The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Category: Opinion

  • Just Go Further – Become the Total Entrepreneur

    A Review by Oseloka H. Obaze

    The powers of the written word “highlight its ability to shape thoughts, change the world, and create lasting connections through healing, inspiration, and reflection.”  While traditional wisdom, says that “a picture tells a thousand stories,” James Lafferty, an American actor and director, surmised that “The picture alone, without the written word, leaves half the story untold.”

    We are gathered today, first, to honour and validate the importance and power of the written word. Secondly, we have an eclectic group of invitees; prospective young entrepreneurs, change makers, visionaries, and captain of industries. What is it, exactly, that pulls this group together on a Monday afternoon in Lagos?

    We have come to honour and support one of our own, Mrs. Ebele Obi. She is the author of the book being presented today, which is titled, Just Go Further- Become the Total Entrepreneur.

    My task here is very simple; to lend my voice to the ensuing conversations, and to underpin the essence of shared vision, and support in the smallest way possible, whatever dreams, aspirations, and networking opportunities, this book and this gathering may bring about.

    For the purposes of full disclosure, I had before now, been asked to co-write the foreword to this book. I did, along with Professor M.U. Adikwu.  So, kindly forgive me, if you find some of the things I may say here, already recorded in the foreword.

    At the juncture when I read the manuscript of Just Go Further- Become the Total Entrepreneur, I was, coincidentally, engrossed in the book, How Successful People Think, by John C. Maxwell. Upon request, I accepted to do the foreword, not from the author, but from her brother, and my dear friend. Ejike Onwusowulu. I recognized in reading the manuscript, that it was a manifestation of how successful people think. They share and transfer knowledge and they also motivate others to become successful. That is history. Let’s fast forward to the present.

    Rather than following the traditional book review format, I would like from the onset, to put the book being presented today in its proper context.  Just Go Further- Become the Total Entrepreneur is a motivational book written by an entrepreneur, for budding entrepreneurs.   It is by no means, the first or last book on entrepreneurship to emerge in the Nigerian literary scene.

    Yet, it is a fit-for-the purpose book. Essentially, it has three vital strands. Why? How to, and Gateways. It is a fundamental work targeted at dreamers; those who think they can become viable and trail-blazing entrepreneurs, but are hobbled by self-doubt, aspiring entrepreneur, as well as seasoned professionals who had long transcended the elemental aspects of entrepreneurship.

    To those in these categories, the book is a clarion call, to rise persevere, despite prevalent challenges, to think boldly – at times outside the box- and sometimes as outliers; but above all  to pursue one’s dream with purpose and unfettered passion.

    The 240-page book is segmented into three self-explanatory parts. Part 1: Becoming or Being an Entrepreneur; Part 2: Sustaining Growth as an Entrepreneur; and Part 3: Crossing Generations. It also has a total of 16 chapters, along with real-life interviews with successful entrepreneurs, abstracts, recommendations for further reading, references and testimonials.

    For us in Nigeria, the book speaks to the utility of free enterprise; how to do it yourself, and how to think progressively big, even in a stifling economic environment like ours. It prods our young people, to think of themselves not as prospective employees but as prospective employers in this era of start-ups, fiercely driven by innovative and disruptive technology and artificial intelligence.

    Generally, the book speaks to why: entrepreneurs start companies and the critical roles they play in any economy. Pivoting away from the “why,” the book delves with the how to: these include identifying the problems, prospects, opportunities, as well as unmet needs, and thereafter, developing the pertinent business ideas required to solve the problem or needs. These efforts, naturally follow a well-identified industry trajectory, regardless of the cadre the entrepreneurs fall into, be it the so-called Small or Medium Scale (SME) small business enterprise, social entrepreneurship, scalable startup entrepreneurship, or large company entrepreneurship.

    The author’s first sentence is poignant: “Hey, I want to take you on a journey, like on a roller coaster.” And she surely did. Like all things in life, the book recognizes that swings, obstacles and challenges will abide. And it’s only by overcoming such obstacles, including the imponderables that success can be achieved. In tackling the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, the author touches on personal sacrifices required for success and growth, which she opines, might in extreme cases, include risking the ability to put food on the table.

    As she explains, “the growth period is a very sensitive period in the life of entrepreneurs,” and she draws lessons from an established entrepreneur, who cautions that “it is good to follow your passion but, your passion must put food on your table.” Regardless for how fervent your passion is, the concretization of entrepreneurial realities, require surmounting several thresholds related to preparation, marketing, execution and leadership in order to achieve success.

    Beyond the obvious entrepreneurial exhortations, Just Go Further- Become the Total Entrepreneur, is a special purpose vehicle, keen driver and motivational book aimed at those who aspire, those who are hobbled by self-doubt, and those who need a nudge to get-up and embark on a startup.  It is a do-it-yourself and how-to-do-it-right exposé. This three-part 16-chapter book is a handful, bursting with motivational insights for would-be-entrepreneurs.

    This book grapples with three critical questions every aspiring entrepreneur must contemplate. What does it take to become an Entrepreneur? How do you sustain growth as an Entrepreneur? And how do you replicate your success by transference of your skill sets, innovative ideas and methodologies in the workplace, in order to make them sustainable and cross-generational? These questions are germane, considering that the traditional definition of an enterprise is “a project or undertaking that is especially difficult, complicated or risky.”

    Inevitably, since there are some recurring questions relative to entrepreneurial aspirations, the author attempts to offer clarity to such questions, including a rhetorical but ubiquitous question in our evolving startup and globalized world: Are entrepreneurs born or made?

    I believe the jury is still out on that question. But as we know, some of the contemporary global redoubtable entrepreneurs and unicorn company founders were not Sorbonne, Oxford, Cambridge or Harvard graduates. In reality, and this pattern seems consistent, some notable redoubtable entrepreneurs and unicorn founders, did not even graduate from High School. What they had were ideas, personal motivation and the sheer drive and audacity to run with such ideas against all odds. The resulting high valuations were usually, consequential adjuncts.

    As such, I suspect that most readers of this book will identify with the author’s assertion that “every individual is an entrepreneur? Some blossom into business owners, some show up their entrepreneurial spirit wherever they find themselves, while others simply disappear somewhere in our big global space.” Since many entrepreneurs will never self-actualize; their dreams and skills will be stillborn. It is to such persons, amongst others, that the author directs her attention.

    In very plain language, the author has identified twenty mainstream attributes of an entrepreneur, which most people will easily recognize, but might never appreciate that they posses. But this is exactly what should set anyone thinking. She prods the reader to also explore and ask some heady questions to wit; If I am — an idea generator, if I am a passionate influencer, creative and goal-oriented, if I listen well and take honest advice; if I am courageous, motivated, comfortable with change, self-assured, diligent, resourceful and persevering — Why then, do I not belong to that “group of individuals having some common characteristics and qualities and characterized as entrepreneurs? Why am I not one of those entrepreneurs who can unlock hidden potentials?

    Since no one ever embarks on an enterprise with a mission to fail, each enterprise must have a life cycle, which if not properly sequenced, should at least be measurable by certain benchmark accomplishments and its sustainability.

    Contextually, the author offers the reader and entrepreneur-to-be, extant and acceptable insights into setting up management and growth measuring tools; the so-called SMART and SMARTER indices. As she asserts, “Every entrepreneur must have an assessment document with which to measure growth and progress. This will help direct their efforts especially in terms of marketing, branding and profitability.”

    I am convinced that every eventual reader of this book will agree with me that the ultimate selling point and value of this book lay in Part 3, wherein the issues of succession are discussed. Readers will also agree that it is commonplace in business circles in Nigeria and elsewhere, to hear expressions of grave worries about enterprise sustainability and its corollary, leadership succession challenges. The author does well to underscore the importance of effective leadership and succession planning. As she stated “Succession planning and execution can also be used to forecast the future of an organization amidst many other factors that drive success and succession.”

    Part 3, will also be most invaluable even for well-established entrepreneurs, who per chance, have not done their due diligence in succession planning and therefore, are still at risk. It will also serve young entrepreneurs well, and ensure they do not encounter the pitfalls that rendered many enterprises belonging to the past generations moribund, once the founder is deceased. Another factor that is perhaps noteworthy in this context, is the global fail rates of new SMES.

    For the record, enterprise experts estimate that “20% of small businesses fail in their first year, 30% of small businesses fail in their second year, and 50% of small businesses fail after five years in business. Finally, 65% to 70% of small business owners fail in their 10th year in business.”  Relatedly, “Over 70% of small to micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa fold within the first 5–7 years of inception.  In Nigeria the numbers are even direr: “about 80 percent of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), in Nigeria fail within the first five years of their existence due to lack of experience and other wrong business practices.”  While these figures should give us pause, they also speak to the revelatory value of this book.

    The author does ask another heady question that ought to be of interests to us all. “If at this moment you drop dead or better may be, get entangled by a life changing ailment, which renders you incapable of carrying on with your entrepreneurial activities, what will be happening in your business?” In response, the author cites as examples, the fate of three successful Nigerian family-owned enterprises, and what happened to them because they were bereft of succession planning. You have to read the book to get the rest of the gist.

    Ebele Obi has acquitted herself creditably as an inimitable live coach, business leader and mentor.  In writing Just Go Further-Become the Total Entrepreneur, Ebele Obi has made a memorable contribution to the world of public and private enterprise, in very plain and understandable language.

    Readers may variously consider Just Go Further- Become the Total Entrepreneur, a reference book, a business guide or a do-it-yourself book. Whatever assessment it garners, the volume is compellingly motivational. It speaks to the gumption required to begin and successfully traverse the often confounding and labyrinthine recesses of entrepreneurship. Yet, the book is also the sharing of the author’s personal story, experience, resilience, and entrepreneurial journey.  As she asserts, “Entrepreneurship is about mindset, courage, and consistency. This book encourages people not just to start, but to go further, to become total entrepreneurs who can thrive anywhere.”

    The enduring influence and value of this book, which will be in perpetuity, can only be described as one of infinite possibilities. The validity and veracity of the recommendations in Just Go Further-Become the Total Entrepreneur, rests largely on the fact that the author has leveraged her privileged contacts with at least seven highly regarded and successful Nigerian entrepreneurs, thus drawing on their very vast and rich collective experience.

    I believe that most readers will glean from this book, something worthwhile. It should also interest those who wish to see the high failure rate of SMEs in Africa and Nigeria reduced drastically. Perhaps, the greatest beneficiaries of Just Go Further-Become the Total Entrepreneur will include the target audience, mainly talented young adults focused on startups, unemployed graduates, and struggling entrepreneurs. This book will surely teach our young ones to think outside the box and seek to become employers of labour instead of wage-seeking employees.

    I recommend Just Go Further-Become the Total Entrepreneur highly, to all readers, especially those who seek to become Entrepreneurs.

  • Mapping Nigeria’s Sub-National IGR Race, Growth Gaps, and Governance (2022–2024)

    Mapping Nigeria’s Sub-National IGR Race, Growth Gaps, and Governance (2022–2024)

    …Enugu, Bayelsa, and Kano Lead Nigeria’s 2024 Revenue Surge.

    By David Ugwunta, Ph.D

    The 2024 Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) map of Nigeria’s sub-nationals reveals stark contrasts and rising fiscal ambition. Lagos, shaded in deep blue, surged past ₦1.26 trillion, while Yobe barely crossed ₦11 billion, highlighting the uneven revenue landscape.

    According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), total internally generated revenue for sub-nationals rose to ₦3.633 trillion in 2024, up from ₦2.427 trillion in 2023 and ₦1.926 trillion in 2022. As such, the cumulative growth rate jumped from 26.03% in 2023 to 49.70% in 2024, a net gain of 23.67%. Ten sub-nationals consistently led the IGR charge, contributing 74.53% of the national total in 2024 (₦2.71 trillion).

    Lagos remained dominant, accounting for 34.72% of national IGR and 46.59% of the top 10 in 2024. Rivers followed with ₦317.30 billion, and the FCT ranked third with ₦282.36 billion. Ogun held fourth place, while Enugu made a dramatic entrance at fifth with ₦180.50 billion, displacing Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Kano, and Kaduna. Akwa Ibom climbed to eighth, Kano re-entered at ninth, and Kaduna rounded out the top 10.

    Twelve (12) states rotated through the top 10 IGR performers between 2022 and 2024 based on contribution to total national IGR. Oyo and Kwara exited top 10 in 2024, suggesting either signs of fiscal stagnation or being outpaced by faster-growing states. Ogun’s slight decline contrasted with Akwa Ibom’s quiet ascent.

    A deeper dive into percentage growth dynamics shows 23 sub-nationals posted significant IGR gains in 2024. Enugu led with a staggering 415.01% growth, driven by aggressive reforms, digital systems, and expanded revenue streams. Bayelsa followed with 198.26%, and Kano rebounded with 112.1%. Osun and Jigawa gained 82.63% and 81.92% respectively. Other notable performers included Taraba, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Rivers, Borno, and Sokoto at 54.48%, 51.41%, 50.54%, 49.30%, 40.86%, and 40.01% respectively.

    States like Oyo, Niger, Lagos, Anambra, and Gombe posted gains between 24.9% and 39.04%, while Kebbi, Imo, and Ogun grew modestly. Kaduna, Delta, and Edo recorded sub-10% increases, and Zamfara barely moved at 0.85%.

    On the contrast, 14 sub-nationals experienced IGR declines. Ebonyi suffered the steepest drop, plunging from 148.19% growth in 2023 to -57.27% in 2024, a net loss of -205.46%. Ekiti and Katsina fell by -78.76% and -61.39% respectively. Ondo and Kwara posted reversals of -51.84% and -47.43%. Plateau and the FCT lost momentum, declining by -41.78% and -35.98%. Others with negative growth included Kogi, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Benue, Adamawa, Yobe, and Cross River.

    These declines underscore the volatility of sub-national revenue generation and the risks of relying on one-time inflows or weak enforcement. They highlight the need for stronger fiscal planning, digitalization, and diversification.

    Regionally, the South-East led with an average growth of 60.87%, followed by the South-South at 51.92% and North-West at 28.96%. The North-East posted 14.26%, while the South-West managed just 5.22%. In the North-Central, despite Niger’s 31.88% gain the region ranked lowest with a -20.42% average decline as all other sub-nationals in the zone recorded negative growth.

    Nigeria’s IGR performance offers both a scoreboard and a mirror—revealing which states are innovating, which are stagnating, and the fiscal implications for development.

    Balancing Revenue Ambition with Equity, Trust, and Economic Impact
    The surge in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) across many sub-nationals in 2023 and 2024 offers clear gains for governance and taxpayers alike. States like Enugu, Bayelsa, and Kano now have greater fiscal space to invest in infrastructure, education, and healthcare, enabling more responsive, localized development. A broader tax base also allows for a fairer distribution of the tax burden, where more contributors mean lighter individual loads and stronger voluntary compliance. However, without transparency and citizen engagement, rising revenues risk mismanagement or diversion, eroding trust and weakening accountability. Wide adoption of digital revenue platforms can help close these gaps by curbing leakages, reducing arbitrary charges, and making the system more efficient and transparent.

    Higher IGR demands higher accountability. In top-performing states, citizens expect visible returns on their taxes, pushing governments toward greater transparency. States that embrace automation and reform strengthen the link between taxation and service delivery. Crucially, digitization must cut both ways — not just boosting revenue collection, but also enhancing service delivery and tracking how funds are spent matching by open contracting reforms. The Open Contracting Data Standards (OCDS) provide a framework, not a platform for governments to structure and publish expenditure data across the entire contracting lifecycle, from planning to implementation. When citizens, businesses, and civil society can access and analyze this data, public spending becomes more transparent and accountable. Timely release of budget performance reports and audited financial statements should be standard practice to build trust and drive efficiency. These reforms not only strengthen fiscal governance but also foster voluntary tax compliance and deepen citizen–government trust.

    Crucially, high IGR doesn’t guarantee better services as rapid IGR growth brings its own set of challenges. Aggressive tax enforcement can fuel perceptions of over-taxation, especially when public services lag behind. In many states, rising levies on businesses drive up consumer prices, straining household budgets. When revenue gains come from higher service charges like land use fees, they often hit low-income residents hardest, deepening poverty.

    Ultimately, Nigeria’s IGR landscape is no longer just a ledger of numbers, it is a reflection of leadership, equity, and the evolving social contract between government and citizen. States that pair revenue ambition with transparency, inclusive policy, and responsible spending will not only expand their fiscal base but also deepen public trust. However, when digital reforms serve merely to inflate revenue figures without improving service delivery or accountability, the result is a hollow victory. The true measure of any revenue drive lies not in how much is collected, but in how visibly it transforms lives. As governors shape the next chapter of fiscal strategy, they must lead with empathy, govern with integrity, and spend with purpose. This is because every naira collected carries the weight of public hope, and every budget line should echo the aspirations of the people.

    Okelue David Ugwunta is a Nigerian university lecturer and an economic planning specialist.

  • The Cynism in Our Public Space is Poisoning Us – By Dr. Samson Abanni

    The Cynism in Our Public Space is Poisoning Us – By Dr. Samson Abanni

    Here we prove our righteousness by branding everyone else a thief or corrupt, especially if he’s anywhere near public office.

    I truly feel that as Nigerians, we lose more when we approach all things with the implicit assumption that our leaders are inherently wicked and terrible.

    I feel we should assume ignorance or incompetence first and not malice, dishonestly or corruption, I think we shouldn’t always assume evidence-taking, a lack of it as even more evidence. Once there’s an allegation, the court of public opinion concludes the public official is guilty and thus no one pushes for a true investigation that would give the law court the evidence to throw him to jail. We give up our checkmating role because we assume he’s guilty-if he’s not immediately thrown to jail, it only proves everyone is complicit.

    Begin by assuming ignorance or incompetence. It focuses energy on problem-solving and capacity building rather than on conspiracy hunting or paralysis. It helps you listen with an open mind, which helps you find out inconsistencies or identify areas that need tightening. It reduces corrosive cynicism and social polarisation, making cooperation, training, and incremental reform more possible. Believing all to be incurable thieves paralyzes us all and shuts our brain off. The problems remain unsolved while adults wring their hands and look for an external saviour.

    The new approach will give less social tension and preserves social capital and institutional working relationships that Nigeria badly needs for service delivery.

    Why “assumed malice or wickedness, or corruption first” can look attractive and may even heighten vigilance, stronger oversight, earlier investigations and deterrence we know from experience that none of these happens here. It doesn’t make use demand more accountability, it only leads to conformation bias-once there’s an allegation we assume hes guilty.. Weare appeased just by ranting-the most powerless form of anger because fear does not allow for effective anger.

    And when the assumption that all public officers actions are with corrupt intent- it breeds cynicism, demoralises public servants, discourages honest officials, shrinks cooperation, and fuels social fragmentation.

    They ask “then why should I care in doing what’s right since they expect me to only do what’s wrong?”

    Trying the new way does not do any politician a favour but it helps us keep our sanity to really ask questions, not in malice but to really know – and this is how we can provide concrete evidence, for corruption, when one exist or for reforms.

    Dr. Samson Abanni, MBA, is a business consultant with over a decade of experience in helping startups navigate the changes of business childhood. He’s also a member of the Board of Editors of Pacesetter Frontier Magazine. 

  • 2027: Deeds and Dudes

    2027: Deeds and Dudes

    By M.O Ene 

    Before the 2011 elections, Governor Sullivan Chime found himself in a sticky situation. Ex-Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo had become the national chairman of PDP. His brother Nnia Nwodo was beefing with Chime over the wrecked Coal City Centenary celebrations, a proposal I had presented to Governor Chimaroke Nnamani in his office.

    In New York City, at an airport hotel near La Guardia, Nsukka-USA 2010 convention was held. Ex-Minister Nnia Nwodo was the keynote speaker. He spoke about UNN and Enugu politics with a bombastic bluster. Then VC Prof Batho Okolo, also seated at the high table, was shocked. I had to stand behind Batho as he rebutted, but the audience had imbibed a full dose of Nnia’s oration in stirring Asadu/Ideke dialect. Nnia proclaimed a looming removal of Sullivan. It was neither minced nor nuanced. It was clear: Okwi Nwodo would stultify Sullivan’s second term.

    Long story short, Sullivan stumbled onto Okwi’s untidy party-affiliation documentation. Just like that, the man who had promised Mother Mary at Holy Ghost to be fair to all fell at the first hint of unfairness!

    Back to the present: Seven days after Governor Peter Mbah’s super-scripted shift from PDP to APC, complete with brooms, umbrellas, and utensils, the world has not ended. Some PDP partisans got together quickly, as if not to let PDP choke, but the damage is done and deep. Two ex-diasporans are set to clash: Chicago’s Ben Nwoye (APC) and Atlanta’s Ifeanyi Udibe (PDP). Great! Democracy without opposition is dead because excessive political power is an expressway to expiration.

    There are for-and-against write-ups, as if there is a major logic in partisan policies. It is all politics: permanent interests. Only the politically unsophisticated fight.

    The realignment is regular. Mbah needed to secure the ticket for a deserved second term. The dude’s deeds are great. Forces in punctured PDP positioned to derail his train. The wrecking Wike G-5 alliance with party scribe Sam-Daddy Anyanwu reflects Chime-Nwodo scenario. Mbah made the move.

    The juice here is that in the national secretary fuss, PDP disrespected Mbah, the Southeast zonal leader. He had warned the party of potential consequences. He left to grab and run with his Tinubu-assured 2027 ticket. Parties do not build states; governors do.

    For 2027, the gods are still silent. This much I know: Mbah needs more than his delighting deeds to erase the popular resentment of APC in Enugu State. Luckily, with the swift dismantling of ex-Minister Uche Nnaji, there is no popular gubernatorial contender. Wait: Ex-Minister Frank Nweke could pop up in an opposition coalition. A week can make a huge difference; it saved Mbah in 2023. I know. I was involved.

    The defection has dawned. Motion is one thing: movement is another. Mbah needs extra movement. Without a core movement, 2027 could be another toss-up. Lightweight dudes without deeds won elections in the 2023 Obidient wave. May it not be our portion again! Prayers are good, but work works better.

    #moe @OkaaMoe
    Tuesday, October 21, 2025

  • Of Sowore and Soyinka – By M.O Ene

    Of Sowore and Soyinka – By M.O Ene

    The continued custody of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (MNK) in the dungeon of the Department of State Services (DSS) is condemnable. If MNK were an American citizen, the matter would have ended and saved lives before his state-sponsored seizure from Kenya.

    When DSS arrested activist Omoyele Sowore in 2019, we quickly gathered at the office of US Senator Bob Menendez in downtown Newark, NJ. He was the chair of US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), whom I had known since he was a city councilor, was in attendance. And so was Sowore’s wife.

    Menendez sent a letter demanding Sowore’s release. Done! Abuja seized his Nigerian passport. Hakuna matata: He was free, and he was not done with activism.

    Sowore sensed the MNK situation brilliantly and decided to up the ante: He called for #FreeMNKOct20. Those against cited the brutality of security forces, as seen during the EndSARS protests. Ms. Obianuju Catherine Udeh, DJ Switch, is still in self-exile. The dead did not get a respectable repose.

    Those hurt by the random violence of freelance Biafra insurgents oppose participation. No one should be cajoled to join. Chuba Okadigbo could still be here and possibly the president of Nigeria, if he had not gone marching with Buhari in Kano. Nigeria happened to him.

    Why do some people read meanings into Sowore’s supposedly Yoruba ethnicity? Sowore is not Yoruba! Hear him: “I am an Ijaw person, most people don’t know this”! His activism has nothing to do with his parents’ ethnic extraction.

    Before Yele Sowore, there was Wole Soyinka, a Yoruba. During the war, Soyinka took his rabblerousing radicalism to Enugu. Hear him: “… creating a third force which would… repudiate and end both the secession of Biafra, and the genocide consolidated dictatorship of [Gowon] …which made both secession and war inevitable.” [‘The Man Died,’ p. 18] Soyinka extirpated Biafra’s initial war momentum with a fake liberation of Western Region—which, if genuine, could have been done.

    Sowore seeks outlets for his #RevolutionNow campaigns. David Hundeyin opined that a big masquerade is drumming for Sowore, making him a proverbial “nwanza.” Could President Tinubu sense a Madagascar, overreact, and crush the demonstrators?

    Dr. M.I Okpara was the premier of Eastern Region when he stepped into the Western Region’s civil crisis, sheltered Prof Sam Aluko, Wole Soyinka, and Awolowo’s wife Hannah. He also intervened to make sure that Chief Obafemi Awolowo was not unalived in jail, as Abacha’s regime did to General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.

    I fear that #MNKOct20 may drag folks into #RevolutionNow—just as Soyinka suckered Biafra into #ThirdForce fiasco with Agbam, Alale, Banjo, and Ifeajuna in 1967. Tinubu’s tepid attempt to diffuse the situation with a court injunction was rejected by a judge on Friday. The US Embassy warned of potential violence. Saturday: rumors. Just let MNK go. Renew hope!

    Those who coldheartedly chant “no pain, no gain” anticipate blood on the streets as a necessary price to pay for change in Nigeria. This giant green god with calloused clay claws has gulped barrels of blood already. Enough!

    The shaming of Southeast governors and Ohanaeze statesmen should stop. Challenging Obi, Soludo, Otti, and Mbah to march is unwise. Their efforts failed to free MNK, unlike the Afenifere arbitration on Igboho’s case. Oduduwa is not as Biafra: Ask IBB, whom Biafra kept awake and Oduduwa sent to sleep… reportedly.

    As if Ndiigbo needed more Monday Sit@Home, the Ohanaeze Youth Council has urged a closure of Igbo-owned commercial outlets in solidarity. May this be the last Monday!

    #moe @OkaaMoe
    Saturday, October 18, 2025

  • The Pearl I Knew – A Tribute By M.O Ene

    The Pearl I Knew – A Tribute By M.O Ene

    Humanity lost a treasure. She was a distinguished diplomat, a prima inter pares, and an international intellectual. From being the first female DG of Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), the first female minister of external affairs, and the first female Nigerian permanent representative to the UN, she rose to preside over the UN Security Council—another first for a classy lady. She capped it with the presidency of the UN Women.

    Professor Joy Ogwu was the pride of Nigeria at the UN. A beauty-full and brilliant dame, she rose to incomparable heights in international relations. It will take generations to see her kind again.

    Our paths crossed in Abuja. We attended the 2005 Commonwealth conference on women participation in politics. Organized by Elsie Onubogu of the Commonwealth Office in London, UK, it featured prominent politicians, government officials—home and abroad, academicians, and NGO executives.

    I recall her smiling through my post-presentation sidebar with Sarah Jibrin, first female presidential primary candidate. Her presence was moderating and motivating without her saying much to counter my criticisms of women politicians blaming their male counterparts more than mobilizing and sensitizing voters—mostly women.

    When she came over to the USA, our paths crossed again. She lived in Purchase, NY. We once visited the official residence in Tarrytown. With an amazing view of now Mario Cuomo Bridge (then Tappan Zee) over River Hudson, the property was in a bad state. I had been there a couple of times for official receptions when Professor Ibrahim Gambari lived there. We talked about turning the multimillion-dollar estate into a profitable Nigerian cultural center.

    She also visited me at the campus in New Jersey. She was no stranger: She attended Rutgers, the state university. She had lived down the road in The Oranges. We met at other special events in the UN and the Nigerian House, or at events of such mutual friends as Oseloka Obaze, a UN diplomat. She always exuded the elegance of an eminent envoy. When my wife and I had twins, Joy shared in our joy and surprised us with a visit from across the miles.

    A devout Catholic, she will be missed not only by her family and friends but also in the world of international relations, where her graceful presence, experience, and expertise brought new vistas to global diplomacy.

    Life is an accumulation of momentary memories. How long they last depends on how merry—or monstrous—the memories are and on how they impacted those with whom we interacted. Joy Ogwu left many merry memories.

    I don’t know how the federal government will honor her—an Abuja street, NIIA building, etc. Delta State government should consider naming, minimally, a school of diplomacy in an Anịọma-Delta university after this wonderful woman of style and substance. Future generations should know about the uncommon life of Her Excellency, Professor Uche Joy Angela Ogwu, PhD.

    May her spirit come our way again.

    M.O. Ene, PhD
    New Jersey, USA
    Friday, October 17, 2025

  • From Ambition to Integration: Rethinking Nigeria’s and Africa’s Transportation Future

    By Dr. David Okelue Ugwunta 

    Nigeria’s approval of NGN142 billion for the construction of bus terminals across the its six geopolitical zones alongside the recent launch of new bus terminals and Compressed Natural Gas bus fleets by Enugu State Government signal desires towards modernising public transportation in the country. However, these efforts also highlight a familiar challenge: a sector long driven by lofty possibilities but hindered by weak sustainability, unstable investments, and poor coordination. While developed countries such as Singapore and Sweden have demonstrated that long-term planning, sustainability, and integration can transform public transit into a reliable backbone of economic growth and urban life, Nigeria and other African nations are still struggling with fragmented and uncoordinated public mass transit and transportation systems.

    Nigeria’s Transport Sector Reforms: Progress Amidst Persistent Disintegration

    Since the return to democracy in 1999, the closest attempts at building a system-wide transport infrastructure remained largely unsustainable until the launch of the Lagos BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) in 2008 under the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA). Standing out as the most consistent, Lagos BRT expanded corridors and upgraded terminals, adopted electronic ticketing and CCTV surveillance, provided air-conditioned waiting areas and intermodal connections to ferries and rails. States including Enugu, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, and Cross River experimented with city bus schemes, but sustainability challenges collapsed them. Abuja, by contrast, remained inconsistent with aged fleets and the absence of dedicated lanes. However, recent interventions with the construction of three bus terminals by Minister Ezenwo Wike are part of the critical infrastructure to improve the nation’s capital transportation system. Also, Enugu State achieved a major milestone on August 14, 2025, with the unveiling of five modern transport terminals — alongside a CNG-powered bus scheme, and a centralised transport management system, standing out as the most recent aspiring sub-national effort in Nigeria’s transport history.

    Rail development in Nigeria similarly presents mixed outcomes. Abuja’s light rail launched in 2018 to interconnect the federal capital to the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport gained initial momentum but however, was short-lived when the train service faced operational disruptions in 2020. Lagos’s Blue and Red Metro lines (2023 and 2024) marked significant progress. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is pushing intercity connectivity: Abuja–Kaduna (2020), and Lagos–Ibadan (2021). Other corridors under construction include Warri–Itakpe, Port Harcourt–Bonny, Port Harcourt–Maiduguri, and Kano–Kaduna, although challenged by security, poor financing, and political hindrances. Combined with dilapidated roads, unreliable power supply, and underdeveloped waterways, the transport landscape in Nigeria remains fragmented, inhibiting productivity, dissuading investments, and emasculating economic growth.

    This challenge is not unique to Nigeria. Africa’s rapid urbanization is placing immense pressure on fragile transport systems. Rising motorization is worsening city congestion, while mass transit options remain scarce. According to the World Bank, African cities are turning to BRT as a solution. Dakar led the charge with Africa’s first all-electric BRT system. Cape Town continues to expand its MyCiTi network; Nairobi is building BRT corridors; Dar es Salaam operates one of Africa’s most successful BRT systems; Addis Ababa is pursuing ambitious mass transit reforms; and Kigali is restructuring its network with electric buses and green mobility. These examples highlight a continental appetite for modern transit models. Yet, without institutionalized multimodal frameworks—anchored on coordination, sustainable financing, regulation, and political consensus—Nigeria and its peers remain far from achieving fully modern transport systems.

    Lessons from Sweden and Singapore

    In sharp contrast to the disjointed systems across Africa, Singapore and Sweden present strikingly different models witnessed amongst the world’s most efficient public transportation systems, sharing prominent similarities, notwithstanding differences in geography.

    Both prioritise integrated multimodal networks where buses, metros, trains, and other modes are coordinated under central regulators — the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in Singapore and the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) in Sweden. Sustainability is a cornerstone: electric buses are widely adopted, and private car use is discouraged through congestion policies. Both countries also leverage technology such as real-time passenger information, contactless payments, and smart traffic systems. Crucially, transport is aligned with urban planning: Sweden connects housing and regional development, while Singapore integrates MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) stations with residential estates and commercial hubs.

    The main difference lies in scale. Sweden’s system spans vast regions, requiring extensive regional coordination, while Singapore’s compact city-state structure enables dense and efficient transit planning. In Sweden, strong policy coordination between Trafikverket, municipal governments, and local authorities underpins the system. Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL) allows passengers to move seamlessly between modes using the SL Access Card.

    Sweden’s success stems from decades of deliberate planning, stable investment, regulatory consistency, and political consensus. Its steady evolution can be traced through key milestones:

    ● 1870s–1930s: Horse-drawn trams and the first urban networks.

    ● 1930s–1950s: Unified management of trams and buses under city ownership.

    ● 1950s–1970s: Launch of the metro and creation of SL, centralizing county-wide coordination.

    ● 1970s–1990s: Expansion of commuter rail and integration with buses and metro services.

    ● 2000s–2010s: Rollout of contactless smart cards, real-time passenger information, and mobile ticketing.

    ● 2010s–present: Full multimodal integration supported by unified apps, high-capacity interchanges, and ambitious green mobility innovations.

    Today, Swedish metro trains, buses, and trams are designed for both accessibility and sustainability, featuring low-floor entry, wheelchair access, priority seating, eco-friendly engines, digital route displays, and audio announcements. Intercity options—FlixBus and SJ’s high-speed trains—add further comfort with Wi-Fi, reclining seats, onboard dining, quiet zones, power outlets, and dedicated spaces for bicycles and mobility needs. At the heart of the system is Stockholm’s T-Centralen hub, where local, regional, and national services converge, ensuring seamless transitions, reinforcing efficiency in public mobility.

    Lessons for Nigeria and other African Peers

    1. Centralized Coordination: Like the LTA in Singapore and the Swedish Transport Administration, African countries need to unify disjointed transportation struggles to incorporate all efforts (federal, regional, state, local, and private).

    2. Long-Term Planning: Sweden’s 10–20-year investment cycles highlight the importance of continuity beyond political terms.

    3. Nationwide Integration: Feeder routes, metro lines, and intercity rails must interconnect to enable regional expansion and system-wide efficiency.

    4. Institutional Stability: Strong governance and regulatory consistency are vital for sustainable projects and operationality.

    5. Hub-Based Infrastructure: Intermodal terminals reduce transfer times and improve efficiency.

    6. Technology-Driven Services: Real-time information, digital payments, and journey-planning apps are key to reliability and efficiency.

    7. Local Manufacturing: Sweden relies on Scania and Volvo. Nigeria and its peers should invest in local CNG and electric bus assembly to reduce imports, strengthen currencies, and create jobs.

    Sweden’s journey from fragmented beginnings to a world-class multimodal transport system is instructive for Nigeria and its African peers to move beyond scattered initiatives and implement tested and efficient transportation systems. Nigeria and other African nations already possess some elements of modern frameworks—BRT corridors, urban and intercity rail projects, and clean-fuel initiatives—but these remain disjointed and uncoordinated. What is urgently needed is not more scattered projects, but a bold and deliberate commitment to revolutionize public mobility. African countries must adopt integrated, modern, and sustainable multimodal systems based on deliberate long-term planning, cyclical investments with opportunities for private sector participation, robust regulatory and institutional frameworks, political and stakeholder’s consensus, and effective coordination among federating units. Only through such a holistic approach can Nigeria and other African countries transition from ambitious rhetoric to building resilient and world-class transport systems that support its growing urbanization and economy.

    Okelue David Ugwunta is a University Lecturer and an Economic Planning Specialist.

  • [OPINION] A Case Study of Political Party Loyalty, Power Struggle, Blackmail, and Realignment in Enugu State APC

    [OPINION] A Case Study of Political Party Loyalty, Power Struggle, Blackmail, and Realignment in Enugu State APC

    By Comr. Farmer. Ezeh C.J.

    The concept of betrayal in politics is complex, especially when viewed through the lenses of political party loyalty, power struggle, blackmail, and conscience. In Enugu State, Nigeria, this dynamic plays out in various forms, particularly among the youth and political leaders.

    Recent controversies surrounding the resignation of the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, the defection of Governor Peter Mbah to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the dissolution of state executive councils have sparked debates about party loyalty, betrayal, and blackmail.

    The youths are divided on the issue of political party loyalty, betrayal, and realignment, with some prioritizing party loyalty and others emphasizing personal interests for the sake of realignment.

    The call for zoning the presidency to the South-East zone has been a contentious issue, with some leaders advocating for this arrangement to ensure equity and fairness in Nigerian politics.

    Power Dynamics:
    The struggle for power and influence has led to accusations of betrayal among Igbo politicians. Some leaders have been accused of prioritizing personal interests over regional unity and progress.

    Conscience and Political Decision-Making

    Role of Conscience:
    Conscience plays a crucial role in guiding politicians’ decisions, particularly when faced with moral dilemmas. However, the prioritization of power and personal gain often clouds judgment, leading to questionable decisions.

    Accountability:
    There is a need for accountability in politics, ensuring that leaders prioritize the interests of their constituents and adhere to ethical standards.

    Perspectives on Betrayal in Enugu State Politics

    Cultural and Historical Context:
    The legacy of marginalization and exclusion has contributed to the politics of betrayal in Enugu State. Leaders often feel compelled to prioritize personal interests over regional interests.

    Personal Ambition:
    Personal ambition and the pursuit of power can lead to betrayal, as individuals prioritize their interests over collective goals.

    Key Issues:

    Loyalty and Betrayal: Politicians often prioritize personal interests over party loyalty, leading to defections and accusations of betrayal.

    Power Struggle: Different factions within the party vie for control, resulting in internal conflicts and power struggles that can lead to blackmail and mole hunting.

    Blackmail and Moles: Politicians may use sensitive information to blackmail opponents or identify moles within their ranks to gain an upper hand.

    Consequences:

    Loss of Trust: Betrayal can erode trust among party members and the youths, making it challenging to work toward common goals.

    Internal Conflicts: Power struggles and betrayal can lead to internal conflicts, weakening the party and undermining its chances of success.

    Electoral Consequences: Betrayal can also have electoral consequences, as voters may lose faith in the party’s ability to deliver on its promises.

    Examples from Other Contexts:

    In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Brutus’s betrayal of Caesar is a classic example of the tension between personal loyalty and public duty. Brutus’s actions are driven by a desire to protect Rome but ultimately lead to his downfall.

    Similarly, in Nigerian politics, the struggle for power and loyalty can lead to betrayal and internal conflicts within parties.

    The Way Forward:

    To mitigate the effects of the politics of betrayal, the APC in Enugu State must prioritize building trust, promoting transparency, and fostering a culture of loyalty and integrity.

    This can be achieved through:

    Inclusive Leadership: Ensuring that leadership positions are based on merit and not just loyalty.

    Transparency: Promoting transparency in decision-making processes and ensuring that information is accessible to all stakeholders.

    Youth Engagement: Encouraging youth participation in politics and governance to promote a sense of ownership and responsibility.

    By adopting these strategies, the APC can build trust, promote transparency, and foster a culture of loyalty and integrity, ultimately reducing the impact of the politics of betrayal, power struggle, and blackmail.

  • PDP Must Not Die – By Dr. M.O Ene

    PDP Must Not Die – By Dr. M.O Ene

    Partisan politics does not sit well with me. I prefer to prevent pathetic pettiness in the pursuit of political power. Alas, politics is our way of life. Life itself is about the politics of ideas, survival, and development.

    I am no stranger to Nigeria’s fourth republic. I played a part in opposing the dictatorship of Abacha. I believed that the worst democracy is better than the most benevolent dictatorship. Debatable! My principal position remains that Nigeria is not sustainable as-is: Dysfunctional components do not make a viable whole.

    Early 1999, I met with ex-Governor Abubakar Rimi in Marriot Hotel by Newark International Airport, USA. He looked more handsome in person. He was expecting me. Ekwueme and Obasanjo were set to jostle in Jos. We hatched a strategy: announce him as VP to Ekwueme. It did not pan out. Obasanjo announced Atiku and won.

    Rimi recounted the genesis of PDP, the People’s Democratic Party. The anti-Abacha group started small and morphed into G-18. The group enlarged to G-34, with former VP Alex Ekwueme leading strong statesmen to become the founding fathers of PDP on August 31, 1998: Tony Anenih, Jerry Gana, Solomon Lar, Abubakar Rimi, Bola Ige, Sule Lamido, Adamu Ciroma, Iyorchia Ayu, Bamanga Tukur, etc.

    In the southeast, we knew PDP as the party of Ekwueme. It also triumphed in the BRACED states (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Delta). The setup was dented when Peter Obi came in on the wings of Ikemba’s APGA. PDP lost Anambra and Imo. By 2015, Buhari-Tinubu APC amalgam dealt a devastating blow to PDP. Ten years later, the gust of grab and run is almost complete. We should not worry, as longer as the “dividends of democracy” are delivered and elections are free, right? Wrong!

    The dividends of democracy, the enduring slogan of Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, were damaged by internal dysfunctions and triggered by the lack of a focused and organized opposition.

    PDP policy is flawed ab initio: “Power to the people.” If we are practicing a modicum of decent democracy, power must come from the people—not given by deluded dictators masquerading as democrats.

    Whatever happens after brandishing brooms and flying flags in Enugu, the PDP umbrella must not fold in opposition. Party believers could bring back the spirit of Ekwueme and Ikemba into a reformed ADC-PDP platform.

    Governor Peter Mbah’s scripted exit from PDP and the glitzy entry into APC mark the end of an era. PDP was bad in opposition; hence, it got itself a good grinding in the anvil of Nyesom Wike’s money power and Atiku’s ceaseless pursuit of power.

    Bottom line, we need a policy-driven political movement to ponder and project policies that will secure and safeguard the Southeast while moving Nigeria to the next level. ADC-PDP can lead the movement to restructure Nigeria, one nation at a time. The space is open in the Southeast.

    Kudos to Governor Peter Mbah and company. May history judge them kindly.

    @OkaaMoe
    Tuesday, October 14, 2025

  • Breaking Down Documents and Certificate Forgery in Nigeria (Part 1)

    Breaking Down Documents and Certificate Forgery in Nigeria (Part 1)

    By Sebastine Chukwuebuka Okafor Ph.D

    Certificate or document forgery can be defined as the act of making a false document, knowing it is false, and intending that it will be accepted as genuine to harm another person. According to Section 465 of the Criminal Code (Southern Nigeria), “A person who makes a false document or writing knowing it to be false, and with intent that it may in any way be used or acted upon as genuine, whether in Nigeria or elsewhere, to the prejudice of any person, is said to forge the document or writing.” In the same way, Section 362 of the Penal Code (Northern Nigeria) says forgery is making any false document with the intent to cause damage or injury, or to support any claim or title. Both laws clearly state that forgery is a serious crime that can lead to imprisonment.

    Certificate or document forgery can be divided into different areas. These include the act committed (false making or altering a real document), the intention behind it (knowing it is false and planning to deceive), the nature of the document (public, private, or legal), the legal effect (whether the forgery itself causes harm or is used to commit another offence), and the stage of use (whether the document is made, kept, or presented).

    To start with, forgery can be grouped based on the act carried out. This covers false making, which means creating a fake document, and alteration, which means changing a real document without permission. For example, someone may print a fake certificate or change dates and names on a real one to deceive others.

    It can also be grouped by intention. For a document to be seen as forged, the person must know it is false and intend to deceive. If someone uses a fake document without knowing, it is not forgery. But if they know and still use it to get a job, power, or other benefits, it is forgery.

    Another way to group it is by the type of document. There are public documents like government certificates, ID cards, and official letters; private documents like personal agreements and receipts; and legal documents like cheques, wills, and deeds. Forging public or legal documents attracts heavier punishment because they affect the public and involve legal rights or money.

    In the same vein, forgery can be grouped by legal effect. Substantive forgery happens when the fake document itself causes harm or creates a false impression. Instrumental forgery happens when a forged document is used to commit another offence, like using a fake ID to collect a loan.

    Moreso, forgery can be grouped by the stage of the act. It may happen during the making or changing of the document, when someone keeps a forged document knowing it is fake, or when it is presented or used as if it is real. All these stages are treated seriously under Nigerian law.

    Going from the above, it is rare to come across an average Nigerian that is not involved in one form of certificate forgery or another. This is because, aside from the educational certificates such as First School Leaving Certificate, WASCE, NECO, NABTEB, BSc, MSc, and PhD, there are other documents that Nigerians forge such as NEPA bill, voter’s card, international passport, vehicle particulars, driver’s license, tax clearance, local government certificate of origin, tinted permit, police extracts, court affidavits, amongst others. These documents are forged with different intentions for different purposes such as to cut cost, evade checks, solve urgent needs, do financial transactions, impersonate someone, and so on.

    In all these, people who do it see it as a normal thing that shouldn’t be taken too seriously. What has kept this act seen as trivial is that most of the people involved are from agencies or establishments charged with fighting it, such as the police, army, civil defense, and vehicle traffic officers. They are always in possession of either, depending on the purpose or usage. It is also worthy to note that forging any of these documents comes with other legal implications, as it involves forging someone’s signature aside from the document itself.

    This brings us to another angle, which is why it is still rampant as well as why there is a lack of sensitization about the dangers it poses. These acts are rampant because the agencies involved in checkmating them do not have the needed facilities, whereas others doing this are not legally authorized to do so. For example, a police officer checking a driver’s license cannot detect a fake one and can always be maneuvered, unlike when Federal Road Safety Corps members do that. The same also goes with vehicle particulars when the police and VIOs are involved. Because of the abuse of job description, it has become almost impossible to curb or circumvent. Someone has to know the original before identifying the fake, and that is why, when the perpetrators see those who can detect it, they tend to avoid any form of encounter with them.

    Forging these documents has been seen as a normal thing, and thus the sensitization is usually seen as insignificant. It is also important to know that medical records forgery is very rampant, as most of the documents presented to gain certain favors in offices are either forged at business centres or originally faked by a medical practitioner who issues them to solve a particular problem.

    However, when some begin to raise questions such as, can this issue be curtailed? If not, what are the dangers ahead? It can only be curtailed when the investigating agencies start being transparent with the issuance processes. This is because, when someone looks at the process of getting a driver’s license, it is always clear that the intent is to collect money and not to teach or correct any driving anomaly, because FRSC does not have the capacity to fulfill judiciously all the requirements such as manpower and equipment, because being in possession of a driver’s license in Nigeria does not actually make someone a good driver but rather provides a legal ground for an amateur to carry vehicles around. What about police extracts that do not have a verification code, and also do not provide any verification channel for those demanding for it; the same with other documents? This brings us to the need to digitize the issuance of these documents to identify the fake ones. This also goes for identity cards. But why would a firm or agency demand for a document that does not have the powers or access to verify its authenticity?

    Moving ahead on the solutions, one major solution is to strengthen the verification process of documents through the use of modern technology. Digitizing all forms of document issuance and linking them to a central database will make it difficult for forged copies to pass through security checks. If agencies can access a shared system in real time, it will reduce the loopholes currently exploited by offenders, but this appears to be practically impossible in Nigeria of today.

    Another way forward is for government agencies to improve staff training and equip personnel with tools to detect fake documents easily. Sensitization campaigns should also be intensified to educate the public on the legal consequences of forgery. It is also very important to make the process and intention of their acquisition more transparent and accessible so that people will have fewer reasons to resort to forgery, and offenders will find it harder to succeed.

  • Nigerians and the Affliction of Stardom

    Nigerians and the Affliction of Stardom

    -By Abdul Mahmud

    There is a strange affliction that festers in our land. It is the compulsive habit of adorning the ordinary with grandiose labels, of dressing the barely local in the borrowed robes of the global and international. Here, words are stardust sprinkled on names, banners, and signboards to confer false importance. The humblest of ventures is elevated, not by substance, but by description. This obsession is more than a quirk of language; it is a symptom of a deeper malaise: the insecurity of a country and its people uncertain of their own worth. Instead of nurturing what is authentically ours, we mask our limitations with inflated adjectives, as though the mere invocation of international and the global will transform our realities. In doing so, we cheapen language and deceive ourselves, while the world looks on, unconvinced.

    Drive through any Nigerian city and you will see it. A third-rate hotel perched on a dusty street in the backyard of a city declaring itself “international”. Never mind the broken tiles, the rattling ceiling fan, and the tasteless menu. What matters is the word “international” nailed to its signpost. It is the magic word that makes mediocrity pass for ambition. Even small village schools, with wooden benches and overworked teachers that struggle to provide basic teaching aids proudly carry the tag of “international”, “global”. Parents are seduced by both words. They assume their children will step into a universe of excellence, when in truth the schools struggle to afford chalks and exercise books. The word international becomes the uniform of deception. Hotels and schools aren’t alone in this. Churches, too, have turned to the trick. A small church ordinary parish with a leaking roof now brands itself “Global Fire Ministry”. The congregation believes the church has cross-border tentacles, even if the General Overseer has not stepped outside the neighbourhood. He believes the name confers spiritual weight. What is lacking in discipline and doctrine is compensated for with vocabulary.

    Governments have not been spared. In fact, they lead the parade. A state government announces a “global summit” in a backward European city with no strong connection to Europe’s commercial and investment market. The stage is set. The banners are printed. The governor flies out with aides. There is a retinue of photographers. And what do we find? A handful of young diaspora Nigerians in autumn jackets, attending for the thrill of proximity. They are not investors. They are not entrepreneurs of global repute. They are mostly immigrants struggling through day jobs, suddenly transformed into delegates. This is the tragedy of Edo State. The governor, who has for long disappeared from the serious business of governance in the Dennis Osadebay House, resurfaced in Dublin to stage what was called the “Global Edo State Investment Summit”. But, there was nothing global about it. It was a local show staged abroad. The audience was thin. The impact was thinner. The word “global’ was the disguise.

    Why does this happen? Why does every local activity crave the stamp of international? The answer is simple. We live in a country where names are more powerful than standards. Where labels count for more than substance. In such a place, the quickest way to escape scrutiny is to adopt foreign symbols. Words like “global, international, world-class” are deployed as camouflages. They mask the poverty of service and the absence of quality. It is also a symptom of inferiority. We are not content with our own names, our own standards, our own worth. We feel validated only when we attach the foreign. A hotel that calls itself “Afemai Hotel” feels local, and therefore cheap. But, call it “Afemai International Suites” and it sounds grand. We are trapped by our own insecurities. We measure worth by appearance, not performance. This culture of false ascription is dangerous. It dilutes standards. It creates a society of pretence. Investors are not fooled by banners. Parents are not forever deceived by names. Worshippers soon discover that miracles do not multiply with adjectives. And citizens, sooner or later, realise that their governors cannot deliver development by flying abroad to stage hollow events.

    Edo is not alone. Other states have staged “global summits” in London, Washington, New York, or Dubai. The results are always the same. They return home with glossy photographs, with Communiques drafted by consultants, with videos uploaded on government websites. But the schools remain broken. The hospitals remain empty of drugs. The roads remain cratered. What was gained in the trip? Nothing but another false ascription.

    So, we must ask ourselves, what is wrong with the local? Why must the local be dressed in borrowed robes before it is accepted? True development begins with an embrace of the local. Japan did not rise by calling its factories “international”. South Korea did not transform itself by organising “global summits”. They built from within. They named their products with pride. They competed on quality, not adjectives. Nigeria and Nigerians must learn this lesson. They must begin to value authenticity over ascription. Schools must be proud to be called Community Primary Schools if that is what they are. The true measure of their worth is not the “international” in their names, but the quality of teaching. Hotels must be content to be called City Lodges if that is what they offer. The true measure is whether their guests return satisfied. Churches must not proclaim themselves “global” before they become faithful to their missions. The true measure is the depths of the doctrines and the character of the flocks. Governors, above all, must resist the temptation of linguistic cosmetics. The people are not hungry for “global summits”. They are hungry for jobs, for safety, for hospitals that function, for schools that teach. The word “global” on a banner in Dublin does not fill an empty stomach in Benin City. It does not heal the sick in Auchi. It does not light the street in Uromi. It is vanity dressed as vision.

    There is dignity in the local. There is worth in what we build with our own hands, with honesty, with competence. When we pursue excellence, the world will notice. We will not need to shout international. We will not need to add global. The substance will advertise itself. Investors will come because they see opportunity, not because a governor staged a summit abroad. Parents will enrol children in schools because they see quality teaching, not because the school borrowed a foreign label. We deceive ourselves with these false ascriptions. Worse, we waste scarce resources. Every “global summit” costs millions of naira. Flights, hotels, allowances, banners, media coverage. All spent for a show that yields little. What if those funds were spent at home? What if the millions went into equipping schools, rebuilding hospitals, supporting small businesses? That would be development. That would be governance. That would be global in the true sense: creating value that speaks across borders.

    The time has come to strip our language of these pretensions. Let us call things what they are. Let us demand quality, not adjectives. A country that is serious cannot afford the delusion of ascription. We must be content to be local, but excellent. We must summon the courage to be Nigerian, authentically so, but with competence as our guiding star. True greatness will not come from borrowed titles or inflated claims; it will come from the quiet labour of building institutions that work, nurturing excellence where we stand, and trusting the worth of our own creations.

    It is in the depth of our local strength that we shall, one day, speak with a global voice. Not through the false banners we hang upon our failures, but through the substance of what we can offer the world. Until then, every “international’ hotel planted on a dusty street, every “global” academy tucked into a backyard, every “global summit” staged abroad will remain what it truly is: a masquerade of words, a costume draped over mediocrity.

    The mask of deception is as troubling as the hollow absence of standards that exposes our pretensions and ridicules our borrowed grandeur. The more we hide behind empty banners and labels, the louder the laughter of mediocrity rings against our claims. To rise above this, we must choose authenticity over adornment, competence over slogans. Only then will the Nigerian story shed the garb of mimicry and assume the dignity of originality by transforming words into substance and pretence into mastery.

  • Ben Nwoye’s Comeback: What His Appointment Means for APC in Enugu

    Ben Nwoye’s Comeback: What His Appointment Means for APC in Enugu

    By Dr. Buchi Nnaji

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has tapped a familiar face to steady its ship in Enugu State. Dr. Ben Nwoye, a lawyer, former state APC chairman and political organiser was last week appointed chairman of a seven-member caretaker committee charged with rebuilding the party in the state. The national party’s decision to dissolve the old executive and reconstitute leadership with Nwoye at the helm signals a clear shift toward reconciliation, strategy and an aggressive push to expand APC’s footprint in Enugu.

    Nwoye is not new to Enugu politics. He previously led the APC in the state, and even after stepping away at various points he remained a prominent political operator, founding a cross-party platform called The Progressives to promote governance reforms and draw in actors from across party lines. That background helps explain why the national leadership returned to him now: he combines organisational experience, a public profile and a capacity to speak to voters beyond strict party lines.

    Within days of his inauguration, Nwoye has signalled a conciliatory, results-focused agenda. He moved quickly to nullify suspensions imposed by the previous state executive and called for an end to punitive internal politics – a practical step designed to restore local structures and get grassroots organisers working together again. Those moves are meant to remove short-term obstacles to campaigning and to send a message that the APC wants a broad, working coalition in Enugu.

    Perhaps the most consequential dimension of Nwoye’s appointment is timing. State reporting and party briefings suggest that Governor Peter Mbah, long a dominant PDP figure in Enugu, is expected to cross to the APC, bringing lawmakers and local officials with him. Nwoye has publicly welcomed the prospect, framing it as an opportunity to end Enugu’s decade-long status as an opposition state and to “usher in a new era of political inclusion.” If those defections materialise, the APC would not merely strengthen its numbers; it would gain credibility across constituencies that were previously hard to reach.

    Three practical effects of Nwoye’s stewardship stand out:

    1. Rebuilding grassroots capacity. Nullifying internal suspensions and re-engaging local leaders immediately removes organisational friction – a prerequisite for candidate selection, voter mobilisation and volunteer recruitment.

    2. Political signalling. Appointing a familiar, widely recognised state operator signals seriousness to potential defectors and to voters tired of internecine party fights. It’s a message that APC intends to be competitive in the state.

    3. Coalition building. Nwoye’s record of cross-party outreach and his Progressives platform give him experience in forging working alliances – exactly what a party needs when trying to absorb high-profile figures and their followings.

    Local APC groups and many former candidates have publicly endorsed the caretaker committee and praised Nwoye’s appointment as a step toward stability. Commentators who follow Enugu politics say the real test will be whether the committee can convert goodwill and defections into functioning ward-level structures and a compelling message for voters. A successful transition would require clear timelines for reconciliation, transparent mechanisms for candidate selection, and rapid rebuilding of the party machinery at the local level.

    Appointing Dr. Ben Nwoye is a pragmatic, politically shrewd move by the APC national leadership. It addresses two immediate problems at once: internal fragmentation and the need to capitalise on a rare opportunity to broaden the party’s base in Enugu. Nwoye’s strengths – organisational experience, public visibility and a willingness to pursue cross-party engagement, match the task at hand. That said, appointment alone won’t guarantee success; delivering on unity, turning defections into durable alliances and restoring effective grassroots operations will be the measures by which his tenure is judged.

    If Nwoye can translate early momentum into functioning structures and a credible local strategy, his return could mark the beginning of a meaningful recalibration for the APC in Enugu – from a party at odds with itself to a competitive force that can offer voters an alternative governance narrative.

    Dr. Buchi Nnaji holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. He is a prolific writer, political commentator, and public affairs analyst based in Enugu, Nigeria.