The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as the substantive Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, alongside six other ministerial nominees in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffle.

The confirmations followed the dismissal of several ministers by Tinubu on October 21, 2024.

In addition to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Senate approved Dr. Jumoke Oduwole as Minister of Industry, Trade, and Development, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, and Muhammadu Dingyadi as Minister of Labour and Employment.

The chamber also confirmed Idi Muktar Maiha as Minister of Livestock Development, Yusuf Ata as Minister of State for Housing, and Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad as Minister of State for Education.

Following approximately five hours of screening, the nominees were confirmed by a voice vote led by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Each nominee outlined their plans to advance their respective ministries, discussing reforms and goals to enhance Nigeria’s development.

After the recent handover process, the confirmation marks a fresh chapter for several ministries.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Iman Sulaiman-Ibrahim, assumed office on Monday, succeeding Uju Kennedy Ohanenye.

The Ministry of Tourism also transitioned leadership, with former Minister Lola Ade-John handing over to the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy.

The Senate had earlier suspended its procedural rules following a motion by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele to admit Basheer Lado, Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, who accompanied the nominees into the plenary.

Naija News understands that the confirmed ministers will be sworn-in by President Bola Tinubu, thereby giving them the right to attend the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

The next weekly FEC meeting is expected to hold on Monday, 4th of November, with a fresh view after the reshuffling of cabinet during the last meeting.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

Oluyede will serve in the capacity of COAS until the return of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who is currently unwell and undergoing treatment overseas.

President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed this development in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

“Oluyede will act in the position pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja,” the statement read.

Prior to his recent appointment, Oluyede held the position of the 56th Commander of the prestigious Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, located in Jaji, Kaduna.

At the age of 56, Oluyede was a coursemate of Lagbaja, both having been part of the 39th Regular Course.

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992, with an effective date of 1987, and achieved the rank of Major-General in September 2020.

Throughout his career, Oluyede has undertaken numerous command roles since his commissioning as an officer.

His positions have included Platoon Commander and adjutant at the 65 Battalion, Company Commander at the 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer for the Guards Brigade, and Commandant of the Amphibious Training School.

General Oluyede has been involved in various operations, such as the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East theatre, where he led the 27 Task Force Brigade.

He has received numerous accolades for his distinguished service across different operational fields, including the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, successful completion of the Staff Course, and membership in the National Institute.

The Senate, yesterday, screened and confirmed the appointment of the seven ministerial nominees sent to it by President Bola Tinubu last week Thursday.

The screening of the nominees and their approval was done at the committee of the whole while their appointments were confirmed at plenary.

The ministers-designate and their ministries were Dr Nentawe Yilwatda (Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction); Muhammadu Dingyadi (Labour & Employment); Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu (Minister of State Foreign Affairs), and Dr Jumoke Oduwole (Industry, Trade and Investment).

Others were Idi Mukhtar Maiha (Livestock Development);  Yusuf Ata (State, Housing and Urban Development), and Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad (Minister of State Education).

The nominees answered specific questions which the senators asked them regarding the fresh ideas and plans they had for their proposed ministries.

Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Victor Umeh and Tony Nwoye, however, commended President Tinubu for appointing Bianca, wife of the late Igbo leader, Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu, and chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as minister.

They said the development was an indication that Tinubu was committed to forming a Government of National Unity.

Bianca,  former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, confirmed the South East senators assertion and emphasised that Nigeria would experience massive transformation if its citizens come together with a commitment to peace.

“I am here because I believe that if we are able to come together sincerely to commit to serving this nation, focusing on ensuring that we have peace, then the sky is the limit for this country.
She noted that the combined efforts of cultural, governmental, and diplomatic organisations could drive transformative change.

“There is hope for this country if we sincerely commit to unity and focus on peace, Nigeria’s potential is limitless.”

The Ministers-designate for the Ministry of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, assured Nigerians that the issue of farmers-herders clash would be a thing of the past after developing the 417 grazing areas in the country.

The new ministry, he said, would develop a database of all the infrastructure that are animal husbandry related, meaning all the grazing reserves in the country.

“We also want to know all the cattle routes. We also want to know all the dams that are viable. From there, we will develop  those grazing reserves that have no legal inconveniences. The ministry intend to work with other critical stakeholders to make sure that this vision is realised,” he said.

The Minister-Designate for Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, pledged to continue with the economic policy of the Tinubu administration which focuses on investment, productivity, and job creation.

She noted that the, key reforms in monetary and fiscal policy aimed at stabilising the economy have started to deliver some results.

“Perhaps what we now need to deliver is the convergence of these two pillars of monetary and fiscal policy, with trade, investment, and industrial policies, to further drive growth,” she said.

Sub-national governments continued to grapple with a persistent reliance on borrowing to finance their budgets in 2023, as the total debt stock of the 36 states surged by 38.1%, from N7.25tn in 2022 to N10.01tn.

According to BudgIT’s 2024 State of States report released on Tuesday, the debt growth was partly driven by a N606.12bn increase in domestic debt, resulting in an average year-on-year growth rate of 11.4%. By 31st December 2023.

The total domestic debt stood at N5.86tn.

The situation was further complicated by rising foreign debt, which increased by 4.1%, from $4.43bn in 2022 to $4.61bn in 2023.

According to the report, the liberalisation of the exchange rate exacerbated the financial strain on states, significantly raising their foreign loan repayment obligations in naira terms.

Lagos State remained the most indebted in foreign currency, accounting for 26.9% of the total foreign debt, equivalent to $1.24bn.

Further analysis of the debt landscape revealed a considerable variance of N2.74tn in debt repayment obligations when comparing the exchange rate shift from N899.39 per dollar as of December 31, 2023, to the new rate of N1,492.9 as of June 2024. The devaluation exposed many states to heightened financial risk, particularly the eight states where more than 50% of the total debt is dollar-denominated.

Kaduna and Edo had the highest foreign debt-to-total debt ratios, at 86.06% and 60.54%, respectively.

The other states in this group—Ondo, Bauchi, Lagos, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Anambra—had ratios ranging from 50% to 59%.

The debt burden also varied significantly across the country, with the average sub-national debt per capita reaching N40,469 in 2023.

Twelve states exceeded this benchmark, with Lagos having the highest debt per capita at N138,034.

In addition to the existing debt stock, the states have exiting liabilities totalling N1.19tn: N408.69bn is owed in contractor arrears, N521.36bn is owed in pension and gratuity arrears, N79.64bn is owed in salary and other staff claims, N4.36bn is owed in judgement debt and other pending litigation, and other payables and liabilities amount to N182.79bn.

The report advised that to achieve debt sustainability, states need their appetite for accumulating foreign loans amidst exchange rate volatility and shrinking fiscal space to minimise their exposure to unfavourable exchange rates.

“Domestic revenue mobilisation should be strengthened to reduce borrowing needs and budget deficits.

“States should implement fiscal reforms that broaden the tax base and formalize economic activities.

“Furthermore, states should establish robust frameworks for debt transparency and accountability, ensuring that borrowed funds are directed towards high-impact projects with clear economic returns. Enhanced coordination between federal and state governments is essential for monitoring debt sustainability and providing guidance on borrowing limits to safeguard fiscal stability,” BudgIT advised.

The World Bank has advised the Federal Government to prioritise providing jobs for the Nigerian youths.

The World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Ndiame Diop gave the advice in the wake of critical reforms made by the Bola Tinubu’s administration, which had thrown the country into skyrocketing inflation and increase in costs of living.

Tinubu in May 2023 declared an end to fuel subsidies, a move that has increased prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from N175 per litre to officially N1,025 per lire in Lagos state at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) stations.

Following the development, the world’s apex bank in its Nigeria Development Update Report, titled “Staying the Course: Progress Amid Pressing Challenges,” said going forward, it is most crucial for the government to provide jobs for its citizens, youths especially, to help them cope with the hardship.

“Nigeria took the bold and courageous move to undertake difficult but critical reforms. This against the backdrop of an already fragile economic position, high food and transport inflation, and other heightened uncertainties. If these reforms were not done, Nigeria would have fallen into a serious fiscal crisis that would have made it difficult for government to meet its obligations to citizens.

“It will be important to consolidate the improving fiscal outlook and scale up the support for the poorest households to cope with purchasing power losses and hardships, while expanding opportunities for growth and productive jobs, especially for young Nigerians is most urgent and crucial”.

Stop Ad-Hoc FX Auctions

It urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to refrain from intervening in the foreign exchange market through forex auctions.

It was also advised to continuously reaffirm the commitment to exchange rate flexibility by adopting a comprehensive, systematic, and transparent framework for foreign exchange interventions.

The advice followed the auction of $876.26m to end users via a retail Dutch auction on August 26, 2024, by the CBN.

The major move was away from its traditional sales of foreign exchange to Bureau De Change operators.

This auction marked one of the most significant FX interventions by the CBN under the leadership of Governor Yemi Cardoso, who has been actively working to stabilise the naira and address the ongoing volatility in the FX market.

The apex bank said the auction process was to enhance foreign exchange liquidity in the market, alleviate demand pressure, and support price discovery in alignment with its objectives.

According to the sales report, 3,347 firms got access to the dollars via the 26 banks, which qualified at the rate of N1,495 per dollar cut-off rate.

But the Bretton Woods Institution in its latest report noted that permitting market participants to trade FX with more flexibility across time would also contribute to deepening the FX market.

The report read, “Exchange rate policy should continue to be geared towards maintaining a unified, market reflective exchange rate, whilst deepening the FX market. The CBN should continue efforts towards deepening the official FX market, including by facilitating formal remittances inflows, allowing international oil companies to fully concentrate their FX sales in the official market, restoring intermediated market access to bureaux de change, and refraining from ad-hoc FX auctions.

“Allowing market participants to trade FX with more flexibility across time would also contribute to deepening the FX market.”

The Senate has commenced the screening of the seven newly nominated ministers.

The nominees are Dr Nentawe Yilwatda as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Muhammadu Dingyadi as Minister of Labour and Employment, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Jumoke Oduwole as Minister of Industry, Trade and Development.

Others are: Idi Muktar Maiha as Minister of Livestock Development, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Ata as Minister of State, Housing, and Dr Suwaiba Said Ahmad as Minister of State, Education.

The Senate following a motion moved by the leader, Opeyemi Bamidele at 12:57 pm, on Wednesday suspended its rule to admit the Special Adviser to the President on Senate matters, Basheer Lado, to bring the nominees into the plenary.

The Senate President, GodsWill Akpabio, had on Thursday read the letter from President Bola Tinubu nominating the new ministers.

This development follows President Tinubu’s recent reshuffle of his cabinet, including the dismissal of five ministers: the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju-Ken Ohanenye; Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John; Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman; Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo; and Minister of Youth Development, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim.

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended former Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, over alleged anti-party activities.

According to Vanguard, in a resolution submitted to the APC National Secretariat and directed to National Chairman Dr. Umar Ganduje, Osun APC accused Aregbesola, who previously served as governor, of fostering divisions within the party by creating a rival faction.

The APC claims that this act has disrupted party unity, especially during a sensitive time in Osun politics.

Party leaders believe Aregbesola’s influence over certain groups has deepened internal rifts, which the state chapter sees as detrimental to the party’s unity.

It reads: “Following Committee, the State Executive Committee (SEC), llesa East Local Government Executive reviewing the allegations and by the powers vested in it by Article 21(3) (vi) (c) of the party’s Constitution, hereby suspends Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from the party pending the outcome of an investigation into the allegations by a Disciplinary Committee.

“The State Executive Committee has constituted a Disciplinary Committee to investigate and provide Ogbeni Aregbesola with the opportunity to respond to the allegations of activities deemed to violate Article 21 (2) of the party’s Constitution, particularly relating to anti-party activities that undermine the collective interests of the APC levelled against him as follows:

“Factionalisation of the party with the creation of splinter groups i.e. the Omoluabi Caucus-a trending video of their recent activities in Iwo is here with attached; Creation of parallel organs within the party;

“Working with opposition parties to undermine the APC in the State -admission made at the Ataoja’s Palace 4th of January 2024, Osogbo; Public outbursts against the leaders of the party, including President, H.E. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), Chief Bisi Akande and H.E. Gboyega Oyetola, among others;

“Refusal to show up or support any party activities in the State; and Refusal to vote for the party since after the 2019 general elections.”

This suspension represents a bold step by the Osun APC to address internal issues and refocus leadership priorities as they prepare for upcoming elections. Responses from Aregbesola’s camp are expected as the situation develops.

“Bros how you dey oh”

“Omo, body still dey inside cloth. We dey push am.” 

How for do? Man no die, man no leave one place, all of us just dey.” 

“God works in mysterious ways.”

“But how you come take this their cabinet reshuffle?”

 “Underwhelming. An anti-climax. What is all the noise about? I can’t see it.” 

“Which noise?”

“The President had announced the cabinet reshuffle a month ago. Then he travelled abroad and we were told he didn’t want to be put under pressure by anybody. Then he returns from England and France and he says, he is announcing eight key actions to boost efficiency. I don’t see what he has done that will increase any efficiency.” 

“The Ministry of the Niger Delta is now a Ministry of Regional Development. That is something in case you are looking for something.”

“Just a bloated bureaucracy. The Ministry of Niger Delta caters to the interest of the oil producing states which stretch beyond the South South. It includes states like Imo, Abia and Ondo. How about the people of the North Central. They have HYPADEC but that is a development Commission focusing on hydro power. The North East Development Commission is targeted at banditry. I don’t see a convergence.  What I see is confusion. I can’t see light or sense in the decision.” 

“Maybe you will see sense then in the merger of the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy.”

“No. I do not either. The Ministry of Tourism is so important. It should stand on its own. We may have had a Minister who could not rise to the occasion, but what is the point, subordinating the Ministry to another Ministry that already has its hands full.”

“Come off it. Tourism is not that strategic.”

“You say? Oh my. Oh my. Can you just listen to yourself? Are you aware that some countries depend on tourism for revenue? People visit countries like France, Spain, United States, Italy, Turkey, Morocco, the UK, Greece, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Japan, China, Maldives, United Arab Emirates because those countries have something to offer. The number of people who visit your country is a measure of how welcoming, attractive, risk-averse your country is.   In Spain, tourism is such a major part of the local economy that the locals in cities like San Sebastian are even protesting that tourists should stay away from their city. They are complaining about over-tourism. The people of Canary Islands are also protesting. They say tourists are pushing up rentals, pricing out locals. Residents in Italy and Greece have also taken to the streets. In a year, about 90 million people visit Spain. Over a 100 million visit France. The potential in that industry is so huge, there was no point merging the Ministry with another one. The President doesn’t get it. I wonder who advised him on that course of action.” 

“The statement that they issued was signed by the Presidency. No name. No date. Who is the Presidency? Too many flip flops.” 

“Imagine that.”

“They have also gone back to the old days of the National Sports Commission by scrapping the Ministry of Sports.”

Now, I don’t get it. I don’t get it because I thought John Enoh was doing a good job as Minister of Sports. He came across as a very enthusiastic man. Now they have demoted him, making him the Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment.”

“He would be working with someone that I think knows her subject though. Dr Jumoke Oduwole has a significant and relevant experience having served previously as a Special Adviser to the President on PEBEC, ease of doing business and Investment Law. Her experience and expertise combined with Enoh’s energy and enthusiasm, if they can forge a good working relationship, may help.” 

“But as for the man in the Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, he is basically a football person. We need to grow the sports sector beyond football, and develop other sports. Does he have a broad view of the assignment?  Already his colleagues in Football House are already saying the appointment is for them, not just one man. My view is that there is so much potential in sports that Nigeria can develop, beyond the obsession with football.”

“By the way, your friend Sunday Dare is back. He is now Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication and Orientation.”  

“Meaning what? They say he is going to be in the Ministry of Information, not the Presidency. To do what exactly in the Ministry? The Ministry already has a Director-General of the National Orientation Agency. There is a Minister. It would have been best to name Dare Minister of State, to give him a leverage instead of hanging him afloat between the Ministry and the Presidency”.

“I want to think the President knows what he is doing. It is his prerogative to hire and fire. The discretion is his. He can delegate as he wishes.” 

“Is that why he has Yorubas all over the place in all the important positions? It is his right to run a government as he deems fit. But it is also our right to talk. Nobody can stop us from talking.”

“Yes. You have been talking and talking. What difference has your talk, talk ever made? Talk. Keep talking. Are you aware that this cabinet reshuffle was based on a review of performance of the Ministers by the Central Delivery Co-ordination Unit led by Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman? The reshuffle is based on empirical facts and findings”

“That is a lie. Have you seen the report by Hadiza Bala-Usman?”

“No.”

“So, why would you or anyone jump to the conclusion that the President followed her recommendations? I don’t think so. The President sacks five Ministers, appoints seven new ones, and redeploys 10 Ministers.  He used to have 45 Ministers, now he has ended up with 48, with four from Ogun State alone!” 

“His prerogative sir!”

“Stop saying it is his prerogative. Is that a new word you just learnt? We are all in this together. This is a democracy, and the last time I checked we have the right to talk. The President removed the Minister of Women Affairs. Okay, I agree, the woman was very controversial, but very loyal. She must be grateful she was made a Minister in the first place. Lola Ade-John, Jamila Bio Ibrahim, and Abdullahi Gwarzo – those ones left the same way they came quietly. But why would the President remove a man like Tahir Mamman, former Vice Chancellor, former DG of the Nigerian Law School and replace him with a medical doctor from Lagos State. I know they say Dr. Alausa is also a university person, but what is Professor Tahir Mamman’s offence” 

“I can only think of two things. He was Vice Chancellor of a university belonging to the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections. He has also been very controversial with all this talk about age eligibility for university admissions. That is one policy that will be scrapped, you will see, because it only hurts people from the South.”

“There are many other Ministers that Nigerians would have preferred to be turned adrift from the cabinet. The Ministers in critical positions should have been sent away. You are talking about controversy. Wike is the most controversial person in that cabinet. The President could have scored a goal by going for the big ones to signal a change of direction. He sacks the easy ones, and tells us about “eight key actions”. I beg.”

“Mr. Bayo Onanuga has said in one television interview that the cabinet reshuffle reflects the feelings and opinions of Nigerians.” 

“That is, again, a lie. I don’t know anybody who thinks this goes far enough or that it is any important message. No. I insist. No”

“I think the President is going somewhere. For all you know, he may be testing waters. If he wakes up two months down the line and he says he wants to change the cabinet again, can anyone query him? The answer is No.”

“The Senate can reject his nominees”

“Which Senate? This 10^th National Assembly will rubber stamp anything President Bola Tinubu brings to them. I can bet on that.”

“There you are!”

“But I am still convinced that this President is going somewhere that we may not know yet. He has just for example said no Minister should go about with more than three official vehicles and five security details.” 

“That is like saying nothing. In 2003, the Obasanjo administration introduced a monetization policy to cover vehicle loans, domestic staff, accommodation – the whole range. I am not aware that the policy has been abrogated. Under President Jonathan, no Minister used more than three cars by the way. How? Why? But today, Ministers use sirens and fly flags in what is clearly a break-down of law and order.” 

“One by one, President Tinubu will get there”

“Oh yes, by the time we have all lost flesh. The government keeps getting fatter, we are asked to make sacrifices and be patient. What stops the President from reducing his cabinet to a team of just 16 persons? I don’t even know the names of most of the Ministers because they have done nothing, said nothing, and yet they enjoy privileges. I even hear that some people are saying a new aircraft should be bought for the Vice President.”

“Poor fellow. I heard he could not go to the Commonwealth Summit because his aircraft had an incident in JFK Airport in New York. The President has bought an aircraft for himself. The Navy has bought a yacht.  They should buy something for the VP too.”

“Now you are talking from both sides of the mouth. And you know I do not like hypocrisy.”

“So, what do you want me to say? The Speaker of the Borno House of Assembly says the life of the VP is at risk, because his aircraft is bad. Why should the VP travel about in a faulty aircraft?” 

“He can travel commercial”

“Hen hen. Just don’t play Ngbati politics with me. Your Yoruba brother can enjoy luxury, but the Borrno man should manage. This is the problem with us in this country.””

“The problem with all Nigerians is that we tend to see everything form an ethnic or personal angle. This is why an Asari Dokubo would have the guts to say that President Tinubu has disappointed him. What does he want? Him too wan be Minister?”

“I am sorry, you are losing me. I don’t want to talk about Asari Dokubo, Bobrisky, Very Dark Man or this musician, what do they call him? Portable.”

“It pains me though that Nigeria was not at the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa. I know we sent the Minister of Environment but the VP would have been a better fit to speak on the key issues of climate change and reparations.” 

“Your Minister of Environment is one of those persons that I think are sleep-walking through this administration. I have seen the Vice President in action before. He is smarter, far more intelligent than most of the Ministers. Well read. Suave. Good choice. But as for the Ministers, I beg” 

“What a world we live in? Who would have thought the subject of reparation would come back on the table? I recall that this was Chief MKO Abiola’s project, he wanted the injustice of the British Empire to be addressed. Now the Caribbean countries are saying yes, this is the way to go.”

“Don’t mind the British. They have forgotten that in 1833, the same Britain paid reparations for the slave trade between the 15^thand 19^th Centuries, but now in 2024, the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer and King Charles III are now saying we should talk about the past, but we should focus on the future. No reparations. No apologies. And Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, says there is no money to give anybody but Britain can offer reparatory justice. Justice as they would define it.”

“Can you blame them? The Labour Party in Britain is at this moment trying to prevent austerity, by seeking ways to plug a black hole of about 22 billion pounds, cut public sector spending, raise taxes including National Insurance, and reform the NHS.  Not the right time to pay reparations and they won’t. Tomorrow, Rachel Reeves will unveil the Starmer administration’s budget. I miss MKO”

“MKO is our man oh. He fought for reparation. It is good to see that his idea lives. All the former British colonies in the South Pacific, Australia and CARICOM are calling for reparations. Last week in Canberra, Australia, the King was booed at the House of Parliament by Senator Linda Thorpe, an indigenous, First Nation lawmaker who screamed - You are Not my King!”   

“I am sure we will hear more, particularly now that an African is the new Secretary General of the Commonwealth. Shirley Botchwey, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. She follows in the footsteps of Nigeria’s Chief Emeka Anyaoku.” 

“Great man. Great.  Unfortunately, the Tinubu administration is not grooming or appointing new diplomats. It has been more than a year since Nigeria recalled its ambassadors from all over the world. They are yet to be replaced. Why? A government that says it is interested in global investments should have ambassadors all over the world. Why not? The world is changing, re-aligning, look at BRICS. India, Russia, China. Where is Nigeria?” 

“I think our President will get round to things.” 

“Let him buckle up. Your man should wake up.”

“You know I am more optimistic than you. What if the President wakes up tomorrow and he decides to shake up the Departments and Agencies. These are the real drivers of government. He can shake things up, so radically you would almost apologize for all your critical words.” 

“Forget apology. We are just saying the President should learn to do what is right at the right time, the right way and manner.That is the way forward.”

“I see. I see. I get it. But we will see”.

Global rights group Amnesty International has expressed concern over the escalation of mob violence which, it said, emboldens impunity in Nigeria.

In a new report, the rights group said at least 555 victims of mob violence were recorded in Nigeria in the last decade

Amnesty International said the upsurge in blasphemy killings was fueled by alleged incitement of clerics.

“The failure of the Nigerian authorities to protect lives has led to a growing escalation of mob violence over the last decade, as people increasingly take law into their hands and carry out so-called ‘jungle justice’,” said Amnesty International Nigeria in the new report.

The group said enforcement failures exacerbated the wave of mob violence in Nigeria as victims accused of theft, blasphemy, shoplifting and witchcraft are beaten, tortured and killed with impunity and suspected perpetrators almost always get away with it.

“Between January 2012 to August 2023, Amnesty International recorded at least 555 victims of mob violence, from 363 documented incidents across Nigeria.

“Over the period of this investigation at least 57 people were killed by violent mobs; 32 were burnt alive, 2 persons were buried alive, while 23 people were tortured to death. Many cases of mob killings in remote areas go unreported.

“The menace of mob violence is perhaps one of the biggest threats to the right to life in Nigeria. The fact that these killings have been happening for a long time, with few cases investigated and prosecuted, highlights the authorities’ shocking failure to uphold and fulfil their obligation to protect people from harm and violence,” said Director Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi.

“The failure of law enforcement agencies, especially the Nigeria Police Force, to prevent mob violence, investigate allegations of torture and killings, and bring suspected perpetrators to justice, is empowering mobs to kill. The problem is compounded by weak and corrupt legal institutions and systems.”

Amnesty International’s research detailed cases of victims of mob violence that include at least 13 women, six children, and two persons with actual or perceived mental health illnesses and/or psycho-social or intellectual disabilities.

Cases of mob violence were documented in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones: South-South (82), South-East (43), South-West (98), North-Central (42), North-West (100), and North-East (26).

“The Nigerian authorities must urgently address the escalating cases of mob violence including by upholding and protecting the rights of everyone in the country to life and freedom from torture.

“Government must ensure prompt, thorough, impartial, independent, transparent and effective investigation of cases of mob violence and bring those suspected to be responsible to justice in fair trials. Authorities should also take appropriate and effective measures to prevent cases of mob violence across the country and ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims. The police must be adequately equipped to prevent and respond to mob violence.” said Sanusi.