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The Best President Nigeria Never Had. That title exists, and it belongs to one man. He is the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The opposite, that is, the Worst President Nigeria Never Had, has been elusive. That title does not exist. The country has a way of giving the worst a chance to spread while constraining the best into complete oblivion.

We had General Sani Abacha. We also had General Muhammadu Buhari. With the latter, Nigeria, like the Greek hero Odysseus (Ulysses), had the mournful privilege of descending twice into Hades. We had Buhari twice. First, he came as a military Head of State. And then, with our eyes and all our perceiving senses wide open, the man was recalled from idleness and, with acclamation, mounted the stage as a democratically elected president.

It is pretty difficult to say where, between our star and style, the problem lies. It was not as if the counter-evidence was not heavy enough at the time we wanted Buhari back. We only chose once more to entrench the fault lines instead of the building blocks. Upon the abrupt termination of his first outing in 1985, Buhari had 30 years to demonstrate his statesmanship, creativity, and clear leadership attributes that should recommend him for reconsideration in 2015. Nothing regarding this was visible about him in 2015.

Rather, what was clear were his pretentious, bohemian, and austere attitudes that were construed as a measure of his fiscal discipline and moral uprightness. Buhari’s inability to invest and create wealth and economic opportunities for others, as done by other retired Generals, was deodorised as integrity and honesty. His material poverty became his strongest point.

Also, while asking to be recalled, General Buhari did not pretend about the scope of his constituency. It was clear he wasn’t a nationalist. Any claim in that regard was only a campaign gimmick. He had the Fulani North (not even the entire region) and Islam to protect. But amid the orchestrated desperation to create a pathway through the crossroads of Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP, Nigerians willingly suspended their disbelief. Aided by well-oiled propaganda, Nigerians pushed against hard facts to bring in Buhari. The thinking was that the man to earn the unique title of the Best President Nigeria Ever Had had been found.

The distinction between the two extremes in the classification is in the conversion of NEVER to EVER. It is therefore as simple as ABC to move from the Best President Nigeria NEVER Had to the Best President Nigeria EVER Had. It only requires extraction of the letter N from NEVER. But it has proved difficult to attain in 65 years. The position is still open, and I am here today to ask President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bid for it.

He is already President, which makes the task more than 50 percent accomplished. He is in a better stead than Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar, for instance – either of whom has to win the Presidency first before working to become the best President. It is like preparing a sweet rabbit pie. Irrespective of the innate skills of the bakers, the one with a rabbit in hand stands at a huge advantage over the one who has to visit the bush to first catch a rabbit.

Tinubu already has a rabbit. But instead of concentrating on how to rearrange the given recipe in unique proportions to achieve the best bake, he is busy running around looking for crickets to add and spoil the baking mix. Making the Best President is doable, but it is not doable with excessive politics. It is doable with measurable performance.

I am saying that even if every politician in Nigeria joins President Tinubu in the ruling APC, it is not going to translate to a sterling presidential performance that guarantees him the coveted title. It will only amount to appropriating all the impurities along his path to give an impression of a loaded delivery. Addition of crickets and sundry insects does not make rabbit pies sweeter.

The title is not for he that makes the loudest noise. And so, Tinubu will not make the Best President Nigeria Ever Had with high-wire politics alone. But he can achieve the same with only high performance without politics. I am all out to encourage him in every way possible to take the title.

In the beginning in Lagos, when Tinubu craved more for democracy and development than he craved for power, we were with him. He was the Jagaban. He was good and solid. We applauded him. As Governor of Lagos State, he had managed to stay within the bounds of democratic decency. He assembled some of the best hands and brains for good purpose. He somehow represented the mainstream, and we stood with and for him when President Obasanjo came for his head.

He talked of the states as federating units and not appendages of the centre. He allowed the constitution to guide him aright in all that he did. In the matter of local government administration, for instance, he maintained that the business was for the states and not the centre to manage. He fought to put electricity generation, transmission, and distribution on the concurrent legislative list. He interpreted the constitution in a manner that made the most endowed jurist feel envious and even diminished.

When Section 305 of the Constitution propped up for testing under Obasanjo and Jonathan, he offered the precise interpretation. He argued that the power of the President to declare a state of emergency in any part of the country does not include the dismantling of democratic structures. He got it right.

But there is a world of difference between Tinubu as an ambitious democrat and Tinubu as a substantive President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is the same as the difference between having class and looking for class – or holding power and servicing power.

When Tinubu was servicing power, he was a servant and not a master. As a master, there is reversal in his reality, and what seemed foul and unacceptable yesterday is so fair and permissible today. What he didn’t take from Obasanjo is what he has dished out to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State in overflowing measures.

He got Section 305 of the Constitution reinterpreted to serve a raw deal on Rivers State. The heavens did not fall and have not fallen till now because President Tinubu has mastered the art of subordinating democracy to power and politics.

In the middle of the Rivers saga, the issues became blurred. The focus shifted from the constitutionality of the President’s action to creating sentiments to contain his excesses. President Tinubu, according to his own interpretation of the constitution, enjoys an inexhaustible prerogative to make and mar democracy in Rivers State and elsewhere in the country.

It became more of massaging the ego of Tinubu to ‘temper justice with mercy’ and terminate the emergency rule at six months and allow Siminalayi Fubara to return to his job. He did, after Governor Fubara had given an undertaking to be of good behaviour.

In Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke is under subtle pressure to do what others are doing to govern in peace. He is a jolly good fellow. He does much more in dancing than a John Player break dancer. But he needs higher skills in choreography and kinaesthesia to dance his way out of trouble and into the heart of the king of Nigeria’s politics.

He has been reportedly handed a roadmap to a lion’s heart. His defection from the PDP to the APC is highly in contemplation.

Maybe President Tinubu does not understand. Let me restate the issue for a clearer understanding. We are looking for somebody to earn the title of the Best President Nigeria Ever Had. It is not the Best Monarch Nigeria Ever Had.

Tinubu will not get it if he continues practising monarchy instead of democracy. He can still strike the right chord to turn things around between now and the next election. He knows what to do. The indices do not need to be reinvented. They do not fall outside good governance to occasion conditions for happy living and the survival of democracy.

If Tinubu is clueless as to how to go about the task, he can go back in time to review the old Western Region under Chief Obafemi Awolowo to pick all the clues. He did everything to cause Buhari to happen to Nigeria. It is in his interest to do everything also to obliterate, and not reinforce, the bitter memories of the Buhari Presidency.

He has the knife and yam. The allocation is also his prerogative. But judgment and posterity are beyond him. Even eight years is not forever. Nigerians have had Tinubu, and they are waiting for him to finish. He can choose to finish extremely weak as the Worst President Nigeria Ever Had or to finish very strong as the Best President Nigeria Ever Had.

His starting point is a free and fair general election in 2027.

The Ekiti State government has pledged to harness opportunities in the livestock value chain to promote economic growth and development in the state.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, said the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji is committed to rebranding and restructuring the state’s livestock sector for greater productivity and economic gains.

He spoke while declaring open a training session in Ado-Ekiti for processors, butchers, and other stakeholders on managing animal waste in abattoirs and slaughterhouses. The training was organised by the State Coordination Office of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES).

Boluwade said the programme was designed to improve hygiene in slaughterhouses and create wealth from animal waste.

He noted that the project, which targets about 1.3 million beneficiaries nationwide, would strengthen food security and encourage peaceful coexistence in the state.

According to him, ‘It is imperative to put a proper waste management in place in order to maintain a highest level of hygiene as all is now set for the construction of our ultra- modern abattoir to kick start and also construction of 3 mini slaughter slabs are currently on going within the State.

‘I strongly believe that this training will give the participants a better understanding of how to convert some of these wastes like blood, the viscera to feeds, droppings and dungs to manure, etc.

‘All these contribute to balancing the ecosystem and creating wealth out of waste. Your role as livestock farmers is to give value addition to the livestock value chain through good animal husbandry practices and at the same time give a boost to the economy of our State by harnessing the economic values in the livestock sub-sector.’

Speaking, the State L-PRES Project Coordinator, Olayinka Adedipe, represented by the Animal Husbandry Officer, Muyiwa Adelodun, said the training aims to help participants understand modern livestock rearing, processing, and waste management.

He explained that animal wastes such as blood, bones, and fats generated from abattoirs should be properly handled and put to use.

‘Blood constitutes 60 percent of animal wastes, an average cow can have as much as 25 litres of blood. The operation is centralized in Ado where we slaughter at least sixty animals per day imagine the volume of such waste and so the need for this training so it can be properly managed,’ he said.

The complete lineup for NECLive 2025 has been unveiled, revealing an unprecedented gathering of Nigeria’s most influential creative industry leaders set to converge at the Landmark Event Centre on Friday, November 28 2025.

MultiChoice Nigeria CEO John Ugbe, X3M Ideas founder Steve Babaeko, and FilmHouse Group co-founder and Group CEO Kene Okwuosa headline a roster of over 40 industry titans who will lead conversations on ‘Powering Africa Through Creative Enterprise’ at West Africa’s largest creative industry conference.

This year’s edition, organised by Nigerian Entertainment Today and Africa Creative Foundation, brings together an unparalleled mix of media executives, filmmakers, music leaders, tech innovators, government officials, and investment experts-all tasked with charting the future of Africa’s $4.2 billion creative economy.

Among the key voices are broadcasting icon Funmi Iyanda, CcHUB Managing Director Ojoma Ochai, filmmaker and educator Chris Ihidero, and media entrepreneurs Yinka Obebe, Fisayo Fosudo, Jide Taiwo and David Adeleke, alongside rising filmmaker Nora Awolowo. They’ll be joined by creative industry trailblazers including Moses Babatope, Chichi Nwoko, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, Audu Maikori, and Colette Otusheso, with music and entertainment figures such as Timi Dakolo, KieKie, and Gaise Baba bringing star power to the stage.

Other notable names include Obi Asika, Qudus Onikeku, Yolanda Okereke, Moliehi Molekoa, Iretomiwa Akintunde-Johnson, Njideka Akabogu and Yinka Ijabiyi, each offering unique perspectives on the intersection of culture, commerce, and creativity, with sessions moderated by Folu Storms, Hero Daniels, Seyitan Atigarin, Kolapo Olapoju, and Tomiwo Ojo.

‘This lineup represents the full ecosystem of Nigeria’s creative economy,’ said Ayeni Adekunle, NECLive Founder and Convener. ‘From the CEOs making multi-billion naira decisions to filmmakers breaking box office records, from the tech innovators building platforms to the traditional custodians preserving culture-everyone shaping our industry’s future will be in the room.’

Legendary comedian, Tee A returns for a record eighth time to host NECLive alongside award-winning TV personality Bolanle Olukanni. The AMVCA-nominated documentary filmmaker (God’s Wives) and founder of Olukanni Legacy Foundation joins Nigeria’s stand-up comedy pioneer to anchor a day of crucial industry conversations.

Event coordination is led by Henry Ekechukwu, CEO of award-winning HUCE VALERIS and NECLive’s longest-serving coordinator, who has curated campaigns for Netflix, USAID, TikTok, Apple, and the World Bank Group.

Since its inception in 2013, NECLive has addressed critical challenges, including infrastructure deficits, limited funding access, inadequate intellectual property protection, and weak distribution networks that continue to constrain growth despite Nigeria’s creative sector contributing approximately 2.3 per cent to GDP (worth over $4.2 billion annually).

With Nollywood as the world’s second-largest film industry by volume and Afrobeats achieving global mainstream success, NECLive 2025 arrives at a pivotal moment. The conference aims to transform cultural momentum into sustainable economic power through policy advocacy, practical solutions, and strategic partnerships.

Over nine editions, NECLive has hosted more than 500 industry experts, attracted over 100,000 participants, reached audiences exceeding 100 million people across 50 countries, and facilitated over 1,000 deals and partnerships.

A 40-year-old man was on Thursday arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, for alleged online defamation of the former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Aniocha Branch, Barrister Okongwu Jideofor.

The defendant, Ikenna Ezeume, a resident of Road 2, Plot 2A, Green Ville Estate, Awka, was arraigned for allegedly publishing defamatory statements on the internet and social media platforms, including WhatsApp, claiming that Barrister Jideofor forged his WAEC result, which he purportedly used to study Law at Delta State University.

The Prosecutor, ASP Clement Iyah, told the court that the matter was reported to Zone 13 Police Headquarters, Ukpo, by the complainant, Jideofor.

He said the defendant committed the offence between the 1st day of March 2025 and the 31st day of April 2025, within the Awka South Magisterial District.

According to the prosecutor, the defendant wrote a false petition against the complainant to the Inspector General of Police, alleging that the complainant forged his WAEC result to study Law at Delta State University, knowing the claim to be false. The publication, he said, was likely to injure the complainant’s reputation as the Chairman Emeritus of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Aniocha Branch, by exposing him to hatred, contempt, and ridicule, and by damaging his professional standing as a legal practitioner. The offence, he said, is punishable under Section 325 of the Criminal Code Cap 36, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991 (as amended).

Iyah further told the court that the defendant went ahead to write another petition, even after being granted bail, in an attempt to further tarnish the image of the complainant.

He added that a police investigation into the allegation revealed that the complainant did not use a forged WAEC result to study Law at Delta State University. The prosecutor said the defendant acted with the intent of misleading the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo, to direct Sgt. Chidjioke Alaefia of the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department to take actions that ultimately caused injury to Barrister Jideofor. This, he said, was an act the officer would not have carried out if the true facts were known-thereby constituting an offence punishable under Section 154(1)(b) of the Criminal Code Cap 36, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991 (as amended).

The defendant, however, denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.

Meanwhile, Senior Magistrate O. N. Ike granted the defendant bail in the sum of ?1,000,000, with one surety who must be a civil servant.

The magistrate ruled that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and submit one recent passport photograph to the court.

The 36 State Governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Wednesday showered encomium over the successful implementation of policies initiated by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) aimed restoration of price stability and strengthen confidence in the economy.

The Forum’s position was contained in the communiqué issued and signed by the NGF Chairman, Governor AbdulRahman Abdelrasaq, at the end of the 5th meeting of the Forum.

Speaking on behalf of the NGF Chairman, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu explained that Governors deliberated on issues affecting the country.

According to him, the Forum ‘received a presentation from the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, represented by the Deputy Governor (Economic Policy) Dr Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, on the Bank’s ongoing stabilisation efforts to restore price stability and strengthen confidence in the economy.

‘The briefing highlighted recent policy measures, including the tightening of monetary policy, unification of exchange rate windows, and recapitalisation of banks, to curb inflation, enhance liquidity management, and consolidate macroeconomic stability.

‘Governors commended the CBN’s coordinated approach with fiscal authorities and underscored the importance of sustained collaboration to safeguard growth and state fiscal sustainability.’

Also at the meeting which was attended by some Governors and Deputy Governors, the Forum expressed excitement over the successes recorded in the fight against terrorism and myriad of security challenges bedeviling the country.

According to Governor Sanwo-Olu, ‘The Forum received a presentation from the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi on emerging security threats and intelligence-led strategies to strengthen subnational coordination.

‘The briefing focused on countering violent extremism, managing inter-communal tensions, and addressing security risks linked to economic hardship and political transition.

‘Governors expressed appreciation to the DSS for its proactive engagement and reiterated their commitment to deepen intelligence sharing and collaboration with federal security agencies to enhance peace and stability across the states.’

While giving update on the ongoing Constitution Review, he disclosed that the Reserved Seats for Women Bill (HB 1349) will be voted on between November 4-6, 2025.

‘The Bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create special constituencies exclusively contested by women in the National and State Assemblies as a temporary measure to enhance gender representation.

‘Governors were urged to engage their Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, and State Assemblies to support the Bill’s passage and affirm Nigeria’s commitment to equity and inclusive governance.’

The Oyo State government has expressed concern over the low repayment rate of the 2024 Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) loans disbursed to farmers across the state.

The chairman of the Agricultural Credit Corporation of Oyo State (ACCOS), Sheikh Taofik Akeugbagold, stated this in a meeting with Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) held at the Corporation’s Board Room, Ibadan.

Speaking on the status of the 2024 SAfER loan repayments, the chairman disclosed that the Corporation only received 36 per cent of the total loan repayment from the benefiting farmers.

He urged all beneficiaries to fulfil their loan obligations to ensure the sustainability of the programme, noting that the low repayment rate had significantly affected the corporation’s ability to disburse funds for subsequent phases of the loan scheme.

According to him, ‘The SAfER loan initiative was designed to empower our farmers and strengthen food production across the state. However, the sustainability of this programme depends on prompt repayment by beneficiaries. When farmers refuse to repay, it limits our capacity to assist others who are equally in need of support.’

The ACCOS chairman appealed to all beneficiaries to honour their loan obligations, emphasising that the SAfER loan was not a grant but a revolving facility meant to benefit more farmers in Oyo State.

He admonished the financial institutions to intensify efforts in recovering the outstanding loan by engaging guarantors and adopting all necessary measures to ensure compliance with the loan repayment terms.

In his response, Mr. George Martins of Randalpha Microfinance Bank, who spoke on behalf of the financial institutions, explained that the banks have been making concerted efforts to recover the loans.

He, however, attributed the delay in repayment to the decline in agricultural produce prices and the impact of climate change on farmers’ productivity.

Participating financial institutions under the SAfER loan scheme include the Bank of Agriculture (BoA), SEAP Microfinance Bank, Osanta Microfinance Bank, OnibuOre Microfinance Bank, Multivest Microfinance Bank, Igbo-Ora Microfinance Bank, Ifedapo Microfinance Bank, and Randalpha Microfinance Bank.

The Federal Government has commenced discussions with the Government of India to establish the globally acclaimed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Nigeria, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and boost the country’s capacity in science and technology education.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by officials of the Indian High Commission to his office in Abuja.

Alausa, according to a statement on the Ministry’s official X page, stated that the collaboration represents a significant step in Nigeria’s quest to improve research and innovation, noting that the proposed campus will be located at the Federal Government Academy, Suleja, Niger State.

He explained that the initiative aligns with the focus of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration on advancing technological education and preparing Nigerian youths for global competitiveness.

‘The Federal Government welcomes this partnership with India, and we believe the establishment of an IIT campus in Nigeria will open new opportunities for research collaboration, innovation, and human capital development,’ he said.

The Minister added that the discussions with India were at an advanced stage, expressing optimism that the project would serve as a model for similar collaborations with other countries.

Representing the Indian Government, officials from the High Commission said the initiative demonstrates India’s readiness to expand its educational cooperation with Nigeria, particularly in the fields of engineering, technology, and innovation.

In his remarks, the Indian High Commissioner, His Excellency Abhishek Singh, said, ‘India and Nigeria share a long history of cooperation, and education remains a key pillar of our bilateral relationship. The IIT campus in Nigeria will serve as a platform for academic exchange and knowledge transfer.’

YOUR Excellency, Sir, first, let me on behalf of Nigerians congratulate you on your 91st birthday. We thank God for granting you long life, clarity of mind, and the uncommon grace to still stand straight, speak clearly, and walk unaided. Few of your contemporaries have been so blessed – once Africa’s youngest Head of State, today one of its oldest living statesmen- a longevity that carries a divine responsibility. It is this sense of duty that moves me to write you publicly. As the Yoruba would say, _’Agbà kìí wà l’ójà k’órí omo tuntun wó’_ – the elder cannot be present in the marketplace while the child’s head goes askew. In other words, elders must not remain silent while society drifts into decay.

Why this letter. Why now

Nigeria still wrestles with demons – 55 years after the civil war and decades after you left office: Local-government autonomy-affirmed by the Supreme Court to curb fiscal abuse, is still openly ignored by most of the thirty-six governors – exposing a deep hypocrisy in our democratic federalism. Fiscal imbalance among the tiers of government: Under the current sharing formula, the _Federal Government takes 52.68%_ of national revenue, the _thirty-six states together receive 26.72 percent, and the _774 local governments together get only 20.6 percent. The Federal Government commands the most resources, while the tiers closest to citizens remain starved. This inversion of responsibility has turned governors into allocation officers, local councils into their appendages, and FG into a rent-distributing landlord presiding over stagnation. Lack of political ideology: Governors are defecting en masse to the President’s party ahead of the 2027 general elections, confirming that in our federation _everything still gravitates toward the centre_ while federating units wither. Rumours of a failed coup attempt: Reported last week by independent media and swiftly denied by the Defence Headquarters – have further unsettled a weary nation. Even if untrue, it reflects a dangerous nostalgia for an age Nigeria must never revisit. Insecurity festers: From Boko Haram and armed bandits to everyday criminals beyond an overstretched federal police. Millions now live in fear, while the Federal Government, despite its swollen revenue, has failed to secure lives as subnational governments lack the tools to respond. Nnamdi Kanu: The detained Igbo separatist leader (born at the onset of civil war)- remains in protracted prosecution since 2015, sparking protests and calls for a political resolution. Whether his trial persists or concludes, the deeper question of Igbo inclusion remains unresolved. Energy and infrastructure collapse deepen public despair: Despite privatization, power distribution remains stuck at 4,000-5,000 megawatts for a nation of over 220 million. Federal Government owes generation and distribution companies over ?5 trillion for epileptic power – while its control over transmission has rendered the Electricity Act 2023 largely unusable for most states. Amid these contradictions we ask: where is the intellectual voice of the man who once fought to keep Nigeria one, not only with guns, but through this unitary and imbalanced structure – and later earned a PhD in Political Science, writing a thesis on how ECOWAS members can cooperate without coercion?

Sir, we need your autobiography. But we earnestly crave your federal philosophy – reflections on what worked, what failed, and what can still be redeemed.

The two Gowons Nigeria has known

History holds two enduring images of you. The first is General Yakubu Gowon, the 31-year-old soldier who took power in 1966 amid chaos, fought a bitter civil war, and ruled until 1975. That Gowon ruled by decree, created twelve states to undercut secession, and built an oil-fed federation that still defines our fiscal habits. The second is Dr. Yakubu Gowon, the 50-year-old scholar whose doctoral thesis at the University of Warwick, ‘The Economic Community of West African States: A Study in Political and Economic Integration’ (1984), argued that durable unity must rest on voluntary cooperation, institutional trust, and functional interdependence among equals. Ironically, your later thesis on voluntary cooperation among equals echoed the very spirit of the Aburi Accord, which collapsed under the weight of mutual suspicion and miscommunication in 1967. What was rejected in the heat of youth, you later affirmed in the calm of scholarship. That evolution is not shameful; it is instructive – and it is precisely why your reflections are desperately needed now. Between the young soldier and the mid-aged scholar lies the story of Nigeria itself: from unity by decree to the search for unity by consent. What we lack today is your reconciliation of those two selves. Only you can offer that with a nonagenarian’s wisdom.

The post-war foundation and today’s fragile federalism

Your ‘Three Rs policy (Reconciliation, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation) gave post-war Nigeria a healing vocabulary. You told us, ‘No victor, no vanquished.’ Yet, many Nigerians still feel vanquished by the very structure of unitary-by-coercion that the war failed to correct. Your PhD warned that integration fails when power asymmetry erodes trust – and Nigeria today is that warning made flesh, a giant that fears its own diversity because its federal balance tilts too heavily toward the centre.

Questions only you can answer authoritatively

At 91, you stand as the most senior soldier-statesman who both forged the union in battle and later studied the theory of cooperation in the classroom. Only you can help the younger generation connect these two experiences. We need you to write – or dictate to a trusted scholar- a testament on Nigeria’s federal system. The questions awaiting your reflections are many, but five are urgent:

1) Local Government Autonomy: The Supreme Court has spoken, yet thirty-six governors act as emperors. How do you, who once ruled by decree but later preached institutional rule, interpret this defiance? What kind of reform can secure the local tier as a true government, not a mere appendage of state governors?

2) States Creation: You created twelve states to weaken secession, but also inadvertently multiplied bureaucracy. Today we have thirty-six – most insolvent, many unviable. _Some politicians and monarchs are even asking for more!_ Would you still defend the logic of proliferation, or do you now see merit in consolidation and fiscal federalism?

3) Regionalism Revisited: Some, including this writer, propose returning to regional governments, collapsing the states, and either aligning with our current six geopolitical zones or creating about ten regions, to restore economies of scale, cultural cohesion, and shared heritage. As one who dismembered the regions to preserve unity, what is your view of rebuilding them for efficiency and security?

4) Exclusive, Concurrent, and Residual Lists: Even with various amendments to the 1999 Constitution, power in Nigeria remains heavily concentrated in the Exclusive List – policing, minerals, oil and gas, etc. Even for those items (e.g., power, railways) recently moved to the Concurrent List, the States are too weak to handle them-further reinforcing the need for regionalism. What are your reflections on these?

5) Presidential or Parliamentary System: Nigeria has experimented with both. The First Republic’s parliamentary model, though imperfect, demanded accountability through collective leadership. The presidential system introduced under your immediate successor centralized power and personalized governance. Which system, in your view, better suits a federation like ours – one that balances efficiency with inclusion?

These are not academic puzzles. They are the very issues that test the survival of the federation you once defended with arms.

Why Your Voice Matters

Every generation must learn anew how to hold Nigeria together. But we cannot learn if those who know the cost of disunity remain silent.

You, who once commanded the nation’s armed forces, understand better than anyone that when governance fails, the barracks begin to whisper.

Across West Africa, and now within our own borders, the shadow of military nostalgia reappears – proof that unbalanced systems invite instability.

You are the only Nigerian leader who has lived the entire arc – from civil war to peace, oil boom to debt crisis, military decree to civil rule, birth of ECOWAS to a drifting African Union.

You understand that coercion breeds rebellion, and that over-centralization invites decay.

You also know that forgiveness without fairness cannot last.

A single book from you – _not an autobiography, but a federal testament_ – could educate presidents, governors, lawmakers, and citizens for decades. It could be Nigeria’s equivalent of Lee Kuan Yew’s _From Third World to First_ or Julius Nyerere’s _Freedom and Unity_ – a bridge between action and reflection.

_Please, before you go the way of every mortal_, give Nigeria your final book – your reflections on unity, leadership, and federal design. Tell us what you think you did right, what you would do differently if you could rewind the clock, and what you expect from those who now hold the baton.

You can invite your contemporaries like General Olusegun Obasanjo, who introduced the presidential system, to collaborate. But you must be the lead author.

May history remember you not only as the general who kept Nigeria one by the barrel of a gun, or the scholar who theorized West African unity, but also as the elder who, in his last season, taught a divided people how to be federal without being fractured – and how to be united without being uniform.

May God continue to keep you strong enough to write, reflect, and bless the nation you once saved by war and can still guide by wisdom.

The Kogi Ministry of Livestock Development, in collaboration with the Kogi Livestock Productivity and Resilience Enhancement Project (L-PRES), has launched the National Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS) to enhance livestock management and productivity in the state.

The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr Olufemi Bolarin, at the inauguration in Lokoja, said it was a significant step towards transforming Kogi’s livestock sector, enhancing productivity, security, and economic viability.

Dr Bolarin stressed that the initiative underscored Governor Ahmed Ododo’s administration’s commitment to bolstering the livestock sector – a crucial component of food security and rural economic growth.

He described the establishment of the Livestock Ministry as a step in the right direction and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure effective livestock registration.

He assured that the Governor’s efforts to modernise livestock production in Kogi would not be in vain.

‘The NAITS initiative is designed to ensure effective identification, registration, and traceability of all livestock across the country.

‘This technology will not only enhance productivity and data-driven planning but will also checkmate the incessant menace of cattle rustling, livestock theft, and transboundary animal diseases that have, over time, affected the growth of the livestock sub-sector.

‘In Kogi State, livestock farming remains an integral part of rural livelihoods and food security. The implementation of NAITS comes at the right time.

‘With this system, we shall be able to track animal movement, monitor health status, and facilitate trade transparency to create confidence among farmers, herders, and consumers alike,’ Bolarin said.

He commended the Governor’s visionary leadership and his continued support towards livestock transformation.

He also praised the collaboration and partnership with the Kogi L-PRES Coordinating Office and the development partners for their technical and financial support.

The commissioner explained that the sensitisation training workshop was organised to create awareness and enlightenment on livestock production and management.

The representative of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Abdulkareem Durosinolorun, said NAITS is a national programme under the Federal Government’s National Livestock Transformation Plan in collaboration with Megacorp Nigeria Limited.

He lauded the Kogi Government for keying into the programme to boost livestock production in the state.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Timothy Ojomah, maintained that Governor Ododo’s administration would not relent in prioritising all segments of agricultural activities in the state.

Mr Abdulkabir Otaru, Kogi State Project Coordinator of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (Kogi L-PRES), expressed happiness with the NAITS launch in the state, describing it as a major step forward in collective efforts to modernise and develop the livestock value chain in Kogi State and Nigeria at large.

Earlier, the Ministry’s Director of Animal Husbandry Services, Mr Isah Anate Jimoh, said that his department remained committed to ensuring the smooth implementation and sustainability of the programme across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.

‘We will continue to work closely with livestock associations, community leaders, and security agencies to ensure that every livestock owner participates in the registration and tagging process,’ he said.

A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Kuje, Abuja, has granted bail to activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore, along with Aloy Ejimakor, counsel to detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, Prince Emmanuel Kanu (Kanu’s brother), and ten others, following their arraignment over the recent #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in the nation’s capital.

The thirteen defendants were each granted bail in the sum of ?500,000, with two sureties in like sum, after being charged with inciting public disturbance and breach of peace.

It was gathered that Ejimakor, Emmanuel Kanu, and ten others were arrested during the protest held on October 20 in Abuja and subsequently remanded at the Kuje Correctional Facility.

Sowore, on the other hand, was reportedly picked up on October 23 at the Federal High Court, Abuja, where he had gone to show solidarity during Kanu’s trial.

The arrests sparked widespread criticism from civil rights advocates and pro-democracy groups who described the clampdown as an attempt to suppress dissent.

Meanwhile, the court’s decision to grant bail is expected to ease mounting tension among supporters of the detained activists as their legal team prepares to meet the bail conditions.