How a Brave Nigerian "Yahoo Prince" Took Yahooze to the Seat of Power in Abuja

By Mogaji Wole Arisekola

If you think you are wise, then lend me your ears and listen to the story of Ali Baba and his nine thieves.

Over the years, Nigerians have witnessed one scandal after another.

We all remember the famous NNDC "traveling miracle" during the COVID-19 lockdown.

At a time when airplanes were firmly parked on the ground and the skies looked like they had gone on holiday, a certain professor who headed the agency reportedly managed to spend N80 billion chartering what many Nigerians jokingly called "ghost aircraft."

When the National Assembly summoned him to explain the astonishing travel expenses, the professor reportedly fainted before giving satisfactory answers. Since then, he has largely disappeared from the public spotlight. Yet, as life would have it, the same man is said to be living quite comfortably somewhere, apparently enjoying the fruits of his fortune.

That, my friends, is Nigeria's version of magic: planes that never flew, journeys that never happened, and money that somehow completed the trip.

But then again, that's life. We talk, we shake our heads, and... we move on.

Then came the fuel subsidy scandal. Billions of naira were allegedly siphoned from the national treasury. The media went into overdrive, social media exploded with outrage, and Nigerians demanded accountability. Yet, after a few months, the noise died down, and the country moved on.

The controversies surrounding the Central Bank under former Governor Godwin Emefiele also generated widespread public debate, with allegations involving billions of dollars. Investigations were announced, accusations were made, and once again Nigerians waited for justice.

So, when the news broke that one Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi and the so-called "Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council" (PFIPC) had scammed the Nigerian government and Nigerians, I was not perturbed. Initially, I thought he was a friend of the real prince or a friend of the Eko mafia led by Ogboju Ode Ninu Igbo Irunmale. But when the reported scandal moved beyond denial and damage control, it exposed systemic gaffes in how Nigeria safeguards the sacred institutions of governance, public finance, and diplomatic protocol. If the state is serious about protecting its reputation, the response must be an open, independent commission of inquiry.

But why the story looks so suspicious to me is that the Lagos mafia in President Tinubu's cabinet do not pick the people they perceive as poor men's call. I can give that to them. It is always good to know your value when you have the opportunity to be identified with a big man like Mr. President, especially when you have never lived in God's own country, the United States of America.

But in real context, there is a Yoruba proverb that says: Owo la nfi nko oyinbo, ise lo nmu ni gbo Hausa, eni ti ara ba de kan ki re oke Oya. (We learn the English language with money; poverty makes you speak Hausa if you are from the South; no comfortable person will relocate to the far North if you are from the Western Region.)

Going abroad to study with your family's money is good, but if you go there to hustle, there is something you never tell people.

Omo buruku abi irin iya lese. (A prodigal child walking like a tout.)

Don't let me digress from the real issue of today.

This is why I have consistently argued for more than a decade that the presidential system of government is not working for Nigeria. In my opinion, it has failed to deliver the accountability, efficiency, and development that Nigerians deserve. I believe the country should return to a regional system of government and revive the healthy competition that existed during the early years of our independence.

Two possible futures lie before us.

The first is dangerous. If the current structure continues to deepen distrust, inequality, and unresolved grievances, Nigeria could face prolonged regional conflicts capable of tearing the nation apart.

The second offers hope. We can choose mutual respect, embrace our diversity, and adopt true federalism built on meaningful regional autonomy.

No single individual can effectively govern a country as complex as Nigeria under the present structure. Our institutions are weak, our civil service lacks the discipline and independence required to uphold accountability, and too often mediocrity is rewarded while excellence is ignored.

Over the past decade, allegations of massive financial mismanagement involving key government institutions, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company and the Central Bank, have repeatedly dominated public discourse. Whether every allegation is ultimately proven or not, the recurring scandals have severely damaged public confidence in government.

The real enemies of ordinary Nigerians are not their neighbours from different ethnic groups. Too often, tribal and religious divisions are exploited by members of the political elite while public resources continue to disappear. Until Nigerians confront these realities honestly, we will continue moving in circles instead of making meaningful progress.

In my view, the greatest challenge facing Nigeria is not merely political; it is moral. Corruption has become deeply entrenched, impunity is often celebrated, and integrity has become increasingly rare. Nigeria is still searching for leaders capable of placing national interest above personal ambition.

History reminds us that things were once different. During the First Republic, the regions competed to develop their economies and improve the lives of their people. The Western Region pioneered free education, the Eastern Region became known for commerce and industrial growth, while the Northern Region built a strong agricultural economy. Regional leaders were largely accountable to their own people rather than depending almost entirely on the federal government.

Today, many state governments depend heavily on monthly allocations from Abuja. That dependence has weakened innovation, reduced accountability, and discouraged healthy competition among the states.

This is my opinion, and every Nigerian has the right to disagree. However, I believe history teaches us that unless we fundamentally restructure the federation and strengthen regional governance, we may simply be postponing a deeper national crisis.

Nigeria deserves another opportunity to succeed.

Let us seriously consider returning to a stronger regional system of government—not to divide the country, but to strengthen it. Let us build a Nigeria where every region is empowered to develop its own strengths while remaining committed to one united nation.

Only then can Nigeria truly dream again, heal again, and rebuild what decades of poor leadership and institutional failure have damaged.

Ire o.

Mogaji Wole Arisekola writes from Ibadan.

ROYAL WELCOME MESSAGE To His Imperial Majesty Ọba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I The Alaafin of Oyo

ROYAL WELCOME MESSAGE

To His Imperial Majesty  

Ọba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I  

The Alaafin of Oyo  

On His Safe Return from Brazil

Kabiyesi! Atọ́ká àwọn Ọba! Iku Baba Yeye!

We, the children of Oyo, bow in deep reverence as we welcome Your Imperial Majesty home.

Your safe return from Brazil is not just a journey ended — it is prophecy fulfilled.  

Like the eagle that soars to distant lands but never forgets its nest, Kabiyesi has flown across oceans to represent the ancient throne of Oduduwa, and Oranmiyan and has returned to us in peace and glory.

Why We Celebrate This Return:

You Have Donated Honour to the Crown  

Brazil to Oyo is more than kilometers. It is a bridge between the Yoruba at home and the Yoruba in diaspora.  

Kabiyesi’s presence there reminds the world: The Alaafin’s throne is not a museum piece. It is a living voice of history, culture, and royalty.  

You went not as a tourist, but as an ambassador of our heritage. You have acquired respect for us on foreign soil.

You Have Strengthened Our Roots Abroad  

Wherever Yoruba footprints are, Oyo is the root.  

Your trip to Brazil, land of our dispersed children, says to them: “The palace remembers you. The throne still calls you home.”  

That is healing for a people scattered by history. That is leadership.

Oyo is Stronger With You Here  

A kingdom without a king is a body without a head.  

Your return brings balance, blessing, and direction back to the ancient city.  

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.” Proverbs 29:2  

Oyo rejoices today because the custodian of our culture, tradition, and unity is back on his throne.

Our Prayer for Kabiyesi:

May the God who preserved you on the waters and in foreign lands continue to preserve you on the throne of your fathers.  

May your reign be long, peaceful, and impactful — like that of your illustrious forebears.  

May your wisdom continue to donate unity to Oyo, donate peace to Yorubaland, and donate direction to Nigeria.  

Ọba tó jẹ́ lorí ìlú, E ó máa wà láìsí àìsàn, láìsí ọ̀tẹ́, láìsí ìbànújẹ́.  

Ẹ káàbọ̀, Kabiyesi! Ẹ káàbọ̀, Ààrẹ Ọba! Ẹ káàbọ̀, Olú ṣọ̀rọ̀ ọmọ Yorùbá!

We welcome you with drums of joy, hearts of loyalty, and prayers of a grateful people.

With deepest respect and unending loyalty,  

*Revd Dr Kolade Oladele* 

_PA to Alaafin Ipekun Oba_

Time for States to Reclaim Their Forest Reserves: Bringing Security, Development and Accountability Closer to the People

The time has come for the Federal Government of Nigeria to fundamentally rethink its ownership and management of vast forest reserves and national parks across the country. 

Current security realities have exposed the limitations of a highly centralised system that places enormous territories under federal control while leaving local communities and state governments to bear the consequences of inadequate oversight.

Nigeria currently has seven federally managed national parks spread across different states:

- Gashaka-Gumti National Park (6,731 km²) – Taraba and Adamawa States

- Kainji Lake National Park (5,382 km²) – Niger and Kwara States

- Cross River National Park (4,000 km²) – Cross River State

- Old Oyo National Park (2,512 km²) – Oyo and Kwara States

- Chad Basin National Park (2,258 km²) – Borno and Yobe States

- Kamuku National Park (1,121 km²) – Kaduna State

- Okomu National Park (202 km²) – Edo State

Collectively, these parks cover more than 22,000 square kilometres of land, an area larger than several Nigerian states.

Managing and securing such vast territories requires substantial resources, intelligence gathering, surveillance capabilities, and constant engagement with host communities.

As seen above, Old Oyo National Park alone covers approximately 2,512 square kilometres (251,200 hectares or 970 square miles). 

To put this into perspective, the park is about 2.7 times the size of Lagos State and spans eleven Local Government Areas, ten in Oyo State and one in Kwara State.

Over the years, concerns have grown that many forest reserves and protected areas across Nigeria have become safe havens for criminal elements. 

Numerous communities bordering these forests have reported the existence of camps from which attacks are allegedly coordinated and launched against neighbouring towns and villages. 

Regardless of differing accounts surrounding these incidents, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Federal Government lacks the capacity to effectively monitor, secure and manage every square kilometre of these extensive territories.

This reality raises an important question: Why should the Federal Government continue to maintain exclusive control over assets that it is unable to adequately secure, monitor or fully develop for the benefit of the people?

Interestingly, Nigeria already has a precedent that demonstrates that federal ownership of national parks is neither permanent nor irreversible. 

Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State was formerly a national park under federal control. However, the Bauchi State Government successfully pushed for its return, and in 2006 ownership and management were formally transferred back to the state through an amendment to the National Park Service Act.

The success of Bauchi State should serve as an example to every other state hosting a national park. 

One must ask: Why are the governments of Oyo, Kwara, Taraba, Adamawa, Niger, Cross River, Kaduna, Edo, Borno and Yobe States not following the footsteps of Bauchi State?

If Bauchi State could successfully challenge the status quo and reclaim control of Yankari in the interest of its people, there is no reason why other affected states cannot pursue similar constitutional and legislative processes.

State governments should not be afraid to challenge federal arrangements that directly affect the security, welfare and economic development of their citizens. 

Leadership requires courage. 

Governors of affected states should work closely with members of the National Assembly representing their states to initiate legislative amendments and policy reforms that would transfer greater ownership and management responsibilities to the states and host communities.

A more practical and sustainable approach would be to transfer ownership and primary management responsibilities to the states and local governments within whose jurisdictions these reserves are located. 

State and local authorities are closer to the terrain, understand the peculiar security challenges of their areas and have stronger incentives to ensure that these lands contribute meaningfully to economic growth and public safety.

However, the conversation should not stop at state and local government control alone. The local communities and towns bordering these forests must also be formally integrated into their management and security architecture. 

No one understands these forests better than the people who have lived around them for generations. They possess invaluable knowledge of the terrain, movement patterns, traditional routes and unusual activities within these areas.

A community-centred management model would create a sense of ownership among residents, transforming them from passive observers into active stakeholders in the protection and development of these reserves. 

Community leaders, hunters, farmers, youth groups and other local stakeholders should be incorporated into structured surveillance, intelligence-sharing, environmental conservation and development programmes. 

Such collaboration would significantly improve early-warning systems and make it more difficult for criminal elements to operate undetected.

Furthermore, involving local communities would ensure that the economic benefits derived from these reserves are shared more equitably. 

Eco-tourism, agro-tourism, sustainable forestry, agricultural projects, conservation programmes and other revenue-generating activities should create employment opportunities and improve the livelihoods of the people who live closest to these resources. 

When communities benefit directly from the preservation and proper management of these forests, they become natural partners in protecting them.

Even where forest reserves are retained primarily for environmental and conservation purposes, states, local governments and host communities are still better positioned to manage them effectively, with the Federal Government providing regulatory oversight, technical support and national policy direction.

It is increasingly difficult to justify a system that leaves such vast tracts of land under distant federal control while many surrounding communities struggle with insecurity, unemployment and underdevelopment. 

These lands should not remain isolated assets with little direct impact on the welfare of the people who live around them. Rather, they should serve as strategic resources for security, conservation, economic development and community empowerment.

For this reason, affected states and local governments should actively advocate for greater control over these reserves and, where necessary, explore constitutional and legal avenues to restructure the current ownership framework. 

Such efforts should also be accompanied by demands for formal community participation in governance and management structures.

Nigeria's security and developmental challenges require bold and innovative solutions. The Bauchi State example has already shown that change is possible when political leaders are willing to act. 

Other state governments should learn from that experience and begin the conversation on reclaiming greater control over the vast forest reserves within their territories.

Decentralising the management of national parks and forest reserves while simultaneously empowering local communities to become active stakeholders would bring responsibility, accountability and benefits closer to the people. 

In the long run, this approach offers a more realistic and effective alternative to the current model of distant federal ownership and control.

Culled from Dapo Olakulehin's page. 

Inter-Compound Traditional Games Kicks Off in Agbokojo Ibadan

Agbokojo : One Community, Many Games, One Champion 

Imole De Inter-Compound Game Competition Set for Agbokojo in Ibadan South West Local Goverment 

History will be made in Agbokojo as compounds across the area prepare to face off in a week-long celebration of culture, unity, and sport. 

Bashorun Saintabey, a prolific youth and community development ambassador is set to facilitate the maiden edition of the Imole De Inter-Compound Game Competition, an event designed to revive traditional games and strengthen community bonds among residents of Agbokojo areas of Ibadan South West Local Government. 

The competition, themed “One Community, Many Games, One Champion”, will run from July 12th to 19th, 2027. It is strictly open to all compounds in Agbokojo Area of Ibadan.

According to the organizers, the games will spotlight both traditional Yoruba indoor games and other community favorites. Expected events include Ayo, Draughts, Boju Boju, Whot, Ludo, and Dàmù, alongside other competitive displays that test skill, strategy, and teamwork. 

“Imole De means ‘Light Has Come’, and that is exactly what this competition represents for Agbokojo,” Bashorun Saintabey said. “For one week, our differences will be set aside. Every compound will compete as one community, with the goal of crowning one champion.” 

Community leaders say the initiative is timely, as it will rekindle interest in indigenous games among younger residents while giving elders a platform to pass down cultural heritage. 

Registration and fixtures for participating compounds are hereby notified announced in the coming days in July. The event will take place at Ward 7 Agbokojo.

Briefing the newsmen ahead of the games , Bashorun Saintabey maintained that "For Agbokojo, July 2027 is already marked on the calendar, one community, many games, and only one champion will emerge.

Bashorun Saintabbey (whose real name is Adeniji Abiodun Abiola) is a prominent Nigerian socio-philosopher, author, and public policy expert. He is also a senior lecturer at The Polytechnic of Ibadan

For further information contact: +234 818 155 3854