At an all-time high of 34.2%, Nigeria's inflation's effect on fuel price volatility is one that can not be overemphasized. But it's high time we acknowledged that our addiction to fossil fuels is no longer sustainable - especially in a fast-evolving world.

Although many factors—including the fluctuations in global oil prices have left our fuel prices skyrocketing, but this crisis presents an opportunity for innovation—only if FG would see beyond the presence.

No progressive country in the world would turn a blind eye to the potential of technology in transforming its mobility landscape and reducing its dependence on fossil fuels. Electric vehicles, alternative fuels, fuel efficiency technologies, mobility-as-a-service, and smart traffic management are no longer futuristic concepts; they're viable solutions Nigeria, too, needs to start embracing on a large scale.

When you look at how countries like Norway have strategically transitioned to electric vehicles, how Sweden has pioneered biofuel initiatives, and how Singapore's facilitated intelligent transportation systems, then one would realize that these demonstrate that technology can liberate Nigeria too from the shackles of fuel dependency.

So, then, the question arises: what's holding Nigeria back? Our government's hesitation to invest in alternative energy sources and transportation infrastructure is staggering. The Innoson CNG buses (some of which are already on the roads in Lagos and Abuja) are worthy of commendations, but it's just like rotating in a circle. It's not really the solution. The most effective solution would have been that the 36 state governments and FG invest heavily in technology and develop a comprehensive national electric vehicle policy. This would undoubtedly reduce the demand for fuel, and as such, the hike in price would fall drastically.

That fossil fuels pose existential risks to the planet and climate change, is another reason the Nigerian government needs to transit from them and encourage public-private partnerships for mobility-as-a-service and smart transportation systems.

The benefits to be cupped from this are numerous, some of which are reduced fuel imports and increased foreign exchange savings, improved air quality and public health, enhanced economic productivity and competitiveness, and even, creation of new industries and job opportunities.

Nigeria's future depends on our willingness to embrace technological disruption. We must seize this moment to redefine our mobility landscape and secure a sustainable future. Whether we will continue to perpetuate our fossil fuel addiction or will we choose the path of innovation is a choice we need to make for the progress of this country.

Yusuf Babatunde is the CEO of Mapleby Autos

A bill seeking to establish another intervention agency for the Niger Delta region, to be known as the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), has just passed Second Reading in the Senate and has been sent to the Special Duties Committee for further consideration. It is sponsored by Senator Ekpenyong Asuquo of Calabar South and co-sponsored by all the other 17 senators of region. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is the brain behind the legislation, and I understand that he has staked his political capital on it and wants it passed by all means. The bill was first presented on the floor of the senate three months ago, but was roundly rejected by the senators who argued that the proposed commission is a duplication to the NDDC which has been in existence since 2000. ‘’The rejection was a personal embarrassment to the Senate President, but he withdrew to fight another day’’, a senator told me.

There were still some pockets of resistance when the bill was represented last week, but, this time, senators from the South-south region were more pushful to get it passed. Senator Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa argued that while NDDC is a resource-based commission, specifically meant for the oil producing states, including Imo and Abia, SSDC will only cater for the six states of the Niger Delta region. Senators are even contemplating a name change for the NDDC to reflect its focus on oil-producing states and distinguish it from the new agency. Senator Ekong Sampson (Akwa Ibom South) told me last week: ‘’I represent the major oil belt of the region. We feel the pain and bear the brunt of oil production. NDDC is for all the oil-producing states of the nation; the SSDC is specifically for the South-South region which has over the centuries been devastated by oil production. I am therefore very confident that the SSDC bill would be passed’’.

In 2017, the Senate created the North East Development Commission, the first of such regional body established after NDDC. NEDC was necessitated by the need to rebuild the North East after years of decimation by terrorist attacks. I supported its creation and argued that because of our interconnectedness, any part of the country left behind would be a drag on the rest of us. Since then, similar regional development agencies have been created for the other four regions - North West, South West, South East and North Central. Now that the South-South senators have tabled their demands, we have come full circle. By their enabling laws, these regional bodies have similar organizational and management structures and sources of funding. They receive funds from the federation account, in addition to donations, aids and grants. Their mandate is to tackle developmental and environmental challenges peculiar to each region. For the SSDC, priority would be given to ecological and environmental hazards; infrastructural inadequacies as well as militancy and communal crises which have plagued the region for years.

I support the creation of the SSDC for the South-South region and commend Senator Akpabio for spearheading it. I’m also thankful to the senators from other states, notably Suleman Kawu (Kano South) and Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) for endorsing the bill. The argument that it is a duplication to the NDDC is flawed. For one, the North Central Development Commission was created earlier this year despite the existence of Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Commission (HYPPADEC) created in 2010. Yet, nobody raised the issue of duplication. Second, SSDC and NDDC have different mandate areas. NDDC’s mandate extends well beyond the six south-south states, to cover Abia, Ondo and Imo; and may extend further to include new oil producers like Lagos, Nassarawa, Bauchi and others in the Benue trough. Third, since NDDC’s programmes and projects are shared among the nine mandate states based on their respective volume of crude oil production, states like Cross River that produce marginally have benefitted least from the NDDC programmes. The SSDC is therefore needed to make up for this inadequacy by providing fairly and equitably to the six states.  

 I have, however, noticed that the SSDC Bill does not specify where to locate the commission’s headquarters, unlike the NDDC Law which specifies Port Harcourt as the commission’s headquarters and the Nigerian Content Development Board (NCDB) law which stipulates Yenogoa as its headquarter. This omission could create unwarranted squabbles among the states and I urge Senator Akpabio to ensure that the oversight is addressed. The SSDC Bill should stipulate Uyo as the location for its corporate headquarters for many reasons. Akwa Ibom is not only the largest oil producing state, it is also the most peaceful, hospitable and suitable for siting an important federal agency. The Senate President must bring this one home.

For Senator Akpabio, SSDC might just be a given, but he has lot more to do. The lukewarm attitude of the federal government to the establishment of Ibom Deep Sea Port has put the Senate President in a difficult position. He is a leading member of the Tinubu inner circle. He flies into Uyo in a presidential jet and tools around in a big motorcade. Gov. Umo Eno fawns over him while the people sing his praises - all in an attempt to get him to facilitate federal support for the port project, which is clearly the people’s most sought-after infrastructural investment. But, so far, there is no indication that President Tinubu is interested in the project. This leaves Akpabio with nothing to brag about when he visits home, and the people sorely disappointed.

Nigeria has significantly contributed troops and police officers to the United Nations peacekeeping operations worldwide since 1960. That year, the Nigeria Police deployed the first-ever contingent of individual police officers to the UN Mission in the Congo. Assistant Commissioner of Police Louis Edet led the team at the time. In these operations, Nigeria resolutely committed herself to the onerous task of maintaining world peace and security. Some of the country’s gallant officers paid the supreme price, while many were injured and maimed for life. During the military era, particularly during the reign of General Ibrahim Babangida, under the auspices of the African Union and ECOWAS, there was the ECOWAS Monitoring Group, which intervened decisively in Liberia, paving the way for the restoration of civil rule in that country. Rebel leaders had turned Liberia into a theatre of war in their desperate battle for power. 

Nigeria’s troops were also the military backbone of the UN Mission in Liberia from 2003-2018, restoring security throughout that country. 

Since then, Nigeria has been involved in peacekeeping operations in many African countries, including Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Mali, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Somalia, Rwanda and Burundi. The government has contributed a lot in finance, logistics and civilian experts to these missions. Beyond Africa, the country’s police force participated in operations in Western Sahara, Cambodia, Yugoslavia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, East Timor, Haiti, Kosovo and Afghanistan, to mention but a few.

It is relevant to point out that Nigeria’s engagement is not only in peacekeeping or maintaining law and order across these nations; the country has helped stabilise and strengthen democracy in Africa. For instance, it’s on record that Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo played a leading role in the international effort to restore democratic order in São Tomé and Principle when President Fradique de Menezes was toppled by the military in that country in July 2003 while visiting Nigeria. Obasanjo and other foreign leaders reined in the military junta that ousted Menezes. The former Nigerian president took Menezes in his plane, leading him back to power in the oil-rich island republic.

In addition, Nigeria’s effort helped ferry former military leader Yahya Jammeh from The Gambia when he became a stumbling block to constitutional order.

After losing the election his regime organised, Jammeh refused to concede defeat to Adama Baro, who won the poll. The private plane of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, now President Bola Tinubu, was deployed to evacuate the once-dreaded Jammeh out of The Gambia.

I can continue enumerating Nigeria’s efforts to help maintain peace and security worldwide.

It is against this backdrop of the country’s considerable efforts in maintaining peace and deepening democracy in Africa and beyond that the recent demand for a permanent seat for Africa in the UN Security Council be considered. No country in Africa has contributed to global peace and security than Nigeria in terms of human and material resources. The request for a well-deserved permanent seat for the continent was the highpoint of Nigeria’s presentation at the just-ended 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA79) in the United States.

Vice President Kashim Shettima led Nigeria’s delegation to that session and presented the country’s national statement on behalf of President Tinubu. The president stayed back at home to attend to pressing domestic issues. That decision, the first by any Nigerian president since 1999, deserves commendation.

To say that Vice President Shettima ably represented the country is to state the obvious, particularly for those who watched the presentation live or on television. Resplendent in the country’s traditional white flowing babariga with a matching Borno cap, VP Shettima did an excellent job.

Making a case for this all-important seat on the UN’s exalted podium, the vice president said: “Reform of the Security Council is critical if the UN is to strengthen its relevance and credibility in our rapidly changing world. Some permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have offered encouraging, if tentative, indications of support on the issue of reform of the Council. We welcome the change in tone and urge acceleration in momentum to the process.

“The Security Council should be expanded, in the permanent and non-permanent member categories, to reflect the diversity and plurality of the world. We fully support the efforts of Secretary-General Guterres in this regard. Africa must be accorded the respect that it deserves in the Security Council. Our continent deserves a place in the permanent members category of the Security Council, with the same rights and responsibilities as other Permanent Members.”

With a population of over 1.3 billion people and home to the most critical mineral resources that will power the global economy, a permanent seat for Africa in the UN Security Council will ensure inclusivity and a spirit of brotherhood. Given its strategic importance, Africa should join the council’s five permanent members. And more than any other country on the African continent, Nigeria truly merits this seat. It is an entitlement and a matter of right.

First, the seat will serve as due compensation for Nigeria’s labour of service to the world. The country’s active participation in peacekeeping missions helped save countless lives and restore peace and stability to many countries. The UN has acknowledged this important work. In a publication of the world body in February 2019, the UN singled out Nigeria for praise for her service and sacrifice. However, the UN should do more than commendation. The world body should offer Nigeria this much-desired permanent seat to appreciate the country’s contribution.

Second, as indicated earlier, Nigeria contributed the most troops and police to UN missions among African nations. The Nigeria Police Force committed more men and materials to keep the peace in Africa and elsewhere. According to the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, Nigeria contributed to 41 peacekeeping missions globally and deployed over 200,000 troops to UN operations since her first deployment in the Congo. He spoke in New York at the summit of the Future Interactive Dialogue on the theme: “Enhancing Multilateralism for International Peace and Security.”

The attendant cost to Nigeria’s engagement in these peacekeeping operations is enormous. For instance, official sources revealed that ECOMOG, a regional mediation force put together to end the protracted Liberian civil war, was operated at an estimated cost of $8 billion to the Nigerian government.

Third, and more importantly, with its large population of young, energetic, and creative people and enormous resources, Nigeria can provide the required leadership for Africa at the UN Security Council.

This is a role the country has been performing for many decades. It has the potential to perform this work even better. Nigeria will be the real giant of Africa if it rises to this eminent status.

Former South African President, the highly revered Dr Nelson Mandela, was once reported to have said that the Black Race would not achieve its status until Nigeria sorted itself out.

When President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s reform agenda fully manifests, Nigeria will sort itself out sooner, not later. Then, the country will take its rightful place as the true leader of Africa in the community of nations.

. Rahman is a Senior Presidential Aide.

Chelsea Football Club coach, Enzo Maresca, has named Moses Caicedo the team’s captain.

According to a statement from Fabrizio Romano’s X account on Sunday, the midfielder praised Chelsea’s coach for appointing him captain.

“I’m grateful to Maresca for making me Chelsea’s captain.

“I want to become a legend here, and that’s what I’m working hard to achieve every day.

“It means a lot to captain Chelsea. It’s a dream come true
because I grew up supporting Chelsea,” he said.

Chelsea is set to battle Nottingham Forest on Sunday in the 2024/2025 season.

It should be recalled that Moises Caicedo signed an eight-year deal with Chelsea in a £100m transfer from Brighton, with an additional £15m in performance-related add-ons, after turning down a £111m move to Liverpool.

[Punch]

Every year, the federal government of Nigeria publishes a list of some citizens it has found worthy to honour with national awards of different categories. A hint on those that may receive the highest awards this year which was last week given by president Bola Ahmed Tinubu has elicited some controversies that government quickly resolved.

As we await the full list to be made public soonest, it is probably premature to begin to comment on the few names we have heard or indeed to initiate a critical analysis of what to expect. Today is not the best time for such a critical analysis. In any case, it is not only the national awards that should be a source of worry to Nigerians.

It is indeed time to worry about a new trend in our country in which many people are given undeserved awards. The most prominent of such awards which are organized by the nation’s major newspapers clearly depict an effective marketing design for revenue generation. Other groups and associations are also part of the sale of honours to many Nigerians.

Nigerian universities that have turned their convocation ceremonies into awards of honorary degrees to the highest bidders have become part of the game. Amidst this disturbing trend, there are a few awards that have stood the test of time. One of such awards was the one given to the former governor of Kano state, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso by the Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ in December 2013. Incidentally, I attended the event.

It all began some two weeks before the ceremony when the NUJ delegation paid me a courtesy visit to request that I serve as Guest Speaker at the event. After a full session of the rationale for the award, I told the delegation to await my response a week later. I then proceeded to undertake extensive research on the activities of the man Kwankwaso whom I had never physically met before then. From the speech I gave at the occasion on December 15, 2023, my findings were overwhelming.

First, I was pleased with the NUJ’s decision because of its specificity. Unlike many generalized unverifiable awards, Kwankwaso was picked as the best Nigerian Governor in the area of Fiscal Responsibility- a concept which refers to openness, discipline and accountability in governance.

Besides, the award was bestowed on only one nominee unlike today’s award where as many as 8 governors are honoured for no specific achievements making it obvious that they were essentially purchased. I agreed with the NUJ because I found concrete evidence that within a few months in office, Kwankwaso had converted Kano into a viable entity by raising its internally generated revenue from N400million naira to N2billion monthly. He then blocked all leakages so that funds in the treasury are always available to be prudently managed to attain fiscal responsibility. Many of today’s governors and other top office-holders have more than such funds but they deliberately create leakages which are then diverted to personal use or at best shared with party chieftains to attract their continued support.

Kwankwaso at the time did not only block leakages but went ahead to abolish frivolous expenditures hitherto incurred in the office of the governor and in the entire state bureaucracy from which he made a saving of N500million every month.He also patronized aggressive revenue drive, must insisted that such must be handled with a human face to avoid the practice of- subjecting citizens to multiple taxes for little or no service. Beyond revenue generation, he prioritized accountability in which all state officials including the governor were required to give an account of whatever they did on behalf of the people who elected them into office. Consequently, everything including any expense on security was accounted for in Kano because Kwankwaso saw security vote as “an avenue for stealing.”

Another reason why the choice of Kwankwaso was apt for the award was his concept of transparency in governance that was premised on open government. Kano at the time had a model in which anyone who cared to know about any government project did not have to labour to get the details as the government published such details in the media every week. Under the circumstance, there was no need for any state agency to avoid requests on the Freedom of Information Act. Those who did not know what was happening in government in the state were restricted to persons who had no interest in the subject. This was the direct opposite of happenings in some states whose governors manipulated the execution of public projects. In such states, no one got to know when bids for government projects were purportedly publicised; contractors who won the bids as well as how and why they won were also not known

One of the attributes of fiscal responsibility is wise spending. This cannot happen in states whose recurrent estimates are higher than capital allocation. In such states, government merely meets personnel emolument while development projects on substantive issues like education, health and agriculture are virtually ignored. In the case of Kano, the budget for 2013 – the year of the NUJ award, merely allocated 25 percent to recurrent expenditure while it wisely reserved 75 percent for development projects. Accordingly, Kwankwaso reportedly established 3 new cities – Kwankwasiyya, Amana and Bandirawo. In addition, the jobs were completed without variations in their costs there- by reflecting strong faith in fiscal responsibility and accountability.

Several government publications which I found at the time of my enquiries confirmed Kwankwaso to be financially responsible because he insisted on keeping to the provisions of an approved budget. There was no room for bogus spending or the practice of succumbing to local pressures and the emotions of the moment to make donations that were not captured in the budget. He was also against engaging in governance by publicity which leads to spending more funds publicizing a project than the cost of executing the project. Rather, the focus was on the real needs of his people and not on frivolities. Hence, education-the key to human capital development received the lion share of the annual budget of the state throughout his tenure.

I ended my speech with a commendation to the then governor for 3 observations- about his approach to governance. The first was the seamless effort he put to establish beyond reasonable doubt that there was no need for bogus unaccountable security votes because the states with huge amounts for security measures turned out to be the ones with the highest security challenges. The second was his departure from the practice in many states where the focus of governors was on the state capital at the expense of rural areas. Kwankwaso discouraged urban migration by turning the 44 local government areas in his state to project sites. The third observation I made with satisfaction was that Kwankwaso was not among the governors who embarked on building new government houses when there was nothing wrong with the old mansions where their predecessors lived.

Exactly one week after the award, the governor sent me a handwritten letter of appreciation in which he invited me to visit Kano even without his knowledge to see for myself two areas my speech did not touch. “First, 300 computer schools as well as primary schools with boarding facilities, free food for students 5times a week, provision of uniforms, desks and multifarious instructional materials, training of 100 Pilots, monthly allowance for medical students and soft loan scheme for teachers. Second, 5kms of roads recently dualized and electrified in each of the 44 local government areas in the state in addition to one Technical School, one School of Islamic Studies, one Garment Industry and one Micro Finance Bank in every local government area.”

I have no doubt that many other analysts especially political opponents could have found certain things wrong with the administration of Kano state between 2011 and 2015. The purpose of this article therefore is not to suggest that the state had a saint for 4 years. Instead, the point to be made is that the tenure of a governor or any political officeholder ought to have specific and verifiable facts which would make the awards given to such leaders to be persuasive. It is therefore expected that the current governor Abba Kabir Yusuf who is an apostle of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has no excuse not to out-perform his mentor.

The Rivers State Government will swear in the 23 chairmen declared winners of Saturday’s Local Government Council elections this afternoon (Sunday).

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) announced that the Action Peoples Party (APP) won all 23 local government area chairmanship seats in the election.

The State Government also confirmed that the election has concluded, and it will swear in the winners today.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Wenike Danagogo, it was announced that the chairmen would be sworn in at 4 pm.

The statement read: “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, the Governor of Rivers State, will today, Sunday, October 6, 2024, swear in the newly elected Council Chairmen at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt, by 4pm.

The newly elected Chairmen, along with one (1) guest each, are expected to be seated by 3:30 pm.”

Background

Recall the elections took place, yesterday, amid gunshots, bomb explosions and protests in some parts of the state.

The development, which did not fall short of pre-election predictions, left many residents worried, especially as a result of minimal presence of the police across all polling areas.

Sunday Vanguard observed that irrespective of widespread fears of violence across 23 Local Government Areas, LGAs in Rivers, the turnout appeared substantial. In many areas monitored, the exercise kicked off early without the presence of the police following the supply of sensitive and non-sensitive materials by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission,RSIEC.

The police had earlier said they were not providing security for the polls given a court order restraining them and other security agencies from providing security during the poll. A Federal High Court in Abuja had prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from releasing the 2023 voter register to RSIEC. It also stopped the Inspector-General of Police and Department of State Services, DSS, from providing security for the exercise.

The matter pitched the camp of Governor Siminalyi Fubara and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, against each other, thereby heightening tension in the state. However, RSIEC said it had received a copy of the voter register from INEC since last year.

Earlier, Wike’s supporters staged a protest in Port Harcourt, kicking against the election.

[Vanguard]

As we read this, the results from Saturday’s local government elections in Rivers State are still filtering in. The elections held in spite of the refusal by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to avail the state electoral body an updated version of the state’s voters register. To add to the intrigues, the Police – supposedly acting on a court ruling – abdicated its responsibility and refused to be part of maintaining lawful conduct of the polls.

The elections held all the same and by the time all the results are called, Governor Sim Fubara will surely enter the history books for making a ‘success’ out of the chaos foisted on him by INEC and the Police believed to be acting for vested interests in the state. Former Governor Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the FCT has vociferously led the opposition against the governor and acted up to his promise to make the state ungovernable. Saturday’s election was the latest front in that battle for the political soul of Rivers State.

The chaotic State of our electoral system didn’t start in Rivers State; the rot has been there for over a decade, even if it has deteriorated exponentially in recent years, especially on the watch of Mahmood Yakubu as the nation’s chief electoral umpire.

The charade that went for the governorship election in Edo State has come and gone. It has, quite predictably, been called for Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress that administers Nigeria’s federal government. Many have advised the losers, especially Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, not to bother seeking redress at the courts where characteristically, the APC chieftains have urged him to seek further redress.

Asue may be new in the dark waters of Nigerian politics, but he is experienced enough to know that the courts, in this case, are a waste of his time, his resources and peace of mind. As has been proved in our recent history, when members of the ruling APC goad you onto the courts after an electoral heist has taken place, you heed their advice at your peril.

What rankles about the Edo sham election is not only that Governor Obaseki and his protégé, Ighodalo, have been outsmarted by the APC, it is the damning reports by observers that once again, the Independent National Elelctoral Commission, INEC, was hand-in-gloves with those that perpetrated that tragedy that befell the people. The umpire who loves to descend into the arena to subvert the huge public trust invested in it was alleged to have turned the books upside down in favour of its paymaster.

When the Igbo say no dogs eats the bones tied around its neck, INEC had not been established.

Another disgusting aspect of the Edo charade is the narrative that has been promoted to give the impression, obviously false, that most of the established institutions in the state – especially the Benin palace – were opposed to the Ighodalo candidacy. It is not true, even if the narrative was promoted as an alibi, to deflect from the clear subversion of the people’s will. While it is true that Obaseki, like any other governor who is determined to fight godfatherism that was so entrenched in the state, would naturally face stiff opposition, the so-called anger by the Oba’s palace is greatly exaggerated.

The narrative that the Oba’s palace was involved in the political contest serves the interests of the victorious APC but it does so much harm to the state’s foremost traditional institution. And it still shocks every discerning onlooker why the palace would look helpless in the circumstances, keeping mute while its reputation as the father of all, is being dragged down. It owes its children a response, at least to counter that single narrative that can lead Edo people to default assumptions, wrong conclusions and a fatal misunderstanding about their traditional institution.

Elections come with their complexities and their nuances; it will be tragic indeed when the voter in the street is led to conclude that the all-important decision about who governs the state was taken in the Oba’s palace that stands as a refuge for all. And if, perchance, it is true that the palace rejoices at Okpebholo’s victory, then it will share in the fallout if he ends up a bad governor? The problem with such stereotypes of invincibility being weaved around the palace is that it becomes complicit, inadvertently, when things dont turn out as expected.

MAHMOOD’S INEC

There are many similarities between Professor Attahiru Jega and Mahmood Yakubu. Both of them raised the expectation of Nigerians when they were appointed, at different times, as the nation’s chief electoral umpires, and both have ended as monumental disappointments. Jega’s appointment in June 2010 raised expectations that the much-desired credibility would return to the nation’s electoral system. Coming after the general elections of 2007 which even the winner, President Umaru Yar’adua acknowledged were flawed, Nigerias had reasons to place their hope on the former President of ASUU. With impressive academic and civil society credentials, Jega was the best man to deliver on the promises of electoral reform, which President Jonathan had promised. Or so we all thought.

The tenure of Mahmood Yakubu who equally boasts a rich civil society background came with so much expectation, but like Jega, he has turned out one of the most disappointing, soiling his reputation and ending up with a doubtful integrity. At a time the 2015 election was adjudged the worst in the nation’s history, the charade that was the 2023 national elections has taken the all-time record.

The electoral process under Mahmood has so deteriorated that even the state electoral bodies which many accuse of underhand tactics in helping the governors install their preferred choices as local government chairman, have taken cue. On Mahmood’s watch, the state electoral commissions have ended up as mere appendages of governors’ offices. Worse still, what they conduct are mere selections without any pretence to fairness.

As you read this, the results of the yesterday’s local council contests in Rivers state are being awaited. It was a sham in all intents and purposes, partly because the same INEC that had availed other states with the voters’ register decided, this time, to join Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, in his battle against the Rivers state governor, Similayi Fubara. The INEC, believed to be acting Wike’s script, acted to sabotage the election, just like the Nigerian Police that relied on a questionable court judgment in addicting their responsibility of maintaining law and order during the polls.

By the time Fubara calls the election, it may enter the Guinness Books as, perhaps, the most chaotic of such exercises ever conducted, thanks in part to the indiscretions of Mahmood Yakubu’s INEC and the self-serving interests of the Police led by the IG, Kayode Egbetoku.

A Profaned Society:

A profaned society is one where the sacred values that hold a community together - its moral compass, cultural norms, ethical standards, and sense of duty - are desecrated, diminished, or destroyed. In such a society, materialism, corruption, selfishness, and cynicism replace shared spiritual and moral principles. This leads to a deep erosion of trust, unity, and collective responsibility, weakening the very fabric of society.

Nigeria: Tending Towards a Profaned Society?

Historical Context of Moral Decay in Nigeria:

Since its independence in 1960, Nigeria has oscillated between hope and despair. While the country had great potential, its trajectory has been marred by a steady decay in moral values, which has become evident in both individual behaviors and institutional practices. Key points in this moral decline include:

1. Military Rule and Corruption: The successive military coups that began in the 1960s brought with them authoritarian rule, suppression of civil liberties, and systemic corruption. The state became a tool for personal enrichment rather than public service, setting a dangerous precedent that eroded moral values in governance and trickled down to society.

2. Economic Collapse of the 1980s: The Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP) implemented by the Nigerian government, under pressure from international financial institutions, resulted in widespread economic hardship. These economic crises further pushed individuals toward survivalist tendencies, often at the cost of ethical and moral considerations.

3. Post-Military Democracy: The return to civilian rule in 1999 came with renewed hopes, but endemic corruption persisted, especially in governance. Electoral fraud, political violence, and the mismanagement of Nigeria’s vast resources continued to erode trust in public institutions.

4. Religious Extremism and Ethno-Political Divides: In recent decades, Nigeria has also witnessed a surge in religious extremism (e.g., Boko Haram insurgency) and ethno-political conflicts. These events reflect a deeper moral crisis, where violence and division are often justified in the name of religion or ethnicity.

The Effect on the Individual:

The degradation of moral values in Nigeria has left a significant impact on the individual. The traditional Nigerian society, once known for values of honesty, communalism, and integrity, has been replaced by a culture where personal gain is prioritized above the common good. Corruption, dishonesty, and a lack of accountability have become normalized. The Nigerian youth are particularly vulnerable, often growing up in a system where short-term gains, quick fixes, and unethical practices are seen as acceptable pathways to success. Hopelessness, disillusionment, and a loss of identity plague the younger generation, while selfishness and cynicism are rife among many.

The Challenges to Nigerian Society:

At the societal level, the decay of moral values has severely hampered development. It manifests in:

1. Weak Institutions: Public institutions lack the moral authority to enforce laws, maintain transparency, or foster social justice. Corruption has eroded the public’s trust in key institutions, including law enforcement, the judiciary, and government agencies.

2. Economic Inequality: The concentration of wealth in the hands of a few corrupt elites has left the vast majority of Nigerians in poverty. The disparity between the rich and poor widens each year, and opportunities for social mobility are minimal.

3. Social Fragmentation: Moral decay has also contributed to the growing ethnic and religious divides in Nigeria. In a society where self-interest prevails, people seek security in their ethnic or religious identity, rather than in a shared national vision.

4. Brain Drain: Nigeria continues to lose its most educated and talented citizens to other countries due to a lack of opportunities, insecurity, and systemic corruption. This hinders national development, as many who could contribute to the nation’s progress are disillusioned and choose to seek better prospects elsewhere.

Characteristics of a Profaned Society:

1. Loss of Trust: Institutions and individuals are no longer trusted due to corruption, dishonesty, and a lack of accountability.

2. Materialism and Consumerism: A shift towards valuing material wealth and personal gain over communal well-being and spiritual fulfillment.

3. Cynicism and Apathy: People no longer believe in the possibility of a better society, leading to widespread disengagement from civic duties.

4. Moral Relativism: The distinction between right and wrong becomes blurred, with unethical behaviors becoming normalized.

5. Fragmentation: The absence of shared values leads to a divided society, where people are more loyal to subgroups (ethnic, religious, political) than to the common good.

Causes of Profaned Societies:

1. Corruption: A fundamental cause of moral decay, where public service becomes self-serving.

2. Poor Leadership: Weak, unethical leadership that prioritizes power over principle.

3. Economic Instability: Economic hardship often forces people into survivalist behaviors that compromise their ethical standards.

4. Cultural Erosion: Globalization and the erosion of traditional cultural values can lead to the loss of moral anchors.

5. Weak Education Systems: Education that lacks a moral foundation and civic responsibility fosters individuals who are technically skilled but morally adrift.

Historical Examples of Collapsed Civilizations:

1. Ancient Rome: Once the most powerful empire, Rome collapsed due to moral decay, political corruption, and the overextension of its resources.

2. The Mayans: While there were many causes of the Mayan civilization’s fall, internal strife, the abuse of power by leaders, and a disconnect from core values contributed.

3. The Soviet Union: Though a superpower, the USSR crumbled under the weight of corruption, economic inefficiencies, and the disillusionment of its people.

From these examples, we learn that civilizations do not simply collapse because of external pressures but because their internal moral and ethical foundations crumble.

Moral Principles as the Foundation for Nigeria’s Development:

Nigeria’s path to greatness lies in re-establishing a society where moral principles form the foundation of governance, business, and everyday life. These principles include integrity, justice, fairness, and community responsibility. A society that upholds these values will have stronger institutions, more engaged citizens, and sustainable development.

Practical Steps to Restore a Profaned Society:

A Special Case for Nigeria

1. Leadership by Example: Nigerian leaders must embody the values they wish to see in society. Accountability, transparency, and a commitment to justice must become the new standards of leadership.

2. Civic Education: Education must go beyond academic knowledge. Moral and civic education, which emphasizes ethics, citizenship, and the importance of community, should be integrated into Nigeria’s educational curriculum.

3. Cultural Renaissance: There must be a conscious effort to revive traditional Nigerian values that emphasize honesty, community, and respect for others. Cultural leaders, alongside religious institutions, should champion these values.

4. Youth Empowerment: Nigeria’s youth must be re-oriented towards the values of hard work, integrity, and service. Initiatives like mentorship programs, community service, and entrepreneurship training should be prioritized.

5. Reforming Institutions: Institutional reform is crucial. Anti-corruption agencies must be strengthened, the judiciary made independent and accountable, and public servants held to higher moral and ethical standards.

6. Engaging Civil Society: Civil society organizations should lead efforts to promote good governance, accountability, and social justice. By keeping institutions in check, they ensure the moral values of society are not undermined.

7. National Dialogue: A national conversation on the moral direction of the country should be initiated, involving all stakeholders - government, religious leaders, community heads, and ordinary citizens.

Conclusion:

The time is now for Nigerians to rise and embark on the Revolution of the Mind. The restoration of our moral values is not just a lofty ideal but a practical necessity for the survival and thriving of Nigeria as a nation. Every Nigerian must commit to this change, starting with individual, and collectively, we can build a nation grounded in the Moral Principles that will drive our development and prosperity for generations to come. Nigeria Must and Will Rise!

Yours for Nigeria as a Global Leader!

Musa-Ododo Abdulrahaman,

Founder/President,

Initiative for Discovery of Nigeria Heritage and Endowment (IDNHE).

Project Coordinator,

National Policy Dialogue.

www.nationalpolicydialogue.org