Igwe Laz Ekwueme, Eze Ijikara II of Oko is one of the foremost traditional rulers in Igbo land.  In this exclusive interview with Saturday Vanguard, Igwe Ekwueme spoke about the problems facing the traditional institution in Anambra State, the reason  he has not been able to celebrate his Ofala festival for the past 20 years, as well as the infamous gully erosion that is threatening his Palace and how he chose to study Music. 

Igwe, what was the past like?

I was born in Oko. My father was a church teacher. We were four boys and three girls. The girls died in infancy. My elder brother died at young age and we were left with three boys. One was Dr. Alex Ekwueme, I am in the middle and my younger brother is Obumneme Ekwueme who is a surgeon at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu.

Ekwueme, our grandfather, had five wives and my mother was the second wife. When the church came, they went to the traditional rulers, and asked them to send their children to schools. My grandfather felt that the idea of Christianity didn’t vary much from the traditional beliefs. So he sent his younger children to school. So, my father and the other younger children went to school and that was how Ekwueme became an educated family in this area.

My late uncle went to DMGS, Onitsha, my eldest brother went to DMGS, Alex went to Kings College and I went to Government College, Umuahia. Obuneme went to Igbobi College, Lagos. Alex later went to the USA, to study Architecture and many other degrees in seven different subjects. I went to England to study music and my younger brother went to University College, Ibadan and collected 90% of prizes in Medicine there. 

In Ekweme family we have 14 Medical Doctors, seven Lawyers, 11 Engineers, four Pharmacists, eight Architects. We have other professions in the family, including Education, Accountancy and even Religious priest. It’s a large family and God has blessed us in many ways. We were not endowed with money, but we were lucky to have acquired education. Alex went to America on scholarship, I went to England on scholarship, my younger brother after Ibadan went to England for further studies on scholarship. My first son is an Architect and his first son has 1st Class Honours in Engineering from a University in England. We are a religious family of Anglican Church, courtesy of my father.

What inspired you to study music at the time you did because music was not a popular course then?

I went to study music almost by chance. I was much more interested in Drama. As a young person and good looking, I had the ambition of being a film star. I couldn’t take lessons in Drama in Nigeria although there were competitions, like the Festival or Arts and I got prizes in many of them. But I got a Federal Scholarship to study music in England. While studying music, I did not leave Drama, Literature and other aspects of human creativity, including Fine Arts. I conducted choirs in England and America and sang in many churches abroad, including in  Jewish Temple churches.

As the first Professor of Music in Africa, what did you do to change African Music?

I made my contributions in whatever way I could. Music is either you write it, play it or practice music. Or you teach music. I have composed quite a few pieces of music, both local instrumental, choral and solo. I have set up choristers in various parts of the world and conducted choral singing in many places. I have published over 20 books in various branches of music and Drama and other aspects of education. That was why I was awarded the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM).

What was your proudest moment as a young man?

It could be the fact that I studied music up to the level I did because most Nigerians did not get up to that level. To have a B. A Mus in England in those days was something very big. And I went to teach at University of Nigeria, Nsukka as a young Lecturer for two years and I got another fellowship to go to America for Ph.D. I conducted the choir at St. Barth’s Enugu at the age of 20 years.

As one of the foremost traditional rulers in Igbo land who everyone would be seeking your views on issues concerning culture and tradition, can you tell us the history of traditional institution in this part of the country?

In other communities in Igbo land, the ways of life revolve around the traditions in Anambra State. Anambra is a community of people who cluster together and how they came together is not quite clear. Every village or community has its own story or narration. Some say they came from Igala land, others say they came from Benin. But nobody is sure of anything. But there was a traditional medicine man called Ezechina who travelled and lived in Benin for many years and the Oba handed him many things. However, an Oba who didn’t like Ezechina mounted the throne and Igbo people had to run away and they came back to the East where they were originally from. There were other stories about origin of the Igbo. Many believed that Nri was the source of Igbo land because they performed rituals. Anywhere there was trouble, they were called to perform the ritual and often acquired land there. So they had a lot of influence spiritually and materially. So many Igbo communities had ancestries in Nri. Apart from Arochukwu, there is hardly any part of Igbo that doesn’t have a trace to Nri. Agu Ukwu, Enugwu Ukwu, Nawfia and Enugwu Agidi are sons of Nri. So, many people migrated from many places to settle where they are presently. 

In Oko, for instance, because of the growth of the town due to the educational establishments, the markets, the industrialization, many people migrated to the town and have, as it were, become indigenes of Oko because this is where they were born. Many people from Nsukka and Abakaliki have settled here and they enjoy all rights and privileges.

What have been your challenges as a traditional ruler?   

It’s somewhat a checkered history because there has been a tradition of hierarchy in Oko. We have six villages in Oko and there is also seniority within the villages. Ezioko is first and if something is being shared, Ezioko will take first. In Ezioko, there are certain quarters Umuomodo, Etiti, Okoto in that order. If you come to Umuomodo, Umuezeokwe must take first. Traditionally, Umuzokwe has played the leading role in kingship.

 My uncle whom I succeeded was Igwe Ekweme the III. Ezeoko produces the king, but our people are amending the constitution which may prevent Ezioko from producing the king. I am not worried about who comes after me. When my uncle who was the Igwe died, I gave a gap before I assumed the office. My elder brother, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, would have been the one but he asked me to take over because he was involved in politics. People were lobbing him but he said I should take it. It has not been easy and the challenges have been enormous. The Igwes no longer command the respect they used to enjoy. All the rights and privileges they used to enjoy are no longer there. Instead, they come to see what they can get from you.

One of the challenges I had faced came from the authorities of the Federal Polytechnic which was established by Dr. Alex Ekwueme which many people made a money spinner for themselves. Instead of using it to develop academics and the town, they see it as a gold mine and it had caused a lot of problems. 

My last Ofala was over 20 years ago because of disunity in the town, but we will have one in January, 2025. Even annual Iwaji could not hold for a long period. However, we are now in a period of restoration.

.How has your position as a nollywood actor, an academician, a musicologist and a traditional ruler, been influencing your person?

Part of the problem is that I am a person interested in too many things. In fact, it retarded my academic progress because if I had concentrated on academics, I would have moved faster. I was involved in music, drama, sports. I was a champion boxer, I was in martial arts. I did sciences in higher school and ended up studying music because I got a scholarship. I was even a lay reader in the church in 1956 and a choir master of the Old Niger Diocese which included Benin, Owerri, Enugu and I took St. Barths choir Enugu to competitions and won laurels. My interest in music was because I was taught music at Government College, Umuahia by a white man.

When you are in a film set, do those you act with give you respect as a traditional ruler or just treat you as an ordinary person? 

Well, we are there to play our parts irrespective of who you are. If you are asked to play the role of a slave, you have to do it even if you are a king. But outside the set, you get your respect, although many of them would think that because you are a king, you should give them something. The important thing is for one to do his part and that is what drama is all about. But because I happen to be a traditional ruler I played the role of Monarch in a lot of films. But I started doing that even before I became a traditional ruler. But generally I had played the role of a priest, traditional ruler, businessman. They gave me affluent positions because they want someone who can interpret well and come with dignity and without pretence. Yes, it does affect the part one plays, but not in all cases.

Do your colleagues in the Traditional Rulers Council complain about your acting films?

Yes, many of them condemn my acting on set and say it’s a misconduct on my part. But I pity them because it is lack of education on their part. I practice a profession like others. You cannot tell an Igwe who is a doctor not to practice medicine or a lawyer who is an Igwe not to go to court. Some of the Igwes said I should not be entertaining people. Anyway, I am now too old to take active part in acting. 

Does being a brother to one of Nigerian’s foremost politicians, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, affect your governing Oko as a traditional ruler?

Naturally some people felt that I was carrying on as an aristocrat. I come from a Royal family and there is nothing people can do about it. They felt I was like that because my brother was a Vice President, but that was not true. If for anything, I even suffered because of it. There was nothing I got that others did not get. I got NNOM on merit, and not because I was Dr. Alex Ekwueme’s brother. And I am a first class monarch. Chukwuemeka Ike later got NNOM. There might have been advantages I enjoyed for Alex being my brother, but there seemed to be more disadvantages. There were things I was entitled to but people thought I already had them because of my brother. People won’t offer you gifts because they think you are rich. People assume that I am rich, but I am not. I didn’t have money. Someone might propose you to be chairman of something, but some people world say, oh he doesn’t need it. For instance, why should I not have been Vice Chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council? Chukwuemeka Ike who became a traditional ruler seven years after I had been on the throne, became the Vice Chairman. Even when Ike passed on they gave it to somebody else. I didn’t have to request for it.

The State Traditional Rulers Council appears to be in limbo at the moment. What is happening?

The cause of the matter was that past governments selected members of the traditional rulers council. For instance we are about 200 traditional rulers in Anambra State, but government selected only 60 for the state council. The three senatorial zones have zonal forum and Local Government council and everyone belongs to them. But the central one was selected by the governor and he handpicked the members. For example, Ekwusigo local government has only four towns and three from there are members of the council. Nnewi North is one town LG, Onitsha is a two- town LG, Orumba North has 16 communities and by the time Ike died, I was the only member from Orumba North local government and the governor should have appointed the Deputy Chairman from Orumba North. Awka South had six patrons, and Orumba North had no patron. Igwe Aguleri passed on and his successor was made a patron on assumption of office. That sort of thing was something beyond the traditional rulers. Last year, the governor told us that he found out that the law provides that every traditional ruler should be a member of the state traditional ruler’s council and that the law should be amended. But that amendment never took place. It’s over a year and nothing has happened. Many people are displeased about it and the allowance we get is off. We were sitting two times a month. The chairman was getting N100,000, the grand patron gets N75,000, the secretary gets N50,000, the Vice chairmen get N50,000 while the rest get N30,000.

So many of the traditional rulers are unhappy because, for example, if you have to travel from Owerri Ezukala to Awka for a meeting, you need your transportation reimbursed at least, especially when many of the traditional rulers do not have other sources of income. Some of them who are successful businessmen don’t care. So many have been disgruntled and that is part of the problem. 

Culturally speaking, are there things you think Igbo people are not doing right?

Indeed there are things we are not doing right. We misplace our priorities and emphasizing on money all the time. We seem to have abandoned honesty, truth and justice, fair play. Oko has been somewhat lucky that there is no battle between the traditional ruler and the PG but many communities have that problem. I am not someone that goes about seeking power. They battled me in the past and set traps and even tried to kill me. But God has been on my side. I believe that with the Ofala we are planning, a lasting peace will return in Oko after 20 years. We couldn’t celebrate Ofala because of lack of peace. The forthcoming Ofala is to cement peace in the town.

The gully erosion had been a problem in Oko to the extent that your palace is also being threatened. What is the situation?  

The problem is still there, not because the government is unwilling to do something about it, but because government is unable to do anything. It is an enormous problem. The World Band had been approached and they sent a team through NEWMAP which did a lot of survey here. If you walk behind this palace you will see it. We are only living by prayers and keep hoping that something will be done, but nothing has been done. There is hope that the governor will do something about it and he had taken steps to do something about it. It is not just Oko as many other communities are affected.

Governor Soludo has banned sand mining in Oko and other communities because it causes gully erosion. Are your people still doing it?

Some people are still doing it clandestinely and some of them have been arrested. But those who are caught face the consequences.

If you are asked to name one thing you want government to do for your community, what will that be?

Erosion and roads are our main problems. There are parts of Orumba North that are inaccessible such as Ndi Okolo, Ndi Okpalaeke because of gully erosion. We will be very happy if the problem of erosion is tackled

The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) says there has been intense efforts on debt recovery from bilateral customers.

Jennifer Adighije, managing director (MD) of NDPHC, spoke on Friday in Abuja.

Adighije said the power sector is burdened by cash flow challenges, which ripple across the ecosystem, affecting power generation, transmission, and distribution companies.

However, the MD said the debt recovery has allowed the company to address its obligations to gas suppliers, who account for a significant amount of the cost of power generation.

“It’s important to know that the sector is characterised by cash issues across all the subsectors you know and across the entire ecosystem and it reverberates,” she said.

“So the DisCos are claiming to be owed heavily which is why the bulk electricity trader does not settle 100 percent of our invoices so the bulk trader settles about 30 to 35 percent on our invoices and you must also bear in mind that 65 to 70 percent of our cost of generation goes to gas supply so in turn we also owe our gas suppliers.

“So by improving our liquidity we’re able to address some of our debts, some of the exposure that we have to our gas supplies and we’re able to settle some of our gas to meet our gas obligations to a large extent.”

Adighije also said the long-standing issue of stranded energy due to excess generation capacity relative to demand, is being addressed. 

According to the NDPHC boss, the company has adopted a strategy to address surplus energy.

The government-owned firm, in alignment with the July 25 directive from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which encourages direct energy sales to eligible customers, said it has allocated its stranded power capacity to bilateral and eligible customers.

OFF-TAKERS EXPECTED TO SIGN POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS BY 2025

Adighije said off-takers who have submitted expressions of interest (EOIs) for the stranded energy of the project will finalise their power purchase agreements (PPAs) by 2025.

She also said some off-takers have expressed interest in acquiring up to 100 megawatts (MW) of capacity each.

“We have always had a generation capacity in excess of demand and the demand is coming from the downstream markets,” she said.

“So, we must understand that the market is driven by demand which has created a lot of stranded energy for us because we have energy generated in excess of demand.

“But with this new management our strategic would unlock that stranded energy by dedicating significant portions of that energy now to eligible customers and bilateral trading arrangements pursuant to the order July 25th order of the NERC directing us now to trade bilaterally with eligible customers so that should be able to address our stranded capacity.

“We already have a lot of off-takers that have sent expressions of interest like Zenith Point is supposed to off-take about 100 megawatts. We have auctioned about 100 megawatts, as well as several other potential PPAs that we are likely to sign in 2025.

“So that would address to a large extent our stranded capacity challenge talking about 2025.”

Adighije said efforts are being made through collaboration to unbundle the bottlenecks that are being faced in the sector, especially in the area of liquidity challenges “as the president has already promised to come up with some initiatives that will improve our outlook for 2025”.

[TheCable]

President Bola Tinubu cancelled all his official events in Lagos today, including his attendance at the 2024 Lagos Boat Regatta in honour of the stampede victims in Abuja and Okija, Anambra State.

The two tragedies claimed many lives and left many others injured.

President Tinubu was scheduled to watch the boat parade and other activities of the Boat Regatta from the waterfront of his Queen's Drive residence in Ikoyi.

Dignitaries, including top officials of the Lagos State government and white cap chiefs from the State, were already seated when the President cancelled his appearance following briefings on the tragedies.

Commiserating with the victims of the unfortunate incidents in Anambra and the Federal Capital Territory, President Tinubu urged states and relevant authorities to enforce strict crowd control measures immediately.

He noted that it was very disturbing that the events at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, and a community Centre in Okija, Anambra State, bore a distressing resemblance to the recent incident in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He said local and state authorities should no longer tolerate operational lapses by organisations and corporate bodies involved in charitable and humanitarian activities.

While praying for the peaceful repose of innocent Nigerians who died in the stampede, President Tinubu wished a quick recovery to the injured.

He reiterated that these mishaps are avoidable if event planners adhere to necessary safeguards and protocols to ensure pre- and post-event safety.

''In a season of joy and celebration, we grieve with fellow citizens mourning the painful losses of their loved ones. Our prayers of divine comfort and healing are with them,'' President Tinubu said.

The President wished the Lagos State government, organisers of the Boat Regatta, themed ''Our Water, Our Heritage, Our Life,'' a successful and hitch-free festival.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)

In a recent declaration, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, stated that the economic initiatives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration had stopped the nation’s economy from “bleeding.” He pointed specifically to the removal of fuel and foreign exchange subsidies, claiming these measures were saving 5% of Nigeria’s GDP annually. While this assertion paints a hopeful picture, the everyday reality for most Nigerians tells a different story: the economy is not just recovering, it feels as though it is hemorrhaging.

Speaking at the National Council on Finance and Economic Development (NACOFED) in Bauchi, Mr. Edun praised the removal of subsidies as a game-changer. He argued that these policies would redirect funds to critical sectors such as infrastructure, education, and healthcare, while creating an investor-friendly economic environment.

On paper, these reforms seem bold and promising. The government eliminated subsidies that allegedly benefited only a few elites and neighboring countries, with the hope of channeling the savings into developmental projects. However, for the average Nigerian, these promises remain unfulfilled. Prices continue to soar, unemployment persists, and basic living conditions have worsened. 

Contrary to Mr. Edun’s optimistic claims, the removal of subsidies has unleashed a cascade of economic challenges. The end of the fuel subsidy, for instance, triggered an astronomical increase in transportation costs. This, in turn, caused prices of goods and services to skyrocket. The removal of foreign exchange subsidies has led to a sharp depreciation of the naira, further increasing the cost of imports and exacerbating inflation.

For Nigerians already grappling with poverty, these reforms have felt more like economic punishment than relief. The harsh reality is that while the economy may have stopped bleeding in the narrow sense described by Mr. Edun, it now suffers from a deeper, systemic hemorrhage affecting millions of lives.

Mr. Edun highlighted the supposed benefits of increased inflows to the federation account from subsidy removal, assuring that the funds would benefit federal, state, and local governments. Yet, there is little evidence to suggest these gains are translating into tangible benefits for ordinary Nigerians. The promised improvements in healthcare, education, and infrastructure remain elusive. 

For instance, public hospitals remain under-resourced, with patients often forced to pay out-of-pocket for basic treatments. Schools face similar neglect, with overcrowded classrooms and unpaid teachers.

In a similar vein, roads, power supply, and water systems have seen minimal progress. The much-touted redirection of subsidy funds appears to have stalled at the policy level.

Still in the same vein, rising food prices and transport costs have pushed many Nigerians below the poverty line, negating whatever macroeconomic benefits the government might claim.

The government’s macroeconomic policies may seem sound in theory, but their execution has left much to be desired. Subsidy removal, while arguably necessary, was implemented without adequate palliatives or transitional support for the populace. The result has been widespread discontent, with many Nigerians feeling abandoned by their leaders.

Moreover, the government’s communication strategy has done little to inspire confidence. Sweeping statements about economic progress ring hollow when people struggle to afford a decent meal. Mr. Edun’s claim that the economy is no longer bleeding feels disconnected from the lived experiences of millions.

In fact, the minister’s assertion that President Tinubu has halted the economy’s bleeding, projecting an image of economic stabilization under his administration, is unarguably a stark contrasts with the World Bank’s recent assessment, which indicated that Tinubu’s policies are not yielding the desired results, particularly in addressing poverty and inflation. The contradiction highlights a growing disparity between the government’s narrative of progress and independent evaluations of Nigeria’s economic realities, raising questions about the true impact of the administration’s policies on the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

By virtue of being a Journalist on the Business Desk, permit me to suggest in this context that if the government truly wants to stop the hemorrhaging and not just declare it stopped, it must take bold and immediate action.

First step to be taken in this context is that the government must show Nigerians exactly how the savings from subsidy removal are being spent. Detailed, publicly available reports on investments in critical sectors would go a long way in rebuilding trust.

In a similar vein, it is germane to remind the government that the distribution of palliatives has been inconsistent and poorly managed. Therefore, a more systematic approach is needed to ensure that relief measures reach those who need them most.

Also, to combat inflation and reduce dependence on imports, the government should invest heavily in agriculture and manufacturing. This will not only stabilize prices but also create much-needed jobs.

Again, there is no denying the fact that mismanagement and corruption have historically undermined Nigeria’s development efforts. Therefore, strengthening accountability mechanisms will ensure that public funds are used effectively.

Added to the above suggested steps to be taken by the government in this context is that labor unions, civil society groups, and private sector players should be included in policy discussions to ensure reforms are socially inclusive and economically viable.

Without a doubt, Nigerians deserve more than rhetoric. For decades, Nigerians have endured economic policies that promise much but deliver little. The Tinubu administration has an opportunity to change this narrative, but time is running out. The people are tired of rhetoric and demand action that leads to measurable improvements in their lives.

While Mr. Edun speaks of stopping the economy’s bleeding, Nigerians see no signs of recovery. Instead, they witness a government seemingly out of touch with their struggles. If this administration is serious about building a stable and sustainable economy, it must address the hemorrhaging head-on and prioritize the welfare of its citizens over lofty declarations.

The road to recovery is long, but it begins with acknowledging the reality of the situation. Only then can the government take the decisive steps needed to turn rhetoric into results. Until then, Nigerians will continue to question whether their economy is truly stabilizing, or still hemorrhaging.

As the year winds down, we stand with one clear certainty, among others. That certainty is the fact that we live in extremely dangerous times. Not because there was ever a time human affairs were bereft of danger, no! We speak of danger today from the standpoint of unreality trying to present itself as reality. The words of the German philosopher, Freidrich Hegel, “The rational is the real”, does not hold water for this generation. Rationality suffereth violence and the hubristic and unduly exuberant do not set much store by it.

It all brings up the question of Authenticity, which was our concern on this page on July 30, 2022. The unreality around us in our private affairs, in the affairs of state and even in world affairs has become the dominant motif and paradigm. It is probably no longer easy for a lot of people to say what anything is, or is not, for sure. So, let us revisit this matter and represent that earlier conversation because of its continued relevance and benumbing immediate still. Here we go.

“In words of Parmenides: “What is, is; and what is not is not”. And heis right. If an umbrella exists, then it exists. If it does not exist, then itdoes not exist. But, how about something that exist “becoming” something else? An egg can become a chicken, for instance. A student may one day become a teacher, an engineer, an armed robber or a priest. A seed may one day become a tree, or a shrub. So, where does that leave us with Parmenides?  Perhaps we should just tell the gentleman philosopher that he is wrong in his further statement that “for something to come into being, it must have been in existence before then”. He forgot, or denied, the concept of development.

Unlike Parmenides however, Aristotle said: “Everything is what it is” at any particular point in time. A chair is a chair. A table is a table, and not a chicken. But the table was made from pieces of wood, nails, gum and some vanish. None of the components is a table. Putting all of them together in a room will also not give you a table. There must be a process that transforms the possibilities of these disparate objects into a new actuality. We must, therefore, conclude that everything is what it is at a particular time, in a particular place, and under particular circumstances, provided the conditions for activating all or some of its other possibilities are not fulfilled.

That is why a basic fact of logic and critical thinking is that a thing cannot be one thing and also not be that thing “at the same time, in the same place and, particularly, in the same respect”. That is the basic pillar of the Laws of Thought in traditional logic. It is the element of Sub oedum respectum that ends the debate, making it possible for the concepts of development, transformation, act and potency to be part of all logical and metaphysical thinking. So, let us go really philosophical today and talk about authenticity and inauthenticity; with an eye on the ongoing switching of identities between thieves, leaders, bishops and mechanics.

A political party that is, to all intents and purposes, the Patron Saint of Mediocrity and national decay cannot also ‘at the same time’ successfully pass itself off as an agent of national development” Also, political party that says it is in opposition, but which has nothing that really distinguishes it from the ‘bad guys’ it is trying to replace has a very bad case.  A person who calls himself a bishop when he is not one is simply not a bishop. He cannot, ‘at the same time’ that he is not a bishop transmute into one by self-proclamation. The issue here is about reality and illusion, truth and falsehood. criminality and good behaviour. So, let us go deeper into authenticity and inauthenticity.

To be authentic is to be real. An authentic wooden chair is different from a plastic chair that is given a coat of paint in order to pass it off as a wooden chair. A person is said to be authentic when he is what he claims to be at any particular time, and completely so. To be inauthentic, on the other hand, is to have your identity, values, statements and avowed beliefs contrived to present “what is not” as “what is”. It boils down to the absence of any true identity. A chimerical being. The “Not this” that claims to be a “this”.

The inauthentic person will rather strive to create an illusion and present same as truth, than take steps to remedy a perceived lack and become real and authentic. This is where falsehood, no matter how thinly cloaked, will prance forward through the manipulation of public opinion. It is all a question of doing everything possible to ensure that popular opinion and made-up reality create a shroud for the non-being to hide inside and masquerade an identity. Utter bunkum! What is not is not, at any particular time.

When an inauthentic person makes statements, or claims, about right, wrong, development, etc., it is all likely to be grounded on assumptions, expectations, views and ideas whose prevalence is mistaken for indubitability. Personal conviction is rarely ever part of the equation. Such a person will say ‘I know’, but will not bother to ask what it means ‘to know’. While one person will say ‘I know’ and mean ‘Mr. X told me…’, another will say he knows while he means ‘It is generally said and believed that…’, or even ‘I have the impression that’. See? There is also profound inauthenticity in the domain of knowledge!

The victim of an inauthentic life may not be aware of his predicament at all. He will be absorbed in his everyday concerns, feeling quite important and indispensable amidst it all. Yet he is dispensable in every sense of the word, without the world being the worse for it. What the inauthentic person takes himself to be is very often the agglomeration of claims, conjectures, flatteries and opinions put out by himself and his ‘factory workers’; as he sits in the conventional boat of his environment, his financial status and what is generally called public opinion. But can what is said by a misguided public ever become the truth?

An inauthentic person is actually no longer in a position to table new ideas, or question anything. “What will my people think of such a thing”, he would probably say in a shudder. His nakedness is there beneath the perfectly imaginary clothing of artifice. But it is precisely this artifice that is being marketed as reality, in the firm belief that all will be well in the end.

Now, let us carefully note that an inauthentic person is usually not under any visible physical coercion, no matter how subtle. Yet he seems to be the victim of some kind of ethereal tyranny, as he falters and stabilizes involuntarily. He is always afraid of what people would say if he did this, or failed to do that. He is worried that they may consider him foolish, unserious, etc. Yes! But who is this “they”? Terrible, is it not? That the “they” cannot be individualized. It does not really refer to this person, or to that person. It does not even refer to all the people put together; or to everyone except me. It is not something like a universal subject from which the individual can be abstracted, no!

But there it is! They want this and not that!

Unlike the authentic self which has taken hold of itself, and which consciously determines its own possibilities, a “they” self is not localized. That is why it is true to say that to have your day-to-day life defined by the ‘they’ is to have all your genuine possibilities annulled; because your life is dispersed into undefined channels, as you wallow in the anonymity of collectivism. When an inauthentic person says “I”, he actually means “the others, whose ways prescribe mine”. Pitiful, is it not? That the amorphous group, the self-enclosed homogenous group, with its unthinking rhetoric, buries personal volition.

If you doubt that the inauthentic person unconsciously, and often totally, depends on the “they”, watch out for the constant care he takes to see how he differs from others; and whether that difference is one that should be maintained or evened out; whether he is lagging and needs to catch up, and whether he has some advantages he must strive to maintain. It is a desperate struggle for a life defined by average everydayness. A life lived with very little self-possession.  

This is how the tyranny of the “they” unobtrusively robs people of their individuality. The choices about pleasure and displeasure are dictated by the prevailing preferences. It just happens to be “the done thing”. Thus, does true knowledge get undermined and undervalued. Nobody then needs to justify anything he says or believes, other than by saying that everyone is in the same boat. Thus, you find people strutting about as leaders, statesmen, chieftains influencers, on air personalities, etc., either after they have held public office, or because they have read a few books and talked a lot.

It is sometimes in this way that the impetus to free thinking and independent enquiry is either dampened, or extinguished completely for many people. That is because ‘they’ articulate he referential context of the significance of everything. Thus, it gets spread around that there is no need to be different. Evasion of self and ignorant presumption become the norm. “Just drift along”. Do not make a nuisance of yourself, by raking up issues that will make people think, reflect, or ask questions. As Martin Buber said: “Having become uneager and inept for such living intercourse that opens up a world, the have imprisoned the person in history and his speech in a library”.

But it is all coming to a head in Nigeria today. Inauthenticity has been our welcome companion around here for too long. What makes the fraud called PDP any better than the disaster called APC”?

And, as 2024 winds to a disconcerting end in a a little more than a week’s time, we should ask ourselves what is still real around us. Many are threatening to enjoy their Christmas holidays, but the no longer know what it means to enjoy anything at all. We have cheap, debauched and inane replacements for most of what we used to cherish so much 

And inauthenticity walks the land! Let the discerning who are not too weary still keep watch. Let the prayerful who still have the stamina and the right spiritual orientation take to their respective modes of prayer. Lest 2025 unleash the denouement of true inauthenticity, rather than abrogate, or even ameliorate it.

The Enugu State Police Command in multiple operations has busted a kidnapping gang hideout and arrested five suspects for burglary and car stealing.

These operations also resulted in the recovery of firearms, ammunition, military uniforms, and stolen items, including a car.

According to the State’s Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, the kidnap gangs were arrested in Nru, Nsukka local government area.

Items recovered from them included a loaded revolver pistol, a single barrel gun, two live cartridges, a Point of Sales (POS) machine and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.

He said the suspects were involved in recent kidnappings and other crimes in Nsukka.

“On December 15, 2024, a combined team of operatives from Nsukka Area Command, acting on intelligence, raided a kidnapping gang’s hideout in Nru community, Nsukka LGA. The suspects engaged the operatives in a gunfight, but fled with gunshot injuries under superior police firepower

“A loaded revolver pistol, a cut-to-size single-barrel gun, two live cartridges, military camouflage uniforms, a Moniepoint POS machine, and ATM cards were recovered.

“Preliminary investigations revealed the gang’s involvement in a recent case of kidnapping and other heinous crimes in Nsukka. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects,” he said.

Also, in another operation, the Command arrested suspects for allegedly burglary and stealing a car.

Nelson Uchechi, Waziri Adamu, Auwal Kachalla, and Abba Mohammed were arrested for alleged burglary, while  Chukwuka Chika was arrested for allegedly stealing a red Volkswagen Passat car.

“In a different operation, on November 14, 2024, operatives from the Abakaliki Road Police Division of the Command arrested four burglary male suspects, namely: Nelson Uchechi, aged 22, Waziri Adamu, aged 21, Auwal Kachalla, aged 30, and Abba Mohammed.

“The suspects had burgled and stolen bicycles, laptops, phones, and other items from a house in GRA, Enugu, on November 14, 2024, around 2 a.m. The stolen items were recovered, while the suspects confessed to the crime and were subsequently arraigned in court and remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Custodial custody.

“In another operation, operatives from the Central Police Station of the Command, in early December 2024, arrested Chukwudi Chika (male, aged 35) for stealing a red Volkswagen Passat car from where it was parked on the premises of a church at Coal Camp, Enugu.
The car was recovered, while the suspect confessed to the crime. He has been arraigned in court and remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Custodial custody,” the statement added.

The State’s Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, advised criminals to leave the state. He assured the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring public security and safety in Enugu State during the festive period and beyond.

He urged citizens to remain vigilant, report suspicious individuals and their activities, and also cooperate with law enforcement agents to maintain peace and security across the State.

[NaijaNews]

Controversy has trailed the recent conviction of Segun Olowookere, whose parents, Olarewaju and Folashade, are kicking over his sentence to death by hanging for stealing a fowl. TOBA ADEDEJI, who obtained a copy of the judgment delivered on December 17, examines the controversy.

ON January 30, 2013, Segun Olowokere, then a 22-year-old, and 21-year-old Sunday Morakinyo were dragged before the Osun State High Court, Ikirun before Justice Sakariyah Falola on eight counts charge in suit number HKK/2C/2012.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy, armed robbery and stealing pressed against them by the State Counsel, Barrister Biola Adewemimo.

 According to the charge, the two convicts who conspired in November 2010 to rob one Mr Oguntade Faramade of his fowls and eggs worth N20,000 also robbed Balogun Taye of his two mobile phones and attempted to rob another Alhaja Umani Oyewo in her house.

It was also stated that they robbed Elizabeth Dare of a gallon of vegetable oil, using cutlasses and a Dane gun. They were also said to have robbed one Balogun Taye of N5,000, mobile phones and fowls.

The prosecution counsel also disclosed that they stole fowls worth N30,000. It was noted that they committed the crime in Oyan community in Okuku Local Government area of Osun State between April and November 2010.

Six witnesses testified against them for robbery and stealing as the prosecution counsel tendered 11 exhibits, which includes four cutlasses recovered from the convicts, one female head net used as face cover, one Dane gun, two DVD players admitted and four kegs of vegetable oil and confessional statements which were all admitted.

In his confessional statement, Olowookere, said: “In the evening of 10/10/2010 when the PDP wanted to do the primary election of councillors, one of my friends, Adepoju Siju, visited me at my home and told me that he wanted to visit his girlfriend, Tosin who is a daughter of one Alhaja.

“He said he would be sleeping in my house at night because I am the only one living in a six-bedroom flat.

“When it was 8 0′ clock in the night, my friend, Adepoju, called me on the phone. He said I should help him to call one Sunday and his group to my house for a business. I delivered the message to the boys and they followed me obediently to my house.

“On getting to my house, Adepoju told the boys that we were all going to guard one counsellor till the following morning.

“When it was midnight, Adepoju called all of us together and said that we were going to the house of Alhaja, the mother of his girlfriend, to rob her of a certain amount of money.

“He said Tosin, Alhaja’s daughter, would open the door for us when we got there because he had arranged with her.

“When it was exactly 12 midnight, we left my house.

“We went to Alhaja’s house as Siju Adepoju was armed with cutlass and others carried iron rod and sticks, but I did not hold anything. I went to the place empty-handed.”

During the trial, the victims of Olowookere, Morakinyo and five others which include Alhaja Oyewo, Elizabeth Dare, Oguntade Faramade and three policemen, namely Alaba Samson, Ogunniyi Emmanuel and Ilyasu Maruf, testified against them.

However, Barrister Ayo Omolosho who was the defence counsel, opposed to the prosecution, stating that they were not arrested at the scene of the crimes committed and that they failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Olowookere and his father denied the crime as Morakinyo said he was mentally unfit to oppose the claims of the prosecution.

During the prosecution, the confessional statements by Olowokere, Morakinyo, Ojo Dare, Dare Sunday disclosed that one Adepoju Siju initiated them to commit the crime of armed robbery and stealing at the house of one Alhaja Oyewo and their other victims in the town.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Falola convicted them for conspiracy, robbery by firearms, armed robbery and stealing.

However, he dismissed count 2, 4, 5 and 7 against them, noting that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

He ordered that they were sentenced to death and life imprisonment for the crime of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, robbery with firearms.

He sentenced them to three years imprisonment for stealing.

However, Justice Falola recommended in his judgment that “In view of the age of the two convicts, it is hereby recommended to The Governor that if it may please him, he should commute the death sentence and life imprisonment to (say) 10 years.

“The medical officer in charge of the prison where the second convict, Morakinyo Sunday, is being kept is hereby ordered to investigate his level of insanity.

“If the convict shall be found to be insane and constitutes danger to fellow inmates and prison officials, he shall be transferred to and kept in an asylum where destitutes are kept. He shall remain there at the pleasure of the Governor.”

Amidst the controversy, Governor Ademola Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said the Governor had directed immediate investigation and pardon in the case of Olowookere.

But former Attorney-General of Oyo State, Mutalubi Adebayo, cautioned Governor Adeleke against his plan to free a robbery suspect.

Adebayo, in a statement, warned that “Governments at all levels and the general public should not allow bloggers and internet idlers to mislead them to unnecessarily harass, vilify and attack the judiciary through dissemination of half truths and outright lies.”

He said: “The report that the prisoner was convicted and sentenced to death for stealing a fowl is pure lie and cheap blackmail that was packaged with a view to secure freedom for the prisoner through the backdoor. 

“It was very fair trial and there was no appeal against the judgment since same was delivered about 14 years ago.

“It must be made clear that I am not disputing the right of any Governor or even the President to grant pardon to any convict as same is a constitutional provision.

“However, it is unconstitutional for any Governor or President to investigate the circumstances under which any judge delivered his judgment and or the reason(s) and or propriety or otherwise of the judgment. The executive lacks such powers.

 “It is a clear usurpation of the powers vested in the judiciary by the Constitution. It is always deeply traumatic whenever judges are being bullied and harassed on the internet for performing their lawful duties, more so when such attacks are premised on falsehood and rumours.”

 “We must avoid exposing our Judges to dangers and risk of being attacked by criminals which can lead to loss of lives.

 “Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun has unlimited powers to set free the convict in question and any other convicts for that matter without any reason, but that unconstitutional investigation must be stopped forthwith.“

Less than a month after the Port Harcourt Refining Company appeared to have resumed production, the facility has stopped working.

Our correspondent, who visited the refinery on Thursday, December 19, 2024, observed that the lifting of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) had stopped.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the lifting of petrol actually stopped last Friday, December 13, as the 18-arm loading bay of the new Port Harcourt refinery was empty.

While about 18 trucks littered the stretch of the busy road leading to the refinery itself, nine trucks were spotted inside the parking yard, while the loading bay was empty.

The depot, which is usually a beehive of activities where tankers scramble for space at the parking yard, was a shadow of itself with literally no vehicular or human activity relating to operations.

$1.5bn celebration

Recall that the inauguration of the 60,000 barrel per day production capacity plant by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, was met with celebration and fanfare. This was after $1.5bn was approved in March 2021 and spent on the rehabilitation of the facility.

During the re-opening of the facility, there was lifting of petrol to the excitement of the cheering crowd.

However, less than 10 trucks of petrol were lifted that day as against widespread claims that about 200 trucks carried petrol out of the bay.

Our correspondent also reported that no sooner had Kyari returned to Abuja than things returned to the old way, amidst allegations by stakeholders that the petrol lifted during the inauguration was old stock from the storage tank.

When Saturday PUNCH first visited the refinery three weeks ago, it was discovered that the loading bay was deserted without the lifting of products.

In response to the discovery, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria said operations were scaled down due to the calibration of meters at the loading bay and de-watering of the old stock, which had to be emptied to pave the way to receiving newly refined products.

A fortnight ago, tanker drivers drove in and started loading once again.

Journalists were also taken on a guided tour of the refinery, led by its Managing Director, Ibrahim Onoja.

Onoja stated, “The plant is running and we are trucking out our products. We have carried out an extensive revamp of this plant and changed most of the equipment.

“The pump and instrumentation, the cables are all brand new. So what we have done here is massive change and upgrade of the plant.”

Afterward, there was marked improvement as about 11 trucks lifted products, even as it was better the next day.

Back to default

However, when Saturday PUNCH visited on Thursday, it was learnt that production activities stopped one week ago.

A handful of drivers were seen sleeping in their trucks while doing nothing.

One of them, who spoke Hausa, said he learned the lifting of PMS would resume next Monday.

He, however, expressed doubt about the information as he counted the number of days with his fingers and muttered, “Three days; they said they would load on Monday.”

The number of workers and visitors could easily be counted as there were more security men clad in black trousers and blue shirts.

The guards were stationed at the entrance of the depot and the loading bay, and inside the loading bay itself. They kept themselves busy as they chatted away.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, another truck driver said, “It was Friday last week they loaded last. About 15 trucks or so loaded that day. Since then, not even a single truck has been loaded till now.”

Asked if any explanation was given, he replied, “I don’t know. Nobody is giving us any information or telling us anything. Some trucks that were here have left. I’m just here because my director said I should wait a bit.”

Meanwhile, a petroleum product marketer, Mr Dappa Jubobaraye, has decried the state of refineries in the country.

Jubobaraye alleged that since Kyari inaugurated the plant, no production had taken place, pointing out that everything was just a show.

He stated, “It was intended to deceive Nigerians that the refinery is working and that is why they came up with that show. That day, only about four or five trucks loaded products.

“The loading meter was not calibrated yet before they started operation. Of the 18 loading arms at the bay only three are working and they have leakages. So, they have been trying to load three, four, five trucks, sometimes 10 just to show that they are working while they are not working.

“Since Mele Kyari came and left, the independent marketers have yet to load products from this depot because the NNPC is yet to fix prices for them to buy tickets and start loading products. They are only loading them to their own mega stations.

“The situation right now is that loading of PMS is not taking place because they don’t have the intention to make this place work. It is just to deceive the people.

“If you come into this place (depot), you will see trucks packed and think that loading is on; but the truth is that they are not working. Some tanker drivers have gone because they can’t come and waste time here.”

He continued, “How can you come here with the hope of loading and you stay here with your truck for two weeks, for what? Before the work stopped last week, they were loading up to 10, 15 but below 20.

“Ordinary one of the arms in the loading bay can load up to 20 to 30 trucks in a day. But for now, they are using only three arms out of the 18 loading arms inside the bay and the three are just for PMS alone. They have not started loading DPK (kerosene) and AGO (diesel). And kerosene is what concerns the ordinary more.”

Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the NNPC, Femi Soneye, were abortive as he did not take his calls or respond to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.

[Punch]

In November, worshipers thronged Christ the King Catholic cathedral, Aba, for the annual Christ the King profession. The venue was packed. Every year, it has been filled, chaotic and hot. But no fatalities have ever been recorded. This time, in the middle of proceedings, the devil struck. The most reliable accounts said gunshots were heard. Eyewitnesses recount a sudden surge. Edgy people, tormented by terror, accustomed to fright and flight, took to their heels. They thought the Unknown Gunmen, who have no fear of God, had come to disrupt the festival. Security officials locked the big gates: the major entrance and exit route.  Hell broke loose in the church. 

The only one exit left was a narrow pedestrian gate. People tumbled over themselves. By the time the turmoil subsided, bodies lay strewn on the hallowed ground. Among them, a mother and her daughter. Among them, three members of another family. The elderly and children didn’t stand a chance. In this country, crowds are loved: politicians, pastors, Imams, musicians, etc. In this country, nobody cares about emergencies and crowd control measures. 

Often, tragedies are suppressed. Ostensibly to stem public outrage, which can make a politician or pastor look bad. But without outrage, what lessons can be learned? If avoidable overcrowding and paucity of exits lead to the untimely death of the innocent, isn’t it immoral to falsify the figures and efface the tragedy? If the doctoring of the body count denies the enormity of a disaster, are the victims and society not doubly victimised? 

In Aba, in the aftermath of the mayhem, there was no public anger. Perhaps the church is loved. The demand for an inquiry was weak. Perhaps governments in the southeast fear antagonising the church. Somehow, in this social media age, when people would rather make videos of accident victims bleeding to death rather than help them, there were only a few pictures of the disaster in circulation. The church quietly blamed the incident on overcrowding as if some Martians had the crowd control responsibilities. The police said they were investigating. Newspapers put the death toll at 4-6. A relative of some victims said about 48 died. The disparity in figures is another story on its own. Evidently, the disaster was minimised. After a terse apology by the church promising to prevent a future occurrence, the matter effectively died. The dead have been buried. 

A month later, in December, people were invited to gather at a school field in Ibadan for a funfair. This time, it was an Islamic venue. Five thousand people were expected. Gifts and scholarships were included in the promises. A popular radio station made sure everyone heard. People came from near and distant villages to camp at the venue on the eve of the show. It was a cold night. In the times we live, every such invitation should expect a mammoth crowd

Some came for the fun. Some went for the goodies. Ooni’s ex-wife was at the centre of it all. Like the catholic church in Aba, her intentions were pure. By 8am on the D-day, the crowd was already pulsating. The organisers saw the crowd and started to palpitate. The crowd saw them and jumped into a frenzy. The earliest attempt at distributing tickets triggered the avalanche. People surged forward in waves, crushing others. There was no plan to control the crowd. The main entrance was the epicentre of the chaos. The small gate was opened, but it perhaps only worsened the stampede.  People stomped on falling people like horse hooves on grass. The desperation of the living drowned the cries of the dying. The tsunami was already at the peak of its madness. 

As it was in Aba, there were no emergency exits. Unlike Aba, the instigating factor was impatience rather than fear. But like in Aba, as the hospitals filled up, some PR machines stepped in to mop the mess. So, only a few pictures exist. Rumours say some unidentified men prevented people from taking photographs. Others said they saw them seizing phones. The idea was to spare the public the goriness. But if photoshopping the disaster reduces the weight of the scandal and leaves sleeping dogs to lie, how can forceful deterrents be established?

In Ibadan, the police have confirmed 35 deaths. Many lie injured in hospitals. Eyewitnesses dispute the figure. The president has ordered an investigation. An investigation should aim at punishing negligence. But the overriding priority is to lay down new rules to forestall future occurrences. If the laws don’t already exist, they must be enacted. The penalty for exposing people to stampedes because of a lack of crowd control, improper emergency planning, and insufficient exit routes must be stiff. A new culture of safety must spell out the maximum number that can gather in a space and the minimum number of exit routes. 

Inquiries in Nigeria are often political gimmicks. They are used to mollify the public. They consume money and reports that will be discarded. That is why the goriness of these disasters should be published for all to see. Let them be etched on our minds. That way, people will be wary of overcrowding. People will learn to note the location of emergency exits. 

If these disasters are painted in bright colours for all to see, consciousness against overcrowding will be raised. This kind of mass education will do more good that inquiries whose recommendations will die in infancy, stampeded to death by governments’ abiding insouciance and indolence. 

Today, the brand new and ephemeral undisputed heavyweight champion, Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, will give Englishman Tyson Fury a chance to regain the heavyweight championship belt, after a surprising demonstration in May, when he surprisingly took the title, despite the obvious size difference in favour of the ‘Gipsy King’.

While the fight will no longer be for the undisputed title, after Usyk was stripped of the full IBF title, this eagerly awaited rematch will be a spectacular event, again taking place at The Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

According to specialized media such as Fight Sports and The Independent, the total purse will be $190 million and will be split 55-45 in Usyk’s favour.

In the first fight, the Ukrainian, despite being champion of several organizations, took home $45 million, while Fury earned $100 million fully guaranteed, despite losing the fight.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Usyk’s net worth is approximately $80 million. He had $35 million before fighting Fury and $4 million before fighting Anthony Joshua for the first time.

In the case of Fury, Celebrity Net Worth notes that his fortune hovers around $140 million.

[Vanguard]