Politics

Governance: Nigerians should be patient with President Tinubu – Senator Akanbi By Daniel Kanu

Published

2 years ago

February 13, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Governance: Nigerians should be patient with President Tinubu – Senator Akanbi

By Daniel Kanu

Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He represented Oyo South Senatorial District at the 8th National Assembly.

The astute politician and founder, Coalition Movement for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (COMBAT), in this encounter with Sunday Sun, speaks on the Tinubu presidency, the need to give him more time for meaningful assessment, the challenge of insecurity and the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu’s controversial detention, among others national issues. Excerpts:

President Bola Tinubu has been in office for not less than seven months now. So far, so what, in your assessment?

So far, so good. I am going to stand behind Prof Wole Soyinka in saying that it will be good to wait for one year if we must get a good assessment of his performance. You can see that there are so many policies on the ground, so many planning, but let’s wait for the implementation of those policies and the planning. At least, a year is fairly a good period to do an assessment. Within a year, at least, a foundation must have been laid for the economy to start taking shape. Any assessment now may not be a fair one because for now things are still on formative stages, policy and planning stages. It is like when you are building a house, the planning matters so much. At the moment, so much huge planning is ongoing and there is need for time to enable the policies and plans get to certain levels of maturity. Not that one year is a maturity period, but it will provide a fair opportunity to make a better assessment as some policies may have started taking direction, and getting results. After one year, come back for an interview and then, my responses will be based on some results from the policy implementation actions taken. So, I can tell you now that so far all is well, looking at the ongoing massive planning. There is no way we will not harvest better results as the man on the driver’s seat (Tinubu) knows where the shoe pinches, he knows the problem and he knows what to apply in solving those problems. As you heard what he said on his 63rd independence anniversary message to the nation on October 1st. He has appealed to Nigerians to be patient with his administration and endure the present trying moment. I support the appeal, bearing in mind that he is not one that makes empty promises. He said reform may be painful, but that it is what greatness and the future require if a greater nation must emerge. President Tinubu asked Nigerians not to despair, but to keep hope alive as his administration will do all that is possible to put the country back in form. He has promised that our country will stand and will remain strong and that commitment to democracy and the rule of law remains the administration’s guiding light. He has promised of wage increment for average low-grade worker and many issues concerning all sectors of the economy. They are working out the policies and planning strategies, so we need to wait for now. I share in his optimism because I know that he is not just making empty speeches or promises, but he is backing it with serious actions that will produce better results for our country. So, for now, I think there is wisdom in waiting for some time before embarking on any meaningful assessment.

But which areas do you thing that the government should focus more on, I mean areas of priority attention?

Let me be honest with you the economy before he came in was in shambles. Just identifying one particular sector is just like solving a multi-dimensional problem with mono-solution can’t work. The economy has to be overhauled wholistically. Picking or identifying a sector is like applying a mono-solution and it does not work that way. All areas need attention. We are talking about food insecurity, the cost of living, the decay in infrastructure, the decay in the education sector, the health care that is crying for help, high unemployment etc; so which sector will you leave and which one do you want to give more attention? So, all these require careful planning to an extent and you don’t ignore any. The only way you can affect in governance is to positively affect the wellbeing of the citizens. I know that this president can do so much, but I hope he will not be overwhelmed.

What is your take on what is happening in Rivers State?

Rivers State is so important to Nigeria. Check the budget, the estimated barrels of oil expected is 1.7 million. This is like a tall order; we have not achieved that ever before. The highest we have had is 1.4 million barrel or 1.5 million barrel. So, Mr. President is wading in there because of the great importance, and crucial role of Rivers State to our economy. He needs stability there not because of Wike, the former governor or Fubara, the present governor. But also the lesson from Rivers State is that our governors when they want to install political godson, should no longer be desperate, but needs to exercise great caution on those they want to install as replacement for their third term.

What do you mean by third term. Please clarify more?

The third term is the term that the outgone governor will be ruling or controlling the godson outside office. Here, the predecessor, still runs the government, detecting, and directing those to be given appointments or how contracts are awarded, etc. They are outside the office, but monitoring, controlling all that the governor they installed will be doing. That is what is called a third term agenda and you ask, is it in the interest of the state or personal interest?

Most Nigerians thought that the issue of insecurity would have subsided or reduced to a great extent by now with Tinubu as president, but it seems there is even an escalation?

On a serious note, I think the president has to sit down to think on the architectural design of this country security-wise and see what needs to be done. All these medicine after death should be stopped. The National Security Adviser (NSA) office must rise to the challenge too and see what best to be done so as to arrest this ugly situation in the orgy of killings and waste of innocent lives of Nigerians. There must be a constitution of team of intelligent crack Generals for the NSA to work with. You have to constitute a very intelligent team of retired generals and provide all it takes to ensure they work, cracking down intelligence and all that is needed to checkmate security. Ribadu was, I think a retired AIG, yes, he has been appointed, there is nothing wrong with that, but he needs retired generals, maybe like advisory committee that will not only bark, but bite, who will assist him or be added to whatever arrangement he already has on ground. They must critically look into the architectural foundation of the nation and then marshal out their strategies. You must have good security and secure peace for your development efforts to progress and be meaningful. I know President Tinubu will not just watch a continuation of insecurity which he inherited. He is an action man. He will do something different to tackle the evil. He will not let it destroy his plans to transform Nigeria to the benefit of all.

When you look at President Tinubu as being on the driver’s seat, where do you see Nigeria in the next four years as a country?

I know that President Tinubu has the ability and capacity as I pointed out earlier and he is a thinker, one who thinks outside the box, but salvaging Nigeria is not a one-man issue. He will make the best use of his opportunity to take Nigeria to a greater and better level. But he needs the support of Nigerians in this endeavour.

Most Nigerians thought that Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader, will be released in his last appearance at the Supreme Court, but that was not to be. What is your take on Kanu’s issue?

I am of the opinion that Kanu’s case is very complex, which has two dimensions -political and legal. How he can manage the two together is what will really matter. You know that legal is not emotional like the political, which is emotional. He should handle the two dimensions with great caution.

Politics

Obasa Appointed to CPA African Executive Committee

Published

15 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Sahara Weekly

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.

Politics

TINUBU RENEWS TENURE OF THREE PERMANENT SECRETARIES

Published

5 days ago

March 7, 2026

Sahara Weekly

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

Published

1 week ago

March 4, 2026

Sahara Weekly

‘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