A uniquely memorable aspect of my youth was spending Xmas at Okemesi. There was the harmattan weather whose chill effect sometimes ran to a quale drizzling 17 degrees. 

A compact close knit community, it lies between latitude 4.910E to 4.935 0 E and longitude 7.8150N to 7.860N. The borders are contiguous in relative equidistance of about ten kilometres radius with Imesi-Ile to the East, with Ikoro-Ekiti to the West, with Esa-Oke, to to the North East. 

The complement of a clement weather all year long, culminating in a social intimacy inducing harmattan chill- in sync with the celebratory mood of Xmas, is a big predisposing incentive to the indigenes fixation with spending the yuletide season at the town. 

Across the country, social activities culminated in the December end of year season. The consequential  mass retreat to the countryside resulted in a concomitant desertion of the cosmopolitan cities. 

It was the time for sparkling and  initiating tender love relationships which often get consummated in marriage. Openly conducting the orchestra with a not too subtle (match-making) push were the expectant Dads and Moms in the mission of reproducing their all  Okemesiwedlock.

The culture remains in vogue and It happened to me even though I was under no pressure to follow suit. 

I left Nigeria in October 1994 for a three months journalism fellowship at the radio voice of Germany, Deutsche Welle, I left a broken hearted girlfriend behind who was looking forward to marriage.

On my return from Germany three months later I equally left a sorrowful German fraulein behind. No way I was going to marry òyìnbó anyway. 

I decided that would be the last time I was going to abandon a girlfriend. At the age of 32 years I was already an old bachelor. 

To tie my hands, I entered into a solemn covenant with God that whoever next captures my fancy as girlfriend would be God’s choice for me. And so it transpired. 

Landing in Nigeria in December I headed for Okemesi to spend the Xmas break. At a random party, my junior sister introduced her friend, whom I had never met before to me. I fell for her and that was it. 

The likelihood is that without bringing God into it, I would most likely lapse into cynical bachelorhood all over again.

I hardly swear. By nature I’m a conscientious person and ordinarily I would  loathe to renege on any pledge I make. So it is near impossible for me to swear by the name of God and not fulfil my end of the bargain.

My peers and I always looked forward to spending Xmas at Okemesi. It was the occasion for annual family reunion and ours was quite large. My generation alone numbered in the 40s

How we managed to squeeze ourselves in one or two rooms remained a mystery to me. It was not that there was insufficient accommodation. We all just chose to sleep together in one spot.

It was the moment we witnessed our dads, uncles and aunties let down their guards.There regularly ensued a drama orchestrated by one of my uncles. He would summon this elderly relative (Baba Ogidi) who loves the bottle. Don’t we all?.

Ogidi was short of hearing.To have conversation with him you would need to substantially raise your decibels and to respond he would equally constrained to shout even if he didn’t realise he was shouting. 

Soon enough the compound would erupt in the contrived shouting match and raucous merry making. It was the occasion to see my father dance to the drumbeat that heralded his grandfather to battle fronts. He was an excellent dancer. 

With little to show for it, I sought to emulate him. He would be greatly pleased and amused that I bagged the ultimate warlord title, Balogun, same as the famous Ekitiparapo warrior, Fabunmi, who was the first and I’m the fourth in the line of succession.

My illustrious predecessors include Chief T.A Oni of the Oni&sons fame who was probably the richest Yoruba of his times. Being named Akintola, at the peak of the demonisation of the late Premier of Western region Ladoke Akintola), he took delight in taunting and loudly hailing me Akintola! I would then break down in tears remonstrating he should desist from calling me by that name. He would assuage me with a bottle of mirinda, fanta or Pepsi cola. 

One of the futile steps I took as a six year old was the unilateral declaration of change of name to Akinjide. 

There was my wise ebullient grandmother(Otoola) who would relentlessly treat us to the chant of our family panegyric (lineage praise poem called Oriki) and regale us with nightly rendition of vintage folklores. 

The following morning, she would embark on marathon intercession prayers for all her descendants beginning with my dad who was her first child to the latest grandchild.The hours-long prayers provoked my father’s heckling that his mum was monopolising God’s attention to the detriment of others.

Variants of the same scenario would unfold in several households across the community. But we were particularly aligned with the Oni, Adedeji, Omidiran, Okunlola, Durotoye and Fapohunda families. 

We packed ourselves in convoys that took us on impromptu excursions around Ekiti. I remember we particularly loved to drop in on Pa Arokodare at Ijero to pick white guava. Our favourite spot was the warm springs resort at Ikogosi. 

We embarked on mountain climbing to the scenic hills that completely enveloped Okemesi. It is a scenic beauty to behold.

Until 1973, one notable intervening variable was the tradition of yearly termination of the academic calendar in late December. It is the month in which your academic capability to proceed on the ladder of education is determined. 

Your promotion examination results will determine whether you progress to the next class or not. More consequential, it is the month in which graduating secondary students sit for Western African School Examination Council, WASCE. It was the examination that determines your eligibility for higher education. 

It was therefore a season for joy or sadness for primary and secondary school students who succeeded or failed in their examinations. The academic stars were pampered while the failures were made to feel like second citizens 

On the reports of surpassing blissful celebration in the Igbo heartland, it remains my abiding wish to spend Xmas in the community. The massive movement of the Igbo from all over the country to their homeland is an indication of its unparalleled social significance. 

Not even the trauma of being snared in the predictable traffic gridlock on the road for days would dissuade the massive retreat. In this regard, this year is positively unique for them.The celebration is bound to go several notches higher thanks to the completion of the life saving second Niger bridge that eases traffic movements. 

This hacks back to the differential incorporation of colonialism in its various manifestations in Nigeria. 

At the request of the leaders of the Sokoto caliphate, the British colonialists assured the insulation of the far North against the propagation of Christianity. 

In the formation of the culture of the colonial and post colonialWAZOBIA the imperialist religions of Christianity and Islam have exerted varying influence on the cultural language groups. 

In the Pan Islamic North, the theocratic rulers successfully negotiated the insulation of the region from Christian proselytization and evangelism. The latter readily granted the concession because it roundly suited the deployment of the indirect rule and his innate bias for the region. This provided the North an ample opportunity to preserve their Pan Arabic culture and language in opposition to Westernization/ Modernisation.

This corresponded to a contrary preponderance of Christian acculturation of the South East. Prior to colonialism and contemporary Nigeria, the Igbo dominated Eastern region had remained impermeable to the jihadist spread of Islam thus ceding the playfield to the monopoly of christian proliferation and acculturation. 

The Igbo Christianity trend was also inadvertently prompted by such seemingly unrelated external factors as the massive population dislocations and dispersal occasioned by the implosion of the oyo empire. 

Professor Kenneth Dike attributed the phenomenon of the abnormally high population density of the Eastern Nigeria forest belt, in part, to an influx of people from the West and the North, seeking to escape the raids of slave chieftains in the more open country. Jihadist slave trade is almost synonymous with the propagation of Islam.

December 25th is the assumed birthday of Jesus Christ but like most knowledge concerning religion, it is a myth. 

Following the perspective of the origins of Xmas in the revelry accompanying the winter solstice festival the Christian world tend to indulge in similar festivities and carnivals. 

‘Almost certainly from existing pagan celebrations, the winter solstice (shortest day) had always been celebrated by primitive peoples as the beginning of hope for the arrival of spring. This continued into classical times. The Romans celebrated the festival of Saturnalia between 17th and 25th’

‘Some have stated that, around 350 AD, Julius I declared December 25 as the official date of the birth of Jesus. This is based on a letter quoted only in a 9th-century source, and this letter is spurious. At the time this was one of the commonly believed dates for Jesus’ birth’ 

‘The actual date of Jesus’s birth is unknown. It has been noted that 25 December is two days after the end of the Roman festival of Saturnalia. Some have speculated that part of the reason this date was chosen may have been because Julius was trying to create a Christian alternative to Saturnalia’. 

‘Another reason for the decision may have been because, in 274 AD, the Roman emperor Aurelian had allegedly declared 25 December the birthdate of Sol Invictus and that Julius I allegedly may have thought that he could attract more converts to Christianity by allowing them to continue to celebrate on the same day’

‘He may have also been influenced by the idea that Jesus had died on the anniversary of his conception because Jesus died during Passover and, in the third century AD, Passover was celebrated on 25 March he may have assumed that Jesus’s birthday must have come nine months later, on 25 December’.

Compliments of the Season. See you all in January 2025.

If I’ve learned anything these past 35 years of journalism, it’s looking for a story in every situation. It wasn’t different when I left home for the airport on December 14, except that this time, the story found me. My Uber driver started the conversation: “Are you Mr. Azu of LEADERSHIP?” he asked.

I confirmed I was but didn’t make much of his question since he could have gotten the information from Truecaller. I also found from my Truecaller that he was identified as “Doc. Jibrin.” However, in a country where people love big titles that mean nothing, anyone can call themselves anything.

Somehow, I tested my prejudice by asking him if he was a medical doctor. “I’m a paediatrician,” Jibrin replied. I paused in confusion. I have read many stories of graduate drivers or professionals doing odd jobs. Working odd jobs is hardly news in a country with 33 percent unemployment, mainly among young graduates. However, being a paediatrician Uber driver in a country with a paediatrician-patient ratio of roughly 1:525 was new for me.

We got talking. I asked him how he became an Uber driver, and he told me it was something he did as a pastime when he was not on duty twice a week at a government hospital. He told me how being an Uber driver has allowed him to meet people and how many of his passengers responded in shock whenever he told them he was a paediatrician.

He told the story of one passenger, a wealthy businessman, who offered to use his license to open a medical facility, promising him heaven on earth, but he refused.

“He gave me his number and other contact details and asked me to think about it and get back to him. He said he was running a pharmacy using a nurse’s certificate and was thinking of something bigger. I declined politely,” Jibrin said. “Something about him just didn’t connect with me.”

I asked a bit more. Where did Jibrin go to school, and why did he become a paediatrician? He flipped the roles gently and charmingly, smiling and laughing as he did so. Based on my questions, he figured I must be a senior journalist and wanted to know more about me. Did I go to school in Nigeria? Were my parents well-to-do?

I told him that I grew up in Ajegunle, one of Nigeria’s most famous ghettos, and all the schools I’ve attended – from primary to university – have been in Nigeria. One thing journalism has done for me is that it has allowed me to travel, learn, expand my network, and sharpen my curiosity whenever I meet people like him.

He smiled again, and immediately, I retook my role as interlocutor. Why did he study paediatrics, and where?

“I love babies,” the young man, likely in his late thirties, said. “I’ve always been fascinated by their tenderness, innocence, and vulnerability. If you want to know about babies, watch parents when their babies are ill. Sometimes, you don’t know who is suffering more – the babies or their parents!”

He told me he attended Medical School at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife and returned to specialise in Paediatrics. At OAU, he had an encounter that would significantly impact his life. His best friend at medical school was Chima, a bright young Igbo man with whom he immediately struck a kindred spirit. As Jibrin told me the story of Chima, I watched his countenance change and his smile disappear.

Even though the incident happened nearly 10 years ago, the pain seemed fresh in his memory.

“When Chima told me he was travelling to the East, there was no way I could have guessed that would be the last time I would see him,” Jibrin said. “On his way, the bus in which they were travelling was ambushed by armed robbers. All the passengers, including Chima, were forced to lie face down on the road and shot many times. When I saw my friend’s body, I couldn’t recognise it. That picture of his bullet-ridden body is etched in my mind!”

Chima’s medical career was not the only unfinished business when he was killed. Apart from his career and traumatised friends, Chima also left behind a girlfriend who was pregnant at the time of his death.

“I decided,” Jibrin said, “that I would be responsible for his pregnant girlfriend and the baby.”

He was as good as his word. For the next several months and in a country where religion often divides, Jibrin, a Muslim from Gombe State in the North East, took upon himself the responsibility of looking after the pregnant girlfriend of his dead friend, a Christian from the South East.

When the baby was born, her mother named her Joy. “You should have seen the baby,” Jibrin said. “She looked so much like her father. In a way, her birth brought some closure to the wound that Chima’s death inflicted.”

Jibrin struggled after medical school but kept his commitment to his friend’s girlfriend and the new baby. “Chima’s younger brother knew about this,” Jibrin said. “But he is an apprentice somewhere and can’t stand on his own feet yet.”

Three years after Joy’s birth, something dramatic happened. Her mom came over to see Jibrin with Baby Joy and asked if she could leave her with him for that weekend because she wanted to travel.

“I couldn’t say no,” Jibrin recalled. “My girlfriend was staying with me, and even though she was reluctant initially, we both agreed that looking after Joy for one weekend wasn’t too much.”

And so, off Joy’s mother went. One weekend led to another and another. And she wasn’t coming back. Jibrin’s girlfriend started asking questions. At this time, Joy’s mother had become unreachable, and nothing he told his confused and angry girlfriend seemed to make sense. “She kept asking me to come clean, to level with her,” Jibrin said. “It soon became obvious she wanted me to confess what I had not done.”

The relationship broke up. Jibrin, unable to look after Joy and still find his footing as a young doctor, decided to take Joy to his elder sister in Jos. There, she asked all the difficult questions his girlfriend had asked and more. She begged Jibrin to tell her the truth: Was Joy his child?

He couldn’t convince her but managed to suspend her doubts. One or two years later, he got married after a problematic negotiation during which he told his new wife that she must accept and treat Joy as her daughter as a precondition for the marriage.

Fast-forward. Jibrin has three children—all girls—two younger ones aged six and three and his adopted daughter, Joy, who is now nine and in junior secondary school. “She tops her class,” he told me proudly as we drove into the airport.

And then he told me something else. He’s been wrestling with the question of how to raise Joy – as a Muslim, which he is, or as a Christian, which his friend Joy’s father was? “The matter has troubled me so much I had to seek advice from a cleric who said I should bring her up in my religion.”

As Jibrin dropped me off at the car park attached to the terminal building, I thought to myself: I think the cleric is right but for a different reason. Once you have formally adopted the child, how you raise her is entirely up to you. Most parents might agree, however, that once the child reaches a certain age, often young adulthood, what they do with their lives is entirely up to them.

And don’t be surprised if that includes creating new idols in a networked shrine with limitless potential for good and evil. It’s enough to know that you did your best by them while you could.

Ishiekwene, Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP, is the author of the new book Writing for Media and Monetising It. 

President Bola Tinubu congratulates political scientist, public administrator and Federal Civil Service Commission Chairman Prof. Tunji Olaopa as he clocks the milestone 65 years today, Friday, December 20, 2024.

A reputable intellectual and advocate of public service reforms and institutional strengthening, Olaopa rose to the zenith of his civil service career. Before retiring, he served as Permanent Secretary in various ministries to establish the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy. He later lectured at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, near Jos.

President Tinubu commends Prof. Olaopa for his contributions to nation-building through his engagement in public service and interventions and his numerous books and writings, which have helped shape public policy.

The President charges Prof. Olaopa with instituting reforms that adequately position the service as the bedrock of purposeful administration and governance.

President Tinubu extends his warmest wishes to the esteemed professor, hoping for many years of good health and meritorious service to the country.

Bayo Onanuga,

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

The House of Oduduwa extends its heartfelt sympathy to the government of Oyo state, the organisers; Agidigbo Radio owned by Oriyomi Hamzat, the Women in Need of Guidance and Support(WINGS) owned by a former queen at the Ooni's Palace; Ms Naomi Silekunola Ogunseyi,

the bereaved families of the young souls lost in the tragic incident in Ibadan yesterday. We share in the grief and pains that has engulfed the affected families. We pray that Olodumare grants them fortitude to bear this trying time. 

We also express our solidarity with the government of Oyo State as they navigate this difficult moment especially Mr Governor's commendable responsiveness. This tragedy underscores the urgent need for collaborative efforts in ensuring the safety and well-being of our children across Nigeria.

While at the Ile Oodua here as a queen, Miss Naomi Silekuola Ogunseyi demonstrated love and cares to the children of Ile-Ife through similar events which she executed passionately to give succour to children of indigent parents every December periods like this.

The House of Oduduwa pledges to support all efforts aimed at bringing solace and healing to those affected by this devastating loss.

The House of Oduduwa calls for immediate actions to prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future, emphasizing the need for rigorous adherence to safety standards and child welfare policies in educational institutions.

While the situation calls for solemn reflection and collective responsibility, we would want to express dismay at the unprofessional conduct of some bloggers who have chosen to sensationalize the tragic incident rather than uphold journalistic integrity.

The dissemination of unverified and distorted information has only compounded the grief of the families and individuals directly affected. We urge all media practitioners to exercise restraint, compassion, and professionalism in reporting sensitive issues, as their narratives significantly influence public perception and healing processes.

The House of Oduduwa encourages all stakeholders, from government officials to the media and citizens, to unite in compassion and constructive dialogue. Let us honour the memories of the departed by fostering a culture of care, respect, and accountability in our communities. 

Rather than being discouraged by the sorrowful end of the event which was initially planned to show love for the children giving helping hands to their parents during this yuletide, miss Naomi Silekunola, Mr Oriyomi Hamzat and their co-organisers should remain committed to doing such laudable programmes for the children but with better plans and strategies of execution in the future. Lesson must be learnt.

May this sorrowful moment inspire a renewed commitment to protecting our children, preserving our shared humanity, and upholding the values of truth and empathy.

Signed:

Otunba Moses Olafare,

Director, Media and Public Affairs,

Ooni's Palace.

Former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Bola Tinubu, Ajuri Ngelale, said on Wednesday God has been faithful to him.

Ngelale made the remark while celebrating his 38th birthday.

He posted the remark on his Facebook page while updating his profile photo, showing him and a former United States Secretary of State and Special Envoy on Climate Change, John Jerry, at a previous function.

He wrote, “God Almighty has been faithful in my 38 years. Happy Holidays.”

On September 7, Ngelale stepped down from his position as Tinubu’s spokesman.

Ngelale also stepped down as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.

A statement by the presidency said Ngelale submitted a memo to Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, informing him of his plan to proceed on indefinite leave.

The former presidential spokesman explained that he stepped down to deal with medical matters affecting his nuclear family.

[DailyPost]

Singer Timi Dakolo has shared the heartwarming story of how he met his wife, Busola and how she got embarrassed by his car.

In a recent interview with ‘Pulse’, Dakolo revealed that their love story began in church, where he first approached Busola to ask her to be his date for a ball. 

Though their friendship grew, Busola initially wanted to keep their relationship strictly platonic. Determined, Dakolo admitted to “suffering” to win her over.

One of his memorable efforts included driving her to and from work in his branded Picanto, a car he won from ‘Nigerian Idols’ in 2007, which she found embarrassing at the time. 

Despite the challenges, Dakolo said his persistence paid off, and they tied the knot in 2012. Their story has since become a source of inspiration for fans. 

Dakolo said: “I met my wife in the church. I went to her and asked her to be my date for a ball. She gave me her number but wasn’t picking up the phone when I called. I kept going to the area hoping to see her again. Then I saw her one day and I asked her why was she not picking up my calls and she said her phone got stolen.

“I sympathised with her and we became friends. I started developing feelings for her and she wanted to friend-zone me but I refused. I suffered to win her love. I was taking her to work to and fro. At one time, she used to be embarrassed whenever I picked her up with the branded Picanto I won from Nigerian Idols. I said, ‘Okay, don’t worry. I will shock you. Don’t look down on me.’ And I did”.

They have since welcomed three beautiful children together, and their love continues to flourish.

Nigerians who feel slighted by UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch’s disparaging comments about their country are free to respond to her in whatever manner suits them. When someone like Badenoch makes denigrating comments about Nigeria, it is its people who suffer the indignity of such talk. A country might be an abstract entity, but it is also occupied by real-life people who deserve some courtesy. So, yes, I do understand the Nigerians taking her comments badly. What I vehemently disagree with is Vice President Kashim Shettima joining them. He is just as opportunistic and should have no mouth to talk.

Since he seems to have forgotten his priors, let me remind him—again—that just 10 years ago, he and some northern governors pulled a similar stunt against President Goodluck Jonathan in Washington, DC, USA. Media reports tell us that then Nigerian Ambassador, Prof. Ade Adefuye, restrained them as they backstabbed the country before Western observers. Now, the same Shettima is wailing because someone else is doing it. If denigrating Nigeria for gain worked well enough to make him the vice president, who is he to tell anyone else not to use the same tactic? What has Badenoch said that is substantially different from what All Peoples Congress had said about Nigeria when they were in the “opposition”?

Whether “Yoruba” or “Nigerian”, Badenoch can identify as she pleases. Even though it does not make sense to me that one can be one without the other, burning emotional fuel over someone else’s choices is not worth it. Who knows the sacrifices they have had to make to be who they are? What I do know for sure is that however Badenoch chooses to identify, she has something in common with Nigerians who speak indecorously of Nigeria when they are seeking the benevolence of white power. Some of those excoriating Badenoch (like Shettima) have either done so themselves or will do so if the prize is right.

Some years ago, I was a judge on a committee that awarded a prize for fiction to young writers, and I ended up traumatised by the entries from Nigerians. From the violence of Boko Haram to child marriage, sexual assaults, and other horrors, Nigeria came across as an entirely joyless place in its writings. None of the aspiring writers envisioned a world where dysfunctionality was not the Nigerian norm. In my report, I had to urge the prize organisers to reconsider the themes they put out so that entrants would be forced to think differently. Still, they are no different from the Nigerians seeking asylum in North America/Europe, who claim they are escaping from whatever horror is trending. At a time, it was genital mutilation. Nowadays, they are either fleeing homosexual persecution or Boko Haram/maniacal herdsmen. Whatever story touches the hearts of white Western powers, they will trade their country for it.

In January, humanist Leo Igwe wrote an article lamenting how Nigerians predate on stories of persecuted humanists like Mubarak Bala to seek asylum abroad. Recently too, a Nigerian couple in the UK escaped deportation by claiming to the court that they needed to stay because the wife would be unable to access IVF facilities in Nigeria. Saying a country lacks IVF clinics in 2024 is tantamount to claiming it is behind in time, but yes, people will say anything that gets them ahead. Perhaps some of such people also genuinely think Badenoch is “throwing Nigeria under the bus”.

By virtue of my job, I have been solicited to testify in court on behalf of some Nigerians seeking asylum in the USA. When you hear the stories about Nigeria these applicants have told the oyinbo lawyers fighting on their behalf, you will be embarrassed. While I will not lie under oath on behalf of anyone, I also do not go around puncturing their claims. While their stories might not be factually true, they might also not be substantially false. Who knows what battles they fought to get where they are?

Whatever one thinks of Badenoch’s politics, we should also accept that it is part of the tactics that brought her so far. For instance, in the interview where she related her experience with the Nigerian police, the question was about the British police. She dragged in the Nigerian police to make them a foil of their British counterparts. She tactically deflected issues since an uncomplimentary comment about the police could be ideological suicide for a right-wing politician like her. To praise the British police, she had to justify it by bringing the inept Nigerian police. It could not have been that hard for her to find a story to tell. Anyone who trawled the internet during EndSARS will be spoilt for choice of which distressing police encounter to narrate. We can console ourselves by pulling up statistics of violence in the UK to relativise issues, but in our quiet moments, can we also acknowledge to ourselves that no situation has arisen in the UK that their nationals are selling their worldly goods to escape to Nigeria?

Whatever we might think of Badenoch’s rhetorical manoeuvres, we cannot deny it works. It has brought her far; why should she change now? Politicians generally say what their constituents want to hear and until that kind of talk stops exciting her audience, no amount of glowering by Shettima will change anything. No reasonable person alters a method that works.

Shettima and his fellow travellers need to think beyond an individual. Between June 2022 and 2023, about 141,000 Nigerians migrated to the UK alone. Within that same period, another 22,000 Nigerians also settled in Canada. Most of them are young. Add other countries, and you will see a large pool of who will breed children of hyphenated nationalities you will be hearing about in the next 30 years. The probability that one of them might become the leader of a first-world nation rises as the number of migrants increases. Is Nigeria going to wait until one of them attains a political height before sending Abike Dabiri-Erewa to stick their “Nigerianness” on them? They had better start cultivating relationships with them while still young.

Years ago, I learned from a friend (who is French) that France has schools for its citizens in the USA where they learn French culture, history, and politics. They are taught in French, so they speak it fluently. It got me thinking about how forward-looking Western governments can be. They know that some of those kids will one day rise to strategic places in the USA, and they are already looking out for France’s interest by inculcating “Frenchness” in them. The USA, Israel, and other powerful countries all do the same. When Shettima compared Badenoch to former British PM of Indian heritage Rishi Sunak, what he did not factor in is the relationship India must have built with him before he got that far.

Someone of Badenoch’s profile badmouthing Nigeria should be a wake-up call for leaders to move conversations beyond whether Nigerians should japa or not. They should have realised by now that it cannot be taken for granted that children of Nigerian heritage will be sentimental towards their parents’ country. As more children are being born abroad, you should start an outreach to get them on your side as they grow. You cannot guarantee that every single one will be your ambassador, but when that day comes someone says something disparaging, you will have a solid structure that will overwhelm that individual defector. Even better, you will not need to disgrace yourself in the international media by asking that person to change their name. Imagine someone with a “non-Nigerian” name like “Kashim Shettima” asking a Yoruba woman to change her name because he disagrees with her politics. Yeye!

Former Super Eagles coach José Peseiro has shared his perspectives on what Samuel Chukwueze needs to thrive in Italy.

Chukwueze has struggled to hit the ground running since his move from Villarreal to AC Milan in 2023.

The winger has found himself left on the bench a lot of times in recent games, which has limited his minutes at the club.

His performance has sparked rumours of a potential move in January to the Premier League or Saudi Arabia. 

Peseiro, the former coach of Nigeria who worked with Chukwueze while he was with the Super Eagles, is still optimistic about the player’s potential for development.

Speaking to Sportitalia via Milan News, “Two excellent players. I trained one (Cbukwueze) in the Nigerian national team, and the other (Rafael Leao) I would have loved to have at Sporting.

“Extraordinary players, with great quality and potential to grow even further. And I believe that Paulo Fonseca will help them become even better.”

Chukwueze has six goals and four assists in 56 games since he joined Milan, which is a poor return for an attacking player of his quality.

[Punch]

When my attention was drawn to Governor Monday Okpebholo’s “Now, it is confusing me” video, I thought his political enemies were at work aided by Artificial Intelligence. The one-minute, 17-second video captured him stuttering while presenting the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the Edo State House of Assembly.

Struggling to pronounce the numerical value of the Bill which he christened “Budget of Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo,” the governor said: “The Edo State 2025 budget… appropriation bill of six billion, sixty and fifty, six hundred five billion, seventy six thousand, seventy six million, seventy six.”

Realising his gaffe, he did an encore. “Let me take it again. Five hundred six billion, six hundred and five billion sorry, seven hundred, seventy six billion, sorry. It is confusing me,” he admitted.

At this moment, murmurings erupted in the hallowed chamber, forcing the Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, to intervene: “Order in the House, please. Mr. Speaker must be heard in silence, please.”

Many Nigerians were nonplussed at the spectacle but expectedly, the puppeteers quickly jumped to his defence, the most inane excuse being that English is a foreign language and lack of proficiency does not detract from leadership capabilities.

That may well be true but the fact remains that Okpebholo himself elected, out of his own volition, to address the lawmakers in English, a language he knows he is not proficient in. Granted, English is Nigeria’s official language, but no law says a governor must address his people in English. After all, the Lagos State House of Assembly once toyed with the idea of conducting proceedings in Yoruba and in fact, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, visited the Assembly on January 12, 2017 to observe the plenary conducted in Yoruba language.

But Edo State is home to several ethnic nationalities, including Bini, Okpe, Esan, Afenmai, Akoko, Igbanke, Emai, Owan, Ijaw, with at least 17 languages – Edo, Ebira, Esan, Etsako, Ikpeshi , Ghotu, Okpamheri, Ijaw – spoken in different local governments across the state. So, what explanation will Okpebholo give to those that will definitely be excluded if he decides to communicate to Edo people in his native Esan language?

In any case, how come someone who claims to have a degree in business administration and a Masters in policy and leadership studies from the University of Abuja cannot speak passable English?

But is anyone surprised? Haven’t we seen the WAEC result trending in the social media purported to be Okpebholo’s. If, indeed, it is not his, why has he not put a lie to the claim? That is what leaders do. When Donald Trump lied that then President Barack Obama was not born in the U.S., all that Obama did to put a permanent end to Trump’s lie was to make public his authentic birth certificate.

But the award for the most apocryphal and dubious excuse must go to Mr. Jarret Tenebe, Edo State chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who rationalised Okpebholo’s inexcusable gaffe claiming that he was unfamiliar with figures.

Citing former South African President Jacob Zuma as one of the many global leaders who had made such mistakes in the past, Tenebe said: “I don’t know figures. You see, that is how to know original and innocent people. Obaseki will not make such mistake because he has stolen billions before. Asue Ighodalo will not make such mistake because he has stolen billions before.”

Really?

As if that was not harebrained enough, the APC chieftain further said: “Monday Okpebholo is not a thief, so he is not familiar with figures. So, anybody who wants to talk can continue to talk. It is nonsense. He is the governor of the state. He is performing, and he will continue to perform and anybody who does not like his face should go to hell and burn to ashes. Period!

Therein lies the problem that has made Nigeria a laughing stock. Being arrogant and boastful in idiocy. So, only thieves are familiar with figures? And anyone who does not like the bumbling governor should go to hell and burn to ashes. This is an egregious insult to Edo people which should elicit commensurate outrage. So, why has everybody moved on, perhaps leaving the matter for God to judge?

Could it be true that a member of the National Assembly, an institution responsible for the appropriation of funds for the running of government, is not familiar with figures? If that was the case, what then was he doing in the Senate?

But the more fundamental issue is that a governor should be hands-on, particularly on issues ofbudget, which is, simply put, a financial plan, an estimate of income and expenditure of the government in a given fiscal year. Before presenting the budget to the State Assembly, a governor should be conversant with the figures. He does not need to be a financial wizard. But he should be able to tell the people how much the government intends to spend and where the money will come from. And he can only do that if he was part of the budget preparation process.

Chances are that Okpebholo was just handed the document he presented on the day of presentation by the puppeteers who are remote-controlling him and he didn’t know the details. Neither Obaseki nor Ighodalo will make the grievous mistake Okpebholo made not because they are used to stealing billions but because they are men not only given to details but attuned to the intricate nuances of governance.

Governance is a serious matter which should not be left in the hands of those “not familiar with figures,” which explains why Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher believed that philosopher kings are the ideal rulers because they have the knowledge and skills to govern. If a governor is not familiar with figures, what else should he be familiar with?

In the wake of the Okpebholo gaffe, I have also heard some people say it serves Edo people right, often quoting the third U.S. President Thomas Jefferson’s famous quip that “the government you elect is the government you deserve.”

That will be very unfair to the good people of Edo State. Of course, as I write, Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Saturday, September 21, 2024 Edo State governorship election is in court challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, result which returned Okpebholo winner. It is left for the courts to decide who won the election. Suffice it to say that almost 100 per cent of the election monitors and observers, both local and international, agree that the result declared by INEC flies in the face of the choice made by the Edo electorate.

But it couldn’t have been otherwise, because aside the tragedy of Okpbholo’s observable lack of capacity, the bigger tragedy would have been that in an election where Asue Ighodalo, a lawyer, former chairman of Sterling Bank, former director at the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, and ex-chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, and Olumide Akpata, also a lawyer and the first non-Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 28 years to be elected president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, were candidates, the highly discerning Edo electorate would prefer a Monday Okpebholo as their governor. That is implausible and it didn’t happen. INEC simply defrauded the people and the Edo electorate did not get the government they voted for and, therefore, undeserving of the prevailing charade.

No one is deceived. But the good thing is that as long as Okpebholo remains governor of Edo State, Tenebe and his co-travellers will have a lot of explanations to make because governance will continue to confuse and confound those not familiar with figures. The joke will always be on the enablers of electoral malfeasance.

The growing concern in some quarters over the inability of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct free, fair and credible elections again gained gravitas last week in the wake of Ghana’s successful presidential elections.

Without prejudice to the introduction of technology (card reader and co) by the Professor Attahiru Jega-led INEC which conducted the general elections of 2011 and 2015, and the outcomes of those elections, Nigerians have largely expressed disappointment at the elections conducted in 2019 and 2023, as evidenced by the barrage of pre- post-election litigations.

Apart from the 2015 presidential election which saw incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, conceding defeat, almost all presidential election results in Nigeria have suffered the embarrassing discounts of distrust and lack of integrity.

Last week in Ghana, even before the completion of final collation of results of its presidential election, incumbent Vice President and candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP, Mahamudu Bawumia, called his opposition candidate, John Mahama, to concede defeat.

Madam Jean Mensa is the chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission and she announced the results later.
Based on wide-range consultations and interviews, seven major issues have been codified as reasons BVAS may not work in Nigeria as it does in Ghana.

The critical difference between elections held in Ghana and Nigeria using BVAS

Integrity of electoral managers

Ghana: The integrity of electoral officials in Ghana is a cornerstone of the country’s success with the Bimordal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS.

Transparent practices, accountability, and a genuine commitment to credible elections have ensured the smooth implementation of the system. The leadership prioritizes the credibility of elections over personal or political interests.

Nigeria: In Nigeria, the human factor has been a significant hindrance. Electoral managers have often been accused of bias, corruption, and complicity in sabotaging the BVAS process. These failings erode public trust and compromise the efficiency of the system.

Appointment of non-partisan officials

Ghana: Electoral officers in Ghana are appointed based on merit and neutrality, ensuring that those overseeing the electoral process are not influenced by political affiliations. This reduces the likelihood of human interference in technological operations like BVAS.

Nigeria: In contrast, Nigeria frequently appoints individuals with political affiliations or connections to influential politicians. Some are card-carrying members of political parties or relatives of political officeholders. This blatant partisanship creates an environment where BVAS can be intentionally misused or sabotaged.

Retention of proven characters

Ghana: Ghana values continuity and institutional memory, retaining proven leaders who have been conducting credible elections and whose know-how are applied to future ones, fostering trust in electoral management.

A typical case in Ghana was Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who was the first substantive chairman of the commission from 1993 and was retained up to 2015 because of his track record of honesty and integrity which has eventually transformed the Ghanaian electoral landscape.

At the 25th anniversary of the Institute for Economic Affairs, IEA, in Ghana, in 2014, Professor Jega said: “We in Nigeria have a lot that we owe to Dr. Afari Gyan. No doubt he was the longest-serving electoral commissioner on the continent of Africa and…He’s done a lot to restore stability in the electoral system in your country (Ghana).

“We (Nigerians) have learned a lot listening to him, understanding the challenges he faced, how he addressed them and how we could do better than he had done because it was very important for us to be able to do that.”

Nigeria: In Nigeria, electoral officials, with a reputation for integrity, are often removed or sidelined. Between 1993 and 2015, for instance, several chairpersons of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, who resisted undue influence were replaced. Such as Humprey Nwosu, to other known Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, who were known names for integrity but were immediately sidelined because of their impeccable character.

This disrupts institutional growth and undermines public confidence in the system. There is the issue of tenure which can be dealt with. But institutional memory fostered by retention of officers with impeccable record is alien to the Nigerian system.

Accountability and penalties for compromising the system

Ghana: Electoral malpractice is met with severe consequences in Ghana. The fear of repercussions serves as a deterrent, ensuring that electoral officials prioritize fairness and transparency in their operations.

Special courts are sometimes set up to handle electoral offenses expeditiously, ensuring justice is not delayed.

Nigeria: Here, accountability is weak. Known compromises by election officials are rarely punished. Instead, individuals implicated in malpractices are sometimes protected or promoted, further emboldening unethical behaviour.

For example, relatives of political elites are frequently made Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, or national commissioners, undermining the neutrality required for credible elections.

Technical preparation and implementation
Ghana: Human competence plays a significant role in Ghana’s success with BVAS. Electoral staff are well-trained and equipped to handle the system, ensuring that technical preparation translates to smooth implementation on election day.

Nigeria: In Nigeria, the human factor is evident in the insufficient training of electoral staff. Many operators are unable to manage or troubleshoot BVAS effectively, especially in regions with higher illiteracy rates.

Additionally, allegations of deliberate sabotage during critical moments, such as server failures during the presidential election 2023, suggest human interference. The denial by INEC officials rang hollow because of the trust deficit that already exists.

Political will and stakeholder commitment

Ghana: Ghana’s electoral success reflects strong political will and commitment from stakeholders to do the right thing. Leaders and managers work in tandem to ensure that BVAS serves its intended purpose.

Nigeria: In Nigeria, the lack of political will is evident. Political actors often manipulate electoral officials to achieve favourable outcomes. For instance, server shutdowns during Nigeria’s elections have been linked to human interference, where BVAS feedback was allegedly spoofed or tampered with.

Contextual factors and human influence on training and capacity building:

Ghana: In Ghana, electoral staff undergo rigorous training, enabling them to address technical challenges. The commitment to learning and applying skills ensures that human errors are minimized.

Nigeria: In Nigeria, insufficient training and a lack of commitment to capacity building are common. Furthermore, regional disparities exacerbate this problem, with some areas receiving inadequate attention due to political biases.

Failure to abide by constitutional provisions

Chapter, 6, Part 1, Section 154 of the 1999 Constitution as amended talks about the appointment of chairman and members of commissions.

Sub-section (3) states that “in exercising his (presidential) powers to appoint a person as chairman or member of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, National Judicial Council, the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the president shall consult the Council of State.”

During the tenure of President Jonathan, his appointment of Professor Jega and members of the Commission was done in consultation with the National Council of State, NCS, as recommended by the Constitution, and, therefore, not surprising that the 2015 presidential election which brought in Muhammadu Buhari was conducted by a crop of election management officers who had integrity.

Already, a number of RECs have been appointed by the current administration. During the investigation for this report, Vanguard did not come across any record of a meeting of the NCS where the consultation for the appointment of RECs was made.

Worse, the National Assembly, NASS, has cleared all the REC-nominees and they are already serving, despite proven evidence of clear, up-and-down partisanship of some appointees.

The success of BVAS in Ghana and its ‘challenges’ in Nigeria demonstrate that the human factor as evidenced by appointment of incompetent and partisan operatives, is the ultimate determinant of technological success in elections.

In Ghana, the integrity, neutrality, and competence of electoral managers that were appointed have ensured that BVAS operates as intended. Conversely, in Nigeria, human interference, ranging from partisan appointments to intentional sabotage, has undermined the system’s effectiveness

Lessons and recommendations:

For BVAS to function effectively, the following human-centred lessons and recommendations are critical:

Integrity in leadership:

Nigeria’s electoral body must be led by individuals of unquestionable integrity. Without honest leadership, technological advancements like BVAS will fail to inspire public confidence.

Non-partisan appointments:

The selection of electoral officials must prioritize neutrality and competence over political affiliations. This will reduce the risk of deliberate sabotage or misuse of technology.

Accountability mechanisms:

Strict penalties for electoral malpractice are essential to deter unethical behavior. Individuals who compromise the system must be made to face tangible consequences.

Comprehensive training:

Electoral staff should receive thorough training to manage BVAS effectively, and this training must be evenly distributed across all regions.

Strong political will:

Stakeholders must demonstrate genuine commitment to the success of BVAS by fostering transparency and addressing human-induced challenges proactively.

Vanishing tribe of Nigerian voters

Apart from 2003 when 39 million Nigerians were said to have trooped out to vote, a figure representing 69.1%, the tribe of Nigerians who vote at every general election cycle have continued to dwindle. (See box).

In 1999, 29.8 million people were said to have voted (52.3%); in 2007, 35.4 million voted (57.5%); in 2011, 38.2 million voted (53.7%); 2015, 28.6 million voted (43.7%); in 2019, 27.3 million voted (34.8%); and in 2023, 24 million voted (26.7%).

So, why have the figures been shrinking? A combination of factors, ranging from voter apathy occasioned by a lack of trust in INEC and the continuing hardship voters face on the day of the election, logistical issues, election day violence which scares voters away and a growing frustration on the part of voters that their votes may not count, is responsible.

Why the problem may get worse in 2027 is that for all the promises and assurances given by incumbent INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, about the inviolability of BVAS and IReV, promises which galvanised millions of Nigerians to show interest in the election, some hopes were dashed once it was discovered that some results were not uploaded from the polling units.

For Nigeria to restore public trust in its electoral processes, significant reforms are needed to address the human factors.

Without integrity-driven leadership, non-partisan appointments, and accountability mechanisms, even the most advanced technologies will fail to deliver credible elections.

The 2027 elections will serve as a critical test for Nigeria’s commitment to these reforms, as public confidence in the system hangs in the balance.

[Vanguard]