Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has been grappling with significant socioeconomic challenges that affect a broad spectrum of its citizens. The hardships stem from multiple factors, including economic instability, high unemployment rates, inflation, corruption, and inadequate infrastructure. These issues have created a cycle of poverty and frustration among the populace.

Key Issues Contributing to Hardship

Economic Instability:

Inflation: Nigeria has been experiencing persistent inflation, leading to a sharp increase in the cost of living. Essentials like food, fuel, and healthcare have become more expensive, straining household budgets.

Currency Devaluation: The Nigerian Naira has weakened against major foreign currencies, making imports more costly and increasing the burden on consumers.

High Unemployment Rates: With a large youth population, the lack of job opportunities is a critical issue. Many young Nigerians are either unemployed or underemployed, leading to widespread frustration and a sense of hopelessness.

Insecurity:

Terrorism and Insurgency: Regions like the Northeast have been plagued by Boko Haram insurgency, leading to loss of lives, displacement, and economic disruption.

Banditry and Kidnappings: Other parts of the country, particularly in the Northwest and Southeast, face challenges from bandits and kidnappers, which has further destabilized communities and discouraged investment.

Corruption:

Mismanagement of Resources: Corruption at various levels of government has led to the misallocation and embezzlement of public funds, hindering development projects and essential services.

Lack of Transparency and Accountability: The absence of effective checks and balances has allowed corrupt practices to flourish, exacerbating economic inequalities.

Infrastructure Deficit:

Poor Roads and Transportation: Inadequate road networks and poor transportation infrastructure have hampered economic activities and increased the cost of doing business.

Electricity Shortages: Persistent power outages and an unreliable electricity supply have stifled industrial growth and increased operational costs for businesses.

Health and Education: The healthcare system is underfunded and overwhelmed, while the education sector suffers from poor funding, inadequate facilities, and low-quality teaching.

Social Inequality:

Wealth Disparity: A significant gap exists between the wealthy and the poor, with a small elite controlling much of the country’s resources while a large portion of the population lives in poverty.

Gender Inequality: Women in Nigeria often face systemic barriers in accessing education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, contributing to broader social inequalities.

Way Out: Potential Solutions

Economic Reforms:

Diversification: Nigeria’s economy is heavily reliant on oil. Diversifying into agriculture, manufacturing, and technology can create jobs and reduce vulnerability to global oil price fluctuations.

Support for SMEs: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of any economy. Providing access to finance, reducing regulatory burdens, and offering technical support can help these businesses thrive.

Monetary Policies: Implementing policies that stabilize the currency and control inflation is crucial to restoring purchasing power and economic stability.

Improving Security

Strengthening Security Forces: Investing in training, equipment, and intelligence for the police and military can help combat terrorism, banditry, and kidnappings more effectively.

Community Policing: Engaging local communities in security efforts can improve trust and cooperation, leading to better crime prevention and resolution.

Fighting Corruption:

Institutional Reforms: Strengthening institutions like the judiciary, anti-corruption agencies, and law enforcement can enhance transparency and accountability.

Public Awareness and Engagement: Educating the public about the impact of corruption and encouraging citizen participation in governance can help hold leaders accountable.

Infrastructure Development

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): Collaborating with the private sector to fund and manage infrastructure projects can accelerate development in areas like transportation, energy, and telecommunications.

Renewable Energy Investment: Investing in solar, wind, and hydroelectric power can help address the electricity deficit and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Social Welfare Programs

Education and Skill Development: Expanding access to quality education and vocational training can empower the youth and reduce unemployment.

Healthcare Access: Improving healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, and implementing universal health coverage can enhance the quality of life.

Poverty Alleviation Programs: Direct cash transfers, food security programs, and affordable housing initiatives can provide immediate relief to those most affected by poverty.

Promoting Social Equity

Gender Equality Initiatives: Ensuring equal access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for women can foster a more inclusive society.

Reducing Wealth Disparity: Progressive taxation, social safety nets, and fair wage policies can help bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.

Conclusion
Addressing the hardships in Nigeria requires a multi-faceted approach that involves economic reform, infrastructure development, security enhancement, anti-corruption measures, and social welfare programs. While these challenges are significant, with concerted efforts from the government, private sector, and civil society, Nigeria can create a more stable and prosperous future for its citizens.

FALEYE OLUWATOSIN SIMON

JOURNALIST FROM LAGOS

Sola Ajisafe, Esq

I wish Governor Olusegun Mimiko had remained in his party, the PDP with his “Gbasibe gang”, to support the candidate of his party, maybe our Governor would have known the true position of where our party the APC is headed or the political muscle that still remains in Mimiko’s chest. I wish Mimiko has some historical understanding of the ” Asiwaju Tinubu Company Ltd” called APC, maybe he would have stayed in his corner and wait for favour somewhere.

This political machine honed in Bourdillon is the most delicately fastidious but complex political machine that ever existed in the anal of Nigerian political history.

Finally, I wished Aketi were to be alive, the doors to a Rahman Mimiko coming to APC would have been an “impossicant” of impossibility. It would have been nerve wrecking. The current APC in Ondo State is an admixture of the Adefarati and Agagu political house hold. Both were dealt death blows by Mimiko. I wished Mr Governor understands this and do not allow Mimiko to come and profit from their political suffering and not allow him to dance on the grave of Aketi his childhood friend. Historically, Mimiko betrayed the trio. That is the truth simplicita!

In our own very eyes, someone of Iroko calibre has gone to unlikely places to bite the political dust. But like it is said ” if wishes were horses…”. Yet what do I know? Nothing.

What is happening in our own very eyes is the epic centre of political radarada or rederede(ism). (Apology to Zadok Akintoye). More than the vacuous and void sensational noise ” We have joined the APC”, I do not see what Mimiko and his gang are bringing to the APC that can add anything to what Ayedatiwa already has to make him to win or make him loose the November 16, 2024 election. The optics are high and the momentum is on his side. What on earth does he want with this Mimiko thing? Again, what do I know? Nothing still.

As far as I know, the best of Mimiko is gone past except we want to deceive ourselves or we like to ” pe were l’oko iyawo…”. Mimiko and his gang are just hungry hyenas looking for political rehabilitation.

Let’s start from Ondo town of (Ondo West and Ondo East). There are new entrants in the political landscape of those places. How would a Hon. Makinde, ranking MHR, who worsted Mimiko severally on elections or the suave and monied Dr. Jibayo Adeyeye allow Mimiko to take over Ondo political space from them. Despite the known and brewing see-saw between them, they still have the capacity to hold the forth for Aiyedatiwa. Also, I cannot imagine who will convince the affable and committed progressive, Lola Fagbemi to bow and take directives or direction from Mimiko’s invading gang. Even the witches and wizards of Ondo Kingdom would protest heavily on the part of Fagbemi a political warlord who stood against Mimiko when he was even a Governor.

This story as told above is reminiscent of the entire Ondo State. More particularly, the rumbles caused in PDP during his invasion from Labour Party is now been transposed and transported with Dangote trailers to our beloved party, the APC. For better understanding, there are many people in APC from PDP today who cannot stand Mimiko no matter what. Most of those who initially left PDP for APC were the core supporters of the respected Dr. Olusegun Agagu. To house them in the same roof is calling for an Iran v Iraq war. The “Konigba v Gbasibe transfigured to the Mimiko v Jegede war will continue to sprout. Why should APC be the dumping ground of such insanity? I do not understand.

Methinks, Mr Governor should have allowed Mimiko to stay in PDP and play the “Wicked Wike” principle, rather than come to APC to foul an already fouled political environment.

I have had discussions with many people who were first eleven of Mimiko before but who felt his leadership is skewed towards self alone and would rather remain free because only a foolish woman follows a man to bed twice under a tree. Few days ago, my friend and brother the highly resourceful Dayo Awude was unveiled as the Deputy to Mr Sola Ebiseni another Mimiko man Friday as candidates of the abandoned political shop of Mimiko in the Labour Party. How Dayo Awude found himself in such miasma with Sola Ebiseni my big Egbon (who has become so politically confused as his principal Mimiko despite his intellectual and political sagacity) is still strange to me. I have not found the spirit to call Awude for our usual deep intellectual engagements. Neither have I found Rotimi Ogunleye ( Olembe) our common friend available to discuss the issue.

I have heard people say Mimiko is in APC because of Asiwaju’s second term and I say nothing can be more far from the truth. Mimiko is no man’s friend when it comes to power and it’s acquisition. Anything that is not in favour of Mr. Abayomi Rahman is a no brainer. We have tested this template and we can see that the man has no standard practice except that which satisfies Mr Mimiko and his political interest. For instance, would it not have been more profitable to ask Gboye Adegbenro to vie for the Senate in 2019 rather than sending him on a goose chase for Governorship under another party while he went for the Senate which he lost woefully? Dr. Mimiko’s blood brother is the proud inheritor of another Mimiko abandoned political shop called Zenith Labour Party. Only a man of divergent and atrophied political views abandons his own ship and run to another mans ship even when there is no tempest. Such men are politically dangerous.

For me, Mr Governor would have had more peace and political mileage in all local governments in the coming election than this self inflicted burden he has brought on his shoulders. I do not doubt the reverence given to the former Governor but in actual fact, he does not command much political relevance or capacity as it is been viewed. The era of the ” capacity leader” Iroko …Gbasibe is gone and gone for good. A leader that cannot carry his followers along is not a true leader. This is a hard tale to tell or a naughty fact to accept especially for roadside analysts. Politics as I know it is a rolling stone that gathers no moist. The continuous political indecision and rigmarole embarked upon by the once revered Iroko has affected his committed and dutiful followers. He no longer has the wherewithal, financially or influence or that special political effect that used to mesmerize people. In the course of this political ” kurukere movement” he has lost many of his committed followers. Those that are still following him are those whose ambitions are intricately tied to him.

For instance, nothing can bring Akogun Tokunbo Modupe (TPT) from Ose Local government back to the hubris of continuous political voyage. Who would price him away from Jegede or make Akinmade abandon Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and follow Mimiko now. Where is our mother the political Amazon of Akoko land, Oloye Olasinnmi Odunmbaku ( Mama Eto). While they still respect him, many of them are embarrassed and can no longer do this kitikiti kitakita dance. Hence, the lines has broken the house no longer stands again. It has fallen. All that remains are remants of old, grumpy and tired legs. They can no longer dance the political Gwo Gwo Ngwo dance anymore.

Let us take Akoko South West where I come from for instance. Today, we have Baba Ali Olanusi former deputy Governor to Mimiko as the leader of the party followed by a core Agagu loyalist in Rt Hon. Victor Olabintan, former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly and the respected Olajide Ajana, SAN, former SSG and former AGCJ, Ondo State to live in communality with Mimiko and his terse supporters in Akoko South West. Historically, there exist a strong political dissonance among them.

Those who are Mimiko men in Akoko South West like Rt Hon.Dare Emiola, former Deputy Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon Abiodun Ogunbi( Onireason) former Member ODHA, Hon. Yinka Alabi former Commissioner, Women Affairs and many more have bested Mimiko to the tape of APC, they cannot abandon their tracks to return to him. The father.of them all, Col Omowa is the grandfather of PDP in Akoko, great grandfather of the party in Akoko South West and the Lord of the party in Oka Akoko. Nothing can make him toe the line of Mimiko to APC.

I look at other Akoko towns where people like like Rt Hon Fatai Aburumaku who has been in APC and worked with Aketi and transfered his love to Wale Akinterinwa (WA) holds court. What of Hon Araoyinbo, former Majority Leader ODHA. Can they ever go back to Mimiko? Prince Solagbade Amodeni is an institution in Akoko South East politics and by extension Akoko land. A highly independent minded politician of no mean status. If my learned brother and friend Tunde Atere joins today, what will he do to take Ipesi from Amodeni or Akoko South East from those currently calling the shots there? For instance, Babatunde Kolawole ( Amaechi) and Young Alhaji, the current MHA? He will have to live with the reality of current political exigency. Remember no politician likes that.

I make bold to say that in my Ward in Akoko South West, Mimiko has no follower and I do not see him having anyone in the foreseeable future. The time has really changed.

The new normal now is that many things have changed from the period of Irokoooooo…Gbasibeeeeeeee!!! which used to be the sing song then. Many politicians cannot forget or forgive him for the betrayal of trying to impose Jegede, SAN on the rest of the State immediately after his tenure as Governor. That single act is a dark mark on the political landscape of the gentleman and well loved Eyitayo Jegede. It is still haunting the innocent man who would have been the greatest passport for Akure political renaissance. Whatever will become of his political fate now is in the hand of God. What a lost opportunity.

I believe and I know that this Mimiko’s kiti kiti -kitikiti- kirakita kirakita has not come to an end. I don’t know what he is seeing and those who are encouraging him to continue in this Barber’s Chair political rigmarole. If he has his eyes on the Senate in the Central Senatorial district, Akure people will not let go. If he wants a Ministerial appointment, Tinubu will be wiser this time. If he wants to fix his people that he is bringing from political doldrum to the limelight under Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, he should know that Lucky has learnt some political lessons and is prepared for any “audio poli-poli” from him.

I posit very strongly that not much will be associated or conceded or attributed to Mimiko in APC for this election no matter how he try. For all I care, he has entered a political “one chance”. He would not find it easy politically no matter how he tried.

For instance, let me see what Dr. Gboye Adegbenro will do in a political conscious environment like Ifedore or Dr Ademujimi in an extreme politically charged and volatile environment like Idanre. Unlike the election of Agagu in 2003 when Mimiko betrayed baba Adefarati, and he was compensated, no one will give him any medal if eventually Lucky wins in November.

My advise to Mr Governor is to look at history and watch his steps with Mr. Mimiko. In dinning with the devil politically you don’t need a long spoon anymore. You need a spear or a bareta pistol or AK-47. I agree he may bring some ” efisi” into the campaign (party) but leopards do not change their spots. Whatever previous additions he had given you prior to this period, you have given him equal measure of compensation. So, do not allow him to make a ” rough-a-thon” of your political efforts and those of committed members of our party that have given their all to you these past few months. If eventually you will in November, any ascription to Mimiko will be an unfair and unjust treatment of your committed party members and the people of Ondo State who truly loves you. Remember you would not have become a governor if Mimiko had succeeded in the last election.with his plan with Hon. Agboola Ajayi.

Again, personally, I do not trust this Mimiko invasion. I see it as a poisoned chalice from a Machevalian politician backed by a set of hungry and dire devil politically embarrassed and desperate set of politicians. I do not know their plan but I suspect they have a hidden agenda that may not be in the interest of our party now or in the nearest future. I would have preferred you gather together members of APC and appeal to the voting mass of the people of Ondo State rather than this road to nowhere.

I just hope, I am wrong whether for this election or for the peace of our party in days to come.

Anyway, I write this history in a hurry for posterity.

Sola Ajisafe, is an Akure based lawyer and journalist. He is a strong member of the APC.

It is sad enough that Nigeria last participated in the Olympics women’s football event 16 years ago yet poor preparations, injuries, and interference from Nigeria’s highest football body, NFF marred the Super Falcons outing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

As much as Nigerians and fans of the Super Falcons were disappointed by the outing of the 18-player squad under American gaffer, Randy Waldrum, it is imperative to look inwards ahead of other challenges.

Following the outing, Coach Randy Waldrum blamed the Super Falcons’ outing at the Paris 2024 Olympics on poor preparations, which saw the team losing all three group games to come last with zero points despite preparation in the shortest time.

Admittedly, the Nigerian Super Falcons were drawn in a tough group with women’s football reigning champion, Spain, and power houses Japan and Brazil, but that shouldn’t have defined what eventually became the outing of the team.

It is instructive to note that the same Super Falcons, under the tutelage of Waldrum, qualified for the Olympics in flying colours, participated in the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand and came out head high at the round of 16 and again qualified for the Women Africa Cup of Nation set to begin in July 2025.

Waldrum took the job in 2021 when Nigeria was ranked 45 and successfully began building the team to a perfect fit. It would be on record that after the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the Women Football Olympics, Waldrum broke the jinx beating Cameroon and South Africa to clinch the ticket.

It is no gainsaying that Waldrum has a project of turning the Super Falcons into a world class team that fans and Nigerians will be proud of in the next two years. It’s a process and a gradual one. Upon his contract in 2021, Waldrum first evaluated the team and retired the old legs.

He went on to attract young and effective players to create a squad of enviable ballers, hence the success he made at the last Women World Cup and the qualifiers for Olympics and WAFCON.

Hence, it was no surprise when the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, decided to renew his two-year-contract in late 2023.

However, one wonders what suddenly went wrong when the same NFF were beginning to breathe down on Waldrum’s neck to influence some of his technical decisions that might have been responsible for our outing at the Paris Olympic Women Football.

According to a report, allegations were rife that some NFF top officials tried imposing players on the American gaffer including veteran forward Francisca Ordega, who had a below performance at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Then we begin to wonder what really is the motive of the NFF, who has given the man a job but still wants to help him do the same job through influencing his decisions.

For a man, who has begun a project to turn the Super Falcons around, create an unbeatable confidence and gain the trust of his trusted players, it will be hard influencing his choice of game changers.

A pointer to Waldrum’s success with the team were the contracts which some of the Falcons’ stars are beginning to attract – Toni Payne signed for Everton, Jennifer Echegini signed for PSG and others.

Again, without holding a brief for Waldrum, though the Super Falcon’s outing at the Paris Olympic have been perceived ‘poor’ by many, a study of the matches showed that the team could have done much better and hold the champion and power house to a standstill if not for a lot of factors that include injuries of two of the key players, Ashleigh Plumptre and Halimatu Ayinde.

If Ayinde had made the team, Deborah Abiodun and Christy Ucheibe wouldn’t have started three matches in the space of 6 days, while Ashleigh Plumptre’s major influence as the pivot of the defense wouldn’t have been missing in action.

My submission, the NFF should leave Waldrum to complete his project and deliver a world class team for Nigeria. If the NFF puts total structural support behind Waldrum with the confidence he has built in the players, and how they idolize him, the next two years will be a roller coaster as it will be almost difficult to beat the Falcons. Hence, it’s time to support coach Waldrum and let the Falcons fly again. He should be given an extension up until the next WAFCON with a mandate to win it. Win it and a further extension will be on the line, anything less and it is most definitely goodbye

Oluwaseun Moyo Oloketuyi
Chairman Bon Awards Adivsory board and Producer Flying with Falcons writes from Lagos