The Trumpet Newspaper Issue 634 (October 16 - 29 2024)

TheTrumpet
Africans now have a voice... Founded in 1995
V O L 30 N O 634 O C T O B E R 16 - 29 2024
Diaspora
Africans and
Caribbeans to
discuss
sustainable
investments
Scam (Photo by Nick Youngson,
CC BY-SA 3.0 - Pix4free.org)
Hustle academies:
West Africa’s
online scammers
are training
others in fraud
and sextortion
By Suleman Lazarus, London School of Economics and Political Science and
Mark Button, University of Portsmouth
Continued on Page 3>
ASustainability and
Investment summit
aimed at bridging the
socio-economic and cultural gap
that stunts optimal trade and
investment between Africa and
the Caribbean at Diaspora level,
takes place in London between
21 st and 23 rd November 2024.
The African Caribbean
Sustainability & Investment
Summit (ACSIS) is organised by
HenleyCaribbean Sustainable
Ventures, and aims to bring
together key Diaspora
stakeholders from the African
and Caribbean business
communities of the United
Kingdom to discuss and
strategise on sustainable
investments across various
sectors under the theme:
Leveraging the African,
Caribbean and UK Business
Opportunities: Investing in a
Sustainable Future.
ACSIS was conceived
following feedback from the
Guyana Diaspora Sustainability
& Investment Conference
(GDSIC) held in November
2023 – which pointed to the need
to broaden the concept scope to
include Africa.
UK based entrepreneurs with
heritage links to Africa and the
Caribbean, including Nigeria,
Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, South
Africa, Rwanda, Saint Lucia and
Jamaica and others will
participate in panel and
roundtable discussions and
workshops to discuss business
best practice on fours sectors,
Agriculture & Agri-Business;
Climate Change & Renewable
Energy; ICT, Digital Economy
& Cybersecurity; and Tourism.
Presentations will be
delivered over three days at three
separate venues.
Continued on Page 4<

Page2 TheTrumpet OCTOBER 16 - 29 2024
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News
Hustle academies:
OCTOBER 16 - 29 2024
TheTrumpet
Page3
West Africa’s online scammers are
training others in fraud and sextortion
Continued from Page 1<
As the world becomes increasingly
connected, digital fraud has evolved from
a local problem into a global one. West
Africa, particularly Ghana and Nigeria, is
witnessing the rise of “hustle kingdoms” –
informal academies that train individuals to carry
out digital scams.
The term “hustle kingdoms” originated from
online scammers themselves, used to describe
their training centres. These environments are
glorified in certain pockets of popular culture.
The hustle kingdoms operate both online and
offline, blending virtual training with in-person
sessions.
Real-life scams linked to “graduates” of these
academies include various scams such as online
romance fraud and business email compromise
scams.
Similar setups existed in the 1980s and 1990s
under the name “business centres”. Back then, a
“chairman”, typically a university graduate or
dropout, would rent an office, hire a secretary, and
recruit junior scammers, or “boys”. Their task
was to target victims worldwide via postal letters,
telephone calls, and faxes. The “chairman”
provided funding and logistics while trainees
honed their scamming skills.
These academies, once local training hubs,
have evolved into global threats. They now export
their skills worldwide, fuelling more persistent
and widespread fraud. The United States alone
lost about US$50 billion in 2023 to online scams,
many of which are linked to West African
fraudsters. This figure only represents reported
losses – many more crimes go unreported.
Similar to the “Sakawa Boys” (Ghanaian
online scammers) and the “Yahoo Boys”
(Nigerian online scammers), “hustle kingdom”
fraudsters sometimes justify their actions as
seeking restitution for past injustices, viewing
themselves as descendants of victims of the slave
trade, economic exploitation and colonialism,
while Westerners are seen as descendants of
colonialists. This framing suggests that their
online scams are, in part, a response to historical
wrongs.
They also use supernatural strategies – “juju
magic” – to manipulate and defraud victims.
Nigerian scam enterprises are often linked to
confraternities, secret or semi-secret organisations
such as the “Black Axe”, an organised crime
group originally formed in Nigerian universities.
In contrast, Ghanaian cyber criminals are less
often associated with organised criminal groups.
As these fraudsters expand their operations,
online romance scams and sextortion cases have
surged in the United States and Europe, raising
alarm.
Online romance scams involve fraudsters
creating fake online personas to establish
emotional relationships with victims, deceiving
them into sending money or personal
information. Sextortion occurs when perpetrators
coerce victims into providing sexually explicit
content and then threaten to release it unless the
victims meet financial or other demands.
As scholars who have researched and written
about cybercrime issues in West Africa, we want
to provide readers with a nuanced perspective on
a complex phenomenon. Thus, we combine onthe-ground
insights with global analysis,
highlighting the need for coordinated action to
combat these crimes.
Scammer (Photo - Free Malaysia Today, CCA 4.0
International)
Hustle kingdoms
The term “hustle kingdom” or “HK” holds
meaning within these cybercriminal training
networks. “HK” also stands for “headquarters”
or “high kingdom”. It represents a central
command centre with a hierarchical structure for
training new members, functioning like an online
fraud academy. This structure is important during
the training phase but tends to dissolve after
members graduate.
“HK” is more than a physical location; it acts
as a conceptual space within the network. Here,
novices learn various fraud techniques and jobseeking
strategies from globally contributed
insights. Thus, “HK” serves as a knowledge hub,
spreading tactics across the network.
The concept has gained traction in streetlevel
parlance, indicating its acceptance and use
beyond organised cyber fraud. HK emphasises
educational and strategic aspects over territorial
concerns, underscoring such organisations’
decentralised and adaptable nature. Factors such
as socio-economic pressures and the allure of
quick wealth drive individuals to join these
institutions.
Sextortion and romance scams
The graduates of these academies are
contributing to the alarming rise in online
romance scams and sextortion cases, particularly
in the United States and Europe. There are no
clearly defined crime statistics to illustrate this
rise but one organisation which receives reports
related to children reported 26,718 cases of
sextortion in 2023, a jump from 10,731 reports in
2022 and up from 139 reports in 2021.
These scams are not isolated incidents but
part of a larger, organised effort originating from
West Africa and involving participants from
multiple nations, including criminal actors in
Western countries. Studies, such as interviews
with an alleged leader of a cybercriminal group
affiliated with Black Axe, demonstrate the
international scope of these operations.
Stopping online fraud
Tackling this issue requires urgent attention
at both local and global levels. There are no quick
and simple solutions, but broadly, there are three
main areas of action required.
First, there needs to be much more
cooperation between law enforcement from
countries that are the main targets of these
scammers and West African law enforcement
agencies. The aim should be not just to apprehend
the main criminal actors, but to disrupt the
activity.
Second, the social and economic factors
driving young people into this “industry” need to
be addressed.
Finally, much more needs to be done to
protect potential victims from these online scams
through more effective and targeted fraud
prevention measures.
Suleman Lazarus is a Visiting Fellow at
Mannheim Centre for Criminology, London
School of Economics and Political Science; while
Mark Button is a Professor of Security and Fraud
at University of Portsmouth.
This article is republished from The
Conversation under a Creative Commons
license. Read the original article at:
https://theconversation.com/hustle-academieswest-africas-online-scammers-are-trainingothers-in-fraud-and-sextortion-238253

Page4
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MEMBERS:
OCTOBER 16 - 29 2024
Tunde Ajasa-Alashe
Allison Shoyombo, Peter Osuhon
TheTrumpet (ISSN: 1477-3392)
is published in London fortnightly
News
Diaspora Africans and
Caribbeans to discuss
sustainable investments
Continued from Page 1<
Day I will focus on high-level
roundtable meetings ‘Business
Meets Diplomacy,’ involving
African and Caribbean High
Commissioners /
Ambassadors and diplomatic
staff, at the UK House of Lords.
Rwanda High Commissioner to the
United Kingdom, H.E. Johnston
Busingye is expected to participate
by delivering an address to the
delegates, while renowned scientist
and creator of One Planet Living
(OPL) - Pooran Desai, the
inspiration behind the UN SDG’s
will speak on the implications of
climate change on Africa and the
Caribbean.
Day II will focus on
cybersecurity, tourism and
investment at Lloyds of London;
and Day III will address matters
pertaining to
Agriculture, B2B meetings and
Diaspora engagement supported by
Dr Coreen Jacobs-Chester, Lecturer
at the University of Guyana. The
event concludes with the ACSIS
Sustainability Awards 2024.
Chairman of ACSIS, David F.
Roberts, expressed delight at the
level of interest coming from the
eight participating countries and the
importance of the delivery of an
academic White Paper on Diaspora
engagement. “We are pleased this
event is supported by the
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean
States (OECS)” he said.
Roberts is also delighted at the
recent signing of a Memorandum of
David F Roberts - ACSIS Chairman and Convener
Understanding (MOU) with
ASIA/AFRICA Chamber of
Commerce & Industry (AACCI) - a
highly respected global organisation
focused on engagement of more
than 100 Countries, Corporates,
Associations and Individual
Professionals from all over the
Asian-African region.
Director - Global Alliances,
Yuvaan Atreya regards the
partnership as “An incredible
opportunity to forge links with
African and Caribbean Diaspora
entrepreneurs in the UK and this
union sets the stage for untold
possibilities in Asia, Africa and the
Caribbean.”
Further details on how to register
for the Summit or buy tickets is
available via Email:
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Global Rum Ambassador Ian Burrell delivering mixology presentation at Guyana Diaspora Sustainability &
Investment Conference 2023

OCTOBER 16 - 29 2024 TheTrumpet
Page5

Page6 TheTrumpet OCTOBER 16 - 29 2024
Opinion
Fire and the Ballot
Revolution in Rivers State
There is a fire and ballot revolution in
Rivers State and the main victim that I can
see for now in the burning fire is Nyesom
Wike, former Governor of Rivers State,
incumbent Minister of the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT) who is on record has
having boasted garrulously that if anybody,
a politician from any other part of the
country thinks that he or she can support
Governor Sim Fubara, his successor, to
take the political structure away from him,
he, Wike would put fire in that person’s
State. Wike is also on record as having said
that there is no politician in the country
today that is bigger than him. Wike was so
strong a week ago that when he was hosted
by a group of Ijaws, supposedly Fubara’s
kinsmen, he even repeated his claim that he
was effectively in charge of Rivers State. At
that occasion, Seyi Makinde, Governor of
Oyo State begged Wike not to bring fire to
his own State. Heineken Lokpobiri,
Minister of State for Petroleum publicly
confessed that Wike is indeed the Godfather
of Niger Delta politics. Wike may never
have heard of Percy Shelley’s Ozymandias.
But what has happened in our reckoning on
October 5, with the conduct of the local
Government elections in Rivers State is
better described as Wike’s Ozymandias
moment. It was a moment when Sim
Fubara who was brought to power, by Wike
as Wike and his allies claim, and who has
suffered for so long in their hands decided
that enough was enough and that Wike’s
dictatorial hold over Rivers State must end.
On Saturday, October 5, Fubara the godson,
decided that it was time he became the
father of the father, and produced his own
sons. It was the moment he decided that his
own Godfather must be beheaded, so that
the son could become the man. He proved
the point that Godfathers do not live
forever, particularly in Nigerian politics,
and that the answer to Godfatherism is
political patricide, given the circumstances.
It will be recalled that Minister Nyesom
Wike has never hidden the fact that he made
Sim Fubara Governor of Rivers State on the
platform of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP). Fubara was indeed Wike’s Chief
Accountant (2020 – 2022). Wike decided
that Fubara would be his preferred
successor. So, he bought the form for his
nomination. He told the people of Rivers
State that Fubara would be their next
Governor. He bankrolled the campaign so
he claims. He has told us that he did
everything possible to make Fubara the
Governor. And that came to pass. And that
was where the problem began. It was not
enough that Wike had been rewarded with
a Ministerial appointment by President
Bola Tinubu of the rival, now ruling party,
the All Progressives Congress (APC) in
compensation for Wike’s treachery against
his own party, the PDP, we were faced with
a curious situation whereby Wike decided
that he would remain in control of
governance in Rivers State. He was
shameless in defending the amphibian
nature of his politics, a man who betrayed
his party at the national level insisting that
he would also hold on to how politics is
played in his home State. His critics alleged
that he chose all the political appointees in
Fubara’s administration with the exception
of maybe one or two. Members of the
House of Assembly were majorly Wike’s
men. Key Commissioners in the
administration treated the Governor
shabbily because they reported directly to
the Godfather in Abuja. Fubara’s wife was
not even allowed to attend any event
without Wike’s approval. Fubara himself
was under close watch. He was a captive in
the position that he occupied, a prisoner of
the Godfather’s goodwill. But there is a
limit to which some people can be pushed
to the wall. In May 2024, a frustrated,
humiliated Governor Fubara felt compelled
to speak up. He said “The Jungle Has
Matured.”
What he meant then was that he was
tired of the former Governor, wearing the
toga of the Godfather riding roughshod
over him, breathing down his neck. He
threatened to set up a panel of inquiry to
investigate the past administration. He
sacked or frustrated out of his government
Wike’s acolytes who spied on him and
treated him as if he did not matter. He faced
the House of Assembly members head-long
and began to stare them down. His larynx
suddenly opened up and he began to talk.
He transformed from the timid Godson who
begged for peace to the Godson who had
developed fangs. He had the support of the
elders and youths of the community who
felt Wike should allow Fubara to have his
turn as Governor. He wanted to suspend
Local Government Chairmen. He was told
he could not do it. The people of Rivers had
now become divided, pro-Wike, pro-
Fubara, both parties threatening fire and
brimstone. The majority stood by Fubara.
Nyesom Wike
In December 2023, Fubara sacked Local
Government Chairmen who served under
Wike. He also removed the Chairman of the
Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers,
another Wike ally. He threatened to
demolish both the Rivers State House of
Assembly and the State Legislative
quarters.
On October 5, 2024 the jungle had
finally matured. It was the day when local
council elections were held in 23 local
councils of Rivers State. Before the
election, Wike’s loyalists in the PDP and
the APC staged a protest on the streets. The
PDP in Rivers State, the sitting Governor’s
own party even went ahead to boycott the
elections. Boycott has never been a potent
political weapon. It may raise questions of
BY REUBEN ABATI
legitimacy after the fact but the election
would have been won and lost. There were
court cases, with the Rivers State High
Court and the Federal High Court giving
conflicting judgments. In the end, Governor
Fubara insisted that the elections would
proceed as scheduled on the strength of a
July 11, 2024 Supreme Court ruling that
only democratically elected persons could
be Chairpersons of Local Councils in
Nigeria, the Rivers High Court ruling,
Section 197 of the 1999 Constitution which
creates State Independent Electoral
Commissions and Section 59 of the Rivers
State Electoral Commission Law No. 2 of
2018. Pro-Wike objectors to the election
relied on a Federal High Court ruling which
ordered that even the Police must not
provide security during the elections. There
were skirmishes about the police carting
away election materials and the Governor
having to visit the headquarters of the
RSIEC, as the State electoral body is
known, to challenge the police.
Nonetheless, the Governor insisted that the
elections will take place.
And so it was, that on Saturday October
5, in 23 local governments, 6,866 polling
units in 319 wards in Rivers State, local
government elections were conducted,
superintended by Justice Adolphus Enebeli
(rtd), and his staff at RSIEC, with 18
political parties out of 19, participating.
The people of Rivers State turned out in
large numbers. They defied the rain. And
they voted in a process witnessed by
journalists, observers, members of the
Nigerian Bar Association and party agents.
In the end, Justice Enebeli (rtd) declared the
Action Peoples Party (APP), Fubara’s
proxy party, since his own PDP boycotted
the elections having been hijacked by Wike,
as winner in 22 LGAs and 314
Councillorship positions. Etche Local
Government where results had been
suspended was finally declared for the
Action Alliance. The remaining
Councillorship seats were won by the APC
(in Ward 3), the Social Democratic Party,
the Boot Party and the Young People’s
Party (YPP). Without much ado, the newly
elected Chairmen were quickly sworn in
and given their Certificates of Return on
Sunday, October 6 at a Government House
ceremony where Governor Fubara
proclaimed that desperate situations require
desperate measures.
Truly, the situation in Rivers last
Saturday was a desperate one. For me, the
following are the quick takeaways. One,
Fubara, the godson had become the father.
This is in line with an aspect of the wisdom
Continued on Page 7<

Opinion
OCTOBER 16 - 29 2024 TheTrumpet
Fire and the Ballot Revolution in
Page7
Rivers State
Siminalayi Fubara
Continued from Page 6<
of Silenus which says that ultimately the
son becomes the father in the process of
Being-ness. Charles Kettering once said
that “Every father should remember one
day his son will follow his example, not his
advice.” Whatever advice Wike may have
given Fubara, what we witnessed on
Saturday in Rivers State was a case of
Fubara following Wike’s example. In 2016,
one of the first things Wike did upon the
assumption of office as Governor was to
sack some of the Local Government
Caretaker Committee Chairmen appointed
by Governor Rotimi Amaechi, his
predecessor. Wike would soon elect his
own Local Council Chairmen. And he
seized control of the political structure in
Rivers State. He beheaded his own
Godfather. The same destiny has now
caught up with him. Nemesis. Hubris. What
a man sows he reaps. Karma. What goes
around comes around. Fubara is now the
new Godfather in Rivers politics and he
sounded so as he admonished the new
Local Council Chairmen on Sunday to
serve the people and not their stomachs.
Two, Wike had promised to put fire in
other people’s States should they interfere
in the politics of Rivers State. The fire that
he talked about has been lit in his own very
backyard. Should he be allowed to put fire
in Rivers State? The biggest fear in Rivers
today is the fear of violence and the
breakdown of law and order. On election
day, there was violence in Ogunabali area
of Port Harcourt where voters were
attacked and election materials were
destroyed. In Ward 19, Elekahia, policemen
were said to have invaded the polling unit
and obstructed the voting process. On
Monday, that is yesterday, after the police
announced that they had unsealed the local
council secretariats, hoodlums attacked the
local councils in Ikwerre, Emohua, Ahoada
East and Eleme and set them on fire.
Elsewhere, anti-Fubara groups tried to
prevent the Local Government Chairmen
from taking office. Each one of those
locations must be treated as crime scenes.
The police may have unsealed the
secretariats but their role in the Rivers crisis
is deplorable. The Nigeria Police Force has
a constitutional role under Sections 214 –
216 of the 1999 Constitution, and Section
4 of the Police Act to protect lives and
property. It is one of those strange things in
Nigeria’s democratic process that a court of
law would give an order that the Police
must not provide security in any part of
Nigeria and the police hierarchy would
claim it is bound by that order, rather than
challenge it immediately. The elections in
Rivers took place without the police
providing security. It is unfortunate that the
Nigeria Police unwittingly exposed its own
creeping irrelevance in election matters.
The people of Rivers did not need 35,000
policemen deployed in the Edo
Gubernatorial elections last month. When
the people are determined, they will
safeguard the peace and make their own
choices. President Tinubu after the fact, and
fire that has erupted in Rivers State has now
ordered the police to provide security in that
State. Must the President wait for the blowout
before intervening?
Three, the President must go a step
further. He must call the main gladiators in
Rivers State to order. He must put a stop to
the money business whereby Wike and his
allies come to see him in the morning, and
Fubara sneaks in later in the day, both
parties carrying tales about who is right and
who is wrong. Before the burning of local
council headquarters began in Rivers,
President Goodluck Jonathan had warned
that the desperate situation in Rivers should
be handled with caution. He was right. It
was precisely an election and the craziness
of the political actors that set the Western
Region on fire in 1965. Prime Minister
Tafawa Balewa thought it was a problem of
the Yoruba people, so Awolowo should
worry about it. The Western Region soon
became the “Wild Wild West”, and the fires
that time consumed not just the Western
region but the entire country and Nigeria’s
democracy at its infancy. Tinubu says he is
on a working vacation abroad, even when
such an oxymoron as a working vacation is
most strange. We need him to call Fubara
and make it clear that he needs to put Rivers
in order, otherwise he risks the possibility
of a State of Emergency being declared in
that State. As for Wike, he must be told
eyeball to eyeball that if there is no peace
in Rivers, he will lose his Ministerial
position in the proposed cabinet reshuffle.
Fubara and his allies have made it clear that
Wike is not so much of a political asset to
Tinubu after all. He is not bound to be the
man that will deliver Rivers State to Tinubu
in 2027. The people of Rivers State have
shown that they are done with him. It
remains for Wike to learn from Sir Peter
Odili, and Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, former
Rivers Governors who have chosen peace
by staying in a position of respect and
dignity.
Four, the judiciary showed up wrongly
in the Rivers election. Can you imagine a
court of law forbidding the security
agencies from carrying out their
constitutional duties to provide security?
This is against the spirit and letter of the
Constitution. Can you imagine courts of
equal and co-ordinate jurisdiction issuing
conflicting orders, allowing political actors
to shop for forum from Port Harcourt to
Abuja? There is a new sheriff in the
judiciary who has promised to put an end
to such conduct. We urge Justice Kudirat
Kekere-Ekun, CJN, to begin with the
example of Rivers State. The various
gladiators have announced that the courts
will be their next battle ground. His
Lordship must call the judex to order and
put a stop to the continued denigration of
the role of the judiciary in Nigeria’s
electoral processes.
Five, something has to be done about
the local council election process, which in
virtually every State simply ends up
producing the ruling party in the State or the
proxy party of the Governor as the victor.
The Governors have seized control of the
local government process. In the last week
of September in Anambra State, the ruling
All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
was declared winner by the ANSIEC in the
State’s 21 local government councils and
326 wards. In Rivers, the Governor’s proxy
party, the APP took 22 out of 23 local
councils and 314 wards out of 319. They
“donated” just one local council to another
party – the Action Alliance. We witnessed
the same scenario in Akwa Ibom State over
the weekend where the ruling PDP took 30
councils out of 31. One council, Essien
Udim was “donated” to the APC. Senator
Godswill Akpabio comes from that local
government! The Governor had to spare
Essien Udim in recognition of Akpabio’s
political relevance. Local council elections
were also held in Benue on Saturday,
October 5. The Governor of Benue State is
a Catholic priest in politics, Fr. Hyacinth
Alia. His party followed the familiar pattern
winning all 23 Chairmanship positions and
all 276 councillorship seats. We need to
rethink, review and reconsider our Local
Council/State election system that serves
only the interest of the incumbent
Governor.
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Page8 TheTrumpet OCTOBER 16 - 29 2024
Opinion
Tinubu, Paul Biya and birthday
tributes
By Reuben Abati
na wah for you oh.
How person go dey call
“Bros,
you, you no go pick
call?”
“A beg. My head no straight these
days.”
“Are you okay? You sick?”
“I sick. I sick well, well, well.”
What is the matter? And your wife
could not call family? These women!
What is going on?”
“I sick oh. Because my salary can
no longer take me home. Nobody is
increasing salaries. They don’t even
pay as at when due anymore. When I
buy fuel, the thing evaporates in 24
hours. My heart is perpetually
pumping up and down. My body
aches. And Madam is putting me
under pressure that we have not yet
paid the children’s school fees. I am
sick. I can feel it in my bones. Have
you not noticed that the fuel we buy
these days simply evaporates?
“My brother. Bros. Na wah.”
“Tell me where are we going in
this country?”
“President Tinubu and his wife are
certain that we are going somewhere
that is good. Mrs. Tinubu made the
point the other day that we, Nigerians
are not seeing what the Lord is doing
and that in two years, we will all see
the truth.”
“Like Saul who became Paul on
the road to Damascus. I beg. Let
nobody deceive me. Na hungry I
hungry, I am not blind oh. I can see
what is going on in Nigeria. What is
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
the Lord doing in Nigeria that Mrs.
Tinubu is talking about? She goes to
Ife, visits her alma mater, Obafemi
Awolowo University and donates one
billion Naira. What does she do for a
living? Where did she get the money
from? And then she says we,
Nigerians must learn to work hard.
Oh. Oh. These people. So, I don’t
have one billion Naira because I am
lazy? And then on top of it all, the
Ooni of Ife erects a fake gold statue
in her honour. Rochas Okorocha
Iberiberism in Ife! And I am here,
looking for quality fuel. This country
is not okay, I swear.”
“E lo fokan bale. I believe that
everything will be okay. President
Tinubu is working on it. He is on a
working vacation. From England to
France. As a Christian, I believe that
you will soon see what the Lord is
doing.”
“I can see what is going on. We
must stop blackmailing God in this
matter. I can see that the leaders of
Nigeria do not care enough about us.
They are going about in luxury jets,
SUVs, yachts, and Nigerians are told
to work harder and be patient. It is the
slave master’s logic. And the
President says he is on a working
vacation. Okay, what working
vacation? It is either you are on
vacation which is legitimate,
perfectly legitimate. But you are
working and you are on vacation?
What an oxymoron! And Mrs.
Tinubu gets a statue in Ile Ife? As
what?” Tell me.”
“As our wife. First Lady. Mother
of the Nation. Yoruba wife.”
“I have told you. We are not okay
in this country.”
“But I disagree with you that the
President cannot go on a working
vacation? Mr. Bayo Onanuga has
made it clear that the President can
run this country from anywhere on
the planet. If he so wishes he can
leave France and go to Australia and
stay there till the end of the year.”
“No. No. No. I disagree. Number
One. Why must he always go to
Britain and France? Number Two. It
is not true that he can stay away from
Nigeria for as long as he likes.
Sections 145 and 146 of the 1999
Constitution are very clear. If he is
going to be away due to vacation or
incapacitation, he is required by the
Constitution to hand over to his
Deputy. Did he hand over to the Vice
President? Did he inform the
National Assembly? He just carried
his bags and said he was going on a
working vacation? President Tinubu
is undermining the Nigerian
Constitution.”
“It is his prerogative. He is
President. He can delegate as he
wishes. The Nigerian President is a
monarch. That is the truth.”
“They say he is on a working
vacation. I want to know what work
he has done. He had to leave Britain
just when that country was hosting
business leaders from every part of
the world to discuss the future of
investment and Britain’s economic
growth. It would have been a great
networking opportunity for Nigeria.
But our President left.”
“Again. You miss the point. The
International Investment Summit in
Central London was strictly by
invitation. Elon Musk who wanted to
be at the Summit, so desperately, was
not invited. Other leaders in the world
DIG Taiwo Lakanu Continued on Page 9<

Opinion
OCTOBER 16 - 29 2024
Tinubu, Paul Biya and birthday
tributes
TheTrumpet
Page9
Continued from Page 8<
were not invited. The Summit is not a
gathering of the tribes and former
colonies.”
“Okay I get the point. Nigeria was
not considered important enough. So
what work did President Tinubu do or
that you know that he did during this
working vacation? Nigerians have the
right to know”
“No. You cannot order the
President around. He is not your
prisoner. He is a monarch. Get that
straight. Why do Nigerians think that
because this is a democracy, they can
order the President and his wife
around anyhow? What is wrong with
us? In fact, we should count ourselves
lucky. The people of Cameroon have
just been told that it is a breach of
national security to talk about the
whereabouts of President Paul Biya.
Biya was last seen in September
when he appeared on television at a
function in Beijing. He is 91 years
old. He has been ruling Cameroon for
more than 41 years, the second
longest ruling monarch after Teodoro
Obiang Mbasogo of Equatorial
Guinea. Tinubu is just two years on
President Paul Biya
the throne, you are looking for him.
Come on man, he is still better than
Paul Biya. I dare say he is even better
than President Buhari who spent a
total of more than a year outside the
country.”
“And is that good for Nigeria? I
ask. Answer. Is that how anybody
should run a serious country?”
“Don’t worry yourself, Nigeria
will survive. We will always survive.
President Tinubu told us, have you
forgotten? E lo fokan bale.”
“I have my doubts. I am anxious.
Which fokan bale is that? Very soon
men will lose their wives because
they will no longer be men at home.
Wives will give up their husbands
and homes will be ruined.”
“Be patient bro. Two years.”
“Two years, with this hardship?”
“Something will come up. Naija
no dey carry last. Our God will never
forsake us.”
“Will you stop that crap? Let the
Pastors say that on Sunday to their
congregations. All these Pastors who
ride limousines and private jets and
they preach hope to their poorly-fed
church members.”
“Touch not my anointed. Thou
shall not speak ill of the people of
God.”.
“Very soon, I will stop going to
Church. No more paying of tithes. I
will use the money to buy fuel and
food. The Pastors are still telling
people Nigeria go better because
people still go to their churches.
When people stop showing up, then
they will know that something has
gone wrong with Nigeria.”
“People will always go to church.
The Pastors preach hope. Hope keeps
us alive.”
“Go and mark my words. Nigeria
is heading to a crossroads where hope
will no longer show the way, hope
without purpose and direction means
nothing. The road called hope must
be paved with clear targets. Please
where are we?”
“As we speak, I am on my lunch
break at work, munching on
something, thinking aloud with you”
“I am angry”
“I believe. I hope that tomorrow is
another day. Nigeria always survives.
We can’t go on like this, yes.
Something may change the course of
our history. Look at Guyana, a
country of 800,000 people. As of
Pastor Kayode Owolabi
2009, that country was famous for
eco-tourism and its rain forests. In
2015, Exxon Mobil found oil in large
quantities in its coastal waters. Today,
Guyana, a former British colony way
back in 1796, is now an oil rich
country, so rich the Prime Minister is
promising people free money and
free opportunities, the country’s
colonial architecture is giving way to
glass sealed buildings. It is a new day
in Guyana. The Lord that did it for
them in that country can do it also for
us in Nigeria”
“Bad example. Bad comparison.
Nigeria already travelled through that
road before. We found oil and the
country scattered. What has oil
brought us? It has brought to a point
where we cannot even refine our fuel.
Something that flows in some
people’s father’s backyards. It has
brought us to a point where a man
from a State where there is no crude
oil is now the one refining fuel for
Nigeria making all the people who
boast about our oil, na my papa get
am, look truly stupid.”
“That is life. You can have
something, talk about it and not know
Continued on Page 10<

Page10 TheTrumpet OCTOBER 16 - 29 2024
Opinion
Tinubu, Paul Biya and birthday
tributes
Continued from Page 9<
what to do with it. God has a hand in
it. He will then bring somebody who
can do it.”
“You always talk back and forth,
here and there. I do not know what
your people are doing.”
“Which my people? I don’t know
them oh. I am just trying to be a good
person?”
“You are a PDP man then?”
“Which PDP? Those ones that will
fight from now till 2028. They will
wake up after the 2027 elections have
been won and lost”
“Are you cursing the PDP? The
main opposition party in the
country?”
“Let me quote Daniel Bwala jare.
Kokoro ti n je efo, inu efo lo wa? The
maggot that is spoiling the vegetable
is inside the vegetable. Do you get
it?”
“I get it. No hope for the APC
either. Things are so bad even Libya
is now insulting Nigeria, in football.”
II.
Of Birthdays: Is-haq Oloyede,
Taiwo Lakanu and Kayode
Owolabi
Many persons that I know and that
are dear to me have been celebrating
their birthdays in the last week and
one of them, Pastor Kayode Owolabi
turns 60 on October 17. On October
10, Professor Is-haq Oloyede turned
70. He is the current Registrar and
Chief Executive of the Joint
Admissions and Matriculation Board
(JAMB), a Commander of the Order
of the Niger (CON) and a Fellow of
the Nigeria Academy of Letters. He
is also the Secretary General of the
Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic
Affairs, the 8 th and former Vice
Chancellor of the University of Ilorin,
former Chairman of the Association
of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian
Universities and Committee of Vice
Chancellors, and former President of
the Association of African
Universities.
Oloyede is one of such Diamonds
who have spent a lifetime excelling in
whatever they do, from his
emergence as a National Merit
Scholar (a distinction I proudly share
with him) to graduating with a First
Class Honour (we are in that boat
together too), to becoming a
Professor in 1995 (I left university
teaching to become a talking head in
the media). He later became the Vice
Chancellor of his alma mater in 2007.
Oloyede’s tenure as Vice Chancellor
in Ilorin was regarded as the brightest
moments in that University’s history.
He is a focused, committed scholar
and a man who pays great attention to
details. He has proven his measure as
Registrar of JAMB, a position to
which he was appointed by President
Muhammadu Buhari in 2016. In eight
years, Oloyede has turned JAMB
around and made it a success story.
JAMB used to be an unprofitable
government agency, a cesspool of
corruption, but today, JAMB makes
profit for the Nigerian Government
and remains one of the success stories
of Nigeria. Under Oloyede’s watch,
the institution has been sanitized.
Oloyede is a perfect example of a
good Muslim, a good citizen, a good
scholar and a platinum-citizen
representing Nigeria well. He calls
me “the Deputy Governor” but that is
a story for another day. I congratulate
him on the occasion of his 70 th
birthday. President Tinubu describes
him as “an exceptional scholar, and
an uncommon scholar who has
shown rare commitment to financial
integrity and accountability in public
service”. Governor Dapo Abiodun of
Ogun State where Oloyede hails
from, says he “remains a leading light
among many of his contemporaries
and distinctly stands out for his
integrity and thorough approach.” He
deserves the accolades.
DIG Taiwo Lakanu (rtd) marked
his 65 th birthday over the weekend,
Saturday, October 12. This is a good
man who supported me in the days of
struggle. He is a policeman. I am a
journalist. But he is one good
example of how a policeman can be
your friend and I have no doubts that
many who know Lakanu would attest
to this fact. He is professional, firm,
knowledgeable and dependable. With
degrees in History and Law, (BA.,
LLB, B.L, LLM.) he belongs to the
elite class of the Nigerian Police, one
of those in that profession who could
sustain an argument and an intelligent
conversation. He rose, not
surprisingly to the rank of a Deputy
Inspector General of Police. He
joined the police in 1986, and served
as Commissioner in Imo and Ekiti.
He was CP, Lagos Airport Command,
AIG, Zone 7, Abuja. He was also
Police Secretary. The only reward for
hard work and distinction is more
work. DIG Lakanu has since been
recalled for more work by an
appreciative government. He served
on the Lagos State #EndSARS panel.
He is now back in Abuja as a member
of the Police Service Commission.
He is the Akogun of Lagos.
Congratulations, Akogun of the
Universe! Live long.
And finally, in two days, one of
the persons closest to my heart in this
world, Pastor Kayode Owolabi turns
60 on October 17. We grew up
together. We shared dreams together.
Our paths may be different. We are
brothers, going back to the roots.
Work demands would not permit me
to travel to England, where he lives to
celebrate his special occasion with
him, but he is a man who deserves to
be celebrated and he has earned all
the successes that he has recorded.
Prof Is-haq Oloyede
Kay, as I used to call him, he is now
Pastor Kay, is one intense personality,
he tells you he wants to achieve a
goal, he will latch on to it and refuse
to waiver until he reaches that goal.
He is a very organized, and a
deliberate man to the last detail. He
used to tell me I am not making
enough use of my talents. I think he
pushes me too hard. But he means
well. He has a generous and kind
heart. Growing up together, his
family was my family and mine was
his too. Armed with a Bachelor’s
degree in History, he later obtained a
Master’s in Law and Diplomacy
(MILD). He worked as a banker for
years. Then he found God or perhaps
God called him to service as a man of
His word. He is today the General
Overseer, Senior Pastor of the
Everlasting Arms Ministries,
shepherd and author, with
headquarters in London. He is
constantly travelling all over the
world winning souls for Christ. He
found his calling. But this is no
surprise. His father, E. V. O. Owolabi
was also a priest of the Anglican
Church. Happy Birthday, Pastor
Oluwakayode Babatunde Adeleke
Owolabi. God bless you. Your
brother salutes you.

Opinion
OCTOBER 16 - 29 2024
TheTrumpet
Forgotten protectors: The need for
police pension reform
By Abiodun Komolafe
Page11
The social contract theory posits
that individuals surrender certain
rights to the State in exchange for
protection and security. Yet, Nigeria’s
police pension crisis raises a fundamental
question about the reciprocity of this
arrangement. Do we truly honour the
sacrifices of those who safeguard our
communities?
Nigeria’s police pension system is
disappointingly inadequate. After 35
years of service, officers reportedly
receive meager gratuities: ASP-SP
(below N2 million), CSP-AC: (below N3
million), and DCP-CP (below N4
million). Monthly pensions are equally
paltry: ASP-SP (N20,000-N35,000), and
CSP-DC (N35,000-N60,000). A retired
Commissioner of Police (CP) gets
N70,000 as monthly pension while his or
her gratuity is reportedly not even up to
N5m. Notably, Assistant Inspectors-
General of Police (AIGs) and Inspectors-
General (IGs) are exempt from the
contributory pension scheme. This
contrasts sharply with the generous
pensions and perks awarded to Senators,
Representatives, and Governors who
serve only four to eight years.
From the above, one can safely say
that police pensioners in Nigeria face a
daunting reality. Years of service are
disregarded, leaving them feeling
invisible. This precarious situation
exacerbates poverty, erodes morale and
negatively impacts families. The quality
of life plummets, veteran welfare is
neglected and valuable institutional
knowledge is lost. Moreover, police
pensioners are frequently subjected to
humiliation, disrespect and neglect,
which undermine their dignity, selfesteem
and mental well-being. These
issues not only expose systemic
inefficiencies but also perpetuate
corruption and disregard for public
servants.
The plight of police pensioners in
Nigeria has reached a critical point. Over
100,000 retirees are reportedly owed
N150 billion in outstanding pensions,
forcing 75% of them to live below the
poverty line. The situation is dire, with
more than 50% losing their homes due to
mortgage non-payment. Furthermore,
30% of their families have been
compelled to withdraw their children
from school, while many retirees have
tragically lost their lives awaiting their
retirement benefits.
It’s alarming to note that police
officers fight alongside military
personnel in Nigeria’s troubled regions,
yet their ultimate sacrifices often go
unseen and unappreciated. When military
personnel are killed in action, the nation
mourns, but police officers who make the
same sacrifice are frequently forgotten.
This stark disparity underscores a
troubling devaluation of police service
and sacrifice.
The Police Pension Reform Act 2014
introduced a contributory scheme for
police officers. However, the Nigeria
Police Force’s unique needs necessitate
special consideration. A proposed bill
seeks exemption, providing tailored
benefits. The Pension Reform Act 2004
transferred police pension assets to the
new scheme. The Nigeria Police Act
2020 reformed police service, including
retirement benefits. This reform aims to
enhance police officers’ retirement
welfare, addressing their distinct
challenges. Good on paper! But whither
the outcome?
‘Poverty’s Police State’! ‘Disarmed
and Disregarded’! ‘Social Unrest’!
‘Erosion of Trust’! The police pensioners’
ordeal in Nigeria, which stems from a
fractured social contract, where the State
neglects its obligations, represents deeper
socio-political challenges. Unlike other
countries where best practices in police
pension management are demonstrated,
policing in Nigeria reflects a broader
crisis of vulnerability, insecurity and
disillusionment. It shows that there’s a
dysfunction in the entire concept of the
police system. Most importantly, it
highlights the urgent need for reform to
address the plight of the forgotten
protectors and restore dignity to those
who have served. Philosophical concepts
shed light on this issue: ‘bad faith’
(denying responsibility), ‘banality of evil’
(bureaucratic corruption), and ‘being-inthe-world’
(precarious existence). This
reality underscores post-colonial
disillusionment and the absence of
‘eudaimonia’ (human flourishing).
In democracies, special dispensation
is given to the police system in order to
attract and retain the best human capacity.
Most of these countries have special
discounted mortgages Again, this leads us
to another issue! The idea of ‘Barracks’
to house the police personnel is a
There is need for Police Pension reforms
ridiculous throwback to a colonial Police
Force. Take, for instance, the police
system in Egypt is called Egyptian
National Police (ENP). Established in
1878 in the Khedivate of Egypt, ENP is a
department within the Ministry of
Interior. Impliedly, the police, being part
of the community, should live within the
community they serve. Barracks are best
reserved for Special Forces during
emergencies. The police should be a
service and not a force.
In post-colonial democracies, a Police
Force is outdated. Historically, colonial
authorities used Police Forces to
intimidate the local population and the
indigenous people. They’re not meant to
provide the mass of the people with
service. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s police
force hasn’t evolved since colonial times.
That’s why, instead of protecting and
serving the community, it prioritizes
regime protection. If we go by the United
Nations’ recommendation of at least 300
police officers per 100,000 civilians,
Nigeria’s population of 229 million only
highlights the disparity between Nigeria’s
current policing and international
standards.
Disturbingly, over 133,000 of
Nigeria’s 371,800 police officers are
assigned to protect the establishment,
leaving most citizens under-served. In a
clime where politics has not only become
a story but also deepened our pain, the
system will continue to dramatize an
already dramatic situation.
In today’s fiercely competitive global
economy, Nigeria needs a world-class
policing service. Therefore, allowing the
police pensioners’ ordeal to continue can
have devastating consequences for the
country. The economic implications are
dire. One, it’s a sure road to increased
poverty, inequality and crime rates as
desperate pensioners turn to illegal
activities to survive. Two, it can erode
trust in government and institutions,
fuelling social unrest and discontent, and
negatively impacting national cohesion
and social stability.
To tackle the police pension crisis,
immediate payment of outstanding
pensions and increased pension funding
are essential. Policymakers must view
pensioners as dedicated public servants,
not just statistics. Police officers risk their
lives daily to protect others. Therefore,
their compensation must reflect this
sacrifice. Effective short-term solutions
include streamlining pension
administration to simplify processes,
establishing a dedicated Police Pension
Board for focused oversight, and
enhancing pension benefits to reflect
inflation and cost of living. Long-term
solutions include establishing special
pension schemes for police officers
serving in high-risk areas and creating a
Police Pension Ombudsman Office to
address complaints.
Resolving the police pension crisis
requires accountability, transparency and
social responsibility. To this end, Nigeria
must also adopt a comprehensive police
pension reform, embracing
professionalism, cutting-edge technology,
forensic sciences and artificial
intelligence. For the Police Pension
Scheme to gain credibility, a Board of
Trustees, ideally led by a retired Chief
Justice of the Federation, should oversee
it. Annual audited reports from top-tier
international auditing firms are also
essential; and these reports should be
publicly accessible for scrutiny and
forensic analysis. This transparency will
not only foster trust, the transformation
will also align the police with the values
and requirements of a post-colonial
society, shedding its outdated colonial
legacy.
President Bola Tinubu and the
National Assembly have crucial roles to
play in tackling the systemic
inefficiencies plaguing police retirees’
pension payments. To address this, the
National Assembly should conduct public
hearings to investigate the root causes
and identify effective solutions. This
proactive approach will not only prevent
similar issues in the future but also
guarantee timely and efficient benefits for
police pensioners. By taking this step, the
National Assembly will be seen to be
demonstrating its commitment to the
welfare of police retirees, ultimately
restoring Nigerians‘ trust in the
government’s ability to provide for its
citizens.
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 16 - 29 2024

OCTOBER 16 - 29 2024 TheTrumpet
Page13

Page14 TheTrumpet OCTOBER 16 - 29 2024
Opinion
Adegboyega Oyetola:
Reflections on leadership
and legacy
“And reckon (people) by the number of years, so that they may
understand.” (Quran 18:19).
BY ABIODUN
KOMOLAFE
My first encounter with
Adegboyega Oyetola, then Chief
of Staff to Governor Rauf
Aregbesola, occurred in 2014 during the
buildup to the Osun Governorship election,
where Aregbesola sought reelection on the
All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket.
Today, Oyetola serves as the Minister of
Marine and Blue Economy.
My second and most enduring
encounter with Oyetola commenced in
October 2016, when I was appointed
Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media
by Aregbesola. I later continued to serve
under Governor Oyetola in the same
capacity from December 4, 2020, to
November 26, 2022. This tenure fostered a
profound bond between us, transforming
into a lasting father-son relationship that
remains strong to this day.
Reflecting on Oyetola’s leadership and
legacy reveals valuable insights into
governance, vision, and community
impact. Born on September 29, 1954, in
Iragbiji, Osun State, Oyetola’s
transformation from Insurance expert to
Chief of Staff, Governor, and now
Minister, demonstrates unwavering
dedication to public service. It shows that
one can live with conviction and integrity,
earning respect rather than hatred. Today,
Nigerians admire not only his
achievements but also his character, shaped
by humility, compassion and an untiring
commitment to the greater good.
Oyetola‘s remarkable journey teaches
us that true fulfilment lies not in power,
wealth or fame, but in humility, empathy
and a deep connection to the human
experience. Through life’s trials and
triumphs, he has remained steadfast,
acknowledging divine guidance. Now, he
seeks the quietude that calms the mind,
clarity that illuminates the heart, and
wisdom that guides the soul.
Olalekan Badmus, an engineer and
former Commissioner for Regional
Integration and Special Duties in Oyetola’s
government, praises the former Governor
as “a highly respected leader with a proven
track record of delivering on promises and
upholding exceptional administrative
ethics.” Badmus, who is currently the
Executive Director of Marine and
Operations at the Nigeria Ports Authority
(NPA), believes that Oyetola’s legacy
continues to inspire and motivate both
those who’ve worked under him and those
growing under his guidance. I also share
this sentiment!
As we mark Oyetola’s 70th birthday,
Psalm 90:12 takes on profound
significance: “Teach us to number our
days, that we may apply our hearts unto
wisdom.” This milestone presents a unique
opportunity to explore the intersection of
politics, governance and community
development through his experiences. We
can draw valuable lessons from his
leadership, highlighting the importance of
vision, integrity and compassion in shaping
Nigeria’s future.
Governor Gboyega Oyetola (Photo -
Twitter @GboyegaOyetola)
As Oyetola marks seven decades of life,
has his extensive experience taught him to
cherish every day? If his 70th birthday
presents a chance to reflect on his legacy,
accomplishments and future goals, will he
leverage this landmark to mentor, advise
and inspire future leaders? What does he
hope to achieve or leave behind? Is it not
time for the consummate politician to start
reassessing priorities, considering
succession planning, and ensuring his
vision endures? Will he consolidate past
accomplishments or pursue new
challenges? Can his influence champion
critical policies, education, healthcare or
economic development?
At 70, Oyetola should cement his
legacy by consolidating achievements and
resolving pending issues. As he begins this
new chapter, recognizing when to pass the
baton and offer guidance, rather than
control or power play, is crucial. It is a time
for reflection, growth, and exploration of
personal passions that bring joy and
fulfilment. Sharing his wisdom through
memoirs, lectures, or mentorship will
inspire future generations and solidify his
historical impact. Since perfection is God’s
exclusive domain, ‘IleriOluwa’, as Oyetola
is fondly called, should own mistakes,
acknowledge errors, and foster a culture of
responsibility with tactical mandate. Even
when he has mastered the clock, he still has
to thread the needle carefully, and his
commitment to integrity will have a lasting
impact beyond his tenure - knowing his
legacy transcends politics.
In the words of Nelson Mandela,
“Education is the most powerful weapon
which you can use to change the world.”
And, according to the Multiple Indicator
Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted by the
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in
2021, there were “8-15% dropout rate
among adolescents in primary and
secondary schools across the Southwest
region, which include Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos,
Ondo, Osun, and Ogun States.” For
Oyetola specifically, education “is the
foundation upon which an individual builds
his or her life.” So, is it any wonder why
his commitment to education is evident in
initiatives like payment of West African
Senior School Certificate Examination
(WASSCE) fees for students, distribution
of educational materials and scholarship
schemes? For these noble ventures,
Oyetola deserves all the flowers!
‘Ìlera l’ògùn orò’ (Health is wealth).
Marking his 70th birthday, Oyetola’s free
medical and surgical outreach for more
than 4,000 Osun State residents is truly
commendable. This initiative showcases
his unwavering commitment to community
well-being. Additionally, distributing raw
food items to vulnerable individuals
through selected mosques, churches, and
accredited centers across the State
demonstrates his kindness and dedication
to those in need. Indeed, that’s a kind of
heart!
‘Ilé la ti ń kó èsó r’òde’ (Charity begins
at home). I’ve long argued that Oyetola’s
lasting legacy will be shaped by his success
in revitalizing Osun APC, rather than his
current role in Abuja. Beyond his
distinguished public service, his political
endeavors, particularly in addressing Osun
APC’s challenges, must yield tangible
results. Currently, Osun APC yearns for
testimonies that are difficult for the
enemies to believe and Oyetola should be
prepared to lead the prayer warriors.
In today’s complex and noisy political
landscape, defections have become an
inherent part of the game. Unfortunately,
pretence, sycophancy and eye-service have
also become synonymous with its
unwritten rules. Of course, that’s why those
who are supposed to be seeing visions end
up kneeling for those who are imbued with
the gift of dreaming. How do I mean?
Specifically, why do politicians in Nigeria,
including those in Osun State,
predominantly switch between the
Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and
APC, rarely considering alternatives like
Labour Party (LP) or Action Alliance
(AA)? As Oyetola takes on the challenge
of revitalizing Osun APC’s fragile
dynamics, he must recognize that election
victories rely practically on the undiluted
support of the mass of the people, the
critical electorate. Therefore, appealing to
their consciences is paramount!
To revitalize his influence, Oyetola
should do more in reconnecting with the
grassroots by personally engaging local
communities, listening to their concerns,
and sincerely empowering them to drive
change. This entails fostering intra-party
democracy through open dialogue,
transparency and inclusive decisionmaking.
By building strategic alliances
with like-minded organizations and
stakeholders, IleriOluwa can amplify his
impact and create lasting change.
At 70, Oyetola’s life embodies the
human experience: a poignant balance of
vulnerability and resilience, impermanence
and transcendence. Seven decades of life
have distilled his perspective, revealing
that true fulfilment stems from
appreciation, not accumulation, and that
life’s value lies not in its length, but its
depth. Yes, his journey has illuminated the
convergence of purpose and meaning,
where passion meets significance.
As this soulful individual, whose life
embodies the beauty of human existence,
embarks on a new chapter, may his praise
resonate eternally, inspiring humanity with
a symphony of gratitude! May his faith
remain unwavering, his heart humble, and
his spirit vibrant! May his journey be filled
with transcendent moments, wise
reflections, cherished memories, and the
uplifting power of faith, hope and love!
May he find solace in the present, gratitude
for the past, and hope for the future!
Because He lives, for Adegboyega
Oyetola, the end is not now!
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)

News
OCTOBER 16 - 29 2024
TheTrumpet
BBI reveals finalists for Annual
Achievement Recognition Awards
Page15
The Building Blocks Initiative –
organisers of the 21 st Annual
Achievement Recognition Awards
(ARA) has announced the Grand ARA
Awards Finalists for 2024.
GROUP 1
Honorary: Princess Golda Abiola;
Sesime Dua, Althea Smith, Jamil Jimmy
Eniola, Cllr Dr Jacqui Dyer MBE, Ese
Adams-Aliu, Jackie Defoe, Eva Mbiru,
Prince Lanre Sunmonu, Juliet Campbell
MP, Eugene Ndubuisi Nwosu, Nkechi
Okoro, Dolapo Adebiyi, Bimbo Roberts
Folayan, Lola Owolabi, Julliet
Makhapila, Dr Abdul Dewale
Muhammed, Kemi Atijosan, Roseline
Sanni Ajose, Tayo Fatunla, Olatokunbo
Tosh Modupe, Cllr Dr Sade Bright, Dr
Sunday Popoola, Cllr Susan Fajana-
Thomas OBE, Prof Chris Imafidon, Cllr
Pauline George, Cllr Margaret Greer, Dr
Lady Waynett Peters.
GROUP 2
Community Leadership: Dr
Boikanyo, David Reid, Lydia Tett Olet,
Ola Oyalegan, Juliet Makhapila,
Entrepreneur of the Year: Dolapo
Adebiyi, Sharidin Mumuni, Nkechi
Okoro
Hair and Beauty: Jesmin Ferdause,
Ionias Makeover World
Health and Social Care: Nkechi
Okoro, Dolapo Adebiyi
International Business Recognition:
Bimbo Roberts Folayan
Lifetime Achievement:
Golda Abiola
Princess
Media and Journalism: Rose Peter
Graham
Creative Arts, Culture and
Heritage: Anthony Everest, Princess
Golda Abiola, Tayo Fatunla, Roseline
Sanni Ajose.
Political Leadership: Juliet
Campbell MP, Cllr Dr Sade Bright, Cllr
Margaret Greer
Pride of Southwark: David Reid,
Rugiatu Kanu
Professional Leadership:
Olatokunbo Tosh Modupe, Dr Abdul
Dewale Muhammed, Obi Umegbolu,
Oscar Bimpong, Dr Sunday Popoola, Ese
Adams-Aliu, Prof Chris Imafidon.
Small Business: Sesime Dua
Social Entrepreneur: Elizabeth Ijeh-
Tarila Jack, Ismael Lea South, Lola
Owolabi, Rugiatu Kanu, Emily Mendy
Sports and Entertainment: Gifty
Frazer
GROUP 3 - YOUTH
ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNITION
Young Entrepreneur Games
Cllr Sunny Lambe and Aline Ngaoba, Winner of BBI Volunteer of the Year Award 2023 b
Award: Latoya Likambi, Teyes Eye Ltd
and Likambi Global Publishing
Young Leadership: Maxwell
Nzekwe, Talents Technologies; Michael
Caleb Likambi, Likambi Global
Publishing
The annual BBI ARA Awards has
become a much-anticipated event within
the Black and Minority Ethnic business
and social calendar, bringing about
community and industrial recognition,
professional networking opportunities,
social celebration and a spirit of
togetherness.
The event will be held in-person this
year at the Hilton London Kensington,
179-199 Holland Park Avenue, London
W11 4UL on Saturday 26 October 2024
from 6pm till late.
The theme for this year’s event is:
AFRICA ARISE! - in celebration of this
year’s Black History Month and the
monumental contribution of Black people
to human advancement and spirit of
togetherness.
For more information about tickets,
performing and exhibiting at the event,
please visit www.eventbrite.co.uk and/or
contact info@bbinitiative.com
An Award recipient flanked by Councillors Michael Situ (Left) and Sunny Lambe (right)
An Award recipient flanked by Mr & Mrs Femi Okutubo

Page16 TheTrumpet OCTOBER 16 - 29 2024
TheTrumpet is published in London fortnightly by Trumpet
Field: 07956 385 604 E-mail: info@the-trumpet.com (ISSN: 1477-3392)