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![[OPINION] Taraba State: A Rebirth in the Making - Okey Ikechukwu](/media/k2/items/cache/f0dbd7dcf6a26bd62112d8b415aaf458_L.jpg)
In these days of questionable public discourse on governance, any attempt to speak of tolerably good performance by a state governor will attract suspicion. It will either be that the governor has procured platforms to nurse a presidential ambition, or that he is working to hoodwink the public despite his obvious poor performance.
The other sad feature of some media commentary onpublic office holders is that it sometimes presents government interventions as favours by the governor; for which the people must thank him profusely. Service delivery, for which the governor was elected in the first place, then gets presented and projected to the public as acts of benevolence. At the end of the day, state resources are seen, and treated, as the personal resources of the governor to be dispensed at his discretion. Absurd!
But here we are, about to talk about a serving governor whose first series of actions culminated in a Masterclass for would-be state officials before he began to govern. Yes.
The first thing the current governor of Taraba State didafter he emerged victorious in the elections was to patiently scrutinize the human capital of his state, and then and make some key appointments. After the appointments, rather than say, “Alright, now report at your respective offices and start work”, he planned a capacity development immersion. The programme was held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), with every key official of the future Taraba State in the governor’s mind assembled in one location. His reason for doing this was quite simple: Dr. Agbu Kefas told his people that there is always a right and wrong way of doing everything.
That being the case, he maintained that the only way to work as a government official in a 21st Century world was to give every worker the ideas and template for his specific schedule before he starts work. So, he gathered his people but not for motivational talk, boring lectures and an excuse for collecting Duty Tour allowance(DTA), no! it was for them to get Actionable Ideas for hands-on performance, in order to serve the best interests of the people of Taraba State who elected him into office.
He called it an induction course and retreat. It was organized for commissioners, special advisers, permanent secretaries, senior directors, legislators and judicial officers. The aim was to help everyone to fully understand respective roles and responsibilities in the State governance process. It was to also equip newly appointed cabinet members with the basic skills and knowledge they need to engender true service delivery for Taraba people. It was all designed to help create synergy and ensure that the executive, civil service, legislature, judiciary and other key stakeholders work together with the right team spirit.
That retreat emphasized the primacy of public policy as a tool for the developmental blue-print of Taraba State through a whole-of-government approach. It spelt out the import, impact and value of accountability, transparency, good governance and efficient budget process as drivers of sustainable economic growth.
This way of onboarding government officials and stakeholders, on the importance and necessity to pursue excellence and good governance in Taraba State, was the grand takeoff plan of the newly elected governor.
He told them, at the retreat, that he was poised to transform the poor economic and social indices of the State so as to promote all round growth and development and wealth creation. He also emphasized the fact that he would prioritize security, because peace and prosperity for the people could only be achieved in an environment with meaningful security for life and property.
A former Vice President of the World Bank was among the resource persons. When, back thenbar the retreat in 2003, I spoke to them on “Building a New Generation of Public Sector Leaders in Taraba Through LeadershipMentoring, Emotional Intelligence and Strategic Management of Human Relations”, my emphasis was on the importance of humanizing governance, while keeping to best global practices.
The governor identified the key drivers of the Taraba State he had in view included improvements in education, health, industry, agriculture, mining, tourism and much more. The newly elected governor also placed significant emphasis on attracting FDIs andpromoting MSMEs for broad-spectrum prosperity. He used the occasion to present his vision for the State, the pillars of his government and the philosophy of his administration, as he charged everyone to translate the vision into better life for the people.
Less than two years into his tenure, the question you sometimes here is: “So, what was Taraba State before this your new governor? It is very much like the case of Jigawa State during and after the tenure of Sule Lamido as Governor.
Every meaningful state infrastructure, far reaching development plans, new ideas about human capital development, internally generated revenue gains and much more in Taraba today have acquired new flagellaunder the incumbent governor.
Today, Taraba State has a human capital development resource centre, patterned to some extent after NARC in its aspiration, to drill down sustainable knowledge growth in an all-round manner. To that extent, the state is turning into a reference template for far-seeing steps in social development, economic growth, responsible environmental stewardship and new vistas of responsible leadership.
The indices are reassuring on all fronts, but the state government is fighting great retrogressive forces as it prioritizes the welfare of its citizens. It projects are broadly impactful, with policies on social stability and internal security on the upswing. The provision of operation vehicles for the military and security forces, especially also the provision of surveillance drone facility to support the army and other national security forces working in the area, are landmark gains.
While it is true that the state has made massive investments in road construction projects, this is not at the expense of healthcare facilities and healthcare personnel. Educational institutions are getting the desired attention, with a new focus on connectingcommunities with enhanced access to essential services.
Taraba that is often referred to as the “Nature’s Gift to the Nation” now seema to be everaging its fertile land to boost agricultural productivity and be true to this appellation. It has a new Green Taraba Project, which has empowered farmers, reduced food insecurity, and created thousands of jobs.
Add that to the state government’s upgrading ofhospitals, the provision of free medical services for vulnerable groups, and the implementation of robust healthcare policies. And the state is not resting on a bed of borrowed funds, having made significant strides in boosting its internally generated revenue. This has dramatically reduced reliance on federal allocations.
Much of this was achieved through tax reforms that streamlined tax collection processes and leveragedtechnology to minimize leakages; even as the state is harnessing its agricultural potentials to attract investors and generate revenue.
Taraba State is collaborating with private sector players and consultants to unlock new revenue streams, and these efforts have increased the state’s IGR and also created a more resilient and self-sufficient economy. The revenue collection records show a 54% increasebetween 2023 and 2024; and the Taraba State Internal Revenue Service (TIRS) team was only inaugurated in June 2024. The IGR jumped from about 10 billion Naira to over 17 billion within months, after inauguration.
On environmental sustainability, the state is adopting a global model for environmental conservation. A place that is known for its lush greenery, wildlife, and natural resources is now implementing groundbreaking initiatives to protect itself in very important ways. This includes reforestation programmes, involving large-scale tree planting campaigns, to combat deforestation and climate change.
The state’s Eco-Tourism Development programme issustainable tourism, as it seeks preserves the naturalbeauty of the environment while creating economic opportunities. And this has seamlessly keyed into a waste management systems that is using modern waste disposal techniques to keep cities clean and green.
As for the Resource Centre and deliverables, its purpose is to empower Citizens Through Knowledge. The knowledge impartation resource centers haverevolutionized access to capacity building opportunities, information availability and continuous education.
For the record, these centers serve as hubs for skill acquisition, to offer training programs in ICT, entrepreneurship, and vocational skills. There is also the matter of research and development, to provide resources for students, researchers, and innovators to drive local solutions to global challenges.
As part of community engagement for social cohesion, the hosting workshops and seminars has become a regular means of educating citizens on governance, health, and economic opportunities.
Because Taraba State is endowed with vast mineral resources, including limestone, kaolin, and gemstones, the government is taking strategic steps to harness this potential, through some Mining Sector Reforms. These reforms are creating the enabling environment for investors, while ensuring sustainable mining practices.Jobs are also being created in the process, as more hands are engaged in the overall value chain.
All things considered, the state in now deep into the serious business of economic diversification, by leveraging its mineral wealth to boost the economy and fund developmental projects. And security in important for all of this to happen.
There is Community Policing, which is engaging local communities in security efforts to foster trust and collaboration. The stare government is providing modern equipment and training for security agencies, in addition to Conflict Resolution Mechanisms; implementing programs to address communal clashes and promote unity.
Therw is also the Taxpayer Education Initiative, for willing compliance, through a proactive approach to taxpayer education. This is helping yhe citizenry to understand the importance of taxation in nation-building. The state is embarking on awareness campaigns, using radio, television, and social media, to educate taxpayers on their rights and civic responsibilities.
Simplified Tax Processes have also become a tool for making it easier for individuals and businesses to comply with tax regulations. Added to the foregoing are transparency and accountability parameters, which are seen in the governemnt’s open demonstration ofhow tax revenues are utilized. This further fosterertrust and willingness to pay.
In sum, Taraba State is doing well today, but it must avoid any premature celebrations. Good governance is always a work in progress. The state must remain forward looking, as it expands the frontiers of impact in every positive sphere. The retrogressive forces that have held the state down for so long are not resting. Therefore, the progressive forces of today should endeavour to stay awake 25 (not 24) hours every day. enought said.
![[OPINION] How Not to Kill Businesses Operating Outside Free Trade Zones - Obinna Chima](/media/k2/items/cache/7e4895a6bcb6f90abd537354d99632e0_L.jpg)
Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) contribute to improved living standards, bring about substantial local capital formation and achieve a high level of productivity. They have also been identified as a vehicle for employment generation, as they provide opportunities for entrepreneurial training and manpower development.
Also of importance in any nation are indigenous enterprises because they offer huge opportunity for both cultural preservation and economic progress. Resilience, creativity, and the incorporation of cultural values into corporate operations are frequently linked to their success. All over the world, governments take deliberate steps to make sure that SMEs are nurtured.
This is why a recent revelation by the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, that companies operating in the nation’s Free Trade Zones (FTZs) violate the law regulating their operations is deeply troubling.
According to Adeniyi, who disclosed this at a recent House of Representatives public hearing on the tax reform bills in Abuja, some of the companies operating in the FTZs go into Customs areas where extant tax laws are operational to conduct their businesses.
He said, “The sticky issue over the years has been the compliance of free trade zone operators with the provisions of the law. The law allows them to import every manufacturing input they need, 100 per cent sometimes, including things that are prohibited into the customs territory.
“In fact, a lot of those incentives were given to them to manufacture. However, the initial incentives were for them to export everything that they (imported OR MANUFACTURED?) inside this free zone. But from time to time, I think they started to develop loan proofs for the local markets. There have been reported violations of these provisions.”
In Nigeria, FTZs, also known as Export Processing Zones (EPZs) are geographically designated areas that offer special privileges to businesses, including tax benefits and reduced customs regulations for activities like importing, manufacturing and exporting goods. FTZs in the country include the Calabar Free Trade Zone, Kano Free Trade Zone, Lekki Free Trade Zone, Ladol Logistic Free Zone, Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone, and Snake Island Integrated Free Zone. These zones were created to support the development of industries focused on exports and also to encourage businesses to operate with as low government interference as possible.
The primary purpose is to assist companies in the manufacturing, processing, and export of goods from Nigeria as they are exempted from payment of import and export duties thereby lowering their operational cost. Presently, most of the companies operating in FTZs in Nigeria have a significant foreign interests.
Regrettably, findings have shown that some companies operating within these zones flout the rules guiding their operations. Some of those who operate in the free trade zone that ought to focus on exporting their finished goods, end up selling them in the local market, thereby denying the government the necessary revenue. Besides, this creates unfair competition and unfair trade in the market place.
For instance, manufacturers who operate outside the FTZs that import raw materials for their production are charged Customs duties which range (from)REMOVE between 10 percent and 25 percent, depending on the item they are bringing into the country. After this, they bear the cost of production associated with the country’s harsh business environment before processing these raw materials into finished goods and they are sold to the market. For those who are into export business, they are made to pay the relevant duties and levies. However, those that have their plants located within the FTZs, when they bring in their raw materials, they don’t pay duties on the assumption that whatever they produce would be exported 100 per cent.
Therefore, after production, if they then decide to move their goods to the Customs areas, they ought to pay duties on the finished items. But unfortunately, due to alleged lapses and corruption on the part pf some regulators, these manufacturers now bring in their raw materials, process them, and instead of exporting these finished items as expected, they end up selling their products in the country.
What this does is beyond the loss of revenue to the government and the denial of the country the expected forex inflows, it also creates unfair trade to those manufacturers that are not fortunate enough to site their plants within the FTZs. This act is enough to throw them out of business.
Indeed, this is unfair (for)TO businesses trying to create jobs, most who pledge substantial part of their property and resources as collateral just to get bank loans at cut-throat interest rates and THEN some disingenuous people work round the clock to make these loans go bad because they are allowed to sell their products at cheaper price due to their low production cost. This clearly stifles innovation and undermines business growth as these struggling businesses are systematically being discouraged.
The federal government needs to take action to guarantee the continuous survival of businesses outside the FTZs by ensuring that operators abide by the rules of the game to save jobs.
Beyond the lamentation by the Customs CG, Adeniyi, there is also a need for increased supervision and monitoring by the NCS and other government agencies saddled with the responsibility of ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements and compliance by those operating within the FTZs.
Besides, some of these challenges can be dealt with through the use of technology tracking devices. The Federal Ministry of Trade and its counterpart, the Federal Ministry of Finance should deploy technological devices to track the importation of raw materials and follow through till they are processed into finished goods and exported, to address inefficiency and laziness on the part of some of the regulatory agencies and eliminate corruption.
The choice is clear: It is either the government protects these businesses outside the FTZs or watch them vanish. We cannot afford to let these economic saboteurs thrive. Therefore, its time to defend our entrepreneurs in order to build a truly resilient Nigerian economy.
![[OPINION] Netanyahu, Purim and the enemies - Gabriel Agbo](/media/k2/items/cache/a2ee3160b1df3b9a14ad558b9cf496f8_M.jpg)
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his recent Purim message responded to the continued threats of annihilation of Israel by the enemies of the Jewish state by reminding them of the biblical story of Haman. Haman obtained an irreversible decree to kill all the Jews in Persian and confiscate their properties. But before the date of execution, God intervened and Haman, his sons and the enemies of the Jews were killed instead. You know the story very well. We will come back to it later. Yes, I so much admire the dedication, love and courage of Bibi (as he is fondly called) to the cause of Israel. He is always ready to do everything necessary to protect and advance the interests of the Jewish state, especially the policy of never to allow the people go through the threats and victimization of the past. I see Benjamin Netanyahu in the mould of Moses, Joshua, Gideon and Samson. And thanks to his family that gave Israel three indefatigable brothers – Yonatan, Benjamin and Iddo that served in the elite IDF Special Forces, sacrificing their comfort and life. They left the comfort as the children of an American professor and training in Ivy colleges, migrated and joined the Israeli forces in the 60s and have played exceptional roles in defending the Jewish nation and its people.
Though this piece is not about the Netanyahus, but we will forever remember the sacrifice of the indomitable Yonatan ‘Yoni’ Netanyahu; that young Israeli Special Forces commander that successful led the rescue of about hundred Jewish hostages in from Entebe Airport, Uganda in 1976. That operation remains a reference in the study of rescue missions and special operations. Just go back and read the accounts again and watch the films. And you will be amazed by the professionalism, patriotism and courage exhibited by the planners and executors of that mission and what those guys could do as far back as the 70s. Ironically, only Yoni lost his life in that most-daring operation, but that was after terminating the terrorists, rescuing the hostages, sending them home. He and his men were retreating to board the plane and leave the place when he was cowardly shot by a Ugandan soldier hiding on the airport towers. The Jewish commandoes went back and cleared the place immediately and also inflicted an irreparable damage to the Ugandan Air force by blowing up most of the fighter jets and equipment on ground. Because of my love for the boldness and sacrifice of Yonatan. I dedicated my book / audiobook Power of Sacrifice to him. And it is now in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Finish, Swedish, French, Dutch, Chinese, Italian, German, Afrikaans, Indonesian, etc. Yes, there is no better time to remind the enemies of the Jews of God’s covenant of protection with his people than the Festival of Purim.
As you already know the Festival of Purim is an annual event to commemorate that spectacular, miraculous deliverance of the Jews from annihilation during the reign of King Ahasuerus of the Persian Empire in 5 BC. Haman; a Jew-hater was appointed a prime minister of the empire. And when Mordecai, a Jew refused to bow to him, the proud Haman got the king to sign an irrevocable decree to kill all the Jews - young and old, infants and women and confiscate their properties in a day. But God miraculously intervened when Esther and Mordecai mobilized all the Jews throughout the empire to fast and seek divine intervention. Their enemy Haman was hanged, Mordecai (a Jew was appointed in his place), and another decree was promulgated that countered the first, empowering the Jews to defend and kill their enemies. God delivered his people from certain destruction. Since then the Jews have been celebrating this dramatic deliverance and display of divine power till date. Yes, Bibi was right to remind the enemies of Israel that the God of Purim is still alive to protect his people. And also that there is still today unwavering, commitment, determined, patriotic and fearless Jews like Esther and Mordecai to sacrifice everything, including their lives to see that nobody, no nation, no interest or gang up will ever be given that chance to humiliate or threaten the existence of Israel again. This has always been sufficiently demonstrated since the establishment of the modern Jewish State. And that policy remains unchanged. Touch Israel and you burn your fingers.
But Haman is not the only example to be given to the enemies of Israel. Pharaoh messed with Israel and he, his commanders and horsemen perished in the Red Sea after the angels of destruction and death devastated his land. At that night of Passover, men and beast mourned and wept throughout Egypt. Sennacherib boasted and tried it. He even queried the ability of the God of Israel to deliver; comparing him with the gods of other nations that he had destroyed. I love the way God responded to this, “Who is it you have insulted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel... Because you rage against me and your insolence has reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will make you return by the way you came.” You already know how he ended. Then, three nations came against Jehoshaphat and Judah. God took over the battle and that enemies in confusion slaughtered themselves. Not one person survived. What of the mighty and proud Goliath? After boasting, harassing and humiliating the Israelites for days, his head was cut off and his people defeated. And can go on and on. Now, every enemy harassing you or the people of God will be displaced and cut off today in the mighty name of Jesus! Till next week, Shalom!
[OPINION] Refuting the Wild Claims About the Birnin Kebbi Aviation Fuel Depot - Abdullahi Usman
Admin![[OPINION] Refuting the Wild Claims About the Birnin Kebbi Aviation Fuel Depot - Abdullahi Usman](/media/k2/items/cache/54a1fbe9f0421ee83b9b791900b3192e_M.jpg)
It is always good to hear that evident improvements are taking place in one's dear state, and the March 12, 2025 report by the Kebbi State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed BK, on the commissioning of a dedicated 180,000 litres capacity Aviation Fuel Depot at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport (SABIA), Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, is one such example.
Having said that, however, his mode of presentation on the significance of the said fuel depot has been grossly exaggerated beyond what is practicable, and it sure didn’t need to be so. Granted, government press handlers have this general tendency to want to always make their principal look good at every opportunity, but even that needs to be done with some reasonable degree of decorum, which has sadly not been the case here.
To a very large extent, the Commissioner may have achieved his primary objective of portraying his principal to the teeming familiar crowd of the gullible ones out there in the intended larger-than-life fashion. But to that same extent, he has also exposed his manifest lack of understanding and appreciation of the Aviation sector, especially as it relates to aircraft refueling operations and the strict sets of rules and procedures guiding it.
That fact alone has now presented a veritable opportunity in the form of a teachable moment of sorts that I would like to take advantage of to correct some of the obvious errors in his entire communication around the said aviation fuel depot at SABIA. To do that, we need to dispense with his ludicrous claims about the reported transformation of SABIA "from an unrecognized terminal to a hub of global aviation where flights now land not just for pilgrims, but also for refueling from various International destinations".
An online dictionary source defines an "international hub" as a "... central location, often an airport or a port, that serves as a major point of connection for international travel, trade, or logistics, facilitating the movement of people or goods between different countries*".
The question then is, when exactly did SABIA, Birnin Kebbi become an international hub, or a hub for global aviation, to use his exact words? Apart from the annual Hajj airlift operations involving a few dedicated flights as approved by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), and perhaps the occasional chartered Umrah flights here and there, which other international airlines land in Birnin Kebbi? Which destinations do those flights connect from there?
Secondly, I do not regard myself as an expert on aviation fuel refueling operations by any stretch of the imagination. But having headed the nationwide refueling operations of a major oil marketer for a number of years, during which I also doubled as the Secretary of the Aviation Managers Forum of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), I should certainly know a thing or two about the subject.
The aviation industry is one of the most regulated industries in the world for obvious reasons, and aircraft refueling operations are no less so. There are strict standards, processes and procedures guiding the establishment and operation of Aviation Depots, which the industry regulators and the airlines themselves do not joke with.
That is precisely why there are mandatory stipulated daily early morning checks in place that must be carried out by the jet fuel suppliers at their respective depots, along with the usual parameter tests at the foot of the aircraft that must be witnessed by the airline representatives before each refueling operation. The international airlines, on their part, do also carry out scheduled annual or spot inspection audits at the depots to ascertain their continuing adherence to the stipulated standards for such operations.
Even before such routine visits by the airline customers happen, the IATA Fuel Quality Pool (IFQP) inspectors, comprising a group of airlines that actively share fuel inspection workload and reports globally, must have inspected and certified your depot handling and refueling operations and processes and published their findings on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) portal for all member airlines to see. The initial and routine annual IFQP inspections are done using the Joint Inspection Group (JIG) standards, which is an international organisation that monitors and ensures that the transportation and storage of jet fuel in a safe manner across the world's largest airports.
The IFQP inspection and eventual certification, without which no international airline will ever patronise your refueling operations, remains one of the most eagerly anticipated and challenging periods for any Aviation Manager. It will be great to hear from the Commissioner when that took place in the case of the new aviation fuel mini depot at SABIA.
Away from the quality side of things, there is also the small matter of the constant availability of the product that, in addition to regular and timely replenishment, can only be guaranteed by the relative size of a marketer's secondary storage facility at the airports. The relative proximity of the secondary storage to the primary storage facilities is also a huge factor. And the farther away one is from the other, the bigger the secondary storage necessarily needs to be to guarantee a reasonable stockholding of a minimum of 6 days’ supply to your contracted airline customers on average at any point in time.
To address the all-important airport storage issue in a more cost-effective and holistic manner, marketers have been known to come together to jointly build and operate shared common storages like the Joint Users Hydrant Installation (JUHI) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, and the Joint Aviation Facility (JAF) at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, for example. Just recently, on October 17th, 2024, the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, commissioned the long-awaited 15 million litres capacity JUHI 2 in Ikeja, which adds to the JUHI 1 and the respective marketers’ individual storages there.
Again, the standard practice is that all airlines, both local and international, do have in place executed fuel supply contracts with the respective marketers that are renewed annually, even though some small operators and one-time visitors do make ad hoc purchases occasionally. The airlines execute such contracts with more than one marketer to spread their risks, as opposed to putting all their eggs in a single basket by way of having only one dedicated supplier. That way, in the event that one supplier runs out of Jet Fuel or Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK), as it is also called, the other(s) can easily supply them. The suppliers must always put them on notice well in advance in the event of any anticipated supply disruptions, in order not to disrupt their schedules. For international airlines specifically, they usually have programmed slots on specific days of the week for their suppliers, and any of them can cover for the other in the event of supply disruptions affecting either of them. In the (un)likely event of a general scarcity affecting all marketers, however, the airlines are usually notified to come with enough jet fuel in their tanks and only top up with just about enough volumes to fly to the next destination to take in more.
I, therefore, struggle to rationalise the outrageous claim by the Kebbi Commissioner of Information and Culture where he stressed for emphasis that “it is on record that aircraft on international routes land at the airport for the sole purpose of refueling and moving on”. Apart from the requirement of the IFQP certification and the prerequisite of a subsisting business relationship between the depot operator at SABIA and the individual airlines that are both required to make that possible, the miserly 180,000 litres capacity storage does not even support such a claim. More so when there are numerous other marketers-owned and operated storage facilities with combined capacities running into millions of litres at the nation’s major international airports in Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt, where these airlines usually land and operate at.
With such readily accessible larger storage facilities at these four strategically located major airports across the country, I wonder what level of tomfoolery will push any serious international airline pilot to make a detour to Birnin Kebbi just to refuel at its mini depot that is the equivalent of a few of fuel tankers in terms of capacity. Aviation refueling is not your typical petrol or diesel refueling by Damfo or Molue commercial drivers, who may be at liberty to break their journey at will to refuel at any available roadside filling station, enroute their respective destinations.
Plus, the average ATK volumes consumed by these international flights in a single refueling operation is such that SABIA’s 180,000-litre capacity storage will not even be attractive enough. Just by way of illustration, a DHL Cargo flight from Lagos to Johannesburg will take an average of 65,000 litres of jet fuel during refueling, for example; a British Airways flight to London Heathrow with require around 70,000 litres; just as a Delta Airlines non-stop flight from Lagos to Atlanta will consume between 120,000 to 130,000 litres. Pray, what will be left for the depot operators’ local airline customers after a single refueling operation?
The fact that one or two local airlines flying into Sokoto might have ran into a possible stockout situation at the Sir Abubakar III International Airport and detoured to Birnin Kebbi to take a few thousands of litres is not enough justification to make such wild claims about international airlines refueling there. If it holds true, the Commissioner should please release the names of those airlines and the respective dates they stopped over just to refuel.
In conclusion, I am saying all this just to let the author understand and recognise the untenable slant to his wide-off-the-mark claims, and to urge him to please desist from making such embarrassing submissions that are not backed by logic or facts in the future.
There is fire on the mountain
And nobody seems to be on the run
Oh, there is fire on the mountain top
And no one is a-running
I wake up in the morning
Tell you what I see on my TV screen
I see the blood of an innocent child and everybody’s watching
Now I’m looking out my window
And what do I see?
I see an army of a soldier man marching across the street, hey
Hey, Mr. Soldier man
Tomorrow is the day you go to war
But you are fighting for another man’s cause and you don’t even know him
Oooh, what did he say to make you so blind to your conscience and reason?
Could it be love for your country? Or for the gun you use in killing?
So, there is fire on the mountain
And nobody seems to be on the run
Oh, there is fire on the mountain top and no one is a running…
(Asa on ‘Fire on the mountain’ (2007)
Everyone can see clearly now that there is fire on the mountain in Rivers state and nobody in authority in the state and national capitals seems to be on the run. Oooh, we can wake up in the morning and can see on television live stream how a governor can be locked out of the parliament in the state he governs. And the hit-man in the power struggle in the federal capital can be seen at the same time on the same television screens, vibrating that if the humiliated governor is impeached, heavens will not fall. Indeed we now have a country of anything is possible. That is why it is important to appeal to our leaders in Abuja and Port Harcourt to borrow from the brilliance and light of the ancient word that the bush is still burning with fire, but behold the bush isn’t consumed yet.
Yes, it isn’t a time to beat chests – to damn consequences of fire because we have the power and cruise control over violence. It is a time to build the peace in the interest of our country of complex diversity. It is a time to recall the warnings through the ancient words that our tongue is the most sensitive part of our body and so can trigger the wildest of fire that can reach the mountain top that Asa’s allegory teaches today. There is power in the words our leaders in Port Harcourt and Abuja use at this time. What is more, our leaders in Abuja should note too that this is a time to invoke the power of this phenomenon called attitude, yes attitude! That is the weapon needed at this time to quench the fire on the mountain in Rivers state, not to become ‘Rivers of Blood’. We don’t want Asa to see an army of a soldier man marching across the street, hey
Hey, Mr. Soldier man, Tomorrow is the day you go to war…’
We should heed the warning of our daughter, Asa and ask our careless leaders everywhere Oooh, what did he say to make you so blind to your conscience and reason? Could it be love for your country? Or for the gun you use in killing?
We have seen the fire on the mountain. Let’ us with a gladsome mind, denounce our leaders who say we should not be on the run. Let’s not wait for the fire to consume us, as it did in 1966, when the same fire in the form of ‘operation wetie”, consequentially diminished our independence, took away our federalism after consuming some of our founding fathers. There is already a great deal of crisis of coherence between Abuja and Port Harcourt where our great son, Chinua Achebe would have recast W. B Yeat’s poem: “The second coming” he used in ‘Things Fall Apart’ to our leaders: “Excuse me Sirs, behold, things are falling apart in the Garden City; the centre cannot hold; mere anarchy is loosed upon the world…”
Even observers who are not part of the crisis would want the powers in Abuja to note that the reason they are in office and in power is to settle conflicts arising from our development strides. They should not be part of the problem in the interest of next elections. The optics isn’t quite good for our leaders at this time because we the people are seeing the way they place politics over governance. The President has appealed that the law should rule in Rivers State where there is a political crisis that involves a member of his cabinet and the governor of the state. But let’s review what happened on the day the Governor reportedly appeared to begin implementation of the president’s appeal. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, via a live media chat, scoffed at threats of consequences over purported plans to impeach Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, saying the sky isn’t going to fall if he is impeached.
The minister’s comments came after the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule denied Fubara access to the Assembly premises for a re-presentation of the 2025 appropriation bill, which was ordered by the Supreme Court. The governor said he was prevented from entering the compound, despite the fact that he had notified the Assembly of his intention to visit in view of their request that he re-presented the 2025 appropriation bill. In response to the Governor’s claim, the Rivers State Assembly officials said the Governor didn’t inform them as claimed. While this drama was taking place in Rivers state capital, former Governor of the State now FCT Minister who is now associated with the crisis in the state was on television blasting the same governor, Fubura and his cohorts in the state.
The relationship between the governor and the legislature, peopled mainly by Wike’s loyalists, soured early in his tenure following political disagreements with his predecessor, Wike. Things seemed worsening for the governor recently after the Supreme Court reinstated the Amaewhule-led legislators. But foremost group of elders from the oil-producing region, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), asked President Bola Tinubu not to consider any party to the crisis superior. PANDEF urged Tinubu to take decisive steps to resolve the escalating crisis, contending that a win-win outcome must be sought outside the courts. The group urged the president to prevail on Wike and Fubara to prioritise peace and seek a lasting solution.
Similarly, Ijaw National Congress (INC) reiterated its position that if Fubara was impeached for any reason, the consequences would be too heavy for the Nigerian state to bear economically. Urging the president to prevail on Wike and Fubara to seek an amicable resolution for the sake of peace and stability, INC said it was concerned by the prolonged political impasse in the state.
However, addressing some of the latest concerns on the Rivers crisis, Wike described PANDEF, whose members met Tinubu to try to proffer solution to the festering political crisis in the state, as an unreliable organisation made up of political merchants, only motivated by money.
Wike, who spoke on a live television interview, said if Fubara had, indeed, breached the tenets of the constitution and the House of Assembly deemed the infraction an impeachable offence, then the governor should be impeached. He stated, “If you have committed an offence to be impeached, what’s wrong? Is it a criminal offence? It’s provided in the constitution. And let me tell you, and I have heard people say, ‘oh, if they impeach him, there’ll be breakdown’ and all that. “Rubbish. Nonsense. Who is he? Nonsense! “Who is not a militant? Who cannot blow up the pipeline? Why do you arrogate this power to a certain group of people? The Ijaw people are the only people who can blow a pipeline? What nonsense is that…?
Now in the complex logistics of everyday life, perceptions have gone far into shaping decisions. Most people have noticed that only the powers in Nigeria could have allowed enigmatic Wike to be talking the way he talks about the crisis in the state he has governed. The president keeps putting everything at the doorstep of the governor when there are two parties to the dispute. Insiders and observers, still believe that the last agreement the president asked the two parties to sign when he first intervened last year was skewed in favour of the other party and the governor’s people can thus perceive that the agreement was not drafted by neutral men. This may not represent the truth but that is what perception does when conflict resolution mechanisms are mismanaged. Besides, after the PANDEF’s meeting with the President at the Villa, officials of the socio-cultural organisation have claimed that there were various issues tabled before the president who picked only the Rivers matter and ignored the rest socio-economic and infrastructure challenges in the south-south region. They have alleged that the President kept emphasising to the governor to obey the Supreme Court’s controversial judgment as the only panacea to peace there. But critics on the other side would be quick to remind the same president that his government too hasn’t implemented the judgment of the same Supreme Court regarding local government autonomy, delivered six months ago. Critics have also quickly added that the same government has also refused to obey the judgment and order of the court of appeal against the National chairmanship of NURTW, which was against his staunch supporter, MC Oluomo who is illegally occupying the seat, against the judgment won by one Baruwa.
So, the president’s position in condoning Wike, the minister of FCT, to be insulting Niger Delta elders and even governors in the middle of strategy to resolve a dangerous crisis is what a literature in English teacher would easily call a tragic error. There can be only one consequence: emergence of a tragic hero in the denouement. From the body language of the Nigeria’s leader, the opposition leaders in this regard are bound to perceive that the president sees the governor as the problem and Wike as the victim. Would you blame the governor’s men therefore if they shout that Wike is provoking them to play into the hands of hit-men in Abuja who are in a hurry to trigger causes for a state of emergency as things get out of hands?
It is hoped that all the stakeholders and crisis merchants, in this regard, understand the dynamics of Nigeria Delta politics, particularly Rivers state that is historically crisis-prone. We need to speak this inconvenient truth to the Nigeria’s leader to take responsibility and call the hardworking and passionate Wike to order immediately. Reference to him (Wike) as a coordinator and factional leader of the now victorious legislators and the strange media chat he was allowed to address on the day and the time the Governor of Rivers state attempted to address the State Assembly according to the president’s counsel, diminished our humanity and the public space.
Our leaders in Abuja may not believe this, whatever is happening to the Governor of Rivers state who Senator Shehu Sani believes may be impeached soon despite suspicious interventions in Abuja, further diminishes the majesty of democracy and the rule of law. Security and welfare of the people of River state, is part of the remit of the Chief Executive of the Federation who cares so much about the sanctity of that responsibility. He can’t delegate his power (as president) to a clear leader of a faction in the conflict in Rivers state. The fire on the mountain in Port Harcourt requires that the President should be on the run – this time to put out the fire- before it is too late.
![[OPINION] An Uncommon Letter to Senator Natasha - Ugoji Egbujo](/media/k2/items/cache/ebe35d8aa2d42788ac59069de8e52119_M.jpg)
Their desperation is telling. A long queue of senators hanging around TV stations to defend a man against allegations levelled against him by a married female senator. They said they were not hired. But even hired mouths would have been more circumspect.
Natasha, if indeed the man sought to know you carnally, you must not relent. You are his friend’s wife. You must stand strong and resist every act of intimidation. Against a court order, they brought forward a senate hearing and suspended you. That haste is not pure. A senate flagrantly flouting a court injunction to effect without a fair hearing a sanction the courts have repeatedly deemed illegal. Good people smell a rat.
At every turn, they do something laughable. Some market women are arranged to run around the streets in Uyo to vouch that their political deity, in spite of Joy Nunieh, was incapable of wanton randiness. But often, their actions are cringeworthy. The madam of the house, who should be withdrawn, praying and fasting, files a suit in court to seek redress. She believes that the allegations are false because her husband was well brought up as a child.
And that good upbringing having been tested in Uyo while he was governor with many buxom women working with him without scandals, makes the recent allegations untenable. So madam feels directly and vicariously injured. Because the allegations may have impinged on her reputation as a dutiful wife infinitely willing and capable of keeping her man in all-around satiety. I must confess at some point in the drama, I had searched the dictionary in the hope of finding a word fittingly descriptive of a ridiculous situation where people attend to grave allegations of misconduct with light-hearted buffoonery.
Senator Ogunlewe, on his part, agreed that the sanction was unjustified and illegal. But hinted that your problems are borne of your ravishing beauty. It’s possible. After all, the other women in the current senate have confessed that they had never been sexually harassed. And because they had not been harassed, they were probably willing to conclude that you were not harassed. Theirs seemed an envious conclusion.
Madam Tinubu was a little evasive. In one breath she said the senate was a mature chamber. Perhaps it was a place where people didn’t come looking too pretty. Or perhaps a place where people swallowed sexual advances as good-hearted banter and looked away. During her time at the Senate, Dino Melaye had said he could impregnate her. The public rose to her defence against a bully. They almost exchanged blows. Yet while on your matter, she suggested that women in the senate should know how to ‘shut them down even before they start’. In other words, if the lecherous ones chose to start, it was your duty to stop them quietly, without making a fuss like an irreverent lass. That must be her conception of maturity. But she didn’t say if it was also your job to stop them from victimizing you for refusing to yield.
Senator Olujimi was also on TV. Her disposition was matronly. She said Akpabio was fond of jokes. So he must not be judged by what he says. Perhaps the jokes could include, ‘If you like my house, we can sneak back here one of these days to have a good time ‘. The kind of of lewd joke that would be all too benign amongst louts in a motor park. So perhaps you must have mistaken a joke for a sexual advance. She said while she was in the Senate, she saw first-hand the suffering of men. She looked pained as she spoke. So, I guess part of your brief as a woman in the senate is to give some succour to your male colleagues whose feeble hearts are saddled with the weight of the world and the turbulence of male hormones. One after the other, current and former senators queued up to trivialise the sexual misconduct allegations
A certain senator wrote the public. He used to be a student union activist. Now he leads a rubber stamp senate. His concern was that the public was mistaken in thinking that you were punished for alleging sexual harassment. He said you were pushed for breaking Senate rules. The senate rule you broke to earn six months summary suspension was speaking out of turn, right? And when you told them that your reaction was a result of the frustration you felt from sexual harassment, they didn’t bother to listen. Anyway, you said he had warned you that his fate was, in a sense, tied to Akpabio’s.
Some said you didn’t provide any evidence. They wanted the evidence but didn’t want to countenance an ethics committee investigation into the allegations. Even the sex-for-marks picture you painted for them didn’t make them sober. So I will paint another. If a female student deemed insolent towards her school principal raises an allegation of sexual harassment to explain her behaviour, how can she be punished before her allegations are investigated? To hurriedly suspend her before listening to her is to take sides with the principal.
Every day, clownish protesters lay siege to the Senate. It’s become a circus. In a grand obfuscatory operation, protesters protesting against Natasha’s protest arrive in time to muddle the protest waters. The real protesters are denied a voice by the fake protesters. Madam has gone to court. When you eventually get there, assuming you want to file a sexual harassment case, you will meet her waiting. The strategy is crude and comical but effective in a banana republic where the public has a short attention span and fleeting memory.
They are willing to repeat a hollow vote of confidence ritual every day to keep all senators reined in. They are also willing to perpetuate the absurdity of confirming your sanction every day in total disregard for law and morality. Soon, they might set up a condolence register and start receiving condolence visitors. The loyalty being exhibited is almost cultish. But we all know Nigerian politicians. They are susceptible. They can easily opt to become shoeshiners for any wily fellow in supervisory authority who uses power, privileges and cash deftly.
Yet there is something they haven’t tried. Perhaps they will get to it. After all, this is the age of the Cybercrime Act. A law that has been abused by the powerful to throw outspoken people into prisons for months for saying what they didn’t like. Now that you have made the allegations loud outside the Senate, where no immunity covers you, you have to get ready.
That brings me to the last point. I hope you have a joker. Not necessarily a video recording as demanded by those hired protesters and other jesters. But something that can make a bully step back. If you don’t you might eventually be crucified. However, if you are standing on the truth, then stand still. Fear nothing. The truth is all that ultimately matters. If he made sexual advances to you and has tried to press you into submission, never give up. It doesn’t matter if you have no proof. The truth will set you free even if you go to prison. The best freedom is internal freedom. The peace of the mind that truth gives.
![[OPINION] Abdulsalami, Wike and June 13 - Tunde Olusunle](/media/k2/items/cache/557a22c50bc93606ed1ef542cbaa550d_S.jpg)
Since Nigeria’s last military ruler, Abdulsalami Abubakar handed over the reins of power to a democratically elected government on May 29, 1999, his visage has undergone very remarkable transmutation. Abubakar, a four-star General, handed over to a more senior colleague, Olusegun Obasanjo, who previously led Nigeria as military Head of State, between February 1976 and October 1979.
Abubakar, hitherto known for his clean-shaved chin characteristic of the martial vocation, has since worn a luxuriant grey beard. He had a long and successful career in the military which spanned 36 years. The first three years of his military stewardship were spent in the Nigerian Airforce. This was before he switched over to the Nigerian Army in 1966. Every morning in the course of his remarkable career, he stood before the mirror in his bathroom to give himself that smooth, clean face. Rare exemptions from this norm in the armed forces were small numbers, more specifically from the Nigerian Navy. Perhaps because they regularly have to be on the waters and seas, they had something of an exemption from the age old tradition of clean chins in the military trade.
Onetime military governor of the old Niger State who would subsequently become Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Murtala Nyako, was the first military officer I noticed spotting a beard. Subsequently, Emmanuel Olu Omotehinwa, a Rear Admiral, (of blessed memory); Jubril Ayinla, a Vice Admiral, and Amadi Ikwechegh, a Commodore, were other officers whose profiles were defined by their well-kept beards. It would seem Abdulsalami Abubakar was in a great hurry to transmute into a new brand, in retirement. He really coveted a change of looks. Barely had he quit the political stage therefore, than he emerged with his now characteristic brand new grey look. In nearly 26 years now, Abubakar has settled into farming, which seems to be the pastime of many former military leaders. Obasanjo blazed the trail with his famous Otta Farms, back in the early 1980s. Nyako earned the alias Baba Mai Mangoro, (father and farmer of mango on an industrial scale), on account of his humongous investment in agriculture back home in Adamawa State.
Africa is one continent where the allure of political power has culminated in the transmutation of many leaders into sit-tight despots. Abdulsalami Abubakar won global plaudits for pursuing and delivering transition to democracy within a relatively short period of 11 months. He had promised the world at the United Nations General Assembly, (UNGA) in September 1998, that he was a man of his words. He decidedly therefore, differed from the rhetoric of one of his predecessors who popularised the duplicitous refrain: This administration will not stay a day longer in office than necessary. Abubakar delivered to global adulation, with hopes that Nigeria with its enormous human and natural capital, could provide the desired leadership to unlock the potentials of Africa. Nigeria previously exhibited aspects of its capacity and capability when it almost singlehandedly funded and led a 10-nation multinational military force between 1990 and 1999, to restore peace and democracy in Liberia and Sierra Leone. It was the first ever such Africa-initiated and driven military coalition, which was largely successful.
Abdulsalami Abubakar thereafter, became the toast of the world. He has chaired the Commonwealth Observer Group for Zimbabwe’s parliamentary election; served as Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General to the Republic of Congo, and led the Carter Centre delegation for the monitoring of the Zambian national elections. Abubakar has functioned as President of the African Strategic and Peace Research Group; as Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS); Facilitator/Mediator for the Liberian Peace Talks, and Special Envoy of the Chairman of the African Union, (AU) to Chad and Sudan. He has been the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Gambia; Member of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan, (AUHIP), and is presently working for the AU on negotiations in Sudan.
In August 2023, Abubakar, now a renowned statesman, led the ECOWAS delegation put in place by Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, to intervene in the political crisis in neighbouring Niger Republic. Within weeks of his inauguration as Nigerian President, Tinubu was entrusted with the leadership of the regional body and the Nigerien crisis was the first test of his problem-solving capability. The Abdulsalami Abubakar team engaged with Nigerien putschists, who toppled the democratic government hitherto led by President Mohammed Bazoum, in Niger Republic, in consonance with its mandate at the time. Accompanied by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, himself a retired Brigadier-General, Abubakar’s group held bouts and bouts of meetings in Niamey, with the coup leader and former head of the presidential guards, Abdourahamane Tchiani, to no avail. Such has been the ever growing international stature of Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Back home, Abdulsalami Abubakar continues to avail Nigeria his time and aggregate experience in various ways. He chairs the National Peace Committee, (NPC), which is principally committed to the peaceful conduct of elections. The NPC routinely brings together political gladiators to a common table, admonishing them to commit to eschewing rancour and violence, during the electoral process. He is the Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of PAMO University of Medical Sciences, located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He has continued to receive honours and accolades from various agencies and institutions. On October 15, 2016 for instance, the Abeokuta-based Crescent University, honoured him with a doctorate in Public Administration. Such is the manner of ascendancy Abdulsalami Abubakar’s stock has continued to elicit.
Back in October 2021, I had written about the tragic inferno which consumed the Ebeano Mall, a one-stop shop for residents of the districts abutting its location in Abuja. It was widely adopted as the indigenous variant of Shoprite, in districts contiguous with its location. The wholesale destruction was ascribed to the mischief of a little girl shopper who reportedly lit a match stick and threw it in a section of the huge store, where explosive products were kept. This culminated in a huge fire and bomb-like blasts. This subsequently brought Ebeano Supermarket down and has remained bothersome to me, given the magnitude of this private investment. I was listening to the radio in my car one of those days as I drove around trying to clear a mental block. I heard that that same edifice which was razed to rubble during that unfortunate incident, had indeed reinvented itself like the Sphinx! Out of curiosity, I decided to course through the Apo/Gudu/Gaduwa/Lokogoma conjoined districts in Abuja, so I could see with my own eyes the magical resurrection of the supermarket.
As I drove, my eyes caught this huge billboard on the road linking Gudu market with the Ebeano end of the road. It is a single lane which I was told was built by the proprietor of Ebeano Supermarket, in exercise of corporate social responsibility. Uncovered concrete drainages, run on both sides of the road. Sand silts in the drains were being evacuated as I moved and patchwork on failed sections of the road by direct labour was in progress. The billboard I saw announced that the shop was indeed back. The gridlock at the Lokogoma end of the road meant commuters could only snail along. I looked at the same signboard again and observed that the road we were plying, is named Abdulsalami Abubakar Road after all! I read the board a second time and was reminded that it is indeed the geographical memorabilia assigned to the name of the former Head of State.
As you drive around Nigeria’s capital Abuja, names of prominent Nigerians, Africans and global figures reverberate from signages across the city. They rejig your sense of history and geography as they beam from street and road markers. The Ahmadu Bellos, Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsis, Yakubu Gowons, Obafemi Awolowos, Murtala Mohammeds, Olusegun Obasanjos, TY Danjumas, Shehu Shagaris, Alex Ekwuemes, Muhammadu Buharis, Ibrahim Babangidas, Ebitu Ukiwes, Sani Abachas, Atiku Abubakars, Umaru Yar’Aduas, Goodluck Jonathans, Bola Tinubus, Oladipo Diyas, Mike Akhigbes, breathe from major roads and monuments. The Nelson Mandelas, Sam Nujomas, Robert Mugabes, Jimmy Carters, Bill Clintons, Margaret Thatchers, Andrew Youngs, Jesse Jacksons and similar global figures are immortalised by the affixing of their names to reputable landmarks.
Abdulsalami Abubakar was one of the dignitaries who attended the public launch of Babangida’s memoir, A Journey in Service last February. Babangida used the opportunity to clarify his role in the contentious annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, under his regime. This has continued to generate robust conversations, especially against the backdrop that Babangida put the blame squarely at the doorstep of Sani Abacha, his Chief of Defence Staff and Minister of Defence who is not with us to state his side of the saga. Abacha torpedoed the Interim National Government, (ING), which Babangida hurriedly put together as he scurried off in retirement to his home state, Niger. General Abdulsalami Abubakar turns 83 on Friday June 13, 2025. For his uncommon integrity in fulfilling his promise to berth democracy timeously in Nigeria, for his continuing service and commitment to Nigeria and the world at large, a road named after him in Abuja, the capital city of his country deserves a planned face-lift.
With the approach of Abdulsalami Abubakar’s 83rd birthday on Friday June 13, 2025, Nyesom Wike the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), needs to “bake” a very befitting “cake” to commemorate the event. Abubakar midwifed the uninterrupted democracy we have savoured in nearly 26 years now, much as the citizenry have been successively shortchanged by various regimes. Wike will do well to visit, assess and energise the professional and proper development of the subsisting backwater road, which is presently festooned with the name of Abdulsalami Abubakar. Let’s give honour to whom honour is due. Let’s
acknowledge this unobtrusive patriot now that he is very much with us. This is the most appropriate time he he will appreciate such an honour. We need to act expeditiously. We needn’t dither until the grey- bearded, soft-spoken old soldier goes the way of our forebears.
Olusunle, PhD, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), is an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Abuja.
![[OPINION] Ibom Deep Sea Port and Nigeria’s maritime economy - Etim Etim](/media/k2/items/cache/f2234103c20277465d3221d8cab50a0e_S.jpg)
With a 129km coastline – the longest in the country – and many inland waterways, Akwa Ibom state is designing new schemes to exploit the huge potentials in its maritime economy. And this costs a lot of money. The government is building a deep sea port designed for very large vessels that can load over 13,000 containers in one voyage. It is a joint venture with the Nigerian Port Authority with the Singapore-based Global Maritime & Port Services PTE Limited as the transaction driver.
The government is pleading with the Tinubu administration for the full support of the federal government to realise the construction of the deep sea port as the other ports in the country, especially the ones in Lagos, are congested. In the meantime, the state government is also developing a modern maritime infrastructure in the coastal town of Oron to facilitate trade and water transportation, boost tourism and reap the benefits of the maritime economy. The project includes a terminal building, new cargo jetty, ferry jetty and joint task force (JTF) jetty.
There will be a high-capacity storage facility for warehouse, dry storage and cold room, in addition to the provision of shoreline and embankment protection facility. To boost water transportation between the state and neighbouring Cross River state, the government has already ordered Nigerian Naval Shipyard Limited, a subsidiary of the Nigerian Navy, to build two luxury ferries, one of which is expected to be delivered later this year. Each ferry will carry 150 passengers.
To encourage leisure and tourism, there is a provision for a garden at the beachfront and a facelift for the museum in the town. Rear Admiral Etop Ebe, the Superintendent of the Naval Shipyard, said the ferries would be built to international standards with consideration for safety and comfort.
The provision of a ferry service will essentially restore interstate passenger water transportation, which was the only mode of transport between the two states till the now dilapidated Calabar-Itu-Uyo highway was constructed in 1978. Gov. Umo Eno said at the flag-off of construction work that the project is meant to ‘’ignite the renewal and renaissance of Oron as a thriving beachfront town’’. Currently, over 1,000 workers are employed at this construction stage, according to Fassal Harb, the chief executive of Bulletin Construction Company, which is handling the project.
Developing the maritime economy, also known as the blue economy, is an important component of the governor’s economic blueprint. The blue economy creates jobs, drives up revenue, boosts tourism and recreation, facilitates transportation, and adds to GDP growth, among many other benefits.
Together with the N5 billion cash and equipment support the government is currently doling out to thousands of NMSES (nano, micro and small-scale enterprises), the new investments in the maritime sector should go a long way in stimulating rural economic activities. “My main objective is to create a secondary, rural-based economy in the state that will not only provide food to the urban markets, but ensures that our communities are more developed and livable,” the governor said.
With the investment in maritime infrastructure, the government is hoping to enhance food production through fishing and aquaculture. From generation to generation, Oron has been a major source of seafood in the country, and the provision of a cold room by the government as part of the infrastructural overhaul will further improve its supply.
Marine insecurity was a challenge in the past as pirates regularly mugged fishermen and farers. To curb this, Eno has created the ministry of internal & waterways security and appointed a retired army general as commissioner to curb security challenges in our waterways. The efforts have paid off. A marine JTF jetty and outpost together with solar-powered lighting will further enhance the security of the Oron beach.
Ibom Deep Sea Port is an important national infrastructure that the federal government ought to support wholeheartedly for the development of the maritime sector in the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria will benefit enormously from it. Let’s get it done!
![[OPINION] His fortune, her stress - Funke Egbemode](/media/k2/items/cache/f4591ffa68afad56544d99c506997ab7_S.jpg)
Sometimes a woman finds herself at a destination she did not plan for, a place where she neither bargained for nor boarded a bus or plane to. She just wakes up and finds herself there, a totally new place where she has to learn a new language, new coping skills, a different way of life. What is she supposed to do especially when the new place brings with it both fortune and challenges?
Let us start with a woman who married a young brilliant middle-income man when they were both junior executives in a bank, and then 20 years later, he becomes a traditional ruler! Two decades in the banking sector means they had gone really far, travelled wide and were already looking at soon becoming Executive Directors or even something bigger on the Directors’ floor. Who has an idea what becoming a traditional ruler in Nigeria, Africa entails? The difference between being a Regional Manager of a bank and becoming a wife, mother and queen is like the distance between Lagos and Australia.
Taiwo is overwhelmed. Yes, she knew her husband was a prince but she never thought the royal rotation would swing that fast in their lifetime. But two kings died in quick succession and just like that, her husband was chosen by the royal house and the oracle to go step into his ancestors’ shoes.
‘We were both just building our careers and minding our business in our corner of the banking world. We had had our share of couples’ trouble but nothing close to that weekend when the elders of the family and kingmakers came to deliver their royal message. Of course, we started with shock, denial, resistance. Then when they left, the arguments started, followed by tension, confusion, more arguments and even ultimatums.’
Why you?
Couldn’t they have chosen your uncle, a more elderly prince?
What is going to happen to our plans? Are you actually going to accept it, leave Lagos and move to your hometown?
What about the children, their schools?
Must I follow you home?
Taiwo was faced with the option of staying back in Lagos and losing her place and position in her husband’s life. A Yoruba king is incomplete without his queen or queens. That last part was a major concern, major trouble. Yoruba Oba tend to keep harems. First. He traditionally inherits the wives of the late kings, that is if he they are alive and living in the palace. The details of the inheritance are royal secrets, as many as he wants. Then he can marry more, , after all he is the ‘husband of the town and second-in-command to the creator.’ Anyway, here is a banker, now an Olori, faced with tough life-changing decisions. She does not want to stop working or end her career. She does not want her husband to turn his back on his heritage but she does not look forward to becoming the ‘iya wa’ or Senior Olori with young Oloris prancing up and down the palace and stealing the home she built.
Yours sincerely has two friends who are Oloris. I also have friends who are traditional rulers, two of whose wives opted to live outside the palace, ceding their queen thrones to new queens. It is a tough choice for a woman. Our traditional stools are tasking and some of them do not want to share the occupiers of the stools with their wives. So, what is your advice for a doctor, banker, politician whose husband suddenly becomes a king? How does one move from city life to the slow and quietness of the countryside and ‘bed-sharing’?
A friend’s marriage just graduated from ‘separation’ to divorce because her husband decided to obey ‘the call upon his life’ to move into full-time ministry. ‘Yes, I am a Christian but I am not ready to be a Pastor’s wife or Mummy G.O. We had been on this matter for years and I had always told him that the rigours of following a pastor all over the place was not one that I wanted. He could be a pastor but a full-time one? No. It would mean me picking the family bills, dropping certain ways of life I am already used to, being constantly under scrutiny, fasting and almost permanently living in the church but he insisted that the call had become too loud to be ignored.’ That was how my friend moved abroad. He is miserable. She is miserable. The marriage is almost over. How does one counsel a woman in a case like this?
What about where the struggling young man you married makes good quickly. One year, you are scrimping and saving to make rent and in just five years, you have moved into a five-star estate and driving luxury cars? A wife should be happy and thank her stars, right? Well, that comes with its own challenges too. This rich husband is hardly ever at home and the women winking and blinking at him are a different story. Those who are not doing juju are using every known and unknown feminine whiles to take him away from you. Then the ‘poor’ wife wakes up one morning and there are love children in the mix and curvaceous women are parading themselves as the other ‘Mrs’. To worsen an already bad case, a couple of those desperate women are daughters of the husband’s benefactor or business partners, men he does not want to wrong. Well, the wife is feeling wronged and oppressed.
What should a wife expect if her husband finds wealth early? What should she not do, think or consider? How does she enjoy that wealth without depression and high blood pressure?
The politician’s wife. Sounds already like the title of a book or a movie, a life of drama. Are you smiling or shaking your head? She is the envy of many women, even men. Her husband is powerful, connected, influential. She is the grand hostess whose home is haven for men and women who are movers and shakers in her community, state or in the country. But there is the private pain, the tears she wets her pillows with because of who her husband is. Her husband is busy, hardly ever available even when he is sitting right beside her. His libido is down because he is preoccupied, he says but she believes it is because he is servicing many websites outside.
How exactly do you counsel a woman whose husband’s changed status throws her into the deep end of the pool when she never thought she would ever need to swim?
Please share your thoughts via email, Facebook and Whatsapp.
Re – The problem with the whole truth
I agree 100% with the article. Men flaunt their previous escapades (my children told me it is currently called body count) as validation of their ability to engage. Unfortunately, they also love a ‘tear leather’ virgin or manage a lady who can pretend that no man has climbed them but lost their virginity during the final tournament a long-jump Olympics.
Women should be wise. Please don’t tell in graphic details your past even if your man has given a 10-page detail of his. Unfortunately, it is men’s world. His own previous escapade is termed a ‘badge of honor’ while your own is ‘a shameful’ past!
Men are selfish. A widower on the average remarries two or three years after the passing of his wife. Unfortunately, a widow may not have another opportunity, unless God intervenes.
Our women should be wise.
-Tunde
[OPINION] Ma’ami @ 90: A Heartfelt Tribute to My Dearest Mother, Princess Christianah Monisola O. Ajulo - Olukayode Ajulo
Admin![[OPINION] Ma’ami @ 90: A Heartfelt Tribute to My Dearest Mother, Princess Christianah Monisola O. Ajulo - Olukayode Ajulo](/media/k2/items/cache/690a56b61716d8e192fd630a1be45e53_S.jpg)
It is with this profound reverence that I celebrate the illustrious 90th anniversary of my beloved mother, Chief (Princess) Christianah Monisola O. Ajulo (née Adedeji). She is not merely a matriarch; she is the very fabric of my being, the divine architect of my destiny, my unwavering compass through life’s storms. Her existence is my greatest blessing, her love my eternal shield, her wisdom my guiding light through the labyrinth of life.
There has been a song that, when sung, feels as if it has existed since the dawn of time: "Iya ni wura iye biye, Iya ko se f’owo ra" (A mother is precious gold, priceless beyond measure). This song unveils its deepest meanings as one journeys through life within the boundless, glowing care of a mother, the first Òrìṣà, the unshakable pillar of existence, the child's safest haven in a world of uncertainties. A mother’s love is a fortress, unseen yet invincible, soft yet stronger than the weight of mountains.
As I reflect upon the remarkable life of my mother who is 90 years old today, I am filled with immense gratitude for the guiding light she has been in my journey. She is my angelic guide, a master strategist, and a beacon of wisdom and strength, illuminating my path with her unwavering love and support. Indeed, as Proverbs 31:26 reminds us, “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." Her words, like soothing balm, have healed my wounds. Her voice, like a clarion call, has stirred me to greatness.
From her modest but eventful beginnings, Maami has captured the hearts and admiration of all who are privileged to know her. She embodies the very essence of humility, grace, and warmth, her elevated sense of style a true reflection of her modesty and decency. She is a rare gem, a queen robed in dignity, a woman whose presence alone commands reverence and admiration.
Though her formal education may have been limited, she remains my greatest educator, my first and most influential teacher. As a lawyer with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, I owe my foundational understanding of law, ethics, values, and the profound significance of being an "Omoluabi" to her nurturing guidance. Indeed, Maami is my first law lecturer. She taught me law and justice long before I studied law, instilled integrity in me long before I swore any oath, and shaped me into the man I am today.
Her unwavering faith in God has always been her greatest source of strength. Whenever trials arose, she would remind me of Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." In difficult times, when doubt clouded my vision, she would echo the words of Matthew 17:20: “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." These words, spoken with conviction, have been my anchor in life’s storms.
She always reminds me that I’m deliberately named, Abraham and that should sink to my head that as the father of faith, there lies my strength. Faith, as she has taught me, is the foundation upon which great lives are built. As Mahavira once said, “Faith is the foundation of all good deeds and the root of all wisdom.” And in those moments of uncertainty, when I have questioned my path, her presence has reminded me of Guru Nanak’s words: “He who has faith has the world.”
As I reminisce, vivid memories of her firm yet loving discipline arise. I recall the gentle squeezing of my ears, a testament to her steadfast commitment to shaping my character. Through her nurturing, I learned the virtues of courage, generosity, tenacity, and respect for others. A trained seamstress, she transformed her vocation into a thriving career as a textile merchant in Gbagi Market, Ibadan, and later as the esteemed proprietor of TI OLUWA NI ILE BOOKSHOP (NIG) LTD. This establishment became a cherished haven for knowledge seekers across the Southwest of Nigeria.
Maami’s admiration for great figures such as Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, Hubert Adedeji Ogunde, Akinwande Wole Soyinka, and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti left a profound mark on me. Many of these distinguished personalities, along with others of great influence, were among her esteemed customers at the bookshop. She saw in me a leader, an actor, a scholar, and an activist, an ambitious vision that continues to shape my aspirations. Her stories of resilience and determination instilled in me a deep sense of purpose and an unwavering desire to contribute meaningfully to society. Even in my childhood, the books in her shop were my most cherished possessions, and it is within that nurturing environment that my lifelong love for learning took root.
Her unshakable trust in divine guidance has shaped her every decision. She often quotes Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." This principle has been my guiding philosophy, a lesson I learned at her feet. Even in moments of despair, she reassures me with Isaiah 40:31: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Throughout my life, Maami has been my unwavering supporter, encouraging me to embrace my aspirations without apprehension. She has often reminded me that "impossible" is merely a word. Her love knows no bounds; no one can understand or inspire me as she does. In the spirit of the Quran, “Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear” (Quran 2:286), her intuitive understanding of my struggles has been a divine gift. Her prayers, whispered in the quiet of the night, have been the foundation of my victories.
Today, as I celebrate her 90 years of life, I also honour the profound impact she has had on our community. As the Iya-Ijo of Christ Anglican Church in Ifira-Akoko, she has been a pillar of strength and wisdom for her congregation. Her active role in civic matters exemplifies her commitment to uplifting our society, tirelessly supporting initiatives that foster community growth. She is a mother not only to me but to many, a nurturer whose embrace has sheltered more souls than she will ever know.
Despite her physical frailty, her determination to fulfill her civic duties, especially during the recent gubernatorial election in Ondo State, was nothing short of inspirational. I recall how she insisted that I drive her and her friends to the polling booth, where I physically carried her to ensure she could cast her vote. Her unwavering spirit serves as a powerful reminder that neither age nor health should ever hinder one’s commitment to democracy and civic engagement. As Romans 10:17 states, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." Maami does not merely preach values, she lives them.
Princess Christianah Monisola O. Ajulo, my “Iya Ni Wura”, in letters and spirits, is a woman of substance, a mother not only to her family but to the nation, a truly extraordinary individual whose legacy will endure for generations. She has an uncanny ability to sense the decisions I face, both the ones I share and those I keep to myself. I vividly remember when a recent moment of decision arose on whether to accept an appointment; Maami called to advise me not to reject it, foreseeing its success, but warned me not to place any conditions whatsoever on the offer. This is not her first time of giving such advice, there’re some mouth watering briefs that come my way, from nowhere my mother will call, to offer her usual advice on what to do and sometimes she may come with that word, “Ma Gbowo” that means I should do the brief ex gratis. This wisdom has proven invaluable, and I have no regrets. She sees beyond the present, speaks into the future, and guides with an intuition that borders on the divine.
In every lesson she has taught me, I see echoes of ancient wisdom. Buddha once said, “What we think, we become. With our thoughts, we make the world.” And in my mother’s voice, I hear Thich Nhat Hanh’s words: “Faith is like a seed; if you plant it in the right soil and nurture it, it will grow.” She has taught me that true greatness lies in effort, not just in rewards, much like Bhagavad Gita 2:47 states: “You have the right to work, but never to the fruit of work.”
As I commemorate this significant milestone, I fervently pray for her continued health, joy, and resounding victories. Confucius reminds us, “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” My mother has moved mountains with her faith, love, and relentless strength.
Happy 90th birthday, Maami. Your life is a testament to love, resilience, and dedication. Today, I honour you with all the affection and admiration you so richly deserve. You are my first light, my unending song, the rhythm of my soul. You are the masterpiece that God painted into my life. You are love in its purest form. And for all eternity, I will remain grateful for the gift of being your son.
-Dr. Olukayode Ajulo OON, SAN
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![[OPINION] The Labor Party Without Peter Obi: A House Of Cards Waiting To Fall? - Isaac Asabor](/media/k2/items/cache/fafc2b531236ab4916b15071c5fb5327_XS.jpg)
The political landscape in Nigeria has been abuzz with speculations and debates over the future of the Labor Party (LP), given the increasing signs that Peter Obi, its most prominent figure, might soon exit the party. While some die-hard supporters still hold on to hope that Obi will stay and continue his political journey within the LP, those who have followed Nigerian politics long enough understand that it is no longer a matter of “if” but “when” he will leave. The real question, then, is: What happens to the Labor Party when Peter Obi finally leaves as been speculated by political pundits?
Before Peter Obi’s arrival, the Labor Party was a fringe political organization, struggling to make any meaningful impact in Nigeria’s political space. For years, it was merely an alternative platform used by disenchanted politicians seeking an escape route from the two dominant parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The party had little national presence, barely any structure, and lacked the financial muscle required to make a significant impact.
Out of the blue, that all changed in 2022 when Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and a 2019 vice-presidential candidate under the PDP, defected to the Labor Party. Obi’s entry into LP electrified Nigeria’s political atmosphere, particularly among young Nigerians and urban voters who were disillusioned with the established political order. The “Obidient” movement was born, a passionate, mostly youth-driven political force that saw Obi as a beacon of hope in a country plagued by corruption, insecurity, and economic mismanagement.
For the first time in Nigeria’s democratic history, the Labor Party became a real contender in a presidential election. The party also saw an unprecedented number of lawmakers elected at both state and federal levels. It was a Cinderella story, one that demonstrated the power of people’s yearning for change. But was the success truly the Labor Party’s, or was it simply Obi’s influence?
Despite the successes recorded in 2023, it was evident that the Labor Party was never truly built for the kind of national movement that Obi ushered in. The internal wrangling within the party, the court cases over leadership, and the allegations of corruption against some of its top figures all pointed to a house divided against itself.
The party has been in perpetual crisis mode, with factions battling for control. In April 2023, a leadership tussle erupted between the Julius Abure-led faction and the Lamidi Apapa-led faction, leading to public drama that only exposed the weaknesses of the party’s structure. Even Obi himself had to distance himself from the internal chaos, a clear sign that he was beginning to realize the limitations of the platform he had adopted.
Another major issue is the ideological inconsistency within the Labor Party. Unlike other Labor parties worldwide that are built on strong socialist and workers’ rights foundations, Nigeria’s LP lacks any clearly defined ideological stance. Many of its members are defectors from the APC and PDP, bringing with them the same old political mentality that Nigerians have grown weary of. The party became a vehicle for Obi, not necessarily a party built on strong values and principles.
Against the foregoing backdrop, it is not a misnomer to express the fear that the departure of Peter Obi from the Labor Party, whenever it happens, will undoubtedly leave a gaping hole in the party’s fortunes. The “Obidient” movement was not built around the Labor Party; it was built around Peter Obi. The voters who rallied behind the LP in 2023 were not necessarily drawn by the party’s policies or leadership but rather by their trust in Obi’s personal credibility and governance record. If Obi leaves, does the party have a backup plan? The honest answer is no.
As been speculated by political pundits, there would be mass exodus of supporters. This is as a significant portion of the Labor Party’s supporters would likely follow Obi wherever he goes next. The youth-driven movement that transformed Nigerian politics in 2023 is loyal to Obi, not LP. The moment he declares for another party or even forms a new one, there is no doubt that most of the Obidients will abandon LP without hesitation.
In a similar vein, the structure of the party would collapse. Without Obi’s presence, the LP would struggle to maintain its newfound national relevance. The party’s infrastructure remains weak, with leadership infighting already tearing it apart. Many of the elected lawmakers who won under the LP banner may also start defecting to more established parties in search of political stability and personal advancement.
Also in a similar vein, there would be loss of political momentum. This is as the energy that Obi brought to LP will dissipate once he exits. The party lacks any other nationally recognized figure with the same appeal and credibility as Obi. Unless a new charismatic leader emerges, which seems highly unlikely, the LP may quickly revert to its pre-2023 irrelevance.
Also, internal implosion of the party is not unexpected as the leadership tussle within the party will only worsen once Obi leaves. With the main unifying factor gone, the battle for control will intensify, leading to further legal disputes and factionalism that will weaken the party even more.
The harsh reality is that Nigerian politics is driven by strong personalities rather than institutionalized political structures. Without Obi, LP risks falling back into the shadows, where it will once again become a minor party with little electoral significance.
Some political analysts believe that Peter Obi’s departure will expose the deep-rooted weaknesses within LP. Dr. Kelechi Nwankwo, a political scientist argues that the Labor Party has failed to transition from a movement-based party to a structured, ideology-driven political entity. “If LP had used the momentum from the 2023 elections to build a strong national presence, Obi’s exit wouldn’t be such a big threat. But right now, the party is still fragile,” he said.
On the other hand, there are optimists who believe the party could survive without Obi if it takes proactive steps. Some argue that if the LP leadership can rally around new figures and build alliances, they may have a chance. However, this remains a tall order considering the depth of factionalism and internal disunity already plaguing the party.
At this juncture, it is not a misnomer to ask, “Is there hope for the Labor Party?” The answer to the foregoing question is yes and no. If the Labor Party hopes to remain relevant in Nigerian politics post-Obi, it must undergo a total transformation. The party must build strong internal structures, define a clear ideological stance, and develop leaders beyond Peter Obi. It must also work towards genuine grassroots mobilization rather than relying on one individual’s popularity.
However, history suggests that such transformation is unlikely. Nigerian political parties, except for the APC and PDP, have struggled to survive beyond the influence of their founding figures. The Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Young Progressives Party (YPP), and even the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) have all faded into political insignificance due to weak structures and lack of enduring leadership.
Peter Obi’s departure from the Labor Party is only a matter of time, and when it happens, the party will be left in a precarious position. Without Obi, the LP is like a house built on sand, bound to collapse under the weight of its internal contradictions. If the party does not take drastic steps to reinvent itself, it risks becoming just another footnote in Nigeria’s political history.
The Obidient movement may live on, but it will not be through the Labor Party. Its survival will depend on Obi’s next political move and whether he can provide an alternative platform that captures the aspirations of Nigerians longing for real change. The Labor Party, meanwhile, faces a bleak future, one that may see it fade back into political obscurity, just as quickly as it rose to national prominence.
![[OPINION] First thing, first Reconnection - Abdu Rafiu](/media/k2/items/cache/1f453e3ae5289c3f9838f1b4bb3fac66_XS.jpg)
As the saying goes, Nero fiddles while Rome burns. This aptly captures the situation in the land today. Barely three months ago, the National Bureau of Statistics sent cold shivers down our spine with its revelation of the state of insecurity and the heavy toll it has taken on the nation. Predictably, the media, print and digital, gave the revelation generous coverage. No report, in my view, has painted the picture the report seeks to convey more vividly than the British Broadcasting Corporation pidgin version. The BBC pidgin version reads: “Di Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday publish dia 2024 Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey.
“Di report show say approximately 2.2 trillion naira na im Nigerians pay to kidnappers as ransom money betwin May 2023 and April 2024. Dat na about 1.41 billion US dollars or £1.16 billion pounds, and e pass di 1. 64 trillion naira wey di goment budget for defence in 2024.
“According to di survey, Northwest rank highest both for di prevalence of kidnapping and di actual number of kidnap incidents. Out of di ova 2.2 million kidnapping incidents wey happun for di Nigeria during di period of di survey, more dan half—1.42 million incidents—happen for di North-West region.”
Newspapers and online publications reported the grim and chilling security situation between 17 and 23 December, 2024. It is in the grip of this grim situation that the Senators pre-occupy them with trivialities of who makes passes at one woman or who is being re-allocated a new seat. This is where I find in my reflections how much we reporters, we in this business of writing, miss our boss on the beat. I am referring to no other than celebrated columnist Sad Sam. He had his characterisation of Nigerian politicians in biting satirical style. Sometimes he could resort to crafting his comment in pidgin English as well to bring the language down for the grasp of every reader, the man on the street as well. Take this for instance, his sizzling views of Nigerian politicians with the headline in pidgin:
“Monkey dey work, baboon dey eat.”
Published on 06 May, 1962, the column reads as follows: “M.P.s who won’t sit in Parliament make me angry. One thousand pounds a year we pay them to serve us earnestly for less than 90 days a year. So they come to Lagos for a session in fine, fine cars and live in fine, fine flats at Victoria Beach.
“But in the day time, some go about their business—outside the House. And for the most time, the House cannot form a quorum—like during the Budget Session. At night, some have good times with the butterflies that abound. “Monkey dey work, baboon dey eat’” These politicians promise you all God’s Kingdom when they seek your vote; elect them and they let you down. Their good intentions in practice are at a discount because they are professionals—only amateur politicians are consistent. But beware amateurs.”
In 1970, there was this acrimonious divorce case in court between a couple in Lagos. The man was claiming paternity of the child between them, but the wife said the child did not belong to him. The man insisted the child was his. It was long drawn. Sad Sam felt he had to intervene and he did, partly in Queen’s English and in pidgin: “Who told you? No bi di woman wey born baby wey know di father?” It was not the age of DNA. Although the first production of DNA was in 1972, its first use was in 1986 in the United Kingdom. And it was Akinwumi Ambode’s Administration that completed the construction of high-powered Forensic Laboratory, the first, in Nigeria, in 2017.
So when the feud in the Senate broke out, my mind raced to the master, Sad Sam, how in his inimitable column and bow hat he would have reacted. With all the grim reports of insecurity in the land, inflation that has refused to be tamed and the gathering storm in Rivers State all the Senate regarded as the most pressing was the re-allocation of seats and who has made passes to which woman member of the Parliament. Consider it, in the face of thickening forces for conflagration staring the nation in the face and threatening to engulf first Port Harcourt and like petrol tanker explosion spill to other parts of the country. And when it comes to electricity supply it is all sound and fury, signifying nothing. You wake up at 5a.m. to go to work at 6, it is all darkness. You return in the evening, it is into darkness. When asked if there was no power supply in your absence, members of the family left at home tell you the power outage was interrupted only briefly. And this reminds me of yet another of my erstwhile bosses. Allah-De of blessed memory.
Dabbling into this issue of electricity, he wrote on 15 March, 1969: Captioned “The miracle and the ECN”, the piece reads: “I was not present when the miracle at Kainji was performed, but that does not prove my inexcitability about prodigies. I am interested in the Kainji Dam if only for my own selfish end. My interest in the dam stems from my curiosity about the business of the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria, to which I pay warm tributes this morning for its promptness and efficiency in thrusting electricity bills into my garage door month by month.
“It is the only corporation that possesses the power to declare peremptorily to its customers: ‘Let there be light’ and there shall be light; or ‘may darkness fall upon this household’ and, of course, there shall be darkness upon such household. And so the father and the mother, and the children, the servants and all that dwell therein shall trip on the staircase and fall one upon the other.
“If you know of any other piper who is capable of displaying such magic at the dictates of his mood to the annoyance of those who subscribe to his pay packet, I would like to be informed.”
This was 56 years ago! And you ask yourself: what has changed? Yes, ECN has been unbundled, split into three organizations, but what has changed? We now have the Generation Company, GenCo; the Transmission Company, TCN; and the Discos; and Adebayo Adelabu, the new Mr. ECN, has been going up and down, getting to nowhere in particular. The annoyance Allah-De referred to was on display last week by men of the Air Force! Adelabu has an enviable pedigree. He is the grandson of the nationalist, the icon, Adegoke Adelabu, of peculiar mess fame (Penkelemesi). Adebayo Adelabu himself has climbed high the rungs of economic and social ladder before this call to service. He was deputy governor of Central Bank before he decided to get into political arena following in the footsteps of his grandfather. By 11 December, last year, this newspaper reported that the National Grid had collapsed 12 times. In 10 years the grid collapsed 105 times despite the hefty loans of $1.4billion expended on it.
I can’t but share my unabating fascination for William Shakespeare’s Macbeth When I think of lack of humility of some of our political leaders even when I don’t agree with certain conceptions portrayed in Macbeth’s enrapturing poetry which arose from the painful demise of his wife. But I find the poetry on the whole sobering when I think of goings-on in Port Harcourt and Lagos, the unremitted struggle for political and economic control, and for public acknowledgement! Hear Macbeth:
“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty face from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury
Signifying nothing.”
And I ask myself upon reflection on the poem: Where does my path lead me after my earthly life? It is a question for each and every one of us, even for Mr. Trump, Mr. Putin, Ben Netanyahu, Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas—for all mankind. Billions of human beings living in ignorance do not know that God, the Almighty Father does not need mankind; it is man that needs Him. It was they that supplicated to be permitted conscious existence, and consider it, man has turned this part of His Creation, our earth into an asylum! They do not realise that every action, thought and speech has consequences. They believe you just say a few words asking for forgiveness while on the death bed and that would be all, the sins are forgiven! Yet we are told: God cannot be mocked!
So, back to the pressing matters in the land: Security. Whether the reports by the media are couched in Queen’s English or in pidgin, the security situation is chilling. According to one of the national newspapers for example: “The insecurity in Nigeria is getting more serious. Many families are paying hefty ransoms to free their kidnapped relatives. Would the increased budget for security and defence in the 2025 budget change the rhetoric? We keep our fingers crossed.
“It is simply troubling that a nation that is not at war would be having such a staggering number of abductions in one year.
“Many Nigerians were flabbergasted Tuesday when the latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS) report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) became public.
“The NBS told the world that Nigerian households paid a total of N2.3trn as ransom over the last 12 months between May 2023 and April 2024, and that an estimated number of 51.89 million crime incidents were recorded within the stated period, leaving many citizens tongue-tied.
“It is not surprising that the North west was mentioned as leading chart in the NBS report. The seven states of the zone (Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara have always been the hotbeds of bandits’ activity. These are also where hefty ransoms are being demanded and paid.
“Of the budget, N1.7trillion was allocated to defence. It means that the amount (N2.23trn) paid as ransom was higher than the year’s budget to fight insecurity in that year.”
Another newspaper report stated: “Major Opposition parties in Nigeria have knocked the Federal Government and security in the country, saying they were not doing enough to stem the tide of kidnapping. The concerns were raised following the revelation in the data released on December 17 by the National Bureau of Statistics which revealed that Nigerians paid a sum of N2.23trn as ransom to kidnappers between May 2023 and April 2024. According to NBS, 2.2 million Nigerians were kidnapped while 614, 937 were killed in the same year.”
Reacting, the National Publicity Secretary of Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, lamented that random abductions of innocent persons was allowed to fester into a booming business in Nigeria. Ifoh, in an interview with Saturday Punch, stated that the NBS’s report showed how high insecurity had impacted every household in the country.
He said: “The NBS statistics said it all. In a population 230 million, at least one person in every hundred has been kidnapped in Nigeria. It is incredible and bizzare. It means that insecurity has already come to everybody’s doorstep. This is happening despite the humongous amount of money budgeted for security, including police and defence. Our farmers are no longer safe on the farm because and it is only when we keep the farmers safe that we can produce food”.
As of March last year, everyone, the authorities and stakeholders seemed persuaded after years of perilous foot- dragging that the establishment of state police is the answer to the insecurity debacle bedevilling our country. Since then, what has happened? It was after this raising of hope that the National Bureau of Statistics came up with its shocking and depressing report that, indeed, the situation has gone worse, I believe following our accustomed lethargy. Applauding the meeting of minds on the vexed issue, I wrote exactly a year ago today, 14 March, 2024, the following: Captioned “Security: Time is of the essence”
“It is enheartening that the Federal and State Governments are hearkening to our outcry: They have given nod to the establishment of state police. It is a decision that must be given bite immediately. It is quite a pity that it has taken such a shockingly long time to see that the solution to the insecurity bedeviling our land is the establishment of state police. Something so simple to see and so commonsensical to perceive! Because of the lackadaisical attitude of certain past leaders because they lived in a fortress, all manner of dare-devil criminals was let loose on the country. Citizens were and are still exposed to mindless attacks and destruction of properties. It will soon be 10 years since 276 Chibok school girls in Borno State were kidnapped; no fewer than 95 remain in captivity till date!
“The sign of a renewed legislative thinking was foreshadowed in the House of Representative agenda upon reconvening from Christmas/end of year recess. Perturbed Speaker Tajudeen Abbas did state that the issue of security and the concomitant imperative of the establishment of state police would receive priority attention of the House. Within the last one week the nation was driven to a fresh rude awakening causing alarm to warrant bringing the matter to the front burner again. A new wave of kidnapping began in Borno State when about 400 persons were kidnapped. It was followed by the abduction of 257 school children in one go in Kaduna State. And to muddle the situation, on Tuesday, 60 more persons were kidnapped in the already menaced axis of Kajuru, bringing to more than 300 kidnapped in that state within a week. Sokoto had its own share in the earlier wave of an attack in which two persons were killed.
“With the Federal and State Governments now on the same page, it should go without saying that the National Assembly should realise that time is of the essence. They should permit no distractions now, but speed up whatever processes are required to facilitate the establishment of the State Police in the country.”
For purposes of emphasis, it is necessary to state that practically every day, someone, somewhere is being shot or kidnapped. Gunmen, marauders, bandits, kidnappers, cultists and sundry criminals have for years been let loose, laying siege on the country with alarming impunity. In towns, in villages most Nigerians go to bed with their eyes half closed. People travel with baited breath, feeling relieved only when they reach their destination. Prayers are said at motor parks before drivers turn the ignition key to put their vehicles on the road.
All these have been borne out by the National Bureau of Statistics survey. Added to these is the combustible situation in Port Harcourt waiting only for a careless cigarette end to set off a conflagration. These should be what pre-occupies the attention of the National Assembly not frivolities. The primary purpose of government anywhere in the world is security of the citizenry, protection of life and property. It is to facilitate freedom and movement of citizens without let or fail. After all, Senate President Godswill Akpabio himself in burning rage took on a former predecessor, His Excellency Bukola Saraki protesting the allocation of his seat when he was only an honourable member of the Red Chambers.
[OPINION] Woman Series: She’s Like My Daughter; The Language of Power, Control, and Toxic Mentorship - Udo Okonjo
Admin![[OPINION] Woman Series: She’s Like My Daughter; The Language of Power, Control, and Toxic Mentorship - Udo Okonjo](/media/k2/items/cache/e501488c5473e96c9e6db6f3e0028651_XS.jpg)
I’ve never liked being called Mommy in business settings. Whether it’s a driver, a junior colleague, or even domestic staff, something about it has always unsettled me. I know it’s cultural. I know it’s often meant as a sign of respect. But over time, I’ve come to realize that it’s also a way of subtly defining power dynamics —of placing you in a role where you are expected to nurture, protect, but never truly challenge the status quo.
It’s the same discomfort I feel when mentorship relationships cross the line into pseudo parental ownership. I have four children, and in our home, we encourage independent thought. We debate actively—about politics, leadership, and everything in between. No opinion is off-limits. My late father, a Federal High Court judge, shaped that mindset in us. I still remember a heated argument between him and my two mothers (he had two wives at the time). My siblings and I didn’t automatically take his side just because he was the head of the home. Some of us aligned with him, others stood with our mothers. He allowed it. And looking back, I realize that was a defining moment—it taught me that respect and deference are not the same thing.
That’s why Senator Ireti Kingibe’s statement, “She’s like my daughter,” about Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan struck such a nerve. A fellow Senator—a democratically elected official, a peer—framed as ‘a daughter’? In one breath, an entire career, an entire hard-fought political journey, was reframed as something requiring guidance, control, and correction. It reminded me of the way men in our communities say, “She’s our wife.” A phrase that, on the surface, sounds like a declaration of belonging but, in reality, often means “She has no rights.”
THE PROBLEM WITH TOXIC MENTORSHIP
Nigerian politics is built on godfatherism —a system where power is not earned but handed down through patronage. But what happens when the same suffocating model extends to godmotherism? When mentorship is not about empowerment, but control?
Too often, I’ve seen women leaders mentor younger women only to expect perpetual deference in return. To expect them to remain daughters rather than evolve into peers. The moment these mentees assert themselves—perhaps grow in influence, find their own voice, or challenge outdated norms—they are cast as rebellious, ungrateful, too ambitious. The expectation is that they should stay small, obedient, and never outgrow the shadow of those who once guided them.
But real mentorship —the kind that truly builds legacies —demands something different. It requires the humility to raise others up without feeling diminished by their rise. It means guiding but not gatekeeping. Leading but not lording. Nurturing, but never owning.
WHEN SENIOR WOMEN BECOME GATEKEEPERS
That is why Senator Ita Giwa’s recent remarks were equally troubling. In an interview on Arise TV last week, after rightly correcting the anchor for referring to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan as “Senator Natasha” instead of her full official title, she then proceeded to repeatedly call her “that girl.”
That girl? A ‘sitting Senator’, a woman who fought a brutal election battle to secure her seat, reduced to “that girl”?
The dismissal was jarring, not just because of the casual belittlement of a fellow elected senator, but because of what it signaled to younger women watching: Even at the highest levels, women can still be diminished, disregarded, and disrespected—sometimes by their own.
What message does this send? That even in power, women must be “grateful” for their presence? That they must wait for permission before speaking up? That their authority is conditional?
This is not about one woman. This is about the dignity of women in leadership. It is about ensuring that the strides made since the Beijing Conference do not take a backseat in a world where impunity has taken center stage. It is about refusing to let senior female leaders, knowingly or unknowingly, give permission for men to demean and undermine women.
As a lawyer, I have no interest in engaging in armchair legal debates about a matter before the courts—that is for the judiciary to handle. But what I am deeply concerned about is the message being sent to the next generation of women leaders. When senior women in politics fail to decisively stand up for decorum, respect, and fairness, they make it easier for those in power to treat women as second-class participants in leadership.
Thankfully, a few women, like former Ekiti First Lady, Mrs. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi and organizations like WIMBIZ, have addressed this issue with the clarity and respect it deserves. But we need more voices. More decisiveness. More women in power who do not hesitate to use that power to protect—not police—other women.
It is also encouraging to see Cecilia Umoren, a leading voice in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, lean into shaping this discourse. In her recent International Women’s Day message, she raised the pressing question: “When will women in leadership truly be heard?” Her words reflect a larger reality—beyond politics, beyond party lines, beyond individual cases. They speak to a systemic issue where women are tolerated, sidelined, or gaslit instead of being acknowledged as equal stakeholders in leadership.
WHAT MUST CHANGE?
If we want more women in leadership —whether in politics, business, or any sphere—we must actively dismantle these toxic power structures. We must replace mentorship rooted in control with mentorship rooted in courage.
– Women supporting women must mean just that —not women controlling women. We need an ecosystem where power is shared, not hoarded. Where mentees are encouraged to outgrow their mentors. Where mentorship is about expansion, not limitation.
– Political leadership must evolve beyond the ‘family’ model. Women in leadership are not daughters or wives to be managed, accommodated, or spoken for. They are leaders in their own right, deserving of full recognition.
– We must challenge toxic language that infantilizes women. “She’s like my daughter” and “She’s our wife”must be called out for what they are: tools of suppression dressed up as terms of endearment.
– We need decorum across the board. The way public officials—male or female—speak about their colleagues matters. Words set the tone for how women are treated in leadership. And frankly, many of our leaders need to learn the art of public speaking. This issue has shown just how lacking it is.
THIS IS WHY WE DO THE WORK
This International Women’s Month, as we celebrate progress and highlight the work that remains, I am reminded of why we do what we do. For the past 15 years, through Inspired Women of Worth (IWOW) and more recently through the Power Woman Leadership Academy, we have worked to shift the conversation and raise women’s awareness of their true power.
Our mission is not just to place women in positions of leadership —it is to ensure that when they arrive, they step into those roles fully, without limitation, without unnecessary deference, without the burden of belonging to someone else.
Because the true test of leadership is not in how much control you have, but in how much power you give away.
This is just part one. There is still much more to unpack. But for now, let’s sit with this:
When will we stop treating women in leadership as daughters, wives, and dependents—and start treating them as the equals they have fought so hard to become?
•Udo Okonjo is CEO Fine and Country WA; Founder, Inspired Women of Worth (IWOW) & Power Woman Leadership Academy. She is also a transformative business leader, independent board director, Berkeley-certified executive coach, and advocate for women’s leadership, wealth, and legacy. As the founder of Inspired Women of Worth (IWOW) and the Power Woman Leadership Academy, she has spent over 15 years equipping women with the mindset, tools, and networks to lead boldly and shape their economic and leadership destinies. A Forbes Business Council member and sought-after speaker, Udo is passionate about dismantling limiting power structures, fostering authentic leadership, and ensuring women don’t just have a seat at the table—they own the space and redefine the future.
#PowerWomanSeries #HighImpactLeadership #WomenAndLeadership #IWD2025
![[OPINION] My Path to Afenifere (II) - Akin Osuntokun](/media/k2/items/cache/adc1a40d9167af6b676503bb1be86a46_XS.jpg)
The Obafemi Awolowo ‘papal bull’ issued against President Olusegun Obasanjo designating him as number one enemy of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, was more than enough cue for Awoists to regard bellicosity towards the former President as virtue.
You remember the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, party convention in Yola in 1982 dubbed the night of long knives? It was the occasion where Chief Bola Ige was going to be expelled from the party for fraternising with Obasanjo (who had mediated in the conflict between Ige and his estranged deputy, Chief Sunday Afolabi). Obasanjo was mutual friends with both of them.
Whenever Obasanjo made a pronouncement that is liable to be construed as antagonistic to the cause of decentralisation and devolution of powers, Adebanjo’s venomous standard refrain was “he is not one of us”. Against this background, many of us were therefore stumped at the newfound cordial relationship between the two.
Adebanjo responded to nonplussed inquiries about this unlikely cordiality with the explanation that he had nothing personal against Obasanjo. He said the latter had transcended his status quo ideological convictions that hitherto kept them apart as reflected in Obasanjo’s public adoption of the restoration of federalism platform.
I do not know a more hawkish Awoist than Pa Ayo Adebanjo. I was thereby pleasantly surprised to find that there could be an element of broad mindedness to his politics. This disposition might have something to do with Awolowo’s frame of mind when, in 1983, he wrote that “some outstanding Yorubas have been in the Council of Ministers since the last Federal elections. There are others in the NPC. These persons are as loyal to the cause of the Yoruba people as those of us in the Action Group”.
Several moons ago, when I was not quite close to him, Adebanjo had repeatedly called me but I didn’t answer the call. It was a Friday night, so I correctly and nervously assumed that the call had to do with my weekly column. I had criticised Awolowo for quitting as Premier of the Western region in pursuit of the mirage of seeking the office of the Prime Minister of Nigeria. I imagined he was calling to express strong reservations about the article.
The momentum of the socioeconomic development of the Western region which had been generated by the leadership of Awolowo was on the upswing and needed to be consolidated.That purpose was best served by him remaining the Premier especially within the context of a dysfunctional Nigerian status quo that was constitutionally and structurally rigged against reformist minded politicians like him.
Awolowo spent the rest of his political life learning this hard lesson. He kept running against insurmountable obstacles that belittled him and kept him floundering from pillar to post. It was such confusion that drove him to take the politically obtuse decision of fielding a South West/ South East presidential ticket in the 1979 presidential election.
In conception and potential, it was a grossly flawed ticket. It failed the eligibility test of being deemed as positively responding to the challenge of national unity and integration. It was self-defeatist, patently divisive anld gifted a ready made club to his undeserving opponents to clobber him (if they needed any).
In 1979, there was no realistic basis for expecting the South East to find common purposes with the South West for a political confrontation against the North. To be categorically clear about this intention, the Chair of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, was Oyibo Odinamadu, from the South East.
Panterbrick had raised the pertinent question of “why have the Ibo and Yoruba been so unsuccessful in combining against the Fulani, allowing the latter to play one off against the other-even to the extent of accepting the NCNC as partners in the Federal government from 1959 onwards?”
In grappling with this notion, the objective was best served under a parliamentary system of government in which there would be no need to openly advertise such a regionally skewed presidential ticket. At any rate, any potential of the ticket was completely snuffed out when Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe floated the Nigerian Peoples Party, NPP, and became its Presidential candidate.
If there was any hope for the Yoruba/Igbo ticket, it went up in smoke after Azikiwe joined the fray. 1979 was only nine years after a civil war in which Awolowo had played the decisive role of partnership with the North to defeat the Biafra secession. His account of the role he played in the civil war was naturally quite different from the interpretation of the Igbo political elite.
in an interview with Peter Enahoro of the daily times in 1981, Awolowo offered an extenuation that “When, (on the eve of the declaration of the Biafra secession) the National Conciliation Committee asked me to lead a delegation to Ojukwu, I saw it as an opportunity and seized the opportunity very firmly. I asked Ojukwu again and again, “he shouldn’t go to war”-..Let the section of the country which does stupid things know that two regions don’t approve of their policy and attitude to Nigeria”.
“I did everything that any human being could do to see that there was no war. All I said about secession was that if the Ibos by any act of commission or omission were pushed out of Nigeria, then we won’t stay”.
The paradox of Awolowo’s politically precarious situation after the war was that the fact of being so effective in managing Nigeria’s war economy, meant that the decisions he took to weaken Biafra’s war capacity impacted negatively on the larger Biafran population-resulting in his being made a scapegoat for the suffering and defeat of Ndigbo.
The attendant economic disaster was conflated with the contentious and controversial pronouncement that ‘If the East seceded, the West will follow’. The Igbo understood this statement literally. Awolowo protested that it was a case of calling the dog a bad name in order to hang it, of distorting what he actually said, which he restated as “If by commission or omission, the East is pushed out of the Federation, the West must equally stay out ‘.
As it was with the misconstrued ‘starvation is a legitimate weapon of war’ pronouncement, so it became with the political version and the clarification amounted to little more than medicine after death. This back and forth politics of ‘sinning more than sinned against’ between the Igbo and Yoruba goes back to 1951.
My father was one of the elected parliamentarians whom Azikiwe accused of cross carpeting from the National council of Nigerian citizens, NCNC to the AG, so I know it was a wrong accusation. He contested and won the Ekiti constituency election to the Western region house of assembly
as an independent candidate not as a candidate of the NCNC. Regardless, this mythical allegation continues to this day.
The big elephant in the room was the historical conspiracy between the British colonialists and their protege, the Northern region, to programme Northern hegemony into the Nigerian constitution. Which begs the question, was Awolowo not conscious of this when he bravely took leave of his Premiership to gamble for the position of the Prime Minister?
Richard Sklar had drawn attention to the fact that “The final date of independence was fixed not only to accommodate the Northern Region in respect of its own date of self-government in 19 5 9 but also to enable the leaders to agree to certain provisions in the Constitution whereby the Northern Region has been assured of a predominating voice in the Federal Government”?
Of equal mind was the late distinguished international legal scholar and first Attorney General of Nigeria, Dr Taslim Olawale Elias who made the point on the floor of the Nigerian house of representatives in 1962-”I think I would remind you that the only region, perhaps in practice not in theory, it may be difficult for the house to secure a two thirds majority to deal with is the Northern region” Elias, p 39.
In the spirit of reciprocation, Awolowo might have anticipated the support of the North in appreciation of his partnership with them to defeat Biafra. Not if the assassinated military head of state, Murtala Mohammed was a credible front of the North.
He had opined that it would be unfair to allow Awolowo to benefit from the vacuum created by the deaths of Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and the Premier of the Northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello. Mohammed’s preference (if it must come to the Yoruba) was a candidate of his generation not any member of the Awolowo/ Azikiwe/ Ahmadu Bello generation.
No one could have foreseen the escalation of the AG factional schism to snowball into the 1965/66 violent crisis. What we know for certain is that no such crisis would have erupted were Awolowo to have remained Premier of the Western Region.
All the above ruminations constituted, more or less, the substance of what I had argued in the said column but I was wrong in the assumption that Adebanjo would find it offensive. To my utter surprise, he was calling to compliment me!, that he was of the same opinion.
Inadvertently, that singular decision has served no purpose other than setting in motion the disastrous turn the Western Region and Nigeria has taken since 1962.
Fittingly and to his eternal credit, Adebanjo fought his last battle on the platform of keeping fidelity to the original conception of Afenifere. There has been no better clarification of this than Awolowo’s address to the annual convention of the Western Region arm of the AG in 1963:
“Those who, however, believe in the unity of the Yorubas, of the Ibos, of the Hausa, etc., must never rest on their oars. But the line has been drawn, and must be kept indelible, between a Cultural Organisation like the Ibo State Union, Ibibio State Union, Egbe Omo Oduduwa. Etc., on the one hand, and political parties like the Action Group and the NCNC on the other”
“It is erroneous to equate the Action Group of Nigeria with the Yoruba people, or to regard our party as being a Yoruba organisation. Furthermore, whilst the Action Group does not participate in the Federal Government since January 1960, some outstanding Yorubas have been in the Council of Ministers since the last Federal elections. There are others in the NPC. These persons are as loyal to the cause of the Yoruba people as those of us in the Action Group”.