By: Amb. Godknows Igali

Prelude

As the year 2024 eclipses to an inevitable end in a matter of days, the global outlook for peace and security remains ominous and elusive. Earlier in September, 190 world leaders had come together in New York, re-enacting the proverbial gathering of the eagles to web a symphony out of their diverse voices. Yes, to give humanity a beacon of hope, but this 79th session of the United Nation General Assembly was itself the usual demagoguery and unhelpful in navigating the stormy waters of global peace. Since then, other prominent concerts such as BRICS and G20, amongst others, have also met in various locations around the world with the same routine and narrative.

By Steve Osuji

▪︎They are Littered on every pole of the road from Lagos to the Southeast

▪︎When you think a new IGP will improve policing, it gets even worse

▪︎If perchance the IGP travels incognito from Lagos to the southeast or Southsouth this season, he would cover his face in shame weeping for the rubbish force he commands

▪︎There are probably more policemen unleashed on these highways than are left to police the rest of the country

▪︎I can report that EGBETOKUN'S POLICE are solely on the southeast highways to extort motorists and travellers; cause chaos and mayhem

▪︎ They set up ugly roadblocks and stretch out their hands to collect toll ▪︎Those who refuse to give are parked and intimidated and delayed as their entire luggage are unpacked at the roadside, to overawe them and make their journey miserable

▪︎The roadblocks often cause a long traffic jam causing traffic to sometimes stretch from one roadblock to meet the next

▪︎A journey of about 7 hours often ends up taking up 14 to 16 hours

▪︎The Nigeria Police traumatise travellers to submission by wearing them out with long delays

▪︎Holiday makers travelling with families including children are put through HELL ON THE HIGHWAY

▪︎Accidents and mishaps are rampant on the roads because of the logjam and chaos created by the police

▪︎In my long years as a journalist, I have never seen this kind of siege in any other part of Nigeria. I travelled from Abuja to Adamawa by road a couple of year ago in the heat of banditry, I didn't see a single police roadblock

▪︎The bizarre roadblocks on southeast roads have been prevalent in the last one decade. I have written about this ugly phenomenon more than half a dozen times

▪︎But the situation is worse this year. This is the worst I have seen and IGP EGBETOKUN should cover his face in shame...

▪︎Tourists and visitors to Nigeria seeing the mayhem NIGERIA POLICE is visiting on the people will wonder what kind of weird policing Nigeria is practicing in 2024

▪︎The ugly roadblocks made up of logs, huge rocks and disused tyres create the scenario of a war zone

▪︎ But there's no war, the police are merely criminalising the citizens for daring to travel or for being on the highway

▪︎They have turned policing into a revenue generating job

▪︎The police tollgates in the southeast must be generating millions of naira everyday

▪︎The grapevine has suggested that this huge daily collection goes up all the way to the IGPs' office

▪︎This suggestion of 'uptaking' has gone on for so long and the fact that this heinous act is not checked, but gets worse makes many believe there must be some truth in this.

▪︎Some would argue that they are securing the place but that's a fat lie. They are doing everything but security

▪︎In fact, their crooked method of clogging the highways creates room for breaches

▪︎Lastly, apart from the fact that this is a huge source of revenue for the police, this calculated targeting, harassment and besiegement of INDIGBO will not augur well for Nigeria ... the Igbo, especially the youth, are being radicalised by this sustained EVIL ACT against them. Igbo who ordinarily may not be interested in the Biafra chant would soon begin to see reason why Igbo must go!

We pray fervently that someday, Nigeria shall be blessed with a REFORM-MINDED IGP who will clean up the deep rot in our police.

...Steve Osuji was editor with The Guardian, THISDAY and NewAge. He was for nine years, member of the Editorial Board of The Nation. He can be reached through his E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. NNL.

By Dr Olukayode Ajulo, SAN

Exploring the Need for Comprehensive Legislation:

Surrogacy has emerged as a significant reproductive option globally, yet it remains largely unregulated in Nigeria. This article examines the current legal framework surrounding surrogacy in Nigeria, contrasting it with other jurisdictions, and highlights the pressing need for a comprehensive legal structure to protect the rights of all parties involved.

By Bolanle Bolawole

The usual controversy that surrounds Jesus Christ during this period of the year is whether or not He was born on Christmas Day. There are religious sects and scholars who posit that Jesus could not have been born in December but somewhere in October or November. He was born all the same - and that is all that is important! Other controversies over His Divinity; whether or not He married and raised children; and whether or not He died on the Cross, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven will take, for many, His second coming to dispel or confirm!

By Ikeddy Isiguzo

Once President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addresses Nigerians, it is clear that his silence is actually golden, as it gives chances to guess what the President feels about ordinary Nigerians, the hungry, the poor, the weak, those excluded from Tinubu’s concerns because they are not rich.

By Mahmud Jega

For a man who doesn’t talk much, it is worth listening when he finally speaks out. Mai Mala Buni has been Governor of Yobe State for five and a half years, was previously a National Secretary of APC and for two years was in fact the ruling APC’s Caretaker National Chairman. In all those roles he was not known to be given to boasts and brags. His personal motto, apparently, is that action speaks louder than words and that it is empty drums that make the most noise.

By Hassan Gimba

There is no doubt that trust was the main determiner in making earlier citizens pay taxes willingly. There was trust in the leadership of the day and the knowledge that the taxes collected would not be misappropriated. Now, even the gate man in a motor park or market sees the tax he collects at the gate as his. Some have their tickets. When such collection points take the remaining proceeds to the next point, it gets “edited” until the process reaches its final pool, where a large number is collected and pilfered in large measure.

By Onjefu Okidu

If one were to pause abruptly amidst the ongoing turmoil within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and take a moment to reflect, a pressing question would likely arise: would it be fair for the PDP to sanction Nyesom Wike and restore the Rivers party structure to Governor Fubara? To answer this question accurately, one must peruse the history of the PDP. The history of the party, frankly, is a disheartening one. At its inception in 1998, under the leadership of Chief Alex Ekwueme, the party enjoyed widespread support, goodwill, and focus—qualities that positioned it as a blessing to Nigeria’s political landscape. Unfortunately, the PDP soon lost its autonomy, starting with Solomon Lar’s Jos impunity, a seed Chief Olusegun Obasanjo began to nurture upon assuming the presidency.

Since the era of Chief Solomon Lar, the party has been plagued by what can best be described as a "bigwigs-power-struggle syndrome." Decisions made by influential figures within the party, even when inconsistent with its constitution, often face little to no opposition. In 1998, under Chief Lar’s leadership, the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) passed a resolution mandating that all PDP aspirants seeking various positions in the 1999 elections must prove their eligibility by delivering their constituencies during the upcoming Local Government and Gubernatorial elections. Specifically, presidential aspirants were required to secure victories in their local governments, while gubernatorial candidates had to deliver their wards.

Ekwueme complied with the resolution, but his main opponent in the presidential race, Obasanjo, did not. Media reports at the time even noted that Obasanjo failed to deliver the polling booth in front of his house. While Ekwueme was within striking distance of winning the party primaries, Chief Solomon Lar—whether consciously or unconsciously—undermined the NEC resolution, sowing the seed of impunity and laying the foundation for the PDP's eventual decline. He unilaterally urged party members to allow Obasanjo into the presidential contest. The PDP proceeded as though nothing was amiss! From that moment onward, nearly all subsequent national chairmen, except Chief Audu Ogbeh, followed the precedent set by Solomon Lar. This mentality of impunity inevitably trickled down to the ward level, further eroding the party’s internal discipline and structure.

By Hassan Gimba

The North and its leaders seem happiest and satisfied when led by the nose. As in every election cycle, vote seekers would come and put a black liquid in a syrup bottle and, with fanfare, tell you they have gotten “crude oil” so we can re-elect them or that they should elect leaders based on tribe or religion.

By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-chief) @CelestineOkaf11

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested a suspected online fraudster, Osang Usie Otukpa, for allegedly duping 139 Australians to the tune of $AUD8,000,000 (Eight Million Australian Dollars).

By Azu Ishiekwene

The news from Ghana was not how John Dramani Mahama’s opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), defeated Nana Akufo-Addo’s ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

By Bola Bolawole

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” - Matthew 5:9.

Dogs eating dogs and birds gnawing at each other's innards is one way to describe the war of words between the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Tunji Bello. Both are important members of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, occupying portfolios that impact on the day-to-day existence of Nigerians. For members of the upper and middle classes, Keyamo’s assignment is indispensable to their needs. With the state of insecurity in the country today, who wants to risk travelling by road, except those left with no other option?