Opinion/Feature
Of Kano’s Game Of Thrones, Nigeria’s National Anthem
What is happening in Kano should be of concern to not only the Kanawa or Northerners but to all Nigerians.
Kano, as we all know, is the heartbeat of the North. If Kano is economically buoyant, it cascades down to the rest of the North and reflects on Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP).
Conversely, any chaos or breach in security will affect other parts of the North, thereby stretching the capacity of our security agencies with all the attendant consequences.
This is why the ongoing ”Game of Thrones” in the ancient city of Kano should concern every Nigerian.
There were some misgivings in some quarters when Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, popularly called SLS – fresh from a controversial sacking from the office of the governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank by then President Goodluck Jonathan – was made the Emir of Kano, against all odds, by Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on 8th June 2014, in a move that lends credence to the saying that there is no permanent friend or enemy in politics but permanent interests.
In Kwankwaso’s first tenure as governor, he and SLS, then with the First Bank, were more like “enemies”, which made the government of Kano State close its account with the bank as its request for Sanusi’s sack was not acceded to.
Yet there were misgivings too when, again against all odds, he was dethroned by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on 9th March 2020. To get at him, Ganduje “shattered” the revered Kano Emirate into five pieces.
Now there are more misgivings after the current governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, himself a Prince, dethroned the five Emirs created by Ganduje and reinstated SLS and returned the emirate to its former status.
The issue, ordinarily a state affair within the governor’s authority, is threatening to escalate and burst onto the national landscape. That is, if it has not already, what with the National Security Adviser (NSA) weighing in.
The thing is, the princes’ insatiable greed for power, influence, relevance and wealth has made them rush open-eyed into the crossfires of ambitious and unscrupulous politicians who keep no captives. To quote from ‘Macbeth’, the Kano princes have “murdered sleep and so shall sleep no more.”
However, the most pitiable here is the common man who whatever is happening in Kano will neither put garri on his table nor solve any of his mammoth and growing problems. It is the common man who would be used as a foot soldier to disrupt the peace of the community.
Welcome Back, “Nigeria We Hail Thee!”
It is no longer news that the National Assembly will bring back our National Anthem at the birth of our nation. It is a welcome development.
On 10 August 2020, I wrote a piece entitled “Pray, who wants Zulum dead?” and I said, “Anybody who chooses to write the truth about our dear country, Nigeria, does so with a heavy heart. You cannot write about your beloved with no degree of passion. The love for it, the sadness at its travails, the fear for its future, and the cry for its affairs to be done right cannot be written dispassionately. Bewildered many a time, you just write for record purposes, knowing that it may change nothing.
“We grew up with the national anthem, ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’, which was adopted on October 1, 1960. It was our anthem until 1978. The anthem was written by Lillian Jean Williams, a Briton who lived here at the time of our independence, while the music for it was composed by Francis Berda. In the first stanza, there was a rallying exhortation. After saluting the great mother country – ‘Nigeria we hail thee’, it went on to call us to unity and oneness – ‘Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand…’
“A three-stanza anthem designed to whip up our patriotism, the third stanza struck a chord with me. In it, we supposedly beseech the Creator to help us build a nation where no man is left behind. “O God of creation, grant us this our one request, help us build a nation where no man is oppressed…” In my childish imagination in the early 70s (I was barely ten) I always romanticised that to mean we were imploring God to help us build a real wall of steel, mortar and cement strong enough to withstand external enemies and tall enough that no Nigerian can be thrown over it to the wolves.
“Now, while the first national anthem spoke of Nigeria as a mother, the second spoke of it as a father. The last verse in the first stanza of the earlier anthem was “Nigerians all and proud to serve our sovereign motherland” while the second verse in the first stanza of the later anthem said, “To serve our fatherland”.
“While the mother fiercely loves her brood and can stake her life for them, the father’s love is less sentimental but intense. By nature, he provides for both the mother and the kids and can break his back so that they can have something. He can move mountains to protect and preserve him. And so the child sees its father as stronger than Hercules and richer than Mansa Musa.
“There may be many reasons why General Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime decided to change the anthem to the current one. Chief among them could be nationalism; after all, why should foreigners decide our national anthem, they might have reasoned. But did they put side-by-side the meanings, imports and differences between “motherhood” and “fatherhood” in their decision to adopt the current anthem? Or perhaps they felt that likening Nigeria to a father would make its children revere and work to make it proud of them while in return giving them the love, support and protection only a father can?
“You see, a citizen sees his country in the image of a father. Children begin to lose hope in a father who shirks his responsibilities. They begin to see him as the anonymous lover who, heartbroken, wrote: ‘I am afraid to love you again. But whenever I see you, I just want to hold you in my arms forever. You had promised to protect me forever and never to hurt me for once, but you have broken that promise, just the way you have shattered my heart, too.’
“The yet-to-be-found Chibok girls and all their loved ones can say these words about their fatherland. All Nigerian children and their loved ones kidnapped or killed by Boko Haram in the North-East or its other arm, the bandits in the North West and North Central, can borrow these words too. Even those released after their people have paid their ransom can adopt these words. All Nigerians who believe more could have been done will be at home with these words. Do you think those appalled at how Boko Haram terrorists who were “rehabilitated” and released into society disappear will not see these words as apt?”
On 12 December 2022, writing on “CBN, Qatar 2023 and time to rekindle our patriotism (1)”, I said, “There is nothing more touching than watching fans at the ongoing World Cup shed tears when their national anthem is being sung, or crying when their national team loses a game or even wins. Such a show of intense emotion comes as a result of substantial love for one’s country. It is a sign of unbridled patriotism. You begin to wonder if a Nigerian would cry on hearing our national anthem or cry if we win or lose a game.
“But you must ask yourself whether such love for the country has something to do with the anthem or with how a country’s managers manage it.
Now, many things have happened that have made a lot of Nigerians want to give up because, sadly, the managers of our country have so bastardised our psyche that many of us are afraid to cry for a country those milking it have no sympathy for. Last week, I saw a video clip of a serving minister boasting to his audience that he cannot be defeated in an election because he had “amassed money”! How insensitive can one be!
We all had hopes for this nation. We still have, and we all want it to be the greatest in the world. However, this hope is fading for some, even as many of us still hold on to the dream of a greater Nigeria because we have no other country to call ours.
By Fred Itua
In an age where global development is increasingly measured by a set of universally accepted indicators such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Human Development Index (HDI), and the Global Competitiveness Report, the role of subnational governments in aligning with these benchmarks cannot be overstated.
For states and regions to be meaningfully integrated into the global economy and development discourse, they must reflect intentional governance strategies that advance these objectives. In Edo State, Governor Monday Okpebholo is doing just that.
In his first five months in office, Governor Okpebholo has introduced the SHINE Agenda — a visionary roadmap that places Security, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Agriculture, and Education at the heart of Edo’s transformation. Beyond being a domestic policy direction, SHINE is a strategic reflection of key pillars embedded in the SDGs. His approach demonstrates a clear understanding that local governance must not be insular but rather a contributor to the global pursuit of sustainable development.
No society can thrive without peace and the rule of law. That is why Goal 16 of the SDGs — Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions — emphasizes the creation of peaceful and inclusive societies. Governor Okpebholo’s aggressive repositioning of the state’s security architecture, especially through community-policing partnerships, intelligence coordination, and the containment of cult-related violence, directly feeds into this global objective.
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The administration has also prioritized institutional collaboration with federal security agencies and local vigilante groups. By promoting security, the government is protecting livelihoods, enabling business confidence, and ensuring social cohesion—metrics that directly affect Edo’s rating in global peace and competitiveness indexes.
The third SDG speaks directly to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. From the beginning of his administration, Governor Okpebholo made it clear that healthcare delivery must be equitable, accessible, and community-driven. His government has rehabilitated numerous primary health centres, deployed mobile clinics to rural areas, and recruited additional frontline health workers across the state.
The Governor’s approach isn’t merely infrastructural—it is also strategic. His emphasis on maternal and child health, disease prevention, and immunization campaigns align with global targets for reducing child mortality, increasing life expectancy, and preventing communicable diseases. In Edo today, health is no longer seen as a luxury but a constitutional right, which this government is determined to uphold.
Infrastructure is both a development indicator and an enabler. SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) place premium importance on the development of resilient infrastructure to foster economic growth and human well-being. Governor Okpebholo’s infrastructural interventions—from urban road construction to rural electrification and drainage works—are opening up communities, boosting commerce, and raising standards of living.
In the last five months, dozens of roads have either been completed or are ongoing. These include key arteries connecting remote communities to urban centres, facilitating the movement of goods and people. Schools are being rebuilt, markets modernized, and public facilities upgraded—all as part of a larger plan to make Edo a functional, inclusive, and resilient space for residents and investors alike.
Agriculture is the lifeline of many Edo communities. Recognizing this, the Governor has placed a renewed focus on agribusiness, food security, and climate-conscious resource management. SDG 2 aims to achieve zero hunger, while SDG 12 and SDG 13 advocate for responsible consumption and climate action, respectively.
The administration’s SHINE pillar on Natural Resources and Agriculture reflects these global concerns.
Governor Okpebholo is currently working to improve access to land for agriculture, strengthen extension services, and attract private-sector investments into agro-processing and value chain development. The promotion of sustainable farming practices and erosion control measures also positions Edo as a forward-looking state responsive to climate vulnerabilities.
A well-educated population is the surest pathway to innovation and long-term development. SDG 4 commits governments to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education. Governor Okpebholo has matched this commitment by upgrading school infrastructure, training teachers, providing digital learning tools, and ensuring that no child is left behind—especially in marginalized communities.
Under his administration, Edo is scaling up its education sector to meet global standards. From early childhood education to tertiary partnerships, the focus is on producing problem-solvers, entrepreneurs, and leaders. This long-view investment will shape the next generation of Edo’s workforce and civic leadership.
In just five months, Governor Monday Okpebholo has proven that leadership is not about duration but direction. The SHINE agenda is not just a state policy—it is Edo State’s declaration that it is ready to meet global development standards with clarity, courage, and competence.
As the world marches toward the 2030 deadline for achieving the SDGs, subnational actors like Edo State will be judged not just by budgets or bureaucracy but by vision, implementation, and impact. Under Governor Okpebholo’s leadership, Edo is not only shining—it is aligning, advancing, and transforming in tune with the rest of the world.
Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, sent in this piece from Benin City, Edo State
By Emmanuel Onwubiko
There was this Southern African proverb used by Nigeria’s former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan that makes a whole lot of sense to us in Nigeria, especially when analytically viewing how government business is set up.
The proverb says, “It’s much easier to wake a man who is truly asleep from sleep than he who is pretending to be asleep”. Flowing from this Southern African proverb is the fact that it is very difficult to get a government bent on doing that which is unconstitutional than from a self-correcting government that is transparent and open to criticism.
There are two public statements credited to the current president of Nigeria which self-contradict each other. The first one was the story the president told during his happy moments as he marked his birthday very recently.
Visited by an entourage organised by his minister of the Federal Capital Territory Mr. Nyesom Wike, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said he once gave a strong warning to the FCT minister that he must carry out almost his entire public functions with the conscious awareness that the interest of All Progressives Congress which is the President’s political family matters so much and that should he be found wanting, he would be dismissed.
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Wike is of the People’s Democratic Party but rebelled from his party and accepted a cabinet level appointment from the government set up by the APC led president.
The aforementioned story specifically is titled ‘How I warned Wike of possible sack if his policies didn’t favour APC in FCT – says Tinubu’.
The president had revealed that he threatened the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that he could lose his position if his policies in Abuja did not favour the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking recently when Wike led FCT residents on a Sallah visit to the State House, Tinubu commended the minister’s efforts in transforming the capital but noted that certain obstacles needed to be removed to ensure smooth progress.
One such challenge was the inclusion of the FCT under the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which Wike requested to be removed. Tinubu recalled that Wike approached him with the appeal.
“I remember the day Nyesom Wike came to me and said, ‘Please take us out of this problem of TSA so that I can do more work and achieve more,” Tinubu said.
He added that he asked Wike to outline his plans and then jokingly questioned whether the changes would benefit the APC politically.
“I said, ‘Okay, show me what you’re about to do,’ and he presented his thinking and his belief, and I threw in my political jibe. I said, ‘Will that give me any opportunity for my party to win an election in the FCT?’” the president added.
“I said, ‘I know where you’re coming from. Your own party or my party? Because if this thing goes too much in your own favour, you will lose your job, and he said, ‘Okay, we will settle that, my oga,’ and I moved ahead, and everything started changing rapidly,” Tinubu said.
He credited the removal of the FCT from the TSA for accelerating development and improving governance in the capital.
The second story was the statement that one of his ministers was offered appointment even when he was a known public critic of the person and politics of the president. In other word, the said minister is an outsider and not a core member of the president’s political family.
President Bola Tinubu had in this vein revealed the reasoning behind his “controversial decision” to appoint Dr. Bosun Tijani as Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
This move, he said, drew widespread debate due to Tijani’s history of public criticism of him and the National Assembly.
Speaking at a special Iftar held on Saturday night at the Presidential Villa to mark his 73rd birthday, Tinubu stated that his choice of Tijani underscored his belief in recognising talent, even among critics, as a means to drive national development.
“When I picked him, it was tough. My very close confidantes, who had read his comments on social media, came to me and said, ‘No, never.’ I said, ‘Yes, he is talented.
“Because he criticises me and pours abuses on the parliament, it does not mean he has nothing to offer.
“Maybe his frustration at that time will drive him to contribute more to governance. And today, he is doing that, and I am very proud of him,” Tinubu stated.
These two public stories told by Tinubu gives two contradictions. One is the impression that the president is unaware of the fuller meaning of constitutional democracy which is a form of government that is voted into office, composed by the people, not necessarily by members of the political structure that produced the president and the government of the people by the people is legally obligated to then deliver services that would benefits the greatest majority or percentage of the people of the country and not registered members of the political party in which the president used to run for election into the office of the president of Nigeria.
This particular story of the encounter between Wike and Tinubu tells the story of a president who believes that only members of the All Progressives Congress must become members of his government and therefore should become the overwhelming beneficiaries of the programmes, policies and initiatives of the government. The very next story of how the president proceeded to pick someone outside of his political family and indeed a critic, as a cabinet level appointee, reflects the mindset of a president who knows that government isn’t necessarily by members of his political team and the beneficiaries of the policies and programmes of the government should be the greatest percentage of the people of Nigeria.
However, if we interrogate further the ways and manners of appointments made by the president, there is an open admission that President Tinubu is intentionally carrying on as if his government is by the APC and the goals and objectives of his governance style should be reaped by the members of his political family.
This is so because it is now obvious that 99 percent of all the appointments made by the president have favoured active members of All Progressives Congress and the intriguing thing about it is that key positions of board chairmen of important national agencies have been awarded to the National leaders and states wide leaders of Tinubu’s political party which is the All Progressives Congress. The Nigerian Television Authority’s board is chaired by the spokesman of the APC.
All federal teaching hospitals were awarded as trophies to national and state leaders of the All Progressives Congress and then there is another angle that is even more laughable: the overwhelming presence of the kinsmen and tribes women of Tinubu’s Yoruba heritage and ethnicity in his government.
Tinubu has effectively constituted the bulk of his appointees to be composed of Yorubas so much so that what we have with us in Nigeria is akin to a government by TRIBESMEN. This is more dangerous than concentrating appointments in the hands of leaders of the political party that produced the president of Nigeria, even though it is innately evil. So we are now contending with a twin social evils of having the president who has set up his government of TRIBESMEN and political family members only.
This is wrong on all fronts. I will reproduce the identities of the juicy and indeed very important public offices given only to Yorubas who are Tinubu’s TRIBESMEN. Senator Ali Ndume from Borno state, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress, loudly condemned this government by TRIBESMEN, which Tinubu is orchestrating.
But first, let us talk a bit about how tribalism constitutes the most dangerous threat to constitutional democracy.
A political philosopher recalled that Andrew Sullivan’s 2017 article “Can democracy survive tribalism” states what I would consider an idealist’s vision of Nigeria – “to live beyond such tribal identities, to construct a society based on the individual, to see ourselves as citizens of a people’s republic.”
Most scholars agree that tribalism is an inherited social construct, a default of our collective ‘existential experience.’ The implication is that tribalism in contemporary societies can not be wished away. Tribalism: “a loyalty or preference to one’s own people.” “The state of existing as a tribe, or a strong loyalty to your tribe.”
She said that a group’s history shapes its existential experience. Ahmad Mohammadpour and Kamal Soleimani (2019) suggest that “colonial powers have used tribalism to oversimplify the multifaceted modality of diverse and heterogeneous socio-political arrangements.” While understanding history is important, the popular anonymous quote, “If you don’t heal what hurt you, you’ll bleed on people who didn’t cut you,” captures the essence of the present moment in Nigeria.
What happened prior to Nigeria’s independence and post-independence has seared ‘tribe’ into the country’s political identity, fueling a ‘survivalist mentality’ and the need to ‘stick together.’ The extensive literature on tribalism agrees that it has more severe consequences in developing societies. Individuals may covertly stay ‘primal’ and overtly exhibit ‘primal’ behaviors when any form of security in an already ‘lacking, scarce’ space is threatened. Primal: the extreme response to new and threatening situations in the interest of self-preservation.
The author recalled vividly that with over 250 ethnic groups, Nigeria is the archetype of a heterogeneous group. However, this diversity also poses a burden, as the country’s institutions and leaders need help managing the complexities of the different groups. Despite being a rich economy, Nigeria’s poverty rate is high, and its quality of life is worsening. In the lead-up to the 2023 election, Nigeria’s economic situation was volatile, with high inflation, contractionary monetary policies, and shrinking policy space, leading to a reduced purchasing power for the average Nigerian.
Tribalism exacerbates the issue, as different groups compete for scarce resources. In his article “Tribalism and Politics in Nigeria,” Walter Schwarz (1966) wrote that “it is not that different tribes dislike each other. The trouble is they are competing for scarce commodities.” Today, 56 years after his writing, resource scarcity has worsened, and the competition for what is available is even more primal. (written by Ada Umenwaliri, PhD in public policy and strategy).
The conclusion is to reproduce empirical evidence to demonstrate our understanding that President Tinubu is running his government of TRIBESMEN, which is much more dangerous than his other understanding of government and purpose of government which to him means satisfying only the interest of members of his political party which is the All Progressives Congress (APC).
As sent to me by a senior officer of the Nigerian Immigration Service (name withheld): SOME OFFICIALS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA UNDER PRESIDENT TINUBU.
Mind you, this is a (non-exhaustive) list of Yorubas in the Government of President Tinubu. “YORUBA LOKAN”?
BOLA TINUBU’S FEDERAL GOVERNMENT:
- OFFICE/POSITION – President and Commander-in-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria. CURRENT OCCUPANT- Bola Ahmed Tinubu, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION – Chief Justice of Nigeria, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION – Chief of Army Staff, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION – Inspector General of Police, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Kayode Egbetokun, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION – DG, Department of State Services, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION – Commander, Brigade of Guards, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Adebisi Olusola Onasanya, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION – Chief of Defence Space Administration, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Lanre Ibrahim Oluwatoyin, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION – Commandant, National Defence College
CURRENT OCCUPANT- Olumuyiwa Morankinyo Olotu
TRIBE- Yoruba - OFFICE/POSITION – CG, Nigeria Customs Service, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION – CG, Federal Fire Service, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Abdulganiyu Olola Jaji, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Accountant-General of the Federation, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Olayemi Michael Cardoso, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Chairman, Economic & Financial Crimes Commission, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Olanipekun Olukoyede, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Zaccheus Adelabu Adedeji, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- CCE, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Gbenga Komolafe, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG/CEO, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Dayo Mobereola, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- MD/CEO, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Gbenga Alade, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG, National Pension Commission, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Omolola Bridget Oloworaran, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG, Bureau of Public Procurement, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Adebowale Adedokun, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- MD/CEO, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG, Bureau of Public Enterprises, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- MD/CEO, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Olufemi Ogunyemi, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Commissioner/CEO, National Insurance Commission, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG/CEO, National Identity Management Commission, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Abisoye Coker-Odusote, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG/CEO, National Space Research and Development Agency, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Mathew Adepoju, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG/CEO, National Centre for Technology Management, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Olushola Odusanya, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG/CEO, National Automotive Design and Development Council, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Chairman, Nigerian Ports Authority Board, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Adedayo Clement Adeyeye, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- MD, Federal Housing Authority, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Oladimeji Oyetunde Ojo, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- ES, National Lottery Trust Fund, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Tosin Adeyanju, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG/CEO, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Lanre Gbajabiamila, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- CEO, Nigerian Postal Service
CURRENT OCCUPANT- Omotola Odeyemi, TRIBE- Yoruba - OFFICE/POSITION- CEO, Nigeria Data Protection Commission, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Vincent Olatunji, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- MD/CEO, Galaxy Backbone Limited, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG/CEO, National Biosafety Management Agency, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Agnes Yemisi Asagbra, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Temitope Ilori, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- ES/CEO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Muyi Aina, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Jide Idris, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Statistician-General, National Bureau of Statistics, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Adeyemi Adeniran, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- ES, National Sugar Development Council, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Kamar Bakrin, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG/CEO, Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Lekan Fadolapo, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- EVC/CEO, Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Olatunji Bello, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- National Coordinator, National Social Safety-Net Coordinating Office, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Funmi Olotu, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG, National Sports Commission, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Bukola Olawale Olopade, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Folorunsho Coker, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG/CEO, National Orientation Agency, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Lanre Issa-Onilu, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Registrar Surveyors Council of Nigeria. CURRENT OCCUPANT- Olakunle Olugbemiro, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- President/CEO Digital Bridge Institute, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Opeyemi Dele-Ajayi, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG/CEO Industrial Training Fund, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Oluwatoyin Afiz Ogun, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG/CEO Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, CURRENT OCCUPANT- John Oladapo Obafunwa, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG/CEO National Institute for Hospitality Tourism, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Abisoye Fagade, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Ahmed Bolaji Nagode, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- DG National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Ayo Omotayo, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Administrator/CEO Public Service Institute of Nigeria, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Abdul-Ganiyu Obatoyinbo, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Registrar Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Registrar/CEO Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Josiah Ajiboye, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- MD/CEO Nigerian Education Loan Fund, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Akintunde Sawyerr, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- ED/CEO Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Patrick Olusanmi Adebola, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- MD/CEO Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Folashade Joseph, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Minister of Petroleum Resources, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Bola Ahmed Tinubu, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Wale Edun, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Minister of Interior, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Lateef Fagbemi, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Minister of Power, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Adebayo Adelabu TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Minister of Solid Minerals Development, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Dele Alake, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Bosun Tijani, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Adegboyega Oyetola
TRIBE- Yoruba - OFFICE/POSITION- Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Jumoke Oduwole, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Minister of Education, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Morufu Olatunji Alausa, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Minister for Youth Development, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Ayodele Olawande, TRIBE- Yoruba
- OFFICE/POSITION- Minister of State, Health, CURRENT OCCUPANT- Salako Iziaq Adekunle Adeboye, TRIBE- Yoruba.
Emmanuel Onwubiko, the founder of the Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA), formerly the National Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria, wrote from Abuja
By Fred Itua
At every defining moment in a nation’s journey, the call to give account of stewardship becomes not just necessary but inevitable.
This duty is more profound for those whom providence has favoured to sit at the helm, guiding the affairs of the state and shaping the future of the people. In 1989, the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, published ‘Because I Am Involved’, a 208-page introspective chronicle that offered a gripping account of his political convictions, nationalist ideals, reflections on Nigeria’s unrealised potentials, and the personal sacrifices he made for a country he so deeply loved.
In that same spirit, this article borrows its title and energy from Ojukwu’s classic. ‘Because I Am Involved’, is not merely a declaration; it is a commitment.
Today, in Edo State, Governor Monday Okpebholo personifies that commitment. Since he assumed office, it is no longer business as usual. The tides have shifted, and the wheels of governance are now being turned by a sense of duty, urgency, and resolve.
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Because Gov Okpebholo is involved, educational transformation is underway, and a solid foundation is being built for tomorrow’s leaders.
Gov Okpebholo’s approach to education is holistic and strategic. His administration is actively implementing a three-pronged intervention model: infrastructure, manpower, and pedagogy.
Firstly, several dilapidated schools across the three senatorial districts are undergoing comprehensive rehabilitation to create safe and conducive learning environments.
Secondly, the recruitment of qualified teachers is ongoing to plug manpower deficits in critical subjects.
Thirdly, the retraining and retooling of educators is being carried out to align teaching methodologies with 21st-century pedagogical standards, including digital literacy and learner-centered techniques.
Because he is involved, agriculture has received unprecedented attention.
Gov Okpebholo’s administration has significantly increased budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector. Over 3,000 hectares of arable farmland are being cultivated under various agricultural empowerment initiatives.
Beyond mere cultivation, partnerships with private investors are being explored to establish agro-processing hubs that will reduce post-harvest losses, promote value addition, and create employment opportunities, especially for youth and women in rural areas.
Gov Okpebholo has embarked on an ambitious infrastructural renewal program, particularly in road construction.
His administration has flagged off several strategic road projects that serve as vital arteries, linking communities, enhancing commerce, and easing transportation.
Among these are the Ekpoma-Uromi-Ubiaja Road and the Uromi-Onewa-Udomi-Ibhiolulu-Afuda-Idumoza axis, all crucial to inter-community trade. Urban renewal projects in Benin City are also receiving a facelift, with several roads being re-asphalted, drainages reconstructed, and streetlights installed for enhanced security and aesthetics.
Because he is involved, security is being tackled both in policy and practice.
Gov Okpebholo has led the enactment of anti-cultism and anti-kidnapping laws to strengthen the legal framework for fighting insecurity. Complementing this legislative stance is the purchase of thousands of operational vehicles and logistics support for the Nigeria Police and other security agencies across the state.
Community policing structures are being revived, and a feedback mechanism has been introduced where citizens can report threats anonymously to a centralized command center.
In the health sector, the renovation of primary health care centers and recruitment of frontline health workers have been intensified.
Gov Okpebholo’s administration is also working toward the expansion of the Edo Health Insurance Scheme to cover more vulnerable populations.
His interest in digital governance is birthing innovations that streamline internal processes, curb leakages, and promote transparency. This includes the digitization of land administration, tax payments, and record-keeping for government workers.
Ojukwu once wrote, “I do not seek to please, I seek to serve.”_ Gov Okpebholo, through his visible and people-centered governance, has made it clear: he is not in power for fanfare or personal gain. He is in office because he is involved — involved in the pains of his people, the cries of rural dwellers, the frustrations of commuters, the dreams of schoolchildren, and the aspirations of a new Edo State.
The journey is not without its challenges, but one truth is undeniable: under Gov Okpebholo, Edo State is no longer on autopilot. There is direction. There is purpose. Above all, there is involvement.
Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.
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