Another Chibok girl, Lydia Simon, has been rescued by troops of Operstion Desert Sanity III, North East Operation Hadin Kai.

She was rescued along with her three children by the troops of 82 Division Task Force Battalion in Ngoza LGA, on Wednesday April 17, 2024.

Zagazola Makama, a counter insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, said that Lydia who was on serial number 68 among the abducted missing girls escaped from the camp of Ali Ngulde in Mandara Mountain where she was held in captivity for several years

She surrendered to troops of 82 Division Task Force Battalion at Ngoshe in Gwoza LGA. The rescued Chibok girl was five months pregnant and said she was from Pemi Town in Chibok.

April 14, marks the 10th anniversary of the violent abduction of 276 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram insurgents.

While 57 of the girls escaped from their captors in the following days, 16 were later rescued and 107 have at different times been released through negotiations.

The Federal government, state and the Nigerian Army have pledged its commitment toward rescuing the rest of the abducted girls that are still held in captivity by the terrorists.

[Businessday]

The political rivalry between Abba Yusuf, current governor of Kano State and his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje, took a new twist on Wednesday as a Kano State High Court affirmed the latter’s suspension as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The court in an ex parte order affirmed the suspension of Ganduje and restrained him from parading himself as the National Chairman, as well as a member of the party.

The court also ordered, that henceforth, Ganduje should desist from presiding over all affairs of the National Working Committee, NWC, of APC.

The order followed an ex parte motion filed by Dr. Ibrahim Sa’ad Esq on behalf of two executive members of APC Ganduje ward, Dawakin-Tofa local government area.

They included the assistant secretary, Laminu Sani and the legal adviser, Haladu Gwanjo (plaintiffs) who were part of the nine ward executive members who suspended Ganduje two days ago.

DAILY POST reported that nine members of the Ganduje ward announced the suspension of the APC National Chairman over the allegation of corruption slammed on him by the Kano State government.

The nine APC executive members said they were prompted to act following a petition written by one Ja’afaru Adamu, a member of the APC from the National Chairman’s polling unit in which he complained over allegation of corruption charges against the former Governor, urging the ward leaders to investigate the matter to redeem the dented image of the party and the implication on President Bola Tinubu’s fight against corruption.

Ganduje’s alleged suspension was announced by the ward’s legal adviser, Halliru Gwanzo, while addressing newsmen in Kano on Monday.

Gwanzo accused the former governor of “gross misconduct and misappropriation of public funds during his administration in Kano,” citing allegations of bribery against Ganduje by the Kano state government as the reason for the suspension.

He said: “We resolved to pass a vote of no confidence on the National Chairman of the party due to his inability to clear his name from allegations of corruption, particularly the ‘dollar video’ that went viral.

“The APC leaders in Ganduje Ward are worried that the party is being subjected to unnecessary embarrassment from the rival New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) over unsubstantiated allegations of corruption levelled against Ganduje’s administration.

“Ganduje ward leaders deem it fit to suspend the national chairman to enable him concentrate on the litigation and other hanging issues so that he could appropriately clear his image and that of his family.

“President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the ongoing fight against corruption has made it necessary for Ganduje to deal with the seeming baggage of corruption hanging on his neck as it is already denting the reputation of the APC-led federal government.

“We, the leaders of the APC in Ganduje Ward, after thorough deliberations, decided to suspend the chairman to give him time to clear his name.

“Since Ganduje has been summoned to answer for these accusations, we are being proactive as it could potentially affect the reputation of our political party.”

However, a short-lived reprieve came to Ganduje’s way when the suspension was countered by the Kano State Working Committee (SWC) of the APC, which slammed drastic measures against those who announced the suspension.

The state chapter of the party described the suspension of the National Chairman by Ganduje Ward of the party as illegal, null and void.

It also announced immediate suspension of the Ward Executives for their action, which it termed as a manipulation from outside.

Also, the APC national headquarters at Abuja said Ganduje remains the party’s national chairman.

The spokesman of the APC at the national level, Felix Morka, who spoke on behalf of the party, described the move as “criminal” and insisted that Ganduje remains the party’s chairman.

“We urge our Party faithful and the general public to disregard reports of the suspension of the National Chairman who is, and remains, the National Chairman of our great Party.

“The purported suspension was the devious act of a group of impersonators of Ward officials out to cause mischief and create confusion in the otherwise peaceful Ganduje Ward chapter of our Party.

“This act procured by officials of the ruling NNPP in Kano is part of the despicable program of political persecution launched by the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf against Dr. Ganduje, a former Governor of Kano state.

“The purported suspension is downright criminal, and of no effect whatsoever. The legitimate Executive Committee of the Ganduje Ward has since denounced the action and reaffirmed Dr. Ganduje as a bonafide member of the Party in the Ward, and in good standing,” Morka said in a Tuesday statement.

However, the party’s stand might likely change following the recent order by the Kano High court affirming Ganduje’s suspension.

Before now, the ex-governor’s camp had accused the state government of masterminding the suspension.

Reacting to his suspension and subsequent affirmation by the court, Ganduje claimed that the move to suspend him from office was orchestrated to starve President Bola Tinubu of Kano votes ahead of the 2027 election.

He made the revelation when he received a delegation of 27 executive members of his ward in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.

Ganduje told the delegation that his investigation has revealed that the arrows of persecution against him were coming from the camps of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, and the Governor of Kano, Abba Yusuf.

He said: “When we first heard the news, we knew it was not true. But we had to exercise patience to affirm those behind it.

“After a formal investigation, it was found that those who met with officials of the Kano State government were not executive members either at the ward, state or even members of our party.

“These lies are peddled by the NNPP and the governor of Kano State to destroy our party because they are so concerned that during their first year in office, the people have seen the destruction of the economy of Kano down to the increase in political violence and also the destruction of political morality.

“With all these put together, they have started seeing the failure of their party. They are more concerned that we might take over the government from their party in 2027.”

DAILY POST recalls that Yusuf, who emerged governor of the state under the platform of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, in 2023, had on assumption of office accused Ganduje of misappropriating public funds and allocating plots of land to some members of his immediate family.

But speaking on the matter, a Kano-based legal practitioner, Wangida Isa, said Ganduje should honourably resign as the National Chairman of the APC till he clears the corruption allegations against him by the state government.

He dismissed claims that the NNPP planned Ganduje suspension through some APC executives at the ward level.

The lawyer spoke on Tuesday when appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s programme.

Isa said that ward executives were legally empowered to sack any member of the party, insisting that the allegations against the ex-governor were “heavy offences”.

He also stated that Ganduje has not been exonerated as the court said he should be tried at a federal court because the money laundering offences levelled against him by the state government was a federal offence.

Fresh from the suspension, the anticipated arraignment of Ganduje was stalled on Wednesday due to the Kano State Government’s inability to serve criminal charges against him.

The move to arraign him has created palpable fear and uncertainty in Kano.

According to the court documents, Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Ganduje, his son, Abdullahi Umar and five others, were slated to face eight counts including $413,000 bribery allegation, as well as the alleged diversion and misappropriation of funds amounting to N1.38bn.

The state government said it had assembled 15 witnesses to testify against them.

DAILY POST also reported that the Kano State Anti-Corruption and Public Complaints Commission had announced new corruption charges and maladministration against Ganduje.

The Chairman of the Commission, Muhuyi Magaji, who announced the development, said investigations uncovered the diversion of N51.3 billion from local government funds to unauthorised individuals during Ganduje’s tenure.

Magaji alleged that the Ganduje administration withdrew N1 billion monthly from state coffers before its tenure ended in May 2023, purportedly for road renovation, but diverted to Bureau de Change operators instead.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday, Magaji also cited a case involving N4 billion transferred to an agricultural company from Kano’s consolidated revenue account.

“What is happening now is a tip of the iceberg. As I am talking to you, we are investigating a case whereby N51.3bn local government funds were directly taken from the government coffers (and) sent to other individuals, and we traced it to people.

“We have filed a series of cases. We have a case whereby N1bn in April last year (2023) was removed from government coffers under the allocation of renovating 30 roads in the metropolis, and it was taken away and sent to Bureau de Change.

“We have a case of N4bn whereby it was sent from the consolidated revenue account of Kano State to an agricultural company. All these cases are before the court,” he said.

Magaji said though he was appointed by Ganduje to head the agency, he won’t hesitate to prosecute alleged corruption by the immediate-past administration in the state.

According to him, he started probing Ganduje when he was governor of Kano State.

The APC national chairman is not new to allegations of corruption.

Recall that as governor of Kano State, a video clip allegedly showed Ganduje stuffing his pockets with bales of dollars suspected to be kickback from contractors.

The video was allegedly released to the public in October 2018 by the Publisher of Daily Nigerian, Mr. Ja’afar Ja’afar.

Recently, Ganduje had claimed the Kano State Government does not have the legal rights to prosecute him for the alleged bribery of $413,000 and N1.38 billion fraud.

He was reacting to the decision of the Kano State Government to file criminal charges against him.

Ganduje spoke in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu.

The ex-governor maintained that it was only the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that could charge him for the alleged offences.

“In their desperate attempt to malign me and my family, they either forgot or probably cannot conduct themselves by the dictates of the law.

“They failed to take judicial notice of the recent pronouncement of the Federal High Court in Kano, which ruled that the so-called offence I am being accused of is a federal offence that can only be prosecuted by the Attorney General of the Federation and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” he said.

Meanwhile, a former National Vice Chairman, North West of the APC, Salihu Lukman, has called on President Bola Tinubu and other party leaders to revisit issues surrounding the disagreement between two former governors of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Ganduje.

Lukman in a statement issued in Abuja said, “Being progressives require honesty, which given current political reality we must accept that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and his NNPP has a stronger support base in Kano State.”

“Noting that Senator Kwankwaso was in our party up to 2018 and acknowledging that between 1999 and 2019 both Senator Kwankwaso and Dr. Ganduje worked together, we need to revisit issues surrounding their disagreement,” Lukman said.

Speaking to DAILY POST, the Kano State Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Hashimu Dungurawa, said that the State government has no hand in the ill fated suspension of the ex-governor from the APC.

Dungurawa, however, said the APC ward executives that announced the suspension of the APC National Chairman did a good job.

According to him, they were bonafide members of the APC and not NNPP, adding that their records were with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, including the party’s headquarters.

Dungurawa further urged the APC to purge itself of individuals like Ganduje, saying his types were creating a bad image for the party.

He said: “That allegation is not true. All I know is that the executive members of APC in Ganduje ward have done a very good job by suspending their principal for two main reasons.

“One- there’s an investigation going on in Kano State. For the State to be sure, they have set up a body of inquiry on him because of his bad governance and alleged fraud.

“Two, the people of Ganduje Ward were accusing him (Ganduje) of not paying his dues as a party member, he wasn’t doing his party contribution.

“And there were allegations on him on the video that’s going round that he was syphoning money, dollars into his pocket.

“You know as a great people, people that came from a very high class family, they were very bitterly disturbed about fraud allegations against their principal.

“So it has been disturbing them and they have been having sleepless nights. That is why this committee of inquiry was set up by this government and said ‘let us probe this man so that we can have peace of mind’.

“These people that announced this suspension, they are bonafide members of APC; their names are in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; it’s there in the party’s state headquarters; it’s there in the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

“If you go and get the certified true copy, you will get all the names they have mentioned. It’s the party that suspended him because of his bad attitude and action in the party.

“We in NNPP are doing a good job. If the APC wants to make their party great and clean in the eyes of the people, they have to remove Ganduje’s type from the party, so that the party will look innocent and decent, and people will rush into the party.”

When asked about Ganduje’s statement that Kano State Government does not have the legal rights to prosecute him for the alleged bribery, Dungurawa said: “That’s a lie. Did he offend the attorney general of the federation?

“He offended the Kano State people. And the governor of Kano State has the right to checkmate and call anybody or authority for any investigation.

“Nobody can stop him from doing that. So Ganduje offended people of Kano State. People of Kano State wanted him to be probed. So the government of Kano State was duty bound to call anybody that’s highly wanted.

“We cannot see the statement as an issue rather Ganduje must come to Kano on 17th and before the committee. We have to probe him. We are in charge.”

Meanwhile, efforts by DAILY POST to speak to Abdullahi Abbas, Chairman Kano State APC were not successful.

[DailyPost]

Passengers of a truck have reportedly killed a customs officer along Katsina-Dankama road in Kaita Local Government Area of the state.

Daily Trust gathered that the incident happened on Wednesday morning at Gamjin Makaho village, along Dankama road.

Sources said a truck was conveying people to Dankama town when the customs officers tried to stop it, but the driver refused to stop.

One of the armed customs officers was said to have pulled the trigger and a bullet allegedly hit one of the passengers in the waist.

The truck driver eventually stopped, and the passengers disembarked to confront the customs officers, pouncing on the shooter.

It was gathered that the passengers eventually killed the customs officer, whose name and rank could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

The victim, identified as Bashir Na-Buzuwa, was said to have also died from the gunshot wound.

Late Na-Buzuwa, who was said to be about 27 years old and a native of Doro town in Bindawa LGA, was a resident of Zanguna in Katsina city.

When contacted, the Customs Public Relations Officer in Katsina State, SC Tahir Balarabe, said the Service would issue an official statement on the incident, adding that they were trying to evacuate the remains of their colleague.

[DailyTrust]

• President hosts Afenifere leaders •29 Yoruba Nation crusaders arraigned in Ibadan

The President talked tough yesterday on violent ethnic agitation.

According to him, those who push for the balkanisation of the country violently will face the consequences.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said: “Those who think they can threaten the sovereignty of Nigeria will have themselves to blame.

“They have a price to pay and we are not going to relent.”

The President spoke against the backdrop of the weekend’s violent attempt to take over the seat of government in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by some Yoruba Nation agitators.

The President opened up while receiving leaders of Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, led by nonagenarian Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

Also on the delegation were some leaders of thought and traditional rulers in the Southwest.

Security men foiled the attack in Ibadan and arrested 21 members of the group.

Following more arrests, 29 people were arraigned by the police over the incident.

They were remanded in prison by the court.

The President warned those who think they can undermine the country’s unity and go scot-free to perish the thought as the consequences will be grave.

He told his audience that his administration had recorded significant progress against insurgency where it exists in the country.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President declared that his administration would not relent in its fight against criminals.

He assured that the menace of banditry and kidnapping is on the verge of defeat, especially with the ‘no ransom’ policy of the government.

He explained: “I am irrevocably committed to the unity of Nigeria and constitutional democracy.

“Constitutional democracy is reflected greatly here since we assumed office. What we face now is the challenge of terrorism.

“Security of life and property is very necessary for development. I can tell you we are achieving success.

“There’s an improvement from hoisting flags on the Nigerian properties and sovereignty.

“We have degraded terrorism to a level that they cannot threaten the sovereignty of Nigeria any longer.

“Banditry and kidnapping will be defeated and there is no payment of ransom whatsoever.

“We are taking the battle to them. We are getting results more rapidly than before.

“We are working hard on intelligence gathering.”

On the economy, he restated his administration’s commitment to the pursuit of comprehensive economic security for the country while tackling foundational challenges and creating a fair and equitable system for all Nigerians.

The President spoke of ongoing re-engineering of the nation’s finances, efforts at boosting the purchasing power of citizens and spreading prosperity down the line with the establishment of a credit system where the element of cash does not impede a significantly enhanced standard of living for all citizens.

According to him, Nigeria must secure itself economically first before it can achieve any of its more sophisticated objectives.

The President added: “We are committed to the economic survival of our country. To re-engineer the finances of our country, we must start in earnest.

“So, first, retool, revamp the economic opportunities available, and resolve to continue taking the firm and steady baby steps that are necessary.

“Education is a strong weapon against poverty. To empower the people, we must invest in the future of our youths.

“We have seen the problems parents face in training their children in school; it is the reason why we established the National Student Loan Scheme, which is taking off well.

“We are equally examining what to do with the high degree of unemployment. We must help vulnerable people by providing social security.

“We are looking at how to provide allowances for the unemployed, and we are developing ways to boost the purchasing power of citizens with the Consumer Credit Scheme.

“If we remove the cash upfront element to buy a car or a house, we will reduce the propensity for fraud and corruption across the land.”

The President thanked the Afenifere leaders for their prayers and support, assuring them that he would not relent in his resolve to advance Nigeria.

The Alabo of Ilu-Abo, Akure, Ondo State, Oba Olu Falae, who spoke for the delegation, commended the President for his courageous decisions and for the rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, as well as other critical ongoing projects.

He urged the President not to relent in ensuring fairness and equity for all Nigerians while noting the importance of a constitutional amendment to devolve more powers to the states.

Oba Falae, who was a career civil servant, served as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) under former military President, Gen.  Ibrahim Babangida.

He was also the Presidential candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD)/All Peoples Party (APP) in the 1999 Presidential election.

He said: “We are delighted about what you are doing for our country, and we assure you of our continued support.

“We thank you for your visit to Akure in February 2024, and we believe it is proper to reciprocate your kind gesture. We appreciate this relationship, and we need to make it work in the interest of Nigeria.

“Mr. President, you are the leader of Nigeria now and the most important political figure in Africa.

“We expect you, given your legacy and pedigree, to lead our country with knowledge, courage, and integrity.

“We do not doubt that your tenure will mark a turning point in the history of our country. Under your leadership, Nigeria will be repositioned.

“We will stand by you as you make all efforts to change the Nigeria story for the better.

“Be assured Afenifere will not abandon you in fair or foul weather.

“As long as you remain faithful to the principles of fairness, integrity, and courage that are expected of you as the leader of Nigeria, we will stand by you.”

Other members of the delegation are Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu, former governors Aremo Olusegun Osoba (Ogun), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun) and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Otunba Samuel Ibikunle, Basorun Sehinde Arogbofa, Korede Duyile,  Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi and Chief Lekan Alabi.

Others are Otunba Kole Omololu, Basorun Demola Folarin, Dare Babarinsa, Dr Akin Onigbinde (SAN), Prince Alonge, Jare Ajayi, Capt. Adekunle Raji (rtd), Adedapo Abiola Adeyemi, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, Oba Francis Olusola Alao,  Olugbon of Orile Igbon Oba Francis Olusola Alao, Chief Deji Wellington, Chief Femi Aluko and Olayiwola Popoola.

[TheNation]

The Federal Government through its Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited have stated that the various claims by different individuals and groups on the alleged return of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, were wrong.

The government also challenged those who make this argument to provide evidence to justify their allegations, stressing that since President Bola Tinubu had declared the end of subsidy on petrol, the situation remains so.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, stressed that fuel subsidy was a sensitive issue, but noted that the government had made its position known on the matter.

When contacted for the reaction of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, on the matter, his media aide, Nneamaka Okafor, provided a video clip where her boss reacted to the claims of the former Kaduna governor and marketers.

In the clip, Lokpobiri insisted that petrol subsidy had ceased to exist, and urged those who alleged that the government was still subsidising the commodity to provide evidence and facts.

The minister said, “I don’t want to delve into that issue. It is a very sensitive issue. It is better we get all the facts. As far as I’m concerned, the President removed the subsidy and it remains removed till today. Anybody who is saying that subsidy is being paid, it is left for the person to bring the facts and then we will talk about them.”

Asked whether the price being paid for petrol currently is determined by market forces, the minister replied, “It may not be determined by market forces but let us deal with the price as it is today.

“Every government has a duty to do certain things, not only in the petroleum sector but in several other sectors, to be able to cushion the effect and burden on Nigerians.”

The NNPC also said it was recovering its full cost on the petroleum products that it imports into Nigeria, and insisted that there was nothing like petrol subsidy any more. NNPC is the sole importer of petrol into Nigeria currently.

Their comments came as oil marketers backed the claim by the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, that the Federal Government had resumed the payment of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit also called petrol.

Oil dealers also pointed out that the current cost of PMS at filling stations should be around N900/litre if there were no subsidy on the commodity.

This price, according to them, is because of the recent appreciation of the naira against the United States dollar.

The pump price of petrol is currently between N600 and N700/litre depending on the area of purchase.

El-Rufai had told journalists in Maiduguri on Monday that many citizens were not aware that the government had reintroduced the PMS subsidy.

“The Federal Government is now subsidising fuel; many people don’t know this. It is the right policy. I have always supported the withdrawal of oil subsidies; but in the course of implementing the policy, the government realised that subsidy has to be back; right now, the government is paying a lot of money for subsidy, even more than before.

“You start implementing a policy because you are sure it is the right policy, but in the course of implementation, you come across bottlenecks, and you modify.

“The keyword in leadership, in my view, is pragmatism. You should be pragmatic. So when you make a policy, you start implementing it, and it doesn’t seem to work well. You should have the humility to stand back and say this is not working, and you modify it,” the former governor stated.

Marketers back El-Rufai

Reacting to this on Wednesday, oil dealers under the aegis of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, stated that what the former governor said was not far from the truth.

They argued that the subsidy on petrol kept rising as the exchange rate of the United States dollar increased, stressing that the government spent more on the PMS subsidy at the time the dollar exchanged for about N1,500.

The marketers, however, noted that since the local currency started appreciating against the dollar, the subsidy on PMS had been on the decline.

This, according to them, is because the dollar remains the major component that influences the cost of petrol, as Nigeria imports the commodity through NNPC Ltd.

The Public Relations Officer, IPMAN, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, told our correspondent that petrol prices at the pumps should be around N900/litre.

“I’ve said before that the PMS subsidy had been returned, and the government said it was a lie. I said before that the government is subsidising PMS and it is on till this moment. I said before that what the government was doing was quasi-subsidy and that has not changed,” Ukadike stated.

When asked what would have been the landing cost of petrol at the depots and tank farms if there was no subsidy on the commodity, he replied, “Going by the steady appreciation of the naira against the dollar lately, the amount being spent as subsidy on petrol should be on the decline.

“Since the dollar is currently around N1,000, then PMS landing cost should be around N800/litre, while the cost at the pumps should be nearing N900/litre.”

No subsidy, NNPC insists

But the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye, insisted that the national oil firm had stopped subsidising petrol.

“We are recovering our full costs from the products we import. It is important to emphasise that the subsidy is no longer in place. Contrary to allegations, the petrol subsidy has not been reinstated,” he stated.

Before the recent claims on the return of petrol subsidy by the Federal Government, the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC, Mele Kyari, had told state house correspondents after an audience with the President at the Aso Rock Villa a few months ago that fuel subsidy had not been returned.

“No subsidy whatsoever. We are recovering our full cost from the products that we import. We sell to the market, and we understand why the marketers are unable to import. We hope that they do it very quickly and these are some of the interventions the government is doing. There is no subsidy,” Kyari had stated.

His reaction at the time came after the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria confirmed the return of fuel subsidy.

PENGASSAN’s National President, Festus Osifo, had said the government still subsidised petrol due to the cost of crude oil in the international market and the exchange rate.

“They (government) are paying subsidies today. In reality, today, there is a subsidy because, as of when the earlier price was determined, the price of crude in the international market was around $80 for a barrel.

“But today, it has moved to about $93/94 per barrel for Brent crude. So, because it has moved, the price (of petroleum) also needed to move. The only reason the price will not move is when you can manage your exchange rate effectively and you can pump in supply and bring down the exchange rate.

“So, if the exchange rate comes down today, we will not be paying a subsidy. But with the exchange rate value and the price of crude oil in the international market, we have introduced the subsidy,” Osifo had explained.

In his inaugural address after taking the oath of office on May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu announced that the Federal Government was closing the curtains over the subsidy era.

“Subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources.

“We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care, and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions. Petrol subsidy is gone!” Tinubu had declared.

The President’s announcement sparked the increase in fuel price from N197 to between N480 and N570. The pump price was subsequently reviewed upward to N617/litre and now sells for between N620 and N700/litre.

[Punch]

The Central Bank of Nigeria has specified the reasons behind the significant decrease in the country’s foreign exchange reserves. It clarified that the main objective was not solely to support the naira but rather to partially settle debts owed to creditors.

Emphasizing a hands-off approach, the bank expressed its intention to limit its interference in the market, advocating for prices to be determined organically through the interactions of buyers and sellers.

CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, provided this explanation during the ongoing International Monetary Fund/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington D.C, United States.

Concerns arose among Nigerians due to the notable decline in the nation’s foreign exchange reserves, dropping by about $2.16bn in 29 days despite efforts to stabilize the naira.

Data from the CBN website revealed that as of April 15, 2024, the FX reserves stood at $32.29bn, significantly lower than the $34.45bn recorded on March 18, 2024.

There was a previous 43-day accumulation, where the reserves increased by $1.28bn between February 5 and March 18, 2024.

Cardoso, speaking at the Governor Talks event titled “Catalyzing Change: Reforming Monetary Policy in Nigeria,” reiterated that the recent shift in reserves was unrelated to defending the naira and pledged minimal intervention in the exchange market unless under exceptional circumstances.

He mentioned an expected upward trend in reserves with an additional $600m inflow soon.

Addressing the decline in reserves, Cardoso explained that it was a standard occurrence in countries where debts are due for repayment, reflecting the necessity to uphold credibility.

Noting the increased liquidity in forex, he disclosed that daily transactions reached $1bn within six months of his tenure, surpassing the $200m to $300m monthly average from previous administrations.

Cardoso acknowledged the challenging situation he inherited and the government’s concern about rising inflation, emphasizing the collaborative effort between the central bank and the Ministry of Finance to discontinue the practice of using Ways and Means.

[newsnow]

Ben Akabueze, director-general of the budget office of the federation, says investors are active players in corruption in Nigeria.

Akabueze spoke to TheCable on Tuesday in an interview session held on the sidelines of the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank meetings in Washington DC.

Addressing questions on how the perception of corruption could discourage foreign investors, the chartered accountant said the issue is not peculiar to the West African nation.

He said investors are also part of the corruption problem bedevilling the country, highlighting the steps taken by the federal government to curtail corrupt practices.

“First, the challenge of corruption is not peculiar to Nigeria — it’s everywhere,” Akabueze said.

“Number two, when you say address, some of the investors themselves are active players in the corruption, so it’s not that they’re addressing corruption away from the investors

“Corruption is being addressed systematically — and that’s whether you’re an investor or you’re a public official, or you are a local player in any area — one key way of dealing with corruption is greater transparency, opening up the processes of government.

“And then, the government itself, also pulling back as much as possible and eliminating those opportunities for corruption, tightening the legislation.”

Akabueze said the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is actively prosecuting culprits, adding that “there’s a whistleblowers’ programme in place” to also curb the menace.

‘CULPRITS SHOULD BE REPORTED’

“So, if anyone has information, credible information about any corrupt practices, they’re welcome to report them,” the director-general said.

In its 2023 ranking, Transparency International (TI) said Nigeria recorded an improved in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) by moving five places up to rank 145 out of 180 countries assessed.

Apart from moving five places up from its 150th position, the country also gained one point from its previous 24, ending up scoring 25 out of the 100 maximum points in the 2023 CPI results.

The CPI, arguably the most widely used global corruption ranking in the world, measures how corrupt each country’s public sector is perceived to be.

The ranking uses a scale of zero to 100 — where zero means “highly corrupt”, and 100 means “very clean”.

Going by the latest CPI, the perception of corruption is still high.

[Thecable]

Last Thursday, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar doubled down on his allegation that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project is “a highway to fraud”. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election was countering claims by the Works Minister, Dave Umahi, whom he accused of dishonesty. “Umahi had announced that Hitech would fully fund the project, and based on this, there was no competitive bidding. He (Umahi) then said that Hitech could only raise just 6% of the money for the pilot phase. This smacks of deceit,” Atiku stated.

Shortly before Atiku’s response, Umahi had announced that the road project would cost N15.6 trillion ($13bn at an exchange rate of N1,200/$1), with an additional rail through the road to be costed separately. “The total budget of all 36 federation states for 2024 is about N14 trillion. If you add that of the FCT, the entire budget of all sub-nationals is N15.91 trillion,” Atiku argued, wondering why a single road project by the federal government would cost more than the budgets of all the subnational governments put together. He raised other posers. “Umahi had said in September 2023 that Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech had the money to construct the highway and would be PPP (Public-Private Partnership). Hitech was to build, operate, and transfer it back to the Nigerian government after years of tolling. It was based on this proposal that Hitech was picked. Why did Umahi then turn around to claim that it was not to be a PPP but that the government would pay 15%-30%?”

Incidentally, until Atiku’s intervention, I was also under the impression that the road would be constructed without any financial commitment from the federal government, based on what is in the public domain. While flagging off the project last September, Umahi had told Nigerians that the deal with Hitech Construction was on a PPP model. “Let me announce that this project is under PPP. The Hitech group are going to look for the money. They have already found the money and that is the good news because we don’t waste our time talking and holding meetings and wasting resources,” Umahi announced on 23 September 2023. “We are engaging seriously because we have seen the financial capacity and capability of Hitech, and this project is going to be delivered in phases. Any section that we complete, we will toll it and then business and transportation will start.”

But Umahi is now changing his story. “This administration never envisaged the project under Private Public Partnership. It has always been under engineering, procurement, construction and finance,” Umahi said last week. “And so, under this kind of arrangement, as you have on the Abuja to Makurdi road project, the federal government is required to pay a certain amount for counterpart funding.” The Minister then went on to cite some technical jargon to rationalize why a multibillion-dollar highway is shrouded in so much opacity.

Whereas the National Assembly approved N500 million for the project in the 2024 budget, according to Atiku, the federal government has released N1.06 trillion to the company, even when the total cost remans a matter of speculations. “If N15.6 trillion is for the road component alone, then the total cost could be far higher when the railway is included. We want to know the cost of the railway,” Atiku countered as many Nigerians compare the cost with similar highways in other countries. “The essence of competitive bidding is so that Nigerians can get the best value for money. It is so that you can compare prices and pick the company that can afford the project. It is wrong for him (Umahi) to have concluded that only Hitech could handle this project when such a project has been done by other reputable firms in the United States, China and South Africa.” The former vice president claimed that the Hitech promoter, Gilbert Chagoury has a business relationship with President Bola Tinubu. “Until I exposed the dubious nature of this project, no member of the National Assembly thought it wise to investigate. The total cost was never made known until now. The fact that there was no bidding was never made known until I blew the whistle.”

While Atiku may be directing his attacks at Umahi, it is obvious that his main target is President Tinubu. In the process, the former vice president has raised several fundamental questions. But for me, one suffices: the credibility of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) under the current administration. It’s beyond scandalous that the BPP has no say on a project of this magnitude that ordinarily provides opportunities for international bidders to drive the cost down through superior technology, experience, and expertise.

The objectives of establishing the BPP are contained in Section 4 of the Public Procurement Act (PPA). These include establishing pricing standards and benchmarks, as well as ensuring the application of fair, competitive, transparent and value for money standards for the procurement of public assets. Section 16(1)b of the PPA clearly provides that all procurements shall be conducted by open competitive bidding. But the BPP has since become irrelevant, with tales of compromised officials all over the place in Abuja. Meanwhile, on 19th January 2022, then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, issued a circular which provides that for works costing over N1.5 billion, the procurement method to be adopted shall be International/National Competitive Bidding.

There are just too many issues that do not add up on this Lagos-Calabar Highway project. As of today, Nigeria is not yet very experienced in the construction of concrete roads, so we need to know more about the capacity of Hitech in that regard. Then there is the issue of ‘Right of Way’. I am aware that some of the major power transmission projects awarded since the Obasanjo administration are still being stalled due to Right of Way acquisitions. One then wonders how the Right of Way for a road of 700 kilometres was acquired within a matter of weeks. I have no expertise in road construction, but should there not be an environmental impact assessment on this major project that was designed and awarded within seven months? More disturbing is that Umahi has been speaking more like the project engineer for Gilbert Chagoury than a Works Minister who should be promoting and defending the interest of Nigerians.

The Coastal Road Project is a necessity no doubt. And it is one that I would love to see constructed because the economic benefits are immense. I also have nothing against any company getting the contract. But the process of engaging Hitech as contractor for the road is against all international best practices. Perhaps it is time to scrap the BPP and we just go back to the era where government officials just award contracts without following any process.

The Challenge of Disabilities

Two weeks ago, I used the unpleasant experience of Debola Daniel (at the Lagos airport KFC) to write on the challenge of living with disabilities in Nigeria. Not surprisingly, the column elicited responses from several Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora. With his permission, I have decided to run the one by Mr Banji Fatoba because of his family’s experience and the efforts he and his wife are making to help others with similar challenges.

 
Dear Olusegun,

I read your article ‘Debola Daniel and the Inconvenient Truth’ with great interest. As a parent of two neurodivergent children navigating life in Nigeria, let me share my own experiences, which echo the struggles outlined in your piece. In recent years, my wife and I have faced numerous obstacles in ensuring our children receive the education and support they deserve. Despite our best efforts, both of our children have been kicked out of two private schools in Lekki, Lagos, solely due to their neurodivergent conditions. The discrimination and lack of understanding they encountered were disheartening and frustrating, to say the least.

One particularly distressing incident involved our daughter being barred from participating in ballet classes for an entire school term, despite us paying for the classes. Moreover, a teacher at one of the schools had the audacity to declare that our daughter was unable to learn, further exacerbating our anguish. In response, we were left with no choice but to withdraw her from the school and resort to homeschooling for two years. Despite the challenges inherent in homeschooling, we persevered, and I am proud to say that our daughter has made remarkable progress. She has not only learned to play the piano but has also developed a love for reading. These achievements serve as a testament to her resilience and the unwavering support of our family.

While Nigeria still has a long way to go in terms of providing adequate support and inclusivity for neurodivergent individuals, similar challenges exist even in more advanced countries like the United States based on my personal experiences. Although such occurrences may be uncommon, they serve as a stark reminder that the fight for equality and acceptance knows no geographical boundaries.

Meanwhile, my wife and I started a company called Bloom Buddy (www.thebloombuddy.com) to ensure that many other families do not have to go through this harrowing journey alone. We partnered with ‘Autism Speaks’, the largest Autism NGO in the world and launched the first Autism screening app designed for Nigeria and low-resourced communities. We also collaborate with the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment Disorders (CAND-Do) of the University of Lagos to create access to parents and caregivers.

In conclusion, I appreciate your efforts in shedding light on these issues, and I hope that by sharing my own experiences, we can collectively work towards creating a more inclusive society for all, regardless of neurodiversity or physical disability. Awareness is key to supporting people with disabilities and ensuring inclusion. I admire your outspoken conviction to promote this inclusion of those who are typically excluded. Lastly, here is a link to a blog post authored by my wife on the challenges neurodiverse and disabled children face in gaining access to education in Nigeria: https://shoutout.wix.com/so/07OwUz19E?languageTag=en&cid=b42e426e-4503-46b0-89cb-4b21c4fd268f.

A Note of Appreciation

I must express my appreciation to all the people who honoured us with their presence at our residence last Friday to mark my wife’s 50th birthday. Former Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, who arrived the country the previous night from Kigali, showed up. Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State (with whom I was in the Christian Corpers Fellowship during the 1989/90 NYSC year) sent Senator Napoleon Bali to represent him. My gratitude also goes to Pastors Chinedu and Oby Ezekwesili, Pastors Evaristus and Ngozi Azodoh as well as Pastor Joke Joseph who were in the house as early as 8am for prayers and the 50-minute of praise/dance coordinated by music ministers, Kenneth Ozioma and Uche Okoro. Having refused to reveal who was funding the music (including the afternoon session by Leke Gospel Band), it was only after the ceremony that Uche told us Pastors Julius and Funke Abegunde paid for everything. May God continue to bless them and family. Later in the afternoon, the NEITI Executive Secretary, Orji Ogbonaya Orji was among several professional colleagues that were in the house. Of course, his predecessor, Waziri Adio was around with his wife, Sandra (‘Madam Metro’), as the chief hostess.

Special thanks to Father George Ehusani, Pastors Laolu and Olawunmi Akande, Pastors Lanre and Bimbo Oduola, Pastors Paul and Joy Amade, Pastors Dele and Lydia Jegede, Pastors Amaechi and Chinwe Azubuike, Pastors Williams and Ify Onidarafunmi, Pastors Dayo and Elizabeth Kayode, Pastors Seun and Tosin Afolayan. My appreciation also to Sonny and Aniema Offiong, Deji and Kemi Adesida, Ola and Eniola Awoniyi, Sonny and Florence Aragba-Akpore and others who were with us from the morning session. In the afternoon, Senator Bello Mandiya, Mrs Maryam Uwais, and Dr Kole Shettima spent considerable time with us. And so did Messrs Biodun Adeniyi, Paul Nwabuikwu, Muyiwa Adekeye, Jideoffor Adibe, Azu Ishiekwene, Dan Akpovwa, Lanre Lasisi, Yusuf Ali, Paul Ibe (and wife, Dorothy).

Other guests included Mr J.J. Omojuwa, Mr Tunde Ahmadu, Ms Lewa Ejila, Kazeem and Temitope Iwalesin, Mr Olawale Banmore, Mrs Onyinye Waniko, Mrs Angela Agboyinu, Dr Emmanuel Nwokorie, Mr Mike Leramo, Mrs Ronke Okezie, Ms Shade Enajekpo, Princess Hassana Onoyiveta, Mrs Sylvia Garuba, Dr Mrs Abiola, Mr and Mrs Attah Nwachukwu, Mrs Olayinka Fagbemiro, Mrs Angela Agboyinu, Mrs Florence Igwe, Mrs Eki Iyoke, Mrs Bosede Okuneye (my children’s ‘Daddy’s sister’), Mrs Beatrice Ayorinde, Mrs Modupe Ogundimu, Mr Yemi Adeniji, Mr John Oko, Mr Tola Ogunnbi, Mrs Julie Jackson and husband. There were also Patrick and Amaka Uzoma, Chinedu and Uche Eneh, Akintayo and Vivien Ayodele-Bamisaye, Patrick and Stella Uzu.

Having drawn the foregoing list from images captured by the photographer, I am aware that many names have been omitted. I plead their forgiveness. But let me also appreciate Messrs Chudi Offodile, Bisi Kazeem and Chiedu Ebie as well as Hon Florence Akinwale.

It was delightful that the Not Forgotten Initiative (NFI) teachers were the first to arrive our house at 7am last Friday to celebrate her. We appreciate them. Meanwhile, with support from their uncles, aunties and cousins, our children (unavoidably absent) raised a huge fund to give my wife a holiday in a Lagos resort from where I am writing my column this week. On Tuesday night, we were hosted to dinner by the chairman of Caverton Offshore Support Group, Mr Remi Makanjuola and wife, at their Ikoyi residence. We cannot thank them enough for their support over the years. Yesterday, it was the turn of Mrs Biodun Martins and Mrs Ronke Kosoko to take us out for lunch.

Ordinarily, birthday celebration is a bit alien to me. I grew up with Christmas as the only period in the year worth looking forward to. New clothes and shoes. Rice and chicken. Bread and tea (what they now call beverage). My wife, of course, was used to celebrating birthdays. When our children were still young, she would take them to orphanages on their birthdays. And the moment they entered boarding school, birthday was no longer an issue in the house, especially with all of them born when schools would be in session. The first real discussion about birthday happened ten years ago when my wife was about turning 40. At the end, she asked that we donate the money to dig borehole for a Tunga community in Abuja. With that, I thought I could delete birthday from the family calendar. I was wrong. Since January, someone had become almost aggressive in saying, “I must celebrate my 50th birthday”. I had no choice but to make a concession. I believe my wife deserves to be celebrated for her role in the family and the underprivileged children she helps to provide free and quality education to.

For all the people who joined us last Friday and the numerous other well-wishers who sent messages, may things of joy never cease from our families.

The contest is not really a case of Chartered Accountants versus Economists because many Chartered Accountants actually trained as economists before becoming Chartered Accountants.  Vice-Versa (similarly), many of our leading economists qualified as Chartered Accountants before venturing into economics as their area of specialization.

Be that at it may, it is an oversimplification to postulate that while Chartered Accountants insist on balancing the books first, it is the economists who are somewhat wary of the scepticism of Chartered Accountants.  If they have their way, they would prefer to dazzle us all with econometrics and veer off into the exotic areas of fiscal policy and monetary policy as well as the areas of convergence – or the lack thereof.

What is even more fascinating are the never ending vigorous disputations amongst economists themselves and (versus) accountants  and the rest of us.

Permit me to quote:   Jimi Morgan

“As Africa’s most populous country, largest economy and most notable democracy, Nigeria is a bellweather for the continent. A weakening economy, rising insecurity and violent conflicts threaten progress made in its democratic development. Amid deepening distrust in government and institutions, Nigeria has significant work to do in improving national, state and local security and governance ahead of national and state elections in 2023.

Nigeria’s federal system gives governors great responsibilities in addressing the issues driving the country’s multiple conflicts, including farmer-herder violence, deepening regional divides, armed banditry and the Boko Haram insurgency. United States Institute of Peace [U.S.I.P] brings together state governors, national policymakers and civic leaders to design and implement inclusive policies that mitigate violence and strengthen community-oriented security. The Institute engages a variety of influential figures, empowers citizens and uses its expertise and convening power to inform Nigeria policy in the United States, the region and around the world. Recent work includes:

Since 2016, this working group has fostered relationships between citizens, policymakers and national and international figures to ensure that a diverse array of voices impact decision-making processes. These relationships allow the working group to turn expert analysis into tangible, actionable policy advice. For instance, recommendations for addressing the country’s current security and political challenges — informed by a 2021 convening with religious and civic leaders from the National Peace Committee and the Inter-Faith Initiative for Peace — were published in leading Nigerian newspapers. In 2021, amid deepening public mistrust, the working group harnessed its collective experience and relationships to advance high-level dialogue between major civic groups working for peace across the country and the Nigerian government. The working group is regularly invited by state and national policymakers to provide recommendations on a range of issues, from inclusive governance and electoral violence to communal conflicts between pastoralists and farming communities. 

Network of Nigerian Facilitators (NNF)

The NNF is a group of professional peace mediators trained by USIP to resolve local conflicts through nonviolent means across several states throughout the country. NNF dialogues focus on strengthening community-security sector relationships and mitigating intercommunal, pastoralist-farmer and election-related violence. Since 2019, the NNF has collaborated with state peacebuilding institutions to address conflicts and support local peace processes. In 2021, the NNF helped conduct USIP research to better understand the drivers and dynamics of communal conflicts across Nigeria.

Working with State Governments and Peacebuilding Institutions

USIP helps governors and state peacebuilding institutions to establish inclusive, cooperative strategies that prevent and resolve violent conflicts; ensure that policies focus on citizens’ needs; stem the potential for all forms of violence; and allow communities to play meaningful roles in the transition process.

Strengthening Local Security

Through USIP’s ongoing Justice and Security Dialogue project, citizens at the local level collectively identify security challenges and organize dialogues that bring together internally displaced communities and police in Northeast Nigeria to develop practical and concrete solutions to address security concerns, build trust and foster accountability.

Informing Policy through Research

USIP conducts research on governance and security to better advise Nigerian policymakers in their response to these challenges. A 2020 public opinion survey found new linkages between COVID-19, instability and conflict. These survey findings informed policy discussions with senior U.S. and Nigerian policymakers, including Nigerian President Buhari and state governors. USIP also published research mapping state peacebuilding institutions; assessing election-related violence risks; and outlining pathways to civilian-led governance amid the Boko Haram insurgency in Northeast Nigeria. 

Convening Stakeholders

USIP convenes government officials, partners and civic leaders at its U.S. headquarters and Nigeria country office for candid conversations that foster collaboration and inform policy and program priorities. USIP hosted discussions in 2020 with the Nigerian ministers of foreign affairs and humanitarian affairs and senior U.S. policymakers. Throughout the pandemic, USIP convened a series of virtual roundtables with Nigerian federal and state policymakers and key stakeholders to examine COVID-19’s impact on security and governance. In 2019, USIP hosted eminent U.S. and Nigerian civic leaders and government officials for a roundtable to explore the state of Nigerian governance 20 years into its democratic transition.

Expanding the Institute’s Field Work

In 2020, USIP officially established a country office in Abuja. This accomplishment allows the Institute to continue its impactful operations, broaden its regional scope and sustain its direct action for peace in Nigeria.

*Current situation in Nigeria and possible path to sure and sustainable recovery.*

The Nigerian Federal Government has received a plethora of advice, and some threats. Sadly, the majority of counsel, with the greatest of respect, are ideological.

1. i) Economic systems and their proponents are based upon preferred political systems. Adam Smith, through adherents such as David Ricardo represent one school - capitalism and the free market. Karl Marx represents another system  - communism which is the antidote to the ills of capitalism, and which has only a few countries following his original philosophy although that's been refined. Then there is John Maynard Keynes of the Cambridge School of thought advocating for government role in the capitalist system. Importantly, Milton Friedman of the Chicago School did advocate for a private sector dominance over as many areas of economic activities as possible. 
2. ii) In more recent times, these neoclassicals have pushed for free market economics - the private sector running loose with little government intervention. That philosophy almost caused the global economic collapse in 2008. The central bankers and China had to rescue the system. 

iii) Thus, any system is ideological.

With its adherents and practitioners. 

1. iv) The political liberal order is closely aligned to the Milton Friedman school of economics. The Western democracies push their model as the only democracy. And try to compel others to adopt it, name calling or bad mouthing them as autocracies.

Question 1: Which model has brought greatest benefit to the largest number since WW2? 

Response - The Peoples Republic of China with emphasis on "common prosperity", India and I include the USA.

Question 2: Which system has pushed for prosperity and good quality of life  for as many of its people as possible?

Response - The PRC, the Scandinavian countries. The USA is one of the worst performers of a major economy in wealth disparity. 

Question 3: Which one country or set of countries have performed worst economically compared to their resources, human and otherwise?

Response -The various African countries befuddled between one political system or the other, and the ideology of one economic system or the other. If one takes it from 1960 although one can go back to 1957,  African countries have experienced growth or retrogression; political peace and internal harmony or political upheavals,  conflicts and killings.

1969. v) Let's home in on Nigeria. The government with greatest comparative achievement in economics, education, health, transportation, communication and quality of living was the Western Region between 1952 and  1969. It encouraged growth of private capital and government participation. It owned embassies in Britain and the USA (which were taken over by the FGN after the Unification Decree of May 1966). It also lent money to the FGN. It paid its civil servants twice that of another region and one and a half times that of the federal government. 
1970. vi) The military administration between 1970 to 1979, with a change of guards twice in that period, experienced great economic and other growth.

However,  education, almost always an area of focus by a dear professional colleague, didn't reach many. The economy also became unequal with the steady increase in the private sector and decline in the public sector. Thus, education for the rich rather than the majority increased in number and scope. (Not sure if even the Western Region achieved a 100% enrolment).

Oh yes, private sector education benefits those with the money. I attended a church school myself, fee paying but not exclusive. And indeed there are many papers on the introduction and impact of  church schools and education in different parts of Africa.

vii) And disparity in wealth became greater. The 'social warriors' became the Oyewusi and Anani armed robbers. I hope some readers can recall those characters and the period. 

viii) Let me add. The 5 Year Development Plan of 1970 - 1974 under Chief Awolowo as Federal Finance Commissioner mentioned government being responsible for the commanding heights of the economy. It was that plan that propelled the economic growth and other achievements from 1970 to 1975 when Chief Awolowo resigned. The approach was no longer followed and the intellectual capacity and discipline could not be replicated by Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Thus, I acknowledge it's not just about the economic system, it's also about the persons implementing the systems. Of course, based upon an agreed political or military system.

1. ix) It should be noted that the plan marked the very first attempt to express a social philosophy that should guide the plan.
2. x) In conclusion, the free market economic system favours the few at the expense of the many. It also develops the economy itself at a slower pace than where the government plays a role.
3. xi) There is therefore an umbilical link between economic system and socio-political  philosophy. And since World War 1 when there was a dispute over which economic system should prevail, the German or the British, global powers have advocated for the variant that maximises their benefit.

xii) As a consequence, the philosophies keep evolving. There are several variants I have not mentioned, but let me flag two divergent thinking and practice; (a) the new classical economics with monetarism, and (b) socialism with Chinese characteristics, arguably the most transformative of the lot.

xiii) My observation is that Nigeria under PBAT (President Bola Ahmed Tinubu) has adopted the neo classical approach with monetarism. I could be mistaken. 

xiv) We seem to ignore the fact and reality that there is a new player in town – BRICS consists of :  Brazil

Russia

India

China

South Africa

Egypt

Ethiopia

Iran

And the United Arab Emirates

and new rules are being established. 

I apologise for the length of this piece, but we are sharing thoughts and increasing awareness and thus understanding. There are currently three power economies in Africa: Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa. Two are in BRICS+, the other is nowhere, not in G7, not in G20.

1. xv) Having stated all that, there are many foreign interests who need to keep exploiting Africa in order to enjoy their economic prosperity and maintain their political superiority.

xvi) In addition, recent events have eroded their moral   authority because of the differentiated and hypocritical response to global events: 

17) * Condemn Russia for killing Ukrainians but support killing by Israel of many more people - tens of thousands of Palestinians especially women and children;

18) * Condemn Russia for invading its neighbour which justifies this on security needs that it doesnt want an enemy military organisation there  but justify USA & British invasion of Iraq, separated from them by long distances and the sea;

19)* Encroach into African economic activities eg the Uganda Tanzanian  oil pipeline was condemned in the EU Parliament although it will generate revenue to the African owners of the oil and the transit country.

20) If security can be achieved in Nigeria, it's safe to predict the economy will recover, irrespective of the economic system used.

21) Conclusion: Let's adapt the Lee Kwan Yew mantra - it's what works, not economic theories.”

On its front page, “The Guardian” newspaper published the damning verdict delivered with feisty brutality by Francis E Ogbimi:

“Economists, accountants and bankers do not understand how the economy works.  They lack a sense of history and do not understand the science of sustainable economic growth, industrialization and development.  They are only good at sustaining abstract and irrelevant arguments about the economy.  Africa will stagnate as long as economists and related institutions like the World Bank and IMF continue to influence (the) planning in the continent.”

In crafting economic policy, the least we can do is to recognise that there are actually four distinct pillars:

• Economic theory
• Applied economics
• Economic history
• And, most importantly: COMMON SENSE !!

For Chartered Accountants who insist on accountability, transparency and discipline, there is a huge mountain to climb especially when they insist on balancing the budget and following the money (the audit trail).

The economists are ever ready to throw in micro-economic framework and macro-economic postulations as proof positive that all will be well.  Lord Maynard Keynes (1883 to 1946) argued that governments should solve problems in the short run rather than wait for market forces to fix things over the long run because: “In the long run, we are all dead”

For very good reasons, the press has opted to keep above the fray and the fierce tussle for supremacy.  Instead we have the following vignettes: 

• “ThisDay” newspaper front page report.

Headline: “THE GARDEN OF THE PROPHET:

The late Lebanese-American poet and philosopher, Kahlil Gibran captured the Nigerian tragedy so succinctly in his poem:

“Pity the nation that is full of beliefs and empty of religion.
Pity the nation that wears a cloth it does not weave
and eats a bread it does not harvest.

Pity the nation that acclaims the bully as hero, and that deems the glittering conqueror bountiful.

Pity a nation that despises a passion in its dream, yet submits in its awakening.
Pity the nation that raises not its voice save when it walks in a funeral, boasts not except among its ruins, and will rebel not save when its neck is laid between the sword and the block.
Pity the nation whose statesman is a fox, whose philosopher is a juggler, and whose art is the art of patching and mimicking
Pity the nation that welcomes its new ruler with trumpeting,
and farewells him with hooting, only to welcome another with trumpeting again.

Pity the nation whose sages are dumb with years and whose strongmen are yet in the cradle.

Pity the nation divided into fragments each fragment deeming itself a nation.”

Indeed, this country deserves to be pitied.”

From the archives:

When Egba women led by Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (mother of Afro-beat legend, Fela) formed Abeokuta Women Union (AWU)  and revolted against the King – Sir Ladapo Samuel Ademola, Alake of Egbaland for conspiring with the Colonial  Government to impose an oppressive tax regime on women, their war song according to BBC translation was:

“Idowu (Alake) you have used your penis as symbol of authority against us for ages under the pretext that you are our husband.  The game is up.  Now we have reversed the roles by weaponising our vagina.  We are set to overwhelm and subdue you.  We are your dominant husband (master) and you have no choice but to succumb to our demands.”

The rage persisted from October 5^th, 1946 with furious petitions to the Resident and the Colonial Office.  On January 3, 1949 the British government caved in and forced the King to abdicate.  He was succeeded by Oba Adesina Gbadebo (1963 – 1971).  Sir Ladapo was sent into exile in Osogbo (Osun State) where he died on 27^th December 1962.

Front page report of “Saturday Vanguard” newspaper.

Headline: “IN THE COURSE OF SHOOTING, I FELL DOWN; CORPSES FELL ON ME”

• Archbishop Chukwuma on how he escaped being killed at Asaba genocide
• Says Nigeria owes Asaba people easterners apology
• Talks about life in retirement

Emeritus Archbishop of Enugu Anglican Diocese, Most Rev Prof Emmanuel Chukwuma who, penultimate week, retired from priesthood speaks about his 44 years priesthood, how he escaped the Asaba genocide and what should be done for Nigeria to return to its lost glory.

Did you retire because of age or years of service?

There is a statutory age in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that once you are 70 years old you retire. If you are a primate after 10 years whether you are 70 or not you retire. I am retiring as Archbishop with 10 years completed as Archbishop. I was a second term Archbishop and at the same time retiring at the age of 70, after serving as a Bishop for 34 years, excluding my time of priesthood. So, I’ve served as a priest for 44 years. I glorify and thank God for what I am today.

On his experience as a priest

It has been a great and tremendous experience in the sense that I started as a Bishop in the Diocese of Bauchi, northern part of Nigeria. I spent about eight years there and came to Enugu to spend 26 years. I started as a missionary Bishop in Bauchi, which was not an easy task. I started from nothing in a Muslim area; 1990 to 1991, I experienced Christian and Muslim uproar with our churches burnt, houses burnt and many of our members killed.  I was Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, chairman and my life was at risk. At that time God protected me.  My Cathedral in Bauchi was burnt before I rebuilt it to a bigger one and also through God, founded churches in the whole of Bauchi and Gombe, Katagum, that’s Azere area and built a Cathedral in Gombe; founded churches in Ashaka up to Bilirri, Bollie, Dukuntim, Bambam, Maraba, and Ningi. I was busy planting churches that have now given birth to the Gombe Diocese.

Having built Bishop’s Court in Bauchi, Cathedral in Bauchi and Gombe, I came to Enugu and there was no Bishop’s court. Thanks be to God for Bishop Otubelu, my predecessor, who also suffered because he started from the civil war, since 1970, and with all these indigenes and non-indigenes syndrome, he couldn’t do much.

However, coming to Enugu, through God’s grace and with the support of my friends and the people, I was able to build the Bishop’s Court which is one of the best in Nigeria. The foundation was laid in 1999 by the then Prelate, Most Rev Timothy Adetiloye. After that I started with the Cathedral and built the Cathedral and through God’s grace it has been working. We mobilised funds and built a hospital, Diagnostic Center, schools, printing press, established Micro-finance bank and churches all over the place. We are also building a convent school. We began to expand the frontiers of Anglican Communion in Enugu State to the point that Enugu State now knows that Anglican communion is really the place. So, we have a lot to thank God for, the priest, laity, and friends that supported us in the ministry. Sometimes some people can be so conspiring and treacherous but many of them have repented and apologized. So I’ve forgiven all those who offended me and those whom I offended through my work, I say forgive me. Now, I’m happy retiring with Enugu Diocese not as bad as I met it, not as poor as I met it and I feel fulfilled and thank God that I now have time to go and rest and establish a foundation for the poor, the less privileged and widows that I can help some people and do my lecturing.

Is it true you were once a Catholic?

No! People make mistakes. I attended a Roman Catholic school, St Aquinas College Akure, just like College of Immaculate Conception, CIC, here in Enugu. If somebody attends CIC, must he be a Roman Catholic? But you find that it was made compulsory for everybody to behave like a Roman Catholic and because of my attitude and way of life, I speak Latin, the Irish Fathers loved me and so they put me in charge of the Sacristy.

At that time, I was serving Mass, we were all made to attend the chapel, whether you are a Roman Catholic or not, it was compulsory. So, I was influenced a bit by the Roman Catholic doctrine, which was an eye-opener and my father therefore said why don’t I become a reverend father because of the way I served Mass and followed the reverend fathers for evangelism.

My father wanted me to be a lawyer and some people wanted me to be a Reverend Father. I started teaching, from teaching I was to read law in the University of Ife but I went into Theology because during the civil war I was one of those that would have been killed in the Asaba genocide but God saved my life.

In 1967 I was to be killed among those that were killed but God saved my life. When they were shooting, I fell down and in the night I escaped. So, I experienced the genocide of the Nigeria civil war. I saw war with my eyes, I saw blood with my eyes, and it was a serious genocide. Innocent people in my Asaba area were killed for nothing except that we were ‘Ajukwu’ brothers (Ojukwu brothers), that was what they were saying. My father’s first house in Asaba was burnt down, many of our houses were burnt, many of our relatives were burnt, many of our kindred were killed unnecessarily and many of our women were forcefully married by the soldiers. It was such a terrible thing that when I remember it I shed tears especially when they are doing Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

I feel that Nigeria still has to apologize to the Asaba people and to the Eastern part of Nigeria for the genocide and war. That was the reason I said that January 15, which is my birthday, Nigeria should be celebrating it as a day of mourning and forgiveness, asking God for forgiveness and thanksgiving for the end of the war. Remember that in the Bible when God destroyed the world with water Noah prayed to God and he stopped the war of water and Noah praised and thanked God for it. So if war has ended we should be able to say father thank you for the war that ended but rather than doing it what you see now is selectiveness against the Igbo. We are being neglected, sidelined and nobody is thinking about what we suffered during the civil war. This is unfortunate and I feel that President Bola Tinubu, if they could do something to MKO Abiola and honour him, the people of Asaba should be honoured with a day of forgiveness, thanksgiving and then a lot of things should be done in memory and compensation for the Eastern part of Nigeria for the civil war.

How did the Asaba genocide actually happen?

The Nigerian soldiers were to cross the River Niger and when they came they couldn’t cross. They said there was a goddess in the River called Onishee who would come out and their boat would sink because at that time the bridge had collapsed. So, the soldiers got angry and said that there were some Biafran soldiers among us. In fact, they separated us, I was about 14 years. They separated the women and said that all of us, the male, should be lined up and killed. In the course of the shooting I fell down and corpses fell on me. That was how I escaped.

When I spoke Yoruba, one of the soldiers said ‘are you a Yoruba man?’ And I said yes and that was how they rescued me. The soldiers were tall, we called them Gongola, gwodogwodo! Some of them said it was because of Chukwuma Nzeogwu, who was not from Asaba really, he was from Ika Ibo, but they still dealt with us and that’s unfortunate. To God be the glory we survived.

What do you think is the reason General Yakubu Gowon is yet to say anything about the civil war?

Gowon is very apologetic and that was why he started Nigeria Prays and we have to commend him for that. That Nigeria Prays was to revive the spirit of the people back from the civil war and to reconcile people back to God and to go on with one Nigeria.

On easterners asking General Gowon to tender an open apology

He has done it many times when he was doing Nigeria Prays, and moving around. He apologized but that’s not enough. The Nigerian government should do that because the Nigeria civil war dealt with us.  In Asaba, it was a real genocide and we’re asking for apology and compensation as they do in other places.

What is your message to Nigeria as you take a bow in priesthood?

Nigeria should be a country for all of us, not a country for just one person. There should be no segregation, nobody should be neglected, and there should be equal rights and justice. Equity and justice must prevail. The Igbo must be given the same opportunity to serve Nigeria and corruption must cease. We must stop all these deceit in government. Parliament has been turned into self-centered composition; there should be no sycophancy in government. Something must be done to save Nigeria from calamity.”

“Saturday Tribune@ newspaper front page report.

Headline: “IT’S TIME NIGERIANS COOKED FOR THESE TERRORISTS!!

• Abiodun Awolaja

THE terrorists who kidnapped a bride and 62 wedding guests at Damari in Sabuwa LG of Katsina State are currently having a swell time. Not only do they have a rich supply of captive women with which to slake their depraved lusts, they also want millions to prop up their fiefdom. They are demanding N100 million, threatening to marry off the bride and sell the other abductees if their families did not pay the ransom. They dressed the bride in army uniform, slung AK-47s around the necks of the captives, and uploaded the video evidence on social media, confident that the state will not cow them. Hear their leader: “I am the one who abducted them, and I will not release them until the ransom we demanded is paid. Anyone who thinks they can rescue them should try to do so.” There’s a Daura Deceiver in the same state who did nothing to protect the people from the blood-thirsty killers but has an impenetrable wall around him while brides and grooms cannot even consummate their marriage!

Folks, there’s a reason these dogs (who once fed the twins born by a woman in their captivity to dogs) are so bold. They have backers in high places. Only recently, Danjuma Ali-Keffi, former GOC, 1 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, asked President Bola Tinubu to investigate the death of former army chief, Lt-General Ibrahim Attahiru, in a plane crash in Kaduna, Kaduna State, on May 21, 2021, linking the incident to terror financiers in the country and urging the president to probe his compulsory retirement from service for exposing those top officials during the previous administration. Think about it: the terrorists who collect millions and billions often look ragged and disheveled, according to those who managed to escape from their clutches, and they are working for barons. They carry expensive weapons. They use phones. Ransoms have been paid through banks but the masterminds are still walking as free (wo)men. Something isn’t adding up.

Why don’t terrorists launch attacks in North Korea? They know that the state itself is terror; that they would be buried with bullets. They know that soldiers would use their bodies for shooting practice. Before whose dining table will a dog wag its tail? Terrorists dread Israel: Netanyahu takes a thousand lives for each life they take among his people. In the United States, these criminals would be dead in less than two hours. Japanese Admiral Yamamoto may or may not have spoken the words attributed to him, but they are true nonetheless: “You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass.” In Nigeria, terrorists reign as kings, pampered by the powers that be. They know the weaknesses of a country where hospitals lack drugs, where ATMs are empty, where schools foster illiteracy, and where fuel is not guaranteed at a filling station. Hunger stalks the land as people cut up a single Titus sardine into ten pieces, buses conveying foodstuff are being attacked by hungry citizens, but the terror masterminds know no poverty. They know that the nation is not asking serious questions.

Who is supplying these terrorists with weapons and food?  Where are their families based? How do they transport huge stashes of cash across our borders?  If they convert naira to foreign currency, where do they do so? Who are their backers and where are their family houses located? Is there something customs operatives are not telling us? Can we not deploy drones and smoke them out? As part of its National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism, the U.S. Government says it  will “enhance domestic terrorism analysis and improve information sharing throughout law enforcement at the federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial levels, and, where appropriate, private sector partners, guarantee “revamped support to community partners who can help to prevent individuals from ever reaching the point of committing terrorist violence, disrupt and deter domestic terrorism activity via increased support to federal, state, and local law enforcement in addressing domestic terrorism nationwide, and “confront long-term contributors to domestic terrorism”, protecting Americans from “racial, ethnic, and religious hatred, and stemming the flow of firearms to individuals intending to commit acts of domestic terrorism, and working to ensure that law enforcement operates without bias in countering domestic terrorism.” Why can’t we take a cue from the US?

Terrorism would not thrive with the society slaughtering terrorists: daggering them till the knife is blunt, mauling them without mercy. The terrorists would not strike if they knew that the society would deploy tactical superior wickedness, castrating, daggering and incinerating them in the bush;  beheading their food suppliers and burning their houses. You have to make it clear to terrorists that once they abduct people, they will be slaughtered. To tackle these blood merchants, you impose community terrorism levy to support hunters in the bush and set up roadside squads/community information brigades. There must be a town strategy: you fight terrorists as a town, hold vigils and monitor strange faces at beer parlours, etc.

The government must set up state police, ensure drone monitoring of forests and farmsteads, locate terrorist communication with GPS, set up farm squads comprising all the armed services, deploy Man O’ War to support Amotekun, and empower forest guards. The case of the terrorists who murdered the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, the Onimojo of Omojola-Ekiti and the Olukoro of Koro Kingdom in Ekiti LG of Kwara State proves that state policing is the way to go. A combined team of police, military and secret service operatives and vigilantes and hunters rescued the abducted wife of the late Olukoro and her little girl and arrested 13 terrorists in the forest/boundary between Kwara and Ekiti states. Another team involving police operatives, hunters, members of Agbekoya group, vigilantes and Amotekun Corps stormed Emure-Ekiti Forest, Ise/Ogbese Forest and Emure-Ile Forest in Ondo State and arrested the murderers of the Elesun and the Onimojo. The arrested terrorists, Yaya Sumaila, Idrisu Abubakar, Hassan Abudullahi, Abudullahi Abudullahi, Haruna Abubakar, Usman Abudullahi, Haruna Sule, and Babusa Alhaji Lede, will soon have their day in court.

If a man cooks for the community, say the Igbo, the community will finish the food. But if the community cooks for a man, he will never finish the food. The terrorists have been cooking for Nigerians for too long; it’s time Nigerians cooked for them. It’s time to send them to hell!”

Quotation:

• “If you can’t explain it simply then you don’t understand it well enough.”
• Albert Einstein

(1879 to 1955)

• “The secret to living is giving”
• Tony Robbins

(1960 – 64 years)

• “The level of poverty is alarming. An estimated population of 88.4 million people in Nigeria are living in extreme poverty.  Overall, 12.9 per cent of the global population in extreme poverty was found in Nigeria as of 2022.”

Tinuade Sanda’s recent dismissal as CEO of a major electricity distribution company (Disco) in the southwest region has sent shockwaves through the Nigerian business community, triggering a storm of questions regarding the legitimacy of her academic qualifications and casting doubts on corporate integrity.

Sanda’s swift ascent to the helm of the Disco was marked by claims of academic achievements, prominently featuring an MBA in Strategic Planning purportedly obtained from the University of Edinburgh, a prestigious institution in Scotland. However, a thorough examination by the university revealed no such program exists, plunging her educational background into uncertainty. Further discrepancies emerged regarding her alleged undergraduate degree from Harvard Business School, a renowned institution known exclusively for graduate-level programs. Most alarmingly, Sanda’s claim of holding a Doctor of Philosophy in Financial Management and Entrepreneurship from ICON University in the Republic of Benin was debunked as the institution’s credibility came under scrutiny. ICON University’s website, fraught with grammatical errors and dubious accreditations, provided no substantial evidence of Sanda’s academic pursuits.

The revelation of Sanda’s questionable credentials has raised profound concerns not only about her suitability for leadership but also about the efficacy of due diligence processes in corporate appointments. Investigations unearthed a disturbing trend in Benin, where institutions allegedly fabricate academic qualifications. Sanda’s association with such dubious credentials calls into question her judgment and underscores potential flaws in corporate vetting procedures.

Adding to the controversy, a November 2022 letter from Nigeria’s Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) expressed reservations about Sanda’s competence and emotional maturity to lead the Disco. If proven false, Sanda’s embellished academic record not only stains her reputation but also undermines her credibility as a mentor, particularly to young women aspiring to leadership roles.

Sanda’s trajectory, marred by questionable qualifications, highlights the imperative for robust executive verification mechanisms to ensure appointments are based on merit and integrity. Her saga serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ethical conduct and transparency in corporate governance. As stakeholders grapple with the fallout, it prompts a broader discourse on the standards of integrity expected from leaders entrusted with pivotal roles in Nigeria’s business landscape.

[ThisNigeria]