Stand Together, Not Apart: Solidarity for MNK October 20, 2025. 

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | saharaweeklyng.com

“One Day. One Demand. Free MNK, Justice Now.”

On Monday, October 20, 2025, Nigerians and friends of justice the world over will again test the promise of democratic life in our country, the promise that the right to assemble, to petition and to demand accountability will not be shrugged aside by injunctions, intimidation or the heavy hand of the state. The #FreeMaziNnamdiKanuNow (MNK) mobilisations (organised by civil society activists, diaspora groups and political figures) present a simple, unavoidable demand, that a man who has become the symbol of a larger grievance be afforded due process, humane treatment and a transparent justice system. The stakes are bigger than one man; they are about whether Nigeria honours the rule of law and the dignity of dissent.

This piece argues, plainly and insistently, that solidarity for MNK’s peaceful protest is not an act of tribalism or lawlessness. It is an affirmation of democratic principle; one that citizens and international partners should support, monitor and protect. It also explains why peaceful solidarity is needed now, what the legal and security context is and how Nigerians and the global community should respond to ensure the exercise of legitimate rights without violence.

The legal and security reality: official warnings, court orders and real risk.

In the run-up to October 20, authorities and external actors have signalled caution. A High Court ruling and subsequent court orders have sought to restrict protests in sensitive locations around Aso Rock, the National Assembly complex and other government precincts, creating a legal fence that organisers and lawyers are actively contesting. The fact of that court action is not in dispute and must be acknowledged by anyone calling for or supporting public demonstrations.

Foreign missions have taken the prospect of large demonstrations seriously, the United States Embassy issued a security alert to its citizens about potential demonstrations on October 20, warning of possible roadblocks, disruptions and confrontation risks. That is a sober reminder that mass protests in Nigeria (as in many countries) can attract opportunists, security countermeasures and flashpoints where peace can be lost.

Though caution is not a licence for suppression. The Nigeria Police Force has publicly affirmed that the right to peaceful protest is inalienable while also urging that assemblies remain within the bounds of court orders and law. This dual message underscores the difficult tightrope, authorities must protect public order without weaponising the law to choke civic space.

Why solidarity matters – beyond headlines and hashtags.

Solidarity for MNK on October 20 is not merely performative. It is an essential democratic corrective for at least three reasons.

First, it centres due process and transparency. Calls for MNK’s release are also calls for a legal process free from clouded procedures, secret detention or politicised prosecutions. When civil society (inside and outside Nigeria) mobilises, it forces scrutiny and sunlight onto legal proceedings that might otherwise proceed behind closed doors. Prominent Nigerians and civic organisations have argued that the manner of his detention and treatment should raise questions about the fairness of our system.

Second, solidarity is a check on the use of force. International human-rights organisations and past reporting have documented instances where security forces used lethal force against protesters in Nigeria; a grim memory that must inform how authorities and protesters conduct themselves now. Amnesty International’s recent investigations into excessive force during Nigeria’s protests in 2024 and earlier incidents in the southeast are a clarion call: both citizens and the state must prevent a replay of violence. If Nigerians are to trust the system, the state must demonstrate restraint and accountability.

Third, unity in dissent breaks the toxic narrative that activism is regional or ethnic. Organisers including mainstream activists have intentionally framed October 20 as a peaceful, national campaign for justice; an invitation for citizens across ethnic and political lines to stand for the rule of law. That is a powerful antidote to deliberate attempts to paint protest as sectarian agitation.

What solidarity should look like; principled, legal, and strategic.

Solidarity must be disciplined. Here are practical, non-negotiable rules for those who will stand with MNK:

Non-violence first. Any legitimate protest that turns violent hands the state an excuse to crush civic space. Organisers and participants must unequivocally commit to peaceful methods: marches, silent vigils, legal petitions and sit-ins not property damage or attacks on people.

Legal preparedness. Support legal teams that can rapidly challenge unlawful injunctions, provide bail funds and document any rights violations. Use professional lawyers; do not rely solely on social-media lawyers.

Documentation and monitoring. Independent monitors, press and human-rights groups should document events in real time. If arrests or use of force occur, filmed evidence and credible eyewitness accounts are the oxygen of accountability.

Clear messaging. Keep the demands specific: humane treatment, transparent legal process, respect for court rulings unless overturned by due process and investigations into any extrajudicial conduct. Avoid incendiary language that can be exploited by those seeking to delegitimise the cause.

International pressure, not intervention. Engage international human-rights bodies and foreign missions to pressure for transparent judicial process and protection of protest rights, while rejecting outside military or clandestine interference.

Voices that matter.

Human-rights advocates and UN special rapporteurs have warned against criminalising dissent and delegitimising protest movements globally; a warning that resonates in Nigeria today. Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on human-rights defenders, has documented a worrying trend of state repression of peaceful activists in recent months, noting the grave dangers when governments treat dissent as a security threat rather than a democratic right. Such expert analysis should guide both authorities and citizens toward restraint and respect.

At home, elder statesmen and civic leaders who have called for due process stress that the health of our republic depends on the ability to hold power to account without descending into anarchy. The police themselves have said the right to peaceful protest is recognised; a statement whose credibility must be matched by action.

The test for our institutions and for Nigerians.

October 20 is a test. It will reveal how robust our institutions are, how committed our security services are to the constitutional order and how mature our civil society can be in the face of provocation. If the state responds with restraint and the organisers maintain discipline, Nigeria will have demonstrated a maturing democratic temperament. If the reverse occurs, the consequences will be ugly; erosion of trust, cycles of recrimination and deeper polarisation.

For those of us writing from the press, civil society and the academy: our duty is to report accurately, to demand accountability and to platform credible voices. For the international community: support monitoring and documentation; press for adherence to international human-rights standards. For ordinary Nigerians: stand in principled solidarity; in the markets that close quietly, in vigils and on the line when lawful mobilisation occurs.

Closing: justice is indivisible.

Solidarity for MNK is not an endorsement of everything he has said or done. It is not a tribal signal. It is a moral posture: that justice must be visible, that trials must be fair, that detention must follow the law and that peaceful calls for redress deserve protection, not pulverisation. If Nigeria is to be proud of its democracy, it must protect the weakest expression of dissent as fervently as it protects the comforts of power.

On October 20, raise your voice; but raise it within the law, with witnesses, with lawyers present and with the unshakable conviction that the cause of justice is indivisible. Stand for due process. Stand for humane treatment. Stand for the principle that no state is strengthened by silencing the people it is meant to serve.

George Omagbemi Sylvester is a journalist and commentator. He can be reached via saharaweeklyng.com

*YAZID DANFULANI: THE NEW SHERIFF AT NAIC

By Joseph Onwe

A seasoned corporate administrator and banker, with high proficiency in computing and banking operations, Yazid Danfulani came fully to the limelight of public service as the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Zamfara State, under Governor Bello Matawalle, but not before serving in 2013 at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), therefrom gaining profound experiences in banking operations.

Born on 15th April 1986, in Gusau, Zamfara State, Danfulani attended Dan Turai Primary School and Therbow Secondary School, from where he later obtained a degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Arts and Management from the University of Hertfordshire, UK.

On May 21, 2025, Danfulani was appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) for an initial term of four years by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Before this prestigious and well-deserved appointment, Danfulani founded and served as president of the Arewa Development and Empowerment Foundation (ADEF), an organization that caters to and supports orphans and less privileged individuals in society.

Over the years, the expectations of Nigerians have been very high for the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Company (NAIC), deriving benefits from the development of robust insurance products that will cater to the needs of Nigerian farmers, particularly smallholder farmers, women-led agribusinesses, and youth cooperatives on a sustainable basis.

Nigerians also expect an agricultural insurance agency that is efficient and that will make prompt payments of claims to farmers affected by natural disasters, pests, and diseases, and that can expand coverage to deserving but neglected farming communities.

However, part of the identified constraints that had affected the agency and limited its operational efficiency are: irregular interactions with stakeholders, associations, and other farmers so as to understand their needs and develop tailored solutions, and sustained efforts at collaborating with the Federal Government to develop policies and allocate resources that support the growth and development of the agricultural sector.

Others include a sustained developmental innovative framework that will enhance the growth of various insurance products and services aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by Nigerian farmers, such as climate change and pest infestations, and strategically designed insurance packages that are affordable and accessible to smallholder and medium-scale farmers, while effectively embarking on grassroots mobilization of farmers and communities for enhanced awareness and uptake of agricultural insurance.

Upon assumption of office, Danfulani did not fail Nigerians, as he geared towards ensuring he delivers on their expectations, prioritizing the digitization and streamlining of NAIC’s services, including policy enrolment, claims processing, and farmer outreach, through digital platforms aimed at improving efficiency and transparency, and the strengthening of effective and efficient governance structures, and human capacity development through enhanced institutional reforms, accountability measures, and targeted staff training, which has brought about effective systematic positivity and positive changes into the internal workings of the agency.

Danfulani’s fresh perspective, strong leadership, and absolute commitment to driving positive change in the organization, enhanced by his diverse experiences, has brought new vigor and strategic direction to NAIC, focusing on strengthening agricultural insurance frameworks, expanding access to insurance for farmers, and ensuring the agency plays a key role in Nigeria’s food security strategy.

An objective administrator with immense track records of established metrics and benchmarks of measured progressive and regular assessment, Danfulani adopted strategies of formidable and time-proven results.

His intentional willingness to pivot and adjust course when circumstances change or new opportunities arise has also led to the prioritization of workers’ welfare, taking a holistic view of the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of employees, and recognizing that a happy and healthy workforce is more productive and engaged.
By implementing these strategies, Danfulani has been able to bring in fresh perspectives, strong leadership, and a commitment to driving positive change, ultimately achieving the goals of the renewed hope agenda and making a meaningful impact.

Danfulani’s turnkey multidisciplinary approach to the development of NAIC includes the reengineering of access to agricultural insurance, particularly in rural and underserved communities, to protect farmers against natural disasters, pests, and diseases, and the introduction of up-to-date insurance products and services tailored to the needs of Nigerian farmers, promoting agricultural growth and food security.

Within a very short time of assumption, he has fostered partnerships with government agencies, private entities, and international development bodies to enhance NAIC’s impact and effectiveness, enabling reforms to improve NAIC’s efficiency and customer satisfaction, ensuring the agency plays critical roles in Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda, focused on rural development and agricultural growth, and aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and the nation’s food security strategy.

Indeed, Danfulani’s appointment has been widely applauded, with stakeholders, such as the Nigeria Youth for Good Governance Forum and other bodies, expressing confidence in his leadership qualities, technical expertise, and commitment to national development and describing it as timely and strategic.

An administrator with demonstrable insight into the workings of the agency, Danfulani brought in individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to foster innovation and creativity, making up a multidisciplinary workforce of employees with the autonomy to make decisions and take ownership of their work, promoting a sense of accountability and motivation, and fostering a consistent culture of continuous training, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing to stay ahead of the curve and adapt to changing circumstances, with a clear vision, mission, and set of objectives, ensuring everyone is aligned and working towards the same outcomes in an ambience of shared value.

As part of the prompt reforms, Danfulani has established strong collaboration and partnerships with government agencies, private entities, and international development bodies to enhance NAIC’s impact and effectiveness, driving and establishing reforms aimed at improving NAIC’s efficiency and customer satisfaction, thereby fostering stronger national cohesion and alignment with the national policy framework for a synergistic effect.

Indeed, his deliberate focus on rural development and agricultural growth, aligning with the various reforms of the federal government, has started yielding results, positively affecting food production, food security, and national security.
Indeed, as Danfulani embarks on this critical mission and crucial national assignment, we wish him success in his endeavors to transform NAIC and contribute to the growth and development of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

We are confident that with his tested and proven transformational leadership style, we can expect rapid change, a brighter future for farmers in Nigeria, and more specifically a more innovative and digitally driven agricultural industry with a holistic positive impact.
Danfulani is the new sheriff in town and has come with assurance and compelling track records of performance, engineering radical reforms.

Yazid Danfulani is the undertaker who has refused to take the agency to the grave, proving rather that Lazarus is having a date with destiny; coming back alive with a positive Midas touch, and certainly the agency is coming back to life again.

*Onwe is an investment banker writing from Abuja

*Dawn of a New Era: The Emergence of the United Kingdom of Atlantis*

Clement Emmanuel

A new chapter in human history is unfolding with the rise of the United Kingdom of Atlantis, a spiritual and cultural nation dedicated to unity, enlightenment, and global harmony.

Proclaimed under the leadership of Emperor Solomon Uchenna Wining, officially crowned on July 26, 2025, the United Kingdom of Atlantis heralds what many are calling the dawn of a new era — one where the essence of nationhood transcends borders and is instead rooted in shared consciousness and collective purpose.

Born from a vision of spiritual renewal and cultural rebirth, the Kingdom stands as a beacon for those seeking meaning beyond material identity. It calls humanity to awaken to a higher awareness — to remember the sacred connection that binds all people, cultures, and nations together as one human family.

Guided by principles of spiritual growth, cultural preservation, and universal cooperation, the United Kingdom of Atlantis seeks to weave together the wisdom of the ancients with the aspirations of the modern age. Its foundation rests on the belief that enlightenment, compassion, and unity form the true pillars of civilization.

The Kingdom’s structure reflects this vision: a decentralized constitutional monarchy that harmonizes mythic heritage with contemporary governance, inviting citizens of every nation to participate in a collective journey of awakening and transformation.

Supporters describe the movement as a living expression of global citizenship — a space where individuals find belonging, purpose, and spiritual connection. They see in Atlantis not a kingdom of conquest, but a kingdom of consciousness, built upon wisdom, peace, and service to humanity.

Across the world, nations such as India, Egypt, Japan, Peru, and the United Kingdom have long embodied the balance of cultural depth and spiritual devotion. Now, the United Kingdom of Atlantis rises to join this lineage — not as a geographic nation, but as a symbolic and sovereign community of spirit.

International observers recognize the emergence of Atlantis as part of a growing movement toward post-national unity — societies formed not by territory or politics, but by shared values, collective purpose, and the awakening of human potential.

As dawn breaks on this new era, the United Kingdom of Atlantis invites all people to look within, to rise beyond division, and to co-create a world grounded in light, love, and consciousness.

The Age of Atlantis has begun — not beneath the waves, but within the hearts of humankind.