A daughter to the late President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Justice Moses Bello, has faulted Wednesday’s judgment dismissing her suit challenging the distribution of her father’s estate.

The daughter, Ann Eniyamire whose suit was dismissed by A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) argued that the judgment has led to a miscarriage of justice.

Eniyamire, who spoke through her lawyer, Yahuza Mahraz, said she was saddened by current developments in the Judiciary, “where a judge can aid a party of his own choice by introducing new facts not deposed by any party and arguing such facts based on his personal beliefs. This has led to a miscarriage of justice.” 

While vowing to appeal the decision, Eniyamire said: “The judgment in its entirety is contradictory, approbatory and reprobatory, which cannot stand the test of fairness and natural justice.

 “The same judge, who held in his ruling on the defendants’ notice of preliminary objection that the claimant’s suit is not challenging the validity of a will/ codicil and is not challenging the grant of probate, as the issue of challenging a validity of a will/ codicil only goes to Probate Registry, before a Probate Registrar, went ahead to challenge the validity of the will and codicil on his own, without any party raising it for him, thereby downgrading the High Court to the position of a Probate Registry and hold a contradictory decision.

“We reject the judgment in its entirety and we going on Appeal,” she said.

Eniyamire’s suit, marked: CV/667/2024, had Reverend Father Ezekiel John and Christ the King Catholic Church, Okene Parish as  defendants.

She had alleged that Father John (listed as the first defendant) unilaterally adopted a 4.16% sharing formula instead of the 11.11% her later father instructed in his will.  

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Mohamed Zubairu held that the codicil (a legal amendment to a will) relied upon by Eniyamire was invalid.  

Justice Zubairu ssid the document was “more of a private letter’’ written by the late judge to his lawyer, Alex Izinyon (SAN), and did not meet the legal requirements of a codicil under the Wills Act.  

The judge added: “A letter written by an attestor but not signed by at least two witnesses cannot be considered a valid codicil. Though titled ‘Codicil,’ it does not satisfy Section 9 of the Wills Act.” 

Justice Zubairu held that the word “can” in the codicil afforded the executor some level of discretion in the distribution of the properties. 

The judge added that Eniyamire was not entitled to 1/9th of her father’s properties and upheld the defendants’ distribution formula.  

“Consequently, all the reliefs sought by the claimant are hereby refused. The suit is dismissed,” Justice Zubairu said.  

[TheNation]

Dakuku Peterside, former director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), says it is “premature” to resume oil exploration in Ogoni land, Rivers state.

On January 21, President Bola Tinubu met with Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), and a delegation of Ogoni leaders.

The meeting came after a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) demanded the allocation of $1 trillion for the clean-up of the Niger Delta and compensation before oil operations resume.

The talks were connected to the federal government’s plans to resume oil exploration in Ogoni land. Tinubu acknowledged the historical challenges faced by the Ogoni people and noted the need for reconciliation and progress.

However, Peterside, while speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, on Wednesday, said resuming oil exploration in Ogoni is ill-timed until contentious issues are resolved.

The former DG of NIMASA pointed out that the unfair distribution of oil exploration benefits, which neglects the Niger Delta community, is deeply troubling.

“If I must be sincere with you, it will be premature to resume oil exploration in Ogoni land. What I think—and I think that is the part the government has also chosen—is to do further consultations, build trust, and show genuine commitment to real environmental governance,” he said.

“The challenge all along has been the opaque nature of oil exploration not just in Ogoni land but in the entire Niger Delta.

“And the fact that the way benefits derivable from oil exploration is distributed to the exclusion of the people of Niger Delta is a big question mark.

“And until we address that in a transparent manner, then we will not make much progress.”

The Ogoni people are an ethnic group in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria, primarily inhabiting Rivers state.

The Niger Delta region, and the Ogoni in particular, has faced severe environmental degradation over the years due to oil exploration.

The Ogoni are known for their long-standing activism against environmental degradation caused by oil exploration, particularly by multinational corporations.

In the early 1990s, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), led by the late activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, drew global attention to the environmental destruction of Ogoni land.

This led to widespread protests and conflicts with the Nigerian government.

‘ESTABLISHING UNIVERSITY IN OGONI LAND NOT SAME AS ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE’

Speaking on the establishment of a university in Ogoni Land, Peterside said creating such an institution in Ogoni land is not the same as addressing the environmental injustice that the people have suffered.

He added that revisiting the Ogoni bill of rights is crucial to addressing the injustices suffered by the people of that area.

On February 3, Tinubu signed into law a bill establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology in Ogoni.

The president said the legislation is a step towards addressing environmental justice and expanding educational opportunities in the Niger Delta region.

He described the Federal University of Environmental Technology as a “significant milestone” in Nigeria’s efforts toward environmental sustainability and national development.

He acknowledged the historical struggles of the Ogoni people, noting that the university reaffirms his administration’s commitment to the region.

[TheCable]

Former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has once again stirred up the proverbial hornet’s nest by choosing to be politically incorrect in a clime where doublespeak not only walks on all fours but is also seen as an exemplar of political astuteness. But not for the man who was Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and former Minister of Transportation.

Speaking in Abuja on January 30, at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, organized by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development, Amaechi, as he is wont to do, bucked the hypocritical trend when he reminded his audience that included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, and Senator Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto State, that the average Nigerian politician will not relinquish power unless compelled by the superior will of the people.

“Nobody has power and will give it to you — not even me… The politician in Nigeria is there to steal, maim and kill to remain in power. If you think Tinubu will give it to you, you are wasting your time,” Amaechi said, stressing the need for vigilance and sacrifice.

To be sure, this is not the first time he would task Nigerians to take their political destiny in their own hands.

Speaking at the 2023 TheNiche Annual Lecture in Lagos on October 28, 2023, Amaechi blamed the docility of Nigerians and their inability to react to the egregious dishonesty of their leaders for the rascality of politicians.

“Nigerians don’t react to anything. Has any politician told you he is not a thief? Which politician told you he went to university, which politician told you she served in NYSC, and which politician told you he has his certificate? Nigerians know and still vote for them… Even if you come to a Nigerian’s house and kill his mother, the father will continue with his life. So, why should I waste my time,” he asked.

But even long before TheNiche lecture, he had always taken umbrage at the atrocious conducts of Nigerian politicians and seeming acquiesce of the people. Speaking on December 15, 2013 at an event organised in Lagos to pay tribute to former South African President Nelson Mandela, he challenged Nigerians to hold their leaders to account, insisting that political office holders steal state funds because Nigerians do not stone them.

So, Amaechi, in a sense didn’t say anything new last Thursday. If anything, he has been consistent on his advocacy that the pathway to good governance and political integrity in Nigeria is for the younger generation to wake up from their slumber and fight for the soul of the country. The fact that he is a major player in the Fourth Republic politics also makes it imperative that Nigerians should listen to him. He knows where the bodies are buried.

That also explains why officials of the Tinubu administration reacted so angrily and called him out forcefully. After all, he was not the only person who spoke at the Abuja event. But they know that he was telling the truth, knowing exactly how elections are won and lost in Nigeria. So, their pretentious indignation is an attempt to scare him away from his self-imposed task of conscientizing the youths.

Berating Amaechi for making ‘reckless, dangerous and inflammatory remarks’ unbecoming of a former ‘public office holder,’ Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, told him that power is earned through democracy, not intimidation, violence or lawlessness, as if Amaechi was in doubt. His claim that the Tinubu administration was committed to upholding peace, democratic values and security for all Nigerians flies in the face of reality.

Of course, Nigerians know who is lying between the two. Suffice it to say that Amaechi simply amplified Tinubu’s very Machiavellian idea of power and how it is acquired. Shortly before the 2023 elections, Tinubu, the then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was seen in a video admonishing top campaign operatives to ‘fight, grab and run (away) with’ political power.

“Political power is not going to be served in a restaurant. They don’t serve it a la carte. At all cost, fight for it, grab it and run with it,” he said. And that was exactly what he did, which is also what will happen in 2027 unless Nigerians say enough is enough, the very direction that Amaechi is pointing them to. The very idea of fighting, grabbing and running away with political power is antithetical to democracy. In a democracy, power is given by the people in a free, fair and credible election.

Of course, in a system that has normalized the idea of power not being given by the electorate but taken forcefully by the strong, in a system where might has always been seen as being right and democracy is a ‘do or die affair’ (apologies to former President Olusegun Obasanjo), Amaechi’s advocacy can only be deemed as treasonable, which explains Matawalle’s angst and threat on behalf of his principal.

“Let me make it clear: the security agencies are on high alert. Any individual or group found inciting violence or attempting to destabilize this nation will face the full force of the law. We will not tolerate any form of subversive rhetoric that seeks to undermine national unity or incite lawlessness. This government will not fold its arms and allow any individual to disrupt the peace and stability of Nigeria,” he warned.

But pray, how does Amaechi’s charge to Nigerians to vote and ensure that their votes are not only counted but count in the outcome of elections be deemed an attempt to undermine national unity? Those who disrupt national unity are those who ensure that votes do not count in elections, people whose democracy worldwide undermine the very principle of democracy.

In a democracy, power is given by the people, not taken willy-nilly by the powerful. Yes, every contest for power is a serious business. But the seriousness lies in the intense battle to win the support of the people who hold the supreme power. As I have always argued, democracy does not guarantee that the best candidate will win. No! But the irreducible precondition for any democratic adventure is that power must be freely given by the people.

It may be tempting to dismiss Matawalle’s threat as sheer bluster, an attempt to cow the people to submit to the Tinubu government’s anti-democratic whims and caprices. But Nigerians must take it serious. As at today, nothing suggests that the government is planning for a free and fair poll in 2027 where the choices of the majority of the electorate will prevail.

But knowing the character of successive Nigerian governments since 1999, the messenger may well be endangered. It will, therefore, not be a surprise if the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) starts hounding the arrowheads of the emerging opposition to the prevailing political status-quo, with Amaechi as the principal target.

The former minister is aware of the risk he faces. At the TheNiche lecture, he told the audience that: “The worst thing about Nigerians is that even when you have not committed any crime and they pick you up tomorrow, they will chorus ‘we said it, he is a thief,’ and you will go to prison for nothing. The greatest fear I have is being found in prison for nothing and you can be found in prison for doing nothing.”

The fact that Amaechi knows the risks involved and yet is determined to bite the bullet makes his cause altruistic. And he is right. Nigerian politicians are unconscionable. They steal, maim and kill for power and will continue to do so for as long as there are no consequences for their atrocious behaviours. For democracy to thrive, Nigerians must fight for it with all they have, a reason well-meaning people must rally round Rotimi Amaechi rather than join the band of government apologists in vilifying him.

A combined security team has discovered the decomposing body of a member of Anambra State House of Assembly, Justice Azuka, on the 2nd Niger Bridge.

Azuka was taken captive on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunabankpa Road, Inland Town, Onitsha.

He was representing Onitsha North Constituency 1 in the Anambra assembly.

After weeks of investigation, security operatives from Abuja apprehended the suspects late Wednesday. The arrested individuals led authorities to the location where they dumped the lawmaker’s remains.

Spokesman of the Anambra Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said he would reveal details to the public soon.

In 2022, a member of Anambra House of Assembly, Okey Okoye, popularly known as Okey Di Ok, was abducted and beheaded.

His body was later found around the Nnobi axis.

[Vanguard]

Bandits have reportedly kidnapped the former Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brgd. Gen. Maharazu Tsiga (retd.), in Tsiga village, Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State, in the early hours of Thursday.

The bandits also killed one person and abducted at least nine others, even as they were said to have ransacked several homes, carting away valuables.

The bandits attacked at 12.30am on Thursday, as eyewitness reports have it that the armed hoodlums stormed the community, shooting sporadically to scare residents.

Our correspondent contacted the Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, to confirm the attack but said he “can’t talk now” in an SMS.

Details soon…

In a recent interview, ex-Osun Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, alleged that the #EndSARS movement that roiled Nigeria in 2020 was a conspiracy against his friend, Bola Tinubu. By narrating how a set of circumstances that did not begin with Tinubu became wrapped around him and his ambitions, Akande tried to increase the moral value of his electoral victory. The interesting part for me was that he claimed that those who ambushed Tinubu through EndSARS were “the Obi-dients”, a well-organised army who “came from America (the USA) with a lot of money”. I am willing to bet that Akande has no evidence whatsoever to substantiate his allegations and would demur if asked to name those Obi-dients. But stories like that do not need to be true; they only need to be believed.

But why “America”? Why did the conspiring Obi-dients that Akande conjectured come from the USA and not anywhere else? There is a significant Nigerian diaspora in the UK and Canada, could they also not have funded such a campaign? Given the outsized role regularly ascribed to the USA in our political and economic predicaments, no other country would have sufficed. The imagination that produced that allegation must be substantive to some degree to sound somewhat credible.

Ask a Nigerian or an African why our countries are so poor, and it will not be long before they gravitate towards detecting Western-based institutions like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank as why we fail at self-management. Those USA-based organisations are the physical manifestations of the transcendent forces we blame for our woes. Since there are several documented instances of their unpalatable institutional interference in economically challenged countries like Nigeria, there is a mix of truth that justifies how they have come to embody the trope of the evil that keeps Africa from attaining its destiny. That is why one of our Daddys in the Lord could pray that “Either the IMF likes it or not, I decree the naira will rise again.”

The USA is also routinely fingered in the restlessness that bedevils our society. Some people are convinced that terrorism in Nigeria is funded by the USA. I have met a few of those folks before; their attributed reasons for the USA’s supposed malevolence can be internally contradictory, but the conspiracy imagination needs not to be coherent before it rings true to those who believe them. Then there are Nigerians who also believe that the only reason that Muhammadu Buhari won the election in 2015 was because the USA sponsored him. Some of those folks, if they are reading this article, are ready to defend that assertion by pointing to one or two examples they hold as indelible proof. They need not worry. I have read all those arguments; I know where those folks are coming from.

The trouble with such speculation is that we become so invested in tracing the outlines of an alternative reality where “the spiritual determines the physical” that we lose sight of ourselves as human agents who determine our destiny. To the folks who believe that the USA masterminded the 2015 election loss by the PDP, it matters less that it was Nigerians who used their hand to vote for Muhammadu Buhari. They override the agency of fellow Nigerians, some of whom sought genuine reforms and many of whom were also motivated by religious/tribal identities, to blame a supernational force. One would think it was America that created “Febuhari” or “March for Buhari” and helped Yemi Osinbajo distribute the N10,000 pittance they used to bid for votes.

The 2015 election loss was so humiliating for the religious and tribal blocs that Goodluck Jonathan represents, that the only way they can justify the turn of events is to attribute it to a higher power. Even Jonathan himself believes that he lost to the USA, not his countrypeople who got tired of his crass ineptitude. Our society is so invested in the supernatural that if we are not leaving our human responsibility to God, we are blaming the devil for our failings. The same attitude extends to our political and economic behaviours where we always look for otherworldly forces to blame for our self-induced problems.

What gets lost in the narrative is the temporal context. Occupy Nigeria, the anti-subsidies removal protests of 2012 that activated disaffection against Jonathan, and which his supporters (like Akande too) insist was a funded campaign by clandestine agents, also happened in different parts of the world at that time. That of Nigeria occurred in the light of the legislative probe that revealed the huge scam that the subsidy had become. In the era of Arab Spring and the #OccupyUSA movement, was it unthinkable that the young Nigerians embedded within a global media ecosystem would react to oppressive corruption like their counterparts elsewhere? Yes, certain characters like Muhammadu Buhari profited from the anti-Jonathan sentiment that the protest generated, but the emotions that drove it were not baseless.

The funny thing is that I know people who supported Buhari and campaigned for him from door to door. Imagine how amused I was when I saw some of them—against the backdrop of Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s campaign against USAID, the cultural arm of the US government—on Twitter (now called X) also crowing about how the USA imposed Buhari on Nigeria in 2015! Buhari was such a huge failure that his once devoted supporters are erasing their own participation in making him president! To distance themselves from the monumental disgrace he became, they delete their complicity.

In the same way that the anti-Buhari people have outsourced their agency in that protest to the USA, Akande too weaponises the EndSARS to blame some shadowy agents for confronting Tinubu. In doing so, he similarly erases the agency of the Nigerians who were genuinely driven to the streets because they were frustrated with the failings of a judicial institution under Buhari’s watch. The EndSARS was about Nigerian youths who had been driven to the wall by the excesses of the police, and just like OccupyNigeria in 2012, they took energies from similar protests abroad. Akande’s historical revisionism had nothing to say about the genuine issues that precipitated those protests.

Notice also that even though Tinubu contested against two opponents, only Peter Obi haunts Akande’s imagination. Yes, Obi profited from the anti-establishment sentiment of EndSARS the same way OccupyNigeria helped Buhari. So immense was his popularity among Nigeria’s Gen Z that he sent the conservative political class into a tailspin. If today, Tinubu struggles with a crisis of legitimacy even as the sitting President, it is also because he lost something irrecoverable to Obi in that election. The Obi who was said to lack “structure” and his supporters who were ridiculed as “people without PVCs” stunned everyone with what they achieved. That is why Akande thinks American money and strategy had to have been involved. If Obi had been declared the winner of that election, Akande’s narrative would have held up to justify how a combination of Yoruba and Northerners, the majority of whom also happen to be Muslims, could lose to a Christian southerner whose supporters were not even taken seriously.

Here is the thing: the fact that Akande’s story is laughable today does not mean it will always be. The APC will not rule forever. Many of their top brass are older men who will eventually lose their vice-like grip over the existing political structure. Nature will do its thing, and they will eventually be defeated in a hostile takeover. Those who will replace them are the current anti-establishment figures who are tweeting while waiting in the wings. From the fringes where they are sensationalising the USA as the God/Satan whose invisible hands move our history to mobilise their army of the disaffected, they will become the dominant ones. The ones in power today will look back at moments like 2020 EndSARS, pick up the narrative of “money, strategy, and America” including the one Akande put out and they too will start running with it.

In a viral video said to have been recorded on the eighth-day Fidau prayers for the repose of his mother who died recently, Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (KWAM 1) could be heard lamenting to an unidentified man in the street slang common in Lagos,
“Ilé bàbá mí ni Fìdípọ̀tẹ̀, àwọn àlfà, wọn lọ  bẹ; ibí ni gbogbo wọn wa se kínni? Ni wọn wa ga’nu sí.” A rough translation: ‘Rather than go to my father’s house in Fidipote, the clerics have shamelessly congregated in my house with their mouths wide open to scavenge.’ Stripped of all pretensions, the musician believed the clerics were more interested in the freebies they would get from him than performing their real function (in this case, offering prayers.)

It may have been unintended but there is a way in which the video—trending heavily among Yoruba people who consider ‘atenuje’ a serious malady—is a social commentary on the situation in Nigeria. Because, in so many ways, what officialdom now encourages in our country is ‘ganu si’ with the impediments they erect against entrepreneurship in favour of bubble jobs, at all levels of government.

Just a few days after announcing the appointment of 130 special assistants on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, the Chairman of Obio-Akpor local government area of Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo, added another list of 100 special assistants, bringing the total to 230. They are to “help me achieve my plans for my people. Their appointment takes immediate effect,” he said in a post that attracted critical comments on how our economy has been reduced to wasting scarce resources. But Ihunwo is not alone in what has become a fad. Before him, a councillor, Yahaya Yusuf, representing Bajoga East local government of Gombe State, had appointed a principal private secretary (PPS), 12 special assistants and five personal assistants. The situation is worse in the states. 

When in April 2020, then Governor Benjamin Ayade of Cross River State approved the appointment of 427 additional aides to join more than a thousand special assistants who were already on his payroll.  He provided justification for the decision. “The governor has said repeatedly that he only needs about five per cent of his appointees” explained his spokesman, Christian Ita at the time. “So, he deliberately creates these jobs to put food on the table to reduce social tension.” Ayade, we must remember also explained how he was generating revenue through “the use of intellect to make up for naira and kobo” because, according to him, “Intellectual currency is stronger than paper currency and so where there is a deficiency of funds, the intellect takes over.”

Ordinarily, the primary role of government is to create an enabling environment and provide incentives for the private sector so that small, medium and large businesses can thrive. And in the process, generate employment opportunities for the people. But what we have in Nigeria today are agencies of government manned by officials who believe their brief is to kill entrepreneurship, perhaps because job creation has been reduced to the appointment of idle special assistants for whom life begins and ends with merely “putting food on the table.” That is what happens when ‘Ganu si’ ethos defines government as is the case in Nigeria today. 

For posting about her restaurant on Instagram “without the vetting and approval certificate of the Advertising Standards Panel”, a friend received a letter from the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) asking her to “pay within 7 (seven) days of the receipt of this notice, the violation fee of N1,000,000 (one million Naira only) per violation/infraction in accordance with Article 148 (b)” of their law. She was then warned that any such ‘promotion’ must be submitted to some oga-at-the-top in ARCON before publishing. Why should ‘call this place to order food’ on social media require the vetting and approval of a government agency? And then wait for this: Same week, a third party she doesn’t have any relationship with posted about the eatery on Tik Tok and she received another one million Naira fine from ARCON! That can only happen in a ‘Ganu si’ economy where officials behave like scavengers.

I understand that ARCON has a 2022 Act which allows it to classify any published item as promotional, requiring prior approval. The law even grants ARCON the power to establish a kangaroo tribunal for the purpose of sending culprits to jail in a manner that is no different from what the fictional Chief Eleyinmi of Oja in the popular ‘Village Headmaster’ sitcom of old used to do with his famous refrain, “Just bring him to my court.” This law makes ARCON the complainant, prosecutor and judge in this so-called tribunal. Besides, since “deemed promotion” is for ARCON to decide, anything can be classified as promotional. So, if I write a column in THISDAY on ‘Amala Place’ in Abuja where I enjoy the delicacies, I must first take it to some fat cats at ARCON for editing before publication otherwise the food sellers would be deemed to have committed an offence! This is a ridiculous and dangerous law that limits enterprise. Some of the sweeping provisions are even in conflict with the 1999 constitution. To compound the problem, the law also says you cannot even sue ARCON unless you send them a letter first on pre-action suit!

With such omnibus powers, it is no surprise that ARCON has shifted its attention to influencers, bloggers, comedians, skit makers, agencies and brand owners who publish or broadcast anything promotional not submitted for the agency’s approval. “What we are saying is that there is a line and space called advertising. If you cross that line and move your skit or comedy into the advertising space as defined by law, then you are moving into a regulated space, and your activities in that space will be regulated,” ARCON Director General, Olalekan Fadolapo warned recently. But there is also a pushback. “If you look at this new law that we are trying to fight, it covers everything, including logos, trademarks and all. What the court said in the NBC (National Broadcasting Commission) case is that you cannot be jury and executioner, that you cannot be regulator and executioner at once,” the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) president, Osamede Uwubanmwen, said in response to ARCON activities. “But you won’t expect ARCON to learn from the NBC. They will not do that. The NBC now will be very cautious about fining anybody, because they have lost the first case and have lost the appeal. I don’t know if they will go to the Supreme Court.”

I am aware that we have numerous useless laws passed by the National Assembly but my main concern about ARCON is the danger their officials pose to our economy. Though the agency is not alone in that respect. At a period when we need to address the unemployment crisis, the main obsession of government is revenue generation. Nobody cares that by putting in place measures that discourage job creation we are invariably promoting ‘ganu si’ citizenry and no nation develops with such disposition. Meanwhile, it is not only small-scale businesses that suffer from this myopic thinking—even big businesses that employ thousands of workers no longer enjoy any protection as we can see from the example of Dangote Refinery.

Between October 2024 and end of January 2025, according to reports at the weekend, the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and a number of oil marketers spent over N5.5 trillion to import petrol and diesel. Whatever may be the excuses (and so many are being invented) it is only in a ‘ganu si’ economy that the government would be expending humongous amounts of money to import commodities that are available locally. Continued reliance on imports of petroleum products at a period in-country refining capacity can meet domestic need, especially in the age of Donald Trump, is what the Yoruba people would call ‘Akotileta’. It depicts someone who, lacking the wisdom to sustain inherited family treasures, decides to sell them off for a pittance that would then be frittered away. Meanwhile, the bottom-line in the hoopla of recent weeks, following President Trump’s tariff measures, is that every country is trying to protect their workers. Unfortunately, our economic managers fail to appreciate what is going on.

After attending the THISDAY/ARISE anniversary ceremony in Lagos last week Monday, I decided to visit Dangote Refinery for the first time the next day. Having called Alhaji Aliko Dangote about my plan, he detailed Jeremiah Danladi Jiya, Group Head, Credit Risk who also heads his refinery site office, to give me a tour of their facilities. It’s like a city within a city as we spent several hours moving from one section to another. Statistical details about the refinery are mind-boggling. Altogether, the refinery has 177 tanks with a total capacity of 4.742 billion litres. For instance, it has storage capacity for nine million barrels of crude, over 600 million liters of Gasoline, 340 million litres of Diesel and Kerosine and 400 million litres of JET A1. The refinery pipeline infrastructure is also the largest anywhere in the world, with 1,100 kilometers to handle three billion standard cubic foot of gas per day. The refinery’s 435-megawatt power plant exceeds the total power requirement of Ibadan Distribution Company (Disco). There are already research papers as to how the petrochemical processing steps have been able to exploit the adjacent Lekki Lagoon with “a sequential batch reactor and diverse filtration technologies” for treatment of a volume of water that can conveniently supply the whole of Victoria Island.

Before the tour I had the opportunity to interact with Dangote regarding the refinery and the attitude of critical stakeholders in the sector. He shared several insights with me, including on the issue of pricing. “I have read some of the propaganda they are doing. Crude is internationally priced so it’s easy to understand the pricing template for petroleum products. But they also have a choice. It’s either they want Nigeria to be a productive economy that puts people to work, or they want to us to be a dumping ground” said Dangote who added that the forces against the refinery have the same mindset with those who killed the textile industry in Nigeria. “Our tanks are filled because the cartel of marketers and those who manage the sector have refused to patronize us. I am aware of their plan to cripple the refinery. But they should be prepared for a big fight.”

In my column last July, (https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/07/11/dangotes-big-bet-on-gasoline/), I highlighted most of the contentious issues. But there should really be no need for a fight if the primary responsibility of critical stakeholders in the sector is to advance the public good. Even if there are differences, no responsible government should work towards the failure of a $20 billion project that adds considerable value to the economy. As they do in other countries, we must always encourage those who invest in production, and in the process create direct and indirect jobs for hundreds of thousands of our people. That is even more imperative in a nation like ours with a young population that is not productively engaged.

The sheer magnitude of the Dangote Refinery and the expected trickle-down effect in terms of employment opportunities, the forex that would be saved and general contributions to the economy cannot be downplayed. The same can be said of the small business owners who are daily being harassed by ARCON at a period we need to support them. While these businesses represent 96 per cent of entrepreneurship in the country and contribute 75 per cent of national employment, according to the Small and Medium Enterprises Development of Nigeria (SMEDAN), they face several challenges. In fact, doing any kind of business in Nigeria today is not for the fainthearted. You must provide your own utilities (electricity and water), pay all manner of charges to different agencies and at the end, what you get is harassment from government officials. 

Societies cannot grow meaningfully without translating individual energy, talent, and skills into assets that shape the future. That explains why countries that harness knowledge and skills to produce goods and services that attract top valuation continuously do better than those with scant regard for economic value creation. Nigerian government officials must therefore understand that putting people to productive use is the hallmark of creative and purposeful leadership and the fulcrum of social balance.

On 22nd October 1925, Mohandas Gandhipublished in his weekly newspaper, ‘Young India’ what he described as ‘Seven Social Sins’. It is quite instructive that the first on the list of those ‘social sins’ he admonishes us to avoid is wealth without work, which in KWAM1Speak means a predisposition to ‘ganu si’. Sadly, that precisely is what government (at all levels) is encouraging in Nigeria by creating jobs that would “put food on the table” rather than help advance entrepreneurship that will take many citizens off the streets and add value to the economy. Yet even a fuji musician is smart enough to understand that a society cannot advance when you encourage ‘Ganu-Si’ ethos!

To Kayode Fayemi, Amandla!

One of the tragedies of public service in Nigeria is that many of the operatives do not have a second address or another daytime job beyond politics. That perhaps explains why elections are for most of them a do-or-die affair. But there are also professionals for whom being in government is a tour of duty, essentially to serve the public good. And once their assignment is done, they go back to their primary vocation. One such person is the former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi who will, today in Abuja, launch his ‘Amandla Policy and Leadership Initiative’ and latest book, ‘If This Giant Must Rise’—a collection of recent interventions on leadership and governance in Africa.

Spanning 216 pages and divided into nine chapters, the book is a collection of papers and lectures written and delivered since Fayemi left the governor’s office in October 2022. While the issues discussed are national and international, the book is arranged in thematic order rather than by the period of their first presentations. “Together, they tell a story that tries to see through and beyond what is immediately in front of us,” Fayemi wrote in the preface to the book he says, “offers both a reflection on my time in office as well as a glimpse of what to expect from me in the years ahead.”

The long foreword by Wale Adebanwi, Presidential Penn Compact Professor of African Studies, University of Pennsylvania, United States, sets the tone for the book. “For the publicly engaged scholar or public intellectual, engagement with power is not only a necessity; it is an ethical obligation,” Adebanwi wrote while arguing on why people like Fayemi are needed in government. “Even direct entry into partisan politics against the backdrop of this ethical obligation makes politics a vocation and not a vacation for the scholar.”

Borrowing from his varied experiences and exposure as a public intellectual who had opportunities to serve in both his state as governor and at the federal level as a minister, Fayemi’s fascinating collection reminds us of the challenges of building a society that works for the people and how each of us has a role to play in that regard. “As the continent grapples with the vicissitudes of the changing dynamics, it is imperative that we build the capacity and develop the policy tools that will turn Africa’s potential to prosperity,” Fayemi wrote while explaining the rationale for establishing the Amandla Policy Institute being launched today. “That is the task before us, and it is one that I’m determined to contribute to.”

It’s nearly 20 years since Mark Steyn wrote a non-fiction book, America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It.

Steyn, a Canadian newspaper columnist, could not have known that the kicker of this book title, which extolled America as the last bastion of civilisation as we know it, would become the metaphor for a wrecking ball.

Steyn thought demographic shifts, cultural decline, and Islam would ruin Western civilisation. The only redeeming grace was American exceptionalism. Nineteen years after his book, America Alone is remembered not for the threats Steyn feared or the grace of American exceptionalism but for an erratic president almost alone in his insanity.

The joke is on Steyn

In less than one month of his second presidency, Donald Trump has declared an imperial intention to seize property outside the US and rename international boundaries. He has hinted at annexing a sovereign country, criminalised migration, and dragged his largest trading partners, including his neighbours, to the negotiation table at gunpoint.

When America Alone is mentioned today, it’s not a defence against threats to Western values or civilisation; it’s simply that Trump’s America First has turned the country into a clear and present danger to the values that built and prospered America and the rest of the world. America is losing its way, alone and aloof, in a brazen insularity that evokes pity and surprise in equal measure, even amongst its harshest critics.

Yet, as Trump danced on the grave of Adam Smith by instigating a trade war that has left the world on edge and global markets in turmoil, the president appears determined to take America beyond pity, surprise, and loneliness. America will soon be ignored.

Trump’s case

What is Trump’s case against Mexico, Canada, China, America’s neighbours and its most significant trading partners? The US president accused the first two of not doing enough to control the flow of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid analgesic more than 50 times more powerful than morphine, into the US.

Apart from his perennial accusations against China of stealing US technology and other unfair trade practices, Trump also accused Beijing of sending ingredients for making fentanyl to Mexico. Mexico has been Trump’s punching bag since his first term when he wanted to build a wall funded by that country to keep out the so-called human caravans, drug cartels and other criminal gangs from entering the US.

Polariser-in-Chief

Perhaps Trump has a just cause to take America back from drugs and crime, not to mention his redemptive mission for aliens in some parts of the US now reduced to “eating the dogs and the pets.”

However, for a president who said in his second inaugural address that his “proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier,” instigating a chaotic trade war, once described by Adam Smith as “beggar-thy-neighbour”, is anything but a peace offering.

Tariffs might be the most beautiful word in Trumptionary. However, nothing sets the world on fire in the lexicon of international trade, such as tariffs, quotas, and sometimes subsidies.

A different world

Even when the world was far less interlinked than it is today, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 (enacted to protect US farmers and businesses from foreign competitors), which imposed a 20 percent tariff on imports, was resisted with retaliatory tariffs by 25 other countries, creating significant distress around the world and worsening the Great Depression.

The reality in today’s profoundly connected world is worse. Within hours of the president announcing the 25 percent tariffs, the Canadian dollar and the Mexican peso fell. The Canadian dollar reached its lowest value in 20 years, while the peso hit a four-year low. Stock markets lost billions, and commodity prices surged.

Counting the cost

Before the one-month tariff pause between the US and its neighbours, analysts forecast the tariffs would hinder US GDP growth by approximately 0.25% to 0.3%. The tariffs on Canada and Mexico alone could decrease overall economic output by around $45 billion, with potential losses escalating to $75 billion following retaliatory measures.

Of course, these are all aside from the potential impact of unilateral tariffs on US jobs and consumer prices and a global supply chain crisis in fragile recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pause does not affect China, and a tariff war between the world’s leading economies is afoot. In what must rank as one of the cruellest ironies of these times, China, not the US, is honouring the rules-based system by first taking its case to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), while Trump threw tariff bombs on Truth Social.

The jury is out on the immediate and long-term damage caused by this trade war. It did not leave any winners the first time Britain used it in the 19^th century, when it enacted the protectionist Corn Laws, or when OPEC used it in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War. America First is a long winter in America Alone. The damage to the US and the rest of the world will linger long after the Trump years.

Dagger in Africa’s back

Africa is not spared in the all-out war. The continent is perplexed that USAID, one of the longest-standing tools of US soft power, is folding in the chaos of America First. The independent US government agency created by Congress 64 years ago to deepen the strategic partnership between America and Africa on issues ranging from security to health and the environment is closed for now, not by an Act of Congress, but by a Trump fiat.

No one is precisely sure what his official auctioneer, Elon Musk, plans to do with USAID or what will replace it. What is certain is that this bridge is broken.

Countries like Nigeria received $1.02 billion in 2023, Ethiopia $1.7 billion the same year, and Kenya $512 million in 2024. Others, including Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, and South Africa, also received various sums to fund their food security, humanitarian, and health programmes. USAID was neither perfect nor America’s Hail Mary for Africa. It was, by and large, a mutually beneficial programme. But Africa must now look elsewhere, or better inwards.

In addition, it’s unlikely that a tariff-obsessed Trump would renew the expiring African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which opens the US to duty-free access to over 6,000 products from the continent.

Elsewhere, the war may be about human caravans, fentanyl, or pirated chips. In Africa, whose immigrants in the US face deportation in large numbers, it’s about all of these and more. It is about losing friendship with a country that was once an inspiration and, more often than not, a moral force for good.

Pyrrhic victory

The White House may be enjoying a victory lap, but chaos was not the only way for Trump to settle his grouse or to save America from the world. For example, under President Joe Biden, Mexico deployed 10,000 troops to the US border before, without a threat. For Canada, the price of appointing a fentanyl czar is far less than the long-term damage to US-Canada relations.

We already know how the war against China will end: Beijing will make new friends and spread its influence elsewhere, while Washington will make new enemies.

Africa must accept that America First is more than a slogan under Trump. It is where the unfinished experiments of his first term and the promise of chaos during his last campaign meet the street: America Alone.

In the dynamic and often demanding world of business consulting, where innovation, precision, and reliability are the cornerstones of success, Abiola D. Akinsola has emerged as a trailblazer. As the founder and visionary behind ABD Integrated Consulting Ltd., Akinsola is not just a consultant but a force of transformation who has redefined what it means to deliver sustainable solutions in today’s fast-paced business environment.

Tracing the genesis of ABD Integrated Consulting Ltd, it suffices to opine that it was founded with the purpose of bridging critical gaps in business operations and management, thus ABD Integrated Consulting Ltd. has become synonymous with excellence. 

Akinsola’s journey into consulting was not a coincidence; it was the culmination of years of experience, dedication, and a passion for helping businesses thrive. Her foresight and ability to anticipate market trends positioned ABD Integrated Consulting as a firm that does not just solve problems but anticipates them.

According to her, “Consultancy provides expert advice and strategic planning to help SMEs navigate challenges and seize opportunities. By leveraging tailored insights and solutions, businesses can optimize performance, drive growth, and achieve sustainable success”.

At the heart of ABD Integrated Consulting is a unique ethos shaped by Akinsola’s leadership. Integrity, innovation, and impact form the triad that drives the firm’s operations. These values are not just corporate slogans but principles deeply embedded in the way Akinsola leads her team and engages with clients.

On how her consulting firm can add values to businesses, she said, “Our commitment to integrity, client-centric focus, and sustainability sets us apart. We build and maintain strong relationships, offering additional resources and opportunities to help your business achieve its goals while making a positive social and environmental impact”.

Regarding the approach adopted by her consultancy firm, she said, “Our approach is comprehensive, innovative, and client-centric. We leverage our expertise in strategy, analytics, and process to provide customized solutions that address the unique challenges of emerging businesses. Our services are designed to deliver measurable results, helping you make informed decisions and achieve lasting success”.

One of Akinsola’s defining traits is her commitment to innovation. Recognizing that traditional consulting models often fall short in addressing the complexities of modern business challenges, she has pioneered methodologies that are as dynamic as the problems they aim to solve.

In one of the numerous commendations made about her, Deirdre Speed, the Chair at Vyshyvanka Hub, said, “If you are looking for an innovative and professional advocate to guide you, look no further.  I highly recommend Abiola, a remarkable individual with a vast wealth of lived experience and acquired knowledge.  She is approachable, a great listener, and my go-to person for any challenge”.

In a similar vein, Pat Emmanuel, lead mentor at BlueskyCitadel, “Abiola is great at coming up with strategies, communicating effectively, and building strong relationships. She also has a deep understanding of different cultures, which makes her even more effective. I’m sure that she and her team will bring the same level of excellence and dedication to you”.

Akinsola’s expertise transcends sectors, reflecting her versatility and deep understanding of the business landscape. From manufacturing to technology, retail to finance, ABD Integrated Consulting has left an indelible mark on diverse industries. And in the foregoing vein, she usually bring her personal coaching experience to bear by helping business owners and professionals unlock potential and thrive in their business journey.

In a similar vein, she always exhibit her sagacity in corporate training when consulted to transform businesses by enhancing personal and team performance and business success with her consulting firm range of tailored training programs. 

Also, through her experience in organizing creative workshops, companies which engaged her are enabled to discover better directions and optimize their business’ processes for better proficiency and growth within their sector. 

Beyond her technical expertise, Akinsola’s leadership style is deeply people-centric. She believes that the true strength of any organization lies in its people. This conviction is reflected in her approach to team building and talent development at ABD Integrated Consulting.

“Our people are our greatest asset. By investing in their growth, we’re not just building a company; we’re creating a legacy,” she asserts.

.Beyond her role as a consultant, Akinsola is a respected thought leader in the business community. Her insights on topics such as strategic growth, operational efficiency, and leadership have been featured in industry conferences, seminars, and publications.

Her contributions have not gone unnoticed. Over the years, Akinsola has received numerous accolades, including recognition as one of the top consultants driving change in Africa. These honors are a testament to his impact and the high regard in which she is held by peers and clients alike.

Looking ahead, Akinsola is focused on scaling the impact of ABD Integrated Consulting. Plans are underway to expand the firm’s footprint beyond Africa, taking its innovative solutions to global markets.

“The world is changing rapidly, and businesses need partners who can help them navigate this change with confidence,” Akinsola notes. “Our goal is to be that trusted partner, delivering solutions that not only address today’s challenges but also prepare businesses for tomorrow.”

Akinsola’s story offers valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders. His journey underscores the importance of vision, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence. By staying true to his values and continually striving for innovation, he has built a company that is not just successful but also impactful.

Abiola D. Akinsola’s contributions to the consulting industry go far beyond the services provided by ABD Integrated Consulting Ltd. Through her visionary leadership, she has set a new standard for what it means to be a consultant, inspiring businesses and individuals alike to aim higher and achieve more.

In a world that often prioritizes short-term gains, Akinsola’s long-term vision and commitment to creating lasting value stand out. As she continues to chart new paths and inspire others, there is no doubt that his legacy will endure, shaping the future of consulting for generations to come.

Unarguably asserting her satisfaction concerning her individuality, she recently posted on one of her Facebook page thus, “Dancing into 2025 with GRATITUDE

“2024 has been a year of growth, meaningful connections, and boundless opportunities. Personally, professionally, and within our amazing community, I’ve learned so much and met incredible people who inspire me every day.

“As we close this chapter, I’m stepping into 2025 with optimism and excitement to explore new horizons. There’s so much to look forward to, ideas to bring to life, communities to build, and visions to turn into reality. And yes, I’m literally dancing into the New Year with a heart full of gratitude!

“To all my friends (old and new) and supporters, you’ve been the fuel to my fire. Let’s make 2025 even more amazing together!”

As we stand on the precipice of a new year, 2025 presents an opportunity for reflection, change, and forward momentum in our beloved nation, Nigeria. The year ahead holds the promise of growth, development, and transformative leadership. However, to unlock the full potential of this nation, Nigerian politicians, at all levels of government, must make a critical resolution: to become better leaders, grounded in the principles of good governance, accountability, and service to the people.

The time for political leaders to heed the clarion call for positive change is now. The people of Nigeria, who entrusted these politicians with their votes and hopes for a brighter future, deserve leaders who will act in their best interests, who will prioritize the needs of the people over personal gain, and who will pursue policies that promote prosperity, security, and equity for all citizens.

Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa and one of the largest economies on the continent, is a nation filled with immense potential. Yet, we have seen time and time again that the leadership we have elected has often failed to fully harness that potential. Corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of political will have held back Nigeria from reaching its full promise.

Over the years, many Nigerian politicians have become notorious for their failure to deliver on campaign promises. They have focused more on their personal enrichment, often ignoring the needs of the masses who elected them. Basic infrastructure is neglected, unemployment rates are high, healthcare systems are in disarray, and educational institutions are underfunded. The unfortunate consequence of these failures is a growing sense of disillusionment among the populace, with many questioning whether their votes truly matter.

In this environment, Nigerian politicians must not only acknowledge these failures but also commit to change. The people of Nigeria deserve more. They deserve leaders who will rise above the prevailing political culture of greed and inefficiency. And the resolution to do better must begin now, with the dawn of 2025.

Good governance is the cornerstone of any successful society. It is the framework within which a nation can thrive, providing citizens with the essential services and opportunities they need to live fulfilling lives. For Nigerian politicians, this means not just serving as figureheads but actively working to ensure that the government is accountable, transparent, and responsive to the needs of the people.

Given the foregoing, politicians must ensure that the workings of the government are open and accessible to the people. Financial dealings, policy decisions, and allocations of resources must be transparent to avoid corruption and waste.

Secondly, leaders must be held accountable for their actions, both in public and private life. When politicians make decisions that impact the public, they must be prepared to answer for those decisions and face consequences if they fail to act in the best interests of the people.

Thirdly, time and resources are precious commodities. Politicians should prioritize policies and programs that maximize the use of public resources for the benefit of all Nigerians. Bureaucratic inefficiencies and delays must be tackled head-on, ensuring that services reach citizens in a timely manner.

In a similar vein, leadership must be inclusive, ensuring that all Nigerians, regardless of their region, religion, or social class, have equal access to opportunities. The country’s diversity should be celebrated and harnessed, not exploited for political gain.

For a nation to progress, it must adhere to the principles of justice and the rule of law. Nigerian politicians must ensure that the legal system is fair, impartial, and accessible to all.

Again, politicians must pursue policies that ensure the long-term welfare of the nation. This includes investments in education, healthcare, agriculture, technology, and infrastructure, sectors that will sustain the nation’s growth for generations to come.

In fact, Nigerian politicians must understand that leadership is not a privilege; it is a responsibility. In 2025, they must resolve to act with integrity, prioritizing the well-being of Nigerians above all else. This is not just about fulfilling campaign promises, but about changing the political culture to one that values service and development over self-interest.

It is easy for politicians to become complacent once they assume office, especially in an environment where corruption and inefficiency have become endemic. However, it is time for a paradigm shift. Leaders must stop blaming the system and instead focus on how they can improve it. This requires courage, dedication, and a willingness to be uncomfortable for the greater good.

One politician who has demonstrated a commitment to responsible leadership is Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifiru of Ebonyi State. Unlike many of his colleagues in political office, Governor Nwifiru has made the conscious decision to send his children to school in Nigeria rather than overseas. This seemingly simple act speaks volumes about his character and his understanding of the importance of investing in Nigeria’s future.

In a country where many political elites send their children to expensive foreign schools, leaving the average Nigerian child to struggle in underfunded and dilapidated public schools, Governor Nwifiru’s decision sets him apart. It is a reflection of his belief in the potential of Nigeria’s education system and his desire to contribute to the development of the country.

Governor Nwifiru’s decision to keep his children in Nigerian schools, even within Ebonyi State, also sends a powerful message to other politicians: if we are to build a strong, self-sufficient nation, we must invest in our own people and institutions. There is no reason why Nigerian politicians should continue to send their children abroad for education while the majority of Nigerian children suffer in inadequate schools. If we want Nigeria to thrive, we must invest in our own education system, healthcare, and infrastructure. And this investment must come from the very politicians who have been entrusted with public office.

As we are now in the year 2025, Nigerian politicians must take a long, hard look at themselves and ask: what kind of leaders do we want to be? The resolution should be clear: leaders who will serve the people, who will deliver good governance, and who will prioritize Nigeria’s future over personal gain.

The year 2025 provides an opportunity for Nigerian politicians to make a lasting impact on the nation’s future. If they can resolve to embrace good governance, through transparency, accountability, and a commitment to sustainable development, Nigeria can begin to emerge from the shadows of corruption and inefficiency. Politicians must become the agents of change, demonstrating the kind of leadership that Nigeria deserves.

The year 2025 should mark the beginning of a new era for Nigeria, an era of responsible leadership, a commitment to public service, and a nation that begins to fulfill its true potential. The people are watching, and they will hold their leaders accountable. Politicians must rise to the occasion and make the resolution to be the kind of leaders that Nigeria needs.

In conclusion, let 2025 be a year of transformation for Nigeria, a year where politicians commit to good governance, where they put the people’s needs first, and where they work tirelessly to build a prosperous, peaceful, and just nation. The task is daunting, but the rewards will be immeasurable. The people of Nigeria are counting on their leaders to make it happen. The time for change is now.