By 1983 the army had struck and aborted the 2nd republic but here we are, the 10th Assembly will soon resume, and it’s been 24 years of a hullabaloo democracy, many are not happy but we are making some form of progress, there’s been no martial music. Despite the heated controversies in Lagos and other places, the death toll as a result of gun throttling ballot snatchers reduced, the magic figures of the Kardashian states also have reduced. However, we still have a marathon in our hands but sadly we are building on some shenanigan principles that don’t spell well for us.

I recall in our recent democratic journey a governor that had won a second term, after being sworn in, blamed his predecessor for huge debts and unpaid salaries…and more. Someone had to tap him, reminding him that he was the predecessor.

In this dispensation, another governor simply refused to sit on the seat of his predecessor, others would embark on a sacking galore, after all only weeks to the end of the last man on the helm there were loads of hiring, firing is then in order. I know that it is a lie that the Zamfara state governor declared N9trillion in assets but not to worry many would declare outrageous sums (forgetting that we know their real worth), while others would dance the musical chairs refusing to declare.

The block and freeze accounts group would be at it, accounts that would be elapsed after the initial gra-gra, where there are democratically, in many parts the governor would make statements banning payments of one levy, tax or union dues, but trust me, these payments would come back.

Most of the new governors have dissolved state councils, boards and parastatals, some governors will demolish, either immediately or later, the new kids on the block must chop, new Heads of Service, and all those new commissioners etc.

This new administration has taken off with subsidy removal. A most contentious issue, one that every energy moron and fuel expert has an opinion.

What exactly is deregulation, how exactly does this subsidy work...I have talked to government officials, petroleum marketers, a few 'big boys' in NNPC, and a couple of eggheads. Truth is that they do not know, or better still they know but cannot explain what these terms means.

All the grammar boils down to an inability of a system to solve a problem because a strong group of persons are benefiting from that problem. It also is an indictment reflective of the faulty planning by those in charge, that’s if they plan at all.

Government tells us that they cannot influence the price of the product since deregulation is the in-thing, but in common sense, no one has been able to tell us how fellow oil-producing nations have successfully dealt with their petroleum needs.

A friend suggested why don't we go to Angola, Venezuela, or Brazil and just steal their blueprint, it's working for them, let’s just stop this subsidies and deregulation grammar and deceit of subsidies and duplicate their success, localize it for the collective good of Nigerians, but off course the term 'collective good' is an alien term to us. Insecurity won’t allow our newly old train systems to work, blue and green rails at cut throat costs have not reduced cost of transportation or eased people’s burden, our waterways are wasting, you are riding bicycles car drivers would knock you down.

It is a sad picture of a society that has lost balance, the ruling class needs to be taught a bitter lesson, they need to be made to bleed, Nigeria's live at less than a dollar a day, while a nation's collective wealth is flaunted by a few, so if the current administration is scraping subsidies, it should be supported but it can’t get that wholesale support because of trust deficit.

No number of essays, commentaries can explain the impact of fuel, cooking oil and diesel to the economy; it’s like explaining the impact of constant electricity to national life. These are terms those in power do not seem to grasp; the reasons are way simple too...one, they have big power generating plants in their homes and offices. Two, some of them cannot really recall when last they were on a fuel queue and with millions of naira in remuneration and salaries, what do they care?

The NLC died a long time ago courtesy of an Obasanjo inspired poisoning, aided by greed of those put at the helm of its activities, its only panacea being strike and strikes.

Over two dozen fuel price increases since 1978, five times it was reduced minimally but hiked back almost immediately. From N8.45K in 1978 to N65 in 2009 representing an increase of almost 60,000%, the trend has simply continued. In 1978 when the first increase was announced, one of the reasons given was that a majority of petroleum users were using it for pleasure, and there was a need to bring discipline into society. Strange thinking, another reason was that N95M was being spent a year for subsidies.

As of this year we are talking in trillions, where is this money coming from, how does this subsidy thing work, how can you deregulate when your refineries are not working. How do you pay subsidy cash and still do crude oil swap, who can really explain the fraud called Direct Sales, Direct Purchase DSDP? I have not touched all the loops like bridging costs, demurrage, forex fluctuations that marketers play with, minus selling at international price to neighboring countries. Even the commissioned Dangote refinery has not started working and is not starting anytime soon. You will see that wahala dey!

The top echelon of the society cannot explain to Nigerians, exactly, the reason why we cannot buy fuel at an affordable price for three years in a stretch without scarcity. Not every Nigerian is a novice to the political, economic or social implications of oil pricing. However, the ordinary Nigerian suffers this failure and complacency of leadership.

Subsidies and deregulation mean the price will ultimately fall or money will be channelled to other areas of the economy, in local parlance...'our leaders like to mumu us'. When the broadcast industry deregulated, we saw the instant benefits, same applies to telecoms (although we pay some of the highest tariffs in the world) we saw and are still seeing the benefits. But once you hear these terms in the petroleum sector, it’s like it stands for disappearance of the commodity and when it reappears its price increases.

Who are those responsible for the billions and trillions that disappear in subsidies, who are the few that want to punish the majority? All the best explanations of the government until it is seen to be done is more of hullabaloo.

Why is it that this policy to a large population of Nigerians is simply a tightening of the screw of poverty, no massive improvement of our colonial rail system, no free education or healthcare, no social security, or unemployment benefits?

Legislators neither here nor there, governors’ supporting with both sides of their mouth at variance, everyone on top supports, and every person underneath suffers it, in all the noise the product disappears. Transportation fare increases, food prices sky rocket...a nation that has a disconnect between the ruled and its rulers.

Subsidy has become part of our transitions, if this government gets it right and can pull this off with a humane face, it will get a lot of things right but the citizens need to play their part, the Yorubas say Ẹni tó tan ara-a rẹ̀ lòrìṣà òkè ńtàn: àpọń tí ò láya nílé, tó ní kí òrìṣà ó bùn un lọ́mọ. Meaning, it is the person who deceives himself that the gods above deceive: a bachelor who has no wife at home but implores the gods to grant him children. (It is self-deceit to expect the gods to do everything for one, when one has not lifted a finger on one's behalf). I can only say—May Nigeria win!

Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s assets did not increase through out the eight years he spent in office, Garba Shehu, his spokesman, has said.

Shehu said this could be seen in the assets declaration form he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

According to Shehu, the completed declaration showed that Buhari’s movable assets did not increase, at home in Nigeria or outside and he did not add new bank accounts outside the only one he had in Union Bank, Kaduna.

“He has taken no loans and has no liability. The number of animals in his farm recorded a little decrease due to the number he gave out as gifts in the last four years,” Shehu said in a tweet on Saturday.

The asset declaration form is mandatory for all elected, appointed, recruited and contracted public officers.

All public officers are to declare their assets and liabilities on the assumption of office and at the end of their tenure.

Declarants are required by law to state their assets/liability including that of their spouses who is not a public officer and children under 18 years of age and submit same to the bureau within 30 days of the receipt of the forms.

However, some public officers do not disclose their declared assets.

The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to declare his assets in accordance with Paragraph 11 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution and make it public as a way of committing to the genuine fresh beginning he promised Nigerians.

The AFRICMIL Coordinator, Dr. Chido Onumah, said on Wednesday in a statement that declaring his assets and making it public would place President Tinubu on a much higher moral pedestal than his predecessors who were not on record to have taken any significant action regarding this constitutional obligation.

“Besides the moral capital that accompanies such a rare gesture, Mr. Tinubu would be seen to have reinforced belief in the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda on which his governance plan is anchored, and which was the mantra at every turn in his campaign trail.

“The anti-corruption agenda of the Tinubu administration remains vague even though in his inaugural speech President Tinubu said his administration would ‘take proactive steps such as championing a credit culture to discourage corruption while strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the various anti-corruption agencies’

“AFRICMIL looks forward to a more detailed and unambiguous anti-corruption programme and is ready to work with the Tinubu administration to tame the vicious monster of corruption currently ravaging the country,” Onumah said.

I have received, for the umpteenth time, a video of the arrival of Prof and Mrs. Osinbajo at the Lagos airport. The arrival was without the pomp and pageantry that holders of exalted political offices receive in Nigeria. Along with the video are tendentious and silly snide remarks.  

It would have been easy for Prof Yẹmí Osìnbàjò to do what most politicians periodically do. He could have instructed some of his staff and supporters to organize an impressive crowd to await his arrival at the airport. 

For far less than ten million naira, he could have distributed bales of Ankara along with snacks and some chicken change to singing women and noise belching men. 

Needless to say, the capacity of a politician to stage such shows is directly correlated with the extent of his involvement in crude, appropriative, cash-and-carry politics. 

May God bless Yẹmí Osinbajo for not embracing the wayward exhibitionism that often defines the thoughtless populism of the Nigerian political class. His job as Vice President has been done. A hallmark of the Christian life he professes is to be able to truthfully say with Apostle Paul: "I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:12-13. 

Osìnbàjò does not need a red carpet. The real losers are not Yẹmí and Dọlapọ Osinbajo but those whose superficiality makes them to define a leader by the carpet on which he walks.

…NMDPRA Explains Why Petrol Prices Will No Longer Be Fixed

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA)
has revealed that the Federal Government has officially scrapped petroleum equalisation as well as the national transport allowance.

This is just as the Authority said it will no longer fix prices or release templates for petrol prices.

The PEF was set up by Decree 9 of 1975 (as amended by Decree Number 32 of 1989 now chapter 352 of the Laws of the Federation).

Its main function is to ensure price uniformity of petroleum products via the reimbursement of marketers for losses they incur in trucking products from depots to their filling stations anywhere in Nigeria.

The Authority Chief Executive (ACE), Engr Farouk Ahmed, explained that under the liberalised market, the forces of demand and supply would dictate prices.

He also stated that the NMDPRA and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) will mount aggressive monitoring of activities in the downstream sector to prevent profiteering by petroleum marketers.

Ahmed said, “We put the regulation in place, we make sure quality control is complied with, we make sure the product is there and we give licence to a prospective importer.

“The market is now open for everybody that wants to import as far as they meet all the requirements. So, it is not about the NNPC alone.

“For everybody in the sector, we make sure we guide their operations whether at the depot or wherever the product is but we will not put a cap to say this is what the price must be.

“As far as we are concerned in the NMDPRA, this is not like before when the PPPRA fixes the price. In a deregulated market, it is the market force that dictates the price.”

Ahmed explained that the NNPC’s role is to fix the prices of the petrol it imported and not take over the responsibilities of the Authority.

“In the case of the NNPC, the organisation is the sole importer at this point. We told the NNPC to recover its costs because they know how much it cost them to import the product and sell it.

“Of course, we also know how much shipping, offshore, ex-depot and ex-pump are. But we cannot tell them to sell at a price because the market is deregulated,” he said.

Ahmed further disclosed that marketers are now free to source their foreign exchange anywhere around the world to import petroleum products and then recover their costs without impediments.

On where the importers will source their forex from, Farouk said: “No. the CBN will not give dollar to anyone because it is an open market. Anyone willing to import should get the dollars from anywhere to import.

“Anyone willing to open a letter of credit from any part of the world can do that to import. That marketers can source their forex from anywhere is the beauty of the liberalised market that the NMDPRA has introduced based on the provision of the law.”

Though no template spells out the pricing components of petrol price, Ahmed hinted that the market will henceforth be modulated to allow the fluidity of prices.

He added, “This means that the price will no longer be static. It will depend on the international price of the gasoline market. But this does not imply that marketers can sell at any price.

“If we find that certain prices are way above the expected profit margin, we and the FCCPC can move in to curb such excesses because that will be profiteering. The market structure will dictate the price swings at every point in time.”

He maintained that the Dangote will help the nation in two ways, adding, “The refinery will give Nigeria easy access to petroleum products on-land for security reasons because it is within the Nigerian territory.

“Secondly, it will increase employment for our professionals.”

However, Ahmed was quick to caution against optimism for cheap petroleum products, saying, “I don’t think products will be cheaper because the company will be buying crude oil at the international price.

“However, it is going to be cheaper in terms of freight rate. Bringing of cargoes from Europe. Dangote Refinery is a game changer in terms of accessibility. By the time the NNPC refineries and other modular refineries across the country come on stream, Nigeria will be a net exporter of petroleum products.”

The Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, Zamfara State, has restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC from further inviting, arresting or detaining present or past officials of the Zamfara State government including the outgone governor Bello Matawalle with respect to how funds meant for security votes, estacodes, traveling allowances or any similar facts were expended by the administration.

A copy of the court Judgement dated May 31 by Justice A. B. Aliyu was made available to THE WHISTLER.

The suit was filed by Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, on behalf of the Government of Zamfara State with SUIT N0: FHC/GS/CS/30/2021, against the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation, on the 16th of November, 2021.

Lately, it became public knowledge that the EFCC was tracking Matawalle over allegations of diverting public funds to the tune of N70 billion.

The ex-governor had also alleged that the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, wanted him to pay a 2 million dollars bribe for his investigation to be stepped down.

Ozekhome, who approached the court, contended the constitutional overriding powers of the anti-graft agency to investigate state government officials over the use of public funds appropriated by lawmakers.

He argued that the power to interrogate the disbursement and utilization of state funds appropriated is constitutionally vested in the State House of Assembly and the Auditor-General of the State, not the EFCC.

The Plaintiffs’ lawyer argued that based on the doctrine of separation of powers, the EFCC was trying to usurp the powers of lawmakers and the auditor-general of the state.

But EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, had opposed the application, contending that the EFCC (Establishment) Act, LFN, 2004, empowers the anti-graft agency to investigate state officials’ utilization of state funds, while the Constitution only grants the power to audit the funds and expenses of the State to the Auditor-General of the State.

He maintained that there is nothing stopping the EFCC from investigating and prosecuting financial crimes in any part of Nigeria.

The Attorney General of the Federation also aligned by the submissions of the EFCC counsel.

But in his judgment, Justice A. B. Aliyu held that the current or outgone public officials can only be probed through the House of Assembly of Zamfara State and in strict compliance with the 1999 Constitution.

He held that the EFCC does not have the powers to direct past and present officials of Zamfara state government for the purpose of superintending over them or exposing any waste in the management of the government’s consolidated fund and its general finances.

Part of the order reads, “An order of injunction is made restraining the EFCC whether by itself, its agents, employees, servants, operatives, detectives, privies, investigating officers and other persons by whatever name called, from inviting or further inviting, intimidating, harassing and threatening to arrest or detain or from arresting or detaining any past or present official of the government of Zamfara state on the basis of the same facts or similar facts as herein stated.”

“An order is made setting aside EFFC’s letter of invitation to past and present officials of the Zamfara state government dated 28th, September, 2021 or any other date same being ultra vires (beyond) the powers of the EFCC, and therefore, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”

The court held that by the proper interpretation of Sections 120,121, 122,123 of the 1999 constitution, the EFCC other than the House of Assembly of Zamfara state does not have the constitutional authority to exercise powers and control over public funds of the state.

Lionel Messi was jeered by a section of Paris Saint-Germain supporters as he played his final game for the club in the Ligue 1 champions’ 3-2 home defeat by Clermont on Saturday.

Messi’s expected departure from the French giants after two seasons was officially confirmed by PSG in a statement shortly before Saturday’s game.

“His contribution to Paris Saint-Germain and Ligue 1 cannot be underestimated and we wish Leo and his family all the best for the future,” said PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi.

Yet Messi’s name was jeered by some fans as the teams were announced at the Parc des Princes and the Argentinian World Cup winner was again whistled sporadically during the match.

There was little riding on the game itself after PSG wrapped up a record 11th French title last weekend, and Christophe Galtier’s side contrived to throw away a two-goal lead.

Sergio Ramos, whose own departure from PSG was confirmed on Friday, marked his final appearance by heading in a Vitinha cross for the opener in the 16th minute.

– Tribute to injured Rico –

Mbappe, looking to end a fifth consecutive season as Ligue 1’s top scorer, then scored a penalty to make it 2-0 with his 29th league goal this season, which he marked by holding up goalkeeper Sergio Rico’s number 16 jersey.

Spaniard Rico, PSG’s back-up goalkeeper, is in a serious condition in hospital in Seville after being injured in a horse-riding accident last weekend.

“The most important thing was the tribute to Sergio,” Mbappe told broadcaster Canal Plus.

“There are more important things than football, and on the pitch we were already champions. We could have lost 22-0 and that would not have changed anything for us.

“We had to pay tribute to Sergio. I think we have all been affected by what is an extremely serious situation. We have been worried about that all week and so we tried to pay tribute in the best possible way.”

Mbappe’s goals tally left him two ahead of Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette in the final standings.

Johan Gastien pounced on a Marco Verratti mistake to pull a goal back for Clermont, who then saw Grejohn Kyei miss a penalty.

The visitors then equalised in first-half stoppage time when Mehdi Zeffane netted from close range after Gianluigi Donnarumma spilled the ball.

Kyei got Clermont’s winner in the second half when he turned in a cross with his knee.

A famous win for Clermont sees them finish the season in eighth place.

PSG picked up the championship trophy after the game but end the season with seven league defeats, all of them suffered in 2023.

The apex umbrella body of all Yoruba indigenous people, Yoruba Council Worldwide, YCW, has described the bid to embark on strike action by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, over the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government as an act of economic sabotage.

The group, in a statement issued by its President, Aare (Oba) Oladotun Hassan (Esq) and made available to Sunday Vanguard, said it was aghast to see Joe Ajaero and Emmanuel Ugboaja led Nigeria Labour Congress (NLS) to have declared strike action via a trending circulated letter dated June 2, 2023, to commence strike action on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, against President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led Federal Government on the removal of the fuel subsidy in the wake of the inauguration on May 29, 2023.

The statement read: “Based on evidence at our disposal, the proposed NLC planned strike is an act of economic sabotage, calculated at truncating the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, consequently amounting to Double standards and Treasonable felony.”

“We are equally surprised to see the ill-motivated chaotic action to picket CBN offices nationwide and not NNPCL if even genuine as a deliberate premeditated ploy of the Labour Party manifested to cause monumental havocs, considering the siemese political affinity and negative positions of NLC and Labour Party at the last Presidential election, and their earlier treacherous declarations led by the Labour Party’s Vice Presidential candidate Datti Baba Ahmed to make the current government ungovernable.”

“Surprisingly, this is the same political campaign Agenda of the Labour Party’s Presidential candidate Peter Obi to remove and scrap fuel subsidies immediately if elected, so what has changed?”

“It is highly hypocritical to see the Labour Union Leaders and their ilk involved in such deceitfully clandestine and criminally crafted plans, considering the purveyors of the strike action who are mainly hardcore “Obidients” using the sentiments of the current economic situation to orchestrate the ill-motivated chaotic total shutting down of the economy.”

“It is on this premise we call on all law enforcement agencies, particularly the DSS to stop any act of NLC declared protests, for this is a dangerous prescription to nosedive the ship of government and throw the country into abyss.”

“We hereby serve as a note of warning to the Nigeria Labour Congress and all her affiliates to desist from this political grandstanding evil machinations to disrupt the wheel of progress of governance predicated on the successful start of a renewed hope agenda.”

“While we use this medium to call on all Nigerians to continue to support and rally around the new administration of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima led Federal Government, based on their genuine robust plans to positively reposition the Oil and Gas industry and strategically grow the economy in the overall interest of the greatest number.”

“Besides, NLC and TUC leaders knew since last year November that the subsidy will be scrapped from July 1 as no provision has been made in the budget for it, beyond this date. The Federal Government which already commits 96 per cent of its revenue in servicing debt is not in any position to continue selling subsidised fuel, most of which is smuggled across our borders for criminal and obscenely unpatriotic profit.”

“Subsidy of fuel is the most fraudulent decoy to plunge the nation into the bottomless pit of hell and economically NO longer sustainable as the Federal Government is virtually broke. Apart from its N77 trillion debt, it also owes the NNPC Limited about N2.4 trillion for past subsidies,” YCW said.

On Monday, 29 May, 2032, our renascent democracy took another giant step forward with the seamless handing over by one democratically-elected civilian president to another, as retired Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-chief of its Armed Forces, handed over the baton of leadership to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, winner of the Saturday, 25 February, 2023 presidential election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The current Fourth Republic is the longest stretch of democratic experiment that we have had as a country. The First Republic (October 1, 1960 – January 15, 1966) lasted a little over five years before the military shunted the civilians aside, after which successive military regimes took turns to rape the country and pillage and or waste its resources. The short-lived regime of JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi (January – July 15, 1966) was followed by Yakubu Gowon (July 1966 – July 29, 1975) and then the assassinated Murtala Muhammed (July 29, 1975 to February 13, 1976). Olusegun Obasanjo took over (“against his personal wishes and desires”, as he said, but who ever believed him!) and handed over power to an elected civilian president in the person of Alhaji Shehu Shagari (of the National Party of Nigeria) on July 29, 1979. Shagari was three months into his second term of office when he was toppled by the military on 31 December, 1983, signalling an end to the Second Republic.

Major-General Muhammadu Buhari stepped in and ruled till 27 August, 1985 when he, too, was toppled and gap-toothed General Ibrahim Babangida took over. Babangida’s regime initiated the Third Republic, which was unsuccessful in that Babangida himself wired it to fail because, in his heart of hearts and judging by the manner in which he serially shifted the goalposts in the middle of the game, disqualifying contestants on flimsy excuses, he did not want to relinquish power. In the end, the one described as “Maradona” because of the way he dribbled Nigerians with his unending transition to civil rule rigmarole, dribbled himself into a bind. He allowed the June 12, 1993 election to hold but surprised by its outcome and thinking he could dribble the country one more time, he annulled the election, adjudged by many as the most credible ever in the annals of the country, thereby instigating a chain of reactions, the end of which consumed IBB himself. He had to “step aside” from office and from power on 26 August, 1993; replacing himself with an Interim National Government headed by business mogul, Chief Ernest Shonekan, who was designated officially as “Chairman” of the ING. Shonekan himself was pushed off the chair on 17 November, 1993, forced to read a resignation address to the nation by Gen. Sani Abacha, who then took over as president. Abacha, like IBB, started his own transition to civil rule rigmarole whose goal was for him, Abacha, to transmute from military to civilian president. Death, however, put an end to his schemes and shenanigans on 8 June, 1998.

Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar took over after the death of Abacha and followed in the footsteps of Obasanjo by returning Nigeria to civil rule on May 29, 1999 with Obasanjo returning, this time, as elected civilian president. Since then, we have had 24 uninterrupted years of civil rule: From Obasanjo (1999 – 2007) to Umaru Yar’Adua (29 May, 2007 - 5 May, 2010 when his death, in office, was announced) to Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who assumed office, first as acting president and later as president, 2010 to May 29, 2015 when Buhari, like Obasanjo, returned as elected president. Buhari was in office until Monday, May 29, 2023 when he handed over power to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the same APC. So, there is more than one sense in which we can say that democracy is taking firm roots here. 

We have amassed more time under our belt – 24 years at a stretch. We have had a transition from ruling party to ruling party; we have also had an opposition party turning the tables on the ruling party, which is rare in these parts of the world. We have had power moving along geo-political divides from South to North and vice-versa. We have had a minority person become president, even if in fortuitous circumstances. This is very instructive in a country sharply divided along ethnic lines. So also is the fact that a Muslim-Muslim ticket (for the second time in our history) has won election in a country where sensibilities around religion are as volatile, if not more volatile, than the ones around ethnicity! But I digress!

 Penultimate Monday I was in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state to give moral support to Gov. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as he rounded off his eight-year tour of duty as governor of the state. The first glowing remarks I heard of Gov. Udom Emmanuel came from Femi Falana, SAN. Each time I advocated restructuring and fiscal federalism as panacea to Nigeria’s myriad problems, Femi would say “Go to Akwa Ibom and see what their governor is doing there”! He specifically mentioned Ibom Air founded by Udom. His argument was that despite the imperfections in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, there is still a lot that any serious, focused and competent governor, like Udom Emmanuel, can do to make a difference. The second person I heard the name Udom Emmanuel from was my brother-journalist, US-based Dr. Moshood Fayemiwo, publisher of the very popular “Razor” and, later, “Sunset” tabloids with which he fought the iBB/Abacha military dictatorship. Moshood and I hail from the same town, Owo in Ondo state but more importantly, we were both in the trenches as Nigerians fought Babangida and Abacha. Along with many other activists, we were hounded, harassed and detained but were lucky to escape with our life. Dr. Moshood called from the US one day and said he wanted me to work with his friend, Gov. Udom Emmanuel, who was gunning for the PDP presidential ticket in the last election. I told him I would think about it. I decided to pray. I called one of my prayer partners but as soon as I mentioned the name, he interjected: “I know Udom Emmanuel” His testimonies about the Akwa Ibom governor were eloquent and inspiring.

The word of God says from the mouth of two or three witnesses the truth of a matter shall be established (2 Corinthians 13:1). That was how I came to work with Gov Udom Emmanuel as his presidential spokesperson. Had he been given the PDP flag, the result, I dare to say, would have been different. But hope deferred is not hope denied! Coming with him to Akwa Ibom while we were on that campaign, I saw more than Ibom Air. I saw the coconut oil factory and when the sample I took to Lagos with me got exhausted, my wife moaned. I was in Akwa Ibom again from Monday, 22nd May to the inauguration of the new governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, on Monday the 29th May to honour Udom, whom I describe, without any hesitation, as a special breed of a leader that we call, in Yoruba, “akanda eniyan” (specially made by God). All the superlatives that were deployed to describe him as he commissioned one project after another in his last few days in office were, in my view, richly deserved. His record of achievements are astounding, to say the least.

I have since added Udom Emmanuel’s name to those of JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, NDLEA’s Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, and retired but not tired judge of the Kogi State High Court, Justice Alaba Ajileye-Omolaiye as public officials who, having performed creditably well in their given assignments, deserve a place in the government of competency that our brand-new president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has promised to run. To this list we must now add Architect Bamidele Samson and his wife, operators of the BOVAS Group of fuel stations noted countrywide for their honesty and integrity.  

I dare to say that Akwa Ibom has been fortunate and privileged to offer Udom Emmanuel the pedestal on which to showcase himself. Like Archimedes said: “Give me a place to stand, and a lever long enough, and I will move the world” For Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom was the "place" (on which) to stand. His record of achievements was the "lever long enough". But it was not a bed of roses for the former governor; Nigeria’s political landscape is strewn with charlatans, petty jealousies, acrimony, blatant lying and the now-famous PHD (pull-him-down syndrome). There was a tinge of sadness in Udom’s voice as he narrated his experience on this score, first at the valedictory thanksgiving service and dedication of the International Christian Worship Centre, Uyo and later the same day at his end-of-term media parley. He was miffed at the deliberate destruction of facilities provided at great cost for the benefit of the same people now destroying them for political or selfish reasons. The strife between communities over boundary issues which his mapping policy was meant to address was deliberately misinterpreted by political detractors and ignorant people to cause mayhem and destroy projects meant to provide jobs and enhance the state’s economic prosperity.

 Udom knelt down on the altar at the International Christian Worship Centre and decreed: “No evil man, no wicked man will rule over Akwa Ibom” Turning to his successor, Pastor Umo Eno, he passed unto him the same mantle of grace that had been upon him (Udom) for eight years, enabling the state to enjoy unparalleled peace and development, attested to by even the man on the street. The service was still ongoing when the news was received that Udom Emmanuel had been conferred with the national honours of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). Udom and his wife Dr. Martha Udom Emmanuel were also honoured by the Christian community with titles rooted in the scriptures.

 At the media parley, Udom passed this message across to his people: “You cannot have a better state than yours”. So people should stop deliberately pulling it down to score cheap political points. Satisfied with his efforts, which have made many to refer to him as the architect of modern Akwa Ibom state, Udom declared: “I am leaving this state better than I met it”. He expressed confidence that the massive infrastructural development of the state under him and the unparalleled investment he has sunk into human capital development would endure and catapult the state to greater heights.      

These days Nigerians flock to Dubai but hear what a citizen of that country said about Nigeria and Dubai in a post that had since gone viral: “If you compare Nigeria with Dubai, Nigeria had (crude) oil before Dubai. They (Nigeria) are richer than us. They have agriculture, they have mining, they have everything, you name it; they have it. Am I right or wrong? When you have true leadership – which we have – we have nothing but we have everything because we have the right leadership. That is the only thing you need – a right leader for your country... That is what brings your country to the top. You don't need anything (more). We don't have water; we don't have agriculture; we don't have mining...” but Dubai has good leaders, which Nigeria has lacked, despite its huge potentials. It could not have been better put!

That, in a nutshell, is the real value we must attach to the likes of Udom Emmanuel – providing the right leadership; true and sincere leadership - which he demonstrated in Akwa Ibom. So, the last may not have been heard of this man. As he leaves office holding his head high, his next bus stop lies ahead - in the womb of time. His success in coming from the corporate world to not only survive in the murky and turbulent waters of partisan politics (serving two uninterrupted terms) but to also succeed in leaving behind his imprimatur, successfully selling his “beloveth son in whom he is well pleased” - Pastor Umo Bassey Eno – to Ibomites as a worthy successor, is clear indication that Udom Emmanuel is no longer a political neophyte but has matured into the league of the “Big Boys”. Watch out for him in the years to come!

The Senator representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, Smart Adeyemi, says the legislative experiences of President Bola Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shettima, will help them perform excellently.

Adeyemi, who was also an All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant in the Kogi governorship election, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.

According to the senator, once somebody has been in the Senate, that person cannot afford to fail.

“This is the first time we are having field politicians controlling the executive arm of government.

“President Bola Tinubu, a former senator; Vice-President Kashim Shettima, a former senator, and even the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu is a senator.

“If you look at the states that are governed by former senators you will see outstanding performance; like Hope Uzodubma of Imo State.

“In the Senate, you are exposed to the needs and aspirations of Nigerians, ” he said.

Adeyemi said that Tinubu’s government would resurrect so many moribund economic and productive endeavours in the country and create opportunities for real economic development.

“Some of us who are fanatical about Tinubu, it is because we are sure of his track record.

“He will not approach you based on your ethnicity or religion, he considers the quality of your thought, and how your mind works.

“Look at Lagos today, he gave them the master plan of socio-economic development. We are not in doubt that there is going to be a turnaround under this government,” he said.

He said that the president was capable of initiating economic policies that would increase productivity and strengthen the Naira.

“We are confident that he is going to strengthen the Naira; he is going to strengthen productivity that will enhance the strength of the currency.

“He is going to create wealth, he will create job opportunities; you know the number of agencies he created as governor of Lagos?

“These are the things making Lagos excel today.

He said that the Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, had a similar track record through his performance as governor of Borno.

“Shettima is a former banker; and Agric/Economist by training. He is the person who revamped agriculture in Borno.

“We need to look inwards for productivity and one of the gifts of God to Nigeria is that we have arable land.

“Under the leadership of Tinubu and Shettima, there will be accelerated development of Nigeria, there will be a new Nigeria.

“There will be a resurrection of all those things that are dead or half-dead in Nigeria.

He urged the Federal Government to take advantage of abundant solid mineral deposits across the country to accelerate economic and infrastructural development.

He said the country had 32 solid minerals in commercial quantity, which, if harnessed, could turn the economy around for good.

He described Kogi as the solid mineral hub of the country and urged the government to prioritise the state in its solid mineral agenda.

“During the campaigns, the president promised to make Kogi the headquarters of solid minerals.

“This is because, out of the 32 solid minerals in Nigeria, there are 27 in Kogi,” he said.

Adeyemi urged Tinubu to source for competent Nigerians across ethnic and religious divides, that will help actualise his development plans for the country.

He expressed confidence that the president had the proven capacity to appoint the right people in the right positions.

“There are people who are not cut out for leadership. Tinubu does not have sentiments in his DNA, he considers what people are capable of doing, ” he said.