Photo News: MKO Abiola And Sani Abacha

 ...Before the bubble burst...And good friends became fierce foes, torn apart by opposing ambitions... 

*Abiola, Abacha and former Gov Otedola of Lagos State... 

Who Is Afraid Of Fidelity Bank?

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

A lot  of mischief is going on in the banking sub-sector of Nigeria’s financial ecosystem since the Central Bank of Nigeria, on June 3, 2024, announced the revocation of the banking license of Heritage Bank Plc.

The not so subtle campaign by some faceless groups to demarket an otherwise solid financial institution like the Fidelity Bank Plc., however, has not escaped the attention of the discerning banking publics. But it is a mischief taken too far.

Can APC Learn From ANC’s Loss In South Africa?

 By Dan Onwukwe

Often missing from debates on why a governing party after years or decades in power suddenly failed to win majority seats in parliament or lost outrightly. History of politics offers an array of arguments why this happens in many democracies. It’s about not learning the lessons in power, the hard way.

*Tinubu and Ramaphosa 

Learning the lessons the hard way begins when that gripping listlessness sets in, when political power begins to slip away from a governing party. The endgame begins the very moment the party leadership feels over-confident, and those who surround the President feel their man has got enough power, and don’t need anybody anymore.

Eclipse Of Nasir el-Rufai

 By Andy Ezeani

“Without death penalty, 90% of Nigerians will continue to see corruption as God’s blessings. The anti-corruption campaign will be a huge waste of time. We are already heavily populated, why can’t we sacrifice the top criminals to save the country’s future?” – Nasir el-Rufai 

Now, the House of Assembly in Kaduna State, the state Nasir el-Rufai governed until May 29, 2023, says the former governor is corrupt. 

*El-Rufai 

Any report of the political demise of el-Rufai may not just be exaggerated, to call up that legendary construction by Mark Twain, it may also be premature.

Open grazing: Nigerian Legislators Set To Make History

 By Tonnie Iredia

The Nigerian Senate elevated its leadership profile in the country last week when it opted to pass the second reading of a bill which seeks to ban open grazing and establish ranches for herders in the country. The bill was passed by a clear majority of the senators when their President, Godswill Akpabio, put it to vote.

All well-meaning citizens ought to commend the senate on the development which no doubt represents the first major pan-Nigeria attempt to address the interminable conflict between farmers and herders in the country. A few legislators who spoke against the bill were able to fulfil the democratic precept that although the majority must have its way, the minority must also have its say.

Nigeria, We Hail Thee?

 By Obi Nwakanma

There was a tradition recorded by the Roman historians, Suetonius and Tacitus, of the Naumachia, the spectacular, very large scale, gladiatorial public entertainment, which the Romans themselves also called Navalia Proelia because it was held at sea, or large lakes, or flooded arenas. 

Those who were rounded up, or selected to these Naumacharii, normally prisoners of war or state captives already condemned to die, were expected to enact naval battles before the emperor and fight to the death. And on this one occasion, those prisoners already condemned to fight to death, stood before the disfigured and lame emperor, Claudius, and declared, “Ave, Imperator! Morituri te Salutamus!” (“Hail Emperor! We who are about to die salute you!” Neither Suetonius nor Tacitus remarked at any hint of, or intention for irony in making that salute by these tragically fated fighters.

Nigerian Media Must Stand Firm Against Dictatorship

 By Dele Sobowale

“The jaws of power are always open to devour, and her arms are always stretched out, if possible, to destroy the freedom of thinking, speaking and writing [the truth] – John Adams,1735-1826, US President, 1797-1801.

The Nigerian media, print, electronic, main line and online, except the traitors in the industry, is under attack now as never before since the late General Sani Abacha. Now, as then, those whose principles have not been compromised by being now closer to the corridors of power must close ranks and wage this war against freedom to the end. The end, of course, means retaining our liberties to publish or broadcast the truth to the people of Nigeria – despite the ever-present wish of all governments that unfavourable reports be suppressed.

Urgent Action Needed To Address Food Inflation

 By Elvis Eromosele

“An old woman is always uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb.” This is a popular saying from Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart.

Many times, these days, I feel like that old woman in the saying, especially when I see skits where food is wasted and there are too many of them now. I don’t find them funny. I can’t laugh. They offend my sensibility. Food don cost. 

Preventing Our Children From A Perilous Future

 By Ayo Baje

“Let us work together to create a future where every child can learn, grow and thrive. Education is a right not a privilege. Let us make it a reality for all”

– Hon. Obidike Chukwuebuka (APC Chieftain). 

The celebration of the 2024 World Children’s Day has come and gone but the scandalous statistics of the abysmal quality of the life of the average Nigerian youth stare us all in the face. Lest we deceive ourselves, there is cause for serious concern, with regards to the educational, healthcare and socio-economic status of our children, that we, as adults would be leaving for them. 

The African Sunset In South Africa

 By Owei Lakemfa

The loss of majority in parliament by the African National Congress, ANC in the May 29, 2024 South African elections was a sunset for the continent. It means that the unrepentant Pan Africanist organisation with its vow to the mass of the people and unrepentant commitment to humanity as manifested in its unprecedented war against genocide in Palestine, might be compromised under a coalition. 

*Ramaphosa and Zuma 

The uniqueness of the ANC in   South African and international politics is that it has never really been a political party. Rather, it is an all-comers  movement of people dedicated to freedom and social justice. It is built on a tripod: coalition of people with different ideologies and religions, the South African Communist Party which espouses socialism, and the Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU.  The current President Cyril Ramaphosa is from COSATU.

Nigeria: A Dysfunctional Presidency And Exaggerated Accomplishments

 By Dan Onwukwe

For presidential aides in a democracy, the advice has always been: Understanding of the inner workings of power is very essential. It will offer you a nuanced picture of leadership at the highest level. For spokespersons to the President, and Governors, the advice is even more direct: Always work in harmony with your colleagues, not in discord. Master your duties. Don’t lord it over others. 

*Tinubu 

To borrow the words of George Stephanophoous, Bill Clinton’s top media adviser during his presidency, your duty to your boss can be “compared to being an air traffic controller at a busy airport on a foggy night”. That means avoiding issuing contradictory statements that may send the wrong signals to pilots and passengers onboard the aircraft. Deviating from these rules  could ignite a firestorm in a presidential plate.

Sanusi vs Bayero: The Politicisation Of Traditional Rulership In Nigeria

 By Olu Fasan

There is aparadox in the relationship between politicians and traditional rulers in Nigeria. Before elections, prominent presidential and gubernatorial candidates queue to pay homage to traditional rulers and solicit their blessing.

*Sanusi 

But after elections, the agency changes hands: a traditional ruler must walk on eggshells to avoid being dethroned. Like the Pope, traditional rulers have “soft” power, but state governors possess “hard” power. Adolf Hitler famously threatened the Pope. Nigerian state governors are little Hitlers who exercise crude executive power. The latest victim of such crudity is the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, who is replaced by a previous victim, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

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Kumuyi At 83: Beyond The Preacher’s Cassock

 By Banji Ojewale

There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe nor polite, not popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him he is right.  —Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) American churchman and civil liberties defender.

*Pastor Kumuyi and his wife, Mrs Esther 

In his book, An Outline of the History of the World, Herbert Abraham Davies relates the epic story of how a cleric put himself in the path of potential backlash to deliver ancient Rome from annihilation at the hands of an all-conquering army of barbarians. The predators were already in the regions of the Roman Empire; all the soldiers needed was an order from their leader, Attila the Hun, to move in and overrun Rome. From this she was saved, (so it was said), "by the earnest entreaties of Leo, Bishop of Rome, who entered Attila’s camp and warned him not to risk the vengeance of heaven by plundering the city, and the Hun leader was so impressed with the bishop’s sincerity and intensity of purpose that he withdrew his troops."

Tinubu’s First-Year Assessment: Mark: 37%; Grade: Fail!

 By Olu Fasan

Dear readers, I am wearing my academic cap this week, and assessing the first-year performance of Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s president since May 29 last year. In fact, I have marked Tinubu’s first-year assessment. The result? He failed badly. He scored an abysmal 37 per cent!

*Tinubu

Earlier this week, Tinubu marked his own exam paper and awarded himself a pass mark. He said he met Nigeria bleeding and stopped the bleeding. That’s utterly ludicrous, given that most Nigerians have been trapped in unimaginable misery and anguish over the past one year, and the fundamentals of Nigeria’s economy and social fabric have crumbled further in the past year. Yet, Tinubu has cheerleaders. One of them is Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, who said Tinubu “has laid the groundwork for progress” in his first year. What an outlandish thing to say! Well, for me, Tinubu failed his first-year assessment.

WYEP Concludes National Essay Competition, Rewards Winners

*The proud winners

The Watchman Youth Education Programme (WYEP) recently concluded a national essay competition in Lagos.  Six winners emerged in the senior and junior categories. The excited finalists received their prices amidst applauses from fellow youths and some adults who had gathered on Children’s Day, May 27, 2024, at the Watchman Fellowship Hall, 7c Fatiregun Street/Raimi Oladimeji, Ebute Metta, Lagos, to witness the event.  

Contestants were drawn from the Junior and Senior Secondary classes (JSS1-JSS3 and (SS1-SS3) to form the two categories.  

From the several students that participated in the first stage of the competition, twenty names made the top performers list. These were then invited to Lagos to write the final test which held on Saturday, May 25, 2024. Six contestants were eventually shortlisted as winners, three for each category.

Spreading Smile And Knowledge: Smile Communications, Alternative Bank, Celebrate Children's Day

At the heart of every community lies the promise of a brighter future, nurtured by the boundless potentials of its youngest members. In a beautiful display of compassion and collaboration, Smile Communications and Alternative Bank, a proud member of the Sterling Bank Group, came together to celebrate Children's Day with the students of Olusosun Primary School in Ojota, Lagos.

The event took place on  the 28th of May 2024. It was a special day and memorable occasion filled with laughter, joy, and invaluable support for the children of Olusosun Primary School.

Multilateral Finance Institutions Win Big At African Banker Awards 2024

 The most prestigious event in the African banking calendar, the African Banker Awards Gala Ceremony 2024, took place last night at the JW Marriott Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, on the sidelines of the African Development Bank Annual Meetings. The ceremony was attended by over 300 of the continent's leading figures in banking and finance. 

Now in its 18th edition, the African Banker Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and institutions that have contributed significantly to the growth and development of Africa's banking sector over the past year. This year’s awards ceremony in particular saw DFIs triumph, enjoying successes, in both institutional and individual categories, and representing the increased growth they enjoy in the African financial ecosystem.

When Will Nigerian Legislators Work For Their People?

 By Tonnie Iredia

The decision of the Kano state government to reinstate Emir Sanusi II some four years after he was dethroned has expectedly elicited diverse reactions from many Nigerians. While some looked at the subject from the cultural point of view and argued that it is in order to restore the traditional institution in its unadulterated form, others are unhappy that politicians have turned the royal throne into a chess game. So, the blame game is on.

Some say it is the result of an unending political rift between two former Kano governors, Musa Kwankwaso and Abdullahi Ganduje. There is a third group that loathes the involvement of the Judiciary which engaged in an offshore interference in the controversy. It is however simplistic to make conclusions about the return of Emir Sanusi II without reference to why and how he was deposed in 2020. The deposition of the Emir 4 years ago was heavily criticised by many political analysts who were convinced that the Emir did no wrong.

Re-Thinking Nigeria: Beyond Myths, Illusions And Self-Deceit

 By Pat Utomi

Nigeria is a mess right now. A huge mess. Even the blind can see it. And the deaf can hear the cry of anguish of Nigeria’s children. Can the country be rescued? Possibly. But the myths, years of delusions of grandeur and criminal capture of the Nigerian state threaten the possibility.

*Utomi

Last week one of the great TV interviewers in Nigeria, Charles Aniagolu, asked me the big question. How did we get here?

I resisted the temptation of the immodest but frank answer:   go and read just about everything I have written in the last 40 years.