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The Trumpet Newspaper Issue 633 (October 2 - 15 2024)

Nigeria recalled all its Ambassadors a year ago and has not replaced them - international isolation looms

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TheTrumpet

Africans now have a voice... Founded in 1995

V O L 30 N O 633 O C T O B E R 2 - 15 2024

Drug runners

jailed after

caught using

guest house

as base

Nigeria High Commission London (Photo - Nigeria High Commission)

Nigeria recalled all

its Ambassadors a

year ago and has

not replaced them

– international

isolation looms

By Sheriff Folarin, Texas State University

Continued on Page 3>

Two drug runners who used

a Southend guest house as

a base for selling heroin

and crack cocaine have been

jailed.

Officers from Essex Police’s

Operation Raptor unit, which is

dedicated to tackling county lines

drug dealing, secured the

sentences against 22-year-old

Justice Oyedokun and 21-year-old

Deviston Francis.

The pair were runners for the

‘Shadow’ drug line, which

brought Class A drugs from

London to Southend.

On 21 May this year, officers

were on patrol in Southend when

they spotted a large group of

people congregating near an

alleyway.

The officers observed Francis

leaving a nearby guest house and

walking towards the group.

Due to suspicions around

reported drug dealing in the area,

officers stopped Francis and

detained him for a search under

the Misuse of Drugs Act.

A small, plastic pot containing

40 wraps of Class A drugs was

seized.

Francis tried to claim to

officers the substance was “sugar”

and that he was an “entrepreneur”.

A phone, which was

continuously ringing, was also

seized alongside a sum of cash.

The guest house was

subsequently searched and

Oyedokun was detained inside.

Further quantities of Class A

drugs and cash totalling £1,825

were seized from the property.

Oyedokun, of no fixed address,

admitted possession with intent to

supply crack cocaine, being

concerned in the supply of crack

cocaine and heroin and possessing

Continued on Page 4<


Page2 TheTrumpet OCTOBER 2 - 15 2024

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News

OCTOBER 2 - 15 2024

TheTrumpet

Nigeria recalled all its Ambassadors a

year ago and has not replaced them –

international isolation looms

Page3

Continued from Page 1<

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has yet to

replace the Ambassadors he recalled a year

ago, leaving only the country’s UN Permanent

Representative. Nigeria has 109 diplomatic

missions worldwide, comprising 76 Embassies,

22 High Commissions and 11 Consulates. The

move was made as part of an attempt to drive

efficiency in Nigeria’s foreign service.

The Conversation Africa asked Sheriff

Folarin, an international relations expert and

What are the implications of Nigeria not

having ambassadors for a year?

There are three. First, it implies that

Nigeria does not want to maintain relationships

with the international community. The States

affected could withdraw their ambassadors too

in reciprocity, but they understand that it is not

a show of hostility but a local governance issue

of finance. It shows further that the country is

retreating from the world and chooses

isolation.

Second, the world may perceive Nigeria as

unable to run its missions as a result of human

capital deficiency or government

incompetence.

Third, it projects the country as weak –

unable to protect and pursue national interests

abroad. Citizens suffer too, particularly when

they are in need of their government outside

Nigeria.

Nigeria may miss opportunities to

influence decisions in world politics. Its lack

of ambassadors could also jeopardise the quest

to be considered as one of the two permanent

members in an enlarged UN security council.

However, there may not be significant

setbacks if the other full-time embassy staff are

efficient and dynamic in the discharge of their

duties.

They will consider Nigeria as

irresponsible, unready for a world of

competitiveness in all fields, and not serious

about achieving a rebound in regional and

global leadership. The derision is already loud.

Sheriff Folarin is Professor of

International Relations and Visiting Scholar at

Texas State University.

This article is republished from The

Conversation under a Creative Commons

license. Read the original article at:

https://theconversation.com/nigeria-recalledall-its-ambassadors-a-year-ago-and-has-notreplaced-them-international-isolation-looms-2

40101.

Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar - Nigeria's Foreign

Affairs Minister

the author of a new book, Declining

Hegemonic Foreign Policies of Nigeria, to

explain the implications of a Nigeria without

Ambassadors.

Why does a country need ambassadors?

Mutual diplomatic representation is

important for understanding and cooperation

between States. Diplomatic representatives or

Ambassadors, High Commissioners or Envoys

facilitate interstate cooperation and relations.

This keeps the temperature in the international

system cool and stable. Ambassadors are

sometimes regarded as the eyes and ears of a

State in another State, not in the sense of

espionage, but with the understanding that they

get information that will be valuable for the

Home State. They have the privileges,

recognition and legal personality accorded the

Head of State whom they represent.

Keeping a Mission, Embassy or Consulate

in another State is a mark of friendship. The

reverse is a mark of broken or non-existing ties.

For some nations, ambassadors and foreign

missions are meant to be strategically situated

in a position to secure the national interest of

their home governments and States. They do

this through political, cultural, military,

economic or even technological instruments.

Earlier in May, Nigeria’s Foreign

Affairs Minister cited lack of money as the

main reason for the government’s failure to

appoint ambassadors. How do you see this?

This narrative works against the country.

Nigeria is known for being creative, dynamic,

active and influential in global politics.

Making such an open disclosure works against

the country’s reputation.

Has Nigeria descended to the level where

all its challenges and failures of government

must be linked to financial problems? It

projects Nigeria negatively and further

diminishes the reputation and respect that have

suffered in the last few years.

Running embassies with high calibre,

dynamic, creative and knowledgeable

ambassadors cannot be optional.

To address the problem, government

should cut down the cost of running

government and save money to run the

country’s embassies. There should be

accountability in the revenue generated by the

embassies through visa issuance and expenses

in the embassies, so that money made can be

judiciously used to fund the Missions.

Visa fees could be increased to meet the

cost of running the embassies. For instance the

UK government increased visa fees in 2023 to

pay for vital services and allow more funding

to be prioritised for public sector pay rises.

Wastefulness in government, evidenced by

the Presidential fleet and other government

officials in jets and vehicle convoys, can be cut

down. The cost of running the National

Assembly too should be looked into as a matter

of national emergency. Money saved from all

these wasteful expenditures can be used for

embassies. Financial discipline is required.

How do you think other countries will

perceive the absence of Nigeria’s

ambassadors in their countries?


Page4

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MEMBERS:

OCTOBER 2 - 15 2024

Tunde Ajasa-Alashe

Allison Shoyombo, Peter Osuhon

TheTrumpet (ISSN: 1477-3392)

is published in London fortnightly

News

Drug runners jailed

after caught using

guest house as base

Continued from Page 1<

criminal property.

Francis, of no fixed address,

admitted possession with intent to

supply and being concerned in the

supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

Both appeared at Basildon Crown

Court on Friday 20 September, where

each was jailed for 32 months.

Detective Sergeant Rob Maile, of

Op Raptor South, said: “Our

investigation established the two

runners, both from outside Essex, had

stayed in a guest house in the area for

the purposes of supplying crack

cocaine and heroin in Southend.

“This is one of the emerging

tactics we are seeing drugs gangs

employ.

“But as this case proves, it is a

tactic with little value, as it places no

limits on our ability to trace, monitor

and carry out enforcement against

those we know to be involved in

Class A drug supply.

“Drug dealers have very little room

for manoeuvre in Essex.

“My team see, all too often, the

harm these substances cause and the

violence which stems from this awful

trade.

“We’re more active than ever in

building cases against the drug lines

running these substances from

London into our county.

“I would also call on those who own

and run guest houses or holiday

homes to take steps, as best they can,

to be aware of the activity being

perpetrated at their properties.”

Worried about a friend?

Are you worried that a friend or

someone you know may be being

Jailed - Deviston Francis

exploited through County Lines or

organised criminal activity?

Maybe they are returning home

late, staying out all night or even

going missing for days or weeks at a

time.

Are they suddenly being secretive

about who they are talking to or

where they are going?

Or perhaps you’ve noticed they

have large amounts of money on

them, or new clothing, jewellery or

phones they wouldn’t be able to

afford.

Through Fearless, young people

can pass on information 100%

anonymously to get help.

If you need help from police, call

101 or, if it’s an emergency, always

call 999.

Jailed - Justice Oyedokun

Where can you get help?

Keeping people safe is at the heart

of what Essex Police does.

According to Essex Police: “Drugs

are illegal for a very real reason. They

are dangerous and cause real harm.

We would urge people not to take

any illegal substance. You can never

be sure what you are taking.

There is help available from local

drug addiction services. We urge

users to reach out to them.

You can find a list of local

organisations offering specialist drug

recovery support services on our

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OCTOBER 2 - 15 2024 TheTrumpet

Page5


Page6 TheTrumpet OCTOBER 2 - 15 2024

Opinion

Remembering Mrs. Remi Oyo

Today in Lagos, the Oyo family -

husband, children, grandchildren,

in-laws and the extended families

from Ekitiland, Urhoboland and

elsewhere as well as friends and former

colleagues would be holding a

remembrance and thanksgiving service

in honour of Mrs. Felicia Oluremi Oyo,

at the Catholic Church of Presentation,

Ikeja GRA, Lagos. Ten years ago, Mrs.

Oyo left this earthly prison house and

transited to the great beyond, to tranquil

Heaven at the relatively young age of 61.

Thomas Campbell says, and he is right

that “to live in the hearts of those we

love is not to die”. Mrs. Oyo lives on, her

memory endures, and her example

stands out in terms of her great

Remi Oyo

accomplishments. She was a journalist

of the first rank. She did not want to be

identified as a female journalist but as a

pressman, and indeed a pressman she

was, out there in the forefront of action,

inspiring younger journalists both male

and female in the process. In one of

those ironies of life that no one can

explain she was born in the month of

October. She died also in the same

month, less than two weeks to her 62nd

birthday as a result of cancer. But hers

was a life of impact, love and influence.

She studied Mass Communication at the

University of Lagos and obtained a

Master’s degree in International

Relations from the University of Kent.

Journalism was her career and in this she

excelled. She started as a reporter with

the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation

(NBC) in 1973 – the story out there is

that she met her husband, Mr. Vincent

Oyo while working in radio, and the two

Oyos would in later life carve a niche for

themselves in both journalism and

marketing communications. Mrs. Oyo

left the NBC to join the News Agency of

Nigeria (NAN) in 1981, and rose to

become the Principal Editor of NAN.

She later joined the Inter Press Service

(IPS) and again rose to become the

Nigerian Bureau Chief and later, West

African Bureau Chief.

It was around this time that our paths

crossed. Auntie as we fondly called her

had become very active in the Nigerian

Guild of Editors (NGE). Under Mr.

Biodun Oduwole, NGE President, 1992

– 1994, Mrs. Oyo was a member of the

standing committee but she was very

influential, known by younger

journalists as “Mama awon Boys”

because of her generosity. Together, the

Oduwole team presided over one of the

golden moments of the Guild. Mr.

Oduwole was then Managing Editor at

the Nigerian Tribune in Ibadan, which

was practically in the hands of both Mr.

Oduwole and Mr. Folu Olamiti as Editor

Daily. Even before the emergence of Mr.

Oduwole as President, he had been

friends with some of us who were

members of the OSU Collective, and

three of us got close to him. In those

days, in the early 90s, members of the

OSU Collective were prolific on the

pages of newspapers, generating debates

and contributing to public affairs issues

of the day. Three of us: Wale Olaitan,

Sina Kawonise and I were close to Mr.

Oduwole who took it upon himself to

encourage these brilliant young lecturers

from Ogun State University as it then

was. I was in the Department of English,

Kawonise in Sociology and Olaitan in

Political Science. Like all young men,

BY REUBEN ABATI

we thought we could change the world

with our pens and lyrical prose. It was

through Egbon as we called Mr.

Oduwole that we got to know Mrs. Oyo,

and she just took to us as her aburos.

By 1994, I had left Ogun State

University to join The Guardian

Newspapers as a member of the Editorial

Board. I recall that in September that

year, I had to travel to Egypt to attend

the International Conference on

Population and Development (5 -13

September 1994) under the auspices of

the National Council on Population and

Environmental Activities, an NGO led

by Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi. I was

then one of the resource persons to the

NCPEA, under the guidance of Prince

Adelusi-Adeluyi who provided

opportunities for us to know more about

developing trends in the world. When

we arrived in Egypt and I went to the

press centre, there was Mrs. Remi Oyo,

manning the IPS desk. I saw her at work,

writing stories, casting headlines,

conducting interviews. She enjoyed

what she did: to tell stories. When we

were in Cairo, I casually mentioned to

Auntie that I was planning to get

married. She promptly asked me what I

would need. I told her I brought some

money to buy wedding rings. One late

afternoon, she left her desk and she took

me somewhere inside Cairo where she

said we would get original gold. When

we finished buying the gold rings, she

asked me to follow her again to another

store. She then asked me to look for any

shoe that I felt comfortable with. She

paid for the pair of shoes and said that is

the shoe I want you to wear on your

wedding day: from me to you! I would

later visit Aunty at her office at the

National Theatre where she had become

the head of IPS. In those days, the

National Theatre (now Wole Soyinka

Centre for Culture and the Arts) was the

rendezvous for artists. We went there to

watch films, stage plays or simply to

congregate at a place called Abe Igi, to

socialize and enjoy an assortment of

delicacies. Auntie’s office was just down

the road from Abe Igi and I used to go

Continued on Page 7<


Opinion

OCTOBER 2 - 15 2024 TheTrumpet

Remembering Mrs. Remi Oyo

Page7

Continued from Page 6<

there. It was not difficult to see that

although she was head of IPS, she had

great rapport with the people in NAN

who shared the same premises. She

moved from NAN to IPS, but she had

friends on both sides. She was a doyenne

of wire service journalism.

In 1998, Mrs. Oyo showed interest in

the Presidency of the Nigerian Guild of

Editors. Garba Shehu who was

Oduwole’s Deputy President had just

completed his term (1994 -1997) and the

position was due to return to the South.

We the boys were like “Auntie Must

Win!” In short, all the boys championed

her campaign. She eventually emerged

as the President and ended up serving for

five years (1998 – 2003). She lifted the

profile of the office and was very good at

getting support for the media from

authority figures. She was for record

purposes - the first woman to serve as

President of the Nigerian Guild of

Editors since 1961, when Alhaji Lateef

Jakande was the pioneer President of the

Guild. Mrs. Oyo performed so

excellently, it can be said of her legacy

that she inspired other women within the

profession to take a keen interest in the

affairs of both the NGE and the Nigerian

Union of Journalists (NUJ). In the West,

East and the North, women began to

occupy key positions in the media

unions. In Lagos, Mrs. Funke Fadugba

as Chairman of the Lagos NUJ was such

a formidable force. She singlehandedly

set up two estates for journalists and

turned many into landlords. Lagos

Journalists would be forever grateful to

Funke Fadugba as the brain behind

Journalists Estate in Arepo and PEN

Estate along the Lagos-Ibadan

Expressway. Unfortunately, when Funke

Fadugba wanted to become President of

the NUJ, she was betrayed by her own

colleagues from the Lagos Chapter. In

2016, following in Mrs. Oyo’s footsteps,

Funke Egbemode emerged as the

President of the NGE and spent three

remarkable years in the saddle as the

second female President.

Mrs. Oyo’s distinction did not go

unnoticed. In 2003, she was appointed

Senior Special Assistant (Media and

Publicity) by President Olusegun

Obasanjo. Again, she served

meritoriously in that position, earning

her the national honour of Officer of the

Order of Niger (OON) in 2006. When

President Yar’Adua assumed office in

2007, Mrs. Oyo was shortly after named

the Managing Director of the News

Agency of Nigeria. It was a kind of

homecoming for her, returning to her

former base, and reuniting with old

colleagues. Her tenure as MD, NAN was

not without a measure of controversy.

But what I recall vividly was her advice

to me when President Goodluck Ebele

Jonathan appointed me as his

Spokesperson/ Special Adviser – Media

and Publicity in 2011. She was one of

the first persons to reach out to me.

“Reuben, my advice to you will be

basically three things. Number one, the

person you need most on this job is the

President, the man who gave you the job.

If you have him on your side, you are

good. You will survive. This is a very

tough job. The politics is heavy.”

She then went on to tell me about

how many people would be interested in

the office because of the glamour of

being the spokesperson for the President.

She mentioned names of persons who

would go behind her to President

Obasanjo just to malign her. But at every

turn, President Obasanjo stood by her.

“No. 2”, she said, “be very careful

with our colleagues. They are the biggest

threat to anyone in this office. They will

bad mouth you. They will try to pull you

down. They will claim that they know

how to do the job better than you. They

will envy you and try to undermine you.

Just hold on to your Principal. Once the

President believes you are doing a good

job, there is nothing anybody can do to

you.”

“No. 3”, she added, “take good care

of your health. This job drains you from

head to toe. You will be busy throughout

and yet everybody will criticize you. But

you have to keep healthy and safe. If

anything happens to you, it is only your

family that will be most affected. Stay

healthy and alive for your family.”

This last bit frightened me a little.

Mrs. Oyo’s predecessor in the same

office, Mr. Tunji Oseni had died from

complications from a respiratory

condition. Seeing that I was a bit scared,

she brought the conversation to an end

with: “Aburo, good luck. You’d be fine.”

She was right on every score.

Nobody can do the job of a

spokesperson without the Principal’s

support. One of the first things I

experienced was what became known in

the Villa at the time as “The Gap

Theory”. It was explained to me by a

gentleman called Akachukwu Sullivan

Nwakpo. In my early days at the Villa,

Akachukwu had thought it necessary to

explain the gap theory to me as follows:

that the Villa is a dog-eat-dog space. You

have to man your space and guard it

jealously. If you are off guard for a

minute, someone would see that as an

opportunity and try to do your job for

you. He advised me to be vigilant and

keep out interlopers.

Media work was actually something

everyone thought they could do

including those who could not write a

successful paragraph in the English

language. People would come to me and

tell me “Oga says you must write this

press release”. Twice, I fell for their

trick. I took the statements to President

Jonathan, until he had to make it clear to

me that I must never issue any statement

without his direct authorization or listen

to any third party giving me instructions.

Nonetheless, there were persons who

thought they knew best how to do the

job. Our colleagues in the media, as Mrs.

Oyo predicted, were not very kind either.

They used to go behind to seek audience

with President Jonathan. Some of them

even brought drafts of speeches, not

knowing the President would still hand

over every draft to me with the rider:

“see if there is anything you can take

from this or that draft. Some of my

friends in the media brought them to

me”. These friends in the media had

developed a method of by-passing my

office. In the end, their hustle did not

make any difference. President Jonathan

had assured me that I should not be

bothered. As President, it was his duty to

encourage everyone and give people

hope. Did I try to protect the territory as

Akachukwu advised? I leave that to

other people to judge. Did I keep safe?

That is another story for another day. I

was too glad to return home in one piece.

It is not everything that a hunter sees or

hears in the forest that he gets back home

to tell. After leaving Aso Villa, one of

the things I did was to visit Chief Duro

Onabule (1939 – 2022), popularly

known as double Chief. He is a veteran

journalist, former Editor of the National

Concord (1984-1985). He had just

returned from vacation in England, and

he called to say he had bought a book for

me. I went to his residence at Dolphin

Estate in Ikoyi. He had stories to tell,

similar to Mrs. Oyo’s comments about

the spokesperson’s assignment. He reechoed

Mrs. Oyo’s experience when he

told me that the biggest threat to any

journalist in government is his or her

own colleagues. Double Chief was

spokesperson to President Ibrahim

Babangida.

I remembered Mrs. Oyo’s advice the

other day when Ajuri Ngelale threw in

the towel as President Tinubu’s

spokesperson. Was he muscled out by

some of our colleagues who wanted his

job, and thought they were better at it or

better qualified? Did he protect his

territory enough? Or was he a victim of

Akachukwu’s gap theory? And there

was a line in his letter of resignation: that

he needed to attend to his family’s

medical needs. Again, this thing about

health and one’s family after an

encounter with Aso Villa. Did he have

President Tinubu’s full support? Many

lessons for future spokespersons.

But we are here this morning to

remember and celebrate late Mrs.

Oluremi Oyo, FNGE, FNIM, OON

(1952 – 2014). “Almighty God, we

remember with thanksgiving Mrs. Remi

Oyo, Thank you for everything we

treasure about her, for all that she means

to us. Take care of her, Lord, until we all

reach that time and place where every

tear is dry, every question answered and

all things are made new. Lord in your

love, hear our prayer. Amen.”

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Page8 TheTrumpet OCTOBER 2 - 15 2024

Opinion

The Battle of Edo State 2024:

A Review

By Reuben Abati

Abattle on the electoral turf has

just been won and lost in Edo

State, Nigeria. Governor Godwin

Obaseki was elected as Governor in 2016

on the platform of the All Progressives

Congress (APC) in that State. By 2019,

he had fallen out of favour with the

godfather that brought him to power,

former Nigerian Labour Congress

President, and former Governor of Edo

State for eight years (2008 – 2016), now

Senator Adams Oshiomhole. In due

course, Oshiomhole left the Labour Party

and pitched his tent with the APC where

he would later rise to the position of the

National Chairman of the Party. In 2020,

Obaseki crossed over to the Peoples’

Democratic Party and successfully

upstaged his godfather to get a second

term in office. His tenure in office ends

on November 11, 2024. Hence, there has

been a lead up to Gubernatorial elections

in Edo State to mark the effective end of

Obaseki’s tenure, the Nigerian

Constitution providing for only two terms

in office for Governors and the President.

The Gubernatorial election to see

Obaseki out of office and to determine

the next occupant of the Osadebey

Government House in Benin was held on

Saturday, September 21, with 17

candidates and political parties on the

ballot.

We were eventually confronted with a

three horse-way race involving

boardroom guru and lawyer - Asue

Ighodalo of the PDP, Senator Monday

Okpebholo of the APC and former

Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)

President, Olumide Akpata of the Labour

Party (LP) as the leading contenders. The

voting took place in 4,519 polling units,

in the State’s three Senatorial districts,

with 35,000 policemen in attendance

along with 8,000 other security agents –

military, EFCC and the Civil Defence

Corps. Total number of registered voters

in the election was 2,629,025. Total

number of 2,249,780 voters’ cards were

collected. It was a high stakes election as

seen in the febrile drama that led to the

election, with the incumbent Governor

saying it was a do-or-die election in

which the Federal Government was

determined to rig in favour of the APC

candidate, creating a Federal Might vs.

The People’s might encounter. The PDP

further alleged that the State Police

Command and the State Resident INEC

Commissioner were known associates of

former Governor of Rivers State, now

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,

Nyesom Wike. The Inspector General of

Police, Kayode Egbetokun pledged that

the police were impartial and unbiased.

Wike did not help matters by boasting

openly on live television that no Jupiter

could change the Police Commissioner in

Edo State and the INEC Resident

Commissioner and that he, Wike would

not endorse either Ighodalo or the PDP in

Edo State. This is the same Wike who

claims to be the political leader of the

PDP in Rivers State, but he is currently

an unabashed agent of the APC in deed

and in words! No individual should be so

brazen.

Instructively, Obaseki, the PDP and

their candidate refused to sign the Peace

Accord that had been brokered by the

National Peace Committee, a respectable

body of eminent men and women led by

Nigeria’s former Head of State, General

Abdulsalami Abubakar, Bishop Mathew

Hassan Kukah and others. A

Governorship debate that was organized

for the candidates was boycotted by the

PDP and APC. Only the candidate of the

LP showed up to complain bitterly about

the effrontery of the APC that offered to

send Senator Adams Oshiomhole who

was clearly not the candidate to stand in

for Okpebholo. Similarly, Akpata

condemned Ighodalo. There were fears

about the possible outbreak of violence

and the breakdown of law and order. Poll

watchers and analysts pointed to a

number of factors that could determine

the September 21 election as follows:

climate of fear and voter apathy, which

could affect voter turn-out, manipulation

of votes, violence and ballot snatching,

vote buying or stomach infrastructure;

voter suppression, current economic

hardship, neutrality of otherwise of the

Independent National Electoral

Commission (INEC) and the security

agencies, the influence of key political

actors especially godfathers, Federal

might and power of incumbency at both

Federal and State levels. When the battle

was won and determined on September

21, against the background of a slew of

allegations and mixed reactions, INEC on

Asue Ighodalo, Monday Okepbholo and Olumide Akpata

September 22, announced the results to

the effect that Monday Okepbholo of the

APC had been validly elected, with

291,667 votes, winning in 11 Local

Government Areas; Asue Ighodalo, the

PDP candidate, with 247,274 votes with

majority in 7 LGAs; and Olumide

Akpata, of the LP with 22,763 votes,

without any majority in any LGA, not

even in his own polling unit. APC leaders

have been singing and dancing since

then, claiming that God has blessed the

words of their mouth, that the APC would

triumph. The PDP leaders believe that

they have been robbed. Gov. Obaseki

calls this “a travesty and a tragedy”, a

display of brute force and a violation of

the people’s right to choose. He has

however asked that the aggrieved should

be calm and seek redress by following

due process in expressing their

grievances. Asue Ighodalo, the PDP

candidate alleges that the Edo Election

2024, might be the worst ever in the

history of this country. Akpata says the

votes went to the highest bidder. Mr.

Peter Obi, Presidential candidate of the

LP has said this was a case of “state

capture”.

My quick observation is that whatever

happens hereafter, perhaps at the election

petition tribunal and the courts, both

Ighodalo and Akpata have put up a

gallant and spirited challenge and there

are more people in and out of Edo State

who consider them the better candidates

in the race. If the beauty of television

advertisements alone could win elections,

the tally would have gone to Olumide

Akpata. If the ability to speak English

grammar and a person’s pedigree

mattered for anything in Nigerian

politics, Ighodalo would have won. What

we have just been confronted with in Edo

State is the reality of Nigerian politics -

where ideas, pedigree, brilliance - in the

context of a webbed transactional politics

that compromise and overwhelm every

single factor in the process, do not matter.

In 1999, shortly after the election that

brought President Obasanjo and the PDP

to power in Nigeria, election observers

had reported that Nigerian politicians had

devised many methods of election

rigging, which some analysts identified

in a well-publicized list. This led to talks

about electoral reform and the need to

clean up Nigeria’s elections to promote

the common good. In 2003, and 2007,

analysts had observed greater

sophistication in the corrupt manipulation

of election results across the country. It

was so bad in 2007 that the

Yar’Adua/Jonathan administration that

came to power openly admitted that the

elections were flawed, and insisted that

the most urgent task before Nigeria was

electoral reform. In 2015, Dr. Goodluck

Jonathan was a victim of his own

insistence on the values of transparency,

integrity and accountability in elections.

The APC leaders who succeeded him

Continued on Page 9<


Opinion

OCTOBER 2 - 15 2024

TheTrumpet

The Battle of Edo State 2024:

A Review

Page9

Continued from Page 8<

could not care less. In 2021, it was a

tough battle to get the amended Electoral

Reform Bill of 2010 signed by President

Buhari. In fact, it was not signed for

flimsy reasons. In 2022, the National

Assembly finally managed to smuggle in

an Electoral Act 2022, under which the

2023 General Elections were conducted.

But in real terms, nothing has changed

since 1999. Civil society groups are still

arguing for an Electoral Framework with

the same old argument that the extant

Electoral Act is defective. The first lesson

of Edo Election 2024 is that nothing has

changed in Nigerian politics. The

political parties, the institutions, the

politicians and the people have learnt

nothing. The people quotient of Nigerian

democracy is weak, poor, disconnected.

Edo State has just confirmed our worst

fears. There has been open, front-face

evidence of vote-trading. On Saturday,

September 21, politicians and agents

offered to buy votes, with the cost now as

high as N20,000. It used to be cheaper to

buy a vote, but we are made to

understand that the high inflation in the

land and economic hardship have both

marked up asking prices. In Edo, they

were selling votes as if they were trading

bags of tomatoes. Ballots were snatched.

Ballot papers were burnt. There were

sporadic shootings if not an outright

breakout of violence. Yiaga Africa, one

of the many civil society observer groups

that formed the Nigerian Situation Room

observing the Edo election has reported

that the biggest problem was the failure

of integrity.

The stakes were high. Edo 2024 was a

revenge operation among the godfathers

and the political actors. It has been said

that the loser in the election is not Asue

Ighodalo (PDP) but Godwin Obaseki, the

incumbent Governor, seen to be the main

supporter of Ighodalo, and who had

acquired a very powerful team of former

allies turned “enemies”. These enemies

were determined to teach him a lesson for

alienating them. Asue Ighodalo probably

chose the wrong party for as we see, there

was nothing he could have done to please

the likes of Adams Oshiomhole, the

godfather whom Obaseki turned against

and embarrassed thoroughly and Philip

Shuaibu, the Deputy Governor whom

Obaseki despised and humiliated. There

were other anti-Obaseki political actors:

Dan Orbih, Anselm Ojezua, Osagie Ize-

Iyamu and Kabiru Adjoto. Obaseki was

also considered unfriendly to the exalted

throne of the Omo N’Oba. In Edo State,

anyone considered rude to the Palace

loses favour, even among the people. The

Oba once had cause to admonish Obaseki

publicly to remember that one day he

would no longer be Governor and he

should be guided accordingly. That

moment has arrived! It is Ighodalo who

has now paid the price of this

undercurrent. Philip Shuaibu was on

television yesterday boasting that he won

his polling unit, his ward and his LGA for

Monday Okpebholo, the best record in

Edo State. He boasted that Obaseki was a

non-politician that was brought from

Lagos and made a Governor. Obaseki in

this last election did not win his ward and

LGA. He was outboxed, outthought, and

bulldozed as Daniel Dubois did to

Anthony Joshua at the IBF boxing match

at the Wembley Stadium the very same

day! In 2020, Obaseki boasted, while

seeking a second term, that “Edo No Be

Lagos” in a subtle reference to Tinubu’s

promise that he would return Edo State to

the APC. Over the weekend, the point

would seem to have been made that “Edo

is now Lagos” and we saw the APC

chieftains dancing. Shuaibu says Obaseki

has to come and beg the victors. That

may not be an idle threat.

The security agencies have been

praised for overseeing a peaceful election

in Edo State. But was it free and fair? Is

the outcome fair to all parties concerned?

It would have been scandalous for the

security agencies to deploy a total of

43,000 men, who could have been put to

better use to fight banditry and terrorism,

to an off-cycle election and we would

have a breakdown of law and order. The

architects of violence in Edo State had to

moderate their madness perhaps because

the security presence was intimidating,

and oppressive. Edo State was like a war

zone. Two days earlier, Nigeria’s Chief of

Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa

was on the ground to address his troops

and the people, noting that he had express

instructions from the President,

Commander in Chief to enforce peace in

Edo State. Elections should not be held

with the gun pointed at the people’s

heads. It should be a peaceful, civil event

where the people make informed choices

freely and without fear and pressure. Not

surprisingly, voter turn-out in the Edo

When the going was good Oshiomhole (right) handing over to Obaseki (left)

election was low, despite the people’s

obvious enthusiasm. Election observers

put the voter turn-out rate at 22.4% with

a margin of error of +/- 1.6%, much lower

than the 27% turn-out in the 2020 Edo

Gubernatorial election. If this is a case of

apathy, then it means the people in Edo

as elsewhere, are beginning to lose faith

in Nigeria’s electoral process.

INEC, the electoral umpire has

featured prominently in the various

reports. The electoral umpire did well

with BVAS and accreditation but voting

processes did not start early. As at 8:30

am only about 17% of the voters had

been accredited, by 11:51 am, about 64%.

For an off-cycle election in just one State,

this was not good enough. There were

inconsistencies in the officially

announced results, on IREV, the INEC

portal. At some point, the political parties

and their agents felt obliged to take over

the collation process. Governor Adamu

Fintiri of Adamawa State who was in

Benin, as Chairman of the PDP

Campaign Council for the Edo election,

had to do his own collation and advise

INEC not to delay the announcement of

results in the outstanding three LGAs.

Fintiri had to explain that he had not

broken any law – he merely announced

what he found on the IREV portal.

Nonetheless, INEC is the only body

empowered by law to announce any

results. But Fintiri insists that the Edo

election was a rape of democracy and that

the PDP candidate won. He says he

weeps for Nigeria because “democracy is

under attack”. The desperation of the

various political personae casts doubts on

the effectiveness of INEC in the Edo

election. There is no denying it: there is

still the urgent need to strengthen

electoral institutions and address the

challenge of reforms. Obviously, no

amount of law can transform Nigeria’s

elections unless the people themselves

agree to change and the institutions

function differently.

The Edo Gubernatorial election 2024

has taken place against the background of

the fact that many Nigerians have been

complaining about poor governance and

hunger in Nigeria. In August, this class of

Nigerians openly expressed their anger

and they are threatening to do so again in

October. In other climes, when people

face economic hardship in the hands of a

sitting government, they express

themselves through the polls when they

have the opportunity to do so. Nigeria is

a strange country where a political party’s

performance in power does not really

matter, and hence, politicians get

rewarded, regardless of how the people

think or feel. It is therefore not for

nothing that an APC chieftain has

remarked that the outcome of the Edo

election is an affirmation of the people’s

confidence in President Tinubu’s

economic reforms. It is possible in

Nigerian politics to say anything when

your party has won and has been declared

winner. The standard rule in Nigerian

politics is for you to work on your

strategy so well, whether in a crooked

manner or not, win and let the other party

complain. Both PDP/Ighodalo and

LP/Akpata may be talking to their

lawyers right now but while they are

spending more money paying lawyers,

Monday Okpebholo would be sworn in

on November 11, 2024. With the Federal

Might behind him, and powerful

godfathers like Adams Oshiomhole,

Nyesom Wike, Philip Shuaibu and the

APC demolition machinery involved, it

would be difficult to upturn the results

announced on September 22. It is called

realpolitik.


Page10 TheTrumpet OCTOBER 2 - 15 2024

Opinion

Politics, governance

and the value of time

Governance requires effective time

management to thrive.

Unfortunately, political systems

often waste this precious resource,

compromising citizens’ well-being and

national prosperity. As a universal

currency, time is equally distributed but

unequally valued, with marginalized

communities frequently bearing the brunt

of temporal inefficiencies.

At the politics-time intersection,

power dynamics emerge, shaping lives

through prioritization, policy and

resource allocation. To maximize

productivity, strategies like prioritization

and goal-setting are crucial, lest poor

management leads to missed deadlines

and lost opportunities. Historically,

societies aligned tasks with natural

rhythms, highlighting the tension

between short-term gains and long-term

benefits, thus underscoring the need for

intentional time management in

governance.

In Nigeria, the value of time is often

perceived as a luxury that only the

affluent can afford. The average citizen is

caught up in a daily struggle for survival,

where time is a scarce resource. The

chronic fuel scarcity, endless traffic jams,

and inefficient public transportation

systems all conspire to waste valuable

time. These issues substantially impact

the economy, with estimated losses of $1

billion annually

Time plays a critical role in both

political participation and environmental

sustainability. It is a scarce resource in

modern society, and its value is often

overlooked until it’s too late. In today’s

fast-paced world, we’re constantly

reminded to ‘make every second count’

and ‘time is money.’ However, this

mantra can lead to burnout and

exploitation, as seen in the gig economy,

where workers are pushed to work long

hours without adequate compensation or

benefits. Low-income households spend

significant time managing finances,

accessing social services and waiting in

lines, resulting in severe time poverty. In

stark contrast, effective time management

can transform lives, as seen in the biblical

examples of Joseph and Daniel.

Joseph and Daniel epitomize wise

time management. They highlighted the

importance of using time effectively to

achieve success and fulfill one’s purpose.

Despite imprisonment, Joseph interpreted

dreams and rose to Egypt’s second-incommand.

Daniel devoted himself to

study and prayer, interpreted

Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams and gained

prominence in Babylon. In contrast,

Esau, the Prodigal Son, and the servant

with one talent squandered their time and

ultimately regretted their choices.

Remote work blurs work-personal life

lines, while systemic inequalities

perpetuate disparities in incarceration

rates, opportunities, and marginalized

communities’ potential. Governance

failures exacerbate this vulnerability, as

seen in high-profile cases like the

unresolved Chibok girls’ abduction,

which has devastatingly contributed to

Nigeria’s economic and security shocks.

Globally, COVID-19 and ‘Black Lives

Matter’ also highlight the unequal

distribution of time, underscoring its

value and the need for intentional

governance.

As a matter of fact, every 14- or 15-

year-old student learns in Economics O-

Level about the ‘time-value of money’.

The principle has its broader applicability

beyond financial calculations. It also

drives political economy, leadership and

governance. Governments allocate and

expend resources, which is inherently

time-bound. Governments have a limited

window to make a meaningful impact,

making every moment count.

Consequently, evaluating a government’s

Politics, governance and the value of time in

Nigeria

tenure – essentially an interregnum –

hinges on its ability to optimize limited

time.

Effective time management requires

preparedness, as The Boy Scouts’ motto

goes. Unfortunately, governance in

Nigeria, like the rest of Africa, falls short

due to military interruptions and lack of

research. Moreover, most Special

Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), humorously

described as political parties, assume

office without thorough preparations,

largely due to the absence of data-driven

insights. Coincidentally, Nigeria’s oncethriving

Research Departments

associated with pre-independence and

post-independence political parties have

vanished, thus hindering their ability to

drive meaningful development and

sustainable growth. Is it any wonder why

today’s SPVs prioritize personal gain,

jobs racketeering and other self-serving

interests? While exceptions exist, they are

few and far-between. This scenario

exemplifies a concerning reality of which

structured leadership intervention is

crucial to prevent Nigeria’s losing

traction and impact.

Nigeria needs leadership that

prioritizes economic growth through

production and modernization, rather

than merely focusing on consumption

and jobs for favoured individuals.

Presently, Nigeria’s manufacturing sector

contributes only 8.23% to the country’s

GDP, compared to 25% in South Africa.

For a paradigm shift, this leadership

should allocate at least 60% of the budget

to capital expenditure, guided by

performance-based planning and devoid

of graft and waste. This is the only way to

avert the comic tragedy we have seen in

the past few days in Borno State where

human negligence, ineptitude and

incompetence other than natural forces

have triggered a disaster of monumental

proportions.

Governor Babagana Zulum has

demonstrated effective administration of

resources in Borno State. Nonetheless,

the recent disaster necessitates an

independent Commission of Inquiry to

investigate the causes of the avoidable

disaster. As fate would have it, all the

Biblical disasters of yore have now been

shown to not be ‘plagues and pestilences’

but the results of human error,

incompetence and policy distortions. The

Borno catastrophe, which is bound to be

replicated in other locations, has

demonstrated the need for preparedness

and a new approach to governance, based

on technical competences and the

proactive framework methodology.

There’s no alternative!

In today’s interconnected world,

governance efficiency is closely tied to

technical proficiency. The UK

Government showed this foresight when

it established the Government Economic

Service (GES) in 1964, under Prime

Minister James Harold Wilson. This

initiative has not only become a

cornerstone of governmental efficiency in

the UK but also inspired similar efforts

globally. To stay competitive, Nigeria

should establish a Government Economic

and Technology Service, to modernize

governance, boost revenue and eliminate

waste. Building on this initiative, a

comprehensive overhaul of the country’s

trade and tariff policies is also essential

as we enter the Artificial Intelligence era,

BY ABIODUN

KOMOLAFE

this is the minimum expectation.

Specifically, the Board of Trade and

Tariffs, chaired by the Federal Minister

of Industry, Trade and Investment, should

be restructured to include diverse

stakeholders, such as representatives

from the government, Central Bank of

Nigeria (CBN), Organized Private Sector,

Civil Society Organizations and Labour.

This diverse membership will enable the

Board to effectively counteract the

manufacturing slowdown and prevent the

exit of long-standing companies, some of

which have been operational for 75 years.

Dangote Refinery’s debacle partly

demonstrates how trade and tariff policies

are often misinterpreted,

In any case, that Nigeria faces

complex governance challenges, which

also require a multi-faceted approach, is

no longer news! For example, the country

ranked 145 out of 180 countries in

Transparency International’s 2023

Corruption Perception Index. Also in our

very eyes, the powerful continues to

exploit time to maintain control while the

culture of ‘African time’ has refused to

shed the toga of tardiness and

inefficiency.

To get out of the woods, Nigeria must

strengthen institutions, combat corruption

and promote transparency. Singapore’s

economic transformation, driven by

strategic planning and institutional

reforms, now serves as a model.

Technology integration, like Estonia’s e-

governance model, which has saved

citizens over 1400 years of working time

annually, can also help Nigeria boost

efficiency and transparency.

In a memorable statement made on

December 20, 1948, Cliff Gladwin

‘Cometh the hour, cometh the man.’ With

this in mind, President Bola Tinubu has a

historic opportunity to navigate the

complex challenges and balance the

competing interests currently troubling

Nigeria’s destiny. On this sacred space,

the President must fight injustice, punish

evil and prioritize the needs of ordinary

Nigerians, whose existence has been

hung up in a long vigil of socio-economic

despair. Surely certainly, few leaders get

to operate in a context of disaster and

change. For Tinubu, this makes this

moment crucial!

May the Lamb of God, who takes

away the sin of the world, grant us peace

in Nigeria!


Opinion

This time next year!

OCTOBER 2 - 15 2024 TheTrumpet Page11

By Abiodun Komolafe

In the midst of Nigeria’s complex

economic and political landscape,

meaningful conversations become

crucial catalysts for change. My recent

discussion with Bolade Agbola, a

distinguished Agricultural Economist,

stockbroker, banker and Business

Administration doctorate holder, offered

invaluable perspectives on the country’s

pressing challenges.

As we delved into the intricacies of

Nigeria’s development trajectory, Agbola’s

multi-dimensional expertise and

cosmopolitan outlook shed light on the

country‘s potential pathways toward

sustainable growth. This conversation

serves as a timely reminder that Nigerians

continue to seek solutions, driven by

resilience and determination. In this article,

I reflect on our insightful exchange,

exploring critical themes and actionable

strategies for Nigeria’s economic

revitalization.

Let’s be frank, Nigeria faces complex

challenges affecting citizens’ daily lives.

Economic struggles, including inflation

and unemployment, are paramount.

Political stability and security are also

pressing concerns, amid terrorism,

banditry and kidnapping. This situation is

not helped by Boko Haram terrorism,

which has exacerbated security issues

since the early 2000s. To alleviate these,

Nigerians are seeking economic growth, a

stable currency and reduced poverty.

Despite the noises of despair, Agbola

shared his optimistic vision for Nigeria’s

future, citing potential milestones

achievable by next year. He predicted that

domestic petrol refining would increase,

easing foreign exchange pressures. In his

words, “This time next year, the

inflationary rate would drop below 20%

and racing towards single digits. Security

concerns would also diminish as armed

forces tackle clashes, banditry and

kidnappings.” Not done yet, he

emphasized the importance of State

policing and local government autonomy

in enhancing security. Agbola also

predicted that economic fundamentals

would improve, driving the naira exchange

rate below N1000.00/$1. ‘E lo f’okan bale!

The economy will soon witness a positive

turnaround’, he concluded reassuringly!

Obviously, Agbola’s perspective on

‘This time next year’ showcases

humanity’s capacity for resilience,

optimism and community solidarity. By

embracing the present, this mindset

inspires collective action toward a brighter,

more equitable future. But then, this time

next year, the journey to 2027 will have

begun in earnest. Regardless of

government policies, one doesn’t need to

be a genius, or an econometrician, or a

Nostradamus before knowing that, given

current economic trends, the dollar-naira

exchange rate is unlikely to drop below

N1,000.00, which is at a best case scenario.

His other predictions, while optimistic,

may similarly face significant hurdles,

including infrastructure gaps, regulatory

frameworks and global market

fluctuations. According to Nigeria’s

National Bureau of Statistics, inflation

rates have consistently exceeded 20%

since 2020. Therefore, achieving singledigit

inflation by 2027, as Agbola

predicted, would require significant policy

shifts and economic reforms. Furthermore,

his emphasis on domestic petrol refining

overlooks the need for comprehensive

energy sector reforms. To address this,

Nigeria must prioritize investment in

renewable energy sources and grid

modernization.

Talking seriously, Nigeria is currently

grappling with a balance of payment crisis;

and, when one has a balance of payment

crisis, one’s response will be like that of

Jawaharlal Nehru in 1958, when there was

not much for India to export; or, Harold

Wilson in 1967, when Britain’s was more

of currency crisis. Nehru’s quote, echoed

This time next year!

by Wilson, remains relevant: ‘We have to

export or perish’, thus emphasizing the

need for export-driven solutions to rectify

economic imbalances.

Under the circumstances, President

Bola Tinubu should have prioritized

exports from the outset more so as

competitive institutions are crucial to

Nigeria’s success. However, the decision

to float the naira without diversifying

production and strengthening institutions

has been calamitous. Addressing these

institutional deficits should have been the

first order of business. To get out of the

current economic challenges, the

government needs to rethink its export

strategies to mitigate the currency turmoil

and alleviate the cost of living crisis.

The ‘Soludo Solution’ merged

Cooperative Banks into larger institutions,

neglecting their potential as specialized

financial intermediaries for farming

cooperatives and hundreds of agricultural

associations. Simply put, while temporary

relief may come from global interest rate

cuts, it is insufficient as speculative

investments seeking high returns won’t

drive sustainable growth or employment,

even if the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

cuts interest rates in the next few days.

Instead, Nigeria should prioritize

production and modernize its agricultural

sector to create jobs and boost exports.

The Netherlands’ success story offers

valuable lessons, attributing its prosperity

to two key factors: specialized financial

institutions like RABOBank, which was

credited with knowing everything that’s

worth knowing about agricultural finance,

and world-class agricultural research

institutions. These two elements are

intricately linked. In contrast, Nigeria

presently struggles with inadequate

agricultural financial institutions and

research entities, and these have been

hindering its progress. A comic interlude

comes from reports that the Cocoa

Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN)

allocated funds for urban solar-powered

streetlights. In a twisted harmony like ours,

where contradictions blend into a unique

melody, this is a tragic comic illustration

and the complete absence of interest in the

development of agriculture.

In Nigeria, hope is vital amid economic

uncertainty. Drawing from Prophet

Elisha’s wisdom (2 Kings 4: 1-7),

Nigerians can develop innovative solutions

and collaborative problem-solving. Just as

the people of Samaria persevered through

famine and siege, Nigerians have

continued to show remarkable strength in

the face of economic instability, political

turmoil and security threats. For Nigeria to

achieve progress, strategic economic plans,

addressing security concerns,

strengthening institutions, promoting

transparency and accountability in

governance are essential.

Across centuries, development has

typically begun with a strong foundation at

the local or community base. In other

words, true development goes beyond

monetary policy and MOUs. It’s about

building a strong foundation! Nehru

advocated for village development through

initiatives like cooperative farming, rural

electrification, and access to healthcare and

education, setting the stage for broader

economic progress. That’s

commonsensical! Brazil’s transformation

from exporting raw cocoa to chocolates is

particularly admirable. This shift has

boosted the country’s earnings, making

Brazilian chocolates easily available in

global markets like New York and Paris.

By adopting similar strategies, Nigeria can

improve its economic prospects.

Nigeria’s economy is a complex,

hydra-headed beast that requires a multifaceted

strategy to tame. Thankfully, the

wheel has been invented on these issues!

The Tinubu-led government deserves

credit for securing the Supreme Court

autonomy ruling for local governments.

Think of it as a delicate recipe requiring the

perfect blend of export-led growth,

financial sector reform, and strategic

investments in agriculture and

manufacturing - with a dash of institutional

reforms and human capital development

for added flavour.

As 2027 nears us by the eyelids, the

party in power must revisit its

developmentalist manifesto commitments.

By translating policy intentions into

tangible outcomes, Nigeria will not only

bridge the gap between rhetoric and reality

but also ensure citizens’ well-being and

improve lives. Meanwhile, while sustained

commitment to developmental goals may

be destined to determine Nigeria’s future

prosperity, discussing a competitive

economy is pointless when the

foundational issues persist.

Beyond any big transactional jargons,

the next budget should include an

‘Inflation Reduction Act’ with clear

timelines to achieve single-digit inflation

by 2027. This is the urgency of the now,

more so as it is difficult to make informed

decisions on an empty stomach.

Beautifying the streets is futile, if basic

needs remain unmet. As Michael Afolayan

emphasized, citing William Shakespeare,

“Take the current when it serves, or lose

our ventures.” And what’s the USA-based

erudite professor trying to say? ‘A greened

street is most likely to be disgreened by an

ungreened stomach!’

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)


Page12 TheTrumpet OCTOBER 2 - 15 2024


OCTOBER 2 - 15 2024 TheTrumpet

Page13


Page14 TheTrumpet OCTOBER 2 - 15 2024

Opinion

What does a new Labour government

mean for peace in Nigeria?

By Toyosi Clement

The 2024 General Election has been

one of the most exciting times in

modern British politics. The

Labour Party, led by Sir Keir Starmer,

was sworn in after a landslide victory,

and ending the Conservative Party’s 14

years in power.

Some may view Labour’s win as a

fresh start for the country, allowing the

party to confront a myriad of

socioeconomic problems, with new

opportunities and a greater focus on the

less fortunate in the UK and across the

globe. We must also ensure that our

brothers and sisters in Nigeria experience

that hope within our government through

cooperation, amplifying voices within the

Nigerian diaspora, and creating robust

policies between the two nations.

What the new Government needs to

do

Maintaining peace is a very difficult

task within any country. At the barest

minimum, the Starmer-led government

needs to be more educated on Nigeria’s

issues; eventually, the knowledge can

translate into tangible and effective

policies. In summary: Labour needs more

Nigerian voices on the frontlines!

Firstly, the war in Ukraine and

conflicts in the Middle East have

demanded international attention, yet

Africa’s issues, particularly those

concerning Nigeria, have been treated

with less urgency. The constant conflicts

driven by ethnic, religious and economic

tensions in Nigeria have the potential of a

destabilising global impact, especially

given Nigeria’s population, its regional

importance in Africa, and its high number

of religious persecutions and extremist

attacks.

This imbalance must be addressed.

The Labour government should review

current policies between the two

countries, including the UK-Nigeria

Security and Defence Partnership and

Sustainable Development Goals, which

previous governments did not effectively

address.

Second, we must consider the role of

All-Party Parliamentary Groups

(APPGs). These groups could play a

pivotal role in helping Nigeria tackle its

insecurity problems by creating fora

where business leaders and politicians

from all parties can meet, hold events,

discuss, and act on issues. While there is

an existing APPG for Nigeria, it has done

little to promote peace and security in the

country. Establishing a new APPG on

‘Security in Africa’ or revitalising the

current one to focus on these issues

would significantly elevate the urgency

and focus on Nigeria’s challenges, from

arms sales to food insecurity to religious

persecution.

UK Foreign Minister - David Lammy MP

(Photo - 10 Downing Street)

David Lammy MP, We need you!

Previous governments have put very

little into a cohesive foreign policy for

Africa, missing the opportunity for the

continent to be a progressive partner to

the UK in facing the threats of today and

tomorrow. For example, the

Conservatives’ Integrated review of

defence, security, development and

foreign policy, under Boris Johnson,

merely did lip service for Africans. It led

to a reduction of foreign aid from 0.7%

to 0.5% of the Gross National Income

and therefore reduced investment in

funding to developing countries. With

that single policy decision, the UK turned

its back to the world’s most vulnerable.

The Labour Party can now learn from

these mistakes and redress this balance

through its ‘Africa policy.’ The newly

appointed Foreign Secretary, David

Lammy, and the new Foreign Affairs

Select Committee should look closely at

these issues to ensure comprehensive

coverage and improvement of impacts.

The Labour manifesto for international

development highlights conflict

prevention as a priority area, promising

to “renew expertise and focus” and to

make cooperating with the FCDO a

pathway to “regaining Britain’s global

leadership on development” and

“reconnecting with our allies.” However,

there was no explicit mention of aid for

Africa, let alone Nigeria, one of the UK’s

greatest African allies.

As the Head of the Commonwealth,

the UK has a vested interest in the

Commonwealth’s security and

prosperity, including Nigeria. There

needs to be clear goals and explicit

targets set for Nigeria and Africa’s

development, like those Labour has

established for the US, France, Ukraine,

India, Israel, and Palestine.

Engaging the Nigerian Diaspora

Finally, getting the attention of the

Nigerian diaspora is crucial. Non – profit

organisations like PSJ UK and others are

at the heart of Nigeria’s social justice

movement and have tirelessly advocated

for peace and justice in Nigeria through

well researched reports, amplifying the

voices of the marginalised in Nigeria,

hosting events, and supporting the

Nigerian communities in the UK and

back home in Nigeria. These

organisations need support as they have

intimate knowledge of the key issues

affecting Nigeria. After all, what you do

not know, you cannot act on! Partnership

with them is not only essential but

integral to any policy between the UK

and Nigeria.

Conclusion

The Labour government has a unique

opportunity to make a significant impact

on peace and development in Nigeria. By

educating themselves on Nigeria’s issues,

leveraging the role of APPGs, supporting

the efforts of organisations within the

Nigerian diaspora, and setting clear goals

and targets for Nigeria’s development,

the new Labour government can ensure

that Nigeria, and Africa too, benefits from

this fresh start.

This article was first published on the

website of Peace Building & Social

Justice, (PSJ) UK

Toyosi Clement is a Researcher and

Policy intern at the PSJ UK. He has

written numerous Op-Eds and articles

surrounding development and conflict

resolution in Africa; has written briefings

for MPs; has engaged in spreading

awareness about Nigeria’s insecurity

through public interviews and events, and

has organised and led an online policy

forum discussing the challenges and

opportunities within the UK-Nigerian

Defence Partnership.


GAB Awards

OCTOBER 2 - 15 2024 TheTrumpet Page15

Faces at the 2023 GAB Awards


Page16 TheTrumpet OCTOBER 2 - 15 2024

Events

Sierra Leone’s First Lady Dr

Fatima Bio to celebrate Black

History Month in Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes celebrates Black History

Month with an Art, Culture, and

Business Exhibition taking place on the

12 th and 13 th of October 2024.

Sierra Leone’s First Lady – H.E. Dr. Fatima

Maada Bio will deliver the Keynote address at the

opening ceremony of the event on 12 th October.

The exhibition which will be held at Middleton

Hall, Central Milton Keynes aims to celebrate the

rich diversity of Black culture, art, and

entrepreneurship.

Later in the evening of the 12 th October, Dr

Bio will attend a special book launch and cultural

pageant scheduled as part of the series of events.

The book written by Nana Ofori-Atta

Oguntola and titled: “Twenty-One African Queens

Every Young Girl Should Know About” with the

Foreword personally written by the First Lady;

celebrates the legacy of 21 remarkable African

queens, with the goal of inspiring young girls to

take pride in their heritage and aspire to greatness.

The book launch will also feature a unique

beauty pageant, where contestants will dress in

historical costumes representing one of the queens

featured in the book. The event promises to be a

vivid celebration of culture, strength, and beauty.

The highlight of the evening will be when Dr Bio

crowns the winner as “African Queen UK”,

adding a prestigious and royal touch to an already

exciting occasion.

The Event Organiser and Author - Nana

Ofori-Atta Oguntola said: “I am incredibly

honoured to have Her Excellency Dr. Fatima

Maada Bio join us for this Black History Month

celebration.”

She added: “As my friend, we have worked

together on several events and I personally know

that her dedication to uplifting people especially

women, aligns perfectly with the mission of our

exhibition and book launch. I believe her presence

will make this year’s Black History Month in

Milton Keynes an unforgettable and empowering

experience.”

Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, a passionate advocate

for women’s empowerment, education, and

African heritage, will set the tone for the event

with an inspiring keynote address that highlights

the importance of embracing history and culture

Nana Ofori-Atta Oguntola

while fostering new opportunities for future

generations.

Dr. Fatima Maada Bio is a global advocate for

women’s rights, education, and health. As the First

Lady of Sierra Leone, she leads initiatives aimed

at empowering women and young girls and is

widely respected for her work in advancing

equality and justice for all.

Her dedication to uplifting African culture has

made her an influential voice both in Sierra Leone

and internationally.

Dignitaries, community leaders, and

businesses from across the UK will attend, making

this a historic occasion for the Milton Keynes

community.

Event Details:

• Black History Month Art, Culture, and

Business Exhibition

Date: 12th to 13th October 2024

Dr Fatima Maada Bio

Time: 9am

Venue: Middleton Hall, Central Milton Keynes

• Book Launch: “Twenty-One African Queens

Every Young Girl Should Know About”

Date: 12th October 2024

Time: 7pm to 11.30pm

Venue: Delta by Marriot, Kents Hill, Milton

Keynes

Highlight: African Queens Beauty Pageant with

the crowning of “African Queen UK”

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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