On Friday November 18, 2011, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, called for a referendum to gauge the preference of Nigerians on the two national anthems that the country has had since independence.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu made the call while presenting a paper, titled “MANAGING NIGERIA’S PLURALISM FOR PEACE AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT”, at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Jos, Plateau State.

According to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, managing Nigeria’s pluralism for peace and national development is an issue that should be deeply examined.

“From the beginning of our journey to nationhood, the founding leaders built a country diverse but united. The opening lines of the national anthem we had at independence in 1960 drove home this diversity and our fraternal resolve to build one nation” he stated.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, however, explained that the pogrom in the mid-60s in some parts of the country and the attendant civil war showed that as a people, we have failed to live up to the spirit of that anthem.

“It showed that the leaders and the followers at the time only paid lip service to the injunction of the anthem: Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand. We failed miserably to deploy this mantra for peaceful co-existence and national development, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said.

The ACN leader said abandoning the post-independence anthem, which arguably evoked a strong spirit of patriotism and brotherliness, to compose a very drab replacement, is far less inspirational.

“It was an example of the inconsistency in government thinking; moments when our leaders make unjustifiable about turns as Fela, the afro-beat musician would have put it” he stated.

The ACN leader challenged the graduating class and the alumni of NIPSS to develop new ideas towards accelerating national development and promoting peace in the country.

“In several areas, Nigeria is stuck in the past, applying decadent policies to new, and more virulent problems. But at moments like this, the nation turns to the National Institute for new ideas that should make us break from the moribund past” Asiwaju Bola Tinubu stated.

While marking his first anniversary as President of the nation on Wednesday 29th May, President Bola Tinubu signed a Private Member Bill on National Anthem. With the signing of the Bill, he turned the old anthem to a new one and the new one to an old one. 

The old anthem of the NIGERIA WE HAIL THEE was adopted as Nigeria’s National Anthem on October 1, 1960. The anthem’s lyrics were written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate who lived in Nigeria when it achieved independence. Frances Brenda composed the music for “NIGERIA, WE HAIL THEE.” She got a prize of $280 American dollars for composing the song. Six Judges made the selection of Frances Brenda’s entry as the winning music for “NIGERIA, WE HAIL THEE.” The Judges were Professor Fela Sowande, Mr. O. Omideyi, Mr. T.K.E. Phillips, Mr. W.C. Echazona, Mr. M.C. Majekodunmi and Mrs H. Lawson.

One of the Judges, Professor Olufela Obafunmilayo “Fela” Sowande MBE (29 May 1905 – 13 March 1987) was a Nigerian musician and composer. Considered the father of modern Nigerian art music, Sowande is perhaps the most internationally known African composer of works in the European “classical” idiom.

Professor Sowande was born in Abeokuta, the son of Emmanuel Sowande, a priest and pioneer of Nigerian church music. As a child he sang in the Choir of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos. He studied at the C.M.S. Grammar School and at King’s College, Lagos. The influence of his father and Dr T. K. Ekundayo Phillips (composer, organist and choirmaster) was an important factor in his early years. Through Phillips, Professor Sowande was first exposed to European church music like Bach and Rheinberger. At that time, Professor Sowande was a chorister and was introduced to new Yoruba works being introduced into the churches. Under Phillips’ tutelage, Professor Sowande earned the Fellowship Diploma (FRCO) from the Royal College of Organists. At that time, he was also a bandleader, playing jazz and popular highlife music.

In 1952, Professor Sowande became musical director of the Nigerian Broadcasting Service; in 1955 he was appointed MBE in the 1955 Queen’s Birthday Honours for this work. In 1962 he travelled to the United States on a Rockefeller Foundation fellowship. In 1968, he moved to Howard University in Washington, D.C., then to the University of Pittsburgh.

His colleagues included Samuel Akpabot (1932-2000), Ayo Bankole (1935-1976), Lazarus Ekwueme (born 1936), Akin Euba (1935-2020), Adam Fiberesima (1926-1975?), Josiah Ransome-Kuti (1855-1930) and Ikole Harcourt Whyte (1905-1977).

He composed several songs including his famous song OYIGIYIGI OLU ORUN, ATOBAJAYE ATOBIJU, a popular gospel Yoruba song.

The Anthem lasted till October 1, 1978 when General Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, discarded the “NIGERIA, WE HAIL THEE” and replaced it with “ARISE O COME PATRIOTS”.

ARISE, O COMPATRIOTS was the national anthem of Nigeria used from 1 October 1978 until 2024 after NIGERIA, WE HAIL THEE was relinquished. On 29 May 2024, “ARISE, O COMPATRIOTS” was officially relinquished and replaced by the first national anthem, “NIGERIA, WE HAIL THEE” which was earlier used from 1960 until 1978.

General Olusegun Obasanjo changed the National Anthem on October 1, 1978, twelve months before handing over to President Usman Aliyu Shehu Shagari GCFR (25 February 1925 – 28 December 2018).

In 1978, General Obasanjo, initiated moves to change the national anthem of “NIGERIA WE HAIL THEE”. He called for entries. He said at that time that a new national anthem was required because the previous one was composed by a British expatriate. The lyrics of the anthem were taken from five of the best entries in a national contest. The winners were P.O. Aderibigbe, John A. Iliechukwu, Dr. Sota Omoigui, Eme Etim Akpan and B.A. Ogunnaike.

A police officer, Benedict Odiase (August 25, 1934 – June 11, 2013) was tasked with putting the poem to music. He did this by creating a melody that would capture the patriotic and aspirational spirit of the poem.

 In 2001, he received the Order of the Niger Award by President Olusegun Obasanjo for his composition of the National Anthem.

However, General Olusegun Obasanjo did not change the lyrics of the National Pledge which was created by Professor (Mrs) Felicia Adebola Adedoyin in 1976. Professor Adedoyin who was born on the 6th of November, 1938 is the second of 6 children and a princess from the Iji ruling house of Shaki in Shaki West Local Government of Oke Ogun area of Oyo State.

Her children were already acquainted with reciting the Oath of Allegiance in their school in New York, USA and also the State Pledge (Which was introduced on 1 June, 1976) in Achimotu School in Accra Ghana.

Instinctively, out of childhood inquisitiveness and assertiveness, they sought to know why they didn’t recite any Pledge while they were in Nigeria. Of course their mother told them the home truth; their fatherland had no National Pledge. They eventually provided the necessary challenge that propelled their mother to conceive and originate a National Pledge for Nigeria, which she achieved in June 1976.

Her creative work while aged 38, was featured in the Daily Times of July 15, 1976 in an article titled “Loyalty to the Nation, Pledge”.

Barrister Adewusi who was a mutual friend of the Adedoyins and Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, read the Daily Times article and eventually presented it to General Obasanjo in August 1976.

Gen. Obasanjo, who was then Head of State, accepted the work and modified it.

In September 1976, he decreed that all school children should recite the Pledge in their assemblies daily. Gen. Obasanjo acknowledged this in his book “Not My Will” (1990 at pg. 118).

On May 23, the House of Representatives passed a Private Member Bill to revert to the old National Anthem. The Bill quickly passed first, second and third reading within minutes. It was unprecedented. The lead debate for a return to the old anthem by the House Leader, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, pointed to the need for Nigerians to see the anthem as a national symbol and sign of authority, one which does not deny the realities.

On May 28th, the Senate passed the same Bill into Law. It was introduced by the majority Leader in the Senate, Senator Michael Bamidele Opeyemi(60) from Ibedoyin quarters Ward B, Iyin Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area(Araromi LCDA) of Ekiti State. At present he is representing Ekiti Central in the Senate.

Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu has always been his Godfather. He made him a Commissioner in Lagos state and he has always piloted his political career till date.

His 406-page book titled “LEADERSHIP THROUGH COMMMUNICATIONS”, in two volumes with ten chapters, is a good read.

The man who hurled a flaming spear into a hornets’ nest by sponsoring the bill on National Anthem is Professor Oluwakayode Julius Ihonvbere (68), a man who is always on the move. He is representing Uzebba in Owan Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Uzebba is a Town in the Owan local council of Edo State. Uzebba, along with its neighbouring towns and villages, Avboisi, Okpuje, Ukhuse-Osi, Ukhuse-Oke in Owan, Etsakor, and Akoko Edo, are known as Afemai. They collectively make up Edo-North Senatorial District.

Uzebba is the last border post between Edo state and Ondo state. A long bridge separates Uzebba in Edo state and Ifon in Ondo state. The last time I passed through that road in 2006 was when I attended the funeral of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Gray Adetokunbo Eromose Longe, who served as SGF between January 1 1984 and January 11 1986, at Sabongida Ora.

Owan has produced eminent sons and daughters including Frank Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Grace Alele-Williams, Francis Abiola Irele, Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga,Mai Atafo Yisa Braimoh, Michael Imoudu, Dele Momodu, DJ Neptune, Aize Obayan, J. D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere, Modupe  Ozolua, Mabel Segun, Ambrose Vanzekin and others.

Professor Ihonvbere was born in the ancient city of Oyo in Oyo state. He attended CMS Primary School in Oyo, St. John’s CAC School, Warri, and Edo Boys High School in Ugbowo, Benin City, where he obtained the West African School Certificate. He took his B.A. Combined Honors degree in history and political science from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University).

He is a disciple of Professor Claude Ake (February 18, 1939-November 7, 1996) from Omoku in Rivers State, the famous novelist who died in a plane crash. Professor Ihonvbare is also very close to Mr. Patrick Ayodele Aderinwale, executive director Leadership Forum in Ota, Ogun state.  who is equally close to former President Obasanjo. He was one of the speech writers of the former President. The two others were Mr. Ad’Obe Obe and Dr. Stanley Macebuh, who died on March 7, 2010 at 67.

In THE VILLA then, the speech writers were designated as special advisers to the President on Policy and Programmes Monitoring. While Mr. Ad’Obe Obe published a book “A NEW DAWN” in three volumes, Professor Ihonvbere published “STANDING TALL”. In a foreword to the book, which was published in March 2005, he declared “Politics is more than just elections, counting th votes and being sworn into office. To be sure, these aspects of politics are important. However, in developing social formations, politics should and must be about people, community and society. Politics must reflect the basic elements of service, mobilization, education, inclusion, and healthy competition for power. It must be about platforms and programmes as well as training for new leaders. Politics must be an opportunity for the marginalized and voiceless to reach some accommodation with their leaders and for political parties to identify, select and present the best candidates for political office. Electioneering campaigns, through ultimately about the contestation for power, should be about health rivalry, articulation, processing and delivery of realistic and sustainable programmes that will impact on and improve the lives of the majority. Finally, politics, in plural societies like Nigeria, must be about opportunities to construct and nurture bridges between not just the islands of integrity but also between communities and constituencies.

Unfortunately for many countries, they never go near these attributes or features of politics. Political opportunities are simply squandered on the altar of political greed and rascality, policy indiscipline, intolerance, limited vision, and the subversion of a sense of a nation. The net result, quite often include the delegitimation of the state, its institutions and custodians, the reification and abuse of power, misplaced priorities, instability, corruption, and uncertainty. The implications of these trends and tendencies are very well known to many Nigerians as have gone down this path before.

However, history can be kind to a people, though not for too long. Some luck nations even get a second chance to put things right, learn from the past; restructure the present and reposition society for a progressive future. This is the case with Nigeria. We are getting not just a second, but a third chance to reposition the country for the greatness that God has rightly given to us and for which we have sacrificed so much in the past.

There are of course, several obstacles to repositioning Nigeria for growth, stability, and democracy. First is the rather pedestrian understanding of democracy. Often, Nigerians confuse it with its ephemeral features thus neglecting the deepening and grounding that is required for consolidation and sustainability. Second, is that the long years of military dictatorship, political rascality among the elites, insensitivity to the plight of the poor and the cultivation of culture of waste and corruption had built in the people an attitude of “I know everything,” “all public officers are thieves,” “it will soon fail,” “ and “dem go soon taya”.

Trust, tolerance, mutual support and confidence have been eroded from the system through bas governance and poor leadership. A third problem is that Nigerians, over the last four decades got used to doing things the wrong way, came to like it and found easy scapegoats for their failures. Consequently, people have designed extra-legal coping mechanism and strategies for survival in an increasingly tough socio-economic environment. The direct consequence of this strategy of survival is that less attention is paid to safety nets, productivity, accountability, and due process.

Fourth problems with Nigeria is the reliance on impunity and the arrogance of power. This can be found in the famous “wetin dem fit do syndrome” or “na we dey for power, na m talk am” approach issues. So we privatise the state, the instruments of coercion, subvert the judiciary, and rely on manipulation, violence, shortcuts and intimidation. The legal order is weakened while those with power get away with almost every offence. For ordinary people, they tend to build and sustain all sorts of real and dubious patron-client relationship just to ensure that impunity does not wipe them off face of the land.

Finally, because we have built a direct and diabolical connection between power and accumulation of wealth, all focus is shifted away from production to corruption, from investing in ideas and people to celebrating mediocrity and opportunism, and from due process and the rule of law to political brigandage and ruthless abuse of power.This is where corruption, inefficiency, waste, and all forms of indiscipline take over. The consequences are there for us to see in our academic institutions, parastatals, ministries; even the private sector was easily trapped. For instance people set up banks just to manipulate interest rates and play around with government funds! No wonder, Nigeria was on the precipice of total collapse by May 1999”.

Professor Ihonvbere is a master in computer hence former President Olusegun Obasanjo was fond of him. However, he was not part of President Obasanjo’s DREAM TEAM that comprised of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (63), Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (64), Dr. Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili (61), Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo(63) and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (70).

The “DREAM TEAM” was the intellectual think tank of President Obasanjo, who designed his policies especially in his second term but Professor Ihonvbere belonged to a group which someone described as LEAGUE OF RELIABLES from which former President Olusegun Obasanjo drew advice and counseling. Those of them still alive are still loyal to the old man till today. The LEAGUE  included Professor Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe (17 July 1933-15 June 2020) from Ondo city in Ondo state, Dr Christopher Olusola Kolade (91) from Ido Faboro in Ekiti state, Oba Adebiyi Adegboyega Adesida, Afunbiowo II (5 December 1950- 1 December 2013), the late Deji of Akure, Taiwo Ojo from Igbo-Ora in Oyo state, Bodunde Adeyanju from Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti state, Major General Abdullahi Mohammed (rtd), former Chief of Staff, Chief Ufot Ekaette (1939-2019), former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Professor Emmanuel Chukwuma Edozien (1937-2019), Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, Asiwaju of Owo, Ambassador Taofeek Olawale Oseni (SCOP), Professor Onaolapo Olusegun Soleye (11 November, 1933-15 November 2023), Professor Abraham Babalola borishade (7 March 1946 – 26 April 2017) from Usi Ekiti, Mrs Oluremi Oyo(1952-2014), Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (rtd.), who served as Director of State Security Service between 1999 and 2007, Chief Onyeama Ogochukwu (80), Andy Uba, Chief Tunji Oseni (1942-2004), Senator Liyel Imoke(62) and others.

In those days in THE VILLA, Professor Ihonvbere was regarded as one of the UNTOUCHABLES. He flew with President Olusegun Obasanjo in all his trips both foreign and local. His ambition was to be Governor of Edo State. He lost in the PDP primaries to Professor Oserheimen Osunbor (73) SAN from Iruekpen in Esan West local government area, who later also lost to Comrade Adams Oshiomole in the Court of Appeal on November 11, 2008, in a judgment delivered in Benin by five judges of the Federal Court of Appeal—Justice Umaru Farouk Abdullahi (President), Justice John Fabiyi, Justice Amina Adamu Augje, Justice Ayo Salami and Justice Uzor Anyanwu. The judgment nullified the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial election held in Edo state.

Governor Oshiomole later appointed Professor Julius Ihonvbere as Edo state Secretary to the State Government on November 12, 2012.

 His sponsorship of the bill to oust the National Anthem adopted by his former boss, General Olusegun Obasanjo, is still a mystery to political observers. Anyway he said in his book, “The truth is that Nigeria is changing”, the change or rather the transformation, has affected Professor Ihonvbere no doubt.

Even the Greek philosopher Heraclitus is credited with the idea that the only constant in life is change.

The issue is that if the national Assembly could get a bill approved and assented to by the President in less than a week, certainly our legislators could get many things done if they so wish.

Happy posthumous 77th birthday to the great African leader, PAPA J. Jerry John Rawlings, a Ghanaian Air force Officer, aviator and politician who led the country for a brief period in 1979, and again from 1981 to 2001. He led a military junta until 1992, and then served two terms as the democratically elected President of Ghana. Gone but not forgotten, Rawlings’ enduring legacy remains indelible on his 77th posthumous Birthday. As an African patriot, I call us to remember our wakanda warrior, JJR.

Rawlings is remembered for his efforts to combat corruption and promote social justice during his time in power. He pursued populist policies aimed at addressing poverty and inequality. Despite his military background, he was seen as a charismatic leader who maintained popular support among many Ghanaians, especially the poor and marginalized.

He founded the National Democratic Congress (NDC), one of Ghana’s major political parties, and remained influential within the party until his death, on 12th November, 2020. His death was met with an outpouring of tributes from across Ghana and the international community, highlighting his enduring impact on the country’s history and politics.

Overall, Jerry John Rawlings was a complex and polarizing figure in Ghanaian politics, revered by some as a champion of the poor and criticized by others for his authoritarian tendencies. His legacy continues to shape Ghana’s political landscape to this day.

JJ or “Junior Jesus” as many of our compatriots particularly the Ghanaians called him, was a true leader who provided direction, guidance, solution, and reassurance at very critical times.
Having observed and reflected deeply on the impact of this African, nay, global statesman, I found myself drawing certain salient conclusions:

Leadership and followership go hand-in-hand because a good leader has a unifying effect on his or her followers. Everyone is a leader, the dictionary defines a leader as someone who guides or directs others, this is true. Leaders are people who possess certain qualities that enable them direct others to perform a task or accomplish a purpose.

When we conduct ourselves, being just and equitable citizens, a worthy leader would naturally emerge from our midst. Now, there are instances whereby we have transformational leadership but lack transformable followers. And, there are also instances whereby we have transformable followers, but we do not have transformational leaders.

Furthermore, nations do not develop because they have natural resources. They develop because they have thinkers that show great concern about the well being of the community and mobilize the people to work hard for a better tomorrow. It is NOT the farmer making the cassava that becomes rich; rather, it is the restaurateur making ten times the cost of the cassava on each plate of food!

In conclusion, as a mark of respect for our wakanda warrior ‘JJR’ on his posthumous 77th birthday, I will conclude this article by saying that development is not about raw materials. It is about value addition. Any nation that does not add value will continue to go down. There are nations, having little oil deposits of their own, that have oil companies prospecting oil beyond their shores; there are also nations that have oil, and spend over sixty years collecting royalties without necessarily developing the requisite knowledge on how to mine the oil by itself!

Finally, I feel obligated to join millions of our compatriots at home and abroad to identify with our sister who may likely become the first Ghanaian female President, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings,  Ghanaian medical doctor, politician, activist and campaigner, who is the eldest daughter of Jerry J. Rawlings in celebrating JJR @77 posthumously.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services (LSFRS) has announced plans to install a centralized generator in the Lagos Island market to help curb frequent market fires.

During the Lagos International Fire Safety Conference on Tuesday, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu highlighted the collective responsibility needed to prevent fire disasters. 

He emphasized that many fire incidents in the state result from careless behavior and urged market traders to be more vigilant.

Speaking on the theme, “Stakeholders Collaboration: A Panacea to Incessant Fire Disasters in Lagos,” Sanwo-Olu called on market leaders to take proactive measures in their domains to mitigate fire risks.

He said, “Fire incidents in the state are largely due to irresponsible behaviour or carelessness. And because people don’t raise the alarm early enough, this government has built fire stations in five years.

“We have brought 64 fire engines. We have increased the capacity by recruiting over a thousand new fire service men. If it is about providing what is required, the government will actually do that, but it is about everybody understanding that we have a role to play.

“To the market, men and women, the responsibility lies with you. We have had a series of market fire incidents. People store petrol in the market and also place generators on the rooftops, and you keep looking at them.

“They will refuel a generator while it is working and complain that it is their village people. You saw what happened at Dosunmu and Mandilas. The latest one happened in a church. That is why you all need to caution those who are found culpable. Fire is a respecter of no one. Let us call ourselves to order and join hands to put a stop to this.”

Director of LSFRS, Margaret Adeseye, attributed many fire incidents to negligence and stressed the importance of stakeholders collaborating to find lasting solutions.

She revealed that the government plans to introduce a centralized generator to replace individual ones, reducing fire risks.

“Lagosians should come together as stakeholders because fire prevention and safety are everyone’s business.

“We are here to strategize and find holistic solutions to fire incidents. It’s not just the agency’s duty alone. Stakeholders will bring their diverse knowledge and experience to the table.

“By the end of the three-day conference, we aim to find lasting solutions to fire incidents. The government has set up a committee to reposition the Lagos Island market. The committee is working diligently, and at the end of the day, individual generators will be replaced with a centralized generator,” Adeseye said.

The state Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, reiterated the administration’s commitment to fostering collaboration and partnerships with relevant organizations, corporate bodies, and experts in emergency management and fire disaster prevention, leveraging global technological approaches.

[NaijaNews]

A group of opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives, known as the G60, has raised the alarm over alleged move by Pro-Wike former local government council chairmen in Rivers Sstes to freeze the LG allocations with exparte order.

The lawmakers, who made this known in a statement signed by their spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, said that the they received credible intelligence that some of the former local government chairmen whose tenure expired recently and their financiers were allegedly looking for a Federal High Court to give them an injunction that will seize the monthly allocations of the local governments because of their failed attempt to hang on to power after their tenure expiration.

They, therefore, called on the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and Judges of State High Courts to be very careful and put their divisions on alert, so they won’t be used to issue exparte orders to people who are no longer elected local government chairmen.

The lawmakers said, “We received credible intelligence that some of the former local government chairmen that their tenure expired in Rivers and their financiers are looking for a federal high court to give them an injunction that will seize the allocation of the local government because of their failed attempt to hang on to power after their tenure expired. I want to use this opportunity to call on the Chief Judge of the Federal high court and judges of state high court, you never can tell they can go to Zamfara or ogoja or anywhere, I want to call on them to be very careful and put their divisions on alert, so they won’t be used to issue exparte applications to people who are no longer elected local government chairmen.

“There’s nothing like tenure extension in a democratic setting, it’s like a coup taking over constitutional governance. So we want to alert the general public that there’s move to pick exparte applications by these former local governments chairmen that their tenure has expired to seize the allocation of the local government so that workers and development in rural areas will suffer.”

[Leadership]

The State House spent a whopping sum of N244,654,350 for the purchase and supply of tyres in  a single day, according to findings by Daily Trust.

Investigation and data gathered from govspend, a portal documenting the Presidential Villa expenditure, showed that the State House made payments for the supply of an unspecified quantity of bulletproof tyres and Westlake tyres, the week that the President Bola Tinubu government marked its first year in office.

Tinubu took over from his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, on May 29, 2023.

Documents showed that the sums of N200,583,390, N38,070,000, and N6,000,960, were respectively paid for these items, on May 21, 2024.

The documents revealed that two separate payments were made for the purchase and supply of tyres (no specified quantity) for bulletproof vehicles and another five armoured bulletproof tyres to Obi-Wealth Enterprises Nigeria Limited (RC-640684) for the sums of N200,583,390 and N38,070,000.

A quick search on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) website revealed that the company is inactive.

Hommy & Fay Investments Limited, active on the CAC portal, handled the other part of the supply of an unspecified number of Westlake tyres (315/80R22) for N6,000,960.

Attempts to get reactions from the presidency over the tyre expenditure did not yield result as several calls made to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, did not go through.

The message sent to him had not been replied as of the time of filing this report.

24 hours after the tyre payments were made, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, apologised to Nigerians over the nationwide hardship.

Speaking during the ministerial sectoral update, he said the policies of the Tinubu-led government were on track despite the currency crisis and inflation which has frustrated economic growth.

“So what’s the answer to all of these? It’s to restore macroeconomic stability that will ensure that investors, both domestic and international put their face in our economy once again. And we are all doing this without a blame game. And I apologize for the pain that they may occasion, but they are necessary… Is our strategy, right? Absolutely. We believe our strategy is right, but it requires occasional calibration. Put good money to use,” he had said.

Nigeria’s inflation has risen to a 28-year high, worsening the cost of living—a stance largely attributed to President Tinubu’s policies.

However, critics have accused the Tinubu administration of “frivolous spending” despite numerous pleas to the citizens over the current hardship.

There was a backlash the last time the president asked Nigerians to make sacrifice for the progress of the nation.

Tinubu had, while addressing journalists after observing the Eid-el Kabir prayer at Dodan Barracks, Lagos, stressed the need for the people to follow the path of sacrifice to make the nation great.

The comment had elicited reactions from Nigerians, civil society organisations, and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among others.

An economist and lecturer at Saadatu Rimi University of Education, Kumbotso, Kano, who is also the Director, Fiscal Discipline and Development Advocacy Centre (FIDAC), Dr. Abdulsalam Kani, said the government had failed to fulfil its part of the bargain, especially promises made to Nigerians.

“The government has removed fuel subsidy and increased electricity tariff, plunging many into difficulty. Nigerians were promised that Port Harcourt refinery will begin production in December last year, and that has not happened. Despite these and the failure of the administration to fulfil promises, they are making plans to buy new aircraft for the president and vice president,” he said.

He said the government had equally failed to address rising inflation which is above 33 per cent at the moment.

[DailyTrust]

Former Governor Nasir El-Rufai has sued the Kaduna State House of Assembly over claims that his administration embezzled N432 billion and left the state with significant debt obligations.

The former governor, on Wednesday, filed a fundamental rights enforcement case against the Kaduna State House of Assembly at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.

El-Rufai, who appeared in person to file the lawsuit, alleged that the committee denied him a fair hearing.

This was contained in a statement by the former governor’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, posted on his X handle on Wednesday.

The lawsuit, filed by El-Rufai’s lawyer, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, contested the Kaduna Assembly Committee’s report, which accused El-Rufai of corruption.

Adekeye said, “His lawyer, AU Mustapha SAN, said that El-Rufai approached the court as a Nigerian citizen who is entitled to be given a fair hearing before his rights can be determined by a quasi-judicial or investigative body or courts in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

“El-Rufai also asked the court to declare that by the provisions of Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the Report of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Investigation of Loans, Financial Transactions, Contractual Liabilities and Other Related Matters of the Government of Kaduna State from 29 May 2015 to 29 May 2023, as ratified by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, is unconstitutional and therefore null and void for violating his right to fair hearing as guaranteed under the Constitution.”

The state Assembly’s ad hoc committee had earlier in June submitted its investigative report on the El-Rufai administration’s financial dealings, loans, and contracts to the House

The chairman of the ad hoc committee, Henry Zacharia, said the loans secured during El-Rufai’s tenure were largely misused, and in some instances, proper procedures were not followed in obtaining them.

The Assembly Speaker, Yusuf Liman, alleged that El-Rufai’s administration misappropriated N423 billion, resulting in significant financial burdens for the state.

[Punch]

Oleksandr Usyk has confirmed he will vacate his IBF title just weeks after he became undisputed world heavyweight champion.

The Ukrainian, 37, became the first heavyweight to hold the IBF, WBO, WBA and WBC belts when he beat Tyson Fury on a split decision in Saudi Arabia last month.

With Usyk now contracted to a rematch with Britain’s Fury, he is not in a position to defend the IBF crown against interim champion and mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois.

That means Dubois’ expected all-British fight against Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September could now be for the vacant title.

Usyk said in a video posted on social media: “Anthony and Daniel, listen. I know the IBF title is important to you. It is my present to you on September 21.”

Britain’s Lennox Lewis was the last man to unify the major heavyweight belts — three at the time — prior to Usyk, in 1999.

[Vanguard]

Despite sustained protests from thousands of citizens, Kenya’s national assembly has passed the controversial finance bill.

The lawmakers voted 195 against 106 to pass the bill on Tuesday in an exercise with no abstentions.

President William Ruto urged parliament to pass the bill last week after the protests gathered momentum.

The bill was adopted with amendments to drop controversial taxes on bread, financial services, and motor vehicles.

However, lawmakers agreed to higher tax measures, including increasing the rate of the railway development levy to 2.5 percent of customs value and 3.5 percent for the import declaration fee.

The bill is now headed for Ruto’s desk for assent.

Ruto had said he was ready to dialogue with youths who have sustained the protests.

But after demonstrations took a dramatic turn on Tuesday, the president said conversations around the bill had been “hijacked by dangerous people”.

Ruto said democratic expression and crime must be isolated and vowed that the state would respond fully to the situation.

So far, several people have been confirmed dead after police fired live rounds and lobbed tear gas at demonstrators in Nairobi in a bid to quell the uprising.

Kenyan police were also seen beating and arresting some paramedics who were helping injured protesters.

[TheCable]

Five people were shot dead and dozens wounded in Kenya on Tuesday in mounting anti-tax hike protests, NGOs said, after police clashed with demonstrators who stormed the parliament compound in Nairobi.

The military has been deployed to support police, who earlier fired tear gas, water cannon, rubber bullets and — according to a rights group — live ammunition against protesters, as tensions sharply escalated in protests that have caught the government off guard.

“Despite the assurance by the government that the right to assembly would be protected and facilitated, today’s protests have spiraled into violence,” several NGOs, including Amnesty Kenya, said a joint statement that reported the dead and wounded.

The White House appealed for calm and more than 10 Western nations — including Canada, Germany and Britain — said they were “especially shocked by the scenes witnessed outside the Kenyan Parliament”. 

Mainly youth-led rallies have galvanised outrage over proposed tax hikes and simmering anger over a cost-of-living crisis to fuel rapidly growing demonstrations.

“This is the voice of the young people of Kenya,” said Elizabeth Nyaberi, 26, a lawyer at a protest. “They are tear gassing us, but we don’t care.”

“We are here to speak for our generations and the generations to come,” she added.

The protests had been largely peaceful but chaos erupted in the capital Tuesday, with crowds throwing stones at police, pushing past barricades and ultimately entering the grounds of Kenya’s parliament.

Amid the clashes, global web monitor NetBlocks reported that a “major disruption” had hit the country’s internet service.

– ‘Unleashed brute force’ –

In the aftermath of the parliament compound breach, local TV showed images of ransacked rooms with smashed windows, while cars parked outside were vandalised and flags destroyed, according to an AFP reporter.

The governor’s office in Nairobi City Hall — just a few hundred metres from parliament — was set alight, footage on privately owned Citizen TV showed, with a water cannon attempting to douse the fire.

After reports that live ammunition was fired at protesters, Kenya’s main opposition coalition, Azimio, said the government had “unleashed brute force on our country’s children”.

“Kenya cannot afford to kill its children just because the children are asking for food, jobs and a listening ear,” it said in a statement.

The military’s deployment was “in response to the security emergency” across Kenya, Defence Minister Aden Bare Duale said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, despite the heavy police presence, thousands of protesters had marched peacefully through Nairobi’s business district, pushing back against barricades as they headed towards parliament.

As protesters gained ground in their push towards parliament, many were livestreaming the action as they sang and beat drums.

Crowds also marched in the port city of Mombasa, the opposition bastion of Kisumu, and Kenyan President William Ruto’s stronghold of Eldoret, images on Kenyan TV channels showed.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority watchdog and rights groups said two people had died following last week’s rallies in Nairobi.

Several organisations, including Amnesty International Kenya, said at least 200 people were wounded in last week’s protests in Nairobi.

Amnesty’s Kenya chapter posted on X Tuesday that “the pattern of policing protests is deteriorating fast”, urging the government to respect demonstrators’ right to assembly.

Rights watchdogs have also accused the authorities of abducting protesters.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission said the abductions had mostly occurred at night and were “conducted by police officers in civilian clothes and unmarked cars”, calling for the “unconditional release of all abductees”.

Police have not responded to AFP requests for comment on the allegations.

– Fuel price hikes –

The cash-strapped government agreed last week to roll back several tax increases.

But it still intends to raise other taxes, saying they are necessary for filling the state coffers and cutting reliance on external borrowing.

Kenya has a huge debt mountain whose servicing costs have ballooned because of a fall in the value of the local currency over the last two years, making interest payments on foreign-currency loans more expensive.

The tax hikes will pile further pressure on Kenyans, with well-paid jobs remaining out of reach for many young people.

After the government agreed to scrap levies on bread purchases, car ownership and financial and mobile services, the treasury warned of a budget shortfall of 200 billion shillings ($1.56 billion).

The government now intends to target an increase in fuel prices and export taxes to fill the void left by the changes, a move critics say will make life more expensive in a country already saddled with high inflation.

Kenya has one of the most dynamic economies in East Africa but a third of its 52 million people live in poverty.

AFP

Essien Andrew, a deputy comptroller in charge of Finance, Administration, and Technical Service the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) collapsed and died in the National Assembly on Tuesday during appearance before a committee of House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts.

Andrew, according to eyewitnesses coughed and requested water, but collapsed before his request could be met. He was rushed to the National Assembly Clinic where he was confirmed dead.

Akin Rotimi, the spokesperson of the House confirmed the demise of the top Customs officers during his appearance before the House Committee.

According to him, Andrew during the engagement which occurred around 1.00pm on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, developed sudden health complications.

“Despite the immediate and diligent efforts of first responders and medical personnel at the National Assembly Clinic, he unfortunately passed away,” Rotimi said.

He added that the House of Representatives will support efforts to probe the circumstances surrounding the sudden demise of the customs officer.

Rotimi also extended the condolences of the leadership and members of the House of Representatives to the Nigerian Customs Services as well as the family of the deceased officer.

“The House of Representatives extends its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased during this difficult time. We recognize the significant contributions he made to the Nigeria Customs Service and to our nation.

“The House of Representatives stands ready to support efforts to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident and is cooperating fully with all relevant authorities to ensure all necessary protocols are followed.

“The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD., expressed his condolences, stating, “We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of a dedicated public servant. Our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time.”

“Further information will be provided as it becomes available. We ask for patience and respect for the privacy of the family during this period of mourning@, Rotimi said.

[NationalDaily]