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Tribute to Late President Muhammadu Buhari

Posted on by admin50

 

By Brig Gen MB Marwa ( Rtd)

 

It is with profound sorrow that my family and I mourn the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari, a true statesman, patriot, and servant-leader who dedicated his life to the service of our great nation. His tenure was marked by unwavering commitment to duty, courage in the face of adversity, and an abiding sense of responsibility to the Nigerian people.

Former President Buhari will be remembered for his steadfast efforts to restore discipline in governance, and pursuit of security and stability during some of the most challenging periods in our national history. His administration championed infrastructural development, advanced agricultural reform, and sought to lay the groundwork for self-sufficiency and national pride.

He possessed the rare ability to inspire calm amidst uncertainty and to lead with quiet resolve. His integrity, simplicity, and personal discipline set him apart as a leader whose actions often spoke louder than words. Through the years, his dedication to public service was evident, in his early days as military Head of State and later as a democratically elected President who returned to power with a vision of national rebirth.

Beyond the realm of politics, former President Buhari was known for his humility and his deep faith. He remained a man of principle, guided by a strong moral compass and a genuine concern for the well-being of ordinary citizens. His leadership was rooted in service, and his legacy will endure in the hearts and memories of Nigerians who believed in his vision of a stronger, and more just nation.

As we mourn his passing, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his beloved family. We stand with them in grief, offering our thoughts, prayers, and support during this time of profound loss.

His legacy shall continue to inspire generations to come, and history will remember him kindly.

May the Almighty Allah, in His infinite mercy, grant the soul of our departed leader Al-Jannah Firdaus.

 

Brig Gen MB Marwa (Rtd) CON, OFR

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer

National Drug law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

Monday 14th July 2025

ECHONO GOES TOUGH ON RESOURCE MISAPPLICATION IN TETFUND

Posted on by admin50

 

By Tunde Olusunle

 

Sonny Togo Echono, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, (TETFUND), would most probably have earned the sobriquet of “action administrator,” if Nigeria were in a military dispensation. Successive military regimes over several years and decades, profited Nigeria’s governance lexicon with sundry additions and infusions. “Action Governor” was one such sobriquet which gained and sustained prominence in public conversations in times past. It referred to military superintendents who were proactive, maybe also heavy-handed in their approach to public service. For their roles in advancing infrastructural development in their states of jurisdiction, Mobolaji Johnson, David Bamigboye, Robert Adebayo, Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, all Army Colonels who administered Lagos, Kwara, Western and Midwestern states, were garlanded as action Governors. Mohammed Buba Marwa, incumbent Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), a Brigadier-General who led Lagos State between 1996 to 1999, was similarly so decorated.

Marwa was upfront in road rehabilitation, revamp of health institutions and crime control. He initiated a joint military and police task force christened Operation Sweep as a crime containment strategy, which success was adopted by many other states. All of these were consummated by his honorific as an “action administrator.” Marwa’s precedence was emulated by several other states, notably Oyo under Colonel Ahmed Usman and his Kogi State counterpart, Bzigu Lassa Afakirya, who launched Operation Gbale, (gba’le being the Yoruba expression for sweeping), and Operation Hot Chase, respectively. Raji Rasaki, a former military administrator of Lagos State also earned the nickname of akson governor, from his Yoruba-accented pronunciation of the word “action.” He is remembered for the massive demolition of illegal structures which significantly cleared Lagos of shanties and slums. This would subsequently impact the real estate market in the state.

Since his appointment to his present brief a little over three years ago, Echono has demonstrated the ability to talk tough and follow up with similar resoluteness. At every opportunity, Echono has striven to harp on the fact that a new Sheriff is at work in TETFUND. He began his reformation agenda with sequenced encounters with entrenched cabals in the organisation who appropriated to themselves the rights to determine contract awards. To rejig our memories, Echono was one of the pioneer civil servants to be taken through the mills of a new public procurement and due process regime in the early years of the present democratic era. He has “preached the gospel” across his various “bus stops” in public service, which spanned several ministries before his present schedule. He has never been deterred, irrespective of the reactions of the establishment.

His insistence on reorientation and reforms earned him spontaneous adversaries. “Victims” of Echono’s new preachment responded by waging a ferocious media campaign against him, calculated to spin the narrative. The war was escalated to the national legislature which received several petitions alleging humongous fiscal infractions and malfeasance under Echono’s watch. Anti-corruption agencies, notably the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) took interest, expectedly, in the untoward information filtering in from TETFUND. To the consternation of Echono’s traducers, he received clean bills of health and glowing testimonials each and every time TETFUND’s systems, and his personal profile were put through the grindstone of serial integrity tests. Such has been Echono’s experience as he moved to stop the preexisting bazaar in TETFUND under his watch.

For academics who have benefitted from the generosity of government by way of scholarships and grants to study in foreign countries but have opted to “defraud” the state, Echono has since wielded the big stick. Certain lecturers and instructors across institutions have been privileged beneficiaries of government funding for further studies abroad. They are usually expected to return to Nigeria to give back to the system which availed them such benevolence, by way of continuing service to their primary employers. Conversely, in many instances, some scholars repay government their benefactor, with a bad coin. They abscond or “defect” as it were. In the face of the current economic situation in the country impacted by inflation and currency devaluation, Echono has since declared that government will no longer play the Santa Claus.

Rather, government will henceforth support in-country capacity building for its intellectuals and scholars. Military officers from many foreign countries for instance receive primary and advanced training in Nigerian military institutions. Almost every graduating set from the Nigerian Defence Academy, (NDA), or the Nigerian Defence College, (NDC), have sprinklings of foreign students. Why wouldn’t indigenous scholars also receive advanced training in retooled and recalibrated home-based institutions? Indeed, Nigerian academics populate the faculties of several universities and training institutions across the world. These include choice destinations like the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa. Nigeria can look inwards such that experienced Nigerian scholars and technocrats at home, impact their colleagues desiring retraining and advanced exposure, within the bounds of tolerable financial exertion.

Echono has equally conducted forensic interrogations into the size of tertiary institutions, relative to funding accruable to them. In a milieu where the population of some citadels nestle in upper five figures, Echono finds it curious that the numbers of a few colleges are way below a miserable 100 students! An alarmed Echono once highlighted the specific case of a polytechnic which had just 30 enrollees, which had operated for four years and had continued to receive public funding. For him, such an example is anathema to the intentions of government as channelled through TETFUND. Accountability in the deployment of funding he noted is also paramount. Should unutilised funds be discovered in the accounts of benefitting institutions, such funds will be recalled and reallocated to schools with better performance indices. Equally strident is Echono’s regular admonition against abandoned projects in the nation’s public tertiary institutions. Such unsightly stumps in the landscapes of institutions, such monuments to waste will no longer be tolerated under his watch.

More recently, Echono warned institutions covered by TETFUND against abuse and misuse of intervention funds. At a two-day strategic workshop for Directors of Physical Planning, Academic Planning and ICT which commenced on Monday July 7, 2025 in Abuja, Echono warned that improper utilisation of resources allocated to errant institutions will culminate in the delistment of defaulting institutions. He restated government’s commitment to enabling the nation’s tertiary education system via addressing procedural gaps and ensuring that institutions fully understand the agency’s intervention guidelines. Underperformance and mismanagement, the TETFUND head noted will not be condoned. Echono reiterated that “institutions that fail to access, utilise or retire funds in accordance with TETFUND guidelines, or those that underperform in key academic or operational benchmarks, may be delisted.”

In a public service otherwise construed as dour, uninspiring and tepid, Echono has raised the bar with his well thought interventions. His approach to administration has been characterised by regular engagements and interfaces with key operators of the tertiary education mills. While Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts at the helm in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education were hitherto sole regular guests at meetings with the leadership of TETFUND, the Echono milieu has expanded the scope of engagements. Other key stakeholders in the leadership crust of tertiary institutions, notably heads of administrative, financial and developmental departments, have equally earned the buy-in of TETFUND under Echono’s leadership. The conference hall within the Abuja headquarters complex of the organisation is ever busy with activity. All of these are geared towards a better performing tertiary education system to accord the country with the quality manpower necessary to drive growth and development.

For a dye-in-the-wool public servant who cut his teeth at the very core of the bureaucracy during which he grossed a glowing three and half decades before his current portfolio, Echono’s transformation will constitute the subject of future investigations. He joined the federal civil service in 1987 and retired early 2022. During his years in service, he traversed a string of ministries serving in various capacities and offices. The rule book of the civil service we are told is that “civil servants can be seen but their voices are not to be heard.” Echono evolved from that very same system. His present job description, however, has brought out the more vocal, more forthcoming persona in him, in continuing service to the nation.

 

Tunde Olusunle, PhD, FANA, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), is an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Abuja

Nigeria’s BRICS Partner Status And Initial Gains-By Tunde Rahman

Posted on by admin50

 

 

“Indeed, the gains of attending the recent BRICS Summit and President Tinubu’s friendship with President Da Silva are already manifesting in many respects”

 

 

President Tinubu & Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva

President Donald Trump never ceases to amaze with his haughty and self-aggrandising governance style, endless huffing and puffing, brinkmanship, and tendency to weaponise America’s often-stated exceptionalism and unilateralism.

 

Last weekend, as member states of the fledgling association of the Global South and a growing economic bloc, otherwise called BRICS, were holding their 17th Summit in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, Trump threatened to impose a fresh tariff hike on them, labeling the group a gang-up against America. He warned that any country aligned with the policies of the BRICS alliance that diverge with US interests, would be hit with an extra 10% tariff. “Any country aligning itself with the anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an additional 10% tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump wrote on his Truth social media.

 

Trump’s threat emerged after BRICS members criticised US tariff policies, proposed some reforms to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and discussed how major currencies are valued. After the two-day meeting in Rio de Janeiro, BRICS Finance Ministers issued a statement criticising tariffs as a threat to the global economy. They noted that they have brought “uncertainty into international economic and trade activities.”

 

Trump has always been disdainful of the BRICS since its formation. In 2024, he threatened 100% tariffs on BRICS countries if they moved ahead with their currency to rival the US dollar. After the association’s recent meeting, he uttered the same threat, saying members of the group were out to de-legitimise the US dollar.

 

The BRICS nations must demonstrate unity of purpose in responding to President Trump. More than ever before, they need to be focused, act in unison, and continue to harp on their collective interest. It’s just as expedient that BRICS members demonstrate they are driven by the need to get a fair deal for their countries within the international system, and that the association is by no means a gang-up against America.

 

BRICS was designed to enhance the member nations’ economic interests and promote their international standing. This may be interpreted as a push against the US and Western Europe, but BRICS nations also have a responsibility to pursue and defend their interests.

 

In this context, one key advantage of BRICS nations is their large population, which translates to a bigger market. BRICS member states account for more than half of the world’s population.Last year, the list of BRICS member countries expanded beyond the original group of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. In January this year, Nigeria became BRICS’ ninth partner country, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.

 

Because of this partner-country status, President Bola Tinubu attended the 17th Summit of BRICS last week at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva. The Nigerian leader arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, July 4. The next day, July 5, he went into a bilateral meeting accompanied by some of his ministers and governors with the Brazilian leader and some of his cabinet members.

 

Along with the President, cabinet members, including Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture; Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Minister of Environment; and Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development; and Mohammed Mohammed, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), participated in the summit.State governors such as Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger) were also present at the bilateral talks.

 

During the meeting, President Tinubu informed his Brazilian counterpart, Lula Da Silva, that all bottlenecks hindering the agricultural sector’s potential, including livestock production, would be removed to enhance food security and exports.Noting that bureaucracy and administrative hiccups contribute to delays in realising the agricultural sector’s well-acknowledged potential, the President disclosed that Nigeria was already undergoing reform to reposition the economy for global competitiveness, particularly in agriculture, where it already has a comparative advantage.

 

Discussions at the meeting centred mainly on agriculture, including livestock development, environment, aviation, trade and investment, and the Green Initiative, which designs climate-positive migration solutions for addressing climate change risks, market challenges, and innovation opportunities.All the technicalities in actualising the agreements between Nigeria and Brazil, according to President Tinubu, will be streamlined and fast-tracked in areas of trade, aviation, energy transition, food and agricultural development, as well as mining and natural resources exploration.

 

President Lula, on his part, promised that all agreements with Nigeria would be regularised, and MOUs would be updated and signed without delay during President Tinubu’s next visit to the country. He also pointed out that the lingering bureaucratic delays between the two countries would be removed for quick results.

 

Brazil has recorded tremendous achievements in research and development. The country is easily regarded as one of the top global producers of food and other agricultural products. President Tinubu’s visit demonstrates Nigeria’s readiness to establish a strong partnership with Brazil to tap into this feat to stimulate growth in food production and animal husbandry.

 

However, on Sunday, July 6, while addressing the BRICS summit, President Tinubu restated his position on global trade, international financing, climate change, and healthcare, as well as his belief in and support for BRICS. The President advocated a re-evaluation of the current global financial system and healthcare distribution, calling for more consideration, equity, and inclusion for the poor and emerging economies, particularly in Africa.

 

According to President Tinubu, environmental degradation, climate crisis, and inequalities in the healthcare system deserve more attention, as they contribute to hindering growth and development in Third World countries.

 

At the Summit, President Tinubu affirmed Nigeria’s support for the position of BRICS on the need to focus on collective, fair and equitable global development. “Nigeria, therefore, associates with what I have heard here today, and all that has been taking place in BRICS. The next issues are financial restructuring and re-evaluation of the global structure,” he told the BRICS member–states, pointing out that environmental deprivation, climate crisis, and global healthcare inequalities were shared concerns pertinent to Africa.”Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most,” the President said, adding: “The African continent is creating the path through the African carbon market initiative and the Great Green Wall. We believe that eventually, COP-30 will strengthen our resolve to embrace a healthy global environment strategically.”

Nigeria, the world’s sixth-most populous country and one of Africa’s major economies, undoubtedly shares convergent interests with other BRICS members.President Tinubu affirmed this much: “Nigeria strongly believes in South-South cooperation. We can, therefore, not be passive participants in global decision-making. So, issues such as financial restructuring, debt forgiveness, climate change, environmental ruin, and global healthcare must be resolved. We must be the architects of a future that addresses the specific needs and concerns of youths, who represent 70 per cent of our population in Nigeria. Therefore, Nigeria remains guided by our long-term vision, 2050, and nationally determined contribution.

 

“We are taking bold steps to accelerate renewable energy adoption, mainstream climate action, promote nature-based solutions, strengthen urban resilience, champion South-South cooperation, align with global renewal framework and achieving universal health coverage for all.”

 

It is instructive that President Tinubu has used every opportunity on the international scene to demand an equitable global trade, accessible financing, sustainable technology transfer, and climate justice. He canvassed the same issues while addressing the 78th United Nations’ General Assembly in New York in September 2023, at UN Climate Change Conference, otherwise called COP28 in Dubai, United Arabs Emirates, in January 2024 and at the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Kampala, Uganda, also in January 2024, where he was represented by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, among other international forums.

 

Indeed, the gains of attending the recent BRICS Summit and President Tinubu’s friendship with President Da Silva are already manifesting in many respects. Firstly, on the heels of President Tinubu’s visit to Brazil last year, Brazil’s Vice President, Geraldo Alckmin, visited Nigeria this year to build on the agreements reached between Presidents Tinubu and Da Silva, particularly on the Green Initiative.

 

Secondly, on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS summit, the Managing Director of Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, met with his counterpart from Brazil, where he was informed that President Lula had given a firm directive to Brazilian agricultural institutions and companies to invest heavily in Nigeria.

 

Even back at home, the impact has been no less. On June 25, 2025, the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer represented by Dr. Dahiru Mohammed officially signed a strategic partnership agreement with Brazil’s renowned Campos Group to provide technical expertise for the Irrigate Nigeria programme.

 

For some years now, agriculture has been among the highest contributors to Nigeria’s GDP. This collaboration is thus a big boost for Nigeria’s quest to strengthen the agricultural value chain and reduce import dependency through large-scale technology-enabled farming. Campos Group, known for its central role in Brazil’s agricultural revolution under the PRODECER Programme, brings over four decades of expertise in developing irrigated agricultural zones and transforming previously under-utilised lands into thriving agro-industrial hubs.

 

There is much more. But to further reinforce these agreements and consolidate the initial gains, signing a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Brazil has become imperative. This is an ample pathway to bilateral cooperation in various aviation areas, including maintenance, mutual flight operations, and environmental certification. We can glean from the foregoing what a full membership of BRICS would yield for Nigeria. Notwithstanding President Trump’s misguided threat, it will help the country reap the full benefits of associating with the group.

 

-Rahman is Senior Assistant to President Tinubu on Media & Special Duties.

Benybite Foods: Catalyst for economic transformation 

Posted on by admin50

 

By Ayo Oyoze Baje 

 

 

Quote:

“Our goal is to make Plateau a business hub for ventures like this. Once we meet local demand, we can expand beyond the state and even beyond the country,” 

 

-Gov. Mutfwang of Plateau state ( While commissioning Benybite Foods Nigeria Ltd )

 

 

The significant role which the pragmatic practicalization of the value chain of processing, preservation, packaging and marketing add to available raw materials brings to light the dreams of industrialization which boosts the economy of the country concerned. Sadly, over the decades, especially from the ’60s and ’70s to this day lack or inadequate projects with regards to breathing life into our God-given potentials has worsened the dependency syndrome. That is more so as we keep importing the finished products of what we are truly blessed with in abundance at high costs.

 

 

Name them, from cocoa, coffee, cotton, cashew to oil and gas Nigeria has been at the receiving end, or dumping ground of what we should be processing and selling to the world. So, we are nothing short of being grateful to highly determined Nigerians who have kept pushing ahead with passion, perseverance, character and commitment against all odds, as solution-providers.

 

 

Interestingly, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Benybite Foods Nigeria Limited, Mr. Benjamin Kayode-Ojo happens to be one of such game – changers. Precisely on July 8, 2025 the Executive Governor, His Excellency Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, commissioned the ultra-modern maize milling plant of Benybite Foods Nigeria Limited, located in Jos, the Plateau State capital. According to Gyang Bere, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the governor the event drew top government functionaries and key industry stakeholders. In fact, it marked a major milestone in the governor’s commitment to promoting agro-processing, job creation, and economic growth across the state.

 

 

Worthy of note is that while dressing the gathering, Mutfwang reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to resuscitate ailing industries and make Plateau a hub for agro-industrial activities.

“We want to revive all the ailing industries in the state. That’s why we’ve reached out to Rescue Mill, which is currently on the brink of collapse. Our goal is to make Plateau a business hub for ventures like this. Once we meet local demand, we can expand beyond the state and even beyond the country,” he stated

 

 

Furthermore, the governor commended the management of Benybite Foods Nigeria Ltd. for their bold investment, which he described as a catalyst for economic transformation. He assured the company of continued government support, noting that the initiative aligns seamlessly with his administration’s vision to transform Plateau into a leading industrial and agricultural state.

 

 

On the need for stable electricity and infrastructure to support industrialization, the Mutfwang restated his administration’s resolute commitment to energy sufficiency and improved transportation networks. Going further, he expressed optimism that the recently inaugurated Plateau Energy Commission, led by Ambassador Bagudu Hirse, and the State Energy Corporation under his leadership, will deliver sustainable and tangible outcomes to power industries across the state.

 

 

With regards to what stands Benybite Foods Nigeria Limited, out in good stead Kayode-Ojo, described the factory as the largest of its kind in Plateau state and the second most advanced food processing facility in Nigeria.

This plant places Plateau at the epicentre of modern agricultural processing in the country.”

 

 

Highlighting its unique features he also revealed that the plant has the capacity to mill 6,000 tons of maize monthly and clean over 10,000 tons of maize. The entire facility is built with stainless steel technology, making it one of the most food-processing–friendly environments in the country,” he noted. He added that the plant could serve as a key supplier of raw materials to Jos International Breweries and other food and beverage industries nationwide.

 

 

“We envision a future where Plateau state becomes the raw materials hub for industries across Nigeria. This factory is a strategic part of that vision,” he explained. All these are highly commendable, are they not?

 

 

Of course, they are. And that leads us to the million naira question about the lasting lessons other entrepreneurs should learn from the hands of Nigeria’s newest industrialist in town. One of such is for someone to come up with ideas that act as solution-providers as Ojo has done with the Benybite Foods. Not only is it going to contribute to food security, it will also enhance job creation. Another is to understand the importance of profitable partnerships needed as catalysts to take the dreams to the light of day, as Benybite Foods is cultivating with the Plateau state government.

 

 

Commending Governor Mutfwang for his support and leadership, the Benybite CEO said: “Your Excellency, this commissioning would not have been possible without your passion and commitment to industrial growth. We sincerely appreciate you for honoring our request despite your busy schedule.”

 

He further disclosed that although the plant was initially slated for completion in one year, the project was delivered in just six months, thanks to the expertise and commitment of local technicians’ “This is proof that when we believe in ourselves and invest in local capacity, we can achieve great things,” he emphasized.

 

 

Yet, in all of these one stumbling block stands on the way and must be frontally combated to navigate the path to success. That is the challenge of insecurity. All hands must be on the deck to ensure that farmers in Plateau state, including that of maize are provided the secure and enabling environment for farming, transportation and food processes to succeed.

Kudos again to Kayode-Ojo and the team members of Benybite Foods.

Add Your Heading Text Here

Crown Of Bees: The Attah Of Igala And The Defiance Of Time

Posted on by admin50
 
 
THE MYTH REBORN: THE BEES OF SOVEREIGNTY AND THE COURAGE TO DEFY THE AGE – A SACRED KINGDOM AND A SACRED CROWN
 
 
Once, in the hallowed hills of Idah, stood a kingdom untouched by conquest, unshaken by the madness of empire. The Igala Kingdom—rich in tradition, fierce in identity, guarded by ancestors—was ruled by a monarch not merely enthroned by bloodline, but sanctified by divine will. This monarch bore the title Attah, meaning “Father,” not just of a people, but of a sacred cosmology. t, and memory.
Among the many symbols of his sovereignty, one stood above all: the Crown of Bees. It was not simply regalia. It was ancestral technology—a living vessel filled with the spirits of past kings, guarded by bees that were said to be not of this world, but emissaries of the realm between the living and the dead. These bees were protectors, judges, and silent witnesses to truth.
 
A TIME OF THREAT- THEN CAME THE TIME OF THREAT
 
A foreign force—some say colonialists, others say a hostile regional alliance, still others see it as a metaphor for Western domination—arrived, demanding that the Attah kneel. This was not merely a military demand. It was a spiritual ultimatum. They sought the symbolic humiliation of a king who stood as the last spiritual firewall against complete cultural erasure.
They didn’t come with peace—they came to redefine power, to impose a new order, one that would dethrone the ancestors and enthrone abstraction. The Attah was to renounce his gods, his sovereignty, his essence. He was to bow—not just to a foreign power, but to a woman imposed as a symbolic sovereign, embodying the epistemic violence of empire.
 
THE REFUSAL TO KNEEL
 
The Attah did not speak many words. He did not raise an army. Instead, he invoked the oldest law—the spiritual covenant between the throne and the land. In a silent, thunderous act, he removed his crown. And the world changed.
Out of the sacred object erupted a swarm of bees—ferocious, radiant, divine. They filled the air like thunderclouds. They were not insects; they were history awakened, memory armed, justice with wings. The invaders were thrown into chaos—horses stampeded, soldiers screamed, and within minutes, what no sword could do, the spirit accomplished.
The bees did not kill indiscriminately. They judged. They stung those who came with disrespect. They protected the soil from dishonor. And when it was over, the Attah placed the crown back on his head.  “This throne is not a colonial invention. These people are not for conquest. And this land remembers.”
 
II. SYMBOLISM DECODED: THE POLITICS OF SPIRITUAL DEFIANCE
 
1. THE ATTAH AND THE DE-WESTERNIZATION OF POWER
In that singular refusal to kneel, the Attah not only preserved his crown—he preserved the metaphysics of sovereignty. He did not kneel to a foreign sovereign or a symbolic queen. This was not about gender—it was about imposed hierarchy. He rejected the construct of authority that colonization brought. In so doing, he revealed that true power is not transactional, but ancestral. Not borrowed, but bestowed.
He was not just saying “no” to a woman or a crown from afar. He was saying no to spiritual fraudulence, to cultural misplacement, to a system that attempted to define Africa by erasure.
 
2. THE CROWN AS INDIGENOUS TECHNOLOGY
 
The crown of bees represents ancestral software—a sacred, spiritual interface through which the past communes with the present. It is not understood in Silicon Valley, nor can it be patented. It is memory; It is legitimacy; It is what no IMF loan can buy.; What no university can fully teach; What no Western archive can contain. It is a living document of identity, encrypted in ritual and revealed in moments of moral necessity.
 
3. THE BEES AS MEMORY AND JUSTICE
 
These bees are not just defenders—they are prophets. They sting not just to repel, but to awaken. Each sting is a question:
Who are you without your memory? What is sovereignty without history? What is justice without sacred obligation? They are the pain of forgetting. They are the reminder that ancestors do not rest when dishonor rises. In a world of disinformation and erasure, they are biological rebels, restoring truth where lies are trending.
 
4. AGAINST THE TIDE: THE CROWN AS SOLITUDE
 
The Attah stood when others bowed. He chose to be right instead of safe. In every generation, someone must carry this burden—the burden of being alone but not abandoned.  The Attah’s act was not popular. It was prophetic. Today, to embody this spirit is to be the whistleblower in a sea of silence, the lone judge in a courtroom of compromise, the student who demands substance, the activist who holds the line. To stand alone today is to inherit the crown of bees.
 
III. TODAY’S NIGERIA: THE FORGOTTEN CROWN AND THE UNREMEMBERED SELF
 
1. The State of the Nation: A Hollow Empire
 
Nigeria is a state where: Corruption wears agbada, Justice is auctioned, Truth is trafficked, Dignity is deadened, and myth is forgotten. Our elites bow to foreign creditors. Our youth look abroad for purpose. Our politicians trade ancestral land for borrowed grammars of governance. And yet, the bees have not left.
“The crown is still with us. But it does not fly for cowards.” The story of the Attah is not just a story. It is a mirror. It tells every tribe, every clan, and every soul in Nigeria: You still have your crown.
Not just the Igala crown, but the Yoruba’s Ọdẹ, the Ijaw’s Ekine, the Tiv’s Swem, the Hausa’s Girma, the Efik’s Obongship—all these are ancestral technologies waiting to be awakened.
 
2. The Attah Spirit in Every Citizen- Let the Attah’s spirit rise—not just in palaces, but in:
 
The civil servant who refuses a bribe, The market woman who insists on fair scales, The judge who will not be bought, The teacher who teaches beyond the test, The citizen who speaks the truth in a culture of fear. This spirit is non-partisan, non-material, and non-negotiable. It is a call to become human again; To become Nigerian again, and to become Attah.
 
3. A Global Message to the Post-Colonial World
 
 To the Global South, to every people whose gods were laughed at, whose names were renamed, whose identities were disrobed in the name of “civilization”—the story of the Attah is your story too.
You were not born to beg for loans. You were not born to mimic models. You were born to remember.
The West has its machines. We have our memory. They have satellites. We have spirit. They have a policy. We have ancestry. Let the world not seduce us into forgetfulness. Let the myth of the Attah be a global revolt against cultural suicide.
 
IV. CONCLUSION:
 
THE CROWN AWAITS
 
The Attah of Igala did not simply repel an invasion.
He preserved a cosmic order.
He stood when the world said kneel.
He remembered when others forgot.
He invoked the past to defend the future.
And today, in every home, every courtroom, every classroom, the crown of bees waits—not for warriors, but for witnesses.
The question is no longer whether the story is real.
The question is:  Will you remove your crown when the time comes?
Will your ancestors fly? Or will your silence doom your children to kneel?
Let every Nigerian become an Attah.
Let every honest act be a crown.
Let every sting of truth be a swarm.
And let the world know:   We were never conquered. We only forgot. Now, we remember.
 
Authored by:
 
Ujah Israel Ujah, Esq. B.Phil, LL.B, B.L, LL.M, (Ph.D in view)
 
Advocate of Memory | Voice of the Forgotten | Witness of the Ancestral Truth.
“In the theatre of nations, some wear crowns of gold, others wear crowns of shame. But a few—few-those who remember—wear crowns of bees.”                                                                      Let it be known that we are not powerless. We are only forgetful.
Let it be remembered that to reclaim the future, we must resurrect the past. And when the empires come again—clothed in policy, cloaked in aid, whispering reform—may they find not a people ready to kneel, but a people crowned in fire and memory.
The crown is not in a palace.
 
It is in every act of truth.
It waits on your head.
May your ancestors fly.
May your silence break.
May your courage sting.

Tinubu didn’t make Buhari president – Ex-SGF Boss Mustapha

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Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has firmly rejected claims by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that he was instrumental in making Muhammadu Buhari president in 2015.

Speaking against the backdrop of growing political shifts ahead of the 2027 elections, Mustapha, who served under the Buhari administration, insisted that Buhari already had a massive support base long before the All Progressives Congress (APC) was formed.

“President Buhari had about 12 million loyal voters, especially from the North, even before the APC merger,” Mustapha said. “What the party merger that Tinubu helped engineer did was add about three million extra votes—not make Buhari president.”

The remarks come as a direct response to a statement made by Tinubu during his 2022 campaign, where he famously asserted that without his backing, Buhari would not have won the presidency.

Mustapha’s comments are gaining attention amid widening cracks within the APC, with several of Buhari’s former appointees now defecting to a new opposition coalition, which recently adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its official political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

Peter Obi pays condolence visit to Dantata family in Kano

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Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has paid a heartfelt condolence visit to the family of late elder statesman and renowned industrialist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, describing his passing as the end of an era in Nigeria’s business and philanthropic spheres.

During the visit to the Dantata family residence in Kano, Obi expressed deep sorrow over the loss, hailing the late icon as a visionary leader, mentor, and economic pillar whose impact transcended generations.

“Alhaji Dantata was not only a successful businessman, but a father to all—an empire builder who nurtured countless entrepreneurs and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s economic development,” Obi stated.

“We are here today to mourn and condole with the immediate family and all of us, because this is a loss that touches the entire nation,” Obi said.

“Alhaji Aminu Dantata was not just a successful businessman, he built other successful people. He cared for everyone and was a father figure to many.”

He described Dantata’s life as a symbol of humility, generosity, and service to the nation, stating that the respected philanthropist invested not just in businesses but in people and humanitarian causes.

According to him, Dantata’s legacy of mentorship and charity would remain a reference for future generations.

Obi offered prayers for the peaceful repose of the late Dantata’s soul, asking God to forgive his shortcomings, reward his good deeds, and grant his family continued grace and unity.

He urged the nation to draw inspiration from the life of the late business mogul, who he said remained an example of integrity and compassion.

Alhaji Aminu Dantata, aged 94, was a key figure in Northern Nigeria’s business community and a passionate philanthropist.

Dangote lauds NPA-led One Shop Committee…Donates Coaster bus

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The President/CEO of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has lauded the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, for effectively handling the implementation of the Federal Government’s policy on domestic sale of crude oil and refined products in naira.

To this end, Alhaji Dangote has donated a brand new Coaster bus to the OSS Committee to further ease its operations.

In a letter he signed personally, Alhaji Aliko Dangote assured that his organisation will continue to explore ways of supporting the committee to sustain its successes in the implementation of the presidential directive.

The Letter reads in part: “In recognition of the enormous responsibility placed on shoulders of the One Stop Shop OSS by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and our commitment to ensuring the committee delivers on its mandate, I am pleased to donate to the committee one brand new Coaster bus to facilitate the daily discharge of their operations.

“We believe this bus will be used productively by the committee as we continue to look for ways to support and appreciate the efforts of this noble committee

Recall that the Chairman, Technical Sub-Committee, on the implementation of the Federal Government’s policy on domestic sale of crude oil and refined products in naira, Zacch Adedeji, had during a recent visit to NPA, commended the One-Stop-Shop OSS Team, led by the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA for ensuring smooth operations of the directive.

He thanked the team led by NPA for “playing a pivotal role in the successful implementation of the presidential directive on the domestic sales of crude oil and refined products in Naira”

Adedeji said: “We recognise that this pioneering effort is a significant achievement, and no doubt reflects your commitment and patriotism”.

“Thus, we encourage you to maintain the hard work and dedication that has made this initiative a success.

“We also extend our gratitude to all participating agencies for their invaluable cooperation and support,” Adedeji said.

EFCC probes suspect over undeclared $420,900, £5,825, CFA3.9m at Kano airport

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched a formal investigation into a case involving the alleged smuggling and non-declaration of foreign currencies totalling over $420,000 at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

Ahmad Salisu was apprehended by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) during a routine check on Monday, July 7, 2025. A physical inspection of his luggage reportedly revealed cash concealed in a polythene bag covered by clothes and other fabrics.

The undeclared sums include $420,900, £5,825, CFA 3,946,500, and 224,000 Cameroonian CFA.

According to officials, Salisu claimed he was acting on behalf of his brother, Auwal Ahmad, who remains in Saudi Arabia. He was allegedly instructed to deliver the funds to two individuals—Yusuf Adamu and Abdulhamid Rabiu—who were later arrested when they appeared to collect the money.

Following initial questioning, the trio and the seized funds were handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Speaking during a joint press briefing at the NCS Kano/Jigawa Area Command office, EFCC Zonal Director Ibrahim Shazali affirmed the agency’s commitment to tackling illegal cross-border financial activities. “The EFCC and the Nigerian Customs Service, working in concert, have zero tolerance for illegal cash smuggling,” he said.

Shazali urged the public to remain alert and report suspicious financial transactions, particularly those involving large cash movements at airports and border crossings.

Customs Area Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar reiterated that currency declaration requirements are part of broader efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. “The currency declaration regime is a key tool in protecting our financial system and curbing the movement of funds used by criminal networks and terrorist groups,” he stated.

The EFCC confirmed that the suspects will be charged to court after the ongoing investigation is concluded.

A Taste of the World ‘s First Agritourism Festival

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By Ayo Oyoze Baje

 

Quote

“We must rebrand farming to make it fun and profitable”
–
Dr. Moji Davids ( MD, Xtralarge Farms and Resorts )

Call it the power of passion, the voice of vision and the results of resilience by reaping thereof, if you like, or simply refer to it as the positive mentality of seeing only possibilities where others complain about persisting problems you are absolutely right on point. That is, as the wave-making, XtraLarge Farms and Resorts has beautifully evolved to epitomize all these, and more.

For hosting the first-ever World Agritourism Festival, a 90- day event which runs from May 16 to August 12, 2025 in the Centre of Excellence, Lagos state Nigeria, one is not surprised by the soaring waves of accolades from the state and federal governments, the Abike-Dabiri-led Diaspora Commission in addition to the much excited private sector and enlightened individuals as well. What more, Dr. Seyi Davids and Moji Davids, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO and Managing Director,MD respectively of XtraLarge Farms and Resorts are innovatively busy rewriting the history of agriculture with purely organic food items, along with tourism, entertainment while still promoting real estate business. In fact, so delighted was the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, that he gleefully commended Xtralarge Farms and Resorts for launching that epochal event. According to him, this initiative is seen as a boost to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”.

The epoch-making festival has the salutatory aims to rebrand and promote sustainable agriculture, attract youth to the sector, and rebrand agriculture as a modern and attractive field through tourism. It features the Wealthinaires Convention, investment opportunities, and networking events. It also includes farm tours, food experiences, and cultural displays. The event is aimed at fostering rural development and preserving cultural heritage.

In specific terms, the Wealthinaires Convention is
a core highlight of the festival, by gathering top minds and impact-driven leaders in the agricultural and tourism sectors. That is for the cross pollination of ideas on moving the food security sector forward. Also, through the Farm Tours visitors can explore XtraLarge Farms and learn about their innovative farming practices and the sustainable solutions they provide. While the Food and Cultural Experiences festival offers opportunities to enjoy local cuisine, discover traditional crafts, and experience the rich culture of Lagos the
Investment Opportunities are keys that open the festival to investors. Besides all these, it aims to connect investors with promising agricultural ventures and promote economic empowerment in rural communities. On its part, the Global Outreach involves international editions of the festival, planned for the United Kingdom, UK, Canada, Australia, Dubai, and Central Europe. But there is more to the attention – grabbing festival.

Interestingly, the Wealthinaires Convention which took place at the Balmoral Convention Center, Ikeja, Lagos brought great minds together to key into the vision of the history — making festival with highly inspiring testimonies from some active members of the XtraLarge Farms family. For instance, a young lady who left the banking world to invest a meagre fifteen thousand naira (N15,000) back in 2018 openly confessed that she has made over Ten million from XtraLarge Farms and Resorts since then. That was even as it was announced that there was another cheque of One million, two hundred thousand (N1,200,000) waiting for her on that memorable day. Some others praised the company for the effectiveness of the organic food items that have healed them of one debilitating disease or the other, including diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney challenges.

Worthy of note is one significant factor that has stood the company out in good stead and that is integrity. It holds its words of promises and pledges in high esteem. It has never violated that sacred element of Trust. And that has garnered a lot of respect from individuals and investors across the social spectrum, from across the globe. That makes a great impact on its business transactions and pragmatic partnerships it has being engaged in over the decades. So, July 11th, 2025:slated for the Grand Summit, Awards, and Gala Night at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja would furthermore strengthen its cardinal objectives.

These of course, include the promotion of sustainable agriculture and food security.
the boosting of rural development and economic empowerment to the investors. In addition, is the
preservation of cultural heritage, to showcase Nigeria’s agricultural potential to the world and attract investment and partnerships in the agricultural sector. Also, it would encourage youth and Diaspora involvement in agriculture.

To underscore the importance of marrying agriculture ( business and food security) with tourism and entertainment ( pleasure), a feat which XtraLarge Farms and Resorts has achieved, in 2024 alone Nigeria experienced a surge in tourism, particularly during the “Detty December” period as it is fondly called which saw a record-breaking revenue of N111.5 billion, with an estimated 1.2 million visitors, including both international and domestic tourists. It means that both Travel and tourism contributed 3.9% to Nigeria’s GDP in 2024, generating around ₦9.55 trillion (approximately $14.8 billion). That is awesome.

So, one can imagine how those figures would increase as XtraLarge Farms and Resorts intends to attract one million visitors to the Agritech City, at Idiroko every year. With that, Nigeria will begin to rub shoulders with South Africa, the USA, Ghana, the UK, and Germany which were among the top countries with visitors to Nigeria in 2024. Notable is that in the same year France ranked first with 102 million tourists, followed by
Spain with 93.8 million tourists and the
United States, 72.4 million tourists. So, what lessons should we learn from these fascinating experiences?

We all-as individuals and organizations – should understand and deploy,as the Davids have done to pursue our vision to its logical conclusion, no matter how high the hurdles we have to scale over might be. We should understand the importance of the bringing together of like minds who share in that same vision with us. And eventually, it pays being a good manager of people, money and materials, breathing the spirit of communality and seeing it as a family business..Above all, ” the secret of success is constancy of purpose” as Benjamin Disraeli aptly stated and as the duo of the Davids have rightly done.