By Victor Oladokun

I’ve read with either great interest or dismay, several informed and uninformed comments about the current Aliko Dangote – NNPC brouhaha. Make no mistake about it. This is a battle that has gone viral and taken the global business, financial, and diplomatic community by storm.

I cannot ever recall an attempt of this magnitude by a State-owned company such as NNPC that is designed to discourage, discredit, and destroy a business enterprise of this size, influence, and impact. Never.

The NNPC has been quick to roll out its official spokespersons and political and media backers. Their aspersions have been fast and furious. In some instances, their logic and rebuttals have just not sounded credible.

Some members of the public, giddy with delight, continue to denigrate Aliko and the Dangote Group. Rather than deal with the exact and immediate nature of Aliko’s problems with NNPC, they throw up spurious statements about ‘karma,’ and Aliko’s alleged monopolistic business tendencies.

Others sensing that there is much more to this ugly public spat than meets the eye, have defended Aliko as most right-thinking entrepreneurial and business-minded Nigerians would.

The stakes are high. Whether we like it or not.

1. This is a massive de-marketing of Nigeria, investment wise.

Proverbially, money only goes where it is made comfortable. Markets and investment analysts always respond to signals. And this one is not good, nor does it bode well for Nigeria.

Africa and Nigeria, in particular, suffer rightly or wrongly from an asymmetry of perception and information. Ours is a narrative that is in constant need of improvement. Consequently, if you have ever been part of a Nigerian investment road show, you will realize how challenging it is to convince global investors that the country is a desirable investment destination.

The current drama plays right into the preconceived narrative about Nigeria – a nation where those who sacrifice, indeed become the sacrifice, as someone has already rightly commented.

2. Outside of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Aliko Dangote is the largest employer of labor in Nigeria. Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians depend on the Dangote Group for jobs and a decent living. They are paid on time and not owed a salary arrears, as is the case with some unmentionables.

Many more are direct and indirect beneficiaries of Dangote enterprises across several value chains in the country.

3. In the daily economic, financial, social, and development landscape of Nigeria, Aliko Dangote is a force to be reckoned with. This is an undeniable fact. Referring to Aliko as a ‘monopolist’ in the oil refining business is one of the most laughable comments I have heard.

Aside from the huge financial burden (one that has turned Aliko’s hair completely grey in the span of less than a year), the vision, boldness, and logistical genius that it has taken to set up this refinery, is simply mind boggling. As a visionary leader and entrepreneur, he has my greatest respect.

Regrettably, Nigeria is one of the only countries I know of where those producing nothing and doing nothing take perverse delight in pulling down the accomplished and successful.

I guess doing so psychologically detracts from their own failures or their abject lack of accomplishment. If you have lived, worked, or invested in Nigeria long enough, you will be quite familiar with this phenomenon and those it describes.

At a great cost to Nigerian taxpayers, the country owns and runs four abysmally non-performing oil refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt, and Warri. Scandalously, for decades, Nigeria has spent millions, if not billions of dollars, ‘upgrading’ these elephant projects to no avail.

What Nigeria has done and continues to do with its oil sector is a scandal of epic proportions. We are one of the world’s leading producers of crude oil, yet it has pleased and profited some to ensure that Nigeria daily exports its raw crude and then re-imports it into the country as refined finished products. Sometimes, Nigeria’s reality is stranger than fiction. But then, sadly, it is what it is.

The cost to Nigeria in lost revenues, foreign exchange, jobs, and business opportunities is unquantifiable. Yet, the status quo means nothing to some, nor does it move the hearts of the powers that be. For many, the end justifies the means … whatever means possible.

Caught in the middle are millions of Nigerians who daily suffer the indignity of poverty in the midst of plenty. That is the tragedy of Nigeria and the current spat between two key players.

The saga provides his Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), whose mercurial business mindset is legendary, the opportunity to –

* Wade in, intervene, calm nerves, and ensure peace prevails.

* Sanitize Nigeria’s oil sector (a perennial challenge that I am sure even Angels will ask God to be reassigned from), and

* Quickly bolster global investor confidence.

I wish the Federal Government, the Dangote Group, and the good people of Nigeria, all the best.

Dr. Victor Oladokun, is a Communications Expert & Public Affairs Analyst

By Akinremi Olaolu

Every period in the history of mankind,God throws up a leader among the people. The chosen one is always made to suit the purpose at hand and to lead the people out of a particular crisis.

The crisis at hand in Nigeria now is multi-dimensional. It has socio-political, economic, and moral sides. Therefore, what is needed is a leader with the right knowledge, experience,connections,temperament, vision,determination,and programme to lead in harnessing and distributing state resources for the overall benefit of the people.

With the way things are going in our country, it is obvious that to develop Nigeria, each of the sub-national entities must work to bring development to their area. They must put their best brains and hands to work such that each of them becomes a development centre and good news must be simultaneously coming from every state in terms of improvement in the lives of the people.

Back home in Kwara State, it is obvious that the government in place is not doing well at all. It is not only bereft of ideas as to how to identify the resources of the state, harness them for general purpose, and redistribute them to make the overwhelming majority of the people happy and prosperous.

Yet,we are stuck with that government for the next 34 months when their mandate will expire. The current government in Kwara State under the leadership of Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has demonstrated that it has no clue about how to use state resources for general development. Rather, it has been a government run on impulse.

Projects are haphazardly conceived and implemented. Individual benefits are placed over the general goal. That is why the government still appears directionless after five years in office. No project of great value has been commissioned. No policy has been unfolded and no life-changing programme is ongoing.

This takes me back to the issue of leadership. Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the Waziri of Ilorin represents many things to many people. While a lot of people see his many good sides, others do not see anything good in him. He is constitutionally barred from being governor of Kwara State, having served in that capacity, producing great results between 2003 and 2011.

He cannot even run for any office in the state having been elected Senator twice from the state and moved on to become President of the country’s highest law-making body, the Senate.

However, at every turn, events have proved without any iota of doubt that he is the best Nigerian to have ever been produced by Kwara State in particular and the North Central zone in general. Apart from being the highest national office holder ever produced by Kwara State, the recent events following the death of his mother, Chief (Mrs) Florence Morenike Saraki on June 18, 2024, have proved that Saraki is the Iroko tree under whom all Kwarans can find shade.

Between June 18th when the announcement of the transition of Mama Saraki was announced and July 19th when her remains were interred,the entire nation, irrespective of tribe, religion, political party, and socio-economic status rose as one entity to support Saraki in celebrating the life and times of his late mum.

The Ikoyi home of Saraki’s mother as well as his own homes in Lagos and Abuja became rallying points. The high and the low, Christians and Muslims, old and young, from the north and south, the highly educated and the barely educated ones, the people living with disabilities and the very fit ones, all came to commiserate with Saraki.

The President of the country, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu issued a press statement and also directed his wife and Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, to pay a condolence visit. Leaders from other African countries, diplomats, and other foreign dignitaries all visited the former Senate President, a man who in more than five years has not occupied any public office.

All these show the reach,influence, and national /international network that Saraki has. He is in a class of his own. The mother’s funeral was a class act. The lesson for us Kwarans in the before, during, and after events of the funeral is that Saraki is the undisputed national leader that God has selected for Kwara as of today. He has no match.

Whether anybody likes him or hates him, any Kwaran who has the interest of the state at heart and is motivated by the development and welfare of the state, that person has no option but to cooperate with Saraki and work with him to place Kwara State on the national map as one of the places where good news is often breaking.

Saraki has demonstrated that he knows the people, the how, and the when to network for more national and international benefits to come to Kwara State. We have to change the current narrative where in five years and with hundreds of millions of naira down the rain, no single foreign investment has come to Kwara State. Yet, the administration spends more money to antagonize Saraki.

With such a situation,how can the youths get jobs, how are we going to break the poverty circle and from where do we begin the lobby for investors to find our state attractive to put their money?

As it is,if there is any grievance or disagreement between any Kwaran and Saraki,let it be settled. Let there be forgiveness and reconciliation across the lines. Kwara State has nobody as big, well-connected, and reliable as Saraki. He is the big tree that can provide the much-needed shelter for us in the state.

He only needs our cooperation, support, and prayers to deliver.There is nowhere in the world where people are blessed with such a huge talent, shining star, and focused leader, and yet he is discarded and made to waste away on the narrow calculation of envy and dislike. If you ask a good majority of those opposed to Saraki’s leadership and who do not like him, their reason will be principally based on the talk of: Is he the only one? How can one person be the one who gets most of the top slots?

Now, that envy propelled the O to Ge campaign. It has made all of us vote for another political platform other than the one led by Saraki without weighing the options and critically examining what we are being presented as a replacement.

Now, we have experienced the other side and like the woman who just wants to change spouse to know what it looks like to be with another man, we are stuck with those who specialize in deceit and have no ideas as to what to do to better the lives of the people.

A word is enough for the wise. Let us co-operate with the one God has chosen for us. Let us seek to march with Saraki to build a new Kwara where all hands are on deck to rebuild, refocus, redevelop, and reposition the state.

Olaolu writes from Offa, Kwara State

By Funso Adegbola

I have known the Nobel Laureate, Prof Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka, who we fondly call Uncle Wole, Kongi, Prof and WS, for almost as long as I have known myself. He and my dad, Bola Ige were very close friends. They must have met at University College Ibadan, UCI- now University of Ibadan. They acted plays together in UCI and later Orisun Theater with Uncle Femi Johnson and others. Uncle Wole has documented some of their dangerous political escapades in his memoir ‘Ibadan; the Penkelemes Years’.

I remember in 1967, when my youngest brother, Muyiwa was born, my dad insisted that Uncle Wole would be his godfather. My dad gave him the book of Common Prayer, so he could acquaint himself with the baptismal vows he would take on Muyiwa’s behalf till his Confirmation. I remember during the after-baptism party, Uncle Wole, the godfather, thought it only fit and proper to introduce his godson, to his first communion, not the ‘holy’ type, but the finer taste of life- wine! He dropped a little drop of wine on his little lips! The humorous Uncle Wole!

I remember distinctly, also when he was released from detention. He was given a heroic welcome in a mini-open-sided Jeep/ Landrover style, with members of the Pyrates Confraternity in their redhead/ neck scarves singing ‘Captain Blood is back, is back forever’. Many kegs of palm wine were consumed that day. I remember that day clearly, in his house on Ebrohime Road in UI. Aunty Laide, his children and friends were there. My parents took me along.

I also remember the Summer of 1972, when I was on holiday with my parents and we stayed in a serviced flat in Kilburn. Uncle Wole and my dad had arranged to meet in London. I remember he took me and my late brother, Tunde to the Royal Observatory at Greenwich and explained to me the origin of the Greenwich Mean Time which I had learnt by rote during Geography lessons at St. Anne’s School.

He took us to see the Cutty Sark also in Greenwich. Such memorable moments! We took photos and I wish I could find them to show my ‘haters’ as documentary evidence that I know the Nobel Laureate from childhood! He even took us for a light lunch before dropping us off with our parents!

In 1986, when Prof was awarded the Nobel laureate in Sweden, my Dad, late Uncle Femi Johnson, Chief Joop Berkhout and many other friends were there. Whilst the non-Nobel laureates were dressed in dinner jackets, the Man of Letters and main celebrity was in his characteristic outfit- short aso oke ‘dashiki’ on trousers, no frills, no bells!

When he visited my parents at home, though not adept wine connoisseurs, they kept the best red wine- Chateau Neuf and the best cognac XO Courvoisier for him. He was happy when he learnt I studied French and Spanish for my first degree and he often spoke French to me in the best Parisian accent! My dad asked him if I spoke French well and he assured him his investment in my education wasn’t wasted.

With a first degree in Modern Languages followed by Law- I was following in his and my dad’s polyglot footsteps! He was proud that I knew the right glassware for his favourite drinks and served them with his preferred accompaniments.

Gbenro, his former student and I got married in Esa-Oke in August 1988. For reasons of prior commitment, he was unable to be at my wedding but he did not omit to send presents to both of us accompanied by a personal note of apology.

While in school, in Nigeria and England, I got close to his children especially Olaokun, when he was in Medical School in the UK and Moremi in Queen’s School Ibadan, when my brother Tunde was at Government College. I knew the others, Yetade, Peyibomi and Makin. Coincidentally, Yetade’s son, Adeoto is an alumnus of The Vale College. Makin has become my son Kayode’s big brother in Lagos.

As we grew older, we the children got closer especially when Olaokun and Lola lived in Ibadan, as well as the time Moremi lived in Lagos. It is amazing how our fathers’ friendship has spiralled to the 2nd and 3rd generations! It is a true testament and evidence of the special value and strength of their unconditional bond and authentic friendship.

When my Dad was assassinated that dark Sunday 23rd of December 2001 night, Uncle Wole stood solidly by my mum’s side. My daughter, Ayotunde cuddled up to him, calling him Grandpa Prof!

From the private lying-in-state to the funeral service at the Liberty Stadium right to the evening interment in our Esa-Oke home, Kongi stood firmly by my mum, like the Rock of Gibraltar- it was in his arms that my mum finally broke down in tears at the final rites of dust-to-dust and ashes to ashes. He stood by his friend and his family, right till the very end and even more so, after the dastardly act and after our mum passed on 16 months later, in April 2003.

Kongi spoke out at Dad’s funeral- he spoke truth to power in his funeral oration as he alluded to the fact that ‘the killers are among us’! No one could stop him. When the killers and ‘powers-that- were’, wanted to turn the facts and truth upside down, he warned them vehemently ‘to stop dancing on Bola Ige’s grave’. I feel so proud and protected to have Kongi in our corner.

Some of Dad’s ‘political, fair weather friends’ soon after became turncoats and dined with the enemy. But Kongi was the one true friend who kept Bola Ige’s murder on the front burner, even when others thought it politically expedient to sweep the matter under the carpet. Kongi defined for me what true friendship is and should be. I am glad that he and my Dad chose each other. I learn from you day by day. Thank you, Uncle. This means so much to me.

My darling Uncle Wole, Happy 90th birthday! I am so happy that you made it to the Nonagerian level, and still have your wits around you. You are still as fit as a fiddle and your mind is so sharp, despite the hardships you have been through as a literary and human rights activist in Nigeria.

I am glad that you are alive to see the results of your good works- you are being celebrated in all the continents of the world! You deserve this and more, our wordsmith, Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, from Ake to Ibadan and Ife on to the global stage!

I wish you many more happy years in excellent health. I thank Folake for looking after you and keeping up with your breathtaking itineraries. May your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren surround your table like olive branches, and great will be your peace forever, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

I know deep down, you don’t like to be the centre of attention, but indulge us all- your family, friends, fans and loved ones, this time. We love you very much and appreciate who you are to us, your children, especially your friend’s children. God bless and continue to keep you for us, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

With lots of love and gratitude,
Funso Adegbola.
For Bola and Tinuke Ige’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mrs Funso Adegbola,is the founder of The Vale College, Ibadan

By Engr. Abduraheem Olaitan Kehinde

It is often said that government is a continuum. What this implies is that effective governance and sustained development are largely dependent on continuity and building upon the strides and accomplishments of past leaders.

By acknowledging and building on the achievements of their predecessors in office,governors can propel their states towards greater heights and guarantee a brighter future for their citizens.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, who has never for once acknowledged the good works of those who came before him, let alone build on them. Instead, he has chosen to undermine their legacies and the foundations they laid, thereby hindering the state’s potential for growth and development.

I was moved to pen this article moments after I came across an online news story stating that the Federal Government had selected the Kwara State University (KWASU) as one of the six universities across the country to benefit from its ICT Experience Centre initiative. This initiative is a joint effort of the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Digital Economy, and part of the FG’s Learn to Earn Programme.

KWASU’s inclusion in the pilot phase of the initiative makes me believe there’s a lot that could be achieved with the institution if we had the right leadership in the state. I felt so elated that Kwara is getting national attention because of what someone had envisioned many years ago and strived earnestly to establish.

Also,not long ago,the Federal Government listed Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre (HADC), Ilorin among the 10 critical health care service centres across the fields of radiology, clinical pathology, medical and radiation oncology, and cardiac catheterization that it intends to upgrade and expand.

It is delightful to note that these two projects – KWASU and HADC – that have received the attention of the federal government are legacies of the past PDP-led administration of Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki. These two projects have eased access to tertiary education for young Kwarans, boosted access to critical healthcare services for Kwarans and also created jobs for them.

It is heartwarming that despite the sustained efforts of Governor Abdulrazaq to undermine the good works of past administrators of the state, some of their works are still relevant and noticeable as they continue to positively impact the lives of Kwarans who are the ultimate beneficiaries.

For years,Governor Abdulrazaq and his shameless handlers ran the propaganda and lies that former PDP administrations did not do anything in the State. This speaks volumes of their small-mindedness and lack of leadership. Isn’t it time for him and his team of liars to bury their heads in shame? .

Since coming into office, out of sheer bitterness and envy, Governor Abdulrazaq has consistently undermined and neglected critical projects executed by the immediate past PDP-led governments. Notable among the projects is the Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre. Determined to kill the Health Centre, the governor has refused to fund it by upgrading facilities there and also failed to prioritise the welfare of workers at the Centre by starving them of their salary payments.

As of today, I’m not sure there is any staff in that Centre who has received salaries more than twice in the last six months. This callous disregard for the welfare of this professionals and the vital services they provide is inexcusable.

Under Abdulrazaq’s administration, the facility that once stood as a beacon of medical excellence, has been reduced to a shadow of its former self.

Just like Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre, KWASU is another legacy project of past administration that has suffered neglect under Governor Abdulrazaq’s administration.

Since assumption of office, Abdulrazaq has failed to fund the university neither has he provided it with needed support. Despite his pre-2019 election campaign pledge, the governor has refused to pay subventions to the institution. This is forcing management of the university to admit more students than its capacity, putting undue pressure on lecturers and available facilities at the citadel of learning.

The governor cannot point at any infrastructural or facility upgrade his government has carried out in KWASU since 2019. Another sad thing to note is the deliberate abandonment of the construction of the satellite campuses of the university in Osi (Kwara South) and Ilesha-Baruba (Kwara North), which the immediate past administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed was working on.

After five years in office,it is not certain if the present administration had added a piece of block to the two projects. Rather than see to the completion of the two campuses, Governor Abdulrazaq is hellbent of establishing his own University of Education project, which shouldn’t be a priority for any responsible and responsive governor.

We all know the transformation and impact the completion and operation of the two KWASU campuses will have on the host communities of Osi and Ilesha-Baruba and the neighbouring communities.

We are all witnesses to the impact the presence of KWASU brought to Malete and its environs. His failure to complete these projects after five years in office is another reflection of his narrow-mindedness and poor approach to governance and leadership.

Furthermore, is there any reasonable justification for Governor Abdulrazaq’s decision to convert the Cargo Terminal at the Ilorin International Airport (now known as the Gen. Tunde Idiagbon Airport) to a mundane tailors’ complex called Garment Factory?.

Even if the Cargo Terminal wasn’t in operation, couldn’t he have initiated moves to revitalize and put it into use? What is more saddening is that more than a year after the Garment Factory was completed, no meaningful activity is taking place there, leaving the equipment procured with taxpayers’ monies to rot away.

This is the same way the government has failed to open the Tanke Bridge more than eight months after its completion, with the government refusing to tell the public why the facility is yet to be opened for public use.

Perhaps,the government isn’t proud of the poor job done on the project and fears its devastating consequence. The quality of the Tanke bridge can’t even match the quality of the Post-Office bridge that was built over 15 years ago by the Saraki-led administration.

I believe sooner or later, Kwarans will come to know the truth and what the government has been hiding about the Tanke bridge that gulped billions of naira of Kwara’s money.

It is glaring that Governor Abdulrazaq’s refusal to acknowledge and build upon the strides and achievements of his predecessors, coupled with his incompetence, maladministration and mismanagement of state’s resources has hampered Kwara’s growth and development, and that’s not difficult to see.

It is evident that while the governor and his administration seem intent on undermining the legacies leaders who came before him, especially Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the State and its people continue to benefit from his visionary initiatives thirteen years after his time in office, a testament to his foresight and effective leadership.

Clearly, Kwara is in desperate need of such competent, forward-thinking, and purposeful leadership at this critical point.

By Mohammed Bougei Attah

On the eve of Eid al-Adha celebration, and in line with the powers vested on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in sections 5(1), 148 and 171 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu relieved and directed Mr. Mamman Ahmadu, the erstwhile Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP to handover his position to the most senior Director at the Bureau.

Following this directive, the most senior Director in the Bureau, Barrister Olusegun Omotola took over as the Overseeing Director General of the BPP according to reports. This is in line with FGN Circular of July 4, 2017.

Recall that on March 18, 2011, in a similar circumstance, the then President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan sacked the acting Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Prof. Uriah Angulu from office via a letter signed by Abdullah Yola on behalf of the then Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, SAN.

The news of the sacking of Mr. Ahmadu as the Director General of BPP did not come as a surprise to many Nigerians, especially the stakeholders and practitioners in the procurement ecosystem. It was clear from his last outing, during his visit to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that he has indeed come to the end of his ostracized tenure.

The declaration by the Chairman of EFCC, Barrister Ola Olukoyede during the visit that the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007 is not helping the Commission in the fight against corruption was a rude shock to the operators in the procurement circle.

It is also not a surprise that the Council for the Ease of Doing Business under the Chairmanship of the Vice President, Kashim Shettima scored BPP zero percent (0%) in the last review because it is clear that BPP is a quasi-judicial body, a regulatory agency that must be constituted properly for effective, efficient and statutory performances.

As one of the sunshine laws promulgated by the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration under the recommendations of the World Bank Country Procurement Assessment Report (WB-CPAR) 2000, as well as the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria, CIPSMN Act concurrently in 2007, it is shocking that a lawyer and head of anti-corruption agency like EFCC could make such statement before the Director General of BPP without a counter response.

This many viewed as a demonstration of lack of adequate knowledge of the matter. Some of us that have had good working relationship with the EFCC and ICPC decided to remain silent as it is evident that both leaders, BPP and EFCC are simply ignorant of the provisions of the PPA 2007.

For the above reasons and to discuss the main topic of this write-up, it is healthy to leave that undeserved expression of “error” for now.

Now, after the June 15 pronouncement by the President, major newspapers and other media outlets across the country reported the removal of Mr. Ahmadu but little was reported about the new “Acting DG” of the Bureau. A visit to the website of BPP however gave more information about him.

By virtue of the Federal Government, FGN Circular of July 4, 2017, the most senior Director in any Agencies of government takes over from any Director General that may be removed from office by whatever circumstances. In this sense, the Director is termed to be ‘overseeing’ the Agency until a substantive Director General is appointed.

So,what are the implications of the failure of government to observe rule of law as contained in the Public Procurement Act 2007, applied together with CIPSMN Act 2007, for the growth and development of the economy?

The answers are many, and the facts are glaring. Ironically, all governments from the Musa Yar’Adua era to Muhammadu Buhari have observed the law in disobedience. Instead of fighting corruption, the cankerworm is on the increase daily, and we all pretend not to see it or playing lip service to the fight against corruption.

Research has shown that procurement corruption accounts for over 70% of total corruption cases in the system (See NGO Network Report on Corruption in the Public Sector 2010). While the anti-corruption bodies are daily fighting corruptions related concerns, procurement corruption appears to have defied all forms of logics, but the answer is simple but ignored.

Lack of capacity to interpret the laws, apply them and interrogate defaulters have been the bane of our large-scale corruption in public procurement.

For example, there is no Procurement Audit Report that has been submitted to the National Assembly as required by law in Section 5(P) of PPA since 2007 because the BPP does not as at today have any competent and qualified person, as required by law, to sign a Public Procurement Audit report and lay same on the table of the National Assembly bi-annually as required in the above section of the law.

It is exactly thirteen (13) years since this law was enacted and we are yet to address the huge gap in our quest to fight corruption.

To worsen the above situation is the absence of a National Council for Public Procurement, NCPP, as required in Part 1, Section 1 of PPA, to approve same Audit Report before it is submitted to the NASS. Yet year-in, year-out, we have Financial Audit Reports submitted by competent financial professional as the Auditor General of the Federation which serves as the reference point for financial and economic evaluation.

Of the three basic audits reports required for economic reforms, financial, physical and procurement reports, the last has not seen the light of the day.

Yet, procurement alone accounts for the bulk of the corruption recorded in the system daily. Section 5(a), 5(p) and 2 (a) of PPA 2007 as well as Sections 16(1), 16(2) to (4) are very clear on the implications of functioning without these authenticated documents by the Council.

The law (PPA 2007) that provides for the establishment of NCPP was passed in 2007 by the National Assembly, 13 years ago, but the previous Presidents, pursuant to Sections 5(1), 148(1) 4(2) and 4(3) as well as S.171 of the 1999 Constitution failed to inaugurate the Council till date.

President Umaru Musa Yaradua made an attempt in September 2007 to inaugurate this Council but this was cancelled when the members of the Council were seated because a report by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management, CIPSMN to the President in writing that BPP, submitted the name of a student member of the Institute to the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF without consultation with the Institute to confirm who is a member of the yet-to-be-inaugurated Council by the law.

By virtue of the provisions of section 5(1) and 148(1) of the 1999 Constitution as well as the Finance (Management Control) Act of 1958, only a National Council on Public Procurement with the Hon Minister of Finance as Chairman can consider, approve and amend the Monetary and Prior Review thresholds for the application of the provisions of Public Procurement Act 2007 by procuring entitles.

So, by implications, the threshold presently in use without Council’s approval is illegal and not correct. The Council is required to approve contracts and Associations of partnership with the BPP which will facilitate the discharge of its functions and to go into liaison with relevant bodies or institutions at national and international levels for effective performance of its functions under the Act.

By these provisions, the law envisages a Council before the Bureau (to serve as its Secretariat), but in the present circumstances, it is the Bureau without the Council. A case of a child without a father.

Flowing from the above and to bring this back to the main issue, though they are all related, let it be noted that the Director General of BPP recognized by law is expected to emerge after the Council is put in place to serve as the Secretary of the Council and not before.

By implications, all the “Director Generals” appointed in the past for BPP can be described to have illegal occupied the office, since they were appointed in line with “Due process” of the law, also none of the appointees is a registered professional in Procurement and Supply Chain Management in compliance with the provisions of the CIPSMN and PPA Acts 2007, and now most recently, in compliance with the Presidential Executive Order No 5 of 2018 that requires all professionals operating in Nigeria to “be registered with their respective professional bodies before providing professional services, either in the public, private or the non-profit sector”.

The powers of the Bureau as shown in Section 6 of PPA 2007 makes the DG of BPP the Chief Security Officer of the public procurement system of Nigeria.

The responsibility is not only about procurement but is directly related to National Security, therefore the competence and qualifications of the Director General and other directors of the BPP is of vital and essential importance to Nigeria.

The powers invested in the BPP as a quasi-judicial body saddled with administrative authority or powers to adjudicate on procurement disputes subject to appeal at the Federal High court, is very important to Nigeria as a whole.

It is instructive to note that the actions of BPP is amenable to judicial remedy. See Hartv Military Governor of Rivers State(W6) 11 SC 211 at 240 where the Supreme Court observed that; “Although the Military Governor was not sitting as a court “stricto sensu” , he was under a duty to ACT JUDICIALLY AND FAIRLY” and by the same principles laid down in the case of Gabriel Madukolu & Ors Vs Jonathan Nkemdilim (1962 1 ALL NLR 1 as restated in the case of Babale Vs Abdulkadir (1993) 3 NWLR (Part 281) Page 253 the BPP will only be competent to exercise jurisdiction on the powers vested in the body only when the BPP is properly constituted through a competitive selection process, and its composition and the qualification of its Director General and other Directors are in accordance with sections 7, 8, and 16(1)(b) of PPA and sections 11(9), 16(2) and 18 of CIPSMN Act 2007 and there is no other extrinsic factor affecting its jurisdiction.

It is also a fact of law reading the content of the provisions of section 5(1) and 148(1) of the 1999 Constitution as well as the Finance (Management Control) Act of 1958, only a National Council on Public Procurement with the Hon Minister of Finance as Chairman can legally receive and consider, for approval, the audited accounts of the Bureau of Public Procurement.

The legal implication of this is that a Director General that is appointed by the President without the recommendation of the Council after competitive selection – as was the case in the last 13 years – is unhealthy for the nation. A person who lacks the adequate and relevant qualifications required by law should not hold office as head of a procuring entity if we follow the letters and content of Section 11(9) of the CIPSMN Act 2007.

It states unequivocally thus: “A person shall not be entitled or engaged as the head of any Supply Chain Management of any organization unless he is a member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria, qualified by examination”.

Thus, he or she cannot sign the Public Procurement Audit report statutorily required to be submitted to the National Assembly as carried out on all MDAs every 6 months by the BPP. Again, none of the Audit Reports has been submitted since 2007 (13 years after) that the law came in force.

For the records, it is instructive to note again here that the ‘No Objection Certificate’ one of the mandates of the BPP is a document to be issued to procuring entities upon application, “…evidencing and authenticating that due process and the letters of the Public Procurement Act 2007 (with specific reference to Sections 16, 18 and 19, and other relevant laws and regulations) have been followed in the conduct of Procurement Proceedings and allowing for the Procuring entity to enter into contract or effect payment to a contractor or supplier from the Government Treasury” In other words, from the Federation or Consolidated Revenue Account.

While this article is not meant to undermine any person or professional bodies in Nigeria, the effort rather is to support them and the federal government in this trying period of uncontrolled procurement corruption cases in the public sector.

Also with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, he will be the first President to have acted swiftly by sacking the former ‘Director General in the middle of his tenure and authorizing that the most senior Director oversee the affairs of the Bureau pending the appointment of an Acting Director General or substantive Director General.

This report,it is believed,will also be valuable to the anti-corruption bodies, such as ICPC and the EFCC. It will in particular provide deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the bodies in tackling procurement corruption cases by understanding the extant laws and the applications. It is hoped therefore that President will follow this advice judiciously to avoid the pitfalls of his predecessors

Mohammed B. Attah is a procurement professional and the National Coordinator of Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative, PRADIN, a select group of non-state actors trained under the World Bank-Federal Republic of Nigeria Economic Reforms and Governance Project 2010.

By Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir

It came with mixed feelings; the death of Chief Mrs Florence Morenike Saraki. We were all basking in the euphoria of Eid-el-Kabir with vim and vigour when news filtered in that Mama Saraki had breathed her last. It was so spectacular, coming at a time when Ilorin stood still for her eminent son, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

On that chosen day, Saraki’s Ilorin GRA residence was beaming with visitors from all walks of Kwara in particular. The visit at the time was not to commiserate with the family.

The mammoth crowd gathered to celebrate the Sallah festivity and identify with an illustrious Kwara son, who obviously was also overwhelmed by the show of love and appreciation from his people.

We were all drenched in that exciting mood. The atmosphere was electrifying with polyphonic rhythms emanating from songs and drums renting the atmosphere. People wined, dined, and danced.

But the irony of life was at play; Mama Saraki, about 300 kilometres away, was already embarked on a journey of no return to her Creator – one that everyone will embark on at our chosen time.

Since Mama bade the world au-revoir, the Saraki’s abode in Lagos has turned into a Makkah of sorts, as kinsmen, associates, loyalists, and prominent individuals from all walks of life have been visiting to commiserate with the famous family.

Mama Saraki’s demise is a glorious exit. She said a final goodbye at the ripe age of 89. That is coming 12 years after the family patriarch, Baba Oloye Olusola Saraki died.There’s no way we can tell the late Oloye’s story without making reference to the matriarch.

She was with him through thick and thin, loving and supporting him till the end. I have before this day, listened to the story of the family associates, who at different times shared fond memories of how loving, accommodating, and motherly Mama was.

Those who were lucky to spend time with the duo narrated how they used to swamp the Saraki’s home morning, afternoon, and evening without seeing Mama develop cold feet. She was always affectionate and welcoming. Many even said she was a ‘sure route’ to reach Baba if you had anything bordering you and did not know how to handle it personally.

Just as they say, behind a successful man is a woman pushing him along. Mama was that woman. Her support for Baba Oloye was quintessential and second to none. It’s rare to be as popular and busy as Baba was and still have such a successful and integrated family. Many even assert that it’s almost impossible; you either choose one, citing several instances.

However, the Saraki scions were an exemption. Mama supported Baba Oloye without allowing any of the factors to clog their union. For a big and influential family such as the Sarakis, mama was instrumental in keeping the family together.

She indeed lived a fulfilled life. Not many in the history of the nation have been as fortunate as a woman to marry a man who became a senator and leader of the Senate, and then two offspring who also served in the hallowed chamber.

Her son, Abubakar Bukola Saraki was not just a two-term Senator; he served as President of the 8th Senate. Mama’s eldest son was a Special Assistant on Budgetary Matters to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo when he served as President of the nation and also a two-term Governor in Kwara.

Her daughter, Gbemisola Saraki was a member of the House of Representatives, before serving in the upper chamber for two terms.The gorgeous woman later became a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. What else can one live for? What else has Mama not achieved?

Mama Florence Morenike Saraki is worth celebrating for being an exemplary mother who raised armies that impacted the lives of millions. All her life, she extolled family values, showing love, giving hope, touching lives, and building bridges. The Sarakis have a legacy of philanthropy and Mama has been able to inculcate this in her wards, who today make sterling differences in the lives of the common man.

The death of the Saraki matriarch, therefore, came as a void but not a loss because she came, she saw and she conquered. It pains to see Mama depart this sinful world but we rejoice for a life well spent. Yes, she’ll be greatly missed, but we’ll live with a good memory of the glorious time she spent on earth.

I, thus, commiserate with our Leader and scion of the family, who I know will sorely miss Mama. I sympathize with the former Honourable Minister and other siblings over the loss of heroin.

We must thank God that both parents lived to ripe ages and most especially lived impact-filled lives, engraving their names in gold and leaving behind a new family generation that has already inherited and is sustaining their good deeds.

Their lives are also a renewed reminder to us all, that we all shall journey to the great beyond. What shall we be remembered for? Journey well mama; to your Lord.

Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir writes from Ilorin, Kwara State. He is the Press Officer on Local Matters to Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki

By Michael Owhoko, Ph.D

In every government or institution, there is a corresponding invisible hand that remote-controls its affairs with immense influence over decision-making process, predominantly on matters of interest. In most cases, while the head, and perhaps, the kitchen cabinet, may be aware of this imperceptible parallel, it is mostly unknown to other members of the team, who ignorantly, believe that the administration’s decisions are without external interference.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) is a victim of this invisible hand. The head of the Commission, and possibly, his inner caucus, are not oblivious of its presence and interference, but may be unknown to other members of staff.

By conferring the power to appoint the Chairman of the Commission on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, law makers, have unwittingly, created an invisible hand for the EFCC. The invisible hand is the President, and by extension, the Presidency.

Section 2 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, clearly states that “the Chairman and members of the Commission, other than ex-officio members, shall be appointed by the President”, and the appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.

By this Act, the EFCC was delivered as a bondservant from inception, lacking autonomy and courage to function effectively outside the grip and body language rhythm of its master, the President. And since the head of the Commission occupies the driver’s seat, obeying all traffic regulations as beamed by the President, liberty is replaced with dependency.

Under this circumstance, what courage can the Commission’s Chairman muster to prosecute the President’s loyalists without upsetting his ego and sensibilities? This is the burden of the EFCC. Until the power to appoint the Chairman of the Commission is removed from the President, the head of EFCC will continue to operate under dominance and influence of the President, doing his bid and covertly yielding to his whims and caprices, without ethical courage to act otherwise.

No matter how committed and sincerely intentional the Chairman of EFCC may be, his drive for efficiency is weakened by presidential interference. Even if angels are imported from heaven, or heads of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States of America (USA) are redeployed to manage the EFCC, their competence would be undermined by effect of the President.

This finds expression in the crux of allusions to EFCC’s selective war against financial crime and money laundry in the country. The public must recognize that the President is first, and foremost, a politician, who came to power on the ticket of his political party. He has his loyalists and those who supported the process of his ascension to power. Besides political affiliates, some of these stalwarts permeate both the critical public and private sectors.

As a politician who sets his eyes on consolidation and re-election, the President may want to stand with his loyalists during moment of travails, as part of reciprocation gesture for sustained support.

By this action, he stifles the power of the Commission to effectively go after real and powerful perpetrators of financial crime and money laundry in the country, making the Commission’s Chairman helpless without courage to step on toes for fear of being removed from office. The President also has the power to suspend or remove the Chairman of the Commission.

Evidently, circumstances that had led to sack of all past chairmen of EFCC could be linked to invisible hand of the President. To avoid this route, EFCC handles high profile cases deemed to have ties with the President with caution, classifying them as persons with blue blood in their veins. This is the trouble with EFCC, and why it is unable to effectively wage war against financial crimes and money laundry.

Most ex-governors, ministers and other political and business big wigs that have been prosecuted and convicted till date are those with either weak link or fallen out of favour with the President.

An example were former governors of Delta State, James Ibori, and Bayelsa state, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha (now late), whose demand for resource control irked the then President, General Olusegun Obasanjo.

The former President believed that the ex-governors were source of funding for the defunct Niger Delta agitation group, the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), and consequently activated the invisible hand which compelled the EFCC to cut the former governors to size.

EFCC now tread with caution without discretionary initiative, constraining itself mainly to petitions received from the public, as against initiating and executing investigations on suspected individuals, and organisations, particularly those that are prone to financial crimes and money laundry. The ministries, agencies, departments of government (MDAs), legislature, judiciary and the organized private sector, are black spots.

The Nigerian environment is fraught with financial crime and money laundry, particularly the political space, yet, EFCC pretends not to know. Politics is a big industry and quick source of unearned income where people become multi-millionaires or billionaires overnight just by participation in politics or serving in the Executive, Legislature or the Judiciary.

For example, National Assembly members who carryout oversight functions in various MDAs and private sector, also double as contractors to these same organisations, despite conflict of interest. The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is replete with such unethical practices, yet, EFCC feigns ignorance.

Why is EFCC not interrogating legislators on padding of budgets? Why is EFCC not putting spotlight on MDAs’ budgets, matching line items against executed projects? Why is EFCC not looking at state governors and how they abuse Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) remittances, including security votes and derivation funds?

Despite admitting that Nigerian banks perpetrate about 70 per cent of financial crimes in the country, why is EFCC not quizzing banks’ chief executive officers (CEOs) over questionable funds’ inflow, foreign exchange manipulation, and round tripping?

According to the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), financial institutions in Nigeria collectively lost about N159 billion to fraud since 2020, yet, EFCC has not deemed it necessary to initiate any probe. Why are key operators and players in the Nigerian capital market not being investigated over unlawful manipulation of stock prices?

Besides, since crude oil exports constitute about two-third earnings, and over 90% of foreign exchange revenue of government, why is EFCC not extending its investigation into crude oil exports to determine possible mismatch between actual production and revenue receipts?

Also, why are suspected financiers of terrorism and kidnapping not being investigated and prosecuted for money laundry?

Sadly, since the formation of EFCC, corruption, including financial crimes and money laundry, have been on the upward swing. This is contrary to the intention of the originators, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Money Laundering, an intergovernmental organization created by the Group of Seven (G7).

The purpose of the FATF was to use the EFCC to reinforce global war against money laundering, particularly at a time Nigeria was listed among 23 countries that were not supportive of the war against money laundering.

Response to this challenge led to establishment of the Commission through the EFCC Act, which further expanded the scope to include terrorism financing and, economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.

With flourishing corruption menace, and by extension, financial crimes in the public and private sectors, the environment is fertile enough to keep EFCC fully engaged. But, so far, its efforts are not commensurate with current depth and density of financial fraud in the country. Except those that are endorsed by the invisible hand for thorough investigation, high profile cases with real negative impact on the economy are either deliberately overlooked or mismanaged.

Prosecuting yahoo internet fraudsters with no powerful links to authorities together with persons involved in spraying of naira notes are inadequate to justify EFCC’s existence.

In the absence of any underpinning motive to use them as defence mechanism to showcase the Commission’s efforts at fighting financial crimes, these categories of offenders should be left for the Nigeria Police Force to handle.

To rid the country of illicit wealth and growing corruption, Nigeria must review the process leading to the appointment and removal of the Chairman of EFCC in order to insulate the office from the influence and covert control of the President. This is imperative given the country’s low political culture.

Dr. Mike Owhoko, Lagos-based public policy analyst, author, and journalist, can be reached at www.mikeowhoko.com, and followed on X {formerly Twitter} @michaelowhoko.

By Ifeoma Malo

Despite its minimal contribution to global emissions, Africa bears the brunt of climate change’s devastating impacts. The continent, responsible for only 2.8% of global emissions from 1850 to 2021, faces the toughest challenges from climate change.

The continent witnesses more frequent and severe disasters like floods, earthquakes, and droughts. In 2021, seven of the ten most vulnerable countries to climate change were in Africa.

At COP27, a significant milestone was achieved with the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF), aimed at addressing challenges in vulnerable developing countries, particularly in Africa. Governments formally established the Fund in November 2023 on the first day of COP28. The $792 million pledged during COP-28 to set the LDF in motion was welcomed by developing countries, especially those in Africa.

Africa requires between $290 billion and $440 billion between 2020 and 2030 to finance loss and damage needs, highlighting the significant gap between pledges and the current realities.

The purpose of the LDF is to assist developing countries’ vulnerabilities to the address effects of climate change in responding to economic and noneconomic loss and damage associated with extreme weather and slow-onset events. The Nairobi Declaration of September 2023 emphasized the operationalisation of the LDF as agreed at COP27.

The Declaration resolved for a measurable Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) with indicators and targets to assess progress against negative impacts of climate change.

The eligibility criteria for the LDF is to prioritise all developing countries, especially those facing vulnerability to climate change. It emphasises on a country-led approach to ensure that accessing the fund is integrated within national frameworks and respects the unique situations and contexts of different countries grappling with climate-induced loss and damages.

Developing countries within the Transitional Committee have advocated for universal eligibility for the LDF, emphasising on a fair access, determined by climate events, impacts, and necessities.

The LDF’s accessibility is critical for Africa. The eligibility criteria are designed to be inclusive, prioritising vulnerable developing countries. The proposed allocation system focuses on specific challenges faced by communities, catering to both immediate and long-term needs. This country-led approach ensures that accessing the fund aligns with national frameworks and addresses unique situations.

The decision-making process prioritizes data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), while acknowledging the limitations in data collection for some regions. Additionally, a minimum allocation floor for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is being considered. These elements, if implemented effectively, positions Africa to benefit significantly from the LDF.

African countries, with their diverse climate disasters such as droughts, floods, and rising sea levels, particularly in the Sahel, Horn of Africa, and equatorial regions, are potential candidates for LDF support. However, success depends on addressing capacity issues within African countries and ensuring their active role in LDF decision-making.

Implementing the LDF in vulnerable developing countries faces challenges such as limited resources versus vast needs, transparent eligibility criteria, direct fund access by local communities, and integration into national climate strategies. A robust mechanism for monitoring fund utilisation is crucial for transparency and accountability.

Despite the progress at COP28, significant gaps remain. Wealthy nations have yet to shoulder their fair share of responsibility. The initial pledges to the LDF fall far short of what’s needed to address the widespread human rights violations caused by years of climate inaction. Discussions are ongoing to establish new, measurable climate finance goals by 2024, aiming for an annual target of $100 billion.

While some developed nations have made initial pledges, the contribution from the United States remains disappointingly low compared to the EU and even some developing nations. These discrepancies raise crucial questions from an African perspective: What is the official definition of loss and damage? How will the LDF be sustained financially? Which criteria will guide the allocation of funds?

These challenges notwithstanding, Africa has an opportunity. The LDF aims to address the devastating impacts of extreme weather events on the continent. However, work remains on establishing the fund’s governance structure, with an evaluation scheduled for 2027.

The establishment of the LDF is a significant step towards climate justice for Africa. Yet, the current pledges fall short of the estimated needs. Moving forward, increased contributions from developed nations are crucial to ensure sustainable and predictable financing. Africa, on its part, must advocate for clear definitions and criteria for loss and damage funding, ensuring the needs of its most vulnerable communities are addressed.

Furthermore,active engagement in setting and meeting new climate finance goals by COP29 is essential. Aiming for the $100 billion annual target is necessary to support effective national climate plans by 2025.

These collective efforts hold the key to a fair transition and mitigating the devastating impacts of climate change on the continent.

Ifeoma Malo is the Founder and CEO, Clean Technology Hub based in Nigeria.

My fellow Nigerians, let me begin by congratulating all of us for witnessing the celebration of another Democracy Day today, the 12th day of June 2024. This year also marks our nation’s 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.

On this day, 31 years ago, we entered our rites of passage to becoming a true and enduring democratic society.

Going through this passage was hard and dangerous. During the fateful six years that followed, we fought and struggled for our natural rights as human beings put on this earth by the divine hand of our Creator.

We lost great heroes and heroines along the way. In this struggle, the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, the most significant symbol of our democratic struggle, his wife, Kudirat, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and Pa Alfred Rewane, among others sacrificed their very lives.

They bravely surrendered their futures, so that our nation might have a better one.

Let us honour the memories of Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Frank Kokori, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Ganiyu Dawodu, Chief Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Olabiyi Durojaiye, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chima Ubani, and others who have transited to the higher realm.

The sacrifices of General Alani Akinrinade, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Ralph Obioha, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, among many others, should never be forgotten. For at least six years, they bore the pains and difficulties of life in exile.

While the exiled pro-democracy activists kept the fire burning, their comrades at home sustained the pressure on the military brass hats. Among the latter are Olisa Agbakoba, Femi Falana, Abdul Oroh, Senator Shehu Sani, Governor Uba Sani, Chief Olu Falae, and other National Democratic Coalition leaders such as Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Ayo Opadokun.

The sacrifices they made, and the precious gift brought about by their selfless devotion can never be repaid. Neither shall it be forgotten.

We could not have won the battle against military dictatorship without the irrepressible Nigerian journalists who mounted the barricades along with the pro-democracy activists. We celebrate them today, along with their media establishments such as The Punch, Guardian, National Concord, Tribune, The News/Tempo, and TELL Magazines.

Military authorities proscribed these media establishments and jailed their journalists for standing for free speech and civil liberties.

Despite the lethal might of the military government, what appeared to be high and unyielding walls of dictatorship came tumbling down. The dismal fortress exists no longer.

The power of an idea, the power of the people proved more potent than all the guns and munitions, and the threats of the strongmen.

The nation exited the yoke of military rule in 1999 to become the most populous democracy on African soil, the beacon of democratic self-determination for the black race and one of the largest democracies in the world.

This change stands as a pivotal moment in human history. From this change, we shall never turn, nor shall the annals of mankind’s progress forget the sublime meaning of this great moment.

Today, 25 years later, we celebrate the silver anniversary of our journey in democracy.

We have steadied the course.

Democracy is neither a foreign nor abstract concept devoid of real-life meaning for us. Neither can we afford to reduce or minimalise it to being nothing but the mere holding of periodic elections where one candidate and party outdo another.

While elections attract dramatic attention, they are but one aspect of democracy. Democracy is a way of life that encompasses a broad outlook of which elections are but a part. As such, a nation can have elections without being democratic. But a nation cannot be truly democratic without holding elections.

That we have established a tradition of holding transparent, open, and fair elections gives credence to our democratic bearing. That we have experienced peaceful transitions of government affirms our democratic temperament.

Fellow Nigerians, true democracy shines its light into the daily lives of the people who live under its nurturing wings. It affords us the freedom and liberty to think as we want, live where we want and pursue whatever legitimate endeavour that suits us.

Democracy does not assume some false or forced unity of opinion. In fact, democracy assumes that conflicting ideas and differing opinions shall be the order of the day. Given the diversity and variety of the human experience, there must be diverse perspectives and viewpoints.

What democracy demands is that we do not resolve differences through force and repression. But we make allowance for the legitimacy of views that differ from our own.

Where other forms of government impose against the will of the people, democracy aims to make leaders sufficiently humble that they conduct themselves as servants of the common good, not as viceroys of the narrow interests of the mighty.

My dear compatriots, Nigeria faced a decision of untold gravity twenty-five years ago: Whether to veer toward a better destination or continue aimlessly in the fog of dictatorship.

We made the right choice then. We must continue with that choice now.

As Nigerians, we must remind ourselves that no matter how complicated democracy may be, it is the best form of governance in the long run. We must also be aware that there are those among us who will try to exploit current challenges to undermine, if not destroy, this democracy for which so much has already been given.

These people do this not to make things better but to subject all other people and things to their control and dominance until the point that, if you are not counted among their elite, then your life will be small and no longer owned by you.

This is the great battle of our day and the major reason we specially celebrate this Democracy day.

Fellow Nigerians, our Democracy is more than a historic fact. It is a living, breathing reality.

The true meaning of this day is not to focus solely on the great deeds of the past that have brought us to this point.

Yes, we pay eternal honour to those who laid down their lives, sacrificing everything to pave the way for the nation.

I stand uniquely placed in this regard. I was among those who took the risk to midwife the birth of our democracy. I am now a direct and obvious beneficiary of the fruits of those historic efforts.

As president of this nation, I am morally and constitutionally bound to preserve this precious form of governance. I vow to do my utmost best to protect your rights, freedoms, and liberties as citizens of Nigeria.

Even more than that, I pledge to do whatever is necessary to cement democracy as our way of life.

Although the challenges are steep and multiple, I am grateful to lead Nigeria at this moment in her history and point in her democratic journey.

I come before you also to declare that our most important work remains before us. This real test has never been whether we would rise to challenge the slings of misfortune and grievous pain of dictatorship.

The real test is whether we shall lower our guards as the shadow of despotism and its evident physical danger fade.

I say to you here and now that as we celebrate the enshrinement of our political democracy, let us commit ourselves to the fulfilment of its equally important counterpart, the realisation of our economic democracy.

I understand the economic difficulties we face as a nation.

Our economy has been in desperate need of reform for decades. It has been unbalanced because it was built on the flawed foundation of over-reliance on revenues from the exploitation of oil.

The reforms we have initiated are intended to create a stronger, better foundation for future growth. There is no doubt the reforms have occasioned hardship. Yet, they are necessary repairs required to fix the economy over the long run so that everyone has access to economic opportunity, fair pay and compensation for his endeavour and labour.

As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you.

In this spirit, we have negotiated in good faith and with open arms with organized labour on a new national minimum wage. We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine what has been agreed upon as part of our law for the next five years or less.

In the face of labour’s call for a national strike, we did not seek to oppress or crack down on the workers as a dictatorial government would have done. We chose the path of cooperation over conflict.

No one was arrested or threatened. Instead, the labour leadership was invited to break bread and negotiate toward a good-faith resolution.

Reasoned discussion and principled compromise are hallmarks of democracy. These themes shall continue to animate my policies and interaction with the constituent parts of our political economy.

I take on this vital task without fear or favour and I commit myself to this work until we have built a Nigeria where no man is oppressed.

In the end, our national greatness will not be achieved by travelling the easy road. It can only be achieved by taking the right one.

The words of the American President Franklin Roosevelt certainly ring true:

” There are many ways of going forward. But only one way of standing still”!

We dare not slumber lest the good things awaiting our immediate future pass us by. We dare not plant our feet in idle standstill in the middle of the intersection of hope and despair.

We know the proper way forward and we shall take it!

The initial rays of a brighter tomorrow now appear on the early horizon. An abundant future and our capacity to achieve that future lie within our reach. Democracy and the institutions it begets offer to take us to our profound destination.

Let us board this progressive train together. Together, let us move Nigeria forward.

Let’s continue to keep the fire of democracy burning. Let’s keep the torch lit for generations to come.

May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and preserve our democracy.

I wish us all Happy Democracy Day.

PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU

Ishowo Olanrewaju

In a significant move towards reinforcing democratic principles and ensuring genuine representation at the grassroots, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN as well as National Assembly (NASS) leaders have collectively called out state governors for their manipulation of local government councils.

To demonstrate its commitment towards the revitalisation of LG administration in the country, the Federal Government, last week, dragged the 36 state governors before the Supreme Court, seeking the enforcement of full autonomy of local governments in Nigeria.

Among the injunctions,the Federal Government is urging the apex court to issue is an order prohibiting state governors from embarking on unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government chairmen, and constituting caretaker committees in their place.

It also prayed the court to make an order permitting the funds meant for the LGs to be directly channelled to them from the Federation Account in line with the provisions of the Constitution as against how the governors take the advantage of section 162(6) at the detriment of the third tier of Government in their respective states.

These actions almost make it to be alleged unlawful joint accounts. The AGF shouldn’t go back on his radical approach to unboundle this alleged controversial section.

According to media reports,the case is slated for hearing today, May 30, but it is not clear if the state governments who have always opposed moves to enthrone independence of LGs, have filed their defence before the court.

This move by the incumbent administration of Tinubu marks a decisive shift from the previous administration’s approach and shows commitment to local government autonomy, which has long been undermined by political interests at the state level.

One of the key issues the Tinubu government wants to address is the unlawful practice of appointing loyalists or “stooges” to local government positions by state governors. This undemocratic trend is particularly evident in states like Kwara, where Governor Abdulrahman has been prioritizing his political interests over the will of the people.

By handpicking his loyalists to man local councils, the governor has in the last five years stifled the democratic process, depriving the masses of their fundamental right to choose their representatives.

This practice not only erodes public trust in the electoral process but also diminishes the quality of governance at the local level. Local governments, which are supposed to be the closest to the people and most responsive to their needs, are rendered ineffective when they are led by individuals who owe their allegiance to the governor rather than the electorate.

President Tinubu’s call for genuine local government elections is a commendable departure from the approach taken by his predecessor.

The former administration’s lack of decisive action on local government autonomy allowed state governors to continue their manipulative practices unchecked. Tinubu’s administration, however, is signaling a clear intent to rectify this imbalance and restore power to the people.

In a recent statement, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of local governments in promoting grassroots development and delivering essential services to citizens. He stressed that for local governments to function effectively, they must be led by individuals who are truly representative of their communities, not mere extensions of the governor’s office.

While President Tinubu’s stance is a critical step forward, it is imperative that the National Assembly takes concrete legislative actions to support this vision. The laws governing local government elections must be amended to ensure that these elections are conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rather than state electoral authorities. This change is crucial to eliminating the undue influence that state governors currently wield over the local election process.

NASS leaders have a significant role to play in this regard. By amending the constitution to transfer the responsibility of conducting local government elections to INEC, they can help safeguard the integrity of these elections and ensure that they are free, fair and reflective of the people’s will. This legislative change will be a significant stride towards achieving genuine local government autonomy and enhancing democratic governance in Nigeria.

In states like Kwara, where the governor’s manipulation of local government elections has been particularly egregious, the impact of such reforms would be profound.

Notwithstanding that I have reservations on the uprightness and independence of INEC, but allowing the national electoral body to oversee these elections would ensure a level playing field for all candidates and restore the people’s confidence in the electoral process.

By advocating for INEC’s oversight of these elections, they are championing the cause of local government autonomy and ensuring that the voices of the masses are heard and respected. It is now up to the National Assembly to translate this vision into reality through timely and decisive legislative action.

In doing so, they will not only uphold the principles of democracy but also pave the way for more effective and responsive governance at the grassroots.

This is a momentous opportunity for Nigeria to reaffirm its commitment to democratic ideals and empower its citizens to choose their representatives freely and fairly.

However, it’s important to recognize that the National Assembly has never been the primary obstacle to local government autonomy. The real problem lies within the State Houses of Assembly, which are predominantly controlled by their respective state governors.

These governors exert considerable influence over the legislative processes at the state level, effectively stalling any progress towards genuine local government autonomy.

The State Houses of Assembly, often aligned with the interests of the governors, have consistently failed to pass necessary amendments that would empower local governments.

This entrenched power dynamic requires the need for a systemic overhaul to ensure that local government elections are truly democratic and independent of state level political manipulations.