Barely a week after killing two police officers, terrorists belonging to Lakurawa group have killed three staff of a leading telecommunication firm.

The insurgents were said to have invaded a construction site at Gumki village in Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

It was gathered that the deceased were installing a surveillance mast for the Nigeria Immigration Service in the area when the terrorists struck and killed them and one other person who is yet to be identified.

Though the police report said three of the deceased were Airtel staff, the locals said they were immigration staff.

A staff of Sir Yahaya Specialist Hospital who spoke to our correspondent said three of the deceased brought to the hospital were immigration staff.

But police public relations officer, SP Nafiu Abubakar, said four persons lost their lives, one indigene and three staff of Airtel.

He said on receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Bello M Sani alongside with the Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Service, Kebbi State Command, CIS Muhammad Bashir Lawali mobilized their men to the scene to evacuate the corpses to Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital in Birnin Kebbi.

He added that the Commissioner of Police had deployed additional tactical teams to the area and charged them to decisively deal with the suspected bandits operating in the area.

He said the CP also had meeting with people in the area and appealed to them to always assist the police and other security agencies with relevant information for their prompt response.

[DailyTrust]

Interswitch is driving the call for a developer-led approach to fintech innovation.

As a platinum sponsor of the 2024 Google Developer Groups (GDG) DevFest Ibadan, Interswitch reaffirmed its commitment to empowering developers with the tools and opportunities they need to innovate and shape the future of financial technology.

The event, hosted at the Aweni Arena in Ibadan, brought together a diverse audience of tech enthusiasts, industry leaders, and developers to explore cutting-edge topics such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and mobile app development. This year’s DevFest emphasised collaboration and practical solutions, aligning with Interswitch’s mission to foster a developer-centric ecosystem.

“At Interswitch, we recognise the pivotal role developers and tech communities play in driving innovation across the continent. Sponsoring GDG DevFest Ibadan 2024 aligns perfectly with our mission to equip these communities with the tools, platforms, and opportunities they need to innovate, collaborate, and succeed. We are committed to promoting a vibrant ecosystem that accelerates Africa’s digital transformation while nurturing the next wave of innovators shaping the future of fintech in Nigeria and beyond,” he said.

The event afforded Interswitch the opportunity to make significant contributions to the Developer Community.

Developer ecosystem executive, Interswitch, Elizabeth Okaome, delivered an insightful presentation on the company’s robust suite of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and their use cases, supported with live demos. Cutting across payments integration, transfers, bill payments and airtime recharge, identity verification or lending services, Interswitch APIs equip developers with tools to enable secure and seamless online and offline payment acceptance).

Another highlight at the event was the introduction of the Quickteller Business Referral Programme, also known as the ‘5 for 5’ Initiative, which offers developers or any referrer an opportunity to earn five percent commission on Interswitch’s share of every transaction charge, for five whole years, while enabling businesses to thrive.

The Interswitch Developer Community and Quickteller jointly hosted an engaging booth featuring educational product videos, customer testimonials, and one-on-one consultations. Attendees enjoyed interactive activities, including a lively ‘Spin the Wheel’ game, and received branded merchandise, enhancing the event’s vibrant and engaging atmosphere.

Through this sponsorship, Interswitch reinforces its commitment to empowering Africa’s tech community by providing innovative solutions, fostering strategic partnerships, and creating platforms that accelerate digital transformation and economic growth. The company continues to solidify its position as a catalyst for innovation and a hub for developer support in Nigeria.

[Leadership]

In a viral video, Professor Wande Abimbola, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, and the Awise of Yorubaland – head of all Ifa oracle diviners – threw a bombshell. In it, he affirmed that the Oyo State government contacted him on the divination process leading to the nomination of a new Aláàfin of Oyo. Abimbola, who hails from Oyo town, would seem to have ignited a major earthquake which struck Yorubaland and its system of choosing kings. In its strike, the earthquake disemboweled dirt and stench and flung them in the face of the people. The shame hit a Yoruba people whose strength, from ancient times, had always been reference to the purity and incorruptibility of their traditional system.

Abimbola then claimed that the Oyo State governor put a call to him and asked him to preside over Ifa oracle’s choice of who would succeed Alaafin Lamidi Adeyemi, as it was done in ìgbà ìwásè  – the ancient time. “I spent ten days seeking the face of Ifá oracle and Ifá made its choice,” he said. Asked who Ifá chose, the professor said it was Prince Owoade, the man announced by the Oyo State government on Friday. He claimed that upon the Ifá divinity’s choice, the kingmakers sought to persuade him to change his mind over it through many subterfuges, but he refused.

The announcement on Friday of Prince Akeem Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo-designate by the Oyo State government was the trigger of the above. As celebrations and tempers hit the news, Abimbola also alleged that a fight ensued among the Oyo Mesi, the traditional kingmakers of Oyo, over sharing of the huge sums of money collected from candidates for the office. Though they had collectively agreed to choose the candidate who gave them the hugest bribe, two of the kingmakers were said to have quarreled over the amount of money collected by their head and the amount given them in turn. Oyo people were then said to have petitioned the government asking if it was aware of the deleterious influence and effect of bribery on the stool.

The role of the Oyo Mesi in the choice of Prince Owoade has become an issue lately. Immediately after the interment of Aláàfin Adeyemi in the traditional kings cemetery in Bara, the contest for succession to the throne of the foremost king in Yorubaland began. Made up of seven principal officers of the state, together, the kingmakers are the Electoral Council of the Oyo Kingdom, and also imbued with legislative powers. Their head is the Basorun, who also doubles as the Prime Minister. Other members of the Electoral Council are the Àgbàakin, the Sàmù, the Alápinni, the Lágùnà, the Akínikú, and the Ashípa. When there is vacancy, the Basòrun is expected to consult the Ifa oracle for guidance and approval of who the next Aláàfin would be. In time past, it was believed that Oyo kings were chosen by the gods. However, the peremptory manner with which kings are chosen in Yorubaland and the fascination of kingmakers with money in the choices have given people a different opinion.

In October 2023, it was reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had quizzed the Oyo kingmakers over allegations that they took bribes from one of the candidates to the vacant stool. They were alleged to have received the sum of N15million each from that candidate. The state government was said to have doubted the fairness of the Oyo Mesi on account of this allegation. It thus appointed warrant kingmakers to join two dissenting Oyo Mesi chiefs in the persons of Àgbàakin and Sàmù of Oyo. This produced the Aláàfin-designate whose choice was made known on Friday

So many studies have been embarked upon on Yoruba ifá divination and its arts. The divination trays have also been subjected to sizeable studies. Professor Wande Abimbola, the most vociferous voice in defence of this inherited system of divination, has conducted so many studies on Ifá and its place in Yoruba religion and the position of divination in Yoruba pantheon.

While the controversy continues on the process of picking the Aláàfin, abandoning the corpus of the seven traditional kingmakers to take a decision on the Aláàfin stool could be said not to be novel. It began during the reign of Oba Adeniran Adeyemi, father of the immediate past Aláàfin. A journey into history will seem to explain this. As it is today with the announcement of Prince Owoade as the Aláàfin-designate, immediately Prince Adeyemi was announced as successor to Aláàfin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu 11 in 1970, Oyo town and Western State of Nigeria quaked. The choice generated brickbats among the contending Princes and their ruling houses. Upon the passing of Oba Ladigbolu, the Western State government had notified the Oyo Mesi to begin the selection of a new Oba. The Oyo Mesi in turn contacted Baba Oranlola, also known as Baba Iwo, of the Alowolodu ruling house, to become the king. Oranlola then convoked a meeting of the ruling house wherein he informed them that he was nominating his son, Prince Sanda Ladepo Oranlola as Gbadegesin’s successor. Though Baba Iwo got the buy-in of all members of the house for the nomination of his son, a key member of the house, Baba Salami Dudu voiced his dissent to the choice. He instead nominated Prince Adeyemi, whose father, Alaafin Adeyemi Adeniran 11, Gbadegesin’s successor, died in exile upon his deposition by the Western Region government. The contention for the throne was so fierce that it threw other princes who were of other ruling houses, into the ring. Some of them included Prince Olanite Ajagba, Prince Afonja Ilaka, Aremo Sanni Gbadegesin and of course, Prince Oranlola. From whichever prism it may be looked at, Prince Adeyemi, the 31-year-old insurance magnate son of Oba Adeniran, was not going to be the successor to Oba Gbadegesin.

The Oyo Mesi’s division came during the period of the 1953 to 1958 crisis, first on the basis of religion. The Basorun, Chairman of the Oyo Mesi and the Baba Iyaji, the latter who originally was not a member of the Oyo Mesi but both being Christians, were the first to disconnect from Oba Adeniran. However, by March 1954, Oba Adeniran had got all members of Oyo Mesi back to his fold, excluding the Basòrun and Ashípa. Government then responded by appointing Baba Iyaji and other chiefs to constitute the Oyo Mesi, just as the Oyo State government did in the nomination of Prince Owoade. A procession of 3000 Oyo sons and daughters, led by Balogun Aleelo, was immediately organized which stormed the Resident’s house. On September 5, 1954, Oyo Parapo members’ protest stormed the homes of prominent ruling party chiefs in a riot which left seven people dead. The Lloyd Commission was then set up in 1955, which though exonerated Aláàfin Adeniran of complicity in the crisis, could not stop Oba Adeniran from being deposed and banished to Ilesa. He died in 1958.

The question that remains to be answered now is, did the framers of the unwritten constitution of Oyo Kingdom, especially its kingship electoral system, envisage that a day like this would come when the otherwise revered council, would be enmeshed in sordid allegation of colossal bribery to pick an Aláàfin? Is there fairness in the choice of an Aláàfin candidate whose nomination was ostensibly prompted by graft and bribery? Which of the nominations would be seen to be equitable, the one made via bribery or the one made through the Ifa oracle and government-nominated chiefs?

A new Aláàfin must strive to imbibe many of the qualities of the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi. In contemporary Nigeria, though the powers of the throne may seem to have dwindled, the Aláàfin still symbolizes the social and political will of his people. He is regarded as the supreme head of kings and princes in the Yoruba nation. This is why if a king who carries excessive personal foibles becomes the Aláàfin, his baggage will tell tremendously, not only on his immediate Oyo people, but on the Yoruba people as a whole.

Without compromise, Oba Adeyemi fought the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade to the hilt over the ascendancy and supremacy of his stool. The next Aláàfin must be sure of himself like Oba Adeyemi was.  Except in very exceptional cases, Oba Adeyemi continued the myth of Aláàfin of yore who only came out three times in a year. Though he ran an open administration, anyone who attempted to cross the line, he didn’t suffer their fools gladly. I know of a lawyer friend who, ostensibly exploiting his access to the palace who, Oba Adeyemi told me, he kept waiting for almost a whole day, and who had to leave exasperated. “Mo fi Aláàfin hàn án niì” (I showed him the colour of the palace),  he told me on the symbolic implication of what he did.

Oba Adeyemi also saw Yorubaland as his constituency. In the build-up to the 2015 general elections, Kabiyesi Adeyemi had complained severally to me on how the then governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, was not requiting the sacrifices he made in backing him to be governor in 2011. It was common knowledge that Aláàfin and his side-partner, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola, fought then incumbent governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, to a standstill and were the major sponsors of Ajimobi to the governorship. So, in 2015, Kabiyesi was dilly-dallying on which of the pendulum he should swing. Goodluck Jonathan had made a foray into the palace and the Muhammadu Buhari phenomenon was catching up like a pestilence. So Kabiyesi rang me up. “We need to decide where we are going,” he said urgently.

And the second day, I was in the palace. Due to the horde of backbiters and evil-permutators who surround power like ants do candy, I had to inform Governor Ajimobi about my movement. And he gave his consent.

On the said day, Kabiyesi and I sat all alone. Anyone who called, he either ignored or told he needed the next one hour off. One of his daughters, a commissioner in the Ajimobi government, came in and he told her how engaged he was. Aláàfin then gave what sounded like a welcome speech which encapsulated the meat of the meeting. Where is the Yoruba going to queue in the impending movement: Jonathan or Buhari? he asked. Should he support Ajimobi for another term? So, I began a very long treatise about the place of the Aláàfin in present Yoruba socio-political equation. The palace had to move with the tide of opinions in Yorubaland or the palace risked being swept off by the typhoon. If he doubted me, he should commission an opinion survey on where the mood of Yorubaland swung, I said. I also gave my opinion about Ajimobi’s disposition to him. “Kabiyesi, not once, not twice, Governor Ajimobi tells whoever wanted to listen that ‘Aláàfin taá tán fún wa ni…’ – Aláàfin bit the bullet for me,” (in 2011) I told Oba Adeyemi.

He thanked me profusely after that discussion. A few days after, Kabiyesi called to appreciate the candidness of my opinion and how where I suggested was where he would swing. In the 2019 election as well, Kabiyesi called to seek my opinion on where he would swing on the gubernatorial election in his state, though he later abandoned our agreed choice and chose his own path. He didn’t seek my opinion on the presidency because he knew we were diametrically opposed on where to go.

A new Aláàfin has been chosen. May his reign be long. But, no matter how long the reign is, what will matter ultimately is how well the fortunes of his people increased during his time. May the new Oba not be antagonistic to his Orí inú (his inner head).

A former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, is leading the northern elite to woo southern bigwigs for an alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections, Sunday PUNCH reports.

Sources said former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, are among supporters of the group.

Our correspondents gathered that Shekarau, a leader of the League of Northern Democrats, had been discussing coalitions with political leaders in the South-West, South-East, and South-South.

The Convener of the LND, Dr Umar Ardo, had on January 5, declared the group’s readiness to transform into a political party, citing the need to create a unified and credible national political platform. 

According to Ardo, the LND plans to transform into the League of National Democrats to provide Nigerians with a viable alternative for leadership and governance.

“This new political platform seeks to provide a credible alternative by institutionalising meritocracy, promoting accountability, and ensuring the emergence of leaders with proven competence and integrity,” Ardo stated.

Sunday PUNCH gathered that Obasanjo and Gowon advised the group’s leaders to make it a national platform and incorporate southern politicians.

Obasanjo had late October 2024 urged the LND to consider changing its name to the National League of Democrats because the ideals the group espoused should cut across the nation.

The former president, who received the 20-member delegation of the LND led by Shekarau at his penthouse, inside Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, said he would not mind being the group’s patron.

“It is high time we began working for the national interest. Yes, you have identified your group as the League of Northern Democrats, but how I wish you call your group National League of Democrats, because where you come from should not be a problem,” he stated.

Umar Sani, a former spokesperson for ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, who is a pioneer member of the LND, told Sunday PUNCH that both Obasanjo and Gowon were among the backers of the group.

Sani confirmed that Shekarau was leading discussions with prominent southern politicians.

He said, “We’re talking with some southern politicians, but I don’t know who they are. Shekarau and others are making the moves and doing the talking.

“But when we met Baba Obasanjo, he said the initiative should be made national. General Gowon also said it should be national, and other influential Nigerians gave similar advice.

“When we engaged politicians in the South-East, South-South, and South-West, they began suggesting that this movement be turned into a political party. While we were briefed in meetings, the leaders didn’t disclose the names of the southern politicians they were speaking to.”

Sani clarified that the LND had not yet been registered as a political party, as consultations were still ongoing.

The spokesperson for the group, Dr Ladan Salihu, said discussions were ongoing with southern leaders, including former governors, senators, and ministers.

According to him, even before they set out to approach the politicians, the LND had already been contacted by key political clusters from the South-East.

“We’ve been contacted by notable politicians from the South, especially from the South-East, who indicated plans to form the League of Southern Democrats.

“Similarly, respected politicians from the South-West have shown interest in joining the LND if it becomes a national platform, or they may even form the League of Western Democrats.

“This is a political metamorphosis that will culminate in the creation of what will eventually become the League of Nigerian Democrats,” he stated.

While declining to name southern politicians the LND leader had been in contact with, Salihu confirmed that the group was in regular communication with “respected southern leaders”.

“We are in constant, almost daily contact with them because they share our vision of rescuing Nigeria. This is not just a rhetorical platform; it’s a serious movement based on real action,” he stated.

The LND’s move comes amid political manoeuvres by many leaders aiming to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Opposition leaders have intensified efforts towards major political realignments, including potential mergers of political parties, to challenge the All Progressives Congress in the next general elections.

On November 26, 2024, it was reported that the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, had concluded plans to either form a new party or adopt an existing one to establish a coalition ahead of 2027.

Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, later confirmed that Atiku and Obi had been engaging in discussions to form a united front against the APC.

Similarly, the Peoples Redemption Party and African Democratic Congress confirmed initiating discussions about a potential merger ahead of the elections.

On December 14, 2024, Obasanjo hosted former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

According to Kwankwaso, the discussions centred on “significant national issues, including the future of politics and governance in Nigeria.”

We’re not threatened – APC, PDP

Meanwhile, the APC has said it is not threatened by the potential political alliance, asserting that it will not lose sleep over the proposed mega party being considered by northern and southern political bigwigs.

The APC’s National Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, told Sunday PUNCH that the party was aware of the political moves, warning that Nigeria’s governance should not be left to desperate politicians.

However, he expressed confidence that President Tinubu would secure a second term as Nigerians began to reap the benefits of his administration’s economic reforms.

He said, “The APC and the President are very much aware of the shenanigans of the opposition. But it will be almost impossible for someone from outside, particularly an outsider who has previously failed the country, to think of defeating the incumbent.

“We expect to start seeing the fruits of these reforms around the time of the election—2026 and 2027. By then, people will begin to appreciate the party and the President.

“That does not mean the party and the President are complacent. No, we are strategising. When we get to the bridge, we will see who has the strongest stride to cross it. I assure you, the APC will not falter or be caught napping.”

Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party stated that the LND’s attempt to transform into a political party did not pose a threat to its prospects in future elections.

In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, said no coalition or merger could defeat the APC without the PDP.

In response to LND’s move to transform into a party as an alternative to the PDP and APC, he said the character and consistency of the group’s members should be scrutinised.

“They are no threat to the PDP. There is no merger or coalition whatsoever, that can defeat the APC without the PDP’s input.

“We saw it in 2023. The Labour Party, NNPP and what came out of it? All forms of coalition are welcome to defeat the All Progressives Congress, but characters like Shekarau should first tell themselves or ask themselves some further questions; are they consistent, are they credible, do they still have electoral value?,” he queried.

The PDP leader also stated that Shekarau could not drive any meaningful change.

“Shekarau himself knows that as of today, his position is over and above his weight, and he lacks the capacity to reallypush anything significant.

“In the last five to six years, how many parties and groups have Shekarau belonged to? These people are not the type that should lead any move. Unless we are a people that don’t learn. If we don’t learn, we will be condemned to repeat the mistakes of history,” he added.

[TheCable]

“We must therefore not shrink from accusing our friends or praising our enemies; nor need we be afraid of praising or blaming the same people at different times; since it is impossible that men who are engaged in public affairs should always be in the right; and unlikely they should always be in the wrong.

“We must therefore detach ourselves from the actors in our story; and apply to them only such statements and judgments as their conduct deserves” – Polybius, c200-118 BC.

President Tinubu has started 2025 very well by correcting one of the worst errors of Obasanjo’s government. OBJ, with his usual arrogance of power, ordered History removed from schools’ curriculums. His argument that science and technology are more important ignored the fact that even scientists find out how their branch of study evolved over time to where it is today. Tinubu has started 2025 on a glorious note. Unfortunately, there are problems to overcome.

Where are the teachers? And what would be taught? History is best taught by people with a passion for it. It is one subject I love above most others. Few candidates going for JAMB select History as their first choice and fewer still want to teach it after graduating from universities. It will be tough.

If asked today who among my teachers in primary school I remember most and who had the greatest influence on my life, the answer unhesitatingly would be Mr Udoh. He taught us everything; but he was fond of History. His enthusiasm for the subject was infectious – at least to me. My favourite teacher at Igbobi College was Mr John Sagay; who taught us History. He also was apparently obsessed with History. As an undergraduate at the university in the United States, starting with Medicine as my goal; then switching to Economics almost made it impossible to study History. Fortunately, students, not enrolled for a Course, were allowed to sit in at any class of their choice. I took advantage of the privilege; and sat in on History Courses every single one of my eight semesters in the university. My favourite book out of the over 3000 I have read is still THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE by Edward Gibbons, 1737-1794; and it has nothing to do with the fact that, like me, he was born on May 8.

Only God knows how many Ministers have been appointed in Nigeria; but, my favourite was Professor Babs Fafunwa, 1923-2010, Minister of Education under Babangida from 1990 to 1992. IBB earned my pardon for all whatever he did wrong for giving me a Minister I could walk into his house and borrow a book on History.

One of the reasons Obong Victor Attah, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, is my favourite retired politician is his sense of history. To the best of my knowledge, he is the only former Governor who has allowed to be documented the activities of his eight years in office. I was fortunate to have been asked to undertake the writing. The attempt by one of his successors to take credit for Attah’s achievements failed because there was a record. Copies of the book are still available and online.

Failure to write our own histories has been one of the banes of African societies.

Consequently, we fail to learn from our successes; and more importantly, from our mistakes. Rivers State is sliding towards the same crisis which led to the Wild Wild West or ‘Wetie” in the Western Region in the early 1960s and we are apparently impotent to avert the catastrophe unfolding in Rivers State.

HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS AS GUIDE TO DECISION-MAKING

“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it”, a statement by George Santayana, 1863-1952, has featured on this page several times since 1994 because every government in Nigeria has fallen into the same dark hole.

They have loved sycophants and detested the truth until they are out of office.

Nigeria’s debt addiction started with the $2.8 billion loan taken by military Head of State Obasanjo with assurance from the praise singers and objections from people like me. OBJ was convinced the loan could be easily repaid; we thought it was better to increase tax collection. The debt escalated to $36 billion before Dr Okonio-Iweala released us in 2004.

We are back in a worse debt trap and people are still resisting a tax bill which basically will introduce the discipline of tax revenue to replace perpetually increasing debt. Obasanio has prepared us for this disregard for historical precedents. Otherwise, it is difficult to understand why a section of the country wants to throw the baby out with the bath water by spreading disinformation.

Furthermore, the 2025 Federal Budget exhibits two major faults of every budget since 2013. First, it was written without the slightest glance at the actual performance for the nine months of 2024 and projections for the balance of the year. Second, the authors disregarded the economic history of the last twelve years. From Jonathan to Tinubu, every budget had started with the demonstrably false assumption that Nigeria would produce and derive revenue from 2 million barrels per day of crude oil. Records and facts available to the three Presidents would easily prove that Nigeria cannot now, and might never again, be able to produce 2 mbpd of crude.

Our capacity to reduce crude oil has never been consistently up to 2mbpd.

Membership of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, imposes an annual limit on our production; and it has never been up to 2mbpd.

For 2025, it is 1.6mbpd. Non-OPEC nations now account for the majority of global oil production and increasing percentage of exports – thereby crowding out OPEC members. Given all these facts, it amounts to the worst form of wishful thinking and disregard for historical precedents for every Nigerian President to allow himself to be persuaded to present a budget based on that false assumption. We have tried everything else; we might as well try the truth.

Moreover, overestimating our crude oil revenue remains the cardinal reason why every annual revenue estimate has been missed; why we have recorded higher deficits than envisaged, why we borrow more than planned and why inflation is heading up. No board of directors of any well-managed company would allow the Chief Executive Officer to fail on so many variables, so often, and still take him seriously. The 2025 Budget is already dead on arrival because the country is probably not going to produce 2mbpd in January; and making up for the negative variance later is impossible.

Journalism has been described as the first rough draft of history. If our leaders actually want to govern well they should at least appoint someone to conduct research into historical precedents before introducing programmes and policies.

They might just discover that their new initiative is actually “same stale stew, warmed up, and served in new plates” (President Babangida).

When in the months leading to the 2019 elections, Vice-President Osinbajo went about giving ‘Trade Moni’ to selected market women as loan, I warned that it was a cheap replay of the Peoples Bank idea and would end up as another disaster. Even the Professor turned deaf ears to History. What has happened to the billions given out under that scheme; or, more appropriately, scam?

WHO WILLTEACH AND WHAT WILL BE TAUGHT?

 “You can get in more trouble with good ideas than bad ones. It is much easier to push a good idea to excess” – Ben Graham, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p 97. Rebuilding what Obasanjo thoughtlessly destroyed will not be as easy as announcing it. Like any good idea, it requires careful planning. To start with, there are very few History graduates. It has never been a favourite subject for secondary school leavers going to university. All my six daughters are graduates; but, it was not until the last one that I had someone interested in History; and even that was because it was combined with International Relations. She wanted to be a diplomat; not a History teacher. So, we might have problems there.

What to teach is another problem. Africans and Nigerians don’t write their own History. My first roommate at the university was reading History; and, as early as second year, he was determined to be an expert on Thomas Jefferson – who presided and died 180 years before and already had four books written on him.

Nobody has written a History book on Gowon, Shagari, Babangida, Abacha and the one written by Jonathan and by Buhari’s former staff is not History. We need writers of History of our rulers; in order to educate generations unborn about how we progressed to where we are at any point in time.

Still, thanks Mr President. I appreciate it very much Sir.

PRINCE EJIKE OF ORLU, YOUR DAUGHTER WANTS YOU

“The most moral man is not the one who restrains from doing evil, but he who does good”- Professor Emevwo Biakolo, in Guardian, VBQ p 164.

If you think that only foreigners made it into the VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, well, here is one from a Nigerian. I hope Prof is still alive and well. I borrowed his idea long ago. Unable to refrain from doing evil, I have tried to do some good like helping total strangers. Here is one.

Miss Favour Ejike is desperate to get in touch with her father Prince Ejike of Orlu. Kindly get in touch if you can help locate him: Call: 0703-777-2952.

By producing almost two-thirds of the 36 state governors in Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress (APC) which is the ruling political party at the federal level, has certainly established itself for now as the dominant political party across the country. It similarly dominates the 2 chambers of the National Assembly as well as the State Houses of Assembly. Against this background, one would have expected the party and its members to demonstrate greater confidence while approaching any political activity.  That has not been so. Instead, at every contestation, the level of aggression of the party which creates tension that often adversely heats up the polity, gives an impression of a lion that fidgets in the forest at the slightest provocation. 

In a game, it is usually not the champion that struggles to win; rather a champion is easily identified more by the degree of confidence which he or she exudes before, during and after the game. This is not what one can easily perceive of the APC, Nigeria’s current leading political party. The previous champion, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not act differently when it was in power making it appear that in Nigeria, goals scored by the victorious political parties in elections are actually not exactly clean. Perhaps, a better illuminating scenario is the trend whereby a state governor manages to win an election by a narrow margin but a few months later, achieves the magic of massively winning all the polling booths at a local government election in the same state. 

In the case of the APC, it is easy to see that members of the party including their officers are not on the same page with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that they presented as their candidate for the office of president in 2023. Whereas Tinubu has since his declaration as president moved on to govern while remaining calm and unperturbed, many of his followers are still fighting political battles as if the elections have not ended. Put differently, Tinubu is currently operating at the segment of governance as it should be, while his loyalists are still at the expired electioneering segment. It is indeed easy to see that the latter have not taken time off to watch the president’s political body language.  They need to quickly do so, in order to swiftly discard the toga of an apprehensive majority party. 

To be able to migrate successfully, APC members need to appreciate that the President of Nigeria cannot be reduced to the lower level of the president of a political party. They must allow Tinubu to stay at the higher pedestal of father of the nation. Until the approved era of the next electioneering season comes, Tinubu is not expected to be a partisan politician but a statesman who solemnly swore at his inauguration to be fair to everyone as president. They should not push him into behaving as if it was only members of the APC that voted for him to become president. He certainly got some votes from members of other parties who wanted power to shift to the South. In fact, he must have lost the votes of some APC members who deprecated their party’s support for a Muslim-Muslim ticket. So, it is essentially a plus and minus situation.

The clamour for the President to appoint only APC members into his government is therefore irrational. Although, there is nothing wrong in appointing many APC chieftains to government, everything is wrong with patronizing only APC members. Apart from the fact that it can obscure the delicate management of diversities, it is more likely to substantially derogate from the president’s new attribute of statesmanship. This probably explains why Tinubu offers appointments to some other Nigerians irrespective of their political, ethnic and religious backgrounds. By so doing, he fulfils his initial pledge that his government would work not just to attain national unity but also national competence.

APC members should thus learn to appreciate the spirit behind the inclusion in the federal government of those who previously opposed the president or even abused him. Apart from utilising the expertise of such appointees, Tinubu appears to be strategically building a new political coalition for future use.  This perhaps explains the bringing in of Bianca Ojukwu a BOT member of APGA as Minister of Foreign Affairs(state) which angered some APC members in Anambra State. It also answers some chieftains who think Tinubu should have dissuaded the appointment of Governor Hope Uzodinma as Chair of the Progressives Governors’ Forum PGF, because Uzodinma allegedly supported the presidential ambition of former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.

From the look of things, a new political coalition may supersede the opposition of APC chieftains to the rumoured defections of opposition governors to the main ruling party. The recent visit of the President to Enugu to fraternize with Governor Peter Mbah is instructive. If care is not taken, events may overtake the stance of the Delta APC that has been telling Governor Sheriff Oborevwori that their party “is not a rehabilitation camp for failed politicians.” The situation may not be different from some events in Benue state where the North Central APC Forum is unhappy about a new alliance between George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and former Governor Samuel Ortom. Time will tell if Tinubu will warn Akume to discontinue the rumoured alliance because of what the loyalists of Governor Hyacinth Alia describe as “hobnobbing with a leader of opposition in the state.”

However, the attempt to build a new coalition cannot justify the impunity of engaging in hostile communication which now and again features the use of intemperate diction against critics and opposition politicians. The role of those in power is to govern and impress the people. On the other hand, the opposition parties have a duty to criticise government and hold those in office accountable. One obvious problem in Nigeria today is the failure of the ruling party to recognise that those in the opposition are undertaking their legitimate duty of criticising the government and providing alternative options. It is undemocratic to use the influence of government to criminalize dissent or to wage war on the opposition for criticising those in government.

Before 2015, Lai Mohammed, the former APC Publicity Secretary was probably the most audible politician as he mounted daily criticisms on the then ruling PDP. Other opposition politicians joined him to chorus the song that the then President Goodluck Jonathan was clueless. No one attacked them until their party came to power and they realized that “to perform is not as easy as to speak.” The situation these days is different as it is members of the ruling party that are noisy and creating controversies. They are however irrelevant because the government has outstanding office holders in Mohammed Idris the Minister of Information and no less than a dozen aides of the President who are eloquent and persuasive media professionals. 

Felix Morka, the current publicity secretary of the APC should let the government appointed communication professionals engage in public enlightenment on government programmes and policies. There is no doubt that many Nigerians are really tormented by the harsh impact of the reforms of the Tinubu-led government. There is therefore no better time than now to soothe frayed nerves and concentrate on massive education of the people on the benefits of the tax reform bills for instance. If criticisms that irritate party officials are left to professionals to handle, the polity would be more stable. After all, many vocal critics of the tax reform bills are APC leaders themselves some of whom do not appear to have fully comprehended the provisions of the bills.

APC party officials have many other things to handle. For example, they can start off by holding meetings with aggrieved members who often publicly tackle the government. They can also focus on a post mortem review of party activities with a view to redressing subsisting defects in political party management.  Having a proper membership register alone can place APC above others if party officials restrict themselves to attaining a well-managed party structure based on an effective framework that can reduce party primaries and enhance internal democracy. Unfortunately, the party officials relying on an APC government in place are currently leading in the use of undemocratic diction like always posing ‘to capture’ a state where the next election is due as if election is a battle instead of a game.

• critics express concerns
•Oyo won’t permit illegality – Makinde
MURIC talks tough
‘I don’t think we are ready for Sharia court’

Controversy has erupted in South-West Nigeria over the establishment of Sharia panels in the region, with Muslim leaders emphasizing their right to self-determination and non-Muslim groups expressing apprehensions about the potential implications of such panels.

The distinction between Sharia courts and panels is at the heart of the controversy.

However, Muslim leaders maintain that Sharia panels are not courts but rather arbitration committees that handle civil matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and disputes over contractual agreements between Muslims.

Sharia court is part of the judicial system in the North where Muslims are dominant in population. Still, there have been agitations for the court to also operate in the South-West where Muslims have a large presence but Christians are dominant in many states of the region.

Beginning

It all started after a group in Oyo town in Oyo State, South-West signalled its intention to set up a Sharia panel in the area.

The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, SCSN, (Oyo Branch) announced the indefinite postponement of the inauguration slated for yesterday, January 11, following widespread outcry.

In a statement signed by the Khadimul Muslimeen of Oyo Kingdom, Imam Daud Igi Ogun, the group said, “The inauguration ceremony of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (Oyo branch) has been suspended until further notice. Islam portrays peace.”

The planned inauguration was to take place at the Muslim Community Islamic Centre in Mobolaje Area, Oyo.
Prominent Muslim leaders expected at the botched ceremony included the Basorun of Oyoland, High Chief Yusuf Akinade Olayinka, and the Aare Musulumi of Oyoland, Alhaji Chief Tajudeen Abdul-Hammed Kamorise, amongst others.

But the suspension did not stop some individuals under the aegis of Yoruba Council Worldwide (Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye) from threatening to institute legal action against the promoters of the Oyo Sharia panel if they did not completely abandon the plan.

A group, Muslims Rights Concern (MURIC), joined the fray, last week, when it dared the Yoruba Council Worldwide to do its worst, saying the Sharia panel being planned in Oyo was different from Sharia court.
For emphasis, MURIC said critics of the Sharia panel were ignorant as the development was not new to the South-West as it has operated for years in many parts of the region.

It said in a statement signed by its Director, Prof Ishaq Akintola: “A Yoruba group under the name Yoruba Council Worldwide (Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye) has threatened to take legal action against Muslims planning to launch Sharia court in Oyo town, Oyo State if they go ahead with the plan.

“But this is a deliberate attempt to create tension because, in reality, nobody is planning to inaugurate a Sharia court. What is being planned in Oyo town is a Sharia panel. It is only the state or Federal Government that has the constitutional power to create a court.

“On the contrary, any group of people can set up a panel. A panel is just a committee. A group can set up a committee or panel and an organization can do same. The Yoruba group is just crying wolf where there is none because we explained all these in our statement of Thursday, 26th December, 2024.

“We want to correct the impression that Oyo Muslims plan to inaugurate a Shari’ah court. What Oyo Muslims are planning is not a Shari’ah ‘court’ but a Shari’ah panel. This is something that has been in existence in Yorubaland since 2003 to date. It therefore accused the Yoruba group of making a mountain out of a molehill.

“How sensible is it for anyone to say Muslims should not form a committee? How logical is it to say Muslims should not hold meetings inside their mosques and halls? This Yoruba group is not well informed, otherwise it should have known that what it is trying to stop already exists in all the states of the South-West.

“Already, there are Shari’ah panels sitting at the Central Mosque, Oja Oba, Ibadan, Oyo State (since 1st May, 2002); Abesan Central Mosque, Ipaja, Lagos State (since 2003); Egba Muslims Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta, Ogun State (since 17th January 2018); Osun State Muslim Community Secretariat, Ring Road, Oshogbo (since 2005).

“Going by the venues mentioned here it is clear that the Shari’ah panels are not using government’s buildings or courts. They use mosques because the Shari’ah panels are private arbitration panels. But they already exist. So this Yoruba group is trying to shut the stable door after the horse has escaped.

“Only those who want to make caricatures of themselves will think of stopping the Shari’ah panels. They are not disturbing anybody. They have never and will never invite Christians to appear before them.

“Even the Muslims who appear before them do so voluntarily because the Shari’ah panels have no power of enforcement. So what is the big deal? Why so much fuss? Isn’t this much ado about nothing? What does this Yoruba group want except to heat up the polity? They are attention seekers.

“Even the letter sent by the group was addressed to the wrong person. The letter was addressed to Shaykh Abdul Rasheed Hadiyatullahi whereas the latter is not part of the Oyo town team. He is in Iwo, Osun State.
“Their claim that Shari’ah has no history in Yorubaland is absolute bunkum. To set the records straight, Shari’ah is of great antiquity in this part of the country. We will tell them about it because our people say ‘when a child rejects pounded yam in the evening, his parents will narrate the story of his mother’s marriage to him.’

“Where were these people who are now opposing ordinary Shari’ah panel in Yorubaland when Oba Abibu Olagunju of Ede employed Qadi Sindiku to operate the Shari’ah court at Agbeni area of Ede town? The court functioned at Agbeni up till 1913. It was moved to Agbongbon area of the town in 1914.

“Where were they when Oba Momodu Lamuye who died in 1906 established a Shari’ah court in Iwo? Were they born yet when Oba Aliyu Oyewole of Ikirun employed Mallam Bako as the qadi (judge) from 1910? This is history. This is our past, the past of Shari’ah. We will not allow anyone to cut us away from our past. Today was born from the wombs of yesterday.

“It was the British imperialists who curtailed the application of Shari’ah via the repugnancy and validity tests and replaced them with Christian common law in the whole South-West but they retained civil Shari’ah in the North.

“It is only that civil Shari’ah that Yoruba Muslims are activating in their Shari’ah panels without official involvement because none of the South-West governors since independence have had the liberal or democratic mien to allow the application of Sections 275(1), 276 and 277 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution which allow the practice of Shariah in any state with substantial Muslim population.

“It is gratifying that the Yoruba group has threatened to go to court. We assure them that Yoruba Muslims are not afraid of legal action over Shari’ah. The law is on our side. But we advise that they should take a good look at the sections of the constitution cited above before doing so and make sure they ask those who went to court before over Shari’ah. We are waiting.”

‘Oyo won’t allow illegality’

Reacting, Governor Seyi Makinde declared that government would not allow illegality.

His Chief Press Secretary, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said: ”Oyo State will not permit anything illegal. The focus isn’t about wanting Sharia or not but ensuring that any structure aligns with the legal system we operate”.

Also, Makinde, in a statewide broadcast, acknowledged that the initiative had caused anxiety and promised to uphold the laws and the Constitution of Nigeria.

“If their actions are within the law, fine, if not, they should expect that I will insist the law must be followed”.

Perspectives

In a bid to explore the intricate dynamics surrounding the establishment of Sharia panels in the South-West, Sunday Vanguard engaged with both Muslim stakeholders and non-Muslims to gather a diverse range of perspectives on the matter.

As discussions intensify regarding the role of Sharia in the region’s legal framework, opinions vary widely.

Supporters expanded their wish to include the establishment of Sharia courts as a means of recognizing and accommodating the unique legal needs of the Muslim community, while critics expressed concerns about potential implications for broader societal cohesion.

This engagement aims to illuminate the complexities of the ongoing debate, highlighting the hopes, fears, and historical contexts that shape the views of both communities.

A legal practitioner, who is also a Sharia judge (Qadi) at the Sharia Panel in Lagos State, Mr. Trimizee Adisa Dairo, said the quest for Sharia panels is about asserting their right to live according to their faith.
“Sharia is part and parcel of a Muslim’s life,” Dairo emphasized. “It encompasses our private and public life, social and economic life. Our lives are regulated by Sharia.

“Sharia is part and parcel of a Muslim’s life, and no Muslim will deny that.

“Again, Sharia is wide and comprehensive. It encompasses our private and public life, social and economic life. Our lives are regulated by Sharia.

“Therefore, it is impossible for a Muslim to live without Sharia. Once you take away Sharia from the life of a Muslim, he becomes a non-Muslim. That is how important it is. It is not like other religions that regulate their practices on a matter of faith. That is why Sharia is very important to a Muslim and in a Muslim’s life.”

Difference

“There is agitation by Muslims in the South-West to allow the application of Sharia so that Muslim marriages will be governed by Sharia as opposed to Yoruba customary law, Muslim inheritance will be governed by Sharia as opposed to customary law, and the guardianship of children will be regulated by Sharia law.

“These are permissible, and these are what are going on in the North. It is the right of Muslims in the South-West to be governed by the law of their religion regarding those highlighted matters.

“Since the Constitution expressly provides for this, it is a genuine agitation that has been ongoing for some time.

“That is as far as the official courts are concerned because it is the business of the government to establish courts to govern people in the state.

“Also note that none of the states in the South-West has acceded to that; they have all rejected it, apparently because of criticisms and opposition from non-Muslims. “But on the issue of having a panel, it is different. It is like arbitration, and the law of arbitration is very clear. A Muslim can decide to contract his marriage under Sharia and within the fold of Islam, and when this is done, he has the fundamental right to seek redress on the same issue under an arbitration panel.

“That does not require any form of state approval because it falls under the freedom of association to submit willingly to arbitration proceedings.

“If both parties submit to the arbitration proceedings, then the decision becomes binding on them.

“It is not for Christians and non-Muslims alike to begin to cry out about why Muslims want to have an arbitration panel; it shows they are ignorant of the issue they are criticizing.

“For a Christian who has issues in his marriage, he has a place to go, which is the High Court.

“For those who willingly decide that they want to be bound by the customs and traditions of the Yoruba, if they have issues in their marriage and inheritance, they go to the Customary Court, and the customs will be upheld there.

“For Muslims who do not consent to either of the two, where do you expect them to go when they have issues? We have seen situations where Muslims go to the Customary Court on issues of marriage, and the court says it has no jurisdiction to entertain the matter because the marriage is governed by Muslim law, not customary law.

“Remember that the government has failed to create a court that will look into such matters.
“So, in order to fill the gap and circumvent that problem, Muslims have come together to establish arbitration panels.

“That is exactly what Muslims are doing all over the South-West.

“It is the failure of the government to do the needful.

“Our government officials attend Muslim marriages, but they fail to understand that the couple has no place to turn to when issues arise in their marriage. This is where the Sharia panel comes in.

Addressing misconceptions

“I think non-Muslims only focus on one aspect of Sharia, which is the criminal aspect.

“One of the public laws in Sharia is the non-criminal aspect.

“Just as Sharia is a system of law, people are always apprehensive about any law; they become apprehensive about the punishments.

“They hear about stoning to death, cutting off hands, and so on, but Sharia is not limited to that, and it is rarely possible because its execution is the duty of the state, not individuals.

“Besides, it is optional if you choose to be bound by that.

“So, I don’t know why non-Muslims should entertain any fear. Nigeria is ruled by a Constitution, and we can have two systems of law running concurrently; Sharia is allowed with very limited application as it relates to a Muslim’s private life.

“That is why the Constitution allows Muslims to be governed by Sharia in the aspects of marriage, divorce, inheritance, guardianship of children, and to some extent, in any contractual agreement. “These are the areas, so outside these areas of law, Sharia is not applicable, at least at the official level in Nigeria.
“So, non-Muslims are only being apprehensive without any basis”.

Need for panel

Responding to how Muslims were resolving marriage disputes before the advent of Sharia panels, he noted, “If those disputes had been resolved by the conventional court, it means they didn’t take cognizance of the fact that they were contracted ab initio under Islamic law, and, moreover, because there was a dearth of experts in Islamic law.

“It is not as simple as that. Muslim marriages are not the same as Christian or customary marriages.
“Yes, you can rightly assume that Christian marriages are statutory marriages.

“That is why when there are issues, they go to the conventional courts.

“As for Muslims, they cannot go to the conventional courts because Muslim marriages are Islamic in nature and regulated by Sharia.

“That is why I said earlier that Sharia governs the private and public lives of Muslims.

“These benefits are enjoyed by our northern brothers because they go to the Sharia courts on such issues.
“It should also be noted that these Sharia courts do not entertain complaints from non-Muslims.

“I don’t know the reason for the apprehension because it is strictly for Muslims and not for non-Muslims.
“You will not hear of a Sharia court in the North assuming jurisdiction over a Christian or someone whose marriage was not contracted according to Sharia.

“That is what we are clamoring for here. The agitation is simple: to adjudicate Muslim marriages, guardianship of children, and inheritances.”

Spread of Sharia

“It is not possible unless it is codified or passed into law by the state House of Assembly.

“In criminal law, you don’t commit an offence unless that offence is expressly written as a law.

“The criminal aspect has not been approved or codified by the state, so, there is no way the Sharia court will do that. “There are aspects of the Sharia the Constitution allows.

“These are areas of marriages, divorce, inheritance, guardianship and, to some extent, contract. It’s a constitutional provision”.

Between Litigation and Arbitration — Olarinde

An Ibadan-based legal practitioner, Marthina Olarinde, on his part, said, “I don’t think we are ready for that (Sharia court). It is a structure that is very rigid, and there is no escaping it. Once a judgment is pronounced, it is difficult to overturn.

“This is about religion, and you don’t play around with it. Once it is declared to be A, they go for A.
“Whatever justification anyone provides will not change that. As long as it is related to religion, it is inflexible. It is strict, and I believe we are not prepared for that.

“However, having said that, as long as anyone chooses to be bound by it, it shouldn’t pose any issues.
“The fact is that it is optional. It is up to the individual to decide whether to pursue litigation or arbitration”.

Panel can’t compel people to submit to arbitration — Shakirullahi Obale, judge

Mr. Shakirullahi Obale, another Sharia judge at the Abesan Sharia arbitration panel, offers a perspective. “The Sharia panel we are talking about in the South-West cannot compel people to submit to its arbitration.

“It is a misconception—and indeed a sign of narrow-mindedness—to believe that Islamic Sharia is solely about killing, stoning, amputation, and similar punishments.

“Today, we have Jaiz Bank and other Islamic alternative financial institutions, including Sukuk bonds and others.

“Are the operations of these Islamic-based organizations and policies about killings? “No, they are not. However, there are ill motives to distort the perception of Islam.

“There is a difference between Sharia panels and courts. A Sharia panel is solely for arbitration. As one of the judges (Qadi), we have two panels in Lagos State—one in 1004, Lagos, and the other at Abesan Estate.

“Unlike the courts, which are established by state law, a Sharia panel cannot compel people to submit to its arbitration.

“No individual or organization can establish a Sharia Court of Appeal.

“Those who criticize it and those who threaten legal action are raising issues without any basis.
“Sharia, as we know it, has been in existence in Nigeria since 1908. Some people are determined to castigate anything related to Islam.

“The Sharia panels operate in mosques to settle issues regarding marriage, inheritance, divorce, guardianship, and contracts. Therefore, there is no basis for criticism.

“Some of those who criticized Jaiz Bank and Sukuk in the past are now benefiting from them.

“They may lack knowledge about their operations, but they find it convenient to criticize. As it stands, Islamic law is recognized by the Constitution.”

‘Govt failed Muslims’

He explained further: “Muslims in the South-West are agitating because it is their right.

“The Constitution expressly provides that a Sharia Court of Appeal can be established by any state, provided it is passed into law by the state House of Assembly.

“This agitation has been present, yet none of the states in the region has acceded to the demand.
“Several proposals have been made, but they have been rejected, apparently because of criticism from non-Muslims.

“As for the establishment of a panel, it is intended for arbitration.

“The law of arbitration is very clear: it serves as a means of mediation to resolve disputes.

“In that regard, Muslims can choose to participate or not in matters related to marriage, divorce, and other issues mentioned earlier.

“This does not require any form of state approval; it is about the freedom of association. This situation arises because the government has failed in its duty to do the right thing. No Muslim can live a life outside the Sharia. It is not possible.”

Despite all the criticisms, Obale expressed optimism that the agitation will come to pass sooner.
“Yes, I hope so, and Insha Allah, it will happen”, he said.

“Whether they like it or not, we will have a Sharia Court of Appeal. I am surprised that Lagos State has not initiated this because it is known as a leading state in many aspects.

“The administration of criminal justice was started by Lagos State. One day, we will have this in one of the states”.

It’s unnecessary noise —Islamic scholar

Contributing to the Sharia controversy, the Vice President, Academy of Islamic Propagation, ACADIP, U. S. Imam, said “the Yoruba group is making an unnecessary noise as Sharia already exist in the South-West.
“lslamic law, known as Sharia, already exists and its panels have been sitting in various parts of the South-West. Besides, it is stated in the Nigerian Constitution as well; so, it is not a new concept or issue”, Imam said.

“The Constitution provides that any Muslim who wishes to be tried under Sharia law should be allowed to do so. The issue of Sharia applies to civil matters.

“Sharia is mentioned in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) more than 21 times and its applications only apply to Muslims who wish to apply it in their issues and covers civil matters.

“It does not cover the entire civil issues but those of marriage, divorce, inheritance, child custody and endowment among others.

“So, Sharia is part of our legal system and whatever anyone says is a mere opinion; as long as Muslims desire to apply Sharia in the legal issues they can have it so”.

Development won’t lead to full-blow Sharia in South-West —Islamic leader

Prof. Sabit Olagoke, founder of Shafaudeen-in-Islam, also speaking, said Sharia panel is not a court of law but a platform for arbitration, allowing Muslims to address family disputes and issues related to Islamic law in a manner that respects “our cultural and religious heritage”.

“Concerns about the panel leading to a full-blown implementation of Sharia in Oyo and the broader South-West are unfounded”, he said.

“Sharia panel operates within the framework of civil arbitration and does not possess judicial powers. It is a form of self-governance that respects our rights as a community without imposing on others.

“Recognizing that Sharia, in this context, is about facilitating peaceful resolutions among Muslims is essential, rather than establishing a parallel legal system.

“I do not harbor fears concerning the establishment of the Sharia panel. The panel has been a longstanding feature in Yorubaland, and its function is well understood by our communities.

“The resistance we are witnessing from certain groups stems from misinformation and a lack of understanding of the Sharia role in our society.

“My advice to all parties involved is to engage in constructive dialogue rather than resorting to threats of legal action.

“It is crucial for the Yoruba Council Worldwide and other stakeholders to educate themselves about the nature of the Sharia panel.

“Recognizing that this initiative is rooted in the principles of coexistence and mutual respect is vital. “We should foster an environment where different religious and cultural practices can thrive side by side, understanding that each community has the right to manage its internal affairs.

“The Sharia panel is a legitimate forum for arbitration and should not be misconstrued as a threat to the social fabric of Yorubaland.

“We must work towards understanding and tolerance, ensuring that our diverse communities can coexist peacefully”.

Secretary General, Muslim Council of Ogun State Alhaji Kamaldeen Akintunde, said that Muslims in the South-West, under the Constitution, has right to make a demand for Sharia court.

“Of course it explains why it is operated side by side with the British legal system which the country operates, especially in the northern part of the country”, Akintunde said.

“Good enough, Nigeria is a pluralistic state and multi religious.

“Making such demand or seeking to establish a Sharia panel is not out of place or something extraordinary.
“Such panel undertakes matters between Muslims. It has nothing to do with non-Muslims.

“Nevertheless, it is beneficial to non-Muslims as well since it is to regulate the affairs of Muslims in accordance with the Sharia provision which has its root in the Islamic Scripture – the Glorious Qur’an”.
“Therefore, non-Muslims as neighbours will enjoy good neighbourliness.

“Moreover, there exists such panel in the neighbouring Osun State, with Ekiti which has just inaugurated its own.

“In Ogun, it exists and it has been resolving cases such as divorce, conflicts, and personal related matters”.

“Notwithstanding that Yoruba Council has right to institute litigation, it should think twice and avoid a dissipation of energy because it is not being forced on them, including Muslims among them”.

Agitation lawful — Islamic scholar

An Islamic Scholar and public affairs commentator, Dr Akeem Bello explained that the distinction between Sharia panel and Sharia court lies in their purpose, legal authority and scope of operation.

The panel’s purpose, according to him, “is to provide Muslims with an alternative, faith-based mechanism for resolving personal disputes such as marriage, inheritance, and family matters”.

He added: “Such a panel aligns with Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom, and Section 275, which permits states to establish Sharia court for personal law issues where there is a substantial Muslim population.

“This is particularly relevant in Oyo, which has a significant Muslim community that could benefit from such a mechanism.

“The establishment of the panel is not unprecedented.

“Similar mechanisms exist in other parts of the country, including Lagos, where informal Islamic arbitration systems operate effectively.

“These systems coexist peacefully with the secular courts, resolving disputes among consenting Muslims without infringing on the rights of others.

“If implemented properly, the Sharia panel in Oyo could serve as a model for promoting religious inclusivity and enhancing access to justice”.

Addressing the concern that the development could lead to full blown Sharia in Oyo and the South-West, he said it was largely unfounded.

‘No comment’

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman, YEWA South, Ogun State, Catchiest John Akapo, declined comment, saying: “I don’t know anything about the agitation for the Sharia panel and I can’t comment on that”.

Sharia panel is a threat to peaceful co-existence — CAN leader

But Oyo State Chairman of the association, Apostle Joshua Akinyemiju, described it as “unconstitutional and a threat to the state’s secular nature.

Akinyemiju said: “This should not happen in Oyo State where Christians and Muslims co-exist in nearly every family.

“There’s no law to support this, and the government is not aware. We won’t allow anything that jeopardizes the peaceful coexistence we enjoy”.

Let’s avoid religious violence — Cleric

Addressing the issue, Senior Pastor of the Second Coming of Christ’s Ministry, Adewale Giwa, condemned the proposed Sharia panel’s introduction in Oyo.

Giwa said: “Oyo is not a Muslim state. It comprises all religions, especially those belonging to Islam and Christianity.

“Therefore, it is unbiblical and unconstitutional to have a Sharia panel set up in the state.

“Most of the states in the northern part of Nigeria where Sharia is operating are not peaceful. We should be very careful to avoid religious violence.

A lawyer, Taiwo Adediran, insisted that it would be illegal to embark on something that is not backed by the Constitution.

“What the Constitution recognizes is the customary court in the South and Sharia court in the North”, Adediran said.

“And if at all any state in the South wants to create Sharia court, there has to be an establishment law made to that effect by the Oyo State House of Assembly and the jurisdiction of the country will also be determined by the law made by same Assembly”.

Also speaking on the issue, Mr Deola Fehintola, a legal luminary said, “The issue of implementation of Sharia as a court or panel has to derive its authority from the Constitution through the State Assembly.”

‘Sharia is in the Bible, Quran’

To Alhaji Lai Gidado, the Publisher of Ebony Herald International Magazine, “Sharia is our daily way of life. We are practicing Sharia unconsciously. “I remember when I was growing up with my grandma, anytime I misbehaved, the next thing you hear is (ma da seriah fun e ni sin).

“My advice is to make less noise about it. Sharia is in the Bible, it is also in the Qur’an”.

Historical perspective

The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), a legally registered entity, has been at the forefront of this struggle.

According to the SCSN, Shariah law is not just a moral code, but a complete system of law that governs all aspects of a Muslim’s life.

The group argues that the Lagos State government’s failure to establish Sharia courts has led to the marginalization of Muslims in the state.

Currently, only Common Law and Customary Law are recognized in the state, leaving Muslims without a legal framework that aligns with their faith.

The SCSN points to the 1999 Constitution, which recognizes Shariah law as one of the three legal systems in Nigeria. The group argues that the Lagos State government’s refusal to establish Shariah courts is a violation of Muslims’ constitutional rights. The SCSN has been working tirelessly to establish Shariah panels in the state, which have been operating since 2002. These panels have received widespread acceptance from Muslim Lagosians and have published select judgments in a law report.

Despite the progress made, the SCSN faces opposition from some quarters, including the Yoruba Council Worldwide, which has threatened legal action against the group. However, the SCSN remains undeterred, arguing that the demand for Shariah courts is not a new phenomenon, but a century-long struggle for recognition and justice.

The group’s efforts have been bolstered by court judgments, including a 2008 Lagos High Court ruling that Sharia law is not the same as Customary Law. The SCSN is confident that its demand for Sharia courts will ultimately prevail, citing the constitutional provisions that recognize Sharia law as a legitimate legal system in Nigeria.

[Vanguard]

Darkoo, the Nigerian-British rapper, has accused Peter ‘Mr P’ Okoye of sabotaging her newly released song ‘Focus on Me’.

In a series of tweets on X, Darkoo said she had obtained the necessary clearance from Psquare for the sample used in her song.

The rapper said Psquare was entitled to 50% of the song’s earnings. She, however, alleged that Peter demanded to be featured on the track — a request she initially declined but considered for a possible remix.

Darkoo claimed Mr P thereafter facilitated the copyright infringement tagged on the music video on YouTube after she refused to feature him in the song.

“I wasn’t going to say anything, but Peter of P-square took down my music video for six days in an attempt to completely sabotage the song. (Fortunately, the video is back up now.) https://youtu.be/4wj0nhz_6t0?si=-75ujqiue4_z-ysl. Let me be clear: I had all the necessary clearance for the sample. This is not my first rodeo using a sample, as you know, and I did everything by the book,” the tweet reads.

“To put things into perspective, they are receiving 50%… rightfully so. Yet, Mr. Peter wanted to be featured on the song, even creating his own new verse for it. He told me not to speak to or clear with his brothers Jude and Paul (who, by the way, have been incredibly helpful in resolving issues). He claimed they would bring ‘unnecessary problems’ for me.

“But as soon as the song dropped, Mr. Peter completely switched on me. He started causing problems because he wanted to be featured on the track. Even though I wanted him to be on the remix, I guess that wasn’t enough. Instead, he chose to act out of anger, manipulate the situation, and try to sabotage the song… simply because I didn’t bow to his demands….

“Taking my video down wasn’t about copyright or contracts…. It was because he didn’t get what he wanted (to be featured), & I quote saying to my team that I “disrespected him” that’s why he’s taking down the video.”

The rapper expressed her disappointment and heartbreak over “Mr. P’s actions”, stating that she had grown up admiring him and his music.

“His actions have impacted me deeply, hurting my fans, ruining my hard work, and all the time and money spent. It’s heartbreaking because I grew up admiring him, and to see someone I once looked up to try to hurt me and block my success actively is incredibly painful,” she said.

“For the record: I had the clearance, the contracts, and the paperwork from “Psquare”. I went above and beyond to ensure their rights were respected and handled correctly with the right people. Ensuring that all contributors were coverd. This isn’t how our OGs are supposed to be moving. It’s sad and disappointing.”

Darkoo also revealed that the music video is now back online after being taken down for six days. She urged her fans to support her by watching and sharing the video.

Peter has yet respond to Darkoo’s allegations as of the time of this report.

[TheCable]

A year ago, Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), openly lamented the “craze and quest for gratification, bribes and other compromises” by some of the commission’s investigators. “They are becoming too embarrassing and this must not continue,” he said. Monday last week, the EFCC dismissed 27 officials over alleged fraudulent activities and misconduct. Two days later, the agency detained 10 officers of the Lagos zonal command over alleged theft of operational items. Now I am beginning to take Olukoyede more seriously about his pledge to cleanse the agency of corrupt elements. It is non-negotiable.

Things had gone so bad with the EFCC that some of its offices had started competing with a typical police station where extortion and impunity are common. The EFCC, as a special body established to tackle corruption, cannot afford to become a cesspool of decay. That would be exceptionally tragic. Many Nigerians have lost faith in the commission over the years. It is common sense: if the anti-corruption agency is itself full of corrupt officials, how can it use corruption to fight corruption? I am happy with Olukoyede’s recent crackdown on the bad eggs in the institution, but I would say the job has just started. He has to do a regular house-cleaning exercise while staying above board himself.

Thankfully, Olukoyede is also aware of the common scam in which someone would pose as an agent of the EFCC chairman and ask for some crazy amount of money to help stop or stall an investigation. Two persons said to be members of a syndicate were recently arraigned on allegations of demanding $1 million from Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, former MD of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), for onward delivery to Olukoyede to give Bello-Koko “soft landing” on an investigation that never existed. It could be that this sinister trade was real at some point in the commission’s history — let’s not forget the fact that some of the chairmen have been removed over allegations of corruption.

If someone says he is acting on behalf of the chairman and asks for bribe to stop an investigation and, indeed, the probe is halted after the “something” is delivered, how would the suspect not believe the boss is involved? I was also shocked to read that some EFCC officials were reportedly asking for as much as N60,000 bribe from not-for-profit organisations before issuing the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) certificate. Those who refused to corrupt the officials would wait till eternity for the certificate. That is why the bad eggs have to be regularly identified and flushed out. There are too many of them at the agency. Olukoyede knows this well.

Another area Olukoyede has to address is media trial. A lot of people have been tried and convicted by the EFCC in the media with information leaks that were eventually not substantiated in a court of law. Reputations are damaged and lives ruined as a result. In the end, many who heard the beginning of the story would not hear the end. I was particularly disappointed with the OPL 245 cases which I followed keenly. The impression in the media, particularly online, was that the EFCC had mass and mass of evidence to prove money laundering and fraud. Incredibly, all the court cases in Italy, the UK and Nigeria crumbled one after the other despite the heavy media show. I was genuinely startled.

For instance, in dismissing the case against Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke, the former attorney-general of the federation, and six others, Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi of the FCT high court declared: “Mere allegations, no matter how weighty, do not translate to or are tantamount to facts and evidence that will at least raise a prima facie case, even if weak… Filing of criminal charges in court which involves the liberty of individuals is a delicate exercise that must be carried out with a huge sense of responsibility dictated solely by the quality of the facts and or evidence and the ultimate cause or truth and justice.” The EFCC prosecutor had indeed admitted that there was paucity of evidence.

I should think Olukoyede is learning from the past. He initially struggled with the Yahaya Bello case, going live on TV to confront the media power of the former Kogi governor, but it appears that phase has faded away. The EFCC has now charged four former governors to court without drama. That is how it should be. Former ministers are also answering to court charges without much ado. We are now only getting to hear the details of the charges when they are filed in court. The tradition used to be daily leaks from the interrogation room. As a journalist, I would not run away from leaks because they are legitimate but I doubt this strategy delivers justice beyond enabling media/public lynching.

I agree with Olukoyede that cases against politically exposed persons are always a tough nut to crack because of their ability to undermine the system and slow down or upturn the wheel of justice. It could be frustrating. It takes time to build criminal cases which rely on concrete evidence for conviction. Many would want an accused person arrested, tried and jailed in two minutes. It doesn’t always work like that. While we await the outcome of the high-profile cases, it is encouraging that  the EFCC is making good progress in fighting cybercrimes. Assets are being recovered from yahoo guys and restituted to the victims. These criminals are hurting genuine international transactions.

The biggest criticism of the EFCC from time immemorial is that it is a political tool deployed by the federal government against its opponents. I have not heard much of this in the Olukoyede era, perhaps because the accused persons under investigation or on trial are mixed: they are not from one particular political party or persuasion. There will always be murmurs, sure, but this misgiving can only be addressed if the commission continues to prove to Nigerians that there is no political vendetta. In addition, Nigerians often complain about the EFCC’s heavy-handedness in its operations, such as storming hostels and hotels in the dead of the night and turning things upside down.

The major challenge for Olukoyede — and any other anti-graft czar for that matter — is the Nigerian society at large. Even though we all complain about corruption and theorise on how it is impeding our progress as a nation, the truth is that many, if not most, of us have a pro-corruption attitude. We look for excuses to justify and celebrate corruption, maybe because it is perpetuated by our kith and kin, or people who have our political or religious sympathies, or those we benefit from. We become so blinded and emotional that we are not ready to deal with the facts. We even allege that accused persons are being persecuted rather than ask them the basic question: “You thief abi you no thief?”

With Olukoyede showing an inclination to doing things in a civil way, he should rev up the public sensitisation campaign (not to be confused with media relations) to secure the buy-in of Nigerians. There was a vibrant engagement arm when Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was EFCC chairman. Its “Fix Nigeria” campaign was led by my friend, Dr Chido Onumah. The EFCC should work hand-in-hand with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), which has just launched the “7 for 7 National Values Charter” to promote the “promises and obligations” of the Nigerian government to the people and the “responsibilities” of the citizens to the country. I plan to examine the charter in another article.

The Supreme Court further empowered the EFCC recently when it stopped an attempt by 19 states to dilute the powers of the commission. The court ruled that the law establishing the EFCC was constitutional. Some things are so simply stated that the significance can be easily lost on the audience. If the Supreme Court had ruled otherwise, the justices would have successfully issued a new exploration licence for corruption to the political class in a bid round to formalise impunity in the polity. The consequences, I would loosely allow myself to speculate, would be greasy, spiral and dire. Even with the EFCC, the states are still reckless. Now, imagine if the agency is relegated…

Apparently, a justice of the Supreme Court had previously declared that the EFCC was a product of a UN convention and had no business looking into the finances of the states. The Kogi state government, in a last-ditch attempt to prevent the trial of its ex-governor over allegations of corruption running into hundreds of billions of naira, filed a constitutional case and was joined by many states in a scary show of solidarity, some claiming they already had their own anti-graft agencies. The apex court clarified that a “treaty” is between countries and needs domestication but the EFCC Act stemmed from a convention the UN of which Nigeria is already a member country.

Commenting on the verdict, Olukoyede said: “The judgment makes us stronger than ever before. Number one, they said that the EFCC has power over federal agencies, state agencies and local government agencies. Number two, they said where the EFCC is working, it has the right to cover the field. It is what we call the doctrine of covering the field in Nigeria. It’s a legal doctrine. It’s a principle that says that where a federal agency has covered the field, no state or local government agency has the right to compete with it. In other words, wherever the EFCC is operating, state or local government agencies don’t even have the power to meddle.” Let’s hope this finally settles it.

As Olukoyede himself knows, it is not just the governors who have grouses with the EFCC. Different people have different reasons to oppose the EFCC. Therefore, no matter how favourable the Supreme Court verdict is, he still has his work cut out for him to restore the confidence of the generality of Nigerians in the commission he leads. Anti-graft war is best fought with the buy-in of the people, and the people can withhold their support for various reasons, some of which I have stated. For now, he should keep going steady, keep cleaning up the mess in the commission, continue to apply maturity in investigations and steer clear of politics as much as he can. That is wisdom.

AND FOUR OTHER THINGS..

TELCO TARIFF

From what I can see, it is no longer in doubt that telecom tariffs will be reviewed upwards. It is the quantum and time that we don’t know yet. The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) have been making a case to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to approve a tariff hike in view of rising operational costs caused by the devaluation of the naira and the removal of subsidies on petrol and electricity. I think the NCC is reluctant because of the likely backlash among the youth who are the most active on the internet. The economic case will prevail. Inevitable.

PRIMITIVE PEDAGOGY

A teacher at Christ Mitots School in Ikorodu, Lagos state, was filmed apparently beating a little boy who could not write “6”. She was arrested — but we are missing the real issues. One, we have a problem with pedagogy in Nigeria generally, not just Ikorodu. At 3, a toddler should be learning by rote and developing personal, social and emotional skills, not necessarily writing A to Z or 1 to 100. Two, an older child who cannot spell or write may have a special need, but do we factor that into the pedagogy? Three, beating should be completely outlawed in schools. They whipped us silly in primary and secondary schools but Nigeria is still like this. Maybe beating is not the solution. Reform.

WAR BEFORE WAR

Anybody expecting the atmosphere of the 2027 presidential election to be better than that of 2023 should perish the thought: we are in for a long thing. A TV interview by Mr Felix Morka, spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has led to allegations of threat to life and produced hundreds, if not thousands, of death threats on social media — and to think the election is still two years away. If the atmosphere can be this burning hot when the presidential race has not officially started, then picture the looming firefight and fireworks. My most anxious moments in Nigeria are election times. Social media platforms become so unpleasant I usually exit certain groups for my own sanity. Toxic.

NO COMMENT

Someone said this local government autonomy stuff is beginning to yield all kinds of fruits. Chief Chijioke Ihunwo, chairman of Obio-Akpor LGA of Rivers state, has just appointed 130 special assistants. In July 2024, when he was appointed caretaker committee chairman of the local government, he also appointed 100 special assistants. He really loves special assistants. If he becomes a commissioner, how many assistants will he appoint? If he becomes governor, there will be no enough room to contain his assistants. The population of Rivers state is estimated at 7.3 million, so I am guessing Ihunwo would appoint almost every resident as a special assistant. Wonderful.