Akwa Ibom State Chapter of APC has two secretariats in Uyo, the state capital. They stand four kilometers apart, separated by acrimony and bad blood, but bonded by decay and abandonment. They are a clear restatement to the parlous conditions of the party in the state, long strewn in crisis, bitterness and infighting. At one end of the party are the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Obong Ekperikpe Ekpo; former presidential adviser, Senator Ita EnangChief Victor Antai, Executive Director, NDDC; Mrs Eunice Thomas, Board member, NNPC; Chief Imo Akpan, Commissioner, RMAFC; Chairman, Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, Dr. Emaeyak Ukpong, among others. At the opposite end are former minister of Petroleum, Atuekong Don Etiebet; former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Umana Umana; former managing Director of NDDC, Obong Nsima Ekere; former military governor of Ogun State and Rivers State, Group Captain Sam Enwang (rtd); Senator Nelson Effiong, among several others. The two camps do not see eye to eye and, as the saying goes, when two elephants fight, the grass suffers. In this case, the grass has not only overgrown the secretariats, but the party members have become despondent; dejected and disappointed.

In 2018, APC was a large, formidable party in Akwa Ibom, poised to wrestle power from the PDP. Nsima Ekere, then Managing Director of NDDC, was getting set to contest for the governorship ticket of the party and go on to slug it out with Gov. Udom Emmanuel, who was going for his second term reelection. APC’s Secretariat was then located at 149, Ikot Ekpene Road, an old three-storey building built in the 1970s. The building was initially occupied by the PDP, until it moved to another location in 2016. Today, PDP is occupying a purpose-built secretariat. The imposing building at 149 Ikot Ekpene Road remained vacant until 2018 when APC moved in there with the financial support from Ekere. In August 2018, just as APC was moving into the property, Senator Godswill Akpabio decamped from the PDP to the party, creating a buoyant and upbeat mood among the rank and file. But there were leaders like former governor Victor Attah who warned publicly that Akapbio’s entry into the party would weaken, rather than strengthen it. Many people did not take him seriously.

 Trouble started in 2021 and since then, the party has not remained the same. In October of that year, APC conducted its congresses to elect party leaders and delegates for the various party primaries in preparation for the 2023 elections. Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe, the interim National Secretary of the Party, was leading the charge. Akpabio was Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, but there was no love lost between the two men. They have been political enemies since 2009 when Udedehe defected from PDP to ACN.

 With the congresses concluded, Austine Ekanem, an Udoedehe acolyte who was the State Secretary, was elected State Chairman with 1,278 votes, to beat Stephen Ntokekpo, the youth leader, who scored only six votes. Dr. Ita Udosen, who was the Ag. Chairman (the chairman, Ini Okopido, had died the previous year), was elected South-South Zonal Secretary at the National Convention. All the ward executives and State Officers of the Party were carefully selected and put in place by Udoedehe who was also preparing to run for the 2023 governorship election. Austin Ekanem was duly sworn into office by the Party’s Acting National Chairman, Abubarkar Bello, (then the governor of Niger State) on March 7, 2022. Bello stood in for the then National Chairman, Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, who was on medical vacation.

The party’s structures were all in Udoedehe’s hand. Akpabio, completely sidelined, was livid with rage, but he did not show it. The new State Chairman returned to Uyo and inaugurated his EXCO and Ward Executives. There were celebrations everywhere in the state; but the merriments were short-lived, for exactly 10 days after Austin Ekanem was sworn-in as chairman, the Akpabio camp obtained a judgment from a Federal High Court in Abuja, affirming that Ntokekpo, who had scored only six votes, was the authentic state chairman. Ntokekpo had filed the case in November 2021, soon after the congresses, but Ekanem was not joined as defendant. Rather it was the APC that was the defendant, a clever tactic that ensured that the case was undefended. The court judgment was based on a fake result sheet in which Ntokekpo’s score was changed from 006 to 1006; while Ekanem’s score changed from 1,278 to 278. It was a mathematical abracadabra in which ‘’1’’ from Ekanem’s 1,278 votes was moved to Ntokekpo’s 006 votes to make it 1006. All other results were unchanged in the court filing. It was a pyrrhic for the party has not recovered from it since then.

With this, Ntokekpo, an Akpabio ally, was sworn in as the State Chairman, replacing Ekanem, who had been was sworn in two week earlier. A protracted legal battle ensued between Ekanem and Ntokekpo with Akpabio and Udoedehe as the big behind-the-scene-masquerades. But there were other problems. The chairman of the APC Akwa Ibom State State Congress Committee, Alhaji Banki Yusuf wrote a petition to the police headquarters in Abuja, stating that Steven Ntokekpo had allegedly forged the result of the state congress. The police arrested Ntokekpo and investigated the allegation. Forgery was confirmed. The police then forwarded the result of their investigation to the DPP Office in Abuja and after the review of the police report and investigation; the DPP recommended that Steven Ntokekpo and others be charged to court. Till today, no case has been filed against Ntokekpo. There was a big masquerade behind him.

Akpabio had now assumed full control of the party structures in the state, but Ekanem was still fighting hard to reclaim his mandate. The forgery allegation was still swirling around; the congress matter was dragging in court in Abuja and the 2023 elections were approaching fast. APC was waltzing from one crisis to another, and events began to unfold at dizzying speed in quick succession. Senator Udoedehe decamped from the party to NNPP and picked up its governorship ticket; Akpabio resigned from Buhari’s cabinet to run for President and rented another storey building at No. 6 Ekpo Obot Street, Uyo, as the party’s State Secretariat, abandoning the imposing building at 149, Ikot Ekpene Road, painted in APC colours. The acquisition of a new secretariat was the first formal indication of a gulf and disharmony in the party; and the discord has been growing.

Within that period, Chief Akan Udofia, a swashbuckling oil industry contractor, emerged as the party’s governorship candidate through another dubious circumstance. Udofia had contested in the PDP governorship primary held a day before APC’s primary, and scored only one vote. But how he emerged victorious in APC’s primary conducted around midnight the following day is the stuff that ‘’Akpabiosm School of Politics’’ is made of.

 Enter Senator Ita Enang, another APC governorship aspirant. A lawyer of over 40 years at the bar, Enang headed to the courts and obtained judgment at Federal High Court, Abuja, against Udofia and APC. The court decided that since the midnight primary was not certified by INEC, the party was null and void, and the party had no governorship candidate for the 2023 election! By now, Akpabio had withdrawn from the presidential primary at Eagles Square in Abuja on March 6, 2022; bought a nomination form for Senate and by another abracadabra, another Senatorial primary was conducted for him in which he won the nomination. In the first senatorial primary, a retired deputy inspector general of police, Mr. Ekpo Ekpoudom, was nominated as candidate. How Akpabio wrestled the ticket from Ekpoudom at the Supreme Court is yet another mystery of Nigerian democracy.

It’s been two years since the 2023 elections and with all the political dramas; dubious court judgments and mago-mago party primaries; APC emerged exhausted and withered. There has not been any party a major activity since the election. Austin Ekanem, the ousted Chairman, says the Secretariat at 149 Ikot Ekpene Road has been abandoned since 2022 and activity has ceased in the party since the end of 2023 elections. He recalls that around October 2024, Senator Ita Enang had approached him, and apparently acting at the behest of the Senate President, invited him for some reconciliation meetings, but he rebuffed Enang, telling him that he would not be part of any reconciliation process that does not include other disaffected leaders like Umana Umana; Don Etiebet; Nsima Ekere; Sam Enwang; Bassey Dan-Abia; Senator Nelson Effiong and other leaders’’. The process has stalled.

 But Dr. Ita Udosen, the South-South Zonal Secretary of the Party, says although he’s a senior officer of the party, he has never been invited for any party event. His words: ‘’As you know, I was the Acting Chairman of the Party for about two years, and I operated from 149, Ikot Ekpene Road. Stephen Ntokekpo was the youth leader then. In 2022, I was elected as the Zonal Secretary of the party; and my office is in Port Harcourt. I can tell you that I have never been invited to any party event at the Ekpo Obot Secretariat and I do not know what the conditions there are like’’.

Stephen Ntokekpo himself was quite effusive when I spoke to him. He said that there are plans to reconcile everybody and bring all sidelined persons back into one fold, noting that the Ekpo Obot secretariat is not only functioning, but is well maintained. I did not see that. He paid tributes to the Senate President and the minister for their contributions to the party. ‘’You know, the property we are occupying is owned by an APC stalwart (Chief Sunny Ibanga). I am aware that both the Senate President and the minister have been taking care of our landlord who has not been well. If I have any issue with the landlord, I will sort it ought with him. But I can tell you that the rent for the property is not due till March and the property is well kept’’.

 Ntokekpo then veered off and praised Gov. Umo Eno for ‘’for bringing peace and harmony to the State’’. He said: ‘’Gov. Umo Eno has reached out to APC members in ways that show that he is the governor for all Akwa Ibom people, irrespective of party affiliations. The governor has identified with the Senate President, who is our grand leader, in a very respectful manner. To that extent, we in APC have decided that we should give the governor his due respect and allow the government a chance to govern. Elections have come and gone. It’s time for governance’’.

Akwa Ibom APC has been thoroughly weakened by its many troubles. It’s difficult to see how it would go through the 2027 elections.

… NESG says FG Must Support Domestic Industries to Achieve a $1 Trillion Economy

Nigeria’s former Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, recently shared a troubling experience that underscores the deep economic hardship in the country. According to him, he received persistent calls from desperate individuals seeking amounts as small as N1,000 and N3,000 just to survive. One woman, in particular, called him 30 times in one day, pleading for help.

Without a doubt, his revelation is a stark reminder that poverty has reached alarming levels, turning many Nigerians into beggars. However, beyond lamenting the dire economic situation, Shittu’s experience offers a crucial lesson: those in positions of power or financial stability must take proactive steps to empower those around them. This is the only way to prevent being overwhelmed with distress calls in the future.

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is germane to opine that the importance of empowerment over handouts cannot be pooh-poohed and flagrantly wished away to be inconsequential.  It is often said that giving someone a fish feeds them for a day, but teaching them to fish ensures they never go hungry again. Unfortunately, many people in positions of influence or wealth fail to apply this principle when dealing with their family members, church members, or even close friends. They provide occasional financial assistance but do not invest in sustainable empowerment. This approach only creates dependency, ensuring that the cycle of begging continues indefinitely.

Imagine if, instead of giving out N3, 000 occasionally, a person in a position of power helped a relative start a small business. A capital of N50, 000 or less could be enough to set up a petty trade, such as selling food items, recharge cards, or running a small kiosk. With such a setup, that individual would no longer need to make repeated distress calls for survival.

For those who have held public office or achieved financial success, the expectation to assist others is constant. Politicians, in particular, are often inundated with calls and messages from constituents, family members, and acquaintances requesting financial assistance. The pressure can be overwhelming, especially for those who genuinely did not enrich themselves unlawfully while in office. Shittu’s case is a perfect example of how even former ministers can find themselves struggling to meet the endless financial demands from people they know.

But what if these same individuals had been empowered earlier? If those in power today take the initiative to help their relatives and community members set up small businesses or learn valuable skills, they can prevent a future where their phone rings endlessly with requests for N1, 000 or N3, 000. The key is to invest in sustainable solutions that reduce long-term dependency.

Without a doubt, empowering others may seem herculean, but no amount in respect to empowering people is too small as there are numerous businesses that can be engaged in with small capital particularly Nano and MSMEs sectors.

For the sake of clarity, in Nigeria, the “Nano and SME sectors” refer to the collective group of very small businesses categorized as “Nano enterprises” (typically with 1-2 employees) alongside “small and medium enterprises” (SMEs), which encompass businesses with a larger workforce and turnover than Nano enterprises, forming the backbone of the Nigerian economy and contributing significantly to employment generation; with the majority of businesses in Nigeria falling under the “Nano” category due to their high number of informal, micro-scale operations.

One common excuse people give for not helping others is that they do not have enough to make a difference. However, empowerment does not always require huge sums of money. Some small businesses require as little as from N50, 000 to N150, 000 to start. Even beyond financial support, people can be empowered through mentorship, skill acquisition programs, or connections that provide them with job opportunities.

For example, a struggling relative could be helped to acquire skills in tailoring, hairdressing, phone repairs, or any other vocational trade. Instead of giving them money occasionally, they can be sponsored for training that ensures they become self-reliant. This kind of intervention is far more impactful than temporary handouts.

In fact, the lesson from Adebayo Shittu’s experience should serve as a wake-up call to those in leadership positions and financially comfortable individuals. Empowerment should be a priority, not an afterthought. If you fail to empower those around you today, you may find yourself drowning in their distress calls tomorrow.

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is germane to opine that there are some practical ways to start empowering people today, and they cut across supporting small businesses, investing in people who are willing to acquire skills, creation of job opportunities, mentorship and encouraging savings and financial planning.

For instance, those in position to help others can do that by providing start-up capital for petty trading or Nano businesses, helping people acquire vocational skills instead of giving them money intermittently and using their networks to connect people to employment opportunities. Some other ways include guiding young people on career paths that will make them self-sufficient, and encouraging savings and financial planning by teaching financial literacy so people can manage their resources better.

Without a doubt, Nigeria is in a difficult economic state, and the level of poverty is heartbreaking. However, those in positions of power or financial stability have a responsibility to empower others. The more people you help become self-reliant today, the fewer distress calls you will receive in the future.

It is time to break the cycle of dependence and build a future where people can stand on their own. Let Adebayo Shittu’s experience be a lesson to all: empower your family, friends, and community members now, so you won’t be overwhelmed by their desperate calls later.

The immediate past president of the United States of America spent $1.9 trillion on regulatory costs, the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, said.

DOGE disclosed this in a widely circulated document.

According to the DOGE document, Biden’s administration initiated 1,217 rules costing the country $1.9 trillion.

In contrast, DOGE noted that during Trump’s first term as president, 1,340 rules cost $64.7 billion, and during Barack Obama’s presidency, 2,997 rules cost the US government $870.5 billion.

DAILY POST reports that since the emergence of Trump’s presidency, DOGE has swung into action to sanitise government spending and increase efficiency, which is its core mandate.

Reacting to DOGE’s latest move, Florida State Senator Rick Scott wrote on X: “Democrats’ ridiculous rules and regulations cost the American people $1.9 trillion over the past four years.

“Cutting big government regulations is how we make Washington work better for families.”

[DailyPost]

A daughter to the late President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Justice Moses Bello, has faulted Wednesday’s judgment dismissing her suit challenging the distribution of her father’s estate.

The daughter, Ann Eniyamire whose suit was dismissed by A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) argued that the judgment has led to a miscarriage of justice.

Eniyamire, who spoke through her lawyer, Yahuza Mahraz, said she was saddened by current developments in the Judiciary, “where a judge can aid a party of his own choice by introducing new facts not deposed by any party and arguing such facts based on his personal beliefs. This has led to a miscarriage of justice.” 

While vowing to appeal the decision, Eniyamire said: “The judgment in its entirety is contradictory, approbatory and reprobatory, which cannot stand the test of fairness and natural justice.

 “The same judge, who held in his ruling on the defendants’ notice of preliminary objection that the claimant’s suit is not challenging the validity of a will/ codicil and is not challenging the grant of probate, as the issue of challenging a validity of a will/ codicil only goes to Probate Registry, before a Probate Registrar, went ahead to challenge the validity of the will and codicil on his own, without any party raising it for him, thereby downgrading the High Court to the position of a Probate Registry and hold a contradictory decision.

“We reject the judgment in its entirety and we going on Appeal,” she said.

Eniyamire’s suit, marked: CV/667/2024, had Reverend Father Ezekiel John and Christ the King Catholic Church, Okene Parish as  defendants.

She had alleged that Father John (listed as the first defendant) unilaterally adopted a 4.16% sharing formula instead of the 11.11% her later father instructed in his will.  

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Mohamed Zubairu held that the codicil (a legal amendment to a will) relied upon by Eniyamire was invalid.  

Justice Zubairu ssid the document was “more of a private letter’’ written by the late judge to his lawyer, Alex Izinyon (SAN), and did not meet the legal requirements of a codicil under the Wills Act.  

The judge added: “A letter written by an attestor but not signed by at least two witnesses cannot be considered a valid codicil. Though titled ‘Codicil,’ it does not satisfy Section 9 of the Wills Act.” 

Justice Zubairu held that the word “can” in the codicil afforded the executor some level of discretion in the distribution of the properties. 

The judge added that Eniyamire was not entitled to 1/9th of her father’s properties and upheld the defendants’ distribution formula.  

“Consequently, all the reliefs sought by the claimant are hereby refused. The suit is dismissed,” Justice Zubairu said.  

[TheNation]

Dakuku Peterside, former director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), says it is “premature” to resume oil exploration in Ogoni land, Rivers state.

On January 21, President Bola Tinubu met with Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), and a delegation of Ogoni leaders.

The meeting came after a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) demanded the allocation of $1 trillion for the clean-up of the Niger Delta and compensation before oil operations resume.

The talks were connected to the federal government’s plans to resume oil exploration in Ogoni land. Tinubu acknowledged the historical challenges faced by the Ogoni people and noted the need for reconciliation and progress.

However, Peterside, while speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, on Wednesday, said resuming oil exploration in Ogoni is ill-timed until contentious issues are resolved.

The former DG of NIMASA pointed out that the unfair distribution of oil exploration benefits, which neglects the Niger Delta community, is deeply troubling.

“If I must be sincere with you, it will be premature to resume oil exploration in Ogoni land. What I think—and I think that is the part the government has also chosen—is to do further consultations, build trust, and show genuine commitment to real environmental governance,” he said.

“The challenge all along has been the opaque nature of oil exploration not just in Ogoni land but in the entire Niger Delta.

“And the fact that the way benefits derivable from oil exploration is distributed to the exclusion of the people of Niger Delta is a big question mark.

“And until we address that in a transparent manner, then we will not make much progress.”

The Ogoni people are an ethnic group in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria, primarily inhabiting Rivers state.

The Niger Delta region, and the Ogoni in particular, has faced severe environmental degradation over the years due to oil exploration.

The Ogoni are known for their long-standing activism against environmental degradation caused by oil exploration, particularly by multinational corporations.

In the early 1990s, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), led by the late activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, drew global attention to the environmental destruction of Ogoni land.

This led to widespread protests and conflicts with the Nigerian government.

‘ESTABLISHING UNIVERSITY IN OGONI LAND NOT SAME AS ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE’

Speaking on the establishment of a university in Ogoni Land, Peterside said creating such an institution in Ogoni land is not the same as addressing the environmental injustice that the people have suffered.

He added that revisiting the Ogoni bill of rights is crucial to addressing the injustices suffered by the people of that area.

On February 3, Tinubu signed into law a bill establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology in Ogoni.

The president said the legislation is a step towards addressing environmental justice and expanding educational opportunities in the Niger Delta region.

He described the Federal University of Environmental Technology as a “significant milestone” in Nigeria’s efforts toward environmental sustainability and national development.

He acknowledged the historical struggles of the Ogoni people, noting that the university reaffirms his administration’s commitment to the region.

[TheCable]

Former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has once again stirred up the proverbial hornet’s nest by choosing to be politically incorrect in a clime where doublespeak not only walks on all fours but is also seen as an exemplar of political astuteness. But not for the man who was Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and former Minister of Transportation.

Speaking in Abuja on January 30, at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, organized by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development, Amaechi, as he is wont to do, bucked the hypocritical trend when he reminded his audience that included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, and Senator Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto State, that the average Nigerian politician will not relinquish power unless compelled by the superior will of the people.

“Nobody has power and will give it to you — not even me… The politician in Nigeria is there to steal, maim and kill to remain in power. If you think Tinubu will give it to you, you are wasting your time,” Amaechi said, stressing the need for vigilance and sacrifice.

To be sure, this is not the first time he would task Nigerians to take their political destiny in their own hands.

Speaking at the 2023 TheNiche Annual Lecture in Lagos on October 28, 2023, Amaechi blamed the docility of Nigerians and their inability to react to the egregious dishonesty of their leaders for the rascality of politicians.

“Nigerians don’t react to anything. Has any politician told you he is not a thief? Which politician told you he went to university, which politician told you she served in NYSC, and which politician told you he has his certificate? Nigerians know and still vote for them… Even if you come to a Nigerian’s house and kill his mother, the father will continue with his life. So, why should I waste my time,” he asked.

But even long before TheNiche lecture, he had always taken umbrage at the atrocious conducts of Nigerian politicians and seeming acquiesce of the people. Speaking on December 15, 2013 at an event organised in Lagos to pay tribute to former South African President Nelson Mandela, he challenged Nigerians to hold their leaders to account, insisting that political office holders steal state funds because Nigerians do not stone them.

So, Amaechi, in a sense didn’t say anything new last Thursday. If anything, he has been consistent on his advocacy that the pathway to good governance and political integrity in Nigeria is for the younger generation to wake up from their slumber and fight for the soul of the country. The fact that he is a major player in the Fourth Republic politics also makes it imperative that Nigerians should listen to him. He knows where the bodies are buried.

That also explains why officials of the Tinubu administration reacted so angrily and called him out forcefully. After all, he was not the only person who spoke at the Abuja event. But they know that he was telling the truth, knowing exactly how elections are won and lost in Nigeria. So, their pretentious indignation is an attempt to scare him away from his self-imposed task of conscientizing the youths.

Berating Amaechi for making ‘reckless, dangerous and inflammatory remarks’ unbecoming of a former ‘public office holder,’ Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, told him that power is earned through democracy, not intimidation, violence or lawlessness, as if Amaechi was in doubt. His claim that the Tinubu administration was committed to upholding peace, democratic values and security for all Nigerians flies in the face of reality.

Of course, Nigerians know who is lying between the two. Suffice it to say that Amaechi simply amplified Tinubu’s very Machiavellian idea of power and how it is acquired. Shortly before the 2023 elections, Tinubu, the then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was seen in a video admonishing top campaign operatives to ‘fight, grab and run (away) with’ political power.

“Political power is not going to be served in a restaurant. They don’t serve it a la carte. At all cost, fight for it, grab it and run with it,” he said. And that was exactly what he did, which is also what will happen in 2027 unless Nigerians say enough is enough, the very direction that Amaechi is pointing them to. The very idea of fighting, grabbing and running away with political power is antithetical to democracy. In a democracy, power is given by the people in a free, fair and credible election.

Of course, in a system that has normalized the idea of power not being given by the electorate but taken forcefully by the strong, in a system where might has always been seen as being right and democracy is a ‘do or die affair’ (apologies to former President Olusegun Obasanjo), Amaechi’s advocacy can only be deemed as treasonable, which explains Matawalle’s angst and threat on behalf of his principal.

“Let me make it clear: the security agencies are on high alert. Any individual or group found inciting violence or attempting to destabilize this nation will face the full force of the law. We will not tolerate any form of subversive rhetoric that seeks to undermine national unity or incite lawlessness. This government will not fold its arms and allow any individual to disrupt the peace and stability of Nigeria,” he warned.

But pray, how does Amaechi’s charge to Nigerians to vote and ensure that their votes are not only counted but count in the outcome of elections be deemed an attempt to undermine national unity? Those who disrupt national unity are those who ensure that votes do not count in elections, people whose democracy worldwide undermine the very principle of democracy.

In a democracy, power is given by the people, not taken willy-nilly by the powerful. Yes, every contest for power is a serious business. But the seriousness lies in the intense battle to win the support of the people who hold the supreme power. As I have always argued, democracy does not guarantee that the best candidate will win. No! But the irreducible precondition for any democratic adventure is that power must be freely given by the people.

It may be tempting to dismiss Matawalle’s threat as sheer bluster, an attempt to cow the people to submit to the Tinubu government’s anti-democratic whims and caprices. But Nigerians must take it serious. As at today, nothing suggests that the government is planning for a free and fair poll in 2027 where the choices of the majority of the electorate will prevail.

But knowing the character of successive Nigerian governments since 1999, the messenger may well be endangered. It will, therefore, not be a surprise if the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) starts hounding the arrowheads of the emerging opposition to the prevailing political status-quo, with Amaechi as the principal target.

The former minister is aware of the risk he faces. At the TheNiche lecture, he told the audience that: “The worst thing about Nigerians is that even when you have not committed any crime and they pick you up tomorrow, they will chorus ‘we said it, he is a thief,’ and you will go to prison for nothing. The greatest fear I have is being found in prison for nothing and you can be found in prison for doing nothing.”

The fact that Amaechi knows the risks involved and yet is determined to bite the bullet makes his cause altruistic. And he is right. Nigerian politicians are unconscionable. They steal, maim and kill for power and will continue to do so for as long as there are no consequences for their atrocious behaviours. For democracy to thrive, Nigerians must fight for it with all they have, a reason well-meaning people must rally round Rotimi Amaechi rather than join the band of government apologists in vilifying him.

A combined security team has discovered the decomposing body of a member of Anambra State House of Assembly, Justice Azuka, on the 2nd Niger Bridge.

Azuka was taken captive on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunabankpa Road, Inland Town, Onitsha.

He was representing Onitsha North Constituency 1 in the Anambra assembly.

After weeks of investigation, security operatives from Abuja apprehended the suspects late Wednesday. The arrested individuals led authorities to the location where they dumped the lawmaker’s remains.

Spokesman of the Anambra Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said he would reveal details to the public soon.

In 2022, a member of Anambra House of Assembly, Okey Okoye, popularly known as Okey Di Ok, was abducted and beheaded.

His body was later found around the Nnobi axis.

[Vanguard]