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The internet outage which hit Nigeria and some other African countries may persist for up to five weeks, according to the latest reports.
In an update yesterday, one of the undersea cable companies affected by the service disruptions, MainOne, said that the situation might persist for two to three weeks for the problem to be fixed.
It explained that investigations revealed that the fault came from an external incident that resulted in a cut on the submarine cable system in the ocean.
MainOne said the rectification of the fault, retrieving necessary spares required for repair, “sailing to the fault location for the repair work might take one to two weeks, while about two to three weeks of transit time may be required for the vessel to pick up the spares and travel from Europe to West Africa once the vessel is mobilised”.Massive internet outages have been reported in Nigeria following damage to international undersea cables supplying connectivity.
Telecommunications companies and a number of banks which rely on the affected cables for internet services have been affected by the outage. According to reports, the damage affected major undersea cables near Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire and has led to internet downtime across West and South African countries. The undersea cables affected are the West Africa Cable System (WACS), the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE), MainOne, and SAT3.
However, Glo 1, owned by Nigeria’s leading digital services company, Globacom, was not affected by the damage and has continued to operate normally. Data users, internet service providers and financial institutions which run on Glo 1 have continued to operate normally.
Industry analysts believe the ‘sturdy’ nature and resilience of Glo 1 International Submarine Cable is the reason the damage did not affect the cable.
The Lagos state Police Command has arrested one Adepoju Ifedayo for allegedly defiling a 13-year-old sister.
This was made known in a statement shared by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, on his X account on Saturday.
Sharing a picture of the suspect, Hundeyin wrote, “Adepoju Ifedayo reported to the police that his neighbour allegedly defiled his 13-year-old sister.
“Investigation showed that he indeed was the culprit but was trying to divert attention.
“Following the survivor’s claim that she sighted a firearm in his room, a search was conducted in his apartment, leading to the recovery of two locally made firearms and three live cartridges – another count: unlawful possession of firearms. Investigation is ongoing.”
Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State in the Southwestern part of Nigeria is an ancient Yorùbá city founded by warriors. But unlike other Yorùbá towns and villages, Ibadan has an age-long unique obaship system.
Maybe not totally strange, but Ibadan has further validated the state as a ‘pace setter’ in recent times, in terms of little twist to ascension to the first-class stool of Olubadan.
In this article, we’ll explore 6 things you should know about the Obaship system in Ibadan.
1.Olubadan Ascension Ladders
There are two lines of ascension to the throne of Olubadan. These are the Olubadan (Civil) Line and Balogun (Military) Line. After clinching the title of Mogaji from one’s compound. Depending on the line, such a person has 22 stages to climb in the Civil Line while that of the Military Line is 23 towards the throne of Olubadan. Both lines start from Jagun.
Chieftaincy Stages in the Civil Line (Olubadan or Egbe Agba)
- Otun Olubadan
- Osi Olubadan
- Asipa Olubadan
- Ekerin olubadan
- Ekaarun Olubadan
- Abese
- Maye
- Ẹkẹfa
- Agba- Akin
- Aare – Alasa
- Ikọlaba
- Asaju
- Ayingun
- Aare – Agọ
- Laguna
- Oota
- Aare – Egbe – Omo
- Gbonnka
- Aare – Onibon
- Bada
- Ajia
- Jagun
Chieftaincy Stages in the Military Line (Egbe Balogun)
- Balogun
- Otun Balogun
- Osi Balogun
- Asipa Balogun
- Ekerin Balogun
- Ekarun Balogun
- Abese
- Maye
- Ẹkẹfa
- Agba- Akin
- Aare – Alasa
- Ikọlaba
- Asaju
- Ayingun
- Aare – Agọ
- Laguna
- Oota
- Aare – Egbe – Omo
- Gbonnka
- Aare – Onibon
- Bada
- Ajia
- Jagun
2. Civil and Military Lines Rotation
The two lines of the chieftaincy structure produce Olubadan on a rotational basis. Though there is also one Seriki line, it is meant to be a youth group fused into the Balogun line just as Iyaloja is, to the Civil line. That’s just by the way.
Back to the focus here. The stool of Olubadan is alternated between the Olubadan line and Balogun line. For instance, Oba Dr. Moshood Lekan Balogun Alli Okunmade II that recently joined his ancestors was from the Olubadan (Civil) line. He succeeded Oba Saliu Adetunji Aje Ogugunso 1 from the military line, who joined his ancestors on 2nd of January, 2022.
Therefore, the next Olubadan is expected to come from the Military line.
3. No Specific Royal House(s)
In most of the Yorùbá Obaship structure, there’s usually two or three ruling houses (or even more) who constitute the royal families. For those places, the ascension to the throne is rotated between only the royal families.
But the Obaship system in Ibadan is different. Anyone can become Olubadan, inasmuch as you’re a true son of Ibadan — and must climb either of the two ladders to the top.
4. Promotion of Lesser Oba
Though this practice is new to the system. It started when the former Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, in an attempt to modernise the system, promoted some High Chiefs and Baales to Oba.
After a fierce battle for the soul of the age-long Ibadan Obaship system, Ajimobi’s successor, Governor Seyi Makinde, withdrew their crowns as part of the condition to settle out of court.
However, the Governor subsequently sought approval of the state House of Assembly to allow traditional heads (high chiefs) to wear beaded crowns by amending section 28 of the Oyo State Chieftaincy Law 2023.
Therefore, the governor re-elevated the 10 high chiefs in Olubadan-in-Council to the Obaship status of in July, 2023. But the ascension line of Obaship system remains unchanged.
With this, Ibadan is arguably the first Yorùbá town/city where a lesser Oba is being promoted to become another or better put: a superior Oba.
5. Aged Monarch
For most places in Yorùbá land, the attention has shifted to youths in selection of king for their respective town. However, one of the amazing characteristics of the Ibadan Obaship system is how it produces an aged monarch.
This is obviously due to the number of stages one has to pass through before being ranked next in line, and eventually become Olubadan. The promotion in either of the two lines occurs when a successor is picked from the line.
For instance, with an 84-year-old Oba Owólabí Olakulehin succeeding late Ọba Moshood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, there will be promotion in the Balogun (military) line of the Obaship system.
However, the Civil line, headed by the current Otun Olubadan and former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, remains unchanged until the next in line is picked as successor of Oba Owólabí Olakulehin, as new Olubadan.
Note: Death can also influence promotion on the ladder.
6. Longest-serving Olubadan
Due to the Ibadan Obaship system, most of the past Olubadans ascended the throne at old age. Let’s take a look at the most recent.
Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogugunso 1, became the 41st Olubadan on April 4, 2016 at the age of 87 years and passed away in 2022 at the age of 93 years.
His successor, Ọba Moshood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, was crowned 42nd Olubadan on March 11, 2022 at the age of 79 years and died on Thursday, 14th March 2024 at the age of 81 years.
However, while many of these Obas had short-lived reigns as Olubadan, Oba Okunola Abaasi Alesinloye Isale Ijebu reigned for 16 years. He ruled between 1930 and 1946.
Brigadier General, Tukur Gusau has explained how military personnel were attacked during a peace mission in miDelta.
This was released in a press statement via the @DefenceInfoNG X handle on Saturday, 16th March, 2024.
Tukur said that the soldiers from the 181 Amphibious Battalion went to OkUOMA community in Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State, to help keep peace.
However, things turned bad when some young people from the community surrounded them and killed them on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
This happened during a fight between the Okuama and Okoloba communities nearby.
Even when more soldiers came to help, they were also attacked. The leader of the soldiers, called the Commanding Officer, and others like two Majors, a Captain, and twelve soldiers were killed too.
Reacting swiftly to the harrowing incident, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), wasted no time in issuing directives for an immediate investigation and apprehension of those responsible for the grievous crime.
The Delta State Government was promptly informed of the appalling occurrence, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Despite the heart-wrenching setback, the military stands resolute in its unwavering commitment to upholding peace and security across the nation.
While initial arrests have been made, efforts are underway to untangle the motives behind this brazen attack.
Additional updates on the investigation are expected to follow as the authorities diligently pursue justice for the fallen soldiers and their families.
Renowned Nigerian DJ, DJ Neptune, has launched a scathing criticism against the Nigerian Senate, accusing its members, under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio, of prioritising personal gain over national interest.
The DJ’s comments came in the wake of the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi, who had raised allegations of budget padding during a tumultuous session of the Senate on Tuesday.
In his outspoken critique, DJ Neptune condemned the actions of the Senate, asserting that the institution is plagued by self-serving agendas rather than a dedication to the welfare of the nation.
The suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi, for daring to expose alleged budget irregularities, further underscored Neptune’s indictment of the Senate’s leadership.
Neptune’s remarks were particularly pointed, as he lamented the apparent lack of genuine public service among Nigerian senators.
“No senator is serving Nigeria but their pockets,” the DJ declared, reflecting a growing sentiment of disillusionment among many Nigerians towards their political representatives.
The controversy surrounding the 2024 budget, exacerbated by Ningi’s suspension, has reignited concerns about transparency and accountability within Nigeria’s legislative body.
The uproar during the Senate’s plenary session underscored the deep-seated tensions and divisions within the institution, as lawmakers grappled with allegations of misconduct and malfeasance.
As a prominent figure within the Nigerian entertainment industry, his criticism carries weight and may galvanize further scrutiny of the Senate’s actions and policies.
TV host and social media personality, Toke Makinwa, may have subtly revealed her wish to become a mother someday.
Makinwa recently opened up about her heartfelt desire to embrace motherhood.
In a touching message shared on her social media platform, she expressed profound affection for her goddaughter, whose presence has illuminated her life.
She described the impact the child has had on her, admitting that the love she feels for her goddaughter has stirred a longing within her to become a mother herself.
Acknowledging her goddaughter’s influence on her maternal instincts, Toke expresses gratitude to her sister for entrusting her with the role of godmother.
This gesture, she implies, has provided her with a sense of fulfillment and purpose, reinforcing her aspiration to nurture and care for a child of her own.
Despite not having given birth yet, she radiates anticipation for the eventual fulfillment of her dream of motherhood.
“I cannot wait to be a Mother, I know it’s in the cards for me and it’ll happen soon, till then I’ll celebrate my first ever Mother’s Day as your godmother.”
The Northern Elders Forum has supported plans by Kaduna-based Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, to engage in dialogue with bandits who abducted about 287 schoolchildren from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
It stated that Gumi may be able to secure their release and prevent future abduction.
Insecurity has continued to increase in the Northern region, particularly in Kaduna and Borno states, in recent times.
In less than 24 hours, insurgents abducted 200 internally displaced women in Borno and 287 pupils and teachers from the two schools in Kaduna.
The terrorists reportedly invaded Kuriga shooting at their targets before whisking away the pupils and teachers from the schools.
In a bid to secure their release, the prominent Islamic scholar urged President Bola Tinubu to allow him to negotiate with the bandits.
He also urged the President not to repeat the mistake made by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who refused to dialogue with the bandits.
But the Federal Government on Wednesday said it would not pay “a dime” as a ransom for the release of school children, adding that they would be “brought back to safety”.
In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, NEF’s Spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said Gumi should be supported “to bring about a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Kaduna”.
According to him, negotiating with bandits did not mean “condoning their actions or granting them impunity,” adding that it was a strategic move to “de-escalate” the situation and save the lives of victims.
He said, “While some may question the legitimacy of negotiating with criminals, it is important to consider the potential benefits of engaging in dialogue. In conflict resolution, dialogue is often seen as crucial to finding peaceful solutions.
“By engaging with the bandits, Gumi may be able to understand their grievances and motivations, which could potentially lead to the safe release of the abducted children. Additionally, opening lines of communication with the bandits could pave the way for addressing underlying issues such as poverty, lack of education, and marginalisation that contribute to the cycle of violence.”
Speaking further, Suleiman said, “Moreover, pursuing a dialogue with the bandits does not necessarily mean condoning their actions or granting them impunity. It is a strategic move to de-escalate the situation and protect the lives of innocent victims.
“By initiating talks, Gumi may be able to secure the release of the schoolchildren and potentially prevent future abductions. While dialogue with bandits may seem controversial, it can be a necessary step in resolving conflicts and ensuring the safety of hostages; Gumi’s intention to engage in dialogue should be supported as a means to bring about a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Kaduna.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced that its Maiduguri Zonal Command has arraigned two Bureau-De-Change (BDC) operators, identified as Ahmadu Haruna and Kabir Iliyasu, for conducting business activities without the necessary license.
The defendants were arraigned on a one-count separate charge before Justice Fadimatu Aminu of the Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu .
The charge against Haruna read, "That you, Ahmadu Haruna, between the month of June 2023 and 2024 in Damaturu, Yobe State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did carry on other financial businesses, to wit, bureau de change business without a license issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria contrary to sections 57 and 59(5) of the Bank and other Financial Institutions Act, 2020."
However, the defendants pleaded "not guilty" to the charges raised against them by the EFCC when they were read to them.
The prosecution Counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmad, thereafter, prayed the court for a trial date and to remand the defendants in prison custody. While counsel for the defendants I. Abdulmalik prayed the court to admit his clients to bail pending the determination of the case.
Justice Aminu, in her decision admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N5,000,000 and two sureties in like sum.
The judge further ordered that one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler or religious leader while the other should be a respected elder and all must be residing in any Local Government Areas of Yobe State.
She adjourned the matter till April 16, 2024, for the commencement of trial and remanded the defendants in Potiskum Correctional Facility pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions.
The parents of the abducted schoolchildren at Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, have turned to prayers in hopes of the safe return of their children.
Their resolve followed their inability to meet up with the sum of N1 billion demanded as ransom by the bandits responsible for the children’s abduction.
The parents said with the demand of N1 billion ransom made by the bandits and the threat to kill the children if they fail to pay the ransom within 20 days, the community has come to the conclusion that only God and government can rescue their children.
To this end, they said, they have decided to seize the opportunity provided by the Ramadan period to pray, fast and constantly recite the Qur’an as a way of seeking God’s face and securing His intervention for the safe return of the innocent children.
They also called on the state and federal governments not to renege on their promise to rescue the 287 children.
One of the parents, Nasiru Zakari Kuriga, who expressed confidence that the government would keep its promise to ensure safe return of their children, urged the government to focus on its promise.
Kuriga also called on government to shelve pronouncements that are capable of worsening the traumatic conditions of the affected parents.
He said: “The government has promised us to do whatever is possible to rescue our children.
“We believe in the government and we are confident that it is making efforts.
“However, the government should stop pronouncements that are capable of sending us, especially our women, to the hospital.
“Some women have four children in the bandits’ captivity.”
Kuriga also confirmed earlier reports that the bandits who abducted the schoolchildren had called to demand a billion naira as ransom.
“Truly, these people have called. But the government has promised us, particularly when Governor Uba Sani came here, that, it will bring back our children safely.
“We as a community believe in the promise made by the government and we don’t want to interfere in what the government is doing.
“We the parents of these children, especially women, have not been in stable conditions since this unfortunate incident happened.
“What we want is for the government to quickly follow all the necessary steps to secure the freedom of these children.
“We are not talking about four or five children here. We are talking of about 300 children.
“So, the government should concentrate on the rescue effort,” he said.
Reacting to the news of Federal Government’s resolve against payment of ransom, Kuriga said: “The government should please not come out clear to us on what it will do and what it will not do, because coming out to tell us that government will not pay ransom is like spoiling 10 things while attempting to repair five things.
“If government tells categorically that it will not pay ransom, it will cause more damage than the one on ground. This is because there is no one capable of securing the release of these children, other than the government.
“If government makes such pronouncements, parents that would be hospitalised will be more than the number of children in captivity.
“This is because some women have up to five children in the bandits’ captivity. So, it will be disastrous for government to tell such women that government is not ready to pay ransom.
“So, government should follow it step by step. We know government is trying and we believe in the efforts of the government to rescue the children.
“We are supporting the government in its efforts. Every day now, we recite complete Qur’an. We are praying that God will make the children come safe and sound,” he said.
Another parent, Abdullahi Umar, said even the bandits know that even the entire community cannot raise N1 billion, because they are poor farmers whose economic activities have been destroyed by the same bandits.
The Labour Party (LP) has accused the National President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, of desperately seeking to replace its National Chairman, Julius Abure.
The party’s spokesman, Obiorha Ifoh, made the accusation in a statement issued on Saturday in response to a letter written by the political wing of the NLC, the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission (NLCPC).
In the letter on Friday jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Titus Amba and Chris Uyot respectively, the Commission alleged that Abure and the NWC were proposing a ‘secret’ national convention in Umuahia, Abia State capital on March 27.
The NLCPC said the convention will be used to re-elect Abure as a ‘sole administrator’ and called for the immediate resignation of Abure as the party chairman and the constitution of a caretaker transition committee to organise a national convention.
However, according to Ifoh, the call for Abure’s resignation was being orchestrated by Ajaero over his alleged ambition to become the next national chairman of the party.
Ifoh said the leadership of the party will not take order from unionists who are not card-carrying members of their party.
Ifoh also stated that the said national convention planned to be held in Umuahia on March 27 will go on as planned.
He said, “The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to a press 4elease titled ‘A misadventure in political mischief, mismanagement and misdemeanour gone too far’ written by the NLC’s Political Commission as an agent of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“The NLC letter did not come to us as a surprise or a shock. It was long expected before now, having known that the NLC was going to engage itself in this misadventure.
“Nigerians will recall that in 2014, NLC has been involved in a war of blackmail and attrition against the Labour Party and its leadership. It was only recently, following the civil and diplomatic approach adopted by Julius Abure when he assumed leadership that he was able to get the then President of the NLC, Ayuba Waba, and the then President of the Trade Union Congress, Olaleye Quadri, to a truce where the NLC, TUC and Labour Party agreed to work together in harmony.
“Unfortunately, the rascality of the current president of the NLC, Joe Ajero, has destroyed the successes already recorded. It must be noted that the NLC and its political commission have become a bundle of contradiction and paradox. The Nigeria Labour Congress has written several letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission and to the party on the need to conduct a national convention.”
Ifoh said the party leadership eventually yielded to the agitation for the national convention, which was fully backed by Article 14:4b of the party Constitution.
Ifoh added that if Ajaero and his loyalists are not contented with the provision, he should be advised to quit his position and officially join the race to wrest power from Abure.
He, however, urged the unionists to consider becoming members of the party at ward level as genuine politicking starts from the grassroots.
stated that the leadership of the party eventually yielded to the agitation for the national convention, which was fully backed by Article 14:4b of the party Constitution.
Ifoh added that if the NLC president and his loyalists are not contented with the provision, Ajaero should be advised to quit his position and officially join the race to wrest power from Abure.
He, however, urged the unionists to consider becoming members of the party at the ward level before aspiring to become the party’s chairman.
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An elder statesman, Ayo Adebanjo, had said President Bola Tinubu and his colleagues who were South-West Governors in 1999 failed Nigerians.
The chieftain of the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, said the former governors were scared to insist on a new constitution when they were in power and had the opportunity to do so.
He said Tinubu and his colleagues failed to demand a Sovereign National Conference after the then-military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, decided to return the country to democracy after the death of ex-military dictator Sani Abacha.
Naija News reports that Adebanjo stated these during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, which was aired on Channels Television on Friday.
The elder statesman said Tinubu now has the opportunity to rewrite the 1999 Constitution as President, having failed to insist on federalism as Lagos governor in 1999.
He said a brand-new people’s constitution will end some of the existential problems in the country, especially the menace of insecurity, as a people’s constitution will make room for state police.
Adebanjo said, “There was a clamour for a Sovereign National Conference at that time (in the buildup to the 1999 election). The military said they were going back to the barracks, and we said, ‘Well, go back to the barracks with your constitution; it’s your baggage and return us to where you met us. If you are not going to do that, schedule another conference, and we will agree on how to live together.
“He said the Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere refused to participate in any deliberations with the Abdulsalami Abubakar regime but later agreed to participate in the 1999 election after getting assurances that there would be a Sovereign National Conference thereafter. So, we contested that election on protest.
“This is why I disagreed with ex-Governors (Bisi) Akande and (Segun) Osoba. When we were campaigning for them to be governors, it was on the heels of federalism and the Sovereign National Conference.
“We insisted that the constitution must be changed. So, when we (Alliance for Democracy) came in, we got the people’s mandate; we won the election in the whole of the Western Region. We told all our governors, including Bola Tinubu, not to go to Abuja until the Federal Government changed the constitution, but they chickened out; they were involved in the paraphernalia of office. That is the beginning of Nigeria’s struggle.”
Grammy award-winning Nigerian singer, Ayodeji Balogun, better known as Wizkid, has clarified that he is not an Afrobeats singer.
The ‘Ojuelegba’ crooner made this known via his Instastories on his Instagram page on Friday night, ahead of his next album’s release.
Wizkid warned fans not to expect an Afrobeats version of him on the project, and those who do not want to download the song should delete him from their playlist.
He wrote, “Album done! See you soon b*tches!
“And abeg if you like Pakurumo Wizkid, don’t download this new album. In fact, delete me from your playlist and your life!
“If you like Afrobeats, don’t download my album. I’m not a f*cking Afrobeats artiste. I am not Afro anything.”
Afro-pop singer Ikuforiji Olaitan, popularly known as Oxlade, has revealed that he lost endorsement deals worth over N400 million after his sex tape got leaked.
DAILY POST recalls that Oxlade’s sex tape with an unidentified lady was leaked from Snapchat in February 2022.
Speaking in the latest episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast, Oxlade disclosed that he was been blackmailed with the video before it got leaked.
He explained that he felt relieved when the sex tape got leaked because he was tired of the blackmailer using it to extort money from him.
He, however, admitted that the scandal affected his family and his mental health as well as his brand.
Any Nigerian who could see to the evacuation of 503 Nigerians from South Africa during xenophobic attacks in 2019 free of charge, bring back stranded Nigerians from China, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Dubai and South Africa at the height of the dreaded Covid 19 pandemic in 2020, using his airline, Air Peace, and paid to bring home 584 Nigerians from the UK deserves to be celebrated.
But that is not all. This Nigerian is an enigma!
Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, 59, a lawyer, peacemaker and entrepreneur is a reporter’s delight. He is the proprietor of Air Peace Airlines. He just shocked the airline world again. Possessed with courage, patriotism and an uncanny love for country, Allen Onyema just crashed the prohibitive Lagos/London fare with his proposed commencement of flights from Lagos to London next week. From a callously exploitative cost of N15m/N17m business class ticket and N4m economy class, to about N4m business class and N1.2m economy, and a further 15% discount for students, this Anambra-born entrepreneur deserves an applause. Once he announced his Air Peace fares on that route, other international airlines started reducing their air fares.
Last Tuesday, Onyema hosted the quartet of Onochie Anibeze, Editor, Saturday Vanguard; Jide Ajani, General Ediror; Charles Kumolu, Deputy Editor, Sunday Vanguard; and Clifford Ndujihe, Politics Editor. It was the presentation of the letter of award as Vanguard’s Personality of The Year. Formalities over, an interview session followed. And Onyema spoke. He was blunt – in fact, too blunt, some times, for his own good. But we had to take it all in. After all, every statement he made represented an over-swirling lava of patriotism. Here was a man who almost singlehandedly created the process that led to the surrender of Niger Delta militants through his nonviolence advocacy and the ultimate Amnesty Programme.
From contemporary issues of the economy, governance, President Tinubu and what Nigerians and Nigeria need to do to regain her esteem in the comity of nations, Onyema waxed avuncular, suggesting apolitical and nonpartisan pathways to progress and development.
Excerpts:
On being nominated as Vanguard Personality of the Year, 2023
I thank the Publisher, staff and everyone in Vanguard, who deemed it fit to consider me Personality of the Year, 2023. I cherish this award because it is not for all-comers. I really appreciate it. Receiving this is a huge honour for me and a challenge to do more. An award of this kind helps in nation-building. It is part of the reasons I recognize those who toiled for the nation in the past.
On Air Peace London route and impact on the Aviation industry and Nigeria’s economy
If not for anything, I am one of the happiest persons on earth today. Even if Air Peace is told not to go to London again, this airline has achieved something for this nation at a time when the country is in doldrums. At a time this country is going through social and economic stress, Air Peace has come in to give this country succour. If nobody wants to praise us, we are praising ourselves. If nobody wants to recognise what we have done for this country in the last two weeks, we will praise ourselves.
In the face of daunting hostile problems even from government agencies, we did something great. Therefore, I will praise myself. Three weeks before now, Nigerians were paying N15 to 17 million to do a six-hour direct flight (business class) to London. Nigerians were paying N5 to 6 million (economy) to go to London. In order to avoid paying N17 million (business class), N6 million (economy), Nigerians had to travel round the world to get to London. There were situations in which Nigerians would fly to Qatar, an eight-hour flight, stay over for two hours before flying to London, which is another eight hours.
A whole 24 hours would be spent flying for a six-hour flight because a kind of fare regime was deliberately brought on my nation by foreign airlines. Over time, I have complained and I have been targeted both within and outside the country for my efforts towards building a nation. I am happy because I have been vindicated for those things I said.
How Nigerians suffered to fly to London
Nigerians were going to Rwanda, Morocco, Egypt even South Africa to go to London. To save money, they would fly down to South Africa (six hours) to get to London. No one can blame them. Like I always say, it is only indigenous investments that can protect this country. Foreign investments are good, but you also have to encourage indigenous investments to stabilize and succeed. Indigenous investments provide the real jobs and when the chips are down, they are the ones to save the country. When I talked, nobody wanted to listen to me, but I beat my chest and I am happy today. I am absolutely happy for what I have done for this nation in the last few days.
Do you know the millions of dollars or billions of Naira Air Peace has single- handedly saved for this country by what we did? From N17 million, we brought a Business class flight to London down to N4 million. From N6 million we brought economy class flight down to N1.2 million and even afforded our students a further 15 per cent of the N1.2 million.
What happened? Pandemonium in the aviation world. All the foreign airlines started scrambling for safety. They started scrambling for cover. Within 24 hours of Air Peace releasing its fares, those airlines brought their fares from N15 million to N5 million. As I speak to you, the fares are coming down. They are advertising and begging people on social media to fly with them.
I have said this overtime but because some people suffer from colonial mentality, slave mentality, they think everything foreign is okay. Do you know how much Nigeria is saving now because too much strain was put on the Naira? Within 24 hours, Air Peace brought foreign airlines to their knees. Air Peace and other Nigerian airlines deserve to be supported.
What kind of support do local airlines need from the government?
The problem we have in this country is that the public and government officials look at private investments as investments belonging to individual owners. What they don’t understand is that when Air Peace is going to London, it is representing Nigeria. As such, both the government and the people of Nigeria must support Air Peace wholly because things won’t be easy there (London). They are going to find faults to destabilize the airline.
It has happened before. When we went there to bring Nigerians back during COVID-19, they unleashed dogs on our aircraft. They didn’t even allow us to do a walk-around. They committed a certain breach and Nigeria protested to the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, protested to ICAO because that plane could have fallen out of the skies.
Once an aircraft takes off, even if it is for five minutes, that plane can never take off again until the engineer or the pilot does a walk around because anything could have breached the fuselage as of the time of flight. Such a situation can only happen to a Nigerian airline. If that is tried with America, they will come after that country. It is only in this country that people think that if Air Peace is supported, Allen Onyema has been supported.
Let me state clearly, it is no longer Allen Onyema’s airline, it belongs to the over 220 million Nigerians. At times I wonder what is driving the hate because to the best of my knowledge, I have paid my dues. I have sacrificed my family to be out there in the creeks when people could not look into the faces of militants. My activities, among others, brought down militancy. After all these interventions, you would expect to be supported, but nobody is supporting.
The kind of support we need is a sincere one from everyone. If these foreign airlines knew they could charge N5 million, why didn’t they do so before now? What has changed? President Bola Tinubu and his government should not be swayed because these foreign airlines undermine his government. When they overcharge, Nigerians take it up with the government, saying it is because of the dollar. They put everything on the doorstep of the president.
Nigerians unfair to Tinubu
Frankly, we are being unfair to President Tinubu by blaming every woe in the country on him. As a citizen, you have to play your part.
Allen Onyema has played his part. I have shown that with patriotic acts, we can move this country forward. If you are patriotic, you can’t engage in corruption. If you are patriotic, you will engender the ease of doing business in your country and encourage businesses to grow. If you are patriotic, you won’t stifle businesses out of wickedness. If you are patriotic, you will drive a positive narrative for your country. One doesn’t need to be president or governor to bring about social change. When I brought about social change in the Niger Delta, I wasn’t a councillor. If every citizen is contributing his or her quota, the country will move forward.
One thing I will say is the present government owes it a duty to support Air Peace, not only on the London route but also other routes. It also owes it a duty to support other Nigerian airlines because we have done something for this government that has cleaned its image.
Most Nigerians travelling abroad blame all their woes on Tinubu, saying it is because of him that fares escalated. The foreign airlines cashed in on the (exchange) situation to escalate their bills to N15 million.
Internal, international conspiracies against Nigeria’s economy
Unhealthy competition with foreign airlines for London, other foreign routes
It has started happening. Look at the fares they are publishing now on social media, they went below cost. We all know the fixed cost of both foreign and local airlines. When they brought down their fares to N5 million (business and N1.9 million (economy) that was okay. Now, the plan is to take out Air Peace from the market. If they succeed in taking us out now, they will return to the status quo. Nigerians will be fools to embrace their new love. Currently, foreign airlines are doing all sorts of market gimmicks. For instance, one airline published $98. That is why the government should support Air Peace wholeheartedly with whatever it takes. It is not about money. I am not asking them to give me money. Government should show that this airline belongs to Nigeria and must be protected.
When Delta Airlines came to Nigeria in 2007, the entire US State Department followed them. Go and touch Virgin Atlantic, the highest echelon of government in Britain will come calling. Touch Air Peace, they will tell you the owner is an Igboman, religion will also come in. Who did this to black man? I don’t know.
It is a pity that even government officials also say Nigerian airlines do not have capacity. It is a pity. It is unfortunate the way we treat our investors or indigenous investments. We did Hajj over a year ago but we have not been paid. Apart from that initial payment that was meagre, we have not been paid. About $9 million or $10 million they owe Air Peace and Azman, non been paid.
The requests for Forex by Nigerian airlines have also not been met. Our funds are trapped with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Air Peace borrowed money from the bank at 26 per cent, now the bank has changed it to 30 per cent. I also have my money stranded at CBN for almost a year.
Foreign airlines have been paid, why can’t the local airlines be paid? I remember the former acting governor of CBN, Mr Shonubi, he had compassion on me because I spoke about it at a conference held by the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA. I said I had 15 aircraft stranded abroad that needed to be brought back. However, the money ($14 million) was tied up at the CBN. Shonubi flew to Lagos and came to this office, which I respect because that is what a government official should do. Before the day he came here, I never knew him from anywhere. He didn’t treat me like I am an Igbo man and he is a Yoruba man. He realised that this is a major stakeholder in the economy of this country. He realised the importance of aviation and came here to explain what the issues were. Even though he couldn’t help me, I felt respected. He carried me along and made me understand the pains of President Tinubu’s government, that there was no dollar in the coffers. He asked if there was anything that could be done, he suggested if I could take some of it in Naira and see how I could get dollars. To date, I respect that man.
However, what happened to those after him? Do they pick calls? Do they even listen to you? The problem is not President Tinubu. He means well but he should look at his appointees. It is the appointees of the government that cause problems, not the elected man. They block the elected man from seeing the truth about things.
As far as I know President Tinubu, he means well for the country. When Tinubu came on board in 1999 as governor of Lagos, on the back of Brigadier General Buba Marwa’s successes, people were not patient because Marwa created a large shoe. For anyone to fit into those shoes, he had to outperform Marwa. When Tinubu came in, people were crying, just like it is happening now. But when he hit the road running, he outperformed whatever Marwa had done.
Sincerely, I believe it is the same way now. He inherited something not so good and I believe he has that vision, goodwill and good intent to help this country. What he needs is the right people to work with. That is all.
Back to Shonubi, who came here and pleaded with me. I told him, okay, maybe I would apply for some of that money to be given to me. Can you imagine an indigenous investor borrowing money at 26 per cent for the past one year? These are the same airlines they are saying are weak. As I speak, $14 million has not been paid and nobody is talking to me. When you call, the powers that be at the CBN, they are not answering. Let them know that we own this country together. I am a huge player, I have intervened for this country at the worst times, I have even intervened for this government with what I did 10 days ago.
When the government announced fuel subsidy removal, I was the first corporate body to announce an incentive for staff. I also called on other corporate bodies to do as I had done to cushion the effects of the rise in costs of items. How else do I support this government? Yet the powers that be look down and don’t want to do what is necessary. Let them give me my money.
On challenges the government is having in paying…
They will say it is the documentation. Which documentation? The bank has provided everything. Let them give me back my money or treat me like Shonubi treated me. I still respect that man to date and that is what government officials are supposed to do. Government officials are not your lord, it is the mistake they make in this country. Elected officials or appointed individuals are our servants. They should treat the polity and citizenry in that manner.
For the Hajj, they have not paid either us or Azman. Do you know why I keep telling you the problem of this country is not the President and his Vice? I went to the Vice President, who called the minister of Finance in my presence, asking: “What are you people doing about Allen Onyema’s money stranded on this Hajj issue? We can’t leave our private investors to suffer. Myself and the president are very worried about things like this. How are you people sorting it? It has lingered.”
The minister responded: “We are treating it.” The Vice President continued: “I want that payment to happen and I am going to meet Mr President on this.”
The Vice President met with the President. In fairness to President Tinubu, he approved the payment. President Tinubu ordered the release of about N24 billion to offset whatever is owed through Hajj operations. The Hajj Commission has collected it.
I pity the president of this country. People will do things that they are not supposed to do, act when they are not supposed to act and the president will be blamed. The president is not God and he cannot see everything at the same time. Vice President Kashim Shettima did what he was supposed to do, President Tinubu acted swiftly, but that money is still with the Hajj Commission domiciled at the CBN for almost one month now. As I speak, we have not been paid. We went to the Hajj Commission and they keep telling us tomorrow. Nobody will stop me from intervening for my country, I will never be dispirited from doing what I do for this country.
What really informed your participation in the Amnesty programme and de-radicalization of former Niger-Delta militants?
That was in 2004. I believe in broad nationalism. I hate ethnic and religious nationalism that has been the bane of this country. The fact that we don’t speak with one voice is a problem. This country has potential, which we have not been able to harness. I love our diversity and I think the numerous ethnic groups should be a source of strength. This country ought to be one of the greatest places under the sun, but we have not been able to realise our potential because of our inability to manage our diversity. From Government College Ughelli to University of Ibadan, I have been like this. I love this country. Dead or alive, I have no apologies to anyone for my love for Nigeria. I believe in one Nigeria.
Having said that, in 2004, we were at Emab Plaza in Abuja when I saw on television a clip where a kidnap of foreign oil workers was announced. I was preparing to do the first Nigeria Forever project, which I took around Nigeria and funded with hundreds of millions of Naira on my own just to bring peace to the motherland.
I remember that late President Shehu Shagari hosted me in Sokoto, brought me and my executive to his house to request that I stay with him for one night as I was doing great things for this country.
While making inquiries on how to deal with the Niger-Delta issue, I discovered the Niger-Delta people took to arms because nobody listened to their plights. I remember politicians had armed them in the past for political gains, so they had arms. If you go to the Niger-Delta, you will see that the water they drink is polluted. It is as black as ashes. They agitated against it but nobody listened to them, so they took up arms. They believe that, through arms, they would get attention and solutions to their problems.
Having studied the situation, I thought that their choice (violence) would lead to nowhere but further disruption. I realised that nonviolence was the way out, so I studied India and Mahatma Gandhi, who led the struggle against British rule without encouraging his people to take up arms. I also learnt about Martin Luther King Jr, who brought down official segregation in the United States without encouraging violence and Lech Walesa of Poland who, through the Solidarity Group, used nonviolence to bring down the communist government at a time it was almost impossible. It is instructive to add that South Africans ended apartheid when they embraced nonviolence.
Having carried out these studies, I now decided that I would bring nonviolence education to the militants, but I didn’t know how I would because I had never studied nonviolence in my life. Therefore, I applied to the University of Rhode Island Study Centre for nonviolence and peace study to attend their summer course. Having admitted me, I gave them 22 names among my staff for admission so that they could train us all after which we would come back to Nigeria and train the militants. They gave us admission and I paid. However, when we went to the embassy, we were denied visas.
I appealed to them that it was not about granting visas. I told them to come to Nigeria and train us. They came to Nigeria to train us. The rest is history. We now went in and started doing the programme. For every violent person, he wants out of violence but doesn’t know how to achieve that. Nonviolence education provided a route to liberation from the clutches of violence for the militants. They also saw the sincerity in purpose and embraced it. We took them to South Africa to deepen their knowledge.
So, America called us, gave us visas so they could deepen their knowledge. The rest is history. When Shell saw what was happening, it embraced the programme, bankrolled it, then Chevron later entered, Akwa Ibom State government and other oil companies also joined. Therefore, it was a matter of time before the death of militancy.
After a while, then late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua asked Timi Alaibe about me, saying there were positive reports about what I was doing with the militants. Yar’Adua brought the idea of training Tompolo, Asari and the rest so they could come and have a meeting with him. That was how they brought me in and the rest is history. I trained the over 30,000 people who registered under the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP when the so-called United Nations agencies and companies charged about N60 billion because they said it was a dangerous assignment.
On their own, the militant leaders held a meeting in Yenagoa to say that without the man who liberated us, we were not reporting to any camp. That was how I was brought in, even though I was not interested. To me, I was happy to walk away knowing that I had helped my country. The first time the government paid a kobo into my account, I became a suspect for money that wasn’t even enough. Everybody had forgotten that it was my billions I used in bringing solutions to the problem before the government came to me. In 2005, I charged as much as N250,000 for my programme per person and people sent their wards.
The military was coming, lawyers were coming. People wanted to acquire knowledge on nonviolence and I brought in Americans to teach them. How much was I supposed to charge five years later? When you look at inflation, dollars and everything, I was supposed to be charging like N3 million. Do you know how much I was offered by the government to teach the militants five years later? N112,000 per person and there were 30,000 persons. Though I told Timi Alaibe I wouldn’t do it, he begged. When the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, saw the contract, it marvelled. It was about N4 billion then. Meanwhile, they would have paid about N58 billion to foreign agencies.
Those foreign agencies were waiting for it to collapse but it didn’t. In fact, nobody was killed at the Obubra camp. The UN, European Union, British and American governments all visited there and couldn’t believe it. When they visited the camp in Obubra, Cross River State, they thought nothing was happening because everywhere was silent. To their surprise, the boys were in the halls undertaking their lectures without creating confusion. We used 13 halls. Everybody was amazed and they praised it. Foreign diplomats came to my house to dine and find out how I did it. Today, it is a different story.
[Vanguard]