Tag: 2020

Tokyo 2020 Paralympics: Ejike, Ibrahim clinch bronze medals in powerlifting

Nigeria’s Lucy Ejike and Olaitan Ibrahim on Saturday won bronze medals in powerlifting events at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

In the finals of the events held at the Tokyo International Forum, Ejike who was battling for her fourth Paralympic gold in the women’s 61kg had to settle for bronze.

Ejike, a three-time Paralympic and two-time world champion, was tipped as one of the favorites for the gold medal.

There were high expectations of a thrilling showdown between Nigeria and Mexico’s Amalia Perez who topped the podium at Rio 2016, London 2012 and Beijing 2008.

Among other prominent names in the fray were Uzbekistan’s silver medallist at Nur-Sultan 2019, Ruza Kuzieva, and Ukraine’s Rayisa Toporkova, a two-time world championships bronze medallist.

However, Ejike fell short of expectations as Perez won the gold, while Kuzieva took the silver in the women’s powerlifting 61 kg event’s final.

In the women’s 67kg category, Nigeria’s Olaitan Ibrahim also settled for bronze after a best lift of 119 at her second attempt.

She cleared her first at 116 but failed to clear 127 at her third attempt.

China’s Yujiao Tan won the gold with a best lift of 133, while Fatma Omar of Egypt took silver with a best lift of 120.

In the women’s discus throw F57 finals, Grace Nwaozuzu and Eucharia Iyiazi could not make it to the podium after finishing in the sixth and eighth positions respectively.

Also, Innocent Nnamdi posted a no-lift in the men’s 72kg powerlifting event’s final.

Meanwhile, in rowing, Kingsley Ijomah qualified for the final eight of the PR1 men’s singles sculls after putting up an impressive performance in the Repechage 1 (PR1M1xRepechage1).

NAN reports that the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, which began on Tuesday, will end on Sept. 5.

August 28, 2021
NECO releases 2020 SSCE results

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2020 Senior School Certificate Examination for External Candidates.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Azeez Sani, Head, Information and Public Relations Division of council in Abuja on Thursday.

The council Registrar, Prof. Godswill Obioma, during the announcement of results, said 41,459 candidates registered for the examination out of which 39,503 actually sat for it.

Obioma explained that a total of 26,277 candidates obained five credits and above including English Language and Mathematics while 34,014 candidates also obtained five credits and above irrespective of English Language and Mathematics.

The registrar who reiterated the council’s zero tolerance for examination malpractice, noted that appropriate standards and excellence were maintained right from the planning stage to the release of results.

He added that 6,465 cases of examination malpractice were recorded in the 2020 SSCE External as against 17,004 cases in 2019.

He noted that the reduction in the level of malpractice was as a result of deepened monitoring of the examination by members of the Governing Board, Management and Senior Staff of the Council.

He further explained that in line with the council’s zero tolerance for examination malpractice, four supervisors who were found culpable of aiding and abetting malpractice had been blacklisted and would no longer be engaged in the conduct of NECO examinations.

Obioma said that the results of 256,000 candidates who missed some papers during the 2020 SSCE (Internal) due to the ENDSARS Protests in some states and who sat for those papers during the 2020 SSCE (External) are being released along side external candidates.

“ One examination centre in Ogun State has been derecognised for intimidation and several attempts to induce NECO officials as well as aiding and abetting examination malpractice.

“it is gratifying to note that the examination was at no extra cost to the affected candidates.

“ A further analysis of candidates performance indicates that a total number of 29,918 obtained credit and above in English Language while a total number of 34,061 candidates obtained credit and above in Mathematics.”

The Registrar stated that year 2020 ushered in very daunting challenges essentially occasioned by COVID-19 Pandemic and ENDSARS Protests in the pursuit of the Council mandates.

He said this necessitated the rescheduling of the various examinations organised by NECO, for instance, 2020 SSCE (External) which ought to have been concluded in November/December 2020 was conducted in February/March 2021.

According to him, “in spite of these, we were not deterred rather we remained resilient and resolute in the conduct of our activities”.

The registrar reiterated the council’s commitment to conducting credible examinations to improve the quality of education in the country.

“ In view of the above, and based on approval of the Federal Ministry of Education, NECO has scheduled her public examinations for year 2021 as follows:

“National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for admission of JSS 1 students into Federal Unity Colleges is scheduled for May 29.

“ Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal is scheduled from July 5 to Monday, Aug. 16.

“ Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is scheduled for Aug. 23 to Monday, Sept. 6 in order to enable students at that level cover enough subject matter for the examination,” he said.

The registrar expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for finding him worthy to be appointed to serve and contribute to the development of education in the country.

He, therefore, enjoined candidates to access their results on NECO website www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration numbers.

May 6, 2021
IGR: Lagos tops other states with N418.99bn in 2020

Lagos State topped other states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in 2020, realising a total of N418.99 billion in the year.

This is indicated in the National Bureau of Statistics’ Published Internally Generated Revenue for State level for Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020.

It showed that in spite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the EndSARS mayhem, Lagos State increased its IGR by 5.08 per cent.

The state generated a total of N114 billion in first quarter of 2020; N90.51 billion in second quarter, in N107.84 billion in third quarter, and N106.63 billion in fourth quarter, making a total of N418.99 billion.

The state’s 2020 IGR of N418.99 billion increased by N20.26 billion, when compared with N398.73 generated in 2019.

The report indicated that Lagos State contributed a share of 32.08 per cent of the total IGR of N1.31 trillion realised by the states in the country in 2020.

”The 36 states and FCT IGR figure hits N1.31trn in 2020 compared to N1.33trn recorded in 2019. This indicates a negative growth of -1.93 per cent year on year.

”Lagos State has the highest Internally Generated Revenue with N418.99bn recorded, closely followed by Rivers with N117.19bn while Yobe State recorded the least Internally Generated revenue,” the NBS report indicated.

The Lagos State 2020 IGR showed that the state realised N278.89 billion from the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes; N17.07 billion from Direct Assessment, Road Taxes contributed N12.14 billion, while a total of N51.79 billion was from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) revenue.

Following after Lagos State is Rivers with 8.97 per cent — N117,19 billion IGR in 2020; FCT generated N92.06 billion with a share of 7.05 per cent, Delta contributed a share of 4.57 per cent with N59.73 billion IGR while Kaduna generated N50.77 billion — 3.89 per cent.

Ogun State contributed 3.89 per cent with its N50.75 billion; Oyo 2.91 per cent with N38.04 billion, Kano had 2.44 per cent share with N31.82 billion, Akwa Ibom had 2.35 per cent with N30.70 billion and Anambra had 2.14 per cent after generating N28.01 billion in 2020.

Also, Edo generated N27.18 billion — 2.08 per cent; Ondo realised N24.85 billion — 1.90 per cent; Enugu, 1.81 per cent with N23.65 billion IGR; Osun had 1.51 per cent with N19.67 billion; Kwara, 1.50 per cent — N19.60 billion; and Plateau had 1.46 per cent with N19.12 billion revenue.

Zamfara generated N18.50 billion having a share of 1.42 per cent; Kogi had 1.33 per cent with N17.36 billion IGR; Imo realised N17.08 billion with 1.31 per cent; Cross River had 1.24 per cent with N16.18 billion; and Abia had a percentage of 1.10 with its N14.38 billion.

Kebbi generated N13.78 billion — 1.05 per cent; Ebonyi State had 1.04 per cent with N13.59 billion revenue; Bauchi generated N12.50 billion — 0.96 per cent; while Nasawara followed on 0.96 per cent with N12.48 billion.

Bayelsa had 0.93 per cent N12.18 billion; Sokoto realised N11.80 billion — 0.90 per cent; Borno had 0.89 per cent with N11.58 billion; Katsina on 0.87 per cent with N11.40 billion; Niger generated N10.52 billion — 0.81 per cent; while Benue stood at 0.80 per cent with N10.46 billion

Ekiti had 0.67 per cent with N8.72 billion; Jigawa on 0.66 per cent with N8.67 billion; Gombe had 0.65 per cent with N8.54 billion; Adamawa, 0.64 per cent share with N8.33 billion; Taraba, 0.62 per cent with N8.11 billion; and lastly, Yobe, 0.60 per cent with N7.78 billion IGR.

April 16, 2021
2020 WASCE: WAEC withholds 5,548 results over exam malpractices

Results of 5,548 candidates who participated at the 2020 Second Series of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates have been withheld over various cases of malpractice.

Mr Patrick Areghan, Head of National Office (HNO), West African Examinations Council (WAEC), organisers of the examination, disclosed this while announcing the release of the examination result on Monday in Lagos.

The WAEC boss also noted that of the 61, 509 candidates that sat for the examination, a total of 61,111 representing 99.35 per cent had their results fully processed and released.

He said that results of 398 others, representing 0.65 per cent, have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors traceable to the candidates.

According to him, the cases are being investigated and that report of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council, for determination in due course.

He noted that the committee’s decision would be communicated directly to the affected candidates thereafter.

Giving a further breakdown of the results, Areghan stated that the 61,509 candidates sat for the examination at 540 centres spread across the country.

According to him, the figure is a decline, when compared with the 66,375 entry figure for 2019 for the same examination.

He added that the drop in the entry figure for the year under review could be attributed to the negative impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

According to him, efforts are however being made to speedily complete the processing to enable all the affected candidates get their results fully processed and released subsequently.

”The analysis of the statistics of the performance of candidates shows that out of the 61,509 candidates that sat for the examination, 31,751 of them obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, with or without English Language and or Mathematics.

”A total of 24,491 other candidates obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects including English Language and Mathematics.

”Of this number, 12,040, representing 49.16 per cent, are male candidates while 12,451 others representing 50.84 per cent are female
candidates.

”The percentage of candidates in this category in the WASSCE for private candidates, 2018 and 2019, that is, those who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects including English Language and Mathematics, were 35.99 and 35.10 per cent respectively.

”Thus, there is a marginal increase of 4.72 per cent in performance in this regard,” he said.

According to Areghan, the number of candidates that have five credits including English Language and Mathematics may not be necessarily be a basis for judging the level of performance in the examination.

”This is because the examination is more or less a remedial one. Some candidates may just need only one or two papers, other than English Language and or Mathematics, to remedy their admission deficiencies,” he said.

Speaking further, the HNO added that a total of 101 candidates with varying degrees of Special Needs were registered for the examination.

He said that 39 were visually challenged, 15 have impaired hearing, 10 albinos, one spastic cum mentally challenged and 36 physically challenged.

Areghan stated that these candidates were adequately catered for in the administration, adding that the results of these candidates had also been processed and released, along with those of other candidates.

The WAEC boss further reminded candidates that collection of certificates for the WASSCE for private candidates would be based on request online, via the Electronic Certificate Management System platform.

He urged candidates who participated at the examination to feel free to check details of their performance on the council’s website.

February 16, 2021
JUST IN: WAEC releases 2020 WASSCE results for private candidates

The West African Examinations Council has released the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for private candidates (second series).

Announcing the release of the results on Monday, the council said 39.82 per cent made credits in five subjects, including Mathematics and English.

The Head of the National Office, Patrick Areghan, also announced the opening of registration for the 2021 WASSCE for school candidates.

According to Areghan, the newly-released result is an improvement in performance in the examination in the last two years.

He said, “Twenty Four Thousand Four Hundred and Ninety One (24,491) candidates representing 39.82% obtained credit and above in a minimum of five (5) subjects including English Language and Mathematics.

“Out of this number, 12,040 i. e. 49.16 per cent were male candidates, while 12,451 i.e. 50.84 per cent were female candidates.

“The percentage of candidates in this category in the WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2018 and 2019, that is, those who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, were 35.99 per cent and 35.10 per cent respectively. Thus, there is a marginal increase of 4.72 per cent in performance in this regard.”

Areghan also of the 61,509 candidates who took the examination, 5,548 (9.02 per cent) have their results being withheld because of alleged involvement in examination malpractice.

February 15, 2021
2020: An Alternative View – Issa Aremu

By Issa Aremu

Perhaps no year in our generation has been so smeared like 2020! We are witnesses to a “Year abuse” as it were. Witness some smear newspaper headlines: “Year of Coronavirus”, “Year of Face-masks” , “2020: What a Year!” , “Year of Deaths”, “Year of Kidnappers”, “Year of Bandits” ad Infinitum.

Obviously 2020 was a year of “death expectancy” as distinct from life expectancy envisaged by United Nation Development Programme (UNDP). Every body must have known somebody who also knew somebody who sadly caved in to the Covid: 19 (2020 trademark!).

Same for banditry of varying hues and the cruelty it wrecked on lives and livelihoods. But even at that, an additional smear of the year of adversity will be one smear too addictive. Indeed serial smears and name callings of this year only further point to its significance and uniqueness in Gregorian Calendar.

The 193- Member States United Nations (UN) was founded in 1945 on the ruins of World War II. Does any body still remember that the 75th anniversary of the global body is ongoing as much as we all must dutifully wear the face mask against a rampaging Virus in 2020? United Nations in its 75 years is yet to successfully rally members states against the scourge of war as contained in its high-sounding Charter dealing with global peace and global justice. On the contrary, dis(United) Nations (apology to Fela ) has supervised more deadly wars than the WW1 and WW11, inclusive of forgotten wars in Africa.

But a single year: 2020 has energized entire humanity on preservation of lives and livelihoods on a scale never witnessed with unprecedented sense of urgency, sincerity of purpose. 2020 has reset the world to rightly allocate scarce resources from the wasteful weapons of mass destruction to worthy feverishly search for vaccine production. With all it’s woes, 2020 is the year of “vaccine sovereignty” as opposed to “vaccine dependency” as every nation searches saves its citizens’ lives first. Interestingly nobody saw this year coming.

2020 escaped all predictions of pundits, armed chair soothsayers and forecasters. The Israeli bestseller Yuval Noah in his thought provocative book brought to the fore : “21 Lessons for the 21st Century” with respect to religion, immigration, equality, justice, liberty and terrorism. Interestingly he conspicuously missed out on lessons from the bagful of past pandemics such as Third Cholera Pandemic (1852–1860), Flu Pandemic (1889-1890) Sixth Cholera Pandemic (1910-1911)Asian Flu (1956-1958), Flu Pandemic (1918) and HIV/AIDS Pandemic! 2020 has brought out the point: it’s not yet the end of history of afflictions for humanity. The annual Special Edition of the British Economist is my favorite “window” through which I peep into every new year with respect to trends and scenarios about global political economy.

Hamish McRae (Journalist and Author,) in an article entitled: “The long view: Lessons from a past attempt to look far ahead” made a bold attempt at visioning for the next 30 years last year. In the Economist’s (THE WORLD IN 2020) edition, he offered “five predictions”; “There will be 10 billion people in the world”, “China will be clearly the world’s largest economy” though it’s “ ageing and declining population” would make it insular, “Some three-quarters of the world’s population will be middle- class” , “The United States will remain the most vibrant, outward looking and wealthy region in effect winning the tussle with China for global influence”, “Technological advances will enable the world to give Decent lifestyle to most of its 10bn” .

No real prediction: Covid:19. Of course in the wake of Covid: 19 first and second wave resurgence, “visions” had turned to be mere fictions. “Nobody knows tomorrow” after all as a popular singer once put it. Year 2020 has truly demystified the “visions” of the “The British Economist’s “futurists” and exposed them for what they were: wishful thoughts! In the entire 142-paged edition, on what 2050 would look like, no single mention of the word: “epidemic” . Covid: 19 had infected some 82.1 million humans.

With 19.4 million infected people and a quarter of global deaths of some 1.79 million humans ( America’s 336 fatalities!), and an outgoing rouge President, (presiding over cemeteries), certainly the United States is far from being the “most vibrant, outward looking and wealthy region” in 2020 as predicted . In the new year, we must have a critical look at received wisdoms.

2020 shows that Africans must be weary of dictatorship of “suggestions”, “predictions” or “visions”. The latest “prediction” about Nigeria is the editorial comment of ““Financial Times of London of 22nd of December ” according to which Nigeria as a country ….” “is plagued with terrorism, illiteracy, poverty, banditry, and kidnapping and risks becoming a failed state if things don’t take a drastic turn”. The UK-based newspaper in an editorial titled, ‘Nigeria at Risk of Becoming a Failed State’ cited abductions and subsequent rescue of over 300 schoolboys in Kankara, Katsina State, which revived memories of the 276 Chibok schoolgirls abducted in Borno State in 2014 as signs of “a failing state”. FT was “even academic” with Nigeria. It offered a 101 definition of a failed state:. According to it “the definition of a failed state is one where the government is no longer in control”.

“By this yardstick, Africa’s most populous country is teetering on the brink” Really? Pray and let’s see beyond this simplistic smear of a country by FT! There is a new deadly variant of Coronavirus in UK in the last two weeks. This development had spiked the infection rates to some 2.3 millions and as many as almost 72,000 deaths in Britain. If we add the chaotic Brexit, hasn’t Bori Johnson government not lost control? Can’t we by FT’s rule of thump say UK is a failed state just as Nigeria lost control over serial abductions? 2020 has commendably exposed the fallacy of the Eurocentric patronizing selective concept of “a failed state” to explain the challenges of development in Africa. Please don’t get me wrong. I daily live the bitter experiences of insecurity, incoherent and self serving ruling elite, electricity failure, greed and corruption, policy dictatorships of IMF and World Bank.

But which country has no citizens watching their backs in the age of a pandemic and scandalous global bad governance ? With all the technological break through and celebrated artificial intelligence, 2020 has exposed the underbelly and gross limitations of our world. If the whole world got locked down and buckled to an ubiquitous Virus, does it make ours a failed world? As we move into a new year with all it’s old baggages, it’s time Africans were optimistic about the prospects of good governance, democracy, deeper democracy ( NOT any other forms of unelected governments) and development if the continent would eradicate poverty in the 21st century. The state actors and civil society in Africa must reject pessimistic received wisdom which often declared Africa countries “failed states” through magnified challenges of development.

2020 dramatized it all: It’s an open knowledge that the world is ravaged by a Virus pandemic. But nobody was eager to damn America “a failed state” for the mess it made of the Virus management just as it did for its 2020 elections the outcome of which incumbent Donald Trump is yet to accept. 2020 was a year most African countries got independence. 60 years after independence. The point cannot be overstated: sustainable development is only possible with optimistic perspective that must be critical of “Euro- centric concept of failed state”. Social science concepts are not value- free. If Africans say they are making progress, we possibly will work for more progress. But if all we assume is nothing but addictive failures, down loaded smears, then there will be resignation and despair, the unhelpful trade marks of underdevelopment. May 2021 promise better opportunities worthy of praises.

Issa Aremu mni

January 5, 2021
Dissent and the Failing State Debate – Chidi Amuta

By Chidi Amuta

Nigeria enters the new year draped in curious contradiction. A protracted sixtieth anniversary celebration has recently been interrupted by an untidy debate about the nation’s very survival as a viable state. The question is simple: Is the Nigerian state failing?

Among most enlightened Nigerians, there is now an inconvenient consensus that the Nigerian state is in a free fall. Subscribers to the failing state submission concede that Nigeria may not have failed completely but that the state is in desperate disrepair. We are witnessing what we may call a ‘failed state debate’ which has now fanned out into two flanks. Majority of sensible citizens are warning that the general insecurity and severe widespread poverty in the nation indicate a free descent into a possible state failure.

On the contrary, the incumbent administration, its acolytes and spokespersons insist that all is well with the Nigerian state. The trouble is that professional trouble makers and habitual naysayers cannot appreciate the wonderful work of the Buhari presidency. At this point, the tentative concession is that while both sides wear a garb of patriotism, neither has a monopoly of it.

State failure is not such a complicated matter after all. Its symptoms show up in little things that ordinary people can measure in their very daily lives. Simply put, state failure occurs when the state serially fails to discharge its part of the social contract that binds people and their government. It means that people leave their homes unsure that they will return in safety because forces of violence have taken over the streets and highways. It means that when confronted with danger in the normal exercise of civic rituals, citizens can no longer trust in the capacity of the government to protect them from dangerous people. The superior coercive power of government that should serve as the amour of protection for the people is outgunned by non -state actors.

Children check into schools, left in the care of teachers, but are casually trucked away by vicious gunmen. They cry in fear and desperation for the state to come and save them. No one heeds their cry for days. A husband and wife set out on a journey. They are abducted by men of violence and the man watches rough bandits rape his wife and he dares not challenge them for fear of instant death. People get inured to providing nearly everything for themselves in the knowledge that the state is indifferent to their plight. Even the routine reassurances of government cannot be believed any more because of a long tradition of betrayal and disappointment. Basic trust in the authority and capacity of the state to act as the last guarantor of citizens rights is dismissed even by children as a crude joke. The open corruption of high state functionaries and even security officials is so rampant and commonplace that it has become the butt of beer parlor jokes.

A failing state crumbles in meeting its obligations to multiple constituencies. First, the state fails its citizens when it can no longer guarantee life, limbs or livelihood. Second, the state fails itself when it loses confidence in its own institutions and begins to incorporate crude things like ‘civilian JTF’ or hires local hunters to bolster up the sophisticated arsenal of the armed forces. Third, the state fails the comity of nations when its voice is muffled by ineptitude at home and manifest weakness abroad. In a failing state, the pursuit of happiness for the citizens becomes a futile race because lives cannot be guaranteed let alone thrive into contentment. Happiness becomes a rare commodity because basic survival is overwhelmed by existential hazards of an imminent nature. Dangerous obstacles block the aspiration of the majority to basic livelihood. A state in which the high priests of officialdom cannot agree among themselves on a credible explanation for any of its multiple policies is nothing but a confused rabble of disconnected egos, a discordant choir in a congregation devoid of a creed. A state that meets most of these embarrassing criteria is at best a faltering state teetering on the brinks of total failure. Nigerians have a right to decide for themselves how things stand in our commonwealth today.

The supporting indicators are not far fetched. It ought to concern the fierce defenders of today’s incumbency that in today’s Nigeria, the presidency sends out more condolence messages than it can find cause to send out congratulatory messages to Nigerians. Hardly a day passes without numerous reported incidents of kidnappings, abductions and unnecessary killings. Sometimes, whole urban neighbourhoods are cordoned off by marauding gangs of dangerous hoodlums and organized criminals. Sometimes, they openly address letters of intent to neighbourhoods and even copy the police, stating where they will strike next. Even when the police reassures people, they tend to believe the criminals, not the police.

What has driven many to the frightening conclusion that the Nigerian house could fall is the scope of blood letting and the industrial scale of loss of human lives that we now witness daily. It seems as if human sacrifice is feeding the insatiable appetite of some unkind gods. In the dark ancestry of our ancient cultures, human sacrifice was performed when the community was beset by forces that overwhelm the leadership. There was the belief that the human sacrifice would assuage the gods and bring peace, security and succor to the community.

In today’s Nigeria, the state has unconsciously degenerated to a stage where many have come to see the spate of blood -letting that greets our daily experience as nothing short of human sacrifice to some insatiable blood deity. The incapacity of the state allows countless citizens to be wasted on a daily basis. But instead of bringing succor to our national community, the modern day mass human sacrifice of Nigerians by bandits, Boko Haram, armed robbers, the police and even the army does not bring Nigerians peace or succor. Instead, each serial murder breeds even more blood letting in a charmed cycle of violence that now defies rational explanation. The dividend of democracy should be order and security of life and limbs, not a harvest of orphans, widows and quantum misery

This is the effective background to the raging ‘failed state’ debate. Two strident voices from two complementary realms have come to dominate the conversation in recent days. The first is from a global instrument of power, the Financial Times of London. The second is the voice of a Nigerian citizen who is however empowered to speak on God’s behalf, Bishop Mathew Kukah.

The Financial Times editorial of 22nd December, 2020, is not necessarily novel in inspration or original in content. It says nothing that the Nigerian media has not been trumpeting in the last three years or more. However, given the international audience, political gravitas, title integrity and respectability of the Financial Times (FT), the authorities in Abuja seem to have lost a bit of sleep in the aftermath of that largely advisory editorial. What FT did was merely to summarize the present state of the Nigerian reality by highlighting the sheer ineffectuality of the incumbent administration’s strategies and policies. Widespread insecurity calls to question the basic obligation of the state to guarantee the life of the citizens. A regime of organized crime fuels unchecked corruption that drains the state of the money to pursue development and social services. In turn, a fairly stable democratic arrangement is made untenable by the dominance of too many bankrupt states presided over by overbearing autocrats as governors.

In the tradition of great journalism, however, FT is kind enough to point in the direction of redeeming ideas for the Nigerian state. These include a restructuring of the Nigerian federation to reduce the centers of fiscal waste and unproductive entitlement. In addition, a population with over 40% aged under 40 years can only hope to make progress if the affairs of state are managed by a younger population. Gladly, FT acknowledges the vast competence, talent and entrepreneurship of Nigerian youth, an energy that made a rowdy public showing during the recent ENDSARS protests all over the country. Predictably, FT is reluctant to credit the Buhari presidency with the sincerity and executive capacity to take the decisive steps required to rescue the Nigerian ship of state from perilous waters let alone unleash its monumental potentials.

On his part, Bishop Mathew Kukah, true to his known tradition of politically engaged theology, delivers an unsparing but true critique of the Buhari administration against the backdrop of the very obvious decay and near collapse of the Nigerian state. There is nothing in Bishop Kukah’s Christmas message that is unpatriotic, subversive or even new. Nor is it fair for regime apologists and ethnocentric megaphones to brand his criticism unfair or minimally treasonous. The Bishop simply holds Mr. Buhari accountable for betraying his campaign undertakings as a politician. Nigerians have done that variously in recent times. The Bishop points to Buhari’s undisguised nepotism and nativism in key federal appointments. The bulk of the Nigerian elite have been hammering on that repeatedly based on clear statistical evidence. Bishop Kukah drew attention to the obvious and quite embarrassing ‘northernisation’ policy of the Buhari administration. All this is squarely in the public domain and falls squarely within the purview of fair patriotic commentary by a concerned citizen of our republic.

There is also nothing In the Bishop’s Christmas message that detracts from the responsibility of a man of God to his congregation or to his nation. To believe in God and truly worship Him, men and women must first be alive. A state that cannot guarantee the safety of life and property of its citizens is an aberration in the sight of God in any religion. The primary responsibility of religious leaders is in fact the duty to ensure that government is responsible for the basic needs of the people and guarantees the atmosphere of law and order which make the pursuit of all faiths possible. The will of God cannot be done on earth if the earth is emptied of its human content because princes and principalities have failed to protect those who live on earth. The recklessness of political leaders who betray their campaign promises is a reckless defiance not only of the social contract which binds people to their ruler but also a defiance of the bond between humanity and God in every religion. Therefore, Kukah’s message is at once a correct civic duty, a spiritual service and a patriotic responsibility.

It becomes difficult to see the point in Minister Lai Mohammed’s mischievous mischaracterization of Bishop Kukah’s well intentioned Christmas message. There is nothing in Kukah’s message that is more incendiary than the general outrage of Nigerians at repeated incidents of insecurity. Citizens ranging from the Sultan of Sokoto, Wole Soyinka to groups like the Northern Elders Forum, Ohaneze, Afenifere or the Ijaw leaders forum have raised their voices as well. Indeed every responsible editorial page of our myriad media titles has been an active voice in the quest for a more accountable and secure Nigeria.

For the custodians of the incumbent realm, the troubling crux of Bishop Kukah’s message is its bold critique of the quality and orientation of the Buhari presidency, especially the matter of undisguised nepotism. There is nothing new in stating that the divisiveness and incompetence of this administration falls far short of the best that Nigeria is capable of. It has been repeatedly pointed out by the broad majority of enlightened Nigerians. At the root of the present crisis is the deliberate, systematic hijacking of the strategic heights of state power by President Buhari and its casual wholesale apportionment to the northern half of the nation. That apportionment also happens to coincide with a sectarian divide between Christians and Moslems, which makes it all the more dangerous for political stability and national security.

I suspect, however, that the allergy of Buhari’s Information Commissar and other power apologists to the Kukah message is coming from concerns higher than the content of the Bishop’s Christmas message. The trouble may be Bishop Kukah’s strategic location in our contemporary national matrix. He is located in the middle of every conceivable fault line in today’s Nigeria. He is a Bishop of the Catholic church with easily the largest Christian following of the traditional churches. He is based in Sokoto, headquarters of the historic Sokoto caliphate. He is a citizen of Kaduna state, a hotbed of the Christian-Moslem divide and the troubling settler –indigene fractiousness. Above all, Bishop Kukah has grown a voice that is at once impeccably patriotic and unfailingly trenchant, articulate, courageous and sometimes fiercely libertarian. His views resonate with the media and elite circles from Lagos to Sokoto, London to Washington, Rome to Jerusalem and even Mecca. Therefore, Mr. Lai Mohammed’s reaction to the Bishops’ Christmas message is a cry of desperation from a sanctuary of power trapped in its own mesh.

Ruling party officials and the usual presidential messengers have added their voices to the defense of the realm. Copious rehashes of ongoing government projects and programmes have been cited as evidence that the state is all well and good. None of the programmes, I am afraid, addresses the raging storm of overwhelming physical and economic insecurity. No length of railway tracks or span of bridges and highways make it any safer to travel from one point to the other in this dangerous place. The expression of a desire to rescue a hundred million from poverty in ten years does not address the fact that most of those poor people will go to bed tonight without food. More of them will find it hard to sleep because they do not know which dark agents will come calling at night bearing violence in their hands and dark designs in their hearts. In any event, many of our poor will have died of starvation and deprivation long before the politically convenient 10 years expires.

In a democratic republic, only the people have the ultimate prerogative of judgment on matters of whether the state is alive, well or failing. It is blatantly insolent, even precipitously arrogant, for either a ruling party or the hirelings of the incumbent state to arrogate to themselves the onus of deciding when the state is fulfilling its part of the social contract with the people.

Ironically, Bishop Kukah and President Buhari converge on the way out of Nigeria’s trajectory of failure. Kukah’s fierce interrogation of the president’s dismal performance leads him to an inevitable recourse to divine intervention and call for more prayers. As a man of God, Kukah has no choice than to invoke divine intervention in a situation that seems to have overwhelmed practical human governance. Curiously, President Buhari has also recently resorted to a helpless invitation of divine intervention on some pressing national problems. He was recently quoted as saying that only God can effectively police the border between Nigeria and Niger Republic!

We cannot outsource the effective governance of the Nigerian state to God. Governance is a very human enterprise. Divine inspiration can come in handy when those given a democratic mandate do their sincere best. There are immediate solutions that only the president can apply to stop the rapid descent into state failure. He can dissolve the present provincial high command of his government and replace it with a more diverse, representative and national assemblage. He can disband the present cabinet, retain the performing few and head hunt the best Nigerians, especially the youth, to constitute the bulk of a new knowledge driven and activist cabinet.

In the long term, the ultimate solution to state failure is the renewal of the apparatus of state through the democratic process at the next election cycle.

January 3, 2021
Despite challenges, count your blessings in 2020, Makinde tells Nigerians

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Thursday recounted some of his successes in 2020 despite the myriad of challenges facing the nation, urging residents to maintain a positive outlook for the new year.

Makinde, in a 2021 New Year address, issued in Ibadan by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, said despite various events that set the state back economically, his government was still able to record huge successes.

The governor maintained that his government achieved a success in reducing infrastructural deficit of the state.

He noted that 2020 was characterised by fall in oil prices, which led to a huge drop in revenue from the Federal allocations.

According to the governor, with the attendant economic meltdown, the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests, among other challenges, “yet our administration could still record successes”.

Makinde stated that efforts of his administration in fixing the health, education and security sectors have yielded positive results, while the administration was also able to grow the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of the state.

“As 2020 closes, I am reminded of the words of the very popular 1897 hymn by Johnson Oatman Jr, ‘Count your Blessings’. This song encourages us to take stock of the good things that happened in our lives. When we do this, we often find that we have overlooked many positives.”

He said “In March 2020, many states in Nigeria had cases of the coronavirus disease. This necessitated an interstate lockdown by the Federal Government; although we did not effect a total lockdown in Oyo State, we were not spared the economic and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A few months later, we faced mass protests by the youth and others who were angry about police brutality. Events after the protests also set us back economically.

The governor, however, said that the year 2020 was not defined by all the events. As the first stanza of the song says: – ‘When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

“So, let me recount some of the blessings that 2020 brought us as a people.

“We continued working with our administration’s blueprint, the Roadmap to Accelerated Development in Oyo State, 2019-2023. And I am happy to report that we have continued to reduce our infrastructural deficit, slowly but surely.

“As at Sept. 2020, we had recorded an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N25.6 billion. And using the half-year figures, that represented a 26.4 per cent increase in IGR year on year.

“Moribund industries such as the Pace Setter Quarry and Asphalt Plant, Ijaiye; Agbowo Shopping Complex, Ibadan and Pacesetter Fruit Processing Company, Oko, were handed over to concessionaires, he said.

Makinde said ”All of these will be contributing to the economic development of our state.

“We are confronting the new challenges caused by the influx of people and businesses into Oyo State; more people are being attracted to our dear state because of our good governance initiatives and business-friendly environment.

“We believe that the complaints about the city’s traffic situation will soon be a thing of the past as we vigorously pursue road rehabilitation, expansion and construction.”

He further disclosed that the bus terminals at Iwo road, New Ife road, Challenge and Ojoo will be commissioned in 2021.

“On Education, we have continued our strides with the construction of model schools, blocks of classrooms, perimeter fencing and sinking of boreholes.

“We have also engaged in teachers’ training and completed the recruitment of 5,000 teachers to reduce the student-teacher ratio in our secondary schools.

“We were able to resolve the lingering issue of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), and Oyo State is now the sole owner of the institution.

“On Agriculture, we signed the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) bill into law which provided for the establishment of the agency.

“We began renovating and expanding the headquarters in Saki. We also initiated the Start Them Early Programme (STEP) in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

“This initiative takes agribusiness education to secondary schools; additionally, we started training our youth in agribusiness with the Oyo State Youth in Agribusiness Tomatoes Project.

“The highlight of the past year in security is the commencement of operations of the Oyo State Western Nigeria Security Network; codenamed Amotekun.

“We know there will be teething problems, but rest assured that the corps will be serving the interests of the people of the state.

“We also believe that all well-meaning residents of Oyo State will work with the corps to secure all 351 wards of our state.

“Our healthcare sector witnessed improvements, not only in infrastructure but also in recruitment and training. We took advantage of the pandemic to upgrade and rehabilitate Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) at Igbo Ora and Awe.

“We also renovated and equipped the PHC at Aafin in Oyo Town and ALGON Comprehensive Health Centre at Eyin Grammar, Ibadan.

“We now have one Infectious Disease Centre at Olodo, In Ogbomoso; we renovated one wing of the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital. And at Saki, we took an incomplete project and turned it into a 100-bed specialist hospital.

“Our plan to rehabilitate one primary health centre per ward in Oyo State is in full gear,” Makinde added.

The Governor also said that residents of the state and Nigerians as a whole should be thankful to God for surviving 2020.

He stated that though many would describe the year as a tough one, “God’s grace saw them through the various challenges that characterised the year.”

He, therefore, urged residents to maintain a positive outlook for the New Year, saying Oyo state is open for business and that his government remains committed to its promise to uplift the state.

He vowed never to take the support of the people for granted, nor will we take lightly our promise to serve.

“At the end of the year 2021, May we have even more reasons to look back and be surprised at the many things that the Lord has done.

“The Oyo State Investment and Public-Private Partnership Agency (OYSIPA) is always willing to discuss investment opportunities in the state with both local and international businesses.

“May your year 2021 be better than your year 2020.” the governor added.

January 1, 2021
The Guest, Coro, Didn’t Come To Play – Azu Ishiekwene

Azu Ishiekwene

It’s true that Coronavirus is not among the top five most deadly diseases in Africa today. But it’s also correct that at this time, we know far less about the COVID-19 pandemic than we know about malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, Ischaemic heart diseases, meningitis, tuberculosis, or HIV/AIDS.

Yet, we’re fooling around with COVID-19 and making convenient excuses as if ignorance or malicious defiance is a remedy.

I’ve been a fool, too. When the virus was first announced in 2020, I thumped my nose at it. I argued that anyone who can survive the multitude of diseases in this country – from malaria to Lassa fever and typhoid and from meningitis to all the debilitating effects of an absent government in between – can survive anything.

Of course, I heard what I thought were rumours of COVID-19-related deaths and watched TV footages in Italy, Chile and elsewhere of health workers collecting dead bodies in churches because hospital morgues could no longer contain them. But these were distant images.

As long as it wasn’t happening to people near me, all I did was send my sympathy on errand to those faraway places, hoping and praying that it would never happen near me.

A few persons close to me have since caught it, but never has the rate of infection among close friends and associates been so rampant and the consequences so dire as they have been in the last four to five weeks.

With four close friends and associates dead from COVID-19-related deaths recently, one recovering with his family, three currently in isolation, and a scare that left my son quarantined in the house for seven days over the same period, I don’t need a sermon to know that COVID-19 is not here to play.

Unfortunately, it has chosen our weakest moment to surge. It’s not just the time of the year when things are winding down, it’s also the period when underlying official incompetence is most visible and rampant.

Even if you make allowance for government’s sterling reputation for dodgy data at the best of times, the daily infection rate reported from Lagos and Abuja – two of the epicenters – in the last few weeks, has more than doubled, with the highest daily infection rate of 1,145 reported on December 17 and the next highest rate of 1,133 reported six days later.

Lagos is struggling with a defiant public, overpopulation and overstretched infrastructure. A source in the state public health department shared this message with me on Wednesday, “The bed occupancy rate in the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Yaba, is almost 100 per cent. Worse still, almost all patients there are oxygen dependent.”

The previous day, Dr. Ngozi Onyia, the Medical Director and Founder of Paelon Memorial Hospital, a five-star safe-care health facility in the leafy Victoria Island, wrote on the hospital’s Facebook wall, “My phones are ringing off the hook. Patients are crowding in and around the tent (our holding bay for COVID-19 positive patients). We’re making tough calls; who to take into the treatment centre and who to put on one of our four vents – ethical decisions I’ve never had to make in 38+ years…”

The situation in Abuja is worse for a number of reasons. I’m not even going to talk about Kano where Governor Abdullahi Ganduje still managed to find time for a holiday in Dubai in a week when at least three COVID-19 related high profile deaths, including his highest-ranking permanent secretary, were reported in his state.

Ganduje can at least claim brownie points over Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello; and Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade, both undisputed clowns and renowned super-deniers.

In Abuja, a source told me on Wednesday that the Public Health department under the Health and Human Services Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory, which is responsible for collecting the results from laboratories and notifying patients of their status, doesn’t bother sending out results anymore.

“The department has virtually shut down”, my source said. “Anyone concerned about their COVID-19 status has to get tested a second time at a private lab, only this time at a cost of N50,000.” That’s nearly double the official monthly minimum wage.

Meanwhile, the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS), an open-source mobile e-Health system created by the NCDC, has been overwhelmed by insufficient staff to upload test results pouring in from across the country.

The response management system set up by the Federal Government and managed by the Presidential Task Force has either collapsed or morphed into the nether land of unregulated private enterprise where the rich who can afford it buy first place even though the quality is not guaranteed, and the poor who cannot afford it use faith as medicine. If you doubt it, drive around Abuja’s main hospitals.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s government that promised to test two million people by the end of the year, has not tested half that number as of today. That pledge has entered the government’s legend of “once upon a promise”.

The deficit between promise and performance has been covered by swaths of potentially disastrous indecision about what to do with incoming flights from second-wave hit countries like UK and South Africa; half-hearted measures about enforcing tougher public safety measures, with no follow-ups; and plain incompetence about how to secure existing public health and safety in the face of clear and present danger.

In this context, any talk about vaccine for Nigeria is like discussing rocket science or a mission to the moon. How can we even think about that, when we’re still struggling with the basics?

Let’s get this straight. I’m not an alarmist, looking for COVID-19 in every morsel or smelling it in every droplet. Panic has never helped anyone. But the road to regret is paved by denial. Instead of blaming Bill Gates for what he said or did not say or for his real or imaginary plot to drink our blood, can we, for once, take responsibility for our own lives?

Instead of pretending that COVID-19 pandemic kills only those who are 70-plus (when research shows that a growing number of persons in their 50s have underlying conditions and are therefore potentially just as vulnerable), or believing that we can live dangerously and attend party after party because we’re Africans and somehow immortal, can we, for once, take responsibility for our lives?

And do we still remember that after governments across the country scandalously mismanaged COVID-19 supplies, help from private organisations won’t be coming anytime soon? It’s every man for himself.

When the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) released mortality modeling early on that claimed that up to 3 million Africans could die from the COVID-19 pandemic, I challenged the forecast on the grounds that in its generalisations, ECA treated Africa like a country, making almost no distinctions about the local conditions from country to country. But we must be careful not to inflict needless casualties on ourselves through careless choices.

Scientists and researchers have gone to extraordinary lengths to understand the disease, find a cure, or, at worst, provide relief. The sheer scale of damage the disease is causing all around the world – the daily loss of lives in thousands, the scar on survivors and the wrecking of livelihoods and economies – is forcing sworn enemies to find common grounds.

While the result and speed have been exceptional compared with any other previous effort for a pandemic of this scale in history, the most optimistic outcomes admit that there’s still a long way to go. Even where they are available, not one of the four vaccines so far approved for use carries a guarantee of how long they can be effective before potential re-infection.

This is not the time to look to Abuja for help when we know that government can’t even save itself and has since stopped pretending it can.

It’s not the time to argue about what form of immunity works best – herd, lone-wolf or African talisman – when we have seen friends and family die or taken very ill from exposure to the pathogen.

It’s not the time to talk about the sociology of the vaccine whether it bears the mark of the Devil or whether it’s Malthusian’s posthumous answer to population control. It’s not even the time to talk about the politics of the vaccine when the most generous readiness test scores show that Africa is either unprepared or unwilling to receive it.

And most of all, it’s not the time to argue with anyone about whether or not COVID-19 exists and is deadly. Why argue when 1) you’re not responsible for the choices they make and 2) you have no idea of what they do behind close-doors when the argument is over?

I was a fool for months making all sorts of patriotic/nationalistic arguments that led nowhere. Until the shocking and devastating deaths of a few close friends and my son’s close shave reminded me that in a dangerous and uncertain world, self-care is the highest expression of love for others: use your face mask, avoid crowds, wash your hands with soap and running water, use multivitamins as prescribed, and observe social distancing. Be safe.

It doesn’t matter how quickly we wish the annus horribilis 2020 to go away – and God knows I can’t wait to see the back of it. There’s no guarantee of a better year ahead, if we don’t take responsibility and make different choices, now.

Ishiekwene is the MD/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview

December 31, 2020
TNG Year in Review: 40 shocking VIP deaths of 2020 [Photos]
Year 2020 will go down in history has one of the most terrific years in human history worldwide.

Aside the novel coronavirus pandemic which is now in its second wave worldwide, countries have had to deal with various challenges resulting in the death of citizens.

Today (Thursday, December 31) being the last day of the year (2020), Nigerians amongst other citizens of the world are probably the happiest and most optimistic that the incoming year 2021 will be a better year.

However, as the year gradually exit the stage, here are some notable personalities lost.
1. Kayode Odumosu (Pa Kasumu)
Veteran Nollywood actor, Kayode Odumosu popularly known as Pa Kasumu died on March 1 after a brief illness.

Before his death, he was said to have battled ill health for a while.

His health had become a cause for concern for members of the public when a video of his frail state surfaced online last year.

He had previously admitted battling a partial stroke that affected his left side and his sight.

2. Senator Rose Oko

The Senator representing Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Dr (Mrs) Rose Okoji Oko died on March 23, 2020 at a UK medical facility.

She passed on at the age of 63. Born in September 27, 1956.

Before her death, she was chairman, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment of the current Ninth Assembly. Oko was also a member of the House of Representatives when she represented the Yala/Ogoja Federal Constituency in the 7th National Assembly.

The late senator was elected into office as the first female representative from her constituency in June 2011 and was Deputy Chairman House Committee on Education.

She was elected as the first female representative from her Senatorial District in June 2015, and re-elected in 2019.

3. Abba Kyari

The entire landscape was in shock on April 17 with the official announcement of the death of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari.

His death reportedly from COVID-19 infection had jolted the entire populace to the grim reality of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.

He was believed to have contracted the virus while he was away in Germany on official assignment.

He was aged 67.

4. Richard Akinjide

Second Republic Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide was among the prominent Nigerians who succumbed to the cold hands of death in the outgoing year. He was 89, died April 21.

The spokesperson of the family, Abayomi Akinjide, said the former AG was buried in line with COVID-19 protocols.

5. Ibidun Ighodalo

Ibidun Ighodalo, wife of the flamboyant pastor of Trinity House church Itua Ighodalo, died in the early hours of Sunday, June 14.

The family, however, was not forthcoming on the cause of her death, saying that they would appreciate some privacy as they mourned her death.

She was the founder of Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation (IIF), non-profit making organization she started to raise awareness about infertility and provide grants for couples requiring fertility treatments.

6. Sikiru Osinowo

A day after Ibidun Ighodalo’s death, the news also broke of the death of the senator representing Lagos East, Senator Sikiru Osinowo.

Osinowo was said to have died on June 15 at First Cardiology Consultants after battling with an ailment associated with coronavirus.

He was aged 64.

7. Dan Foster

Popular on air personality, Dan Foster a.k.a. the Big Dawg succumbed to death on June 17 after he reportedly contracted COVID-19.

He was until his death was one of the most prominent online personalities in the country.

He was said to have died after respiratory complications from COVID-19.

8. Abiola Ajimobi

Former governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi departed the world on June 25 after weeks of his rumoured battle with COVID-19.

Aged 70, he was said to have died from multiple organs failure following complications from coronavirus infection.

He was on the verge of assuming office as the interim national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the time he died.

9. Tolulope Arotile

The entire nation was thrown into mourning on July 14, 2020 with the news of the death of Tolulope Arotile, a 25-year-old flying officer reputed as Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot in the 55 years existence of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

A native of Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area, Kogi State, her brilliant career was halted when she was inadvertently hit by the reversing vehicle of an excited former Air Force Secondary School classmate while trying to greet her in Kaduna, according to a release by the NAF.

An official release by the NAF says as at October 2019, the late Tolulope had acquired 460 hours of flight within her 14 months of flying a helicopter.

10. Ismaila Isa Funtua

Mallam Ismaila Isa Funtua, a former president of Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria died on July 20 after a brief illness. Born in January 1942, the Second Republic Minister of Water Resources and member of the Constitutional Conference convened during the regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha, was said to have driven himself to the hospital before he gave up the ghost.

Until his death, he was reputed as one of the most influential politicians and businessmen in the country. He founded The Democrat, a Kaduna based authoritative newspaper on political matters, and also owned a construction firm renowned for building the magnificent office of the Civil Service of the federation.

11. Tunde Buraimoh

Hon. Tunde Buraimoh, who until his death on July 10 was the Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Information and Strategy, was one of the prominent politicians the state and the rest of Nigeria had to mourn during the year.

He was said to have died in a hospital around Ikorodu. Details of the cause of his death were sketchy, but reports said he had been absent from plenary for about two weeks before he passed on.

The representative of Kosofe 2 Constituency was reputed as an active and eloquent member of the House.

12. Pa Ayo Fasanmi

Chief Ayo Fasanmi, a prominent leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, died on July 29.

The nonagenarian was said to have died in Osogbo, Osun State capital, after a brief illness.

He was aged 94.

13. Buruji Kashamu

Billionaire businessman and member of the 8th Senate representing Ogun East, Chief Esho Kashamu popularly called Buruji Kashamu, is among the prominent Nigerians who have died of complications from COVID-19 infection.

Breaking the news of his death on twitter on August 8, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce said Kashamu died at First Cardiology Consultants, Lagos at the age of 62.

14. Majek Fashek

The entertainment world was thrown into mourning in early June with the death of Nigerian reggae star, Majekodunmi Fasheke popularly known as Majek Fashek.

According to his manager, Omenka Uzoma, the ‘Rain Maker’ died in his sleep in New York, USA.

15. First Urhobo Professor of Pharmacy, David Okpako

Foremost Nigerian academic and first Urhobo Professor of pharmacist, Professor David Tinakpoevwan Okpako died on Monday, 7th September at the age of 84 years.

His death was confirmed in a statement by the the Steering Committee of The Urhobo Renaissance Society (URS).

16. Veteran actor, Jimoh Aliu

Popular veteran actor, Alhaji Jimoh Aliu (better known as Aworo) died on Thursday, September 17, 2020 at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) Ado Ekiti at the age of 80

Aliu was born on November 11 1939 in Okemesi, Ekiti West local government area of Ekiti State. He was a seasoned actor, producer and singer.

In 1959, Aliu joined the Ogungbe Theatre and remained there until 1966. With Ogungbe Theatre he toured almost all towns in old Western Region now Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti. In 1966, he left Ogungbe Theatre, and formed Jimoh Aliu Concert Party. This group was based in Ikare Akoko in Ondo State.

17. Emir of Zazzau

The Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, passed on September 20.

He was until his death one of Nigeria’s most influential traditional rulers.

He was aged 84.

18. Renowned writer, Prof. J.P. Clark

Emeritus Professor of Literature and renowned Writer, Prof. John Pepper Clark has died on Tuesday, October 13, 2020.

TNG reports that Professor Clark, a popular poet and younger brother of former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark died in the comforting arms of his wife, children and siblings.

19. Awolowo’s elderst child, Tola Oyediran

Rev Tola Oyediran, the eldest child of late Western Region Premier, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is dead.

She passed on around noon on Friday October 16, 2020 at 79 years.

She was billed to celebrate her 80th birthday on December 1.

Until her death, she was the Chairman, Board of Directors of African Newspapers of Nigeria ( ANN) publishers of Tribune titles.

20. Former Presidential candidate, Olapade Agoro

Dr Olapade Agoro, a former presidential candidate of the National Action Council (NAC) died on Sunday November, 1, 2020.

The news of his death was broken by his daughter, Adeola Agoro on her Facebook page.

Agoro, who was 77 years old before his death has been drumming up support for the presidential ambition of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 presidential election.

21. Ex-Kaduna Gov, Balarabe Musa

Balarabe Musa, a former Governor of Kaduna State died on Wednesday, November 11.

Mr. Musa was the former Governor of Kaduna State, becoming the first to be impeached in the early 80s.

Musa was elected on the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party of the late Mallam Aminu Kano in 1979 and was impeached on 23rd June, 1981.

He played multiple roles over the last four decades in Nigerian political and socio-economic activities, forming alliances across multiple sections of the country.

22. Professor Peter Ekeh

The death of foremost Professor of Political Science and Urhobo cultural activist, Professor Peter Ekeh was announced on Tuesday, November 17.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Prof Ekeh, founder of Urhobo Historical Society (UHS) died on Tuesday morning, according to family sources.

Ekeh, born August 8, 1937, hailed from Okpara Inland of Agbon Kingdom in the Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

23. Amaka Ndoma-Egba

All things considered, it has been a very tough year for former Cross River senator, Victor Ndoma-Egba, with the death of his wife in a multiple accident in Ondo State on November 20 weeks after his house was looted and razed by hoodlums who took advantage of the EndSARS protests.

Amaka Ndoma-Egba was said to have died alongside six others in the deadly auto crash involving a truck, a commercial Toyota Avensis bus, a Honda car and a Toyota Coaster bus.

Eight others were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries in the accident.

24. Nassarwa APC Chairman, Philip Shekwo

Mr Philip Shekwo, the Nasarawa State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Saturday, November 21 was found dead, Sunday, November 22.

The Police Command in Nasarawa State confirmed the abduction of Shekwo by gunmen on Saturday.

A member of the APC in Nasarawa State, who asked not to be named, confirmed the death of Shekwo.

25. Gen. Domkat Bali

Former Minister of Defence and member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) between 1984 and 1985, and the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) of 1985 to 1990, General Domkat Bali, passed on December 4.

Bali reportedly died at the age of 80.

He will be remembered as the chairman of the military panel that sentenced Gen. Maman Vatsa and others who were said to have participated in an attempted coup against the Babangida administration in 1986.

26. Sam Nda-Isaiah

The media industry was thrown into mourning on December 11 with the death of the publisher of Leadership newspaper and one of the presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, Sam Nda-Isaiah.

A report in Leadership newspaper quoted his family as saying that the serial entrepreneur and politician died after a brief illness

27. Former minister of education, Prof. Jerry Agada

A former minister of State for Education, Professor Jerry Agada passed on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi from a brief illness after being hospitalised for over one week.

He was 68 and until his death, a Chairman of Benue State Civil Service Commission.

Agada was also a former National President of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).

28. Nigerian Ambassador to US, Sylvanus Nsofor

Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Sylvanus Adiewere Nsofor died on Thursday, December 10 at 85.

A retired justice of Nigeria’s Court of Appeal, Nsofor assumed office as Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States on November 13, 2017.

The envoy succeeded Prof. Adebowale Adefuye, who died towards the end of his tenure as Nigeria’s ambassador to US.

Born on March 17, 1935, in Oguta, Imo State, Nsofor graduated from London’s now-defunct Holborn College of Law in 1962. He also bagged an LL.M from the London School of Economics in 1964.

29. NIPSS DG, Habu Galadima

Prof. Habu Galadima, the Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos died on December 20.

Retired Brig.-Gen. C.F.J. Udaya, the Secretary and Director of Administration of the Institute announced the death in a statement in Jos.

According to Udaya, Galadima, 57, died after a brief illness.

“On behalf of the Board of Governors, management and staff of the institute, we regret to announce the sudden demise of the Director General of NIPSS, Prof. Habu Galadima.

“This occurred this morning, December 20, after a brief illness.

“He will be buried according to Islamic rites,” he said.

30. Ondo commissioner for Regional Integration, Professor Bayonle Ademodi

The Ondo State Government led by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Saturday, December 19, lost a member of its cabinet to the cold hands of death.

The Commissioner for Regional Integration, Professor Bayonle Ademodi died on Saturday after battling a protracted disease.

According to reports, Professor Ademodi, a renowned chemical engineer, had been sick for the past six months.

Although the nature of his sickness remained unknown, he recently travelled abroad for medical attention and was away from the state for over two months.

His death was confirmed by the Information and Orientation Commissioner, Donald Ojogo, who described it as sad. Also, the former caretaker chairman of Ondo East Local Government, Wale Akinlosotu, who confirmed the loss of the party chieftain, described Ademodi as a great leader and bridge-builder that was loved by young and old.

He said Ademodi’s death was “a great loss to the All Progressives Congress, APC, family in Ondo State.

31. PANDEF National Chairman and Ex-Military Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Idongesit Nkanga

Nigerians received with shock, the death of National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Idongesit Nkanga on Christmas Eve (December 24).

According to reports, the 68-year-old former military governor of Akwa Ibom State who has had a long battle with the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) surrendered to the illness on Christmas Eve (December 24).

The late Nkanga was Akwa Ibom governor from September 1990 to 1992 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, handing over to an elected civilian Governor at the start of the Nigerian Third Republic. Ufot Ekaette, who later became the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was his deputy.

32. Popular Nollywood filmmaker, Chico Ejiro

Renowned Nollywood filmmaker, producer and director, Chico Ejiro who according to reports was active on set on Christmas Eve (December 24) died on Christmas morning (December 25) without any health complains.

Born Chico Maziakpono in Isoko, Delta State, Ejiro is a movie director, screenwriter, and producer.

Ejiro originally studied agriculture, and he was drawn into video production because Nigerians would not buy blank video cassettes.

The sad news of Ejiro’s death came out on Christmas Day but not much detail is known about the cause of the death of the veteran filmmaker.

According to close family sources, Ejiro died on Christmas morning in Lagos State.

Ejiro is married to Joy Ejiro and they have four children.

33. Alhaji Musa Sale Kwankwaso

The father of former Kano State Governor, Dr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, Alhaji Musa Sale Kwankwaso, aged 93, is dead.

Alhaji Musa Sale Kwankwaso who was the District Head of Madobi died on Christmas morning.

The media aide to the former governor, Saifullah Muhammad, announced the death of the Makaman Karaye, on his Facebook page in Hausa.

He has since been buried on Friday according to Islamic rites.

The Makaman Karaye left behind by two wives, 19 children (10 females and 9 males) and many grandchildren.

34. Sheikh Ahmed Lemu

Popular Islamic scholar and retired justice, Ahmed Lemu is died on Christmas Eve (December 24).

He died at the age of 91 in Minna, Niger State.

His son, Nurudeen, announced the death on behalf of his family.

“It is with sadness and reverence to Allah that we announce the passing away of our father, Dr. Justice Sheikh Ahmed Lemu OFR, in the early hours of this morning in Minna. Burial arrangements to be announced later,” he said.

Lemu is one of the two Nigerians who have won King Faisal Prize.

He chaired the Presidential Panel on Post-Election Violence in Nigeria in 2011. He was also a member of the Nigerian Council of Religions, the Presidential Council for Youth Development, and various other national committees and councils.

35. Mobolaji Salu, Head of Business, MMA Termina2

The Management of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, (BASL), operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Terminal 2 (MMA2), has announced the death of its Acting Head of Business, Mr Mobolaji Salu.

Mr Mikail Mumuni, Group Corporate Affairs Manager of the company, in a statement issued on Friday, in Lagos, said late Salu, formerly the Head of Operations of BASL, died on Dec. 24, after a brief illness.

The statement quoted the Chairman of BASL, Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN) as describing the death of Salu as “a big loss to the company, his family and the Nigerian Aviation sector.”

“Bolaji was a hardworking and diligent person who will be dearly missed by the Board, management and Staff of BASL, his family and his colleagues in the aviation sector in general,” Babalakin said.

36. Former Gombe Central Senator Saidu Umar Kumo

A former senator representing Gombe Central senatorial district, Gombe state, Senator Saidu Umar Kumo died on Sunday 27th December at the age of 71.

He died at the National Hospital Abuja, after a brief illness.

Before his demise, he was the head of the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign in the North east in the 2019 presidential election.

Senator Kumo was among members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that defected to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in January 2019 shortly before president Buhari won the Presidential seat.

He served as Gombe Central Senator from 1999 to 2003 before contesting the governorship seat of Gombe where he lost to ex-governor Ibrahim Dankwombo in 2011.

37. Popular Nigerian speaker, Ubong King

Popular Nigerian business leader and public speaker, Ubong King is dead.

He reportedly gave up his ghost in Lagos in the early hours of 26th December 2020.

The security expert and founder of Protection Plus Security Limited who was also known as the ‘Troublemaker’ was said to have tested positive for COVID-19.

King was a former chairman of The American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS) International Chapter 206, Lagos. He facilitated and spoke at leadership and management retreats within and outside Nigeria.

Ubong King began his career as a volunteer guard in the protocol department of the church he was attending at the time. King also worked as a consultant in a piggery, before venturing into the security industry. King went on to start Protection Plus Security Limited.

Ubong also curated the ‘ThinknationXX’ annual event that gathered people across Nigeria and Africa to help them with mental shift for business growth.

He is married to Unyime Ivy-King, and survived by his wife and four children.

38. Lotanna Udezue aka Biglo

Veteran Nigerian rapper, music producer, Lotanna Udezue aka Biglo has died after a long battle with Kidney ailment.

His colleague, Jazzman Olofin announced his passing on his social media page.

He said Biglo who was receiving dialysis from an hospital in California, U.S, died on Saturday, Dec. 26.

Last year, there was a call for help, his cousin assisted him in creating a Gofundme account.

Biglo shot into limelight in 2004 with the hit ‘Delicious’ which featured 2shotz.

Although the track earned him a Hip Hop World Award for Best Rap Collabo, the chubby rapper, however, went underground after the buzz died down

39. National Chairman of Labour Party, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam

The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam died on Tuesday, December 29, 2020.

He reportedly died from an undisclosed ailment.

The Deputy National Secretary, LP, Mr. Kennedy Chigozie confirmed the death to TheNewsGuru.com, TNG. He added that the party has been thrown into mourning following the demise of its national chairman.

40. Femi Odekunle, Member Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC)

A professor of criminology and member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Femi Odekunle died on Tueday, December 29, 2020 at 77.

His death was confirmed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed utmost shock at the news of the demise of Professor Femi Odekunle, a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC,” Mr Shehu wrote in a statement sent to newsmen.

“The President described Professor Odekunle as valued friend and a towering intellectual giant with impeccable knowledge of his chosen academic field, criminology and in such others as governance and administration.

“His death is very saddening,” said the president. “His lasting contributions, as well as his charisma, wit and sense of humor, will be sorely missed by all us, his friends and associates. May the Almighty repose his soul.”
December 31, 2020