Still on Constitutionalism: A wake-up call

Late Nigerian Dictator Sani Abacha

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By Abdulrazaq Magaji

Over the past several months, the restructuring debate has understandably been pushed to the front burner with opinions on the issue being as impassioned as they are divided. Expectedly, every Nigerian appears to have an idea on how, when and what to restructure.

That is the way it should be! But, with popular opinion in support of preserving the continued existence of Nigeria as one, united country, attention should be focused on restructuring to strengthen political structures. It is good that the ninth Senate has activated a nationwide debate on securing a people-oriented constitution.

It might not have been top on the agenda when then Head of State, General Sani Abacha, convoked the National Constitutional Conference in 1994, but, little did he know that he had surreptitiously set the country on the path of restructuring.  Had death not abridged General Abacha’s plans, it is safe to say that all the hot air over marginalization, more imagined than real, and some of the ills we are grappling with, would have been consigned to history.

Reference here is to stillborn report of the 1994/95 National Constitutional Conference. A review of salient provisions of the report shows that, had it seen the light of day, Nigeria would have transformed from a country of contending ethnic nationalities into a modern nation-state in a matter of thirty years! In a manner of speaking, the Abacha draft is the best effort at constitutionalism since independence in 1960.

Sadly, General Abacha died suddenly after holding the country together for five impossible years. Imperatively, survival instincts demanded that General Abacha be disowned by those who succeeded him. The national emergency then was to heal wounds and woo the aggrieved South-west geo-political zone back into the fold. It was, therefore, expedient for his stopgap successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, to distance himself as much as possible. The biggest casualty was the report of Confab ’94.

One of the committees hurriedly assembled by the new administration to explore the way forward was led by an eminent jurist, late Justice Niki Tobi. The Committee appeared to be in a haste to deliver; after all, it had its briefs well spelt out. The Committee took one hasty look at the Abacha Report and dismissed it offhanded as ‘anti-people’. Remarkably, the eminent jurist rationalized the decision to throw away the Abacha document by claiming it was the ‘product of a disputed legitimacy’. In its place, the 1979 constitution was lazily window-dressed and closed shop!

As things stand today, Nigeria continues to grope partly due to the lethargy with which the Abacha document was handled. The nation’s official six geo-political zones remains an enduring legacy of General Abacha. In any case, the zones were meant to be the building blocks for the fundamental changes envisaged by the 1995 draft constitution which made provision for the offices of president, vice president, senate president, house speaker as well as the position of prime minister and deputy prime minister. A five-year single-term for political offices. Public office holders were restricted to a five-year single-term tenure.

The ‘Abacha document’ had something for everybody. Had political exigencies not prevailed on General Abubakar into literally throwing away the baby with the bathwater, Nigeria would, by now, have experimented with the Abacha formula for twenty-two   of the ‘thirty-year transition period’ which aim was to ‘promote national cohesion and integration’, after which merit and competence would replace rotation in determining who gets what.

In strict adherence to the principle of rotation envisaged by the Abacha document, at no point in time would any of the six geo-political zones have cause to complain of marginalization since there was always going to be one ‘juicy’ office to be vied for by each of the zones every five years. What this means is that, in 2018, the fifth of the six zones would have produced a president for the country and, by 2023, all six key political offices would have gone round the six geopolitical zones on rotational basis.

Of equal importance is that the unique provision eliminates the incumbency factor and its attendant abuses. Since the draft envisaged its replication at state levels, the president and other principal officers as well as state governors and stand disqualified from standing election for the same office during their five-year single term incumbency!

More than two decades after ‘throwing away the baby with the bath water’, Nigerians are still playing the ostrich instead of sobering up and still living in denial.  overgrowing the prejudices of the Abacha era. As a matter of fact, the Abacha document was so comprehensive to have anticipated the untenable and wrong-headed agitations across the country and the hollow talk of marginalization that comes with it. Now, can and, should Nigerians continue to play the ostrich and allow lawlessness to dominate the political scene? Are we to allow a rambunctious few to continue to stampede us and dominate national discourse in the face of quick-fix solutions?

Of course, the talk of dissolving Nigeria is hot air that lacks substance. Yes, there is need to restructure and this should not be mistaken for a breakup as some have been programmed to believe. We need to restructure in a way every section of the country will, at all times, be appropriately represented in governance. The ‘Abacha document’ took care of these and more. The document suggested a five-year single-term for elective posts. To restructure in a way that lawmaking will be inexpensive and effective, the draft made provision for part-time lawmaking!

Of course, Nigeria should restructure in a way that treasury looters will not get dubious clean bills from regular courts or be shielded from prosecution. It may interest Nigerians and their elected representatives that there is no proclamation for the much-abused immunity clause for any public office holder in the Abacha draft for the president and vice president as well as governors and their deputies. The pestiferous eighth Assembly that canvassed for a dubious immunity for its principal officers was not expected to look at the document; it didn’t!

Nigerians should give the thumbs-up to the leadership of the current Senate for taking the bull by the horn. To achieve desired results, Nigerians must begin to look beyond General Abacha and ditch the prejudices that characterized his days. The task ahead may seem insuperable but it is not invincible. 

The task will be made easier if we tinker with report of Confab ’95. 

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The Best Rendition of Nigeria’s True National Anthem

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Fulani militias kill more than Boko Haram – Expert

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By Kareem Azeez

Fulani militias have emerged as Nigeria’s deadliest non-state armed group, eclipsing Boko Haram and ISWAP in civilian deaths, yet remain largely overlooked by global terrorism monitors, a security expert has warned.

This is according to security expert Steven Kefas who cited preliminary data from the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA) showing that between October 2019 and September 2024, Fulani Ethnic Militias (FEM) were responsible for 47 per cent of all civilian killings in Nigeria — more than five times the combined death toll of Nigeria’s jihadist groups.

ORFA’s figures are stark: 36,056 civilians killed, 13,437 incidents of extreme violence, and over 29,180 abducted with kidnappings rising from 1,665 in 2020 to 7,648 in 2024 . Up to 3.4 million people have also been internally displaced, mostly from Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

Yet despite the rising toll, Fulani militias have vanished from international terror rankings like those published by the Global Terrorism Index (GTI). According to Kefas, their violence is mis-categorised as communal or ethnic conflict, making it invisible to international security frameworks and humanitarian aid.

Their methodical, low-profile campaigns where 79 per cent of attacks are land-based raids on farming settlements focus on abduction, killings, sexual violence, and arson. Recent atrocities include the June 13–14 Yelwata massacre in Benue State, where more than 150 mostly women and children were reportedly slaughtered, and the Agatu killings in early 2016, which claimed up to 500 lives .

“In Agatu in 2016 and again in Yelwata in 2025, these militias targeted farming communities in their sleep,” Kefas said. “This isn’t random violence; it’s systematic ethnic cleansing aimed at reshaping demographic landscapes.”

He criticises the GTI’s narrow focus on spectacular jihadist violence, which overlooks slow-motion genocide by groups like FEM. This mislabelling has real-world consequences, Kefas warned, diverting international aid and counter-terrorism assistance away from some of the most afflicted regions .

Beyond civilian deaths, the destruction undercuts national food security. As Christian farming communities are emptied, local agricultural production suffers, deepening economic distress across the region.

Kefas urged security analysts and global institutions to expand their definitions of terrorism to include systematic cartel-style militia violence. “These are fathers, mothers, children whose lives were cut short while the world’s gaze remained elsewhere,” he said. “Without recognition as terrorism, there’s little hope for resources, accountability or justice.”

International attention, Kefas concluded, must shift, terrorism is not only the flash of a bomb, but the silent erasure of entire communities.

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National Disgrace - How former dictator and Fulani irredentist Muhammadu Buhari died in a £4000 a day private clinic in London

Late Buhari and his cows

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By Staff

The London Clinic, following the death of Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, has come under public scrutiny over its reputation as one of the United Kingdom’s most exclusive private hospitals.

Buhari passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the Harley Street-based hospital after reportedly suffering a relapse just hours before his anticipated discharge.

According to Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura, the former President was in high spirits on the eve of his death and was being prepared for discharge when his health suddenly deteriorated.

“I left him about 9 pm on Saturday in high spirits and promised to see him on Sunday afternoon. He was looking forward to his doctor’s visit on Sunday morning. But around midday, he started having breathing challenges and doctors rushed to his side to try and manage it. But unfortunately, around 4.30 pm, he gave up the ghost,” Daura stated..

Although the exact cause of death was not made public, Buhari had a history of recurring health issues. His former spokesperson, Garba Shehu, announced the death on Sunday.

“The family of the former president has announced the passing of the former President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London. May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus,” Shehu said.

Details About The Hospital Where Buhari Died

Founded in 1932, The London Clinic has long been recognised as a haven for global elites seeking world-class medical care. It is situated in London’s medical district on Harley Street and has served members of the British royal family, world leaders, and affluent patients from around the globe.

The facility is best known for its expertise in cancer care, digestive health, orthopaedics, robotic surgery, and intensive care.

Its 2021 financial report revealed that the hospital sees over 120,000 patients annually and operates with more than 900 surgeons and physicians. The hospital houses 13 intensive care beds, 10 operating theatres, five Macmillan Cancer Support Centres, and offers advanced robotic surgical technology including the da Vinci Xi and Excelsius GPS systems.

The hospital’s reputation for excellence comes at a significant financial cost. UK-based Nigerian doctors familiar with the clinic revealed that consultations range from £100 to £750, CT scans cost around £500, and major surgeries start at £10,000 and can reach £13,000, depending on their complexity.

Accommodation charges are equally steep. A standard room costs between £1,000 and £1,800 per night, while luxury or VIP rooms range from £1,800 to £2,500 per night. Admission to the Intensive Care Unit can cost up to £3,500 per night.

A 2023 study by the National Institutes of Health estimated that general ward bed spaces at the hospital cost an average of £586.59 per day, excluding other potential charges tied to individual treatment plans.

Speaking to reporters, a UK-based Nigerian doctor familiar with the hospital’s operations, described it as one with advanced facilities, a high-profile clientele, and world-class medical expertise.

According to him, patients pay between £100 and £750 for consultations, depending on the complexity of their case.

The Nigerian doctor, who stated that he knew two fellow Nigerian doctors who had once worked at the hospital, mentioned that a Computed Tomography scan (CT Scan) at the hospital costs approximately £500, while major surgeries range from £10,000 to £13,000.

He said, “In terms of accommodation, the pricing structure is also tiered. A standard room goes for £1,000 to £1,800 per night. Luxury/VIP room is between £1,800 to £2,500 per night; while the Intensive Care Unit admission costs about £3,000 to £3,500 per night.

“The clinic is known for its advanced equipment, specialist services, and highly qualified professionals. It’s a facility designed for complex and high-risk cases.”

The doctor said the two respected Nigerian specialists who used to work at the hospital were an orthopedic surgeon and a respiratory consultant.

According to the female doctor, the clinic primarily caters to the super-rich, noting that patients are charged thousands of pounds daily for specialised services, particularly in intensive care and private suites, where discretion, luxury, and top-tier medical attention are guaranteed.

“It is the best and largest private clinic in the United Kingdom. It deals with surgery, robotic surgery, ENT surgery, plastic surgery, and the best in specialised services,” she said.

She added that the hospital is equipped with advanced da Vinci Xi, ExcelsiusGPS, and NAVIO robotic surgical technology, a 3 T Siemens MRI, multiple CT scanners, a PET-CT, ultrasound, digital mammography, and other cutting-edge diagnostic systems.

In terms of staffing and expertise, the doctor said, “The clinic boasts an impressive roster of professionals with renowned specialist consultants, many of whom are Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons and hold additional high-level certifications.”

However, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health, the cost of a bed space at the general ward is around £586.59 per bed day.

“These costs may not include other potential fees or charges associated with your specific treatment plan,” the report noted.

According to the hospital’s website, its ICU boasts a Standard Mortality Rate of 0.7, one of the best in the UK, and has consistently maintained low death rates.

The hospital wrote, “Our Standard Mortality Rate averages around 0.7, which the Critical Care Peer Review states ‘would put the unit in the top 10% of the country’ and has consistently maintained low death rates, all of which are reviewed at Mortality and Morbidity Meetings within the clinic.

“Patient Experience feedback continues to demonstrate 95-100% satisfaction with their treatment across the MDT with numerous comments and compliments mentioning excellence in staff attitude, caring, compassionate, along with recognition of speciality surgical support and rehabilitation.”

Laura Ingraham: An epitome of hypocrisy and a walking contradiction of privileged ignorance

Laura Ingraham

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By Deji Fashola (Contributing Editor)

One of the most consistent things in life is time. Time never fails to tell the story. The story of the day, the story of your life and the events that have shaped that very life; but even more importantly, time never fails to remind us of our past, with historical and poignant markers that speak to how our past actions ultimately determine where and who we are, or will become.

For Laura Ingraham, a talk show host of Fox News and someone whom I had never heard of until she name dropped basketball superstar, Lebron James, a few years ago by telling him to shut up and dribble, time has essentially encapsulated the very essence of her being, as it relates to her place in the evolving but contentious conversation about Americas contract with people of African descent, in particular.

I am not a consumer of American news as a matter of principle, be it CNN, Fox, MSNBC or any other alphabet news organization, but one thing I will say having had a glimpse of Fox news in particular, is that the latter (Fox news) is the most brazen attempt at instituting State-run TV in a country that is supposed to be the very epitome of democracy.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1268551040074383361

Time and time again, we are inundated with the Republican mantra that seemingly serves to eschew the tenets and principles of so-called conservative values. But, what exactly do these values entail. 

According to Laura Ingraham et al, conservative values seek to:

a) Preserve the sanctity of life pre-birth but seemingly abuse and devalue it after birth, especially if the life in question is of the wrong hue.

b) Promote avaricious greed that encourages limitless profit by a very limited few to the detriment of the overwhelming majority.

c) Encourage and promote governmental interference in the lives of others with the exception of those who profess a divine following of a God, whose commandments and ordinances they (the so-called conservatives) never abide by, but project and force on others who merely seek to live and let live.

d) Bully, vilify, slander, defame, abuse and in some cases, seek to intimidate with threats of violence those they disagree with, including defying constituted authority even though the latter's conduct and ordinances are within the framework of the laws and statutes of the land.

A perfect example of this vilification is the Republican messaging of referring to those who ask why the wealthiest nation on earth has more than half of its population without basic healthcare, as socialists.

These same conservatives (Republicans) have no problems though with the government giving away billions of dollars in corporate welfare to big corporations, deemed too big to fail. To them, the average American is too irrelevant and too small to succeed or be cared for, so long as Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Tom "call in the troops" Cotton, Josh "inordinate ambition" Hawley and the always opportunistic Rafael Ted Cruz line their pockets and those of their corporate benefactors.

e) Extol the virtues of democracy and civility when in the majority or win elections but then turn the same institution on its head, refusing to concede when you lose, and then seek to undermine and subvert the will of the people by judicial fiat. And when the latter fails, incite a violent insurrection against the duly elected leadership of the country, namely the Vice President and Congress, a co-equal branch of government, by a sitting President of the United States of America.

The four years of the Trump misrule of incompetence, laced with brazen nepotism, cronyism and racism, as well as unbridled corruption, was undoubtedly egged on by State TV (Fox News), with Sean Hannity (the former construction worker and high school dropout) and Laura Ingraham as the unofficial spokespersons of the Trump-led civilian junta. 

It remains to be seen if the resulting socio-political scars remain embedded in the mental and institutional psyche of the nation, for decades or even generations to come.

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Afenifere chieftain, Opadokun identifies those sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria

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By Correspondent

Former Secretary-General of Afenifere, Ayo Opadokun, has said that those who do not want the current government to succeed are responsible for the lingering insecurity.

He said there was a deliberate plan by destructive elements to tear the country apart, insisting that terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminalities going on across the country, especially in the north, is not by accident.

The chieftain of NADECO stated this on Sunday in Offa, Kwara State shortly after his installation as Grand Patron of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the local government chapter.

He claimed that the terrorists have their sponsors from individuals of diverse interests determined to destabilise the country.

“Some Nigerians, including agents who want to destabilise Nigeria and those who do not want this government, took far-reaching decisions long ago,” he said.

“The current situation is not accidental. It is planned,” he stressed.

He said the Federal Government must erase every doubt in its fight against terrorism and intensify efforts to chase the insurgents out of Nigeria’s territory and prosecute their sponsors.

American needs to refocus on education.....

By The Editor-in-Chief

Like most watchers of the current political climate, we have all become accustomed to the usual spin, each political cycle, about how the creation of jobs is central to the growth of the economy.

Who would disagree with such an assertion you might ask, but then when you begin to think the whole thing through, you come to the realization it is not as simple as just creating jobs.

The truth most politicians like to avoid is that there are in fact jobs out there. The problem though is that this country continues to lack the Intellectual Capital needed to meet the growing capacity needs of these mostly technical and medical opportunities.

That a country of the magnitude and influence of the United States has to import medical practitioners (doctors and nurses) and technology professionals, speaks volumes of the apparent dearth in the country's key Intellectual Capital base.

The fact remains that America needs to refocus its attention on education and ensure that children are steered towards professions and occupations, that will allow the US maintain its competitive edge, while retaining its leadership position in the world.

When you have a society where "American Idol" is the top rated program on television, that pretty much sums up where the country's focus is.

That athletes and entertainers remain not just the top earners in the American society, but also shape the cultural and moral tenor of the nation, is quite disturbing.

Most of the revered athletes and entertainers lack the moral compass to shape the direction of their own homes, much less society at large.

It is incumbent upon our political, social and other leaders to help this nation have the right conversations we need to have. America must return back to the basics and stress the importance of education at all levels.

Government does not and will never create jobs. The former can however be a catalyst in helping to create the right environment that would engender a spirit of excellence, through education and innovation.

The journey begins now and our leaders must have the courage to tell the American people the truth.... improve yourself if you want to live a better life!