society

Crisis Everywhere, Governance Nowhere: What The Omoluabi Ethos Demands

Published

2 months ago

March 23, 2026

Crisis Everywhere, Governance Nowhere: What The Omoluabi Ethos Demands

Nigeria stands at a crossroads, gripped by multiple crises while governance appears slow, distant, and at times absent. From rising insecurity to deepening economic strain, citizens face daily hardships that demand urgent and decisive leadership. Yet the response has often seemed reactive rather than strategic, leaving millions to navigate uncertainty on their own in a country of over 200 million people.

Security challenges continue to spread at an alarming rate. The insurgency in the North East, now over 15 years old, persists despite repeated military campaigns. In 2025 alone, hundreds of civilians were killed in attacks across Borno, Zamfara, and Plateau states, while kidnapping for ransom has become a thriving criminal enterprise. More than two million Nigerians remain internally displaced in the North East, and several rural communities across the North West and North Central have effectively fallen outside full state control. What began as a regional crisis has evolved into a nationwide threat, weakening agriculture, disrupting supply chains, and discouraging investment.

Economic realities offer little comfort. Nigeria’s GDP grew by about 3.87 percent in 2025, up slightly from 3.38 percent in 2024, yet this growth has not translated into improved living standards. Inflation, though moderating from over 30 percent in 2024 to around 15 percent in early 2026, continues to erode purchasing power. Food inflation remains particularly severe, with staples rising beyond the reach of average households. With a minimum wage that struggles to match the cost of living, millions of Nigerians now spend a disproportionate share of their income on basic survival.

Poverty and food insecurity deepen the strain. An estimated 129 million Nigerians live below the poverty line, while nearly 100 million face varying levels of food insecurity. Malnutrition rates among children remain high, and access to basic healthcare and education continues to decline in vulnerable communities. The informal sector, which employs over 80 percent of the workforce, remains largely unregulated and unstable. Official unemployment figures hover around 4.9 percent, but this masks widespread underemployment and precarious work conditions that offer little economic security.

Fiscal pressures further complicate the situation. Recent reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of exchange rates, have improved government revenue and reduced the fiscal deficit to about 4.5 percent of GDP. However, these gains have come at a steep social cost, with transport, energy, and food prices rising sharply. Public debt stands at roughly 34 percent of GDP, while oil production, Nigeria’s primary revenue source, continues to underperform. Although output recovered to about 1.5 million barrels per day in 2025, it remains below both OPEC quotas and national targets due to theft, pipeline vandalism, and chronic underinvestment.

These challenges are deeply interconnected and point to a broader governance deficit. Insecurity disrupts farming and trade, economic hardship drives poverty, and limited fiscal space constrains effective intervention. The result is a cycle of vulnerability that continues to tighten around millions of citizens.

The Omoluabi ethos offers a clear alternative. It represents leadership defined by character, discipline, accountability, and an unwavering duty to the people. Under such a framework, security would be treated as a sacred responsibility, not a recurring crisis. Government would act with urgency and coordination to protect lives and property, while economic policy would be deliberately people centred, focused on reducing the cost of living, stabilising prices, and supporting small businesses and agriculture. Growth would be measured not just in statistics but in the improved welfare of citizens.

Public institutions under this ethos would function with purpose and discipline. Ministries would operate with clear targets, coordination, and accountability for results. Fiscal decisions would reflect prudence, balancing reforms with social protection so that citizens are not crushed under the weight of policy adjustments. Above all, leadership would be empathetic and present, grounded in the daily realities of the people and responsive to their needs. Governance, in this sense, would not be distant or abstract but a visible commitment to improving lives.

Measured against this standard, the present stewardship of the Nigerian state clearly falls outside the Omoluabi ethos. Persistent insecurity, rising living costs, and the widening gap between economic indicators and lived reality reflect a leadership approach that lacks the discipline, accountability, and people centred focus that define that value system. Rather than embodying empathy and responsibility, governance has often appeared distant, reactive, and insufficiently attuned to the human consequences of its decisions. The issue, therefore, is not merely one of policy but of principle. Until leadership aligns with values that prioritise service, accountability, and the welfare of the people, the crises will endure and the question will remain, se na like this we go de dey?

society

Dr. Bernard Shiaunda Eete Mobilizes Loyalists Ahead of Kenya’s General Election

Published

20 hours ago

May 25, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Dr. Bernard Shiaunda Eete Mobilizes Loyalists Ahead of Kenya’s General Election

Ahead of Kenya’s 2027 general election, Nyanza ODM aspirant Dr. Bernard Shiaunda Eete, popularly known as Dumex3, has intensified grassroots mobilization by holding a strategic meeting with his loyalists across the region. The gathering was aimed at aligning his team, refining campaign strategies, and positioning the movement for a decisive outcome at the polls.

The meeting provided an important platform for open consultation, idea exchange, and consensus building. Dr. Eete emphasized the need for unity, discipline, and clear communication as the campaign enters a critical phase. According to attendees, the discussions focused on strengthening the political structure on the ground, addressing community concerns, and ensuring that the movement remains responsive to the aspirations of the people.

A key focus was Dr. Eete’s developmental agenda for Nyanza. He outlined his commitments to education, youth empowerment, healthcare access, and infrastructure development, noting that these areas remain central to transforming lives in the region. He urged his loyalists to carry the message to the grassroots, explaining both what has been achieved so far and what the region stands to gain if they rally behind his candidacy.

“This is not just about winning an election. It’s about building a stronger, united political movement that delivers real change for our people,” Dr. Eete told the gathering. He called on his supporters to remain focused, avoid divisive rhetoric, and engage voters with facts about his track record and plans.

The meeting ended with a renewed commitment from the loyalists to expand outreach, coordinate ward-level activities, and mobilize voters ahead of party primaries and the general election. Organizers described the session as productive, noting that it sharpened the team’s resolve and clarified immediate next steps.

As political activity heats up in Nyanza, Dr. Eete’s camp says the strategy is clear: consolidate support, communicate consistently, and deliver a campaign anchored on service and results.

Live update from Kenya by Hon. Babatunde Seidu, Youths Ambassador._

society

Mayor of Brampton Honours Olajumoke Abegunde For Charitable Works

Published

1 day ago

May 25, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Mayor of Brampton Honours Olajumoke Abegunde For Charitable Works

…Foundation Touches Over 8,000 Women, Widows, and Youth in Ondo State…..

…Collaborates with International Partners for Free Skill Acquisition in Canada…

For Chief Mrs. Olajumoke Abegunde, the act of touching lives positively and contributing meaningfully to societal development is not merely a pastime but a deeply ingrained existential mandate. With unwavering gusto, she has remained faithful to this noble vision, championing the esoteric principle that cheerful giving and advocacy for the downtrodden are responsibilities too sacred to be left exclusively in the hands of the government.

This resolute philosophy has not only engendered transformative impact within her immediate locality but has also catapulted her onto the global stage. Recently, her passionate charitable exertions—executed both within and outside the shores of Nigeria—earned her prestigious international recognition.

A Legacy of Grassroots Transformation

As the visionary founder of the Jummy I Care Foundation, Chief Mrs. Abegunde has systematically dismantled barriers of vulnerability across Ondo State. Through sustained philanthropic gestures, she has disbursed extensive humanitarian relief and social assistance to over 3,000 indigent widows and elderly persons. In parallel, her foundation has galvanized robust support for orphaned and vulnerable children while orchestrating an ambitious women’s empowerment programme. To date, over 5,000 women have benefited from skills acquisition and income-generating activities designed to cultivate self-reliance and entrepreneurial audacity. Many of these beneficiaries have also received start-up seed capital to establish their own enterprises.

A proud alumna of Criminology and Security Studies from the National Open University of Nigeria, Chief Mrs. Abegunde has also distinguished herself as a patron of youth development. She has sponsored numerous essay writing and entrepreneurship competitions across Ondo State, in addition to funding medical outreaches, orphanage interventions, Iftar and Easter entrepreneurship programmes, and sustained feeding initiatives for the less privileged.

Her core philosophy remains immutable: when those who are well-to-do invest strategically in their immediate society, the collective becomes safer, more stable, and poised for greater heights.

International Collaboration and Brampton Honour

In a decisive move to intensify her developmental footprint, the Jummy I Care Foundation recently entered into a strategic tripartite collaboration with the Habeeb Okunola Foundation and the MakeMee Elegant Foundation. Together, they delivered a gratuitous, high-impact skill acquisition training programme to residents of Brampton, Canada.

Participants were immersed in an array of artisan crafts, including the production of resin bags, photo books, picture otters, resin key holders and frame holders, ornamental flower vases, rhinestone embellishment, and the advanced technique of printing images on fabrics.

In a ceremonial recognition of her sustained benevolence, the Mayor of Brampton formally hosted Chief Mrs. Abegunde and her delegation at the mayor’s office. The mayor personally expressed profound gratitude for her unwavering support of community development and entrepreneurship. As a tangible emblem of this appreciation, she was presented with a personally signed certificate of appreciation and commendation.

Unwavering Commitment to the Future

While accepting the honour, Chief Mrs. Olajumoke Abegunde reaffirmed her immutable resolve. She declared that her commitment to touching lives remains absolute and non-negotiable. According to her, she will not relent in ensuring that more lives are touched, more support is channeled to the people, and greater stability is secured for communities. She further emphasized her dedication to cultivating the spirit of entrepreneurship among women and youths as a cornerstone for sustainable development.

With over 8,000 direct beneficiaries in Nigeria alone and an expanding international footprint, Chief Mrs. Abegunde stands as a formidable testament to the profound change one determined philanthropist can effectuate when passion meets purpose.

society

APM Senatorial Candidate Ajadi Distributes Over 500 Bags of Rice

Published

1 day ago

May 25, 2026

Sahara Weekly

APM Senatorial Candidate Ajadi Distributes Over 500 Bags of Rice

The Senatorial candidate of Oyo Central Senatorial District under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has distributed over 500 bags of rice to residents, party members, state executives, and key stakeholders across Oyo State ahead of the forthcoming Eid al-Adha celebration.

The gesture, which forms part of his annual humanitarian outreach, was aimed at easing economic hardship and strengthening unity among party executives, party members, and residents within the senatorial district during the festive period.

Ajadi said the distribution was a continuation of his commitment to supporting vulnerable households and fostering community solidarity, especially at a time when many families are facing rising food prices and economic pressure.

He explained that Eid al-Adha is rooted in sacrifice, sharing, and compassion, adding that political leadership must consistently reflect empathy for the people, regardless of political affiliation or election cycles.

According to him, the intervention was extended to party executives, grassroots mobilizers, youth groups, and key stakeholders across the senatorial district to ensure equitable distribution across different segments of the political structure in Oyo State.

Ajadi further noted that the initiative was designed to complement household food needs during the festive season, stressing that small acts of support can significantly ease the burden on families affected by economic challenges.
He urged political leaders at all levels to prioritize welfare-driven initiatives that have direct impact on citizens, emphasizing that leadership should go beyond campaigns to sustained service delivery and humanitarian engagement.

Beneficiaries of the rice distribution expressed appreciation for the gesture, describing it as timely and thoughtful amid rising food costs across the country.

They commended Ajadi for maintaining close contact with grassroots members and consistently demonstrating what they described as people-oriented leadership.

The distribution exercise was carried out across selected locations within Oyo Central Senatorial District and coordinated through local party structures to ensure fairness and orderly sharing.

Political observers in the state noted that such interventions have become a key feature of political engagement in Nigeria, particularly during festive seasons, as politicians seek to connect with constituents beyond electoral promises.

As the Eid al-Adha celebration approaches, Ajadi reaffirmed his commitment to continuing similar initiatives aimed at supporting families and promoting unity among residents of Oyo State.