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Adegoke Adelabu Penkelemesi: A Dazzling Politician, Meteor and Iconoclast (1915-1958)

Published

2 years ago

February 15, 2023

Eric

By Hon. Femi Kehinde

A meteor is like a shooting star. It sparkles, it dazzles, it brightens up, but it is also a falling star. They are also like joy, that has a slender body, that breaks so soon-Ayo abara bin tin, as was depicted in Ola Rotimi’s epic play- The gods are not to blame. A meteor rises fast and disappears at the apogee (height) of its glory.

Joseph Sanusi Gbadamosi Adegoke Adelabu, born on the 3rd of September, 1915 and died on the 25th of March, 1958, certainly lived like a meteor and his rise was meteoric. He was Ibadan’s most prominent politician of his time. He was born in Oke-Oluokun, Ibadan, to Sanusi Ashiyanbi Adeyege Adelabu and his mother was Awujola Ajoke, who died in 1920, when Adegoke was still an infant.

HIS EARLY EDUCATION

Although born a Muslim, he was sent to a secular school- The Saint Davids CMS Elementary School, Kudeti Ibadan, between 1925 and 1929 and the CMS Central School, Mapo Ibadan in 1930. He had double promotions in the elementary and primary schools, he proceeded to the Government College Ibadan, where he also had double promotion. He left Government College in Form 4, and proceeded on a U.A.C scholarship to Yaba Higher College, Yaba Lagos, in 1936, which was then Nigeria’s only higher college.

Adelabu Adegoke had said of his educational exploits-

“I had a brilliant scholastic career, earning accelerated promotions on three occasions in the elementary, primary and secondary schools respectively. Despite this, I never took a second position throughout my school days. Instead, I was always several laps ahead of my runner up and not infrequently, saved tutors from tight holes.”

He was perhaps the most brilliant scholar that had passed out of the Government College, Ibadan. As was attested to by his contemporary and colleague in Government College- Professor Sabori Biobaku, who attested of his educational brilliance as thus-

“Adelabu was not much good at sports, although he subsequently distinguished himself at the long distance events, especially the half mile and mile races. It was in his studies that he excelled. At the end of his second year, he received a double promotion from class two to class four and was top of that class from the first term till the end of his time at the college. He was perhaps the brightest boy that Government College Ibadan has ever produced.”

His head master at the Central School Mapo- Chief James Ladejo Ogunshola was bereaved and Adegoke, despite being a pupil, quickly came to the rescue by taking up the classes in the absence of the bereaved headmaster. The headmaster, a diarist, wrote in his diary of Wednesday, the 15th of February 1935-

“Master Adegoke Sanusi, an old boy of central School and a pupil of Ibadan Government College who had been helping me since Monday in the school also rendered help today; he took my class in all the subjects for today”

Adegoke was simply non-pariel; he was in fact a genius. Despite all these academic attainments, he also believed that the best of him had not come, he said-

“I had everything to rejoice over, but I lamented. I was successful, but I was dissatisfied. Happiness eluded me like the miraculous mirage of the desert.”

Despite being a studious and serious student at the Yaba College and also on U.A.C scholarship, he quit his studies according to him-

“To prove my mettle”

HIS UAC DAYS

He was instantly employed by the U.A.C, as its first African Manager in the produce section and later the singlet factory section of the Haberdashery department. He was in the U.A.C for four years and later joined the civil service for seven years in the cooperative department and eventually, for another five years, was doing his own business as a private entrepreneur. He later took sojourn in partisan politics, from where he rose from comparative obscurity, into so strong a lime light, that he had completely dazzled and baffled his opponents and admirers.

ADELABU, THE POLITICIAN

At the first meeting with Adelabu, one would be easily amazed about his strength, resourcefulness and also how he managed to get his magnetic force with which he captured his followers to the point of fanaticism. His admirers usually called him “portable Ade” and you would also easily wonder, according to him-

“how my enemies would enjoy carrying a small keg of explosives?”

There was a common saying in Ibadan then that-

“if you do not know Adelabu, then you do not know any man worthy of his name”

To the native Ibadan man then, Adelabu is the only “Omo Okunrin” or better still “Alagbara” (the strong one). Adelabu, easily dazzled by his own accomplishments had said

“Despite an unparallel record of intellectual achievements in the classroom, considerable success in recreational games and athletic sports, respect from my subordinates, encouragement from my masters, I had everything to rejoice over, but I lamented, I was successful but dissatisfied.”

He had a steady and turbulent rise in politics. He was a councillor, chairman of the Ibadan Divisional Council, member of the Western House of Assembly and Federal House of Representatives, on the platform of the NCNC, Western Secretary of the NCNC and later rose steadily from the rank and file of the everyday politician to hold the post of Minister of Natural Resources and social services after the Federal Election of 1954.

The story goes that during campaigns for election, while others were talking themselves hoarse, Adelabu won over his supporters with inspiring songs to which all and sundry danced along the streets of his constituency.

Adelabu reveled in the pomp of the worshiped and did not intend to conceal his love for their worship. As a restless and busy politician, he told a journalist during a press interview- “I can only spare you a few minutes”; and when he really got down to business, he refused to sit down, and he said- “I talk better when walking about.”

Adegoke Adelabu admits egotism. In his book- “Africa in Ebullition” he said-

“I am a deliberate egotist. I do not regret it, I do not apologize. My philosophy is that the world would be much better and happier if we would only dare to be ourselves completely instead of being faded copies of other unknown and misunderstood mythical heroes.”

Adegoke Adelabu was ambitious and introspective. Once, he shouted to an Ibadan crowd- “I am greater than Zik!” Not even as a Federal Minister, did he show any inhibitions. He converted his ministerial quarters- No 15, Alexander Road, Ikoyi Lagos, to a meeting place of the Declass or the Talakawas or the common man or the beggars.

Every morning, the drummers and praise singers he took to Lagos from Ibadan, would wake up the elitist neighborhood of Ikoyi, with drumming and singing, eulogizing the exploits of the Ibadan great man and grass root politician. The Europeans or “Oyinbos” in the neighborhood, protested vehemently against this early morning nuisance and they also addressed a press conference. Adelabu in his usual style, made a mince meat of this protest, asking them to go back to their country, if they did not like his style and that was the end of the protest.

As minister in the Federal Government, Adelabu was given an official car. He took the car to his constituency in Ibadan and summoned a meeting. After the meeting at his Oke-Oluokun residence, he asked his constituents at the meeting, to be riding in the car in a group of four, from his Oke-Oluokun residence in Ibadan, to Beere round about, to savour the joy of ministerial ride. This audacious act hit the newspaper headlines the following day- “Talakawas ride in ministerial car”.

In 1956, Adelabu Adegoke left the Federal Parliament, soon after; he faced a series of criminal charges, ranging from bribery and corruption to disturbing the peace. From all these, Adelabu emerged unblemished to continue his fight for the down trodden.

During this trial, his admirers went on the street of Ibadan to sing and eulogize him with the popular song-”Adelabu ma ko owo wa na!

Igunnu loni Tapa, tapo loni igunnu!”

i.e. “Adelabu steal our money the more!

Igunni owns Tapa, Tapa owns Igunni! “

MEETING NNAMDI AZIKWE

Adelabu’s first voyage into politics was at the meeting of an NCNC mission led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who came to Ibadan on a fund raising mission for the party. Adegoke listened to the missionaries, donated four guineas, but did not join the party as a card carrying member, until about five years later, when Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was called again, with other party members to help solve the Fijabi/Agbaje chieftaincy tangle. Adegoke was one of the citizens who sailed forth to welcome Dr. Azikiwe; but he did not stop there. When Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe got up to make his speech, Adegoke got up to interpret the speech to the Yorubas.

The two prophets had met and there was no parting of ways until death. Before Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe left Ibadan to Lagos, they had formed the Ibadan Grand Alliance and Adegoke had been appointed as its first secretary. A year later, he became Vice President of the Western Committee of the NCNC and a leading NCNC member in the Ibadan People’s Party, which later merged with the NCNC. He did not find things easy. Within his party, were a few elements with dual loyalties- to the NCNC and the Egbe Omo Oduduwa, a cultural organization.

On the 1st of December, 1951, Adegoke Adelabu, who had described himself as-”A strong man and the political voice of the west”, suffered a political master stroke. Five of the elected members- 1. Chief A.M.A Akinloye. 2. Chief D.T Akinbiyi. 3. Chief S. Owoola Lanlehin. 4. Chief Moyosore Aboderin 5. Chief S.A Akinyemi, all of the Ibadan People’s Party- NCNC Alliance, attended an Action Group rally. Adegoke commented acidly- “the long awaited proof of treachery has arrived”

Adegoke resented this, by opening up a salvo in the Southern Nigeria Defender Newspaper, with a serialized, devastating and documented attack, titled – “A stab on the back”

The Ibadan desertion blasted his hope of an NCNC majority in the Western House of Assembly. On the 7th of January, 1952, only 25 NCNC members could be mustered in the assembly. Adegoke wrote-

“On the Day of Shame-January 7, 1952-only 25 NCNC members could be mustered in the Assembly. The motley crew of mercenary careerists trooped in with their badge of shareholding in Political Booty Ltd. And among them, pale and guilty, the five deserters from Ibadan! Everyone held their breath at the shamelessness of men born of women and the whole house sat spell-bound.”

But if Adegoke Adelabu had failed to become the leader of the government of Western Nigeria, he had, through his steadfastness to the NCNC, become the leader of the people of Ibadan. In his speech to his loyal followers, he bade defiance to the Action Group and took an oath to fight it, until his last day on earth. He kept his oath. Then came, in 1954, the local government election to the Ibadan District Council. During the electioneering campaign, Adegoke was everywhere. He was seen by the people, taking time off from the political campaign and speech making to drinking Tombo (native wine) with the masses of the people. Adelabu had become a one man political circus. He knew to his fingertips what the people wanted; above all, he had learned one lesson in mass psychology: that being ridiculous is the only form of notoriety that does not kill a politician. When the results of the council elections were announced, Adelabu and his grand alliances had won all the seats. A few days later, he was made the chairman of the Ibadan District Council.

The year 1955 saw him at the Zenith of his powers. He was appointed a Federal Minister of social services. But political enemies were at work and an enquiry into the workings of the Ibadan District Council was appointed. The commission found heavily against him and the council. He reluctantly resigned his post as federal minister, but refused to resign as Council Chairman, until the Council was dissolved two months later.

The people of Ibadan were shocked and displeased, but a bigger shock was in store. A few months after the dissolution, Adegoke, together with other councillors were charged with corruption.

He was acquitted and discharged, only to be rearrested and charged with many offences. Again, he was acquitted and discharged and the whole cacophony of arrests, charges, acquittals and discharges ran into a couple of tens and built themselves up to a legend, that their victim and hero, Adegoke Adelabu was a man “they can never get”

After his trials, Adegoke found himself in the political doldrums. The fire of his enemies had pinned him down. A chance for further activity did not occur until 1957. The political leaders of Nigeria had been summoned to London, to review the constitution of the country. Adegoke went with his party’s delegation. After this, nothing substantial was heard of Adegoke Adelabu for many months- except that he had gone to Mecca and returned an Alhaji. It was said that he was biding his time, resting.

HIS DEATH

Then on March 25, 1958, came another sensational story about the man whose whole life had been like a meteoric flame. The story was that Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu was dead!

How did he die? Some said he had been shot. Some said he was killed with juju. Many others said he was run over by political enemies.

But the fantastic story of his death had gone around Ibadan. Alhaji Adelabu dead? Impossible! But if he’s dead, others will surely die with him! Down with his killers! Down with all those who have hands in his death! Kill and burn them. Spare no one. Let no one live after Ade! Over his grave let us March!

That was the shout of the Ibadan masses and it was no idle cry, Ibadan became a besieged and enraged city. To avenge his death, twenty people, possibly including those who did not know him in person, were done to death by the irate crowd. Many houses were set on fire. Much property was lost.

When the law recovered from the shock, it recovered by arresting 564 persons. Of these, 102 stood trial for murder, 25 were acquitted and discharged by the lower court, and seventy seven were sent to face the Assizes.

After a volcanic life and a volcanic death, with the souls of twenty men keeping him company, Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu- the colossal egotist, the god and prophet of Ibadan- must still now, if there is an afterlife, be stepping it off to brass band and bugle to keep his rendezvous with the noble and gallant band, composed of all the manic personages who had, with lines of fire, stamped their names on the face of our all-too-sane world.

Adegoke Adelabu was certainly the architect of grass root politics in Ibadan and with him went a certain glamour from Ibadan politics. He was popularly known as “Penkelemensi”, ie peculiar mess, which was his usual refrain when making contributions on the floor of the Western Region House of Assembly.

It is also interesting to note that a number of Ibadan Politicians and elites have benefited tremendously from Adegoke Adelabu’s political legacy.

Chief Mojeed Agbaje, Richard Akinjide, Adeoye Adisa and many others, would forever remember him in glowing tributes.

Akinjide, who qualified as a lawyer on the 4th of March, 1956, came back home to join the grass root politics of Adelabu. Adelabu had found Akinjide’s legal prowess amazing, in the celebrated case of slapping a Customary Court Judge – D.T Akinbiyi (later Olubadan). Akinjide was the younger counsel to Dingle Foot Q.C- the British lawyer, hired by Adelabu for his defense. As a payback, Akinjide was elected into the Federal Parliament at the age of 27, in 1959, with an official emolument of £840 per annual, i.e. £70 a month. He later became a minister in 1965 at the age of 34.

TRIBUTES

Adelabu’s sudden exit ignited a volcanic eruption in Ibadan’s political firmament and a lot of distinguished personalities paid glowing tributes to this stormy petrel.

Chief H.O Davies, a front line Nigerian Nationalist painted this epithet-

“Adelabu’s life in my mind, appears to have been something like a meteor, which shines with conspicuous brilliance for a short period and disappears again into the unknown”

This was further corroborated by his friend and classmate in Government College- -Professor Saburi Biobaku who also commented in his condolence remarks-

“maybe he was one of those rare phenomena who dazzled the world by their brilliancy only to leave behind memories of what might have been”

Anthony Enahoro- a colleague parliamentarian, also said of Alhaji Adelabu as a man- “Who fought for his successes and he never seized to rise above his misfortunes”

His friend and colleague in the Federal Parliament and also prime minister of Nigeria- Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, in his tribute in the Daily Times of 27th March, 1958 said-

“Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu was an intellectual and his capacity was recognized by his opponents” and that … “if anybody died fighting for a cause, it was Adelabu. His death was not only a loss to NCNC, but to all politicians in the country. I am really sad about his death.”

His friend and leader, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe while expressing his regret on the painful exit of Penkelemensi, also said of him-

“A man of conviction and did not disguise his feelings on any particular issue” and that he was- “a man of amazing intelligence, ready wit and uncanning understanding of human nature.”

Chief Remi Fani Kayode, the then Action Group Chief Whip in the Federal House of Representatives also had this eulogy-

“Forget the man’s faults, which of us is faultless? Remember his courage, his dogged will, his ardent belief in the masses, in the common people of our father land and the great faith of his own people on him.”

Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the then Premier of the Western Region, summed it up, when he said-

“Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu was, in his life time, and ever since he entered politics, a fighter first and last, with all the characteristics of a fighter. He was fearless, formidable, forthright, often caustic and uncompromising. In his death, the NCNC had lost a very able, indomitable and extremely resourceful leader and Nigeria, a most colourful, versatile and undoubted nationalist.”

HIS DIARY

Penkelemensi lived a highly organized life. At the beginning of 1955 in his diary, he had calculated his expected earnings and expenditure of the New Year and he wrote –

As federal minister- £3,200
Various allowances to cover entertainment, ministerial house upkeep – £1,700
As chairman of Ibadan Local Council – £1,500
Profit from business ventures- £600.

On another paper, he wrote out his expected expenditure for the New Year

Vehicle maintenance- £900
Social obligations-£600
Food- £480
Drinks-£360
Light- £120
Tax- £60.

The death of Adegoke Adelabu pained the Ibadan folks so much, that when Chief S.L.A Akintola faced similar recriminations and despair, after he was expelled from the Action Group Party, at the National Conference of the Action Group in Jos in February 1962, he was derided by some party members; he had begged the leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Yoruba Traditional Rulers and religious leaders, like Bishop Odutola, Bishop Akinyele, Bishop Jadesinmi and a host of others had waded in, but the rift could not be settled.

When they got back from Jos, Akintola’s supporters went on a mass protest, carrying placards and singing derisive political songs –

“Akintola Ose Pa! Eyin tee pete pero te pa Adelabu, Akintola Osee pa.”

Meaning ”Akintola cannot be killed. Those of you who conspired to kill Adelabu, Akintola cannot be killed”; insinuating that Adelabu’s death on the 25th of March, 1958 was not natural.

The story of the passage of Adegoke Adelabu was equally strange and interesting. Unusually, he woke up his household at about 4:30am, had his morning prayers, had his shave, bath and toiletries, had his usual breakfast of Akamu (pap) and summoned his young children for a meeting.

As recalled by his first daughter, Adedoyin Jagun, who was about 8 years old then; her father, Adegoke Adelabu admonished them early in the morning-

“Elo mu ara yin se giri

Ori lomo ibi ti ese nre”

– “you should all work hard and be up and doing, it is only the head that knows where it is to go with the feet.”

At about 7:00 am, he entered a Peugeot 205 car that belonged to his white friend- a Syrian British national, who had come from Lagos to pick him on a business trip.

He called his aides- Adeleke and Ganiyu and he bid them goodbye. Adegoke Adelabu left no single penny or kobo in his bank account. The two houses he had at Oke Ado, he had sold and kept the money in the bank until later, when he withdrew the money gradually, to cater for the poor of Ibadan. He left his Oke-Oluokun residence as his only property. Adelabu also took loans from the bank to buy the Auxmobile car with Registration Number- IB-121, which he used as a private car.

HIS CHILDREN

After his death, a number of his political aides, supporters and admirers came to the instant aid of his children. The late Aminu Kano helped to train one of Adelabu’s children in secondary school, the Late Vincent Ikeotunonye trained Adedoyin-his daughter, K.O Mbadiwu trained Aderemi, and the NCNC Central Committee trained Adekumbi up till secondary school and the late Rev. Akin Aduwo also gave a scholarship to one of the children.

The late Chief Bola Ige, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alhaji Arisekola Alao and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III and other early admirers of the politics, learning, diction, erudition and brilliance of penkelemesi, had also at one point or the other, assisted the family.

Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, being so enamoured with the life and times of Adegoke Adelabu, would easily, always, regale his audience, at any given opportunity, with memorized verses of Adegoke Adelabu’s memorable quotable quotes.

The glory of Adegoke Adelabu Penkelemensi, will continue to gather legendary coatings as the years go by and as the story of his greatness passes from one generation to another.

Akande Iji Oloye Igbetti, may your soul continue to rest in peace.

Barr. Femi Kehinde, former member House of Representatives for Ayedire/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa Fed. Constituency (1993 – 2003)

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Glo Unveils Festival of Joy Promo, Rewards Customers with Toyota Prado, Kia Cars

Published

12 hours ago

October 4, 2024

Eric

As the year begins to roll towards the festive end, Glo customers are in for a great time as the company on Tuesday unveiled a delightful new season of its Festival of Joy promotion. The promotion is parading Toyota Prado SUVs and other delectable prizes.

The end-of-year promotion, which began on October 1, will run until January 31, 2025, according to a statement released by Globacom in Lagos. The prizes up for grabs by customers include five Toyota Prado SUVs, five Kia Picanto vehicles, 15 tricycles, 150 power generator sets, 200 sewing machines, and 300 grinding machines.

The Glo Festival of Joy offer was packaged in keeping with the company’s pledge to empower Glo customers and make them happy as the holiday season draws near. Globacom explained that all consumer segments, including high net worth individuals (HNIs), professionals, business people, employees, and students, will find the incentives appealing.

The company also disclosed that it has chosen to spend enormous amounts to give its customers life-enriching prizes, at a critical time that other businesses are cutting expenses as a result of the current economic troubles.

Prize-presentation ceremonies will be conducted in various locations around the nation, including Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Benin, Warri, thereby giving Nigerians in all parts of the nation the opportunity to win any of the incredible items up for grabs.

Globacom stated that both new and current customers on the prepaid and postpaid platforms are eligible for the Festival of Joy promotion. “To be eligible for the draw, a customer must simply select the prize they want to win, opt into the promotion by dialing *611#, and recharge up to the required amount for that specific item during the promo period,” the statement read.

To be eligible to be drawn for any of the Prado, a subscriber is required to recharge up to N100,000 cumulatively during the promo period, while the requirement for the Kia Picanto is N50,000 cumulative recharge during the period. For the tricycle, the customer needs to recharge up to N10,000 cumulatively in a month, just as N5,000 total recharge in a month will qualify the customer to win a generator. For the sewing machine, a total recharge of N2,500 in a month is required, while a recharge of N500 in a day will be eligible for the draw for the grinding machines.

“All recharge types – physical and electronic – count towards the qualification. The higher the recharge amount, the higher the chances of winning,” Globacom concluded.

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Glo Celebrates Nigeria on 64th Independence Anniversary

Published

3 days ago

October 1, 2024

Eric

Globacom, digital solutions company, has congratulated Nigerians on the nation’s 64th independence anniversary.

In a statement released to commemorate the occasion, the company lauded Nigerians for their tenacity, industry, passion, patriotism, and enterprising spirit over the years, all of which have helped the nation persevere even in the face of hardship.

Globacom praised Nigerians who have consistently elevated the nation’s standing in a variety of endeavour and exhorted every Nigerians to adopt a mindset of excellence, dedication, diligence, and alertness to help the nation soar.

“Our people remain the country’s greatest assets,” Globacom noted and added that “there is a remarkable Nigerian making waves around the world in every field of human endeavor”.

It urged the youth, who comprise the majority of the population, to avoid vices and actions that can tarnish Nigeria’s reputation.

It reiterated its commitment to empowering its customers and advancing Nigeria’s development via the ongoing provision of top-notch telecommunications products and services at the most affordable costs

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Full Text of President Tinubu’s 64th Independence Day Speech

Published

4 days ago

October 1, 2024

Eric

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, addressed the nation during the celebration of Nigeria’s 64th Independence anniversary celebration, declaring that his reforms are yielding results.

He also announced the intention of the Federal government to include the Nigerian youths in his administration, by introducing a 30-day national youth conference.

Below is the full text of the broadcast

TEXT OF NATIONAL BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU ON THE 64TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA OCTOBER 1, 2024

Fellow Nigerians, as I address you today, I am deeply aware of the struggles many of you face in these challenging times. Our administration knows that many of you struggle with rising living costs and the search for meaningful employment. I want to assure you that your voices are heard.

As your President, I assure you that we are committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the suffering of our citizens. Once again, I plead for your patience as the reforms we are implementing show positive signs, and we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Exactly 64 years ago, our founding fathers chose democracy as a form of government and launched the dream of a great country that would lead the rest of Africa out of poverty, ignorance, and underdevelopment, a beacon of hope to the rest of Africa and the world.

Over six decades later, we can look back, and Nigerians worldwide can see how well we have succeeded in realising the lofty dreams of our founding fathers.

The world is witnessing and benefiting from the can-do spirit of the Nigerian people, our massive intellectual capacity, and our enterprise and industry in all vocations, from arts to science, technology to infrastructure. The dreams that our founding fathers envisaged are still a work in progress. Every day, we put our hands on the plough, determined to do a better job of it.

While it is tempting to focus on what has been left undone and where we have stumbled as a nation, we must never lose sight of how far we have come in forging and holding our country together.

Since independence, our nation has survived many crises and upheavals that led to the dissolution and disintegration of many other nations worldwide. Six years after independence, our country descended into a political crisis that led to a bitter and avoidable civil war. Since returning from the brink of that darkest moment, we have learned to embrace our diversity and manage our differences better as we continue to work towards engendering a more perfect union.

Despite the many challenges that buffeted our country, we remain a strong, united, and viable sovereign nation.

Dear compatriots, our independence anniversary gives us another chance to reflect on how far we have gone in our journey to nation-building and to renew our commitment to building a better nation that will serve present and future generations of Nigerians.

While we celebrate the progress we have made as a people in the last sixty-four years, we must also recognise some of our missed opportunities and mistakes of the past. If we are to become one of the greatest nations on earth, as God has destined us to be, our mistakes must not be allowed to follow us into the future.

My administration took over the leadership of our country 16 months ago at a critical juncture. The economy faced many headwinds, and our physical security was highly impaired. We found ourselves at a dizzying crossroads, where we must choose between two paths: reform for progress and prosperity or carry on business-as-usual and collapse. We decided to reform our political economy and defence architecture.

On the security front, I am happy to announce to you, my compatriots, that our administration is winning the war on terror and banditry. Our target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism. Within one year, our government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever. As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country.

We have restored peace to hundreds of communities in the North, and thousands of our people have been able to return home. It is an unfinished business, which our security agencies are committed to ending as quickly as possible. As soon as we can restore peace to many communities in the troubled parts of the North, our farmers can return to their farms. We expect to see a leap in food production and a downward spiral in food costs. I promise you, we shall not falter on this.

Our government has been responding to the recent natural disasters, particularly the flooding in parts of the country. After Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Maiduguri, I also visited to assure our people that this federal government will always stand with our people in their times of trouble. At the last meeting of the Federal Executive Council, we approved a Disaster Relief Fund to mobilise private and public sector funds to help us respond faster to emergencies.

Our government has also ordered integrity tests of all our dams in the country to avert future disasters.

The economy is undergoing the necessary reforms and retooling to serve us better and more sustainably. If we do not correct the fiscal misalignments that led to the current economic downturn, our country will face an uncertain future and the peril of unimaginable consequences.

Thanks to the reforms, our country attracted foreign direct investments worth more than $30 billion in the last year.

Fellow compatriots, our administration is committed to free enterprise, free entry, and free exit in investments while maintaining the sanctity and efficacy of our regulatory processes. This principle guides the divestment transactions in our upstream petroleum sector, where we are committed to changing the fortune positively. As such, the ExxonMobil Seplat divestment will receive ministerial approval in a matter of days, having been concluded by the regulator, NUPRC, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. This was done in the same manner as other qualified divestments approved in the sector.

The move will create vibrancy and increase oil and gas production, positively impacting our economy.

The more disciplined approach adopted by the Central Bank to monetary policy management has ensured stability and predictability in our foreign exchange market. We inherited a reserve of over $33 billion 16 months ago. Since then, we have paid back the inherited forex backlog of $7 billion. We have cleared the ways and means debt of over N30 trillion. We have reduced the debt service ratio from 97 per cent to 68 per cent. Despite all these, we have managed to keep our foreign reserve at $37 billion. We continue to meet all our obligations and pay our bills.

We are moving ahead with our fiscal policy reforms. To stimulate our productive capacity and create more jobs and prosperity, the Federal Executive Council approved the Economic Stabilisation Bills, which will now be transmitted to the National Assembly. These transformative bills will make our business environment more friendly, stimulate investment and reduce the tax burden on businesses and workers once they are passed into law.

As part of our efforts to re-engineer our political economy, we are resolute in our determination to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the financial autonomy of local governments.

The central concern of our people today is the high cost of living, especially food costs. This concern is shared by many around the globe as prices and the cost of living continue to rise worldwide.

My fellow Nigerians, be assured that we are implementing many measures to reduce the cost of living here at home.

I commend the Governors particularly, in Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Kwara, Nasarawa, and the Southwest Governors that have embraced our agricultural production programme. I urge other states to join the Federal Government in investing in mechanised farming. We are playing our part by supplying fertilizer and making tractors and other farm equipment available. Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved establishing a local assembly plant for 2000 John Deere tractors, combine harvesters, disc riders, bottom ploughs and other farm equipment. The plant has a completion time of six months.

Our energy transition programme is on course. We are expanding the adoption of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for mass transit with private sector players. The Federal Government is ready to assist the thirty-six States and FCT in acquiring CNG buses for cheaper public transportation.

Fellow Nigerians, while we are working to stabilise the economy and secure the country, we also seek to foster national unity and build social harmony and cohesion. Our economy can only thrive when there is peace.

As we work to overcome the challenges of the day, we remain mindful of the next generation as we seek to galvanize their creative energy towards a better future. We lead today with the future we wish to bequeath to our children in focus, recognizing that we cannot design a future that belongs to them without making them its architects.

Considering this, I am pleased to announce the gathering of a National Youth Conference. This conference will be a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting our young people, who constitute more than 60 per cent of our population. It will provoke meaningful dialogue and empower our young people to participate actively in nation-building. By ensuring that their voices are heard in shaping the policies that impact their lives, we are creating a pathway for a brighter tomorrow.

The 30-day Confab will unite young people nationwide to collaboratively develop solutions to issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice. The modalities of this Confab and selection of delegates will be designed in close consultation with our young people through their representatives. Through this confab, it will be our job as leaders to ensure that their aspirations are at the heart of the conference’s deliberations. The government will thoroughly consider and implement the recommendations and outcomes from this forum as we remain resolute in our mission to build a more inclusive, prosperous, and united Nigeria.

Our government is implementing several other youth-centric programmes to give our young people an advantage in the rapidly changing world. We are implementing, amongst others, the 3 million Technical Talents programme (3MTT) of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone.

We have also enthusiastically implemented the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides cheap loans to our students to pursue their tertiary educational dreams. In addition, later this month, we shall launch The Renewed Hope Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP). It is conceived as a comprehensive suite of interventions at job creation by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment that is aimed at facilitating the creation of 2.5 million jobs, directly and indirectly, on an annual incremental basis whilst simultaneously ensuring the welfare and safety of workers across the country.

As is the tradition, the government will soon announce all the beneficiaries of our national honours for 2024.

The Senate President and the Chief Justice of the Federation have been conferred with the honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). The deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives have the honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), while the deputy speaker of the House has been awarded Commander of the Order of Niger (CON).

Fellow Nigerians, better days are ahead of us. The challenges of the moment must always make us believe in ourselves. We are Nigerians—resilient and tenacious. We always prevail and rise above our circumstances.

I urge you to believe in our nation’s promise. The road ahead may be challenging, but we will forge a path toward a brighter future with your support. Together, we will cultivate a Nigeria that reflects the aspirations of all its citizens, a nation that resonates with pride, dignity, and shared success.

As agents of change, we can shape our destiny and build a brighter future by ourselves, for ourselves and for future generations.

Please join our administration in this journey towards a brighter future. Let us work together to build a greater Nigeria where every citizen can access opportunities and every child can grow up with hope and promise.

May God continue to bless our nation and keep members of our Armed Forces safe.

Happy Independence anniversary, my fellow Nigerians!

-President Bola Ahmed Tinubu