Category: Daily Trust

A tanker inferno in the wee-hours of Friday left one person injured and three vehicles burnt along the Abeokuta-Sagamu expressway in Ogun State.

It was gathered that the tanker carrying 30,000 litres of fuel fell on its side and spilled its content at the Abeokuta-Kobape-Siun-Sagamu/Interchange stretch of the highway.

The spokesman of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, in a traffic alert, said the development resulted into a fire outbreak.

He blamed the crash on speeding and loss of control on the part of the driver.

Akinbiyi said, ‘The effect of the unfortunate incident also extended to the burning of a truck and tow vehicle along the roadside, as well as the destruction of a cable supplying electricity to Mowe and environs.’

Speaking with our correspondent, Akinbiyi confirmed that one woman sustained injury while trying to rescue her children near the inferno.

He said some properties were lost to the incident, but no one died.

Also, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun command, said no casualty was recorded in the incident.

The command, however, said the three vehicles involved in the incident were ‘burnt beyond recognition.’

A Kenyan High Court has directed a hospital to release the body of a retired Nigerian military officer, Air Vice Marshal Terry Okorodudu, who died during his treatment, to his family for burial.

The presiding judge, Lawrence Mugambi, directed the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi to release Okorodudu’s body following his death on September 9.

The judge further directed the son of the deceased, Bidemi Okorodudu, to deposit his international passport with the court and to remain in the country pending the determination of the disputed bill of 9.8 million Kenyan Shillings (about N111.3 million).

The court held alternatively that the son of the deceased could deposit the sum in the court as a condition for the release of the corpse.

The court noted the concern of the hospital that Bidemi, being a Nigerian, could leave the jurisdiction of the court, ‘that may be found due, even if the hospital were to recover civil remedies because of extra-territorial jurisdiction.’

The judge further noted that even as the family insisted on the right of the body to be released, the hospital also deserved protection to ensure the right to demand its rightful dues is protected.

According to the Daily Nation, Justice Mugambi said AVM Okorodudu, who was admitted to the hospital on July 25, 2025, had full knowledge that the Aga Khan is a private hospital where he would be required to settle the bills. The judge said the hospital performed its part.

Mr Bidemi accused the hospital of unlawfully detaining the remains of the retired serviceman over an outstanding bill of Sh9.8m, arguing that holding a body as security for a debt is unlawful, unconstitutional, and against public policy.

He said in an affidavit that the family was undergoing immense anguish, humiliation and trauma, which cannot be adequately compensated by damages, if the body was not urgently released for interment.

Mr Bidemi said his father was a distinguished serviceman of the Nigerian Air Force and that arrangements have been made for his military burial by the Nigerian government.

‘The continued unlawful detention of his body risks causing serious diplomatic embarrassment to both Kenya and Nigeria,’ he said.

The Nigerian said even if any sums were due, the hospital had adequate legal avenues to recover them under relevant laws, like the Foreign Judgments (reciprocal enforcement) Act provides a framework for the reciprocal enforcement of debts and judgments between Kenya and Nigeria.

On the standard of care for the deceased former officer, the family also disputed the accuracy of the bill, raising issues with the standard of care offered to the retired military man, which they said led to complications, the high hospital bill and eventually his demise.

The family sought immediate and unconditional release of the body, an injunction restraining the hospital from interfering with the burial, and orders to allow the repatriation of the remains to Nigeria for a military funeral.

The Aga Khan University Hospital said the son executed a guarantee of payment for healthcare services to be rendered to his father, and that the case was an attempt to run away from honouring the guarantee.

The hospital’s Patient Services Business Department Manager, Jackson Awuor, said Mr Okorodudu required highly specialised treatment for multiple complications when he was admitted, adding that he was a high-risk, elderly patient whose treatment required a multi-disciplinary team of doctors comprising specialists from cardiology, critical care, pain management and nursing, among others.

According to the hospital, the failure to pay bills risked paralysing its operations, with the net effect of depriving other needy patients of treatment and care.

The hospital presented signed consent forms and medical reports to counter allegations of negligence, noting that the petitioner had consented to the risky procedures but later accused doctors of negligence.

The Plateau State Government has announced traffic diversions in Jos and Bukuru ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit today for the burial of Nana Lydia Yilwada, mother of the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwada.

Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Lohya Ramnap, in a statement on Friday, said the diversions will begin at 7 am to allow smooth movement of the presidential convoy.

The affected routes are Mararaban Jama’a-Bukuru expressway, Dadin-Kowa through Old Airport to Plateau Roundabout, and Hillstation Roundabout to COCIN Headquarters/Central Bank road.

Ramnap appealed for residents’ cooperation, stressing that the measure is temporary and for public peace and security.

Residents across several communities in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State have raised concern over a surge in deadly bandit attacks, which have led to killings, abductions, displacement and widespread fear.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, the leaders of the communities, led by Alhaji Adamu Haruna from Kebbe town, described the deteriorating security situation as dire, warning that lack of government intervention might push citizens to take the law into their own hands.

‘Our lives are in danger. They have taken our property, our livestock, and now they have started abducting people,’ Haruna lamented.

He added, ‘We’re no longer allowed to farm, and our belongings are being confiscated. People are getting desperate.’

According to residents, the attacks have become increasingly coordinated. In Dukura, a man was reportedly killed for resisting abduction.

‘In Dalijan, bandits drove away with herds of cattle, and later ambushed animals at a local watering point. The attackers moved through multiple communities including, Ingushi and Gwalli, leaving destruction in their wake before security forces could respond.

‘People are living in fear. These criminals are threatening to stop us from harvesting our crops.

‘There are another group called Lakurawa who everyone fears – their grip on the region is growing.’ Haruna added.

Tukur Muhammadu, a resident of Fakku, said the town was previously untouched, but that changed when bandits stormed the area, killing several and abducting over 30 residents.

‘They’ve scattered our communities and are demanding a ransom of tens of million naira,’ he said.

He added, ‘Seventeen towns in the Fakku axis are now deserted. We’ve appealed to the state government for help, but there has been no response.’

‘Farmers in Kucchi and surrounding villages are reportedly afraid to return to their fields, despite the fact that it is a harvesting season. Shops have been looted, and some owners remain in captivity.

‘So far, over ten people have been confirmed dead, and more than 500 livestock rustled in the ongoing attacks. With seventeen towns emptied of their residents, communities are calling urgently on state authorities to act.

‘If the government cannot provide food or money, the least we ask for is security,’ Muhammadu said.

When contacted, the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman (rtd), acknowledged the growing insecurity in the affected areas and assured residents that the government is taking the situation seriously.

‘We are fully aware of the developments, and the government is doing everything possible to restore peace in communities affected by banditry and other forms of security challenges,’ he said.

Col. Usman emphasized that efforts are ongoing to strengthen security operations and bring lasting stability to the region.

Bandits have abducted a woman and her two children in Kogi State and have imposed multi-million-naira levies on farming communities in Niger State as conditions for peace.

In Kogi State, bandits invaded the house of one Tokpe Gody at Bareke-Egbe in Yagba West Local Government Area around 2am on Friday, abducting his wife and two children after heavy gunfire. Gody, a farmer narrowly escaped being taken but sustained gunshot wounds in the process.

He is currently receiving treatment at Egbe hospital, where locals described his condition as critical.

‘Tokpe Gody escaped by whiskers from the invading bandits who struck his residence around 2am today Friday. But his wife and two of his children were not so lucky as the invading bandits forcibly carried them away to their hideout in the community.

‘He received gun wound in his body and legs in the process of trying to escape from his assailants. His condition is not stable as at this morning. He is ordinary farmer that struggle to keep his family afloat in daring mounting challenges of today’s Nigeria,’ said Samuel Adeyemi, a resident of Egbe.

The abduction came just a day after a commercial motorcyclist was killed at Ejiba, a neighbouring town, when he rode into a bandit ambush on his way to Isanlu.

Meanwhile, in Niger State, bandits have rolled out levies and taxes on several communities in Mashegu Local Government Area, demanding payments ranging from N500,000 to N10 million within one or two weeks as a condition for ceasefire.

Residents listed Babban Rami and Kaboji communities as each tasked to pay N2 million, Sabon Rijiya and Sabon Rami N500,000 each, while villages around Keji forest were ordered to jointly contribute N10 million. Khizi community was taxed N6 million with a deadline of Friday, October 3, 2025.

A resident told Weekend Trust that villagers are unable to harvest crops due to sustained attacks.

‘There have series of killings and brutal attacks on the communities. And now, the bandits have imposed taxes on the villages surrounding the Ibbi and Kanji National Park forest.

‘We are appealing to authorities act quickly to address this situation, because majority of the people in these areas are farmers and more than 90 percent of what we planted has not been harvested yet. The problem is beyond the local government. State and Federal governments need to come as quick as possible,’ he said.

Another source noted that many farmers had been killed or kidnapped on their farmlands, travellers ambushed on highways, and villages burnt down during attacks.

Police authorities in both Kogi and Niger states are yet to respond to the latest incidents.

Ladies and gentlemen, the cold brutal reality today is that while the world is taking a giant leap forward, our dear nation is stagnant and sliding backwards. To bring this into sharp relief, in the year 2025, new cold chains and infrastructure networks make it possible for tomatoes from a village in Rwanda to reach Dubai in just 48 hours. Yet in this same year, another farmer in Kano lost his crops before they left the village because of the absence of logistics, transportation, marketing and distribution infrastructure.

Are we as a nation and a region condemned to live in this reality? I do not think so. Let me start with a small teaser. I want you to envision something with me – a northern Nigeria where a farmer in Mambilla can send fresh milk to Singapore in 72 hours; where our miners in Jos export not raw ore but high value products stamped ‘ethically sourced in Nigeria,’ and our young people are building companies that compete on the world stage. This is not a fantasy, it is a choice. The reason we are here today is to talk about how we make that choice together.

First, there is nothing inherently wrong with us as a people. This is not about capability but connectivity: the infrastructure, technology and systems that link potential to prosperity. We know that it is possible to connect the dots. We have what it takes to unleash abundant prosperity. The question is: Do we have the will to connect them into something bigger? Technology is not just a tool; it is the currency of competitiveness. The regions that digitise value chains, integrate markets and mobilise capital will win in the next decade. We can be one of them if we act with urgency and precision.

The purpose of this conversation is simple but powerful. First, we will look at the opportunity in front of us – mining, agriculture and power and why they matter now more than ever before. Second, we present a strategic actionable vision for how technology can ignite industrial transformation, drive inclusive growth and solid sustainable infrastructure in our region. Third, we need to connect mining, agriculture and power into one unified development model that makes us a magnetic field for attracting global investment. Fourth, we will do all these things by deploying the required capital, skills and infrastructure.

If you remember nothing else, remember these five takeaways. First: Mining, agriculture, and power are not separate silos. They can and must be fused into value-creating ecosystems where each sector strengthens the others. Second, Technology is the multiplier. Digital tools, renewable energy systems, and data driven platforms can accelerate productivity, cut waste, and open new markets faster than we ever thought possible. Third, We have a blueprint to mobilise capital. Northern Nigeria can attract blended finance, climate funds and diaspora investment by packaging bankable ESG-aligned projects that meet both investor expectations and community needs. ESG, shorthand for environment, social, and governance, is a principle that emphasizes responsible and impactful investing. Fourth, Skills development is as critical as roads, power lines and industrial parks.

Without a skilled workforce, even the best-built infrastructure will underperform. Fifth: We must take bold action. The MAP 2025 tech compact will set measurable goals for digitisation, skills training, and renewable energy adoption, and hold us accountable for delivering them.

With that purpose and those outcomes in mind, let us reframe how we think about industrialisation in northern Nigeria because the old playbook will not win the new game.

Reframing the narrative: From factories to smart systems

If we want to seize this opportunity, we have to change how we think about industrialisation. For many people, industrialisation brings to mind big factories, heavy machines and long production lines. That was the old way of doing things. Today, the most successful economies are built differently. They run on digital infrastructure, connected supply chains and the ability to create and protect ideas and designs that have value. In this new world, information and innovation can be worth more than physical products.

Here’s the advantage for northern Nigeria: We do not have to follow the slow, expensive path of the past. We can move straight into a digital-first, innovation-driven economy. Therefore, adopting digital innovations, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, and similar technologies will position the region for digital-first readiness.

Why technology matters become clear when we look at the bigger picture. In the First Industrial Revolution, steam power and mechanisation replaced manual labour, making it possible to convert raw materials into finished goods on a scale never seen before. The Second Industrial Revolution brought electricity, mass production and global trade networks, transforming economies and daily life. The Third Industrial Revolution, the digital revolution, introduced computers, automation and the internet, shrinking distances and speeding up communication. Today, we are in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where artificial intelligence, big data and advanced connectivity are merging the physical and digital worlds. In this era, technology is not just a support tool, it is the driver of competitiveness. It decides who leads and who follows.

For this region, this means we can leapfrog old models and go straight to modern, connected systems. Technology shortens timelines, reduces waste and opens new markets, turning months into weeks and weeks into days, while keeping more wealth here at home.

This means building smart industrial areas where fast internet, cloud services and digital payments are as basic as roads and electricity. It means using online government services so that business registration, licensing and customs clearance happen quickly and easily. It means adopting secure digital trade systems to speed up transactions, cut costs and build trust with buyers everywhere.

It also means focusing on high-value sectors like software, financial technology, and creative industries that bring strong returns without needing massive physical infrastructure. Public-private partnerships can share the risks and speed up delivery, while performance-based funding makes sure money is released only when results are achieved.

We do not have to imagine what this looks like; we can learn from others who have done it. In India, the Digital India programme built a national digital identity, fast payment systems, and open data platforms. The government provided the base and business-built services on top, from online shopping to health care, reaching even rural communities.

Our African peer, Rwanda, though small and without major natural resources, invested in technology parks, nationwide internet coverage and online government services. Combined with training programmes and supportive policies, it became a recognised technology, industrial and tourism hub in Africa. This demonstrates that political will, policy coherence and a clear digital-first strategy can elevate a country’s brand and competitiveness on the global stage.

For our region, going digital-first also means looking beyond mining, agriculture and power to integrate complementary sectors that will complete the ecosystem. The region must, therefore, invest in the following complementary enablers: Region-wide broadband and affordable devices so that everyone can connect; STEM education and skills training from school to vocational centres; health care technology to reach rural areas and improve planning; modern transport and logistics, which are linked to AfCFTA trade routes; creative industries, such as film, music and fashion based on our rich cultural history are globalized through online platforms; financial services innovation: mobile banking, micro-loans,and safe spaces for new ideas to grow.

If we can shift from the old factory mindset to smart connected systems, we will not just catch up, we will set the pace. And that brings us to why northern Nigeria’s position matters so much in the bigger picture.

Strategic importance of northern Nigeria: From regional strength to global leverage

If we are going to build a future that is competitive and resilient, we need to understand exactly why northern Nigeria matters, not just to us but Africa and the wider world.

First, we are not starting from ground zero – our strengths are real and powerful. We sit in a location that connects West Africa to the Sahel, Central Africa and North Africa. That makes us a natural trade bridge; a position that will only grow in value as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) expands.

Second, we have a young, energetic population: millions of people ready to learn, work and create if given the right tools. Our land is rich: fertile fields that can feed nations, and mineral deposits, lithium, gold and tin that the world needs for energy, technology and manufacturing. We have sunlight in abundance, rivers for hydropower and wind corridors, all of which can power industries to attract climate finance investment.

This piece is an abridged version of a keynote address delivered at the Northern Nigeria Investment Summit on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

Third, the opportunities ahead are enormous. We can position northern Nigeria as both a physical and digital gateway for trade across Africa. We can build cross-border e-commerce platforms, digital customs systems and secure payment networks that make it easier for our producers to sell anywhere on the continent. We can tap into green bonds, infrastructure funds, and diaspora investment by presenting bankable projects that meet global standards. We can diversify into information and communication technology (ICT), creative industries logistics, and fintech, creating a more balanced and future-proof economy. We can use data, not just minerals as a resource, applying analytics to improve farming, health and infrastructure planning. And our cultural ties to the Middle East give us a natural link to Gulf markets for trade, tourism and investment.

But we cannot do these things without facing our challenges squarely. Our infrastructure is patchy: roads, storage and processing facilities are not keeping pace with demand. Too many of our young people lack access to the training and skills that modern industries require. Multi-dimensional poverty is high, and low purchasing power limits the size of our domestic market. Flooding destroys farmland and disrupts communities. Poor governance, insecurity in some areas, and a lack of unity between states weaken our bargaining power and slow progress.

However, there are threats we must guard against: global price swings can hit our mining and agriculture revenues. Climate change can bring more floods, droughts and extreme weather. Other African trade hubs are competing hard for AfCFTA market share. And investor confidence depends on how well we tackle governance and transparency.

The truth is this: Northern Nigeria is more than a region rich in resources. It is a platform for Africa’s next industrial leap. If we use our strengths, close our gaps and act decisively, we can turn our position into lasting power. But the window of opportunity will not stay open forever.

And if we are serious about seizing that opportunity, we must first agree on the conditions that will make success possible. That is where we turn next.

Basic conditions for success: Building a competitive northern Nigeria

If northern Nigeria is going to compete, not just within Nigeria but across Africa and the world, we need more than resources and ambition. We need a shared vision, clear priorities and the discipline to work together as one region. Right now, too many of our efforts are fragmented. Each state has its own plans, its own timelines, its priorities. That approach has cost us bargaining power, slowed development and left opportunities on the table. The first condition for success is unity.

We must move beyond state-by-state strategies and adopt a coordinated regional blueprint; one that aligns our priorities in infrastructure, education, trade and investment. We need shared institutions, regional councils or commissions with representatives from all 19 northern states to coordinate policy, pool resources and track progress. And when we negotiate with the federal government, development partners or investors, we must speak with one voice to secure better terms and bigger projects.

We must learn from other regions how they have successfully developed a cohesive regional development strategy. For example, the South-West Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission has demonstrated the value of a permanent, professional secretariat that drives long-term plans beyond political cycles. They have built a unified identity that attracts investment, tourism and talents. We can adapt these lessons to our own context.

Cross-regional partnerships can help us share infrastructure like rail lines, energy grids and trade corridors, cutting costs and expanding market access. Regular forums where policymakers, business leaders and academics share ideas will spread innovation faster.

Government and business must work hand in hand. Public-private partnerships can mobilise capital, share risk and speed up the delivery of infrastructure and services. Business-friendly policies, simpler regulations, fewer bottlenecks and targeted incentives will make it easier for investors to commit. Industry clusters, where related businesses operate side by side, will create economies of scale, strengthen supply chains and spark innovation.

We must invest in research and development (RandD), which drives innovation. Applied research hubs, in partnership with universities, polytechnics and research institutes can develop solutions tailored to our challenges, from climate-resilient crops to off-grid renewable energy systems. Regional innovation funds can support startups and small businesses with commercially viable ideas. And data-driven decision-making.

I am profoundly delighted that the Northern Elders Forum is now making a sharp pivot by integrating economic development into its philosophy, in addition to its traditional forte of politics and governance. This decision to take on a higher role, to serve as a true think tank for the North’s future is highly commendable. We have seen this before: Sir Ahmadu Bello once showed how visionary leadership could mobilise private resources to support public investment in strategic sectors through such institutions as New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) and Bank of the North. That same spirit of foresight and institution-building must be rekindled.

The Forum should not only generate bold ideas but also sit at the table with the federal and state governments to secure strategic investments and national-level support. If it shifts from commentary to leadership, it can become the region’s strongest voice, ensuring that northern Nigeria gets the infrastructure, skills and industries it needs to thrive.

It is worth noting that northern Nigeria cannot compete in the 21st century without mastering the power of data. Just as the NNDC once mobilised financial resources to unlock strategic investments, today we must mobilise information resources to unlock opportunity. We need robust data banks: live databases of entrepreneurs across the region and diaspora groups eager to invest back home.

These platforms will not only connect capital to ideas but also give us the intelligence to negotiate better with the federal government, development partners and private investors. Without data, we are invisible; with it, we become a region that knows its strengths, tracks its opportunities and speaks with authority at the national and continental table.

Finally, we need financial institutions that do not just operate in the North but are truly for the North. Banks and funds based here, close to our people and industries, can channel capital directly into farming, mining, power and small businesses. When the money is managed here, with our priorities in mind, finance stops being a barrier and starts becoming a driver of opportunities.

This piece is an abridged version of a keynote address delivered at the Northern Nigeria Investment Summit on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

A Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, has ordered the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of Police to suspend the enforcement of tinted glass permit against vehicle owners.

The judge also asked the police and the IGP to maintain the status quo and ‘respect judicial processes pending further proceedings in the matter.’

The court issued the interim order in the suit no: FHC/WR/CS/103/2025 brought by Delta lawyer, John Aikpokpo-Martins against the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force.

Aikpokpo-Martins approached the court to challenge the legality of the new tinted permit enforcement with an interim order to forestall the enforcement.

The lead counsel to the applicant, Kunle Edun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who led the legal team for the petitioner, confirmed the development to journalists and noted that ‘the directive is a major step in ensuring that the rule of law is upheld while the substantive issues in the case are being determined.’

Before the order by the court, there were reports of police enforcement of the permit in different parts of the country. In Lagos, the police command had begun full enforcement of laws regulating the use of tinted glass on vehicles across the state.

The Lagos State police command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, announced the commencement of the exercise, adding that it is in line with directives of Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun aimed to boost public safety, curb crime and ensure compliance with traffic laws.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has described the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State in 2014 as a permanent scar on his administration, declaring that it is a wound that will remain with him till he dies.

Speaking on Friday at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja during the public presentation of a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor, titled ‘Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum,’ Jonathan said no event defined his presidency more painfully than the tragedy of the Chibok girls.

He said, ‘One of the major scars on my government – and it will remain on my face, as Bishop Kukah said, no plastic or cosmetic surgeon can remove it – is the issue of the Chibok girls.

‘It is a scar I will die with. But perhaps later, more details may become known, and that too has to do with Boko Haram.

‘What did they really want? Our chairman once raised the issue when he interviewed some of them, and they gave him certain perspectives. But I pray that one day, some of the Boko Haram leaders may be literate enough to document what they have done, so that people will truly understand what they wanted. It is similar to the story of the Nigerian civil war.’

Reflecting on the insurgency that shadowed his presidency, Jonathan disclosed that his government had established several committees to explore peace options. According to him, during one of such efforts, the insurgents nominated then General Muhammadu Buhari to negotiate on their behalf with the federal government.

‘One of the committees we set up then, the Boko Haram nominated Buhari to lead their team to negotiate with the government. So, I was feeling that oh, if they nominated Buhari to represent them and have a discussion with the government committee, then when Buhari took over, it could have been an easy way to negotiate with them and they would have handed over their guns. But it is still there till today,’ Jonathan recalled.

He admitted that his initial belief that Buhari would wipe out Boko Haram after assuming office proved wrong, underscoring the complexity of the crisis.

‘I thought that after I left, within a reasonable time, General Buhari would wipe them out. But even today, Boko Haram is still there. The issue of Boko Haram is far more complex than it is often presented,’ he said.

Jonathan further noted that Boko Haram’s operations went beyond hunger or poverty, pointing to the sophisticated weaponry the group deploy.

He urged the present government to adopt a carrot-and-stick approach while working with fresh strategies to overcome the menace.

Meanwhile, an aide to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, Malam Garba Shehu has refuted Jonathan’s claim that Buhari was nominated by Boko Haram as a negotiator.

Shehu while responding in a statement last night, said, ‘Muhammed Yusuf or Abubakar Shekau, the deceased leaders of the Boko Haram terrorist group, never nominated Muhammadu Buhari for any such role. In fact, Shekau routinely denounced and threatened Buhari, and their ideologies were in direct opposition.

‘In 2014, Muhammadu Buhari escaped a bomb attack on his life by Boko Haram in Kaduna, in which his personal staff suffered various degrees of injury.

Buhari’s campaigns focused on fighting Boko Haram and restoring security to Nigeria whenever he became president, putting him in direct opposition to the terrorist group’s leader.

He said, ‘The President, Dr, Good-luck Jonathan, had once alerted the nation of the ubiquitous presence of Boko Haram in his government, a fact aptly amplified by his erstwhile National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi.’

Shehu, while linking Jonathan’s comment to his 2027 presidential ambition said, ‘To win in 2027, Dr. Jonathan should look for a better story to tell Nigerians.

On his part, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who reviewed Irabor’s book, stressed that only a whole-of-society approach could tackle the intertwined threats of Boko Haram and banditry.

‘Those who have things to say about Boko Haram do not even know when Boko Haram stops and banditry starts. They are all mixed together. We must begin to do something about it; and we must do it collectively,’ Obasanjo said.

He recalled visiting Boko Haram members in 2011 after the UN House bombing in Abuja and discovered that they were not pursuing clear political or religious goals but simply seeking a better life.

‘The life of any nation has the good, the bad and the ugly. What is important is for us to confront our challenges honestly. Look at our past and present, and when it is time to proffer solutions, we must look beyond the ordinary,’ he said.

The event attracted dignitaries, including Defence Minister Muhammad Badaru, service chiefs, members of the National Assembly, senior military officers, royal fathers, diplomats and others.

All roads led to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Friday, September 26, 2025 as a former governor of the state, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, was crowned as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadan.

Weekend Trust reports that apart from Ladoja, there are other former governors who ascended traditional stools after exiting government house.

Ladoja (Olubadan)

Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja was born on September 24 1944 in the Gambari area of Ibadan, the city he is now set to lead traditionally. He attended Ibadan Boys’ High School from 1958 to 1963 and Olivet Baptist High School from 1964 to 1965.

Ladoja furthered his education at the University of Liège, Belgium, earning a degree in Chemical Engineering between 1966 and 1972.

In 1993, he was elected to the Nigerian Senate under the United Nigeria Congress during Nigeria’s short-lived Third Republic.

By 2000, Ladoja climbed the corporate ladder to become a director at the Standard Trust Bank Limited.

Elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Olubadan became the Oyo State governor in April 2003, taking office on May 29. He came into power with the backing of the late strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, but soon fell out with him over political appointments.

Ladoja was impeached on January 12 2006 but fought his removal in court. The Supreme Court eventually upheld his appeal and he returned to office on December 12, 2006.

In August 2008, he was briefly remanded in prison by the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged financial misconduct but was granted a bail of N100 million with two sureties.

After his PDP days, Ladoja ran for the governorship seat under the Accord Party in 2011 and 2015 but lost both times. He later joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), then Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in 2018 before stepping back to focus on his chieftaincy duties.

As the highest-ranking chief in the Otun line, Ladoja became the next in line to become Olubadan. Interestingly, on August 12, 2024, the late Olakulehin formally presented him with the ceremonial beaded crown – a gesture he once rejected during the Abiola Ajimobi administration.

Mohammed Awwal Ibrahim (Emir of Suleja)

Born on September 8, 1941, Alhaji Mohammed Awwal Ibrahim, the Emir of Suleja, served as governor of Niger State from October 1979 to December 1983 during the Second Republic. He was elected on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

In 1979, he left the civil service to contest for the governorship of Niger State under the NPN and became the first elected governor of Niger State.

There were attempts to impeach Ibrahim. However, he was forced out of office after the coup that brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power. Subsequently, a military tribunal set up by the Buhari regime convicted him of abuse of power and corruption in 1984. In 1986, he was barred for life from holding public office or participating in partisan politics.

He is now the Emir of Suleja, a Hausa emirate established in the early 19th century, formerly called Abuja and now in Niger State. In 1976, a large part of the emirate, plus territories from other states, became the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at the centre of the new city of Abuja, while the emirate was renamed Suleja and left as part of Niger State.

Awwal Ibrahim became the Emir of Suleja in 1993. His accession resulted in rioting and destruction of property by opponents. He was deposed on May 10 1994 by General Sani Abacha. But after the return to democracy, the emir was restored to the throne on January 17, 2000.

Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff

Also in this category is His Royal Majesty, Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff, the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass, Bayelsa State.

After Rivers State was created from part of the old Eastern Region, Diete-Spiff was the first military governor.

During the General Yakubu Gowon military regime, he served from May 1967 to July 1975. He served on the Supreme Military Council as well.

Born on July 30, 1942, he attended western Cameroon’s St Joseph College and Dartmouth, England’s Britannia Royal Naval College. In 1964, he enlisted in the Nigerian Navy and was commissioned as a ship diving officer.

He was a naval lieutenant commander when he was appointed the military governor of Rivers State in 1967 at the age of 25. He was in the 2005 confab and served in the Committee on Models and Structure of Government. He is in the category of elder statesmen.

Major-General Mohammed Jega

Major-General Mohammed Jega, now an emir, had the opportunity to serve as governor of one state at two different times.

He became the military governor of Gongola State (now split into Adamawa and Taraba states) from March, 1976 to July, 1978 under the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo. He had a second opportunity between January 1984 and August 1985 under the military regime of General Muhammadu Buhari.

After retiring from active military service in 1985, he engaged in public and traditional affairs, leading to his appointment as Emir Muhammad Ilyasu-Bashar of Gwandu (in Kebbi State) in June 2005, replacing Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo.

His appointment was confirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria many years later.

Brigadier-General Abu Ali (Etsu Bassa Nge)

Born on September 6, 1947, in Takete, Kogi State, Brigadier-General (rtd) Alhaji Abu Ali Mopa III has lived a life defined by courage, service, and leadership. From an early age, he nurtured the dream of becoming a soldier, a decision that initially met with resistance from his family. Undeterred, he enrolled at the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, where he laid the foundation of a military career that would eventually shape his destiny. His determination later took him to the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, from where he emerged as a fine officer, steadily rising through the ranks until he retired as a Brigadier-General in 1999.

Abu Ali’s mark on history became more pronounced in August 1990, when he was appointed to serve as Governor of Bauchi State during the military administration of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. His tenure, though short, was one of vision and tangible development. He commissioned the Bauchi Township Water Project, a lifeline for residents in the state capital, and laid the foundation for youth engagement and sporting excellence by forming the Wikki Tourists Football Club, which continues to be a force in Nigerian football. His administration also consolidated the Tomato Processing Company in Bauchi, advancing agricultural productivity, while simultaneously improving healthcare delivery through the completion of hospital projects across the state.

But beyond projects, his governorship was tested by crisis. In 1991, when ethno-religious violence erupted in Tafawa Balewa and spread to other towns, Abu Ali was thrust into one of the most challenging moments of his career. With firm resolve, he imposed a curfew, banned public gatherings, and deployed security forces in a bid to restore calm. Though the conflict was tragic, his decisive measures helped prevent further escalation and earned him recognition as a leader who placed peace above all else.

In January 1992, Brigadier-General Abu Ali demonstrated rare humility and respect for democracy by peacefully handing over to an elected civilian government, a transition that underscored his belief in Nigeria’s democratic future.

After retiring from the military, Abu Ali returned to his roots, where he was installed as the Etsu Bassa Nge (Mopa III), a first-class traditional ruler and custodian of Bassa Nge heritage in Kogi State in the year, 2000. In this role, he continues to embody dignity, wisdom, and cultural pride, guiding his people while commanding respect across Nigeria.

His life is also one of sacrifice. He is the father of the late Lt.-Col. Muhammad Abu Ali, the fearless Nigerian Army commander celebrated nationwide for his gallantry against Boko Haram insurgents. The younger Ali’s death in 2016 at Mallam Fatori, Borno State, was not only a personal tragedy but also a national loss, marking yet another chapter in the family’s deep legacy of service to Nigeria.

Iconic Open University officially announce the setting up of the Proposed University’s Study Campus in the heart of Lagos, as its southern headquarters in the Nigeria’s economic capital and the most vibrant commercial-hub city in Africa.

This is a testament to the university’s unwavering commitment to bringing education closer to people – right where they are. As one of the fastest-growing universities, Lagos is indeed a melting pot of innovation, knowledge, and economy, and It is only befitting that Iconic University joins its landscape to offer quality, flexible, and nationally recognized education to people across the region and beyond.

Iconic Tower stands fit alongside other Nigeria’s famous business towers in the Lagos Island where the likes Union, UBA, WEMA and banks are headquartered. The Lagos Study Campus located within the Lagos Island, a central region that strategically link the mainland and other parts of islands. The facility stand still as an elegant tower, painted in the blue and white color signatures of the Iconic University as a beacon of knowledge, excellence, and innovation. This reflects focus on modernity, accessibility, and a streamlined academic experience to our students and prospective enrollees.