Public primary schools in Owukpa, a district in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, are facing a slow and painful extinction.

Once nurturing grounds that shaped some of Nigeria state’s finest doctors, lawyers, journalists and professionals, these schools have now deteriorated into crumbling structures, deserted by both teachers and pupils, now overrun by reptiles.

Years of government neglect, insecurity and policy setbacks have left the schools in ruins, with classrooms sitting empty, walls fallen apart, roofs blown off and only a handful of pupils still enrolled.

A recent tour of the community by DAILY POST reporter revealed the alarming extent of the decay, raising urgent questions about the future of public education in Owukpa.

One of the most disturbing sights on the tour was at LGEA Primary School Ikwo, a village in Itabono that borders Enugu State.

Established in the early 1970s, this once-thriving educational institution has deteriorated beyond recognition.

The school is now in a state of complete disrepair.

The buildings have collapsed, classrooms are without chairs and the walls have crumbled to dust.

The school currently has no single pupil, only snakes and lizards now roam freely through the abandoned structure.

The decay is not confined to Ikwo alone. At LGEA Primary School Ekere Owukpa, the situation is even worse.

The school, founded in the 1950s, which once played a central role in educating the community, now faces a severe shortage of both teachers and pupils.

The classrooms are now largely empty, with many parents opting to send their children to private schools instead.

Clement ‘All-Rounder’ Ocheme, a former headteacher and education supervisor from Ekere Owukpa, said that the lack of interest in public schools has been a major contributing factor.

“Parents no longer see the value in public education. They are pulling their children out and enrolling them in private schools, which they believe offer better opportunities,” Ocheme told our reporter.

Chief John Ameh Onuh, a veteran teacher and the traditional ruler of Agbogiri Clan, echoed similar concerns.

He recalled the days in the 1960s-1990s when the schools in the region were bustling with pupils.

“We had over 500 students enrolled at that time, but now, the population has dwindled to less than 20,” Onuh noted with a sense of despair.

“We need the government to take action before these schools vanish entirely.

“There are hardly any teachers left. Since many of us retired, the government hasn’t recruited replacements and that has left a huge gap,” Chief Onuh lamented.

“Most parents are no longer willing to gamble with their children’s future, so they’re turning to private schools. Take Ekere, for example, we have only one teacher in the entire school. How can one person possibly handle six different classes? It’s a heartbreaking reality. Public primary schools in our communities are slowly dying.”

Similarly, at LGEA Primary School Achi Ugbugbu, the situation is particularly dire.

The school, which once produced countless individuals who went on to make a mark in various fields, today has structures that are falling apart, classrooms that are bare, and not a single teacher to be found.

Edwin ‘Dandy’ Apochi, a teacher who served in the school for decades, described the situation as “pathetic.”

He said for years now, the school has had no teachers and its future is now uncertain.

Sadly, LGEA Primary School Udaburu has also fallen into a state of neglect, with just two teachers left and only three pupils enrolled, most of whom barely show up for classes.

Godwin Adikwu, one of the school’s teachers employed by the community, is responsible for all the classes, a daunting task given the school’s declining enrollment.

Many parents have since pulled their children out, unable to tolerate the lack of proper facilities or teachers.

Speaking with our reporter, the Clan Head of Udaburu, Chief Simon Idoko, said the situation is beyond the community’s control and requires urgent government intervention.

“We have done all we can as a people, raised funds, employed volunteer teachers, even provided teaching materials from our pockets, but there’s only so much a community can do.

“The schools are collapsing, both physically and structurally. Our children are being left behind, and that is something no society can afford.

“This is not just a local issue anymore; it is a state emergency. If the government continues to look away, we will wake up one day to find that public primary education in Owukpa no longer exists,” he lamented.

Barrister David Mike Agada, a legal practitioner and proud alumnus of LGEA Primary School Udaburu, also decried the current state of his alma mater.

Agada, who graduated from the school in 1993, recalled the vibrancy and overpopulation that once defined the institution.

“Back then, the classrooms were so full that some pupils were sent home simply because there wasn’t enough space to accommodate everyone,” he reminisced.

“Imagine being told you were too small to be in school because the place was bursting with pupils. That’s how vibrant the school used to be.

“It’s heartbreaking to return to a place that once shaped the future of so many, only to find it in ruins.

“It’s not just a building falling apart; it’s an entire generation’s opportunity being lost. Government silence is no longer just neglect; it’s a betrayal,” Agada added.

The situation has only worsened since the retirement of key education figures in the area.

Chief Simon Agada, former Head of School Services in Ogbadibo LGA, who is a native of Udaburu, voiced his frustration with the government’s neglect of public education in the region.

“Since my wife, who was the headteacher of LGEA Primary School Udaburu, retired, the school has been left in the hands of no one,” Agada explained.

“The people we have now are what we call gatecrashers; most of them lack proper training.

“The government is not helping matters at all. The last time there was a meaningful recruitment of teachers was during George Akume’s tenure as governor back in 2007.

“Since then, successive administrations have ignored the plight of government schools, not just in Owukpa, but across the entire Idoma land and Benue State at large.

“The government has failed to provide the necessary support to keep these schools operational,” he lamented.

In Ejule, another community within Owukpa, the public school faces similar challenges.

The school, which once produced some of the region’s best medical doctors and lawyers, is now largely abandoned.

“The lack of attention from the government is appalling,” said Mr Benedict Abutu, Education Secretary of Ogbadibo.

Mr Augustine Akor Ameh, a former headteacher in the school, said, “One of our major challenges is the lack of basic teaching materials. For instance, many schools don’t even have chairs or desks, not for the pupils and not even for the teachers.

“Moreover, there has been no clear effort or commitment from the government to support or motivate teachers.

“Right now, private schools are taking over because they provide better learning environments and parents are withdrawing their children from public schools in large numbers.

“Imagine, only two teachers are managing an entire primary school with six classes. That’s unacceptable. The government needs to take urgent action.”

Wesley Primary School in Okpudu, the first primary school in Owukpa community, is yet another victim of this neglect.

With its roofs blown off and classrooms empty, the school stands as a shadow of its former self.

The school has no teacher with less than 10 pupils

The situation in Atamaka, where insecurity has taken a heavy toll, is perhaps the most troubling.

Last year, six young men were kidnapped along the Atamaka-Ugbugbu road, causing the only teacher at the LGEA Primary School Atamaka to flee.

Today, the school stands vacant and parents are left with no choice but to seek alternatives for their children.

“The situation is dire,” said a community leader.

“We need urgent intervention from the government to ensure the safety of our children and teachers,” he added.

Other schools, such as LGEA Primary School Ai-Fam (St Michael), LGEA Priamry School Ai-Ujah, LGEA Primary School Ikpochi and LGEA Primary School Ai-Odu, are also in a state of disrepair, lacking teachers and proper facilities.

The situation has been worsened by the policies of the current state government.

In 2022, the Benue State Government under then-Governor Samuel Ortom recruited a number of civil servants, including teachers.

However, shortly after assuming office, Governor Hyacinth Alia reversed the move, ordering the dismissal of those employed during Ortom’s final months in office, among them, the newly recruited teachers.

DAILY POST learnt that the last time the state government recruited teachers in large numbers was in 2007, during the first tenure of then-Governor George Akume.

Nearly two decades later, many of those teachers have either retired or died, with no replacements hired, leaving a devastating vacuum in the public education system.

When this reporter contacted the office of Grace Adagba, Chairperson of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), which oversees public primary schools in the state, an official requested a call back in one hour.

Also, when the reporter visited the High Level, Makurdi office of the board, an official redirected him to the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, stating that the ministry was in a better position to respond to the development.

“This matter you are talking about falls under the purview of the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management.

“They’re better positioned to provide detailed responses,” the official who craved anonymity said.

However, repeated attempts to reach the Commissioner, Frederick Ikyaan, were unsuccessful, as calls were ignored and text messages went unanswered.

Meanwhile, when reached for reaction, Mr Emmanuel Agese, information officer, SUBEB, denied knowledge of such dire situation in Owukpa.

“There is no situation of dilapidated primary schools in Owukpa which has made pupils attend schools in neighboring states to the knowledge of SUBEB.

“If there is such a situation then the head teachers of such schools have not reported the conditions of such schools to the executive chairman of SUBEB, Grace Adagba who is very proactive in responding to such cases.

“The head teacher may not have reported the exodus of pupils from their schools because they could be benefiting from such an unfortunate incident.

“The Executive Chairman is committed to the positive development of primary education in the state as can be seen in the uncommon transformation of the sector like the modern structures in our schools.

“The head teachers should endeavor to promptly report such a situation to the appropriate authority if at all there is any.”

• PDP, SDP chairmen, LP tackle APC chair

The one-party state controversy, which arose after a spate of defections into the All Progressives Congress (APC) since the tsunami in Delta State, deepened at the weekend.

Many commentators and opposition figures have accused the APC of plotting a one-party state by wooing and winning over opposition political office holders – governors, federal and state lawmakers.

But the APC has consistently said those joining it are doing so willingly, having been attracted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s performance and plans for the country.

The APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, chided those accusing the ruling party of plotting to push the country into a one-party system.

Ganduje, a former Kano State governor, said: “A one-party state is not by force. It’s by negotiation. It’s because other political parties see the effect of the positive governance of our party.

“If they decide to come to our party, willingly, I think there is nothing wrong with that.

“Today, democratic China is one of the strongest countries in the world, and it’s a one-party system.

“We are not saying we are working for a one-party system, but if this is the wish of Nigerians, we cannot quarrel with that.

“You know they say too many cooks spoil the soup, too many political parties spoil governance.”

Ganduje spoke at Aso Villa when he led the three Kebbi State senators – Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) – all elected on the PDP platform, to meet with President Tinubu for final negotiation ahead of their defection this week to the ruling party.

But PDP National Chairman Umar Ilya Damagum and National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Shehu Musa Gabam lashed out at Ganduje on his position.

Damgum described the idea of a single-party state as “madness”.

He said: “One-party system can only happen somewhere else, not in this country.

“Recall what history says about anybody wishing for a one-party state. Where will such people end?”

Gabam said: “The PDP, the party in power before the emergence of APC, passed through that route some time ago, deluding themselves that they would be in control of levers of power forever, but that fell on their faces. 

“It is Nigerians who are in the best position to tell if their lives have changed for the better or that they have been impacted positively under the APC.

“The motivation of the ongoing gale of defections, particularly by some governors and elected political office holders, is not altruistic.

“It is self-serving and undeniably done for self-preservation. 

“Nigerians are in agreement that the power of choice through democratic options that multi-party democracy offers is one that cannot and should not be compromised.

“A one-party system breeds authoritarian rule and erodes the freedom of the electorate.

“It is not debatable that Nigeria needs a strong opposition for democratic consolidation.”

Gabam spoke through the National Publicity Secretary of SDP, Rufus Aiyenigba.

The Labour Party, which criticised the ruling class for being selfish, said self-interest is behind defections to the ruling party.

Publicity Secretary of the Julius Abure faction, Obiora Ifoh, who spoke on behalf of the party, said Nigerians would not support a one-party state.

He said: “One-party system is undemocratic and it breeds tyranny. Nigerians will not be pushed into that political system.

“However, it must be said that many political parties are in crisis today because some leaders of those parties are not willing to subject themselves to party supremacy.

“As such, political office holders use the inherent confusion in these parties to jump over to the ruling party, hoping to have easy access to political relevance and the cover provided by the ruling party.

“Is it not absurd that a governor of an opposition party cannot even critique constructively or even appraise the ruling party in the face of the myriad economic challenges in the country today?

“Or how do you explain how another opposition governor, barely two years into a government, is now campaigning for a president from another party against his own party?

“The political class is so selfish that what counts for them is survival first, and they can do everything to ensure that they hold onto power, including betraying the party that sponsored them to the office.”

President Bola Tinubu has bagged the Lifetime African Achievement award from the Millennium Excellence Foundation based in Ghana, NAN reports on Monday.

Tinubu, while receiving the award, commended the patron of the Foundation, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, for the invitation extended to him and the success of the event put together by the foundation.

The President, represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, received the award as special guest of honour during the 25th anniversary of the Millennium Excellence Prize in Kumasi, Ghana.

Tinubu said, “I salute the visionaries who have nurtured this institution for a quarter of a century and also celebrate the values of honour, integrity, service, and excellence that underpin its work. 

“Specifically, the organisers for identifying and celebrating Africa’s shining lights, individuals whose lives and work had lifted the continent and inspired generations.

“It is no small achievement to have honoured such illustrious figures as the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Prof. Wole Soyinka, President Cyril Ramaphosa and Dr Mo Ibrahim, among others.”

He charged the young generation of Africans to rise with courage towards contributing their quota to make the African continent a more united, peaceful, and prosperous one.

He emphasised the need for such contribution to be carried out in the area of science, technology, education, governance, entrepreneurship and arts.

He further called on Africans to always work closely together in shaping their shared destiny, while urging the event organisers to continue to inspire excellence, uphold values of leadership with service and invest in the youth to foster collaboration across borders.

“The award ceremony, from inception in 1988, remained a beacon of inspiration and recognition across the continent.

“Its mission of identifying, celebrating and supporting those who had distinguished themselves in the pursuit of African development resonated deeply with the aspirations of Nigeria and indeed, all African nations,” he added.

The event featured the presentation of the Lifetime African Achievement Prize to Tinubu, the global intra-African trade excellence in Africa to the President/Chairman, African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIM), Dr Benedict Oramah.

Also, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, received the Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize for Governance and Public Service, the Founder/Chairman, BUA Group, Alhaji AbdulSamad Rabiu, received African Excellence in Business, while Mr Dumo Lulu-Briggs received the African Traditional Leadership and Business Excellence award.

NAN

Owing to its unique and dynamic nature, navigating Africa’s volatile business landscape requires resilience, vision, and strategy built on long-term commitment.

In a continent where business mortality rates are usually among the highest globally, only a few institutions have demonstrated the staying power and adaptability needed to not just survive but thrive.

United Bank for Africa (UBA) which prides itself as Africa’s Global Bank stands as a remarkable example of an organisation with such resilience.

From its origin in 1949 as the French and British Bank of West Africa to its transformation through a strategic merger with Standard Trust Bank in 2005, UBA has truly evolved into a  Pan-African and global financial powerhouse in its over seven decades of operation. With presence in 24 Africa countries and active operations in major financial capitals of Europe, America, and Asia, UBA  continues to retain its position as Africa’s brand with global influence.

Last year, the bank commenced a year-long series of activities to mark its 75^th anniversary, and one of the events to close at year-long commemoration was the Group Chairman’s Forum, which was held between April 22 and 23, 2025, at the iconic Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.

Conceived by UBA’s Group Chairman, Mr.  Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, the Forum has become a strategic platform for charting the bank’s future. This year’s edition convened over 120 senior stakeholders ranging from chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of UBA’s 24 subsidiaries to top executives and board members – focused on reviewing performance, aligning priorities, and reinforcing the bank’s customer-first philosophy.

Addressing participants at the opening of the two-day session, Elumelu said, “This gathering is for knowledge sharing, group integration and, re-strategising mechanisms with the overall aim of putting UBA Group on firm standing to actualise its goals and targets for the financial year and the foreseeable future.”

Continuing, he said, “Throughout our over seven decades, our group has demonstrated capacity to adapt, to transform and to disrupt, establish, further and uphold fundamental responsibility to our customers and stakeholders.”

The Forum afforded participants the opportunity to critically review the bank’s performance, discuss strategic initiatives and chart the course for the future. Discussions were built on interactive panel sessions moderated by the Group Chairman and key issues around UBA’s International and African reach; brand building, projection and reputation management; Customer Experience; and Governance and Risk were thoroughly discussed and interrogated.

Day 1 kicked off with a comprehensive review of the Bank’s financial performance in 2024, followed by an engaging panel session with key stakeholders in Risk and Corporate Governance. The first day wrapped up with another powerful panel featuring leaders from UBA Africa, highlighting regional perspectives and strategic direction.

The Day 2 was more interesting as top players discussed international footprint and the power of brand building and reputation management.

The Forum came on the heels of a very successful 2024 financial year, where the Bank not only recorded excellent performances across key indicators with its ex-Nigerian operations contributing seventy percent of the profit.

Participants were unanimous in their decision to do all in their power to accentuate the Bank’s position as the leading Pan-African Bank across all key indices including brand equity, human capital, customer service and profitability, whilst also inculcating a culture of responsiveness, with zero tolerance for any regulatory infraction across all its subsidiaries.

Constant in Elumelu’s intervention at the discussions was positioning UBA for leadership in the banking space in Africa and global space, within the short and medium term. “Banking is a marathon and not sprint, we are building to last, and our drive is for long term, bringing rewards to our Shareholders,” Elumelu constantly said while urging participants to continue to live up to the expectations.

Elumelu proffered that the Bank’s success would be driven by adherence to strong corporate governance, execution of established rules, principles and procedures, improving speed of execution, operational efficiency and fraud mitigation and most importantly, making the customer the centerpiece of what UBA does.

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, who spoke at the dinner organized to celebrate the Bank’s 75^th Year Anniversary attributed the 75-year banking growth of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) to innovation and resilience despite economic challenges.

“Seventy-five years is not something you pick up at a supermarket. It is earned. It’s through risks and calculations, through storms and sunshine, through mergers and acquisitions, and through the brainpower, resilience and courage of those who believe in its promise of a new world. That is what leadership means,” he said.

He added, “The United Bank for Africa, or simply UBA, is not what it is because of the age of its ideas. It is what it is because of the attention it pays—attention to innovation, attention to emerging markets, attention to shifting dreams, and attention to the changing contours of generational ambition because it is led by people who do not just manage capital, but manage curiosity.”

A cursory glance at the full year results revealed that it was a very strong and rewarding 2024 for the bank, as it generated a gross revenue of N3.2 trillion and profit after tax of N767billion. It successfully sustained its deposit mobilization efforts, growing total deposits by 42% to N24.6 trillion. UBA’s loan book expanded by 35 percent to N7.5 trillion, demonstrating its commitment to fund growth, thus, contributing to Nigeria and Africa’s economic transformation.

UBA Group maintained a well structures and diversified balance sheet with total assets and Shareholders’ Funds closing at N30.3 trillion and N3.4 trillion respectively.

UBA, with a global staff of over 25,000, is proud supporter of businesses, governments, and consumers across Africa and globally, serving over 45 million people in 24 countries across Africa, Europe, America and Asia.

Nasir is the group head, media and external relations, UBA.

President Bola Tinubu is expected to inaugurate the disaster relief fund (DRF) committee on May 13.

According to an invitation by Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, the launch and inauguration of the committee will be held at the council chamber of the State House, Abuja.

The planned inauguration follows a directive by the federal executive council (FEC) on September 23, 2024, calling for the establishment of a coordinated national strategy to respond to disasters.

Edun said the launch will mark the commencement of the committee’s mandate to develop a nationwide disaster-response and climate-resilience framework.

The committee will be chaired by Tony Elumelu, chairman of Heirs Holdings, representing the private sector.

Other members of the committee include AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, governor of Kwara and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (representing sub-national governments); Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare; and Abubakar Bagudu, the minister of budget and economic planning.

Others are Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation; Joseph Utsev, minister of water resources; Balarabe Lawal, minister of environment; and Zubaida Umar, the director-general of the Nigeria Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

[TheCable]

It will be fallacious to say the military taught Nigerians how to steal. In truth, stealing maybe as old as humanity itself. In fact, stealing is so old that it features in the Ten Commandments God reportedly gave humanity: ‘Thou Shall Not Steal’.

However, while the politicians who stole  before military rule commenced in Nigeria, were petty thieves, the Generals raised the standard to actual ‘state capture’. While the former, given the consequences, were afraid to be caught, the latter actually lived in the treasury, conscious that, even if caught, there might be no adverse consequences. In any case, esprit de corps obliges Generals to look out for each other. So, despite all the accusations of looting against the Babangida regime, including the Gulf War windfall, nobody dared or has dared to probe it.

 Even when there are documents and claims that retired General Muhammadu Buhari was not transparent in running the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF, there was no probe. Undoubtedly, the most infamous looter in Nigerian history was General Sani Abacha. He was indisputably, the ‘Looter-in-Chief’. However, despite over $5 billion being recovered from the funds he looted and stashed abroad, his predecessors like Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari, retired Generals like Ishaya Bamaiyi, reigning anti-corruption crusaders like Buba Galadima and their hordes of  ‘bloody civilian’ supporters like Amina Mohammed,  swear Abacha never stole. This is despite years of Europe and United States returning the loot and the 175 million Euro  stolen funds recovered from the Abacha  family.

The only Nigerian Head of State I know who acknowledged that Abacha was a most  audacious treasury looter is retired General Abdulsalam Abubakar, his immediate successor. He was Head of the Military Provisional Ruling Council, PRC, which the press dubbed the ‘Provisional Looting Council’, PLC – for its own prowess in cleaning the national treasury.  Abubakar ruled that  despite Abacha’s loot, nobody can be brought to book. He had  ready answers why those caught with stolen funds would not be brought to justice.  On May 18, 1999, that  is eleven  days before he was to  hand over power, Abubakar made it his duty to publicly clear all the accused. Although huge sums of stolen public funds were recovered from Ismaila Gwarzo, Abacha’s Security Adviser,  General Abubakar ruled there will be no prosecution because Gwarzo claimed “he only acted  as his master’s post office”. That is, he  was Abacha’s money launderer.  

Huge amounts of stolen Nigerian funds were found on Mrs Maryam Abacha  and her family. But Abubakar ruled that they should not be prosecuted because “these people never signed anything  to collect the recovered money.” Etubom Anthony Ani, Abacha’s Finance Minister, was caught with lots of stolen public funds out of which he willingly refunded N350 million.  His colleague, Alhaji Bashir  Dalhatu, who was the Energy Minister was also caught in possession of huge funds taken from the public treasury. He offered to refund N500 million to the treasury. Abubakar said both men will not be prosecuted because they claimed the stolen funds were gifts from Abacha.

In his own case, all Abubakar did was to swear he had not stolen public funds, although he did not declare his assets. His Deputy, then Admiral Mike Akhigbe, was variously accused of fraudulent acquisition of stupendous wealth and challenged to reveal the source; he could not. Rather, he tried to shut down those demanding accountability by threatening to take them to court. Needless to say, Akhigbe never took anybody to court. Meanwhile a so-called ‘Committee of Friends’ galloped to defend the inhuman atrocities and looting by Abacha and Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, his Chief Security Officer. This body, composed of Umaru Faruk Yola, Ahmed Ubale, Abdullahi Mohammed, Rabiu Isiaku and Amina Mohammed on April 15, 1999 took an advertisement in the ‘Guardian Newspapers’.  They, in claiming  to be stating “the facts on the ground”, strived  to defend Abacha against the billions of dollars he looted by characterising the recovered funds as “…seemingly mind boggling tales  of treasury looting.”

Over the years, lots of funds looted by Abacha were retrieved. These included $750 million from the Abacha family in 1998; $1.2 billion in 2002; $160 million from Jersey in 2003; and $88 million from Switzerland the same year. In 2005, $461.3 million was retrieved from Switzerland. Despite these recoveries, when Babangida visited the Abacha family in Kano on June 8, 2008 he declared that Abacha never stole any money from the Nigerian treasury. On that same day, Buhari stood before man and God and declared that the facts against Abacha’s looting are “baseless”. He added that “…ten years after Abacha those allegations remain unproven because of lack of facts.”

Another ten years later, Buhari after being Nigerian President from 2015 and spending parts of the retrieved Abacha loot, could no longer utter such barefaced lies, especially when he was an integral part of the Abacha regime. But, he would not apologise for his untruths. Rather, when his Buhari Support Organisation, BSO, paid him a solidarity visit in 2018, he said: “No matter what opinion you have about Abacha, I agreed to work with him…” Buhari  is not alone in the campaign to present the internationally certified treasury looter as a saint. Retired General Ishaya Bamaiyi who was Abacha’s Chief of Army Staff also swore in 2017, that is 19 years after Nigeria started receiving the looted funds, that Abacha never stole. While launching his book, ‘Vindication of a General’, Bamaiyi  declared; “Abacha loot is a media creation.”

Buba Galadima, an engineer who today, waxes lyrical about probity and good governance, makes  a rather untenable defence of Abacha. He claimed that it was Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Libya’s Muammar Ghadaffi who advised Abacha to loot Nigeria’s funds and deposit them in various banks abroad in order to avoid likely sanctions by the United States. Incredible! So the solution to possible US sanctions is to go deposit Nigeria’s funds in US and European banks. How idiotic! After 29 years cumulative military misrule during which gun-wielding  terrorists from the barracks held the country and its treasury hostage, exerting ransom, Nigeria has become a graduate of that military culture. Many politicians have been good students of the Generals School of Lootocracy.

This piece is one of a number I have hesitated writing for a long time because there would be too many people who will feel offended. Also, I have become quite conscious that the bunker of self-evident Truth from which I have been firing my columns is now susceptible  to bunker buster bombs like the cyber-stalking laws. Therefore, I am fleeing to shelter in the bunker of History. There, I hope to be exonerated by time, which today, is still a toddler.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) recently made a significant move that may reshape the future of judicial appointments in Nigeria. For the first time in a long while, the NJC invited members of the public to comment on the suitability or otherwise of candidates shortlisted for appointment into various judicial offices across the country. This new openness in the recruitment process deserves commendation and, if sustained and properly managed, may herald a new era of transparency, public trust, and judicial accountability.

This commendable initiative aligns with global best practices. In developed democracies, judicial appointments are not cloaked in secrecy. Instead, they involve wide-ranging consultations, including public hearings, where interested citizens and stakeholders contribute insights or raise concerns about the integrity, competence, and past records of potential judicial officers. This is because the judiciary is not just a branch of government; it is the final arbiter of justice and custodian of the rule of law. Judges must, therefore, not only be competent but be seen by the public to be above board in character and impartiality.

By allowing the public to contribute to the vetting of judges, the NJC has shown its willingness to deepen democratic participation and rebuild public confidence on the bench. This is especially crucial in a country like Nigeria, where the judiciary has faced intense criticism, some justified, others frivolous. Giving citizens a voice in the selection of judges ensures that appointees are not only well-qualified in law but also known to be men and women of integrity by the communities they serve.

However, for this laudable process to achieve its desired objective, certain safeguards must be put in place. First, the process must be transparently conducted and brought to a logical conclusion. Where public objections are raised against a nominee, the grounds should be properly investigated, and the outcome is made public. Where allegations are found to be baseless, the candidate’s name must be cleared and protected from reputational harm. Equally, if the concerns are valid, the candidate must be disqualified, and the appointing authorities should be bold enough to uphold merit over sentiment.

Second, there must be accountability for those who abuse the process. The NJC rightly requires that any petition or objection be supported by a sworn affidavit. This is a wise step. Those who deliberately peddle falsehoods or file frivolous petitions against judicial nominees must be held accountable through perjury charges. 

The process of cleaning and strengthening the judiciary should not be hijacked by mischief-makers or used as a tool for vendettas. Public participation must go hand-in-hand with responsibility.

In conclusion, the NJC’s decision to open up the judicial appointment process to public scrutiny is a progressive move that deserves widespread applause. It shows a readiness to embrace transparency and to allow the people who are the ultimate beneficiaries of justice to have a say in who sits in judgment over them. We believe that this will not be a one-off gesture. Let it evolve into a permanent feature of our judicial system, supported by fairness, transparency, and discipline. The judiciary stands to gain, and so does the entire Nigerian state.

In this instance, the people and the system are announced as the winners.

Dr. Monday O. Ubani, SAN is a legal practitioner and public affairs analyst.

The election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as the 267th Pope started with the comical. Days before his election on Thursday May 8, United States President Donald Trump roused a lot of criticism across the world after he posted an AI-generated image of himself as the Pope. The image which the President posted penultimate Friday features him wearing a traditional bishop’s attire: a white cassock and pointed mitre, and a large cross around his neck.

Coming curiously as Catholics were still mourning the passing of the much-loved Pope Francis, who died on 21 April, and in the thick of preparations for the solemn Conclave to choose a successor, many did not see the joke that Trump was trying to pass on. It was a rude distraction; as amusing as it was offensive to believers of the Christian faith. Particularly, the New York State Catholic Conference openly accused Trump of mocking the faith.

Less than a week later, after the mantle of leadership of the Catholic church fell on Cardinal Prevost, it was tempting to look back at Trump’s ‘silly joke’ and juxtapose it against the pure coincidence of his emergence as indeed, the first pontiff born in the United States. The 69-year-old Pope was born in Chicago but his place of birth is insignificant compared to his global mission, where he leads the flock of over 1.4 billion Catholics.

Pope Leo XIV

He has assumed the name Pope Leo XIV and is expected to build on Pope Francis’ reforms, especially his concerns for peace and social justice. His first remarks from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica centred on peace and for a church that is engaged with the modern world. Last Friday in the Sistine Chapel, he officiated his first Mass as pope, laying out his direction in his first homily where he spoke about peace and justice and renewed commitment to the Gospel. In the mass attended by the other 132 cardinals who chose him on the second day of the conclave, he pledged to work for a united church and appealed to them to humble themselves in the manner of Christ. These give clear indications of where his priorities lie.

For a man who spent much of his career as a missionary, his election has prompted an outpouring of optimism across the globe as world leaders show eagerness to work with him in finding solutions on global issues. His commitment to be a faithful administrator of the church will not just be in keeping faith with the direction of his predecessor but also an effort to unite the church towards its key purpose.

Originally from Chicago, he has spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru and has dual Peruvian nationality. He became a cardinal only in 2023. Considered a centrist, he was a strong backer of Francis’ 12-year papacy, especially his devotion to social justice issues; however, he is not seen as open to the LGBTQ+ community the way Francis was.

Late Pope Francis is remembered for key priorities that shaped his papacy: care for the marginalized, environmental responsibility, and reform within the Church. He consistently called on Catholics to return to the heart of the Gospel, which he believed involved serving the poor, protecting the Earth, and renewing the Church’s structures to better reflect compassion and humility. These concerns placed him in strong moral dialogue with the world and within the Church itself.

Pope Francis’s emphasis on caring for the poor and the excluded was central to his mission as he consistently sided with migrants, refugees, and victims of economic injustice. This same concern is shared by the current Pope Leo, whose recent statements have emphasized fairness and the Church’s duty to uplift the forgotten. Pope Leo has spoken about inclusive development, echoing Francis’s belief that true progress must center around human dignity and the people’s welfare, and advocating for a more synodal Church that encourages deeper participation by the laity.

Though their approaches may differ in style, their shared vision for a just, merciful, and outward-looking Church remains clear. Circumstances have also changed, as Pope Leo XIV comes at a period of great strife across the globe, with wars in Europe between Russia and Ukraine; in the Middle East between Israel and some Arab nations and in Asia between India and Pakistan. As the world welcomes the new pontiff, expectations are high that the present Pope will reflect, advance, and possibly expand the legacy of Pope Francis by continuing to prioritize the search for peace, compassion for the marginalized and deeper reform in the church.

This article was first published in Sunday New Telegraph on Sunday, 11th May, 2025.