In December 2020, I wrote, thus: “It seems some politically sagacious northern states’ governors in Nigeria’s ruling party, APC, want former President Goodluck Jonathan to be APC  presidential flagbearer in 2023, if Jonathan agrees to decamp from PDP to APC. Lol. That is really unfair as Ndubuisi Ekekwe has not even tasted any water in Aso Rock, and they are focusing on making more presidents out of former presidents. Haba Nigeria….Obasanjo, Buhari…and Jonathan.

It does not sound really crazy if you look at the permutation: Jonathan can only serve a single term. Period. And if that is the case, he is the only Southern Nigeria politician that would make it possible for many governors from the north to have a chance in 2027.”

A new cover story by Boss newspaper has accelerated this call. Yes, the second coming of Goodluck Jonathan. Today, Bola Tinubu and Goodluck Jonathan are the frontrunners now that APC, the ruling party, has “officially” zoned the 2023 presidential ticket to the South.

But note this: if the party does not put someone the northern bloc likes, you may be surprised of a reversal where the North, which is predominantly APC moves PDP, handing PDP the presidency.

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Comment: There can’t be the second coming of Goodluck Jonathan because in 2018, President Buhari signed into law a bill that limits a vice-president or deputy governor who completes the terms of their principals to seeking reelection only once more and this was the case with Goodluck Jonathan who succeeded President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010, contested and won the presidential election in 2011 and still contested same office in 2015. This issue that Jonathan is coming again is just a distraction strategy, though, Jonathan might decamp to APC because APC needs him to win the South-south states.

My Response: I think that law was not retroactive otherwise Buhari would not have contested for the 2019 election. Lol. Nurudeen, Nigerian political law is tissue paper when you see what they did in Imo State. They will find a way to wiggle through if they need him.

The Possible Goodluck Jonathan’s 2023 APC Presidency in Nigeria!

To fight terrorists which the Nigerian press continues to call bandits as though someone will be unlicensed for reporting facts, the Kebbi government has remodeled some Toyota Land Cruiser (Buffalo) vehicles into armoured personnel carriers (APCs) with gun turrets. I commend the government for this inventive mindset, understanding that waiting for APCs (as in war equipment, not a party) may not happen.

Yet, the paralysis in the northern part of the nation is not going to be won via guns and bullets. This is a war of the mind. As someone who has spent time with students in many universities in Nigeria, I have a very good understanding of Nigeria: people like lives, and good lives. So, that we are degrading to this current path seems there is a missing link somewhere. Yes, the battle ahead is a battle of the mind. Unless Nigeria wins that, even if we convert all the Toyota SUVs into APCs or ask Innoson Motors to make its own version, nothing good will happen.

Why did I write this? Mr. President’s state is in a state of absolute security mess. So, if the Commander-in-Chief cannot put Katsina in order, state governors in other states are wasting their time, expecting help. Kidnapping is happening regularly in Katsina and the state has not used the “connection” that its son is the president to fix the issue.

There was a nice event which happened in Warri yesterday. The good people of Warri crowned a new leader (Olu) in a colourful ceremony. As I watched some video snippets online, I saw young people who actually believed in a leader, rejoicing. Such men as leaders, across Nigeria, could help restore order. Yes, traditional and religious leaders can offer hope as they do have real following.

The politicians have failed because they have flushed the moral fiber of the nation into the toilet, and the youth do not care whatever they say. We need to get Olu, Obi, Emir, Oba, etc to begin to help even as pastors and imams are empowered to help restore hope.  

The battle ahead is now winning the minds because terrorism is now one of the largest business sectors in Nigeria, growing in triple digits quarter-on-quarter in some regions. That must stop.

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Comment #1: I really keep wondering why the bandits have not been proscribed as terrorist groups. How many more do they have to kill? ?

I must admit I don’t know all the criteria/parameters for a group to be proscribed a terrorist group. Is it based on the number of people they have killed or the number of states/regions they have seized?

I think our lawmakers/government need to be transparent with us—the citizens—about those parameters so we can keep count/monitor with them.

In my own opinion, though, I think these so-called bandits have long earned that designation. Even the Northern Elders Forum has long designated them a terrorist group.

Just saying. ?????

Comment #2: Terrorist Groups by their nature have to be “A Group” to be proscribed as such. You’ll need a singular organization to point a finger towards. these gangs of bandits by their very nature are decentralized with no uniformity. There’s just so many of them operating independently.

In a situation like this, who exactly do you proscribe as the terrorist organization? 100+ distinct groups of arm wielding bandits? Their entire ethnic group? The herding profession which some otherwise innocent individuals also partake in? …..?

Another analogy is for example saying let’s proscribe armed robbers as a terrorist group. There’s too many of them with no singular organization at the healm that would make the proscription meaningless.

Moreover, the bickering on nomenclature they’re termed won’t solve the underlaying issues fueling insecurity in the land. Whether they’re termed terrorists or not, we all agree their actions terrorize the populace, the nomenclature shouldn’t hold back action to tackle the menance.

My Response: Nice perspectives there: they are not registered or grouped at scale, and there is nothing to proscribe. Yet, calling them “terrorists” should not be hard. When people ask for that classification, they do it to enable the nation to model the threat well.

“Moreover, the bickering on nomenclature they’re termed won’t solve the underlaying issues fueling insecurity in the land.” largely, banditry is for the state (using police) to deal with, but terrorism is for the federal (using military) to solve. So, when you classify, the nomenclature defines the rule of engagement for that threat.

More so, even the rule books you will use to try them in court will change; bandits cannot be prosecuted like terrorists. So, a change of name is actually important!

Eighteen bank accounts have been placed on Post-No-Debit (PND) restrictions by the Central Bank of Nigeria, Premium Times reports. No explanation was given for this decision. Yet, if you are reading this, tell your associates and friends to be super-careful on forex activities in Nigeria.

 The affected companies include Bakori Mega Services, Ashambrakh General Enterprise, Namuduka Ventures Limited, Crosslinks Capital and Investment Limited, IGP Global Synergy Limited, Davedan Mille Investment Limited and Urban Laundry.

Others are Advanced Multi-Links Services Limited, Spray Resources, Al-Ishaq Global Resources Limited, Himark Intertrades, Charblecom Concept Limited, Wudatage Global Resources.

Also included are Treynor Soft Ventures, Fyrstrym Global Concepts Limited, Samarize Global Nigeria Limited, and Zahraddeen Haruna Shahru.

The apex bank is doing everything it can do to fight for the Naira. Yet, the rise of Naira does not depend on what happens in CBN headquarters but what happens in warehouses (the old and new types) across the nation. Unless Nigeria can deal with those, everything is just ephemeral.

Let me congratulate the young family – Yusuf Buhari (president Buhari’s son) and his wife. Many great scenes – and one of the most amazing is the civility in the program. Ex-president Jonathan attended. Ex-Vice President Atiku attended. Someone also noted that Femi Fani-Kayode was there. Nigerians, that is a good sign. 

Hopefully, the young people who would be bought as thugs to maim and destroy their lives in 2023 will understand that these men are neighbours, even though they make things look differently.

Recall the Imo state one during the second republic where a father and son were competing for the same position, from different parties. The father would come and verbally assail his son. His son would return the same. But what most did not know was this: the guy was still living with his father and every morning before they departed for “work”, they would wish each other “nice day at work”. It was when the press saw both eating breakfast that the veil was taken out of many.

Young people, do not allow politicians to deceive you. Most have no permanent enemies or friends, it is a permanent interest.  If they come in two years, remember this wedding ceremony: they all eat from the same plate.

Congrats to the couple for helping many on this revelation.

The former Niger Republic President, Muhammadu Issoufu, on Friday joined Nigerian political and business leaders at the wedding ceremony of Yusuf Buhari, the son of President Muhammadu Buhari, in Bichi Local Government Area of Kano State.

At the event were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, many state governors, ministers and federal lawmakers.

The wedding held at the palace of the Emir of Bichi who is the father of the bride, was presided over by the Minister of Communication and and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.

Kano-based business mogul, Aminu Dantata, stood as the bride’s trustee while an uncle of the president, Mamman Daura, served as the groom’s trustee.