THE Nigeria Ambassador to the Republic of Cameroon, Abayomi Olonisakin, recently presented a Letter of Credence to President Paul Biya in Yaounde.
The Nigerian High Commissioner to Cameroon assumed office in 2021, after retiring as Chief of Defence Staff. His deployment as Ambassador began with a five-day working visit to the country where he dialogue with different regions to smoothen the existing relationship between Nigeria and Cameroon.
The retired general, who assumed office in 2021, after retiring as Chief of Defence Staff, also visited Cameroon’s Littoral Regional Governor; Ivaha Diboua at the Bonanjo-based Governor’s Office in Douala, during his five working days tour to discuss the possibility of a permanent consulate staff residence in Douala, by requesting a parcel of land.
Olonisakin commended the initiatives of Nigerian companies extending their businesses to neighbouring countries like Cameroon, which he said is further strengthening the good ties between the two countries.
Presenting the Letter of Credence to President Biya, Olonisakin described Cameroon as a wonderful country, stressing that the new administration in Nigeria would extend the smooth relationship both countries have maintained over the years.
The first Senate President of Nigeria was the late iconic Owelle Nnamdi Azikiwe who was there between January 1, 1960 to October 1 of the same year.. He later went on to become the Governor-general of the newly independent country. The Senate President is the chief presiding officer of the senate and second in line to the presidency after the vice president. It is a very influential and important position.
The apex legislative house in the Nigerian democracy, the National Assembly is made up of the House of Representatives with 360 members and the Senate made up of 109 senators, three senators per state and one representing the Federal Capital territory, Abuja. As in all democracies, the legislature is an important arm of government. However, the legislative duties are not very often well understood by some of those who seek legislative seats in a developing economy like Nigeria.
The legislature is a very strong arm of government due to their duties in a democracy; lawmaking, oversight functions and being lobbyists for their constituencies. Many people in Nigeria tend to misunderstand the duties of a legislator. Sometimes even the voters cannot draw a line between the functions of the executive and the legislature. Because of the dysfunctional system where even the executive seems very unaccountable, the expectations on both arms are often blurred largely by ignorance and the dire needs of a largely illiterate and poor population.
The Roundtable Conversation however believes that just like ignorance is not an excuse in breaking the law, same ignorance cannot be accepted as an excuse by those elected as legislators at both state and federal assemblies to abdicate their duties in any form. But we have seen such subtle and brazen abdication of duties by the legislators across the country and that seems to be the bane of our democracy.
However, the apex legislative house in Nigeria, the National Assembly has been a mixed grill since the return of democracy in 1999. The first Senate President in 1999, late Evan (s) Enwerem was dogged by scandal and was replaced by late Chuba Okadigbo who himself was swept off the seat by the axiomatic ‘banana pill’. He was succeeded by Anyim Pius Anyim who in turn was succeeded by Adolphus Wabara after whom Ken Nnamani took over before a David Mark presided over the 7th assembly.
Senator Bukola Saraki’s tenure as the president of the 8th assembly started in a seeming blaze of political intrigues and power play that had the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) reeling in shock due to the drama that trailed the emergence of a Saraki and an Aminu Tambuwal as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The tenure of the national assembly leadership in the 8th assembly was a very challenging one to the principal officers on a personal level, the APC as the ruling party and the country in general. The recovery of the political disequilibrium of the period seems to be ongoing still.
The 9th assembly more than ever has been in the consciousness of the Nigerian people and has the political lexicon, ‘rubber stamp’ assembly often used to address their tenure. This tag might be deemed unfair given that the two chambers had some successes despite not fully meeting the expectations of the people. But the challenges of a developing economy should be in learning from mistakes of the past.
The 10th assembly is coming into the political terrain that is as edgy as it is expectant. Many of the legislators in the two chambers of the national assembly did not win their re-election bids. About eight ex- governors that sought to be elected as senators did not get the nod of their constituencies through the ballot box; ex-governors Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Ben Ayade of Cross River, Darius Ishaku of Taraba, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Solomon Lalong of Plateau and Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state.
The failure of these governors to win elections into the senate is profound and historical. In the past, most ex-governors who wished to become senators had some easy ride. The fact that some of them easily manipulated the processes in their favor made some public affairs analysts to christen the upper legislative chamber as ‘ex-governors’ retirement home’ due largely to the fact that most of them saw the senate not as a place to render service because more often than not, they denied even their states some impactful service but surreptitiously proceeded to the senate as a mere political trip for relevance and influence-peddling.
Given the political dynamics of the 2023 elections, most of the ex-governors could not survive the tidal wave of a more enlightened and dissatisfied populace eager to get the iconic pound of flesh from governors and other legislators who failed to serve the people appropriately. In a way, the election was almost a referendum on most candidates and their political parties.
For serious political watchers, the 10th national assembly is coming into a very volatile political scene based on the socio-economic and political problems in the land. The national assembly is coming with many new and inexperienced members. There are less than 20 women in the two chambers. The senate has just three women while the House of representatives have just above ten women as opposed to the 9th assembly with almost two dozen women and the senate with seven female senators. All eyes would be on these very few women but more attention will be on the whole 10th assembly.
The Roundtable Conversation finds it curious that since after the elections, the focus of the elected legislators has been solely on who becomes the Senate President and the Speaker of the House. The horse-trading and lobbying have been epic with all the fireworks and intrigues throwing up debates and permutations. The political games of tribe, region and religion are in the works too. Not enough is being dug into the competence and integrity of those vying for the different leadership positions of the 10th National assembly and that exactly is where the problem lies and that is why many Nigerians are seemingly worried that may be no lessons have been learnt.
The first Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1999, Salisu Buhari climbed to the seat on a ladder of lies, he was forced to resign. As if that assembly was under some spell, the then senate president, late Evan (s) Enwerem also became a victim of his own alleged distortion of personal records. He lost his seat to a late Chuba Okadigbo.
Make no mistakes about it, there are no saints anywhere in the political turf but as the African proverb goes, it is he whose hand is caught in the cookey jar that is deemed guilty. Leadership in any sphere of life demands that the actors must, like Caesar’s wife be above reproach. The leadership of any institution carries with them the integrity of all members and as such a lot of care must be taken in electing the leadership.
The legislature Nigeria must be the one that are as patriotic as they are knowledgeable about their roles. We have seen over time how the Nigerian legislators are almost the most highly paid in any democracy in a country with a minimum wage of a mere thirty thousand naira (N30.000) and a 133million people living in multi-dimensional poverty. There must be a paradigm shift in the ways business is done in the national assembly.
As President Tinubu has advised, let the 10th assembly choose their leaders amongst themselves to demonstrate their independence from the executive or political party structures. Nigerians therefore expect that given that all those elected to the apex legislative house are all adults, they must get down to work for their constituencies and the election of their leaderships will be the true test of the character of the 10th assembly.
The legislators at both the state and national levels must realize that the political awareness of Nigerian is at an all-time high. The outcome of the elections that had political parties lose in their hitherto political strongholds must be taken beyond the surface. The people might not be totally literate as in some other developed democracies but they sure know the indices of lethargic institutions and arms of government. The people now know better and are now more than ever before ready to hold all elected officials accountable unlike in the past.
The 469 members of the national assembly must realize that they are carrying the hopes of the citizens of Nigeria. Individual, group, ethnic or religious sentiments must be subsumed under the patriotic verve that puts the country first. The legislative arm across the country must stand for the people at all times as their closest representatives in the political space. Only the best is good enough for the people.
For all those vying for leadership, there must be an understanding that Nigeria would not want to ‘go back to Egypt literally. They want a more responsible and responsive leadership of the national assembly that would not play politics with the welfare of the people and best of all be in a position to be truly independent as an arm of government whose loyalty is to the people and not some political party or ethnic interests. We advocate a mutually functional executive/legislative harmony on a bi-partisan basis because Nigeria is seemingly on a socio-economic life-support and needs all the arms of government to work together to achieve a hitherto elusive development.
The Chairman of the Osun State Boundary Adjustment Commission, Justice Adekunle Adeigbe(rtd) has cautioned that the law will not resolve the renewed feud between the Ile-Ife community and Modakeke but usage of Alternative Dispute Resolution and sacrifice for peace.
Justice Adeigbe said this while presiding over the fresh petition filed before the Boundary Commission by the Ile-Ife community through the President of Great Ife, Mr. Femi Oyeyinka, and the President of Ife Farmer’s Association, Mr. Soji Oloyede against Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Joseph Toriola.
At the sitting, the counsel to Ife community, Chief Micheal Akinwale informed the sitting that he has served Modakeke the processes while counsel to Modakeke, Chief Goke Akinrotimi said he has replied to the motion but the plaintiff has failed to file any counter motion.
However, Adeigbe who spoke emotionally lamented over the renewed land dispute between the two communities. He queried the two counsels for failing to settle the matter between the communities before seeking the intervention of the commission.
He said: “The Federal government, state government, religious leaders, and others have intervened in the land dispute between the two communities, to what extent is this renewed hostility? It is time to settle the land boundary dispute matter between Ife and Modakeke for life.
“I am sorry that I am this emotional, we have to bury the hatchet forever. When you continually renew hostility towards each other’s, when will you develop as communities? It is worrisome! I know that land matters can be emotional but we have to seek peace. As the counsel you need to guide your clients to peace. You can’t solve this matter in an official manner.
“Forget about court papers, you have been living together for a very long time. The two counsels, you know the law you can guide your clients accordingly, it is not the judge that will help you to solve this matter. Call Ife and Modakeke leaders, and ask them what they really want, if that is not done, no law that helps you solve this matter. I want you to inform me at the next sitting that you have solved it. I beg the two communities in the name of God. Go into mediation.”
The two counsels agreed and promised to resolve the renewed land dispute between the two communities out of court. They said they will advise their clients.
Consequent to the agreement, Justice Adeigbe adjourned the matter to July 26th, 2023 for mention or report of settlement.
Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara state Dr. Kamoru Kadiri yesterday threatened to arrest suspected internet fraudsters otherwise called Yahoo boys and fraudsters in the institution, and hand over same to law enforcement agents for prosecution.
Kadiri, who was appointed substantive rector of the institution by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in April this year, added that cultism and hooliganism were prohibited from the school.
The rector said this in Offa at the 29th matriculation ceremony for both the national diploma (ND) and higher national diploma (HND) of the Polytechnic.
No fewer than 11,450 students took their matriculation oath at the event.
He said: “The Polytechnic does not tolerate truancy, absenteeism, and other forms of social vices. You are therefore advised to shun all forms of violence, negative social media interactions, cyberbullying, indecent dressing, prostitution, cultism, Yahoo-yahoo, and other fraud-related activities.
“This polytechnic will not tolerate such acts. Anyone that is caught will be decisively dealt with and handed over to appropriate law enforcement agents.
“I put it to you that cultism and hooliganism are strictly prohibited. It is criminal to belong to any group or association that is not registered by the school authority or permitted to operate on campus.”
Ruling Houses in Oke-Igbo community in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of Ondo State have rejected the appointment of Princess Olusola Babajide as Regent of the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo.
Princess Olusola is a daughter of the late monarch of the town, Oba Babajide Lawrence Oluwole, who was deposed by a High Court for not being a member of the Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House, whose turn it was to produce the king of the community.
Oba Oluwole died 19 days after he was deposed.
The Ruling Houses represented by Prince Rufus Adekanye, Head of Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House, in a letter to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, dated June 8th, 2023, said they were Claimants in the Suit wherein the appointment of Oba Oluwole as the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo was declared illegal and set aside in the judgment delivered by Justice Ademola Enikuemehin.
Prince Adekanye, in the letter by his Solicitor, Sola Ebiseni, said they were shocked when Princess Olusola was announced as the Regent of the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo.
He stated as late Oluwole was declared not an Oba and stripped of all privileges of royalty, his daughter could not validly be made a Regent under the Customary law of the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo Chieftaincy and the Chiefs Law of Ondo State.
The letter read in part: “Those parading themselves as Chiefs have no such status because they were only appointed as Warrant Chiefs for the purpose of the appointment of the deceased Babajide Lawrence Oluwore and have no more roles in the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo Chieftaincy.
“Their adhoc appointment having been dispensed with, they have since become functus officio and bereft of all authorities with respect to the chieftaincy after the appointment of Babajide Lawrence Oluwole which appointment, in any case, has been declared void by the Court”.
“To avoid any vacuum on the throne of the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo and further desecration by the odious occupation thereof by pretenders, we enjoin Government to fast-track the processes of appointing the new Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo in compliance with the customary law as enunciated in the aforesaid judgment of Court”.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the state is safe and conducive for investments.
Fubara, who spoke when the state leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) paid him a visit in Government House, Port Harcourt, assured of his administration’s commitment to providing security and the enabling environment for people to live and do business in the state.
He urged CAN to complement the government’s effort in promoting peace and security in the state through prayers.
He reiterated that Rivers is a Christian state and expressed gratitude over the support given to the previous administration by CAN.
Fubara in a statement signed by his Special Assistant, Media, Boniface Onyedi, urged the association to partner with the new administration to consolidate on the gains of development in the state.
Earlier, Rivers State Chairman of CAN, Most Rev D. B Kaladokubo, who led the association on the courtesy call, said the visit was to felicitate with Sir Fubara over his victory at the poll and inauguration as the governor of Rivers State.
LEADING Afrobeats festival, Afro Nation, is set to return to Lagos, Nigeria in 2023. Afro Nation Nigeria is set to unite the diaspora in the home of Afrobeats after an announcement by the organisers that include Live Nation, Event Horizon, Smade Entertainment, and Memories of Tomorrow.
Four years since Afro Nation’s debut in Portugal, the festival has since been expanding around the world with a hugely successful US debut in Miami in May, and more incredible shows to come on the beach in Portugal this month before returning to America for a two day show in Detroit between August 19 and August 20.
Speaking about the upcoming plans to bring Afro Nation to Nigeria, Co-Founder Adesegun Adeosun aka SMADE said: “Nigeria is the home to so many international superstars who have made Afrobeats a globally loved genre. As someone who grew up in Lagos, and then spent years promoting African music in London and beyond, this will truly be a full circle moment, bringing the Afro Nation show back home to Lagos. We can’t wait for the biggest celebration of African music the world has ever seen!”
ACTRESS Scarlet Gomez has said that acting can be frustrating sometimes but she loves it as the profession remains her means of livelihood.
Gomez stressed that her job comes first regardless of the stress and challenges it brings.
“I love my job, I’m not going to lie, that is my happy place. I’m very happy in front of the camera, comfortable there and I don’t think I’d rather do anything else but it can be very stressful and tiring, sometimes frustrating,” said Gomez.
Speaking on how she handles social media trolls, she said, “I try to ignore negative comments. And, when necessary, I address them directly and move forward. I firmly believe that social media should be a platform for positivity and support, not a place for bullying or dragging others down. I strive to keep it classy and maintain a forward momentum.”
Going further, Gomez also revealed how she pulled off her role in the telenovela, ‘Wura’, saying, “First, I was playing the character of someone older than I am. I had to think as if I was that age. You cannot compare the way a 31-year-old will walk with the way a 45-year-old would walk. Also, because the values of the character and mine are not the same, I had a conflict of interest. However, I was able to pull through. I think I did a good job.”
Gomez was nominated in the ‘Best Actress in a Drama’ category for her role in ‘Wura’ at the ninth African Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
Abians have expressed mixed reaction over the sacking of the substantive rector of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Associate Professor Hagler Okorie.
The sacking of Prof. Okorie was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the governor of Abia State; Dr. Alex Otti, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma.
Prof. Okorie, Law lecturer at Abia State University was appointed and confirmed substantive rector of the state polytechnic by former governor of the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu at the twilight of his administration.
Prof. Okorie was replaced by Engr. Mrs. Chidinma Martha Ndukwe, who until her appointment as the acting rector was Deputy Rector (Academics) in the polytechnic.
Mrs. Ndukwe by her appointment becomes the first female rector of the school since its inception
Some residents of the commercial nerve of the state who spoke to our correspondent over the decision of the governor of the state, Dr. Alex Otti to relieve Prof. Hagler Okorie of his post shared different opinions.
Other appointments made by Otti include that of Barr. Nkwo Victor O’Brien to be in-charge of the state’s Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB).
I am an angry Nigerian and those who know me must know why I have to be! As the pioneer Administrative Secretary of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), one of the major organizers of the famous ‘Occupy Nigeria’ in 2012, yours sincerely can conveniently align his thoughts with a parody in Yoruba which explains the situation Nigeria has found herself in the last 60 years. It is called ‘subu-sere’. Translated literally, it means ‘instability’. Of course, that’s why a Godwin Emefiele could imagine himself being a future president of Nigeria. It also defines the miraculous emergence and imposition of the so-called transport unions and their dreaded and untouchable leaders on a supposed Omoluabi society. But then, all these cataclysmic events and possibility of different backlashes are what the society must watch out for.
If we may ask, what’s really going on with the fuel subsidy regime? Well, this is a very big question but how the owners of Nigeria respond to it is the issue. Talking seriously, it requires sincerity, tact and straightforwardness, without which the country cannot move forward.
When public administration lends itself to dubious duplicity, it’s no doubt digging the future grave for the entire nation. Dubious political gladiators will only have to work a little to turn the situation around in their favour. The more reason it is incumbent upon the government to make public the beneficiaries of fuel subsidy from inception and let’s pay the Metropolitan Police to account for the money. As things stand, the list is not for everybody; and that’s the problem! So, let’s make the list official and public – if the government is serious about fighting corruption – as nothing will be in the dark any longer. We may not have to do meetings upon meetings, cultivate dialogues upon dialogues and caress disagreements upon disagreements to arrive at a sane conclusion, if the facts are true! Tragically, some people are feeding fat on this subsidy nonsense and they have become callous and inhuman. They don’t ever want to stop until they are dead. It’s like free money and they’d rather die than to let it go off them. If the Federal Government is serious, then, let us understand the historical exigencies that have led us to this pass. Through that alone, our answers to our glorious heaven may have been so graciously laid out. Economics is not rocket science. So, nobody should make Nigerians look like foolish people! For God’s sake, how can you appeal to serve only to turn around and call my mother a foolish woman?
What President Bola Tinubu will have to do about leading Nigeria is to ask the technocrats and the bureaucrats what Nigerians really want. If he wants to lead us into a glamorous, prosperous, sophisticated country, are Nigerians really ready? Are we poised for that kind of development or should we continue to struggle on the altar of fuel and concomitant subsidies? There are people who can tell Nigerians in minute details how we arrived here, who did what and society’s response to each government and its policies! If the Professors of History in our universities are dead, we shouldn’t hasten to look for another professor. Instead, let’s just look for some Ijebu women and we won’t be disappointed. Through that, we can build our economic history, failures and prospects. Such a historical exercise will also give us the policy history, attempts and effects.
Again, at what point did Nigeria actually lose the crowd and why do the people continue to sing the same old tunes and expect the dance steps to change? Why have we become so petty and ordinary that, when a man wears a cassock, or he is turbaned, we say he is holy? Take, for example, why is it that Lagos, with all its huge monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), has not become livable for the common man? Why has its N50 billion or so, generated monthly, not led to a reduction in rent or lower costs of food items in the state? How much is a measure of gari in Lagos, even, with its ginormous IGR? That the government continues to advance reasons towards making more money is noteworthy. But how has the removal of subsidies from kerosene and diesel benefitted the masses? Why do Nigerians still prefer leaving dear country to wash plates in other lands, despite all the huge bills and taxes being paid on seen and unseen items? Why should an unemployed man who manages to ‘japa’ from Nigeria and comes back, say, two years after, become the choice man for a professor’s wife?
We are people with focused heritage but, unfortunately, the children care less for depth! We continue to talk about ‘market forces’, ‘prevailing rates’, ‘international best practices’ and all sorts of economic jargons without talking about our porous borders; certainly, without discussing much about the man out there who’s not a civil servant, as such, to be expecting pay rise, plus its concomitant effects. Wait a minute, should Paul Biya of Cameroon wake up on the wrong side of the bed tomorrow and sneeze, won’t Nigerians catch cold again? If somebody comes now and introduces a palliative measure that takes care of daily needs of the people in Lagos, whatever becomes the fate of Nigeria’s premium motor spirit (pms) and its subsidy may not be anybody’s business; not even the Tinubu presidency. Ayo Fayose has shown how the people can have water and forget the bigger problem! Well, that’s a story for another day!
For a long time, there have been institutionalised barriers between the leaders and the led. What’s happening is the reopening of those barriers. But again, what’s really going on in our country? The Americans asked themselves this question a long time ago and it actually helped a great deal in redefining that ‘God’s own country’. So, can’t society demand a workable modality with or without fuel subsidy? Right now, Nigeria is so troubled, so polarized and so devalued to the point of being held back in the zero state of destabilization. Yes, Tinubu wants to be the people’s something! What’s it? Is it that open? Does it make economic sense? If yes, why are the international monetary institutions jittery? Why are they not at peace with his policy pronouncements? If the president’s intention is economic buoyancy for the country, then who can be against it? So, Tinubu should ensure periodic appraisals, examining how far his policies and programmes are faring. That’s how to know a leader who knows his onions.
Let’s even consider the salient Bretton Woods institutions’ responses to all these crises. So far, they’ve been knocks on the government. The more reason Nigeria’s economic watchers like the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NISER) and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) must come forward with detailed analyses of, and proffer solutions to Nigeria’s predicament. What’s also the position of our universities in all these? This isn’t the time for ‘sidon look’ philosophy. Now is the opportune time to scrap institutions that are not relevant to the needs of the people.
In conclusion, woe to the rhetoric! What Nigerians are looking for is the solution; the balm of Gilead; the restoring hope! Not just the wishy-washy, substance-lacking, wheedling words that are dead on arrival but the real solution, the philosophy of what works; and it is feasible! One can only hope that, this time, Tinubu would be up to the task. Nigerians can only wish him well.
May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!
•KOMOLAFE writes in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State, Nigeria (ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk)
