Home Blog Page 230

Charly boy’s 2024 comment falsely attributed to Emir Sanusi

Fatimah QUADRI
-
0
Charly boy’s 2024 comment falsely attributed to Emir Sanusi

A statement attributed to the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II,, allegedly responding to President Bola Tinubu’s assertion that he inherited a dilapidated Nigeria from former President Muhammadu Buhari, has surfaced online.

Tinubu, during a courtesy visit to Anambra in May 2025, had stated that he inherited a near-insolvent treasury and a chaotic economic structure upon assuming office in 2023. He said his administration had since undertaken bold and painful reforms to stabilise the country.

A Facebook user, Mary Idonibiye Freeborn, posted the lengthy message claiming it was from the Emir responding to Tinubu’s assertaion.

According to the statement, he disagreed with the assertion and criticised the president for extravagant public spending, listing several multi-billion-naira allocations for government renovations, luxury vehicles, allowances for top officials, and controversial infrastructure projects.

The message concluded by describing Tinubu’s cabinet as the largest ever and questioned the government’s spending pattern, given the president’s earlier claim of inheriting an empty treasury.

The post read:

“BREAKING !!!
EMIR SANUSI REPLIES TINUBU ABOUT BUHARI
President Bola Ahmad Tinubu I Totally Disagree With You That You Inherited A Dilapidated Nigeria From The Former President Muhammadu Buhari Below Are My Reasons – Emir Mohammed Sanusi Mohammed Message to Tinubu.
How Can A President That Claimed To Have Inherited A Dilapidated Nigeria Be Spending Public Funds Extravagantly As If You Inherited A Rich And Prosperous Country
How Would You Justify The Following Extravagant Spendings Under Your Government
21 Billion Naira To Renovate The Vice President House
70 Billion Naira To The National Assembly Members To Buy SUVs At The Cost 160 Million Naira Per One For Senators And House Of Representatives Members Specifically
4 Billion Naira To Renovate Dodan Barrack Lagos Another 3 Billion Naira To Renovate Aguda House
5 Billion Naira Was Given To Presidential Tax Reforms Committee Of Less Than Twenty People Headed By Taiwo Oyedele With Nothing To Show For It
1.5 Billion Naira To Purchase Cars For Your Wife Senator Oluremi Tinubu Despite The Fact That First Lady Office Is Not Recognised By Our Constitution
300% Salary Increase For The Judges Which Was Speedily Passed By The Insensitive And Irresponsible Senators
5 Billion Naira Was Budgeted For Presidential Fleet Of Cars For President Bola Ahmad Tinubu
5 Billion equally budgeted for Presidential Yatch
225 Billion naira spent on so-called Presidential Jet
90 Billion naira spent on 2024 Hajj pilgrimage
Billions of Naira Was Budgeted For Your Trips Including The Vice President Kashim Shettima To The Detriment Of The Citizens
Every Senator Is Paid 21 Million Naira Monthly
House Of Representatives Are Earning 13.5 Million Monthly All The Increment Was Done By Your Government
15 Trillion Naira Lagos Calabar Coastal Road Was Awarded Illegally To Your Friend A Lebanese Gilbert Chagoury Who Was Repatriated Back To His Country By The Former President Obasanjo
You Have The Largest Ministers Ever.”

Since it was posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, the claim has attracted significant engagement on social media. It can also be seen here and here.

CLAIM

Sanusi criticised President Tinubu over his claim of inheriting a dilapidated Nigeria from Buhari.

THE FINDINGS 

Findings by The FactCheckHub reveal that the claim is FALSE!

Screenshot of the claim ; INSERT False verdict
Screenshot of the claim; INSERT False verdict

A keyword search on Google did not reveal any credible report or evidence showing that the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, made such a statement criticising President Tinubu.

Similarly, no reputable Nigerian media outlet published the claim, which is unusual for a figure of Sanusi’s stature, whose public comments typically receive wide coverage.

Further checks showed that the quote being circulated was from Nigerian entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy. He posted the statement via X (archived here) on August 4, 2024.

This statement was also reported by BusinessDay and attributed to him.

In addition, a review of Sanusi’s known social media platforms, including his verified Instagram page, provided no record or related post referencing President Tinubu or the allegations of extravagant spending.

There was also no evidence of any recent public commentary matching the viral quote.

The FactCheckHub has previously debunked multiple misattributed quotes and statements to Sanusi in the past, which can be seen here and here.

THE VERDICT

The claim that Emir Sanusi criticised President Tinubu over his claim of inheriting a dilapidated Nigeria from Buhari is false; the quote was originally authored by Charly Boy in August 2024.

This report is republished from the FactCheckHub. 

Despite declining inflation, business perception remains high – CBN

Ehime ALEX
-
0
Despite declining inflation, business perception remains high – CBN

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said business perception of inflation remained high despite the consecutive drop in inflationary pressure in recent times.

It stated this in its latest Inflation Expectations Survey for June 2025.

The report compared public perception of inflation in June with the previous month.

According to the report, business sentiment did not mirror the broader trend of a declining inflation rate as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

It indicated that the percentage of business respondents who perceive inflation as high rose from 71.5 per cent in May to 72.3 per cent in June.

Business perception of Nigeria's inflation
Respondents’ views on the business perception of inflation. Source: CBN

An analysis of the business sizes – large, medium, small and micro – indicated that the respondents expressed perception that the inflation rate is very high relative to those who see it as moderate or low.

“Respondents (Businesses and Households) identified energy, exchange rate and transportation as the top three inflation drivers,” CBN stated.

It stated further that natural disasters, activities of middlemen and infrastructure challenges were perceived as less significant contributors to inflation drivers in the review period.

A total of 3,365 respondents were interviewed, comprising 1900 firms and 1665 households during the survey, the report added.

The ICIR reported recently that Nigeria’s headline inflation moderated to 22.22 per cent in June, from 22.97 per cent in May, marking the third consecutive month of decline.

Inflation has dropped sharply from 34.80 per cent in December 2024 to 24.48 per cent in January after the NBS rebased the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a metric used to calculate the inflation figure.

Since the rebased CPI, inflation has continued to moderate but has failed to reflect on the general price level of goods and services.

Food prices and other items are increasing and skyrocketing daily as households and businesses struggle to survive.

The latest report on business activity in the Nigerian private sector in June revealed a further slowdown, tending towards a negative territory as output levels hit a seven-month low, The ICIR reported.

Police stop Peter ‘Obidients’ rally in Kaduna  

Bankole ABE
-
0
Police stop Peter ‘Obidients’ rally in Kaduna  

THE Kaduna State Police command has stopped a rally plannned for the Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi by his supporters in the state.

The rally planned to celebrate the 64th birthday of the former Anambra State governor was halted to prevent crisis in the state, according to the police.

The Kaduna State police command in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, on Saturday July 20 threatened to take necessary legal action against any individual or group that violated its directive.

The command said that intelligence information at its disposal revealed that certain criminal elements were planning to hijack the proposed rally as a springboard to cause mayhem, incite violence, and disturb the prevailing public peace in the state.

According to the police, all forms of political rallies and public gatherings of a political nature in Kaduna State remain suspended until the official commencement date of political activities as stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“While the primary elections by political parties are scheduled by INEC to hold on the same date the Obi supporters planned for their rally,  the Kaduna police command notes that the rally will overlap and disrupt several areas designated for the conduct of other parties primaries,  thereby posing a significant risk of tension,  clashes and breakdown of law and order in the state,” the command stated.

The police advised the organisers of the planned Obi rally to suspend any gathering or procession to ensure public safety and prevent potential hijacking by miscreants.

The command said the forthcoming  elections in the state are scheduled by INEC to take place on the same date as the proposed rally, and the parties have formally notified the Police of their the planned rally.

The police said the planned Obi rally is expected to overlap with and disrupt several areas designated for the conduct of the other political parties’ primaries, thereby posing a significant risk of tension, clashes, and breakdown of law.

“While the command respects the right of individuals to associate and celebrate their political leaders, it is important to emphasise that all forms of political rallies and public gatherings of a political nature remain suspended across the State until the official commencement date of political activities, as stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),”the command added.

The order to stop Obi rally in Kaduna State is coming hours after the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo issued a strong warning to Obi, cautioning him against coming into the state without prior notification and approval.

Okpebholo’s warning marks the second time Obi has been warned by an All Progressives Congress (APC), led state over visits, including those reportedly for humanitarian purposes.

Addressing a gathering of political supporters in a video that has since gone viral on social media, the Okpebholo made said Obi’s security would not be assured should he enter Edo State without officially informing the state government.

Recall that in April, Obi was reportedly warned against visiting Benue State by the state governor , Hyacinth Alia who threatened that he could not guarantee the security of Obi who at the time, was planning to visit an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp hosting victims of herdsmen-related violence.

Recall that as part of its strategies to dislodge the ruling APC in the 2027 elections, leading opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Obi, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, and Nasir El-Rufai, launched a coalition in Abuja on July 5 and adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the purpose.

Gospel singer, others jailed over cybercrime

Bankole ABE
-
0
Gospel singer, others jailed over cybercrime

A FEDERAL High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has sentenced a gospel singer, Moses Otitoju, and others to jail for offences bordering on misappropriation of funds, cybercrime, and conspiracy.

Otitoju, a self-styled gospel singer, was sentenced alongside Adeoye Joseph, Abubakar Abdulmalik, and Ayodele Joseph.

The alleged offences were brought against them by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and they were charged.

The spokesperson of the commission, Dele Oyewale, in a statement on Friday, July 18, said the 31-year-old gospel singer, Otitoju, hails from Iyamoye in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

He was sentenced to six months without the option of a fine by the judge, Abimbola Awogboro.

Otitoju was found guilty of retaining the proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to over N8.4 million in his bank account.

The charge against him reads that Otitoju allegedly retained control of N8,404,339 in his account between October 2024 and December 2025, which was proceeds of criminal conduct.                  This act was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 17(a) and (b) of the EFCC Act, 2004.

On his part, Ayodele, who was found to have retained N243,750 in his bank account, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment without the option of a fine.

He was ordered to forfeit his Tecno 19 phone to the federal government.

Another suspect, Adeoye, from Okene LGA of Kogi State, was handed eight months imprisonment without an option of fine as well.

Similarly, Adeoye was ordered to forfeit the sum of $220, an iPhone 13, and a Tecno Pop 9 phone to the federal government.

Abubakar was sentenced to six months imprisonment, with an order of forfeiture of his iPhone -16 and Samsung S10 to the federal government.

The EFCC prosecution team, led by Aliyu Adebayo, Sesan Ola, Rashidat Alao, and Mustapha Kaigama, presented evidence, including statements, exhibits, and recovered funds, in court.

In a related development, judges Haleema Saleeman and Sulaiman Akanbi of the Kwara State High Court convicted Emeka Achi, Isaac Oluwafemi, Afolabi Olatoye, Zubeiru Junior, and Abdulkadir Taofeek on charges including cybercrime and misappropriation.

Abdulkadir  was sentenced to three years with an option of a N500,000 fine and ordered the final forfeiture of N800,000, one iPhone 14 Pro Max, and a Samsung phone to the Federal Government.      Emeka, Isaac, and Afolabi bagged six months each with an option of a N100,000 fine.

Emeka was further directed to refund N3.35 million within three months and to report every fortnight with his parents to the EFCC until full repayment is made.

First Bank confirms Oba Otudeko’s N195.74 billion shares sale

Ehime ALEX
-
0
First Bank confirms Oba Otudeko’s N195.74 billion shares sale

THE parent company of First Bank of Nigeria Limited has confirmed its former chairman, Oba Otudeko’s sale of N195.74 billion worth of shares, ending rumours over the transaction but eliciting corporate governance concerns.

The confirmation, contained in a regulatory disclosure to the investing public on Friday, July 18, was signed by the FirstHoldCo secretary, Adewale Arogundade.

It revealed that Barbican Capital Limited, a firm linked to Oba Otudeko, sold its 6,314,116,229 units of shares at N31.00 per share in a transaction that took place on July 16.

The bank did not state the buyer in its notification despite the controversies that have trailed the sale of the shares and the corporate governance issue it has raised.

There had been unconfirmed reports making the rounds over who had taken over the stake of Oba Otudeko at the bank.

Earlier reports, on Thursday, July 17, allegedly claimed that the incumbent chairman of FirstHoldCo, Femi Otedola, acquired the shares.

On Friday, July 18, a news platform reverted its report, claiming that a trustee acting on behalf of the federal government acquired the shares.

Another media report on Friday claimed the transaction was executed by RC Investments Limited, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) linked to Renaissance Capital.

Amid this controversy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are the apex regulators, have kept silent on the matter.

The ICIR contacted the head of corporate communications at CBN, Hakama Sidi Ali, and her counterpart at SEC, Efe Ebelo, but they have yet to respond to its enquiry about the sale of the transaction and the issue of corporate governance compliance it has evoked.

Corporate governance issues at play

The ICIR had reported on a similar concern that came up in 2023, after Oba Otudeko staged a comeback in July that year and acquired about 4.77 billion units of First Bank’s shares valued at N87.8 billion to retain his stake as the most substantial shareholder.

Following the intrigue that ensued over Otudeko’s huge volume purchase acquisition at the time which sparked a fresh battle for control of the bank, the CBN was prompted to tweak its corporate governance rule.

To protect shareholders’ rights, the CBN had to issue new corporate governance guidelines that took effect from August 1, 2023.

It states, section 20 (b) “CBN’s prior approval and No Objection shall be sought and obtained before any acquisition of shares of a bank (including through the capital market), that would result in equity holding of five per cent (5%) and above, by any investor.

(c) “Where the CBN has an objection on any acquisition as stated in Section 20.2.b above, notice of the objection shall be communicated to the bank, and the bank shall notify such investor(s) within fortyeight (48) hours.

(d) “Government’s direct and indirect equity holding in a bank shall not be more than ten per cent (10%), which shall be divested to private investors within a maximum period of five years from the date of investment.”

Shareholders blame CBN, SEC for regulatory failure

According to shareholders who spoke unanimously with The ICIR on the matter, Oba Otudeko has the right to sell his shares to anybody, whether a personal or corporate body.

They, however, raised concerns about the negotiated transaction which they said raises worries about critical systemic issues in the Nigerian capital market.

“I believe that the regulatory authorities have to ensure compliance with laid down rules and uphold the integrity of the transaction,” one shareholder said.

“The regulators are the problem the economy and the Nation are facing. Now Emefele [former CBN governor] did his own and got away, and the current CBN governor is now doing the same thing all over again. Who then set the rules? Another shareholder said.

He lamented that the laws are made for the common man, not for the big man in Nigeria, stressing that what CBN is doing is also what SEC is doing in the Name of regulation, asking whose interest.

Querying why CBN did not apply the same measures to the defunct Afribank, he further lamented what the CBN had done with the Union Bank it took over.

“What happened to the 10 per cent allowed as stated in the guidelines,” the shareholder asked.

Adding that any shareholders reserve the right to share his or her shares or divest holdings to another sector of the economy, he maintained, “If there is any lopsidedness in the transaction, those who should be blamed are CBN, SEC and NGX Limited.”

Buhari oversaw longest shutdowns of Nigerian universities since 1999. Now a varsity bears his name

Mustapha USMAN  and  James EMMANUEL
-
0
Buhari oversaw longest shutdowns of Nigerian universities since 1999. Now a varsity bears his name

AS public backlash continues over the renaming of the University of Maiduguri after former President Muhammadu Buhari, data obtained by The ICIR reveals that the late leader presided over the longest period of suspension of academic activities by public university lecturers in Nigeria since the country’s return to democracy in 1999.

Buhari, a retired major general, ruled Nigeria as military Head of State from December 1983 to August 1985, and as elected president from May 2015 to May 2023.

Between 2015 and 2023, federal universities were shut for 642 days due to strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The figure represents 22 per cent of his total 2,922 days in office, which also means that more than one in every five days of his administration was lost to industrial action by public varsity lecturers.

The shutdowns, largely triggered by the administration’s failure to fulfil agreements on funding and welfare, left thousands of students stranded.

During this period, federal universities were closed for nine months in 2020 and another eight months in 2022 following unresolved disagreements between ASUU and the Federal Government over funding, salaries, and university revitalisation. 

The ASUU had repeatedly accused the Buhari-led administration of failing to honour agreements and neglecting the public education system.

Among others, the university lecturers demanded the deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), payment of outstanding arrears of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) and the release of an agreed sum of money for revitalising public universities (federal and state).

They also demanded payment of promotion arrears, the release of withheld salaries of academics, and payment of outstanding third-party deductions.

The ICIR reported how industrial actions adversely affected Nigerian students in public universities, as the suspension of academic activities led to prolonged academic calendars, disrupted students’ plans, and resulted in additional costs.

However, in what many critics described as a contradiction, the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu on July 17 renamed the University of Maiduguri to honour Buhari.

Worse than his predecessors

A comparison of civilian administrations since 1999 shows that no president comes close to Buhari in the number of days that Nigerian public universities were shut down. 

While ASUU downed tools during the tenures of Buhari’s predecessors, the strikes under the late leader lasted longer, occurred more frequently, and often ended without meaningful resolution.

He was also accused of keeping a Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who many thought lacked knowledge and interest in helping the nation’s education system. 

Data shows that former President Olusegun Obasanjo lost 541 days to ASUU strikes in his eight-year tenure, accounting for 18.5 per cent of his time in office. 

Under former President Goodluck Jonathan, ASUU was on strike for 359 days, representing 19.4 per cent of his nearly five-year term. 

The late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who spent less than three years in power before his death, had 127 days of strikes, amounting to 11.8 per cent of his presidency.

Reactions

Many Nigerians, including UNIMAID’s alumni and current students, rejected the renaming, noting that it was politically motivated and that Buhari did not deserve to have a public university named after him, especially given his administration’s perceived neglect of Nigeria’s public education system.     

Some pointed to the prolonged industrial actions by ASUU during his tenure as president, with federal universities shut down cumulatively for over 600 days – evidence that his government failed to prioritise education.

An X user, Ohijeme, criticised the move, arguing that Buhari “did not significantly contribute to the education sector, nor did he initiate major school renovation projects (sic).”

The user further alleged that Tinubu’s decision to rename the institution was a “desperate attempt to curry favour from the North.”

Another user, Jude, also condemned the decision. “It is not a welcome development as Alumni, we have core values and respect for the name UNIMAID. Renaming it is heartbreaking, and we reject it.”

Others also argued that naming a university after Buhari in Maiduguri, a place that is not his hometown, was a misplacement of tribute. They said if any institution should be renamed, it should be one in Katsina State, his home state, or a non-academic project, such as a hospital or a public facility that better aligns with his legacy.

Meanwhile, some Nigerians welcomed the renaming and lauded Buhari’s ‘achievements’ in the North-East, where the university is located, and the late leader’s fight against Boko Haram, which has its roots in the region.

They described the move as a tribute to Buhari’s legacy of restoring peace to Borno State after many years of battling insurgency.

A social media user, Mohammed Nuwar, lauded the move, stating that, “Most importantly, he (Buhari) came to the rescue of Borno in the worst days of insurgency when we couldn’t safely go about our activities, to restore peace and order.

“We can’t thank him enough even in his death.”

Another user, Yahaya Sadisu, wrote, “Naming UNIMAID after President Muhammadu Buhari is more than a tribute — it’s a recognition of discipline, sacrifice, and unwavering service to Nigeria. History will remember him not just for what he did, but for what he stood for.”

Army mum as Plateau government accuses officers of compromise in killings by gunmen

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
-
0
Army mum as Plateau government accuses officers of compromise in killings by gunmen

THE Plateau State Government has criticised the Nigerian security forces for failing to apprehend the masterminds of the recent killing of 27 farmers in the Tahoss community of Riyom Local Government Area in the state.

The government claimed the Army could not neutralise any of the killers despite being very close to them during the attack.

The state Commissioner for Information, Joyce Ramnap, made the allegation while featuring on Channels Television’s “The Morning Brief” on Friday, July 18.

The ICIR reports that at least 27 farmers, including men and women, were reportedly killed in a fresh attack by gunmen in Bindi-Jebbu of the Tahoss community in Riyom LGA on Monday.

The Chairman of Riyom Local Government Area, Bature Shuwa, stated that the attackers invaded the community, fired indiscriminately and set several houses on fire, adding that many residents were injured, with several victims rushed to hospitals, including the Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau Hospital.

Speaking on Channel TV on Friday, the commissioner noted that the community targeted by the attackers was located near an access road with military checkpoints.

“The checkpoint is barely 200 meters from where this incident happened. The response we got was that none were arrested and none were captured. 

“It is not a hidden community that we would say it is far, and that is why the people were not able to access help. We do not want to stereotype and say that the entire Army compromised in this case,” Ramnap said.

She pointed out that further investigation was needed and emphasised that the governor had called for at least some arrests to be made.

“If you are that close and you engaged them closely like that, you should be able to say this is where they followed and the measures to arrest them, but so far, no arrest has been made,” the commissioner insisted.

Ramnap condemned the killings in the state and described them as unprovoked and despicable, adding that beyond taking lives, the attackers also invaded farms and destroyed crops.

The commissioner echoed the views of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who, during his visit to the community on Wednesday, described the growing killings in the state as genocide.

The ICIR reported that the state has become a hotspot for bloodletting.      

The state governor described the massacre of over 100 residents and the displacement of thousands by assailants who attacked communities in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas in April as a genocidal attack, alleging that the assault on the region was sponsored and deliberate.

A former governor of the state, Jonah Jang, emphasised that the April crisis was beyond communal clash. He described it as a ploy orchestrated by a known group with a covert agenda.

The ICIR contacted the Army’s Public Relations Officer, Onyechi Appolonia Anele, who directed the reporter to Nantip Zhakom, the spokesperson for the state operations.

After requesting the link to the Channels TV broadcast, which this reporter promptly provided, Zhakom ignored subsequent messages or phone calls to his line.

Mixed reactions trail UNIMAID renaming after Buhari

Mustapha USMAN
-
0
Mixed reactions trail UNIMAID renaming after Buhari

THE Federal Government’s decision to rename the University of Maiduguri after former President Muhammadu Buhari has sparked mixed reactions from Nigerians, including students and past students of the institution.

President Bola Tinubu announced the renaming on Thursday, July 17, after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) session of tributes held in Abuja to commemorate the life and contributions of the former president to Nigeria.

While the presidency said the move honoured the former president’s contribution to national security, cohesion and discipline, some argued that Buhari did little to advance education, especially during his eight years in office as a democratically elected president.

The ICIR reports that during Buhari’s tenure, Nigerian universities faced some of the longest strikes in history, including a nine-month shutdown in 2020 and another eight-month closure in 2022. 

Buhari was also criticised for failing to engage meaningfully with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) or implement education-friendly policies. 

The group went on strike for at least 669 days under the late leader between 2015 and 2023.

Due to unmet demands and agreements by the Federal government, ASUU resorted to industrial action to press its claims, resulting in the highest number of days of strikes by lecturers under any president since the nation returned to democracy in May 1999. 

Findings by The ICIR also revealed that poor budget allocation to education was a major issue during Buhari’s administration, as he failed to earmark up to 10 per cent of the total national budget to the sector. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) prescribed between 15 and 20 per cent of the total budget for education. 

The Federal Government’s allocation to the sector declined from 7.93 per cent in 2016 to 4.95 per cent in 2023.

Renaming Nigerian tertiary institutions is often marred by crises

In 2012, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s attempt to rename the University of Lagos (UNILAG) after MKO Abiola was met with public outrage and later reversed. 

Ironically, Tinubu, who opposed the UNILAG renaming at the time, is now being accused of double standards.

Tinubu had renamed the University of Abuja after the former military Head of State, Yakubu Gowon. The action triggered protests from stakeholders, including current and former students.

Similarly, the renaming of the Polytechnic Ibadan by the state Governor Seyi Makinde after the late former governor of the state, Omololu Olunloyo, is currently enmeshed in crisis.

Shortly after the president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Rufus Giwa, died in 2003, the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Agagu, named the state-run polytechnic after him.

The decision sparked protests, but the institution has since maintained the name change.

Reactions trail UNIMAID renaming

A large section of users have rejected the renaming, noting that it was politically motivated and that Buhari did not deserve having a federal university named after him, especially given his administration’s perceived neglect of Nigeria’s public education system.     

Some pointed to the prolonged industrial actions by ASUU during Buhari’s eight-year rule as elected president, with federal universities shut down cumulatively for over 600 days – evidence that his government failed to prioritise education.

An X user, Ohijeme, criticised the move, writing that Buhari “did not significantly contribute to the education sector, nor did he initiate major school renovation projects (sic).”

The user further alleged that Tinubu’s decision to rename the institution was a “desperate attempt to curry favour with the North.”

Jude also condemned the development. “It is not a welcome development as Alumni, we have core values and respect for the name UNIMAID. Renaming it is heartbreaking, and we reject it.”

Others also argued that naming a university after Buhari in Maiduguri, a place that is not his hometown, was a misplacement of tribute. They said if any institution should be renamed, it should be one in Katsina State, his home state, or a non-academic project, such as a hospital or a public facility that better aligns with his legacy.

Meanwhile, some Nigerians took to social media to acknowledge what they perceived as a good development and move by the Federal Government, lauding Buhari’s ‘achievements’ in the North-East region and his fight against Boko Haram.

They described the move as a tribute to Buhari’s legacy of restoring peace to Borno State after many years of battling insurgency.

The ICIR reports that Boko Haram insurgency, a radical Islamist group, emerged in northeastern Nigeria in the early 2000s, gaining notoriety for its violent extremism and goal of establishing an Islamic state. The conflict escalated significantly around 2009, leading to widespread death, displacement, and humanitarian crises across the Lake Chad region (Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger).

By the time Buhari assumed the presidency in May 2015, the insurgency was at its peak, with Boko Haram controlling significant swathes of territory in the region. Buhari’s campaign promises heavily focused on tackling corruption and defeating Boko Haram. Upon assuming office, his administration initiated several military operations, including “Operation Lafiya Dole,”  which later reclaimed lost territory.

Reacting to this, a social media user, Mohammed Nuwar, lauded the move, stating that, “Most importantly, he (Buhari) came to the rescue of Borno in the worst days of insurgency when we couldn’t safely go about our activities, to restore peace and order.

“We can’t thank him enough even in his death.”

Another user, Yahaya Sadisu, wrote “Naming UNIMAID after President Muhammadu Buhari is more than a tribute — it’s a recognition of discipline, sacrifice, and unwavering service to Nigeria. History will remember him not just for what he did, but for what he stood for.”

ICPC, FCC partner to fight job racketeering, promote transparency in public service

Bankole ABE
-
0
ICPC, FCC partner to fight job racketeering, promote transparency in public service

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Federal Character Commission (FCC) have partnered to fight job racketeering and promote transparency in public service in Nigeria.

Consequently, the two organisations agreed to form a joint task force to achieve these goals.

The decisions were reached when the ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, a senior advocate, paid a courtesy visit to the acting chairman of the FCC, Kayode Oladele, on Thursday, July 17, in Abuja.

According to the ICPC chairman, the visit reflects deep respect for the FCC and a strong interest in building strategic collaboration.

He said the FCC played a critical role in safeguarding fairness and national unity by ensuring equitable representation of all Nigeria’s diverse groups in public institutions, as enshrined in Section 14(3) and Section 153(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution.

Aliyu acknowledged that the FCC’s work was vital in ensuring that no segment of society is left behind in accessing federal opportunities.

He added that the ICPC’s mandate was to prevent, investigate, and prosecute corruption, as well as to educate the public and advise institutions on building systems that resist abuse, as spelt out in Section 6 of the ICPC Act.

“This is in line with Section 15(5) of the Constitution, which directs the Nigerian State to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.

“Both our institutions are united by a common goal: to protect fairness, integrity, and justice in public service. As part of this mandate, ICPC is currently investigating several cases of job racketeering, where public sector recruitment processes have been compromised for personal gain,” the ICPC boss stated.

He expressed concern that Nigerian youths were the primary victims of illegal recruitment schemes and backdoor appointments in public sector job placements. He noted that this exploitation not only violated due process and equity but also eroded hope and trust in institutions.

He cited a striking case where a senior official allegedly influenced recruitment in a federal agency, resulting in an imbalance in job allocations. He said the official’s geopolitical zone received 189 slots over two years, while the next closest zone received 94, and a particular state received 97 slots. This disparity, according to the chairman, undermines the federal character principle and the fight against corruption.

“This imbalance, driven by abuse of office, clearly undermines both the federal character principle and the fight against corruption. This reinforces the urgency of closer collaboration between ICPC and FCC,” he added.

He said the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), particularly Articles 5 and 36, required that institutions like the ICPC and FCC work together, share intelligence, strengthen systems, and coordinate national anti-corruption efforts.

He proposed the establishment of a joint task team or technical working group between ICPC and FCC to monitor recruitment patterns, investigate breaches of the federal character principle, prevent job racketeering, and protect the rights and future of young Nigerians.

Aliyu said collaboration between the two government agencies would serve as a model of institutional synergy.

The FCC Acting Chairman, Kayode Oladele, in his remark, welcomed the proposal and said it marked the first time both agencies were coming together to jointly tackle recruitment irregularities.

He said the FCC was committed to ensuring proportional representation of all groups in public service.

“The public often associates us only with employment. But we also work to ensure that development projects are evenly spread across the federation,” Oladele stated.

He revealed that the commission had set up a directorate to oversee the monitoring of infrastructure distribution in line with its broader mandate and assured the ICPC that the FCC was ready to work with it to sanitise the system and ensure compliance with the Federal Character principles.

He described job racketeering as a major concern and pledged that the FCC would support efforts to revive integrity and fairness in public sector recruitment.

 

1...229230231...3,441Page 230 of 3,441