The Nation Newspaper

Category: Opinion

  • U.S. presidential election debates: Biden and other knockouts

    U.S. presidential election debates: Biden and other knockouts

    By Bisi Olawunmi

    American presidential election debates, as a presentation of contending presidential candidates before the voting public for appraisal,  have often been seen as a gamble.- a high stakes encounter  that could  become a  Win or Lose gambit.  President Joe Biden is the latest presidential candidate  to be knocked out at a presidential election debate.  Badly bruised in his encounter with former President Donald Trump  at the first presidential election debate on June 27, 2024, President Biden still wanted to remain in the race but his handlers , led by former President Barack Obama, and former House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi,  had to gently shoo him out of the race, for  ‘Sleepy Joe ‘  to begin his final sleep walk into an anti-climax political sunset.    His Vice-President , Kamala Harris , succeeded to the ticket as presidential candidate of  the Democratic party.

     Presidential  election debates involve a lot of calculations , a risk assessment   with each candidate assessing what  the advantages and downsides are  before acceding to the encounter.

    U.S. presidential election debates are  part of continuing efforts to bring candidates for the most powerful political office in the world  closer to  the American people, and by extension, a global  audience  in today’s global village. Afterall, decisions of whoever occupies  The White House could have global implications.

    The first American televised presidential election debate was held between Vice-President Richard Nixon  (Republican) and Senator John  F. Kennedy (Democrat) in 1960. Presidential election debates were not held in three elections cycles – 1964, 1968 , 1972 ) –  because the leading candidates were so far ahead in the polls they saw no reason  to debate their opponents as such debate  could not add to their momentum but could  turn out harmful to their prospects.  However, since 1976,  presidential election debates have been held  in the 12 succeeding  presidential  election  cycles, including 2024, making a total of 14.  

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    There are continuing contentions about the efficacy of presidential  election debates  with many scholars arguing that a sitting president , seeking re-election should not be compelled to participate  in such encounter due to risk  of his inadvertently giving  out security information that could jeopardize sensitive international relations.  There are those who hold that  such live televised debates are more  of showmanship, where charisma and eloquence may carry  day, further personalizing the office of the president.   In this regard, many observers believe that the charisma and youthful swagger  of  Democratic candidate in the 1960 first presidential election debate ,  Senator John  F. Kennedy, aged 43, the youngest to be elected president , gave him the edge  over Vice President Richard Nixon, 48,  the Republican candidate.  However, given the narrow and controversial win of Kennedy, his saturation media support at every stage of the electioneering, including the election debates , could be said to have achieved only a knock down of Nixon,  especially as Nixon staged a comeback to win the 1968 and 1972 presidential elections.   A third  position is that such debates  give the media, especially the television networks, an undue power in  the determination of  election outcomes , a point made by Biden supporters who questioned  why one debate, however poor the  performance, should force the exit of a candidate. 

    The growing  importance of media projection  of candidates in presidential  elections was  on display in the 1976 presidential election  when a relatively unknown  one term governor  of Georgia state , Jimmy Carter ,  was blown from ‘ Jimmy who ? ‘  to Jimmy frontrunner,  among the Democratic party aspirants, eventually romping  into election victory to become the  39th president of the United States.  In the end, what effusive television  projection gave Carter in 1976, critical television took away  from  Carter in 1980 when he sought re-election in the contest between him and candidate Ronald Reagan of the Republican party.  The presidential election  debate of that year was a knockout for President Carter. Prior to the debate, he had been buffeted by negative media  projection  and his debate appearance became his denouement . I  was among five Nigerian journalists, sponsored by the U.S. State Department , to cover that election.  At a point, we were attached to the Reagan campaign bus, with other reporters , from Peoria, Illinois  through Hillsboro, Eureka and Springfield, where Reagan visited the tomb of  the  American civil war hero, President Abraham Lincoln,  and on to  a rousing, animated rally  in Saint Louis, Missouri, by the majestic Mississippi  river.  There were two presidential election debates in 1980. The first was held on September 21,  at the  Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland while the second was on  October 28 at the Public Music Hall in Cleveland, Ohio.  There were  three presidential candidates in that election , the third being  John Anderson , a former Congressman, who ran as an Independent candidate.  President Carter dodged  the first debate, apparently  for fear of its outcome, so it was between Reagan, a former governor of California and  Anderson.  Under pressure, President Carter got persuaded to  participate in the second debate while Anderson opted out.  Since we arrived in the U.S. in early October,  it was the second debate that I observed at the residence of a family of three in San Francisco, California. They were divided among the three candidates – father for Reagan , wife for Carter and daughter for Anderson.  Carter came into the debate against the backdrop of  the humiliating, disastrous failure  of the rescue operation he ordered to free  the   52 American hostages held at the American Embassy in Tehran,  the Iranian capital, portraying  him as a weakling.  According to Nielson Media Research data, 80.6 million Americans  watched  the debate. On the podium that night,  a fumbling,  drained, fatigued  President Carter cut a pathetic image, while gangling, gung-ho  candidate Reagan projected strength by threatening Iran  with a blistering attack within hours of assuming the presidency. 

    By the time the debate ended, Carter was knocked out, cold.  The swing  of support was immediate  in the family of three – wife and daughter rooted for Reagan.  Barely a week later, at the November 5, 1980 presidential election , Ronald Reagan  had a landslide victory, winning in 48 of the 50 states with Carter winning only in his home state of Georgia and in Minnesota, the home state of his vice president, Walter Mondale.    

    The third U.S. presidential election debate knockout  was that of 1988 between Vice-President George H.W. Bush  and Governor Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts held  on October 13 at the Pualey  Pavillion, University of California, Los Angeles. I covered that debate as resident  Washington correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN )  The polls had  projected  victory for  Gov.Dukakis, with a commanding 17-point lead, as at late summer,  but one question  gave  Dukakis the knockout hit.  Violent  crime in America had been an election  issue and Dukakis  was  known as a liberal, soft on crime.  Bernard Shaw of CNN, the moderator of the debate, had  asked   Governor Dukakis that  if  Kitty Dukakis  ( his wife ) were to  be brutally raped  and murdered, would he still oppose death penalty for the murderer ?   Rather than show outrage at such a provocative question, Dukakis, showing  no emotion, remained  cool  and went into an academic argument against  the death penalty, without even mentioning his wife’s name in his rigmarole !! His unnerving  cold-heartedness  shocked many Americans,  his 17-point lead was wiped out  in the polls and his presidential  dream  knocked out.  George Bush took the lead  and at the November 8, 1988 presidential election  crushed Dukakis,  winning in 40 of the 50 states  and  Washington, D.C.  and harvesting a whopping  426-112 electoral college  vote.  A candidate only need to  garner 270 electoral college votes to win. 

    Fast forward to 2024 and the second presidential election debate between Vice –President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump,  and the overall cautiousness of the two candidates  becomes understandable, given the knockout fate  that befell  President Biden earlier. Harris and Trump were, apparently, wary of stepping on banana peels that a presidential election debate has become. However, whatever the outcome of this presidential election, the precedent  of a presidential candidate being forced  out of the 2024  U.S. presidential race, as a result of a poor debate performance, without a second chance, has brought an ominous dimension  to electoral contest that could be seen as an abridgement of the people’s right to choose their leaders.

    • Dr. Olawunmi,  Senior Lecturer,  Department of Mass Communication,  Adeleke University, Ede, is a former Washington Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) and Fellow , Nigerian Guild of Editors (FNGE) Phone 0803 364 7571 Email : olawunmibisi@yahoo.com

  • The nation is waiting for a ceasefire

    The nation is waiting for a ceasefire

    By Bashorun J.K. Randle

    We are at a critical intersection of our nation’s trajectory.  Some of our most eminent Chartered Accountants as well as profoundly engaging economists and brilliant political scientists insist that we are actually at the brink.  Hence, we must exercise sound judgement re-inforced with a delicate balancing act.  Our financial architecture is in a shambles and requires urgent re-engineering.  The figures simply do not add up!!

    Our Nation is clearly in crisis.  Rage and distemper have engulfed our country while bandits, kidnappers, fraudsters, rapists, looters, money-launderers, and arsonists hold sway.  Yet, considering the intellectual endowments of our fellow citizens (starting with the nearly seven thousand Chartered Accountants who are attending this conference physically or virtually) and the enormous natural (and unnatural !!) resources which the Almighty has lavished on us – oil and gas; gold; diamond,  Lead/Zinc, Limestone, Salt, Cassiterite, Clay, Dolomite, Marble & Tantalite, Bentonite, Gypsium, Kaolin & Magnesite, Lignite, Uranium, we have no business with poverty, hunger, ignorance, deprivation, homelessness and hopelessness.  We have not even factored into the equation our vast arable land and abundant water resources as well as glorious sunshine for most of the year.  Freezing cold, monsoons, hurricanes, and tsunami are not our portion.

    Sadly, the recent floods in Maiduguri have wreaked havoc and led to loss of thousands of lives and devasted property which would cost billions to replace.

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    We are confronted with erratic data and indexes combined with intimidating climate change and perplexing algorithms.

    Perhaps the intercession of a ceasefire will provide us with the breathing space and respite to reflect on the gravity of our situation.  Our first hurdle is our massive bust deficit – between the Governors/rulers; and between Chartered Accountants and their clients.  It is an enigmatic quadratic equation.  Our salvation may well lie in our culture and history which would galvanize us on the path to restoration of mutual respect; service to our nation (which resonates with our National Anthem and the school song of King’s College, Lagos); law and order anchored on justice; and gender equality.  These are the irreducible minimum as we contend with ethnic strife and religious bigotry.

    At the recently concluded United Nations General Assembly (10 to September to 24 September 2024, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR delivered a passionate plea for Debt Forgiveness.  Our fervent hope is that the forgiveness will not come too late.  We must also work assiduously in preparation for the awkward question that would be inevitably be asked as well as our own arsenal of documentary frauds going back several decades – with Nigeria as the victim.

    We must not underestimate the eloquence or gravity of a ceasefire.  It comes with a genuine desire and commitment to restore justice based on conviction and reconciliation together with justice.

    Here is the continuation of “Chartered accountants versus Economists” to the subject matter.

    “Is it true you were once a Catholic?

    Emeritus Archbishop of Enugu Anglican Diocese, Most Rev Prof Emmanuel Chukwuma who, penultimate week, retired from priesthood speaks.

    No! People make mistakes. I attended a Roman Catholic school, St Aquinas College Akure, just like College of Immaculate Conception, CIC, here in Enugu. If somebody attends CIC, must he be a Roman Catholic? But you find that it was made compulsory for everybody to behave like a Roman Catholic and because of my attitude and way of life, I speak Latin, the Irish Fathers loved me and so they put me in charge of the Sacristy.

    At that time, I was serving Mass, we were all made to attend the chapel, whether you are a Roman Catholic or not, it was compulsory. So, I was influenced a bit by the Roman Catholic doctrine, which was an eye-opener and my father therefore said why don’t I become a reverend father because of the way I served Mass and followed the reverend fathers for evangelism.

    My father wanted me to be a lawyer and some people wanted me to be a Reverend Father. I started teaching, from teaching I was to read law in the University of Ife but I went into Theology because during the civil war I was one of those that would have been killed in the Asaba genocide but God saved my life.

    In 1967 I was to be killed among those that were killed but God saved my life. When they were shooting, I fell down and in the night I escaped. So, I experienced the genocide of the Nigeria civil war. I saw war with my eyes, I saw blood with my eyes, and it was a serious genocide. Innocent people in my Asaba area were killed for nothing except that we were ‘Ajukwu’ brothers (Ojukwu brothers), that was what they were saying. My father’s first house in Asaba was burnt down, many of our houses were burnt, many of our relatives were burnt, many of our kindred were killed unnecessarily and many of our women were forcefully married by the soldiers. It was such a terrible thing that when I remember it I shed tears especially when they are doing Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

    I feel that Nigeria still has to apologize to the Asaba people and to the Eastern part of Nigeria for the genocide and war. That was the reason I said that January 15, which is my birthday, Nigeria should be celebrating it as a day of mourning and forgiveness, asking God for forgiveness and thanksgiving for the end of the war. Remember that in the Bible when God destroyed the world with water Noah prayed to God and he stopped the war of water and Noah praised and thanked God for it. So if war has ended we should be able to say father thank you for the war that ended but rather than doing it what you see now is selectiveness against the Igbo. We are being neglected, sidelined and nobody is thinking about what we suffered during the civil war. This is unfortunate and I feel that President Bola Tinubu, if they could do something to MKO Abiola and honour him, the people of Asaba should be honoured with a day of forgiveness, thanksgiving and then a lot of things should be done in memory and compensation for the Eastern part of Nigeria for the civil war.

    How did the Asaba genocide actually happen?

    The Nigerian soldiers were to cross the River Niger and when they came they couldn’t cross. They said there was a goddess in the River called Onishee who would come out and their boat would sink because at that time the bridge had collapsed. So, the soldiers got angry and said that there were some Biafran soldiers among us. In fact, they separated us, I was about 14 years. They separated the women and said that all of us, the male, should be lined up and killed. In the course of the shooting I fell down and corpses fell on me. That was how I escaped.

    When I spoke Yoruba, one of the soldiers said ‘are you a Yoruba man?’ And I said yes and that was how they rescued me. The soldiers were tall, we called them Gongola, gwodogwodo! Some of them said it was because of Chukwuma Nzeogwu, who was not from Asaba really, he was from Ika Ibo, but they still dealt with us and that’s unfortunate. To God be the glory we survived.

    What do you think is the reason General Yakubu Gowon is yet to say anything about the civil war?

    Gowon is very apologetic and that was why he started Nigeria Prays and we have to commend him for that. That Nigeria Prays was to revive the spirit of the people back from the civil war and to reconcile people back to God and to go on with one Nigeria.”

  • Oyetola @ 70th: Celebrating leadership essentials

    Oyetola @ 70th: Celebrating leadership essentials

    By Jimoh Olorede

    On Sunday, September 29, 2024, the former governor of Osun State and incumbent Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, turned 70th. His Septuagenarian birthday anniversary was very iconic. However, this is not because the atmosphere was rented by pageantry, but modest pleasantry, and not by flamboyant display of wealth. The Minister’s 70th birthday was iconic not because passers-by could not pass during the celebrations, or farmers could not go to farm.

    What made Oyetola’s 70th birthday anniversary unique was the exemplification of good leadership essentials as manifested in the celebrations of his birthday in absentia. So, as in the opinion of John C. Maxwell, after all, “leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” This obviously shows that Oyetola is highly influential by virtue of his leadership essentials, and not mere personality credentials, and his life-changing impacts on many people who insisted on celebrating his birthday anniversary even in absentia as he was far away in Saudi Arabia in solemn supplication, submission and thanksgiving to God Almighty for making him a beneficiary of His benevolence in the last seven decades.

    Also, according to Chris Hadfield, “leadership is not about being liked; it’s about being respected.” The insistence of his followers, loyalists, friends and associates to celebrate his birthday anniversary even when he wouldn’t want to, for certain reasons, was more of a show of respect and adoration to Oyetola.

    The Honourable Minister wouldn’t want to hold any ostentatious celebration or extravagant birthday party for his empathy toward the haves-not and the downtrodden, especially with the present socio-economic situation of the nation. As learnt, the organizers of his 70th birthday anniversary celebrations had to convince him that his solemn mission would be brought to fruition and his decision to execution by organizing a philanthropic celebration that would give privilege to the less-privileged, alms to beggars, food to the hungry, empowerment to widows and widowers and succour to the poor and needy.

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    The free medical outreach programme conducted across Osun State’s three senatorial districts, benefiting over 4,000 residents, showcases Oyetola’s empathetic and compassionate nature. This selfless act embodies the true spirit of leadership.

    In actually fact, what the people from far and near celebrated at Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Office in Osogbo last Sunday was not Oyetola himself, but his indelible footprints, impacts, essence, and leadership quintessence. The presence of the mammoth crowd during the grand finale of the ceremony climaxing the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Minister in his absence seemed to have dislodged a Yoruba adage that says “we can’t shave a man’s head in his absence” (a kii fari lehin olori).

    The attendance of well-meaning personalities like the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, and other heads of agencies both under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and beyond, prominent traditional rulers like the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Ataoja of Osogbo, and many other royal fathers, mayors, players and Chief Executive Officers of different industries, political bigwigs and many other very important personalities (VIP) at the modest birthday prayer session held at the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Office in Osogbo, Osun State, did not only make the event epochal, but also further justified Oyetola’s prominence, political clout, beneficial personality credentials and leadership essentials.

    The celebrant’s associates appreciate his essence and leadership quintessence as a benefactor, who has taken them thus far in the socio-economic ladder of achievement, as a leader is dead alive, if he could not duplicate or replicate himself. Again, what was celebrated was not Oyetola, but his integrity, which you could take as cheque to the bank. His leadership, marked by integrity and foresight, continues to inspire many, given his commitment to ethical role-modeling and his ability to think critically about the future.

    The Osun State former governor’s visionary leadership, especially as demonstrated during his tenure as governor of the State, which enabled him to achieve remarkable feats despite the challenges he faced, was what attracted people to celebrate him. It’s no gainsaying that his ability to think strategically was instrumental in driving progress in the state.

    More so, his excellent administrative prowess has earned him accolades from various quarters. His commitment to good governance and exemplary leadership has made a significant impact on the lives of Osun State residents. His transparency and accountability have also conferred on him an outstanding status in Nigeria’s political landscape.

    As Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Oyetola has demonstrated unwavering transparency and accountability. The humongous revenues generated in the first quarter of 2024 and remitted to the Federal Government coffers attest to his acumen in revenue generation, fiscal management, and leadership transparency.

    As we continue to celebrate Oyetola’s 70th birthday, we honour his dedication to public service, community development, and integrity. His life’s work serves as a beacon of inspiration, reminding us that effective leadership is about serving others and making a positive impact, and as we commemorate this milestone birthday, we reaffirm our commitment to emulating these essential qualities of good leadership. We pray God to strengthen his ability to further duplicate and replicate himself as a leader. 

    Dr. Olorede, Head, Department of Strategic Communication and Media Studies at a Federal Higher Institution in Nigeria, writes from Oderinde’s Compound, Iragbiji, Osun State.

  • Nigeria at 64: the road to renewed hope

    Nigeria at 64: the road to renewed hope

    By Allison Abanum

    All eyes have always been on the most populous black Nation on Earth since Independence. Nigeria  Provided leadership and enormous support to the United Nations peacekeeping missions in Congo and other countries. It led the movement for the end to apartheid rule in Southern African countries, including South Africa, Northern Rhodesia ( Zambia) and Southern Rhodesia ( Zimbabwe). It supported other liberation movements, including those of Namibia, Angola, Mozambique and Western Sahara.

    Inwardly, Nigerians are beautiful people. We love life. We love people. Where you find bigotry, you can also find tolerance among Nigerians; where there is hate; there is love, and where there is tension; there is also good neighbourliness. Even under the cumulus of ethnic tonguefire, we do not relent in helping one another when the occasion demands it.

    But unfortunately at sixty four, Nigeria is still not  where she ought to be. We must understand that as a Great contry we have both known and unknown enemies, we must understand that foreign business interest have taken part of our economy. Nigeria is saddled with an insidious reality, plaqued by home-grown enemy: the political ineptitude, mediocrity, indiscipline, ethnic bigotry,etc. And it is valid that the Bola Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda is the only way to open up the Political and Economic process to every Nigerian.

    President Bola Tinubu is a brave leader that needs our  prayers and support If we truly want a Mental and Moral reorientation. His “Renewed Hope Agenda” is a social revolution that flows from a reborn mind. Mental reorientation produces a decent moral consciousness and when it is on a massive scale, society will change.

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    Bola Tinubu is leading a National integration and it’s benefits can  be realised only with the entrenchment of a supportive public culture.  Nigerians must understand, respect and tolerate differences occasioned by socio-cultural diversity and also develop new institutions and mechanisms that address poverty, revenue allocation and other national issues peacefully.

    The Bola Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda is gradually transforming Nigeria potentials into success and the Renewed Hope Agenda is taking a right turn per second in the middle of nowhere to find it’s bearing. This explains the so many Tough decisions taken by the Tinubu led Federal Govt.

    But in a democracy, the most important office is not the office of the president, it’s the office of the citizen and so, Nigerians must be brave because Fortunes only favour the brave. But we must also remember that restoring systems alone will not, overnight, make the country a success.

    This is not a time to bemoan all the challenges ahead. It is a time to work at developing, nurturing and sustaining democracy as a people.  But we also must realize that we need patience and cannot expect instant miracles. Building strong institutions is not something a people do in one year, in a few years, even. The Chinese had their chance to emerge as the leading nation in the world in the middle Ages, but were consumed by interethnic political posturing and protests, and had to wait another 500 years for another chance. The United States of America did not arrive at it’s much admired democracy and institutions overnight.

    As a people we must stop to abide in wilful fatalism. We must stop seeing only doom and gloom about Nigeria. We must stop making cynical projections on our country and stop holding up to ridicule narrative. We must stop saturating public discourse with

    blood, sorrow and tears as if there is no ” light, love and life” in any corner of the country. While we cannot attenuate the staggering challenges gnawing at the country, it will be defeatist to say there is no hope in this tempest . It will be cynical of any Nigerian to say it is all rain and no sunshine.

    No leader wants to fail and Bola Tinubu has made it clear that ” Their is no room for Excuses”.  Today is not the day to tell us that Bola Tinubu has ended the era of fuel subsidy for the interest of the Economy, Today is not the day to discuss how Bola Tinubu led Federal Govt took all the State Governors to the supreme court just to get Local Govt Autonomy, Today is not the day to elaborate on the Legacy projects of Bola Tinubu, Today is not the day to give details of how foreign investments are flowing into Nigeria under Bola Tinubu,  Today is not the day to share any form of Bola Tinubu’s achievement in office.  Today is for Celebrating Renewed Hope and Celebrating Nigeria at Sixty four. Happy Independence Day Nigeria!

    • Abanum writes from Orogun, Delta State

  • Sokoto: weaponisation of fake news

    Sokoto: weaponisation of fake news

    By Tahir Ibrahim Tahir

    Fake news has become so weaponised today and it is practically taking over the media space of both conventional and online media. The presence of online and social media have made it so potent that in a matter of seconds, fake and concocted news take over the media space.

    The gullible public hops on it and it is shared endlessly. It’s potency and viral strength drowns any other source of information and it is accepted as the truth. It is more than a herculean task to counter fake news and give detailed or truthful accounts of events already marred by fake news.

    This fake news industry is sadly not limited to Nigeria or Africa alone, it has become a worldwide phenomenon and even the present build up to the American elections has both democratic and republican campaigns manipulating fake news to their own benefits. Headlines are set up as click baits, cornering readers to accept the fallacious headlines without even reading the contents. Most times the contents of the click baits are as damaging as the headlines. It is only safe for one to make clear judgements over a news item after 48 hours, as numerous other versions spring up. 48 hours also gives enough time for the subject or object of the fake news to put issues or matters more clearly.

    I’ve seen how damaging fake news can be from the recent face off between Sokoto state govt and the opposition PDP. The opposition pushed a viral story about the govt awarding a contract of 30 billion for street fencing. The media space was agog with castigations and even abuses, as to why such a bogus contract for street fencing when the populace is wallowing in poverty.

    Shouldn’t it be invested in agriculture and youth employment? The Sokoto govt was ‘beaten’ to a pulp from both online and offline commentary. Lo and behold, the state govt produced the award letter of the fencing contract. The amount? N866 million naira. How do you take the public’s mind off the 30 billion earlier spewed around? The damage has been done already and the earlier 30 billion which suits the narrative of the opposition takes centre stage.

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    This is coming just a week after another contract controversy in the state. This was over the World Bank/Sokoto Acresal project which was awarded at 1.2 billion. Yes the Governor did not cover the entire items covered by the programme, and this gave the opposition another avenue to malign the govt over frivolous spending. The World bank project is a universal project which is carried out in all the states.

    The costs are the same. The opposition went viral with the news that 1.2 billion was expended in the repair of boreholes. No matter how hard the state tried in correcting this fake news, it’s efforts kept being drowned by public outcry and the opposition’s dance over the incorrect information making the rounds. The state tried to explain that solar motorised boreholes were constructed with perimeter fencing, and an additional shelter belt in 25 different locations. But it was almost like crying over spilt milk, the damage had been done. The 30 billion fencing news came just at the back of the borehole controversy, clearly in an effort to ride on the heat of the public ire generated by the World bank/ Sokoto state govt Acresal project.

    A former adviser of the Federal Govt when to press with the news that 69 billion dollars of Nigeria’s stolen funds is stashed away by an individual in various banks. How? What was Nigeria’s total oil revenue in the last administration’s tenure? So Nigerians have perfected the art of throwing bogus figures to gaslight the public into believing the narratives they intend to sell. The said adviser had fallen out with the former administration and he was relieved of his duties. What way to fight back? Create fake and incriminating information about the previous govt. The way the media space, especially online media, are allowed to run the space with fake and concocted news items leaves much to be desired.

    It has to be regulated properly. One’s right to free speech should not infringe on the rights of the next person, not to talk of abusing, denigrating or incriminating them. Public opinion is usually in adversity to the way govt policies and programmes are run. Public opinion is therefore gullible and ready to be taken for manipulation.

    Sokoto is having a hard time putting out the proper records out there, especially with a hardline opposition that is manipulating the media space. So it has to change it’s approach towards handling the scourge of fake news trying to consume it.

  • Tragedies in Niger State and Beyond: A call for comprehensive reform

    Tragedies in Niger State and Beyond: A call for comprehensive reform

    • By Arinze Oduah

    Nigeria’s rivers, roads, and mines have become death traps, with a worrying rise in fatalities across various sectors. The recent boat accidents in Zamfara State, which claimed an estimated sixty-four lives, and the earlier incident in Bayelsa State, where over twenty perished, are stark reminders of a broader problem. Nigeria’s weak safety standards and regulations, compounded by the failure of government and other critical stakeholders to act promptly, continue to endanger lives. But this does not have to be the reality. Around the world, governments, private sector stakeholders, and communities have collaborated to establish robust technical and operational standards, create safer systems, reduce fatalities, and minimize risks. Nigeria can learn from these examples and urgently apply the lessons to avert further loss of life.

    The success achieved under Professor Wole Soyinka-led Federal Road Safety Corps to reduce fatal road crashes indicates that establishing safer systems is possible within a relatively short time. As with our roads, so also our waterways and industrial mining sites.

    Nigeria’s waterways have witnessed an alarming frequency of boat accidents. From overcrowding to the use of faulty vessels and inadequate safety measures, the causes of these accidents are well-documented but poorly addressed. The Zamfara and Bayelsa boat accidents are just two examples in a long list of tragic events. These recurring incidents are not limited to Nigeria’s waterways—fatalities from tanker explosions, road accidents, and mining disasters are also increasingly common.

    For example, in Niger State, a recent mining collapse left over twenty miners dead, with many still unaccounted for due to slow and inefficient rescue operations. This was shortly followed by a tanker explosion that killed fifty-nine people. These accidents, along with the boat tragedies, underscore the systemic issues that contribute to preventable deaths from operational safety accidents across Nigeria.

    But what is most disheartening is the complacency that surrounds these disasters. Instead of proactive solutions, the response from the government and other stakeholders has been slow and reactive, offering only short-term relief like financial aid to victims’ families but failing to address the root causes. Nigeria must break this cycle by learning from the successes of other nations, and from past interventions that have been successful.

    Countries like Bangladesh, India, and the Philippines, which also grappled with frequent maritime accidents, have made significant progress by strengthening regulations, improving enforcement, and ensuring a multi-stakeholder approach to safety. Bangladesh faced similar issues of overcrowded ferries and frequent capsizing incidents in the early 2000s. The government responded by enforcing strict regulations, including a mandatory limit on the number of passengers per vessel, implementing regular inspections, and requiring vessels to have standardized safety equipment like life vests for every passenger.

    The government worked with the private sector and civil society to raise awareness about safety measures, and the collaboration with international organizations helped improve the training of captains and crew members. As a result, Bangladesh saw a drastic reduction in the number of boat-related deaths.

    India faced similar challenges, particularly with road accidents and industrial disasters. In response, the Indian government launched the Motor Vehicle Act (Amendment) of 2019, which introduced stringent penalties for traffic violations, mandated insurance coverage for road users, and launched awareness campaigns in collaboration with non-profits and the private sector. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also worked to enhance emergency response systems, ensuring that rescue and relief operations were faster and more effective. The results were immediate, with a noticeable decrease in road fatalities and a more efficient response to disasters.

    Nigeria can adopt and adapt these strategies to reduce or eliminate fatal marine accidents. For instance, introducing compulsory and standardized safety equipment on all boats, establishing regulations on the maximum number of passengers, and training operators could drastically reduce maritime tragedies. A stronger collaboration between local authorities, community leaders, and international bodies could help build a safer environment across Nigeria’s waterways, while also ensuring accountability through regular audits and enforcement.

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    The first step Nigeria needs to take is to set and communicate transparent standards and enforce regulations. The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) must act immediately to ensure that all boats meet basic safety standards, including the installation of life jackets, radios, and other equipment essential for emergencies. Additionally, Nigeria must urgently introduce and enforce laws that limit the number of passengers on vessels, just as Bangladesh did, to prevent overcrowding—a leading cause of capsizing. NIWA should also ensure effective direct and indirect oversight of all jetties for compliance.

    Collaboration is key. The government cannot do it alone. Private companies, especially those involved in the transportation and logistics sector, must play their part in enforcing safety measures. By partnering with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international agencies, Nigeria can quickly implement training programs for boat operators and introduce certification processes to ensure that only qualified personnel oversee vessels.

    Public awareness is another critical element. In many countries, awareness campaigns have proven effective in changing attitudes towards safety. Nigeria should launch nationwide campaigns to educate the public on safety protocols when using waterways, roadways, and mining sites. This could be achieved through public service announcements, partnerships with schools and places of worship, and local community engagement efforts.

    Lastly, Nigeria must overhaul its emergency response systems. Rescue operations during recent disasters were delayed due to inadequate equipment and poorly trained personnel. The government should prioritize investment in emergency services, ensuring that responders have the right tools and training to act swiftly and effectively in the event of an accident. Working with international partners, as seen in India’s collaboration with the NDMA, could help Nigeria build the capacity of its emergency teams.

    In addition to enforcement and awareness, Nigeria must focus on long-term infrastructure development. The safety of Nigeria’s transportation systems, both on land and water, is linked to broader infrastructural issues. Poorly maintained roads and waterways increase the likelihood of serious accidents. Investments in modern transportation infrastructure, such as the dredging of rivers to create safer waterways and the expansion of well-maintained road networks, are necessary to reduce accidents.

    Stakeholders, particularly those in the private sector, have a crucial role to play. By contributing resources and expertise, they can help fund infrastructure projects that will ultimately save lives. For example, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dangote Industries, BUA Group, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), and other large corporations and associations involved in road transport could support safer road projects, while local transport unions, particularly the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) could work to enforce better driving standards and vehicle maintenance.

    The government, through public-private partnerships, should also investigate funding life-saving technologies such as GPS tracking for boats, which can allow authorities to monitor vessel movements and quickly respond when vessels are in distress.

    Nigeria stands at a critical juncture. The recent tragic accidents in Zamfara, Bayelsa, and Niger State are stark reminders that the time for action is now. By adopting global best practices and ensuring cooperation among all stakeholders, Nigeria can prevent these tragedies and protect its citizens. Immediate enforcement of safety standards and regulations, collaboration with international partners, adoption of relevant technology, investment in infrastructure, and public awareness campaigns are necessary steps toward building a safer future. The government must move beyond reactive measures and work towards comprehensive, lasting solutions.

    •Oduah writes from Lagos

  • Tinubu’s China Trip: The gains and vistas of opportunities for Nigeria, by Dada Olusegun

    Tinubu’s China Trip: The gains and vistas of opportunities for Nigeria, by Dada Olusegun

    President Bola Tinubu on Friday rounded off his official visit to China with his trip to the world’s 2nd largest economy ending with very significant and mouthwatering gains for Nigeria.

    It was obvious that the President was looking forward to a trip heavy on deals that would impact Nigeria’s quest to improve our infrastructure, agriculture, power, solid minerals etc judging by the public officials in his official entourage.

    From the Finance Minister/Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Minister of Trade and Investment, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Minister of Power, FCT Minister, Minister of Defence, Minister of Transportation, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Minister of Information and National Orientation, Minister of Foreign Affairs etc, to Governors of Lagos, Kaduna and Kwara States, the President’s entourage was tailored for purpose.

    Hope Rise on Completion of Lagos-Kano Railway by CRCC

    Shortly after being warmly received by the Chinese government, President Bola Tinubu on Monday, September 2, visited the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), during which he acknowledged the company’s role as a reliable partner in Nigeria’s infrastructure development programme, commending its ongoing railway projects in the country.

    President Tinubu right there at the headquarters of CRCC promised that the Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano railway segments will be completed and done to the satisfaction of Nigeria and West Africa at large. Already China is providing funding through the China Development Bank for the ongoing Kaduna-Kano section of the Lagos-Kano railway project.

    The Ibadan-Abuja section is set to be funded by the Chinese too thanks to renewed cooperation between Nigeria and China on the Belt and Road Initiative.

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    HUAWEI announced launch of DigiTruck, a mobile ICT classroom

    After the visit to CRCC headquarters in Beijing, President Tinubu also visited the Huawei Technologies’ Beijing Research Centre, where the company announced the launch of DigiTruck, a mobile ICT classroom aimed at enhancing digital literacy in underserved communities in Nigeria.

    Chairman of Huawei’s Board of Directors, Mr Liang Hua said that the initiative would operate in 10 states annually, training at least 3,000 students each year. Huawei also proposed to build two major technology data storage centres in Lagos and Kaduna states, which would create employment and opportunities for more young people in Nigeria.

    Fruitful Bilateral Meeting with Chinese President, Xi Jinping

    President Bola Tinubu held a high-powered bilateral meeting with the Chinese President, Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday, September 3.

    At the bilateral meeting, the two heads of state announced the elevation of China-Nigeria relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership from just a strategic partnership, signalling deeper ties between the world’s second most populous nation and the most populous black nation on earth.

    At the bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping, several bilateral MoUs were signed on the Belt and Road co-operation plan (promoting the implementation of the Global Development Initiative), economic development, application of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, nuclear energy, peanut exports to China, and news media, among other fields.

    The Belt and Road MoU is particularly very crucial as it further solidifies China’s interest to continue to invest in infrastructural projects in Nigeria, especially on railways and roads/bridges. The cooperation agreement on nuclear energy is equally important as it is meant to enhance Nigeria’s capability to harness nuclear technology for electricity and also utilization in medicine.

    The MoU on the export of shelled peanuts is very important for our agriculture and Nigeria’s quest to increase non-oil exports. It also signals China’s readiness to buy more processed or semi-processed goods from Nigeria. Already, with a trade volume of over $23 billion, Nigeria is China’s second-largest trading partner in Africa. With huge potential for even more trade, Nigeria can surpass South Africa as China’s largest trade partner on the continent.

    The President then joined other African leaders to participate in the Forum for Africa-China Cooperation with the theme. At the Forum, the next chapter of Tinubu’s trip unfolded. On the sidelines of the conference, more MoUs were signed by Ministers and governors some of which include:

    Gas-related Projects

    The Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas) witnessed the signing of critical Project Agreements for the Brass Industrial Park, Gas Gathering Pipelines & Associated Facilities, and the Methanol Complex Project between Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company Ltd. (BFPCL) and the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).

    This partnership involving three key projects has the potential to inject about $3.3 billion into Nigeria’s economy and particularly drive growth and innovation in Nigeria’s energy sector. These projects are very pivotal in driving Nigeria’s industrial growth and energy security. This is a big win for Nigeria.

    $1bn Proposed Iron-ore-to-steel Project

    During President Tinubu’s trip, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake witnessed the signing of a MoU between Chart and Capstone Integrated Limited of Nigeria and its Chinese counterpart, Sinomach-Hea, who is a market leader in solid minerals development.

    The deal is for a $1 billion new iron-ore-to-steel project planned for Kogi state, which has abundant deposits of iron ore and is home to the Ajaokuta Steel complex. The Nigerian company, Chart and Capstone Integrated Limited already has a mining license approved by the Cadastral Office and needed both a proven technical and financial partner, thanks to President Bola Tinubu’s trip to China, it has gotten a partner in Sinomach-Hea.

    Lagos Green Metro Line Project Deal and Lekki-Epe Link Bridge

    Still on the sidelines of FOCAC and with the full guarantee of the Federal Government, the Lagos State government signed a monumental Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to reality the ambitious Green Line metro rail project in Lagos. The Green Line, which is a 68km rail line designed to run from the Lekki Free Zone to Marina and connecting with the Blue Line at Marina is projected to carry over 500,000 passengers daily at launch, rising to over a million eventually.

    The Green Line is expected to transform the transport landscape of Lagos as it will complement the Blue and Red Lines and link areas such as Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah, etc. The federal government’s Ministry of Finance incorporated and CHEC would be involved in the design, financing, and construction.

    The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu earlier signed a MoU with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for the construction of the Lekki-Epe link bridge in the Lekki-Epe axis of Lagos. With the MoU in place, Lagos state has commenced discussions to award the Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to CCECC with feasibility and design studies for the bridge already completed.

    Solar Power, Water Supply Deals With Chinese Firms

    During the FOCAC summit in China, the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike was also on hand to sign a MoU with CCECC for the provision and installation of solar street lighting in key areas in the FCT such as Maitaima, Asokoro, Wuse, Central Business District, Airport Road.

    The Minister also signed another MoU with China Geo-Engineering Corporation Overseas Construction (CGCOC) for waterworks including the completion of the Abuja Water Works project and the extension of clean water supply to Gwagwalada, Kwali and Kuje areas of the FCT. CGCOC also signed a MoU on solar street lighting and would cover Mabushi, Katampe, and Garki.

    From the foregoing, it is apparent that President Bola Tinubu’s China visit was carefully planned to bring home greater infrastructural development for Nigeria.

    Judging by the five focal infrastructure developmental agreements signed between Nigeria and China, Tinubu’s state visit to China and his participation in the FOCAC summit was a resounding success.

    These agreements would translate to better transport infrastructure for Nigerians, would lead to greater gas utilisation by industries, and it would open doors for value addition in our solid minerals sector in line with the anti-mine-to-ports policy of the Tinubu administration in the solid minerals sector.

    All these mean more jobs, increased productivity, more external trade, more FX earnings, and of course increased prosperity for Nigerians.

    During the trip, the Chief Marketer of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu did not fail to interact with the Nigerian diaspora community in China.

    He spoke passionately to his fellow Compatriots sojourning in China, explaining to them why his administration is taking the hard decisions necessary to reset Nigeria’s economy and place it on the path of sustainable development.

    – Dada is a Special Assistant to the President on Digital Media

  • Why President Tinubu always takes the hard road, by Temitope Ajayi

    Why President Tinubu always takes the hard road, by Temitope Ajayi

    Those who think they are taking a dig at the president have been gloating. Their usual refrain is that the man they said built Lagos should build Nigeria for them to see. As Governor of Lagos, the President reformed governance and set the state on the path of irreversible progress. 

    President Tinubu has never claimed he did it alone or discounted the contributions of others who led the state before him. Some of the landmark projects he started are still standing, and the plans and vision he articulated are still being implemented today.

    We talk about the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Complex at the Lekki Free Trade Zone and the transformation that has taken place within the Lagos economy in the last twenty years, and you think about Bola Tinubu, who engineered them. 

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    Leadership is about fixing today’s problems and thinking ahead for years. The good thing is Tinubu did not accomplish all he did in Lagos within a year. The new Lagos metro Red Line being test-run is a product of his visionary leadership, just like the Blue Line, which has carried over two million passengers in the last two years. 

    No sane person can argue against the considerable progress governance has delivered to Lagos State since 1999. Just last week in China, the state, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated, inked a new deal on the 68-kilometre Lagos Green Line Metro that will move from Ibeju-Lekki to join the Blue Line at Marina. That is another great leap forward: how progressive societies are built from generation to generation. 

    As Governor of Lagos State, President Tinubu faced numerous challenges. Many wrote him off within his first year in office. However, like a Phoenix, he rose to these challenges as a statesman. This President does not shy away from challenges. He works tirelessly to overcome and prevail.

    He understands there are no easy choices to make. He has made it clear that he will make the right and intricate decisions for the country, even if those decisions are unpopular. And he has indeed made the right choices that will deliver significant gains for the country and its people.

    – Ajayi is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity

  • Could a swing state halt the vote count?

    Could a swing state halt the vote count?

    If the certification of votes is blocked, our next president could be selected by the next U.S. House of Representatives.

    • By Megan Bellamy and Natalie Crawford

    Yet again, the outcome of our presidential election this November may come down to one swing state where the vote is close – and where partisan officials unhappy with the outcome may try to cast doubt on the results.

    That’s why it’s so concerning that last month in Georgia – a state that former President Donald Trump lost by a narrow margin in 2020 and where prosecutors have criminally charged him over his efforts to overturn his loss – the State Election Board voted 3-2 to impose new rules that require local officials to conduct an undefined “reasonable inquiry” before certifying the results of an election.

    Championed by three state board officials who have supported Trump’s false claim that he won Georgia in 2020, the new rules pave the way for partisan officials to delay certification of presidential results past the strict deadline of Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. ET. Last week, the state and national Democratic parties sued to block the new Georgia rules on the grounds that they violate a state law that makes certification a mandatory duty.

    Consider this worst-case scenario: If partisans in one key state were to halt the certification of votes, blocking either candidate from reaching the 270 Electoral College votes required to win, our next president could be selected by the next U.S. House of Representatives. However remote that chance, any interference with certifying votes threatens safe and secure elections – and our democracy as a whole.

    Let’s start by defining exactly what election certifiers can – and cannot – do. Some partisans would like you to believe otherwise, but election certifiers do not have the authority to challenge the accuracy of the vote count or any of the processes used to administer an election.

    Before certification, election systems in every state follow a meticulous series of checks and balances to ensure that only lawful votes are counted and all lawful votes are counted. This happens in three main stages:

    Verification: First, a team of trained, often nonpartisan election officials takes steps prescribed by law to verify the eligibility of each vote cast, whether in person or by mail. For in-person voters, that often means showing some form of ID or signing in with poll workers. For mail voters, the majority of states verify voters by checking their signatures – though some require voters to write out an ID number instead.

    Counting: After polls close, verified ballots are counted. Workers conducting the count, often representing both major parties, complete paperwork and secure voting materials for transmission to a local election authority. Opening, handling, counting and transporting ballots and other election materials is usually conducted by bipartisan teams in the presence of bipartisan election observers.

    Canvassing: Finally, a different set of election professionals review the ballot count and verify all procedures were followed. This process is known as canvassing an election (not to be confused with canvassing for votes, which means knocking on doors or phone-banking for candidates).

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    Critically, election certification – the straightforward process by which winners are declared – occurs only after election officials have completed these rigorous verification, counting and canvassing procedures.

    Before 2020, local election officials rarely voted against certifying results. Since then, however, election officials in a growing list of states – including Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania – have tried to block certification of votes, without any proof of irregularities or justification for challenging the results. These efforts ultimately failed, but they have shaken Americans’ trust in our electoral system.

    With the financial backing of partisan groups such as the America First Policy Institute, founded in 2021 to support Trump’s policy agenda, Trump supporters in Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina and Georgia have challenged the 2020 electoral results without providing evidence to verify their claims, and they are likely to try again this year.

    In Georgia, for example, a member of the Fulton County Board of Elections refused to certify this year’s primary vote and filed a lawsuit in state court, asking the court to redefine certification rules, to expand her powers and to grant her access to a wide range of election records, including digital images of specific ballots. Should the court agree with the plaintiff’s claims, it could put voter privacy at risk, allow one individual to delay certification and erode trust in our election systems.

    Certification challenges also have the potential to disrupt countless local and state races, up and down the ballot. The stakes could not be higher. This November, we must defend our elections from partisan interference and ensure our election certifiers uphold the will of the American people.

    *Megan Bellamy is vice president of law and policy at the Voting Rights Lab, a nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C. that promotes free and fair elections.

    *Natalie Crawford, a Republican, is a former two-term commissioner of Habersham County, Georgia, and executive director of Georgia First, a nonprofit organization that works on election access and security.

    •Source: https://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2024-09-04/could-a-swing-state-halt-the-vote-count

  • Dalung, let’s see your score card

    Dalung, let’s see your score card

    By Jonathan Abang Ugbal

    Solomon Dalung, the former Minister of Youth and Sports who almost brought the high office he occupied to ridicule with his comical costumes has spared no effort to whitewash his unenviable legacy. It is a consuming passion that he is beholden to because he erroneously believes that painting his predecessors in office in a bad light will lead to his own redemption. His scathing attacks on Sunday Dare, his immediate predecessor, and most recently on the incumbent Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, are critical strategies from his infamous playbook.

    It is no surprise that Dalung is wielding with relish, the sledgehammer handed over to him by the shambolic performance of Team Nigeria at the just concluded Paris Olympic Games to swing at the current Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh who at any rate, has taken full responsibility for this poor outing and promised a thorough and comprehensive review of our dreadful performance at the Olympics to forestall future occurrence. Dalung is at his inglorious best spewing slander, insults, and aspersions on the Minister in the false hope that the disastrous performance of Team Nigeria will somehow mitigate his own failings as Sports Minister. In other words, rather than a fair comment from the standpoint of patriotism and as one who once occupied such an exalted office, the former Minister chooses recklessness and sees his redemption in what has become a national failure. But by drawing from his infamous playbook of bluster, insults, and vile propaganda in his attempt to take down the current Minister, the former has albeit invariably invited a closer interrogation of his own tenure in office. After all ,he who comes to equity must, as a necessity, come with clean hands.

    Dalung’s depiction of the current Minister as a misfit and a stranger to sports is most unfortunate but immediately calls attention to his own pedigree when he was appointed a Minister by Buhari in 2015. Before his appointment, he was a Legal Officer 11 with the Correctional Services with zero experience in both sports administration and, indeed, in anything else. As Minister, Dalung’s many gaffes were a source of constant embarrassment to the nation. At a news conference, he referred to Nigeria as the ” United States of Nigeria.” Not done yet. He followed up this Freudian slip with another banger. During his budget defence before the House of Representatives Committee in 2016, he told the committee that, “The funds spended was properly spended because we got them from intervention funds from Mr. President.” Dalung’s incoherence, unstructured and uncoordinated statements prompted a respected national daily to write that,” Dalung has become anti-Sports Minister.” The same newspaper went on to state that ” Dalung is not fit to be Sports Minister.” Lest we forget, it was during his tenure that Nigeria was subjected to international ridicule by failing successively to qualify for the Nations Cup, in both the 2016 and 2018 editions, Nigeria was absent. In the 2016 Olympics, Nigeria got a bronze in football, which he can’t even claim, with Mikel Obi coming out recently to state that he provided funding for the flight tickets of the team. But for Mikel Obi’s intervention, it’s not wrong to say the teams’ chances of playing at the Olympics would have been jeopardised. This is testimony to the kind of leadership Dalung provided. That’s not all, as minister he neither paid the camp and competition allowances nor the winning bonuses to the Dream Team IV (Under23), the team that won the nation its only Olympic medal (bronze).

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    At the moment, Senator John Owan Enoh, the Sports minister he has chosen to cast aspersions on, is currently treating and pushing for the payment of these bonuses . Records show that Senator Enoh has been transparent, detailed, and up to date in payments of allowances , bonuses & grants to athletes since he assumed office. Now, it is his responsibility to clear debts owed under Dalung’s watch as Minister of Youths and Sports.

    His often touted democratisation of sports federations under his watch was a ruse, an unmitigated disaster that unleashed crisis on the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). The raging inferno he ignited resulted in in-fighting, chaos, and endless power tussle. During his tenure, the National Stadium, Lagos, the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan became national monuments of decay and shame.

    By the time Dalung was leaving office after four years, his boast to reawaken ‘the dry bones in the sporting facilities owned by the federal government laid in ruins, a befitting epitaph for a man who promised so much and yet delivered so little. Under his watch, the International Athletics Associations Federation mistakenly transferred $135,000 to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). The ratification of this simple error became marred in recriminations as Dalung failed to deal with the issue decisively and instead resorted to the blame game. He reneged on his initial promise to pay 50 percent of the money in order to stop the world body, slamming a ban on the country, thereby fuelling the crisis even further.

    After four uneventful years, Dalung’s unenviable legacy has already been settled. However, I am yet to understand how launching a withering attack on the current Minister of Sports will help his cause. The current minister is just a year in office, but his progressive imprint is already beginning to be felt. In addition to sustaining private sector-driven initiatives that he inherited, he has equally initiated a raft of progressive reforms of his own with grassroots sports development, infrastructure maintenance and upgrade, the welfare of retired and active sports men and women, and the rejuvenation of school sports as some of the highlights of his reforms.

    Under the current minister, the concessioning of the National Stadium, Lagos, which he inherited is almost completed with the memo to FEC for final approval already signed off. How well he implements his W.A.I.F.A R. Policy and the enduring impact it makes in ushering in the transformation of Nigeria’s sports sector.

    There is no doubt that Nigeria’s abysmal outing at the Olympics has cast a pall and overshadowed the ongoing silent revolution in the sports sector but the truth is that rather than dwell in perpetual agony over this disappointment, Nigerians should support the Minister’s plan to carry out a thorough and comprehensive review of our outing to forestall future occurrence.

    •Jonathan Abang Ugbal, is a sports enthusiast and journalist who writes from Mbube , Cross River State , Nigeria.