killer) introduce themselves in public as “Lion Killer”, when translating the meaning of their title into the English language. Back then, what you found hanging on the wall of any man who bore the revered, and partly dreaded, title of Ogbu Agu was the skin of the leopard he killed.

I say nothing about the fact that Igboland now has many Ogbu Agus (leopard killers) who cannot kill a limping rat in their backyards. You also have many with the title of “Ochi Agha” (War leader, or General) who can neither defeat a sick man in a wrestling march, nor fire a catapult at a stationary object with anything but appalling inaccuracy.

In three particular instances, I saw the title “Agu Nze” (literally “Man of Heroic Integrity”) translated as “Royal Lion”. And this by people to whom the younger generation of Ndigbo are looking up for guidance. Therein lies a deep and serious problem that says more than is apparent at face value. So, let us place it on record that Agu is Leopard and not Lion. But, let us also still take this conversation further.

Every part of the world has its giant cat. The biggest of all cats is the Tiger (Panthera Tigris) of which the Siberian Tiger is said to be the largest, at 660 pounds and measuring ten feet from head to tail. We call the Lion “King of the Forest”. That cannot be true for every forest. Even for the forest in which the lion resides, it is not king of every part, like the rivers within the forest. In the latter, the crocodile is often the king – and a king dreaded by lions, hyenas, antelopes, buffalos and even elephants in the area.

The lion thrives best in semi-open plains, unlike the leopard; which is a climber and stealth hunter. Even in its favorite habitat, the lion cannot hold the title of king if the tiger turns up. Thus, the lion is not the king of any forest where you have even one full-grown Asian Tiger.

Lions are only known for their exploits, extravagant show of dominance and frolicsome independence in the plains of Africa, parts of the Savannah, the Serengeti and other places. They do not thrive in marshlands and wet zones, which is what we have in the more southerly parts of the country, or our Rain Forest belt.  Thus, the giant cat of the Rain Forest belt, also extending a little into the Savannah, is mostly the Leopard.

Lions were not common sights in the South East, but they were known and were seen when they strayed from the middle belt Savannah into the outskirts of the Rain Forest area from time to time. The Igbo saying “Odum na-egbu agu” (The lion is more powerful, and can demolish the leopard) is intended to induce caution in people who overrate themselves in one way or another. To further see the denotative and connotative nuances of the concept of Agu, among others, in Igbo thinking, let us examine a few things.

The crocodile is called Agu Iyi; which literally means “leopard of the river”; or the largest and most dangerous predator you can find in any body of water. Then there is another Agu, apart from the crocodile. That is the cunning Agu Owulu, or fox, the dreaded sneaky hunter with a lot of hair around the head area, which will snatch up your chicken in the dead of night with incredible stealth.

Let us look at another Igbo word and how it is sometimes used as a qualifier, the way agu is used as qualifier in an environment. The word “Ugbo Ala”, is translated as “car” in English. Air plane is translated as Ugbo Elu. Ugbo Nmiri is boat, ship or water going vessel. Then you have Ugbo Aja (the trough, or receptacle, with which you carry the offering, or sacrifice). So, what is the meaning of the word “Ugbo” itself? A receptacle, perhaps? A means of conveyance? That in which something is carried from one place to another?

Just as there is the ugbo for carrying people on land, on water and in the air, you also have the Agu, as the representation of daring, heroic courage and dominance in any environment. That is the basis of the Igbo saying “Ebube agu n-eche agu”, (the very aura, strength and agility of the leopard serves as its shield and protection)”.

So, going back to the Airpeace matter, let us simply acknowledge the wisdom of that move. It is one of many Nigerian trademarks that can be put out there. Now that another Nigerian airline has also gotten clearance to go global, we should expect another Nigerian-based outfits to hit the international aviation space.

Let’s have more. Kano, Kanuri, Efik, Tiv, Akwete, Eko, Bini and many others have much to project about us, as Nigerians. Lest we forget, the use of Asoebi (which I believe is of Yoruba traditional origin) for celebrations, knows no ethnic or religious boundaries in Nigeria today.

President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, welcomed newly-appointed ambassadors to Nigeria, expressing his commitment to enhancing cooperation in the areas of education, mining, culture, and tourism.

The President received Letters of Credence from the High Commissioner of Jamaica, Lincoln Downer; High Commissioner of Australia, Leilani Bin-Juda; and Ambassador of Romania, Florin Talapan at the State House, Abuja.

During separate meetings, President Tinubu assured them of Nigeria's support for a rewarding stay and reaffirmed his government's commitment to maintaining an open-door policy toward strengthening existing economic, cultural, and diplomatic relations.

Speaking when he received the High Commissioner of Jamaica, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of collaboration on trade, investment, and the Technical Aids Corps.

He reiterated Nigeria's readiness to reactivate energy cooperation with Jamaica, particularly in the context of climate change and the utilization of gas as a transition fuel.

''The essence of a relationship is to understand one another. With Nigeria's energetic and talented youth, we have a cultural affinity with Jamaica and a lot of potential for cooperation in the areas of culture and tourism that will benefit the youth populations of both countries," the President said.

The Jamaican High Commissioner conveyed his Prime Minister’s willingness for cooperation between Nigeria and Jamaica in various fields, such as energy, trade and investment, culture, and tourism.

He announced plans for a Jamaican business delegation to visit Nigeria later this year and invited Nigerian investors to explore opportunities in Jamaica’s special economic zones.

During the meeting with the High Commissioner of Australia to Nigeria, President Tinubu expressed appreciation for the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Australia.

He acknowledged the shared values and interests between Nigeria and Australia as active members of the United Nations, the Commonwealth, and other multilateral institutions.

Acutely aware of Australia's world-leading position in iron ore export, the President emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation in mining, following recent initiatives by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, to deepen ties between the two nations concerning developments in the sector.

"The Minister of Solid Minerals was in Australia recently, and we look forward to further collaboration in this area. We are also ready to deepen our mutual cooperation in the area of education," President Tinubu stated.

The Australian High Commissioner expressed enthusiasm for further collaboration during her tenure in Nigeria.

"I am the first Australian indigenous person to be appointed High Commissioner to Nigeria. I have been here for five months, and I love Nigeria. I love the people. I am sure my tenure here will be extremely fruitful for both sides," the High Commissioner told the President.

The Australian High Commissioner extended an invitation to President Tinubu to consider visiting Australia during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.

During the meeting with the Romanian Ambassador, President Tinubu assured the ambassador that Nigeria will explore more opportunities for collaboration with the EU-member country.

The Romanian Ambassador expressed his commitment to strengthening ties between Nigeria and Romania, particularly in the education, energy, and defence sectors.

He announced plans to increase scholarships for prospective Nigerian students interested in studying in Romania.

"Nigeria is a second home to me, and I have lived here for many years. I have to give back every good thing I have received from Nigeria. My country is looking towards a strategic alliance with Nigeria in the areas of education, energy, and defence," Ambassador Talapan told President Tinubu.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity) 

President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria's economy is at a turning point and will require the steadfast support of the private sector for sustained growth and prosperity.

Speaking during Iftar on Thursday in Abuja with members of the Nigerian business community, the President expressed gratitude for their support and pledged to engage with them more frequently.

''I would have summoned you before now, not during Ramadan, because you are a very valuable part of my constituency.

''There is no driver of the economy that is bigger than the private sector. If the private sector is not flourishing, there is no growth, no prosperity, no employment or development. No matter how flowery the speeches are, not even a mushroom will grow.

''Thank you for persevering. We are at a turning point in our economy. I do not have to do a quadratic equation to illustrate all of that to you. I just want to appreciate you for your endurance and perseverance,’’ the President said.

Sharing insights from his visit to the New York Stock Exchange in 2023, President Tinubu noted Nigeria's self-belief and determination to drive economic transformation from within.

''At the New York Stock Exchange, I appealed to foreign investors to consider Nigeria as a prime investment destination.

"At the end of my remarks, I told them we only want them to show their face and diversify Nigeria’s economy not as if we cannot do it ourselves.

"Tony Elumelu walked up to me and thanked me for making that statement. We can do it. Nigeria is a self-believer and can always deliver on its own. We know our first name and our last name. Our first name is: Spirit, and our last name is: Can do."

President Tinubu reiterated his commitment to fulfilling his mandate, emphasizing that he cannot afford to underperform, given the trust placed in him by the electorate.

"I have no reason to underperform as the elected President of the country because I campaigned for the job.

"I cannot complain about the job. I appreciate the gesture, and what you have told me this evening is very inspiring. Cut the costs. Fix the bends. Summon courage. Save the money, but push the economy. We will be there.There are some countries that have failed. There are some countries that have succeeded. In our time, in my time, all of us must work together to succeed. Thank you very much,’’ the President concluded.

In separate remarks at the Ramadan dinner, industrialists, bank executives, and entrepreneurs pledged their support towards the success of the administration’s economic programmes.

Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, assured the President that the Organized Private Sector (OPS) in the country is solidly behind him.

‘‘Your transformation journey to turn around the economy and businesses are very appropriate for the country.

‘‘We appreciate what you are doing. We know the journey will not be smooth, but given the will, we will get to the Promised Land.

‘‘We admire your decisiveness, and we appreciate what you are doing. You are extremely passionate about taking Nigeria to the Promised Land.

‘‘On behalf of the OPS, we want to assure you that we are 100 percent with you. We have engaged with your ministers and associates; we share ideas, and we support them. We know that under your leadership, you have the ability to heal Nigeria permanently,’’ Mr. Elumelu said.

Allen Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, Air Peace, charged business owners and manufacturers to work towards bringing down the cost of products and services.

Citing the example of Air Peace in reducing the cost of air tickets to London, Mr. Onyema thanked President Tinubu for improving the ease of doing business in the country.

''President Tinubu is thinking of the Nigeria of the future. The ease of doing business is coming back gradually. I can attest to that in the aviation sector because of the people you appointed to head that sector.

''I can also attest to what our High Commission in the United Kingdom did in making Air Peace flights into Gatwick Airport a possibility,’’ he said.

Dr. Stella Okoli, pharmacist and founder of Emzor Pharmaceutical Company, urged the President to look into providing more support for the pharmaceutical industry in the country to make it self-sufficient and self-financing.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

April 4, 2024

President Bola Tinubu thanks Mr. Jim Obazee, former Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), for his services as the Special Investigator of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other related entities, upon his appointment on July 28, 2023.

The President commends Mr. Obazee for the dedication and professionalism he exercised in handling the complexities of this critical national assignment.

Subsequent to the conclusion of the assignment and the submission of a final comprehensive report, and with the winding up of all apparatuses used during the scope of the task which terminated on March 31, 2024, the investigation is formally closed, with all appropriate law enforcement and regulatory agencies already conducting follow-up action.

The President thanks Mr. Obazee for answering the call of duty while wishing him success in his future endeavours.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

April 5, 2024