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Before Tinubu metamorphoses into another Donald Trump…

Published

11 months ago

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Tinubu

Bola BOLAWOLE

President Bola Tinubu threatens Executive Orders against governors resisting Supreme Court judgment on local government financial autonomy

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has threatened to resort to the use of “Executive Orders”, made so notorious by the United States President Donald Trump, to beat our governors into line if they continue to resist the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to the country’s 774 local governments.

Also read: Atiku blackmails Tinubu over Dapo Abiodun, others refusal to pay LG allocations directly

Tinubu spoke at a function of his party, APC, whose official leader he is. As of 21 December, 2025, there are 28 APC governors, four PDP governors, and one each for Accord, APGA, Labour, and NNPP. What this means is that the majority of the governors disobeying the Supreme Court order belongs to the president’s party.

What strong reasons do they have? Twenty-eight APC governors cannot be so flippant or patently unruly as to stand against not just their own party leader, but one who is also the president and commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces!

How many states, if I may ask, are implementing the Supreme Court judgment? And why is this so? The president, coming out openly to chide his party’s leaders in the states – which the governors are – is replete with meanings which, I dare to say, are ominous.

Tinubu spoken to the governors in camera before coming into the open to pillory them? Will this not have consequences for the president, the governors, and their party going forward? Already, the president’s action is reverberating and troubling the country’s political waters. The opposition cannot but take note!

It does appear as if all is not at ease within the ruling party, despite the facade of invincibility being built with the gale of defection into the party.

Those who say that defection brings its own internal contradictions may be right afterall. Strange bed-fellows and political opportunists simply running after personal interests come with bags and baggage. In the fullness of time, things may unravel.

Perhaps it has started already; maybe the storm is just gathering; as it would appear that the falcons can no longer hear – or are unwilling to heed – the falconer’s call.

Whoever advised Tinubu to spill the beans, the way he did, and at the forum he chose to address the matter, has done him incalculable damage.

Or is this another case of the president just “summoning the courage”, against the best of advice? Whichever is the case, it gives away the info that all may not be well within the APC.

A party machinery with clay feet is what the president’s speech has just exposed to the public. Is this a demonstration of (over) confidence? But “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he falls” (1 Corinthians 10:12)!

Besides, the venue of the president’s warning – at an APC function – is inappropriate. Was the message meant only for APC governors? Were they the only ones disobeying the Supreme Court order? Is it that the president cares less about the eight other governors belonging to the other parties? Is he only interested in saving the neck of his own party governors from the ‘apocalypse’ he threatens? Or will he be satisfied once his party’s governors comply with the Supreme Court order, even if governors from the other parties do not? The president’s statement would better have been made at a gathering of all the 36 state governors or at a meeting of none of them at all!

Now, if all – or majority – of the governors are united in disobeying the Supreme Court order, it immediately sends a signal that something very serious is amiss. Like I said earlier, the governors cannot all be unruly or flippant across many lines.

There are ministers of God among them. Their membership cuts across ethnic and religious divides – even if they are all members of the same decadent ruling class. So, what aileth them? Have they been called in to express their grouse? Maybe the governors are angry that it was the president who took this matter to court! Maybe the president, having exhausted all other options, was at his wits’ end before he did. Is this, then, a case of the flexing of muscles? When two elephants fight…

The opinion of many is that the state governors are opposed to local government autonomy because of corruption: That state governors corner local government resources, thereby denying the third-tier of government the resources to bring governance – and the dividends of democracy – closer to the people, the local governments being the touted government that is nearest to the grassroots. This may be true; it may also be false.

Corruption has become so endemic in Nigeria that it permeates every sector – private and public – every tier of government – federal, state and local government – and every arm of government – the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.

In fact, corruption struts like a colossus in our churches and mosques. The traditional institutions are not spared.

Even the little the Local Governments reportedly get from their state governments goes down the drain pipes of corruption.

So, if stemming corruption is the reason for local government autonomy, forget it! Corruption at the local government level is not lesser that what operates at the state or federal level.

Also, the question of local government autonomy engineered from the Centre and rammed down the throat of federating units is antithetical to the principles of federalism, which we purport to practice. Federalism properly so-called recognises only two tiers of government, the central authority and the federating units.

That was the case during the First Republic with the Central authority (the Federal Government) and the regional governments – Northern Region, Western Region, Eastern Region and, from 1963, the Mid-West Region. It is the responsibility of each region to create, own, fund, and organise the existence and operation of its own local governments without interference from the Central authority. We should return to that!

If we take the states as the federating units (in place of the regions), then, it is the states that should be vested with the powers to create local governments, fund them, equip them, organise them, run them and be answerable for their performance.

The problems of additional local government creation that came up between Lagos State’s Gov. Bola Ahmed Tinubu (as he then was) and the then President Olusegun Obasanjo would have been avoided.

States will create the number of local governments they deem necessary, without interference from the Federal Government.

If this is the view of the state governors, I dare to say that they are in order. But what they must then do is move to amend the law.

Should the state governors obey the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy even if they disagree with its import? Opinion is divided on this.

One side of the argument says yes, so that we do not resort to self-help or allow for anarchy; while efforts are on to amend the offensive sections of the Constitution, obey the law.

The Supreme Court being the highest court of the land, and Nigeria no longer a British colony where appeal can still proceed to the Privy Council in London, the judgment should be obeyed, pending any amendment to the law. The law is the law, as they say.

However, the other side says to obey is to continue with, and carry forward, an aberration that makes a mockery of our federalism.

Once obedience is secured, the urge to do the needful recedes. The process of amendment is usually tortuous and cumbersome.

Unfortunately, we are no longer in the age of activist judges who, while interpreting the law, also make laws.

Those were the days of the likes of Kayode Esho, Chukwudifu Oputa, Akinola Aguda, among others.

And this brings us to the issue of why judges – and their judgments – command scant regard from Nigerians these days, moreso from politicians.

The answer is simple: Like we had said earlier, corruption now permeates everywhere and the Bar and Bench are not spared.

No one knows this better than politicians! So, the respect, fear and awe that judges commanded in times past have waned.

These days, we hear mind-boggling tales of how judgments are procured and this cannot but whittle down their acceptance by those at the receiving end of some of these judgments.

And those wondering why court judgments are not respected should know that this is not a new phenomenon. Justice Dolapo Akinsanya’s judgment declaring the ING of Ernest Shonekan illegal, was it respected? The Supreme Court judgment that shot down President Olusegun Obasanjo’s seizure of Lagos State local government funds under Gov. Tinubu, was it respected?

Ask Chief Gani Fawehinmi and the other activists how many court judgments they got, but which were ignored by successive Nigerian governments! Has the Tinubu presidency itself not seized local government funds in Osun state? The judgment that PUNCH newspapers and my humble self got over the illegal closure of the newspaper and my detention, was it respected to this day by the Federal Government? I can go on and on! So, what goes around comes around!

Rather than pick and choose which court decisions to enforce, we should work towards treating all court judgments as sacrosanct.

The judges themselves must work to clean up their act and return us to that era when the Bench was seen as an unpolluted citadel of justice and the court as the last hope of the common man. Otherwise, forget it!

Also read: Atiku blackmails Tinubu over Dapo Abiodun, others refusal to pay LG allocations directly

Last Word: To my highly esteemed readers, Merry Christmas and compliments of this season!

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Opinion

Why Nigeria needs the All-Nigeria Rotary Peace Summit

Published

6 days ago

on

November 3, 2026

By

rotary

The All-Nigeria Rotary Peace Summit will examine how good governance, justice and equity can help Nigeria build lasting peace

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Entertainment

Reel Momentum: Nollywood Releases That Defined Q3

Published

3 weeks ago

on

October 21, 2026

By

Nollywood

By Olayinka Akanbi

The third quarter of 2026 offered a clear picture of where Nollywood stands today. Across July, August and September, filmmakers told stories centred on family, culture, history, identity and everyday life.

Some films looked inward at personal struggles, while others drew from folklore, real-life events and Nigeria’s past.

Also read: Orlando Owoh Music Festival Set for November 7 in Lagos

There were also signs of change in how films are distributed, with streaming platforms increasing their investment in original content.

July was defined by personal, character-driven stories.

One of the standout releases was Alechenu, directed by Biodun Stephen, which followed the journey of an autistic teenager travelling from Oyo State to Lagos in search of the mother he had never met.

The film explored themes of family, identity and perseverance through a simple yet emotional narrative.

Around the same period, Lami focused on the life of a retired soldier grappling with the emotional effects of war, examining trauma, healing and second chances through the experience of one man trying to rebuild his life.

Another notable release, The Return of Omotara Johnson, marked the return of veteran actress Bukky Wright in a crime drama centred on family secrets and unresolved past conflicts.

Later in the month, films such as Wire Wire and Njem: The Journey continued the trend of storytelling rooted in real-life experiences and social issues.

In August, attention shifted towards history, tradition and culture.

The month opened with Sweet 16, a coming-of-age family drama that also drew attention as one of the final completed performances by the late actor Alexx Ekubo.

This was followed by Ikenga: The Last Festival, a story centred on tradition, power and destiny, featuring veteran actors Pete Edochie and Patience Ozokwor.

Released around the same period, Aláhùn (The Weaver) drew heavily from Yoruba mythology and folklore, highlighting a growing interest in indigenous narratives and local fantasy storytelling.

Towards the end of the month, King Kosoko revisited the life of one of Lagos’ most influential historical rulers, reflecting a broader shift by filmmakers towards exploring Nigeria’s history on screen.

By September, the conversation had expanded beyond storytelling to include audience engagement and distribution models.

One of the month’s notable releases was Mama Deola’s Wedding Story, which became the first original production from Nigerian streaming platform Kava. Its release underscored the increasing role of local streaming services in shaping the industry.

Other films focused on contemporary life and younger audiences.

Ordinary People examined the lives of everyday Nigerians, while 19 explored themes of identity, ambition and relationships from a youthful perspective.

One Gidi Night captured the rhythm and character of Lagos, using the city itself as a central narrative element.

The month also saw the release of Black Market, which generated widespread attention due to efforts to stage a Guinness World Record attempt for the largest film screening audience at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos.

Taken together, these releases reflect an industry in transition one that is expanding its storytelling range while experimenting with new platforms, audiences and formats.

Also read: Orlando Owoh Music Festival Set for November 7 in Lagos

Nollywood is not only telling more stories; it is also redefining how those stories are created, distributed and experienced.

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Opinion

Rotary hails IPDG Lanre Adedoyin polio drive

Published

2 months ago

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September 14, 2026

By

Rotary

By Victor Ojelabi,

The Rotary Foundation has recognised the polio eradication efforts of Rotary International District 9112 under Immediate Past District Governor Lanre Adedoyin, following the District’s transfer of District Designated Funds to the PolioPlus Fund during the 2025 to 2026 Rotary year, a contribution acknowledged recently, as part of the global funding effort to protect children from the disease.

Also read: Rotary Club of Lagos Strengthens Traders With Fresh ₦6m Business Grant

The recognition brings a fitting international dimension to a Rotary year in which Adedoyin, a lawyer and member of the Rotary Club of Surulere South, repeatedly placed polio eradication among District 9112’s major humanitarian priorities across Lagos and Ogun states.

In a message addressed to District 9112, The Rotary Foundation thanked the District for committing its District Designated Funds to the campaign, saying the collective support from Rotary districts helped the organisation reach its fundraising target and secure matching funds that translate into US$150 million for polio eradication.

“Your support helped Rotary reach our goal and secure the matching funds that translate into US$150 million toward eradicating polio,” the Foundation said.

The money has consequences far beyond the balance sheet.

According to the Foundation, polio funding supports frontline workers taking vaccines into remote communities, environmental surveillance capable of detecting the virus in wastewater and programmes designed to interrupt transmission in affected areas.

The Foundation said the continuing effort was particularly important in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the only two countries where wild poliovirus remains endemic.

That assessment is consistent with Rotary International’s latest account of the global campaign.

Rotary says its partnership with the Gates Foundation generates up to US$150 million annually for polio eradication, with Rotary raising US$50 million and the Foundation providing a two-to-one match.

The money supports vaccine procurement, social mobilisation, outbreak response, surveillance and other operational requirements.

Rotary’s involvement stretches back decades. Its first polio vaccination project began in the Philippines in 1979, and the organisation became a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988. Since then, global polio cases have fallen by 99.9 per cent.

For Nigeria, the story carries particular resonance.

The country recorded its last case of wild poliovirus in Borno State in August 2016.

Four years later, the World Health Organisation African Region was formally certified free of wild poliovirus, leaving Afghanistan and Pakistan as the remaining countries with endemic transmission.

That historic achievement, however, did not mean the end of the polio challenge in Nigeria.

Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus can still emerge in communities with low immunisation coverage, making vaccination and surveillance essential even in countries that have eliminated wild poliovirus.

It was against that backdrop that the IPDG’s polio drive developed during the 2025 to 2026 Rotary year.

Adedoyin, who became the second District Governor of District 9112 following the division of the former District 9110, had signalled early in his tenure that healthcare would remain a central part of the District’s service programme.

His installation in Lagos in July 2025 marked the beginning of a year that subsequently combined fundraising with grassroots advocacy and support for health workers.

By September 2025, the District had held a PolioPlus seminar at which Adedoyin warned against complacency simply because wild poliovirus had disappeared from Nigeria. District records show that the campaign remained prominent in its programme in the months that followed.

In October, Districts 9111 and 9112 took the End Polio Now message beyond conventional conference halls with a joint train journey from Lagos to Abeokuta.

Led by Adedoyin and then District 9111 Governor Henry Akinyele, alongside Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee Chairman Joshua Hassan and other Rotary leaders, the initiative turned the train journey into a public awareness campaign for polio eradication.

District 9112 also took the message to communities in Ogun State, including a roughly 10-kilometre Keep Polio @ Zero awareness walk in Sagamu aimed particularly at encouraging parents and guardians to ensure that children receive their vaccinations.

In Lagos, the campaign moved from advocacy to practical support.

District 9112 donated 100 pairs of rain boots and 200 raincoats to the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board in October 2025 to assist health personnel working on polio eradication during the rainy season. The intervention was valued at about ₦1.6 million.

Adedoyin made the District’s position clear at the presentation.

“Our commitment to ending polio is absolute,” Adedoyin said. “We will continue working with the Lagos State Government and our partners until polio is completely wiped out.”

Another significant moment came towards the end of his tenure.

In June 2026, District 9112 announced that it had raised US$13,000 through the World’s Greatest Meal initiative for The Rotary Foundation’s PolioPlus Fund.

The contribution was described by World’s Greatest Meal Committee Chairman Tokunbo Opanubi as one of the highest recorded by the District through the initiative.

The US$13,000 contribution is separate from the District Designated Funds now acknowledged by The Rotary Foundation.

Together, however, the initiatives illustrate the different channels through which District 9112 supported the global eradication campaign during Adedoyin’s tenure.

District Designated Funds form part of The Rotary Foundation’s funding system and allow Rotary districts to direct portions of avail

IPDG Lanre Adedoyin with wife at a Rotary event recently

able Foundation resources towards eligible programmes.

PolioPlus is one of the avenues through which districts can deploy such resources in support of Rotary’s eradication objective.

The Foundation’s latest acknowledgement therefore adds another layer to District 9112’s polio record for the 2025 to 2026 year.

It also demonstrates the multiplier effect behind Rotary’s funding model.

A contribution originating from clubs and districts can ultimately support a much larger global pool used for vaccines, surveillance, community mobilisation and the difficult task of reaching children in areas affected by conflict, insecurity or geographical isolation.

The stakes remain considerable.

Polio is a potentially fatal infectious disease that primarily affects young children and can invade the nervous system, causing irreversible paralysis.

Although its global footprint has been reduced dramatically, Rotary cautions that eradication requires sustained vaccination and surveillance until transmission has been stopped everywhere.

The Foundation’s message to District 9112 captured that unfinished mission.

It thanked the District for supporting the PolioPlus Fund and helping move the world closer to the point where “no child is threatened by this disease ever again”.

For Adedoyin, who handed over the governorship of District 9112 at the end of the 2025 to 2026 Rotary year, the recognition offers a powerful postscript to a year in which the District’s contribution was measured not only in fundraising figures, but also in public advocacy, community mobilisation and support for those working closest to vulnerable children.

Also read: Rotary Club of Lagos Strengthens Traders With Fresh ₦6m Business Grant

And for District 9112, the acknowledgement connects a local Rotary story from Lagos and Ogun states to a much larger global ambition: ensuring that the final cases of polio become part of history rather than the beginning of another outbreak.

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