Category: Nigerian Tribune

NOTWITHSTANDING the upload of the particulars of the different political parties on the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), internal squabbles have continued to fester in the state chapters of political parties.

Investigations by our correspondents confirmed that crises have continued to rock state chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Social Democratic Party (SP), as rival claimants to the governorship seats have emerged in some states.

Aside from the crisis rocking the APC chapters in Oyo, Kwara and Ondo States over the determination of gubernatorial and National Assembly candidates, the SDP, ADC and NDC have also been experiencing crises in different state chapters.

On Sunday, the National Chairman of the NDC, Moses Zuwoghe, accused the INEC of instigating crises in some of its state chapters by replacing candidate names with ‘unknown persons.’

Though the electoral commission has since denied the allegation, further crisis on Tuesday erupted in Oyo State chapters of the SDP and the ADC.

A protest was undertaken by some members of the ADC who denied Chief Adegboyega Adegoke as the governorship candidate of the party. INEC has since uploaded Adegboyega as the authentic ADC candidate.

Also in the Oyo State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SP), a battle for the governorship seat erupted after the name of the governorship candidate was uploaded by the electoral commission.

According to INEC, Chief Michael Okunlade was the authentic governorship candidate whose name had been uploaded on the portal, while another candidate, Saheed Oladele, had laid claim to the ticket.

Oyo ADC members storm INEC office, reject Adegoke as guber candidate

Some members of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Oyo State under the auspices of ADC-Nigeria Must Survive, ADC-NMS, on Tuesday stormed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Agodi, Ibadan, to protest the upload of the name of Chief Adegboyega Adegoke as the party’s gubernatorial candidate.

The protesters during the protest said Adegoke was not accepted by members of the party.

Recall that the name of Adegoke was uploaded on the INEC portal amid an ongoing court case instituted by Dr. Gbemileke Alagbe, popularly known as Eleniyan.

The protesters, drawn from across the 33 local government areas of the state, marched with placards bearing inscriptions such as ‘Say No To Imposition In ADC Oyo, INEC, Obey 2026 Electoral Act’, ‘Our Mandate Is Not For Sale’ and ‘We Stand With Eleniyan and Aborisade.’

The party members during the protest submitted a petition to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Oyo State.

In the petition, the protesters demanded the immediate withdrawal of Adegoke’s name from the INEC portal pending the court’s decision in three weeks.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the Oyo State Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bimpe Adelowo, said the party was protesting against what she described as ‘shenanigans in the handling of Form EC9 of the candidate.’

The ADC member said that on May 23, 2026, the party conducted primary elections across the state. According to him, the National Organising Secretary, who is constitutionally empowered to conduct the primaries, performed the duty and duly notified INEC. A copy was also sent to the REC in Oyo State.

Adelowo alleged that the list later displayed by INEC was submitted through a hard-copy letter by national officials of the party, which she said was contrary to the Electoral Act.

He noted that the protest was meant to alert the commission and the public that the uploaded name did not reflect the choice of party members.

‘Since we are the legitimate structure recognised by INEC, we interfaced with them. INEC mobilised its officials to monitor both the National Assembly and governorship primaries and turned in their reports.

‘In the course of this, Dr. Gbemileke Alagbe emerged as the winner of that primary election. Other candidates also emerged, including Festus Adewale Adegoke for Oyo Central Senatorial District, Lukman Adetunji for Oyo South and Ahmed Solomon for Oyo North. All their names were filed with INEC, and the EOs of various local governments also filed their reports.

‘We don’t have factions. We are the legitimate structure recognised by the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. It is just for everybody to comply with what the court says.

‘What INEC has on its portal is not the name of the authentic candidate of the party. It is a name forced on us. The members have rejected him. You cannot give us a candidate we did not choose,’ Adelowo said.

Receiving the petition, the Head of Department, Legal Services, Oyo INEC, Adeniyi Lawal, assured the protesters that their grievances would be communicated to the INEC headquarters in Abuja for necessary action.

Lawal added that primary elections are party affairs that must be resolved internally.

He, however, urged the aggrieved members to be patient and await the court judgment in three weeks, when the court will have the final say on who will be the candidate of the party.

Oyo SDP disowns ‘guber candidate’

The controversy over the governorship ticket of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State deepened on Tuesday as the state chairman of the party disowned a member of the party, Saheed Oladele, declaring that he is not the governorship candidate of the party for the 2027 election.

The state chairman, Hon. Michael Okunlade, who issued the disclaimer, said that Oladele was not recognised as the party’s candidate.

Okunlade, in a brief telephone interview with the Nigerian Tribune, described Oladele’s continued claim to the ticket as unacceptable, warning that the party could take legal action against him if he persisted.

He said: ‘Saheed Oladele is not the candidate of the SDP. If he continues to parade himself as the governorship candidate of the party, we will have no choice but to make him face the law.’

The chairman urged members of the public and political observers seeking clarification on the matter to verify the candidate recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

‘Let the public go to the INEC portal and verify who the candidate of the SDP is. That is the best way to establish the truth,’ Okunlade said.

Candidates’ lists: LP blames intra-party disputes on illegal substitution of names of winners

The Labour Party (LP) has, however, blamed some political parties for the internal disputes arising from the publication of the names of governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates for the 2027 polls by INEC.

The party said on Tuesday that the crisis was caused by ‘illegal substitution of names.’

The National Publicity Secretary, Mr Ken Asogwa, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune in an interview, said that the development seemed to stem from the illegal acts of party leaders who allegedly subverted the interest of the original winners.

He, however, said that the LP was free of such squabbles, as, according to him, the party did not engage in such practices.

He said: ‘The Labour Party has no internal dispute regarding the publication by the INEC of the lists of gubernatorial and State House of Assembly candidates.

‘Political parties that are currently embroiled in such disputes are those that engaged in the illegal substitution of candidates who emerged victorious from their respective party primaries.’

He added: ‘For the avoidance of doubt, the Labour Party has only a few issues concerning the non-publication of the names of candidates who were duly uploaded on the INEC portal.

‘The party is currently engaging the Commission with a view to resolving these issues.

‘We remain hopeful that the electoral body will give due consideration to our appeal and do justice to the affected candidates.’

SDP expresses satisfaction with INEC over list of governorship, state assembly candidates

The national secretariat of the SDP, however, said that it was satisfied with the upload of candidates for the governorship and House of Assembly on the INEC portal.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Rufus Ayenigba, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, declared that the Party was satisfied with the list across the States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja.

According to him, our great Party, ‘the SDP has no issues with the list of our 2027 Governorship and State Assembly candidates as released by INEC.

He said: ‘The names of all our nominated candidates in the states were correctly listed as submitted by the Party.

‘There are no rumblings or crises in the state chapters of the SDP as a result of the list of candidates released by INEC’

NDC accuses INEC of complicity

The National Chairman of the NDC, Moses Zuwoghe, has, however, accused INEC of complicity in the substitution of names of its candidates.

He said: ‘The NDC, totally condemns the action of the INEC and its officials over the uploading and publication of unauthorised names in various constituencies, principally in the Anambra State House of Assembly, home state of our presidential candidate, Peter Obi, where 10 names unknown to the party; names not authorised by the party; names not sent by the party to INEC, in accordance with the law, have now been uploaded and published as candidates of the party.’

INEC to NDC: Your candidates’ substitution allegations are untrue

In a quick response to the NDC on Tuesday, the electoral commission, INEC, dismissed allegations by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), insisting that it never smuggled’ nor substituted the party’s validly nominated candidates for State House of Assembly seats in Anambra and Benue States.

In a statement signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), the Commission described the claims as ‘un-founded.’

‘The Commission has noted a statement by the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) alleging that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) removed the party’s validly nominated candidates for certain State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra and Benue States and replaced them with unauthorised names. The Commission states that these allegations are unfounded,’ the statement said.

INEC said it has no legal power to select, insert or substitute candidates for any political party.

‘Candidate nomination is, by law, the exclusive responsibility of political parties. INEC has no legal authority to select, insert, or substitute a candidate for any party. Monitoring a party’s primary is a statutory oversight function only and confers no power on INEC to choose or impose a candidate,’ Haruna stated.

The Commission explained the process used for candidate nomination ahead of the 2027 elections.

‘Ahead of the 2027 election, all 22 registered parties designated two technically trained officers to handle their nomination process, following training organised by the Commission. Thereafter, the portal access codes were issued directly and in person to each party’s National Chairman, and not by proxy,’ it said

‘Lists of candidates were generated for each party as submitted by the party, jointly signed by the National Chairmen and National Secretaries of the party, submitting Form EC9 series (A-G). Therefore, any claim that the Commission independently uploaded or altered candidate information is unfounded and untrue.’

According to INEC, it has the NDCs duly signed nomination forms.

‘As a matter of fact, the Commission has in its possession Form EC9E where these candidates were listed and submitted to the Commission duly signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary of the party,’ the statement added.

INEC reiterated its commitment to transparency and fairness ahead of the 2027 general election.

The crisis in the Allied People’s Movement (APM) has deepened as the zonal vice-chairman of the party, Musibau Olayiwola, instituted a suit at the Federal High Court, Ibadan, challenging the national convention of the party held in Bauchi.

Apart from this, 33 candidates who emerged from the primary election conducted for the local government elections scheduled to take place in Oyo State in December have also approached the same court over an alleged attempt to conduct a fresh primary in the state.

In the suit, Hon. Bisi Akande and 32 others are seeking a court order to stop the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) from monitoring any other primary by the APM for the forthcoming local government elections in Oyo State, having been duly elected as candidates in a primary election conducted by their party.

However, the suit filed by the zonal vice-chairman of the party is seeking the nullification of the APM’s national convention recently held in Bauchi and calling for a fresh convention that will give him the opportunity to participate.

The two suits, which came before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court 1, Ibadan, on Wednesday, were adjourned for hearing on Monday, September 21, 2026.

Olayiwola, in the originating summons marked FHC/IB/CS/101/26, sued the APM, Yusuff Mamman Dantalle, the national chairman; Oyadeyi Ayodele Adebayo, the national secretary; the chairman of the planning committee for the national convention; and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Represented by Monday Mawah and Joseph Simon, the plaintiff is asking the court to determine whether ‘upon a proper and dispassionate construction of the provision of Section 223 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Article 8 and 11 of the Allied People’s Movement party Constitution, and every other relevant laws, the plaintiff who was elected as the zonal chairman from the zonal congress held on the 23 May, 2026, is not entitled to be given nomination forms in order for him to be ratified at the General/National Convention of the party slated for 12 and 13 August, 2026 in Bauchi state.

‘Whether the refusal or failure to give the plaintiff nomination forms in order for him to be ratified at the convention, does not violate his right to hold office within the party’.

Olayiwola’s grounds of application included the fact that he and other persons ’emerged from the duly conducted zonal congress of the party in accordance with the party’s constitution; that the said congresses were conducted in strict compliance with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the APM Constitution, and guidelines of the party.

‘That the lists of everyone that emerged from the said congresses including the name of the plaintiff were submitted to the national body of the party and the INEC as 5th defendant; that everyone that emerged was given nomination forms in order for their position to be ratified at the General/National Convention; and that despite all efforts to obtain his nomination form, the party has denied me the right to obtain the form; that without the form, his position as Zonal Chairman will not be ratified, and it will clearly violate his right under the party and under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigerian 1999 (As Amended)’, claimed the plaintiff.

In the suit filed by the applicants in respect of the local government election, dated August 10, 2026, the 33 applicants informed the court that a primary election was held on August 3, 2026, where candidates for the local government election emerged.

‘After the first primary of 3rd August, 2026, in which the emerged, the stakeholders felt uncomfortable and approached the OYSIEC to hold another primary against the party guidelines which says that two candidates cannot be sponsored for the same position when one had already emerged as the candidate and OYSIEC actually monitored it.

‘Thus, the APM 33 local government candidates are asking the court to stop OYSIEC from monitoring fresh primary as their names have emerged from the first primary and submitted to the OYSIEC by appropriate quarter’.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Zamfara State has mourned the death of the Emir of Zurmi, Alhaji Muhammad Bello Suleiman, in the state.

The Emir, who was the district head of Mayasa and Bunun Kanwa respectively from the 1950s, rose to become the Emir of Zurmi before his death, which occurred on Monday, August 31, 2026, in the state.

In a statement issued on Tuesday night, APC Publicity Secretary Ibrahim Mohammad Birnin Magaji said the state lost an astute traditional ruler who served with dignity and decorum.

The statement reads in parts: ‘The All Progressives Congress (APC) Zamfara State said the death of the Emir of Zurmi, Sarkin Zamfaran Zurmi Alhaji Muhammad Bello Sulaiman, has robbed the State of an honest, patient, sincere, trustworthy and astute traditional ruler who served with dignity and decorum.

‘Chairman of the Party, Honourable Kabiru Moyi Birnin Magaji, made the disclosure while reacting to the death of the Emir which occurred on Monday, August 31, 2026.

According to him, the late monarch, who was the village head of Mayasa(Sardaunan Mayasa) and Kanwa (Bunun Kanwa) in Zurmi Emirate respectively, from 1950s to 2022 when he became the Emir had led his people by example.

‘Honourable Kabiru Moyi Birnin Magaji stated that during his reign, the late Emir was able to unite his people, adding that it was that unity of purpose which brought about meaningful development in the Emirate.

‘The Chairman maintained that during his brief stint as Emir, the politics of bitterness and rancour gave way to a more brotherly relationship amongst politicians in Zurmi Emirate despite their party differences.

‘On behalf of the Party’s State Executive Council and entire APC family in the State, Honorable Kabiru Moyi Birnin Magaji extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased , Zurmi Emirate Council, State Council of Chiefs, Government and People of Zamfara State over this monumental loss.

The statement concluded that APC prayed to Allah SWT to grant the gentle soul of the Emir final abode in His Jannatil Firdausi and all the concerned the fortitude to bear his demise.

Living in a busy Nigerian neighbourhood often means dealing with loud generator noise, traffic, street hawkers, or loud neighbours. When you live in a rented apartment, carrying out permanent structural changes or buying costly acoustic panels is rarely an option.

In this article, Tribune Online examines five practical ways you can block unwanted sound and restore quiet to your living space using everyday household items.

Cover bare floors with thick rugs and blankets

Hard tile or terrazzo floors cause sound waves to bounce around the room, making outside noise louder through echo. A soft and porous surface traps sound vibrations rather than reflecting them.

Laying a thick rug, a wool carpet, or folded heavy blankets over bare floor spaces instantly softens incoming footstep vibrations and reduces room reverberation.

Seal the gaps wnder your doors with rolled towels

Sound behaves like water and slips through any small crack or air gap it finds. The empty space beneath your room door is often the primary entryway for hallway discussions and living room noise.

You can solve this by rolling up a thick bath towel or an old bedsheet tightly and placing it directly against the bottom edge of the closed door to stop air and sound leakage.

Hang heavy fabrics and double curtains on windows

Thin window glass offers little resistance against street traffic, blaring music, or humming generator sets. You can create an effective sound barrier by hanging heavy fabric materials such as velvet curtains, thick Ankara drapes, or doubled bedsheets over your curtain rods.

Make sure the fabric extends well past the window frame to trap sound waves before they enter the room.

Reposition heavy wooden furniture against shared walls

Adding physical mass to thin walls makes it difficult for noise vibrations to pass through from the next compound or adjoining flat.

Move solid wooden wardrobes, large bookshelves, or display units flush against the specific wall where the disturbance originates.

A bookshelf packed tightly with textbooks, files, or magazines acts as a dense physical shield that absorbs mid-to-high frequency noises.

Dampen echoes with soft wall hangings and cushions

Empty walls amplify noise by reflecting sound back and forth across the room.

You can break up these reflections by decorating empty wall spaces with fabric tapestries, large framed canvas paintings, or hanging rugs.

Placing extra throw pillows and plush cushions on your sofa and bed further breaks up sound paths, leaving your room noticeably quieter.

THE political battle ahead of the 2027 presidential election intensified on Tuesday as former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar accused President Bola Tinubu of responding to the opposition’s growing criticism of his administration’s economic policies.

In a statement titled, ‘Tinubu, the Issue Is Not Atiku – It Is Why Nigerians Can No Longer Afford to Live’, Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku, said the said the former vice-president would continue to challenge the Federal Government on policies affecting the welfare of Nigerians.

According to him, the emerging political debate is no longer merely about economic statistics but about whether Nigerians can afford food, transportation, education, healthcare and other necessities.

‘Bola, Nigerians know exactly whose policy you were attacking,’ Shaibu said, accusing the President of responding to Atiku’s economic proposals without mentioning his name.

He argued that the opposition leader had positioned himself on the side of Nigerians affected by rising fuel prices, transport fares and food costs, adding that the cost-of-living crisis was becoming a major issue in the build-up to 2027.

Shaibu questioned the timing of the Federal Government’s promise to introduce cheaper transportation and other relief measures, arguing that Nigerians had endured economic hardship for more than three years under the Tinubu administration.

He said it was politically inconsistent for the government to criticise Atiku’s proposal to reduce energy costs while promising interventions aimed at reducing the burden on Nigerians.

‘You cannot condemn cheaper living when Atiku proposes it and rename the same objective Renewed Hope when you promise it,’ he said.

The Atiku aide also attacked the petrol pricing regime under the current administration, comparing Nigeria with other oil-producing countries and arguing that Nigerians were paying heavily for fuel despite the country’s status as a major oil producer.

He said the high cost of petrol had affected virtually every sector of the economy, including transportation, agriculture, food distribution and manufacturing.

Shaibu said Atiku’s proposed Atiku Economic Recovery Plan (AERP) would focus on reducing costs at source by providing targeted support for Nigerian crude supplied to domestic refineries under a transparent and independently audited framework.

He said the proposal was designed to lower fuel costs, reduce transportation expenses and ultimately increase the purchasing power of Nigerian workers and families.

Shaibu also took a swipe at the Federal Government’s education policies, particularly its reliance on the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), arguing that student loans could not replace policies aimed at making education affordable.

He said Atiku’s approach would focus on reducing the cost of education and reviewing the existing student loan framework.

The presidential candidate’s aide further challenged the Federal Government to account for funds it said had been mobilised following the removal of petrol subsidy.

IN the popular knowledge and imagination, a museum is often seen as a quiet building filled with old objects, sculptures, paintings, photographs, archaeological materials, traditional costumes, historical documents and other artefacts preserved from the past. For many, museums are places to visit, observe history and perhaps learn a few things about where a society has come from. But museums are far more than houses for old objects.

Yet, beneath this familiar image lies a much greater possibility. A museum is not merely a shelter for objects that have survived the passage of time. It can be a place where a nation remembers, reflects, confronts its wounds and begins the difficult process of healing.

For nations that have experienced war, political violence, colonialism, ethnic conflict, displacement, religious tensions or deep social divisions, the question of how to remember the past is particularly important. What a society chooses to preserve, what it chooses to display and, perhaps most importantly, what it chooses to discuss can influence how generations understand one another. Museums therefore have a responsibility that extends far beyond the preservation of artefacts. They can become spaces for reconciliation and national renewal.

Every nation has a story, but not every citizen experiences that story in the same way. History is often written from the perspective of those who possessed power, while the experiences of ordinary people, minorities, women, displaced communities and victims of violence may receive little attention. A museum that simply presents a single, unquestioned version of history risks reinforcing old divisions.

This is particularly important in countries where historical grievances continue to influence contemporary relationships. A young person may never have witnessed a conflict but may still carry an understanding of another community shaped by stories passed down through generations. Museums can provide a safe environment in which these memories are brought into conversation rather than allowed to remain sources of suspicion and resentment.

The power of museums lies partly in their ability to make history tangible. A textbook can describe a war, a political crisis or a period of oppression, but seeing an object connected to that experience can produce a different emotional response.

The history of colonial exploitation, slavery, civil wars, political repression, communal violence and other injustices cannot be erased simply because they are painful to discuss. Suppressing difficult memories does not necessarily heal wounds; in many cases, it allows them to remain unresolved.

An honest museum does not have to become a place of accusation. Instead, it can become a place of responsible remembrance. By presenting evidence, personal testimonies and multiple perspectives, museums can encourage citizens to ask difficult questions.

Therefore, museums must move beyond being places where nations simply preserve artefacts and begin to function more deliberately as spaces of memory, dialogue, truth and reconciliation. Their greatest contribution to society may not be the objects they protect, but the understanding they help create around those objects.

Ajekigbe is Assistant Chief Curator, National Museum, Oyo.

ltural property is therefore not simply about where an object should be physically located. It is also about memory, identity, ownership and justice. Returning an artefact can sometimes become part of a larger process of repairing relationships between institutions, communities and nations.

For countries such as Nigeria, the potential of museums is enormous. Nigeria possesses a remarkably rich cultural heritage, encompassing ancient civilisations, royal traditions, artistic traditions, religious histories, indigenous technologies and the diverse experiences of its many peoples. Yet museums can do more than display these treasures. They can become spaces where Nigerians encounter the breadth of their shared history and appreciate the connections between communities that are too often discussed only through the lens of difference.

The museum of the future should therefore not be defined only by its collection. It should also be defined by the conversations it creates. It should invite visitors to ask questions, listen to unfamiliar perspectives and engage with the complicated realities of the past. Museums can host conversations between generations, exhibitions developed with local communities, oral-history projects and programmes that allow citizens to contribute their own memories. In doing so, the institution becomes a living part of society rather than a silent monument to history.

Technology can strengthen this role. Digital archives, virtual exhibitions and interactive storytelling can make collections accessible to people who may never have the opportunity to visit a museum physically. Young people can encounter historical materials through platforms and formats that are familiar to them. Digitisation can also preserve fragile records and broaden access to national heritage. But technology should remain a tool, not the purpose. The ultimate objective must still be human understanding.

There is, however, a danger in expecting museums to heal a nation by themselves. Museums cannot substitute for justice, good governance, education, economic opportunity or responsible political leadership. A museum cannot repair every wound caused by violence or inequality. Nor should museums be used as instruments of propaganda by governments seeking to control how citizens remember the past. Their credibility depends upon intellectual honesty, professional independence and the willingness to acknowledge complexity.

Healing is not the same as forgetting. A nation does not become united by pretending that painful events never happened. True healing requires remembrance, truth and the courage to understand how the past continues to shape the present. Museums can contribute to this process by providing spaces where painful memories can be acknowledged without allowing those memories to dictate the future.

The most powerful museum may therefore be one that leaves a visitor with questions rather than simply answers. It may be the place where a young Nigerian discovers a part of the country’s history that had never been taught in school. It may be where two people from different communities recognise that their families experienced the same historical event in profoundly different ways. It may be where a visitor encounters an artefact and begins to wonder not only who created it, but who owned it, who lost it, who preserved it and what its journey says about the society from which it came.

Museums can also remind citizens that nations are not permanent, finished creations. They are constantly being rebuilt through memory, dialogue and collective choices. The objects preserved behind glass may belong to yesterday, but the meaning attached to them belongs partly to today and tomorrow. Every generation has the opportunity to reinterpret the past responsibly and decide what lessons should guide the future.

Conclusion

A nation cannot heal by forgetting its wounds, nor can it build unity by denying the experiences of its different communities. It heals when its people are given the opportunity to remember honestly, listen to one another and recognise their shared humanity. Museums can provide precisely such spaces. They can preserve the evidence of the past while creating conversations about the future.

Beyond artefacts, therefore, museums can become instruments of national healing. They can help a society remember without remaining trapped in memory, confront painful truths without surrendering to them, and celebrate diversity without allowing difference to become division. When museums become places where every citizen can see a part of their story, hear another person’s experience and leave with a deeper understanding of the nation they share, they cease to be merely guardians of the past. They become builders of the future.

Inú olósèlú kì í dùn d’ále´’ (a politician’s joy does not endure till evening). An observer of our politics told me this yesterday. I heard it, and something skipped in my heart. It got me quiet throughout the day. The result is this long thought on politics and the profiles of Nigerian politicians.

Politics has the sneaky betrayal of the adder plus its lethal poison. And because a snake’s offspring must be long, this long thing you are reading is about the impermanence of political happiness, the insecurity of power, the endless pursuit of tomorrow and, ultimately, the loneliness of becoming ‘former.’

First, as you read this, take your time to pick whom it fits in your country, your state, your local government, your ward, your town and even your compound.

A politician’s happiness is fleeting. His joy has a short lifespan. Let’s imagine he wins his election.

Wonderful.

But has he really won?

There is the Election Petition Tribunal.

Then the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, depending on the office in contention. The music may stop before the dancer has properly warmed up.

He wins the election and begins another election against uncertainty.

He appoints commissioners and begins wondering who among them is plotting against him.

He sleeps in Government House but sometimes wakes up fighting enemies who exist only in his imagination.

Everybody is suspicious.

The security report says somebody is meeting somebody.

The party chairman has not called.

The deputy governor smiled strangely.

A commissioner spent too long on the telephone.

A former ally posted a cryptic message on Facebook.

Trouble!

Political power comes with a strange mattress.

It looks soft.

But there are nails underneath.

Fear, suspicion, treachery, pressure and the constant knowledge that somebody wants what you have.

That is a four-volume book.

If you want to understand the Nigerian politician, do not begin with his manifesto. Please. You may finish reading it and still not know the man.

Study his ways instead.

Watch what he does three years before an election. Watch who he visits at midnight. Watch the sudden affection for traditional rulers, market women, pastors, imams, youth leaders and everybody who controls ten human beings and a WhatsApp group. Watch the man who has not yet won an election already distributing ministries, committees and political appointments in his head.

The Nigerian politician is a special breed.

He is an incurable optimist, a professional dreamer and a man who can see 2033 with the clarity with which the rest of us struggle to see tomorrow morning.

He has permutations.

Oh, he has permutations!

He knows who will win the presidential election seven years from now, which governor will defect, which senator will become minister, which minister will become governor and which godfather will become too old to be useful. He can predict the political future of a state while eating pounded yam. And if you tell him his mathematics is impossible, he will smile.

‘You don’t understand politics.’

Only he and his ilk know what they think they know.

A Nigerian politician is a man who believes he knows and owns tomorrow.

While the ordinary Nigerian says, ‘By God’s grace, tomorrow will be better’, the politician says, ‘2030 is a done deal. Senate is sure banker.’ And before his party even decides how much it will sell senatorial form, Oga is already parading himself as ‘Distinguished’. Yes, all his correspondences, all event comperes will bear me witness.

He does not merely hope for tomorrow. He has occupied it.

Ask a politician what he wants after becoming councillor and he will tell you the House of Representatives is his next stop. Ask him about the House and he is already discussing the Senate. Ask him about the Senate and he is eyeing the governor’s chair. Once he becomes governor, the presidency begins to look strangely familiar

Oh no, he does not want to back to what his parents sent him to schoolto study, he just wants to be known and addressedas ‘Honourable Kinnikan’ forever.

His ambition has no retirement age.

Even when a Nigerian politician loses an election, he doesn’t close his eyes. He says he is ‘repositioning ‘ or ‘restrategising’

Translation: I am coming back.

Tomorrow belongs to him.

He will do almost anything to get to tomorrow.

The Nigerian politician is a deeply religious man. Very religious.

He can spend Sunday morning in church, Friday afternoon at the mosque and Saturday night consulting somebody whose office is located behind a mysterious red curtain. He believes in God and all the other gods too.

He also believes in insurance.

And political insurance has many forms.

Prayer. Fasting. Prophecy. Strategic alliances. ‘Spiritual consultation.’ A visit to the native doctor. A mysterious sacrifice somebody insists must be performed at three road junctions for three nights three days before the election.

He will publicly laugh at juju and privately ask somebody to ‘do something’ about his opponent.

Politics, for him, is a strange marriage of democracy and desperation. The ballot box and his oracle don’t always agree and he listens to both.

He will trade almost anybody to get what he wants. That makes him scary because not even his mother is sacred.

The benefactor who discovered him can suddenly become ‘an old friend with whom we have irreconcilable differences.’

The mentor who paid his school fees can become ‘an enemy of progress.’

The political father who made him commissioner or Special Adviser may wake up one morning to discover that his political son has joined forces with the opposition. All is fair in this game.

Not even marriage is spared in the horse-trading. Friendship is not spared.

Loyalty is negotiable.

In Nigerian politics, yesterday’s ‘my leader’ can become today’s ‘agbaaya’, the good-for-nothing old man.

And tomorrow’s ‘that man’ may become next year’s ‘my father and mentor.’

The politician’s dictionary has only one particularly flexible word: interest.

Anything can be justified under that one word. That is why there is a political warning that when you a digging a hole for your political opponent, don’t dig too deep, so that your opponent does not break any bone if and when he falls in that hole. And the interesting part? An opponent who did not break an arm or his leg is easier to persuade to cross the carpet. See? The shallow pit is dug with interest and tomorrow in mind.

Now, that does not mean this logic works all the time. Paralysis and death have been known to take place in politically dug holes.

It is remarkably easy to swindle a politician.

Just wrap a box.

Tell him there is a political position inside.

He will pay to open it.

Tell a politician his name is being considered for a position and his heart starts beating like a campaign drum.

‘Some people at the top are interested in you.’

He orders new clothes.

‘You may be appointed.’

He begins to call people ‘my brother.’

‘You are being considered for the Senate.’

He starts calculating constituency projects.

This is how powerful men become vulnerable.

A politician who cannot be fooled by ordinary lies can be defeated by one sentence whispered by a supposed insider:

‘You are the man they are looking at.’

Suddenly, everybody becomes important.

He is buying drinks.

Paying school fees.

Settling hospital bills.

Donating to associations.

Sponsoring weddings.

Because somewhere inside a wrapped box, he has been promised a political office.

Sometimes the box contains nothing.

A Nigerian politician thinks being a Senator or Governor is the same as being Ooni of Ife or Sultan of Sokoto.

This is perhaps the funniest part.

A political office is temporary.

The Nigerian politician often behaves as though his name has been carved into the walls of eternity.

He fights for a four-year term as if he is defending an ancestral throne.

Everybody becomes an enemy.

The opponent is not merely a contestant. He is an existential threat.

A rival wants the office?

War!

The constitution says four years?

Never mind.

The politician behaves as though the office will be buried with him.

He forgets that somebody held it before him.

Somebody will hold it after him.

And one day, people who used to stand up when he entered a room may not even notice when he enters the same room.

That is the cruelty of political power.

It has a very short memory.

The politician thinks he is rich.

He isn’t.

This is where the laughter should slowly stop.

A politician can spend money like a drunken sailor when he is in office; luxury cars, palatial homes, loud political meetings, parties and endless donations.

People constantly asking.

People constantly receiving.

He begins to mistake access to money for ownership of wealth.

Then comes retirement.

‘Former Governor.’

‘Ex-Senator.’

‘Former Minister.’

‘Ex-Chairman.’

The titles remain, but the convoy disappears.

The phone becomes quieter.

The people who used to say ‘Sir!’ now have urgent meetings elsewhere.

And suddenly, the politician discovers something terrifying:

Political power was not an inheritance.

It was a rented apartment.

The rent has expired.

The politician who had no profession, no business, no craft, no serious investment and no life outside politics begins the subtle hustle again.

The clever ones prepared.

They are lawyers, doctors, accountants, engineers, businessmen, academics, farmers and professionals who can return to something when politics returns them to ordinary life.

The others discover that ‘former’ is a very expensive word.

The politician is addicted to relevance.

This one is his almost incurable disease.

He cannot doesn’t know when to stop.

He must be seen.

He must be consulted.

He must be invited.

He must be photographed.

He must be quoted.

He wants his telephone number circulating among the powerful.

The former governor wants to see the new governor’s commissioners list. He wants his boys in the new government.

The former minister wants to know who the president will appoint.

The retired godfather still wants to determine who becomes chairman of the local government.

Nobody has told him that politics has moved on.

He knows.

He simply refuses to move with it.

He believes power will make him happy.

This is the saddest one.

The politician spends years chasing the office.

He tells himself:

‘When I become governor, I will be fulfilled.’

Then he becomes governor.

And discovers that the chair is not a magic carpet.

There are still enemies.

Still family problems.

Still illness.

Still betrayal.

Still loneliness.

Still death.

Still the ordinary human fear of losing what one has.

He has everything and may still lie awake at 3 a.m., wondering who is plotting to remove him.

He has a convoy but may not know who genuinely loves him.

He has hundreds of people around him but may not know who he can trust.

He has money but may not know whether people love him or his money.

And one day, the sirens stop.

The cars leave.

The aides disappear.

The office is handed to another man.

The nameplate comes down.

The man who once controlled thousands of lives discovers that he is once again simply Mr. Somebody.

And that is when the joke becomes painful.

Because perhaps the tragedy of the Nigerian politician is not that he wants too much.

It is that he spends so much of his life pursuing power that he forgets to build a life that can survive without it.

He conquers tomorrow.

He captures today.

He defeats yesterday.

And then, suddenly, tomorrow arrives without asking his permission.

He is no longer governor.

No longer senator.

No longer minister.

No longer chairman.

Just an old man sitting somewhere, looking at photographs of the days when people stood whenever he entered a room.

The photographer may still be alive.

The people in the photographs may still be alive.

But the power is dead.

And perhaps that is the final profile of the Nigerian politician:

A man who spends his whole life trying to become somebody, only to discover at the end that the greatest somebody he could have become was his ungreedy, contented self.

FOR many people, everyday life unfolds in familiar routines that often go unnoticed. Yet, for photographers, these ordinary moments can become powerful visual stories that preserve memories, document cultures, and inspire reflection. It was this idea that formed the heart of the sixth edition of the annual international photography exhibition held in Ibadan.

Curated by renowned photographer and visual artist, Nseabasi Akpan, this year’s exhibition, themed ‘Everyday Life,’ brought together photographers from Nigeria and several countries across Europe to explore the richness of daily human experiences through the lens of camera. The exhibition was held at the National Museum, Ibadan, with support from the African Culture Fund.

The event showcased a diverse collection of works that captured the essence of ordinary existence – from family life and community interactions to work, leisure, celebrations, and personal moments. Through compelling images, the participating artists invited viewers to pause and appreciate the details that often escape attention in the rush of everyday living.

Among the Nigerian photographers featured were veteran photographer, Thadeus Adeyemi Omotoyinbo, whose photographs documented wedding ceremonies from the 1970s; Ademola Bamigbelu, known for capturing dramatic moments on football pitches; and Caleb Ishaya Oseshi, whose works examined Nigerians’ relationship with mobile phones and digital culture. Their contributions offered audiences a blend of nostalgia, social commentary, and contemporary realities.

The exhibition also highlighted the international appeal of the Ibadan photography gathering. Artists from Spain, Poland, Serbia, and The Netherlands joined their Nigerian counterparts, transforming the event into a platform for global artistic exchange and cross-cultural dialogue.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Akpan described photography as a medium capable of transforming ordinary moments into lasting memories. According to him, the exhibition celebrates everyday life through images that observe, interpret, and document experiences that shape people’s daily existence.

Reflecting on the origin of the initiative, Akpan explained that the idea emerged during the COVID-19 lockdown when he envisioned creating a platform where photographers from around the world could exhibit their works, connect with one another, and build professional networks in Ibadan while commemorating World Photography Day. Since its debut in 2021, the exhibition has continued to grow in scope and international participation.

Beyond showcasing artistic excellence, the exhibition serves as a source of inspiration for emerging photographers. Akpan believes that photography should be viewed not only as a creative pursuit but also as a viable professional career. He stressed the importance of exposing young people to photography and visual storytelling, arguing that such engagement can help them recognise the vast creative and economic opportunities within the field.

One of the exhibition’s most captivating attractions was a collection of wedding photographs taken in 1971 by veteran photographer, Omotoyinbo.

The images offered visitors a glimpse into the fashion, customs, and social life of an earlier era, demonstrating photography’s unique ability to preserve history for future generations.

There were artists from Spain (Professor Antonio Aragon Renuncio), Poland (Filip Wierzbicki-Nowak), The Netherlands (Jacqueline Dersjant, Rob Godfried and Kitty Van Vlaanderen), Serbia (Katarina Radovic), South Africa (Laurence Moorcroft), Zambia (Maingaila Muvundika), Italy (Silvia and Massimo), Ghana (Asamoah William) and Germany (Stan Lafleur).

Nigerian photography artists included Abel Oluwole, Jude Hindan, Juliet Ebute and Victor Oluwayoju.

The one-week exhibition reinforced a timeless truth: extraordinary stories are often hidden within ordinary moments. By documenting the rhythms of daily life, the photographers not only captured images but also created enduring records of human experience, reminding audiences that beauty can be found in the seemingly mundane.

NATIONAL chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has acknowledged growing reservations about the direction of the Nigerian economy.

At a policy roundtable, held in Abuja, on Tuesday, and organised by the All Progressives Congress Professional Forum, the APC chairman assured Nigerians that the present administration would soon shift its focus from macroeconomic stability into microeconomic prosperity.

Amidst growing external reserves, increase in Gross Domestic Product and a relative stability in foreign exchange rate, Nigerians have continued to groan over poor purchasing power.

Professor Yilwatda, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the event, to present the scorecards of his administration, declared that the next phase of Renewed Hope would translate to more food, stronger purchasing power for the average Nigerian.

He said: ‘A good GDP number does not automatically put food on a family’s table. Stronger reserves do not pay school fees. A stronger stock market does not automatically put money into the pocket of a market woman.

‘Therefore, we are in the next phase of Renewed Hope which must translate macroeconomic stability into microeconomic prosperity: more food, more jobs, lower inflation, affordable credit, reliable power, more manufacturing, greater exports and stronger purchasing power.’

In a veiled allusion to the declaration by the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, to return fuel subsidy regime, the APC national chairman advised Nigerians to pick between consolidation of the progress in the economy and a return to the years of fiscal pressures.

He said: ‘As we approach 2027, Nigerians will hear many promises. Some will promise to reverse the reforms; others will promise prosperity without confronting the structural problems that brought us here. The question is whether we go backwards or consolidate and improve the progress we have begun.

‘For the All Progressives Congress, the answer is clear. We choose progress, productivity, investment, infrastructure, innovation, Nigerian enterprise, exports, human capital, and we choose President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And we choose the ambition of a $1 trillion Nigerian economy by 2030 by Mr President for our common prosperity.’

Relocating your entire family to the United Kingdom can be a financial requirement that can catch even the most prepared applicants off guard. Beyond visa application fees, flight tickets, and initial accommodation, the single largest upfront expense most families face is the mandatory health levy imposed on foreign immigrants. Many people mistakenly assume that health payments in the UK are deducted monthly from salaries like local taxes. The UK government requires immigrants to pay for multiple years of healthcare access upfront before their visas are even granted. When you are applying as a main applicant alongside a spouse and children, this single bill can quickly wipe out emergency savings if you do not plan ahead.

In this article, Tribune Online examines the essential financial hacks, official exemptions, and practical planning steps every migrating family needs to navigate the health surcharge without running into financial distress.

Understand the true cost before application

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) gives migrants access to the National Health Service (NHS) during their stay. According to official guidelines published on GOV.UK, the standard surcharge stands at £1,035 per year for each adult applicant.

Dependant children under the age of 18 and students pay a slightly discounted rate of £776 per year. Because this money is calculated based on the total length of your visa grant, a family of four applying for a standard three-year Skilled Worker route must pay for all three years upfront at the time of submission.

Apply for health and care worker visa exemptions

If you or your spouse has a background in medicine, nursing, caregiving, or allied healthcare services, exploring the Health and Care Worker visa route is the most effective way to eliminate this cost entirely. Immigrants qualifying under this specialized category are fully exempt from paying the surcharge.

This complete waiver also extends directly to every dependant family member accompanying the healthcare professional. Securing a role within an eligible NHS trust or licensed care provider immediately saves an average family thousands of pounds before departure.

Request an employer surcharge clawback agreement

Many reputable international employers and licensed sponsors understand the steep financial burden placed on incoming foreign talent. While some corporate packages only cover the primary worker’s visa fees, several organisations offer relocation assistance loans or full upfront fee coverage for accompanying family members.

You can negotiate an upfront payment arrangement where the employer settles the total visa and health bill during the certificate of sponsorship stage.

In turn, you agree to an interest-free monthly salary deduction spread across twelve to twenty-four months, keeping your immediate liquid capital intact.

Time your visa durations strategically

The UK Home Office calculates the health surcharge in six-month blocks rather than prorating it down to exact days. According to immigration advisory reports from Fragomen Global, extra days granted beyond a full year automatically trigger an additional six-month surcharge fee per person.

When your sponsor drafts your certificate of sponsorship, ensure the start and end dates do not accidentally spill into an unnecessary extra block. Aligning contract lengths closely with exact annual marks prevents your family from paying hundreds of pounds for months you will not spend on that specific visa.

Build a dedicated foreign currency sinking fund

Paying fees across international banking channels exposes applicants to unpredictable foreign exchange rate spikes and extra card processing fees. The official exchange rate applied by visa processing portals is often higher than everyday commercial bank rates.Open a dedicated foreign currency account at least six to nine months before your targeted submission date.

Depositing funds gradually in the target currency locks in your budget, shields your relocation capital from sudden domestic currency depreciation, and ensures your transaction clears smoothly without card limit rejections.

Claim refunds for unused months when switching visas

Many migrants arrive in one immigration category and subsequently switch to an exempt route or leave the country earlier than expected. If your visa status changes or if your initial application is rejected, you are legally entitled to an automatic or requested refund for any remaining full six-month blocks of unused surcharge.

Keep accurate digital copies of every payment confirmation receipt and Home Office case reference number. Monitoring your immigration account ensures that any due reimbursement is credited directly back to the original payment card without bureaucratic delays.

Thorough financial forecasting is what separates a stressful relocation from a smooth transition. By identifying available fee waivers, negotiating employer support, and structuring your family’s application timeline carefully, you can protect your household finances and start your new chapter on solid ground.