The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has called for a strong stand against domestic violence, emphasizing that his daughters are instructed to resist any form of abuse and to defend themselves if physically attacked by their husbands.
Speaking at the National Dialogue Conference on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention from an Islamic Perspective, Sanusi revealed concerning statistics about domestic violence, highlighting that 45% of cases in the past five years in nine Shari’a courts in Kano were related to domestic abuse.
The conference, which focused on “Islamic Teachings and Community Collaboration for Ending Gender-Based Violence,” was organized by the Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID) at Bayero University Kano (BUK), in partnership with the Development Research and Projects Centre (DRPC) and supported by the Ford Foundation.
In his speech, Sanusi acknowledged the teachings of Islam, which, when interpreted in the correct context, permit a husband to lightly discipline his wife under very specific conditions. However, he condemned the misuse of this allowance, citing cases where domestic violence was rampant, far exceeding the bounds of light discipline. He said, “You can take that verse and say that as a husband, I’ve been given this permission to beat my wife lightly. But when those rules are not followed, when anger overrides reason, women are slapped, punched, kicked, and beaten without any regard for the Islamic guidelines.”
Sanusi’s research, conducted for his doctoral thesis on family law, revealed troubling patterns in the judicial system, particularly in Kano’s Shari’a courts. Over a five-year period, 41% of cases dealt with maintenance issues, 26% involved harm, and 45% of those cases were related to domestic violence, including wife-beating. Sanusi went on to detail the severity of these cases, describing injuries such as broken limbs, knocked-out teeth, and women suffering continuous beatings with sticks. He also mentioned incidents where husbands, together with other wives, would collectively assault one wife. In some extreme cases, even children were compelled to bring their fathers to trial for assaulting their mothers. “Not one case of wife-beating was light,” he remarked.
Sanusi firmly stated that wife-beating, or any form of violence against women, is unequivocally forbidden in Islam, stressing that it constitutes harm, and harm, in all forms, must be eradicated. “Beating your wife, your daughter, or any woman is haram; it is prohibited. Allah commands that all harm must be removed. Beating, gender-based violence—this is harm—and it must be removed,” he declared.
Sanusi’s views on this matter have drawn criticism in some quarters, but he stood by his convictions, particularly when it comes to the treatment of his own daughters. He explained that when his daughters marry, he makes it clear to them that no abuse will be tolerated. “If your husband slaps you and you come home to me and you haven’t slapped him back, I will slap you myself. I did not send my daughter to marry someone who will slap her. If he doesn’t like her, let him send her back to me. But don’t beat her,” Sanusi stated.
He emphasized that the message must be twofold: women should not tolerate abuse, and men must be taught that violence is never acceptable. “We must teach our daughters not to accept it, and we must teach our sons that it is not allowed. We have to raise our children to understand that violence against another human being, whether it is your brother, your sister, your son, your daughter, or your wife, violates the basic dignity of a human being,” he added.
Sanusi’s bold stance has sparked a wider conversation about domestic violence and its acceptance in certain societal and religious contexts. His call for a reformation in how men and women understand gender-based violence aims to foster a more compassionate and just society, grounded in both Islamic principles and universal human rights.
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has opined that corruption remains one of the most persistent challenges affecting all sectors and institutions of the Nigerian society, undermining policy-decision making. Aliyu said this while delivering the keynote address on, “Justice System Administration And Insecurity In Nigeria: Challenges, Opportunities And Solutions,” at the 2024 Annual Lecture/Award Ceremony organised by the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria on the 5th December 2024. The chairman said he was happy to be x-raying the multi-faceted challenges faced by the Justice systems administration and the security sector in Nigeria, highlighting the prospects of implementing behaviour change and imbibing corruption prevention attitude to achieve effectiveness, efficiency and transparency in the sectors. He therefore stressed: “Corruption remains one of the most persistent challenges affecting all sectors and institutions of the Nigerian society, undermines policy-decision making, resource mobilisation and utilisation, policy execution and service delivery. Our experience at the ICPC in partnership with key stakeholders, has shown that tackling corruption effectively, across sectors and institutions, requires a proactive, multi-faceted approach. This approach should focus not only on enforcement but also on prevention, deterrence, and systems reform.” According to Aliyu, the Justice System Administration faces institutional, funding, infrastructural, human resources, and socio-cultural challenges. He said that of all these, insufficient budgetary allocation hinders the effective functioning of the justice system, leading to inefficient court administration, poor management of court processes, inadequate record-keeping, and lack of technological support was most affecting. He added: “The widespread corruption within the justice system, including bribery, influence peddling and attitudinal challenges are more fundamental and daunting. I dare say that the justice sector remains a focal point of concern, particularly regarding bribery involving stakeholders in the justice sector, and despite limited public contact, judicial officials exhibit relatively high bribery prevalence, hence the need for targeted anti-corruption measures in this sector.” Aliyu noted that there was a limited adoption and use of technology, such as electronic filing and digital record-keeping, which at this time and age, is a sad commentary on the justice system administration. He also said that the justice sector remained the fulcrum of concern in the fight against corruption, and the new norm now was the admissibility of electronically generated evidence and the introduction of technology in the administration of justice in our judicial system. “There is a challenge of inadequate court infrastructure, as indicated by outdated and poorly maintained court buildings, inadequate seating, and insufficient facilities. With this scenario, if nothing else, morale is affected and service delivery is impaired,” said Aliyu.
He noted that it would be wrong if he failed to mention the challenge of inadequate prison facilities, which is causing overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate healthcare in prisons. “The sore point is that inmates of Nigerian prisons hardly get corrected, reformed or subsequently rehabilitated,” he added. He further maintained that the justice system is also faced with human resource challenges, which is a shortage of judicial officers and, an insufficient number of judges, magistrates, and others. Added to this, are inadequate training, capacity-building and development opportunities for judicial officers, prosecutors, and other stakeholders. He noted that there were also low salaries and poor working conditions for judicial officers and other stakeholders as other challenges. Speaking on socio-cultural challenges, Aliyu said: “There are still some traditional and cultural practices that hinder access to justice, particularly for vulnerable groups. For instance, it has been observed that there are disparities in access to justice based on social status, wealth, and influence and that some people may have limited access to justice because they do not speak the dominant language. “As an anti-corruption practitioner who superintends over investigation and prosecution of corruption cases, what readily comes to mind as a key challenge is the inefficient management of criminal justice institutions. “Despite the good intentions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which aims to reform the system, the implementation has been somewhat slow and inconsistent. For instance, there is still a lack of a functional Central Criminal Records Registry and inadequate reporting by law enforcement agencies, frustrating a major objective of the reform effort, the non-availability of a criminal database.” Again, a major issue mentioned by Aliyu is the delay in the Administration of Justice, which in itself inadvertently undermines the integrity of the system. “Unnecessary and excessive delays in the justice system always lead to frustration and disillusionment. As a part of the system, the Commission knows that this delay is often caused by inadequate record-keeping, lack of technological support, poor oversight of the prosecutors and compromised attitude of the administrators,” said Aliyu. “A number of our cases are more than ten years old, which we recently reactivated, and we are determined to surmount the challenge by taking the matters to their logical conclusion to avoid situations of ‘justice denied’.” Aliyu maintained that despite the ACJA’s provisions, the inability of the justice system administration to actually ‘protect the society from crimes’ is another area of concern. His words: “Criminality remains rampant and the system fails to promptly bring offenders to justice. This state of affairs and lack of accountability in the system encourage more people to engage in criminal activities. Furthermore, while the ACJA has improved the protection of defendants’ rights, vulnerable defendants still face significant challenges, as the protection of the Rights and Interests of Suspects and Defendants is often compromised along the line. “There is still an ongoing challenge of promoting the ‘Rights and Interests of Victims’. Although the ACJA recognizes victims’ rights, its implementation remains inconsistent, and awareness among law enforcement personnel, legal practitioners, and judicial officers remains limited.” He explained that addressing these challenges required a multi-faceted approach, including strengthening institutions, improving record-keeping, and enhancing awareness and more active implementation of the ACJA’s provisions. “Doing this will equally involve all stakeholders, including the government, judiciary, legal profession, and civil society,” he said. While dissecting the challenges of insecurity in Nigeria, Aliyu said Nigeria faces numerous security challenges that threaten the country’s stability and development. He stated: “The militant terrorists, Islamist groups, particularly Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) have been responsible for numerous attacks, kidnappings, and killings, especially in the North East region. Also, there is the rise of organised criminal gangs, which have been involved in kidnappings, cattle raids, and armed robberies, targeting schools, villages, and highways, especially in the North West region.
“The Farmer-Herder Conflict, driven by competition for land, resources, and water, and resulting in numerous clashes, killings, and displacements, is also a significant security challenge, particularly in the Middle Belt and North West regions. “Additionally, militant separatists, particularly in the South East region, have been involved in violent clashes with security forces. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its paramilitary wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), have been accused of promoting anti-Fulani sentiment and enforcing a ban on grazing in the region. “Lastly, widespread kidnappings and banditry are significant security challenges in Nigeria, with many cases reported across the entire country. These crimes are often committed by armed gangs and militants, who demand ransom payments from victims’ families.” He suggested that to effectively address the insecurity in Nigeria, a comprehensive multi-faceted approach was required because the security challenges are also complex and multifaceted. He said that although the nexus between justice system administration and insecurity in Nigeria is complex and multifaceted, Nigerians should try to make some connections because by acknowledging it, “we can work towards breaking this cycle and promoting a more just, secure, and prosperous society; on one hand, an ineffective Justice System manifests with slow court processes and the ensuing delayed justice will lead to frustration, mistrust, and a sense of impunity, fuelling insecurity.” He emphasised that when there is a lack of accountability in the justice system administration, the failure to hold perpetrators accountable for crimes will embolden them to continue perpetuating a cycle of violence and insecurity. And, “Corruption within the justice system will undermine trust and create opportunities for criminals to further exploit.” On the other hand, stressed Aliyu, “insecurity breeds crime and violence, which will overwhelm the justice system and exacerbate delays and inefficiencies. Also, criminal elements, terrorist and insurgent groups, corruptly exploit weaknesses in the justice system to recruit, radicalize, and perpetuate violence. “Indeed, one can say that unchecked insecurity enables kidnapping and banditry, which will further destabilise the justice system. As consequences, the ineffective justice system administration and rising insecurity will erode public trust in institutions and foster a sense of hopelessness.” He said that insecurity and ineffective justice system administration are known to aggravate human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and arbitrary detention. He also insists that insecurity and ineffective justice system administration have severe socio-economic consequences, including displacement, poverty, and economic stagnation. Reeling out solutions to some of the aforementioned challenges, Aliyu said: “As short-term solutions, the immediate adoption of automation and digitalization regime, which will include implementing technology to automate court processes, case management, and record-keeping. The justice sector needs to implement effective case management systems to reduce delays and improve efficiency. “In the short term, the upgrading and maintenance of court infrastructure, including buildings, furniture, and equipment as well as the provision of regular training for judges, magistrates, and court staff to enhance their skills and knowledge, will turn around the challenging situation.
“Long-term solutions proposed for effective, efficient and accountable justice system administration are as follows; comprehensive and better coordinated Judicial Reform to address issues of independence and financial autonomy, accountability and transparency across the levels of the system. There should also be legislative reforms which involve the enactment of laws that promote justice, equality, and human rights, and the review of existing laws to ensure they are consistent with international standards. “Access to justice must be improved for the marginalized groups, including women, children, and people with disabilities.” He calls for a programme of corruption-prevention or reduction, measures to prevent or reduce corruption within the justice system, including the use of technology to track cases and prevent tampering, should be purposefully implemented. He added: “It is imperative to establish a robust court administration system that will be more effective and efficient in managing court operations, including case management, finance, and human resources. “As a corollary to this, there should be institutional strengthening such that the National Judicial Council (NJC) will be strengthened to ensure effective oversight and accountability of the judiciary and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) will be strengthened to more efficiently manage the appointment, promotion, and discipline of judicial officers.” Aliyu, proposing a short-term and long-term solution to insecurity in Nigeria, said that there should be, employment and deployment of more security personnel to the troubled areas, enhancement of security capabilities and intelligence gathering to anticipate and prevent attacks, establishment of a community policing system to foster trust between security agencies and local communities and establishment of a rapid response system to quickly respond to security incidents. On the long-term solution, he said that the government should address poverty, unemployment, and inequality, which he noted were the root causes of insecurity. He said: “More investment in education and skills development programs to empower youths will greatly help. It will also be of great impact to implement economic empowerment programs to generally reduce poverty and inequality. “Making significant investment in infrastructure development, such as roads, bridges, and public buildings to reflate the economy and enhance opportunities for meaningful livelihood. Also, the security sector should be honestly reformed to make it more effective, efficient, and truly accountable. “I call for a more active promotion of national unity and cohesion through inclusive policies and programs. Indeed, if the justice and security sectors generally imbibe the 7 core values of the ICPC’s National Ethics and Integrity Policy, as adopted by the Federal Government in 2020, it will go a very long way to achieve both effectiveness and cohesion. “I also recommend technological solutions such as installation of surveillance systems like CCTV cameras, to monitor public spaces, implementation of biometric identification systems to track and identify individuals, adoption of enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect national infrastructures against cyber threats, and use of data analytics to analyse security data and anticipate potential security threats.” Aliyu said that it was obvious that at all levels; be it the level of policy formulation, level of resourcing and level of policy implementation, corruption, manifesting in attitude, behaviour and conduct which are lacking in integrity, transparency and accountability, plays a very ignoble role in creating the various challenges, as identified earlier.
“It is therefore for this singular reason that the ICPC proposes greater emphasis on behavioural change and corruption prevention attitude across the board, as the most pragmatic way to resolving the challenges. There is indeed enough for our needs but not our greed,” said the chairman. He pointed out that ICPC’s Behaviour Change Initiative and Corruption Prevention Methodologies were applicable in all sectors and at all levels of government. Also, “Our civil society engagement initiative has the potential to raise impactful and action-induced public awareness about the importance of an effective justice system and the need for reform of the security sector. Indeed, our coalition of NGOs -the National Anti-corruption Coalition -has always been at the forefront of advocacy efforts to push for justice sector reform and promote accountability within the security sector. “They are ever ready for participation in justice and security initiatives to build trust and promote collaborative problem-solving approach. Our prevention tools, as exemplified by the ICPC System Study methodology and the Ethics and Integrity Score-Card, have the potency and capacity to monitor and evaluate the performance of the justice system as well as the Security sector and to identify areas for improvement. “However, to be able to do much more, the Commission craves more resourcing in terms of personnel, funding, capacity enhancement, technology, community engagements and public support.”
In Fight Against Criminal Elements Nigeria media practitioners, especially the Crime Reporters have been tasked to collaborate with law enforcement agencies and individuals in the task of riding the country of criminal elements. The Olowu Kuta of Kuta, Osun State, HRH Oba Dr. Hammed Adekunle Makama Oyelude who made the call in Lagos, noted that the country is challenged by myraids of security challenges over the years. Speaking at the Annual Lecture/Award ceremony of Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), held at Sheba Event Centre, Ikeja, however acknowledged the dedication of members of the Association in the discharge of their duties.
He also charged the media practitioners to be more dedicated, emphasising that the reward of more work is hard work. His words, ” As you all know that our country is challenged by the myraids of security challenges over the years. I want to acknowledge what the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria has been doing collectively and individually to report crime and follow to logical conclusion ; they should also know that the reward of hard work is more work. “Towards this end, I will implore you that more than ever, you work with the law enforcement agencies and well-meaning individuals in order to rid the country of undesirable elements formenting trouble”.
Daniel Bwala, the newly appointed Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication, has clarified his earlier controversial stance on the 2023 presidential election. Speaking during an interview with Arise News from 20:38, Bwala admitted that his initial claim that Tinubu’s victory was corruptly secured was politically motivated. “I no longer believe Tinubu corruptly won the election,” he declared.
“Then, I was playing politics. I didn’t care.”When asked whether his new position was influenced by his recent appointment in the Tinubu administration, Bwala firmly rejected the notion. “Not because I’m working for him,” he said. “Let me give you an example: when did I start working for him? Two, three weeks ago? In the past one year, what was I talking about?” He emphasized that his change in perspective was not about political alignment but about upholding legal principles and respecting the judicial process.Bwala noted that the President is the leader of the entire nation, and it is possible to commend him from across political divides.
“The fact of the matter is, the President is the President of Nigeria. You can still stay in your party and commend the President if he does something right,” he said. He also pointed out that democracy allows for dissent, even within a ruling party.Addressing his past comments, Bwala explained that his earlier remarks were made before the election tribunal and Supreme Court had delivered their verdicts. “I made that comment immediately after the election, even before we went for tribunal,” he stated. He reiterated his commitment to the rule of law, adding, “Whether he bought [the election] or not was ran through a judicial process, and it was rested. We call it res judicata.The judgment of the Supreme Court is binding on all authorities, and everybody abides by that.”
The program prioritizes educating road users on the significance of compliance with traffic laws, discouraging reckless driving, and maintaining discipline to avert accidents and alleviate congestion on Lagos roads.At the official launch, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, reaffirmed the administration’s dedication to ensuring smooth vehicular movement across the metropolis.“The Yuletide season is synonymous with festivity, but it also heralds increased road usage.
This campaign aims to reinforce motorists’ obligations to prioritize safety, thereby reducing accidents and traffic disruptions,” he stated.The Female Elite Corps, a highly trained cadre within LASTMA, will execute the campaign through dynamic roadshows, community interactions, and dissemination of educational materials across key traffic hotspots, including Ikeja, Surulere, Epe, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Agege, Lekki, Egbeda, Obalende, and Apapa. Furthermore, motorists and commuters will receive real-time updates and compliance tips via LASTMA’s digital platforms, ensuring seamless communication throughout the campaign.The initiative underscores pivotal traffic regulations such as: strict observance of traffic signals and road signage, abstinence from driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, adherence to lane discipline and prohibition of one-way driving and Ensuring vehicles are roadworthy prior to undertaking any journey.
Hon. Giwa encouraged motorists to cooperate fully with LASTMA officials and report traffic violations through the agency’s toll-free helpline, 080000527862.He urged all road users to embrace responsible driving habits, fostering a safer, more harmonious holiday atmosphere for all residents and visitors in Lagos.
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd, mni, has called for a new Journalism orientation that uses the power of the pen as an instrument to mould and unite the Nigerian nation for rapid development. DIG Argungu noted that the era of gorilla journalism should give way for Developmental journalism adding “it should no more be a profession for fishing out negative energies but one in partnership with both the Government and the people in building an egalitarian and prosperous nation”In his goodwill message at the 8th Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, TRIENNIAL National Delegates conference in Owerri today, November, 27th 2024, the PSC Chairman said the Journalists as the watchdogs of the society should be in the forefront of providing the checks and balances “in our democratic space.
“You are required to enjoy the freedom to exercise all this important National assignment and like Ceaser”s wife should rise above suspicion”DIG Argungu’s goodwill message was presented on his behalf by Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations of the Commission. He said it is the duty of the Journalists to support the Government at all levels to succeed as “this success will bring the required dividends of our growing democracy”.The PSC Chairman said the Commission holds the Nigerian Journalists in high esteem and will always support all efforts that will sustain it’s independence. “I also know that this Government in its respect for freedom of association and expression has allowed the Journalists to operate without hindrance”He however declared that the Journalists on their own “should reciprocate Government’s good gesture by playing to the rules and regulations guiding their conduct”.
He congratulated the outgoing President of the National body, Dr. Chris Isiguzo for the visibility and direction he has given the Union and prayed that the Conference will produce new leaders who will not only sustain this success but improve on it”.DIG Argungu assured that the Commission will continue to hold the Union and its Members in high esteem and will also continue to partner with them in the overall interest of the nation.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has relocated its headquarters to its new facility, which is being developed in phases in Jahi area of Abuja. The facility, which is the first phase of the national headquarters project expected to be completed with the 2025 budgetary provisions, was officially unveiled during an interdenominational service within the complex on Wednesday 26th November 2024. Speaking during the brief ceremony, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) said the development represents a phase in the transformation and recalibration of NDLEA into a modern and result-oriented anti-narcotic Agency, a process that began in January 2021.
“I’m glad we have finally moved in to occupy this facility after initial budgetary constraints. Even though this is the first phase of the new headquarters project, we are hopeful that we will be able to complete the process with next year budget. This is not 100% completed but it is sufficiently functional for us to move in because I was determined to move in before the end of 2024 because with the expansion of the Agency the headquarters also expanded, and in our old location we could not accommodate everyone. I have had to post out scores of officers due to lack of space for them to work.
“It was for this reason that the management took a unanimous decision that since it is not 100% ready and we need it, we should make it a low-key inauguration ceremony. This will enable us relocate some of our directorates still operating outside Abuja into one facility to consolidate our operations for efficiency, effectiveness and seamless coordination”, Marwa stated. While stating that the old head office in Gimbiya, Garki area of the FCT will continue to serve as the headquarters annex, the NDLEA boss expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support and encouragement to the Agency to be in a position to achieve its mandate of curbing substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.
“The support we are getting from our international partners and local stakeholders especially President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, the Judiciary and the citizenry, is not just to appreciate our efforts but to encourage us to do more and I believe this new work environment will motivate you to surpass past feats”, Marwa told a crowd of excited management staff, officers and men of the Agency at the ceremony. He commended his predecessor for starting the process of getting a befitting headquarters for the Agency. In his welcome remark, Secretary to the Agency, Shadrach Haruna, commended Marwa for providing inspiring leadership that has in three years transformed NDLEA into the same class with its counterparts across the world in terms of professionalism, capability and capacity.
“The commissioning of our headquarters today is part of the incremental but well-laid agenda for the repositioning of the Agency by the chairman. We have witnessed some monumental achievements since 2021, including increasing the staff strength of the Agency from 5,000 to 15,000. Promotion of officers, opening up of vacancies, payment of accumulated allowances to staff and widows of our fallen officers, the recent amendment of the Agency’s enabling law by the National Assembly, and many more. Christian and Islamic prayers were offered for President Tinubu and Nigeria while a commemorative plaque was unveiled to mark the event.
When he was asked at dinner with associates and officials last week, how he intended to celebrate his 78th birthday, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, GCON, retorted that he had never decidedly marked the date over time. “For me, it is an occasion for thankfulness to God, for reflection and prayers, and for reaching out to the less privileged,” he explained. “The American University of Nigeria, (AUN), Yola, adopting an American model, hosts me to a “Founder’s Day” event every year, as part of the convocation activities of the institution. If you’ve followed the pattern over time, there is usually a guest speaker who delivers a lecture on issues of local and global relevance.
I’m also allocated a slot to address the gathering as the Founder of the institution.” Continuing, Atiku noted: “Participating in the graduation ceremony of youngsters the age of my grandchildren fills me with tremendous joy.” Further still, Atiku submits: “I’m delighted that the vision of the AUN, that of availing young people from across the globe, world-class, American-style education in an African context, is being achieved. The university is cosmopolitan in every sense of the word with respect to the diversity of the faculty and the students. The last time I checked, we had about a dozen nationalities in the university community. The President is usually an American. Apart from Nigerians, there are students from South Africa, Rwanda, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Niger, Uganda, Cameroun, and so on. AUN is training world class, future professionals and leaders, who will drive the future of Africa and the world at large. That alone gives me tremendous joy and fulfilment.”While Atiku is entitled to his idea of commemorating his birthday, his associates and staff had their own plans. The AUN programme is scheduled for Saturday November 30, 2024.
This year’s edition of the event has Peter Obi, CON, former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, (LP), as guest lecturer. Atiku’s birthday is on Monday November 25, 2024. They could at least get him a cake and lay out lunch buffet for him. By the time Atiku descended into the main lounge in his house that day to go observe the midday prayer, the *Dhuhr,* associates had begun to congregate. Adamu Maina Waziri and Ibrahim Bio, both former Ministers in the administration of former President Umaru Yar’Adua; Kolawole Ogunwale, who formerly represented Osun Central in the Senate, and Sajo Mohammed, former Director of Compliance at the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, (NLRC), were waiting. So was Ekene Onwuka, one of Atiku’s proteges. A spontaneous birthday song rent the air as the “birthday boy” blew the candle of the cake to the applause of his “hosts.” At lunch, the influx of dignitaries was such that guests who arrived earlier had to constantly yield their seats to newcomers. Reminds of “shifting cultivation,” one of several templates of crop farming which we learnt in elementary school. Senator Ben Obi, CON, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of AUN and Emeka Ihedioha, CON, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Governor of Imo State, kept faith.
Dino Melaye, former Senator representing Kogi West District; Jide Adeniji, a former Managing Director of the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency, (FERMA), and Maxwell Gidado, SAN, Professor and former Special Adviser to Atiku, joined the party. In the event that Atiku thought that was all, more faces showed up when it was time for a photoshoot after lunch, at the entrance of his home. Mohammed Kumalia, two-term Member Representing Maiduguri Metropolitan Constituency and Kola Ologbondiyan, Emeritus spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), were in the house. They joined Atiku’s ever loyal principal officers, notably Dr Azu Ndukwe, Chief Physician; Dr Andy Okolie, Head of Special Duties; Ibrahim Zango, Emeritus diplomat and Principal Secretary; Siddiki Buba Jauro and Eta Uso, Special Assistants on Domestic Affairs Information Technology respectively.
You run through the list of attendees at the impromptu birthday and the cosmopolitanism of Atiku rings through. Atiku then personally invite his other aides: Security personnel; protocol officers; police escorts; kitchen staff; drivers, to join him for the photoshoot. The “birthday programme” thereafter shifted to Atiku’s office wing within his princely complex, even as telephone calls kept coming, customised birthday cards popping up and new arrivals, streaming. Abdul Ahmed Ningi, Senator Representing Bauchi Central Zone; Musa Elayo Abdullahi, Minister of State for Justice under the Obasanjo/Atiku administration; Abdullahi Mai Basira, former PDP National Financial Secretary and Michael Ikeagwonu Ugochinyere, Member Representing Ideato federal constituency, Imo State, all stopped by. Atiku didn’t need to crack his head at any point before engaging with his guests. He knew everyone by name and so addressed them as they shook hands with him and exchanged robust pleasantries, a smile ever playing around his lips.
The highpoint of the unscheduled birthday was the presentation to Atiku, a branded t-shirt of the high-flying English Premier League, (EPL) football club, Arsenal, by Eta Uso, one of his aides. I always knew Atiku was a “Gunner,” the moniker with which we Arsenal friends are known. His doctor, Azu Ndukwe, is as passionate. Atiku knows I’m one as well, and this is one of our areas of mutual convergence. Arsenal was playing this tricky game which we watched together in his comfy living room, one of those midweek evenings. Atiku had to go observe the *Isha’a* prayer so he assigned me the responsibility of monitoring proceedings so I could brief him after the supplication. “Analyst Tunde, what are the scores,” he shot at me immediately he returned. “We are two goals up, Your Excellency.” His face lit up, you would think he had stakes in the club! So Eta Uso presented this specially branded Arsenal jersey to Atiku, cameras and that flashlights clicking away, that afternoon. That was the prompter to other Gunners in the house who wanted to share the joy of the moment with the celebrant.
Emeka Ihedioha, Dino Melaye, Jide Adeniji and I, all rose to join Atiku in celebrating a birthday gift, otherwise simple, but which meant so much to him. Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote is equally a very well known Arsenal aficionado who once contemplated buying over the London-based club. High flyers are human after all, and indeed share some of the fascinations of regular people. After witnessing just how beautifully an unplanned milestone unfolded, you could not but wonder what the colour of the event would have been if it had been intentionally structured. For a man with such overflowing bank of goodwill, onshore and offshore; for a man who has remained a constant in Nigeria’s political dynamics nearly 20 years after he left office; for a man who stands strong and stolid despite serial betrayals and short circuiting over time even by allies, that will be the ultimate carnival.
This is wishing the enigmatic *Gooner* Atiku Abubakar, *Wazirin Adamawa,* Prime Minister of Adamawa, a million happy returns of his special day. May pleasant surprises denominate our pathways in life as we rejoice with those who celebrate.
Tunde Olusunle, PhD, a Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), teaches Creative Writing at the University of Abuja
The Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, has described President Bola Tinubu, his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, and most past Nigerian leaders as products of an “accidental leadership cycle.”However, the Presidency last night, countered the Bishop, saying that President Tinubu should not be classified among accidental leaders, asserting that he was prepared for the job.
The Vanguard reports that Kukah explained that many of the leaders assumed power without adequate preparation, particularly in a world where the demands of governance are constantly evolving.Kukah spoke on Sunday while delivering a keynote address during the commissioning of the new Start-Rite School building and the 4th Amaka Ndoma-Egba Memorial Lecture in Abuja.Reflecting on Nigeria’s leadership history, Bishop Kukah highlighted a recurring pattern of unpreparedness among the country’s leaders.He said: “If we look at Nigeria’s leadership journey, you will find that almost every leader who came to power did so by accident”.“President Bola Tinubu, despite claiming to be prepared for the role, is clearly struggling. We are still trying to find our footing. He took over from Buhari, who had already disengaged from governance.“Buhari succeeded Jonathan, a man who never envisioned himself as president but was thrust into leadership due to circumstances. Jonathan took over from Yar’Adua, who planned to return to teaching after his governorship.“Yar’Adua succeeded Obasanjo, who was unexpectedly released from prison to become president. Before that, Obasanjo replaced Abacha, who was poised to rule indefinitely until nature intervened. Abacha followed Shonekan, a business executive abruptly drafted to lead the country.
The cycle is evident, and the missing link in all of this is knowledge and preparation.”He argued that while Nigeria had embraced democratic principles like “one man, one vote,” its democratic process has repeatedly failed to deliver competent leadership.He stressed that modern leadership requires a deep understanding of the evolving environment and challenges.Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, emphasized the need to cultivate leadership qualities early in life.He attributed many of Nigeria’s challenges to failures in leadership and accountability.Marwa also shed light on a disturbing trend within the drug trade, revealing the involvement of visually impaired individuals in trafficking illicit substances.“Recently, the NDLEA uncovered a cartel involving visually impaired individuals,” Marwa disclosed.“We arrested a blind man transporting a large consignment of cannabis from Lagos to Kano.
During interrogation, he claimed he didn’t know the package’s contents and provided the name of another blind individual in Lagos. This led us to another blind man, and eventually, we traced the ultimate handler, who was also blind.”While Marwa refrained from sharing additional details about the cartel’s operations, he acknowledged the unique challenges posed by such cases.The NDLEA boss also paid tribute to Senator Ndoma-Egba, Chairman of the Board of Advisory for Start-Rite School, for organizing the lecture in honour of his late wife, Amaka Ndoma-Egba.“Amaka Ndoma-Egba was a visionary who established this school to prepare students for a dynamic and ever-changing world,” Marwa said.Founded in 2008 with just seven pupils, Start-Rite School has grown into a leading institution in Abuja, now serving over 800 students across nursery, primary, and secondary levels.The event emphasized the need for a renewed focus on leadership development and education to address Nigeria’s governance challenges and societal issues.Tinubu is a reformer, not accidental leader —PresidencyReacting to the assertion by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, the Presidency described Tinubu as a reformer, who is touching many areas.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said: “He (Tinubu) is not an accidental leader, he is doing his best to ensure that we have a turnaround in this country.“Does he look like one at all? What I am saying is that, the man is not an accidental leader, he was prepared for this office. He even said it himself that he prepared for it and that he is doing his best to ensure that this country is lifted higher than he met it, he is doing his best.“Because he prepared himself for the office, he is doing a lot of reform, he is touching every area and he is trying to make sure that this country is being turn-around.”For those who said that the President is an accidental leader, that is the reason he is struggling, Onanuga said, “Tinubu has shown that he is a reformer and reforms are not done in quick fixes, it takes time for you to turn things around and he is doing it.“He is doing reforms and he is the first to acknowledge that people will be affected and he is doing everything possible to ensure that those who are affected are also helped so that they will not be left behind.“He is reforming a lot of things in Nigeria, you are talking about taxation, you are talking about the oil sector, so many reforms the man is carrying out,” he added.
I really think this person who calls himself very dark man had better just verily calm down.
His recent push towards national recognition on the back of his wahala with the notorious Bobrisky seems to have given him an elevated ego.
His ego seems to have gone over the roof pushing him towards issues that he really does not have the capacity to engage talkless of playing the self acclaimed ombudsman that he has positioned himself to play.
This latest storm which he has generated is his claim of a mising N500m from an account domiciled in well respected Access Bank
Usually, I really mostly ignore this person, since he showed to the world that he didnt understand the very simple meaning of defamation.
Securing a private recording of a conversation illegally , rushing to the media with it and screaming- I cannot believe that the great Femi Falana……showed me that this was a person not to be taken too seriously
So when I stumbled on this his latest gambit, I made to scroll pass until I noticed 3 banks being mentioned
GTB, Keystone and Access, these made me tarry to listen to him.
He didnt make a lot of sense as expected. He was technically out of his depth and looked quite ridiculous pontificating very boldly about processes he didn’t have a clue on.
Apparently, in his position as the average Joe’s ombudsman, he was handed down a case of a man who had died interstate.
The man according to him, on his dead bed had told his sister that he had cash in these banks.
He listed the three banks and dropped the Bomb shell that he had N500m in Access Bank
Firstly, an experienced adult not prone to social media hype would first raise an eyebrow as to the possibility of someone with that kind of amount dying Interstate.
From experience, as a wealth advisor, I would say that possibility was not to say the least random.
Upon his passing, the sister dutifully obtained a letter of administration which empowered her to be the beneficiary of her late brother’s estate.
According to this very dark person, the sister got lucky with GTB and Keystone where she was able to claim the funds.
But when it got to Access, there was trouble.
He claimed in his widely viewed rants that at first Access Bank denied existence of the account and it was not until the woman went into fisticuffs with the branch manager before they accepted that a tiny sum was in that account
Wait, the sister was initially said to have written to CBN who durifully assisted her in securing the brothers BVN which enabled her trace the funds to these three banks.
Now according to him, when it got to the account with the purported N500m, Access like the power grid broke down again.
Then another round of hara kiri and a statement was released with a healthy balance of N1 or so.
Very Dark Person like those empty headed TV Judges now sat to judgement
According to him, some years in the statement were misisng and as such Access Bank must tell him what happened to those transactions in those years.
It didnt cross his little mind that just may be this person didnt transact in those years especially when his balance was showing a robust N1 as a clear balance.
With that ‘piece of evidence’ he went to town on Access Bank asking Nigerians to be careful of the Bank and basically just pushing for a run on the Bank.
I have seen a statement issued by Access Bank confirming that first and foremost, the said acct – 2229502270 is what is known as a Yellow Tier account, meaning that it cannot hold more than N300, 000 at a time and as such, the N500m claim to his sister could have been caused most likely by the hallucinating effects of the drugs he was going thru at the time before his passing.
The statement went ahead to explain how they had cooperated with authorities on the matter since 2022 including complying with a High Court decsion on the matter.
Despite all of these, this very dark person still climbed on his high horse to attempt a shake down on the Bank
Or whatelse can we call it. An account that cant hold more than N300k, a bank balance of N1 confirming the dynamics of the account and its posible non use in those years that he could not see in the released statement of account.
Immediately, I saw the Access Bank report, I rushed back to VDMs post to see the viewing numbers it had reached and possibly read some commentries from the public
As at the time, I am writing, about 184,000 people had viewed with 18,000 comments representing about 10% of the views showing huge interest in the matter by this sample size and 11,000 people sharing it.
By VDMs standards these are paltry figures showing either a lack of interest by his public or a growing irritation at his penchant of jumping at every issue no matter what.
But my major concern is the huge 10% who viewed and commented.
Majority of the commentary where hapless and hairbrained.
At first glance you will want to shrug and move on but then you realise that Access Bank has a strong retail foundation you begin to see these things differently and you begin to understand why the Bank moved in very decisively and effectively to put a wet blanket on this fire.
Its statement on the matter has been carried, I noticed by a slew of very influential online platforms including Nairaland with its massive followership.
In all of these, I didnt see where he tried to reach out to Access Bank to hear their own side and just like he did with the Falana’s jumped into the fray on the strength of one side of the story.
Two things, I would say at this juncture-
Our society needs many Very Dark men. People who are bold enough to tackle the system and its powerful people but in doing this, they must be intelligently armed with technical capacity, a fair sense of balance and be guided with a good understanding of social justice
This was a banal play to the gallery in an immature show of youthful exuberance oblivious of its possible impact on his target.
The second thing I would like to say is the sensitive nature of the banking system-my first constituency.
The Financial system trades on trust and confidence. Anything that goes at that base would weaken the system and we all would be the worse for it.
For a Very Dark Man with his newly minted image and huge followership should be very deliberate in his approach to his work and be a little bit more circumspect in his engagements.
Thankfully, this has been resolved and lessons have been hopefully learnt by all parties cos this was a very silly dark thing to attempt.
