BPP TO LAUNCH PUBLIC PROCUREMENT TRAINING PROGRAMME AND DIGITAL LEARNING PORTAL TOMORROW

Are you an entrepreneur looking to learn how to bid for Federal Government contracts?

@BPP_NG has got you covered. Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the Bureau will unveil a Public ogramme and Digital Learning Portal for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The programme is being organised in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

It is supported by the World Bank under the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) Project.

At the end of the programme, MSMEs are expected to have a deeper understanding of public procurement procedures and improved bidding capacity.

The event will be streamed live! Follow BPP’s social media handles for more updates.

Tinubu Didn't Have To Announce Adeleke As Campaign Coordinator For Osun ... youtu.be/nl98ZDAaYB8?si… via @YouTube

WHEN THE MASK FALLS: THE PATTERN OF BETRAYAL IN OSUN APC

By Ismail Omipidan

When he is looking for something, he comes across like an Omoluabi. But the moment he gets it, you see his true colours. Several times, many have described him in unprintable terms. I defended him and nderstood. In fact, at some point, I practically begged journalists in Osun to show him mercy. I reached out to most of them individually. Still, the majority insisted that I did not know the man I was interceding for. But I was never discouraged. I marched on until some of the journalists who hated him with passion began to show some love.

Again, when then-Governor Adegboyega Oyetola lost the vote count in 2022, he told me some party members believed that this same fellow deliberately mismanaged the entire process so he could emerge as the most senior political office holder in Osun, ahead of 2023. As his media aide then, I dismissed that conspiracy theory and told His Excellency I did not believe it. Unfortunately, when it was time to choose a minister from Osun, this same fellow, through a proxy, began collecting signatures to position himself as the preferred choice of Osun for the ministerial slot. When the bubble burst, he disowned the coordinator who was collecting the signatures. He reached out to Oyetola and denied knowledge of the exercise. Again, when the matter came up for discussion, I told Oyetola that if one abuses the King behind his back and by the time he sees the King, prostrates to say he never did, then it is taken that truly he never did. We resolved that and moved on.

Then, Senator Iyiola Omisore was to give up the secretaryship of the APC. It was around 12 a.m. on that day. I had just left His Excellency's residence when I received a call from my twin brother, Comrade Kehinde Ayantunji, asking if I had discussed the idea of retaining the position in Osun with His Excellency, Oyetola. I said no. He pleaded with me to please go back to him and sort out the matter. Until recently, I didn't know he was the one who called the beneficiary that same night, because as I was discussing the matter with His Excellency, the beneficiary came in and I decided to excuse both of them. But before then, after broaching the idea, His Excellency asked who I had in mind. I told him if religious considerations were not introduced into the mix, the beneficiary should be our number one choice. But if religion was a consideration, then we should settle for Senator Jide Omoworare. So, once he left, I returned to His Excellency and he told me, "Do you know the matter we were talking about was what the beneficiary came to talk about? He said if it will not amount to self-seeking, he is interested." The rest, as they say, is history.

With the same person declaring himself as the most senior APC leader in Southern Nigeria today, I am persuaded to want to believe some of the things they said about him in the past. From Muiz Banire, to Aregbesola, and to Oyetola, the pattern appears the same. Our Governor and President must therefore watch it. One of them may be the next victim.

Tinubu must beware: Osun panic strategy may backfire 

By Ismail Omipidan

In war, just like in politics, strategy is everything. But any strategy designed to achieve the selfish ambition of one individual is unlikely to succeed. That is my reading of what is currently playing e those who designed the strategy of delivering 1.5 million votes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election will not end up disappointed. You cannot trade party loyalty for a fantasy figure.

The first time I heard about that 1.5 million theory was barely 24 hours after APC lost the August 15 governorship election in Osun. Listening to the National Secretary of the party, Senator Ajibola Basiru, repeat the same thing yesterday, I am now persuaded to believe those who hold the view that some persons in the Presidency, together with some national officials of the party, plotted the defeat of Osun APC in that August election. Whatever it was, we are watching.

However, in bringing opposition figures on board to work for the President's re-election, local peculiarities, character, and culture of the people should have been taken into consideration. After all, every politics, they say, is local. What works in Rivers and Anambra may not succeed in Osun.

Historically, Osun has never posted up to a million votes in any presidential election, and it will not happen next year, unless some persons just want to write figures. For instance, in 2011, the ACN presidential candidate polled 299,711 votes against PDP's 188,409, with total registered voters at 1,342,289. In 2015, APC won in Osun with 383,603 votes while PDP scored 249,929, with total registered voters at 1,407,107. In 2019, APC polled 347,634 while PDP had 337,377, with total registered voters at 1,674,729. In 2023, APC polled 342,941 while PDP had 353,860, with registered voters at 1,674,729. Even in the August 15 governorship election just held, the total votes polled by Governor Ademola Adeleke and the APC were less than a million. In any case, voter turnout for presidential and governorship elections always varies. So, where is the 1.5 million votes coming from?

President Tinubu and Oyetola must tread softly and cautiously. Those claiming political pragmatism in Osun are only out to set the two of you against each other. You must therefore watch it. Already, they have presented the President as someone who is jittery over the possible outcome of the 2027 presidential election.

Now that our governor has been appointed the Osun Coordinator for the President, that is fine. I am sure it is part of the strategy to tie him to his promise of delivering President Tinubu at the polls. But the President and the party leadership should, as a matter of urgency, allow Osun APC to have its own structure to drive this election. Already, members are feeling that they are being thrown under the bus. The APC at the national level and the Presidency must not toy with the emotions of the majority of party members in the state. I say it with all sense of modesty that those who pushed for the current arrangement in Osun are in the minority.

The President and his handlers must know that politics is influenced by interest, sentiment, and emotion. As Drew Westen, a professor in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, noted: "In politics, when reason and emotion collide, emotion invariably wins."

Only recently, I tested Adam Smith's Rational Choice Theory in one of my works, in establishing some of the factors that influence voters' choice of candidate in an election. It was established that voters' decisions and choice of candidates were also influenced by their self-interests and personal gains.

Politics often leans on self-interest, and an average person in Osun would view Adeleke's emergence as Osun Coordinator as a personal gain to those few individuals who orchestrated it, and may therefore decide not to show commitment to President Tinubu's re-election.

The Rational Choice Theory was propounded by philosopher Adam Smith in 1776. According to Vaidya (2023), the theory is grounded in classical psychological literature positing that human beings take decisions in relation to their needs and interests. It entails the claim to create a comprehensive explanatory model for social phenomena of any kind, and thus for every form of political communication as well.

This theory, in relation to voting decisions, presupposes that voters use their self-interests to make choices that would provide them with the greatest benefit. These voters weigh their options and make the choice they think will serve their interest best. How these voters decide what will serve them best is usually dependent on their personal preferences. Proponents of Rational Choice Theory believe that there is always a rational justification for behaviours, and that individuals try to maximise their rewards because they are worth the cost.

I know the APC is already thinking of how to cover the deficit that is likely to come from Oyo State. But it cannot get that by playing politics with people's emotions in Osun. I believe if our governor does his work well, while allowing APC to do theirs, a better result would be guaranteed than this obviously contradictory intellectual disposition of the APC at the national level.

Finally, Oyo can still be managed. How? Governor Seyi Makinde is not in the race to win but to play a spoiler's role. Unfortunately, he has done extremely well as governor to deserve the sympathy and votes of the majority of Oyo voters. Therefore, I suggest the APC put together some respected leaders of thought from the South West to engage him and have a conversation around a mutually beneficial political relationship. For me, I think this is paramount because if anything happens to the votes he brought to the kitty for Tinubu in 2023, in 2027, it will have dire consequences for the general outlook in the South West. It is not too late. Governor Makinde can still show understanding if those who are to approach him do not do so from a position of arrogance.

This is my take for now. I will return to the issue of Tinubu's re-election and the North challenge later.

GUILD OF EDITORS: BEFORE THINGS FALL APART

By Ismail Omipidan

I have tremendous respect for Mr. Eze Anaba, the incumbent President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE). Ordinarily, I should have shared my views with him before making this intervention public. But once I do be compelled to hear from the other side, and in the end, their opinions might end up diluting my intervention. So I will rely heavily on what is in the public domain to make my submission.

I have read The Nation's position and I have also read that of the NGE. To be candid, because we are in an election season, I think the NGE should have been more circumspect in its choice of speakers for its conference. For instance, considering the public position of His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan on the current administration, his choice as Keynote Speaker was, in my view, an error of judgment for an association that is supposed to promote national unity and cohesion.

The Nation's editorial claimed that Peter Obi and Pat Utomi were not originally listed as persons to address the conference. In the Guild's statement, there was no strong and convincing evidence to show that it extended similar invitations to other presidential candidates. The argument that it invited the APC chairman, in my view, does not hold water. A party chairman is different from a presidential candidate. If the Guild did not extend the same type of invitation it extended to Obi to Atiku, Tinubu and others, then the Guild has not done enough in that regard. The Nation’s editorial too, was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Let me pause here for now.

Regardless, I want to appeal to both parties to remember that yes, the media is powerful, but media power must be used with wisdom. This is because, as research has shown, the power of the media is often mediated by broader social and political identities. People will judge the media and journalists by what they put out.

The NGE is a national association. Therefore, it should maintain that national outlook in all ramifications. If what is about to happen is not carefully and decisively addressed, I fear for the NGE. If care is not taken, this will be the beginning of the polarisation of the Guild. Once the Guild loses its respect, it will be very difficult to regain acceptability. Once that happens, the organic unity of journalism will be polarised. And once polarised, it becomes difficult to mend.

I don talk my own o!

My date with INSA

By Ismail Omipidan

I was an active student from the beginning of my higher education journey at Kaduna Polytechnic. I participated actively in campus activism and was also involved in the activities of my hometown students’ association, then known as the Osun ion (OSSA). I rose to become the Vice President of the Kaduna Polytechnic chapter. I was also among those who travelled to Osun State during the administration of Chief Bisi Akande to demand the payment of our students’ bursary. To God be the glory, our efforts eventually yielded results, and we received the bursary at the time.

Today, the association is known as the Ila National Students Association (INSA).

By the time I got to the University of Maiduguri, however, my involvement in the association's activities had reduced considerably. I had just secured another job with The Sun newspaper after working elsewhere for several months without pay. So, I suddenly found myself juggling my studies with the demands of my new responsibilities as The Sun Correspondent. Although, I attend INSA’s meetings in Unimaid once in a while, I was not as active as I was in Kaduna Polytechnic.

After leaving the university, I gradually lost touch with INSA and its activities. That changed in 2019 when I relocated to Osun following my appointment. Since then, I have maintained a valuable relationship with the association. Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of serving as a guest speaker at some of its programmes and participating in activities such as the Holiday Lessons organised for secondary school students, among others.

So, yesterday, I was in Ila, my hometown, to attend the Educational Summit and Fundraising organised by the national headquarters of INSA, where I had the honour of serving as the Special Guest of Honour.

In my remarks at the event, I charged the secondary school students in attendance to take their studies seriously and strive to make their town, state and Nigeria proud. I also encouraged them not to embrace the idea of japa simply to travel abroad and take up menial jobs. I told them there is nothing wrong with seeking opportunities outside the country, but they must first equip themselves with the knowledge, skills and character that will enable them to contribute meaningfully wherever they find themselves.

I also reflected on Nigeria at 66 and why, despite our many challenges, we still have reasons to hope and celebrate. Yes, we continue to face serious security challenges. But the magnitude of the crisis today is significantly different from what obtained about a decade ago, when both Muslims and Christians in some parts of the country abandoned their places of worship for fear of being bombed.

We may not be where we ought to be, but we must not lose sight of the progress that has been made or the possibilities that lie ahead. There is still hope for a better Nigeria.

At the end of the event, I was honoured with a Meritorious Award in recognition of my contribution to the association. The citation reads: “In recognition of your exceptional support, dedication, and meaningful contributions to the advancement and success of the Association. Your commitment and service are highly valued and sincerely appreciated. Hearty Congratulations!”

I am grateful to INSA for the honour. More importantly, I am grateful for the opportunity to return home, reconnect with old friends and a cherished institution, and contribute, even in my little way, to the education and development of the next generation.

It was indeed a memorable date with INSA.

Oyetola: A Man Underrated, Yet Impactful

By: Ismail Omipidan

He is underrated, and he appears to prefer it that way. After all, a good leader should not be defined by arrogance, noise or flamboyance. True leadership is often underrated because its most impactful attributes - hy, humility and resilience - are easily overlooked in favour of more visible traits like charisma or stirring rhetoric.

But underrated leaders often excel where it matters most: fostering collaboration, embracing silence, nurturing potential, and consistently showing small acts of care that build deep trust and loyalty within their teams. This is precisely what Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, typifies.

He is calm. Leadership is not about empty boasts and flamboyance. It is about tailored, tangible results. And to achieve such results, a leader must be calm and calculated. Leaders who are unnecessarily excitable often run into problems. Examples abound in our recent history in Osun. He is Isiaq Adegboyega Oyetola. No one can change him.

Honourable Minister, sir, I pray that Almighty Allah wraps you in His divine safety, strengthens your heart with unwavering faith, and guides your steps away from danger and deceit.

Happy birthday to you, sir. Igba odun, odun kan !

Journalism in the Era of AI

By Ismail Omipidan

Last Thursday, I had the privilege of sharing a platform with the China-based CEO of Beijing Qianzan Technology Co. Ltd., Man Wu, where we examined the topic: “Journalism in the Era of AI: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for e Reporting.” The webinar, organised by Trendsville Media, came at a time when Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the way we gather, process, verify and disseminate information. I therefore consider the discussion not only important but timely, given its relevance to contemporary journalism.

I submitted, among other things, that good journalism has never been about technology alone. Journalism has always been about people, facts, judgment and responsibility. Technology may change the tools we use as journalists, but it should never change the values that define our noble profession.

For those of us who have spent many years in journalism, we have witnessed remarkable transformations in the way news is gathered, processed and delivered. We have moved from typewriters to computers, from physical newsrooms and manual filing systems to digital platforms, and from waiting for the next edition of a newspaper to delivering breaking news instantly through mobile phones. We have also witnessed the rise of the internet, the emergence of social media and the profound changes in the relationship between the journalist, the newsroom and the audience.

Each of these developments has challenged us to adapt. But through all of them, one thing has remained constant: the responsibility of the journalist to establish the facts, provide context and serve the public interest.

Today, Artificial Intelligence has arrived in our newsrooms, and its influence is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. It is changing how information is gathered, how interviews are transcribed, how documents are analysed, how stories are produced and, increasingly, how audiences consume news. AI can help a reporter accomplish in minutes what once took hours. It can search large volumes of documents, analyse datasets, translate information, identify patterns and assist in the preparation of content.

I further argued that while it is important to use AI to enhance our work as journalists, we must not allow it to take away our originality. For instance, I criticised the growing practice of media aides relying almost entirely on AI to produce even a six-paragraph press release. While AI can assist with refining content, the journalist or writer must still bring originality, context, judgment and a human understanding of the subject to the work.

I concluded by saying that while it is true that we cannot reject AI, at the same time, we have to embrace it with caution. Journalists and media organisations must learn to use the technology while maintaining the principles that have always given journalism its value. The tools will continue to change, just as they have changed throughout the history of our profession. But what must remain constant is our commitment to accuracy, fairness, verification, independence and public responsibility.

After more than two decades in journalism, one lesson remains particularly clear to me: technology can make a journalist faster, but it cannot automatically make the journalist better. Becoming a better journalist still depends on professional judgment, experience, integrity and the willingness to verify information before putting it before the public.

The future, therefore, should not be about choosing between journalism and Artificial Intelligence. It should be about building a form of journalism in which technology strengthens human capacity without replacing human responsibility. If we get that balance right, AI can become one of the most useful tools available to the modern newsroom. If we get it wrong, the same technology can amplify misinformation and weaken the very public trust that journalism depends upon.

Our task, therefore, is not simply to learn how to use AI. It is to learn how to use it responsibly and ethically, so that even in an increasingly automated information environment, the public can continue to depend on journalism for what it has always promised: accurate information, proper context and trustworthy judgment.

I appreciate the management of Trendsville Media for organising the webinar and for inviting me to contribute to the insightful discussion.

E ni ba mo iyi wura la ta fun... ( We only sell gold to those who know its value)

Ibadan was agog yesterday!

Despite my tight schedule, I thank Allah for making it possible for me to join my brother, Hon. Adebayo Adeleke (Banik) and his family, to celebrate his wife, our mother Adeleke, on her 60th birthday.

The roll call was impressive. It was a true gathering of Omoluabis. It just goes to show that when you are a good person, you don't need any political agenda to attract big and responsible names to your occasion.

Mr. Fuji himself, Adewale Ayuba, was on the bandstand and trust him, he did not disappoint. The political jabs? I will come to that later, in sha Allah.

Happy birthday once again, Ma. Aseyi se amodun!

Assisted my wife in the kitchen this evening. Our wives are not slaves, they deserve support. Small help goes a long way at home.

Today, I made a debut appearance on ADBN, where I spoke about the Obi/Soludo war and that of Wike/PGF. Enjoy it!

Anambra Debt & Wike, APC Governor Feud || Morning Express youtu.be/vN0mF6H8P-A?si… via @YouTube

Dotun O di gba! Bye!

Yesterday, I was in Lagos to join others in bidding farewell to my late senior colleague, friend, brother, and fellow Osun man, Dotun Oladipo, Publisher of The Eagle Online.

For some days after I saw the flier announcing the burial ceremony, I kept debating o travel to Lagos or not. But by Thursday morning, I concluded I must be in Lagos to honour a man who always honoured others while he was here. Mr. Dotun was one of the few editors who flew in from Lagos to attend the wedding of our son, Mubarak Yusuf Alli, in November, last year, in Abuja.

I had asked myself: if he were alive and invited me to a party in Lagos, would I not honour his invitation because of the relationship we shared? Certainly, I would. So, I concluded that if I would honour an invitation to his party while he was alive, why wouldn’t I honour his death?

By Thursday, therefore, I had made up my mind to be in Lagos early Friday morning to attend the funeral service. I was glad I did.

Beyond paying my last respects to Dotun, the trip also provided me with the opportunity to meet some of the current good hands in the media industry in the South-West, many of whom are interestingly, products of Ogun Poly. I met egbon Ademola Oni, former editor of The Punch; Adebowale Yemi, the Lion of Maryland and former editor at ThisDay; Alhaji Abdulr-Rahman Balogun, spokesman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission; Debo Abdullah, editor of the Nigerian Tribune; and His Excellency, Eze Anaba, editor of Vanguard and incumbent President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, among several others who are not products of Ogun Poly.

Oladipo is gone. But his good works as a media manager and mentor to younger journalists will continue to be remembered.

You, what will you be remembered for? You are an editor today, but you will not be an editor forever. When you eventually leave, what will people remember you for? Will they remember you for the number of young journalists you mentored and helped to grow, or for the number of subordinates you frustrated out of the newsroom? Idajo Olorun lo ju o!

Meanwhile, my attendance at the event also provided me with an opportunity to meet one of my kinsmen, Adebowale Oladinni, Senior Legal Adviser to the Osun State Government, Office of the Attorney-General. He is also a member of the Osun State Public Procurement Agency. He approached me and introduced himself as a friend of my brother, Faruq Abbas. The name alone made me abandon whatever I was doing at the time to give him my full attention.

Oladinni, thank you for your kind words about my persona and character. May the Lord see you through successfully in your current assignment.

To the Oladipo family, please accept my heartfelt condolences once again. Your loss is undoubtedly painful, but I hope you will find comfort in the knowledge that Dotun lived a life that touched many people, especially within the media industry. His contributions, mentorship and the relationships he built will continue to speak for him long after his departure. May Almighty God give the entire family the strength and fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.

Dotun, you have done your part. Rest well, Egbon. O di gba!

Gen. Christopher Musa: El-Rufai Did Not Create Kaduna’s Division, Crisis

By Ismail Omipidan

How old was General Christopher Musa in the year 2000, when Kaduna witnessed one of its deadliest religious riots, which was primarily caused by the proposed implementation of Sharia? I r El-Rufai was nowhere near the Kaduna State Government House when that incident occurred.

For me, the attempt to implement Sharia law in Kaduna State, although resisted by the governor at the time, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, marked a significant turning point in the state’s history and contributed to the deepening of the North-South and Christian-Muslim fault lines that have continued to shape Kaduna politics and society.

It was in the build-up to the implementation of the Sharia law that many beer parlours and some other businesses began relocating from predominantly Muslim areas to places such as Sabo, Baranwa, Narayi, Television and Trikania, among others.

In fairness to Makarfi, he tried to prevent the Sharia controversy from taking hold in Kaduna. When that effort failed, he and other stakeholders eventually arrived at an arrangement under which Sharia would apply only in predominantly Muslim areas. That development, rather than anything El-Rufai did years later, was one of the defining moments in the physical and social separation that subsequently became associated with Kaduna.

Even after the Sharia-related crises had subsided, Kaduna experienced the devastating violence that followed the 2011 presidential election. I was a witness to that ugly chapter in our history. Of the deaths recorded across the country, reports said Kaduna accounted for more than half of the national total. Was El-Rufai in power then?

The truth is, Kaduna has a long history of religious and ethnic violence, largely dividing the predominantly Muslim north and the largely Christian south, which predated the era of El Rufai. Even before the year 2000 sharia riots and the 2011 post-presidential election crisis, Kaduna had witnessed other deadly violence such as the 1987 Kafanchan riots, 1992 Zangon-Kataf crisis, and the 2002 Miss World riots. All these had nothing to do with El Rufai and it will therefore be disingenuous of anyone to pin these division and crisis that have defined Kaduna on him.

I recall that in March 2015, during the build-up to the April 2015 general elections, El-Rufai, then the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, had while speaking on Freedom Radio Kaduna’s breakfast programme, 'Barka da Warhaka', promised to bring an end to the violence and killings in Southern Kaduna area and Birnin-Gwari axis of the state. If there had been no such killings at the time, would the issue have featured as a campaign point?

Specifically, he said: “this is not play or politics; we are here with serious commitment and determination to serve with all sense of honesty, sincerity and fear of God. How can they be killing our people in Southern Kaduna areas like Kaura, Sanga and Birnin Gwari and Giwa without any action? Who are they and where are they coming from? How can these killers be committing such crime without being arrested and prosecuted?

"Something is wrong somewhere, part of which is negligence and insensitivity, we will not tolerate it and by the power of almighty God, we will crush them for maximum security and stability in the state."

His position at the time, helped in no small measure, in making most Southern Kaduna people turn their back on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), candidate at the poll, as they had before then accused his administration of doing little or nothing to address the insecurity ravaging the area at the time.

So, again, I ask General Musa: where was he before 2015? Was it El-Rufai who was responsible for the killings in Southern Kaduna before he became governor?

Another reality is that, in many parts of Northern Nigeria, Kaduna included, there has long been a deep-seated animosity between groups who see themselves as indigenous to an area and those they regard as settlers. For instance, in some parts of Southern Kaduna, sections of the Hausa-Fulani community have historically been regarded as settlers. So, often, the issue of who owns the land, and who should be the custodian, have always been at the centre of most of the violent communal clashes in some parts of the state. And where the parties involved profess different faiths, religion inevitably becomes another dimension of the conflict.

Unfortunately too, successive administrations in the state and political appointees from Southern Kaduna have not done enough to win the confidence of the people of the area. This is particularly important in Southern Kaduna, where perceptions of exclusion or discrimination can quickly transform even genuine policy mistakes into what many residents interpret as deliberate actions targeted at their communities. Although I have not seen much of that particular scenario under the current administration, if we are serious about ending the madness, then we must call a spade a spade and not a farm implement. We must learn to separate genuine grievances from criminal acts and hold people accountable for both.

One of the reasons criminal acts committed under the guise of religion or ethnicity continue to persist is that perpetrators are often not brought to justice. One way to break this cycle is to ensure that those identified as perpetrators, sponsors and collaborators are apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the law.

Government must also examine how community leadership structures can contribute to preventing violence. Where there is credible evidence of complicity, negligence or failure to cooperate with law enforcement, community leaders must be held liable and appropriate sanctions should follow. Community leaders must cooperate with security agencies in identifying perpetrators and preventing further attacks. Perhaps, when we start holding community leaders responsible, the spate of violent attacks, including religiously-motivated violence on persons will be minimised.

At the same time, government and its officials must moderate their utterances, both in times of peace and during periods of crisis. Unguarded statements by public officials can deepen mistrust and make it considerably more difficult for citizens to believe that government is acting impartially on some of the raging issues.

I may not have been pleased with everything El-Rufai did as governor. I will however not hesitate to acknowledge one of his contributions to Kaduna's political development by re-engineering the political space in favour of ‘Mayan gobe ‘- the youths and break the dominance of what was popularly described as 'Club 60'. If not for his retirement of Club 60 in Southern Kaduna, most of the young players in government today would not have found a space, let alone have a voice.

For years, particularly in Southern Kaduna, “Club 60” had exercised considerable influence over the political space, leaving younger politicians largely at the margins. El-Rufai disrupted that pattern.

As governor, apart from having several youths as appointees, he took the bull by the horn by ensuring that all council chairmen candidates the party fielded during one of the council elections were between 34 and 40. And most of them won.

I recall, for instance, that the chairmen of Kaura, Jaba, Kajuru, Kaduna South, Lere and Giwa were in their 30s at the time. He also supported the emergence of one of the youngest members of the House of Representatives in the Ninth National Assembly, representing Kachia/Kagarko. The member was 34 at the time.

El-Rufai did his best in this regard and other areas. He was not perfect, and I do not agree with everything he did. But historical disagreements with him should not become an excuse to rewrite the history of Kaduna’s ethno-religious crisis or attribute to him problems that clearly predated his administration.

General Musa may have his reasons for holding the views he expressed, but history deserves better than convenient political narratives. Mallam El-Rufai does not deserve to be lied about simply because some people disagree with him. Haba!

Omipidan, a journalist, author and media consultant writes from Abuja.

UniOsun : Prof. Clement Adeboye, et tu?

By Ismail Omipidan

Professor Clement Adeboye is the current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Osun (UniOsun). He was appointed five years ago by the governor of Osun State at the time, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola. Adeboye's n November this year.

By his own account, his children initially discouraged him from applying for the position. They had asked whether he knew anyone in government who could influence his appointment, and he answered in the negative. He said both he and his children were therefore pleasantly surprised when he was eventually offered the job, following what he described as his brilliant performance at the interview.

I recall during the process that led to his appointment, Governor Oyetola came under tremendous pressure from some of the prospective candidates, including one from Ede and another who was a relation of Oyetola from Iragbiji. Given the governor's relationship with the two candidates, many had concluded that one of them would eventually get the job. But that was not to be.

One morning, I ran into the Chairman of the University Governing Council at the time, Chief Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN. I approached him and asked how the selection process was going. I told him I had also spoken with the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Labo Popoola, to get his perspective on the court cases, intrigues, and politics surrounding the process. The Council Chairman simply said to me: “Ismail, do us a favour. Engage your principal frankly about what he wants. He should let us know if he has an interest.”

From there, I headed to the Governor's Office in Abere and met with Governor Oyetola. I told him what the Council Chairman had asked me to ascertain. His response was unequivocal: “Tell them I want the best for the university. They should give us the best candidate without any sentiment.”

I returned to Ali, SAN, and delivered the governor's message. He then told me: “Now we are relieved.” The rest, as they say, is history. Professor Adeboye emerged as Vice-Chancellor of UniOsun because, according to the process, he scored the highest points. His appointment was therefore based on merit and Oyetola's willingness to allow the best man for the job emerge.

I have provided this background because I want readers to know that sometimes, those who benefit from a sane and merit-based system end up participating in the very actions that could pollute and destroy the system that produced them.

Even if Professor Adeboye did not lobby for it, the mere fact that the law is being amended just to allow him to spend 7 years in office instead of the 5 provided for under the existing law should give him serious cause for reflection and walk away. Good name, as the saying goes, is better than silver and gold. If the university community is thrown into crisis tomorrow over this matter, the government and Professor Adeboye must bear responsibility for the consequences.

To Prof. Adeboye, I hope your children are reading this piece. If they truly believe in merit and integrity, they should advise you to reconsider this ignoble journey you are about to embark on. There is still an opportunity for you to walk away from an arrangement that could leave a troubling legacy and even soil your name.

And before anyone asks whether I would do the same if I were in his or similar position, I have done it before. That was 19 years ago. The majority of those involved in that episode are still alive today.

At the time, I was Chairman of the Senate Press Corps. By our constitution, a reporter working for a weekly publication could not be a member of the group. Suddenly, my management transferred me to our new weekly publication, The Spectator. With that transfer, I could no longer function as Chairman of the Senate Press Corps.

As I was preparing to resign, some colleagues approached me with the idea that the rules be amended to enable me remain in office.

I rejected the idea and chose instead to resign. I still remember Chief Jacob Edi telling me to my face that I was the only person he had seen struggle to get power and then willingly relinquish it. For me, it was never about power. It was about integrity.

I am glad that I made that decision 19 years ago. Prof. Adeboye can make the same choice today. Perhaps, a decade from now, we can look back and tell his children that their father chose principle over personal advantage and refused to soil the reputation they would inherit from him.

I remember the Sally Tibbot payroll fraud. When you came out to defend the Sally Tibbot payroll fraud, the woman alleged that you did that because you wanted a second term. But those of us familiar with the law thought otherwise. So, it is true after all? Haaa! Aiye ma ni ka o! Prof. Clement Adeboye, et tu?

I call on all men of good conscience in Osun to rise and stop this nonsense. It is a time bomb that could lead to instability in our university governance system. What may appear to some as a simple amendment today could become a dangerous precedent tomorrow.

This is the time to act—not when the crisis has already begun.

Omipidan, a journalist, author and media consultant, writes from Abuja.