Editors of Nigerian print and online newspapers and websites, are you not tired of using the word “sweep” to report the results of local government elections wherever they are held in Nigeria? Can’t you flip the pages of Roget’s Thesaurus, or even of the old Student’s Companion that we relied upon during our school days, to synonyms and reduce readers’ boredom? 

Four Nigerian states, namely Jigawa, Benue, Akwa Ibom and Rivers, held local government elections [if they can be called that] this weekend. Early on Sunday morning, all the newspapers reported that “APC sweeps Benue council polls.” Chairman of Benue State Independent [if it can be called that] Electoral Commission, BSIEC, Richard Tombowua, said candidates of APC, which controls the state government but which is riven by divisions, won all 27 chairmanship and all 276 councillorships across the state, leaving none to the seven other political parties that contested the election. The word “contested” here should be qualified because quite often, small and virtually non-existent parties are mobilized to “contest” local elections in order to give them some credibility, although I am not necessarily saying that was what happened in Benue. The fact that the state’s governor is a Roman Catholic priest, there was widespread expectation that elections in Benue will rise above the Nigerian normal.

Weekend’s local government election in Rivers was the most anticipated in the country. Because it was not really an election; it was a mighty contest of egos between godfather and former godson; state power versus federal power; courts controversially wading in to stop an election when the Constitution empowers, in fact mandates, the state electoral commission to conduct a local election. Nigeria Police, which has got thousands of unobeyed court orders lying in its shelves, rushing to “obey” a court order and, not only refuse to provide security for an election but tried to thwart it. No one even knows which parties the top antagonists belong to. The godfather Nyesom Wike controls both the national and Rivers State PDP, is a serving minister in an APC government, and had made 27 members of the State Assembly loyal to him to all defect to APC. Governor Siminayi Fubara, on the other hand, was elected on PDP’s platform, never said he deserted it, has the support of fellow PDP governors, but just before the election, he directed his supporters to contest under the platform of almost unheard-of Action Peoples Party, APP.

Within hours of the election’s end, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) announced that APP “swept” 22 of the state’s 23 Local Government chairmanships. One LGA and the councillorships were yet to be declared but everyone knows that as night follows day, APP will sweep [that word again] all of them. The danger existed that someone will go to court on Monday and seek to quash the election, so Governor Fubara hurriedly swore in the elected chairmen on Sunday, usually a non-working day. At least, the worst Nigerian courts could do is to ask for the status quo to be maintained, and the status quo means Fubara’s men are sitting pretty on their seats.

Benue and Rivers were not the only cases of “sweep” this year. Local government polls were held in Borno State [luckily, months ahead of the Flood].  Again, the word “sweeps” was in play. Chairman   of   Borno   State Independent Electoral Commission (BOSIEC), Alhaji Lawan Maina, announced that APC, which governs the state, won all 27 chairmanships and all 312 councilors in the state. Five other political parties that contested the election could not grab even one councillorship.

Nearby Yobe State, which was excised from Borno State 23 years ago has a very similar history and political culture, plus the most astute gentleman as Governor. It held local elections in April and the YOSIEC Chairman Dr. Mamman Mohamed announced that APC, which rules the state, swept all 17 chairmanships, 15 of them unopposed, and all the councillorships at stake. It was understandable that Borno and Yobe should exhibit similarities in political behaviour, but Bauchi State, which separated from them nearly 50 years ago, was also a case of sweep because in local elections held in August, PDP, which governs the state, swept all 20 chairmanships and all the councillorships.

PDP was also on a roll in Adamawa State, a state it controls. In local polls held in August, the party swept all 21 chairmanship seats. Chairman of the Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission Alhaji Mohammed Umar said PDP also won 225 councillorship seats while the New Nigeria People’s Party won one seat in Demsa ward in Demsa Local Government Area. At least it was not a total sweep; PDP lost one councillorship seat!

PDP chapters in three other states were not as magnanimous as in Adamawa. In local council polls held in Oyo State in July, PDP candidates won all 33 chairmanship positions. OYSIEC chairman  Isiaka Olagunju also said PDP won 499 of the 500 councillorship seats at stake, thus necessitating the use of the word “sweep” in all newspaper headlines.

Nor did PDP let go in Delta State, where local polls were held in July. Jerry Agbaike, chairperson of DSIEC who announced the results in Asaba, said PDP “swept” all 25 local government chairmanship seats and also “clinched” 499 of the 500 councillorship seats, losing one to the Allied Peoples Movement in Oshimili North Local Government Area. Agbaike said no election was held in Udu Local Government because the PDP chairmanship candidate was returned unopposed.

In Enugu State too, which is PDP controlled, the party was on a roll in local elections held in September. Prof. Christian Ngwu, Chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), announced that PDP candidates won all chairmanship and all councillorship positions, another case of clean sweep.

Before you say PDP is the party of sweep, APC too did several clean sweeps of its own in recent local polls. Apart from the aforementioned ones in Borno, Yobe and Benue, APC candidates in Imo State  “cleared” all the 27 local government chairmanships and all 305 councillorship seats in local elections. Charles Ejiogu, chairman of ISIEC, said “All the candidates of APC have been officially declared winners as Councilors and Executive Council Chairmen-elects.” At least in Imo, the word used was not “swept” but “cleared,” a sign that Roget’s Thesaurus was consulted for some variety.

In elections conducted by the Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission (KESIEC) in early September, its chairman, Aliyu Mohammed Mera, announced that “APC won all the chairmanship and councillorship seats based on the results collated from the 21 local government areas where the elections were conducted.” APC is the ruling party in Kebbi State. PDP, which forced it into a run-off in last year’s governorship polls, did not participate in the election, citing allegations that KESIEC officials were affiliated with APC [as if that is not the case everywhere else]. No one expected Sokoto State to be different from Kebbi, two states that were not only together in the Hausa kingdoms, Sokoto Caliphate, Northern Region, North Western State and old Sokoto State but are remarkably similar in ethnic, religious, cultural and even political outlook, both of them ruled by APC. It was no surprise therefore that when Sokoto held local elections in late September, Chairman of SOSIEC Alhaji Aliyu Sulaiman announced that APC candidates “swept” all 23 chairmanship and all the councillorship seats at stake, even though 14 other political parties contested the election.

If “sweeping” is the stuff that both the nationally ruling APC and the main opposition PDP are made of, what about the other three political parties that control at least one state each in Nigeria? Well, we have already seen the stuff of one of them. In local elections held in Anambra State on September 28,  All Progressives Grand Alliance [APGA], which rules the state, was said to have “coasted home to victory” in all 21 chairmanship and all 326 councillorship positions in the state. Chairman of ANSIEC Genevieve Osakwe announced the results in Awka. So, it made no difference that the state governor is a professor, who blows very heavy grammar, who was the governor of another place before Anambra, and yet ANSIEC is attached to APGA apron strings like all the rest of them?

We are waiting to see if things will be different in Abia, the only state controlled by Labour Party, and in Kano, the only state controlled by NNPP. I have my doubts, because newspaper reports said NNPP “primaries” were held in the house of its leader, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, and some party stalwarts emerged from the house, protesting loudly that it was not democratic because the Leader anointed his favoured persons. I do not know if that was true, since I was not a delegate to the red-cap Kwankwasiyya “primaries.” But the real test will soon come when the state holds local elections. NNPP only just managed to edge out APC in last year’s governorship polls but no one will be surprised if it “sweeps” all the seats in the upcoming local elections.

This word “sweep,” I am fed up with it. All the “national” and “international” election observers who were harping on INEC’s perceived shortcomings in last year’s general elections as well as in some off-season governorship elections since then, what have they got to say about State “Independent” Electoral Commissions all over the country, regardless of region, religion or political party in power in the state? All the institutions created by the 1999 Constitution as amended have exhibited one failure or another in the discharge or lack of discharge of their duties, but that of SIECs is the most glaring. It is time to end this sweeping game by sweeping them out of the Constitution.

In Nigeria's dynamic political landscape, it is rare to find individuals whose contributions leave a lasting impact on their communities and the nation at large. Senator Ned Munir Nwoko stands out as one such leader whose patriotism, dedication, and advocacy have earned him widespread admiration. His contributions to his constituency, his advocacy for the creation of Anioma State, and his unwavering commitment to national development make him a worthy example of the kind of leadership Nigeria needs today.

One of Senator Nwoko’s most notable contributions to Nigeria's political development is his persistent advocacy for the creation of Anioma State. Anioma, which means “good land” in Igbo, comprises the people of the Delta North Senatorial District in Delta State. The call for the creation of this state dates back several decades, with many advocates from Anioma seeing it as the only path to guaranteeing equitable development and representation for their people.

Senator Nwoko has played a pivotal role in keeping this dream alive. While some politicians might abandon such a cause due to its long-standing nature, Nwoko’s relentless pursuit of Anioma State demonstrates his vision and deep sense of commitment to his people. Through various platforms, both local and national, he has consistently voiced the need for Anioma State, emphasizing that its creation would ensure fair distribution of resources and power within Delta State. 

His advocacy is rooted in a desire for equity and justice for the Anioma people, who have often felt marginalized in the larger Delta State political structure. As a patriotic leader, Nwoko’s vision is not connected to personal gain but stems from a genuine desire to improve the socio-economic conditions of his people. His relentless push for this cause has inspired many to believe that Anioma State is not a farfetched dream but an achievable reality.

Beyond his advocacy for Anioma State, Senator Ned Nwoko has demonstrated unparalleled commitment to the development of his constituency. Representing the Delta North Senatorial District, Nwoko has shown what true leadership means through numerous developmental projects aimed at uplifting his people.

One of his most impactful initiatives is his dedication to education. Nwoko firmly believes that education is the foundation of development, and he has worked tirelessly to improve access to quality education in his constituency. Through scholarships and educational grants, he has supported thousands of students from Delta North, helping them pursue higher education both in Nigeria and abroad. His philanthropic efforts in this sector reflect his deep commitment to empowering future generations with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive world.

In addition to education, Senator Nwoko has been instrumental in improving infrastructure within his constituency. He has facilitated the construction of roads, health centers, and water projects, bringing much-needed amenities to rural communities that were previously neglected. These projects have transformed the lives of his constituents, enhancing their quality of life and providing them with opportunities for growth and development.

Moreover, Nwoko’s passion for youth empowerment stands out. In a country where youth unemployment remains a pressing issue, the senator has introduced several initiatives aimed at creating jobs and encouraging entrepreneurship among young people in Delta North. By providing skill acquisition programs, startup grants, and mentorship opportunities, Nwoko is fostering a culture of self-reliance and innovation among the youth, ensuring that they can contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities.

Senator Nwoko’s contributions extend beyond his constituency, as he has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to the development of Nigeria as a whole. His patriotism is evident in his approach to national issues, where he has consistently advocated for policies that benefit the entire country.

One of his most significant national contributions is his involvement in the fight against malaria, a disease that has plagued Nigeria for decades. Recognizing the devastating impact of malaria on the country’s health and economic sectors, Senator Nwoko launched the “Malaria Eradication Project”, a comprehensive initiative aimed at eradicating the disease from Nigeria and Africa at large. His efforts include advocating for the fumigation of communities, the distribution of mosquito nets, and the promotion of malaria vaccination research.

This initiative has garnered widespread attention, with Nwoko positioning himself as a leading voice in the global fight against malaria. His commitment to this cause is a testament to his deep sense of duty and responsibility toward improving the lives of Nigerians. By addressing one of the country’s most pressing health challenges, Nwoko is not only saving lives but also contributing to Nigeria’s overall socio-economic development.

In the realm of politics, Nwoko’s contributions to nation-building are equally commendable. His tenure as a member of the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003 was marked by significant legislative achievements. As a lawmaker, he advocated for laws that promoted social justice, economic growth, and national unity. Even after his term in the House, Nwoko has remained an influential figure in Nigerian politics, using his platform to champion causes that promote good governance and accountability.

Senator Ned Nwoko’s journey is a clear demonstration of what it means to be a patriotic leader. His contributions to his constituency, his unwavering advocacy for Anioma State, and his national efforts in the fight against malaria all point to a man who is deeply committed to the progress of his people and his country. Nwoko’s leadership is characterized by integrity, vision, and an unshakable belief in the potential of Nigeria.

In a time when many politicians are seen as self-serving, Nwoko stands out as a beacon of hope, a leader who puts the needs of his people above personal gain. His dedication to the causes he believes in, particularly his singular effort in advocating for the creation of Anioma State, speaks volumes about his character and his desire for justice and equity.

Nigerian politicians, both young and old, can learn valuable lessons from Nwoko’s approach to leadership. His emphasis on education, infrastructure, youth empowerment, and health are pillars that should guide the actions of every public servant. Furthermore, his commitment to fairness, as seen in his advocacy for Anioma State, highlights the importance of standing up for marginalized communities and ensuring that every group in Nigeria has a voice in the country’s development.

Senator Ned Nwoko is, without a doubt, a leader worthy of emulation. His contributions to his constituency and to Nigeria as a whole demonstrate that true leadership is about service, vision, and patriotism. As Nigeria continues to navigate its challenges, leaders like Nwoko offer a model of what is possible when leaders are driven by a deep sense of duty to their people. His unwavering advocacy for the creation of Anioma State, his impressive work in the fight against malaria, and his dedication to improving the lives of his constituents all serve as powerful reminders that with the right leadership, Nigeria can achieve greatness.

At an all-time high of 34.2%, Nigeria's inflation's effect on fuel price volatility is one that can not be overemphasized. But it's high time we acknowledged that our addiction to fossil fuels is no longer sustainable - especially in a fast-evolving world.

Although many factors—including the fluctuations in global oil prices have left our fuel prices skyrocketing, but this crisis presents an opportunity for innovation—only if FG would see beyond the presence.

No progressive country in the world would turn a blind eye to the potential of technology in transforming its mobility landscape and reducing its dependence on fossil fuels. Electric vehicles, alternative fuels, fuel efficiency technologies, mobility-as-a-service, and smart traffic management are no longer futuristic concepts; they're viable solutions Nigeria, too, needs to start embracing on a large scale.

When you look at how countries like Norway have strategically transitioned to electric vehicles, how Sweden has pioneered biofuel initiatives, and how Singapore's facilitated intelligent transportation systems, then one would realize that these demonstrate that technology can liberate Nigeria too from the shackles of fuel dependency.

So, then, the question arises: what's holding Nigeria back? Our government's hesitation to invest in alternative energy sources and transportation infrastructure is staggering. The Innoson CNG buses (some of which are already on the roads in Lagos and Abuja) are worthy of commendations, but it's just like rotating in a circle. It's not really the solution. The most effective solution would have been that the 36 state governments and FG invest heavily in technology and develop a comprehensive national electric vehicle policy. This would undoubtedly reduce the demand for fuel, and as such, the hike in price would fall drastically.

That fossil fuels pose existential risks to the planet and climate change, is another reason the Nigerian government needs to transit from them and encourage public-private partnerships for mobility-as-a-service and smart transportation systems.

The benefits to be cupped from this are numerous, some of which are reduced fuel imports and increased foreign exchange savings, improved air quality and public health, enhanced economic productivity and competitiveness, and even, creation of new industries and job opportunities.

Nigeria's future depends on our willingness to embrace technological disruption. We must seize this moment to redefine our mobility landscape and secure a sustainable future. Whether we will continue to perpetuate our fossil fuel addiction or will we choose the path of innovation is a choice we need to make for the progress of this country.

Yusuf Babatunde is the CEO of Mapleby Autos

A bill seeking to establish another intervention agency for the Niger Delta region, to be known as the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), has just passed Second Reading in the Senate and has been sent to the Special Duties Committee for further consideration. It is sponsored by Senator Ekpenyong Asuquo of Calabar South and co-sponsored by all the other 17 senators of region. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is the brain behind the legislation, and I understand that he has staked his political capital on it and wants it passed by all means. The bill was first presented on the floor of the senate three months ago, but was roundly rejected by the senators who argued that the proposed commission is a duplication to the NDDC which has been in existence since 2000. ‘’The rejection was a personal embarrassment to the Senate President, but he withdrew to fight another day’’, a senator told me.

There were still some pockets of resistance when the bill was represented last week, but, this time, senators from the South-south region were more pushful to get it passed. Senator Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa argued that while NDDC is a resource-based commission, specifically meant for the oil producing states, including Imo and Abia, SSDC will only cater for the six states of the Niger Delta region. Senators are even contemplating a name change for the NDDC to reflect its focus on oil-producing states and distinguish it from the new agency. Senator Ekong Sampson (Akwa Ibom South) told me last week: ‘’I represent the major oil belt of the region. We feel the pain and bear the brunt of oil production. NDDC is for all the oil-producing states of the nation; the SSDC is specifically for the South-South region which has over the centuries been devastated by oil production. I am therefore very confident that the SSDC bill would be passed’’.

In 2017, the Senate created the North East Development Commission, the first of such regional body established after NDDC. NEDC was necessitated by the need to rebuild the North East after years of decimation by terrorist attacks. I supported its creation and argued that because of our interconnectedness, any part of the country left behind would be a drag on the rest of us. Since then, similar regional development agencies have been created for the other four regions - North West, South West, South East and North Central. Now that the South-South senators have tabled their demands, we have come full circle. By their enabling laws, these regional bodies have similar organizational and management structures and sources of funding. They receive funds from the federation account, in addition to donations, aids and grants. Their mandate is to tackle developmental and environmental challenges peculiar to each region. For the SSDC, priority would be given to ecological and environmental hazards; infrastructural inadequacies as well as militancy and communal crises which have plagued the region for years.

I support the creation of the SSDC for the South-South region and commend Senator Akpabio for spearheading it. I’m also thankful to the senators from other states, notably Suleman Kawu (Kano South) and Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) for endorsing the bill. The argument that it is a duplication to the NDDC is flawed. For one, the North Central Development Commission was created earlier this year despite the existence of Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Commission (HYPPADEC) created in 2010. Yet, nobody raised the issue of duplication. Second, SSDC and NDDC have different mandate areas. NDDC’s mandate extends well beyond the six south-south states, to cover Abia, Ondo and Imo; and may extend further to include new oil producers like Lagos, Nassarawa, Bauchi and others in the Benue trough. Third, since NDDC’s programmes and projects are shared among the nine mandate states based on their respective volume of crude oil production, states like Cross River that produce marginally have benefitted least from the NDDC programmes. The SSDC is therefore needed to make up for this inadequacy by providing fairly and equitably to the six states.  

 I have, however, noticed that the SSDC Bill does not specify where to locate the commission’s headquarters, unlike the NDDC Law which specifies Port Harcourt as the commission’s headquarters and the Nigerian Content Development Board (NCDB) law which stipulates Yenogoa as its headquarter. This omission could create unwarranted squabbles among the states and I urge Senator Akpabio to ensure that the oversight is addressed. The SSDC Bill should stipulate Uyo as the location for its corporate headquarters for many reasons. Akwa Ibom is not only the largest oil producing state, it is also the most peaceful, hospitable and suitable for siting an important federal agency. The Senate President must bring this one home.

For Senator Akpabio, SSDC might just be a given, but he has lot more to do. The lukewarm attitude of the federal government to the establishment of Ibom Deep Sea Port has put the Senate President in a difficult position. He is a leading member of the Tinubu inner circle. He flies into Uyo in a presidential jet and tools around in a big motorcade. Gov. Umo Eno fawns over him while the people sing his praises - all in an attempt to get him to facilitate federal support for the port project, which is clearly the people’s most sought-after infrastructural investment. But, so far, there is no indication that President Tinubu is interested in the project. This leaves Akpabio with nothing to brag about when he visits home, and the people sorely disappointed.

Nigeria has significantly contributed troops and police officers to the United Nations peacekeeping operations worldwide since 1960. That year, the Nigeria Police deployed the first-ever contingent of individual police officers to the UN Mission in the Congo. Assistant Commissioner of Police Louis Edet led the team at the time. In these operations, Nigeria resolutely committed herself to the onerous task of maintaining world peace and security. Some of the country’s gallant officers paid the supreme price, while many were injured and maimed for life. During the military era, particularly during the reign of General Ibrahim Babangida, under the auspices of the African Union and ECOWAS, there was the ECOWAS Monitoring Group, which intervened decisively in Liberia, paving the way for the restoration of civil rule in that country. Rebel leaders had turned Liberia into a theatre of war in their desperate battle for power. 

Nigeria’s troops were also the military backbone of the UN Mission in Liberia from 2003-2018, restoring security throughout that country. 

Since then, Nigeria has been involved in peacekeeping operations in many African countries, including Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Mali, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Somalia, Rwanda and Burundi. The government has contributed a lot in finance, logistics and civilian experts to these missions. Beyond Africa, the country’s police force participated in operations in Western Sahara, Cambodia, Yugoslavia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, East Timor, Haiti, Kosovo and Afghanistan, to mention but a few.

It is relevant to point out that Nigeria’s engagement is not only in peacekeeping or maintaining law and order across these nations; the country has helped stabilise and strengthen democracy in Africa. For instance, it’s on record that Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo played a leading role in the international effort to restore democratic order in São Tomé and Principle when President Fradique de Menezes was toppled by the military in that country in July 2003 while visiting Nigeria. Obasanjo and other foreign leaders reined in the military junta that ousted Menezes. The former Nigerian president took Menezes in his plane, leading him back to power in the oil-rich island republic.

In addition, Nigeria’s effort helped ferry former military leader Yahya Jammeh from The Gambia when he became a stumbling block to constitutional order.

After losing the election his regime organised, Jammeh refused to concede defeat to Adama Baro, who won the poll. The private plane of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, now President Bola Tinubu, was deployed to evacuate the once-dreaded Jammeh out of The Gambia.

I can continue enumerating Nigeria’s efforts to help maintain peace and security worldwide.

It is against this backdrop of the country’s considerable efforts in maintaining peace and deepening democracy in Africa and beyond that the recent demand for a permanent seat for Africa in the UN Security Council be considered. No country in Africa has contributed to global peace and security than Nigeria in terms of human and material resources. The request for a well-deserved permanent seat for the continent was the highpoint of Nigeria’s presentation at the just-ended 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA79) in the United States.

Vice President Kashim Shettima led Nigeria’s delegation to that session and presented the country’s national statement on behalf of President Tinubu. The president stayed back at home to attend to pressing domestic issues. That decision, the first by any Nigerian president since 1999, deserves commendation.

To say that Vice President Shettima ably represented the country is to state the obvious, particularly for those who watched the presentation live or on television. Resplendent in the country’s traditional white flowing babariga with a matching Borno cap, VP Shettima did an excellent job.

Making a case for this all-important seat on the UN’s exalted podium, the vice president said: “Reform of the Security Council is critical if the UN is to strengthen its relevance and credibility in our rapidly changing world. Some permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have offered encouraging, if tentative, indications of support on the issue of reform of the Council. We welcome the change in tone and urge acceleration in momentum to the process.

“The Security Council should be expanded, in the permanent and non-permanent member categories, to reflect the diversity and plurality of the world. We fully support the efforts of Secretary-General Guterres in this regard. Africa must be accorded the respect that it deserves in the Security Council. Our continent deserves a place in the permanent members category of the Security Council, with the same rights and responsibilities as other Permanent Members.”

With a population of over 1.3 billion people and home to the most critical mineral resources that will power the global economy, a permanent seat for Africa in the UN Security Council will ensure inclusivity and a spirit of brotherhood. Given its strategic importance, Africa should join the council’s five permanent members. And more than any other country on the African continent, Nigeria truly merits this seat. It is an entitlement and a matter of right.

First, the seat will serve as due compensation for Nigeria’s labour of service to the world. The country’s active participation in peacekeeping missions helped save countless lives and restore peace and stability to many countries. The UN has acknowledged this important work. In a publication of the world body in February 2019, the UN singled out Nigeria for praise for her service and sacrifice. However, the UN should do more than commendation. The world body should offer Nigeria this much-desired permanent seat to appreciate the country’s contribution.

Second, as indicated earlier, Nigeria contributed the most troops and police to UN missions among African nations. The Nigeria Police Force committed more men and materials to keep the peace in Africa and elsewhere. According to the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, Nigeria contributed to 41 peacekeeping missions globally and deployed over 200,000 troops to UN operations since her first deployment in the Congo. He spoke in New York at the summit of the Future Interactive Dialogue on the theme: “Enhancing Multilateralism for International Peace and Security.”

The attendant cost to Nigeria’s engagement in these peacekeeping operations is enormous. For instance, official sources revealed that ECOMOG, a regional mediation force put together to end the protracted Liberian civil war, was operated at an estimated cost of $8 billion to the Nigerian government.

Third, and more importantly, with its large population of young, energetic, and creative people and enormous resources, Nigeria can provide the required leadership for Africa at the UN Security Council.

This is a role the country has been performing for many decades. It has the potential to perform this work even better. Nigeria will be the real giant of Africa if it rises to this eminent status.

Former South African President, the highly revered Dr Nelson Mandela, was once reported to have said that the Black Race would not achieve its status until Nigeria sorted itself out.

When President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s reform agenda fully manifests, Nigeria will sort itself out sooner, not later. Then, the country will take its rightful place as the true leader of Africa in the community of nations.

. Rahman is a Senior Presidential Aide.

Chelsea Football Club coach, Enzo Maresca, has named Moses Caicedo the team’s captain.

According to a statement from Fabrizio Romano’s X account on Sunday, the midfielder praised Chelsea’s coach for appointing him captain.

“I’m grateful to Maresca for making me Chelsea’s captain.

“I want to become a legend here, and that’s what I’m working hard to achieve every day.

“It means a lot to captain Chelsea. It’s a dream come true
because I grew up supporting Chelsea,” he said.

Chelsea is set to battle Nottingham Forest on Sunday in the 2024/2025 season.

It should be recalled that Moises Caicedo signed an eight-year deal with Chelsea in a £100m transfer from Brighton, with an additional £15m in performance-related add-ons, after turning down a £111m move to Liverpool.

[Punch]

Every year, the federal government of Nigeria publishes a list of some citizens it has found worthy to honour with national awards of different categories. A hint on those that may receive the highest awards this year which was last week given by president Bola Ahmed Tinubu has elicited some controversies that government quickly resolved.

As we await the full list to be made public soonest, it is probably premature to begin to comment on the few names we have heard or indeed to initiate a critical analysis of what to expect. Today is not the best time for such a critical analysis. In any case, it is not only the national awards that should be a source of worry to Nigerians.

It is indeed time to worry about a new trend in our country in which many people are given undeserved awards. The most prominent of such awards which are organized by the nation’s major newspapers clearly depict an effective marketing design for revenue generation. Other groups and associations are also part of the sale of honours to many Nigerians.

Nigerian universities that have turned their convocation ceremonies into awards of honorary degrees to the highest bidders have become part of the game. Amidst this disturbing trend, there are a few awards that have stood the test of time. One of such awards was the one given to the former governor of Kano state, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso by the Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ in December 2013. Incidentally, I attended the event.

It all began some two weeks before the ceremony when the NUJ delegation paid me a courtesy visit to request that I serve as Guest Speaker at the event. After a full session of the rationale for the award, I told the delegation to await my response a week later. I then proceeded to undertake extensive research on the activities of the man Kwankwaso whom I had never physically met before then. From the speech I gave at the occasion on December 15, 2023, my findings were overwhelming.

First, I was pleased with the NUJ’s decision because of its specificity. Unlike many generalized unverifiable awards, Kwankwaso was picked as the best Nigerian Governor in the area of Fiscal Responsibility- a concept which refers to openness, discipline and accountability in governance.

Besides, the award was bestowed on only one nominee unlike today’s award where as many as 8 governors are honoured for no specific achievements making it obvious that they were essentially purchased. I agreed with the NUJ because I found concrete evidence that within a few months in office, Kwankwaso had converted Kano into a viable entity by raising its internally generated revenue from N400million naira to N2billion monthly. He then blocked all leakages so that funds in the treasury are always available to be prudently managed to attain fiscal responsibility. Many of today’s governors and other top office-holders have more than such funds but they deliberately create leakages which are then diverted to personal use or at best shared with party chieftains to attract their continued support.

Kwankwaso at the time did not only block leakages but went ahead to abolish frivolous expenditures hitherto incurred in the office of the governor and in the entire state bureaucracy from which he made a saving of N500million every month.He also patronized aggressive revenue drive, must insisted that such must be handled with a human face to avoid the practice of- subjecting citizens to multiple taxes for little or no service. Beyond revenue generation, he prioritized accountability in which all state officials including the governor were required to give an account of whatever they did on behalf of the people who elected them into office. Consequently, everything including any expense on security was accounted for in Kano because Kwankwaso saw security vote as “an avenue for stealing.”

Another reason why the choice of Kwankwaso was apt for the award was his concept of transparency in governance that was premised on open government. Kano at the time had a model in which anyone who cared to know about any government project did not have to labour to get the details as the government published such details in the media every week. Under the circumstance, there was no need for any state agency to avoid requests on the Freedom of Information Act. Those who did not know what was happening in government in the state were restricted to persons who had no interest in the subject. This was the direct opposite of happenings in some states whose governors manipulated the execution of public projects. In such states, no one got to know when bids for government projects were purportedly publicised; contractors who won the bids as well as how and why they won were also not known

One of the attributes of fiscal responsibility is wise spending. This cannot happen in states whose recurrent estimates are higher than capital allocation. In such states, government merely meets personnel emolument while development projects on substantive issues like education, health and agriculture are virtually ignored. In the case of Kano, the budget for 2013 – the year of the NUJ award, merely allocated 25 percent to recurrent expenditure while it wisely reserved 75 percent for development projects. Accordingly, Kwankwaso reportedly established 3 new cities – Kwankwasiyya, Amana and Bandirawo. In addition, the jobs were completed without variations in their costs there- by reflecting strong faith in fiscal responsibility and accountability.

Several government publications which I found at the time of my enquiries confirmed Kwankwaso to be financially responsible because he insisted on keeping to the provisions of an approved budget. There was no room for bogus spending or the practice of succumbing to local pressures and the emotions of the moment to make donations that were not captured in the budget. He was also against engaging in governance by publicity which leads to spending more funds publicizing a project than the cost of executing the project. Rather, the focus was on the real needs of his people and not on frivolities. Hence, education-the key to human capital development received the lion share of the annual budget of the state throughout his tenure.

I ended my speech with a commendation to the then governor for 3 observations- about his approach to governance. The first was the seamless effort he put to establish beyond reasonable doubt that there was no need for bogus unaccountable security votes because the states with huge amounts for security measures turned out to be the ones with the highest security challenges. The second was his departure from the practice in many states where the focus of governors was on the state capital at the expense of rural areas. Kwankwaso discouraged urban migration by turning the 44 local government areas in his state to project sites. The third observation I made with satisfaction was that Kwankwaso was not among the governors who embarked on building new government houses when there was nothing wrong with the old mansions where their predecessors lived.

Exactly one week after the award, the governor sent me a handwritten letter of appreciation in which he invited me to visit Kano even without his knowledge to see for myself two areas my speech did not touch. “First, 300 computer schools as well as primary schools with boarding facilities, free food for students 5times a week, provision of uniforms, desks and multifarious instructional materials, training of 100 Pilots, monthly allowance for medical students and soft loan scheme for teachers. Second, 5kms of roads recently dualized and electrified in each of the 44 local government areas in the state in addition to one Technical School, one School of Islamic Studies, one Garment Industry and one Micro Finance Bank in every local government area.”

I have no doubt that many other analysts especially political opponents could have found certain things wrong with the administration of Kano state between 2011 and 2015. The purpose of this article therefore is not to suggest that the state had a saint for 4 years. Instead, the point to be made is that the tenure of a governor or any political officeholder ought to have specific and verifiable facts which would make the awards given to such leaders to be persuasive. It is therefore expected that the current governor Abba Kabir Yusuf who is an apostle of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has no excuse not to out-perform his mentor.

The Rivers State Government will swear in the 23 chairmen declared winners of Saturday’s Local Government Council elections this afternoon (Sunday).

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) announced that the Action Peoples Party (APP) won all 23 local government area chairmanship seats in the election.

The State Government also confirmed that the election has concluded, and it will swear in the winners today.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Wenike Danagogo, it was announced that the chairmen would be sworn in at 4 pm.

The statement read: “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, the Governor of Rivers State, will today, Sunday, October 6, 2024, swear in the newly elected Council Chairmen at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt, by 4pm.

The newly elected Chairmen, along with one (1) guest each, are expected to be seated by 3:30 pm.”

Background

Recall the elections took place, yesterday, amid gunshots, bomb explosions and protests in some parts of the state.

The development, which did not fall short of pre-election predictions, left many residents worried, especially as a result of minimal presence of the police across all polling areas.

Sunday Vanguard observed that irrespective of widespread fears of violence across 23 Local Government Areas, LGAs in Rivers, the turnout appeared substantial. In many areas monitored, the exercise kicked off early without the presence of the police following the supply of sensitive and non-sensitive materials by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission,RSIEC.

The police had earlier said they were not providing security for the polls given a court order restraining them and other security agencies from providing security during the poll. A Federal High Court in Abuja had prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from releasing the 2023 voter register to RSIEC. It also stopped the Inspector-General of Police and Department of State Services, DSS, from providing security for the exercise.

The matter pitched the camp of Governor Siminalyi Fubara and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, against each other, thereby heightening tension in the state. However, RSIEC said it had received a copy of the voter register from INEC since last year.

Earlier, Wike’s supporters staged a protest in Port Harcourt, kicking against the election.

[Vanguard]