National Issues
OLUSEGUN ADENIYI’S AGAINST THE RUN OF PLAY – A CRITICAL REVIEW.
THE twelve chapters book, ‘Against the Run of Play – How an incumbent President was defeated in Nigeria’ – is the latest attempt by Olusegun Adeniyi to chronicle how Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was upended in the 2015 presidential election.
As a matter of fact, the reactions generated by the book does not only has a significant impact on nation’s political space but it has added to the existing literature on Nigeria’s political history. The antecedent of the author being the former spokesman of late president Umar Musa Ya’radua, the quality of his earlier book titled Power, Politics and Death and the Pedagogical approach adopted in writing the new book gives it the necessary credibility.
With the distinctive style of Adeniyi’s writing, he is becoming arguably one of the foremost and most credible chroniclers of Nigeria’s contemporary political history and evolution. The author approaches the documentary from perspective of an active journalist/reporter not that of an academic historian as this has even been confirmed by Chidi Amuta who wrote the foreword of the book.
However, he applies footnotes where necessary to give the book the scholastic touch. The omniscient point of view used in developing the narrative sounds plausible. With the narrative approach, the work passes test of objectivity and this is justified by the use of interview technique adopted by the narrator in seeking the opinions and identifying the roles of various dramatic persona in event preceding the defeat of an incumbent president in the nation’s history.
The 221 pages non-fiction work is in my considered opinion a book that will have an enduring value. Through careful allusion to relevant actors that shaped the course of political history of the period under review, the author’s purpose which is preservation of the nation’s political history and documention of the roles of various actors has been achieved.
The way the narrator had used the device of flashback gives the storyline the necessary linkages as reflected in the chapterization of the book.
It is instructive that in developing the contents and coverage of the book, the appropriate themes such as roles of ethnic politics, intervention of international community, PDP crises, formation of the APC, mistakes done by Jonathan’s presidency, Boko Haram insurgency / Chibok girls palava, Obasanjo’s revolt and interference of Governor’s forum were intertwined to make the book a masterpiece.
Of equal importance is the fact that the author gives the prime actor of the narrative the enough benefit of doubts to either clarify or air his views for the purpose of balancing and prosperity.
In short, the book offers the readers unusual insights into the major human and institutional factors that actually facilitated the defeat of the then ruling party, Peoples’ Democratic Party.
Obviously, the book recapitulates in the best tradition of literary journalism the experiences and events of Jonathan’s era in a chronological order.
The narrative carries one along compellingly and this has largely enriched the text apart from its deep clarity, brevity and conciseness of diction and expressions used by the author.
As a narrator, Adeniyi provides the reader with a factual accounts of events that culminated into the unprecedented defeat of President Jonathan by capturing the various intrigues that defined the outcome of 2015 presidential election.
In the book proscript, the narrative clearly chronicles Buhari’s presidency, the president health challenges and the underscoring tides and this is garnished with relevant illustrations.
By way of evaluation, some events that the book captured were condensed in such a way that the quality and aesthetics of the book become minimized. Assuming some of the happenings had been carefully expatiated, the full import of the narration wold have been fully appreciated.
Again, the narrator is too mild in defining the roles the various actors played both positively and negatively in the events leading to the historical defeat of the incumbent president in the annals of the nation.
One other important development arising from the public presentation of the book is the issue of cyber security. It sounds ridiculous that three days after the book launch, the soft copy of the book had gone viral on social media.
The ugly development actually raises the question of copyright piracy in Nigeria. The author invariably would have lost fortunes or would probably have been surcharged by the theft of his intellectual property by the criminal hackers.
Without mincing words, the theft of the copyright of the book has exposed the government inability to forestall copyright infractions and theft of Adeniyi’s intellectual property. The scenario in a way has exposed the defects and inherent lapses in the capacity of Nigerian Copyright Commission and EFCC in handling cyber related copyright piracy of online publications.
Arising from the theft of the softcopy of Adeniyi’s new book is an advocacy and call for a better regime of intellectual property administration in Nigeria.
Of course, there are reasonable grounds to suspect the members of staff of the firm that published the book, Kachifo publishers, of being responsible for the thieving of the book or probably one of them must have connived to break the code used for storage and protection of the copyright otherwise the public wouldn’t have got access to it.
In the final analysis, the book – Against the Run of Play – by Olusegun Adeniyi is a must read for students, historians, politicians and scholars of contemporary politics. By evaluation, the book succeeds in capturing the blow by blow accounts of how president Jonathan was defeated.
Again, the book by content analysis, examination of choice of diction by the author and style of the narrative, passes the test of readability, exploitability and cannot be right off in terms of suitability of content.
By Rahaman Onike, Oyo.
He is public administrator, policy analyst and author.
The Nigerian government spent a staggering $3.58 billion on servicing foreign debt within the first nine months of 2024, marking a significant 39.77% increase compared to the $2.56 billion expended over the same period in 2023.
This data, drawn from a recent report on international payment statistics by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), reflects a concerning rise in the country’s foreign debt obligations amid depreciating currency values.
According to the report, the most substantial monthly debt servicing payment occurred in May 2024, totaling $854.37 million. This is a substantial 286.52% increase from May 2023’s $221.05 million.
Meanwhile, the highest monthly payment for 2023 was $641.7 million in July, underscoring the trend of Nigeria’s escalating debt costs.
Detailed analysis of monthly payments further illuminates the trend.
In January 2024, debt servicing costs surged by 398.89%, reaching $560.52 million, a significant rise from $112.35 million in January 2023. However, February saw a modest reduction of 1.84%, with costs decreasing from $288.54 million in 2023 to $283.22 million in 2024. March also recorded a decline of 31.04%, down to $276.17 million from $400.47 million the previous year.
Additional fluctuations in debt payments continued throughout the year, with June witnessing a slight decrease of 6.51% to $50.82 million from $54.36 million in 2023. July 2024 payments dropped by 15.48%, while August showed a 9.69% decline compared to 2023. September, however, reversed the trend with a 17.49% increase, highlighting persistent pressure on foreign debt obligations.
With the rise in exchange rates exacerbating these financial strains, Nigeria’s foreign debt servicing costs are projected to remain elevated.
The central bank’s data highlights how these obligations are stretching national resources as the naira’s devaluation continues to impact debt repayment in dollar terms.
Rising State Debt Levels Add Pressure
The federal government’s debt challenges are mirrored by state governments, whose collective debt rose to N11.47 trillion by June 30, 2024.
Despite allocations from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) and internally generated revenue (IGR), states remain heavily reliant on federal transfers to meet budgetary demands.
According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), the debt burden for Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) rose by 14.57% from N10.01 trillion in December 2023.
In naira terms, debt rose by 73.46%, from N4.15 trillion to N7.2 trillion, primarily due to the naira’s depreciation from N899.39 to N1,470.19 per dollar within six months. External debt for states and the FCT also increased from $4.61 billion to $4.89 billion during this period.
Further data from BudgIT’s 2024 State of States report illustrates how reliant states are on federal support. The report revealed that 32 states depended on FAAC allocations for at least 55% of their revenue in 2023.
In fact, 14 states relied on FAAC for 70% or more of their revenue. This heavy dependence on federal transfers underscores the vulnerability of states to fluctuations in federal revenue, particularly those tied to oil prices.
The economic challenges facing both the federal and state governments are stark. The combination of mounting foreign debt, fluctuating exchange rates, and high reliance on federally distributed revenue suggests a need for fiscal reforms to bolster revenue generation and reduce vulnerability to external shocks.
With foreign debt obligations continuing to grow, the report emphasizes the urgency for Nigeria to address its debt sustainability to foster long-term economic stability.
Engr. Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, has called for a prompt investigation into the increasing occurrences of building collapses in major cities across Nigeria.
In a motion presented to the House on Wednesday, Oseni expressed deep concern over the alarming frequency of building collapses, emphasising the threat they pose to the lives and property of Nigerians.
The APC lawmaker, through a statement by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, cited the recent collapse of a two-storey school building at Saint Academy in Busa Buji, Jos, Plateau State, on July 12, 2024. The tragic incident, which trapped 154 people and claimed 22 lives, is the latest in a series of similar disasters, raising serious concerns nationwide.
Oseni also referenced a report from The Punch newspaper, which revealed that Nigeria had recorded 135 building collapse incidents between 2022 and July 2024.
“This figure is alarming and unacceptable,” he stated, stressing the urgency of preventing further occurrences.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Oseni reminded the House that the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and other relevant professional bodies are responsible for ensuring compliance with building standards and practices.
“Despite these regulatory frameworks, the recurring collapses suggest that enforcement is lacking. The loss of lives, properties, and resources is staggering, and this disturbing trend must be addressed immediately,” he remarked.
He proposed the formation of an Adhoc Committee to investigate the underlying causes of these collapses and recommend both immediate and long-term solutions.
Also, he urged the House Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure swift implementation of any recommendations.
The House agreed to deliberate on the motion and is expected to present its findings and proposed actions within eight weeks.
The Vice-chairman of the Oyo Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, has expressed deep concern over the increasing involvement of religious leaders in material pursuits, accusing them of abandoning their spiritual duties in favour of wealth and influence.
Oba Alao, who is also the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, made this statement during a visit from the leadership of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement “Ayo Ni O,” led by Baba Aladura Prophet Emmanuel Abiodun Alogbo, at his palace in Surulere Local Government on Thursday.
The monarch accused some religious leaders of sharing part of the blame for the moral and political crises that have engulfed the nation. According to him, spiritual leaders, once seen as the moral compass of society, have become compromised by corruption, aligning themselves with the very forces they should condemn.
Oba Alao was unapologetic in his criticism, stating, “Ninety-five percent of Nigerian leaders, both political and religious, are spiritually compromised.”
He argued that this moral decay among clerics has made it impossible for them to hold political leaders accountable or speak the truth to those in power, as their integrity has been eroded by their pursuit of material wealth.
“Carnality has taken over spirituality. Our religious leaders can no longer speak the truth to those in authority because their minds have been corrupted. Most of the so-called General Overseers (G.O.) are corrupt and perverted,” Oba Alao added.
He stressed that this shift towards wealth accumulation at the expense of spiritual values has greatly contributed to the country’s stagnation in development and social justice.
Olugbon urged both religious leaders and traditional rulers to reflect on their actions, reminding them that they would be held accountable for their stewardship, both in this world and the next.
“The prayers of sinners are an abomination before God, hence the need for our leaders to rethink,” he warned.
The monarch concluded by reiterating the transient nature of power and the importance of staying true to sacred duties, regardless of the temptation to indulge in worldly gains. “I am a traditional ruler. I don’t belong, and will never belong, to any occultic groups,” he emphasised, drawing a clear line between his position and the corrupt practices of some leaders.
In response to the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement’s request for collaboration on community development projects, Oba Alao assured them of his support.
“Your requests are aimed at the development of the Orile Igbon community. I am assuring you that necessary assistance will be provided in this regard.”
Earlier, Prophet Alogbo requested the monarch’s collaboration on a range of community development projects. These initiatives include the establishment of a women and youth empowerment center, clean drinking water initiatives, a bakery, animal production facilities, and farm produce processing.
Other proposals included a diagnostic and medical center, a full-size recreational sports facility, and a home care facility for the elderly.
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