Politics
The Collosus Hits the 85 landmark – A Birthday Tribute To Chief Abdulkareem Adebisi Akande CFR
The Collosus Hits the 85 landmark – A Birthday Tribute To Chief Abdulkareem Adebisi Akande CFR.
THE MAN WHOSE CHARACTER AND INTERGRITY BECAME THE POLITICAL CAPITAL AND COLLATERAL FOR A STRUGGLE- The Oasis in the Desert…
Everytime I see Baba Akande these days, I am reminded of the Iroko tree 🌳 in the Forest, and the Oasis in the Desert.
Baba Akande also well known as” Baba awa omo Ke ke ke”i.e [ the father of children” is a man in his own class among human beings and dare I say among political class, though may not be physically tall, but in character, he towers dizzyingly over almost all the modern day politicians .
Baba is a sharp cut and divide , spartan and austere in nature compared to many in the political class today, clearly a distinctive and distinguished representation of the old stock, principled, bold , unwavering, unshaken and unruffled by situations and circumstances. A principled fighter backed by conviction.
I have mental recollections of Baba Akande as a young boy from the days of my budding interest in political affairs, when politics was driven by purity of intentions and purpose as exemplified by the likes of Papa Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Ajibola Ige , Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, Dr Ambrose Ali, all of them were governors of the Unity Party of Nigeria.
Back then these calibre of politicians lived by the unwritten rule of putting the people first, to be obedient if not subservient to the code of conduct that is steeply rooted in a life of modesty and moderation not fanfare and garulity of modern day emperors that some personalities in power now exemplify. That was not what the likes of Baba Akande exemplified while in power.
Indeed they abhorred ostentation and lousy use and display of power. They earned their veneration because the power they wielded was real people driven not imposed, snatched or bought!
In those good old days [ shamefully enough that we refer to those days most affectionately and nostalgically] because of the abuses of today, since today that ordinarily by progression should be better is not, but because power in the hands of those without depth of reason, care and concern has re-interpreted today’s politics and power in many ways that will make the likes of Baba Akande cringe and break out in goose bumps.
It was a typical Baba Akande who in His spartan nature and view of life and subscriber to a life of accountability that would rather choose to be impeached than to “settle” lawmakers to pass budget .. that can only be a Baba Akande.
Only a Baba Akande would leave government and still remain very modest without illicitly acquired possessions, acquired at the expense of the people’s well being but holding aloft the banner of good name, sterling public service record and profile of sparkling accountability and probity.
When will we have more Abdulkareem Adebisi Akandes ?
The stock is greatly depleted and their memories of unblemished public service are fast receding,and fading into distant horizon. 😢, made worse because we are a nation of fleeting emphasis and values.
Growing up much later, I recall clearly the roles played by this ageing man ,physically , but whose convictions have also being strengthened by the age and as the years went by.
Baba Akande was like the spinal chord that strengthened the opposition in the days of our struggles, a contented man not only in terms of material worth but in terms of political adventure.
Left to Baba Akande , the politics of the South west most likely would have remained politics of the South west, in literal sense because Baba Akande is not that politically adventurous, rather would like to prevent Ideological stain and contamination, he believes that undue alliances could come with contagious realities ..
Baba Akande believes that undue alliances would imply a compromise of ideals and ideology that he has subscribed to over the years , so he was ever cautious , but his implicit trust and believe in a younger more politically adventurous, very daring political maestro who also has the means convinced Baba Akande to allow the expansionist vision , driven by no other than the JagabanBorgu, the Asiwaju of Lagos, now literally Asiwaju of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCON .
This is the synoptic trajectory from the fall of Alliance for Democracy controlled states, where all the South west states were lost to the People’s Democratic Party , then portrayed and treated as a party of vermins and undying voracious if not rapacious liberals if not jackals. The attitude of the Alliance for Democracy then was isolationist and puritanical.
So after the reality of the loss of States in the South west by the rage of the tiger, the PDP, driven by President Obasanjo, hit home, it took the resilience of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, today’s President to start the fight-back, it was war like! Not a piece of cheese cake,it was bloody and bloodied, limbs and lives was lost 😢 . Thank God some of us are alive to tell the story , but with deference to all the fallen heroes of those days of struggle.
We soldiered on because it was like movement, the first goal was to get back the states of the South west away from “ultra conservatives party” [PDP] as it was so portrayed then, back to the camp and safe embrace of the ” ultra progressives” this was the political Catholicsm diet that some of us the younger elements were fed and raised on through our chequered political trajectory from AD to AC to ACN and today’s APC!
One of the strongest human fortress and premium value collateral for the struggle in those days was Baba Bisi Akande, whose towering moral standards and reputation became our banner to push our Ideological bent, slant and posturing.
Baba Akande was the National Party Chairman from AC to APC ! He was the leader that we had as the umbrella to push hard . His moral standing and standards kept our struggles well defined and real.
Today, has Baba Akande’s fears of compromise of our political Ideological standard not been compromised and diluted ? Obviously the answer is Yes, the purity of our ideology obviously stained and contaminated, because today nobody knows the difference seemingly so anymore, even some of our taskmasters in Egypt have become our Lords in Cannan! Without let , recourse or circumspection. Because as the Yorubas will say, “Iru ti dapo mo Sapati”
But did the political foray eventually become a success, Yes to the extent that today a Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now the President of Nigeria, which was almost thought to be an impossibility looking at the realities of those times.
The very high premium that is the worth and value placed on the moral and integrity quotient of Baba Bisi Akande cannot be over emphasised in the journey of the “Progressives ” [if that Ideological corner still exists in our political space today ]
The joy of today is that Baba Akande’s involvement in the struggles to this day is very gratifying and moreso because he is still alive and well, with his moral and integrity profile still soaring while he is still a very towering and relevant figure in the journey for national redefinition .
To know more about the man Baba Akande, it will be nice to real his autobiography to see what this man represents, his modest journey through life.
It is therefore with profound reverence that I join millions of “Awa omo ke ke ke” to wish Our Baba a very happy birthday and pray for more years in good health and well being as he takes on his role of instilling the virtues that earned him his medals in the successor generation.
This will be the most important legacy
Happy Birthday Sir.
Congressman Bimbo Daramola
#bimboEkiti.
#nitoriojoolawa
Politics
2027 BATTLE: How Much Nigeria Can Save, Invest In Infrastructure By Rotating Power Among Six Geo-political Zones For A Single Term Of Five Or Six Years
2027 BATTLE: How Much Nigeria Can Save, Invest In Infrastructure By Rotating Power Among Six Geo-political Zones For A Single Term Of Five Or Six Years
As a Southernern, particularly from the South East Geo-Political Zone, I believe the most potent argument for us in 2027 is that the North/South zoning arrangement of political power at the center is a scam. It’s a scam because it has only benefitted the South West and the North West geo-political zones since the return of ‘democracy’ (civil rule) in Nigeria on May 29, 1999. Nigeria, it must be clarified has six geo-political zones, not two.
Nigeria was divided into six geo-political zones in 1996 by the military government of General Sanni Abacha. This new zoning arrangement was a brainchild of the 1994/1995 Constitutional Conference chaired by the late Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte and empaneled by General Sanni Abacha.
At that Conference, no less a person than former Vice President Chief Alex Ekwueme and a group called Mkpoko Igbo proposed that since Nigeria will now be divided into six geo-political zones, to give all zones a sense of belonging within the Nigerian State, that power at the center should rotate among the six geo-political zones for a single term of five or six years. In their thinking, if power was rotated among the six geo-political zones for a single term of five or six years, within 30 years or 36 years, all six zones would have had one of their own leading Nigeria, particularly, from their first 11 (primus inter pares). The North and the South West delegations at that conference pooh-poohed Chief Alex Ekwueme and summarily shut down that all-important proposal. The rest they say is history.
More than 30 years later, there is yet no national peace, national cohesion, national political stability, national unity, and national loyalty to the Nigerian State. Had the proposal of Chief Alex Ekwueme and Mkpoko Igbo been adopted and implemented since 1999, at least, the 5th Geo-Political Zone would have had one of their own in Aso Villa today, and by 2035, the last geo-political zone would have being sending us one of their own to contest the Presidency across Nigeria’s current 18 political parties. This mathematics is if we had gone with a single term of six years (the maximum limit) as proposed by Dr. Ekwueme and the South East and South South delegates in that 1994/1995 Constitutional Conference.
Fast forward to today, in his recent Arise TV interview, and in some other public and private fora, H.E. Atiku Abubakar asked for Dr. Ekwueme’s forgiveness as he was among key Northern delegates in that Constitutional Conference from the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua group that opposed the rotational presidency among Nigeria’s geo-political zones. Waziri Adamawa had disclosed that he even apologized to Alex Ekwueme when he visited Oko, Anambra State, to pay homage to the former late vice president sometime in 2017/2018.
By and large, for 2027, I believe that the most potent argument that will sell in the South East is that the North East where Waziri Adamawa hails from, just like the South East (our region), had also been marginalized in the scheme of things in Nigeria. Aside from Alhaji Tafawa Balewa from Bauchi State (North East), nobody from the region/zone has been head of national government, head of state, or even president since 1966.
So, H.E. Atiku Abubakar is right in contesting the Presidential election billed for January 16, 2027, to right this wrong, and return Nigeria’s presidency to an equitable distribution of power at the center. When elected, and it’s entrenched in the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (as amended), that power rotates among the six geo-political zones for a single term of five or six years, this new formula will bring about national peace, national cohesion, national unity, and tremendously commandeer national loyalty among Nigerians from across the six geo-political zones for their beloved country, the Nigerian State.
As a budding political scientist of repute and ardent student of contemporary Nigerian history and politics, let me tell us what this formular would do for the Nigerian State. The battle for the soul of the Nigerian State will be ferocious at the zonal level, while the center will become unattractive. So, let’s say it is the turn of the North East Geo-Political Zone to produce the Presidency in 2027, the battle to gift Nigerians their First 11 (primus inter pares) will be ferocious across the States in the region. The people of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe will now be more interested in partisan politics, thus being proactive participants within the current 18 political parties in Nigeria.
Giving Nigeria’s configurations and peculiarities, one of the positives of this political proactiveness is that it’s a win-win situation for the entire region if a man from Adamawa becomes President of Nigeria in 2027. The people from Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Gombe, and Bauchi will be largely happy, contented, hold their peace, love Nigeria better, and be more loyal to the Nigerian State because one of their own is now the GCFR, the primus inter pares, and the No. 1 Citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The steep insecurity that has ravaged the North East Geo-Political Zone since 2009, largely owing to perceived agelong marginalisation, oppression, injustices, would largely die down.
This will be the same case for the South East Geo-Political Zone. Biafra secessionist agitations, IPOB, ESN led by Nnamdi Kanu, will die a natural death. Justice and equity for all breeds contentment among men, and contentment among men births peace, unity, commandeers loyalty, and tremendously brings about prosperity. I stand to be challenged on this self-evident truth on any national television station.
When it is the turn of another region to produce the Presidency, after the North East has had their turn, all political parties in Nigeria must constitutionally present a Presidential candidate from the region whose turn it is to produce the presidency for a single term of six years. This rotational presidency formula must be entrenched in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended) by May 29, 2027.
I avow that rotational presidency among Nigeria’s six geo-political zones for a single term of five or six years is the best political science solution to the agelong hydra-headed problem of Nigeria, especially in the guise of disunity, unpeaceful, and disloyalty problems among Nigerian citizens. Doing this will also largely curtail the executive rascalities, legislative rascalities, and judicial rascalities currently being perpetrated by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Executive arm; the Godswill Akpabio led Legislative arm; and the CJN Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun led Judiciary arm.
The over desperation of getting re-elected for a second term in office, as shown today by Bola Tinubu, will be eraced for future Nigerian Presidents. The humongous money and depletion of Nigeria’s national treasury just for seeking re-election at all cost, and conducting elections will also be erased.
The Highfalutin, Draining Cost Of Conducting Elections In Nigeria?
For the 2023 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) proposed N305 billion in May 2022, which was a 62 percent increase over the 2019 budget. Ultimately, the National Assembly approved N355 billion for the exercise, though the commission spent N313.4 billion as of September 2023.
For the 2027 general election, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan proposed a total budget of N873.78 billion to the National Assembly in February 2026. This proposal includes N375.75 billion for election operations, N209.21 billion for technology, and N92.31 billion for administrative costs. The Bola Ahmed Tinubu led APC regime had previously allocated N1.01 trillion to INEC in the 2026 budget presented in January 2026.
Ladies and gentlemen, INEC’s election budget ballooned from N355 billion in 2023 to a whopping N873.78 billion for a re-election season in 2027? This is approximately a percentage increase of 146.13%. This is unacceptable, opprobrious, and insalubrious.
If we entrench in the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (as amended), zoning the presidency among the six geo-political zones for a single term of five or six years, this proposed N873.78 billion to coduct the 2027 re-election season would have been eliminated.
What Can N873.78 billion Do For Nigerians In Terms Of Infrastructural Developmental Projects?
If hypothetically redirected or matched in scale for infrastructure development, N873.78 billion could significantly advance Nigeria’s infrastructure across key sectors:
1. Roads and Transportation: This amount could fund the rehabilitation of over 10,000 kilometers (6213.712 miles) of rural and urban roads, especially when combined with technical support from institutions like the World Bank’s RAAMP-SU project.
It could complete critical projects like the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway or support the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, enhancing regional connectivity and trade.
2. Railway Development: Based on past projects, N873 billion could finance a new 600–800 km (373-497 miles) standard gauge rail line, similar to the Abuja-Kaduna or Lagos-Ibadan lines, which were partially funded by Chinese loans.
Rail expansion would boost freight movement, reduce road congestion, and create thousands of jobs.
3. Power and Energy: The sum could support renewable energy projects, such as solar mini-grids for 10,000 rural communities, or fund transmission infrastructure to reduce power losses.
For context, Power Africa facilitated $63 million in renewable energy investments over 26 months—N873 billion could scale such efforts dramatically.
4. Water and Sanitation: Funds could build or upgrade water treatment plants, boreholes, and sanitation systems in underserved urban and rural areas, improving public health and reducing waterborne diseases.
5. Agricultural Infrastructure: The NSIA’s Multipurpose Industrial Platform Ltd (MIPL) in Akwa Ibom, including an ammonia and fertilizer plant, is a multi-billion-dollar project. N873 billion could fund multiple such agro-industrial hubs, boosting food security and reducing import dependence.
Analyzing The Current Infrastructure Spending In Nigeria In Relation To N873.78 Billion?
For comparison, Nigeria’s actual infrastructure allocations are much lower than the humongous money INEC is proposing to conduct the shaky 2027 general elections in Nigeria.
The 2025 Federal Budget allocated ₦4.06 trillion ($2.7 billion) for infrastructure—about 7.4% of total spending.
The National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP) aims to raise infrastructure stock to 70% of GDP by 2043, requiring $100 billion annually—far above current spending levels.
Pension funds invested ₦262.57 billion in infrastructure in the first 10 months of 2025. This is below N873.78 billion being earmarked for the 2027 elections.
Without mincing words, let me aver that the N873.78 billion could transform infrastructural developmental projects in Nigeria, But the fact that this amount is proposed for elections, not infrastructural developmental projects, highlights a mismatch between public needs and government spending priorities in Nigeria, especially under the disastrous APC regime of Bola Tinubu.
Conclusion
While N873.78 billion is earmarked for elections, its scale underscores what Nigeria could achieve in infrastructure if similar resources were consistently invested. Redirecting even a fraction of election budgets toward roads, power, rail, water, and agriculture could accelerate economic growth, create jobs, and improve quality of life in Nigeria. However, transparency, accountability, and long-term planning are essential to ensure such investments yield lasting benefits.
Finally, ladies and gentlemen, let’s consider the substantial ingredients of this political seminal and fix this mess of power rotation at the center among Nigeria’s six geo-political zones for a single term of five or six years. Let’s stop wasting scarce resources in Nigeria conducting re-elections at the center and across state levels. Let’s stop wasting everybody’s time in Nigeria.
Ikenna Asomba is a political scientist and journalist. He writes from the State of Illinois, United States.
Politics
2027 BOMBSHELL: Dismantling The Myth Around Kwankwaso’s So-Called Electoral Dominance In Kano
2027 BOMBSHELL: Dismantling The Myth Around Kwankwaso’s So-Called Electoral Dominance In Kano
Politics
I am fully ready for the 2027 general elections”- ADP, presidential aspirant, Prof. Omolaja, declares
“I am fully ready for the 2027 general elections”- ADP, presidential aspirant, Prof. Omolaja, declares.
By Comrade Samson Ajibade Alabi, NLP Media Director
A presidential aspirant under the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Prof Muhammad Omolaja, has said that he is fully ready for the 2027 general elections especially the presidential contest.
Prof. Omolaja who disclosed this in an exclusive interview with pressmen in Abuja on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, said he has done his consultations with leaders of the Party, boasting that he is the next president of Nigeria by the grace of God.
He submitted that he has won the heart of the people at the grassroots across all the States and geopolitical zones including the federal capital territory (FCT); and convinced them about his clear vision and mission for Nigeria.
According to him, Nigerians are tired of the APC government and ready to vote them out in favour of his Party; the ADP!
Prof. Omolaja added that ADP is the only Party that can liberate Nigeria and rescue the citizens from the prevailing insecurity and other challenges facing the country.
The presidential aspirant said “you are asking me if I am ready for the 2027 general elections or not, I hereby inform you categorically that I am fully ready for the election; we have done what to be done, we have systematically carried Nigerians along in our preparations especially the people at the grassroots; and we have let them know that ADP is the only credible alternative Party that can liberate them from all the challenges the country is facing under the prevailing APC government. I am confident that I will get the ticket of our great Party being the leading contestant, and win the upcoming 2027 presidential election by the special grace of the Almighty God”
He therefore urged Nigerians to rally support for him and his Party (ADP) at the polls in the spirit of peace, love, unity, and patriotism in Nigeria.
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