News
How Obasanjo and Buhari embarrased Nigeria in Paris
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Nigeria must have set another undesirable record at the International Chamber of Commerce, ICC, Paris, France, “in connection with the $2.3 billion arbitration proceedings filed against Nigeria by Sunrise Power over an alleged breach of contract by the federal government.”
The panel of arbitrators must have been embarrassed for Nigeria; because, it is quite possible that they have never had testifying before them one former President on account of a nation’s alleged breach of contract. Here was Nigeria dragging in two old men, former Presidents, who got their poor country into $2.3 billion hot water.
The first question obviously is: did Obasanjo and Buhari, individually and collectively, feel embarrassed to be sitting in front of the panel of arbitrators?
Let’s face it. There are some situations in which a honourable person, not to talk of a former President, should not find himself in public. For God’s sake, this is N3.68 trillion contingent liability to which Nigeria is exposed by the two former Presidents. And, they returned, without briefing the people whose funds they were about to throw away; as if nothing happened. The truth is; a lot might have happened. If the panel delivers a verdict against Nigeria, up to $2.3 billion, Nigerian assets everywhere in the world can be seized – including the Presidential jet
Every country has the government it deserves”. John de Maistre, 1753-1821.
Somebody else had warned that the people must be prepared for the punishment that results from choosing bad leaders. That, notwithstanding, is this leadership?
What have Nigerians done to deserve this sort of thing? The worst part of the whole thing lies in the fact that the two of them will get away with this act against the poor people of Nigeria.
Both of them being unrepentantly self-righteous will still continue to condemn corruption; as if what brought the nation to this dangerous situation was not ultimate corruption of administrative and legal processes under their governments. Like a lot of the problems facing us now in Nigeria, this one also had its origins in Obasanjo’s government, 1999-2007. Those old enough, as well as those with any sort of memory, would recollect that Obasanjo collected $13-16 billion with the stated intention to increase the nation’s power supply to 10,000MW per day by the time he left office in 2007.
His Minister of Power was Engineer Lyel Imoke. How and why a major contract, – worth $6 billion and expected to generate 3,050MW from a hydropower station situated at the Manbilla Plateau, Taraba State, was assigned to the Minister of State, our brother, Dr Olu Agunlove remains a mystery. Today, that behemoth is perhaps the biggest abandoned project in Nigeria; and it might soon set Nigeria back by N3.68 trillion. It has already sent us retro walking into the dark ages.
The original mess-up started between Obasanjo and Agunloye. After initially approving the contract, the ex-President, for reasons known to him, changed his mind and wanted the contract voided. Agunlove has since then been claiming that he received no instructions to stop it and went ahead to authorise Sunrise to proceed, only for the FG to stop it. You don’t have to be an authority on office procedures to realise that something must be fundamentally wrong and questionable in the way the President and Minister handled the matter. In my 52 years working in various organisations, 36 as staff reporting to superiors and sixteen as the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, I have been involved in situations in which instructions and approvals to commit organisation’s funds had later been rescinded by my superior officer.
Thank God, in my MBA course in Boston, it was drilled into our heads that whether issuing or receiving instructions to commit funds, a written memorandum must be sent and received. And, if the original decision is voided or altered, another memo must follow. Obasanjo, in an interview with The Cable in 2023, reportedly said that, “If a commission of inquiry is set up today to investigate the matter, I am ready to testify.” That, to me, is a classic case of medicine after death. All he needed to do all along to exonerate himself was to produce the written authority to proceed with the project and the second one asking Agunlove to stop it.
In one case during my career, my supervisor had instructed me, on phone, to raise a Local Purchase Order, LPO, to be issued to a company. I countered by requesting for the instruction in writing. He called to ask if I was questioning his authority. I sent another memo apologising; while stressing that I will carry out his instructions to the fullest. Six months later, the External Auditors pounced on the LPO; discovered that not only were the prices highly inflated, but, the LPO was issued to an unregistered company.
As the originator of the LPO, I was the first person issued a query. A panel had been set up to look into all the questionable expenditures.
My session lasted less than five minutes. I just presented the two memos between my boss and me. That was the end of the story, as far as I was concerned. My boss faced the music alone.
Given Obasanjo’s lengthy experience in government, starting with being appointed a Federal Commissioner (Minister) under Gowon to becoming Chief of General Staff, CGS, under Murtala, to Military Head of State and finally civilian President, it is shocking that orders issued on vital matters that must be obeyed by subordinates were not issued in writing. By the same token, it is alarming that Dr Agunlove could not also support his claims with written evidence.
Presidents Yar’Adua and Jonathan and their Attorney Generals and Ministers of Power committed unforgivable blunders by allowing the hot potato which Obasanjo and Agunlove left on the stove to remain there. Nigeria’s liabilities would not have been up to 25 per cent what it is now – if it was settled during those eight years.
Buhari, whose government eventually terminated the contract, had no choice over the matter.
His only mistake was procrastination which escalated the possible penalty.
To be quite candid, the panel of arbitrators must be shaking their heads; wondering how a nation with Nigeria’s abundant manpower could have been governed by such leaders.
Obasanjo once described late Chief Bola Ige, SAN, who served as his first Minister of Power and Steel; and failed as somebody who did not know his right hand from his left. It is doubtful if Obasanjo knew that he had hands at all and what to do with them.
Hon. Prof. Paul Sunday Nnamchi, representing Enugu East/Isi Uzo Federal Constituency, has declared that lawmakers would be expected to prioritize security challenges upon the National Assembly’s resumption after the Eid al-Fitr and Easter breaks.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Nnamchi emphasized the need for meaningful engagements on security, economy, and living conditions of Nigerians which had continued to dwindle.
“The insecurity situation is worsening, with farmers being chased off their lands and kidnappers becoming more brazen,” he noted. “We must strengthen our legislative oversight to address these challenges.”
Nnamchi also highlighted the struggles of Nigerians, citing skyrocketing living costs and dwindling incomes. He noted NASS was expected to focus on motions and Bills that would address the expectations of Nigerians.
Regarding his pending Bills, Nnamchi mentioned the University of Agriculture, Ako-Nike, College of Education Eha-Amufu upgrade, and School for Gifted Children, Trans-Ekulu, as likely to be concluded before the 2025 legislative break.
The lawmaker also appealed for increased remuneration for university staff, particularly lecturers, to prevent tertiary education collapse.
The Kano State government has allegedly directed each of the 44 local government areas in the state to contribute N15,227,272.72, totalling N670m to the Kano Emirate Council.
The amount is for the repairs and purchase of vehicles for the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi.
The directive, contained in a memo from the Ministry of Local Government, with reference number MLG/INSP/LGD/166T/6, dated March 25, 2025, was addressed to all the local government chairmen.
A palace official, who spoke to The PUNCH on conditiion of anonymity for lack of authorisation, confirmed the authenticity of the memo.
“The company has already been contacted, and plans are in motion to bring in the vehicles and begin the restoration of the vintage ones,” the source disclosed.
According to the memo signed by the Director of Local Government Inspection, Abubakar S. Dabo, on behalf of the Commissioner for Local Government, the approved amount would be deducted from the State/Local Government Joint Account to repair two vehicles and supply four new vehicles to the Emirate Council.
The letter, with the caption, “Conveyance of Approval for the Release of Funds,” sighted by The PUNCH read: “I am directed to convey government’s approval for the release of the aggregate sum of N670,000,000.00 at the rate of N15,227,272.72 per LGA from the State/Local Government Joint Account to repair 2 No. vehicles and supply 4 No. vehicles to the Kano Emirate Council through Sottom Snergy Resources Ltd as per below:
“Complete refurbishing of engine, body and interior of 1993 Fleetwood Cadillac limousine at N25 million and complete refurbishing and rebuilding of both engine, interior and complete body for Daimler D5 420 1998 at N25m.”
The new vehicles to be purchased are one Toyota Hilux pickup 2024 model at N98 million, one Toyota Hiace Bus at N98 million, one Toyota Land Cruiser VXR full option 2024 model at N268 million and one Prado 2024 model at N156m.”
The letter, which was also copied to the Auditor General, Local Government Audit, Kano State and all Zonal Inspectors, Ministry for Local Government, Kano State, directed them to ensure that all due procedures were strictly adhered to.
Reacting, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Alhassan Yaryasa, slammed the government for approving the money.
He said, “How can the state government approve this huge amount of money while the residents of the state capital and some other major towns in the state are grappling with water scarcity?
“This is a complete misplacement of priority. How can you spend this money on repairs and purchase of new vehicles for the Emir while other sectors need government attention, especially education and health sectors that have suffered neglect?”
Yaryasa, who was the former coordinator of Tinubu Campaign Organisation for Kano South, called on Governor Abba Yusuf to reconsider the decision and channel the funds to areas where they would be needed most.
“Emir Sanusi does not need new posh cars. Where are the ones he has been using since returning? This is a wasteful expenditure and Kano masses will not forgive them,” he said.
The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has announced a sweeping reform agenda aimed at transforming the agency into a modern, efficient, and digitally driven institution, with a key policy shift being the adoption of cashless transactions across all its offices.
Starting July 1, 2025, all post office counters in the 774 local government areas of the country will stop accepting cash payments for services.
Customers will instead be required to use approved electronic channels to complete their transactions.
Announcing the development on Monday, NIPOST’s Postmaster General and CEO, Tola Odeyemi, described the move as a major milestone in the agency’s modernisation efforts.
“This is a crucial step in our modernisation journey — one that ensures safer, faster, and more transparent service delivery,” she said.
In a statement signed by NIPOST’s Director of Corporate Communications, Franklin Alao, the agency said the reforms are in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and are designed to place NIPOST at the centre of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
“With these initiatives, NIPOST is positioning itself as a dynamic, technology-driven player — connecting Nigeria, delivering solutions, and improving lives,” the statement added.
Alao said, “These initiatives mark a new strategic direction for NIPOST under the vision titled, ‘Change of Renewed Hope Berths at NIPOST Shores”.
“The reforms are designed to align the agency with global best practices, the needs of Nigeria’s evolving digital economy, and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“At the heart of this transformation is NIPOST’s commitment to becoming a modern postal service — one that is driven by innovation, accountability, value, and service excellence.
“We are assuring Nigerians of a revitalised NIPOST that delivers superior service and embraces the future”.
NIPOST commended the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, for his unwavering support and leadership.
“The organisation also commended the new Chairman of the NIPOST Board, Barr. Isaac Kekemeke for his passion and strategic foresight since his appointment, and the Postmaster General/CEO, NIPOST, Tola Odeyemi, for her relentless efforts in championing institutional reforms, improving staff welfare, and driving capacity development”, Alao said.
Also, assured that NIPOST would implement a performance-based reward and recognition system to encourage excellence, alongside strict disciplinary measures to uphold organisational integrity.
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