Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The Democratic Patriots of Africa (DPA) has commended the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, over ongoing reforms in the ministry.

The organisation said the reforms are ‘a clear testimony to his competence, patriotism, and transformative spirit.’

The group particularly commended reforms in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), which has led to the clearing of over 200,000 passport backlog and the fact that passport processing timelines have been drastically reduced, bottlenecks removed, and digital solutions introduced to improve accessibility and restore public trust in government institutions.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Country Representative of DPA, Ayobami Adeyemi also commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

He noted that the establishment of NELFUND has reduced the number of school dropouts and increased enrolment of students in tertiary institutions in the country.

Adeyemi said the minister has redefined public service in Nigeria with results-driven reforms, particularly in passport processing.

He said that Tunji-Ojo modernised the Nigeria Immigration Service with technology-driven solutions to enhance border security and ease passport issuance.

He said: ‘Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo is a visionary, an astute reformer, and a thoroughbred administrator who has redefined public service in Nigeria. Through innovation, diligence, and an unyielding commitment to excellence, he has demonstrated that leadership is about results, not rhetoric.’

He added: ‘The Nigeria Immigration Service has been overhauled with innovative technologies that modernised passport issuance and enhanced border security.

‘The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has been strengthened to boost internal security and rapid response to threats. The Correctional Service is witnessing humane reforms and modernisation, while the Federal Fire Service has been equipped with modern tools to protect lives and property.’

He also commended President Bola Tinubu for entrusting such a sensitive ministry to a capable hand.

‘We must appreciate His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his foresight in appointing Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. By entrusting such a critical ministry to a passionate and capable reformer, the President has once again shown his commitment to meritocracy and good governance,’ he said.

President of NFSAN, Faith Istifanus, also commended President Tinubu for far-reaching reforms across key sectors, particularly in education and internal security, noting that the student community is especially impressed with the performance of Tunji-Ojo.

According to her, passport processing, which previously took months, can now be completed within 24 hours, a development she attributed to the minister’s reform-driven leadership and the commitment of the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mrs. Kemi Nanna Nandap.

Kola Evicted as Final Four Battle for Grand Prize Big Brother Naija Season 10, themed ’10/10,’ has reached its final stretch as housemate Kola was evicted from the show, leaving Imisi, Dede, Koyin, and Sultana to compete for the ultimate prize.

The announcement was made by show host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, marking a crucial turning point in the high-stakes reality competition.

The season, which premiered on July 26-27, 2025, concludes today, October 5, 2025, with viewers eagerly anticipating who will emerge as the winner.

Kola’s exit narrowed the field to four finalists, setting the stage for an electrifying grand finale that will determine the next Big Brother Naija champion.

Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Information Aniekan Umanah has dismissed as false and misleading, reports alleging the withdrawal of security personnel attached to former Governor Udom Emmanuel or any other former Governor of the State.

Fielding correspondents questions last night, Umanah described the allegation as false and baseless fabrication intended to mislead the public.

According to him, the deployment, reassignment, or withdrawal of police officers is the exclusive responsibility of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Commissioner of Police in each State, and not the duty of any Governor.

‘ I can tell you on good authority that the Governor did not issue any directive to withdraw security operatives from the immediate past Governor,’ the Commissioner clarified.

He further noted that all former Governors of Akwa Ibom State are entitled to and continue to enjoy their security details as approved by law.

‘To the best of our knowledge, there has been no complaint or report from any former Governor or their media aides about the withdrawal of security personnel. The rumour exists only in the imagination of those peddling it,’ Umanah added.

The Commissioner urged members of the public to disregard the baseless propaganda, reaffirming that the peace loving Governor of Akwa Ibom State remains focused on promoting peace, unity, and good governance across the State.

He emphasised that Governor Eno will continue to ensure that all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, enjoy the full protection and benefits of the law.

When Texas-based couple Siri and Divine Mabo stood before their computer screens on Zoom on Saturday, surrounded by family, friends, and members of the literary community, they were not just launching a book. They were unveiling a testimony, a journey of pain, faith, and perseverance. The occasion marked the release of ‘Conceived’, Siri Mabo’s deeply personal book, at an event hosted by Writers of African Origin in the Diaspora (WAFORD), an arm of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA). Alongside the book, they also unveiled a foundation dedicated to battling sickle cell disease and autism, two conditions that have shaped their family’s story and faith in profound ways.

‘This is a testimony of God’s mercy,’ Siri said during the virtual launch, her voice steady but tender. ‘We are putting this book out there so that it would encourage others. We are putting ourselves out there for people who are going through issues.’

For Siri, ‘Conceived’ is more than just a title; it is revelation. ‘When I was writing, I had no title,’ she explained. ‘I kept speaking to the Holy Spirit, and one morning, the Holy Spirit told me this was the title. ‘Conceived’ does not just mean giving birth, it means so many things.’

The Mabos’ journey began like that of many couples in love, full of dreams, plans, and the conviction that their future was secure. They grew up in Cameroon, where many were aware of sickle cell disease. Determined to avoid its heartache, they both underwent genotype testing before marriage. ‘We had agreed that if we were AS, we would not marry,’ she recalled. ‘Our tests showed we were AA, so we thought we were clear.’

The couple got married and subsequently welcomed their first child, Nathan. Tests confirmed he was AA, just like his parents, or so they believed. Later, they welcomed twin boys, Brian and Brandon. The delivery was smooth, the babies healthy, and the family’s joy unrestrained. But days later, everything changed.

‘I got a call from the Texas Department of Health,’ Siri recounted. ‘The lady said our babies tested positive for sickle cell disease. I told her it was not possible.’

The next morning, they visited their pediatrician, who ordered new tests. To their shock, the results confirmed the diagnosis. More bewildering still, when Divine and Siri retested, they both turned out to be AS. Somehow, their original test results in Cameroon had been wrong.

‘I couldn’t breathe,’ Siri said. ‘I had just given birth, and my hormones were everywhere. I had a panic attack, it felt like I was dying. I was angry at myself, angry with God. I felt as a mom I should have known something was wrong.’

Divine, too, struggled. He questioned God, asking why such suffering had come upon them despite their caution and prayers. But even amid their grief, they resolved to learn, to fight, and to hope.

The Mabos began researching treatment options. They learnt about bone marrow transplants, a potentially curative but risky procedure for sickle cell disease. When they brought it up at the hospital, doctors were hesitant. ‘They told us it was too risky,’ Siri said. ‘They just shut us down. They said it could kill the children.’

Still, the couple could not shake the feeling that this was the path God wanted them to explore. They prayed and decided to test their first son, Nathan, to see if he was a genetic match for one of the twins. Then came another setback when COVID-19 struck. Hospitals canceled all non-emergency procedures, and the Mabos’ plans were put on hold.

‘They had told us the twins would be fine for six months,’ Siri recalled. ‘But at five months, one of them started having pains. We just sat with him crying.’ With hospitals overwhelmed by the pandemic, they were advised to manage the crisis at home. ‘We just had to be strong.’

Eventually, testing resumed. Nathan turned out to be a 100 percent match for Brian, but only a 70 percent match for Brandon. The doctors agreed to proceed with Brian’s bone marrow transplant.

What followed was a grueling period of hospitalisation, prayers, and sleepless nights. ‘A lot happened during the transplant,’ Siri said. ‘At one point, a nurse kept saying we need to take this child to the ICU, but others were shutting her down. My husband called me to start coming because Brian was not doing well. He had to be on life support. It was during COVID.’

As if the sickle cell ordeal was not enough, the Mabos were dealt another blow. Around the same time, they began noticing that Nathan, their firstborn, wasn’t developing like other children his age.

‘Nathan wasn’t talking,’ Siri said. ‘We later found out he had autism. I didn’t know what to focus on, autism, sickle cell, or both.’

The revelation brought more questions than answers, but Siri refused to sink into despair. Drawing strength from her faith and support groups, she began exploring in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) as a way to have another child who could be a perfect bone marrow match for Brandon, the twin who still needed treatment.

‘We went through IVF,’ she said. ‘Five embryos were gotten from me, and of all the five, none carried the sickle cell gene. We found a match for Brandon. We had our daughter through IVF, and when she was one, she donated her bone marrow for her brother.’

It was a moment of divine symmetry, a sister born to heal her brother, a new life conceived not only through science but also through faith.

For Divine, telling their story publicly was not easy. ‘It is really not natural for us to put our story out there,’ he said. But they both felt compelled to share, believing their experience could inspire others facing similar struggles. Their foundation, launched alongside the book, aims to raise awareness about genetic testing, support families managing sickle cell and autism, and promote research and compassion-driven care.

During the launch, Rev. Ango Fomuso Ekellem, who moderated the event, commended Divine for standing steadfastly by his wife through their trials. ‘When I was reading this book,’ she said, ‘I felt these were people God has chosen to bring hope to the world. If I were to title it, I would call it ‘A Chosen Family’. There is a beautiful family drama that started with pain and ends with joy. You will not finish this book without crying.’

Indeed, Conceived is not just a memoir, it is a chronicle of resilience, faith, and the unseen hands of providence. Siri’s storytelling is raw and reflective, grounded in the everyday chaos of motherhood and the silent strength of endurance. It captures the sleepless nights, the helpless tears, the whispered prayers, and the slow rebuilding of faith after disappointment.

Today, the Mabos’ children are thriving. Brian and Brandon have survived what once seemed impossible. Nathan continues to grow, with the family embracing his unique journey with autism. Their youngest, the little girl who became a savior to her brother before her second birthday, is a symbol of hope that miracles can indeed be conceived, even in the midst of adversity.

For Siri, writing Conceived was both cathartic and purposeful. ‘When we were going through the trials,’ she reflected, ‘I kept asking God why I got myself into this. But now I see that our story is meant to help others.’

Her words echo the very heartbeat of the book, a declaration that even in the darkest valleys, faith can illuminate a path forward. Through the Mabos’ story, readers are reminded that suffering, while painful, can be transformed into a source of healing for others.

Their foundation now serves as an extension of that vision, a platform to support families, advocate for awareness, and spread the message that no diagnosis is the end of hope.

As Rev. Ekellem said, theirs is a chosen family, chosen not just for trial but for triumph. And through ‘Conceived’, their victory now belongs to all who dare to believe that even when life breaks us open, something beautiful can still be conceived.

In a world often quick to silence pain, Siri and Divine Mabo have chosen to speak, to share their scars so others may find strength. Their journey, though marked by tears, has blossomed into a ministry of encouragement, a living testament that love, anchored in faith, can withstand even the fiercest storms.

Big Brother Naija housemate, Mensan, has been evicted from the ongoing ’10/10′ grand finale.

The eviction, announced by show host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, marks a crucial turning point as the remaining housemates – Imisi, Dede, Kola, Jason Jae, Koyin, and Sultana – battle for the ultimate prize.

The reality show, which premiered on July 26-27, 2025, is set to conclude today, October 5, 2025.

Mensan’s exit adds to the tension, setting the stage for an electrifying finale where the top contenders will vie for the coveted title and grand reward.

It is being argued in certain quarters that it is too early to talk about 2027. What is your take on this?

Nobody is campaigning yet, as that will negate the INEC rules, but what everybody is doing now is to create awareness through sensitisation of the people and the voters about the policies and good work of Mr President.

The rumour is very rife that the former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, is going to join the presidential race. How comfortable is your party with this development?

Very comfortable, so long as the law permits him. The more the merrier. But he should be reminded that Nigerians can’t forget in a hurry how insecurity almost overran his government and corruption was highly endemic under his watch. The track record of each person will speak for themselves, that is, if he gets his party’s ticket. But if you ask me, the nation has moved beyond a Jonathan. Better times are here.

In what way will this affect the fortune of your presidential candidate in 2027?

The scoreboard will be there to be presented to Nigerians. The things that Jonathan didn’t have the courage and political will to do have been done by President Tinubu. The subsidy that was almost ruining the nation’s economy has been removed, our refinery is working, Nigeria, which used to be the highest importer of fuel, is now the highest exporter of fuel in West Africa, and many other strides have been accomplished, and all that will count for good in the re-election of Asiwaju as president. GEJ must be reminded that he had power but lost it to Buhari with the help of PBAT, who is now in power. How on earth does he think that he can wrestle and get that power from PBAT! To me, he is no threat at all to us in the APC.

The coalition group is getting stronger both in size and popularity. What do you have to say about this?

Getting stronger as how, at where? As far as I am concerned, the coalition is a fluke, a gathering of disgruntled individuals who have been in power and are being pushed by their presidential ambition. Gathering they shall surely gather, but they will by themselves self-destruct. It is a gang of disgruntled elements and politicians who didn’t get access to the commonwealth as they used to, and are driven by their inordinate ambition. Nigerians can see through their intent and deceit. They are spent forces.

What is the Asiwaju Mandate Group (AMG) all about?

Asiwaju Mandate Group is a socio-political group put together by the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji Ojo on the 8th of March 2024 with the sole aim of proclaiming and publicizing the good works of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), and to explain to the people how the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President is touching positively on the lives of the common man. When you sensitise the people, they will know, and when they know, they can benefit from it, then they wouldn’t have any reason not to support Mr President for a second term in office.

Why is your group supporting President Tinubu, especially when you have another aspirant from Ondo, Adewole Adebayo, who is interested in the same position?

Adewole Adebayo could have been a good candidate, but he lacks the experience and is possibly not mature enough to govern a multi-tribal country like Nigeria. He will do well to learn in Tinubu’s cabinet and contribute his ‘brilliant’ ideas like Dr Olubunmi-Tunji -Tunji Ojo is doing, but as president. He isn’t ripe for such yet, with due respect to him.

In which way are you supporting your candidate?

Advocacy, policy interpretation, and mobilisation for INEC voters registration, among others.

The attitude of many is that support groups do not win elections; rather, it is the electorate that determine the fate of any candidate. How would you react to this?

It is a support group, as the name implies. It is a mobilisation tool and a means of ensuring that democratic dividends reach a larger number of people through grassroots mobilisation. It’s on record that our convener, Hon. Dr Olubumi Tunji-Ojo, has initiated, perfected and financed the decamping of prominent politicians in opposition parties in Ondo State for over two years to date through Asiwaju Mandate Group to add value to our great party, the APC, thereby reducing the influx of prominent politicians into the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or ADA.

Do you see your party surpassing the 2023 feat ? What measures are you putting in place to do this?

Yes, we will beat them silly come 2027 because they can never talk in one accord. By the grace of God, we are targeting a 90% vote return for the president in Ondo State, and we hope that gets replicated in other states too.

How would you rate the performance of the Ondo State governor so far?

He seems to be doing his best, but I believe he can achieve more with a faster speed.

Would you say Nigeria is practising true federalism?

Yes in quote

What are your roles as the DG of AMG?

To coordinate other members of the executive in making decisions for the overall good of the members and the general public; direct the affairs of the Secretariat and ensure that it runs smoothly; coordinate dividends of the government and the goodwill of the groups convener to the people all across Ondo State.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has refuted reports quoting him as saying that the late former President Muhammadu Buhari was once nominated by the Boko Haram terrorist group to represent them in a dialogue with the federal government.

Jonathan, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Public Affairs), Ikechukwu Eze, said his comments at the public presentation of Scars, a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, in Abuja on Friday, were ‘grossly misrepresented’.

The statement said: ‘The attention of the Office of Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been drawn to misleading reports circulating in sections of the media suggesting that Dr. Jonathan alleged that Boko Haram nominated the late President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to represent them in dialogue with the Federal Government, and therefore this made him somehow complicit in the Boko Haram crisis.

‘We wish to make it abundantly clear that the former President’s comments were grossly misrepresented. At no time did Dr. Jonathan suggest, imply, or insinuate that President Buhari had any connection with Boko Haram or that he supported the group in any form.

‘Dr. Jonathan’s remarks, made in the course of a broader discussion on Nigeria’s security challenges, were meant to illustrate the deviousness and manipulative strategies employed by Boko Haram in their early years.

‘His reference was to a well-documented episode when various individuals and factions falsely claimed to represent the terrorist group and purported to name prominent Nigerians as possible mediators: without those individuals’ knowledge or consent.

‘The point Dr. Jonathan sought to make was that Boko Haram, in its characteristic deceit, often invoked the names of respected public figures to sow confusion, exploit political divisions, and undermine public confidence in government.

‘His comments were therefore an illustration of the group’s duplicity, not an accusation against the late former president or any individual for that matter.

‘The former president’s position was that if indeed Buhari was their choice negotiator, why didn’t Boko Haram expeditiously bring their evil terrorist agenda to an end when the retired General became president?

‘For the avoidance of doubt, Dr. Jonathan recognises that President Muhammadu Buhari, like every patriotic Nigerian, stood firmly against terrorism and was himself a target of Boko Haram violence.

‘Both men, during their respective tenures, shared a common commitment to restoring peace and stability to Nigeria.

‘The Office of the Former President therefore urges the public to disregard any misinterpretation of his remarks.

‘Dr. Jonathan remains committed to peace, unity, and the strengthening of democratic values in Nigeria.

‘He believes that the nation’s progress depends on a truthful understanding of its challenges, not on the distortion of facts for political or sensational purposes.’

Jonathan had said at the book launch: ‘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 (the problem) is still there till today.’

The First Lady of Nigeria and wife of President Bola Tinubu, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Saturday, empowered 500 women in Edo State with N50,000 each under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

The empowerment programme, conducted in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, took place in Benin City.

Speaking during the presentation of the cash grants to beneficiaries, Senator Tinubu said the initiative was designed to strengthen existing businesses and enhance the economic resilience of Nigerian women.

Represented by the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Okpeholo Anani, Tinubu urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the grant to expand their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

‘This is not a loan; it is a grant – a seed of renewed hope to help you recapitalise your existing businesses. It is my firm belief that when you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and indeed, a nation.

‘The Tony Elumelu Foundation generously donated N1 billion to the Renewed Hope Initiative to fund the empowerment of 18,500 across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

‘Each state, including the FCT, will have 500 women beneficiaries, each receiving N50,000 to support and expand their small businesses’.

On her part, Anani thanked the Tony Elumelu Foundation for its commitment to women’s economic advancement.

‘May this act of generosity inspire many more across our nation,’ she said.

She also extended her appreciation to the governor, Monday Okpeholo, and Senator Tinubu for their unwavering support in executing RHI programmes in the state.

One of the Beneficiaries, Otaru Patience, said the grant would help boost her business.

Another beneficiary, Adesuwa Obasogie, called for the money to be increased in the face of the current economic reality of the country.

Those present included Chairperson, National Council of Women Society Edo State Chapter, Taiwo Inumidune, Special Adviser, Sustainable Development Goals SDG, Mrs Barbara Omozele Agbebaku, and Director, Control and Immunisation, Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Eseigbe Eromon.

The festering crisis involving Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) will have rippled negative effects on the economy, Evans Ufeli Esq, Legal Practitioner and expert in Energy Resources Law, has said.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Nation last night, Ufeli acknowledged the fact the law allows trade unions to take collective action.

‘Trade unions have the right to take collective action, including strikes, but that right is subject to statutory procedures, contract terms, and constitutional/International Labour Organisation (ILO) protections for freedom of association.’

Raising some posers, Ufeli asked, ‘Were the dismissed workers unlawfully dismissed for union activity? Did PENGASSAN follow statutory dispute-resolution steps (conciliation/notice requirements) before directing industrial action? Is the direction a primary industrial action against Dangote directly or a secondary action/sympathy strike against third-party suppliers?’

According to him, ‘Many legal systems (and Nigerian jurisprudence/practice) place tighter limits on secondary boycotts/secondary strikes and on inducing third parties to breach existing contracts. If PENGASSAN ordered members of other companies to breach their supply contracts, that may be vulnerable to court injunctions and civil liability (inducing breach, tortious interference). If PENGASSAN can show the sackings were unlawful unfair dismissals and complied with required procedures, its action is more defensible -but still risky if it causes third-party contractual breaches. There is a need to investigate unfair dismissal claims: ensure quick, impartial investigation of the sackings; if dismissals breach labour law or collective bargaining agreements, require remedial action.’

As to whether the union’s action could lead Dangote to claim force majeure, and what are the wider implications, he said the consequences are dire.

‘Yes, a prolonged cut-off of feedstock or utilities could be framed by Dangote as a force majeure event if the refinery cannot perform because of circumstances beyond its control. Whether a force majeure clause applies depends entirely on the contract wording: some clauses expressly include strikes/industrial action, others do not, and many require that the event be unavoidable despite mitigation.’

On the wider implications of a force majeure at a major refinery such Dangote Refinery can cascade through the economy -fuel/fertilizer/petrochemical shortages, price spikes, upstream and downstream contractual disputes, inventory depletion at buyers, job losses, supply chain disruptions for many industries, and potential fiscal/monetary impacts. Insurers may dispute coverage for industrial-action-related business interruption.

Specifically, he said the direct consequences could be loss of throughput and revenues while operating below capacity or shutting units, breach of supply contracts with customers; exposure to penalties, claims for damages, increased operating cost if forced to buy alternative feedstock or import products, disruption to refinery scheduling, maintenance plans, and safety procedures, legal costs (injunctions, litigation, potential enforcement actions).

Lamentably, Ufeli argued that the indirect consequences of the raging crisis could lead to reputational damage and investor concern, strained relations with other contractors and supply-chain partners, potential regulatory scrutiny and political fallout, just it could lead to workforce morale issues and difficulty recruiting with the even wider implications leading to macro effects such as impact on downstream companies and market perceptions of energy security.

On the way forward, the Dangote Refinery can secure temporary alternative feedstock (imports), adjust production schedules, ration allocations to key customers, and use inventories where possible.

‘In terms of legal measures, Dangote can apply to the National Industrial Court for injunctive relief (to stop unlawful secondary action), sue for inducing breach of contract and recover damages, seek contempt sanctions if court orders are flouted.

‘This is just as labour/legal settlement can help mitigate the crisis by engaging with the Ministry of Labour, offer interim remedies (suspension of contested dismissals, binding arbitration, expedited grievance hearings), or negotiate a settlement to de-escalate.’

He also did not rule out public/political strategy, which he said could be achieved through transparent public communication emphasising legality and steps to protect supply; seek government facilitation.

The oil giant, he stressed, must revisit its security architecture by ensuring security/continuity planning involving classifying critical assets, working with regulators to maintain operations and protect staff (while avoiding escalation).

He also reiterated the fact that the federal government can mediate by directing the Ministry of Labour and Employment to convene conciliation/mediation between parties immediately; refer unresolved dispute to the National Industrial Court if necessary.

‘There must be enforcement of law. The parties must enforce court orders and prohibit unlawful secondary boycotts; regulators (Department of Petroleum Resources, NNPC where relevant) can coordinate to maintain supplies.’

This is just as he urged the oil firm to expedite permits or logistics for alternative imports, release strategic stocks where applicable, and coordinate critical infrastructure protection.

In terms of policy/regulatory response, Ufeli said parties in dispute must consider short-term measures to protect consumers/businesses dependent on the refinery and longer-term review of laws governing secondary industrial action, critical infrastructure protections and dispute resolution timelines.

‘The government actions should balance enforcing law/order and protecting the constitutional right to strike and freedom of association, to avoid appearing partisan or escalating tensions.

‘Dangote should immediately seek urgent legal advice to assess remedies and the likelihood of a force majeure defence, preserve contemporaneous records, and initiate emergency operational contingency plans. PENGASSAN and Dangote should be pressed into expedited mediation/arbitration under governmental or industry auspices to avoid prolonged disruption. All affected commercial partners should review their contracts for force majeure, hardship, and mitigation obligations and prepare contingency sourcing plans.’

The actuality has turned out to be more dire than the auguries. The sixty fifth anniversary of Nigeria has now come and gone. As it has been predicted, the national mood was sombre and subdued. As the day approached, the discerning could feel a thick pall of despondency in the air and an atmosphere of generalized desperation. It was as if the dispensing machines had run out of vending hope and optimism after a run on them. This is the staple fare of pain-killing morphine on which an embattled and embittered populace had depended on in sixty five years of trial and tribulation. But addiction to pain-killers, like the pain-killers themselves, often have their expiry date and time.

Given the general state of perturbation and widespread anxiety in the land, one was not unduly surprised when the announcement came cancelling the Independence Day parade, thus stripping the occasion of its pomp and pageantry. Whenever you have this kind of unusual announcement, the airwaves are rife with rumours and unsettling speculations that something nasty was in the offing. In the event, rather than glad-handing and iron-pumping in Abuja, the president chose to remain in his Lagos residence from where he rallied the nation in an Independence speech of rousing bravery and exceptional tough-mindedness. But if the truth must be told, it was of little avail, for it was at this particular point that the PENGASSAN versus Dangote Refinery faceoff snowballed into a full-blown downing of tools by the oil-sector workers. As long queues resurfaced at the petrol station and as commuters and motorists alike began hunting for the rare stuff like primitive hunter-gatherers, the downbeat mood became even more sullied and unappeasable.

Cashing in on the unfortunate situation, some of the leaders who have led the nation up this ruinous path began calling for drastic reform or revolution. The veteran roadrunner among them, without any sense of momentous irony, insisted that the time had come to smash the moribund system. Why he thinks he himself and his vast retinue will escape the fury of the revolutionary mob in the event of an upheaval remains a source of profound mystery. Even more worrisome is the possibility that the nation is being set up for a catastrophic descent into anarchy as a prelude or dress rehearsal for the voting year of 2027 and all its magical possibilities.

But why the year 2025 in its ember phase and the occasion of its sixty fifth anniversary should cast such an ominous pall of magical possibilities on the nation deserve more scrutiny. It may well be that just as humans suffer anxiety neurosis so do nations. In the modern bureaucratic calendar that we have adopted, the age of sixty five is the ultimate and terminal retirement age, the sharp cut-off point of all elongated shenanigans, extensions, multiple additions and covert adjustments. The retiree must go into compulsory retirement to embrace the dark shadows of old age, senescence or senility as the case may be, if they are not recalled by their maker. This is the age in which the patients worry themselves to death about missed deadlines, missed opportunities, vanished timelines and datelines.

There is a time for everything. You cannot be fretting about interview schedules or frantic about fresh job opportunities when you are already at the departure lounge waiting for the final call. The dominance of oral culture in Africa allows us to take a bitter jig at our colonially imposed modern calendar with its mechanical and mechanistic framework which does not allow or permit creative laxity or imaginative evasions. Due to lack of public records, it is only in Africa that the same person could hold on to multiple birthdates on the ground that he was born several moons ago on a market day with birds singing and goats bleating furiously, or where a centenarian can often pass as a sprightly septuagenarian. But that too must end at some point, like the Egungun Festival which must terminate at some point no matter the associated merriments and festivities. Time is the ultimate leveler which must bring together all the contending classes including children of loafers and the scions of loaf-masters.

History is the master of allegory or allegorized reality. History, in its actual lived experience and confounding perplexities, often simplifies reality for us and resolves its own conundrums as it unfolds and expands thrusting its heady contradictions at us as we struggle to make sense of its awesome imponderables. Only last week in this column, we narrated how this columnist was invited in 1985 by the duo of Dele Giwa and Ray Ekpu to contribute to a publication to commemorate the twenty fifth anniversary of the nation. As it was explained last Sunday, the columnist latched on to the image of a master paradox to explain away the strange combination of magnificent strengths and gargantuan weaknesses which seem to have defined the existence of the nation since amalgamation. For many people the idea of a roiling paradox has since entered the national imagination as a general password for unlocking the Nigerian predicament.

Ten years after this landmark publication, Dele Giwa has been bombed out of existence about a year after on October 19th 1986. But in a strange twist of grueling irony, it was the turn of Kayode Soyinka, Dele Giwa’s golden boy and favourite newshound, to invite this columnist to ruminate on the circumstances of Nigeria on its thirty fifth anniversary commemoration. In the intervening decade, Soyinka, who only miraculously escaped being brutally dispatched like his boss, had transited from being an intrepid reporter to becoming the publisher of the respectable and influential magazine, Africa Today. That October, the nation’s reputation was in tatters having plumbed the depth of disrepute to become a pariah in the comity of nations. General Sani Abacha had bared his steely fangs and the entire nation lay cowering under the hammer of his brutal despotism. The mood of the nation darkened and there was a foul distemper about reminiscent of the goggled tyrant himself. Nobody ever believed that politically speaking, things could turn that foul and nasty.

This time around, this writer fastened on the image of a giant toddler at thirty five trundling about the bare floor unable to get up and go. A toddler at thirty five is a genetic monstrosity; a victim of irreversible retardation and arrested development. It recalls the figure of, Aboliga, the man-child ,Ayi Kwei Armah’s haunting creation in The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born. The one-day wonder grew to manhood and full maturity the same day he was born only to perish that same day. Nothing grows or endures for long in the sultry tropics, certainly not people, nations and institutions, and the equatorial torpor has claimed its own once again.

That was thirty years ago after a presidential election that promised to unite and unify the nation produced a hapless civilian interloper and the most monstrous despot ever seen in the history of the nation. The caustic severity of the framing referent of an earth-hugging adolescent toddler was an accurate reflection of the national trauma as Nigeria cascaded over the cliff to the bottomless pit of self-eradication once again. If any substantial damage has been done to the national fabric, the nation has had the intervening three decades to heal and to repair the damage. First was the heroic struggle against military absolutism which has since entered the universal folklore of the struggle of a people for self-emancipation. The upheaval against military eruption which sent the soldiers back to the barracks can be regarded as the golden moment of Nigeria’s post-independence history.

Unfortunately, and by universal consensus, the post-military civilian restoration has, in the main, been underwhelming in its performance, particularly in the areas of the economy, national cohesion and the scourge of corruption and mismanagement. To be sure, there have been a few bright spots at both the national and subnational levels such as the brilliant demilitarization programme of the Obasanjo regime and the sterling performance at the state levels particularly in Lagos and in emerging stars such as Ekiti, Enugu, Abia and perhaps entrepreneurially driven Akwa Ibo. But all these are too few and far between to make a dent on the fortunes of the nation.

So what is the verdict on Nigeria at sixty five as the nation marked a gloomy anniversary this past week? The answers came in torrents and they could not be gloomier than the mood of the nation itself. This time around and in a startling development which hints at a global revolution in the knowledge industry and a change in demographic reflecting the growing predominance of youth in the power equation, it was Nigerians themselves who supplied the answers. This time around, Nigerians did not need ‘specialists’ to explain away the antics of ‘madmen’; neither do they need their celebrated intellectuals and writers to explain the plight of the nation. They dismissed the nation as akin to a sixty five year old retiree without any further hope of redemption or restitution; a nation with a great future firmly behind it.

Fortunately, the timeline of a nation’s existence is completely different from the lifespan of a human organism. Unlike human life, the nation is an infinite continuum with an oceanic plenitude of time. Nation’s do not succumb to sudden death or peremptory cardiac seizure. Even where breakup is a definite possibility, the warning signals are almost elastic in their sheer permissiveness. This is why Nigeria still has a lot to play for. It is not over until it is over. But a lot still needs to be done to halt the drift to Golgotha. This is a great country. But like all violently heterogeneous entities it is taking quite some time to come together and the human toll, the collateral damages, have been quite prohibitive. The coming decade will be quite critical in our quest for that elusive and authentic national consensus.