@waecnigeria@NigEducation@NGRSenate No single school in Egbeda local govt of Oyo State has started Agric Practical. What time are they going to finish exam when they have not started by now. This is 6pm already.
Vote Buying Must Be Stopped at the Roots
Just yesterday, Nigerians hoped that the House of Representatives would finally take a decisive stand against the cancer of vote-buying. This practice has long undermined our democracy and tarnished our nation's credibility. Unfortunately, that hope was quickly extinguished.
By refusing to criminalise vote buying at the foundational stage of party primaries, the House has chosen to protect a broken system rather than safeguard the nation's future. Credible elections cannot be built on corrupt foundations, and national progress cannot be achieved while inducement and bribery are legitimised in the democratic process.
Any effort to stop vote buying must begin at the primaries. Without addressing the problem at its roots, any measures taken later will lack the strength to endure.
A democracy where votes are bought is not a true democracy; it is a criminal marketplace. Nigeria deserves better. We must prioritise reform. The future of our democracy must not be for sale.
Disturbingly, the culture of vote buying has now trickled down even to town union, village union, Clubs and associations, as well as even student elections, emulating fraudulent politicians. How long will we allow our society to be corrupted when the solution lies in addressing the roots of the problem?
A New Nigeria is possible, but only if we confront these practices boldly and insist that integrity begins at the very start of our electoral process.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
Extending education to 148 prison inmates with an Unannounced Visit to NECO.
A few days ago, following an appeal from representatives of inmates in correctional centres across Anambra State, I wrote to the National Examinations Council (NECO), providing a letter guaranteeing payment of their examination fees.
After I shared this intervention on social media, the Nigerian Friendship Association, USA, through its non-profit foundation, the Friendship Association Education Assistance, Inc., reached out and expressed its desire to assist. I am deeply inspired by their generosity, which demonstrates how collective goodwill can restore dignity and open doors to opportunity.
Today, unannounced, I visited the NECO office in Awka to personally present a cheque covering the full amount for 148 inmates from Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, and Aguata correctional centres. The total payment, including examination fees and logistics, amounted to ₦4,741,400.
Following the visit to NECO, I also visited the Awka Correctional Centre, where I interacted with some of the beneficiaries. I encouraged them to remain hopeful and focused, reminding them that their current circumstances do not define their future. I emphasised that education is a powerful tool for personal transformation and reintegration, urging them to see this opportunity as a step toward rebuilding their lives and contributing positively to society.
Education remains central to rehabilitation. I was particularly encouraged by what I observed during my recent visit to California State University, Sacramento, where rehabilitation-focused programmes for disadvantaged and formerly incarcerated persons place education at the heart of reintegration.
Correctional centres in Nigeria should similarly function as true centres of reform, equipping inmates with knowledge, skills, and hope for a meaningful life beyond confinement. I urge the government to consider supporting such initiatives for deserving inmates.
Together, through education, compassion, and strategic support, we can transform lives, restore hope, and build a society where every Nigerian has the opportunity to contribute meaningfully.
A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO
Reforming Nigeria’s Tax System Requires Trust and Transparency
Recent reports concerning a tax cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and France have generated understandable public concern. While international collaboration is not inherently objectionable, agreements relating to tax administration, revenue systems, and data management demand a high level of openness because of their direct impact on public trust.
It is therefore worrisome that an agreement of this significance appears to have been concluded without the full terms being made public, and without a clear effort to explain its objectives, scope, and expected outcomes to Nigerians. Transparency is essential in matters that directly affect public revenue and institutional credibility.
That said, I am not opposed to engaging foreign expertise. However, such engagements must be clearly justified, with a transparent explanation of the specific gaps they are intended to fill, why those gaps cannot be addressed locally, and, above all, the concrete benefits to Nigerians.
This is especially important because Nigeria is not lacking in tax expertise. The country has a strong pool of qualified tax professionals, advisory firms, and globally recognised consultancies already operating locally, with the capacity to support tax reform and modernisation. In light of this, it is reasonable for Nigerians to question why external partnerships are made a priority instead of strengthening and leveraging existing local capacity. Sustainable reform should build institutions from within.
These concerns arise at a time of significant economic strain. Over 60 per cent of Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty. Youth unemployment remains widespread. Small and medium-scale enterprises are burdened by multiple taxes, while government borrowing continues to rise without commensurate gains in productivity. In such circumstances, policy attention should focus on simplifying the tax system, closing revenue leakages, broadening the tax base fairly, and ensuring prudent use of public resources.
Any agreement or policy initiative that lacks transparency, public confidence, and clearly defined, measurable benefits risks further eroding trust in government. It is therefore imperative that the Federal Government publishes the full MoU, clearly explains its rationale, and outlines the mutual benefits - particularly the tangible advantages Nigeria stands to gain.
Leadership demands openness, accountability, and commitment to the interests of the Nigerian people. Decisions of this nature must always be guided by what best serves the nation.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
After many years of consistent improvements in the budgeting system, the federal government has, quite sadly, regressed in its budget practices. Carrying forward the 2024 Capital budget into 2026 is an admission that federal budgets are farcical.
Incidentally, every single one of the 36 states manages its budgets better than the federal government.
When your revenue budget is unrealistic, your capital budget is just empty rhetoric. It “muzzed” me when the Chairman of FIRS said we were trying to use one year’s revenue to fund the budgets of several years.
That is like trying to use your one-year salary to live large for 3 years. Of course, you will keep deferring the purchase of that Benz till next year and the year after because you simply don’t have the money and don’t know where it would come from.
Rudolf Goldscheid once said: “The budget is the skeleton of the state stripped of all misleading ideologies.”
Res ipsa loquitur.
Helping Inmates in knowledge and skills acquisition
Today, I was approached by representatives sent by inmates from correctional centres across Anambra State. They delivered a letter outlining their needs.
They explained that the National Examinations Council (NECO) is working to assist the inmates by allowing them to participate in the ongoing exams, provided that the fees are paid within the agreed timeframe. Without payment, the inmates will be barred from continuing beyond Monday. Unfortunately, funding remains a major challenge. They have reached out to several institutions for support, but all have declined. I was deeply moved by their appeal.
According to the figures they provided, a total of 148 inmates are registered for the exams: 50 in Awka, 36 in Onitsha, 25 in Nnewi, and 37 in Aguata. The cost per student is ₦30,050, with an additional ₦2,000 for logistics, bringing the total required to ₦4,741,400. I will write to the representatives on Monday, guaranteeing that the fees will be paid so the inmates can sit for the exams. I also assured them that I would work with friends and well-wishers to help cover the costs.
Earlier in April, I had the honour of visiting California State University, Sacramento. I was inspired by the university's transformative programs, including the "Guidance Scholars Program," which supports children from foster homes, and "Project Rebound," which rehabilitates formerly incarcerated individuals and helps them reintegrate into society.
Witnessing these initiatives reinforced my belief that inclusive, compassionate leadership—which values every human life and provides second chances—is essential for building a society where everyone can thrive.
My concern, however, extends beyond Anambra State. Do inmates in other states have access to similar opportunities? Many who end up in correctional centres turn to crime due to a lack of education. These centres are meant to be places of reformation, and a key component of that mission is to provide opportunities for learning and skills acquisition—something that should ordinarily be the government’s responsibility. When individuals complete their terms, they must be equipped to contribute positively to themselves and to society. These young men deserve a real chance to turn their lives around and become productive members of the community.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
STOP the Bloodshed in this Land. Period.
What are all these silly Debates about, really?
Of what use are Governments that cannot protect their own people?
Of what use are “leaders” who do not value the lives of their people?
Of what humanity are people in power and our society who defend such failures?
Of what Future are a people who allow such evil to become normal in their country while they sit around to “debate” about the mass killings of their fellow countrymen, women and children to determine if it is really “Genocide”?
In 2015, they came for our Chibok daughters and several others, Nigerians sat around debating “Politics” while the parents of the girls cried in anguish pleading to “even be believed that they are not “scam parents”.
Those that believed them, joined their cries, stood in empathy to ask Governments to take constitutionally mandated effective actions for the girls’ rescue.
Our cries and demands fell on deaf ears and hardened hearts.
We cautioned that if Government failed to act decisively against the terrorists by allowing them to go unpunished, the inaction and absence of deterrence would embolden the organized deadly criminals.
What we cautioned against happened and in 2018, same terrorists abducted Dapchi School girls.
As predicted, Kidnappings soon escalated and morphed into an Industry with many families in this country becoming victims of the same losses, griefs and anguish that the ChibokGirls, Leah Sharibu and their parents were left to suffer.
More than 90% of the Chibok Secondary School girls that were abducted were Christians.
I for example did not know this until much later in the demand for their rescue and justice.
Sharibu was punished for being a Christian and not released along with her classmates when Government negotiated their freedom.
Yet, as kidnappings and killings escalated, rather than take responsibility and act effectively, Governments were more interested in unleashing all manner of assaults on innocent citizens who demanded for accountability and results.
I ask again, “Of what use are “leaders” and Governments that cannot protect their own people?”
Stop the silly debates.
Stop defending the indefensible.
Stop the irresponsible deflecting.
Stop the heartless indifference to the sufferings and injustices done to others.
There are no ifs, buts and whataboutism about the mass killings of Nigerians.
Just be human by imagining what it feels like to be in the line of vulnerability that historic, courageous and incredible Reverend Ezekiel and others have been calling all of us to see.
When your fellow humans tell you they are being targeted, learn to listen with human compassion.
The Death and Dearth of Empathy is the basis of some of the horrible definitional debates on “Genocide” that is going on in a Land where hundreds of our fellow citizens are killed daily with impunity.
Even a Lai Mohammed called it Genocide in 2023 when he was Minister of Information. Yes, the same Lai Mohammed that Nigerians know.
The Death and Dearth of Empathy is the basis of some of the horrible definitional debates on “Genocide” that is going on in a Land where hundreds of our fellow citizens are killed daily with impunity.
So what really is all the Debates about?
One more Nigerian does not deserve to be killed while our Governments do nothing. Period.
Be Human Beings for a change and stop “majoring in the minors”.
It did not have to take the insults and threat from Trump to wake up our Government to the Duty of Care it owes EVERY CITIZEN of Nigeria.
Again, Be Human Beings for Once.
STOP the Bloodshed in OUR Land.
Period. ✍🏾✍🏾✍🏾
Watch Peter Obi twelve years ago as a sitting governor scolding teachers for being to school late. He was at the school by himself early in the morning. Just imagine this man as our President, everybody will sit up.