It is almost 54 years since then head of state of Nigeria, Col.Yakubu Gowon officially received the instrument of surrender from Philip Effiong, on behalf of the self-declared Republic of Biafra. It would be recalled that the war started on the 6th of July, 1967.

Effiong, who was the deputy to the Biafran leader, Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu, had assumed the position of acting head of state, after Ojukwu, the leader of the secession bid had abandoned the struggle and proceeded out of the country.

More than five decades after a bitter civil war which lasted for about 30 months was fought to stop the bid to carve the then Eastern region out of Nigeria, to form a separate country, agitations to balkanise the country, have resurfaced with various groups and sub-groups issuing threats.

This is despite the fact that the Nigerian government, over the years has deliberately taken various measures to unite the people.

The Yakubu Gowon administration for instance introduced the three Rs: Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation programme, to foster integration and understanding amongst the diverse groups in Nigeria and later pursued schemes such as the Unity Schools and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Various governments also created many states to give aggrieved ethnic nationalities a sense of belonging. Little wonder that more than two decades after the Eastern region was reabsorbed into Nigeria, the country became free of such agitations.

But by the mid 90s, the nation woke up to fresh agitations from the South-western part of the country.

The military regimes of Murtala Muhammed/Olusegun Obasanjo; the civilian administration of Shehu Shagari; right through the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida did not have to deal with such agitations.

It was not until the regime of General Sani Abacha, that the South-western part of the country, seething from the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections, began to clamour for the validation of the mandate they insisted was won by Chief Moshood Abiola. They insisted that, that should be done or they would opt out of the Nigerian federation.

This has been followed by many other agitations with the most vociferous being the current campaign by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Nnamdi Kanu, which started in the year 2012.

Investigations on why the clamour resurfaced have shown that the reasons vary with each agitation as well as the methods deployed.

More worrisome is the fact that the agitations have brought socio-economic hardships to the affected areas while pitting them against the government.

The return to democracy in 1999, however, saw more of such agitations; with the major ones being the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), the numerous skirmishes by aggrieved groups in the Niger Delta, the attempt by Sunday Igboho to expel herdsmen from Yorubaland and the IPOB.

The Boko Haram sect, which had its base in the North-east of Nigeria, also toyed with the idea of pulling certain local government areas out of Nigeria and even hoisted its flag in some.

What could be responsible for the rise in these agitations more than five decades after the first major attempt failed?

Feelers sourced by our correspondents indicate the fear of marginalisation and lack of social justice as major reasons.

Some sections of the country feel they are not being fairly treated and accuse the Nigerian state and the other parts of marginalising them. There are also those who demand better deal from Nigeria and are expressing same through such agitations.

These, according to our findings, are partly what have led to calls for restructuring of the country over the years as people see it as a way of addressing these perceived imbalances and giving all sections a sense of belonging.

Background to previous agitations

Incidentally, the fear of dominance by some sections of the country precedes even independence.

Historians trace such sentiments to when the demand for independence was made in 1953, when northern leaders initially declined support for independence when it was moved on grounds that the North was not ready, but later amended their support to ‘as soon as practicable’.

The reaction in the South, which portrayed them as opposed to freedom coupled with how the northern leaders were booed on their way back from Lagos, led to the first “Araba agitation”, which was the northern masses, way of objecting to the humiliation meted to their leaders, and saying they could not be in one country with the other parts of Nigeria.

By 1959, however, when all the regions finally agreed on independence, the mutual suspicion continued, but did not fester to the point of threatening to disintegrate the country.

The first major attempt to break out of Nigeria after independence was from the Niger Delta region led by a young Chemistry student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Isaac Adaka Boro.

Boro, believing that his part of the country, where oil was being exploited should get more from the oil wealth, wanted his region, then comprising the present South-south geopolitical zone to pull out of Nigeria, so that it could have total control of its resources.

He made good his threat to actualise the plan by declaring the Niger Delta Republic on February 23, 1966, raising an army that fought the Nigerian forces for almost two weeks until the rebellion was crushed and he was subsequently arrested by then head of state, Aguiyi Ironsi, and sent to prison.

At about the same time, another ‘Araba’ agitation was reintroduced when the northerners began reacting to the January 1966 coup, which they viewed as lopsided and targeted at only political leaders from the region.

This was worsened after the promulgation of the Unification Decree No. 34 by the Aguiyi Ironsi regime as riots broke out in several cities in the north, mainly Kano, which quickly spread to other towns in the region.

The north was, however, persuaded to abandon the idea and remain with other regions in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but it was when Gowon took over the reins of power from Ironsi that the northern agitation subsided.

But by then so much had happened  and Ojukwu had commenced the demand to pull his people out of Nigeria and subsequently declared the Eastern Region as Federal Republic of Biafra.

The manner the presidential elections of 1993 was handled by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida, also gave impetus for secession agitations more than 23 years after Biafra failed.

The annulment of the election was perceived by the Yoruba as an attempt to deny them the right to the presidency of Nigeria.

This led to several protests in some most parts of the country, particularly in Lagos, which did not abate even after Babangida left government and handed over to Ernest Shonekan, and ultimately when General Sani Abacha took over.

The O’odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) founded in 1994, and headed by Frederick Fasehun was restructured and the more militant wing led by Ganiu Adams entered the fray with the aim of either making the military hand over to Abiola or have the Yoruba pull out of Nigeria.

With the return of the country to democracy in 1999, another agitation by Ralph Uwazuruike started under the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), which he said was for the recreation of an independent state of Biafra through peaceful negotiations.

Why agitations persist

To many, the agitations by mainly ethnic nationalities and sub-regional groups to pull out of Nigeria to go their separate ways are fuelled by the fact that they see such threats as ways to bargain for a better deal within Nigeria.

Many point to the fact that past agitations, though did not succeed, were able to attract better deals for the agitating blocs.

It is for instance said that the concession to allow the Yoruba the presidency in 1999, was due to the pressure over the June 12, 1993 struggle and the threats by the region to carve out a separate country.

The attention the Niger Delta received leading to the creation of a ministry to cater for the region is also seen as one of the benefits of the restiveness and militancy by many groups in the zone.

President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, attributes the problem from his region to perceived lack of equity in the country, insisting that the South-east has not been treated fairly.

“Even the call for Biafra is a protest against injustice. If you watch in Nigeria, Isaac Boro once demanded secession for the Niger Delta in 1966; in the North in 1953, they asked for Arewa Araba, in the South-west, there are calls for Oduduwa nation. All these are signs that there is a need to restructure the country.

“These are signs that all is not well with the federation and that is why we are asking for restructuring of the country so that things will start going very well. Some of these issues don’t require IMF, World Bank or UN intervention, but sincere leadership”, he said, in an interview with Weekend Trust.

Ganiyu Adams, who led a faction of the OPC, attributes the continuous agitation to what he calls the ‘over- centralisation of governance in Nigeria’, adding  that if the regions were allowed to operate with some level of autonomy, the situation would have been different.

He said: “In Nigeria here, everything is centralised and over-centralised. That is exactly the reason the country is not moving forward.”

Alhaji Murtala Aliyu, who is the Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), on his part believes the agitations are because Nigeria is yet to truly heal from the civil war.

He said this is because Nigerians have not made up their minds about building the country and that it is only when that is achieved that the country can be restructured according to how each section wants it to run.

Senator Femi Okurounmu, one of the leaders of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, also blamed the perceived lack of equity as reason for the agitations.

“For instance, the agitation in Yorubaland is mostly from the annulment of the June 12, 1993 elections. Since then, the Yorubas have not regained complete confidence in one Nigeria. This is because the June 12 elections and all the events leading up to it, showed glaringly that there was a particular group or I will say a particular ethnic group in this country that wants to lord itself over the others”, he said.

He said when the June 12, 1993, elections were annulled, it got the Yorubas to the point where they believed their presence in one Nigeria was no longer respected.

He said though people from that region had been ruling and have had their turn, attacks on Yoruba communities by herdsmen have made the agitations to resurface.

“Even up till today, the radical Yoruba youths are still keen on having the Yoruba nation, because their faith in one Nigeria has been significantly dented. They don’t believe very much that one Nigeria is a realistic proposition,” he added.

Just as many have expressed concern over the agitations, many are equally hopeful that it is possible to calm down nerves for Nigeria to continue as one nation.

Chief Iwuanyanwu believes that if the Igbos are treated fairly they would not be agitating to move out of Nigeria.

“If the Igbos are given additional slots in the current government and one additional state in the South-east, and Nnamdi Kanu is released we will say there is justice. Without truth and justice, there must be crisis,” he stated.

Ganiyu Adams on the other hand believes restructuring the country into regions is one of the best ways to reduce the burden of the federal government.

There are others who believe that with good leadership where all sections of the country are taken care of, such agitations would become history.

Alhaji Murtala Aliyu suggested that the government puts in place a mechanism to ensure good governance.

“If we have that, the agitations would die naturally. No region should feel that it is unfairly treated. The South-south agitation, for instance, was tackled by late President Umaru Yar’adua, as he initiated good empowerment programmes for them, including the amnesty initiative,” he stated.

[DailyTrust]

A growing trend among women is the switch from clothes, sanitary pads and tampons to menstrual cups.

While it offers numerous benefits, DAILY POST’s Gift Oba in this report brings to light the hidden facts and its potential implications for women’s health and environmental sustainability.

Over the years, women have had limited options to manage their menstrual flow, with many of them using thick cloth materials and sanitary pads as their go-to solutions.

However, with technological advancements and innovative ideas, the world of menstrual management has undergone a revolution.

Today, there’s a new kid on the block that’s taking the world by storm- the menstrual cup! To some, this innovative and sustainable solution is a complete game-changer, providing women with a more cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative that’s reusable for years on end.

Unlike traditional pads and tampons, menstrual cups are reusable so there is no need to worry about disposal or frequent purchases.

Screenshot

What is a menstrual cup?

Menstrual cups are a small, flexible funnel-shaped cup made of medical-grade silicone that is inserted into the vagina to catch and collect period fluid.

They come in various sizes to fit every anatomy making them more sustainable and convenient for women.

DAILY POST gathered that the cups which cost N5,000 (per cup) have several brands like the Anytime Menstrual Cup, Keeper Cup, Moon Cup, DivaCup, Lena Cup, and Lily Cup. There are also disposable menstrual cups available like the Instead Softcup.

According to research, these cups are reusable, budget-friendly, reduces the risk of getting Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), a rare bacterial infection associated with tampon use, holds more blood and can be used with an IUD (an intrauterine device- a form of birth control that is inserted into the uterus).

An anonymous source while sharing her experience said “I’ve been using menstrual cups for some years now and I have no leaks throughout the day. I bleed light to medium so I can go a whole day without cleaning it out.

“The container it comes with is very convenient as well. Although I still leak after I’ve laid down for a while, but I’ve always had that issue so it might just be my personal problem,”

They can be used for up to 10 years – Menstrual Cup Advocate

Speaking to DAILY POST, Tojah Omorogbe, a menstrual cup advocate and vendor explained that the medical grade silicone cup (meaning it has been tested medically to be suitable inside the body) can be used for up to 10 years.

She maintained that while there are no age limits as to who can use the cup, certain guidelines must be followed for safety.

“I teach all women I introduce to menstrual cups these guidelines and it’s up to them to use it safely.

“A cup can last at least 5 years, maximum 10 years, no age limits as long as no underlying health issue.

“The simple guideline is to sterilize before use for the month, wash with mild soap and clean water then insert and place the cup properly. Then wash hands before and after handling the menstrual cup,” she advised.

How to use

“Grease your hand with water or water-based lubricant then fold to insert inside the vagina.

“It is folded to make it smaller and then it is inserted into the vagina. While it is inside it will create a seal to prevent leakages, so while the menstrual fluids are coming out from inside the cervix, it will drop into the cup.

“The cup will hold it up to 12 hours but that doesn’t mean it applies to everybody, it depends on your flow. And all you need to do is bring out your cup, dispose of the fluid and wash with a mild soap and clean water and then reuse it,” she added.

She further advised that when attempting to remove the cup, you are not to pull by the tip, rather you may need to insert your fingers a bit into the vagina, capture the base of the cup and then squeeze and pull out.

It can weaken vaginal muscles, change ph level if not properly used-

While menstrual cups may be an affordable and environmentally friendly option, women still need to consider the potential implications for their health, Omorogbe disclosed.

According to her, the cup when not properly inserted can cause changes in ph level, yeast infection and weak vaginal muscles.

“There are guidelines that must be followed to avoid changes in ph level, yeast infection and weak vaginal muscles,” she noted.

DAILY POST also gathered that while some might find themselves in a place or position that makes it difficult to remove the cup which can lead to spill during the process, others find the insertion and removal of a menstrual cup uncomfortable or even painful.

Young ladies within the age of 19 to 25 are willing to try it-

When asked about the turnout in patronage, Omorogbe said although ladies aged 30 and above are skeptical about it, the younger generation aged 19 to 25 are curious and willing to try it.

“I’ll say it has not been much accepted in Nigeria. Young ladies within the age of 19 to 25 are more curious and willing to try it. While ladies that are 30s and above are skeptical about it, but the few that have taken that ‘risk’ have been satisfied and have never gone back to sanitary pads,” she stated.

Vagina is elastic, cannot be widened by the cup – Gynecologist

Speaking to some ladies in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on their perspective of using the cup, they expressed fear of having a wider or slacked vagina after using the cup.

This is as an anonymous source disclosed that she had sore around her vagina after using the cup.

However, Professor Ajenifuja Olusegun, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile IFE, Osun State, explained that the cup lacks the tendency to expand the vagina.

“The vagina is elastic and even after child birth it goes back to its normal size.

“Besides, the lady does not need to wear it everyday, only for the duration of the menstruation and once removed, the vaginal comes back to its normal shape,” he said.

While pointing out that while some people may be allergic to the material used to make the cup, he advised them to use one that is not too tight to avoid causing pressure to the vaginal walls.

“But some disadvantage of the cup is allergy to the components in the cup.

“It should also not be too tight so it doesn’t cause some pressure injury.

“So one must have the ability to take care of it very well, especially cleaning. The most important thing is not to introduce infection into the genital tracts,” he advised.

Measure the length of your cervix before using – Public health specialist

Tonia Shodunke, a public health specialist based in Ogun State recommended that women who are thinking about utilising the cup should measure the length of their cervix and refrain from pushing it too deep to the point of discomfort.

Advising on the insertion of the cup, she stated that it doesn’t need to get to the cervix.

‘It just needs to be well positioned to collect the blood, so once any pain is noticed it has been pushed too deep, all you need to do is pull it out a little.

“One thing you need to consider is your age and the length of your cervix; this can actually be ascertained by possibly inserting your finger in and then be conscious to know how much of that finger you need to insert and can actually touch the tip of cervix; you can bring it out and know precisely the length of your cervix,” she further stated.

On getting the right size, she said “consider whether or not the woman has given birth either virginally or through CS, because smaller cups are usually more recommended for women younger than 30 years or women who have actually never given birth through the vagina and when we’re looking at women who have given birth through the vagina, then we need to consider larger cups.”

However, Shodunke stressed that although this new trend may be the answer to period poverty, particularly in rural areas, hygiene was crucial.

“If you’re not a clean person, you may just end up infecting yourself,” she warned.

[DailyPost]

Sophia Momodu, the estranged lover of popular Afrobeat musician, David Adeleke a.k.a. Davido, has told the Lagos State High Court sitting in Yaba that the musician should not be granted custody of their daughter.

This, she said is because Davido is more interested in exploiting her sexually than catering for their daughter’s welfare.

“The applicant is not fit to be granted custody of our daughter because he is not available and does not possess the ability to dutifully care for her,” she stated in a counter-affidavit she filed in opposition to Davido’s suit seeking custody.

Contrary to Davido’s claim that he had consistently fulfilled his financial obligations towards his daughter, Ms. Momodu said the child was almost ejected from school because the artiste refused to pay tuition fees.

She stated that while their relationship lasted, Davido never showed true commitment or love for their daughter.

“He always used the condition of my making myself available for his sexual pleasures as a pre-condition to visit our daughter or show some fatherly love to her.

“The applicant, apart from his cravings for sex, only comes around to spend time with our daughter when he wants to use our daughter for his media stunts or promotions.

“The applicant has always been known to go away and stop communicating with our daughter, to stop making payment for school fees and/or payment of maintenance for our daughter whenever I refuse his sexual advances,” Ms Momodu stated.

The respondent stated that Davido once threw her and their daughter out of his home in Atlanta (USA) during a summer holiday in 2017, and they ended up squatting with a friend.

Ms. Momodu stated that she never denied Davido access to his daughter and that it was he who chose to be “an absentee father”.

She said she has been responsible for her accommodation, and that David always had access until he chose to abuse it by visiting at odd hours to demand sex.

“When I noticed that the intention of the applicant for coming late at night to my house was not to visit our daughter but to seek sexual favours even after our relationship had ended, I told him to desist from such late-night visits as our daughter who needed to be in school in the morning would have slept at the time of his late-night visits.

“It was when I refused the applicant ingress into my house at ungodly hours of the night on the pretext of visiting our daughter that he decided to stop visiting or calling our daughter, and this has been the pattern with the applicant all through his relationship with our daughter.

“Whenever I refused to be his sex slave, he would stop caring for his daughter and abandon her and use the fact of our daughter’s sadness due to his absence to force me to accede to his unwholesome demands.

“I have never stopped the applicant or his family members from coming to visit his daughter, calling or reconnecting with our daughter,” Ms. Momodu stated.

The respondent stated that contrary to Davido’s claim, he has not been faithful in paying their daughter’s school fees, having defaulted in 2021 and 2022, with the school writing to her in January 2023 over unpaid tuition.

“The school wrote via email notifying me that our daughter would not be allowed entry into the school except all outstanding fees from 2021 to 2023 were paid off,” she stated.

Ms. Momodu told the court that it was Davido’s father who intervened and paid the school fees.

She stated that contrary to Davido’s claim, she has been the one paying the rent of the apartment where she lives with her daughter, adding that Davido did not buy any house for them.

Ms. Momodu said she has been providing the best care for her daughter despite her father’s negligence and would continue to do so as a loving mother.

The respondent was represented at Friday’s proceedings before Justice A. J. Bashua by a legal team led by Chief (Dr) Anthony Idigbe (SAN) of Punuka Attorneys & Solicitors.

Chief Idigbe drew attention to the publication of a hearing notice in a national newspaper by Davido’s legal team, in which the name of his daughter was mentioned four times.

The judge agreed with Chief Idigbe that while the press was free to report, the child’s name ought not to be mentioned at all.

The judge then asked members of the press, litigants and all other counsel not involved in the case to leave the courtroom during the hearing.

Before they left, Chief Idigbe, with the court’s permission, drew the pressmen’s attention to Section 143 of the Child’s Right Law of Lagos State 2015, which provides in a case involving a minor: “No person must be allowed to attend court other than the members and officers of the court, the parties to the case, their solicitors and counsel, parents and guardians of the child and other persons directly concerned in the case.”

Chief Idigbe also referred to Section 144 of the Law, which prohibits the publication of a child’s name.

The section reads: “No person must publish the name, address, school, photograph, or anything likely to lead to the identification of a child in a matter before the court, except as required by the provisions of this law.”

The SAN further referred to Section 145 of the Child Rights Law, which provides: “The proceedings in the court must be conducive to the best interest of the child and must be conducted in an atmosphere of understanding, allowing the child to express himself and participate in the proceedings.”

Ms. Momodu, in the counter-affidavit, also faulted the publication of the suit in a national newspaper.

“The applicant (Davido) in publishing this suit in a national newspaper has exposed our daughter to great danger.

“I would have to implement extra security measures to ensure the continued safety of our daughter in school,” she stated.

At the end of the proceedings, it was learnt that the court referred the case for possible settlement by the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) section of the court during Settlement Week.

[TheNation]

The United Nations recognizes 180 currencies worldwide as legal tender, though the popularity and usage of a currency do not necessarily reflect its economic value or strength, which is determined by its purchasing power in transactions involving goods, services, or other currencies.

Currencies play a crucial role in the global economy, symbolizing the strength and stability of their countries. They serve not just as instruments for international trade and finance, but also as indicators of a nation’s economic well-being and governance.

As highlighted by Forbes, here are the top 10 strongest currencies in the world.

Kuwaiti dinar

The Kuwaiti dinar holds the title of the world’s strongest currency, with 1 dinar equivalent to 3.26 dollars, or conversely, $1 being equal to 0.31 Kuwaiti dinar.

Introduced in 1961, the Kuwaiti dinar, bolstered by the country’s substantial oil reserves, which it derives from its strategic location on the Persian Gulf between Saudi Arabia and Iraq, contributes significantly to its economic strength.

Bahraini Dinar (BHD)

The Bahraini dinar is another prominent currency globally, supported by Bahrain’s diversified economy, which includes oil and gas as well as finance and tourism sectors, contributing to its robustness.

The Bahraini dinar, introduced in 1965, holds a strong position, with 1 dinar equaling 2.65 dollars, or alternatively, 0.38 Bahraini dinar per dollar.

Omani Rial (OMR)

The Omani rial (OMR) is another of the world’s strongest currencies. Located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman’s economy is largely dependent on its oil reserves.

The Omani rial was introduced in the 1970s, with 1 rial equivalent to 2.60 dollars, or $1 equaling 0.38 Omani rial.

Jordanian Dinar (JOD)

The Jordanian dinar ranks as the fourth-strongest currency globally, where 1 dinar is valued at 1.41 dollars, or $1 equals 0.71 Jordanian dinar.

Since its introduction in 1950, the Jordanian dinar has sustained a robust value, bolstered by Jordan’s careful fiscal policies and a diverse economy encompassing tourism, banking, and pharmaceutical sectors.

British Pound (GBP)

The British pound ranks as the fifth-strongest currency globally, with 1 pound valued at 1.22 dollars, or $1 equaling 0.82 British pounds.

According to the World Bank, Britain boasts the world’s sixth-largest economy by gross domestic product (GDP). The pound, first introduced in the 1400s and decimalized in 1971, operates as a free-floating currency, independent of pegs to other currencies.

Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD)

The Cayman Islands dollar (KYD) is the 6th most valuable currency in the world. It’s used in the Cayman Islands, which is a British territory in the Caribbean known for being a popular tax haven for rich people and big companies.

Caymans Island depends on sectors like tourism and real estates, with 1 Cayman dollar buying 1.20 dollars (or $1 equals 0.83 Cayman Islands dollar).

Gibraltar Pound (GIP)

The Gibraltar pound holds the seventh position among the world’s strongest currencies, with 1 pound valued at 1.22 dollars, or $1 equaling 0.82 Gibraltar pounds.

Covering only 2.6 square miles at the southern tip of Spain, Gibraltar is an official British territory. The Gibraltar pound was introduced in the 1920s and is pegged at par with the British pound, meaning one GIP equals one GBP.

Swiss Franc (CHF)

The Swiss franc holds the 8th position among the world’s strongest currencies and serves as Switzerland’s official currency. Its value surged against the euro and US dollar due to the European debt crisis and US monetary policy changes.

The Swiss franc, introduced in 1850, was briefly pegged to the euro before transitioning to a free-floating exchange rate. Currently, 1 franc is valued at 1.08 dollars ($1 equals 0.92 Swiss francs).

Euro (EUR)

The euro holds the ninth position among the world’s strongest currencies, with 1 euro valued at 1.08 dollars, or $1 equivalent to 0.93 euros.

The euro serves as the official currency in 20 out of the 27 countries comprising the European Union. Introduced with coins and banknotes in 2002, the currency operates on a free-floating exchange rate.

U.S. Dollar (USD)

The US dollar is used in the United States and many other countries. It’s the main currency kept by central banks and commercial banks globally. Because it’s so widely used, the US dollar is involved in about 88.3% of daily trades in the foreign exchange market.

The US dollar holds several top positions, such as being the currency of the richest country in the world, but it ranks only 10th among the world’s strongest currencies.

 [Vanguard]