This is Arteta’s moment.
Yes, the squad’s been amazing.
Yes, the fans have been incredible.
Yes, the club’s owners stepped up big time last summer.
But it was this man’s vision, intensity, intelligence, courage and decisions that won us the League. Thankyou @m8arteta 🙏
Dear @dclicktoyou123,
I have received several calls and WhatsApp messages in recent days about this Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) palaver. Now I see your X tag too — and honestly, I wonder why we Northerners are getting so worked up over this. Our problems are much closer to home, not across the River Niger in Yorubaland.
My position on the matter is simple.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with what the Western political class is doing with DAWN. In fact, it is commendable that they are strategically positioning their region to make the best of this imperfect Nigerian arrangement.
What they are doing for their people is laudable, and I only wish the North could be this strategic, patriotic, and forward-thinking. This is what foresight backed by deliberate planning looks like.
As a Northerner, I do not feel threatened by this. I only wish the political class in the North could wake up, get its act together, and emulate it. Unfortunately, that capacity is glaringly absent among many who currently dominate the field.
We cannot blame Westerners for bringing their best eleven into business, policy, and governance. Arewa could have done the same — but we chose our 107th eleven, and we are collectively paying the price for it.
In some North-Western states, for instance, we are entrusting governance to people one would struggle to trust with managing a small poultry farm.
DAWN works hand-in-hand with the South West Development Commission (SWDC). Go online and look at the calibre of people on the SWDC board. Then compare it with the North West Development Commission (NWDC). One side assembled seasoned professionals from across sectors; the other is crowded with political charlatans.
In fact, when the NWDC board was being formed, some politicians reportedly tried to stuff it with their children — individuals bringing nothing to the table except their fathers’ names.
What the Westerners are doing with DAWN is exactly what the Sardauna generation would have done in today’s Nigeria. And if they had not conceived it first, they would have been wise enough to emulate it quickly to keep the North competitive in an emerging Nigeria increasingly driven by regional self-reliance within a federal structure.
Yes, there is an element of gaming the system — such as pushing constitutional changes that align with their regional agenda, including the 2023 removal of electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and rail infrastructure from the Exclusive Legislative List. But the important point is this: their regional agenda already existed long before the laws changed.
All they needed was to wait until they controlled the levers of power — as they do now — and then align the law with their long-term vision. That is foresight. The future, after all, favours the prepared and the bold.
And once those constitutional amendments became law, they became universally applicable. Any region willing to organise itself can leverage the same opportunities.
So, be happy for the Westerners. I wish them Godspeed.
And I pray #Arewa wakes up soon and purges its governance space of ineffectual leadership, political opportunists, and transactional politicians who have held the region back for far too long.
IMHO.
Guess who is opposing Dangote’s proposal to build a 1.2M barrels a day refinery in east Africa (Tanzania, Kenya and Congo)
World Bank and IMF. : )))
Their argument? it would give monopoly to one company over energy.
1) All the while, French refineries are in almost every oil producing countries in Africa.
2) No African countries could get a loan to build a refinery larger than 400,000 barrels per day (one of the most profitable businesses ever). So the majority are small and struggle for profitability.
3) Nigeria oil had to be exported to Europe, refined and in many cases sold back to Nigeria and ECOWAS countries, under companies like shell and total.
4) it took until a billionaire financed the refinery in Nigeria himself to change part of that production and supply pipeline. And today, after the Hormuz blockade, EU countries are now buying oil from Dangote.
Among the Ministers in @officialABAT's cabinet, few had briefs as daunting or difficult as @muhammadpate or @YusufTuggar.
Their respective briefs were not made easier an indifferent or cynical @NGRPresident. The Federal Ministry of Health got no funds; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs got no ambassadors.
Both share lots in common & battled with dignity, dedication & intellect against man-made obstacles. Their efforts alleviated a record that cld easily have been a lot worse.
They were two Ministers in the cabinet who had name recognition for stuff other than brutality or thuggery.
Both just also happen to come from Bauchi North (Katagum Emirate). Wherever their journeys take them next, Yusuf Tuggar & Ali Pate offer Bauchi State options in responsible leadership & representation that most other states cannot sniff.... But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
It was a highly emotional valedictory session in honour of my esteemed colleague Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Nigeria’s outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Rotunda, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in recognition of his service and contributions to our nation's foreign policy.
The impromptu event witnessed an impressive turnout of officers and staff of the ministry, senior government officials, directors and representatives
of key agencies, stakeholders within Nigeria’s foreign policy community and colleagues who praised Amb. Tuggar's diligence, professionalism, leadership style and dedication to national service as well as his commitment towards advancing the nation's interests on the international arena.
Farewell to an amazing colleague. It was a great experience working with you, Y.E. Thanks immensely for your encouragement, guidance and support. You will be greatly missed!
Wishing you the very best in your next chapter!
This morning on Arise TV, Dr. Reuben Abatti shared a powerful perspective on why Amb. @YusufTuggar stepped down from his role as Minister.
He noted that Tuggar was one of only two ministers who had the courage to resign in pursuit of elective office, a decision that speaks to conviction, not convenience.
Dr. Abatti described it as a “glorious exit,” highlighting the overwhelming praise Tuggar received from colleagues and stakeholders he worked with.
From advancing Nigeria’s “Strategic Autonomy” to championing the “4Ds”, Democracy, Diaspora, Demography, and Development, his time at @NigeriaMFA left a clear and lasting mark.
Now, as he sets his sights on Bauchi State, Dr. Abatti is convinced: Tuggar stands out as the most qualified for the job.