Hypocrisy Personified - Obasanjo says criminals, drug addicts and kidnappers, becoming traditional rulers

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lamented the selection processes of traditional rulers in the country, saying that criminals, drug addicts, vagabonds, bandits, and kidnappers have infiltrated royal institutions.

The former president said the rapid proliferation of traditional rulers, many of whom lack the required training and moral standing, has led to the deterioration of traditional institutions in the country.

Obasanjo, who stated this in one of his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, which was unveiled last week, bemoaned the abandonment of the traditional training and apprenticeship system that once upheld the dignity of royal offices, stressing that this neglect has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s socio-political challenges.

He said, “Today, there are criminals, drug addicts, vagabonds, bandits and kidnappers as so-called traditional rulers.”

He noted that instead of being custodians of culture and justice, some traditional rulers have engaged in disgraceful acts that further damage the country’s fragile system.

He cited the example of a monarch involved in electoral malpractice.

“This is a great pity, and it has greatly contributed to the problems of Nigeria by traditional rulers. How do we account for a traditional ruler snatching a ballot box at an election polling station and running away with it?” he queried.

Obasanjo reflected on the past, when traditional rulers commanded honor and respect, particularly during the colonial and early post-independence periods, saying that such standards have now been lost.

“The class of traditional rulers with their distinction, honour and dignity, as we knew them in the colonial days and early post-independence days, has been diluted and polluted.”

While calling for urgent reforms, the former president stressed the need to restore traditional leadership’s lost dignity and value in Nigeria.

He argued that traditional rulers should serve as key contributors to national development instead of being a burden.

“That dignity, aura and respect should be brought back and traditional rulers should be an asset to Nigeria’s development and greatness and not a liability,” he declared.

Obasanjo further emphasized the need for moral rejuvenation among traditional rulers, particularly those with deep historical significance.

He insisted that if properly repositioned, they could be crucial in achieving Nigeria’s long-term aspirations.

“There is a need for moral re-armament among the traditional rulers — the ancient and historic ones. And they can and should make meaningful contributions to the Nigeria of our dreams that will serve the purpose and interest of all.”

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FIFA Council election: How Pinnick was schemed out

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By Jacob Ajom

At the 14th Confederation of African Football(CAF) Extraordinary General Assembly held on Wednesday in Cairo, Egypt, former President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick failed in his bid to be re-elected into the FIFA council. Pinnick garnered 28 votes—just one vote short of Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Djibouti’s Souleiman Waberi, who secured the final two available slots.

Sports Vanguard gathered that the Nigerian candidate was coasting home as there were indications that he was the clear favorite until the eve of the election when a major conspiracy was hatched by his opponents.

Pinnick, we further gathered, was the favourite candidate of both CAF and FIFA Presidents Patrice Mosepe and Gianni Infantino respectively. His closeness to the two powerful figures in world football, his charisma and influence were perceived as major threats by the other contestants, most of whom are still serving FA Presidents of their various countries.

Our source put it more succinctly: “It was the power of incumbency against the helplessness of one being out of office that came to play in Cairo. Just like in Nigeria, where State FA Chairmen wield the big stick when it comes to NFF elections, in Cairo, the FA Presidents hold the ace.

“The other candidates who are FA chairmen and Presidents felt that since Pinnick was no longer President of Nigeria’s federation he could be sacrificed. They ganged up against him when they were deciding on who should be favoured” our source who was in Cairo said.

“Remember, most of them are serving FA Presidents in their respective countries and they felt that since Pinnick was no longer the head of his country’s football federation he could be dispensed with without much harm to their own political fortunes.”

He added, “Untill then, he was ahead with at about 40 votes. But overnight, everything changed and the battle assumed a new direction.”

Coming from an English-speaking country did not help his case one bit.

Our source said, “Pinnick fought a good fight.I’m surprised he got up to 28 votes. When the conspiracy plan was hatched, no one gave him any chance of getting even four votes. To have battled all the odds and got 28 votes overnight, he fought a good fight.”

A battle-weary Pinnick himself alluded to that when he said after the results were announced. “Football politics is fierce, but I am proud to have fought a good fight. I campaigned hard; travelled to more than 30 countries. Hours before the election, I was sure of close to 40 votes. But politics happened. I am not bitter about anything, just full of gratitude to everyone who supported my push.”

Pinnick made history as the third Nigerian to be elected into the FIFA Council, following Oyo Orok Oyo and Amos Adamu. He first secured his seat in March 2021 during the 43rd CAF Ordinary General Assembly in Rabat, Morocco.

Prior to his FIFA role, Pinnick served as the president of the NFF for two consecutive terms, from 2014 to 2022, before being succeeded by Ibrahim Gusau.

VANGUARD

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CREDITS: HIOLI

Judge blocks Trump from deporting non-citizens using wartime law

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A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from using a wartime law to deport migrants accused of links to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

US District Judge James Boasberg also ordered any planes carrying those migrants to return to the US.

Earlier Saturday, the Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which allows deportation of undocumented immigrants during war or foreign threats.

Boasberg blocked the removal of five individuals challenging the move, later expanding the ruling to cover all affected noncitizens in US custody.

“Particularly given the plaintiffs’ information, unrebutted by the government, that flights are actively departing and planning to depart, I do not believe that I’m able to wait any longer,” Boasberg said. “Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned to the United States.”

The temporary restraining order will last 14 days or until further court action.

“I think there’s clearly irreparable harm here given these folks will be deported,” Boasberg added. “A brief delay in their removal does not cause the government any harm.”

The Justice Department has appealed the ruling.

A White House proclamation cited Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organisation, stating its members have “unlawfully infiltrated the United States and are conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions.”

The Alien Enemies Act has been used three times in US history, all during war, including World War II, when it contributed to Japanese internment, according to the Brennan Center.

The ACLU, arguing against its use, said the gang’s actions do not meet the legal definition of an invasion.

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It’s not for Russia to decide on peacekeepers in Ukraine – French President Macron

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By Matthew Atungwu

French President Emmanuel Macron said the stationing of peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, as proposed by Britain and France as part of a ceasefire agreement with Russia, is a question for Kyiv to decide and not Moscow.

Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have reportedly been rushing to consolidate military support for Ukraine as US President Donald Trump presses for a peace deal with Russia.

It could be recalled that Starmer hosted a virtual meeting on Saturday with Macron and other non-US allies of Ukraine.

“Ukraine is sovereign. If it asks for allied forces to be on its territory, it’s not something for Russia to accept or not,” Macron said.

Russia has repeatedly rejected the idea of soldiers from countries belonging to the NATO alliance being stationed in Ukraine.

According to Macron, any peacekeeping force would consist of a few thousand troops per country to be deployed at key locations, adding a number of European and non-European countries were interested in participating.

However, like other aspects of a potential truce, the form of any peacekeeping force remains uncertain.

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb has said that that any firm commitments would come once there was a clear plan.

“There are anywhere from zero to 50 different ways they can help, boots on the ground is only one way. You can talk about intelligence, you can talk about different types of things but it’s too early to commit right now,” he said.

Britain and France both stated that they could send peacekeepers to Ukraine, while Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his country was also open to requests.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he supported in principle Washington’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine but that his forces would fight on until several crucial conditions were worked out.

DAILY POST

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The Ivy League - The Shift From Traditional Conservative Values To Populist Megalomania Laced With Tyranny

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By Boyejo A. Coker, Editor-in-Chief 

The recent shift in the leadership cadre produced by Ivy League schools, may reflect broader societal, political, and cultural changes, that have evolved, over time. Historically, institutions like Yale, Harvard, and others have educated individuals who went on to hold significant political power and influence. Examples of these include the likes of George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Nelson Rockefeller, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. Now, while these men do represent a wide range of political ideologies and eras, they are often associated with a more traditional, establishment-oriented approach to governance.

In contrast, more recent figures like Ron DeSantis, Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, and J.D. Vance are often seen as part of a newer wave of politicians who align with more populist, Neo-conservative, nationalistic, or disruptive political movements. This shift can be attributed to several factors:

1. Changing Political Landscape: Over the past few decades, the political landscape in the United States has become increasingly polarized and acerbically divisive. This polarization has influenced the types of leaders who have risen to prominence, with some appealing to more extreme or partisan bases.

2. Cultural Shifts: The cultural values and priorities of younger generations have evolved, and this is reflected in the types of leaders they support. Issues like identity politics, economic inequality, and climate change have become more central to political discourse, influencing the rise of certain political figures. This has seemed to engender an increasingly polarized political discourse, with little or no room for compromise. 

3. Media and Technology: The rise of social media and 24-hour news cycles has changed how politicians communicate and gain support. Consequently, some of the newer politicians have effectively used these platforms to build their profiles and connect with specific constituencies.

4. Institutional Changes: The Ivy League schools themselves have also evolved. While they continue to produce leaders across the political spectrum, the values and priorities of these institutions and their student bodies, have obviously shifted over time. This has definitely had a huge influence on the types of leaders they produce. 

5. Criticism of Elitism: There has been a growing backlash against perceived elitism and the establishment, particularly in conservative circles. The likes of DeSantis and Vance, have thus positioned themselves as outsiders or critics of the traditional elite, even though they themselves are products of elite institutions.

It's important to note that the impact of these leaders on democracy is both far-reaching and consequential. While supporters of figures like DeSantis, Hawley, and Cruz might argue that they are defending traditional values - challenging overreach by the federal government, or representing the interests of their constituents, critics will point to how their actions and rhetoric do in fact contribute to the erosion of democratic principles, norms and institutions.

Ultimately, while the evolution of leadership from Ivy League schools does reflect broader trends in American society and politics, the jury on the impact of these new generation of leaders, is still out. 

On initial evidence, it does not seem to augur well for the future of the American democratic experiment.