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IBB: A CRITIQUE OF ‘A JOURNEY IN SERVICE’

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Abdulrasheed Ibrahim

As a writer and a student of history, I do not like seeing anyone in whatever form trying to take people for a ride. It is not in my character to look the other way. Some of us were not babies when IBB ruled this country as an unelected President. When General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) gave the hint that he was coming up with his autobiography , I told some colleagues that the IBB’s book would surely generate a lot of controversies particularly among many Nigerians that were of age when he ruled as a military leader. Speaking from experience as the author of the book titled “MY COMMAND”, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ), a former Head of State and later an elected President, during the public presentation of the IBB’s “JOURNEY IN SERVICE” told him what to expect from the people.

So far,IBB’s book seems to have received more condemnations than commendations. The families and friends of those indicted or mentioned by IBB in his book like that of Abacha, Abiola and Vatsa have not kept mute on Babangida’s story.Mr. Richard Akinola, a friend of Mr. Dele Giwa , a journalist that fell victim of IBB regime has done a rebuttal to IBB’s position on the death of the renowned journalist who co-founded the now rested Newswatch Magazine.

One must admit from inception that this space may not be sufficient to do a comprehensive critique of IBB’s autobiography, this is just a short attempt to x-ray some of the points raised by the IBB in his autobiography that one finds it difficult to agree with. There is no doubt that IBB took active part in the military coup that saw to the demise of Second Republic presided over by the late Alhaji Shehu Shagari and brought in Muhammadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon as the Head of State and the Chief of General Staff Supreme Headquarters respectively while Ibrahim Babangida occupied the position of the Chief of Army Staff. The situation in the country at the time Shagari regime was sent packing was not pleasant as the politicians at that time had turned the country upside down as the level of indiscipline and corruption had become very unbearable. This actually paved the way for the success of the military coup without any resistance or protest from the Nigerian people.

The period of 20 months that followed under what has come to be known in history as Buhari/Idiagbon regime was under the slogan of War Against Indiscipline (WAI) which was a rescue mission said to be the brain child of Tunde Idiagbon, a great soldier that had no business with laughing but which IBB later gave in abundance when he took over power in a palace coup when Idiagbon, the most active Second-in-Command was far away in the Saudi Arabia. According to IBB on page 118 of his book:

“My predecessor in office, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, and his deputy, Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon, had separated themselves from the mainstream of the armed forces by personalising what was initially a collective leadership. They both posited a ‘holier than thou’ attitude, antagonising the civil populace against the military. Fundamental rights and freedoms were being routinely infringed upon and abused. As military administration, we were now presiding over a society that was primarily frightened of us. We were supposed to improve their lives and imbue the people with hope for a better future. Instead, we ruled the nation with a series of draconian decrees. An administration intended to reflect the collective will of the armed forces as a national institution came to be seen as the private personal autocracy of a stubborn few.”

With what decrees did IBB rule? His above assertion that prompted the overthrow of his predecessor has actual confirmed the long held view by some of us that Buhari and Idiagbon probably unknown to both of them were only used by IBB to test the ground for the acceptance of military rule in the country at that time .The Nigerians that lived through and witnessed Buhari/Idiagbon’s regime of 20 months and IBB’s regime of 8 years are till day in better position to spot the difference between the two regimes. The IBB coup was a clear manifestation of that slogan “hidden agenda” invented during the IBB regime.

Did IBB immune himself or did he do anything different from what he accused his predecessor in office of? With the collapse of the Buhari/Idiagbon regime within 20 months courtesy of IBB, in what way was his 8 years reign better than that of his predecessor he overthrew? Most Nigerians were later to realize that Buhari/Idiagbon regime meant well for the country as far as the concept of patriotism was concerned .It was that thought and the happenings during that Buhari/Idiagbon’s 20 months period in power as military leaders that actually and greatly assisted Buhari in getting the mandate of Nigerians as a civilian President during the 2015 elections but one thing that later became apparent to the Nigerians was that whatever success recorded by Buhari as a military Head of State particularly in the war against indiscipline and corruption was attributable to the late Tunde Idiagbon who was then his Second-in-Command.

It was a notorious fact that IBB during his reign embarked on a very prolong transition program to the civil rule during which the hand over date earlier promised was postponed as it was done by Gowon when he was in power ,a mistake IBB said he would avoid. He eventually decreed two parties i.e National Republican Convention (NRC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) into existence under which elections were gradually conducted into the Local Government level with the emergence of the Councillors and the Chairmen followed by that at the State level with the emergence Governors and members of the State Houses of Assemblies and then that of the National Assembly members under what was tagged “Option A4”.

Thereafter came the Presidential election fixed for June 12, 1993 that was freely and peacefully conducted throughout country and won by Chief M.K.O Abiola of the SDP. That election considered to be the most free and fair in the history of the Nigeria was unfortunately annulled by IBB. On the page 275 of his book, he said:

“…But the annulment was only a component of a series of other options. But to suddenly have an announcement made without my authority was, to put it mildly, alarming .I remember saying: ‘These nefarious ‘inside’ forces opposed to the elections have outflanked me!’ I would later find out that the ‘forces’ led by General Sani Abacha annulled the elections. There and then , I knew I was caught between ‘the devil and the deep blue sea’! From then on , the June 12 elections took on a painful twist for which , as I will show later , I regrettably take responsibility.”

Who should take responsibility in the first place?Was IBB truly a daring General committed to his promise to return the country to the civil rule? What the above assertion had gone to prove was that IBB for eight years was leading a set of military officers that were not completely interested in the transition of power to the civil rule unlike those led by OBJ, that IBB considered to be very hasty in 1979. IBB when in power said to have spent about 50 Billion Naira then on the transition program that was not really meant to be or pursued with all sense of seriousness and patriotism. If I am wrong in this my view, I will appreciate your rebuttal. On page 278 of the book, IBB went further:

“Without question, one of my biggest headaches at this time was Sani Abacha. I knew that Abacha was ambivalent about a return to civil rule .But I thought, in retrospect now, naively, that he would support our transition to civil rule programme. As I said earlier, Abacha and I had come a long way. We were good friends, and he had indeed been nice to me. As I have said elsewhere, he saved my life once and also risked his life to ensure that I took over in 1985. I could never forget those details .But it’s also correct that he was a complex character. He was capable of bottling up a lot inside without giving a hint of where he was. And then suddenly, the bottle bursts, and we begin to see a different person. I obviously didn’t know everything about him! For instance, I was alarmed to discover that he and a handful of others mobilised negative opinions against me within the military, portraying me as the problem. That campaign was geared towards a violent military coup to remove me as President forcefully.”

IBB admitted on page 278 of his book that a “General could not lead an army in disarray”, but I submit that a General that worths his salt knows how better to put his disarray army to order. I was not convinced that IBB was a daring General from his above assertion about Sani Abacha.IBB was not capable of checkmating Abacha. During the transition programme some decrees were rolled out to criminalise or deal with any attempt to obstruct or undermine the transition to the civil rule programme.There were many glaring instances that the decrees were violated but IBB deliberately refused to act probably for his own personal interest as it later became apparent that IBB was forced to step aside reluctantly when he had seen the hand writing on the wall that his comrades had portrayed him as the problem by his own confession.

As to Abacha being his good friend, IBB admitted that Abacha had been very nice to him and saved his life,but IBB’s refusal to act against Abacha and leaving him behind after stepping aside was deliberate as having known Abacha for what he was,why making Abacha to be part of the unnecessary Interim National Government (ING) when the true winner of the June 12 ,1993 elections, Chief M.KO. Abiola was on the ground? I want assert and very strongly that IBB’s decision to leave Abacha behind was a conspiracy between them against the Nigerian people.

At a stage IBB revealed in his book that he attempted making Abiola , the head of the Interim Government but Abiola declined. How and why did IBB expect Abiola to accept the headship of the Interim Government having got the mandate of the Nigerians as an elected President? What eventually happened to Chief Shonekan that accepted the headship of the Interim Government?

Despite IBB’s claim during his reign that his military regime would be the last one, he left his good friend, Abacha behind as part of the ING to eventually have his turn as another Military Head of State, having already made Abacha , a co-Army General during his (IBB) regime. Many of us as historians and political observers at that time knew that Abacha would strike and that truly came to past and the rest was history.Leaving Abacha behind in the Shonekan’s ING was like leaving a cock among the cockroaches. A very reasonable person should know that cockroaches no matter how many they are cannot survive the battle against the cock.

It was the revelation of IBB on page 270 of his book that his friendship with Chief M.K.O. Abiola was dated back to 1974 when he was sent then by Brigadier Muritala Muhammed, as the Minister of Communications to Abiola “to evaluate the British Recal radio systems that Abiola wanted to sell to the military”. It is on record that before Abiola began his campaign and took part in the June 12, 1993 elections ,he met IBB to get his assurance whether he was really committed to returning the country to the civil rule and IBB’s response was said to be in the affirmative. Abiola took part in the race and won but unfortunately died in the process of trying to actualise the mandate given to him by the majority of Nigerians.IBB has now confirmed in his book that Abiola won the 1993 Presidential election. But that his same friend of close to two decades denied him that victory .

The winner of the 1993 Presidential election died in the hands of those who were not truly patriotic or committed to the true spirit of democracy. Can IBB till day exonerate himself from the death of Abiola? Was IBB’s annulment not a disservice to the nation? Was the way Abiola died the best way to die in the hands of those that claimed to be his friends? If that Presidential election had not been annulled ,would the country have had found itself in the situation that followed the annulment? On June 26, 1993, IBB in his address to the nation said :

“I address you today with deep sense of world history and particularly of the history of our great country. In the aftermath of the recently annulled Presidential election, I feel, as I believe you yourself feel , a profound sense of disappointment at the outcome of our efforts at laying the foundation of a viable democratic system of government in Nigeria. I therefore wish, on behalf of myself and members of the National Defence and Security Council and indeed of my entire administration, to feel with my fellow countrymen and women for the cancellation of the election. It was a rather disappointing experience in the course of carrying through the last election of the transition to the civil rule programme…Nigeria has come a long way since this administration assumed power and leadership about eight years ago. In the attempt to grapple with the critical and monumental problems and challenges of National existence and social progress, this administration inaugurated and pursued sound and justifiable policies and programmes of reform…”

Did IBB succeed in laying the foundation for a viable democratic system ? Did he actually learn any lesson from history or from the mistakes of Gowon and Obasanjo regimes he made reference to on page 252 of his book for that period of about eight years that he supervised the transition to the civil rule? Did he fulfill the promise he made to the Nigerian people? According to him :

“As I stated in the previous chapter , on our first day in office in 1985, we decided that an agreed upon date for the handover to a democratically elected government would be our top priority .General Gowon’s perceived error of judgment when he changed an agreed-upon handover date to civil rule in 1975 was etched in our memory . We were determined to learn from the mistakes of the past. However , we were also determined to learn from the mistakes of 1979, when many of us believed that the Obasanjo administration abruptly handed power over to a civilian. In our determination to ensure that we got things right , we were convinced as a new administration that we needed to restructured the political terrain in its entirety before handing it over to a politically elected civilian government.”

If by IBB’s assertion above , OBJ was in haste and abruptly hand over in 1979 to keep the promise made by Murtala Muhammed, the people’s General in 1975 when he came to power after the overthrow of General Yakubu Gowon, then IBB must be asked whether that eight years was not long enough for him to do the right ? How many years must it take a truly patriotic leader to run a successful transition programme to the civil rule? Whenever IBB in his book says : “Our first day in office”; “We were determined” ; “We were convinced” ; “Our and Our” as well as “Abacha was ambivalent about a return to civil rule .But I thought, in retrospect now, naively, that he would support our transition to civil rule programme”, then one begins to wonder and ask : Were IBB and Abacha not in the same ship of navigating the country toward the return to the civil rule for that period of 8 years?

IBB and Abacha’s about 13 years in power was another dark period in the history of this country. One does not need to be a historian or a student of history to agree with this fact. Their regimes were even worse than that of Shagari on the one side and that of the Buhari/Idiagbon) they overthrew on the other side. It was the dislike and hatred of IBB and Abacha for the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) introduced by Tunde Idiagbon that prompted their coup against the Buhari/Idiagbon regime as according to IBB : “They (Buhari/Idiagbon) both posited a ‘holier than thou’ attitude” . Has history not proved or established the fact that Buhari and Idiagbon for that period of 20 months as military leaders were truly holier than IBB and Abacha? They deliberately awaited the exit of Idiagbon, (the power house of his government) from the country before they could carry out their palace coup. If Buhari and Idiagbon actually had skeleton in their cupboards as portrayed by IBB in his book, why did he refuse to expose them by probing them? Idiagbon despite the fact that his government was overthrow, he proved to be a brave and daring soldier by returning to the country immediately after the coup.Buhari may be a honest leader but he is very weak which was the reason why he was easily overthrown and captured despite the fact that he got the intelligence report that IBB was planning a coup against him. He further demonstrated the same weakness when he was elected as a civilian President and ruled for eight years.

With the forced exit of IBB from power and the installation of the Interim National Government (ING) headed by Chief Earnest Shonekan and which Abacha was part of, as expected Abacha turned round to overthrow the ING and dismantled all the political structures built by IBB for eight years to start his own child of necessity for almost about five years directed towards Abacha’s self-succession before the angel of death came in 1998. If Abacha had succeeded in his self-succession bid, probably the country would have witnessed another form of sit-tight dictatorship common with some African countries like Egypt and Uganda, but man proposes God disposes. With the death of Abacha , General Abubakar Abdulsalami came in and within a very short period of time, he did what IBB and Abacha refused to do for almost about 13 years by returning the country to the democratically elected government on May 29, 1999 with the return of OBJ to power.

The annulment of the June 12 Presidential election was indeed IBB’s greatest disservice to this country as far as democratic system of government was concerned and that has been major the root cause of most of the problems being faced by the country today. Nigerians spoke on June 12 ,1993 but IBB thought otherwise and disrespected the verdict of the Nigerian people claiming that his colleagues in the government he presided over were planning to kill him. A military General who because of his fear of death refused to act appropriately by standing up and insisting on what was right for his country. IBB’s autobiography is nothing but another attempt to take unsuspecting Nigerians for a ride. It is a good thing that IBB has told his own story in his own words. Since Abacha is dead, it will be very interesting to hear from the likes of Major El-Mustaph who was a very close aide to Abacha when he was alive and in government. Just like the way OBJ’s “My Command” and “My Watch” forced and turned some people to accidental writers of their memoirs, one hopes some of those indicted by IBB that are still alive will also speak out or pick up their pens to correct the narrative where it was inappropriate for the sake of prosperity. Will former President Muhammadu Buhari also speak out or write about the “Buhari/Idiagbon’s ‘holier than thou’ attitude and stubbornness” as alleged by IBB? This is a big question that will be answered by the passage of time but for now I rest my case!

NOTE: Anyone is at liberty to disagree with my above submissions as I will surely appreciate a balanced, fair and objective rebuttal.

08055476823, 08164683735

abdurasheedibrahim362@gmail.com

6th March 2025

We Were Not Sacked Over Corruption, Falsification Of Age — Retired Police Chiefs

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By Ebinum Samuel

No fewer than 15 police officers recently retired by the Police Service Commission, PSC, over “date of appointment” have debunked some misleading media reports alleging that they were sacked over corruption and falsification of age.
Rising from a meeting held at the nation’s capital, Abuja, some of the affected police officers retired compulsorily last month by PSC said the issue the authority claimed to have retired them for is strictly on their date of appointment.


One of the aggrieved retirees who pleaded anonymity, said: “The truth about our case ( Courses 18,19 and 20) is all about when we ought to be due for retirement from the Force as Force Entrants. It has nothing to do with corruption or falsification of age!”
Speaking further, he disclosed that their grievances are all about Policy somersault by the same PSC that in 2017 ordered the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, to implement an Appeal Court ruling on the case of date of appointment.


“To our dismay, some reporters, in their unverified reports have tarnished our image by alleging that we were sacked over corruption,” said the retiree.
Speaking in a similar vein, a retired Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), who also pleaded anonymity, enjoined reporters to cross-check facts before rushing to publish their stories.
According to him, such unverified reports have done a lot of damage to several families.
He stressed: “The issue we had with PSC has been clarified by the Appeal Court in 2017. We believe that PSC is not the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

Nigeria’s Political Legacy: A Reflection on Leadership, Betrayal, and Accountability

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By Halima Abdulazeez

Nigeria has been gripped by a series of revelations and events in recent times,  that have brought her political history and leadership under intense scrutiny. One such phenomenon making headlines is the publication and launching of an autobiography that seeks to exonerate Nigeria’s former head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida Badamasi, from the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election—a watershed moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey. This autobiography, coupled with the chilling revelations surrounding the late General Sanni Abacha, has reignited debates about accountability, betrayal, and the moral bankruptcy of Nigeria’s political elite.

The June 12 election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history, was won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, a businessman and philanthropist. However, the election was annulled by the Babangida regime, plunging the nation into political turmoil. For decades, the question of who was truly responsible for this annulment has lingered. In a twist of fate, General Babangida’s autobiography attempts to shift the blame onto his late colleague and ally, General Sanni Abacha, who succeeded him as head of state. According to Babangida, it was Abacha who orchestrated the cancellation of the election. This revelation has sparked outrage and disbelief, as many Nigerians view it as an attempt to rewrite history and absolve oneself of guilt.

The irony is palpable. General Abacha, who passed away in 1998, is no longer here to defend himself. Babangida’s attempt to “wash his hands” of any wrongdoing and cast the blame on a dead man has been met with skepticism and condemnation. It raises the question: can the dead truly bear the sins of the living? As Nigerians grapple with this revelation, one cannot help but wonder what the angels must be thinking as they witness this final duel between the victim, Abiola, and the alleged perpetrator, Abacha. The annulment of June 12 remains a dark chapter in Nigeria’s history, and the quest for justice and closure continues.

It is important to beam the light on the speech of General Mamman Vasta, a celebrated poet, astute writer, and close confidant of General Babangida. His speech is adding another layer of complexity to the current narrative. Vasta, who was executed during the Babangida regime, delivered a chilling final speech that continues to haunt the collective consciousness of Nigerians. His words were not just a plea for mercy but a profound reflection on the nature of power, betrayal, and the human condition.

In his speech, Vasta said: “However, I shall remain my witness before your judgment, and the testimony before its justice. Before you pass your sentence on me, I’ll request you to see all sides of everything before you decide. And while you do, I will like you to keep the lessons in view still yet. I believe the sentence shall not be my final hour. I have God’s promise on that. May I appeal to you to also take note that I am a married man with a family. I have other dependents that I have the obligation of looking after. I will hate to think that by the time you finish with me, my children shall be so scared of the system that they shall never come near it, for a lean liberty is better than fat slavery.”

These words, dripping with both defiance and vulnerability, offer a glimpse into the mindset of a man facing his mortality. Was it bravery that fueled his speech, or was it fear? Perhaps it was a combination of both—a marriage of convenience between courage and despair. His plea for his family and his warning about the systemic rot in Nigeria’s political landscape remain eerily relevant today. His execution underscores the treacherous nature of political power in Nigeria. A reminder that in the quest for power, loyalty is often sacrificed at the altar of self-preservation.

Years after his death, Vasta’s words continue to resonate with Nigerians who are disillusioned with their leaders. His execution, seen by many as a betrayal of the highest order, serves as a metaphor for the broader betrayal of the Nigerian people by their political elite. Today, as General Babangida attempts to rewrite history and absolve himself of guilt, one cannot help but wonder what Vasta would say if he were alive. Perhaps he would be sitting among the angels, watching in dismay as Nigeria’s leaders continue to enmesh the nation in chaos and corruption.

The tragedy of Nigeria’s political leadership is not confined to the past; it is very much a present reality. The National Assembly, which ought to be a bastion of democracy and accountability, has become a theater of absurdity. Recent allegations against the Senate President, who is accused of using his position to harass women, have further eroded public trust in the institution. Of the 109 senators, only four are women, highlighting the glaring gender disparity in Nigerian politics. Among these women is Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, who has alleged frequent victimization and harassment in the Senate. Her ordeal has been likened to that of a student who refuses the advances of her lecturer, an analogy that underscores the abuse of power and the vulnerability of women in Nigerian politics.

This is not the first time the Senate President has been accused of such misconduct. The recurrence of these allegations raises serious questions about the moral integrity of Nigeria’s political leaders. If those entrusted with the responsibility of governing the nation cannot uphold basic ethical standards, what hope is there for the average Nigerian? The fear is that by the time these leaders are done ruining the country, the younger generation will be so disillusioned and afraid that they will steer clear of politics altogether. Already, there is a growing sense of apathy and despair among Nigerians, with many opting to migrate in search of greener pastures where they are presented with equal opportunities and a chance at a better life.

The exodus of young Nigerians to other countries is a damning indictment of the failure of leadership in Nigeria. The political and elite class must take urgent steps to address the systemic issues plaguing the nation. Corruption, nepotism, and a lack of accountability have become entrenched in the fabric of Nigerian society, and the consequences are dire. The world is watching as Nigeria, a nation with immense potential, teeters on the brink. It is time for the leaders to put their heads together and rescue the nation from complete ruin.

In conclusion, the revelations surrounding General Babangida’s autobiography, the chilling speech of General Vasta, and the ongoing scandals in the National Assembly are a microcosm of the broader challenges facing Nigeria. They underscore the need for ethical leadership.

The annulment of the June 12 election, the betrayal of allies, and the harassment of women in politics are all symptoms of a deeper malaise—a failure of leadership and a betrayal of the people’s trust. As Nigerians, we must demand better from our leaders and hold them accountable for their actions.

Nigeria’s political and elite classes have a moral obligation to craft a new narrative – one defined by hope, opportunity, and justice. The world is watching, and the future of Nigeria’s children hinges on their ability to learn from past mistakes and build a brighter tomorrow. The time for decisive action is now.

©Halima Abdulazeez

Halima Abdulazeez is a poet and a writer of the poetry collection “Soul Rants” A Journey from Within. She is the treasurer, of PEN International, Nigerian Center, and resides in Lagos, Nigeria. +234-8034816865 umuhfaisal@gmail.com

 

UPDATED: Olubadan alive, not dead, says Oyo govt

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The Oyo State Government has denied media reports suggesting that the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, is dead.

Some media reports on Monday night claimed that the revered monarch was dead at the age of 89.

However, in an interview with PUNCH Online correspondent on Monday night, the Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatunbosun, refuted the rumours.

Olatunbosun stated that the Olubadan of Ibadan is alive, hale and hearty.

“Yes. Olubadan is alive, hale and hearty. I spoke with one of the sons who represented the family at the coronation committee, Prince Olaseke Owolabi Olakulehin,” he said.

Also, in a chat with our correspondent, the Chief Press Secretary to the Olubadan, Gbenga Ayoade, debunked the death rumours, saying that the monarch is hale and healthy.

“By the time I left the palace around 8 pm, there was nothing of such incident. Things were moving well. There was no crisis. And when I contacted the palace after I left, they told me Baba is hale and healthy.

“The Olubadan just finished eating amala. He is hale and healthy. It is just a rumour. There is nothing of such,” he said.

Ayoade further debunked the rumour that the traditional ruler had been flown out of the town for medical attention.

He added, “Baba is still in Ibadan. He was not flown anywhere. He is doing very fine ”

Oba Olakulehin, who received the staff of office from the State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on July 12 2024, will clock 90 years on July 5.

He succeeded the 42nd Olubadan, Oba Mahood Lekan Balogun, who died on March 14, 2024 at the age of 81.

LESSONS IN SUSTAINABILITY FROM NIGERIA’S SOUTH, FOR THE NORTH

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By Tunde Olusunle

I was initially going to predicate this piece on notable developmental milestones I’ve followed in recent weeks and months, in some states in Nigeria’s South. Indeed, in two separate treatises, I’ve interrogated the endeavours of Chukwuma Soludo, Alex Otti and Umaru Bago of Anambra, Abia and Niger states. I’ve been enamoured by reports of advancements in sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, investment and security among others, coming from the nation’s global South. You often get this feeling of positive peer rivalry between some states especially those below the Niger and Benue rivers, as they strive to improve the lots of their constituents, while also etching their imprimatur on the sands of time. It became imperative, however, to restructure my thoughts in the wake of certain very contemporaneous happenings, especially in the North, and juxtapose them with news from the South.

In August 2024, I wrote a piece titled The North of Nigeria after the Protests. It was my reaction to the thoughtlessness and idiocy manifested in parts of the North during the 10-day “hunger protests.” Internet videos and visuals are replete with the mindlessness which characterised youth outings those few days of insanity. Multibillion naira public properties and private investments were wilfully attacked, looted and vandalised. Road infrastructure including concrete pallets laid over public drainages were chiselled with axes just to steal the steel meshes binding and solidifying the platters. About a dozen fatalities were recorded between Borno and Niger states, as security personnel attempted the containment of the ensuing mayhem. Elsewhere, the Nigerian Police received plaudits for its demonstrated professionalism in the management of the fracas, mitigating injuries and minimising casualties, even as swarms of brigands held sway those days of utter madness. You watched these jarring scenes on national and global television and couldn’t but ask yourself: What ends were such barbarity, such primitivity meant to serve?

The hunger protests were also observed in parts of the South. But there was greater circumspection and decorum than was witnessed in many theatres of bedlam in the North. Indeed, governments in many states in the South were proactive. Authorities cautioned before the dates scheduled for the protests, that lawlessness in the form of unruly and riotous protests and processions will not be condoned within their boundaries. The October 2020 #EndSARS protests which snowballed into shootings of the processions by the Nigerian Army, remain fresh in popular consciousness. Amnesty International reported at least a dozen deaths from that incident, despite rebuttals by the Lagos State Government and the military authorities.

The government of Kano State in its 2025 budget, has made provision for the conduct of mass weddings. The sum of N2.5 Billion has been earmarked for the quarterly mass wedding programme across the 44 local government areas of the state. The administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, invested N854 million on the mass wedding of 1,800 couples in 2023. Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, recently committed N54 million on the wedding of 300 couples in his state. Budget and Economic Planning Minister, Atiku Bagudu who attended the programme, availed each couple N50,000 as “startup.” Mai Mala Buni, the governor of Yobe State, has also accommodated mass weddings as a major project in the 2025 budget of his state. Immediate past President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan who is also from Yobe State is also reputed to have sponsored mass weddings in his catchment area, ostensibly as part of his “constituency projects.”

Ahead of the Ramadan fast which began Saturday May 1, 2025, a number of state governments in the North, shut down educational institutions, especially primary and secondary schools. The closure is for a period of five weeks which is the duration of the fasting season. Beginning with Bauchi State in the North East, states in the North West including Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara, have promptly followed suit. The various governments have proffered that the closures are to ensure focused and unimpeded observance of the Ramadan by the entire gamut of the peoples and populations of their various entities. These school closures have not taken into account the conveniences of non-Muslim students who are also students in these various states.

Before the wholesale mismanagement of Nigeria’s sociocultural diversities by particular leaderships, especially the eight-year regime of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians had always been very adventurous. They quested socioeconomic opportunities beyond the perimeters of their traditional origins. This has been said to have accounted for the flattening of Bola Tinubu in his home state of Lagos during the 2023 presidential election which brought him into office. Indeed, a specific settler-ethnicity in Lagos, was fingered for that near electoral humbling of the President. The academic calendars of many of the northern stares under discourse, have reportedly been tweaked to ensure the reopening of schools after the Ramadan-induced forced break.

While parts of the North are prioritising the observance of a religious obligation over and beyond every other consideration, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, (NBS), reminds us that the core North has the highest numbers of out-of-school children. Urchins, more famously known as almajiris in tens of thousands are permanently resident on the streets of several northern towns and cities, clutching begging bowls. The North is equally notorious for the high prevalence of child marriages, where clearly and visibly underage girls are married off to men old enough to be the age of their grandfathers. This accentuates the very high occurrence of Vesico-Vaginal Fistula, (VVF), among young northern females. Even if comprehensive health education were to be available for young girls, pervading illiteracy remains inimical to orientation and reorientation to stem the trend.

Nigeria’s core North remains averse to the trade and consumption of beverages of certain brands. Yet they desire the perpetuation of the fiscal allocation status quo, which privileges them higher dividends from national Value Added Tax, (VAT), than southern states which actually generate the chunkier taxes. Members of the Hisbah corps which enforces the Shariah are videoed regularly destroying huge consignment of alcoholic drinks, crippling the businesses of traders in such beverages. This is just as Saudi Arabia the global exemplar of Islamic religion, has relaxed its laws on alcohol. Non-Muslim diplomats can now procure and savour alcohol stuff. This is a major shift from the total ban on alcohol, which has been in place since 1952. The original law against alcohol provided for the prosecution and incarceration of offenders, while foreigners were summarily deported.

Down South, many governors and governments are pursuing visionary projects to impact on the well-being of their people. Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Seyi Makinde are investing massively in agricultural development to ensure sustainable food sufficiency and security. Surpluses will be warehoused in silos and storages, while overflows will be sold. Among other initiatives, Lagos State is partnering with the Origin Tech Group, to develop a five-year agricultural strategic plan. For starters, the partnership has initiated a Food Logistics Hub in Epe, Lagos State. Part of the plan is to gradually develop 4.2 million square metres of an agricultural village. A 60-kilometre network of roads are to be built in the settlement out of which about 30% is ready. It is a measure of the seriousness behind this plan, that a five-storey administrative block; a sprawling parking area capable of taking 1,500 trucks per day; a weighbridge, cold and dry storage areas, are already in place.

Makinde has revisited the hitherto moribund Fashola Farms Estate which used to be the epicentre of agricultural development in the primordial Western region. The luminous project which runs into several kilometres, sits between Oyo and Iseyin, Makinde has rechristened it the Fashola Agricbusiness Industrial Hub. Investors are expressing interest in cultivating a myriad of crops, notably cassava, maize, soybeans, cowpeas, tomatoes, banana and even dairy production. Well over N11 Billion has been committed to revamping the primordial farm with the provision of road infrastructure, factories and warehouses, among other structures. At least a dozen companies have already been established in the agribusiness zone, including Friesland Campina West African Milk Company Ltd, (WAMCO), and Brown Hill Farms Ltd, which is cultivating vegetables by deploying the Green House model.

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, has identified over 12,000 hectares of arable land in his state, out of which the cultivation of 200 hectares last year, returned exponential yields. Abiodun at the harvest of rice from the demonstration farm located at the Magboro rice farm in Obafemi Owode local government area, boasted that Ogun State could conveniently feed the whole country. The pilot project yielded 1400 metric tonnes of rice, equivalent to 20,000 bags of milled rice, capable of gifting farmers with returns of N1Billion naira every quarter of the year. A cargo airport has been developed by the Abiodun government and approval secured from President Tinubu for the physical area of the airport to serve as a Special Agro-Cargo Processing Zone and a Free Trade Zone. The project has the potential to create about 50,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Who will grow or provide on a sustainable basis, the food which will feed the newly weds in Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and elsewhere? Who will cater for the almajiris, dan iskas and yan dabas being bred like rabbits out there, who have unwittingly become human furniture on northern streets? Mass weddings, early marriages, school closures for the observance of religious rites, freewill breeding of children without a plan for their futures, are not the pathways to socioeconomic progress. True, members of the elite like the senior parliamentarian representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada federal constituency in Kano, Ado Doguwa, may have four wives and 28 children. He is a fifth-term member of the legislature who has been Chief Whip and Majority Leader, respectively. Not everyone from his part of Nigeria, however, is as fiscally fortunate as he is.

As things stand today, the core North cannot aspire to catchup with, let alone overshoot the multisectoral mileages already attained by the South. It needs pursue immediate, intentional and conscientious rethinking, reorientation and recalibration, to get off the starting blocks.

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

NDLEA has done it again! But how?

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By Ayo Oyoze Baje

 

Quote:” This is not a challenge for the government alone. All of us are stakeholders.on this issue…The future of Nigeria belongs to all of us”– Gen. Buba Marwa ( retd), ( Chairman /CEO of NDLEA at the Business Luncheon with Island Club in Lagos, November,2024 )

Persisting as a clear and present danger, and worsening over the decades is the critical challenge of both drug trafficking and its abuse, here in Nigeria. With the trading in and addiction to hard drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, amphetamine, LSD and ecstasy, especially by some rudderless youth the consequences are dire for the country. In addition, NDLEA has warned against dangerous new drugs tagged ‘ Suck and Die’ and ‘ Rubber Solution ‘, that have become the favorites of the young addicts. That was a news headline on January 23, 2025.

Not left out is the recent warning given by NAFDAC that as many as 14.3 million Nigerians are affected by drug abuse!In fact, as Marwa has rightly noted the fight against the sales and abuse of such hard drugs, including the abuse of alcohol and cannabis cannot be left in the hands of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ) alone. A holistic approach has become a necessity.It is therefore, worthy of note that over the past three years the NDLEA has arrested over 52,901 drug traffickers, including 52 drug barons, seized 8.6 million kilograms of illicit drugs and secured 9,034 convictions. It has in addition destroyed over 1,572 hectres of cannabis farms across the country. Phenomenal achievements, is it not? Of course, it is!On record is that between that November 2024 and today the news media has been awash with mind-boggling seizures of hard drugs and their kingpins. Such headlines include: “Four Nigerians Arrested with 39 kg of Cocaine in Saudi Arabia”. That was in December 2024. Next was the news item which stated that: ” NDLEA Seizes Six Vehicles,40 feet Trailer Loaded with Skunk in Midnight Raid in Abuja “.And on January 18, this year it was that of: ” NDLEA Apprehends 366 Traffickers, 1.560 Seizes of Drugs in Enugu”. Furthermore, it was revealed that same month that the anti-drug Federal Government Agency intercepted N134.2 billion worth of drugs at the Tincan Island,Port Command. Another report by stated that the NDLEA intercepted UK-bound illicit drug consignment hidden in duvet at the Lagos airport and arrested two suspects.Still in January of this year was that of a businessman, escaping death after surgery to expel cocaine in his stomach as the Agency intercepted skunk from Ghana.

That was before the news item that went viral on social media that: “Drug Bust: NDLEA Seizes Massive Tramadol Haul, Arests Four “. Beyond listing all these horrifying tales of drug trafficking, is the all-important question of how the NDLEA is able to achieve these feats and what lessons agencies, organization and individuals can glean from them.Lest we deceive ourselves the answer is predicated on the leadership paradigm and unfailing principle of success. An insight into the persona of Buba Marwa would provide the answers. According to NDLEA ‘s Director of Media and Advocacy, ace journalist Femi Babafemi, while paying a tribute titled: ” Marwa: A Legend at 69″ highlighted the qualities of courage, being strategic, always believing in and aptly prioritizing and demonstrating workers’ welfare as a motivational force. He is also a sticker to innovation and one who plans well and of course, he is a commendable team leader.As Babafemi aptly stated about Marwa’s driving philosophies: ” One, where other leaders are overcautious of taking a radical step, Marwa does not dither, if the situation calls for it.” To bolster his assertion he mentioned how he created six new directorates, 14 Zonal commands, and a tactical unit of Strike Forces”.

Furthermore, he does not go on a wild goose chase. “His every action is strategic and calculated to deliver results “. And from the motivational perspective: ” His philosophy has always been that organizational goals are easily achieved when the workforce gives its best and such comes from happy workers”. All these sterling qualities have underscored the wonderful achievements so far recorded under his watch at the NDLEA. Other Nigerian leaders – overseeing both the political and economic spectrum should glean from his selfless service to the fatherland.Kudos also goes to the staff of the NDLEA, firstly for firmly believing in the vision of the agency and keying into it. But with regards to recent scary story of a newly wedded official of the agency who was burnt alive in Kaduna, while on duty and another one of the clash between the police and members of NDLEA the new challenge before Marwa is that of the safety of the workers. They should not become an endangered specie because of attacks from the drug barons and their supporters. Going forward, with the warning given by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, projecting a 40 % increase in drug use across Africa by 2030 due to population growth, the time for all of us as stakeholders to assist NDLEA to help us out is right now.

Doing so, and with the mass enlightenment on the dangers of drug abuse, especially to our young minds, through schools, churches, mosques, community meetings, would stem the rising tides of both drug trafficking and its abuse.It has become necessary for us all to understand the health implications of drug abuse. With dopamine, a neurotransmitter that regulates emotions, motivation and illusionary feeling of pleasure it affects choices made leading to constant cravings and substance abuse. Also, addiction to these drugs cause challenges to the lung and heart, leading to lung cancer and stroke. It also results in disabilities and eventually death. Prevention will therefore, be better than cure and the time for each of us to play our part is now.

Ohanaeze Reacts After IBB Revealed 1966 Coup Was Not An Igbo Coup

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The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called for a stop to all forms of entrenched vindictiveness, cruelty, and deep-seated animosities towards Igbos in Nigeria following the revelation by former military leader, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd) that the January 1966 Coup was not an Igbo coup.The group also demanded an unreserved apology from President Bola Tinubu on behalf of the government, past military leaders and particularly General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) for the pain suffered by the Igbos.The Ohanaeze, in a statement on Sunday by its Deputy President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said it’s time to put a stop to the narrative that Igbos are anti-Nigeria’s progress.Iziguzoro maintained that the erroneous promotion of the 1966 coup as an Igbo coup, has brought about catastrophic consequences, hatred and ethnic targeting against the Igbos in Nigeria.The Ohanaeze, therefore, commended IBB “for his bold and historic assertion that the January 1966 Coup d’état was unequivocally not an Igbo coup.”The Ohanaeze position was made known after IBB disclosed that it was an Igbo officer, Major John Obienu, who crushed the 1966 military coup.General Babangida disclosed this on page 39 of his book ‘A Journey In Service’.He stated that the ethnic colouration given to the coup as Igbo filtered in as a result of the killing of the then Sarduana of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello and his wife, Hafsatu.

Based on Babangida’s submission, the Ohanaeze has now demanded an apology to the Igbo nation by President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria as a country for the long years of trauma suffered by the region and its people.The group submitted that an apology from President Tinubu would give an opportunity for reconciliation and a united Nigeria.“This courageous acknowledgment stands as a crucial milestone in altering the narrative that has unjustly painted the Igbo people as antagonists within the broader scope of Nigeria’s tumultuous political landscape. It signals a potential cessation of the entrenched vindictiveness, cruelty, and deep-seated animosities directed toward the Igbo Nation over the past five decades.“During his recent book launch titled “A Journey in Service,” General Babangida’s clarity regarding the 1966 coup, notably his exemption of the Igbo people from the unjust label of being “enemies of the North,” is indeed commendable—albeit belated. The ramifications of the erroneous classification of the 1966 January Coup as an Igbo insurrection have been profoundly detrimental, leading to catastrophic consequences not only during that tumultuous period but extending into the present day. Specifically, this mischaracterization incited the July 1966 Counter Coup against the then Military Head of State of Igbo descent and precipitated violent uprisings targeting Igbo citizens residing in northern Nigeria, sowing seeds of discord that ultimately contributed to the tragic Biafra War, in which three million Igbos, predominantly women and children, lost their lives.

In the wake of this tragic history, the Igbo people continue to suffer from systemic injustices and marginalization. Our demographic representation in terms of least number of states within the federation remains the least of any ethnic group, the political conspirancies to deny Igbos from ascending to Nigeria’s Presidency and we face deliberate omissions of Federal Government presence in the Southeast. The tragic closure of the Eastern Economic Corridor, characterized by the permanent shutdown of the Calabar seaport and other critical infrastructures, underscores the extent of our exclusion. Additionally, the implementation of the federal government’s discriminatory policies, exemplified by the quota system and the absence of functional international airports in the Southeast, serves to reinforce the barriers to our equitable participation in the socio-political fabric of Nigeria.“In light of these grievous injustices, Ohanaeze Ndigbo reiterates our demands articulated during the 1999 Justice Oputa-led Judicial Commission for the Investigation of Human Rights Violation Panel. It is imperative that the current federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, must confront the shadows of our historical traumas. We demand a public and unreserved apology from the President on behalf of past military regimes, particularly that of General Yakubu Gowon, who orchestrated unprovoked bombardments and shellings over Igbo territory during the Nigeria-Biafra War that resulted in immense human suffering and loss.

Furthermore, we maintain our resolute stance that the Nigerian federal government must dispel the long-standing inequities perpetrated against the Igbo nation by paying reparations amounting to 10 trillion naira. This demand is not merely a demand for financial restitution or restitution; it is a necessary acknowledgment of the value of human lives lost and the cultural and infrastructural devastation endured by our people, which remains evident even 55 years post-conflict.“In an ideal society, the implications of General Babangida’s confession would prompt accountability among those who endorsed the odious actions against the Igbo. However, embodying the spirit of forgiveness that defines our identity, the Igbo people have extended our pardon to General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and others for the grievous sins committed against our community during the Biafra War spanning from 1966 to 1970.We earnestly call upon President Tinubu to embrace this opportune moment for genuine reconciliation and restorative justice, thereby laying the foundation for a united and harmonious Nigeria, where the scars of the past give way to a brighter future for all citizens.”

$23bn refinery biggest risk of my life – Dangote

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Billionaire Aliko Dangote has described his $23bn Dangote Refinery project as the “biggest risk” of his life, acknowledging the challenges he faced in bringing the venture to fruition.

In an exclusive interview with Forbes on Monday, Dangote opened up about the risks involved in such a massive undertaking.

“It was the biggest risk of my life. If this didn’t work, I was dead,” he said.

Despite the refinery’s groundbreaking capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and its status as Africa’s largest, Dangote revealed that the journey to completion was fraught with uncertainties.

Dangote also spoke about the hurdles he faced in financing the project, the regulatory challenges, and securing suppliers.

Dangote said he is committed to providing a blueprint for industrialisation across Africa.

“We have to build our own nation by ourselves. We have to build our own continent by ourselves, not [rely on] foreign investment.

He added that Africa has been “a mere dumping ground for finished products,” and his refinery represents “a pivotal step in ensuring that Africa has the capacity to refine its own crude oil, thereby creating wealth and prosperity for its vast population,” he said.

Undeterred by the challenges, Dangote is determined to ensure the success of his refinery.

According to the Forbes report, despite establishing a family office in Dubai and involving his three daughters in various roles within the family business, his focus remains firmly on Nigeria.

He continues to dedicate much of his time to the refinery, regularly meeting with engineers and managers to oversee progress.

Dangote is also working on ambitious projects such as building a subsea pipeline to transport natural gas from the Niger Delta to Lagos and expanding the capacity of the refinery’s fertiliser plant.

Looking ahead, he plans to take the refinery public within the next year or two.

“I’ve been fighting battles all my life and I have not lost one yet,” he said.

PSC CHAIR INDENTIFIES INTRA & INTER SERVICE CONFLICT, POLITICIZATION OF CRIME AND SECURITY ISSUES AND CONFLICT OF ROLES AS MAJOR CHALLENGES CONFRONTING SECURITY AGENCIES IN NIGERIA

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By Ebinum Samuel

The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd mni, has identified intra and inter Service conflict, politicisation of crime and security issues and conflict of roles as major challenges confronting the security Agencies in due process and application of criminal justice system.

He also noted that lack of funds, neglect of ethics and lack of coordination and collaboration has become additional challenges facing the security Agencies.

Ikechukwu Ani, the Commission’s Spokesman disclosed that DIG Argungu spoke today, Thursday, February 13th 2025 at the maiden annual lecture for stakeholders on curbing insecurity in Nigeria, organised by the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies (AANISS), held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

Speaking on the topic, “Mobilising stakeholders to curb insecurity in Nigeria: A practical Approach ” the PSC Chairman observed that unemployment, abject poverty and ignorance have since constituted major challenges to effective security in Nigeria.

He looked at the prospects of information and communication technology for security in contemporary Nigeria, stressing that it will help transform security and integrate all systems with harmonised and uniformity of standards.

DIG Argungu said it will also eliminate torture, reduce imprisonment without trial, and herald global competitiveness and digital economic transformation.

The PSC Chairman said the topic, curbing insecurity in Nigeria was apt as he noted that this is the time to mobilise other key stake- holders to curb insecurity in the country by applying a practical approach gained through practical experience.

Attacks on NYSC members must stop!

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By Ayo Oyoze Baje

“What have you done?
The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to me. So now you are cursed from the earth”
-Genesis 4 vs 9-12 ( Voice of God to Cain on killing his brother, Abel )

Life is precious, priceless and irreplaceable. That is as far as those who value not only theirs but that of fellow human beings, are concerned. They would therefore, do everything humanly possible to protect every human life, knowing fully well that one of the greatest laws ever is to “love your neighbour as yourself”. But to some heartless, cruel criminals who belong to the vampire bat breed the life of others matter only when their biddings are done. They can and do quench the flames of others at the bat of an eyelid not minding the dire consequences.

That perhaps, might shed more light on the recent attack on one Safwan Fade, who was until that fateful night of January 22, 2025 a member of the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ), serving at the Federal College of Education ( FCE ), Pankshin in Pankshin Local Government Area, LGA of Plateau state. He was allegedly brutally attacked by a group of assailants at the Pankshin township stadium, leaving him with severe injuries that eventually led to his untimely death!

Though the Plateau state Police Command has confirmed the ugly incident, based on the report from Umbule Boreng Reuben of Pankshin LGA and gone further to nail two male suspects, Samuel Dang Kat and Zatshinen Wubwerewe the heinous crime has sparked off several burning questions.

It would be recalled that in early December 2024 a female corps member serving at Government Day Secondary School, Kuledele was assaulted; slapped, beaten up and stripped, with her white T-shirt torn to shreds by fellow teachers, all because she did not greet them! Can you imagine the audacity and effontry? Such was the despicable scenario ignited by the incident right in the presence of some students that the management of the NYSC in Kwara state had to withdraw all the 10 members of the youth service from the school. In addition, the state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajiya Sa’ adatu Modibbo-Kawu had to issue a statement of total condemnation. That was in addition to the state government’s call for a thorough investigation into the root causes of the embarrassing situation. Yet, a worse case scenario had unfolded back in May, 2011.

The outrageous and horrendous incident was the killing spree that wantonly wasted the priceless lives of 10 NYSC members all in Bauchi state! That was sequel to the blood-letting spectacle of the presidential election held in May 2011. And painfully, it reminded concerned Nigerians about the ” baboon and dog soaked in blood” comment of one of the presidential candidates! Can you imagine the desperation for political power under a so called democratic dispensation?! Most disgusting, is it not? Of course, it is.

Unfortunately and painfully, most of the NYSC members who fell as voiceless victims to the rampaging monsters, acting as political hoodlums right there in Bauchi state hailed from the southern geo-political zones. For instance, while Teidi Olawale, a graduate of computer science hailed from Osun state, Okpokiri Michael, a young graduate with degree in Environmental Management was born in Abia state. Nwazema Chukwunonyere, with HND in Electronics hailed from Imo state.Of the 10 victims only Akonyi Sule hailed from Kogi state in the North Central geo-political zone. The preventable tragedy led to the call by some citizens,worried about the killings of youth corpers that they should be posted to their own states of origin, or that of their geo-political zone. But that runs against the grain and marching mandate of NYSC, as brought into existence under Yakubu Gowon back in 1973.

Back then, the NYSC program came up as a mandatory, post-tertiary institution program with the noble and patriotic vision and mission to ” reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the civil war”. With a duration of one year and meant for graduates under the age of 30 years to serve in other parts of the country the aim is to get them to understand our rich cultural and socio-economic diversities. The onus therefore, lies on the host communities to welcome and embrace the young graduates, from whichever part of the country, valuing their services instead of making them vulnerable to attacks. In fact, for me serving in Edeki Grammar School in the then Bendel state (1976-77) was a matter of national pride. Not only did it afford me the opportunity to hone my skill in creative writing through the book borrowing program as introduced by the then Military Administrator, Brigadier Ogbemudia ( now of blessed memory) one was able to positively impact on the reading culture of the students. One also recalls with joy that I was the one who introduced the End -of-Year Prize Giving ceremony for the graduating students of that school and the neighbouring one. That was then.

But this is now. It is a heart-rending and mind-bending situation for NYSC members to be assaulted and killed mercilessly, as it has happened in recent years years. That explains why the parents of the ten youth corpers killed in Bauchi state after the election in 2011, told the then President Goodluck Jonathan the bitter home Truth. According to one of them, a widow left groaning with four children, all those responsible for the killing of the young graduates should be made to face the full wrath of the law. That was despite Jonathan approving the payment of Five Million Naira to each family and offering one graduate per family job at the Federal Civil Service.

All said, there should be proactive measures and laws enacted by our legislators and signed by Mister President for the full protection of our NYSC members anywhere they serve in the country. Prevention will be better than cure.

Baje, the President of Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria, GPAAN writes from Lagos