As the year winds down, we stand with one clear certainty, among others. That certainty is the fact that we live in extremely dangerous times. Not because there was ever a time human affairs were bereft of danger, no! We speak of danger today from the standpoint of unreality trying to present itself as reality. The words of the German philosopher, Freidrich Hegel, “The rational is the real”, does not hold water for this generation. Rationality suffereth violence and the hubristic and unduly exuberant do not set much store by it.

It all brings up the question of Authenticity, which was our concern on this page on July 30, 2022. The unreality around us in our private affairs, in the affairs of state and even in world affairs has become the dominant motif and paradigm. It is probably no longer easy for a lot of people to say what anything is, or is not, for sure. So, let us revisit this matter and represent that earlier conversation because of its continued relevance and benumbing immediate still. Here we go.

“In words of Parmenides: “What is, is; and what is not is not”. And heis right. If an umbrella exists, then it exists. If it does not exist, then itdoes not exist. But, how about something that exist “becoming” something else? An egg can become a chicken, for instance. A student may one day become a teacher, an engineer, an armed robber or a priest. A seed may one day become a tree, or a shrub. So, where does that leave us with Parmenides?  Perhaps we should just tell the gentleman philosopher that he is wrong in his further statement that “for something to come into being, it must have been in existence before then”. He forgot, or denied, the concept of development.

Unlike Parmenides however, Aristotle said: “Everything is what it is” at any particular point in time. A chair is a chair. A table is a table, and not a chicken. But the table was made from pieces of wood, nails, gum and some vanish. None of the components is a table. Putting all of them together in a room will also not give you a table. There must be a process that transforms the possibilities of these disparate objects into a new actuality. We must, therefore, conclude that everything is what it is at a particular time, in a particular place, and under particular circumstances, provided the conditions for activating all or some of its other possibilities are not fulfilled.

That is why a basic fact of logic and critical thinking is that a thing cannot be one thing and also not be that thing “at the same time, in the same place and, particularly, in the same respect”. That is the basic pillar of the Laws of Thought in traditional logic. It is the element of Sub oedum respectum that ends the debate, making it possible for the concepts of development, transformation, act and potency to be part of all logical and metaphysical thinking. So, let us go really philosophical today and talk about authenticity and inauthenticity; with an eye on the ongoing switching of identities between thieves, leaders, bishops and mechanics.

A political party that is, to all intents and purposes, the Patron Saint of Mediocrity and national decay cannot also ‘at the same time’ successfully pass itself off as an agent of national development” Also, political party that says it is in opposition, but which has nothing that really distinguishes it from the ‘bad guys’ it is trying to replace has a very bad case.  A person who calls himself a bishop when he is not one is simply not a bishop. He cannot, ‘at the same time’ that he is not a bishop transmute into one by self-proclamation. The issue here is about reality and illusion, truth and falsehood. criminality and good behaviour. So, let us go deeper into authenticity and inauthenticity.

To be authentic is to be real. An authentic wooden chair is different from a plastic chair that is given a coat of paint in order to pass it off as a wooden chair. A person is said to be authentic when he is what he claims to be at any particular time, and completely so. To be inauthentic, on the other hand, is to have your identity, values, statements and avowed beliefs contrived to present “what is not” as “what is”. It boils down to the absence of any true identity. A chimerical being. The “Not this” that claims to be a “this”.

The inauthentic person will rather strive to create an illusion and present same as truth, than take steps to remedy a perceived lack and become real and authentic. This is where falsehood, no matter how thinly cloaked, will prance forward through the manipulation of public opinion. It is all a question of doing everything possible to ensure that popular opinion and made-up reality create a shroud for the non-being to hide inside and masquerade an identity. Utter bunkum! What is not is not, at any particular time.

When an inauthentic person makes statements, or claims, about right, wrong, development, etc., it is all likely to be grounded on assumptions, expectations, views and ideas whose prevalence is mistaken for indubitability. Personal conviction is rarely ever part of the equation. Such a person will say ‘I know’, but will not bother to ask what it means ‘to know’. While one person will say ‘I know’ and mean ‘Mr. X told me…’, another will say he knows while he means ‘It is generally said and believed that…’, or even ‘I have the impression that’. See? There is also profound inauthenticity in the domain of knowledge!

The victim of an inauthentic life may not be aware of his predicament at all. He will be absorbed in his everyday concerns, feeling quite important and indispensable amidst it all. Yet he is dispensable in every sense of the word, without the world being the worse for it. What the inauthentic person takes himself to be is very often the agglomeration of claims, conjectures, flatteries and opinions put out by himself and his ‘factory workers’; as he sits in the conventional boat of his environment, his financial status and what is generally called public opinion. But can what is said by a misguided public ever become the truth?

An inauthentic person is actually no longer in a position to table new ideas, or question anything. “What will my people think of such a thing”, he would probably say in a shudder. His nakedness is there beneath the perfectly imaginary clothing of artifice. But it is precisely this artifice that is being marketed as reality, in the firm belief that all will be well in the end.

Now, let us carefully note that an inauthentic person is usually not under any visible physical coercion, no matter how subtle. Yet he seems to be the victim of some kind of ethereal tyranny, as he falters and stabilizes involuntarily. He is always afraid of what people would say if he did this, or failed to do that. He is worried that they may consider him foolish, unserious, etc. Yes! But who is this “they”? Terrible, is it not? That the “they” cannot be individualized. It does not really refer to this person, or to that person. It does not even refer to all the people put together; or to everyone except me. It is not something like a universal subject from which the individual can be abstracted, no!

But there it is! They want this and not that!

Unlike the authentic self which has taken hold of itself, and which consciously determines its own possibilities, a “they” self is not localized. That is why it is true to say that to have your day-to-day life defined by the ‘they’ is to have all your genuine possibilities annulled; because your life is dispersed into undefined channels, as you wallow in the anonymity of collectivism. When an inauthentic person says “I”, he actually means “the others, whose ways prescribe mine”. Pitiful, is it not? That the amorphous group, the self-enclosed homogenous group, with its unthinking rhetoric, buries personal volition.

If you doubt that the inauthentic person unconsciously, and often totally, depends on the “they”, watch out for the constant care he takes to see how he differs from others; and whether that difference is one that should be maintained or evened out; whether he is lagging and needs to catch up, and whether he has some advantages he must strive to maintain. It is a desperate struggle for a life defined by average everydayness. A life lived with very little self-possession.  

This is how the tyranny of the “they” unobtrusively robs people of their individuality. The choices about pleasure and displeasure are dictated by the prevailing preferences. It just happens to be “the done thing”. Thus, does true knowledge get undermined and undervalued. Nobody then needs to justify anything he says or believes, other than by saying that everyone is in the same boat. Thus, you find people strutting about as leaders, statesmen, chieftains influencers, on air personalities, etc., either after they have held public office, or because they have read a few books and talked a lot.

It is sometimes in this way that the impetus to free thinking and independent enquiry is either dampened, or extinguished completely for many people. That is because ‘they’ articulate he referential context of the significance of everything. Thus, it gets spread around that there is no need to be different. Evasion of self and ignorant presumption become the norm. “Just drift along”. Do not make a nuisance of yourself, by raking up issues that will make people think, reflect, or ask questions. As Martin Buber said: “Having become uneager and inept for such living intercourse that opens up a world, the have imprisoned the person in history and his speech in a library”.

But it is all coming to a head in Nigeria today. Inauthenticity has been our welcome companion around here for too long. What makes the fraud called PDP any better than the disaster called APC”?

And, as 2024 winds to a disconcerting end in a a little more than a week’s time, we should ask ourselves what is still real around us. Many are threatening to enjoy their Christmas holidays, but the no longer know what it means to enjoy anything at all. We have cheap, debauched and inane replacements for most of what we used to cherish so much 

And inauthenticity walks the land! Let the discerning who are not too weary still keep watch. Let the prayerful who still have the stamina and the right spiritual orientation take to their respective modes of prayer. Lest 2025 unleash the denouement of true inauthenticity, rather than abrogate, or even ameliorate it.

The Enugu State Police Command in multiple operations has busted a kidnapping gang hideout and arrested five suspects for burglary and car stealing.

These operations also resulted in the recovery of firearms, ammunition, military uniforms, and stolen items, including a car.

According to the State’s Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, the kidnap gangs were arrested in Nru, Nsukka local government area.

Items recovered from them included a loaded revolver pistol, a single barrel gun, two live cartridges, a Point of Sales (POS) machine and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.

He said the suspects were involved in recent kidnappings and other crimes in Nsukka.

“On December 15, 2024, a combined team of operatives from Nsukka Area Command, acting on intelligence, raided a kidnapping gang’s hideout in Nru community, Nsukka LGA. The suspects engaged the operatives in a gunfight, but fled with gunshot injuries under superior police firepower

“A loaded revolver pistol, a cut-to-size single-barrel gun, two live cartridges, military camouflage uniforms, a Moniepoint POS machine, and ATM cards were recovered.

“Preliminary investigations revealed the gang’s involvement in a recent case of kidnapping and other heinous crimes in Nsukka. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects,” he said.

Also, in another operation, the Command arrested suspects for allegedly burglary and stealing a car.

Nelson Uchechi, Waziri Adamu, Auwal Kachalla, and Abba Mohammed were arrested for alleged burglary, while  Chukwuka Chika was arrested for allegedly stealing a red Volkswagen Passat car.

“In a different operation, on November 14, 2024, operatives from the Abakaliki Road Police Division of the Command arrested four burglary male suspects, namely: Nelson Uchechi, aged 22, Waziri Adamu, aged 21, Auwal Kachalla, aged 30, and Abba Mohammed.

“The suspects had burgled and stolen bicycles, laptops, phones, and other items from a house in GRA, Enugu, on November 14, 2024, around 2 a.m. The stolen items were recovered, while the suspects confessed to the crime and were subsequently arraigned in court and remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Custodial custody.

“In another operation, operatives from the Central Police Station of the Command, in early December 2024, arrested Chukwudi Chika (male, aged 35) for stealing a red Volkswagen Passat car from where it was parked on the premises of a church at Coal Camp, Enugu.
The car was recovered, while the suspect confessed to the crime. He has been arraigned in court and remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Custodial custody,” the statement added.

The State’s Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, advised criminals to leave the state. He assured the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring public security and safety in Enugu State during the festive period and beyond.

He urged citizens to remain vigilant, report suspicious individuals and their activities, and also cooperate with law enforcement agents to maintain peace and security across the State.

[NaijaNews]

Controversy has trailed the recent conviction of Segun Olowookere, whose parents, Olarewaju and Folashade, are kicking over his sentence to death by hanging for stealing a fowl. TOBA ADEDEJI, who obtained a copy of the judgment delivered on December 17, examines the controversy.

ON January 30, 2013, Segun Olowokere, then a 22-year-old, and 21-year-old Sunday Morakinyo were dragged before the Osun State High Court, Ikirun before Justice Sakariyah Falola on eight counts charge in suit number HKK/2C/2012.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy, armed robbery and stealing pressed against them by the State Counsel, Barrister Biola Adewemimo.

 According to the charge, the two convicts who conspired in November 2010 to rob one Mr Oguntade Faramade of his fowls and eggs worth N20,000 also robbed Balogun Taye of his two mobile phones and attempted to rob another Alhaja Umani Oyewo in her house.

It was also stated that they robbed Elizabeth Dare of a gallon of vegetable oil, using cutlasses and a Dane gun. They were also said to have robbed one Balogun Taye of N5,000, mobile phones and fowls.

The prosecution counsel also disclosed that they stole fowls worth N30,000. It was noted that they committed the crime in Oyan community in Okuku Local Government area of Osun State between April and November 2010.

Six witnesses testified against them for robbery and stealing as the prosecution counsel tendered 11 exhibits, which includes four cutlasses recovered from the convicts, one female head net used as face cover, one Dane gun, two DVD players admitted and four kegs of vegetable oil and confessional statements which were all admitted.

In his confessional statement, Olowookere, said: “In the evening of 10/10/2010 when the PDP wanted to do the primary election of councillors, one of my friends, Adepoju Siju, visited me at my home and told me that he wanted to visit his girlfriend, Tosin who is a daughter of one Alhaja.

“He said he would be sleeping in my house at night because I am the only one living in a six-bedroom flat.

“When it was 8 0′ clock in the night, my friend, Adepoju, called me on the phone. He said I should help him to call one Sunday and his group to my house for a business. I delivered the message to the boys and they followed me obediently to my house.

“On getting to my house, Adepoju told the boys that we were all going to guard one counsellor till the following morning.

“When it was midnight, Adepoju called all of us together and said that we were going to the house of Alhaja, the mother of his girlfriend, to rob her of a certain amount of money.

“He said Tosin, Alhaja’s daughter, would open the door for us when we got there because he had arranged with her.

“When it was exactly 12 midnight, we left my house.

“We went to Alhaja’s house as Siju Adepoju was armed with cutlass and others carried iron rod and sticks, but I did not hold anything. I went to the place empty-handed.”

During the trial, the victims of Olowookere, Morakinyo and five others which include Alhaja Oyewo, Elizabeth Dare, Oguntade Faramade and three policemen, namely Alaba Samson, Ogunniyi Emmanuel and Ilyasu Maruf, testified against them.

However, Barrister Ayo Omolosho who was the defence counsel, opposed to the prosecution, stating that they were not arrested at the scene of the crimes committed and that they failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Olowookere and his father denied the crime as Morakinyo said he was mentally unfit to oppose the claims of the prosecution.

During the prosecution, the confessional statements by Olowokere, Morakinyo, Ojo Dare, Dare Sunday disclosed that one Adepoju Siju initiated them to commit the crime of armed robbery and stealing at the house of one Alhaja Oyewo and their other victims in the town.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Falola convicted them for conspiracy, robbery by firearms, armed robbery and stealing.

However, he dismissed count 2, 4, 5 and 7 against them, noting that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

He ordered that they were sentenced to death and life imprisonment for the crime of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, robbery with firearms.

He sentenced them to three years imprisonment for stealing.

However, Justice Falola recommended in his judgment that “In view of the age of the two convicts, it is hereby recommended to The Governor that if it may please him, he should commute the death sentence and life imprisonment to (say) 10 years.

“The medical officer in charge of the prison where the second convict, Morakinyo Sunday, is being kept is hereby ordered to investigate his level of insanity.

“If the convict shall be found to be insane and constitutes danger to fellow inmates and prison officials, he shall be transferred to and kept in an asylum where destitutes are kept. He shall remain there at the pleasure of the Governor.”

Amidst the controversy, Governor Ademola Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said the Governor had directed immediate investigation and pardon in the case of Olowookere.

But former Attorney-General of Oyo State, Mutalubi Adebayo, cautioned Governor Adeleke against his plan to free a robbery suspect.

Adebayo, in a statement, warned that “Governments at all levels and the general public should not allow bloggers and internet idlers to mislead them to unnecessarily harass, vilify and attack the judiciary through dissemination of half truths and outright lies.”

He said: “The report that the prisoner was convicted and sentenced to death for stealing a fowl is pure lie and cheap blackmail that was packaged with a view to secure freedom for the prisoner through the backdoor. 

“It was very fair trial and there was no appeal against the judgment since same was delivered about 14 years ago.

“It must be made clear that I am not disputing the right of any Governor or even the President to grant pardon to any convict as same is a constitutional provision.

“However, it is unconstitutional for any Governor or President to investigate the circumstances under which any judge delivered his judgment and or the reason(s) and or propriety or otherwise of the judgment. The executive lacks such powers.

 “It is a clear usurpation of the powers vested in the judiciary by the Constitution. It is always deeply traumatic whenever judges are being bullied and harassed on the internet for performing their lawful duties, more so when such attacks are premised on falsehood and rumours.”

 “We must avoid exposing our Judges to dangers and risk of being attacked by criminals which can lead to loss of lives.

 “Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun has unlimited powers to set free the convict in question and any other convicts for that matter without any reason, but that unconstitutional investigation must be stopped forthwith.“

Less than a month after the Port Harcourt Refining Company appeared to have resumed production, the facility has stopped working.

Our correspondent, who visited the refinery on Thursday, December 19, 2024, observed that the lifting of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) had stopped.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the lifting of petrol actually stopped last Friday, December 13, as the 18-arm loading bay of the new Port Harcourt refinery was empty.

While about 18 trucks littered the stretch of the busy road leading to the refinery itself, nine trucks were spotted inside the parking yard, while the loading bay was empty.

The depot, which is usually a beehive of activities where tankers scramble for space at the parking yard, was a shadow of itself with literally no vehicular or human activity relating to operations.

$1.5bn celebration

Recall that the inauguration of the 60,000 barrel per day production capacity plant by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, was met with celebration and fanfare. This was after $1.5bn was approved in March 2021 and spent on the rehabilitation of the facility.

During the re-opening of the facility, there was lifting of petrol to the excitement of the cheering crowd.

However, less than 10 trucks of petrol were lifted that day as against widespread claims that about 200 trucks carried petrol out of the bay.

Our correspondent also reported that no sooner had Kyari returned to Abuja than things returned to the old way, amidst allegations by stakeholders that the petrol lifted during the inauguration was old stock from the storage tank.

When Saturday PUNCH first visited the refinery three weeks ago, it was discovered that the loading bay was deserted without the lifting of products.

In response to the discovery, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria said operations were scaled down due to the calibration of meters at the loading bay and de-watering of the old stock, which had to be emptied to pave the way to receiving newly refined products.

A fortnight ago, tanker drivers drove in and started loading once again.

Journalists were also taken on a guided tour of the refinery, led by its Managing Director, Ibrahim Onoja.

Onoja stated, “The plant is running and we are trucking out our products. We have carried out an extensive revamp of this plant and changed most of the equipment.

“The pump and instrumentation, the cables are all brand new. So what we have done here is massive change and upgrade of the plant.”

Afterward, there was marked improvement as about 11 trucks lifted products, even as it was better the next day.

Back to default

However, when Saturday PUNCH visited on Thursday, it was learnt that production activities stopped one week ago.

A handful of drivers were seen sleeping in their trucks while doing nothing.

One of them, who spoke Hausa, said he learned the lifting of PMS would resume next Monday.

He, however, expressed doubt about the information as he counted the number of days with his fingers and muttered, “Three days; they said they would load on Monday.”

The number of workers and visitors could easily be counted as there were more security men clad in black trousers and blue shirts.

The guards were stationed at the entrance of the depot and the loading bay, and inside the loading bay itself. They kept themselves busy as they chatted away.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, another truck driver said, “It was Friday last week they loaded last. About 15 trucks or so loaded that day. Since then, not even a single truck has been loaded till now.”

Asked if any explanation was given, he replied, “I don’t know. Nobody is giving us any information or telling us anything. Some trucks that were here have left. I’m just here because my director said I should wait a bit.”

Meanwhile, a petroleum product marketer, Mr Dappa Jubobaraye, has decried the state of refineries in the country.

Jubobaraye alleged that since Kyari inaugurated the plant, no production had taken place, pointing out that everything was just a show.

He stated, “It was intended to deceive Nigerians that the refinery is working and that is why they came up with that show. That day, only about four or five trucks loaded products.

“The loading meter was not calibrated yet before they started operation. Of the 18 loading arms at the bay only three are working and they have leakages. So, they have been trying to load three, four, five trucks, sometimes 10 just to show that they are working while they are not working.

“Since Mele Kyari came and left, the independent marketers have yet to load products from this depot because the NNPC is yet to fix prices for them to buy tickets and start loading products. They are only loading them to their own mega stations.

“The situation right now is that loading of PMS is not taking place because they don’t have the intention to make this place work. It is just to deceive the people.

“If you come into this place (depot), you will see trucks packed and think that loading is on; but the truth is that they are not working. Some tanker drivers have gone because they can’t come and waste time here.”

He continued, “How can you come here with the hope of loading and you stay here with your truck for two weeks, for what? Before the work stopped last week, they were loading up to 10, 15 but below 20.

“Ordinary one of the arms in the loading bay can load up to 20 to 30 trucks in a day. But for now, they are using only three arms out of the 18 loading arms inside the bay and the three are just for PMS alone. They have not started loading DPK (kerosene) and AGO (diesel). And kerosene is what concerns the ordinary more.”

Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the NNPC, Femi Soneye, were abortive as he did not take his calls or respond to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.

[Punch]

In November, worshipers thronged Christ the King Catholic cathedral, Aba, for the annual Christ the King profession. The venue was packed. Every year, it has been filled, chaotic and hot. But no fatalities have ever been recorded. This time, in the middle of proceedings, the devil struck. The most reliable accounts said gunshots were heard. Eyewitnesses recount a sudden surge. Edgy people, tormented by terror, accustomed to fright and flight, took to their heels. They thought the Unknown Gunmen, who have no fear of God, had come to disrupt the festival. Security officials locked the big gates: the major entrance and exit route.  Hell broke loose in the church. 

The only one exit left was a narrow pedestrian gate. People tumbled over themselves. By the time the turmoil subsided, bodies lay strewn on the hallowed ground. Among them, a mother and her daughter. Among them, three members of another family. The elderly and children didn’t stand a chance. In this country, crowds are loved: politicians, pastors, Imams, musicians, etc. In this country, nobody cares about emergencies and crowd control measures. 

Often, tragedies are suppressed. Ostensibly to stem public outrage, which can make a politician or pastor look bad. But without outrage, what lessons can be learned? If avoidable overcrowding and paucity of exits lead to the untimely death of the innocent, isn’t it immoral to falsify the figures and efface the tragedy? If the doctoring of the body count denies the enormity of a disaster, are the victims and society not doubly victimised? 

In Aba, in the aftermath of the mayhem, there was no public anger. Perhaps the church is loved. The demand for an inquiry was weak. Perhaps governments in the southeast fear antagonising the church. Somehow, in this social media age, when people would rather make videos of accident victims bleeding to death rather than help them, there were only a few pictures of the disaster in circulation. The church quietly blamed the incident on overcrowding as if some Martians had the crowd control responsibilities. The police said they were investigating. Newspapers put the death toll at 4-6. A relative of some victims said about 48 died. The disparity in figures is another story on its own. Evidently, the disaster was minimised. After a terse apology by the church promising to prevent a future occurrence, the matter effectively died. The dead have been buried. 

A month later, in December, people were invited to gather at a school field in Ibadan for a funfair. This time, it was an Islamic venue. Five thousand people were expected. Gifts and scholarships were included in the promises. A popular radio station made sure everyone heard. People came from near and distant villages to camp at the venue on the eve of the show. It was a cold night. In the times we live, every such invitation should expect a mammoth crowd

Some came for the fun. Some went for the goodies. Ooni’s ex-wife was at the centre of it all. Like the catholic church in Aba, her intentions were pure. By 8am on the D-day, the crowd was already pulsating. The organisers saw the crowd and started to palpitate. The crowd saw them and jumped into a frenzy. The earliest attempt at distributing tickets triggered the avalanche. People surged forward in waves, crushing others. There was no plan to control the crowd. The main entrance was the epicentre of the chaos. The small gate was opened, but it perhaps only worsened the stampede.  People stomped on falling people like horse hooves on grass. The desperation of the living drowned the cries of the dying. The tsunami was already at the peak of its madness. 

As it was in Aba, there were no emergency exits. Unlike Aba, the instigating factor was impatience rather than fear. But like in Aba, as the hospitals filled up, some PR machines stepped in to mop the mess. So, only a few pictures exist. Rumours say some unidentified men prevented people from taking photographs. Others said they saw them seizing phones. The idea was to spare the public the goriness. But if photoshopping the disaster reduces the weight of the scandal and leaves sleeping dogs to lie, how can forceful deterrents be established?

In Ibadan, the police have confirmed 35 deaths. Many lie injured in hospitals. Eyewitnesses dispute the figure. The president has ordered an investigation. An investigation should aim at punishing negligence. But the overriding priority is to lay down new rules to forestall future occurrences. If the laws don’t already exist, they must be enacted. The penalty for exposing people to stampedes because of a lack of crowd control, improper emergency planning, and insufficient exit routes must be stiff. A new culture of safety must spell out the maximum number that can gather in a space and the minimum number of exit routes. 

Inquiries in Nigeria are often political gimmicks. They are used to mollify the public. They consume money and reports that will be discarded. That is why the goriness of these disasters should be published for all to see. Let them be etched on our minds. That way, people will be wary of overcrowding. People will learn to note the location of emergency exits. 

If these disasters are painted in bright colours for all to see, consciousness against overcrowding will be raised. This kind of mass education will do more good that inquiries whose recommendations will die in infancy, stampeded to death by governments’ abiding insouciance and indolence. 

Today, the brand new and ephemeral undisputed heavyweight champion, Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, will give Englishman Tyson Fury a chance to regain the heavyweight championship belt, after a surprising demonstration in May, when he surprisingly took the title, despite the obvious size difference in favour of the ‘Gipsy King’.

While the fight will no longer be for the undisputed title, after Usyk was stripped of the full IBF title, this eagerly awaited rematch will be a spectacular event, again taking place at The Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

According to specialized media such as Fight Sports and The Independent, the total purse will be $190 million and will be split 55-45 in Usyk’s favour.

In the first fight, the Ukrainian, despite being champion of several organizations, took home $45 million, while Fury earned $100 million fully guaranteed, despite losing the fight.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Usyk’s net worth is approximately $80 million. He had $35 million before fighting Fury and $4 million before fighting Anthony Joshua for the first time.

In the case of Fury, Celebrity Net Worth notes that his fortune hovers around $140 million.

[Vanguard]

Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, has regained freedom after meeting bail conditions.

Bello has been charged with alleged criminal breach of trust to the tune of N110,446,470,089, contrary to sections 96 and 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap.89, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963, and punishable under section 312 of same law.

On Thursday, a federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Maitama granted bail to Bello in the sum of N500 million.

Maryann Anenih, the trial judge, held that the defendant must produce three sureties in like sum who must be responsible citizens of Nigeria.

The sureties must have landed properties within Guzape, Wuse 2, Apo, Asokoro and Jabi areas in the FCT.

In a now-viral video, Bello and Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, are seen jubilating.

TheCable understands that the former governor is already in Kogi state.

In the video, he is seen surrounded by a group of people who were also jubilating over his release.

Two major events that happened at two different locations in Ekiti State earlier in the month, again laid credence to the primacy of capacity, character and compassion in the leadership style of Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji. First was the event at Oke Ako Ekiti, in the north senatorial district, which featured the distribution of cheques totalling N160 million as compensation to land owners whose land were acquired for the commercial farming scheme for young farmers and the flag- off of some newly purchased tractors and other equipment. The second event which came barely 48 hours after was the distribution of cheques totalling N140 million to some young farmers as payment for the farm produce off-taken from them across the six farm clusters.

The gist here is that the chains of activities- the land acquisition, the compensation and the utilisation of the acquired land, the first harvest and the off-taking of the harvested crops as well as the purchase of tractors and other equipment required for the tractorisation policy of the government was completed within the space of six months of the introduction of the scheme, code-named “Bring Back the Youth Into Agriculture” a programme run in partnership with a private investor.

Four weeks earlier, in a move aimed at achieving energy independence and ensuring that his administration’s huge investments in power infrastructure achieve the desired result, Governor Oyebanji had granted operational licence to 14 investors which included three distribution companies, four power generating companies, two mini-grid generation companies and five meter asset providers.

The pace-setting and strategic move is to enhance power generation, ensure efficient distribution and provide reliable metering for residents. The goal is to move the state from the 20-25 mw it gets from the national grid (which falls short of the estimated requirement of 120mw) and move up to 130mw through a robust state grid, reducing dependency on the national supply and promoting sustainable. locally managed energy solutions. Again, the initiative, which aligns with the 2023 Electricity Act, was achieved within the space of a year that also witnessed a massive power upgrade and re-connection of many communities that hitherto were without power supply to the national grid.

Remarkably, Oyebanji is quite intentional about putting smiles on the faces of the people. Moved by the plight of Ekiti pensioners in the face of accumulated gratuities inherited from previous administration, the Governor, had in the last two months paid a total 4.5 billion naira to offset part of the outstanding gratuities. This is outside the regular monthly payment of gratuities. Aside supporting and equipping workers in the state to ensure a more excellent service delivery, the Governor put extra smiles on the faces of Ekiti teachers earlier in the year, when he directed that primary school teachers with degree qualifications should enjoy career progression to level 16 like others. This is in addition to extending car and housing loans to them, thereby bringing them out of an age-long policy that had deprived them.

The community of people with disabilities have also found a champion in Governor Oyebanji, who through his inclusion policy has not only created a government department headed by a cabinet –ranked officials and saddled with their welfare. This has resulted in a greater attention for the welfare and human capital development of PWD, with attendant huge investment in the upgrade of the state special schools and establishment of a trauma centre for children with disabilities.

These, and several other cutting-edge initiatives that authenticate the welfarist approach of his government and underscores his compassionate nature as a leader as well as his sheer determination to create economic opportunities for the people, are what stand Governor Oyebanji out as a true leader of the people, who is happy only when the people are happy and progressing.

And because the people know that “BAO” or “Talk- and- do Governor”, as he is fondly called, is passionate about their welfare and wellbeing, they have chosen to celebrate him not only on his birthday, but on daily basis and with the same level of energy and dexterity with which he serves them.

As the renowned American author and speaker, John C. Maxwell puts it, a leader is someone who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way”. Governor Oyebanji has a clear vision, which he communicates quite eloquently with corresponding actions. He walks the talk and he helps the people achieve their vision and purpose as well. This, many people believe, had provoked critical stakeholders in the state, including all former governors, to endorse him for a second term even before he marked his second anniversary in office.

Those who live by their strength may readily provide an answer to the question bordering on how they surmount obstacles and stay on top of their game. But those who live by the power of the Almighty God and the attendant grace can’t make such boast. Rather, they work hard, they work hand-in- hand with others, and they let God be God over everything- directing each step all the way through the paths that eventually yield boundless rewards. This is the story of the Omoluabi Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as he clocks fifty-seven years old today.

Those who have followed Oyebanji’s trajectory right from his undergraduate days, know that his political philosophy is built around the social democratic principle of lifting and supporting the weak and the vulnerable in society as well as the biblical injunction of love thy neighbour as yourself. An apostle of soft leadership, BAO’s genuine concerns include how transformational leadership can replace transactional politics; how to build strong institutions that will support growth and development; how to make government wear human face; how to get every citizen to contribute to state and nation building, each utilising his talent, time, platform and resources; and what mechanism should be put in place for genuine and effective empowerment of the citizens towards the attainment of shared prosperity for all.

Governor Oyebanji is disarmingly humble. He proudly wears humility like a garment. He possesses an insatiable appetite for championing good causes. In a recent interviews with state correspondents, he told them the secret of his calmness. According to him, he has committed the state into God’s hands, hence he is not under any pressure. Those who have come in contact with him, and, indeed a vast majority of Ekiti people believe humility remains his greatest asset, and gratitude the most potent weapon in his arsenal. This year alone, he has caused the office of the Secretary to the State Government to issue letters of commendation to no fewer than three members of his cabinet, as well as the chairman of the State Internal Revenue Service, appreciating them on behalf of the government and people of the state for their superlative performances.

As a change agent, BAO believes a leader must live in the hearts of the people by serving them diligently and faithfully, knowing he is accountable to the people and would give account of his stewardship to God one day. He believes trust is a public good without which no great thing can be achieved collectively. Hence, he believes trust has to be earned. As a leader, he embodies creativity, character, competence, and compassion with passion for excellence.

Born on December 21, 1967, in Ikogosi-Ekiti, Oyebanji had his early education in his home state. He bagged a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the Ondo State University (now Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti) in 1989 and Masters’ degree in Political Science (International Relations and Strategic Studies), from the University of Ibadan in 1992.
He started his career as a Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti, between 1993 – 1997 . He later proceeded to work as Manager, Treasury, and Financial Services at the defunct Omega Bank Plc (now Heritage Bank) till May 1999, when he commenced an illustrious career in politics and governance.

Since embracing public service in 1999, Oyebanji has served in various capacities with different administrations. He also served as Secretary to Ekiti State Government between October 2018 to December 2021, when he resigned his appointment to join the governorship race, which he won on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in June 22, 2022. He was inaugurated Governor of Ekiti State on October 16, 2022.

A devout Christian, Oyebanji sees his career in politics and governance as a divine calling. This philosophy remains his guiding light as he continues to serve God and country diligently as a loyal party man and conscientious public servant.

In recognition of his inspirational life journey, BAO has received many awards and recognitions. He was named Governor of the Year (2023) by Daily Independent Newspaper and Marketing Edge Magazine. He is also a recipient of the Ekiti Exceptional Achievers (MEEA) Award, granted in recognition of his contributions to the creation of Ekiti State as Secretary, State Creation Committee and Secretary, Ekiti State Development Fund.

Oyebanji is married to Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, an Associate Professor of Educational Management, University of Ibadan. They are blessed with three children.

As he celebrates another year of impact, Oyebanji remains an inspiration to both existing and aspiring leaders and a symbol of boundless grace. At 57, his legacy of integrity, innovation, loyalty, diligence and generosity of spirit continues to shape political narratives and inspire generations to come.

* Olayinka Oyebode is Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor, Ekiti State

Penultimate Monday, further to his sustained effort to develop a transportation hub in Ogun State to facilitate cargo movement and boost industrial growth, the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun received the outlined “Certificate of Compliance” on the Inland Dry Port located in the Papalanto, Ewekoro area of the state. Among other benefits, the dry port will facilitate trade and promote economic development in inland regions. Dry ports, like normal seaports, handle cargo and provide storage facilities, warehousing, logistics services, customs clearance, and inspection services. The project was recently flagged off by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola.

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barrister Ukeyima Akutah, while making the presentation to the Governor at his Oke-Mosan office in Abeokuta, along with a delegation of directors and other top officials, made an inspiring remark about the administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for economic growth. He said the emergence of Ogun State as the leading industrial economy in Nigeria was due to the Ease-of-Doing-Business Index achieved under the present administration of Governor Abiodun.

The remark lends credence to the Abiodun administration’s commitment to make Ogun State an investment destination of choice in the West African sub-region, leveraging on the combined advantages of its geographical location and oceanic plentitude of land. To realize the objective, the Governor has developed the plan, the strategy and the modality for the implementation, focusing on the creation of an enabling environment to attract local and foreign direct investments into the State.

Apart from the network of road infrastructure across the three senatorial districts, continuous improvement in the Ease-of-Doing-Business and land reform initiative provide a good attraction for investors. The administration has also created four economic zones in addition to the Agbara Industrial Zone, which includes the Ota (Ogun West) and Kajola (Ogun Central) axes.

Currently, the Agbara Industrial Zone is arguably the largest industrial zone in Nigeria and probably one of the largest on the continent. It is the zone that makes Ogun State the industrial capital of Nigeria. 

The decision by the present government to create additional zones is not only to expand economic opportunities that abound in the State but also make it investor-friendly. As of today, investors can conveniently choose any zone that suits them. The importance of economic zones cannot be over-emphasized. Among other benefits, a high-performing zone with strong foreign investment can create thousands of jobs while also building the capabilities of the local workforce as outside investors share expertise and know-how.

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council boss, Akutah, noted that the initiatives aligned with the policy statement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aimed at unleashing the country’s potential for industrial growth, prosperity, and job creation.

According to Akutah, the sustained effort of the Ogun State Government towards infrastructural development has enhanced industrial growth, thereby complementing the strides of the Federal Government to achieve sustainable transformation and industrialization.

He further commended the Governor for his determination to raise the bar of business activities in the state and develop critical infrastructure as a way of opening the state for an array of productive activities.

His words: “Your Excellency, we believe that the industrial revolution in Nigeria has already commenced in Ogun State under your watch, and we are very grateful for what you are doing.

“All the transport infrastructures you are developing, including the cargo airport which is at an advanced stage to commence operations, complement the efforts of Mr. President in terms of the industrial revolution in Nigeria, and this is quite commendable.

“We are also grateful to Your Excellency for the transit area which we are working together with our partners to develop in your State and also the land-a 20-hectare plot of land-which you graciously have provided to us to develop into a vehicle transit area.

“We commend you and your team for being consistent with infrastructural development in all sectors of the state’s economy. One of those infrastructures is the Gateway International Agro-cargo Airport, as well as the Inland Dry Port for which we are presenting its “Certificate of Compliance” to you today.

“Obviously, you have demonstrated capacity and quality leadership by all standards, and your state is piloting the ongoing industrial revolution in Nigeria as conceived by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Akutah noted that the provision of a good road network, the construction of an airport, and a conducive business environment had led to the influx of companies to the state, signaling the industrial revolution in the country.

In his response, the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, commended the delegation for the visit and for granting the “Certificate of Compliance” for the take-off of the Papalanto Inland Dry Port, saying it was a significant step in the quest for the establishment of the port.

The Governor described the Papalanto Inland Dry Port as a strategic port of operation aimed at decongesting the Lagos Ports and boosting industrial activities in Ogun State. He explained that through the concept of the Multi-modal Transportation System adopted by his administration upon assumption of office on May 29, 2019, the Inland Dry Port would be an efficient mechanism for the industrial revolution embarked upon by the Federal Government.

Governor Abiodun stated that his administration conceived the Kajola Inland Dry Port project in alignment with the Federal Government’s initiative to strengthen rail lines across the country to take pressure off the Apapa and Tin Can ports, both in Lagos, and make the clearance of raw materials seamless.

Abiodun said: “Ogun State has a lot of federal roads that traverse the North, East, and other parts of the country, which explains why many manufacturers have found us a convenient location to set up their concerns.

“We have the advantage of proximity to Lagos, Nigeria’s busiest seaports and airport. We also have the advantage of extensive gas reticulation in terms of pipelines, which allows for energy and gas to power industries.

“These two factors have made us the industrial capital, and naturally, you will find that a lot of raw materials are coming in by sea, and once processed, they are coming in through Lagos to our State.

“This initiative is supported by the strong case that if we were able to establish an Inland Port here, it would align with the federal government’s initiative of strengthening the rail line since this line connects Lagos to Ogun, Oyo, Osun, and Ondo states.

“The volume of traffic at Tincan and Apapa seaports is overwhelming, and these ports have become extremely inefficient as containers remain there for upwards of 30-60 days, accruing demurrage. By the time they are cleared and brought down to our state, a lot of demurrage and added costs have been incurred.

“In a strong business case, we say if we set up the Inland Dry Port, when the containers arrive, they don’t need to be cleared in Lagos; they will be put onto trains, and all the processes will be done here. This means that containers destined for Oyo, Osun, and Ondo states will be cleared here.”

Governor Abiodun assured that his administration would cooperate and work with the Shippers’ Council for the benefit of all.

Akutah’s commendation confirms the ongoing effort by the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun to make Ogun State an investment destination of choice. From all available indices, the administration has brought far more remarkable achievements than any other time in the recent past. None of his predecessors has achieved the level of success the present government has recorded within the five and a half years of its inception. For three consecutive sessions under his administration, the state has routinely maintained its competitive edge over the rest parts of the country.

Having created the pathway for sustainable economic growth, the challenge is to continue to strive to forge ahead in the drive to sustain the state’s leading position as the nation’s industrial capital.

However, because the desire for a higher goal of economic prosperity for all is forever a work in progress, all the stakeholders must come together as a collective group to join hands with the government and take ownership of the process.

Governor Abiodun has promised not to let the guard down. Already, there are plans in the pipeline to create more economic zones for further industrial development. These include the construction of a deep Seaport at Olokola, the Sea Port in the Ijebu Economic Zone, and the Remo Economic Zone.

All these Economic Zones are to ensure that cargos produced in the State are conveniently processed and exported through the Ogun International Cargo Airport as well as Sea Port.

The establishment of Kajola dry port, Akutah said, underscored the collective dedication to improving Nigeria’s trade and logistics infrastructure, expressing optimism that it would play a vital role in national transformation.

•Ogbonnikan writes from Abeokuta, Ogun State capital

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed profound sadness over the tragic incident at the Children's FunFair in Ibadan, which resulted in the loss of innocent lives and left many injured.

The President extends his heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Oyo State, as well as to the grieving families who have lost their beloved children.

In this moment of mourning, President Tinubu stands in solidarity with the affected families and offers prayers that the Almighty God will grant peace to the souls of those who have departed in this unfortunate event.

President Tinubu has urgently directed the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances of this tragedy thoroughly. He emphasises that it is imperative to determine whether negligence or deliberate actions contributed to this painful incident, ensuring a transparent and accountable process.

The President urges the Oyo State Government to take every necessary measure to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring. Among the essential actions are a comprehensive review of all public events' safety measures, strict enforcement of safety regulations, and regular safety audits of event venues.

Furthermore, President Tinubu calls on event organisers to prioritise the safety of all attendees, especially children. He stresses the importance of integrating professional security, protocol, and logistics at events to ensure the utmost safety of all participants.

"Our children's safety and well-being remain paramount. No event should ever compromise their safety or take precedence over their lives," President Tinubu asserts.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)