society
Bichi: Celebrating a Champion of Probity By Okanga Agila
Bichi: Celebrating a Champion of Probity
By Okanga Agila
The 10th National Assembly will be etched in the annals of Nigeria’s legislative history as a paradigm of transparency, inclusivity, and fiscal responsibility, and Hon. Kabir Bichi’s stewardship as the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations was the linchpin of this transformative era. His visionary leadership was instrumental in effecting a paradigm shift in the budgetary process, cultivating a culture of public engagement in legislative affairs, and fostering an unprecedented level of accountability and transparency.
Throughout his tenure, Hon. Bichi demonstrated a great commitment to his dual roles as Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations and representative of the good people of Bichi Federal Constituency. His dedication to the welfare of his constituents and his unflinching resolve to ensure that the legislative process was transparent, inclusive, and fiscally responsible have been truly exemplary, leaving an indelible mark on the legislative landscape of Nigeria.
The tenure of Hon. Bichi as the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations has fortuitously coincided with a burgeoning national clamour for fiscal responsibility and accountability. Under his visionary stewardship, the Committee has pioneered innovative strategies to ensure that funds are judiciously channelled towards projects that tangibly impact the nation’s development and progress.
Notably, Bichi and his team have successfully implemented a cutting-edge system that leverages the power of technology and data analytics to optimize resource allocation, thereby enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of budgetary implementations. This revolutionary approach has departed from the erstwhile opaque and corrupt practices that often shrouded budgetary allocations in secrecy.
One of Bichi’s most significant achievements has been his unwavering commitment to transparency, which has been manifest in the Committee’s encouragement of public debate, inputs, and suggestions on budget proposals. This has entailed a significant increase in public hearings, detailed breakdowns of budgetary allocations, and the utilization of online platforms for public engagement, thereby fostering a more inclusive and participatory budgetary process.
This groundbreaking achievement has had a profound impact on the perception of Nigerians regarding the legislative process, instilling a renewed sense of trust and confidence in the ability of the National Assembly to effectively and responsibly manage the nation’s resources.
Hon. Bichi’s commitment to transparency transcends mere rhetoric, as he has actively cultivated a culture of accountability within the committee. Media reports attest to his unwavering insistence on robust justifications for budgetary requests, ensuring that every allocation serves a legitimate purpose and delivers tangible value for taxpayer money.
This heightened scrutiny has undoubtedly served as a deterrent against profligate spending, promoting a more efficient and responsible approach to national budgeting. Hon. Bichi’s effectiveness extends far beyond the confines of the appropriations committee, as he has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to serving the needs of his constituents in Bichi.
Despite the demanding task of chairing the Appropriations Committee, Bichi has struck a balance between his national responsibilities and his dedication to his constituents, ever available to listen to their concerns and working tirelessly to ensure their needs are reflected in the national budget.
Bichi’s dedication transcends mere funding allocation; he actively engages with his constituents, ensuring their voices are heard and their priorities are reflected in his actions. Town hall meetings and community outreach programs are integral to his approach, fostering a strong sense of trust and accountability between the representative and the people he serves.
This commitment to open communication has created a symbiotic relationship between Hon. Bichi and his constituents, ensuring that their needs are perpetually at the forefront of his legislative endeavours. The capacity to navigate the demands of national representation while remaining rooted in local service is a distinguishing characteristic of a truly exceptional leader, and Rep. Bichi has demonstrated a mastery of this delicate balance.
His national role as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee allows him to shape national spending priorities, thereby ensuring that critical resources are allocated to projects that benefit the entire country, including his constituency. Concurrently, his firm commitment to Bichi ensures that his constituency reaps the benefits of his national influence, as he secures targeted funding for local projects and remains accessible to his constituents, epitomizing the true essence of representative democracy.
Hon. Bichi’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, as various groups and organizations have lauded his dexterity, legislative acumen, and commitment to excellence. The passage of the people-oriented 2023 supplementary budget, which was subject to public participation and debate, is a testament to his leadership prowess.
News reports have highlighted his tireless efforts in securing critical infrastructure projects for the constituency, including improvements to road networks and educational facilities, investments in healthcare and agricultural development, and numerous other initiatives that have tangibly impacted the lives of his constituents.
The tenure of Hon. Bichi in the 10th National Assembly serves as a paradigmatic model of responsible and effective leadership, providing a benchmark for his colleagues to emulate. His unwavering commitment to transparency in national budgeting and his dedication to serving the needs of his constituents have set a lofty standard for leadership in Nigeria.
As Nigerians gaze towards the future, Hon. Bichi’s exemplary leadership provides a compelling vision for the type of leadership the nation requires: leaders who are both fiscally responsible and deeply invested in the well-being of their constituents. Leaders who are dedicated to selfless service, prioritizing the growth and development of their country. Leaders who will courageously defy all obstacles to ensure that democracy continues to flourish, anchored on the principles of transparency and accountability.
In conclusion, Hon. Kabir Bichi’s tenure as the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations in the 10th National Assembly was distinguished by numerous significant achievements. His leadership was characterized by an unbeatable level of commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and fiscal responsibility, serving as a beacon for responsible governance in Nigeria.
As we evaluate the remarkable efforts of this distinguished parliamentarian, we can only hope that future leaders will draw inspiration from his exemplary leadership and continue to build upon his enduring legacy. It shall be etched in the annals of the green chamber for generations to come that a remarkable parliamentarian once graced these hallowed halls, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of the people he served with unwavering dedication, integrity, and distinction.
The legacy of this extraordinary leader shall forever be remembered.
*Okanga writes from Abuja.
TO THE BUTCHER OF KAIAMA
BY Chief Femi Fani-Kayode
“His words were as smooth as butter yet war was in his heart”- Psalm 55: 21.
To Sadiku, the Butcher of Kaiama, I write the following.
I watched a video that provided graphic and disturbing evidence of your murderous activities.
You are the homicidal maniac and accursed soul that led the cowardly attack on our people in Kaiama where you massacred over 200 innocent Nigerians of both the Muslim and Christian faith even as they were praying.
Christians were burnt in their Churches and Muslims were burnt in their mosques.
People that ran to hide in their houses were hacked into pieces and burnt in their homes with their families.
Women and children were shot, macheted and burnt alive even as they prayed.
You used up all your bullets then you resorted to using machetes and cudgels to finish the job.
We know the vampiric forces and satanic entities that you serve, what they do with the blood, what they gain from it’s shedding and what they seek to achieve.
We know the dark spirits and demonic cult that use and possess you, that operate in the astral plain and that are known as the hidden hand.
You are not a leader and you are nowhere near the top of your Luciferean high command.
You are nothing but a low-level enforcer, a useful idiot, a shape-shifting reptilian, an expendable tool, an inconsequential pawn and a genocidal butcher that does their bidding and that will burn in hell forever.
Yet despite all your unrelenting wickedness and unprecedented cruelty, not just in Kaiama but everywhere else that you and yours have killed, pillaged, plundered and abducted in our nation, you will NEVER conquer or break the spirit of our people or dismember our nation because God is against you and the ancient boundaries cannot be broken.
You are a servant of Shaitan, the Prince of Darkness yet you know that darkness cannot overcome light and that your time is short.
Now hear this: your end will come soon and it will be worse than that of Abubakar Shekau, Osama Bin Ladin, Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, Abu Musa Al Barnawi and all the other genocidal maniacs and terrorists put together.
You are a man of blood and you will end in blood. You lived by the sword and you will die by the sword.
You killed our people though they did you no harm and though they were innocent and defenceless.
You slaughteted our women and children without pity or mercy.
You killed our soldiers with impunity despite their courage and gallantry.
You targetted our elders and traditional rulers despite their appeals and in spite of all their efforts.
You killed the Christians and you killed the Muslims even as they worshipped and prayed to God.
It is in the same way that you and the cruel hordes of Mordor that march with you shall be killed without mercy.
The innocent blood you have shed shall speak against you and yours before God in Heaven, the Sword of the Lord shall cut you and yours to pieces and the East Wind of destruction shall scatter and blow you and yours away from generation to generation.
The Bible says there is no peace for the wicked and therefore you shall have no peace: neither shall your lineage or anyone that has your blood excel.
The Bible says “touch not my anointed and do my Prophets no harm”: you have touched the anointed of the Lord and done His Prophets harm therefore you shall reap what you have sown.
The Creator of the Universe, the God of Heaven and Earth, the Lord God of Hosts, the Ancient of Days, He that is high and lifted up who holds the world together by the power of His word and He who is irresistible and mighty in battle WILL avenge us and strike you down.
These words are sealed by the Blood of Yeshua and cannot be altered or resisted.
Your end shall be worse than that of Sennacherub, Pharaoh, Herod, Jezebel and Goliath.
I say to you today that you are the uncircumcised Philistine that has chosen to defy the Armies of the Living God and like the uncircumcised Philistine that David slew you shall be slain before the eyes of the world, we shall see your rotting corpse spread across the field of battle and your entire bloodline shall be brought to an end.
I, Sadauki, have spoken these words and so it shall be in the mighty name of Yeshua HaMashiach, the God whose I am and the God whom I serve.
To our people I say do not be detered, do not be dismayed and do not be afraid for the Lord our God is with us.
I say the Egyptians we see today, we shall see them no more.
I say fight the good fight with all thy might without regret or relenting in the knowledge that good always prevails over evil.
I say seek victory and achieve it for our nation, for our women, for our children and for future generations yet unborn.
This we must do and God will give us the strength and courage to do it.
For our great nation Nigeria it is LIFE, VICTORY and a NEW and GREAT beginning but for ISWAP, Ansaru, Boko Haram, Lakurawa and the Legions of Hell behind them, it is DEATH, DEFEAT and DESTRUCTION.
Peace, joy, abundance, prosperity, hope, strength, courage, love, unity, long life, all manner of blessings and a glorious and expected end is our future and our portion and nothing can change it.
Whether it be affliction, trial, tribulation, persecution, infirmity, pain, loss, suffering, lack, incarceration, torture, humiliation or even death, as the Book of Romans 8: 31-39 said, NOTHING can separate us from the love of the Lord and nothing can negate or break the sure word and promises of Christ Jesus.
He is is our strength, our shield, our glory and the lifter of our heads.
He SHALL see us through and deliver us from the hand of the heathen and bloodthirsty and evil men.
I conclude with the words of Psalm 35:1,
“O Lord, contend against those who contend against us, fight against those who fight against us, take hold of shield and buckler and rise for our help, draw the spear and javelin against our pursuers, say to our souls I am your deliverance”.
So it is and so it shall be in the mighty name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ of Nazareth, son of the Living God!
(Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is a former Minister of Culture and Tourism, a former Minister of Aviation, the Sadaukin Shinkafi, the Wakilin Doka Potiskum, the Otunba of Joga Orile, the Aare Ajagunla of Otun Ekiti and a legal practitioner)
Awujale Succession: Traditionalists Back Gov Abiodun’s Intervention
…Harps On Sanctity, Integrity of The Selection Process
A group of traditionalists in all the towns and villages across Ijebuland has commended the Ogun state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his timely intervention in halting the selection process of the Awujale vacant stool.
The socio-cultural group said the temporary suspension of the process would allow room for critical assessment of the exercise in order to uphold the sanctity and integrity of the highly revered throne.
They made their stance known on Tuesday, January 10, 2026 while addressing journalists at their secretariat in Ijebu Ode.
The traditionalists added that the Governor’s decision was in strict compliance with the 2021 Ogun State Chieftaincy Law “which clearly empowers the government to intervene whenever there are issues capable of undermining the process, fairness and public confidence”.
Speaking at the meeting, Iyalorisa General of Ijebuland, Chief (Mrs) Osoteku Alawiye expressed confidence in the Governor’s action, but noted that a credible and qualified candidate from the ruling house must emerge at the end of the selection process.
According to her, the Awujale stool is one of the most revered traditional institutions in Yoruba land and a paramount stool in Ogun State, and should be accorded a high level dignity it really deserves”, Chief (Mrs) Alawiye added .
They appealed to Gov Abiodun not to listen to detractors who were hell-bent in scuttling the selection process, stressing that as traditionalists, they are also closely monitoring the process so far for the betterment of the entire sons and daughters of Ijebuland.
Funke Akindele, Toyin Abraham’s Box Office Success Result Of Strategic Marketing- Banwo
Dr. Ope Banwo has offered a business-focused explanation for the sustained box-office success of Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham, arguing that their dominance is the result of strategic market alignment rather than luck or social media gimmicks.
Responding to criticism from some veteran actors and filmmakers over cinema promotion styles, Banwo explained that film marketing is ultimately about driving human behaviour—ticket purchases—not preserving dignity or tradition.
“Cinema marketing is not about what feels respectable to producers,” Banwo said. “It’s about what moves people to show up and pay.”
He described Akindele’s success as a textbook example of systems thinking, noting that she combined acting talent with production control, distribution knowledge, audience intelligence, and aggressive marketing.
The result, he said, includes five straight years of box-office leadership, multiple billion-naira cinema runs, and ownership of four of the top five highest-grossing Nollywood films of all time.
Banwo placed Toyin Abraham just behind Akindele, describing her as Gen-Z-literate by strategy rather than age, with a strong grasp of market psychology and audience engagement.
He noted that while some producers rely on third-party funding and pre-sales to streaming platforms, others must recoup investments directly from cinema audiences, making marketing hustle unavoidable.
“The women being criticised are accountable to the market,” Banwo said. “They face the audience directly, and the audience keeps rewarding them.”
Banwo concluded that until alternative strategies consistently outperform the current box-office leaders, criticism should give way to data-driven analysis.
“In cinema, the scoreboard does not lie,” he said. “And right now, the market has spoken.”
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