BABANGIDA, ABACHA, BUHARI, TINUBU SAME FATHER, DIFFERENT MOTHERS – RAMATU YUSUF
BABANGIDA, ABACHA, BUHARI, TINUBU: SAME FATHER, DIFFERENT MOTHERS – RAMATU YUSUFWith the exception of Abacha, these rulers oversaw the legalised plundering of Nigeria’s commonwealth in the guise of ‘privatisation’. They also handed over the country to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB). In fact, Obasanjo and Babangida dressed these Western financial institutions in colourful Nigerian attires, and handed over the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria, amongst others, to their staff. Tinubu handed over Nigeria’s brain to them.Generals Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, and Muhammadu Buhari are Nigeria’s most anti-democratic, anti-federalism, and anti-people rulers since independence. The addition to that roll is President Bola Ahmed TinubuObasanjo, as military head of state, standardised the tradition of wastage, the destruction of the public service, the pillaging of the economy, the mass killing of students, and the imposition of a anti-democracy and anti-federal constitution on Nigerians.With the exception of Abacha, these rulers oversaw the legalised plundering of Nigeria’s commonwealth in the guise of ‘privatisation’. They also handed over the country to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB). In fact, Obasanjo and Babangida dressed these Western financial institutions in colourful Nigerian attires, and handed over the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria, amongst others, to their staff. Tinubu handed over Nigeria’s brain to them.These rulers inherited the DNA of their father, who invaded and colonised Nigeria. With independence, their father indigenised himself as a Nigerian, married different women, and gave birth to different children. Like their father, they are extremely deceptive, divisive, unforgiving, domineering, and parasitic. They are also anti-democracy, anti-federalism, and anti-development.Dangote RefineryJust as their father shot his way to power, so did Obasanjo, Babangida, and Abacha. Tinubu ‘shot’ his way to power with ‘his’ money, in an election rigging match refereed by the Independent National Electoral Commission.They all claim affinity with democracy but practiced or are practising authoritarianism. They strive to lure the hungry Nigerian mass to sleep by administering on them anaesthetics called palliatives. This soon wears off and the pains return. Maybe the only exception was Abacha, who has been described as: “a man of few words and deadly action”!Babangida imposed the destructive and deadly International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank’s neoliberalism, even after the society had rejected it. Students, in fact, demonstrated their desire to sacrifice for the development of Nigeria, when they sang: “We like amm (two times)/We we like Nigeria/We like am pass IMF/We like am pass World Bank/n Everything dey for Nigeria/Make we join hands to make Nigeria better/Make we join hands to make Nigeria greater!”The Babangida action set Nigeria on the path of never-ending crises. Nevertheless, he created, amongst others, the National Directorate of Employment in 1986, to advance vocational training and skills acquisition, rural empowerment and, by extension, employment generation. He also established the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure in 1986, aimed at mobilising, supporting, and developing rural communities to promote food production, and raise the standard of living of the rural dwellers.
TINUBU BELIEVES HE KNOWS IT ALL, HE TAKES NO ADVICE – BUCKNOR-AKERELE
TINUBU BELIEVES HE KNOWS IT ALL, HE TAKES NO ADVICE – BUCKNOR-AKERELEChief (Mrs) Kofowola Bucknor-Akerele, a former member of the Senate, was the deputy governor from 1999 to 2002 when Senator Bola Tinubu was the governor of Lagos State. She speaks, in this interview by Deputy Editor, BOLA BADMUS, on her relationship with President Tinubu and on the state of the nation.In the 1990s, you were very active as part of NADECO and other pro-democracy groups. How did you get into politics? How did you become the deputy governor to former Governor Bola Tinubu who is now the president?Politics runs in my family. I came into politics because my father, too, was a politician. He contested on the platform of the Action Group and lost to the late Joseph Modupe Johnson (JMJ), but he and JMJ remained friends until their deaths.In fact, my father’s clinic on Apapa Road was in one of JMJ’s houses. So, you see how the politics of that time was. My father encouraged me to go into politics. He felt that women were not represented enough.You got along fine with Tinubu when he was governor of Lagos State and you were his deputy until things went sour between the two of you. How did the relationship get frosty?We were on cordial terms at the start. When we were campaigning, all the food we were eating and everything was from my house in Victoria Island. So, as you said, it started okay. Where things went wrong was when Tinubu wanted to take over the Alliance for Democracy from the leaders and elders of the party. He wanted me to join him in the quest but I refused. That was when we fell apart. I felt the leaders and elders of the party were the ones who supported us to get to where we were. They also were the founders of the party on whose platform we contested. I said it was wrong; that we should not plot to take over the party from them.Have you spoken to Senator Tinubu since he assumed office as the president?No, I haven’t. I have no reason to speak to him. We are not in the same party; I am in the PDP and a member of the party’s Board of Trustees. I have no reason to speak to him.So, you two have not spoken to each other for a very long time?It’s been several years.Have things remained like this since you were removed as his deputy in 2002?Well, we spoke, I think, when we met at one occasion when the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium was being dedicated. He greeted me and I greeted him.That was all? No conversation?That was all; no conversation, none, at all.The prevailing economic situation is bad and Nigerians are complaining bitterly. What consolation would you offer the suffering citizens at this time?Well, I don’t know whether I would go for consolation. There is no consolation I can give them because I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. The situation is bad. In fact, it is appalling. People cannot eat. Even I have to watch my finances now because there are so many people that I have to help. When my phone rings in the morning, it is somebody asking for financial assistance. When the situation is like this, it is really terrible.I will give you an example: Yesterday, I had cause to buy some medicine for one of my relatives. I usually buy his medicine. Two weeks ago, the medicine cost N14,000, but when I went to buy it yesterday, it was N20,000. You see, the price of items goes up by the day. Any day you go to the market, you find that the price of…
TINUBU NOT A LAGOS INDIGENE, HE WANTS TO PUT NON-INDIGENES IN POWER – BUCKNOR-AKERELE
TINUBU NOT A LAGOS INDIGENE, HE WANTS TO PUT NON-INDIGENES IN POWER – BUCKNOR-AKERELE A former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Chief (Mrs) Kofowola Bucknor-Akerele,, has expressed concern over the growing political dominance of non-indigenous individuals in Lagos. Bucknor-Akerele, who served under the then Governor Bola Tinubu, shared her thoughts on the issue, attributing the situation to deliberate actions aimed at sidelining indigenous Lagosians. She believes that the exclusion of indigenes from key political positions is part of a long-term strategy that has evolved since her time in office. During her tenure as deputy governor, Bucknor-Akerele observed the gradual rise of non-indigenous politicians in Lagos. She stated that this trend began during the administration she was part of, pointing to Tinubu’s leadership as a critical factor. According to her, despite Tinubu’s prominent role in Lagos politics, he himself is not an indigenous Lagosian, a fact that she believes influenced his approach to governance in the state. She suggested that Tinubu’s actions during his time as governor were aimed at surrounding himself with loyalists, many of whom were not from Lagos. The former deputy governor went on to imply that Tinubu’s background played a significant role in shaping his political strategy. She asserted that Tinubu, aware of his non-indigenous status, worked to promote other non-Lagosians into positions of power. This, according to Bucknor-Akerele, was a way for him to secure support and control over the political landscape of the state. By elevating non-indigenous politicians, she believes Tinubu ensured that his influence would remain unchallenged, particularly by indigenous Lagosians who might have resisted his policies. The controversy surrounding the political representation of indigenous Lagosians has continued to stir debate in the state. Many Lagosians feel that their rights and opportunities are being eroded by individuals who do not have deep-rooted ties to the area. Bucknor-Akerele’s remarks have reignited discussions on the issue, particularly among those who feel marginalized by the current political dynamics in Lagos. Bucknor-Akerele’s comments reflect a growing sentiment among some indigenous Lagosians who feel excluded from key leadership roles in their state. As Lagos remains Nigeria’s economic hub, the struggle for political control has intensified, with both indigenes and non-indigenes vying for influence. The former deputy governor’s statements suggest that this power struggle has historical roots, dating back to the early 2000s when non-indigenes began gaining prominence in the state’s political hierarchy. She said: “I am an indigenous Lagosian and, therefore, I feel very strongly about it because I think it is being purposely done. It is being purposely done that non-Lagosians should take over the most important positions from indigenes of Lagos State. “We started noticing it when Tinubu and I were in power. Let’s face it. Whatever anybody says, Tinubu is not a Lagosian and I feel because of that, he wanted to put non-Lagosians in power to support him. “I think he knew that with his background and antecedents, it would be difficult for him to do maneuvers in Lagos State and so he started promoting non-Lagosians into positions of power.
YOU’RE LIGHT GUIDING ME THROUGH CHALLENGES – TINUBU EULOGISES WIFE, OLUREMI AT 64
YOU’RE LIGHT GUIDING ME THROUGH CHALLENGES – TINUBU EULOGISES WIFE, OLUREMI AT 64 President Bola Tinubu on Saturday, September 21, penned down a heartwarming birthday message for First Lady Oluremi as she turns 64 years old. In a post made on X, the president addressed the First Lady as “My Dearest Oluremi”. He said that his heart is full of gratitude and love for the kind of incredible woman she has become over time. Describing the First Lady as his rock, the president said in every step, Oluremi has shown unwavering strength, grace, and love to not just him but their family and Nigeria at large. He also commended for for guiding him through the most difficult challenges and her dedication to inspire several Nigerians. He said, “You are the heart of our home, the light guiding me through the most challenging days, and the embodiment of kindness and wisdom. “Your compassion, generosity, and dedication inspire millions of Nigerians and me, especially our young women, who look up to you as their First Lady,” he wrote. He added that as she turns 64, he wishes her nothing but boundless joy, peace, and happiness. He said, “May this year unfold with blessings, laughter, and cherished moments you so richly deserve. I look forward to all the moments we will create together in the years to come. “With all my love and appreciation, now and always, “Yours Bola,” the president concluded.
OBASANJO CARPETS CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICERS, SAYS THIEVES CAN’T PROVIDE GOOD GOVERNANCE
OBASANJO CARPETS CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICERS, SAYS THIEVES CAN’T PROVIDE GOOD GOVERNANCE Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said corrupt politicians cannot provide good governance. He spoke virtually at the memorial lecture of Denis Joseph Slattery on “the imperative for moral rectitude in governance”, held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The memorial lecture, organised by the Old Boys’ Association of St. Finbarr’s College, was in remembrance of the late Irish-born missionary who sojourned to Ilawe-Ekiti, Nigeria in 1941. The former president who referred to corrupt political leaders and politicians as “thieves”, said such people cannot provide just governance. He said they should be jailed for their misconduct, adding that the most important demand of anybody involved in governance at any level is “accountability”. According to the 87-year-old statesman, government officials with “questionable” integrity cannot make fair decisions for the greater good. “If you look clinically at the people in government today at both executive and legislative levels, some of them should be permanently behind bars for their past misdemeanour and criminal misconduct.” “You cannot expect thieves to give good judgement in favour of the owner of the property,” he said. The Abeokuta-born politician and one time Head of State further recalled his shocking experience with corruption, citing how a government official normalised criminal behaviour when confronted. “The first thing that shocked me when I went into politics was the level of corruption of election officials which was taken as normal”. “The second was the level of general and criminal misbehaviour which was taken with levity and impunity. We were at a meeting and a man lied and I confronted him, and the next thing he said is ‘It is all politics, Sir’. “Every bad thing they do is passed on as politics which means politics has no room for morality, principles, rectitude, ethics, good character and attributes.” Obasanjo added that Nigeria needs “transformational leaders rather than transactional leaders, truth instead of lies, honesty instead of dishonesty, integrity instead of disintegrity, hope instead of despair, production instead of deduction, inclusion instead of exclusion and marginalisation”. The late Iris clergy in 1943 was posted to St. Gregory’s College, Obalende, Lagos, as a teacher and games master. Slattery founded St. Finbarr’s College in January 1956 as part of his mission in Nigeria He was also the pioneer chairman of the Nigerian Football Association and a founding member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). He was honoured with the Order of the Niger (OON) by Obasanjo in 2001. He died in July 2003. The memorial was attended by notable persons including Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River, ex-footballer Segun Odegbami, music producer ID Cabasa, and actor Patrick Doyle.
Dons Eze
- Foreign Affairs
- September 21, 2024
- 92 views
HOW MEDIA WAR BETWEEN US, RT AFFECTS NIGERIA
HOW MEDIA WAR BETWEEN US, RT AFFECTS NIGERIAAll governments have tried to shape public opinion by establishing international media outlets. Governments had shortwave radio stations during the Cold War, they have had international satellite news stations since the 1990s and they have also had internet sites. They have set up organisations like the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the Voice of America (VOA), France 24, Deutche Welle (Voice of Germany), China Global Television Network (CGTN) and Russia Today (RT).I followed RT and the BBC at the start of the War in Ukraine so that I could get information from both sides and make up my own mind. However, Western Governments accused RT of running a disinformation campaign and they banned the station. RT’s YouTube channel was initially restricted and then it was removed. The broadcaster was banned from many social media sites and its officials in the United States were required to register as agents of a foreign power.On Friday, September 13th, the United States Secretary of State announced new sanctions on RT.The United States Secretary of State is the most senior minister in the United States Cabinet. He is 4th in the line of succession to the presidency (President → Vice President → Speaker of the House → Senate President Pro Tempore → Secretary of State). The Secretary of State is basically the US foreign minister. The current secretary of state is Anthony Blinken.Anthony Blinken said that they discovered that RT was not only spreading disinformation, it had also started acting as an arm of the Russian Armed Forces. He said that cyber experts from the Russian Armed Forces had been embedded in RT. He said that RT was raising funds for weapons for the military and he also said that RT was using certain organisations as fronts to distabilise democracies all over the world.Of particular relevance to Nigeria is the fact that he said that RT created and is funding and running the online media outlet Africa Stream.Here is a full transcript of Secretary Blinken’s media conference.Secretary Antony J. Blinken Remarks to the Press RemarksAntony J. Blinken, Secretary of StatePress Briefing RoomWashington, D.C.September 13, 2024SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon, everyone. And for those of you who were traveling, welcome home.Accurate information is vital to the health of any democracy. It helps citizens understand the issues and effects – and events that are affecting their lives. It empowers them to engage meaningfully in their communities, their country, the world. When state or non-state actors spread disinformation, material deliberately meant to deceive or divide our public, they attack the very foundations of our free and open society.In March, I laid out the comprehensive steps the administration is taking to address this threat to our national security and to our national fabric.First, we’re building a more resilient global information system, where objective facts are elevated and deceptive messages gain less traction. We’re doing that by promoting policies and programs that protect a free, vibrant, and independent press and that foster greater civic and media literacy so that people can better distinguish fact from fiction.Second, we’re working to expose, to disrupt, to deter disinformation. Through the State Department Global Engagement Center, we’re coordinating government-wide and with other countries to identify, to analyze, to undercover attempts by governments and non-state actors to manipulate information.Third, we’re taking steps to hold accountable those who weaponize disinformation to undermine our democracy. That’s what we did just last week when the State Department, the Justice Department, the Treasury Department, the FBI took a series of coordinated actions to counter Russian influence and interference in our elections and in our democracy.In addition to imposing sanctions, visa restrictions, and other measures, the State Department also designated the Russian state-funded and directed media company…
SACK EFCC BOSS, OLUKAYODE, FOR SHAMEFUL HANDLING OF YAHAYA BELLO’S CASE – CD
SACK EFCC BOSS, OLUKAYODE, OVER SHAMEFUL HANDLING OF YAHAYA BELLO’S CASE – CD The Campaign for Democracy (CD) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately remove the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing its handling of a former governor’s case as “shameful.” In a statement, CD President Comrade Ifeanyi Odili slammed the EFCC for allowing a former governor, Yahaya Bello previously on its watchlist and pursued by Interpol, to walk into its office without being arrested or interrogated. The anti-graft agency later claimed it could not act because the ex-governor was accompanied by a sitting governor, which Odili called an unacceptable excuse. Governor Ododo Allegedly Shields Yahaya Bello from EFCC Arrest AgainOdili also condemned the EFCC’s actions later that night, when gunshots were fired during a raid on the governor’s Abuja residence, labeling the incident a “show of shame” that suggests the commission may have ulterior motives beyond fighting corruption. He emphasized that, in more accountable societies, the EFCC chairman would have been removed the next day. The CD is now calling on President Tinubu to restore public trust by swiftly replacing the EFCC leadership.
DESPITE PREVAILING HARDSHIP, TINUBU WANTS MORE TIGHTENING OF BELT, SAYS NO FREE BEER PARLOUR ANYMORE
DESPITE PREVAILING HARDSHIP, TINUBU WANTS MORE TIGHTENING OF BELT, SAYS NO FREE BEER PARLOUR ANYMORE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has told Nigerians that there is no free beer parlour anymore. He said the people must work hard, focusing on agriculture and should be patient with the government. Tinubu said his administration was in the process of retooling and rebuilding the country’s economy and should be given the time to achieve this. Tinubu made this known when the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly, led by former Senate President Ken Nnamani, paid him a visit in Abuja. “People say we’re hungry; yes, I understand that. We don’t want to keep the people hungry and angry, but we say be patient— we must work hard. There is no free beer parlour anymore. We’ll retool and rebuild Nigeria’s economy,” said President Tinubu. The President is saying this at a time Nigerians grapple with economic hardship occasioned by the twin policies of fuel subsidy removal and Naira floating. Recall that the removal of the petrol subsidy on the president’s first day in office had tripled the pump price of fuel. As of Friday, filling stations in Abuja sell between N950 and N1,100 per liter of petrol. Additionally, the move to unify exchange rate windows, also a day one policy, pushed the naira to an all-time low, trading at above N1,500 to a dollar from N600 to one dollar he met on May 29, 2023. As of Friday, the Naira to Dollar stood at N1,544 at the official market.
HIGH PETROL PRICE HAS WIPED OUT N70,OOO MINIMUM WAGE – NLC PRESIDENT
HIGH PETROL PRICE HAS WIPED OUT N70,000 MINIMUM WAGE – NLC PRESIDENT The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised concerns that the current price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol has eroded the benefits of the proposed N70,000 new national minimum wage, which is yet to be implemented. NLC President Joe Ajaero made this statement during a two-day workshop in Lagos, emphasising the urgent need for the government to address the impact of rising fuel costs on workers’ lives. Ajaero accused President Bola Tinubu of misleading organised labour into accepting the minimum wage with the promise of stabilising petrol prices. He stressed the dire conditions many Nigerians are facing, advising the government to tackle the widespread hunger, poverty, and frustration before the situation worsens. Reflecting on prior discussions with Tinubu, Ajaero stated, “We were betrayed by Mr President,” reiterating that the administration has denied their claims of betrayal. He recounted how the president had positioned them against a choice between a N250,000 minimum wage and increasing petrol prices, leading to a one-week adjournment for further consultations. He argued that even a N250,000 wage would be insufficient if fuel prices continue to rise, stating, “In fact, that N250,000 may not be enough to even buy fuel.” The union president also highlighted the government’s proposal to fund a trip to West African countries to investigate their fuel pricing, insisting that the government should instead focus on curbing smuggling at the borders. He said, “Mr President equally offered to fund our trip to tour some West African countries, where the least price of petrol is selling at N1,700. He even said in Cameroon, they are selling N2000 and that none of them has a refinery but they are getting their products from Nigeria. “We responded by telling him to check the borders because that is why they are smuggling those products to those countries. We equally said no because Nigerians will say they have given us money; they won’t say it’s money for us to visit those West African states.” Ajaero said at the adjourned meeting, the labour union made it clear that their priority was not negotiating petrol prices but rather ensuring the implementation of the minimum wage. He acknowledged the challenges from private sector employers during the discussions, noting their resistance to wage increases and the need for solidarity among labour representatives. The NLC president also noted that there are plans for the union to meet next Thursday with the federal government on how workers could survive the recent hike in the pump price of petrol.
EDO 2024: THE THREE HORSE RACE: HOW THE CANDIDATES STAND
EDO 2024: THE THREE HORSE RACE: HOW THE CANDIDATES STANDEligible voters in Edo State will go to the polls on Saturday, September 21, to elect a new governor that will take over from the incumbent, Godwin Obaseki, who will complete his statutory eight-year tenure by November 12, 2024.Campaigns for the coveted seat have been intense. Candidates from 17 political parties are in the contest. THISDAY examines the candidates and the factors that may swing victory in their favour, as well as their strengths and weaknesses in the fierce contest.The political atmosphere in Edo State is reaching a feverish pitch. The frenzy is on, typical of elections in Nigeria, as electioneering has always been characterised by the usual carpet-crossing, alignments and realignments; horse-trading and violence. No doubt, the election is a three-horse race, but this particular contest is peculiar in several ways.The rivalry between PDP, the governing party in Edo State, and APC, the party in charge at the national level, is more of a status and influence contest between two former allies, Governor Godwin Obaseki, and his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, now a senator.Before the duo parted ways, they were political bedfellows, such that against all protestations, Oshiomhole, as the outgoing governor in 2016, ensured that Obaseki, who then was a political neophyte, became the governor of the state on the platform of APC. But soon after the inauguration of Obaseki, the honeymoon between him and his then benefactor, Oshiomhole, was over. Both men became political enemies and never agreed again politically.Saturday’s election will rekindle the rivalry between the duo, which began in 2019, when 14 elected state lawmakers loyal to Oshiomhole, were prevented from being sworn in as members of the House of Assembly, a situation orchestrated by Obaseki. To get back at Obaseki, Oshiomhole, then as National Chairman of APC, had denied Obaseki APC’s second term governorship ticket, an issue that would later cost him his own job.Oshiomhole is looking to reassert his influence in the state. But Obaseki is determined not to yield an inch. And with both men backing the opposing front runners, the stakes couldn’t be higher. And, of course, the candidate of Labour Party, Olumide Akpata, is poised to take advantage of the numerical strength of the zone he hails from.The three leading candidates are Asue Ighodalo of the governing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olumide Akpata of Labour Party (LP), and Monday Okpebholo of All Progressives Congress (APC). Since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared campaigns open for the off-cycle election some months ago, the stakes have increased daily, with political tension in full swing.There have been threats to security at different times, but the campaigns have also degenerated to character debate, with two of the frontline candidates – Ighodalo and Okpebholo – staying away from a debate organised for the candidates. Things got to a head last week, when PDP and its candidate, Ighodalo, declined to sign the peace accord, an electoral ritual, on the allegation that the police, an institution meant to provide security, was biased and working for APC.APC, also, initially refused to sign the agreement because an orderly to its candidate was killed during the campaigns and his killers had yet to be apprehended. But it eventually signed the peace pact. These scenarios have significantly coloured the tenor of campaigns, preparatory to the election this weekend. And they have further exposed the strengths and weaknesses of each of the candidates, inadvertently hinting at how they may stand in the election.Asue IghodaloQuite a few factors are going well for the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo. These include his pedigree and sound education. A lawyer, economist, and head of various blue-chip companies, with eloquence and the ability to sell his manifesto, “Pathway to Prosperity For…