The Trumpet Newspaper Issue 630 (August 21 - September 3 2024)

TheTrumpet 

Africans now have a voice... Founded in 1995 

V O L 30 N O 630 AU G U S T 21 - SEPTEMBER 3 2024 

Convicted 

for racial 

abuse 

and 

spitting 

at bus 

driver 

Michael Mongan 

Residents of Mali rejoice over withdrawal of foreign troops 

Russia-Ukraine war spills 

into West Africa: 

Mali attacks 

signal 

dangerous 

times ahead 

By Olayinka Ajala, Leeds Beckett University 

Continued on Page 14> 

A39-year-old man who racially 

abused and spat at a bus driver 

has been convicted after he 

was quickly identified by officers of 

London’s Metropolitan Police. 

Police were called to Coldharbour 

Lane in Hayes at 12.25hrs on 

Wednesday, 7 August after Michael 

Mongan shouted racial abuse at a bus 

driver. 

The driver had refused to let 

Mongan board as he did not have 

sufficient funds to pay for his journey. 

Mongan spat at the bus driver’s cab 

a number of times while shouting 

Islamophobic abuse and other threats. 

A video of the incident was shared 

widely on social media. Mongan was 

quickly identified and arrested on 

Friday, 9 August. 

He was charged with a racially 

aggravated public order offence and 

criminal damage. 

He pleaded guilty to both charges at 

Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on 

Saturday, 10 August. He was remanded 

in custody for sentencing at the same 

court on Tuesday, 13 August. 

Detective Inspector Jonathan 

Potter, of the Roads and Transport 

Policing Command, said: “The bus 

driver who was racially abused and 

spat at by Michael Mongan was simply 

doing his job. He and all other staff 

who work across London’s transport 

network have a right to do so in safety, 

free from unacceptable threats and 

intimidation. 

“I hope the fast response from our 

officers sends a clear message that we 

will act to hold those who behave in 

this way to account. 

“I’m glad Mongan has been swiftly 

brought to justice and will now face the 

consequences of his actions.”

Page2 TheTrumpet AUGUST 21 - SEPTEMBER 3 2024 

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Tribute 

AUGUST 21 - SEPTEMBER 3 2024 


Onyeka Onwenu remembered: 

Nigerian pop star, activist and 

Page3 

voice of national unity 

University of Ilorin, we frequently played 

covers of her popular songs like Ekwe, 

Wait For Me, You and I and 

Madawalowu, to the admiration of our 

By Austin Emielu, 

University of Ghana 

audiences. 

And when I won a government grant 

to do research on the contributions of 

Nigerian musicians to the anti-apartheid 

Continued on Page 4< 

Onyeka Onwenu 

The news of the death of Nigerian 

musician Onyeka Onwenu on 30 

July 2024 hit me, as a musician 

and popular music scholar, like a 

thunderbolt. I have listened to and 

appreciated Onyeka’s music since I was 

in my 20s. 

Onwenu was aged 72 – and video 

clips of her last performance at a birthday 

ceremony showed her energy level and 

exuberance, making the sudden transition 

hard to fathom. 

Aspiring musicians in Nigeria looked 

up to the big names in the industry as 

models and sources of inspiration. 

Onwenu stood out as a rising star in the 

early 1980s, when I first heard her name. 

But it went beyond music. I watched her 

1984 BBC-NTA documentary Nigeria: A 

Squandering of Riches on television. 

Written and presented by Onwenu, it was 

a masterpiece in terms of technical 

quality and its underpinning ideological 

intent. It spoke to the corruption of the 

Shehu Shagari administration (1979- 

1983). 

Aired at the onset of the Muhammadu 

Buhari administration, the documentary 

made a strong political statement. It 

signposted Onwenu as a lover of, and 

strong voice for, a new Nigeria. 

It also showed Onwenu’s talents, 

expertise and sound educational 

background. With these credentials and 

many more, Onwenu entered the 

Nigerian music scene with a bang. 

Although based in the financial hub, 

Lagos, she made an impact on the entire 

country. 

Her song that first caught my interest 

was Onye ga b’egwu, an Igbo children’s 

folksong. In the 1990s and 2000s when I 

led my dance band and that of the 

Department of Performing Arts at the

Page4 


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struggle in South Africa, I analysed her 

song Winnie Mandela. She eulogised 

Nelson Mandela’s wife as a heroine and 

extolled the virtues of womanhood in 

very trying conditions. 

Onwenu brought class, 

style and respectability into the 

entertainment business and 

elevated the status of women in 

the performing arts. She 

proved that a woman’s worth 

and respectability do not 

necessarily lie with being a 

wife but in how she fulfils her 

destiny. She came into the 

music business at a time when 

respect for women in the 

industry was at a low ebb and 

quickly changed things. She 

was unstoppable in her exploits 

as a songwriter, singer, activist, 

media personality, actress and 

political figure. 

Her style of music was 

unique and defies categories. 

Most importantly, she was a 

voice of national unity, calling 

for tolerance and justice 

through her music and her 

films. 

Early life and education 

Onwenu was born in 1952 

in Obosi, then Eastern Region 

of Nigeria. She had her roots in 

Arondizuogu, present day Imo State, 

south-east Nigeria, where her father was 

from. She was the youngest of five 

children of educationist and politician 

D.K. Onwenu. Her father is said to have 

died tragically when Onwenu was only 

four years old, just a week before he was 

to start work as Minister of Education. 

She was raised in Port Harcourt, Rivers 

State. 

She had a BA in International 

Relations and Communication from 

Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and an 

MA in Media Studies from The New 

School for Social Research, New York, in 

the United States. 

Her music 

Despite years of schooling and 

working abroad, Onwenu remained 

Tribute 

Onyeka Onwenu 

remembered: 

Nigerian pop star, activist 

and voice of national unity 

Continued from Page 3< 

connected to her roots as an Igbo woman. 

She revamped and recontextualised Igbo 

folksongs for contemporary relevance, as 

exemplified by songs like Onye ga 

b’egwu, Ekwe and Iyogogo. Yet she 

cannot be described as an ethnic 

Cover of Onyeka Onwenu's book - My Father's Daughter 

musician. With smash hits like For the 

Love of You, In the Morning Light, One 

Love, You and I, Dancing in the Sun and 

the duet Wait for Me with King Sunny 

Ade, Onwenu established herself as a 

national and international artiste and 

personality. 

By singing in her native Igbo and 

English, living in the multi-cultural and 

cosmopolitan city of Lagos, working 

with professionals and corporate bodies 

of diverse backgrounds, and her marriage 

to a Yoruba Muslim, Onwenu broke 

social and cultural barriers and 

communicated across a broad spectrum 

of audiences worldwide. 

She not only brought global pop 

sounds into Nigerian music but also 

helped to spread Nigerian popular music 

abroad. Her signing on to the Benson and 

Hedges label, an international tobacco 

company that promoted Nigeria music 

massively in the 1990s, was significant. 

Roles in public life 

She used her music as an entry point 

to other roles – and as a political weapon. 

She performed her song Winnie 

Mandela to the great pleasure of 

Winnie and Nelson Mandela during 

their visit to Nigeria after his 

release from prison in May 1990. 

She was criticised for her 

involvement in the controversial 

“One-Million March” in 1998 in 

support of the political ambitions of 

the later dictator Sani Abacha. 

However, in her book My Father’s 

Daughter she said she was tricked 

into performing at the event. 

Onwenu was also a good 

actress, who featured in films like 

Rising Moon and Women’s Cot 

(2005), Half of a Yellow Sun 

(2013), Lion Heart (2018), 

Foreigner’s God (2019) and Ije 

Awele, (2022) among others. 

Due to her activism and 

advocacy for women’s 

empowerment, she was appointed 

Director General of the National 

Centre for Women Development in 

Abuja, Nigeria in 2013. She also 

served as Chair of Imo State 

Council for Arts and Culture. 

She demonstrated boldness and 

tenacity in dealing with issues in 

her life, including her struggles in 

marriage. Her career sustainability in a 

male-dominated entertainment industry is 

also commendable. She showed women 

they could be whoever they wanted to be 

even in the face of challenges in life. 

At this time in Nigeria, where 

agitations for secession and ethnic 

profiling are threatening the country’s 

unity, it is worth recalling her message of 

One Love Keep us Together. 

Austin Emielu is a Professor of Music 

at University of Ghana. 

This article is republished from The 

Conversation under a Creative Commons 

license. Read the original article at: 

https://theconversation.com/onyekaonwenu-remembered-nigerian-pop-staractivist-and-voice-of-national-unity-2361 

65.

AUGUST 21 - SEPTEMBER 3 2024 TheTrumpet 

Page5


Opinion 

Beyond the Protests… 

The #EndBadGovernance protests 

in Nigeria were scheduled to take 

place between August 1 -10, 2024, 

tagged “10 Days of Rage”, a seemingly 

apocalyptic projection of the immediate 

future of Nigeria constructed in the 

fashion of The People vs. The State but 

as it has turned out, it may be correct on 

August 6, today, to say that we are now 

more or less at the end of the protests. For 

now, that is what it looks like. And what 

has made the difference is the fact that on 

Day 4 of the protests, the President of 

Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu decided to 

address the nation and speak to the people 

directly. Since the beginning of the 

imbroglio, concerned Nigerians had been 

calling on the President to talk to them. 

Instead, he sent spokespersons, and 

outrightly condescending Ministers to 

talk to the people. 

Nigerians voted for Tinubu, not the 

variously privileged persons who now 

have access to the microphone because of 

Tinubu. Section 5 of the 1999 

Constitution grants the President the right 

to delegate authority, but funnily enough, 

the same Constitution is studiously silent 

about what the same all-powerful 

President can do about his other room 

affairs! His job is strictly to rule Nigeria 

under the Constitution and the oath of 

office he took. Whatever happens, he is 

the man that will be held responsible. 

From August 1, Nigerians took to the 

streets, as they had promised that they 

would, against bad governance. Within 

two days, over seventeen persons had 

been killed across the country; the police 

admits that there were only seven 

casualties. They also insist that their men 

did not kill anyone. So, who did? Should 

anyone die at all? In Kano, Niger, 

Nasarawa, Borno and Yobe, there was so 

much violence the State governments had 

to declare a curfew. Properties were 

destroyed. Nobody could go to work. 

Foreign missions in Nigeria have advised 

their citizens to get ready for evacuation 

in case the Nigerian situation got out of 

hand. 

The entire country has been at a 

standstill. It took the President a whole 

three days for him to be persuaded to 

speak to Nigerians and tell Nigerians that 

their President had finally heard them. 

Tinubu had to speak for 21 minutes in 38 

paragraphs, a pre-recorded, teleprompterassisted 

speech before Nigerians felt that 

their President had finally heard them. 

My take is that the President could and 

should have spoken earlier. He offered 

the Nigerian people too little too late. 

Presidential communication should be 

driven by empathy, but that empathy 

should come at the right time. Take the 

United Kingdom, where there is at the 

moment, race-based riots, religion-based 

protests in about 19 cities, triggered by 

misinformation and disinformation over 

the knife-killing of three innocent 

persons, Bebe King, 6. Elsie Stancombe, 

7, Alice Aguilar, 9, in Southport, 

Merseyside, North West England. It was 

initially claimed via social media that the 

killer was a Muslim immigrant. This 

triggered far-right, nationalistic 

sentiments: “Britain for the British” and a 

prompt attack on immigrants. The British 

Prime Minister, Keir Starmer did not wait 

for matters to get out of hand before 

speaking. Two days ago, as the riots 

spread from Southport, to Liverpool and 

Rotherdam, the British PM quickly 

addressed the nation, threatening to deal 

with “far-right thugs”. Yesterday, he 

summoned an emergency meeting of the 

Cobra Committee. He was seen to be 

taking charge. 

President Tinubu also reportedly met 

with traditional rulers and other important 

people of Nigeria, and through surrogates 

appealed to the youths of Nigeria to be 

calm, but he was technically talking to 

the wrong people. The youths refused to 

listen. On August 1, they went on to the 

streets to protest. What we must note here 

is that the Nigerian President is too much 

of a monarch. He holds court - one of the 

things we have to correct in the 1999 

Constitution. When the people who 

elected him in a constitutional democracy 

demand accountability, he sends 

emissaries to address the people. If he 

must meet anybody, he holds court with 

traditional rulers and religious leaders 

who end up collecting sitting allowances 

and flight tickets that could have been 

better used to serve the people. The 

ordinary people, the main focus of the 

democratic process are the last group to 

be noticed. And this is precisely the 

pattern that has played out this time 

around. On Sunday, at 7 am, the monarch 

of Nigeria’s Presidential Villa, finally 

deemed it necessary to address the people 

directly. It turned out to be a big favour! 

On Sunday morning, the protesters at 

Ojota Freedom Park in Lagos, who had 

been toing and froing around the Ikeja 

axis since August 1, had a tete-a-tete with 

the police and they resolved that since the 

President had spoken, they would 

suspend their protest till October. They 

agreed to hold a meeting yesterday at 

11am, to deliberate on the President’s 

speech. Thus, in Lagos, the President’s 

speech had taken the sting, perhaps 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addresses the nation in the midst of the protests 

temporarily, out of the protests. In Kano 

and a few other places, protesters 

continued their agitation on Sunday, but 

the momentum had become generally 

subdued. On Monday, banks and business 

places that had remained shut the 

previous Thursday and Friday, sputtered 

to life. Nigeria gradually regained 

normalcy. To that extent, the President’s 

national broadcast made a difference. The 

very symbolism of it, doused tension in 

the country. Should the President have 

spoken about two days earlier? Yes. Did 

he leave his personal intervention a bit 

late? Yes. 

What exactly did he say? Not much, 

and yet it made small difference. The big 

lesson is that the Nigerian President and 

his handlers must never assume that it is 

beneath him to talk to the same people 

who elected him into office. He is not a 

Supreme Leader. He represents the 

people. Power belongs to the people, not 

the President. Tinubu is just so, so lucky 

BY REUBEN ABATI 

to have escaped the humiliation that 

President William Ruto has suffered in 

Kenya, and the fate that has just befallen 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 

Bangladesh, following weeks of deadly 

protests in that South Asian country. Ms. 

Hasina has fled Dhaka. The people 

ignored a national curfew and stormed 

her palace from where she ruled for about 

two decades. She is now practically on 

the run. President Tinubu must indeed 

learn from the luck that he enjoys. Across 

the world, there is currently a wave of 

people’s anger, be it in Venezuela, Kenya, 

or Bangladesh, with the people taking 

ownership of the democratic process, and 

seeking every possible means to punish 

their leaders. With all their angst, 

Nigerians are still very manageable 

people, and we must do everything to 

keep their resentment of authority figures 

in check. 

I may have submitted that the 

President’s speech has had the effect of 

dousing tensions, but I do not think that 

the speech was fit for purpose. The 

protesters just wanted the President to say 

something. He said something. It didn’t 

matter what he said, and many were 

satisfied. But when you look at the 

speech itself, what did the President say? 

One, he regretted the killings that took 

place, expressed his condolences to the 

families of the deceased, and invited the 

protesters for dialogue while insisting on 

peace. Two, he made it clear that 

promoters of violence and ethnic bigotry 

igniting the crisis, will not be spared for 

violating the laws of the land. Three, he 

outlined his administration’s programmes 

in the last one year as proof-positive of 

his commitment to Nigerian youths: the 

Skill Up Artisans Programme (SUPA); 

the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA), 

Youth Talent Export Programme 

(NATEP), students’ loans and support for 

Medium and Small-Scale Enterprises 

(MSMEs). Four, the President talked 

about his government’s economic 

reforms, and insisted that there would be 

no going back on the removal of fuel 

subsidy and the abolition of multiple 

foreign exchange rates, the gains of 

which he said have resulted in increased 

government revenues, debt service 

reduction, CNG initiatives to reduce 

transportation costs, support for the 

manufacturing sector and other benefits 

for the Nigerian people. Five, the 

President stressed his commitment to 

Continued on Page 7

Opinion 



Page7 

Beyond the Protests… 


public order and the rule of law, stating 

that he will not tolerate actions that 

threaten national unity and stability. 

As is to be expected, there have been 

reactions for and against the President’s 

nationwide address. He has received 

knocks and kudos. Minister of Aviation 

and Aerospace Development, Festus 

Keyamo hails the speech as great, 

inspiring, compassionate, firm, and 

conciliatory. Please, what else should 

Keyamo say? Other commentators have 

a different opinion. Professor Wole 

Soyinka in a piece titled “The Hunger 

March as Universal Mandate” faulted the 

President for failing to condemn “the 

State’s seizure of protest management, 

and the use of live bullets as State 

response to civil protest”. The people 

asked for bread, the State gave them 

bullets in return! Mr. Femi Falana, SAN; 

activist Deji Adeyanju, Omoyele Sowore, 

leader of the Take It Back Movement 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 

Nigeria have also condemned the 

President’s speech. Sowore, who was a 

Presidential candidate in the 2023 

General Elections describes the speech as 

“Beautiful Nonsense”. There seems 

nonetheless to be a general consensus that 

the speech fell short of the people’s 

expectations. My view is that the speechwriters 

spent too much time on the 

achievements of the administration. 

Nobody wants to listen to propaganda at 

this time. It is standard practice in the 

corridors of government in Nigeria to 

think that any time the President speaks, 

he should remind the people of his 

accomplishments. But there must be a 

time and place to that tradition. The 

speech this time around should have been 

shorter and better focused. If I were the 

person to sign off on the copy, I would 

have advised against all the navel-gazing, 

chest beating details in the speech. 

Certainly not the right time to do that. 

The protesters had 15 demands and more, 

not even one of their demands was 

referred to by the President. There is only 

one name for that: contempt. It is not 

enough for the President to say that he is 

listening, and that he has heard the people 

loud and clear. What exactly did he hear? 

What specific information is he 

processing? Did he for example hear that 

the people say they are hungry? Did he 

hear or was he told, that the people say 

they want the cost of governance to be 

reduced? They don’t want leaders living 

in $21m mansions, jolloffing inside 

expensive yachts, junketing like a yoyo 

inside imported SUVs while the people 

are wallowing in penury? Did he hear 

that the people want electoral reforms and 

a new Constitution? Or that the general 

menace of insecurity in the land should 

be addressed? It was not evident that the 

President was aware of what the people 

are saying except the acknowledgement, 

in parenthesis, in paragraph 31 of his 

speech. 

Mr. Atedo Peterside, founder of 

Stanbic IBTC, Dr Muda Yusuf of the 

Centre for the Promotion of Private 

Enterprises (CPPE) and Ebun-Olu 

Adegboruwa, SAN have all appealed to 

the protesters: that their point has been 

made, and as Bob Marley advised, they 

should sheathe their swords to fight 

another day. A prolonged shut down of 

Nigeria can only damage the economy 

and hurt all parties concerned whereas 

there is no guarantee on the desired 

outcomes. The way forward clearly is for 

government to listen truly to the people, 

not audio promises or any of those 

cliches: Renewed Hope, Renewed 

Housing Estate, Renewed Agriculture 

which the people have heard so often in 

the last one year, every repeat of the same 

phrases annoys the majority. The very 

least that the President could have done 

would have been the announcement of a 

committee to look into the people’s 

demands. We all know that a government 

committee does not always solve any 

problems in Nigeria. But the gesture 

would have taken the pressure off the 

President. It would give the people the 

impression that something is being done 

and that they have been heard. If nothing 

happens positively for them thereafter, by 

October, they will hold the committee 

members responsible. Every President 

must always appoint fall guys in tough 

situations who will take the bullets when 

things go wrong. President Tinubu should 

learn to dodge the bullets because more 

will come. There are enough willing fall 

guys out there, looking for what to eat! 

All things said, I think the President 

was spot on when he deplored ethnic 

bigotry. In the course of the protests, one 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu highlights the empowerment interventions of his government 

imbecile with an X-twitter handle was 

said to have tweeted, under the handle 

@Lagospedia on Twitter/X that Igbos 

must leave Lagos within the next month 

effective August 20 – 30, and relocate 

their businesses out of Lagos and other 

South West States. The animal that sent 

out this tweet must be identified and 

made to face the full wrath of the law. 

Igbos do not pose any problem to the 

people of Lagos or Yorubas in general. 

The beauty of this country lies in the 

strength it draws from its diversity. We 

live in an interdependent country where 

we all rely on each other to survive, 

drawing strength from one another. It is 

strange how today’s people forget that 

once upon a time Mbonu Ojike, an Igbo 

man, from Arondizuogu in today’s Imo 

State was the Deputy Mayor of Lagos 

(1951). In 1959, the Federal Minister of 

Lands and Lagos Affairs, was 

Muhammadu Ribadu, a Fulani man. If 

Igbos were to leave Lagos and the South 

West today, the region may suffer 

temporary economic setback. Who will 

sell vehicle spare parts? Who will sell 

electronics? Landlords will suffer. The 

banking system in the South West will 

crash. Many husbands will become 

emergency bachelors – but that may be a 

joke - the madness that Nigerians exhibit 

for ethnic reasons stops at the door of the 

bedroom. Igbos like Yoruba women. 

Yoruba men can’t take their eyes off Igbo 

women, and all the beautiful girls from 

the East and South East. Those who are 

beating the drums of ethnic hate should 

remember the civil war. “Though tongue 

and tribe may differ, in brotherhood we 

stand.” Those who violate this principle 

must be sanctioned. They should be told 

to remember Rwanda and how ethnic 

hate and rivalry tore apart a country. They 

should be reminded of the story of Hitler, 

whose name lives in infamy forever. 

Similarly, as part of matters arising 

from the protests, another set of imbeciles 

were said to have been going about 

carrying Russian flags and calling also 

for military intervention. That is high 

treason. Nigerians like to imitate even 

things they do not understand. Whoever 

is calling for military rule, or promoting 

Russia on this soil must be identified and 

guillotined, after due process. It is good 

that the Russian Embassy in Nigeria has 

disowned the protesters and that the 

Department of State Services has arrested 

the unpatriotic tailor in Kano, along with 

31 others, who were mass producing 

Russian flags and promoting this 

dangerous signal. The sad story, really, is 

that this country is in the grips of mass 

psychosis at all levels. President Tinubu’s 

primary job, since he says it is his turn, 

and he is now where he wants to be is to 

walk the talk, and rescue Nigeria if he 

can.


Opinion 

Nigeria and the Chinese 

problem from Ogun State 

By Reuben Abati 

the people of Ogun State 

have put the people of Nigeria in 

“Ihear 

serious trouble with the 

Chinese.” 

“You did not hear anything. The story 

is out there and it is so loud that even the 

deaf can hear that there is a Chinese 

problem in Nigeria right now. And just to 

correct your statement, it is not the people 

of Ogun State. It is the government of 

Ogun State. There is a difference.” 

“I don’t see any difference. 

Government acts on behalf of the 

people.” 

“Not true. Oftentimes, the 

government acts in the selfish interest of 

the people that are in charge at any 

particular time. Policies are sometimes 

made, actions are taken simply to settle 

personal scores, and the people end up 

being the victims. Now everybody is 

saying that the people of Ogun State 

should be careful how they go about 

calling their State the gateway to Nigeria. 

The people themselves are victims.” 

“Come to think of it. The idea of an 

Economic Free Zone would have made 

the State truly the Gateway in terms of 

opportunities. It is sad that the Ogun State 

Government mismanaged its contractual 

agreements with Zhongshan Fucheng 

Industrial Investment, and even ruined 

relationships in the process.” 

“I recall that as far back as 2007, the 

Otunba Daniel Administration initiated 

the Free Trade Zone concept in Ogun 

State. It was a bid initiative then, located 

in Igbesa. It was called the Ogun- 

Guangdong Free Trade Zone. There was 

also the Olokola Free Trade Zone, the 

OKFTZ, which was a collaborative effort 

between Ogun and Ondo States and the 

private sector to be located on about 

20,000 hectares. The dream was to turn 

Ogun State into an industrial hub. When 

it was further reported that oil had also 

been discovered in Ogun State, the future 

could not have looked brighter.” 

“It is one thing for government to 

dream. It is another thing for the goals to 

be achieved. I am not talking about the 

past. I am talking about a situation where 

because of Ogun State, the Court of 

Justice in Paris has attached three aircraft 

belonging to the Nigerian Government: a 

Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737-7N6, 

and an Airbus A330, one of which is a 

brand-new Presidential aircraft, newly 

procured.” 

“I think they have released the 

Presidential jet. It is the one President 

Tinubu is cruising to France or short 

work trip.” 

“Hmm. I hope they don’t seize it 

One of Nigeria's Presidential jets 

again while the President is in France. 

The Zhongshan Fucheng people you 

know are also planning to seize the 20 

million pounds that was awarded in 

favour of Nigeria against P&ID in the 

UK, and they also want to confiscate two 

properties belonging to Nigeria in 

Liverpool.” 

“These people are thieves. I think that 

they are like the P&ID people”. 

“No, they are not. The only 

connection between this case and the 

P&ID in my view is that the Ogun State 

Government was careless. The most 

important thing in international trade is 

trust. When trust is broken, chaos results. 

Agreements are sacrosanct. When you 

enter into an agreement, you are required 

to honour it. States have to be guided by 

international best practices. The Daniel 

administration brought the Chinese, the 

Zhongshan. The Amosun administration 

later entered into an agreement with 

Zhongfu, a subsidiary of Zhongshan, a 

dispute arose and the company was 

driven away. Zhongshan went to 

arbitration and got a compensation award 

of $55.6 million and another US$75,000 

plus interest, which now makes it over 

$70 million. That was in 2021.The court 

gave the opportunity to file an appeal. 

Nobody responded in time, just as in the 

P&ID case, and by the time Nigeria woke 

up, our lawyers started quoting 

jurisdiction and sovereignty which were 

promptly dismissed by the US Court. 

And now the Chinese company wants to 

enforce the judgement. 

“You have mentioned France, UK, 

US, my problem with these China people 

is their forum shopping. They have gone 

to every arbitral court possible: UK, 

Quebec, US, France, British Virgin 

Islands, and Belgium, just to embarrass 

Nigeria. Why Nigeria? Why not Ogun 

State?” 

“Nigeria has a Bilateral Investment 

Treaty (BIT) with China. Its provisions 

are very clear. Signatories to that treaty 

can raise arbitral issues under customary 

international law, even when the 

wrongful act that has been committed is 

by the organ of a sovereign. Blame 

Nigeria, don’t blame the Chinese.” 

“But do you agree that there are many 

sides to this story? Former Ogun State 

Governor Ibikunle Amosun has said this 

is a dispute between two Chinese 

companies, and that Zhongfu is an 

impostor, and the whole thing has nothing 

to do with either Ogun State or Nigeria.” 

“So, who does it have to do with? The 

concrete story at the moment is the ruling 

Continued on Page 9

Opinion 


Nigeria and the Chinese 

problem from Ogun State 


Page9 


at arbitration and the provisions of the 

New York Convention which are 

enforceable in 170 countries. Get it into 

your head, there is something called 

International Arbitration, and at that level 

rules are rules and those rules are not 

made by your Nigerian big men.” 

“Well, if that is the case, the 

government of Ogun State should bear its 

own liabilities. I am not interested in the 

legal rights of the Chinese. I am a 

concerned Nigerian and I don’t think 

anybody should seize the assets 

belonging to 36 States and the FCT 

because of the wrongful act of one State 

of the Federation. Ogun State is just one 

part of Nigeria. If they have committed 

an international crime, they should pay 

for it in that State. Why should an Akwa 

Ibom or Gombe man lose part of the 

commonwealth of Nigeria because Ogun 

State people have caused problems?” 

“I think the bigger issue is that you 

don’t know what will come up tomorrow 

from your State too. Or any other State. 

Most of these sub-nationals have serious 

foreign debt portfolios, protected by 

sovereign guarantee. When the alarm 

blows, Nigeria will be in a mess. What 

we need to address is the capacity of the 

sub-nationals to enter into international 

agreements. In particular, our States do 

not have the capacity to engage with 

China. Don’t be fooled by the open 

romance, and China’s interest in Africa. 

China is a friend only as long as its own 

interests are served. This is what African 

leaders do not understand. Our 

institutions in Africa are also weak.” 

“I have never trusted the Chinese and 

their Belt and Road Initiative, or their 

debt trap diplomacy. But I blame African 

leaders who lack the capacity to read 

between the lines. Nobody should ever 

rely on the same Chinese who have 

seized assets in Zambia and Djibouti, and 

also have challenges with Kenya and 

Angola. They come bearing gifts and 

incentives, but always at a cost to the 

recipient. Ogun State people should pay 

their own debt, please. Maybe that will 

teach every other State government a 

lesson.” 

“Serious embarrassment to Nigeria. 

But rather than blame the Chinese, I see 

something else: the point that other 

international investors would not want to 

do business with Nigeria, a country 

where there is no certainty, where you 

can reach an agreement with one 

government and another government 

would come and change everything and 

you lose money in the process.” 

“Professor Pat Utomi said that much 

in his commentary on the Ogun State 

saga. I won’t be surprised if more people 

raise an alarm like Prof. Utomi did. It is 

not only international investors that are at 

risk. Local investors too. When you try to 

invest in Nigeria, you get your fingers 

burnt, that is why people are running 

away from us. Ask Dangote too. And I 

think I agree with Donald Duke, former 

Governor of Cross River State when he 

says Nigeria’s politics is full of 

quacks…they’ve taken it to the lowest 

level.” 

“But do you think President Goodluck 

Jonathan can help to rescue Nigeria, and 

restore the years that the locust has eaten 

if he decides to run in 2027?” 

“Wait, wait, wait! How did we just 

jump right now from international 

commerce to President Jonathan coming 

back to rescue Nigeria in 2027? Where is 

that coming from?” 

“It is all out there in the public space. 

Governor Bala Muhammed of Bauchi 

was the first to fly the kite. Then, there 

was a story in Basorun Dele Momodu’s 

The Boss Newspaper, and yesterday, only 

this yesterday, ThisDay newspaper 

carried the same story, saying that there 

are moves by Northern politicians to draft 

President Jonathan into the 2027 race 

after the #EndBadGovernance protests.” 

“Okay you have said it, you say they 

are flying a kite. I recall when I was a 

child, we used to fly kites, we even had 

this competition and the wish that our 

kites could fly as high as an airplane. 

Right now, I am not thinking of kites, 

please. I am concerned about how to get 

fuel into my car and move around. The 

situation is worse. The country is literally 

on its knees.” 

“President Tinubu is off to France, for 

a brief work stay.” 

“What has that got to do with what I 

am saying? They don’t have fuel scarcity 

in France, for God’s sake.” 

“I get you. I get you. bought fuel at 

N1,200 per litre and it was a painful 

experience queuing at the fuel station. 

While I am suffering here and other 

Nigerians are suffering, the President 

goes to France in a new jet.” 

“I hear he also has a new car, a 

glamorous, Armoured Cadillac SUV 

called The Beast. The Chairman. The cost 

is said to be about N995 million.” 

“What a Beast!N995 million. And the 

new presidential jet is how much? $100 

million? I hope both the jet and the 

Escalade are not made in China. And I get 

to go and queue up at petrol stations? And 

poor Nigerians are asked to make 

sacrifices for the country and endure 

hardship? Meanwhile, Nigerian Senators 

are earning N29 million per month! Is 

that how to lead by example?” 

“Well, let’s be realistic here. The 

President of Nigeria is royalty. You 

cannot expect him to go about like a 

plebeian. His security is also very 

important. You can bring up all your 

#EndBadGovernance narratives but it is 

an absolutely false equivalent for you to 

compare your miserable search for fuel to 

the lifestyle of the Nigerian President. All 

things fair and well, the President has 

tried to meet Nigerians halfway before 

leaving for France. The President has 

given NNPC Limited the approval to 

spend savings from petrol subsidy 

removal - dividends, taxes and royalties 

- about N7 trillion from August 2023 to 

December 2024 to pay for petrol 

subsidy.” 

“In other words, the government has 

finally admitted that there is no fuel 

subsidy removal anymore. Government 

has reversed itself! So, subsidy is no 

longer gone! Subsidy is back! Nigeria, 

we hail thee! The same people that told 

us that there is no more fuel subsidy as 

recently as two months ago have now 

turned around to say in fact fuel subsidy 

is the only way forward. What a policy 

somersault! They have thrown the 

Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) into the 

dust bin just like that? But does that mean 

I will now find it easier to buy fuel? Will 

the fuel queues disappear?” 

“No guarantee for now. But maybe 

you can buy fuel whenever it is available 

at a cheaper price.” 

“And when would that be? I am just 

tired. I don’t know who to trust again in 

this country, not even the Churches, 

despite the fact that I am a Christian.” 

“As a Christian, you must have faith.” 

“Faith. You say, faith? Faith when 

Prophet Odumeje, the Liquid Metal, the 

Indaboski, the Onitsha trader who 

became a Prophet goes to Russia and says 

on TikTok that Russia is not at war. Faith 

when I hear that Pastor Adeboye woke up 

a person who had died for 11 days with 

an anointed handkerchief from the 

church. Faith when Primate Ayodele says 

Victor Osimhen will end his career if he 

joins Chelsea because there is a curse on 

that football club. Is the Primate now 

running a football ministry?” 

“Have faith brother because on the 

contrary, the churches are doing well. 

Davido’s father over the weekend 

donated a gift of one billion Naira to a 

Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Lagos 

during a Thanksgiving service in honour 

of his late mother.” 

“One ginni?” 

“One billion. Davido’s father is not 

called Baba Olowo for nothing. He 

simply lived up to his reputation. So just 

know that it is not everybody that is 

complaining in this country” 

“I just hope that Baba Olowo will also 

intervene when church elders begin to 

fight over that One billion Naira. And 

what is the wisdom in donating N1 

billion?” 

“He has the right to spend his money 

the way he deems fit. And why will 

church elders fight over matters of God. 

The Bible says...” 

“Forget the Bible. Just this last 

weekend in Abuja, some church elders 

pushed the Bible aside and engaged in 

open combat in their church premises. 

The FCT Police Command had to fire 

tear gas to disperse the fighters and put 

an end to the violence. The police had to 

lock up the church.” 

“United Methodist Church. It was a 

fight over alien practices introduced by 

the Church headquarters in the US, which 

divided the Church.” 

“Signs of the end-time. Alien 

practices in the church. Elders and the 

congregation fighting for hours. There is 

nothing we will not see in Nigeria.” 

“I can only say that it is not only the 

political leaders that are at fault. We, the 

citizens, have our problems too. Leave 

the churches alone. The Nigerian 

Constitution allows people to worship 

God their own way.” 

“Anyway, I see that Lagos, Oyo and 

Ogun States have declared Tuesday, 

August 20, Isese Day, a public holiday for 

traditional religion worshippers.” 

“Fair is fair. So, if you think the 

churches have disappointed you, you can 

take the day off to celebrate with the Isese 

people.” 

“I rebuke Satan!” 

“Leave matter. Many Nigerians are 

traditionalists. They just camouflage. 

What is important is that people must 

learn to defend the common good.” 

“You are right. I am even surprised 

that the NYSC has now had to 

demobilize 54 fake university graduates 

and they are to face prosecution.” 

“Be specific. They are 54 graduates of 

the University of Calabar, including a 

campus bread seller.” 

“No. This is not about UNICAL. It is 

a general problem. In fact, it was the Vice 

Chancellor of the university that raised 

the alarm. NYSC is praising her for her 

vigilance. And I suspect it is not new. Can 

you imagine how many persons have 

been mobilized for NYSC over the years, 

holding fake certificates and occupying 

important positions?” 

“True. Too many quacks indeed in 

high and low places. What a country!”


Opinion 

Endorsements and the 

power-brokers (2) 

Continued from the previous edition 

Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi 

Azikiwe and Ahmadu Bello 

endorsed candidates, leveraging 

their influence and reputation. Awolowo 

reportedly supported Joseph Fadahunsi 

(1960), Ayo Akinsanya (1960) and 

Adekunle Ajasin (1979). Azikiwe backed 

Michael Okpara (1960), C. C. Onyia 

(1963) and Chukwuemeka Ojukwu 

(1966) while Ahmadu Bello endorsed 

Tafawa Abubakar Balewa (1959), 

Kashim Ibrahim (1962) and Usman 

Faruk (1985). Their endorsements carried 

weight due to regional influence, party 

leadership, national stature and grassroots 

connections. 

Awolowo’s vast network and loyal 

following could make or break 

candidates, boost credibility, mobilize 

support, shape party decisions and impact 

electoral outcomes. By embracing the 

power of endorsements and learning from 

the successes of leaders like Awolowo, 

Azikiwe and Bello, Oyebanji can further 

solidify his position as a leader who 

exceeds expectations. 

Without doubt, Oyebanji’s 

administration has made significant 

strides in achieving the Sustainable 

Development Goals (SDGs), with 

notable progress in various sectors. His 

initiatives have yielded tangible results in 

agriculture, youth empowerment, sports, 

and environmental conservation. He 

prioritized education, healthcare, and 

economic growth. He also transformed 

transportation, promoted tourism, and 

made progress in increasing access to 

clean water and reducing maternal 

mortality rates. 

Despite Nigeria’s slow progress (a 

SDG score of 55.4% so far), Oyebanji’s 

efforts demonstrate the potential for 

collective action to drive meaningful 

change and accelerate SDG progress. His 

administration continues to protect 

natural resources, support vulnerable 

groups and strengthen security. These 

achievements demonstrate his effective 

leadership and commitment to improving 

Ekitis’ lives. 

To build on this momentum, the 

Governor should continue to prioritize 

skills development and economic growth. 

Ekiti State Governor - Mr Biodun Oyebanji 

By leveraging the State’s strong cultural 

emphasis on education, he can drive 

science-focused, agro-industrial 

development and create a thriving exportoriented 

economy. This strategic 

approach can foster sustainable 

prosperity and further establish Ekiti as a 

hub for cultural and economic growth. 

Governors Seyi Makinde and 

Muhammed Bago’s efforts to transform 

Oyo and Niger States’ economies into an 

export-oriented hub offer valuable 

lessons for Oyebanji’s vision for Ekiti’s 

economic transformation. By linking 

Oke-Ogun to Ibadan within 45-60 

minutes, Makinde is boosting economic 

growth and connectivity in the region. 

Similarly, BAO, as Oyebanji is dotingly 

called, can drive agro-industrial growth 

in Ekiti, to set a benchmark for others to 

follow. 

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Inspired by Indira Gandhi’s ‘Green 

Revolution’, Oyebanji can partner the 

Ekiti State University’s Faculty of 

Agriculture with a global leader to drive 

an agro-allied revolution in Ekiti. He can 

establish a liaison desk with the 

Netherlands’ Commercial Attaché to 

attract expertise, investments and best 

practices. His government can also set up 

tractor-hiring centers, like Uber, to 

provide farmers with accessible and 

affordable mechanization services, 

replicating the Netherlands’ success. 

Ekiti can benefit from financial 

collaborations with Dutch development 

finance corporations like FMO and NL 

Business. These partnerships can unlock 

expertise, funding, and innovative 

solutions, driving agricultural growth and 

economic development. By harnessing 

Dutch expertise in agriculture and 

finance, the State can transform into a 

thriving agro-industrial hub, fostering 

sustainable economic growth and 

prosperity. 

It is interesting to note that Oyebanji’s 

selfless leadership prioritizes State 

interests over party affiliations, echoing 

former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s 

sentiments. He recognizes local 

governments’ crucial role in Nigeria’s 

decentralization reforms and has 

empowered grassroots governance 

through a successful local election. His 

endorsement for a second term is a call to 

deliver higher-quality services and justify 

the trust placed in him. 

In democratic politics, when one 

begins to count the number of 

endorsements that have come Oyebanji’s 

way, even from hitherto unexpected 

quarters, one may be tempted to say that 

it has given him a significant adrenaline 

boost. Moreover, it suggests that the 

opposition in Ekiti has no fingers. 

Therefore, with endorsements pouring in 

like holy water at a papal coronation, all 

BAO needs to do is press on, undeterred, 

resolute, and bathed in the blessings of 

his benefactors. As Eleanor Roosevelt 

once said, ‘The future belongs to those 

who believe in the beauty of their 

dreams.’ 

May the Lamb of God, who takes 

away the sin of the world, grant us peace 

in Nigeria! 

Concluded. 

Komolafe wrote from Ijebu-Jesa, 

Osun State (ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk)

Opinion 

Tinubu: Hope renewed? 

By Abiodun Komolafe 



Page11 

Last Sunday, President Bola Tinubu 

addressed the nation amid 

#EndBadGovernanceinNigeria 

protests, expressing sorrow over lost lives 

and urging peace. He defended his economic 

reforms, highlighted progress and unveiled 

initiatives for youth empowerment, housing 

and food security. Nevertheless, his address 

sparked a range of responses, and indeed, it 

received mixed reactions, with critics saying 

he didn’t address root causes and others 

commending his efforts to tackle challenges. 

The government’s subsidy removal and 

allied policies have had a mixed impact. 

They’ve increased government revenue, 

attracted private investment, and reduced 

fiscal burden. However, these policies have 

also led to higher fuel prices, increased cost 

of living, and hardship for ordinary 

Nigerians, especially the vulnerable. The 

effects of these policies have been felt across 

the country, with many struggling to make 

ends meet. As the economy remains 

precarious, Nigerians await a comprehensive 

plan to address the negative consequences 

and ensure a more equitable distribution of 

resources. 

Tinubu, as the nation’s rallying point, has 

a significant responsibility. Given his track 

record and what he represents, his address 

was expected to be a de Gaulle-type expose 

– decisive and unifying. Charles de Gaulle 

as President of the 5th Republic of France 

(1959-1969) always positioned himself as 

“The Rally of the Republic”. Known for his 

leadership style, every public speech in a 

time of crisis was craftily delivered as a way 

of dousing tensions and rallying the 

Republic around the patriotic banner. 

Similarly, just as de Gaulle’s leadership style 

united France, Tinubu’s can unite Nigeria. 

In intellectual honesty, Tinubu’s speech 

actually soothed nerves. A lot of people who 

supported the protest have either called for 

a pause or a total end to it. For this, the 

President deserves our highest praise! 

Unfortunately, the issues remain; and the 

major issue is how to rally the Republic in a 

season of discontent. The rallying source of 

the crisis is an excruciating cost of living 

crisis in a country without social benefits to 

act as a modulating buffer. The current state 

of the economy is the critical issue. To 

address it, the government must adopt 

measures to alleviate the negative 

consequences while continuing to pursue its 

laudable economic progress. 

As Tinubu’s administration navigates the 

choppy waters of governance, there is a need 

for a new critical thinking and the avoidance 

of the use of clichés, shibboleths and 

buzzwords. For instance, look at the EU’s 

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which 

provides a $1billion-a-day food subsidy. If 

you condemn subsidies, how can you justify 

the policy? For a fact, no politician in 

countries like France, Italy or Germany can 

win an election by promising the abolition 

of CAP. It just won’t happen! And these are 

developed countries! Of course, this 

highlights the importance of carefully 

considering subsidy policies. 

Summed up briefly, the main thrust 

should be how to redirect money, or capital, 

from areas of waste and duplication into the 

real and social sectors. In doing this, there 

must be no sacred cows! Take it or leave it, 

Nigerians are not a problematic people; and 

they appreciate the efforts of the 

government. For example, food price 

inflation in Kenya at the beginning of the 

upheaval in that country was around 6.9%, 

according to figures from the World Bank. 

Today, food price inflation in Nigeria hovers 

above 40% in the methodology used by the 

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). If one 

may therefore ask, which other country in 

the world can absolve double digit food price 

inflation? As things currently stand in 

Nigeria, the poor are being told to ‘pull 

themselves up by their bootstraps’, which is 

funny, because most of them can’t afford 

boots. 

Philosophers say that recognizing 

progress is the first step towards achieving 

more. Yes, the government deserves 

commendation for its efforts. But Nigerians 

are urging the Tinubu-led administration to 

do even more. The next step for him is to 

unite the Republic, building on his good start 

last Sunday. The President must address the 

nation’s festering wounds before they 

become a poison arrow in the quiver of his 

adversaries. Since every journey starts with 

the spark of an idea, Tinubu must position 

himself as the titular head of the country, 

putting the nation’s interests above party 

affiliations, as exemplified by Keir Starmer, 

in his Acceptance Speech. 

For those who care to know, this is not 

the time for divisive rhetoric and saberrattling 

that distract from real issues. It 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 

shouldn’t be an opportunity for spewing 

toxic narratives that will only end in 

endangering the nation’s fragile social fabric, 

thereby paving the way for further 

polarization and conflict. In other words, the 

solution to our present predicament lies not 

in blaming others but in collective 

introspection. Most importantly, this is not 

the time to fan the flames of ethnic and 

religious tensions. Nor is it the time to 

peddle conspiracy theories. In this critical 

moment, what matters most are unity, 

constructive dialogue and decisive action to 

solve Nigeria’s problems. This moment 

offers a chance to unite against shared 

enemies of corruption, inequality and 

injustice. 

Without doubt, Tinubu’s Address to the 

nation showed decisive leadership and 

technical depth; and Nigerians should expect 

this resolve to continue. It’s time to unleash 

Nigeria’s full potential, and work together to 

create a society where the rain of prosperity 

falls on all, not just a few. Nigerians demand 

action, not just words. They want tangible 

solutions, concrete policies and measurable 

progress on the burning issues affecting their 

lives, not hollow vows. So, let the ‘Jagaban 

of Borgu’ lead in building a nation where 

prosperity is a right, not a privilege. 

In the current global reality, Ethiopia’s 

triumph over food price inflation holds 

valuable lessons for Nigeria. By combining 

targeted subsidies, social protection 

programs and market reforms, Ethiopia 

successfully stabilized food prices and 

curbed inflation. The Ethiopian Commodity 

Exchange (ECX), founded by Eleni Gabre- 

Madhin, played a pivotal role in enhancing 

market efficiency, transparency and the 

removal of the confusions and 

inconsistencies associated with access to 

finance. Nigeria can draw inspirations from 

this model, leveraging innovative market 

solutions and targeted interventions to tackle 

its own food security challenges and shield 

vulnerable populations from the harsh 

effects of inflation. 

Lastly, 

#EndBadGovernanceinNigeria has 

again highlighted the urgent need for 

sweeping police reforms in Nigeria. For 

instance, precious lives were reportedly lost 

to the protests in Nigeria. In contrast, the UK 

has, in what has become the worst crisis in 

more than a decade, seen violent protests in 

over twenty cities without a single reported 

death as at the time of putting this piece 

together. This stark difference highlights our 

failure to prioritize accountability and 

become competitive against the rest of the 

world. Loose threads of violence should not 

be allowed to unravel our social fabric while 

those who pull the strings of chaos must be 

woven into the tapestry of accountability. In 

Nigeria’s best interest, sincere efforts must 

be made to address this shameful trend 

before it becomes a permanent scar on the 

nation’s conscience. 

May the Lamb of God, who takes away 

the sin of the world, grant us peace in 

Nigeria! 

Komolafe wrote in from Ijebu-Jesa, 

Osun State, Nigeria 

(ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk).


Opinion 

Nigeria’s forgotten poor! 

By Abiodun Komolafe 

“I have heard you loud and clear. I 

understand the pain and frustration that 

drive these protests, and I want to assure you 

that our government is committed to 

listening and addressing the concerns of our 

citizens”. 

These were the words of President 

Bola Tinubu in a broadcast to the 

nation on the now-suspended 

#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests. 

Among other things, the protests have 

highlighted the plight of Nigeria’s forgotten 

poor, who are not just passive bystanders but 

active voices demanding change. The brief 

nature of this outcry finds its flow in the 

poor’s ability to sustain their demands and 

hold their leaders accountable. Therefore, as 

the protests subside, it is crucial for the 

governments at the national and sub-national 

levels to acknowledge the poor’s legitimate 

grievances and engage in constructive 

dialogue to address the systemic issues 

perpetuating poverty and inequality in the 

land. 

It is interesting to note that Nigeria, 

Africa’s most populous nation, has long 

struggled with the principalities of inequality 

and powers of political disenfranchisement. 

Amidst the chaos of decades of 

mismanagement, corruption and neglect, 

Nigeria’s poor have been denied the 

opportunity to participate fully in the 

political process, to shape the decisions that 

affect their lives. They have been denied 

access to basic services and infrastructure, 

thus leaving them vulnerable to a cycle of 

disempowerment and social injustice. The 

sickening reality is that our economy has 

been stifled by a system that spends more 

time managing bureaucratic red tape and 

political conflicts. Of course, that’s why 

politicians are always competing to see who 

can promise the most bread and circuses to 

the poor, because, clearly, that’s all the poor 

needs! Tragically so, the country as a whole 

country has suffered as a result! 

The carnage in Bangladesh today, which 

has led to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 

resignation and flight from the country, 

highlights a deeper issue. Paradoxically, in 

terms of the conventional definition, by 

growth rate, Bangladesh “is doing well”. 

Unfortunately, the episode in Bangladesh 

has once again brought up the illusion of the 

‘trickle-down effect’ which, decades ago, 

particularly, in the 1960s, was referred to as 

‘growth without development’. In view of 

the defining events in Kenya and 

Bangladesh, even in a different context in the 

UK and France, perhaps, in discussing the 

poor, we might care to contrast ephemeral 

growth of trickle-down economics with the 

concept of ‘pre-distribution‘, an approach 

which prioritizes building from the base, 

ensuring access to education, healthcare, and 

other essential services. With all the events 

unfolding around us, we in Nigeria should 

take this with more than a passing glance. 

With the advent of self-rule in the early 

1950s, pre-distribution actually became the 

conventional wisdom. The thrust of political 

thinking was to build up from the base in 

terms of access to sustainable development 

and equitable growth; and it worked! A 

critical look at the building of social capital 

by agencies such as the Lagos Executive 

Development Board (LEDB), and the 

various agencies of the regional 

#EndBadGovernance in Nigeria (Photo - Stephanie Douglas - Pexels CC0) 

governments attested to this. Indeed, their 

mode of operations led to the emergence of 

approaches of the 1950s and 1960s. The 

motto of the London School of Economics 

have ignited a spark, and it is now up to the 

government to fan the flames of reform by 

what used to be described as a thriving petite (LSE), ‘rerum cognoscere causas’, is creating a brighter future for all Nigerians, 

and real middle class. Evidence of their 

achievements can still be seen in areas like 

Surulere, which was originally ‘New Lagos’, 

instructive! By ‘knowing the causes of 

things’, the government can avoid social 

upheavals and implement a comprehensive 

especially the poor, who have been left in a 

desolate place where hope seems as elusive 

as freedom. The poor shouldn’t be the 

Bodija in Ibadan, and a host of other places anti-poverty programme that not only objects of our charity but the subjects of our 

in and around the regional capitals of that 

era. 

The on-going social crises worldwide 

alleviates suffering but also empowers the 

masses, serving as a catalyst for economic 

growth. A notable example is President 

own moral reckoning. Only by confronting 

this truth can the hymn of humanity 

resonate, echoing through the chambers of 

have debunked the Bretton Woods’ Ignacio Lula Da Silva’s poverty reduction our collective conscience. 

Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) initiatives, which sparked Brazil’s rise to a Walt Whitman was right: “A promise is 

anchored on its flawed ‘trickle-down effects’ top ten global economy. 

a cloud. It rains nourishment.” The 

ideology. So, it’s time to revisit ‘predistribution‘ 

The World Bank predicts that President’s recent statement echoes this 

by recognizing the State’s approximately 40.7% of Nigeria’s sentiment, as he cautioned against allowing 

crucial role in citizens’ lives. Pre-distribution 

requires State involvement in capital and 

market structures, redirecting capital to the 

real sectors for sustainable growth. This, in 

turn, generates tax revenues for the State. 

For instance, a universal health insurance 

system, funded by, say, 40 million Nigerians, 

each contributing a modest amount (e.g., 

population will be living below the 

international poverty line by the end of 2024. 

So, the government must recognize the 

poor’s inherent dignity and worth. In a world 

that seems to have forgotten its meaning, 

Tinubu’s efforts have so far demonstrated a 

commitment to the well-being of Nigerians. 

His initiatives, aimed at economic growth, 

“violence and destruction” to “tear our 

nation apart”. Instead, he urged Nigerians 

to “work together to build a brighter future, 

where every Nigerian can live with dignity 

and prosperity”. Commendable! But will the 

government, which has historically regarded 

the poor with suspicion and disdain, rise to 

the challenge and show compassion, or will 

N3,000/month) in health insurance job creation and social welfare have been it let the embers of connection to fade, once 

premiums, could create a massive economy driving the steam of promise, and his again leaving the poor forgotten? Only time 

comparable to that of Togo, which is a willingness to engage with diverse will tell! 

sovereign State. The possibilities are vast, stakeholders is a good cup towards inclusive May the Lamb of God, who takes away 

with numerous examples, such as governance. Building on this momentum, the sin of the world, grant us peace in 

recapitalizing the Bank of Agriculture 

(BOA) and linking it with Commodity 

the President can solidify his legacy by 

taking bold steps to empower the poor and 

Nigeria! 

Exchanges, Boards and Agriculture the marginalized. 

Komolafe wrote in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun 

Cooperatives. This framework may trigger 

an agro-industrial revolution, boosting non- 

In a country that’s full of possibilities and 

questions, Tinubu’s administration must 

State, Nigeria (ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk) 

oil exports to half of crude oil exports by 

2031; and that’s a conservative estimate. 

Pre-distribution is the key alternative for 

countries like Nigeria. So, dear fatherland 

must choose between pursuing the 

discredited Bretton Woods-inspired illusion 

or reverting to the more enlightened 

seize the opportunity presented by the 

protests to recalibrate its priorities and create 

a new life for the poor, free from the 

complications of their existence. Rather than 

dismissing the protests as a mere nuisance, it 

can empower this obviously marginalized 

group to drive positive change. The protests

AUGUST 21 - SEPTEMBER 3 2024 TheTrumpet 

Page13


News 

Russia-Ukraine war spills into West Africa: 

Mali attacks signal dangerous 

times ahead 


Russia suffered significant blows to its 

reputation in mid-2024. An attack on its 

territory by Ukraine came as a surprise. 

In West Africa, the Wagner mercenary group, 

supported by Russia, suffered one of its 

heaviest fatalities in Mali. 

An alliance of Tuareg rebel groups known 

as the Permanent Strategic Framework for the 

Defense of the People of Azawad joined forces 

in late July with Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal- 

Muslimin, a coalition of four terrorist groups 

operating in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. 

The rebel-terrorist alliance attacked a 

Malian army contingent which was supported 

by Wagner fighters. After three days of heavy 

fighting, dozens of Malian soldiers and Wagner 

fighters were either killed or captured. 

The attack was significant in many ways. 

For one thing, it shows the Malian junta is 

having difficulty in securing the country (its 

purported reason for taking over, expelling 

France and turning to Russia). 

For another, it highlights the impact of 

geopolitics in the region. The attack has raised 

concern that a new proxy war between Russia 

and Ukraine might be starting in Africa. 

This is the second country in Africa where 

Ukraine is getting involved in local conflicts to 

attack Russian elements. Ukraine special forces 

are “active” in Sudan’s civil war, where Russia 

has interests. 

As a scholar of African security and 

politics, I research conflicts, governance, 

terrorism and development on the continent. At 

the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, I 

analysed African countries’ position on the war 

and explained why several chose to be “neutral” 

and not take sides on the conflict. 

I argued that many African countries did not 

want to get involved in what was seen as a 

proxy war between the US and Russia. After 

Russia invaded Ukraine, many countries in 

Europe as well as the US flooded Ukraine with 

weapons to defend its territory. The EU for the 

first time supplied lethal aid to Ukraine. 

Although the US and European countries 

denied it was a proxy war, the Director of the 

CIA under Barack Obama admitted, “It’s a 

proxy war with Russia whether we say so or 

not.” This view was shared by several countries 

in Africa which were determined to remain 

neutral in order not to be drawn into the 

conflict. 

With the involvement of Ukraine in the war 

in Sudan and now in Mali, it looks like African 

countries are in fact getting drawn in, and on 

their own territory. 

A new proxy war will have severe 

implications for the region and continent more 

broadly. The security dynamics in Africa are 

very complicated, with issues such as ethnicity, 

religion, inequality, topography and poverty 

adding to the fragility. 

Libya is an example of how external 

interference could result in a conflict lasting 

decades and destabilising the entire region. 

African leaders must avoid such foreign 

intervention as that of Libya, which has been 

labelled a failure. 

Malians celebrate withdrawal of foreign troops acknowledging the cooperation of Russia and Wagner (Photo - Eric Ngaba, Ria Fan) 

Foreign dimension of the Mali conflict 

Further pointers to a proxy war between the 

US and Ukraine on the one hand and Russia on 

the other on African territory were laid bare 

when a representative of Ukraine’s security 

service, Andriy Yusov, stated on television that 

Ukraine “enabled” the attack on the Malian 

army and Wagner. 

The Ambassador of Ukraine to Senegal, 

Guinea-Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia, Yurii 

Pyvovarov, has also been accused by the 

government of Senegal of providing 

“unequivocal and unqualified support for the 

terrorist attack” in Mali. 

In response, Mali and Niger have severed 

diplomatic relationships with Ukraine. Senegal 

also summoned the Ukrainian Ambassador. 

The West African economic grouping 

ECOWAS declared its “firm disapproval and 

firm condemnation of any outside interference 

in the region.” 

This is a major setback for Ukraine in the 

region. 

Although Ukraine has denied supporting 

terrorist groups in the region, its involvement 

in the death of Malian soldiers has attracted 

condemnation. 

Russia has already seized the attack to label 

Ukraine an enemy of Africa. Russia accused 

Ukraine of opening a “second front” in Africa 

and supporting terrorist groups. 

Ukraine’s position 

In June 2024, the President of Ukraine, 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, organised a summit to 

gather support for his call on Russia to end its 

invasion; 92 countries participated, including 

57 Heads of State or government. 

About 80 countries signed a document 

condemning Russia for the war and declaring 

Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Only 12 of these 

countries were from Africa. Mali, Niger and 

Burkina Faso did not attend. Fewer than 20 

African countries sent representatives. 

This is another proof that African countries 

do not want to get involved in the Russia- 

Ukraine conflict. Many have also abstained 

from previous UN General Assembly votes. 

This is despite Ukraine trying to get support 

from the continent. 

Narratives about the role of Ukraine in Mali 

would only weaken its influence in Africa. This 

is because several countries on the continent are 

fragile and terrorism is a serious problem. 

A Russian propaganda win? 

Since the recent coups in the West African 

region within the last four years, Russia has 

positioned itself as an alternative to Western 

influence there. It is benefiting from the chaos 

in the region by quickly filling the gap left by 

France and its allies in the Sahel. 

Shortly after the ambush on Malian and 

Wagner forces, the Foreign Minister of Russia, 

Sergey Lavrov, reiterated Russia’s commitment 

to helping Mali boost its combat capability, 

train military personnel and address pressing 

socioeconomic problems. 

For over a decade, Russia has presented 

itself as an alternative partner in fighting 

terrorism in the region. For instance, when the 

US refused to sell weapons to Nigeria because 

of a damning report by Amnesty International 

accusing the Nigerian Army of human rights 

abuse, Nigeria turned to Russia for weapons. 

With Russia losing allies in the West since 

its invasion of Ukraine, Africa has been an 

important region of support. Ukraine is also 

very keen to get the support of African 

countries, as seen in its intention to open 10 

new Embassies on the continent. In a war where 

both sides are looking for external support, 

Ukraine’s loss might become Russia’s gain. 

A way forward 

African leaders must unite to condemn any 

form of external interference that could further 

destabilise the region. They should demand 

accountability from Russia on the activities of 

the Wagner group on the continent while 

making it clear to Ukraine that foreign 

interference will not be tolerated on the 

continent. 

The Tuareg situation must also be 

addressed. Former President Mahamadou 

Issoufou of Niger was able to complete two 

terms in office partly because he 

accommodated the demands of the Tuaregs in 

his country and addressed their concerns. 

The government in Mali should understand 

that there is no military solution to the Tuareg 

dilemma. They should take a cue from 

Issoufou’s policies which placated the Tuaregs 

in Niger during his Presidential terms. 

Olayinka Ajala is a Senior Lecturer in 

Politics and International Relations at Leeds 

Beckett University. 



license. Read the original article at 

https://theconversation.com/russia-ukrainewar-spills-into-west-africa-mali-attacks-signaldangerous-times-ahead-236646.

Trumpet Auto 

AUGUST 21 - SEPTEMBER 3 2024 TheTrumpet Page15 

Drivers warned against popular 

car insurance ‘hack’ 

The United Kingdom’s Insurance 

Fraud Bureau (IFB) is warning that 

a widespread tactic known as 

‘fronting’, which is popular with young 

drivers looking to save money on their car 

insurance, is fraud and has serious risks. 

Fronting on car insurance is when a 

more experienced or older driver (such as a 

parent) is named as the main user of the 

vehicle when, in fact, it’s mainly being 

driven by someone who is often younger 

and more expensive to insure, and the 

policy should be in their name. 

New figures show just over a third of 

adults (35%) have heard of fronting on car 

insurance, and IFB believes thousands of 

drivers could unwittingly be putting 

themselves at risk of fraud and driving 

without valid insurance by participating in 

the con. 

Many don't realise Fronting on car insurance is 

As a result, IFB is highlighting the issue 

illegal (Photo - Ron Lach, Pexels) 

as part of its ongoing Fraud Cons campaign, 

with awareness ads reaching the public 

across Facebook, SnapChat, TikTok and 

YouTube. 

drivers, are making it more likely that 

people may be tempted to save money 

through fraudulent activity such as fronting. 

Shelley Comb, Intelligence and “Those who don’t tell their insurer who 

Investigations Manager at the IFB, said: 

“Fronting on car insurance is surprisingly 

common and because many people don’t 

realise it’s illegal, countless young people 

and their parents are implicating themselves 

in insurance fraud and uninsured driving, 

which has devastating consequences. 

the main driver is are risking not only 

having their vehicle seized for uninsured 

driving, but also 6 points on their licence – 

for new drivers who only have a 6-point 

limit, this means losing their driving 

licence, and ultimately a loss of freedom 

and independence.” 

“This is why as part of our Fraud Cons 

campaign we’re urging the public to avoid 

fronting. You should only be a named driver 

if you’re not the main user of the vehicle. If 

you’re unsure who the policyholder should 

be, then we recommend you speak to your 

insurer for advice first.” 

Andy Trotter, Law Enforcement Liaison 

Officer at MIB (Motor Insurers’ Bureau), 

said: “We’re concerned that increased 

financial pressures, especially for younger 

Fronting explained 

Often seen as an innocent loophole to 

help reduce costs, fronting on car insurance 

involves someone being a named driver on 

someone else’s policy, when they should 

have their own. 

Because the price of motor insurance is 

based on the risk of the individual, the 

insurer must know who the main driver is 

so the policy can be valid. If someone 

misrepresents themselves when taking out 

cover, this is illegal and violates the policy’s 

terms and conditions. This leaves the named 

driver without valid insurance, and both the 

named and dishonest ‘main’ driver could be 

found at fault of insurance fraud. 

Evidence of fronting on car insurance 

can come to light when inconsistencies are 

found in the car insurance application or in 

questioning following a road collision. 

IFB believes countless drivers are 

uninsured because they’ve fronted on cover. 

While many do so without realising it’s a 

crime, there’s also evidence to suggest 

others may be fronting deliberately. New 

figures show over a third of 18–24-yearolds 

(35%) think it’s acceptable to lie on an 

insurance application to save money. IFB 

has also found evidence that some 

influencers on social media are encouraging 

people to lie on car insurance applications 

to save money. 

Fraudulent insurance applications cost 

insurers and their customers over £1 billion 

a year, therefore tackling the issue is a key 

priority for IFB and the industry. 

What are the consequences? 

With young drivers facing annual 

insurance fees of up to £3,000, the risk of 

people fronting on their car cover has never 

been greater. But it’s not worth the risk. 

If someone is stopped by police and they 

have invalid insurance because they’ve 

fronted, they face the same consequences as 

any other uninsured driver. This includes 

having their vehicle seized, and potentially 

facing court, where they could get a driving 

ban and an unlimited fine. A criminal 

conviction will also impact job prospects. 

Plus, they’ll be liable to cover all costs if 

they caused a road collision while uninsured 

and this could run into tens of thousands of 

pounds. 

Passages 

Elder Eric Olufemi Adesola 

Adegboyega (1928 – 2024) 

When an insurer can prove fronting on a 

policy, those responsible can be added to the 

Insurance Fraud Register (IFR), which is 

shared with the insurance industry, making 

it very difficult for them to take out any kind 

of insurance in the future. This could stop 

someone legally using a car, running a 

business or even obtaining a mortgage on a 

first home. 

Over 50 people are added to the IFR 

every week for misrepresenting themselves 

or deliberately withholding key information 

on a personal motor insurance application, 

or at the point of making a claim. 

Tips to reduce the cost of motor 

insurance 

There are many ways to legitimately 

reduce the cost of car insurance. 

• Shop around. Use a price comparison 

site or a BIBA-registered Broker can 

help get a better deal. 

• Choose a less powerful vehicle. 

• Drive safely to avoid collisions and 

penalty points to protect your ‘No 

Claims Discount’ (NCD). 

• Get a black (telematics) box. 

• Consider agreeing to pay a higher 

excess on your insurance should you 

make a claim. 

• Take measures to protect your car from 

theft such as an alarm or immobiliser. 

• If you’re already insured but are 

struggling with costs, speak to your 

insurer to see what other payment 

options may be available. 

• Avoid fake car insurance deals known as 

Ghost Broking scams on social media. 

More information about fronting is 

available here. 

Insurance fraud can be reported to IFB’s 

confidential CheatLine. 

Elder Eric Adegboyega 

Elder Eric Olufemi Adesola 

Adegboyega passed away on 12 th 

April 2024 at the age of 96. 

The beloved husband, father, 

grandfather and great-grandfather was 

born on 8 th March 1928 in Kafanchan in 

Nigeria’s Kaduna State. 

He was the last surviving son of 

Apostle Samuel Gbadebo Adegboyega 

(MON) – one of the founding fathers of 

Pentecostalism in Nigeria, who was also 

the first Territorial Chairman of the 

Lagos and Western/Northern Areas 

(LAWNA) Territory of the Apostolic 

Church Nigeria. 

Elder Eric Adegboyega arrived in the 

United Kingdom in 1956. He met the 

love of his life – Grace in 1958 and they 

subsequently got married in September 

1960 – living together for almost 64 

years. 

At a point, Elder Eric Adegboyega 

was the President of The Apostolic 

Church African Student’s movement. 

He was laid to rest in May. 

Elder and Mama Adegboyega


Sport 

Kenya topped Africa’s Olympics 

medal table – but a new strategy 

will be needed to keep winning 

By Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu 

Stephen F. Austin State University 

Kenya topped Africa’s medal tally at 

the 2024 Paris Olympics, as the east 

African country did at the last two 

games in 2020 and 2016. Kenya is a dominant 

force particularly because of the success of its 

middle-distance and long-distance runners. 

However, these games also revealed 

issues and developments that need to be 

debated in order to inform preparations for the 

next games in Los Angeles in 2028. These 

include the rise of women runners, fewer 

returns on men’s distance events and a need 

to diversify at a development level to meet the 

growing competitiveness from rival nations. 

Kenya came in at 17th place on the 

medals table (winning four Gold, two Silver 

and five Bronze). The nearest African 

countries were Algeria in 39th (two Gold and 

One bronze) and South Africa in 44th (one 

Gold, three Silver and two Bronze). Kenya 

ranked second behind the US in track and 

field events. 

But, while Kenya performed better in 

Paris than in Tokyo in 2020 (where they 

placed 19th with ten medals) they also 

performed worse than in Rio in 2016 

(finishing 15th with 13 medals). And the 

medals race is becoming increasingly 

competitive. 

Out of 203 countries and one Refugee 

Olympic Team competing, only 91 (44.8%) 

earned a medal. Of 54 African countries only 

12 did (22.2%). In total Africa won 39 

medals, up from 37 in Tokyo but fewer than 

the 45 won in Rio and short of the target of 

50 set by the African Union. Even Nigeria, 

with Africa’s largest population, failed to win 

a medal. 

As a scholar of east African sport, I have 

followed Kenya’s performance at the 

Olympics for decades. While there is much to 

be celebrated in 2024, there are also clear 

signs of what the country must focus on if it 

wants to remain dominant at the next games. 

So here is a list of what’s going right, what’s 

going wrong and what needs attention. 

1. Women rescue Kenya’s image 

In a patriarchal society, Kenya’s women 

have been in men’s shadows for a long time. 

However, at the Paris Olympics, Team 

Kenya’s women won seven medals while the 

men won four. This is the first time since the 

country began winning medals at the 

Olympics in 1964 that women have outshone 

men. 

Gold medallists - Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet (Photo - Team Kenya) 

Kenya’s stars were Faith Kipyegon, with 

Gold in the 1,500 metre event and Silver in 

5,000 metres, and Beatrice Chebet with Gold 

over both 5,000 metre and 10,000 metre 

distances. Kenya’s women won medals in 

each distance from 800 metres to the 

Marathon. This is a signal to the technocrats 

in Kenya and Athletics Kenya that there 

should be a shift in investment and team 

selection priorities that foregrounds the 

inclusion and promotion of more women 

athletes, coaches and decision-makers. 

2. All ethnic groups can win medals 

A warm wrlcome for Kenya's 2024 Olympians (Photo - Team Kenya) 

Since 1968, a Kalenjin male runner has 

won Gold for Kenya at every Olympics. This 

Kenyan ethnic group is famous for producing 

endurance athletes. But in 2024 the illustrious 

record was halted. Instead, Emmanuel 

Wanyonyi from the Bukusu sub-ethnic group 

of the Luhya (traditionally better known for 

producing football, rugby, basketball and 

volleyball players) emerged as the sole 

Kenyan men’s Gold medallist. The 20-yearold 

won the 800 metres, maintaining the 

country’s stranglehold on that event ever 

since the 2008 games. Wanyonyi’s emergence 

shows that there is talent beyond and outside 

the Kalenjins and Athletics Kenya should 

invest in finding it. 

3. Sprinters outmatched 

Kenya’s 100 metre sprinter Ferdinand 

Omanyala was a Gold medal favourite 

heading to Paris – he’d clocked 10.79 

seconds, a time fast enough to win the final. 

However, as has happened in the last few 

years on the global stage, Omanyala was 

made to look ordinary in the end. However, 

Letsile Tebogo of Botswana winning Gold in 

the 200 metres and South Africa taking Silver 

in the 4x100 metre relay sprint shows that 

Africa can truly compete in sprint events. It is 

important that Kenya nurtures more sprinters 

and diversify beyond distance running. 

4. Team events need major work 

Kenya participated in Rugby Sevens and 

women’s volleyball in Paris. Neither side had 

a good outing. While they are top dogs in 

these two disciplines in Africa, they are 

overwhelmed at a global level, especially at 

the Olympics. It’s time for Kenya to take a 

more innovative approach. It is no longer 

about participation but also about winning. 

While the 2028 LA Olympics will include 

new or returning sports like squash, cricket 

and flag football, hopes for Kenya outside 

track and field still rest in individual sports 

like boxing. Kenya will need to up its team 

game. 

5. A post-Kipchoge era 

The Paris Olympics saw the curtain come 

down on the illustrious career of distance 

runner Eliud Kipchoge. After he won 5,000 

metres Bronze in 2004, 5,000 metres Silver in 

2008 and marathon Gold in 2016 and 2020, a 

prospect for another Gold in 2024 looked too 

enticing to pass over. 

Reality hit when the runner had to exit the 

race midway. A humble ending to an 

otherwise glittering career that spans two 

decades. 

The emergence of the youthful Chebet 

and Wanyonyi augurs well for continued 

Kenyan dominance in distance running. But 

there is a need to identify talent early, nurture 

it and fulfil its potential. This will mean 

exposing youngsters to specialised coaching, 

cutting edge training and access to 

international competitions. And, as Wanyonyi 

demonstrates, the talent search should be cast 

beyond the traditional geographical and 

cultural catchment areas. 

Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu is Professor 

and Chair of Kinesiology and Health Science 

at Stephen F. Austin State University. 



license. Read the original article at: 

https://theconversation.com/kenya-toppedafricas-olympics-medal-table-but-a-newstrategy-will-be-needed-to-keep-winning-236 

794. 

TheTrumpet is published in London fortnightly by Trumpet 

Field: 07956 385 604 E-mail: info@the-trumpet.com (ISSN: 1477-3392)

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