The Nation Newspaper

Category: Commentaries

Kaduna leads Nigeria’s agric revolution with SAPZ launch
- By Abel Musa
It was a bustling affair on Wednesday as the Vice President, Kashm Shettima, laid the foundation for the construction of a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Kaduna. And with that move,, Kaduna made history as the first Nigerian state to launch SAPZ.

Indeed, when it comes to agri-business, Kaduna is damn serious and this is testament of Governor Uba Sani’s commitment.

“You didn’t just put your money where your mouth is – you put your money where your mind and your body are,” Adesina said, referring to Sani’s input to developing agriculture in the state, particularly his input to SAPZ, an initiative of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in conjunction with the federal government as well as other state governments.

“Kaduna’s leadership on this project reflects not just a vision for food security, but a roadmap for economic prosperity and inclusive development. You are the first state to launch the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in Nigeria. This is a great day for us all. We’re proud to partner with a government that listens, that leads with compassion, and that is open to all.”

Backed with an investment of $538 million in SAPZ from AfDB, this initiative is set to be a game-changer in Nigeria’s agricultural revolution. In its first phase, the initiative aims to add value to the agri-sector in eight locations – Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Cross River, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory. It would connect 2,300 hectares of irrigated land and farms to market access roads. In Kaduna, SAPZ is focusing on tomato, maize, and ginger, three crops which the state has a comparative advantage in its production.

According to AfDB, the huge investment in SAPZ is to address Nigeria’s $4.9 billion annual food security challenge and transform the country to global agribusiness leader. And in this light, it’s great that the bank is partnering with Kaduna. Adesina said this alignment would see the bank supporting Kaduna State in expanding school feeding programs and integrating them with the new processing zones. He also pledged additional support for primary health care improvements, health insurance, and infrastructure, including water, sanitation, and digitalization. It should however, be noted that this scheme is not peculiar to Nigeria but rather it is Africa-wide.

“The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone is about developing new economic zones across Africa, close to where farmers are,” Adesina had explained elsewhere, stating that AfDB is investing over $3 billion in more than 11 countries. However, pertaining to Nigeria, an earlier statement by AfDB indicated the aim of SPAZ.

“The initiative is being launched at a critical time as Nigeria intensifies efforts to diversify its economy and combat rising food insecurity,” the statement read. “Kaduna and Cross River States will lead this agricultural transformation, marking a pivotal shift in Nigeria’s approach to agribusiness and food security. With an unprecedented investment of $538 million, SAPZ Phase 1 marks the African Development Bank’s largest programme in any African country to date, underscoring the scale and significance of this undertaking. The SAPZ initiative embodies President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening food security, generating sustainable employment opportunities, and revitalizing peri-urban economies through innovative public-private partnerships.”

In his remarks, Sani said that the launch of the SAPZ is very dear to Kaduna State. He also lauded Dr. Adesina’s intervention in transforming agriculture across the continent and described him as “a blessing to Nigeria, Africa, and humanity.” He reiterated how Akinwunmi’s tenure as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture benefited more than 15 million smallholder farmers across the country through his E-wallet initiative. According to Akinwunmi, the initiative would transform and address the challenges of financial exclusion faced by smallholder farmers.

“It could have also addressed the problem of insecurity we are facing in Northern Nigeria,” Sani said, referring to the SAPZ.

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“In Kaduna, agriculture contributes about 42 percent of our GDP and accounts for about 60 percent of employment in the state. This is why we believe insecurity has hindered much of the development we could have achieved through agriculture. Because we believe it is one of the most important sectors to invest in, part of what we did was to increase the agricultural budget from N1.4 billion, which we inherited in 2023, to N74 billion in the current budget. By doing that, we became the first sub-national government to achieve the 10 percent target of the 2014 Malabo Declaration, which set the goal of allocating 10 percent of the budget to agriculture.”

In terms of developing the agriculture sector in the state, the Sani-administration deserves its flowers. Among the states, Kaduna leads in the cultivation of ginger. It produces bountiful amounts of crops like rice, maize, millet, soybean, groundnut and tomatoes. It would also surprise some people that Kaduna produces grapes, especially around Kudan Local Government Area which is responsible for 85% of the total grape production in the country. And since assuming office, the Sani administration has also partnered with the private sector. It inked a $120m deal with StarAgri West Africa Limited to modernise state-owned warehouses and silos and deploy an electronic warehousing system in five years. The state also partnered with Sunagrow International Oil Ltd to build a $50 million soya bean oil refining plant in Kutungare, Igabi Local Government Area, capable of producing 500,000 litres per day.

The Kaduna State government has also intensified on building rural roads to connect farmers from their farms to the markets. Also, with the Kaduna Model, which incorporates security agencies with the various stakeholders in the communities, insecurity is being eradicated across the state. In places like Birnin-Gwari, which used to be a stronghold of criminality, normalcy has been restored, with farmers returning to their farms and markets re-opened. Then, it is interesting to note that the administration audaciously increased its budget for agriculture from N1.4b in 2023 to N74b in 2025.

In the first phase, the SAPZ is targeting eight states. And already, AfDB secured a $2.2 billion commitment for the Nigerian Phase 2 SAPZ at the recent Africa Investment Forum in Rabat, Morocco. While the second phase of SAPZ will bring onboard the other 28 states later, it is pertinent to remind the other state governors that they can preempt whatever AfDB intends to do. Take the case of Kaduna for instance. The present enviable position of Kaduna in terms of agriculture was revitalised by the current administration. All over Nigeria is arable land and other state governors can copy the little ‘agricultural’ steps of Sani as a blueprint for success.

In less than two years as governor, Sani’s sterling performance across different sectors has earned him praise and accolades from diverse persons. And with the setting up of the SAPZ in Kaduna, there would be increased value-added to these agro-products which hitherto were solely disposed of in their raw forms. This move has started earning the governor laurels. Hear how the visionary AfDB president lauded Sani with endearing words, describing him as “a model leader – he’s a listener, a unifier, and above all, a doer.” The governor has definitely worked hard to earn the praises.
April 18, 2025
Why NBA must be the adult in the room
- By ESV Bukola Ajisola
Sir: Barring a last minute change of course by either the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) or the Rivers State government, the heated kerfuffle over the N300 million supposed handout to the NBA is primed to become a matter for litigation before the courts.

The contentious money was said to have been donated by suspended Sim Fubara’s administration to the NBA for the proposed hosting of NBA’s Annual General Conference (AGC) in Port Harcourt, a donation which the NBA would rather categorize as a largesse given out with no strings attached.

Whilst the NBA is within its professional rights to receive donations from states and corporate concerns, a burden of proof is required of the NBA to establish a non-quid pro quo grounds for payment of such magnitude of money by Rivers State.

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Adjacent to this is the fleeing alibis of denying Rivers the hosting rights based on the declaration of State of Emergency in the state, a denouement completely extraneous to Rivers State but within the purview of the federal government and the National Assembly.

The question is whether it is lawful for Rivers State to be punished by the NBA on the issue of State of Emergency by denying the state hosting rights to the conference and whether the NBA, an association that is revered as the custodian of law, order and propriety has any moral justification to hold on to the N300 million?

The NBA must be guided by the legal maxim “he who comes to equity must come with clean hands”. This maxim in equity means that a person seeking an equitable remedy must have acted fairly and without wrongdoing regarding the matter either in dispute or in public opinion.

The NBA doesn’t need to enmesh itself in public opprobrium as doubling down on keeping Rivers’ money and taking the hosting rights away from her is certainly beyond the pale.

•ESV Bukola Ajisola,

bukymany@yahoo.com
April 17, 2025
NBA should return Rivers’ money now!
- By Nelson Ekujumi
Sir: Following the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)’s decision to change the venue of its Annual General Conference (NGC) from Rivers State on the grounds of “principles of being custodians of the rule of law and the constitution” which naturally is what the body of lawyers should represent, the sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas must have stunned Nigerians and the rest of the world when he urged the NBA to as a matter of principle, return the whooping sum of N300 million collected from the suspended governor, Sim Fubara for the hosting rights of the AGC by Rivers State.

In response, the NBA has stated that the money in question was a gift from the Rivers State government for the AGC and not predicated on hosting rights. In any case, it is customary for individuals, groups and organizations to solicit government support and financial assistance in organizing programmes and events just as it is the prerogative of governments to either acquiesce or decline such request; by this action, no crime has apparently been committed from both ends of the divide.

Read Also: Rivers: Only police, EFCC, ICPC can probe Fubara, says Ahamba

But the indisputable truth is that the donation by the Rivers State government was because the state was going to host it and nothing else. This is where the insistence by a school of thought that the money should not be returned to the coffers to Rivers State government because it was obtained from a democratically elected government flies in the face of law, logic and rationality.

Asides, if the NBA is meant to be taken seriously on its claims of being the custodian of the rule of law and our constitution, merely by virtue of the ruling of the Supreme Court that no democratic government existed in Rivers State as a result of the actions of the suspended governor, Sim Fubara, when he behaved like a despot by muscling the legislature which is the bastion of democracy, going as far as unilaterally spending public funds without legislative scrutiny and approval as prescribed by law, the NBA ought to have joined the apex court in deploring the illegality that amounted to gross misconduct and gross violations of our laws.

Should the esteemed body have glossed over the fact that the governor acted illegitimately and unconstitutionally and in brazen violations of his oath of office and the constitution?

Point is: if the Rivers State peoples money has been donated illegally by the suspended governor, common sense, logic, morality and rationality demands that once that same AGC was moved out of Rivers State to another state for any reason, then the sensible and logical thing to do is for the NBA to wash its hands clean of Rivers State money by returning it.

Anything outside of this, no matter the braggadocio that is being exhibited by the leadership of the NBA and its supporters will forever erode the credibility and integrity of the organization in the eyes of Nigerian people and beyond.

NBA, please return Rivers State N300 million now!

•Nelson Ekujumi,

ekujuminel@yahoo.com
April 17, 2025
CBEX: Why Nigerians will always fall for Ponzi schemes
- By Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun
Sir: The tears are fresh once again. This time, they are flowing from victims of CBEX, a now-defunct digital asset trading platform that promised financial miracles but delivered heartbreak. Nigerians have woken up to the reality that over N1.3 trillion may have been lost to yet another fraudulent scheme, adding to the ever-growing graveyard of collapsed Ponzi ventures.

CBEX had pledged an incredible 100% return on investment within just 30 days. To a population worn down by economic hardship, staggering inflation, and low wages, this promise seemed like a lifeline. But it was a lie dressed in glamour and digital sophistication.

The story of CBEX might appear new to some, but it is merely a remix of an old, painful song. From MMM to Ultimate Cycler, from Loom to Racksterli, and a long list of forgotten platforms, Nigeria has seen this movie too many times. The names may change, the platforms may look more polished, but the script remains the same; an unsustainable offer is made, early participants are paid from the contributions of new investors, testimonies flood social media, and before long, the platform crashes. Investors are left stranded, and the masterminds vanish into thin air.

So why do Nigerians keep falling for the same trap? It is a combination of desperation, ignorance, misplaced trust, and systemic failure. Many Nigerians are looking for shortcuts out of poverty in a country where legitimate opportunities seem reserved for a privileged few. The idea of doubling your money in 30 days sounds far more appealing than toiling for years with little to show. Financial literacy is still sorely lacking, even among educated individuals. Many do not understand how real investments work, and when confronted with unrealistic offers, they lack the tools to critically evaluate them. Moreover, trust is often placed not in the platform itself, but in the people who promote them: friends, church members, influencers, creating a dangerous echo chamber where doubt is dismissed and questions are discouraged.

CBEX, like others before it, operated as a fastest-finger game. Those who got in early reaped fake profits and became unpaid ambassadors, luring more people into the trap. The game relies on speed, on hype, on silence, and most importantly, on ignorance. When it inevitably collapses, the same cycle unfolds: denial, anger, and finally, bitter acceptance. By the time victims begin to understand what happened, the damage is done. Savings are gone, school fees lost, businesses destroyed, and in some tragic cases, lives are lost through suicide or severe mental breakdowns.

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The consequences go beyond the financial. They erode public trust, destabilize families, and discourage investment in genuine opportunities. The trauma stays with victims for years, making them either completely averse to financial risk or, ironically, even more vulnerable to the next scheme in a bid to recover lost funds.

Government agencies, especially the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have often failed to act until it is too late. Many of these platforms operate in plain sight, using social media ads and influencer partnerships to build credibility. Yet there is no swift regulatory response, no early warning system; no visible crackdown until the collapse occurs. And even when they do move in, convictions are rare, and stolen funds are almost never recovered. This lack of accountability has made Ponzi schemes a low-risk, high-reward crime for fraudsters.

What Nigeria needs is a deliberate, sustained response, one that goes beyond post-crisis reactions. Financial literacy must be embedded into school curriculums and adult education. Communities need to be sensitized using grassroots media, traditional leaders, and religious platforms. There must be collaboration between the tech space and regulators to identify and shut down suspicious activity before it gains traction. And perhaps most importantly, Nigerians must begin to reject the culture of “fast money” and return to the virtues of patience, diligence, and sustainable growth.

The CBEX tragedy is only the latest in a long line of financial wounds. But it could be a turning point if we choose to learn from it. Or we can continue the cycle, from platform to platform, from hope to heartbreak, from brief riches to the sickbed of regret.

•Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun,

<thedreamchaser65@gmail.com>
April 17, 2025
Unequal treatment

In a case of questionable double standard, security agents responded differently to two women’s groups staging separate demonstrations about emergency rule in Rivers State.

President Bola Tinubu had intervened in the political crisis in the state by declaring a state of emergency on March 18. He suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Dr Ngozi Ordu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. He also appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd) as the sole administrator of the state for an initial period of six months. The Senate and House of Representatives endorsed the president’s measures.

On April 11, a group of about 200 women under the aegis of Rivers Women Unite for Sim protested against emergency rule in the state and demanded the reinstatement of Fubara. The protesters from Elleye and Engine communities in Ahoada East local government area were reported to have carried placards with messages such as “Ibas leave us alone,” “Our democracy is threatened,” among others. “Security operatives, including the police, fired teargas to disperse them, causing the protesters to flee in different directions,” a report said.

Three days later, on April 14, another group, Rivers Women for Peace and Good Governance, marched through Aba Road and arrived at the Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt, the state capital. The women carried placards with messages such as “Emergency rule is Constitutional,” “We support Tinubu,” “Don’t take us back to darkness. Don’t return Fubara,” among others. They were not dispersed with tear gas by security agents.

Read Also: Rivers: Only police, EFCC, ICPC can probe Fubara, says Ahamba

One of the leaders of the anti-Fubara group, Mrs Inime Aguma, told journalists that they were grateful to President Tinubu “for declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State,” adding that they were “pleased with it and living well with it.”

A former Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation under Fubara, she had resigned in May 2024 as the conflict between him and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, worsened. She was among pro-Wike commissioners who resigned from the Fubara administration at the time. She had attributed her resignation to the “inconducive working environment,” saying there was “no room for progressional development in the workplace.”

Why were the Port Harcourt demonstrators and the Ahoada East protesters treated differently by security agents? Did the anti-Fubara group have the backing of the powers that be? Was the pro-Fubara group regarded as an irritant? The unequal treatment was unfair.

April 17, 2025
Rising and rising

Rising inflation in the country continued in the last three months. Many Nigerians struggled to cope with this reality. Sadly, there seems to be no end in sight.

Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that the cost-of-living crisis in the country is unrelenting. Month-on-month food inflation rate, for instance, increased in September, notably affecting prices of staples such as rice, maize, beans, and yams. There were also significant price increases in housing rentals, transport, and medical services.

Again, according to the agency, the inflation rate rose to 33.8 percent in October from 32.70 percent recorded in September. At the time, the Statistician General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, said in a statement that the highest increases were recorded in the prices of “Bus Journey within the city, Journey by motorcycle, Bus journey intercity, etc. (under Passenger Transport by Road Class), Rents (Actual and Imputed Rentals for Housing Class), Meal at a local Restaurant (Accommodation Service Class), and hair cut service, woman hairbrush, women’s hairdressing, etc. (Hairdressing salons & personal grooming establishments Class).”

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The narrative has not changed. The prices of staples keep increasing. The same thing is true regarding housing rentals, transport, and medical services. Yet again, a report by the bureau said inflation increased in November. The food inflation rate in November 2024, for instance, was higher than the rate recorded in October 2024, the agency said, attributing the rise to “the rate of increase in the average prices of Mudfish, Catfish Dried, Dried Fish Sardine, etc. (Fish Class), Rice, Yam Flour, Millet Whole grain, Corn flour, etc. (Bread and Cereals Class), Agric Egg, Powdered Milk, Fresh Milk, etc. (Milk, cheese and eggs Class) and Dried Beef, Goat Meat, Frozen Chicken, etc. (Meat Class).”

The alarmingly deteriorating cost-of-living crisis in the country is a bad advertisement for the Federal Government’s reforms. All levels of government are expected to urgently find solutions to the cost-of-living issues in the spaces they govern.

The Federal Government’s repetitive argument that the reforms negatively impacting Nigerians are a necessary means to a positive end can’t make sense to people who are unable to breathe because of the cost of living.

The increasing prices of goods and services reported by the NBS continue to suggest that the reforms may well be counter-productive. The people want falling prices, not prices that are rising and rising.

•This article was first published on December 19, 2024

April 16, 2025
Armed siege on Ubulu-Uku: SOS to Oborevwori
- By Peter Udene Ugbaja, Chinedu Osaji
Sir: We are constrained to draw the attention of our governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to the recent rise in attacks by armed hoodlums on Ubulu-Uku, a town in the Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State and its environs.

Although the attacks had been ongoing for years, there has been a remarkable upsurge in their frequency and severity since December 2024. The main hotspots where the yet-to-be-identified armed men have killed people are the Ubulu-Uku/Issele-Uku Road, the Ubulu-Uku/Ubulu-Unor Road, the Ubulu-Uku/Onicha-Ugbo Road and the Ubulu-Uku/Obior Road.

The recent fatal attacks led to the death of up to four people, with some sustaining different degrees of injuries. The attacks in December took place at the following locations: the Ubulu-Uku/Ubulu-Unor Road, close to Isho Quarters, where an adult male identified as an indigene of Cross River State was killed; Onicha Uku, quarters in Ubulu-Uku, where a headless body of an adult male was found; the Ubulu-Uku/Issele-Uku Road, where several attacks were carried out on vehicles plying the road.

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The forests along the Ubulu-Uku/Issele-Uku Road are infested with armed terrorists who routinely attack and kidnap travellers on the road. The Yuletide attacks on the road were suspected to have been carried out by militants who have been having a free reign on that particular road. The incidents were all reported to the police. The Ubulu-Uku/Aniagbala/Ubulu-Okiti Road is another hotspot for the armed hoodlums.

Against this background, we appeal to our governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to come to our aid to protect the lives of our people. We urge the governor to deploy relevant security agencies to investigate the attacks, forestall further incidents and restore free movement to neighbouring communities.

The Ubulu-Uku Kingdom Descendants Central Union (UKDCU) appreciates Governor Oborevwori’s untiring efforts in delivering on his M.O.R.E. agenda to Deltans. Ubulu-Uku has always been a peaceful community, with farming as the main occupation of the people. We desire to keep it that way and pledge to collaborate with your administration in sustaining peace in our dear state and fostering development.

•Peter Udene Ugbaja (President-General),

&

Dr. Chinedu Osaji (Secretary-General)

For Ubulu-Uku Kingdom Descendants Central Union.
April 16, 2025
Ponzi schemes and their pit of problems
- By Folorunso Fatai Adisa
Sir: Burton Gordon Malkiel, the renowned American economist and author of A Random Walk Down Wall Street, once said: “A bubble starts when any group of stocks, those associated with the excitement of the Internet, begin to rise. The updraft encourages more people to buy the stocks, which causes more TV and print coverage, which causes even more people to buy, which creates big profits for early Internet stockholders. The successful investors tell you at cocktail parties how easy it is to get rich, which causes the stocks to rise further, which pulls in larger and larger groups of investors. But the whole mechanism is a kind of Ponzi scheme where more and more credulous investors must be found to buy the stock from the earlier investors. Eventually, one runs out of greater fools.”

Reading that, one might think Malkiel had Nigerians in mind.

Ponzi schemes in Nigeria are evolving, and multiplying. As business expands, so does deceit. Claiming your online investments are safe is now an extreme sport. Many Nigerians, bless our hopeful hearts, are Disney-level optimists, leaping from one abusive investment relationship to another, never pausing to learn.

We have seen this show before. MMM collapsed. MBA followed. Yet, people still summoned the courage to invest in CBEX? Farming schemes were the next bait. Eatrich Farms came. Then Titan Farms. When funds vanished into thin air, victims suddenly found their voices. That is when many of us first heard of Chinmark, another scammer with a spotless smile and a fraudulent playbook.

Over a billion naira reportedly vanished in a food storage scheme run by one Ovaioza. Investors groaned. Again, heartrending. Gullibility? Greed?

Just days ago, I opened Facebook and was flooded with new waves of complaints. I tried to scroll past them, but a post about CBEX arrested my attention. My heart sank. Why do we keep falling for this?

Read Also; FAAC shares N1.578tr March revenue to FG, States, LGAs

True, advertisements can lie. From flashy branding and staged success stories to influencers peddling personality appeal, fraudsters know how to package poison. But at some point, we must stop drinking it.

Poverty is painful. Its bouts of bitterness are deep and relentless. In desperation, the poor are often willing to do the unthinkable. Ponzi schemes masquerade as shortcuts to liberation, but they’re traps.

Here is the painful truth: Ponzi is a marriage between crooks and the greedy, officiated by self-serving influencers and enablers. On social media, giveaways are the bait. Dangote, Rabiu, Adenuga, Otedola, the real moguls, don’t do online giveaways. When I see start-up CEOs splashing millions on “generosity” instead of reinvestment, I don’t see kindness. I see a red flag. I’m not against giving; but wasteful giving by someone building a brand? That is not generosity. That is a cover-up.

Given the scale of fraud in Nigeria, one would hope we have learnt our lesson. But hope is not a strategy. It is time for our financial regulatory agencies to step up, clamp down, and hold these charlatans accountable. If they don’t, despair will continue to fester, and some victims may spiral into irreversible tragedies.

•Folorunso Fatai Adisa,

United Kingdom.
April 16, 2025
Lisabi Day and the ‘fashion-tainment’ industry
SIR: Lisabi Day celebration in Abeokuta, Ogun State, is a collection of cultural activities dedicated to Lisabi, a revered Yoruba brave man known for his leadership, gallantry, and resistance against the oppression of the Egba people during the colonial era. Lisabi is celebrated for leading the Egba people in a successful fight against numerous external oppressions, especially during the British invasion of the 19th century. It is celebrated annually to appreciate the courage and heroism of the brave man on a day in the year, marking the death anniversary of the hero. The event is celebrated in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, where Lisabi’s legendary resistance is deeply rooted in the local history. The celebration includes cultural performances, music, dance, and traditional Yoruba rituals, showcasing the rich heritage of the Egba people.

A significant part of the celebration involves a grand parade and procession through Abeokuta, with traditional leaders, chiefs, and community members participating in the show of class. The Alake of Egbaland, the traditional ruler, plays a central role in the celebration, often delivering speeches and addressing the people during the event. The events usually include laying wreaths at Lisabi’s memorial sites, such as at the Lisabi Tree, in Lisabi Forest to honour his memory and to revere him.

Read Also: Lisabi Day: Alake appoints Oodua forum into organising committee

In recent years, Lisabi Day has grown to also address contemporary issues in Ogun State and Nigeria, with politicians using the platform to advocate for peace and development. It has also become a major tourist attraction, drawing people from different parts of Nigeria and abroad to experience the rich cultural history of the Egba people and the legendary figure of Lisabi. Worthy of note is the fashion statement being established as part of the annual rite. This year celebration witnessed exhibition of different regalia made from expensive fabrics. Yoruba clothes made from aso oke, guinea brocade, Ankara, lace, damask, wool and adire, were adorned by different participants.

A local celebration, tagged ‘Egbaliganza” can be turned into a thriving tourism business and bold cultural statement if it can garner the support of government. The private sector has tried with corporate organisations like Nigeria Distilleries Limited, the manufacturers of Seaman Schnapps Lord’s Dry Gin, Calypso etc. Prior to the hosting of this year’s edition of the Lisabi Day, a fashion brand, ‘Egbaliganza’ designed to project Egba creativity and craftsmanship on the global stage announced plans to establish a $1 billion fashion industry in Yorubaland as part of efforts to promote African culture and tradition, and celebrate the resilience of the Egba people.
- ESV. Olufemi Oyedele, Lagos.
April 15, 2025
APC’s new found bride

It’s amusing, isn’t it, seeing APC’s many elements flocking to former President Muhammadu Buhari’s Kaduna home!

The loyalists: two groups, one led by APC National Chairman, ex-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje; the other, a hodgepodge of leaders and party who-is-who, went to pledge renewed loyalty to PMB and the federal ruling party. It was Sallah solidarity.

Then, the rebels: the mercurial Nasir el-Rufai, had announced his defection to SDP. Opportunistic Atiku Abubakar, ex-VeePee and ex-APC too, was in tow. They both came, bearing post-Sallah greetings. But you knew both were fishing for propaganda value, in the northern streets at least, for their new political gambits.

Politicians! Once again, the much vilified PMB is everyone’s dashing bride!

It appears centuries now from 2023, when PMB became the devil — for bequeathing a “dead economy”! Friend and foe crowed it at the mountain top, not minding its limited monetarist context. How can a president with robust infrastructure record — when it was all decay he inherited from Goodluck Jonathan, in the most resource-tasking of eras — leave behind a “dead economy”? Was that not a violent contradiction in terms?

Anambra Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, owned that quip. But wasn’t Soludo part of the Obasanjo-PDP old guard? If his policies — as both national economic adviser and CBN governor — were so great, why was PDP soundly repudiated in 2015, to gift APC power?

Well, the PMB gaffe is a symptom, with APC as case study. The real disease is the crisis in Nigeria’s political party system.

If the party system was sound, across the board, the Tinubu Presidency would have annexed PMB’s remarkable records in infrastructure and agriculture, incorporated it into own tenure, and benchmarked the APC era — 10 years by May 29 — against PDP’s, and demonstrate with facts, figures and verifiable projects, how they had bettered PDP’s 16 years, blighted with Obasanjo’s futile empire-chasing!

Read Also: APC under Tinubu will give us Anioma state – Senator Nwoko

If they had done that, those now running from pillar to post to gather political moss, even as rolling stones, would have got less brazen lies to tell, even to the most gullible.

Post-power, PMB continues to show how a responsible ex-president should be — non-intrusive, polite and gracious to his successors and definitely, non-hectoring! Compare and contrast that to the eternal grating of Baba Iyabo, just to veil his barren but loud power years!

APC should learn to graft its past into its present, to power its future. A folk hero like PMB — and he just restated his absolute faith in the party — is indispensable to that.

But that should have been from Day One. You don’t just jerk awake and start dashing around as headless chickens at mid-term! Still, it’s better late than never.

April 15, 2025