The Nation Newspaper

Category: Friday

  • The dynamics of Kano governor’s defection

    The dynamics of Kano governor’s defection

    The Permutations:

    There are new political and power dynamics in Kano State, as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf defects from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Kwankwasiya group to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). As we count down to the 2027 general elections in Nigeria, the days and months ahead will be very interesting. However, even though this is a win for the APC, but due to the sophisticated nature of Kano politics, it is not over until it’s over!

    Essentially, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso a former Governor of Kano State and the national leader of the Kwankwasiya group has overreached. So, obviously, the die is cast. He has lost his key political godson, who, coincidentally, is his son-in-law, to his political arch-enemy, former governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and APC. In my view, this type of politics of sense of entitlement of the political class, and the vicious cycle of transactional political godfatherism in Nigeria is timing out. For instance, we are witnessing what is playing out, which is at a crescendo in Rivers state. We are witnessing what is happening in Kano state. Not long ago, we saw what played out between Governor Uba Sani, and his predecessor, Governor Nasir El- Rufa’i.

    This is a lesson for political players that sometimes you need to play the long game. And indeed, for those that have the stay power in politics, they play for the long game.

    Potential Implications:

    However, with this development, trouble is waiting to happen amongst the political titans within the APC in Kano State.  This trouble has been brewing subliminally before the arrival of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. Power brokers like a former Governor of Kano State and immediate past National Chairman or the APC Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who was hitherto the leader of the APC in Kano State; the Deputy Senate President of the Federation, Senator Barau Jibrin, who has been nursing the ambition and has been investing heavily to emerge as the APC Governorship candidate l  to contest against Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, and other political juggernauts in Kano he already been scheming for supremacy build to the APC congresses. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how these strange bedfellows will fully align with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who has practically no political structure, especially build up to the upcoming  ward, state, regional, and national Congresses and Convention.

    Kano State politics is peculiar. The fact that Mr. President intervened is true. The fact that the Convention will play a role is true. But as you come down the political structure, the disposition and the consciousness is not the same. The cunningness of the politicians iand voters, including those ones that Mr. President has marshalled, is different. They will go in the night and say, do this.”Shebi” it’s the President. I want to hold on to what he’s given me. But when the day is cast and it’s too late, everybody will answer his name.

    The litmus test for his excellency Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf will start having is during the upcoming APC Congress. Because that is when he will start setting up his own political structure. Even though the APC stalwarts may like to “donate” or “rent” their structure for Governor Abba Kabir in the interest winning the elections for President Tinubu and the APC, none of the APC political gladiators is ready to remain political subordinated for the next five, six years.

    Therefore what remains to be seen is if the APC political titans will be 100% loyal to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. What also remains to be seen if of the Kwankwasiya structure that Governor Abba has taken to APC will get a strong holding within in the APC. Or if they return to the NNPP if they do not feel full accommodated in APC. Or if they will remain in the APC and sabotage the APC at the critical time of elections.  This is because the Kano APC is it constituted now is a conglomeration of sworn and bitter political enemies whose rivalry and long term interests are hardly negotiable. Of course in the face value, the words of President Tinubu may sink in and be effective only for a while. But the political gladiators know that the current arrangement only serves the interest of Mr. President, while their respective mid to long term political structures and ambitions are in jeopardy. This is especially so given the fact that the 2027 general elections will determine the political structures and future of these politicians.

    Furthermore, it is clear that Governor Abba Kabir’s defection to the APC is for self preservation and to consolidate his quest for second term in office which is not really guaranteed even with the defection to the APC. This is because, the Kwankwasiya movement is still solid at the grassroots level in Kano. Whoever underestimates or overlooks the love for the Kwankwasiya movement under the leadership of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso is doing so at his own peril! Indeed the masses love Senator Kwankwaso and if anything the defection of Governor Abba Kabir has triggered more attention and sympathy for Senator Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiya movement.

    Meanwhile, it is worthy of note that , due to the alleged overbearing influence of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, a few months into the administration of Governor Abba Yusuf, the protagonists, started a mantra in Kano, saying, “Abba tsaya da kafafunka”, or “Abba tsaya da kanka” , meaning, “Abba Kabir, stand on your feet” (Abba be independent). And that mantra was the beginning of what we have seen that has happened today. Consequently, some members of the cabinet of governor Abba Kabir who were also members of the NNPP and the Kwankwasiya movement, including, the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, started moving away to the APC, claiming  that there is an overbearing hold on the governor by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Further down the line, that continued to crystallise. And, obviously, like I said in my opening remarks earlier, this is a typical template of godfatherism,  playing out between a godson and godfather.

    Well, having done that now, Governor Abba Kabir was able to use this opportunity of his bosse’s overbearing influence, and at the same time, his overreaching with regards to the political dynamics at the national level.

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    It’s not over until it’s over!:

    The defection of Governor Abba Kabir from the NNPP to the APC has certainly dealt a blow on Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso’s political structure- the Kwankwasiya movement, in the short term. However, it is highly likely that in the mid to long term, Senator Rabi’u  Musa Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiya movement could resurge stronger, far as potentially Kano state politics is concerned, if anything. This is especially so if we go back to history. Kano politicians and voters are masters of this protest vote game we play.

    Let remind us of what happened during the 1991 Gubernatorial elections in Kano State between when the Gubernatorial candidate of the then Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, late Engineer, Magaji Abdullahi, and the Gubernatorial candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC), Arc.  Kabiru Ibrahlm Gaya. Members of the two factions of the defunct Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)  were members of the SDP. The PRP had two factions: the faction loyal to late Mallam Aminu Kano, the former national leader of the PRP, that we call the “Tabo” group, and the faction loyal to late Alhaki Abubakar Rimi, a former governor of Kano State. This is akin to what we have now in the APC in Kano state, and with governor Abba Kabir group and the APC team under the leadership of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje which is know in Kano as the “Gandujiya”.  group. When push came to shove, and late Engr. Magaji of the PRP “Tabo” faction emerged as the SDP Governorship candidate, the “Santsi” group kept quiet. But during the election, guess what they did? The “Santsi” faction and their supporters, in protest gave their votes  to the NRC candidate, and that is how Arc. Kabiru Ibrahlm Gaya emerged as the governor of Kano State. This political calculus, is typical of Kano politics notwithstanding Presidential intervention or interference or directive.

    All being said, how Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf continues to deliver the dividends of democracy to the masses in Kano state between now and 2027 and beyond, will determine how the massive Kwankwasiya movement will sway in terms of voting pattern. Now we have seen how the political elites in the cabinet of governor Abba Kabir have moved to the APC.  What is important to note is that the defections have not significantly impacted the value of the Kwankwasiya at the grassroots, What remains to be seen is how it plays out in the voting pattern.

  • MSSN: IVC’s permanent site

    MSSN: IVC’s permanent site

    Islamic Vacation Course (IVC) is one of the most vital organs of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN). It was initiated at the inception of that Society in 1954 to furnish Muslim students with the required basic Islamic education that could serve as their foundation in life. IVC is so-named because of its design to take place during long school vacations. For more than 54 years after its establishment, IVC had been moved from State to State where public or private school premises were used for the educative programme. But with the increasing population of its members it became difficult to use one single school premise for the vital regular training given to members. Thus, as a token of progress, the thought of stabilizing the Association by establishing permanent sites got a consensus. And each of the two major zones of the Association (A and B zones) was given a go ahead to provide a permanent site for the programme while the Head Office is sited in Abuja.

    It was for the purpose of laying the foundation stone of B Zone’s permanent site that many Muslim organizations and individual personalities assembled in Ibadan on a Sunday. And who could have been more fitting for laying such a foundation than His Eminence, the Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubar III. As usual, he was personally present to perform the historic duty.

    Also present were the Otaru of Auchi, Oba Aliru Momoh, the Onitaji of Itaji Ekiti, Oba Adamo Babalola, the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland Alhaji Abdul Aziz Arisekola Alao, the former Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, late Dr. Abdul-Lateef Adegbite, late Justice Bola Babalakin (retired), the former and pieoneer Secretary General of Muslim Ummah of South West of Nigeria, Professor DOS Noibi and a host of other highly respected Muslim personalities too many to mention here, who came from all parts of the country. Most of these personalities were members of the MSSN at one time or another.

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    Also present at the occasion were many Muslim Organizations across the country including MSSN itself, the National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations (NACOMYO) Jam’atu Nasrul Islam, Nasru Llah Al-Fatih (NASFAT), Fathu Quareeb, Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), The Companion, The Criterion and a host of other Organizations.

    At the occasion, the Sultan was so impressed by a four year old boy’s recitation of the Qur’an that he instantly awarded him full scholarship from the primary school to the University. It was his second time of doing that in 2008 alone. When he came to Ibadan for the inauguration of MUSWEN earlier this year, he announced three personal and automatic scholarships for three female Muslim students who could gain admission into the University to read medicine. And at the foundation laying ceremony he made a personal donation of three million naira which he called first installment.

    There is no part of this country that this Sultan has not personally visited formally as Amirul Mu’minin thereby confirming that Sultanate is rather for the entire country than just Sokoto as erroneously believed by many and echoed by the Nigerian Press.       

    Perhaps it was in consideration of this new reality that the conglomerate of the above named Muslim Organizations declared in Ibadan that the office of the Sultan for Nigeria as a whole and not for Sokoto alone. And the proposal was made by the Southern Muslims who might have realized an error in restricting the title to a single city (Sokoto) for many years.

    SULTAN is an Islamic title which means AUTHORITY. Whoever is legally crowned in that venerable office is legitimately vested with the authority to give Fatwa or delegate such power to any other competent Muslim Cleric. The office should therefore be for the entire Muslim society in Nigeria and not just a city, state or tribe. Sultanate came to replace Caliphate at a time when Caliphate was becoming irrelevant because of the gross abuse to which it was subjected through power struggle. To try to restrict it to a locality here in Nigeria, therefore, is like limiting the scope of Islam by sheer whim and caprice. No sensible oceanographer will want to confine the movements and operations of a whale to a brook. This new reality is long overdue.

    The emphasis on Sokoto whenever the title of SULTAN is addressed in Nigeria was a design by the colonialist not only to impress the restriction of Islam to a locality in Nigeria but also to stress their imaginary superiority of the British monarchy over Sultanate. Such a design which came to be inherited by Nigerian political elite is suggestive of the possibility of having a Sultan in any locality where Muslims are found. That was one of their many ways of degrading Islam. And this grossly contradicts the Islamic norm by which the Sultanate office was established.

    There are four Sultanates in the world today. They are the Sultanate of Oman, the Sultanate of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Brunei and of course our own Sultanate of Nigeria. It will be noticed that each of the first three Sultanates was mentioned in relation to its country of domain and not of localities. Why should that of Nigeria be different?  Afterall, the other three Sultanates put together are by far smaller in area size and in population than that of Nigeria. Why then should we as Muslims accept an imposition on us by those who didn’t know how Sultanate came about?

    Since the title belongs to Islam and the Muslims alone, it should be the exclusive right of only the Muslims to redefine that title appropriately and call it its befitting name without consulting any non-Muslim. And that was what the Nigerian Muslims did in Ibadan that Sunday, during the foundation laying of the MSSN permanent site in Ibadan.

    Afterall, this is not the first time that the Muslims in Southern Nigeria would initiate Islamic action that would become a national affair. Such initiatives have rather always come to strengthen the Unity of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah. Examples of these are many. Muslim Students Society of Nigeria is one. NACOMYO is another. FOMWAN is another. CRITERION is another. And yet, there are also NASFAT and FAT’HU QUARIB. All of these and many more are National Muslim Organizations initiated from the South-West but to which millions of Nigerian Muslims belong today by choice without any tribal or sectional bias.

    Incidentally, all these organizations were present or ably represented at the foundation-laying ceremony of the Islamic Vacation Course (IVC) permanent site where the declaration of the SULTAN OF NIGERIA was made last Sunday and there was no single dissenting voice. If the proposal or that declaration had been made by any Northern Muslim Organization it would have been perceived as Northern gimmick to laud it over the South. But here is a declaration made in the South by the Southern Muslims on their own volition. What else can anybody say to controvert it?

    Going by that declaration therefore, it becomes a reality that this only African Sultanate is of Nigeria and not of Sokoto as hitherto assumed. And Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III has confirmed this by his utterances and actions. He has shown Nigerians the difference between leadership and rulership. And by his example we have come to realize that what Nigeria has always lacked is not rulership but leadership. As Muslims, we prayed for good leadership and Allah in His mercy granted us one. It is now left to us to appreciate it by not abusing it. We pray the Almighty Allah to further guide and protect this Sultanate that the Nigerian Muslim Ummah may fall asunder.

  • Food for thought for African Democratic Congress (ADC)

    Food for thought for African Democratic Congress (ADC)

    ‘A nation is great not by its size alone. It is the will, the cohesion, the stamina, the discipline of its people and the quality of their leaders which ensure it an honorable place in history.”- Mr. Lee Kuan Yew – the First Prime Minister of Singapore’

    Effectively, as we approach the 2027 general elections in Nigeria, except some critical steps  are taken by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the ADC will not stand a chance to even compete talkless of to win the 2027 presidential elections against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    The clock is already ticking, build up to the 2027 elections. And here we are, the opposition political figures and the opposition political parties in Nigeria are In disarray. There is currently, no unanimity of focus, there is no alignment of key objectives, there seem to be no potential to build up to  a consensus with regard to zoning of the President slot, or where the ADC stands, in terms of its strategy.

    How will ADC  deal with the big egos currently in the ADC? That is another food for thought.

    Good enough just two days ago, the ADC leadership  finally setup a 50-member, Manifesto drafting Committee, to come with a draft of what the ADC has to offer to Nigerians  or what the other political parties have to offer Nigerians show us what they have to offer that could be better what President Bola Tinubu, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been doing in the past two and a half to three years. Indeed, in my view, in comparison with previous dispensations, so far this is the most lame and reactive opposition time in the political history of Nigeria

    The current opposition political parties in Nigeria, are yet to have a unity of purpose, talk less of strategy of putting their houses in order, to be able to effectively fight a very entrenched, highly experienced, war-scarred, dominant and incumbent President Bola Tinubu and his political party. And it worries me as a Nigerian because we need an effective opposition to put President Tinubu and APC on their toes as they deliver their mandates at federal and state levels,  so that they can do more. That consciousness will also make the ruling party to know that they have an opposition that can actually compete with them.

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    By the way, many people do not know that I have political experience. As a bit of background about my political antecedents; I was a founding member of the All Peoples Party (APP) in 1998, and I was appointed as the first Information Analyst at the APP National Secretariat, working directly with the National Chairman and the National Secretary (within the National Working Committee). I worked with different Committees including Planning and Organizing Committees, Mobilization Committees, National Convention Committee, the APP Governorship elections Campaign team for late Engineer Magaji Abdullahi, the APP Governorship Candidate for Kano State in the 1999 Gubernatorial elections, etc. I was given level-1 confidentiality clearance and ran political assignments at the highest level. After the Presidential elections, In the second half of 1999, I followed some of my Principals, to switch affiliation to the PDP along with other party chieftains. In the PDP, I was also privileged to work at top levels with the likes of the late Ibrahim Aminu Saleh, and other Party chieftains. One such instance was playing a key role in the emergence of Chief Audu Ogbe as the PDP National Chairman in 2001. Following that development, I became actively involved in partisan politics and undertaking national assignments. In 2005, midway into the second term of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, I decided to revert back fully to my professional career and stepped away from partisan politics.

     Having been a member of an opposition political party, as well as the ruling party, I understand the mechanics and dynamics of politics and party administration. Since the time I left politics in 2005, interestingly, today, all our political mentors, leaders, and colleagues from 1998 to date are in all the political parties, APC, PDP, Labour Party or NNPP because the politicians have all spread out. And that tells you the kind of politics we have in Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, there is a tension that is building up in the APC and  I have said severally, that the biggest opposition of APC, is the  APC itself , i.e, Complacency, and the sense of entitlement. What to watch out for are the APC ward and state congresses which commence soon. The ADC or any serious political party will put their house in order, tidy up their platforms. Because some people will be looking for where to run to. There is no how the APC go into the presidential election as it is. As a vehicle that is solid without some people having to look for alternatives.

    Many political juggernauts in the APC, will not agree to be given the back seat for the next five years they are going to be there. So the ADC will have to  put it’s house in order, and do the right thing, whatever it is. Because certainly politicians will look for alternative platforms.

    Love him or hate him, President Bola Tinubu and the APC were able to manage various power blocs, egos and interests efficiently and effectively when they were in opposition. President Tinubu played the long game for 15 years building political structures, network and consolidating to get to where he is.

    Furthermore, timing is a critical success factor and I would like to share some strategic perspective in ghat regard,  for the ADC. Let’s go back and look at the timelines:

    Now we are in January, 2026, we are counting down to 2027. If we may recall 2023-2024, when APC was formed during the merger. By March 2013, two clear years agreed of the 2015 general elections, when the legacy parties have agreed to merge, the APC had taken a clear position on zoning, by zoning the presidency was zoned to northern Nigeria. That is very critical. Secondly, by November 2013, they had in their kitty a total of 16 incumbent governors, including the PDP governors that joined the legacy party governors, like the governors Adams Oshiomole (ACN), Tanko Almakura(CPC), Kashim Shettima (ANPP), Ibrahim Gaidam (ANPP), Rochas Okorocha (APGA), all Governor of South West Nigeria (ACN), and 5 Governors that defected PDP to APC. In the January, APC and had over 170 incumbent legislators in the Senate end house of representatives at the National Assembly and majority of the members of the state house of assembly in those 16 states.

    By 2014, the narration, messaging, and strategy of the APC were clear. And they had already started getting the attention of Nigerians.

    Currently, we are in January, 2026 about 1 year to the 2027 general elections, but the ADC yet to be clear about the zoning of the Presidency. And the dramatis Personae in the ADC are busy with the “me, me, me” mentality. What will happen to ADC is in its hands. How the ADC leaders  work in the next three to four weeks to come out with a position to show clearly to Nigerians, first of all, that they have the clarity and unanimity of purpose. Secondly, they have alignment of visions and objectives for Nigerians, and then to the messaging. By June 2026, , if in the next two months, the ADC remains indecisive, it may not be a competitive party in the 2027 general elections, and because of that, the crises ‘ of trust and  confidence will ensue with the domino effect that may scatter the political party before it’s foundation and pillars are even firmly in place.

    Sun Tzu, the great military strategist, stated that, “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win”. Therefore, any political party that wants win elections and exist for long, must be prepared to be united, proactive, consistent, consolidated, financially capable, and effective. For instance, in the United States of America, power shifts between the Republican Party ,  Democratic Party, etc . In the United Kingdom, the Conservative Party and the Labor Party, etc.

     My parting words for the opposition political figures; United you stand, divided you fragment your votes and make it easy for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to coast into his second term.  The rhetorical question is, “Will the politicians in the ADC rise above their selfish and/ or parochial interested to actually  do the needful?” Your answers are as good as mine.

  • MssN: The almond tree

    MssN: The almond tree

    “Do you not see how Allah sets forth a parable? Pleasant word is like a splendid tree which roots are firmly entrenched in the earth while its branches sprout protectively into the sky yielding fruits every season by the grace of Allah. Allah talks to men in parables that they may be mindfully alert”. Q.14:24

    Almond tree, for those who know it, is splendid to behold. It is magnificent in appearance. It is grandiose environmentally. But much more than all these, it is highly curative in substance and in essence. No soil whether in the forest or in the savanna or even in the desert is objectionable to this great tree for a dwelling. Wherever it is found, Almond tree creates a serene environment and serves as a protective umbrella for other living organisms around. It is one unique tree that wears the crown of a king and bears the scepter of a generalissimo. What other tree can compare favourably with this wonder tree?

    Believed to be an original native of Morocco in North Africa, Almond is not just about roots, stem and leaves. It is also a medicinal tree with invaluable medicinal properties. Its medicinal virtues are evident in its pharmaco-dynamic action of copper, iron, phosphorus and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B4 and B6 which exert synergic action in man and boost the formation of new blood cells and haemoglobin even as they maintain smooth physiological function of the brain, the nerves, the bones, the heart and the liver.

    The summarized analytical description here is not much about Almond tree per se as it is about the parable which its existence seeks to interpret. The similitude of the MUSLIM STUDENT SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (MSSN) is like that of the Almond tree. It was planted like a Mustard seed. It germinated into an enlivening plant with no irrelevant part.

    Most Nigerian Muslims of the current generation, including this columnist, do not know or cannot remember how MSS came into existence. They can now afford to take it for granted either because they were not part of the struggle that brought their spiritual harmony to bear or because the struggle has taken a different form which they are yet to be conscious of.    

    MSS is a revolution which quietly crept into the Nigerian society at the very right time that a revolution was required. If Islam enjoys a hitherto denied official recognition in Nigeria today, it is mostly due to that miraculous revolution.

    How and when did this gargantuan SOCIETY come into existence? Who were the irrigators that watered its seed into a tree? What suckers have since sprung from this tree and where are the farmers planting and nursing those suckers? Should MSS be called an Institution? Who actually are its alumni today and where are they? What further height is this tree aspiring to attain? These and many other questions had spurred ‘THE MESSAGE’ to fetch water from its very source for the sake of originality and genuineness.

    In a one on one interview with a man who joined hands with others to plant its seed, who was its chief irrigator from the very beginning, who grew and towered with the tree and who is more authoritative than others in telling its story, these questions were answered. Dr. Abdul-Lateef Adegbite, the first and longest serving National President of MSS (and former Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs by the grace of God) went the memory lane and relayed it all for posterity sake. It must be recalled that Dr. Adegbite as pioneer President served five terms of one year each from 1954 to 1959. That length of service turned out to be a saving grace for the infant SOCIETY.

    ‘THE MESSAGE’ decided to put the interview in a prose form for lucidity and proper perspective rather than a question and answer rhetoric. Here we go:

                   “It all started like a dream in April 1954. A student of Methodist Boys High School (BBHS) Lagos, Tajudeen Aromasodu, clairvoyantly muted a unique idea. He proposed an association of all Muslim students in Nigeria starting with Lagos secondary schools. The intention was to create a forum of unity and identification with Islam. Such a forum was also to enable them pursue and defend their common interest.

    Aromasodu’s idea had emanated from the constitution of the Muslim Students Society of Burma which he accidentally came across. He read the constitution and became fascinated by it. That was at a time when Muslim children could hardly pass through secondary schools in Southern Nigeria without getting converted. Muslim children seeking Western education in those days were seen as trespassers or intruders except they were ready to cross to the other side of the   bridge against their faith and the wish of their parents.

    Aromasodu’s focus at that time was probably not beyond Lagos which was the federal capital of Nigeria and the seat of the colonial rulers. He quickly contacted a few other Muslim students of like minds and, together, they decided to invite two delegates from each of seven most prominent schools in Lagos at that time. Thus, fourteen of such students (boys and girls) formed the pioneer nucleus of what was destined to become a formidable SOCIETY. The schools were Kings College, Lagos; Queens College; Yaba, Methodist Boys High School, Lagos; CMS Grammar School, Bariga; Ahmadiyya College (now Anwarul Islam Model College), Agege; Methodist Girls High School, Yaba and Baptist Academy, Obanikoro.

    The nucleus body held its inaugural meeting at Ansar-ud-Deen Primary School, Alakoro, Lagos, on May 30, 1954. It was at that meeting that a proposal which had earlier been sent out to the mentioned schools was formally adopted. And, a resolution was taken to draft the constitution of the SOCIETY which was ratified thereafter.

    With the constitution in place, some members of the first executive body were elected into office. Dr. Adegbite was unanimously elected President while Shuaib Oloritu of Kings College and Saidat Anibaba (now Professor (Mrs.) Mabadaje) of Queens College became first and second Vice Presidents respectively. Dr. Adegbite’s election was quite timely and coincidental because he was not just the Chairman of the Library and Debating Society of Lagos secondary schools, at that time, which made him a first among, he too was planning a common forum for Muslim students.

    Other officers were elected and given responsibilities. Duties were delegated with trust and virtually everybody lived up to the trust.

    What would have been a major hindrance to the realization of that dream was money with which to run the new SOCIETY. But nothing fails at the dream level which has the hands of Allah in it. With strong determination and commitment, the young boys and girls levied themselves one shilling each monthly. Besides, each of them bore the cost of transportation when assigned to a duty outside the immediate environment.

    If the first national conference of the SOCIETY, held in Lagos in 1954, drew the attention of many people to it and attracted many new members, that of 1956 held in Ijebu-Ode was a watershed. It was at that conference that the SOCIETY can be said to have become a real national body. Some members especially of northern origin who later became prominent in that body joined in 1956. These included Shehu Musa, Adamu Ciroma, Yerima Abdullah and a host of others.  It was about the same year that some other Lagos students like Lateefat Oyekan (now Alhaja Lateefat Okunnu) joined the SOCITY and boosted its growth with indefatigable activities. At this time, Islam was not yet known to have significantly reached what is now called South East or South South of Nigeria.

    The third conference was held in Ilesha in 1957. It was hosted by M.A Smith. The fourth and fifth conferences were held in Ibadan and Abeokuta in 1958 and 1959 respectively.

    The conference had to be held consistently in the South-West because most of the initial members were students in that region. There were only two Higher Institutions in the country at that time. The two (Yaba College of Technology and University College, Ibadan) were situated in Lagos and Ibadan respectively. And all northern students seeking higher education in Nigeria had to attend these two Institutions.

    The MSS annual conference had by now become a meeting point for almost all Muslim students in Nigeria because of the awareness it created in those students and the spiritual succour it engendered in their parents.

    Despite their young age and little experience, the founders of the SOCIETY were foresighted enough to know that they would need the guidance and support of some elderly prominent men and women in the society to survive. They therefore appointed some of such people as patrons and matrons.

    Among them were Alhaji (Sir) Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; the then Prime Minister of Nigeria, Alhaji (Sir) Ahmadu Bello (the Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of Northern Nigeria); Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu, (a Federal Minister); Alhaji Dauda Adegbenro (a Minister in the Western Region); Professor Saburi Biobaku; Alhaji Ekemode; Mr. H.A.P Adebola (a labour leader); Alhaji M.A Smith; Alhaja Humani Alaga (from Ibadan) and Alhaja A. Shodeinde (from Lagos).

    The contribution of these Patrons and Matrons to the phenomenal growth of MSSN was invaluable. And its spread across the country within a very short time was due to providence. Abdul-Lateef Adegbite, the President of the SOCIETY had completed his secondary education at Kings College in 1957. He had wanted to vacate the office of the President for someone else but others would not hear of that. They persuaded him to continue having appreciated his cool-headedness and the leadership ability in him.

    Providence set in to play a role in the life of Abdul-Lateef and that of MSSN simultaneously. He got a job as a researcher at the Historical Research Scheme in Ibadan in which he was engaged while awaiting admission to read English at UI. At this time, Abdul-Lateef experienced a repeat of providence working for him against his wish. He did not succeed in getting admission into the Premier University but that was a blessing for MSSN. If he had been admitted as he wished, he would have had less time for the SOCIETY in its infancy and he would not have become a lawyer that he happily became later. He also would have studied English at UI without any scholarship. His patience and faith paid off as he later got admission into the University of Southampton where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Law before proceeding to the University of London for his Masters’ and Ph.D. on scholarship.

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    Earlier in his life, he had experienced a similar fate. While seeking admission into secondary school, his desire was to be a student of Government College, Ibadan which his brother Saburi Biobaku had attended. But as providence would have it, his Primary school   Headmaster mistakenly filled Kings College, Lagos, in his form. And that was how he became a student of Kings College.

    If he had attended Government College, Ibadan, he would have probably not been part of the formation of MSSN and his leadership quality that nursed that SOCIETY from inception would not have been of such great benefit. And if he had got admission into UI at the time he desired, perhaps the history of MSSN would have been different today.

    As a researcher always on the road, Adegbite used his time, his energy and the car attached to his office to spread the good tidings of MSSN to many other Muslim students, especially in the Western Region, who later became members.

    By the time he eventually travelled to United Kingdom for his University education in 1959, a solid foundation had been on ground for the SOCIETY. He therefore had no fear on what would become of it in his absence especially when he had confidence in those who succeeded his tenure.

    One major fear that had been averted before he travelled was that of the interaction of male and female students. That was the fear of the parents who didn’t want immorality to debase the good intention with which the SOCIETY was established. This sensitive aspect was carefully handled through the enforcement of discipline. Marriage among members was not forbidden but modalities were laid down for such based on the guidelines of the Qur’an and Sunnah.

    Realizing the implications of talking any of the sisters into marriage, the President himself avoided any act that could set a bad precedent for others. When it was time for him to choose a marital partner, he made sure that his wife to be (Miss Taibat Yetunde Carew, of blessed memory) was not a member of the SOIETY. Although he met her at an MSS forum, the latter just escorted her friend to that forum.

    When he returned into the country in 1965 with Ph. D degree, he was surprised at the growth rate of MSS across the country. All the secondary schools have fully become members and most of the foundation members had either graduated from Higher Institutions or about to graduate.

    He therefore thought of a higher pedestal for the SOCIETY’s alumni to operate Islamically. Fortunately, he was appointed Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the Western State.  

    Today, most of those members are great men and women in various public and private sectors. The current Sultan, some Emirs,   Ministers, Governors, Vice Chancellors, Professors and, even President Umar Musa Yar’Adua were members of that great SOCIETY.

    It is however disturbing that despite the greatness of this SOCIETY and its alumni, there was no permanent office that could be called its national headquarters even by the time its 50th anniversary was celebrated in 2004. An attempt was once made to site such office in Ilorin being the midway between the north and the south. But that attempt was unsuccessful. It was only when the elders decided to pay   attention to the issue of headquarters, recently, that work began on a befitting office in Abuja which may soon be completed.

    Dr. Abdul-Lateef Adegbite’s appointment as Commissioner also helped tremendously in bridging the religious gap between the north and the south especially in respect of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in which he was to play a major role to bring to life.

    His actions that led to the formation of ‘WEST JOMO’; how he contributed to the formation of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs; How he became the Secretary General of that Islamic apex body and other Islamic activities he has engaged in will become a subject in this column in a foreseeable future. In sha’a Llah.

  • Critical success factors for Nigeria’s economy this year

    Critical success factors for Nigeria’s economy this year

    The World Bank, and International Monetary Find (IMF), have reeled out positive outlook for Nigeria in 2026:2027, projecting a 4.4% growth with positive headline inflation, and food inflation trajectories as well as other macroeconomic indices indicating positive economic recovery. However, it is essential that we also take notes of some alerts by the World Bank, and IMF, so as to ensure that the macro economic trajectory is sustained and upscaled, and to also avoid what I call socio-economic “reflux”, especially considering the fact that we are in an election year. However, it is also important that we upscale Nigeria’s growth rate as soon as possible, so that we can achieve the actual economic growth rate that is desired to really turn around the economy of Nigeria in the mid to long term.

    Furthermore, while the macroeconomics indicators are very important, the microeconomic indicators and the impacts on the common man in Nigeria, are most critical. For instance, the World Bank report also projected that there will be further increase of poverty in northeastern Nigeria. And we should also not forget that the over 140 million multidimensionally poor Nigerians have not really significantly been reduced, even according to the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). So these are crucial points we need to take note of while we are celebrating the positive macroeconomic trends and outlook.

    We must also interrogate the overall performance of the economy, i.e, macro and micro, so as to ensure that, the average Nigerian is really feeling the impacts of those economic indicators, and to hedge against insecurity and the escalation of poverty, in the northeast as mentioned by World Bank, etc. ,

    In my view, here are some critical success factors:

    Fiscal Discipline:

    I have been consistently advocating that there is the urgent need to properly align Nigeria’s fiscal policy with the monetary policy. And we can only achievement of the fiscal policy with the monetary policy, if the federal government entrenches fiscal discipline. Indeed the  lack of fiscal discipline had been the bane successive administrations in Nigeria including the incumbent. That is why we have not been able to achieve that level of growth and consistency required to fully recover and grow  Nigeria’s economy.

    Fiscal discipline include; how we  rein in the national income, how we spend the money, what our priorities are, issues of budget padding, how we prioritize and manage our capital expenditure. Certainly, the lack of fiscal discipline is why Nigeria is currently, simultaneously operating three different budgets, which further complicate the economic situation.

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    For example, for the first time in a long time in Nigeria, local contractors have gone on strike and have carrying placards, demanding for the payment of the backlog of payments of contacts awarded and executed as far back as 2024. Interestingly, we the Honorable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Chief Wale Edun, has stated about a week ago that about N1.8trillion have been earmarked  to pay contractors (foreign and local). These are indications of lack fiscal discipline, which is negatively impacting and is misaligned with the current Monetary policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Therefore, there should be policy cohesion, policy coherence, and  policy coordination amongst and across MDAs. The federal government should also ensure that while we are making the progress, the gains are penetrating into the economy and making the desired impacts. Because no matter how well we want to talk about how the economy is doing, the fact that we are operating three budgets in the same year should not be the practice and should not be acceptable. Unless and until we are able to address those fundamental issues, we will not be able to have traction.

    Meanwhile, while 4.4% rate projected is good good as it sounds; the truth is that, the growth rate will not  actually make Nigeria a $1 trillion economy as quickly as possible, which is what will actually really turn around the economy. We need at least an annual growth rate of from 7% to something about 8.5% consistently for the next to four years and beyond to nearly achieved the objective.

    So there’s a lot of work to be done. Interestingly, we have an election year. Politicking will take a chunk of the time of the administration. I hope that the federal government will remain focused on achieving sustainable micro economic impacts , to hedge against the opposition political parties, while they are doing the politicking so that people will really appreciate that they are doing something that is making sense to them, not just for the macroeconomic indicators or for analysts like us.

    Full Activation of the Local Governments Autonomy and Administration:

    Local Government administration is  also part of national fiscal framework, because fiscal discipline is also addressing the constitutional provision for allocation of resources. And the local government is a crucial part of that.

    For many years, that particular level of government, has been used as a special purpose vehicle for corruption, or for alienating the people. I am happy that, despite resistance by some state governors, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been able to operationalize the autonomy the local government administration in line with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has done that by first, making sure that the Supreme Court of the Federation has affirmed the sanctity of the relevant sections of the Constitution that gives local government administrations their structural, financial, and operational autonomies. Two weeks ago at the beginning of the year, 2026, Mr. President re-affirmed his commitment by stating that he will ensure that local governments directly funded and supported even if he will have  issue executive orders. Kudos to Mr. President. We hope that will be done as soon as possible, because we need to detach the local government from this chokehold of the governance.

    Accordingly, if we are able to detach the local government, we can be able to focus on the local government as well and give them those responsibilities and ensure they deliver because they are the closest, you know, to the common man in Nigeria.

    Local government administration is a critical success factor to the success of Nigeria’s fiscal framework.

    National Security:

    The criticality of national security to Nigeria’s existence, unity, prosperity and sustainability, growth and development cannot be over-emphasized. Without national security, the visions, social and economic strategies, and policies will amount to nothing.

    What is critical is also to ensuring we strengthen our institutions, while dealing with insecurity.Therefore, the leadership at federal and state levels must ensure the achievement of national security and safety of citizens, in with section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended] provides that, “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

    Activation and Operation of FDI Pipelines:

    Trade and Investment are live wires of any country. President Bola Tinubu has done a lot of Investment and Trade mobilization since the beginning of his administration in May 2023. He has traveling around the world, mobilizing Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and trade for Nigeria. The recent engagement is Mr. President’s trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week where he attended the Sustainability Summit and also his interactions with the President of the UAE,  Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which resulted in the signing of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) across various sectors.

    The important next steps in 2026, are the full activation and operations of those FDI and Trade mobilizations, particularly the agriculture, power, and manufacturing sectors, because those are sectors that will actually drive the economy. The performance of investment and trade in 2025 was very good. However the big investments were in Financial Services, and Portfolio investments.

    According to the CBN, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) rose to $720 million in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025 from $90 million in the preceding quarter. Year-on-year FDI inflows we’re also higher than the $570 million posted in Q3 2024, reflecting 26.3% increase.

    Interestingly, out of the total 2025 Nigeria’s annual investment, $3.1 billion, representing 54%, was to the banking sector, but about 2.3%, which is $129 million production and manufacturing. So you can see where we should focus on, to actually get the actual growth target, in the economy.

    Overall, efficient and effective execution, performance and impacts are critical.

  • Nyesom Wike’s zero-sum game in Rivers state

    Nyesom Wike’s zero-sum game in Rivers state

    ‘He will win, who knows when to fight and when not to fight.”.. Sun Tzu, Chinese Military General, Strategist and Philosopher’

    Look before you Leap!

    The recent escalation  of imbroglio between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and his political godson, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, with the resumption of impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara, by the Rivers State House of Assembly; is a Zero-Sum Game by Nyesom Wike. This will most likely be the defining moment the power tussle between the political godfather and his political godson.

    The imbroglio has taken a new dramatic dimension, as Minister Wike has unleashed  verbal attacks and threats on the National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru and anyone who shows any form of support for Governor Fubara, or anyone that calls for reasoning, logic or political solution to prevail.

    With the verbal attack on the APC Scribe, Mr. Wike has opened a new front to add to the growing number of fronts in his ongoing numerous political battles. For Minister Wike to openly declare a political war with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political party leaders and members while Wike remains in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is an indication that Minister Wike is unraveling with no holds barred. This is especially so given that, in the past 3 years Wike has practically destabilized the PDP, while burning political bridges in his wake. It appears that this latest fight by Nyesom Wike is a fight to finish.  Indeed how Wike handles this episode of his multidimensional political battles will define his political future – he will either re-assert himself as a political leader to be reckoned with, or he will experience a bitter political anticlimax that could potentially end his political relevance in the politics of Rivers State and at national level.

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    As I  stated in my previous analyses and opinions on this topic (eg. The 4th of April 2025 episode of this Column), I also partly blame the political crisis in Rivers State on the initial strategic mistakes made by Governor Fubara. However, Governor Fubara’s deft defection to the APC and how he executed the move was strategic and it has changed the game for him so far.

    In one of his lessons on strategy and warfare, Sun Tzu also stated that, “No nation survives from prolonged warfare.” And to that extent, for the past 3 years since the resumption of his political godson Siminalayi Fubara, the people of Rivers State have not enjoyed good governance and the full benefits of having a democratically elected Governor. I believe that this protracted and continuing fight between the Minister Wike and, Governor Fubara will continue to deny the people of Rivers State the good governance.

    In my view,  the impeachment proceeding is a calculated attempt to oust Governor Fubara is a zero-sum game played by Minister Wike’s camp to ensure that the incumbency and political career of governor Fubara are upended. Sadly, initial attempts by President Tinubu to resolve the impasse have not worked out, and I am not sure other entreaties will work.

    “Roforofo” fight is not strategy:

    It is true that Minister Wike played crucial roles to the success of President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 Presidential elections. But it is also profoundly true that President Tinubu has been adequately compensating Minister Wike and his Allies. The rhetorical question is what will be enough for Nyensom Wike? Your answers are as good as mine.

    As it is today, I dare say that Mr. Wike is overplaying his hands. He cannot fight everybody at the same time and expect to win all the time. Therefore, Wike should smell the coffee, face the realities, recalibrate his strategy, and readjust his position.

    Furthermore, Minister Wike’s behavior, to the leadership of the APC, with the insults and the threats he is showering on the principal actors in APC, particularly the National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, is an indication of what will happen even if Nyensom Wike decamps into the APC. I reckon that even if Nyensom Wike decamps to APC, he will carry this toxic behavior and style into the APC, and that will certainly be a disaster for the APC. This is because, even though Wike may be tamed by Mr President, he is creating too many distractions for Mr. President and unnecessarily heating the polity. Indeed, Minister Wike’s behavior if unchecked, could be contagious and it may likely permeate into other power blocks within the APC at states and the national level. This will be a very bad influence at this particular time when there is the need for more cohesion to manage the power blocks and power dynamics within the APC as new entrants and support build up to the 2027 elections. Indeed, managing these power blocks is already a big task for Mr President and for the managers of the APC.

    Emotional Intelligence and political sagacity are key to sustainable political stay power as demonstrated by President Tinubu in the over 30 years of his political career. Love him or hate him, President Bola Tinubu has a high level of emotional intelligence. That is how, for decades,he has been able to make and keep friends and allies across Nigeria, and even work with his enemies and/or those that hitherto fought against him. I hope that Minister Wike will learn some emotional intelligence and political sagacity from Mr. President.

    APC unity and discipline must be sustained:

    President Bola Tinubu is also a core party man, who believes in political party discipline and loyalty. Therefore I do not expect President Tinubu to allow Minister Wike to take the “roforofo” fight mentality to the APC or to continually fight and insult the APC leadership at the highest level while claiming he is loyal to Mr. President. As it is today in Nigeria, Mr. President is the APC, and the APC is Mr. President! Therefore attacking the APC leadership is attacking Mr. President.

    Consequently, I totally align with the position of the National Chairman and the National Secretary of the APC, because any political party that intends to consolidate power and be sustainable MUST imbibe and entrench political party unity and discipline. Over the years President Tinubu has been able to maintain the discipline that has been responsible for the level of cohesion, unity and successes of his political structure over for many years in Lagos, the entire southwest and across  Nigeria, including the build-up to the APC merger in 2014. Minister Wike should also learn from that.

    Therefore, commend the unanimous position take by the garrison commanders of APC, i.e, the National Chairman of APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, the National Secretary of APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, have taken positions, at the national level to protect the APC from the emerging toxic narratives and actions by Wike, lest his actions could permeate into the APC and cause cracks and disaffections, and also set a bad leadership example to the members of the APC across Nigeria.

    By the way, Minister Wike has been meddling into the politics of other States as he clearly stated himself in his verbal attack of Senator Ajibola Basiru, when he spoke tacitly about Osun politics. There are also news about his unsuccessful attempt to meddle into the politics of Imo State. His activities in the national, regional and state levels in the PDP are in public domain.  Yet Minister Wike is threatening that “nobody” can or should meddle in Rivers State politics, as if Rivers State is his private property. Certainly, the National Chairman and/ or National Secretary of the APC or any other political party will always be involved in political party activities in ALL the 36 States in Nigeria and the FCT. Certainly Mr. President has and will continue to lead the entire country and intervene on matters of States including Rivers, if and where necessary. In fact, it is President Tinubu’s interventions that prevented Rivers from descending into anarchy.

    It is also noteworthy, that the importance of Rivers State in the permutations and combinations build up to 2027 elections, has changed from the 2023 elections scenario. Because the APC currently has about 30 incumbent governors as members. So the numbers and power dynamics that were critical in 2023, will not be the same in the  2027 elections.

    I also don’t expect the APC under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu to allow  an APC lead State House or Assembly to impeach the Rivers State Governor who is a brand new entrant of the APC. That is not how the APC operates.

    Please let the people of Rivers State Breathe:

    I hope that this Wike Versus Fubara power tussle will be ended so that the people of River State, and by extension the people of Nigeria, will have good governance in Rivers State . That should be the real objective of any well meaning politician in Rivers State.

  • Key global determinants in 2026

    Key global determinants in 2026

    Trump 2.0:

    I project that President Donald Trump will continue to disrupt global dynamics in 2026. Love him or hate him, President Trump is a force to reckon with (for good or bad reasons). Importantly he follows his rhetoric with actions. Therefore any individual or Country that ignore him, do so at their own peril. President Trump will sustain and upscale his trajectory in terms of his foreign, and economic policies for the United States of America.

    The removal and arrest of President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela is a demonstration of President Trump’s resolve to follow his rhetoric with actions. His threat to  the President of Columbia and his sustained intention to annex Greenland and threats to the EU, NATO, etc are indications of days to come in 2026.

    Global Economy:

    The World Bank projects a global average economic growth of 6.2% in 2026-27. In addition, the World Trade Organization (WTO) projects a declining global trade volume growth at 0.5%, having downgraded it from a previous expectation of 1.8%. According to the WTO, “Trade growth is expected to slow in 2026 as the global economy cools and as the full impact of higher tariffs is finally felt for a full year,”.

    In my view, the aforementioned outlooks will be driven by President Trump’s Tariff Policies, and the consequent global trade barriers, geopolitics, climate change as it impacts agriculture and environment, etc.

    Artificial Intelligence (AI):

    AI will continue to evolve and dominate global growth across all sectors. 2025 closed with a major buy – a $2.2 billion purchase of an AI company – Manus by Meta, as indication of consistent growth of AI amid concerns of control and what the future holds in terms of regulations of AI. For African Countries, how proactive they are in terms of the development of infrastructure, human capital development, political stability and good governance will be a critical success factor for us to catch up with the AI evolution.

    The increasing use of autonomous systems for electric vehicles and AI in our movements and travel systems, health care systems, agriculture, education, warfare, etc will be dominated by China. China will continue to dominate the AI space.

    The United States of America is also very dominant and visible in the AI space with investments of Trillions of US Dollars and ownership of AI companies and infrastructure. However Europe needs to up its game in 2026.

    BRICS:

    I reckon that BRICS will continue to grow cautiously, consistently, as it is becoming a likely alternative platform to the US dollar.

    I am very confident as an advocate of BRICS,  that BRICS will definitely make an impact in the global socio-economics and politics as the body becomes stronger and more relevant.

    China’s Resilience:

    In terms of global trade, China is reasserting itself as the global trade super network and supply chain hegemony – a production superpower. In 2025, President Xi Jinping steered China on the trajectory of continuous utilization of special economic zones/ free trade zones to provide the incentives required to continue catalizing,  and promoting  trade and investment within China, and between China and the global trade ecosystem. In addition to that, we also witnessed how China’s focus on producing high-quality development and high-quality products to the world. China will sustain those trajectories in 2026.

    Significantly for Africa, in 2026, African nations will take advantage of the zero tariff provided by China on almost all import products for 53 countries in Africa, as against the tariff war by President Trump rates on. That is a major shift by China, considering the fact that there are major producers of electronics, industrial materials, and other highly demanded products around the world. This is critical success factor for China, and why China will remain ahead of the game with regard to technology, and trade, and with regards to economy.

    Furthermore, China is also creating digital hub around Huizhou, Guangzhou, Hanai provinces, building massive data centers for AI, which are the bedrock of the AI revolution. This level of investment, and commitment by the Chinese leadership will ensure that China remains o resilient and on a positive trajectory in terms of economy, and geopolitics.

    Another important point to note is China’s internal growth strategy and and focus on that a they call “the small beautiful things”, i.e the continuing support of the small medium scale enterprises within China, to ensure that  the people of China are happy and the general well-being of Chinese is upgraded, while closing of the gap between the rich and the poor.

    Basically, China’s key drivers for growth in 2026 will be innovation, resilience, diversification, and global re-alliances, consolidation.

    Bad Governance and Insecurity as Opportunities for Imperialism:

    Interestingly, President Trump’s disdain for Africa has changed in perspective and a new purpose of economic imperialism. I am of the view that this change is because President Trump now realizes the fact that Africa has abundance of critical minerals. Critical minerals/ Rare earth metals are crucial to 4th and 5th industrial revolution. Developed Countries are scrambling for the critical minerals which are cheaply available in Africa more that anywhere else in the world.

    For instance, in 2025, President Trump weighed in on the protracted war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and struck a deal to mediate between the warring parties in the DRC, i.e the M23 Rebel forces (backed by Rwanda) and the Incumbent Government of DRC.

    The DRC has the world’s largest reserves of cobalt, along with significant quantities of coltan, lithium, and uranium, all of which are overwhelmingly mined and processed by Chinese firms.

    On December 5, 2025 (last month), President of the DRC Félix Tshisekedi, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame visited Washington to formalize the peace deal. Consequently, the United States and DRC signed a new strategic partnership on critical minerals and security cooperation. The terms offer U.S. firms preferential access to Congolese mineral reserves when doing business with state-owned mining companies.

    Furthermore, I expect that President Trump will ride on the momentum, and leverage the intervention the USA is currently providing to contain insecurity in Nigeria, to secure a deal for the USA to gain significant access to the critical minerals that are abundant in northeastern, northwestern and north central Nigeria. After all there is no “free lunch” in foreign policy.

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    Accordingly, I also reckon, that President Trump will maximize the new Presley he has if Africa and use the opportunities to secure more deals for critical minerals. I also expect that more African countries will have to sign these deals with the USA under the guise of interventions. As to whether or not the deals will benefit the African Countries – your guesses are as good as mine.

    Indeed, bad governance and heightened insecurity are the new opportunities for President Donald Trump. Africans should blame themselves and their leaders for opening the opportunities not just for President Trump but for China, and any other serious Country that is ready to partake.

    For example, Sudan is currently experiencing one of the worst humanitarian crisis in human history. According to the latest figures from the UN, at least 21.2 million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity, 9.5 million people are displaced internally, 4.35 million people have fled the country, and 10 million children are out of school with classrooms destroyed, occupied, or unsafe to reach. The worst affected in the war are women and children.

    Yet the African Union is aloof as the imperialists position to take over the critical minerals abound in northwestern Sudan.

    Russia-Ukraine Imbroglio

    With regard to the Russia-Ukraine war, I do not see any end in sight in 2026. This is due to the sustained hardline positions taken by Russia, Ukraine and the EU/NATO. While the war rages on, complications of the war with heavy social and economic impacts are more on  Ukraine that they are on Russia. Currently, as the winter chills on, there are over 1million people in urgent need of heating and water. In my view, so far, President Putin’s strategy has been working more for him than the US and EU/NATO strategy for Ukraine. If the Russia-Ukraine imbroglio continues unabated without a change in the political strategy disposition, it will continue to impact negatively on global and national economies.

    Israel-Palestine Conflict – The War in Gaza

    With regard to the Israeli-Palestinian war in Gaza, I don’t expect much to change, because the successive US Presidencies and administrations have maintained a consistent strategic position and actions with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Therefore, the position of the United States of America in this regard will not really change the fortunes of the Palestinians.

  • Resilient Professionals, Resilient Nation

    Resilient Professionals, Resilient Nation

    • By Thabit Wale Sonaike

    I am delighted to be here with you today on the occasion of your annual convention 2025 themed: Resilient Professional: Resilient Nation. I can tell you that there has never been a more important time to advocate for resilience than this very moment in the history of our fatherland. Many thanks to the leadership of this great guild of Muslim professionals who have done quite well in coming up with such thought provoking theme that hinges on RESILIENCE as a core component in the matrix of nation building and at such a crucial time of ours.

     So, what is RESILIENCE?

    According to Luther, 2006. Resilience is simply positive adaptation during adversity. That is, the process of developing favorable adjustment patterns and beneficial outcomes when navigating challenging terrains. If we expand this definition to capture a nation as an entity, then it becomes the ability of a nation to protect itself from threats by adjusting to an evolving reality.

     In a recent report on the Global Investment Risk and Resilience Index of 2025, seven out of the 10 least resilient countries in the world are from Africa, these includes: Egypt, Mali, Ethiopia, Burundi, Chad, Sierra Leone, and our very own Nigeria.

    Yes, Nigeria, the giant of Africa. The truth is that Nigeria is frequently ranked within this bracket due to a convergence of intense and overlapping crisis that limits Nigeria’s ability to absorb shocks and adapts to changes as a nation even in the face of individual adaptive characteristics of an average Nigerian. Factors like infrastructure deficit, economic vulnerability, high poverty rate, debt and fiscal constraints, insecurity amongst others have compounded the situation even further. Worthy of particular mention is Nigeria’s structural dependence on the oil and gas sector which drives roughly between 80-90% of foreign exchange earnings and about 60% of government revenue. This fundamental structural weakness is exacerbated by several interconnected systemic issues including weak governance, endemic corruption and price volatility.

    As a result of the foregoing, development is hugely hampered, stability is stifled and implications for future posterity seems unfavourable. Such situations trap the government into series of quick fixes and short term survival strategies rather than a long term strategic planning that will promote growth and stability. This is where we have found ourselves within our recent history.

    So, having mentioned briefly the state of the Nation in the face of resilience or the lack of it, how do we then navigate our path to permanent posterity, particularly leveraging on the assets of our people as professionals?

    Let me quickly say here that RESILIENCE as we used to know it has transitioned from a bouncing back mentality to a pro-active strategic game changing value that thrive on set backs as a catalyst for positive growth and development. Such type of resilience is built upon the strength of organised and well structured professionals that cut across sectors including Digital Infrastructure, Health care services, Engineering and Technology, Energy Management etc. All of which can work together as a driving force for a highly efficient mechanism that will power a resilient nation.

    To break this down a little, upon taking office in 2023, the new government faced low growth and rising poverty. Between 2014 and 2023, real per capita GDP declined on average by 0.7 percent annually. In 2023, the poverty rate stood at 42 percent. This difficult situation was compounded by limited access to dollars, which meant that people had to turn to the parallel currency market and thereby pay a much higher price than the official rate. In the meantime, public finances were strained by an opaque fuel subsidy system, which also caused recurrent petrol scarcity. And central bank financing of the fiscal deficit pushed up inflation.

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    In response to these challenges, government embarked on a series of bold reforms over the last two years. In 2023 the new government and the Central Bank of Nigeria liberalized the foreign exchange market, stopped central bank financing of the fiscal deficit, and reformed fuel subsidies. The government also strengthened revenue collection, which is still one of the world’s weakest.

    Since these reforms were implemented, international reserves have increased, and anyone can now access foreign exchange in the official market. Nigeria successfully returned to international capital markets last December and was recently upgraded by rating agencies. A new domestic, private refinery is positioning Nigeria up the value chain in a fully deregulated market.

    While progress has been encouraging, significant challenges remain. Inflation still exceeds 14 percent. Poor infrastructure, especially for electricity, inhibits economic activity. Poverty and food insecurity remain high. Nigeria lacks an effective social safety net to cushion the impact of shocks on the most vulnerable.

    In addition, the global environment is posing new challenges with elevated uncertainty and high borrowing costs. Nigeria is especially affected by volatile international oil prices since oil revenues account for a large proportion of government revenues—a figure that stood at 30 percent in 2024.

    To address these challenges, Nigeria should focus on three key priorities:

    First, the country needs stronger and more sustained growth to lift millions of people out of poverty and food insecurity, this does not happen overnight, it takes proactive and deliberate strategies.

    Second, as an essential ingredient for economic development, Nigeria needs an effective budget framework. Delivering effective investments in people and infrastructure requires realistic budget assumptions, strong expenditure management, and transparent implementation and reporting—which, in turn, can strengthen accountability. For its part, monetary policy should continue to decisively tackle inflation and reduce economic uncertainty.

    Third, the government should continue to increase domestic revenues. This is essential given Nigeria’s substantial funding needs in growth-enabling areas such as agriculture, digital technology, infrastructure, including access to electricity, and climate adaptation.

    Central to all of these is a resilient workforce acting as the foundational engine for economic recovery and social stability.

    In today’s world, the ability to adapt and thrive amidst constant change is critical. A key component of this essential strength is a resilient workforce who are adaptable, flexible, and equipped to handle the pressures and uncertainties of the modern workplace

    A resilient workforce is a foundational pillar in nation-building, enabling a country to adapt to economic, social, and environmental challenges without halting progress. A resilient workforce contributes to stability, continuous productivity, and faster recovery from crises.

    BENEFITS OF RESILIENT PROFESSIONALS

    Sustained Economic Growth and Stability: Resilient workers help maintain productivity during economic downturns, market volatility, and operational disruptions. By lowering employee turnover and reducing burnout, they ensure long-term stability and competitiveness in a dynamic market.

    Rapid Crisis Recovery: In the face of national emergencies—such as pandemics, natural disasters, or conflicts—a resilient workforce is better equipped to adapt and recover quickly.

    Enhanced Productivity and Innovation: Resilient employees tend to be more engaged, motivated, and solution-oriented rather than focusing solely on problems. They are more likely to seek new opportunities and develop innovative solutions to challenges.

    Improved Public Health and Reduced Social Costs: By effectively handling stress, resilient workers experience better mental and physical health, leading to lower absenteeism and reduced healthcare expenditures, which alleviates pressure on public resources.

    Adaptability to Structural Shifts: As industries change due to technological advancements or shifting demographics, a resilient workforce is more willing to upskill, reskill, and adapt to new roles, ensuring the nation remains relevant in a global economy.

    Stronger Social Cohesion: A resilient culture fosters stronger relationships and teamwork, reducing internal friction and promoting collaboration.

    Let’s consider the following case studies.

    Case Study 1:

    The Finland’s Model.

    Finland’s strategy, refined from a history of geopolitical challenges, treats national resilience as a shared responsibility across government, businesses, NGOs, and individual citizens.

    Integrated Workforce Roles: The private sector is deeply embedded in national preparedness. Through the National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA), companies are organized into “pools” to ensure the continuity of critical infrastructure, such as food supply, energy, and digital payment systems.

    The “72-Hour” Citizen Readiness: Resilience starts at the individual level. Citizens are educated to manage independently for at least 72 hours during a crisis, ensuring that the emergency workforce can focus on the most critical recovery efforts.

    Psychological Resilience: One of Finland’s seven “vital functions” is psychological resilience. This involves proactive media literacy programs to counter disinformation and national defense courses for leaders across all sectors to ensure a unified response.

    Case Study 2: The Singapore’s Model.

    Singapore focuses on “Employment Resilience” to maintain national stability amidst economic volatility.

    Adaptability as a National Asset: The nation views worker adaptability as the core of its resilience. Initiatives like the SkillsFuture program and the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2030 plan aim to keep the workforce employable despite rapid technological shifts or global disruptions.

    Adaptive Business Practices: Following the pandemic, Singaporean firms accelerated flexible and remote work models, creating “fresh reservoirs of resilience” that allow the economy to function even during restricted movement.

    These are some of the models across the world showcasing resilient professionals as a prime driver of a resilient nation.

    ACTIONABLE STRATEGIES FOR A RESILIENT FUTURE

    Strategic Upskilling & “Future-Ready” Development

    Resilience in 2026 will be increasingly tied to digital fluency and human-centric skills.

    Targeted Reskilling: Organizations are prioritizing training in AI literacy, big data, and cybersecurity—the fastest-growing skills needed for national competitiveness.

    Skills-Based Hiring: Move toward “build-versus-buy” decisions by investing in internal talent marketplaces that open new career pathways, reducing national unemployment and skills gaps.

    Dual Education Models: Governments can adopt successful models (like those in Switzerland or Germany) that combine classroom learning with hands-on vocational training to ensure the workforce meets modern industry demands.

    2. Holistic Well-being as a National Asset

    A resilient nation requires a workforce that is not mentally or physically depleted.

    Proactive Mental Health: 81% of employees in 2025 prioritize mental health support. Strategies include implementing Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and normalizing “mental health days” to prevent widespread burnout.

    Flexible Agility: Officially adopting remote, hybrid, or four-day workweek models allows for business continuity during national disruptions while supporting worker work-life balance.

    3. Fostering Inclusive & Transparent Culture

    Trust between the workforce and leadership is a prerequisite for national stability during crises.

    Transparent Communication: High-performance leaders use “realtime sentiment capture” to understand employee concerns and share organizational/national goals openly, which reduces anxiety and misinformation.

    Psychological Safety: Build environments where individuals feel safe to innovate and report risks. This “risk-aware” culture helps prevent minor issues from escalating into major national or economic shocks.

    Diversity as Strength: Embedding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into core strategies broadens the talent pool and fosters the creative problem-solving required for complex national challenges.

    4. Strategic Partnerships & National Infrastructure

    A resilient workforce cannot function in a vacuum; it requires a robust supporting ecosystem.

    Public-Private Collaborations: Join national movements (e.g., Singapore’s SkillsFuture) where the government, employers, and individuals share responsibility for continuous learning.

    Support for Small Businesses: MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) are the backbone of local stability. Governments can streamline regulations to allow these businesses to focus on job creation and community resilience.

    Infrastructure Redundancy: Resilience is bolstered by protecting “lifeline” systems like the power grid, water, and digital access, ensuring economic activity can continue even during acute shocks.

    Finally, I strongly believe that if we can be deliberate about the action points that I have shared here today and with the kind of initiative, energy and resilience that organisations like Guild of Muslim Professionals continue to put into action, I strongly believe that we can beat our chest proudly to say that the Nigeria that lies ahead is the resilient Nation that will take her rightful position among the giants in the committee of Nations.

    Alhaji Sonaike, the Deputy President II of the Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN), delivered this lecture at the 13th Annual Convention of the Guild of Muslim Professionals (GMP) at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

  • Local government autonomy critical to national development

    Local government autonomy critical to national development

    “When you are in local government, you are on the ground, and you are looking into the eyes and hearts of the people you are there to serve.” – Valerie Jarrett, a former Senior Advisor to former President of the United States, Barack Obama

    About two weeks ago, on the 18h of December. 2025, during the15th National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the Supreme Court’s judgment affirming the financial independence of local governments is implemented.

    Mr. President, stated that the failure of the governors to fully comply with the Supreme Court’s judgment may force him to take other executive decisions.

    I commend and support Mr. President’s position on the autonomy of the 774 local government in Nigeria, and decisions he will take in this regard. It is trite in law, that local governments are Should be funded directly from the Federation Account. But for over 40 years since the second republic, Governors have been taking the funding allocations on behalf of the local government administrations in violation of Section 7 and other relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution as amended. By approaching the Supreme Court last year and securing the judgment in favor of local government autonomy which is an affirmation of Section 7 and other relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution as ammended, surely, Mr. President has cleared clear the way for accelerated growth and development and the grassroots of Nigeria.

    It is worthy of  note that President Tinubu is living up to his campaign promises as outlined in his Renewed Hope campaign Manifesto build-up to the 2023 presidential elections. In Page 69 of the manifesto, Mr. President promised to, “Embark on a review of the federation revenue allocation system to recalibrate the division of funds amongst the three tiers of Government: Federal, State and Local. More funds should be allocated to the States and Local Governments so that they can better address local concerns and fulfill their expanded constitutional obligations to the people……. This promotes stronger governance at the state and local levels, thus reducing political congestion and competition for resources at the federal level. The performance of federal, state, and local governments shall improve while the people will benefit by having more political democracy and economic development more closely at hand.”

    Taking Development closer to the people:

    It is worthy of note that according to the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the current revenue-sharing formula is as follows: The Federal Government takes 52.68 % of the revenue share, states get 26.72 %, while local governments get 20.6 %. So far, Governors have taken 46.78%, i.e. 26.72% + 20.6% – with no commensurate tangible impacts to show for the masses of Nigeria, i.e. the grassroots.

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     A very worrisome situation in Nigeria is the lack of deepening commitments and impacts at grassroots levels where the majority of Nigerians reside and live. The acceleration of the provision of basic infrastructure like pipe-borne water, basic roads, waterways, culverts, health care facilities, agriculture support systems and investments, etc. have eluded our people at the local governments and hinterlands due to a lack of direct funding to our local governments. Therefore, we must ensure effective financial and operational autonomy at our local government levels, going forward.

    A good example of the importance of the role of local governments is that local governments remain the critical platforms for our Agricultural value chain and its socio-economic contributions. There is currently no active development process flow between the Federal Government interventions and direct local government initiatives. 

    I am very glad to hear that the perennial issue of undercutting or stifling the cash flow of local government administrations in Nigeria will come to an end soonest. Because this has been one of the key banes of the progress of this Country. For over 40 years, the State Governors have been holding the local government administrations hostage, and rendering them at the beck and call of the Governors. Suffice it to say that the refusal of successive state administrations  is a testament to the hypocrisy of our expectations as a nation.

    The sustained choke-hold of the Local Governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by State Governors is not just for the control of the financial inflows of the Local Government Areas (LGAs), but also to ensure continuous political control of the local government areas to perpetuate their control of the political structures of the local government areas for political supremacy, while and after leaving office as governors. The choke-holds on the LGAs have further stunted the growth of local government areas across Nigeria, and more importantly blocked the delivery of good governance. Over time, the local government administrations have become voiceless, powerless, and almost useless. The local government management and operations have been almost comatose, and therefore, they have not been able to add tangible values to the growth and development of Nigeria. The LGAs are mere appendages of the State Governors, while their offices are more or less liaison offices of the Governors. That is why the local government chairmen/ sole administrators sit out their tenures without making any impacts on the communities. 

    Due to the aforementioned reasons, there is so much opaqueness in the administration of local government administrations in Nigeria. Most of the local government chairmen also end up helping themselves from the remnant of funds credited to the coffers of the local government – that is what bad leadership at the top does – i.e., “when the head is rotten the body subsequently rots away. In the end, the citizens of Nigeria are systematically and consistently short-changed. Consequently, year-on-year we do not see any serious developments taking place at local government levels; rather, what we see are multi-dimensional retrogression and poverty. 

    Indeed, a visit to local government headquarters around Nigeria will evidence how bad things are; the offices are shadows of themselves, the operations are comatose and there are basically no structures for people to lean unto in demanding the delivery of good governance.  Therefore, I am very happy to hear that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is ready to deliver one of his campaign promises to ensure that local governments do not just get autonomy on paper, but that the autonomy is actualized and made fully operational.

     Furthermore, one of the key reasons why we do not witness major and tangible developments at state levels is because the inactivates at local governments are due to undue interference by the state Governors to the extent that, it is only the local governments that are of interest to the Governors that experience of measure of development. 

    It is an established fact that “politics is local”. That is why everywhere democracy has thrived, and everywhere leadership has been effective and impactful; it is because the local governments are autonomous and fully operational – across the three arms of government at that level, i.e. Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary. It is because politics is local that is why LGAs are where the votes are garnered to ultimately achieve political success. Accordingly, the grassroots should not be abandoned after campaigns and elections. The people at grassroots levels MUST be catered for, if we want this Country to make any form of progress. The only way growth and socio-economic development can be achieved at grassroots levels is to eliminate poverty and strife by fully operationalizing the independence of local government. 

    Sadly, most of the projects we witness at state levels are around the State capitals with a lot of “white elephant” projects situated at the local government levels. This is why most of the Councillors are not making impacts, but basically exist by titles they hold and by the little “change” and “crumbs” they pick out of whatever remains from the “financial leftovers” that trickle to their pockets from the coffers of the local government administration.

    It is important to note that, just operationalizing the local government administrations and giving them full autonomy will not enough to ensure the delivery of good governance at the grassroots level. Citizens should also actively demand for good governance from Governors and local government administrations – to put the local government chairmen on their toes so that they do not feel entitled and take things for granted.

     Nigerians look forward to a fully autonomous, and functional local al government administrations in line with the provisions in the 1999 Constitution, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and ensuring that the local government administrations are rescued from the stranglehold of the State Governors of Nigeria. I am very hopeful that when that is done, we will witness better performance of President Tinubu’a and subsequent administration, while as citizens we will directly hold the local government administrations to account.

  • Fake prophecy

    Fake prophecy

    There is something strange about prophecy which remains a puzzle to mankind. It is like the night which is invisibly pregnant but delivers wonders in the day. Genuine prophecy is neither by coinage nor by pretext. Its roots are firmly planted in the rich soil of divinity.

    And only Allah appoints prophets for an appropriate nation with an appropriate mission at an appropriate time. But this has been bastardised by self-styled prophets of the modern world who see prophecy as an umbrella of fortune under which they can hide to mine gold and silver. Such people only sooth-tell satanic dreams to their ignorant and parochial victims who are callously milked in the name of prophecy.

    Except for King Daud (David) and his son King Sulayman (Solomon) who were divinely guided to show the world how wealth is legitimately acquired and managed, no prophet of Allah was stupendously rich. This can be compared with today’s situation where prophecy is measured in terms of billions of dollars or naira at the disposal of fraudsters parading themselves as prophets. Today, prophecy in religion has been fully turned into a platform for preaching prosperity rather than posterity at the expense of godliness and humanitarianism.

    Genuine Prophecy

    It is not by clandestinely predicting the number of Kings who will die in a locality in the coming year or the governors who will lose their seats to opponents that a person can proclaim self a prophet. Genuine prophets are known not by words of mouth alone or amount of wealth they possess but by the exemplary actions that may serve humanity in good stead for many, many centuries. Prophets Isa (Jesus) and Muhammad (SAW) are good examples of this.

    Prophecy, therefore, is not to be judged on the basis of yearly predictions. Virtually all the religious tenets and regulations in Christianity and Islam today are reflections of the prophecies of the two great men mentioned above in the past two millennia or thereabout.

    In contrast, however, fake prophecy today is a product which finds a large market in Nigeria. Ignorant and parochial people queue up in multitudes before fraudsters with the intention of moulding their future to suit their wishes or solve insuperable problems. Such people are forced to carry out satanic instructions which eventually bring ruins to them and pave ways for those fraudsters to zoom into material fortune without any care for conscience. Most broken homes and criminal activities of Nigerian youths today are traceable to fake prophecies and insensitive display of wealth in Churches and Mosques in this country.

    Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had forewarned the Muslim Ummah, over 1400 years ago, against the calamity which false prophecy could bring to them. Addressing his disciples on a particular occasion, he said:

    “There will be calamity!” He repeated this three times. But rather than asking him of its cause, the disciples simply asked for the solution. They had no cause to doubt him. And he told them to look for the solution in the legacy he was leaving behind. That legacy is the rule of law contained in the Qur’an and Sunnah.

    Rule of law

    The Prophet emphasised to them that nothing besides the rule of law would ever bring them the needed harmony in the world. He described the Qur’an as the all-time permanent solution to the various problems of all times reiterating that only individuals, groups or nations that hold it (Qur’an) tenaciously would never go astray.

    The Qur’an, according to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is the mirror with which to view the past retrospectively and draw a lesson from its experience. It is the effective compass with which to find the way in the hazy wilderness of the present. It is also the impeccable telescope with which to view the future. In other words, the Qur’an is an everlasting prophecy recalling the occurrences of the past, serving as the guidance of the present and tuning focus on the future.

    By asking the world to follow the rule of law in all their ways, the Prophet never aimed at rising from his grave to govern any particular nation or region of the world. Neither did he leave any heir behind who would inherit the governance of the world. His objective, according to the mission he bore, was for the world to be in harmony.

    And, it is only in the interest of mankind to uphold the rule of law for the sake of their harmonious co-existence.

    To marry according to the rule of law; to divorce, if need be, according to the rule of law; to raise families according to the rule of law; to transact businesses according to the rule of law; to play politics according to the rule of law; to give judgment according to the rule of law; to conduct elections according to the rule of law; to legislate according to the rule of law; to govern according to the rule of law, these and more are the elements of the mission preached by Prophet Muhammad (SAW). And, is there any individual, group or nation not affected by all these in the world today?

    Every aspect of life has its rule of law. We work in the day and rest in the night not by our own volition but in accordance with the natural rule of law that guide our existence. The sun rises in the East and sets in the West to obey the rule of law that controls its operations. Fishes live in water. Plants grow generically and are fed by their roots in obedience to the natural rule of law that governs them. Harmony becomes disrupted when deviation occurs in any of these.

    Carnivores like lions, vipers and eagles will never voluntarily feed on plants. Neither will herbivores like elephants, camels and goats, feed on flesh. To force them to do otherwise, in the name of experiment, is to cause disharmony in the animal kingdom.

    Cause of disharmony

    The world is in disharmony today because of deliberate deviation from the rule of law by those in power. Stronger nations want to dominate weaker nations as in the case of America in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    Governments want to enslave the governed as in the case of Nigeria between 1999 and 2014. Groups want to exploit individuals as in the case of the business elite and the consumers. It is all an evidence of dogs eating dogs in the stable of greed. Why won’t disharmony prevail?

    But Allah so much loves mankind that He does not leave them permanently in the hands of devilish pirates. From time to time, Allah sends conscientious individuals either as rulers or as counselors to rescue the oppressed people. That was the fortune of Nigeria when Umaru Musa Yar’Adua emerged as President.

    His insistence on rule of law first sounded odd to some lawless elements who took such stand for granted because they never experienced rule of law in Nigeria. But that is the blessing which our country needed as a solid foundation for a strong building. Rule of law is the first sign of sanity in a society.

     It is an evidence of decency in a people.

    Remembering Yar’Adua

    In beaming the light of rule of law on Nigeria, Yar’Adua was not a mere touch-bearer he also recognized the fact that one did not necessarily have to be governed by Shari’ah to abide by rule of law.

    What the Qur’an teaches which the Prophet emphasised is for everybody to follow the rule of the law by which he or she is governed. To do this is to follow the guidance of the Qur’an.

    If we had a President in Yar’Adua who could voluntarily return his annual security vote of about two billion naira to the national treasury because he did not see the need to spend it and he did not see it as a personal booty; if we had a President in him who could return the budget to the National Assembly for amendment because he felt it was unnecessarily inflated at the expense of the populace; if we had a President in him who could promptly react positively to the cry of the people on high cost of food items in the market, who could cause the price of cement to crash in favour of the downtrodden masses and suspend any increase on price of petrol indefinitely until his death, it was only because he had the fear of Allah at heart. Thus with him in power it was becoming crystal clear that Nigerians were beginning to appreciate the fact that harmony was truly in sight. And such great gestures which had eluded this country for a long time before he became President came to add greater values to the lives of Nigerians. Rule of law is about conscience and decency of character.

    It marks the difference between man and beast.

    If Yar’Adua did not achieve anything beyond establishing the rule of law in Nigeria that singular achievement was great enough for posterity. And what is more, he achieved much more by bringing a ray of hope to millions of Nigerians in less than two years of his leadership in a country where the sky had been dangerously cloudy. No sane person will sensibly compare sleep with death.

    Lost Paradise

    Prophet Muhammad never spoke in a vacuum. His utterances were divinely guided. And the Qur’an confirms this thus: ‘’He (Muhammad) never spoke out of sheer whim; his expressions are no other than inspired revelations; he is taught by the One who is mighty in power…”

    Nigerians of today have become like the Israelis of yore who after being rescued by Prophet Musa (Moses) from the scourge of Pharaoh, showed ingratitude to Allah and were thrown into the wilderness of life. Having suffered in the hands of a blind and deaf Nigerian Pharaoh for eight terrible years and having been liberated by an unexpected Moses, it only behooved conscientious people to be grateful not necessarily to that Moses but to God who used him for this divine gesture. The sharp difference between the road to hell and the one to paradise which Nigerians have experienced within one decade had shown how wonderful Allah is in His deeds. It also confirms the genuineness of Prophet Muhammad prophesy as attested in Qur’an 20 verse 124 thus:

    “When my guidance is revealed to you, he who follows it shall never err nor be afflicted; but he who gives no heed to My warning shall live in distress and be raised blind on the Day of Resurrection…”

    In his message to the nation on the occasion of Mawlidu-n-Nabiyy and

    Easter of 2008, President Yar’Adua appealed to Nigerians, with humility, to exercise patience with his administration saying there was need for thoroughness and decency to take off. He neither used any abusive language that was the hall-mark of his predecessor nor did he ask Nigerians to continue to bear the unbearable while his own family lived aristocratically.

    Having a man like him at the helm of affairs while he was alive was a special blessing of Allah which Nigerians only came to realize after his demise. And today, that reality is a lost paradise. The Qur’anic verse quoted above must always be a reference point for all decent, law-abiding people. From all indications then, there was a sign of light at the end of our tunnel. When one compares the governing style of today with that of yesterday and weighs the one with the other, it will be obviously realised that the difference is clear. It is impossible for a man to give what he does not possess. For both the rulers and the ruled the only panacea to Nigeria’s plight, especially in a situation where ordinary feeding has become a luxury, is the rule of law. Anything contrary may only pave the way to waterloo. For rulers and politicians, to rely on fake prophesy, as now prevalent in Nigeria, is to cling desperately to a sinking straw. Those who did it in the past are now part of the debris of history. The dreamers of today cannot be different tomorrow. Let those who have ears heed this axiomatic warning.

    “Allah does not change a people’s lot unless they change what is in their hearts. If He seeks to afflict them with a misfortune, none can ward it off. Besides Him, there is no protector (for any rational being).” Q.13:11. God save Nigeria!

    Watch Out!

    In an effort to rejuvenate the Nigerian Muslim Ummah educationally against the ongoing emasculation by the power that be, the Nigerian

    Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has started a quarterly

    Magazine titled ‘Prime Renaissance’. The magazine being packaged by the Media Committee of the Council has a variety of issues that will serve the Ummah in good stead. And yours sincerely is its Editor-in-Chief.

    To know some details about the aims and objectives of the magazine, please read the opening of its maiden edition entitled ‘OUR MISSION’ below:

    Intention is a mission upon which every human action is based. This fact was emphasised in the very first Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in which he said that: “all actions are surely based on intention and everybody’s action shall be judged according to intention…”.

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    The intention of this timely noble magazine is to genuinely carry out the three basic objectives of journalism: Information, Education and entertainment which have been grossly abused and even bastardised by agents of bias through the colouration of politics and religion. This modest effort is aimed at putting the records straight by bringing genuine, unpolluted knowledge and correct information to the teeming population of Nigerian Muslims and others who are desirous of genuine and undeniable facts and figures. And this is why the magazine is rightly titled ‘PRIME RENAISSANCE’….

    In the course of our publications, we intend not only to right the wrong in terms of information and education dissemination but also in terms of character building in our youths and harmonisation of the society, especially the Ummah, for the purpose of peace and tranquility.

    Thus, the activities of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic

    Affairs (NSCIA) as well as those of the regional or provincial Muslim organisations in the country will be projected and highlighted for the generality of Nigerian Ummah. Muslim women in Nigeria will occupy their rightful place in this magazine as much as the Muslim children, the handicapped, the underprivileged and the crème de la crème of Nigerian society.

    This magazine shall be purely religious in contents and in outlook.

    But religiousness here does not mean that such areas as politics, economy, social events and international trends will be non-Grata.

    Every aspect of human life is encompassed in Islam and none shall be compromised in this magazine for whatever reason. It is our mission to make this magazine a compendium of knowledge and genuine information that will serve as a worthy reference for generations of yet unborn Nigerian Muslims…

    With this unprecedented step from the apex body of Islamic Affairs in

    Nigeria, one of the hitherto missing points can be said to have been found. It is hoped that sustaining it should not be a problem. Readers, Muslim and non-Muslims alike, are welcome on board of this new ship as it cruises on the storming sea of this era.