…Says Nigeria under state capture

Former Minister for Education and Health respectively, Professor Ihechukwu Madubuike, has said it was time for the Federal Government to expose all those who benefited from the fuel subsidy regime.

The former Commissioner for Finance in the Old Imo State who took the position in an exclusive chat with Vanguard, said it was not enough for Government to claim it stopped fuel subsidy because it served the interest of few individuals without disclosing the said beneficiaries.

He further advocated the interrogation of a former Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, who recently confessed that his friend once told him that he was tired of making money from fuel subsidy.

Professor Madubuike said that Yuguda should disclose the said friend for investigation.

” Who are these people who have gained from fuel subsidy all these years? There was a statement credited to a former Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, that his friend told him that he was tired of making money from fuel subsidy.

” That’s the place to start with if this country wants to be saved. He should be asked who that his friend is. Who are the other beneficiaries? Take them to tribunal and recover the money first and use it to build roads, hospitals, schools and health centres.

” That’s where to start if they are serious so we can know who their patrons are. Were they using the money to provide the guns being used in killing people in Plateau, Southern Kaduna and South East?

” These things have continued because we are in a state capture. Everything goes even though we have a leadership, the leadership is in autopilot. It doesn’t hold anybody accountable “.

The former Minister further said it was not enough to arrest and detain the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, while those who authorised his actions were walking freely.

He insisted that Emefiele should be made to disclose all those who gave approval to his actions considered illegal, and such people also put on trial if the country were sincere about sanitizing the CBN.

” Now they have arrested the former CBN Governor, Emefiele. But he didn’t act alone. So, a country that is sincere should find out the truth from him, and all those who are implicated will be punished. The problem with Nigeria Government is that it does media trial, and it stops there”.

Professor Madubuike decried the harsh policies of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, saying they have further impoverished Nigerians.

“Having removed the fuel subsidy, how is the Government going to provide for the underserved who are now bearing the brunt of the removal? This is happening at a time the foreign exchange rate was also floated.

” About 7.2 million Nigerians are being added to the poverty list simply because of the wrong policies of the ruling party.
Both the fuel subsidy removal and forex floating have created serious impacts on the cost of living.

” We expect that whatever they have gained from subsidy removal should be ploughed back to the people of Nigeria this month. But we haven’t seen anything done.

” Banditry is increasing, cost of food is increasing, crime wave is on the increase. So, they have to work very fast to ensure Nigeria is workable”.

The Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona said God spoke through President Bola Tinubu when the latter said ‘Emi Lokan’ (It’s my turn) during his campaign in Ogun state, ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Awujale stated this while speaking during Tinubu’s visit to his palace in Ijebu-Ode on Thursday.

The Paramount ruler of Ijebuland said, “God spoke through you when you said it is your turn. (Emi Lekan). With this feat, you are still going to do one more term.

“Me and Asiwaju have been together for a very long time. We both did NADECO – the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) together. Asiwaju, our President was the one, who gave me the titled, ‘Baba NADECO.’

“Many of you may not know where we were both from, but the most important thing is that we are grateful for where we all started; where we are currently; and where Got is taking us to. This is the first stage of where we’re going, another stage is coming,” he said.

In his address, President Tinubu said the Awujale of Ijebuland is not the Baba of President and no longer Baba of NADECO.

Tinubu commended the monarch for supporting his presidential bid, saying, “Thank you for being there for me and for there for the country. You’ve demonstrated so much loyalty, so much commitment.

“Baba, this is your President. This is your son Thank you. Thank you for everything. I thank God for you being alive to witness today, to witness the result of the election that you prayed for us your children.

“You have an uncommon courage and you passed it to us. We utilised it to serve and to invoke the spirit of who we are a people, very proud and honourable people, people of great character. Our diversity for prosperity will never be forgotten,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tinubu said he invoked the spirit of Emi Lokan (It’s my turn) from the Oba Adetona.

He said, “I invoked the spirit of Emi Lokan from Baba (The Awujale of Ijebuland). That’s the spirit of freedom and that’s who we are as a people.

“I came to Ogun state to invoke the spirit of freedom from which we are noted for. I invoked that spirit thrice – the spirit of Baba (Awujale) is Emi Lokan. That’s Baba, being blunt, being incisive, that’s him, he will tell you,” he added.

Recalling the naira swap crises that rocked the country prior to the 2023 general elections, President Tinubu noted that Nigerians voted at a very crucial time when “our monies were confiscated. The cash swap didn’t work. It was terrible then, I realised that.

He said, “And the second spirit is that money or no money, ‘A ma dibo’ (We will vote) A ma wole (We will win). Bi ko sowo (Whether there’s no money). And ever since, it’s been the spirit that’s driving me to serve. I’m honoured Baba. I am honoured. I’ve just come to respond to whom calling, saying I need to see you.”

THE presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the February 25 election, Mr Peter Obi has said that the situation in the country requires that those in authority must lead by example.

Obi, who spoke at St Faith’s Anglican Cathedral, Awka during the funeral service of the late Dean of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev Maxwell Anikwenwa, said the behavior, character and conduct of public officers must be in consonance with what society requires today.

“We can’t continue to preach for people to make sacrifice without sacrificing. The sacrifice must start from the leaders, visibly and measurably because the people are suffering and we must now be at the forefront of the suffering”, the former Anambra State governor said..

Obi described the late Anikwenwa as not only a man of God, but a great Nigerian who contributed meaningfully beyond his pastoral work, but also contributed immensely in building a better Nigeria.

“Those who know him well, must testify that he was involved in advocating for a better Nigeria, good governance and everything,” Obi said.

The Primate , Church of Nigeria, Most Rev Henry Ndukuba, who presided at the ceremony said . Anikwenwa truly lived by the principles the Anglican Church is known for.

According to him, having done his work successfully on earth, the renowned cleric had gone home to rest.

The Prelate said: “Death comes to all as leveler. The Lord has called home one of the Patriots of the Anglican Church.

” He was the pioneer Bishop of Awka and Dean of Church of Nigeria. He lived on the principle of service to God and was a true servant of God who loves his people”

No fewer than 100 Archbishops, Bishops and priests from all parts of the country participated at the service.

The deputy governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim represented the governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo. Others at the service were the Senator representing Anambra Central, Chief Victor Umeh, House of Representatives member for Awka North and South, Professor Lilian Orogbu, Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Anyachebelu, chairman of Dozy Group, Dr. Dan Chukwudozie, as well as traditional and community leaders.

The body of Anikwenwa was received at his home town. Awkuzu by Ndukuba and later visited Anikwenwa’s home in Awka.

The body of Anikwenwa was received at his home town. Awkuzu by Ndukuba and later visited Anikwenwa’s home in Awka.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mr Mele Kyari has paid Sallah homage to President Bola Tinubu.

Kyari who stated this in a post on his Twitter page visited the President with the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Folashodun Shonubi.

He expressed joy for the privilege to pay the homage to the President, adding that that Sallah is a day of reaffirmation by the faithfuls to sacrifice or give off the most coveted of possessions to please Allah.

He wrote, “Privileged to pay Sallah homage to Mr President alongside Ag Gov CBN. A day of reaffirmation by the faithfuls to sacrifice or give off the most coveted of possessions to please Allah and by implication for the common good… and to ultimately be grateful for all the favours of Allah and secure the infinite mercy of Allah. Eid Mubarak.”

An unexpected disaster hit the world last week. It was hard and it came with speed. It was totally unexpected as the ongoing devastating Ukraine-Russian war and shooting conflict in Sudan had concentrated the minds. When will mankind come to their senses and shrink from destroying and polluting the world made out to them as a school for their development? Do we know the enormity of the guilt we are heaping upon ourselves which we must atone for until we have washed our dirty “linen clean”? These were the kinds of thoughts that could be presumed racing through the minds in concerned gatherings, communities, and nations, indeed, in the world at large. And then this: Gbam! A tragic submersible implosion occurred in which the pilot and four passengers died instantly. The renowned news agency, AP, called the incident an “international disaster.”

The destruction of the ocean vessel took place off the United States coast on Thursday, last week. According to AP, the U.S. Coast Guard led the initial search and rescue operation. And it said on Friday that debris was found about 12,500 feet (3, 810 metres) underwater. Curiously, and if I may add, instructively “near the Titanic wreckage it was on its way to explore.” I say instructively because the vessel that imploded last week in the ocean is called Titan and the famous ship the wreckage of which it was in search of was called Titanic which sank in 1912. Was the similarity in name without signification? The Titanic on its way to New York set sail from England and it sank hit by an iceberg around the area the Titan set sail last week. The men involved in the catastrophic exploration were drawn from England, Pakistan, France, and the United States. I will return to this point presently.

The AP digital edition, apnews.com, reports the Transportation Safety Board of Canada as saying it would investigate Titan’s mother ship and support vessel called Polar Prince. During Titan’s sail, Polar Prince had on board 17 crew members and 24 passengers. It is believed that during the investigation the suspicion will come to light that the “world of deep-sea exploration is not well-regulated.” A professor who specializes in maritime history and policy at Campbell University in North Carolina, Salvatore Mercogliano, is said to have remarked that such expeditions are scrutinized less than companies that launch people into space. The Titan, it is said, was not registered as a U.S. vessel or with international agencies that regulate safety. And it wasn’t classified by a maritime industry group that sets standards on matters such as hull construction.” The hope of finding the tragic vessel and its occupants dimmed when communication was lost with it. It was also realised that its 96-hour air supply must have run out and the Coast Guards that led the initial rescue operation reported finding debris of the submersible at estimated 1,600 feet (488 metres) from the Titanic.

The Titanic went on its maiden voyage on 10 April, 1912 with 2, 240 persons on board — crew and passengers. On 15 April, just five days after it set sail headed for New York from Southampton, England, it hit an iceberg and it broke into two and sank to the ocean bed. More than 1, 500, passengers and crew, died in the incident. The early 1900s were a flourishing era in shipping travels, the transatlantic in particular. It was competitive and exceedingly rewarding for those who invested in it, hauling profit to the bank. Because of the high demand for seats in oceanliners, two companies decided to expand their facilities. They resolved to acquire three large vessels to meet the demands of the market not only in terms of expanded accommodation but in facilities — Olympic, the Titanic, and the Britannic. Britain in particular was renowned for shipping and ocean liners, not only for business but for wars. For Falkland War alone in 1982, Iron Lady, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher dispatched 100 ships to recover the Falkland Islands invaded by Argentina. The violent conflict occurred because British Authorities said the Islands were part of British overseas territories, the same territories to which Argentina was laying claim. The war lasted about two and a half months with 900 deaths, and historians said it was one of the major and most devastating conflicts since World War 11.

The Titanic came out in opulence, in glittering decorations fresh from the factory. So gigantic was it that it had four elevators. It featured big first-class dining compartments and a swimming pool. It was said of it that its second-class facilities were comparable to first-class features on other categories of ships. Such was the luxury that it was called “Millionaire’s Special”, according to the online publication, britannica.com. The third class was noted for its tastefulness and relative comfort as well. There was special attention paid to safety, with door facilities to contain water in the event of any issues such as tear. Indeed, it was so built that four compartments could be flooded without constituting any dangers.

The facilities on offer made the world conclude that the Titanic was invincible, impregnable, and unsinkable. It was 882.5 feet (269 metres) long, and 92.5 feet (28.2 metres) wide at the bulging side. It had a capacity for 52,000 tons. The ship was test run on in 1911 and before the maiden sail of 10 April, 1912. When it got to France, the dock was too small to take the Titanic and passengers had to be ferried to and from the ship. After it made its last stop in Ireland, it had altogether 2,200 on board, 1,300 of whom were passengers. In the course of its journey, reports of iceberg warnings were received several times by radio operators. At one point, warning about an ice field sent was not received in the Titanic communication room. It soon got surrounded by iceberg and the nest’s binoculars were missing. When it was hit by iceberg, five of its foolproof watertight compartments were ruptured. Distressed signals went out but the nearest help was three hours away. The ship that was in the vicinity which could come to its rescue had its wireless turned off for the night. Lifeboats were in short supply — far short of what was required. While waiting for the few lifeboats, Titanic’s musicians were playing in the first-class lounge, before eventually moving to the deck of the ship upon realizing what was happening. Panic naturally ensued among the passengers; there was desperation on board and it became “it’s every man for himself.” In the end, the light went out and Titanic broke into two. The ship sank and many went into the icy water and almost all the people died from exposure to icy water. Those in the third class suffered the most, with 710 deaths, according to reports. The last song the musicians rendered, it was said, was: ‘Nearer my God to Thee.’ What a premonition!

According to a BBC online report, serious warnings over the safety of OceanGate’s Titan submersible were repeatedly ignored by the chief executive officer of the company, “email exchanges with a leading deep sea exploration specialist show.” “In messages seen by the BBC, Rob McCallum told OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush that he was potentially putting his clients at risk and urged him to stop using the sub until it had been certified by an independent agency.”
BBC report quotes Mr. Rush as responding that he was “tired of industry players who try to use a safety argument to stop innovation.” He was said to have expressed frustration with the criticism of Titan’s safety measures. Mr. McCallum wrote: “I think you are placing yourself and your clients in a dangerous dynamic. In your race to Titanic you are mirroring that catch cry: ‘She is unsinkable.’

Mr. Rush said in the email: “We have heard the baseless cries of ‘you are going to kill someone’ way too often. I take this as a serious personal insult.” Mr. McCallum, however, told the BBC that he “repeatedly urged the company to seek certification for the Titan before using it for commercial tours. The vessel was never certified or classed. Until a sub is classed, tested and proven it should not be used for commercial deep dive operations. I implore you to take every care in your testing and sea trials and to be very, very conservative. As much as I appreciate entrepreneurship and innovation, you are potentially putting an entire industry at risk.”

A few days later, Mr. Rush defended his business and his credentials, saying, “OceanGate’s engineering focused, innovative approach …flies in the face of the submersible orthodoxy, but that is the nature of innovation.”
Mr. McCallum was not going to give up. What was he seeing that his warning rang so loudly in the ears? What signals was he picking? We may wonder. He wrote once more: “It will be sea trials that determine whether the vehicle can handle what you intend to do with it so again, take care and keep safe. There is a lot more riding this than Titan and the Titanic.”

According to the BBC report, Mr. Rush founded OceanGate in 2009, and “the company offered customers a chance to experience deep sea travel, including to the wreck of the Titanic, on board Titan for a price of $250,000 US Dollars (195, 600 Pounds Sterling).”

Predictably, views on the catastrophic expedition will necessarily differ. A great many would see nothing wrong in the men’s spirit of adventure despite feelings of unease and prophetic warnings from certain quarters. Some saw it as the path to discovery and progress. Nothing ventured, nothing gained and no progress made. No pains, no gain — as the sayings go. Mrs. Margaret Thatcher would say, “He who dares, wins.” Those were her words when she dispatched British troops to the Falkland Islands in 1982, which many Britons saw as a symbol of British national pride, but which a great many with feelings would dismiss as imperialism and a crime. The words of admonition have worldwide application, no doubt, but the thought and act of war that triggered the pronouncement was a crime and accustomed proclivity for conquest.

A young public figure friend of mine is among those who see the Titan voyage as an innovation, sad true it was. It is through such daringness the world had developed, he argues in a note to me. He wrote: “They are the men in the Arena. They tried and failed. Sadly they do not have a second chance. I am certain others will learn from their mistake, improve and succeed. That is the story of mankind. Seemingly a senseless and daring mission upon which mankind’s course was altered for good.

“Don’t cry for them. When the University of Bologna, the first and surviving university in the world, started in 1088 A.D. it was not certified by anyone. Certification is for established systems. I went to Jamestown with my family and saw the replica of the Susan Constant, the first ship that came from England in 1607. No ship registry will flag that vessel today for human transport. The imploded Titanic submersible is a forerunner to our effort to conquer the seas, mountains, and space… We try, we fail, succeed, learn, evolve, and improve. That is the story of mankind.”

The note is persuasive, no doubt, and the argument seemingly unassailable. But the issue is deeper than that. Was there any possible connection between Mr. Rush and the disaster of Titanic that sank in 1912, for example? Why was Mr. Rush rushing to put the vessel on the sea to its depth to see the wreckage of the Titanic? What forces were pushing him despite all warnings and signals of the ship’s non-viability? Was there anything he carried deep within him that connected him with the catastrophic mission of Titanic and using Titan as the vessel? And come to think of it: what drove him to his death, he died in the Titan mission! He was one of the passengers. It calls for deep reflection. Also, the question would need to be asked: what was mankind to gain from a voyage to see the wreckage of the Titanic that sank in 1912, a wreckage of 111 years ago? And more! I will treat the subject next week.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday recounted the hardship the failed cash swap policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) exposed Nigerians to.

Tinubu said that realizing what Nigerians were passing through, he visited Ogun State to invoke the spirit of freedom.

The president spoke at the palace of Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, in Ijebu Ode.

He said: “It is a homecoming and I owe so much to all of you and there is so much to thank you for. Because of the way you have taken me and the way you’ve responded to me, all I can say is thank you.

“To many of you, thank you for being there for me and being there for the country. You demonstrated so much loyalty, so much commitment and voted at a very crucial time.

“Your monies were confiscated. The cash swap didn’t work. It was terrible then. I realised that and I came to Ogun State to invoke the spirit of freedom for which we are noted for.

“I invoked that spirit twice. The spirit of Baba (referring to Awujale). The spirit of Baba – Emi l’okan (it’s my turn), that’s Baba. The spirit for being blunt and that is him.

“And the second spirit is that of money (Naira scarcity), ‘ama dibo ama wole’ (we will vote and we will win) even if there is no money. And that, ever since, has been the spirit that is driving me to serve.”

THE WHISTLER recalls that the CBN had redesigned the N200, N500 and N1,000 denominations, and set January 31 as deadline for their legal tender status. But had to extend the deadline by 10 days (February 10) to allow for circulation of the new notes and mop up the old ones.

However, the implementation of the policy subjected Nigerians to excruciating pains and torture, as it was difficult to access cash across the country.

While expressing frustration during his electioneering campaigns, Tinubu at a rally, which held at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, had said the redesign of Naira would not stop his victory at the polls.

Rashidi Ladoja, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan has expressed disinterest in the upcoming elevation of his status from a chief to a beaded- crown wearing oba, saying that he wants to be the Olubadan and not an elevated Oba.

Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State, made this disclosure during an interview with journalists in his Ondo Street, Bodija, Ibadan house shortly after observing Eid at the University of Ibadan Muslims praying ground.

Reacting to the plan by ‘Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, to elevate Ibadan high chiefs to Obaship status next month, the engineer cum politician said: “You don’t fix what is not broken.”

Recall that Makinde recently signed the Chieftaincy Amendment Bill that granted him autonomy to present beaded crowns and coronets to chiefs in the state into law.

The governor was reported to have given his consent to the promotion of the high chiefs and the high chiefs will officially be installed as traditional rulers on Friday, July 7, 2023.

The high chiefs are Balogun of Ibadan land, Owolabi Olakulehin; Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, Rashidi Ladoja; Otun Balogun, Tajudeen Ajibola; Osi Olubadan, Eddy Oyewole; Osi Balogun, Lateef Adebimpe; Ashipa Olubadan, Biodun Kola-Daisi; Ashipa Balogun, Kola Adegbola; Ekerin Olubadan, Hamidu Ajibade; Ekerin Balogun, Olubunmi Isioye; Ekarun Olubadan; Bayo Akande and Ekarun Balogun, Abiodun Azeez.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, is awaiting the approval of President Bola Tinubu before a new tariff regime is made public.

The review of the Multi-Year Tariff Order, MYTO, which happens twice a year, is expected to lead to a rate increase following the devaluation of the Naira with the flotation of the national currency.

An impeccable source at the Commission told Vanguard, yesterday that the review has been concluded and the result sent to the President for approval. The source who declined to be named said “Everything is ready.

By Friday this week, we will know if this increase will happen on July 1 or August 1, as some people have suggested.

“The truth is that the increase will happen, if not the government will have to pay for the shortfall. I don’t think there is a budget for it and without the increase, the industry will struggle to survive”, the source added. Providing more insight, he disclosed that a stakeholder meeting involving the Commission, operators and consumers has been scheduled for Monday and Tuesday next week where all issues arising from the tariff hike will be discussed.

Checks by Vanguard confirmed that President Tinubu’s, Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen would likely lead the government’s decision on the electricity tariff review and all other reforms in the sector.

Last Friday, she met with top government officials at the Federal Ministry of Power in Abuja where she was said to have put forward her vision for the power sector.

Already, some consumers said they would attend the planned stakeholders meeting expected to through up issues, including the rising cost of operations, inflation and foreign exchange for discussion.

Meanwhile, the Electricity Distribution Company, DisCos said the upward tariff review would encourage investment, leading to the supply of additional power to consumers.

Similarly, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN also noted that the implementation of the nation’s Electricity Act would also be enhanced because of the new tariff.

In its position paper obtained by Vanguard, the association stated: “As an advocacy Association, MAN has always pushed for the need to charge cost-reflective electricity tariff to avoid extortion of our members. Fortunately, it is of great delight that this new Act fits like a glove as it will help actualize a cost–reflective tariff considering the healthy price competition it will bring between the states and private investors.”

However, the President, of Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Mr Kunle Olubiyo, in a note to Vanguard, noted that much value has not been given to consumers despite several past tariff reviews.

He said more investment should be channelled into the capacity expansion of critical power grid infrastructure and network improvements in order to upscale efficient service delivery, quality of supply and customer satisfaction in the post-privatized Nigerian power sector.

He also said: “Government should address matters relating to domestic gas obligation, appropriate gas pricing and gas to the domestic market should be sold in local currency (Naira) for use by gas to power generation power plants.

“Government should provide tax incentives, fiscal and non-fiscal incentives and access to long-term low-interest single digits credit facilities to indigenous meters assembling plants/local meters manufacturers in order to strengthen their production capacity.

“End users of electricity in Nigeria should be given the opportunity to buy pre-paid meters off the shelves. Conversion of the post-paid meters used by maximum demand metered customers who are bulk users into pre paid maximum demand meters in order to enhance energy accountability and customer-centric, customers’ satisfaction & value for money.”

It doesn’t make sense to weigh tragedies on a scale. How do you measure them? Leo Tolstoy got it right in Anna Karenina when he said whereas all happy families are alike, every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

And so indeed it was on June 14 when it was reported that a boat carrying 750 migrants had capsized near Greece in the Mediterranean killing over 500 with dozens missing. 

It was one of the most horrific tragedies in recent times, claiming the lives of hundreds of migrants mostly from Pakistan, Syria, Egypt, Afghanistan and Palestine who put their lives in great danger in pursuit of the basic human instinct of looking for a better life.

A world becoming tragically familiar with migrant misery barely had time to shake its head in pity once again when news broke that a submarine, The Titan, operated by a US-based company, OceanGate, had exploded in the depths killing all five tourists on an expedition to the debris of the Titanic.

Two heart-wrenching tragedies in a space of days and yet the major global news networks could not resist reporting the tragedies on a scale of prejudice that barely disguised where their sympathy lies. 

The concerned world also rallied a multinational rescue mission for The Titan sparing neither expense nor expertise. The press provided minute-by-minute accounts of the efforts, looking for experts from around the world who had made similar missions in the past. Others got families of some of those on board to share their fears and hopes. 

How, for example, could anyone not be touched by the story of Suleman Dawood, the 19-year-old student who followed his millionaire father, Shazada, on that expedition to honour his Father’s Day wish? We were touched because the press shined a light on the human angle.

Who knows how many such stories among the hundreds of the families of the dead migrants have now gone untold? Interestingly, the Dawoods whose tragic story is still travelling the world, shared a similar Pakistani heritage with some migrants whose own stories will never be heard. 

As the search went on, the horrific deaths of the migrants in the Mediterranean fizzled from news flashes to scrolls of ticker tape and soon disappeared altogether.

From the way the networks covered the two accidents, you would be forgiven to think that they had weighed both and concluded that the lives of the 750 migrants mattered less, if they mattered at all. It was not an issue that the number of migrants who died in the Mediterranean on June 14 was over one-third of the fatality when RMS Titanic struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage in 1912.

Somehow, the unspoken message was that the migrants deserved their fate. What else did they want from Europe or the rest of the world? After all, in the last eight years or so, and long before the Russia-Ukraine war complicated things, Europe had opened its borders to an estimated 1.5 million migrant refugees. Yet, in spite of tighter border controls, controversial repatriations and deportations, the wave of migrants has been unrelenting.

Governments in Europe, especially in Italy and Greece, that spent years sleepwalking over a comprehensive plan to manage the migrant crisis have used rising domestic economic difficulties and the upsurge in right-wing groups in their countries as excuses for cracking down on migrants, sometimes, with the most cynical sea-border policing.

Since no deterrent appears to have worked so far (not unsanitary conditions, severe overcrowding, poor food and water quality, torture by guards or even reinforced barbed wires), the networks may well have deployed their own – a new set of filtering tools to cover the Mediterranean tragedy: downgrade the story if you can’t help it, otherwise, turn a blind eye. 

Of course, it’s not the fault of the five victims who died in The Titan; it’s the fault of a system that treats people less than who they are because of where they are from, their skin colour – or let’s be honest – because of their economic conditions. 

It’s improbable that if the migrant boat were some ocean liner on a summer cruise of the Mediterranean an accident involving 750 passengers out of which 500 have been confirmed dead would be given the same shorthand coverage.

The double-standard between the wall-to-wall coverage of the implosion of The Titan and the short shrift that the deaths of over 500 migrants received at the hands of the global networks reecho the Shakespearean line about beggars, comets and the deaths of princes. Only that Shakespeare could not have seen that modern networks could sometimes make comets for their own princes.

The hypocritical coverage of both tragic incidents barely hides the fact that even though the deaths touched each affected family in a different way, the material condition of the dead was also a factor in how the tragedies were reported.

Former US President Barack Obama, perhaps one of the world’s most famous modern victims of right-wing calumny, called out the stark contrast, describing it as “obscene” and “untenable.” It’s an obscenity with a long history, one which in 1977 compelled UNESCO to set up the Sean MacBride Commission on North-South communication lopsidedness. 

On September 26, 2002, for example, an overcrowded Gambia-bound Senegalese ferry, Le Joola, hit a serious storm at night, killing 1,800 passengers, including the sister and 10 other relatives of the current coach of the Senegalese national football team, Aliou Cisse. Only 64 passengers survived. Cisse was saved on that day by a match for Birmingham City. It was a monumental tragedy, claiming more lives than were lost in RMS Titanic.

But that catastrophic event remained largely unreported then and remains, to date, one of the world’s most famous unlisted calamities on the global calendar. Only a BBC Africa documentary produced last year, on the 20^th anniversary of the disaster and the pillars of the victims’ empty graves, remind us there was such a human tragedy!

This double-standard sometimes plays out in how help is deployed, after a humanitarian disaster. When the US sent help to Nigeria after catastrophic floods claimed over 600 lives last year, for example, it sent money – $1 million. When a devastating wildfire impacted New South Wales in Australia in late 2019, on the other hand, the US sent hundreds of firefighters. Sadly, three of them died helping.

To be fair, we can’t blame foreign countries or the major networks forever. If these countries and their networks are hostages to blinkered lenses in understanding and telling our story, journalists in the global south, including Africa, must also invest in telling their own stories themselves. 

And that does not have to be only when tragedies happen. Otherwise, neither tragedies nor heart-warming stories would have the touch, which as Tolstoy said, connects to us as humans in their own different, intimate ways.

In bid to fulfill his promise of helping to renovate the Awka and Onitsha mosques and also to celebrate with the Anambra Muslim community in Onitsha on the auspicious occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir, Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate in the 2023 election has presented the former with cheques worth millions of naira to commence with the renovation projects.

It be recalled that during Obi’s visit to Awka and Onitsha Muslim communities in April, he promised to support them in renovating their places of worship, which was no longer in good condition.

He equally called on Nigerians to embrace peace, unity and brotherly love.

Obi gave the donation when he played host to leaders of the Anambra Muslim Community in Anambra capital, Akwa, on Wednesday.

According to him, he decided to celebrate the Eid Al-Adha with the Muslim community in Anambra, to show the brotherly love and unity that should exist among Nigerians, irrespective of tribal, political or religious belief.

Obi presented both Awka and Onitsha Muslim communities

Speaking at the event, Obi said, “We are all Nigerians, and we will continue to live as one irrespective of our religious or political beliefs. What we owe each other is brotherly love and care, so we can live in peace and unity as a nation. We have no other nation but Nigeria and we must make it work.

“I know that times are difficult for everybody in the country, but if we rise above our religious, political and ethnic divisions, we will be able to surmount our challenges in unity. We will not give up on our nation, but continue to work for a New Nigeria that will be beneficial to every Nigerian.”

In his remarks, the Sarki of the Awka Muslim Community, Alhaji Garba Haruna, said they were thrilled by Obi’s simplicity and consistency.

According to him, Obi has demonstrated that he is a “truly detribalised Nigerian”, by making out time to mark their Sallah celebration with them.

Earlier today, I hosted the Anambra Muslim Community at my residence in Onitsha, to celebrate the Eid al Adha. In also presented cheques to the leaders of Onitsha and Awka Muslim Communities, in fulfilment if my earlier promise of helping to renovate their respective mosques. pic.twitter.com/RHONsGbOAu

— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 28, 2023