There is no denying the fact that palliatives, by their very nature, are designed to provide short-term relief in times of crisis. While they may offer a brief respite from immediate hardships, they do little to address the root causes of the economic difficulties that plague the nation. Given the foregoing backdrop, it is not out of place to argue that Nigeria’s current economic challenges, ranging from skyrocketing inflation to widespread unemployment, cannot be remedied by handing out token gestures of assistance. Instead, these challenges require a comprehensive and sustainable approach that tackles the systemic issues head-on.

In fact, the drawbacks that are inherent in dishing out palliatives to the people might had been the reason why the People’s Democratic Party Governors’ forum on Friday called on the federal government to subsidize agriculture, health, Education rather than distributing palliatives.

In a Communiqué issued at the end of the meeting in Jalingo, Governor Bala Muhammed of Bauchi State, and also the chairman of the forum described the distribution of palliatives by the federal government as an insult to the sensitivity of Nigerians.

The governors, who urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the distribution of palliatives, argued that these temporary measures are not sustainable and, in reality, amount to nothing more than crumbs offered to the masses. This perspective is not only valid but also necessary for guiding the nation toward a more stable and prosperous future.

In fact, it is not an exaggeration to opine that the experience of other African nations underscores the limitations of palliatives as a solution to economic hardships. In Kenya, for example, the government has repeatedly turned to palliative measures in times of crisis, only to find that they offer little more than temporary relief. The underlying issues, such as high unemployment, poor infrastructure, and economic inequality, have persisted, leading to continued struggles for the Kenyan people. This highlights the need for long-term strategies that address the root causes of economic difficulties rather than simply applying short-term fixes.

It will be recalled in this context that the PDP governors rightly pointed out that palliatives, however well-intentioned, create a dependency that does not empower citizens to rise above their circumstances. The focus should not be on providing temporary relief, but on implementing policies and programs that will foster long-term economic growth, job creation, and social stability.

Given the outcome of the PDP’s Governors meeting, it can be opined in this context that to truly uplift the nation, the Tinubu administration must prioritize initiatives that go beyond immediate handouts. In fact, policies aimed at revitalizing key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and technology will create jobs and stimulate economic activity. Furthermore, investing in education and skill development will equip the youth with the tools they need to contribute meaningfully to the economy.

Another critical area for attention is infrastructure development. Improving transportation networks, power supply, and access to clean water will not only enhance the quality of life for Nigerians but would also attract investment and spur economic growth. The government must also focus on improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria, reducing bureaucratic red tape, and fostering an environment that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Additionally, addressing corruption and ensuring that public funds are used effectively and transparently will help restore trust in government institutions and ensure that resources are allocated where they are needed most.

In fact, while palliatives may offer short-term relief, they are not a sustainable solution to Nigeria’s economic woes. The experience of other African nations like Kenya, as earlier mentioned, shows that such measures do little to resolve long-term hardships. The Tinubu administration must heed the advice of the PDP governors and shift its focus toward implementing policies and programs that will create lasting change. By addressing the root causes of the nation’s hardships, the government can build a stronger, more resilient economy that benefits all Nigerians, not just today, but for generations to come.

In fact, it is expedient for the leadership of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) with specific mention of Mr. President in this context to heed the voice of the Opposition.

The reason for the foregoing view cannot be farfetched as in a thriving democracy, the role of opposition parties is not merely to challenge the ruling party but to provide constructive criticism, offer alternative perspectives, and suggest policies that could benefit the nation. Often, these suggestions are dismissed outright, perceived as politically motivated or baseless. However, history has shown that ignoring the voice of the opposition can be detrimental to the health of a democracy and the well-being of its citizens. It pays for the ruling party to always listen to the suggestions made by opposition parties, as not every piece of advice or criticism can be adjudged as wrong.

Without a doubt, the opposition parties are an essential part of any democratic system. They serve as a check on the ruling party, ensuring that decisions are made in the best interest of the people. When opposition parties critique policies or propose alternatives, they do so not just to gain political mileage, but to offer different viewpoints that could lead to more balanced governance. The diversity of opinions is the bedrock of a vibrant democracy, and it is this diversity that prevents the concentration of power and encourages accountability.

There have been numerous instances globally where ruling parties have ignored the warnings and suggestions of opposition parties, only to regret it later. In Nigeria, for instance, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has at times been accused of dismissing the warnings of the opposition, particularly regarding economic policies. The opposition’s criticism of the government’s handling of issues like inflation, unemployment, and the devaluation of the naira has often been brushed aside as mere political posturing. Yet, these issues have persisted, suggesting that a more inclusive approach to governance might have yielded better results.

Similarly, in the United States, the Democratic Party’s opposition to certain policies of the Trump administration, such as the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, was initially dismissed. However, the eventual outcomes highlighted that some of the opposition’s concerns were valid, and a more collaborative approach could have mitigated the situation.

Criticism, when constructive, should not be feared or dismissed. Instead, it should be seen as an opportunity for growth and improvement. President Tinubu should remember that opposition parties also represent a significant portion of the population. Their perspectives and suggestions are a reflection of the concerns and aspirations of the citizens. By considering opposition viewpoints, the ruling party can create more inclusive policies that address the needs of a broader spectrum of society.

Moreover, embracing opposition suggestions can foster a sense of national unity. When the ruling party demonstrates that it is willing to listen to and act on good ideas, regardless of where they come from, it builds trust among the electorate. It signals that the government is truly working for the people, not just for those who voted them into power.

Analyzed from the foregoing perspective, governance should not be about winning arguments but about making the best decisions for the nation. Ruling parties must, therefore, adopt a mindset that is open to suggestions, even from those across the political aisle. This approach will not only enhance the quality of governance but will also contribute to the stability and progress of the nation.

In fact, while it is natural for the ruling party to be wary of the opposition’s motives, it is crucial to recognize that not all criticisms or suggestions from the opposition are wrong. By listening to and incorporating valid points from the opposition, ruling parties can avoid the pitfalls of echo chambers and ensure that their policies are robust, inclusive, and in the best interest of the nation. After all, in a true democracy, the best ideas should always win, no matter where they come from.

As I was saying…Among the mails this column regularly receives was one from Ghana in which the sender raised a thought-provoking and interesting question. Why does a Ms Blessing live in misery, begging for data, Favour is struggling to feed; Wisdom does not get sense; Victory failed exams and Courage even fears dogs whereas “in the United States, you see names like Bush, Stone yet they make progress. Why is it so?” Confirming the enquirer’s observation, I did state that in Europe, in the United States and Canada, people bear Mr. Brown, Dr. (Mrs.) Green and as rightly noted, Mr. Bush and Mr. Stone. There is Mr. Gladstone. If we go by the dictionary definition we can claim to know the meaning of Bush and Stone. Brown and Green denote colours. We then ask, how come a man bears Mr. Green and another Mr. Brown or Miss White and they are the ones who make self-evident progress? They are developed, they are endowed materially, and once people are developed, their nation must be developed, reflecting the state of being of the people. The radiant state of the inner being already gives a hint of why the United States is developed. Again, why is it so?

As I did state last week, each person comes with his or her name. He is the name he or she bears. The name each person will bear in future in the event of another opportunity of a reincarnation is partly being put together in the present earth life while he still carries the previous one that he has not discharged. Plants and trees have names for identification. There is a picture that flashes before our gaze when we hear lilies mentioned. And there are different kinds of lilies. We have Touch Lily, Peace Lily, Canna Lily, and St. Joseph’s Lily, each presenting its own unique picture before our eyes. It is a different picture that forms before our gaze when Sunflower is mentioned. Sunflower is different from Yellow Trumpet florists call Costus Spectabilis. Look at Bougainvillea with its compelling rays and enthralling colours. Trees have their names, so do rocks and soils. All names come about from the pressure of the Law. Colour, content, and form all vibrate and emit rays that enable us distinguish one plant from the other, and one flower from the other. In the rays precipitates fragrance. The wonders of Nature, the work of the house builders, the loyal servants of the Most High—the Nature Beings, weaving and tending. What does man, the arrogant modern man, know!

In Africa, a great many names are supplicatory and hope-filled. A Blessing could mean gratitude for an opportunity of another earth life and the experiences, one of which is a lack of purchasing power to the extent that she is begging for data. The experiences are only to polish her and get her to focus more on the higher goal. If blessed too soon, she may lose focus. For a Victor, it is a pledge that he would apply himself unremittingly to the demands of the higher goal in which alone lies victory, a manifestation of the victory of the Light that blesses his exertions.

The Jews went through excruciating experiences, and hard blows from the Romans, including being subjected to slavery when they began to deviate from the cause for which they were prepared as the first race on the surface of the earth to come to the recognition that there is only one God, the Creator of all the worlds. In 586 B.C. Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar. Being the closest to the Truth, however, it was only natural that they would be and they were the Chosen People, blessed with Grace and privilege to receive the Lord Jesus Christ in their midst. The harrowing experiences served to keep them on course for the fulfillment of the sacred promises. The prophets did not give up on them. In the account by Dr. E. Walkhoff titled From World History During the Past 3,000 Years, “After the death of Solomon (Ca. 925 B.C.) the Jewish tribes separated into the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Feuding among themselves and becoming at last mere puppets in the hands of their enemies. The prophets Elijah (Ca. 830 B. C.), Isaiah (720 B. C.), and Jeremiah (Ca.630 B. C.) waged a desperate battle against the growing superstitions. In the year 621 B.C., however, the Ark of the Covenant, with the Ten Commandments –assumed to be lost—was found again in the Temple of Jerusalem. Once more the ancient faith was restored to its rightful place.” Ezra waged his own battle, after they returned from Babylonian captivity by enforcing the Ten Commandments.”

The same point as in the case of Blessing can be made for “Favour” who cannot feed. What is being pointed out to us is that in accordance with the Law of Sowing and Reaping and Law of Movement, a person who bears Favour is expected to do good to harvest goodness and change of her condition. She is also to work hard to unfold the talents and abilities contained in her name. The name is not a licence for her to go to sleep. The Law of Movement does not permit a standstill in any part of Creation. The name is thus a reminder that it is in the heeding of the Law through the unfolding of talents and abilities that lies the promise of a Favour. The experiences keep us awake, on the alert, and polished and if the right lessons are learned, there will be a turning around of fortunes. In his great work, Christian and Reincarnation, Dr. Stephen Lampe states: “The bitter fruits of the bad seeds we sowed are spiritual helpful reminders that we strayed from the way ordained by the Creator. Any adversity, pain or suffering should be seen as cues, hints of the need to re-examine our understanding of the Laws of the Creator and how we stand in relation to them…As we learn the right lessons and make necessary adjustments so that we sow only sweet seeds, the Law of Sowing and Reaping assures us bountiful harvest of sweet fruits, at the appropriate time. And this, surely, is Love.”

There has been a variant of the question as to why the United States is the most prosperous with the largest economy in the world, a country inhabited by Messrs Stone, Bush, and Brown. How come it is a land of opportunities, the dreamland of most young men and women? It is the most technologically powerful nation, indeed, a nation that went to the moon as far back as 1969 while African countries with all the prayers are backward, riddled with diseases. There is depravity; a great many of the leaders are lawless, so the argument goes.

However, it is little remembered that the United States was established between 1096 and 1300 by immigrants from Europe. Several parts were ravaged by wars and intractable social unrest brought about at the time of the Crusades. The experiences shook them, got them polished and matured. Following the experiences they recognised the essence of nobility as a virtue, and sought after it. The mature state of their inner being, of the penitent souls, came to recognize the Laws bearing the Will of the Most High. They put themselves, in consequence, in a different class of human beings who turned their gaze upwards in collective thanksgiving and the United States became what is generally, up till today, referred to as “God’s Own Country,” a land of hope founded on high principles derived from the uniqueness of refinement of the founders’ inner being. Any polished inner being is bound to attract the help of the Light. It is even more so when the majority of a people are refined inwardly. The blessing of such a land is a certainty. Are we not told that righteousness exalts a nation? Never mind that decline is overtaking everywhere on planet earth today, including the United States.

As for the Jews who are recorded as first in several economic and technological indices, their ascendancy follows the anchorage of the Light power in their land, Israel. The Lord Jesus Christ walked through the land as a result of which His Light Power was anchored therein. Even though the Jews, with their priestly and political establishments in the lead, out of envy and fear of loss of power and public acknowledgment, rejected Him as the expected Messiah and got Him murdered, their depravity and treachery could not dampen the Rays of the anchorage of the Light attendant to the Lord’s mere presence there. He traversed the length and breadth of the land. As they tap from the Rays even if unconsciously, the land will continue to manifest wonders in a variety of human endeavours. However, it should be stated that the present communities of Jews living in Israel have not necessarily always been Jews nor have all Americans always been Americans. We are distributed at reincarnation to different parts of the world in accordance with the degree of the development of our inner being. The Laws, including the Osmotic Law, perfectionists and incorruptible that they are, will always place everyone where he belongs and deserves, parents and communities.

While on reincarnation, I may as well share with us a YouTube post to which my attention has been lovingly drawn. In it as if to confirm the revelation In the Light of Truth, The Grail Message, the incomparable gift to all mankind, that states that each child is unswervingly led to its parents, the post contains what it captions Kids Reveal Memories of picking Their Parents. One said to its mother after a parable about blue birds: “You are my mother; I saw you from above the clouds. I had to slide down, came through the crown of your head. I saw you. I could see you and I chose you.” Another by name Jane said to her parents that she was glad to choose them as her mother and father– according to her mother: “People that would serve her needs.” Yet another child, Ryan, is filled with compassion for people with disabilities. And he said to his mother that he would like to go into the military and also be a policeman. He said to her: “I picked you as my mummy; I followed you in the snow.” Here is a child of two who has never seen snow and has never been exposed to violence. He shocked his mother one day saying he had a “different mom and daddy. They were shot and killed in their bed.” Confidently, according to his mother this time, he said that his name was Eric Johnson.

There is also on YouTube, the story of the reincarnation of a victim of year 2001 attack on the Twin Trade Centre in New York. The elaborate and moving account reads: ”There was always something extra-ordinary about Cade from the moment he was born. His parents, Molly and Rick had been told they could never have children and felt blessed to have a miracle son. But by two-and-a-half months old, he was trying to walk and reached all of his infant milestones extremely early. Even his own grandmother admitted he was different. ‘He was like an old man. He wasn’t like a bouncy baby. He just looked at you like: ‘Who are you?’ she said. By the time he was two, he was using ‘very intricate, intelligent words’ and could ‘hold conversation with adults,’ according to his mother.

“It was around the age of three when the youngster started saying he remembers dying. Speaking to LMN for a programme called The Ghost Inside My Child in 2011, Molly recalled: ‘I would be in bed and Cade would just start crying in the middle of the night and he would wake up screaming about working in a tall building and he could see the Statue of Liberty from his office. He told me that he was falling with the building like the way he died. It’s surreal to have a three-year-old talking about New York and talking about death. Honestly, I started to think…could he have been in the World Trade Centre? But there was a huge part of me that said, wait a minute, that can’t be.”
Cade’s dad, Rick added: ‘We didn’t show him anything, there was no way he could’ve known about it. It was before pre-school.’ The family didn’t know anyone involved in the terror attacks at the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001, and Cade, who was born in 2004, had never been to New York. I noted it as oddism but I never thought anything of it. I just thought he had a vivid imagination’, Molly told the programme. But as Cade got older, he became ‘obsessed with planes’ and was ‘frantic’ around tall buildings. His gran, Fae, said: ‘Cade was totally petrified by the airplanes, like they were monsters. He wasn’t scared of them being in the air. It’s more like he was scared of where they were going.’

Video footage shows a seven-year-old Cade in the car while driving around a busy city with tall buildings. He states: ‘That feels creepy. I just don’t like to look up. I would not like to go in that tall building…that big shiny one looked just like the Twin Tower. It brings back a lot of memories but I’m not going in it, ok?’ Molly admitted that she would make excuses for her son’s behaviour for a while but it got to a point where she ‘couldn’t deny it anymore.’ She said: ‘he just flat out, said that he was in a building that was hit by something, that it exploded and that he had fallen.‘The pieces suddenly came together like a puzzle, the planes, the tall buildings. This person was at the World Trade Centre.’ Cade tells programme-makers: ‘The plane hit the World Trade centre then it got stuck in the building.

‘When I was falling, I was still alive and then all the rubble hit me. I didn’t feel anything because I died.’ Molly was left feeling helpless, unable to know what to do to help her son get past the memories admitting she feels ‘very sad for him.’ He even started asking her to change his name insisting that he wasn’t called Cade. He told her what his name was and she set to work, investigating. She shared her son’s story on a web board hoping to find answers and discovered there had been a man who worked and died at the Twin Towers whose ‘life mimics what Cade describes his life and death was.’ I was absolutely shocked. I pulled up the obituary, the pictures, but I’d never thought about contacting the victim’s family,’ she said.

‘Continuing to follow through with anything to do with 9/11 may interrupt their mourning process. But also, what would you say? Your son didn’t die, he is just someone different now. I would imagine if someone called me with that, I would hang up the phone.’ Molly said she now knows the truth about who the man was but added: ‘as a mother, I am feeling very helpless. I can’t make this memory go away. I don’t know what to do; I don’t know how to fix this.’ She described her and her husband’s heartbreak at being ‘lost for years’ over their situation and said Cade struggled to make friends because other children would call him a liar and laugh at him. Teachers also took a dislike to him.

Molly and Rick said their priority was to help their son to ‘be comfortable in his Cade body’ admitting they ‘wouldn’t trade him in for anything in the world. I need him learn to be Cade, to learn to be a kid again, learn to laugh and I think we’re going to get there, I do, Molly added.

The programme ended with news that Cade had started playing in a football league and was improving in school but was still having nightmares. No further information about Cade has been published since. He would now be aged 20.

After the interview recently surfaced on YouTube, many wondered how Cade was getting on as some recalled similar situations.

The foregoing is yet another account of, indeed, proof of reincarnation. I have treated this subject directly and indirectly in this column about four times. Since our world is a school, in the wisdom of the Creator, like in the earthly school patterned after the cosmic school, allowance is made for a repeat class so that areas of deficiencies can be corrected. It is a phenomenon in which the inflexible justice of the Most High can be read. There is no human being on earth today who has not lived here before, some about 50 times. It takes some 200, others 500 years to come back. Many as short as within four years of their death as is shown in the account of Cade who came back barely four years after he died in the disaster of the World Trade Centre. The knowledge of reincarnation is practically in all cultures. Try as the modern man may have tried, he has not succeeded in getting his fellow men to deny the phenomenon. How do you explain Babatunde, Nnena, or Yetunde if these do not touch on the African concept of reincarnation? The denial by a number of priests is based on the misinterpretation of the scriptures that “It is given unto man to die but once, after which is judgment.” The passage refers to spiritual death, not the earthly exit during which the earthly cloak is discarded and the man enters the beyond in an ethereal garment which serves, together with the animistic, as the wrappings for the spirit. The spirit encased in the wrappings is recognized as soul. Didn’t even the Lord say: “But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased”? (Matthew 17:12). The Lord’s response was in answer to the question: “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” We are in the time of enlightenment and judgment. The intensification and acceleration of events in the world today are features of the judgment. It is the time everyone here on earth and on the material planes in the beyond is faced with the choice: Salvation or damnation! When the ongoing purification reaches the crescendo, all men, all nations will fall on their knees and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Love, and Imanuel as Justice, Both Arms of God, and with God in Holy Trinity!

Former Super Eagles coach José Peseiro has ranked Atalanta star Ademola Lookman as a more technically skilled player than Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

Peseiro, who worked with both players during his tenure as head coach of Nigeria’s national team, offered his insights in a recent interview with SportItalia via Football London.

Peseiro, who led Nigeria to a second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, praised Lookman’s technical abilities and goal-scoring prowess, suggesting that the Atalanta winger stands out in this regard.

“Ademola Lookman is more technical than Osimhen, more inclined to create the game, and is now also scoring. He is performing very well this year,” Peseiro stated. He credited Lookman’s development to his time under Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini and noted the winger’s high-level performances.

Peseiro also discussed the growth of both Lookman and Osimhen, attributing their progress to the strong tactical systems at Atalanta and Napoli.

“It’s no coincidence that they have both grown this year. This is because they are both within a good system of play. Atalanta and Napoli want the ball; they want to play and attack. In these conditions, players get excited like this. Italian football has changed a lot in the last few years,” he added.

Both Lookman and Osimhen have been linked with a summer transfer move to top European clubs, including Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. Reports suggest Arsenal are closing in on Lookman’s signature in a significant £42.5 million deal, with defender Jakub Kiwior potentially included as part of the transaction.

[BusinessDay]

Nigeria Police have confirmed that its personnel arrested and detained the missing whistleblower, PIDOM.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuwiya Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

Naija News reported that PIDOM, a social media whistleblower, who has leaked many government and security agencies classified memos to expose corruption, was declared missing on Friday.

In a series of reports by Naija News, on Friday, Nigerians and human rights activists, including former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, condemned the police for going after PIDOM.

Adejobi, on Saturday, said Isaac Bristol, who is behind the PIDOM handle, was arrested at a hotel in Rivers State.

The statement read: “In a well-coordinated effort, officials from the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) apprehended Bristol Isaac Tamunobiefiri, also known as PIDOM, on allegations of committing serious offenses that undermine the integrity of government operations. The arrest took place on August 5, 2024, in his hotel room Rivers State.”

He added that allegations against Bristol include leakage of classified documents and other cyber-related offenses. He assured that due diligence would be done in his case.

“There are several allegations levelled against the suspect, including unlawful possession, leakages of classified documents, cyber-related offenses, and others. We will do due diligence in carrying out thorough investigation into the cases.

“The force will leave no stone unturned to continually enforce the law and bequeath to Nigerians a more secure nation,” he added.

[NaijaNews]

Over 100 former employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have filed lawsuits against the apex bank at the National Industrial Court (NIC), seeking compensation and general damages following their recent dismissal.

According to reports, the staff were laid off as part of a reorganisation strategy implemented by President Bola Tinubu administration.

The plaintiffs argued that their termination, which came with years still left on their contracts, was abrupt and unjust. They are now demanding payment for their outstanding salaries, allowances, and other entitlements.

Lead Counsel for some of the affected staff, Mr. Ola Olanipekun (SAN), presented the court documents to journalists in Jos, Plateau State.

Olanipekun stated that the legal action was taken to enforce the plaintiffs’ rights to fair hearing. “The unlawful actions of the apex bank have caused monumental damages to my clients, amounting to hundreds of millions of Naira,” he said. “We are asking the court to ensure that the CBN pays all claimants their due monthly salaries, allowances, and other entitlements.”

Olanipekun highlighted the case of one claimant, who had nine years of service remaining. This individual would have earned N1,621,455.70 monthly, had the employment not terminated. The counsel is requesting that the court orders the CBN to pay N178,360,127.00—covering the period from the termination until the claimant’s expected retirement date on August 4, 2033.

Additionally, the claimant seeks N100,000,000 as general damages for wrongful termination, along with N30,000,000 to cover litigation costs. They also request a 21% post-judgment interest per annum on all awarded sums until fully paid, plus any further orders the court deems appropriate.

The Originating Summons, dated August 22, 2024, is supported by a 27-paragraph affidavit submitted by the claimant.

Recall that LEADERSHIP reported the mass layoffs in May 2024, citing the documentation in a letter titled “Re-organisation of the CBN”.

[Leadership]

Last week, the world was going to end! Or so we thought. Why?

When the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris concluded without any of the 82 Nigerian athletes returning with a medal around their necks, Nigerians were infuriated. They reacted vehemently. It was as if the world was going to end.

The anger was founded. This agonising process has become a recurring decimal in Nigeria’s sports history, a phenomenon described as ‘insanity’ by late German physicist, Albert Einstein in a famous but unverified quote – ‘doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result’.

The world did not end, even as the anger across Nigeria was palpable. The people bayed for blood, demanding the scalp of sports officials. The media was awash with criticism, condemnation, rebuke and abuse. I believe there were no street protests only because the people had just gone through another national protest over hunger and poverty in the land. That protest that hardly took off the ground and yielded nothing, only promises. Any additional march for sports in the land would suffer from protest-fatigue.

So, with tails tucked between the legs, Nigerians, as is wont, gave up the ‘fight’, retired into the cocoon of their other interests and allowed the world to go on jeje, any further attention for the Olympics left in ‘suspense-account’ till June of 2028, one month to the next Summer Olympics in Los Angeles beginning 14th July, 2028!

That’s the way things are done here in Nigeria!

That was the situation last week.

This week, the vitriol, awash in most local media, vaporised. The only noise was the faint receding echo of the voice of the very humble and honourable Nigerian sports minister, the only official that publicly accepted responsibility, defended his ministry, and apologised to Nigerians for the unacceptable performance. He pledged to investigate and uproot the causes, identify the culprits and ensure that the heads of guilty officials roll.

The only proviso, however, is that the country will have to wait, and that nothing must disturb and distract the other contingent of Nigerian athletes participating in the 2028 Paralympic Games that start in Paris this week.

This set of Nigerians are expected to win Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in their usual tradition and further douse the receding anger, pain and disappointment, even though it is also an optical illusion of the true state of Nigerian sports development.

So, life goes on, the world will not end!

The EPL resumes

This week, the English Premier League and other European leagues that started last week take firmer root in the soul of Nigerians. The debates and the arguments about Arsenal, Man U, Barca, Real, and so on, dominate the senses, extinguishing the remnant of any lingering thoughts and concerns over Paris 2024. The embers of that fire will only be fanned again and rekindled in 2028 in an annoying cycle that repeats itself like a broken vinyl record every 4 years.

In short, this week, life for the Nigerian sports fan has returned to the status quo, just as football resumes with its all-consuming power, taking over the sports interest of the millions of Nigerians that patronise it.

There are now other issues on Nigeria’s sports radar.

Foreign Coach for Super Eagles

It is a done deal that the Nigerian Football Federation have settled for hiring another White man from Europe to handle the Super Eagles. Some of those that are close to the corridors have been mentioning two names as the most likely candidates. Why the announcement has not been made within a few weeks to the most crucial series of matches that will determine the country’s fate in the African Cup of Nations in 2025, and the World Cup of 2026, no one knows.

A good reason may already have been created for the Super Eagles should they fail to win.

My personal position on the issue of foreign or indigenous coach for Nigeria’s national teams has not changed. Hiring a foreigner to handle the Super Eagles is just postponing Nigeria’s days in football slavery. Until Nigerians with qualification and experience are trusted and given the opportunity to do the job, to gain invaluable experience in the process and to lead the country into international battles, the Super Eagles will continue to find it hard to soar to the highest pinnacle.

The return of Samson Siasia!

He was once acknowledged as FIFA’s coach of the year. That was when he led Nigeria’s Under-20 to the finals of the World Youth Championship in 2005, the Under-23 national team to the finals of the Olympics in 2008, and a third-place at the Olympics in 2016.

In 2019, Samson Siasia was suspended by FIFA for 5 years following unsubstantiated charges of corruption against him.

Having served the suspension, he is now free to return to football. He may have been pencilled down as part of an interim consortium of coaches headed by Director of the Technical Department of the NFF, Austin Eguavoen, to handle the Super Eagles should a foreign coach not be hired in the next week.

That arrangement is laden with danger for Samson.

Should the team fail to win, his name will be added to those of other ‘failed’ Nigerian coaches and the door to a future as head of the Super Eagles will be slammed in his face.

Nigerians are waiting and watching the unfolding drama with interest!

Sports Federation Elections

The elections into national sports federations (with the exception of the Nigeria Football Federation) will likely take place before the end of the year.

Everybody accepts that the present federation constitutions fall short of what are in Nigeria’s best sports interests. The documents have suffered the doctoring of critical articles that render them partial to fair process and inclusiveness of all stakeholders. Best practises have been blurred by ignorance, the absence of experienced administrators in the system as a result of high turnover of experienced personnel in the sports ministry, and the lack of courage by successive sports ministers to confront the inter-loping puppeteers controlling the strings of Nigerian sports.

The Sports Minister has promised reforms.

Nigerians are waiting and watching to see what will happen.

The National Sports Festival!

Nigeria’s National Sports Festival is Africa’s biggest, single domestic multi-sports event. It is designed to feed Nigerian sports with the best budding talents in all sports. It is also the biggest program of the Federal Ministry of Sports development,

The next edition is scheduled to take place in about 6 months’ time in Ogun State.

With the developments on ground now, it will be the greatest miracle since the conversion of water to wine in the holy books should the festival hold next January.

Why? The answer is blowing in the wind.

Nigerians are, however, waiting and watching to see what will happen.

For a man who once vowed not to abide in Nigeria should Asiwaju Bola Tinubu emerge as president of Nigeria it could have been tempting to discard the pledge by Chief Bode George not to serve in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Disciplinary Committee that was constituted by the national leadership earlier this week.

Just as the threat to relocate from Nigeria with the advent of the Tinubu administration, the pledge not to serve in the High Chief Tom Ikimi-led committee had sufficient reasoning, even if faulty.

As about one of the most vicious critics of the president who he regularly referred to as Bola or some other condescending names, it is now open to debate if Chief George really saw some truths that many of us did not see as concerning the capacity of the man that was adoringly referred to as the Pathfinder of good governance in Lagos.

His successor, Tunde Fashola was the Consolidator, and Akiwunmi Ambode was the Actualiser before he was blown away.

So, whether Bode George saw beneath the veneer of political erudition that Tinubu espoused in Lagos and the Southwest is now open to question.

However, his vow not to serve in the Disciplinary Committee recently empaneled by the Ambassador Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee, NWC of the party is another issue.

His reason was that Ikimi was his junior in the party and met him in the party having been the first elected National Vice-Chairman, Southwest of the PDP.

In an interview on Arise News Television on Friday, August 23, 2024, George who is generally reputed as a rich depository of the institution that is the PDP easily broke down the issues in the party that according to him project the twin moves of reconciliation and discipline as presently being out of place in the face of the internal dynamics in the PDP.

As he pointed out the crisis in the party that led to the humiliation in the 2023 General Election flowed from the management of the presidential primaries.

These problems that have now been generally summarized as the Nyesom Wike problem flow from the discourteous abandonment of the party’s principles and procedures leading to the emergence of the 2023 presidential candidate.

The stance of Chief George that the decision to go against the pattern of rotating all positions between the North and South every eight years is also widely held by many as the bane of the crisis in the PDP.

To the chagrin of many party stakeholders, the party after zoning the office of national chairman to the North failed to cede the presidential ticket to the South.

After eight years of the presidency in the North, the prospect of the presidency going to the same region for another eight years was one that was anathema to many of the stakeholders. Not least, Wike who contested the ticket with Atiku and former Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

As George said yesterday, the failure of the Northern chairman of the party, Senator Iyorcha Ayu to resign his position as promised to allow a Southerner take the position was seen as a serious snub of the South.

Unfortunately, Atiku who emerged as the presidential candidate was not proactive enough to persuade his ally, Ayu to step down.

Bode George did not say it yesterday, but it is generally known that a 20-man committee constituted by the party to find a running mate for Atiku after the presidential primaries recommended Wike by 17 votes. That recommendation was discarded after initial reports that emissaries of Atiku had offered him the position. The offer according to some sources was pulled back on the claim that Northern political leaders were not too comfortable having a personality like Wike so close to power.

However, few believe this given what is generally believed as the claim that even before the presidential primaries Atiku had already picked Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.

That relationship was underlined by the fact that PDP delegates from Delta State voted for Atiku at the convention with the conviction that their man was set to become vice president.

So against the background of the claims of Bode George and the perceived betrayals Wike suffered at the hands of the party, the determination of the FCT minister to destroy the party could well be understood. That is besides the enormous handouts given to the party since especially 2019 when Wike was known to have projected Tambuwal for the presidency.

When Tambuwal on the convention ground turned his delegates to Atiku, it was seen as the ultimate betrayal.

As it is said, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, so when Chief George implied the scorning of Wike and some other stakeholders one could well imagine the crisis the PDP is facing.

Even more, the party named a disciplinary committee that has two Atiku allies, Chief Tom Ikimi and Eyitayo Jegede as chairman and secretary. That certainly does not show the kind of sincerity that is expected of a party committed to correcting the errors that led it to the pit.

However, whether the betrayals are enough reasons for Wike to sink the party he this week vowed not to defect from is another matter. Better ask a woman who loved a man who has been scorned.

As the 2025 presidential election in Cameroon looms, one question that seems to be on the minds of many is: Why is Paul Biya, at 91(or 93) years old, still holding on to power? After over 40 years at the helm of Cameroon’s leadership, one would think that the time for a dignified retirement had long passed. However, Biya’s continued presence on the political stage raises concerns about the state of democracy in Cameroon and the apparent reluctance of the Cameroonian populace to challenge a leader whose reign has spanned generations.

Without a doubt, Paul Biya, who took office in 1982, has become one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, a tenure that has outlasted numerous world leaders and seen the country through significant changes. Yet, despite this long tenure, the question remains: What has Biya’s leadership truly achieved for Cameroon? Under his watch, Cameroon has seen both periods of economic growth and stagnation, peace and conflict, particularly with the ongoing Anglophone crisis that has plagued the country for years.

Many Cameroonians have grown weary of the same old rhetoric that accompanies Biya’s campaigns and addresses. The promises of economic prosperity, stability, and development have become hollow to a populace that still grapples with poverty, corruption, and a lack of basic infrastructure. Biya’s continued grip on power seems more a testament to his political cunning and the lack of viable opposition than to any resounding success or popular support.

In his 90s, Paul Biya is not just an old man; he is a leader whose age raises serious concerns about his ability to govern effectively. This is as age brings with it inevitable physical and cognitive decline, which can impair judgment, decision-making, and overall leadership ability. Biya’s advanced age has sparked numerous speculations about his health, particularly as he has spent considerable time receiving medical care abroad.

In a country with a median age of just over 18 years, the stark contrast between the youthful population and their aging leader could not be more pronounced. Young Cameroonians, who represent the future of the nation, are increasingly disconnected from a leader whose experiences and outlook are far removed from the challenges they face today. The question then arises: Why has there not been a stronger push from the Cameroonian people, especially the youth, for Biya to step aside and allow for fresh leadership?

In fact, the reluctance to challenge Biya’s rule may stem from several factors, including fear of repression, political apathy, and a lack of viable alternatives. Biya’s government has not shied away from using force to quell dissent, and this has undoubtedly contributed to a culture of silence and submission among the populace. Additionally, decades of authoritarian rule have left a political landscape where opposition parties are weak, fragmented, and often co-opted by the ruling party.

However, the onus is on the Cameroonian people to demand change as a leader’s legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed, and it is within the power of the people to withdraw that consent if they believe their leader no longer serves their interests. The youth, in particular, must recognize the importance of their voice and their role in shaping the future of their country.

Cameroon, like any other nation, needs leadership that is attuned to the needs and aspirations of its people. It requires leaders who are not only physically capable but also mentally agile and open to new ideas. A nation led by a leader in their 90s, particularly one who has been in power for over four decades, is unlikely to embrace the innovation and change needed to address contemporary challenges.

Cameroon is at a crossroads. The country can either continue on its current path, with an aging leader at the helm, or it can choose a new direction, one that reflects the hopes and dreams of its youthful population. The choice ultimately lies with the Cameroonian people, but one thing is clear: It is time for a change.

As the 2025 election approaches, Cameroonians must ask themselves if they are content with the status quo or if they are ready to demand the leadership they deserve. After 40 years, it is not just Paul Biya’s age that is in question; it is the future of Cameroon itself.

At this juncture, it would have been logical to urge the leadership of ECOWAS to intervene by calling to order, particularly as he unarguably has a tight grip on power.  Unfortunately, Cameroon is not a member of ECOWAS as it identifies itself as central African.

The reason why African leaders need to intervene on behalf of the people of Cameroon over Biya’s hold on to power cannot be farfetched as his refusal to relinquish power after over four decades in office has set a dangerous precedent, especially at a time when democratic transitions are vital for the stability and development of the continent. In fact, his autocratic approach threatens to embolden other leaders in the region who may see extended rule as a viable path, thereby undermining democratic institutions and eroding the progress that has been made toward good governance in West Africa.

Despite the foregoing view, the distinction between Cameroon and West Africa, in terms of regional affiliation, does little to mitigate the broader implications of Biya’s “Tightism”. Even though Cameroon is part of the Central African region, the effects of his “Tightism” extend beyond geographical boundaries, affecting the political dynamics in West Africa as well. This underscores the interconnectedness of African politics, where the actions of one leader can have ripple effects across the continent. As ECOWAS continues its efforts to promote democracy and stability in West Africa, the specter of leaders like Biya looms large, reminding us of the persistent challenges to democratic governance on the continent.