Since May 29, 2023, workers in both public and private sectors have been suffering from economic hardships, particularly over rising food prices. Amidst the hardships, the government’s support for public service workers has raised questions about equity and inclusivity.

In fact, the Nigerian government’s commitment to supporting public service employees is commendable. However, it begs the question: Are non-government workers not Nigerians too? While civil servants receive regular salaries and benefits, many private-sector workers, artisans, and informal laborers struggle to make ends meet. Is this disparity fair?

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is apt to confess at this juncture that the inspiration to express this view came while reading the full text of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s speech on #EndBadGovernance Protests. Without any scintilla of hyperbole, I was jolted when I got to paragraph 26 of the speech where the president stated, “I signed the National Minimum Wage into law last week, and the lowest-earning workers will now earn at least N70, 000 a month”. At that point, I subconsciously asked myself, “Does Mr. President think that all employers in the private sector would implement the minimum wage for him to have said in his speech, ‘The lowest-earning workers will now earn at least N70, 000 a month?” The reason for asking the foregoing question cannot be farfetched as not a few private organizations in both the service and manufacturing sector lack the financial capacity to pay the newly approved minimum wage. For instance, in the sector where this writer works, most workers’ basic salaries and allowances put together fall below the minimum wage benchmark of N70, 000.00. Not only that, a huge number of employers in the sector are owing their workers in arrears, and they cannot be blamed because the business environment in which they thrive has for decades remained unfriendly.

Without a doubt, the foregoing stark reality is the reason why this writer is worried that the President, from the perspective of him signing the minimum wage, which he seemingly flaunted in his speech leaves much to be desired, particularly as a wide spectrum of Nigeria’s working population is in the private sector.

In a nation as diverse and dynamic as Nigeria, ensuring equity and inclusivity in welfare policies is not just a matter of social justice; it is a fundamental requirement for sustainable development. As the federal government grapples with the challenges posed by economic hardships, it must prioritize fairness and transparency to bridge the gap between the working population and government workers.

While equality aims for equal resources for all, equity recognizes that individuals face different obstacles. It acknowledges disparities and tailors support accordingly. In the context of welfare, equity means addressing the unique needs of various groups, ensuring that no one is left behind.

In a similar vein, inclusion refers to intentional efforts to allow diverse people with different identities to fully participate in all aspects of an organization. In our case, it means involving both government workers and the broader working population in policy decisions and resource allocation.

Again, government workers often receive priority when it comes to salary adjustments. While this is essential for their well-being, it should not overshadow the struggles faced by the working class. A fair approach would involve regular reviews of minimum wage and benefits for all, regardless of sector.

Also, the recent sale of a bag of rice at a relatively affordable price to government workers raises concerns. In times of hunger as all Nigerians are now, equitable distribution of relief materials is crucial. The working population, too, deserves access to affordable essentials.

Unfortunately, the federal government has concluded plans to sell a 50kg bag of rice at N40, 000 to public servants with a view to alleviating the food crisis in the nation and its effects on Nigerians.

This was disclosed in a letter from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, which was signed by the Director of Human Resources of the Ministry, JaiyesimiAbimbola.

The letter said all interested staff members were to complete a Google form on the OHCSF website and submit it to the director of human resources for endorsement, and noted that payment for and the distribution of the rice would be coordinated by designated offices while the chairman, Joint Union Council of the ministry, would serve as an observer for transparency reasons in the course of the exercise. The question at this juncture is, “Why are workers in the private sector and informal sector of the economy not captured in the distribution of the rice which is half the price of the going price of rice across consumer markets?

Given the fact that workers in the private sector and those in the informal sector of the economy are unarguably excluded from the seeming largesse, it is expedient for the government to make the process a Needs-Based Approach. In fact, it is expedient for the government to make the welfare policies meet the specific needs of different groups. For instance, regarding the working population, there is need to focus on job creation, affordable healthcare, and education. In a similar vein, as regard that of government workers, the government should address their unique challenges while ensuring fairness.

Still in a similar vein is there is need to involve civil society organizations, labor unions, and grassroots representatives in policy discussions as their insights can lead to more effective solutions.

For the sake of clarity, equity and inclusivity are not mere buzzwords; they are the bedrock of a prosperous Nigeria. By prioritizing fairness, transparency, and collaboration, the federal government can bridge the divide and create a welfare system that truly serves all its citizens.

In my column of 14 July 2017 titled: “Biafra. From Monologue To Dialogue” I had a tinge of optimism that the incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu, lPOB leader facing sedition charges from the Federal Government of Nigeria, was about to end.

The optimism was informed by the fact that the national assembly and presidency had waded into the matter especially when Arewa youths issued Igbos a so-called quit notice from the north and all other members of the Nigerian union started threatening to expel members of other ethnic groups in their domain.

In that 2017 media intervention, which is seven years ago, l made the case below:

“As the cry for Partitioning of Nigeria along ethnic, cultural and religious lines, which mimics the Partitioning of Africa amongst European countries during the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, grows louder, it is pertinent to note that the conflict is being fueled by policies steeped in politics, as opposed to equity and justice.

“This is why allowing the Igbo agitation in particular and similar self-determination struggles amongst the multifarious ethnic nationalities in Nigeria to remain a monologue rather than a dialogue, has been dangerous, if not reckless.

“And it is therefore very heartening that both the presidency and the National Assembly, NASS are now weighing in to resolve the conflict as evidenced by recent consultations and media comments from both acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, and senate president, Bukola Saraki.

“I’m pretty convinced that like the duo, it has dawned on most Nigerians that disputes related to ethnic nationalism can no longer be attended to via the surfeit of window dressing measures that have been the attitude of authorities in Nigeria.”

My prognosis in 2017 which is seven years ago was wrong as evidenced by the fact that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB was re-arrested in 2021 and has remained under detention.

So, my optimism that the presidency and national assembly had finally found the courage and formula to heal the old wounds in the ‘easterners’ and ‘northerners’ relationship which has been fractured since the unfortunate civil war ended some 54 years ago, was a misjudgment.

Perhaps that is principally because it was not an idea whose time had come. But today it appears to me as it is an idea whose time has come.

The quote “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come” is often attributed to Victor Hugo, a renowned French writer.

It encapsulates the notion that when the conditions are ripe and the world is ready for a particular concept or change, the impact of that idea can be immense and transformative. According to the proponents of the thought process, the power of an idea lies not just in its intrinsic qualities but also in the context in which it emerges.

They argue further that a groundbreaking idea that resonates with the needs, values, and aspirations of a society can spark significant change and progress. And conclude that when an idea aligns with the prevailing sentiments, challenges, or opportunities of a given time, it can gain momentum and catalyze action on a large scale.

The current efforts and activities surrounding the renewed call to free Nnamdi Kanu tick all the boxes highlighted above.

In fact, for the devotees of the concept of an idea whose time has come, the imminent release of IPOB leader Kanu is an example of a zeitgeist or a time spirit. One would argue that it is a historical moment, where the idea or concept (a “spirit” if you will) is perfectly received by a cultural movement that surrenders to its utility as dictated by historical necessity.

In fact, the scenario described above aligns with the current dynamics of political change in our country which has brought a progressive president,Bola Tinubu to be at the helm of affairs at the Aso Rock Villa presidential seat of power. Thus it can be said that he has become the one put in a position to resolve the over half a century-old agitation by the Igbos in a manner that would be most beneficial by integrating them into one united Nigeria which they have been craving.

That is because being a neo-liberal free market economy adherent, president Tinubu understands the economics of scale and appreciates the benefits of a large population being enjoyed by the likes of China and India which have the largest and second largest populations in the world and have leveraged the population advantage to also be the first and second fastest growing economies worldwide.

So, the president recognizing that we are stronger together as a huge market would be keen to do all he could to heal the old wounds by addressing the reasonable grievances of the aggrieved parties and helping the lgbos blend with society as opposed to nursing grudges and expressing animosity.

Hopefully, if President Tinubu decides to play the political card and helps to build the bridge by allowing a political solution that would enable Kanu to regain his freedom, peace would return to the otherwise very industrially productive region currently rendered comatose due to insecurity challenges such as the Seat-At-Home order on a certain day imposed by IPOB in protest of Igbo’s exclusion from mainstream Nigerian politics after the Biafran war ended in 1970.

By last month June, it had been three years since Nnamdi  Kanu has been and continues to be the ‘guest’ of the federal government of Nigeria, FGN which has applied all manners of legal weapons to abridge his freedom following a charge of treasonable felony against him.

Remarkably, multiple Nigerian and even ECOWAS courts had ruled that he should be freed from detention until the supreme court of Nigeria, on appeal from the FGN lawyers overruled the decision of the lower courts in December of 2023.

As part of a more recent effort to help Kanu regain freedom through a political rather than legal process, 50 members of the House of Representatives from different parts of Nigeria and political parties, which branded themselves Concerned Federal Lawmakers For Peace and Security in the South East, had written to President Tinubu to activate Section 174 of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 107(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 for the release of the detained IPOB leader.

One thing that is significant to note with the initiative is that never in the past had a coalition of lawmakers that are not of Igbo stock formed a bipartisan force to solicit for the release of the IPOB leader from detention. That it just happened is a pointer to the expectation that it is truly an idea whose time has come.

So, given the current renewed and broad efforts involving non-Igbos, it seems to me now that it is a question of when, not if Kanu will be released from detention which willy-nilly will be sooner than later.

The assertion above is underscored by the fact that it has become clear to all involved that diplomacy rather than the nzogbu nzogbu (forceful) approach hitherto adopted by the hard-liners in lPOB leadership would be the key to Kanu’s freedom.

When that happens it would be a classic case of the triumph of diplomacy over the nzogbu-nzogbu (forceful) approach to conflict resolution.

As at the last count, the former democratically elected president of Nigeria/former military head of state of our country, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former secretary general of the Commonwealth of Nations covering all the countries formerly under the British Empire including Canada, Australia and India to mention a few had just finished rubbing minds with the governors of the five(5) eastern states on the need to and how to secure Nnamdi Kanu’s release from detention.

It was initially hoped that the involvement of eminent personalities such as the pair of Obasanjo and Anyaoku, who are juggernauts in the art of diplomacy and leadership not only in Nigeria (Anyaoku was also minister of foreign affairs in the 2nd republic)but the world (Obasanjo was a member of Eminent Persons Group with ex-prime ministers of Uk and Australia amongst others) Mazi Kanu was on track to be liberated from the jail for lack of a better terminology to describe his incarceration since June 2021 when he was allegedly renditioned from Kenya to answer to treasonable felony charges brought against him by the federal government of Nigeria.

But the optimism about Kanu’s immediate freedom through the efforts of the former president and former commonwealth secretary general was dampened by the subsequent rebuttal of the news that the elder statesmen would be leading the delegation of eastern states governors to plead with President Tinubu.

But hope is not entirely lost because although the corrigendum by former president Obasanjo that his meeting with the governors from the five southeast states in Enugu on the 3rd of July did not have the freedom for Kanu on the agenda looks like a setback, my hunch is that it is a tactical move by former president Obasanjo.

After all, negotiations for political settlements of matters of that nature are not supposed to be made public until it is done and dusted.

In other words, there may still be some ongoing backroom negotiations which makes it premature to go public with the freedom for Kanu initiative.

Whatever the case may be, while the lPOB members see Kanu as a leader of the struggle to emancipate Igbo people through secession, some sons and daughters of Igbo land at home and in the diaspora consider him their kit and kin who are fighting for the common good of the Igbos, but perhaps in a nasty and abhorrent way which they detest and have denounced.

Without a doubt, it is the rhetorics of defining Nigeria as a zoo and using expletives that do not bear repeating in this space to characterize leaders of Nigeria during feats of anger by Kanu that has, to put it mildly, bruised the egos of those he has been mocking as his vituperations bordered not just on disagreements with government apparachik but treating with disrespect other tribes.

That is a major factor that has made the struggle to free him after he was renditioned into Nigeria three years ago, a very daunting process.

According to John Maxwell, the renowned leadership expert, there is a difference between disagreement & disrespect. Apparently, the problem is not just a disagreement between the lPOB leader and the Nigerian nation.

But it appears to be a disrespect problem because he tended to be disrespecting other tribes. The point being made is that, when one disagrees with another, both can talk it out. They will just sit there and probably agree to disagree,  by never agreeing on anything, but they will keep talking. So when we disagree, we’ll talk it out.

But if one disrespects another, it puts a wall between them. This may result in what can be identified as a confirmation bias. In other words, people seek to listen to only people they agree with. Instead of confirmation bias, what is needed is a collaboration bias. Based on Maxwell’s philosophy, Igbos need to seek out people who are different from them to build relationships with in other to achieve full integration.

Before Obasanjo and Anyaoku’s visit in the company of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe to confer with the five governors of eastern Nigeria in Enugu on Tuesday 3rd July, in November of 2021, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, led a delegation of Igbo leaders to visit then president Muhamadu Buhari to appeal to him for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu.

During that meeting Chief Amaechi was in the company of Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former Governor of Anambra State, Bishop Sunday Onuoha of the Methodist Church, Chief Barrister Goddy Uwazurike, former President of Igbo socio-cultural group, Aka Ikenga, and Mr. Tagbo Mbazulike Amaechi, the nonagenarian 2nd republic minister of transport (all who have now passed away along with Dr. Ezeife) had described the situation in the Southeast as “painful and pathetic,” lamenting that “businesses have collapsed, education is crumbling, and there is fear everywhere.”

He then committed to then-president Buhari that if Kanu was released to him as the only First Republic Minister still alive, “he would no longer say the things he had been saying,” stressing that he could control him, “not because I have anything to do with them (IPOB), but I am highly respected in Igbo land today.”

Then he concluded by making a solemn wish: “I don’t want to leave this planet without peace returning to my country. I believe in one big, united Nigeria, a force in Africa. Mr President, I want you to be remembered as a person who saw Nigeria burning, and you quenched the fire.”

Unfortunately, that wish never came to pass, before the 93-year-old Amaechi and 86-year-old Ezeife joined their ancestors in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

Fortuitously, although the late Mbazukike Amaechi had offered himself to then President Buhari as a guarantor of Kanu’s good behavior if released to him, a deal which the former president declined, reportedly Nnamdi Kanu himself and lPOB leadership have now undertaken to abide by whatever rules that are given as precondition for his freedom currently being negotiated.

So an out-of-court settlement is on track even as a few days after the eastern states’ governors resolved to take their plea to President Tinubu, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of Abia state has led his colleagues from the southeast to meet with the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi to negotiate the release of Kanu so that peace would reign in the eastern region like it used to before the agitation for a sovereign nation of Biafra raised the tension that has made the region a boiling couldrom of sorts.

It is such a paradox that only in 2016 the eastern region merited being granted  by the United Nations Development Program, UNDO the status of the safest region in terms of human security in Nigeria.

Today that geographical location has become so blighted that it is a shadow of its old self as the agitation to separate the Igbos from the rest of Nigeria has taken a very violent and bloody turn with thousands of the youths going to their graves prematurely.

That high level of violence had made Igbo land a no-go area for people who cherish peace and tranquillity as the space that was in no  distant past a bastion of commerce and industry has become a cauldron of sorts.

Before proceeding further a bit of historical background of the three figures who have influenced lgbo nation the most and have  been the major drivers of the Igbo struggle would be in order.

The three notable leaders in the annals of the modern Igbo nation are Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Odimegwu Ojukwu and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

It is striking that have passed away at ripe age and one is incarcerated.

Azikiwe’s passion for the freedom of the oppressed people transcends Igbo land extending to his fight for independence of Nigeria and indeed the entire African continent. That is because he was one of the purveyors of Africa’s independence from colonial rule which is a mission he embarked on upon his return from acquiring education from Lincoln University, Connecticut, USA.

The second is Chief Odimegwu Ojukwu who in a bid to separate Igbos from Nigeria, as a colonel in the Nigerian army serving as the military administrator of the then eastern region declared it as the nation of Biafra on the 30th May 1967.

The third is Nnamdi Kanu who was driven by the zeal to conclude the liberation of Igbos from the injustice. He zealously continued with the struggle that  was started peacefully by Azikiwe before and continued after 1960 when Nigeria became an independent country and which Ojukwu pursued violently via a secession attempt in 1967 that degenerated into an unfortunate civil war that raged on for three years and left in its trail the loss of estimated three million souls and massive destruction of infrastructure in Igboland.

The lPOB leader who had relied on fiery anti-Nigeria speeches which authorities regarded as hateful and seditious and was thus apprehended by law enforcement agencies has been fighting for his freedom through the judiciary for over three years period.

The Igbos in pursuit of their quest to become more active participants in the mainstream political leadership of our country or be allowed to go their separate way have been “shaking the table”, be it via the civil war or the socioeconomically strangulating activities of IPOB in a bid to attract the attention of the FGN and the world.

It is remarkable that only one of the three (3) Igbo leaders highlighted earlier pursued the goal of liberating Igbos peacefully and that personality is Dr.Nnamdi Azikiwe. Notably, he was an intellectual and preferred a non-violent approach to conflict resolution.

To underscore his preference for dialogue over violence, it is worth recollecting a narrative in an interview he had in 1995 at at the age of 90 and in which he revealed how he admonished his protege in Ghana late Kwame Nkrumah, (who later became the prime minister of Ghana) to eschew violence in seeking change.

As a direct opposite of Azikiwe’s approach, Chief Ojukwu who was an army colonel adopted the use of force which is why he attempted to secede relying on the instrumentality of guns and war.

Likewise, Mazi Kanu’s modus operandi is the resort to fiery and incendiary speeches that fired up the youths of Igbo land who as a result felt obliged to pursue their freedom from the marginalization or ostracization by the Nigerian government as it were through confrontation of the nation’s security forces.

My guess is that each of them leveraged their skills based on their areas of expertise, which is okay.

Perhaps due to the notion of the average Igbo person influenced by the experience of the civil war and non-implementation of the end-of-war remedies promised which are: Reconciliation Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation – the so-called three Rs that were supposed to help re-absorb the Igbos back into the system, they have somehow become isolated in the scheme of things in our country.

Worse of all even they too have been affirming that inequity by also increasingly distancing themselves or drifting away instead of building friendship bridges across the river Niger to other like or unlike-minded Nigerians.

The above view is my assessment and a lot of hardliners have been debating that point of view with me over the years, l have been making the case that the imminent release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention and subsequent readmission of the Igbo nation into the mainstream of Nigerian leadership can only be attained through intensive and continuous negotiations which diplomacy is all about and not the nzogbu nzogbu (forceful) approach which has been the approach in the past decade or thereabouts.

The truth is that we can not continue to allow our unarmed youths to confront security forces that are fully armed in the manner Palestinians confront Israeli Security Forces, and IDF with bare hands and stones.

It is unwise that they would continue to throw states at security forces hoping that when they are mowed down and prematurely sent to their graves for a cause that can be negotiated, the powerful countries of theb would come to their rescue.

Based on experience, diplomacy preferred by Nnamdi Azikiwe has always proven to be the best way of resolving conflicts no matter how complex.

Nigeria attained independence without firing a shot against Britain. Similarly, India secured independence not through the barrels of the gun nor did apartheid end in South Africa via a war,but through a negotiated agreement which democracy is all about.

It is only through diplomacy that the raging Israeli-Hamas conflict and the Russian-Ukraine war could have been avoided and would eventually end.

That is a clear affirmation of the fact that diplomacy is the best solution for conflict resolution no matter how complex.

 So, it is a matter of when, not if peace returns to Igbo land, sooner than later through diplomacy it will be a tribute to the memory of my senior friend, the late Prof. George Obiozor who was the immediate past president General of Ohaneze Ndigbo who tried very hard to infuse the conversation on lgbo exclusion and the need to bring the ethic group into the mainstream with the fervor of diplomacy.

I can recall his passion for reconciling the Igbo nation with the rest of Nigeria with nostalgia. As far back as the mid-1980s, Prof. Obiozor alongside Prof. Ukandi Damachi, Dr. Stanley Macebuh, and Mr. Tom Fabian ( all of them now of blessed memory) used to converge in my apartment at 1004 Estate in Victoria Island, Lagos.

They used to do so even if l was much younger than them in age, academics, and every material aspect of life. But l felt honored to enjoy the privilege of sharing space and rubbing minds with some of the best brains in Nigeria as they were products of some of the best universities in the United States of America, USA from MIT, Princeton, and Harvard. They often engaged themselves in discussions that dug deep into the essence of our country from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

Having operated at very high levels in both the academia and top echelons of government and the private sector they had highly valuable insights which l was happy to absorb from them.

Restoring the southeast into the bastion of industrial development that it used to be was an overarching desire of Prof. Obiozor who had been Director Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Nigerian Ambassador to Israel and Cyprus, and lastly Nigeria’s ambassador to the United Nations before his retirement after which he took over the reins of leadership of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group.

It’s trite to state that Prof.Obiozor would be rejoicing in the other world on the day that Kanu is set free and his beloved Igbo land once again, regains its privileged status of being UNDP’s most secure geographical region in Nigeria.

So, it is very likely in my estimation that all men and women of goodwill who have been craving peace in Igbo land can not wait to exhale and exclaim ‘victory at last’ when President Tinubu greenlights the freedom for Kanu initiative and welcomes the Lgbos into mainstream Nigeria.

•Magnus Onyibe, an entrepreneur, public policy analyst, author, democracy advocate, development strategist, alumnus of Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Massachusetts, USA, and a former commissioner in Delta state government, sent this piece from Lagos, Nigeria.

“It is totally false to suggest, as we are apt to do, that Nigerians are fundamentally different from any other people in the world. Nigerians are corrupt because the system under which they live today makes corruption easy and profitable; they will cease to be corrupt when corruption is made difficult and inconvenient….The trouble with Nigeria simply and squarely is a failure of leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian character.

There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air or anything else. The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership… I am saying that Nigeria can change today if she discovers leaders who have the will, ability and the vision”, Chinua Achebe, in his book, The Trouble With Nigeria.

“Nigeria could, however, follow another path. Its potential is huge. Its tremendous wealth, if properly channeled, holds out the hope that a stable government could unleash the unquestioned energy and talent that pulsates through the rich ethnic mosaic. The human capital is there. Thousands of Nigerian professionals are well educated and skilled enough to drive the country forward. Anyone who visited Nigeria’s markets and witnessed its people endure the constraints of bad government and the sinking economy can testify to the country’s resilience.

“Nigerians spend a good part of their lives trying to get the better of the government for their own benefit or that of their family, their village, or their region. Rare is the head of state who acts on behalf of the entire nation. The people are not so much governed as ruled. It is as if they live in a criminally mismanaged corporation where the bosses are armed and have barricaded themselves inside the company safe. Nigeria’s leaders, like the colonialists before them, have sucked out billions of dollars and stashed them in Western banks”, Karl Maier, in his book, This House Has Fallen—Nigeria In Crisis.

IN the last couple of years, Nigeria 

has been confronted with enormous national crisis that could only be compared with the crisis of the 1960s, which eventually led to the civil war. In fact, if one reflects on what the country went through from after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election up to the demise of General Sani Abacha, one must thank God that Nigeria still survives as one united nation.

Nigeria’s problem is not just economic. Indeed, it is largely political. Nigeria is still undergoing the crisis of nation building.

It is important that Nigeria policy makers appreciate the enormity of the crisis of nation-building still staring at us as a nation. I don’t like to sound alarmist or pessimistic but some of the unresolved conflicts in our country have the potential of escalating into unimaginable proportions at any given time. 

The events leading to the return to democracy in Nigeria could only be understood as a divine intervention. Before then the fate of Nigeria, as a country, was precariously hanging in the balance. The country was a pariah nation among the international community. The economy was in doldrums. 

The Obasanjo presidency experienced chaos in many fronts. These included communal violence, notable cases include Ife-Modakeke, Umeleri-Agulri, Huasa-Zango-Kantaf, Kuteb-Jukun clashes, etc. There was also the Bakassi issue, the Niger Delta crisis and ethnic separatism.

The second major crisis of the Obasanjo presidency was the issue of oil subsidy which was triggered by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, then led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The strike action paralysed the country for days, if not weeks. Then President Olusegun Obasanjo was forced to set up a special committee on the review of petroleum products supply and distribution. The committee was inaugurated on August 14, 2000 by the then Secretary to the government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaette. 

To be concluded…

When we were small children still in primary school, we would gather once a week under the big umbrella tree on the left end at the approach of the school compound, to tell stories under the auspices of very strict teachers who would later turn out in life to be very good people. Those teachers, they did their best to educate us and oftentimes, we misunderstood them.

Always, the tortoise would feature as the central character in these stories; it was the good, the bad and the ugly, blessed with a lot of craftiness to amuse and to deceive, mostly to its benefit.

In today’s Nigeria, GSM has displaced the tortoise. If there is a problem because of bad governance, it is because there are tools for mobile communications. When a man and his wife are having problems in their relationship, it’s because there is mobile technology to put a wedge between them as they can stay on the same bed chatting with their phones instead of chatting with each other.

Nigeria is going through heady times and again mobile technology has found itself in the midst of discourse. The hunger protests which began last week have only reminded us how very fragile even our most reliable infrastructure can be but fingers were also pointed at the government for supervening in the activities of the operators by slowing down the speed of the Internet. It didn’t occur to anybody that services may have been zonked by the huge communications hitting the network at the same time or some base stations may have gone out because of the inability of their owners to power them with diesel. But the government was already on the downside of credibility and the people went headlong for an easy prey.

It was therefore reassuring that Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy would rise to quickly dispel such rumour, and his position was validated by Engr Gbenga Adebayo, President of the Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), who explained that there was never such conspiracy with government to stymie the health of the Internet. Yet mobile technology remains in the midst of discourse and it is now responsible for all our problems like the tortoise of old.

But I see a more deep-seated problem. Also last week, MTN, which had to quickly close its offices nationwide for fear of reprisals after disconnecting about 6m lines for failure to meet the SIM-NIN linkage policy standards, released its half year report. The company reported a loss of N519.1bn after tax. Ironically, the company is making more money, a revenue of N1.53 trn between January and June, this year which marks 32.6 percent appreciation, compared to N1.15 trn of H1 2023. Company chief executive Karl Toriola said the macroeconomic headwinds haven’t changed at all.

“The country has been dealing with rising inflation and continued depreciation of the Naira against the US dollar and other currencies,” Toriola observed.

The conditions cannot be dealt with overnight but something tangible has to be done in order to ameliorate the plight of those whose voices of pain have been very loud recently.

Welcome to our world. The company making more money is also making heavy losses. But here is one line of thought. If MTN Nigeria with its experienced Board and sound management could be running losses, it means more things are happening in the telecommunications industry than people would ordinarily want to look at, just like every other sector of the economy that is challenged.

ALTON’s Adebayo sketched a status of the industry when he called on the Nigerian government not to use the telecoms sector as a palliative to solve the current economic challenges confronting the country. Speaking at the Groupe Special Mobile Association (GSMA) digital economy report launch which happened recently in Abuja, he observed that, plus the economic situation of the country that was in dire straits, the telecommunications sector pays over 45 associated charges in form of taxes to the Nigerian government. Unfortunately, the demands of the operators have not always been met with speed and understanding. He pegged his point on the tariff review that has become contentious.

“The price review should be a simple regulatory process. The public debate this has gained makes it appear the industry is insensitive to people’s concerns.

“While the government tries to provide incentives for the public on account of ongoing macroeconomic headwinds, the telecoms sector should not be used as a palliative to solve the people’s problem. We must price right to sustain the industry; we must price right to have the right investment.”

Adebayo’s position should be very concerning although there are so many concerns at the moment which call for immediate attention. There are protests in different parts of the country over hunger issues that are not addressed. Some corporate players are bailing out of the country and some people in opportunistic positions to advise the government simply sneer at the development and say Nigeria is doing well.

Really? We are not a nation of figures. We hold statistics in contempt. But even from this position, I will suggest that happenings in the telecommunications sector do present us with a graphic template to confront some of the challenges facing the nation. Resolving these issues will percolate on the larger economy.

Minister Tijani believes there are tons of problems troubling the sector more than tariff review. We can only advise urgent action by the government and the industry to resolve these issues. Even without having to regurgitate some of his recent presentations, Tijani has been talking a lot about a digital economy whose success, I am sure, will be anchored on a strong telecommunications industry.

Technology can play the role of the tortoise here, ever present in every story, in every strand of development. Unfortunately, the cunning, hard-shelled animal that we used to pick in rubber plantations are going extinct, in the same way that technology grows into irrelevance and yesterday’s longings. The telecommunications sector has so much to offer us as a nation; its state of health should be a primary concern to all, especially the government that is building our future around it.

In April 2013, Barack Obama was forced to apologise for describing California’s Kamala Harris as “the best-looking attorney-general”, also calling her “brilliant”, “dedicated” and “tough.”

The first black US president was nevertheless widely castigated for detracting from a woman’s brains by focusing on her beauty. Harris, the first female US vice-president, recently became the presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee after a faltering Joe Biden chose not to seek re-election, and endorsed her. If she wins the presidency against Donald Trump in November, Harris would become not just the US’s first female president, but also its first of Caribbean and Asian descent.

Even as the Democratic political leadership — including, significantly, Bill and Hillary Clinton — enthusiastically endorsed Harris’s nomination, Obama waited a week to do so, demonstrating once again his narcissism and “head negro in charge” syndrome. As the monarchical former president harboured delusions of being a kingmaker, the delay raised unnecessary doubts about Harris’s candidacy.

Obama had backed Hillary Clinton in her unsuccessful 2016 presidential bid (apparently in exchange for Bill Clinton’s full-throated endorsement of Obama’s re-election in 2012), rather than support his loyal vice-president, Biden. The Kenyan-Kansan was also reportedly among Democratic Party grandees who helped scuttle Biden’s re-election bid.

Harris and Obama have known each other for two decades, and she was the first prominent Californian politician to endorse his 2008 presidential bid. Both are biracial, with black fathers from Kenya (Obama) and Jamaica (Harris), and white (Obama) and Indian (Harris) mothers. Both of their parents separated when they were children, a period during which the two spent time in Chennai (Harris) and Jakarta (Obama).

Both became immersed in African-American culture: Harris through the historically black Howard University, and Obama through his wife, Michelle, and the black church in Chicago. Both showed huge political ambition, publishing political memoirs and deciding to run for president after just two years in the US Senate.

But the differences between Obama and Harris are also glaring: he is a natural politician, a charismatic campaigner with flowery oratory often not matched by bold action. Harris, in contrast, had to suspend her 2020 presidential bid after a lacklustre campaign that featured poor debate performances, dwindling funds and staff desertions.

She has been widely vilified for being an invisible vice-president who has spoken passionately for abortion rights but failed to tackle the migrant crisis at the southern border. Eighteen months ago, the New York Times disclosed efforts within the Democratic Party — rebuffed by Biden — to take her off the presidential ticket.

It is unclear whether Harris can win the support of undecided voters in the crucial swing states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. Trump’s support is rock-solid among his cult-like Republican base. However, his xenophobic outbursts, deliberately mispronouncing Harris’s first name, and referring to her as a “bum” and “radical-left lunatic”, may alienate moderates and women voters already angered by the Republicans’ anti-abortion stance.

Harris will have to respond convincingly to Trump’s attacks on the Biden administration’s record on immigration and inflation, while touting successes on employment, the environment, infrastructure and student debt.

Some naively assume that if she were to become president, Harris — whose husband is Jewish — would change course on US policy towards Gaza. But the Israel lobby is simply too powerful a force in US politics. Despite his previous embrace of Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela’s visions, once in power Obama launched a military surge in Afghanistan, accelerated killer-drone warfare, established US military bases across Africa, and led the disastrous Nato intervention into Libya.

Harris is a similar establishment politician who, were she to win, would also feed the imperial American beast. Africans, Caribbeans and Indians should not expect much from her leadership, and must avoid repeating the disappointment of Obama’s early lofty rhetoric of racial solidarity.

• Adebajo is professor and senior research fellow at the University of Pretoria’s Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship.

Over the course of the last quarter of a century of the ongoing Fourth Republic since 1999, the practicing Northern politicians have all but systematically guaranteed that there are no respected elders or leaders of thought in the North anymore.

With that decidedly deliberate singular mission successfully accomplished, they likewise went on to systematically discredit the traditional institutions, alongside their respected rulers in almost similar fashion.

Thereafter, the same politicians equally dragged the member of Ulama, or the religious leaders, into the murky waters of their corruption-infested and morally bankrupt political space, such that the latter have effectively lost the respect and admiration of the population, along with their hitherto familiar age-old vice-like grip on the society.

Now, the long-abandoned masses are finally beginning to come to terms with the sad reality that the modern-day politicians are, in fact, the 'real enemy' on the ground, and are now beginning to explore a veritable means of exacting the dreaded proverbial revenge of the masses, by way of an unfortunate and ill-advised potential mass revolt that is always feared under such circumstances.

But the inexorable consequence of the actions of the politicians is that we no longer have the usual three - pronged fallback trident in the form of our respected community elders, traditional, and/or religious institutions in place to collectively rein in the aggrieved masses.

The teeming masses, as we all very well know - and we sure have them in their millions up North - are driven by their emotions, for the most part, rather than by any rational thought in their own reasoning and resulting actions. But, over the years, the politicians have progressively emasculated the familiar voices of reason that have always been relied upon to caution and make them see reason.

The Western - style democracy that we have now come to embrace for the entirety of the last twenty-five unbroken years of the Fourth Republic has obviously not been copied and pasted properly by our active politicians. This is particularly so here in Northern Nigeria, where the vast majority of the leading lights amongst its practitioners, with admittedly very few exceptions here and there, have largely turned out to be not only people without genuine leadership credentials, but also lacking in the required moral code that is essential for purposeful leadership.

To, therefore, formally conclude that our practicing politicians have been for us the equivalent of the proverbial bull in a china shop may not be far from the reality, truth be told; reason being that they have effectively succeeded in systematically destroying the very essence of the social fabric that has historically held our fragile society together and served it well for ages.

The final determination as to whether this objectionable act of theirs was by accident or design is still up in the air. But the fact of the matter is that they have slowly, yet meticulously, destroyed our social fabric, one strand after another. And we are all paying for such an unforgettable and unconscionable act of indiscretion on their part - all in the name of practicing their preferred peculiar and patented brand of politics.

Sadly, the chickens are finally coming home to roost, and our society has inexorably been the worse for it.

Hopefully, our politicians are now beginning to see and appreciate the full extent of the negative side of their continuing neglect of our gullible population that they have refused to educate and provide with life enhancing skills, in the form of the latest rounds of the hitherto unimaginable violent reactions during the ongoing protests in some of our states.

The same thugs whose services you love to engage for your familiar shenanigans during elections, and those teeming idle minds you perennially manipulate for your electoral benefits every four years, can equally be induced to inflict incalculable damage on the larger society during these kinds of wild protests that may very well have been engineered from

God - knows - where!

Talking generally this time around, our past false steps in the form of the continuing parental neglect for our children over the course of the last several decades are finally coming back to haunt and cause us predictable problems.

When parents in their millions fail to provide the required care, parental guidance and moral upbringing for the cherished children they have consciously brought into this world, it is only a matter of time before the entire society begins to reap its reserved comeuppance for such a profound neglect.

And when the inevitable begins to manifest itself, no one will be exempted from the wrath of these long - abandoned children, including our hitherto sacred places of worship, as we have just witnessed in the last few days.

May Allah SWT grant us the much-needed presence of mind and wherewithal to turn the corner at this critical and defining moment for all of us and make the necessary amends, before we all get consumed in the end. And every single parent has an important role to play in that regard, including everyone else in the neighbourhood.

That is what used to be the case when we were growing up; where your neighbour felt free to discipline you even before your own parents got to know about the specific nature of the wrong you might have committed to deserve the punishment. And the parents were very happy and appreciative of that, with no questions asked.

That way, our parents and grandparents collectively succeeded in putting the society in check with minimal fuss, and we need to begin to retrace our steps to revisit and reenact those good old practices, once again, in our own collective best interest.

Abdullahi Usman

3

The banking industry is always in the news for many reasons, but the last one week has offered enough to fill newspaper pages. While the government wants the banks to pay tax on the excess profits they made last year, a bank chairman openly upbraided some institutions for buying private jets for their executives. The two issues have dominated discussions in many circles and I was therefore not surprised that they did find their way, with a dose of humour, into a lively and educative webinar discussion organized by Coronation Group and Coronation Securities on Tuesday, August 6. The theme was ‘’Understanding Bank Capitalization: Rights Issues and opportunities for investors’’, and Dr Okey Umeano, the chief economist of securities and exchange commission (SEC) was the keynote speaker.

Discussants were Bolanle Adekoya, Partner in PwC; Head, Capital Market Accounts Advisory Services Practice for West Africa; Ayokunle Olubunmi, Head, Banking and Non-Bank Ratings at Augusto and Olusegun Owadokun, deputy chief executive of Coronation Securities. The star-studded event was moderated by Wole Famurewa, an anchor at CNBC. It was designed as a teaching session to educate investors, especially the retail investors, on the intricacies of the banking recapitalization, the significance of rights issues and how to make the right investment decisions. Coronation Merchant Bank is the issuing house to many banks, notably Access Holdings’ 17.77 billion ordinary shares offered as rights issue. The offer closes next week and there are indications that both the institutional and retail shareholders have been quite excited about the offer.

With the deluge of new equities coming to the capital market, the webinar was quite timely and Umeano did justice to the topic. He advised investors to carefully analyze the financial statements and other documents of the issuer, particularly the reasons for the offer before a final investment decision is made. ‘’Read all the offer documents sent to you and think in terms of diversification. You must always diversify your portfolio; so, bear in mind that rights issue could lead to concentration of portfolios’’, he told participants. He said that SEC and the CBN are collaborating and working a lot more closely, leveraging their respective IT capabilities, to ensure that the investing public is well protected and served. ‘’The two regulators are now working faster and better with the use of technology, and are committed to better services. SEC wants a very transparent market and continued education of the investors, and that’s why I commend Coronation Merchant Bank for putting together this webinar’’, Umeano said.

Umeano noted that the banks will have to raise about N4.2 trillion in new capital, mostly though public offerings and right issues. There may also be some M&As. He stated that rights issues have been the most popular and the most widely adopted of the three in the last five years for the following reasons: the issuer bears lower cost in right issue, not only in terms of fees, but also in advertising costs. Right issues do not bring new shareholders, and so the ownership structure is maintained; the register is easier to manage; they’re usually priced below market value, and if unsuccessful, there’s the option of selling the unsubscribed portion as a public offer. The chief economist reiterated that the issuer has a statutory obligation to disclose everything about the right issue to the investors, especially purpose of the offer; risks; timelines and post offer implementation plans.

To illustrate the potentials for banking growth, Umeano noted that the Nigerian economy is made up of a large portion of informal sector that is largely unbanked or underbanked. ‘’Banks should explore opportunities in the informal sector and in other parts of Africa which requires a lot of investment capital. He explained the roles of SEC as a regulator and the parts played by the various parties in an offer. He concluded that there is potential for growth in Nigeria’s capital market and the economy as a whole, and assured of regulatory support for banks during recapitalization. ‘’Banking is a growing sector; many applications for banking license are in the offing and those who have recently come into the sector are doing well’’, he concluded. In her contributions, Bolanle Adekoya asked investors to pay attention to ‘’the banks’ track records’’, adding, ‘’equity is a long-term play; look out for dividend payout records; educate yourself about our capital markets; some of our companies are undervalued. Rights issues help you to avoid dilution’’. She said that the capital market has the potential to contribute up to 30% of GDP. ‘’The banking industry has a good track record in rights investments’’, she concluded.

Olusegun Owadokun, Deputy Chief Executive, Coronation Securities, deepened the discussions by explaining that banks would actually prefer to grow their capital base organically by not paying dividends and reinvesting earnings. But since that is not always the case, and the shareholders deserve their rewards, rights issues are always the preferred option.

There were many questions from participants, who clearly were retail investors, during the Q&A; and the discussants were up to the task. One person asked, ‘’What is the guarantee that the capital the banks are raising would not be used to pay the windfall tax?’’. I added, quite mischievously, ‘’and also buy private jets’’. The laughter was loud enough to move the needle on the Richter scale! When the laughter subsided, Kunle Olubunmi of Augosto calmly explained that since much of the excess profits were not realized, the impacts of the so-called windfall tax would be minimal. He urged the investing public not to lose sleep over it.

Since May 29, 2023, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu became Nigeria’s president, virtually all Nigerians have been experiencing significant socio-economic challenges that have deeply affected them, including this writer. From rising unemployment rates to soaring inflation and inadequate access to healthcare, the struggles of everyday Nigerians have become more pronounced. As the Tinubu-led government embarks on its journey, there is an urgent need for it to adopt a more human-centric approach in its governance. This is a call for the government to wear a human face by prioritizing empathy, inclusivity, and accountability in its policies and actions.

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is not an exaggeration to opine that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has faced significant criticism regarding its approach to governance, particularly concerning its perceived lack of empathy, inclusivity, and accountability in policies and actions. Observers have noted that the government’s focus does not adequately reflect the needs of its diverse population, and its programs often appear detached from the realities faced by the common citizen.

Empathy, a crucial element of effective governance, seems to be lacking in the Tinubu-led government. The policies and initiatives rolled out frequently fail to resonate with the struggles of the average Nigerian, leading to widespread disenchantment among various communities. There is a growing sentiment that the government has not prioritized the welfare of its citizens, as reflected in the economic challenges and social issues that continue to plague the nation.

Inclusivity is another area where the administration has been found wanting. Despite calls for policies that encompass a wider range of perspectives and experiences, many marginalized groups feel sidelined. The government’s decision-making processes often do not reflect the diverse fabric of Nigerian society, resulting in policies that may benefit only a select few rather than the broader populace.

Accountability is essential for building trust between the government and its citizens, yet reports indicate that the Tinubu administration has struggled to uphold this principle. There have been concerns about the government’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law, with instances of neglect and failure to act in cases that require decisive and just intervention. Such shortcomings raise questions about the government’s ability to hold itself accountable for its actions and decisions.

Given the foregoing, it is not a surprise that not a few Nigerians are presently urging the Tinubu administration to address these critical issues of empathy, inclusivity, and accountability to foster a more harmonious and thriving society, particularly as his speech on Sunday, August 4, 2024 to calm the nerves of #EndBadGovernce protesters which commenced on August 4, 2024 was widely critiqued to be empty as it did not address the core demands of the protesters.

Therefore, recommitting to the values that prioritize the welfare of all citizens is imperative for the government as it aspires to build a truly democratic and just nation.

Paradoxically, Nigeria, with its rich cultural diversity and abundant resources, has tremendous potential for growth and development. However, for many citizens, the reality is starkly different. Economic policies often seem disconnected from the lived experiences of the people. The rising cost of living, coupled with inadequate infrastructure, has left many struggling to meet basic needs. Youth unemployment is alarmingly high, pushing many young Nigerians to seek opportunities abroad, often risking their lives in the process.

Furthermore, issues such as inadequate healthcare systems, lack of access to quality education, and widespread insecurity continue to plague the nation. In light of these challenges, the government’s role in addressing these issues cannot be overstated.

The reason for sounding critical in this context cannot be farfetched as governance is not merely about policies and decisions but about people. The true essence of leadership lies in understanding the needs, aspirations, and challenges of the populace. A government that wears a human face is one that listens to its citizens, engages with their concerns, and actively works to improve their quality of life.

At this juncture, it is germane to urge the government to from henceforth be engaging with communities across Nigeria to understand their unique challenges. Not only that, policies should be crafted not in isolation, but through consultation with citizens, civil society organizations, and local leaders.

Again, government should henceforth begin to focus on social welfare by prioritizing social safety nets to support the most vulnerable populations. This includes improving access to healthcare, education, and affordable housing. Investing in these areas will yield long-term benefits for the nation.

In a similar vein, the government should also focus on youth empowerment programs. The reason for pushing for the foregoing efforts from the government cannot be farfetched as given the fact that with a large youth population, programs aimed at skill development, entrepreneurship, and job creation cannot be dismissed with mere wave of the hands. In fact, providing opportunities for the youth will not only curb unemployment but also harness their potential for national growth.

Still in the same vein, there is need for Tinubu-led to strive for transparent governance. Promote transparency and accountability in government dealings. Citizens should have access to information regarding government budgets and spending. Engaging the public in oversight through citizen-led initiatives can foster trust and improve governance.

On security and stability, address the root causes of insecurity, which often stem from unemployment, poverty, and social injustice. A holistic approach that involves dialogue, community engagement, and effective law enforcement is essential for lasting peace.

As the Tinubu-led government navigates the complexities of governance, it has the unique opportunity to make a profound impact on the lives of Nigerians. Wearing a human face is not just a moral obligation; it is a strategic necessity for sustainable development and social cohesion.

By adopting a more empathetic, inclusive, and accountable approach, this administration can bridge the gap between the government and the governed, fostering a sense of trust and partnership. In doing so, it can help transform challenges into opportunities, ultimately leading Nigeria toward a brighter, more equitable future. The time to act is now, Nigeria deserves a government that truly understands and prioritizes the well-being of its people.

In the realm of communication, cartoons wield a unique power. They distill complex issues into simple yet impactful visuals, transcending language barriers. Recently, I stumbled upon a thought-provoking cartoon by Nigerian actor and film maker, Frank Donga. This cartoon, shared on his social media handle, paints a vivid picture of Nigeria’s hunger crisis.

The cartoon, created by Frank Donga, captures the essence of Nigeria’s hunger situation. At this juncture, it is expedient to dissect the elements in this context.

Donga’s characters are gaunt, their ribs protruding. Their sunken eyes reflect despair and deprivation. These figures represent the millions of Nigerians facing food insecurity, while the central motif is an empty plate. It is not just a symbol of hunger; it is a mirror reflecting the harsh reality. Families across Nigeria struggle to put food on their tables, grappling with rising food prices and scarcity.Without a doubt, Donga’s attention to detail is striking as it amplifies the urgency of the hunger crisis.

In fact, Donga’s cartoon is not merely an artistic expression; it is a call to action, and it truly speaks truth to power as it implicitly criticizes policymakers, and why are our leaders not addressing this crisis? Why do they dine in opulence while their citizens starve?

As a mass communication tool, the cartoon highlights the media’s responsibility. It urges journalists, influencers, and citizens to amplify the hunger issue. Therefore, Donga’s use of satire compels us to pay attention.

Again, by sharing this cartoon, Donga invites collective responsibility. We must move beyond tribal sentiments and unite to tackle hunger. It is not an isolated problem; it is a national emergency.

Without a doubt, Frank Donga’s cartoon transcends humor; it is a poignant commentary on Nigeria’s hunger situation. As mass communicators, we must heed its message. Let us amplify the voices of the hungry, advocate for policy changes, and work toward a Nigeria where no one goes to bed with an empty stomach.

The reason for the foregoing view cannot be farfetched as, sometimes, a cartoon speaks louder than words.

Without a doubt, political cartoons are essentialelements in the context of political journalism. This is as they offer a lustrouslycoloredoption to news reporting, providing light relief from the ever-increasingly disconsolate political dissertation. In fact, given the ability to distil news and opinion into a caricature, cartoons present reachable and instant commentary and analysis of current affairs.

Therefore, it is not a misnomer in this context to opine that cartoons are a unique form of journalism which contrast with conventional forms of communication. The images can cast a powerful interpretation on the day’s news.  They explain and explore stories in manners that articles cannot. Not only that, it is adjudged to be more effective than writing or video, and they capture the imitable human nature of their subjects in order to humanize the topic they depict.

Therefore, it is expedient to explain that the cartoon been critiqued in this contextis been conveyed to other X users is by the comment: “Be patient! We are working to make things better for you.  Calm down! The country is broke. Are you blind? Work hard. Don’t be lazy. Don’t let our enemies use you against us. Oya, go & wait outside. I’ll throw some rice to you from d window. Nobody should sit near my new Benz o!” Expectedly, not a few of his followers responded to the cartoon as they tweeted back.

Against the backdrop of the foregoing view, John Bishop tweeted, “Perfect summary of the Nigerian and most African leaders”. Dgreatasiwaju@Dgreatasiwaju1 tweeted, “You just narrated a country called Nigeria, the way their leaders treat them”. In order not to sound boring in this context by reciting the responses to the Donga’s cartoon and comment on his X handle, it is germane to opine that the cartoon also reminds one of how the Senate President, GodswillAkpabio, recently mocked Nigerians who planned to take part in the nationwide protest against economic hardship, saying he and other members of the National Assembly would be “Eating” while they (Nigerians) protest.

It was reported in the media that the Senator made the acerbic and mockery comment at the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities, Youths and Women Group Sensitization Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Without a doubt, the cartoon resonates in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s speech on #EndBadGovernance protest in paragraph 6 where he said, “Under the circumstances, I hereby enjoin protesters and the organizers to suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue, which I have always acceded to at the slightest opportunity. Nigeria requires all hands on deck and needs us all – regardless of age, party, tribe, religion or other divides, to work together in reshaping our destiny as a nation. To those who have taken undue advantage of this situation to threaten any section of this country, be warned: The law will catch up with you. There is no place for ethnic bigotry or such threats in the Nigeria we seek to build”.

Unfortunately, not a few Nigerians are unanimous in their views that contemporary political leaders in Nigeria who are wont to plead that Nigerians should exercise patient and bear with them as a better Nigeria is in view are not in any way leading by example as their collective lifestyles and utterances do not suggest that they are equally heeding the call for austerity.

In fact, Nigeria’s economic hardship has become an unwelcome companion for millions of citizens. As the cost of living soars and poverty levels remain distressingly high, the people look to their political leaders for solutions. But mere promises and rhetoric are no longer enough. It is time for Nigerian politicians to lead by example, demonstrating their commitment to shared sacrifice and empathy. Therefore, there is an urgent need for austerity measures among political leaders.

The foregoing call cannot be said to be a misnomer as not a few Nigerians are at the moment facing a cost-of-living crisis that has left families struggling to make ends meet. While public officials enjoy substantial earnings, ordinary citizens grapple with hunger, unemployment, and inadequate healthcare.

Against the backdrop of the foregoing view, it is not an exaggeration to opine that the disconnect between the ruling class and the masses has fueled frustration and anger, leading to mass protests across the country as been witnessed, particularly on August 1 and August 2, 2024. In fact, these demonstrations reflect the collective cry for change, accountability, and genuine leadership.

“Someone should tell the president that what he said on Sunday was what the Hausa man calls dogo turenchi (long grammar). The broadcast showed that Tinubu’s understanding of what Nigerians are going through is zero. He spoke about the #EndBadGovernance protest being some people’s political agenda. If there is indeed an agenda, it must be secondary to the real rebellion of the belly going on. My people say malevolent medicines don’t work unless believable stories are woven round the spell (ejo ni aa ro fun oogun ki o to je). There would not be popular support for the protest if there was no general anguish in town. The hundreds on the street are (were) those who had the strength to go out; the millions who are at home are even more trenchant in their protest. What they say are not prayers. The president needs to go out, feel the street and do another broadcast “

They did what locusts do to farms. They spared almost nothing. They ate road slabs, pilfered roofs and stole ceilings. They attacked and looted at least one mosque – and at least one church. They hammered concrete slabs and squeezed out of them iron rods for sale. Well-paved roads suffered their anger because the beauty of the asphalt offended them. In a library, they stole dustbins and spared books. Trash is valuable, book is worthless. They attacked public and private buildings; they looted doors, wrenched windows off their hinges and stole installed tiles. They are the perfect proof of what the unbuilt child will ultimately do to well-built structures.

The sickest, scariest part of the world is our North. In his inaugural address on January 20, 1961, American president, John F. Kennedy, issued a warning which talks directly to today’s Nigeria, particularly the North. He said: “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich”. The out-of-school children in our North are in multiples of millions; they are the death of Nigeria and its elite. Their hunger unleashed a maelstrom of destruction on every part of that region last week, forcing the various states there to declare 24-hour curfews. The round-the-clock curfews remained active at the weekend but the rampaging genies stayed stubbornly out of the bottle. Some of the protesters were said to be with Russian flags on Saturday in Kano. What do they really want?

“The children that came out did not even demand anything other than to break offices and attack police,” Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State told Arise News on Thursday night. I don’t think that truth is the truth. In Daura, they did zanga zanga and massed at General Muhammadu Buhari’s house. They went with a message. In Sokoto, they carried leaves, put their anger on the boil and massed at the palace of Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar. They went there with a message that threatens democracy.

Russia ‘rules’ in Niger Republic and media reports said some protesters in Kano were seen waving Russian flags. What is incongruous in that? Were we not told repeatedly that there is no recognized boundary between Niger Republic and Nigeria’s border communities? The NSCDC in Kano at the weekend complained that aliens, particularly Nigeriens, were among arrested protesters in Kano. I read that and asked what was wrong in citizens of Niger Republic lending a helping hand in bringing down their brother’s Wall of Jericho. Where were the security forces when the government of Niger Republic publicly interfered in our elections in 2019? Or have we forgotten that two governors from that country — Issa Moussa of Zinder and Zakiri Umar of Maradi — were part of those who came and campaigned for Buhari in Kano in January 2019 for his reelection? The alien governors came, wore APC attires, and members of the APC presidential campaign team in Kano celebrated and feted them.

Today’s president of Nigeria. Bola Tinubu, was the national leader of the APC when that brazen misadventure happened. I can’t remember hearing what he said against it. Abdullahi Ganduje, Tinubu’s party chairman today, was the Kano State governor who hosted those aliens. The Nigerian government celebrated the meddlesome interlopers in photographs wearing Pepsodent smiles. Thoughtful Nigerians loudly complained against that foreign interference; opposition PDP chairman, Uche Secondus, asked INEC to sanction APC and Buhari for that misadventure. “They came with monies and mercenaries to influence elections in Nigeria,” Secondus shouted. INEC promptly replied him: “Their presence does not violate the constitution.” Case closed – that time. Now, the Nigerien chicken has roamed back home to roost. The ruling people and their agents should just shut up and lick their wounds.

The president made a broadcast on Sunday (yesterday). He spoke with the chord of Lizard who fell from the top of the Iroko tree and shook its head: If no one praises me, I praise myself. Did he say anything on the painfully sore soles of Nigerians? If he did, I missed it. He will probably address that in his next broadcast.

Someone should tell the president that what he said on Sunday was what the Hausa man calls dogo turenchi (long grammar). The broadcast showed that Tinubu’s understanding of what Nigerians are going through is zero. He spoke about the #EndBadGovernance protest being some people’s political agenda. If there is indeed an agenda, it must be secondary to the real rebellion of the belly going on. My people say malevolent medicines don’t work unless believable stories are woven round the spell (ejo ni aa ro fun oogun ki o to je). There would not be popular support for the protest if there was no general anguish in town. The hundreds on the street are (were) those who had the strength to go out; the millions who are at home are even more trenchant in their protest. What they say are not prayers. The president needs to go out, feel the street and do another broadcast.

If what you eat is exhausted, you go for what is classed as taboo. That proverb sounds like what a leader of the French Revolution, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, said about the last option of the hungry: “When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich (Quand le peuple n’aura plus rien à manger, il mangera le riche).” From one end of the street to the other, a scary video shows children of the North blasting slabs fittingly placed on gutters, scavenging for iron rods. They did it with uncommonly calm fury, daring the state.

A government ICT centre in Kano was invaded and stripped of all its assets. Children without basic education can’t appreciate computers and their possibilities. There is a lesson there for our policy makers. First things first.

Kaduna’s Governor Sani said more: “If you look at the developmental indices, I made it clear to everyone last week that as far back as 2016 in the northwest part of Nigeria, there was nothing but kidnappings and banditry. We have found ourselves in this problem because of the lack of seriousness of the leaders, including myself.” That was a very candid admission of complicity in the tragedy that has unfurled in the north. Sani added that everyone in northern Nigeria who held a leadership position, including the business community, should reflect on why over 70 percent of adults are financially excluded, why 65 percent of people are living below the poverty line, and why 70 percent of Nigeria’s 18.3 million out-of-school children are domiciled in the north. “That is why, if you look at the protest today, most of the states that participated are from northern Nigeria…” the governor said.

That Kaduna where Governor Sani sits was where the maker of the North, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, sat and made a very sound difference in the lives of his people. Sardauna’s biographer, John Paden, says when Bello was a mere councillor in charge of the Sokoto districts, he ensured that “education was the key.” When he became the premier, he held on to that conviction that the system must run well in such a way that “there was no resentment from below.” Paden adds: “The Sardauna felt that if this system broke down, the whole of the society would break down.” What the Sardauna feared has happened. The system he built has broken down. Governor Sani said so. The fury on the streets of the North is the confirmation.

On Saturday, Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, expressed shock over what he called the involvement of children in the protests in his state. He said over 95 percent of the protesters were under 14. To him, most of the children were unaware of the reasons behind their actions. He said the situation was “astonishing”. “It’s astonishing to see a six-year-old child carrying a placard. They must have been directed by someone.” Many of the children, he said, were not from Borno State. So, where did they come from? Were the unknown ones from Niger or Chad? The governor needs to tell us.

How many children of Borno do Borno and its governor know? Some people’s blessings are as limitless as the waters of the Atlantic. Children of northern Nigeria compete with the sands of the desert in matters of number. Sometimes you are tempted to ask what music they listen to in that very expansive clime?

Queen of songs, Onyeka Onwenu, died last week; God bless her sweet soul. With King Sunny Ade in 1989, Onyeka did a duet on life and the need to plan it well. They labelled the album ‘Wait For Me.’ The song suggests that if your loin is virile enough to sire a million children, your hands must be strong enough to make billions to feed them. You can’t have “plenty children” and offload their care to society. The duo sings that a nation can’t have sad families and still be a happy country. They sing:

Having babies, no be joke oh,

You go feed them

You go give them cloth

Bring them up too…

If you never ready to carry the load

Why put am for another person head?…

Plenty children dey, but no food to eat

Oh my friend, this kain life na so so wahala…

King Sunny Ade and Onyeka Onwenu are not done. They also have these lines which are even more national in aim:

Happy parents, na happy children

Happy family na happy country…

If you love life, you go plan am well…

The album is 35 years old. Nothing has changed since it was released. Indeed, if you sing that Sunny Ade/Onyeka Onwenu song in the north, you are not likely to escape the sanctimonious sanctions of the leaders there. The singers sang nonsense, they would say. When families are wracked by hunger and anger, a million presidential broadcasts will not make patriots of them. “Happy family na happy country” The streets of Nigeria, north and south, are full of sad children of hunger and daring kids of anger. It is apparently worse in the North. The Almajirai who used to live on leftovers can’t get leftovers again. Everyone who still can afford some food is sticking to rations that serve their hunger. No excess food for excess children. The problem is real.

Nigerians are very hungry but it appears the North is hungrier. It will be hungry. Because of the choices it made yesterday, it can’t go to the farm today, can’t go to the stream to fetch water; the willing among them can’t go school. When you add mass hunger to mass illiteracy, you get perfect poison. Thunder claps of hunger are celting the stomach of Nigeria and there is no rescuing the afflicted. No country has what we have as street children in northern Nigeria and knows peace. It is not possible.

Like it happened in France of 1793, we’ve just heard a no for the very influential religious authority in northern Nigeria. The North’s feudal hierarchy, its autocracy and the clergy lost the street. The Ulama lost their command; the emirs lost their mane. The two lethal groups failed to convince the hungry that what they were feeling was politics and not hunger. The result, sadly, is the free reign of terror in that realm. If it was pupils of Muslim clerics that raged into a mosque and sacked the worship house from ceiling to floor, then the mallams should beware. Their domesticated lions have matured; the hungry cats want the wild and the food it offers.

There were protests also in the South – particularly in the South-West. Everyone who lives there should thank the protesters for staying the course peacefully. We should thank the state governments, particularly the governors of highly combustible Oyo, Osun, and Lagos, for not sleeping on duty and for fencing off their states from violence. We should also thank the police and other security forces in these states for not craving the taste of blood.

The biggest casualties of the protest in Yoruba land are, however, the pro-government political elite to whom double standards is honourable. They shaved clean the head of Agbe, bird of the creeks; they scraped clean the hairs of Àlùkò, bird of the desert; when it was the turn of their own bird, Àtíòro, they said their blade had lost its sharp edge. There is one word for that behaviour in Yoruba – it is Àgàbàgebè. We wait to see how they will find their vociferous voice again after this era.