society
Africa’s Real Struggle: RELIGION, TRIBALISM and POLITICAL ROT. Our Greatest Enemies Are Within
Africa’s Real Struggle: RELIGION, TRIBALISM and POLITICAL ROT. Our Greatest Enemies Are Within. (Opinion)
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
In 2025, Africa continues to bleed not from the lashes of colonialism, but from self-inflicted wounds of religious fanaticism, tribal bigotry and unchecked political greed. While the continent has achieved independence from colonial rule decades ago, it remains mentally enslaved, economically pillage and socially disoriented by the very people who swore to liberate it. THE PAINFUL TRUTH IS: AFRICA’S BIGGEST PROBLEM IS NOT THE WEST. IT IS AFRICANS.
Religion Without Righteousness. Across Africa today, mega-churches rise like castles, even in the midst of HUNGER-STRICKEN and POVERTY-RAVAGED COMMUNITIES. The new “holy war” is not spiritual but economic. Factories are being converted into religious centers, while jobs vanish into thin air. Clergymen live in obscene opulence, flying private jets and owning fleets of luxury cars, while their followers sleep in makeshift shacks. Instead of producing goods, we now mass-produce prayers.
Nigeria, for example, has more churches per capita than most countries in the world, yet it ranks among the poorest nations globally. The 2024 World Bank data shows that over 71 million Nigerians live in extreme poverty. Contrast this with the net worth of some religious leaders who rank among Africa’s richest individuals. Pastor David Oyedepo is reportedly worth over $150 million, according to Forbes estimates, while many of his congregants survive on less than a dollar a day. This is not faith. This is fraud wrapped in holy garments.
Religious manipulation has replaced colonial indoctrination. Clergy no longer challenge power; they dine with politicians. They bless looters and prophesy victory for criminals in exchange for favors. As Professor Patrick Lumumba rightly said, “Africans have become so religious that they cannot question their religious leaders even when they are clearly wrong.” The pulpit is no longer a sacred place for the truth; it has become a political podium for lies, deception and control.
Tribalism is Africa’s Terminal Cancer. We chant unity in public and sow division in private. In every African election, tribal loyalty often supersedes competence. Nations like Nigeria, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo are fragmented along ethnic and tribal lines. Rwanda, once torn apart by the Hutu-Tutsi genocide of 1994, serves as a tragic reminder of what tribalism can cost.
Despite our education, tribal thinking remains deeply entrenched. In Nigeria, the “WE versus THEM” narrative has crippled national cohesion. In South Africa, xenophobia cloaked in tribal solidarity continues to target fellow Africans under the guise of nationalism. In Ethiopia, the Tigray conflict revealed how fragile the union is when tribal supremacy becomes weaponized.
As former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan once said, “We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.” Sadly, Africa has yet to internalize this.
Tribalism is not cultural pride, it is cultural ignorance when it becomes exclusionary. It stifles innovation, undermines meritocracy and empowers mediocrity. It fuels electoral violence, promotes nepotism, and discourages inter-ethnic cooperation.
Politics of Plunder, Not Progress. Perhaps the greatest tragedy in Africa is its breed of leaders who are GREEDY, SELFISH and UNAPOLOGETICALLY CORRUPT. From state houses to parliaments, political power has become a license to loot. The idea of public service is extinct; what remains is private enrichment under public titles.
Based on the Global Financial Integrity (GFI) report, Africa loses over $88.6 billion annually in illicit financial flows. Most of this money ends up in European banks, offshore tax havens and luxury real estate in Dubai, London and other parts of Europe. While hospitals rot and schools collapse, politicians siphon billions to buy yachts and castles overseas.
In Angola, former President José Eduardo dos Santos and his daughter Isabel reportedly siphoned over $2.1 billion of public wealth. In Nigeria, the late General Sani Abacha looted more than $5 billion, with billions still being recovered decades later. South Africa’s Jacob Zuma presided over what became globally known as “state capture,” a monumental abuse of power by private interests, notably the Gupta family.
These are not isolated incidents; they represent a continent-wide disease. From Zimbabwe’s Mugabe to Equatorial Guinea’s Obiang Nguema, Africa’s leaders have perfected the art of staying in power through manipulation, oppression and division.
As Chinua Achebe warned in his classic The Trouble with Nigeria, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” That statement remains painfully accurate across the entire continent.
When Will the Healing Begin?
Africa does not need pity. It needs action. We need to stop blaming colonialism for problems created and perpetuated by Africans. Yes, the colonial past was brutal and exploitative, but six decades after independence, the excuse has expired.
The healing begins when: We hold our religious leaders accountable.
The gospel is not a business model. Mosques and churches should be taxed if they become profit-making enterprises. Religious institutions must return to their roles as moral compasses not financial empires.
We dismantle tribal politics. The media, civil society and schools must lead the campaign to promote national identity over tribal loyalty. Young people must be taught to value competence, vision and ethics; not TRIBE or TONGUE.
We prosecute and shame corrupt leaders. Anti-corruption must go beyond political slogans. We must reform our judiciary, empower civil society and adopt technology to track public funds. Leaders must be treated as servants not kings.
We invest in education and critical thinking.
An INFORMED CITIZEN is a DANGEROUS CITIZEN to CORRUPT RULERS. Schools must teach civic responsibility, not just pass exams. As Thomas Jefferson said, “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.”
We must love Africa enough to stay and build.
The exodus of Africa’s best minds to Europe and America must be reversed. Brain drain is not just an economic issue but also a moral one. Who will fix Africa if everyone runs away?
The Time is Now. Africa has the youngest population in the world, with over 60% under the age of 25. This is our greatest hope and greatest risk. If empowered, this generation can rebuild the continent. If ignored, they can burn it down. As Nelson Mandela said, “Young people must take it upon themselves to ensure that they receive the highest education possible so that they can represent us well in the future as future leaders.”
The mirror does not lie. Africa’s true enemy is not COLONIALISM, EUROPE or AMERICA. The true enemy is the preacher selling lies for tithes, the tribal chief selling division for loyalty and the politician selling the future for foreign accounts.
It is time to stop praying for change and start acting for it. Let the healing start. Let the chains we placed on ourselves be broken; by us.
Written by George Omagbemi Sylvester
Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
FRSC@ 38: SHEHU MOHAMMED STEERING NIGERIA’S ROAD SAFETY REVOLUTION TO GREATER HEIGHTS
By Deputy Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem (Rtd) fsi, MNIM, anipr
When Mallam Shehu Mohammed assumed leadership as Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), he inherited not just an institution with history, but a national mandate that touches every family, every highway, and every community in Nigeria. At 38 years, the Corps stands tall as Africa’s model road safety agency, and under his stewardship, that legacy is not merely preserved, it is being boldly redefined.
Nigeria’s highways were once synonymous with fear. Before 1988, the World Health Organisation ranked Nigeria among the most dangerous countries in the world to drive. It was a troubling indictment that demanded courage and clarity of purpose. The establishment of the FRSC under Decree No. 45 of 1988 laid the foundation for reform. But sustaining and advancing that reform across decades requires visionary leadership, the kind now exemplified by Mallam Shehu Mohammed.
Today, under his command, the Corps is consolidating its position as one of the most technologically advanced and operationally efficient law enforcement institutions in Nigeria. With renewed strategic focus, the present leadership has deepened the Safe Systems Approach built on people, processes, and technology, ensuring that safety interventions are not reactive, but preventive and intelligence-driven.
One of the defining hallmarks of his administration is accelerated digital transformation. Within six months, over 3,000 personnel were trained to strengthen operational competence and technological adaptability. More than 95 per cent of the Corps’ administrative and operational processes are automated, supported by over 30 web-based applications that enhance traffic governance nationwide. From the National Crash Reporting Information System (NACRIS) to the upgraded e-ticketing platform, innovation is no longer optional; it is institutional culture.
Emergency response under the current Corps Marshal has become faster and more coordinated, with nationwide response time reduced dramatically from 50 minutes to 15 minutes. The 122 toll-free emergency line and 24-hour National Call Centre continue to serve as lifelines for distressed road users, reflecting a leadership that understands that every second counts.
Strategic stakeholder engagement has equally flourished. Safe corridor initiatives have been strengthened, collaboration with transport unions intensified, and enforcement around articulated vehicles tightened. The result is a significant reduction in tanker-related crashes, a development that speaks to deliberate policy direction and disciplined implementation.
Under Mallam Shehu Mohammed’s leadership, data has become a central pillar of enforcement and planning. Through strengthened collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission, the National Bureau of Statistics, and the Nigeria Customs Service, the Corps has advanced harmonized data systems that support evidence-based interventions. Transparent weekly crash trend reporting now guides targeted deployment and corrective strategies.
Nigeria’s standing on the global stage has also been reinforced. The country remains an active participant in the renewed UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030) and continues alignment with international road safety conventions. These achievements build on the solid foundation laid by past leaders from Olu Agunloye and General Haladu Hannaniya to Chief Osita Chidoka, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, and Dauda Ali Biu, but under the present Corps Marshal, the momentum has unmistakably intensified.
Operationally, the Corps’ footprint now spans 12 Zonal Commands, 37 Sector Commands, over 300 Unit Commands, over 700 Station Offices, 59 Zebra Emergency Ambulance Points, and presence in all 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria. Yet beyond physical structures lies a stronger institutional spirit, one driven by discipline, professionalism, and accountability.
From a nation once ranked among the most unsafe for motorists to a continental pacesetter in road safety management, Nigeria’s transformation story is inseparable from the strength of its leadership. At 38 years, FRSC is not simply celebrating longevity; it is celebrating purposeful stewardship.
Mallam Shehu Mohammed represents a generation of reform-minded leadership committed to smarter mobility systems, data-driven enforcement, and people-centered safety administration.
His tenure reflects continuity with courage sustaining the Corps’ proud legacy while boldly steering it toward greater innovation and measurable impact.
The road ahead is demanding. But under his steady command, Nigeria’s highways are safer, its systems smarter, and its future brighter.
Fashion/Lifestyle
Introducing “Atupaglowco” : Where Fragrance Meets Feeling; The Story of Our Beginning
Introducing “Atupaglowco”: Where Fragrance Meets Feeling; The Story of Our Beginning
Every great journey begins with a sense of anticipation. For us, it began with a simple belief that a space should do more than exist, it should speak comfort and glow.
In a world filled with noise, stress, and endless motion, we realized something powerful. Fragrance can transform not just rooms, but moods. A familiar scent can calm anxiety. A warm aroma can turn a house into a home. A gentle glow can bring peace after a long day. This realization gave birth to “Atupaglowco.”
Atupaglowco was not created to sell diffusers, room sprays, or candles. It was created to create experiences. To create moments. To create atmospheres where people can breathe, reflect, and feel whole again.
The name itself represents more than a brand. It represents warmth. It represents light. It represents presence. We remember the early days, the planning, the testing of scents, the moments of doubt, and the moments of excitement. Each candle poured was a step of faith. Each fragrance blended was a piece of our vision coming to life. We weren’t just building products; we were building something meaningful.
Our diffusers were designed to quietly fill spaces with elegance.
Our room sprays were crafted to instantly refresh and revive environments. Our candles were made to bring calm, beauty, and a soft glow into everyday life.
Atupaglowco was born from passion, patience, and purpose. This launch is not just the start of a business. It is the start of a movement to help people create spaces they love. Spaces that inspire rest. Spaces that inspire joy. Spaces that glow.
We believe fragrance is personal. We believe glow is emotional. We believe every space deserves both.
Today, we proudly introduce Atupaglowco to the world.
This is only the beginning.
Ajadi Hails Oyo Speaker Ogundoyin at 39, Describes Him as Beacon of Purposeful Leadership
A leading governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has congratulated the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Edward Ogundoyin, on the occasion of his 39th birthday, describing him as “a symbol of resilience, maturity and purposeful leadership in Nigeria’s democratic journey.”
In a congratulatory message made available to journalists on Tuesday, Ajadi praised Ogundoyin’s steady rise in public service, noting that his emergence as Speaker at a relatively young age reflects the possibilities of responsible youth leadership when combined with discipline, vision and service.
“Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin’s leadership has shown that age is not a barrier to excellence,” Ajadi said. “At 39, he stands tall as one of the most impactful Speakers in Oyo State’s history—calm, inclusive and deeply committed to democratic ideals.”
Ogundoyin, who represents Ibarapa East State Constituency under the Peoples Democratic Party, has served as Speaker since 2019 and was re-elected to lead the 10th Assembly in June 2023. His tenure has been marked by legislative stability, improved executive–legislative relations and youth-inclusive governance.
Ajadi commended the Speaker for fostering unity within the Assembly and prioritising laws that strengthen grassroots development across Oyo State. “His humility, accessibility and focus on people-oriented legislation have earned him respect beyond party lines,” he said. “He exemplifies the kind of leadership Oyo State needs—one anchored on service, accountability and progress.”
The governorship aspirant further described Ogundoyin as a rallying point for young Nigerians aspiring to public office. “In a country searching for credible leaders, Ogundoyin’s story offers hope,” Ajadi added. “He has shown that when young leaders are trusted with responsibility, they can deliver stability and results.”
Ajadi wished the Speaker many more years of good health, wisdom and greater service to Oyo State and Nigeria at large, praying that his leadership journey continues to inspire a new generation of public servants.
Ogundoyin, one of the youngest Speakers in Nigeria, has continued to attract goodwill messages from political leaders, civil society actors and constituents, as Oyo State marks another year in the life of a lawmaker widely regarded as a steady hand in the state’s legislative affairs.
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