The Dangote Oil Refinery has denied a report that it was reselling cargoes of crude oil bought from the United States and Nigeria to other traders.

The spokesperson for the Dangote Group, Tony Chiejina, described the report as outright falsehood in an interview with The PUNCH.

Reuters had reported that three of the four trade sources familiar with the matter said the reoffer was linked to technical problems at the refinery. 

But Chiejina said the refinery is still sourcing for crude from Angola and Libya and the crude distillation unit is in good condition.

“Outright falsehood. We are sourcing more crude from Angola and Libya. Also, our crude distillation unit is functioning perfectly well. You may wish to visit the refinery even today or tomorrow,” he told our correspondent on Saturday.

In a follow-up statement on Saturday, Chiejina also urged the public to disregard such news as it only intends to scuttle the refinery. 

“Our attention has been drawn to a misleading report suggesting that our refinery’s crude distillation unit (CDU) is experiencing issues and that we are reselling crude oil. 

“We categorically deny these claims. The Dangote refinery is not authorized to sell crude oil purchased from Nigeria, and our CDU is fully operational and functioning optimally. 

“We advise the public to disregard these false narratives, which are likely driven by interests opposed to the local refining of fuels,” he said. 

The 650,000 barrel-per-day refinery started operations earlier this year, with complaints about crude shortage.

Sources had said cargoes of Nigerian Escravos and Forcados were among the crude grades offered as well as US WTI Midland.

Recall that the Vice President, Oil & Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Mr DVG Edwin recently alleged that the IOCs operating in Nigeria had consistently frustrated the company’s requests for locally produced crude as feedstock for its refining process.

He said the IOCs were deliberately and willfully frustrating the refinery’s efforts to buy local crude by hiking the cost above the market price by $6, thereby forcing the refinery to import crude from countries as far as the US, with its attendant high costs.

Edwin said, “It seems that the IOCs’ objective is to ensure that our petroleum refinery fails. It is either they are deliberately asking for a ridiculous and humongous premium or they simply state that crude is not available.

“At some point, we paid $6 over and above the market price. This has forced us to reduce our output as well as import crude from countries as far as the US, increasing our cost of production.

“It appears that the objective of the IOCs is to ensure that Nigeria remains a country, which exports crude oil and imports refined petroleum products. They are keen on exporting the raw materials to their home countries, creating employment and wealth for their countries, adding to their Gross Domestic Product, and dumping the expensive refined products into Nigeria, thus making us dependent on imported products.

[Punch]

The house of representatives says its probe into the dispute between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) is to protect the country’s national assets.

Speaking with journalists on Saturday in Abuja, Philip Agbese, the deputy spokesperson of the house, said the investigation also involves the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) Limited.

NMDPRA and Dangote refinery have been embroiled in a dispute that began recently.

The dispute peaked on July 18 when Farouk Ahmed, the chief executive officer of NMDPRA, said local refineries, including the Dangote refinery, produce inferior products compared to the ones imported into the country.

Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Group, denied the allegations by testing diesel from his refiner on July 20 when federal lawmakers visited the plant.

He also called for a probe into the allegations of the NMDPRA.

On July 22, the lawmakers launched investigations into Ahmed’s claims.

They said allegations that the international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria are frustrating the survival of the Dangote refinery will also be probed.

On July 23, the house of representatives asked the federal government to suspend Ahmed over his “unguarded comments”.

‘DANGOTE REFINERY IS A CRITICAL ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE’

Agbese said the probe aligns with the lower chamber’s commitment to protecting all critical economic infrastructure, such as the Dangote refinery.

He said the dispute has led to uncertainties that caused fuel queues to resurface, which he deemed totally condemnable.

“We have been seeing a lot by way of demarketing campaigns to discredit the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and given the negative impact of this, which has caused panic in the country,” Agbese said.

“Unfortunately, what we have learnt is that the NNPC and NMDPRA play major role in these plots to discredit the refinery, which is unacceptable.

“The bigger aspect of our concern is that there are concerns that false narratives are being peddled by certain interests that are bent on importing dirty fuels into the country.

“As a proactive institution, committed to the wellbeing of the nation and Nigerians, the position of the house is to investigate the allegations.”

Agbese said the house aims to resolve the issue to pave the way for economic stability.

The spokesperson said the leadership of NMDPRA must be removed, asserting that both agencies have shown interest in destroying the refinery.

He added that if evidence of an attempt to sabotage the Dangote refinery is found, the house would call for the dismissal of Kyari. 

“It is on record that the house had directed the president to sack NMDPRA, so the house will also not hesitate to call for the sack of Mele Kyari, the Group chief executive officer of NNPCL if need be,” he said.

According to Agbese, many Nigerians have called off the proposed hardship protest, but they demand Kyari’s dismissal if it will ensure the smooth functioning of the country.

Programme: CITY TALKS WITH REUBEN ABATI

Time: 12:00pm

Guests: APOSTLE KEHINDE ADEWALE SHOWEMIMO
LAGOS STATE CHAIRMAN, POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE (PCRC)

Topic: "Protests, Public Safety and Police Community Relations"

Date: 27th July, 2024

Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 928 7714 1732
Passcode: 600206

A playboy can play the field forever or till his penis drops off, or whichever one comes first. A play-girl? No she must retire quickly, indeed, before everyone notices what she does for a living.

A playgirl, a runs-girl, a courtesan or a high class call girl must know when to stop. Only dumb girls play the field endlessly. Is any playgirl reading this? Or is someone reading this who knows a playgirl? Pull her ears and tell her to pull back. A girl is expecting to be cool and good. This society, indeed, the African society does not take kindly to bad girls, even when it is the society that made them bad. Girls are not just expected to become playgirls just because life is tough. We are supposed to be as strong if not stronger than our mothers. It does not matter that the societyook the other way when it pats men on the back for being able to pay for thei 'playthings' , women still get blamed for the badness of everybody involved. And there are many people involved in the making of a playgirl or runs-girl. Yeah, like her parents who accept food items and gifts from their unemployed 18-year-old daughter.

So, is today about call girls and play things? Well, not totally. But it is about when to stop doing what is bad because it is time to try a good one. That a path is familiar and easy ride does not mean it will take you to a beautiful destination. Living a soft life is nice and cozy but it does not mean it is a good thing. Actually, soft life doesn’t last forever for girls. Comfort zone won’t always be comfortable. All soft girls with no vision and plans for tomorrow will eventually land hard on their backside because they bought no cushion for their future.

Little girl, so your breasts are firm and pointy now and your sugar daddies are sucking and complimenting you, you think that’s gonna last forever? How dumb can you be? Sugar daddies are wired that way. They are designed to suck and suck and compliment soft girls for their soft bosoms so they can suck some more. They are paying for the firm pointy thingies but because they want firm things, they do not stick around once what they are holding is no longer firm and succulent. Never mind that they contributed to the loss of succulence, many men just don’t want saggy ‘droopy’ stuff.

Yes, that’s why they left Madam at home. Because the once-upon-a-time firm twin peaks are no longer standing right. They are now looking at Madam’s toes.

Little lady, your cleavages won’t always be that tight and your tummy won’t always be firm. Your life won’t always be soft. You have predecessors and your successors are already lined up. You have a tenure and trust me, your impeachment will not be announced or debated. A soft girl’s tenure on the soft lane usually ends abruptly.

A more beautiful, better stacked girl will come on the scene. Her skin will be spotless, her legs straight and smooth disappearing into very voluptuous hips that leave a righteous man thinking unrighteousness things. In case you still don’t understand, picture this: one day, Chief is all over you, and the next you can’t reach all his lines.

That’s it. He has sworn-in your successor. It is what it is. No matter how delicious roasted corn is, nobody keeps the corn cobs. No matter how sweet an orange is, once the juice has been sucked and the fruit is flat, the dustbin or trash can is its next destination.

I confess that this piece was inspired by this young lady who used to flaunt her latest iPhone. I used to see her on my street. I was attracted to her attractiveness. Last week, she greeted me and what she holding was a small, really small phone. Yes, the #15,000 one. Her iPhone was stolen at a party and the torchlight phone was all she could afford. I later learnt that her ‘yahoo’ boyfriend has moved on to a more succulent orange and sisi is generally broke.

See? She’s been impeached without notice and given no opportunity to defend herself. That’s the way the cookies crumble.

Bone-straight wigs in all lenght, latest iPhones and skimpy dresses are the worst items a runs-girl can focus on. They are transient fashion. What we are wearing now, what’s in vogue now will be out next season. That you can tell a man to jump and he asked how high does not mean he will always be that attentive. As soon as your breasts start bowing before their maker and he’s bored with your wheel barrow position, access to his money may dry up . Omoge, buy yourself a plot of land instead of a dozen lace-front wigs. Start a business instead of investing only in phones. Improve yourself, take online courses and get out of the whore-zone.

Tell yourself, you are better than being any man’s plaything, because you are. Channel your skill-to-charm into acquiring further marketing skills. Don’t just sit on your pretty backside and wait to be thrown out of an apartment one man rented for you. Save yourself some water before the well dries up, because it will.

Convincing yourself or letting your fellow lazy bones friends convince you that this soft life is forever is one of the greatest disservice you can do to yourself. Your assets are depreciating. Your shares will loose value and you will eventually find out that a full bottle of foundation and concealer will not be able to conceal your age. Life will retire you and whether you hand over the baton in this relay race or not, you will be done one day, totally done.

Madam Kept-Woman, your High Chief keeper is most likely a lover passing by. He’s spoiling you now but don’t let it get into your head. You are already in your 40s. Shine you eyes. Owambe every Saturday shouldn’t be your priority. Aso-ebi every month means you are not as smart as you look. How much have you spent on Ankara, lace, Gele, Aso-Oke and Damask in the last six months. Do the math and ask yourself where you are wearing those ‘uniforms’ to in the next six months. That High Chief is generous this year doesn’t mean he’ll be next year. As an older woman, you should be smarter, not fritter away this benevolence. You won’t always be this desireable. Your sweet thing will not always be this sweet either.

Seriously, apart the terminal date of a woman’s sweetness and firmness, why will a runs-girl want to be a runs-girl forever? Only lazy dumb ones think that milk has no expiry date.

Me, I have seen bad girls become great wives and mothers because they knew when to stop. They took what they acquired and put it into what can last. They invested their knowledge and charm into making their marriages work. That is why you hear such questions as: Why do bad girls end up with the good guys? It is because some bad girls know when the evening market is over. They go home when they can still locate their wares. They invest wisely instead of paying for acquired bums and breasts. They invest their charms in their men and homes. They retire before they are retired.

In light of his planned astronomical hike in petrol prices euphemistically called “subsidy removal” in 2023, which his opponents also promised to implement and caused Nigerians embrace as inevitable and desirable, I foretold the imminent social convulsion that is gathering momentum across Nigeria now.

 “I can assure Tinubu that if petrol price hikes deepen people’s misery, he’ll have a tough time governing,” I wrote in my April 29, 2023, column. I followed this up with more than half a dozen columns on the same theme.

When you remove subsidies from an all-important product like petrol that literally regulates every facet of life in a country like Nigeria, which also has the dubious honor of being in perpetual competition with India for the status of the world's poverty capital, and then follow it up with a massive devaluation of the national currency even when the country is hopelessly import-dependent, you unleash existential demons that compel vast swaths of people to choose between life and death. 

False assurances that the mass agony in the country is only temporary, or that the pains people are grappling with are mere precursors to future gains, or even that there is light at the end of the tunnel only aggravate people’s angst. There are two reasons for this.

One, most people know that based on past experiences in Nigeria (notably during IBB’s ruinous SAP, which Tinubu merely repurposed and renamed) and elsewhere in the developing world where the IMF and the World Bank dictate economic policies, there has never been a single example of these sorts of pains ever transforming into gains for the masses of the people.

Second, people outside the circles of power and privilege realize that the pains are being borne only by the poor. Tinubu, for example, bought a new presidential jet worth millions of dollars even before the spineless National Assembly had a chance to rubber-stamp it, as is now their wont, among other profligate expenditures amid a biting economic downturn. 

 People who are visiting darkness on the poor in the name of a deferred light at the end of the tunnel are glowing in incandescent bulbs of illumination. And the people are intelligent enough to know that what awaits them at the end of this disconsolate tunnel isn’t light. It’s an inferno. It’s a dreary snake pit of doom and gloom.

When people come to this realization, no one needs to “sponsor” them to protest. The pangs of hunger they feel is sufficient to sponsor them to protest. The sensation of hopelessness that overcomes them is a bigger motive force for protest than the political machinations of any politician.

But even if it’s true that opposition politicians are taking advantage of the mass discontent in the country to cripple the government and delegitimize it for their self-interest, that’s not illegal. It’s an intrinsic element of democracies for opposition parties to seize on the missteps of incumbents to displace them.

President Tinubu is in power today precisely because he mastered the art of instrumentalizing the missteps of incumbents to advance his political aspirations. As recently as 2012, he “sponsored” a disruptive protest against former President Goodluck Jonathan that led to the deaths of protesters—for precisely what he is doing to Nigerians now. 

No amount of persuasion or financial inducement of traditional rulers, religious clerics, union leaders, or activists will get people to make peace with needless suffering occasioned by a self-centered, hard-hearted implementation of vicious economic policies that snuff the life out of the people. Even if the planned protests are aborted, the predictable is only being postponed.

The only way Tinubu can retain legitimacy and earn the trust of the people is to reverse the deep, stinging hurt his policies have caused to the vast majority of our people. People are no longer interested in progress or the renewal of hope. They just want Tinubu to take them back to where he met them, which was not an enviable state. And that’s not too much to ask.

In a February 10, 2024, column titled “Hunger Protests: Why Tinubu Can’t Govern Like Buhari,” I said the spontaneous, hunger-induced eruption of seething communal anger in Minna, Suleja, Kano, and Osogbo were “a warning sign” that Tinubu couldn’t afford to ignore. He ignored it. 

He is probably following the Buhari template of enacting unpopular policies and relying on the blind support of his worshipers to shield him from the consequences of his actions. But Tinubu has no such following, and I am glad he doesn’t, which is why I would hate for someone like Peter Obi or Rabiu Kwankwaso to be president.

 They are political cult leaders with unthinking, fanatical followers who lose their damned minds if you as much utter the mildest critical remark about their gods, however factual it may be. Like Buharists, they have abdicated their senses to their political gods.

 I reproduce here a portion of the column to remind Tinubu why he can’t benefit from the kind of immunity Buhari enjoyed:

 “Had the current president been Muhammadu Buhari and not Bola Ahmed Tinubu, chances are that the worst that would happen amid the adversity people are going through now would be suppressed, barely audible murmurs. It’s because Buhari is a political cult leader with a firm grip on his followers who worship him and surrender responsibility for their lives over to him. Tinubu has no such appeal.

“A psychologist by the name of Steve Taylor came up with a concept he called ‘abdication syndrome,’ which he said disposes people to invest total, child-like trust in a political figure, a cult leader, an opinion molder, etc. in ways that mimic how children idealize and idolize their parents as unblemished paragons of perfection. 

“According to Taylor, ‘abdication syndrome stems from the unconscious desire of some people to return to a state of early childhood, when their parents were infallible, omnipotent figures who controlled their lives and protected them from the world. They’re trying to rekindle that childhood state of unconditional devotion and irresponsibility.’

“Buhari is lucky to benefit from abdication syndrome in Muslim northern Nigeria, broadly conceived, which explains why he got away with murder for eight years. When he increased petrol prices by a steep margin in 2016, for instance, there were protests in Kano, Bauchi, and other places in SUPPORT of the increase and AGAINST people who planned to protest the increase. Nigeria had never seen anything like that before.

“Even protests against the unabating descent of northern Nigeria into a theater of bloodshed and abduction on Buhari’s watch provoked counter protests from people who have abdicated the use of their brains in the service of Buhari.

“Tinubu not only does not have the benefit of abdication syndrome anywhere in Nigeria, but he also has the misfortune of having to contend with a peculiar character of Muslim northern Nigeria: we feel the pain of, and react violently to, bad policies only when the policies are hatched and executed by people who have no filiation with our natal region.

“It’s no surprise that the hunger protests against the Tinubu administration started from and spread in the North.

“A powerful indication of Tinubu’s lack of firm emotional support base emerged when Osun, his state of birth where he lost the last presidential election to PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, became the first southern state to join the hunger protests. Should the resistance to his punishingly heartless neoliberal economic policies ignite a nationwide convulsion, the Southwest is unlikely to constitute itself as his bulwark.

“In fact, I hazard a guess that should Tinubu’s unfeeling policies activate the sort of destabilizing national upheaval that we saw in 2012 during Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, the Southwest won’t be aloof. It is likely to join in.

“And, of course, Tinubu is deeply unpopular in the Southeast, the South-south, and Christian northern Nigeria. In other words, Tinubu is essentially floundering into the most treacherous of social quicksands.

“His only fortification against danger is not just good governance but compassionate governance. The release of thousands of metric tons of grains is a good first step, but it’s not nearly enough to stem the tide of mass rebellion that is brewing in the country. At best, it will only delay the inevitable.

“The truth is that Nigeria can’t survive a total withdrawal of petroleum subsidies without an adequate, systematic, well-planned public transportation system. To do away with petrol subsidies, the government must first create conditions where car ownership and patronage of commercial transportation are a luxury.”

He opined that local government autonomy is a misnomer and aberration in a federal system of government.

Fayemi shared his reservation at the launch of St. Racheal’s People Consulting 2024 Leadership and Economic Summit-1.0 on Thursday night in Lagos.

Speaking on how the country could navigate out of its current socio-economic and security challenges, Fayemi said the Federal Government’s suit against state governors and the ruling in its favour was not the solution to the challenges at hand.

“We cannot return to a unitary state. But unfortunately, we are gradually going back to a unitary from of government even though it is being dressed up as restructuring.

“The President (Bola Tinubu) is a federalist, he is a leader in my party, we share quite a lot in common, but I do not know any federal entity anywhere in the world where the federal government becomes the driver of what happens in the local government.

“It does not happen anywhere in the world and the Nigerian Constitution in Section 2 is very clear that Nigeria is a federation of the federal (central government) and the state. it is not three tier,” he said.

Speaking further, he argued that it was a display of ignorance to describe the local government as the third tier of government.

He added, “The principle of federalism is clear, it is a principle of dual federation units.

“Anywhere in the world where we have federalism, it is the state or province or region either in India, U.S., Canada,or Australia.

“It is now up to the state to determine whether it wants to have 20 counties, or 50 or 200 local authorities based on its own local needs. This is a misnormer ,it does not happen anywhere in the world.

“With this latest strategy, I assure you, in the first instance, I don’t see how workable it is; it not going to work.”

He said that if some governors had not done well in the administration of local governments, solutions should be proffered and tamper with what federalism entails.

[NaijaNews]

Our people say that a man who pays a native doctor to give him a talisman to protect him from the machinations of his enemies has no guarantee that he would be alive within the next twenty-four hours. Reason? He may be struck down by a falling tree, a bolt of lightening not sent by anyone, or he may just stumble over a stump and, hit his head on a rock and die due to his own carelessness.

Thus, the average talisman seeker is urged to note that his failure to also ask the native doctor to give him a talisman to protect him from himself, or from any natural and perfectly unforeseen, misfortunes in future is a permanent Achilles Hill. He just might drop dead even as he is on his way home from his visit to the native doctor.

The foregoing should be food for thought for our governors who, in reaction to the Supreme Court judgement on local government finances and general autonomy are prancing about and doing their level best to see what they can still pull off a the las minute. The next phase of the battle for the soul that tier of government lies in the matter of who can become a local government chairman; and how.

It is by certainly elections of course that anyone will become a local government boss! But who will conduct that the elections? Certainly not me! By our current laws, it has to be the state electoral bodies. But a number of sitting governors are warming up to simply railroad whoever they want to be their local government lackeys into the local government headquarters of their respective states. Not so fast, perhaps!

First, the National Assembly is in the process quickly rolling out a legislation that will put paid to the planned antics of now-very-worried governors. Second, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it has the capacity to conduct elections into the 774 local government area councils across the country.

Coming on the heels of the speedy engagement of the National Assembly on LG elections, the statement of the INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, two days ago, before the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Electoral Matters would seem to be announcing the burial ceremony of the aspirations of the governors – going forward.

The INEC Chairman had gone to brief the lawmakers on the Commission’s
preparations for the upcoming Edo and Ondo State governorship elections and its relationship with the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) in relation to various court judgements. The Supreme Judgement of has strongly fuelled the view that SIECs should be scrapped to allow INEC to conduct local government elections in order to rescue the third tier of government from the control of State governors.

However, the INEC chairman told lawmakers that the commission can conduct elections at the third tier of government in the 36 states if the National Assembly amend the 1999 Constitution and transferred the responsibility to it to conduct the exercise. He said to them: “The same Constitution that creates INEC also creates the State Electoral Commissions. So, it is up to the National Assembly to amend the law to transfer that responsibility to the INEC. If the responsibility for the conduct of local government election is transferred to INEC, can INEC cope? The answer is yes! INEC can cope. What are we? By definition, INEC is the Independent National Electoral Commission but right now we do national elections, we can do state elections, we do local

Not quite done, and determined to leave no one in doubt about his Commission’s Yakubu continued thus: “A national electoral commission may be expected to handle only the Presidential and National Assembly elections but we also do governorship election, we do State Assembly elections and do the Area Council Elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the only part of the country where INEC conducts local government elections. Broadly speaking, if you ask us, can we handle local government elections, yes we can handle the local government elections. When is it going to happen? When you amend the law and empower the commission to do so”.

He pointed that the commission has demonstrated by its track record that it can conduct local government elections; as can be inferred from FCT Area Council polls, which INEC undertakes periodically. The FCT six Area Councils, six chairmen and 62 wards. Each Ward is a constituency for the election of Councilors, which is one part of the country that INEC has conducted local government elections. It is one part of the country where local government elections are held regularly as at when due, because there has never been a Caretaker Committee for any Area Council in the FCT.

In addition, no single political party has ever won elections in all the constituencies in the FCT; pointing to the likely conclusion that whoever has been conducting the elections has not been “working” for any particular political party. Out of the six chairmen of the FCT today, APC has three Area Councils, PDP has three Area Councils. Concerning the Councillorship elections, the APC got 19 out of the 62 Councilorship seats, while the PDP won in 43 constituencies.

The inference from the foregoing, right or wrong, is that the NIEC Chairman has a point in saying that the same thing will be replicated if the local government elections are tucked under the belt of his commission. Hear him again: “In any case, if you transfer local government elections to INEC, what it means is that you are going to transfer almost 10,000 Constituencies to INEC. We have 8,809 wards, each ward is a councillorship constituency. We have 774 local government areas and each local government has a chairman. So, if you add this to the existing 1,591 constituencies where INEC conducts elections, it is well over 11,000 constituencies but the elections may not be held all in one day.

To make it legally operational, here is Mahmoud’s submission: “There are certain consequential amendments that have to be done for us to be handle those additional responsibilities. For instance, who is going to fund the 10,000 new Constituencies that INEC will be saddled with? There is need for a discussion to determine who is going to fund it. Or will the Federal government continue to fund for the states? You have to do something about the bye-elections if INEC is saddled with additional 10,000 Constituencies, we will probably be doing bye-elections every week,” the Professor of History said.

That said, and with some elections in the horizon as I write, let us rest the matter of LG elections and watch the unfolding drama;

Enter Another Off-cycle Election

Let me also invite our attention to a submission that was made on this page in the last week of November, 2019, wherein I said as follows concerning off-cycle elections: “There is often the assumption, mistaken in my view, that there should be far less security and other challenges any time elections are taking place in only one or two states of the federation. It is easy to argue that we need not deployment tens of thousands of police and other security personnel on such occasions. But is that correct? Are we right in inferring that the extra security on such occasions is unnecessary”?

We went on: “This argument, plausible it may seem apparent strength from a failure to distinguish between the actual needs of any electoral environment and the failure of those who should secure the environment for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to perform its duties. Security is needed but it is not the duty of INEC to own an army, or command same, in the process of preparing for, conducting or managing elections. That is the job of the police and other security agencies. It is only by collaboration and synergy that things can go smoothly. This is without prejudice to the activities of political mischief makers, as well as the possibility of having compromised security personnel during some elections.

It is against the background of the foregoing that one cannot reasonably deny the compelling need to beef up security, far beyond what would ordinarily be needed during any election, if such elections are taking place in only one or two states of the federation. It is also against the background of the foregoing that a blanket condemnation of either INEC, or the national security establishment, for whatever happens during elections can be said to rest on a fundamental misunderstanding.

While the misuse of the national security apparatus must be seen for the crime that it is, we must pay close attention to the fact that the travesty occurs at the higher levels of political leadership. That is where the threat of sack for non-compliance that hangs over most public office holders, military or not, comes from. The godfathers are still calling for the common till”.

That article also submitted that “Our political parties, to the extent that we insist on calling them that, are a far cry from what they should be. They make no investment in the political education of their presumed members. There manner of proceeding has put paid to the question of whether they have any interest in the people at all. All they plan for in the bid to get power is or “win” elections is (1) compromise whoever is available to be compromised, (2) take over the space where an electoral contest is to take place, if they can, (3) terrorize or subdue INEC officials, if that is the only way to determine final election outcomes, and (4) try any other thing they think they can get away.

INEC does not command an army. It is just another institution of state that can only function effectively and efficiently in collaborative endeavours with security agencies. It cannot perform the role of high priest in a room full of drunkards. It is an electoral body saddled with the unenviable task to teaching table manners in an unruly environment. But it has a job to do and has something to show for its performance in Abuja municipal, or LG elections.

As Was said back then, “At another level, there are those who would like to prevent it from performing its lawful duty, even when it is determined to be objective, impartial and committed to its assigned role as neutral umpire. That is why it is always in the line of fire for both foreseen, unforeseen and even unforeseeable events; including even bad weather in Sao Tome. It comes with the job, I guess. Challenges”.

As for the “Consequential Issues” arising from the Supreme Court judgment, the national Assembly should transfer the serious business of local government elections to INEC. For the record, yes, the INEC Chairman has a point!

QUOTE

As for the “Consequential Issues” arising from the Supreme Court judgment, the national Assembly should transfer the serious business of local government elections to INEC. For the record, yes, the INEC Chairman has a point!

The inspector-general of police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun, has said it has identified foreign sponsors of this planned protest with the ulterior motives of causing mayhem and violent demonstrations, which could lead to massive destruction of lives and properties across the country.

The IGP, however, did not reveal the identities of the alleged sponsors

He also said the leaders of different groups intending to protest on August 1, 2024, must register with the police command in their respective states.

The IGP stated this while briefing journalists in Abuja on the preparations for the upcoming protests nationwide.

The IGP, who acknowledged the rights of citizens to protest, said all peaceful protesters must protected, and those who fail to meet the guidelines means they have ulterior motives.

IGP Egbetokun further said all protesting groups must also provide the protest movement’s intended venue, routes and locations for proper coordination.

Meanwhile, in anticipation of the planned nationwide protest by some human rights activists and Nigerian youths to publicly express their displeasure over hunger and hardship, the Nigeria Police Force, FCT command has deployed 4,200 personnel.

The police spokesperson FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, said the deployment of the FCT deployed material and human resources at the command’s disposal across the nooks and crannies of the nation’s capital.

She said the proactive deployment aims to ensure public safety, protect protesters, and prevent non-state actors from hijacking protests. The deployment, added, is characterised by visible policing and the deployment of explosive ordinance devices (EOD) experts and personnel at various strategic locations, raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings/shanties, stop and search, vehicular and foot patrol and synergy with sister security agencies.

Also, the commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth Igweh, while acknowledging residents’ right to protest, advised that it should be peaceful.

The FCT police boss also vowed to resist all forms of violent protest and lawlessness, as the police will not be stampeded into allowing the destruction of public and private properties or loss of lives.

Residents are also urged to be vigilant and take advantage of the Police emergency lines to report suspicious activities through:

08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938, 07057337653PCB: 09022222352, CRU: 08107314192.

Tompolo Appeals To Nigerians To Shelve Proposed Protest

The Chairman of Tanita Security Services Nigeria Limited and the Ibe-Ebidouwei of Ijaw Nation, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), has appealed to those behind the planned August 1st to 10th, 2024nationwide protest to shelve it in the interest of the nation and people

In a press statement on Friday, August 26th, 2024, the Tanita boss, while adding his voice to all-meaning Nigerians, including traditional rulers, on call to shelve the proposed hardship protest, admitted that hunger and hardship exist in the country.

But he quickly pointed out that hunger and hardship never started today, saying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was working hard to revamp the economy with well-thought-out policies and programmes. These addressed the issues of the economy and security, which are the basis of other problems in the country.

“I am aware of Mr. President’s efforts to get things right in the country, and things are improving. For instance, there has been significant improvement in the oil and gas sector in the last year, which is still the primary source of our economy.

“I know the citizenry’s right to protest government policies and programmes in any country. It is one sure way for the citizens to participate effectively in governance by checking the excesses of any government.”

“However, the organisers of this proposed hardship protest must know that the timing is wrong, and the protest may cause more harm than good, as security reports have indicated that unscrupulous elements will hijack it.

“Against this background, I have joined other Patriotic Nigerians to appeal to prospective protesters to call off the proposed protest and engage governments at all levels to find lasting solutions to the country’s problems’.

“You must agree with me that the threat of protest only has achieved its aim, as Mr President has said loudly and clearly, that he has heard the voice of prospective protesters. After all, it is better to chatter than war-war,” the Tantita boss said.

NANS To Shun Protest

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has pledged not to get involved in the protest over hardship in the country on August 1.

NANS National President Lucky Emonefe disclosed this in a Friday meeting in Abuja with the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.

Sunday, Asefon, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, led the meeting.

Emonefe acknowledged the significant hardship being experienced by citizens across the country due to the government’s implementation of recent reforms and policies.

He said the measures, though aimed at steering the nation towards sustainable development, had undoubtedly brought about economic challenges that had impacted every Nigerian household.

Emonefe urged President Bola Tinubu to establish a mechanism to alleviate Nigerians’ hunger caused by the removal of the fuel subsidy in 2023.

“We want to say that there is hunger in the land, and Nigerian students are most affected. We are aware that palliatives were given to governors.

“We are saying that as the government distributes palliatives, they should remember the student constituencies.

“Though we have challenges, we want to say that we have resolved to be law abiding and not to join any chaos in society,” he said.

Earlier, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, acknowledged the rising cost of living in the country.

Mamman said that the government had been rolling out palliatives and measures to cushion the hardship on Nigerians.

According to him, the federal government has launched an expanded transformative scholarship programme to support the education of 45,000 students nationwide.

Mamman said the initiative highlighted the federal government’s commitment to broadening educational access and advancing Nigerian youth’s academic and professional growth.

Additionally, Mamman outlined the critical initiatives of President Bola Tinubu, including improvements in campus infrastructure, welfare packages for unemployed graduates

He also mentioned considering discounted electricity bills for universities and updating the curriculum to cover all education sectors under the DOTS Project.

“The DOTS framework aims to enhance educational data management, support and development for teachers, skills infusion, and training from primary through tertiary education.

“The government is also focusing on integrating out-of-school children into the education system and supporting job-seeking graduates.

“Furthermore, the federal government has established Safe Schools Centres to ensure the safety of students,’’ he said.

Youth Group Calls For Suspension Of Planned Nationwide Protest

The North East Youth Ambassador, a political pressure group, has called on the Nigerian youth to suspend their planned peaceful protest scheduled for next week and resort to dialogue for an amicable solution to the biting being experienced by Nigerians commonly.

“We urge all youth in the country, particularly the North East, to halt their plan for the mass protest against President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, especially the fuel subsidy removal and its consequences’.

According to the group zonal chairman, Comrade Haruna Usman Muhammad, the Northeast geo-political zone is known for its love of peace and respect for elders and thought leaders.

Comrade Haruna Muhammad, in a press statement made available to journalists in Bauchi yesterday, said that the youth should instead be encouraged to pray to Almighty Allah for His guidance out of the present mess-up among Nigerians

He observed that the planned protest appears to be an orchestrated effort by those who do not support the government of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, thus aiming to distract the government from the remarkable development work it has already accomplished.

“This government has achieved significant progress, and we must support its efforts rather than hinder them. Therefore, on behalf of the North East Ambassadors, we call on all Nigerian youth to cease any plans for protests. This movement is nothing more than an attempt to destabilise our country”.

Muhammad explained that for the betterment of the country, Nigerians must stand together, support the government, and continue to pursue peace and progress.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Bauchi have distanced themselves from participating in the planned nationwide protest to end hunger and hardship.

LEADERSHIP Weekend reports that organised labour agreed to a new N70,000 National Minimum Wage with the Federal Government.

Similarly, the National Assembly passed the new National Minimum Wage bill early this week. Currently, the bill awaits the assent of President Bola Tinubu to become a law and implementation.

Bauchi NLC Chairman Comrade Dauda Shuaibu told journalists that organised labour has constitutional means of addressing grievances and that they will strictly adhere to them.

He insisted that the union would not participate in the scheduled protest.

Comrade Shuiabu acknowledged the difficulties facing the citizens due to the biting economic crisis but urged members to remain law-abiding.

He encouraged the union members to report to their various places of work rather than engage in the protest.

It should be remembered that the Bauchi State Government banned the protest in the state and urged the organisers to think twice.

Sokoto NLC, Not In Support Of Planned Nationwide Protest – Comrade

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Sokoto State Council say the union does not support the planned nationwide protest and has called on all its members not to participate.

According to the State Chairman of the Council, Comrade Abdullahi Aliyu Jungle, this was given the negative aspect of such protests, which he said sometimes turn to violence, which can cause destruction and loss of lives.

However, on behalf of the organised labour unions, the Chairman called on governments at all levels to consider the current hardship citizens are experiencing and devise various palliative measures to cushion the situation’s effects.

He said, “The government could do this by providing food items and other essential commodities and distributing them to people free of charge to reduce the prices of such items in the market for the benefit of the common man.”

Comrade Jungle also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the new national minimum wage of N70,000, which the National Assembly passed.

Christian Youths Distance Self From Planned Protests Against Bad Governance

The Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) has dissociated itself and its members from any form of forthcoming protest organised to demonstrate against hardship or bad governance by unknown individuals across the country.

The Christian youths expressed hope that with the steps taken so far by the government and with the constant support and cooperation of all Nigerians, the county shall get through this challenging moment.

YOWICAN stated these in a communique issued at the end of its second quarter National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, on Friday.

Reading the communique’ before journalists, the YOWICAN National Chairman, BelusoChukwu Enwere, said the NEC has resolved to prayers and constant engagement with the Government until things get better for the nation.

 Kaduna CSOs Distance Self From Protest, Urges Tinubu To Address Hardship

The Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has distanced itself from nationwide protests slated for August 1, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to listen to Nigerians and address the country’s hardships.

The Coalition warned Nigerians about the dangers of organising or joining the protest, saying it might lead to destruction.

Addressing a press conference on Friday in Kaduna, the coalition spokesperson, Ambassador Kamaladdeen Kabiru, said, “We shall plan a better protest with a clear mission at a better time provided the government did not do the needful.”

“We want to use this medium to express our withdrawal from the planned nationwide protest from 1st to 10th August 2024, not because we are happy with the government policies but because the mission behind the said protest is ambiguous, and the protest organisers refused to make it clear.”

[Leadership]

My President,

On July 10, 2024, I gave a Keynote Address to the students of the Political Science Department at Chrisland University in Abeokuta. My Keynote Address, titled "Developments in Kenya: Lessons for Nigeria," focused on a critical issue: the remarkable achievements of Kenya's Gen-Zs. These young people are actively stepping up and demonstrating that they are the leaders of today, ready to move their parents aside.

This address had since been published in its entirety by Premium Times, which could be a useful read that your Assistants/Advisers could summarise into a few paragraphs. I not only told stories about Kenya but also drew some lessons for Nigeria.

The problem in Kenya started with the 2024 Finance Bill that had been submitted to the Kenyan parliament by President William Ruto’s government in May 2024. On June 18, 2024, thousands of young Kenyans took to the streets to oppose the proposed tax reforms in the Bill, marking a significant shift in the landscape of youth activism and advocacy in Africa.
Previously perceived as apathetic and confined to social media, the generation born between 1995 and 2010 is changing. African youths, despite being the largest in the world, have historically shown low voter turnout. However, they are now ready to yank the feet of oppressive governance off their necks as they are now driven by a new fear: the bleakness of their future. They are determined to remove oppressive governance and no longer feel held down by the old order. It is this fear that makes them prepared for death and conclude in pidgin that “All Die Na Die”
The face of advocacy may have changed for good, at least in Kenya. Unlike traditional demonstrations of the past marred by violence and chaos, the new-age protest embodies a peaceful and organized approach. The protest also showcased a decentralised structure, devoid of traditional hierarchical leadership a political figure on the frontline of mobilisation. This seeming leader-less approach which we all had a feel of during the 2020 #EndSARS Protest may deviate from the conventional protest, whose anatomy you must be very well conversant with, as a frontline participant of a number of many historical protestations.

On 26, June 2004, President Ruto withdrew the Finance Bill, 2024. But this development, rather than douse tension saw the crowd of youth shift focus to cries of “Ruto Must Go”. By this time, an estimated 41 (the number keeps growing), youths had been killed with a number kidnapped allegedly by the police, but the high-handedness did not stop the surging crowds.
On Friday, July 5, 2024, in a State-House Statement, President Ruto proposed spending cuts, reduced the level of additional borrowing as he rolled out austerity measures as well as abrogated planned tax hikes. Among others, he agreed to expenditures to benefit ordinary Kenyans like farmers and provide additional funding for the higher education. He dissolved 47 state corporations just gulping funds with little value-added, cut advisory posts in half and suspended non-essential travel by public officials.
Curbing the personalized looting of government resources by unelected wives, Ruto reduced allocations not only to his office, but removed budget lines for his wife a.k.a, First Lady, as well as for Second and Third Ladies. He fired most of the members of his cabinet, though he rehired about half of the fired ones. He took to X platform for a town-hall and has continued to show remorse, including on July 24, 2024 when he gave the strongest indications that he would fight corruption in Kenya. I doubt if Ruto, like your good self, can sincerely fight corruption, I wish him success. Lack of accountability is a bane of governance in Africa.

It is widespread in the media that some Nigerians have indicated a desire to demonstrate against your leadership and management of Nigeria in August. They are pointing to the economic hardships we have all been facing since your announcement of a phantom oil subsidy removal as well as merging the exchange rates. Those calling for protests are pointing to your government’s do as I say but not as I do style. While you preach tightening of our belts, patience as we make sacrifices, the profligacy in Nigeria’s governance has continued even with heightened rascality under your watch. In my assessment from an academic survey of 1,500+ Nigerians, corruption has also flourished as your body language is suggesting that corruption is alright.
The media has been awash with ethnicised efforts to stop any protests against your administration. I do not expect that you will roll over and allow protesters to take charge. Some organisations like those of students and labour that recently settled for 70,000 naira as minimum wage without deep thoughts on productivity have backed out of any protests.
In a subterfuge, the National Assembly, has offered to slash their monthly salaries by half for six months. But they knew this offer was merely to play on our intelligence. It would have addressed a portion of profligacy and outright thefts if they had decided to half their overall budget, in which case there would be reduction in all sorts of allowances, including constituency projects that the ICPC, under Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye had documented as avenue for looting from national patrimony.

A number of my friends spend time reminding that you inherited a very bad economy. I do not want to waste time with a retort in reaction to this argument by suggesting you are a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The fact was clear. President Buhari marginalised you and actually did all he could to prevent you from becoming the current president of Nigeria. You were well prepared and matched him in the spirit of Arthur Nzeribe’s “oporoko for oporoko”.
If you stopped President Buhari dead in his tracks, my question is why you wanted the office so badly and appear to be floundering after 14 months. You saw the Nigerian problem and decided you were the best to solve it. We have come to learn though that all the claim of having experts to turn our lots around has, so far, not worked. It is clear to all that running a complex Nigeria is not like running the politics of Lagos. I understand from some of my friends, however, that Yemi Cardoso is trying to pull his weight even though he upsets me whenever he boldly says he is stabilising the naira. How can he say that: you collapsed 450 and 750 naira to the dollar to escalate to 1,980 which receded to about 1,500 naira to the dollar and you expect us to look for popular Lagbaja, Burna Boy or Kiz Daniel to sing for us to dance?

Of course, you changed our national anthem back into 1959 and some say it is progress. I had said my own on that.
You have received the Supreme Court’s interpretation of our Constitution to the effect that rapacious Governors will no longer control local government funds. The jury is out on the three levels of government for our federation arrangement that my late mentor, Oyeleye Oyediran, had struggled for. He had seen this as the answer to our thieving Governors. Definitively, we are not bound to follow any other federation in spite of the argument of the Afenifere and others that the decision undermines the states. My major worry, is that if you do not put structures in place, we may have decentralised the stealing of federal allocations. It is well documented that most local government Chairmen looted the sums they collected. Some of them went to jail for that.
My President, I do have some recommendations for your consideration:

We have 10 planes in the presidential fleet to ferry you, your family, the Vice-President, and his family around. Many of the countries we are owing do not have a single plane for their servant-leaders. They charter planes on as needed basis from national and/or private providers. You have your own private jet(s). I wonder why you had to reportedly borrow from Chagoury to attend Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration. Talking about Chagoury, I do not want to dabble into the opaque nature of the award of the much-needed Lagos-Calabar Coastal road to HITECH since it is before a court of law. However, that deal smells.

Your travels that have followed the Buhari pattern in disappearing without any information as expected about our President should stop. When General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) disappeared as military President into France for surgery to address his radiculopathy in the 1980s, many Nigerians condemned this and argued that IBB could have imported all the needs for a sophisticated hospital, at the time. I am almost sure that your activist self of those days probably joined in condemning IBB, the self-styled President, at that time. I do not feel comfortable about discussing our national interests and those of France in an open letter. A private person can go to where he wants. You, as our President, should not. There are many implications far beyond parking and maintenance costs for our planes.
Mr. President, I would like to believe that you stumbled on Femi Falana, S.A.N’s compendium on low hanging fruits you can handle for the boosting of our foreign reserves which will in effect improve our forex rates. To do this is to bring down costs for Nigerians. Our Attorney-General of the Federation knows you can issue Executive Orders. Please don’t wait for protests and several deaths before acting. By so doing, you will reduce the quantum of our local and international indebtedness and thereby free money for infrastructural developments, including improved energy availability.
Your body language on corruption should speedily change if you want to ensure there are no Gen-Z led protests. Public, private and social sector corruptions are continuing strongly under your watch. Some of the allegations include:

Lawmakers have been accused of pocketing large sums as palliatives, with Senator Ningi alleging that the Senate passed two padded Appropriation Bills for 2024, inflating the budget by N3.7 trillion. Reports also indicate that luxury SUVs for lawmakers will cost taxpayers N57.6 billion, with each lawmaker receiving a Toyota Prado SUV worth N130 million to N160 million. Additionally, Senate President Godswill Akpabio reportedly ordered four specialized Lexus SUVs valued at N1 billion, as reported by Punch News on October 30, 2023. Furthermore, allegations of corruption in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, and large sums allocated for pilgrimages, also highlight the issue.
The EFCC leader you appointed is saying the right things. However, he should stop talking and just “Do It”. Investigations are becoming a ruse to obfuscate. The Jim Obazee report need to be out of the coolers for all to read and clear many being insinuated as having been involved in ruining our economy.
Key Recommendations

Learning from the experience of Ruto, you could choose to start putting in place solutions to avoid damages. It would only demand from you the pain of denying your political class and cronies the chances of continued corruption. You could become the people’s hero by dealing differently with members of the elites, yourself inclusive. These recommendations in summary are simply saying focus on serving the interests of the vast Nigerian people, the people whose mandate you are riding on. If you do these very well, there wouldn’t be the talk of protests.
1. Inclusive Governance: Engage stakeholders early in the policy-making process to ensure transparency and public acceptance of reforms.
2. Economic Prudence and real cut down of the cost of governance: Conduct thorough impact assessments to balance revenue generation with socio-economic equity and avoid burdening vulnerable populations.
3. Combat Corruption: Implement stringent measures to tackle corruption within public, private and social institutions and ensure accountability of political leaders.
4. Civic Engagement: Foster a culture of civic activism to hold governments accountable and drive policy changes.
5. Youth Empowerment: Address systemic issues such as youth unemployment and economic inequality to rebuild public trust and promote sustainable development.
6. Effective management of Communication and public engagement: Possibly do a Heart-to-Heart off the scripts, less political talk with your people. Come down from that high horse and defy the barriers the sycophants around you have built to cut you off from the realities as they continue to sing your praise. Some of your spokesperson may be doing more harm than good. You need to call them to order.

They need to do better in bridling their tongues. The Nigerians of today are far too intelligent than the people in your government think. We can do without the lies one of them tend to feed us with.
My President, as you probably know, I am an academic political economist without time for the Nigerian politicians of all ilk. I am not a group protester and definitely a non-violent Nigerian. Nonetheless, I spend time ruminating, analysing and articulating on how I see our polity and undertake comparative analysis over time and space to assist policy and decision-makers on their task. It is from my experience that I conclude that you are not able to address leadership deficit in Nigeria. I also think you are no match for the external dynamics Nigeria has been subjected to since flag independence.

I am, however, convinced you can take some baby steps by prioritising transparency, accountability, and stakeholder engagement to navigate complex economic landscapes and foster inclusive growth. By learning from Kenya’s experience, you can steer Nigerian policymakers to chart a path towards a resilient economy and an equitable society. In this regard, your campaign slogan of “renewed hope” can genuinely lead Nigerians towards utmost freedom – the summation of the rights granted under the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals. To uphold renewed hope for utmost freedom is to make those wanting to protest irrelevant today, tomorrow, or at anytime during and beyond your term(s) in office. My President change history and be a peoples’ president for all Nigerians.

Babafemi A. Badejo, author of a best-seller on politics in Kenya, was a former Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, and currently a Legal Practitioner and Professor of Political Science & International Relations, Chrisland University, Abeokuta. Nigeria.