–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Michael EKOKORUWE:

Isoko Nation has kicked against the alleged sale of a bar of Zamfara gold to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for N5 billion by the Zamfara state government and supported the Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo–Agege as he faults the arrangement that allows a state to sell mineral resources to the federal government.

A press statement by the Apex body of Isoko Nation signed by the President General of Isoko Development Union, High Chief Iduh Amadhe, described the action as provocative and a perpetrated injustice to the Niger Delta region.

The statement condemned the arrangement that allows a state to sell mineral resources to the federal government, noting that the sale is a breach of the laws guiding exploitation of mineral resources in Nigeria.

The statement described the action as anti–peace, culpable of creating tension and anarchy in the region, maintaining that it negates the constitutional position of one Nigeria in the federal allocation sharing formula.

The statement added that, Nigeria majorly depends on the Niger Delta, particularly Isoko Nation communities, but continuously ignore the demand of the people for resource control and restructuring.

Recall that the Deputy Senate President faulted the arrangement while contributing to a debate on the 2021 Appropriation bill during Senate plenary on October 14th 2020.. Omo Agege said his constituents and other Niger Delta people are worried about the development since all proceeds from oil in the territory solely go to the federal account.

He insisted that “the proceeds from the sale ought to be remitted to the federal government account not credited to the account of Zamfara state government”.

The Deputy Senate President said, “it is clear that only two sources identified in the budget for the funding of the budget is revenue from oil on the most part, and borrowings, both local and foreign”, adding that we have other sources of revenue that is not looked into by the federal government.

“Not too long ago, we saw the Governor of Zamfara state come before CBN to present a gold bar worth close to about N5 billion and the gold bar was presented for sale to the CBN. Our people are beginning to wonder who owns the gold that is been sold to the CBN”, he said.

He maintained that, “No state sells oil in the Niger Delta region. I am wondering why a governor of a state should be selling gold bar from Zamfara to CBN”. Omo–Agege stated that whatever revenue that ought to come from that transaction belongs to the entire country and not the state government.

The Deputy Senate President said, “There is a lot of revenue that will take the burden from international borrowing which needs to be explored by the federal government”.

Also in a separate statement signed by the Chairman of Isoko Advancement Network (IAN), Chief Paul John Odhomor, the Network noted that the deafening silence of the Senators by deliberately refusing to debate the issue on the floor of the Senate sends dangerous signals to the people of the Niger Delta region that contributes so much to the national GDP.

“The IAN is aware that solid minerals is one of the items in the Exclusive Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) like oil and gas. It is incredible that the man from Gusau can sell gold directly to the apex bank and an Isoko man from the Niger Delta cannot sell crude oil and gas directly to the NNPC. The IAN frowns at this negative development and warned that this kind of inequalities in the handling of the exploitation of natural resources in Nigeria can trigger youth restiveness in the Delta.”

The IAN noted that the youths of the Niger Delta region are already agitated as there was no justification for the criminalization of their activities with oil and gas facilities in the region while their Zamfara counterparts approaches the vault of the CBN as off takers of their gold.

It however, called on the Federal Government to implement relevant policies towards solid mineral exploration and exploitation with a view to improving the balance sheet of the Country.

–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Mike SOGBOLO (North-East Bureau Chief):

Food items have been shared to 38,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) households in Borno State for the month of October.

This is part of the monthly distribution directed by the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Air Vice Marshal Muhammadu Muhammed (rtd).

A statement on Thursday by the spokesman of the agency in North East, Abdulkadir Ibrahim said the food items were distributed by the Head of Food distribution team for Borno state Flt. Lt. Umar Sani represented the Director General during the exercise which commenced on Monday.

He said the routine distribution of food items to 38,000 households of IDPs in camps and host communities which has commenced is part of support that Federal Government is rendering to the IDPs to provide adequate nutrition.

According to him: “The IDPs who were full of praises to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the routine monthly intervention has ensured that they have sufficient food supply.

Abdulkadir said each of the household was given 54.6kg of food items including 25kg of beans, 12.5kg each of rice and maize, as well as 4.6kg of condiments.

–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Mike SOGBOLO (North-East Bureau Chief):

The National Human Rights Commission has commended the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) after a mass protest by Nigeria.

The Commission insisted that every member of SARS and the Nigeria Police Force involved in the dastardly act should be brought to book.

The Executive Secretary of NHRC, Tony Ojukwu in a press statement on Monday said the action was courageous and a display of mark of a listening Government.

The statement read: “In line with its mandate of promoting, protecting and enforcing human rights in Nigeria, the NHRC has been monitoring reports from individual victims and the media with respect to human rights violation of innocent members of the public by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) as well as other police units across the country.

“The Commission is equally aware of the public outcry to scrap SARS so as to put an end to these violations which has now been met by the Federal Government as a mark of its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights of Nigerians.”

The statement added that: “The Right to protest is a constitutionally protected right as long as it is carried out responsibly and without resulting in the violation of the rights of any member of the public including law enforcement personnel.

“You will recall that earlier, the federal government responded to public outcry against human rights violations by SARS in constituting a special Presidential investigation panel with a broad-based membership including the civil society to investigate these allegations and make appropriate recommendations to sanction any SARS operatives found to have violated human rights of members of the public and to also suggest measures to reform SARS.

“With the initial and right step to disband SARS by the IGP as part of the recommendations of the Presidential Panel, the stage is now set to implement the other recommendations of the panel and in this regard, the government had requested the Commission to constitute a broad based implementation committee inclusive of relevant government agencies and civil society organizations to ensure the transparent, comprehensive and accountable implementation of the white paper on the presidential panel report.”

The statement said: “The Commission assures Nigerians that the federal government is wholly committed to protecting the human rights of all Nigerians in accordance with the 1999 Constitution as amended, Nigeria’s international human rights obligations and respect for the rule of law.”

It however advised that: “Nigerians should appreciate the critical role being played by the Nigerian police and Special Anti-Robbery Squad in bursting armed robbery and other heinous crimes in the country even at the risk of their personal safety and some of them have paid the supreme sacrifice too.“

It said: “However, law enforcement must be carried out bearing in mind constitutional guarantees of human rights, in particular respect for the life and dignity of human person and with utmost professionalism.

“Consequently the SARS/police officers tarnishing the image of government and the police force should be made to be accountable.

“The National Human Rights Commission, more than ever before is wholly committed to working with all stakeholders, state and non-state actors to raise the bar of human rights protection, and enforcement in the country.”

Ojukwu called on everyone, including the protesters to be more vigilant, law abiding and give the ongoing process a chance to resolve all the current issues that have been canvased by Nigerians and to report any form of human rights violations or reprisals to the Commission through its various channels.

–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –Ogbeide Osas KENNEDY:

We lost Awo, yet we proclaimed he was the president that Nigeria never had.
Achebe wrote in his book, There was a country, a book meant to tarnish the image of Pa Awo, but unfortunately, the Biafra warlord himself proclaimed; Awo was the best that never happen to us as a nation.
Awo was betrayed by his close associates – Akintola, Fani Power in the early days and of course pave way for the Northern hegemony, in his later days he was betrayed again by Baba Kekere, the rest is now history. We lost a great man and today we have not recovered. Nigeria wept.

We lost MKO, a MAN described as the symbol of democracy.
His election was declared Nigeria’s freest and fairest presidential election by national and international observers, with Abiola even winning in his Northern opponent’s home state of Kano. Abiola won at the national capital, Abuja, the military polling stations, and over two-thirds of Nigerian states. Men of Northern descent had largely dominated Nigeria’s political landscape since independence; Moshood Abiola, a Western Muslim, was able to secure a national mandate freely and fairly, unprecedented in Nigeria’s history. However, the election was annulled by Ibrahim Babangida, causing a political crisis which led to General Sani Abacha seizing power later that year. We eventually lost him to the cold hands of death while still under the custody of the then military junta which eventually pave way for the 4th republic in 1999, he is today better known as the Symbol of Democracy. We lost an opportunity.
MKO, was betrayed by the people he loved most, the military Junta’s, the Yoruba man, you & I, couldn’t fight for him, we watched him incarcerated and we only paid lip’s service to his release, this will not happen to any Northern Nigeria, else there would have been a Jihadist.
Nigeria bleeds, MKO is gone, the consequences is upon us, the blood of several innocent Nigerian’s heroes and heroine call out to us as they watch the nation BLEED.

Fast forward to 2020, Betrayers smells from afar, from near, from amongst us. Shall we watch again our dear nations lose another opportunity?
There is bickering within the power that be, there is disharmony within the CHESS master and a few people are toying with the life of Nigeria.

“Men at some time are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.”
― William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

It is time to spread the news home and abroad that the wine we drank was poison, we drank in fear, though we feared to drink. Those we trusted, those for whom under the scorching sun, we had to run their errands, empty vessels of no consequence have they proved to be. They that in the morning saintly appear are in the evening monstrous and villainous. Is all but a paradox…. What a master…what a slave…. who will free the prisoners……the jailers or sympathizer………?

BAT – The MAN,
As a popular saying goes; ” Some are born great, some achieve greatness, some love greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them”, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu seems to belong to both categories of the idiomatic expression. In the history of contemporary politics of Nigeria today, one name which easily has made itself well pronounced is Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a political strategist, reformer of political structures, generalissimo, Awolowo of our time, a man of a calibre which no other people can contend with; a former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a firm nationalist of undisputable patristic enthusiasm, a diplomat of no mean feat and a former Executive Governor of Lagos state. As an inspiring leader and handler of men, a loving husband and father, a charming and tactful friend, if his contribution for the welfare of his own followers brought him the reward of victories, his mercy and courtesy towards his oppositions are the gratuitous expressions of the men’s own character. A man who grew up in Lagos but rose through the ranks as a focused disciplined and Jagaban of Borgu, never left anyone in doubt that he is created to positively influence the lives of many people in virtually all areas of human experience; politics, careers, professions, leadership and self-development. A political stalwart, Tinubu insisted from youth that he is that light which must shine bright in the lives of men and charge their fortunes for good.
During the period of Nigeria’s history when Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was the strongest and biggest party in Africa, Action Congress grew from a tiny settlement to form a mighty party, All Progressives Congress (APC), only once was the mighty and destiny of the most powerful party in Africa PDP seriously threatened, and that threat was conveyed by the patriotism, courage and genius of the former Lagos State Governor. He alone braved the strongest party and outwitted them by his cunning, he put down, stamped out all who opposed him and APC snatched the mantle of leadership from the PDP government with the watchword, “Change”.
Will we BETRAY him again?
AWO, betrayed, MKO, betrayed?
JAGABAN- Nigeria will resist, Nigeria is a GOAL.

• Ogbeide Osas KENNEDY writes from Lagos.

-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –By Austen AKHAGBEME:

This is surely not the best of times for the Governor of Ekiti State and the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi. Yet, he seems to be riding in the storm, purportedly orchestrated by his new traducers and party rivals.

Party rivalry and political animosity, generated from a perceived Presidential or Vice Presidential ambition come 2023, had undoubtedly threw up some murky waters for Fayemi to swin in.

In the days preceding the stormy exit of the Adam’s Oshiomhole’s led NWC of the crisis ridden APC, Fayemi’s name kept appearing for the wrong reasons. He was perceived to be the arrow head of the calculable subterfuge that was pushing for the exit of the Oshiomhole led NWC as he campaigned vigorously for the president’s recognition of Giade as the new helm of affairs.

Ever since then, Fayemi has fallen into the bad books of his Godfather, the APC National leader, Bola Tinubu and till today, neither Fayemi nor Bourdillon has found rest politically, against themselves.

Those who knows says the bottom line is 2023. The clash of interest and the innate desire to clitch the expected mandate of the West, has probably piqued Fayemi against his benefactor. And the old man of Bourdillon is unrelenting as he finds it very disconcerting.

Because every Politics is local, the war was taken to Ekiti grounds, spearheaded by the erstwhile fiery journalist, Babafemi Ojudu, against Fayemi. They seems to be winning as Kayode Fayemi was controversially sidelined and suspended from the party until the National leadership came to his rescue.

Against the run of play, Kayode Fayemi seems to be gaining more ground as he is rumoured to have his hands on every ‘bad pie’. His rumoured fellowship with the opposition PDP and his open identification with her chieftains, leaves no one in doubt as to his readiness to quit the party, when push comes to a shove.

Afterall, Nigerian political parties are fundamentally inorganic by nature and are devoid of ideological lineages good enough, to prick anybody’s political conscience. Because they’re borderless and fluid, personal interest and strong desires becomes the driving force and the very essence of partisanship itself.

This fact, Fayemi understood fully; the reason why he chooses to be the stormy petrel, a new thorn in the flesh of the powers that be, in APC. Whether or not this will favour him in the long run, no one can tell.

Kayode Fayemi, no doubt, is highly cerebral, young, energic, politically savvy and daring. He may even have a longer political lifespan among his contemporaries in his geopolitical zone, too.

But his often and generally talked about anti-party activities does not speak well of a self acclaimed political pugilist and Democrat, whose eyes are on topmost political job in the land. He must learn to

• Austen AKHAGBEME is a Columnist with Blank NEWS Online

–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Mike SOGBOLA (North East Bureau):

The convoy of Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum was again attacked on Sunday morning around Baga.

The latest attack, which recorded no death, happened when the convoy was on their way back to Maiduguri.

They were said to be attacked at about 10.30am on Sunday about two kilometers away from Baga.

The convoy, according to some of the people who returned back to Maiduguri on Sunday evening from the tour, were shot at by Boko Haram.

One of them, said: “There was no death recorded this time around except some minor injuries.

“The windscreen of some vehicle were scattered, some vehicles had their tyres busted by gunshots, including the Government House Press Crew bus.

“The military gun truck was also shot at and a soldier had his shoulder scalded with gunshot.”

The latest attack happened minutes after the governor had resettled some IDPs in Baga town.

The governor had on Sunday resettled 521 households displaced from Baga as part of the government plan at returning live back to the commercial border town with riverine environment.

Zulum has distributed food items and cash support to each of the 521 displaced but returned households.

Each households were given a cash support of N10,000 to assist them in resettling back.

While distributing the food items and cash support to the returnees in Baga town, Zulum had reassured them and those to later return that his government will do everything in it’s power to ensure their peaceful and safe living now that they are back home.

He however charged them to continue to be watchful on their children and restrict their movements unnecessarily to avoid falling victims to land mines that may still be scattered in bushes.

He warned that some parts of Baga town are still dangerous to walk as there are still IEDs planted by the Boko Haram which may likely not have completely evacuated.

The governor also appealed to the returnee IDPs to be patient while their individual houses are being renovated, urging them to share residences at least for sometimes before everything is prepared.

He assured them of security from aggression, noting that the Nigerian military, police, civil defence , Immigration Service , CJTF and vigilante hunters have been deployed to provide security of lives and property in Baga and it’s environs as well as ensure establishment of law and order.

He added that as the military continues to clear land mines in parts of the town , the committee will renovate their respective houses and provide them with all the basic facilities and amenities of life for their services while the situation improves steadily.

The governor was later at Monguno enroute Maiduguri at about 12.30 pm, before Monguno he had addressed about 500 IDPs at Baga-Cross Kauwa-Kukawa check point gate.

The governor also addressed another large crowd of Baga IDPs who were not yet screened and given a go ahead to return to Baga at the Monguno Government Lodge.

The governor who addressed the large congregation along with Senator Abu Kyari, representing Borno North senatorial district at the National Assembly, pleaded with the IDPs and assured them of their return back home to Baga town without the threats of Boko Haram.

Zulum commended the efforts of the committee and security agencies , particularly, the military for their support while promising them that his government will continue to support and empower them to enhance their livelihoods in Baga.

He also told them that government has provided an enabling environment, security, food and basic infrastructures for their return and to better their lives in their various communities.

–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Mike SOGBOLA (North-East Editor):

Police on Saturday confirmed the attack on the convoy of Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum.

In the convoy the governor was however absent as he chose to travel by air to Baga but had present some commissioners.

On 25th September, 2020 at about 12PM, the security convoy who were heading to Baga in respect of Government’s effort to relocate indigenes of Baga to their ancestral home came under heavy gun attack by Armed men suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists a few Kilometers from Cross Kauwa. The security convoy returned fire and successfully repelled the attack.

In the ensuing gun fight however, casualties were recorded on both sides. Unfortunately, eight (8) Policemen and three (3) members of the Civilian Joint Task Force paid the supreme price. Thirteen (13) other persons sustained various degrees of injuries and were rushed to Hospital for treatment.

The Commissioner of Police, Bello Makwashi assures members of the public that the Nigeria Police is determined to carry out its constitutional mandate of protecting lives and properties and will not relent in providing the needed security for the good citizens of Borno State at all times.

Meanwhile, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has expressed sadness over the killing of 11 security personnel in the convoy.

A statement by his spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau on Saturday said those killed include eight policemen and three civilian JTF members that were ambushed on their way to Baga as security backup in reconstruction efforts.

The statement said the governor was in Baga from Thursday till Friday in an effort to supervise efforts to return residents as part of strategies aimed at cutting Boko Haram’s long use of the commercial town as main transit for undertaking major fishing trade and tax administration from which the insurgents fund their murderous activities.

Baga, which is Borno’s largest fishing community in the shores of the Lake Chad with waterways to neighboring countries is considered strategic to Boko Haram’s operation.

Gusau revealed that two convoys- one belonging to the governor and another, the committee on Baga reconstruction had safely plied the Maiduguri-Baga route previous days before the third convoy of security men was ambushed on Friday morning even after precautionary steps had been taken to ensure safe trips.

The statement read: “Governor Babagana Umara Zulum is saddened by this unfortunate carnage. He shares the grief of families of these 11 priceless heroes to whom Borno shall remain grateful. The governor prays for the repose of their souls and urges all stakeholders to remain committed to ongoing peace building efforts. Zulum is of the opinion that we must continue to keep hope alive even in the face of tribulations, and believe that with sustained efforts and prayers, Borno will eventually regain peace.

“The situation facing us is a tough one but we must choose between doing something which gives us some hope and doing nothing which will leave us more vulnerable to Boko Haram’s ultimate wish to takeover Borno and bring it under their sovereign brutal administration.”

The statement said the governor attended Baga’s first juma’at prayers in nearly two years

Baga town was displaced by the Boko Haram insurgents 21 months ago, with most of the residents taking refuge in Monguno and Maiduguri.

In the Governor’s convoy were the Senator representing Northern Borno, Abubakar Kyari, House of Representatives members representing Marte, Monguno, Nganzai, Mohammed Monguno and that of Mobbar, Kukawa, Guzamala, Abadam federal constituencies, Bukar Kareto. Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, Chairman of Baga resettlement committee and the Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Kaka-Shehu Lawan were on the trip and some top government officials.

–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA):

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Godwin Obaseki, winner of the governorship election in Edo State.

INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, who announced the total result of the election said APC polled 223,619 votes while PDP got 307,955.

Results as announced by INEC:

1. ESAN CENTRAL = APC – 6719, PDP 10,794

2. IKPOBA OKHA = APC – 18218, PDP – 41030.

3. UHUNMWONDE = APC – 5972, PDP – 10022.

4. EGOR = APC – 10202, PDP 27621.

5. OWAN EAST = APC – 19295, PDP – 14762.

6. OWAN WEST = APC – 11193, PDP – 11485.

7. ESAN SOUTH EAST = APC – 9237, PDP – 10565.

8. OVIA NORTH EAST = APC – 9907, PDP – 16987.

9. ETSAKO WEST = APC- 26140, PDP – 17959.

10. IGUEBEN = APC – 5199, PDP – 7870.

11. OREDO = APC – 18365, PDP – 43498.

12. ESAN NORTH EAST = APC – 6556, PDP – 13579.

13. ESAN WEST = APC – 7189, PDP – 17434.

14. ETSAKO CENTRAL = APC – 8359, PDP – 7478.

15. ETSAKO EAST =j APC – 17011, PDP – 10668.

16. AKOKO EDO = APC – 22963, PDP  – 20101.

17. ORHINMWON = APC – 10458, PDP – 13445.

18. OVIA SOUTH WEST = APC – 10636, PDP – 12659

-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA):

Primary schools in Delta State are to resume academic activities as primary six pupils have been asked to resume school on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.
In the same vein, all primary school teachers in the state have been ordered to resume duties on Monday, September 14, 2020.
The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Patrick Ukah, in a statement in Asaba today (11/09/2020) after a comprehensive meeting with relevant stakeholders, said that the reopening is in line with the decision of the state government, in conjunction with the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), to implement phased resumption of schools beginning with exit classes.
He said that on resumption, the pupils are to immediately commence revisions for their cognitive placement examination scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 26, 2020.
Chief Ukah called on primary school heads to ensure that all COVID-19 protocols as enumerated by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) are strictly adhered to in order to avoid the spread of the disease among teachers and pupils.
The Basic and Secondary Education Commissioner charged the school heads to emulate their secondary schools counterparts who adequately organised their schools for the return to school of SS 3 and JS 3 students.
Chief Ukah restated that each class room should not accommodate more than 20 pupils to ensure proper physical distancing, in addition to complying with other protocols put in place to control the spread of the disease.
According to him, no pupil should be allowed into the the school compound without wearing a facemask, adding the state government will provide facemasks for them.
Chief Ukah revealed that teachers who have been trained on COVID-19 preventive measures are expected to train other teachers between Monday when the teachers will resume and Wednesday when the pupils will come back.
He added that officials of the ministry led by himself, those from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and members of the committee set up by the state government to ensure compliance with the established protocols, will from Monday, September 14, 2020, go round to monitor the situation of things in all primary schools in the state.

-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) —By Ogbeide Osas KENNEDY:

Chief Obafemi Awolowo the only Nigerian referred to as the late SAGE. Have you ever wondered the dictionary meaning of a sage ‘’wise, knowledgeable, learned; shrewd, skillful”. No other Nigerian till date has been described as a sage, he was referred in death as the best President Nigeria never had by his perceive antagonist Late Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

He was responsible for modern Nigeria making what is today known as South West as the economic power of the country, his contributions were countless , 1st ever TV Station in West Africa, he introduced free education at all levels, cocoa boom, the palm business , let me not re-write history. He authored several books (22) in number and the most popular of them all was ‘’My march through prison.’

His image, many Nigerian folks, especially in the South West believe in the moon (a folktale). Nigerians obviously were the looser as he was denied the seat of power severally, yet we knew he was sagacious enough in making Nigeria an envy in the committee of nations. We lost an opportunity.

Chief MKO Abiola, a Nigerian businessman, publisher, politician and aristocrat of the Egba clan. He was the Aare Ona Kankafo XIV of Yoruba land. He later became a politician and contested for the Presidency under the political platform of the now defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) on June 12, 1993.

The election was declared Nigeria’s freest and fairest presidential election by national and international observers, with Abiola even winning in his Northern opponent’s home state of Kano. Abiola won at the national capital, Abuja, the military polling stations, and over two-thirds of Nigerian states. Men of Northern descent had largely dominated Nigeria’s political landscape since independence; Moshood Abiola, a Western Muslim, was able to secure a national mandate freely and fairly, unprecedented in Nigeria’s history.

However, the election was annulled by Ibrahim Babangida, causing a political crisis which led to General Sani Abacha seizing power later that year. We eventually lost him to the cold hands of death while still under custody of the then military junta which eventually pave way for the 4th republic in 1999, he is today better known as the Symbol of Democracy. We lost an opportunity.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban of Nigeria, the Lion of Bourdilion, the NEWSUN.

He is a master strategist who has dominated the politics of Nigeria’s commercial capital for over two decades, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has long been expected to make a run for the country’s top job – his formidable political network, propensity for deal-making and substantial personal wealth give him a head start over many other contenders. Tinubu has not held an official position in government since his second term as Lagos governor, which ended in 2007, but his influence in national politics has grown.

He is credited with the social and economic progress seen in Lagos over the past two decades. He has also ensured that progressive governors run the state since he left the post.

Some of Tinubu’s notable achievements as governor includes improving the state’s waste management system, and better incentives for civil servants (salary increases and better quality of working environments). A notable Nigerian and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka described BAT as follows: “I do not admire BAT because he is saint, I do not admire BAT because he is from the South, I do not admire BAT because he is a Yoruba, If I want saints, I will proceed to heaven not on earth for every man is fallible, I admired BAT because he saved Nigeria from falling into ‘one party state’”. Away from Soyinka, testimonies are abound, he made Kings, he made Ministers, made Senators, he made Federal Legislators, he made Chairmen, he made LEADERS, those who followed him never regretted, he made Lagos better, he sure will make Nigeria even greater and a new nation.

Et tu, Brute—Then fall, Caesar!. “The noblest man that ever lived in the tide of times’’. Awo fell and died, MKO fell and died. They were both noble men,
BAT another refined aristocrat, a noble man will not fall, he will rise to the occasion to take his mantle. An opportunity gained, never again will it be a lost opportunity.

“Bid me run, and I will strive with things impossible.”
BAT- The NEWSUN an opportunity GAINED.

#Jagaban#newdawn

• Ogbeide Kennedy write from Lagos.

–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –By Austen AKHAGBEME:

To the average political pundit and the avowed political watcher, Sen Ahmed Bola Tinubu and his politics needs no introduction. This owes partly to his near cult figure among his followers and his many political battles fought (in a not too friendly turf) and won in the past.

The Jagaban, as Sen Bola Tinubu is fondly called, left no one in doubt about his taunted political ambition with his loud body language and his consistent invincibility where it matters most.

Presently speaking, so many kites are being flown and dummies presented, all in a bid to outsmart one another by the two cardinal political power blocs in Nigeria– the north and the south.

Within the ambit of the ruling party, rumours are rife that constitutionally speaking, the issue of rotational Presidency is silent and therefore, not biding and as such, the north may not be committing any infraction by choosing to continue with the status quo as regards which part the Presidency Pendulum swings come 2023.

This has generated undue heat and discomfort amongst the rank and file of the several caucuses angling at producing the next President from their fold within the Party.

The recent visit to Tinubu by the controversial former senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and the rumoured talk and ongoing consultation between former vice President, Atiku Abubakar and some powerful northern power brokers, is a Pointer that the Jagaban may be in for a battle of his life.

Whether or not he’s fighting for himself or a stooge as he’s won’t to do, may not be the question that needs an answer in the ageing mind of the Jagaban; what needs an answer is his continued political relevance, when the battle is lost and won.

As a loyal and indefatigable party man, party consensus has always been his disposition; he emphasizes party loyalty and discipline to the core. But whether or not he would jettison this for self preservation when the odds are against him is yet to be known.

Those who are familiar with the jagabanism brand of politics appreciate the power of mentoring and result associated with it. It is a zero sum brand of politicking that leaves no chance to the opposition. It is politics embedded at the grassroots with enough clientele and hangers-on.

It’s cyclical nature makes one philosopher King her cherished pivot. It’s principles are hinged on elite comfort but based on populism. Coupled with her financial might, elections are contested and won and the opposition, overrun. This is the stuff Jagabanism is made of and the protagonist remains Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.