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EKITI State governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has cautioned his supporters and political associates against excessive praise-singing and the use of grandiose political appellations, urging them to address him simply as ‘Mr Governor’

The Governor maintained that all praises and accolades belong to God Almighty and that no political leader should be accorded attributes reserved for God.

Governor Oyebanji gave the admonition on Friday evening at the October edition of the monthly Evening of Praise and Worship programme held at Lady Jibowu Hall, Government House, Ado-Ekiti.

He said the period of political campaigns and elections had ended, stressing that the State had entered a new phase focused on governance, service delivery and the fulfilment of promises to the people.

Emphasising the need to avoid elevating political leaders to a status comparable to God, the Governor specifically disapproved of appellations such as ‘Jinx Breaker’, ‘Owi Bee, Se Bee’, ‘History Maker’ and ‘Back to Back’, among others.

He said: ‘I think we have to put an end to all these appellations. Election is over, and from today, just address me as Mr Governor. I don’t want to hear all these appellations such as ‘Jinx Breaker’, ‘History Maker’ and all the rest.

‘I permitted them because it was an election season. Election is over now, a new government has been sworn in, and we are in the era of governance. Politics is over. I don’t want anybody to equate me with God or give me an appellation that is an attribute of God.’

Speaking further, Governor Oyebanji attributed the relative peace, stability and development recorded in Ekiti State, particularly over the last four years, to the grace of God.

He said the achievements of his administration and the peaceful atmosphere across the State were testimonies to God’s faithfulness and continued intervention in its affairs.

The Governor expressed confidence that the same God who had guided the State thus far would continue to sustain it, urging residents to remain steadfast in their faith and trust in God for greater accomplishments.

‘I love the theme of this month’s edition because this is the first Evening of Praise and Worship since this new administration was inaugurated, and the theme is apt. We are just here to praise God, and I know that as we praise God on behalf of Ekiti State, He will speak to us and also step into our situation,’ the Governor said.

Dignitaries at the programme included the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro; Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi; Chief of Staff, Mr Oyeniyi Adebayo; and President, Baptist Convention, Ekiti State, and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Emmanuel Aribasoye, among others.

The Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Dr Ndagi Alhassan, has warned that excessive reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) could undermine critical thinking and clinical judgement among nurses, insisting that technology must never replace the human compassion at the heart of patient care.

‘Any algorithm can calculate, but it cannot care,’ Alhassan declared while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Undergraduate Nursing Research Challenge and Summit organised by the Golden Lamp Leadership Initiative Africa at the University of Ibadan.

Speaking on the theme ‘Minds and Machines: The New Frontier of Academic Research’, he urged nursing students to embrace technological innovation without compromising their professional judgement and ethical responsibilities.

He explained that although AI could analyse data, identify patterns and suggest interventions, it could not replace a nurse’s ability to recognise subtle changes in a patient’s condition and respond with sound clinical judgement and empathy.

Using the example of a nurse who notices a patient deteriorating despite normal monitor readings, Alhassan said human observation and prompt intervention could make the difference between life and death.

‘Research begins when a nurse observes something and refuses to look away,’ he said.

He warned that AI systems could generate fabricated academic references and misleading information, urging students to verify AI-generated content before using it in research. He also advocated locally relevant African research data to address biases in systems trained on information that might not reflect the continent’s healthcare realities.

On patient confidentiality, he cautioned nurses against uploading identifiable medical information to AI platforms without appropriate safeguards.

‘When in doubt, do not upload,’ he said, adding that the Council would not tolerate plagiarism, fabricated research findings or unethical use of AI.

Alhassan urged students to focus their research on practical healthcare problems, verify information, protect patient data, disclose AI use transparently and publish their findings.

He also advocated intergenerational leadership, encouraging experienced professionals to create opportunities for younger nurses to contribute fresh ideas and technological expertise.

Recounting how a 31-day hospitalisation for burns in 1972 influenced his decision to pursue nursing, he reminded students that the profession is fundamentally about service and compassion.

‘The frontier is open. It does not belong to the machines. It belongs to the minds that will lead them,’ he said, urging the students to ‘carry the lamp forward.’

Also speaking, the founder and chief executive officer of Myqura, Abiola Ayilara, urged Nigerian nurses to develop healthcare technologies that address local challenges rather than remain passive users of imported solutions.

She said nurses’ close contact with patients positioned them to identify gaps in care and lead innovation, stressing that AI should support, not replace, clinical judgement and human compassion.

‘Nurses should be the ones creating the solutions for patients,’ she said, urging students to turn clinical challenges into research questions and develop solutions suited to African realities.

?Running a haulage or logistics business is no small task. With rising operational expenses, high maintenance costs, and fluctuating fuel prices, every drop of diesel counts. Fuel usually accounts for the single largest operating expense for heavy-duty commercial trucks.

?Many transport owners suffer huge losses not because business is slow, but because fuel is leaking out of their system through dishonest means. Fleet managers and logistics companies often record missing liters that cannot be accounted for at the end of long journeys.

?According to reports from Cartrack Fleet Management Solutions, fuel siphoning and fleet fuel diversion remain major operational challenges for haulage operators globally, draining millions in revenue when left unchecked.

?Here are four common ways dishonest drivers divert diesel from company fleet trucks:

?Direct hose siphoning from the fuel tank

?The most straightforward and widely used method is direct physical siphoning. Drivers or their accomplices wait until the truck is parked overnight at unmonitored locations, layover parks, or secluded highway stops.

?They insert a flexible rubber hose directly into the neck of the fuel tank and draw out diesel into jerry cans or storage drums. A driver can remove 20 to 50 liters in just a few minutes without leaving obvious physical damage on the truck.

?Because the driver controls the vehicle during long-distance trips, they can easily blame the heavy fuel loss on bad roads, heavy traffic jams, or poor engine performance.

?Fuel card misuse and dual pumping scheme

?Another common trick does not involve siphoning from the truck at all, but happens right at the filling station pump. When fleet companies give drivers company fuel cards or cash for refueling, some drivers collude with dishonest petrol station attendants.

?The driver authorises a full tank purchase on the company account-say 300 liters-but only pumps 250 liters into the truck. The remaining 50 liters are pumped into a third-party vehicle, a private car, or jerry cans brought by illegal fuel vendors.

?The station attendant gives the driver a genuine receipt for the full 300 liters, and both parties split the cash proceeds from the diverted portion. To the manager reviewing receipts back at the office, the transaction appears completely clean and legitimate.

?Tampering with fuel return lines and sensors

?As fleet owners invest in technology like GPS tracking and digital fuel level sensors, dishonest drivers have also adopted more subtle techniques. Drivers sometimes modify or loosen the fuel return line that carries excess diesel from the engine back to the tank.

?By attaching a small side valve or T-connector to the return line, fuel slowly bleeds out into a hidden container while the truck is actively running on the road. Because the diesel is diverted while the engine is running, telematics software often mistakes the loss for normal engine consumption.

?In other instances, drivers disable or short-circuit capacitive fuel sensors inside the tank or block GPS signals using jammers to create blackouts in data reporting. Once the sensor loses power or signal, the driver siphons the fuel undetected before restoring the device.

?Fake mileage claims and route manipulation

?Drivers also cover up diesel diversion by intentionally manipulating their travel distance or engine idle time. A driver might take unauthorized detours to offload diverted diesel to local black-market buyers.

?To justify why the fuel level is low, the driver claims they encountered major road diversions, long traffic standstills, or engine idling during overnight stops. Some drivers even tamper with the odometer to show higher mileage than the vehicle actually covered.

?By inflating the distance traveled or exaggerating idle hours, the driver creates a convincing excuse for why the truck consumed far more diesel than expected on a standard route.

?How fleet owners can protect their fuel

?Stopping fuel diversion requires a combination of physical hardware and digital monitoring. Installing heavy-duty anti-siphon neck inserts prevents hoses from entering the tank. Adding locking fuel caps further secures the tank entry points.

?On the technology side, pairing GPS tracking with real-time digital fuel level sensors allows fleet managers to receive instant alerts whenever tank levels drop suddenly. Restricting fuel card usage with PIN verification, location limits, and strict daily volume caps also prevents pump collusion.

?By regularly comparing mileage against actual fuel consumption, logistics companies can eliminate hidden losses and protect their bottom line.

YINKA Olatunbosun, a Nigerian arts journalist and writer, presented her first chapbook of short stories at the Helsinki Book Fair in Finland, held from 22 to 25 October. The event is the largest literary fair in the Nordic region.

This appearance is a new step for Olatunbosun. After years of covering African culture and contemporary art as a journalist, she is now taking on the role of fiction writer.

Her chapbook, ‘The Letter Grandma Left,’ edited by Olasunmbo Olajubu, features six stories that look at identity, life in Lagos, stigma, and cultural memory. The stories also explore the emotions behind everyday moments. Through careful observation and vivid imagery, the collection connects West African experiences with bigger questions about family, belonging, and the challenges of human relationships.

Olatunbosun described the collection as a result of ‘grit and determination’ when talking about her writing process. She explained that one of the main stories started from imagining a meeting between a child and his grandmother, which led her to explore the stigma faced by children with autism.

‘The Letter Grandma Left is a collection of fictional stories as well as a quiet commentary on the stigma against children living with autism,’ she said. ‘In truth, I didn’t set out to use the story for advocacy, but in the course of developing the story around a hardworking woman with three children, this child’s episode with his grandma in my imagination begged for my creative attention, and I purged it out in a short story that can be easily digestible.’

The chapbook also shows the writer’s hope of getting people to read more often. ‘It is easy to read, and with just six stories, I think everyone should be able to complete it within a day,’ she said. She described the project as a way to support a campaign to read one book a day.

The collection will be available on Amazon, and print copies can be ordered in Nigeria and other countries.

Olatunbosun works as an assistant editor at THISDAY Style and continues her role as a senior arts journalist. She has also written short fiction, including Dirty Alani (2025) and Blood on the Staircase (2026).

By appearing at the The Helsinki Book Fair, Olatunbosun introduces her work to an international audience and moves her career in a new creative direction.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has warned that anyone who threatens, intimidates or harms the commission’s ad hoc staff, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members or permanent personnel will be brought to justice.

Amupitan gave the warning on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the South-South Zonal Readiness Assessment and Interactive Staff Engagement ahead of the 2027 general election.

‘Insecurity may pose a challenge, but our collective constitutional resolve is far stronger. Let me again send a clear message from Port Harcourt: anyone who attempts to threaten, intimidate, or harm our ad hoc staff, NYSC members, or permanent personnel will be brought to justice under the full weight of the law,’ he said.

The chairman, who was accompanied by national commissioners, directors and technical aides, said the South-South meeting was the fifth in a series of zonal assessments, following those held in the South-West, North-West, South-East and North-East.

He said his physical presence in each zone reflected the commission’s field-first approach, noting that true electoral integrity was forged in the field across 123 local government areas in the six South-South states.

On election security, Amupitan said the commission had moved from reactive, election-day deployments to a proactive, intelligence-led arrangement.

‘We have moved away from reactive, election-day security deployments towards a proactive, intelligence-led security architecture that we term the ‘ICCES Tentacle.’ This framework extends inter-agency security coordination from national and state headquarters directly down to the most remote Local Government Areas and Registration Area Centres,’ he said.

He identified the three pillars of the framework as mapping and mitigating threats, ensuring safety and guaranteeing access to polling units.

He said the arrangement would provide a protective umbrella for all electoral personnel, technological assets, including Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and server infrastructure, as well as voters. It would also ensure that every polling unit remained safe and peaceful.

The chairman disclosed that the South-South security arrangement relied on approximately 60 major operational formations, headquarters and state commands operating under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), bringing together the military, naval, air, police and other security agencies.

‘Together, this integrated multi-agency network represents the operational backbone that guarantees intelligence-led protection across every riverine creek, coastal axis and land-based polling unit in the Niger Delta,’ he said.

Amupitan said the South-South accounted for the fourth-largest voting bloc, with 15,823,550 registered voters, representing 15.30 per cent of the national register. Rivers State alone has 3,736,434 registered voters across 23 local government areas.

He said the figures represented citizens whose constitutional right to choose their leaders in a secure and transparent environment must be guaranteed.

Giving an update on preparations, the chairman said the commission had completed nine of the 14 major statutory milestones in its timetable for the 2027 general election, which would involve more than 103 million registered voters and 176,846 polling units.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.

He said the commission had finalised a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maritime Transporters Union to ensure the timely and secure deployment of personnel and materials to riverine and coastal communities. He added that new operational pick-up vehicles had been distributed to state and LGA offices.

On staff welfare, he said the commission had moved its workforce out of the civil service salary structure under the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure, effective January 1, 2026, and approved a 150 per cent increase in monthly state overhead allocations, effective July 1, 2026.

‘To our field staff: you are the true face of INEC,’ he said.

He warned that partisan leanings, negligence, financial impropriety or absenteeism would attract swift sanctions. He also reminded staff that Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2026 mandated an Oath of Neutrality.

‘False narratives only gain traction when administrative execution falters. When our field execution is flawless, and our data pipeline is clear, no digital algorithm can displace the physical reality of a transparent vote,’ he said.

In his welcome address, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Dr Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, said the engagement provided an opportunity to evaluate preparedness, identify operational gaps and develop strategies ahead of election day.

‘This is not merely an occasion to report activities undertaken. It is an opportunity to demonstrate readiness, identify outstanding tasks, establish clear priorities and strengthen mechanisms for monitoring implementation,’ he said.

He called for stronger collaboration between the headquarters and state offices and urged staff to remain vigilant against misinformation.

The Director of Planning and Monitoring, Mrs Helen Ajayi, outlined the key objectives of the engagement to include securing the support of traditional rulers for grassroots mobilisation, boosting staff morale and assessing the level of electoral preparedness.

INEC to end late arrival of materials, lowers BVAS threshold

Meanwhile, Amupitan has assured Nigerians that delays in the delivery of election materials, which marred previous elections, will not be repeated in 2027.

He gave the assurance on Friday, October 30, 2026, during a courtesy visit to the palace of the King and Paramount Ruler of Port Harcourt, His Royal Majesty, Barr. Uchechukwu Isaiah Elikwu, Eze Epara Rebisi XII, in Rivers State.

‘The era in which elections were supposed to start by 8:30 am but materials sometimes arrived very late must come to an end,’ he said.

He disclosed that the voter threshold for deploying additional BVAS machines had been reduced from 1,250 to 850 voters per polling unit.

‘We realise that the true dynamics of democracy are shaped in the field, within our local communities, across riverine channels, at Registration Area Centres and at polling units where citizens exercise their sovereign right,’ he said.

He said the commission had prioritised direct engagement with traditional rulers, describing royal fathers as anchors of grassroots peace, civic engagement and community stability.

He listed the monarchs visited so far to include the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun; the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli; the Ogadagidi I of Edem-An Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom, Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu; and the Emir of Gombe, Dr Abubakar Shehu III.

Amupitan appealed to royal fathers to help mobilise residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and turn out to vote in 2027. He also urged them to educate citizens on the dangers of misinformation, disinformation and artificial intelligence.

In response, Eze Epara Rebisi XII assured the commission of the support of traditional rulers and urged it to remain steadfast, fair and impartial.

‘Do the right thing, and we assure you of our support. We will mobilise our people to collect their PVCs and come out to vote. We assure you of our unflinching support,’ he said.

Nigerian social entrepreneur, AI Innovator, and founder of the Kayode Alabi Leadership and Career Initiative (KLCI), Hammed Kayode Alabi, has been selected as the only Nigerian among 50 emerging global leaders for the 2026-2027 Youth for Peace: UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme.

Announced by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) during the week, the second edition of the programme brings together 50 emerging leaders from 38 countries to advance intercultural dialogue, foster human connections, and address the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence.

Alabi was selected from a pool of 6,786 applicants from over 170 countries, representing an acceptance rate of approximately 0.74%, or fewer than eight successful applicants per 1,000 applications. The selection was conducted by an international jury of 26 members, including UNESCO staff and external experts in artificial intelligence and peacebuilding.

This year’s programme, themed around fostering human connection and dialogue in the age of artificial intelligence, seeks to equip emerging leaders with the knowledge, networks, and resources to address social fragmentation, strengthen trust, and promote peaceful and inclusive societies as technology continues to reshape human interactions.

For Alabi, whose work over the past nine years has focused on expanding educational and career opportunities for underserved young Africans, the selection presents an opportunity to explore how artificial intelligence can strengthen human creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration rather than replace them.

Through KLCI, the organisation he founded in 2017, Alabi has championed educational equity, youth leadership, and career development for young people from underserved communities. More recently, he founded Rafiki AI, a generative AI-powered career advisor designed to democratise access to personalised career guidance for underserved and displaced young Africans.

Since its launch, Rafiki AI has reached over 13,000 users across 60 countries, facilitating more than 103,000 messages and providing over 56,000 pieces of career advice.

As part of the UNESCO programme, Alabi hopes to develop a new use case for Rafiki AI that supports teachers and educators in Nigeria to leverage artificial intelligence to address challenges in their communities while fostering creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking among students.

The proposed initiative will explore how educators can use Rafiki AI as a tool for problem-solving and social good, equipping them with practical approaches they can take back into their classrooms to prepare young people to navigate an increasingly AI-driven world.

Speaking about his selection, Alabi said: ‘I am humbled to have been selected as the only Nigerian among 50 emerging leaders from across the world. I am particularly excited about this year’s focus on fostering dialogue and human connections in the age of AI.

‘Over the next year, I hope to work with teachers and educators in Nigeria to explore how we can leverage Rafiki AI to develop solutions to some of the challenges we face in the age of artificial intelligence, while fostering creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration in our classrooms.

‘I am still developing this idea and exploring a new use case for Rafiki AI in career support and social good. I am looking forward to learning from other young leaders, participating in peer circles, deepening my understanding of AI, and challenging my own assumptions about the purpose of technology in our generation.’

The Youth for Peace: UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme provides participants with specialised training, mentorship, masterclasses, and opportunities to collaborate with other emerging leaders working across AI governance, education, policymaking, research, entrepreneurship, and social innovation.

Participants will also have access to funding and mentorship opportunities to develop and implement intercultural dialogue initiatives in their communities.

The programme, which officially opens on 26 October 2026, will culminate in a Global Youth Dialogue for Peace in China, where participants will share their experiences and engage policymakers in discussions aimed at shaping more inclusive and peaceful societies.

According to UNESCO, the initiative responds to the growing need for leadership that can bridge differences, build trust, and ensure that technological advancement strengthens rather than weakens human connections.

Alabi’s selection adds to his growing contributions to youth development, educational innovation, and the responsible application of artificial intelligence in Africa. Through his work with KLCI and Rafiki AI, he continues to advocate for a future in which a young person’s access to opportunities is not determined by their socioeconomic background or geographical location.

His participation in the 2026-2027 cohort will provide an opportunity to connect local educational challenges in Nigeria with global conversations on AI, intercultural dialogue, and the future of human connection.

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has declared its support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The association said the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development had given pastoralists and livestock farmers hope after decades of neglect.

Speaking at a rally in Kaduna on Saturday, MACBAN National President, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, said livestock stakeholders across the country were ready to support Tinubu in appreciation of his administration’s decision to establish a dedicated ministry to address challenges in the sector.

The rally was organised by the Fulbe APC Forum and Tinubu Yeso-Yeso Political Forum (TYPF), in collaboration with the Coalition of Pastoralists and Traders Associations, the Amalgamated Union of Livestock Dealers, Butchers and other stakeholders in the sector.

Ngelzarma said livestock farmers and pastoralists had campaigned for the establishment of the ministry for decades.

‘We are here today to extend our appreciation and support to the administration of President Tinubu. The creation of the livestock ministry is something we have been advocating for and looking forward to for decades,’ he said.

He added that the initiative had encouraged some state governments to establish similar institutions to coordinate livestock development, describing it as an opportunity to address longstanding challenges facing pastoralists and other operators in the industry.

The MACBAN president said the association’s support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition was an expression of appreciation for the administration’s recognition of the economic importance of livestock development.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, urged pastoralists, livestock farmers and other operators to take advantage of the ministry’s programmes to improve their businesses and livelihoods.

Maiha said the livestock sector had remained below its potential for decades due to inadequate veterinary services, limited access to pasture and water, high feed costs, poor market infrastructure and low productivity.

He said Nigeria had about 58 million cattle, 124 million goats, 70 million sheep, 9.3 million pigs, 3.2 million donkeys, 700,000 camels and 300 million birds, describing the figures as significant economic opportunities waiting to be harnessed.

The minister said the Federal Government was implementing policies to improve animal health, breeding, feed production, dairy farming, meat processing and access to markets.

He disclosed that seven veterinary hospitals had been completed and equipped under a World Bank-supported programme, while additional facilities were at various stages of completion.

According to him, the government plans to expand veterinary services across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with primary veterinary facilities also planned for the 774 local government areas.

In his remarks, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Murtala Dabo, said the state government was complementing the Federal Government’s initiative through investments in livestock infrastructure and services.

Dabo said Kaduna’s budgetary allocation to livestock development had increased from N1.48 billion in 2023 to more than N100 billion in 2026.

Some political decisions acquire their full meaning only years after they are made. Others return at unexpected moments to illuminate the relationships, calculations and compromises that shaped an earlier generation of leadership.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu reached back eight years at the unveiling of Dr. Obafemi Hamzat’s governorship manifesto on Friday, October 30, and retrieved one such decision from the political history of Lagos State.

It concerned September 2018, when the APC governorship contest had thrown up several aspirants, including the then incumbent, Akinwunmi Ambode, Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat.

Hamzat was not an accidental entrant. He had served in the administrations of Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola, acquired experience across significant government ministries and built his own political relationships.

He had prepared to contest the governorship primary. Then, on September 29, 2018, he announced his withdrawal and endorsed Sanwo-Olu. The decision changed the configuration of the contest ahead of the primary in which Sanwo-Olu would confront Ambode.

What remained less clearly articulated in the public record was the full extent of the political conversations behind Hamzat’s decision.

Sanwo-Olu supplied his own account on Friday. ‘Then the leaders of our party asked him to step aside for me.’ The brevity of that statement gave it unusual weight.

For the governor, the central issue was not merely the withdrawal itself, which had been publicly reported at the time, but the personal cost of abandoning an ambition after years of preparation.

He recalled how Hamzat accepted the decision, supported his candidature and subsequently agreed to serve as his running mate.

That second decision was formalised on November 4, 2018, when the Lagos APC presented Hamzat as Sanwo-Olu’s deputy governorship candidate.

There is an important historical distinction here. Hamzat’s withdrawal was not simply a private favour whose meaning can be established by the beneficiary alone.

At the time, Hamzat publicly justified his action by reference to consultations, political counsel and his confidence in Sanwo-Olu. Friday’s speech added the governor’s perspective to that existing record.

It was nevertheless an instructive disclosure because of what followed.

The 2018 political arrangement became a governing partnership in May 2019. Seven years later, Sanwo-Olu was standing before party leaders and Lagos residents to explain why his former rival and longstanding deputy had become the candidate seeking to succeed him.

There was a circular quality to the moment: the man who stepped aside in 2018 had returned as the governorship candidate in 2026, with the man who benefited from that decision now offering a public account of their shared history.

But it would be too convenient to reduce the development to a story of sacrifice eventually rewarded.

Political ambition cannot be suspended indefinitely on the assumption of future compensation. Neither does an earlier concession confer an automatic right to public office.

The governorship of Lagos belongs to its electorate, not to a private understanding between two politicians. The more significant aspect of Sanwo-Olu’s recollection was therefore his description of what happened between the concession and the new candidature.

According to him, Hamzat did not allow the disappointment of 2018 to define their working relationship. He neither became a troublesome deputy nor pursued a competing political agenda within the administration.

Sanwo-Olu’s observation that they had maintained one government and one direction was intended to present the relationship as an example of political accommodation surviving the pressures of office.

That is relevant in a country where disagreements between governors and their deputies have periodically produced impeachment proceedings, factional conflicts and institutional instability.

For Lagos, the recollection also raises questions about the relationship between loyalty and leadership. Loyalty can preserve stability, but it cannot substitute for independent judgement.

A successful governorship requires more than the capacity to work harmoniously with a predecessor. It demands responsibility for decisions that may differ from the preferences of those who assisted a candidate’s rise.

That distinction will become increasingly relevant as Hamzat explains his own proposals. What Sanwo-Olu achieved through the recollection was to give the 2027 campaign a historical starting point that predates the manifesto and even the present administration.

He demonstrated that the relationship being presented to Lagosians was not suddenly assembled for electoral convenience. It had passed through competition, concession, political collaboration and the practical experience of government.

There is also a lesson for posterity in the governor’s decision to speak publicly about the episode. Political transitions are often documented through official announcements, with little acknowledgement of the human decisions that made them possible.

By recalling September 2018, Sanwo-Olu placed one such decision into the public conversation. Whether that history ultimately influences the electorate is a separate question.

What is established is that the narrative of Hamzat’s candidature now includes an important earlier chapter, told by a principal actor and open to examination alongside the contemporary record.

The perceived rivalry between Nollywood actresses, Toyin Abraham and Funke Akindele, has resurfaced on social media, following a post by Abraham.

Barely 24 hours after Akindele announced her partnership with Facebook to promote her forthcoming movie, The Four: No One Fights Alone, Abraham took to Instagram to share a throwback post celebrating her previous collaboration with TikTok for her movie, Oversabi Aunty.

Akindele had announced the partnership on October 29, promising fans exclusive behind-the-scenes content and other promotional activities ahead of the film’s release.

Abraham in her post on October 30, wrote: ‘Throwback to when TikTok collaborated with OVERSABI AUNTY! It was such a beautiful experience, and I’m looking forward to more amazing collaborations as we gear up for BESTIE.’

The timing of the post triggered reactions, with some social media users interpreting it as a subtle attempt to draw comparisons with Akindele’s latest partnership.

While some accused Abraham of engaging in unnecessary competition with her colleague, others dismissed the criticism, arguing that she was simply celebrating a previous professional collaboration while promoting her forthcoming movie, Bestie.

The development has once again brought the perceived rivalry between the actresses into focus, particularly as both prepare to release movies during the December cinema season.

Akindele’s The Four: No One Fights Alone is scheduled for December 11, while Abraham’s Bestie is expected in cinemas on December 16.

Although neither actress has suggested that the development is connected to a rivalry, their respective promotional activities have once again provided social media users with fresh material for comparison.

The Peace Arena for Youth Foundation (PAY-F), in partnership with PeaceJam Nigeria, the Rotary Club of Akoka, District 9112, and the Rotary Club of Ikeja GRA, District 9111, has urged students and members of different ethnic groups to embrace peaceful coexistence and shun violence.

The call was made at an event themed ‘Choosing Peace Over Violence,’ held on Saturday at the Tolu Odugbemi Hall, University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Speaking on the theme, a Rotary Peace Fellow alumna, Rotarian Grace Anuforo, identified six forms of violence, including physical abuse, sexual violence, social and emotional abuse, cybercrime, verbal abuse, and cruelty.

Anuforo advised participants to set boundaries and walk away from bullying, physical attacks, and verbal abuse rather than retaliate.

She said, ‘This isn’t weakness. It means that you have power over the other person. You shouldn’t allow the actions of a bully to control you. You must think about the consequences of your actions before you act.

‘Being a peace ambassador in your various schools means engaging in peaceful dialogue and teaching other students the rudiments of peaceful coexistence. You must let them understand the dangers of hurting fellow students or engaging in actions that could make them feel violated.’

Also speaking, an official of the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Awojumobi Oluwaseun, described initiatives of this nature as important in promoting peaceful coexistence, conflict resolution and positive behavioural changes among students, particularly amid growing social challenges in schools.

He expressed satisfaction with the large turnout of students, their enthusiasm and the quality of presentations, noting that the programme had fostered an effective partnership among the organisers, teachers and students.

According to him, the initiative provides students with opportunities to acquire practical knowledge beyond the conventional classroom environment.

He urged teachers to reinforce the lessons by creating opportunities for participating students to educate their peers through classroom engagements, school assemblies and other collective activities.

‘The students are agents of change, and they can influence others in their classes. They should be encouraged to continue talking to themselves, encouraging one another and spreading the message of peace beyond the programme,’ he said.

Oluwaseun also advised the organisers to develop information materials, including magazines and flyers, to sustain awareness and encourage positive behavioural changes among students.

He urged the participants to sustain their enthusiasm and commitment, stressing that peace education should extend beyond the programme and become part of their daily conduct within and outside the school environment.

Earlier in her opening remarks, the Executive Director of PAY-F and Coordinator of PeaceJam Nigeria, Dr Doyin Ogunyemi, described the theme as timely, noting that shaping young people’s lives positively from an early age could have lasting effects on their behaviour and choices in adulthood.

Ogunyemi, a former president of the Rotary Club of Akoka, urged young people to maintain harmonious relationships with those around them and promote peace in their communities and beyond.

She said the foundation believed that peace education should begin early, adding that students needed to understand that they could navigate life’s challenges by choosing peaceful responses over violence.

According to her, young people often encounter situations that provoke frustration and could lead to physical violence or emotional abuse, but they must understand that responding violently or peacefully is a choice.

She also stressed the need for peaceful conduct ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging Nigerians to embrace dialogue, tolerate opposing views and remain united despite their differences.

Ogunyemi identified poverty, inadequate resources and economic difficulties, including the rising cost of transportation, as some of the factors that could trigger frustration and violence among students and members of society.

She called for equitable access to available resources and urged students to serve as role models by demonstrating peaceful ways of resolving disagreements.

The PAY-F executive director also advocated the integration of more peace clubs into school curricula to equip students with the skills to manage difficult situations and maintain peaceful relationships.

‘We want to build a country where, even when we disagree on an issue, we can engage in dialogue rather than fight, pick up weapons or resort to other negative actions,’ she said.

Ogunyemi added that individuals must take responsibility for promoting peace, beginning with themselves, their immediate surroundings, schools and communities before extending the message to the wider world.

The event attracted 340 students drawn from 21 schools across Lagos State and neighbouring Southwest states, teachers, development practitioners, Rotarians and peace advocates.