TheNewsGuru

Author: Etim Etim

  • Super Falcons, federal character and competence – By Etim Etim

    Super Falcons, federal character and competence – By Etim Etim

    Nigerians across the country have been celebrating the dramatic victory of the Super Falcons in Morocco on Sunday. For their consistent victories in 10 of the 14 continental championships, the team is undoubtedly the most successful football team in Africa.

    President Tinubu did well by rewarding the Falcons and the technical crew with huge cash and apartment gifts as well as bestowing the national honour of OON on them. But in the midst of these celebrations and a brief moment of national pride, has it occurred to Nigerians that the Falcons team members are mostly from a few states of the federation in just about two geopolitical zone – the South East and South West?

    There may be a sprinkle of players from the South-South, but the whole of the northern parts the country is unrepresented in the women team and sparingly represented in the men team.

    Why are the Super Falcons and Super Eagles players not selected from every part of the country and why are Northerners not protesting against this apparent marginalization? Why have people like Senator Ali Ndume and former presidential adviser Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who are always speaking out against any act of marginalization or injustice against the North, silent about this unfair treatment of the people of Northern Nigeria?

    Why is the Federal Character Commission (FCC), the federal agency responsible for fairness, justice and equity in public service employment, quiet about the apparent lopsided lineup of the Super Falcons and the Super Eagles? Is the North not part of Nigeria? It’s because the nation has come to a rare consensus that in sports, competence and talent should trump diversity.

    Take a look at the lineup of the Super Falcons.

    Goalkeepers:

    Chiamaka Nnadozie, currently plays for Paris FC; Tochukwu Oluehi, currently plays for Eastern Flames in Saudi Arabia and Linda Jiwuaku, a young goalkeeper who earned her first senior national team call-up at 17. Among the defenders are Osinachi Ohale, plays for Pachuca in Mexico; Oluwatosin Demehin, plays for Stade de Reims in France; Michelle Alozie, plays for Houston Dash in the US; Ashleigh Plumptre, plays for Al-Ittihad Ladies in Saudi Arabia, and Akudo Ogbonna, plays for Remo Stars Ladies.

    The midfielders include Deborah Abiodun, who plays for University of Pittsburgh in the US; Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard in Sweden); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica in Portugal); Jennifer Echegini (Juventus Ladies in Italy); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid in Spain) and Toni Payne who plays for Sevilla FC in Spain.

    Our strikers are also talented players who play for reputable international clubs. They are Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC in the US, six-time African Player of the Year); Esther Okoronkwo (Henan FC in China); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville in the US): Gift Monday (Costa Adeje Tenerife Egatesa in Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (Utah Royals in the US); Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pachuca in Mexico); Chinonyerem Macleans (Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia) and Rinsola Babajide who plays for Roma in Italy.

    Our football administrators are aware that Nigeria can only continue to dominate Africa in women soccer if they focus only on hiring talented and skillful players, even if they’re from one village. Put differently, the sole criteria for inclusion in the team are excellence and competence; there’s no room for quota, slots and federal character.

    I am sure that there are many young girls in the North who have been inspired by the Falcons and would want to play football, but they are held back by religious and cultural factors. This is why the Falcons are made up of young girls from areas where such factors do not exist.

    But if the Super Falcons are so successful because they were selected solely on competence, skills and talents, why can’t we adopt these criteria in all aspects of our national life?   Why don’t we just insist that only the best, most talented and competent persons should work in the public service? Even where it’s absolutely necessary that we have federal character, why don’t we insist that only the best should come forward to take up available positions?

    Of what benefit is a government if the officials are employed from different parts of the country, but they end up delivering a weakening economy, mounting foreign debts and insecurity? What if we have a federal cabinet, for example, made up of only 20 ministers selected from 15 states, but is capable of delivering over 10% yearly economic growth, job creation and decline in crime rates? Will that be acceptable to Nigerians?

    The private sector has long realized that diversity does not necessarily deliver set goals. Successful businesses place premium on the talent and skills of its employees rather than where they come from.  Every high-performing business organization has what is known as a ‘’talent pool’’ made up of the most talented and competent members of staff.

    They are selected based on set criteria like leadership qualities and contributions to the commercial and non-commercial objectives of the company. Ethnicity and state of origin are not part of the criteria. It’s from the talent pool that the top leadership of the company is selected whenever there’s a vacancy up there.

    Similarly, to join either the Super Falcons or Super Eagles, the coaching and technical crews consider the player’s technical skills; tactical awareness; physical attributes; mental toughness; team work and communication; adaptability; discipline and work ethics; experience; attitude and behavious; injury history and potential for growth. There is no room for ethnicity, tribes and religion.

    But to join the public service in Nigeria, the first consideration is the candidate’s ethnic group; state of origin; religion and relationship or affiliation with an influential politician; emir; Oba or Obi. The candidate’s skills set; competence; talents; aptitude and attitude are not important; and this partly explains why the service has difficulties in delivering on set goals.

  • Who will inherit Buhari’s 12 million votes? – By Etim Etim

    Who will inherit Buhari’s 12 million votes? – By Etim Etim

    With the death of President Muhammadu Buhari early July, a huge leadership vacuum has opened up in northern Nigeria and whoever steps into his shoes will influence the politics of 2027. Buhari was widely loved by the ordinary people of the North; with a cult-like following that gave him massive electoral advantage in the four presidential elections that he contested in.

    In 2003, he ran under ANPP and polled 12.7 million votes; in 2007, he garnered 6.6 million votes still as ANPP presidential candidate; 12.2 million votes as CPC candidate in 2011 and 15.4 million votes as APC candidate in 2015, thus defeating President Jonathan who scored 12.8 million votes.

    I should mention that the 2007 election, conducted by Maurice Iwu as INEC Chairman, has been adjudged as one of the most massively rigged polls of the Fourth Republic, so much so that that even President Umaru Yara’Adua who emerged winner publicly acknowledged how flawed it was. It’s therefore not a surprise that Buhari’s vote was reduced to 6.6 million in 2007.

    The last time Northern Nigeria had such an influential and charismatic leader was between 1954 and 1966 in the person of Dr. Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, who was the Premier of Northern region. Sir Ahmadu Bello was well-loved by the people of Northern Nigeria for several reasons.

    He played a crucial role in modernizing and unifying the diverse people of Northern Nigeria, promoting a sense of brotherhood and unity across the region. His leadership characteristics were a blend of religious, traditional, and modern values, which resonated with the people of Northern Nigeria.

    He was known for his selflessness, purposeful direction, and dedication to the people, and implemented various development projects. They include Ahmadu Bello University, founded in 1962; Northern Nigeria Development Corporation, established to promote economic growth and development.

    Sir Bello also established Bank of the North to provide financial services; Broadcasting Company of Northern Nigeria to promote information dissemination and entertainment in the region. In addition, the Sardauna also prioritized education; cultural and religious harmony and travelled extensively across the North to meet the people and assess their needs and concerns.

    He was responsible for the enlistment of many young boys in the North into the Nigerian Army. Overall, Sir Ahmadu Bello’s legacy is a testament to his vision for a united, developed, and prosperous Northern Nigeria.

    Buhari’s popularity in Northern Nigeria was due to mostly to intangible attributes, primary among them being his reputation as a straightforward and no-nonsense leader which appealed to many Northerners who value integrity and strong leadership.

    The former president, widely known as Mai Gaskiya (Hausa word for an honest person) was also admired for his anti-corruption stance and love for the ordinary people.  Despite having occupied important positions like Governor of the North Eastern State (August 1, 1975 – Feb 3, 1976); Minister of Petroleum (1976 – 1978); Military Head of State (January 1984 – August 1985) and Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund (1995 – 1998) before he became President (2015-2023), Buhari was not known to have corruptibly enriched himself.

    As President, Buhari resisted pressures to remove petrol subsidies because he did not want the ordinary folks to be hurt. His administration also pursued many social welfare programmes that targeted the poor in the society. These also explain why he was so popular among Northerners.

    Now, Northern Nigeria is earnestly searching for another towering and influential rallying force – a man of integrity and moral uprightness – to provide political and moral leadership and fill the void left by Buhari’s death. So far, a few names like Abubakar Atiku;  Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso;  Nasir El Rufai and Aminu Tambuwal have been mentioned as a possible replacement to Buhari as a Northern leader of immense populist appeal. But does any of them fit the bill?

    Atiku would easily have emerged as such a leader, but his peculiar kind of politics has diminished his standing in the eye of the ordinary Northerner. He’s not as Spartan as Buhari and many believes that he’s does not even come close in the scale of transparency.

    Kwankwaso is very influential in Kano and is liked in some parts of the of the North. Although his Kwankwasiya Movement is present in all of the 19 states, his romance with almost every administration since he left the Obasanjo administration as Defence Minister portrays him as one who easily puts self interest above his acclaimed populist agenda. The Kano politician is currently in talks with the Tinubu administration for a possible cabinet position (some say he wants to be Defence Minister) or running mate with the president in 20207.

    Nasir El Rufai is your typical tragic hero of the Fourth Republic. Brilliant, well-spoken and strategic in thinking, the former Kaduna governor has lost his standing in public perception. Some of his utterances, filled with bigotry, ethnic extremism and religious intolerance, have caused considerable concerns across the nation. I understand that the security report that torpedoed his ministerial nomination in July 2023 was so damning that even the President who nominated him was visibly aghast when he later read the report.

    Without a clear rallying figure in the North, Buhari’s traditional 12 million voters will split their support among the various presidential candidates as it happened in 2023, and this is why Atiku Abubakar believes that 2027 may just be his best chance to become President, especially given President Tinubu’s dwindling approval rating in the North.

    Tinubu has been steadily demonized by some Northern politicians, some of them APC members, for his appointments which they claim have not favoured the North and economic reforms which they claim have deepened the poverty crisis up there. Frankly, the North has been jolted by Tinubu’s audacious appointments. Never before in the history of this country  have such ‘’juicy’’ positions like FCT Minister; CBN Governor; IG; Chief of Army; Minister of Petroleum; Minister of Finance, traditionally held by Northerners in previous administrations been given to Southerners at the same time.

    People like Senator Ali Ndume are angry that the President has taken these important positions from the North; introduced a new tax regime and other reforms and delayed in tackling insecurity. For these, they claim that President Tinubu does not deserve a second term. The fight for 2027 is shaping up to be a North-South confrontation.

    While  Atiku is warming up to mop up much of the 12 million votes in the North, the President’s strategists are countering that by  coaxing the eight non-APC governors in the South to defect to the governing party to help bolster his reelection. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom and Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta have already joined the President’s party, while Ademola Adeleke of Osun and Duoye Diri of Bayelsa are next in line and may join before the end of 2025. Enugu’s Peter Mba; Anambra’s Soludo and Abia’s Otti are showing reluctance because of possible backlash from voters, but they have openly vowed to support the president.

    There are however a few Unknown Factors such as the character of the new INEC Chairman that would be named in November; the fate of Vice President Shettima and the health of the Nigerian economy that will also shape the outcomes of the 2027 elections.  But for now, the scramble for Buhari’s 12 million votes continues.

  • Gov. Umo Eno moves to assert his authority as APC leader – By Etim Etim

    Gov. Umo Eno moves to assert his authority as APC leader – By Etim Etim

    Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State who decamped to APC in June has taken immediate steps to affirm his authority as the leader of the party in the state, dispelling earlier speculations that he was headed for a collision with Senator Godswill Akpabio over the headship position. Within a week in July, the governor met separately with over 1,200 members of the State Executive Committee and over 600 key leaders or stakeholders from across the state, using the platforms to to set the ground rules and appreciate the leaders for receiving him. Addressing the stakeholders who included former Petroleum Minister, Chief Don Etiebet; deputy governor Senator Akon Eyakenyi; former deputy governors, Nsima Ekere and Mrs Valerie Ebe; wife of Senate President, Mrs Unoma Godswill Akpabio; eminent lawyer Chief Assam Assam (SAN); Senators and House of Representatives members, among many others, the governor acknowledged publicly that the defection was one of the most grueling endeavours and emotionally, physically and psychologically sapping challenges he’s had to endure in his political career. He compared the experience to that of a truck driver whose vehicle is laden with heavy cargoes and suddenly has to make a U-turn in the middle of the road. ‘’The physical, emotional and psychological toll is enormous’’, he said.

    He spoke of his plans to build the party into a formidable fighting machine; his support for President Tinubu and eagerness to work with the Senate President for the benefit of the people. He then laid out four key guidelines for party members: Nobody should claim to be a party leader in his constituency unless it is sanctioned by him; all camps and factions are dissolved; no derogatory remarks or insults in public communications; past bitter experiences should be abandoned and unity is the watch word. In the weeks leading up to the governor’s defection, some persons have pronounced themselves leaders of the party in their Local government areas; federal constituencies and senatorial districts. The actions created controversies and caused disaffection and disharmony in the party. In one local government, one person reportedly died in a fracas that broke out over party leadership. In my own LGA, there has been palpable tension because a woman who is only associated with the community by marriage has pronounced herself as party leader. Sir Victor Antai, executive director at NDDC also ruffled many feathers when he was anointed party leader of his senatorial district – an area with a considerable number of eminent politicians such as the incumbent deputy governor and three former deputy governors; serving and former senators. By dissolving such arbitrarily created positions, the governor has put out small fires that would have become infernos. He announced that he’d be the one to appoint Local Government political leaders after due consultations.

    The governor also asked members to forget their past bitter experiences in order to forge a united, harmonious political platform. Before he joined the party, APC was largely in factions and camps, headed by different warlords and kingpins. Every action and decision was viewed through the prism of whose camp stood to benefit and lose. Chief Etiebet broached on the issue of past misgivings and injustice in his speech, but said he was ready to let go the past. He commended the governor for being a ‘’solver of problems’’. The governor wants members to look to the future with optimism. To address bruised egos and lingering grievances and weld the party together, the governor promised to dissolve and recompose boards of parastatals with old and new party members. The fact is that there are many party members who believe that they had contributed so much, but received nothing in return. Expectedly, these board appointments will help assuage them.

    Other leaders who spoke were State Party Chairman, Stephen Ntukekpo; Senator Effiong Bob (former Chairman of University of Benin Governing Council); Chief Assam Assam (SAN); Dr. Uwem Udoh (Chairman of ALGON); Udeme Otong (Speaker of the Hojuse of Assembly); Senator Ekong Sampson ( Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals) and Mrs Akpabio. They all commended the governor for bringing unity to the state and, as Senator Sampson put it, ‘’Akwa Ibom has sent a strong message to Nigeria on how to achieve unity and success’. indeed, Eno’s early steps is an indication of his willingness to refocus APC and build a large political party in a united Akwa Ibom. As we grind towards the end of 2025, few important matters will grasp his attention namely, updating the party’s register to weed out double-faced members and the conduct of congresses to elect new leaders.

  • State governments in aviation business – By Etim Etim

    State governments in aviation business – By Etim Etim

    The successful operation of an airline by the Akwa Ibom State government since 2019 has spurred two other states – Cross River and Enugu – to jump into the business, but is this a sustainable business for the sub national governments to pump in scarce resources into?

    Aviation is too risky, delicate and difficult business to operate profitably, but due to the vastness of our nation and lack of rail networks, state governments are increasingly finding it necessary to establish airlines to connect their states with the rest of the country.

    Zamfara in the North West and Lagos are currently building their own airports to improve connections and travels. Gusau, capital of Zamfara, is a six-hour drive from Abuja. It is the only state capital in that region without air connection.

    The new Lagos airport, expected to be completed in December 2025, is situated along the Lekki corridor and is designed to complement the two federal airports in the state and serve the growing middle class in the Lekki area.

    It is built on 3,500 hectares of land and will have the capacity to handle five million passengers in a year. Lagos is therefore looking to floating an airline to operate out of the new Lekki airport. That axis has many industrial concerns like the privately-owned Lekki sea port and the Dangote refinery as well as many residential estates.

    Akwa Ibom is the first state to establish an airline.  Before then, it was among the first set of 15 states to build and operate an airport in the country. The airport was completed in 2009 and the first plane landed there in September of that year. The airport is currently being managed and funded by Ibom Air.

    The state is also building an MRO (Maintain, Repairs and Overhaul) facility, the first of its kind in West Africa. Ibom Air commenced commercial flight in June 2019 and recorded its first profit in 2022. But due to the huge depreciation of the Naira in 2023, the airline recorded a N3 billion loss in 2023, only to swing back to profitability in 2024. In 2024, it posted N96 billion gross revenue; PBT of N16.6 billion and net profit of N6.8 billion.

    But the crux of the matter which would determine their sustainability is the business models of these state-owned airlines. Of the three, Ibom Air is the only one that has its own Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) – the authorization that allows an organization to own and operate an airline. Cally Air and Enugu Air do not have AOC, and this can impede their profitability.

    An AOC gives an airline full control over its operations, allowing it to make decisions on flight scheduling, route planning, and safety procedures. Such an airline will also be responsible for ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and safety standards, which can enhance its reputation and credibility.

    Having its own AOC allows an airline to establish a strong brand identity and differentiate itself from other airlines. An AOC provides an airline with the flexibility to operate independently, make changes to its operations, and respond to changing market conditions.

    In the long run, having its own AOC can be more cost-effective for an airline, as it eliminates the need to rely on a third-party operator and can negotiate better deals with suppliers. An airline with its own AOC is better positioned to comply with regulatory requirements and avoid potential penalties or fines.

    Having its own AOC can facilitate an airline’s growth and expansion plans, as it can operate more flights, routes, and services without relying on a third-party operator.

    An AOC is a prestigious certification that demonstrates an airline’s commitment to safety, reliability, and quality, which can enhance its reputation and credibility in the industry. Overall, having its own AOC is essential for an airline to establish itself as a reputable and reliable operator, and to achieve long-term success in the aviation industry.

    Cally Air is owned by Cross River State government. It commenced operations in 2021, but its flights are operated by Aero Contractors because it does not have an AOC. There airline is in talks with Valuejet Airlines to also operate Cally Air flights out of Lagos.

    While Cally Air currently operates with two aircraft, and Enugu is starting with three planes, Ibom Air has nine planes. Enugu Air does not also have an AOC; its flights would be operated by XE Jet Airlines under a two-year technical partnership, during which Enugu Air will obtain its own AOC. The process for obtaining an AOC is quite tedious.

    The behavior of the state governments is an important factor too. Aviation requires top-rate professional management, and any political or bureaucratic interference with the airline’s management will kill the business. That’s what killed Nigeria Airways.

    Safety is a crucial ingredient of aviation, and any airline that messes with it will die untimely death. Ask Dana Airlines. Our safety records have improved considerably in the last decade. Since 2012, no Nigerian commercial airliner has been involved in a major accident that has led to passenger death – a record attributable to effective regulations and adherence to safety. As state governments are now rushing into the industry, I urge NACA and other regulators to keep their eye on the ball.

  • Drama, music as APC stakeholders endorse Tinubu; governors get automatic tickets – By Etim Etim

    Drama, music as APC stakeholders endorse Tinubu; governors get automatic tickets – By Etim Etim

    The campaign season is still a year out, but the build-up is getting intense. While the opposition parties are putting plans together to give APC a fight, the ruling party is designing various schemes to retain hold on power. This weekend, APC leaders and elders in the six South-South states met in Benin and resolved to support President Tinubu; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State and other governors for reelection in the 2027 election.

    It was the party’s second zonal stakeholders’ meeting, and coming just about a month after Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom joined the party, the nearly 600 delegates from the six states who converged at the Sir Victor Uwaifo Hub in the city enthusiastically welcomed him with a standing ovation. He was clearly the toast of the audience, especially as he was the only of the four chief executives that attended with his deputy, Senator (Mrs) Akon Eyakenyi.

    Her presence is a true testimony to her unalloyed support to the governor. There were other party stalwarts from the state, most of whom flew in from Uyo in a chartered Ibom Air flight that early morning and returned soon after the event at 3.30pm. Among the Akwa Ibom delegates was an Atlanta-based medical doctor, Dr. Ndem Ndem,  who came in from the US the day before just to attend the meeting and left back to the US soon after. Such an enthusiasm!

    Two weeks ago, the North East Zone of the party held the first zonal meeting this year, but it was marred by crisis over non-endorsement of Vice President Kashim Shettima as the President’s running mate in 2027. On the contrary the South-South Zonal meeting on Saturday was so well organized and peaceful, you’d think that it was a company’s AGM (Annual General Meeting).  The National Vice Chairman, South-South, Chief Victor Giadom and the Zonal Secretary, Dr. Ita Udosen, as well as the state chairmen of the party, deserve commendation for their good work.

    It was only the week before Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje suddenly resigned as the National Chairman of the party, but that did not matter in any way. The meeting commenced at 1pm with welcome remarks from Chief Giadom. He described the conference as momentous and noted that the South-South region had always been part of the ruling party until 2015. But the recent defections of Eno and Gov. Sheriff Oboreivwo of Delta swung the region back to national platform. It was a point the host governor, Monday Okpeboloh, stressed in his welcome speech when he noted that the region had always ‘’spoken with one voice’’. He thanked President Tinubu for supporting the zone through appointments and infrastructures.

    After Gov. Okpebeloh, there was an interlude of cultural performance during which the Ekemini Cultural group from Akwa Ibom State entertained the audience. This group has been in existence for over 30 years and is made up of children of no older than 12 years. It’s actually a kids’ band whose dexterous performance with drums and xylophone keeps audiences standing in awe. It started in the 1990s as a one-man band performed by a kid xylophonist. In a visit to Akwa Ibom in 1991, Mrs Maryam Babangida, wife of the then-Head of State, was so enthralled by the kid’s performance that he awarded him a scholarship to study in higher institutions.

    The boy was then nicknamed ‘’Udo Maryam’’, meaning Maryam’s second son. I wonder where he is now. After ‘’Udo Maryam’s departure, the state government recruited other kids and formed what is now known as ‘’Ekemini Cultural Group’’.  When these children, usually dressed in Ibibio traditional outfit, walk up the stage, they look tiny and innocent. But when they begin to perform, they dazzle. At the Benin event, their performance was so gripping that Senator Akpabio promptly announced a donation of N20 million to them. Trust Akpabio for his drama! Someone remarked, ‘’So, how much will we, the delegates, get?’’

    After the performance by Ekemini Group, (Ekemini means ‘’the time has come’’), the six State Chairmen of APC spoke briefly, one after the other, giving the state of affairs in their party. As they spoke, packed lunch and drinks were served, but there was no commotion. Security men were able to keep street urchins at bay. Kudos to Edo State government for a marvelous organization.

    Stephen Ntokekpo, Akwa Ibom APC Chairman, received applause when he said that the overriding political agenda of Gov. Eno is the promotion of a united Akwa Ibom. Jarret Jenebe (Edo Chairman); Omenei Sabotie (Delta); Denise Otiotio (Bayelsa) Alphonsus Eba (Cross River) and Tony Okocha (Rivers) also gave accounts of their stewardships.

    Felix Morka (National Publicity Secretary) and Mary Alile (APC National Women Leader) also gave brief remarks, emphasizing the need to support the President. They are the only two NWC members from the zone. Then came speeches from the four governors.

    They all spoke of the dramatic growth of the party in the region and the expectation of more governors joining them in APC. But Eno went beyond partisanship and noted that he is poised to work with the Senate President to meet the expectations of his people. The party’s Acting National Chairman, Ali Dalori, reminded everyone that the meeting was his first official assignment since he assumed duties last week. He was applauded.

    Senator Akpabio was the last to speak. Expectedly, he was effusive with commendation to the President. President Tinubu has no bigger fan than Akpabio. After the Senate President, Chief Giadom read the communiqué and Prof Julius Ihonvbere (member of the House of Reps) moved a motion for the adoption of the President as sole presidential candidate. It was seconded by Semator Adams Oshiomhole. Although it is coming a bit too early, this political season will no doubt offer the same excitements and dramas as we’ve seen before.

  • Nyesom Wike: His style, achievements and the fate of FCT workers – By Etim Etim

    Nyesom Wike: His style, achievements and the fate of FCT workers – By Etim Etim

    President Tinubu is obviously impressed by the many infrastructural projects Nyesom Wike has built in the last 18 months as the 17th minister of the FCT. A drive around the city reveals the extent of his accomplishments in the sheer number of roads and bridges he’s been able to build in such short period of time, and the man is sparing no cost in advertising his success. Since early May, Wike has spent up to N500 million to buy front page advertisements in major newspapers to announce the projects he’s completed which are ready for commissioning by the president.

    The commissioning events are usually loaded with pomp and revelry during which the FCT minister will showcase his latest dancing skills. As governor of Rivers State, Wike built 12 flyovers in Port Harcourt, in addition to other road projects, and this helped to address the notorious traffic gridlock in the city.  So far, the FCT administration under Wike has completed 150 kilometers of roads in both the satellite towns and the Abuja metropolis. Roads and bridges alone were allocated over N1 trillion in FCT’s 2025 budget. As an Abuja resident and a regular visitor to Port Harcourt, I commend Wike for his efforts.

    In terms of personal style, Wike has created some impression too. He appears very foppish and tools around in a bullet-proof Lexus LX 600 SUV, which costs around $100,000 based on the manufacturer’s website. He also owns a  2024 Phantom Rolls Royce, a luxury sedan with a 6.75L V12 engine priced around $515,000 – $595,000 (N824 million – N952,000,000). To travel across the country, Wike flies in a private jet. His style makes a mockery of the World Bank’s theory that Nigeria is a poor country with majority of the citizens living in multidimensional poverty!

    But if you look beyond the minister’s lavish lifestyle and the speed with which he rolls out projects, you’d find a city in a terrible situation.  Over 100,000 workers of FCT are currently either on strike for nonpayment of salaries and other sundry grievances. The over 10,000 primary school teachers in the FCT have been on strike in the last four months, protesting against non-payment of salaries since 2023; non-payment of the N70, 000 minimum wage and other allowances like peculiar allowance and other benefits like salary increases. Another important set of workers, Primary Health workers, have also joined the strike, protesting against nonpayment of salaries since 2023.

    In all, over 50,000 school kids in the nation’s capital have been out of school for 14 weeks because their teachers have not been paid in two years. At the same time, over 200 primary health centers which provide healthcare for the low income earners in Abuja have been shut down due to industrial action. Yet, our flamboyant Minister is commissioning projects everyday and spending millions to advertise them. What manner of country is this?

    On Monday, June 30, the whole of FCT civil servants, under the aegis of Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), went on a three-day warning strike to draw the minister’s attention to 11 demands that include non-promotion between 2023 and 20-25; lack of training and others.  ‘’We love the projects, the roads and bridges, but we, the workers should not be forgotten.

    We are human beings and we are also Nigerians’’, the leader of the workers union said yesterday, as the protesters sang and danced near the FCDA headquarters, Abuja, on Monday. Under Wike, 500 primary schools and 200 PHCs have been closed down, leaving millions of residents without access to basic healthcare and primary education. It is a tragedy of immense proportion to which the media has paid scant attention. Such important news items have been crowded out by too many political juggling going on in the country.

    I do not know if President Tinubu is aware of the rot in the FCT, and if so, what he’s doing about it. The president has been too engrossed in the politics of his reelection. Nothing else seems to matter. But some senior citizens of the FCT have chosen to talk about the decay in the territory. Elder Danjuma Tanko Dara, Coordinator of FCT Senior Citizens Forum, says the situation is a ‘’monumental failure of governance that has left the FCT in a state of social emergency’’.  He added: ‘’This is not the Abuja we envisioned. While our children roam the streets instead of being in the classrooms, our sick and vulnerable are being denied basic medical care’’.

    It important to point out that payment of salaries of primary school teachers is the responsibility of Local Government Areas or Abuja Municipal Area Councils (AMACs), as they are known in the FCT. Under the Tinubu administration, the 774 LGAs across the country, including the area councils of the FCT, have been receiving their funding directly from the FAAC, just as the 36 states and FCT get their own allocations. The sharp increase in petrol prices since 2023 have led to improved funding to the states and LGAs.  Why then have the six AMACs in Abuja refused to meet their basic obligations to their citizens? Any nation that toys with the health and education of its citizens is a disaster waiting to happen.

    The fact that these councils are now enjoying financial autonomy cannot be an excuse for some local politicians to pocket or stash away money meant for teachers’ salaries for their personal use. FCT residents and school children deserve pity and the workers who are on a three-day warning strike should receive the minister’s attention.

  • Umo Eno, ADA and the politics of 2027 – By Etim Etim

    Umo Eno, ADA and the politics of 2027 – By Etim Etim

    By ETIM ETIM

    Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State was formally received into APC on Saturday, June 21, in a huge rally in Uyo; attended by dignitaries from across the country, including Vice President Kashim Shetima; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; 21 APC governors; NWC members and other party chieftains. The 30,000-capacity football stadium was full to capacity with overflow swarming adjoining streets.

    No fewer than 30 private jets were parked at the airport in the outskirts of Uyo as at 1.30 pm when the event began at the stadium. APC now has 22 governors, four of whom are in the South-South region – an unexpected turn of events for a party founded 12 years ago.

    Home to the nation’s hydrocarbons resources, the region has traditionally been voting right of the center since Second Republic. Eno’s defection is therefore a hugely courageous move, a major shift in Akwa Ibom politics and a further boost to the reelection chance of President Tinubu who is facing a drop in approval rating in the northern part of the country.

    Eno’s movement into APC has been widely received by Akwa Ibom people because of the expected benefits which the governor laid out in his emotional speech at the rally. Said he: ‘’For over 30 years, Akwa Ibom has struggled to have a deep sea port. Today, we are reassured that the federal government will show us the order of reciprocity, by helping us realize our deep sea port. Akwa Ibom has the deepest draught – 19 meters deep – which does not require dredging. We have struggled as a state; I believe we have struggled enough.

    “I believe that our President, who is a man of his word, will honour us. Even if it is one terminal, this movement would have been justified. This movement will be the beginning of a new dawn for the state in terms of infrastructure and projects that enable us to be seen as having taken a good decision…We have taken the risk to join our son, the Senate President to work with him to deliver the President in 2027. Every risk has a reward and we know that Akwa Ibomites everywhere around the world will be happy that this marriage has brought us goodwill’’.

    Some people have however expressed concerns about the future working relationship between the Senate President and the governor, given the stark contrast between the personalities of the two men. Eno is humble and genial with considerable capacity to foster harmony and teamwork, while Akpabio is bombastic and has a predilection to operate as a one-man squad who brooks no dissent. Senator John AkpanUdoedehe; Obong Umana Okon Umana; Obong Nsima Ekere; Atuekong Don Etiebet are among those that have received the short end of the stick in their dealings with Akpabio. The possibility of the governor joining the list continues to rankle Akwa Ibom people immensely.

    APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje and Chairman of Progressives Governors Forum, Hope Uzodinma, addressed these concerns in their respective remarks at the event. They both asserted that the governor will serve as the leader of the party in the State; as it obtains in all other APC states. Essentially, Akpabio is to leave party matters for the governor and focus on his national assignment. Sources indicate that this was part of the issues discussed at a meeting of the party’s NWC, with the Senate President and the governor in attendance, held at the Uyo residence of Senator Akpabio Friday night.

    Interestingly, the day before, the Senate President had told some party members at his residence that he has no interest in dabbling into local party matters. We shall see how well he keeps to this pledge. ‘’Akpabio should concentrate on national politics and his responsibility as President of the Senate and leave local politics for Umo Eno. Dabbling into local party politics will weaken his capacity to realize the full benefit of his stature as a National leader for the benefit of our people’’, says an APC leader in the state.

    Two days before the Uyo rally, a new political association known as All Democratic Alliance (ADA) had submitted an application to INEC requesting to be registered as a political party. The group is promoted by well known politicians, mostly APC and PDP members, including Atiku Abubarkar; Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir el Rufai. But Peter Obi is staying aloof, encouraged by his supporters not to play second fiddle in whatever arrangement. The emergence of ADA has created some buzz among some PDP members who feel frustrated by the internal wrangling in their party and the duplicitous role of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

    But ADA’s future will depend on Atiku Abubakar and his recurring presidential ambition. If the former Vice President insists on running in 2027, it will go against the unwritten understanding that the presidency should alternate between the North and South every eight years. It’s just about the only noble idea that on which Nigerian political elites have managed to establish a consensus. Atiku’s possible entry into the 2027 race will be a litmus test for the survival of the new party.

  • PDP: The plot thickens – By Etim Etim

    PDP: The plot thickens – By Etim Etim

    By ETIM ETIM

    Those who are still in doubt about the fate of the PDP and why some of its elected officials are decamping to other parties should read a letter written by INEC last week to the party’s National Chairman.

    Dated June 13, the letter is a response to an earlier one written by the party to the electoral body in which the party had notified INEC of its intention to hold its 100th NEC meeting.

    In its response, INEC stated that the notice to hold the NEC meeting was not in compliance with the requirements of part 2(12)3 of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022 which provides that ‘’the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party shall jointly sign the notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting and submit same to the commission’’.

    The PDP’s letter dated May 30 and signed solely by the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun, did not meet INEC’s guidelines, and so the party could not hold its NEC meeting which was to lay the groundwork for important activities like organizing a national convention.

    PDP has been embroiled in a series of intractable crisis that has weakened the party and left many members confused. After the ouster of Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman in 2023, two persons, Umar Damagun and Yayari Ahmed Mohammed emerged as Acting Chairman.

    Damagun was appointed on March 28, 2023, while Yayari Mohammed was thrown up by a different faction of the party as Acting National Chairman on October 11, 2024, following Damagun’s suspension by another group within the party.

    The National Secretary position is no less unstable. Crisis began when Samuel Anyanwu was selected as the PDP governorship candidate for Imo State in 2023. The party’s South-East zone nominated the National Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye to replace him, citing a constitutional provision. Anyanwu, however, claimed that he did not resign as National Secretary when he went for the governorship election, insisting that his tenure was valid until November 2025. Litigation ensued.

    A Federal High Court judgment supported his argument,only to be sacked by from his position by the Court of Appeal in Enugu, which affirmed Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary. The Supreme Court later overturned this decision, and reinstated Anyanwu as the National Secretary.

    But the matter remains quite contentious, with some leaders supporting Anyanwu and others recognizing Ude-Okoye. Despite the Supreme Court’s verdict reinstating Anyanwu, some organs within the PDP still haven’t recognized him as the valid secretary, leaving the matter unsettled. The controversy has sparked intense debate and power struggles within the PDP, affecting the party’s unity and stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    There is also the Nyesom Wike factor. Anyanwu is a close ally of the FCT Minister who, in turn, is a close associate of President Tinubu’s. Anyanwu’s refusal to sign the notice of NEC meeting to INEC is a plot to prevent the PDP from functioning, with APC as the ultimate beneficiary of the chaos. By the end of this year, political parties will commence activities leading to the holding of congresses and primaries mid next year.

    If the PDP does not resolve its leadership crisis (this is unlikely), it has no chance of fielding candidates for the 2027 elections. This explains why elected officials who would be seeking a second term in 2027 are bailing out of the party.

    Looking back, the PDP should learn from its mistakes. In the first instance, it committed a fantastic blunder by not kicking Wike out of the party since early last year when it was clear that he would be a clog in the wheel of progress. Wike is working for the advancement of APC and disintegration of PDP.

    He’s now holding the party to ransom, fueled by his personal grievances against Atiku Abubakar. Does anybody expect Gov. Eno to watch idly as power play and intrigues consumed the party?

    But many like Kenneth Okonkwo, the former Nollywood actor, who recently criticized Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State for leaving the party, probably do not have a keen understanding of the plots and deceptions designed to frustrate the party.

    I refer them to President Tinubu’s speech at the National Assembly on June 12 in which he stated that he is excited to see the PDP disintegrate. That’s telling enough. Politics is all about advancing self and group interests. Gov. Eno has made a judgment call to leave the PDP. His choice should be respected.

    Kenneth Okonkwo himself has also moved around quite a bit. Originally in APC, he defected to Labour Party in 2022 where he worked for Peter Obi as his spokesperson. After the 2023 elections, he parted with Obi (some say he was not satisfied with his remuneration) and went on to dish insults to the Labour Party Presidential candidate.

    Just this week, there are reports that Okonkwo been hired by Atiku Abubarkar as a new spokesman. He will take the place of Daniel Bwala who was with the former Vice President during the elections, but has since early this year ported to President Tinubu as one of the numerous presidential spokespersons.

  • What next shall we name after Tinubu? – By Etim Etim

    What next shall we name after Tinubu? – By Etim Etim

    FCT Minister Nyesome Wike spent a whopping N39 billion to renovate the International Conference Centre in Abuja and renamed it Bola Tinubu International Conference Center in continuation of the administration’s craze to name everything after the president. The facility was built in 1991 by the Babangida military régime at only N240 million, but after three decades, the cost of renovating it has gone up to N39 billion.

    Even with all the inflation and devaluation of the past 30 years, this is a humungous amount of money to spend on only a renovation. If this is how he managed the finances of Rivers State for eight years, I can understand why he owns a Rolls Royce and private jet. Not even a UK Prime Minister would dare!

    In only two years in office, President Tinubu has had several institutions and monuments named after him, sparking controversies and debates about his motivations.

    There’s Bola Ahmed International Airport, Minna, Niger State, formerly known as Abubakar Imam International Airport; Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks, a newly army barracks in Asokoro, Abuja; Bola Ahmed Tinubu Polytechnic, located in Gwarimpa, Abuja; Bola Ahmed Tinubu National Assembly Library and Resource Center, inaugurated in May 2024 and Bola Ahmed Tinubu Immigration Service Technology Complex at the agency’s Abuja headquarters.

    In addition to these, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps, Mr. Ben Kalu, has sponsored a bill for the establishment of Bola Ahmed Tinubu University in Abia State. The university aims to promote learning of Nigerian languages.  I am sure more are coming.

    But why is President Tinubu so obsessed with having everything in the country named after him? What does it say about his motivations, morality, personality and priorities? As governor of Lagos for eight years, Tinubu did not name a single facility or infrastructure after himself. He even exhibited an admirable magnanimity in 2006 when he renamed Western Avenue after Funsho Williams, a PDP governorship aspirant soon after he was murdered in his Dolphin Estate home.

    There are many reasons for Tinubu’s new fascination – some obvious and others requiring further studies and research by psychologists and psychoanalysts. By seeking to have buildings named after him, the president is exhibiting a strong desire for recognition and commemoration which clearly suggests a strong sense of self-importance or ego.

    Tinubu was widely advertised as a man of supernatural abilities in politics, governance and human resource management. But his performance in the last two years has not elicited the widely anticipated applause. Rather, the reviews have been a mix of condemnation and subdued acceptance.

    Many in the Northern part of the country are very critical of him and have vowed to vote for another person in 2027. Facing such a widespread disapproval, the president is resorting to self-praise by stamping his name on buildings. It’s a kind of narcissism!

    Renaming long established landmarks after oneself reflects a lack of humility and portrays a tendency to authoritarianism. In a way, Tinubu is seeking to establish a sense of omnipresence and a strong desire for control and excessive arrogance – the very idea of ‘’I am who I am’’.

    Some critics blame his ministers and National Assembly leaders for indulging in excessive sycophancy and dragging the president into this self-praise just to curry his favours. Some go to the ridiculous extent of converting Christian songs to political anthems, replacing God with Tinubu in the lyrics. The Senate President recently led such a chorus in an Abuja event where the president was present.

    Tinubu may not be familiar with these songs since he is not a Christian, but he has become a participant in a distasteful situation in which he’s being compared with God! Not only does it convey serious psychological weaknesses, it also implies a sense of omnipotence, omniscience or divine authority which smack of arrogance and delusion.

    But Nigerians are bemused. Citizens facing worsening insecurity, deepening economic challenges and cost of living crisis are too cynical of the president’s fixation with vainglory. Our former leaders, some of whom built these facilities that are being renamed, are embarrassed.

    Take Gen. Babangida for example. He built the International Conference Center. In his memoire, A journey in Service, IBB explains how his régime worked round the clock to build the facility in a very short period of time to host the 27th OAU summit which had earlier been scheduled for June 1991 in Addis Ababa, but had to be suddenly moved to Abuja because of insecurity in Addis.

    Three decades after, the retired general, and indeed our former leaders would be wondering why another man who had nothing to do with the iconic facility is now appropriating it to his name. It’s the height of vainglory.

    I urge the president to respect his reputation, legacy and the dignity of the office and order the ICC to revert to its original name.

  • Banks’ profits, charges and customers’ complaints – By Etim Etim

    Banks’ profits, charges and customers’ complaints – By Etim Etim

    Grumbling about banks’ profit is a favourite Nigerian pastime that gets louder and louder in the first quarter of the year when their financial performance for the previous year is announced. But lately, the grumblers have shifted attention to bank charges, with some arguing that the lenders are too profitable and should waive these deductions from customers’ accounts. ‘’How do the banks make so much profit while the rest of the economy is collapsing?’’; ‘’Banks are stealing from their customers through dubious charges;’’ and ‘’Let’s boycott Bank XYZ…’’ are some of the commonest protestations.

    On Wednesday, May 14, The Guardian published an article with a rather ghoulish title, ‘’The blood profits of Nigerian banks’’, written by Dr. Emmanuel Owhoko, identified as a public policy analyst, author and journalist. The piece drips with obvious irritations about banks’ ‘’growing quest for abnormal profits through use of arbitrary charges, devoid of empathy for emotional state of customers’’. It suggests that bankers are just a lazy bunch that does nothing other than to debit customers’ accounts and convert the proceeds into huge profits. But the essay is based on ignorant assumptions and poor knowledge of the operations of banks. As a former banker, I feel compelled to intervene in a very simple manner.

    First, why do banks make so much profit? The reason is simple. Their unique role and peculiar functions confer on them some advantages that other industries don’t have. A typical bank sells a wide range of services to millions of customers every day and night, including weekends and public holidays. Such a business will most likely be profitable unless it is mismanaged. A top tier Nigerian bank has millions of customers (Access Bank has over 60 million, for example) and each of these customers has one thing or the other to buy from their bank. Even if you have a savings account from which you rarely make withdrawals, your bank is making money off you by lending your money at a higher interest rate than it’s paying you. It’s called financial intermediation; and it’s the main reason a bank exists and the core source of its income.

    In addition to lending (and there are many types of it), banks also offer a wide range of other services such as financial advisory; wealth management; investment banking; foreign exchange services, etc, to millions of its customers and get paid for them. In some cases, a bank is part of a holding company that offers a lot more varied and diversified services such as insurance; pensions; fintechs and payments. It therefore follows that almost every adult person, including students, is in a regular need of one banking service or the other. Such inevitability offers the industry unique benefits that can only translate onto profits.

    Unlike a manufacturing business, a bank does not import raw materials; has no complex machines and conveyor belts that break down; does not pay customs and excise duties for spares and inputs and does not deal with the problems of unsold goods, huge inventory costs and products recall. The peculiarity of banking business and its inherent advantage became clearer last year. While many Nigerian manufacturers with dollar-denominated loans suffered huge losses due to Naira depreciation, banks actually recorded fat gains from their massive dollar holdings.

    A bank simply makes the bulk of its revenues from financial intermediation – taking money from the surplus side and giving it the deficit side with a margin. So, consider a bank with a loan book of N500 billion at an average interest rate of 20%. How much interest income is that? There is no business as lucrative as money lending, right from history; and there’s no reason for a bank not be profitable, unless it is mismanaged. But banking is also a very risky business (actually, the technical name for a loan is ‘’risk asset’’) with its own peculiar challenges. Many banks, including some very big ones overseas have failed. Nigeria has also recorded many cases of bank failures. One bad loan can almost sink a bank. This is why it is a highly regulated industry.

    Dr. Owhoko writes in his article which I referred to earlier: ‘’Implicitly, these charges constitute huge burden on the average bank customer who contends daily with depletion in his or her account balances. Corporate customers or businesses are also not spared from these questionable charges that have become a drain on the balance sheet of companies’’. A bank is a commercial and profit-oriented business whose services and activities are well regulated. A bank must stay profitable, safe, sound and stable. To that extent, Banks and other Financial Industry Act (BOFIA), the law that guides banking businesses, stipulates that all services provided by a bank must be paid for by the customer. In other words, there’s no free lunch in the banking hall. A customer – whether corporate or individual – should never expect to obtain free services from a bank. The charges that Dr. Owhoko and many others complain so stridently about are just the cost you pay for the services your bank renders to you.

    I often wonder why the same people who whine about bank charges are eager to pay various telecommunications charges; cable TV subscription; dry cleaning bills; air tickets; restaurant bills and other sundry obligations without complaints, but are quick to bicker over bank charges. Are banks charity organizations? Don’t they understand the risks involved in keeping trillions of customers’ deposit safe? If you think that bank charges are too high, you may wish to consider keeping your money at home and watch it grow!

    A bank provides the safest and most reliable place to keep your financial treasures. But it comes with huge costs to the banks. Charges on customers’ account are therefore meant to help offset these costs so that the banks could continue to operate in a safe, sound and stable manner. The idea that these charges, which are typically in small amounts, are the main sources of banks’ profit is erroneous. Banks make the bulk of their income from interest earned on loans, investments and other assets. Minor debits like account maintenance fees and SMS charges constitute a small portion of the bottom line.

    Nigerian banks should be commended for their important roles in the economy. They provide funding for big and small businesses like Dangote Industries; the airline industry; manufacturing sector; public sector and even small businesses like schools; restaurants or a corner shop. Instead of bellyaching over minor charges, Nigerians should ask their governments to provide security, stable electricity and adequate infrastructure that banks spend so much to provide.