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5G, GOD’S GENERALS AND THE HORDES OF MORDOR
“Fry their brain and lungs with 20G, as long as they receive recharge card money or they are promised a position in 2037, an average Nigerian is cool. He is totally void of a questioning mind and he never challenges the status quo. In my opinion, the zombie vaccine is already at work in most Nigerians. Pathetic! Biafra must be restored!”- Innocent Chinedu Ikebudu.
Despite the fact that Mr. Ikebudu may be right we must continue to do our best to open the eyes of those that have been bound and blinded by sheer stupidity, a herd mentality, ignorance, hardship, lack of understanding, lack of education, lack of wisdom, the struggle to survive, personal challenges and the god of this world.
After all when when Noah spoke out and warned of impending doom to the world he was a lone voice and he was mocked and insulted by every single person.
This is no different but what makes it a little more disconcerting is the fact that a “man of God” has added his voice to the cacaphony of nonsense and popycock and the chorus of condemnation and ignorance.
I can forgive the ignorant, the unlearned, the unschooled and the dull and simply resort to praying for him but I cannot abide the expression of intellectually barren, inherently dishonest, specious, insidious, perfidious and asinine commentary coming from a hitherto highly respected cleric and man of God who ought to know better. That is the topic of this essay.
I commend Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, whom I have never spoken to or met, for courageously speaking the truth to our nation and to his flock concerning unfolding events in the world.
If others do not understand, appreciate or accept his message and submissions that is entirely their problem and not his.
Thankfully yours truly, together with millions of others from all over the world, most certainly do.
The truth is that there are very few real men of God and genuine Evangelical and Pentecostal Christian Pastors that will disagree with him but I guess there are some who have a different agenda, who wish to play to the public gallery and who have decided to walk the easy path by denying the obvious.
If you do not understand what is happening in the world today please read more widely and do more research. The Bible says “knowledge is power”.
Do not limit yourself to your imperfect understanding or faulty interpretation of the scriptures. As a matter of fact do not limit your knowledge to the scriptures alone. Read more and read widely and the light of knowledge will guide you and lead you on the path of truth.
Needless to say there is far more to all that is going on in the world today than meets the eye.
You are not spreading fear by speaking truth no matter how bitter that truth may be. Truth brings light, hope, understanding and ultimately freedom from ignorance and bondage: it does not bring fear.
If you cannot understand what is happening then hold your peace and don’t condemn others that are trying to explain it as best as they can.
You may disagree with them but do not insult or condemn them because no-one sees or knows it all. We only see in part.
What is totally unacceptable though is for you to deny the whole concept of the “end-times” and act as if that process has not begun. Even the unbelievers recognise the veracity of this bitter truth and even they know that the world is on the threshold of something different and new.
As far as I am aware no-one, including Oyakhilome, has said that the end of the world has come or that the Anti-Christ has already arrived or that he would arrive anytime soon.
My own view is that we still have a very long way to go before that calamitous event occurs but that does not mean that the world is not preparing for it or that satan is not doing his best through his agents and kingdom to effect it.
That does not mean that there is not an evil force that is operating in the world and that is co-ordinating events in a well-organised, purposeful and systematic manner in order to implement and establish his evil purpose and will.
To deny that would mean denying the Holy Bible itself. Such a view would fly in the face of 5000 years of Judeo-Christian preaching, teaching and philosophy.
Most important of all is to recognise that no-one has denied the fact that our Lord and Saviour will make a way for His own and deliver them through the great event known as the “Rapture” before His final and dramatic return.
To suggest that the Bible is a lie and that the end-times are not an issue that we should discuss or be concerned about appears to me to be nothing but, at best, an attempt to be politically correct and, at worse, a shameless display of cowardice and ignorance.
Say or think what you like about Covid 19, 5G, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, the Corona vaccine, the Illuminati, the New World Order, the Pope, the Deep State, Artificial Intelligence, the Bilderburg Group, the Bohemian Grove, the One World Religion or the One World Economy and believe whatever you will.
It changes absolutely nothing and it cannot bury the truth or stop God’s counsel and plan from unfolding.
Yet to be candid, what is inexplicable and utterly indefensible is for a “man of God” to dismiss the provisions and words of the Holy Bible in the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelations as a mere “conspiracy theory”.
You either believe the Word of God or you do not. Scripture cannot be broken and the end-time prophecies shall be fulfilled.
Covid 19 will come and go and so will 5G and all sorts of other things that will be equally disturbing and shocking will come after them.
It is certainly not the end of the world but what we are witnessing is perhaps the beginning of a new era which will eventually lead to a New World Order and the eventual return of our Lord Jesus Christ. That should not bring fear but rather it ought to bring inspiration, confidence, faith and joy.
For any “man of God” to play this down and question the calling and integrity of other men of God for understanding the times and recognising this irrefutable and incontrovertible fact is irresponsible and unacceptable.
If you do not know what is going on, if you do not have the courage of your convictions or if you are incapable of warning your sheep about the perilous times that we are living in and prepare their minds for the obvious challenges that lie ahead then please hold your peace and do not deter others that are clearly being led by the Holy Spirit from doing so.
Do not deny the bitter truth in return for the applause of the world and men and do not seek to undermine or condemn anyone that is courageous enough to speak it.
You are undoubtedly one of the Lord’s end-time generals. I have always liked, looked up to and respected you and for many decades I have followed your teachings and ministry.
You have always inspired me and millions of others all over the world with your commitment to the gospel and your courage and diligence.
Despite the fact that I believe that you erred badly on this matter my admiration for and reverence of you remains intact. You are a great servant of the Most High God and I would never lose sight of that fact even if I believe that you may have got things wrong on this occasion.
Out of respect for your calling, your ministry and your revered office I have refrained from mentioning or writing your name in this contribution but you know who you are.
You also know that despite all I will always love you and wish you well.
At this juncture permit me to echo the question that a young and evidently wise Facebook friend of mine, Mr. Ogbolu Stephen, asked on his Facebook wall. He asked,
“Did the disciples bash or mock themselves for what they preached? Why will Pastors be doing so now?”
You will agree with me that Stephen has asked a pertinent and profound question. After all when Peter, the greatest of the Lord’s disciples, rebuked Paul, the greatest of all the Apostles, he did not insult him, seek to undermine his credibility or seek to destroy his ministry.
When a well-accomplished, much-loved, great and highly respected leader of the Body of Christ and one of God’s end-time generals such as you seeks to admonish or correct another such as Oyakhilome this must be done with restraint, dignity, respect and decorum lest the unbelievers use it as an opportunity to mock, ridicule, confuse and divide our ranks and the flock.
Yet if the truth must be told, to publicly endorse and support the deployment of 5G when every single serious and credible man and woman of God that I know and that I have spoken to from ALL over the world has privately expressed grave concerns and reservations about its implications for humanity, its likely effect on the health of human beings and the environment and its it’s obvious relevance to the end-time prophecies, is dangerous and reckless.
It also raises serious and profound questions about your motivations, your motives and your objectives which I choose not to go into here.
You say that “pandemics come and go” yet you never bothered to find out what the real causes of the three major pandemics that took place in the world over the last 150 years were and what their link was to what you described as “major technological advancement”.
For example are you are aware of what really caused the horrendous “Spanish flu” pandemic in 1918 and do you know that it had nothing to do with the Spanish people or Spain but everything to do with the massive and unprecedented doses of radiation that was pumped into the world’s atmosphere as a consequence of the then newly-adopted system of radio waves and radio frequencies?
50 million people died as a consequence of the implementation of that “major technological advancement” and the Spanish flu which came as a consequence of it.
Is it not worth finding out what actually caused their deaths rather than dismiss it as just another pandemic with flu-like symptoms? Do we not owe the dead, and indeed the living, that much?
The same goes for the two other major pandemics that took place over the last 150 years. I urge and challenge you to do the research rather than condemn and seek to discredit those that have taken the pains to do it for you.
You sir can do far better than that and those of us that have always loved and respected you expect and demand far more and far better from you.
I urge you to remember that the Living God whom we live for and serve specifically and clearly warned us about the gradual unfolding of the strange and difficult times that we are witnessing today in the Holy Bible and that He went to great pains to describe them vividly through His servant John who, by the blessed and divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote the Book of Revelations on the island of Patmos 2000 years ago!
The Lord did this to prepare our minds for what was to come so that we would not be taken by surprise or be frightened by what is clearly bigger than us and far beyond us.
His word and His assurance of an expected end and His great and triumphant return at the end of the time of “Tribulation” is our life-line and our hope: it is our strength, our sword, our shield and our glory. I urge you not to lose sight of this. I implore you not to forget or dismiss the words and visions of John.
I beg you in the name of all that is holy and that you hold dear not to encourage and mislead others into ignoring the scriptures and taking a fatal bite out of the poisonous fruit of the forbidden tree and out of the evil apple of the modern-day “Tree of Knowledge” because it leads to nothing but death and destruction.
Worse of all is the fact that if you insist on doing so the Lord will hold you accountable and responsible for misleading His sheep and putting their safety and souls in jeopardy and peril.
The Church is already on the ropes in the world today and this is not the time to expose your fellow clerics, pastoral colleagues and co-believers to public ridicule and national opprobrium. This is not the time to stand in agreement with the hordes of Mordor, the sons of perdition, the daughters of Belial and the seed of satan.
This is not the time to endorse the Luciferean intrigues, cunning deceptions, malevolent machinations, deadly snares and evil mendacities of those that are clearly from the pit of hell and that serve the Morning Star, the Son of the Dawn and the Whispering Serpent.
Permit me to conclude this contribution with the following.
You glibllly asked why it is that “if 5G is the cause of coronavirus why is it not in his (Oyakhilome’s) village where there is no 5G?”
I shall do you the honor of answering your question with another. Is it written anywhere that what is clearly a man-made virus which may have been designed to be a biological weapon and which likely emerged from a secret laboratory in Wuhan, China after the full deployment of 5G in that city, cannot and will not spread like wild-fire to areas of the world where 5G has not been deployed, established or made operational?
Your question appears to me to be too basic and simplistic for a man of your knowledge and understanding. It dimisinshes you to no end.
The creation and release of this particular virus was designed to act as a smokescreen for an even greater and more sinister cause and agenda and that cause and agenda is the introduction of what will be an utterly deadly vaccine and the establishment of what will be a modern and technologically-advanced new 5th generation communication system with its heavy package and load of deadly and destructive radiation.
These secret modern-day tools of destruction are not designed to remain in the place that they were manufactured. They are designed to spread like the plague throughout the entire world in order to pave the way and justify the implementation of a greater evil that is to come.
Is this bitter truth so implausible and inconceivable to you? Have you no idea how deep, profound and cunning satan is in his ways and devices?
Quite apart from that the coronavirus is spread by human beings and human contact whilst the death and poison that 5G causes as a consequence of its direct application and usage will come only after it is fully deployed in various parts of the world.
It is at that point that you will see birds drop out of the sky, trees and grass dying, fish floating and human beings dropping dead like flies. And of course they will tell you that the only answer for this strange and inexplicable phenomenon is Bill Gates’ long awaited magic vaccine which, sadly, will lead humanity into an even greater abyss and bigger graveyard.
Simply put the coronavirus is merely the light appetiser whilst the establishment and deployment of 5G is the main course and the introduction of the vaccine will be the glorious and resplendent dessert. This indeed is a deadly meal.
Those that created the problem and anticipated humanity’s predictable reaction are now the ones that are providing the remedy and the “solution” to the problem that they created. Isn’t that an irony?
This strategy is known in philosophical circles as the Hegelian dialectic and in layman’s terms it is described as the concept of “problem, reaction, solution”.
It is a highly ruthless and efficient strategy and tactic and it is designed to fool humanity and gain control and domination of the world. It is pertinent to note that its greatest strength and power lies in its cultic and total secrecy.
Those that are behind it will use every power and every tool at their disposal to keep their activities secret and to tarnish and destroy anyone that seeks to expose them.
The objective of the hidden hand of the dark world that is behind all this is to create a massive, transnational global and Orwellian state with a drastically reduced population, a New World Order and a One World Religion which will be run by Artificial Intelligence and presided over by the Anti-Christ and his master satan. That is where this is all heading.
The process is gradual and it may still take another fifty to one hundred years, or perhaps even more, but it shall surely come to pass. It cannot be stopped because it is prophetic.
The hope of the Church and the Believer lies in the Word of God, His promise to shield and deliver His own, the coming “Rapture” and His eventual return as the all-conquering and avenging glorious Messiah.
And whether anyone believes it or not, He SURELY will return because He is full of love and faithful to His word. Shalom.
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DETERRENCE OR CATASTROPHE? ON THE BRINK OF A REDEFINING MIDDLE EAST WAR: A CALL FOR THE DIPLOMATIC PATH FORWARD
DETERRENCE OR CATASTROPHE? ON THE BRINK OF A REDEFINING MIDDLE EAST WAR: A CALL FOR THE DIPLOMATIC PATH FORWARD
By Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai Rtd CFR
We stand at a precipice where a single decision could redefine the future of the Middle East and send shockwaves through a fragile global order. The choice appears deceptively simple: to strike militarily in pursuit of deterrence or to withstand perceived aggression. Yet, this framing is a dangerous illusion. A direct, full-scale conflict between the United States, its allies, and Iran would not be a controlled exercise in power projection. It would be the ignition of a regional inferno with no clear exit, where the initial objective of “deterrence” would be consumed within hours by the unforgiving law of unintended consequences. The path of war promises not a decisive victory, but a cascade of devastation—human, economic, and strategic—that would leave all parties and the world profoundly poorer and more unstable. In this stark reality, diplomacy is not a sign of weakness; it is the singular, rational imperative for survival.
The Illusion of a Clear Victory
The allure of a military solution rests on a straightforward calculus: degrade critical nuclear and military infrastructure, cripple the command structures of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and deliver a blow so decisive that Iran’s regional influence collapses. Proponents envision a rapid, surgical campaign that reestablishes undisputed deterrence. However, this vision fundamentally misjudges the nature of the adversary and the dynamics of the region. As former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Andrew P. Miller cautions, even a successful strike “would likely prove a Pyrrhic victory” for broader strategic goals, failing to achieve durable political outcomes. Iran would not absorb a strike passively and capitulate. Retaliation would be swift, multidimensional, and devastating.
Indeed, as noted by Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a former Iranian nuclear negotiator and scholar at Princeton University, Tehran perceives such a confrontation as an “existential war,” a stance that would “eliminate any incentive for restraint, unleashing a conflict that would be impossible to control.” We would witness not a single battle but the violent opening of multiple, simultaneous fronts. Hezbollah’s vast arsenal of precision-guided rockets would rain down on Israeli cities. Iranian proxies in Iraq and Syria would target the U.S. personnel and bases with relentless aggression. The Houthis could unleash further chaos on global shipping. Most critically, Iran itself would likely launch direct missile and drone attacks against Gulf state oil infrastructure and, potentially, attempt to blockade the Strait of Hormuz—a chokepoint for nearly 25% of global seaborne oil trade. The initial “surgical strike” would, within days, metastasize into a sprawling regional war with no defined battlefield and no clear rules of engagement.
The Unbearable Costs: A World Remade by War
The consequences would swiftly spiral beyond the military domain, etching a deep scar across global stability. The human cost would be immediate and horrifying, with casualties mounting not just among combatants but in urban centres targeted by long-range artillery and missiles. As analyzed by the BBC, a primary risk is the collapse of the Iranian regime into chaos or civil war,” which would spark “a severe humanitarian and refugee crisis” of immense proportions, a scenario where “nobody wants to see the largest Middle East nation by population… descend into chaos.”
The economic shock would be felt in every corner of the world. A successful disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, even temporarily, would trigger an instantaneous spike in oil prices, catapulting the global economy into a profound inflationary recession. Supply chains would seize, markets would panic, and the cost of basic necessities would skyrocket worldwide. This is not a speculative risk; it is a guaranteed outcome of Iran’s stated asymmetric doctrine.
Strategically, the war would unmoor the region for a generation. The delicate, if tense, balance among regional powers would shatter. Even if the Iranian regime were severely weakened, the result would not be a peaceful vacuum but a vortex of chaos. As Afshon Ostovar, an associate professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, warns of potential internal collapse, “the ruling apparatus, in other words, would collapse gradually, and then suddenly.” A fractured state could descend into civil conflict, its hardline elements unleashing terror networks, and rival powers scrambling to carve spheres of influence. The painstakingly built, if flawed, security architecture of the past half-century would lie in ruins. The ultimate outcomes of a strike are profoundly unpredictable, but none point toward a more stable or secure order for the United States, Israel, or their allies. Victory, in any meaningful sense, would be unrecognizable.
The Diplomatic Path: Not an Ideal, But a Necessity
Faced with this landscape of ruin, the diplomatic path emerges not as a naive ideal but as the only pragmatic tool for managing an existential threat. It is the circuit breaker for the escalatory spiral that guarantees mutual destruction. This is not an argument for appeasement or for trusting the untrustworthy. It is a cold-eyed recognition that only through calibrated statecraft can we navigate away from the brink. This view is echoed by regional voices, such as an editorial in The National, which asserts that “various regional actors are urging non-military ways to change relationships with Tehran” and that “now is a time for focused and determined diplomacy to chart a path away from war.”
The goal of diplomacy in this context is not to achieve a grand reconciliation overnight but to relentlessly pursue de-escalation and create mechanisms for crisis management. It involves empowering regional dialogue, establishing clear and direct communication channels to prevent miscalculation, and seeking hard-nosed, verifiable agreements that incrementally roll back the most dangerous threats, such as further advances in Iran’s nuclear program and its regional ballistic missile deployments. The international community, including powers with leverage in Tehran, must be rallied not to take sides but to unequivocally advocate for restraint. The collective message must be that while aggression and proliferation are unacceptable, the alternative of total war is a common enemy that will destroy all in its path.
The choice before the international community is now laid bare. One road leads into the fog of war—a fog filled with the echoes of missile fire, the screams of the displaced, and the collapse of economies. It is a path where the very concept of “victory” loses all meaning. The other road, the diplomatic path, is undeniably difficult, fraught with setbacks, and requires immense political courage. It demands negotiating through distrust and managing imperfect outcomes. But it is the only road that leads away from the abyss and toward a future where stability, however fragile, can be rebuilt. The hour is late, but the path forward remains. We must choose diplomacy, not because we believe in the goodness of our adversaries, but because we have stared into the alternative and seen an unbearable catastrophe for all.
By:
Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai Rtd CFR
Former Chief of Army Staff, Nigerian Army, and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin.
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Senator Adeola Yayi Bags Royal Blessings at Foundation Laying of Yewa Traditional Council Secretariat in Ilaro
Senator Adeola Yayi Bags Royal Blessings at Foundation Laying of Yewa Traditional Council Secretariat in Ilaro
…Clerics, Monarchs and Political Leaders Offer Prayers for His Future Aspirations
ILARO-YEWA, OGUN STATE — The ancient town of Ilaro, headquarters of Ogun West Senatorial District, came alive on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, as royal fathers, political leaders, clerics and community stakeholders gathered for the historic foundation-laying ceremony of the proposed ultra-modern Yewa Traditional Council (Obas’) Secretariat Complex.
The culturally symbolic project, facilitated by the Senator representing Ogun West at the National Assembly, Distinguished Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), attracted widespread commendation, fervent prayers and royal blessings from traditional rulers across Yewaland, alongside leaders and stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The ceremony officially marked the commencement of construction of what is envisioned as a state-of-the-art secretariat that will serve as the institutional headquarters of the Yewa Traditional Council.
Stakeholders described the initiative as a landmark achievement in institutional development and a clear demonstration of Senator Adeola’s sustained commitment to grassroots development, cultural preservation and inclusive governance in Yewaland.
Royal fathers present unanimously agreed that the project represents a significant step toward strengthening traditional governance and preserving Yewa cultural heritage. According to them, the proposed secretariat will function as a unifying administrative hub, enhance collaboration among monarchs and safeguard the cultural identity of the Yewa people for generations to come.
Speaking at the event, the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, His Royal Majesty Oba (Dr.) Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, Asade Agunloye IV, poured encomiums on Senator Adeola for his extensive infrastructural interventions and developmental footprints across Yewaland and Ogun State.
The monarch noted that the senator’s contributions have repositioned Yewaland on the path of meaningful progress, urging political leaders and stakeholders to embrace unity, cooperation and harmony.
He emphasized that such collective resolve remains crucial to the long-standing aspiration of producing a Yewa indigene as Governor of Ogun State in 2027.
Oba Olugbenle also used the occasion to encourage residents to actively participate in the democratic process by obtaining their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs), stressing that civic engagement is the surest route to credible leadership.
“Yayi Is a Unique Son of Yewaland” — Deputy Speaker
The Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Chief) Mrs. Lateefat Bolanle Ajayi, described Senator Adeola as a “unique and incomparable son of Yewaland,” whose influence transcends Ogun West to Ogun Central and East.
“We have had good sons in Yewaland, but Yayi stands out. His impact is felt in Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode and beyond. Charity truly begins at home. Even the blind can see and the deaf can hear. We must support him. Come 2027, we have a candidate,” she declared.
Clerics Offer Prayers for Success
Offering prayers at the ceremony, Imam Mohammed Tijani Jamiu, Chief Imam of Surulere Central Mosque, Ilaro-Yewa, prayed for Senator Adeola, the royal fathers of Yewaland and the successful completion of the project.
Similarly, Imam Jamiu Adeniyi Kewulere, Chief Imam of Bibire Central Mosque, Oke-Ola, Ilaro-Yewa, also offered special prayers for peace, progress and divine guidance for all stakeholders.
“A Rare Project of Global Significance” — Yewa South LG Chairman
The Chairman of Yewa South Local Government, Hon. Tunde Ogunshola, described the occasion as one of the happiest moments of his life, noting that the project is unprecedented in scope and cultural significance
.
“This traditional council building is rare, even globally. It is being realized through the support of Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun and facilitated by Senator Adeola. When completed, it will stand as a lasting symbol of our heritage,” he said.
The Ogun State Chairman of Cultural Development, Hon. Olayiwola Taiwo, also hailed the project as a major turnaround for Ogun West, a zone he said had endured years of infrastructural neglect.
“This is a remarkable development. Senator Adeola is truly God-sent to Yewaland,” he stated.
Royal fathers including the Olofin Adimula of Ado-Odo, Oba Idris Olusola Lamidi Osolo, the Abepa of Joga-Orile, Oba Adeyemi Adekeye, and the Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite, all expressed confidence that greater projects linked to Senator Adeola would continue to materialize.
A retired Director-General in the Ogun State Civil Service, Mr. Michael Babatunde Ajayi, likened the proposed complex to the Obas’ Secretariat in Abeokuta, noting that it would reduce the need for monarchs in Yewaland to travel to the state capital for meetings.
“This will be the first of its kind in Yewaland. Kudos to Senator Adeola, whose impact is felt across Ogun State,” he said.
APC Leaders Call for Political Mobilisation
The Ogun West APC Chairman, Alhaji Azeez Adisa (Ekwume), alongside party leaders and community stakeholders, described Senator Adeola’s interventions as purposeful and impactful.
They urged party members to consolidate these gains by strengthening party structures and participating actively in voter registration and mop-up exercises, noting that broad-based participation is essential for electoral success.
Anglican Bishop Describes Project as Timely
Speaking with journalists, the Diocesan Bishop of the Anglican Communion, Rt. Revd. M.A. Oluwarohunbi, PhD, described the project as timely and symbolic, adding that it would enhance the role of traditional rulers in governance.
“This is a very important day in the history of Ilaro and Yewaland. The proposed complex will be an ultra-modern edifice befitting our royal fathers,” he said.
He also prayed for Senator Adeola’s continued strength and the realization of his future aspirations.
At the climax of the event, Oba Olugbenle, alongside other eminent kabiyesis, offered royal prayers and blessings for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, Senator Solomon Adeola Yayi, and other political office holders across Ogun West and Nigeria, seeking divine wisdom, protection and success in governance.
The well-attended ceremony drew a diverse audience, including revered monarchs from across Yewaland, political leaders, community stakeholders and religious representatives from Christianity, Islam and traditional institutions.
Members of the League of Yewa-Awori Media Practitioners (LOYAMP) were also prominently represented, led by their National Coordinator, Otunba AbuSatar Idowu Hamed.
The colourful event concluded with the formal laying of the foundation stone by royal fathers and distinguished guests, symbolically ushering in a new chapter in the institutional development and cultural renaissance of Yewaland—an occasion many described as another defining milestone in Senator Adeola Yayi’s growing legacy of service and development.
Courtesy: League of Yewa-Awori Media Practitioners (LOYAMP)
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Shadows of Greed: Alison‑Madueke’s UK Corruption Trial and the Cost of Power
Shadows of Greed: Alison‑Madueke’s UK Corruption Trial and the Cost of Power
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
When today’s headlines speak of corruption, they often do so as a distant abstraction as a vague moral failure with little bearing on everyday life. But the unfolding corruption trial of Diezani Alison‑Madueke in a London court throws into glaring relief the real, human and systemic consequences of unchecked power merged with self‑interest. This is not merely the story of an individual on trial; it is a lens through which the world must scrutinise the fragile intersection of governance, resource wealth and public trust.
Diezani Alison‑Madueke, once Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources and later the first woman president of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), now stands accused before Britain’s Southwark Crown Court of multiple counts of bribery and conspiracy. The accusations against her (which she vehemently denies) paint a portrait of opulence allegedly funded through pay‑to‑play politics that ignored the public good and rewarded those who could feed her lavish lifestyle.
A Life in Oil, a Life Under Scrutiny.
Alison‑Madueke’s tenure as petroleum minister, from twenty ten until twenty fifteen, coincided with a period of immense oil revenue for Nigeria, a country sitting atop the largest oil reserves in Africa. Yet that wealth did not translate into broad‑based prosperity for the citizens she was meant to serve. Instead, British prosecutors allege that her privileged access to that sector was exploited for personal gain.
According to court indictments, she is accused of accepting bribes not in vague promises, but in concrete, high‑value luxury benefits and including cash, chauffeur‑driven vehicles, private jet travel, the use of multiple high‑end properties in London, funded renovations, personal household staff and even costly designer goods purchased at establishments like Harrods and Louis Vuitton. Prosecutors told the court these were not mere gifts, but “financial or other advantages” given by industry players “who clearly believed she would use her influence to favour them.”
The former minister, now sixty‑five, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Alongside her in the dock are two co‑defendants: oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde and her brother, Doye Agama, both of whom deny the charges connected to the same alleged bribery scheme.
The Anatomy of Allegations.
What makes this trial especially significant is the detail and scale of the alleged benefits. Prosecutors have asserted that Alison‑Madueke was offered:
Access
to luxury homes and private residences in London, bought and maintained by associates seeking lucrative Nigerian contracts.
At least a six‑figure sum in direct cash payments.
Private jet flights and schooling fees for her children.
Vast quantities of luxury goods and services from upscale retailers.
While the prosecution concedes it has not yet produced direct evidence that she awarded specific contracts to individuals who should not have had them, it maintains that the acceptance of such benefits by a public official who oversaw multi‑billion‑dollar contracts is inherently improper and contrary to fundamental principles of public service.
Voices of Accountability.
The allegations have drawn sharp commentary from observers worldwide who see the trial as emblematic of broader governance challenges across resource‑rich nations.
Nigerian social justice advocate Aisha Bello has observed, “Corruption is not a peripheral defect in governance but a corrosive disease that accelerates inequality. When leaders treat public office as a gateway to private treasure, citizens pay with lost opportunities and diminished hope.”
Similarly, Professor John Githongo, a renowned anti‑corruption scholar, argues that “Transparency and accountability are not optional extras in public administration; they are indispensable pillars of a just society. When the public good is subverted for private gain, the very fabric of trust unravels.”
These sentiments resonate deeply in contexts where natural wealth exists alongside persistent challenges in education, healthcare and infrastructure also illustrating that corruption is not an isolated moral failing, but a fundamental impediment to development.
Corruption Beyond Borders.
What makes this case notable on the global stage is not just its connection to a former minister, but its international footprint. The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has taken up the case because many of the alleged transactions (the properties, cash flows, and luxury perks) touched British jurisdiction. This underlines a critical truth: corruption today is not contained by national boundaries. Illicit financial flows, luxury goods, and asset holding often travel across continents, making international cooperation essential in pursuit of justice.
Andy Kelly, head of the NCA’s International Corruption Unit, stated during earlier proceedings that investigations revealed “financial rewards” accepted by Alison‑Madueke that were “suspected to relate to the awarding of multi‑million‑pound contracts.” He emphasised that such impropriety has “devastating consequences for developing nations.”
This collaborative legal action reflects a growing global consensus: no public official, regardless of stature, should be beyond accountability. When a former head of state institutions is brought before a foreign court, it is not just a legal milestone but it is a moral affirmation of shared values in the rule of law.
The Nigerian Context.
In Nigeria, the oil sector has long been both a blessing and a burden. Despite generating huge revenues, mismanagement and corruption have often undermined potential gains for the wider population. A 2023 report by Nigeria’s statistics agency ranked corruption as one of the most significant challenges facing the country. It is a sobering backdrop that shapes how this trial is interpreted at home and abroad.
Former officials and critics alike have noted that transparency in governance is not merely a matter of legality but one of national dignity. As legal scholar Dr. Funke Adekola puts it, “When leaders betray public trust, they erode the very essence of citizenship. Restoring that trust requires not just trials, but systemic reform in values and institutions.”
What Lies Ahead.
The trial, expected to stretch over several months of testimony and evidence examination, is itself a test of judicial endurance and political will. It presents complex questions about proof, credibility, and moral accountability. Yet beyond the sterile halls of courtrooms, its wider implications reverberate in global public discourse about how nations manage wealth and how societies hold leaders accountable.
For ordinary citizens around the world, this case is riveting not because of luxury houses or private jets, but because it forces a collective reckoning: What price should a society pay when those entrusted with public resources place personal enrichment above national welfare?
Summative Insight.
As Diezani Alison‑Madueke’s trial unfolds before the world’s eyes, it stands as a stark reminder that the fight against corruption must be relentless and unflinching. It exposes the corrosive effects of unethical conduct at the highest levels of power and underscores the necessity of accountability, irrespective of nationality or office.
In the final analysis, justice is not only about punishment, but about restoring faith in the systems meant to protect the common good. As the British court hears testimony and as evidence is meticulously weighed, the world watches a profound test of justice, one that could shape how future generations understand leadership, integrity and the true cost of power.
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