The former governor of Kogi State Yahaya Adoza Bello is one high-profile politician on the wanted list of the Economic Crimes and Financial Commission (EFCC). Bello’s ordeal began shortly after the end of his second tenure as governor of the confluence state, a few months ago. The anti-graft agency seeks to arrest him and continue his trial on an amended 19-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2bn preferred against him, Ali Bello – current chief of staff to governor Usman Ododo and one Daudu Suleiman. As governor of…
Author: Sunday Onyemaechi Eze
Rivers State has turned into a political house of commotion. The crisis currently ongoing in the state is dangerously spiraling out of hand. The supremacy battle to take control of the state between governor Siminalaye Fubara, the anointed political godson of the immediate past governor Nyesom Wike is threatening the existing peace and stability of Rivers. Therefore, urgent steps should be taken to nip in the bud any attempt to impose anarchy on the garden city. The relative peace currently enjoyed in Rivers and the Niger Delta at large should not be taken for granted or cracked on account of…
The gruesome murder of Celine Ndudim and her Ghanaian friend Afibah Tandoh should serve as a big lesson for young ladies of this age and time. The two had embarked on a visit to a supposed facebook friend called Andrew Amaechi in Aba. Unfortunately, nobody knows the where about of both since then. It is believed that Andrew Amaechi has murdered both and harvested their organs for rituals. This indeed is the ignored danger in hookup business. The death of the duo was avoidable. Andrew – the owner of Black Sheep Group like Hushppupi regularly flaunt his wealth on the…
On Tuesday, May 28, Coal City University, Enugu took another giant stride as it unveiled the Centre for Intelligence, Security and Peace Studies (CISPS). The event held at the university’s ultra-modern auditorium marked a significant milestone on the institution’s commitment towards contributing to security and peace which are the most important paths to sustainable development. The establishment of the centre is part of the university’s contribution to the urgent need to address the security challenges we have been facing as a people in the south east and in the country more broadly with a novel and evidence based approach. It…
The eventual reinstatement of Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II to the revered throne of his forbears after four years of dethronement was very much anticipated. When some anonymous groups sent letters to Kano State House of Assembly early this year calling for review of the Kano emirate council law 2019, it was clear the move was meant to wet the ground for the bigger plan. By signing into law the New Kano Emirate Repeal Law 2024, by governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the former emir stands reinstated and all the five new emirate councils created by Abdullahi Umar Ganduje are hereby…
The 10th year memorial lecture series and presentation of books authored by late Rev. Fr. Prof. Stan Chinedu Ani was held recently in Enugu. The event which took place at the state-of-the-art auditorium, Coal City University, Enugu witnessed a gathering of cream de la cream of the society who were on hand to celebrate the life and times of a clergyman, philosopher, an educationist per excellence, a prolific writer and philanthropist. Encomiums poured out in large numbers as protégés, personal staff, class mates, friends and relations reflected on their encounter and warm experiences with the man Fr. Stan Ani. The…
Nigerian politicians always think they are smart. They usually take the people for fools and for granted also. This was because, the people are generally gullible, ignorant and religiously compromised to view issues critically. This is exactly what Uba Sani has capitalised on doing and is still doing to gain undeserved sympathy from the Kaduna public. People should be wise enough and strongly refuse to fall for the antics of these selfish and greedy men. He thinks Kaduna people are naives who cannot keep records or read in between the lines of emerging frosty relationship and political crisis between the…
Tehran has launched the much anticipated overnight reprisal attack against Israel, in response to the deadly April 1 drone strike on her consulate in Syria which resulted in the death of top Iran’s Elite Revolutionary Guard Corps officers. Members of the Guard killed included senior commanders Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Brig. Gen. Mohammad Hadi Haj Rahimi. Consequently, Iran had fired more than 300 ballistic and cruise missiles into Israeli territory injuring at least 12, military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said. Telaviv also said the missiles were launched simultaneously from Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. It concluded by adding that…
Nigeria is a nation with a long history of perennial challenges of public power supply. The country seems to have unfortunately accepted the anomaly as part of its national life. Since one came of age, the power sector bears the trademark of inefficiency. The problem of insufficient power supply has remained unchanged. The old reasons adduced for poor performance in the sector more than two decades ago are not different either. Despite the poor supply situation, citizens still pay through their noses for an underperforming power sector which delivers little or no quality services. Many Nigerians cannot remember a time…
On March 30, history was made as the direct inaugural flight of Air Peace from Lagos landed at Gatwick Airport in London. The ever busy and rewarding Lagos-London route was proudly graced by the newly acquired second iconic Boeing 777 Airbus. Air Peace has carved a niche for itself as the leading domestic and international carrier in the Nigeria’s aviation sector. After seven years attempt of flying that route by Virgin Atlantic and Arik Air, a Nigerian airline has reactivated the famous Lagos to London. Testimonies of those on board the inaugural flight revealed that it was top-notch. The airline…
No doubt, the over-arching need to reform the Nigerian Civil Service for general efficiency was long tardy. Apart from being largely over-bloated, the service known as a hub for administrative dexterity and excellence over the years is now a shadow of itself. It has become a centre for mediocrity known for promoting nepotism. To make matters worse various policies of government leading to duplication of Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have further pushed the cost of governance to all time high. The time-tested rules guiding the service was recklessly circumvented and the worse eventually took the shine off the system.…
A new padding allegation has reared its ugly head in the 10th Senate. Senator Abdul Ningi, leader of the Northern Senators Forum had accused his colleagues of padding the 2024 budget to the tune of 3.7trn. He revealed that the original budget passed amounted to N25trillion but what the president assented to was N28.7 trillion. The senator who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District laid the charge against his colleagues on a British Broadcasting Hausa Service interview. Now, the Senate is in the eye of the storm – a trying moment indeed. The already battered image and integrity status of the…
Nigeria is a blessed nation under the siege of mercantilist leaders. They assume office with nothing but leave richer than their states. Regrettably, our chalice of understanding and good reasoning has been poisoned by ethnic based politics when electing leaders. The prevailing hardship and suffering in the country is a convergence of greed, corruption and leadership failure. However, Nigerians deserve the worst they get from ho they chose as their leaders. They are aware of the consequences of their electoral choices but wilfully failed to make a difference everytime at the polls. Nonetheless, Nigeria is our country and we have…
Every citizen cannot but hope for a better and prosperous nation where justice, equity and fairness prevail. Nobody in his or her right senses curses his nation, prays for it’s downfall and expects fruitfulness. Nigeria is our country and we have no other. Yes, she deserves citizens’ loyalty, patriotism, meaningful contributions to nation building, honour and respect even in dire economic situation like this one on our hands. While fulfilling the above obligations, citizens should not sleep but hold government to account on unclear decisions on national issues. Nigeria as a country has to also play her fatherly/motherly roles adequately…
Be it cattle ranch or rural grazing area (ruga), the planned establishment of either of the two at Nimbo in Uzo Uwani Local government Area by Enugu State government does not rightly fit into the current needs and priorities of the people. It is at best one move of government that will pitch it against the people. In retrospect, on April, 25 2016, the infamous, deadly ‘Nimbo Massacre’ resulted to the death of over 45 persons. The dastardly act was perpetrated on the same contentious issues revolving ultimately around cattle breeding, cattle ranching or ruga. The traumatic experiences left in…
The recent relocation of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Lagos State was a strategic, operational decision which ordinarily should not have made news headlines. However, with the censure raised by leaders especially of northern Nigerian extraction, the move has become a topical national discourse. The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) – a prominent northern interest group in a statement by its spokesman Prof. Tukur Mohammed-Baba had strongly kicked against the planned relocations of the two federal agencies from Abuja to Lagos. According to the ACF, “the relocation of…
“Why can’t we be proactive and stop such attacks before they happen?” – Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III The senseless Christmas eve carnage unleashed on at least 28 communities in Mangu, Bokkos and Barkin Ladi Local Council Areas of Plateau State is primitive, totally awful, barbaric and condemnable. Reports from different media platforms on the incident show that over 150 innocent people were murdered in their sleep by heartless invaders while about 221 houses were burnt down and more than 10,000 persons currently displaced. The mayhem unleashed on the affected peaceful rural communities is the worst according to…
Enugu/Onitsha Expressway is one major federal road in the south eastern Nigeria begging for urgent government attention. That road is totally in a bad shape. It is an understatement to say that the road is completely dilapidated. In an ideal situation, an all important road which leads to Awka, the state capital of Anambra from Enugu, Onitsha the commercial nerve centre of the region and other adjourning communities deserves to be totally asphalted. Untill 2022, government has not shown any reasonable courage to construct a new one or carry out major repairs of the road. It is a death trap…
The already troubled Nigerian Universities educational system is in for a bigger trouble. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy has approved the implementation of a 40% auto deduction from the Gross Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of all Partially Funded Federal Government Institutions in line with the Provision of Section 62 of Finance Act, 2020 with effect from November, 2023. It was reported in some dailies that a memo to that effect dated October 17 with reference R&I/2045/T/252 and entitled “Implementation of 40% Automatic Deduction from Internally Generated Revenue of Partially Funded Federal Government Institutions.” signed by…
The unwarranted physical assault on the person of Joe Ajaero – President of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Imo state was barbaric and totally condemnable. Ajaero was in Imo to lead a protest rally slated to demand for better wages and welfare of workers who are owed about 48 months of salaries, pension and arrears. The union leader was arrested at the Imo state Secretariat of NLC by the police, taken away, roundly assaulted and dehumanised. A video trending online and front page pictures of national dailies showed a swollen bloodshot face in the right eye of the veteran unionist.…
The vanity of godfatherism in Nigerian politics is boldly engraved on the crisis currently rocking Rivers State. It should have been very clear to politicians by now that imposing their preferred candidate on the people does not guarantee any peace or mutual respect between the godfather and godson. The selfish arrangement to rule by proxy and remain politically relevant from all indication has remarkably failed when the godson takes oath of office. However, in their desperate bid to cover up traces of corruption while in office, politicians recruit supposed minions who will do their biddings after bowing out. Siminalaye Fubara,…
Efforts to get justice and overturn the victory of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the February 25 polls by Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) finally ended in fiasco at the Supreme Court. The apex court as envisioned simply toed the line of the lower tribunal, upheld the election of Tinubu and dismissed the appeals of both petitioners for lacking in merit. What this implies according to the seven-man Justices led by James Iyang Okoro was that the election was free, fair, credible and had substantially…
The recent Kano Police Constabulary recruitment of those called ‘repentant criminals’ is the latest amnesty granted rogue elements in Nigeria. A total of fifty (50) members of the notorious Kano based gang groups and hardened criminal elements engaged in thuggery (Fadan Daba) and other social vices in the state have been enlisted. The idea behind the development, according to investigations by Daily Post – an online newspaper revealed that; “it was aimed at using the repentant criminals against their colleagues who have refused to repent and shun criminal activities.” Another reason according to the police is repentance from the old…
On October 7, the world woke up to a surprised and unprovoked attack on Israeli territory by the Palestinian led Hamas group resulting to death of scores and destruction of properties. Hamas was said to have launched over 5000 rocket propelled attacks on Israel lasting several hours. Sources from Aljazeera quoted Mohammed Deif, head of the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas as saying, “we announced the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and we announce that the first strike, which targeted enemy positions, airports and military fortifications exceeded 5,000 missiles and shells.” At least 1200 civilians were reported dead,…
“Exposed: How Tinubu Forged His Certificates,” was the cover page story of The Source Magazine edition of October 4, 1999. The same magazine subsequently reported a week later, “Tinubu Is a Criminal – Deserves 10 years in jail” – Gani Fawehinmi. Invariably, even as the then governor of Lagos State, this same certificate forgery case had reared its ugly head. But Tinubu deployed every underhand tactics and powers at his disposal to frustrate any attempt to unveil the truth. However, he should have known that, a wise man should not fall twice at the same spot. The thief can easily…
Big Brother Naija is a live-in-house reality TV show featuring a group of housemates who compete over a coveted star prize and other brand sponsored consolation wins. The star prize for the 2023 season tagged all-star season was N120 million. BBNaija has a huge number of following especially among the youths. The show is sustained by viewers and those who constantly vote to keep their favourite housemates in the house till the end. Biggie’s Diary Session with housemates illuminates the hidden intentions, interactions, actions, expectations and behaviours in the house. It is a game of intrigues governed by strict rules.…
“Music is the food of the soul” – Arthur Schopenhauer The sudden death of Ilerioluwa Aloba, 27 years old young Nigerian musician – also known as MohBad – which shook the foundation of the Nigerian music industry was avoidable. It is an invite to protect our societal values. Until his death, he was a member of the Marlian Record Label owned by Azeez Fashola – Naira Marley. Naira Marley’s notorious gangsterism, embarrassing street philosophy and values dares acceptable societal norms. His fans are also notoriously deranged, gullible students and disciples of depravities. Their weird belief stops them from going to…
“Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve” – George Bernard Shaw Leadership failure is at the heart of the problem with African democracies. Others are authoritarian monarchy in the garb of democracy and sit-tight syndrome by those at the helm of affairs, glaring impunity, and corrupt enrichment of leaders, failed institutions and many more. Over the years democracy has produced the worst form of government accomplishments in Africa. Gross under development, poverty and the incurred debt burden weighing down Africa on account of financial recklessness of leaders, failed policies and decayed infrastructure…
“Let justice be done; though the heavens fall.” – Lord Mansfield (1772) The much awaited verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has come and gone. It was certainly an unfortunate addition to the league of controversial electoral jurisprudence of our time. This came after a never experienced legal fireworks between counsels to parties closely monitored and keenly-followed by citizens to ensure there was no miscarriage of justice. In its judgment, the tribunal roundly dismissed the petitions filled by Allied People’s Movement (APM), People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) challenging the declaration of Bola Tinubu as the…
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike took oath of office as the 17th minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) together with other 47 newly appointed cabinet members at the presidential villa, Abuja early last week. Wike, a staunch member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) was the immediate past governor of Rivers State. He was the arrow head of the breakaway G5 governors of the PDP consisting of former governors Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwauanyi, Okezie Ikpeazu, and the incumbent governor of Oyo State Seyi Makinde. As the leader of the G5 Splinter group of PDP governors opposed to Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy in…
