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Stop Congratulating Tinubu, Set Agenda, Cleric Advises Nigerians
An Islamic cleric and educationist, Dr Mustapha Bello, says Nigerians should stop congratulating the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu, but rather set agenda for him.
Bello, a lecturer, Department of Religions and Peace Studies, Lagos State University (LASU), made the remarks at the 9th Ramadan Lecture of Anwar-Ul Islam College, Agege, Old Students’ Association (ACAOSA), last Saturday in Lagos.
The guest speaker delivered a lecture titled: “Islamic Perspective of a Good Governance: Any Lesson for Nigeria?”
Bello described the topic as apt and imperative because of the concern every discerning Nigerian now had about the state of affairs in the nation.
According to him, the nation will by May 29, experience 24 years of uninterrupted democratic rule being led by the PDP and APC, but the question is whether Nigerians have enjoyed good governance or not.
He said Nigerians could not be said to have enjoyed good governance in the light of prevailing socio-economic challenges they were faced with.
”Good governance is the responsibility of all Nigerians. Those who have been elected, we congratulate them but Nigerians should put them on their toes.
”We must set agenda for them, we must tell them what we want in terms of education, infrastructure, environment, health and others. We should not leave them, we should advise them.
”It is not enough for us to be congratulating them. Sen Bola Tinubu has emerged President-elect, and he will be inaugurated, we must set agenda for him.
”Stop doing congratulatory messages now, let us set agenda on education, environment, public morality.
“Look around, there is so much indiscipline in the society. We must also pray for them,” he said.
The cleric said that the President-elect, his deputy and all elected public office holders should be commended if they do well and criticised if they misbehave, for the nation to get good governance.
Bello said that when there is good governance, there would be peace, prosperity, plenty for everybody and less insecurity.
“The President-elect and Vice President -elect have enormous responsibility to unite our minds together. We are so divided as a people by religion, ethnicity and social classes.
“The first task before them is to find a way of assuaging our feelings and unite us; It is when we have a common objective with our mind united that we can move forward,” Bello said.
He said that good governance according to United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC), relates to the political, institutional processes and outcomes that are necessary to achieve the goals of development.
Bello said the UNHRC identified transparency, responsibility, accountability, participation, and responsiveness as key attributes of good governance.
“Good governance in a layman language is the provisions of abundance of goodness by a government to its citizens which is the fundamental objective of the state as entrenched in the Nigerian constitution.
“Good governance is the major determinants of how stable, prosperous and peace a society or a country is.
“In essence, wherever you find poverty, crisis and they are on the rise, the only reason for the absence of prosperity is the absence of good governance.
“Virtually, all parametres used in measuring good governance as it relates to Nigeria is negative,” he said.
The educationist noted some policies of government have impoverished the citizens beyond imagination.
Bello said that principles of good governance in Islam include trusteeship, mutual consultation, accountability, fair dealing and justice.
He also noted that Muslims as well as adherent of other faiths were guilty in the preponderance of evil in the society.
“One of the basic requirements for good governance is justice; Every citizen should be treated on the same level. A country cannot grow where their is lopsidedness in justice system.
“We should internalise the principle in our governance; Nigeria has got into a stage that everyone must be involved in politics and governance.
“We must all change a bad situation at our own level.
Also delivering a lecture on Health Benefits of Ramadan, Alhaja Sukurat Olaniyan, a Nutrition Dietitian, noted that fasting helped in weight loss, sugar level reduction, inflammation decrease and heart cleansing.
Olaniyan urged Muslims to take enough water and relax.
She, however, counselled Muslims to pay attention to their body and obey it so as not to jeopardise their health while trying to observe the fast.
Earlier, Alhaji Lawal Pedro (SAN), the President General, ACAOSA,noted that the 9th Ramadan lecture of the college was an improvement on the previous ones.
Pedro, who described Ramadan as time for sober reflection and to get closer to God, said that the theme of the lecture had become necessary to provide a way forward in the nation’s governance system.
According to him, the country has been following the Western style of government, trying all types of governance without making sustainable progress.
He stated that the nation’s form of democracy had not delivered good governance to the people adding that there was need to take a lead from other developed countries.
“The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other countries are not running democracy but making progress because of Islamic perspective to governance.
“Democracy does not guarantee good governance, it is a matter of number. Leaders who emerge because they have majority votes, can only give what they have.
“In democracy, the majority will have their way, the minority which may be the most ideal will only have their say.
“That is why we are saying, is it high time we looked at Islamic perspective of good governance. We are not saying we are running the country with shari’a law or using Islamic jurisprudence,” he said.
Pedro urged government to embrace Islamic banking which frowned at interest, bribery, and corruption.
He added that ACAOSA has contributed a lot to the college in terms of provision of e-Library, infrastructure, Clinic and Solar system among others.
Alhaji Abubakr Adenle, the Chairman, ACAOSA 2023, Ramadan Planning Committee, commended the zeal of the people and their commitment to serve their alma mater.
Adenle, a retired Deputy Director, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, said that Ramadan was a month of forgiveness, goodness and mercies and these should continue even after the period.
He urged government across levels to implement 25 per cent UNESCO prescribed budget for education to create a pathway for sustainable development.
“We will be deceiving ourselves if the government fails to play according to the rule. We need focus on education;we need road map.
“Things do not work because we cut corners a lot in this country,” he said.
The Tide source reports that the annual lecture had in attendance various alumni of the college including Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Minister, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, former Lagos APC Chairman.
Others included civil servants, technocrats, entrepreneurs, legal practitioners among others.
The Tide source reports that the association presented prestigious Life Time Awards to some of its members for their contributions to their alma mater.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 1.63 million pills of tramadol concealed in two long trailers heading for Kano as it intensified efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria corridor.
The agency also arrested an 80-year-old suspected drug dealer in Rivers State, a businesswoman linked to cannabis shipments from Canada, a Chadian woman, a couple and other suspects in coordinated operations across Lagos, Edo, Kogi and Rivers states.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday.
According to the statement, the latest intelligence-led operation came barely one week after NDLEA operatives recovered 558,900 pills of tramadol concealed in the false-bottom compartment of a truck that entered Lagos through the Togo-Benin Republic route.
Babafemi said, “Ongoing efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate smuggling tramadol from Togo, through Benin Republic into Nigeria have yielded another success with the interception of two long trailers used to move One Million Six Hundred and Thirty (1,630,000) pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in fabricated compartments of the trucks across multiple borders into Lagos.”
He added that one of the two trailers was intercepted on July 2 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where operatives recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor.
Babafemi said, “One of the two trucks already heading to Kano was tracked and located on 2nd July 2026 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where NDLEA officers recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the trailer and arrested the 22-year-old driver Jabir Kabiru.”
He further disclosed that another trailer was intercepted two days later on the same route.
“Two days later, 4th July, NDLEA operatives acting on processed intelligence successfully tracked and recovered the second trailer from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while heading to Kano. A total of 777,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the truck were evacuated and the 22-year-old driver Muhammed Nuhu arrested,” the statement read.
According to Babafemi, investigations established a link between the three intercepted consignments.
He said, “Investigations revealed that all three trucks and consignments intercepted on 21st June, 2nd July and 4th July belong to the same transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria axis.”
The agency also intercepted 4.70 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Babafemi said, “Two consignments of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 4.70 kilograms have been intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The cargoes, which arrived the Lagos airport from Canada in cartons with ‘Odugwu’ boldly written on them, came aboard British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights on 24th June and 3rd July respectively.”
He said two cargo agents, Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga, were initially arrested in connection with the shipments, while another suspect, Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus, was apprehended after arriving at a logistics company to take delivery of the consignments.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has denied claims that it has commenced registration for a purported ?50,000 National Support Allowance.
The ministry, in a public notice posted on its official X handle, yesterday, described messages, links and websites advertising the alleged programme as fraudulent.
It urged Nigerians to disregard such claims and verify information only through official government channels.
“The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has NOT commenced registration for any ?50,000 National Support Allowance,” the ministry said.
It added, “Disregard fraudulent messages, links and websites claiming otherwise. Verify any info only through official govt channels.”
The alert is in response to a circulating scam flyer that falsely claims the program is ongoing under President Bola Tinubu’s directives.
The fake advertisement, which includes text in Hausa and English, directs victims to a suspicious website (kluspz.com) for applications.
The ministry’s warning comes amid heightened concerns over digital fraud targeting vulnerable populations seeking social support.
Similar scams have previously surfaced around programs like N-Power, prompting questions from citizens in replies to the official post.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its preparedness for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, hinted at this while making his remarks at the commissioning of the Comrade Godwin Abumisi Pensioners Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja.
Ajaero said it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
He advised workers and pensioners to get prepared for the ideological and economic battles that lie ahead.
According to the NLC president, “The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) is one of the proud affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress. Therefore, your struggle is our struggle, and your welfare remains a priority for the organised labour movement.
“We are currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
“However, let me state unequivocally that it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
“Accordingly, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not only push for a new national minimum wage but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension. It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement.”
Ajaero noted that the cost of living has risen astronomically as food, healthcare and transportation have become increasingly unaffordable.
“We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages. Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation,” he said.
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He said the completion of the project should serve as a clarion call to all workers and lovers of the masses.
“We must not only build physical structures but also build a strong movement capable of compelling government to honour its commitments,” he said.
Ajaero further stated: “We will continue to demand the immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension regime that guarantees every retiree a life of dignity and security.
“Together, we shall continue to fight until every Nigerian worker and pensioner receives the justice, respect and welfare they deserve.”
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