lionshare: The so-called “evil supporters” display more insight because a rational assessment requires scrutinizing Dangote’s economic rationale. Nigeria’s trade balance is improving, showing improvement over recent years. Foreign exchange reserves have risen steadily, hitting over $41 billion in August 2025, supported by foreign exchange reforms. Inflation is expected to continue to decline, which, combined with improving trade surplus and rising reserves, should drive exchange rate stability or appreciation. The Purchasing Power Parity of the naira against the dollar also suggests room for appreciation.
Given Dangote’s position as one of West Africa’s largest foreign exchange users, his advice merits serious consideration.
His advice merits CAUTIOUS consideration since he stands to benefit from public panic over fears that dollar rates will drop, by mopping up the greenback before it goes up again.
Why else would he intervene in the market with such advice?
kingamaa: Good things are about to happen to my dear country.
Slow and steady wins the race.
May it be well with my dear country and the people in it.
May BAT succeed. Amen.
He has succeeded already since he has achieved his short term goal, based on the $84 billion subsidy savings and $3.3 billion Afreximbank loan and NNPC refinery exports since last year.
Émi là ó ní yọsi that Tinubu has succeeded where Buhari failed 🕺🏾✅💃🏽
anonimi: World Bank offers Nigeria forex rate advice, as Tinubu eyes N200/Dollar rate
April 23, 2023
The President-elect said he would work with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to *bring down the exchange rate to N200 in his first term.*
“My administration will collaborate with the Central Bank to harmonize the fiscal and monetary policy to achieve immediate stabilization of the value of the naira against the US dollars and other currencies and in the short term, strengthen the naira by boosting the supply of foreign currency and moderating demand.
“The short-term goal is to achieve a naira/dollar rate of 300 naira/US$ and gradually achieve a less than 200 naira rate over the next four years, Tinubu stated.
Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has promised to ensure that the naira would be equal to the dollar in value if voted into office.
NAN reports that Buhari said this on Monday during the south-east presidential rally of the party at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.
“It is sad that the value of the naira has dropped to more than N230 to one dollar. This does not speak well for the nation’s economy,” he said.
He urged the people to vote for APC, noting that he would ensure that corruption was tackled headlong if elected.
ijustdey: Nigeria will pay an interest of 11.85 percent per annum on the $3.3 billion “pre-export finance facility” (PxF) facilitated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd and arranged by Afrexim Bank, TheCable can report.
Until now, the fine details of the transaction, which has a five-year tenor, had been withheld by all parties involved.
A similar cocoa-backed $800 million facility arranged for Ghana by its cocoa marketing board attracts an interest of 8 percent per annum.
Bilateral lenders, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), would typically charge 1-3 percent with a longer tenor.
In the details seen by TheCable, Nigeria pledged a total of 164.25 million barrels of crude oil — at 90,000 barrels per day — starting from 2024 to repay the loan through Project Gazelle Funding Ltd, an “orphan” special purpose vehicle (SPV) incorporated in Bahamas for the PxF.
Effectively, the NNPC has pledged 38.58 percent of five years’ worth of tax and royalty oil to secure the loan. > > > ‘DOLLAR LIQUIDITY TO STABILISE THE NAIRA’
The national oil company announced in August 2023 that the PxF was to support the federal government “in its ongoing fiscal and monetary policy reforms aimed at stabilizing the exchange rate market”, describing it as “a relief for the naira”.
It called the facility “crude oil repayment” with an upfront cash loan “against proceeds from a limited amount of future crude oil production”.
At the time, the dollar exchanged for an average of N775 in the official market and N885 on the streets.
The rates have now moved to N1,035/$ (official) and N1,230/$ (parallel).
amaridigital: What if he's not silent but praise Tinubu for removing fuel subsidy and for other reform policies, will you be happy?
Or just because Obi lost the last election every Nigerian should hate Tinubu? Guess what, Tinubu will still win the next election and i wonder what you are going to do about it. Is it a must he should criticize Tinubu just because he did Jonathan? How many ibos haver ever spoken against Obi for the past three years the way Yorubas were criticizing Asiwaju?
Every action and words spoken by Obi was taken as the words of Angels by ibos. How many ibos have the gut to criticize ordinary Kanu the terrorist?
Why do you think that I am Igbo or in support of Obi?
You should go through the thread below to find your peace.
Why are you contradicting waist focused Akpabio’s advice to 200 million Nigerians suffering from the effects of APC’s corruption, cluelessness and incompetence
Omicronvaccine: Wherever You See Free Food, Eat It - Nigerian Senate President, Senator Akpabio Advises Nigerians
ShoeMarket: These people did Nigerians evil that year.
Well it's all in the past now, but God will judge each and everyone of them who bought into that wicked propaganda against GEJ.
Are we not suffering today from the evil of the propagandists who helped Tinubu package Buhari into APC change messiah, four years after he called him expired?
Prospect of a possible alliance between the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, was dashed yesterday in Kano as the leader of the party and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu described CPC as parading “expired leadership.”
Tinubu told ACN supporters in Kano during the party’s Presidential rally that: “What Nigerians need now is a transformation in leadership” as obtained in the advanced economy.
The two-term Governor of Lagos State explained that the leadership of ACN was offering Nigeria the brilliance of Nuhu Ribadu who, he said, is in the class of Nicolas Sarkozi of France, David Cameron of Britain, Medvedev of Russia and Barack Obama of the United States of America.
“What has CPC got to offer? We certainly don’t need expired leadership as we are offering the best in terms of brilliance, courage and patriotism in the class of Sarkozi of France, David Cameron of Britain and Barack Obama of the USA.”
Tinubu’s position came on the heels of Ribadu’s declaration penultimate week in Kaduna when he hinted during a political rally of a joint ticket between the two opposition parties to confront the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The national leader of ACN criticised President Goodluck Jonathan for shying away from the national debate held last Friday, stressing that”that singular act exposed Jonathan as a coward who has nothing to offer.”
thisweekng: The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Chief Olawale Edun has said the last time Nigeria’s economy looked stable was about a decade ago.
He made this statement during his maiden press conference as Minister of Finance where he outlined President Bola Tinubu’s vision, agenda and strategy for the economy.
He said, “I think as we all know, we are not where we should be. The economy is barely growing above the rate of population growth.
“But it was not always so, and I think in trying to look at the way forward, if we now have a situation of slow growth, double-digit inflation, weak/depreciating exchange rate, as well as security concerns that are resulting in an economy that is not growing and not taking Nigerians out of poverty.
“If we think back to the last time when the economy was stable- when it was growing, when inflation was low, and the interest rate was affordable, that period was about a decade ago. Growth was about 6% in 2013 and 2014.” Private sector to drive the economy
zero8zero: And so what?. Did Jonathan not also throw shades and insult others before him?. Why do you guys always carry another man's problem on your head and at the end of the day, they will still use your head to break coconut.
This Soyinka you are always abusing, none of you can never come close to his left shoe in this life. When Soyinka was in jail for biafra, your war criminal ran away in woman's dress to Ivory Coast.
His past deeds are not an excuse to stop scrutinising his actions today, such as his silence of the graveyard because of pots and pans gifted him by Tinubu’s wife.
Tinubu gave Wole Soyinka pots and pans to cook in his new apartment many years ago (and of course money).
Factoryfitted: You have roads like this that are the arteries of the country. They are in a deplorable state and should have, could have been fixed first, but your president instead elected to spend billions on a white elephant project. Does that make sense to you?
Mind you this road in question is a federal A1 road. Seeing as you are a staunch Tinubu supporter, what do you have to say about that?
So where are the 40 roads completed and fixed with the $84 billion subsidy savings that has made petrol and everything unaffordable
TimeManager: The Federal Government has revealed that the elimination of the petrol subsidy under President Bola Tinubu has resulted in savings of over $84 billion, which are now being channelled into the construction and rehabilitation of 40 key road projects across the country over the past two years.
This was disclosed in a policy brief released by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), titled “Two Years Later: Key Benefits of Subsidy Removal,” and made available to journalists over the weekend in Abuja.
The report, which reviewed the outcomes of the subsidy removal since May 29, 2023, noted that the policy averted a looming economic crisis.
It also enabled the Tinubu administration to clear long-standing financial liabilities, increase capital investments, and support the financial stability of state governments.
Chegesnd: Sapele people please don't worry yourselves, very soon the Coastal Highway will be commissioned and there will be no need for any other road in Nigeria.
The Coastal Highway will reach every ones compound and farm.
Na so we see am o. Intelligent Bọbọ Chicago is in charge with his Lagos lootocracy plan updated to federal level.
MyGoodnesse: Why are these politicians doing like this
Because they are allowed to do so by us, the people who have sovereignty, from among whom they emerge into public office at the local, state and federal levels both in the legislative and executive branches.
anonimi: “The worst illiterate is the political illiterate, he doesn’t hear, doesn’t speak, nor participates in the political events.
He doesn’t know the cost of life, the price of the bean, of the fish, of the flour, of the rent, of the shoes and of the medicine, all depends on political decisions. The political illiterate is so stupid that he is proud and swells his chest saying that he hates politics.
The slowpoke doesn’t know that, from his political ignorance is born the prostitute, the abandoned child, and the worst thieves of all, the bad politician, corrupted and flunky of the national and multinational companies.”
― Bertolt Brecht
>> >>>>
Racoon: The ranking placed Nigeria in 186th position, only after Haiti, among 187 countries of the world. Nigeria is the second country in the world with the lowest voter turnout, worse than war-ravaged Afghanistan and Libya, a new ranking by Picodi has shown.
The ranking placed Nigeria in 186th position, only after Haiti, among 187 countries of the world. Nigeria also ranked worst in Africa. Nigeria’s low voter turnout
PREMIUM TIMES had reported how Nigeria recorded a new low in voter turnout during the last general elections. With a national turnout of 29 per cent, a Premium Times analysis showed that the last election had the lowest participation rate in the country’s six decades of independence.
It further revealed that of the 93.4 million registered voters this year, 87.2 million people collected their Permanent Voters Card and the total number of actual voters on election day was only 24.9 million..The winner of the election, Bola Tinubu, had less than nine million votes, roughly 10 per cent of the total eligible voters.
Another analysis by this newspaper revealed that all the 18 candidates in Nigeria’s February elections received only 27.55 per cent of the total eligible votes.
Just like Jonathan listened to APC manipulated protests against fuel market deregulation in 2012. Something that APC has now confirmed was just about playing politics with our wellbeing.
Petrol should never cost more than N70 per litre, says APC
January 19, 2015
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as mere tokenism the reduction of petrol price from N97 to N87 per litre, saying the petroleum product ordinarily should sell for N70.
On Sunday, the federal government announced the reduction of petrol price, citing the fall of global crude oil price.
But the APC through Lai Mohammed, its spokesman, on Monday accused the government of making a show out of deceit, saying “a 10.3 per cent slash in the price of petrol was a mere tokenism at a time the price of crude oil has crashed by about 60 per cent”.
It argued that the pump price of a litre of petrol should not be more than 70 Naira, alleging that at N87 per litre, the government was forcing Nigerians to subsidise the massive corruption in the oil sector by N17 for every litre of fuel.
FORMER Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Prof. Tamunoemi David-West, said that Nigerians should expect sharp drop in petrol price from the current N87 to about N40 per litre, saying, “the president-elect, Gen. Mohammed Buhari, will reduce the fuel pump price to N40 per litre.”
DiamondsAreFore: Eeeya, sorry Prof. But seeing as you destroyed the Green Card in 2017 which a former US President lobbied to help you get, you ought to have an idea of why you find yourself in this predicament.
I agree that it is a shame that a Nobel laureate and one of the finest intellects that Africa has ever produced, cannot enter into the United States, but a former drug lord with dubious academic credentials can enter and leave America as he pleases, with his frequent meanderings funded by the Nigerian tax payer.
Are you talking about Reno’s current bankroller, who is also the subject of the documentary video below
swaggerjack: Reno Omokri: I Challenge Tinubu To Prove If He Was Not A Drug Lord In Chicago
0taPiaPia: Why should it be when the price for clearance is exorbitant
Since Tinubu packaged his 2011 expired soldier as APC change messiah, everything has scattered into extreme poverty shege, which has been taken to extra level by the Lagos TAX master planner.
Sapiosexuality: Can they just stop this charade? It makes them appear dumb.
This is not how you solve the problem we are currently going through. And it's not like the money is going to 15 million households.
If the money sharing master plan is working to lock 20 million Lagosians into Tinubu control, then why change it for 200 million Nigerians?
It’s about buying votes from people who are too lazy to work and see through their enslavement.
fuckJones: (A case study of Nigeria citizens & their elected oppressors).
During the Soviet dictatorship of Joseph stalin. He was a brutal dictator with mind of his own. On one fateful day, stalin came to Politburo meeting with a live chicken. Standing in front of audience, He started to pluck the feathers of the live chicken off one by one. The chicken trembled in pain, blood tricking out of its pores. It gave out grievous cries, but stalin being a cruel dictator continued without remorse plucking the feathers out until the chicken was completely Unclad. After which, he threw the chicken on the ground. The Unclad chicken was staggering in pain. stalin goes into his pocket and from his pockets, he took out some chicken food and started to throw it at the poor & hapless creature. The poor chicken in pain started eating and stalin started walking towards his seat. As he walked away, he kept dropping some feeds on the floor & the chicken followed him and sat feeding from his feet.
Joseph stalin then turned to members of his political party leadership. He said, "This chicken represents the people". "You must disempower them, brutalise them, beat them up, starve them and then leave them". "If you do this, go into your pocket & give them peanuts when they are in that helpless and desperate situation, they will blindly follow you for the rest of their life, worshiping you". "They will think you are a hero forever. They will forget that, you're responsible for their sorrowful situation in the first place." Breath taking, isn't it ?
Now! Take a look at all the people some Nigerians are busy defending on social media. Take a look at those they call their heroes. They are the same people who plunged Nigeria into the situation she is. They are the same people who are responsible for their predicaments. Did you see the numbers of people that throng to Saraki's House during this Sallah period to go collect peanuts? People trooping to Bola Ahmed Tinubu Foundation offices to collect branded One kilo bag of Rice & Noddles. Did you see the number of people of all ages who troop out to welcome Ex- convict James Ibori to South South! Do you see the number of handle mop following obi as if he is a seat? what of the one following dino malaye?
Your guess is as good as mine. Nigerians kill those they should defend and defend those they should kill! Pass to all your contacts & let your Political & Religion Leaders read, understand & digest.
The youths are simply copying the laziness and greed of the few allowed among us to emerge into public office in local, state and federal governments both in the legislative and executive branches.
Why is Tinubu borrowing money despite saving $84 billion from subsidy removal that has made petrol expensive instead of his promise to crash the price in January 2023?
The Federal Government says it has no intention to borrow from any local or foreign organisation with its removal of subsidy on petrol and exchange rate harmonisation.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Chief Wale Edun, revealed this at the end of the inaugural Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday in Abuja.
He said that the benefit of the subsidy removal would be ploughed back into various sectors aimed at boosting government revenue and improving the business environment for local and foreign investment.
Edun said that with the increased revenue from subsidy removal, various palliatives have been made available to cushion its effect on a short, medium and long-term basis.
He reiterated the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s desire to bring back the economy from the wood it has found itself over time.
TimeManager: The Federal Government has revealed that the elimination of the petrol subsidy under President Bola Tinubu has resulted in savings of over $84 billion, which are now being channelled into the construction and rehabilitation of 40 key road projects across the country over the past two years.
This was disclosed in a policy brief released by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), titled “Two Years Later: Key Benefits of Subsidy Removal,” and made available to journalists over the weekend in Abuja.
The report, which reviewed the outcomes of the subsidy removal since May 29, 2023, noted that the policy averted a looming economic crisis.
It also enabled the Tinubu administration to clear long-standing financial liabilities, increase capital investments, and support the financial stability of state governments.
Druss: APC talking as if they have made Nigeria better compared to when they took over from PDP.
Watch what people do not what they say. This constant knocking of Peter Obi only makes one wonder what Obi would be able to achieve in office. The man should be given a chance to prove these political ashewos wrong.
How was Obi part of the 16 years prosperity that PDP gave us, when he was in APGA installing his godson in Anambra State?
Those who were the deregulation and privatisation master planners of PDP’s high employment productivity are known, and Obi is not one of them.
thisweekng: The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Chief Olawale Edun has said the last time Nigeria’s economy looked stable was about a decade ago.
He made this statement during his maiden press conference as Minister of Finance where he outlined President Bola Tinubu’s vision, agenda and strategy for the economy.
He said, “I think as we all know, we are not where we should be. The economy is barely growing above the rate of population growth.
“But it was not always so, and I think in trying to look at the way forward, if we now have a situation of slow growth, double-digit inflation, weak/depreciating exchange rate, as well as security concerns that are resulting in an economy that is not growing and not taking Nigerians out of poverty.
“If we think back to the last time when the economy was stable- when it was growing, when inflation was low, and the interest rate was affordable, that period was about a decade ago. Growth was about 6% in 2013 and 2014.” Private sector to drive the economy
Cajal: He lacks constructive intellectual engagement
Obi also lacks governance intelligence.
[quote author=NLCreator post=126854133]Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, has defended the purchase of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) for members of the national assembly.
There have been reports that the leadership of the 10th national assembly has bought SUVs for all lawmakers.
Each SUV is said to be valued at N160 million.
The LP had asked members of the party in the national assembly to kick against “wastage”.
While responding to questions during a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the former governor of Anambra said the SUVs are not personal cars of the lawmakers, noting that they are for official use.
“Let me start with the issue of Labour Party members in the house. I have actually discussed this issue with them,” Obi said.
“Surprisingly, I can tell you I heard that these vehicles are official cars. They have to use it. It is meant for office.
“So it is not as if it is their vehicle. They said it is official cars and you are meant to use it while you are in the senate.”
Obi also hinted at contesting for the country’s number one position in 2027, adding that Nigeria deserves dedicated and visionary leaders who will lead the country towards a brighter future.
Journalist: how do you intend to engage members of your party who are members of the house, so that they can stand different.......?
PO: Let me start with the issue of labour party members in the house, have actually discussed this issue with them, surprisingly, I can tell you ,… pic.twitter.com/svybrcY4t3
— Senator Baruch Chinanu Boniface (@SenatorBaruch1) November 7, 2023
I'm just waiting for U. S. Administration to say something on this, because it seems a lot will be coming out after that speech at UNGA.
What do Americans have that you don’t have, even though God made everyone in His image, so why wait for the US administration to say something about what happened in Nigeria?
Do you mean the UNGA of next year, because the one for this year has been held already
Meanwhile, Peter Obi would have been worse off in governance than Tinubu.
[quote author=NLCreator post=126854133]Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, has defended the purchase of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) for members of the national assembly.
There have been reports that the leadership of the 10th national assembly has bought SUVs for all lawmakers.
Each SUV is said to be valued at N160 million.
The LP had asked members of the party in the national assembly to kick against “wastage”.
While responding to questions during a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the former governor of Anambra said the SUVs are not personal cars of the lawmakers, noting that they are for official use.
“Let me start with the issue of Labour Party members in the house. I have actually discussed this issue with them,” Obi said.
“Surprisingly, I can tell you I heard that these vehicles are official cars. They have to use it. It is meant for office.
“So it is not as if it is their vehicle. They said it is official cars and you are meant to use it while you are in the senate.”
Obi also hinted at contesting for the country’s number one position in 2027, adding that Nigeria deserves dedicated and visionary leaders who will lead the country towards a brighter future.
Journalist: how do you intend to engage members of your party who are members of the house, so that they can stand different.......?
PO: Let me start with the issue of labour party members in the house, have actually discussed this issue with them, surprisingly, I can tell you ,… pic.twitter.com/svybrcY4t3
— Senator Baruch Chinanu Boniface (@SenatorBaruch1) November 7, 2023
Truths9ja: “Nigerians, I mean all Nigerians know that Tinubu did not win the last election. He stole it” - Dele Farotimi
Peter Obi stole the election for Tinubu 100% in the five SE states after Wike kicked him out of PDP, just as Obiano got rid of the political neophyte from APGA.
jameshankss: Arguing that Obi’s presidential bid would only work in favour of Tinubu, Soludo said, “Indeed, if I were Asiwaju Tinubu, I would even give Peter Obi money as someone heading one of the departments of his campaign, because Obi is making Tinubu’s pathway to victory much easier by indirectly pulling down PDP.”
Obi, according to Soludo, would only deplete the votes of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and pave the path for an APC victory.
He stated, “The current fleeting frenzy, if not checked, will cost Ndigbo dearly for years. The South-east has the lowest number of votes of any region, but it is also the only region where the presidential race might be a four-way race (it is a two-way race in the other five regions) thereby, ensuring that our votes won’t count in the making of the next president of Nigeria.
newsbook: Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano has re-echoed his allegation that his predecessor, Mr Peter Obi demanded the sum of N7.5billion from him for sponsoring his election in 2013.
Obiano and his predecessor, Obi have had a frosty relationship shortly after his swearing in.
Obi has however denied that he demanded for the sum of N7.5billion from Obiano, saying that his problem with him was his (Obiano’s) underperformance.
Obi said if he needed the said sum, he would have simply taken it from the N75billion he left for the Obiano administration at the end of his tenure.
But Governor Obiano while speaking on Wednesday evening at Ezechima Primary School, Onitsha where he inaugurated his reelection campaigns in Onitsha North Council Area, said the clarification became necessary because of the recent accusations against him by the former Governor.
He stated that his predecessor had demanded the sum of N7.5billion from him as funds spent in prosecuting the election on his behalf, but that he refused to pay the money because it was not true.
Obiano said he refused to pay because he strongly believed that public funds should be used for public good, and not to settle godfathers.
These, he said, was the reason they fell apart.
The governor said that another reason he refused to pay the money was because he was aware that enough money was raised for his campaign by his friends and associates, all of which were never accounted for by the former governor.
On the actual sum the former Governor claimed he left behind, Governor Obiano made it clear that he inherited liability of about N127 billion debt from him in contracts awarded and other responsibilities, which he has been religiously undertaking in the spirit of continuity.
He said Obi flagged off several roads even on the day he was leaving office and saddled him with the burden of paying for it, but he assured the people that he has his eyes on the ball and will not allow anything to distract him from fulfilling his promises.
The Chairman of the Governor’s Re-election Campaign Committee, Chief Victor Umeh said APGA as the political spirit of Ndigbo, has in the past three and half years, availed Anambra good governance at its best, reminding the people that the upcoming guber election was not about Willie Obiano but about ensuring that the state remained free from political godfatherism.
A former Central Bank Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo in his speech said that at this time, the State needs a tested hand like Governor Obiano who has the experience and expertise to effectively steer her affairs.
lolu2019: Bro,that is just an addiction from Wole soyinka.he is addicted to teaching.my dad is close to 80years,we are still begging him to stop preaching on the pulpit.it is just an addiction.
on the issue of exploration, maybe u should asked Americans why they monopolised those machineries.even if we can't produce it,we can afford it.but they told d producers not to sell to African countries.they are all thieves.
Let the old hypocrite take his teaching addiction to the remaining 195 countries of the world and stop wailing about American visa cancellation.
They are free to sell their own machines to whoever they want. If you are not satisfied then get your own leaders looters to prioritise free education for all children and invest in research carried out by scientists who are better paid than politicians.
anonimi: Ratio of public to private schools in Lagos State is one to 22 ― Commissioner September 4, 2022
The Lagos State government has said the ratio of public to private schools at both primary and secondary school levels in the state is one to 22.
The state’s Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, gave the revelation in her remark at the 2022 edition of the Total School Support Seminar Exhibition (TOSSE) held at Oregun in Ikeja between Thursday and Friday.
Babasessy: The Awolowo rebirth in the Southwest has inspired gongs, songs and rhetoric of sorts. But they have missed one point.
It occurred to me in Abeokuta last week amidst the big crowds and euphoria of the swearing-in of Senator Ibikunle Amosun as governor. In all the states from Lagos to Edo, where Awo has witnessed ideological resurgence, hardly a single family member has played a role.
So we have an Awo family without an Awo. That is an irony. But history overwhelms us with this sort of twist. Obafemi Awolowo toiled for his reputation. His roots were lowly, he toiled to school both home and abroad, launched into careers in law, business, journalism and eventually politics. He carved a niche for himself, and became the first methodical and charismatic leftist in our history. Other leftists abounded but they did not inspire comparable drama and following.
He faced tribulations, went to jail, failed in elections, won a few, but he imprinted his ideas and legacy in the country, and no single mortal has beaten him in the history of this country. His greatest achievement was in the area of ideas, and that was how he fashioned a family. Most families are born of biology but his issued from ideology. That family suffered with him.
In a spoof of Jesus Christ, these were the men who followed him in his teachings, and endured with him in his temptations. So he formed a kingdom for them in the Southwest, in the old Western Region, presiding over his projects, his legacies and people.
In all of these, the family he had was not his flesh and blood. In another spoof of Christ, who were his family anyway? Those who were with him must be counted as his family. So, I combed in the ambience of Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), and I found none. I went to Ogun, I frisked the crowd under Amosun’s bower, hardly any. Around Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in Osun, I could not lay a finger. With Governor Kayode Fayemi in Ekiti, where are the forbears of Awo? Yet, I can hear the chants of Awo. Hardly in any of the inaugural speeches or any of their other public intervention would you miss the philtre and filter of Awo from these gentlemen. To parody Novelist Joseph Conrad, they are the sparks from Awo’s sacred fire, the messengers of the might within the man.
Already all of them are pursuing the legacy ideas of Awo: free education, free health services, infrastructural development, urban renewal and economic engineering.
Lagos has posted itself as the John the Baptist. The others are putting up valiant efforts, and the world of course is watching to see how well they will perform. It will call for great work, resourcefulness and cooperation. They are the real Awoists, and Awo was a man of rigour and vigour.
The Awo son that many expected to take after the father was Olusegun, who unfortunately died in a car crash. We shall never know if he could have pulled it off. But the others have not shown much of the paterfamilias’ brio and depth. In the past decade, under this republic, they have blended with the wrong crowd. Even H.I.D, hobnobbed with Alao-Akala, who brought illiteracy to governance; with Oyinlola who turned the grace of office into a hell-hole of despots; with Daniel who could not arrest his quick fall into megalomania.
I wrote once that this woman whom Awo once described as the jewel of inestimable value has lost value to his cause. If he came back to life, he would have committed the extraordinary act of divorce after death. Even his newspaper, The Tribune, has so stumbled and fallen that it swims in Awo’s vomit.
wunmi590: I thought he said he's the best thing that ever happened to Anambra, why is he now buying vote, using mumu English to confuse himself and his gullible...
Do you think that he copied this from the Lagos a-looter master planner? The man who has increased tax burden on the people without increasing the number of well paid workers to make education free for all children and water available for all households?
ICYMI: I said I was richer than Osun State, Tinubu admits
However, Buhari doesn’t have the kind of money I can steal neither does he have the money I can collect. He doesn’t even have the money for Lagos votes. So, whatever I promise, it’s for real and is coming from my pocket. It’s not until I go to Alausa before I get money to give you.”
Addressing APC supporters on the need to deliver votes, Tinubu said handsome cash rewards await those who can deliver votes for the party.
He said he would not make mistakes of the past where people would collect money in advance and not deliver on election day.
Tinubu added, “Those of you that say you come to Bourdillon for mobilisation, it is mobilisation that we are doing here or don’t you understand? Definitely, if you know people in your neighbourhood, our members, how we used to do.
Beyond his neighbours, there is something about the sight of people hanging around a president’s residence that does not speak well of his leadership capabilities. Maybe no one has nudged him to see it, but the impression that spectacle on Bourdillon Road generates is that Tinubu enjoys the sight of suffering humans and thrives in—and through— their poverty.
If all these years, impoverished people hang around you and you remain comfortable enough to keep them just so they can be handed tokens of your large heart, then it means you have a pro-poverty mindset. Such a frame of mind is oriented toward cultivating poverty rather than stimulating abundance.
That is why he could unproblematically relate the story of his “friend” who went from using five Rolls Royce to a far-less valued car and not consider the import of the nonsense he was saying. That spurious account was an indication that this is a man for whom poverty—of others, not himself—is an ideal.
seunmsg: Whatever. Do what’s needed to win. Politics is not a moral enterprise. Trump did not win by playing nice.
Those accusing you are also doing worse so damn them. The end justify the means.
What of governance? Is it a moral enterprise?
What do Americans understand about governance that has made their country so successful that pots and pans compromised Soyinka is wailing like a baby because they cancelled his visa?
ozo13: see twisting abeg.U were in another thread laughing at him yesterday.Now it is so clear why he had to do away with the card and u don change mouth again.
Bro in what ever u do , please don't speak from both side of the mouth not even for political reasons.it will easily be noticed.
Your advice is better suited for Soyinka’s old hypocrite existence.
Why is he speaking from both sides of his mouth when even his own NAS have spoken against the worsening situation of the country under Soyinka’s pots and pans gifting friends- Mr. and Mrs. Tinubu
Omooba77: The association, in a statement on Sunday by the NAS Capn, Dr. Joseph Oteri, said these needless deaths, a grim reflection of the desperation gripping many Nigerians, underscore the rising hunger and economic hardship that has engulfed the nation.
The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) says it is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of over 60 lives in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja during recent palliative distribution stampedes.
The association, in a statement on Sunday by the NAS Capn, Dr. Joseph Oteri, said these needless deaths, a grim reflection of the desperation gripping many Nigerians, underscore the rising hunger and economic hardship that has engulfed the nation.
“While we commend the government's effort to alleviate the plight of vulnerable citizens through palliatives, it is evident that these measures have been marred by inadequate planning, poor coordination, and lack of accountability,” it said.
According to the group, the chaotic scenes that led to the fatal incidents are an “indictment of the systemic failure to address the root causes of hunger and poverty”.
The group noted that rising hunger in Nigeria is a national emergency that demands urgent action.
“Failure to act decisively will deepen the crisis, with devastating social, economic, and political consequences,” it said.
“We mourn with the families of the deceased and demand that the government ensures accountability for this avoidable tragedy. Hunger should never be a death sentence in a country blessed with abundant resources.”
“It is time to rise to the challenge of ensuring that every Nigerian can live with dignity, free from the scourge of poverty and hunger,” it added.
Therefore, the association called on all levels of government to urgently prioritize sustainable solutions to the hunger crisis.
It said, “Palliatives must reach the intended beneficiaries without endangering lives. Transparent and well-organised systems, with the involvement of community leaders and credible NGOs, should be put in place to avoid chaotic distributions.
“Beyond temporary relief measures, the government must develop long-term strategies to enhance food production, support local farmers, and stabilize food prices.
“Programmes aimed at addressing the needs of the most vulnerable must be scaled up. Access to affordable healthcare, education, and social safety nets is critical to lifting millions out of poverty.
“Policies that create jobs and enhance income-generating opportunities should be fast-tracked to reduce dependency on palliatives.”
The association noted that two of its chapters in Edo State (Area 3) recently had successful palliative programmes, during which over 2,000 underprivileged persons were fed.
It added that one of the key components of the programme was orderliness.
Beyond his neighbours, there is something about the sight of people hanging around a president’s residence that does not speak well of his leadership capabilities. Maybe no one has nudged him to see it, but the impression that spectacle on Bourdillon Road generates is that Tinubu enjoys the sight of suffering humans and thrives in—and through— their poverty.
If all these years, impoverished people hang around you and you remain comfortable enough to keep them just so they can be handed tokens of your large heart, then it means you have a pro-poverty mindset. Such a frame of mind is oriented toward cultivating poverty rather than stimulating abundance.
That is why he could unproblematically relate the story of his “friend” who went from using five Rolls Royce to a far-less valued car and not consider the import of the nonsense he was saying. That spurious account was an indication that this is a man for whom poverty—of others, not himself—is an ideal.
lolu2019: lol.what is so special about the U.S. a country that is depending on our natural resources to survive.
If nothing is special about America and other oyinbo places, then why is the old hypocrite wailing so much about the visa? Reason am well o.
As for resources, we have nothing since we don’t know how to explore, exploit and process them for our own use.
anonimi: The migrant crisis in Libya and the Nigeria experience
The drive for survival and for greener pastures has continued to force millions of West African young men and women to gamble with death in attempts to cross over to Europe and other parts of the world. This quest to escape poverty, hunger, unemployment and insecurity, among other reasons, caused a major segment of Nigeria’s population to seek alternatives for better livelihood prospects for themselves and their families.
Those seeking economic survival see irregular migration as the best alternative, given the difficulty and resources involved in migrating through regular and legitimate routes. In many instances, very few of the original number who set out on these dangerous journeys live to tell their stories. While many regularly drown in the Mediterranean Sea, many also die in the deserts, and others are sold as slaves in a modern slave market.
Most of the victims of this trade are from West Africa. Many of them leave home with expectations of getting to Europe and other destinations perceived to have better economic prospects for them, but they end up in the slave merchant nets in North Africa. The victims are put in camps and sold in open markets in Libya, while the international community watches in silence. The geographical location of Libya renders it a transit route for migrants journeying to Italy and many other parts of Europe.