Olusegun Mimiko has been elected to his second term of governor of Ondo State. Mimiko, running as a candidate of the Labour Party, defeated candidates from the Action Congress of Nigeria party and ruling People's Democratic Party comfortably, winning in 12 out of 15 Local Government Areas. Mimiko vowed to continue the infrastructural development of his first term, provide employment for Ondo's many young people, and harness the people's creativity to pursue sustainable development.
Boko Haram suspect arrested in senator's home
A top ranking member of the Islamist militant sect Boko Haram was apprehended at the home of a senator in Maiduguri by Nigeria's armed forces on Saturday, fuelling the theory that the group has ties in government. The suspect, Shuaibu Mohammed Bama, is said to be on the 'most wanted' list of Boko Haram members and was arrested by task force troops at the home of Senator Ahmed Khalifa Zanna. The senator admitted that Bama is his nephew but maintained there was nothing more to the relationship.
Foreign reserves on the rise
Nigeria's foreign reserves have risen to $42 billion this October. This has raised hopes the Coordinating Minister of the Economy Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's target of growing the reserves to $50 billion before the end of the year might be reached. News of the increase came at the same time international rating agency Fitch reaffirmed the country's long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) at 'BB-' and 'BB' respectively with a Stable Outlook.
Nigeria and Niger agree to greater coordination
Nigeria and its northern neighbour Niger signed agreements last week intended to increase cooperation on economic, social and security affairs. The negotiations were concluded during President Goodluck Jonathan's trip to Niger for the sixth session of the Authority of the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission for Cooperation. The agreements include the completion of road construction work, feasibility studies of rail links and joint border patrols.
Airport official caught smuggling $1.4 million through Lagos Airport
Akinyele Adetula, a security official of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), was caught last week by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, attempting to launder $1.4 million. The suspect was able to pass through Nigeria Customs Service and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency security checks because of his identity card, but aroused suspicion by making phone calls instead of proceeding to board his flight. The EFCC said in a statement that Adetula was promised N10, 000 ($60) to smuggle the money past security.
Widow of historical icon Tai Solarin passes away
The widow of Augustus Taiwo "Tai" Solarin, one of Nigeria' most celebrated educators and authors, passed away on Sunday afternoon at Babcock University Teaching Hospital in Ogun State. Sheila Solarin died at the age of 83, a few months after a fall. Originally from Britain, the Sheila arrived in Nigeria in 1952 along with her husband and adopted Nigeria as her home. For more than 50 years the Solarins were major critics of military regimes and fought against religious discrimination in schools.
This Week: Politics
The Daily Mail article published over the weekend on the renowned Nigerian church Winners Chapel and its CEO, chairman, general manager and head pastor David Oyedepo further exposes the commercialisation of religion in Nigeria. Winners Chapel has grown in leaps and bounds over the years from a local prayer house into a global religious conglomerate. With Oyedepo at the helm, the church has branched out into publishing, manufacturing, petrol stations, bakeries, water purification factories, recruitment, a university, restaurants, supermarkets and real estate. Religion in Nigeria has always been prevalent, but many feel a new breed of 'men of god' have exploited religious needs to benefit themselves. Many will wonder how Pastor Oyedepo's wealth of almost $160million is compatible with Christian teachings.
Ondo State has voted overwhelmingly to re-elect Olusegun Mimiko for another four-year term as the governor of Nigeria's only oil-producing state in the southwest region. Despite a strong campaign against him by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the main political party in the region, the people of Ondo State did not forget Mimiko's first-term achievements.
Mimiko was previously a minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo as a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). Internal wrangling, however, saw Mimiko decamp to the Labour party after being denied the opportunity to run in the 2007 gubernatorial elections as a PDP candidate. Mimiko lost that election against the PDP incumbent according to results released by the electoral commission. Mimiko challenged those results, however, and following an Appeal Court ruling which found irregularities in the vote, Mimiko was instated as governor.
Some attribute Mimiko's win at the election tribunal to the political know-how and financial assistance of ACN leader Bola Tinubu. But whether this was the case or not, Mimiko refused to join the ACN. In this year's election then, the ACN pitted Rotimi Akeredolu, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, against the incumbent Mimiko. Mimiko weathered the storm and ran on development rather than tribalism. Congratulations to Governor Mimiko and the people of Ondo.
Writers of the week:
'Much ado about Patience Jonathan's absence' by Kunle Fadipe attempts to understand the role of the First Lady in the Nigerian political space. Fadipe questions how it got to the point that the First Lady could wield such influence and provides a historical examination of the office and its requirements. The writer touches on vital points and poses the question: should the First Lady be a burden on the Nigerian people?
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'Achebe's Would-Be Critics' by Okey Ndibe takes another look at the comments, suggestions and discussions focusing on Chinua Achebe's memoirs There was a Country: a Personal Narrative of Biafra. Ndibe takes a unique look at the ethnic storm created by certain extracts from the book whilst detailing the positive outcome that arose from coverage of such a sensitive subject. Whilst the past two weeks have been filled with various opinions, some informed, some uniformed, Ndibe's take is one of truth and honesty.
Organisation of the week:
The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) was established in 1978 as the Computer Association of Nigeria (COAN) and transformed into NCS in 2002. The society is the umbrella organisation of all information technology professionals, interest groups and stakeholders in Nigeria. The objective of the NCS is to advance information technology, science and practice in Nigeria and to entrench the use of ICT to all business, industry and human practices.
Lagun Akinloye, a British Nigerian, studied Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds. He is particularly interested in the history and politics of West Africa, specifically Nigeria. Follow him on twitter @L_Akinloye.
