society
NDUME’S TRUTH, ASO ROCK’S SILENCE
NDUME’S TRUTH, ASO ROCK’S SILENCE.
George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
“When Silence Becomes Complicity: Senator Ndume Exposes Corruption and Incompetence at the Heart of Aso Rock”
Two days ago, a veteran senator, Ali Ndume, tore off the veneer of polite politics on national television and laid bare what many Nigerians already know; yet fear to say. Speaking on Arise TV, Ndume accused the Bola Ahmed Tinubu‑led administration of corruption so brazen that even the hallowed walls of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa remain silent. By now, the silence from the presidency isn’t simply deafening, it has become a sign of tacit complicity.
Senator Ndume did not mince words. He asserted that the Tinubu regime is dominated by “KAKISTOCRATS” (meaning those least qualified to hold office) and “KLEPTOCRATS” (meaning thieves masquerading as leaders). These are not rhetorical barbs but issues of survival: “The people who are supposed to help him are the ones deceiving him or damaging his image,” he warned.
More damning still, Ndume says that even accessing the President is blocked by a crude question: “owo da?” (“Where is money?”) — in other words, “What payoff are you bringing?” He says this is the experience of everyone wanting a meeting with the presidency. Pending no refutation from Aso Rock, the claim stands.
The presidency’s silence is no accident. It is calculated. Because if the Presidency were to respond with rebuttal or justification, then the matter would enter the arena of accountability. Silence, by contrast, suggests one of two things: either the presidency lacks confidence in its own position, or it actually agrees (just without saying so). In either scenario, Nigerians lose.
The Reality of Governance Under Tinubu. Let us take stock. This is a regime in which:
A minister removed for corruption walks free; supporters call for her recall rather than prosecution.
A minister is observed driving a Rolls‑Royce, replies “and so?” when asked; yet claims to have never worked his entire life.
Land allocation receipts fly left, right, front and centre to children, cronies, family members. The minister defends them.
Million‑dollar houses in the United States tied to sitting ministers? Allegations exist. And on the Nigerian side, the presidency and the anti‑graft agencies like Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) act like ostriches: see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
Meanwhile, the citizenry struggles under groaning economic hardship, soaring inflation, a faltering currency, indefinite power outages, insecurity unchecked and the sense that state resources vanish into private pockets.
These are not fanciful stories. The facts, in many cases, are public. One study by Chatham House shows that Nigeria still ranks among the top 40 most corrupt countries globally and counts among the lowest performing in governance indices.
As one scholar put it: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” That failure becomes grotesque when state institutions meant to enforce transparency are rendered toothless by the very regime they are supposed to police. Prof. John Oyedepo of the University of Lagos notes: “Governance without accountability is not governance; it is legalized robbery.”
Why Ndume’s Accusations Matter. Why do these allegations from a senator of the ruling party matter? Because it signals that the rot is not external but internal. When a loyalist stands up, when a Senate leader turns whistle‑blower, the crisis is deeper than opposition bravado, it is a systemic collapse.
Ndume’s charge that the government is run by “KAKISTOCRATS and KLEPTOCRATS” is not mere hyperbole. He defined the two: kakistocrats are “people holding positions they are not supposed to be in”; kleptocrats are “those in politics for personal gain, not public service.”
And he explained the damage in sharp terms: “The President cannot go out to the streets like I do and know how the people feel. Even outside the Villa they drive him in tinted glass so he doesn’t even see what is going on.”
This is governance by isolation, cushioned by privilege, and cushioned further by silence. When insiders begin to speak, one might hope for correction. But the silence from Aso Rock has been total. It is not just negligence; it is abdication of moral leadership.
The Silent President, The Loud Reality. The contrast is stark: the presidency enjoys pomp, ceremony, tinted limousines, and global photo‑ops — yet at home, the people suffer. The gap between public image and private record has never been greater.
Government supporters rush to defend with excuses. The All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Network responded to Ndume’s previous comments by calling them “misleading”, “reckless”, and “unbecoming of a ranking legislator.” But defence does not equate to performance. And signals of crisis remain.
Anti‑graft agencies boast of recoveries; the EFCC claimed it recovered nearly half a billion dollars in one year, according to SaharaWeeklyNG.com. But even that pales when stripped against the scale of the problem. Recoveries are reactive; prevention would require structural reform; which remains absent. Dr. Akin Oyebode, a governance analyst, adds: “The issue is not just theft, it is normalization of theft in governance. That is the real danger.”
A Call to Recognition, Not Defeatism. Let us be clear: pointing out corruption, incompetence, and patronage is not defeatism; it is news, it is accountability, it is citizenship.
As Dr Ngozi Okonjo‑Iweala remarked years ago: “People have lost faith. They don’t believe anyone can serve their country”. When those within the regime echo that sentiment, the rupture between the people and the powerful becomes undeniable.
We must demand of the presidency: respond. We must demand of the anti‑graft agencies: act. We must demand that governance be more than display, more than cameras, more than slogans of fiscal reform, it must translate into integrity, transparency, responsibility, service.
The silence of Aso Rock is a vacuum. Into that vacuum seep cronyism, entitlement and theft. It is not enough for the president to say, “Be patient.” Patience has limits when citizens watch national coffers bleed and personal fortunes blossom. Prof. Chukwuemeka Eze notes, “Corruption thrives in silence. Confronting it requires courage, even from those within the system.”
The Take Away and The Road Forward. Senator Ndume’s words ring with conviction because they reflect lived experience and structural breakdown. The pharmaceutical term for this: when help is expected from institutions, but the institutions themselves have become carriers of the disease.
The presidency’s failure (or refusal) to respond is neither trivial nor temporary. It reveals dysfunction at the core of state leadership. The crisis is not only that some individuals are corrupt; the crisis is that the system accommodates them, protects them, remains inert.
This moment will not be measured by the allegations alone. It will be measured by response; by whether the presidency and its proxies choose silence and shield, or accountability and reform. The people of Nigeria deserve an administration that listens, not one that ignores; one that sees, not one that is driven past in tinted glass. They deserve leaders of competence and character; not the least suitable or the most brazen thieves cloaked in power.
Senator Ndume spoke. The question now is: who will answer?
Alleged Manipulation of Defilement Case Sparks Call for Review of Legal Advice in Lagos
By Ifeoma Ikem
A legal controversy has emerged in Lagos following a petition seeking a review of a legal advice issued in a case involving two female teachers accused of negligence in a child injury incident at a nursery school in Ikorodu.
The petition, submitted by Crown Cannan Attorneys, urges the Lagos State Ministry of Justice to reconsider the legal advice issued on September 16, 2022, in the case titled Commissioner of Police vs. Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba and Rukayat Lawal.
Addressed to the former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, the application argues that the legal advice may have been influenced by what the petition describes as a “deliberate manipulation of facts.”
According to counsel representing the defendants, the allegations stem from an incident that allegedly occurred on October 26, 2021, at Great Kezino Nursery and Primary School located in the Adamo area of Ikorodu, Lagos.
The defendants, Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba, 26, and Rukayat Lawal, 24, were reportedly the class teacher and assistant class teacher respectively in charge of a Nursery One class where the incident occurred.
Court documents indicate that a three-year-old pupil, identified as Victim A, was reportedly injured after another pupil allegedly pierced a pencil into her private part during school hours.
The prosecution claims the incident occurred due to the failure of the teachers to exercise adequate care and supervision over the children under their custody.
Based on this allegation, the two educators were charged with negligence under Section 252 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, which addresses acts that may cause harm through lack of proper care.
The defendants were subsequently arraigned before Magistrate Court No. 2 in Ikeja on April 19, 2022, where they faced a one-count charge relating to the incident.
During the investigation conducted at the Gender Unit of the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja, several civil society groups reportedly monitored the proceedings.
Among them were representatives of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) and other non-governmental organizations.
These groups reportedly raised concerns about what they described as a growing tendency to weaponise allegations of child abuse in ways that could unfairly damage reputations and careers.
In its petition, the defence team argued that the case deserves a fresh review to ensure that justice is served based on verified facts rather than assumptions or public pressure.
They urged the Ministry of Justice to carefully reassess the legal advice and the circumstances surrounding the investigation to determine whether the prosecution should proceed as currently framed.
Legal observers say the outcome of the requested review could determine the next stage of the case and may also highlight broader concerns about investigative procedures and child protection cases within the justice system.
Reacting to a viral social media post by Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba, who claimed she might be jailed for defilement, the head teacher of Great Kezino Nursery and Primary School, Mrs. Edaolaropin Toyin, provided the school’s account of events.
According to her, the pupil identified as Victim A was enrolled in the Nursery One class on September 20, 2021, which had about 15 pupils.
She explained that on October 26, 2021, the pupil was transported home on the school bus after closing hours and handed over to her father around 4:30 p.m.
“Later that night, the pupil’s mother allegedly contacted the head teacher, claiming her daughter cried while bathing and alleged that a male classmate, Victim B, had inserted a pencil into her private part during school hours,” she said.
The school, however, rejected the allegation, maintaining that no such incident occurred while the child was in its custody.
“The following morning, the teacher visited the pupil’s home, where the father reportedly denied the mother’s account of the incident,” Toyin added.
She said the situation escalated later that day when the child’s parents arrived at the school with police officers from Imota Police Station demanding that the alleged male classmate be produced.
The head teacher further stated that the school management had supported Tobiloba throughout the legal process.
“Since the incident happened, the school management has never stopped supporting Tobiloba’s welfare until last year when she sent a WhatsApp message saying she was no longer interested in the court matter, claiming she had relocated to Ibadan,” she said.
She described the claims currently circulating on social media as “defamatory narratives.”
*GEN CG MUSA SUPPORT INITIATIVE MOURNS FALLEN HEROES AND URGES UNITY IN SECURITY SUPPORT
The Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa Support Initiative (GCGMSI) expresses its heartfelt condolences to His Excellency Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Grand Patron of the Initiative, and the families of the fallen heroes who courageously lost their lives in a recent attack by ISWAP in Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Dalori in Borno State, northeast Nigeria. Among the tragic losses were three senior military commanders: Major U.I. Mairiga, Lt-Col Umar Faruq, and Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, who dedicated their lives to the service of our nation.
The GCGMSI implores the public to continue supporting our security agencies, emphasizing that the safety and security of our nation is a collective responsibility. Every day, our security forces pay the ultimate price to safeguard our country. We urge the public to remain supportive, pray for their success, and refrain from politicizing the security challenges we face.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Convener, Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani Sadaukin Garkuwan Keffi/Betara Biu, which has been made available to the press. The statement highlights the initiative’s profound concern for the losses sustained by our security personnel and reflects on the broader security situation in Nigeria.
In his unwavering commitment to addressing the insecurity plaguing our nation, the Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa, has consistently engaged in urgent meetings with service chiefs, reinforcing strategic plans to combat threats and enhance national security. His leadership and decisive actions demonstrate a dedication to restoring peace and stability across our regions, ensuring a safer environment for all Nigerians.
society
SECURITY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: BACKING OUR MINISTER OF DEFENCE GEN. CHRISTOPHER GWABIN MUSA OFR
SECURITY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: BACKING OUR MINISTER OF DEFENCE GEN. CHRISTOPHER GWABIN MUSA OFR
By Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani
In these challenging times, it is essential for all Nigerians to rally behind our leaders, particularly His Excellency Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, the Minister of Defence. The security of our nation is not a matter to be taken lightly or politicized. Gen. Musa, recognized for his unwavering dedication and sacrifice, has served our country commendably throughout his life.
Following the recent reshuffle of service chiefs by President Asiwaju Bola Ahamed Tinubu GCFR, which resulted in Gen. Musa’s retirement as Chief of Defence Staff, many voiced their concerns. Yet, upon his appointment as Minister of Defence, there was a renewed sense of hope among the populace. Gen. Musa has embraced his role with an unwavering commitment, often sacrificing his rest to ensure the safety and security of our great nation.
While it is undeniable that Nigeria faces security challenges, we must approach these issues with unity rather than division. It is crucial to recognize that those who politicize our national security are often those who have not contributed positively to the success of our security agencies. Instead of spreading negativity, we should support Gen. Musa in his mission to restore peace and stability.
To achieve our collective goal of a secure Nigeria, we must provide Gen. Musa with the trust he deserves. His vision and determination, paired with our support and prayers, can pave the way to overcoming the challenges we face. It’s time for every Nigerian to put aside political differences and work together for the common good. Let us have faith in our leaders and trust in Gen. Musa’s ability to steer our nation towards safety and security.
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