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The Widening Gap between the North and the South
By Jude Opara
Since the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates by the British, there has been a kind of contestation between the two groups of who gets what and who does what.
It is also true that what really encouraged the British administrators to amalgamate the two entities was for ease of administration and economic advancement because while the South was posting surplus balance sheet, the North was mostly in deficit.
They felt it would make their task easier by joining the two protectorates into one country hence the birth of Nigeria in 1914.Many people including the foremost nationalists have at one time or the other doubted the rationale behind the binding together of two distinct people who have different world views into one country.
Sir Ahmadu Bello once bemoaned the union and described it ‘as the mistake of 1914’ while similarly, Chief Obafemi Awolowo also dismissed Nigeria as ‘a mere geographical expression.’ Even at the height of the 1966 crisis, General Yakubu Gowon declared that ‘the basis of the unity Nigeria was no longer in existence.’
However, over time the country had managed its differences including religious and cultural diversities and progressed as one entity.
In fact since after the civil war, when the military held sway, nobody would have thought that successive leaders could still drive the state in such a way that as we speak there are different members of the unit opting to leave the union.
We have seen the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and lately the Yoruba nation agitators all asking for independence.
But beyond this, there seems to be another frontier of agitation which is even more devastating to the existence of the country as we have been witnessing the growing gap between the North and South.
Recently, the governors of the states in the South rose from a meeting in Lagos to reemphasize their earlier resolution in a meeting in Asaba, Delta State two months ago. In the meeting, they among others banned Open Grazing in their region, called for creation of State Police and to cap it all demanded for the restructuring of the country in such a way that the component units (states or regions) will take charge of their resources and pay an agreed tax to the federal government.
So the latest meeting in Lagos went a step ahead to give the states a September 1st deadline to put in place laws banning Open Grazing, they also demanded for a rotation of the presidency between the North and the South.
Expectedly, some elements in the North will not have any of that. Less than 24 hours after 17 governors in the South came out with their resolution, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and a coalition of Northern Youths out rightly rejected the position of the governors.
The Director of Publicity, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed in a statement said the North would not be compelled into yielding a democratically elected office.
Baba-Ahmed, further sounded that as far as the North was concerned, the idea that it would be indirectly threatened or intimidated or blackmailed into giving up an office which he said should have been settled democratically will not work.
NEF also described the decision of the southern governors as an expression of sentiment that could be best discussed within a political process.
“We are running a democratic government and decisions over where the next president comes from are basically decisions that will be made by voters exercising their rights to choose which candidate best serves their interest.”
Similarly, the Youths from the 19 Northern States and Abuja, under the auspices of Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) in their submission advised the Southern Governors to first settle the agitation and impasse in their region before talking about the presidency in 2023.
In a communiqué, Chairman of the forum, Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, accused the Southern Governors of not showing concern on how Nigeria would come out of the present predicament of insecurity and economic hardship but were only concerned about where the President would come from.
The communique advised the governors to employ all available means to settle the problems ravaging their region before considering which region would produce the President come 2023.
On the other hand, southern groups like the apex Igbo socio-political organization, the Ohanaeze Ndi’Igbo, the Pan Yoruba socio-political group, the Afenifere and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), have all commended the governors for their position on the state of the nation.
Now, it has become a North versus South battle. The country is adversely being affected by the needless and endless contestation of who and how the country should be governed. Each time the president comes from one region, at the twilight of his regime, people from the other part will begin to lay claim to the presidency of the country.
It is a well known fact that in 2015, the North had a consensus that since former President Goodluck Jonathan who saw off the first tenure of his principal, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua contested and won in the 2011 election, that power must return to the region. Then they did not talk of the people deciding who will be the president through an election. Then nobody talked about competence or otherwise of those who were seeking the prime job, all they wanted was that power should come to the North.
Ordinarily, there is no part of this country that cannot boast of competent and erudite candidates that can effectively lead the country, so creating the impression that it is only a section of the country that can produce such men and women is a disservice to the country because by so doing, competent people are being shielded away from the seat of power.
Again, if successive governments and especially the present administration had made concerted efforts to truly unite the country, may be nobody would have been calling for the rotation of the presidency.
The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has been serially criticized as being sectional. Many people especially from some parts of the country will swear that nepotism under this administration has been elevated to an all time height.
Another question that has continued to beg for answers is why some people are finding it difficult to support a return to the kind of administration we had in the past when the regions had the opportunity of handling their own affairs to an extent. That system encouraged development and healthy competition among the federating units.
Then, the government at the centre was not very tempting because it was the regions that were funding the federal government through their taxes. But today, the system we are running encourages the mad scramble for the centre. It is a mockery of federalism for the states to always run to Abuja every month to share money from the federation account.
While the South is clamouring for a return to such a system that allowed people to operate and develop at their pace, the North seems to be speaking from both sides of the mouth on the issue. It is noted that at times you will hear some people from the North saying they are not afraid of restructuring but their action also points to the contrary.
The North cannot continue to pretend they don’t understand why people will call for rotational presidency because it is an opportunity for other segments of the country to also have stake at the nation’s leadership.
Many people have questioned why students from the North always have their cutoff points into the colleges and universities drastically cut down for them while those from the South need to score higher to get into the same institutions. So why do the North not kicking against the reduction of cutoff points for their children?
The North should not continue to grow grey hairs about some things the people of the South want to implement to better their lot. For instance, in the North they introduced Sharia Courts; they have continued to ban the trade and consumption of alcohol and the South has not tackled them for that, so they should also realize that just as they believed that some of these laws are good for them, the South has the right to introduce laws that they feel are good for them too.
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Dangote Cement Ibese, FRSC Strengthen Strategic Partnership to Advance Road Safety in Ogun
Efforts aimed at further enhancing road safety in Ogun State has received a boost following fresh collaborative engagement between the Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant and the State Sector Command for safer road use and general safety advocacy.
Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant reaffirmed its commitment to promoting safer roads and strengthening stakeholder collaboration as it received the newly deployed Ogun State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, and members of his management team on a courtesy visit to the plant.
The visit provided an opportunity for both organizations to discuss strategies for enhancing road safety awareness, driver competence, and regulatory compliance across Ogun State.
Speaking during the engagement, Corps Commander Ogunjobi commended Dangote Cement for its consistent support to the FRSC and its contribution to road safety initiatives over the years pointing out that the company has established itself as one of the Corps’ most reliable corporate partners through its commitment to safety and responsible transportation practices.
Said he; “Dangote Cement has remained a dependable partner of the Federal Road Safety Corps over the years, and we deeply appreciate the support we have continued to receive from the company,” Ogunjobi said.
“As an organization with extensive logistics and transportation operations, Dangote Cement understands the importance of safety on our roads. This shared commitment provides a strong foundation for even greater collaboration between our two institutions.”
The Sector Commander emphasized that promoting a culture of safety requires continuous engagement with stakeholders, particularly organizations that operate large fleets of vehicles and professional drivers.
“Road safety is not the responsibility of FRSC alone. It requires collective action from government agencies, private sector organizations, transport operators, and road users. We believe there is significant potential for us to work more closely with Dangote Cement in driving safety awareness and improving compliance with road traffic regulations,” he stated.
As part of the proposed areas of cooperation, Ogunjobi advocated the establishment of an FRSC Special Marshal Unit within the Ibese Plant, noting that the initiative would strengthen safety consciousness among employees and drivers.
“We would like to see the establishment of an in-plant FRSC Special Marshal Unit that will serve as a platform for promoting road safety advocacy and best practices among staff and transport operators. Such a unit will support specialized driver training programmes, regular sensitization sessions, and proactive safety campaigns aimed at reducing road crashes, he said.
He further assured the company of the Corps’ readiness to provide technical support saying “our doors remain open. We are committed to supporting Dangote Cement through continuous engagement, capacity building and safety enlightenment initiatives that will ultimately benefit not just the company but all road users across Ogun State,” he added.
Responding, the Plant Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant, Mr. Ayyagri Subbaraidu, described the FRSC as a critical stakeholder in the company’s operations and commended the Corps for its dedication to preserving lives on Nigerian roads.
While noting that safety remains a central pillar of Dangote Cement’s operational philosophy and long-term growth strategy.
“The Federal Road Safety Corps plays a strategic role in our operations because transportation is a vital component of our business. We therefore recognize and appreciate the tremendous work being done by the Corps in ensuring safer roads and protecting lives,” Subbaraidu said.
The Plant Director explained that the company’s Vision 2030 places strong emphasis on responsible operations, sustainability, and stakeholder collaboration, making road safety an important priority.
“Dangote Vision 2030 clearly highlights the need for stronger partnerships with key stakeholders such as the FRSC. Safety is not merely a regulatory requirement for us; it is a core value that guides how we operate every day,” he stated.
“Our commitment goes beyond the movement of products. We are committed to ensuring that our drivers, contractors, employees and every road user interacting with our operations do so in the safest possible environment.”
Subbaraidu welcomed the proposals presented by the new Sector Commander and assured the visiting delegation that Management would continue to explore initiatives capable of strengthening the existing relationship.
“We appreciate the suggestions put forward by the Sector Commander, particularly in the area of driver education and safety awareness. These initiatives align with our commitment to continuous improvement in health, safety and operational excellence,” he said.
“Dangote Cement remains ready to work hand in hand with the FRSC in advancing road safety campaigns, improving driver competence, enhancing compliance, and creating safer roads for all. We look forward to expanding our collaboration for the mutual benefit of our organizations and the communities we serve.”
The visit ended with both parties expressing confidence that a stronger partnership between Dangote Cement and the FRSC would significantly contribute to safer road transportation, improved driver behaviour, and enhanced compliance with safety regulations across Ogun State.
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration (FCTA), on Thursday, said it has concluded arrangements to clamp down on commercial transport operators loading along roadsides and in illegal motor parks, announcing an imminent enforcement drive to transition all intercity and intra-city transport operations into newly constructed ultra-modern bus terminals.
Mandate Secretary for the FCT Transportation Secretariat, Chinedum Elechi, disclosed this during a press conference in Abuja.
He said the administration is ready to enforce compliance to restore civil order, modernize public transportation, and curb rising security concerns particularly “one chance” armed robberies, drug trafficking, and arms smuggling linked to unprofiled operators.
“At the root of all social insecurity is transportation.
“The problem of ‘one chance’ and general insecurity will be half-solved if we have a proper transportation system where operators are profiled and operating out of designated hubs.
“Under the new operational framework, long-distance intercity routes such as trips to Kaduna, Aba, Lokoja, Owerri, and Sokoto will operate strictly out of designated terminals like Mabushi and Kugbo. Meanwhile, the Central Business District (CBD) terminal will manage intra-city routes, serving as a hub for local taxis, e-hailing services, and feeder buses,” Elechi said.
Elechi noted that for the first time in the 50-year history of the FCT, the administration has built state-of-the-art terminals equipped to handle over 2,000 passengers.
According to him, facilities include structured car parks, shops, food courts, escalators, and cinemas, managed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with Planet Projects.
“Discussions are also ongoing with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to allocate dedicated spaces within the CBD terminal for civil service staff buses,” he noted.
Addressing public concerns regarding the storm damage at the Kugbo terminal, Elechi explained that the facility absorbed high-speed winds from a localized severe weather event, preventing major structural damage to nearby residential areas across the road.
He confirmed that structural redesigns and roof repairs are near completion, and the facility will soon be fully integrated alongside Mabushi and the CBD terminals.
The Secretariat warned that previous leniency where over 100 impounded vehicles were released after operators signed undertakings will no longer be the norm.
FCT transport regulations prohibit operating commercial parks in open spaces or private premises without authorization.
“We are not taking food from anyone’s mouth; we are asking operators to move from unsafe, unhealthy roadside locations into modern facilities built with billions of Naira.
“If you rent private premises and turn them into an illegal motor park, we will enforce the law, seal off the premises, and impound the vehicles.
“FCT must look like every modern capital city,” Elechi emphasized.
The Transportation Secretariat also highlighted ongoing maintenance efforts to fix intermittent traffic light failures caused by solar battery depletion and sensor faults, while urging the public to support anti-vandalism efforts against the theft of signaling cables and power components across the city’s transport network.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) said Epelle-Asemota Osayuki remains its duly nominated candidate for the Edo South Senatorial District.
The party attributed the discrepancies in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) publication of candidates’ particulars to an error on the part of the commission.
The party, in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by its Director of New Media and Strategic Communication, Agada Theophilus, said INEC correctly published Osayuki’s name and personal details.
It, however, added that INEC mistakenly attached the photograph of another aspirant and the credentials of a different individual.
The party maintained that it had duly submitted Osayuki’s name, passport photograph and credentials to INEC in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
It added that the commission alone was responsible for publishing candidates’ particulars.
The party said the successful upload of her details to the INEC portal served as proof of her formal sponsorship and called on the electoral body to explain how the mix-up occurred.
The NDC also dismissed attempts to question Osayuki’s eligibility on ethnic grounds, describing such claims as an orchestrated campaign aimed at discrediting her candidacy.
The party maintained that Osayuki was a Nigerian of Benin ancestry who had lived and worked in Benin throughout her career, “and is married into the Asemota family of Benin.”
The party described her as a seasoned public servant who spent 35 years in the Edo public service and previously served in key leadership positions, including Chairman of the Principals’ Association of Edo.
“The first female National Chairperson of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), and Secretary of the Trade Union Congress in the state”.
It added that she was a prominent member of the Obidient Movement and emerged winner of the NDC primary for the Edo South Senatorial District.
The party said her emergence reflected its commitment to promoting women, youths and persons with special needs, insisting that she was duly nominated and would remain its candidate.
The NDC acknowledged that other aspirants were disappointed by the outcome of the primaries but urged them to refrain from actions capable of undermining the party.
It said a national reconciliation committee had already been inaugurated to address grievances arising from the primaries and appealed to party leaders to help resolve outstanding issues.
The party also rejected allegations that candidates were imposed by the national leadership, insisting that state leaders supervised the primary process while the national leadership only harmonised interests and managed disputes that could not be resolved at the state level.
It called on members to close ranks and work together in the interest of the party ahead of the forthcoming elections.
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