Category: Daily Trust

The anti-graft agency took the action ten days to the state’s governorship election.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord party is contesting against two major candidates: Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Adeleke, who addressed journalists in Osogbo, the state capital, alleged that the development was part of the sustained campaign of intimidation against his administration.

He said the state government was officially notified by its banker, First Bank of Nigeria, that the EFCC had directed the bank to place a ‘Post No Debit’ (PND) restriction on the state’s statutory allocation account.

The EFCC’s correspondence, referenced 3000/EFCC/ABJ/HQ/PFS/TA/OSUN/VOL.17/666, identified the affected account as the Osun State Government Statutory Allocation Account, domiciled with First Bank.

The commission stated that the action followed an earlier communication dated April 15, 2026, relating to an ongoing investigation.

However, the state government said the action lacked legal backing because it was allegedly carried out without a court order.

Adeleke had, on Monday, accused the APC of planning to rig the August 15 election, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the killings in the state.

But the state chapter of the APC had, in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Information, Mogaji Kola Olabisi, described the governor’s allegations as unfounded and urged him to focus on issues surrounding the forthcoming election.

Governor Adeleke yesterday said the freezing of the account was unconstitutional because no court order was obtained before the directive was issued.

‘This morning, we received a letter from our banker forwarding a letter from the EFCC instructing the bank to freeze the Osun State Government Account.

‘This action was taken without any court order. We are supposed to be in a democracy where the rule of law must always prevail,’ he said.

He cautioned that allowing federal agencies to freeze state government accounts without judicial approval would amount to an erosion of constitutional democracy.

According to him, the action represents a dangerous precedent capable of undermining Nigeria’s federal structure.

‘We will therefore not accept a situation where federal agencies trample on the constitutional rights of sub-national governments. This is a threat to our democracy. If we all keep quiet and allow this illegality, very soon whatever is left of our democracy will be fully eroded.’

The governor called on the chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, to publicly explain the reasons for freezing the state’s account and provide evidence supporting the decision.

Govt heads to court

Governor Adeleke said he had instructed the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to institute legal proceedings at the Federal High Court in Osogbo.

The governor expressed confidence that the judiciary would determine the legality of the EFCC’s decision.

He also dismissed suggestions that the freezing of government accounts would derail his administration or affect his re-election campaign.

‘As for me, we are pushing ahead with our campaign,’ he declared.

Also speaking to journalists in Osogbo yesterday, the Osun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada (SAN), said the EFCC lacks constitutional authority to freeze a state’s statutory allocation account.

According to him, while the state government respects the statutory responsibilities of the EFCC and other government institutions, the agency’s powers must remain within the limits prescribed by law.

‘This statement is not intended as an attack on any person, government, agency or political party. It is purely a legal position taken in the interest of constitutional order and due process,’ he said.

He said the provisions of Section 24 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and Section 38 of the EFCC Act, 2004, which are frequently cited by the commission, do not empower it to freeze or interfere with the statutory allocation account of a state government.

He argued that such accounts contain constitutionally protected public funds meant for governance and the delivery of essential services.

‘The statutory account of Osun State contains public funds meant for governance, salaries, pension, healthcare, education, security and other essential obligations to the people.

‘Any restriction on such funds raises serious constitutional questions which, in our view, should be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction,’ he said.

On his part, the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Sola Ogungbile, alleged that police operatives stormed the main branch of First Bank in Osogbo and arrested members of staff.

He alleged that the arrest was part of the wider pressure being mounted against the state government.

Ogungbile also debunked the allegations that state resources were being diverted for political campaigns, saying Governor Adeleke was not using public funds to prosecute his re-election bid. He urged the EFCC to consider the broader implications of its action on the people of Osun State.

We acted to halt looting – EFCC

The EFCC on Wednesday explained that the state government’s account was frozen to save public funds from being looted.

The commission, in a statement by its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said it had been investigating many government officials in the State since March.

He said some officials of the state had earlier been quizzed by investigators of the commission, saying what precipitated the freezing was unwarranted movement of funds from the accounts to different suspicious accounts since August 2, 2026.

He stated: ‘The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is compelled to publicly address issues pertaining to its preventive moves in freezing the bank account of the Osun State government, without prejudice to the imminent governorship election in the state.

‘The Commission has been busy investigating the Osun State government since March, 2026, regarding alleged fraudulent handling of Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federal Account Allocation Committee, FAAC account to the tune of N11,000,000,000 only.

‘To this end, some officials of the state government, especially the Accountant General of the State, have had interview sessions with investigators of the EFCC.’

Oyewale said the EFCC noticed huge transfers of funds into different corporate entities and had to swiftly halt the trend by freezing the accounts from which such heavy funds are being moved.

He stated: ‘These ongoing investigations of the state government would not have warranted any placement of Post No Debit order on its account but for the precipitate and unwarranted movement of funds from the accounts to different suspicious accounts since August 2, 2026.

‘The Commission noticed huge transfers of funds into different corporate entities and had to swiftly halt the trend by freezing the accounts from which such heavy funds are being moved.

‘The EFCC’s preventive mandate is a public-inclined framework of safeguarding public funds, assets and resources. The Commission cannot watch idly while a state government’s account is being pillaged.

‘While the Commission is fully aware of the impending governorship election in Osun State, it has a responsibility to act in defence of the sanctity of the funds of the state.

‘It will be uncharitable for the Commission to allow an excuse of an upcoming election to fold its arms to perform its legally-assigned functions. It is equally needful to state that the Commission is keeping watch over the finances of other states like Osun State.

‘Many of these states are on the investigative radar of the Commission to ensure accountability and probity. The Commission has always pointed out that it is non-partisan and non-sectarian but always working in the overall interests of Nigerians.

‘The Osun State government account was frozen to save public funds from being looted. The public is enjoined to ignore false narratives and deliberate demonization of the works of the EFCC. The interests of all Nigerians are greater and will always be protected by the Commission.’

It violates principles of federalism – Lawyer

In an interview with one of our correspondents, a constitutional lawyer, Basil Kpenkpen, described the freezing of the state government’s account as an arbitrary exercise of power in a constitutional democracy ultra vires the 1999 Constitution.

He noted that the state’s account holds public funds meant for essential services like payment of salaries and projects.

‘States’ accounts hold public funds meant for the State for essential services like payment of salaries, projects etc. The said action also violates the principle of federalism,’ he argued.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, John Baiyeshea, who also spoke to Daily Trust, said the court should be allowed to handle the matter since the government has taken the case to court.

‘Since the state government has gone to court, we just wait and see how the matter will play out in court. I know the case will generate a lot of interest. The court is there to ensure that they maintain balance at all times,’ he said.

A political scientist, Prof. Sylvester Odion, warned the APC against using the state’s institution to muzzle the opposing political parties.

‘Let the people of Osun decide who becomes their next governor. It is unfair to begin to use state instrumentality to muzzle the opposition. We have over 19 political parties in the state. The federal government should create a level playing field for all political parties.

‘It will rebound to the positive image of the incumbent administration in Nigeria. It shouldn’t be that the ruling party must control every state of the federation,’ he said.

It is political terrorism – ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), in its reaction, condemned the freezing of statutory allocations and bank accounts linked to the Osun State Government, describing the development as ‘political terrorism’ and an assault on democracy.

It accused the federal government of using state institutions to intimidate the Osun State Government and allegedly influence the outcome of the August 15 governorship election.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC alleged that the withholding of funds was part of a broader strategy to weaken the state government and frustrate its operations ahead of the governorship poll.

The party linked the development to what it described as President Bola Tinubu’s ‘win-at-all-cost’ approach to politics, warning that such a mentality could threaten Nigeria’s democracy and national stability.

According to the ADC, restricting the funds could affect the payment of workers’ salaries, the operation of primary healthcare centres, education, rural infrastructure and other essential public services.

‘The freezing of the statutory allocations due to the local governments of Osun State is not an administrative decision or a legal dispute. It is political terrorism by the Bola Tinubu-led APC government carried out with the instruments of the Nigerian state in order to undermine the state government ahead of the coming governorship election,’ the statement read.

The party alleged that the withholding of the allocations was only one aspect of what it described as a systematic campaign against the Osun State Government.

It also accused unelected APC loyalists of continuing to occupy local government councils in the state, alleging that their continued presence was contrary to democratic principles and the rule of law.

The ADC further alleged that opposition politicians, including members of the Accord Party, had been subjected to arbitrary arrests for political reasons.

It accused security agencies of failing to address alleged acts of violence by political thugs in the state.

The party alleged that some armed groups linked to the APC had intimidated political opponents, while accusing some elements within the Nigeria police of providing protection to the groups.

The opposition party argued that the developments pointed to what it described as a deliberate attempt by federal authorities to undermine constitutional governance and democratic institutions in Osun State.

He made this call during the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit that was concluded yesterday in Asaba Delta State.

Speaking to reporters during the summit Dr. Igwe praised the initiative of the Governor and described it as bold and visionary.

‘ One of the biggest takeaway for me from this summit is the setting up of the fund for derisking projects. By doing this, Governor Oberevwori has demonstrated strong political will to demonstrate to the world that Delta State is ready for investment. The potentials in Delta state are huge and with the efforts of the governor it is clear that he wants to diversify the economy beyond oil.’

‘Working in collaboration with the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Program (WASOP), a European Union funded technical assistance program, I want to assure you that it is possible to support the state to achieve the laudable objectives of delivering sustainable prosperity.

‘The Director of the State Investment Promotion Agency is already in touch with us. Working together, I am confident that in a few years from now Delta state could become an example of how a subnational entity can be successfully weaned from oil dependence through deft economic re-engineering and fiscal discipline’

Dr. Igwe further announced the efforts of his firm to make Delta State the blue economy hub for Africa.

‘ I wish to announce that the 2nd edition of the annual Niger Delta Blue Economy Investment Summit will be held on the 18th and 19th of March 2027 in Warri Delta state.

‘This is our own contribution to support the efforts of the governor to develop the vast blue economy potentials in the state by breaking them down and converting them into tangible investment pipelines. With four seaports and two airports, the pathways to profibility and sustainability are clear.

‘Already through WASOP, technical assistance is being provided to the Sealink project which will revamp the Burutu deep seaport to an enviable transhipment hub that connects to other parts of Africa thereby creating jobs for ordinary people in the state especially women and youths’.

GIG Mobility has been unveiled as the official mobility partner for Season 11 of The Next Titan, Africa’s longest-running entrepreneurial reality television show, in a move aimed at supporting young Nigerian entrepreneurs through improved logistics and mentorship.

The partnership was announced during the pre-season brunch and official press conference for the new season held in Lagos, where media professionals, corporate partners, former contestants and ecosystem stakeholders gathered ahead of the programme’s commencement.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Operating Officer of GIG Mobility, Jude Odum, said the collaboration aligns with the company’s commitment to creating opportunities by supporting entrepreneurship and economic growth.

According to him, mobility goes beyond transporting people from one location to another, stressing that it serves as an enabler of business development and enterprise creation.

‘We invest in entrepreneurs because mobility enables opportunity. At GIG Mobility, moving people has never just been about reaching a physical destination-it is about what that movement makes possible. Somewhere within this competition are visionary founders who will build impactful enterprises and create employment for thousands of Nigerians. If our logistics and support help move even one of those dreams closer to reality, we have accomplished our mission,’ Odum said.

Under the partnership, GIG Mobility will provide transportation and logistics support throughout the competition, including dedicated vehicles for the Top 50 Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and seamless movement of contestants, production crew and organisers during the 10-week filming period across multiple locations.

This year’s edition, themed ‘Be Relentless,’ offers a grand prize of N50 million, with contestants expected to compete in a series of practical business tasks designed to test innovation, resilience, leadership and strategic decision-making.

Beyond the television programme, GIG Mobility highlighted several initiatives through which it supports entrepreneurship and economic inclusion.

Among them is the GIGM Ambassador Scheme, a digital referral programme that enables participants to earn commissions on interstate bus ticket bookings through the company’s mobile application.

The company also showcased its Drive-to-Own (Owner Captain) Scheme, which allows eligible interstate drivers to acquire ownership of their operational vehicles through a structured hire-purchase arrangement after meeting agreed payment milestones.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Producer of The Next Titan, Mide Akinlaja, described the partnership as a strategic fit, noting that both organisations share a common vision of empowering entrepreneurs.

According to him, GIG Mobility’s involvement extends beyond logistics, reflecting a broader commitment to nurturing innovative businesses and supporting the next generation of African entrepreneurs.

Season 11 of The Next Titan will commence with regional auditions in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enugu, after which successful applicants will advance to the Top 50 Entrepreneurship Bootcamp.

From the bootcamp, the final 20 contestants will move into the Titan House, where they will undergo 10 weeks of intensive business tasks, boardroom challenges, commercial projects and pitch presentations as they compete for the grand prize.

Still on education. We touched on Oxford University in Part 3 of this essay so permit me to focus on Cambridge here.

As stated earlier the first African to attend Cambridge University was George Gurney Nicole, a Nigerian/Sierra Leonean who attended Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, studied law and graduated with a B.A. in 1879.

The second African to attend Cambridge University was Francis Henry Fearon, a Nigerian/Sierra Leonean, who studied law and graduated from St. John’s College, Cambridge in 1891.

The third African to attend Cambridge University was Jan Christian Smuts, a white Afrikaaner South African, who studied law, graduated from Christ’s College, Cambridge in 1894 and who later became Field Marshal and Prime Minister of apartheid South Africa.

The fourth African to attend Cambridge University was a Nigerian (though he later became a naturalised Ghanaian) by the name of Augustus Molade Akiwunmi who studied law at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, graduated in 1916, was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn and was called to the English Bar in 1921.

The fifth African to attend Cambridge University was Victor Adedapo Kayode, a Nigerian, who was my beloved grandfather, who studied law and graduated from Selwyn College, Cambridge University in 1920, who was admitted to the Middle Temple in 1921 and who was called to the English Bar in 1922.

The first African to graduate from Durham University, England’s third best University, was a Sierra Leonean by the name of Rev. Nathaniel Davies who studied Classical Arts and graduated with a B.A. degree in 1876.

The second African to graduate from Durham University was a Nigerian by the name of Rev. Isaac Oluwole who studied Liberal Arts and Theology and graduated with a B.A. degree in 1879. He was also awarded an honorary D.D. (Doctor of Divinity) degree by Durham University 1893.

The third African to graduate from Durham University was a Nigerian by the name of Obadiah Johnson who studied the Arts and graduated with a B.A. degree in 1879.

The fourth African to graduate from Durham University was a Nigerian by the name of Henry Rawlingson Carr who studied mathematics and graduated with a B.A. degree in 1882.

The fifth African to graduate from Durham University was Rev. Emmanuel Kayode (my great grandfather) who graduated with an M.A. in Theology in 1893.

The sixth Nigerian to graduate from Durham University was Dr. Curtis Adeniyi-Jones who graduated with a B.A. in Medicine and Surgery in 1901.

Permit me to mention the fact that a black South African by the name of Pixly Ka Isaka Seme, who was a Zulu, studied law and graduated from Jesus College, Oxford University in 1910 after studying at Colombia University in the United States.

Despite the achievements of men like Smuts and Seme, South Africans did not come close to us in respect of any of these educational firsts though it appears that Minister Tshaveni and those that think like her appear to have forgotten this incontrovertible fact and insist on labelling us as what we are not.

In terms of religion both Christianity and Islam were deeply rooted in our country before any other (with the exception of Ethiopia) in sub-saharan Africa.

Christianity found itself well-entrenched in Nigeria in the 15th century and Islam was first introduced to Nigeria in the 11th century.

There are more Muslims in Nigeria than ANY other country in Africa and there are more Christians in Nigeria than ANY other African country.

Adherents of each of these two great faiths number well over 120 million EACH in Nigeria.

There is clearly a divine purpose for this because God NEVER makes mistakes and He is perfect in all His ways.

There is no other country on earth that has this type of religious balance in terms of numbers and it is indeed beautiful in our sight.

This, coupled with the fact that there are 371 different ethnic nationalities in our nation, reflects the fact that our diversity is truly our strength and we take great pride in it.

Our military contributions to Africa are legion.

We proudly led ECOMOG, the formidable ECOWAS standing military force, that was established by General Ibrahim Babangida and other ECOWAS Heads of State in 1990 and that successfully crushed rebel forces and the forces of extreemism and insurgency in various parts of the sub-region for many years and on several occassions.

We deployed our troops and restored peace and democracy in Sierra Leonne and Liberia and brought stability to our sub-region.

We also recorded great military successes and victories in Chad, Congo and Somalia over the years, restored democracy in Sao Tome and Principe and more recently in the Benin Republic and finally, when General Sani Abacha was in power, we proudly and courageously faced down the Cameroons in the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsular even though they had French military support and we compelled them to retreat from our territory.

The matter was eventually settled years later after President Obasanjo returned to power and was elected as a civilian President in 1999 by the International Court of Justice.

Today we are gallantly fighting and defeating no less than 5 of the worlds most deadly foreign-funded terrorist organisations, insurgent groups and secessionist militias all of which are trying to divide and destroy our country yet our military are holding the line, recording decisive victories and achieving great successes.

This should tell you that we are not an ordinary people. We are slow to anger but irresistible in battle and though restrained, we do not shy away from war or military conflict of it is forced upon us.

We take pride in our nation and our flag, we do not cower before the enemy, we do not bow or submit to terror, we refuse to accept bondage, subjugation and oppression and we cannot easily be defeated or overwhelmed.

In the world of acting and the production of films Nigerians have established a thriving sector and industry known as ‘Nollywood’ which has its own stars like Olu Jacobs, Joke Silva, Liz Benson, Peter Edochie, Richard Mofe-Damijo and many others and in terms of artistic excellence, creativity, turnover and profit, is second only to America’s ‘Hollwood’ and India’s ‘Bollywood’.

In the world of music Nigerians have flourished and excelled on the world stage for many decades with artists like Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Shirley Bassey and Seal and today we have the likes of Burna Boy, Whizkid, Davido, Rema, Tiwa Savage, Asake, Arya Starr, P-Square, Flavour and others.

We have countless superstars in this genre but South Africa has only one by the name of Tyla and she is half Afrikaaner!

Outside of that Nigeria has or has had some of the most highly acclaimed and successful international movie stars in the world such as Orlando Martins, Chiwetel Ejiofor, David Oyelowo, Damson Idris, Uzo Aduba, Cynthia Erivo, Sophie Okonedo, John Boyega, Yvonne Orji, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Wunmi Mosaku, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and others.

The only South African that is at par with them is Charlize Theron and she is an Afrikaaner!

In the world of literature Nigeria has produced some of the greatest authors and writers on the world stage such as Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Ben Okri, Chimamanda Adichie and Buchi Emecheta.

Not one black South African comes near any of these great minds when it comes to making an impact on the world stage.

In the world of combat sports like professional boxing, the UFC and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) again Nigerians have excelled in the past and present with world champions, former world champions and top contenders like Dick Tiger, Antony Joshua, Moses Itauma, Efe Ajagba, Lawrence Ikoli, Adam Olaniyan, Israel Adesanya, Kamaru Usman and so many others who proudly fly our flag.

The only South African that has excelled in this field is an Afrikaaner by the name of Dricus Du Plessis.

All this yet some South Africans who should know better treat us with contempt and describe us as nothing but drug dealers and criminals!

This is unfortunate.

The point that I am making here is that we are a civilised, enlightened, sophisticated, educated, proud, strong and God-loving people who take pride in our faith and in our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity.

We are not a small nation of ignorant pushovers with no sense of self-worth, self-respect, pride, cultural heritage or history that can be treated lightly or that are suffering from low self-esteem.

To be sure we do not suffer from what Zwelinzima Vavi, the Secretary General of the South African Federation of Trade Unions, has described as ‘the trauma of poverty and apartheid’ that he claims black South Africans are suffering from after four hundred years of occupation by their European colonisers and the imposition and practice of decades of the evil system of apartheid.

When black South African children were shot in the streets of Soweto by the apartheid police Nigerian children shed tears for them and marched the streets in demonstrations all over the world in solidarity with their horrific plight.

Yet today it is our children and students that are being beaten and murdered in the streets of Soweto and other South African townships and cities.

We gave our blood and treasure for the people of South Africa.

All this yet many leaders in South Africa appear to have forgotten the massive contribution we made to their struggle and many in the younger generation are totally oblivious of it.

This is sad.

All this coming from a great nation like South Africa that made us proud when they cultivated the foresight, courage and fortitude to establish BRICS and the G20?

A nation that made us hold our heads up high by displaying compassion and empathy when others remained silent, by speaking up for humanity and justice and by condemning the horrors that were being perpetrated against the innocent women and children of Gaza and dragging those that perpetuated that butchery to the International Court of Justice.

It is truly inexplicable.

A real paradox.

A nation that is suffering persecution from the powers that be because it stood up for the 134-strong nations of the Global South and fought against racism, injustice and oppression in other parts of the world is now dehumanising, oppressing and targetting it’s own black African brothers?

A nation that we love, respect and admire, that we associate with the beautiful and loving spirit of ‘Ubuntu’ and that we fondly refer to as the ‘Rainbow nation’ which reflects its outstanding and enviable racial, cultural and religious diversity is now exhibiting signs of fanatical nationalism and racism that can only be compared to that which was witnessed in apartheid South Africa itself?

A nation of courageous souls with a rich and extraordinary history and cultural heritage that gave us talented souls like Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Lucky Dube, Trevor Noah, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, colorful and interesting political leaders like Gayton Mackenzie and Julius Malema and remarkable sport teams like Bafana Bafana and the Springboks?

A nation that gave us evergreen and everlasting songs that inspired and strengthened us from the days of our youth, that are eternally ingrained in our hearts and souls and that are as dear to us as they are to every South African like ‘Ipi Tombi’, ‘The Warrior’, ‘Shosholoza’ and ‘Nkosi Sikelel Afrika’.

These are not just South African songs: they have transcended all borders and are now AFRICAN ones!

Given all this, what we are witnessing in South Africa today makes no sense.

To hear such sentiments from ignorant and misguided individuals who are more familiar with the streets and the ghetto than a university lecture hall and who know nothing about the history of their own struggle and those African nations, including Nigeria, that contributed so much to it is bad enough but hearing it from a senior South African Government official that should know better is a heavy blow to the gut which has left many of us in pain.

I pray Minister Ntshaveni and all those that think like her in the Government of South Africa retrace their steps and consider the consequences of their unguarded speech.

We must not let the counter-revolutionary forces behind this retrograde thinking drive a wedge between our two countries and cause us to be hostile to one another because that is precisely what they seek to achieve.

It is in that context that the real motives of organisations like March on March and Operation Dudula need to be understood.

This is especially so given the fact that the leaders of those racist and Afrophobic organisations are nothing but school yard bullies.

This is particularly so in the case of a troubled young soul by the name Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, who leads March on March and who said ‘Nigerians irritate and annoy me’ during the course of her interview with Nigerian journalist Ireti Bakare-Yusuf.

This is the same individual that erroneously claimed in another of her media outings that Zimbabwe ‘was the first country in Africa to gain its independence’ from its colonial masters!

This assertion which is rooted in one of the most graphic manifestations of ignorance that I have ever witnessed is a measure of just how shallow, detached from reality and dangerously delusional Ngobese-Zuma is.

Someone should send her back to school where hopefully she will learn that Liberia and not Zimbabwe was the first country to gain its independence from colonial rule in Africa in 1847 whilst Ghana and Nigeria gained theirs in 1957 and 1960 respectively.

No less than 51 African countries gained their independence before Zimbabwe which did not gain hers until 1980.

Zimbabwe was the fourth country to the last to gain its independence in Africa and not the first!

Ignorance in the head of a leader of a mob is like a loaded gun in the hands of a toddler.

This is the same lady that says the most despicable and racist things about her fellow black Africans and that seeks their humiliation, denigration and destruction.

This is the same lady that shrieked and screamed like a bat out of hell that ‘If there is nothing wrong with eating drugs Nigerians must eat them’ during the course of one of her organisations’ marches and in an attempt to incite the crowd against our nationals.

Is this not how the Huti versus Tutsi incitement began in Rwanda in the late 1980’s which led to the genocide and mass murder of 800,000 Tutsis in the space of three months in that country in 1990?

Must we wait for this to happen in South Africa before subversive elements like Jacinta are arrested?

Words have consequences and something needs to be done before it is too late.

The question has to be put: if the likes of Tommy Robinson can be repeatedly arrested in the United Kingdom for racist, anti-immigrant and Islamaphobic rhetoric and hate speech why can’t Jacinta and those that talk and behave like her suffer the same fate in South Africa?

Their violent rhetoric and hate speech has led to many deaths and physical attacks on African nationals and these are clear cases of incitement against specific racial groups.

Are there no laws against this in South Africa?

How many more African nationals have to be murdered or have their homes burnt down before the South African Government will act?

Why is she still walking free?

And Jacinta is not alone. There are others who lead equally violent, racist and Afrophobic mobs with names that are far too difficult to pronounce but that run around half naked, brandishing spears, cudgels, axes and cutlasses and openly threatening our nationals with violence and death.

Another important question that needs to be answered is who is funding Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma and her March on March and organisations like Operation Dudula and whose interests do they really serve?

Who are these dangerous, violent and subversive elements that thrive on targetting and terrorising the weakest and most vulnerable Africans in their country and that make the old Ku Klux Klan of America, the old National Front of the UK, the old Hitler Youth and Brown Shirts of Nazi Germany and the old Afrikaaner Resistance Movement of South Africa’s Eugène Terre Blanche look like childs play, really working for?

Do they serve the interests of South Africa or that of a foreign power whose objective is not just to destroy and disintegrate South Africa but to do the same to Africa generally.

This is a question that the South African Government needs to consider.

(END OF PART 4)

(Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is a former Minister of Culture and Tourism, a former Minister of Aviation and the Ambassador-Designate of Nigeria to South Africa)

On August 15, 2026, eligible voters across Osun State will head to the polls to elect a governor who will lead the state for the next four years.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 14 candidates-including the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, who is vying for a second term-have been cleared to contest the election. Notably absent from the list are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), two major parties that participated in the state’s previous governorship election.

This election marks the first time in recent years that an incumbent governor in Osun will seek re-election on the platform of a different political party, following Governor Adeleke’s defection from the PDP to the Accord Party (A). His defection has fundamentally altered the political landscape, transforming what was expected to be a straight contest between the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) into a far more competitive race.

A competitive race

An Osogbo-based political scientist, Samson Elesho, confirmed to Daily Trust via phone that the governorship election has evolved into a fiercely contested three-way battle.

The frontrunners are incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party (A), Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

A major factor shaping the competition, Elesho noted, is the geographical origin of the main contenders: Governor Adeleke, APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and ADC candidate, Najeem Salaam, all hail from the Osun West Senatorial District.

Specifically, Governor Adeleke is from Ede North Local Government Area (LGA), Oyebamiji hails from Irewole LGA, and Salaam comes from Ejigbo LGA.

Other candidates are Farinloye Olarenwaju of the Action Alliance (AA); Esan Olajide of the African Action Congress (AAC); Adeagbo Opawoye of the African Democratic Party (ADP); Adesina Adeyemi-Doro of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Saliu Oyelami of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP).

Also in the race are Ogunsakin Olalekan of the Young Progressives Party (YPP); and Adefemi Adesuyi of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP); Adewale Adebayo, Allied People Movement (APM); Clement Adesuyi of the Action Peoples Party (APP); Masilo Adeleke of Boot Party (BP); and Taofeek Adeleke of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

High voter registration, declining turnout

Election data from INEC illustrates two contrasting realities in Osun’s electoral landscape. While the number of registered voters has grown steadily across the last three governorship election cycles, voter turnout has consistently declined.

According to INEC statistics, registered voters grew from 1,411,373 in 2014 to 1,678,985 in 2018, reaching 1,952,387 in 2022.

Accredited voters saw modest gains from 764,582 in 2014 to 775,687 in 2018, and 827,218 in 2022 while Voter turnout percentage dropped steadily from 54.17% in 2014 to 46.20% in 2018, and fell further to 42.37% in 2022.

Despite the drop in percentage turnout, total votes cast followed a modest upward trend-rising from 750,021 in 2014 to 769,495 in 2018, and 823,124 in 2022.

Valid votes also increased from 717,321 to 804,450 over the same period.

Meanwhile, rejected votes dropped significantly from a peak of 47,874 in 2018 to 18,674 in 2022.

The collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) also expanded, rising from 1,213,026 in 2014 to 1,518,303 in 2022.

However, political analyst Jimoh Eruobami observed that higher PVC collection has not translated into active voting.

He cited insecurity, electoral distrust, and unfulfilled political promises as key drivers of voter apathy.

Adeleke’s defection reshapes the race

Since its creation in 1991, Osun has earned a reputation as one of Nigeria’s most fiercely contested governorship battlegrounds.

Governor Ademola Adeleke enters the 2026 governorship election with both the advantages and the uncertainties that come with incumbency.

His victory in the 2022 election was widely attributed to a combination of public dissatisfaction with the then APC administration and his own personal appeal.

In 2022, he contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and won 17 of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while the APC secured the remaining LGs.

Four years later, Adeleke is running under the Accord Party. His defection poses a critical test: Did voters elect the PDP platform in 2022, or did they vote specifically for Ademola Adeleke? If a significant portion of the electorate remains loyal to the PDP rather than the individual, his party switch could open doors for opponents.

Moreover, securing a simple majority is not enough. Under Nigerian constitutional law, the winning candidate must also secure at least 25% of the valid votes cast in at least two-thirds (20 out of 30) of the state’s local government areas.

INEC urges grassroots awareness, inclusive participation

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stepped up preparations for the August 15 poll with a renewed focus on voter education, inclusive participation, and addressing voter apathy.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun state, Mrs. Oluwatoyin O. Babalola, stated that elections should be viewed as an ongoing process rather than a one-day exercise, emphasizing the need for sustained civic engagement.

She cautioned that without consistent voter education, public participation in the electoral process could decline.

Also, she identified voter apathy as one of the key challenges facing the electoral system despite improvements in election administration.

According to her, factors such as misinformation, lack of confidence in the electoral process, political disinterest, and limited access to credible election information continue to discourage voter participation.

She noted that citizens should not only be informed about election dates but also understand the importance of exercising their voting rights.

To strengthen voter awareness, Babalola directed Electoral Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers to expand grassroots sensitization efforts by engaging residents in markets, motor parks, schools, and places of worship.

She also encouraged collaboration with traditional rulers and religious leaders to help spread voter education messages across communities. She urged election officials to ensure that women, young people, senior citizens, and Persons with Disabilities have equal opportunities to participate in the electoral process.

President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has held high-level talks with Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, on strengthening investment partnerships and deepening economic cooperation between Canada and Africa.

The discussions centred on expanding investment opportunities in Canada and exploring how the Dangote Group, alongside other African investors, can contribute to Canada’s economic growth while fostering stronger commercial ties between the two regions.

The meeting also reviewed Canada’s Africa Strategy, with both leaders underscoring the importance of promoting greater two-way trade and investment flows as a catalyst for sustainable economic development.

Dangote highlighted the enormous potential for collaboration between African and Canadian businesses, noting that stronger economic partnerships would unlock opportunities for industrialisation, innovation, job creation and long-term prosperity.

‘Strategic partnerships between Africa and Canada have immense potential to drive sustainable growth and create value for both regions. There is a strong case for increasing investment, fostering innovation, and building mutually beneficial commercial relationships,’ Dangote said.

He stressed that closer engagement between businesses in both regions would not only enhance investment but also support technology transfer, infrastructure development and value-added manufacturing across key sectors of the economy.

As part of his visit, Dangote, according to a statement, also met with Ahmed Hussen, Member of Parliament and Chair of Canada’s Foreign Affairs Committee.

Their discussions focused on advancing Canada-Africa economic relations through increased trade, investment and long-term strategic collaboration.

The assurance was given by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, during a meeting on Wednesday with the leadership of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC), Trade Side, led by its National President, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir, according to a statement by the ministry.

Oyedele said the government had already begun addressing many of the issues raised by the council before receiving its formal communication.

According to the minister, the necessary approvals for the payment of the outstanding wage award are being finalised, expressing confidence that eligible public servants would begin receiving the payments before mid-August.

‘When government makes commitments, it delivers. We are not in the habit of making promises that cannot be fulfilled. Where there are outstanding issues, we will give realistic timelines and ensure they are implemented,’ he said.

The minister also disclosed that promotion arrears were receiving the required attention, with outstanding batches being processed in line with established procedures.

He directed relevant officials to immediately review documents submitted by the JPSNC, work with concerned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and accelerate action on all outstanding labour-related issues requiring government intervention.

Oyedele acknowledged concerns expressed by organised labour over delays in implementing some agreements, assuring that the Federal Government would continue to strengthen trust through transparency, regular engagement and prompt action.

Earlier, JPSNC National President, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir, urged the government to expedite the resolution of pending labour issues, including the outstanding wage award, promotion arrears, salary relativity concerns affecting health workers and other welfare matters.

He noted that the timely implementation of the outstanding commitments would further promote industrial harmony and reinforce workers’ confidence in the government’s commitment to their welfare.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Raymond Omachi, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working closely with organised labour to ensure approved workers’ entitlements are processed and released without unnecessary delays.

He said the ministry would continue collaborating with relevant government institutions to fast-track the resolution of outstanding labour issues, stressing that constructive dialogue remains key to sustaining industrial harmony.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, disclosed that Batch 7 promotion arrears, which had been inadvertently omitted during an earlier payment exercise, are now being processed alongside Batch 9.

He expressed optimism that beneficiaries would begin receiving the payments once processing is completed, adding that the government was also working to resolve issues relating to the Peculiar Allowance and other outstanding labour matters in collaboration with relevant MDAs.

Providing an update on the payment process, Director of Cash Management at the ministry, Christiana Osho, said reconciliation for the outstanding wage award had been completed and that the payment release was at its final stage.

She explained that once the funds are released, eligible public servants would begin receiving the outstanding wage award, while processing of promotion arrears would continue according to the approved schedule.

The new Permanent Secretaries are Malam Abdu Usman, Dr Sani Suleiman, Dr Shamsuddeen Yahaya Suleiman and Dr Hussaini Hamisu Yanduna.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, Radda said the appointments were based on competence, experience and hard work, rather than personal connections.

He urged the appointees to justify the confidence reposed in them by ensuring transparency, accountability and adherence to due process in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.

‘The Oath of Office is not merely a ceremony. It is a commitment to integrity, accountability and faithful service,’ he said.The governor said the appointments, which cut across different local government areas, were also aimed at promoting equal opportunities in the civil service.

He, however, expressed concern that some local government areas could not produce eligible candidates because they lacked officers with the required qualifications or grade levels.

‘It is our hope and prayer that, in the coming years, every Local Government Area in Katsina State will produce qualified officers capable of competing successfully and serving as Permanent Secretaries,’ he said.Radda also charged senior civil servants to mentor younger officers and facilitate knowledge transfer to ensure continuity and strengthen the service.

He said his administration would continue to promote professionalism, institutional capacity and digital transformation across government institutions.

This brings to an end nearly six months of anguish for their families and communities.

The Kwara State Government announced the development on Wednesday through its official Facebook page.

It described the release as a major breakthrough and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, security agencies and everyone who contributed to the operation.

‘Alhamdulillaah and kudos to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, security forces, and everyone who played a role in this huge feat. We are grateful!’ the government stated.

Although authorities were yet to disclose the details of the operation as of press time, multiple community sources told Daily Trust that security personnel, backed by military hardware, had moved into the forest earlier in the day before news of the victims’ freedom filtered into the communities.

Aliyu Umar, a resident and member of the community negotiating team through a mediator, said reports reaching the communities indicated that the Federal Government had mounted a rescue operation.

He said residents of nearby Wawa reported seeing seven or eight long vehicles escorted by Army armoured tanks moving into the forest.

He added that information circulating within the communities suggested the captives had been handed over to government officials.

‘We were hearing that the Federal Government was making moves. Information reaching me was that they had been handed over. People in Wawa saw several vehicles and Army armoured tanks heading into the forest,’ he said.

The Village Head of Woro, Alhaji Salihu Umar, gave a similar account.

He said available information to the community suggested a Federal Government rescue team had entered the forest to receive the victims.

According to him, residents had reported seeing buses, Army gun trucks and other security vehicles heading towards the area.

‘We had not spoken with the victims ourselves at that point, but everything we were hearing suggested they had been handed over to the rescue team,’ he said.

Also confirming the development, Dr Abdul Ibrahim, who had played a prominent role in community efforts to secure the captives’ freedom, said the circumstances surrounding their release were still unclear.

‘Yes, it is true. They are arranging vehicles to bring them to Il?rin. We do not know exactly how they secured the release. We do not know whether there was any negotiation or ransom involved. At this stage, we simply do not know the circumstances,’ he said.

The release marks a dramatic turnaround after months of uncertainty that had triggered protests, appeals and desperate negotiations by affected families.

Only last weekend, hundreds of residents, youths and women staged a peaceful protest in Kaiama, demanding urgent government intervention after the captives spent 171 days in terrorist custody.

The protesters marched through the town, carrying placards and urging the Federal Government to intensify rescue efforts while calling for stronger security around communities bordering the Kainji Lake National Park, which they described as a major criminal hideout.

The latest development also comes barely five days after families disclosed that more than ?155 million painstakingly raised through community donations, personal savings and the sale of valuables had been rejected by the terrorists.

Speaking then on behalf of affected families, Dr Abdul Ibrahim told Daily Trust that the kidnappers declined the money, insisting they would only negotiate directly with the governments of Kwara and Niger states because many of the captives came from both states.

He also alleged that the abductors had threatened to kill some victims while forcing female captives into marriage, heightening fears among relatives.

The 176 victims were abducted during the coordinated terrorist assault on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities on February 3, an attack that left hundreds dead, displaced many families and destroyed homes and public infrastructure.

The massacre sparked national outrage and prompted President Tinubu to order reinforced military deployments and intensified security operations in Kaiama and adjoining communities.

More details have emerged regarding the suspension of the chairmen of Rogo, Bebeji, and Bagwai local government councils by the Kano State House of Assembly.

According to the Majority Leader,Lawan Hussaini Dala, the action was prompted by multiple petitions alleging financial and administrative misconducts.

Daily Trust reports that the Assembly suspended Abubakar Mustapha (Rogo), Dr. Alhassan Salisu (Bebeji), and Bello Gadanya (Bagwai) following the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs during plenary.

Speaking exclusively with Daily Trust, the House Majority Leader said the Assembly received petitions from a wide range of stakeholders, including community groups, civil society organisations, and elected councillors from the affected local government areas.

He explained that the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs subjected the petitions to preliminary scrutiny by examining financial and administrative records obtained from the councils and holding interactive sessions with key local government officials before recommending the suspension of the three chairmen.

According to him, the petitions alleged financial misappropriation, abuse of office, breach of public trust, fraud, and other administrative infractions.

The chairmen were also accused of incompetence in managing the affairs of their councils and diverting public funds for personal interests.

‘The investigation is far from over,’ Dala said, adding that the committee would widen its probe by inviting all relevant stakeholders to present evidence and defend their positions before arriving at its final recommendations.

He explained that, in line with the Assembly’s constitutional oversight powers, the House directed the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to ensure the immediate handover of leadership to the vice chairmen pending the outcome of the investigation.

Dala disclosed that the committee has three months to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Assembly, after which lawmakers will determine whether the allegations against the suspended chairmen have been established or whether they should be cleared.

He urged residents of the affected councils and other stakeholders to remain calm and allow the committee to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation without interference.

Our correspondent could not reach any of the suspended chairmen as of press time last night.