Politics
Another four years of wasted presidency beckons Tunde Odesola
If Nigeria had a surname, Disaster would’ve been a fitting fit. She would’ve come to be known as Nigeria Disaster – a befitting reflection of who she truly is. Just like the US is called the United States of America and Britain goes by the family names, Great Britain and United Kingdom. Or what do you call a country without a soul; a judiciary waltzing with corruption, a scandalous legislature and a woeful executive? It’s an absolute disaster when an oilrig produces water, a soldier ant scares a soldier, and a 20-year-journey is all about motion without movement.
February 17 is my birthday. May it not turn a sad day, I pray.
February 16 is the day Nigeria would go into labour and the world would hold their breath to see the fruit of her four-year pregnancy. The baby will be an ‘abiku’, I can loudly predict. It will never be a newborn. Because the seeds that fertilized the eggs shot forth from the loins of two genetically-deformed fathers claiming the same baby. The first father, Mallam Ethnic Bigot, forcefully led the rape of Nigeria over three decades ago. The baby from that painful coitus was not only malformed, it died at infancy. Today, the mallam is an epitome of flawless inefficiency. The other father, Mallam Bureau de Change, shot into limelight in the new era. The babies he helped father on two occasions were born blind, deaf, dumb and dead. If these two principalities had fathered ‘abikus’ in the past, one would expect Nigeria to get a young and virile man to roll in the hay with her, in the hope that the product of the union would be a bouncing baby, either a boy or a girl. But with a surname that is Disaster, our dog can’t do more than eat its vomit while our pig gets the mud for a bed.
February 17 is the day after the Nigerian presidential election. I pray blood doesn’t rain down on the country in the preceding days of the election, on the D-Day and the days after. I pray February 16 won’t be a day Nigeria’s most famous scapegoat, Mr Devil, would walk the Nigerian space shopping for heads, limbs and innards. Because I know the election will never be complete without bloodshed! And the blood to be shed won’t be that of the current impotent tenants of Aso Rock or the rapacious prodigals craving a comeback after 16 years of revelry ruination. I fear as February 16 crawls on us like the tarantula, spurning its intricate web over the paralyzed eagle.
Today, I remember the late Tai Solarin, the atheist, whose baptismal name was Augustus. In 1952, as the principal of Molusi College, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, Solarin cancelled morning prayers and religious studies as a subject in the school. His ‘re-education’ campaign didn’t go down well with the Ijebu Igbo community, where his brother was also a reverend. After his apostasy ran into an opposition, he quit the job to establish and run, with his late co-atheist wife, Sheila, the illustrious 8,000-student capacity Mayflower School, Ikenne. Stinking and stagnant religiosity didn’t emigrate to Nigeria from Jerusalem and Arabia on the back of a camel yesterday, it was birthed in the maternity ward of culture contact that imposed colonial imperialism over an unfortunate race.
Despite her globally renowned slogans, ‘In God we trust’, and ‘God bless America’, United State’s elementary, middle and high schools don’t teach religious studies, yet the country respects God and human diversity. Nigeria, where the loudest noise pollution booms from churches and mosques – in form of worship, disdains God and humanity. I know that thousands of the students that attended Solarin’s school were the children and wards of bishops, pastors, sheikhs and imams across Nigeria. But I’m still curious to know why many Nigerian devil-is-a-liar believers sent their children to the school of the popular pagan. Was that hypocrisy, acceptant realism or tolerance?
In his New Year wish for Nigerians on January 1, 1964, Solarin said, “May your road be rough!” Solarin’s greeting, which was contained in a letter, preaches vision, hard work, determination and resilience. When Nigeria was setting out on her democratic journey 20 years ago, little did she know that she was on the road to nowhere. If someone had predicted in 1999 that the democratic dispensation, after 20 years, would produce pains instead of gains and division instead of dividends, Nigerians would’ve disagreed. Today, the country stands regrettably on the threshold of another historic election, ruing two decades of waste, unfulfilled promises and paradise lost. From the impunity, selfishness and greed of the Olusegun Obasanjo-Atiku Abubakar years to the short-lived, static Musa Yar’Adua-Goodluck Jonathan years and the legitimized corruption of the Jonathan-Namadi Sambo years, to the Muhammadu Buhari-Yemi Osinbajo know-nothing era, it is certain that all the four successive leaderships that have steered the ship of the Nigerian state since 1999 should have, at best, headed roadside shops selling padlocks, nails and hoes, and not come anywhere near the corridors of power because the masses, whom democracy seeks to promote, have been utterly dehumanized by them.
If not that our surname is Disaster, the Obasanjo-Atiku administration wouldn’t have mishandled the Bakassi peninsula crisis and lost the whole of the oil-rich region to Cameroon. The administration wouldn’t have mismanaged billions of dollars on non-provided infrastructure, corruptly impeached successive senate presidents, defied court orders and criminally sought a third term. But for our surname that is Disaster, Patience Jonathan wouldn’t have forfeited N1.04bn to the government and still struts about freely today. A confirmation of our Disaster surname is the nepotistic Buhari-Osinbajo lame-duck presidency, whose perpetually ‘unaware’ arrowhead, Buhari, should have long retired from politics and be at home treating his undisclosed infirmities. Our Disaster surname is the reason why several indicted and some jailed members of the Peoples Democratic Party are shamelessly mounting podiums to campaign today. It’s the reason why Atiku said he would continue with the policies of the Obasanjo years if elected. It’s the same reason why people hail the Buhari-Osinbajo government despite obvious incompetence, underachievement and lopsided anti-corruption fight.
While Nigeria’s political class stockpiles funds, arms and ammunition for the war of February 16, 2019, a look at how election is conducted outside the country would bury our surname, Disaster, in shame. An Ilora-born Nigerian living in the US, Femi Ojewole, shares his voting experience: “Voting in the US is a pleasurable experience; you’re free to take pictures with people and the electoral officers, and the whole voting is done in about three minutes. You’re even given candies to eat after voting. No policeman in sight, no stampede and your vote is counted by the computer, which immediately shows that your vote is accepted.
“Electronic accreditation had been sent to all citizens earlier in order for them to know where to vote. Early voting, which is voting before the election day, is permitted; all you need to do is go to the courthouse nearest to you and vote. This is for those who may not be available to vote on election day or who don’t want to wait till election day.”
No gift of clairvoyance is needed to reach the following conclusions:
· Atiku will fault the outcome of the election if Buhari wins and vice versa
· Life will continue to be short and brutish under either of the two
· Politicians will defect to the winning party after the election
The above-mentioned conclusions are easy to reach because there’s no evidence to show that we’ve learnt anything from the pitfalls of our past. The docile and largely uninformed masses have not helped matters either, acquiescing to the manipulative whims of the political class.
Indeed, our road has been rough, very rough and disastrous.
(Published in The PUNCH of Monday, February 4, 2019)mail: [email protected]
Obasa Appointed to CPA African Executive Committee
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, has been appointed as a Sub-National Representative to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) African Executive Committee.
The announcement was formally conveyed through a letter from the CPA Africa Region, which was read on the floor of the Assembly by the Clerk, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, on Tuesday, March 10. The appointment confirms Speaker Obasa’s three-year tenure, spanning 2026 to 2029.
Lawmakers took turns to congratulate Speaker Obasa, praising his devotion to parliamentary service and his consistent efforts to strengthen legislative practice. They described his appointment as a recognition of his hard work and a reflection of Lagos State’s growing influence within the Commonwealth. Members noted that his achievements continue to bring pride not only to Lagos but to Nigeria as a whole.
In his remarks, Speaker Obasa expressed gratitude to his colleagues for their support, urging them to remain steadfast in prioritizing the progress of the Assembly and to continue working collectively to advance the legislature. He further directed the Clerk to send a formal letter of appreciation to the CPA African Region for the honour bestowed upon him. “Let us always put the House of Assembly first and never relent in our efforts to move the legislature forward, ” Obasa concluded.
The CPA African Region plays a pivotal role in advancing the interests of African parliaments within the Commonwealth. It is widely recognized for promoting gender equality, women’s empowerment, respect for human rights, democracy, and good governance across member nations.
TINUBU RENEWS TENURE OF THREE PERMANENT SECRETARIES
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the renewal of tenure for three Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service, in line with existing public service regulations.
The approval was disclosed in a statement issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, indicating that the renewed appointments will take effect from April 27, 2026.
The affected officials include Kachallom Shangti Daju, Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; Beatrice Jedy‑Agba, Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Justice; and Mary Ada Ogbe, Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Regional Development.
According to the statement, the renewal represents a second and final four-year tenure for the officials, in accordance with the provisions of Public Service Rule 020909, which allows Permanent Secretaries an initial four-year term with the possibility of a second term based on satisfactory performance.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson‑Jack, congratulated the Permanent Secretaries on their reappointment and urged them to see the renewed mandate as a call to greater dedication and excellence in service delivery.
She further encouraged them to deploy their experience and professional expertise toward strengthening governance and advancing national development.
The statement was signed by Eno Olotu, Director of Press and Public Relations in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and dated March 6, 2026.
Politics
Governor Dauda Lawal’s Prompt Action Against Insecurity in Zamfara State Yielding Positive Result’ – GDL Media Force Fires Back at Critics
‘Governor Dauda Lawal’s Prompt Action Against Insecurity in Zamfara State Yielding Positive Result’ – GDL Media Force Fires Back at Critics
The attention of GDL Media Force and other well-meaning supporters of the Dauda Lawal-led administration has been drawn to a recent statement syndicated on social media by influencers from a group calling itself the Zamfara Good Governance Forum, which ludicrously attempted to portray the Governor’s security efforts as a “total failure.” This characterisation is not only divorced from reality. Still, it represents a desperate attempt by political opponents to rewrite history and undermine a Governor whose growing influence and performance clearly terrify them. It should be on record that in the whole of the North West region, Governor Dauda Lawal has tackled insecurity head-on with verifiable evidence that even those in the opposition have commended him for his huge investment in equipment that will further give security and armed forces an edge over those fueling insecurity in the country.
Since his assumption as Governor of Zamfara State, Dr Lawal has vowed that as the Chief Security Officer of the state, as well as the chief rescuer, an unprecedented commitment to tackling the security challenges that have plagued Zamfara for over a decade is his top priority and he is engaging it with much gusto. Unlike previous administrations, that engaged in shadowy deals with non-state actors, this Governor has chosen the path of transparency, capacity building, and decisive action. He was one of the Governors who openly declared that His administration would not negotiate with bandit rather his administration with fight them to a standstill and ensure they are cleared out.
In a bid to address the issues of insecurity with a well-planned arrival plan, he procured heavy Security Assets that even the Federal Government commended, him for. The recently procured and unveiled 25 units of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and an 80-meter endurance surveillance drone capable of covering 50 kilometres and operating continuously for eight hours. This represents the single largest state-government investment in security hardware in the history of Zamfara State.
The Defence Minister, during the inauguration ceremony, praised what he described as a clear demonstration of the Governor’s commitment to protecting lives and property, making the striking projection that “if we continue like this in the second term, Zamfara will look like Dubai”. This is not praise from a partisan source it is professional acknowledgement from the highest level of Nigeria’s defence establishment that Governor Lawal is doing something right.
Beyond heavy military hardware, the Governor has operationalised the Community Protection Guards in accordance with the law, providing them with 60 brand-new, well-equipped Hilux operational vehicles and specialised motorcycles to ensure swift response and effective first-responder services in difficult terrains. This is complemented by the distribution of 150 Hilux vehicles to mainstream security agencies including the Nigeria Police, DSS, and NSCDC, plus 20 Toyota Buffalo vehicles (both armoured and soft-body).
Perhaps most significantly, Governor Lawal established the Zamfara State Security Trust Fund, which provides a predictable, structured framework for logistical support to security forces. This moves the state away from the era of fragmented, reactive responses to a professional, sustainable security architecture.
When recent attacks occurred including the unfortunate February 19 incident in Anka LGA, Governor Lawal did not go into hiding or issue condolence statements from his office in Gusau. He immediately convened and personally presided over an emergency security meeting with all heads of security agencies at the Government House in Gusau, tasking them to urgently review the current security framework and implement coordinated countermeasures.
The Governor charged security chiefs to maintain “heightened vigilance, strengthened intelligence, and immediate, coordinated countermeasures” to ensure that criminal elements do not gain further ground. He also commiserated with affected communities and assured them of his administration’s full support both logistical and institutional. This is not the behaviour of a detached leader. This is the conduct of a Governor who understands that his primary constitutional responsibility is the protection of lives and property.
The public needs to understand the pedigree of those behind these allegations. The so-called “Zamfara Good Governance Forum” has a well-documented history of partisan attacks against Governor Lawal. A simple review of their previous statements reveals a pattern they have consistently attacked the Governor while remaining conspicuously silent during the administrations that presided over the worst years of banditry in the state. Interestingly, these attacks often coincide with political manoeuvres by the immediate past governor, Bello Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence. The Zamfara State Government has previously accused Matawalle of using federal security apparatus to intimidate opposition figures in the state. The current criticism fits a familiar pattern, when you cannot defeat a Governor politically or at the ballot box, you attempt to undermine him through sponsored propaganda spreading sheer falsehood to ensure the public turns their back on a performing Governor who is rebuilding the rot the Matawale-led administration caused.
These same critics who now demand a “security roadmap” conveniently ignore that Governor Lawal inherited a state that was virtually a failed entity where farmers could not access their lands, where markets were paralysed, and where government had lost all credibility through failed negotiations and ransom payments to bandits.
Critics also conveniently ignore a fundamental reality Governor Lawal is the only opposition governor in the entire North-West geopolitical zone. Since taking office in 2023, his administration has received no federal intervention funds beyond statutory allocations no special palliatives, and no enhanced security support that flows to states with ruling-party governors. Yet despite this political isolation, he has managed to fund security without resorting to new borrowing, while monthly servicing N1.2 billion in inherited debts from the Bello Matawalle-led administration. This is governance under siege fiscally constrained, politically isolated, yet still delivering.
Governor Dauda Lawal has never claimed that the battle against banditry is easy or that success will come overnight. What he has demonstrated is sincerity of purpose, strategic vision, and relentless commitment. From the Security Trust Fund to community protection guards, from armoured personnel carriers to surveillance drones, these are not the actions of a leader who has failed. The growing influence of Governor Lawal across the North-West clearly frightens those who benefited from the old order of insecurity. When banditry thrives, politicians who negotiate with criminals remain relevant. But when peace is restored through genuine security architecture, such elements become obsolete.
Zamfara State is on the path to lasting peace. The detractors may continue their campaign of falsehood, but the facts on the ground speak louder than their sponsored propaganda. Governor Dauda Lawal remains focused, undeterred, and absolutely committed to restoring full normalcy to every inch of Zamfara State. The people of Zamfara see the progress. The Federal Government acknowledges the investment. And history will remember who truly fought for the state’s liberation.
Signed: GDL Media Force Support Group
March 4, 2026
Abuja, Nigeria
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