It is with a deep shock and sorrow that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide received the sad news of the passing of one of the most outstanding Igbo Leader, Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu, CFR, OFR, MFR, GCSI, FNSE, FNIST, FNICE, KSC. (Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo), the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. The sad news was broken by Mr. Jude Iwuanyanwu, the son of the legend. According to the son, Chief Iwuanyanwu passed on Thursday, July 25, 2024 after a brief illness at the age of 82.

Chief Iwuanyanwu assumed office as the president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on April 30, 2023. He was the Ninth leader of the Igbo group since its inception in 1976. Evidently, each leader or President General has one remarkable or distinctive characteristic for which he is often remembered. While other past leaders had limited their perspectives on Nigerian contemporary issues, Ahaejiagamba introduced strategic and visionary dimension to the modus operandi of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

In the first place, Ahaejiagamba had a towering personality with an impressive record as one of the most successful business men in Nigeria. He deployed his prodigious intellect, political, administrative and political acumen, vast knowledge and invaluable contacts in the selfless service of Ndigbo. The transformative leader lifted Ohanaeze Ndigbo far from its familiar habitat and provenance to an enviable pedestal.

As members of the NEC, we were always amazed by the brilliant initiatives, elephantine memory, oratory, including the frequency with which the Igbo Leader enunciated robust ideas. Looking back, Ndigbo all over the world were delighted that a jinx-breaker, business icon, moral edifice, mobilizer, harmonizer of diverse interests and an accomplished achiever in the person of Chief Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, was at the helm of affairs as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. It is therefore very painful that Chief Iwuanyanwu has passed on with all the ideas that were at his disposal.

It is indeed a sad denouement for the Igbo that both Professor George Obiozor and Chief Iwuanyanwu died in office. We are also worried at the rate we are losing the brightest of the brightest among the Igbo in a close sequence at a time their wise counsels are mostly needed. It was Prof Ben Nwabueze, and later,His Majesty, Igwe Joseph Chike Edozien, Dr. Sylvester Ebiwei, Professor Joe Irukwu, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, amongst others.

Before he Iwuanyanwu was a philanthropist par excellence, focused creative thinker, brave soldier, accomplished engineer, astute business mogul, industrialist and a sagacious politician, and the former highest employer of labour at least in the entire East of the Niger.

Iwuanyanwu was the Chairman of the Iwuanyanwu Foundation which offered scholarships to over ten thousand indigent students across the country. He donated to universities to create conducive environments for learning; built Churches and other community facilities.

Over forty years ago, Chief Sam Mbakwe, the former governor of Old Imo State conceived the idea of an International Cargo Airport at Owerri, it was Iwuanyanwu who made the highest donation of Two million Dollars (2M US Dollars), among others.

In politics, Ahaejiagamba produced several Chairmen of Local Governments, Commissioners, Senators, Ministers and Governors most of whom are still alive.

The Iwuanyanwu trajectory is an admonition to the present day selfish and mundane leaders who perceive legacy as leaving enormous wealth behind for one’s offsprings; rather, it’s about laying invaluable foundation among the populace, especially for younger generations. 

 Iwuanyanwu’s life mission transcended self; rather he was devoted to charity, humanity and service to God.

Nigerians across board had viewed with immense delight and awe the various courageous successful adventures Ahaejiagamba had made in diverse fields of endeavour. He was a man who used his ingenuity and talent to found over twenty limited liability companies that employed thousands of Nigerians. Some of the companies include: Chairman, Hardel & Enic Construction Ltd; Champion Newspapers; Oriental Airlines; Oriental Shipping Lines Ltd; Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club of Owerri, which won several national and international championships (now Heartland F.C of Owerri); Enic Advertising and Marketing; Sunrise Insurance Brokers; Benhol Farms Limited; Magil Agricultural & Animal Health Products Limited, among many others.

Iwuanyanwu held many public offices: they include: Board Chairman, Federal Road Maintenance Agency; Board Chairman, Nigerian Investment Promotion; Founding Chairman, Raw Materials Research and Development Council of Nigeria; Chairman, National Productivity Merit Award; Chairman, Nigerian Sports Development Council; Founding Chairman, Nigerian National Lottery; Chairman, National Orthopedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos; Pro-Chancellor, the University of Calabar, Cross River State.

What has kept the cynics gaping was the extra-ordinary brain power and the exceptional grace of God to coordinate the above activities without weary, taint, tarnish or blemish.

In spite of his amazing height in society and busy schedules, he devoted quality time in service to Ndigbo. He served as Chairman in the following Ohanaeze Committees: State Creation Committee, Planning and Strategy Committee, Political Committee, Constitution Drafting Committee and currently, the President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

The Iwuanyanwu persona is a veritable and inspiring tribute to virtues of hard work, sincerity, heroism, sacrifice, ingenuity, philanthropy and mentorship to the people. For instance, when his people needed his services most, he volunteered to serve as a Biafran soldier, rising to the rank of a Captain at a very young age.

Apart from his gallantry and exploits in the theatre of war, he was among the engineers that invented the multi-purpose Biafran bomb, called the Ogbunigwe. His prodigious intellect, character comeliness, generosity, frontier spirit, perseverance and tenacity portray the infinite capacity of human beings to shape their own destinies; and a caution to the dangers of self-delusion, arrogance and get-rich-quick syndrome which have become the contemporary social variables amongst today youths.

Ahaejiagamba was an unassailable trail blazer who was honoured with Chief Executive of the Year, Business Education Executive Council in 1985 and the Business Person of the Year Award in 1999; Member Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR), Officer Federal Republic of Nigeria(OFR) and Commander Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR); and a Knight of the Order of St. Christopher.

Several communities across Igbo land and beyond have conferred chieftaincy titles on Iwuanyanwu. Numerous corporate bodies have also honoured the philanthropist of our time.

Some universities decorated Iwuanyanwu with doctorate degrees, honoris causa. They include: D.Sc. Morgan State University Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Doctor of Laws, LLD, Shaw University Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Doctor of Business Administration, DBA, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Doctor of Science, D.Sc, University of Jos; Doctor of Science, D.Sc, University of Calabar; Doctor of Technology, D.Tech, Federal University of Technology Owerri; Doctor of Business Administration, DBA, Edo State University and a Doctor of Science, D.Sc, Imo State University, Owerri.

Several other bodies also added to his garlands: He was a Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Science & Technology; Fellow, Nigerian Society of Engineers; Fellow, Institute of Management Consultants; Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations; Fellow, Nigerian Association of Agricultural Students; Fellow, Chartered Institute of Transport of Great Britain; Fellow, Solar Energy Society of Nigeria; Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Sales Management (FNISM); Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria; Fellow Institute of Purchasing and Marketing Administration; Fellow, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana (FAIFPU); Fellow, The Nigerian Academy of Education; Fellow, Nigerian Entrepreneurs Association; Fellow Institute of African Studies, UNN. “Iwuanyanwu is cited in Who is Who in Nigeria; Who is Who in Africa; Who is Who in Commonwealth and Who is Who in the World.

He was indeed larger than life; and the best President Ohanaeze Ndigbo ever had. We have lost a gem.

While we send a heartfelt condolence to the amiable wife, the Children, the people of Umuohiri Attah community and the Imo State government, we ask the Almighty to grant the soul of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, an eternal rest in his bosom.  

Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, the National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

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The Department of State Services (DSS) has followed the discourse on planned protests in parts of the country in the coming weeks by persons and groups yet to identify themselves in the public as leaders of the plot. While peaceful protest is a democratic right of citizens, the Service has confirmed a sinister plan by some elements to infiltrate the protest and use it to cause chaos and extreme violence in the land. It has also identified the reason behind the protest to be political. The plotters desire to use the intended violent outcome to smear the federal and sub-national governments; make them unpopular and pit them against the masses. The long term objective is to achieve a regime change especially at the Centre.

The Service has also identified, among others, the funding lines, sponsors and collaborators of the plot. However, it does not think that aggression should be the first line action in the instance, in handling the emerging scenario. It has instead, variously applied non kinetic and conflict resolution strategies, including moral suasion, stakeholder engagement and other multi-track diplomatic shuttles, to dissuade the planners from actualising their undesirable objective. 

Based on the foregoing, the Service wishes to warn all the protest groups to eschew any form of proposed rage, anarchy and spoliation. While the different levels of Government have routinely explained their agenda to ameliorate alleged harsh economic conditions, the Service urges the prospective protesters to listen to the voice of reason, good conscience and patiently engage with the authorities, in the interest of peace. This has become important given that violence begets destruction of lives and property as well as serve as a distraction to governance. The agitators are encouraged to use ample ways available to them to channel their grievances without resorting to violence.

The Service calls on people of goodwill, Leaders of Thought, Captains of Industry, Labour Unions, Student Associations, Youth Leaders, the Civil Society, Clergy, NGOs, Women groups, Civil Servants and Politicians to shun any invitation to participate in any orchestrated violence, deliberately designed to cause disaffection in the country. Similarly, Parents, Guardians, Heads of traditional and academic institutions are respectively urged to advise their children, wards, subjects and students not to take part in the planned protest. Let us all join hands to build a Nation without rancour, bitterness or stained banner.

The Service will work with other sister Security and law enforcement agencies to maintain peace. It will, where necessary, apply all legitimate methods to achieve this. Meanwhile, the website, dss.gov.ng; email address - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Telephone lines +2349153391309; +2349088373514 will remain available to the members of the public who may wish to contact the Service.

Peter Afunanya, PhD, fsi, mnipr

Director PR & Stratcoms

Department of State Services 

National Headquarters Abuja 

25th July, 2024

The federal government has announced plans to issue $500 million in domestic foreign currency-denominated bonds in three to four weeks’ time. 

Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Edun said this during a quarterly press briefing in Abuja, themed ‘Economic Recovery and Growth: Progress and Prospects 2024’. 

He said: “We have an open exchange rate system, it’s not illegal and so we have the issuance of a dollar-denominated security, not depending on the financial architecture of the Western world, not depending on the kind of architecture that you use to raise Eurobonds. 

“We’re using the Nigerian financial system, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the banking system, the investment bankers to issue $500 million in the first instance that will be available and will attract foreign currency held by Nigerians abroad and anybody else who buys into the macroeconomic reform efforts of President Bola Tinubu. 

“That issue is a challenge to the best and the brightest in the financial markets. It is due to open in the next three to four weeks maximum.” 

No Immediate Plans for Eurobonds 

Addressing the potential for raising Eurobonds, Edun clarified that the government has no current plans to pursue this route, contingent on the success of the domestic foreign currency-denominated bonds. 

The finance minister said: “Right now, depending on the success of that issue, there is no talk of looking to go to the international markets to raise the euro bond. 

“It is one of the options that we have. It is the markets are open to us. Our ratings and our performance merit it. 

“The market is open to us but we prefer in the first instance to challenge Nigerians to come home with their money and be part of the Nigerian reform success story that we believe that is where the economy is headed. 

“Although these are very, very early stages we are in the right direction. We have turned the corner.” 

What you should know 

• It was earlier reported that the federal government plans to begin the issuance of domestic bonds denominated in foreign currency starting from the second quarter of this year. 

• The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, announced the government’s plan to market foreign exchange bonds to Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora. 
• Edun, however, explained that the delay in issuing the bonds was due to the government’s desire to establish confidence in its fiscal strategy and earn the trust of citizens who are skeptical of government policies. 

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently expressed concerns over the Nigerian government’s strategy to issue domestic dollar-denominated bonds. 
• The Fund warns that this move could exacerbate pressures on the naira and elevate the costs associated with naira securities. 
• It also noted that the federal government’s plan to introduce domestic foreign exchange securities, intended to enhance dollar liquidity in the official market, could fragment the market. 

[Nairametrics]

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) National President, Festus Osifo, has clarified that organized labour has no hand in the planned national protest.

Festus Osifo said the planners of the August national protest tagged “EndbadgovenanceinNingeria” did not contact organized labour.

Osifo said organized labour has its way of challenging government policies, and has advised President Bola Tinubu-led federal government to address the economic challenges affecting the county.

Comrade Festus Osifo made the clarification on Thursday while addressing the media on State of the Nation.

TUC president, however, added that Nigerians have right to protest as enshrined in the country’s constitution. He warned against using security agencies to intimidate Nigerians from exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights.

According to Daily Independent, Osifo said, “Nobody has contacted the union to secure partnership in a protest, hence that was not supposed to mean that Nigerians cannot protest if they wish to do so. So it is the duty of the police and all security personnel to protect them.”

Recall that NLC President, Joe Ajaero, has, also in a statement, warned the federal government against using security agencies to intimidate Nigerians planning to protest on August 1.

Ajaero said Nigerians who are hurt by hardship have right to express themselves.

He said while jaw jaw is better than war war, governments must listen to the demands of the protesters.

“It is very difficult to tell a Nigerian who has lost his or her job due to the current economic downturn to maintain their cool. It is very tough to advise a nursing mother who is unsure where the next meal for her suckling child to be at ease.

“It is a herculean task to demand patience from a youth who has been out of school for the past six years without a job and is burdened with aged parents to cater for.

“During these very difficult times, the right of Nigerians to complain must be fully respected,” he said.

[NaijaNews]

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that the planned nationwide hardship protest against the present administration will not be allowed to hold in the Territory because August 1, 2024, being slated for the protest, has been set aside to honour FCT traditional rulers.

Wike made this known on Thursday while briefing journalists after the FCT Security Council meeting attended by the Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Bunkure, FCTA management team, Area Council chairmen and heads of security agencies domiciled in FCT.

The FCT minister had earlier in the day inspected a road project in Saburi, along the Dei-Dei community of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) where he told residents not to join ‘armed robbers’ to protest.

“Do not go and follow these armed robbers on the road who said they want to protest. There is nothing like protests. Abuja will not be part of it. What you want is good governance and we are willing to give you good governance,” he told the crowd in Pidgin English.

Meanwhile, after the meeting with heads of security agencies in the Territory, the minister said they were all aware of the threat as regards what some people may call ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest.

“We believe that yes, we have the right to protest; we have the right to demonstrate, but all these have to come within the ambit of the law. During this period, we think that all Nigerians should work collectively to salvage our country.

“I am aware that there are challenges, and Mr President and his team are working very hard to make sure that those challenges, those problems facing our country are being solved. We know that it is a very difficult period for citizens.

“We urge all Nigerians to also have patience that at the end of the day, we will come out of this economic woes. We have seen the changes in the FCT, we have seen that government is working,” he added.

According to the minister, President Bola Tinubu has given FCT so much support, which is why they can attest to the fact that there are a lot of changes going on in the FCT, hence they will not allow anybody to set them back.

“We are looking forward to making sure that we take FCT to where it is supposed to be, as one of the major cities not only in Africa but also in the world. So, we will not allow anybody to disrupt the peace and set us back.

“For those who want to protest on the 1st of August or thereabout, FCT is not available for such protest. Fortunately, though, that is the day FCT has set aside, the entire Area Councils will be jubilating to give out certificates of recognition to their traditional rulers.

“So, we will not allow that day that the entire FCT has set aside to honour their traditional rulers for the people to come and rejoice, and then somebody would say that he wants to disrupt us that day.

“We want to make it categorically clear, that the day is a day the entire six Area Councils will be meeting to recognise and give out certificates of honour to their traditional rulers,” Wike declared.

The FCT Minister, therefore, invited residents of the Territory to join them in the celebrations, saying that it was part of the achievements of the FCT Administration and that the whole world should hear them that August 1 was not available for those who want to protest.

[Leadership]

Following the Supreme Court’s verdict on financial autonomy for local government councils in the country, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, on Thursday declared that the electoral body has the capacity to conduct elections for the third tier of government if provided with necessary resources.

Yakubu, who spoke when he appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Committees in Abuja, maintained that the electoral umpire, under his leadership, has the capacity, competence, human resources and adequate experience to conduct local government elections across the 774 councils of the country.

He justified his position with the successes already recorded by the commission in the six Federal Capital Territory Area Councils, including frequent off-season and bye-elections conducted by the INEC.

The Chairman said the fact that the commission had been conducting elections at the federal and state levels over the years successfully was an indication that it has all it takes to conduct council polls.

He said: “So if this responsibility for the conduct of local government elections 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.

“Right now, we do national elections, we do state elections, we do local government elections.

“A national electoral commission may be expected to implement only the presidential and National Assembly. We also do governorship elections, we do state assembly elections, and we do area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.

“Our track report actually proves that we can do it. Take the case of the Federal Capital Territory. I would like to say one or two things about the FTC local government elections.

“There are six area councils of the FCT. So there are six chairmen of area councils, and there are 62 wards in the FCT. Each ward has a councillor for the election of councils.

“This is one part of the country where INEC has conducted local government elections and it has resulted in the following.

“First, it is perhaps the only part of the country where local government elections are held regularly.

“Second, there has never been a caretaker committee for any Area Council in the FCT. INEC has been conducting the elections regularly.

“Thirdly, there is stability of tenure or security of tenure. It used to be three years, but in 2022, the National Assembly amended the Electoral Act to provide for a four-year tenure for area councils in the FCT. So, they enjoy the security of tenure.

“No single political party has ever won elections in all the constituencies in the FCT, not one.

“In fact, what is interesting now is that out of the six chairmen of the FCT, actually the council and the constituencies are evenly split between the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party which won three councils each.”

Yakubu also noted that FCT councils are made up of urban and rural communities, an indication that it has adequate experience to do so in any part of the country.

“So, in terms of capacity to do it, we can do it, we have been doing it in the Federal Capital Territory.

“However, if the decision of the National Assembly is to amend the constitution. I need to put that responsibility back to you (that) we need an engagement with the National Assembly.

“There are certain special amendments that are to be done for us to be able to handle those additional responsibilities.

“For instance, will the Federal Government continue to fund the elections for the states and the local government will fund this?

“The second proposition we have had is that there should be a new federal electoral commission for local government elections.

“Sadly, there is another argument that does not want the state electoral commissions to conduct local government elections in the spirit of federalism, but they should find a way of ensuring that they improve on the conduct.

“Right now, the law has not been amended. The same constitution that creates INEC also creates the State Independent Electoral Commissions.

“So, it is up to the National Assembly to amend the law to transfer that responsibility to INEC. If that is done, the question is can INEC cope? Yes, we can.

“We have said that we should not be unbundled beyond the conduct of electoral activities rather than elections. There are two activities we handle. That is what is called electoral activities, not necessarily related to elections.

“We believe that some of these responsibilities can be handled by other agencies. And this point has been made consistently since 2008 by committees established to reform our electoral processes beginning with the Justice Mohammed Uwais Commission in 2008, that some responsibilities should be removed from the Independent National Electoral Commission.”

The chairman, while assuring the joint panel that INEC had made adequate arrangements to conduct the two off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo States, also said the commission had prepared budgets for the outstanding by-elections in about seven federal and state legislative constituencies.

Yakubu also explained to the federal lawmakers that the agency’s 2024 budget is currently being adequately funded by the Ministry of Finance.

In terms of the performance of the N40 billion appropriated for the commission in the 2024 budget, he said the Ministry of Finance broke the INEC budget into 12 tranches.

“Every month they give us one-twelfth of the budget for the year. And for the last seven months, since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Finance has been releasing the sum of N23.3 billion to the Commission, which is one-twelfth of the 40 billion as of yesterday (July 24)

“The monthly releases to the Commission, this year, is now N23.3 billion out of 40 billion. That is 58.3%. What is outstanding is N16.6 billion amounted to 41.67% not released,” he stressed.

The operatives of the Department of the State Services (DSS) in Katsina State Command, have recovered 2,000 bags of rice out of the 20 trucks donated to the state by the Federal Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the recovered rice was allegedly diverted by some government officials.

NAN also reports that the gesture by the Federal Government was to cushion the effects of the current economic hardships in the country.

The DSS officials in the state, who confirmed the negative development, however, declined further comments on the issue and preferred to be anonymous.

An investigation conducted revealed that the 25kg bags of rice were deposited in a store at the Central market, Katsina.

It was some people who alerted the DSS on Wednesday night, who immediately swung into action.

The Chairman, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the state, Mr Abdulrahman Abdullahi, expressed shock over the issue.

Abdullahi lamented how the Federal Government donated the palliatives to the vulnerable but were allegedly diverted by some unpatriotic people.

The chairman vowed that they would continue to follow the case up to its logical conclusion.

He, therefore, advised the government to investigate the matter with a view of punishing those behind the diversion.

Also commenting on the matter, a resident of Katsina, Suleiman Kofar-Durbi, said that was an unfortunate development.

“It is unfortunate that I received the information yesterday night that the President provided relief to the vulnerables and some people diverted it.

“People are experiencing hardship due to the current economic situation in the country, the government should investigate the matter thoroughly and bring culprits to book,” he said.

The Chairman, Market Traders Association, Alhaji Shehu Usman, said that the rice was brought into the market by someone who was not a trader.

“Someone asked his brother to keep the rice for him in his stores in the market.

“We are calling on our members to be careful in receiving such items from people outside for keeping in the market,” he said.

Responding to the matter, the Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to Gov. Dikko Radda, Mr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the rice was allocated to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, by the Federal Government.

‘He said, ‘The minister directed the Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure Development, Alhaji Nasiru Lawal to keep it and he decided to take the rice to the market for safe keeping.

‘The rice allocated to the minister  were 1, 200 bags.” 

(NAN)

The lineup for the highly anticipated match between Nigeria’s Super Falcons and Brazil has been announced.

The Super Falcons will face Brazil in their first Women’s Olympic Football Tournament game at 6 pm Nigerian time at the Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France.

Rasheedat Ajibade is leading the team as captain while Asisat Oshoala is on the bench.

Former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Bode George, has called on the Federal Government to sue for peace ahead of a planned August 1 protest in the country.

Recent reports indicate that various Nigerian groups are planning a nationwide protest from August 1 to 10, dubbed “10 days of rage,” to address the country’s soaring cost of living and economic hardship.

Speaking during an appearance on Arise News on Thursday, the elder statesman called on the Federal Government not to allow the protest to degenerate into violence.

He said, “We’re in a democratic dispensation, and people must be able to express their feelings about the activities of the government. Nigeria is not a private enterprise. If the people are not happy, let me appeal to both the government and those people who are preparing to do this demonstration. Let there be peace. Please, don’t get violent.

“Go out peacefully and explain yourselves. Let the leaders explain to government because, when you listen to the policies of the government, the way they are manipulating and trying to manipulate economic solutions to the problems is mendacious and absolutely manipulative.”

Speaking further, he added that Nigeria is on the verge of collapse, and mishandling of the protest could degenerate into chaos.

“If you are not feeling the impact of your government, they have the right to exercise their voice. But, I want to plead with Nigerians: we are at the edge of total collapse now. Let them handle this issue with decorum, commitment, dedication, and listening.

“That’s why I said on both sides that I want to appeal to those who want to go on strike: please don’t go into violence. I know you are angry because you are hungry. Let them know; let the president himself see it. If we have been telling him stories that don’t add up, let him see,” he added.

Bode George also reiterated his call for restructuring the nation, stating that there’s a need to revisit the country’s constitution.

His words: “Nigeria is not a microcosm; Nigeria is a massive nation. What is the business of the national government in the state management of the state? We need to go and refigure; we need to go and restructure and reduce the impact of federal government, local government, and states.

“If we don’t restructure, we are wasting our time. I retired as a general, and the military organization requires a pyramid. Directives come from the top to the bottom. But in a democratic dispensation, the powers must come from the base to the top.

“Let’s revisit the constitution that was given to us by the military. It looks completely like a military organization. Power must come from the bottom to the top, not from the top down.”

He called on President Tinubu to allow protesters to exercise their rights and not allow the protest to go the Kenyan way.

“So let us be humanistic; let us have the feelings of the almighty God for the grace of our people. Things are not working. Everything is degrading. I’m not saying we should head into what they did in Kenya.

“Nigeria is more civilised than that, but don’t prevent them from exercising their fundamental right to tell you that we are not happy. The government has to be careful, and all the other agencies should follow them, but don’t shoot at them. Anyone who engages in violence should be isolated, apprehended, and taken away.”

[Vanguard]