society
When the Past Knocks Twice: Lessons Nigeria Refuses to Learn
When the Past Knocks Twice: Lessons Nigeria Refuses to Learn.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com
“Same mistakes, harder landing; Nigeria keeps repeating the exam and failing the grade.”
Nigeria is a country with a long memory and a short attention span. We celebrate reforms when they arrive like overdue guests, then hand them off to a ruling class whose HABITS are older than the CONSTITUTION. The result is a recurring national tragedy: POLICY REVERSALS, HALF-MEASURES and a POLITICAL CULTURE that mistakes noise for progress. The past, when ignored, does not stay buried; it knocks again, louder and more destructive. Every time it knocks, the lesson missed is paid for by ordinary Nigerians: mothers making impossible choices about food, children missing school because of violence and households sliding into poverty while the corridors of power debate abstractions.
HISTORY is not merely background; it is a teacher. Chinua Achebe captured this precisely when he wrote that “THE NIGERIAN PROBLEM IS THE UNWILLINGNESS OR INABILITY OF ITS LEADERS TO RISE TO THE RESPONSIBILITY” and later warned that “UNTIL THE LIONS HAVE THEIR OWN HISTORIANS, THE HISTORY OF THE HUNT WILL ALWAYS GLORIFY THE HUNTER.” Those sentences are not aphorisms to be pinned on noticeboards; they are indictments that remain painfully current. Achebe’s diagnosis still fits: leadership in Nigeria too often defaults to expediency over courage, patronage over principle and narrative spin over accountability. The consequence is predictable, reform starts with fanfare and ends in the same patterns of exclusion and mismanagement that created the problems in the first place.
Consider the economy. The government of 2023–2025 undertook wrenching macroeconomic changes; SUBSIDY REMOVALS, EXCHANGE-RATE UNIFICATION and TAX REFORMS intended to restore fiscal sanity and attract capital. International institutions have cautiously applauded the direction, but the IMF and World Bank note that these measures have improved macro stability and investor sentiment and they stress that reforms can anchor medium-term growth if followed through with social protections and better implementation. Applause from capitals and boardrooms does not feed children. Nigeria’s headline problems; FOOD-PRICE SHOCKS, STUBBORN INFLATION and A POTENTIAL RISE IN POVERTY are the direct and measurable aftermath of policy choices that were not accompanied by the safety nets and supply-side fixes required to protect the vulnerable. The IMF itself acknowledged the reforms while urging careful sequencing and protection for those most at risk.
The numbers are unforgiving. Official and multilateral data show that millions of Nigerians are teetering on the edge of deprivation. The World Bank’s country assessments and poverty briefs have repeatedly warned that extreme poverty and food insecurity are rising and that millions more could be pushed below national and international poverty lines if inflation and food-price pressures persist. These are not abstract forecasts, they are household catastrophes that translate into empty plates and foregone healthcare. Policy without mitigation becomes punitive. Reforms must be accompanied by cash transfers, agricultural interventions and transparent targeting mechanisms; otherwise, they simply shift the cost of reform from the state’s balance sheet onto the backs of ordinary citizens.
If the economy is the sore muscle, insecurity is the gangrene. Violence in the north (from Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast to banditry and mass kidnappings across the northwest and north-central zones) has intensified. Human-rights monitors and independent reporting show that deaths, kidnappings and displacement rose sharply in recent years, with some months recording more fatalities than entire previous years. The security crisis compounds poverty and farmers cannot plant or harvest, markets are paralyzed and internal displacement creates humanitarian emergencies that the state cannot sustainably fund. Insecurity is not an adjunct problem; it is a structural brake on development, investment and the basic functioning of civic life. To treat it otherwise is to pretend the country can prosper while significant swaths of its people live under siege.
Why do we repeat the same mistakes? Part of the answer is INSTITUTIONAL SCLEROSIS. Nigeria inherited weak checks and balances and successive administrations have failed to build resilient institutions that outlive political survival. The civil service, meant to be the engine of continuity, is too often politicized; procurement systems remain opaque; and key service-delivery institutions are chronically underfunded or captured. When reforms require sustained administrative competence (to deliver conditional cash transfers, to run agricultural extension at scale, to prosecute corruption) Nigeria’s institutional weaknesses turn good policy into poorly implemented experiments. This is not an accident. It is the inevitable outcome of decades of governance where loyalty to party trumps service to the citizen.
Political culture matters as much as policy design. Nigerian politics rewards short-term rent extraction, not long-term public goods. Elites who profit from opacity and uncertainty will resist reforms that strip away patronage. So we have reform rhetoric paired with concession to vested interests; subsidies quietly reinstated, procurement diluted by political meddling and fiscal discipline undermined by emergency bailouts that reward political allies instead of correcting systemic inefficiency. The cycle is predictable and reform is announced, markets cheer, the elite lobby, policy is softened and the country ends up with neither sustained reform nor meaningful redistribution. The past knocks and we open the door to the very habits that produced the crisis.
What must change is not the occasional policy pivot but the underlying bargain between state and society. A credible social contract would mean that when hard reforms are necessary, they come with a transparent plan for protection and inclusion, measurable targets and independent monitoring. It would mean that revenues raised from subsidy savings or tax reforms are ring-fenced to improve power, roads, schools and safety nets not siphoned off into patronage. It would mean prosecuting corruption swiftly and visibly so that governance gains public legitimacy. In short, reforms must be sequenced with politics and administration in mind.
Though sequencing alone is not enough. Leadership must embrace humility and honesty. Politicians must stop treating citizens as collateral damage in a saga of HEADLINE-GRABBING POLICY and instead explain the trade-offs, accept short-term pain for long-term gain and deliver within a framework that offers concrete compensation for those hurt in the transition. Civil society, media and the judiciary must insist on transparency; the international community should condition support on verifiable social protection outcomes; and technocrats must be empowered and not sidelined by populist spectacle.
Nigeria has everything it needs to change course, HUMAN TALENT, a VAST DOMESTIC MARKET, ABUNDANT NATURAL RESOURCES and the INSTITUTIONAL HOOKS of DEMOCRACY. Potential is not destiny. If we do not learn from the past knocks, if we do not translate lessons into durable institutions, fair social contracts and brave leadership; those knocks will keep coming, louder each time, until the cost is CATASTROPHIC.
The invoice for today’s complacency reads in lives and livelihoods. The question for Nigeria is SIMPLE: Will we continue to answer the door to yesterday’s mistakes or Will we finally learn the lesson and refuse to open it?
History is waiting and the lions are ready to tell their side.
– George Omagbemi Sylvester
When Ramadan And Lent Meet : Prophet Genesis Calls For Peace Beyond Religion
Prophet Genesis has described the rare convergence of Ramadan and Lent as “a divine reminder that humanity must choose peace over prejudice,” urging believers across faiths to see the sacred alignment as an opportunity for unity rather than division.
“There are moments in history that feel bigger than calendars, doctrines, or denominations,” he said. “When Ramadan and Lent align in the same season, it is not coincidence — it is a reminder that God’s sovereignty transcends religion, borders, and human systems.”
Ramadan, a sacred month in Islam, is marked by fasting, prayer, charity, and deep reflection. Lent, the Christian season leading to Easter, is devoted to fasting, repentance, sacrifice, and spiritual renewal.
Though observed in different faith traditions, both seasons call believers into humility, self-discipline, generosity, repentance, and closeness to God.
“Is it not powerful,” Prophet Genesis added, “that two major faiths — followed by billions around the world — enter a period of fasting and reflection at the same time? What seems separate to us is not separate to God.”
*What Is God Showing Us?*
According to the cleric, the alignment carries a spiritual message beyond ritual observance.
“When Ramadan and Lent come together, it feels like a divine whisper,” he said. “‘Slow down. Purify your heart. Love your neighbour. Seek Me sincerely.’”
Both seasons strip away excess — food, distractions, pride — and expose the condition of the heart. And in that stripping away, he noted, humanity discovers something profound: we are more alike than different.
Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.
Christians fast in various ways, giving up comforts.
Both give in charity.
Both pray more intentionally.
Both seek forgiveness.
“This convergence reveals that the core values God desires — mercy, discipline, compassion, humility — are universal,” he stated.
*Beyond Religion: Embracing Peace and Love*
In a time marked by global tension, economic hardship, displacement, and social division, Prophet Genesis stressed that religious hostility only deepens existing wounds.
“If sacred seasons themselves can align,” he asked, “why can’t we?”
Religion, he said, was never meant to divide humanity into hatred but to guide it toward righteousness. Yet history shows that faith is often used as a boundary instead of a bridge.
“When we choose peace over prejudice, love over labels, and understanding over suspicion, we reflect the very heart of God.”
He emphasised that discrimination weakens communities, division delays progress, and hatred blinds wisdom. By contrast, love strengthens society, peace builds nations, and unity multiplies impact.
For communities working closely with women and children across diverse nations and religious backgrounds, he added, peace is not optional — it is necessary for healing and empowerment.
*The Greater Lesson*
Perhaps, he suggested, the meeting of Ramadan and Lent carries a deeper reminder:
“You are one human family.
You were created by the same Creator.
Your shared humanity matters more than your differences.”
Faith, according to Prophet Genesis, should elevate character rather than inflate ego. True spirituality produces compassion, not condemnation.
“The power of this moment is not in theological debate,” he said. “It is in the opportunity for unity.”
When Muslims and Christians fast in the same season, neighbourhoods can pray for one another. Communities can share meals at sunset. Friends can check on each other’s well-being.
“This is how peace begins,” he concluded. “Not in global conferences, but in hearts.”
*A Call to Embrace Peace*
Prophet Genesis called on religious leaders, youth organisations, and families to use the sacred overlap as a practical platform for dialogue, mutual respect, and visible acts of kindness.
“Let us embrace one another beyond religion. Let us protect each other’s dignity. Let us teach our children love instead of suspicion.”
Because at the end of every fast — whether Ramadan or Lent — the true goal is transformation of the heart.
“And a transformed heart,” he said, “does not discriminate. It loves.”
society
Stop Means Stop”: Legal Experts Warn Ignoring ‘Stop’ During Intimate Acts Can Be Criminally Punishable
“Stop Means Stop”: Legal Experts Warn Ignoring ‘Stop’ During Intimate Acts Can Be Criminally Punishable
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG
“Grounded in international law and consent principles, legal authorities stress that continuing sexual activity after a partner withdraws consent may constitute sexual assault and lead to imprisonment.”
A growing body of legal interpretation and expert opinion reaffirm that consent in intimate encounters is not a one-off event but an ongoing requirement; withdrawn at any time by either participant. Legal practitioners and rights advocates are increasingly warning that if one partner clearly says “stop” during sexual activity and the other continues, this conduct can constitute a criminal offence with significant penalties, including imprisonment.
Consent must be “a voluntary agreement to engage in the sexual activity in question,” and crucially can be revoked at any stage. Once a partner expresses withdrawal of consent (by words like “stop” or by unmistakable conduct) the other party is legally obligated to cease all activity immediately. Failure to respect this is widely recognised in multiple legal jurisdictions as sexual assault or rape.
Professor Deborah Rhode, a prominent authority on legal ethics, has stated: “Respect for autonomy and bodily integrity lies at the core of consent law. Ignoring a partner’s withdrawal of consent undermines basic personal freedoms and is treated as a serious offence in criminal law.”
According to experts, this legal principle is not limited to strangers but applies equally to long-term partners and spouses. The Criminal Code in many countries explicitly rejects implied or blanket consent based on relationship status.
Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has similarly emphasised that clear communication and mutual agreement are essential, and that “once consent is withdrawn, any continued sexual activity crosses the line into criminal conduct.”
This means that in places where consent law is well-established, ignoring an explicit “stop” can lead to charges of sexual assault, with courts interpreting such conduct as a violation of an individual’s autonomy and dignity.
The issue has gained media and legal attention in recent years across numerous jurisdictions (including Canada, parts of Europe, and reform discussions in U.S. states) as courts and legislatures clarify that sexual consent is continuous and revocable at any time. Although no globally consolidated database exists of individual cases tied specifically to a news report on this warning, reputable legal frameworks consistently reinforce that continuing after “stop” is unlawful.
The subject engages legal scholars, criminal law practitioners, human rights experts, and statutory bodies advocating sexual violence prevention. Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors may pursue charges when clear evidence shows that consent was withdrawn and ignored.
In practice, consent frameworks require that the person initiating or continuing sexual activity take reasonable steps to ensure ongoing affirmation of willingness. Silence, passive behaviour, or failure to stop when asked cannot substitute for ongoing consent.
In summary, the legal maxim is clear: verbal or unambiguous withdrawal of consent must be respected. Ignoring it shifts the encounter from consensual to criminal, potentially resulting in serious legal consequences including imprisonment.
Lagos Family Property Dispute Turns Violent After Death of Chief Omotayo Ojo
By Ifeoma Ikem
A festering family dispute over property has escalated into a series of violent attacks in Lagos, leaving residents of a contested apartment in fear for their safety.
Mrs. Omotayo-Ojo-Alolagbe (Nee Omotayo-Ojo) the third child and first daughter of the late Omotayo Ojo, has alleged repeated assaults and destruction of property by her siblings from her father’s other marriages.
According to her account, hostility against her began while her father was still alive, allegedly fueled by the affection and support he showed her. She claimed that tensions worsened after his death in 2019.
Mrs. Alolagbe stated that her late father had given her a particular apartment during his lifetime, assuring her she would not suffer hardship, especially after her husband left the marriage. She said the property became her primary source of livelihood and shelter.
However, she alleged that her siblings had sold off several other family properties and were determined to dispossess her of the apartment allocated to her by their father.
The dispute reportedly turned violent on Nov. 15, 2025, when unknown persons allegedly attacked the building. She said the incident prompted her to petition the Chief Judge of Lagos State and the Commissioner of Police.
Despite the pending legal proceedings, she alleged that another attack occurred on Jan. 21, 2026. During that incident, parts of the building were vandalised, including the walkway and the main gate, which was reportedly removed.
A third attack was said to have taken place on Feb.18, 2026, during which the roof, gates, and sections of the walkway were allegedly dismantled. Residents were reportedly assaulted, and some were allegedly forced to part with money under duress.
Tenants in the apartment complex are said to be living in fear amid the repeated invasions, expressing concern over their safety and uncertainty about further violence.
Mrs. Alolagbe alleged that the attacks were led by a man identified as Mr. Alliu, popularly known as aka “Champion,” whom she described as a political thug. She claimed he arrived with a group of about 50 men, allegedly brandishing weapons and breaking bottles to intimidate residents.
She further alleged that the group boasted of connections with senior police officers, politicians in Lagos State, and even the presidency, claiming they were untouchable.
According to her, some arrests were initially made following the incidents, but the suspects were later released. She expressed concern that the alleged perpetrators continue to threaten her, making it difficult for her to move freely.
She also disclosed that during a meeting on Feb. 23, 2026, an Area Commander reportedly told her that little could be done because the matter was already before a court of law.
The development has raised concerns about the enforcement of law and order in civil disputes that degenerate into violence, particularly when court cases are pending.
As tensions persist, residents and observers are calling on relevant authorities to ensure the safety of lives and properties ,while allowing the courts to determine ownership and bring lasting resolution to the dispute.
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