With deep sorrow but grateful hearts, we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, in-law, friend, and patriarch, Dr. Chris Asoluka (Okwuruoha).

Surrounded by love and held in grace, Daddy transitioned from this world just before midnight on Friday May 9th 2025 with the calm dignity that defined his life. A man of unwavering principles, strength, generosity, rare intellect, and profound wisdom, he lived a life rooted in service, compassion, and an unshakable commitment to family, community, and country.

Though our hearts sag heavy, we take comfort in the fullness of his legacy — the values he instilled, the lives he touched, and the unmatched example he set. He was our anchor, our counselor, our lifetime inspiration. His earthly absence is profound, but his spirit remains — in every lesson, every memory, every story told, and every life shaped by his presence.

We are thankful for the glorious gift of his life and for the grace with which he completed his earthly journey. As we begin this season of remembrance, thanksgiving, and celebration, we ask for your prayers, support, and love as we honour a man who meant so much to so many.

May OkwuruOwere’s brilliant unforgettable soul rest in perfect peace.

Important Dates to Note 

Thursday 17th July 2025 – Service of Songs/Night of Tributes (Lagos)

Friday 18th July 2025 – Commendation Service (Our Saviour’s Church, Lagos)

Wednesday 23rd July 2025 – Service of Songs/Wake Keep (Ihiagwa, Owerri)

Thursday 24th July 2025 – Obsequies (Ihiagwa, Owerri)_

Sunday 27th July 2025 – Family Thanksgiving Service (Ihiagwa, Owerri)

– For the Chris Asoluka Family

Jamachi Chris-Asoluka (09081691729)

Do you still remember the story of my friend who said he loves women with big breasts? Each time a woman with full frontal endowment passed, he smacked his lips. He will not date a woman with less than 34DD specification. He can 'manage' if her southern region is not rich or even outright flat. As long as there is something full to cushion his stress after a long hard day. But his wife, yes, the Madam of the house, is almost flat-chested. Yet my friend is married, happily married. In fact, his wife is in charge of his businesses. The 38F or 36FF specs are for his side chics, not his wife. Madam is allowed to be barely breasted but when my friend wants the big big things, he knows where to go. 

Like he once confided in me, ‘Funke, you know my wife is my life, my everything. She is my prayer warrior, my prophetess and my spiritual mother. She is my pillar and she has always been more than just a  body since I knew her. Yes I love big breasts but what she means to me is way more than a curvy body. 

They say it is women that are difficult to understand but this my friend, like many men leave me confused many times. So he married a pillar of support but keeps a  harem of big-breasted side chics to satisfy his fantasy. There are also men which no matter how beautiful a woman is, if she cannot cook, they are put off. You will be shocked at the numbers of rich men who now eat meals prepared by chefs but actually married their wives for their cooking prowess. Maybe they did not know they will be rich eventually or their future lifestyles would include French and Spanish cuisine.  Their number one criteria when they were shopping for a wife 25 years ago is ‘she must be able to cook or else there is no deal’. 

There are men who love big backside. The rounder the better. Just sway and roll it in front of them and they will forget all the great manners their Momma taught them. Some men will do anything to date or bed a fair skinned woman, and those ones are many. Isn’t that the major reasons why too many women are bleaching even at deathly risks of their organs and future? Come to think of it, Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), breast enlargement, tummy tuck, etc, are they not the handiwork or brain children of men to make or remake women into images that work for them? Women, we have suffered, right? We bleach for them, go under the knife to please them, change our ambition even to make men happy. Is something wrong with women or what? Then, the crux of the matter for today is, is it wrong for a woman to insist on marrying a man who has money?

‘I cannot marry a poor man’

‘He has to have some money’

‘I cannot marry a man who is a beginner. ’

‘He must be able to provide me a certain level of comfort’

‘I cannot even date a man who does not have a car. ’ 

This is the point where most men’s eyes are shooting daggers at this space. I can hear them. 

‘Materialistic women’

‘Selfish Delilahs’

‘Does her own  father have a car?'

‘Bloody gold diggers’

So what is wrong with a woman being a gold digger? What is she expected to be digging for, dust? The man who screens women for everything,  from cooking skills, humility traits to sexual compatibilities, what are those ones digging for? Clay? 

Why should a man have a marriage shopping list but a woman can’t? Come on guys, is that what you are teaching your sisters and daughters ? That they should not have criteria and benchmarks? How is the marriage institution supposed to survive and thrive if we are all pretending to be living in the 19th century? Why should a woman from whom the society expects so much from expected not to have expectations, goals,   for marriage and the kind of man she wants to spend the rest of her life with? Why does the society want her to pretend to be what she’s not? 

It’s okay for a man to want his bride to be beautiful and brilliant. She’s expected to be humble and a goal getter. She should be a woman who will support him when things get tough, pay the bill when he’s down and be a caring carer when he’s sick. But the woman cannot have marital ambitions and goals?

It is unfair really.  If a woman is going to be everything the society prescribes, to ask for just one thing,  one simple thing: that the man be not a poor man,  is only fair.  

--------

Re- 21 ejaculations per month, as how? 

Egbemode's question and answer was very instructive and succinctly dissected. Same question has been on my lips and many like mind. Thank God, her assertion from different angles will lay to rest those for and against especially  some males with excessive sexual drive and female folks affected by nymphomania syndrome rooting for it and justifying their position based on numerous bloggers and  YouTube doctors' recommendations without consideration of what becomes of a man thereafter.

It may interest us to know that some creatures had sex only once in a lifetime.  They  do so only when they are ready to give up the ghost, a supreme heavy price to pay for such pleasure which is death. But still for procreation to take place for their generation to continue it's compulsory they pay the price anyway. That's the world of Praying Mantis.

I wonder what would become of a man if we had to live the life of Mantis.

- Mr S. Aize 

Lagos 

Haiti Under the Duvalier’s, comprising “Papa Doc” and his son “Baby Doc”, ruled Haiti from 1957 to 1986 after Papa Doc won a controversial election. Their kleptocratic regime was marked by extreme corruption and systematic brutal plundering of national wealth. Under their rule, the economy deteriorated, poverty became widespread, and public funds were diverted for personal enrichment, leading to a severe decline in public services and a growing gap between the wealthy elite and the impoverished masses. They also led an extravagant lifestyle, contrasting starkly with the poverty of most Haitians, and invested minimally in education, healthcare, and essential services. The Duvalier era remains one of the most damaging periods in Haitian history to date! – (Papa Doc, Baby Doc: Haiti and the Duvalier’s).

Zimbabwe, formerly known as Rhodesia, gained independence from Britain in 1980, with Robert Mugabe becoming the country’s first Prime Minister and later President. Initially, Zimbabwe experienced economic growth and was considered one of Africa’s most prosperous nations. However, Mugabe’s tendencies and policies such as Corruption, Mismanagement, Increased Borrowing, Capital Flight,Inefficiency & Printing of Money led to economic decline, with the worst period being the 2000s hyperinflation crisis,when Zimbabwe’s inflation rate reached 89.7 sextillion percent (89,700,000,000,000,000,000%) per month making the Zimbabwean DollarWorthless and In 2009, Zimbabwe officially abandoned its currency and adopted a multi-currency system.(The Economic Decline of Zimbabwe: Neither Growth nor Equity​)​

As Nigeria hurtles towards the path of Haiti or Rhodesia or both, lets delve into the issues that will help us decide.

The VPs House
According to Worldometer (A United Nations real-time estimate data centre)., the current population of Nigeria as of April 11, 2025, is estimated at 236,413,198.The Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa (CAHF), Country Profile for Nigeria, highlights the housing deficit as at 2023 to be28 millionhouses and growing,requiring an estimated sum of NGN35.5 trillion to finance the housing deficit.

On Friday, June 7, 2024, after 14 years, the official residence of the Vice-President was commissioned. The cost of this remarkable Heaven on Earth House is a staggering obscene amount of NGN21 billion, amidst a struggling populace, skyrocketing prices for basic utilities, electricity now rationed, often on an apartheid-like basis, a plummeting naira, and the removal of essential subsidies.
They said, providing a suitable residence for the Vice-President is not merely a matter of convenience, it is a symbol of respect for the office and the individual who occupy it.They also said, it is a commitment to transparency, accountability, and efficient resource utilization.

That’s how sadistic and morally bankrupt they are!
The 73rd Birthday Bash
No one, none at all has a hand in the presence of commercial crude oil in Nigeria yet they said they have removed subsidy from our God- given oil before 12 pm on that fateful day! And to add salt to injury, at “a sight to behold”73rd birthday party of the president they referred to him as courageous for removing the subsidy.

Now our question is ”is it culturally, morally and politically right” for a country’s president to use state resources for personal celebrations before or after removing subsidy from petrol and electricity especially with the current economic challenges where multitudes of citizens did not see food to eat that fateful day, while all that grace the occasion have foodstuff busting at the seams, in their houses. May be it is a State Event!

The True Value of Life and That of The Naira
To understand how the naira is becoming a Zimbabwean currency, let’s take a look at the report of the National Moon-sighting Committee of Nigeria, based on the value of gold as at March 28, 2025.

Zakat Nisab is NGN12,921,120​,00.To put it graphically, in Islam, a person that has NGN12,900,000.00untouched for a whole year, is poor and is not expected to pay zakat on that sum of money.

Theft Threshold is NGN161,514​.00.To illustrate, in Islam, a person that unjustifiably consume an amount/resource that belongs to someone or some people equivalent to NGN161,514.00upon conviction, is liable to have his/her hand cut off.
Blood Money (Diyyah) is NGN646,056,000.00.Also to illustrate, the cost of a life in Islam is over half a billion naira. Meaning any one that kills an innocent soul, upon conviction is liable to pay that amount to the family of the deceased.

The 2025 Budgetand the Excessive Borrowing
The approved budget for 2024 was NGN27.5 trillion (let’s assume it is not padded), and if we may dare ask, what was the budget performance in 2024?

The 2025 approved Nigerian Budget of Restoration (minus padding if any)isNGN54.99trillionfrom NGN49,7trillion earlier presented. Debt servicing is NGN14.32trillion. Meanwhile the projected deficit is NGN13.08 trillion, to be financed through borrowing!

The precise total borrowing by the present administration from May 29, 2023 to datecan safely be said, is none existent or at best it shows incompetency as neither theNational Bureau of Statistics (NBS): “Nigerian Domestic & Foreign Debt Q1 2024” report.and Debt Management Office (DMO): “Nigeria Public Debt Statistical Bulletin Q3 2023” can give one asensible figure.However,based on the latest complete breakdown (Q3 2023) and the total debt figure for Q1 2024, the Federal Government’s debt stock, excluding that of the sub-nationals, is estimated to be around NGN114 trillion as of the first quarter of 2024.This is aTicking Time Bomb.

The Erosion of Democratic Principles and Human Rights
The suppression of dissent, as exemplified by the #EndBadGovernance and other protests, highlights the government’s disregard for democratic principles and human rights. The use of excessive force and the fresh-in-our-mind arrest of innocent children yet to reach puberty and peaceful protesters are a grave violation of fundamental freedoms as stated in Chapter IV (Sections 33 – 46) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

The Naira-For-Crude Deal
​The Federal Executive Council (FEC) in July 2024 directed the NNPCL to sell crude oil to Dangote Refinery in naira. This FEC directive is essentially more like a scam on Nigerians or the height of impunity of government.

In Nigeria, the use of foreign currencies for domestic transactions is generally prohibited, with specific regulations reinforcing the primacy of the Naira as the sole legal tender. This is anchored on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) 2007 Act,Section 20(1), which stipulates that the Naira is the only legal tender in Nigeria. Any pricing or payment for goods and services in foreign currencies within the country contravenes this provision. ​Furthermore, Section 20(5) of the Act, criminalizesand stipulates that any person(s) who contravenes this provision is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a prescribed fine or six months imprisonment. Additionally, the CBN has issued directives through its circulars, warning individuals and businesses against denominating or demanding payments in foreign currencies for domestic transactions. Violations are to be reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the CBN for appropriate action.

Certainly, a government official or officials who refused to abide by this law should face the consequences of his or their actions.

Dumping the National Power Grid for a NGN10bn Solar Grid
Nigerians, don’t forget, in late December 2022, someone promised Nigerians that, “If I don’t give you constant electricity for four years, don’t vote for me when I come back for second term.”

The abandonment of the national grid by the by the Aso Rock Occupants is nothing short of impunity, lack of accountability, opacity in government dealings and crude policies of government. It was a photo-shop opportunity when the clueless government proudly approved the removal of electricity subsidy, increase in electricity tariff and creation of ascam and apartheid banding system with the Villa finding itself in Band A. and to cap it all, the minister that mislead the president to increase tariff unnecessaryis still sitting pretty on his seat instead of facing the consequences of his actions.Our take here is that“finally, the chicken has come home to roost”.
ṢṢummun, bukmun, ‘umyun fahum lā yarjiʿūn

In line with their crude political exigencies towards the run-up to the 2027 elections, the government seem ill-equipped to stem the tide of economic decline and only obsessed with acquisition of pecks of office and directing government affairs to activities that benefits them only.

In the final analysis, what we see is government’s response and that of the legislature, which appears to be a flurry of additional naivety, impunity and decamping of elected officials that shows they are “deaf, dumb, and blind, as they are unable to return to righteousness.”

• Hon (Alh) Adamu Rabiu is a Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist on Policy, Finance, Risk, Politics, Good Governance & an Advocate for Sustainable Development and writes from Kaduna.

(A remark on World Press Freedom Day when the Editors and SERAP celebrated it)
On March 16, 2015 the then candidate Muhammadu Buhari told the NPAN officials: I won’t tamper with press freedom.

Buhari, who then said a change revolution was imminent in the country without firing a shot also assured the influential members of the Newspapers’ Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) at an interaction in Abuja: “I want to give you my full assurances that in this democratic dispensation, I will ensure that the Nigerian constitution is upheld. This includes respect for the media, respect for the right to free expression and freedom of speech….I have said elsewhere that I cannot change the past. But I can change the present and the future.  Dictatorship goes with military rule as do edicts such as Decree 4…However, I am a former head of state, note the emphasis on the word ‘former’– military ruler and now a converted democrat, who is ready to operate under democratic norms. “I give you my full assurances that the Nigerian media will be free under our APC government.”

In the end, the loose cannons and spokespersons in the administration gave the journalists of conscience the Jones-Abiri treatment: link them to terrorism and other related criminal activities, detain them and tell the human rights and international press bodies that the journalists are all criminals and scoundrels. 

Even when they report the truth, they can be charged with a dead law such as sedition and there will be court orders to detain them as they just did to Premium Times Samuel Ogundipe the police curiously detained and asked to disclose the source of his information about a police letter. 

Under the same Buhari we can recall the ordeal of Jones Abiri before The Guardian’s robust editorial exposed the lies of even a friend of the press then and a hit-man for government during the IPI’s first Convention in Nigeria. Recall that when the International Press Institute (IPI) asked for the release of Jones Abiri on 23 June 2018 when President Buhari was declaring the IPI’s first Conference in Nigeria open in Abuja, the Federal Government through the then Town-crier of “Fake News” and “Hate Speech’, the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, said there was no such thing and the then Chairman of NJI Board of Trustees Ismaila Isa Funtua corroborated Lai Mohammed’s lie that there was nobody in detention.

Same for citizen Samuel Ogundipe: some local newspapers never published the detention of the Premium Times reporter just as some others curiously kept the story inside. Recall too that that the Inspector General of Police then who meretriciously responded to the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s directive to overhaul SARS that same day with just a name change and replacement of Commissioner in charge of SARS, ordered the arrest of three journalists of Premium Times that same day.

Remember that the same Buhari who assured the people as a candidate that he was born again got his pioneer DG,DSS Lawal Daura to evict a former DG, DSS from his Lagos home on December 2, 2015, also detained Jones Abiri for two years and denied it, raided the homes of Court of Appeal and Supreme Court Justices at dawn, broke into Akwa Ibom Government House’s cash vaults and claimed he carted away dollars never reported as exhibits anywhere. 

Remember too that barely four months after he was sworn in, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also assured the officials of the same NPAN of freedom of expression. In a December 2023 interaction with the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Tinubu was clear that his administration would always respect media freedoms and divergent views.

They always assure us that they will not tamper with freedom of expression, but as Idi Amin of Uganda, then a strong man, once noted, unfortunately, there would be no freedom guaranteed after expression. 

First, they came for the jugular of free and independent press when they collaborated with the federal legislature to introduce an anti- social media bill, sponsored by Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (APC, Kebbi State). 

The sponsor said then that the bill was intended to prevent unwarranted negative spotlight on public and political office holders. All stakeholders roundly rejected the hateful bill as a masked gag on the media. Then in March 2018, they came with another toxic one called “Hate Speech Bill” again sponsored by Senator Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger State), who said the bill, which carried a death sentence seeks “to eliminate hate speech and discourage harassment on the grounds of ethnicity, religion or race among others. According to a provision in the bill, “any person who uses, publishes, presents, produces, plays, provides, distributes and/or directs the performance of any material, written and/or visual, which is threatening, abusive or insulting or involves the use of threatening, abusive or insulting words, commits and offence”. 

The penalties are scary: a jail sentence of not less than five years or a fine of not less than N10 million or both and a death sentence “where any form of hate speech results in the death of another person”. Both bills are dead but the snake is only scotched, but not killed as Shakespeare noted. There is an anti-media bill in National Assembly now that has passed through some stages. We have to be vigilant.

The fear now
Data collected by Media Rights Agenda (MRA), a frontline press and freedom of expression advocacy organization indicates that 45 attacks on journalists have occurred in Nigeria since 2023. The MRA data spotlighted security agencies, which were responsible for 62 percent of the 45 cases of attacks documented, while hoodlums were identified as being responsible for 16 percent. Unidentified actor such as kidnappers, armed individuals, and others were reportedly responsible for 15 per cent. Further breakdown of the data by gender showed that 37 of the incidents were targeted at male journalists, representing 82 per cent while four of those targeted were female, representing nine percent of the total attacks.

In one of the disturbing cases in which freedom of the press, and the rights of a journalist were undermined under the current administration, Editor of First News online newspaper, Segun Olatunji was picked up by soldiers from his home on March 15, 2024. The arbitrary use of the military for the purpose of effecting the arrest of journalist in a democratic setting was widely condemned by press freedom watchdogs. Olatunji was held incommunicado for fourteen days until he was released following widespread calls by scores of press freedom advocates.

The story was similar for Daniel Ojukwu, a reporter for the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), who spent 10 days in arbitrary detention after he was abducted in Lagos and flown to Abuja. It again took the intervention of civil society and press freedom organizations who organized a protest at the Police Headquarters before he was released.

Ojukwu’s ordeal in the hands of the Nigeria police followed an investigative report published by his platform, which exposed corruption in the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on the sustainable Development Goals. Even more challenging for journalists, is the emerging trend of law enforcement officers using the Cyber Crime Act to hound reporters blowing the whistle or putting the spotlight on issues of accountability in governance. Specifically, the Cybercrime Act, 2015, now the Cybercrime Act of 2024, after it was amended by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Tinubu, has become the law of choice for the arbitrary detention, persecution and harassment of journalists.

Government officials and politically exposed persons who are averse to critical media reporting on issues of corruption and lack of accountability in the use of public resources, have found a potent weapon of persecution using the law. It is pertinent to observe that the most prominent cases of arbitrary arrest of journalists since the onboarding of the Tinubu Presidency have affected reporters who put the spotlight on issues of use of public resources.

Section 24, which dwells on “cyber stalking” and the punishment of three years imprisonment or a fine of N7,000,000 has made the work of journalists across the one of high risk. Significantly, the apprehension within media and press freedom circles, is the notion that journalists can no longer merely rely on regular proclamations about the government’s readiness to protect press freedoms. President Tinubu in his days as a pro-democracy activist was an ally of the free press. It is quite ironical that on his watch, the press is having a raw deal.

Meanwhile, we are here to restate the role of the media as clearly spelt out in Section 22 of the constitution – to monitor governance and hold public officers to account. Only good and independent journalism can deliver this tough job. This is where people will feel that the news media actually promote public good. In other words, development agencies should not lose sight of this fact: that only a truly independent news media can monitor governance, lest they become lapdogs. That is why Sina Odugbemi, former Programme Head, Communication for Governance and Accountability Programme (CommGAP) at the World Bank (Institute) once observed in a (World Bank) publication titled, “Public Sentinel: News Media and Governance Reform” that, ‘A focus on strengthening institutions like the news media is not yet seen as a core business in many development agencies. That is therefore why opportunities to strengthen the news media will always depend on the situation in each country and will always depend on the interplay of forces within each country.

Odugbemi in the same vein believes that, ‘the political economic realities will always determine what can be achieved’. What that means is that those who want to improve media systems in their own countries must learn to build effective coalitions. That is where work is really needed. In that treatise, Odugbemi says nonetheless, it is possible to bring together what we know right now about how news media can contribute to good governance outcomes. Second, it is possible to draw the necessary policy implications. That is why the collaboration with SERAP and others is critical. This is where the political economy of a free press that has become a huge challenge is relevant in understanding why the economic policy of the present administration too is affecting press freedom.

To be continued…

This is an excerpt from remarks by MARTINS OLOJA, Former MD/Editor-in-Chief, The Guardian, Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors at the 2025 WPFD Press Conference by Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) & SERAP At Radisson Hotel. GRA, Ikeja. May 3, 2025

Residents and businesses in Jabi District, parts of Life Camp, Kado District, Aire Gas, Total Marble, Royal Ceramic, Artoland Rice, Faku Agro, Zohgfu along Kaduna Road, and neighbouring areas are currently experiencing an ongoing power outage due to a technical fault affecting the local feeders.

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) confirmed the disruption in a statement on Saturday.

AEDC claims that the feeders that provide power to these areas are being impacted by the technical fault.

“We regret to inform you that the ongoing power outage is due to a technical fault affecting the feeders serving these locations,” AEDC said.
The company, however, assured customers that its technical team is working tirelessly to restore power as quickly as possible.

“We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to serve you better.”

[Guardian]

The Labour Party led by Bar. Julius Abure has set up a five-man committee to review alleged anti-party activities of Abia State Governor Alex Otti and other erring party members.

The communique after the NEC jointly signed by Abure and the national secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, said the committee was given two weeks to submit its report.

This was part of the resolutions reached at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which held in Abuja yesterday.

The communique added, “NEC reviewed the anti- party activities of Dr. Alex Otti, the Abia State governor and other erring members and consequently sets up a disciplinary committee as follows:

“Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi- Chairman; Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim- Secretary; Barr. Kehinde Edun- Member; Mrs. Dudu Manuga- Member; and Barr. Callistus Ihejiagwa- Member.”

The NEC also declared that the party is not and will not be part of any coalition towards the 2027 general election.

“The party will rather continue to rebuild, reposition, re-strategize, reconcile, strengthen, drive its programs and policies, win more members towards winning the 2027 General Elections,” it stated.

The party however rallied support for its candidate for the November 8, 2025 Anambra State Governorship Election Chief George Moghalu.

The NEC reiterated its support and confidence in the Abure-led NWC elected at the 2024 National Convention.

It also commended the Supreme Court for “standing on the sound principle of the supremacy of political parties, and the sanctity and bindingness of decisions taken by the validly convened recognized organs as created by the Party’s Constitution, in its decision delivered on 04/04/2025.”

[Leadership]

There appears to be a growing trend on the political scene where, holding past and serving public officials to account is being challenged by their family members.

In the last few years, family members, especially sons and daughters of political leaders, rush to defend the policies, actions and utterances of their fathers and sometimes even insult those that call on them to account for their stewardship.

Ignoring the fact that their fathers by the nature of the offices they hold or have held are answerable to the public and are liable for scrutiny, they give the impression that it is wrong for people to criticise or say anything that goes contrary to their perceptions.

The trend has become worrisome as more children of privilege have imbibed the trait, overlooking the fact that their fathers held or are holding such offices with the full retinue of media aides and spokesmen that ordinarily, are tasked with the responsibility of responding or explaining issues concerning their principals.

Emboldened by the quiescence of their parents, they are increasingly inserting themselves into all manner fray, trying to shape public narratives and, in some cases, throwing punches against perceived political enemies of their parents.

Armed with social media handles from Facebook to X to Instagrams, they issue statements and foist their opinions on the public sometimes as Weekend Trust has observed.  

It was observed that though they most times go overboard in the reactions, lashing out at personalities, rather than focus on issues, their fathers have not been seen reprimanding them, which according to sources is why the trend rather than abate is gaining currency.

A former aide to one of those whose children are quick to react on behalf of their father, told our correspondent that the parents condone it. 

He said, “from my experience I can tell you that their fathers condone it. If their fathers had told them to stop, they wouldn’t be going about it all the time but since they have continued, it tells you that they not only condone but are subtly encouraging them.”

Renowned journalist and columnist, Sam Omatseye once had an exchange with the sons of the former governor of Kaduna State Malam Nasir El-rufai and wrote that it is bad enough if the head of the family cannot keep “a storm out of the family”. 

He wrote: “His wife, Hadiza laid a charge at Bashir, the politician’s son who has been out of joint in his language. Bashir was taking on President Tinubu over the infantilism of Obasanjo’s tirades. A miffed Hadiza fired a poser at Bashir: “Would you say this if your father was in government?” 

Not so in the past

In the past, children of political office holders like presidents, governors, ministers, local government chairmen and other appointees took the back seat when their parents were in office, allowing them to serve their tenures without poking their noses in what transpired at the official level.

They were mostly seen and not heard in public and mainly at occasions like marriages, birthdays or naming ceremonies.

A son to a former head of state was reported to have been given a reprimanding glance by his father when he exculpated the latter over the annulment of June 12, 1993 elections as newsmen threw the question at his father in his presence.

The fact that he never made such interventions on behalf of his father again since that incident showed that the latter did not approve of his outburst.

The children of General Sani Abacha, especially Ibrahim, who died in a plane crash were also visible during the reign of their father, but hardly interfered in explaining or defending the policies of their father even when he was one of the most criticised leaders.

It was years after the father had passed on that his children, especially one of his daughters, Gumsu, went to her X handle to eulogise the late military head of state. She also goes there from time to time to clarify issues she perceives as wrongly ascribed to her father. She tweeted recently that, “Maza even in death, you are their biggest competition,” while the family issued a statement when former military president, Ibrahim Babangida launched his book and blamed Abacha for the annulment of June12, 1993 elections. Even one of the grand sons of the late head of state, Raees A Abacha joined in the fray in a tweet titled ‘My grandfather saved the life of a coward’ that, “if the lifespans of these two consequential figures were reversed this treachery would never be discharged by General Abacha.”

During the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 to 2007, his son, Gbenga, became highly visible but the younger Obasanjo was not known to respond to criticisms about his father’s actions or utterances while in office. Ironically, his daughter, Iyabo, even after going into active politics by becoming a commissioner in Ogun State and later senator, did not defend her father, but even castigated him in public accusing him of all manner of things.

Buhari’s daughter, Zarah was initially enthusiastic about blowing her father’s trumpet in the early days of his administration but later went cold in that regard indicating that she had a second thought about that course of action.

The current trend

Since the swearing in of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president, two of his children, Alhaja Folashade Tinubu-Ojo and his son, Seyi, have been quite active trying to project the image of their father.
Children of other serving public officials office holders like governors, ministers and former have also joined what has become the fad.

Alhaja Folashade Tinubu-Ojo

Known as the lyaloja General of Lagos State, the daughter of President Bola Tinubu, Alhaja Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, has been active, projecting the image of her father.

At a time, she called on Nigerians to be patient with her father over the economic hardship in the country and urged the people to keep hope alive, saying the economic downturn is a global phenomenon which is not limited to Nigeria.

She made the call while speaking with newsmen at the 2024 Mawlid Nabiyy of the Lagos State chapter of Aljamahatul Qadiriyyah Islamic Movement where she was turbaned lya Adinni of Qadiriyyah in Nigeria and Africa.

She said, “My message to all Nigerians is to please exercise a little more patience. Everything will be alright; it’s just a matter of time. We need to keep our hope alive. There is an economic downturn all over the world, and not in Nigeria alone. But we pray Allah will see us through.”

Seyi Tinubu

Seyi has been particularly vocal in defending his father’s administration and against political opponents.
During a youth engagement programme in Yola, Adamawa State, the president’s son proclaimed his father as the greatest leader Nigeria has ever had.

His words: “It was never politics, but they keep coming for me, they keep coming for my family, they keep coming for your father, they keep coming for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the greatest president in the history of Nigeria”.

Bashir and Bello Elrufai

Two of the sons of former governor of Kaduna, Bello and Bashir have been the most fervent in defence of their father.

They take utterances and actions they perceive to be against their father personal and are not diplomatic in their choice of words when reacting.

Recently, Bashir went after Governor Uba Sani, when the probe of his father’s administration  over alleged mismanaging of about N423 billion by the Kaduna State House of Assembly was made public. Describing the move as political intimidation, the outspoken Bashir alleged that outside forces were teleguiding the probe.

The younger El-Rufai repeatedly brought President Tinubu under his fury in an outburst saying the IMF and World Bank could not save the president, and his strategies in controlling Lagos cannot work in Nigeria and even made veiled reference to a very influential person in government by calling him the name of a notorious Columbian war lord, Pablo Escobar!

When Governor Sani said his father left a huge debt profile and that he inherited a debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion and 115 contractual liabilities from the el-Rufai administration Bashir responded by saying the administration of Uba Sani  is suffering from incompetence and mismanagement.

His words: “The current administration in Kaduna is building a banquet hall for N7bn and is lamenting about debt left by the previous administration. These guys have realised that they are wholly incompetent and the only way to mask the nonsense is to deflect,” he wrote on his X page.

He continued: “From a governor who is always sleeping in Abuja to a litany of incompetent aides who were only rewarded for foolish political reasons.”

His brother, Bello, who is a member of the House of Representatives has also not been reticent.

He upbraided the Kaduna State House of Assembly when it established a committee to investigate financial dealings, loans, grants, and projects implementation from 2015-2023 in Kaduna State.

Bello, in messages to the House of Assembly,  which he later deleted gave the Speaker of the House, Yusuf Liman, a sharp edge of his tongue. But the House of Assembly reacted, describing Bello’s utterances as disheartening.

The Assembly said in a statement: “It is disheartening that a federal lawmaker, entrusted with representing the people, would resort to such behaviour attempting to obstruct the lawful functions of the state Assembly. The Kaduna State House of Assembly wants to reassure the good people of Kaduna State that it remains steadfast in its commitment to serving without fear or favor”.

Efforts to speak with Bashir El-Rufai were unsuccessful as he neither answered his calls nor responded to a text message sent to his line. He also did not return calls put across to him.

Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed

Similarly, Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed, son of Bauchi State governor, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, recently rose to his father’s defence, joining the growing list of politically vocal offsprings.

Shamsudeen called out former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, for allegedly working against his father’s re-election in 2023, adding that its time to “settle scores”.

There was an allegation that after the turbaning ceremony of the former governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar, at the Bauchi Emir’s Palace that the deputy governor of Bauchi State, Auwal Jatau was slapped by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar.

Following the development, Shamsudeen Bala, in a post on his Facebook handle, ridiculed Yusuf Tuggar.

He also shared posts on the alleged slap by other Facebook users believed to be his father’s political supporters.

Our correspondent made several attempts to speak with the Shamsudeen, but it did not yield fruit.

A close family member who promised to speak with him for him to explain why he blasts those opposed to his father did not succeed, as he did not get back to our correspondent as at press time.

Mohammed Atiku

When Shamsudeen accused Atiku of working against the interest of his father, it was not the former vice president’s media office that reacted, rather it was the son of the former Vice President, Mohammed, who is also the chairman of Atiku Support Organisation (ASO) that intervened.

Mohammed threw a counter accusation, saying Shamsudeen’s father never supported Atiku in his political career. The younger Atiku in a statement, said comments by Shasuddeen reek of arrogance and an exaggerated sense of relevance.

Adam Tuggar

The alleged slapping of  the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar by  Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Auwal Jatau, also pitched Adam against Shamsudeen, accusing him of spreading falsehood.

“I am not surprised, considering he once abused and trolled highly respected individuals like Atiku Abubakar, simply because they had political differences with his father”, the younger  Tuggar added. 

Explaining in a statement posted on his official Facebook handle, Adam Tuggar, noted that he normally doesn’t engage in political discussions on cyberspace, but that, “The recent shameful act by the spoiled brat son of the Bauchi State Governor and his media dogs has compelled me to throw some tantrums.

He added: “Your father has more pressing issues to address. He should focus on the affairs of Bauchi State instead of diverting the masses’ attention by fabricating and spreading such stories in the media. No wonder you indulged in this act of stupidity”.

Efforts to reach Alhaji Shamsuddeen Bala Mohamed and Alhaji Adam Yusuf Maitama Tuggar for comments proved abortive, as political associates and the aides working for their fathers were skeptical in giving our reporters their phone numbers.

Our Bauchi State correspondent contacted several people, including political associates of the governor and the foreign affairs minister in his efforts to obtain the contacts, but to no avail.  

Nigerians react

This trend, among several other cases, has dominated the political recently raising concern in the polity.

Political analysts are divided on the implications of this development. While some argue that these persons have every right to engage in political discourse, others warn that this emerging culture risks turning governance into a dynastic affair—one where influence is inherited, not earned. The bigger question is: should the children of public officials wield this much political capital when they themselves hold no mandate from the people?

This phenomenon appears to be gaining traction in the age of social media, where political engagement often plays out in real time and in full public view. 

Chairman of the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA), Professor Hassan Saliu, views the development as a natural consequence of unchecked privilege and long-standing access to power. 

He questions the sudden wealth of many of these young figures, suggesting that their affluence is often tied to the political access of their fathers. 

“Some of these boys are billionaires in dollars and other hard currencies,” he said, pointing out that their involvement is rarely accidental. In his view, the lack of restraint from their fathers often signals tacit approval, and in some cases, active grooming. “They are preparing their children for a higher role and soon, we are going to have George Bush, seniors and juniors in Nigeria,” he warned.

He noted that in the past, political children operated quietly and were mostly underground. “Even during the military era, the children were not seriously involved,” he said, though he acknowledged that they benefited through access to contracts and state patronage. 

On the long-term implications, he noted, “What do you expect from them when ministers, commissioners and other top government functionaries bow down before them? We have essentially opened a new chapter and entering into another phase of Nigerian politics with the scope constantly expanding. In a political environment where nothing else is working, politics become the only game in town, drawing all manner of people into the cycle.

“We started seeing this under the late Moshood Abiola through his son Kola, but because he was not sworn in as the president, we couldn’t see the shape it would have taken. But now that we see people in power and their children have become “Mike Tysons” boxing their parents’ perceived political enemies, we will then wait and see. 

“There is little we can do to checkmate it because of the nature of politics in Nigeria. Nigerians want somebody with influence and resources and these children have them in abundance to play around with. Hereditary politics is emerging in Nigeria and with the poor economic environment, how many people will be able to resist the resources that these children throw about during  electoral campaigns in their quest to capture political power”, he added.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Kwara State, Salman Jawondo (SAN) shares a similar concern, but frames it from a legal and ethical standpoint. 

He argues that while the law may not restrict these children from participating in politics, their behavior speaks volumes about a decaying political culture. “It is very unhealthy and unethical and even bad for the families involved,” he stated.

According to him, this trend reflects poor upbringing and an inability to handle the public scrutiny that comes with political life. “The first thing it shows is that these children are not well trained and they are not matured,” he stressed. 

Jawondo warned that it could lead to dangerous outcomes, saying, “Nobody can predict the end as it may gradually lead to physical attacks.”

Seyid Hassan Cisse, a lecturer in politics and governance at the Kwara State University, believes the growing influence of politicians’ children is symptomatic of a vague and fragile democracy. He pointed out that, constitutionally, they are free to speak, but their prominence is magnified by their parentage. “There is no constitutional provision for the office of the son of the president or governor,” he noted, cautioning that their actions must be diplomatic, logical, and within the bounds of civility.

“In checkmating it, we have to be careful of the provision of section 33 to 43 of the constitution promulgated for civil liberty and fundamental rights of the citizens”, he submitted.

He added that this growing visibility may be part of a strategic agenda: “In the light of the concept of ‘political abracadabra,’ this could be a strategy with a salient aim they intend to accomplish and not necessarily to attack their father’s opponents.”

On whether this is a failure of parenting, Cisse argued, “There is no saint politician in the world. The reality is that the tussle for power does not require somebody to be a saint.” However, he insists that parents must play a role in guiding their children, adding, “At any rate, I think the parents should come in to curtail this kind of attitude.”

Analysts are of the opinion that if left unchecked, this trend could erode meritocracy, breed a sense of political entitlement, and entrench elite dominance. 

 [DailyTrust]

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kebbi State is making frantic and last-minute efforts to prevent the planned defection of three serving senators to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, DAILY POST learnt.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the senators: Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi (Kebbi North) and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South), are expected to formally declare their defection to the APC on Tuesday.

This follows a high-level meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The lawmakers were led to the meeting on Friday by the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje and are reportedly set to defect alongside a large number of supporters, including serving and former PDP executives across all three senatorial districts in the state.

The move has rattled the state chapter of the PDP.

Our reporter gathered that on Friday night that the PDP State Chairman, Usman Bello-Suru summoned an emergency meeting of party stakeholders in a bid to halt the looming political exodus.

A source at the meeting disclosed that members weighed multiple strategies, including the possibility of obtaining a court injunction or making personal appeals to the lawmakers.

However, the consensus was to engage the senators directly and urge them to stay and strengthen the party at a critical time.

“Several options were explored, including legal steps, but it was agreed that the best approach would be to convince them to remain in the PDP and continue building what they’ve helped to establish over the years,” the source said.

However, efforts to reach the senators have proven difficult.

“Since the defection news broke, they have stopped picking calls from the party chairman,” the source added.

This crisis comes just weeks after the same PDP chairman, Usman Bello-Suru, issued a public statement dismissing rumours of defection within the party.

He said then, “In a swift reaction to the insinuations that some members of the PDP in the state are making arrangements to defect to the ruling party, I assure our members that PDP remains one indivisible entity that will continue to play an opposition role in the state.”

The unfolding events appear to contradict that reassurance, especially with a high-profile figure like Senator Aliero, a former two-term governor of Kebbi, ex-Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and sitting senator, at the centre of the planned defection.

Aliero is no stranger to political cross-carpeting, having previously left and rejoined the PDP.

Some party members, however, remain stoic in the face of the crisis.

“If they decide to leave, life goes on,” a senior PDP chieftain told DAILY POST.

“PDP is like a military barracks, soldiers come, soldiers go, but the barracks remains,” he said.

Should the defections go ahead as expected, the APC’s numerical strength in the 10th Senate will rise to 68, while the PDP will be reduced to 30.

[DailyPost]

Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has directed the immediate ban on the sale of petrol in filling stations across Bama Local Government Area, including Bama town and Banki.

The directive followed consultations with security agencies as part of ongoing efforts to address security challenges in the area.

Malam Dauda Iliya, the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Maiduguri.

“I have directed the immediate ban on the sale of petrol in Bama town, Banki, and other parts of Bama Local Government Area with immediate effect,” Zulum said.

He warned that anyone found violating the directive would face the full wrath of the law.

“Let me make it clear, there will be no sacred cows in the enforcement of this ban. 

”Security agencies have been given strict orders to clamp down on any filling station or individual contravening this directive. Anyone found culpable will be dealt with accordingly,” he said.

Zulum reiterated his administration’s commitment to restoring lasting peace in the state and called for the support and cooperation of residents in the ongoing fight against insurgency.

The governor has consistently implemented measures aimed at cutting off supplies to insurgents and curbing their mobility in conflict-affected areas.

(NAN)