The Nation Newspaper

Category: Letters

  • Yobe government should intervene in FCET Potiskum land issue

    Yobe government should intervene in FCET Potiskum land issue

    • By Kasim Isa Muhammad

    Sir: Tension continues to rise in Potiskum Local Government Area of Yobe State as residents accuse the Federal College of Education Technical (FCET), Potiskum, of forcefully taking over ancestral lands located in the Mazaga area without proper compensation or adherence to legal procedures. The growing dispute has sparked anger among affected families who are calling for justice and immediate intervention from the Yobe State government.

    The lands, which are part of Mazaga in Jigawa District, have been farmlands for generations of families who claim legitimate ownership supported by original documents. Without consultation or formal acquisition processes, FCET Potiskum began developing the area for new staff quarters and administrative buildings, prompting outrage among the residents.

    Community members say they were never approached or consulted before construction began. Many of them report receiving token amounts—some as low as N3,000—as compensation for land parcels they value in the millions. No valuation experts or government-approved surveyors were brought in, and no explanation was given for the amounts distributed. The compensation process was conducted without transparency, leaving many landowners feeling insulted and sidelined.

    Despite owning the land for decades, residents say their rights have been trampled upon. They insist that proper legal procedures were ignored and that the college commenced construction in secret, using force and intimidation rather than lawful engagement. The use of armed security personnel during construction activities has further alarmed the community.

    The people maintain that they are not against the expansion of educational facilities in their area. However, they believe development must be done lawfully and fairly. They argue that taking over land without consent or adequate compensation amounts to exploitation and injustice.

    Frustration is growing as attempts to engage the college have reportedly failed. Residents describe how their initial hopes of resolving the matter through dialogue and state intervention were dashed by the continued silence and inaction of the authorities. There is deep resentment over what many see as a calculated disregard for the rights of peaceful citizens.

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    The manner in which compensation was handled has added to the discontent. Payments were made discreetly, without formal agreements or public records. No community-wide meetings were held, and many affected landowners say they were left out entirely. This lack of transparency has fuelled suspicion and eroded trust in the process.

    Residents argue that the college has acted in bad faith by refusing to follow legal procedures and by failing to treat the community with dignity. They emphasise that ancestral lands hold not just economic value, but cultural and historical significance. The sense of betrayal runs deep, as many believe they have been used and discarded by the same institutions meant to protect them.

    There are increasing calls for the Yobe State government to step in and address the matter with urgency. The land owners are demanding a halt to construction, a proper land valuation exercise by certified government valuers, and fair compensation based on the true value of their land. They are also asking for a transparent process that involves genuine dialogue and written agreements.

    Until these steps are taken, residents say they will continue to resist what they describe as unjust and illegal encroachment. They are appealing to all relevant authorities to recognise the seriousness of the issue and take immediate action to prevent further damage to the relationship between the government, the college, and the host community.

    Development, they insist, must be inclusive and respectful of people’s rights. The current situation in Mazaga stands as a test of how government institutions respond to the grievances of ordinary citizens. The people are not asking for charity—they are asking for justice.

    It is now up to FCET Potiskum and the Yobe State government to correct the wrongs done and to show that no community, no matter how peaceful, should be taken for granted in the name of progress.

    In conclusion, I am imploring the Yobe State government to urgently intervene in this matter before it escalates beyond control. The affected plot owners have exercised remarkable patience, hoping that their grievances would be addressed through dialogue and due process. Unfortunately, the continued silence and inaction from both the institution and the authorities have left them feeling abandoned and betrayed. It is the duty of the government to uphold justice, protect the rights of its citizens, and ensure that no institution is allowed to dispossess law-abiding individuals of their land without following legal procedures.

    •Kasim Isa Muhammad

     Potiskum, Yobe State

  • Tinubu’s successes in transport sector

    Tinubu’s successes in transport sector

    • By Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice

    Sir: In a country where grand political declarations often fizzle into dust, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is scripting a quiet revolution in the transport sector—one that may yet define his legacy as a reformist leader.

    At the heart of this transformation is the taciturn yet mercurial Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali, whose disciplined stewardship and technocratic precision have ignited hope in one of Nigeria’s most critical but historically neglected sectors.

    While some revolutions are noisy, this one is intelligent, coordinated, and deeply strategic. In just under two years, the Tinubu administration has laid the foundation for what could become Nigeria’s most comprehensive, inclusive, and future-facing transport renaissance.

    For the first time in Nigeria’s history, the nation stands on the cusp of adopting a National Land Transport Policy. This policy—now awaiting the approval of the Federal Executive Council—is not merely a document. It is the birth of a unified vision, harmonising Nigeria’s disjointed and inefficient land transport systems under a single strategic framework. When signed into law, it will define priorities, streamline intermodal integration, and offer a clear blueprint for private sector investment and sustainability.

    The steel arteries of Nigeria’s economy—the railway lines—are being revived with unprecedented vigour. Under President Tinubu’s leadership, what was once a skeletal promise of rail modernisation has become a breathing reality.

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    The Kaduna-Kano and Kano-Maradi segments of the Standard Gauge rail lines, which were a mere 15% completed as of May 2023, have now crossed the 50% milestone. This is not progress by political metrics, but by engineering and economic ones.

    Moreover, the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna lines—partially completed in previous administrations—have received renewed attention. The administration’s push to finalise the APMT Terminal in Apapa has drastically eased congestion in Lagos.

    Over 105 containers are now ferried daily by rail, reducing the heavy burden on our road networks and cutting turnaround time for businesses. With vehicular overpasses constructed to separate rail from road traffic, accidents and delays are becoming relics of the past.

    In a bold move to curb revenue leakages and ensure efficiency, e-ticketing has been launched across the Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itakpe, and Abuja-Kaduna rail corridors. This digital leap supports financial transparency and enhances passenger convenience. Combined with the retrofitting of NRC locomotives, particularly along the Abuja-Kaduna route, commuters are now enjoying faster, safer, and more reliable services.

    One of the most forward-looking initiatives of this administration is the Railing with States initiative and the Track Access Programme.

    These innovative schemes invite state governments and private investors into the rail operations space, adhering strictly to global standards.

     It is a masterstroke that decentralises opportunity and democratises development—encouraging local ownership while setting a new precedent for public-private synergy.

    With the soaring cost of living, Tinubu’s administration did not leave the masses behind. The implementation of the 50% Road and 100% Free Rail Presidential Transport Palliatives during the 2023 and 2024 yuletide seasons provided immense relief to Nigerians. These were not token gestures, but practical interventions that touched lives directly, reaffirming the president’s people-first philosophy.

    Railway expansion under Alkali’s stewardship has not just focused on new lines.  The historic Port Harcourt-Maiduguri narrow-gauge corridor is being revived.  The Port Harcourt–Aba stretch is already completed and operational, linking forgotten regions back into the national economic grid and laying tracks of opportunity in their path.

    The shift to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is a game-changer for both the environment and the economy. With the National Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) establishing CNG conversion centres and training technicians nationwide, Nigeria is embracing cleaner energy, lowering costs, and empowering a new generation of green engineers. This speaks to a sustainable vision that values both present gains and future generations.

    In another silent yet seismic shift, the NITT has facilitated the establishment of a Smart National Transport Data Bank. With it comes improved public safety, enhanced revenue tracking, and optimised operations.  For the first time, the transport sector is becoming data-driven, allowing policymakers and businesses to plan with precision.

    Perhaps the most inspiring feather in the administration’s cap is the successful takeoff of the Federal University of Transportation, Daura—Nigeria’s first specialised university for transport studies.  From recruitment to matriculation, the institution is already shaping the minds that will drive Nigeria’s mobility revolution.  Through collaborations with global universities and engineering firms, the university is set to become a hub for technological transfer, research excellence, and policy innovation.

    Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali may not be the loudest minister in Tinubu’s cabinet, but his results speak volumes. He is charting a course, not of fleeting announcements but enduring legacies. The president’s decision to place the transport portfolio in Alkali’s capable hands was visionary—and Nigeria is already reaping the rewards.

    President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” mantra is manifesting itself in steel rails, digital tickets, smart data banks, clean energy, and empowered citizens. His administration’s work in the transport sector offers a compelling case study in strategic vision, disciplined execution, and quiet impact.

    In a country long accustomed to motion without movement, the Tinubu-Alkali axis is finally putting Nigeria in gear. And this time, the destination is progress.

    •Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice

    Abuja

  • Seyi Tinubu and sirens of hypocrisy

    Seyi Tinubu and sirens of hypocrisy

    Sir: The Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, is a pope that clearly has a soft spot for Nigeria. It will be no surprise if he visits the country within the next one year. Immediately he was announced elected as the Supreme Pontiff, fact-checkers dug out pictures showing his previous trips and engagements in Nigeria, a country he has visited no less than ten times previously to commune with the Augustinian order to which he belongs.

    Thus, during his inauguration on May 18, it came as little surprise that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was invited to attend, an invitation that was graciously and elatedly accepted by the presidency even if many Nigerians were quick to pour scorn.

    At the inauguration, the president had the opportunity to greet the Supreme Pontiff, an honour extended only to heads of states. Many Nigerians have unsurprisingly picked up the moment the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu, was politely redirected by Vatican protocol as his father greeted the president.

    For all his flaws and foibles, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains a master political strategist who knows how to build social and political capital from the kind of raw materials that repulses others. In less than two years as president of Nigeria, he has shown that his brand of politics, which is far more inclusive than any of his predecessors, is just what a bitterly divided country, riven apart by divisive politics, needs.

     His recent visit to Anambra State where he broke a 13-year jinx, becoming the first sitting president to visit the state since 2012, was an opportunity to hold out a hand to a state that has been calculatedly cold towards the centre for more than a decade now. It was also an opportunity for President Tinubu to make a statement in the home state of Peter Obi, his direct rival and most formidable opponent, who is wildly loved by many Nigerians. Tinubu masterfully achieved both.

    In many ways, Seyi Tinubu is the spitting image of his father. Controversial, conversational and painstakingly strategic, he appears to have mastered the art which has made his father Nigeria’s most powerful politician today, guiding him through many years of trials and tribulations to Nigeria’s highest seat.

    For all his baggage, and he will do well to watch it, Seyi Tinubu brings the same clarity of purpose his father brings to politics. But the most endearing trait he has taken from his father is his ability to build political bridges while pulling down political walls.

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    Nigeria’s situation today is a fallout of the kind of noxious politics played in the country since independence. It is why it is so important for Nigerians to encourage and engage in political participation to change the narrative.

    Much of the criticism directed at Seyi Tinubu seems to revolve around the fact that he marches in lockstep with his father. There has been much misplaced rejoicing over the fact that he appears to have been snubbed by Vatican protocol when he tried to greet the pope. But no one can blame him for being too eager to greet the pope, who is easily one of the most powerful people on earth.

    It is an opportunity he may never get again. Moreover, while Nigeria’s presidency should never be reduced to a family affair, there is nothing wrong with a son accompanying his father who is the president of a country on engagements at home or abroad. Familial relationships which transverse a lifetime cannot and should not cease, or be suspended, because of a presidency which has a maximum lifespan of eight years.

    It is the height of hypocrisy for anyone to criticise Seyi Tinubu because he shadows his father, the president, or to criticise President Tinubu for always allowing a son who is very much like him to stand by him as he confronts the monstrous challenge of leading Nigeria as president. Even the Bible says that a son knows his father.

    It is scandalous to criticise people based on family and religion alone. Should Seyi Tinubu stop being a son to his father simply because his father is president, or should President Tinubu cease to have anything to do with his first son simply because he is now president?

    It is time for cynics and critics to sheathe their swords, lest they find themselves handling the sharp hooks of hypocrisy.

    •Ike Willie-Nwobu Ikewilly9@gmail.com

  • Strengthening trust by interfaith dialogue

    Strengthening trust by interfaith dialogue

    Sir: The second interfaith conference of the Interparliamentary Union (IPU) will take place in Rome, Italy from June 19 to 21, 2025. The Italian Parliament and IPU, with the support of Religions for Peace, are organising the event. Humanists International, a global body for humanists, atheists, and other nonreligious individuals and groups, has been invited to participate.

    As a humanist who has invested in furthering interfaith/belief dialogue in Nigeria, I believe that the invitation of Humanists International is a significant and exciting development. The theme of this year’s event is: strengthening trust and embracing hope for our common future.

    In forging this common future, the place of trust cannot be overemphasised because trust is the first condition of humanity. Trust is the glue that binds humans together. It undergirds human civilisation and progress. Trust is necessary for religious and philosophical nourishing and flourishing.

    Incidentally, relations between faith/belief traditions have not always been cordial and harmonious. Interfaith relations are fraught with tension, suspicion, and mistrust. Religious and secular life stances operate as rival ideologies; proponents often conflict and kill each other. Faith traditions compete for supremacy and domination within and without. Each religion claims to be the truth, the only truth. Every religion claims to embody the absolute truth and to typify perfection and infallibility. Each faith denounces others as false, fake, or inferior. This cosmological climate breeds tension and rancour; it has weakened trust, and undermined hope and peace, making dialogue difficult, elusive, and sometimes impossible. For humanity’s future and survival, it is pertinent to strengthen trust and promote peaceful and harmonious coexistence of persons of all faiths and beliefs.

    The first edition of IPU’s Interfaith dialogue was on working together for our common future. The event took place in Marrakesh in 2023. That conference identified areas of action for parliamentarians that would foster more peaceful and inclusive societies that honoured religious and belief diversity and upheld the equal and inalienable rights and dignity of all.

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    In the light of events in the world today, this is a future worth working for. And parliamentarians should lead the way in furthering inclusion, equality, and non-discrimination for all.

    The Rome conference echoes the same sentiment. According to the organisers, the event will “bring together parliamentarians and representatives of governments, religions, beliefs, faith-based and civil society organisations, the United Nations, international organisations and academia to engage in dialogue around good practices and challenges in their work to promote sustainable peace, human rights, democracy, good governance, and inclusive societies, while exploring avenues for joint action.”

    As the organisers further noted, “Engaging different stakeholders in dialogue and cooperation around issues of peace, justice, and coexistence is an important part of the ecosystem approach which the IPU adopts in all its work.” Parliamentarians are critical stakeholders in fostering interfaith dialogue and peace because faith/belief plays a powerful role in politics, governance, and other parliamentary affairs. Parliamentarians are often motivated by faith or belief in their everyday functions and duties.

    IPU must be commended for committing to an inclusive interfaith dialogue, especially for extending an invitation to humanists, atheists, and other nonreligious persons. People who profess no faith or religion exist in all parts of the world. They are citizens and they pay their taxes and fulfill other civic duties. Unfortunately, nonbelievers are often treated as criminals or terrorists in many places. Nonreligious persons are human beings and their rights are human rights. But in many countries, atheists and agnostics are treated with indignity and disrespect. Humanists are targets and victims of religious intolerance and oppression.

    Apostasy and blasphemy laws exist in many countries and are used to persecute and prosecute atheists, agnostics, religious dissenters, and other minority religious/belief groups.  An interfaith dialogue that excludes persons from no-faith traditions is incomplete and cannot deliver a common future for all.  A dialogue of only people of faith is a credal monologue that alienates instead of integrating and connecting peoples.  Hopefully, the Rome conference will provide a beacon of hope, and motivate parliamentarians to work towards a more inclusive interfaith dialogue and strengthen trust among persons of all faiths and none in various countries.

    •Leo Igwe nskepticleo@yahoo.com

  • Deterioration of Pambegua nursing campus, Kaduna State

    Deterioration of Pambegua nursing campus, Kaduna State

    Sir: Permit Me To Draw The Attention Of The Governor Of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, To The deteriorating condition of the Kaduna State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Pambegua campus.  The campus was established by the former administration of Nasir El-rufai to decongest the two campuses at Kaduna and Kafanchan, improve access to the nursing profession and provide trained and qualitative nurses to boost health care delivery in the state.

    The campus was opened in 2024, and studies began in earnest. At the takeoff, the campus faced several challenges, including lack of accommodation and befitting classes for learning. However, the good people of Pambegua community wholeheartedly supported the campus to ensure seamless teaching and learning activities. For instance, there was a memorandum of understanding between some members of the community and the school management towards the provision of rented apartments or accommodation.

    Part of the agreement reached was that, after registration, the college will remit house rents to the landlords. Unfortunately, this arrangement between the house owners and the school management has been breached. The landlords have bitterly complained that they are yet to receive a single kobo, despite the fact that deductions have been made from the students’ tuition fees.

    Angered by this development, the landlords have threatened to evict the students if their rents are not paid as arranged. Presently, the campus lacks hostels. With the threat from the landlords over breach of agreement, one is wondering where the next set of students will stay.

    Besides, the campus has lacked potable water supply since November last year. The provost has failed to repair the broken water pump which would have addressed the perennial lack of water supply being experienced on the campus.

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    Also, the campus lacks adequate teaching staff. It depends on the community volunteer teaching staff. It is sad to note that the school provost has been accused of doing little or nothing to surmount these multifaceted problems.

    The decaying condition of the campus calls for an emergency. Therefore, Pambegua community passionate appeals to the governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, to come to the aid of the campus through the following measures: building and rehabilitation of the campus’s hostels to accommodate the ever-increasing numbers of students, drilling of boreholes to curb acute water scarcity, installation of solar energy to address the power challenges and, above all, deployment of teaching staff to fill in the shortage of personnel. If these measures are put in place, the newly established Pambegua campus will be at par with other two campuses in the state.

    •Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna State

  • EFCC should investigate activities of Theobarth Global Foundation

    EFCC should investigate activities of Theobarth Global Foundation

    • By Chinonso Arinzechukwu

    Sir: In 2020, a non-governmental organisation called Theobarth Global Foundation announced its intention to assist people across Nigeria, particularly those in unfortunate circumstances. However, the organisation has been involved in troubling practices by requiring individuals to subscribe to its grant programme.

    The foundation claims that individuals can receive a grant of approximately N1.8 million if they register. To become a beneficiary, people are asked to pay a subscription fee, leading to inconsistencies in the amounts charged. Some individuals have reported being charged N48, 000, N50, 000, N100, 000, and even higher amounts.

    Reports indicate that Theobarth Global Foundation has scammed hundreds of individuals across Nigeria, failing to distribute any funds to beneficiaries for nearly five years. This situation has left many people disillusioned, with numerous victims losing significant sums of money.

    Despite its claims of collaboration with national, international, and multilateral organisations, as well as governments and private individuals to provide support and services to those in need, Theobarth Global Foundation continues to collect money from vulnerable Nigerians.

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    In 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Professor Theophilus Oloche Ebonyi for an investigation related to this matter. However, since that time, there has been no clear outcome. Whether he is guilty of fraud or not, Nigerians, particularly the victims, are desperate to know the status of the case. 

    We know that the EFCC is committed to protecting Nigerians from fraudsters and other criminal activities. We hope that the case involving Theobarth Global Foundation will be treated with the same urgency.

    We hereby bring this matter to your attention, as many individuals have unfortunately fallen prey to this organisation, hoping to receive financial aid to support their families. This distressing situation has persisted for years, with funds continuing to be collected without any actual disbursements.

    We urgently call for your immediate investigation into this serious matter. The organisation has repeatedly claimed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is withholding the funds for disbursement, suggesting that this is part of Theobarth Global Foundation’s operations.

    We strongly urge the EFCC to conduct a thorough investigation to prevent further exploitation of innocent Nigerians.

    •Chinonso Arinzechukwu

     Awgu, Enugu State

  • Ajulo repositioning judiciary in Ondo

    Ajulo repositioning judiciary in Ondo

    • By Wale Ojo-Lanre

    Sir: In the cathedral of Nigerian jurisprudence, where many occupy the pews but few ascend the pulpit of transformative impact, Dr Kayode Abraham Ajulo (SAN), the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, stands as an inspired vessel—a legal alchemist, reformer, and transgenerational symbol of purposeful leadership.

    Since assuming office, Ajulo has not merely discharged duty—he has authored a new jurisprudential narrative for Ondo State. With uncommon vision, he has injected a spirit of dynamism into the legal system, unshackling it from archaic procedures and steering it towards modern, responsive, and people-focused justice delivery.

    From pioneering the Anti-Land Grabbing Law to instituting a Criminal Records Database, and championing digital access to legal services, Ajulo’s tenure is defined by results, not rhetoric. His interventions have repositioned Ondo State’s judiciary as a progressive template in sub-national legal governance.

    But perhaps more significantly, Ajulo’s intercontinental pedigree—having studied, practised, and lectured across borders—continues to be an asset to Nigeria. His cosmopolitan legal scholarship has birthed numerous elucidatory papers on constitutional order, rights-based jurisprudence, judicial autonomy, and the intersection of law and development. Through these interventions, he has drawn global attention to Ondo State’s justice ecosystem and elevated its stature among reform-focused jurisdictions.

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    A relentless human rights advocate, Ajulo has remained uncompromising in his convictions. His voice remains unfaltering in defence of the voiceless. His office, far from dulling his activism, has become a megaphone for institutional justice and ethical governance.

    What distinguishes him further is that he is not just creating change—he is cultivating changemakers. This was recognised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which—for the first time in its distinguished history—established the NBA Mentoring Committee and made him the pioneer Chairman to mentor thousands of old and young lawyers. This is a rare institutional salute to Ajulo’s tireless commitment to mentoring young lawyers, and a testament to the powerful legacy he is already forging.

    In an era when mentorship is waning in the legal profession, Ajulo has revived it with bold clarity, investing his time, wisdom, and platform to shape the next generation of legal giants. I am bold and proud to be one of the beneficiaries and products of his mentorship. 

    As an administrator of men and resources, he has seamlessly blended law and philosophy, intellect and empathy, tradition and modernity.

    Dr Ajulo is also a cultural nationalist and tourism advocate, who sees heritage not as nostalgia, but as a civic asset that must be preserved, promoted, and woven into policy. His reverence for the legal profession is priestly—he believes the Judiciary must not just be respected but protected, enshrined as the moral compass of society.

    He remains among the few young legal luminaries who strictly adhere to the noble ethics of the profession, setting an example in decorum, restraint, and moral courage. His integrity is not performative—it is constitutional.

    Ajulo is a selfless fellow who puts service before comfort; hence, he promptly responded to the call to serve his native Ondo State, leaving the city of Abuja when Governor Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa beckoned him to be his Attorney General.

    His efforts and strides as a nationalist and a statesman were acknowledged by the immediate past President of Nigeria, Muhamadu Buhari, who conferred on him the national honour, Officer of the Order of Nigeria, (OON).

    A humble intellectual, philosopher by temperament, patriot by passion, and jurist by divine ordination, Ajulo is a gem sculpted by the divine for service far beyond the moment.

    He is not just serving Ondo State. He is engraving his name on the pillars of legal evolution in Nigeria.

    •Wale Ojo-Lanre, Esq

    Usi-Ekiti

  • Tinubu: A catalytic and cathartic state visit

    Tinubu: A catalytic and cathartic state visit

    • By Ike Willie-Nwobu

    Sir: It is difficult to resist the temptation to conclude that the current All Progressives Congress (APC) government isn’t really concerned about how it is perceived in the country. The feelers out there appear to hint that the APC couldn’t care less about how Nigerians perceive it. With crucial elections drawing closer with each passing day, the APC is casting anxious glances over its shoulders.

    On May 8, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu paid a historic visit to Anambra State. The visit was the first since 1999 when former President Goodluck Jonathan visited the state at the instance of then Governor Peter Obi. Jonathan’s presidential visit was to be the last in a while, especially as the PDP soon proceeded to lose the 2015 general elections.

    Despite the loss, a hammer blow to the PDP and its self-proclaimed ambition to rule Nigeria for the next 60 years, President Muhammadu Buhari, the winner, was left in no doubt about the disposition of the Southeast towards him.  It was in the state that he suffered his heaviest loss in the region, a humiliation he never forgave nor forgot.

    Buhari’s pointed comments at the beginning of his presidency that those who did not support him should not expect equality with those who did stunned many, setting the tone for the role of outlier the region and the state played during the eight years he was president.

    If Anambra State has generally remained suspicious of the government at the centre, and especially the ruling APC, President Tinubu’s visit sought to warm relations between the presidency, his political party and the people of the state.

    For all his flaws, and there are many, none less his membership of the much-loathed APC, President Tinubu has remained a master strategist in politics, one who builds political bridges. He doesn’t build emergency political bridges that collapse under slight pressure from political currents and undercurrents, but strong bridges fashioned out of the conviction that bridges have more political value than walls.

    He has shown by his appointments and willingness to work with those from outside his immediate political circle that he knows that politics more than being a pilgrimage of power is a homage to people.

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    While in Anambra State, the home state of Peter Obi, who is today his most formidable opponent, President Tinubu was draped in his charm offensive. He was in a relaxed mood throughout as he received a chieftaincy title, and joked about retiring to the state after his time in office, before inaugurating the Emeka Anyaoku Institute of International Studies and Diplomacy at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. 

    In a single visit to Anambra State, President Tinubu has held out both hands to the state and the entire Southeast for longer than his predecessor ever held out a single finger.

    Where his predecessor sought to exclude, President Tinubu has embraced; where his predecessor sought to asphyxiate, he has sought only to amplify.

    The president’s next itinerary in the Southeast appears certain to take him to Abia State, where Governor Alex Otti is conjuring up pure political and economic sorcery to challenge and reverse decades of underdevelopment and neglect.

    The minds of the electorates in the Southeast may be made up about the APC, but everyone who knows a thing about politics and political participation knows that they are not at all averse to dynamic change.

    In taking steps his predecessor never dreamt or dared to take, President Tinubu is showing himself not a perfect president but a pragmatic, and crucially, a prudent one.

    •Ike Willie-Nwobu

    Ikewilly9@gmail.com

  • A call for intervention of Hon. Benson, Sen. Abiru

    A call for intervention of Hon. Benson, Sen. Abiru

    • By Feyisetan Akeeb Kareem

    Sir: Please allow me to use this medium to draw the attention of Hon. Babajimi Benson, member of the House of Representatives of Nigeria representing the Ikorodu Federal Constituency in Lagos State, and Senator Tokunbo Abiru, the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, that Igbogbo II, Igbe laara, Banana Estate located in Bayeku LCDA, has been without power supply for over seven months due to a bad transformer.

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    Please intervene on our behalf, Sirs. Help us use your good offices to deliver us.

    Thanks, in anticipation.

    •Feyisetan Akeeb Kareem

    karfeyio@gmail.com

  • Rehabilitate Kano-Maiduguri Road

    Rehabilitate Kano-Maiduguri Road

    Sir: Last year, the Kano-Maiduguri Road suffered severe damage as a result of flooding. The disaster caused immense hardship for ordinary citizens, displaced several communities along the route, and inflicted economic losses running into hundreds of millions of naira. It also disrupted access to Maiduguri from key states such as Abuja, Kano, Jigawa, and Yobe, effectively cutting off the northeast from the rest of the country.

    On August 15, 2024, a Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and accompanied by the governor of Bauchi State, visited the affected site. They assessed the extent of the damage and promised urgent intervention, recognising the road’s economic significance, not just for the northeast, but for the country as a whole. Unfortunately, to the dismay of the affected communities, no tangible action has been taken since that visit – only temporary fixes that have had little to no impact.

    There is now growing concern among residents that if urgent intervention is not undertaken before the rains intensify, the road could suffer even more extensive damage than last year. This poses a serious threat to lives and property, as was previously experienced.

    The rehabilitation of the Kano-Maiduguri Road is not merely about filling potholes or patching the surface – it is a vital aspect of regional and national development. The benefits of well-maintained roads are immense: improved safety and reduced accidents, enhanced economic activities, better quality of life, strengthened social integration, and even environmental advantages.

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    As an optimist and a believer in equitable governance, I hold firmly that all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria deserve equal attention and investment. Every part of this country matters. Mr President must lead with sincerity of purpose and see all Nigerians as his constituency.

    It is worth noting that during his visit, the Minister of Works acknowledged this imbalance, stating: “Let me make it clear that the shortfall in road distribution was not the doing of President Tinubu, nor mine. However, the President is addressing it. That is why the fourth legacy project – stretching from Akwanga to Jos to Bauchi State – has been initiated. We are pleased that work is progressing significantly on major portions of the road in Bauchi State.”

    The minister further pledged that the President is determined to provide adequate funding for legacy projects through various intervention mechanisms. It is our hope that the government will act swiftly and treat this as a matter of national urgency by repairing the damaged sections of the Kano-Maiduguri Road, particularly within the Jama’are and Azare-Potiskum axes.

    As an engineer, the Minister of Works should set a precedent that prioritises action over rhetoric. When entrusted with responsibility, those in positions of power must demonstrate competence and a genuine commitment to service.

    This is a humble but firm appeal to the Federal Government to urgently address the long-standing issue of the Kano-Maiduguri Road, which remains in a state of disrepair since the devastating floods of last year.

    •Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani Azare, Bauchi State