Comrade Omoyele Sowore shouldn’t feel too lucky. The Federal Government let him off because he didn’t take up arms against the state. It’s just talk and talk from him. The very day he takes up arms or sponsor an armed rebellion against Nigeria and constitute himself into a clear danger and security threat to the corporate existence of the country, that day him go know say water pass Garri. That day, all the young men hovering around him in the wierd imagination of a ‘revolution’ go disown him and pick race. Still, Sowore deserves some thumbs up for making the…
Author: Abubakar Alkali
The recent Fury vs Ngannou fight in Saudi Arabia has again rekindled the much touted and expected world heavyweight unification fight between the champion, British boxer Tyson Fury and the Ukrainian fighter Alexander Usyk. Although Fury got much more than he bargained for against the MM artist Cameroonian Ngannou, he (Fury) still went ahead to win the fight on points, controversially though. The fight though not as inspiring as you would expect of a world heavyweight fight, was still worth watching as it sought to ‘unify’ world HW boxing with mixed martial arts (MMA). After the trouncing of Connor McGregor…
Former Kano Emir Sanusi is one of the key architects of fuel subsidy removal which has caused unbearable hardship to poor Nigerians. He religiously promoted and campaigned for the removal of fuel subsidy over several decades using his clout and made sure it was removed. Nigerians are now in an entangled cycle of hardship and poverty as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy orchestrated by former Emir Sanusi and Co. It is disappointing that former Emir Sanusi being an economist, couldn’t really anticipate and understand the impact the removal of fuel subsidy will have on inflation and the…
There are hues and cries about the appointments made so far by the Tinubu administration particularly in the finance sector where the major roles have gone to the south west geopolitical zone. It is a matter of concern that the two key positions in the finance sector, the central bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor and the minister of finance have all gone to the south west geopolitical zone. This means that both the regulatory and fiscal policy decisions are now domiciled in one, out of six geopolitical zones- the south west geographical zone. It is in this context that the…
*Nigeria risks going back to full blown fuel subsidy regime if the current balancing act of miscellaneous quasi-subsidy payments to marketers for FOREX fluctuations and increase in crude oil prices continue* The ring bells of fuel subsidy resurfaced recently after reports that the federal government has made fuel subsidy payments of a whopping N164.9 billion to oil marketers in August 2023. These payments signal an era of quasi-subsidy whereby fuel subsidy bounces back but in a camouflage. The quasi-fuel-subsidy is represented as payments made by the federal government to marketers to stop them from jerking the price of petrol above…
The federal government of Nigeria has both constitutional and moral obligations to involve the Zamfara state government in the efforts to crush bandits and terrorists in the state. There has been a recent back-and-forth altercation between Zamfara state government and the federal government on the claim by the former that the latter was engaged in a behind-the-scene clandestine amnesty talks and negotiations with terrorists and bandits in Zamfara state without the consent of the state government. This claim was swiftly denied by the federal government which prompted the Zamfara state government to issue a counter-statement to the effect that it…
One rather unpalatable takeaway from Obasanjo’s Presidency (1999-2007) is the amount of resources spent in globetrotting to try and ‘woo investors to come and invest’ in Nigeria without commensurate results. It was actually a frenzy by former President Obasanjo that no sooner was he sworn in on 29th May 1999 at the dawn of Nigeria’s reentry as a democracy, than he thought that the best way to start his Presidency was to go on globetrotting in the name of ‘reassuring and attracting investors’ that Nigeria is ‘safe’ for investment. These trips gulp huge amount of taxpayers funds and were simply…
The recent decision of the management, university of Lagos to reduce the hiked tuition fees by about 10% could best be described as STDS (seen-to-do-something) which is not good enough. The STDS syndrome is usually employed as a strategy where a response is made to a complaint just to be seen as a response not because it is going to make the desired impact but to create the impression that ‘something has been done about it’ Recall that the management of the university of Lagos under the leadership of the vice chancellor Professor Folasade Ogunsola after a meeting with the…
Unlike in Niger Republic and other African countries where the military recently took over power, Nigeria’s political class is currently in a mutually beneficial alliance of convenience with the military top brass which makes a coup highly unlikely or impossible* The current wave of regime change sweeping across Africa has rekindled some form of ‘coup mentality’ among Nigerians. Some Nigerians think that the latest ‘coup wave’ that sliced through Sudan, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, to our neighbours Niger Republic and now to Gabon, could be on its way to Nigeria. One of Nigeria’s neighbours, Chad is also under military rule…
Plea bargain is counter productive and an energy drink to corruption since it promotes the notion that a public office holder can steal N100 billion, be asked by the EFCC to pay just N8 or 9 billion, pocket the rest and go free under a so-called plea bargain Amid the ‘camera dodging’ antics of the suspended Governor of the central bank Godwin Emefiele at the federal high court Abuja during the resumed hearing of the alleged N6.9 billion fraud came another obnoxious kite of plea bargain talks between Emefiele and the federal government of Nigeria. It must be stated here…
A Tribute to SP Bako Angbashim, an uncommon and brave police officer who was gruesomely killed by cultists and terrorists The brutal killing of super-brave SP Bako Angbashim of the Nigeria police allegedly by the Icelanders cult terrorist group of kidnappers on 8th September 2023 in Ahoada, Rivers state brought back memories of the killing of the soldier-beyond-bravery, Sarkin Yaki 1, Col Muhammad Abu-Ali by the Boko haram terrorists on 4th November 2016. Both fallen heroes SP Bako and Col Abu-Ali were failed by the state they laid their lives to protect. The brave duo are now in the nation’s…
Nigeria is currently in an unconventional war with bandits, terrorists and secessionists. It is pointless to start another one with Niger Republic John G. Stoessinger, the famous political analyst and author in his book ‘Why Nations go to War’ emphasised the role of political and military leaders in taking their nations to war. In conventional terms, it is the leaders -political or military- who decide whether the nation goes to war or not. The buck stops on their table hence it is instructive that leaders take optimum precautions before going to war so as not to plunge their nations into…
At a first glance, you will be tempted to think that the recalcitrant ‘burner’ of the holy Quran in Sweden, an Iraqi refugee who lives in Sweden, the glorified terrorist who goes by the name Salwan Momika is actually insane for taking such a despicable act of burning the Holy Quran. On a second glance, you would be convinced that something must be fundamentally wrong with the medulla oblongata of this man who thought there is nothing best to do than to embark on a wild goose chase and clearly lunatic enterprise of burning the glorious Quran. To establish the…
After almost 50 years since it’s inception, is the NYSC still relevant or is it time to reform and replace it with something more job-creating, productive and tangible to the Nigerian youths? I think it is time to move on: scrap the NYSC and create a strategic skills acquisition programme to replace it. The huge amount of money spent on the NYSC scheme annually can be used to set up skills acquisition centres in each of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria. For Nigeria to be what it should, the government must take HARD DECISIONS. The country cannot maintain…
The removal of fuel subsidy has upped the ante on the raging, brewing and rising levels of unimaginable corruption in Nigeria. Just when you thought you have heard the worst, another humongous and incomprehensible level of corruption stares you in the face. In my article published on 3/6/23 and titled ‘Fuel Subsidy’s Double Whammy: Cash Payments and Crude Oil Swap All at The Same Time, i highlighted the grand corruption involved in the fuel subsidy double whammy where the NNPCL uses crude oil to swap for petrol a.k.a premium motor spirit (PMS) through the former direct sales direct purchase (DSDP)…
‘Another scam behind fuel subsidy’ The grand corruption associated with the fuel subsidy is that the federal government pays cash (N3.35 Trillion for Jan-Jun 2023) for fuel subsidy and at the same time uses crude oil swap to subsidise fuel. This is the double whammy. The crude oil swap arrangement is through the Direct Sales Direct Purchase (DSDP) contract between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPCL) and oil marketers which started in 2017. You will wonder why the NNPCL uses crude oil to swap for imported petrol PMS (and kerosene DPK) and subsidise the price of petrol but still has…
Hadi Sirika, Nigeria’s contumacious outgoing minister of aviation has closed his chapter in the exiting Buhari administration with a final parting gift to Nigerians through a stage-managed ‘unveiling’ of an aircraft which he branded ‘AIR NIGERIA. Indeed, Sirika has raised the bar in the routine cycle of deceits by public office holders against unsuspecting Nigerians. Instead of telling Nigerians the truth that AIR NIGERIA will not fly before May 29th, Sirika went off-board to arrange an Ethiopian Airiines aircraft for a one-off show to stamp his earlier ‘promise’ that Air Nigeria will fly during Buhari’s tenure as President. Remember, Sirika…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPCL has released a template for fixed pump prices of petrol ranging from N488/L in Lagos to N557/L in Maiduguri and Damaturu. But will these fixed prices stand the test of time? Will the oil marketers abide by these pump prices fixed by the NNPCL? The answer is NO. When the federal government officially removed fuel subsidy two days ago, it has lost all grounds to fix the pump price of fuel. Price of petrol will now be determined by marketers based on the forces of demand and supply. The fixed pump price of premium…
It is shocking just as it is unbelievable that the 4 FGC Yauri schoolgirls released last Friday have spent almost 2 YEARS in captivity. Yes it is shocking especially when juxtaposed with the fact that these innocent girls were held captive in Nigeria by the terrorists. They were not taken to space or in another country, they are within the BORDERS of NIGERIA, in our country presumably around the forests in Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, and Kaduna states yet the government cannot deploy its huge resources particularly TECHNOLOGY to rescue these innocent girls. How can some ragtag terrorists hold Nigeria to…
The victory of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Guber election in Sokoto state Alh. Ahmad Aliyu last week was long time coming. It seemed just a matter of time before the APC reclaims it’s mandate snatched by the PDP in 2019 in a controversiai manner. A sigh of relief to all of us that the APC has reclaimed its mandate in the most convincing manner. Congratulations to his excellency, the Sokoto state Governor-in-waiting Alh Ahmad Aliyu. The APC won the 2023 Gubernatorial election fair square and clear. It was a victory highly predictable for some…
A major problem with elections in Nigeria, Africa and the entire developing world is the culture of rejection of results by the opposition political parties whenever they lose elections regardless of whether the election was rigged or not. It appears that for any election to be free and fair in Nigeria, the opposition must win it. When the Labour Party won Lagos in the Presidential election, it was free and fair but when it lost the Guber election in the same Lagos state, it was heavily rigged. Ditto for Ebonyi, Plateau, Nassarawa and Delta states. The major difference between the…
‘The Dawn of a New Nigeria’ The Presidential election held on 25th February 2023 is now history but it’s sweet memory will linger on for a long time to come. The defining moment of this election stems from the smooth transfer of power from the North to the South with no shots fired ala 2015 when former President Jonathan handed over to President Buhari. The historical transfer of power saw the patriot, political masterclass and hero of our time, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu clinch victory on the highly predictable Presidential election. Congratulations to the Jagaban of Africa, the President-elect…
After the nationwide Presidential and National Assembly elections, attention is now shifted to the statewide Guber and state houses of assembly elections which promises to be another possible switch from the conventional nay traditional pattern of elections in Nigeria. There is the likelihood of surprises in some states particularly in the South – East and the South – South including some parts of the middle belt owing to the Obi tsunami sweeping across mainly the southern and North central parts of the country. The two main political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not…
‘The opposition political parties should go to court in accordance with the law if they feel aggrieved rather than inviting anarchy into the country. Albeit there is no winner announced by the independent national electoral commission (INEC) yet, it appears that opposition parties particularly the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party are on a voyage that could potentially lead to anarchy in our dear country. The opposition parties are currently not behaving as good would-be losers based on their recent actions regarding the current process of collation/announcement of results by INEC. First of all, these opposition parties staged…
The Presidential election this Saturday is set to be one with very high stakes and possible twists and turns. The election will certainly be highly competitive more so when juxtaposed with the fact that it is a ‘Presidential fresh term’ election after President Buhari’s two terms. Obviously, the hugely unpopular Naira redesign policy will affect voter participation hence a quite significant voter apathy should be expected. People are disenchanted with the cash crunch just as some voters may have no cash to use as transport fare to their polling booths in cases of long proximity. Many voters are disenchanted with…
It is heartwarming that the N100 Million demanded by bandits as ransom for the release of the innocent 11 Schoolgirls of the federal government college (FGC) Yauri, Kebbi state have been realised. Yes the N100 million is in the account of the committee set up to solicit for donations towards the release of the schoolgirls but there is a problem: Bandits have vowed not to accept the old Naira notes. They want the scarce new redesigned Naira notes. N100 Million in cash delivered to them. Counted and verifed to the last Naira note before they release the 11 schoolgirls. The…
The Imam of Dr Bello Mosque in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi state has announced the collection of N105 Million from top politicians, government officials, philanthropists and businessmen in and outside Kebbi state to secure the release of the 11 schoolgirls of federal government college (FGC) Yauri Kebbi State. Although the money is safely in the funds account, there is still a problem because the terrorists leader Dogo Gide has insisted that he will accept only new Naira notes – N100 Million in cash. The innocent schoolgirls were abducted on 17th June 2021 and have so far spent a total of 611 days…
In my article titled ‘The Heroism of Bashir Machina’ dated 26th July 2022 during the heat of the legal fireworks in the tussle between Bashir Machina and senate President Ahmad Lawan, i expressed confidence that Bashir Machina will win the fight for the Yobe North APC ticket. Despite being confident, I was subtly sceptical of the final outcome of the battle. I knew ‘anything could happen. My scepticism stemmed from the unreliability of Nigeria’s weak and highly partisan judiciary. Even by its standards, the Suprebe court’s verdict in Lawan V Machina is an incomprehensible one. The verdict which gave victory…
To be totally honest, I was at Chatham house myself in February 2015 during the aggravated hype about Gen Muhammadu Buhari being the ‘saviour’ Nigeria needs to ‘right’ the ‘wrongs’ of the Jonathan administration. Now we all know better. At the time of Gen Buhari’s appearance at Chatham house in 2015, it never occurred to me that there was anything out-of-place for a typical Nigerian politician nay Presidential candidate to seek global exposure through the Chatham house. To be honest, I actually had the feeling at the time that ‘nothing do’ Gen Buhari’s appearance at Chatham house and that it…
First of all, Hajiya Najaatu Mohammed has an undeniable right to hold an opinion, take that opinion to another level or even change it. She has the right to associate and belong to any political party of her choice. The combined effect of sections 38(1), 39(1) and 40 of the 1999 constitution (as altered) under fundamental rights bestows the right to hold an opinion and associate freely on every citizen of Nigeria. This is expressly guaranteed and a settled matter. Beyond the constitutional provisions, some reasons are decipherable from the recent cross-carpeting of the highly popular female politician from Kano…