“Nigeria is finished patapata!” Do you often hear that? I have observed over time that there are people who get excited by negative news concerning Nigeria. If the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports that we have recorded a negative GDP growth rate or the economy is heading for a recession, they will be the first to share the news. If the NBS says unemployment and inflation rates have skyrocketed, they will circulate the news with full determination. But if the same NBS says inflation rate has slowed or unemployment has dropped, they will scoff and start questioning the credibility of the data. The only acceptable NBS data to them is the one that says things are bleak.

When foreign companies shut down operations and leave our shores, these guys roll out the drums. It is yet another confirmation that “Nigeria is finished patapata”. It doesn’t matter if the same companies are also shutting down in many other African countries as a result of a change in business strategy or because of local (and global) economic challenges. As long as a foreign company is leaving Nigeria, that is all that counts. “Nigeria is finished patapata!” Some Nigerians are over the moon. It is a confirmation of their theory that nothing good can come out of Nigeria. But when a new foreign company opens shop here, they tactically go mute or belittle it and explain it away. They sound sad.

For over a decade, multinational oil companies have been divesting from their onshore investments in Nigeria. We know why. Oil theft went out of hand, pipeline vandalism became epidemic, and host communities got more hostile, among several other factors. The oil companies have been selling their onshore assets to local consortiums while shifting focus to the more secure and more favourable deep offshore fields where oil theft is next to nil, where there are no host communities apart from the congregation of sharks and dolphins, and where pipelines cannot be vandalised. But the lovely news for some is that they are leaving Nigeria in droves. And this calls for champagne.

So, when it was announced recently that Shell had made a final investment decision for a deepwater oil and gas project, it tasted sour in the mouths of some people. This is a $5 billion investment. Five billion dollars. Depression instantly set in for some guys. Their day was ruined and they must have lost their appetite. They find the fact that Nigerian companies are taking over the onshore assets of the multinationals very heartbreaking. They would rather no local company has the capacity to pull the technical and commercial resources to seal these mega deals. To the best of my knowledge, divestments have been happening regularly since 2010 and Nigerian companies are benefiting.

When Nigerians were experiencing absolute chaos in passport application, it was an international embarrassment. I was ashamed as a Nigerian. Things have eased significantly, but Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the interior minister, has taken a step further by leveraging on technology to make processes smoother. With a successful pilot scheme, Nigerians will soon be able to renew their passports via a “contactless system” — from the comfort of their homes. This is expected to be rolled out in more cities in 2025. Also, travellers will soon be using e-gates at the international airports to reduce time wasted by manual processing. This is not the sort of news some people love to share.

Whenever foreign organisations or personalities say something negative about Nigeria, come and see the radiation on the faces of some Nigerians. It’s as if they hit the jackpot. Whether it is Transparency International (TI) rating Nigeria as the most corrupt country in Africa or Prime Minister David Cameron saying “Nigeria is fantastically corrupt”, you can literally “swim” in the unspeakable joy of some Nigerians. They will share it on Facebook, WhatsApp, X, Instagram and every platform available on Planet Earth. But if the same TI says Nigeria has improved or a foreign political leader says Nigeria is making some progress, these guys will be downcast — or even allege they were induced to say so.

You may not believe this, but there are music stars who made their fame and fortune in Nigeria before gaining global recognition — only to travel out and start advising people not to come to the country. There are people who schooled in Nigeria virtually for free only to “japa” with their certificates and start deriding the country as “useless”. Doesn’t that mean their certificates and work experience are equally useless? What about the people who made their money here before migrating but then go on social media to run down the country mercilessly? Some are still sending SOS messages home to help them stabilise but they will never stop denigrating this same country. 

I have been ruminating over this negativism. In trying to understand why some Nigerians are like this, I first asked myself this question: did I ever feel this way about Nigeria at any point in my life? My mind went back to the 1990s and 2000s and I realised I used to be negative — even if not totally — about Nigeria. This is bizarre because I consider myself to be an optimist. I always try to see the sunny side of life. If you tell me “Nigeria is finished”, my instinctive response has always been: “Congratulations! Hope you are happy now?” To be honest, till this day, I still occasionally find myself negative and despondent. It is hard not to be. I am an optimist quite all right, but I am not stupid.

After much thinking about the things that spur the “Nigeria is finished” retort, I identified two broad categories of negativism. On the one hand, there is “benign negativism”: some people say and share negative things about Nigeria not out of a malicious heart or with a destructive intent. Rather, they are frustrated and angry at the state of the nation. When they say “Nigeria is finished”, it is not a wish or a curse but an expression of frustration. On the other hand, there is the “malign negativism” among those who have written Nigeria off and have concluded that nothing good can come out of the country. To many in this category, it is of no use expecting anything good from the “contraption”.

I took a deep dive into these two categories and identified at least five variants of negativism. The variants cut across the categories and could be in spectrums — so they are not mutually exclusive. The first of the five is “disappointed love”. Many have invested so much emotion in Nigeria and are disappointed with the outcome. They expect Nigeria to be far better than this. Actually, disappointed love is a term describing the heartache people have when their expectations are not met in a relationship. It could be that their feelings are not reciprocated, promises are broken, or there is a form of abuse going on. That sums up the feelings of many Nigerians who have benign negativism.

The second variant of negativism is what psychologists call “coping mechanism”. It is a psychological strategy humans adapt to deal with unpalatable circumstances. It could be conscious or unconscious. When some people say “Nigeria is finished”, they do not mean it in a malicious manner. Rather, that is their own way of managing the trauma of poor governance that they are being subjected to. When they share bad news about Nigeria, it is a way of “detoxifying”. It is also like a resolve — “I am not surprised things are like this”. They have tuned their minds to live with the disappointments. They are not against Nigeria’s progress but have also conditioned themselves to expect little or nothing.

The third variant of negativism is self-justification. They use all negative news about Nigeria to say: “I was right, wasn’t I?” The late Peter Wason, cognitive psychologist, called it “confirmation bias” — the tendency to favour information that confirms or strengthens your beliefs or values and is difficult to dislodge. This is common among Nigerian migrants. Even if they are not having the best of times abroad — perhaps they are being treated as second-class humans — they try to justify it by amplifying bad news about Nigeria to show that they were right to “japa”. Many would-be migrants and restructuring activists are also affected by confirmation bias and self-justification variant.

The fourth variant manifests in those who have completely, irreversibly and irrevocably given up on Nigeria. They are comprehensively disenchanted with the country and there is no amount of good news or positive developments that can dissuade them. Some feel sidelined, neglected and irrelevant in the scheme of things. Others have their own ideas of how the country should be structured or governed and until their position is accepted and implemented, they are not interested in any good thing coming out of Nigeria. Every positive development irritates them. Every negative development is evidence that the country is doomed and nothing good can come out of it.

There is a fifth variant which is borne out of partisanship. The things some people are defending today are the things they attacked when they were not in power. The things some are attacking today are the things they defended when they were in power. When the NBS rebased the GDP under the PDP in 2014 and we became Africa’s biggest economy, the APC ridiculed it. In 2024, the NBS released favourable employment data under the APC and the PDP mocked it. Need I remind us of the deregulation of petrol pricing by the PDP in 2012 which was opposed by the same APC elements now celebrating their own deregulation as a great success? I think partisan hypocrites fit each other.

This is not an invitation to be blind to Nigeria’s shortcomings and challenges. We cannot deceive ourselves by saying everything is all right. Plenty things are not all right. We can all see things with our eyes. In fact, every society needs critical — sometimes cynical and sceptical — voices. The danger is when we became perennially and incurably critical to the extent that it is beginning to impair our judgment. It can become a terminal ailment. Still, those in power should not treat every negativity as malign. To be clear, Nigerians have every right to be worried about their country and to highlight every negative development. It is now the job of those in authority to lead us out of the woods.

Nevertheless, we can still be kind to Nigeria by differentiating the country from its leadership. They are not the same: presidents come and go but Nigeria remains. We can love Nigeria our country with all our heart and hate bad leadership with passion. We can celebrate our little strides and still criticise corrupt and inept leadership. It is sad that if you want to hear the worst things about Nigeria, you need not ask a foreigner. Ask a Nigerian. With our own mouths, we damage and demarket our country before outsiders and then complain that we are being maltreated abroad. We should not be so negative that we cannot see anything good in Nigeria. If Nigeria is finished, what is our gain?

AND FOUR OTHER THINGS…

GOODBYE 2024

In a couple of days, we will bid 2024 good bye. This year qualifies as one of the toughest for Nigerians. It was the year electricity tariffs were tripled for Band A, the year the naira reached its lowest against the dollar, and the year petrol sold at its most expensive pump price ever. I will say this again: I am not against reform and I have my reservations about the pacing and spacing of President Bola Tinubu’s policies, but the most upsetting thing for me is that the message of sacrifice is not being lived by government officials. I want to see a significant change in their own lifestyles. For Nigerians, I pray 2025 will bring relief and reward for their patience and sacrifice. Amen.

NAGGING NIGER

The cold war between Niger and Nigeria after the military coup of 2023 is not going to thaw soon as the two West African neighbours continue to exchange diplomatic brickbats. Gen Abdulrahmane Tchiani, military leader of Niger Republic, has accused Nigeria of plotting to destabilise his country. Since the military governments in West Africa exchanged their French “colonial masters” and replaced them with Russian lords (in fact, Russian flags were flown in northern Nigeria during the hunger protests), it has been glaring that we are in for challenging times. Tchiani’s sympathisers here have been circulating fake news that French soldiers have established a base in Nigeria. Dangerous.

BEYOND FAROTIMI

Mr Dele Farotimi, the activist who was arrested and charged to court over allegations of criminal defamation of Chief Afe Babalola, the senior lawyer, was released on Christmas Eve after meeting bail conditions. The law should run its course, no doubt, but there is something ugly about putting someone in handcuffs for defamation. I will continue to argue that defamation should be a civil case — not a matter to be prosecuted by the police. Civil society organisations and legal experts must ramp up the campaign to de-criminalise defamation. It is subject to abuse and misuse and anyone can be a victim. It is not enough to lament — we must work hard to get the laws amended. Crucial.

NO COMMENT

I watched President Tinubu’s media chat on Monday. I think the panel did a good job. The president also spoke confidently about his stewardship. He is very sure of himself — even if many of us disagree with some of his pronouncements and policies. But did you hear the president say this? “People are learning management. A friend used to brag to me that he has five Rolls Royce (cars). The other day I saw him in his Honda Accord. He said ‘that’s where you put me’. I told him ‘I did not put you there’. But he said it was because of fuel prices that he could no longer maintain five limousine-type vehicles.” He can afford five Rolls Royce cars but can’t buy petrol? Wonderful.

When President Bola Tinubu presented the 2025 proposed budget to the National Assembly just eleven days ago, it was clear that even this extra pliant set of legislators would need some additional flexibility to pass the budget within the working days left in 2024. No president, until Tinubu came along, had ever waited till two weeks to the beginning of a new financial year to table his proposed budget. Not even in 1999 (when the newness of the experiment could be an excuse) or in 2009 (when a sitting president was mortally sick) was the budget presented this late. But there is a new sheriff in town who felt it was not a bad idea to wait until a week before Christmas to present the budget for parliamentary consideration.

Shortly after listening to the president amidst remarkable giggles and applauses, the legislators approved a separate request to extend the capital components of the 2024 budget(s) till 30^th June 2025. They dispensed with two traditions at a stroke. The first was the customary extension, if a new budget had not been passed, of the capital budget till the end of the first quarter (31^st March); then another extension till when the new budget was passed and signed. Tinubu requested for an extension of half a year at a go, and the parliamentarians promptly obliged without any condition.

Capital provisions are usually multi-year, and since capital allocations are usually released late, it made sense to allow their extension while salaries and overhead would continue as approved in the old budget. This is to prevent government from shutting down in case the legislators take their time in passing the budget (we have had instances where executive-legislative bickering stretched budget passage to seven or eight months). However, once a budget is passed, the other budget should naturally lapse. Things are neater that way.

The possibility of two or more budgets running concurrently was an oddity until the Tinubu era. Clearly, the 2025 budget will be passed within the first quarter of next year. Meanwhile, the capital budget for 2024 would be running till 30^th June. This shows that the aberration of implementing multiple budgets in late 2023 and throughout 2024 is being normalised, with the enthusiastic endorsement of our legislators.

The second tradition that has been casually shredded is keeping Nigeria within the predictability of the January to December budgeting cycle. It took a lot of heavy lifting, discipline and meticulous planning by the executive and legislative arms to return the country to this tradition. A major milestone was recorded on 17^th December 2019 when former President Muhammadu Buhari signed the 2020 budget. This good and necessary tradition stood for five years.

The only reason why this tradition is being rolled back now, even with a legislature that adopts a fast-food approach to law-making, is because the 2025 budget was not presented on time. It is difficult to find a persuasive justification for this tardiness. The only trick for getting the budget passed and signed on time is preparing the budget proposal on time. If budget circulars are issued early, say by the end of the second quarter, the president should be able to present the budget to the National Assembly by September. This will give the legislators a whole quarter to work on the appropriation bill, and enough time for the executive to do a proper review of the passed budget and request for changes, if necessary, before presidential assent. Not submitting budget proposals on time allows for all sorts, including insertions and overreach by legislators. The way to cure such mischief, assuming there is the appetite for it, is to start the budgeting process early. And there is no compelling excuse not to.

However, President Tinubu has not taken a saw to all our budgeting traditions. He is, in this sense, a selective iconoclast. One tradition that he has religiously kept is that of bogus projections. While presenting the N49.74 trillion budget, the president gave a brief review of the 2024 budget(s): revenue projection performing at 75% and planned expenditure at 85% as at the end of the third quarter. This is all well and good. But it is not a substitute for a detailed budget implementation report for Q3 2024, which should have been published by now by the Budget Office of the Federation.

This is where we can have a clear view of revenue flows, expenditures by type and the deficit so far. It is in the detailed budget performance report that the fiction of our projections comes out to mock us. In any case, a budget based on crude oil production of 2.06 million barrels per day, FGN net revenue at N36.35 trillion, deficit of N13.39 trillion and inflation at 15% continues the game of orchestrated optical illusion that we have played with ourselves for decades.

It is, however, not an innocuous game. Unmet revenue projection leads inexorably to budget underperformance, increased deficit and more borrowing, which increases our debt burden. In the proposed budget, N16.33 trillion or 33% of the proposed budget or 45% of projected revenue is devoted to debt service alone. Debt service is the highest single item in the 2025 budget (or the second highest item if the N3 trillion capital allocation in statutory transfers is added to the N14.85 trillion in the main budget to take overall capital to N17.86 trillion). Whatever option we fancy, debt service as the highest or the second highest budget item is not a good look. And with the over-ambitious projection and expansionary approach that is out of sync with probable revenue, we are further locking ourselves in a vicious cycle. This is a time to faithfully keep deficit and debt (and resultant higher debt service) in check.

A ready and oft-used counter to this argument is that we also live in a time of great need, and that we need to spend to put the economy on sound footing and increase the productive capacities of our people. While this line of argument might appear persuasive, more than a few of the proposed expenditure do not pass the muster of necessity and regeneration or even transparency. Why do we propose to spend N238.05 billion for a hospital for the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) while the capital budget for the entire Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is N653.61 billion? Why do we need to allocate N50 billion as capital supplementation for a building for FIRS, an agency that gets 4% as cost of collection and with a hefty budget likely to be about half a trillion Naira? And how do we have a N761.97 billion as a one-line item for Special Projects?

There are other curious items I have seen in the proposed budget. One glaring example is the plan to transfer N146.14 billion to MOFI (Ministry of Finance Incorporated) as counterpart funding for the Lagos Green Line Metro Rail Phase 1. This raises many questions. The proposed allocation for the metro-line within a state is 65% of the capital budget and 57% of the entire budget of the Ministry of Transport. If this is counterpart funding from a recapitalised MOFI, why is the money coming from the budget of a federal ministry? Why can’t MOFI raise its counterpart funding from the market? How was the decision arrived at that this is a project to invest federal money into and will such facility be available to other states outside of Lagos?

Similarly, the lavish allocations to the development commissions not only raise similar questions but will likely cause more challenges down the line. The proposed allocations are as follows: N290.99 billion for the North East Development Commission (NEDC); N341.27 billion for the South East Development Commission (SEDC); N498.40 billion for the South West Development Commission (SWDC); N585.93 billion for the North West Development Commission (NWDC); and N776.53 billion for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). For a strange reason, the proposed budgets for these commissions all go to personnel, with zero allocation for overhead and capital (which I think must be a mistake, but it is still rich that such mistakes can make it to such a sacred document).

Beyond being conduits for elite settlement, these commissions have done little to uplift the material conditions of the people in their respective zones. There is nothing in the trajectory of the NDDC or the NEDC to recommend the creation and federal funding of three new zonal commissions. Collectively, these five commissions account for 5% of federal budget. And since the FG is eager to start and fund these commissions, more will be created. The North Central will surely demand what has now become a national cake. It is also not improbable for the Niger Delta to ask for a region-specific commission since NDDC also includes Abia, Imo and Ondo states as oil-producing states. In short order, we may start creating federally funded state development commissions.

On a separate but related note, I have searched unsuccessfully for two items in the current budget documents, as I did in previous main and supplementary budgets: the funding of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the purchase of the presidential jet. Maybe they are tucked somewhere I am yet to get to or maybe they are couched in a way that is not apparent. Anyone who has seen them should kindly share. My interest is not about the utility or the urgency or even the cost of these items.

I am interested in them for two reasons. One, citizens deserve to know how their common wealth is being expended and the processes followed to ensure there is proper value for money. These things should not be a matter of speculations or gossips. Two, no public money should be spent without appropriation and accountability in a democracy. We are not under an absolute monarchy where the king owns all and can whatever he likes. Beyond the concern about the sanctity of the budgeting process, there are higher values of transparency, answerability and democratic stewardship at play here.

These higher values currently seem lost on those constitutionally bestowed with the power of the purse and oversight, but should never be lost on us as citizens. We are citizens, not subjects; and we have a duty to ask pointed questions of those holding power in trust and to always insist that they do better.

So soon after being inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, duty beckoned for Professor Siyan Abdul Ghafar Oyeweso at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State. The horizon blazed forth the shiny future in sync with the global proclamation gender activists that the future is female. Exemplifying instances played out thus: At the first convocation he presided over as the Chair of the University Council and Pro –Chancellor, a female pharmacy graduate, Susan Akinyuwa, emerged as the overall best. She earned 4.97 out of a total 5.0 GP. It’s just the flickers of the future that Professor Siyan Gafar Oyeweso and the rest council members as well as the management and the staff of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife are envisioning.

From the supply side, more like a long term investment, long forgotten, suddenly sprouting dividends, Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, graciously scooped out a whopping N1billion on Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, for the comprehensive renewal of the landscape of the university that used to be reputable as the most beautiful in Africa. It was her own alma mater too, now endowed with a reliable leadership.

It is a leadership characterised by scholarly distinction and one with a trajectory dating back to years of Lagos bond with Nigeria’s first family. Till date, Oyeweso, remains the personality historian to be beaten on such Lagos achievers including the legendary businessman and nature conservationist, Chief SL Edu and of course the author of what has come to be known as New Lagos, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Believing so much in Tinubu, Oyeweso’s two distinct analytical volumes of landmark speeches of former Governor Tinubu remains the inimitable sources of primary data on the political vision of the President now playing out. Yet, there was no iota of the likelihood of any shot at the presidency then. But the historian in Oyeweso has manifested the kind of precision that can only matched by data scientist often aided by programmed machines.

The new team lead at OAU, Oyeweso, has been so unequivocal, even at the risk of being expressly repetitive, declaring his strong intent to bring back the enviable glory of the world class institution dating back to those years the university nurtured him and others to be the best in their respective realms of practice.

A first class history graduate of the then University of Ife, Oyeweso believes so strongly that OAU, his alma mater, cannot, under whatever consideration, be made to be co-habit in the same bracket with low performing or struggling institutions. Oyeweso’s speech at the inaugural meeting of the council he is leading is as declaratory as it is retrospective:

“We pledge our unflinching commitment to the educational agenda of BAT’s Administration. We promise to deliver and we will not fail him… We are here today as co-inheritors of a wonderful heritage that has contributed significantly to our lives and career. I am happy to be here today as friend, partner, and son. I was sired, nurtured and bred here. But today, I am here with you to give back to this Great University all that we can give to ensure a more enduring and vibrant institution. We shall do this together in peace and harmony by the grace of God Almighty. When I entered this university in 1978, I came in with so much joy in my heart and an unusual glint in my eyes, for being counted worthy to come and study in Africa’s most beautiful university campus. But that was not the only reason. By then, Ife products had become famous and vibrant. They showed great elan in whatever they were doing. We wanted to be counted amongst the lot.”

The lull suffered by the entire education sector in Nigeria over time notwithstanding, OAU, according to Oyeweso has remained a most outstanding training hub for ICT in Nigeria even as he acknowledges the innovative drive of the Faculty of Social Science.

In a most convincing demonstration of his familiarity with the situation on the campus of OAU, Oyeweso notes the degeneracy of the hygiene and sanitation in particular. According to him, unlike the good old days characterised by ample water production and supplies all around the campus from a major source, boreholes are now sunk arbitrarily everywhere rendering the campus to possibility of tremor and allied disasters that may derive from such reckless abuse of nature. Many of the roads too are pothole ridden fall easily to torrents of rainfall making them impassable.

For him, universities like OAU, have daunting problems not only because owner governments fail in their duties but because policy implementors too engage either inadequately or wrongly with issues.

Two days ago, mankind celebrated the anniversary of the coming and the unveiling of the Light made manifest in a human being in our midst. I am referring to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of the Most High God, A Part of Him, which explains His Sonship. “The Father is in Me and I am in the Father; the Father and I are One,” He did say. The other Part is the Justice Arm, the Holy Spirit Whose true Identity is veiled to billions of human beings till this day, or so they believe. He is also a Son, the Third Arm, both swinging in Holy Trinity with the Father. Thus, Christ is on the right Hand of God the Father as His Love and the Holy Spirit on the left Hand of the Godhead as His Executive Justice. God is, therefore, both Love and Justice, and Purity.

Jesus was born in Palestine, among the Jews. Ironically, the Palestinians and the Jews have been at each and one another’s throat for centuries, indeed for more than three thousand years. As of now a most devastating, most ruthless war with the most mindless destruction in humans and property as harvests has been raging between the two peoples going to two years. Hardly is it ever remembered that not until the death of Solomon the proverbial wise king and the mounting of the throne by David was Palestine divided into two Kingdoms. Jeroboam founded the Kingdom of Israel with 10 tribes and his brother, Rehoboam established the Kingdom of Judea with two, with Jerusalem as its capital. Bethlehem is in Judea, on the Judean Mountains, six miles (10 kilometres) south of Jerusalem and 45 miles (73 kilometres) northeast of today’s beleaguered Gaza City and the Mediterranean Sea. Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem for census and could not find a more befitting accommodation than the stable. Joseph was able to prove that he was descended from David, and therefore had a share in the ancestral possession of what was called the Davidic family. The property situations in Israel and the Roman census necessitated Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem. It thus came to pass that the Lord Jesus would be born in the City of David.

“But thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel.” The prophecy of Micah (5:2).

Ernest Schmitt writing on the Historical, Political and Religious Aspect of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ states: “Their forefather Abraham was already so far developed spiritually as to be able to receive and hand down to his descendants the revelation of the Supreme and Only God, Jehovah. Through this they were prepared and made ready to receive the Will of God in the form of the Ten Commandments. Those so blest had thus been shown the Light-Way, and had been offered a Covenant, the upholding of which guaranteed them support of all the Laws of Creation that had arisen in the Living Will of God.”

Schmitt goes on: “A chain of spiritual guides strove to preserve among the people the memory of their unique destiny, and the high responsibility arising from it before God and men. Prophets exhorted and warned in fearless dedication. They branded the transgression of the commandments. They roused the people, and untiringly showed them the ruinous consequences of becoming lukewarm and turning away from God.

“The human spirits in whose midst the promised Messiah was to incarnate were carefully led and prepared. According to Eternal Light-Laws this could only happen in the spiritually most highly developed people, who at least to some extent showed certain homogeneity, thus offering a suitable soil to the Light-Anchorage.”

And so Jesus the Lord was born in Bethlehem in Judea. Angels jubilantly accompanied Him and stayed for 40 days. There was rejoicing in the firmament, in all spheres of Creation that help was come, anchored for the redemption and salvation of sinking mankind. The Lord Jesus brought the Truth about life and existence as only He and the Holy Spirit as Parts of the Father could. The picture of what happened on the Holy Night that Christ was born in Bethlehem was captured most glaringly in the unique Work, “In the Light of Truth,” The Grail Message. Because of the uniqueness of that Night’s happening, I wish to copiously extract quotes from The Grail Message of Abd-ru-shin in the hope this will trigger deep reflections. Hitherto, Christmas has been marked more in revelry than beneficial thinking and reflecting even in the face of accelerating spread of devastating mess our world is plunged daily. Why did Christ come? What about his gruesome death on the Cross? Was it a licence for mankind to go on sinning? Questions, questions and questions! It is he who has reservations about life and existence and begins to ask questions that is at the point of seeking the Truth of life!

The Grail Message says of the Night the Lord was born in Bethlehem: “Holy Night! Exultant singing in jubilant gratitude once streamed through all the spheres of Creation when the Son of God Jesus was born in the stable in Bethlehem! And shepherds in the fields, from whose eyes the bandage was removed during the joyous upheaval of the universe, so that they could bear witness to this immense happening and thus call people’s attention to it, fell upon their knees apprehensively because they were overwhelmed by what was so new and incomprehensive to them.

“It was fear on the part of the shepherds, who for this purpose were temporarily made clairvoyant and clairaudient. Fear of the greatness of the happening, of the Omnipotence of God thus made manifest! For this reason the herald from the Luminous Heights first spoke to them reassuringly: “Be not afraid!”

“Whenever a herald from the Luminous Heights speaks to human beings you will ever again find these words, for it is fear that earthmen always perceive first when seeing and hearing heralds from on high. This is called forth by the pressure of the power, to which they are also opened a little in such moments. But only to the smallest part, for anything more would surely smother them.

“And yet it should be joy, not fear, as soon as the spirit of man strives for the Luminous Heights!

“In those days people believed the shepherds, at least for a short period! Today, such people are only derided, considered eccentric, or even as impostors wishing to obtain earthly benefits thereby! For mankind has sunk far too deeply to be still able to accept calls from the Luminous Heights as genuine, especially when they themselves cannot hear or see anything…

“Do you really believe, men, that on account of your great downfall God will now set aside the perfect Laws in Creation just to serve you, to bridge over your faults Himself, and to balance your spiritual indolence? The Perfection of His Laws in Creation is and will always remain inviolable, immutable; for they bear the Holy Will of God!”

In the spirit of questioning, my colleague and friend, Femi Kusa with whom a great many would take oath that I share the same world view, was to forward his contemplation about this season to me to reinforce the imperative of deep reflection, which I find thought-provoking for wider reflection. In what he captions Christmas: Some thoughtful questions, he writes:

Every Christmas season, as in every Easter season, I retreat from bread and butter life, including revelry, to retreat as well in spirit as a Christian, ask myself certain questions and deepen my recognitions of faith. Over the years, I have found that the same questions or similar ones have not left many Christians in peace in whose souls and spirit kernels the longing for the Truth still burns bright. I feel inwardly urged to share some of these questions today.

Question: Where did this Star, The Star of Bethlehem, come from? If it was one of the stars in the firmament, with a defined orbit, why has  it not returned since Jesus ascended to Heaven?

Answer: The Star of Bethlehem did not come from our Universe, Ephesus, which is one of the seven universes in the world. In Creation “geography”, the world is not our earth. It comprises those regions and spheres of existence which lie between the lowest realm of Paradise and our earth. It is a training ground for human spirit seed germs sent out of Paradise to gather experience which will make them mature enough during their wandering for re-admission to Paradise as useful Human Spirit Beings. The world comprises seven universes of which our own is one. It is to them that John the Baptist’s address in the Book of Revelation is directed when he says: ”To the seven churches of Asia”. He did not mean a Christian organization and a continent on earth. Here churches refer to the seven universes of the world, and Asia is the spiritual name for the world. The Star of Bethlehem came from the highest of the 14 spiritual realms known as Paradise. If we perfect ourselves on earth to become Human Spirit Beings, we would be admitted to the lowest of these 14 spiritual realms. The Spiritual Beings in the seven highest realms never had to come to the world or to the earth to mature. They are the Primordial Beings created by God in His Image. We human beings on earth are to develop after their likeness. We are not the direct Creation of God Who, being Perfection, can never create imperfection.

The Star of Bethlehem is not part of our universe, Ephesus or from any other. Rather, it came from the highest Spiritual Realm of Paradise to usher in on earth the Age of the Son or Age of the Love of God, Jesus. It brought greetings from the Almighty Father to His Son on earth. The Age before that one was the Age of the Father, dated from the time of Abraham when humanity on earth had become mature enough to come to the recognition of the One Supreme God. This was after a step by step recognition of Nature Beings, elemental beings, Lords of the Elementals and Spiritual (Created or Developed) Beings. Each Age is subject to the Law of the Cycle. Every event in our personal lives is a cycle, the time it opens and the time it ends, like day and night or birth and death. Time is allotted to everything. The coming into being of the earth is also an event which has a terminal period in the Law of the Cycle.

As the closing of the cycle of Earth approached, and with many of us still trapped in earthly enjoyments and lusts with the possibility of our being lost in the inevitable dissolution of the Earth under this Law, The Love of God became substantiate in the Person of the Lord Jesus to forewarn us of the impending doom and to teach us what we had to do to escape damnation. There was jubilation in Paradise when this Divine Mission was announced to the inhabitants, the clarified, perfected Spirits. On their own, they had been of not much help in the various missions of the Prophets. In Paradise, many spiritual Beings volunteered to support the Divine Mission. They were specially chosen, anointed and prepared for their tasks in their duty posts. 

The Grail Message says, for example: “the Star became physically visible, but nobody on earth saw this luminous herald and the luminous hosts surrounding him. None saw and heard this but the few shepherds chosen for the purpose, who through their simplicity and close connection with Nature could be most easily opened to receive it. 

“And such great revelations on earth can never take place other than through a few chosen for the purpose! Remember this always!”     

The Mission was a sort of “war”, though peaceful, to salvage humanity from fallen Lucifer (the fallen Archangel) who was misleading them toward perdition. War because the political and priestly establishments or their agents lay in wait in nearly every place—those He said would not go in and would not allow others to do so, blocking ways with creeds!

Four Wise Men, each representing a Pillar of Creation were chosen. Remember the four Winged Animal Beings at the foot of God’s Throne! The Four Wise Men were prepared to recognise The Star of Bethlehem in the sky over Bethlehem as Greetings from the Father to His Son on Earth. They were also endowed with property and influence and were to always, protecting, be around Him. Three of them made it to Bethlehem when the Star shone. The fourth was unable to immediately able to join them. By the time he arrived in Bethlehem, the three had been done with Baby Jesus, abandoned their duty post, gone to King Herod to announce what they were to have kept a secret from him, inadvertently setting up a chain of reactions in which several newborn male children were killed in King Herod’s lust for power, ignited from the background by Lucifer. Meanwhile, Joseph, advised by an Angel in a Vision, had taken Mary and Baby Jesus in hiding in Egypt. All these events teach us Christians and persons in other religions who stand in serious duty posts to never lower their guards.

Meanwhile, the Star of Bethlehem returned to its Home in Paradise. The cycle of events It opened on Earth about three thousand years ago will be closed by the Great Comet, another Spiritual Star from the same Origin, the same Height. The Great Comet will open the cycle of the Age of the Holy Spirit. The Great Comet is exactly of the same nature as the Star of Bethlehem. While the Star of Bethlehem heralded love, this time the Great Comet is heralding the judgment as the Handmaiden of the Holy Spirit Who is the Justice of the Almighty God. “The Star takes its course in a straight line from the Eternal Realm” of Primordial Spirit. Its core is filled with high spiritual power. Its first direct effects have already begun such as the extra-ordinary events of these times. We are told the Great Comet would suck up waters of the earth ‘’high up’’, create flooding even in unusual places, cause catastrophic climate changes, cause lands to sink and sunken lands to rise, overturn every wrong principles and more.  Several predictions of this Age have been made. The Lord Jesus forewarned us of the Task of the Holy Spirit when He said this Personality we little understand would not forgive sins against Him whereas the Father and the Love of God, Jesus, would forgive sins against them. This should forewarn us that the Holy Spirit created the World and will judge it according to law, however we may have deluded ourselves with teachings that the Blood of Jesus had washed us clean of our sins. Did the parables of the Lord Jesus say such a thing? Does the Revelation not say we have to wash our dirty linen clean? “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the city by the gates. (Rev. 22: 14). Thou shall not get out of thence until thou hath paid the last farthing! 

Questions, questions and questions and misconceptions, all of which we must be able to clear up convincingly if we must make progress in our quest and ascent to the Spiritual Realm, Paradise, the destination of our return journey back Home.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

God’s Truth as a Defense: Farotimi Appeals for Divine Reckoning on Bola Tinubu, Afe Babalola, CJN, Ekiti Magistrate, Ekiti Police Commissioner, Nigeria’s IGP, and Other Oppressive Leaders Defying Justice and Fairness

During the sacred season of Christmas, Dele Farotimi’s powerful declarations take on profound spiritual significance as he places his faith in God to confront the systemic oppression he describes as Nigeria’s “evil empire.” Without directly naming his plea, Farotimi invokes the Almighty to act against entrenched powers that perpetuate injustice and suffering, turning to divine intervention as the ultimate reckoning for a system that thrives on corruption and cruelty.

With the resounding statement, “God told me that the truth is enough. It is the only weapon with which you can slay the monster called Nigeria under Tinubu,” Farotimi shifts the fight from human hands to divine judgment. Referencing the themes in his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, his call resonates with those abandoned by leadership and systems that prioritize power over humanity, subtly asking for God to bring the sorrow, reckoning, and justice that earthly institutions under oppressive and evil leaders have failed to provide. Farotimi’s plea reflects the collective yearning for accountability and hope in a higher power to dismantle a system built on oppression.

Invoking Divine Justice Against an Oppressive System

In a fearless and spiritually charged declaration during the sacred Christmas season, human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi placed his faith in God to bring justice to those he described as architects of Nigeria’s “evil empire.” His words, resonating with the themes of hope, truth, and redemption, invoked divine intervention to confront the oppressive powers that have sought to silence him.

“God told me that the truth is enough. It is the only weapon with which you can slay the monster called Nigeria under Tinubu, which is the truth,” Farotimi proclaimed. These words carried profound spiritual weight as Farotimi entrusted his fight to the Almighty, implicitly calling on God to hold accountable President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, legal luminary Afe Babalola, Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Ekiti State Police Commissioner, and the magistrate presiding over his case.

The Nigeria Evil Game: Gagging Truth but Not God

As part of their coordinated strategy to suppress him, Farotimi was subjected to harsh bail conditions, including a directive from the magistrate that he refrain from speaking to the media—a blatant attempt to muzzle his voice. Yet, Farotimi made it clear that while these powers may try to gag him, they cannot silence God. His defiance of their oppressive tactics reflected a belief that divine truth and justice cannot be restrained by human edicts.

He seems to be saying: “These powers can try to gag me, but they cannot gag God,” Farotimi implied as he spoke boldly of divine consequences. By invoking the Almighty, he shifted the burden of justice from flawed human institutions to a higher, incorruptible authority. His words called for God to bring relentless pain, unending sorrow, and devastating reckoning to those who perpetuate injustice. Farotimi’s invocation extended to the hope that those responsible would face anguish that pierces their comfort, despair that dismantles their strongholds, and ruin that reveals the depth of their corruption. His plea reflected a belief that divine power not only surpasses the reach of oppressive earthly systems but obliterates them with consequences they cannot escape. His implicit plea for divine intervention underscored an unshakable faith that no earthly power could withstand the unyielding force of truth when wielded by a power greater than all.

An Ordeal of Systemic Oppression and Divine Reckoning

Farotimi’s ordeal highlights the extraordinary and alarming lengths to which these powers have gone to silence him over a civil matter of alleged defamation or cybercrime. Stemming from his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, Farotimi was forcibly taken from his Lagos law office in a dramatic abduction orchestrated by the Ekiti State Police Commissioner, acting under the supervision of the Inspector General of Police (IGP). Held without bail for nearly four weeks, his persecution intensified with efforts to strip him of his law license. In an act widely condemned as excessive and unjust, the magistrate, responding to what critics have deemed a ludicrous request, issued a restraining order banning his book entirely. This chain of events exemplifies the oppressive measures wielded to suppress dissent and silence truth, all under the pretense of upholding the law.

Despite these oppressive measures, Farotimi placed his fight in the hands of God, asking for divine justice to bring sorrow and retribution to those aligned against him. His faith was not merely a personal solace but a declaration that the consequences for such systemic evil would come directly from God.

“Let God Bring Pain and Sorrow”: A Call for Divine Consequences

Farotimi’s implicit plea was not for human retaliation but for God to act decisively against his oppressors. “God, deal with them with pain, sorrow, and terrible effect,” he seemed to say, as he confronted the entrenched forces of oppression. He did not mince words in suggesting that the reckoning would be severe—measured in sorrow, despair, and divine retribution for those who wield power to silence truth.

This was not a wish for simple punishment but a call for transformative pain—one that would expose the lies, break the systems of oppression, and bring unbearable consequences to those who believe they are untouchable. His words carried the weight of a man certain that the Almighty would ensure justice in ways no earthly system could resist or contain.

Christmas as a Season of Truth and God’s Judgement

Farotimi’s declaration during the Christmas season lent his message a profound spiritual resonance. This sacred time, dedicated to the triumph of light over darkness and truth over lies, underscored the depth of his faith in divine justice. By invoking God during this season, Farotimi aligned his struggle with the universal themes of renewal and moral reckoning, presenting his fight as part of a greater spiritual battle.

His words reflected the belief that God’s judgment would strike where it was most needed: dismantling the systems of oppression and bringing sorrow to those who use power for evil. The Christmas spirit amplified his call, reminding all that divine justice cannot be delayed or denied. Farotimi’s faith in this ultimate reckoning was a rallying cry for those left broken by a system that thrives on their suffering.

Tinubu’s Endorsement of Injustice Leaves Families Homeless

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s public praise for FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, despite the latter’s widely condemned actions of demolishing homes sometimes without due process, reflects a chilling indifference to the plight of Nigeria’s most vulnerable. Entire families, including children, have been rendered homeless under policies that prioritize power over people. This blatant disregard for justice and humanity underscores the systemic evil that Dele Farotimi has courageously spoken against.

For families forced into the streets, with their lives reduced to rubble, Farotimi’s plea for God’s intervention becomes not just justified but urgent. His call for divine justice to strike these oppressors with sorrow, pain, and reckoning is a reflection of a nation’s despair as its leaders fail to protect the most basic rights of its citizens. Tinubu’s endorsement of such inhumane acts further cements the narrative of a governance model steeped in oppression, making Farotimi’s reliance on divine justice a powerful symbol for the oppressed.

Families Betrayed, A Nation Turns to God

The demolition of homes without due process, the rising insecurity, and the crushing poverty inflicted by government policies have left families across Nigeria with no hope in human institutions. These actions betray not just individual lives but the very fabric of a society that should protect its most vulnerable.

As Farotimi declared, “We have only God.” His plea for divine justice, for God to bring devastating consequences to those who wield power to harm, echoes the cries of children and families abandoned by a system designed to oppress. Farotimi’s unwavering faith in divine reckoning offers a glimmer of hope for those left homeless and hopeless, a belief that the Almighty will intervene to dismantle a system steeped in cruelty and corruption.

By highlighting the failures of leadership and the unchecked abuse of power, Farotimi has drawn a line between earthly oppression and divine accountability. His trust in God’s judgment as the ultimate force to bring sorrow and justice upon the oppressors reflects a profound conviction that truth and faith will prevail where human systems have failed.

Inhuman Indifference: Tinubu’s Response to Stampede Tragedies

Farotimi’s plea for divine justice finds greater resonance in light of President Tinubu’s response to the recent stampedes that left over 60 people, including children, dead during palliative distributions. Tinubu shifted the blame to the “poor organisation” of these events, ignoring the deeper root causes—his administration’s harsh policies, including the removal of fuel subsidies, that have driven millions into extreme hunger and desperation.

Describing the incidents as “a grave error” by the organisers, Tinubu failed to acknowledge that it is his own governance that has forced Nigerians into such desperate conditions. His remarks, focusing on organisational failures and comparisons to structured food banks in developed nations, revealed an alarming indifference to the suffering caused by his policies.

Farotimi’s call for divine reckoning becomes a reflection of the collective anger and sorrow of a nation betrayed by its leaders. As leadership shifts blame while ignoring its role in creating this tragedy, Farotimi’s invocation of God’s justice stands as a powerful demand for accountability where human systems have failed.

A Divine Reckoning for the Oppressors

Farotimi’s plea is not merely a call for relief but a demand for divine retribution to confront those aligned with systemic injustice. His reliance on God to bring sorrow and pain to the perpetrators of oppression is a reflection of his unwavering faith that no human power can escape the consequences of divine justice. His words serve as a rallying cry for the oppressed to place their trust in God’s ability to right the wrongs inflicted by the powerful.

Faith Over Fear: Resisting Evil with Divine Power

Farotimi’s steadfast reliance on God in the face of systemic evil exemplifies courage and faith. Despite the coordinated attempts to silence him, he stands firm, trusting that the Almighty will deliver justice in ways that human systems cannot obstruct. His implicit call for divine intervention is a declaration that truth, guided by God, is the ultimate force for dismantling oppression.

The Spirit of Christmas: Justice Through God’s Hand

As the Christmas season reminds us of the power of faith, truth, and redemption, Farotimi’s reliance on divine justice serves as a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit. His fight transcends personal grievances, becoming a broader call for God to illuminate the darkest corners of society and hold the oppressors accountable.

Farotimi’s words, steeped in faith and conviction, embody the belief that divine power will triumph over human injustice. His defiance stands as a powerful reminder that while human systems may try to suppress truth, they cannot escape the consequences of divine reckoning. Neither Farotimi nor this writer is directly asking for God’s punishment on these Nigerian powers that be; rather, it is a plea for God to observe and ensure justice unfolds, especially when justice appears unattainable from these powers. In his plea for God’s intervention, the spirit of Christmas finds profound expression—a call for sorrow and pain to be visited upon the oppressors as justice is delivered through God’s hand.

The Federal Government of Nigeria strongly rejects allegations made in a viral video by the military leader of Niger Republic, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, claiming non-existent collusion between Nigeria and France to destabilize his country.

A statement by Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Thursday said the claims exist solely in the realm of imagination.

He stressed that Nigeria had never engaged in any overt or covert alliance with France – or any other country – to sponsor terrorist attacks or destabilize the Niger Republic in the wake of the undemocratic change in the leadership of that country.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), as Chairman of ECOWAS, has demonstrated exemplary leadership, keeping the doors of the sub-regional body open to re-engaging Niger Republic despite the political situation in the country. Nigeria remains committed to fostering peace, harmony, and historic diplomatic ties with Niger, according to the Minister.

The statement adds, “Nigeria’s Armed Forces, in collaboration with partners in the Multinational Joint Task Force, are succeeding in curbing terrorism within the region. It is, therefore, absurd to suggest that Nigeria would conspire with any foreign power to undermine the peace and security of a neighbouring country.

“Neither the Nigerian government nor any of its officials has ever been involved in arming or supporting any terror group to attack Niger Republic. Furthermore, no part of Nigeria has been ceded to any foreign power for subversive operations in Niger Republic.

“We reiterate our full support to senior Nigerian government officials for their untiring commitment to fostering peace and security between the government and people of Nigeria and Niger, and for their efforts towards stronger cooperation in the ECOWAS region.”

Indeed, Nigeria has a long-standing tradition of safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Unlike some nations, Nigeria has never permitted foreign powers to establish military bases on its soil. This demonstrates the country’s commitment to national independence and regional leadership.

Mr. Idris described the accusation that Nigeria seeks to sabotage Niger’s pipelines and agriculture as both unfounded and counterproductive.

He said Nigeria has consistently supported Niger’s economic development through joint energy and infrastructure projects, such as the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and the Kano-Maradi Railway Project. “It is illogical to suggest that Nigeria would undermine initiatives it has actively promoted,”

The claims about the alleged establishment of a so-called Lakurawa terrorist headquarters in Sokoto State, purportedly orchestrated by Nigeria in collaboration with France, are baseless, he added.

Note that Nigeria has been a regional leader in combating terrorism, dedicating significant resources and lives to ensure stability in the Lake Chad Basin and beyond.

Recently, the Nigerian military launched Operation Forest Sanity III, specifically addressing the Lakurawa threat, Code Named Operation Chase Lakurawa Out.

The Nigerian government thus wonders how a government actively fighting the Lakurawa menace can now be accused of harbouring the same group within its borders.

The government insists these accusations lack credible evidence and seem to be part of a broader attempt to deflect attention from Niger’s internal challenges.

The statement further read: “The public is urged to disregard these false allegations. Those making such claims, particularly the Military Leader in Niger Republic, must provide credible evidence to substantiate them. Any attempt to blackmail Nigeria over ECOWAS’s principled stance against the unconstitutional seizure of power in the Niger Republic is both disingenuous and doomed to fail.

“In conclusion, President Tchiani’s allegations are not only unfounded but also a dangerous attempt to divert attention from his administration’s shortcomings.

“Nigeria remains committed to fostering regional stability and will continue to lead efforts to address terrorism and other transnational challenges. We urge Niger to focus on constructive dialogue and collaboration rather than peddling baseless accusations.”

[businessmetricsng]

Nigerien military leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani has raised fresh allegations against the Federal Government of Nigeria.

But the Nigerian government has countered the claims, saying they were nothing but tissues of lies.

The recent development has further strained the delicate relationship between Nigeria and its closest neighbour, Niger, and by extension, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Tchiani, in an interview with Radio-Télévision du Niger, the country’s state media, on Wednesday night, accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of conniving with France to destabilise Niger Republic.

But the Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the allegations as baseless.

Earlier last Friday, the Nigerien authorities had alleged that the Lakurawa terrorist group, with the help of foreign security forces, including Nigeria’s, were responsible for the attack on the Niger-Benin oil pipeline on December 13, 2024 in Gaya, Dosso Region of Niger Republic.

But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had debunked the allegation and assured that Nigeria would continue to explore peaceful means to maintain its cordial relationship with Niger for the benefit of the people of both nations.

Nigeria and other members of the ECOWAS had imposed sanctions on Niger and mulled a military action to restore constitutional order in the country following the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023.

New claims

Tchiani, in his fresh allegations, some of them so grievous to be mentioned, said France promised to give Tinubu a certain amount of money in exchange for him ceding an area in Borno State for French military deployment.

He said: “President Tinubu should come out and tell Nigerians how much he collected from France. If he refuses to do so, there will be a day of reckoning. Allah is watching.

“ECOWAS has been out of control. It has merely become a puppet of the French authorities. France dictates to it as it pleases. This is because the leaders of ECOWAS countries are power-hungry people.

“From the Nigerian president to those of Benin, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire — they all go to France whenever elections are around. They go and bow before Macron to ask for funds to contest again. Do you have the temerity to say no to the person who gave you money?”

Tchiani also alleged that French military personnel were present on an island known as Kurnawa, as well as in places like Tangarwa and Dogon Chuku.

“We repatriated two French officials who had relocated to Nigeria. They were warmly accepted by Nigeria. They provide training to terrorists,” he alleged in the widely circulated videos.

He also alleged that France designated an area as ‘Canada’, recruited many Nigerians and enlisted them with the tacit knowledge of Nigerian authorities.

Tchiani accused France of arming Boko Haram fighters in the Lake Chad region with anti-aircraft weapons in order to combat Chadian forces.

He alleged that when France realised that Chadian forces were using airstrikes against Boko Haram, they armed the sect members with ground-to-air weapons so that they could bring down Chadian military aircrafts.

“The weapons were delivered on October 16. France has a base in Lake Chad. The reports we gathered from high-profile terrorists in our detention facilities revealed a sinister plan.

“And by the way, Nigerian authorities are not unaware of this underhanded move. It is near a forest close to Sokoto where they wanted to establish a terrorist stronghold known as Lakurawa. The French and ISWAP made this deal on March 4, 2024.

He also mentioned names of some high profile government officials, including those not government. Daily Trust could not reach out to them for their side of the story.

The Nigerien leader said: “We explained the French’s sinister tactics to him (a former official of Nigerian government). He promised to send a team of intelligence officers, who arrived in Niger, and we financed their entire operation. They had interactive sessions with various terrorists detained in our facilities. The terrorists revealed French motives against Nigeria. He, himself, was involved in financing terrorist training in different locations, including in the Central African Republic.”

Tchiani further alleged that another key figure in Nigerian government was also aware of the situation, but they remained silent and refused to act.

“We did all of this out of brotherhood with Nigeria. Alas, we didn’t realise that Nigeria’s decline came from the leadership, until later.”

He said Niger decided to take “decisive action against the French conspiracy, as well as deal with the Lakurawa group, which was reportedly positioned in neighbouring countries to launch attacks on Niger’s oil pipeline facilities.”

They’re tissues of lies – FG

Reacting yesterday, the Information Minister, Idris, said the allegations by Tchiani existed solely in the realm of imagination as Nigeria had never engaged in any overt or covert alliance with France or any other country to sponsor terrorist attacks or destabilise the Niger Republic in the wake of the undemocratic change in the leadership of that country.

He said President Tinubu, as chairman of ECOWAS, had demonstrated exemplary leadership, keeping the doors of the sub-regional body open to re-engaging Niger Republic despite the political situation in the country.

Idris said Nigeria remained committed to fostering peace, harmony, and historic diplomatic ties with Niger.

He said Nigeria’s Armed Forces, in collaboration with partners in the Multinational Joint Task Force, were succeeding in curbing terrorism within the region.

According to the minister, it is, therefore, absurd to suggest that Nigeria would conspire with any foreign power to undermine the peace and security of a neighbouring country.

He also said neither the Nigerian government nor any of its officials had ever been involved in arming or supporting any terror group to attack Niger Republic.

He also emphasised that no part of Nigeria had been ceded to any foreign power for subversive operations in Niger Republic.

“We reiterate our full support to senior Nigerian government officials for their untiring commitment to fostering peace and security between the government and people of Nigeria and Niger, and for their efforts towards stronger cooperation in the ECOWAS region.

“Indeed, Nigeria has a long-standing tradition of safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Unlike some nations, Nigeria has never permitted foreign powers to establish military bases on its soil. This demonstrates our commitment to national independence and regional leadership,” Idris stated.

The minister said the accusation that Nigeria sought to sabotage Niger’s pipelines and agriculture was both unfounded and counterproductive.

“Nigeria has consistently supported Niger’s economic development through joint energy and infrastructure projects, such as the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and the Kano-Maradi Railway Project. It is illogical to suggest that Nigeria would undermine initiatives it has actively promoted,” he added.

He also said the claims about the alleged establishment of a so-called Lakurawa terrorist headquarters in Sokoto State, purportedly orchestrated by Nigeria in collaboration with France, were baseless.

He noted that Nigeria has been a regional leader in combating terrorism, dedicating significant resources and lives to ensure stability in the Lake Chad Basin and beyond.

“Recently, the Nigerian military launched Operation Forest Sanity III, specifically addressing the Lakurawa threat, Code Named Operation Chase Lakurawa Out. How can a government actively fighting the Lakurawa menace now be accused of harbouring the same group within its borders? These accusations lack credible evidence and seem to be part of a broader attempt to deflect attention from Niger’s internal challenges,” he said.

Urging the public to disregard these false allegations, Idris said those making such claims, particularly the military leader in Niger Republic, must provide credible evidence to substantiate them.

The minister warned that any attempt to blackmail Nigeria over ECOWAS’s principled stance against the unconstitutional seizure of power in the Niger Republic is both disingenuous and doomed to fail.

He said Tchiani’s allegations were not only unfounded but also a dangerous attempt to divert attention from his administration’s shortcomings.

He said Nigeria remained committed to fostering regional stability and would continue to lead efforts to address terrorism and other transnational challenges.

The minister said Nigeria urged Niger Republic to focus on constructive dialogue and collaboration rather than peddle baseless accusations.

Foreign affairs ministry speaks

Similarly, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Acting Head, Crisis Monitoring and Public Communication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described Tchiani’s allegations as completely false.

“We share a lot of common history and Nigeria is committed to resolving the withdrawal from ECOWAS by Niger, Mali and Burkina-Faso. So, we don’t want any additional issues that will strain that process. Nigeria has never been known as a terrorist sponsor. We have been fighting Boko Haram for many years now and we have been committed to peacekeeping efforts in different parts of the world.

“There has been no instance whereby Nigeria has been linked to any terrorist group all over the world. We condemn the activities of terrorists within our boundaries and we can’t support the activities of terrorists outside the borders of Nigeria. So, the allegations by the Nigerien government are not true at all,” he said.

Northern group urges N/Assembly to probe Tchiani’s allegations

Earlier yesterday, the League of Northern Democrats (LND), led by former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, urged the National Assembly to, as a matter of national concern, immediately constitute an investigative committee to probe the claims thoroughly.

The LND, in a statement by its spokesperson,   Ladan Salihu, said notwithstanding the poor diplomatic relations between Niger on the one hand and France and Nigeria on the other, the allegations by Tchiani were too significant to be ignored as mere international politics.

It said a transparent investigation would address the concerns of Nigerians citizens and demonstrate the nation’s commitment to honest leadership, peace and the preservation of its security, sovereignty and integrity in the international arena.

“Considering the severe impact of Boko Haram’s insurgency on Northern Nigeria, these claims demand a transparent and immediate response from the Nigerian government to uphold national security and restore public trust.

“More so, with the current unusually close and intense personal and governmental relationship between President Tinubu and France, including signing of bilateral agreements, there are reasons to believe these accusations.

The league urged the government to provide the nation-especially the North that is bearing the brunt of the insurgency – with concrete, cogent and verifiable evidence refuting or clarifying these allegations.

“Their silence risks further eroding the confidence of the people, most especially northerners. The government must clearly articulate its position, ensuring that no Nigerian official is unfairly implicated in activities undermining our nation’s sovereignty and stability,” he said.

[DailyTrust]

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed insisted on Thursday that President Bola Tinubu’s tax policies are anti-northern Nigeria and will not favour the region.

The governor made this known when he received the Christian community in Bauchi State, who visited him at the Government House.

Mohammed, who doubles as the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors Forum, said the tax reform bills that are currently before the National Assembly are skewed to favour only one section of the country.

According to him, the President should drop the tax reform bills.

He noted that the bills are not good for Northern Nigeria because they will not guarantee inflows to pay salaries and build roads.

“That is why the presidency must listen to the cries about tax reform.

“It is not a good policy for northern Nigeria because we are not going to get money to pay your salaries or to do roads.

“They must listen; otherwise, they are calling for anarchy. And that is not good.

“We voted for the presidency in this state and other states; they must listen to us. They must not come up with policies that favour only one section of the country or even one state in the country.

“It is not about religion; it is not about tribe; it is about national unity; it is about national hegemony, and this is what we are all about: good leadership,” he said.

DAILY POST reports that President Tinubu, during his first Presidential Media Chat, insisted that the tax reform bills have come to stay.

According to him, the tax reform bills are necessary to retool the country’s economy.

Recall that the tax reform bills were rejected by Northern governors and the National Economic Council.

Since its transmission to the National Assembly, the bills have continued to generate mixed reactions.

[DailyPost]

All DStv customers will have free access to all DStv channels from Dec. 27 to 29, regardless of their current subscription package.

This is contained in a statement on Thursday by MultiChoice Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seasonal offer is open to all DStv subscribers.

The statement read in part: “No Subscription, No Problem! Switch on your DStv decoder for a gift like no other this festive season, 72 hours of all content, all channels, all on us!

“As we wind down the year and celebrate the holidays, DStv is happy to announce that we are making this December one to remember.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission is contemplating a policy to withdraw and destroy Permanent Voter Cards that remain uncollected for a decade, The PUNCH has learnt.

This recommendation was among 208 proposals arising from the commission’s review of the 2023 general elections.

The move stemmed from the persistent issue of unclaimed PVCs, with over six million cards still uncollected as of the 2023 elections, including many issued as far back as 2015.

Stakeholders in the post-election review recommended that INEC address the backlog of uncollected PVCs by implementing a policy to withdraw PVCs that remain uncollected for extended periods, starting with cards issued in 2015. 

“Following the publication of the Register of Voters, the commission made available the PVCs for collection by voters on December 12, 2022. The exercise was initially planned to end on the 22nd of January 2023. However, the fact that a huge number of registered voters had yet to collect their PVCs forced the commission to extend the deadline to the 5th of February 2023 after devolving the collection to the ward level between January 6-15, 2023 to ease the process.

“The low rate of PVC collection and other related challenges are illustrative of the problem of processing and managing voters in Nigeria. To increase the rate of collection of PVCs, the commission implemented a policy that made it possible for voters to locate their PVCs online and subsequently pick them up. Several CSOs supported the commission’s drive to increase PVC collection by working with INEC’s state/FCT Offices to record all uncollected PVCs and to inform their owners where and how to collect them.

“With support from the development partners, some of the CSOs also created information centres in selected states and the FCT to assist voters locate and collect their PVCs. Despite these efforts, over six million PVCs remained uncollected, many of them dating back to 2015.

Consequently, one recommendation from the review was that the commission should consider withdrawing PVCs issued in 2015 since it is not clear if the owners will ever collect them,” INEC said.

Also, the commission proposed plans to modernise Nigeria’s electoral process, including the gradual phase-out of PVCs and the introduction of diaspora voting.

It was explained that with the adoption of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, PVCs may no longer be necessary for voter accreditation. Instead, voters could use computer-generated slips or credentials downloaded from the commission’s website.

“Unlike the SCR, the voters’ register is now resident in the BVAS. The new device does not read and extract voters’ details from the PVC. Moreover, the Electoral Act 2022 has made biometric accreditation (fingerprint or facial) mandatory for voting.

“The utility of the PVC is now limited to voter identification. It is therefore possible to identify voters using their registration slips which obviates the need for PVCs, the cost of producing them, the logistics for their distribution and the fact that voters without them are unable to vote, thus raising serious issues of disenfranchisement. With the BVAS, voters can be identified using their registration slips otherwise known as the Temporary Voter’s Card and accredited biometrically without the need for a plastic PVC.

“However, such a step requires the amendment of Section 47(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which makes the presentation of the card (PVC) to the PO at the PU mandatory before accreditation and voting,” the recommendation said.

Political parties divided

 Political parties in the country hold differing opinions about INEC’s plan to destroy uncollected PVCs.

In an interview with The PUNCH,  the National Legal Adviser of the Labour Party, Kehinde Edun, believed that the initiative was in order, stressing that there was a need to declutter the voters register, especially if it is confirmed that many of those registered have died.

He said, “I am sure most of those uncollected PVCs must have been as a result of irregularities in the process of registration and all that. If truly people register to vote and register as eligible electorate, they must have collected over a long period, after being given enough time.

“But I believe no system is perfect. So I think destroying them may be in order. If people have not collected over a long period, there is a likelihood those lapses were the result of some irregularities in the process of registration.”

But the Peoples Democratic Party raised a concern that destroying uncollected PVCs could be another ploy by INEC to distract Nigerians.

The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, who spoke to The PUNCH, said INEC had given Nigerians enough reasons to be suspicious.

He asserted that people refused to collect the PVCs because they had lost faith in INEC to make their votes count during elections.

Osadolor said, “How do you contemplate destroying cards produced with billions of taxpayers’ money because INEC has failed the credibility and integrity test that has made millions of Nigerians lose faith in the commission’s ability to organise free, fair and credible elections?

“I urge INEC to, as a matter of immediate action, begin an image laundering and rebranding campaign to convince Nigerians and stakeholders that the commission is ready to be truly independent in spelling, actions and character.”

Also,  the New Nigeria People’s Party advised INEC to reconsider the plan to destroy PVCs.

The National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, said destroying over six million voter cards would amount to sheer waste of money.

He said, “If people register and haven’t come to collect over a long period of time unless they know those people have passed on, I think the cards should not be destroyed as long as they are in safekeeping.

“If you destroy about six million PVCs, and all of a sudden, some of the owners show up and want to vote, it will cost God-knows-how-much to register them again. It’s a waste of money.”

SANs back INEC

However, some Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who spoke to The PUNCH backed INEC to destroy the uncollected PVCs, asserting that there are no legal impediments.

A former Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), said some of the uncollected PVCs were likely products of double registration.

“They (uncollected PVCs) are taking space. My suspicion is that the owners don’t exist. It is double fraudulent registration by a lot of people. Just as I am sure that we are not up to 200 million neither do I believe that we are up to 90 million registered voters when only 20 percent of that is always voting. There is a lot of fake information and fake facts in this country and I’m sure this is part of it. So, let them destroy the uncollected PVCs,” he said.

Sharing a similar view, another SAN, Sam Erugo, said, “The PVCs have been uncollected over time, so I don’t see anything wrong in them destroying them because not collecting them means something is definitely wrong with the owners. Either they are dead or they are duplication. Now, that brings the question whether eligible voters have voters card or that will will impede their right to vote or not. That is a different question altogether but if they have uncollected voter cards, of course, they have a right to destroy them because that will help stop people from using them to rig elections. Given that they are uncollected, they are useless already and money has been wasted already.”

But Paul Obi (SAN) differed, calling for greater awareness instea of rushing to destroy the PVCs.

“What is the basis for destroying six million voters cards?” he queries. “Even if they are uncollected, they belong to Nigerians who are also supposed to use them in the next election and they spent money in producing them.

[Punch]