Month: October 2024

Allen Onyema: Peace No Longer at Ease
This one is no longer Air Peace o. The air is troubled. During the past week, reports filled the airwaves on the expanded indictment of my hard-working brother and his finance person on charges of money laundering and obstruction of justice. They have swiftly refuted it, maintained their innocence and have told us that their lawyers are fighting it and that they are very sure that they will come out innocent.
Whoever his communication experts are, they have run out of ideas. I swear, has the team not heard of going below the radar for now?
Another amusing fact is that some people are now adding ethnic sentiments to it. I have heard comments such as because he is Igbo and also “fighting oyibo on the London route na him make dem one finish our brother.”
Mbok, I cannot even put mouth on this. The sad thing is that one of the proponents of the ethnic sentiment is a PhD holder and a well-travelled individual. By the time he finished speaking, I had cholera. I kid you not. I rushed to the toilet to stool. Kai, ma basi, what an eruditely stupid submission.
My brother Allen, my advice is for you to mortgage at least four of your planes and get the very best legal support in the world – I suggest the firm that represented OJ Simpson and even though the man don die, he still get staff because they know how to handle a very bad case. Explore diplomatic channels at the highest level and also engage influential international lobbyists because if your “Igbo” brothers distract you, we may be spending some time with P.Diddy.
Mbok, fight this with sense. We are praying for you. Thank you.
Godswill Akpabio: Beware of Ides of March
Julius Ceaser was warned to beware the Ides of March, for my brother, na ides of all the months in the year.
We have seen reports suggesting a posible movement against him by his colleagues. Though he has come out to refute it in a statement and has restated his committment to the Senate and to Nigeria, it is not yet over.
As my former school principal, Mr. DB Ajayi, use to say, a sinner runneth when no man pursueth. Akpabio is deeply unpopular but at the same time fun to have as Senate President.
Me as a person, I love the gaffes associated with him which makes me laugh and which I consider a small distraction from the vagaries of life in today’s Nigeria.
His unpopularity I must say on the other hand stems from his almost insensitive outlook towards the plight of the average Nigerian and his inability to provide a strong bulwark against a ‘runaway’ executive arm of government.
So do you think, I support the removal of Akpabio as Senate President? The answer is No ooo. For the simple reason that if you take a cursory look at that hall, you will understand my position. There is no other uncommon senator in that hall.. One who will understabd the strategic importance of eating while we are protesting.
How many of them can fill a stadium endorsing him ‘life’ senator and in attendance the sitting governor from another party?
Mbok, they should leave our Akpabio for us o. He is the only one from Akwa Ibom that we have o.
Martins Otse: Very Dark Problem
For me, this was a very dark person. You got hold of a private conversation, forgetting the illegality of recording someone without his consent, and released it with full commentary, and some yeye lawyers were telling me that it is not defamation.
Me that the closest I have gone near Law school is standing by the bus stop opposite the place on Victoria Island, siddon here in Shomolu knows that it was defamation with capital letters.
I did not do this much when Chief Afe Babalola slammed me with a letter of criminal defamation. I rushed to Ekiti, carried all the big juju men I know from Ekiti to go and prostate, and even offered to have a haircut.
They even gave you time to apologise and retract and you were still playing to the gallery, only to go to the National Assembly after the deadline had been over to apologise. Mbok, they have slammed you with a judgment and I am here laughing.
Another source of worry that I am having here is the kind of lawyers that we are churning out these days. Some of these lawyers no really get sense o. Come and see the way they were even arguing with me all over the place when it was very clear that this very dark person was in the wrong.
Now judgment has come and the young man is left alone to his fate. I really hope his many followers will not desert him now especially as it is looking like there is monetary liability attached to the judgment. A very dark place to be. Na wa.
The Falanas, Please Leave Bobrisky Alone
The Falanas are beginning to look like one major reality show. The elder patriarch with a strong and rich pedigree in advocacy, human rights and power play; the handsome and very successful son who is a celebrity rapper and part-time social crusader, and the beautiful daughter who I am just seeing and falling in love with. Mbok, the lady is beautiful. I didn’t know that she even existed let alone her flawless beauty and elocution, and then the Mummy who is also a SAN but has remained quiet in all of this drama.
The way they are going, MultiChoice will start to consider using them to replace their weak Big Brother Naija show.
My major push to the Falanas is to kindly leave Bobrisky out of this round. The guy/babe has suffered enough, you can see that his/her makeup is falling off from worry.
The man was “jejely” giving his friend private “fabu” in my estimation. People say all sorts privately to either cajole them into bed or make them vote for them in the Edo election or make them support Wike over Fubara.
Maybe that was what Bob was doing to his friend in a very private conversation and enemies within leaked the thing to basket mouth who rushed to publish without reaching out to you for your position, without reaching out to Bob for confirmation, without any investigation – basic tenets of journalism – now you are chasing the “fabulist.”
If it is that one, by the time you check my own private conversations on this matter,na firing squad you will order for me.
So, my great friends, the Falanas, Bob is not your man, he has kuku said it was not him on the recording and that you should go and meet the man who released it to tell you who was on that thing. How can he apologise for something he claims not to know? In fact, he can even say he was at the salon washing his hair at the time of the recording.
Let us face this very dark fiend because he brought it to the public.
Nigerians had better reward me with an honorary Law degree with the way I am going o. It looks like I have more sense than some lawyers. I have more sense than Samson, the lawyer from Mushin who called me one Saturday and spoke to me for over one hour on the matter and by the time he finished, if I had seen the Oga of Law School, I for slap am for allowing such a person to pass through his school.
Troost Ekong: That was a Kidnap
As I watched the videos coming out of the Libyan situation with our football team, the only thing that came to my mind was that this was a hostage situation. I don’t know why people are not saying it for what it was- a true hostage situation.
Or how do you explain dropping us in a nondescript airport, no food or water, no communication with officials, refusal to allow them to go near the exit door, verbal abuse as reported – my people, the only thing missing na request for ransom money.
Maybe they have seen how broke we are and must have felt that these ones cannot pay o. But they failed to realise that we have Seyi. Seyi Tinubu would have paid anything to get our boys out.
For me, I think Nigeria should make a formal report to the International Court of Justice at the Hague for kidnap, assault and trauma. This one is no longer football; this one was terrorism by other means.
Saying that they too went through the same ordeal and didn’t complain is crap. What they went through in Nigeria was caused by them.
Nigeria should go for their expulsion and if there is any other punishment higher than that, we push for it. This was criminal. Thank you.
Indermit Gill, It’s Not Your Fault
This World Bank person, carrying his shaggy beard and looking very unkempt, opened his mouth to say that we must stay the course for another 15 years in this hardship. Mbok, this his lecture, he should have come to give it in Shomolu and after, we ask him to walk to his car alone and through the crowd then he will know just how Nigerians feel about his talk and his “paddy” government.
So, in one year, fuel has moved from where it was to where it is now, a crate of eggs has moved from where it was to where it is now, per hour hotel rooms have moved from where it was to where it is now and this one is saying 15 years by which time we would have all turned into the ghosts who danced for Michael Jackson in his Thriller video.
These are the kinds of people who are advising this government, making them impervious to the cries and sufferings of the people. People are dying and yet the screws keep tightening and this “mulla” is saying that we should endure not for 15 months but 15 years.
Mbok, what kind of “mumu” talk is that na. Is he saying there can be no alternative? Didn’t Obasanjo ask Babangida for a human face to his SAP? It appears this person and his friends in government have no real humanity, otherwise, this will not be happening, I tell you. Fifteen years ko, 15 years ni. Mshewwww.
 It Wasn’t Lucky Aiyedatiwa
I should not be laughing but could not help it when I saw reports that suggested that it was the Ondo State Governor who was in the clip.
I had watched the clip and saw something else- the wickedness of a woman. The Baba was walking away and the woman suddenly grabbed the man’s shirt and started screaming that he had beaten her. You see what men suffer at the hands of these kinds of women. If there was no video footage, that is how we would have lost another man.
But the Ondo opposition people saw something else in the footage- an opportunity for mischief. They said, oh that was Lucky feeling very unlucky in a tryst, turning Ondo State Government officials into plastic surgeons.
Come and see how they took the two faces and dissected them – Lucky has no gap teeth, the man has. Lucky has high cheekbones; the man has low cheekbones. The man skin dry, Lucky own wet. The man beard is slim, Lucky own wide.
Long and short, it wasn’t him. Na wa.
Rufai Oseni: A Thorn in Which Flesh?
This one will be thinking he is a thorn in the flesh. He will be sitting down in the studio and be postulating like say na him get Nigeria. Ohhh Tinubu’s eyes are too large, Wike looks scrawny, El-Rufai cannot speak English; he will be shouting on the set and mumu people will be hailing him.
Rufai used to be my friend but now I don’t like him again, he is now very slim. What you people do not know is that Rufai used to be very big- as in fat. His potbelly was out of this world and now that he has lost weight he will be yabbing everybody.
I think that Rufai is not any thorn in anybody’s flesh, I can tell you that. He is but a pimple that thinks he is a full-grown boil and it is as a result of this that I challenge him to a debate on any issue of his choice to naked him once and for all.
See, it is not even me that will debate him, it is that tall Mulatto spokesman, the one that just resigned abi sacked, that is the one that will give him fire for fire.
My dislike for Rufai and what he stands for is so palpable that this December, at the Muson I will reveal all of his secrets so that his enemies can come and catch him. Should I release one now? Oya take this – Rufai does not take an evening bath, he goes to sleep sweaty and in the nude. There you go, that is just one and I have over 100. This December, I will strip Rufai naked and the whole world will see what he truly is – a very short dark man. Kai.
Sunday Igboho: Tourist in Transit
What was that? Going to seek whatever at No 10 Downing Street? I don’t believe that that was the real Downing Street o. My friend, Yemi Edun, has that same door and fence in his office in that same London. Yes, I have been there before and I also took pictures and if nobody tells you, you will think it is the real Number 10.
So that is what I am telling myself or how else can you explain such an “idiotic” move of going to submit whatever to the British Government? I don’t understand. Is the British Government INEC or what?
My people, let us just assume that it was Yemi Edun’s office he went to and not the real Number 10 so we fit rest. Thank you.
Herbert Wigwe: Leave Him Be Please
My attention was drawn to one lazy man’s post on social media during the week. Wearing a red cap and looking like “Zoro,” the sword man, he alleged all sorts of things including the “forgetting of Herbert’s legacy in the fifteen achievements of Access Bank since his demise.”
Immediately I saw it, I rushed to the comment section to have a feel of what Nigerians thought about this and very unusually over 80% of comments were against him and rightly so.
People just wake up in the morning and because the cost of eggs is now very prohibitive and out of hunger, just pull things from the sky to cause confusion and anarchy just for the fun of it.
The man said he was Herbert’s private media person, whatever that means abeg.
As we were struggling with that one, the next thing was news circulating that Pastor Wigwe, Herbert’s 90-year-old father was taking his legacy custodians to court asking for 20% of his assets.
I have also seen a report allegedly issued by the old man falsifying the other report and asking to be left alone.
I think very strongly that the family and those very close to them be left alone to handle this massive loss which I think they are still struggling with.
Imagine losing a man, his wife and his son in one day – an ironical and perfect culling – and a few months later, red-capped zombies are all over the media trying to stir needless controversy.
Who the hell are you to want to fight for his legacy even if the legacy is under threat? On what grounds are you standing and on what information are you riding on? Funny.
My talks within the core critical circle of Herbert’s family and associates show that nothing can be further from the truth. In fact, I reported here last week that his daughter, Tochi, had just been appointed to the board of the HOW Foundation, so what are we talking about?
Please let Herbert’s genuine friends be left alone to cry our cry ooo. This is still very very very painful. Let us cry our tears.

Increasing alliance between Russia and North Korea goes beyond transferring weapons, Ukraine leader says; Belarusian president says Putin’s nuclear threat will ‘cool the ardour’ of its western adversaries. What we know on day 964
See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverageGuardian staff and agenciesSun 13 Oct 2024 20.27 EDTLast modified on Tue 15 Oct 2024 05.43 EDTShare Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused North Korea on Sunday of sending military personnel to Russia’s army and once again appealed for more support to prevent “a bigger war”. “We see an increasing alliance between Russia and regimes like in North Korea,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. “It is no longer just about transferring weapons. It is actually about the transfer of people from North Korea to the occupier’s military forces.” He added: “It is obvious that under such conditions our relationship with our partners needs to evolve. The front line needs more support. We are talking about more long-range capabilities for Ukraine and more sustained supplies for our forces rather than a simple list of military hardware.” Last week, South Korea’s defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, said “there was a high possibility” North Korea could deploy troops to help Russia in the war with Ukraine. Kim also told a parliamentary hearing that news reports of North Korean military officers having been killed in a Ukrainian strike on territory controlled by Russian forces were likely to be true.
Joe Biden will visit Germany this week, government sources in Berlin said. German media said the US president would meet the chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and the president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, for talks in Berlin on Friday expected to cover Ukraine and the Middle East. Biden’s visit was originally slated to last four days but Hurricane Milton forced it to be delayed, and causing Zelenskyy to embark on tour of European capitals to make the case for their enduring support.
Changes announced by Russia to its nuclear weapons policy were long overdue and will probably “cool the ardour” of its western enemies, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said in an interview released on Sunday. Lukashenko, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, said “hotheads” in the west had already heard the nuclear signals being sent by Moscow even before the Kremlin leader announced the changes last month. Putin said last month that Russia was extending the list of scenarios that could prompt it to consider launching a nuclear weapon. He said Moscow would consider any assault on it supported by a nuclear power to be a joint attack.
Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman has urged international organisations to respond to a claim that several Ukrainian prisoners of war were executed in Russia’s Kursk region where Kyiv had launched an incursion in August. Dmytro Lubinets said on Telegram that he sent letters to the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the claim. Ukrainian battlefield analysis site DeepState which is close to Ukraine’s defence ministry said on Sunday that Russian troops shot and killed nine Ukrainian “drone operators and contractors” on 10 October after they had surrendered. Earlier this month, Ukraine’s Prosecutor-General’s Office said Russian troops had killed 16 captured Ukrainian soldiers in the partially occupied Donetsk region.
Russian glide bombs have struck a “concentration” of Ukrainian troops near the border of Russia’s western Kursk region, the Russian defence ministry said on Sunday. It said the attack was directed against “a strongpoint and concentration of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel”, and the bombs were delivered by a Russian Su-34 warplane. Ukraine caught Moscow by surprise on 6 August by bursting across the border into the Kursk region, in the first invasion of Russian sovereign territory since the second world war. Russia has been trying for more than two months to eject the Ukrainian forces.
Russia’s defence ministry said on Sunday that its forces had taken control of the village of Mykhailivka in eastern Ukraine, where they have been advancing towards the important logistics hub of Pokrovsk. The Ukrainian military said in its daily report that its troops repelled 36 Russian assaults in the Pokrovsk area, including near Mykhailivka.
Russia launched 68 drones and four missiles targeting Ukrainian territory overnight, Ukraine’s air force said on Sunday. Two Iskander-M ballistic missiles struck Poltava and Odesa regions and two Kh-59 guided air missiles targeted the Chernihiv and Sumy regions, the air forces said on the Telegram messaging app. Ukraine’s air defence units destroyed 31 of the drones, while 36 were unaccounted for, most likely intercepted by Ukraine’s electronic warfare, the air force said. The remaining drone was still in the air, it said.
Russia’s air defence units destroyed 13 Ukrainian drones overnight over three regions bordering Ukraine, Russia’s defence ministry said on Sunday. Six drones each were downed over the Belgorod and Kursk region, the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app. One drone was destroyed over the Bryansk region.

English Teacher won the Mercury prize, Amy Gledhill won the Edinburgh comedy award – and now even Beyoncé wants a piece of the action. Why has ‘God’s own county’ become such an artistic force?
Dave SimpsonWed 16 Oct 2024 16.44 BSTLast modified on Wed 16 Oct 2024 17.33 BSTShare‘Some people think Yorkshire’s all cobbled streets and whippets,” says musician Corinne Bailey Rae, who was born, educated and lives in God’s own country. “It’s so condescending when people ask me, ‘Why do you still live in Leeds?’ It’s a really exciting city to be part of.”
Never mind “that London” – the northern region synonymous with rolling dales, puddings for roasts and a fine brew is undergoing a cultural renaissance. Three Yorkshire acts were on September’s Mercury music prize shortlist: Rae, Bradford’s Nia Archives (born Dehaney Nia Lishahn Hunt) and Leeds-based winners English Teacher, the first non-London-based band to win it in a decade. Hull comic Amy Gledhill and Huddersfield-born Joe Kent-Walters won best comedy show and best newcomer respectively at Edinburgh. Sheffield author Catherine Taylor recently picked up the TLS Ackerley prize for her South Yorkshire memoir The Stirrings. Tom Cruise has been filming in North Yorkshire, Shane Meadows in “Happy Valley” Calderdale and York Britpop veterans Shed Seven notched up a second No 1 album this year.
View image in fullscreen‘A real bohemian scene’ … Corinne Bailey Rae. Photograph: Gus Stewart/RedfernsIs there something in the water? “Actually, there is,” chuckles Shanaz Gulzar, creative director at Bradford 2025 city of culture. “It flows down from the limestone cliffs, so it’s very fertile.” More seriously, Gulzar argues that Yorkshire has been a rich source of culture from the Brontës to Zayn Malik, reflecting an industrial heritage driven by innovation. “Our cities are edgy but beautiful,” she says. “The landscapes can give you a warm hug but there’s a brutality to them. The way the weather changes on the moors is almost science-fiction, and there’s a diversity that goes beyond multicultural. These things combined mean creativity and imagination is in our DNA.”
It’s a point echoed by multi-award-winning playwright Chris Bush, creator of South Yorkshire-themed smash Standing at the Sky’s Edge, boasting a Richard Hawley soundtrack. “The way big cities such as Sheffield and Leeds interact with historic places like York, fancy market towns like Harrogate or the tiny rural enclaves, is the magical fertiliser pouring on to Yorkshire culture.”
‘Richard Hawley gets it!’ Park Hill residents praise Sheffield musicalRead moreThis explosion hasn’t happened overnight: it’s the culmination of long-term investment, cultivated relationships and sound infrastructure. “There’s an ecology that starts with music education in schools and goes to a mix of inspirational civic heads and community leaders that are dedicated to the arts,” says Pete Massey, the arts council’s northern director, pointing to how West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin and South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard see culture as a key economic driver.
“We’ve increased our funding into Yorkshire by £14.3m this year,” says Massey, keen to mention longer-term successes such as Huddersfield contemporary music festival, “where there’s stuff going on that you might see in Paris or New York”. Bailey Rae, who has just performed in China, owes much to the arts investment given to her school, something that has more recently been subject to huge cuts nationally. “I grew up in a working-class family,” she says, “but I learned to play violin, went to choir and got to be the leader of an orchestra. All of it free, which gave me so much confidence.”
The landscape can give you a hug but there’s a brutality. The weather on the moors is almost science-fictionShanaz GulzarBlack Rainbows, her Mercury-nominated fourth studio album, was inspired by a black history exhibition in Chicago, but her musical DNA was shaped by her time in Helen, a noisy Leeds female guitar band; and, before that, by wild nights at the city’s Brighton Beach club, dancing to Britpop, funk and soul. “Then when I went to university, there was a real bohemian scene,” she says. “All these northern jazz kids sharing houses or driving cars that were falling apart.”
For singer James Smith, of 2022 Mercury nominees Yard Act, what’s happening in West Yorkshire now has been shaped by how the DIY scene “constantly nurtures itself. There’s a whole network of rehearsal rooms and small venues, and bands come through because they’re playing those places frequently”.
English Teacher formed at Leeds Conservatoire – the former Leeds College of Music, which also produced 2000 Mercury winner Badly Drawn Boy – but played some of their earliest shows in the small bohemian bar Hyde Park Book Club, just outside the city centre.
View image in fullscreen‘It’s very different, very defined’ … James Smith of Yard Act. Photograph: Matthew Baker/Getty Images“There’s a collegiality to the Leeds music scene,” says the venue’s co-founder Jack Simpson. “A lot of us have known each other for over 20 years. There are some frictions but generally everyone’s on the same side, which I’ve not experienced in other cities. So once a band like English Teacher start drawing 300 people you’ll say, ‘You’re ready for the Brudenell.’” That’s the seminal social club, linchpin of the city’s indie scene.
Artists can remain under the radar for ages because, as Bush points out, “Yorkshire doesn’t shout about itself. There’s a sort of Yorkshire reserve.” However, Smith, who fronted Post War Glamour Girls for years before Yard Act, sees an upside in that. “You have the space and venues to be shocking – or to get it wrong. I spent a lot of time playing gigs to half-full rooms, just with my mates – but do that for long enough and you can get really good.”
Gulzar, the Keighley-born visual artist and city of culture creative director, was the first of her family to go to university, studying fine art at Leeds Met (formerly the polytechnic), the very course where Soft Cell met in 1978. She says Yorkshire is particularly tenacious and resourceful – because it has to be. “The Brontës couldn’t get published as women,” she says, “so they adopted male pseudonyms. David Hockney used to push his art materials round in a pram.”
View image in fullscreenTraintop fistfight … Tom Cruise filming a Mission Impossible in Levisham. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/REX/ShutterstockMore recently, Bradford poet and playwright Kirsty Taylor, unable to get into a theatre, simply staged her first musical in a former frozen food shop. “We mocked it up as a pawnbroker’s,” she laughs. “It was so convincing that people kept coming in to sell stuff.” Also the first of her family into higher education, Taylor was never exposed to poetry growing up and didn’t start writing until her early 20s. “When I came back from uni,” she says, “I saw Bradford in a new light and it just poured out of me.” The current recipient of the Kay Mellor Fellowship, she remains inspired by the late Leeds-born creator of Band of Gold and The Syndicate, who “really advocated for working-class voices and women writers”.
“You’ve got to be bloody-minded,” argues Bush, who had to spend years supplementing play-writing with minimum-wage jobs just to get by. “I’d never have been able to do that in London, because it’s so expensive.” She studied at York university and got a big break when York’s Theatre Royal premiered TONY! The Blair Musical.
“It was probably more because of the title than any great faith in me,” she laughs. “But we opened a fortnight after he stepped down as prime minister and got this tidal wave of publicity.” The show was a sensation and ended up in Edinburgh. “I thought I had it made,” she sighs. “But in fact I had almost no paid theatre work for about five years after that. Everyone remembered the title, but not the writer. It wasn’t until my 30s that I was finally able to quit my day job.”
View image in fullscreenRavishing scenery … Ilkley Moor. Photograph: Darren Galpin/AlamyBush explains that, from class to gentrification, the “hyper-local” themes of her Sheffield-set plays, which include Steel and Rock/Paper/Scissors, easily translate nationally. Also, success breeds success. English Teacher recently told me how the ascent of Pulp and Arctic Monkeys convinced them successful acts didn’t have to be based in London. Still, Bush did reluctantly move to the capital – because of her partner’s job and the “sheer volume” of theatre work there. However, when we talk, she’s back in Sheffield for the opening of her latest production, A Doll’s House, at the Crucible. “Regional theatre,” she says, “is as good as anything in London.”
EMI and Channel 4 now have offices in Leeds. Production Park, near Wakefield, is a vast space in a former mining community where international artists – from the Rolling Stones to Beyoncé – secretly prepare for arena-sized world tours. “They’ve hosted Glastonbury headliners and all sorts,” says Massey. With a laugh, he adds: “There’s a great story about Lady Gaga going to the chippy.” Meanwhile, Hull is looking to become a Unesco City of Music, and the Brit performing arts school is opening a 500-place outlet in Bradford. All of this reflects an increasingly evident truth: the region is, quite simply, a lovely place to live and work.
“There’s a humble nature to Yorkshire life,” says Yard Act’s James Smith. “It’s very different, very defined and unique.” The singer moved to Yorkshire from Lancashire to study and stayed. “I consider myself a Yorkshireman now,” he says.
Details of Bradford 2025 city of culture are at bradford2025.co.uk

Ezenwa Nwagwu writes on the need for political parties to cultivate the habit of accepting the outcome of every election instead of heaping the blame on the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, whenever the poll results are made public.
In my recent article on the need for political parties to introspect and reform, following the Edo State governorship poll, I emphasized that we cannot deliberately excuse the internal flaws of political parties and actions of politicians while intentionally using INEC as scapegoat for every electoral loss.
However, following the reactions that trailed that recent intervention, I have decided to reflect deeper by simply stirring a conversation that will address the ignorance that have trailed the improvements in our elections and by so doing, restore citizens’ confidence in our institutions.
As we move closer to the Ondo governorship election and also prepare for the 2027 general election, there is the need to begin to sound the note of warning early enough for parties to put their structures in place, rather than wait to blame INEC for electoral losses. People who have knowledge about this must speak up. If we don’t do that, we will then be consumed by the lies, half-truth, twisted logic, the propaganda, and the misinformation and disinformation that have become the tragedy of public commentary and engagement after every election.
My argument has always been that the election is not a one-day event. It is a process. Elections are a multi-step process that goes beyond just voting day. The voting itself is just one crucial event within the larger election process. What happens before voting day, including the behavior or misbehavior of political parties and politicians, their agents, security officials and indeed the electorate significantly influences the outcome – their victories or losses.
Unfortunately, are Nigerians paying attention to the factional and leadership crisis within many of the political parties? Sadly, one of the political parties has over a hundred cases in court over leadership tussles. How will this affect their performances in future elections, or do we just wait and expect miracle victories or blame INEC when they lose?
With that in mind, I will assess our elections by reflecting on where we started and the progress made over the past few years. I have consistently stressed that elections cannot be driven solely by emotions or miracles. Unfortunately, many Nigerians tend to overlook data and evidence. However, the available data clearly indicates that despite contrary claims, our electoral process has indeed progressed.
The challenge for us is to reconstruct our narrative in a way that single out the places where we need to improve and also highlights where things have greatly improved. Perhaps another narrative we must correct is that Nigerians often mistakenly attribute election-related issues like vote buying and violence to INEC’s oversight. However, these problems fall outside INEC’s direct responsibility and are instead symptoms of broader societal and political challenges that require a collective solution.
You know, everyone who has lost an election believes, and you hear them say that ‘this is the worst election since 1999.’ And that, for me, is scary. It is scary because it is not only a diabolical lie; it is founded on ignorance; ignorance of history, and ignorance of process. Where are we coming from?
We have had elections, and those who say our elections have not made progress, are either ignorant or clearly partisan. It is true that our elections are not perfect because, indeed, there are no perfect elections anywhere in the world. But to say we have not made significant progress in our elections is a lie we cannot continue to tolerate. After all, there are many Donald Trump supporters who still believe he won the 2020 election in the US.
Before proceeding, we should consider the following questions: Do you remember a time when election results were being announced in Abuja while people were still queuing to vote at polling stations? Isn’t it true that Nigeria has moved beyond the days when results were fabricated inside hotel rooms or when a single person, armed with hundreds of voter cards, could vote multiple times? Haven’t we also progressed from the era of politicians snatching ballot boxes or stuffing them with ballot papers? And isn’t it equally true that, in recent elections, we are seeing more opposition parties winning against the ruling parties?
I believe clear, fact-based and objective responses to these questions, beyond partisanship or emotions, are critical and the answers would form a realistic foundation to determine if we have made progress in our elections or not.
So let’s engage objectively, factually and dispassionately, in an informed and cordial manner. As we begin our discourse, it is important to carry out a proper and dispassionate interrogation of these reforms or claims of reforms.
Hence these critical questions as a guide to the intellectual discourse: What are the reforms that the current INEC has embarked on? How necessary or otherwise are the reforms, including the timing and mode of deployment? How effectively and efficiently or otherwise are the reforms being implemented? What are the exact projected gains from the reforms? What are the expected immediate, short and long term impacts of the reforms on our elections? What do you suggest that the INEC should do differently, or change entirely, if any, for better results?
For politicians, politics and elections are games. But for the Election Management Body, it’s a duty.
Only few Nigerians will appreciate the sheer scale of the logistical effort involved in organising elections across 176,000 polling units in a country with poor infrastructure and occasional security threats.
To helm, the electoral body of Africa’s most populous country is a herculean task, one that requires not only administrative competence but also the courage to face constant criticism. INEC is one institution where success often goes unnoticed, and failures are magnified.
But let’s attempt a closer look at those successes that may have gone unnoticed due to emotions attached to elections in Nigeria.
Asserting INEC’s independence:
Perhaps one of the best expressions of INEC’s independence was the way it resisted the attempt to force it to organize the 2019 general election in a staggered manner through various acts of sabotage. Nigerians may not even be aware of the many sabotage the Commission faced. That it was able to regroup and conduct the election a mere week after postponement without compromising its stance not to conduct a staggered election says something about its leadership and independence.
How could Nigerians have forgotten how this INEC in 2019 bravely prevented the ruling party from fielding candidates in Zamfara and Rivers in its determination to follow the rules no matter whose ox is gored?
Electoral Law Reforms
I believe the attempt to rebuild electoral credibility must start with the law. INEC remains a strong advocate of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018, which President Muhammadu Buhari vetoed a record four times. It was also central to the Electoral Act 2022, which was eventually signed into law by President Buhari shortly before the political party primaries in 2022.
It was due to this electoral Act that what happened in Abia, Obingwa, for instance, in the governorship election in 2023 was brought to Abuja, and the votes were recalculated.
If you say our elections have not made progress, will you tell that to the opposition candidate that won the Abia election or are you going to tell that to the many Labour Party candidates all around the country who had won election, because if it was when we were writing results in hotels, those people will not smell victory.
Technology Reforms
One of his most significant reforms has been the introduction of technology in elections, particularly the use of the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
This system, designed to reduce instances of multiple voting and electoral fraud, brought a level of transparency previously unseen in Nigerian elections. Additionally, the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) allowed for real-time transmission of results, reducing opportunities for manipulation and ensuring a faster, more accountable tallying process. These innovations signaled a marked shift in the way elections were conducted, offering hope to millions of Nigerians who had grown disillusioned with the old system.
Beyond the introduction of technology, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood has also focused on institutional strengthening. Under his leadership, INEC has prioritized engaging CSO leaders as national commissioners.
Let us also remember that Mahmoud came into INEC in November 2015. When he came in 2015, ten or more active civil society actors were appointed into INEC as national commissioners to ensure transparency in the process. By 2023, the politicians pulled out all of those people, except one or two.
INEC was fortunate to have two members of the Justice Mohammed Uwais electoral committee serve as its chairman and national commissioner. At least nine recommendations of the Uwais Committee that relate to INEC have been fully implemented, especially biometric registration of voter.
Critics have pointed to technical issues during the 2023 general elections, such as delays in the transmission of results, we cannot deny the complexities of running elections in a country as vast, populous, and politically charged as Nigeria mean that some challenges are unavoidable.
My conclusion is that of course, there are challenges with our elections, but while it is okay to criticize we must commend where progress has been recorded. However, Nigerians must invest in knowledge.
When political parties who lose elections come to the media to cry that they have been rigged out, we must follow their petitions to the courts. In most cases, their petitions are totally different from what they are saying in the media. Even in the recent Edo election, I will employ Nigerians to follow the court case and make efforts to read the petition filed by the parties at the tribunal.
-Nwagwu, Executive Director, Peering Advocacy and Advancement Center in Africa, writes from Abuja

From eyewall and rainbands to an ivory statue, test your knowledge with the Saturday quiz
Thomas EatonSat 12 Oct 2024 02.00 EDTShareThe questions1 Who was the only woman to report from the D-day frontline?2 Which prime minister dropped an apostrophe from his surname?3 Which computer was launched in a 1984 Super Bowl advert?4 Which bookshop opened in 1879 in Oxford?5 What is made up of the eye, eyewall and rainbands?6 The 2024 Olympic medals contain fragments of which landmark?7 Which blues singer rose from a coffin at the start of concerts?8 Who fell in love with an ivory statue that he had sculpted?What links: 9 .cs; .dd; .su; .yu?10 Petrarchan; Shakespearean; Spenserian?11 Bob Hope (19); Billy Crystal (9); Whoopi Goldberg (4); Chris Rock (2)?12 Black garden; narrow-headed; red; southern wood; yellow meadow?13 Burano; Lido; Mazzorbo; Murano; Torcello?14 Athens and Leeds; Sheffield Wednesday FC; Tripadvisor; Duolingo?15 Blenheim Palace; Gori; Lille; Hyde Park, NY?
View image in fullscreenBritish troops take positions on Sword beach during D-day, 6 June 1944. Photograph: Imperial War Museum/AFP/Getty ImagesThe answers1 Martha Gellhorn.2 Benjamin Disraeli.3 Apple Macintosh.4 Blackwell’s.5 Hurricane/cyclone.6 Eiffel Tower.7 Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.8 Pygmalion.9 Internet domains of former countries: Czechoslovakia; East Germany; Soviet Union; Yugoslavia.10 Types of sonnet.11 Oscars ceremony hosts.12 Common ant species in the UK.13 Venetian islands.14 Owl logos/symbols.15 Birthplaces of second world war allied leaders: Churchill; Stalin; De Gaulle; Roosevelt.

eni-B BY Eniola Bello

In Nigerian political speak, there are many words and phrases, or many expressions so to say, whose usage does violence to the grandeur of English lexis and grammar. One such expression is the application of ‘platform’ as a metaphorical symbol of the importance of political parties in Nigeria’s electoral process. Daily, in the media, print or electronic, you are bound to read or hear the expression about one politician or the other contesting or not contesting for an office, public or party, “UNDER the platform” of party A, B, or Z. This expression appears in newspaper reports or headlines, and in the articles of respected columnists; it features in the commentaries of popular TV anchors, just as politicians mouth it on different campaign grounds. It’s been so repeatedly used that many do not seem to know that the phrase violates some basic English language rules.
Literally, a platform is a raised ground; it is what Oxford Languages, said to be the world’s leading dictionary publishers for more than 150 years, defines as “a raised level surface ON which people or things can stand.” In a second definition, Oxford Languages also describes platform as “the declared policy of a political party or group.” For clarity, the publishers of this leading English dictionary give an example of the usage of that word in this sentence: “seeking election ON a platform of low taxes”. From both definitions, ON is the only preposition that is used before ‘platform’ when it functions as a noun in a sentence. The preposition, UNDER, did not feature in any shape or form in both definitions aforesaid. In any case, the purpose of a platform is to allow whoever stands ON it to stand out and be seen by many people around, or for that person to see far into the distance.
Since every expression must be literally meaningful before its metaphorical application could be sensible, I couldn’t understand how Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara could have directed his supporters, as reported by one columnist, “to contest (the controversial local government elections in the state) UNDER the platform of the almost unheard-of Action People’s Party (APP).” Of course, the “almost unheard-of” APP handsomely won almost all the chairmanship and councillorship seats in the state, just as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State as well as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State respectively won all the seats in contest during the council polls in those states. Significantly, the winners in the council polls in both Benue and Akwa Ibom States, as it happened in other council elections in other states, were mostly reported to have contested UNDER the platform of the ruling APC and PDP in the respective states.
In the 2023 general elections, many of the candidates who contested UNDER the platform of their various parties, particularly in the governorship and National Assembly polls, won the elections with what the media loved to call “a wide margin.” Although I do not know if the situation was similar in previous polls, particularly the 2007 election in which the then President Olusegun Obasanjo had described was a do or die affair for the then ruling PDP, or even the 1983 election in which the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) recorded what was then described as a landslide victory in many states across the country; I want to believe there is a nexus between the nature of a candidate contesting for an office UNDER a political party and the “sweeping victory” (apology to the media) of that candidate in the polls. This would, of course, require further study by political researchers who understand the dark arts of Nigeria’s political and electoral process.
I, however, suspect, indeed would like to believe, that there is some dishonesty or fraud or danger or deviousness in any activity taking place UNDER something rather than in an open space. Why do Nigerian politicians prefer to contest election UNDER, rather than ON, the platform of a political party? Could it be because of the endless possibilities of winning elections UNDER the table, sorry platform? Could it be where ghost voters are conjured, where every INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) innovation to improve the electoral process is perverted, where electoral thugs are procured, where stolen and damaged voting materials are hidden, where vote-buying money is minted, where the security agents used for harassing political opponents or chasing voters away are quartered? Could it even be where those funny judges issue strange ex parte orders even in cases their courts have no jurisdiction, or where favourable judgments could be easily bought by the highest bidder? Is that the oven where those hot election victories are baked? Could that also be the reason why the (political) platform, in the words of a colleague, “shifts like a thermometer”; where a politician belongs to one party in the morning and another in the evening, or contests election UNDER the platform of the PDP in 2019 and the APC in 2023?
Should that be the situation, we should collectively collapse the platform, literally and metaphorically, as to leave no space UNDER for political parties to carry out unwholesome operations. That way, politicians would be left with no choice but contest for elections ON a party platform or whatever remains of it.

On October 9, Guangzhou hosted the annual summary and exchange meeting for the “International Chinese Education” column project, which attracted editors from 30 journals focused on this area. The meeting aimed to review the progress made in establishing the column and to collaboratively plan its academic impact moving forward, all in support of fostering innovation in international Chinese education.

The event was organized by the Center for Language Exchange and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching, with Jinan University’s College of Chinese Language and Culture spearheading the logistics.

Zhang Xiaoxin, the Vice President of Jinan University, underscored the significance of the “International Chinese Education” column as a crucial instrument for enhancing academic engagement and research influence. He noted that it serves as a vital platform for transforming academic research into actionable outcomes. With nearly 120 years of experience in Chinese language education and almost 40 years of international Chinese instruction, Jinan University plays a pivotal role in foreign language and cultural exchanges. Zhang emphasized the university’s commitment to leveraging its educational and research strengths to further promote the collaborative growth of Chinese language education and its international counterpart, enhancing its role in cultural exchange and understanding between China and the world.

Zhong Yinghua, President of the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching, pointed out that the creation of “International Chinese Education” columns in leading journals represents a strategic initiative in response to contemporary opportunities. He highlighted that this aligns with national development strategies and addresses the needs of the international Chinese education sector and its academic growth. Over the past three years, the standardized and international development of the column has yielded notable results, with collaboration among participating journals strengthening the academic community. This has created a focused platform for disseminating research in international Chinese education, utilizing the distinctive qualities of each journal to support the development of young professionals.

Yu Tianqi, Deputy Director of the Center for Language Exchange and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education, reminded participants that international Chinese education functions as a vital cultural and linguistic public good from China to the world. She identified the present as a critical moment for achieving high-quality growth in this field. Looking ahead to 2024, the column aims to increase the volume of publications and enhance its service capabilities, while continuing to improve collaborative development and outreach effectiveness. Yu stressed the importance of focusing on talent cultivation and intellectual support, urging the column to prioritize academic leadership, exchanges, and nurturing younger scholars in future initiatives.

Since 2021, the Ministry of Education’s Center for Language Exchange and Cooperation and the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching have been working with high-level journals to establish the “International Chinese Education” column, aiming to showcase research from international Chinese teachers, volunteers, young scholars, and society members. This initiative is designed to create a platform for academic exchange and support the development of young scholars in international Chinese education. Currently, 30 journals, bolstered by strong support from various stakeholders, have joined efforts to advance the column’s development.

Caitlin Clark, the sensational rookie star of the WNBA, has drawn comparisons to Stephen Curry due to her remarkable three-point shooting skills. With her successful debut season behind her, Clark is set to take her talents to the golf course as she prepares to participate in the LPGA Annika-driven by Gainbridge at Pelican’s professional-amateur pairing next month.

Known for his love of golf, Curry has often inspired young athletes like Clark. Following her exit in the first round of the WNBA playoffs, Clark was asked how she planned to spend her off time. She replied, “Maybe I’ll play some golf,” adding that she would keep playing until the Indiana weather turned too chilly. “I’m going to become a professional golfer.”

What started as a playful remark is soon becoming a reality. Next month, Clark will hit the greens at the Pelican Golf Club for her debut in a professional-amateur pairing at the Annika tournament.

“I love golf, so having the opportunity to compete in this event alongside legends like Annika Sorenstam is incredibly exciting for me,” said Clark. Sorenstam, a golf legend herself, is at the helm of the Annika event. Clark’s participation marks a significant crossover for an athlete who has made waves in basketball. She expressed her eagerness to witness the LPGA players in action, saying, “Of course, I’m excited to tee off with Sorenstam in the professional-amateur pairing.”

Clark has made a name for herself since her NCAA days and seamlessly transitioned into the WNBA. In her rookie season, she averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and an impressive 8.4 assists per game—the highest in the league. She not only earned the Rookie of the Year title but also placed fourth in the MVP voting while leading the Indiana Fever back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016, although they fell in the first round to the Connecticut Sun.

**Interview with Captain Chris Najomo on the Challenges Facing Nigerian Airlines**

**Interviewer:** Captain Najomo, could you provide some insights on the current economic challenges facing Nigerian airlines?

**Captain Chris Najomo:** Absolutely. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has noted that our domestic airlines are in a troubling economic situation. If regulatory authorities take the recent financial audits seriously, we could see several operators facing potential shutdowns. This circumstance reflects a wider economic decline in the country.

**Interviewer:** What measures is the NCAA implementing to assist airlines during these financial hardships?

**Captain Najomo:** We’re dedicated to supporting airlines and ensuring safe operations to the best of our ability. At the recent South-West Regional Air Transportation Summit in Lagos, we highlighted the importance of realigning our strategies. The aviation sector plays a crucial role in national development, so we are focused on creating an environment that promotes safety and excellent service.

**Interviewer:** You mentioned aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s eight-point agenda. Can you expand on how this affects the aviation sector?

**Captain Najomo:** Yes, the President’s agenda serves as a call to action for all government agencies, including ours. The aviation minister’s five-point plan aligns with this priority, recognizing the vital importance of civil aviation in fostering economic growth and facilitating international trade. Working together is key to addressing our current challenges.

**Interviewer:** What key objectives were outlined at the summit to tackle these issues?

**Captain Najomo:** A primary goal is advocating for adequate funding and effective financial management, along with operational safety. We aim to ensure our regulatory practices are inclusive, encouraging growth in the sector and enhancing passenger experiences.

**Interviewer:** Olubunmi Kuku from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria underscored the necessity for airport modernization. What is your perspective on that?

**Captain Najomo:** I completely agree with that viewpoint. Modernizing airports and investing in technology are essential steps. This not only improves passenger experiences but also makes Nigeria more attractive to global airlines and can boost tourism. Additionally, strengthening the regulatory framework is vital to foster an environment that invites investment.

**Interviewer:** Training and development for aviation professionals were also discussed. Why is this so important?

**Captain Najomo:** Investing in our workforce is essential. The safety and service standards we uphold largely depend on the competence and commitment of our professionals, from pilots to ground staff. It’s crucial for maintaining high operational standards.

—

**Breaking News: Turkish Airlines Emergency Landing**

**Interviewer:** We’ve heard about a tragic incident involving a Turkish Airlines flight. Can you provide us with more details about what occurred?

**Turkish Airlines Spokesman Yahya Üstün:** Yes, tragically, Turkish Airlines flight TK204 from Seattle to Istanbul had to make an emergency landing at JFK International Airport when the pilot collapsed mid-flight. Sadly, he was pronounced dead despite attempts to revive him.

**Interviewer:** Could you give us specifics about the flight and the pilot involved?

**Yahya Üstün:** The flight departed from Seattle on Tuesday at 7:02 p.m. and landed in New York at 5:57 a.m. the next day. The pilot, İlçehin Pehlivan, had been with us since 2007 and had a health check on August 3, which reported no issues.

**Interviewer:** How is Turkish Airlines addressing the situation for the affected passengers?

**Yahya Üstün:** We’re making arrangements to fly the passengers to Istanbul from JFK International. Our thoughts are with the captain’s family and colleagues during this difficult time, and we wish them God’s mercy as they cope with this loss.

The flag-raising ceremony in San Francisco commemorating Double Ten Day drew a significant crowd of overseas Taiwanese. Taking place at St. Mary’s Square in downtown San Francisco on October 6 at noon, this event celebrated the 113th National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

Michael Lai, the Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, joined leaders from various organizations, representatives from the Bay Area’s cultural and educational community, and numerous Taiwanese expatriates who maintain a deep affection for their homeland.

The ceremony began with the playing of the National Anthem of the United States, followed by the anthem of the Republic of China, creating a moving atmosphere. Several attendees were invited to share their thoughts during the speeches.

In his address, Director Lai highlighted Taiwan’s success in demonstrating that a democratic system can thrive within the Chinese community. He firmly stated that freedom and democracy will triumph over authoritarianism, underscoring Taiwan’s commitment to democracy. “Taiwan serves as a beacon of freedom and democracy,” he emphasized, calling on nations worldwide to support Taiwan’s ongoing development in the international community. He also expressed his gratitude for the enthusiastic turnout and steadfast support from overseas Taiwanese.

Lai pointed to a significant achievement with the California State Senate’s passage of a pro-Taiwan resolution in August, which strengthened ties between Taiwan and California while advocating for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. “Today’s flag-raising ceremony not only celebrates Double Ten Day; it symbolizes the friendship between Taiwan and California,” he remarked.

Many attendees captured the moment with their phones, while long-time San Francisco residents from the Taiwanese diaspora were moved to tears. They shared how witnessing the national flag raised after years away from home evoked strong feelings of connection to Taiwan.

This year’s ceremony also featured young expatriates as flag bearers, with several youths live-streaming the event. Young expatriate Zhao Xinrui expressed that even while living abroad, the values of freedom and democracy from Taiwan resonate deeply with them. “We hope to help more young generations living overseas understand Taiwan’s significance and to strive for freedom and democracy,” Zhao stated.

The event was further enriched by cultural performances, including traditional Taiwanese lion and dragon dances.

Many expatriates emphasized that the flag-raising ceremony is more than just an annual celebration; it serves as a meaningful occasion that represents unity and identity. “Participating in the Double Ten Day flag-raising is our way of expressing support and recognition for Taiwan,” said Eric Zhao, a long-time San Francisco resident originally from Taichung. “Regardless of where we are, Taiwan will always be our roots. We hope for greater international support and recognition for Taiwan in the future.”