The Northern State Governors’ Forum, NSGF, has sent condolences to the family of Late Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Timbut Useni, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya has expressed deep sadness over the demise of Useni, popular as ‘Jerry Boy’ ,who passed on Thursday at the age of 82 in France after a protracted illness.
In a condolence message on behalf of the 19 Northern Governors, Yahaya described the late General Useni as a committed patriot, a seasoned military officer, and an exemplary statesman who dedicated his life to the service of the nation.
He noted the former Minister’s remarkable role in the development of the Federal Capital Territory and his steadfast commitment to national unity and progress when he served as a Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District, stating that his contributions would remain indelible in the annals of Nigeria’s history.
“Lt. General Useni was a highly respected leader whose remarkable service in both military and civil capacities left a significant impact on Nigeria’s governance and development. His wealth of experience, wisdom, and commitment to national unity will be sorely missed,” Governor Yahaya remarked.
The NSGF Chairman extended his condolences to Governor Caleb Muftwang, the Government and people of Plateau State, where the late General hailed from, as well as his family and associates. He urged them to take solace in his exemplary life and enduring legacies of patriotism and service.
“On behalf of the Northern Governors’ Forum, I offer our heartfelt condolences to his family, our dear brother, Governor Caleb Muftwang, the good people of Plateau State, and indeed the entire nation.
“We pray Almighty God to grant the deceased eternal rest and give his loved ones the fortitude to bear this great loss,” he added.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has lost his elder brother, Sunday Makinde.
Announcing the loss, in a statement on Friday in Ibadan, signed by Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Makinde said the deceased died on Friday at the age of 65.
Olanrewaju stated that a brother of the deceased, Olumuyiwa Makinde, who is also the Bada Olubadan of Ibadanland and Head of the Aigbofa Family of Oja’ba announced the death in a message.
“With a heavy heart, I announce the passage of my older brother, Engr Sunday Makinde, to eternal glory today, Friday 24th of January 2025.
“His sudden death occurred in his Ibadan residence at 3.20am today, Friday 24th January 2025.
“He is survived by siblings, among whom is the Executive Governor of Oyo state, His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, children and grandchildren,” the statement quoted Makinde as saying.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later. Recall thar Makinde also lost his beloved mother in his first term in office as the Governor of Oyo State.
The Scrap Dealers Association of Nigeria SDAON, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, has pledged to collaborate with the police and other security agencies to stop the buying and selling of vandalized and stolen items in the state.
This pledge came on the heels of the vow by the State Police Command to deal decisively with those engaged in the business of encouraging the vandalization of public infrastructural facilities and private properties by way of serving as a ready market.
A statement issued by the State Police Spokesperson, Timfon John, DSP, January 23,2025, informed that the Commissioner of Police, CP, Baba Mohammed Azare, has assured that those engaged in lawful business transactions will have nothing to fear about.
According to the statement, the CP who spoke, at an interactive session with representatives of the Scrap Dealers, expressed concern over the high level of vandalization of transformers, electrical cables and other critical infrastructural facilities which, he noted, are in turn purchased by Scrap Dealers.
He warned that the police will not tolerate such acts, and stressed that anyone found engaging in vandalism, or the sale of stolen items, would be arrested and prosecuted.
The meeting which was held at the State Police Headquarters in Uyo, according to the Police spokesman, is aimed at finding a lasting solution to the disturbing trend of vandalism, theft and sale of stolen items by scrap dealers in the State.
The Commissioner of Police reiterated the commitment of Governor Umo Eno towards tackling the growing criminal activities of some unscrupulous characters who hide under the guise of scrap dealers and scavengers to perpetrate crime.
CP Azare warned that the Command is all out to arrest, prosecute and jail those found to be aiding, and abating vandalism, theft and sale of stolen public infrastructural facilities, as well as those of private residents.
“Some unscrupulous individuals vandalize public infrastructure such as transformers, electrical cables and sell them to scrap dealers. The Police would not tolerate such acts. Anyone found engaging in vandalism or the sale of stolen items would be arrested and prosecuted.
“Where there is no buyer, there will be no theft. So you have to be vigilant when purchasing items and ensure that you obtain proper receipts, as well as reporting suspicious persons attempting to sell stolen or vandalized properties to the Police nearest to you.
“The police are ever ready to arrestand prosecute those involved in such criminal activities. On this note, I want assure you that no police personnel would be allowed to engage in unlawful arrests and or extortion of scrap dealers who conduct their business lawfully”, CP Azare stated.
While responding, the Chairman of the Scrap Dealers Association, Comrade Ejimadu, commended the CP for the proactive engagement.
Represented at the meeting by the body’s Legal Adviser, Barr. Chidi Anyanwu, the Chairman assured that the Association would begin the sensitization of its members on the need to desist from buying and selling of vandalized and stolen items.
He also pledged the collaboration of the Association’s Leadership in the wider plan to root out vandalism and theft of public infrastructural facilities.
POWER MONGER: Muda is much in a haste. He wouldn’t wait for the pounded yam to be ready. He hurriedly began to munch his yam hot, hot, with palm oil and a sprinkling of pepper and salt.
I can almost here my former colleague muttering to himself: “Muda ti je iyan e n’isu.”
Translated: “Muda wouldn’t wait for the pounded yam to be ready. He chose to eat yam in place of pounded yam.”
He forgot that in Yoruba lore, mere yam is commoners’ chow often eaten around bonfires. Pounded yam on the other hand, is the king’s delicacy. The yam pounding ritual itself is done with an especial pubescent fervour by sweating, half-clad, damsels. As they pound the yam to malleable consistency, they allow a few trickles of sweat to escape into it. They pound and pound until the off white paste is soft as the underbelly of the king’s new wife.
This process takes a bit of time. And the ideal soup for this king’s meal is efo riro, the vegetable soup not unlike a dense, swampy forest. The real efo riro is probably the most nutritious soup known to man. It boasts of over a dozen assorted proteins including, panla, ede-nla, bokoto, shaki, abodi, shawa, or’sha kekere, eja osangbigbe, pomo, omo-onile, eja-aro kika, etc. The soup is so dense and impregnable with protein, it hardly has any sauce.
So pounded yam is worth every minute you have to wait for it. And at that, it is eaten so very slowly and with deliberate relish.
All of this background fable is just to explain the how and howtofor that led to the ouster of the most powerful state House of Assembly Speaker in Nigeria, the Lagos Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa.
He was removed like a miserable flea under the skin of a favourite pet. He had celebrated Christmas and new year with the usual pomp of the moneyed. He even travelled abroad on official assignment without an inkling of what daggers loomed in the dark for him.
Monday , 13th January was Mudashiru Obasa’s Golgotha. His colleagues in the legislative chamber by mere denunciation, axed him.
Though the process may not be flawed (you only need a good majority to remove a Speaker), it is outright indecent. But as we say in Igbo, he who his father sent on a rogue mission kicks down the door with gusto.
But of course, the Lagos Assembly members, not unlike any other person or group running the Lagos system, are marionettes running errands for the little Deity that dwelleth in Bourdillon.
Seyi Tinubu and Obasa Mudashiru
That is why the whole horde of them would rise as one overnight and kick out a Speaker of 12 years running. A Speaker they never installed in the first place.
Never had a House Speaker been removed so ignominiously and in absentia; without a list of charges against him; without a panel to look at his offences and without an opportunity to defend himself.
Even if the law required that you don’t have to prove any misconduct, for the sake of democracy and good sense, there was a need to show the people that it was an elected legislature at work and not a coven of wizards.
As you read this, the public doesn’t know why Obasa has been so brutishly chucked. These people could well have murdered Muda right there on the floor of the Lagos Assembly not unlike what Brutus and Cassius did to Julius Caeser right there on the floor of the Roman Senate.
Come to think of it, it is the same offence. They accused Caeser of becoming too powerful, tending into a monarchy. The conspirators claimed to be liberators seeking to maintain Rome’s democratic order. But the cold-blooded murder of Caeser evoked a series of civil unrest that eventually led to the fall of the Roman empire. But the situation seems reversed here. Muda seems to seek to stop a Tinubu ‘monarchy’ in Lagos.
But all we hear is that Muda was rude to the governor of Lagos State. He kept him waiting, blah, blah. And that he disrespected some nebulous elders known as Governor’s Advisory Council, GAC.
Of course this is a pretext. There’s more to Obasa’s cut down than they want to admit.
SEYI TINUBU FOR GOVERNOR 2027: It is nigh common knowledge that what is playing out already in the super-rich city state of Lagos is a succession feud. The 2027 guber election is less than two years away. The stakes are high, permutations are already fever-pitched. Gladiators are numerous and strategists are feverishly at work.
But only one man has the ace in this matter and that’s Bola Tinubu, the Deity of Bourdillon, now ensconced in Aso Rock.
But the uncanny twist in the tale is that Seyi, Tinubu’s heir also wants to be governor of Lagos. He has been testing the waters with his running dogs and barrchanal foot soldiers chanting his name in the streets.
The hard kick in Muda’s butt is a strong signal to any upstart eying the Lagos power seat.
For instance, Muda forgot he is a political butterfly who began to imagine himself a bird. A hawk at that. He forgot the son of whom he was.
He has been favoured for too long, he forgot he was merely enjoying Tinubu’s noblesse oblige. Muda rose through the ranks in the Tinubu political firmament. He was a grassroots mobilizer, an euphemism for a foot soldier.
Apparently finding favour (or he was an effective enforcer), he became a Councillor at an early age, then a state House member in 2007 where he has remained till January 13th. He was on his 3rd term as Speaker.
A man with an unstructured educational trajectory, he seems to be of the Oshodi garage political school. He has the demeanour and carriage of an artesanal welder (not discounting the craft). No noble soundbites can be extracted from him for about 12 years of Speakership of the State of Excellence. Well, except his threat after the elections of 2023 to review land documents in Lagos and make life miserable fir Ndigbo.
But such is the nature of Team Tinubu in Lagos. Statesmen and intellectuals are not wanted. Only enforcer who can hold down the cow to be milked, are needed.
Remember, men like Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode never had joy as Lagos governors because they had minds of their own. They weren’t robo-governors.
They weren’t like the incumbent who’s operated from a console in Bourdillon. He wouldn’t step off the loop, not even to poop, without a default buzz on the monitor.
SEYI AS JEB BUSH?: This is the kind of vice-grip Tinubu has on Lagos. Now as president, Seyi is already the next governor of Lagos, unless Tinubu is imbued with much good sense and decorum. But he is not. He is a bloody-minded power monger. His cheerleaders will be quick to dredge the Jeb example to steady his nerves should he seem to waiver.
John Ellis “JEB” Bush, is the son of President George H W Bush (1989-2003). Jeb became governor of Florida (1999-2007) and his senior brother, George W Bush also made president of the United States of America (2001-2009). Therefore, the huge Bush political dynasty in the US would make a veritable lodestar for Seyi accolades. If it could happen recently in America that a father made president, his first son made president and second son made state governor, why not in Nigeria?
NO TO SEYI TINUBU AS GOVERNOR: Yet, EXPRESSO votes a “NO” to Seyi Tinubu as Lagos State governor. It would be a political error and a huge detraction if Tinubu and Tinubu are running in the 2027 general elections. It will be inchoate, perverse, obscene, obtuse, corrupt, disgusting, discomfitting, disingenuous, unsightly, irrational, unreasonable, coarse, undignified, graceless, inelegant, bogus, shameless, tacky, immoral, amoral, debased, inappropriate, inordinate, warped, deviant, degenerate, twisted, ungodly, warped, wrong-headed, (add yours) all of these and more.
Note that in the long list of synonyms, there’s no mention of illegality. Yes, it is not illegal or unconstitutional for him to run but it’s a wrong thing to do. A Seyi candidacy may well unravel if not end Tinubu’s legacy in Lagos.
A CROWD OF GUBER CONTESTANTS: Lagos is not short of great minds to lead her. Here’s a short list of people eying the coveted job: Obafemi Hamzat, Hakeem Muri Okunola, Akinwunmi Ambode, Femi Gbajabiamila, Tokunboh Abiru, Abike Dabiri and even Muda Obasa, among others.
One day, when the knives are all out, EXPRESSO would review the capacities and capabilities of the contestants. But off the cuff, current deputy governor, Hamzat is a cut above the rest. But it’s story for another day.
Let’s close with another Yoruba wisdom: “ Ibi pelebe ni ati n mu ole je.”
Meaning: “ The leaf-wrapped bean cake is relished without haste.”
Or put roughly, you don’t eat your moi-moi carelessly. You eat it deliberately starting from the flat, tapered ends.
LESSON: Mudashiru Obasa didn’t learn the virtues of patience and strategy. He jumped the gun and he was hit before he got started. Would Tinubu tighten his choke-hold on Lagos or would he allow Lagos to breathe for a change?
Let’s sit back for a great political drama in the Lagos amphitheatre.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, as Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN.
The appointment of the former Kano State Governor was announced on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.
Also appointed as Chairman of the National Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, is Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Nigeria’s Former Minister for Foreign Affairs and a former Director General of the NIIA.
Aside the appointments of Ganduje and Akinyemi, President Tinubu also named Chairpersons for 41 Federal Organizations, alongside new leadership roles, including the Managing Director for the Nigeria Railway Corporation and a Director-General for the National Board for Technology Incubation, NBTI.
President Tinubu emphasized that Board Chairpersons are non-executive roles and urged appointees to avoid interfering in the management of the respective organizations.
The appointments take effect immediately.
The Complete List of President Tinubu’s Appointments for Federal Boards and Agencies are as follow;
National Youth Service Corps, Ministry of Youth Development – Hon. Hillard Eta (Chairman, Cross River)
Nigerian Institute of International Affairs – Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi (Chairman, Lagos)
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Ministry of Aviation – H.E. Abdullahi Ganduje (Chairman, Kano)
National Sugar Development Council – Sen. Surajudeen Bashiru Ajibola (Chairman, Osun)
A bill proposing a third term in office for the new President of the United States of America, USA, has been introduced by a lawmaker in the US Congress, Andy Ogles.
Ogles made the resolution on Thursday barely few days after Trump took office, he said four years will not be enough for the new American leader to change the rot left by the immediate past President Joe Biden.
President Trump took his oath of office as US 47th leader on January 20, 2025.
The lawmaker’s remark comes amidst recent suggestions by Preident Trump to Republican lawmakers that he may not be able to run for another election at the end of his tenure in 2029 “unless you (lawmakers) do something.”
The US Constitution bars any president from running for another presidency after his two terms have ended.
According to checks, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the only US leader to have ruled the country four times. Analysts said this was made possible due to the exigency of the Second World war.
The 22nd Amendment of the US on presidential terms says “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than two times … ”
Ogle’s resolution is however trying to amend the part of the Constitution to read
No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times … ”
His reason, he explained, is that President trump has proven to have the capacity “to reversing our nation’s decay and restoring America to greatness,’ adding that
“he must be given the time necessary to accomplish that goal”.
He added, “It is imperative that we provide President Trump with every resource necessary to correct the disastrous course set by the Biden administration,” Ogles said in a statement.
“He is dedicated to restoring the republic and saving our country, and we, as legislators and as states, must do everything in our power to support him.
“I am proposing an amendment to the Constitution to revise the limitations imposed by the 22nd Amendment on presidential terms.”
Trump had claimed that the 2020 US Presidential election was rigged after losing to President Biden. Not a few analysts slammed him at the time for trying to perpetuate himself in power against the law.
A total of 10, 000 police constables recruited last year will be posted to their states of origin for community policing.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun has disclosed that 30,000 police constables will now be recruited annually.
Egbetokun spoke during the pasing out parade of 10,000 recruits at the Police Training school, Bauchi on Thursday, according to a statement by Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP.
The police boss said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given an approval for the annual recruitment of 30,000 constables to bolster the personnel of the Force, which many insist is grossly inadequate for the country.
The IGP said the graduating recruits have bee equipped with the necessary manpower of perform their duties to the country, urging them to be professional and friendly in discharging their duties in the various communities where they will be posted.
Egbetokun said, “Our comprehensive and research-based curriculum has equipped them with fundamental policing ethics, norms, and practices, as well as modern law enforcement principles.
“We have high expectations for this graduating class of constables, and we are confident that they will uphold the values imparted to them during their training, thereby contributing to the enhancement of law enforcement in our country.
“The President’s approval for the annual recruitment of 30,000 police constables over the next few years is expected to strengthen our internal security, enhance police performance, and promote optimal police service delivery nationwide.”
Nigeria is one of the countries with the least police personnel in the world with its current strength of 370,000 policemen and officers, according to checks by the magazine.
The declaration by Senator Samuel Anyanwu penultimate week that he’s back to the position of the National Secretary appears not to have the support of the National Working Committee of the opposition party.
At least, no fewer than 14 NWC members have declared their support for Sunday Okoye, the former National Youth Leader of the PDP for the position. There are 17 members of the PDP NWC, the management organ of the party.
The party’s National Treasurer, Ahmed Mohammed made the position of the party known on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
The party Mohammed said was in the state on a courtesy visit to Governor Simi Fubara as part of its reconciliation process to bring all the members together ahead the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on the controversy that has trailed the National Secretary position, Mohammed said Amyanwu is on his own as the party is fully in support of Okoye based on a recent court judgment.
The Court of Appeal had recently affirmed Okoye as the Party’s Scribe,thereby dismissing Anyanwu claim to the position.
Surprisingly, Anyanwu who contested the last Imo state governorship election had stormed the PDP National Secretariat two weeks ago insisting that he remained in the position. He said, he has appealed the Court of Appeal judgment, and until the appellate court made a final ruling he remains the occupier of the office.
“As you can see, I’m in the office. As a matter of fact, the ruling of the Appeal Court judgment has been appealed at the Supreme Court, and there is a stay of execution. So, the position remains the way it is until determined by the Supreme Court,” Anyanwu said.
According to Mohammed, the former Imo governorship candidate has seized being a member of the NWC following the Appeal Court ruling.
He said there was no contrary judgement or ruling from a higher court to invalidate the appeal court’s decision.
Mohammed said, “the NWC are with Okoye as the national secretary of the party and would continue to work with him, and we equally request the support and backing of the governors to accept this Court of Appeal judgement.
“As you are aware, up to this moment, there is no court that set aside the ruling of the appeal court, and this is a case that they don’t have any stay or whatever.
“Fourteen of us, members of the NWC are in agreement to work along with the present National Secretary of the party.”
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says it’s poised to return to power in the country having lost the election at the centre on three occasions.
The National Treasurer of PDP, Ahmed Mohammed, made this declaration on Thursday when some members of the party NWC made a courtesy call on Rivers state governor Siminalaye Fubara in Port Harcourt, the state’s capital.
As part of the plan to sweep back to power, Mohammed said the leaders of the party have been meeting with major stakeholders in the party, particularly PDP state governors. The party must be united to be able to achieve the feat, Mohammed said.
Recall that the party lost power at the federal level to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, during the 2015 and 2019 and 2023 presidential elections. The major opposition party has also lost grounds in many states in the country, as it trails behind APC which has consolidated its position as the party of choice for Nigerians for three consecutive elections.
The PDP is trying to turn the situation around, Mohammed said noting that the party is trying to bring all the PDP governors and other stakeholders together.
As part of the reconciliation process, the PDP National Treasurer said the NWC has met with some PDP state governors including, Seyi Maknide of Oyo state; Douye Diri of Bayelsa; Bala Mohammed of Bauchi; adding that other governors will be consulted.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang has bemoaned the passing of Lt. General Jeremiah Useni on Thursday January 23, 2025, in a Paris Hospital.
In a statement signed on his behalf by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, the governor described the demise of General Useni as a tremendous loss not only to his immediate family but also to the Nigerian Armed Forces, Plateau State, and the entire nation.
According to Mutfwang, General Useni’s exemplary leadership and steadfast commitment to service were remarkable.
He said Useni’s death has left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s security and political landscape noting that the General’s tireless efforts to promote peace and security, especially in Northern Nigeria and Plateau State, would forever be remembered.
Mutfwang recounted the career of the late General, whom he said served Nigeria with distinction in various capacities, including as Minister of Transport, Quarter-Master General of the Nigerian Army, and Minister of the FCT.
“After retiring from the military, General Useni transitioned into politics, where he continued his service to the nation. He served as Deputy Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and was elected Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District in 2015 under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”
Mutfwang hailed General Useni’s life of selfless service, noting his profound contributions to the military, politics, and his community.
“On behalf of my family, the government, and the peace-loving people of Plateau State, I extend my deepest sympathies to the President, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the immediate family, and all those mourning the loss of this distinguished elder statesman.
