NEWS
Nigeria at Sixty Five Years: A Free and Egalitarian Nation
By Uji Wilfred Terlumun
Over sixty years ago, Nigeria, like other nations of the world, set out on the journey to be an independent nation free from the shackles of slavery, oppression and inequality.Nigeria, like the United States of America, had an ambitious and utopian dream where people could be free with equal access and opportunities to development, protection and security.
In the United States of America, Independence was attained not on a platter of gold without blood and sacrifice, but, mobilized through the people in a sustained revolutionary warfare against Great Britain. The American Revolution that led to the Independence of 1774, was a mass revolution that produced a declaration of freedom, justice and human rights. The declaration of freedom simply stated that”All men are born equal with certain alienable rights endowed them by God irrespective of race, creed and nationality.”Undoubtedly, the American declaration of freedom became the basic comer stone and driving force that has continued to shape some define the struggle for the realization of freedom in America from the American Civil War leading up the Civil Rights Movement up to the Affirmative Action Movement that secured the basic human rights of minority groups in the United States of America. America is an embodiment of freedom and the struggle for freedom, whatever it entails, has been the major driving force of United States political history since the era of the founding fathers.Nigeria became an Independent Nation on the First of October, 1960, not through a revolutionary struggle, but rather, through a systematic compromise and collaboration with the International capitalist system that agreed on a transfer of political power to the ruling political class of Nigeria while the commanding heights of the economy were controlled by the international capitalist system. Nigeria’s Independence, unlike that of the United States of America, came short of a revolutionary declaration of freedom as the basic articles of freedom that all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnicity and religion, are entitled to.The founding fathers of Nigeria such as Dr Nnamdi Akiziwe, Anthony Enahoro, Obafemi Awolowo , described the Flag Independence of Nigeria as the transfer of political power to the national political ruling class, on a platter of gold. They lamented that Nigeria’s Independence struggle did not produce Martyrs and heroes as compared to other nations like the Congo, Algeria, Egypt etc. In the First, Second and Third National Development Plan, Nigeria produced a national development blueprint that expressed the ideas of freedom and justice. Upon independence, the foundation father’s of Nigeria envisaged”A free, just, egalitarian and dynamic nation full of bright and equal opportunities for all” The first acid test of a free and egalitarian society in Nigeria was the civil war between 1967 and 1971, which many analyst including some international observers described as a modern genocide war against the Ibo nationality. One of Nigeria’s founding father’s endorsed and deployed the weaponization of hunger against the Ibo nationality as a strategy of war.Whatever the misgivings and the differences, in terms of the polemics of blame and perspectives to the war, the Nigerian civil war, to some extent, did not secure freedom and justice for the Ibo nationality. The evidence for this kind of assertion is manifest in the contemporary struggle by the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra by the IPOD.Over fifty years after the civil war, the nostalgia and euphoria of a Biafran nation, there was a country that, in the words of Chinua Achebe, still exists in the soul and consciousness of the Ibo people.The Post civil war era came up with the policy of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, to reposition the integration of the Ibo people into mainstream Nigeria. Despite these efforts at national reconciliation and rehabilitation, people of Ibo nationality have not witnessed nor seen a free and egalitarian Nigeria where they have the kind of freedom and liberty enjoyed by the other major ethnic groups of the Fulani and Yoruba. In the military, national politics and economy, the dream of egalitarianism and freedom seems distant and isolated to the Ibo nationality.The American civil war was a defining point and compass for black African emancipation and freedom but the Nigerian civil war could not attain the objective of freedom and equality for the Ibo people. Through the institutionalization of ethnicity and religion, the Ibo have suffered marginalization and isolation from holding strategic military and leadership positions in Nigeria.We have to pause for a minute, is Nigeria a just, free and egalitarian society. On paper, we seem to have a declaration of freedom but in practice and reality, what exist is inequality and injustice. For instance, Nigeria’s national anthem, inherited from the colonial past, described and referred to Nigerians as “tribes and tongue”, a sense of disunity and unbalanced society. The national anthem further prayed and requested for God to help build a nation where no man is oppressed. From the beginning of our nationhood what the nation envisaged was the existence of tribes and tongues that were under one form of oppression and injustice. In other words, disunity and injustice which dated back to the colonial foundations that created a tripartite system which gave preponderance to the politics of regionalism and ethnicity. Arising from the contradictions of the tripartite system fueled and exacerbated by centrifugal and centripetal forces, Nigeria’s dream of a free, just and egalitarian society has remained an illusion and a sham.In contemporary times, Nigeria’s dream of a free and just society has come under further scrutiny and test. The rise of militant political Islam in the far Northern Nigeria has given birth to the Boko HaramMovement and the Islamic State, with the biggest and greatest threat to a free, just and egalitarian society.In recent times, in addition to the Nigerian civil war, militant political Islam with it’s deadly concomitant of militant herdsmen, constitutes another major acid test of Nigeria’s free and egalitarian society. How free and unjust is a nation where the Boko Haram Movement took hundreds of captives of School Children in the Chibok and Dapchi school invasion that defiled every diplomatic and military efforts by the Nigerian Government to free the captives and return them back home to their parents.The story of Leah, captured by the Chibok invasion has reminded us of the struggle for freedom and intersected by the resilience and determination of Minority Christian Groups in Nigeria to be free and just people. The Boko Haram Movement with a sense of brutality and impunity decapitated Christian Leaders who believed and exercised their fundamental right of freedom of conscience and expression.On the heels of the Boko Haram Movement, Militant Herdsmen Milita Groups led by Meyyiti Allah Katohore rolled out some of the bloodiest and gruesome genocides of the twenty first century across Northern Nigeria. The most recent episodes has been the genocide at Yelwata in July of this year that attracted the condemnation of the global community, the Papacy in the Vatican, as a massacre. Despite the prompt intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the hideous and cruel killings of innocent and defenceless rural farmers, with the dislocations of their economy with the attending consequences of mass displacement of populations as refugees facing a looming food insecurity and hunger, all of these have continued to shape and define the political and social landscaping of Nigeria on a day to day basis.North Central of Nigeria in particular has been reduced to the worst theatres of violent conflicts and ethnic decimation that negates the idea and sense of a free and just society. In States such as Nasarawa State, Plateau State and Benue State, as well as Taraba in the North East, their is an Institutionalized process of Modern Slavery and land grabbing which has led to the displacement of minority groups in the hands ethnic majorities of the respective states. Some of the land grabbing issues and cases of genocide have attracted legal litigation in some courts of law.In conclusion, how just, free and egalitarian is Nigeria where the poverty rate is as high as seventy percent with a rising rural unemployment, food insecurity as well as a galloping inflation and interest rates that is over fifteen percent. Recent statistics from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, including Nigeria’s National Board of Statistics and the Central Bank, indicates growth in the informal nano sector but expressed dismay and concern at a rising poverty and unemployment in general terms. These statistics underscore the strategic consideration of the impact of poverty and helplessness against the true meaning of a just and free society.It is important to note that as a nation, we may have made progress here and there but the degree of anomie and helplessness is wide spread cutting across the entire population and segment of society and it is deplorable and deep as the days go by.President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the Social Investment schemes of his administration has reached out to millions of Nigerians creating millions of jobs but, his reform and transformational agenda should be matched side by side with the urgent national need to protect and defend minority groups and rights especially vulnerable groups such as women, children, christians, old people etc. There is need for theFederal Government to establish a National Bureau for Ethnic Relations and Inter Group Unity to handle and manage the challenge of ethnic engineering and inter group relations.There is a need for a national agency that manages and engineers the complex and often diverse and explosive nature of ethnic relations in Nigeria moreso as it touches on the fundamental issues of a free, just and egalitarian society.By Dan Amasingha,Minna.
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.), has broken his silence on one of the most painful episodes of his military career, saying he could not save his childhood friend and fellow soldier, the late General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, after an investigation linked him to the 1985 coup plot against his administration.
Babangida made the disclosure during a special programme on Badeggi 90.
1 FM Radio in Minna as part of activities marking his 85th birthday. The programme was monitored in the Niger State capital.The former military ruler said the allegations against Vatsa initially appeared unbelievable because of their extraordinary shared history.
According to him, he and Vatsa grew up together, attended the same school, graduated in the same year and joined the military at the same time.
“When I first heard the rumours that General Mamman Vatsa was involved in a plot to overthrow my administration, I could not believe it,” Babangida said.
He recalled that after receiving the allegations from a senior military officer, he summoned Vatsa and another senior officer, General Mohammed Gado Nasko, to his office for explanations.
Both men, he said, denied any involvement in the alleged plot.
Babangida, however, said the matter subsequently moved beyond personal assurances when a military commission of inquiry was constituted to investigate the allegations.
While Nasko was cleared, the former military president said the panel found evidence connecting Vatsa to the aborted coup.
The finding, he admitted, left him devastated.
“When it was finally confirmed that investigations revealed General Vatsa’s involvement in the aborted coup, I was shocked, devastated and deeply disappointed,” he said.
Babangida added: “There was nothing I could do to exonerate him from the consequences prescribed by military law. My hands were tied. That was how I lost my brother, General Mamman Vatsa.”
On the involvement of Civilians in Military coups,The former military president also offered a broader assessment of Nigeria’s history of military interventions, arguing that successful coups in the country had never been purely military affairs.
He alleged that wealthy civilians had, at various times, played significant roles in financing or supporting military takeovers.
Babangida also spoke warmly about the late businessman and politician, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, whom he described as a close personal friend whose generosity cut across ethnic, religious and regional boundaries.
He said Abiola deployed his wealth to improve the lives of Nigerians regardless of their background.
“Chief MKO Abiola was a man who used his God-given wealth to positively impact the lives of Nigerians irrespective of their background,” he said, describing the late businessman as exceptionally generous and a man who built friendships across the country.
Speaking On one of the most controversial decisions of his administration, the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election—Babangida described the decision as one of the most difficult choices of his military career.
The election, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s freest and fairest, was won by Abiola, but its result was annulled by the military government.
Babangida said the decision was taken collectively and was considered, at the time, to be in the overall interest of the country.
“I must say that it was one of the toughest decisions taken during my military career, but it was made in what we believed was the best interest of the nation,” he stated.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s current economic and security challenges, the former military president urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country.
He called on citizens to continue supporting the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing optimism that the government’s ongoing efforts would eventually produce positive results.
Babangida also appealed to traditional rulers and religious leaders to place national interest above sectional considerations and intensify their efforts toward strengthening Nigeria’s unity, peace and development.
His comments come as Nigerians prepare to mark the 85th birthday of the former military president, whose years in power remain among the most consequential and contested in Nigeria’s political history.
General Babangida’s 85th birthday celebration is scheduled for Monday, August 17, 2026, with special prayers expected at his Uphill residence in Minna, Niger State.
By David Torough, Abuja
The Federal Government has inaugurated a new Board of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), charging its members to promote fair remuneration, higher productivity and industrial harmony in Nigeria.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja on Friday, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, described the event as significant, coming at a critical stage of Nigeria’s economic transformation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Akume said the administration was implementing far-reaching reforms aimed at restoring economic stability, improving workers’ welfare, strengthening productivity and laying the foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth.
He said the NSIWC had a strategic role to play because its responsibilities cover salary structures, productivity, job evaluation and compensation matters, all of which have direct implications for workers’ welfare, industrial relations and government finances.
According to him, the new Board must strike a balance between fair and decent remuneration, improved productivity, affordability and the wider economic realities confronting the country.
He noted that the inauguration came at an important time following the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage framework, which has raised expectations among workers while increasing responsibilities for government and employers.
The SGF urged the Board to ensure that its recommendations are evidence-based, transparent, timely, equitable and fiscally responsible, supported by reliable data on wages, productivity, purchasing power and economic growth.
He also called for the promotion of a remuneration system that recognises skills, responsibility, innovation and productivity, while encouraging efficiency and accountability.
Akume stressed the need to strengthen the Commission’s digital and data capabilities and position it as a centre of excellence in compensation and productivity.
President Tinubu appointed Major General Junaid Bindawa (Rtd.) as Chairman of the new Board, alongside nine other members. Former Lagos member of the House of Representatives, Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas, was appointed Secretary of the Commission.
Other members include Dr. Ogbole Ene Lilian, Oladele Olatubosun and Yakubu Umar Barde, representing Benue, Oyo and Kaduna states respectively.
Dr. Mai Adamu Yau of Borno State, Ginika Florence Tor of Enugu State, Engineer Lawrence Okoh of Edo State, and Bello Moronke Iyabode of Kogi State were also appointed members.
Akume congratulated the chairman and members and urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them by providing “visionary, responsible and results-oriented leadership.”
In his acceptance speech, Bindawa thanked President Tinubu for the confidence placed in the new Board, assuring that its members would promote constructive engagement and work harmoniously with organised labour.
He acknowledged the weight of the Board’s responsibilities, particularly its mandate over salaries, wages, incomes and productivity, which he described as critical to workers’ welfare and the delivery of quality public services.
The new Board is expected to play a key role in shaping remuneration and productivity policies as the Federal Government continues to implement its economic reform agenda.
By Julius Tambaya, Abuja
Chief Leo Edochie, Nigeria’s number one celebrity golfer turned heads with a jaw-dropping appearance at The Shire Course, one of the iconic golf destinations in the United Kingdom.
It was all glitz and glamour as Edochie and a handful of his friends played an invitational at the prestigious course in the last weekend of July.
The Shire London is uniquely different in a number of ways. Unlike other conventional golf courses, it has six par threes, six par fours and six par fives. There are no two consecutive holes of the same par on this Course that prides itself as being “warm, unpretentious and friendly”.
As the only golf course in the United Kingdom designed by the legendary Seve Ballesteros, its signature feature is the Hole 18 with an S-shaped lake which is described as “one of the country’s most demanding closing holes”.
If the topic is golf, Chief Edochie will raise no eyebrows if you refer to him as an addict or fanatic. And that explains why his steadily-expanding, feel-good golf itinerary took him to The Shire London where he shone brightly, not necessarily by the number of birdies he returned but the significance of his message.
“It was a fantastic experience to play in such a high-profile course,” he says. “Though I had a solid round, it was not all about me. It’s about showing those kids in Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kaduna or Lagos that The Shire is not out of their reach.
“Yes, I am honoured to be adored as Nigeria’s celebrity golfer but my real goal is to inspire the next generation of golfers and enhance women’s participation in the sport in our country. If my round here in London makes one person to pick up golf, then I’m as excited as hitting an eagle on a difficult hole”.
But without a doubt, Leo brought swag and aura to the invitational at The Shire. His intimidating physique, bright apparels and trademark two-tone golf shoes were unmistakable on the fairways and left onlookers in awe. “Oh, that’s a lovely shot,” Edochie gleefully yelled after nicely scooping the ball from a greenside bunker.
The Celebrity golfer, who is also , a consummate professional and wealthy entrepreneur, playing golf is no more a hobby, it is an obsession spurred by a huge appetite to unlock the sport’s untapped potentials and provide the platform for nurturing future champions.
That explains why he continues to generate headlines for readily reaching his fat wallet to promote the game as well as offer substantial charitable contributions.
In no distant time, he will be hosting Celebrity Golfer Leo Edochie Charity Golf tournament which fits into his persona. True to his long-standing reputation for giving back to humanity, the proceeds from the event will be dedicated to charity.
The surge in celebrity participation in golf by Nigerians today reflects Leo’s impact, enhanced more by his leveraging the social media to share his experiences on and off the fairways as a way to promote the sport.
Yet, he has a new dream. He has expressed a burning desire to introduce Nigerians to the experience of watching golf tournaments live, replicating the spectator culture common in the developed countries and in the PGA events. Such fan engagement, according to Edochie, “will change the perception of golf, boost tourism and bring in more people into the game.”
As Chairman of Python Golf Club Open tournament, this former president of Port Harcourt Polo Club plans to use the next golf tournament in November to pilot the initiative of creating the spectator atmosphere.
According to Leo, “I’m deeply excited when I see other people following in my footsteps, not only by the way they dress but by also recording and airing their games.
“My next goal is to bring Nigerians to watch golf tournaments live, just like they watch football games. The merits are so much that we can’t afford to miss out on the foreseeable opportunities.”
However, the Shire experience did not obscure the primary reason of Chief Edochie’s London visit- proud father and mother were attending the graduation of their last son in the company of their other children and friends. All his 3 kids graduated from the same university of Reading in England.
Coming soon for the celebrity golfer is golf entrepreneurship and merchandising.
The golf community eagerly anticipates.
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