President Bola Tinubu extends his heartfelt condolence to Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state on the shocking passing of his beloved wife, Pastor Patience Umo Eno.

On behalf of the Federal Government, the President commiserates with the Eno family, the government, and the people of Akwa Ibom state during this grim time.

The President joins them in mourning the painful and profound loss of the state's First Lady, who has supported Governor Eno's administration.

The President affirms that Patience Eno, as the wife to a visionary governor and an ordained gospel minister, embodied humility, resilience, and loyalty.

President Tinubu acknowledges that through her 'Golden Initiative for All,' she demonstrated her passion for serving the people and residents of Akwa Ibom state with love, honesty, and dedication, leaving a positive impact that will continue to inspire future generations.

He trusts that her selfless service to improve the lives of women, children, and the vulnerable will forever remain an important part of Akwa Ibom’s history, a legacy that will continue to inspire and be appreciated by future generations.

President Tinubu commits the grieving family, friends, and relatives to the comfort of the eternal God, who is the source of life and holds the future of all creation in his hands. He expresses his trust in their resilience and strength during this challenging time, offering reassurance and support.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)

A serving Minister was quoted as saying, that the crisis in the country is being sponsored by those who wish to share power with the President. To me, there is nothing wrong with power sharing. It is only in a country like our own that it is a sin to lose an election. Much as it is wrong for the opposition to want to destroy the country because they are not in government, there is nothing bad in accommodating them in the government.

A coalition government is in no position an inferior government nor illegitimate. Power sharing is good for democracy. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Power sharing makes people dependent and responsible. It is essential to avoid violent conflicts, tyranny of the majority and ensure political stability. Democratic rule and power sharing have close links. Power sharing is an integral component of the spirit of democratic rule. It is highly applicable in a diverse society as ours. Let’s face it, a united Nigeria is still a dream. Ethnicity is still the rule here, and if power sharing will help bring about progress and unity, let’s adopt it. Monopoly of power by group, a tribe, a political party, will lead to envy hatred, disunity and jealousy, no matter how that party got to power, even if they bought their way to power.

In some countries it is called coalition. In the first Republic we called it alliance, in the second Republic we called it accord.

In his inaugural address on May 29 last year, President Bola Tinubu GCFR, declared, “Today, Fate and Destiny join together to place the torch of human progress in our very hands. We dare not let it slip.

We lift high this torch so that it might shine on every household and in every heart that calls itself Nigerian. We hold this beam aloft because it lights our path with compassion, brotherhood, and peace. May this great light never EXTINGUISH.

Our administration shall govern on your behalf but never rule over you. We shall consult and dialogue but never dictate. We shall reach out to all but never put down a single person for holding views contrary to our own.

We are here to further mend and heal this nation, not tear and injure it.

In this vein, may I offer a few comments regarding the election that brought us to this juncture. It was a hard-fought contest. And it was also fairly won. Since the advent of the Fourth Republic, Nigeria has not held an election of better quality.

The outcome reflected the will of the people. However, my victory does not render me any more Nigerian than my opponents. Nor does it render them any less patriotic.

They shall forever be my fellow compatriots. And I will treat them as such. They represent important constituencies and concerns that wisdom dare not ignore”.

I remember in the first republic that there was an alliance between National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) AND ACTION GROUP. There was also an alliance between Northern People’s Congress (NPC) and Chief Ladoke Akintola’s Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP).

While at Olofin Anglican Grammar School in Idanre in Ondo state in 1964, I remember the first time I saw Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s wife, Chief Hannah Dideolu Awolowo (25 November 1915 – 19 September 2015) was when she came to Idanre, my hometown, in company of Chief Michael Okpara (NCNC), the then Premier of the Eastern Region, for a political rally. Their alliance then was called United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA).

The alliance between NPC and NNDP, transformed into what was known then as the NNA. That alliance produced the following as Ministers on March 31, 1965. They were Mr. M.T. Mbu(Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence, Navy), Alhaji Nuhu Bamali (Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs), Mr. Jaja Nwachukwu (Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Usman Maitambari( Minister of State, Transport), Alhaji Ibrahim Tako) Minister of State, Defence, Army), Alhaji Hashim Adaji(Minister of State, Works), Mr. T.E. Orodi (Minister of State, Lagos Affairs), Chief H.O. Davies (Minister of State, Industries), Chief A. Akerele( Minister of State, Information), Alhaji Abdul Rasaq(Minister of State, Transport) and Mr. D. Ibekwe, Minister of State, External Affairs).

Others were Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Prime Minister and External Affairs), Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu (Defence), Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh(Finance), Alhaji Shehu Shagari(Internal Affairs), Alhaji Mahammadu Inuwa Wada(Works), Alhaji Zanna Bukar Dipcharima(Transport), Mr. Raymond Njoku(Communications), Dr. Kingsley O. Mbadiwe(Trade), Mr. Jaja Wachukwu (Aviation), Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya (Housing and Surveys), Chief A.M.A. Akinloye (Industries), Chief Ayo Rosiji(Information), Mr. R.A. Akinjide(Education), Mr. Adeleke Adedoyin(Labour), Mr. Alade Lamuye (Natural Resources and Research), Alhaji Yusufu Maitama Sule 9Mines and Power, Alhaji Waziri A. Ibrahim(Economic Development), Dr. T.O. Elias (Attorney-General and Justice), Dr. M.A. Majekodunmi(Health) and Chief J.C. Obande (Establishments).

Still fresh in memory was the NPN-NPP accord under a Presidential System of Government.

On August 9, 1979 the then Chief Justice of the Federation, Sir Darnley Arthur Alexander (28 January 1920-10 February 1989) GCON, who was born in Castries, Saint Lucia in the Caribbean but came to Nigeria in 1957, on the invitation of the Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo GCFR, constituted elections tribunals that would give judgments on various petitions that may arise on the Senate, House of Representatives, Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections. He acted on the electoral decree 1977. The tribunals were for Imo, Gongola, Lagos and Kaduna zones.

For Imo zone, Justice Alexander named Honourable Justices A. A. Adeoba(chairman), F.I. E. Ukattuh and A.A. Ononuju as members. For Gongola zone Honourable Justices D.E.Y. Aghahowa (Chairman), M.U. Anisiobi and Alhaji Garba Alfa Tarfan as members while for Lagos zone Honourable Justices A. Allagoa, A. Desalu and A. O. Ejiwunmi were named. Kaduna zone included Honurable Justice S.E.J. Ecoma(Chairman), honourable Alhaji Bashir Sambo and Mr. S. A. Ibiyeye as members.

On the same day of August 9, 1979, Justice Alexander constituted the election tribunal on the Presidential election. Members of the tribunal were Justice Boonyamin Oladiran Kazeem (Chairman) while Justice A.I. Aseme and Justice A.B. Wali were members.

Justice Kazeem was born in Lagos on August 29, 1922. He had his education at the Government School, Lagos, Christ Missionary Society Grammar School, Lagos and the University of London, England. He was called to the Bar and as clerk, 1942-1950, crown counsel, 1954-1959, senior crown counsel, 1959-1961, principal crown counsel, 1961-1963, legal adviser, 1963-1964, deputy solicitor-general, 1964-1965, solicitor-general general and permanent secretary, 1965-1967, judge High Court, Lagos, 1967-1976, appointed judge, Federal Court of Appeal, 1977; member, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, member and Nigerian Society of International Law.

Justice Kazeem was later elevated to the Court of Appeal and to the Supreme Court. On August 11, 1979, the Senate and Presidential elections were held throughout the country.

On August 17, 1979, the Federal Electoral Commission declared Alhaji Usman Aliyu Shehu Shagari as the winner of the Presidential Election.

In a two-page prepared statement read at a Press conference in Lagos by the returning officer, Mr. Fredrick Menkiti, the FEDECO said Alhaji Usman Aliyu Shehu Shagari GCFR (25 February 1925- 25 February 1925), satisfied the provision of section 34 (A), subsection (1)(C)(1) of the Electoral Decree No. 73 of 1977 by scoring the highest number of votes cast at the election. I attended the declaration on that day at Onikan, Lagos, almost forty-five years ago.

Mr. Menkiti declared “He also satisfied the provision of subsection (1) (c) (11) of the same section. He has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all the states in the Federation.”

“The Electoral Commission considers that in absence of any legal explanation of guidance in the Electoral Decree, it has no alternative than to give the phrase at least two thirds of all the states in the Federation—in section 34(A) subsection 1 (c) 11 of the Electoral Decree the ordinary meaning which applies to it.

“In the circumstances, the candidate who scores at least one-quarter of the votes cast in 12 states and one-quarter of two-thirds, that is, at least one-sixth of the votes cast in the 13th state satisfies the requirement of the subsection.”

This is the full text of the Federal Electoral Commission’s statement on the presidential election on that day:

“I certify that having carried out my duties and the formalities required by the Electoral Decree 1977, the result of the poll carried out in the Federation on August 11, 1979, is as follows in order of the number of votes each candidate received: Candidate ALHAJI SHEHU SHAGARI 5, 698,857, Candidate CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO 4,916,651, Candidate DR. NNAMDI AZIKIWE 2,822,523, Candidate ALHAJI AMINU KANO 1,732,113, Candidate ALHAJI WAZIRI IBRAHIM 1,686,489.

Alhaji Shehu Shagari has satisfied the provision of Section 34 A subsection (i) (c) (i) of Electoral Decree No 13 of 1977, that is to say, he has the highest number of votes at the election.

From the details of the state-by-state results, this candidate has also satisfied the provision of sub-section (i) c) (ii) of the same election in each of at least two-thirds of all states in the Federation.

The Federal Electoral Commission considers that in the absence of any legal explanation or guidelines in the electoral decree, it has no alternative than to give the phrase “at least two-thirds of all states in the Federation” in section 34a subsection 1 (c) (ii) of the electoral decree the ordinary meaning which applies to it.

In the circumstances, the candidate who scores at least one-quarter of the votes cast in 12 states and one-quarter of two-thirds, that is, at least one sixth of the votes cast in the 13th state satisfies the requirement of the sub-section.

Accordingly, Alhaji Shehu Shagari GCFR is hereby declared elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

After the declaration, Chief Obafemi Awolowo GCFR (25 February 1925- 9 May 1987) of the UPN went to the election tribunal headed by Justice Kazeem, who rejected his request.

Justice Alexander retired on August 21. The then Military Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, invited Justice Atanda Fatai Williams (22 October1918-10 April 2002), then a Justice of the Supreme Court, to a meeting at the seat of power at Dodan Barracks, Lagos. At the meeting, Obasanjo offered Fatai-Williams the office of the Chief Justice of the Federation.

In his memoirs, FACES, CASES AND PLACES, published in 1983, Justice Fatai Williams claimed that the offer “was totally unexpected, and, for the first time in my life, I was at a loss for words”, adding that General Obasanjo “watched my discomfiture with relish and delight.”

Chief Awolowo’s petition finally ended in the Supreme Court which endorsed FEDECO’s declaration on September 26, 1979, just five days before the inauguration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari as the President. The case was SUIT NO SC62/1979.

Justice Fatai Williams was assisted in his ruling by Justice Mohammed Bello, Justice Mohammed Uwais, Justice Chike Idigbe and Justice Gabriel Ayo Irekefe. Justice Andrew Otutu Obaseki (11 June 1926- 13 July 2017) partially disagreed with the majority judgment while Justice Kayode Eso (18 September 1925-16 November 2012) supported Chief Awolowo’s position.

Addressing a press conference after the FEDECO declaration in Lagos which I also attended, Alhaji Shehu Shagari said “I extend my hands of friendship to them and ask them to join me in the task of building a united, prosperous and virile nation of which we can all be justly proud. We need an atmosphere of friendship amongst all Nigerians. I believe that if our nation is to be truly great, we must come together as a family to solve our common problems. After all, the objectives of all the five political parties are similar. So let us work together in harmony towards the fulfilment of these objectives”.

Thereafter his party, the NPN struck an accord with the NPP of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (16 November 1904- 11 May 1996).

It was this accord that made it possible for Dr. Joseph Wayas of the NPN to be elected Senate President on October 9, 1979. He defeated the former Chief Judge of Bendel state, Justice F.O.M. Atake of the UPN by 53 to 42 votes. Dr. Wayas was nominated by Dr. Sola Saraki of the NPN (Ilorin/Asa) and seconded by Senator Garba Matta of NPP(Pankshin/Mangu/Kanam). Senator Atake was nominated by Senator E.I. Akpata of UPN (Bendel Central) and was seconded by Alhaji Idrisa Kadi of the GNPP (Borno North-Central).

The accord also enabled Senator John Wash Pam of the NPP to defeat Alhaji Sabo Barkin Zuwo of the PRP by 51 votes to 43 votes to become deputy Senate President. Senator John Wash Pam was nominated by Senator Jaja Nwachukwu, NPP (Aba) and was seconded by Senator Uba Ahmed—NPN (Bauchi South East), while Alhaji Ahmed Danbata of the PRP (Kano Central) nominated Senator Sabo Barkin Zuwo of the PRP and was seconded by Senator David Oke of the UPN (Ondo West).

In the election for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Edwin Ume Ezeoke of the NPP(Nnewi) defeated Mr. Hamza M. Ngadiwa of the GNPP(Borno) by 245 to 201 votes. Chief Ezeoke was nominated by Mr. Yunusa Kaltungo of the NPN (Tangale-Waja South) and seconded by Lieutenant Colonel(rtd) P.C. Amadi of the NPP (Owerri North). Mr. Ngadiwa was nominated Dr. Gordon J. Idang of the UPN (Etinam II) and seconded by Mr. M.A. Olukoya—UPN(Ijebu-Ode).

For the post of deputy speaker, Alhaji Idris Ibrahim, NPN(Minna) defeated Mr. Faji Fajobi of the UPN(Ekiti South) by 244 to 201votes. Colonel(rtd) Amadi (Owerri North) nominated Alhaji Idris Ibrahim while Mr. Kaltungo seconded his nomination. Alhaji Sidi Alli of the PRP(Kano–Danbatta) nominated Mr. Fajobi and was seconded by Mr. Olaiya Fagbamigbe of the UPN(Akure).

All the elections were conducted by the then Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Gidado Idris GCON.

On October 18, 1979, Presidential Shagari submitted thirty-three ministerial nominees to the Senate, presided over by Dr. Joseph Wayas (21 May 1941 – 30 November 2021). Four of the nominees were Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP)members. They were Chief Paul Unongo (Benue), Professor Ishaya Audu (Kaduna), Chief Ademola Thomas (Lagos) and Chief Mrs Janet Akinrinade (Oyo).

Apart from the Presidency at that time, the NPN had seven governors out of nineteen namely Alhaji Shehu Kangiwa(Sokoto), Chief Melford Okilo(Rivers), Alhaji Awwal Ibrahim(Niger), Alhaji Adamu Attah(Kwara), Dr. Clement Isong(Cross Rivers), Mr Apar Aku(Benue), Alhaji Abubakar Tatari Alli (Bauchi) while UPN had five governors—Chief Bisi Onabanjo(Ogun), Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin (Ondo), Chief Bola Ige(Oyo), Alhaji Lateef Jakande (Lagos) and Chief Ambrose Ali(Bendel). NPP had three governors— Chief Sam Mbakwe (Imo), Chief Jim Nwobodo (Anambra) and Mr. Solomon Lar (Plateau). The GNPP had two governors—Alhaji Abubakar Barde(Gongola) and Alhaji Goni(Borno). The PRP had two governors— Alhaji Abubakar Rimi(Kano) and Alhaji Balarabe Musa (Kaduna).

Even in the Senate elections, the NPN had 36 seats, UPN-28, NPP—16, GNPP—8 and PRP—7. In the House of Representatives NPN had 168, UPN—111, NPP—79, PRP—47 and GNPP—-44.

The following Senators were elected then—Prince Onyeabo Obi, Dr. Offia Nwali, Chief B.C. Okwu, Chief N.N. Anah and Mr. Isaiah N. Ani(Anambra)—-NPP; Alhaji A.D. Rufai, Alhaji Ibrahim Dimis, Alhaji Ibrahim Jalo Waziri, Alhaji Abdulkadir Yelwaji Saleh and Mr. Uba Ahmed(Bauchi)—NPN; Mr. D.O. Dafinone, Mr. Bardi Joe(both of NPN), Chief John Umolu, Chief E.O. Akpata and Justice Frankly O. Atake(UPN)—-Bendel; Mr. Andrew Abogede, Chief J.S. Tarka, Mr. Suemo Chia, Mr. B.A. Ebute and Colonel Ahmadu Ali (NPN)—Benue; Alhaji Idrisa Kadi, Mr Bukar Sanda, Mr. Jafaru Manga and Mr. Umaru Lawan Bama (GNPP) and Alhaji G. Lawan (UPN)—Borno; Mr. George Daniel and Prince Joseph Ansa(GNPP), Mr. Victor Akpan, Mr. Donald Etiebet and Dr. Joseph Wayas(all of the NPN)—-Cross River.

Pastor Luka Zanyazing, Mr. Bitrus B. Kajal, Alhaji Mahmud Waziri(GNPP), Mr. Iliya Audu(NPN) and Mr. Gayus Gilama(UPN)—Gongola; Mr. Emeka P. Echeruo, Dr. Elijah E. Emezie, Dr. Jaja Nwachukwu, Chief Tony Anyanwu and Mr. Simeon Ojukwu(NPP)—Imo; Alhaji Abba Ali, Mr. Jacob Madawaki and Alhaji Yusuf Ali(NPN), Mr. Bello Bakori and Alhaji Ibrahim Barau(PRP); Alhaji Adamu Gaya, Alhaji Ahmed Zakari, Alhaji Hamisu Musa, Alhaji Usman A. Dambata and Alhaji Sabo B. Zuwo(PRP)—Kano; Alhaji Isa Abonyi Obaro, Mr. Aliyu Mohamadu Gan and Dr. Olusola Saraki(NPN); Mr. Justus Olu Olabode and Mr. C.O. Adebayo(UPN); Alhaji Sikiru Shitta-Bey, Dr. Femi Ayantuga, Alhaji M.A.O. Abiru, Mr. Abayomi Durosinmi and Mr. Adeyiga Ajai(UPN)—Lagos; Alhaji Abubakar Magaji, Alhaji Jubrin Salihu, Alhaji Ibrahim Kolo, Alhaji Abdullahi Mangu and Colonel Garba Dada Paiko(NPN)—Niger state.

Mr. Ladega Daniel Adetola, Mr. Oyero Kunle, Mr. S.O. Sogbein, Chief J.A.O. Adebiyi and Mr. A.A. Adesanya(UPN)—Ogun; Chief E.K. Ogunleye, Mr. Michael Onukun, Professor D.O. Oke, Mr. Ayo Fasanmi and Professor S.A. Akintoye(UPN)—Ondo; Chief Adeleke Ayoola, Dr. Christopher Ilori, Mr. Ademola Adegoke, Dr. Christopher Adeoye and Mr. Olalere Adesina(UPN)—-Oyo; Mr. Abubakar Ibrahim, Mr. Garba Matta, Mr. John Wash Pam, Mr. George Hookwap and Mr. Muhammadu Musa(NPP)—Plateau; Mr. P.J. Ella and Dr. Obi Wali(NPP); Dr. O. Eberewariye, Mr. C.N. Nunije and Mr. Amatari Zuofa(NPN); Mr. Otto Bugundu, Mr. Haruna Muza, Alhaji Garuba Gada, Alhaji Hassan Zuru and Alhaji Garba Kware(NPN)—-Sokoto.

The domination of NPN in 1979 was not in doubt. But for reasons best known to Alhaji Shehu Shagari, the then President, he decided to go into partnership with NPP. He was aware the Presidential Constitution does not allow for partnership or alliance.

Since 1999 to date, no President has ever accommodated members of other parties in government, although some were appointed to government on individual recognition and not as party members. Late Chief Bola Ige, the present Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike and others, are examples.

In Nigeria, if you lose an election, you are nothing but an orphan. The winner takes all policy as contained in our current Constitution will not bring about the desired unity. It is harmful. No political party or group or tribe or association can do it alone.

Diversity is our strength; unity is our power.

Japan is urging its citizens to leave Lebanon and has decided to prepare military flights for their possible evacuation, the government said Friday.

Israeli bombing has killed hundreds of people this week in Lebanon, particularly in Hezbollah strongholds while the militant group has retaliated with rocket barrages.

“We’re currently checking the safety of Japanese citizens living in Lebanon, as well as urging them to leave the country while regular commercial flights remain in operation”, chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Friday morning.

Hours later, the defence ministry said air force planes had been ordered to go to Jordan and Greece to be on stand-by in case Japanese nationals need to be transported out of the region.

The C-2 transport aircraft would be used to evacuate around 50 Japanese citizens currently in Lebanon, media outlets including Kyodo News said, citing unnamed government sources.

Yoko Kamikawa, Japan’s foreign minister, said Wednesday that Tokyo is “strongly concerned about the escalation of tensions between Israel and Hezbollah”.

Japan, she added, “strongly urges” all parties to “exercise the utmost restraint to avoid further escalation”.

Israel has rejected a push by allies for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon and has vowed to keep fighting Hezbollah militants.

AFP

The Edo election has confirmed what every discerning Nigerian knows: the Mahmoud Yakubu-led INEC is a fraud with no moral fibre to conduct free, fair and credible elections. If I were Asue Ighodalo, the latest victim of Nigeria’s soulless electoral mafia, I will not go to court. The matter will be settled on the streets of Edo. If that is what those inclined to being politically correct call anarchy, so be it. Truth be told, unless and until Nigerians show the capacity to resist the malfeasance of INEC and their enablers on the streets, not in courts, this impunity will not stop.

I had very instructive discussions with two A-list Nigerian politicians before and after the Edo State governorship election; the first being on Wednesday, three days before the poll. Both men have held positions of responsibility in government both at the state and federal levels.  

The first politician dismissed the optimism of those who believed that given the pedigree of the 18 candidates and sophistication of the Edo electorate, the odds favoured the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he was unequivocal that the result of the election had already been written. “I don’t know why Nigerians are so naïve. They don’t seem to know what they are up against. Which election are they talking about? The same election which result had already been written?” he asked.

That was incredulous. I reminded him how the Edo electorate stepped up to the plate in the 2020 governorship election. He riposted that times have changed and INEC has become more brazen, emboldened by the unscrupulousness of the new kids on the leadership block.

We left it at that, but I hoped to prove him wrong. It turned out on Saturday that he was spot on and I was wrong. On Sunday, at exactly 2.33 pm, when INEC’s deviousness was on full parade, he sent me a text message: “I told you.”

Earlier on Sunday, at exactly 9.37 am, the second politician called to lament. What he said was spine-chilling. “Have you seen what is happening in Edo? These guys have become so brazen. This is unbelievable. What this means is that anyone contesting elections in Nigeria today will be doing so at his own risk.” He was hoping to run for the governorship of his state in 2027. Not anymore after the Edo electoral heist by the APC, he said.

None of them is from Edo. So, they had no dog in the fight, so to speak. But as stakeholders, they are as worried as every other well-meaning Nigerian. But I am more worried now because of what they said.

Before now, the risk we faced as a result of the insufferable duplicity of INEC was voter apathy. Over the years, as people came to the realization that their votes never counted, voter enthusiasm waned.

According to INEC records, only 28.63 per cent of all eligible voters participated in the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections. That was a new low in what has become a steady decline in the turnout of voters during elections. For instance, while as in 2011, voter turnout was an impressive 53.7 per cent, it dropped to 43.7 per cent in 2015 and 34.75 per cent in 2019.

After the 2023 elections, it was apparent that the voter apathy will intensify and the Edo governorship election where only about 22 per cent of the 2,629,025 registered voters voted has confirmed that. One would have thought that such embarrassing statistics will make the electoral umpire have a rethink. No! Instead of thinking of how to clamber out of the putrid hole of electoral malfeasance, the hardened enablers of electoral fraud are still digging.

Now, the consequence stares us in the face. Even politicians no longer have faith in INEC and if things remain the way they are, no credible Nigerian will waste his time and resources contesting elections again. The implication is that going forward, certificate forgers, age cheats, drug barons and sundry fraudsters will have the electoral field all to themselves.

The Edo election has confirmed what every discerning Nigerian knows: the Mahmoud Yakubu-led INEC is a fraud with no moral fibre to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

But by this brazenness, INEC has also finally overreached itself. As the legendary Chinua Achebe said in his book, A Man of the People, Yakubu now epitomizes that vile character, Josiah, the local shopkeeper, who tricked a blind beggar and stole his walking stick. As one of the villagers said, “Josiah has taken away enough for the owner to notice.” In the same vein, Yakubu and the INEC gang have crossed a line with the conduct of the Edo poll and longsuffering Nigerians have noticed.

Already, director of the Abuja school of social and political thought, Dr. Sam Amadi, has called for the disbandment of INEC as presently constituted, insisting that evidence abounds the electoral umpire was to blame for every bad election conducted in the country.

I agree in toto! And I make bold to say that the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, didn’t win last Saturday’s Edo governorship election. He lost woefully to the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, no matter what the fraudulent INEC says. And this is not a speculation. Results announced at the polling booths confirm Ighodalo’s victory to the eternal shame of those who toy with the sovereign will of the people. What INEC did was a perpetuation of the electoral fraud that has made Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of democratic nations.

If you are still in doubt, consider the fact that all the accredited civil society organizations (CSOs) that observed the poll have rejected the result, insisting that it lacks integrity. The problem, as it has always been the case, started at the point of result collation from the ward, local government to the state level, which flew in the face of the Electoral Act 2022.

A coalition of civil society groups, including Advocacy for Quality Leadership and Health Awareness Foundation; Grassroots Development and Peace Initiative; Citizens Rights and Leadership Awareness Initiative, etc., alleged on Sunday that INEC used two sets of result sheets — one used in the field and another that favoured the APC – during the collation in specific senatorial districts.

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and some of its accredited member organisations, including Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), Yiaga Africa, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), and TAF Africa, were even more scathing in their report.

In a statement on Monday, they noted that while as “the voting process was concluded in a relatively peaceful atmosphere, the results collation process in some LGAs were not peaceful and did not meet electoral integrity standards.”

Concerned that the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines on collation were wilfully compromised, particularly in Egor, Ikpoba Okha, Oredo, Esan West and Ovia South-West LGAs, they said: “Our observation of the collation process shows that it was neither transparent nor opened to representatives of the various candidates in some cases. In addition, it lacks transparency in the application of the provision of the Electoral Act and the INEC Guidelines on over-voting and cancellation of results from polling units.”

Bemoaning the over-voting that was reported from more than 370 polling units across the State, they returned a damning verdict: “It is our observation that the Edo State Governorship election 2024 failed to fulfil the requirement of the conduct of credible elections, and again, raises questions about election credibility in Nigeria. As with recent polls, INEC’s ability and willingness to conduct credible elections in Nigeria remains questionable.”

The big elephant in the room has always been collation and Yakubu knows. As a history professor, he is most likely aware of the admonition of the Soviet dictator, Joseph Stalin, to his party apparatchik in 1923 thus: “I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this — who will count the votes, and how” because, “Those who vote decide nothing. Those who count the vote decide everything.” The devil in Nigeria’s elections is always in the counting.

So, INEC allowed the electorate to vote in Edo and then willfully manipulated the counting to decide the “winner.” What is even more worrying is the impunity. For instance, as at 8:40 am on Sunday, results from 4455 out of the 4,519 polling units where elections were held – 98.58 per cent – had been successfully uploaded on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV), which means that Nigerians knew as a fact who won the election. Yet, bypassing its own portal, the self-same INEC had the audacity to collate results from only God knows where that was totally at variance with what was uploaded.

Those who want to be diplomatic have called for calm, asking those holding the short end of the electoral stick to follow due process in seeking redress.

Due process would mean going to court. That will be foolhardy because it is another layer of the fraud. As Mr. Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), noted recently, “No matter the volumes of evidence, the judiciary appears to have taken stand and seems to be siding with the people who have no regard and respect for the sovereignty of the people.”

To be sure, no petitioner can successfully sidestep the daunting legal banana peels starting from dubious concepts of demonstration of documents, dumping of documents and calling of agents polling unit by polling unit, to the requirement that certified true copies of public documents must be tendered by the makers and the new, albeit impossible proviso that no subpoenaed witness can testify unless his or her frontloaded statements on oath are filed along with the petitions within 21 days.

Here, Okutepa’s advice, for me, suffices. “It is my proposal to all ‘losers’ of elections in Nigeria not to waste time and resources to file election petitions because it is easier for an elephant to go through the eyes of the needle than for anyone who was robbed of victories in our elections to get immediate remedies and electoral justice.”

If I were Asue Ighodalo, the latest victim of Nigeria’s soulless electoral mafia led by Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, I will not go to court. The matter will be settled on the streets of Edo. If that is what those inclined to being politically correct call anarchy, so be it. Truth be told, unless and until Nigerians show the capacity to resist the malfeasance of INEC and their enablers on the streets, not in courts, this impunity will not stop.

UNITED Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, as usual, told us what we already know. On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, he announced that: “Hell is breaking loose in Lebanon”. But, sadly, he is behind the news because hell is not breaking, it has already broken loose in the Palestine, especially in the Gaza Strip, and has merely expanded its occupation into Lebanon.

Guterres should know this because 220 UN staff in Gaza along with 174 of my colleagues in the journalism profession, have already been despatched from the hell that is Gaza.

Then he made a Freudian slip. As part of his suggestion to stop the war, he declared that the Lebanese state “must have full control of its weapons” throughout the country. He added: “We support all efforts to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces.”

What the UN chief is saying is that Hezbollah, the Lebanese party Israel claims it is fighting, should be disarmed. So, in whose interest will this be? In that of the Lebanese people who are being subjected to the type of genocide going on in the Palestine, or Israel which, without Hezbollah, would annex Lebanon as it did to East Jerusalem, or occupy it as it is occupying the Palestine and the Syrian Golan Heights?

This is not a theoretical conception as it has occurred twice. Israel had in 1982 invaded Lebanon in the name of cross-border pursuit of Palestinian fighters. This, in 1985, became a full-blown war in which it seized many parts of Lebanon, including its capital, Beirut. Although Israel later withdrew, but for 15 years, it continued to occupy parts of Lebanon which it called its “security zone”. It was forced to leave on May 24, 2000.

Then, six years later, it again invaded Lebanon, this time from July 12, 2006 to August 14, 2006. However, it could not continue its occupation due to the armed resistance of Hezbollah which had come to replace the collapsed Lebanese military. In other words, but for Hezbollah, Lebanon would have been another Gaza or West Bank under Israeli occupation with settlers from Europe building illegal settlements.

Gueterres is supposed to be a peace maker. But the mind-set of a peace maker should be to work for an immediate ceasefire, not advocate the disarming of one side of the conflict.

The Gueterres position of disarming Hezbollah does not tally with that of Lebanon which sees the Israeli attacks as a blatant violation of its sovereignty and human rights.

Mohammad Najib Azmi Mikati, President of Lebanon’s Council of Ministers, said Lebanon is the “victim of an electronic cyber aggression and of an air and maritime aggression that can turn into a ground aggression and can become an all-out regional war”.

US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron along with Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement saying: “We call for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement.”

It seems to me a matter of common sense that since the Israeli War in Palestine is linked with that in Lebanon, a ceasefire on all fronts is what is required. The question is: what happened to the UN Security Council, UNSC, June 2024 ceasefire resolution on the war in Gaza? Fourteen of the 15-Member UNSC had passed that resolution which the USA guaranteed Israel would obey, but the latter said the USA was talking nonsense.

So, the issue is not a ceasefire; the fact is that Israel operates outside international laws, resolutions and conventions because it has the solid backing of the USA. It gets away with whatever actions it carries out, including genocide. All attempts over the decades to make Israel obey international court rulings and UN resolutions have been foiled by the USA. The latter has used its Veto in the UN 85 times, 47 of them were to shield Israel from international resolutions, charges of crimes against humanity and genocide.

Coincidentally, the renewed war in Lebanon is coming when the world is discussing the expansion of the UNSC to accommodate more permanent members. The USA, claiming to love Africa, is campaigning that two of those seats should go the continent because as its Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said: “It’s what our African partners seek, and it’s what we believe is just.” But, trust the American establishment, there is a caveat: provided the new members would not have the Veto! It is like saying a person should be allowed to own a cannon provided he will not have balls. The magnanimous USA would tolerate Africans at the UNSC Permanent Security court provided they are eunuchs: castrated men.

The Veto power derives from Article 27 of the UN Charter which provides that: “Each member of the Security Council shall have one vote; Decisions of the Security Council on procedural matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members (and) Decisions of the Security Council on all other matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members, including the concurring votes of the permanent members…”

In other words, the power of the UN permanent members is principally based on their power to veto any issue in the organisation. To have the veto is to have the power to override any decision of the UN even if backed by the 192 other member countries.

Incredibly, some are debating whether this should be accepted or not since half bread is better than none; supposing the half-bread is poisoned?

The Veto in practice is used as a personal weapon by the permanent members which include three European countries: France, United Kingdom and Russia; one Asian, China and, one North American, USA. Shut out of this exclusive club are regions like Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific, the Middle East and Latin America.

The Veto, itself, is a violation of Article 2 of the UN Charter which states that: “The Organisation is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members.”

The most fundamental reform that can be carried out in the UN is to scrap the Veto power. The UNSC should, of course, continue its primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, provided it is democratised with no permanent seats.

The proposed reforms of the UN system are part of the “Pact for the Future” resolution passed on Sunday, September 22, 2024. The five planks of the Pact are international peace and security; sustainable development; youth and future generations; science and technology; and transforming global governance.

For the Pact to truly impact on humanity, the UN must be reformed and reoriented based on equality for all and social justice.

Japanese auto giant Toyota is to end their top-tier Olympics sponsorship, its chairman has said, citing the sporting showpiece’s “increasingly political” influence that puts athletes on the back burner.

Toyota struck a 10-year sponsorship deal in 2015 with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

But now, with the Paris Games over, the carmaker decided to end the contract, chairman Akio Toyoda said during a podcast episode uploaded Thursday on the firm’s own YouTube channel.

“I’ve wondered for a while now whether the event is truly putting athletes first”, Toyoda said.

“It is also becoming increasingly political”.

The withdrawal means Olympics logos currently carried by Toyota products will be phased out, and its vehicles will no longer be provided to assist with the event, the chairman said.

Public broadcaster NHK said the company is also ending its Paralympics sponsorship deal.

“For me, the Olympics should simply be about watching athletes from all walks of life, with all types of challenges, achieve their impossible,” Toyoda told the US auto dealers.

Toyota follows another Japanese company Panasonic in ending their association with the Olympics.

Panasonic announced their withdrawal earlier this month citing “management considerations”.

The electronics giant said it agreed with the IOC not to extend their sponsorship agreement when the current contract expires in December.

Panasonic became an “official Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Games” in 1987 and expanded its sponsorship to the Paralympics from 2014.

But it decided to let the contract expire “as the Group continually reviews how sponsorship should evolve with broader management considerations”.

“As a result of this review, and after extensive consultation with the IOC, the parties agreed to refrain from renewing the Olympic and Paralympic Partner Agreement,” Panasonic said without offering details.

[Vanguard]

The nation can at last heave a sigh of relief; the eagerly awaited Dangote Refinery is here at last, solid. The much longed-for stability in energy flow for the country is assured. It calls for dancing and rejoicing, for clinking of glasses to toast this development. Aliko Dangote deserves hearty congratulations. The nation owes him our thanks and unremitting encouragement. We salute him for his courage, commitment and doggedness to public good, daring all odds to free the nation from the strangle-hold on her energy supply needs. To arrive at this point, it had been a thorny journey. All manner of mines were buried in the ground on his path to stop him from achieving this feat by those who placed private interest over national interest. But he was undeterred even though at some point he knew discouragement. He picked up the gauntlet again and he forged ahead. 

When it became obvious that there was no stopping the refinery from coming on stream, an attempt was made to de-market its product and send cold shivers down our spine. There was this claim that its quality fell below the mark, and this was by an organization that was said to lack a laboratory of its own. Fitch ratings as of August 5 put Dangote oil at B+ which was considered as quite a drop. However, be that as it may, Dangote as of that time already had its laboratory and the lab test certified the product as meeting international standards. As of the time, its diesel oil was already being exported to the international market. The construction took him eight years. It cost $20billion Dollars. He built his own port and constructed roads within the expansive complex on a reclaimed land. Babatunde Fashola facilitated the acquisition of the land on which the refinery stands for $100million. Right now there is a ding-dong battle over the pump price and who fixes it. Is it not strange that a manufacturer is not the one fixing the price of his product? But Dangote has taken everything in his stride! The goal was far more important. It stabilizes fuel supply in the land; it is taking 100, 000 out of the unemployment queue. 

President Bola Tinubu did well by bringing out a surprise from his armoury of masterstrokes: Dangote Refinery is to pay in Naira for the crude oil that it requires. This will no doubt wipe the sweat off his brow in having to source for Dollars to buy crude from our own backyard where Mele Kyari is the lord of the manor and NNPCL is the sole merchant. As we all know the language of oil business is in Dollars. Yemi Cardoso himself must know relief that he does not have to worry himself silly on how to rake the Central Bank’s safe for what may remain after paying the international creditors to whom crude oil and Dollars have been mortgaged. As I once stated on these pages, Bola Tinubu was reckless in peremptorily removing fuel subsidy in his greatest hour of glory. Yes, Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, had said she did not put fuel subsidy in the budget she was leaving for him to inherit; Bola Tinubu was too experienced in governance and public communication not to know the place of tact and how to couch pronouncement appropriate for a certain occasion in order to sooth nerves, especially a situation about which the public was not even aware. He should have allowed himself firm thoughts of alternatives. The Law of Gradualism is unswerving in delicate matters such as that with grave implications. As a result of the mishandling, the nation has been plunged into untold and deepening misery since then. 

A smart guy, give that to him: he gave Nigerians some relief with the love letter he wrote to Oluremi, the First Lady, toasting her all over again. The letter soothed nerves no end. It relaxed tension. I was expecting the First Lady, though, to ask him to write to her in Latin. The world, indeed, has changed. Young men of my generation, and the generation before ours, had to write wooing girls in Latin, and they would not reply. Uncle B, Chief Bola Ige, a polyglot, provided a classical example in his book, Kaduna Boy, in which he narrated his experience when he wooed the then Miss Atinuke Oloko. All the notes to her in Latin did not impress her. She did not reply to them. She played very hard to get, even after Ajibola Ige became the Head Boy at Ibadan Grammar School; not until a friend of hers, placing herself as an intermediary as was the custom at the time, teased her and mounted subtle pressure on her did she give in. The couple lived happily together ever after as Chief Bola and Justice Atinuke Ige until death “did them part”! Bola Tinubu’s love letter to Oluremi worked great magic, soothing nerves in the land. Little wonder Professor Femi Osofisan once asked Tinubu the magic, what language he used in winning the heart of such a beautiful lady. When Remi is 70, the letter must be in Latin! He should not have allowed the relaxed mood to pass unutilized, again to further soothe nerves!

Aliko Dangote, a business mogul, cannot be lectured on how to run a company and make it flourish. Any attempt to do so will be laughable. That he has come this far in a totally unfamiliar terrain of an oil refinery has already proven his wizardry. It is the Nigerian market that will need to exercise patience to allow him work out his cost recovery template to be able to continue in business, his capacity building plan, loan repayment, provisioning for assets replacement, recording a little surplus to fire enthusiasm and providing for reserves. A gigantic company like the Dangote Refinery cannot but give thought to parts and assets replacement. Tinubu’s gesture will undoubtedly go some way to moderate the pricing decision. Distribution of the Refinery’s product will in part be by sea. It is considering transportation in particular to Calabar, Port Harcourt, Warri, Apapa and Atlas Cove by sea, according to the organization’s Vice-President Devakumar Edwin. Above all, the Dangote Refinery must see to it that it strikes a balance in its pricing as Law of Balance governs and as the Law of Motion does in every facet of life. Do we not exhale in order to inhale? It is unwise that only NNPCL will be the soul buyer of the product and then sell to marketers. All marketers should have equal access to the refinery. Competition makes for efficiency. It is good that the NNPCL stake does not exceed the 7.2 per cent by its own choice. All lose ends should be tightened to ensure that the equity through investment of $1billion Dollars does not rise higher than that. Here is an organization that sank a whooping $4trillion into fixing the four public refineries, without much to show for it. The assurance given on television by Mele Kyari that the Port Harcourt Refinery would unfailingly roar back into production in August did not yield result and already September is running out. Before then on 8 July, 2019 he had said It was a legitimate expectation from Nigerians that “how can we be an oil producing country and be importing fuel sometimes 100 per cent of our needs”. He then gave an assurance that before the end of the Buhari Administration in 2023, the four refineries would be delivered.  The pledge that received loud ovation was not kept.

According to the Report of the National Refineries Special Task Force, set up by President Goodluck Jonathan, from 1990 to 1992, Nigeria was self-sufficient in petroleum products and had enough for export. These came from three NNPC Refineries. The probing task force was set up following Jonathan’s unsuccessful attempt to remove fuel subsidy in January 2012.  Warri and Kaduna produced more than 70 per cent installed capacity with FCC units producing PMS. Port Harcourt Refinery was producing at over 90 per cent installed capacity, indeed, producing PMS and other products for export to West African countries, principally Ghana and Togo. While 30, 000 dwt vessels were moved by sea to Lagos every other day, and PMS, AGO and kerosene were transported through PPMC pipelines to Aba and Enugu depots. Kaduna Refinery was pumping all its products by PPMC pipeline through Zaria to Gusau and distributing through tankers to other parts of the North. Warri was pumping through PPMC 2C pipelines from Mosimi to Ibadan. Deterioration of the refineries began in 1993 when the refineries operated at an average capacity utilization of about 20 per cent and they finally collapsed in 2019. The Task Force believed that the industry could still rise. In its words, “The Task Force believes that the Nigerian Refining Industry is potentially capable of achieving self-sufficiency in petroleum products and emerging as an export hub for Petroleum Products in the West Africa sub-region if the root causes of poor performance of the Refineries in particular, and the Industry as a whole, are vigorously resolved.”  

Given the track record of Aliko Dangote, and also his courage, rooted in Margaret Thatcher’s principle that he who dares, wins, the dream of Nigerian Refining Industry becoming the hub in West Africa will be realized with the coming of the Dangote Refinery. It is hoped that the four modular refineries in the works will also come on stream before long. Governor Obaseki of Edo State has said the Edo-owned refinery is ready, but has not succeeded in receiving crude to refine and be able to contribute to reducing the current supply gap in the industry. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave out 16 licences for the building of modular refineries. More licencees will be expected to join the train and create competition that will be impossible to roll back and so that the land will be awash with Premium Motor Spirit and allied products. 

The Law of Motion governs the universe. Energy drives motion and motion is inherent in energy. To get to Shoprite to pick a packet of popcorn will necessitate taking a tricycle or a commercial motorcycle, there is recourse to motion. And energy is required to power the means to Shoprite. This is saying, therefore, that motion governs life. It is life itself. Through motion when we sleep, we move from one end of the bed to the other. Absence of motion is absence of life. By extension motion governs all economic activities and the link and vehicles to them are powered by energy. Which is why at all times, a careful thought will need to be given to the cost implications of energy policies to trigger motion. 

THE COMING OF AI AND THE EDUCATION SYSTEM    

 Artificial Intelligence, more known as AI, is stumping through all lands. It is advancing technology to undreamt-of dizzy heights. The modern man is dazed and he cannot wait to see Mr. AI achieve its goal of totally overhauling our lives, of breaking down and rebuilding, of discarding old beliefs and practices and replacing them with the new. Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Patani, is in his elements when he talks about technology and the AI its offspring. He is the chief salesman. He is asking us to fix our gaze on the future and what technology has in store for us. For him it is leading to Eldorado. Although many see Mr. AI as attempting to even take the Creator out of our lives. Is there anything AI cannot dare and do as of now? Patani does not share such concerns, predictably, knowing as Nigerians do, how unwavering, indeed bordering on fanaticism, his hold on the spiritual values he professes. 

AI is transforming lives. Technology, its father, is showing the way. It is facilitating life. In my reflection on the subject with friends, to demonstrate how wonderful the arrival of Mr. AI has meant to human societies, the question was posed: When last were you at the post office? Does it still exist? When last were you in your bank if it is not to renew your credit card? Where are typewriters? Technology has packed them to archival non-retrievable halls. The impact of AI is mind-blowing, in fact, more on the financial system. There is hardly anything that cannot be done online today. Mr. AI has been seen directing traffic. 

There is pressure directed at education authorities to begin to look at school curriculum from primary to secondary up to the university with a view to focusing more on acquisition of skills and self-employment goals. My friend, a revered Professor finds the prospect “quite frightening”, “honestly”, he says, “I do not know how humanity can confront it. AI is a technology that will impact everyone in the future whether we like it or not.” As for me, it is only when we connect education to His Will will we be correct. Mr. AI may soon be seeking to seize control of free will and initiatives from human beings! Yet as The Grail Message states: “So inadequate is the activity of a brain, the basis and instrument of science, and this limitation naturally also affects what it produces, hence all science itself. Thus science does indeed subsequently help to elucidate, classify and arrange all that it receives ready-made from the creative power which precedes it; but when it seeks to assume leadership or offer criticism, it must inevitably fail so long as it binds itself firmly to the intellect, that is to the perceptive capacity of the brain, as it has done hitherto.” It is in this mankind is inexonarably placing their destiny! Pray that we do not in future have a population without content! Without character!

In my years of experience as a journalist, I have encountered situations that have caused me to reflect on the role and perception of journalists in society. One such situation occurred when I was on the verge of renting an apartment from a landlord through an agent. All seemed well until the landlord learned from the agreement form that I was a journalist. Without warning, he abruptly declined to proceed with the transaction. The agent explained that the landlord had become uncomfortable after realizing my profession. Similar experiences have played out in other settings, where conversations halt the moment I enter a room, or people suddenly grow suspicious of my presence, not because of anything I said or did, but simply because I am a journalist. These incidents reveal a broader concern about how journalists are perceived, often viewed with suspicion, mistrust, or even fear. But are these perceptions justified?

Journalists, in their essence, are the eyes and ears of society, tasked with uncovering the truth and reporting facts. Yet, the discomfort many people, especially those in positions of power or influence, feel in the presence of a journalist stems from a misplaced fear. It is as though they see journalists as enemies, waiting to expose every mistake or wrongdoing. But the reality is quite the opposite. Journalists are not enemies; they are society’s friends. Their work helps to ensure transparency, accountability, and the proper functioning of democratic societies. Rather than being afraid of journalists, particularly the elite, individuals should be more focused on doing the right things in their daily conduct, understanding that journalists are trained to observe and report, especially when wrongdoing is evident.

Journalists play a critical role in modern society, one that often goes underappreciated. Their responsibility is to keep the public informed, hold those in power accountable, and uncover the truths that might otherwise remain hidden. This task is not easy, as it frequently puts journalists in uncomfortable or even dangerous situations. But without the vital role that journalism plays, society would be in the dark about important issues, from corruption in government to corporate malfeasance to social injustices.

Journalists shine a light where it is most needed, making sure that the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be, is brought to the public’s attention. This transparency is not meant to cause fear or to intimidate. Instead, it is designed to create a more informed and engaged society. If individuals, especially those in influential positions, conduct themselves in ways that are ethical and responsible, they have no reason to fear a journalist’s presence.

The fear of journalists, particularly among the elite and those in power, can often be traced to a fundamental misunderstanding of the profession. Journalism is not about sensationalism or the exploitation of people’s personal lives. Responsible journalism is about reporting facts accurately and fairly. When a journalist investigates a story, they are guided by ethics that require them to be truthful, balanced, and to ensure that their reporting serves the public interest.

However, when people are aware that they are not acting in the public’s interest, they may become fearful of the journalist who could expose their wrongdoing. This fear is not about the journalist as a person, but rather about the uncomfortable reality that unethical behavior can come to light. Instead of perceiving journalists as enemies, individuals should see them as catalysts for positive change. The presence of a journalist should not lead to paranoia or fear but should serve as a reminder that accountability is crucial in every aspect of life.

In reality, journalists are protectors of society’s best interests. They serve the public by ensuring that institutions, corporations, and individuals operate in a transparent and accountable manner. By exposing corruption, inequality, and injustice, journalists push for reforms and changes that benefit everyone.

Take, for instance, investigative journalism that has brought attention to corruption within political institutions or exposed human rights abuses. These stories lead to public outcry and demand for change, which ultimately improves society as a whole. When wrongdoing is uncovered, it is not the journalist’s fault; it is the fault of those who perpetrated the wrongdoing. Journalists are merely messengers, fulfilling their duty to the public by revealing the truth. For this reason, they should be seen as friends who help safeguard society’s moral compass.

The elite, and everyone for that matter, should understand that the presence of journalists is a call to uphold integrity and transparency in their actions. Journalists will report what they observe, and if there is nothing unethical happening, there is nothing to fear. Instead of worrying about how a journalist might portray them, individuals should focus on ensuring that their actions can stand up to scrutiny. If everyone did what was right, there would be no need to fear the presence of journalists.

People in leadership positions, whether in politics, business, or other fields, need to remember that public accountability comes with the territory. A journalist’s role is to report on events as they happen, and if those events are positive, that is what will be reported. The fear of journalists stems from a recognition that one’s actions cannot stand up to ethical scrutiny. But the solution to this problem is simple: act with integrity. When actions are ethical, there is nothing to fear from a journalist’s inquiry.

It is important to note that journalists are trained professionals. They are taught to approach their work with fairness, balance, and accuracy. Journalists are not out to “get” anyone, but they will not close their eyes to wrongdoing. This is a key aspect of the profession. When a journalist sees something that is not right, they are obligated to report it. This is not a personal vendetta or an attack; it is simply a part of the job.

Society benefits from this level of vigilance. Journalists help to keep everyone honest. They ensure that individuals and institutions are held accountable for their actions, and in doing so, they protect the public from harm. If people are doing the right thing, they have nothing to worry about from a journalist’s scrutiny.

Journalists are friends of society, not enemies. Their work ensures that truth, fairness, and accountability are upheld, and this is to the benefit of everyone. Rather than fearing the journalist, particularly among the elite, individuals should ensure that their daily conduct aligns with ethical standards. A journalist’s job is not to cause fear but to report on what is happening, good or bad. Ultimately, society is stronger when everyone understands that journalists are there to serve the public and that accountability leads to positive change. So, instead of seeing the journalist as a threat, we should all see them as protectors of truth and justice, because that is precisely what they are.

BIG SHIFT

A CHALLENGE