CAN these figures be correct? Since I came across them on the internet, I have not seen a rebuttal from any quarters. So, since silence is said to mean consent, I want to assume that the figures are factual – until the contrary is proven.
The disturbing information goes thus: ‘Six geo-political zones’ contribution to the VAT pool and (what each of them) received (in return) in half-year January-June 2026): 1. South-West contributed N2.16trn but received N691.56bn (31.99%). 2. South-South contributed N880.58bn but received N429.99bn (48.83%). 3. North-Central contributed N302.81bn but received N350.17bn (115.64%). 4. North-West contributed N205.52bn but received N384.56bn (187.11%). 5. North-East contributed N152.82bn but received N285.70bn (186.95%). 6. The South-East contributed N79.27bn but received N230.89bn (291.28%).’
Are you not surprised that the South-East zone contributed the least but received the highest, percentage-wise? This means that a region always screaming ‘marginalisation’ is the one actually marginalising others!
All the three zones in the North received more than they contributed, meaning that, like the South-East, they benefit from the sweat of others – in other words, they reap on a monthly basis from where they did not sow! The two burden-bearer zones are the South-South and South-West, with the latter being the greater loser.
Those riding on the back of others will never disembark unless they are forced to. Unfortunately, free lunch offers no incentives for anyone to work harder. And those being held down as beasts of burden will never achieve their true potential for as long as they carry the can for others. What a lose-lose situation in real or absolute terms!
FEEDBACK
RE: If state police are not to suffer a stillbirth…
Thank you so much for this piece! Brig-Gen. Jibola Togun once drew my attention to the lack of support by our governors for Amotekun after the exit of Rotimi Akeredolu from earthly life. I have written no fewer than five times on the imperatives of the establishment of state police, drawing attention to how formal policing began at Abeokuta in 1903, but took off in 1905, followed by Ibadan in 1906 and Oyo, 1907 and from there to other divisions of Yorubaland. If our forebears could see the imperatives of divisional and regional policing, the attitude of our governors after Akeredolu has been shocking and disappointing. The first responsibility of any government is security. It is, in fact, the origin of government. We can see now that the establishment of state police has received a national stamp. Well done!
-Lade Bonuola
Has Tinubu lost his grip on the Nigerian media?
The shortcomings you highlighted and the solutions proffered are top-notch. I am one of those who believe until tomorrow that (Dele) Alake should have been Tinubu’s spokesman (but) rumours have it that Gbaja and Alake cannot cohabit at the villa! Reno Omokri is doing far better than all the government-paid spokesmen, including Onanuga. Ask yourself why Dele Momodu and Femi Ojudu distanced themselves from Tinubu. Self-interest, I presume! I have read the ‘Adventure of Guerrilla Journalist’ by Ojudu and I have heard Momodu narrate how Tinubu gave him 500 pounds while they were in exile. I have equally heard how Remi asked: ‘Uncle Dee, so you are not going to work for my husband?’ That question is loaded. Nobody runs Tinubu down as does the duo! I don’t think the Nigerian Press is as dangerous as the TV anchor personalities. Many no longer read newspapers but depend on TV stations. Arise News, for instance, sees all government actions from negative perspectives. They know who to invite: hardly will you see their guests not towing their preferred line of thought. More often than not, they carefully select the APC men they can easily bully. Rufyy is a pessimist par excellence, only he is honest and capable! To him, all Nigerians are corrupt and unpatriotic – except himself! Abati was my hall mate at Awo Postgraduate Hall, UI… He always loves to play smart (but) I think an average Nigerian knows that he is biased. He is a PDP card-carrying member. Seun Okinbaloye is worse, despite the fact that the Finance Minister has said it times without number that the right question to ask is ‘where would Nigeria have been if the (Tinubu) reforms were not introduced’ and NOT ‘is your life better now than it was in 2023?’ Okinbaloye is aware of the 33 trillion paper money printed, the huge amount owed foreign airlines, and the less than four billion dollars in the foreign reserves account. Yet, Seun will have none of that! He is in the habit of parading statistics just to discredit the government. The ones that favour the government are downplayed! Hardly will you see Seun ask the right follow-up questions from the opposition. Tinubu needs to strengthen his information machinery in all its ramifications.
-Rev. Canon Dr. Kayode Abegunde
Can anyone or organisation in this country have the media in their pocket? I ask this question as someone who has spent almost 50 years in the media and who has done only media job all his life. But I look at media relations in this country and ask myself: how can these guys be so dumb? All the attacks on opponents and critics will be useless after the President leaves office. Where is Buhari’s press value today? It is all gone! Where is Femi Adesina? And where is Garba Sheu? Government media minders are lazy; they are not deep enough; they focus on fighting political opponents and critics and once the government they serve disappears, they, too, will disappear with it! They do not bother to convince anyone; they just shout at us and think that is press relations! They should understudy Ogbuefi Nwokedi and Tunji Oseni!