Before 2015, Muhammadu Buhari had already attained near-mythical status in northern Nigeria. His name was a household one, his presence commanding spontaneous crowds wherever he went. Unlike the orchestrated gatherings of today, pre-APC Buhari rallies were largely organic — a stark contrast to the “crowd-renting” culture now thriving in the harsh realities of hunger and desperation. The hunger has created an entire ecosystem where crowds are hired for pittances, their purpose often forgotten mid-chant. But let’s move past that: “Ebi kii wo inu, ki oro mi wo” — when hunger bites, reason flees. “The crowd industry” is topic for another day.

The much-cited “12 million votes” that followed Buhari is no myth. In 2003, he secured 32% of the national votes against a sitting President, Olusegun Obasanjo. He replicated similar figures three times, each time consistently delivering over 12 million votes, except in 2007 when another northerner, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, momentarily dampened his dominance. Yet even against fellow northerners like Atiku Abubakar, Buhari’s pull remained formidable.

In 2015, Buhari commanded an unwavering core northern loyalty, backed by a voter population exceeding 30 million. His support base displayed a cult-like devotion — fierce, unexplainable, and at times, almost desperate for affirmation.

To many, Buhari embodies the ideal northern Muslim leader — an image crafted around perceived virtues of integrity, simplicity, and frugality, resonating strongly with the large poor population. His portrayal as incorruptible finds its roots in 2001 when Buhari openly championed the adoption of Sharia law across northern states. After President Obasanjo made remarks hinting at a possible halt to Sharia implementation, Buhari countered boldly, declaring that Sharia would “sweep across the country”. That stance, controversial as it was, boosted his reputation among northern faithful and later became a campaign liability in 2015 — one he overcame spectacularly, losing only three northern states.

Curiously, many analysts argue that Buhari himself is not a deeply religious individual and that his presidency showed little sign of any intent to “Islamise” Nigeria. His 2001 pronouncements were likely astute political moves, calculated to anchor his political fortunes in the conservative North. Regardless, his popularity has not waned. After eight years in office, he returned to Katsina State to a hero’s welcome, and more recently, was similarly celebrated in Kaduna — the place he fondly calls home.

In Working with Buhari, Femi Adesina, the president’s spokesman, recounts in Chapter 4 (“The Wailing Wailers”) how Buhari’s popularity in the north endured despite harsh criticisms and oppositions. Large crowds continued to welcome him enthusiastically during visits — a testament to his resilient support base.

Similarly, the seasoned journalist, Farooq Kperogi, put it succinctly: “Given the oversized influence of Islamic clerics in shaping public opinion in Muslim Northern Nigeria, no amount of logic, evidence-based reasoning, economic hardship, etc., will make the littlest dent on Buhari’s popularity in the Muslim North.”

Buhari’s silence, often criticised elsewhere, remains a language well understood by his northern followers.

In the 2023 elections, he was accused of not vigorously supporting his party’s candidate, Bola Tinubu. Though Buhari made a symbolic display by flashing his voter’s slip after casting his ballot for the APC, the damage had been done. Tinubu lost several strongholds, and whispers persist that Buhari subtly leaned toward Atiku during the election.

Yet Atiku is hardly Buhari. For all his attempts, Atiku remains an impostor in the quest for the northern crown. Winning national elections in Nigeria demands strategic galvanising — something Atiku has never mastered. Unlike Buhari, who inspired a mass movement, Atiku’s political fortunes lean heavily on deep pockets rather than organic followership.

In 2015, it was Tinubu and his ACN-led coalition that provided Buhari the national machinery to convert his 12 million cult following into presidential victory. In 2023, it was Nasir el-Rufai in the north and Nyesom Wike with his G5 friends in the south that oiled Tinubu’s path to Aso Rock.

Atiku’s weakness remains glaring: he has neither invested in people nor built structures. A political nomad at heart, he has no crop of protégés who can swear by him. His restlessness — hopping from one party to another — has made it difficult to birth genuine loyalty. Even the likes of Kwankwaso and Zulum stand taller today among the northern political elite.

However, as long as Nigeria’s electorate remains intentionally impoverished, the currency of election-day handouts will continue to purchase loyalty — albeit temporarily. Poverty remains the most potent voter mobiliser in our polity.

One wonders if the recent flurry of political visits to Kaduna — with Atiku among them — signals a growing acknowledgment of who still holds the North’s heart. Is the kingmaker role being courted again?

Buhari has been vilified, even by members of his own party, who accuse him of presiding over Nigeria’s worst economic decline. The numbers are unforgiving: Nigeria’s GDP shrank from nearly $600 billion in 2014 (pre-Buhari) to around $360 billion by 2023.

Critics are right — Buhari did not deliver on his economic promises. The naira weakened disastrously, and rather than creating jobs, his administration presided over record job losses. His heavy use of “ways and means” borrowing left a debt burden that future generations will carry.

Yet, despite his monumental failures, Buhari’s mystique in the north remains untouched. He has publicly declined invitations to support any political coalition, maintaining a surface-level loyalty to Tinubu. His careful aloofness signals a quiet acknowledgment of the old alliance — but it is his personal bond with the North that still speaks the loudest.

Karl Marx famously said that “history repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.”

In Buhari’s case, however, history appears stubbornly stuck in its first act. Despite criticisms, economic hardship, and unmet expectations, northern Nigeria’s affection for Buhari remains remarkably undiluted. As 2027 approaches, it is not a farcical imitation of past glories that inspires the region, but a genuine, almost nostalgic yearning for the man they still see as their champion. In a political landscape quick to discard old heroes, Buhari’s bond with the north defies Marx’s cynical progression — refusing to slip into farce.

As 2027 draws nearer, Buhari’s posture — whether active or silent — will matter. His perceived leanings could shape alliances, tilt balances, and ultimately decide who emerges victorious. Despite Tinubu’s tireless efforts to consolidate the south, he needs no reminder that no politician becomes President of Nigeria by losing the North by a wide margin.

And that is exactly where Buhari steps back into the centre of the story.

Who is visiting Buhari next? Goodluck Jonathan? Or PO himself?

At this point, Nigerian politicians have lost their ability to surprise me.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, has described inflation as the most significant threat to the economic welfare of Nigerians, pledging the CBN’s commitment to reducing inflation to single digits over the medium term.

Speaking at the conclusion of the 2025 IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., Cardoso emphasized the urgency of tackling inflation to stabilize household incomes and improve the cost of living across the country.

“Inflation remains the most disruptive force against the economic welfare of Nigerians. Our focus is to bring it down to single digits over the medium term,” Cardoso said.

Rising Inflation Rates and Economic Pressures 

In March 2025, Nigeria’s headline inflation rate surged to 24.23%, up from 23.18% in February, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

This sharp increase reflects persistent pressures on food prices, essential goods, and the broader cost of living, exacerbating economic challenges for millions of Nigerians.

The NBS report attributes the inflationary trend to rising prices of both food and non-food items, highlighting the need for sustainable monetary interventions.

Meanwhile, the IMF projects Nigeria’s inflation rate to average 26.5% in 2025, following the recent rebasing of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Although this marks a decline from 33.2% in 2024, inflation is expected to spike again to 37.0% by 2026, underlining the volatility of Nigeria’s economic landscape.

Investment and Reform Momentum 

Despite these challenges, Cardoso pointed to growing investor confidence in Nigeria’s reform agenda.

He referenced the country’s recent high-level investment forum at the Nasdaq Market Site in New York.

The event showcased Nigeria’s economic reforms and attracted interest from global investors and the diaspora, signaling optimism for the nation’s future economic trajectory.

Federal Government’s Economic Strategy 

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, echoed Cardoso’s sentiments, emphasizing the government’s focus on economic growth and job creation.

• Speaking at the same IMF and World Bank meetings, Edun outlined Nigeria’s ambitious target of achieving 7% economic growth, supported by investments in critical infrastructure such as digital connectivity, data access, and fibre optic networks.
• Edun highlighted the government’s strategy to mobilize domestic revenue and crowd in private sector investments, creating an environment conducive to business growth.

“By stabilizing the economy and driving private sector participation, we are creating sustainable jobs for young Nigerians and fostering inclusive growth,” Edun stated.

He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline, noting that Nigeria’s reform programme—spanning fiscal, monetary, and structural policies—has been recognized by international partners as being on the right track.

“Despite global uncertainty, Nigeria is poised for resilient, inclusive growth,” Edun added.

Pragmatic Fiscal Planning 

Edun emphasized the importance of flexible fiscal planning, stating, “A budget is a statement of intent; it must be continually recalibrated to reflect on-ground realities and available resources.”  

This approach emphasized the government’s focus on adapting to economic challenges while maintaining a clear vision for growth and stability.

As Nigeria navigates its economic challenges, the combined efforts of the CBN, the Federal Government, and international partners aim to address inflation, foster investment, and create a sustainable path toward economic prosperity.

What you should know  

In January 2025, the NBS updated the CPI base year from 2009 to 2024 to reflect more current household spending patterns.

• As a result, inflation figures were recalibrated, with the January rate easing to 24.48% from 34.80% in December 2024.
• The moderation continued in February, falling to 23.18%, before inching back up to 24.23% in March, indicating persistent cost-of-living pressures.

[Nairametrics]

The Federal Government has expressed worry over the increasing number of citizens falling victim to cyber slavery.

Naija News reports that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maitama Tuggar, said most young Nigerians were lured out of the country under the promise of lucrative jobs, particularly in crypto-related operations..

In a statement on Sunday by the Ministry’s spokesman, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Tuggar noted that victims of the fake job promoters online are being subjected to inhumane conditions and slavery.

He assured that the government was working with international partners to arrest the culprits.

Tuggar advised Nigerians to verify all employment offers through official channels and report suspicious cases to relevant authorities for necessary investigation and action to curtail the activities of the perpetrators.

It read: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes with grave concern the alarming rise of cyber slavery across parts of West Africa, targeting Nigerian citizens, particularly vulnerable youths. Many young Nigerians, including underage teenagers, are lured out of the country under the false promise of lucrative employment opportunities abroad, particularly in crypto-related operations.

“In reality, these individuals are trafficked into sophisticated scam operations and enslaved to work in criminal ‘call centres’ — often referred to as ‘419 cyber-scam factories’. There, they are forced under coercive and inhumane conditions to send thousands of fraudulent emails, text messages, and calls aimed at defrauding victims worldwide.

“The Ministry notes with dismay a recent incident where the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) in Accra, Ghana rescued and detained a group of Nigerians forced to engage in cybercrime activities under inhumane conditions. This incident highlights the severe exploitation and abuse associated with cybercrime operations. It also underscores the need for enhanced efforts to combat such multibillion-dollar criminal networks and mitigate the susceptibility of victims.

“The Ministry strongly warns all Nigerians, especially the youths and parents, to exercise the utmost caution when presented with job offers, particularly those promising easy money, overseas travel, or remote work involving cryptocurrencies. Nigerians are therefore advised to verify all employment offers through official channels and report suspicious cases to relevant authorities for necessary investigation and action to curtail the activities of the perpetrators.

“The Ministry wishes to assure the general public that, as a precautionary measure to address this unfortunate situation, the Federal Government is working closely with regional partners, law enforcement agencies, and international organizations to tackle this heinous crime, rescue victims, and bring perpetrators to justice.

“The Ministry remains committed to protecting Nigerian citizens at home and abroad and will continue to raise awareness about emerging threats to the welfare and dignity of our people.”

[NaijaNews]

Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has disclosed that he was on the verge of joining Nottingham Forest in 2023.

The Nigerian international, who is having a brilliant season with Fulham, bagged an assist to help his team defeat Southampton 2-1 in Saturday’s Premier League.

Speaking with Fulham Fan News, the former Arsenal star stated that he got a phone call from Super Eagles defender Ola Aina to join Nottingham Forest, but he decided to pitch tent with Fulham.

“There was interest, the main interest came from Nottingham Forest,” Aina said, per Fulham Fan News.

“The manager at the time called me, and he asked what I was thinking about joining. Ten minutes later, Ola (Aina) has called me, and he’s like, ‘Alex, you’re coming to Nottingham Forest; the manager just called me and said, persuade Alex’.

“I could have been linking up with Ola, but eventually they didn’t put in a bid, and only Fulham did, so that was that.”

Gunmen have abducted Harira Abdullahi, the wife of the District Head of Aboro in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Alhaji Shuaibu Suleiman Galadima, alongside his daughter, Maryam Suleiman Galadima.

It was learnt that the incident occurred around 7:36 pm on Sunday when the attackers stormed the district head’s residence and whisked away the two women.

A resident of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the development to our reporter on Monday morning. According to him, the attack threw the area into confusion as residents mobilised to rescue the abducted victims.

“But as we followed them into the bush to try and rescue the kidnapped persons, the gunmen opened fire on us. Sadly, they shot dead one of our members, Umar Abdullahi, and injured another, Suleiman, who is currently receiving treatment at a hospital,” he said.

He added that the deceased had been buried according to Islamic rites.

The source called on the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of the abducted wife and daughter of the traditional ruler, and to ensure the safety of the community.

Efforts to get a reaction from the Kaduna State Police Command were unsuccessful as the spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, did not respond to inquiries by our reporter as of the time of filing this report.

Kidnapping for ransom has remained a major security challenge in parts of Kaduna State, particularly in rural communities.

[DailyTrust]

There is currently growing confusion within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State following widespread rumours that Governor Nasiru Idris may be planning to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The speculation was fueled by a viral report which named Idris among five serving APC governors who are said to be considering joining forces with the 2023 PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in a bid to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

However, despite the report going viral on social media, the state government has remained silent on the issue for over 48 hours, fueling speculation that there might be some truth in the rumours.

The prolonged silence has intensified anxiety among party members and residents, who are now left to wonder about the political future of the governor and the state’s political dynamics.

DAILY POST observed that despite being in the opposition, the PDP has a strong presence in Kebbi State.

The three senators representing the state in the National Assembly – Adamu Aliero (North), Yahaya Abdullahi (Central) and Garba Musa Maidoki (South) – are all members of the PDP.

Amid growing uncertainty surrounding Governor Nasiru Idris’ future in the APC, former Governor Adamu Aliero continues to wield significant influence in Kebbi State politics.

Although Aliero switched to the opposition PDP, his political experience remains undeniable, with many viewing him as a key decider in the state’s electoral outcomes.

This strong representation has given the opposition party a strong foothold in Kebbi.

In the 2023 gubernatorial election, Governor Idris of the APC won by a narrow margin, securing just 52% of the votes to defeat his main rival, retired Army General Aminu Bande of the PDP.

The rumours of Governor Idris’s defection have triggered an internal crisis within the APC, with several party members expressing concern over the future direction of the party.

In particular, some top members have been reported to be in talks with opposition parties, including the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in anticipation of a possible defection by the governor.

These have led to widespread uncertainty among APC members, especially in the governor’s ward, Nassarawa II, where there is growing confusion over what lies ahead.

To quell the growing unrest, the Chairman of the APC in Kebbi State, Muhammad Zuru, issued a public statement cautioning party members against aligning with what he described as “so-called emerging political parties,” including the SDP.

“As party members, we must remain loyal and sincerely support both the party and the government,” he stated.

The speculation has since stirred mixed reactions among APC members in the state.

In interviews with DAILY POST, some APC members dismissed the reports as baseless while others are increasingly concerned that the governor’s defection could soon become a reality.

“I don’t believe it’s true,” Alhaji Sani Bello, a senior APC member from Brinin Kebbi Local Government Area said.

“This is just one of those rumours that tend to surface every election cycle. Governor Idris is too committed to the APC to leave now, especially after the victory in the last election,” he added.

However, not everyone shares Bello’s optimism. A party member from the governor’s ward in Nassarawa II, Brinin Kebbi, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed a more cautious outlook.

“The silence from the government is worrisome. We are deeply concerned. The situation looks increasingly serious on a daily basis, and if the governor defects, it could spell the end of APC dominance in Kebbi State. I fear that the defection might be imminent.”

Another APC stalwart, Ahmed Jibril, who has been involved in local politics for years, added that the APC’s declining fortunes could lead to defections.

“It’s possible that Governor Idris is considering joining forces with Atiku. The APC is fractured in this state and the national level, and some of us are already looking at alternatives. If the governor makes the move, others will follow. It’s all about survival in the political game.”

While some members are concerned about Governor Idris’s alleged defection, there is also growing chatter within the APC about the possibility of Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami stepping into the governor’s role in 2027.

Some party members have expressed strong support for Malami, whom the described as a viable alternative and a leader who could unite the party in these uncertain times.

Historically, Kebbi has been a stronghold of the APC, but recent events have exposed the cracks within the party.

Meanwhile, several efforts to reach Kabir Sani-Giant, the Special Adviser to Governor Nasiru Idris on Power and Politics, were unsuccessful.

Sani-Giant has remained unreachable following his recent suspension from the APC.

He was recently suspended for allegedly bringing a snake into the Government House and intimidating dignitaries and officials.

[DailyPost]

In the early days of Globacom, its chairman, Dr Mike Adenuga Jnr, hosted a team of editors from the Nigerian Tribune. One of them asked him why he was still working hard, making money, and working even harder despite the billions he already had. His answer was that “working hard has become a habit.”

As I heard that, I remembered that American clergyman and popular columnist, Frank Crane (1861-1928), once said that “habits are safer than rules; you don’t have to watch them. And you don’t have to keep them either. They keep you.”

A century and three years ago, Maude B. Muse told a class of student nurses in New York City that human character manifests itself by a system of habits. He identified those typologies as habits of mind and habits of behaviour. The sum total of these habits, he said, is what makes a ‘personality’.

So, what is ‘habit’ or what is the habitual? Early 20th century American psychologist, John Watson, found the concept useful in analysing human conduct. He explained ‘habit’ as simply a “system of (acquired) reflexes or responses…” A reflex is what happens automatically. Now, imagine the man to whom work and philanthropy are reflex actions. There is no man without a minus, a weakness. The one whose strengths and pluses trump the minuses is the good person.

The man will be 72 tomorrow surrounded by abundance of good and grace. Those who know him say the habit of diligent attention to details clings forever to the hard worker. They say he works online and offline almost 24 hours a day. They wonder when the Spirit of Africa sleeps – or if he sleeps at all.

‘The Habit of Success’ was the topic of a talk given at the Technical School, Cincinnati, United States in 1899 by E. R. Booth, author and historian. The speaker, in very few words, addressed the connection between habit and success. He said “success grows from what it feeds upon.” He explained that “few things render more satisfaction than the consciousness of reasonable success in whatever you undertake. Success today will make you more able to succeed tomorrow; and tomorrow’s success is but the forerunner of that of the next day, the next week, the next month, the next year. Thus the habit is formed, and you learn to look forward to the duties ahead of you…”

In their songs, King Sunny Ade and Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey are generous in celebrating the man who will be 72 tomorrow. He is that Nigerian simply called ‘chairman’ in circles of gilded chairmen and everyone understands who that ‘chairman’ is.

Elephant is not an animal you point at with one finger. It is the big one “whom one sees and points at with all one’s fingers.” That is how the poet describes “the opulent creature” in the ‘Salute to the Elephant’, a Yoruba hunter’s chant – Ijálá. The poet says: “The hunter’s boast at home is not repeated when he really meets the elephant/ The hunter’s boast at home is not repeated before the elephant.” I adopt these lines word for word for The Spirit of Africa.

It is normal for people to write or sing about men and women of consequence in celebration of their milestones. Unworthy persons commission eulogies; real men of worth get them as gifts. When Adenuga turned 70 two years ago, I am well aware of close friends and colleagues who celebrated the man unasked, unprompted and in writing. With The Bull, yearly tributes pouring in weeks before his day of celebration has become a habit for those who know the weight of his humanness. I have read tomes in the last two weeks, yet, his day is tomorrow.

The billionaire sits quietly behind what he habitually calls his parapet, in his office – or at home – checking what more work to do, what new horizons to conquer, who else to help. He picks and ticks beneficiaries, dispenses favours and still says no to attempts at telling him ‘thank you.’

No matter what good you do, or how good you are, some persons somewhere will sit in the dark throwing darts; some audacious ones will even stand on the mountaintop abusing you. But, that precisely is why the Yoruba ancestor asked his child to endeavour to have 800 friends.

“An Omoluabi is defined as someone who has 200 friends. So, why do I need 800?” The child asked.

“Because you need so many. If 400 speak ill of you, there will be 400 available to speak well of you.”

Adenuga has more than 800 friends; many of them he himself may not know. I am one of them. I have never met him in person but I have moved close enough to his shadow to feel his love for this space, my space; for my cursive discourses, for the gait in my output, and he says so. So, when I write as I do here, it is to say thank you to the one who has been very kind.

We all come to this world equipped for success. Maude Muse (quoted earlier) said, “Each individual begins life with a certain modest capital, a loan from Mother Nature. It is a fund of innate tendencies common to the species with certain variations peculiar to the individual. It becomes a permanent possession only when invested in habits. It may be squandered to form bad habits or, if misused, will disappear like ‘fairy gold.’” Successful people are those who invest their loan from nature wisely. If you invest yours well and you use it well, you may become a hard worker like Adenuga. And, if fortune smiles on you, you become what he has become – blessed and a blessing; a success.

“I am a defector, my dictionary defines the act of defecting as ‘abandoning a person or a cause, apostacy, revolt, backsliding.’ Not to put too fine an edge on it, I am a traitor…” (Joseph Frolik in ‘The Frolik Defection: The Memoirs of an Intelligence Agent’).

If in 2003 Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu did what Ifeanyi Okowa and the Delta State governor did in April 2025, he would not be president in 2023. Tinubu is president because long ago, he knew the power of staying strong, holding on and rowing hard inside his own boat. He clearly knew that “tough times don’t last, only tough people do.” It is the reason he stands.

If Tinubu had insisted on contesting the presidency in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019, he would have lost on each of those occasions. And, losing exhausts and dissipates the loser. And, if he lost on those successive occasions, by now, he would be ragged, tired and thrashed. I hope all serial entitled contesters would reflect on this.

If Tinubu had refused to back down on his vice presidential ambition in 2015, and had, in anger, poured salt into the engine of his party, he would not have, in 2023, succeeded the man who jilted him and their agreement.

If Tinubu had vowed ‘Senate or nothing’ in 2007, where would he have been today? He tried going to the Senate in 2007. There was a storm. He used his might to pick the ticket but found it too hot for him to hold without losing his prized Lagos. He weighed the trophies, dropped the Senate ticket for Ganiyu Solomon and retained Lagos. He said: “I had obtained and filled the INEC form to go to the Senate, then I realised that I have a governorship candidate, Mr Babatunde Fashola and Obasanjo was the president, determined to win Lagos State. I told myself, ‘if I go ahead I will strive to win my seat while leaving Fashola to his fate’. Then one morning, I called Gani (Ganiyu Solomon) and told him to follow me to Abuja, we landed and off we went to INEC office, withdrew my form and handed him another form. Gani was shocked, he asked me for what sir, I said fill the form, he did and that was how I was able to concentrate in the governorship election, Fashola won and Gani (Solomon) also won his seat. We must make sacrifices.” If Tinubu had insisted on going to the Senate in 2007 and had lost Lagos that time, he probably would not be president of Nigeria today.

If Tinubu had, like the Delta defectors, feared arrest and trial for his sins (and we are all sinners), he would have abandoned his ACN and run into Goodluck Jonathan’s party in 2011. That was when the Code of Conduct Bureau got him arrested and the Code of Conduct Tribunal docked and took his plea for offending the law. And, if he had caved in that time, he would not be Commander-in-Chief today. Right before him this hour, those who arrested and tried him yesterday are on their knees. With total submission, they bow and pay him in hard currencies of homage and obeisance.

I have always believed that a life of political engagement is full of perks but fraught with risks. People should be ready to take the heat of those risks or they get out of the kitchen.

The vice presidency is just one life away from the very top job. Senator Ifeanyi Okowa almost became our vice president in 2023. Last week, he proved that he was (and forever is) unworthy of being in the presidency. He abandoned the rudder and jumped into the ship of the enemy. If he had been vice president and, like Goodluck Jonathan, become president, he most probably would have pleaded being under pressure and handed over our country to the enemy across the border. A trainee who jumped ship would sell his craft to the enemy if put in the cockpit.

Defectors are deserters. In war, desertion is a capital offence. William May in his ‘The Sin Against the Friend: Betrayal’ holds that betrayal and treason are babies of the same womb. He says: “Every act of betrayal—whether public or private—involves a very simple triad: the betrayer, the betrayed, and the enemy. In its primary form, the sin may be defined as a deed whereby we deliver into the hands of the enemy those who have placed themselves trustingly into our hands.” The Latin root for the terms ‘betrayal’ and ‘treason’, May says, is ‘tradere’ which means to “hand over, to hand on, to deliver, hence to betray.” The Greek word for ‘betray’ is ‘paradidomi’. It also means literally “to hand over or to deliver over” someone or something under one’s care. I heard those who defected in Delta State promising to deliver their people to their enemy in the next elections. Their act, their words and their lineup ghastly define betrayal with all its synonyms.

I heard the acting chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, saying the next election won’t be about how many governors a party controls. Really? He referenced Peter Obi, candidate without governors, whose velocity and momentum harvested votes in hurricane proportions in 2023. Perhaps, Obi would have won that election if he had just four governors to write some more election results for him. But he had none to match those who had heist for heist. Regime politicians who are buying governors and ex-governors; who are gathering dry wood and wet wood know the degree of fire they need to cook their enemies in the next desperate contest for food, power and privileges.

All armies know the worth of proven horses of war. That is why no side in war condones defection. A political party is an army just as politics is war. An army properly called, at great and in all costs, forbids desertion. When an army is fissured to the extent that it cannot keep its troops and commanders, its fate won’t be about just losing the present or the next war; it will die. Splits and side switching kill armies and their troops; depletion of human assets pushes a political party into the Intensive Care Unit.

Like Sango, Tinubu falls on his enemies like the blacksmith’s hammer. Bola Tinubu is not yet half-way into his first term but he is already all out buying all sorts of broke and terrified players in the other companies. Even Kwankwaso, owner of Kano and its two million votes, may soon steam his own ship under so that in peace and tranquility Tinubu’s submarine will sail smoothly into 2027. The proprietor of the NNPP was at the Villa a few days ago where he described the president as his brother and friend since 1992. Can the PDP and all who seek to dethrone Tinubu in 2027 find out why people who leave this president’s fold always go back to him and those he takes rarely leave? Why does he not lose his prized officers and men to his enemies?

But how useful will these defectors be to Tinubu’s army? Village nut crackers know what it means to expend energy and resources on nuts that lack kernels. I read stuffs online and listen to informed commentaries in critical circles. One stakeholder agreed that if Tinubu had behaved like the defectors, he won’t be in power today but queried how terrified, captured troops would be able to deliver victory to their captors. He said, “Even if INEC decamps to APC, it won’t change anything. The people will not support them (the defectors) since they did not join APC on account of any sterling performance or out of love for Tinubu.”

Some others say the defection blitzkrieg from the battle tanks of the potentate in Abuja was a counter-offensive. Regime loyalists say the defections were brilliant results of deft moves of the only political genius in Nigeria. A newspaper headline yesterday said ‘Tinubu’s counter-attack scatters opposition.’ The wounded parties say the fisher of men caught his latest captives with bribe or bludgeon – or both. Whichever, the man deserves some applause and I am giving it to him. But that appears to be where it ends.

Why is the genius in politics not felt in governance? Or is politicking both the means and the end of politicking? The World Bank said last week that more Nigerians will fall into poverty in 2027. Every Nigerian knows this projection to be an understatement. The prediction is already true in 2025. Yet, a genius is in charge of our affairs.

As elections come, and elections go, hunger and insecurity worsen for the people; the system decays while politicians who run it get better. Privileged power elite in the south are busy messing up themselves in the banquet hall. From the elite of the north comes a stream of threats of doing Pakistan if this India won’t be theirs to use and keep. The people are not the reason for the threats. The entire north – north west and north east and north central – is wracked by mass poverty, mass hunger, mass death. The United Nations in January this year, in a report, painted a horrific picture of what life and living in Nigeria, particularly in the north, would be this year: “In 2025, 33 million people in Nigeria will face acute food insecurity during the lean season with alarming levels of malnutrition threatening millions of children. In Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, 5.1 million people will be affected.” The report added that 3.6 million people were already in need of life-saving assistance in those states while “a total of 7.8 million people are considered to be in need of humanitarian assistance.” The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, who read the report said the needs were “driven by conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability”, with the compounding effects of flooding, disease outbreaks, food insecurity and malnutrition deepening vulnerabilities. You won’t hear the elite issue threats because of these; they won’t hold conclaves on these because these problems are not theirs to suffer. Vulnerability is never an elite malaise. They would rather jump ship than suffer any loss of altitude.

“Seasons come and go, but nothing ever happens. We are never saved.” That sums up our situation. It is the simplification – or domestication – of a verse of despair and helplessness in the Bible: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jeremiah 8:20). The despair in that verse is followed by a barrage of desperate, desolate demands: “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing of the land?” You and I know why there can’t be any healing of this land. If this land is healed and made to walk, our doctors will lose their job, their billions will lose value and their status debased.

The president comes on fiery as Sango. Sango is the spirit that commands relatives of his victims to come give thanks. Worshippers of Sango say he folds his arms deceitfully before causing havoc (Ebiri ká’wó pòn’yìn s’oró). They say he is the owner of the jungle from whom people must run (Oní’gbèé à n sá fún). They call Sango gatherer and keeper of important heads for special use (A sa nlá nlá orí pa mó). He is the one who fights dirty and still maintains his innocence. To President Tinubu I present this tribute. 

A brilliant ex Tribune, ex The Guardian top journalist (now in the US) gasped at the game of Delta. He chose to salute our Sango and his feat in his own words – these: “The Lagosisation of Abuja is fully on course. The judiciary. Checked. The legislature. Checked. The five fingers of a leprous hand, well on course. What’s left? A Daniel Kanu for the mother of all rallies — one million man march! Could anyone have imagined that even Abacha was a learner; that, in the camp of the ‘progressives’ was the ultimate idán gangan? Who cares about food on the table of voters, or jobs, or good hospitals, or fuel prices? All steakholders – sorry, stakeholders – have been taken care of one way or another. The state is me! L’etat, c’est moi! Pure genius!!”

The 17th Headies Awards paid a tribute to the late Afrobeat singer Mohbad, celebrating his life, music and lasting impact on fans.

A video montage featuring his music videos accompanied a narrative that highlighted his journey and influence.

The emotional tribute described Mohbad as a star whose spirit and voice would never be forgotten, noting that his music was more than just sound, it was a movement.

The tribute reads in part: “Some voices are too powerful to be forgotten, some spirits shine so bright they leave a mark that cannot be erased. Mohbad was one of those stars. From the streets of Lagos to the heart of millions, Mohbad’s music was more than sound; it was a movement… Rest in peace, Mohbad, your light will never fade.”

Mohbad was also posthumously awarded the ‘Best Street-hop Artist’ with his song ‘Ask About Me’.

The award was accepted on his behalf by members of his family, including, his wife Wunmi, son, Liam and younger brother Adura.

[TheNation]