THE new military rulers in Niger Republic, the country which marked independence day on Thursday, August 3, 2023 have a Sunday ultimatum from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. It is that they give up power and restore elected President Mohammed Bazoum to power or face serious measures, including possible invasion.

ECOWAS also imposed sanctions, including border closures, a no-fly zone and the freezing of Nigerien assets. The options seem to be that if former Presidential Guard head, General Abdourahamane Tchiani and his boys do not give up power by that day, ECOWAS would either add more sanctions and pressure, or invade Niger. The issues are, however, not as straight forward; there are many complications, including foreign interests.

As for war, you can only know its beginning, not how it will end; the logic of war is that it has no logic except death and destruction. For instance, ECOWAS can invade Niger only to also be faced by the armies of Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Algeria. Nigerian soldiers can be sent into Niger, only to find out that they are essentially continuing France’s unholy wars of occupation, domination, exploitation, theft and assassination of uncooperative leaders in Africa.

The new leaders in Niger accuse France of planning to invade the country because they have asked French troops to leave the country. France has refused to either confirm or deny the allegation but it will be logical for France to want to hold on to Niger after its troops have been kicked out of Mali and Burkina Faso. Those expulsions leave France with only two major military bases: Niger and Chad. In comparison with these, the other French military bases in Africa such as Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Senegal and Gabon, are small.

While ECOWAS motives may be pure, its signals can sometimes be confusing. For instance, the envoy it sent to Niger is Chadian coup plotter, General Mahamat Idriss Deby from Chad, a country that is not even a member of ECOWAS. Mahamat was seven when his father, Idris Deby overthrew the Chadian government. In preparing Mahamat to take over the Chadian government, Deby made his son a General at 26. Deby transitioned into an ‘elected’ president with a constitution.

When he died on April 19, 2021, constitutionally, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Haroun Kabadi was to act as President for 40 days after which fresh elections were to be held. But Mahamat next day overthrew the government, sacked the executive, dissolved parliament and suspended the constitution. The international custodians of democracy generally gave a nod to the coup. France was more direct. Its Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said the coup was justified on the basis of security, adding that overthrowing democracy in Chad was acceptable as: “There are exceptional circumstances.”

Big Brother Nigeria also supported the Chadian coup. Its then Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Jideofor Onyeama, said Nigeria supported the coup because it does not want a power vacuum. Then Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari followed up by inviting Mahamat to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja where the young General in uniform with military boots thudding the floor, was given a red carpet. Buhari assured him: “We will help you in all ways we can.”

So, what is the logic in anti-coup ECOWAS sending a coup plotter to meet a fellow coup plotter in neigbouring Niger? Is it to set a thief to catch a thief or in the hope that General Mahamat would take advantage of esprit de corps to persuade the Nigerien military to restore constitutional rule; the very thing he has for two years refused to do in Chad? The reason why the Chadian military would not allow democracy of the ballot box is because it is controlled by a tiny ethnic group, the Zaghawa or Beri, which is one per cent of the population but has been in power for the past 33 years.

While the motives of ECOWAS might be pure, those of some of its leaders at the meeting may not be. For instance, President Alassane Dramane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire whose dedication to France is not in doubt, is in his third term in office when the country’s constitution provides for a maximum two terms. Another ECOWAS leader is Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe who has been in power for 18 years now. When his father, former Sergeant Gnassingbe Eyadema died on February 5, 2005 after 37 years in power, Faure overthrew the elected Togolese government.

He was in power for 20 days before installing a puppet, Bonfoh Abass in office for 68 days, after which he returned to power. Can the son of a coup plotter, and a coup plotter in his own right, really be against coups? Those who advocate the immediate invasion of Niger may be oblivious of the fact that President Bazoum, his family and some officials of the Niger administration are being held by the coup plotters; or would they be mere collateral damage?

In my analysis, were there to be an invasion, Nigeria will play a lead role. Yet, its military is bogged down by secessionist violence in the South-East, terrorists in the North-East, armed militia storming through the Middle Belt and bandits rampaging throughout the country, especially in Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara and Niger states. So, would it be wise to pull out troops from this same military and send them into Niger with which we share a 1,000-kilometre border?

In any case, should an heavily indebted Nigeria, unable to maintain vital subsidies for its populace, spend resources sending and maintaining troops in a foreign country? If the money comes from other countries, at what costs and what guarantees? On the other hand, the invasion of Niger can be sourced to Chad, whose French-backed military is essentially mercenary which has fought in countries like Mali and the Central African Republic, and can source troops from its Zaghawa kith and kin in Darfur, Sudan.

Also, before we invade Niger, let us think through some basic facts. First, the coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are said to be in response to Islamic jihadist movements. These terrorist movements have their ancestry in the Mujahedeen created by the Unites States and its allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda grew out of that Mujahdeen.

Then the West with its Gulf allies created the Islamic State, ISIS, which spilled out of control, spreading terrorism to various countries, including Mali where the Nigeria Boko Haram members were trained, financed and armed. Yet, another vital link. The West bombed Ghadafi and his government out of existence turning Libya not just into a basket case, but also the source of free arms and itinerant terrorists. Before we invade Niger, let us pause and think. Dacor (Okay?)

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje yesterday promised to reposition the platform for growth and victory in future polls.

He spoke in Abuja shortly after he was elected as the sixth chair of the 10-year-old party during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

Also endorsed as the Secretary is Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru.

Basiru was the spokesman of the ninth Senate, representing Osun West. A consummate lawyer and former Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice in Osun, Basiru holds a Ph.D. in Law.

Ganduje replaced Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, while Basiru replaced Sen. Iyiola Omisore. Both of them resigned last month.

The NEC was also empowered to fill the remaining six vacant party positions during the meeting presided over by the former acting chairman, Senator Abubakar Kyari. Kyari’s Deputy Chairman (North) position is also vacant, having been nominated for a ministerial position and screened by the Senate.

Five other positions in the National Working Committee (NWC) are vacant due to ministerial nominations and resignations.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the party leader, who attended the meeting, enjoined the leaders to support his administration in its bid to fulfil his campaign promises.

Read Also: 10 things to know about new APC chairman Ganduje
He said the policies being rolled out by his administration are not meant to punish Nigerians.

Tinubu reaffirmed that the February 25 election that brought him into office is one of the freest ever conducted in the country.

Benue State Governor Hyacint Alia urged Ganduje to work for the unity and stability of the party.

Since he assumed office on May 29, Tinubu has introduced policies that have been criticised by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP).

Some of the Federal Government’s bold policies include the unification of exchange rates and the removal of petrol subsidy, which has resulted in the high price of commodities and transportation.

Tinubu said his administration intended to tackle Nigeria’s problems “squarely” without inflicting hardship on citizens.

He said: “We will face it squarely to re-engineer the economy of this country.

“We must find a way to satisfy the yearnings of the common man and we must ensure that all the policies we roll out work for the common man. Our policies are for the people not to punish the people.

“Yes we are facing challenges in the court, but I think this is the most credible election in Nigeria.

“So, we must congratulate ourselves. As democrats, those who cannot accept the results of a free and fair election do not deserve the joy of victory.

“There are governance issues and we are taking it heads on. We must oil the wheel and grease it and we are.

“I have submitted ministerial lists to the Senate for screening and approval. We are in the process of establishing fully the government of the people, for the people and by the people.”

Ganduje promised to promote unity and sustain the winning capacity of the party so that it can have more governors and lawmakers at the state and national levels.

He said: “Under my watch, internal democracy will be strictly adhered to with a deliberate policy to engage in wider consultations and make party functional throughout the year.

“More reforms will be carried out in the party in alignment with the current political landscape

“We all agreed that we must unite our members to achieve support for our government to respond adequately, urgently and assertively to the challenges that Nigerians confront daily.

“The challenges include unemployment, poverty, insecurity, social cohesion and the rising cost of living.

“I want to make a special appeal to Nigerians to bear with the President at this trying moment, considering that the country’s economy has been in shambles for years.

“I believe the policies and programmes to be unveiled by Mr President when his administration fully takes shape will surely turn around things for the better.

“Our party must remain rooted among the people, must demonstrate a willingness to serve and make sacrifices, and must be willing to acknowledge and address our weaknesses.”

Reiterating his readiness for effective leadership, Ganduje said: “It’s a huge privilege and an honour and a great responsibility to take on this job and I will do it with everything I have to the best of my ability for my party and my country.

“We will ensure a level playing field for all party members who want to contest elections on the party’s platform. Our primary elections would be free, transparent and fair.

“Let me also use this opportunity to call on members of our party and all the people of Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states to close ranks and ensure that the APC wins in the forthcoming governorship elections.”

NEC cedes power to NWC

Before bowing out, Kyari said in line with Article 13(2) of the APC Constitution, the NEC had ceded its powers to the NWC to fill the six vacant positions in the administrative organ of the party.

The vacant positions are National Deputy Chairman (North), National Vice Chairman (North West), National Legal Adviser, National Women Leader, National Welfare Secretary and Deputy National Publicity Secretary.

The NEC also appointed new External Auditors to audit party accounts.

President Tinubu requested the NEC to cede its power to the NWC to fill the positions, following a motion moved by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, seconded by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, who is also chair of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF).

The President noted that during the last NEC meeting of April 20, 2022, it had ceded some of its powers to NWC for smooth party operations, thanking the party organ for effectively utilising that mandate.

Kyari said the ruling party was conscious of its new challenges.

Paying tribute to the founding members, he said the party had achieved significant milestones and made a positive impact on Nigerians since its establishment 10 years ago.

He congratulated the President, the Vice President and other elected party members on their victory, describing the recent election of President Tinubu as chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government as a foreign policy triumph for Nigeria.

He promised that the party would continue to stand with the President, “no matter the complexities of the challenges ahead.”

Vote of Confidence in INEC over 2023 polls

Uzodimma raised an issue of national importance, accusing the opposition of blackmailing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the outcome of the last general election.

He also alleged that the opposition was responsible for the controversial European Union (EU) report on the election and the recent incitement of members of the public against the judiciary over the ongoing cases at the tribunals.

Moving a vote of confidence motion on the electoral body, Uzodimma said well-meaning Nigerians should condemn the opposition for unnecessarily attempting to overheat the polity.

The motion, which was unanimously passed, was seconded by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Kwara State Governor AbdulRaham AbdulRasaq.

At the NEC meeting were Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senator Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, governors, members of the NWC, former Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, lawmakers and state chairmen.

Abbas hails Ganduje, Basiru

House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas congratulated Ganduje and Basiru, wishing them a successful tenure.

He said Ganduje will take APC to a higher level, noting that the former Kano State governor is a consummate politician with a lot of experience.

He said Ganduje’s emergence is a testament to his years of dedication and commitment to the party.

Abbas said the party has set a great example of internal democracy for other political parties in the country.

He urged the new leaders to unite the party and mobilised support for the Tinubu administration.

As a loyal party member, the Speaker said he looked forward to working with the new national chairman and the entire members of the APC NWC.

Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, also lauded Ganduje and Basiru on their emergence.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, Barau said with Ganduje in charge, the ruling party would be repositioned and strengthened for the benefit of all its members.

The lawmaker added that with the vast experience of the former Kano governor, the conflict resolution mechanism of the APC would be enhanced to reduce internal wrangling.

“His Excellency is coming on board with enormous experience spanning decades in politics and governance.

“With him piloting the affairs of our party, internal democracy would prevail,” the statement said.

Northern governors: we have confidence in Ganduje

Gombe State Governor and Chairman of Northern States Governors’ Forum Inuwa Yahaya said an opportunity has been bestowed on Ganduje and Basiru to continue their services to the party.

Inuwa, in a statement by his Director General, Press Affairs, Malam Ismaila Uba Misilli, said Ganduje’s election not only reflected his exceptional leadership abilities, but also underscored the trust and confidence reposed in him by the party.

He said: “Your distinguished tenure as the governor of Kano demonstrated your commitment to the welfare of the people and the development of our great party and nation.

“As the newly elected national chairman, you hold a critical position in steering our great party towards a united and prosperous future.

“Your experience and strategic vision will be vital in addressing the challenges ahead and harnessing the collective strength of the APC to bring about positive change for all Nigerians.

“I am confident that under your able guidance, the party will chart a course of progress, inclusivity, and good governance that will resonate with citizens across the country in line with President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra.”

Alia to chairman: unite APC

Alia urged Ganduje to foster unity and stability in the party.

He spoke with reporters after visiting Shettima at the Presidential Villa.

The governor emphasised the need for Ganduje and Bashir to promote national unity in the country.

He said: “We call on them to work for the unity of the party, unity of the nation, and to continue the hard work that was done in the past.

“We need continuity. We have this regime of Renewed Hope. We all have to make our nation continually great. And it’s nothing less that is expected of the new leadership.”

Basiru’s election sparks jubilation in Osogbo

Osogbo, capital of Osun State and hometown of Basiru went agog when the news filtered in that he had been elected to the exalted position.

APC members in Osogbo and Olorunda Local Government Areas converged on Oja-Oba, near Ataoja of Osogbo’s palace and marched through Station Road, Post Office, Orisunbare, Ola-Iya, Aregbe, after which they terminated the walk at the state party secretariat in Ogo-Oluwa.

State Secretary Kamarudeen Alao described Basiru’s emergence as a plus for the chapter.

He said: “The choice of Basiru by the national leadership showed that the party has not abandoned its progressive ideology.

“Basiru understands party politics and the concept of good governance. He will liaise effectively with elected public officials to ensure that the party manifesto is not jettisoned. We also commended President Tinubu for nominating ex-governor Adegboyega Oyetola as Minister.

“We commend Chief Bisi Akande, former governor Gboyega Oyetola for their tenacity and support for the former senator, we are sure the party will move to higher ground both at the national level and state.”

Similarly, the former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Olalekan Badmus, congratulated the new leadership.

To Basiru, he said: “Your success in succeeding Senator Omisore, another remarkable figure from our great State of Osun, is a testament to your abilities and the trust placed in you by the leadership of our party.

“Your elevation to such a prestigious position reflects your outstanding capabilities, values, and commitment to the betterment of our party and our nation.”

PDP criticises Ganduje’s choice

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chided the APC for making Ganduje chairman. It spoke through a statement by its national secretary Debo Ologunagba.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has partnered with NIPCO Group to deploy 35 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations nationwide.

NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Malam Mele Kyari said, the initiative is in addition to the phased deployment of 56 CNG stations planned by NNPC Retail across the country.

He said at a briefing that once the partnership takes off, the stations could serve over 200,000 vehicles daily.

Kyari said: “The fuel subsidy removal has caused some spike in the cost of premium motor spirit (PMS) (or petrol).

“To this end, we have engaged our principal partner in the CNG business in the country – NIPCO Gas Limited.

“Under the NNPC/NIPCO strategic partnership, 35 state-of-the-art CNG stations will be constructed nationwide, including three other stations.

“Once fully operational, the stations can serve over 200,000 vehicles daily, thereby reducing the cost of automobile fuel in Nigeria and reducing the cost of transportation.”

He noted that the market will determine the price of the CNG, stressing that it would still be three times cheaper than the price of petrol.

According to him, the CNG is safe and is widely used by the heavily populated India and Pakistan, especially for fueling tricycles.

Kyari said many kits conversion companies have agreed to come and establish their firms in Nigeria.

Kyari said the landmark collaboration aims to expand CNG infrastructure, improve access to CNG, and accelerate the adoption of cheaper and cleaner alternative fuel for buses, cars and tricycles, which will significantly reduce the cost of transportation and engender sustainable national economic growth.

According to him, under the NNPC-NIPCO strategic partnership, 35 CNG stations will be constructed nationwide, including three mother stations.

Once fully operational, the stations can service over 200,000 vehicles daily, thereby significantly reducing carbon emissions and associated impact on climate.

He said the project will be rolled out in phases.

The first phase comprising 21 CNG stations will support intra-city transportation and be ready by the first quarter of 2024.

The second phase, comprising 35 CNG stations, will support inter-city transformation and will be ready by the first quarter of 2025.

NNPCL, Kyari added, has floated NNPC Prime LNG Limited for domestic LNG production and supply.

He added that NNPCL is also collaborating with Miju Auto Gas, a leading CNG kit Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) based in India, to set up training and conversion centres to facilitate in-country conversion of vehicles from petrol to CNG.

Kyari said NIPCO Gas is currently operating 14 CNG stations across Nigeria and has converted over 7,000 vehicles to run on CNG.

He added that NIPCO’s technical competency and field experience will bolster this initiative’s success and amplify its positive impact on the nation’s economy.

According to him, this forward-thinking initiative will leverage Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources to bring multiple benefits to Nigerians, including access to cheaper fuel, reduced cost of transportation, reduced carbon emission, create new business value chains and streams of job opportunities.

NIPCO Managing Director, Mr. Mahendra Verma, acknowledged a long-standing relationship with NNPCL.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has jeered the All Progressives Congress (APC) for choosing the immediate past Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje as its national chairman, describing Ganduje as “ethically challenged”.

The PDP said the ruling party settled for Ganduje “in spite of the stinking corruption and bribery allegations against him in the public domain”.

A statement by the spokesman for the PDP, Debo Ologunagba said the choice “further confirms that the APC is a cesspit of corruption and a haven for thieves, bribe takers and treasury looters”.

The statement said: “By appointing Ganduje, notoriously referred to as ‘Gandola’ by Nigerians over the infamous video of him barefacedly stuffing his gown with US Dollar notes as bribe allegedly from a contractor, while serving as Governor of Kano State, further validates that the APC is a putrid party of embezzlers and charlatans.

“It also underscores APC’s impunity and insensitivity to the demands of honesty, integrity and moral rectitude required of public office holders”.

The PDP recalled a recent report of a forensic analysis by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), which confirmed the authenticity of a 2017 viral video which captured the ex-Kano Governor stuffing dollar bills under his garment.

“It speaks volume of the APC under Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu that Ganduje, who should ordinarily be under prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged bribery is rather crowned and rewarded with the position of the APC National Chairman.

“Such can only happen in a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) like the APC which, according to the former Director General of Progressive Governors’ Forum, is replete with political bandits,” the statement added.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intensified its pressure yesterday on the Niger Republic junta to restore democracy.

The chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Governments, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, dispatched two delegations, one a mission to warn Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani of the consequence of failing to respect the position of ECOWAS that President Mohammed Bazoum should be reinstated.

Former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and Sultan of Sokoto ALhaji Sa’ad Abubakar on behalf of the sub-region met with junta leader in Niamey, after taking briefing from President Tinubu in Abuja.

The second delegation was led by Ambassador Babagana Kingibe with a mission to persuade leaders of Libya and Algeria – Niger’s Northern neighbours – to lend their support to the pressure on the military usurpers.

The sub-regions Chiefs of Defence Staff, after concluding their meeting in Abuja, have returned to their respective countries to brief their Commanders in Chief on their decisions and readiness for a military offensive, if necessary.

United States (U.S.) President Joe Biden, also yesterday gave his total support to ECOWAS decision that the junta should step down.

Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale explained in a statement that the President acted in line with the resolution reached at the end of last weekend’s extraordinary summit of ECOWAS in Abuja.

Niger has been embroiled in crisis since July 26 when a military junta overthrew the democratically elected government of President Mohamed Bazoum.

The coup drew condemnations from the international community, including ECOWAS which gave the junta till August 6 to reinstate Bazoum. The sub-regionional body went on to announce a number of sanctions against Niger with Nigeria taking the lead by cutting off power supply to the troubled nation.

Niger, with a population of over 27 million, shares border with Nigeria in the North.

Yesterday, Defence Headquarters clarified that it had yet to receive an order to deploy troops against the Niger junta headed by 62-year-old Gen Tchiani.

Already, Washington has directed its non-emergency embassy officials in Niger to exit.

Ngelale added that Tinubu while meeting with the Abubakar-led team , charged the members to engage all the Niger stakeholders robustly with a view to resolving the crisis.

“We don’t want to hold brief for anybody. Our concern is democracy and the peace of the region,” he quoted the President as saying.

Before their departure, Abubakar told reporters that ECOWAS leaders were unhappy with the developments in Niger.

He said: “We have just been giving our marching orders to go to Niger and convey the feelings of our Heads of State in the region that they are not happy with what happened.

“And they gave them an ultimatum that the coup leaders should desist from what they are doing and give back power to an elected President and again, to make sure that this message is sent loud and clear to them.

“ So far, we are going there to convey this message to them and hear their response and report back what they have said.”.

Kingibe said talking with Libya and Algeria would stimulate the solidarity required for peaceful talks.

“Of course, this kind of situation requires solidarity. It requires coordination with all parties that are relevant to the situation.

“In that regard, Libya and Algeria are also very important neighbours of Niger. So, my mission is to go there with a message from President Tinubu. To brief them on the ECOWAS position and solicit solidarity and cooperation.

”We hope to find a diplomatic solution. Nobody wants to go to war, especially with neighbours that they share a common language, culture and religion.”

Senegal gained a measure of revenge over West Africa rival Mali to record a sensational win en route to night’s final at the 2023 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship in Kigali, Rwanda.

Senegal denied Mali back to back final appearance with 75-65 points victory at the BK Arena on Thursday night in the second semi final of the competition and the 11 times champions will now face Nigeria’s D’Tigress in the final.

Senegal had initially lost 72-49 points to Mali in the group games in which they actually lost both games but they came back when they had another chance through the qualification to the Quarter final and they have seized it with both hands.

They have won a the three games they have played against Egypt, Cameroon and now Mali.

Senegal won the first quarter 20-16 points but they were behind 38-36 points at the end of the first half. They had their best spell of the game in the third quarter which they won with 13 points and despite losing the last quarter 16-15 points they were still able to win the game by 75-65 points.

They will face D’Tigress on tonight after playing thrice in the final in 2005, 2017 and 2019. They lost all the three against the Nigerian team.

Senegal are the record winners off the FIBA Women’s Afrobasket Championship with 11 titles in their kitty. They also hold the record for consecutive wins which they set in 1981 having it for four consecutive periods in 1974, 1977, 1979 and 1981.

Nigeria’s D’Tigress are aiming to equal that record having won the last three editions of the competition from 2017 to 2021 and they will achieve that if they beat Senegal in tonight.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday in Lagos moved to resolve some of the administrative challenges encountered in the 2023 general elections.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this at the post-election review of the 2023 general elections with some administrative secretaries.

Yakubu said the meeting with the administrative secretaries was to identify some of the administrative issues that affected INEC’s performance in the last general elections.

The chairman noted that the review of the administrative secretaries was important because Nigerians judged the commission based on the performance of the administrative officers in their respective states.

He said some of the administrative secretaries discharged their responsibilities effectively and the commission appreciated their dedication and commitment.

However, Yakubu, said there were still many areas that required rededication, commitment, improvement and, where necessary, sanctions to erring INEC officials.

“This meeting is to identify the areas of strength with a view to consolidating where necessary.

“Also, the meeting with the administrative officials was to identify the weakness, in other to come up with actionable recommendations for improvement in future elections.

“Therefore, based on the feedback from the public, the commission has also identified these challenges and how to resolve them for future elections.

“Among them were late arrival of election materials to some polling units, inefficient service at polling units by trained officials, management of the BVAS technology and insecurity of facilities and personnel,” he said.

Yakubu explained that to achieve prompt collection of polls nationwide at the appointed hour, the administrative officers in their respective states must get their logistics right.

He said the commission wanted to know the obstacles to the full implementation of these arrangements.

“Does INEC have the required vehicles and buses for road and maritime transportation during election?” he said.

The chairman noted that Nigerians still complained that they hardly expected prompt service at polling units by well-trained officials whether they were regular staff of the commission or ad hoc staff.

Yakubu said with regard to the management of the new technologies, the commission wanted to know the challenges the administrative secretaries encountered during the elections.

The chairman noted that in terms of security of facilities and personnel, the commission would like to know their experience on the field and how INEC could improve in this respect.

He urged the administrative secretaries across the state to frankly speak on issues that were identified.

Yakubu said it was by so doing that the challenges encountered in the field at the last general elections could only be addressed.

(NAN)

On his return to Yola, the capital of Adamawa, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri on Monday spoke about the violence some youths imposed on the state last Saturday. He inspected the warehouses looted by the youths and, after that, addressed the people.

The governor acknowledged the current economic hardship, appealed for calm since the government was working on palliative measures, and promised the prosecution of the arrested “hoodlums.”

Good talk so far. But Fintiri couldn’t resist the penchant for politicians to bury their heads in the sand. He soon went the cheap way of deflecting from the apparent issues.

Hear him: “Preliminary findings from the investigation suggested that besides the purported claim to the economic crunch, which is propelled by the imminent trend of criminality, is the inducement of some lazy politicians amongst us. There are some of us who contested and lost elections and feel that the only way to distract us is by inducing trouble that will sap our energy. We shall deal decisively with anyone who aided and abetted this callous slide into anarchy.”

The governor’s revisionism in this short speech is worrying. He trivialised and impugned on the reality of the people’s suffering and shifted responsibility to some politicians who “lost elections”. This is even though the state police commissioner, Afolabi Babalola, hinted that the violence may have been inspired by rumours that palliatives, which government didn’t want to distribute, were the warehouses.

Fintiri said “purported economic hardship,” suggesting that there was no economic hardship or that it was not enough to warrant an attack on a facility even if goods meant for the people were hoarded there. But the governor should know that hunger and deprivation are a debilitating pair, from which history records people turning into cannibals.

A governor should not downplay the destructive impact of Nigeria’s suffocating poverty in the face of the ostentation in the government.

Even though there can be no justification for crime, politicians must understand that there are limits to what a person can bear. They must also stop playing on the intelligence of citizens by attributing the fallout of the government’s failure to so-called opposition politicians.

In showing that this is futile, we should ask whether disgruntled politicians also instigated the serial vandalism of the new Second Niger Bridge since its opening in May 2023. Are politicians who lost elections also behind teenagers caught in the web of crimes like internet fraud, ritual killing, kidnapping, street robbery, drug abuse, and all such violent criminal tendencies that the country contends with? Why do Nigerian leaders pretend not to understand that refusing to pay attention to youth and children is a problem to national development.

I said this much in “We kill militants but in Vain,” published August 2, 2016. Quoting from “Building strong workforces to power Africa’s growth,” a study commissioned by General Electric, I wrote: “By 2025, sub-Saharan Africa will be home to 25 per cent of the global population of people aged 24 and younger. It submits that successfully providing jobs for this population will directly raise per-capita income, due to the resulting decrease in the non-working population.”

And since working people typically save, there would be greater domestic savings providing money for investment, which would aid immediate and future growth. The paper also notices that the gainful employment of this population will lead to a fall in fertility rates and impact the participation of the female gender in the labour force, lower the number of children per family, and free more money to spend on the education and healthcare needs of families.

The document is, however, generous in its honesty as it gives insights into the flipside of not managing this demographic dividend well. It says: ‘…without the requisite investments in skills development, infrastructure, and services, a growing proportion of youths could be left unemployed and with little hope for socioeconomic advancement. This could increase social tensions, undermining cohesion, and stability.’ But Nigeria refused to pay attention, and we are edging toward that dangerous pass.

Currently, about 70% of the country’s population is under the age of 30. According to a report published by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism in April 2023, fifty-three per cent of these youths are unemployed.

There is also the problem of education. Between April 25 and May 6, 2023, 1,586,765 candidates wrote the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exam (UTME). Less than half of this number will find placement at the end. In 2020, for instance, 1,949,983 candidates wrote the exam, but only 551,553 were admitted into various institutions of higher learning. Although the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) allocated a quota of 956,809 in 2020, the institutions could not fulfil their assigned quotas. This implies that about one million youths will not gain admission this year. So, Nigeria can neither get most aspiring young people into higher education postings nor employ hundreds of thousands of those graduating each year. We, therefore, have a crowd of agile, restless, idle, and angry youths on our hands.

We are not doing better with the children. On that front, about 20 million are out of school, and a significant number (70%) of those attending school aren’t learning optimally. The country has a dire situation, but we play politics! What is beginning to play out across the country lends credence to a Yoruba aphorism, which means that “the child that people don’t invest in will vandalise and auction all their property/investments”.

Nigeria’s story is compounded by the pandemic of poverty that has hit most parents. When parents cannot provide for children who are denied education or any means of livelihood, society has big trouble. This challenge worsens when children and youth have unfettered access to psychotropic substances and light weapons. With all these glaring difficulties, it is tragic when leaders sing the narrative of opposition figures and the related rather than swift actions to save the future.

Most important is the deliberate education of every Nigerian child, regardless of the circumstances of their birth or where they come from.

It is gratifying that President Bola Tinubu’s last speech revealed a plan to invest in education. We must, however, be careful to invest appropriately. It shouldn’t be about throwing money at the situation but reforming the entire sector for optimal delivery.

Like in other forward-looking countries, education is the only irrevocable gift that this avaricious generation of Nigerians can pass on to the next generation. And when we talk about education, we don’t mean piling children into blocks of newly renovated classrooms manned by half-baked teachers whose empty stomachs and minds conflicted.

Functional education considers the whole value chain. From an adequately targeted curriculum and pedagogy to raising qualified and well-motivated teachers, ensuring that every child gets an education, at least for the first nine years of their lives, and giving vocational education pride of place, those who lead Nigeria must do much more than merely mouth their commitment to the future. They must walk their talk and deliver good governance. Without that, we are building a country that will one day swallow its people. The education of the Nigerian child must also include a re-orientation and re-evaluation of the values passed onto these children.

In addition, this country must do something about the population growth rate, which the National Population Commission (NPC) put at 3.2 per cent per annum in 2023. There is a lot to worry about when a country has 133 million people in multi-dimensional poverty and a Gross Domestic Product growth rate of 2.3 per cent. So even as the government battles with the national economy, it must do something urgent about population planning. This is what all serious nations with eyes on the future do.

We do not need to go as far as China by prescribing specific numbers of children to citizens, but we must educate Nigerians about the need to have only children they can care for. The strength of countries like China is not just in its population but in decades of deliberate planning and execution of policies across culture, ethics, education, technology, and what have you. Nigeria’s leaders should aim to register their names in gold. They cannot achieve this by making redundant accusations against political opponents. You should get to work.

Adedokun can be reached on Twitter: @niranadedokun

Fellow Nigerians, let me tell you from the outset and without equivocation that I voted “against” the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the February 25th presidential election. And if the opportunity arises again, I will repeat the same thing, whether in the rain or in the scorching sun. It was a promise I made to myself that I cannot in good conscience vote for a man who represented and still represents all the character attributes that generations of our forebears preached against.

 Yes, I couldn’t turn a blind eye to all the corruption and vices linked to him and pretend they didn’t matter in this new age where we are being force-fed true lies and outright propaganda. A season when Tinubu scorned every attempt to hold himself accountable. His political trajectory tells a grim cautionary tale about a president Nigeria does not need. Voting against him was one of the happiest moments of my life.  

Though he was declared president, courtesy of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s magic and has since assumed office, the facts remain that he did not win the election. INEC, which had assured Nigerians that they were ready and would conduct the most credible elections in the country’s history, betrayed us when it mattered most.

You see, my dilemma really, has been where do I begin to tell the story of what happened on February 25, 2023 for the benefit of posterity? How do I preserve the truth and nothing but the truth of what has befallen this land of our fathers? How do I tell my little children that on a day that would live in infamy for eternity, that the electoral commission deliberately sabotaged the free will of the Nigerian people? That day, this land of our fathers called Nigeria finally lost its soul, as evil menacingly triumphed over good and dared us to talk again.

A day,  all those precious values and tutelage under which we were raised and coached to be the persons we are today finally crushed to smithereens and thrown into the dustbin. Decades of righteous morality suddenly meant nothing anymore as a man with no known parents, no siblings, no classmates, no record of primary or secondary schools attended became president! Not because he excelled, nor did he even try to impress the people on the campaign trail. In fact, his campaigning was hogwash, a Richter-scale disaster on every level. His speeches were mediocre or gibberish and delivered in a stutter.

And to those who mock us and call us moralists, I ask: of what use is a society without morality? Any wonder why we are failing as a country? It is because of avarice and wickedness have taken over the land of our fathers.

Tinubu refused to debate with other candidates. He dodged every attempt to interrogate his manifesto. His handlers shielded him all through the campaigns, told and propagated lies about his imaginary abilities. But in his dodges and prevarications, his parsing and evasion of scrutiny, one could sense his arm’s-length relationship with the truth.

Many analysts and his supporters appeared to have been groomed or trained as effective apologists and deniers of his many sins – they became the foot soldiers of his renewed hope mantra that has left a nation disillusioned and impoverished. His style has always been driven by reflexes – act first and think later. Sometimes, I wonder what his supporters and defenders teach their children at home. What they tell them not to do, or do. Do they correct them when they are naughty or do they celebrate them for being naughty? What values do they ingrain in their children? I am curious. What manners do they teach their children? I need to know. Do they teach them the difference between good and evil?

Do they raise their children to be like Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme who forged her JAMB score and took the nation on a ride or will they condemn her for falsifying her JAMB result and boldly going on social media to tell the world she was incapable of what she was accused of and that she was traumatised by JAMB’s allegation that she manipulated her score? Someone should answer me.

Now, how do I tell my innocent little children that on February 25, 2023, the electoral umpire, INEC, stole the mandate of Nigerians and handed it to Tinubu, the most flawed character that has ever run for the office of president of Nigeria? The election was stolen by an electoral body we had gradually begun to trust to deliver fair and transparent elections owing to its vigorous campaign that with electronic transmission of results, winners and losers would only be determined by the people.

It boasted that the people didn’t even need to wait for it to know the winners, that they could tabulate for themselves scores of each candidate and know in real time who was winning and who was losing. INEC told the whole world that the safeguards it had put in place were foolproof and that no hacker could gain access to its servers. It succeeded in building confidence and earning the trust of Nigerians. We took its assurances seriously and momentarily lowered our guards, believing it was going to redeem itself of all past failures and malfeasance. I personally believed those assurances, and helped in my own little way by sensitising and winning a few skeptics over to believing INEC’s assurances.

On the D-day of election, this same electoral body wilfully damaged the very same election it had campaigned vigorously would be credible. It wilfully disconnected the transmission of the presidential election results in real time while transmitting the House of Representatives and Senate elections results held the same time. Oh no! INEC! Why did you do this?

If I may ask, why do we have men of such little worth in critical positions in this country? People so easily susceptible to self-gratification? Why are our public officials so demonstrably unpatriotic? All the while, many Nigerians did not know that INEC was actually a participant in that election. It had vested interests and a grand scheme to win the election for a particular candidate, and was merely fooling Nigerians with assurances of free and fair polls. It had it all planned – how it would steal the presidential election and claim there were “technical hitches” and glitches as a reason for deliberately disconnecting its server to achieve its nefarious scheme, while claiming it suspected it was being hacked. On such nebulous pretext, INEC refused to transmit the presidential result real time on Election Day.

Such a suspect explanation strains credulity, since it is so far removed from anything even remotely close to the whole unvarnished truth. And that truth is, INEC, with its own hands, compromised an election that should have been a watershed moment in our history. Its officials deliberately made what should have worked to fail. This gave them room to resort to manual coalition of results which was subject to manipulations and alterations as can be seen in the eventual outcome. Even INEC couldn’t explain how it was able to read scores in heavily blurred result sheets in court. Who will ever trust INEC again? Yet, it allocated figures to the various candidates and declared winners in those instances. Instances too many to call isolated incidences. Of course, this was the plan all along, to deliberately sabotage the electronic transmission and blame it on imaginary technical hitches. 

Because that was the only way it could manipulate the outcome in favour of  Tinubu who had boasted he would win no matter what. Months before the election, even his aides boasted that they had the formula to win the election. 

Fellow Nigerians, it is clear that what they had was a magic formula, a rigging formula. For the first time in our chequered history with elections, a man was able to buy the presidency of Nigeria which even some corrupt politicians of the past had said was not for sale to the highest bidder.    

There is no gainsaying that how Tinubu won the presidential election left much to be desired. 

I have been reflecting on the future of Nigeria in the hands of the president – it is almost a hopeless situation we find ourselves in. The ironies and contradictions about this man are too self-evident. They make you want to cry and laugh at the same time. Cry for what we have become, laugh to remain sane in our new nightmare reality.

Imagine Tinubu saying he will fight corruption! How does that even sound in his mouth? Or imagine him preaching to young school children not to cheat, lie under oath, manipulate their age or engage in forgery. How will all that sound in his mouth? Who will listen and take him seriously? Will he use the presidential pulpit to preach moral rectitude to the country when the story of his life as we know it tramples on all the core and sacred values that underpin the moral fabric of society?

In the past, character mattered and society frowned on bad behaviour. It never rewarded such and one could easily judge someone’s upbringing from his character. How you were raised would betray itself from your character and the behaviour exhibited in the public space. The character code of society was largely a set of behaviours and conducts handed down from generation to generation through parenting and teaching in schools. The values people were taught to practice and live by  formed the moral fabric of society and ultimately, defined them and their ways of life and the value proposition for the next generation – passed on to the next and the next – a kind of 400 metres relay race.

Again, how do I even tell my children that I now call Tinubu president and compelled to accord him the full courtesies meant for that high office? How will I even begin the conversation – that all the societal safeguards to keep people like him at bay failed. The effect is both chilling and psychedelic on our values. Nigeria is not going to recover from this. The damage to our psyche is too profound and everlasting.

Well, I will come back to this in more detail in another article soon. For now, let me march on to address an unfolding development that hints at the incipient danger that is to come under this man as president.

The Persecution of Emefiele

In his inaugural speech, Tinubu tried to rally a country that had become disillusioned owing to the way he emerged as president. He had declared inter alia, “Our administration shall govern on your behalf but never rule over you. We shall consult and dialogue but never dictate. We shall reach out to all but never put down a single person for holding views contrary to our own. We are here to further mend and heal this nation, not tear and injure it.”

Continuing he said: “Nigeria will be impartially governed according to the constitution and the rule of law.” Did you hear that? The rule of law, that is the bedrock of democracy, not the rule of force.. 

But a leopard cannot change its spots. Tinubu was never going to govern according to the rule of law. That is too civilised for his base instincts to adhere to. He is too dictatorial to accept the rule of law as a governance principle. Each time he mouths rule of law, he is actually referring to the direct opposite. Don’t be fooled by the text of his lofty speeches. They are mere speeches, never designed to drive his actions. They are convenient precepts meant to hoodwink you to letting down your guard. Don’t be fooled.

Tinubu is never going to heal this land no matter how much he tries. Why? He is part of the problems of this country that the Nigerian people are struggling to free themselves from. He is a natural dictator who pretends to be a democrat. He preaches democracy but corrupts the rule of law. Between his speeches and actions, lies a mountain of contradictions and his natural reflexes will always get the better of him. To him, the end justifies the means. He does not believe in free and fair elections to get to power, instead he believes in “snatching,” “grabbing” and running away with it.

The ink on his  inaugural statement had hardly dried when his crude and barbaric instincts took over. A mere 12 days after being sworn in as president, he ordered the suspension and illegal detention of the Governor of the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele on the pretext that investigations into his actions in office were ongoing. I chuckled, when I saw that statement and muttered unprintable words to no one in particular. Investigations? Oh my God! Liars!

It is noteworthy that Emefiele was arrested despite a subsisting court order issued on December 29, 2022, barring the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Inspector General of Police and other agencies of government from arresting, interrogating or detaining him over terrorism and other sundry allegations against him.

Justice Hassan had ruled that “it is further ordered that the fourth respondent, their agents, servants, privies and all officers under their control and command are hereby restrained from instigating, arrest or arresting, interrogating and detaining Mr Godwin Emefiele, in respect of any matter or policy decision on the economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or for any connected purposes except by an order of a superior court”.

 The judge had made the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership. In the suit, the applicant, among other reliefs, had prayed the court for a declaration that the continuous harassment, intimidation, threats, restriction of free movement, abuse of the right of office, surreptitious moves to arrest and humiliate Emefiele by the respondents were vindictive, unwarranted and abrasive.

In  a blatant  disregard for  this judgment of the court, Tinubu, the pretentious democrat and advocate of the rule of law and his gestapo  Bichi-led DSS went after Emefiele in the early hours of June 10 and arrested him  in a commando-style operation. And have kept him in detention since then. Two other courts have since ruled against Tinubu-Bichi’s continuous detention of Emefiele all to no avail.

Only recently, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Friday, July 14, to be specific, nullified the arrest warrant on Emefiele procured by the DSS. The court presided over by Justice Bello Kawu, held that the arrest, detention, and interrogation of Emefiele, was in violation of a subsisting judgment and orders of Justice M. A. Hassan. Emefiele through his counsel had prayed the court to set aside and nullify his arrest and detention, saying that it was illegal and a nullity in view of a subsisting judgment of another court which was delivered on December 29, 2022.

Accordingly, Justice Kawu made an order setting aside any warrant of arrest obtained or procured by the respondents, especially the DSS for the arrest of Emefiele in connection with the allegations of terrorism financing, fraudulent practices, money laundering, and threat to national security before any court. The judge also granted an injunction restraining the respondents, particularly the DSS from arresting, detaining, or interfering with Mr. Emefiele’s personal liberty and freedom of movement. The court equally granted an order of injunction directing and mandating the DSS to forthwith release and set free Emefiele from any arrest and/or detention whatsoever.

Despite these definitive court pronouncements, Tinubu and his lawless DSS  refused to comply. Instead, the DSS hurriedly filed two nebulous charges of illegal possession of a single-barrel gun and ammunition against him, while still in breach of the various court orders. It is instructive to recall that the drama by the DSS to arrest the CBN governor started late last year when it secretly sought an order of the court presided by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Abuja, Justice John Tsoho, to arrest and detain him over terrorism charges. The eagle-eyed judge had spotted mischief and rejected the request on the grounds that the Service had not placed any compelling evidence before the court to grant such a request, considering how weighty the allegations were.

Delivering ruling in suit last December, Tsoho posited that the entire affidavit depositions, especially as per paragraph 4 of the supporting affidavit, purport that preliminary investigation had revealed various acts of terrorism financing, fraudulent activities perpetrated by the respondent and his involvement in economic crimes of national security dimension. The chief judge said these are “no doubt, grave allegations, which the applicant has not presented any concrete evidence to support. And the applicant should have taken the court into confidence, while seeking the exercise of its discretion in favour of granting its application”.

He averred: “It is my respectful opinion that the ipse dixit (assertion) of the applicant, standing on its own, is not sufficient evidence upon which to deprive a person of his liberty. The respondent in this application is named as ‘Godwin Emefiele’ without disclosure of his status or position anywhere, not even in the affidavit.

“It is left to speculation if the ‘Godwin Emefiele’ is the same person as the serving Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. If it is, then he is unarguably a high-ranking public official in Nigeria and indeed occupies a sensitive position as one of the key drivers of the nation’s economy. Therefore, an application of this kind should have evidence of the approval of the respondent’s boss, that such measures are authorised to be taken.”

The judge told the DSS in no uncertain terms that his court would not be used to authorise an illegitimate operation. He described the suit as an illegal operation and a ploy by the DSS to deceive the court into granting a frivolous order to help arrest and deprive an innocent man of his personal liberty.

Let me state here without equivocation, in criminal investigations, if you don’t have prima facie evidence, you don’t take a suspect into custody. It is strange that an agency that went to court to seek leave to arrest someone since December last year and finally took the person into custody nearly two months ago, is still “investigating” and trying to come up with an appropriate offence to charge him with. This is indefensible and it is like arresting someone and asking him to prove his innocence. And despite several court orders to release him, the DSS has blatantly refused. For those defending the DSS, let this be your portion someday.

Honestly, I was shocked by the extent these people were willing to go, to destroy a man. And as the judge noted, the DSS did not provide any evidence before the court to support the request to deny Emefiele his freedom. Why? Because there was no such thing. It was all political. It was a hatchet plot to get a perceived enemy out of circulation before the election.

The truth is that the DSS under the current Director General, Mr Yusuf Bichi has become a willing tool in Tinubu’s hands to hound and persecute his perceived political enemies. Chief among those enemies is Emefiele. He became a target, first, for having the temerity and audacity to show interest in the presidency which Tinubu felt was his turn to “grab, snatch and run with it” at all cost.

Emefiele’s second sin and most serious, was the Naira redesign policy and currency swap, which Tinubu openly declared was principally targeted at eroding his chances of winning the election. Many of those in his campaign office then parroted this same line and targeted the central bank governor with all sorts of vile comments, too egregious to repeat here. They boasted then that if they ever got to power, Emefiele would be number one on the list of those to suffer and that he would rot in prison. Even some obnoxious governors were not left out of the vile campaign against Emefiele.

Now, they power, they must exert vengeance. Emefiele must suffer.  That is what this is about. Nothing more, nothing less. Pure vendetta.

One of the deranged supporters of Tinubu wrote a nasty diatribe against the governor following his illegal arrest and detention. It didn’t matter to him that the DSS allegations were nebulous and nefarious. 

My biggest disappointment in the whole scheme was former President Muhammadu Buhari, who stayed aloof and pretended he was unaware at whose behest Bichi was acting. No responsible government could have tolerated such an egregious breach of security. When an outsider and politician was using a critical security agency to hound a top official of government because of a policy approved by the president he felt was targeted at him. 

But then, was Buhari’s government a responsible government? The answer is capital NO! How could any responsible government fail to take action against Bichi for such compromise of his office? Especially when he was motivated by partisan interest. As a matter of fact, it was Bichi’s conduct that posed a grave threat to national security. He was using the powers of his office to execute a political plot for a candidate seeking election.

While the DSS is obsessed with Emefiele and has charged him with possession of a firearm, another real threat to national security is thriving. Asari Dokubo is brandishing AK-47 rifles about unhindered. His well-armed militia army is openly holding training drills unchallenged. But this same DSS doesn’t see him or his militia as  threat to national security so long they continue to profess their support for Tinubu. But it sees Emefiele as a bigger threat to national security for terror financing and owning a single-barrel gun!  How embarrassing will these people not get? After whipping up public opinion against the governor with imaginary terrorism allegations and charges of financial crimes, all this partisan agency could come up with is his possession of a gun and 23 rounds of ammunition. This is shameful.

The shame and embarrassment got even worse on Tuesday, July 25, shortly after Emefiele’s eventual arraignment and bail hearing. The judge granted him bail and ordered he remain in the custody of the correctional service until he perfects bail conditions. But Tinubu-Bichi’s lawless DSS would have none of that. For daring to resist the forceful abduction of the governor from the custody of the correctional service while still inside the premises of the Federal High Court, DSS operatives manhandled the correctional service operatives. The viral video of the assault sent chills down the spine of every sane Nigerian except those who issued the orders.

But this is what you get when incompetent people man critical state institutions. They reduce such institutions to their own level of incompetence. How did Bichi get this very important appointment in the first place? Factors extraneous to merit. Same factors that have crippled this country’s progress since independence and prevented it from reaching its full potential.

I can bet an arm and a leg that Tinubu is thoroughly enjoying the DSS show of shame. I can imagine him gleefully laughing and beating his chest that “I am now in charge”. He must be surprised by the enormous powers he now wields. That he can order the detention of any Nigerian who he perceives to be his enemy. Power, the old maxim says, corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Nigerians are about to witness the most dangerous man as President. We should prepare ourselves for the most brutal democratic dictator ever.

Just in case we have forgotten, let me remind Nigerians: In early February 2021, Nigeria’s then information and culture minister, Lai Mohammed disclosed at a press conference  that the Nigerian government had uncovered 123 companies and 33 bureau de change service providers that were linked to terrorism financing in the country.

He added that  an analysis by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), in 2020-2021, revealed 96 financiers of terrorism in Nigeria, 424 associates/supporters of the financiers, in addition to identifying 26 suspected bandits/kidnappers and 7 co-conspirators. The announcement was sequel to the jailing of six Nigerians in the United Arab Emirates over allegations of terrorism financing.

Fellow Nigerians, have you heard anything about these real terror financiers and their supporters ever since? No!  Have you heard or seen the DSS charging in the wee hours of the morning to arrest any of the people Lai Mohammed spoke about? No!

Is this not the same Bichi who was the Director General of DSS then? Of he was.  If this man was so interested in securing Nigeria from bandits, terrorists and their sponsors, all through the length and breadth of this country, we would have seen it from the record of his achievements in curbing their activities. We would have hailed him if he was man enough to go after those identified terrorists’ financiers. He would have become a hero of  sorts of the republic. I would have hailed him. But he never did, for reasons best known to him. I dare say most of those real terror financiers are from a particular part of this country that Bichi protects.

Bichi gives terrorists a free pass and then goes after soft civilian targets for possession of the equivalent of a dane gun. Okay, if  Emefiele was involved in terrorism financing, what of Abdulrasheed Bawa, the Chairman of EFCC, who has been detained by the DSS without charge for nearly two months now. Was he also involved in terror financing or is his detention related to his role  in  the naira redesign policy? The truth is that Bichi is carrying on a vendetta against those identified as arrowheads of that policy  to satisfy Tinubu’s anger.

If you don’t trust me on this, then Nigerians should ask Bichi, why he arrested Emefiele in the first place despite a court order barring him from doing so. Was it because of illegal possession of the equivalent of a dane gun? Surely, that was not the reason for his arrest. The gun was discovered after the fact. Tinubu and Bichi arrested him first and then went searching for evidence to charge him with. Is that the SOP of DSS? Emefiele is not just a clerk in an office, he is the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor. 

Time will tell where we are headed. Tinubu has been given the opportunity to pick his friends out of history’s crowd. He has so far wasted no time in showing us who his friends and enemies are. His cabinet nominees tell us clearly that there is a reward for bad behaviour. Those who worked in cahoots with INEC to change the votes representing the supreme will of the people in favour of Tinubu have been rewarded with ministerial positions. Of particular blight, the Rivers State presidential election result remains an everlasting stain on INEC. The authentic result on INEC’s IRev was ditched, while manipulated results were declared. And someone is being celebrated for “delivering” Rivers State to Tinubu and the APC – clear message here is that if you rig for him, you will be rewarded with a ministerial position or any other appointment.   

Many well-meaning Nigerians are utterly dismayed by Tinubu’s reward for bad behaviour. But can anyone do now?  A few days ago, a sparring partner mockingly said that kudos should be given to the president for saving the country’s blushes by not including Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chairman’s name on the ministerial list. But who knows, maybe there is another reward waiting for him.

..Visits CJN,
..Describes as unacceptable, neglect of judicial officers' welfare

The President of the NBA, Yakubu Maikyau extends Condolences to the Family of Late Justice Nweze and Signs Condolence Register

"..Mr. Maikyau expressed the sadness of the Bar over the death of Hon. Justice Nweze, who he described as a cerebral jurist

During his visit to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the NBA President decried the state of welfare of Nigerian judicial officers.