Author: gqSbgCfmna

For the sake of non-Yoruba speakers, ‘bo le mbe’ loosely means ‘come off it’. It is a language of the street to dismiss false or exaggerated claims. Other street boys will say ‘e kayi nah’ . It is the same thing.

Different reviews have trailed the interview that Senator Bukola Saraki granted Channels TV on Thursday night. In an excerpt of it on Facebook, Saraki claimed that Kwara under his watch was better than Kwara today.

The response he got (please see the attached screenshot) was akin to a story of the fabled Saudi Arabia returnee who said the chicken of Mecca is the height of a storey-building. ‘Alhaji e re nle!’ Calm down, Alhaji.

Even the visually impaired knows there is no basis for comparison between Kwara of yesterday and today. It is not a joke that you will miss your way in Kwara today if you last visited in 2022. You will miss your way! That is the easiest test of the pace of infrastructure development in the state, particularly the capital city.

Senator Saraki expectedly found solace in security issues, especially banditry and terrorism. Yes, the dynamics have changed across West Africa and the Sahel as a whole. We readily acknowledge that banditry and terrorism are a serious problem. We do not make any show of whose deaths are more; a human life is priceless. Every soul we have lost is irreplaceable. May God comfort every grieving family and forgive the dead.

Every resource is being channelled to end the madness of the bad faith actors. The security agencies are never left without the support of the state government. And this is in hundreds of millions of naira every month. Kwara was among the pioneer states to recruit forest guards and it contributed immensely to their welfare till date. In a pragmatic search for solutions, the government is supporting communities to build resilience and curtail the evil. Victims are supported within ethical boundaries that do not cause bigger problems.

We acknowledge that Senator Saraki is at liberty to weaponise this national calamity and the pains of everyone for political effect. The consolation is that people of good conscience can see through the bad politics as the comments under the post showed.

In education, workers’ welfare, social security, healthcare, or fiscal prudence, there is no evidence to corroborate Saraki’s claims, which are, with due respect to His Excellency, mere platitudes. And platitudes are not facts. But they can make us happy. _Truthiness._

His Excellency may revisit my response to his similar claims in 2021, titled ‘A note on the Kwara journey’. It remains relevant for this discourse. But a lot has changed for the better since then. For instance, all the salary and pension debts that the Saraki-inspired administration left have been paid by the Otoge government. It was in billions.

Between 2003 and 2019, a period of 16 years, their Excellencies Saraki and Abdulfatai Ahmed hired a total of 6,098 basic school teachers. Between 2019 and 2025, the Otoge administration hired 8,912 basic school teachers. The Teachers Salary Allowance (TSA), which went into coma in 2012 under a government His Excellency inspired, has been revived. In addition, Kwara under Otoge has just approved peculiar allowance for core civil servants.

Today in Nigeria, Kwara is in the top highest salary payers for medical house officers, a strategy to keep doctors in the public health system. More will be done. His Excellency Saraki may also note the creation and accreditation on the first try by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) of the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital. That’s a no mean feat – it means good doctors can be produced and trained whilst serving the people of Kwara State. That’s another legacy of the Otoge administration.

In road construction, institutional memory says the Kwara State Government did a total of 398.73kilometres (including the 120km federal-funded) Chikanda road roads between 2003 and 2019; the Otoge administration has a total of 588.77km to its credit – aside from the 293km tax credit road the Governor facilitated from the Federal Government. The Maths tells the story, even when we look at government’s revenue then and now. A few persons say Kwara now earns more; numbers don’t work that way. It is about what a million naira bought in 2019 and what it buys now.

His Excellency Saraki may also check the current health indices of Kwara State today and yesterday. The latest National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) released by the Federal Ministry of Health adjudged Kwara as the best State for a child to be born and raised with the lowest under-5 mortality rate in Nigeria. Last week, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the enlistment of a large section of civil servants into the health insurance following an earlier negotiation with the labour.

That is a first in our state. How? Yes, the Ahmed administration passed the health insurance law in 2017, but it didn’t implement it in any way. This administration activated it and we have at least 120,000 already enjoying health insurance this minute – apart from the civil servants who are to be brought into the net.

The Otoge administration is not perfect. No government in the world is. But His Excellency is advised to quit comparing apples with oranges. They are not the same.

And, finally, Your Excellency Saraki: the Otoge administration did not demolish any home called Ile Arugbo. No one lived there. The government removed a shanty UNLAWFULLY erected on a public land. This happened in 2020. Till date, no one has provided a tissue paper which links ownership of the land to your family. The court once struck out the legal challenge mounted by one Asa Investment, an opaque shell firm whose ‘owners’ at the corporate affairs commission did not include a Saraki.

The public may note that the land, owned by KWSG and meant for collective use, was allocated to one Asa Investment in the early 2000s without a kobo paid to the treasury. This is the brief history of the land.

Now, the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Hospital (formerly civil service clinic) is taking a section of the land, while the remaining lot is hosting a civic centre – both of which are part of the many legacies of Otoge. I’m sure that hospital structure (never seen before in our state) must be the envy of Distinguished Senator Saraki!

At age seventy-four, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, stands not just as Nigeria’s president and commander-in-chief, but as a figure whose political journey continues to inspire admiration, fierce debate and deep reflection in equal measure. By tomorrow, Sunday, March 29,2026, the public scrutiny continues as he celebrates his birthday while simultaneously savouring the joy of winning his party’s 2027 presidential re-election ticket.

For some of us, however, our engagement trajectory with Tinubu is deeply personal. Yours sincerely’s relationship with the president dates back to his days as governor of Lagos State, facilitated by our living journalism legend and elder statesman, Akinrogun Segun Osoba. What began as an encounter has since blossomed into a bond one can only describe as a father and son relationship. Over the years, dating back to his tenure as governor and after his tenure as a revered politician of note, or in my several interactions with him in his then faraway London’s Cavendish residence, writing about the Tinubu story has always been both a privilege and a delight.

Thence, marking his birthday through writings has, for me, become something of a tradition. This year, like in previous years, carries a significant addendum as he celebrates his birthday, again in his capacity as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is gearing up for his reelection for a second term, come January, 2027.

No leader, like all mortals, is without flaws and Tinubu is no exception. To some people, he may as president not be getting everything right but to yours sincerely, he is undeniably getting some things on sure-footings for the progress of our dear country. And candidly, such expressions of divergent views are part of what make the democratic system the most cherished doctrine across the world. Even among his truculent detractors, there is a quiet acknowledgment, sometimes unspoken, that many of them have, at one point or another, benefited from his political intelligence, wisdom, personal resources and influence.

The reality most of them failed to acknowledge is that Asiwaju remains, till date, the country’s first truly ‘intentional’ politician-president, one who consciously built a political structure over decades with the clear objective of attaining the highest office. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, GCON, would have been the first real politician-president but the power-that-be of his epoch, never allowed him to lead thereby necessitating his being accorded a posthumous sobriquet of ‘the best president Nigeria never had’- apologies to late Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Ikemba of Nnewi. Former President Shehu Usman Shagari, comparatively, was not on the same political pedestal with Tinubu. He wanted to go to the senate but was prevailed upon to be an unwilling president. General Olusegun Obasanjo was never a politician but after leaving Abacha’s gulag, he also ended up serving as an unwilling president. Late President Umar Yar’Adua was equally an unwilling president, courtesy of Obasanjo’s deceitful electoral shenanigans. But for Yar’Adua’s sickness, Goodluck Jonathan would not have become president. Fate made him one.

Even late Muhammadu Buhari, who persistently sought the presidency, only succeeded after a political realignment in which Tinubu played a decisive role. Tinubu’s rise, by contrast, is framed by political tenacity, persistence, effective strategy, long-term calculations and the unseen but important hand of fate. Most people argue that this same intentionality is reflected in his governance style; being one that prioritises structural changes, medium and long-term gains over immediate gains.

Unsurprisingly, his influence continues to loom large over Nigeria’s political landscape. Whether in discussions about political party dynamics, shifting alliances or governance generally, his imprint is unmistakable. For admirers, like yours sincerely, he remains a master strategist; for critics, a dominant force whose political reach/influence raises concerns. Either way, he is impossible to ignore.

Nobody in today’s opposition can deny the fact that Tinubu is the ‘capo di tutti’ of the country’s political turfs that can only be ignored at their own peril. No wonder that everything political; good or bad, positive or negative, has been ascribed to Tinubu, even when he knows nothing about such things.

The ongoing wave of political defections has further reinforced this reality. While some accuse him of consolidating power excessively, others see it as a natural gravitation towards political authority. Many of those raising concerns today were once allies of Asiwaju, underscoring the fluid and often transactional nature of Nigerian politics. The pull that made them gravitate toward the man at one time or the other in the past, is the same pull that is making current governors and others rush to join the political party of this first politician-president of the country. Added to this is the defectors’ resolute inclination to hold unto power and achieving this can only be guaranteed by staying with Tinubu as a sitting intentional president whose strong political aura is undeniably magnetic.

Asiwaju is the last man standing amongst the Southwest’s Alliance for Democracy (AD) governors of that era that Obasanjo cajoled out of power in 2003. Even as at today, he remains the most consequential figures from the 1999-2007 political era, and he is still active, still influential and still dominating and shaping national conversations. To God be the glory.

As Tinubu marks his 74th birthday, expectations remain high. Leadership at this level carries both expectational burden and opportunity. Most of us hope and pray that his administration will steer Nigeria toward desired stability and prosperity even though his critics continue to find faults by their virulent demand for accountability and beneficially humane policy results.

For those of us that truly love this man called Tinubu, and sincerely want him to succeed having followed his political journey closely, this moment calls for both reflection and responsibility. We must support what works, question what does not and remain loyal to him and committed to the broader national interest. This is the promise I have made and will adhere to till 2031 when hopefully, the time and opportunity will come to give an overall analytical assessment of the era of ‘omo olodo ide’ as the president of this country.

Above all, I wish our own Asiwaju of the universe and president of Nigeria amongst other things; a continuing good health, purposefully clear policy focus and discipline, divine wisdom and a discerning ability to seave the grains from the chaff in his rulership encounters. These are some of the salient leadership attributes required to navigate, God willing till 2031, the complexities of leading a nation as dynamic as Nigeria.

Asiwaju, being our last man standing at 74, kindly accept, once again, my sincere birthday wishes/prayers. Congratulations sir.

The Adekunle Gold Foundation, in partnership with Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative, has conducted a medical outreach for persons living with sickle cell disorder, providing healthcare services to over 400 patients in Lagos.

The outreach, held on March 14, offered a range of medical interventions, including specialist consultations, laboratory tests, blood transfusions for severe cases, pain management, physiotherapy support and the distribution of essential drugs. Beneficiaries also received prescription medications and care supplies to support treatment for up to three months.

Sickle cell disorder remains one of the most prevalent genetic conditions globally, with Nigeria accounting for a significant share of the burden. Despite this, access to sustained and affordable healthcare continues to be a challenge for many patients.

The foundation, established by musician Adekunle Gold, is focused on improving awareness and access to treatment for people living with the condition. Speaking on the initiative, Adekunle Gold, who has lived with sickle cell disorder since childhood, said the intervention was aimed at easing the burden on patients.

‘Living with sickle cell is something I understand personally. Beyond the pain, there is the cost of care, which many people cannot afford. We want to make treatment more accessible so people can live better,’ he said.

Kano State Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, yesterday resigned from his position.

His resignation was announced in a statement by Dr. Habibu Sale Mohammed, spokesman of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.

Gwarzo said ‘recent circumstances’ had constrained his ability to fulfill his duties effectively. He, however, stated that the decision, ‘though difficult,’ was made in the interest of the people and for the stability of governance in Kano State.

The deputy governor had been facing pressure to resign following Governor Abba Yusuf’s defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Gwarzo, who refused to follow his principal to the ruling party, has been paying his loyalty to the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement Rabiu Kwankwaso, which created suspicion by the Yusuf administration.

Gwarzo’s resignation on Friday came amid impeachment proceedings initiated by the Kano State House of Assembly, citing allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and breach of public trust.

38 members of the House, including the Majority Leader, Lawan Hussaini, who presented the impeachment notice, alleged that Gwarzo collected N66 million per month, amounting to N462 million in seven months as kickbacks from council chairmen when he doubled as the commissioner for local governments.

The lawmakers also alleged that between February and July 2024, the deputy governor received N726 million under the guise of executing special assignments for the councils.

Gwarzo was also accused of facilitating the release of N440 million from the 44 local government areas to Novomed Pharmaceuticals Limited in violation of state procurement and fiscal management l.

The deputy governor denied all the allegations, stating that his records in office demonstrate his integrity and commitment to the people.

Gwarzo said he had resigned to focus on strengthening the Kwankwasiyya Movement ahead of the 2027 general elections, aiming to consolidate its vision of people-oriented leadership, social justice, and sustainable development.

He urged his fans and supporters of the movement to remain calm and law-abiding, with further details to be communicated soon.

The statement reads: ‘The Kwankwasiyya Movement wishes to formally inform the general public, the good people of Kano State, and the entire nation that the Deputy Governor of Kano State has tendered his resignation from office today (Friday).

‘This decision, though difficult, has been taken in the overall interest of the people and the stability of governance in Kano State.

‘Recent circumstances have, to a considerable extent, constrained the full realisation of the benefits and responsibilities attached to the office of the Deputy Governor.

‘In view of this, it has become imperative to allow the office to function optimally in the best interest of the public it is meant to serve.

‘For the avoidance of doubt, this resignation does not in any way constitute an admission of the allegations raised against him by the Kano State House of Assembly.

‘The Deputy Governor maintains his innocence and firmly believes that his records in office and public service remain a testament to his integrity and commitment to the people.

‘Rather, this step is a demonstration of statesmanship and a commitment to peace, political maturity, and the avoidance of unnecessary tensions that may hinder governance and development in the state.’

Health experts in Bauchi State have raised concern over the rising maternal death rate, calling on the State House of Assembly to pass a law banning home childbirth.

The appeal came during a one-day training organized by the Bauchi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), aimed at improving reporting on maternal and newborn health.

Nation reports that about 50 journalists attended the training, learning how to cover issues affecting mothers and newborns more effectively.

Speaking at the event, UNICEF health expert Seyi Olosunde said the training is part of efforts to raise awareness and improve health outcomes for women and children. He expressed concern over teenage pregnancies in the state, noting that one in four girls becomes pregnant at a young age.

Olosunde added that many teenagers feel ashamed of their pregnancies and that many newborns die within the first 28 days due to preventable causes linked to unsafe deliveries.

He stressed the urgent need for interventions, including legislation, to reverse these trends.

UNICEF Social Behaviour Change expert George Eki said banning home births could help address cultural norms and harmful practices around childbirth.

In his remarks, Comrade Umar Sa’idu, Chairman of NUJ Bauchi State, commended UNICEF for its support and said regular training helps journalists improve reporting on maternal and child health.

He revealed that a seven-month committee will guide journalists in producing detailed reports on maternal and newborn issues.

Also speaking, Amina Balali of the State Primary Health Care Development Board highlighted the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), a government program that has made progress in 11 local government areas.

Balali explained that the program has improved emergency transport for pregnant women in rural areas, hiring motorcycle riders to take women to health facilities. Health workers have been trained, essential medicines supplied, and free delivery kits provided.

She called for more awareness campaigns to encourage women to deliver in health facilities under trained professionals, adding that safe delivery is key to reducing maternal and newborn deaths in Bauchi State.

The race for continental tickets and the fight to beat the drop take centre stage as Matchday 32 of the NPFL delivers a thrilling lineup. From Ibadan to Aba, Lagos to Maiduguri, every point now carries enormous weight.

All eyes will be on Ibadan where Shooting Stars host league leaders Rangers International FC in what is undeniably the headline fixture of the weekend.

Rangers, currently top with 54 points, come into this clash unbeaten in their last eight games, showcasing a remarkable transformation in the second stanza. The Flying Antelopes have navigated tougher tests and will be confident of extending their dominance, even though they will be without head coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, who is away on national duty with the Super Eagles in Turkey.

Shooting Stars, sitting sixth with 47 points, know the stakes that only a home win keeps their top-three ambitions alive. For Rangers, even a draw could be enough to retain top spot on goal difference.

The Abia derby between Enyimba and Abia Warriors carries both historical weight and present urgency.

Abia Warriors are in fifth position with 49 points and a win could significantly boost their chances of securing a continental ticket. However, Enyimba’s situation is far more precarious. The People’s Elephant are 16th with 36 points, just above the relegation zone on goal difference.

Despite their struggles, Enyimba cannot afford to slip at home as they fight to preserve their topflight status. Memories of last season linger, when Enyimba denied Abia Warriors a crucial win, triumphing 2-1 in a similar high stakes encounter.

Lagos hosts a crucial North Central derby between Kwara United and Nasarawa United, with contrasting ambitions on the line.

Kwara United are in deep trouble, 19th with 33 points, and must win to keep their survival hopes alive. On the other hand, Nasarawa United sit third with 50 points, firmly in the race for a CAF Inter-club ticket.

The Solid Miners have shown their intent by flying into Lagos early, and an away victory could not only strengthen their continental push but also keep alive an outside chance of the league title should Rangers and Rivers United falter.

Ikorodu City will aim to complete a double over Warri Wolves after a 2-0 first-leg win in Ozoro. The Oga Boys are fourth with 49 points, fresh from a 2-2 draw against Kun Khalifat in Owerri.

Warri Wolves, hovering in mid-table, will be determined to halt their charge and spoil the party in Lagos.

In Benin City, Bendel Insurance (7th, 45 points) will look to avenge their 1-0 first-leg loss in Jos against Plateau United.

With a five-point gap separating them from third place, the Benin Arsenals need victory to keep continental hopes alive. Plateau United (9th, 42 points) are equally motivated as they seek to distance themselves from relegation concerns.

Maiduguri plays host to a tense relegation scrap as El Kanemi Warriors face Remo Stars.

Defending champions Remo Stars have endured a poor title defence and now sit 18th with 36 points, dangerously close to relegation. El Kanemi Warriors are also not entirely safe, making this a high-pressure encounter for both sides.

Barau FC, buoyed by a 1-1 draw away in Katsina, will face the same opponents in Kano.

The impact of administrator Dominic Iorfa is evident, with Barau FC climbing to 11th with 41 points, a significant improvement from their earlier relegation struggles. They will aim to secure maximum points at home this time.

In Minna, Niger Tornadoes host Wikki Tourists, hoping to build on their 1-1 draw in Bauchi earlier in the season.

With home advantage, Tornadoes will be targeting all three points to strengthen their position.

Bayelsa United face a must-win scenario in Yenagoa after a 1-0 defeat to Plateau United in Jos.

The Prosperity Boys are 15th with 37 points, just above the drop zone, while Kano Pillars sit 14th with 39 points, only three points clear of danger. A loss for Sai Masu Gida could drag them right back into relegation trouble.

In Port Harcourt, Rivers United will be desperate to halt a worrying slide.

The Pride of Rivers have lost their last four games, dropping to second place with 52 points. They now face bottom-placed Kun Khalifat, who have 33 points and are in dire need of points after a 2-2 home draw with Ikorodu City.

Rivers United must win to keep pace in the title race, while Kun Khalifat cannot afford another setback in their survival fight.

NPFL Matchday 32 Fixtures

Shooting Stars vs. Rangers

Enyimba vs, Abia Warriors

Kwara United vs. Nasarawa United

Ikorodu City vs. Warri Wolves

Insurance vs Plateau United

El Kanemi Warriors vs. Remo Stars

Barau FC vs. Katsina United

Niger Tornadoes vs. Wikki Tourists

Bayelsa United vs. Kano Pillars

Rivers United vs. Kun Khalifat

The PBAT Door-to-Door Movement has declared its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, pledging to mobilise millions of Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during activities leading up to the APC National Convention, the group’s National Coordinator, Adekanbi Sunday Asuku, said Nigeria’s progress depends on continuity, insisting that ‘the choice before Nigerians is Tinubu or Tinubu.’ He noted that the current administration inherited long-standing challenges that require more time to address.

He disclosed that the movement has commenced nationwide mobilisation across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with a focus on grassroots engagement through door-to-door campaigns. According to him, branded campaign vehicles and volunteers are already being deployed, with plans to scale up operations in the coming months.

Describing the initiative as a ‘movement of the masses,’ Asuku said the group is prioritising grassroots voters over elite endorsements, adding that ongoing government reforms should be sustained beyond the current administration.

The message was delivered on behalf of Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, who is identified as the grand patron and founder of the movement. He reiterated the group’s commitment to securing Tinubu’s re-election.

He also urged Nigerians to actively participate in the electoral process, describing the 2027 elections as a defining moment for the country’s future.

The group expressed confidence that its mobilisation drive would gain momentum nationwide as the elections draw closer.