A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Salihu Lukman has said that President Bola Tinubu was failing in the task of governing the country.

Lukman, who resigned his position recently as the National Vice Chairman (Northwest) of the APC, said the President has been toeing the same line of failure as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that led to the “wasted years”.

Lukman noted that virtually every Nigerian leader, with probably, negligible exceptions, are self-centred.

According to him, they have limited engagements with President Tinubu to only what they can get from him in terms of appointments into his government.

The former Director General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, (PGF) conveyed his message in an open letter on Wednesday.

Lukman, in his letter, entitled, ‘Burden of Leadership,’ said, “Already, with the way former President Buhari had managed the country for eight years, in the same political orientation PDP ran the country for sixteen years, President Tinubu is justifiably, continuing that path.

“Our leaders who led the merger negotiation to produce APC in 2013, owe it to Nigerians, to call President Tinubu to order and get him to recover whatever is left of his democratic and progressive credentials.

“APC leaders and President Tinubu must resist the temptation of toeing the path of self-destruction by continuing to operate as a closed government.

“Achieving that will require readiness on the part of all APC leaders to make all the sacrifices to regain their respect back, based on which they emerged as leaders and not bosses.

“Although, being a self-acclaimed Awoist and progressive, not coming from a military background like former President Buhari, the expectation of many is that he will at least, be more democratic.

“This should connote more consultations, based on which perhaps, the structures of the APC as a political party would be made more functional.”

He however observed that Tinubu passed the first test with the zoning of the leadership positions of the 10th National Assembly and by extension, the present government.

“Confronted with a hostile party leadership under Senator Abdullahi Adamu who was decidedly anti-zoning, to be fair to President Asiwaju Tinubu, he was able to handle the situation to the best of his ability, based on which he produced a balanced leadership for the 10th National Assembly.

“Unfortunately, most of our APC leaders from the North, for whatever reasons, were speculated to have worked at variance with the initiatives of President Tinubu to produce a balanced leadership.

“That could have been partly, responsible for the complete lack of attempt to forge a united front with President Tinubu and party leaders from the North, to ensure that the successor to Senator Adamu as APC National Chairman is produced through consultations.”

Dr Lukman berated political office holders in the Tinubu administration, accusing them of accumulating financial resources for the 2027 general election.

He said, “Our leaders occupying political offices are busy accumulating financial resources, legitimately or otherwise for future elections.

“We must caution our leaders, as things are, they are on the verge of self-destruction. It is very clear that President Tinubu’s respect for political leaders in the country is weak, largely because of the failure to act as leaders.

“Virtually, all APC leaders are behaving more like bosses. Accordingly, this is now a source of threat with the potential danger of leaders completely losing relevance and unable to command the respect of citizens.”

Lukman said the least will be for APC and President Tinubu to lose elections in 2027, pointing to threats of rebellion against the leadership in the country.

“Given all these, any conclusion about APC shortchanging Nigerians can hardly be dismissed.

“Making APC a functional party is about ensuring that all organs of the party are allowed to operate as provided in the party’s constitution. Anything short of that will only contribute to destroying democracy in Nigeria,” he added.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has further moved to curb inflation and stabilise the exchange rate, thereby fostering a more balanced economic environment, through the completion of another round of Treasury Bills (T-Bills) auction, offloading about N1.3 trillion at a striking 21.490 per cent.

The auction, which took place on March 6, 2024, saw the bills being offered across three different tenors.

According to the Summary of Auction Result, the highest interest, or stop rate, was recorded for the 364-day tenor at a striking 21.490 per cent.

This maturity date is slated for March 6, 2025, and it had an offer of over N312 billion, with subscriptions skyrocketing to nearly N1.54 trillion.

The CBN has successfully allotted the same amount as the initial offer, showing a robust appetite from investors, which has continued to soar in recent times.

In comparison, the shorter tenor T-Bills drew a more modest interest rate, with the 91-day bills closing at a stop rate of 17.240% and the 182-day bills at 18.000%.

The 91-day bills, maturing on June 6, 2024, saw an offer of N14.4 billion and received an oversubscribed interest of over N66 billion.

All the offered amount was allotted to bidders. Similarly, the 182-day bills had an offer of N10.5 billion and were subscribed to over N51 billion. The maturity date for these bills is set for September 5, 2024.

The range of bids for the different tenors varied, with the 91-day bills having a bid range of 15.9000% – 22.0000%, the 182-day bills slightly narrower at 14.0000% – 22.0000%, and the 364-day bills having bids placed between 17.0000% and 27.0000%.

These results highlight the CBN’s continuous efforts to regulate liquidity and control inflation by issuing treasury bills. The high stop rate of 21.490% on the 364-day tenor indicates an aggressive stance by the CBN in curbing excess liquidity, which could be seen as a move to attract more investors to government securities.

The decision to significantly raise the volume of treasury bills auctioned, especially for the 364-day tenure, underscores the CBN’s commitment to addressing the liquidity surplus in the economy.

A forensic analyst has told a federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Maitama that the documents used to request the payment of $6.2 million for foreign election observers were forged.

Bamaiyi Meriga, the forensic analyst, said this on Thursday while giving evidence as a witness in the trial of Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Emefiele is standing trial on a 20-count amended criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The amended charges border on alleged breach of trust, forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, procurement fraud and conspiracy to commit a felony

The supply of US dollars at the foreign exchange market plunged by 42 per cent to 168.98 on Wednesday, days after Binance announced the existence of the Nigerian exchange market.

FMDQ data showed that the turnover of USD plunged on Wednesday to $168.98 at the close of work from $291.74 on Tuesday.

The figure represents a $122.76 reduction in USD supply compared to $291.74 on Tuesday.

The development had led to a consecutive drop in Naira at the official forex market to 1,605.74 per USD on Wednesday and N1,602.43 the previous day.

Recall that on Monday, Binance informed users that any remaining NGN balances would be automatically converted to Tether, USDT stablecoin after March 8 amid a regulatory clampdown by the Nigerian Government.

The Nigerian Government had blamed Binance for the continued forex crisis in the country.

However, despite the regulatory move against Binance and other cryptocurrency platforms, Africa’s populous country’s FX crisis has yet to be resolved.

An FCT High Court sitting in Kubwa has struck out the N1 billion suit brought against a former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, while he was in office.

Also sued was a civil servant, Ms Asabe Waziri and two others – the office of the former minister and the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The suit was brought against the former minister in his personal capacity along with Waziri and the two others by an Abuja-based property developer, Mr Cecil Osakwe.

But Justice Oluyemisi Adelaja, on Thursday, struck out the matter, citing lack of diligent prosecution by Osakwe.

“The claimant is the one who filed the action and is required to be seen diligently prosecuting same but they are not in court and there is no reason for their absence before the court.

“They have, therefore, been absent without reason and consequent upon Order 32 Rule 4, this case is ordered struck out for want of diligent prosecution,’’ Adelaja ordered.

It would be recalled that in June 2022, the Federal Government had filed a two-count charge with suit number FCT/HC/CR/244/2022, against Osakwe for advance fee fraud to the tune of N130 million.

The suit also alleged criminal intimidation of Waziri, a staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, saying that Osakwe had threatened Waziri with injury to her person and reputation with intent to cause her harm and even death.

Waziri was said to have purchased a two-bed property from Osakwe to the tune of N130 million at Maitama, an up-market district of the FCT.

Following the two-count charge against Osakwe, he proceeded to file a lawsuit against the erstwhile attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice.

Others joined in the suit included the Federal Ministry of Justice and Waziri.

Through his Counsel, Mr Victor Giwa, Osakwe sought reliefs, including an order directing Malami to pay the sum of N1 billion to him as punitive damage.

The developer also sought an order directing the defendants to pay jointly and severally, the sum of N100 million to him as general damages.

The spokesman of Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Paul Ibe, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu once encouraged former President Muhammadu Buhari to print naira in 2020.

Ibe made the disclosure while criticizing the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, over his comment on the printing of N22.7 trillion under Buhari’s administration.

Edun had said the printing of N22.7 trillion by the Central Bank of Nigeria in the name of a Ways and Means loan under Buhari’s government and ex-CBN governor Godwin Emefiele was responsible for the current rising inflation and economic hardship in Nigeria.

Speaking during an interface with the Senate Committee on Finance, the minister said the Ways and Means of loans of N22.7 trillion under the past administration was done aimlessly.

He further stated that the alleged reckless spending of the overdraft collected from the CBN under Emefiele largely accounted for the country’s food and security crises.

He vowed that Tinubu’s government would audit the CBN printing in the last eight years.

Reacting, Ibe faulted the minister’s remark stressing that Tinubu encouraged Buhari to toll such an irresponsible path in 2020.

Posting on Facebook, Ibe wrote: “Why is Wale Edun, who is more like oku eko (frozen fish) in this administration, bleating like a goat over the issue of Buhari’s printing of Naira? It was Bola Tinubu, as National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, who in 2020, encouraged Buhari on this irresponsible path of printing currency not matched with productivity.”

Reveals Herbert Wigwe’s Unwavering Support During His Dethronement

The Night of Tributes for the late Group Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, continued in Lagos yesterday, with the leader of the Tijjaniyya movement and 14th Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi, captains of industry and political bigwigs paying tributes to the deceased.

Emir Sanusi broke down thrice while paying tribute to Herbert Wigwe. Each time he broke down, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Aig-Imoukhuede and an aide comforted him. The aide had to spread his babanriga to shield his teary face from the audience. Recall that Herbert Wigwe died in a helicopter crash, along with his wife, Doreen, son, Chizzy and former Managing Director of Nigerian Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, in the US.

Aside from Emir Sanusi, other personalities, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, also paid tributes to the deceased. Also in attendance were Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President Dangote Group, Aigboje Aig- Imoukhuede, Chairman Coronation Group, Henry Imasekha, Chairman/CEO – Berkeley Group Plc, among other dignitaries. Speaking on the occasion, teary Sanusi said that due to Herbert’s kind gestures towards him and his family, some people believed he owned Access Bank, while Aig- Imoukhuede, and Herbert were fronting for him.

He said: “It was on a Saturday, I had no idea about what happened. I came to the airport waiting for a plane and I got a call from Bola Adeshola, and we were chatting. After two sentences, he said, Lamido you haven’t heard? “About two years ago, I put all my savings into a Trust for the education of my children, I have many and my priority as a father is to make sure that when I pass away, they will have good education. I told Herbert ‘I am placing you in charge of this Trust for the education of my children because I know that even if I die and did not leave any money, you will educate my children. “I thought I would die before Herbert.”

After that, he burst into tears. “When I had problems in Kano, I called him about six months before I was to leave Kano, and I said to him, ‘Herbert I know you will give all your best to solve all these problems, but I am convinced that this is what is going to happen.’ And he said to me ‘your highness, don’t worry, whatever happens, don’t worry we are here for you.’

“On the day I heard on the radio that I was dethroned, the night before it happened, I called and said I want to come to Lagos. The announcement was made at about 9am, by noon, Herbert had a plane at the tarmac in Kano. I put my family on that plane, no message, no phne call, I put them on that plane. Herbert received them, put them in a hotel, and later got them accommodation for months.

When I came we stayed there. “Some people believe I own access bank and Aig and Herbert are fronting for me. They gave me the cars and the drivers, they gave me security and a private jet and they ask for nothing and they don’t talk about it. I have lived in Lagos for four years, the house my family lives in was provided by Herbert.

“When I heard of his death, I said ‘in the coming weeks and months, people will get to know Herbert the human being’. They know him as a banker, as a business man, they don’t know him as a human being. He was always about others, not about himself. You can’t imagne how one human being could have been so many things to so many people.

“On the day before this happened, I was on a chat group when somebopdy made a few remarks about Herbert that I found offensive and I defended Herbert. I made my point very clear that this was totally unacceptable.

“A few days after Herbert died; a friend called me and sent me a message. He has sent a message to Herbert at about 3:20 am that morning (day of the crash), telling him how I had stood up and defended him and forwarded my entire message to him. ‘’Herbert replied at 3:28 am with one word ‘unbelievable’. He sent another message at 3:50 which was not delivered. From the presentation from the air traffic controllers, the crash happened at 3:30. So possibly, the last thing Herbert read was my message talking about him.

The Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Babayo Akuyam, and his deputy, Ahmed Abdullahi, have resigned from their positions.

Mr Akuyam (PDP – Hardawa State Constituency), and Mr Abdullahi (PDP – Dass State Constituency) announced their resignation at the plenary on Wednesday.

The resignation is to pave the way for the return of the former Speaker, Abubakar Suleiman, and his deputy, Jamilu Dahiru, to their positions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Court of Appeal, Abuja, in November 2023 sacked Mr Sulaiman (PDP- Ningi Central State Constituency), and Mr Dahiru (PDP – Bauchi Central State Constituency).

The court also ordered for re-run in the 11 March 2023 general election in the constituencies.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared Messrs Suleiman and Dahiru winners of the 3 Feb and 4 re-run elections in the constituencies, respectively.

The outgoing speaker, Mr Akuyam said the action was part of the agreement reached by the lawmakers to step down to enable the duo to return to their positions.

He thanked the lawmakers and legislative staff for their support and cooperation during their stewardship of the House.

Also speaking, Mr Suleiman hailed the outgoing speaker and his deputy for keeping to their words.

He also pledged to provide effective legislation for the betterment of the lives of the people.

I don’t know how it is in your part of town. But it’s been a nightmare in mine, a supposedly middle-class residential area in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital. Rolling blackouts do not begin to explain the depth of the misery. It’s been a dreadful time of rolling and erratic blackouts. Like surfing an angry wave, if you understand what I mean.

Generators and other alternative sources of power, mostly inverters, solar panels and repurposed domestic gas, have replaced public power supply. Private power supply has become the main source; while public supply, if you ever get it, has become the back up.

At 144 kwh per hour annually, Nigeria is grossly underpowered. It is 80 percent below expectations, with Ghana consuming twice as much, Tunisia over 10 times and South Africa, over 30 times as much power. 

The epileptic power supply has flooded my mind with memories of what I used to think of folks at the public power company (we used to call it NEPA) in my younger days. 

I still think the demons there do what they used to do – just messing around with light switches as if it was a game of tumbo, tumbo, bas kalaba... Out of shame, however, or perhaps incredulity, I’m not inclined to express my layman’s view of these malicious spoilsports at public power substations as openly as I used to in my younger days.

What I have witnessed in the last two or three weeks with public power supply has however exhumed the scarecrow from my past. I’ve been around a bit and visited such African countries as Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Mozambique, among others. 

I cannot remember anywhere with the sort of maddening erratic supply that I have seen in my neighbourhood and workplace recently. I’m tempted to think that, like a number of things Nigerian, there is a peculiarity about the rolling blackouts that make them nearly impossible to replicate elsewhere. 

Dead bulbs tell tales

One day in the last week of February, for example, the light went off and came back, surging each time at different frequencies, four times in less than 10 minutes. It was as if someone somewhere was testing the supply or that in my confused state, I never quite saw the light come on before it went off again. That was late evening, after work. I’m not counting how many other times this erratic supply may have occurred after I went to bed that night. But the evidence was waiting the next day. 

By morning, I was left with the remains of five dead bulbs and a damaged changeover switch which was barely one year old. It will cost me more than twice the minimum wage of N30,000 to replace the switch alone. These are the only more recent casualties of erratic power supply in my house. I’m not counting the electric kettle or the power stabilisers. On top of that, I have bought more UPSs than I can count. I even use a few of the remnants damaged by erratic power supply as domestic props!

Neighbour from hell

I’m not going to discuss the trauma that comes from generator pollution and noise. I was so distraught by the noise from the generator on one side of my flat that I tinkered with the idea of buying a replacement for the owner, not out of love or abundance, but to preserve my sanity. 

Poor fellow! He can’t seem to wait for the light-switch flippers at the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to turn off the lights before he powers on his contraption. And even when the alarm sounds that light is back, he still leaves the damn thing chugging! 

If you live around my neighbourhood or even elsewhere around many parts of the country from where I have also received similar complaints of insurgent blackouts, you may consider noise, the loss of five bulbs in one day or a few UPSs small potatoes. 

I imagine that folks may have lost more valuable appliances or suffered more severe emotional and material setbacks. There was a report last week that Nigeria’s Senate stood down proceedings and adjourned indefinitely amidst the power crisis. 

But Discos, being Discos, no one can file any legal claims.

Heatwave troubles

The current heatwave has further highlighted our collective misery. With diesel and petrol at over 106 percent higher than their prices one year ago, only those who have solar panels can hope to enjoy a measure of relief for now. 

Fossil-fuel powered generators are costlier to run as are inverters, which also depend on primary sources of power to charge. So, those who wish to use some form of cooling at home – especially at night – to keep their heads for the next day, have a difficult choice: spend more on alternative energy or just suffer and smile.  

I had a particularly interesting night the day before I wrote this article. I had gone to bed at about 11pm with the generator humming and left an instruction that it should be left on for another two hours. Apparently, less than one hour after I slept, the public power supply was restored and the generator turned off. But as usual, that didn’t last. This was on a day when daytime temperature was about 40 degrees. 

Somewhere, in the depths of slumber, I began to feel as if my mattress had been replaced with a cauldron and that the sheets were thermal fabrics. I was in that place between sleeping and waking up, where your spirit is dying to sleep but your body is wracked by discomfort. 

The body prevailed and I soon noticed I was sweating like a labourer! I crawled out of my bed and on this hot, airless night, I had to decide between opening only a few windows or opening all the windows with the mosquito nets drawn back. Who, for heaven’s sake, is toying with the lights at AEDC that I cannot even have two straight hours of electricity?

Misery source

Is it all inevitable? Is it all down to poor gas supply at the power stations; compromised grids and transmission lines. Is it, as some have suggested, a lack of competence among the Discos that have also been accused of feeding off the assets they inherited during the privatisation without investing one naira since? 

I called my cousin who works at an electricity company for possible answers. I’m still trying to digest his response. Erratic supply – the kind that imitates trafficators – he said, can be caused by several factors. He called the problem, “feeder tripping.” According to him, anything from a bird perching on the wire to a colony of ants at the feeder base or even an adventurous tree branch, can cause a feeder trip.

He said even though staff at the substation are supposed to pick up such signals and act on them, it’s hardly the case and therefore distressed customers like me are advised to call and complain. 

Customer service by phone in Nigeria when it’s not a bank teller calling you to ask why your account is inactive is hell. I hardly bother, and I’m unlikely going to start with electricity companies. I’m still trying to figure out how or why we cannot enjoy a minimum X-hour of electricity supply a day, at least under a load-shedding plan that allows consumers to keep their sanity. This story of stray birds, angry ants and stray tree branches don’t make sense to me. 

All I can think of, right now, especially in the furnace of our current existence, is to assume that there are some switch-trigger-happy fellows at that substation delighted to ruin as much of my domestic appliances as they can and keep me miserably uncomfortable night and day, just because they can!

I’m counting days until this heatwave is over and hopefully, I’ll once again get some deserved respite, especially at night, with or without “NEPA”!

I read a pathetic report last weekend of how the family of the late Second Republic Senate President, Joseph Wayas, was made to pay the sum of £6,710 (more than N13 million) before being allowed to sight his body in a London morgue. Wayas died on 30th November 2021, so I assumed he had been buried. Apparently, there are outstanding bills to pay for his body to be released and family issues to resolve before the burial could take place. Wayas’ daughter, Ms Donna Wayas who is based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, and Mrs Echiko Julie Odey, were reportedly granted access to sight, and ascertain the state of the body by the morgue authorities last week.

 Joseph Wayas

A statement by Justice Maurice Odey Eneji, who chairs the ‘Joe Wayas’ Burial Fact Finding Committee’ explains the issue. The morgue managers, according to the report, insist on collecting the cost of maintenance and general charges for over two years that the body has been kept there. “In line with burial committee’s agreement with Ms Donna Wayas, we need to raise and remit/transfer the sum of £60,478 (more than N120 million) to offset all outstanding indebtedness, inclusive of cost of repatriation of the corpse to Nigeria for burial,” Justice Eneji stated. “We also need to raise and refund the sum of £7,210 (about N14 million) paid on our behalf to the morgue managers in London.”

From the report, Cross River State government managed Wayas’ health until he died in the London hospital. Then Governor Ben Ayade had ordered the release of N200 million to repatriate the body home for burial. But a family crisis was said to have ensued, though there are no details as to what the contending issues are and whether the N200 million was released. “Both the state and federal governments may have committed funds for this purpose (Wayas’ burial) in the past, but he (late Wayas) has not yet been buried,” Justice Eneji said. “He (Wayas) is not in any way responsible for the circumstances leading to the delay of his burial, neither does the delay detract from what he was in, and for, Nigeria.

Instructively, on 4th April last year, Wayas’ burial was the main issue for discussion at the senate plenary. “The Senate needs to, as a matter of urgency, intervene by taking over the burial plans of the deceased,” said Senator Gershom Bassey who moved the motion that was unanimously adopted by colleagues even though nothing happened afterwards. Then Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, even used the motion to introduce a self-serving idea. “Unfortunately, to stop this type of embarrassment, an attempt made last year for Presiding Officers of the National Assembly to be given medical support for life by Nigeria was rejected by us during voting on constitution amendments,” Lawan said. “The embarrassment at hand with the Joseph Wayas remains, calls for reflection and I hope the 10th Assembly will do the needful.

While the 10th National Assembly led by Godswill Akpabio should perish such an idea, they have a responsibility to help resolve whatever may be the issues concerning delay in the burial of Wayas. There is no dignity in having the remains of a former senate president perpetually in a London morgue. And this is not about just throwing money at the problem. What is required is to engage the family and burial committee already in place to understand the contending issues and help resolve them.

However, that Wayas would require crowdfunding for his burial says a lot about our prominent people who pursue no rewarding vocation outside politics. That’s how they end up in penury and at the mercy of government at the twilight of their lives. While politics should never be a source of livelihood, it is for many in Nigeria. This is just one of several issues relating to separation of the public from the private in the conduct of government business that we must deal with in our country. Because it’s about accountability and due process which is too often whimsically abused in different ways. For instance, in Qatar last weekend, President Bola Tinubu’s adult sons were put at the head of the official protocol receiving line that they ordinarily shouldn’t even be on. Besides, as Reuben Abati asked on Monday, don’t these young men have more productive things to do beyond following their father all over the place? Well, these are issues for another day.

Meanwhile, the delay in Wayas’ burial is a result of his religion. Within 24 hours, Muslims bury their dead. But not so with Christians who have turned these ceremonies into something else. I have heard stories of neglected parents whose corpses were carried to burials in Rolls Royce ambulances even when they may have died of negligence. This is a social problem we must deal with. That explains why I was delighted last week to read an X (formerly Twitter) post by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, calling for full compliance with the 2019 Anambra State Burial/Funeral Communal Control Law.

Sponsored by Hon Charles Ezeani and assented by Governor Willie Obiano, the law provides that “in the event of death, no person shall deposit any corpse in the mortuary or any place beyond two months from the date of death, while burial ceremonies shall be for one day only.” The law also bans the firing of gunshots, praise singing and blocking of roads and streets during burial ceremonies in the state. “There will be no wake-keeping for deceased individuals in the state, and all vigil-mass/service of songs/religious activities preceding the burial must conclude by 9:00 p.m. No food, drink, life band, or cultural entertainers are allowed during or after these ceremonies.” In addition, “from the commencement of the law, no person shall subject any relation of the deceased person to a mourning period of more than one week from the date of the burial ceremony.” Any person who contravenes provisions of the law will be fined N100,000 or six months imprisonment or both.

The entire essence of the law, which also prohibits certain cultural practices targeted at widows of deceased persons, is to restore a measure of sanity in the name of Christian funerals. Indeed, the law was championed by then Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor. “I always seize any available opportunity to speak on the dangers of wasteful burials and funerals among our people,” said the Bishop who was appointed a resource person for the bill by the lawmakers during the public hearings. “I have insisted that what we should be talking about is how to give our people decent and befitting living and not befitting funerals by which we mean mindless display of extravagance. The money used for extravagant burials could be better applied to helping the living.”

Like the Bishop, I have often wondered why Christians, whose faith preaches moderation, have turned funerals to an expensive (and vainglorious) jamboree, sometimes involving huge public resources. In 2013, when a leading Christian cleric in the Southwest died, his first son disclosed publicly that the funeral of his father would gulp a whooping N96 million. Against the background that the Naira exchange rates to the Dollar was 157 as of December that year, I enjoin readers to do the arithmetic of the cost of that burial which involved donations from state governments because of the respect accorded the deceased cleric. “The coffin to be used for the burial of our father is the type used for the burial of the late Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston”, his eldest son boasted at the time.

I am aware that an (Owambe) industry has been created around burials, especially in Yorubaland. And, let me also admit, I enjoy the entertainment by undertakers when they play with the coffin. But those ceremonies have little to do with the dead so there is no reason why bodies should be kept in the morgue for months (sometimes years) while loans are processed by some families simply to bury a dead person. Of course, people with means can ‘turn’ the corpse as many times as they want. I have no problem with that. But these ceremonies also require a measure of public sensitivity and moderation.

The critical issue comes when such burials involve elements of public funding. I have in recent days done rudimentary research on state involvement in other democracies regarding burials of serving and former high public officials, including presidents. They do not compare to how we do it in Nigeria where all costs (including buying gifts, procuring rain doctors etc.) are borne by government. Though it is fair to say these ceremonies are only done by Christians. Afterall, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba died recently and was buried without fanfare.

Whatever may be the issue, there is a need for closure on Wayas. The urgent task is for the National Assembly to help pay all outstanding bills in London and speedily bring back his body for instant and decent burial devoid of frills. But we must also do away with some of the needless expenses associated with Christian burials in Nigeria, especially when public money is involved.

The Gifted Wheat from Ukraine

I have always wondered why a Yoruba adage would say that there are things far more shameful than being accused of stealing. With Ukraine gifting Nigeria 25 metric tons of wheat last week, I now understand better the meaning of shame. Announcing the donation, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said the 25,000 tons of wheat from the Government of Ukraine will help provide emergency food assistance to 1.3 million crisis-affected Nigerians in the Northeast. “We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Government of Ukraine, partners, and donors for their unwavering support,” said David Stevenson, WFP Representative and Country Director in Nigeria. “This collaborative effort plays a crucial role in alleviating suffering and maintaining human dignity in areas facing conflict and food price increase”.

I join in extending gratitude to the government of Ukraine for remembering our country even in their most difficult period. But the gift should also compel a reflection on the part of Nigerian authorities. With 42 million people, Ukraine has just about 20 percent of the population of Nigeria. Ukraine’s landmass is 603,628 square kilometres to Nigeria’s 923,768 square kilometres. While Ukraine has 32 million hectares of arable land, Nigeria has 35 million hectares of arable land. Yet, estimated wheat production in Ukraine for the marketing year (MY 2023/24) is 22.5 million metric tons (mmt), according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). And we are talking about a country that has been under bombardments from Russia for more than two years!

By all metrics, Nigeria should not be accepting food freebies from any country least of all from one at war. But that is our sad reality today. Beyond lamentation, what can we do to change the narrative? I have been speaking with critical stakeholders in the agricultural sector and I intend to share my perspective on this page. But the federal government and authorities in the 36 states must find immediate solution to the problem of hunger in Nigeria.

Congrats, Dan Akpovwa

From his high-flying job as THISDAY Diplomatic Editor, Dan Akpovwa ventured out by starting ABUJA INQUIRER newspaper on 4^th March 2004. That the publication could mark its 20^th anniversary on Monday, despite industry challenges, is a testament to the resilience of Dan and his commitment to journalism. Congratulations, my brother.