Senator Solomon Under Fire As Mushin Group Demands End To Political Imposition:

As the July 12, 2025, local government elections approach, political heat is rising in Mushin. A civic group, Mushin Democratic Front, has lashed out at the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party, especially its Mushin apex leader, Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon (GOS) f consistently imposing candidates on the people. The group described the practice as a “shameless tradition” that stifles internal democracy and sidelines grassroots voices.

Speaking at a press conference held at Benson Hall in the heart of Mushin on Thursday, the group’s convener, Comrade Rasheed Ogunlana, accused Senator Solomon of “running Mushin politics like a family estate” and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) to halt what he described as “this growing cancer of political manipulation.”

According to Ogunlana, the outgoing Local Government Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary to the Local Government, and the Member representing Mushin Constituency in the House of Assembly were all “products of Senator Ganiyu Solomon’s sole decision, without any or with minimal input from party faithful or the people.”

“It has become a norm for Senator GOS to summon Mushin APC leaders to his Magodo mansion, where decisions about our future are taken behind closed doors. He dictates who gets what, who runs where, and who gets silenced. This is not leadership; this is tyranny dressed in agbada,” Ogunlana declared.

He alleged that over 90% of key APC executive positions in Mushin are directly attributed to Solomon’s personal picks, leaving little or no room for democratic engagement or fresh grassroots participation.

The Mushin Democratic Front warned that such impositions are breeding frustration, apathy, and resentment among the electorate. Ogunlana hinted that if the APC fails to address this undemocratic culture, many aggrieved stakeholders might explore alternative political platforms.

“The APC is losing the trust of the people in Mushin. The same faces, the same scripts, the same author. How do you expect innovation, development, or credibility?” Ogunlana asked rhetorically.

The group further emphasized the urgent need for fair and equitable power-sharing, calling for the nomination of individuals with the capacity to give Mushin a new direction.

“Can we honestly compare the development in Mushin to that of Odi-Olowo or Surulere? Our local government needs a new face, and for that to happen, our findings show that the distinguished Senator must take a back seat in the nomination of who leads the council,” he added.

“No one group should dominate others. If the APC must truly serve the people in Mushin, then power must be evenly distributed among all legitimate and recognized blocs. Anything less is injustice,” Ogunlana concluded.

The group also called on LASIEC to ensure transparency in the electoral process, stressing that democracy must not only be preached, but practiced.

They urged President Tinubu, who has deep roots in grassroots politics, to intervene and restore internal democracy in the Lagos APC.

“We call on Mr. President to remember that Mushin has always stood with him. It’s time for the local government to have a fresh and refined leader. The GAC, which is the party’s highest decision-making body, must not sit idle while one man derails democracy in Mushin,” the statement concluded.

With weeks to go before the local government elections, Mushin joins a growing list of places where political manipulation, candidate imposition, and lack of transparency threaten the integrity of the democratic process.

WHERE IS NIGERIA TODAY UNDER PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU

Easter Weekend Special by Otega ‘The Tiger’ Ogra

Just so you are better informed about our country, Nigeria, here are seven facts about our debt stock and our dear country’s path to progress under President Bola Tinubu (x – @officialABAT / Instagram & Facebook @officialasiwajubat).

Nigeria’s economic progress is evident in several key areas. Firstly, Nigeria’s Debt Stock (External + Domestic of FGN, the 36 states, and the FCT) is down from $108.2bn to $94.2bn as of Dec 31, 2024. Additionally, PBAT has cleared all verified FX backlogs of about $7bn. Despite dutifully paying off the backlog and reducing our total debt stock through consistent payments to creditors, Nigeria’s gross external reserves still grew to approximately $40.9 billion at the end of 2024, significantly higher than the $33.0 billion recorded in 2023. Net external reserves amounted to $23.3 billion, a 482.5% improvement from about $4.0 billion in 2023.

The Balance of Payments (BOP) surplus is another indicator of Nigeria’s economic growth. Nigeria achieved a BOP surplus of $6.83 billion in 2024, a significant turnaround from deficits of $3.34 billion in 2023 and $3.32 billion in 2022, reflecting stronger trade performance and increased investor confidence. Furthermore, our Non-oil exports also increased by 24.6% to $7.46 billion, while gas exports surged by 48.3% to $8.66 billion, boosting our overall trade surplus. Thanks to NGML and NLNG.

Investor confidence is also on the rise. Portfolio investment inflows, a sign of rising investor confidence in a country, more than doubled, increasing by 106.5% to $13.35 billion in 2024. Renewed investor confidence in Nigeria is driven by President Bola Tinubu’s bold macroeconomic reforms. Moreover, personal remittances from Nigerians abroad grew by 8.9% to reach $20.93 billion, complemented by a 43.5% rise in inflows via International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) to $4.73 billion, demonstrating increased trust from the diaspora in our economy. Thank you, dear Nigerians in the diaspora, for believing in your country.

These achievements demonstrate President Tinubu’s effective leadership. Prudent management, optimization, and deployment of resources are what you get when you elect a President who understands finance and accounting and has done actual work along these lines with major corporations in the world. This is who our President Bola Tinubu is—educated, focused, knowledgeable, and a Strategic Thinker & Planner. ‘Our Asiwaju,’ ‘The Jagaban,’ President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not ‘someone who gets governance and financial management advice from a mentally impaired person living under a bridge’ like a particular critic who ran for office does (_not my words but the critic’s_). What I mean is that #FollowWhoKnowRoad knows the work that needs to be done and ‘knows the book’.

P.s. You can always visit (https://dmo.gov.ng) or ask the Debt Management Office @DMONigeria for more info on our debt profile.

PART II

NIGERIA’S DEBT PROFILE FUN FACT

Do you know that our IMF loan obligations have been significantly paid down from $2.47 billion as of 2023 to $800.23 million at the end of 2024? A substantial decrease of over 67% in that period.

Some key points to note about Nigeria’s debt profile include:

– Nigeria, under PBAT, is paying its loans back. No default. No unnecessary borrowings. No seeking for tens of billions of dollars in debt bailout and sacking of 70% of the workforce (as another ‘critic-perennial candidate’ prescribed as a solution citing another country in South America as his example).

– Nigeria, under PBAT, is clearing legacy debts from multiple administrations. Yet, our foreign reserves are rising.

– The federating states are receiving more FAAC allocations under PBAT’s administration. Their highest ever.

– Nigeria under PBAT is now exporting more than it imports. We have a trade and payments surplus. Did I hear someone say PBAT is the real ‘consumption to production’ advocate?

– Foreign investors are coming back under PBAT – from those in the oil & gas sector who left to new investors in Agribusiness, Solid Minerals, Aviation, Industry, etc. That’s confidence.

– Local investors are not left out. From Dangote to BUA, Breweries to Banks, and many others, they are pulling in their biggest profits in years. If you doubt me, check the official company results on the NGX website. e.g., Nigerian Breweries did a massive turnaround in profits in their just-released results. Go and verify!

Road construction is simultaneously ongoing in 74 roads across 24 states of the Federation, as well as the marquee Lagos-Calabar & Sokoto-Badagry super highways which will open up industry, agriculture, and productivity along those routes. Approvals have been given for the completion of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road. The East-West Road is on track. Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Road is being reconstructed. 2nd Niger Bridge Phase 2B (access roads) has commenced. The list is almost endless.

Again, follow whoever knows the road!!!

After former President M Buhari (2015-2023) did his best to navigate the country through an economic crisis brought about by profligate spending by the admin before him + Covid-19 + global recessions + disruptions to the global supply chains, President Tinubu said upon assuming office that he will build on the good works of his APC predecessor, fix cumulative structural imbalances from previous admins, and build a solid foundation for Nigeria and generations yet unborn.

Nigeria will thrive and succeed. Amen. If you are not betting on Nigeria already, you are on a long thing! #BetOnNigeria

Otega ‘The Tiger’ Ogra

Senior Aide to President Bola Tinubu

18 April 2025

Part I

https://x.com/otegaogra/status/1913172288788214001?s=46&t=-WT1A6V3jj52Bil8fk9JS

Part II:

https://x.com/otegaogra/status/1913172426805981653?s=46&t=-WT1A6V3jj52Bil8fk9JSg

The Grip of Godfathers: How Political Puppeteers Hijacked Nigeria’s 2023 Elections

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

In any genuine democracy, power flows from the people to their leaders. But in Nigeria, especially in the 2023 general elections, this democratic ideal was once again hijacked by an entrenched system of political godfatherism—an unholy alliance of oligarchs, kingmakers, and shadowy puppeteers who wield immense influence over who gets elected and who gets crushed. The result is a democracy disfigured by greed, betrayal, and manipulation.

The Anatomy of Godfatherism in Nigeria
Godfatherism in Nigerian politics is not new. Since the return to democracy in 1999, it has played a dominant role in shaping the political landscape. Godfathers are wealthy political elites—often former governors, military officers, or businessmen—who sponsor candidates into power in exchange for loyalty, contracts, and control of state resources. As Professor Attahiru Jega, former INEC chairman, once noted, “Nigeria’s elections are not necessarily won by popularity or competence but by who controls the political machinery” (Jega, 2022).

The 2023 elections were a glaring manifestation of this disease. Across the country, from Lagos to Kano, Rivers to Delta, godfathers imposed candidates, manipulated primaries, and dictated outcomes with impunity. It wasn’t about manifestos or merit; it was about loyalty to the political mafia.

Lagos: The Jagaban Effect
Nowhere was godfatherism more pronounced than in Lagos State. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the self-acclaimed “Jagaban of Borgu” and national leader of the APC, has maintained a vice-like grip on Lagos politics since 1999 (TheCable, 2023). In 2023, he ascended to the presidency not by a groundswell of popular support but by orchestrating a brutal, well-funded political machine that bulldozed its way through party primaries and general elections.

Despite throwing the full weight of his influence behind the APC candidate for governor, the Labour Party made historic gains in Lagos, defeating APC in the presidential vote within Tinubu’s stronghold (INEC Official Results, 2023). Yet, voter suppression, intimidation, and ethnic incitement marred the subsequent gubernatorial polls—underscoring how far godfathers will go to maintain control (Amnesty International, 2023).

As Chinua Achebe once warned, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership” (Achebe, 1983). That leadership failure is deeply tied to the stranglehold of political godfathers who prioritize personal gain over national progress.

Northern Nigeria: The Invisible Hands
In the North, political godfatherism took a more insidious form. Former military generals and entrenched politicians, particularly those from Buhari’s camp, played strategic roles in determining party tickets and political deals. The G5 governors’ rebellion in PDP—led by Wike, Ortom, Makinde, Ugwuanyi, and Ikpeazu—was itself a godfatherist power play aimed at disrupting national party consensus (Vanguard, 2023).

In Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike turned the state into a battleground of interests, publicly undermining his own party while negotiating backdoor deals with APC. The resulting electoral confusion led to disputed results and a fractured political environment (Premium Times, 2023).

The Electoral Betrayal of the Masses
INEC’s failure to transmit election results electronically despite promising to do so under the 2022 Electoral Act was a monumental betrayal. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), hailed as a game-changer, was abandoned during collation, opening the door to rigging (European Union Election Observation Mission, 2023).

The “Obidient” movement, powered by youth disillusionment and the candidacy of Peter Obi, gave millions of Nigerians hope. But that hope was crushed not just by INEC’s failure but by the deeply entrenched political oligarchs who feared losing power to the people.

As political scientist Robert Michels observed in his “Iron Law of Oligarchy,” “Who says organization, says oligarchy.” Nigerian parties, structured around godfathers, operate not as democratic institutions but as authoritarian vehicles of personal ambition.

The Tragedy of Compromise and Silence
Most tragic is the normalization of this dysfunction. Religious leaders, traditional rulers, and even the judiciary have often chosen silence or convenient neutrality. But as Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka rightly declared, “The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny” (Soyinka, 1972). In 2023, silence was louder than outrage.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s hands-off approach to post-election violence and widespread irregularities further eroded public confidence. Despite pledging to leave a legacy of free and fair elections, Buhari’s silence on INEC’s failures and his party’s abuses was deafening.

The Cost of Godfatherism
The cost of godfatherism is not just political—it is economic and social. It kills initiative, breeds incompetence, and facilitates corruption. When leaders are beholden to patrons, they have little incentive to serve the people.

The World Bank reports that Nigeria has lost over $400 billion to corruption since independence (World Bank, 2022). A significant portion of this is tied to godfather networks and political patronage. State capture, contract fraud, inflated budgets, and ghost projects are the legacy of politicians who serve their funders, not their constituents.

A Way Forward: Breaking the Chains
To dismantle the system of godfatherism, Nigeria must reform its institutions. INEC must be truly independent, immune from executive or legislative interference. Political party financing should be transparent and audited. Civil society must hold leaders accountable, and the media must stop being megaphones for political propaganda.

Political parties should internalize democracy—allowing primaries to be decided by merit, not by money or manipulation. As Nelson Mandela once said, “A critical, independent and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy” (Mandela, 1994). The Nigerian media must rise to this responsibility.

Voter education is essential. Citizens must understand their power and refuse to sell their votes. The success of the “Not Too Young To Run” Act and the rise of youth-led political activism in 2023 prove that the tide can turn—but only with sustained resistance.

Conclusion: A Call to Reclaim Democracy
Nigeria cannot move forward while her politics remains in the chokehold of godfathers. The 2023 elections should not just be remembered as a contest of candidates but as a referendum on whether Nigerians are truly free to choose their leaders.

As Dora Akunyili once said, “We must fight for the soul of our nation.” That fight must be waged at the ballot box, in the courts, on the streets, and in our hearts. The era of godfatherism must end—for democracy, development, and dignity to thrive in Nigeria.

_Sylvester is a prolific writer and political analyst; He writes from Johannesburg._