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Being a senior citizen doesn’t excuse bad behavior

Pity the nation that feels constrained to remind its senior citizens about elementary good manners and right conduct.

A recent social media post by actress Rita Avila went viral after she recounted an encounter with a fellow senior citizen at a movie theater.

Essentially, she recounted being at the cinema when a man seated next to her let his phone ring out loudly. She reminded him that they were inside a theater. He just said: ‘Pasensya na, senior na.’ She riposted back, ‘senior na rin ako.’

My most memorable experience with a senior citizen’s bad behavior happened inside a commuter train. That day, the train was fully packed with passengers and two high school students got shoved or ‘pranked’ into the space that is reserved for senior citizens and PWD commuters, separated only by a flimsy rope. The two youngsters were obviously embarrassed and uncomfortable. I and other senior passengers knew it was not intentional on their part, but one old lady passenger didn’t like it at all and started berating the poor high schoolers endlessly and loudly, calling them undisciplined, unruly, disrespectful and so on.

The funny thing was there was space enough for them and most of us didn’t mind them being there. At last, one elderly woman told the fulminating lady it was ok because the youngsters got reprimanded enough. But she wouldn’t ease up and only shut up when the two teeners were forced to get off at the next station. To me that old cantankerous woman is the Pinoy equivalent of the white privileged ‘Karen’ in America.

We have this tendency to give older people a pass on certain things. Matanda na kasi. The casual excuse-‘senior moment’-is being often abused as a free pass for many unacceptable behavior of elderly people. It’s everyone’s way of dismissing a shameful display of bad conduct from an old folk who ought to do better.

I don’t think age should be an excuse for behaving rudely. Advancing age does not exempt anyone from basic courtesy. What is even more concerning is the potential for younger individuals to internalize and emulate such unbecoming conduct.

Just last week, an octogenarian friend lamented the vanishing ‘courteousness and urbanidad’ among today’s youth. I told him: ‘Yes, that may be true, but many of our fellow seniors are no better. Our peers aren’t setting a good example either.’

The problem is some of us old folks are now so focused on ourselves, we have dulled our sensitivity to other people, or even lost it. We often suffer from our inability to read the room many times. We speak out of turn or say hurtful words or behave badly without the fear of being admonished or rebuked by someone older because there’s no one else older than us in the room.

Setting aside the elderly who are suffering from dementia, why do some normal elderly people decide to no longer be polite or respectful? Why do they lose their ‘filters’ as they age and fail to realize that their comments are rude, crude, or outlandish?

We were not like this before. The phenomenon of being able to act boorishly with impunity began to manifest itself some time ago. Our society got infected by the virus of rudeness and vulgarity and soon even senior citizens began to stop being kindly elders.

Remember the ex-president, himself a senior citizen, who delighted in speaking rough ‘kanto’ language in his speeches? He had no compunction to curse in public and was even applauded for it, which made him come off as being ‘authentic’ and ‘totoo.’

To me his ascension to the height of national power was the inflection point in our social cultural history, that marked our collective descent into crassness, crudeness and vulgarity. Because he could use cuss words in public without being called out, soon everything was permitted and rudeness and crassness became the new normal.

Four-letter words? Kanto language? Scandalous relationships? You encounter them on social media postings so often, they have lost their shock value. We are now a society with no filters and no restraint.

The incidents of seniors behaving badly are just a reflection of what we have turned into. The question is, have Filipinos completely lost our grasp on basic manners? I pray not.

My collective assessment is that it is not true of all senior citizens but a few who want to enjoy fully that sense of entitlement as much as they can while they still can, enforce and perpetuate a privilege, believing it is their right to be served. They know their days are numbered and they no longer have to please anyone.

It is borne out of many causes: fear, resentment, frustration, bitterness, sense of failure, and perhaps physical pain.

One thing though about seniors. Yes, they do tend to focus on themselves, but sometimes they will respond to a gentle reminder. Etiquette still resonates with many of my senior friends. I am lucky to have a wife who always restrains me when I act or speak too uninhibitedly for comfort. In creative sessions I am invited to participate, I tell the young people present to let me know if I am rude in my manner and not to take my words personally if I say something outrageous or offensive.

We seniors need to go back to the idea of senior citizenship as a time of eldership, not a time to seek and enjoy more entitlements.

We need to show our people, young or old, that we are not all crude and crass and feeling entitled. We need to let them know that having manners is still a huge factor to being a decent human being. Let’s reclaim the traditional values that have always defined the authentic Filipino character, most specially ‘paggalang sa kapwa, sa puso, diwa, salita at gawa.’

5 years after, attack victims remain displaced

For more than five years, home has remained a distant memory for many internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in camps in Benue, and Borno, where the hope of returning to their ancestral communities grows increasingly uncertain with each passing day. Weekend Trust highlights the plights of these IDPs.

Why we haven’t returned home – Benue IDPs

In Benue State, thousands of internally displaced persons have remained in camps for more than five years and unwilling to return to their ancestral homes for fear of being killed as persistent insecurity has continued t, hindering their safe return home.

Jacob Ibaah, one of thousands of the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) staying at the Agagbe camp in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue after it was formally opened in 2021, stayed in different make-shift homes after their displacement from their homes by armed invaders.

‘The displacement started in my community in 2003. I remember vividly that I was in secondary school when the armed men first came and attacked us. Since then it has been off and on; we tried to go back but we are attacked again. In 2021, the government formally established the Agagbe camp where we are now.

‘We haven’t returned to our villages because those who tried it were killed. Others barely escaped with life threatening injuries,’ Ibaah said.

Dooshima Tyohem, another displaced person, and a mother of two at the Abagana camp along Makurdi – Lafia road in Benue State, noted that she had been displaced from her home since 2018.

‘We can’t go back home because it’s dangerous to do so,’ she said.

Similarly, Esther Francis, displaced from her Guma village to living in the Abagana camp, lamented that returning home remains a far-fetched dream for most people like her because it still wasn’t safe just as there are no houses to return to.

Francis said, ‘We are eager to return to our ancestral homes but it’s not safe. Men are still being killed as they try to go back to their farms while women are raped. Besides, the promised reconstruction of our destroyed communities by government is yet to be fulfilled.’ She said.

For Jessica Mbaneneen Halavaan, who has spent eight years at Ugba camp in Logo LGA, the situation in her village remains volatile for any resident to think of returning.

‘We can’t dare go back home. Any thought of doing so is a suicide mission,’ she replied to our correspondent.

Anita Tsavwua, a displaced teenager at Anyiin camp in Logo said they fled their homes at Tombu council ward in 2018 after initial attacks which began in 2014.

She noted that her village till date remains deserted because the attackers have occupied the area, making it difficult for her parent to return home.

‘There is nobody in my village, and we can’t go back because the attackers are still killing people on the road. Recently, a village close to ours was attacked and people were killed,’ she said.

A former Camp chairman of Tse-Yandev, Gabriel Yev, who had been in camp since 2020 lamented the plights of IDPs, noting that they are compelled by situation to live in the camps because anyone who tries to go back to their homes are usually killed by the attackers.

‘In the past, two of my younger ones went to check their farms because they cultivated their maize when the rainy season started before they were chased away from the village.

‘They went to see if they could get something to eat because there was no food in the camp for us to eat at the time. As they went there, they were caught alive, taken away and after some days, the gunmen who abducted them called and informed the father that his children were killed and he should go and pick their corpses, adding that while coming he should be prepared to fight. So, there was no way for us to retrieve the corpses,’ Yev said.

In the same vein, Damian Samuel, who has lived with five members of his family including his wife for six years now at the IDPs camp situated along Uniagric road in North Bank, Makurdi, said they really want to go back to their ancestral homeland.

‘There is no place like home but we can go back yet. Our community is not safe,’ he said.

Similarly, Abuugh Terese, 13, said, ‘I’m orphaned by the crisis. My mother and father were killed in the farm at our village in Ayanse in Yande – Moon district of Turan. We want government to send more security to quell the crisis so we can go back home.

Terese added, ‘Our community is still deserted and not safe for return.’

Also, Tsokaa Orngu, 8, a primary 4 pupil whose family was displaced from Kumakwugh council ward, appeals to government to provide security to enable them return home so that his father can resume farming activities in order to pay school fees and provide food for his household.

Little Oche Solomon from Agatu and many other children from the affected trio LGAs, whose family were displaced also seek government’s intervention so they can go back to their ancestral homes.

Awuhe Solomon, 35, a gunshot survivor when his village in Turan ward was attacked by the invaders now bears a health issue on his thigh below his abdomen but seek the intervention of government for people to return to their homes.

Solomon, a father of six children said his wife left him following the hardship which befell his family after their displacement, as he disclosed that he lost a total of 15 persons during the attack and now left with only four surviving siblings including himself.

‘I beg for food to survive. Look up there (pointing at a particular direction) is the road to my village but we can’t go beyond that place you can sight it from here because our killers are everywhere there. I’m afraid of my future and that if my children,’ he cried out.

In the same vein, retired Comptroller of Prisons, Chief Iorbee Ihagh, stressed the need for the President to direct the military to clear the state of bandits for farmers to return to their farms while the internally displaced persons return to their homes.

‘I’m also an IDP – our five council wards in Turan land were ransacked and taken over by the armed herders. As we speak for over 10 years, we have no access to Moon where I come from and where my parents were buried. Even when my wife died recently, we had no access to take her body there for burial so I buried her in Jato Aka.

‘I blame the federal government for the continuing insecurity. The solution remains with the federal government. The government should be clear on its directive – drive out the foreigners from our land so my people can go back to their homes,’ Ihagh maintained.

Only few days ago, the Executive Secretary of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sir James Iorpuu, told journalists in Makurdi that the agency was working with humanitarian partners, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to provide resettlement facilities for the IDPs.

Iorpuu mentioned that approximately 110 displaced persons had been moved to an area identified as Akile, where they were expected to receive shelter and engage in farming to rebuild their livelihoods.

He further mentioned approximately 288 hectares of land reportedly provided by the state governor for resettlement purposes.

The SEMA chief said the initiatives were intended to decongest IDP camps, promote self-reliance and facilitate the eventual return of displaced persons to their ancestral communities when security conditions permitted.

‘Our homes still not liberated’

Similarly, in Borno, the case remains the same for many displaced persons. Despair deepens for IDPs in Maiduguri’s self-established camps years after fleeing their ancestral homes from the onslaught of Boko Haram insurgents, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) living in the Shuwari and Shagari low-cost camps in Maiduguri say they are trapped in a cycle of neglect, despair, and deteriorating security. Displaced primarily from the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, the IDPs report that despite ongoing military campaigns, their hometowns remain under the control of terrorists, leaving them with no safe path to return and no alternative relocation provided by the government. John Goma, Chairman of the EYN IDP camp, a government-registered facility currently housing 1,225 people across 385 households spoke candidly about the harsh realities of camp life. ‘We don’t even like to stay in the camp anymore, because life in this place is hell,’ Goma said. ‘I always appeal through the media for the federal government to reclaim our area so that we can return, but things are deteriorating instead.’ He said.

According to Goma, the overstretched use of official facilities like the EYN camp forced many desperate families to establish unofficial settlements, such as those in Shuwari and Shagari. Hundreds of vulnerable women, children, and elderly now reside in these unassisted enclaves.

‘They are on their own, and don’t receive any intervention from the government, and just like all of us here, can’t go back to their communities due to the insecurity of the area,’ Goma added.

For those living in the informal camps, the daily struggle for survival has taken a heavy toll on family structures and social values. Mary Joseph, an IDP at the Shuwari camp, described being cramped into fragile trampoline huts with little to no food to feed her children.

‘Ever since we came into this camp, our children have turned against our values; they don’t listen to us anymore,’ Joseph lamented, fighting back tears.

‘They realised that we have nothing to give them. We can’t feed them, we can’t pay their school fees, or take care of their needs.’ Joseph noted that the breakdown of parental control has left young girls vulnerable, with some failing to return home at night. ‘That is why we always appeal to the government to liberate our areas and make the place safe for us to return and raise our children on our own terms.’

Another displaced resident, Peter Timothy, accused authorities of abandoning them to their fate. He called on the federal government to intensify military operations to flush insurgents out of Gwoza and surrounding communities.

Voicing deep frustration over unfulfilled security promises, Timothy asked, ‘Forget the government promises, now what happened to the pupils of Mussa and Lassa that were abducted by the insurgents?

Tell me. And these communities are relatively secure compared to our deserted villages.’ He emphasized that living in the camp was not a choice, but a desperate necessity dictated by survival.

‘We have nobody to help us here, living a very difficult and helpless life in the camp, but we have no option.’ A 32-year-old Thabita Joseph, said she has been living in the camp for 15 years after Boko Haram terrorists displaced them from Ngoshe town.

‘Boko Haram displaced us from our village. I have three children to take care of, and now that the Harmattan cold is approaching we and the children will suffer through the season.

‘As it is now, our children need food, blankets, mats, and more but the government and even the NGOs have stopped their interventions. Very few organizations like the rescue are still helping us,’ said Joseph Another IDP Ilya Peter said, ‘Actually the weather will soon be really harsh but there is nothing we can do. Our prayer is for God to answer our prayers to return to our villages. Now our children have cold and severe fever and we can’t even afford to buy them warm clothes,’. Surayya John, a mother and a housewife, also said she spent over a decade in the camp but life in the camp is everyday turning from bad to worse.

‘Since the time we left our homes and farmlands, food has become a serious problem to all of us, and it has become a problem for us to feed and clothes our children. ‘Our children stopped going to school, some of them started following men who often gave them money and engaged in illicit affairs with them. ‘For that reason, the majority of us are now hypertensive because our husbands have no jobs and we have no means of supporting them. As the insurgency continues to cast a long shadow over northeastern Nigeria, the IDPs in Maiduguri’s margins remain steadfast in a single, urgent plea: for the government to reclaim their lands so they can finally rebuild their lives.

Binance hack prompts Thai scrutiny

The Thai unit of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has assured customers that their assets remain safe after its parent company was hacked in what is being dubbed the biggest crypto heist in history.

The Thai Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it is monitoring exposure.

Binance is investigating a major cybersecurity incident with an estimated financial impact of US$6.3 billion. In response, its Thai affiliate temporarily suspended digital asset deposits and withdrawals as a precaution.

The incident came to light following reports of suspicious transactions involving digital assets linked to Binance. Initial estimates put the value of the transactions at about $5.7 billion, or 185 billion baht, before Binance revised its estimate of the total impact to $6.3 billion in an update on Oct 30.

A preliminary investigation suggests an attacker may have gained access through a compromised laptop belonging to a DevOps engineer, potentially enabling access to a service container and the submission of unauthorised withdrawal transactions.

Binance said it found no evidence that wallet private keys had been leaked, while emphasising that the investigation was ongoing as well as a detailed technical review.

The exchange worked with blockchain partners to freeze about $3 billion in affected assets on-chain, adding it would cover all losses using its Secure Asset Fund for Users and company funds, assuring customers that their assets remained safe.

In response to the incident, Binance suspended deposits and withdrawals while reviewing its security controls, revoking authorisations for affected addresses, and working with law enforcement agencies and blockchain intelligence partners to trace and recover the assets.

However, the amount frozen does not necessarily represent funds that have been fully recovered.

The incident has renewed concerns about cybersecurity risks at centralised cryptocurrency exchanges and the potential exposure of customers using platforms operating under the Binance brand in other markets.

ASSETS SECURE

Gulf Binance Co, the operator of Binance TH, said digital assets held by its Thai customers remained safe because its offline storage system was separate from Binance’s wallets.

The company said Binance TH operates as an independent legal entity with its own digital asset custody system, separate from that of the global exchange.

As a precaution, the company temporarily suspended digital asset deposits and withdrawals while its specialists conducted a comprehensive security review.

Other services on the Thai platform remain available as usual. Deposits and withdrawals will resume once the security checks are complete, although the company has yet to announce a specific reopening date.

Gulf Binance said protecting customer assets remained its highest priority and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining relevant security standards.

Binance TH announced yesterday afternoon it resumed normal trading, baht deposits and withdrawals, and digital asset deposits following initial system checks. However, digital asset withdrawals remain temporarily suspended as the company conducts further security reviews, despite finding no irregularities during its preliminary checks.

Gulf Binance said customers’ digital assets remained safe and withdrawals would resume as soon as possible. The company plans to announce the resumption of withdrawals through Binance TH’s official channels.

NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The SEC said it was monitoring Binance’s overseas operations and coordinated with licensed digital asset operators in Thailand to assess potential risks to customer assets.

Based on information reported by local operators, the regulator said it found no significant impact on customer assets held in their custody.

However, some assets potentially associated with transactions conducted through the overseas Binance platform remained under monitoring. The facts surrounding the incident and the extent of any potential losses are still being investigated.

The SEC instructed relevant operators to continue monitoring developments and assessing risks, verify the status and security of customer assets, and immediately report any incidents that could affect customer holdings or services.

Operators must also provide customers with accurate and timely information if service restrictions or other impacts arise.

The regulator stressed that the incident occurred on Binance’s overseas platform, which is not directly supervised by the Thai SEC. The commission is focused on monitoring licensed operators in Thailand and protecting investors who use their services.

The SEC also urged investors to follow official announcements, use only licensed digital asset operators and remain vigilant against scams seeking to exploit the incident to solicit asset transfers.

Investors can verify the licensing status of digital asset operators through the SEC’s official website at www.sec.or.th or contact the SEC Complaint Centre at 1207.

2027: Pain of reforms over prosperity beckons says First Lady

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has declared that the difficult phase of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms is giving way to an era of prosperity urging Nigerians particularly women in the South-East to support his re-election in 2027.

Speaking on Saturday at the South-East zonal All Progressives Congress (APC) Women’s Presidential Rally in Enugu the First Lady likened the hardships associated with the administration’s reforms to the pains of childbirth expressing confidence that Nigerians would soon begin to reap the benefits of the sacrifices made.

She assured the gathering that the President remained committed to transforming the country and consolidating the gains of his administration’s economic policies.

‘As the President said it is time for prosperity. You know the pain of labour to birth a child is over. It is time for joy and prosperity’ she declared.

According to a statement issued by her Senior Special Assistant on Media Busola Kukoyi the First Lady said Nigeria was at the threshold of a new phase of economic development following the difficult adjustments undertaken by the administration.

She maintained that the APC was committed to fulfilling its promises to Nigerians assuring that the President would sustain efforts to improve living conditions and expand economic opportunities.

Senator Tinubu consequently appealed to women across the South-East to rally behind the Tinubu-Shettima ticket in the 2027 presidential election describing continuity as important to consolidating the administration’s reforms.

The rally which attracted women leaders party stakeholders and supporters from the five South-East states also provided a platform to highlight the administration’s programmes and mobilise support for APC candidates ahead of the general elections.

A major highlight of the gathering was the First Lady’s flag-off of the distribution of empowerment items to 5000 women as part of efforts to strengthen their economic participation and improve household livelihoods.

She said her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) has consistently provided financial assistance vocational training equipment and other forms of support to women youths and vulnerable Nigerians.

The First Lady assured beneficiaries that the interventions would continue stressing the importance of equipping women with the skills and resources necessary to become economically self-reliant.

The programme featured the distribution of empowerment equipment including sewing machines grinding machines and popcorn-making machines to support small businesses and income-generating activities. People’s Gazette Nigeria

Also at the rally Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and his Ebonyi State counterpart Francis Nwifuru joined other APC leaders in canvassing support for President Tinubu’s bid for a second term.

The governors and other party stakeholders urged women in the zone to support the President and APC candidates contesting seats in the Senate House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly.

Other dignitaries at the event included the wife of the Senate President the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives the Deputy Speaker of the House the Imo State Governor the APC National Woman Leader and the Minister of Women Affairs.

Earlier the First Lady accompanied by other women leaders visiting Enugu for the rally paid a courtesy visit to the state’s Traditional Rulers Council led by Igwe Samuel Asadu.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers Asadu commended President Tinubu’s administration for what he described as significant achievements in national development.

He expressed the council’s support for the President and acknowledged the First Lady’s interventions aimed at improving the welfare of women youths and children.

The traditional rulers particularly praised the Renewed Hope Initiative for its empowerment and humanitarian programmes describing the interventions as important contributions to the wellbeing of vulnerable Nigerians.

Twists and turns as top UN members hold 7th straw poll

The United Nations Security Council members will today, October 30, 2026, hold a seventh straw poll to determine, per Article 97 of the UN Charter, who will be the next Secretary-General of the UN.

The latest straw poll will have a new candidate added after the United Arab Emirates nominated Lana Zaki Nusseibeh for the UN Secretary-General post 10 days after Macky Sall (Senegal) withdrew his candidacy. The other candidates still in the race include Olara Otunnu (Uganda), Ivonne A-Baki (Ecuador), María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés (Ecuador), Rafael Mariano Grossi (Argentina), Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (Guyana) and Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis (Costa Rica).

Straw polls are informal ballots used to assess the viability of candidates before the Council makes its formal recommendation through a resolution adopted during a private meeting. Latvia and the UK were appointed as tellers. For Otunu, the only remaining candidate from Africa, today’s straw poll provides a clear direction of where his campaign is headed.

Otunnu, who has so far run his campaign on the need to reform the world body, reiterated his stance on Thursday, asking-rhetorically-what will become of the UN without the much-needed reforms.

‘Will the United Nations matter in the lives of ordinary people in the years to come? This question is at the heart of the search for the next Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN). It is also at the centre of my decision to offer to serve,’ he said, adding, ‘I believe that the UN can rise to the moment, but only if we are willing to change how it works.’

The former UN Under-Secretary-General said a rigorous reform agenda requires the world to refocus on the fundamentals of the UN Charter, going back to basics in the three core mandates (pillars) enunciated in the Charter: Peace and Security, Human Rights, and Sustainable Development.

‘The purpose of reform must be to regenerate greater legitimacy and effectiveness, in order to yield tangible impact on the ground. As Secretary-General, refocusing, restructuring and reorganising the UN system would be a commanding priority of my mandate. This begins by consolidating, expanding and institutionalising the efforts already begun under the UN reform programme, dubbed ‘UN80′. We cannot afford to lose momentum or falter in our resolve,’ he said.

Reform agenda

He said while the first phase of reform has already generated some savings through reductions in posts, the relocation of staff and the consolidation of administrative functions. Such a status quo should be seen as the beginning of a more fundamental institutional transformation in which reform becomes part of the cultural DNA of the UN and a continuous process of assessing priorities, challenging entrenched practices and delivering measurable impact.

‘From day one, I would use my prerogative as Secretary-General to laser-focus on eliminating duplication and redundancy, strengthening coherence and accountability, and aligning priorities with commensurate resources. Reform must produce an institution that is leaner, more focused, and more closely connected to the people it serves,’ he said.

While Otunnu has pledged broader reforms, his core focus has been on bringing UN closure to the people, through relocation of substantive political, humanitarian and development posts to the regional level to advance sustainable development. This, he said, will deepen cost savings and bring expertise geographically closer to the member States and the communities the UN serves.

‘Political analysis should be closer to political realities. Humanitarian expertise should be better connected to the communities facing crises. We must do much more to connect the global UN to the local level, thus increasing the impact of the UN on the lives of ordinary people,’ he said.

‘The UN cannot credibly claim to represent the international community if its own composition fails to reflect that community. A more efficient UN must also be more representative and inclusive. As Secretary-General, I would prioritise geographic diversity, gender parity and multilingualism as crucial aspects of my reform agenda. This is integral to the legitimacy and effectiveness of the UN,’ he added.

Otunnu, who also previously served as the first UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, said the reform agenda must refocus the UN on its core Charter mandate of maintaining international peace and security and promoting conflict resolution, which remain an important component of the global peace and security agenda and the UN’s efforts to end conflicts.

‘It is essential that these operations are more focused, realistic and achievable in their mandates; that they are results-oriented, clearly time-bound and accountable to Member States; that transition arrangements are planned and designed from the beginning to avoid open-ended, never-ending UN operations; that critical concerns about burden-sharing in financing and troop contributions are addressed; that the sovereignty of affected Member States is respected; and that there is better consultation with national stakeholders, including civil society and local communities who are on the frontlines of conflict and post-conflict peacebuilding,’ he said.

‘As Secretary-General, I would lead the effort to overhaul peacekeeping and bring UN Peace Operations back to these fundamentals,’ he added.

Global wars

A number of permanent members of the UN Security Council are currently engaged in brutal wars, including Russia, which invaded its neighbour Ukraine in 2022, the US that launched blistering attacks against Venezuela and together with Israel attacked Iran.

Otunnu said while the UN has a mandate to maintain peace and security, tragically, major wars continue to ravage communities around the world.

‘Ending these deadly conflicts would constitute an immediate and absolute priority for me. I know that the ultimate decisions rest with the protagonists and the major powers. But as Secretary-General, I would fully and impartially engage in mediation efforts, listening patiently to all parties, probing opportunities to be helpful, and coming up with innovative ideas to break deadlocks,’ he said.

‘Reforming the UN to be ‘fit for purpose’ also entails rebuilding consensus on Human Rights. As Secretary-General, I would refocus on fulfilling the vision, spirit and promise of the UN Charter for ‘fundamental human rights and the dignity and worth of the human person’. For a human rights-centered approach to be credible and enjoy broad legitimacy, we must guard against the politicisation or instrumentalisation of human rights, perceived or otherwise. As Secretary-General, I would invoke the UN Charter and its principles in a completely impartial and non-selective manner,’ he added.

Back to undifferentiated voting

Internal sources say while the sixth straw poll featured coloured ballots to distinguish between the votes cast by the five permanent members (P5) and the 10 elected members (E10), it appears that undifferentiated ballots will be used in today’s straw poll. Sources say the issue of moving back to undifferentiated ballots was discussed on Thursday at an informal meeting among Council members after the conclusion of the Council’s dialogue with Nusseibeh.

While some members, including Bahrain, Russia, and the US, wanted the straw poll to again feature coloured ballot papers, sources say the majority of members preferred going back to undifferentiated ballots. They cited several reasons in support of this approach.

‘Colombia and Panama apparently observed that the Council has not had the opportunity to test the new candidate’s strength to the same extent as it did with longer-standing candidates. Among other issues, there appeared to be concern that admitting the new candidate directly at the colour-coded stage might appear as non-transparent and could potentially give her an unfair advantage over the other candidates, particularly the emerging frontrunners, all of whom are from Latin American countries and all of whom have participated in several rounds of straw polls,’ sources said.

Although some permanent members stressed the need to accelerate the Council’s decision-making-including through colour-coded ballots, which may induce lower-scoring candidates to withdraw-they appear to have eventually agreed to return to undifferentiated voting for today’s straw poll.

A close call?

The first colour-coded poll did not identify a clear favourite among the permanent members. All candidates emerged with ‘discouraged’ ballots from P5 members, including Grynspan, Rodrigues-Birkett, and Grossi, who received two each. Grynspan and Rodrigues-Birkett each received three ‘encouraged’ votes from the P5, while Grossi received two.

Among the three leading candidates, Grossi is the only one who recorded a ‘no opinion expressed’ vote from a P5 member. Both Grynspan and Grossi received six ‘encouraged’ votes from the E10, while Rodrigues Birkett received five.

Rodrigues-Birkett recorded the strongest overall improvement compared with the fifth straw poll, gaining three ‘encouraged’ votes and reducing her ‘discouraged’ votes by the same amount. Grynspan and Grossi also improved their overall scores. Grynspan garnered one less ‘discouraged’ vote, while Grossi acquired two additional ‘encouraged’ ballots and shed one ‘discouraged’ vote. Otunnu’s result also showed some improvement, but his ten ‘discouraged’ ballots remain a significant obstacle.

‘Discouraged’ votes either reduced or stayed the same, while ‘encouraged’ ballots either increased or stayed the same across all candidates, and the overall number of ‘discouraged’ votes decreased from 67 in the fifth straw poll to 60 in the sixth. At the same time, no candidate secured a level of support that would clearly indicate that a consensus is emerging within the Council.

Okonkwo calls for collaboration overhaul of Igbo business model

The executive chairman of United Nigeria Airlines Prof. Obiora Okonkwo has said that the Igbo entrepreneurial model must be reformed not discarded if it is to remain competitive in today’s global economy.

Prof. Okonkwo who was the facilitator at the 2026 Annual General Meeting of De Imperial Philanthropic Family in Lagos at the weekend delivered a talk titled ‘Recalibrating the Igbo Entrepreneurial Model for the Emerging Global Economy.’

His stance was that though the strength of the model which includes individual initiative self-reliance and a long record of commercial success remains valuable the challenge is not to abandon the traditional model but to recalibrate it.

Prof. Okonkwo’s first proposal was to reformulate the Igbo apprenticeship system where apprentices would be competent in digital commerce financial technology data analytics artificial intelligence international marketing business management intellectual property and export procedures. He advised adding these competencies while keeping the scheme’s practical mentor-based character.

He criticised universities that conduct research without considering how it might be commercialised arguing that academic institutions need closer ties to industry.

He also urged enterprises to create opportunities for young people to contribute ideas and to keep learning and experimenting so indigenous firms remain dynamic.

He also proposed closer exchange between universities and markets so that knowledge from academia could meet skills from the informal sector.

In recalibrating the Igbo model Okonkwo said businesses must collaborate more instead of engaging in unhealthy competition and rivalry.

He said although individual initiatives remain a strength of the tradition the complexity of modern production makes collaboration essential. He pointed to shared production facilities as ways to lower the costs that small and medium enterprises face alone.

He said: ‘A typical example of collaboration is my relationship with my dear friend and brother Allen Onyema of Air Peace. This illustrates an alternative approach. Many expected us to engage in bitter rivalry but we rejected that and have developed a mutually beneficial and worthy partnership whose significance has resonated within the aviation sector. Collaboration can create opportunities for partnerships and shared growth. Soon you will be able to buy Air Peace tickets and fly United Nigeria Airlines. These are the kinds of things collaboration among us can bring because there is more to gain than to lose.’

Okonkwo spent several minutes on the export readiness of Nigerian businesses. He said while studying in Russia he could import goods from many countries but not from Nigeria because Nigerian products did not meet the required export standard.

He said Nigeria can export some agricultural products but entering certain markets requires meeting specific standards in certification packaging quality assurance export documentation and intellectual property protection.

He cited the Aba Export Group lab set up under Abia State Governor Alex Otti and commissioned in 2025 as an example of institutional support. The lab is designed to help firms standardise package and brand products for export with initial focus areas including agro-products and fashion apparel.

He said ‘Imagine a global economy in which enterprises can meet international standards deliver consistent quality and compete on reliability price and innovation. Even entrepreneurs can benefit from a more deliberate orientation toward export development and international market integration.

‘As I understand it some of you here run production businesses. If you can take advantage of this you can produce globally competitive high-quality products for export. This requires improving product certification packaging quality assurance export logistics documentation intellectual property protection and compliance with the regulatory requirements of destination markets.’

ASUSS protests exclusion from national secondary education commission

The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) Nigeria has called on the National Assembly to amend the National Senior Secondary Education Commission Act to accommodate the union in the commission’s governing structure.

The union also urged lawmakers to include provisions safeguarding its representation on corresponding state-level education boards.

ASUSS made the demands on Saturday while presenting its memorandum on the National Senior Secondary Education Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2026 at a public hearing organised by committees of the Senate and House of Representatives at the National Assembly in Abuja.

Presenting the memorandum at the New Senate Building ASUSS National President Comrade Sola Adigun said the union’s presence in more than 24 states including its exclusive representation of secondary school teachers in over 12 states justified its inclusion in the commission’s governance structure.

Adigun argued that excluding the union would limit organised secondary school teachers’ participation in decisions affecting their profession and the quality of education in the country.

He said the proposed amendment should promote inclusive education governance by recognising the union’s role in representing teachers at the national level.

ASUSS also urged lawmakers to ensure that the amendment did not override existing state laws and administrative arrangements that recognise its participation in education governance.

On state administration the union rejected the proposed part-time chairmanship of state commissions advocating a full-time chairman to ensure effective supervision policy coordination and sustained stakeholder engagement.

It recommended filling the position with an experienced educationist through a transparent merit-based process with clearly defined tenure responsibilities and accountability measures.

The union supported the proposed removal of a PhD as a mandatory qualification for appointment as Chairman and Executive Secretary of the Commission at both federal and state levels.

It argued that professional competence relevant qualifications and experience in educational administration should take precedence over an obligatory doctorate.

ASUSS also backed the inclusion of the 110 Unity Secondary Schools Armed Forces Secondary Schools and public secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory in the Commission’s coverage describing the move as necessary for a more comprehensive national education framework.

Defends position at hearing

The hearing also witnessed an exchange over teachers’ representation after a lawyer representing the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) reportedly claimed that the union was the only body representing teachers in Nigeria.

The intervention was disallowed allowing proceedings to focus on the proposed amendments.

ASUSS maintained that its demand was based on its membership strength national spread and direct involvement in the professional interests of secondary school teachers.

The union urged lawmakers to ensure that the final amendment promotes inclusive governance professional participation administrative efficiency and accountability.

It also called for regular consultation with relevant stakeholders on policies affecting secondary school teachers and the delivery of quality education.

ASUSS reaffirmed its commitment to improving secondary education and advancing teachers’ welfare and professional development insisting that those responsible for implementing education policies must have a recognised voice in the institutions governing the sector.

Two Mbeya residents surrender illegal firearms, 22 rounds of ammunition

Mbeya. As the campaign encouraging the voluntary surrender of illegally owned firearms ends today, Saturday, October 31, 2026, two Mbeya residents have handed over two firearms and 22 rounds of ammunition to police at the Central Police Station.

The move follows an order issued by Home Affairs Minister Patrobas Katambi on September 1, 2026, directing people possessing illegal firearms to surrender them within two months.

Speaking on Saturday, October 31, 2026, Mbeya Regional Police Commander Benjamin Kuzaga said the two individuals had voluntarily surrendered the weapons at the Central Police Station in Mbeya City.

“Today, October 31, 2026, is the final day of the campaign to surrender illegal weapons through local government offices, villages or ward executive officers. Two people came forward and surrendered two weapons of their own free will,” he said.

He said the owners had decided to surrender the firearms partly because of their advanced age, which had made it difficult for them to continue handling and operating the weapons.

He identified the firearms as a .22 Long Rifle containing three rounds of ammunition and a .38 Webley revolver containing 19 rounds.

Mr Kuzaga said the campaign was launched by Minister Katambi on September 1, 2026, adding that police would continue taking action against anyone found illegally possessing firearms without surrendering them.

He urged people still holding such weapons to hand them over through local government offices, village authorities or ward executive officers to avoid legal consequences.

Citizens’ opinions

Commenting on the campaign, a resident of Ilemi in Mbeya City, Sikitu Amos, urged the Police Force to establish a programme bringing firearm owners together for training on the safe handling and use of weapons to prevent them from becoming threats at entertainment venues.

She said such education would help curb the reckless use of firearms, particularly in crowded places.

Ms Amos also advised the Ministry of Home Affairs to introduce mental health assessments for firearm owners, particularly married couples, to help prevent avoidable killings.

2027: Tinubu’s govt has brought governance closer to FCT residents – Candido

The Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors for the President in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido, has described President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a blessing to the FCT, saying it has brought democratic dividends and governance closer to indigenous people and other residents than previous administrations.

Candido spoke on Saturday at the FCT Stakeholders Assembly and Rainbow Coalition meeting for the endorsement of President Tinubu at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja.

The gathering brought together traditional rulers, political leaders, area council chairmen, indigenous communities and residents, who endorsed Tinubu for a second term, alongside Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda for the FCT senatorial seat, Hon. John Gabaya for Abuja North Federal Constituency and former Kwali Area Council Chairman, Danladi Chiya, for Abuja South Federal Constituency.

Expressing appreciation for Wike’s leadership, Candido said the minister’s appointment marked a turning point in the governance and development of the territory.

‘Your coming to Abuja remains a blessing to the good people of the Federal Capital Territory. Some of us have seen successive administrations in Abuja, but we have never seen an administration that provided democratic dividends and brought government so close to the people as the administration of Mr President through you, the Minister,’ he said.

He added that the FCT had witnessed unprecedented attention under the present administration, urging residents not to take the government’s interventions for granted.

‘We have never had it so good. We will continue to add our voices to ensure that we do not become ingrates in Abuja, because this administration has done everything for us,’ he said.

Candido said indigenous communities, including the Gbagyi, Gana-Gana, Bwari, Koro, Gade and Bassa, were beginning to experience a stronger sense of representation in government.

He expressed concern over what he described as a lack of appreciation by some politicians for the administration’s contributions, urging residents to place the collective interest of the FCT above partisan considerations.

He also urged the minister and other political stakeholders to identify genuine supporters and distinguish them from pretenders.

‘Some politicians can be very dishonest. What they say is not exactly what is in them. We have pretenders, and we have to speak out so that we can identify those who are truly working with and supporting you, and those who are behind the scenes trying to do the other way,’ he said.

On the FCT senatorial race, Candido described Aduda as the best senator the territory had produced, saying his record distinguished him from previous representatives.

‘Senator Aduda will go into history as the best senator ever produced in the Federal Capital Territory. We had resident senators and indigenous senators in the past; their records are there. Senator Philip Aduda’s record is here, and everybody can see it,’ he said.

He urged residents, particularly those who had benefited from the administration’s interventions, to demonstrate their support through active participation in the political process.

‘This is the only opportunity that we have, and we should never play with it. We will never allow this government to go without our support. We need to support this administration 100 per cent,’ he said.

Candido, who said he had toured the 17 graded chiefdoms in the FCT as Renewed Hope Ambassador, called for greater inclusiveness in the composition of the FCT administration, urging the minister to ensure adequate representation for the nine traditional chiefdoms and Nigerians from different ethnic backgrounds residing in the territory.

Recalling his tenure as chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Candido said he deliberately promoted ethnic balance, noting that his first vice-chairman was Igbo, his first-term council secretary was Hausa, while a Yoruba person served as council secretary during his second term.

‘I believe in inclusivity. I made sure that among the cabinet, we had representation from every shade of opinion and background,’ he said.

He expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would win the 2027 elections.

‘By the grace of God, APC is going to win this election 100 per cent, and we are not going to regret it,’ he said.

Manufacturing credit plunges 34 percent despite N4.65trn bank recapitalisation

Nigeria’s manufacturing sector is losing access to bank credit despite the N4.65 trillion raised through the banking sector’s recapitalisation exercise, raising concerns about whether stronger lender balance sheets will translate into industrial growth.

Credit to manufacturing fell by 33.8 percent, from N8.53 trillion in December 2024 to N5.65 trillion in August 2026, while the sector’s share of total bank credit declined to 8.7 percent from 17.4 percent in December 2023.

The figures, presented by Tayo Aduloju, chief executive officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), at the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Fellowship Investiture Ceremony in Lagos on Saturday, highlight the disconnect between increased bank capital and financing for productive sectors of the economy.

The presentation showed that average credit to manufacturing fell by 26 percent year-on-year between January and August 2026 to N5.7 trillion, while average credit to trade and commerce rose by 49 percent to N5.9 trillion over the same period.

The shift suggests that banks are directing more financing towards trade and commerce than manufacturing, despite the latter’s importance to industrialisation, employment and export growth.

Nigeria’s banking recapitalisation exercise, launched in March 2024 and concluded in March 2026, raised N4.65 trillion in fresh capital, with 33 of 37 banks meeting the new minimum capital requirements. Domestic investors contributed 72.6 percent of the funds, while foreign investors accounted for 27.4 percent.

According to the NESG presentation, the additional capital could theoretically support between N31 trillion and N46.5 trillion in lending, depending on the applicable capital ratio. However, the estimates represent potential lending capacity rather than actual new loans.

The figures raise questions about how effectively the stronger capital base can support businesses that require long-term financing to acquire machinery, expand production and improve competitiveness.

Speaking at the event, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State, said the real measure of recapitalisation would be its impact on factories, expanding businesses, sustainable jobs and economic competitiveness.

He said manufacturers needed capital to acquire machinery, expand production and compete in international markets, while agricultural processors required financing for storage, processing and distribution.

Sanwo-Olu urged banks to develop financing models that support long-term industrial growth while maintaining prudent risk management.

He also pointed to investment opportunities around the Lekki Deep Sea Port, industrial activities along the Lekki corridor, rail and road infrastructure, and the Lagos State Electricity Law, saying stronger financial sector participation could unlock private investment, improve productivity and create jobs.

The challenge extends beyond manufacturing. The NESG presentation showed that oil and gas accounted for N18.15 trillion in bank credit as of August 2026, while finance and insurance received N11.46 trillion. Together, the two sectors accounted for approximately 46 percent of total bank credit.

Manufacturing received N5.65 trillion, representing 8.7 percent of total credit, while agriculture accounted for 6.2 percent, despite employing 33.5 percent of Nigeria’s workforce in 2025.

The presentation also highlighted Nigeria’s relatively shallow credit market, with private-sector credit standing at 13 percent of gross domestic product in 2025, compared with 38.1 percent in lower-middle-income economies.

High borrowing costs remain another obstacle to expanding industrial financing. Although the Central Bank of Nigeria reduced its monetary policy rate to 23 percent in September 2026, bank lending rates remained between 19 percent and 32.6 percent, according to the presentation.

Government borrowing is also competing with private businesses for available funds. Credit to the government rose by 63 percent year-on-year to N39.4 trillion in September 2026, compared with 16 percent growth in private-sector credit to N83.9 trillion.

Treasury bill yields of around 16 percent also provide banks with an alternative to lending to businesses, where credit risks may be higher and repayment periods longer.

The NESG argued that Nigeria’s industrial financing challenge is not simply a shortage of capital but the fragmented way existing financial institutions mobilise and deploy funds.

It called for a more coordinated financing framework involving commercial banks, pension funds, insurance companies, the Bank of Industry, the Development Bank of Nigeria and credit guarantee institutions.

The proposed framework would combine long-term funding with risk-sharing arrangements, credit guarantees, interest rebates and tax incentives to encourage investment in productive sectors.

The presentation also recommended that banks develop specialist industrial lending capabilities, provide longer-term financing and use digital cash-flow data and movable assets to assess borrowers beyond traditional land-based collateral.

It urged the CBN to improve the transmission of monetary policy rate cuts to lending rates and consider reducing cash reserve requirements as disinflation continues. Fiscal authorities were also advised to contain government borrowing that crowds out private-sector credit and fund the proposed N3 trillion allocation to the Bank of Industry.

Reliable electricity, logistics, ports and access to foreign exchange for machinery and industrial inputs were identified as additional requirements for industrial expansion.

The NESG’s proposed industrial policy targets include increasing manufacturing’s share of GDP to 15 percent by 2030 and 25 percent by 2035.

Dele Alabi, president and chairman of council of the CIBN, said the question was no longer whether banks had sufficient capital, but whether the funds would translate into new industries, expanded businesses, better infrastructure and sustainable jobs.

He said Nigeria had an opportunity to deploy the enhanced capital towards manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure, energy, technology and other productive sectors.

Alabi also announced that the Institute would host its CIBN MSME Forum on December 1, 2026, to advance solutions for expanding access to finance and accelerating enterprise growth. The Institute is also advocating the establishment of small and medium-sized enterprise hubs across Nigeria to provide entrepreneurs with financing, business support, capacity development and market opportunities.

For the NESG, the ultimate test of recapitalisation is whether the additional capital supports production rather than remaining concentrated in safer or shorter-term lending opportunities.

The outcome, it argued, should be measured by improvements in industrial productivity, manufacturing growth, export competitiveness and job creation rather than by the amount of capital banks have raised.