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I’ve kept my pact with Imo, next is consolidation – Uzodimma *Picks female deputy
It was a day of chest-beating for Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State, as he took a look back to the three years he became the resident at Douglas House, the seat of power in the state, giving himself the full marks in keeping his promise of bettering the life of the people.
Uzodimma, who spoke at the unveiling of Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru as his running mate for the November 11, 2023 governorship election, while reminding the people of his oath of office during his inauguration, told the cheering crowd at the Event Centre New, Owerri on Saturday, where he also refreshed their minds his Three-Rs, said he had not deviated from the concept.
A statement by Oguwike Nwachukwu, his spokesman, quoted the governor as maintaining that within the period, the government, anchored its policies and programmes on bulwark of reconstruction, rehabilitation and recovery, which he marshalled out during his inauguration on January 15, 2020 till date.
“On our part, I can boldly reiterate that we have indeed walked our talks: We have kept faith with Imo people on our promises. We have laid the solid foundation for growth in all sectors of the economy and we shall consolidate on them to deliver an industrial, prosperous and safe Imo state in the coming years.”
Welcoming the stakeholders for joining him to unveil his running mate and being part of another four years of history in the making, he said he was happy to “welcome all of you to this special stakeholders meeting whose main purpose is to introduce our deputy governorship candidate, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru in our consolidation march to build a safer, more functional and more prosperous Imo State.”
He reminded his audience that included party members that his numerous achievements are there to speak for him and his government as another election beckons, adding: “We have so much to campaign with. Our works speak for us. So today, we are here to reinforce our genuine claim to re-election. I have picked a female deputy governorship candidate in the person of Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru.
“I believe she will add value to this ticket. I expect Imo women to appreciate this gesture as my genuine appreciation of their innate strength and capacity to make contribution to the growth of our state. The stakeholders are aware of why this particular decision was taken because the process of choosing her was all inclusive. I plead with all of us to accept and make peace with it.”
Uzodimma, who also had kind words for his outgoing Deputy Governor, Placid Njoku, informing his audience of how they both shared a good working relationship, said: “Let me use this opportunity to make it clear that I don’t have any problem with my deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku. If anything he is a very loyal and committed partner in progress.
“My confidence in him has not waned in any way. I want to assure you that he is still very relevant in our political family. His political career is not by any means over. The truth is that as representative of the people, we need to be sensitive to the ecumenical nature of the environment.”
Njoku, who corroborated the sentiments of the governor, drew applause from the crowd when he rose to take a bow, to underscore that they indeed had mutual feelings of goodwill.
“It is important to recall the situation we met on assumption of office, as this will enable us to appreciate where we are currently. This would also help us to dream and imagine what the future of Imo State will look like in the next four years under our prosperity administration which is encapsulated in Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery. Looking back, I can rightly and proudly claim that I kept the social contact I entered into with Imo people when I assumed office in January 2020.
“In spite of the fact that the opposition elements in the state are to be held responsible for the messy situation we inherited, they were still not happy with our determined efforts to recover the wasted years and opportunities. Recall that we took over, – without any handover note, without a functional government house, without a functional civil service – they were alarmed at the speed with which we tackled the challenges of governance. Obviously, this was why they vowed to distract, stop or slow us down with the security challenges that they created and unleashed on the state.
“Fortunately, I foresaw their desperation and arrived prepared and ready to face them and their mischief. The more they tried to stop me, the more determined and emboldened I became in changing the narrative of the state. I was determined from day one to replace the rancid corruption and ineptitude that characterized their regime with a new era of transparency and good governance. In their desperation, the instigation of violence and insecurity became their last card in the chess game of deceitful politics.
“You may want to ask what our offence really are, it is that we have shown capacity to turn things around, to build durable economic roads, to empower our youth with skills, to recover our lost glory in the health and education sectors, and more importantly, to outline an audacious vision for the industrialization of Imo State with its promise with massive job creation opportunities.
“As you all know, we have successfully check-mated them in their devilish plans. We are all witnesses to the fact that the security situation in Imo has greatly improved from what it was between 2020 and 2021. The wanton and unprovoked killing of citizens by mercenary criminals has abated. The indiscriminate attacks on security agencies have been checked while the burning of houses of Imo citizens is no longer an everyday occurrence. Contrary to the wishes of those enemies of the state, who never condemned the carnage while it raged, people are no longer afraid to come to Imo state for business.
“While there is no doubt that the security situation has tremendously improved, it is clear to me that our people are still afraid from the security scars of yesteryears. The real issue now is the fear of the unpleasant occurrences of the past. This is understandable. However I want to assure our people that there is nothing to fear anymore. Shake off the scars of the sad events of the past, and feel free to go about your legitimate businesses. Enough measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of our people, going forward.
“We should all be emboldened by the fact that If anything, Imo has regained its pride of place as the hub of hospitality. In the last couple of months, the state has hosted high profile events and conferences, including those by the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Guild of Editors. Those in the hospitality business will testify to increased patronage, signaling the return of normalcy in our state. Certainly, it can only get better. To God be the glory.
“However, when I hear those who created this spate of insecurity talk glibly about making the state safe, again, I laugh. Except they have decided to call-off their goons, seeing that the security agencies have given them a bloody nose. It is really curious that the only campaign agenda they have is the promise to battle insecurity in the state. By saying they will make Imo safe if elected, they are directly telling the people that the only way Imo can be safe is by them coming into power, what a poor strategy.
“They are only confirming their earlier threat to make Imo ungovernable for my Government. When the witch cries in the night and the baby dies in the morning, we don’t need to look far in seeking answers. Those who said Imo is now like Afghanistan are still safe in their villages. I don’t really understand what someone gains by de-marketing the state he wishes to govern.
“After politics, we shall all remain Imo sons and daughters. We have no other state than this. In this regard, let us treasure and protect what we have. Our only regret is that we were compelled to spend substantial amount of money on security, which could have been deployed to providing more infrastructure and other dividends of Democracy.
“But it is remarkable that in spite of the distractions by the opposition through the contrived security challenges, this administration has truly made the difference in the lives of Imo citizens in the last 43 months. Through prudent management of resources, a vision backed up with determination, and the support of patriotic Imo indigenes, including officials of this administration, Imo is certainly far better today than it was in January, 2020. This applies to all indices by which governance and development can be measured.
“First and foremost, I met a disorganized and disoriented civil service. Today we have a fully automated system in place in the civil service. In addition, we have eliminated corruption and abolished the menace of ghost workers, which was a major drain on our commonwealth. The environment within the secretariat complex has changed. Apart from the renovation of the entire 10 blocks and provision of relevant equipment, the morale of the civil servants is now sky high because of the regular payment of salaries, including the 13th month salary and other welfare services.
“Our roads which were mere death traps when I assumed office, are now motorable. I am sure all of you drove through these motorable roads to come here today, courtesy of your responsive 3R government. At the last count, this administration has done more than 100 good quality roads across the entire state, including the dual carriageway of Owerri — Okigwe road and Owerri -Orlu road. Construction of five kilometers of roads in the 27 local government areas of the state are at the various stages of completion.
“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to all indigenous Contractors handling the local roads to complete the roads as awarded. The reconstruction of Owerri -Mbaise- Obowo – Umuahia, and Orlu- Mgbee – Akokwa- UGA road is also on-going. Before then, we had dualized the MCC-Toronto road and built balloon technology for the drainage at Chukwuma Nwoha road to effectively check flooding in that area. Several houses were recovered for the owners in the process while movement to the popular IMSU junction from there is now seamless.
“In education, Imo is probably the only state in the South- East that is funding three universities. Yes, after we recovered the KO MBADIWE UNIVERSITY, we also established Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Umuagwo to ensure that our children are availed more admission spaces and at the same time creating employment and boosting the economy of the state. We are also effectively funding a polytechnic and a college of education. Our primary and secondary schools are enjoying equal attention. Our vision is to ensure that Imo maintains her enviable leadership position in education in the country.
“Such efforts are being replicated in health where we have recovered the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu from decay ensuring that medical students graduate from the institution after eight (8) years of stagnation. Today, IMSUTH remains a truly tertiary health institution with the requisite experts and consultants. Through our collaboration with the Federal Government, the FMC, Owerri has been converted to Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Owerri.
“Thus, we now have two tertiary health institutions in the state. We had earlier recovered the various schools of nursing and midwifery which lost accreditation before I assumed office. We have also embarked on the renovation of general hospitals across the state. Three new well equipped general Hospitals will be commissioned in the next couple of days. Also, a total of 305 health centers are being renovated and to be equipped to offer comprehensive health care coverage to our citizens in the rural areas. This is in addition to the free mobile clinics which we provided. The same zeal with which we fought COVID -19 in the state is what we have replicated to tackle the health needs of our citizens.
“Based on the foregoing, it is obvious that we have never lost focus, and this is because the template and vision formulated under the 3R agenda are being implemented strictly. When I promised the people of Imo state that I will run a transparent administration, I meant every word of it. Today, even the World Bank has given us an award and prize money for transparency in governance. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria has followed suit with an award to us on transparency and accountability in governance.
“It is this push for excellence that gave us the impetus to recover our moribund industries so as to create jobs and stimulate the economy. We started with Adapalm Nigeria limited. We are now in the process of doing the same at IMO SHOE INDUSTRY and the Rubber Company. Thereafter, We shall move to Avutu Poultry, Nsu Ceramic Industry, etc.
“Through a friendly tax regime and creation of new business opportunities, we have also created the enabling environment for investors to establish industries and create employment opportunities in the state.
“Ladies and gentlemen, few months ago, the creme de la creme of Nigerian society were here in imo State for the flag-off ceremony of the dredging of Oguta to Orashi to Degema to the Atlantic ocean project. That is the game changer in the economic rejuvenation of the entire South-East. With a promise of a sea port at Oguta and an industrial cluster, we are on the verge of economic renaissance in our state. I wish to once again appreciate the federal government for the approval granted Imo state to execute this project. When it is completed, our state shall experience a new lease of economic life.
“I have enumerated few of our achievements today to let Imo people know that the APC government remains their best bet to the attainment of improved life and the economic progress we all are yearning for. Our transporters and farmers can testify to increased patronage and boost to their economy as a result of the new roads. Those working at Adapalm Nigeria limited know where their help came from. The residents of Owerri Capital city enjoying potable water from the rehabilitated Otamiri Water works know we are working, including those beholding the results of our urban renewal efforts.
“What it means is that Imo people are appreciative of what we have done in the last 43 months. We don’t need to employ subterranean tactics, subterfuge, propaganda and deceitful politics to achieve re-election. That belongs to the opposition who have nothing concrete to show to the people. In other words, they have nothing to campaign with. I challenge them to publish their programme for Imo People that will outline their development agenda.
“On our part, I can boldly reiterate that we have indeed walked our talks. We have kept faith with Imo people on our promises. We have laid the solid foundation for growth in all sectors of the economy and we shall consolidate on them to deliver an industrial, prosperous and safe Imo state in the coming years.
“We have so much to campaign with. Our works speak for us. So today,we are here to reinforce our genuine claim to reelection. I have picked a female deputy governorship candidate in the person of Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru. I believe she will add value to this ticket. I expect Imo women to appreciate this gesture as my genuine appreciation of their innate strength and capacity to make contribution to the growth of our state. The stakeholders are aware of why this particular decision was taken because the process of choosing her was all inclusive. I plead with all of us to accept and make peace with it.
“Let me use this opportunity to make it clear that I don’t have any problem with my deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku. If anything he is a very loyal and committed partner in progress. My confidence in him has not waned in any way. I want to assure you that he is still very relevant in our political family. His political career is not by any means over. The truth is that as representative of the People, we need to be sensitive to the ecumenical nature of the environment.
On that note, it is my honour and privilege to present Lady Ekomaru as the APC deputy governorship candidate in Imo state for the forthcoming November election.”
Earlier in his address, the APC Chairman in Imo State, Dr Macdonald Ebere, acknowledged the good works done by Governor Uzodimma’s administration and reiterated the need for continuity.
Ebere said: “We are not unmindful of the fact, that the increasing strength , popularity and visibility of our party in the state as reflected in the just concluded election, the litany of defections from major political parties is attributed to your pacesetting infrastructural development and economic re-engineering of our state.
“At the national scene, we are proud of your sterling and diligent display of rare leadership disposition and administrative prowess, which has earned you the confidence of your brother governors and other critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project. Just recently you won your election as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors forum of Nigeria, you also won your election as the Chairman of the South East Governors forum, you were decorated with one of the prestigious National honour in Nigeria as the Commander of the Order of the Niger and was conferred with the highest honour in Rivers State as GSSRS Just to mention but a few. All these achievements and shine are not unconnected to your uncommon service to humanity and God, your philanthropy to Churches and human capital development.
“Today we have gathered here once again to reaffirm our commitment and dedication as a political party to the actualization of your re-election come November 11, 2023.
“We are already in high spirit, our Party is strong and popular, with the current state of cohesion and sense of purpose amongst our leaders and party men and women, APC is firmly position to take advantage of the achievement of the shared prosperity administration to secure once again the mandate of our people.
“We are very optimistic that our people will once again speak through their votes, to revalidate their implicit vote of confidence in our party and the Shared Prosperity administration of our governor.
“While we intend to take advantage of the numerous life saving projects of this administration, it is important that our eyes remain fixed on the ball, with zero internal distractions and infighting. We must remain focused and undistracted till victory is assured. We need undiluted unity, total collaboration, unalloyed collective support, symbiotic efforts and political consanguinity is pivotal at the various organs of the party. The supremacy of the party should be our watch word at this time. Let us eschew all political slumber, callous approach to grassroot campaign or devil-may-care-attitude in our efforts to victory. We shall never take any opposition for granted or treat them with kids gloves.”
While thanking the Governor for his gender sensitivity that led to the choice of his running mate, Ebere encouraged Party faithful to rely on “the impressive scorecard of our governor… to be fishers of men, winning and converting souls for our governor and our victory come 11th of November is 100% guaranteed by the grace of God.”
In her acceptance speech after her resume was read out by the Chief Political Adviser/ Head of Political Bureau, Barr. Enyinnaya Onuegbu, Lady Ekomaru, accompanied by the husband, thanked the Governor for choosing her as his running mate and promised not to disappoint his expectations of her.
She recalled that she has been in politics for more than 40 years and assured the Governor that her choice meant
winning supporters from the Anglican Communion, academia and social groups where she belongs, from the Judiciary where the husband belongs, from the health sector where her child belongs, and more importantly, from the numerous women, social groups where she also belongs.
The event was witnessed by top politicians in the APC, including serving/ former senators and House of Representatives members, former ministers, retired security chiefs, ranking traditional rulers, business moguls, women and youth leaders, among others.
A few days before the announcement of President Bola Tinubu as THISDAY Man of the Year (MoTY) for 2024, the crew hosting The Morning Show, a breakfast programme on Arise News network, had informed their viewers that a joint project was in the works between the two sister organisations towards making a credible choice. Do not forget that both organisations are owned by the versatile media mogul, Prince Nduka Obaigbena.
When Tinubu was eventually named, on January 31, 2024, Reuben Abati, the alter ego of the Arise News branch in that joint team, made a job of work of it, with a clear attempt to exonerate the television network from the decision. Instead of the previous announcement that it was a collaborative project with a sister body, he sent an unequivocal message – this is the handiwork of THISDAY Board of Editors.
To the discerning, this explanation, seemed to have underscored the level of debate which might have gone down between the two tendencies in the THISDAY-Arise house to warrant the latter pulling out. Mind you, this ubiquitous THISDAY Board of Editors, a body supposedly embodying the intelligentsia arm within the leadership of The Nigerian Newspaper of Record, arguably one of the most authoritative Nigerian publications for decades, is not new to controversy. Rather, it has since established an uncanny reputation for taking positions on national issues, which many consider totally at variance with the reality on ground if not outrightly insensitive.
Recall that notorious stance of the same team on the likely outcome of the 2023 presidential election, which eventually turned out embarrassingly vacuous in the end, despite the load of work and research the team claimed to have invested in reaching to its conclusion.
That the Arise News team, quickly beat a retreat by taking the Pontus Pilate option of washing its hand of the choice of Tinubu, is not only quite revealing, but instructive. Only very few would fail to notice its implication either.
The reverberating echoes trailing the announcement, from a groundswell of the Nigerian public, tells the rest of the story. That the fire ignited by that singular outing, has refused to dim, not to talk of extinguishing, attests to the criticality of its impact to the polity.
Like many Nigerians, we find this outing quite nauseating, to say the least. Yes! The idea of MoTY, is global as it is common knowledge. We agree that it is usually not an endorsement of right or wrong and that the recognition is given to a man or woman that has made the greatest impact to the society within the year in question.
But in this regard, THISDAY was clear and unequivocal on how it got to the choice. We therefore base our total aversion to the choice of Tinubu from its own mouth. Unfortunately we declare that not a single submission, argument or reasoning for reaching this strange conclusion is agreeable in anyway, because they do not reflect the realities on ground.
We neither agree with the direction Tinubu is headed nor his ideas of salvaging the ruins Nigeria has become over the years could be achieved by further leading the country into the dark alley filled with gloom or doom or plunging it into the bottomless pit of hopelessness where abject poverty and sustained hunger has become a daily singsong before his own idea of of Eldorado comes to pass.
What is more? It would have made more sense if the President is also embarking on the same journey with the ordinary Nigerians. Unfortunately, he is not. Rather, everything suggests that he is living his best life, having achieved his life-time ambition of grabbing, snatching and running away with the nation’s number one job. Like millions of other Nigerians, we are not blind to witness the sheer opulence surrounding him and the lavish lifestyle he leads alongside his acolytes within and outside the Aso Rock precinct.
Yet, no leader, military or civilian has driven Nigeria into the level of poverty, misery and hopelessness as the country is currently undergoing under the President. He has struck Nigeria with the deadliest blows and the hardest times in its six-decade history.
So, how could such a man be mentioned even in passing, let alone being conferred with such a rewarding recognition using the superlative terms the THISDAY Editors, employed to arrive at their decision – terms like courage, daring, doggedness or resilience? Of course, these terms, if used in the negative sense, would have made more proper meaning in today’s Nigerian reality. Out of all these accolades, the term courage, seems most disconcerting if not outrightly annoying.
Pray! What is the courage in punishing your country deliberately, simply because you possess the powers to do so? Is it courage or indiscretion that a surgeon would deliberately refuse to apply anesthesia before putting his patient under the knives knowing the sure outcome? What manner of a surgeon would that be?
Tinubu is wont to remind Nigerians that the pain in the country is like a woman undergoing childbirth and the joy would come after successful delivery. But which woman would survive a Cesarian Section delivery with the doctors cutting her up without first sedating her to kill the pain?
That is exactly what Tinubu has done with his subsidy removal and floating of the Naira, the two major policies that are central to his much-trumpeted reforms idea, which has left the remaining citizens yet to die in near-death pains and the same economy he claims to be salvaging gasping for breath out of asphyxiation.
It is even more tragic that the President has continued pushing on despite the excruciating agony in the country. Is it too difficult for Tinubu or those egging him on to see the number of people dying as a result?
No! Far from it! It is not courage for a man to beat up his wife or any woman for that matter because he has the powers to do so. It is rather an act of weakness, if not cowardice. It is also not courage to beat up a man in a wheelchair or be flogging a sick horse or even a lion with broken legs. These are akin to what Tinubu is doing to Nigerians.
In fact, the All Progressives Congress (APC), government of the past 10 years or so, has so dealt with Nigerians through the systematic bastardisation of every segment of the polity that there is hardly any breath left in them for any fight. They are now like a sick horse lying prostrate on its stomach – an easy pick for any prey.
It began with Muhammadu Buhari, who practically disembowelled the entire polity and left the citizenry decapitated, dishevelled and disoriented. From being dubbed the biggest in Africa and one of the best investment destinations of the world with most alluring climate for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the fortunes of Nigeria under him plummeted to the unenviable position of the poorest country in the world.
That was the country Tinubu met and now preying on. So, what is the courage in further plunging the same people into more poverty and worsening their misfortune, knowing that they neither possess the energy nor the resources to fight back? What is daring about it? Do you dare a hungry man who has not eaten for months and is lying helplessly on his belly to a fight?
That he has gotten away with the two deadly policies is not a function of any sort of courage, nerve or bravery, more than it is a testament of the vanishing tigritude in the Nigerian tiger from the continuous pummelling it has been getting daily over the years. That is why Tinubu can afford to prance about with cavalier abandon. It is therefore neither an acceptance or endorsement of those policies. Nigerians are simply bemoaning their fate silently, waiting to be saved somehow or accept their sure death someday. Simple!
Besides, what is left of their fighting spirit, has been taken away by the instrumentality of the almost completely weakened national institutions, which are now clearly turned against them. Citizens’ dissent, a veritable tool of holding government accountable has not only been outlawed but defiance is met with brute force.
In a situation where the police, the army and other security forces are there to put down any form of demonstration and where public protests have become so risky that demonstrators are lucky to get home with their lives and limbs intact, what else is left?
With what happened in the 10-day #Hardshipprotest, of August 1-10, 2024, where many of the partakers barely escaped the brutality of the security operatives unleashed on them in the streets while scores of others spent months in detention dungeons, including children on charges of treason – a hitherto heavy, scarce crime – which has now become an everyday mantra for even the mildest disputes found in civil cases like Dele Farotimi’s defamation trial, no one is left in doubt as to where Nigeria is headed today.
Perhaps, the eggheads at THISDAY, were confusing recklessness and heartlessness, undue obstinacy needless stiff-neckedness for courage. That is the only other plausible explanation for their strange choice. We do not want to join in imputing other motives
Otherwise, leadership courage, as a phenomenon is not difficult to discern. Many other leaders before him, had shown clear examples. From Keneth Kaunda, Nelson Mandela, to Robert Mugabe, Africa has a surfeit of great men and women who went into the trenches to liberate their countries and others who took definite stands in various forms that became demonstrable evidences of courage.
Indeed, courage could only come by confronting greater obstacles like David challenging Goliath and not vice versa. The Goliaths of Nigeria are there for all to see. They are the vested interests that have led Nigeria to its prostrate state. They are the powerful and the mighty, not ordinary Nigerians. These people are not affected by subsidy removal. Their state of the art cars have not disappeared from the streets like those of the ordinary Nigerians. They still fill their tanks at filling stations and still throw lavish parties.
They are the ones to be targeted. Instead of the whimsical announcement – subsidy is gone – through which he plunged Nigeria into the progressively catastrophic state it has witnessed since the last 20 months or so, Tinubu would do well to direct his gaze towards the Niger Delta for instance. There, he would find the powerful men that would match him force for force. He should go and defeat them. That would qualify him for the glorious crown of bravery.
A courageous leader would stand toe to toe, staring eyeball to eyeball with the behemoths that are believed to still be diverting half of the proceeds of the nation’s oil production into private pockets till date. If that massive pillaging of the commonwealth is ended, the production capacity ramped up by another half and the proceeds therefrom added to the national coffers, who would quarrel even if Tinubu is dubbed the modern-day Caesar?
In recent years, some parts of Nigeria have become totally inaccessible by the ordinary folks due to banditry and terrorists, said to be funded and armed by foreigners with vast interests in illegal mining operations and other criminal activities.
Courage ought to push President Tinubu to look in this direction and confront the monster, local and foreign. That way, farmers would return to their farms to produce food with attendant domino-effect of curing the malaise of food insecurity and attendant social vices. That way, citizens, including those in refugee camps would join in hailing and decorating his cap with the golden feathers as the New Nigerian hero.
What stops Tinubu from being spotted in Lagos boarding a local flight to Abuja, or driving himself in the street of Lagos or travelling incommunicado on Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna or any other federal highways? What stops him from alighting from his vehicle to listen and assure those women, who cheered him as Jagaban, now crying, ebi n’pa wa?
That is how to be daring. That is how to be courageous. That is how to exhibit rare leadership. That is how to win the hearts of the people. That is how to win the MoTY in a positive sense. Anything else is not only the inapposite, it is fraud.
Courage is not about making quirky, uncanny, impulsive, spur of the moment declarations. It is not a function of using any means necessary to sustain mindless, insensitive and callous policies including shutting down voices of opposition.
You can only be lionised as a hero for acts of bravery or valour. In that case, you must either have fought a lion with bare hands and defeated it, or more at home, at least fought your equals on fair ground. Tinubu has not done any of these. Famished Nigerians are not on fair grounds with him.
Further we say and further we maintain, unleashing untold hardship on citizens earns Tinubu no badge of honour as the THISDAY Board of Editors, tried to infer. The two policies, which sustenance this body hinged their decision on, are nothing but rash, instinctive and insensitive, if not reckless, foolhardy and outrightly wicked. No more no less!
Millions have died already due to hunger, starvation, disease and stampede. Many have jumped into lagoons, hung themselves on trees or quietly ended it all by taking poison. Many have killed their brothers or engaged in other malevolent acts to survive. Millions are going to die this month and in the months to come. How many more need to go before reality dawns?
An American President is the most powerful man in the world and every other leader must approach him with a lot of caution, Olusegun Obasanjo former Nigerian President said on Monday, as he warned President Bola Tinubu, to bear this in mind in his relationship with the incoming government of Donald Trump that would commence in about two weeks’ time.
A guest of The Morning Show, a breakfast programme on Arise News television, Obasanjo, Nigeria’s longest-serving leader, with 11 years to his credit – three as military Head of State and eight as a civilian President, who dug into his experience in office as well as a global leader, cautioned that it did not matter what constituted Tinubu’s views about the person of the would-be POTUS, the fact that he would be occupying the most powerful office in the world, equally transformed him as the most powerful man as well capable of wielding the big stick or being a source of great relief to countries.
Hear him: “Whether anybody likes it or not, the American people have decided that Trump will be their leader, and Trump being American people’s leader, will lead America for the next four years.
“He will be the leader of the world, because America is the greatest country in the world, for now. It may change in a few years’ time, maybe China will take over and become the largest economy. Maybe China would surpass America in technology, maybe in military power. But as of today, America is that country, and we cannot say we have nothing to do with Trump. Trump is here and will be there from the 20th of January for the next four years.
“We have to find a way of letting Trump know that what he calls shit house is not entirely shithole, that there are some decent houses in Africa, and we have to make him understand that. I believe that there will be policymakers around him that we can reach and we can also talk to.
“America has enlightened interest in Africa, we should make that known to Trump and to say, look, this is your interest and don’t ignore it, we are ready to work with you. Give us our respect and dignity that is due to us.
“Respect our citizens that are in your country, and let us work together for a peaceful world that is secure, a world that is stable, and a world where prosperity will be shared and where security will be common. But I believe that Trump will understand.”
An ecstatic President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, showered profuse praises on the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), for the feat of revamping the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), calling it a special 2025 New Year gift.
Conveying his sentiments through Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman in a statement, the President, said the development, which he noted had upped the ante in his energy and security plan for the country, had strengthened the hope of Nigerians in his administration.
The President spoke on the day Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive of the (NNPC) who led a delegation of stakeholders in the nation’s oil industry to the refinery, told Nigerians that the coming alive of the facility had proved doubters wrong.
The statement, quoted a palpably elated Tinubu as saying of the development: “Today, the Warri Refinery returned to operation weeks after NNPC Limited restarted the 60,000 Barrels per day at the Port Harcourt Refinery in November. With Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) going into operation after several years of inactivity, President Tinubu has once again expressed his administration’s determination to ramp up local refining capacity and make Nigeria a hub for downstream industrial activities in Africa.
“The All Progressives Congress-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari awarded the contract for the complete rehabilitation and overhaul of the four state-owned refineries. President Tinubu noted with confidence that with the 125,000 (bpd) Warri Refinery now operating at 60% capacity, his administration’s comprehensive plan to ensure energy efficiency and security is entirely on course.
Praising the Kyari-led management of the NNPCL for working hard to restore Nigeria’s glory and pride as a major oil-producing country, he was quoted to have added: “The restart of Warri Refinery today brings joy and gladness to me and Nigerians. This will further strengthen the hope and confidence of Nigerians for a greater and better future than we promised. This development is a remarkable way to end the year following the feat recorded earlier with the old Port Harcourt Refinery. I am equally happy that NNPC Limited is implementing my directive to restore all four refineries to good working condition.
“I congratulate Mele Kyari and his team at NNPCL for working hard to restore our national pride and make Nigeria a hub for crude oil refining in Africa. President Tinubu enjoined NNPCL to accelerate repair work on Kaduna Refinery and the 150,000 (bpd) second refinery in Port Harcourt to consolidate Nigeria’s position as a global energy provider.”
On his part, the NNPCL boss, said: “WRPC will focus on producing and storing critical products, including Straight Run Kerosene (SRK), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and heavy and light Naphtha. We are taking you through our plant. You see the reality yourself. This plant is running. We have not completed 100 per cent. We are stimulating the other part of the plant as we progress. But currently, this plant is running. You will see what is happening now and we are bringing products to the market.
“There are many people who don’t think this is real. As you all know a lot of media talk all over the place that people don’t believe real things can happen in our country. We believe that this is right for our country, and all of us have a stake, including the media, so this can become a greater place as it is already happening. I just want you to know that everything you see is real.”
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