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Obasanjo’s letter and Babangida’s Statement
The Good people of Nigeria, would recall that first, ex president Obasanjo it was that began the uncharted, uncharitable venture of always writing open letters to all Heads of state and presidents after him, a method he invented rather than follow proper channels of reaching out to, and advising sitting Heads of state and Presidents, whenever and wherever he chooses to display his usual lack of patience with the leaders who he sees as not conforming to his biddings…
Characteristically, Ex President Obasanjo and Ex Military President Babangida are known to Nigerians as enablers of corruption and retailers of profiteering.
Fortunately Nigerians have come see and trust President Muhammadu Buhari as someone who abhors Corruption and also rebuffs profiteering.
Nigerians will not also forget in a hurry, the way and manner General Babangida hurriedly shoved aside the administration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari in just about 20 months of massive anti-corruption shake-up between 1984 and 1985 when Buhari was a Military Head of State, in what was meant to affect Babangida himself, who as the Army Chief of Staff was accused of many corrupt practices..
That Babangida has therefore joined Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in this letter writing exercise designed to impugn upon President Buhari’s integrity is therefore understandable.
The President Obasanjo that was indicted in the Haliburton bribery scandal, who was indicted in the National Assembly probe into the Energy sector in which sums of money to the tune of $16 billion was largely unaccounted for, the same Obasanjo of the illegal unconstitutional 3rd term venture in which he became not only complicit by giving support to illegality, but actively colluding in offering bribes to National Assembly members, cannot therefore stand on any moral ground upon which to launch an attack on a very Forthright and Hardworking administration of President Buhari.
In the same way and manner, a very Involved, Conniving, Collaborating and Manipulating Babangida that annulled the June 12, 1993 Election — an election which to date is seen as the fairest and freest in the history of this nation, which by the very act of annulment of it, plunged this country into a serious political crises, cannot be said to possess a moral platform upon which he also can become a voice of the people, let alone be grounded in a moral podium upon which to become the people’s ombudsman.
We as a group, geared toward eradicating Terrorism and planting good governance in Nigeria, therefore frown at these attempts, coming from both Ex Military Generals, Heads of state and Presidents, wishing to have their personal grievances become national tribulation.
It is simply not going to happen.
The real reason why both of them are doing this:
As we have established these cogent facts regarding the unsuitability of both Obasanjo and Babangida to invest upon themselves the unfit, descrepit and inappropriate garb of the conscience of the nation, it also becomes pertinent to state why these past leaders are at this time launching their written attacks on the Presidency of Muhammadu Buhari.
One would have reasoned that both Obasanjo and Babangida would have written personal letters to President Buhari if indeed they meant good.
What stops them from seeking an audience with their former colleague in the Military?
But they chooses to do a publicity stunt to create an impression that they meant well for Nigeria… But do they!?
When we consider that President Buhari put an end to the nearly N3 trillion subsidy payments to the independent oil marketers that mostly were paper invoices without actual deliveries, we should expect corruption to fight back.
If we consider the very important fact that Buhari also put an end to the payment of several billions of naira that monthly went into the hands of ghost workers the Beneficiaries of corruption will reach out to their enablers and that is exactly what we are seeing already.
Also considering the giant strides President Buhari has taken in the areas of agriculture and growth in the agricultural sector where Nigeria no longer depends on imported rice, salt, sugar, flour, it is also to be expected that those involved in racketeering entrenched into the system throughout the period of these past rulers will naturally find a way to bring the government of President Buhari down, so that Nigeria can go back to the old ways that stifled growth, concentrating instead, the control and monopoly of trade in a few hands.
Again to be expected will be opposition to Buhari’s strict enforcement of such policies that cut off corruption and exposes corrupt practices, the enforcement of BVN in the banking industry, which stopped the illicit fraud perpetrated by private and public officials….. Also, the enforcement of TSA where government ministries, agencies and parastatals operated unabashedly multiples of different accounts, without checks through which unauthorized funds without remittance to the Federation Account, we’re constantly being siphoned. Again this important achievements were overlooked by Obasanjo and Babangida, that one will be forced to ask if these leaders truly love Nigeria enough to push aside their personal grievances in order to help consolidate all of these gains under the current administration of Muhammadu Buhari that has shown tremendous courage and integrity in fighting corruption from it very roots.
To give Honor to whom Honor is Due.
In stating the facts above, it is only pertinent to give honor to whom honor is due. Buhari, more than any of his predecessors, and certainly not Babangida who constantly tampered with the Judiciary as a Military President and was rumored to have procured judgement a few times, especially during the days of the ABN, Association for Better Nigeria, the fraudulent organization he prodded, founded, funded to prolong his stay in office, was said to have procured the various judgements in favor of the annulled June 12 elections, likewise was Obasanjo not the president he was in his 8 years of office bold enough to tackle corruption in the Judiciary, which Buhari did, by exposing the corrupt practices in the Judiciary, which has led to a certain sanity in the 3rd tier of government and many corrupt judges flushed out of the system.
So, why will President Buhari, not be despised…?
We all can now see reasons why his detractors would prefer to spread false reports against him, ostensibly out of envy..!
Fortunately, Nigerians are now wiser — It is arguably the people who benefitted greatly from the corrupt practices of the past, who will support the habitual letter writers.
The right thinking good people of Nigeria are solidly behind the government of President Buhari.
At this juncture, Nigerians must answer; If by their letters and quest to pull Buhari down, what exactly are the implications;
We as a group, we are certain, if the duo of Obasanjo and Babangida succeed in pulling Buhari down, the following will follow:
1, Nigeria will be replacing a temporary hardship with permanent suffering…!
Certainly, a fertile ground for the old corrupt brigade to regroup will germinate.
Nigeria will simply regress… Much like giving up on the fight against corruption and simply rolling over playing dead to the war on corruption.
2, We as a group, we are very certain that if President Buhari is stopped from recontesting, Nigerians will be replacing a rare and honest man, full of integrity with a serial Liar and Deceiver.,
Nigerians will be replacing a man of impeccable character with a man of painful impunity.
3, if by any chance President Muhammadu Buhari is railroaded into not seeking a 2nd term, all the gains of economic recovery seen after just coming out of a bad recession, will be lost and a bigger more intense recession, will certainly follow.
Racketeering, roundtripping and other economic vices will be back and unashamedly too.
All the gains in improved revenue collections at the various ports will dwindle. The steady growth we have now will simply give way to a regression.
4, We as a group are again of the firm opinion that the country will suffer for it, if the coordinated plans and selfish machinations stand, to deprive Nigerians of the services of our most serious corruption fighter in Muhammadu Buhari…. And not only Nigeria, but the whole of Africa and the African Union, in their wisdom appointed President Muhammadu Buhari to head the African commission on the fight against corruption.
An incorruptible man, Buhari, is a symbol already as the face of Anti-corruption crusade in Africa, and our country will simply look bad in the sight of the AU and other nations, if our greatest anti-corruption President is himself, defeated, by corruption.
In conclusion:
It is our joint inference to conclude this statement by saying, individual liberty, freedom and justice will be the first casualty if Nigerians succumb and yield to the whims and caprices of these 2 old men in their very advanced age…
We are certainly better than being mere spectators and pawns in some intricate game in which, we the people are exactly the ball being played.
We therefore say, “No”, to the extent that, our Coalition is by this statement calling on all well meaning Nigerians to be steadfast in support of President Muhammadu Buhari, to continue with his enviable positive strides upon which a golden future is to be expected…. 
Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi, the Convener of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups against Terrorism in Nigeria sent this piece from Lagos
Had FFK Faced Mehdi Hassan, Nigeria Would Have Spoken With Fire
By Mohammed Bello Doka
In politics, timing is everything. In diplomacy, character is everything. And in moments of national importance, leadership must be entrusted to individuals who possess not only experience but courage, intellect and an unshakable commitment to the nation they represent.
It is for this reason that the appointment of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode as Nigeria’s Ambassador to a foreign nation stands out as one of the most consequential diplomatic decisions in recent years.
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, better known in the South as “FFK” and in the North as “Sadauki”, is one of the most brilliant, experienced, accomplished, vocal, respected, educated, profound, intellectual, patriotic, disciplined, well-read, historically literate, versatile, forceful, persuasive, sophisticated, cosmopolitan, charming, eloquent, courageous and resilient men in Nigerian politics and he has paid his dues and proved his worth over the last 35 years in politics and political discourse.
In each role he has played he has excelled and succeeded even when he was in opposition.
His friends value him as a great and loyal defender and his traducers and political adversaries fear and respect him because when he goes to war he is utterly relentless, takes no prisoners and literally spits fire.
How I wish it was him that was interviewed by Mehdi Hassan of Al Jazeera and not the young and inexperienced Daniel Bwala because he would have not only humbled Hassan but also done Nigeria proud.
He played Bwala’s present role in the Presidential Villa 23 years ago as President Olusegun Obasanjo’s spokesman and not only brought the then President’s domestic enemies to their knees but also had a series of very hot exchanges with foreign Government officials like America’s Under-Secreatary of State for Africa Jendaye Fraser and the White House over the Charles Taylor issue and Liberia.
Tinubu decision to appoint him as an Ambassador for our nation was a wise one because he will fight for and protect the interests of Nigeria and the Nigerian community whetever he goes and will never sell his soul or bow to foreign imperialist interests.
His appointment is not about just rewarding loyalty for the key role he played in Tinubu’s presidentiel campaign organisation as Director of New Media and Special Operations in 2023 and the staunch support he has given the President over the last three years but also about putting a square peg in a square hole.
If you want to put Nigeria first Sadauki is the one to do it.
If he runs the Nigerian Mission in the country that he is sent to in the same way he ran the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Aviation when he was Minister to each of them one after the other twenty years ago he will do very well and both our nation and whichever nation he is posted to itself will benefit from his efforts.
History teaches that diplomacy is most effective when nations deploy individuals who possess both intellect and courage.
As the American statesman Henry Kissinger once noted, “Diplomacy is the art of restraining power.”
To do so successfully requires deep historical awareness and strategic clarity—qualities that have long defined Fani-Kayode’s political career.
Sending a politically seasoned voice like FFK to any nation that is a key partner to Nigeria signals that Bola Ahmed Tinubu intends to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic posture with confidence.
Throughout more than three decades in the political arena, Fani-Kayode has remained one of the most resilient and outspoken figures in Nigerian public life despite numerous challenges which would have broken and destroyed lesser men.
Regardless of all that was thrown at him he continues to pull through and come out victorious which is why many refer to him as the “Akanda Eledumare” and the “Ayanfe Oluwa” which mean “the strange one of God” and “the beloved of the Lord”.
There appears to be a divine dimension to his life that makes him unstoppable and irrepressible even though his enemies are legion.
One wonders what sets him apart and makes him so different.
There is no doubt that his education played a part in it and this set him apart from most.
He never went to school in Nigeria but was educated from the age of eight in England starting off at Holmewood House School in Kent, one of the UK’s best and most famous Preparatory schools, after which he attended the famous Harrow School just outside London which is, together with Eton College, an institution that is the exclusive preserve of high society in the UK, one of the two best private schools in that country where only the ruling elite, the rich, the well-to-do, the famous and only a tiny proportion of those in British high society can afford or even qualify to attend.
No less than eight British Prime Ministers, including the great Sir Winston Churchill, and countless British cabinet ministers attended Harrow and so did many leaders, diplomats and top politicians from many foreign countries.
After finishing at Harrow he attended some of the top universities in the world, including London University (SOAS) and Cambridge University (Pembroke College) where he did so well.
As a matter of fact his great grandfather, Rev. Emmanuel Adelabi Kayode, attended Furrough Bay College which at that time was part of Durham University and graduated with an MA (Hons.) in Theology in 1893. His grandfather Justice Adedapo Kayode attended Cambridge University (Selwyn College) where he studied law and graduated in 1922. His father Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode attended Cambridge University (Downing College) where he studied law and graduated in 1943. Sadauki himself graduated in law at Cambridge University (Pembroke College) in 1984 whilst his daughter Folake Fani-Kayode graduated from Durham University in 2009.
No African family has an uninterrupted streak of 116 years of Oxbridge-level university graduates except for the Fani-Kayode’s which is something that both his family and every patriotic Nigerian should be proud of.
It therefore makes perfect sense that a man from such a distinguished pedigree and intimidating lineage and that has such an extraordinary intellectual heritage should represent Nigeria on the international stage.
There is also his role in the debate on Gaza which made him a hero in the eyes of millions of people in the Global South both amongst Christians and Muslims.
He spoke out consistently about what he described as the genocide being committed against the Palestinians and he was prepared to put his life and career on the line for this cause even though most Nigerian leaders and politicians refused to say what he was saying publicly out of fear of the Zionist lobby and the Jewish state.
His sense of patriotism is unquestionable and nothing reflects this better than his series of essays written against Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the British Opposition Conservative Party and his write up against one Ben Llewelyn-Jones, who at that time was the Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, when the former consistently sought to insult and denigrate Nigeria and the Nigerian people and the latter attempted to interfere in our internal affairs by making statements in support of Peter Obi and his Obidients in the 2023 presidential elections.
Sadauki successfully put them both in their place and when American Senator Ted Cruz, President Donald Trump, Congressman Tim Riley and other American politicians began to peddle the false narrative and fake gospel of Christian genocide and persecution in Nigeria Sadauki, a devout Christian himself, rose to the challenge and more than any other Nigerian wrote about the issue in a series of essays pointing out the fact that as many Muslims were being killed as Christians by the terrorists in our country and that Christians were not being persecuted by our Government and are in fact faring better when it comes to positions in the security apparatus and governance under Tinubu than they did in the previous administration.
He also spoke out boldly against President Trump and his administration when they accused the Government of South Africa of indulging in genocide against the white minority population in their country and pointed out the fact that South Africa, like Brazil, was a shining example of a successful multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural nation that was treating its white minority population with the greatest respect. Few Africans said a word to defend South Africa at the time even though they knew that Trump was wrong but Sadauki did so without thinking twice.
He is clearly a strong Pan-Africanist and a believer in the importance of the African Union, African solidarity, the BRICS coalition and the Global South alliance comprising of China, Russia, South Africa, India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other emerging world powers.
This is commendable and it reflects his courage and disdain for those that display ignorance, disdain and contempt for our nation and people and that seek to denigrate and misrepresent us.
Sadauki is not the type that bows and quivers before Westerners like so many other Nigerian leaders and politicians but rather takes pride in his Nigerian culture, race, heritage and identity and is prepared to defend us and speak for us no matter whose ox is gored and who is involved.
In an increasingly competitive global environment, Nigeria requires diplomats capable not only of negotiation but also of defending national interests with conviction.
If the energy, eloquence and intellectual fire that have defined Fani-Kayode’s political life accompany him to the country to which he has been posted, his tenure may well become one of the most consequential chapters in Nigeria’s modern diplomatic engagements.
I wish him well and I thank God that he is back in the saddle of public office after so many years.
What more could any of us ask of this great and noble son of Nigeria?
This is undoubtedly the quality of personnel and leaders that we need on the international stage.
I hope and pray that in his endeavours and during the course of his work he meets with Mehdi Hassan in a debate and prove to him and the rest of the world that Nigeria still has men that can not only match them but that can also remove their trousers in any verbal encounter. Bwala put us to shame but FFK can redeem us before the eyes of the world.
(Mohammed Bello Doka, the author of this essay, is the publisher of Abuja Network News and can be reached via [email protected])
Sunday Igboho Hails IBD Dende’s Exceptional Generosity and Loyalty
By Adeyemi Obadimu
A prominent Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Igboho, has publicly commended renowned businessman and philanthropist, Ibrahim Egungbohun, popularly known as IBD Dende, for what he described as extraordinary generosity and unwavering support during one of the most challenging periods of his life.
Speaking about his experience following his release from detention in the Benin Republic, Igboho disclosed that IBD Dende reached out to him immediately to inquire about his welfare and next destination. According to him, when he explained that he was planning to travel to Germany and that the cost of flight tickets for himself and his wife amounted to ₦6 million, Dende requested his bank details.
In a remarkable show of goodwill, Igboho revealed that Dende transferred ₦20 million to his account far above the stated travel expenses with the reassurance that the extra funds could assist with other pressing needs.
Igboho further recounted that upon his eventual return to Nigeria, despite ongoing financial restrictions, IBD Dende was the first person he met. At that meeting, the businessman reportedly provided an additional ₦10 million to enable him host visitors and manage immediate responsibilities, particularly as his bank account remains frozen.
The activist also expressed profound gratitude to former Oyo State Governor, Rasheed Ladoja, whom he credited for resolving issues between him and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Describing Dende as a man of rare loyalty and compassion, Igboho stated that anyone who harbours ill feelings toward the businessman “is under a curse,” emphasizing the depth of gratitude he holds for the support he received.
The development has sparked conversations across social and political circles, further highlighting IBD Dende’s reputation as a philanthropist and influential figure known for standing by associates in difficult times.
celebrity radar - gossips
BUA Chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu Records Africa’s Biggest Wealth Surge, Net Worth Hits $11.2bn
BUA Chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu Tops Africa’s Wealth Gains in the 2026 Forbes Rankings as His Fortune Jumps 120% to $11.2 Billion, Rising to 3rd Place; Aliko Dangote Remains No.1
Billionaire Industrialist, Philantropist, and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has emerged as Africa’s biggest wealth gainer in the 2026 Africa’s Richest People ranking published by Forbes, after his net worth rose sharply over the past year.
According to the latest Forbes list, Rabiu’s wealth surged 120 percent to $11.2 billion, representing the largest increase recorded among the continent’s billionaires in the latest ranking. The jump moves Rabiu, who is Nigerian, to third place among Africa’s richest individuals, up from sixth position a year ago.
The rise in Rabiu’s fortune was driven largely by the strong performance of BUA Cement, his flagship publicly listed company, whose shares surged by 135 percent over the past year. The rally significantly outpaced gains in the broader Nigerian Exchange, which has itself recorded strong growth amid improving investor confidence.
Forbes estimates Rabiu’s net worth at $11.2 billion, placing him behind luxury goods tycoon Johann Rupert, whose fortune is estimated at $16.1 billion, and Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, who retains the top position with an estimated $28.5 billion.
Rabiu’s rise underscores the growing influence of Nigeria’s industrial sector and the expanding footprint of BUA Group, which has built major operations across cement manufacturing, food processing, sugar refining, infrastructure, mining and energy.
The latest Forbes ranking also highlights a broader surge in wealth across Africa’s billionaire class. The continent’s 23 billionaires now hold a combined net worth of $126.7 billion, representing a 21 percent increase from the previous year, as major equity markets rallied and regional currencies stabilised.
Nigeria remains one of the continent’s leading centres of billionaire wealth, accounting for four individuals on the list, including Dangote, Rabiu, telecommunications magnate Mike Adenuga, and energy investor Femi Otedola.
Forbes said the 2026 ranking was calculated using stock prices and exchange rates as of March 1, 2026, with privately held companies valued using comparable industry benchmarks.
Rabiu’s leap in the ranking reflects not only the strong performance of BUA Cement but also the broader momentum of Nigeria’s capital markets and the continued expansion of large scale industrial enterprises across Africa’s largest economy.
Analysts say the development signals growing investor confidence in African manufacturing and infrastructure driven businesses, sectors that are increasingly central to the continent’s economic transformation.
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