Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Ogun state government has urged the All Stars Football Association Abeokuta to be true Ambassadors of the state and the southwest zone as they compete for honours at the 2025 National Veterans Football Tournament -Lagos 2025- which kick off on Independence Day.

Speaking through the state’s Commissioner For Sports Development Honourable Wasiu Isiaka , the Muda Lawal Stadium Asero-based All Stars were assured of the government’s support as they strive to bring home the coveted trophy as national champions.

Similarly, NFF executive member and chairman of the Ogun state Football Association, Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi, said the state FA is confident of the abilities and capabilities of the veterans to make the state proud in their maiden national appearance.

The 2025 National Veterans Tournament holding in Lagos between October 1st and 5th will see eight qualifiers from six zones across the country competing for the coveted trophy.

All Stars Football Association Abeokuta, the southwest zonal champions, are being joined by Ondo State and the hosts, Lagos, as the representatives of the south west.

The quiet layers of memory and history came alive at the inaugural Archivist Talk held at the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Yaba, Lagos. The event, themed A Collective Remembering, brought together artists, archivists, cultural workers, and journalists to reflect on the role of archives in shaping Nigerian and global contemporary art.

The Archivist Talk is part of the CCA Lagos’ ongoing efforts to preserve the legacy of its founder, the late Bisi Silva, whose vision of connecting Nigerian artists to global audiences continues to inspire projects in archiving, documentation, and storytelling.

The session featured interactive activities such as collage-making and digital storytelling, designed to engage participants in new ways of experiencing archival materials. Technology was at the forefront of the conversations, showing how archives are evolving into dynamic platforms of creativity.

Multidisciplinary artist, Rasak Akorede, described the project as inspiring and innovative.

‘It was quite interesting because different people had different reactions. Some were able to ask questions about events as far back as the 1990s, and the archive gave them answers immediately. That shows how technology can change the way we engage with history,’ he said.

Curator and founder of the Arts Bridge Project, Tony Agbapuonwu, stressed the importance of documentation beyond art. ‘This programme shows us the importance of documenting the times we live in and the role of technology in preserving our stories. Beyond art, archives are tools for understanding culture and shaping the narrative of our society,’ he said.

For cultural reporter, Pelu Adegbesun, the event was a timely reminder of the need to embrace archiving in Nigeria. ‘In the past, many people did not pay attention to preserving memory, but with initiatives like this, young people are beginning to take interest in documentation. This is a beautiful development for our cultural heritage,’ he noted.

Project archivist, Jenny Agu, emphasized the continuing influence of Bisi Silva in Nigeria’s art ecosystem. ‘Her legacy is still very visible in the arts community. She believed in connecting Nigerian artists to global audiences, and this project continues that mission by opening access to archives in creative ways,’ she said.

Agu added that the Archivist Talk was not only about revisiting the past but also about shaping the future. ‘Preserving memory gives us a sense of identity. By using art and technology, we are ensuring that today’s stories will be available for generations to come,’ she explained.

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a directive banning its members nationwide from taking continuous calls beyond 24 hours, warning that the practice has become a ‘silent killer’ of young doctors.

In a statement on Wednesday and jointly signed by Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, Secretary-General and Dr. Abdulmajeed Yahya Ibrahim, Publicity and Social Secretary, the directive was contained in a communiqué released at the end of the Annual General Meeting (AGM), with the policy taking effect from October 1, 2025.

The directive also mandates a mandatory call-free period after every call.

The association described the decision as ‘not just necessary but vital, in line with the principles of self-preservation enshrined in the Hippocratic Oath.’

NARD said its decision was not oblivious of the grim statistics, pointing to Nigeria’s worsening doctor-to-patient ratio.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends one doctor to 600 patients. But in Nigeria, with a population of over 240 million and only about 11,000 resident doctors, the ratio stands at 1:9,083,’ it said noting that resident doctors in Nigeria work an average of 106.5 hours per week, while surgical residents put in as much as 122.7 hours weekly.

‘This translates to an average of four to five days of 24-hour call duty per week. It inevitably leads to increased medical errors due to burnout, endangers patient safety, and takes a severe toll on the mental, physical, and psychological well-being of doctors,’ the association noted.

The doctors lamented that many colleagues have died under these harsh conditions, leaving behind dependants without support, stressing, ‘While the nation celebrates, we quietly bury our colleagues as the country watches in silence. The bigger question is: how many more lives must we lose before decisive action is taken?’

NARD stressed that those who have chosen to remain in Nigeria despite the ongoing brain drain are ‘nothing short of patriots and heroes’ who deserve protection and equitable remuneration.

To address the crisis, the association called on the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health, to implement a one-to-one replacement policy to reduce the crushing workload on doctors.

It also urged the government to establish clear regulations that curb excessive call hours to safeguard the lives of both doctors and patients.

‘As Nigeria celebrates 65 years of nationhood, it is time to reflect not only on our progress but also on the sacrifices of resident doctors who keep the health system running under unbearable strain.

‘We cannot continue to lose our members to preventable and avoidable deaths – not now, and not in the future.’

Afrobeats star Rema has made history as the only African artist featured on the prestigious 2025 TIME100 Next list, which celebrates the world’s most influential rising stars.

His inclusion underscores his global impact on the music scene, with his chart-topping hit ‘Calm Down’ surpassing a billion streams twice.

Rema’s profile for the list was penned by Grammy-winning legend Angélique Kidjo, who hailed his remarkable achievements.

She highlighted how his success continues the legacy of African icons like Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, and Youssou N’Dour, who brought the continent’s sound to the global stage.

‘With the recent global explosion of African music, I needed to include some contemporary sounds. I fell in love with Rema’s ‘Calm Down.’ It has a unique flow and feel, not mimicking Western pop; it is rooted in Africa but also catchy and virtuosic. I love to sing it.

‘The young Nigerian superstar has accomplished so much: ‘Calm Down’ has joined the billion-stream club twice over. Rema has performed in stadiums. His latest album earned a Grammy nomination.

‘Rema is the embodiment of the international success of Afrobeats. Thanks to artists like him, African music is at the forefront of global culture’.

This achievement not only solidifies Rema’s position as a trailblazer in Afrobeats but also cements his status as a leading figure in global music.

By joining the ranks of other global music powerhouses like Teyana Taylor and GloRilla on the list, Rema is paving the way for other African artists to gain international recognition.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that Nigeria is ‘racing against time’ to address decades of underinvestment in power, roads, and infrastructure.

In his 65th Independence Anniversary broadcast on Wednesday, the President defended his administration’s tough reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy and unification of foreign exchange rates, insisting that the country has ‘turned the corner’ towards recovery.

Tinubu acknowledged the hardship Nigerians are facing but assured that his government is channelling resources into education, healthcare, security, and critical infrastructure to secure a prosperous, self-reliant future.

The National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu last night urged Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and other labour unions not to hurt the economy at a the government is making progress to redirect it time.

The NSA made the remark after stepping into the row between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN

The second day of the peace meeting initiated by the government was moved to the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) from the ministry of Labor and government.

‘They have not reached any conclusion yet but the NSA asked PENGASSAN not to hurt the economy,’ a source said last night.

Ribdau held talks with Dangote Group Chairman Aliko Dangote and representatives of oil workers’ union as part of steps to avoid a total shutdown of the oil and gas sector.

At the meeting were the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Labour and Employment Mohammed Dingyadi; Minister of State for Labour and Employment Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo; Secretary of the union Lumumba Ighotemu and top government officials.

The meeting, which was still ongoing as of press time at 11.24pm, was holding in the Office of the NSA (ONSA) in Abuja.

The Upstream and the Downstream of the oil sector are now feeling the impact of the lingering feud between the refinery and PENGASSAN.

A source, who spoke with our correspondent, said: ‘There is an ongoing marathon meeting between the NSA and other key stakeholders, especially Dangote and PENGASSAN leaders.

‘Ribadu, who is the chairman of the Energy Security of the government, opted to intervene following the continuous spread of the strike action by PENGASSAN.

Edun warned that the ongoing strike poses a major threat to the nation’s fragile economy. He said government was determined to limit the impact of the industrial action, which followed the dismissal of 800 workers by Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals.

Edun spoke after a nine-hour meeting convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, stressing that resolving the dispute was urgent to keep country’s economy on track.

According to him, the strike was threatening critical supply chains in gas and crude oil, which are essential inputs for industrial production.

‘What is utmost in the minds of everybody- the public, the government, investors, and economic actors generally- is that we need to limit the danger of this action to the economy. We need to resolve it and get workers back to work. We need gas flowing, we need crude flowing, which is critical to where the economy is right now,’ Edun said.

He added that government remained optimistic that a resolution would be reached when talks reconvene today, noting that sustaining momentum in economic reforms required urgent restoration of operations at the refinery. ‘We don’t want this momentum broken. That is why we spent nine hours trying to resolve the issue. We are hopeful that later today we can break the deadlock and put this behind us so the Nigerian economy can move forward,’ the minister said.

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has expressed concern over the ongoing action by PENGASSAN, warming that it was tantamount to self-help and economic sabotage.

It warned that coercing those not interested in a strike or disrupting the operations of businesses not party to a dispute is unacceptable and against global labour practices.

In a statement, NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, stressed that while trade unions have the legitimate right to embark on industrial action, such rights must be exercised responsibly and within the bounds of the law.

Oyerinde noted that Nigeria has statutory institutions like the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) and the National Industrial Court (NICN) to resolve labour disputes. According to him, resorting to self-help or treating these institutions with disdain would undermine the country’s industrial relations system and threaten economic survival.

He reaffirmed NECA’s commitment to upholding global labour standards in line with ILO Conventions 87 and 98, stressing that protections for union officials do not cover sabotage, coercion, or actions that endanger enterprises and national security.

While acknowledging workers’ rights, he maintained that such rights cannot override employers’ rights to manage investments or jeopardize enterprise sustainability.

The NECA DG urged the Minister of Labour and Employment to act decisively to stop the ‘wanton denigration’ of Nigeria’s industrial relations system. He called for the dispute to be resolved through lawful channels, warning that failure to intervene could damage economic sustainability, job creation, investment attraction, and national development.

Works Minister to PENGASSAN: prioritise national interest

Appealing to PENGASSAN to put national interest above union grievances, Works Minister, David Umahi, warned that the strike action could derail the country’s economic recovery.

Umahi who spoke in Lagos while inspecting the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, stressed that stability in the oil and gas sector was crucial to sustaining development.

Petrol scarcity hits Abuja

In Abuja, petrol scarcity has resurfaced as most retail outlets remained shut while black marketers sold the product at inflated prices. Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) President, Abubakar Maigandi, said the disruption of supply from Dangote Refinery was the immediate cause.

PENGASSAN members continued their blockade of key regulatory agencies in Abuja, including the NNPCL, NUPRC and NMDPRA, despite a subsisting court order.

Pockets of long queues were observed at some gas stations in Lagos with private depots reported to have hiked pump prices to N980 per litre. Other oil sector groups, including NOGASA and PETROAN, appealed to government to quickly intervene, warning that the situation could spiral into a nationwide shortage.

CORAN begs govt to avert oil sector collapse

Reacting to the development, the Crude Oil Refineries Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene to prevent looming collapse of the oil sector if the crises persist.

In a statement, the association stressed that private refineries had invested heavily to reduce dependence on imports, create jobs, and conserve foreign exchange. However, it said recurring disruptions, regulatory delays, and vested interests were threatening their survival.

‘Private refiners cannot survive in a hostile business environment where supply is used as leverage to stifle growth. Government must act impartially and decisively to protect operators and guarantee uninterrupted access to feedstock,’ CORAN said, calling for a binding framework that secures crude supply and restores investor confidence.

NISO blames power generation shortfall on gas disruption

Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) yesterday blamed the dip in electricity generation on the disruption of gas supply.

It allocated 3,656MW to the 11 Distribution Companies (DisCos) as at 15:39 hours yesterday.

The NISO said at 15:00 hours, 14 of the 26 generation Companies GenCos produced 3,798.86MW.

But its management, which made the issue of disruption known in a press statement, said it was due to the industrial actions of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) within the gas supply chain.

In s public notice titled: ‘Generation curtailment due to gas supply disruptions’, it said: ‘The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) wishes to notify the public of recent major generation shortfalls on the National Grid, caused by industrial actions of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) within the gas supply chain.’

NISO further noted that the disruptions triggered widespread gas shortages, reducing available generation from over 4,300 MW in the early hours of Sunday, 28th September 2025, to about 3,200 MW at the lowest point.

In response, NISO said it has promptly deployed contingency measures to preserve the stability, security, and reliability of the National Grid.

According to the statement, key interventions include:

Hydropower Optimization: Strategic ramp-ups from major hydro stations, contributing over 400 MW of additional output to cushion the shortfall from gas-fired plants.

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has congratulated Nigerians on the nation’s 65th Independence anniversary, urging citizens to remain united, resilient, and committed to building a peaceful and prosperous country.

In his Independence Day message, the governor described the anniversary as both ‘a celebration of our resilience and a call to reflection,’ while paying tribute to the sacrifices of Nigeria’s founding fathers.

He noted that the nation’s journey had been marked by challenges, but Nigerians have consistently demonstrated courage and hope.

‘Our path as a nation has been defined by resilience. Nigerians have shown an extraordinary capacity to endure and to hope. Together, we are overcoming. Together, we are rising,’ the governor stated.

Highlighting Kaduna’s progress under his administration, Sani listed 85 road projects covering 785 kilometres across the state, the reopening of key markets, and the reclamation of over 500,000 hectares of farmland.

He added that more than 10,700 out-of-school children had returned to classrooms, 535 schools reopened, and 255 primary healthcare centres upgraded, alongside dedicating over 10 per cent of the 2025 budget to agriculture.

On peacebuilding, the governor pointed to the expansion of community policing, as well as dialogue and reconciliation initiatives, aimed at strengthening security and fostering unity at the grassroots.

He reaffirmed Kaduna’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that bold national reforms were restoring prosperity and investor confidence across the country.

‘Nigeria’s future is bright, and Kaduna’s role in that future is significant. With God’s guidance and our collective resolve, we will overcome our challenges and realise the full potential of our state and country,’ Governor Sani added while wishing Nigerians a happy Independence Day.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on operators of water transportation across the country to place safety above financial considerations in the conduct of their daily business.

The President made the appeal on Wednesday while commiserating with the government and people of Kogi State over Tuesday’s boat mishap in Ibaji Local Government Area, which claimed several lives.

According to reports, the victims were traders travelling from Ibaji to the Ilushi market in neighbouring Edo State when the tragedy struck.

In a statement issued by his special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described the incident as ‘shocking and unfortunate,’ stressing that the victims had been on a legitimate quest to earn a decent living.

The President commended first responders who rushed to the scene of the accident and urged federal, state, and local emergency agencies to intensify rescue and relief efforts to support survivors and assist affected families.

While consoling the government and people of Kogi State, Tinubu prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of the departed and for a speedy recovery of those injured in the mishap.

The Edo State Government has announced that it has concluded plans for the effective collection and conversion of all waste into useful purposes, including power generation.

Edo Commissioner for Water and Energy Resources, Washington Osifo, disclosed this in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, during an awareness campaign to mark this year’s World Rivers Day, themed ‘Clean Rivers, Healthy Communities.’

Represented by Mr. Emma Ofordu, the Commissioner urged communities to adopt responsible practices in protecting rivers and to avoid indiscriminate waste disposal.

Managing Director of the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA), Dr. Olufemi Adekanmbi, also appealed to residents of Ologbo and its environs to collaborate with the authority in preserving water bodies within the catchment areas.

Adekanmbi stressed the need to stop harmful practices that degrade rivers such as Ossiomo, noting that years of abuse have reduced aquatic resources and water quality.

He reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to restoring water quality and promoting safe environmental practices, adding that the campaign was aimed at drawing global attention to the importance of rivers in sustaining life.

According to him, ‘Abuses as a result of harmful human activities, such as pollution, over extraction, damming, deforestation, and climate change, threaten their health and sustainability, thus causing great danger to human health and existence.

‘Rivers are the lifeblood of our Planet. They sustain ecosystems, provide water for agricultural and industrial use, support biodiversity, and serve as vital sources of drinking water for billions of people worldwide. They also hold cultural, spiritual, and recreational significance, enriching the lives of communities across the globe’.

Adekambi later planted some coconuts and palm fruits along the riverbank as a symbolic commitment to preserving water bodies.

Nigeria is 65. She struggled for her independence, but never fought for it. That has made all the difference in her appreciation of her nationalism, unity and democracy. Also, Nigeria fought a civil war to stay united, but because the agonizing consequences of that war were not equally felt, the appreciation of the war’s underpinning value varies.

The choice of Nigeria becoming a democracy was not one made by Nigerians. It was a convenient and not-so-hard choice made on their behalf by colonial masters. As surmised by one writer, ‘Nigeria is a nation that insists on playing in the theatre of democracy, while the script is being written elsewhere.’ Nigeria’s present ethnic composition, defaults respectively to the feudal, monarchical, and republican system. If Nigeria was predicated purely on linguistic and ethnic considerations, there would have been, perhaps, five nations: Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Ijaw, and Fulani. Other smaller ethnicities might have also qualified as confederations. Efik-Ibibio would be one such nomenclature.

Because some things only happen in Nigeria, the nation is what it is, by expedient experimental foreign design. That is the stark reality. A corollary, is that in Nigeria, the defence of democracy or lack thereof, is quite often driven her fractured nature, systemic ethnic biases and by the ever-present irony of ignorance. Oftentimes, these ironies border on political idiocy. Nigeria is a perfect case study of a nation that has experienced colonial rule, self-rule, authoritarianism, military anti-politics and a dual subset of participatory democracy; as a parliamentary system and now, a presidential system.

The debate about Nigeria’s trajectory as a united nation has always been animated. Historically, Nigeria has tethered on the brink, but hardly ever reaching the tipping point. The presumptive basis for consolidated nation building has been dissected in all forms and manner, usually under the rubric of restructuring. Not even the Aristotelian dictate that emphasizes equality amongst equals and proportionality amongst the unequal seems to have helped.

As a nation of over 250 languages, with many ethnic groups and a surfeit of minorities, the dominant Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo tribes (WAZOBIA), have held the leadership sway since her independence in 1960. Yet, as unlikely as it seemed, by a twist of natural attrition and constitutional fiat, a member of a minority tribe, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, fortuitously led the nation as president in the Fourth Republic.

Yet, discussing past, present, and future of democracy in Nigeria inevitably yields mixed results. Why? Because Nigerians covet democracy, but seem incapable of living up to its ideals. Some now even consider the military era, as more constructive, productive and cost-effective in developmental terms. Perhaps, democracy in Nigeria calls for putting new eyes on old ideas and controversies that hobble the nation.

The practice of democracy in Nigeria tends to negate the concept ‘of government predicated on the principle that power should be vested in the people.’ Also, democracy for Nigerians is no longer predicated on political beliefs as much as it’s driven by ethnic and social identities. Such identity paradox creates unending dissonance in democratic politics and governance. By extension, it amplifies Nigeria’s ‘growing distrust of and frustration with democracy.’ But then, Nigeria is not by any means the only nation where democracy has caused hyper-divisions in her political landscape.

A recent op-ed I wrote elicited the following rebuttal from an octogenarian, who was born in pre-independent Nigeria, lived in Biafra and served in her army, and consequently served as a career Nigerian Foreign Service Officer, rising to the rank of ambassador. His words: ‘If this Nigeria doesn’t die, a rebirth of a new Nigeria might be a hoax.’ His perspective is Biblical and Botanical.

Biblically, we read about destroying the temple and rebuilding it in three days, which for believers, is epitomized by the consequent death and rise of Jesus Christ. Botanically, seeds die in order to regenerate and germinate and bring forth new plants and growth. Another interlocutor asked: ‘How will Nigeria not die or be saved when Nigerians are afraid to die or even make sacrifices for the sake of saving her.’

These observations are beyond rhetoric. The debate about Nigeria’s fate and future tends to be schizophrenic: blunt and dodgy at the same time. Nigerians covet democracy but are unwilling to make sacrifices that underpin its efficacy, robustness and survival.

The desirable quest for a New Nigeria is aimed at amplifying and consolidating her democracy, with its consequential rights, liberties and equality for all. The defence of democracy in Nigeria is all about finding common cause and equity in an egalitarian society. Ironically, that quest is frequently subsumed and subjugated by the notion that democracy works well, only when a certain ethnicity is in charge. As such, various ethnicities are fixated on the notion that Nigeria only work well, if not better, under their leadership. Again, such ironical thoughts negate the fundamental notion that democracy is the government of the people by the people. Such ironies are born of ignorance or primordial considerations.

Meanwhile, governance experts have adduced three kinds of democracy: ‘Constitutional democracy – governed by a constitution. Defensive democracy – a democracy that limits some rights and freedoms in order to protect its existence. Deliberative democracy – in which authentic deliberation, not only voting, is central to legitimate decision making.’ Nigeria has dabbled, I believe, in the first two and now seeks to find her grounding in deliberative democracy. General Ibrahim Babangida unwittingly, foisted a defensive democracy on Nigeria, with a restricted two-party system inclined ‘a little bit to the left, and a little bit to the right.’ That system flopped, courtesy of its originating dubious intent.

Still, it should matter little, who leads a nation in a true and vibrant democracy, if the leaders abide strictly to the rule of law, and give primacy to respecting the constitution, its dictates and legitimate decision-making processes. One of the beauties of democracy, is the holding of periodic, genuine and credible elections, in which the citizens decide who should rule them. Voting and transparently electing who should rule in accordance with the extant laws, is a form of defence for any democracy. Inherent in that process, is what ought to be the unfettered ability to vote out bad and underperforming leaders. Ironically, out of ignorance, miseducation, poor orientation, or blinkered bigotry, Nigeria’s voting population continue to default to ethnic considerations or financial inducement and other set of ironies predicated on ignorance.

A major challenge dogging Nigeria’s present day democracy is the seeming inability of her leaders to abide by constitutional dictates and legitimate decision making processes. Not only are constitutional rights eroded routinely, the pillars of any true democracy, the separation of powers are also holistically ignored. Above all, the core principle of making the people’s vote count has never been accorded priority, despite existing laws to that effect. It is this reality that has led to the endless quest for restructuring and electoral reform.

However, because the culture of impunity and sectionalism has eaten every reform and restructuring strategy (apologies to Peter Drucker), change has remained elusive. It is the culture eating strategy that has technically, emasculated political opposition and weakened national democratic institutions. Today, Nigeria is not only insecure, physically, fiscally and psychologically, the nation is progressively on a lawless boil. This is what makes Nigeria an ‘undemocratic democracy.’

Some Nigerians now advocate for a return to the parliamentary system. Their thesis is that the system ensures proportional representation in government based on votes won. The objective is to overcome the prevailing myth of representation that is essentially lineal and skewed unapologetically in favour of the winning party. The attraction of this proposition, beyond its cost-effectiveness, is that it ensures opposition’s concerted role within and outside the government. But it does not ensure the fealty of the system’s operators within and outside the corridors of power. It is this nexus between political idiocy and irony of ignorance, which quite often are fungible that compounds the lack of political will and shirking of sacrifices required for true nation building.

Whereas our democracy has advanced in numerical years, it is stultified in concrete terms and still operationally nascent. As such, Nigeria’s unchangeable past will consequentially instruct and define her unknowable future. Meanwhile, democracy is hard work. We have to work hard at it. But we can’t do so with the present cadre of political leaders, who are not only short-sighted, but utterly indifferent to the fundamentals ethos that undergird any sustainable democracy. Happy Independence!