An End And A New Beginning For Nigeria
By: Reuben Abati Yesterday, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, was sworn in as the 16th President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria along […]
An End And A New Beginning For Nigeria
By: Reuben Abati Yesterday, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, was sworn in as the 16th President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria along with his Vice President, Kashim Shettima, GCON, at the 7th major transition ceremony since the return of Nigeria to civilian democratic rule in 1999. The event was held at the Eagle Square, Abuja. For decades an episodic military interregnum placed Nigeria in dire straits but 1999 was a turning point for the country. Yesterday’s event was a further confirmation of how Nigeria has managed in the last 24 years, to sustain democratic rule, despite the challenges. Yesterday, May 29, marked the end of an era, and the beginning of another. For about two weeks, President Muhammadu Buhari, as he then was, and his family had been moved to the Glass House. For those who do not know the configuration of the Presidential Villa, the Glass House is a ...
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The Speech President Tinubu Did Not Read, By Hakeem Baba-Ahmed
‘Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.’ Warren Bennis. I decided to write my own version, a few days to his inauguration, of what President-Elect Tinubu’s Inauguration Speech should sound like. Fellow Nigerians and friends of Nigeria in the world. Today our nation takes a brave and difficult step, but a step we have take with confidence and courage.Today, history demands that we look ahead and not behind us.We are moving into a future we chose with our votes and belief that God Almighty wants us to succeed in reclaiming our destiny to build a great African nation.Today is not about winners and losers.It is about how we can sustain a journey with great faith in our resilience and determination as Nigerians; to move beyond seemingly insurmountable obstacles.Today we remind ourselves we are Nigerians, a people who are passionate about our convictions that nothing is impossible.We had tripped ...
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Popular Tiktok Musician, 31 Others Arrested for Alleged Internet Fraud in Kaduna
Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have arrested a popular musician on Tiktok, one Crown Uzama (aka ShalliPopi) and his manager, Ajayi Abdul Hafeez(aka 21 Badda) for alleged internet-related fraud. They were arrested alongside 29 other suspects, including four females: Glory Chinyere Kelvin Ogunwa l, Tina Ochonogor, Favour Baba Dawa and Joseph Judith Iya. The others are Adewale Adedokun, Yakubu Emmanuel Ojochememi, AbdulAzeez Temidayo Suleiman, Umoru Osioke AbdulAzeez l, Emmanuel Isaac Iwebo, Shuaibu Umaru Smart, Joel Kator, Gowon Titus, Emmanuel Daniel, Enough Etim Ekpo, Atano Timi Eben, Ijuo John Ochi, Paul Emmanuel Kaye, Uyit Victor and David Elijah Yachai Others include, Leche Precious Sokomba, Onoja Samuel Uroko, Cornelius Oyathekhua Agbodesi, Edigim Nosa Success, Azubuike Melchizedek Oniya, Usman Shereef, Victory Dennis Chiemela, Lambert Fortunetus Chikwado, Asoore King Oloruntoba and Malik Adanu Jibril They were arrested following actionable intelligence about a proposed show by ...
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An End And A New Beginning For Nigeria, By Reuben Abati
Yesterday, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, was sworn in as the 16th President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria along with his Vice President, Kashim Shettima, GCON, at the 7th major transition ceremony since the return of Nigeria to civilian democratic rule in 1999. The event was held at the Eagle Square, Abuja. For decades an episodic military interregnum placed Nigeria in dire straits but 1999 was a turning point for the country. Yesterday’s event was a further confirmation of how Nigeria has managed in the last 24 years, to sustain democratic rule, despite the challenges. Yesterday, May 29, marked the end of an era, and the beginning of another. For about two weeks, President Muhammadu Buhari, as he then was, and his family had been moved to the Glass House. For those who do not know the configuration of the Presidential Villa, the Glass House is ...
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A Call to Jigawa Governor Umar Dan Modi, By Adamu Muhd Usman
Political Ccmpaigns and elections have come and gone. What remains now is the governance. Jigawa governor, Malam Umar Namadi a.k.a Dan modi is planning to constitute his new cabinet anytime from now for his first tenure in office for four years term (2023 – 2027). In-Sha-Allah. Cabinet formation is one the factors that make or mar administration, especially in states like Jigawa - where people’s expectations are high. The agitations and expectations of Jigawa citizens is to see Jigawa progress to a new level- improvement on the existing development and commencement of new ones. Governor Dan Modi’s first term success depend on his new cabinet (commissioners, appointees and other Aides). About 13 commissioners are expected to be appointed, probably some of Badaru’s commissioners maybe reappointed into Umar’s new cabinet Some of us have reservations on the reappointment of some of the Badaru’s commissioners into Umar’s cabinet, if the governor is ...
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President Tinubu and His Forerunners – By Mikail Mumuni
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a long and rich list of forerunners in the office since October 1st, 1960, when Nigeria gained independence from Great Britain. From the First Republic Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa to the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari, the list is a potpourri of those elected through participatory democracy and the military dictators who foisted themselves on the nation through coups and counter coups. Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa (1st October 1960- 15th January, 1966) Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa, the first and only prime minister of Nigeria, was a humble protege of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Premier of the defunct Northern Region and leader of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC). He became Prime Minister because Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto and direct descendant of Uthman Dan Fodio (founder of the Sokoto Caliphate) was more interested in remaining the Premier of Northern Region than becoming the Prime Minister of Nigeria ...
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Inauguration: US President Biden sends ‘warm wishes’ to Tinubu
President of the United States, U.S.Joe Biden has sent what he described as "warm wishes" over the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu as Nigeria's President. Biden said in a White House statement that he looked forward to continue working with Tinubu to strengthen existing ties between the United States and Nigeria. The statement reads, "On behalf of the people of the United States, I send warm wishes to the government and people of Nigeria as they inaugurate a new President. "My administration has worked to strengthen ties between the United States and Nigeria, and I look forward to continuing this work with President Tinubu to support economic growth, advance security, and promote respect for human rights. "The people-to-people connections between our two countries run particularly deep, nurtured by a vibrant Nigerian Diaspora in the United States. As we further deepen our partnership with Nigeria, I look forward to drawing even ...
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Onukaba, Ugoji: How Atiku shamed death
By Tunde Olusunle* Veteran Nigerian composer, singer, instrumentalist, band leader and undisputable legend of *juju* music, King Sunny Ade, abbreviated *KSA,* released a classic early 1976. It was in the immediate aftermath of the assassination of Nigeria's charismatic military Head of State at the time, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed by mutineers on Friday February 13, 1976. Bukar Suka Dimka, a cranky army Lieutenant Colonel led the operation which denied Nigeria the leadership of a courageous and visionary Mohammed, who grossed so much in performance within his shortlived six months in office. Ibrahim Taiwo a Colonel who was Military Governor of Kwara State, was simultaneously extinguished same day, in the same coup which was supposed to have been a nationwide pogrom. The worlds of the families, dependants and admirers of the deceased, came crashing down arising from that moment of madness. Sunny Ade, very aptly described February 13, 1976, as the ...
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Atiku expresses shock over Dokpesi’s demise
Former Vice President and flagbearer of the Peoples' Democratic Party, (PDP) during the recent presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed utmost shock at the demise of foremost independent media entrepreneur, Dr Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi. Dokpesi reportedly died in a hospital in Abuja, Monday May 29, 2023. Sources said that Dokpesi experienced a stroke shortly after the Ramadan fast. Upon hearing of Dokpesi's situation over a month ago, Atiku called off a meeting he was chairing in his Asokoro, Abuja home, to check up on the health of his longstanding ally. He has been in regular contact with Dokpesi's health managers ever since, monitoring his situation. Atiku spoke from his Yola, Adamawa State home where he attended the "14th Commencement of the American University of Nigeria, (AUN)," which he established. His exact words: "Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God! I am in a state of shock. I am ...
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In inaugural address, Tinubu preaches unity, commitment to nation-building
- Says winning election doesn't make him more Nigerian than others - Promises economic turnaround, far-reaching reforms - Commends Buhari for phasing-out "wasteful" fuel subsidy; old and new naira notes remain legal tender President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to bury political differences and join him in a new journey of healing, nation-building and economic prosperity. In his inaugural address after taking the oaths of office and allegiance administered by the Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Kayode Ariwoola, at the Eagles Square, Abuja, Tinubu pledged to be a president for all, irrespective of the circumstances of history and political differences. As he took the oath and signed the dotted lines, a gracious former president Muhammadu Buhari and his wife Aisha as well Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of the new president, and other family members stood by, watching with admiration. Before Tinubu took the stage for the oath ...
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First Inaugural Address By President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
..29 May 2023 My Fellow Citizens, I stand before you honored to assume the sacred mandate you have given me. My love for this nation is abiding. My confidence in its people, is unwavering. And my faith in God Almighty, is absolute. I know that His hand shall provide the needed moral strength and clarity of purpose in those instances when we seem to have reached the limits of our human capacity. This day is bold and majestic yet bright and full of spirit, as is our precious nation. As a nation, we have long ago decided to march beyond the dimness of night into the open day of renewed national hope. The question we now ask ourselves is whether to remain faithful to the work inherent in building a better society or retreat into the shadows of our unmet potential. For me, there is but one answer. We are ...
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Now that Renewed Hope is here, by Fredrick Nwabufo
In his enriching leadership vade mecum, ‘’From Third World to First’’, the Singaporean enigma, Lee Kuan Yew wrote he knew that Singapore would not survive the pressing challenges of the time if citizens’ attitude to governance, communal responsibility, institutional constructs, and the country did not change. To break the conundrum, Kuan Yew embarked on a series of disciplined and seminal reforms -- literally pulling water out of stone. Singapore is a petite country -- with a population of about 2 million at the time of Kuan Yew and over 5 million as of 2021. However, the country is diverse, multireligious, multicultural and multiracial. The critical problems of nationhood, schisms, ethnic and religious tension, racially motivated violence, recriminations, fear and suspicion of ethnic domination, mutual suspicion, lack of accord, and vicious conspiracy theories were a string of Gordian knots asphyxiating the country when Kuan Yew became Prime minister. Although two disparate ...
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It’s the dawn of a new era
By: Dakuku Peterside . Nigerians will pause today for the inauguration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as President and Vice President of the country, respectively. It will mark the end of one era, the Buhari-Osinbajo era, and the beginning of a new era. There are understandably mixed reactions or verdicts on the Buhari era. President Buhari entered office in 2015 with solid political capital, enormous goodwill, and public approval; he is leaving against the background of widespread discontent and a low popularity rating. Fortunately, the ultimate verdict of history is incorruptible. Buhari's successes and failures are left for posterity and historians to articulate and pontificate on. Nigerians lived experiences, left in the sands of time during his administration, will form the ingredients of such historical evaluation. It is now time to put behind us whatever views, disenchantment, or even praise we have for the Buhari era and build ...
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Buhari’s Eight-Year Rule: A Postscript (3)
By Kazeem Akintunde Today, May 29th, 2023, the eight-year rule of President Muhammadu Buhari finally comes to an end. In the next few hours, his nomenclature will change as he would now be known and addressed as a former president of Nigeria. From 10 a. m. this morning, the man from Daura in Katsina will finally hand over Nigeria to a Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The eight-year contract he had with Nigeria would be finally over. Like being in a turbulent marriage, Buhari got tired of presiding over the entity called Nigeria. The over 200 million people of this country made life ‘difficult’ for the retired Army General, who has vowed to permanently retire to his hometown to tend to his cattle. He is also on record to have jokingly said that if Nigerians won’t allow him to rest in Daura, he is ready to move to Niger Republic where his ...
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HEDA Commends ICAN’s Disciplinary Action Against Former Accountant General
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has lauded the National Executives of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) for their decisive disciplinary action against the embattled former accountant general of the federal, Mr. Jonah Ogunniyi, on professional grounds. In a statement issued by HEDA's Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the anti-corruption group expressed the appreciation for ICAN's fulfilment of commitment to inform the organisation of the outcome of a disciplinary proceeding against Mr. Jonah Otunla. The group had previously filed a complaint against Mr. Otunla, accusing him of embezzlement and stealing approximately N6.3 billion. Suraju stated, "We received the judgment with excitement and assurance that accountability is about to take firm root in our professional associations. We also commend the President of the Institute and his Council members on this act. “We, as an organization, believe that the disciplinary action and its outcome will further deter corrupt ...
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Anti-graft War: EFCC Restates Commitment to Respect of Citizens’ Rights
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has restated its commitment to upholding the fundamental human rights of citizens in fulfilling the mandate of the Commission. Senior officers of the Operations and the Legal and Prosecution Departments stated this at a joint one-day workshop, tagged "Enhancing the Synergy Between Operations and Legal and Prosecution Deprtments", which held on May 27, 2023, at Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja. They restated their commitment to upholding the fundamental human rights of citizens in the discharge of their duties, as well as improving on the working relationship and synergy between both departments. In his paper entitled, Fundamental Human Rights: Obligations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Director of Legal and Prosecution, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, harped on the importance of officers of the Commission not tramping upon the fundamental rights of citizens, while performing their duties. "Given the nature of our work as a law enforcement ...
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Will President Tinubu be another Post Turtle? By Ayodele Akinkuotu
In the course of discussing politics in the United States with a gentleman from the city, an American rancher once quipped that many politicians were like post turtles. Unfamiliar with the term, the fellow from the city sought an explanation. And the rancher obliged him. When farmers are busy ploughing their fields, they dutifully watch out for turtles. Because of its hard shell, a turtle can ruin the best of farming equipment, thus resulting in additional costs to a farmer. Once one is sighted, the farmer gets down from his tractor, picks it up and puts it on the fence post of his farm until he is done with the day’s job. For the turtle, the post is like a prison, and it patiently awaits its freedom. So, for many politicians in Nigeria, public office is like the fence post of a farm; it is the people who put these ...
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‘Start with a clean slate, make public your assets, investments’, SERAP tells Tinubu
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the President-Elect Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu to “start with a clean slate by promptly making public details of your assets, income, investments, liabilities, and interests and to encourage your Vice-President-Elect to do the same.” SERAP also urged him to “immediately prioritise the full and effective respect for human rights, media freedom, the rule of law and the country’s judiciary including by promptly obeying countless court judgments which the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has repeatedly treated with utter contempt and disdain.” In the open letter dated 27 May 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “SERAP notes your recent promise to “kill corruption’. However, this rhetoric is nothing new: the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari used similar hollow anticorruption phrase in 2015.” SERAP said, “As Nigerians have witnessed for eight years, Buhari has neither ‘killed corruption’ nor obeyed ...
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Nigeria Air: Recent so-called flight inauguration and AON concern, By Prof. Obiora Okonkwo
THE Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has been inundated with calls and inquiry from the media and well-meaning Nigerians about its position on the purported commencement of flight operations by Nigeria Air after the static display in Abuja, of an aircraft with Nigeria Air written on it. As a result of this unprecedented public interest on the issue of the presentation of Nigeria Air, we, therefore, wish to clarify as follows: 1. THAT WATER SALUTE ON FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2023: The aircraft that landed at Abuja on Friday, May 26, 2023 was greeted with a water salute, or shower. Water salute is usually used to mark the first flight of an aircraft to an airport. However, the aircraft that was used for the static display in Abuja on Friday was not the first flight of Nigeria Air into Abuja. This is because Nigeria Air has not commenced flight operations as ...
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Mr. Tinubu, you have inherited a divided nation
By Prince Charles Dickson Ph.D. During the May 2023 Group of Seven (G7) summit, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, near where the meeting was held. Not doing so would have been an act of immense discourtesy. Despite many calls for an apology from the US for dropping an atomic bomb on a civilian population in 1945, US President Joe Biden has demurred. Instead, he wrote in the Peace Memorial guest book: ‘May the stories of this museum remind us of all of our obligations to build a future of peace’. Apologies, amplified by the tensions of our time, take on interesting sociological and political roles. An apology would suggest that the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were wrong and that the US did not end their war against Japan by taking the moral ...
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