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Mentors Are Life Savers By Henry Ukazu

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This is saying a warm, healthy, goodwill greetings to my friends all over the world. I regard each and every one of you as the real MVP’s (Most Valuable Players). You are the reason I do what I do.

It’s on this note I wish to inform you that you are my mentors. I have learnt a lot from my you, my friends. This is because you correct me when I make mistakes. Bill Gate was definitely right when he said, “Your most unhappy customer are your greatest source of learning”. That’s why I say my friends and readers of my column are my mentors.

According to Henry Ford, “My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me”.  I guess you may have heard of the saying, if you are the only smart person in the room, leave the room. You need people to learn from daily if you really want to progress in addition to making impactful difference. That’s why I’m of the humble opinion that mentors are life savers.

In the course of this discussion, we shall be looking at how mentors can shape one’s life; empower him, and make him a leader subject to his industry and set objective. We shall also be looking at the adverse effects of mentorships and its relativity to other factors.

You cannot underscore the importance of mentorship in the life of a progressive minded being. I can proudly say that I am a product of mentorship. Mentors have really shaped me to be a better person. My mentors have created so many opportunities for me. I cannot overestimate the role of mentorship in my life. They are priceless. I have always told my friends, I am not smart, rather I am smart by association. Let me take you on a brief trajectory path on my life.  I arrived in USA ten years ago and joined the Nigerian Lawyers Association as a graduate student in New York Law School. Later on an opportunity became available to serve in the association and one of my mentor who is a Judge me inspired to contest for the position of Public Relations Secretary in the association which I won by God’s grace and that position opened so many doors of opportunity for me. It was the Nigerian Lawyers Association that gave me the opportunity of meeting one of my most influential mentors Chief Dele Momodu who is the CEO Ovation Media Group and former presidential candidate in Nigeria. Apart from writing the Foreword to my book which has opened doors of opportunity for me, Chief Dele Momodu has been so resourceful to me. I’m deeply humbled to write on his online newspapers (Boss Newspapers) which is the biggest online newspaper in Nigeria. I can go on and on, but as the sage will say a word is enough for the wise.

 

Let’s go into the meat of the discussion. Who is a mentor? In lay man’s term, a mentor can be defined as a person or teacher who is very knowledgeable and experienced in a particular area of life. You can even say a mentor is a trusted adviser. Either way you define it, a mentor is a person who can either guide or inspire you for greatness.  A mentor must not necessary be older than you, he or she can be younger than you provided you are learning from the person. Mentors come in different shapes and sizes. The question now is, who needs a mentor, what are the roles of mentors? What are the characteristics of a mentor?

Before you choose a mentor must be sure of what you need in life and the role the person will play in your life. Isn’t it true that the journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single step in the right direction? You must know where you are headed. In a nutshell, you must know your purpose in life. You can’t just wake up in the morning and say you need Mr. A or Mr. B just because he or she has money or famous. You must know the value and change in your life you want to see. I liken mentors as leaders. As mentioned earlier, people follow different people for different reasons. I will try and do justice to this situations which can be called pyramid of leadership:

  • Position: People follow you because they have a right to follow you which can be as a result of the position you occupy.
  • Permission: People follow you because you allow them. For example in relationships cases when you decide to allow people to build relationships with you.
  • Production: People follow you because of what you have done for the organization or association. This is result oriented.
  • People Development: People follow you because of what you have done for them
  • Pinnacle: People follow you because of whom you are or what you represent. The question now is where do you belong?

Mentors are very resourceful and one has to be very tactical when finding a mentor. You may be wondering how I do engage or find mentor?  Every case is different, but being strategic is very important. These are some ideas to finding a mentor.

First, define the mission, vision and objectives you intend to accomplish, learn or reach. For example, let’s say you have a sector/job type in mind. Do some research in the world of social media, online, podcast, conferences, YouTube and LinkedIn. You can even ask friends or colleagues via networking. You have to be specific enough because the more specific you are, the better. You have to know who the ‘influencers’ are. These ‘influencers’ are the people you will like to learn form. It’s imperative to learn about your mentor. Read as much information you can find about them.  Pay particular attention about what they did to get to where they are, their mistakes, strengths and trajectory journey. This will give you a general mental picture about them.  Also, see the value they can get from you. Some people feel they are being abused by their mentors due to the kind of assignment or deadline they are given, forgetting the words of Thomas Edison opportunity is missed by people because it is dressed in overalls and it looks like work’. Mentors like productive mentees.

You will agree with me that nobody has monopoly of knowledge. Therefore, the relationship between a mentor and mentee should not be parasitic, rather it should be a symbiotic one. Finally, define your strategy. How will you connect with that mentor? You can attend conferences, meet ups and so forth. You should bear in mind, there is no short cut to any place worthy going. You have to pay the price by learning the ropes. It’s quite unfortunate a lot people want to beat the gun by earning without learning. You have to learn first before you earn. How do you learn? You can volunteer your time, money or whatever you may have for your mentor. You just never know the opportunity that might be available to you. Some narcissistic minds believe once they are successful, they don’t need any advice, forgetting the words of Bill Gate “Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people to think they can’t lose”. If mentees have positive minds in addition to being able to think out of the box, they will remember the words of Oprah Winfrey “Luck is preparation meeting opportunity”. Therefore you must be prepared and willing to do the needful in order to get to where you want to be. Let me share some examples; after I published my first book, I reached out to some of my mentors who are President and senior officials in NYC High School and Colleges, and they were not only receptive of my Executive Summary and curriculum, they were kind enough to take up teaching and administrative positions because of my work. The moral of this point is that, I have been able to build a strong relationship with my mentors and the right opportunity became available for me to share my work with them.

To know a good mentor. Look for certain qualities. A mentor should be a person who inspires and motivates you to progress in life. The person ought to display high integrity, honesty and must have a proven track of success. He/she must be able to teach or have expertise in a particular field of interest to you. The person should be able to refer you to available opportunities in addition to introducing to his/her network. A mentor must be strategic, able to solve problems by analyzing issues in addition to being able to innovate. Again, mentors are very resourceful beings. Their advice are priceless. Due to how busy they can be, I will strongly advise you grab every little opportunity they have for you. Though one of my mentor once told me, just like we shouldn’t be too busy for our friends and family, a mentor should never be too busy for his or her mentee. A mentee should always value the time his/her mentor shares with him/her. One of the most important skills a mentee ought to have is listening skills. It’s quite unfortunate many people listen with the intent to respond as opposed to understanding. When you listen you’ll be able to hear unspoken words. According to Bernard Baruch, Most of the successful people I have known are the people who do more listening than talking’.

Mentors helps you to realize your strength, they can facilitate or championing your cause by talking to others about you, they assist in conflict resolution by mitigating where necessary in addition to anchoring for you where necessary.

I found an interesting note on LinkedIn on How to find a mentor. ‘Sadly, people often go about finding a mentor by cold-emailing people who are more or less strangers and asking them this loaded question: ‘Will you be my mentor? . I have a few suggestions for a better strategy: 1. Do your research to know exactly who you are reaching out to. If they work in Sales and you want to go to IT, tell them you know it is not their area and ASK if they know anyone in the department you are interested in who they could introduce you to. 2. Compliment them. Follow their content and like, comment, or share. They will notice and appreciate you and be more inclined to want to help you. 3. Introduce yourself short and sweet. Then you are no longer a stranger. 4. Make a very specific reasonable request, like to answer a few quick business questions. Explain what you are looking for or the area you need advice on. 5. Keep up the dialogue. Keep on and develop the relationship, not only when you want something and then disappear. 6. Be very respectful of their time! If you find a genuine person and approach them the right way, you will quickly land not one but multiple mentors or advisors”.

A great quality of a mentor is their cognitive ability.  Mentors are very creative. They can safely be regarded as eagles because they have deeper insight. There is an African saying, “What an old man sees while sitting on a chair, nor matter how tall a child grows he or she cannot see it”. Talking about cognitive skill, mentors help us to adjust to stress, relationships, goals, work on our purpose etc. by adopting to ever changing situations. Mentors assists us in creating new experience. They share with us some of the valuable lessons or experience they have had in the past which might be relevant to us.  It should be noted that mentors don’t do the work for us, we do the work. They only facilitate the process for you so you don’t have to go through the length of time they had to go through.

Mentorship must not always be a one on one relationship. Just like you can learn by observation, so also you can have online mentors who might not even know you have been understudying and following them. These category are the people I call pinnacle style of mentorship. You develop pivotal relationship with this kind of mentorship.

Once you learn a lot from your mentor, it’s your responsibility to apply what you have learnt in your daily and professional life. You must find a way to use what you have learnt in addition to what you know to create something unique. As mentioned earlier, you have to take the bold step in addition to desiring a change in your life before a mentor can come in. According to the sage, once the student is ready, the master materializes.  According to the former President of America, Barack Obama “change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we are waiting for”. According to Beverley Hills, “There’s no shortcut to any place worth going“.

Though mentors are good, some can have adverse effect. You must continually check on time to know what is happening. Listen to news, read articles, visit them. Some mentors are destiny killers. Some can have you work out yourself in the name of mentor-ship. Some can be wolves in sheep clothing and the list is continues. You simply have to know when to bow or leave as Kenny Rogers said in his track “the gambler”

In conclusion, I will leave you with two great quotes from Paul Ryan and Brian Tracy; According to Paul Ryan ‘Every successful individual knows that his or her achievement depend on a community of person working together”. Therefore you cannot attain success alone. You need a mentor and community to shape and guide you. Is it true that it takes a community to train a child? No matter where or what your case or situation might be, never be hard on yourself, just continue working hard and smart, trust me, your works are being noted. You may have had a thousand nos, remember all you need is one yes and the narrative will change. I have been there (called names due to my failures and mistakes) and I can tell you from experience that mentors are very resourceful. Per Brian Tracy: “It doesn’t matter where you are coming from, all that matters is where you are going”

Lastly, do you have a mentor? If yes who is your mentor?

Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He can be reached via henrous@gmail.com

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Opinion

President Trump’s Transformation of the Democratic System

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By Magnus Onyibe

President Donald J. Trump is actively reshaping the global political landscape, navigating the tension between globalization and fragmentation to establish a new order in the United States and, by extension, the world.

Before delving further into this discussion, I must disclose that I am an unapologetic supporter of the 47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. My support stems from my belief that he is undeniably a catalyst for change.

Many, including Democratic presidential candidates in the 2024 elections,ex president Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, have accused Trump of seeking to dismantle democracy. However, a more accurate assessment is that he is challenging the status quo in Washington through radical policy shifts. While Democrats frame his actions as a threat to democracy, I see this as a misleading narrative,because changing the dynamics of democracy does not equate killing it.

Despite the alarm raised by his opponents, American voters prioritized economic concerns—rising inflation, the high cost of living, soaring housing prices, and the influx of undocumented immigrants—over the warnings about imminent death of democracy. It was these pressing issues that motivated voters to support Trump’s return to the White House.

The more than 77 million Americans who voted for him did so because they believe he was on a mission to address what they see as a “woke” and financially struggling America. According to the Oxford Dictionary, “woke” refers to those who are socially aware but is often used pejoratively to describe individuals perceived as self-righteous or overly dogmatic in their advocacy.

True to his promises, Trump wasted no time in implementing his agenda. During his inauguration, he took a strong stance against “woke” ideology by affirming that the U.S. Constitution recognizes only two genders—male and female—a direct challenge to the LGBTQ+ community. He has since followed through on his pledges by signing a series of executive orders aimed at radically reshaping America.

So, from my perspective, Trump is simply fulfilling the commitments he made during his campaign. The backlash from those negatively affected by his policies is therefore unsurprising, yet it should not overshadow the fact that he is delivering the change that millions of Americans willingly voted for, believing it will restore the country’s greatness.

As someone who embraces change, I am excited to see a leader who challenges the status quo in public leadership finally take charge. That leader is Donald J. Trump, who has now assumed office in the White House, the seat of U.S. political power.
Given President Tinubu’s huge appettite for change which has wrought on Nigeria in the past 2O months,he may be said to be cut from the same cloth with Trump, literally speaking.

Mr. Trump as the leader of the free world- U.S, exerts enormous influence on global affairs, reinforcing the popular saying: when America sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold. This is evident in Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on key trading partners—25% on Mexico, 25% on general goods plus 10% on Canadian oil, and 10% on China—primarily to curb illegal immigration and combat the flow of fentanyl, a deadly drug ravaging American communities.

Before Trump even took office, his threats of tariff hikes caused global concern. However, World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, urged caution: “I am concerned, but my approach is to stay calm. Let’s wait to see what policies are actually enacted before overreacting.”

Despite this advice, some countries affected by the new tariffs —especially Mexico and Canada—have already announced retaliatory tariffs, raising fears of an all-out trade war. Meanwhile, China has opted for a legal approach, filing complaints against the U.S. through the WTO.

As the head of the WTO, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala will play a crucial role in resolving this looming global trade conflict. Given her extensive experience—including her tenure at the World Bank and her ongoing second term as WTO chief—there is hope that she can help de-escalate tensions.

Anticipating the economic impact of the trade war, President Trump has urged Americans to brace for temporary hardships, acknowledging that tariffs might contribute to inflation. However, he remains confident that the outcome will ultimately benefit the country, declaring: “This will be the golden age of America. Will there be some pain? Yes. But we will make America great again, and it will be worth the price.”

This sentiment is reminiscent of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s remarks when he removed the long-standing fuel subsidy and floated the naira, leading to economic hardship for Nigerians. He reassured the nation, saying: “I understand that our people are suffering, but there can be no childbirth without pain. The joy of childbirth is the baby. Relief comes after the pain. Nigeria is being reborn.”

Remarkably,Trump’s policies signal a fundamental shift away from globalization—a concept introduced between 1870 and 1914 and later popularized in 1983 by economist Theodore Levitt in his essay titled “The Globalization of Markets.” The current global order, shaped by decades of economic integration, now faces disruption under Trump’s America First doctrine, which prioritizes national interests over international cooperation.

Interestingly, Trump’s long-held stance on tariffs is not new. In a resurfaced 1978 interview with Oprah Winfrey, he expressed similar views, making it clear that his current trade policies have been decades in the making.

While trade wars typically harm weaker economies (when elephants fight, the grass suffers), Africa might stand to benefit from this geopolitical shift. As tensions escalate among major trading partners—U.S., Canada, Mexico, and China—Africa, historically seen as merely a source of raw materials, could emerge as an alternative manufacturing hub.

For instance, Nigeria’s oil exports to the U.S. declined significantly under President Barack Obama, with Canada and Mexico becoming America’s top crude suppliers. However, if the trade war leads to disruptions in North American oil exports, Trump may turn back to Nigeria, currently the 8th largest supplier, to fill the gap.

So, rather than viewing Trump’s policies as purely negative, it may be worth considering the potential opportunities they create for Africa. As a matter of fact , instead of getting caught up in narratives of doom and gloom, could this be a moment for the continent to reposition itself as a key player in the evolving global trade landscape?

I would argue that it is time for the world to recognize that Africa is not a problem to be solved but a vital part of the global solution. Thats owed to the fact that the continent holds vast reserves of critical minerals essential for the energy transition that the world desperately seeks. Rather than being viewed merely as a supplier of raw materials, Africa should be seen as a prime destination for investment and industrial partnerships.

There is a well-known economic principle that a rising tide lifts all boats and yachts. In that spirit, industrialized nations like the U.S. and China must acknowledge that Africa—home to 54 countries and a population of approximately 1.5 billion, larger than China’s 1.3 billion and rivaling India’s 1.4 billion—is not a charity case but an investment opportunity.

As a long-time advocate for Africa’s economic resurgence, I have consistently argued that the continent needs trade, not aid. So, it is imperative that major global economies shift their perception of Africa from a passive recipient of aid to an active economic partner. Historically, Africa has been exploited—most notably through the partitioning of the continent at the 1884–1885 Berlin Conference, where European powers divided African territories for their own benefit. As a result, Africa has remained marginalized in global trade, accounting for less than 3% of total global trade, despite having 18% of the world’s population.

To secure a greater share of global trade, Africa must be integrated into the evolving international economic order. Without disruptions to the existing system—such as those triggered by President Trump’s policies—meaningful change is unlikely. Given the resistance Africa has faced in its bid to gain a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, a fundamental shift in global power structures, like the one Trump is advocating, may be necessary for Africa to be taken seriously as a key player in international trade.

At this moment in history, the world may actually benefit from the tensions between defenders of the entrenched old order and leaders like Trump, who are determined to shake up the system. Since assuming office on January 20, 2025, Trump has been implementing the bold changes he promised during his campaign. In my assessment, the mandate given to him by American voters provides a unique opportunity to push for a rebalancing of global trade and governance.

Throughout history, transformative change has always required bold action. If astronauts had not pushed boundaries, Neil Armstrong would never have walked on the moon in 1969, a breakthrough that reshaped human understanding of the universe. Similarly, astronomer Galileo’s discoveries challenged the belief that the Earth was flat, while it is actually cylindrical paving the way for modern scientific thought. It is this same drive for progress that appears to be fueling Trump’s disruptive approach to governance.

Keyu Jin, a professor of economics and author of The New China Playbook, recently highlighted a growing shift in global trade patterns, noting that China and other nations have been diversifying their markets away from the U.S. even before the current tariff wars. Therefore,Trump’s policies are merely accelerating this trend. In Europe, for instance, we are seeing a rise in nationalist-leaning leaders, particularly in France and Germany, who are also prioritizing domestic interests over globalism.

This geopolitical realignment is further evident in the expansion of BRICS—a coalition of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—which has recently welcomed new members like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Egypt. As more countries join BRICS in an effort to counterbalance U.S. influence, and attempts to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar in global trade may intensify. The general belief is that if America continues using tariffs as a tool to pressure its trading partners, it risks pushing them further toward alternative alliances, potentially diminishing its own economic influence. But would that really be the case?

For Africa, this shifting landscape presents an opportunity. If trade flows are redirected away from the U.S., Africa could gain a larger share of global commerce—but only if the continent positions itself strategically. With the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), headquartered in Ghana, Africa is already laying the groundwork to take advantage of this new world order.

While Trump’s critics have valid concerns about the potential risks of his sweeping policy changes—particularly the hardship caused by the deportation of undocumented immigrants and disruptions in U.S. aid to Africa( which was later restored) it is also worth considering the potential long-term benefits of a restructured global economy.

The changes unfolding in global trade could open up unprecedented opportunities for Africa. If the continent plays its cards right, it could emerge as a major beneficiary of the ongoing shake-up. So, instead of viewing Trump’s policies solely through the lens of crisis, perhaps it is time to explore how Africa can leverage this moment to secure a more equitable role in the global economy.

A US based Nigerian Professor Ndubuisi Ekekwe describes Trump’s leadership as a “tsunami-earthquake-storm” approach, highlighting the unprecedented nature of shutting down USAID. According to him, this move signals a clear message to the world—that America has no obligation to fund or influence other nations through soft power. However, he suggests that this could actually be a positive development if African leaders step up and take responsibility.

He further explains how foreign aid often distorts markets and hinders sustainable development. For instance, an entrepreneur might develop a viable product in healthcare, education, or agriculture, only for an aid agency to introduce a similar product for free. This forces local businesses to shut down, and once the aid funds disappear after a few years, communities are left worse off, having lost both the external support and the local solutions that were once in place.

Rather than panicking over these funding cuts, Professor Ekekwe urges African governments to seize the opportunity by creating systems to identify and assist citizens in need. He argues that without external interference, local businesses can step in to fill market gaps, and governments can provide targeted support to those who truly require it. He points out that Africa has a long history of self-reliance and should return to indigenous solutions rather than depending on unpredictable foreign aid.

This perspective aligns with the arguments earlier made by economist Dr. Dambisa Moyo in her ground breaking book “Dead Aid”, where she contends that Western aid has done more harm than good in Africa.

Considering Trump’s repeated assertion that his second term marks a “golden age” for America, it is possibly a golden age for Africa too as the continent could benefit—if it strategically positions itself to take advantage of the shifting global order being shaped by Trump’s policies.

Magnus Onyibe, a public policy analyst, author, democracy advocate, development strategist, alumnus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Massachusetts, USA, and a former commissioner in the Delta State government, (2003-2007) sent this piece from Lagos, Nigeria.

To continue with this conversation and more, please visit www.magnum.ng.

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Opinion

EFCC in the Eye of the Storm!

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By Ayo Oyoze Baje

With comments such as ” embarrassing”, “shameful” and ” disturbing” trailing the recent revelations that not less than 27 officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC were reportedly dismissed for acts of misconduct and fraudulent activities in 2024 alone, the clarion call for full-fledged investigations into what really happened has become a necessity. This is compelling because the alleged acts of fraud span from Lagos to Kaduna Zonal Commands. And given the delicate duty hinged on the matching mandate of the EFCC he who comes to equity must do so with clean hands.

But sadly, according to the spokesperson of the federal government agency, Dele Oyewale as revealed on January 6, 2025 the EFCC has started investigating ” a trending $400, 000 claim of a yet – to – be – identified supposed staff of the agency against a sectional head”. But that was just a tip of the iceberg. Some two days later, precisely on January 8, of this year 10 officers of the Lagos Zonal Command were detained over the theft of operational items.

Listed amongst the missing items are gold bars valued at over N1 billion. That is in addition to some precious jewelry and cash of between $350,000 and $400,000. Though the agency is yet to speak on what took place at the Kaduna Zonal Command, an officer simply identified as Polycarp allegedly stole a humongous amount claimed to be over $30,000 in addition to other valuable items.Such an embarrassing situation certainly triggers some flaming questions.

For instance, how do we explain the scandalous scenario that an anti-graft agency of the stature of the EFCC could not provide adequate security for expensive exhibits, including gold and mouth-watering amounts of raw cash? How would any officer, trained to fight for and recover stolen materials and money blame the prevailing poverty and high cost of living in the country as the factors of temptation for his shameful and unpatriotic act? Good leaders do not give excuses for dereliction of duty. Not at all. Rather, they should muster the moral courage to rein in the insidious urge to attempt to convert what does not belong to one as his, for whatever reason. That brings us to the nitty-gritty of the Act which established the EFCC.

Propelled by the Establishment Act first enacted in 2002 and subsequently amended in 2004 the matching mandate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is to frontally combat both economic and financial crimes. To bolster its performance the Act enables the Commission to prevent, investigate, prosecute and penalize economic and financial crimes in their various shades. Good enough, the EFCC is also charged with the responsibility of executing the provisions of other laws and regulations that are related to economic and financial crimes.

In its distilled essence, these laws are embedded in Section 7(2) of the Establishment Act 2004. These include Money Laundering Act 1995, Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004 as well as Advanced Fee Fraud and other related Offence Act 1995. Not left out are the Failed Bank Act, 1994, the Criminal Code and the Terrorism Act 2011. But the recent revelations of odious acts of deliberate criminality carried out by officers of the EFCC run against the grains of the fight against corruption. They must therefore, be brought to the public sphere for proper scrutiny while the agency should beam a brighter searchlight into its inner structures to plug the widening loopholes.

Beginning with its recruitment process, it has become expedient for a more thorough assessment of the moral standards of any Nigerian citizen presenting himself for any of the available posts before he is employed there. Also significant is the need to guarantee the safety and security of all forms of exhibits -be it gold, jewelry or cash-preferably in bank vaults. Doing so will cut off any access to them.

From the point of view of security experts it amounts to unprofessional act not to have mechanisms firmly in place to ensure both safety and accountability of the exhibits. And if the EFCC decides to keep them within its purvey they should be well secured with multiple layers of protection provided. With such a guarantee it means that if the court finally decides in favour of the defendants, or those alleged to have stolen the recovered items they would be fully returned, without spurious claims of such to have been stolen by operatives of the EFCC. That brings us to what punishments should be meted out to the culprits.

Beyond their outright dismissal from office, they should be prosecuted and made to face the full wrath of the law. If perhaps, they have relocated outside the country the use of biometrics on record will be handy to trace and track them down.That would send the right punitive message and serve as a form of deterrence, to others with similar inclination to steal. But then, the question on the lips of concerned Nigerians is why all these acts of malfeasance are coming up at this point in time?

While some observers of the goings on at the EFCC have applauded the Chairman, Olanipekun Olukayode for mustering the leadership will to ensure probity and accountability in the operations others are not impressed by the method of night raids. Also, with the viral video of one Idris Okunaye, aka Bobrisky who claimed that some operatives of the agency collected N15 million from him to absolve him of the charge of money laundering, though later denied, the image of the EFCC is currently at stake.

But we urge Olukayode to continue with the internal cleaning up process, go ahead with the auditing of the recovered items on Zonal Command basis and ensure their security. He should review the night operations that have led to some deaths of the officials, strengthen oversight functions while doing away with problems traced to political interference.

As the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership has rightly demanded for the internal cleansing should be holistic and devoid of manipulations from the corridors of political power.

Indeed, to restore public confidence in the EFCC it must free itself from the antics, sentiments and threats from the executive arm of government at the state and federal government levels. That would also reinforce the standard of morality in the nation, which has been rubbished by the crass, crude and criminal culture of impunity. With some of those who have pilfered the national treasury dry still walking our streets as free men and women, it is hard to discourage our rudderless youths from all forms of fraudulent practices. But we cannot continue to tread that path of perfidy. Not at all.

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Opinion

How Wike Benefitted from Dele Momodu’s Expertise and Conflict Resolution Skills

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By Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba
ssbaba.pys@buk.edu.ng

Let me begin with this beautiful quote by Benjamin Franklin that “The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance.” Indeed, some people lack the knowledge of their own ignorance. Earlier this morning, Aare Dele MOMODU posted multiple pictures of him and his friend, the former Governor of Rivers State as he used to do from time to time in his busy social media pages. Immediately I saw those pictures, it reminded me of how CHIEF DELE MOMODU contributed immensely to WIKE’S popularity by showcasing the then Governor’s projects, an event that marked the origin of his nickname “Mr Project” all over Nigeria.

I would always say that WIKE’s popularity in Nigeria especially in the North was not as a result of his failed attempt to cling his party’s presidential ticket during the May 2022 presidential primaries or the events that followed, rather as a result of how the OVATION MEDIA GROUP demonstrated to Nigerians, Africa and many parts of the world that a Governor like Wike actually existed in Nigeria due to the volume of projects he was able to put in place in Rivers State which probably overrode all history of governance at state level in Nigeria. Unfortunately, some ignorant people threw their usual tantrums under the comment section, saying that MOMODU betrayed WIKE, which in my humble opinion is the other way round. Follow me patiently as I make a few points to that effect in a jiffy, keeping in mind the fact that Governor WIKE’s multiple work in Rivers had been undervalued, under-reported, or, let’s say, eclipsed by politics until the OVATION media group intervened in late 2020.

Furthermore, in my own understanding, a journalist has to be fair and ready to listen to the other side of any story. Governor WIKE turned out to be amongst the top beneficiaries of this Momodu’s rare quality as a veteran journalist. Let me take a step back a bit to the best of my knowledge as a meticulous follower of Ovation Media Group. Momodu had interviewed MAZI NNAMDI KANU, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) weeks before, specifically on the 29th October, 2020 and his fans were very happy. It was the mother of all interviews because both the interviewer and respondent knew their onions. The brilliant Nnamdi Kanu himself tweeted the following day expressing his satisfaction with Momodu’s comportment and describing him as the Larry King of Africa, which was largely true in my opinion. In fact some called him the man with magic fingers because of his enormous wisdom and prolificness in writing.

Thereafter, many Nigerians at home and in diaspora, his fans and mentees including myself requested him to interview GOVERNOR NYESOM WIKE. In fact, when I called him about that, he said “Dr Baba, I will! I always believe a journalist must hear and ventilate the other side of any story…”. So willingly and by popular demand, DELE MOMODU made it happen.

A few days later, he announced the acceptance of the then Governor WIKE to join him for a chat on one of his Instagram live sessions. That was one of the must watched interviews that set all social media streets agog. The interview went well, and he answered very interesting questions as candidly and as boldly as he could, not mincing words about his sharp disagreement with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the IPOB he leads, while MOMODU maintained his usual neutrality as much as possible. Momodu also asked the Governor some important questions about his developmental projects because the session was not just about his altercation with Kanu.

Moving fast forward during the interview, Governor WIKE threw a challenge by immediately inviting the Ovation Media Group to visit Rivers and see things for themselves. He was confident that given the infrastructural development Rivers State had witnessed under his watch though unpopular, Ovation would require over two weeks to cover his projects. Momodu accepted his challenge and headed to Rivers, prepared as always, regardless of what was on ground. They were pleasantly surprised. Two weeks and counting, Ovation team was still in Rivers State. There was simply so much to be seen and it was as if the governor had captured them permanently. He was enjoying their stay in Rivers while the whole country was resonating wondering what the Ovation crew were revealing from Rivers state. That was in my best understanding what brought the Governor WIKE’S massive achievement in Rivers to limelight in Nigeria and beyond. They travelled extensively and traversed the length and breadth of Rivers State, given the Governor WIKE all the machineries he needed to brag and beat his chest about the massive development he brought to his own state.

The other face of the story was even more interesting because some people who are extremely loyal to Kanu got angry. They said Wike was lying. They said he was the one who ordered the killing and mass murder of the people in OYIGBO/OBIGBO. They immediately challenged Momodu to go to the town and see the level of destruction and devastation. Some immediately began to rain insults and abuse on the Momodu’s platforms. I still remember clearly some of the false accusations and allegations by the same people who were happy before. Indeed this is not new to any journalist who chose to deploy ethical standards and neutrality. This also reminds me of the atmosphere when CHIEF DELE MOMODU interviewed the former Nigeria minister of petroleum DIAZENI ALLISON MADUEKE in London.
Coming back to the main epistle, DELE MOMODU also accepted the challenge and decided to visit OBIGBO town in Rivers State, a place where all the media spaces in Nigeria have likened to GAZA, PALESTINE where killings and human rights abuse became the order of the day. Momodu’s visit to OBIGBO is also a different story on its own, yet very interesting because what came out of it was totally contrary to a place where everyone believes it was under military siege. Everyone was ready to see the possible bloodbath and devastation that he/she was reading about constantly on social media. It was showcased LIVE in all Momodu’s platforms as the visit was ongoing in OBIGBO town.

In going to OBIGBO, Momodu employed and deployed his vast experience in the last three decades in promoting peace in West Africa and visiting war torn areas. In a sense, he was returning to familiar turfs and terrain. There were times MOMODU had to come down from the car to walk around a bit and interact with the people based on requests, instructions and directions from the INSTAGRAM LIVE feeds. He felt comfortable and very much at home amongst the indigenes and residents of Obigbo and the people welcomed the Ovation crew and freely expressed themselves. He also asked directly from the people about the murders and wanted to know if killings were still ongoing. Everybody he spoke with confirmed what had happened, but they all said the situation was under control, contrary to what the media was falsely and unjustly promoting. Normalcy had been restored substantially, in the town. Markets were bristling with the usual hustle and bustle of a boisterous community and it was live for all viewers to see. Momodu also listened to the Local Government Chairman, Prince Gerald Oforji, and the Chiefs for their own version of the story.

To my surprise however, some people kept raining abuses during the live broadcasts despite Momodu’s open, transparent work and apparent selflessness. He remained unperturbed because obviously he was not out to impress anyone but to do his job as professionally as he knows best.

In my own understanding, that was how most Nigerians naturally exonerated Governor WIKE from the alleged massive killings in OBIGBO as some believed he masterminded everything like a Bollywood director.

Who now is the ultimate beneficiary of these Momodu trips and interventions? Who benefitted from Momodu’s uncommon conflict resolution skills?

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