Politics
THOUGHTS ON MOUNTAIN OF GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
THOUGHTS ON MOUNTAIN OF GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS,
BY HONOR ONYEBUCHUKWU
I will like to begin this discourse by defining Government and politics in a very straight forward manner.
Government connotes and represents all the processes of governing at all levels, be it at the ward, local, state, federal or national. It is the body vested with the supreme power of the affairs of citizens of a state.
The supreme power of a state lies in the hands of the government thereby giving it the authority to make and enforce laws and implement policies as well. Also, the Merriam Webster Dictionary defines government as the group of people who control and make decisions for a country, state, etc. It is the particular system used for controlling a country, state, etc.
Broadly, government is made up of three organs to wit, the executive, legislature, and the judiciary. The functions of government includes but it is not limited to; law making, military defense of the country, maintenance of law and order; promotion of economic growth and development; protection of lives and properties and the general wellbeing of its citizenry etc.
Politics on the other hand, refers to the process through which individuals and groups reach agreement on a course of common or collective action even when they disagree on the intended goals of that action. Politics is associated with making decisions and everything that relates to power. It is how power, resources and status are shared. To Harold Lasswell politics is ‘who gets what, when and how’. Politics could also be seen as the activities that directly or indirectly pertain to the emergence, consolidation and the use of state power. Thomas Dye and Brigid Harrison opine that politics is the study of power.
Whichever definition we may be tempted to adopt as apposite and appropriate we must however bear in mind that all power belongs to God .We must not lose grip of Jesus declaration as it relates to power. It is even said that next to God is politics.
Politics and governance or government is not theoretical but practical. And this is the angle upon which this discourse shall be examined. For me, governance in its ramification is service and selflessness. See Isaiah 11:6 in the good Book.
Unarguably, government and politics controls all other aspects of human endeavours; be it education, family, economy, religion etc. The government in power distributes, appoints who should be where and makes decisions and policies that touches on every sphere of human existence.
INGREDIENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS
For one to reach stardom in the arena of politics and government, the following essential and core ingredients must be keenly observed; Passion, Preparation, People and Participation. The Four ‘Pees’.
Passion connotes strong and barely controllable emotion. Any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling. It represents determination. Passion for what is good and commitment towards its realization is fundamental in the attainment of such a goal. No one can succeed in any endeavour without an undying passion for such an endeavor. Likewise, to come to lime light in the field of politics, passion is required to surmount all the daunting and unpredictable challenges and obstacles that one is bound face. Passion for a course is the force that keeps one going in the face of seeming insurmountable challenges or obstacles. It is passion that will make a man to contest for an election again and again after defeat.
The role and import of passion as a cardinal ingredient for participation in politics cannot be exhausted.
Preparation represents the action or process of preparing or being prepared for use or consideration. Aside passion, there is the need for adequate preparation for any venture one wants to undertake. And for politics the earlier one starts preparing the better.
Preparation is infinitive. It is doing all that one needs to do to achieve ones’ dream. It entails living responsibly, acquiring the requisite qualifications, skills, knowledge, networking, attending trainings, conferences, joining platform that can better the chances of achieving ones dream, having mentors etc. No one can attain a goal or dream not prepared for. Therefore, for any political office one desire to vie for, adequate preparation need to be done.
People politics is about power. And the people decide who holds power at every given time. So you need people to bring your aspiration and desires to manifestation. In politics and government, no man is an Island as relationship is the currency here. If you have all the money and you do not have people to assist you in achieving your passion and dream, it will not work. You need people who believe in your capacity, competence, and character who are willing to stand with you to succeed in politics. Power resides in the people, so you must be the peoples’ person for them to give you their mandate.
Participation there is need for everyone to be involved in politics and government whether directly or indirectly. To achieve that, one must start from the unit and community where one lives. It is sad, unfathomable and unbelievable to know that persons live in areas where nobody know them neither do they themselves know their neighbor also. To correct such anomaly, it is important to be part of the Residents Association in the neighbourhood where you reside and to pay your dues if any because communal living enhances political participation.
There is undoubtedly no better and appropriate time to be involved in the national politics and overall interest than now. This is against the backdrop of the colossal level political apathy in our society. A large chunk of the citizens both literates illiterates show cold feet towards politics yet wants or envisage good government or governance which is impossible when the right people are not elected. Others demonize and see politics as ‘a dirty game’ which do not require their input, ignoring the fact that the government in power has a significant impact and bearing in their lives.
In Nigeria presently, you have to join a political party and register right in your ward. Attend meetings and contribute your quota. If however God lays it in your heart to vie for any political post, then go ahead. Also, you need to be thoroughly abreast with the current affairs and knowledgeable of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, as well as that of the Political Party you belong to. And you must bear in mind that political posts are limited. The rest of the other positions are by appointments. There are also party executive positions which are also contested for from the ward, local government, state and national level. Your participation at the local level is a decisive factor. Politics is local.
Therefore to be relevant in the political space, there is need for visibility. This can be as a result of active participation, who you know, who you have worked with or what you have done in time past and lots more. It is profitable to add that the import of visibility within the political arena can never be undermined as politics is a game of numbers. It therefore follows that the more visible and popular one is in the political arena the better.
It is instructive to note that in politics, challenges abound.
Challenges
Politics is extremely time consuming, energy sapping, risky and financially demanding. It involves and demands series of long and sleepless night meetings for planning, strategy, dialogue and many more. You cannot determine what you want to do and when you want to do it.
Lack of internal democracy and injustices that steers one on the face cannot be ruled out in the arena of politics. Most individuals within the same political parties are highly egocentric and self-seeking. In view of the above, it is not uncommon to find rivalry, chaos, intrigues, schemes and divide within most political struggle in our society. The resultant effect of this is that the worst of us are selected to represent the rest of us. As we can see today, the challenges of politics are innumerable, complex and convoluted.
Manipulation of the system and intolerable height of pride is another challenge bedeviling our political space. Some political office holders see themselves as demigods, thereby manipulating the system to favour them at the same time living the ‘larger than life style’, which is not in any way beneficial to our society.
The issue of money politics is another challenge which has eaten into the fabric of the system. A vast spectrum of the general populace think and hold the view that once you are in politics, you are a rogue or you have acquired money legally or illegally. Their belief is that money is being shared in politics or women in politics “follow men”. Sincerely, there is no limit to the obnoxious views which they hold about politics and politicians.
Grace for Overcoming the Challenges
Personally, my three anchor principles as I ventured into politics were and remain:
It must be God. Make sure you have God’s leading.
I will not sell any property to vie for elective post.
It is not a ‘do or die’ game.
It is worthy of note to state that service and humility work together. The mountain of governance and politics is to be taken by humility and spiritual authority. You must know who you are in God and stand by it. The very standard of God must be upheld.
Funding is another factor to consider before venturing into politics. Adequate preparation must be made as regards funding. Before venturing into politics, it is advisable to set aside some funds right from the onset and also to have persons of goodwill who can commit their resources to support your political aspiration.
Flowing from the above, the under listed are amongst the inexhaustible prerequisites, qualities/virtues that a Christian that wants to venture into politics must possess to excel in the political space:
An encounter with our Lord and Saviour Jesus;
Ability to lead in love;
Humility; as exemplified by Our Lord Jesus, Moses and other biblical examples;
Patience; in an immeasurable measure;
Wisdom/spirit of discernment; must be desired and coveted;
Courage/vocal/outspokenness; you cannot be timid and be in politics;
Understanding of the word justice in all its ramifications/pursuit to uphold same;
Ability to close ears to side talk and distractors;
Absolute focus etc;
I therefore conclude this discourse in the words of Plato. “If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools”.
www.honoronyebuchukwu.ng
Politics
Pro-Tinubu Group Demands Sack of Badaru, Other Ministers Who Lost Polling Units in Bye-Elections
Pro-Tinubu Group Demands Sack of Badaru, Other Ministers Who Lost Polling Units in Bye-Elections
The Asiwaju Network has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately disengage underperforming ministers who failed to deliver their polling units and wards during the just-concluded bye-elections.
The group also urged a cabinet reshuffle to inject fresh energy and ensure that only those who can add political and governance value remain in the Federal Executive Council.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja and signed by its president, Alhaji Musa Ibrahim Dandoka, the Asiwaju Network said the results of the elections were a litmus test that exposed the political weaknesses of some ministers entrusted with strategic national assignments.
At Babura Kofar Arewa Primary School in Jigawa State, where the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, cast his vote, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 308 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC), which managed only 112.
Badaru, a former governor of Jigawa and APC chieftain, left the venue without addressing journalists after casting his vote amid heavy security presence.
Dandoka said it was troubling that, despite his high office, the Defence Minister could not secure victory in his polling unit.
He argued that such political setbacks undermine the strength of the APC and the credibility of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope government.
“This defeat is both embarrassing and unacceptable. A minister who cannot win his polling unit cannot claim to possess the political capital required to defend the APC or promote the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda. President Tinubu must act quickly to weed out weak links in his cabinet and replace them with men and women who have proven grassroots capacity,” Dandoka stated.
The group noted that Badaru was not alone in this failure, stressing that another minister from Jigawa and one from Enugu State also lost their wards and polling units.
According to the group, these developments point to a worrying trend of disconnect between certain ministers and their political bases.
“Ministers are not merely technocrats. They are political leaders of the party in their states and zones. If they cannot hold their homes together, then they do not deserve to hold on to strategic national offices. The bye-elections have sent a clear message, and it is that some ministers have lost relevance and electoral value,” the statement reads.
The Asiwaju Network maintained that the APC’s strength lies in grassroots mobilisation, and any minister unable to inspire loyalty within his immediate constituency is a liability.
Dandoka emphasised that President Tinubu’s success in governance must be matched with political consolidation, which requires capable and electorally grounded cabinet members.
“President Tinubu has been bold with tough decisions on subsidy reforms, the economy, and security. Nigerians are beginning to see the fruits of those reforms. But he must also be bold enough to reshuffle his cabinet. A government of results cannot afford ministers who are passengers. The President needs proven drivers of the Renewed Hope vision,” Dandoka said.
The group also commended loyal APC members and supporters who defied intimidation and attempts at rigging in Jigawa and Enugu, saying their resilience was the true strength of the ruling party.
“These members stood firm when those at the top failed to inspire confidence. They turned out in their numbers to defend the APC’s relevance even when some of their supposed leaders abandoned them. These grassroots soldiers of democracy must never be taken for granted,” Dandoka added.
The Asiwaju Network further urged President Tinubu to take the bye-election results as a warning, cautioning that retaining non-performing ministers would embolden the opposition and demoralise party loyalists.
“The message from Jigawa and Enugu is clear: the APC cannot continue to reward failure. A minister who cannot secure a few streets in his ward has no business in the Federal Executive Council. Mr President must urgently rejig his cabinet or risk carrying dead weight into future electoral contests,” the coalition warned.
Reaffirming the group’s loyalty to Tinubu’s leadership, Dandoka said Nigerians expect a government that rewards competence and accountability, not excuses and political failures.
“President Tinubu has the people’s mandate. He must not allow weak ministers to drag down his vision. A decisive cabinet reshuffle now will send a strong signal that the Renewed Hope government is serious about performance, delivery, and results,” he declared.
Customs at the Crossroads: When Lawmakers Look Away and the Executive Looks Aside
By Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi
In a democracy, legislative oversight is the scalpel that cuts through deceit, inefficiency, and corruption in public institutions. It is the people’s last institutional shield against abuse of power. But what happens when that shield becomes a shelter for the very rot it is meant to expose? And what happens when the Executive arm, whose duty is to supervise its agencies, pretends not to see?
The unfolding drama between the National Assembly and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reveals more than a policy dispute. It exposes a dangerous triangle of confusion, complicity, and economic sabotage. At stake is not only the rule of law but the survival of an economy already gasping under inflation, a weak naira, and suffocating costs of living.
The House Talks Tough
In June 2025, Nigerians saw a glimpse of legislative courage when the House of Representatives Committee thundered at Customs:
> “Nigerian Customs Service, by June 30, must not collect CISS again. You are to collect only your 4% FOB assigned by the President. Even the 7% cost of collection you currently take is illegal—it was an executive fiat of the military, not democratic law. Any attempt to continue these illegal collections will be challenged in court. The ‘I’s have it.”
The voice was firm, the ruling decisive. Nigerians expected a turning point.
But the righteous thunder of the House was quickly muffled by the Senate’s softer tone, which suggested not the enforcement of the law but a readiness to bend it.
Senate: Oversight or Escape Route?
At a Senate Customs Committee session, Senator Ade Fadahunsi admitted openly that Customs has been operating illegally since June 2023. Yet rather than demand an end to illegality, he extended a lifeline to Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi:
> “If we come back to the same source… the two houses will sit together and see to your amendment so you will not be walking on a tight rope.”
But should Adeniyi be handed a loose rope while Nigeria’s economy hangs by a thread?
Instead of accountability, the Senate Customs Committee floated adjustments that would make life easier for Customs. The nation was given hints about fraudulent insurance and freight data, but instead of sanctions, what we saw was a search for escape routes. This is not oversight—it is overlook.
Smuggling and Excuses
The Senate Committee also lamented cross-border smuggling—Nigerian goods like cement flooding Cotonou, Togo, and Ghana at cheaper prices than in Nigeria. Senator Fadahunsi blamed the Central Bank’s 2% value deposit for encouraging the practice.
But where are the Senate’s enforcement actions—compliance checks, stiffer sanctions, cross-border coordination? None. The result is predictable: smugglers prosper, reserves bleed, and ordinary Nigerians pay more for less.
A Bloated Customs Budget
The Service’s 2024 capital allocation ballooned to ₦1.1 trillion from ₦706 billion. Instead of channeling these resources into modern trade systems, Customs is expanding empires of frivolity—such as proposing a new university despite already having training facilities in Gwagwalada and Ikeja that could easily be upgraded.
Oversight is not an afterthought; it is the legislature’s constitutional duty. To see waste and illegality and yet propose amendments that would legalise them is to turn oversight into overlook.
Customs has about 16,000 staff, yet many remain poorly trained. Rather than prioritise capacity building, the Service is busy building staff estates in odd locations. How does Modakeke—an inland town with no border post—end up with massive Customs housing projects, while strategic border towns like Badagry, Idiroko, and Saki remain neglected? Is Bashir Adeniyi Comptroller-General of Customs—or Minister of Housing?
The 4% FOB Levy: A Policy Blunder
The central controversy is the Federal Government’s plan to replace existing port charges with a new 4% Free-On-Board (FOB) levy on imports.
Nigeria is an import-dependent nation. This levy will instantly hike the costs of cars, spare parts, machinery, and raw materials—crippling industries and punishing consumers.
Already, the consequences are biting:
A 2006 Toyota Corolla now costs between ₦6–9 million.
Clearing agents who once paid ₦215,000 for license renewal must now cough out ₦4 million.
New freight forwarder licenses have jumped from ₦600,000 to ₦10 million.
Customs claims the revenue is needed for its modernisation programme, anchored on a software platform called B’Odogwu. But stakeholders describe this so-called “Odogwu” as epileptic—if not comatose. Why commit trillions to a ghost programme that will be obsolete by January 2026, when the Nigerian Revenue Service is set to take over Customs collections?
Industry Raises the Alarm
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has warned that the levy will worsen inflation, disrupt supply chains, and hurt productivity.
Lucky Amiwero, President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, calls the levy “economically dangerous.” His reasoning is straightforward:
The 4% FOB levy is much higher than the 1% CISS it replaces.
Peer countries like Ghana maintain just 1%.
The new levy will fuel inflation, raise the landed costs of goods, and destabilise the naira.
He also revealed that the Customs Modernisation Act, which introduced the levy, was passed without Senate scrutiny or meaningful stakeholder consultation. He estimates that the levy could add ₦3–4 trillion annually to freight costs—burdens that will be transferred directly to consumers.
Who Is Behind the “Odogwu” Masquerade?
The haste to enforce this levy, despite its looming redundancy, raises disturbing questions. Who benefits from the “Odogwu” project draining trillions? Why the rush, when NRS will take over collections in a few months?
This masquerade must be unmasked.
The Price Nigerians Pay
For ordinary Nigerians, this policy translates into one thing: higher prices. Cars, manufactured goods, and spare parts are spiraling beyond reach. A nation struggling with inflation, unemployment, and a weak currency cannot afford such reckless experiments.
So, while the Senate looks away, the Executive cannot look aside.
The Executive Cannot Escape Blame.
It is easy to focus on the failings of the legislature. But we must not forget: the Customs Service is an agency of the Federal Ministry of Finance, under the direct supervision of the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun.
If Customs is breaking the law, wasting resources, or implementing anti-people policies, the buck stops at the Executive’s table. The Minister of Finance is Chairman of the Customs Board. To fold his hands while the Service operates in illegality is to abdicate responsibility.
History gives us a model. In 1999, the Minister of State for Finance, Nenadi Usman, was specifically assigned to supervise Customs and report directly to the President. Meanwhile, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala focused on broader fiscal and economic policies. That division of responsibility improved accountability. Today, the absence of such an arrangement is feeding impunity.
President Tinubu and his Finance Minister must act decisively. Oversight without executive will is a dead letter.
A Call to Accountability
The truth is stark:
Customs has been operating illegally since June 2023 to the Senate’s own confession.
The 4% FOB levy will deepen inflation and worsen economic hardship.
The Ministry of Finance bears ultimate responsibility for Customs’ conduct.
Until importing and consuming, Nigerians demand accountability—of the Comptroller-General, the Senate, and above all, the Finance Ministry—this bleeding will continue.
Nigerians deserve better. They deserve a Customs Service that serves the nation, not a privileged few. They deserve a House that enforces its resolutions, not one that grandstands. They deserve a Senate that upholds the law, not one that bends it. And above all, they deserve an Executive that does not look aside while illegality thrives under its ministry.
Only public pressure can end this indulgence. If Nigerians keep silent, we will keep paying the price—in higher costs, weaker currency, and a sabotaged economy.
Citizens’ Charge: Silence is Not an Option
Fellow Nigerians, the Customs crisis is not a drama for the pages of newspapers—it is a burden on our pockets, our businesses, and our children’s future. Every illegal levy is a tax on the poor. Every abandoned oversight is an open invitation to corruption. Every silence from the Executive is an approval of impunity.
We cannot afford to fold our arms. Democracy gives us the power of voice, the duty of vigilance, and the right to demand accountability. Let us demand that:
The Senate and House of Representatives stop playing good cop, bad cop, and enforce the law without compromise.
The Ministry of Finance takes full responsibility for the Customs Service, supervising it in the interest of Nigerians, not vested interests.
The President intervenes now, before the Service crosses the dangerous line of turning illegality into policy.
History will not forgive a people who suffered in silence when their economy was bled by recklessness. Silence is complicity. The time to speak, to write, to petition, to protest, and to demand is now.
Customs must serve Nigeria—not sabotage it.
Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi is an Apostle and Nation Builder. He’s also the President of Voice of His Word Ministries and Convener Apostolic Round Table. BoT Chairman, Project Victory Call Initiative, AKA PVC Naija. He is a strategic Communicator and the CEO, Masterbuilder Communications.
Email:[email protected]
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Aare Adetola Emmanuel King Congratulates Hon. Adesola Ayoola-Elegbeji on Election Victory
The Chairman/CEO of Adron Group, Sir Aare Adetola Emmanuel King KOF, has congratulated Hon. Adesola Ayoola-Elegbeji on her resounding victory in the just-concluded by-election for the Remo Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
In a goodwill message issued by him, he described the victory as “a historic moment for the Remo people, coming at a time when the constituency yearns for a leader with vision, courage, and genuine commitment to service.”
He noted that the outcome of the election was an attestation to the trust and confidence reposed in Hon. Ayoola-Elegbeji by the people, adding that her sterling qualities, integrity, accessibility, and compassion for the grassroots had endeared her to the electorate.
“The overwhelming support you garnered at the polls is proof that you are the right voice at the right time to carry the aspirations of Remo to the national stage,” he stated.
While acknowledging that the by-election followed the painful demise of the late Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga (Ijaya), Aare Adetola Emmanuel King said Hon. Ayoola-Elegbeji’s emergence symbolizes the continuity of purposeful representation. He expressed confidence that she would not only sustain the legacy of her predecessor but also surpass it with new energy, innovative ideas, and progressive leadership.
The Adron Group Chairman further prayed for divine wisdom, strength, and compassion for the Member-Elect as she assumes office, expressing confidence that her tenure will usher in meaningful development, economic empowerment, and greater opportunities for the people of Remo Federal Constituency.
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