Category: Bolaji Ogundele

Last week may well go down as one of those defining junctures in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership—one in which he deliberately set aside the noise of politics, the distractions of the moment, and the burdens of statecraft to deliver a clarion call rooted in the soul of the Nigerian project. It was a week of patriotic reawakening, of reminders, of responsibilities, and of the subtle but unmistakable tone of urgency: Nigeria must be built, protected, and dignified, by all of us.

That call began on Thursday afternoon in Abuja, when the President received senior military officers enrolled in the National Defense College (NDC) Course 33. It was, a sober reaffirmation of what Nigeria must urgently become: a nation sufficiently productive, sufficiently unified, sufficiently advanced, and sufficiently equipped to defend its sovereignty without fear or apology.

Standing before the participants, the President delivered what may be his strongest statement yet on the patriotic obligation shared by every citizen, civilian and soldier alike.

“It is our joint responsibility to ensure that this nation, Nigeria, is productive, governed inclusively, and takes care of the future of our generation yet unborn,” he declared, his voice firm, measured, and prophetic. “It is our patriotic duty to look further into the horizon, to be determined and resilient… to train our people, develop our economy, promote industrial development, and ensure that sovereignty is assured, protected, and remains resilient.”

This was more than a charge to a roomful of uniformed officers. It was, in essence, a call to Nigeria’s last line of defense, those entrusted with the integrity of the borders, the protection of the people, the deterrence of foreign aggression, and the preservation of the authority of the Nigerian state. Coming on the heels of recent provocations and mischaracterisations by certain foreign interests, the President’s tone was unmistakable: Nigeria must rise above internal divisions and external distortions. Nigeria must be strong, strong in economy, strong in industry, strong in knowledge, and strong in the spirit of nationhood.

Yet the President did not stop there. With the precision of a statesman linking national security to national productivity, he challenged the NDC participants to deepen their analytical capacity and interrogate Nigeria’s vulnerabilities without sentimentality. “We challenge our intellectual curiosity by being highly inquisitive,” he said, urging them to study what other nations have done, understand where Nigeria currently stands, and examine the forward path.

The research theme submitted to him: Harnessing Indigenous Manufacturing for Enhanced National Security by 2040, fit neatly into his wider national vision: Nigeria must not depend forever on imported solutions; sovereignty in defense requires sovereignty in production.

But the President’s nationalist message did not begin with the military, nor did it end there. Just a day earlier, he had delivered another stirring address, this time to an audience that, in his words, “shapes how the world perceives Nigeria”: the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).

At the opening of the 21st Annual Conference of the Guild (ANEC 2025), the President stepped into uncharted territory as the first Nigerian leader to formally declare a Guild conference open. But beyond symbolism, his message carried a tone of expectation. If the NDC represents the defense of Nigeria’s territorial integrity, then the Nigerian media, particularly the editorial gatekeepers, represent the defense of its image, its narrative, and its psychological fortitude.

“It is our country,” the President reminded the more than 400 editors and senior journalists present. “What should be worrisome to you is the image of the country we project to the outside world. Your institutions must help build a nation of credibility and integrity.”

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It was not a plea. It was a patriotic nudge. For in the era of globalisation, perception is power; misinformation is weaponry; journalism is diplomacy; and national cohesion depends as much on facts as on framing. A nation that speaks poorly of itself cannot attract investment, cannot rally confidence, and cannot evoke the esprit de corps required to surmount internal challenges.

President Tinubu’s call to the editors echoed the same theme he delivered to the NDC officers: nation-building requires shared responsibility. It requires truth, not weaponised partial truths. It requires perspective, not cynicism. And most importantly, it requires a recognition that the Nigerian story is not the enemy; the enemy is the impulse to diminish the country in the eyes of its own people.

Even as he acknowledged the severe pressures facing the media industry; declining revenues, rising operational costs, and the struggle to adapt to digital disruption, the President assured editors that their requests for tax reliefs, VAT extensions, and economic incentives would be considered within the framework of broader fiscal reforms. It was an affirmation of partnership, not patronage; of accountability, not appeasement.

But perhaps the most symbolic moment in the week-long narrative came on Thursday evening, after the stadium lights in Gabon had dimmed and the Super Eagles had secured a resounding 4–1 victory. For a nation often united mostly by football, the President seized the moment to amplify his theme of patriotic resilience.

In his message celebrating the victory, he described the performance as “a powerful display of Nigeria’s resilience and winning spirit”, a metaphor that extended far beyond the confines of sport. “Every match,” he said, “is an opportunity to show discipline and character. This is the true Nigerian spirit of resilience against all odds.”

It was as if the victory had become a living illustration of the very nationalism he had been preaching all week: courage under pressure, unity in purpose, and an unwavering determination to rise.

And so, as the week closed, a pattern emerged, clear and coherent. The President had addressed three constituencies; soldiers, journalists, and footballers, but his message was intended for more than 200 million Nigerians.

To the military: Defend the nation, by strength, by strategy, by intellect, by readiness. To the media: Protect the narrative, through truth, responsibility, and patriotic balance. To the footballers: Inspire the nation, with discipline, resilience, and the spirit of victory. And to the citizens: Believe in Nigeria, build Nigeria, and defend Nigeria.

In a period when global pressures weigh heavily on the country and domestic cynicism threatens national cohesion, Tinubu’s call for nationalist reawakening could not be more apt. For nations are not simply built by policy, they are built by spirit. They are sustained by shared purpose. They endure through collective effort.

Last week, President Tinubu reminded Nigerians of that simple but profound truth: Nigeria will become what Nigerians choose to make of it.

Beyond the weighty calls to patriotic duty that defined his engagements, the President’s week was textured with moments that reflected the breadth of leadership; moments of statesmanship, compassion, national acknowledgement, and deliberate continuity in governance. On Sunday, he opened the week by congratulating Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, on securing a second term in office—a victory he described as an “affirmation of visionary leadership.” It was a presidential nod to democratic continuity, a recognition of performance, and an encouragement to a people who conducted themselves peacefully at the polls.

By Monday, the President’s attention turned to more solemn duties. He mourned the passing of retired Justice Mukhtar Muhammad Dodo, a former Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, paying tribute to a jurist whose integrity and fearlessness left deep imprints on the nation’s judiciary. He also extended warm felicitations to former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau on his 70 th birthday, celebrating a career defined by discipline, scholarship, and humanity. And in the same breath, he reached out empathetically to two political contemporaries; former Bauchi State Governor, Ahmed Muazu, and Environment Minister, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, commiserating with them over the loss of their mothers, both women remembered for moral strength and lifelong service to family and community.

The President’s Monday also carried the imprint of policy seriousness, as he hosted a delegation from Siemens Energy and reaffirmed that the administration is taking power supply “very seriously.” His message was blunt: Nigeria’s industrial, educational, healthcare and transportation ambitions rest squarely on a stable electricity backbone. It was another reminder that the nationalist call he sounded throughout the week is not rhetoric—it is anchored in reforms that determine the country’s future competitiveness.

On Tuesday, the President honoured the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, on the 30th anniversary of his ascension to the throne, calling him a custodian of dignity, justice and peace. He also celebrated Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe at 65, praising hisexceptional service to the health sector.

By Thursday, tributes flowed again, this time to the Asagba of Asaba, Professor Epiphany Azinge, on his 70 th birthday, and to veteran journalist Tajudeen Ayodeji Kareem, whose four decades in media have shaped national discourse.

The week closed on Friday with continuity in public service as the President reappointed Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) as Chairman of the NDLEA, extending a tenure that has brought renewed vigour to the nation’s anti-narcotics fight.

So, whether in celebrating excellence, consoling the bereaved, strengthening institutions or pushing reforms, President Tinubu’s week ultimately threaded into one narrative: a leadership calling a nation to believe again, to build again, and to rise together.

There are weeks in governance that simply pass through the calendar; then there are weeks that stamp a leader’s imprint on the psychology of a nation. The past week belonged firmly in the latter category for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It was a week the President strengthened the guardrails of the Republic, re-anchored state authority on constitutional vigilance, rebuked the cynicism of those who doubt Nigeria’s rise, and again demonstrated, before citizens and critics alike, that leadership is not omniscience but the humility to reassess, recalibrate, and act courageously for the collective.

It was, in essence, a distillation of the Tinubu doctrine: proactive security, principled nationalism, people-centred correction, and a fierce industrial patriotism that places Nigeria, not foreign appetites nor elite conveniences, at the centre of economic decision-making. In a turbulent world and a region where fragility often masquerades as fate, Nigeria has a President whose instincts are to anticipate, reorganise, and insist on outcomes. And last week, that instinct was on full display.

Security is not merely about physical might; it is about clarity of mission, unity of command, and the moral courage to demand excellence. On Monday, President Tinubu met the newly appointed service chiefs at the State House, following sweeping changes in the military hierarchy. The reshuffle itself was an act of state stewardship, a deliberate reinforcement of Nigeria’s armed defense architecture at a time when enemies mutate and opportunists test the nation’s resolve.

General Olufemi Oluyede took command as Chief of Defense Staff, with Waidi Shaibu leading the Army, Kevin Aneke heading the Air Force, and Idi Abbas steering the Navy. It was not just a personnel change — it was a signal: the era of complacency is over, and nothing short of decisive victory against insurgents, bandits, and destabilisation cartels will suffice.

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And yet, the President did not stop at administrative reform. He crowned action with philosophy on Thursday when he decorated the new chiefs. It was a charge steeped in urgency, clarity, and national expectation: “We cannot allow the crisis that began in 2009 to persist any longer. It is time to defeat the enemies. Be innovative, pre-emptive, and courageous. Nigerians expect results, not excuses.”

In one sentence, the Commander-in-Chief reframed Nigeria’s counter-insurgency approach from reactive to offensive. He went further: “Let us smash the new snakes right in the head.”

This was not metaphorical aggression; it was policy direction. Terrorists thrive on anticipation gaps, he closed that window. They exploit inter-agency silo mentality, he outlawed it by presidential directive: “Work together, compare notes, exchange information, and defeat this enemy once and for all.” He promised support and demanded accountability. He mourned the fallen and honoured their families. He thanked soldiers for reclaimed territories and refused to allow complacency.

This is not the language of a ceremonial head; it is the voice of a wartime leader. And make no mistake, Nigeria is at war with forces who neither respect her sovereignty nor share her future. Tinubu’s message was unequivocal: they will not win.

Leadership, in its purest form, is not infallibility. It is the capacity to act in public interest, refine decisions when confronted with new realities, and remain open to the moral pulse of the nation. This week, President Tinubu embodied that virtue.

After consultations with the Council of State, he had earlier approved a list of 175 beneficiaries for presidential clemency. The public reaction was swift — especially around certain names whose offences struck deep emotional chords in the national conscience. The President did not stonewall. He did not rationalise. He did not retreat behind bureaucratic armour. He listened. He reviewed. He corrected.

He removed 55 names, insisting that national security, victims’ rights, and public confidence could never be sacrificed on the altar of process. He relocated the Prerogative of Mercy Secretariat to the Ministry of Justice to tighten controls and tasked the Attorney-General with stricter guidelines. And he delivered the ultimate moral message: mercy is noble, but justice is sacred.

In the words of Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga: “He is not afraid to reverse himself if he feels an error has been made. That is strength, not weakness.”

It is worth underscoring — in a political culture where ego often trumps empathy, President Tinubu showed maturity. A genuine leader knows that listening is not surrender. It is service.

If the security realignments showcased a decisive Commander-in-Chief, the economic decision unveiled a nationalist economist. Long before becoming President, Tinubu’s philosophy was clear: Nigeria’s resources must develop Nigerians. This week, that principle found expression in a quietly made, profoundly strategic decision, one whose implications will reverberate through Nigeria’s industrial future.

On October 21, 2025, a fact only revealed publicly days later, the President approved a 15% import duty on petrol and diesel. Not to punish citizens. Not to burden the struggling. But to send an irreversible signal: the age of importing jobs and exporting opportunity is dying.

For decades, Nigeria’s status as Africa’s top oil producer has been paradoxical, crude exporter, fuel importer; dignity compromised, economy constrained, future mortgaged. With local refineries finally entering production, policy had to align with national interest.

By tilting the market in favour of domestic refining, Dangote’s mega refinery, modular plants in Edo, Imo, and other regions, the President is building a bridge to energy independence. As analysts rightly observed, “this duty is not a burden. It is a bridge — from dependence to independence.”

It is industrial policy, not sentiment. It is job creation, not short-term populism. It is economic sovereignty, not foreign dependency.

Nations do not rise by luck; they rise by nurturing strategic sectors and protecting infant industries until they mature. Tinubu has chosen the path every competitive nation has once chosen — from the U.S. steel industry to South Korea’s electronics revolution. He has chosen future prosperity over present applause. That is statesmanship.

Taken together, these actions form a coherent philosophy: Security is foundational, not symbolic; governance is moral courage plus humility; economic sovereignty is a patriotic obligation; Listening to citizens is strength, not capitulation. Nigeria must own its future — militarily, economically, psychologically.

This is not accidental governance. It is strategic statecraft. It echoes his earlier battles; currency unification despite political risks, student loans for equity in opportunity, global economic diplomacy that repositions Nigeria in the world. Every decision leans toward one principle: Nigeria must stand on her feet, not on borrowed crutches.

For Nigerians bruised by years of insecurity, economic disruption, and institutional paralysis, Tinubu’s actions last week do more than manage crises. They reaffirm a contract; a contract to lead with resolve, adjust with humility, and envision a nation where justice and security are not elite commodities but universal guarantees. For the cynic, leadership is about optics. For the statesman, it is about outcomes.

The President told the service chiefs: “We are in a hurry to celebrate peace”. He told Nigerians through his actions: We will build a nation where mercy is disciplined, security is uncompromised, and national wealth circulates at home, not offshore. And he told the world: Nigeria is not a weak state. It is a rising state reclaiming its agency.

If the week’s headline events, the decisive military reset, the humble recalibration on clemency, and the nationalist fuel-duty policy, revealed the architecture of President Tinubu’s leadership, his other engagements through the week stitched together the fabric of a leader fully present: honouring history, inspiring the present, and engineering the future.

It began on a note of gratitude and national memory. On Sunday, the President celebrated two icons of culture and service — veteran journalist Oloye Lekan Alabi at 75 and former Culture Minister, High Chief Edem Duke, at 70. Both men, torchbearers of Nigerian heritage and public duty, were praised for lives spent in elevating the nation’s narrative. In a week dominated by security and economic headlines, Tinubu reminded the country that national identity is also shaped by storytellers, cultural diplomats and civic architects.

On Monday, he extended the same respect to pillars of democratic transition and generational mentorship, elder stateswoman Margaret Shonekan at 84, and Senator Abu Ibrahim at 80, whom he described as “a principled statesman and brother.” It was a nod to political memory, a leader rooted in history, refusing to detach governance from gratitude.

Mid-week brought global and generational bridges. On Tuesday, Tinubu hosted Denmark’s Bestseller CEO, Anders Holch Povlsen, deepening Nigeria’s investment diplomacy and signalling that his industrial-nationalist vision embraces both domestic capacity and international capital. By Wednesday, the President honoured legal luminary Kola Awodein at 70, and in the same breath celebrated a rising star — NASENI Chief Executive, Khalil Halilu, 35 — proof that in Tinubu’s Nigeria, age is neither barrier nor entitlement; merit is.

He continued that theme by praising female leadership and civic grace in Alhaja Adiat Subair at 80, then honoured Lagos’ revered monarch, Oba Rilwan Akiolu at 82, affirming traditional stools as partners in the republic.

Thursday was policy and innovation day. Beyond the security charge, the President launched NINAuth — a leap in digital sovereignty. He praised Senator Osita Izunaso’s unwavering political service, and then capped the day with a global economic stroke: approving a National Carbon Market Framework to unlock up to $3bn annually.

The Tinubu Doctrine in Motion

The week under review will be remembered not for the events themselves, but for what they reveal about the man steering the ship of state. Tinubu’s leadership last week fused firmness with fairness, resolve with reflection, nationalism with strategy. In a world where leaders often choose applause over principle, he chose Nigeria.

In crushing threats, correcting errors, and constructing economic resilience, he has signalled that the era of improvisational governance is fading, giving way to strategic, self-confident statecraft. Nigeria does not merely need a president; it needs a steward, a strategist, a listener, a reformer, and above all, a patriot. In the week in review, President Tinubu was all of these.

And as the nation braces for the seasons ahead; confronting threats, seizing opportunities, and forging destiny, one truth grows clearer: Nigeria is under a leader who knows that history rewards not those who avoid storms, but those who steer through them. And steer he has begun.

When history recalls the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not be counted among the absent voices, nor among those that spoke in measured clichés. Instead, he will be remembered as the conscience of the assembly, the leader who held up a mirror to the world’s most powerful body and asked it whether it still has the moral courage to lead. Though his words were conveyed by Vice President Kashim Shettima in New York, they bore the unmistakable mark of a man unwilling to court silence in the face of injustice.

Tinubu’s UNGA address was no ordinary diplomatic outing. It was a stinging rebuke of institutional lethargy and selective empathy. At a time when global conflicts ravage lives from Palestine to Sudan, when sovereign debt strangles economies in the Global South, and when multilateral forums increasingly resemble echo chambers, the Nigerian President warned that the United Nations risks irrelevance unless it reforms fundamentally.

“For all our careful diplomatic language, the slow pace of progress has led some to look away from the multilateral model,” he charged. He reminded world leaders that events were increasingly taking place outside the UN’s hallowed chambers and the world’s most critical conversations were no longer centered on the institution meant to embody global fairness.

But the harshest lines were reserved for the plight of the Palestinian people. “They are not collateral damage in a civilisation searching for order,” Tinubu declared. “They are human beings, equal in worth, entitled to the same freedoms and dignities that the rest of us take for granted.” Few African leaders have been this blunt, naming the injustice rather than cloaking it in evasive language. In so doing, Tinubu spoke truth not only to global authorities but also to history itself.

The Nigerian leader’s reform prescription was detailed and pragmatic. He demanded permanent Security Council representation for Africa, with Nigeria taking its rightful place. He called for a new international financial court to manage sovereign debt, stressing that relief should not be treated as charity but as enlightened self-interest for global stability. He pushed for equitable access to Africa’s critical minerals, insisting that the continent must not remain a raw material appendage in the global value chain. And, looking to the digital frontier, he insisted that “AI must stand for Africa Included.”

This was more than rhetoric. It was an assertion of Nigeria’s readiness to lead—not by begging for inclusion, but by offering its reforms and resilience as a blueprint for others. The UNGA platform allowed Tinubu to position his country not as a victim of global inequities but as a bold reformer calling others to higher standards.

While his voice thundered in New York, back in Abuja President Tinubu was quietly deploying a different kind of leadership: empathy. Receiving the report of the Presidential Committee on Ogoni Consultations, he chose not to approach the decades-long oil impasse merely as an economic issue. Instead, he framed it as a human tragedy that must be acknowledged before healing can begin.

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“We are not as a government taking lightly the years of pain endured in Ogoniland,” he said with deliberate solemnity. “The Federal Government truly acknowledges the long suffering of the Ogoni people, and today we declare with conviction that hope is here and is back with us.”

By mandating the National Security Adviser to begin immediate engagements with NNPCL, local leaders, and stakeholders, Tinubu signaled urgency. Yet beyond bureaucratic steps, what stood out was his symbolic act: conferring national honours on the “Ogoni Four” and other heroes who paid the ultimate price in the struggle for environmental justice. It was a gesture that told the people of Ogoni that the nation remembers their sacrifice, and that the new relationship being forged will be one of dignity and partnership.

Friday took Tinubu to Mapo Hall, Ibadan, where the coronation of Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan became more than a cultural event—it was a reunion of friendship and a reaffirmation of hope.

The President, recalling their shared days as senators in the early 1990s and as governors a decade later, drew attention to the resilience that defined Ladoja’s political career. He reminded Nigerians that when political storms threatened to swallow the Oyo leader, it was across party lines that they found solidarity. Now, at 81, Ladoja’s elevation to the throne of Ibadan was a crowning vindication, especially considering the fact that those who orchestrated the tribulation of the then Oyo Governor were not at the very colourful coronation ceremony, which stood Ibadan still. They are either dead or too shamed to join the memorable event.

But Tinubu did not merely celebrate a friend. He seized the occasion to assure Nigerians that the painful economic surgery his government embarked upon was beginning to bear fruit. “The economy has turned the corner,” he declared to a jubilant crowd. “There is a bright light at the end of the tunnel.”

The choice of Ibadan—a city with deep political and cultural significance—as the venue for this message was no accident. Ibadan was the administrative seat of the Old Western Region, the place you will call the capital of the Yoruba states. Where better could he have reminded his kin and the entire citizenry that the endurance of today is the seed of prosperity tomorrow?

Earlier in the week, the President had welcomed Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara back to Aso Villa, days after the expiration of the six-month state of emergency that had temporarily sidelined his administration. For Fubara, it was more than a routine visit; it was an expression of gratitude to the man whose wisdom and political dexterity helped preserve his office in turbulent times.

For Tinubu, it was another affirmation of his style: resolve crises firmly, then return to the path of reconciliation. His open-door reception for Fubara signaled that the President views Rivers not as a battlefield of political contests but as a vital partner in Nigeria’s stability and prosperity.

The week had, in fact, begun on a personal note. On Sunday, Tinubu celebrated his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, at 65, paying her one of the most heartfelt tributes of his presidency. He spoke of her as “confidant, counsellor, and steady flame illuminating my path,” and went further to say Nigeria owes her more than many will ever know, for she has carried sacrifices of statecraft without podium or fanfare.

It was a reminder that behind the sternness of reform and the rigours of diplomacy lies the anchor of family, faith, and devotion.

A Week That Spoke Volumes

Even with UNGA diplomacy, Ogoni reconciliation, and the hope-laden message in Ibadan defining the headlines, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s docket still pulsed with quieter but telling engagements—some delivered personally, others by trusted lieutenants—that pressed the same levers of governance: merit, morality, unity, productivity. These were the steady beats that gave the week its rhythm.

Monday opened with salutations that doubled as civics. Tinubu hailed former Katsina Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema at 68, citing a record that treated education, health, and infrastructure as non-negotiables of responsible government—an ode to discipline and patriotism as working gears for a reforming republic. He also celebrated Spectrum Engineering’s chairman, Engr. Abubakar Isa, locating manufacturing and engineering at the heart of recovery, and congratulated Damilola Ogunbiyi on her inclusion among Forbes’ Sustainability Leaders 2025, affirming an equitable energy transition that prioritises the underserved and accelerates access for millions across Africa.

If Monday framed the cast, Tuesday supplied the continental brief. At the Africa Minerals Strategy Group roundtable in New York—conveyed by Vice President Kashim Shettima—Tinubu urged Africa to finance its mineral destiny through sovereign funds, blended vehicles, and innovative instruments such as an Africa Mineral Token. The thesis was blunt: sovereignty cannot be pawned for capital. Control of critical minerals, processed at home and priced with leverage, is how the continent enters supply chains as owner rather than onlooker; anything less is dependency by another name.

Wednesday blended character, culture, and civic discipline. Tinubu saluted Dr. Femi Orebe at 80, honouring a columnist whose pen steadied democratic advocacy and sharpened public debate across decades. In Owerri, he cautioned Christian pilgrims against absconding, defining pilgrimage as a battlefield of conscience—not a visa strategy—and urging travellers to return with their groups in dignity. He also celebrated Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo at 65, praising a politics rooted in principle and proven in service from local government to the federal cabinet.

By Thursday, the spotlight swung to performance. Senator Saliu Mustapha drew presidential praise as one of the legislature’s “bright lights,” a reminder that agriculture and rural development must be mission, not mantra. In the oil patch, Tinubu’s tribute to NUPRC chief Gbenga Komolafe underscored regulatory reform as nation-building by other means: predictable rules, transparent oversight, investor confidence—and continental coordination through AFRIPERF—to lift standards, output, and credibility.

Friday stitched community, memory, and nationhood. Tinubu celebrated Honourable Adebisi Yusuff, the Alimosho organiser whose politics is spelled in ward meetings and social relief. At the National Mosque, through the Information Minister, he opened Independence week with a call to unity—one country, one project—despite the trials of sixty-five years. In Otukpa, he honoured Chief Audu Ogbeh, a bridge-builder whose imprint “will be felt for generations.” He also mourned Chief Oludolapo Akinkugbe, pharmacist, publisher, and philanthropist—one of the sterling hands that helped shape modern Nigeria. And he saluted Bishop David Oyedepo at 71, noting decades of impact across faith, education, and social investment.

Together, these strands formed the understory to the headline week: reward excellence, reject ethical shortcuts, centre production, and call the federation to shared effort. Reform is policy; nation-building is posture. Both require stamina—and they are won in the steady work between the big moments.

In all, the week of September 21–26 painted a portrait of a leader navigating multiple fronts with one unifying theme: truth. At the UNGA, Tinubu told the world’s most powerful nations that their selective morality is unacceptable. In Ogoniland, he told a people that their pain is not forgotten and that partnership is the way forward. In Ibadan, he told Nigerians that the storm clouds over the economy are breaking, revealing light. In Rivers, he told a governor that reconciliation trumps division. And at home, he told his wife, and through her the nation, that service is most potent when anchored in love and sacrifice.

The coming weeks will test whether these words translate into lasting change. But for now, President Tinubu has reminded both Nigeria and the world that leadership is not about silence or convenience; it is about speaking truth to power, healing old wounds, and carrying the people’s hopes with both conviction and compassion.

Last week was another of those periods when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu seemed to operate quietly from the background, with fewer public appearances and personal engagements. Yet, it turned out to be a decisive week, one that underscored the weight of leadership not by sheer presence but by the quality of actions taken. The President returned to Abuja on Tuesday evening, cutting short his annual working vacation in Europe, and by the following day, he made one of the most consequential pronouncements of his administration: the end of the six-month state of emergency in Rivers State.

The decision was not a routine announcement. It marked the conclusion of a difficult but necessary intervention that had occupied the national conversation for months. When President Tinubu proclaimed a state of emergency in Rivers on March 18, 2025, it was met with an outpouring of opinions—legal, political, and civic. Many described it as unconstitutional, a federal overreach, or a needless imposition. Yet, standing firm in his conviction, Tinubu had insisted that the declaration was the only available tool to halt the drift into anarchy in one of Nigeria’s most economically strategic states.

Now, six months later, with the emergency lifted and democratic governance restored, the wisdom of that action shines through. What once seemed like a radical overreach has proven to be an act of foresight, averting what could have been a prolonged paralysis with grave consequences for both Rivers State and the nation at large.

At the heart of the Rivers crisis was a complete breakdown of governance. The Governor and the State House of Assembly were locked in open conflict, with only four lawmakers supporting the executive while 27 others lined up behind the Speaker in opposition. The standoff meant that the governor could not present an appropriation bill, leaving the machinery of government starved of funds. Critical economic assets, including vital oil pipelines, were increasingly exposed to vandalism, while legal disputes between both arms of government multiplied without resolution.

The situation was so dire that even the Supreme Court, in one of several judgments arising from the crisis, acknowledged that there was effectively “no government in Rivers State.” For a state that contributes significantly to Nigeria’s oil wealth and stands as a hub of commercial activity, such paralysis was untenable.

Efforts at reconciliation, including interventions from elder statesmen and traditional rulers, failed to thaw the hardened positions of both camps. It was against this backdrop that Tinubu invoked Section 305 of the Constitution to proclaim the state of emergency, suspending the governor, his deputy, and the House of Assembly for six months.

It was a painful decision, as the President himself admitted in his address last week. But it was also an act of responsibility, guided not by political expediency but by the need to preserve order, protect national assets, and safeguard the people of Rivers State from descending into chaos.

From the moment the proclamation was made, critics pounced. Legal experts questioned the validity of suspending duly elected officials. Rights activists argued that the will of the people had been undermined. Opposition politicians claimed it was an abuse of power. Over 40 cases were filed in courts across Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa to challenge the emergency rule.

Tinubu, however, did not shy away from these voices of dissent. Rather, he welcomed them as part of the democratic process. As he reminded Nigerians in his address, “That is the way it should be in a democratic setting.” The courts, after all, exist to test the limits of executive power and ensure accountability. But he also stressed that the Constitution itself provides for a state of emergency precisely for moments when ordinary governance mechanisms collapse.

And collapse they did in Rivers. The President’s refusal to succumb to pressure and his insistence on deploying the constitutional safety valve showed not authoritarian impulse but democratic responsibility. It was the harder choice—one that carried political risk but was anchored in the broader interest of peace and order.

The six months of suspended governance were not a wasted period. On the contrary, they created a necessary pause, giving all parties the time and space to reflect. Without the daily theatrics of a hostile Assembly and an isolated executive, Rivers’ political actors were forced into sober consideration of the larger picture—the welfare of their people.

President Tinubu’s decision effectively pulled the brakes on a runaway conflict. It prevented the crisis from spilling into violent confrontations on the streets of Port Harcourt. It shielded critical oil infrastructure from opportunistic saboteurs. And most importantly, it gave the people of Rivers the assurance that the federation would not abandon them in their hour of governance collapse.

By September, intelligence available to the Presidency indicated a remarkable shift in attitudes. Stakeholders across the divide had begun to show “a groundswell of a new spirit of understanding, a robust readiness, and potent enthusiasm” to resume normal governance, as Tinubu noted in his declaration. The embattled governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and Speaker Martins Amaewhule, once bitter rivals, had begun to signal a willingness to find common ground.

On Wednesday, President Tinubu announced the end of the emergency, effective midnight, and restored the governor, his deputy, and the members of the State House of Assembly to their offices. With that, a painful chapter closed, and Rivers State re-entered the mainstream of democratic governance.

But the more significant outcome lies in the lesson it offers. By intervening when he did, Tinubu ensured that the people of Rivers would not remain hostages to political brinkmanship. He reminded governors and legislatures nationwide that power is a trust held in the service of citizens, not a weapon for factional battles.

“People who voted us into power expect to reap the fruits of democracy. However, that expectation will remain unrealizable in an atmosphere of violence, anarchy, and insecurity borne by misguided political activism,” the President observed. His words cut to the core of the crisis—not just in Rivers, but as a warning to the entire federation.

What if Tinubu had not acted? The picture is chilling. Rivers might have remained without a functional government, with civil servants unpaid and state services grinding to a halt. The fragile peace of Port Harcourt could have broken into factional violence, spreading instability across the Niger Delta. Oil production, already beset with challenges, might have plummeted further. And Nigeria, at a delicate economic moment, could ill afford the turbulence.

By declaring an emergency, Tinubu prevented this grim scenario. In so doing, he showed not only political courage but also a deep sense of responsibility. Leadership, at its core, is the ability to make difficult choices that others shrink from.

Today, as Rivers State resumes normal governance, the wisdom of Tinubu’s action is apparent. What his critics derided as overreach has, in hindsight, proven to be a demonstration of goodwill and foresight. By absorbing the criticisms, braving the lawsuits, and standing firm in the storm, the President created the conditions for reconciliation.

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The people of Rivers now have a renewed opportunity to demand governance that works for their welfare and prosperity. Their leaders have been reminded that office is not a prize for partisan battles but a platform for service. And the nation has been shown, once again, that constitutional tools exist not as ornaments but as safeguards for democracy.

The Rivers state of emergency will remain one of the defining moments of Tinubu’s presidency. It illustrates the delicate balance between respecting democratic freedoms and ensuring that democracy itself does not collapse under the weight of reckless politics.

By bringing the emergency to an end after six months—no longer, no shorter—Tinubu demonstrated both firmness and restraint. He neither prolonged extraordinary measures unnecessarily nor shirked from wielding them when required. In doing so, he reinforced the principle that governance exists for the people and that no political stalemate should ever compromise their welfare.

Leadership is sometimes about walking into storms others flee. In Rivers, Tinubu walked into the storm, steadied the ship, and brought it safely back to harbour. And for that, the people of Rivers—and indeed Nigeria—owe him a measure of gratitude.

Meanwhile, besides the Rivers emergency rule expiration and his pronouncement of the return of proper democracy, President Tinubu’s week was marked by other events and activities, both solemn reflection and significant engagements, with his visit to the family of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna taking centre stage.

On Friday, the President assured Buhari’s widow, Aisha, and other family members that his administration would uphold the legacy of honesty, patriotism, and integrity left behind by the late leader. “A loss in flesh is not a loss in the spirit, and the spirit that he left with us is a spirit of hard work, dedication, patriotism and honesty, and we are doing that,” Tinubu said, pledging to carry forward Buhari’s values for the unity and progress of Nigeria. In her response, Mrs Buhari described the visit as a source of comfort and urged Nigerians to emulate her husband’s virtues.

The President’s presence in Kaduna also extended to a more joyous occasion as he attended the wedding of Nasirudeen Abdulaziz Yari, son of Senator Abdulaziz Yari, to Safiyya Shehu Idris. At the Sultan Bello Mosque, Tinubu formally received the bride’s hand-in-marriage on behalf of the Yari family and advised the young couple to build their union on faith and mutual respect.

Earlier in the week, the President approved portfolios for five new executive directors of the North Central Development Commission, underscoring his commitment to regional development. He also congratulated Nigerian achievers, including business leader Farouk Gumel, hurdler Tobi Amusan, and transport engineer Biodun Otunola, for their feats on the global stage. Midweek, he hailed former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu on his birthday, while on Thursday, he condoled with families affected by the tragic fire at Afriland Towers in Lagos, urging greater vigilance to avert future disasters.

The President capped the week with tributes to HID Awolowo on her 10th remembrance anniversary, congratulations to FAAN boss Olubunmi Kuku on her election as ACI Africa Vice-President, and heartfelt condolences over the passing of renowned physician Prof Oyinade Elebute. He also joined Nigerians in celebrating music icon 2Baba at 50, lauding his artistry and global impact.

The past week might have appeared unusually quiet on the surface regarding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s public engagements, but that calm was by design. Nigerians were well aware that the President is in Europe for part of his statutory annual leave. Yet, true to his style, this was not a week of total silence or disengagement. Even while away from Abuja, Tinubu remained firmly in control of the wheel of statecraft—directing policies, consolidating foreign partnerships, and unveiling programmes that touch the lives of millions.

In many ways, this week offered Nigerians a snapshot of what the President has become known for: stamina, relentless commitment, and the ability to stretch himself thin, always in pursuit of the noble intent of reshaping Nigeria into a model prosperous nation. His lunch with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris, his directives to crash food prices, his assurances on fixing the health sector, and the unveiling of RenewHER all reflected a leader determined to put substance over appearances.

On Wednesday, pictures of President Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace began circulating, immediately sparking interest back home. The engagement, however, was far from a mere photo opportunity. Tinubu himself, through his verified X handle, offered Nigerians a glimpse into the substance of the meeting.

“Had a productive lunch with President Emmanuel Macron today at the Élysée Palace. We reviewed key areas of cooperation between Nigeria and France and agreed to deepen our partnership for mutual prosperity and global stability,” the President wrote.

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This brief yet telling update underscored the continuity of Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements under his watch. France has long been a strategic partner for Nigeria in the realms of trade, security, climate action, and investment promotion. Tinubu’s appearance with Macron reaffirmed his commitment to deepening ties with key global allies at a time Nigeria needs sustained partnerships to meet its development goals.

Such bilateral interactions are not casual. France has consistently demonstrated interest in supporting Nigeria’s energy reforms, counterterrorism strategies, and climate-resilient economic policies. For Tinubu, maintaining the momentum of such partnerships is as important as domestic reforms. It reflects his awareness that Nigeria’s prosperity cannot be achieved in isolation but must be anchored on strategic alliances that expand opportunities for Nigerians in an increasingly interdependent world.

Back home, Nigerians were reminded that even in Paris, Tinubu had his gaze firmly on the local kitchen table. On the same Wednesday, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed that the President had directed a Federal Executive Council (FEC) committee to intensify efforts at reducing food prices.

The President’s marching order, Abdullahi explained, was focused on ensuring the safe passage of agricultural produce across the country’s highways and logistics corridors. Transportation costs have long been identified as a critical driver of food inflation, and the President’s intervention strikes at the heart of this structural challenge.

According to Abdullahi, “The President has given a matching order to a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it, on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural goods and commodities across our various routes in the country.”

This is part of a broader vision aimed not just at lowering prices in the immediate term but also achieving food sovereignty in the long run. The President’s food sovereignty plan, as outlined, is holistic—covering availability, accessibility, affordability, and nutritional value of food on a sustainable basis.

Beyond transportation, other complementary programmes such as the Farmer Soil Health Scheme and cooperative reform are in the works. Tinubu’s interest in cooperatives as a tool for mobilising resources and boosting livelihoods signals his resolve to empower ordinary farmers while laying the foundation for a more productive agricultural economy. In effect, the President is pushing to ensure that food stops being a burden and starts becoming a pillar of prosperity.

Another highlight of the week was the President’s strong reaffirmation of his commitment to overhaul Nigeria’s health sector. On Tuesday, at the National Stakeholders Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector in Abuja, Tinubu delivered a message that cut to the heart of the matter: “No Nigerian should lose their life because of power failures in hospitals.”

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the President highlighted how outages in surgical theatres, maternity wards, intensive care units, and emergency rooms have too often cost lives. He described the situation as unacceptable and vowed that under his administration, the problem would be tackled decisively.

His plan is ambitious but pragmatic. By decentralising electricity delivery, promoting renewable and hybrid energy solutions, and incentivising private sector participation, the government intends to guarantee uninterrupted power in hospitals and public health institutions. These reforms dovetail with the Energy Transition Plan and the wider effort to end energy poverty across Nigeria.

More than rhetoric, Tinubu’s assurances were also an open invitation to investors. He pledged that Nigeria is open for business in health, energy, and infrastructure, and promised an enabling environment that ensures returns on investment. This is the hallmark of his governance approach—treating social needs and economic opportunities as interlinked. In the long run, it is this fusion of compassion and enterprise that will guarantee sustainability.

The week closed on a deeply human note with the unveiling of RenewHER, the Presidential Women’s Health Transformation Initiative, launched Thursday night in Abuja. Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President described the programme as “an answer to one of the nation’s most critical prayers.”

“There is no greater test of a nation’s character than the care it extends to its women. Maternal health is the heartbeat of every family, the compass of social stability, and the truest index of national welfare,” Tinubu declared.

RenewHER is designed as a national engine of collaboration, working through a newly established Presidential Focal Office on Women’s Health in synergy with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum, and international partners.

The initiative also includes the creation of an AI-powered National Women’s Health Digital Hub to deliver targeted campaigns on maternal survival, adolescent health, and preventive care. This innovation is as much about saving lives as it is about empowering women to participate fully in national prosperity.

Tinubu’s words on maternal mortality were poignant: “Maternal mortality is a shame against which we must all rally. We owe every girl-child not just the eloquent promise of a better tomorrow, but the certainty of a healthier one.”

In tying women’s health to entrepreneurship and national development, RenewHER reflects the President’s philosophy that social stability and economic progress are inseparable. By empowering women, the administration is laying a stronger foundation for generational prosperity.

A Quiet Week, Loud Gestures

It was, by all appearances, a subdued week in the Villa. With President Tinubu away on his annual leave, his public outings were fewer, and the usual swirl of activity around Abuja seemed to ease. Yet, beneath the calm surface, the President found ways to remain present in the nation’s daily discourse, his voice and vision transmitted through official statements and symbolic engagements that carried weight across the country.

On Sunday, Tinubu’s message of congratulations to Vice President Kashim Shettima, Dr. Iyabo Masha and others on their elevation as Fellows of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES) struck a note of continuity. By hailing their “exemplary service” and highlighting their role in advancing the economic reforms at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda, the President affirmed his commitment to intellectual rigour and policy innovation as tools for national transformation.

The following day brought a more somber tone. Tinubu mourned the passing of Chief (Mrs.) Leila Euphemia Apinke Fowler, the revered founder of Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls. Calling her death “a massive loss to the entire nation,” he underscored her legacy as a trailblazer in education and a matriarch who dedicated her life to nurturing generations of Nigerian women. It was a reminder of his deep respect for those who have invested in the country’s human capital.

Midweek, the President’s tributes turned celebratory again. He praised Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh, the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), on his 50th birthday, commending his stewardship of Nigeria’s Public-Private Partnership reforms. In the same breath, he extended warm felicitations to the venerable Chief of Kagoro, Dr. Ufuwai Bonet, on his 90th birthday, lauding his unwavering commitment to peace and unity in Kaduna State.

By Thursday, his voice was again solemn as he commiserated with the family of Air Vice Marshal Terry Okorodudu, a steadfast ally and patriot. And on Friday, Tinubu celebrated the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, at 73 and on his 22nd anniversary on the throne, recognising his role as a symbol of reconciliation and unity.

Thus, even in a week of supposed quiet, the President’s presence resonated across the nation—through tributes, condolences, and celebrations that affirmed his steady hand and his conviction that leadership is not a matter of geography but of constant, deliberate engagement.

Taken together, the week that seemed quiet was anything but inactive. Tinubu’s engagements abroad and his directives at home illustrated a governing style that transcends physical presence. He is not just a President working from his desk; he is a leader carrying Nigeria with him wherever he goes.

From strengthening ties with France to pushing for food sovereignty, from tackling hospital power failures to unveiling a maternal health revolution, Tinubu again demonstrated the consistency of his vision. It is a vision of a Nigeria where international partnerships are maximised, basic needs like food and healthcare are secured, and the dignity of every citizen is respected.

As he continues his leave in Europe, Nigerians can be assured that their President is not on pause. Instead, he is recalibrating, consolidating, and stretching himself yet again for the singular goal of building a prosperous, model nation that truly works for its people.