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The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for non-implementation of the court ruling on the expansion of the seats of the Oyo State House of Assembly.

The House of Representatives candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola Federal Constituency in the 2027 general election, Comrade Ayo Akinyemi, recalls that Hon. Justice A. O. Obaseki-Adejumo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan had on Friday, 8th March, 2013, ordered the extension of the seats in the Oyo Assembly from 32 to 40.

The extension was captured in a ruling delivered by His Lordship in suit number FHC/IB/CS/39/2012 between the Plaintiff and INEC and the Attorney General of Oyo State

The eight restored constituencies listed in are; Ibadan North III, Ibadan South-West III, Ibarapa Central, Irepo, Itesiwaju, Oyo East, Saki East and Surulere.

Comrade Akinyemi described as disturbing and unconstitutional that 13 years after a court of competent jurisdiction declared the Oyo State House of Assembly improperly constituted, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has failed to make the eight restored constituencies operational.

In the Originating Summons, the plaintiff asked for determination of two questions:

Whether in view of Sections 91 and 112 of the 1999 Constitution, the Oyo State House of Assembly consisting of less than three or four times the number of seats which Oyo State has in the House of Representatives is properly constituted.

Whether the letter dated 2nd June, 2004 addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly by INEC as to the restoration of 8 suppressed Oyo State constituencies is lawful, valid and subsisting.

Justice Obaseki-Adejumo, after reviewing the affidavit evidence and Exhibit ‘A’ – the letter from INEC Chairman dated 2nd June, 2004, held that the Oyo State House of Assembly is not properly constituted.

The court held that Section 91 and 112 of the 1999 Constitution are clear and mandatory: a State House of Assembly must have seats equal to 3 or 4 times the number of Federal Constituencies in the state. With 14 Federal Constituencies in Oyo State and only 32 State Constituencies, the formula gives 10.6 or 8, which should make it 40 members, not 32.

‘I have no hesitation in holding to the above analysis that the Oyo State House of Assembly is not properly constituted and I so hold,’ the judge declared.

On the second issue, the court held that the INEC letter of 2nd June, 2004 restoring the 8 constituencies is lawful, valid and subsisting and that National Assembly approval is not needed because it was a restoration of suppressed constituencies, not a fresh delimitation or boundary alteration under Sections 114 and 115 of the Constitution.

Consequently, the court granted a declaration that the Oyo Assembly is not properly constituted and an order directing INEC to make the 8 constituencies operational forthwith, thereby increasing Oyo State constituencies from 32 to 40, and to conduct bye-elections where necessary.

Reacting to the development, Comrade Akinyemi, whose constituency includes Itesiwaju, Irepo and Saki East three of the suppressed constituencies said the continued suppression is a denial of democratic representation for people in the Oke-Ogun area and other affected zones.

‘How can a court give a clear order in 2013 that Oyo State should have 40 constituencies as required by the Constitution, and in 2026 we are still operating with 32? The people of Itesiwaju, Saki East, Irepo, Ibarapa Central, Surulere, Oyo East, Ibadan North III and Ibadan South-West III have no proper representation. This is unconstitutional and unjust,’ Akinyemi stated.

He called on INEC, the National Assembly, the Oyo State Government and all stakeholders to immediately enforce the judgment before the 2027 general elections to give fair and equal representation to the affected constituencies.

He warned that going into another election cycle with 32 constituencies when the law says 40 will be a deliberate subversion of the Constitution and the rights of the people.

ipNX has called for stronger collaboration across the telecommunications industry and wider adoption of open-access infrastructure models to bridge Nigeria’s connectivity gap and accelerate nationwide broadband penetration.

The call was made during the first panel session of the recently concluded Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), ICTEL EXPO, entitled ‘Broadband, Fibre and Telecoms Infrastructure: Solving Nigeria’s Connectivity Gap’. The discussion brought together industry leaders to examine the barriers to broadband expansion and practical solutions for improving digital connectivity across Nigeria.

Speaking during the session, Oluseyi Lala, Divisional Chief Executive Officer, ipNX Business, highlighted the economic realities of broadband deployment, particularly in underserved and low-density communities.

‘Deploying broadband infrastructure is capital-intensive,’ Lala said.

‘The cost of building infrastructure, providing reliable power, transporting equipment to remote locations, and maintaining networks in difficult terrains significantly impacts deployment economics. These challenges become even greater in low-density environments,’ he added.

Lala also noted that while Nigeria continues to make progress towards its broadband penetration targets, improving the quality of broadband services must receive equal attention.

‘Achieving Nigeria’s broadband ambitions will require more than fibre alone.

We need to leverage both fibre and wireless technologies, encourage greater collaboration among operators, and embrace infrastructure-sharing models that reduce unnecessary duplication of investments.’

He stressed that competition within the industry should increasingly focus on service innovation, customer experience, and quality of service rather than duplicating physical infrastructure.

‘If one operator has already deployed fibre along a route, there is little value in having multiple operators excavate the same corridor to install parallel infrastructure. We should instead exploreinnovative infrastructure-sharingmodels that optimise investments and accelerate network expansion.’

The panel also examined broader structural challenges affecting broadband deployment across the country, including the limited implementation of Right of Way reforms by state governments, multiple layers of taxation, security concerns, power costs, and regulatory complexities.

Also sharing his thoughts during the panel, Obinna Adumike, Head of Converged Digital Infrastructure for Africa at Open Access Data Centres, observed that Nigeria’s geography presents inherent connectivity challenges, noting that submarine cables land along coastal regions while extending connectivity inland requires substantial additional investment.

Adumike reinforced the need for operators to embrace infrastructure sharing, pointing out that the model has already proven successful globally.

The simmering cold war between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and the governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a new twist as the governors rejected the minister’s newly formed Rainbow Coalition.

At a meeting held on Monday night at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, the governors declared that the Coalition floated by the FCT Minister could threaten the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It will be recalled that certain erstwhile chieftains of the APC who lost out in the party primaries for certain elective offices have since found accommodation in the Wike-backed faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accorded recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Among such APC stalwarts who defected into the PDP and have secured tickets include Senator representing Kwara Central, Saliu Mustapha who lost the ticket to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; Honourable Kolo Jiya from Patigi local government, who picked Kwara North senatorial ticket after dumping.

Others are Isa Pantami, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, who has since emerged as PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State.

In Cross Rivers, the FCT Minister is believed to be backing the PDP governorship candidate, Arthus Davis against the incumbent APC governor, Bassey Otu.

But reading the resolutions of the Progressives Governors Forum, the Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinma, declared that the governors unanimously resolved not to have anything to do with the Rainbow Coalition.

He maintained that such political arrangement would create confusion and affect the APC electoral fortune.

He said, ‘The forum unanimously resolved that its members won’t participate in, support or endorse any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining the reelection of Mr President, weakening the APC or adversely affecting any candidate of the party at all levels.

‘In other words, the forum has no intention of supporting anybody at any level, that’s not an APC candidate because our candidates are being sponsored by our party. The Governors affirmed commitment is exclusively to all APC candidates.

‘Any arrangement that can create confusion, divided loyalty or competing interests will not be entertained. All levels of the party campaign architectures must align with the expectations of Mr President and objectives of the APC.’

However, Wike has reiterated that his support for the reelection of President Tinubu remained sacrosanct, saying he never promised that the PDP will not field candidates in governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections.

However, Wike has said President Bola Tinubu is aware of his Rainbow Coalition political strategy, stressing that he is not answerable to APC governors over his political activities.

Wike stated this while speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Tuesday night, in response to the position of some APC governors that there was no room for the Rainbow Coalition and that its members should support only APC candidates at all levels.

The FCT minister said he had never entered into an alliance with the APC or attended meetings of the Progressive Governors Forum over the coalition, insisting that his support for Tinubu did not amount to joining the ruling party.

He said: ‘I have told you here, there’s never been a day I said, and Mr President knows, and there’s nothing I have done that I have never told Mr President, ‘This is what I intend to do,” Wike said.

He said his decision to support Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election was based on his conviction that it was the turn of the South to produce the president after former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years in office.

‘When in 2023 we said we were going to support Tinubu, people like Hope never knew that it would affect the presidential election,’ he said.

According to the FCT Minister, the G-5 governors did not consult the Progressive Governors Forum before backing Tinubu, but met the presidential candidate and informed him directly of their decision.

‘When the G5 came out to support the President, is there any time we had meeting with Progressive Governors Forum or with their party? We met with Mr President and told Mr President, ‘We are going to support you.’ And I have never hidden that,’ he said.

Wike said there was no contradiction in supporting Tinubu for the presidency while backing candidates from other political parties in state and legislative elections.

He cited the cases of Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, who he said are supporting Tinubu despite belonging to parties other than the APC.

He also questioned the performance of APC in some South-East states during the 2023 presidential election, despite the party’s candidates winning legislative seats in the same states.

‘In Imo State, he (Uzodimma) was governor and of APC stock. Mr President didn’t get 10 per cent in his state. But he took two senators. And Labour Party took one senator in Imo State,’ he said.

Wike argued that the outcome showed that voters could support one party’s presidential candidate while choosing candidates from other parties in legislative contests.

He dismissed the argument by APC governors that the Rainbow Coalition could undermine party unity, saying governors should concentrate on demonstrating their political influence in their respective states.

‘I agree, they are governors, I’m not disputing that, they have influence, but the influence should come more in your own state, as far as this election is concerned,’ he said.

The minister questioned the political influence of governors who were unable to deliver their states to Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.

‘A governor that is influential, their president cannot win election in his state, still sees himself as being influential?’ he asked.

Wike also described those behind the opposition to the Rainbow Coalition as ‘politically lazy’, accusing them of failing to understand the political dynamics involved.

‘When I see the people who had that press conference, they are smart, like the 419 men. They are smart, like the 419ners. But they are politically lazy. It’s unfortunate,’ he said.

Roof leaks remain one of the most frustrating problems property owners face after investing in a new or renovated building. In many cases, the issue is not simply the roofing material itself, but the quality of installation, attention to detail and professional standards applied before the project is completed.

When roofing fails too early, the consequences often extend beyond inconvenience. Property owners may have to spend additional money correcting faults that should have been prevented from the beginning. This is why I believe leak-free roofing should be treated as a basic industry standard rather than an exceptional selling point.

A customer who has invested in quality roofing should expect the finished work to perform properly without being forced into repeated repairs soon after installation. Leak-free roofing should be the minimum standard across the industry. Roofing companies must ensure that the materials they supply and the installations they deliver are good enough to protect customers from avoidable leaks and repeated repairs.

That means thinking beyond completing an installation. A roof is expected to protect a property for years, which means the real test of quality begins after the installers leave the site. Achieving a leak-free result requires greater attention throughout the roofing process. The material supplied must be appropriate for the project, while installation must be handled with enough precision to ensure that the finished roof performs as intended.

My view comes from years spent working within Nigeria’s aluminium and roofing industry. I entered the sector in 2007 and gained experience across administration, production supervision and branch management before founding AJ Bliss Aluminium in 2012. That exposure let me see roofing from both the production and service sides of the industry, including how faults that appear minor during installation often become larger problems for customers later.

Roofing quality is not something you correct after the customer starts complaining. The goal should be to get the material and installation right from the beginning.

Leak prevention also depends on the quality of professional advice customers receive before work starts. Different projects have different requirements, and selecting roofing without proper consultation may leave property owners with a solution that does not adequately match the building. This places roofing providers in a position of trust. Customers often depend on our expertise when choosing materials and deciding how a project should be executed, which makes accurate recommendations part of the wider quality standard.

That responsibility extends beyond supplying aluminium sheets. The advice we give and the quality of installation both contribute to whether the customer ultimately receives a leak-free roof. A good roofing company should be able to stand behind the finished work. If a customer has followed the right recommendations and the job is properly executed, preventing leaks should be part of the expected outcome.

This focus has shaped how AJ Bliss Aluminium approaches its roofing solutions, with leak-free delivery forming part of the standard I want associated with the business. We provide aluminium and alloy roofing solutions alongside installation and consultation services.

Beyond one company, though, this speaks to the wider reputation of Nigeria’s roofing industry. Frequent complaints about leaks or poor workmanship make it harder for customers to trust providers, even when many businesses are committed to delivering quality work. Raising the standard requires greater accountability across the sector. Manufacturers, suppliers and installers each influence the final performance of a roof, and weaknesses at any stage may affect the result the property owner receives.

The cost implications also make this hard to dismiss. A customer who pays for roofing once expects that investment to deliver protection, not create a cycle of repairs that adds unnecessary expense to the building. Changing this experience starts with making leak prevention an ordinary expectation across the industry.

My message is straightforward. A roofing business should not measure success only by the number of projects completed, but also by how well those projects continue to perform after completion. For Nigeria’s aluminium and roofing sector, making leak-free roofing a basic standard would strengthen customer confidence and place greater emphasis on the quality of workmanship behind every completed project. That is the level of responsibility I believe our industry should be working toward.

The Africa Reinsurance Corporation Foundation has backed a two-day journalism workshop aimed at improving media coverage of insurance, risk management and financial resilience in Nigeria.

The workshop, organised by Insurance Publication Limited (IPL), is scheduled for September 15-16, 2026, under the theme, ‘The Universe of Insurance and Journalism: Risk Everywhere, in Everything.’

The programme is expected to bring together journalists from different beats to explore how insurance and risk can be incorporated into reporting on issues ranging from climate change, politics and cybercrime to health, agriculture, transport, housing and economic hardship.

The organisers said the initiative was designed to move insurance reporting beyond specialised business and insurance desks and make risk management a broader part of everyday journalism.

They noted that low public awareness of insurance remains a major challenge, limiting the ability of individuals and businesses to protect themselves against economic shocks and other risks.

The workshop will feature opening remarks from Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while the Commissioner for Insurance, Olusegun Omosehin, and the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, are expected to provide industry and policy perspectives.

Other speakers include Dr Femi Oyetunji, Chairman, Board of Directors, SanlamAllianz Life Insurance Nigeria Limited; Professor Ismail Ibraheem of the University of Lagos; Dr Omogbai Omo-Eboh, a maritime and insurance lawyer; and Augustine Aipoh.

Oyetunji is expected to examine Nigeria’s insurance gap, the risks carried by individuals and businesses and the economic opportunities associated with improved insurance penetration.

Ibraheem, the theme speaker, will focus on what ‘risk everywhere, in everything’ means for journalists, while Omo-Eboh will address legal issues confronting investigative journalists reporting on high-risk industries, including defamation claims and Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation.

According to IPL, the workshop is also intended to equip journalists with practical tools for reporting risk without turning news stories into product advertisements.

The organisers said journalists would be encouraged to examine how insurance thinking could improve reporting of insecurity, economic hardship and systemic failures by focusing not only on losses but also on prevention, protection and accountability.

The programme follows the completion of the insurance industry’s recapitalisation exercise and the introduction of a new legal framework, providing an opportunity for closer engagement between the media and the industry.

IPL said key elements of the wider initiative would include beat-specific training, a digital learning platform, journalist toolkits and a monitoring framework, with implementation being advanced in partnership with stakeholders including the Nigerian Union of Journalists.

The organisation expects the initiative to generate wider public engagement with insurance issues, encourage policy discussions on risk management and, ultimately, contribute to higher insurance uptake.

Africa Re Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the African Reinsurance Corporation, supports initiatives in areas including insurance and risk awareness, health, education, disaster recovery, technology, research and community development.

The African Reinsurance Corporation is marking its 50th anniversary this year and has also reached the $1billion milestone in premiums.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it has captured 137,487 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in its voter database ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Commission disclosed this on Wednesday at a National Strategy Engagement with the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in Abuja.

The engagement, themed sensitisation and mobilisation of PWDs for increased participation in the 2027 polls, brought together leaders of JONAPWD, OPDs, development partners and INEC officials.

Declaring the meeting open, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, represented by the Acting Chairman and National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, said the engagement reflects the Commission’s commitment to an inclusive electoral process where no eligible voter is left behind.

He said participation of PWDs is anchored on Section 54 of the Electoral Act 2026, as amended, the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act 2018, and the INEC Framework on Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities.

Citing pre-AFIS data from the ICT department, Amupitan said the 137,487 captured include 13,080 visually impaired, 9,299 hearing impaired, 30,561 persons with albinism, 19,430 with physical impairment, and 54,941 in other categories.

He said the figures show the need for sustained engagement to ensure PWDs are informed, mobilised and supported to participate in the electoral process.

He said outcomes of the national engagement would be replicated at state level through Resident Electoral Commissioners and Electoral Officers to translate strategies into grassroots interventions.

He urged JONAPWD and OPDs to take ownership of sensitisation within their clusters, noting that inclusive elections require collective efforts.

In her welcome remarks, Director, Gender and Inclusivity Department, Mrs. Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, described PWDs as a critical constituency whose participation is essential to the credibility of democracy, while identifying challenges around voter information, education and accessibility.

The Deputy Director in charge of Inclusivity, Mrs. Habiba Abdulkareem Jatto, said the objectives of the meeting were to strengthen collaboration, develop practical mobilisation strategies, increase PVC collection and voter turnout among PWDs, and enhance voter education in accessible formats.

Delivering the keynote, Executive Director of Inclusive Friends Association, Grace Jerry, called for mapping PWD networks, using OPD channels and accessible media, delivering voter education in multiple formats, supporting registration and referrals, and monitoring barriers for escalation.

In his goodwill message, National President of JONAPWD, Comrade Abdullahi Aliyu Usman, commended INEC for its disability inclusion policy but said more frequent engagements are needed before 2027.

Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Bar. Ayuba Gufwan Burki, decried barriers of mobility and restricted movement during elections, saying if fully mobilised, PWDs could determine electoral outcomes.

Founder of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, lauded INEC’s priority voting for PWDs but urged improved accessibility of polling units and deeper grassroots mobilisation through cluster heads.

‘Any election that fails to count the voices of persons with disability is not a democracy, it is an exercise in exclusion,’ he said.

The meeting ended with adoption of a communique presented by the National Secretary of JONAPWD, Mr. Ishaku Adamu.

Vocalpoint Human Rights Initiatives (VOHRI), a Human Rights Organisation, has urged the federal government under President Bola Tinubu, along with the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force, to prevent any individual or group from establishing a parallel law enforcement body.

The organisation explained that such actions could worsen the country’s insecurity and made these statements during a press conference in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday.

It was reported that Chief Sunday Adeyemo, known as Sunday Igboho, allegedly prevented police officers from arresting a suspect in Ibadan a few days earlier.

In response, VOHRI expressed deep concern about the recent activities of the Iru-?kun Security Network, led by Igboho, related to blocking law enforcement actions.

Comrade Oladimeji Adelakin, the organization’s Public Relations Officer, told journalists that no individual or group should operate as a substitute law enforcement body or decide who lives or dies without proper legal process.

He urged citizens with information about criminal activities to report to the appropriate authorities instead of taking the law into their own hands.

Adelakin emphasised that all citizens have a right to voice concerns about security issues and to seek protection for their communities.

He explained that the responsibility for investigation, arrest and prosecution rests with constitutionally and legally authorised security institutions such as the Police and DSS.

He then used the opportunity to call on Tinubu and law enforcement agencies not to allow any individual or group to form a parallel law-enforcement institution in the country.

He said, ‘The Vocalpoint Human Rights Initiatives (VOHRI), a duly constituted civil rights organisation committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, access to justice, accountability, good governance and the protection of vulnerable persons, has expressed grave concern over recent developments involving the Iru-?kun Security Network, alleged obstruction of law-enforcement operations, insecurity, separatist agitations and growing threats to public order in parts of South-West Nigeria.’

‘Any attempt by a private individual, vigilante group, militia, security network or other non-state actor to assume the powers of the Nigerian Police Force or otherwise obstruct lawful police operations is a matter that requires urgent investigation by the appropriate authorities. VOHRI is equally concerned by allegations that police officers attempting to execute a lawful arrest process against Taa’ni ?l?hun were allegedly obstructed by individuals associated with the Iru-?kun Security Network. If established after proper investigation, such conduct could undermine the authority of law-enforcement agencies and the rule of law. VOHRI therefore calls on all security agencies to investigate these allegations impartially and, where offences are established, take appropriate action in accordance with due process and applicable Nigerian law.

‘No to jungle justice and parallel law enforcement. VOHRI maintains that insecurity cannot be defeated through lawlessness. The fight against kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities must be conducted within the framework of the Constitution and the law.’

‘Key demands. VOHRI and participating civil society groups will peacefully call for prompt and impartial investigation into allegations involving Iru-?kun and any alleged obstruction of lawful police operations. Appropriate legal action against any person found, after due investigation, to have committed an offence, regardless of status or affiliation.’

THE Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has raised concerns over the increasing harassment, intimidation and prosecution of journalists by security agencies, warning that such actions could undermine press freedom and legitimate journalistic practice.

The Guild also called on the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a communiqué signed by its president, Eze Anaba, and general secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, respectively, at the end of its Standing Committee meeting held in Kano, the Guild said it was particularly concerned about the use of cybercrime legislation and other laws in ways that could restrict legitimate journalism, stressing that freedom of the press remained a fundamental pillar of democracy and good governance.

It urged governments at all levels and members of the public to respect press freedom and engage constructively with the media rather than resorting to threats, intimidation or violence against journalists and media organisations.

The Guild said aggrieved individuals and organisations should channel complaints through the Media Ombudsman established jointly by the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), NGE, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).

It urged governments at all levels and members of the public to uphold and respect freedom of the press as a fundamental pillar of democracy and good governance.

On the 2027 elections, the editors called on the Federal and state governments to provide an enabling environment for all political parties and their candidates to campaign freely and fairly.

It specifically urged authorities to allow the lawful outdoor display of party symbols and the airing of campaign slogans, while calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other agencies involved in preparations for the elections to ensure that all parties, including the ruling and opposition parties, are treated fairly and without discrimination.

The NGE further urged the media to uphold the highest professional and ethical standards in reporting, with fairness, objectivity, accuracy and factuality guiding their coverage.

On the economy, the Guild called on the Federal Government to remain steadfast in implementing its reforms while ensuring that the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerians remained at the centre of its policies and actions.

It expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of federal roads across the country, saying the situation had imposed enormous hardship on motorists, commuters and businesses.

The editors therefore urged the Federal Government to redouble its efforts towards the rehabilitation, reconstruction and construction of roads to facilitate the movement of people and goods and stimulate economic activities.

‘We are concerned about the deteriorating condition of federal roads across the country, which has imposed enormous hardship on motorists, commuters and businesses. The Federal Government should redouble its efforts towards the rehabilitation, reconstruction and construction of roads to facilitate the free movement of people and goods and stimulate economic activities.,’

The Guild commended Nigeria’s security agencies for the successes recorded in the fight against terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality. It, however, called for sustained and coordinated efforts to achieve lasting peace, security and national unity.

‘We commend the nation’s security agencies for the successes recorded in the fight against terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality. We call for sustained and coordinated efforts to achieve lasting peace, security and national unity.:

The Standing Committee expressed appreciation to the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, as well as the government and people of the state, for providing an enabling environment for the meeting.

Well, I think without attempting to do an analysis of all the parties you have mentioned, we know the collateral damage that APM has. They used to be PDP and APM or PDP-APM as they call themselves. And so, they are also a new party and are trying to establish themselves even though they were formed by the current sitting governor of the state, who will be completing his two terms in 2027 and is seeking his third term through another proxy. We know that is not a thing that Oyo State people look kindly at. The coalition that brought him in 2019 was to end a potential third term of an incumbent at that time as well, which was Governor Ajimobi’s tenure when he endorsed a candidate for his party the APC. The other party mentioned is the APC which seems like the ruling party at the federal level, trying to bring in their own candidate. It will be their attempt to return to power after the Governor Ajimobi-led administration has gone away. But we all know the internal fractures that they have. The internal fractures are along many lines of the titans within the party who feel disenfranchised. And the ADC you mentioned is a very newborn party as well, just like APM. But SDP is the oldest political party in Nigeria as we speak. They are not new and are well known to everybody. In fact, they are so old that almost all the current actors had their political teeth cut in SDP. The current president of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was a senator as an SDP senator. The current Olubadan of Ibadanland, who I respectfully refer to as Kabiyesi Rashidi Ladoja, was also an SDP Senator. Our current incumbent who has now formed APM, also when he tried to start in PDP and was not given a chance, contested in SDP. So, one of our most successful governors in Oyo State, Kolapo Ishola, also came from SDP. So, we all know SDP very well and we know how the previous actors have acted. But the rebirth of the party has ensured that worthwhile people have started to join. And people like us have been given an opportunity to join the rebrand and the push. So, our aim now is not only to go on with reforming and leading Oyo State, but also to contribute to national discourse and push Nigeria forward in a progressive way. So, we like to say SDP is the home of true progressives. As I listed previously, everybody cut their teeth in SDP.

You said that the APM is a new party but it’s an old wine in a new bottle. And it’s been a party whose governor has been in the saddle for seven years now, going to eight years. And so, they seem to have this incumbency factor. Will it not count against the other parties, including your SDP?

Well, there’s a potential to think like that. But the incumbency is actually more an albatross than something that counts for them. Because we know that Oyo State people are very intelligent and they are very dynamic. And they are also very progressive in the sense that they do not want someone to perpetuate themselves and continue in perpetuity to lead them, especially when the leadership seems fraught with a lot of ill-advised decisions and directions that the state should not be going. And there are many projects that we can begin to analyse to show that the people are already disenfranchised and dissatisfied. So, the incumbency is more of an albatross, because I struggle to see how APM can defend the last seven years or eight years of the current governor successfully.

Well, this is one governor they say has performed very well. The argument of APM is that he has transformed Oyo State from the rustic city or state that it used to be. Is that not going to count for achievements for him?

Well, they count for something. I don’t know whether we would call them achievements. Because when we start to inspect them one after the other, we have to ask, achievements at what cost and in what directions? Are those priorities placed right or misplaced? Now, if we start to look at the things they point to as achievements, we may begin to ask further probing questions – at what cost? Oyo State debt profile right now is one of the highest in the entire South-West. So, what have they been spent on? You mentioned the Circular Road. I don’t know how many people ply it today despite all the money that has been put into it. It has not being commissioned. So, it’s not going to be in the life of this administration. Is that an achievement or a project destination? We are building bridges to nowhere, not used by anybody for any commercial activity and without a definite opening time in the frame, especially in the frame of this administration. We are talking about the airport. Yes. The airport has gulped several hundreds of billions, if they will be truthful. They’ve revised the budget upward multiple times, upwards. They said N52 billion initially but it’s in excess of 100 billion now, if they will be truthful, that they’ve committed to it. We all know that airports do not add any commercial or economic value to a state without a plan. Is it meant to be a cargo airport or a transit airport for passengers? They’re not clear on that, yet they’ve ploughed all these monies in.

You mentioned all these other inner roads and connecting roads. At what cost? Some of these inner roads have created more problems than solutions. If you look at the Bodija/Isopako Road, they closed a whole important single road that leads into an international plank market from February to July. And when it was commissioned and opened, it wasn’t still even fully done or motorable. Yet it had crippled commerce for more than six months. The other inner roads were existing roads that were not necessarily improved, redesigned, reimagined, but only resurfaced.

In my last interview at the Declaration of Intent, I said we needed to get away from pedestrian thinking and start to go into system-based governance. Where we put things in place, underpinning them with maintenance, underpinning them with support, underpinning them with feedback that makes it long-lasting and sustainable. All of these, I dare say, has not been part of the imagination of this current administration. Would I call this success? I may call it partial success. Because the road is currently resurfaced.

So, what will you be doing differently if you are elected governor of the state? How many-point agenda are we looking at?

We have a seven-point agenda, actually. And central to the entire agenda is bringing governance closest to the people through the local governments. We believe that it is only the local government that can address the plethora of localised problems that are unique to certain and specific areas. For example, the agrarian Oke-Ogun can never have the same problem as a cosmopolitan Ibadan city. So, if we don’t understand their problems, we cannot apply the same solution to everybody. I believe that central to our theme is to turn local government into service centres that are able to pipe through the entire thrust of our administration to them. Once we have that backbone, every other thing can ride through the local government services. Education can ride through it. Health care delivery can ride through it. Support services for the agri-community can ride through it. Infrastructure development and real needs assessment can direct the infrastructure delivery that we are talking about. Youth empowerment, the kind of skill sets that are required in every local government, therefore, will be different.

How will you handle local government autonomy?

I think the incumbent governor has a complete misunderstanding of what local government autonomy means. I think he’s probably suffering from the fact that he would have to relinquish the wallet that belongs to the local government to them, rather than the actual administration of the local government. If we talk about coordination or delivery of services, a state government can coordinate, suggest to, and advise the local governments. I think what is proper is to allow the local government that level of fiscal autonomy, where they decide where their funds go, even if they are co-signed by the state.

I don’t think the state has the equipment to tell the local government what they need, what they should have, and what therefore should be approved for them. A local government chairman should be content with being a local government chairman, sometimes. And he should feel compelled and capable of aspiring to be a governor at some point, or even a president. They shouldn’t be lackeys or subordinates to a state governor. But with competent people at the helm of local governments, I dare say they are the closest to the people, who can deliver government services most to the people. So, it’s not lost on us that the governor may be ruining the wallet that is leaving his control. It’s why he holds that dim view of local governments.

As a socialist party, what will SDP do about free education?

In my last interview in Tribune, I spoke extensively about education, especially education in Oyo State. It breaks my heart to announce that Oyo State, during the times of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Bola Ige, it was one of the foremost educationally advanced states in the entirety of Nigeria. To now juxtapose that to the current position we are in, Oyo State has now become the most educationally backward state in the entire South West.

How did you get that data?

UNICEF printed it. They wrote a comprehensive report, The UNICEF report, that over 200,000 children are out of school in Oyo State. And as our foundation was active in that regard, we did not keep quiet. We approached the current governor of Oyo State with these statistics. The only retort he gave us was that, well, I’ve stopped children paying for NECO. But many pupils drop out from primary schools and junior secondary schools. They won’t even get to the point they can benefit of the generosity of 3,000 naira. Our view is that, first and foremost, the entire education needs to be looked at again, with the view to actually delivering the pedagogical kind of thinking, the Socratic way, where the knowledge imparted to children is now consequential knowledge, not just repetition and cramming where they do mental maths on the road, but it’s applied to nothing. We believe that skills that children need now are not just the ability to read and write. It is no longer sufficient. The ability to apply it to our environment is more important than being able to solve Pythagoras’ theorem.

What about sports developments?

Sports is a massive industry worldwide. Everybody knows that a club without a feeder system is just a training ground. Until we create that sort of system that allows the children’s ability to be harnessed from primary school to secondary school to universities. It wasn’t only shooting stars we had in Ibadan. We had Exide Battery Boys also at one point in time, they had a football club and Leventis United. But many other football clubs had, at one time or the other, been in Ibadan and collapsed. Every country that excels in football builds industries and infrastructure around it. I would return Academicals back to the institutions and I will also return the Principal’s Cup, just like we want to reinstate the literary and debate societies. Extra-curriculars, athletics, that get our children back to competing, back to bringing out the best in them from the primary school level, so that we can see those that are truly gifted from a young age.

For example, if we look at Jamaica, it is not a very big country. But they produce the greatest athletes in the world. And they start from the primary schools to identify the people that are gifted and that are skilled, that have the kind of body structure to excel. And we all know that this is the cheapest form of productivity because what they use is their body and a pair of boots on their legs. So, it’s not a very expensive venture to go into, if only the state can look at it holistically like we intend to do.