One year ago, on November 15, 2023, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) invited me to speak on “Nigerian Media, Sustainability and Existential Threats by Big Tech.” Being asked again this year is a privilege, but I won’t be surprised if this is my last invitation.

Perhaps I won’t need to come as a presenter next time. A learning machine, Anaba possibly, might be here to do the job. This may sound incredible, but increasingly, with improvements in infotech and biotech, it seems that what AI cannot do does not exist.

In its most basic definition, generative artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems capable of performing complex tasks that, historically, only humans could perform. Journalists, for example, used to think of themselves as the masters of storytelling in a hurry and God’s gift to the world as gatekeepers. We’re humbler now.

Luddites’ nightmare

The widespread use of AI is causing anxiety among journalists and other professionals, especially the Luddites. Recently, I wanted to redecorate my apartment. I asked a furniture company in Abuja to recommend an interior decorator. The two recommended insisted on a pre-inspection deposit of 100k, which I wasn’t prepared to pay.

I went to ChatGPT and imputed a description of my apartment with measurements, asking for a photo design. I got it in minutes, complete with a floor plan and car park design. ChatGPT even asked if I needed optional designs! Midjourney or AR would give far more incredibly splendid options!

According to Digital News Project 2024, “Journalism, Media, and Technology Trends and Predictions 2024” by Nic Newman, apart from rising costs and declining revenues, 300 digital leaders from more than 50 countries/territories also expressed significant concerns about using AI for backend news automation and experimental internet interfaces, including AR and VR glasses, lapel pins, and other wearable devices.

What’s AI up to?

Let us look briefly at two recent examples of the use of AI in storytelling, one in North America and the other in Europe, that have resonated in many parts of the world.

In Mexico, Grupo Formula, the country’s leading broadcasting group with 2.3m YouTube subscribers, created three avatars—NAT, SOFI, and MAX—three robotic journalists who generate content in entertainment, sports, and politics for the company’s social media handles.

The group’s director of technology and AI infrastructure told the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, “The news stories that NAT, SOFI and others present are small stories and very focused towards young people who don’t connect well with the old-style newscast. We are looking to connect with these young people using technology.” Grupo Formula’s subsidiary, TV OAI, is the first news channel in Latin America powered 100 percent by AI.

More recently, a Polish radio station, Radio Krakow, announced the relaunch of OFF Radio, the first experiment in Poland where AI-driven characters take on the role of traditional journalists.

In response to concerns about the increasing role of automation in the physical and cognitive spheres, Yuval Harari said in his book 21 Lessons for the 21^st Century, “It would be madness to block automation… to protect human jobs. After all, what we ultimately ought to protect is humans – not jobs.” I agree.

What opportunities exist?

What opportunities does AI present, and how might journalists use them for storytelling? a). Streamlined content production: AI tools can significantly streamline content production, allowing journalists to focus on the creative aspects rather than time-consuming tasks and drudgery.

For example, algorithms can assist in generating ideas or first drafts; b). Personalisation of content: Algorithms can analyse user preferences and behaviours to create bespoke narratives with individual audiences; c). Enhanced engagement: AI can create immersive and interactive storytelling experiences.

For example, games and multimedia stories that adapt based on user decisions can attract individuals who may not typically engage with traditional forms of storytelling; c). Creation of new opportunities: The fusion of AI and human effort can create new possibilities previously challenging to imagine.

One good example is the collaborative effort involving 400 journalists from 80 countries sifting through 11 million documents and 2.6 terabytes of data during the Panama Papers investigation; d). Generative AI can repurpose chaos: In an article entitled “AI news that’s fit to print,” Zach Seward wrote, “Faced with the chaotic, messy reality of everyday life, LLMs (Large Language Models), are useful tools for summarising text, fetching information, understanding data, and creating structure…but always with human oversight.” This article also shares some of AI’s best and worst use cases.

Challenges of AI use

Ethical concerns in AI storytelling include the potential for generative models to create misleading information, such as fake stories or images that blur the line between reality and fabrication. The Cambridge Analytica case and COVID-19 are good examples. Concerns about legal liability and privacy protection have also been expressed.

Other concerns include quality, coherence and creativity, originality, fairness and bias, and adaptability to genre and audience.

Limits and success stories:

AI is a work in progress. Again, from Seward’s article, we could use lessons from some excellent and ugly examples of its application even in countries where automated storytelling appears to be well-established already. First, the nasty experiences:

CNET and the tech error soup: Last January, CNET, a tech website, published financial advisory stories on short-term saving instruments, how to manage and close bank accounts, and other topics. Although the byline said the stories were written by the platform’s “Money Staff,” they were not. Language machines wrote them, but the massive errors (described as moments of hallucinations) exposed the site! Actual staff members saved the day by cleaning up the copies.

Sports Illustrated’s Street Spin: The Street, a publication from the stable of Sports Illustrated, published a raft of bot-generated stories and made matters worse by curating and attaching fake author identities to the stories. The spin didn’t end well.

Good news

But there have been good experiences, as well:

Modelling for pattern or image recognition machines has proved valuable when analysing large data caches. Media houses such as Buzzfeed News and The Wall Street Journal have used AI to establish significant trends in otherwise desperate and solitary occurrences or patterns.

Examples range from the Mauritius Leaks, which involved 200k highly technical documents, to the story on the miles of dangerous lead cables around New Jersey streets that posed severe public health risks to residents. Zach Seward also documents a few other examples in his piece entitled “AI news that’s fit to print.”

Where is the Nigerian storyteller?

Professor Farooq Kperogi and I collaborated on an academic paper for the Journal of Applied Journalism and Media Studies entitled “Light in a Digital Blackhole: Exploration of Emergent Artificial Intelligence Journalism in Nigeria.”

The study found that social media and the rise of citizen journalists have changed the landscape and accelerated the mainstream adoption of automated journalism.

More media houses use tools, including social media integration software like Echobox, Hootsuite, Revive, and Dlvrit, to drive audience and revenue goals. The election watchdog Yiaga Africa collaborates with some TV stations to collate and analyse election results using AI tools. Automated fact-checking systems, drones, and language management tools are also being deployed.

While costs and infrastructure remain significant barriers to adoption, attitudinal differences between younger journalists and the older, more established ones were also noticed, with newsrooms embracing more diversity in age cohorts and educational backgrounds.

Job losses? What jobs?

Our study did not justify the fear of imminent job losses among Nigerian journalists. However, the impact of the disruption on readership/audiences and revenues due to economic reasons and changing demographics is undeniable.

It would be good if anxiety about job losses led to greater introspection, retooling, and adoption of technologies and practices that improve journalism, especially the core business of storytelling.

If the destination is uncertain, the least we can hope for is that we are in good company, human or otherwise. And it won’t matter if the chatbot delivers this lecture next year!

Ishiekwene, Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP, is the author of the new book Writing for Media and Monetising It. This modified version of AI-Generated Storytelling: Opportunities and Challenges was based on my presentation at the 20^th Annual Conference of the NGE on November 8.

Members of the Lakurawa armed group have been retreating as the military ramps up coordinated ground and air attacks on the group’s camps across Kebbi and Sokoto states.

Following an attack by the Lakurawa group on the Mera community in Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State, which claimed 17 lives, the army headquarters deployed a contingent of soldiers to the area.

Zuru said the troops succeeded in dislodging the bandits and recovering several rustled cattle left behind as the attackers fled.

This deployment came after an urgent appeal from Kebbi State governor, Dr Nasir Idris, for federal support to address the escalating violence by armed groups disrupting life in rural communities.

“The governor has pledged to safeguard the lives and property of all Kebbi State citizens, leading him to seek federal intervention to counter-terrorism across the state,” Zuru said.

Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has assured that the Lakurawa armed group terrorising Northwestern states would be flushed out of Nigeria.

Ribadu gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Comptroller-General of Customs Conference, where he represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

“We will chase the so-called Lukarawa out of our country. We will put critics to shame and shut their mouths in no time. 

“Boko Haram, which has been ravaging our country, is now on the run. Its members are now moving to other neighbouring countries because Nigeria is no longer conducive for their operations,” he said.

He also said signs that things are getting better with the economy are there for all to see, citing increased crude oil production in the Niger Delta and the fiscal reforms by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as part of such efforts.

“Crude oil production has hit 1.8 million bpd and the Central Bank has been sanitised; no one is taking a dime from the CBN. When we promised that we would fix this country, we will do so because President Tinubu has never been a failure,” he added.

[Dailytrust]

A human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, says it is wrong for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to give judges houses and cars.

DAILY POST recalls that Wike had in October flagged off the Design and Construction of 40 Judges’ Quarters in the Katampe District in the nation’s capital, Abuja, which has generated controversy, with many arguing that it is unethical.

Falana, while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, argued that it is wrong for the executive to give gifts to the members of the judiciary, especially judges.

“The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory operates like a state governor by virtue of section 299 of the Constitution.

“So, he cannot say I am going to build 40 houses, 10 shall go to the federal high court, 10 shall go to judges in the FCT high court and 10 shall go to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, no.

“Because you are a minister of the Federal Government like a state governor your budget is limited to the affairs of the FCT.

“So, you cannot as the head of the FCT be dishing out gifts of cars, houses to judges in the federal high court, in the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court.

“Number two, you have cases before these courts, on the theory of equality before the court you cannot be seen to be giving cars or houses to the judges who are going to determine your cases,” he said.

The senior lawyer said this is the reason the autonomy of the judiciary has been constitutionalised, stressing that the judges have no business going to the executive to buy them cars and houses.

According to him, the Constitution has granted financial autonomy to the judiciary which gives it authority to manage its own budget.

The human rights activist also berated Wike over the demolition of private properties in the FCT, describing it as primitive and a breach of the law.

He said such demolitions are not authorised under the Urban and Regional Planning Act applicable in the FCT.

“In the FCT, if a house has breached the law, the case must first be taken to the Urban and Regional Planning Board.

“If the property owner loses, they can appeal to the Urban and Regional Tribunal. If that fails, the case may go to the High Court, where an order for demolition may be issued,” he added.

[DailyPost]

• Tinubu: reforms working
• Customs crosses N5.07tr revenue target

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday reappraised his administration’s reform programmes, saying they have resulted in the country attracting $30b in investments in almost 17 months.

Tinubu also said that peace had returned to parts of the nation previously known for insurgence, violent crimes, and crude theft.

‘’In the significant search for Foreign Direct Investment, in less than two years in office, my administration has received over $30 billion from foreign investors. This achievement demonstrates that our policies yield positive results, making Nigeria increasingly attractive for domestic and international investors, ’’ the President said.

Tinubu, spoke through the  National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, at a news conference by the Comptroller-General (CGCs) in  Abuja.  

He was a guest speaker at the conference, which had the theme “Nigeria Customs Service Engaging Traditional and New Partners With Purpose.”

He said that the security situation in the Niger Delta had improved to the extent that crude production hit  1.8 million barrels per day as of Monday. 

He said: “People in many parts of our country today are living in peace. Go to the Niger Delta, things have changed. Today, we have gotten up to 1.8 million barrels of crude oil. We have not seen this for a long time. The  Southeast is getting to be at peace with itself and the rest of our country.” 

Tinubu explained that on assumption of office on May 29 last year, he set out with a clear and unwavering vision to strengthen the country’s economic base and deliver positive growth and development for the benefit of all.

He said 18 months later, the vision remains unchanged.

Tinubu added:  “In pursuing this vision, we have built upon existing foundations while introducing necessary reforms to adapt to our evolving economic realities.

‘’Our focus has been on strengthening what works, refining what needs improvement, and introducing new initiatives where gaps exist.

‘’We recognised that specific economic policies, though useful in their time, needed to be realigned with current global economic dynamics to better serve our national interests and the well-being of our people.”

Tinubu stated that due to the determination and unity of his cabinet,  corrupt practices are being drastically reduced.

  “Early this year, February and March, we had this crisis of the food shortage and food security, we came in as a team and within a short period of time, we stopped many businessmen that used to export food items. 

“You know when the Naira collapsed it was a stampede taking things out of our country. There was a day within 24 hours Customs and all of us together arrested more than 500 trucks,” he said.

He also said that his reforms have made it difficult for embezzlement of funds to happen in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“CBN  is clean. Nobody is making one dime there unlike up to 2023. I can also assure you that the Naira will be stabilised. Just wait and see,’’   said the President.

On subsidy, the President reiterated that the days Nigeria was subsidising petrol used in neighbouring countries were forever gone.

He said many oil marketers were feeding fat on the subsidy regime.

Tinubu added that being a slush fund, subsidy accounted for the establishment of numerous petrol stations in the country. 

He said: “The marketers are now saying they are supplying Ghana, they are supplying Cameroon.

“Before,  it (petrol) was all coming through Nigeria.    

“Nigeria is the only country in the world where everybody is an oil marketer. But the welfare(subsidy) they were enjoying is gone forever.

Ribadu stated that gains of the reforms have made many world leaders either request   President Tinubu’s visit to their countries or indicate interest in paying working visits to Nigeria.

“  Today, the whole world is looking for President Tinubu. I just came back from India, the Prime Minister is coming on the 15. The President of Germany is coming.

“They have invited him to the G20 meeting. The President of France is looking forward too.  There are more than 30 requests for President Tinubu to visit and many are also looking forward to coming here,” the NSA said.

Customs crosses N5.07tr annual revenue target

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said  it collected N5.97 trillion in revenue from January to November 12, 2024, surpassing its 2024 target of N5.07 trillion.

Comptroller –General of the service  Adewale Adeniyi, who made this known,  said he  was sure that the target would be exceeded by 10 percent before   December 31.

Adeniyi attributed the feat to enhanced stakeholder collaboration, improved processes, and modernised systems.

He said: “   I am pleased to announce that yesterday, 12th  November 2024, the Nigeria Customs Service hit its 2024 revenue target of N 5.07 trillion, collecting   N5,079,455,088,194.38 with more than a month remaining in the fiscal year.

“This exceptional performance – projected to exceed our target by 10 percent – validates our partnership-driven approach to revenue collection and trade facilitation.

“ The achievement is not merely about numbers; it demonstrates how enhanced stakeholder collaboration, improved processes, and modernized systems can deliver tangible results for our nation’s economy.”

 He added that the service has scaled up its intervention as reflected in seizures worth N28.1 billion this year.

The CG said the NCS   intercepted   48 containers of illicit pharmaceutical products due to the declaration of a state of emergency in major ports.

Adeniyi added: “In fulfilling our enforcement mandate, we have achieved unprecedented success in protecting both our citizens and economy. The scale of our intervention is reflected in seizures valued at   N28.1 billion and counting in 2024 alone.

“ These seizures span critical areas of national concern – from wildlife items and arms and ammunition to narcotics and pharmaceutical products.

‘’An important moment in our enforcement strategy was the declaration of a state of emergency at our major ports, which led to the interception of 48 containers of illicit pharmaceutical items and narcotics, significantly disrupting the flow of potentially harmful products.” 

 The CG however lamented the rate of management team members exited the service.

He stated that  60 percent of them left in  2022, 36 percent in 2023, and  40 percent expected to quit this year.

[TheNation]

Two Nigerian leaders shared their stance on japa over the same weekend, but their thoughts diverged. One was former Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who, at the convocation ceremonies of Elizade University, Ondo State, urged youths to resist the temptation of pursuing greener pastures outside Nigeria. Leaders do not run away, he said. Former Anambra Governor Peter Obi, on the other hand, while visiting Peter University and School of Nursing Sciences in Anambra state, encouraged those who had the means to japa saying they could always return when Nigeria improves.

Let us start with Fashola who reportedly said that though things have always been hard, oil magnates like Folorunso Alakija and Tunde Afolabi flourished, nevertheless. He is correct that there is no time in history that humans have not experienced hardship. We frequently look back at the “good old days,” but what we express is mostly nostalgia for a world that never really was. From listening to Fela and older generations of musicians, one learns that there was no time Nigerians have not faced the problems of “water, light, food, house… yeeparipa o!”

Forget about the nonsense APC apologists trot about when they need to justify this present hardship, Nigerians have never really had it good. The current clowns in power claim that the difficulties of the present are consequences of the excess of the past. To bolster their ahistorical arguments, they call up ridiculous instances such as subsidized social service as proof that we have always had it easy and that we are now a broke country because we squandered our patrimony. It is on that basis that they preach a gospel of suffer-now-enjoy-later. Thanks to Fashola for reminding his peers that whatever abundance existed in the past was unfairly distributed. There has always been suffering, which is why some of us reject the political agenda that asks us to endure for a better tomorrow. We have always suffered; we deserve a reprieve, not more suffering.

But the historical perspective is also where even Fashola failed to reflect enough on his argument. If Victor Olaiya’s song about hardship as the order of the day still has currency 40-plus years later, to what end is staying back in Nigeria and merely enduring? Fashola is one of the leaders who did not run away from the warfront called Nigeria. He served in various capacities until 2024, but what has he changed for Nigerians? For a minister under a leader who turned the face of Nigerians to the midnight sun, what did Fashola do other than regularly appear on television to justify the inhuman administration?

The same Fashola should not have the boldness to criticize those fleeing the crime scene of Muhammadu Buhari’s grossly inept government for “running away.” Why should a younger generation fritter away the time of their life trying to repair what he and his boss damaged? You have not even owned up to your failures nor been held accountable for the corruption and serial abuse of public trust under your watch, but here you are on a moral high table telling us that things are as bad as they have always been, and people should keep striving.

There are matters on which Fashola should never have a mouth to talk, and Japa is one of them. Instead of blaming people who are “running away,” he should shift his perspective to see people as being “driven away.” Nobody, says the poet Warsan Shire, runs away from home unless home is the mouth of a shark or the barrel of a gun. Each exiting youth is a body of evidence, a living proof of the imprudent management of national resources.

Leaders like Fashola should redirect their focus from those leaving to leaders like himself and what they have failed to do over the years. Mounting a campaign against Japa with the same mouth you consistently used to justify bad governance makes Fashola look like a phoney. If you were born in 1999—the same year Fashola started serving in Lagos—you would be among a generation of very young Nigerians who have grown old enough to reproduce but have no memories of a country that has ever functioned to pass on to your children. Any patriot, no matter the level of fanaticism, who witnessed Nigeria while Fashola was the minister of power and now must live with the frequent national grid collapses under Adebayo Adelabu will eventually get to a point where they will wonder if there is not more to life than “on-ing” and “off-ing” generator until they grow grey hair.

The responsibility of nation-building should be placed on the leaders and not those who left because they could no longer see a future for themselves in a country that eats its children. Fashola is a smart guy, and I am sure he already knows that. If he is evading the matter where it truly lies, it is because he cannot bring himself to confront the brutal truth of how he and his fellow travellers in leadership failed Nigeria. Once upon a time, Fashola was the poster boy for good governance in not just the southwest but the whole of Nigeria. He went to work for Buhari’s government, the government that was supposed to “change” the course of our destiny and set us on the right path. What happened? Abuja completely demystified Fashola, revealing him as a mere blowhard. He went there as a tribune of our hope but returned as an emblem of dreams deferred.

Obi was at least more practical in his approach to the thorny issue of japa. He said those who have the means to leave should take their chances; when Nigeria gets it right, they can always return. To that, I should add that there is a lot to suggest that Nigeria is not even trying to improve. Look at the present crop of our leaders and truthfully consider if their actions in government indicate that they have any sustained interest in making things better. These are people merely marking time and racking up the resources with which they will contest the next election in their respective home states. Nigeria does not exist for them as anything more than a feeding trough.

Rather than improve, Nigeria is waiting for those who left home to become something so that their designated appointee, Abike Dabiri, can pursue them all over the diaspora to pin their supposed “Nigerianness” on them. Look at all the fuss people have been making over Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Conservative Party who happens to have a Nigerian heritage. Badenoch is an example of one person who left the country and, having succeeded in her career path, Nigeria wants to claim her by fire by force. She has, so far, not played their game and in the past week, a brigade of hurt Nigerian men have been having a meltdown over her snobbish attitude to Nigeria.

But imagine for a moment that Badenoch had taken Fashola’s advice and remained home. The highest she would probably have ever ascended as a female politician would be Minister of Women Affairs or even Minister of State, positions she would attain after bowing before a dozen godfathers who would keep her on their leash. Someone like that would have had to face the national assembly for confirmation of her ministerial appointment, and a bunch of horny lawmakers would be openly leering at her as if she was an assemblage of meat part to be consumed with their eyes. I can bet that for the young women looking at her as a model of what is possible for them out there, Fashola’s admonition goes through one ear and comes out of the other.

Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on Wednesday, warned that if Nigeria refused to do away with the 1999 Constitution, it would be hard for anyone to fix the country.

He described Nigeria as a pluralistic country that needed to address its diversity with true federal constitutions.

“To those who think that the trouble with Nigeria today is the political leadership, I would say that as long as we have the 1999 Constitution as our grundnorm, not even Angel Gabriel or Malaikah Jibrin as leaders can successfully tackle the divisiveness, the underperforming economy with the resultant poverty, the insecurity, the humongous corruption, and the other major challenges currently facing Nigeria,” Anyaoku said.

The elder statesman spoke at the launch of the book: “The Noble Academic and Patriot: A Biography of Emeritus Professor Akinjide Osuntokun,” held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos. 

Anyaoku, who was the chairman on the occasion, said, “I start from the clearly undeniable fact that Nigeria, like many other countries across the world, is a pluralistic country, that is, a country whose population consists of groups of peoples long established in their separate geographical areas with different histories, cultures, languages and religions.

“The universal lesson is that pluralistic countries which have survived as single political entities in unity and progress are those that addressed their pluralism, that is their diversity, with genuine federal constitutions. Examples of such countries are India, Canada and Switzerland.

“I believe, therefore, that if our pluralistic Nigeria is to achieve true unity and political stability, and to successfully tackle the serious challenges that the country currently faces, it must have a truly federal constitution.”

Lauding Osuntokun, Anyaoku recalled how the renowned professor campaigned for him when he was vying for the position of Secretary General at the Commonwealth.

“I first knew of Jide Osuntokun when he was Adviser to Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, General Ike Nwachukwu, and accompanied the Foreign Minister in his journeys to campaign for my candidacy for the office of Commonwealth Secretary-General.

“I was then running against the man who had been the Prime Minister of Australia for seven and a half years.”

According to him, Osuntokun is not only an accomplished academic, “but also a patriot who was deservedly recognised last year by the prestigious Hallmarks of Labour Foundation, through the conferment of an award with the title HLF on him, which means a role model for our young people in how to achieve success through hard work and integrity.”

On his part, a former governor of Ekiti State and the book reviewer, Dr Kayode Fayemi, explained how Osuntokun authorised the biography in 2021, though the idea was conceived by the authors in 2018.

Fayemi took the attendees through the genealogy of the professor, including his academic and family life, as documented by the authors.

“The authors informed us that the book project was conceived in 2018 after Prof Osuntokun served as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council of the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti. Prof Osuntokun graciously authorised the biography in 2021 by granting the authors extensive interviews and two virtual interviews in addition to providing access to his library and archives.

“The book manuscript, in nine crisp and concise chapters, with three appendices, started in the first chapter by tracing the genealogy of Prof Osuntokun.

“The authors provide extensive evidence of family history, entrepreneurial acumen and pacesetting influence in the community to explain the values and attributes we later associate with Professor Osuntokun.

“The chapter covered in great detail the struggles, his bold forbearance waged in the course of establishing a clan in Oke-Mesi and their involvement in the federating military of Ekiti and Ijesa against the rampaging Ibadan army in the Kiriji war.

“Another of his forebears had fought in the First World War on the side of the British. His own father had gone in pursuit of the Golden Fleece, as far afield as the mines of Ghana, and became a wealthy itinerant trader, all the while his employers returned from Ghana, in the course of which he married his mother, and settled the family in Ilawe-Ekiti.”

Speaking at the event, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, said he had so much to learn from Osuntokun “because if you have taught these wonderful people who spoke about you today (I have a lot to learn from you).”

He, however, lamented that Nigeria had cultivated a culture of celebrating those who contributed nothing to nation-building, noting that it was destroying society.

Obi said, “When the National Universities Commission Secretary-General said they are looking for PhD people to teach in our universities, I called him and said, why do you want anybody to do PhD when you don’t pay them and you pay thugs 100 times what they are paid. We are choosing the least among us to be our role models. And that is destroying our society.”

The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Tunde Bakare, extolled Osuntokun as a great teacher, whom he also said was very crucial to his sojourn as a student at the University of Lagos.

Bakare, who did the unveiling of the book, said “He (Osuntokun) and his late wife were a blessing to me at one of the most critical periods of my life.

“I present the book today and it is my great privilege sir and you don’t know how overwhelmed I am at this stage.”

He prayed that “God Almighty will ensure that those who will read and benefit from this (book)” would be among those who will build the nation.

Other dignitaries who graced the NIIA venue for the launch included the Wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, represented by Senior Special Adviser on Policy, Strategy and Logistics, Wahab Alawiye; Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso; TV anchor and former spokesperson for ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reuben Abati; Chairman of the Editorial Board of Nation Newspapers, Sam Omastseye; the governorship candidate of the LP in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, among a host of others.

[Punch]

Two important books that speak to the most brutal military era in Nigeria’s history will be publicly presented in Abuja in the coming weeks. The first, on 18 November, is ‘Nine Lives: The Bello-Fadile Memoirs’. A retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army with a doctorate degree in law, Ralph Sixtus Babatunde (RSB) Bello-Fadile was a principal actor of the 1995 “phantom coup” against the late General Sani Abacha. He was arrested, tried and sentenced to death in the tragic saga that implicated dozens of prominent Nigerians, including Olusegun Obasanjo (a General and former military Head of State who would later be elected the first president under the current dispensation), his erstwhile deputy, Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (rtd) who died in Abakaliki prison and Brigadier General Lawan Gwadabe (rtd). In his memoir, Bello-Fadile recounts not only his experience but also the story of his life and career. Former military leader, General Ibrahim Babangida, wrote the foreword. 

The second book, ‘Bold Leap’, is the autobiography of Senator Chris Anyanwu. Respected journalist and publisher, Anyanwu was also arrested and tried for the same 1995 ‘foiled coup’, following a publication in her magazine. Accused of being an “accessory after the fact of treason”, Anyanwu was sentenced to life imprisonment which was later reduced to 15 years. Like other survivors, Anyanwu only regained freedom after the death of Abacha. I will be the reviewer of her very insightful memoir (Obasanjo wrote the foreword) at the public presentation in Abuja on December 2.

Of these two books, the one that concerns me today is ‘Nine Lives’. Interestingly, when I sought an advance copy from the author, he wondered what fired my interest. In Anyanwu’s book, she recounted a day she received a new inmate in her detention room named Rebecca Ikpe from Benue State. “Her arrest was part of the madness that descended on Abacha’s government at the time. Ikpe was not in the military. Neither was she a journalist. Her crime was that she was the sister of the wife of one of the accused officers—Colonel Bello Fadile,” wrote Anyanwu who also profiled the officer. And then this: “Fadile’s interrogation was legendary. The story was that he was chained to the wall, upside down at the underground space in Ikoyi cemetery detention. They beat him to pulp…”

Aside his fascinating family story which readers will enjoy, the bigger picture in Bello-Fadile’s book begins with a chronology of coup d’etats in Nigeria (with insights into each), including the 1995 ‘attempt’ against Abacha. It was a precursor to another in December 1997 in which Abacha’s deputy, the late Lt. General Oladipo Diya, and then Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Ishaya Bamayi as well as other Generals including Abdulkareem Adisa and Tajudeen Olarewaju were played against one another. All factors considered, the only conclusion to draw after reading ‘Nine Lives’ is that military regimes are about arbitrariness, intrigue, treachery, powerplays and impunity. With decrees and edicts (including retroactive ones) crimes and punishment can be invented at will to deal with just about anybody who disagrees with those at the helm of affairs.

Meanwhile, Bello-Fadile’s memoir opens with Babangida’s long foreword. “Upon his graduation from Law School in 1978, as the first military trained legal practitioner, he returned to the Nigerian Army for posting and redeployment. I purchased for him the Armoured Corps (Recce) beret, belt, and line yards and requested that he change over from the Infantry to the Armoured Corps,” Babangida wrote about Bello-Fadile. “I was a full Colonel and Corps Commander and Bello-Fadile, a Lieutenant, looked at me and said, ‘Sir, it would be unwise to concentrate all our resources/assets on a single platform—let me remain in the Infantry, the Queen of Battle, while your firepower and manoeuvring is guaranteed in the Armoured Corps’. I could not hold back laughing and saying in Hausa, ‘loya kenan’ (that’s a lawyer for you).” Bello-Fadile’s memoir, according to Babangida, “derives its title from the concept of feline immortality, symbolising the exceptional circumstances in which Bello-Fadile has managed to endure life’s hardships.”

For somebody with his level of education and exposure, it is remarkable that Bello-Fadile is somehow superstitious. But he had his reason for believing that somewhere in Ikoyi, Lagos, there is a haunted (‘jinxed’, as he put it) property. “That house, at No 9A Macpherson Avenue, was at the junction between Bourdillon Road and Macpherson Avenue. It was later rebuilt and housed the Grenadian Mission in Nigeria. The officers who stayed there were, in one way or the other, involved in coup d’etats.” And here goes his explanation: “Of all the officer residents, I am the only one alive today to say something about that house. Those who stayed there were: Lieutenant Colonel Buka Suka Dimka, Major Mike Aker Iyorshe and Lieutenant Colonel Musa Bityong. The four of us were later to be tried (at different times) by the Special Military Tribunal for treason/treasonable felony. We were all found guilty…”

Bello-Fadile indeed had several brushes with death while serving in the army. On 26 September 1992, a Nigeria Airforce (NAF) C-130 Hercules aircraft crashed three minutes after take-off in Lagos, killing all 159 military officers (151 Nigerians, 5 Ghanaians, 1 Tanzanian, 1 Zimbabwean and 1 Ugandan) on board. By his account, Bello-Fadile would have been on the flight. There were several other instances where he cheated death by a whisker. None was as close as the ‘Vatsa Coup’. But the story of his miraculous escape started a few years earlier. At that period, Bello-Fadile had a prominent foe: Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) who would also become a two-term civilian president. The animosity had its origin in a drama that happened when Bello-Fadile was a Captain and Buhari was a Brigadier General and General Officer Commanding (GOC) at Ibadan.

The moment Buhari became Head of State in December 1983, one of his first directives was that he didn’t want to see Bello-Fadile around. But because Buhari’s disdain for the officer was not shared by others, including then Chief of Army Staff, Babangida, efforts were made to shield Bello-Fadile who was merely warned to stay out of limelight and avoid anything that would make Buhari remember him. That warning was heeded until the day Bello-Fadile had to take a message to then Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, the late Major General Tunde Idiagbon. Buhari sighted him! What followed the next day was an encounter with Babangida who asked whether Bello-Fadile did anything to attract Buhari’s attention. When he answered in the affirmative, Babangida told him how his fate had been decided. Let’s take the story from Bello-Fadile:

 “The Head of State does not want you in Dodan Barracks. So, to avoid trouble, pick three places and I will post you to one of them,” he (Babangida) repeated. “All right sir, no problem. I can go to Army Headquarters or the Directorate of Army Legal Services or any other places of your choice,” I replied. “The Head of State does not want you in the Lagos area at all,” he responded, without his usual smiling facial expressions. At that point, I knew he was in a very difficult position. So, I said, “It seems to me that the Head of State does not want me in the Army…” He then cut in and said, “But you have your Masters, why not go and do a PhD? With that, I can post you to the Nigerian Defence Academy and tell the Commandant that you were on your way to ABU.” I thanked him as I accepted his suggestion. That was how I found my way to the NDA in Kaduna as an instructor, enroute to ABU, Zaria for a four-year PhD programme in International Law that was fully funded by the Army.

Bello-Fadile was pursuing his doctorate programme when Babangida overthrew Buhari in August 1985. Five months later, then Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister and renowned poet, Major General Mamman Vatsa was arrested for trying to topple the government of his bosom friend. Several other officers were arrested in connection with the foiled coup plot. Bello-Fadile had just returned to Kaduna from a field trip abroad when he received a signal to report in Lagos. One of the officers implicated in the coup asked that he (Bello-Fadile) defend him. This was a routine matter within the military, but the moment Bello-Fadile arrived at the Military Tribunal venue in Lagos, he was confronted with what he didn’t bargain for:

As I proceeded, the Brigade of Guards Commander, Colonel John Mark Inienger called me into his office to know what I was doing there. I showed him the signal. He then told me the unimaginable story of my life. He said there had been a manhunt for me, ordered by the Chief of Army Staff, General Sani Abacha. He said four of the accused officers—Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa; Lt Colonel Bityong, Lt Colonel Mike Aker Iyorshe and Major Tobias Akwashiki—had requested that I should be their defending officer at different locations and times. Based on this, it was concluded that I must be one of them. However, after searching everywhere, they discovered that I was on a scholarship in the University and out of the country on a six-week sponsored studies by the Army.

With that information, Bello-Fadile knew he was treading dangerous ground. In his interactions with Vatsa and others at the Tribunal venue, he could only offer encouraging words after hearing their stories. Throughout his time with the accused officers, according to Bello-Fadile, the words of Inienger echoed in his head. During tea break, a man he described as his military Guardian Angel showed up. He was none other than then Director of Military Intelligence, Colonel Haliru Akilu, who told him: “You are the one who wants to defend those who want to kill Oga? Better go to Dodan Barracks and explain yourself to Oga now!”

The rest of the story, as recounted by Bello-Fadile:

I headed straight to Dodan Barracks to report myself with the signal, requesting me to come down to Lagos for defence duty, in my hand. On arrival at the office of the Aide-de-Camp to the President, we greeted, and I told him what happened at the venue of the Special Military Tribunal. He then asked me to go and sit in the waiting room of the President. This was shocking to me because I normally sit in the ADC’s office and have coffee, snacks and groundnuts, while waiting to see the president. That day was strange, and I started thinking I had gotten into a very big problem. I could see and felt the tension in the ADC’s face and indeed the entire office. I went out and turned left into the waiting room. There I waited to be called to go upstairs to see the President. It did not happen for hours. I kept waiting, until I looked up and saw Mr President coming down. I stood up and went close to the open door and saluted. With his beret in his right hand, he looked at me and said ‘Fadile’, then turned right and headed towards the residence. Of course, that was it—the end of the day, and we all followed him to his residence. He sat down in the main living room and removed his shoes. After about five minutes, he stood up and said, “Good day gentlemen” and disappeared into his room.

We all returned to the ADC office. Then he asked, ‘have you finished your research work in London?’ To which I replied in the negative. He then brought out some money and gave it to me. He advised me to proceed to London through Kano airport to finish my research work. He also gave me someone’s number in London to call and said that the person would give me some pounds to spend for the duration of my stay in the city. With thanks to him, and glory to the Mighty One, I went back to Kaduna the following day. A day after I arrived Kaduna, I packed my load and headed to Kano for my flight to London. That was how I ‘escaped’ possible death by firing squad, just for being picked as a defending officer by four known fellow officers of the Nigerian Army. I was still in London when the news broke on 5 March 1986 that Vatsa and his co-travellers had been found guilty of a coup attempt and executed by firing squad…

As Accused Number One, it is no surprise that the central issue in Bello-Fadile’s memoir is ‘The Enterprise’ as he dubs the 1995 ‘coup’. He provides rare insights as he recounts how he was “handcuffed and chained to a steel cabinet while standing” and how Gwadabe was “tortured almost to the point of death”. Some of the people who played negative roles in that episode, by his account, include Major General Felix Mujakperuo (rtd), who is now the Chairman of Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the all-power Chief Security Officer to the late Abacha, who regularly invited top traditional rulers in the country to watch ‘coup videos’ with hefty envelopes as their ‘pop corns’. He, of course, is now a politician. There were many others within the military establishment at the time and Bello-Fadile named them. But he also remembers with glowing admiration the late Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti whose fax message to London, received by then British Prime Minister, John Major, may have saved him and other convicts from being executed by Abacha.

Overall, Bello-Fadile’s book sheds light on military rule in Nigeria, and it is important for a time like this. Last month, the presidency had an altercation with The Guardian newspaper over a publication deemed to be inciting mutiny against President Bola Tinubu, a charge the newspaper has dismissed. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had rehashed the story’s introduction which he described as coup-baiting: “Nigerians were exhilarated with the return of democracy in 1999, but 25 years on, the buccaneering nature of politicians, their penchant for poor service delivery, morbid hatred for probity, accountability, and credible/transparent elections, among others, are forcing some flustered citizens to make extreme choices, including calling for military intervention in governance…Deep despondency permeates every facet of the polity consequent upon soaring cost of living.”

The Guardian has defended its October 25 lead story, ‘Misery, harsh policies driving Nigerians to desperate choices’, and I do not see anything in the report that suggests the presidential imputation. Besides, most of the senior people at The Guardian were around during military rule so nobody can lecture them on that. I once shared my own experience. I was arrested at 3am by truckloads of soldiers who were evidently shocked that their victim was just a “small boy” (they told me themselves, because they didn’t even know the crime I was supposed to have committed or what I was doing for a living until I told them, and they became very sympathetic). The bullying and threats by Colonel Frank Omenka in the name of interrogation that lasted five days at the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) dungeon in Apapa, Lagos still ring in my head. But I was fortunate. Not many people survived DMI to tell their stories while for some, the scars (physical and emotional) of that era will follow them to their graves.

My take-away from Bello-Fadile’s book is the arbitrariness of military rule and that soldiers have no magic solution for dealing with complex socio-political problems. It is also clear that coup d’etats (whether they succeed or fail) are products of the political environment in the country. “Like most human follies, military coups sound good at the time; and always fail” according to a January 2006 edition of the ‘Economist’ magazine, following a coup d’etat that toppled a corrupt civilian leadership in Bangladesh. “They sound good because what they replace is usually bad: riotous civilian leaders, corrupted institutions, stolen elections. They fail because beneath the chaos are political problems that soldiers cannot unpick…”

As I stated last year, I am aware that the only government most Nigerians (given our demographics) have experienced is the current civilian dispensation now 25 years old. But it is important for our young people to understand the danger that comes with coup d’etats. Under a military regime, the first thing to be suspended is the Constitution and the rights and liberties it confers on citizens. Suppression of the media will be automatic, and the courts will lose the limited powers they have to adjudicate over those freedoms. Interestingly, most Nigerian politicians (especially those for whom public office is about ‘eating’) will always find easy accommodation with the military. It is the media and civic space that would be under attack. For more on this, interested readers can download free copies of my book, ‘The Last 100 Days of Abacha’ from my web portal, olusegunadeniyi.com, for glimpses of what transpired when the resources and institutions of state were pressed into the service of one man and his political aspiration. 

However, while a military coup offers no solution to socio-economic challenges, our politicians also cannot continue to assume indefinite immunity against the things that provoke such in other countries, especially within the subregion. Nor can they be under any illusion that the tide of violent rejection of substandard governance that we see elsewhere cannot happen here if they continue to live large at the expense of the people. What those in power today must never forget is that such disruptions are never scripted. Nor are they ever advertised ahead. They are usually spontaneous actions that most often result from innocuous things, especially when the people are pushed to the wall. That’s why memoirs like Bello-Fadile’s are another reminder of that time-tested admonition: Those who have ears…

 • You can follow me on my X (formerly Twitter) handle, @Olusegunverdict and on www.olusegunadeniyi.com   

TEXT OF ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 2024 COMPTROLLER-GENERAL OF CUSTOMS CONFERENCE AT TRANSCORP HILTON HOTEL, ABUJA, NOVEMBER 13, 2024, AS DELIVERED BY THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, MALAM NUHU RIBADU

Protocols

1. I am delighted to join you at this year's Comptroller-General's conference. I salute the officers and men of the Customs Service for your dedication to duty and our country.

When I assumed office last year, I set out with a clear and unwavering vision - to strengthen Nigeria's economic base and deliver positive growth and development for the benefit of all. Eighteen months later, the vision remains unchanged. In pursuing this vision, we have built upon existing foundations while introducing necessary reforms to adapt to our evolving economic realities. Our focus has been on strengthening what works, refining what needs improvement, and introducing new initiatives where gaps exist. We recognised that specific economic policies, though useful in their time, needed to be realigned with current global economic dynamics to better serve our national interests and the well-being of our people.

2. We pursued this vision and embarked on bold and necessary economic reforms. Working with expert advice and carefully considering our unique circumstances, we implemented strategic policy adjustments to strengthen our economy. Removing fuel subsidies and unifying our exchange rate system were crucial steps toward building a more transparent and sustainable economic framework. While these decisions required short-term adjustments from all Nigerians, they were essential to redirect our resources toward productive investments that will yield long-term benefits for our people. These reforms have already shown positive results, setting the stage for sustainable economic growth and improved prosperity for all Nigerians.

3. Building on these foundational reforms, we have expanded our focus to strengthen Nigeria's global trade and investment position. Through strategic initiatives, we are enhancing trade facilitation, modernising our port infrastructure, and streamlining business processes to reduce trade barriers. Our commitment to creating an enabling business environment has resonated with the international investment community. The confidence in our economy is reflected in the significant surge in foreign direct investments. In less than two years in office, my administration has received over $30 billion in commitments from foreign investors. This achievement demonstrates that our policies yield positive results, making Nigeria increasingly attractive for domestic and international investors. More importantly, these improvements create new opportunities for Nigerian businesses to participate more actively in global trade.

4. Central to the success of these economic initiatives is the role of our strategic institutions and their dedicated personnel. Our vision required government agencies to proactively align their statutory responsibilities with the broader national economic objectives. Agencies needed to demonstrate initiative in identifying opportunities within their mandates that would best serve and advance our national aspirations. I am pleased to note that the Nigeria Customs Service is one of the agencies that has risen to this expectation, demonstrating how government institutions can effectively contribute to our economic transformation agenda while fulfilling their core mandates.

5. This alignment is demonstrated in the Service's comprehensive modernisation agenda. Responding to our administration's call for enhanced trade facilitation and economic growth, the Service has introduced significant reforms, including the Advanced Ruling system and the Authorised Economic Operator Program. These initiatives align with global best practices and show how agencies can innovatively implement solutions that advance our national economic objectives while meeting international standards. Such reforms enhance trade facilitation and create a more predictable business environment that supports our broader financial goals.

6. The results of these initiatives across the Service's core mandates have been encouraging. The Nigeria Customs Service has shown remarkable progress in revenue generation, enhancing the government's capacity to fund critical national development projects. The Service is strengthening Nigeria's position as a trade-friendly nation through strategic reforms, particularly in export promotion and port efficiency. This has contributed significantly to our improved global ranking and ease of doing business. The Service has also demonstrated that effective trade facilitation can coexist with robust regulatory compliance, as evidenced by its enhanced border security and anti-smuggling operations. These achievements affirm our administration's belief that public institutions can effectively drive transformative change when adequately aligned with national objectives.

7. While these results are encouraging, they represent only the beginning of what we can achieve through focused institutional reforms and alignment with national objectives. It is, therefore, fitting that this conference centres on the theme "NCS Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose." This theme reflects our administration's broader vision of fostering strategic partnerships and collaborative approaches to governance and economic management. It acknowledges that sustainable progress in today's interconnected global economy requires us to strengthen existing alliances while building new ones, always guided by clear purpose and shared objectives.

8. Let me assure you that our administration remains committed to supporting the Nigeria Customs Service in its modernisation and reform initiatives. We will continue to provide the necessary policy backing and enablement to strengthen the Service's capacity to deliver on its mandates. This includes support for technological advancement, infrastructure development, and capacity-building programs that align with global best practices.

9. As you convene for your deliberations over the next few days, I urge you to build upon these foundations with clear cognisance of our regional and continental obligations. Your discussions should be timely and strategic, considering Nigeria's role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and our position as West Africa's largest economy. Focus on innovative approaches to strengthen existing partnerships and forge new ones to advance our national interests within this expanding trade landscape. Your deliberations should chart a path for enhancing our trade processes and compliance frameworks in ways that position Nigeria to maximise the opportunities presented by regional and continental integration while maintaining robust border security. The outcomes of this conference should provide a clear roadmap for achieving these objectives in line with our national economic aspirations.

10. To our international partners and stakeholders present today, your participation at this conference exemplifies the global dimension of our reform agenda. As Africa's largest economy, Nigeria is determined to deepen its integration into global value chains and strengthen its position as a reliable trading partner. Our commitment to sustainable economic reforms, trade facilitation, and creating an enabling business environment is firm and irreversible. We see our international partnerships as crucial catalysts in our journey towards becoming a more competitive player in global trade, particularly as we position ourselves to harness the opportunities presented by expanding regional and continental markets.

11. Distinguished participants, as we forge ahead with these partnerships and celebrate our progress thus far, we must focus on the journey ahead. Economic transformation is a continuous process that requires sustained commitment, innovation, and adaptation to emerging global trends. The Nigeria Customs Service, as a critical facilitator of international trade and guardian of our borders, will continue to play a fundamental role in advancing our national economic objectives. The success of our reform agenda significantly depends on the Service's ability to balance trade facilitation with regulatory compliance while fostering meaningful partnerships.

12. As I declare this conference open, I encourage all participants to bring their expertise, insights, and innovative ideas to the discussions ahead. Your deliberations over the next few days should address current challenges and anticipate future developments in global trade. The collective outcome of your engagement will be valuable in shaping Nigeria's trade policies and strengthening our position in the international trading system. I look forward to receiving the recommendations from this conference, particularly those that will enhance our trade facilitation initiatives while ensuring the effective administration of our borders.

May God bless the Nigeria Customs Service.

May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Thank you.

South African Football Association (SAFA) President Danny Jordaan was arrested on Wednesday over allegations he used the organisation’s money for his own purposes, according to local media reports.

Jordaan, who was a leading figure in bringing the 2010 World Cup to South Africa, had tried to interdict his imminent arrest on Tuesday, but the Johannesburg High Court is only scheduled to hear his submission on Thursday.

Katlego Mogale, South Africa police spokesperson said the arrest stems from a raid by police on the SAFA offices in March. 

“Between 2014 and 2018, the president of SAFA used the organisation’s resources for his personal gain, including hiring a private security company for his personal protection and a public relations company, without authorisation from the SAFA board,” Mogale said.

Jordaan, 73, and his reported co-accused, SAFA chief financial officer Gronie Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling, are due to appear in court later on Wednesday.

Neither Jordaan nor SAFA responded to a request for comment from Reuters, but in his affidavit to court seeking to block his arrest, he denies any wrongdoing.

(Reuters/NAN)

In a historic gathering that drew together over 1,300 members from across the globe, the Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC) commemorated the 50th anniversary of its English West Africa Administration from October 31st to November 3rd, 2024. The convention, centered on the theme of Universal Love, was a historic milestone.

The momentous occasion brought together members from diverse corners of the globe, including Australia, America, Europe and neighboring African countries such as Cameroon, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. The prestigious Obi Wali International Conference Centre buzzed with excitement as attendees shared stories and experiences that highlighted the unity and purpose of the convention.

Fr. Eugenius Idiodi, Grand Master-Designate of the English Grand Lodge of West Africa, delivered a heartfelt welcome address. He spoke glowingly about AMORC's mission to elevate human understanding and promote well-being on a global scale. “Our work extends beyond individual growth; it aims to enhance the quality of society as a whole,” he said.

A Message of Unity and Universal Love

Declaring that the convention theme was chosen to highlight love's role in personal and collective well-being, Fr. Idiodi noted that, “Universal love is a quality that permeates all aspects of life, impacting relationships within families, communities and even across nations. In today’s world, where divisions seem to multiply daily, our message is clear: love is a powerful antidote.”

The convention, held every four years, serves as a platform for AMORC members to unite and reinforce their bond of brotherhood and solidarity. By prioritizing love, care and thoughtfulness, AMORC members strive to create a more harmonious and equitable world, he added.

Fr. Idiodi's words resonated deeply with attendees who reflected on their personal journeys within AMORC. Among those present was Mary Okafor from Lagos who shared her transformative experience with AMORC. “When I first joined, I was searching for answers about my place in the world,” she recounted. “Through AMORC’s teachings on universal love and interconnectedness, I learned to see everyone as part of my family.” Her story echoed the sentiments of many attendees who found solace in AMORC’s ideals.

The convention offered a diverse array of lectures, workshops and spiritual experiences, allowing participants to delve deeper into the principles and practices of AMORC. Attendees shared their experiences and insights, fostering a sense of global community.

The theme also struck a chord with Samuel from Accra, Ghana. “In my community, we often face conflicts rooted in misunderstanding,” he shared. “AMORC’s emphasis on universal love inspires me to foster dialogue and connection among people.” Samuel’s reflections illustrated how the convention's teachings could be applied beyond its walls to address societal challenges.

The urgency of this message was palpable as participants reflected on Nigeria's current socio-political climate. Many voiced concerns over divisions exacerbated by tribalism and political strife. “We need to unite under a common goal of peace and progress,” said Amina Bello from Abuja. Her call for unity resonated with many who felt that embracing universal love could lead to healing within their communities.

As discussions unfolded throughout the convention, attendees were encouraged to embrace universal love as a guiding principle in their lives. The message was not just about personal growth but also about fostering a compassionate society. “When we recognize our common humanity,” Fr. Idiodi remarked at the press conference, “we can break down the barriers that divide us.”

A Call to Action

Fr. Idiodi noted that in a world often marked by division and conflict, AMORC’s message of universal love offers a beacon of hope. “By cultivating a spirit of compassion and understanding, individuals can contribute to a more peaceful and just society.”

He concluded by urging everyone present to share their experiences and insights with others: “Let us go out into the world and be ambassadors for peace and harmony.”

The Universal Call for Love: Reflections from a Distinguished Panel

The opening ceremony also featured a distinguished panel of Rosicrucian leaders to discuss the profound impact of universal love on humanity. In a world beset by crises—ranging from ongoing wars to the struggles of daily life—the quest for universal love has never felt more urgent.

The panel was composed of some of the most esteemed figures within the Rosicrucian Order: Sr. Olabimpe Giwa, Director of the English Grand Lodge of West Africa; Dr. Kenneth Idiodi, Honourary Grand Master of AMORC; Fr. Eugenius Idiodi, Grand Master-Designate for West Africa; Sr. Live Soderlund, Vice President of the Supreme Grand Lodge; and Fr. Claudio Mazzucco, Imperator of AMORC. Each of them shared their unique perspectives on love and its role in transforming the world.

Moderated by renowned journalist Dr. Reuben Abati, the panel explored AMORC’s mission and its relevance in today’s challenging world.

As Abati began the session, the excitement was palpable. His voice resonated with conviction as he asked, “Is there really anything like universal love? What does it mean to be a Rosicrucian?” His words echoed a question that, perhaps now more than ever, resonates globally. He pointed to the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, the war between Ukraine and Russia and the struggles of citizens in Nigeria to reconnect with each other. “If there is love,” he said, “our society will be a much better place to live.”

Sr. Soderlund spoke of love’s transformative power. “Love is the greatest thing of all,” she said, urging those present to recognize the importance of understanding love on different levels. “Rosicrucian teachings talk about the law of attraction to explain love. We need to come closer to each other and respect one another to achieve universal love.” Her own experience of being embraced by love when she arrived in Nigeria was deeply moving and she advised, “Do to others what you want others to do to you.”

But the conversation soon turned inward, as Dr. Kenneth Idiodi  highlighted a paradox many face in society: "We are told to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. But experiences show that many of us do not love ourselves enough." He pointed to the selfishness that often permeates public service and governance, which he believes stems from a lack of universal love. "The decay in society today, in politics, in governance and even in the family, is a direct result of this absence of love."

Fr. Eugenius Idiodi echoed this sentiment, adding that love for power often eclipses love for others, creating bitterness and division. “If the love of power can be superseded by the power of love itself,” he said, “the world would have some peace.”

Walking the Path of Love

The discussion shifted to self-mastery and the journey each Rosicrucian takes.

Sr. Giwa explained that Rosicrucian studies encourage members to begin with self-awareness. “Man Know Thyself,” she said, explaining that mastering oneself is essential before one can extend true love to others. “The Order emphasizes Self Mastery,” she explained. “You can extend love to others only after mastering thyself and it is only then that the idea of universal love can begin to take hold of the individual.” This idea resonated deeply with Abati, who asked, “Is self-mastery a journey or a destination?”

Fr. Mazzucco responded with a metaphor that captivated the room: "I consider walking in the mountains to be a metaphor for the Rosicrucian path. It’s not just about reaching the top—it’s about the experience of walking with others and observing the order around us.” This, he said, illustrates the journey of self-mastery, where each individual learns not only from themselves but also from their interactions with others.

The conversation around self-mastery also brought up the question of whether Rosicrucianism is a religion. Dr. Kenneth Idiodi clarified that AMORC is not a religion in the traditional sense. “We are a school, a fraternity, a traditional and initiatic order,” he explained. "Rosicrucians come from various religious backgrounds, united by a shared quest for wisdom, knowledge and truth."

The Role of Rosicrucians in Nation Building

As the panel explored how Rosicrucians can contribute to nation-building, Fr. Eugenius Idiodi drew from personal experience. "Growing up in Nigeria and other parts of the world, we’ve seen how Rosicrucians have made significant contributions to their societies by taking on leadership roles," he said. "It is time for Rosicrucians to step forward, be the best of ourselves and rise to the challenges ahead."

The conversation also turned to the global crises that plague society today. When asked how universal love could bring peace to regions in conflict, Fr. Mazzucco reminded the room that while conflict is an unfortunate part of history, many “unsung heroes” work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring peace. “If we focus on the positive examples of humanity,” he urged, “we will find hope.”

The Rosicrucian Path: A Quest for Truth

The panel wrapped up with a question that seemed to encapsulate the essence of the Rosicrucian path: What defines a Rosicrucian? Dr. Kenneth Idiodi responded with a profound thought: "The Rosicrucian is a walking question mark. We are not bound by dogmas. We seek wisdom, knowledge and the truth about life, the universe and our purpose within it."

The conversation was a powerful reminder that love — whether for oneself, for others or for the world — is a force that can heal, transform and unite. As the panelists shared their wisdom and personal reflections, it became clear that the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, offers more than just teachings on spirituality — it offers a path toward self-discovery, peace and the universal love that has the power to change the world.

The convention not only celebrated AMORC's achievements over the past 50 years but also ignited a collective resolve among its members to foster kindness and mutual respect in an increasingly fragmented world. With stories of transformation echoing throughout the conference halls, it was clear that this celebration was more than just an anniversary; it was a reaffirmation of faith in humanity’s capacity for love and unity.