The countries that are recognized today as developed in world affairs have all attributed their transformation to the role of advanced technology. On the other hand, 3rd world countries that have either remained stagnant or developing at minimal pace are those who are yet to take advantage of technology thus affirming that technology has become the redeeming feature of humanity.

Earlier, the popular agent of development was the teacher whose role has been to teach and train people, serving permanently as a veritable guide towards the assimilation of knowledge especially by the youth. Teachers have indeed remained the unique agents of societal development because they still have to teach people how to operate and manage new devices that technology continues to give birth to.

It is therefore obvious that no one can be more important than teachers. Yet, in developing societies such as Nigeria, the role of teachers is poorly appreciated. They are not only lowly placed among occupations; their remuneration has remained scandalously inadequate. In Nigeria, the appreciation of teachers is temperamental. On some occasions, which are few and far apart, we applaud and reward our teachers but more often than not, it is as if teachers do not exist in our scheme of governance. Last week, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun suddenly celebrated a teacher, Kayode Adewale for his excellence. Abiodun announced a N5 million cash reward and a bungalow for Adewale, a mathematics teacher at Imagbon/Imaka Comprehensive High School, Imagbon, Ogun State.

We commend Governor Abiodun for the award not because the recognition is extraordinary. Instead, our praise is informed by the fact that other states do no such thing for any teacher. The few who do, like Lagos state, have only a-once-a-year Education Merit Award for some teachers. In addition, it is obvious that Ogun State was internationally pressured to honour Adewale because he was recently shortlisted among the 50 finalists for the prestigious $1 million Global Teacher Prize which Varkey Foundation presents annually in collaboration with UNESCO and GEMS Education. The prize recognizes educators who have made extraordinary contributions to transforming lives and communities through education. Indeed, Adewale’s feat is not a fluke as he had won the Best Teacher Award in Ogun State in 2020.

Truly, teacher Adewale’s humility and unwavering dedication to uplifting his community through education are commendable. This is more obvious when it is realized that if any outstanding teacher had decided to abandon teaching for politics, he would have since become a billionaire. All he would have needed to do was just to get a godfather to help him rig election into the federal legislature which automatically gives him N14million monthly salary and a foreign made SUV car valued at N160 million among other benefits. In all fairness, teacher Adewale and his contemporaries have no business teaching because across the board, our governments believe that the only Nigerians that matter are politicians.

The undue prioritization of politics is no doubt the single most irrational policy that has continued to adversely affect Nigeria’s growth and development. To be appointed into any other field of endeavour in Nigeria, an applicant must meet some high academic qualifications and rigorous standard recruitment process. After that, the new appointee is graded at the level of a pupil operative and required to serve for many years before consequential advancement to each new grade.  In politics on the other hand, all that is needed is to be able to read and write after which a lawmaker is elevated to inexplicable remuneration while political appointees such as Ministers etc are recruited through prescriptive criteria and cleared through a system of bow and go. The official scheme which approves such bogus pampering of politicians has remained unascertainable. 

What appears to legitimize the inequitable placement of Nigerians in different offices and posts that are serviced through tax payers’ money is simply because the Nigerian civic society has remained docile and dormant over the years. The same situation does not happen in virile societies where literacy is deliberately improved upon by relevant authorities. Some few years ago, it was argued that the reason senators are rated higher than Ministers is because it is they who clear nominees to become Ministers. By that reasoning, should anyone be placed higher that his teacher? If not, what suddenly changed the old order in which the teacher was seen as a role model in virtually every community?

Today’s role model in a typical Nigerian community is the politician who suddenly becomes wealthy within a few months of holding a public office. He is hardly as trained as a teacher. Sometimes, he becomes a state governor whose poor academic background is known to his old school mates. There was the interesting story of one governor who once organized a show your certificate policy for teachers. His old school mates told those who cared to hear that the particular governor himself had no certificate because he was a drop out from their school. The influence and wealth of the governor is however enough to discourage other citizens from serving as teachers or farmers. The impression that teaching cannot uplift anyone therefore sticks pushing many people to politics.

Unfortunately, it is not only that no one seems to remember teachers for what they used to be known for, the new stigma of the average teacher these days is the trend of negatives like exam malpractices sexual harassments and extortion of students through compulsory purchase of handouts. When shall the Nigerian society talk about diligent teachers who in spite of poor pay and inadequate materials, is never involved in the listed malpractices? Is it not unfair to allow only students to applaud their dedicated and committed teachers? Here, we commend some students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) projected in the media to have showered one of their lecturers, Dr. Olagunju, with gifts as a token of appreciation for his exceptional dedication.

The fact that the authorities of that University are yet to respond to the gesture of the joyous students as they would have done if only one of them had accused Olagunju of any malpractice is instructive. Could it be that University authorities in Nigeria have inadvertently contributed to the lowering image of the academic community? Of course, they have. Each time I take a look at today’s Nigerian university system; I am unable to imagine how anybody could have been able to convince Professor Adeoye Lambo my adorable Vice Chancellor of Nigeria’s Premier University of Ibadan to step out and announce a transparently flawed election result. It shows that the much talked about leadership decay has like cancer spread to even unimaginable parts of the body.

To what extent can teachers alone be held accountable for falling standards of education? Teachers are not spirits but human beings. Like other citizens, some teachers pay the fictitious band ‘A’ electricity bills and all other spurious charges by privileged private entrepreneurs that government indulges. It is almost impossible to dissuade teachers from certain sharp practices in their schools or from engaging in other businesses at the expense of teaching to make ends meet. Without good welfare packages it is a waste of time to mouth patriotism and expect it to successfully spur teachers to high performances in the discharge of their duties.

On its part, the government at both federal and state levels has greatly supported the undermining of the university system by refusing to properly fund our tertiary institutions. They have also over the years consistently refused to honour agreements which they voluntarily signed with academic and professional unions. Besides, they have also deliberately polluted the sanity of the ivory towers by flooding governing councils with politicians whose only interest in meetings is the award of contracts. The unending controversies which the appointment of Vice Chancellors generate in recent times portrays the divisive trait of politicians who always abort standard rules and processes to arrive at a predetermined end.

Interestingly, it is still the duty of teachers to begin to design strategies for restoring the values of their profession. One way of doing so is to strengthen work ethics as well as to become more politically conscious without being partisan. There is no better time than now for more emphasis on educating students to recognize the futility of voting for popular politicians who are neither well educated nor have a track record. University leaders should themselves become less materialistic and sycophantic while playing down the award of honorary degrees to political leaders that neither prioritize education nor are teacher friendly.

“Choose the best; shun mediocrity. Mediocrity has a way of shriveling enthusiasm. But commitment to excellence taps an incredible source of energy” – Robert Schuller, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p 52.

Your Excellency, I had the honour and privilege to deliver the Keynote Address at the 80th anniversary of Government College, Ughelli, GCU, on Friday, January 17, 2025. I was particularly happy when the programme announced that you were coming to grace the august occasion. It would have provided me the opportunity to tell you personally that you are one of two current Governors who has not disappointed me by the way you have managed the affairs of Delta State.

Nobody is perfect; and you can’t please everybody – especially in a multi-ethnic state like Delta. You have done exceedingly well. Those familiar with this page for over 30 years would confirm that praise-singing is not the style here. Only one Governor, since 1999, has met the gold standard of governance; and that is Obong Victor Attah. You are well on your way to becoming the second. I wish you well. That said; I was disappointed when the Master of Ceremony, MC, first announced that the Deputy Governor would, well, deputise for you.

That was quickly followed by another announcement that the Dep. Governor would be represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Basic Education. The Professor read the prepared speech; received the applause and sat down as events unfolded. As far as I was concerned, there were two major events requiring your personal attention; and which could not be delegated to anybody else. My address was not one of them. And you missed nothing by not hearing it delivered. By virtue of the Nigerian Constitution, the state Governor is the alpha and omega in his state. Nobody else has the prerogative to attend to those two issues. That was why your absence left a gaping hole in the proceedings.

RUNNING A SELF-IMPOSED ERRAND

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” – Reverend (Dr) Martin Luther King, Jr, 1929-1968.

Before going into the substance of this article, permit me, as usual, to declare that the Government College Old Boys Association, GCUOBA, did not send me on this errand. I was not paid to promote the idea. It was a great honour for me to have been invited to deliver the address; and a privilege to sit among some of the most eminent Nigerians the college has produced. I was not paid for the opportunity to do so. So, on no account should anybody opposed to what follows assume that this is a paid advertorial. I firmly believe in it. At any rate, I have undertaken such efforts before on important matters.

In 2010, I was the arrowhead of the struggle to get a Christian Governor elected in Lagos State when most people regarded it as a pipe dream. By the time Sanwo-Olu finishes his second term, it would have been twelve years of Christian Governor in Lagos State. Henceforth, religion will no longer matter. Long before that, I was also among the members of Igbobi College Old Boys Association, ICOBA, who got Governor Bola Tinubu to return our school to ICOBA. By then, Igbobi College, which had been forcefully acquired by the military government, had descended from excellence to mediocrity. We were successful; and I will forever be grateful to Tinubu for his gesture. Personally, I regard those two matters among the most remarkable achievements in my life made possible by having this forum to try and bring changes into our nation.

WHY GCUOBA’S APPEAL MAKES MORE SENSE NOW

“Only believers can build a Cathedral “- Albert Camus

Your Excellency, two requests were made by the President International of GCOBA in your absence. The first naturally requested for donation from the State Government towards the construction of a N3 billion Secretariat – including an auditorium seating 1, 000 people. That needs no explanation. The second is, to me, more important. GCUOBA is requesting the State Government to hand over the school to them as a step towards restoring it back to the centre of educational excellence it once was. That is the reason for this intervention. The good Professor promised to deliver the two messages; and there is no reason to doubt him.

However, he (Governor) might not be aware of the history of GCU to explain the proposal and its benefits to Delta State in particular and Nigeria, and even the world, in general. The truth is; a great deal of the knowledge which propel the world come from a few citadels of learning; which in turn are merit-based. Government College Ughelli was among the handful of excellent secondary schools established by the British for which admission was based strictly on merit. The contributions of its old boys to Nigeria and humanity provide all the evidence needed to support the argument that every country needs some centres of educational excellence in order to be globally competitive. Two indisputable facts are available.

All the top 25 economies in the world have at least eight to ten universities among the top 1, 000 universities ranked in the world. Africa and Nigeria have the fewest. No African country is now in top 25. We attend the G-20 annual meeting simply because the world cannot leave us out and not on merit. Meanwhile, GCU has demonstrated what merit-based schools can produce in terms of human capital development if allowed. We have at our disposal the list of people admitted to GCU from its inception in 1945 to 2005; and it is remarkable how its old boys have dominated various fields of endeavour in Nigeria. Although, the task is not finished, we hope to be able to publish the first list of twenty great achievers from GCU in this year of its 80th anniversary. I apologise to those who might have read some of these names before; the repetition has become necessary because of the special appeal to the Governor of Delta State. Among GCU’s old boys, we have been able to identify the following:

Major-General David Ejoor, 1932-2019, Mr S.B Agodo, the longest serving Permanent Secretary in FG; Chief Grey Longe, Secretary to the FG; Professor Itse Sagay, SAN; Architect Charles Majoroh; Olorogun Albert Akpomudje, SAN; John Momoh, Channels TV; Great Ogboru; Olorogun Taiga, CON; Prince Nduka Obiagbena, THISDAY, ARISE TV; and the legendary Sam Amuka aka Uncle Sam – co-founder PUNCH, Publisher VANGUARD MEDIA; and Mudi of Africa – leading fashion designer who dressed three African Presidents and was visited in his workshop at Anthony Village, Lagos by the King of Morocco demonstrating the Monarch’s regard for excellence.

The list is not exhaustive of contributors which this great institution has nurtured to serve mankind well. In education as in all aspects of life, the Pareto Principle operates. People in every sphere of life are divided into two groups: the vital few and the trivial many. Education is no exception. Restoring GCU to its former glory is certainly a step in the right direction. Furthermore, Your Excellency, this is a win-win arrangement as our experience at Igbobi College had demonstrated since Governor Tinubu returned it to us. Lagos State allocates whatever it wants annually, the Old Boys are responsible for providing the funds necessary to maintain the quality of education they want for their school.

Fortunately, every generation produces its own crop of millionaires, and even billionaires; the classes take turns to provide whatever is needed to upgrade infrastructure; and the effort now benefits immensely from contributions from the Diaspora. I rest my case for now Your Excellency; but, there is little doubt in my mind that, years from now, when you might have finished your second term, that you will look back and be pleased that you took this decision. If you don’t believe me Sir, ask President Tinubu about Igbobi College next time you meet with him.

ALL GCU OLD BOYS: TIME TO START CONTINOUOS FUND RAISING.

“We make a living by what we get; but, we make a life by what we give.”

On Friday January 17, 2025, on the campus of Government College Ughelli, the President General Worldwide of the GCUOBA, Olorogun Akpomudje, SAN, announced the launching of a N3 BILLION DEVELOPMENT FUND. About N500 million was raised by the fund raiser – the inimitable Olorogun Dr M. O Taiga. There was a commendable effort led by the “Peoples General” Great Ogboru who led the parade of donors. As an economist, I can, with little fear of contradiction, declare the result, about 16 per cent, good, but not nearly enough.

There is still 84 per cent or more to go because by the time the N3 billion is gathered, inflation might drive the figure to N4 billion or more. I have the list of all old boys from 1945 to 2005 with me. I am appealing to everyone – including the families of those who had passed on – for donations. The children of the late Gamaliel Onosode, 1933-2015, incomparable boardroom guru, had already set the example in this regard. They paid, what I assume, a handsome first installment. Given 84 per cent, or more, left to go, there is no doubt in my mind they will do what late Papa knew best to do and help bridge the gap. As far as I am concerned, that an Old Boy is with the saints triumphant in heaven is no excuse for his name not to appear in the roll of honour at Ughelli.

“Little drops of water, little grains of sand make a mighty ocean.”

 Low income is also not a reason not to send money. N1, 000 will buy nails or some cement blocks. Irrespective of your financial position, just commit yourself to going to a P.O.S and send at least N1, 000 a month. In one year, you would have donated N12, 000; in five years N60, 000.  Send all donations to:

GCUOBA 80TH Anniversary Account

UBA:  102-767-8072.

Almighty God will replenish your purse as you donate.

Depending on what view one takes of the matter, 10 February 2025 promises to be Proxy Wars Day at the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Abuja.

On that day, a panel of five Justices of the Supreme Court will take arguments on seven appeals connected with the synthetic political crisis in Rivers State.

The issues that the court will be asked to decide include the validity of last October’s local government elections in the state; the fate of the faction in the Rivers State House of Assembly who claim to have switched their affiliation from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP, on whose platform they were elected) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC); the legality of the state’s 2025 budget passed by the rump of the state House of Assembly; and the effort to importune judges into denying Rivers State access to its share of the Federation Account.

The effort to frame these as legal issues is transparently valiant. Despite the shameful conversion of judges into politicians in the Rivers State crisis – or indeed because of precisely that fact – the imminence of Rivers State Proxy Wars Day at the Supreme Court is evidence of what has gone wrong with Nigeria’s judicial system and why fixing it is essential for the health of Nigeria’s attempt at government with electoral legitimacy.

This is not the first time that legal disputes about power and how to share the spoils from it have ended up at the highest court in the land. That tendency in Nigeria is over a century old and arguably goes back to the 1921 judgment of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the case of Amodu Tijani, over the effort by the colonial authorities to split Herbert Heelas Macaulay from his support for Eshugbayi Eleko, the Oba of Lagos.

For the hearing of that cases before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1920, Herbert Macaulay travelled to London with the Oba’s Staff of Office in support of Amodu Tijani and the Idejo Chiefs of Lagos. From London, he issued a statement claiming that the Eleko was the King of over 17 million Nigerians and in possession of a territory more than three times that of Great Britain. Despite a healthy revenue of over £4 million, he claimed, the British had reneged on a treaty commitment to compensate the Eleko.

Embarrassed at being publicly called duplicitous in this way, the British required the Eleko to disown Herbert Macaulay. He issued a public statement clarifying his position on Herbert Macaulay’s statement but declined to disown him through the Oba’s Bell Ringers, as the Brits required.

Unable to secure the support of the popular Eleko, the colonists chose to head off rising tension by deposing him. On 6 August 1925, they issued an ordinance de-stooling him and, two days later, on 8 August, they arrested and removed the Eleko into internal banishment in Oyo. In his place, they installed Oba Ibikunle Akitoye.

Oba Akitoye’s rule lasted an uncomfortably brief three years, largely because he lacked the support of the people of Lagos. Indeed, in 1926, he suffered physical assault by his people. Supported by the elite and people of Lagos, the deposed Eleko took his case to the courts, fighting all the way once more to the Privy Council, which decided on 19 June 1928 in favour of his claim for leave for a writ of habeas corpus. This all but sealed the fate of Oba Akitoye, who is suspected to have facilitated his own earthly demise shortly thereafter.

The crisis in Rivers State shares some unsettling similarities with the events in Lagos nearly one century ago. In Rivers today, as in Lagos then, a powerful man – in this case the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike – seeks to banish the current governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, from office using surrogates beholden to him in the state House of Assembly.

There is one important difference, though: the issues in Rivers State today hardly involve principle or the public interest. Framed though they are in legalese, these cases from Rivers State are about power and money grab. This is not a first. It appears to be the standard procedure of the current FCT Minister to seek to inveigle judges into acting as his political surrogates under ruse of law.

In instigating this crisis, Mr. Wike suffered a characteristic failure of his frontal lobe and forgot his public vow to “give himself that respect” and not interfere in the affairs of the state after his exit from the office in May 2023. Rather, since leaving office as the state governor, Mr. Wike has sought to install himself as both the Minister in Abuja and Sole Administrator in Port Harcourt. He makes no effort to conceal the fact that much of what passes as his political dare-devilry appears to be accomplished under the influence of sufficiently gluttonous amounts of dangerous beverage as to entitle him to access to a defence of automatism in criminal law.

In October 2024, he told Seun Okinbaloye with undisguised hubris on Channels Television that the only solution to the crisis in Rivers State was for the incumbent governor to “obey court judgment.” This was no advocate for the rule of law, however. Instead, Mr. Wike projected an air of political impregnability purchased with a currency bearing a distinct whiff of procured judicial crookery.

To be fair, this is not something entirely unexpected of an ambitious Nigerian politician without an alternative address (apologies to Deji Adeyanju). What is more difficult to overlook is the high judicial tolerance for undisguised political importuning of judges.

Nigeria’s judicial system has been overtaken by a category known as “political cases.” In November 2023, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, reported that his Supreme Court registered 1,271 motions and appeals from 12 September 2022 to 11 July, 2023, out Of this, the court “heard 388 political appeals, 215 criminal appeals and 464 civil appeals.” Two years earlier, in 2021, Ariwoola’s predecessor, Tanko Muhammad, reported that the court’s portfolio of 269 appeals disposed of included 139 civil appeals, 102 criminal appeals, and 28 “political cases”.

According to CJN Ariwoola’s report, the court “delivered a total number of 251 judgments, of which 125 were political appeals, 81 were civil appeals, and 45 were criminal appeals.” In just two years, the output of the court fell by 6.69% but “political cases” rose from 10.67% to 49.8%. Even allowing for the fact that 2023 was an election year, this is system collapse.

Nigeria’s judges appear to have decided that the only people entitled to exit from the courts are politicians. In turn, the politicians are happy to enjoy this exclusivity and to overwhelm the courts to the point that even judges now complain. They hire the priciest lawyers to frame undisguised power and money grabs as questions of law.

The Supreme Court can end this but feigns reluctance to. Rather, the court affords powerful politicians the kind of tolerance that they are unwilling to extend to lesser mortals, preferring instead to enable this joint enterprise of senior lawyers and politicians while fettering its own capacity to determine for itself what should be a question of law deserving of its rarefied attention.

This sucks for many reasons. It prostitutes the bench; casualizes the constitutional guarantee of fair trial “within a reasonable time”; and portrays the judiciary as captured.

To describe this as Supreme pusillanimity is to be generous. It is a form of judicial lasciviousness syndrome, promenading judicial wares before political gawkers in a peonage system in which the only effective currency is high political patronage. In these Rivers State cases, the Supreme Court has an opportunity to make a bold statement. If it doesn’t, then it should be ready for many more proxy war days yet.

A lawyer and a teacher, Odinkalu can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mr ‘Folabi Lawal, of blessed memory, told me this fascinating story sometime in 1998. He was the THISDAY bureau chief in Abuja, officially designated as deputy editor, nation’s capital. Mr Nduka Obaigbena, the chairman and editor-in-chief, had asked Lawal to send a document to him in Lagos “by the next available flight”. But when Lawal got to the airport, the last flight had left. Unlike now, flights were few and none operated beyond 5pm or so because of a lack of capacity to manage late flights at the local airports. Distraught because he knew how important it was to get the parcel across, Lawal returned to the office and gave the chairman a call to deliver the not-so-pleasant news.

‘Chairman, I tried my best but there was no flight,’ he said, subdued.

‘You mean there was no flight at all?’ Obaigbena asked him, clearly disappointed.

‘None, chairman,’ Lawal replied.

‘Not even a presidential jet?’ Obaigbena replied, apparently without batting an eyelid.

Lawal laughed. Presidential jet was not an option anybody who loved himself would consider. Nigeria was under the iron grip of Gen Sani Abacha, as citizens — including journalists — were being arrested, detained, disappeared, or simply assassinated over mere suspicion of being sympathetic to the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which was at the forefront of the opposition to his military regime. Bombs were going off and NADECO was being held responsible. How would some journalist approach the pilot of the presidential jet and hand over a parcel to him to deliver to Lagos at the height (and in the heat) of the Abacha dictatorship? It was unthinkable. It was impossible.

But that is how to get the best out of Obaigbena. Tell him something is impossible and you are challenging him to prove that impossible is nothing. Otherwise, he would not have started THISDAY in 1995. It was unprecedented that anyone would start a newspaper in Nigeria without first investing in a mammoth printing press. That was the first law. And that was the most expensive capex item which discouraged many would-be publishers from pursuing their passion. You needed a sugar daddy to start a newspaper. THISDAY successfully entered the newspaper industry without owning a printing press and soon enough, many daily publications started coming on stream. It was possible.

When THISDAY was about to roll out in 1995, I was working with the TEMPO/TheNews group. Mr Eniola Bello was the deputy editor of PM News, an evening newspaper published by the group. He reported for work one day and told us that Obaigbena — reputed for publishing the defunct THISWEEK, Nigeria’s first all-colour, all-gloss weekly newsmagazine — was about to start a newspaper and that he had decided to join the pioneer team. It was greeted with scepticism: some of his colleagues doubted it would be a success. Bello, who would become THISDAY MD in 2005, never looked back. And when THISDAY started coming out, initially at weekend, it was an instant hit.

Abacha, in one of his moments, had shut down The Guardian, Concord and Punch in 1994. In those days, journalists didn’t need to commit any serious offence to be hammered by the military junta. The military guys were so, so power drunk. They were walking on our heads as they liked. Not only was The Guardian shut down but its head office was also bombed. And as if that was not awful enough, the late Mr Alex Ibru, its publisher, was shot in broad daylight at Falomo, Lagos, by Abacha’s killer squad in 1996. He narrowly escaped death but lost an eye. Abacha had dropped Ibru from his cabinet in 1995, apparently because he failed to turn his newspaper into a mouthpiece for the junta.

When the major newspapers were shut down, THISDAY and a couple of others came in to fill the gap but were not expected to survive the re-opening of the established newspapers. That is not the kind of thing you tell Obaigbena. You are only challenging him. In fact, you are provoking him. By the time the newspapers were re-opened, THISDAY had carved its own share of the market in such a manner that if it was not your first choice, then it would be your second. It did not set out to be the newspaper to be read by every Danladi, Emeka and Babatunde. It set out to be the unputdownable newspaper among the rich and the powerful in business, politics and the diplomatic community.

Whereas you might not see THISDAY in Kabba or Kaura Namoda, you would see it in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt — the power houses of Nigeria. You might not see THISDAY in Kainji, you would see it in Kakawa, Lagos, which serviced the biggest corporate offices in Nigeria. The strategy was very clear. It became the newspaper that leaders in business and politics wanted to clutch, the newspaper that befitted their status. It was the newspaper every office worth its salt wanted to buy for its executives, the newspaper they desired to advertise in, the newspaper in which they wanted their stories and photos featured. Those who said THISDAY would soon die ate their words. Impossible is nothing.

How did THISDAY do it? I did not join the newspaper until August 1997. But from the outside, there were many things I liked about it. One, it served readers the best stories in business and politics. The stories were well-sourced and authentic. I would never forget how it broke the news of the death of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, foremost nationalist, at a time nobody was ready to touch it. He had been falsely reported dead in 1989 in one horrible moment that left the Nigerian media with egg on the face. Although THISDAY did its home work before reporting the Great Zik’s death in 1996, it was not an easy decision. But that authenticity perhaps finally accentuated THISDAY’s authoritativeness.

Two, THISDAY treated breaking news stories with such flair and speed like no other newspaper did. It usually devoted the first two pages to what it called “Behind the News”, exploring various details and angles in bits and pieces. Moreso, the weekend editions of THISDAY were so well packaged that the weekly newsmagazines coming out on Mondays were left with mostly crumbs. There are those who believe that THISDAY did things so well that it effectively killed the weekly newsmagazines which specialised in in-depth treatment of news. I have to say here that no study established a causal link between THISDAY’s robustness and the demise of newsmagazines. It is just an educated assumption.

Three, Nigerian newspapers used to dedicate their back pages to sports, general news and cartoons. THISDAY broke the tradition by doing daily analysis, with business taking the space on Mondays and politics dominating the other days. The analyses were accompanied by Business Notes and Political Notes, which gave short and sharp takes on developments in those sectors. Over time, the back page transformed to a space for regular columnists. THISDAY back page became the page of choice for many readers and it started churching out a new class of columnists. The variety across political, ethnic and ideological lines was something that marked THISDAY out and so it has remained till now.

Four, THISDAY reported business like no other newspaper did, and this uniqueness might have raised the bar too high for business-only publications. The newspaper had a partnership with the Financial Times of London and ran the Management Series, which was as good as attending a business school. This was a must-not-miss for many in the business community. The newspaper also pioneered reporting the daily transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (now the Nigerian Exchange Group, NGX) with the table of the share prices of all quoted companies, not just the top gainers and losers as was the easy thing to do then. It was a logistical nightmare but, remember, impossible is nothing.

Five, THISDAY established its foothold on the media landscape by going colour. Let me clarify here that it did not pioneer colour newspapering in Nigeria — that distinction goes to Sunray of Port Harcourt. However, THISDAY was the first to publish colour on a daily basis. Newspaper managers who sniggered at it and said THISDAY would soon die later jumped on the bandwagon. The first colour pull-out, I think, was a THISDAYStyle publication on Princess Diana’s funeral in August 1997, edited by Jamin Ohwovoriole. That was also the month Mr Eziuche Ubani recruited me for THISDAY and, along with my late pal Emeka Enechi, we started the all-colour pull-out, SportsXtra, on Sundays.

There are several things that have marked THISDAY out in the last three decades which I cannot write within this space. For instance, Nigerians used to read different versions of a Lagos/Ibadan-based newspaper same day. The first edition with stale news was for far-flung places. The second edition with fresh news was for the south-west and Abuja. THISDAY broke the jinx in 2000 with simultaneous printing in Lagos and Abuja. There was a price to pay, though: THISDAY often arrived late on the newsstands, so much so that frustrated vendors branded it as an evening newspaper. Nevertheless, every newspaper worth its salt started producing a single edition nationwide with fresh stories.

Sure, not everybody has the same feelings about THISDAY. That is the way life goes. For me, I have only fond memories. I left the newspaper in 2012 after two spells, during which I was appointed features editor at the age of 25, Saturday editor at 29 and editor of the daily newspaper at 34. Credit to Obaigbena for birthing his vision and sustaining it with constant innovation. Credit to all the members of staff — past and present, dead and alive — who tilled the land and toiled day and night to help build the THISDAY brand. Credit to those who have supported the business over the years. At 30, THISDAY deserves its flowers for revolutionising newspapering in Nigeria. Impossible is nothing.

AND FOUR OTHER THINGS…

DAWN OF A NEW ERROR

President Donald Trump is back! Not one to do anything without drama, he started season two of his tragicomedy right at his inauguration on Monday, hitting out at his predecessors (who were in attendance) and promising that America was going to be great again with his return. To keep touch with his base, he signed bundles of executive orders (EOs) that created the impression that the so-called Free World is now being led by a medieval emperor. Trust the American system to keep him in check, though. A court has already suspended the EO that abolished birthright citizenship. My sense is that most of those EOs are useless, but at least they will keep his gullible fanbase happy. Cruise.

DUMBER PLATE

Justice Akintayo Aluko of the federal high court sitting in Lagos has restrained the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from impounding vehicles with faded number plates. Mr Chinwike Ezebube, a legal practitioner, filed the suit against the FRSC in February 2024. Ordinarily, this judgment should have been made summarily — in 10 minutes if possible. FRSC is the sole designer and producer of the number plates. If the ink fades, how can it be the fault of the vehicle owner? Please help me understand. Yet, motorists have been fined for the defective number plates. That is the sort of oppression the Nigerian state subjects us to. It is hard to understand. It beats logic. Absurd.

IT IS POSSIBLE

My friends always ask me why I still believe Nigeria can be great despite all the glaring defects and decay. Here is another answer. Barely a week after the wife of Mr Hakeem Odumosu was kidnapped, police rescued her, killed two suspects and arrested two others. You know why? Odumosu is a retired assistant inspector-general of police (AIG). That is why. If it was Citizen Tamedun Lakasegbe that went to report to the police that his wife had been kidnapped, it would be a different matter altogether. What this tells me is that the capacity is there but it is only used for the rich and the powerful. When ordinary Nigerians begin to matter in our system, our greatness will begin to explode. Unstoppable.

NO COMMENT

On Friday, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, chairman of the senate committee on interior, made a startling statement: that retired military generals are behind illegal mining activities in the country. “The ongoing illegal mining across the country is being carried out by retired generals, and we know them. They use helicopters to cart away gold, making billions of dollars, while the country suffers,” he said. He said he even wrote to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari over the issue years ago. I find this very exciting. I believe the security agencies should engage with Oshiomhole so that he can help them with investigation. He seems to have the master list of the illegal miners. Wonderful.

Erling Haaland scored one and assisted another as Manchester City came from a goal down to defeat Chelsea 3-1 in their English Premier League (EPL) encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The fixture delivered excitement on a day Chelsea handed Trevoh Chalobah a starting place on his return from loan, and Pep Guardiola started defender Abdukodir Khusanov and striker Omar Marmoush, his latest mega-signings.

It was however Haaland who won the game for the hosts with a well taken strike after Noni Madueke and Josko Gvardiol had exchanged goals in the first half.

Defending has become a nightmare for Man City this season and the visitors took full advantage to take the lead on three minutes, following new boy Khusanov’s defensive mistake.

The 20-year-old nodded the ball straight to Nicholas Jackson who squared for Madueke to slot into the net, handing Chelsea a 1-0 lead.

The EPL champions recovered from the early setback to dominate the game. Marmoush had the ball in the net from a rebound but it was ruled out for offside.

City eventually got their reward three minutes before the interval through Gvardiol who slotted into an empty net on the rebound after Roberto Sanchez saved Matheus Nunes’ shot and both sides went into the break level at 1-1.

City continued to push for the winner and it came on 68 minutes from a long ball towards Haaland, as the big Norwegian striker shook off Chalobah before executing an excellent lob over the onrushing Sanchez from 18 yards for 2-1.

Foden scored the third goal, clinching a well-deserved victory for Man City on 87 minutes.

Victory sends Man City into fourth position with 41 points from 23 matches, six points behind second-placed Arsenal who won 1-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers in a match both sides finished with ten men.

Liverpool, runaway league leaders, strolled over Ipswich 4-1, with Cody Gakpo scoring a brace.

Nottingham Forest were pummeled 5-0 by an in-form Bournemouth side, while Everton eased their relegation troubles with a 1-0 win at Brighton.

Southampton, on the other hand, remain deeply rooted to the bottom after surrendering a one-goal lead to lose 3-1 to Newcastle United.

RESULTS

• Manchester City 3-1 Chelsea
• Bournemouth 5-0
• Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Arsenal
• Liverpool 4-1 Ipswich Town
• Southampton 1-3 Newcastle United
• Brighton 0-1 Everton

[TheCable]

The return of Donald Trump to the US presidency has sparked a mix of reactions globally, with many wondering what this means for democracy and leadership. To understand the implications, let’s dive into some key takeaways from Trump’s victory. From the outset, Trump’s presidency has been so far defined by the mainstream media as what looks like chaos, controversy, and a relentless pace of news.

But in just five days, Trump’s presidency has generated enough headlines and news cycles to fill a typical president’s entire first term. This breakneck pace has left many in the media and the public struggling to keep up, with opinion writers’ conclusions likely reflecting the sense of exhaustion and overwhelm that’s become all too familiar in the Trump era. Trump’s just five days in office is indeed feeling like a full term and this carries some significant weight.

The world is beginning to see a reflection of the unprecedented nature of Trump’s presidency and the ways in which it’s defied conventional norms and expectations. As the news continues to unfold at a dizzying pace, one thing is clear: with Trump in the White House, every day feels like a lifetime.” Yes, America is a beacon to the world and election of its president has remarkable consequences all over. The world is beginning to see the strong man in charge of this self-styled beacon who campaigned boldly with a mantra, “Americanism, not globalism” will lead the way. And he reiterated that five days ago in his inaugural address: part of his words in the second paragraph of the inaugural address: 

“…From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world.  We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer.  During every single day of the Trump administration, I will, very simply, put America first…”

Hurricane Trump has been rehired at a time the value of US global influence is under question, regional powers are going their own way, autocratic regimes are making their own alliances, and the devastating wars in Gaza, Ukraine and elsewhere are raising uncomfortable questions about the value of Washington’s role. But like it or not, America matters by dint of its economic and military strength, and its major role in many alliances. The mercurial leader isn’t a friend to so many politicians and leaders around the world. But even as we ponder over a brand new world order under Trump in the next four years, we need to reflect on some salient lessons from the politics and strategies of this man who survived two assassination attempts during last year’s election campaigns. Yes it is a time for reflections on the global consequences of this very remarkable election that returned Trump to power. Let’s face the facts: 

Trump’s return to power has been influenced by various factors, but it’s challenging to pinpoint the exact impact of his emphasis on the Founding Fathers’ values. We can explore and learn how his messaging and policies resonated with his supporters and contributed to his return. We now have a great deal to learn from Trump’s campaign strategy, inaugural address and subsequent executive orders, which highlighted his focus on “America First” policies, energy dominance, and economic growth. These themes aligned with his interpretation of the Founding Fathers’ values, emphasising self-reliance, limited government intervention, and American exceptionalism. Where are the politicians in Africa’s most populous nation who will focus on Nigeria first at this time? 
 
When last did our politicians and leaders here have the grace to remember our Founding Fathers from the North to the South? By tapping into this narrative, Trump appealed to his base, who saw him as a champion of traditional American values. His rhetoric on energy independence, for instance, resonated with voters in states like Texas, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, where the energy industry plays a significant role.

One of the key areas where Trump’s emphasis on the Founding Fathers’ values influenced his return to power was in his approach to energy policy.  On day one, Trump signed executive orders aimed at boosting oil and gas production, rolling back environmental regulations, and promoting American energy exports. These moves were seen as a return to the country’s founding principles of self-reliance and economic growth. After more than 25 years of unbroken democracy, what are the legacies of our leaders including the current ones who have imposed the most unbearable energy prices on the citizens and businesses?

Moreover, Trump’s focus on energy dominance and economic growth helped him win over voters in key battleground states. His policies aimed at increasing domestic energy production and reducing reliance on foreign oil resonated with voters who saw energy independence as a matter of national security and economic stability. Where are the Nigerian leaders and politicians who will see energy independence and subsidy as a matter of national security and economic stability?

Yes, we are good at blasting Trump’s style everywhere we talk and write. However, it’s essential to note that Trump’s return to power was also influenced by various other factors, including his populist appeal, the Republican Party’s mobilisation efforts powered by recourse to the values that put God first as reflected in their currency: ‘In God we trust’, a value the globalists and indeed liberal democrats have been trying to remove from their currency.

Trump’s recourse to “In God We Trust” and the Christian foundation of American conservative values played a significant role in his return to power. Trump’s strategy involved portraying himself as a champion of Christian values and a defender of America’s religious heritage. During the campaign, he promised to “bring back God” into the public square and restore the country to its former glory, which he claimed had been eroded since he left office. Let no one tell me that God had no place in your business ethics and political development.

What is more, let our leaders reflect this weekend on this: while it’s difficult to quantify the exact impact of Trump’s emphasis on the Founding Fathers’ values on his return to power, it’s clear that his messaging and policies resonated with his supporters and contributed to his victory. By tapping into the narrative of American exceptionalism and self-reliance, Trump was able to appeal to voters who saw him as a champion of traditional American values. When will those who intend to take over from Tinubu appeal to voters as champions of traditional Nigerian values of hard work, resilience, boldness, brilliance, etc that built the bridges and business districts in Lagos, Cocoa House, first television station and even stadium in Africa in Ibadan, Northern Nigeria Development Company in Kaduna, world-class enterprise spirit in the East, solid universities in Ibadan, Ile Ife, Zaria, Lagos, Nsukka, Benin, Jos, Maiduguri before the current crop of selfish dealers who call themselves leaders?
Other key takeaways for leaders:
Adaptability is crucial: Trump’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances and pivot when necessary has been a key factor in his success.
Emotional connection matters too: Trump’s campaign successfully tapped into the emotions and concerns of his base, demonstrating the importance of emotional connection in politics.

Institutional resilience is vital: The US democratic system has faced significant challenges even during Trump’s first presidency. The resilience of institutions and the rule of law have been essential in navigating the their challenges. The United States can be proud of their strong institutions and knowledge development, civil competence power to debate issues of serious concerns. Fears about Trump’s tyranny are unfounded in the face of strong institutions we don’t have in Africa. That is a great lesson: nations need strong institutions of governance to make democracy safe for economic development. Ultimately, the return of Donald Trump to the US presidency offers valuable lessons for leaders and democracies around the world. As we move forward, it’s essential to prioritize adaptability, emotional connection, and institutional resilience.

Trump and never-say-die spirit in politics
Trump’s presidency has been a testament to the power of resilience and a never-say-die spirit in politics. Despite facing intense opposition and criticism, Trump has continued to push forward with his agenda, often using unconventional tactics to achieve his goals. He just achieved that with a big win.

While Trump’s presidency has been polarising and even controversial, there are still lessons that can be learned from his resilience and politics for development. Here are a few key takeaways:

Trust yourself: One of the most important aspects of Trump’s resilience is his ability to trust himself and his own instincts. This self-confidence has allowed him to stay focused and motivated, even in the face of intense opposition.

Find your tribe: Trump’s connection with his base has been a key factor in his resilience. By finding and mobilising a dedicated group of supporters, Trump has been able to maintain a sense of momentum and energy.

Be willing to challenge norms: Trump’s willingness to challenge traditional norms and institutions has been a key aspect of his resilience. By doing so, he has been able to create a sense of uncertainty and disruption, which has often worked to his advantage.

Stay focused and adaptable: Trump’s ability to stay focused and adaptable has been key to his success in politics. By being able to pivot and adjust to new circumstances, Trump has been able to stay ahead of his opponents and maintain a sense of momentum.

These are some attributes our politicians and emerging leaders should imbibe instead of piling up money to rig elections and then ask opponents to go to courts where they are sure of victory by only a few judicial ‘voters’. 

So, leaders who would like to put Nigeria first should mobilise all machinery of governance to ensure that energy costs to people and businesses are brought down to affordable level.

Those who would like to put Nigerianism above politics and self-interest would not encourage constant borrowing for consumption and expensive and insufferable personal emoluments including inexplicable retirement benefits for political and military officers. Those who would like to put Nigeria first would want to fund higher education robustly as quality in education is the only weapon of country and global competitiveness. Leaders who would like to put Nigeria first would restructure the civil service to prevent the public enemy number one called corruption instead of celebrating a few officers caught after successful looting of the treasury. And so, for us in the most populous black nation on earth, when shall we be blessed with leaders who will borrow from the brilliance of President Trump whose only five days in office appear to be convincing enough that leaders need to put public interest above life-long ambition nurtured only by personal interest? When will our leaders begin to put Nigeria first? When shall we the people too develop civic competence to demand this responsibility from our leaders? 

If President Tinubu is to wind up on the positive side of history, the various measures his government is taking now to lighten the economic burden of lowly placed Nigerians must succeed. The ongoing efforts to harmonise taxation in such a way that the current regime of multiple taxation (including ad hoc unreceipted levies collected on the highway by local government thugs, must be a thing of the past. 

One major aspect of the proposed tax reform bills before the National Assembly is the exclusion of those earning less than one million naira per annum from taxation. Nigerians have overwhelmingly endorsed this aspect of the proposed legislation in order to let the poor breathe.

But it seems the new thinking of reducing the people’s burden has not permeated the generality of top operatives of the government who still have a carryover of the traditional practice of each agency levying the people under one guise or the other to generate funds which constitute their own gravy train.

IG’s Prerogative?

Every Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has always come with one scheme or the other to generate funds outside the federal budget appropriation which the police big wigs then deploy in whatever direction they deem fit.

At a time in this country, the police criminalised the issue of tinted glass on vehicles. I remember the harrowing experience of negotiating how to get the tinted glass permit from the police headquarters. It was an ordeal but it was clear that some people were smiling to the bank.

When it seemed that the tinted glass ruse had been sucked to a pulp, another IG came and introduced what he called a computerised tinted glass permit to replace the old one. We went through the rigmarole all over again, parted with some money and shrugged.

But those were, with hindsight, relatively buoyant days when the naira still exchanged for 280 to the dollar. Now that the naira is lying prostrate and the economic downturn has negatively affected the populace to the extent that most people are going about with very short fuses, any government agency that resorts to the old trick of creating another avenue for milking the old cow, runs the risk of making enemies for the government.

The government cannot harmonise taxes and reduce the number of levies that business people pay on the one hand while the police are levying their own taxes in the name of a computerised Central Motor Registry certificate on the other. Unless there is a disconnect, the police falcon must yield to the Tinubu falconer.

CMR Bogey

A press release issued in the name of IGP Egbetokun last year stated that the police were poised to start the enforcement of the digitalised Central Motor Registry (e-CMR) specifically on the 29th of July, 2024, to rejuvenate and digitalise the motor vehicle registration system. It described the e-CMR as an advanced, real-time online repository of motor vehicle data, designed to support police investigations, operational activities, and combat vehicle-related crimes, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery. Each motorist is expected to cough up N5,375 (five thousand, three hundred and seventy-five naira) for the e-CMR.

Nigerians had heard those words before. They know it is but a ploy for the police to return to the road blocks where the real action is. The motoring public know how the game works— create an excuse for reinstalling the usual police checkpoints all over the federation. Anyone in doubt about what usually transpires at those road blocks should check Youtube for all sorts of exposés.

The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law immediately sued  Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun over the directive on the issuance of the Central Motor Information System for vehicle owners across the country.

The plaintiffs contended that no provisions under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Police Act, or any other law gave the Nigeria Police Force, under the command and authority of the IG, the right, power, or authority to maintain a motor registry or issue certificates of identification or proof/evidence of ownership called the Central Motor Registry Information System Certificate (or in any other name called) to Nigerians.

They also held that the Nigeria Police Force was not a revenue-generating agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria and as such, lacked the right to fix and collect fees for the issuance of the Central Motor Registry Information System Certificate from Nigerians.

There is no prize for guessing why all uniformed government agencies want to maintain a presence on the road. It is an unofficial toll gate. In some parts of the country, you have as many as four checkpoints per local government. Commercial vehicle operators would tell you the financial implication of driving through each checkpoint.

If the police just concentrate on doing their statutory duties well, the society will cooperate with them. But when they keep looking for windows of opportunity to return to road blocks or arrest people for not having some phoney documents, the gulf between them and the society they are sworn to protect widens.

Anyone familiar with Abuja roads will testify that the VIO had become a menace in the city until recently when a court order forced them to return to their offices. Still, once in a while in the outskirts, you still find a few VIOs trying to fleece commercial motorists. But for their greedy quest for extra money, VIOs can do all their duties from their offices without stepping on the road.

NBA

The intervention by the Nigerian Bar Association led to the suspension of the planned enforcement of the CMR. in a statement, ACP Adejobi, said IGP Egbetokun had ordered an immediate suspension of the proposed enforcement of the e-CMR, adding that the suspension was aimed at giving ample opportunity for mass enlightenment and education of all citizens and residents on the process, benefits and effectiveness in solving the challenge of vehicle related crimes, and protection of individual and corporate vehicle ownership.

But the truth is that the IGP had no business whatsoever imposing his unilateral tax on Nigerians. As noted by Daily Trust:

“By law, the police lack the authority to keep a central database for vehicle registration in the country. They should use registration documents available with relevant agencies to combat the incidence of car theft. The NBA-SPIDEL made a case where, in its submission, it reminded the IGP that the NPF is not a revenue generating institution. If the police have challenges of underfunding, the citizens should not be subjected to multiple taxations to provide operational funds for the NPF. While we encourage the NBA-SPIDEL to remain proactive in intervening for Nigerians in matters that infringe upon their collective rights, Daily Trust calls on the IGP to discard the e-CMR policy and look elsewhere to bridge funding deficit.”

The IGP is not alone in this sneaky business of trying to smuggle in legislation into the public sphere without going through the constitutional route of the National Assembly. For too long, government appointees have become islands of legislation on their own. Many have got away with corralling billions of naira into their private coffers without reference to any higher authority. Now that the Tinubu administration is harmonising taxes to reduce the burden on the common man, the police are on their own if they think they can smuggle in a new levy through the back door.

We already have too many unofficial ‘toll gates’ as it is. One more will break the camel’s back.

Have you encountered officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency lately? They appear to have turned a new leaf! Is it a make-believe or is it for real? Is it fleeting or is it what the Lord has done, which that Christian song says shall be permanent? "It shall be permanent/Oh yes/It shall be permanent/What the Lord has done for me? It shall be permanent". In times past you would not find a government agency so uncouth, so rude, so unruly, so insensitive, so corrupt, so uncaring, so unkempt, so audacious, so ill-mannered, so bad tempered, so oppressive - in fact, so anything bad and negative - as LASTMA. It is like they were consciously selected, specially trained, and specifically charged to make life miserable for commuters.

 They had scant regard for anyone and no respect for the law they were supposed to enforce. It was like their assigned duty was to fleece the people at every turn and whosoever felt bold enough to raise an eyebrow was to be inflicted with pains that would last for a lifetime. The “T” in their acronym no longer meant “Traffic” but now stood for “Terror”. Each time I came across them on the road - the way they carried themselves as Lord of the Manor, oblivious to anyone that might see their atrocities, I concluded that these ones, too, have immunity and can do no wrong! But all that appears to have changed now!

LASTMA officials appear to have seen the light and have turned a new leaf. They have repented from their evil ways and are now born-again. Maybe I am wrong! Maybe that is not your own experience! But these days they look better dressed and well behaved. Both male and female. They greet you warmly. They flash a smile. If you are in difficulties and beckon them, they respond promptly. They put you through. In the past, it was their Devil-given opportunity to jump in your car, threaten you, call you names and begin to bargain with you on how much you must part ways with or they confiscate your car and take you to their station. They were quick at bringing out their phones and making make-believe recordings of you and your car before pretending to make calls to tow your vehicle to their station at your own expense. These days, they help and radiate joy as they greet you while you drive past.

Imagine! LASTMA officials now sir you! Good morning sir! Good morning Ma! And with a toothpaste smile that refreshes your day - especially from some of their ladies that are ravishingly beautiful. LASTMA has a lot of them manning the roads these days. Were they carefully selected? They must have learned a lesson or two from the banks where most tellers and customer service staff are pretty ladies. At first, I spurned the LASTMA new face as PR gimmicks that would now last. But it has been on now for months on end. 

Again, I thought it was “fine bara”. But they would not ask you for money - except you, on your own, beckoned them to “come, take”. I hope - and pray - that this good news about LASTMA continues! Times are hard and hapless Nigerians need whatever relief they can get; not the piling of miseries upon miseries. But how am I sure that my own experience is a replica of that of other Lagosians? So, let’s hear from you!

Feedback mechanism is a barometer that helps the media to better gauge the pulse of the people. That is what we call public opinion. It also serves the important purpose of letting the government know how they fare with the people they purport to serve. Most times those in power are “imprisoned” in their cozy offices, totally cut off from reality. “Their feet no touch ground”, as they say. We do our own bit by giving them the opportunity to know what the people say or feel; leaving them to hear and act or turn a deaf ear like the proverbial dog destined to get lost in the forest that would not listen to the hunter’s whistle. 

Often, it is what is bad and negative about the government and its officials that is reported; their good deeds are under-reported or are deliberately swept under the carpet. This is understandable but is not good at all. In journalism parlance, the dog bites a man is not news but a man biting a dog is! Out of their incessant and persistent bad experience, many Nigerians have adopted biblical Nathaniel’s mindset of “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1: 46). Says Mark Anthony, in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, “The evils that men do live after them, the good is often interred with their bones…” We must begin to move away from that mindset and not let cynicism take over the public space from us.      

Another reason why I am saluting LASTMA today is my wife’s encounter with some (FRSC) Federal Road Safety Commission’s officials last week in Lagos. Their refrain at the Lagos State Television (LTV) where I feature regularly is: "If you see something, say something and do something!" If we do, we shall soon make this country a better place for all of us. The “Japa” ill-wind will cease and, in its place, a “Japada” benevolent wind will blow from all the four corners of the world; and we would care less what a malevolent Donald Trump does in - or with - his America.  

My wife was coming home from work when she was accosted by some FRSC officials at Apapa on account of what they called “faded number plate”, which many usually wrongly call “plate number”. She called me and I forwarded to her a recent Federal High Court judgment that says the FRSC should not accost any motorist on account of faded number plates. When she told them that, they added another “offence” of what they called “Fire Extinguisher violation”. She had recently purchased a new fire extinguisher when she was told the previous one had expired. Both were in the car but her explanations fell on deaf ears as the officers were bent on collecting “something” from her, which she witnessed them do right, left, and centre with other motorists.

When she made efforts to record their nefarious activities, they tried to snatch her phone from her. All the same, she managed to snap the photographs of two of them - L. U. Uka (female and the head of the team) and S. Singdep (male). They issued her a ticket and insisted they had impounded her car. My wife sent this message to me from the scene: “She wanted to snatch my phone as she observed I was going to snap her… He (the man) kept shouting on me and harassing me as I was trying to pack off the road. I was almost run over by a tipper lorry carrying sand. The first thing he said was that I was driving a car with a faded number plate. They checked everything in the car - the brake lights, trafficators, C-caution, jack, extra tyres, fire extinguisher (which were two) and I explained to them that I was told that one had expired; so I recently bought the second one but they complained that they were both bad. I told them I never used them…”

My wife, a Level 17 Lagos State Government official, is civil and courteous to a fault - a child of God, without being immodest. I told her to surrender the car to them and avoid their harassment. I immediately called two of my lawyer-friends. On second thought as a senior citizen and a doyen of the journalism profession, I got the details of the FRSC Lagos State Public Relations Officer from my colleagues at Eko FM 89.7 station where I also feature regularly and reported the matter to her. Her response calmed frayed nerves. Few minutes ago (Friday evening), she still told me she was on the matter. Very well!

 I strongly believe that the issue of so-called faded number plates should stop being a gold mine for corrupt officials, be they FRSC or others, especially in these austere times. My conviction in this regard was further reinforced by a publication in PATHFINDER NEWS of Thursday, January 23, 2025 where a cross-section of Nigerians applauded the Federal High Court judgment earlier mentioned. Mike Ochonma, Chairman of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) was quoted as wondering why the FRSC should confiscate/impound cars and impose fines on motorists “for the fading of the number plates it (the FRSC) produced (in the first place!)”. That tallies with my own reasoning.

Mr. Forster Obi of DFCNews was also quoted as saying that since motorists were not the ones producing the number plates but “in this case it is the FRSC… it is unjustifiable for the FRSC to arrest drivers or motorists as offenders in this matter… Most people allege that those involved (in the production of the number plates) collect enough money to produce genuine and quality number plates but end up using cheap materials... They now turn round to arrest drivers when the plates fade”. His opinion, again, tallies with mine.

 I don't even think the number plates of the car in question has sufficiently faded to warrant the confiscation of my wife’s car. I can bet it that most right-thinking Nigerians will condemn some FRSC officers’ high-handedness on the matter of faded number plates.

As I conclude, let me give reasons why I chose to come this far. One is that some overzealous law enforcement officers are taking undue advantage of the conflicting court rulings on this matter to feather their corrupt nests. Time to have a final court decision on the matter is now! 

Two: Perhaps, this affords the government another opportunity to take a hard look at the Steve Orosanye report on rationalization of the Federal Government’s sprawling bureaucracy that trumps efficient service delivery, escalates cost of governance, and spews corruption and oppression all over the place. 

Three: This may be a wake-up call on the FRSC to emulate LASTMA. I suspect that it is not spirits or angels that descended from the sky to engineer the remarkable transformation I have witnessed in LASMA. The “S” in FRSC means “Safety”; it should not be Shamelessly and Scandalously reduced to Scavenging for bribes on our highways. Someone in the Commission should stand up, dust up its history and restore its faded glory (of the Wole Soyinka/Maja-Maja Days in old Oyo state), instead of running after so-called faded number plates on Lagos roads.

Scripture says in Songs of Solomon 2: 15: “Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines”. The little foxes spoiling the vines of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration are those elements - public servants especially - that, for selfish motives, pollute the system and poison the mind of the generality of the people against the government. In doing that, they make the yeoman’s efforts of those doing the right thing not to count - the likes of the Works Minister, David Umahi; FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike; Solid Minerals Minister, Dele Alake; Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo; Blue Economy Minister, Gboyega Oyetola; Tunji Bello at the FCCPC; not to talk of the heroics of the JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede; the NDLEA boss, Mohamed Buba Marwa, and the efforts of the president himself and other silent achievers working hard to make this country a better place for us all.

But we must watch it! Unable to find work and selling fruits at a roadside stand, Mohamed Bouazizi had his wares confiscated in the same manner those FRSC officers confiscated my wife’s car; frustrated and miffed by the oppression, Bouazizi set himself ablaze on 17 December, 2010 in Tunisia, igniting the Arab Spring that spread to Egypt, Morocco, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Syria and other Middle Eastern countries, toppling regimes and sending presidents packing. 

There is a limit to human endurance!  

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed board chairpersons for 42 federal organisations and a secretary to the board of the Civil Defence, Immigration, and Prisons Services.

The President has also appointed a new managing director for the Nigerian Railway Corporation and a director-general for the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI).

President Tinubu directs the board chairpersons not to interfere with the management of the organisations, emphasising that their positions are non-executive.

All the appointments take immediate effect.

1. NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS, MINISTRY OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

- Hon. Hillard Eta Chairman (Cross River)

2. NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

- Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Chairman (Lagos)

3. FEDERAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY OF NIGERIA, MINISTRY OF AVIATION

- H. E. Abdullahi U. Ganduje, Chairman (Kano)

4. NATIONAL SUGAR DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

- Sen. Surajudeen Bashiru Ajibola, Chairman (Osun)

5. NIGERIA BULK ELECTRICITY TRADING COMPANY

- H. E. Sulaiman Argungu, Chairman (Kebbi)

6. NATIONAL AGENCY FOR GREAT GREEN WALL

- Sen. Magnus Abe, Chairman (Rivers)

7. NATIONAL TEACHERS INSTITUTE

- Barr. Festus Fuanter, Chairman (Plateau)

8. NATIONAL BOARD FOR TECHNOLOGY INCUBATION (NBTI)

- Raji, Kazeem Kolawole, Director-General (Oyo)

9. NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF EDUCATIONAL PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION

- Chief Victor Tombari Giadom, Chairman (Rivers)

10. TEACHERS REGISTRATION COUNCIL OF NIGERIA

- Comrade Mustapha Salihu, Chairman (Adamawa)

11. INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FUND

- Hon. Hamma Adama Ali Kumo, Chairman (Gombe)

12. NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY

- Donatus Enyinnah Nwankpa, Chairman (Abia)

13. SHEDA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMPLEX

- Sen. Abubakar Maikafi, Chairman (Bauchi)

14. FEDERAL MORTGAGE BANK OF NIGERIA

- H. E. Nasiru Gawuna, Chairman (Kano)

15. NATIONAL OFFICE FOR TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION AND PROMOTION

- Sen. Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Chairman (Lagos)

16. NIGERIAN POSTAL SERVICE

- Chief D. J. Kekemeke, Chairman (Ondo)

17. NATIONAL INLAND WATERWAYS AUTHORITY

- Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar, Chairman (Sokoto)

18. NATIONAL STEEL COUNCIL

- Prof. Abdulkarim Kana Abubakar, Chairman (Nasarawa)

19. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

- Hon. Garba Datti Muhammad, Chairman (Kaduna)

20. NATIONAL BIO-SAFETY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

- Mu'azu Bawa Rijau, Chairman (Niger)

21. NIGERIAN BUILDING AND ROAD RESEARCH INSTITUTE

- Hon. Durosimi Meseko, Chairman (Kogi)

22. FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL, GOMBE

- Hajia Zainab A. Ibrahim, Chairman (Taraba)

23. NIGERIAN RAILWAY CORPORATION

- Dr.Kayode Isiak Opeifa, Managing Director (Lagos)

24. FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL, IDO-EKITI

- Aare (Hon.) Durotolu Oyebode Bankole, Chairman (Ogun)

25. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, ABEOKUTA

- Mr Abdullahi Dayo Israel, Chairman (Lagos)

26. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, ASABA

- Dr. Mrs. Mary Alile Idele, Chairman (Edo)

27. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, LOKOJA

- Nze Chidi Duru (OON), Chairman (Anambra)

28. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, OWERRI

- Hon. Emma Eneukwu, Chairman (Enugu)

29. CIVIL DEFENCE, IMMIGRATION AND PRISONS SERVICES BOARD

- Major Gen. Jubril Abdulmalik Rtd, Secretary (Kano)

30. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, UMUAHIA

- Mr. Uguru Mathew Ofoke, Chairman (Ebonyi)

31. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, YENAGOA

- Barr. Felix Chukwumenoye Morka, Chairman (Delta)

32. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, YOLA

- Alh. Bashir Usman Gumel, Chairman (Jigawa)

33. DAVID UMAHI FEDERAL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, UBUHU, EBONYI STATE

- Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, Chairman (Imo)

34. NATIONAL OIL SPILL DETECTION AND RESPONSE AGENCY

- Chief Edward Omo-Erewa, Chairman (Edo)

35. NIGERIAN MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY AGENCY (NIMASA)

- Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar, Chairman (Kaduna)

36. NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, NNEWI, ANAMBRA STATE

- Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori, Chairman (Borno)

37. AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, SHIKA, ZARIA, KADUNA STATE

- Hon. Lawal M. Liman (Chairman)

38. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE KATSINA

- Dr. Abubakar Isa Maiha (Chairman)

39. RAW MATERIALS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (RMRDC)

- Isa Sadiq Achida, Chairman (Sokoto)

40. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE BIRNIN KUDU

- Dr. Mohammed Gusau Hassan, Chairman Zamfara

41. NATIONAL BUILDING AND ROAD RESEARCH INSTITUTE

- Hon. Yahuza Ado Inuwa, Chairman (Nasarawa)

42. SOKOTO-RIMA RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

- Amb. Abubakar Shehu Wurno, Chairman (Sokoto)

43. AMINU KANO TEACHING HOSPITAL

- Augustine Chukwu Umahi, Chairman (Ebonyi)

44. FEDERAL SCHOLARSHIP BOARD

- Engr. Babatunde Fakoyede, Chairman (Ekiti)

45. NIGERIAN SOCIAL INSURANCE TRUST FUND

- Hon. Shola Olofin, Chairman (Ekiti)

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)