Fellow Nigerians, as I address you today, I am deeply aware of the struggles many of you face in these challenging times. Our administration knows that many of you struggle with rising living costs and the search for meaningful employment. I want to assure you that your voices are heard.

As your President, I assure you that we are committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the suffering of our citizens. Once again, I plead for your patience as the reforms we are implementing show positive signs, and we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Exactly 64 years ago, our founding fathers chose democracy as a form of government and launched the dream of a great country that would lead the rest of Africa out of poverty, ignorance, and underdevelopment, a beacon of hope to the rest of Africa and the world.

Over six decades later, we can look back, and Nigerians worldwide can see how well we have succeeded in realising the lofty dreams of our founding fathers.

The world is witnessing and benefiting from the can-do spirit of the Nigerian people, our massive intellectual capacity, and our enterprise and industry in all vocations, from arts to science, technology to infrastructure. The dreams that our founding fathers envisaged are still a work in progress. Every day, we put our hands on the plough, determined to do a better job of it.

While it is tempting to focus on what has been left undone and where we have stumbled as a nation, we must never lose sight of how far we have come in forging and holding our country together.

Since independence, our nation has survived many crises and upheavals that led to the dissolution and disintegration of many other nations worldwide. Six years after independence, our country descended into a political crisis that led to a bitter and avoidable civil war. Since returning from the brink of that darkest moment, we have learned to embrace our diversity and manage our differences better as we continue to work towards engendering a more perfect union.

Despite the many challenges that buffeted our country, we remain a strong, united, and viable sovereign nation.

Dear compatriots, our independence anniversary gives us another chance to reflect on how far we have gone in our journey to nation-building and to renew our commitment to building a better nation that will serve present and future generations of Nigerians.

While we celebrate the progress we have made as a people in the last sixty-four years, we must also recognise some of our missed opportunities and mistakes of the past. If we are to become one of the greatest nations on earth, as God has destined us to be, our mistakes must not be allowed to follow us into the future.

My administration took over the leadership of our country 16 months ago at a critical juncture. The economy faced many headwinds, and our physical security was highly impaired. We found ourselves at a dizzying crossroads, where we must choose between two paths: reform for progress and prosperity or carry on business-as-usual and collapse. We decided to reform our political economy and defence architecture.

On the security front, I am happy to announce to you, my compatriots, that our administration is winning the war on terror and banditry. Our target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism. Within one year, our government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever. As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country.

We have restored peace to hundreds of communities in the North, and thousands of our people have been able to return home. It is an unfinished business, which our security agencies are committed to ending as quickly as possible. As soon as we can restore peace to many communities in the troubled parts of the North, our farmers can return to their farms. We expect to see a leap in food production and a downward spiral in food costs. I promise you, we shall not falter on this.

Our government has been responding to the recent natural disasters, particularly the flooding in parts of the country. After Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Maiduguri, I also visited to assure our people that this federal government will always stand with our people in their times of trouble. At the last meeting of the Federal Executive Council, we approved a Disaster Relief Fund to mobilise private and public sector funds to help us respond faster to emergencies.

Our government has also ordered integrity tests of all our dams in the country to avert future disasters.

The economy is undergoing the necessary reforms and retooling to serve us better and more sustainably. If we do not correct the fiscal misalignments that led to the current economic downturn, our country will face an uncertain future and the peril of unimaginable consequences.

Thanks to the reforms, our country attracted foreign direct investments worth more than $30 billion in the last year.

Fellow compatriots, our administration is committed to free enterprise, free entry, and free exit in investments while maintaining the sanctity and efficacy of our regulatory processes. This principle guides the divestment transactions in our upstream petroleum sector, where we are committed to changing the fortune positively. As such, the ExxonMobil Seplat divestment will receive ministerial approval in a matter of days, having been concluded by the regulator, NUPRC, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. This was done in the same manner as other qualified divestments approved in the sector.

The move will create vibrancy and increase oil and gas production, positively impacting our economy.

The more disciplined approach adopted by the Central Bank to monetary policy management has ensured stability and predictability in our foreign exchange market. We inherited a reserve of over $33 billion 16 months ago. Since then, we have paid back the inherited forex backlog of $7 billion. We have cleared the ways and means debt of over N30 trillion. We have reduced the debt service ratio from 97 per cent to 68 per cent. Despite all these, we have managed to keep our foreign reserve at $37 billion. We continue to meet all our obligations and pay our bills.

We are moving ahead with our fiscal policy reforms. To stimulate our productive capacity and create more jobs and prosperity, the Federal Executive Council approved the Economic Stabilisation Bills, which will now be transmitted to the National Assembly. These transformative bills will make our business environment more friendly, stimulate investment and reduce the tax burden on businesses and workers once they are passed into law.

As part of our efforts to re-engineer our political economy, we are resolute in our determination to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the financial autonomy of local governments.

The central concern of our people today is the high cost of living, especially food costs. This concern is shared by many around the globe as prices and the cost of living continue to rise worldwide.

My fellow Nigerians, be assured that we are implementing many measures to reduce the cost of living here at home.

I commend the Governors particularly, in Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Kwara, Nasarawa, and the Southwest Governors that have embraced our agricultural production programme. I urge other states to join the Federal Government in investing in mechanised farming. We are playing our part by supplying fertilizer and making tractors and other farm equipment available. Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved establishing a local assembly plant for 2000 John Deere tractors, combine harvesters, disc riders, bottom ploughs and other farm equipment. The plant has a completion time of six months.

Our energy transition programme is on course. We are expanding the adoption of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for mass transit with private sector players. The Federal Government is ready to assist the thirty-six States and FCT in acquiring CNG buses for cheaper public transportation.

Fellow Nigerians, while we are working to stabilise the economy and secure the country, we also seek to foster national unity and build social harmony and cohesion. Our economy can only thrive when there is peace.

As we work to overcome the challenges of the day, we remain mindful of the next generation as we seek to galvanize their creative energy towards a better future. We lead today with the future we wish to bequeath to our children in focus, recognizing that we cannot design a future that belongs to them without making them its architects.

Considering this, I am pleased to announce the gathering of a National Youth Conference. This conference will be a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting our young people, who constitute more than 60 per cent of our population. It will provoke meaningful dialogue and empower our young people to participate actively in nation-building. By ensuring that their voices are heard in shaping the policies that impact their lives, we are creating a pathway for a brighter tomorrow.

The 30-day Confab will unite young people nationwide to collaboratively develop solutions to issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice. The modalities of this Confab and selection of delegates will be designed in close consultation with our young people through their representatives. Through this confab, it will be our job as leaders to ensure that their aspirations are at the heart of the conference’s deliberations. The government will thoroughly consider and implement the recommendations and outcomes from this forum as we remain resolute in our mission to build a more inclusive, prosperous, and united Nigeria.

Our government is implementing several other youth-centric programmes to give our young people an advantage in the rapidly changing world. We are implementing, amongst others, the 3 million Technical Talents programme (3MTT) of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone.

We have also enthusiastically implemented the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides cheap loans to our students to pursue their tertiary educational dreams. In addition, later this month, we shall launch The Renewed Hope Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP). It is conceived as a comprehensive suite of interventions at job creation by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment that is aimed at facilitating the creation of 2.5 million jobs, directly and indirectly, on an annual incremental basis whilst simultaneously ensuring the welfare and safety of workers across the country.

As is the tradition, the government will soon announce all the beneficiaries of our national honours for 2024.

The Senate President and the Chief Justice of the Federation have been conferred with the honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). The deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives have the honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), while the deputy speaker of the House has been awarded Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) .

Fellow Nigerians, better days are ahead of us. The challenges of the moment must always make us believe in ourselves. We are Nigerians—resilient and tenacious. We always prevail and rise above our circumstances.

I urge you to believe in our nation’s promise. The road ahead may be challenging, but we will forge a path toward a brighter future with your support. Together, we will cultivate a Nigeria that reflects the aspirations of all its citizens, a nation that resonates with pride, dignity, and shared success.

As agents of change, we can shape our destiny and build a brighter future by ourselves, for ourselves and for future generations.

Please join our administration in this journey towards a brighter future. Let us work together to build a greater Nigeria where every citizen can access opportunities and every child can grow up with hope and promise.

May God continue to bless our nation and keep members of our armed forces safe.

Happy Independence anniversary, my fellow Nigerians!

-President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

On September 10, heavy rain caused the Alau dam in Borno State to overflow, leading to major floods in and around the vast metropolitan city of Maiduguri. The deluge heavily impacted homes, schools, markets, offices and several health facilities. According to government officials, over 400,000 people have moved into 30 IDP camps. Most of these camps are schools which lack hygiene facilities and safe drinking water. The potential for outbreak of diseases is high, and, undoubtedly, Borno State, which is recovering from over a decade of sustained terrorist attacks, is in dire need of assistance. In response, Nigerians from all over the country have scrambled to help. As at last week, the state government has received donations totalling over N12 billion. Prof Usman Tar, the state’s Information Commissioner, said the funds have already been transferred to the Disaster Relief Committee which includes representatives from both the federal and state government agencies. He also announced that the state government has been working hard to assist citizens who have been most impacted by the disaster.

Among the donors are Aliko Dangote, who gave N2 billion; Aminu Dantata (N1.5 billion); Mohammed Indimi (N1 billion); Oluremi Tinibu (N500 million) and Access Holdings which gave N1 billion. Access is one of the two only banks to respond to the disaster in Borno State. The other being Jaiz Bank which gave N110 million. Chief Executive of Access Holdings, Africa’s leading financial powerhouse, Bolaji Agbede and other executives of the company, flew into Maiduguri late last week with the N1 billion gift to the state government, in a demonstration of the company’s commitment to community support. Access Holdings’ contribution will be allocated as ₦500 million in cash to support the state government’s on-the-ground response efforts, ₦500 million for the restoration of critical infrastructure damaged by the flood, as well as essential food supplies to ensure the most vulnerable receive care. The gesture should offer succour and relief to the beleaguered people of Borno and provide both immediate and long-term respite.

I commend all the donors for their kindness and generosity. From the banking community, I am not surprised that Access Holdings is once again demonstrating compassion and leadership. Compassion is an important attribute of good leadership. It is important for businesses to identify with the communities in which they operate, especially in times of crises. A kind and generous company will more likely build loyal customers and strong stakeholder understanding. Compassion evokes emotional affinity, brand admiration and customer allegiance. Consistently, Access Holdings is known for devoting a good chunk of its resources to invest in its environments. I call on other banks to emulate Access.

Speaking in Government House, Maduguri, at the meeting with Gov. Zullum and his officials, Bolaji Agbede, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, reaffirmed the Group’s commitment to supporting the people of Borno, restating a pledge to impact lives of communities where the institution operates. “At Access Holdings, we believe in positively impacting the communities we serve, not only as a financial institution, but as a family that cares deeply for its people. We recognise the resilience of the people of Borno, and we are committed to providing the support necessary to overcome this difficult time. This donation is not merely about the funding; it is about offering immediate succour to families and individuals, who have been affected, while also contributing to local economic resurgence and long-term resilience through the restoration of essential infrastructure,” said Agbede.

Governor Babagana Zulum expressed appreciation for the donation and the company’s swift response to the crisis. “We are moved by the generosity and commitment shown by Access Holdings and Access Bank during this critical time. This donation of ₦1 billion is appreciated during this challenging time and will be judiciously utilised to impact the lives of all those who have been affected by the incident. The restoration of our hospitals and essential services will strengthen our resilience, while the food relief will provide immediate comfort to families and individuals in distress. Truly, this support speaks to the importance of cooperation between the government, and the private sector in improving the lives of our local communities,” said Zulum.

Nigeria’s business community is currently facing a myriad of challenges, including depressed margins arising from oppressive operating environment, while the banking sector is not only struggling to cope with increasing incidents of non-performing loans, but is also racing to meet re-capitalization deadline of March 2026. Nevertheless, I commend Access Holdings for being the first mainstream financial institution to offer support to Borno in the wake of the disaster that affected over one million people, leaving entire residential areas submerged and tens of thousands of people displaced. I am pleased to welcome the company’s exemplary commitment to working closely with the Borno State Government, aid organisations, and other stakeholders to ensure relief reaches those most in need and the state is well-positioned for recovery. I ask the Bankers’ Committee and the Central Bank of Nigeria to emulate the Access example. On its part, the federal government should take steps to examine the structural integrity of all our dams to avoid a future occurrence of this disaster, which is obviously a threat to national security.

“The people and not the leaders, are the true architects of society”

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Democracy as a concept of governance has received global acceptance in its various forms. No two democracies are the same but the commonality in all democracies is the exercise of governance powers by persons, either collectively or individually on behalf of the people/state/society. At the core of democracy is the selection of the persons who will govern on behalf of the people. The selection process is usually through one form of election or the other and in theory it is meant to represent the free will of majority of the people. That the process suffers from varying degrees of imperfection in all countries who have elections is not the subject of this intervention. Rather this intervention is to interrogate what we the people should expect from those persons who end up at the helm of affairs with governing powers to superintend different aspects of our socio-economy.

For the sake of good order let me confess that what prompted this article is the insufferable postulation floating widely and freely that Nigeria’s fortunes rise and fall with its ‘leadership’. By that the proponents mean the political leadership and in our case the President is the almighty Leader. I beg to disagree and vehemently too. In my assessment, the fortunes of a people lie with the people. And this notion of a people waiting to be led appears to be a collective attempt at shirking individual responsibility for our attitudes and actions which in my view aggregate the critical mass that shapes a society’s vision and ethos and hence its direction and outcomes. That is why I agree with the argument of the 18th century philosopher, Joseph de Maistre, that - ‘the moral and intellectual qualities of a people determine the kind of government they will have’.

The popular opinion that we Nigerians mirror our actions and attitudes on those of the political leadership is demonstrably illogical. It is said that if people exhibit corruption tendencies, it is because the leadership is perceived or seen to be corrupt. And ‘fish rots from the head’ is a popular quote in support of this fallacy. I am not persuaded that in a very religious country like Nigeria, our people will put aside the examples set by revered powerful General Overseer pastors, influential Imams or powerful deities (for those with a preference for Indigenous beliefs) in favour of those examples of political leaders no matter the exalted position.

If all religions have laid out established and clear doctrines to guide the conduct of adherents, it will be absurd to ascribe collective untoward conduct to any other leadership other than that of the particular religious tendency. There is a reason why religious adherents are called FOLLOWERS, and it is a simple reason, they are enjoined to follow and be guided by the subscribed doctrines only.

In my numerous discussions/arguments on this matter I have found the following examples rather thought provoking. Nobody I have asked has been able to name the leaders of Switzerland or Finland. In fact, nobody has been able to recall the name of any Swiss leader ever! They all agree though that those countries are amongst the most successful in the world. So, my argument in question form will be ‘is it the leadership or the people that are responsible for the success of these countries?’. My take is that the people of these countries have collectively built enduring socio-political structures that operate and

are safeguarded with the imprimatur of the collective will of the people and not dependent upon the whims and caprices of ‘leaders’.

Also noteworthy is the fact that in the atmosphere of gloom we paint for our country, there are also some areas that not only offer hope but are quite inspiring and uplifting. We blame the ‘leadership’ when our sports teams do not perform well, when public services are poor and generally for everything that goes wrong, with the absence of an ‘enabling environment’ being the culprit. So, the leadership is responsible for creating the enabling environment? It is the case that in this same environment, our entertainment industry is superlative and have become world beaters. Our musicians have captured the world’s imagination and rapt attention. The Remo Stars Club and football academy are very impressive world class facilities that portend better days ahead for our sporting sector generally. Yet these remarkable developments have been achieved under ‘bad leadership’. So, in my opinion this is another illustration of we the people being the architects of our progress. And please, this is not me suggesting that good governance has no role to play, far from it! Without good governance providing good access roads and security for example, the private initiatives will not achieve their full potential and we the people will be the losers.

Again, this is not an attempt to discharge our political leaders from responsibility for the many challenges bedeviling our national development. In as much as they are in the public sector front lines of managing our commonwealth and executing policies for the betterment and orderliness of society on our collective behalf, it is fair to pass a negative judgment on their all-round performance as a class. There can be no equivocation in condemning their ignoble role in the distressing state of our nation. The essence of this intervention is to make the case that we as a people must take responsibility for our role in causing the unsatisfactory state of our nation. This acceptance is a necessary foundation, for we as a people to build the national consciousness that will drive the collective will for us as a people, to take ownership of our collective destiny. To make progress, we must act and behave like good citizens and not merely be passengers in the ‘vehicle’ driven by the ‘Leader’.

In truth, the Nigerian elite bears the greatest burden of guilt for the mess we have made of our country. Let us recall a few short years ago, where we literally became the champagne guzzling capital of the world! International businesspeople (many of them borderline criminals) were flying into Nigeria with suitcases of obscenely priced exotic watches and other luxury items for sale to the locust elite in DOLLARS! We imported the biggest SUVs with scant regard for the running costs of these vehicles. Afterall, petrol and diesel were very cheap. We were spending humongous amounts of money buying imported generators but will refuse to pay for the electricity (however epileptic the supply) we were consuming and yet fail to see the causal link between our myopic attitudes and the poor state of electricity supply and distribution. Obviously other factors like poor governance in the form of retrogressive laws and corruption are significant but these should not be isolated.

So, in an economy where many people were making so much money without being productive and not being constrained with paying meaningful taxes, enjoying subsidized electricity (when available) cheap fuel and even subsidized foreign currency, criminal waste became the order of the day. And worst of all the elite who evidently benefit the most from our commonwealth are also very unpatriotic. So, whereas it is their consumption patterns that put pressure on the exchange value of the Naira, they cynically bet against the Naira by using foreign currencies as a store of value, invested their locally acquired wealth in the economies of foreign countries and flaunting foreign currencies publicly became the status symbol

verifier. That is why you will find that literally everybody in Nigeria is conversant with exchange rates. It is the elite that have ingrained this ‘conversion mentality syndrome’ into our subconscious. And anytime I hear the refrain ‘how much is it in dollars’ I am left wondering whether people convert their Naira to dollars before spending same in Nigeria. Anyway, suffice it to say that in most other countries, the citizens generally care less about exchange rates and concern themselves about the purchasing power of their local currencies.

I have no doubt that our dear country will overcome the present myriad of crisis. The Nigerian people are too resourceful and have too much at stake to allow our country to fail. ‘Sweet are the uses of adversity’ and ‘necessity is the mother of invention’ are two famous quotes that will play out in the coming years as we the people in our quest for personal survival take actions which will ultimately be for our collective benefit and progress. So, all of us have roles to play and are all leaders in various ways. The efficient and inspiring school principal is a leader that will build many more responsible citizens (with a multiplier effect) than a commissioner for education or the governor of that state! Genuine religious leaders will ingrain the much-needed positive virtues in people than a thousand orientation agencies. Sincere village heads will enable peaceful co-existence of citizens, more effectively than security agencies. The journey of building the critical mass of good citizenship necessary to put our country on the right path starts perhaps from the family units as a base and meanders upwards to the ‘leadership.’ At that juncture the leadership will be reflective of us as a reformed citizenry. It is not going to be easy or happen overnight, but my hope is that the hardship and an economy whose shape has changed forever will bring out the best in us. And personal hardship will dismantle the roadblocks of religious and tribal differences which hinder our progress but exists in our minds and attitudes.

Our people need to be sensitized about historical developments in other counties so that we will be galvanized to even do more than we are presently doing (historical and ongoing private and community efforts duly acknowledged). I just read recently that the establishment of Botswana’s first university in 1982 was driven by the people donating cows to be sold to Europe. Over four thousand cows fetched about $120,000 then, and with other significant support from some European countries and the Government, the project was successful, and it is the biggest university in Botswana today. There are other numerous examples of communities in different countries coming together to build schools, roads, water supply and so on. In neighboring Ghana, in the 1990’s, rural communities built over 1000km of roads through communal labour and funding. In Brazil, communities built over 100,000 homes in its mutual aid housing scheme. In South Korea, in the 1970’s community driven development programs built roads, bridges and homes which transformed rural communities.

As we may be aware, the British Government for example does not own any university! The top universities in the world are not funded by governments! America, arguably the most successful sporting nation in the world does not provide government funding for its sportsmen. The government of USA does not generate or distribute electricity to its people! Please let us invest in our country (as many illustrious Nigerians are doing). Let us stop deceiving our people that ‘government’ will provide everything.

‘Government’ will not provide everything BUT good governance is an indispensable factor in building enduring institutions that will activate overall progress and development. As mentioned earlier, the efforts of the private sector will be in futility if not complemented by responsible and competent political leadership. We need the political leadership that is responsive to the yearnings of the people to

have our resources well managed, provide sustainable infrastructure, ensure the provision of security of lives and property and make and execute laws that will facilitate our harmonious coexistence and development. So given that our progress is dependent on the symbiotic relationship of the public and private sectors, it is incumbent on us the people to project our best interests by ensuring that only well-meaning and capable persons get the opportunity to manage our affairs in the public space. I agree that in our present circumstances our politicians are out of control and there is an atmosphere of helplessness. With the present hardship and frustration even the most out of touch politician must realize that the people’s patience is running out. So, we must see the present atmosphere as our opportunity to galvanize our people to be citizen watchdogs over our public officials. The recent Supreme Court intervention granting autonomy to elected local governments is a welcome and significant development. Local governments are closer to the people and have a greater impact on their daily existence. Being closer to the people it affords the people a better opportunity to elect people they know better and can have access, and ultimately hold to account. State governors and the President are too far from the ordinary people and the local governments are our hope for greater accountability and with time things will scale upwards. We need to take ownership of our destiny and when this is manifestly evident, our political leaders will fall in line instinctively for survival.

In closing let me reiterate that we are all responsible for the dysfunction of our country today and the best way to improve our lot is for all hands to be on deck. The fixation with blaming ‘government’ or politicians for all the ills in our country is unhelpful and not progressive. Even worse is the postulation that ‘good governance’ will fix everything. We the people of Nigeria ‘spoilt’ our country and only we the people can ensure good governance and fix our country. Happy 64th Independence Anniversary and Long Live Nigeria!

I will like to say a huge Thank you, for the warm welcome, and show of solidarity. Indeed our founding fathers were right when they said "Kowa yabar gida, gida ta barshi"….which further emphasizes the African proverb "when the hair is fully grown, the trimming must be done at home”.Permit me to start with this background; After the 2019 General Elections and the unprecedented hardship and incompetence wrought upon the Nation by the APC led administration, Some well-meaning Nigerians, myself included, who were totally dissatisfied with the poor governance and lack of direction , decided to forge a common front, and save this country from the malady and tyranny that had been unfolding. 

These collective efforts, midwifed the emergence of His Excellency Peter Gregory Obi and Dr. Yusuf Datti-Baba Ahmad, two people of impeccable integrity and well proven track record, to champion the movement that is now known as the Obidient Movement. For the first time in our national history , Nigerians, especially the Younger generation, came together with one voice, in their millions , irrespective of their ethnic origin, social background and political affiliation. And so, Stretching far and wide across the country and equally as strongly, globally, across the diaspora, this unprecedented movement of organic and passionate joint purpose, was born. With 12.5m Obidients, registered in a few weeks and growing by the hour.

The movement from inception, faced numerous challenges, among which was coordination. However, with the 2023 elections at hand, we proceeded with our best efforts, overwhelming our opponents convincingly, despite the unfortunate, official outcome.

Now, at this time, with the same dire situation of directionless governance and extreme hardship persisting, it was time for us to leverage on our gains, to consolidate our organization. This has precipitated in the creation of the National Coordinating Council of The Obidients Movement, and my endorsement as the Interim National Coordinator of the Movement, world wide. After some consultation from the length and breathe of the Ntaion, we decided to start this consolidation process, from the North West, which, incidentally, is also my home zone.

Comprising of the seven (7) states of Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto which make up the North West zone with 22,672,373 registered voters, out of the national total of 96,303,016, making it the most populous zone in Nigeria But in spite of these prospects and voting strength, the Zone continues to be left behind, in terms of infrastructural development and adequate social amenities, giving rise to untold poverty and deadly insecurity, thus this deterioration must be checked. Fellow Obidients , today being 30th September 2024 marks a new chapter in our collective journey as a Nation, and our objectives and collective will, remain stronger than ever before. As a son of this ancient city, I pledge to unite our diverse voices, foster inclusivity, and promote equity for all.. For these are norms and values, well entrenched in our tradition and education, and are the orientation and legacy, we must pass on, to our children and generations, in perpetuity .

Today, dear brothers and sisters, I stand here not only, as the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, but also as an unflinching advocate for Good Governance, Justice and equity. As a firm believer, in equal rights and social justice, I vow to prioritize by the special grace of God the needs and views, of every individual, regardless of background, religion, or socio-economic status.

Let us all today renew our resolve , that in our quest to create opportunities for all, ensuring everyone has a stake in our collective success, we must put aside our differences, and work towards a common goal which is a better future for our nation. By harnessing our strength and our commitment, we can, in our diversity, unlock the potential for growth, innovation, and progress. We must continue to live for one another, in order to thrive together, which is what the Obidient Movement represents;That movement that aims to emancipate you and i. That Movement that will be a major rallying force in bringing change, and overcoming the conspiracy of corruption and incompetence.

I have no doubt that we can achieve this, by addressing the systematic inequalities that have held us back for too long. Our policies will promote fairness, justice, and equal access to resources and opportunities. The Obidient Movement aims to rekindle the spirit of patriotism, encouraging every citizen to take ownership of our nation's progress. And by fostering social cohesion, we will build a society, where everyone feels valued, respected, and protected. In conclusion, Let me call on every Nigerian, at home or abroad, to join us in this journey towards a united, inclusive, and equitable society.

Social Media and the internet, provides us veritable platforms for communication, networking, enlightenment and Organisation and we must use this, relentlessly and responsibly, in furthering our objectives. Let us work together to check this drift of cluelessness, end this cycle of hardship, and build a brighter future for ourselves, our children, and generations to come.

We expect every Obidient, indeed, every patriotic and passionate Nigerian to get registered as an Obidient, regardless of your political affiliation, as long as you share our desire for a New Nigeria, the registration you are about to make, is for efficient coordination and enhanced impact, not only for the sake of the present, but for the future of our Children, The protection of our Women, The progress of our Men, for our generations unborn, And Indeed, for the future of our Nation. It's Time to Register. May God Bless the Obidient Movement May God bless NigeriaDr Yunusa TankoInterim National CoordinatorOBIDIENT MOVEMENT

“Share our similarities, celebrate our differences”- M.Scott Peck 

Notwithstanding the distance and geography, Nigeria and China share significant traits worthy of acknowledgement. In terms of population, the two giant nations! With a population of 1.5 billion (official 1.3 billion) China is the largest in Asia and largest in the the world. Similarly, Nigeria with estimated population of 250 million people is the largest concentration of African people in the world. In fact, one of every two Asians is a Chinese, while one in every three persons in Africa is a Nigerian. Nigeria’s population is as diverse as China’s in terms of languages, cultures and religion The two countries also boast of remarkable resource endowment. Whatever the parameters, the two are regional powers: China almost actual power no less than Nigeria which in many respects still strives in making enormous potentials a reality. 

Of special importance is that, Nigeria and China shared the similarity of what the former Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian once described as double “joy and happiness of the month of October”. Nigeria celebrates 64th anniversary as a sovereign and independent country. Ten years before Nigeria’s independence, precisely on October 1st 1949 following the socialist Revolution led by Chairman Mao Zedong, China proclaimed People’s Republic as an independent nation. The similarity between China and Nigeria can only be better appreciated against the background of imperial dominations of the two. Lest we forget! “Lagos was bombarded by the British in 1851, annexed on 6 August 1861 and declared a colony on 5 March 1862”. Nigeria got independence by lowering the Union Jack flag of imperial Britain on October 1960. Effectively, Nigerians suffocated under the heels of British rule characterized by tears and blood spill of brutal oppression, racist violations of human rights, Lugardian brutal military campaigns of occupations, annexations, forced labour and wholesale exploitation. Notwithstanding the current challenges of nation- building, we must learn to raise the noise level of Independence celebrations. Or better still, Africans should overcome the false consciousness that Europe which hitherto imposed slavery and colonialism would in turn help in transforming our continent. The century long struggle for freedom should not be stepped down as a “low key” event. On the contrary. There is a lot to celebrate in freedom. Amartya Sen the winner of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Economics argues (and rightly too!) “Development as Freedom”. The late sage, Kwame Nkrumah was the first to audaciously brake the British colonial chain in 1957. Ghana is the first independent African nation. Nigeria followed in 1960. Nkrumah’s quotable quote about the imperative of freedom remains valid today: “We prefer self-government with danger to servitude in tranquility”. Both China and Nigeria also parade ancient civilizations dating back to some 5000 years! Early authentic (as distinct from colonial) history of Nigeria records great Benin, Oyo, Sokoto and Borno empires dating back to some 4000 years. However the point cannot be overstated that Colonialism negatively impacted the growth and development of both countries. 

The great historian, Walter Rodney in his classic: ‘How Europe Underdeveloped Africa’ observed (and I agree!) that “Colonialism had only one hand – “It was one-armed bandit!” 64 years after independence, we must undoubtedly agonize about the declining fortunes of the economy, worsening energy and income poverty, low growth rate. Even more agonizing are the prohibitive costs of working and living. And free fall of the Naira! There was once a Nigeria which as part of decolonization project, independently replaced British colonial pound sterling on January 1973 , 13 years after independence at the rate of £1 = ₦2!. Today a bagful of some Nigeria’s N2,230.94 miserably exchange for £1, 64 years after independence. It’s time we reflected on how Nigerians have inadvertently underdeveloped Nigeria. But even at that, lest we forget only in independence can we return to prosperity. In colonial Nigeria, growth or development discourse was an aberration, indeed an absurdity. The colonial policy was intentionally to under-develop Nigerian colony and deliberately develop colonial Britain through perverse criminal capital transfers out of the colony. With respect to Industrialization for instance, colonialism in Nigeria deliberately prejudiced against the establishment of local industries. The key drivers of colonial Nigeria, were extractive non-processing, non-value adding agriculture and mining and timber felling. Colonial authority deliberately undermined the growth of local enterprise such that 100 years of British rule did not set up a single textile mill! The first textile mill was Kaduna Textile mill in 1957 by the regional government of late Sardauna to be followed by Nigeria Textile Mill in the Western region of Awolowo and Aba Textile mill in the east by late Namdi Azikwe Zik. 

There must be a Renewed Hope to urgently re-industrialize the nation, revert de-Industrialization of the present neo- colonial era. The best independence anniversary gift to Nigeria is the recent inauguration of the $25 billion-650,000 barrels per day (BPD) Dangote Oil Refinery, replacing Nigeria’s pessimism with optimism. Colonialism never built a single refinery. It gladdens that from from “1st October, NNPC will commence the supply of about 385k barrels per day (bdp) of crude oil to the Dangote refinery to be paid for in naira”. This is an original patriotic private/ public creative independent policy initiative by the present administration outside the mantra of the received policy wisdom of the IMF and World Bank. 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in line with the Renewed Hope agenda must also ensure that the four public refineries come on stream to give Nigeria’s independence genuine energy security at 64 and beyond. At 64 Nigeria must learn and copy China, which at 75, (just a decade older) has almost banished illiteracy, gone to space, lifted more than 700 million people out of poverty.At 65, next year, Nigeria should be as up-beat to say like China: that independence has “brought enormous changes to the country, creating an unprecedented miracle of development in the world history”. The Chinese aptly put it better; the “path you take determines your future”. At 64 Nigeria and Nigerians should stop agonizing but organize like China at 75, (or like Nigeria at 20 in 1980 with double digit growth rate which once dwarfed China’s growth!). President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hit the nail on the head in his keynote address, during the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) meeting, held on the sidelines of the recent 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States. Africa, he said, is underdeveloped because it’s resources were primarily extracted and exported to foreign countries for refining and manufacturing. It’s time to promote beneficiation and manufacturing value added like China. I hail the recent smart decision of President Bola Tinubu in appointing appointed Mr Joseph Tegbe as the Director-General and global liaison for the Nigeria-China strategic partnership, following the agreements reached during Tinubu’s visit to China in early September 2024. His expressed mandate is to “immediately submit a strategic action plan to enable Nigeria to benefit from the agreements between the two countries in Beijing recently with “specific deliverables, timelines, and key performance indicators for each area of cooperation, including priority projects, projected investments, and expected socioeconomic outcomes.” I bear witness that Nigeria at 64 and China at 75 not only celebrate their great similarities but set to close the gap in difference in the match to, transformation modernization and sustainable development. 

VIVA Nigeria!! and Viva China!!  

Happy Independence celebrations.

Issa Aremu, Director General,

Micheal Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, Ilorin (MINILS) and Member National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS ) Kuru Jos 

END

Legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum believes it’s time for British heavyweight Anthony Joshua to retire from boxing, according to reports on GiveMeSport.

The Top Rank founder, who has managed the careers of boxing icons like Muhammad Ali, Floyd Mayweather, and Manny Pacquiao, says Joshua should retire following a series of tough losses.

Joshua, a two-time world heavyweight champion, has built an impressive resume with victories over top fighters such as Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, Dillian Whyte, Alexander Povetkin, and even former MMA star Francis Ngannou. However, Arum feels the 34-year-old has little left to prove after a storied career.

Despite bouncing back with a four-fight winning streak following consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua suffered another shocking defeat on September 14, losing to Daniel Dubois in a highly anticipated IBF heavyweight “Battle of Britain.” fight.

“Klitschko, Andy Ruiz Jr., and now Dubois have all knocked Joshua down in brutal wars or one-sided fights,” said Arum. “Those kinds of battles take a toll on a fighter’s body. At 34, with his legacy already secured, it may be time for him to step away from the sport.”

Arum’s comments echo growing concerns about the physical toll Joshua has endured throughout his career, and the promoter suggests that Joshua should consider retirement to preserve his health and long-term well-being.

Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum and one of the largest holders of the asset has for some time now been suspected to be secretly dumping Ethereum assets.

Series of On chain transitions by Wallets generally believed to be linked to Buterin have fueled these suspicions although the Ethereum Co-Founder has repeatedly said that he has never seemed to profit off Ethereum.

Vitalik Buterin has earlier said that he has not sold ETH for personal profits since 2018 and these recent flurries of transactions are either for the Ethereum ecosystem or to fund philanthropic causes.

On Sept. 30, Spot on Chain an onchain analytics tracker reported a transfer of 649 ETH ($1.72 million to cryptic exchange Paxos.

The transaction marked the end of a series of sales by the Wallet in question which was funded by Vitalik Buterin

The Wallet which can be Identified by “0x556,” received 1,300 ETH ($3.21 million) on Sept. 19 from “0xd04”, an Ethereum wallet said to be controlled by Vitalik Buterin. This “0xd04” wallet was funded by Vitalik in 2022 when he transferred 70,000 ETH.

The exchange of transactions between these two wallets didn’t start today. According to on-chain data, “0xd04” had previously sent 2,000 ETH, then valued at $5.265 million on September 2023. This transfer was preceded by a transfer of 999 ETH valued at $2.63 million the same month.

Meanwhile, another transfer of 1701 ETH valued at $4.47 million was made the month before, bringing the total ether received to date to 5,999 ETH.

Sell Pressure Fears  

The speculations on whether Vitalik Buterin is secretly dumping Ethereum all point to the potential effect on the asset if that is true. The selling pressure that could hit the asset should the allegations be confirmed can drive down the price of the asset seriously.

The concerns intensified earlier this month as another wallet which received 3,800 ETH from Buterin in August, was seen offloading the funds across multiple transfers.

However, Vitalik Buterin clarified the transaction saying that they were carried out by a Bio defense group he funds.

What to Know  

• Besides the speculation on Vitalik Buterin dumping Ethereum, he is also heavily criticized for having too much control over the asset. His grip on the assets has been likened to a dictatorship given how he personally drives the policy direction of the asset.
• Ethererm is currently exchanging hands for $2,606 down by 46.6% from its all-time high. The asset has performed the worst among the top 5 biggest assets in the crypto industry.

[Nairametrics]

President Bola Tinubu has vowed that his administration will uphold the judiciary’s independence and sanctity.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tinubu said his government would be mindful of the line demarcating the executive and the judiciary.

He said his administration would not interfere in the matters of the other organs of government.

The event held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday.

“The judiciary is an important pillar constituting the tripod that holds our constitutional democracy. Indeed, the Nigerian judiciary, at various times in history, has proven to be the moderating force ensuring everyone remains in check.

“Your role as the last hope of the common man serves to sustain our people’s confidence in democracy, knowing well that there is an important arbiter that can always give them redress if they are wronged.

“For this function, it is important that our judiciary remains truly independent. It is my administration’s total commitment to preserve the sanctity of the judiciary.

“While we may have reasons to interface as complementing components of the same government, under my watch, the government will also be mindful of the clear line demarcating the two of us.

“We will never interfere or abuse the relationship between us as separate organs of government in our democracy. This is important for sustaining our constitutional democracy.”

He urged Justice Kekere-Ekun to continue upholding the principles of ethical leadership, fearlessness, and honesty which he said defined the CJN’s career.

Tinubu added: “The Nigerian judiciary needs a leader with these qualities at this time, and I have no doubt that you will set the pace for others to follow.

“This day has also cemented the judiciary as a self-evolving and progressive institution. I specifically congratulate the Nigerian women. Any girl child can dream big and have her dreams come true. It is worth celebrating.”

Justice Kekere-Ekun is the second female CJN in Nigeria’s history.

[DailyTrust]

Russian President, Vladimir Putin has vowed that his country will accomplish ‘all goals set’ in Ukraine.

Putin released a video message to mark the second anniversary of “Reunification Day”, two years since Russia formally claimed the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson as its own.

Russia held a referendum in the four regions on 30 September 2022 with Putin signing a document with the Russian-installed leaders of the occupied regions to unilaterally incorporate them into the Russian Federation, despite Moscow not fully controlling the territories.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion was launched in February 2022, Kyiv has stepped up its pursuit of Nato and EU membership

Putin said when he started the war that his aim was to demilitarise and “denazify” Ukraine.

“The truth is on our side. All goals set will be achieved,” Putin said in his video message on Monday.

He went on to criticise “western elites” who he claims “turned Ukraine into their colony, a military base aimed at Russia” and who fanned “hate, radical nationalism … hostility to everything Russian”.

“Today we are fighting for a secure, prosperous future for our children and grandchildren,” Putin said.

[DailyPost]

The U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs has released the list of countries with highest U.S. visa rejection rates.

The list shows that Nigeria has 29% rejection rate, while North Korea and Micronesia have 100% rejection rate respectively.

While countries like Monaco and Liechtenstein boast of 0% rejection rate, Israel, UAE and Saudi Arabia have 3%, 4% and 5% respectively.

The list places Nigeria in the upper tier of nations with significant challenges in obtaining U.S. visas, alongside countries like Ukraine (34%), Russia (39%), and Pakistan (41%).

For Nigerian applicants, the 29% rejection rate indicates that nearly one in three visa requests is turned down, reflecting the difficulties faced by many Nigerians seeking entry into the United States for business, tourism, or educational purposes.

Other countries with higher rejection rates include Canada (52%), Liberia (78%), and North Korea, which, alongside Micronesia, faces a 100% rejection rate.

Here is a list of countries with highest U.S. visa rejection rate

1. Monaco: 0%

2. Liechtenstein: 0%

3. Israel: 3%

4. UAE: 4%

5. Saudi Arabia: 5%

6. Japan: 6%

7. Czechia: 8%

8. Argentina: 8%

9. France: 10%

10. Mexico: 10%

11. Italy: 10%

12. Denmark: 10%

13. Germany: 11%

14. Indonesia: 11%

15. India: 11%

16. Brazil: 12%

17. Vatican: 14%

’18. South Korea: 14%

19. UK: 15%

20. Spain: 16%

21. South Africa: 16%

22. Australia: 17%

23,. Norway: 18%

24. Ireland: 19%

25. Turkey: 21%

26. Sweden: 21%

27. Finland: 23%

28. Egypt: 26%

29. China: 27%

30. Nigeria: 29%

31. Ukraine: 34%

32. Iraq: 37%

33. Russia: 39%

34. Pakistan: 41%

35. Afghanistan: 49%

36. Canada: 52%

37. Iran: 53%

38. Liberia: 78%

39. North Korea: 100%

40. Micronesia: 100%