A trainee herbalist, Ifagbenga Taiwo, who was arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly slaughtering his 41-day-old son in the Keesi area of Adatan, Abeokuta, the state capital, has disclosed that he carried out the act under a spell.

PUNCH Metro reported on Wednesday that the incident occurred last Monday after the baby’s mother, Raimat Wasilat, laid him on a bed while washing clothes outside their home.

Wasilat was said to have returned to the room and met his son with a slit throat, prompting her to raise the alarm, which attracted their neighbours and the police.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, disclosed that the wife had fingered her husband in his son’s death which prompted the police to take him into custody for further investigation.

Meanwhile, in an interrogation video obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, the suspect narrated how he used a knife to slit the throat of the infant.

He, however, blamed his action on the influence of a spell, stressing that he was not conscious of what he did until he had perpetrated the act.

According to Taiwo, on the day of the incident, he gave his wife a feeding allowance while going out to the place of his apprenticeship as she was washing some clothes outside.

He added that upon getting to his workplace, he realised that he had forgotten some charms, which he often used for protection at home and decided to return to pick them up.

He continued that while he was returning home, he realised that he was feeling uneasy and restless and that he felt like committing a crime.

Taiwo narrated in Yoruba (now translated), “I didn’t go home on Sunday due to engagements at work. I went home on Monday, and when I got home, I took my bath, gave my wife a feeding allowance, and left the house.

“It was when I got to work that I realised I had left the charms I used for self-protection at home. So, I went home to pick them up. After I picked them up, I returned to work.

“About an hour after I had returned to work, I just felt a breeze blow at me, and I began to feel uneasy. It was like something was circulating in my body, and I felt like committing a crime.”

He noted that upon returning home, he did not meet his wife outside at the spot where she was washing clothes, and he went inside, picked a knife, and slit the throat of his 41-day-old son.

“When I got home, I did not meet my wife at the spot where she was washing clothes. I went inside, and I continued feeling that I should commit a crime.

“I went into my mum’s room and picked a knife we had purchased in the Kuto market some time ago. I took the knife and went to where my son was laid, and that was what I remembered last before I came back to consciousness.

“When I realised that my son had been killed, I was wondering what had happened, and I was surprised. I had to flee through the back door of our house,” Taiwo said in the video.

When asked if he had allegedly killed his son in an attempt to divorce his wife, Taiwo replied, “I love my wife, and I did not plan to divorce her. I don’t know how it happened. I have done it before I realised what I did.”

“I fled after doing it because I didn’t know what to do. I am sorry about what I did.”

He appealed to the government to show him mercy.

The ruling All Progressives Congress, on Sunday, said it was not threatened by the weekend visit of ex-presidential flag-bearer of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, to the Abeokuta, Ogun State home of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo “to discuss the political future of Nigeria.”

In the past few weeks, there have been increasing debates about the 2027 generation elections after the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, canvassed for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu for second term.

According to Akume, there will be no vacancy in Aso Rock until 2031, when Tinubu would have completed a second term.

But the opposition would have none of it, insisting that the ruling APC would be removed from power come 2027.

At the weekend,  Kwankwaso and Duke, a 2007 presidential aspirant, visited ex-President Obasanjo in Abeokuta and held a closed-door meeting.

While the details of their discussions remain undisclosed, sources close to the leaders suggested that the meeting was part of a larger effort to strategise for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

Obasanjo, a prominent figure in Nigerian politics, has been actively engaging various stakeholders to explore alternatives to the ruling APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The ex-President has recently been very critical of Tinubu’s government, decrying alleged corruption and increasing debt burden.

Kwankwaso, a pivotal figure in Kano State politics, brings substantial influence and followership, while Duke, a former governor from the southern region, is expected to contribute his unique perspective on governance and national unity.

Though specifics of their conversation remain under wraps, Kwankwaso’s statement after the meeting hinted at a collective intention to challenge the existing political structure and foster a new direction for Nigeria’s political landscape.

Confirming the meeting via his verified Facebook page, Kwankwaso stated, “I was pleased to be in the company of my friend, His Excellency Donald Duke, and other associates to pay a courtesy call on former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his residence in Abeokuta.”

He added, “Deliberations on significant national issues, including the future of politics and governance in Nigeria, defined the conversation. We are grateful to Baba for his warm reception, support, and hospitality.”

However, reacting to the development in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday, the  National Publicity Director of the ruling APC, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed the meeting as a potential to the APC continuity.

Ibrahim boasted that Tinubu’s political profile and relevance in contemporary politics had dwarfed the opposition figures and statesmen.

He said, “With due respect, I hold Obasanjo in high esteem. As a former President, ex-Head of State, and an elder statesman, I don’t want to take issues with him. But when it comes to the politics of Nigeria, particularly contemporary politics, Tinubu is not their mate.

“Tinubu is head and shoulders above them in modern politics in Nigeria. So the combination of Obasanjo, Kwankwaso, Peter Obi, and Donald Duke, who was my schoolmate, does not present a threat to Tinubu. These are people who were trashed in the last election.

“This is not the first time Obasanjo is going to rally around someone, and that person is defeated. Remember, he supported (ex-President Goodluck) Jonathan, who later lost to Buhari. Obasanjo supported another candidate, Peter Obi, in the last election again and Tinubu trounced them.

“So they can have marathon meetings and meet till the end of time, they will not present any threat to the government of APC. Who among Kwankwaso, Obasanjo, Obi, Duke was not beaten? If they are bringing angels, it’s a different story. But if it is these same spent forces that will combine and meet, their meeting cannot bring any good outcome.”

Constitutional lawyer and human rights advocate, Professor Mike Ozekhome, SAN, has argued that Nigeria is practising what he terms “judocracy” rather than democracy.

Speaking at the 9th convocation ceremony of Gregory University Uturu in Abia State, Ozekhome blamed the judiciary for the distortion of democracy in Nigeria.

In his pre-convocation lecture titled “The Judiciary As The Final Arbiter of Electoral Outcomes: Aberrations And Judgments Without Justice”, Ozekhome coined the term “judocracy” to describe a system where elected officials, including Presidents, Governors, Senators, and Local Government leaders, are determined in the courts rather than through the ballot. He expressed regret that the judiciary, rather than helping to protect democracy, has instead become an accomplice in undermining the will of the people.

He said, “The judiciary is displacing the real will of the people as expressed through the ballot. That’s the situation in Nigeria.”

Ozekhome emphasized the need for a strong, independent judiciary free from external influence, whether from the executive or legislature. He stressed that the judiciary is the cornerstone of democracy, safeguarding the rule of law and the fundamental rights of the people. He also called for better remuneration and support for judges to ensure their independence and integrity.

While acknowledging the judiciary’s role in electoral matters, Ozekhome noted both praise and criticism of judicial oversight. Proponents argue that the courts act as impartial arbiters in election disputes, protecting democratic values. However, critics warn against judicial overreach, fearing that the judiciary may inadvertently undermine democracy by becoming a powerbroker.

In her address, the Vice Chancellor of Gregory University, Professor Cele Njoku, highlighted the institution’s growth, noting that all its programs are currently accredited. She also announced a new partnership with Sacred Heart University, USA, and continued collaboration with the Russian Friendship University for exchange programs.

The Chancellor, Okechukwu Ibe Jnr, urged the graduands to view their degrees not just as certificates but as tools for empowerment, encouraging them to be innovative and take risks. The Pro-Chancellor, Professor Augustine Uwakwe, reminded them that education is a key to unlocking opportunities and solving societal challenges.

At the convocation, 190 students graduated, with 16 earning First Class, 86 Second Class Upper, 86 Second Class Lower, and one Third Class. The overall best graduand, Awo Adutomvie Austine, with a CGPA of 4.81, was awarded N1 million by the university’s founder, Prof. Greg Ibe, in addition to several other prizes.

Honorary doctorates were awarded to former Minister for Power, Professor Barth Nnaji, and Professor Ogechi Anyaehie, who was conferred with a Professor Emeritus title.

Professor Nnaji praised the university’s investment in education, particularly in technology, science, and entrepreneurship. He encouraged the graduands to be resourceful and seek to create employment rather than depend on the limited job market. Ozekhome, Nnaji, and Orji Nwafor Orizu also announced endowment funds for outstanding students of the university.

Amid widespread criticism over the recent defection of a federal lawmaker to the All Progressives Congress (APC), reports indicate that the ruling party is strategizing to lure additional lawmakers from the Senate to strengthen its numbers in the Red Chamber.

Last week, Ajang Iliya, who represents Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in Plateau State, announced his defection to the APC, becoming the sixth Labour Party (LP) lawmaker to leave the party. Other defectors include Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau).

A source within the APC national secretariat disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune that discussions are ongoing with two of the five LP senators regarding their potential defection. While the source did not name the senators, it was revealed that they are from the South-East region.

“They have opened discussions with the APC zonal leadership. Their defection will be given the same fanfare at the party’s national secretariat, just as we warmly received late Ifeanyi Ubah when he left the Young Peoples Party (YPP),” the source explained.

The Nigerian Tribune further learned that out of the five LP senators, three hail from the South-East: Okechukwu Ezea (Enugu North), Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), and Tony Nwoye (Anambra North). The other two LP senators are Ireti Kingibe (Federal Capital Territory) and Neda Imasuen (Edo South).

It is worth noting that last June, Senator Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi, representing Imo East, left the LP for the APC. In his defection letter, read during a plenary session, he cited internal divisions within the opposition party as his reason for leaving.

Currently, the Senate comprises 63 APC lawmakers, 34 from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and two each from the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP). The LP holds five seats, bringing the total to 107. Two seats remain vacant, including Edo Central, after Senator Monday Okpebholo assumed office as the Edo State governor. Additionally, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who represented Anambra South, passed away in July.

Meanwhile, members of the Labour Party’s National Assembly caucus are set to hold a meeting at the National Assembly to address the ongoing defections and other pressing issues.

“We are meeting tomorrow (today) to review recent events in our party,” a federal lawmaker from the LP told the Nigerian Tribune. When asked if he was considering defection, he declined to confirm, stating, “I don’t know yet. I don’t think I want to discuss that for now.”

The Dangote refinery has exported Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) to Cameroon, Angola, Ghana, and South Africa in the past few weeks.

The Vice President of Oil and Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, disclosed this while playing host to a delegation from the Japanese Business Community in Nigeria, led by Japan’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo.

In a statement on Sunday, the company’s spokesman, Anthony Chiejina, quoted Edwin as confirming that products from the refinery meet international standards and are already being exported globally.

 “In recent weeks, we’ve exported petrol to Cameroon, Ghana, Angola, and South Africa, among others. Diesel has gone all over the world, and jet fuel is being heavily exported to European markets. Our products are already making their mark internationally,” Edwin said.

Edwin explained that the facility is the vision of a Nigerian investor – Aliko Dangote, designed and built by Nigerians, and intended to serve the global market.

He said it is a point of pride that a Nigerian company not only designed but also built the world’s largest single-train refinery complex.

According to him, Dangote Industries Limited acted as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contractor for the refinery, saying cutting-edge technologies from around the world were incorporated to ensure that the facility meets the highest standards.

Edwin assured the ambassador-designate and the delegation that the company is open to collaboration, always striving to maintain the best possible standards.

 “Even now, we have a lot of Japanese equipment inside both the refinery and the fertiliser plant. There are significant opportunities for collaboration, as we always seek the latest technology in any business we engage in. For instance, our cement plant laboratory is managed by robots, and we always embrace advanced technology. With Japan’s focus on technological innovation, there is ample scope for cooperation and for supplying various types of technology,” he said.

 Edwin also stated that the Dangote Petrochemical project will significantly boost investment in downstream industries, creating substantial value, generating employment, increasing tax revenues, reducing foreign exchange outflows, and contributing to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.

He added that by leveraging Africa’s vast crude oil resources to produce refined products locally, the Dangote Group aims to create a virtuous cycle of industrial development, job creation, and economic prosperity.

He reiterated that the refinery’s petroleum products are in demand worldwide, as it expands its polypropylene section to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported polypropylene, a crucial material used in packaging, textiles, and the automotive manufacturing industries.

The statement disclosed that the Japanese delegation hailed the refinery and the petrochemicals complex, describing it as an astonishing masterpiece, showcasing Nigeria’s technological advancements on the global stage.

 The Japanese delegation, which toured the facilities housing both the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals as well as Dangote Fertilisers, commended the technology, noting that it reinforces Nigeria’s role as the gateway to Africa.

 Managing Director of the Japan External Trade Organisation, Takashi Oku, was said to have remarked that while Nigeria remains the gateway to Africa, the refinery stands as a remarkable project that showcases the country’s technological progress.

Oku added that the facility, as the world’s largest single-train refinery, is a point of immense pride for Nigeria.

 “We had heard about the excellence of the Dangote Refinery through the media but seeing it in person has left us truly amazed by its vastness and grandeur. It demonstrates that Nigeria’s population is not only growing but also advancing in technology. We are keen to collaborate with Nigerian companies, especially Dangote Refinery,” he said.

 Emphasising that the refinery has bolstered Nigeria’s leading position in Africa, he further noted that the facility serves as an ideal introduction to the country for the global community.

 The Managing Director of Itochu Nigeria Limited, Masahiro Tsuno, was said to have also praised the sheer size and automation of the Dangote refinery, calling it a miracle and one of the wonders of the world.

 “I’ve seen many standalone refineries across the globe, including in Vietnam and the Middle East. However, the size of a refinery built by one single investor is probably a miracle in the world. And I’m just actually witnessing a miracle,” he said.

Tsuno indicated that his company would seek collaboration with the refinery across various sectors, including polypropylene and other petroleum products.

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic will cease to be members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 2025.

Alieu Touray, president of ECOWAS commission, made the announcement on Sunday during the 66th ordinary session of heads of states and governments in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

Touray set the countries’ exit at January 29, 2025 – July 29, 2025.

The ECOWAS president said the timeframe would allow for last mediations and any diplomatic interventions.

“After deliberations, their excellencies, the authority members of the authority of ECOWAS, heads of state and government, commend the exemplary diplomatic engagement of His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal, and His Excellency Faure Gnassingbé President of the Togolese Republic, and the diplomatic efforts of the chairman of authority, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other individual member states towards these three countries,” he said.

“The authority takes note of the notification by Bukina Faso, Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger of their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS. The authority acknowledges that in accordance with the provisions of Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS treaty, the three countries will officially cease to be members of ECOWAS from 29 January, 2025.

“The authority decides to set the period from 29 January, 2025 to 29 July 2025 as a transitional period and to keep ECOWAS doors open to the three countries during the transition period.

”In this regard, the authority extends the mandate of President faure Gnassingbé of Togo, and President Faye of Senegal to continue their mediation rule up to the end of the transition period to bring the three member countries back to ECOWAS.”

Touray said withdrawal formalities would be launched after the January 29, 2025 deadline.

He said a contingency plan covering various areas would be drawn up.

“The authority directs the council of ministers to convene an extraordinary session during the second quarter of 2025 to consider and adopt both separation modalities and the contingency plan covering political and economic relations between ECOWAS and the Republic of Niger, the Republic of Mali and Burkina Faso,” he said.

The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee disbursed a total of N2.08tn in allocations to Local Government Councils between July and December 2024, findings by The PUNCH have shown.

However, despite the July 2024 Supreme Court ruling granting full financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas, The PUNCH learnt that the allocations were still paid to state government accounts.

This, it was learnt, has irked officials and members of the Association of the Local Governments of Nigeria and National Union of Local Government Employees.

The landmark Supreme Court ruling directed that funds meant for LGs should be paid directly into their accounts, bypassing state governments, in an effort to promote autonomy and ensure that the funds allocated to local governments were properly utilised.

Nearly six months after the judgment, the Federal Government had not effected direct payment of allocations to the local governments, as directed by the apex court.

The PUNCH reported that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said the Federal Government was yet to commence direct payment to the respective LGs due to some “practical impediments.”

He added that a committee had been set up by the Federal Government to look at the practicability of the judgment.

The Federal Government, it was learnt, faced challenges implementing the ruling on local government financial autonomy, with concerns over its impact on salary payments and operational viability.

An analysis of communiqués released after the monthly meeting of Federation Accounts Allocation Committee showed that from July to December 2024, the total distributable revenue amounted to N8.351tn, which was shared among the Federal Government, States, and Local Government Councils. The disbursements for each month were as follows:

In July 2024, the total revenue shared was N1.354tn. The Federal Government received N459.776bn, while the States received N461.979bn and the Local Government Councils received N337.019bn.

In August 2024, the total distributable revenue increased to N1.358tn. The Federal Government received N431.079bn, the States N473.477bn, and the LGCs N343.703bn, a slight increase of N6.684bn from the previous month. This represents a 2 per cent increase in the amount allocated to LGCs.

September 2024 saw a decrease in the total distributable revenue, which fell to N1.203tn. The Federal Government received N374.925bn, the States N422.861bn, and the Local Government Councils N306.533bn. This marked a significant drop of N37.170bn in LGC allocations compared to August 2024, a decrease of 10.1 per cent.

In October 2024, the total distributable revenue rose to N1.298tn. The Federal Government received N424.867bn, the States received N453.724bn, and the LGCs received N329.864bn. This marked an increase of N23.331bn, representing a 7.6 per cent rise in allocations to the LGCs from September.

The trend continued in November 2024, with the total distributable revenue increasing to N1.411tn. The Federal Government received N433.021bn, the States received N490.696bn, and the Local Government Councils received N355.621bn. This represented an increase of N25.757bn, or 7.8 per cent, compared to the previous month for LGC.

In December 2024, the total distributable revenue reached N1.727tn, the highest amount of the six-month period. The Federal Government received N581.856bn, the States N549.792bn, and the Local Government Councils received N402.553bn. This was the largest allocation to the LGs, with an increase of N46.932bn, which equated to a 13.2 per cent rise from November.

Over the six-month period, the total amount allocated to the Local Government Councils was N2.075tn out of the N8.351tn total distributable revenue. This allocation represents approximately 24.9 per cent of the total revenue shared.

The PUNCH further observed that there was a 72.06 per cent increase in the allocations to local governments between July to December 2024 when compared to the same period of the previous year.

This means that there was an increase of N869bn from the N1.206tn allocated to local government councils within the same period last year.

The month of December saw the highest allocation to LGCs, marking a significant 13.2 per cent increase from the previous month. This sharp rise in December followed a steady upward trajectory in LGC allocations, with the biggest percentage increase seen in the final month of the year.

Despite these large disbursements, the question of whether the Supreme Court’s directive will be fully implemented remains unanswered.

In July this year, the Supreme Court declared that it is unconstitutional for state governors to hold funds allocated for local government administrations.

The seven-man panel, in the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, declared that the 774 local government councils in the country should manage their funds themselves.

The apex court held that the power of the government is portioned into three arms of government, the federal, the state and the local government.

The court further declared that a state government has no power to appoint a caretaker committee and a local government council is only recognisable with a democratically elected government.

The judgment held that the use of a caretaker committee amounts to the state government taking control of the local government and is in violation of the 1999 Constitution.

The court ruled that state governments are perpetuating a dangerous trend by refusing to allow democratically elected local government councils to function, instead appointing their loyalists who can only be removed by them.

The court stated that it is the local government that should receive and manage funds meant for local government.

The judgment held that the local government council funds must be paid to only democratically elected local government councils stating that “anything other than this will be taken as a gross misconduct.”

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), earlier issued a stern warning to state governors bypassing the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, threatening to seek a contempt of court suit if the defiance continues.

Fagbemi also cautioned local government chairmen across the country against mismanaging or looting public funds.

The AGF stressed that the autonomy granted to local governments by the Supreme Court is to empower the grassroots and not for carting public funds into private pockets as such attitude will not go unpunished.

ALGON, NULGE kick

The Secretary-General of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Mohammed Abubakar, while speaking on the delay in the direct payment of federal allocation to local governments, lamented the non-implementation of the Supreme Court ruling.

“Sincerely, we are all in the dark as we stand now. People who don’t want this LG autonomy to work are having a field day. Ordinarily, the Supreme Court judgment should not be left unattended. We are in the dark, to the extent that we cannot pinpoint what the government is trying to achieve by not enforcing the Supreme Court judgment allowing allocation to be paid directly to local government accounts,” Abubakar told The PUNCH.

He added, “The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees and ALGON had made their submissions that the LGs accounts should be opened across board and submitted to the Office of The Accountant-General for the allocation to be disbursed directly.

“But the governors are claiming that they already utilised funds for the interest of the local governments. They also argued that the local governments’ money is not enough to take care of all the health and the primary school teachers. But we are saying they should allow the implementation first, then we can make a case for whatever deficiencies we have.

“In a situation where you don’t act but worry about some issues raised by the governors, which include that they have incurred a lot of loans on behalf of the local governments, then we may not have a way forward. So, these are the bottlenecks that we understand are causing these delays, but again there can be a way out of these issues and we have proffered some solutions to the committee. It is best known to the committee why it has not carried out the advice we gave to them.”

Also, the Ogun State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, Bayo Adefesobi, on Monday blamed the Federal Government for the non-implementation of the court judgment.

“We have not seen the implementation of LG autonomy in Ogun State just as it is across the country. The blame for the non-implementation should go to the Federal Government that made the pronouncement but refused to follow up on its decision.

“Once the Federal Government pays the allocation into the respective accounts of the local governments, the chairmen will access the funds and use them for grassroots development. So, we all await the Federal Government to do the needful.”

The Chairman, Kwara State chapter of NULGE, Seun Oyinlade, expressed disappointment over the non-implementation of the LG autonomy six months after the judgment.

He said “All the 16 local governments in the state did not receive their allocations directly from the Federal Government. If the councils had received direct allocation from the Federal Government, there would have been no need for the JAAC meeting held with the council officials before the payment of LG workers’ salaries for the month of November.”

Speaking with one of our correspondents, ex-chairman of Atakumosa West LG in Osun State, Francis Famurewa, lamented the fate of the lgs, saying despite being elected, LG chairmen were made to take instructions from the state’s Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, an appointee of the governor.

Asked if he was satisfied with the situation of the LGs, Famurewa said, “Nobody will be satisfied with the current situation where local governments are appendages of the state.

“Most of the time, they are not just appendages, they are under the control of the Ministry of Local Government. When I was in office as chairman, we were more under the Commissioner for Local Government, which was a terrible scenario.”

The Senator representing Abia South senatorial district in Abia State, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has claimed the Igbos are the most disenfranchised and marginalised people in Nigeria.

The Senator made this known in Abuja on Saturday during a public presentation of a book: “The power of Nothing: Triumph And Trump Of People’s Voice In Enugu”, written by Ikem Okuhu.

Abaribe, who was represented at the occasion by Senator representing Aba North/South Federal Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, said there is an imbalance within the nation’s political environment.

The Senator insisted that allocating only five states to the Southeast is unfair.

He also called on Nigerian citizens and politicians to embrace the optimism to make the country better.

He said, “I would like to say a few things about the Igbos. We Igbos believe in progressivism, and the concept of patriotism and nationalism.

“And this is why you will see an Igbo man pack up his bag and leave his village to Bauchi to set up shops, buy a piece of land, build a house, and become an employer of labour. That in itself, for me, is nationalism, patriotism and progressivism.

“That’s why the Igbo man has that enthusiasm in him to develop, to be progressive, and to remain optimistic. That’s why I said that optimism is a virtue every Nigerian and politician must embrace so that Nigeria will always be better.

“A lot of people might not like what I want to say, the Igbos, we are the most disenfranchised and marginalized. But all we try to do and encourage our brothers is to support one another because it’s highly needed.”

Speaking about the book by Okuhu, which chronicled the events leading to and after the 2023 gubernatorial election, Abaribe urged Nigerians to engage in politics and government policies.

He added, “Today we are having a conversation about tax reform. It’s a subject matter that’s on the front burner.

“If the bill is passed that means every activity that relates to your business will be affected. So when you say you’re not interested in politics, you’re doing yourself and family a great disservice.

“Our president, when he was elected, on the day of his inauguration made a statement and said that subsidy is gone.

“Immediately, the effect of that statement became something that has put us in an economic quagmire.

“This goes to show that politics plays a very intricate role in all our lives. That’s why we must be enthusiastic, eager and receptive to anything that relates to lessons that can be learned from the mistakes of the past.

“It’s only when you identify your problem, you identify the conundrum of the political system that you can then begin also to identify the clinical solutions of how those problems can be tackled.

“There are things that happened, there are people that believe they have built alliances, there are people that gave their words but at the end of the day, those agreements were breached. This is a lesson every politician must learn.”

Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has called on President Bola Tinubu to caution Vice President Kashim Shettima against further verbal attacks on Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Conservative Party.

Igboho’s statement, obtained in Osogbo on Sunday, came in response to Shettima’s remarks about Badenoch, who had earlier made critical comments on corruption in Nigeria.

Badenoch, who identifies as Yoruba, had also distanced herself from being grouped with Northern Nigeria.

In a personally signed press release, Igboho urged Tinubu to intervene, noting that Badenoch had done no wrong in expressing her views on corruption, a persistent obstacle to Nigeria’s development.

“It is incumbent on President Bola Tinubu, who is also of Yoruba lineage, to direct Shettima to focus on his duties as vice president rather than engage in a verbal war against Badenoch. She merely expressed her candid and truthful opinion on the pervasive corruption in Nigeria’s system,” Igboho said.

Drawing comparisons to the previous administration, he added, “When Muhammadu Buhari was in power, nobody dared launch offensive or verbal attacks against his Fulani ethnic group without facing consequences.

“Because of my agitation against the destruction of farmlands, killings, and sexual violence by Fulani herders during Buhari’s tenure, security agents, on his orders, stormed my residence on July 1, 2021, killing two people and arresting 13 others.”

Igboho criticised the Federal Government for its failure to address the challenges plaguing Nigerians, including economic hardship, poverty, kidnapping, and insecurity. Instead of focusing on these pressing issues, he said, Shettima had chosen to target Badenoch.

“Majority of Nigerians are experiencing harrowing poverty and insecurity, yet the Federal Government remains lost in finding solutions. Rather than deploying measures to alleviate the suffering of the masses, the Vice President is busy directing his energy toward Badenoch,” he stated.

Igboho further said, “When has it become a sin for someone to express their opinion or state the obvious about how corruption has stunted Nigeria’s growth?

“Badenoch, proclaiming her true identity as Yoruba, has committed no offence. The Vice President should concentrate on his responsibilities instead of chasing shadows.”

He implored Tinubu to intervene and ensure Shettima refrained from unnecessary verbal assaults on Badenoch, urging him to prioritise the duties of his office.