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Nigeria: There’s Fire on the Mountain, and no one is a runnin’

It is sad that foreign armed groups are able to overrun the nations’ security apparatus not minding the mind bugling amount of funds voted every year in the nation’s budget on security.

Published

8 months ago

June 22, 2025

OCHEFA

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By John Segun Odeyemi

Image credit: Burnt Community in Benue

Until now, I have refrained from writing commentaries about the political landscape of our country, Nigeria.

I have become disenchanted with the downward spiral of the absurdities that have become common place within the political space.

Within the last few days, I have read several articles on the killings in Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue States, and I am convinced to add my voice to the outcry of government’s inability to act proactively in securing the safety of Nigerians from marauding and murdering Fulani insurgents, Boko Haram terrorists and the incessant and now common place kidnapping for ransom.

Anywhere in the world, the first duty of any government is to secure the safety of its citizens in and outside of the country.

It is clear that the government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is either incapable or unwilling to tackle the continuous decimation and subjugation of our people.

In most other climes that claim democratic principles, those in leadership should have resigned from office.

Not in Nigeria! Here we glorify ineffectiveness and inefficiencies.

In the epic 2008 song titled, “There is Fire on the Mountain,” by the Nigerian musician who goes by the name Asa, she makes the claim even though this fire is raging, surprisingly, no one is running.

I find two corollaries, one in an old English idiom, and the other in traditional Yoruba oral tradition; for the English, “The proverbial ostrich that buries its head in the sand.

And the Yoruba wisdom, “No one lights a torch and leaves it burning around a thatched roof.”

In both instances, the culprit is inertia or the lack of desire to act in preventing a disaster.

Either of which does not describe, even at the minimal level, a people willing to act fundamentally from a place of common sense!

Unfortunately, when I see the shenanigans, politicians have reduced my country to, I can only conclude we have politicians who have knowingly set a fire to the country.

And we have a citizen who see the fire and refuse to run.Human life is sacred and each individual’s life should be protected.

Sadly, the entire nation seems inured to a culture of bloodletting, savagery and the disposal of human life.

Our social media space is diffused with gory videos and pictures of unthinkable scenes of inhumane accounts of man’s inhumanity and cruelty to other humans.

Anywhere in the world, the first duty of any government is to secure the safety of its citizens in and outside of the country.

More specifically, of brigandry to defenseless communities.

A situation where aggressors over run entire communities, displace the communities and inhabit their homes without re-adjudication or lawful intervention by constituted authority and, or state intervention.

I continue to hear of “insecurity” in the nation when in reality, what we have is the invasion of our sovereignty as a nation.

It is sad that foreign armed groups are able to overrun the nations’ security apparatus not minding the mind bugling amount of funds voted every year in the nation’s budget on security.

One is forced to question the usefulness and functionality of government sponsored and funded state security agencies.

One cannot but wonder why insurgents are better equipped than the nation’s army in arms and intelligence gathering?

Who are the invested players who supply them with arms and ammunition?

How can bandits become so powerful as to brazenly over run our country’s army encampment, capture Nigerian soldiers, take their armored cars and weapons and put all of this on social media?

There are multiple narratives circulating and making the rounds especially on social media.

Unfortunately, there is no way of verifying the authenticity of some of these claims.

Some shadowy entities trace the incessant bloody and extremely violent attacks on a bid, either for the Islamization of the country or Jihad aimed at a land grab in favor of all shades of Fulanis from the Sahel.

Some even make the claim that it is both issues morphed into one.

I find some plausibility at least in the Fulani bid to find a home in Nigeria.

The current governor of Borno state made that claim on national TV. When asked if the Fulanis coming from outside Nigeria are Nigerians.

He blatantly said “Yes.” Immediately, when I encounter political impropriety and lack of diplomacy at this level, my mind goes into a default.

I try to find a matching partner for buffoonery; in this instance, I thought his less- cellency should be sent to Donald Trump’s school of diplomacy and should not be allowed to return without a doctorate.

For far too long, we have behaved like the ostrich, unable to confront, nationally, the real issues we need to confront; our federalism vis-à-vis regionalism, state policing, our current constitution, our so called “democracy”, and the relationship between the North and the rest of the country.

I believe there is enough land and space in the North to accommodate kith and kin from other climes to settle and graze their cattle up north.

Ranching versus grazing and any other animal husbandry is fine as long as your business does not disrupt mine.

But we all know that grazing is intentionally done to destroy people’s hard work on their farms.

We all know it, but we are looking the other way and mumbling the fool’s mantra, “It is well!”

It is not well, and there is no way it will be well, if some psychotic, marauding murderers, rapists, and demented drug addicts are allowed to kill innocent citizens of our country.

We can no longer be silent if we are human and sane.

If the corridors of power are playing politics with our fellow citizens’ property, security and lives, we have a moral obligation to rise up in holy and righteous anger to stump on evil.

Just last week, we witnessed in the United States, how an entire country came out en-masse to protest what was perceived as oligarchy, an affront on the idea of American democracy, which was tagged “No King.”

Why are we unable to hold our politicians accountable? Why is it that it seems we do not understand that they work for us (even though they steal from us all the time!)

If we do not force a change by our action as citizens, knowing that our so-called politicians are only interested in their own welfare; we must then ask ourselves the mother of all questions… pardon me to borrow from Asa again; “…

One day, the river will overflow and there will be nowhere for us to go.

And we will run, run, wishing we had put out the fire.”

When all has been said, we need to all agree as Nigerians, that these killings are too much! If you do not feel this empathy, then know you are a part of the killing spree.

Those who nurture this theater of war are not interested in building a nation or having a viable ecumenical union among religions in our country. it is all about disorder so they can continue to steal and enrich themselves; “… the more you see, the less you understand, Abracadabra!” If we keep quiet, they continue to eat away at the innards of our country and the rest of us, shall be unaware of what our infestation is coming from?

From within, they will polarize our peoples, dislocate the unity of our communities.

From our jaded communities, we help spew hate and hate and more hate. This in turn corrodes our ability to build a unified front.

Our politicians place their lighted touch under a thatched roof and go to bed on their watch.

When the fire starts, where are we going to run? We can douse the fire now if we imagine the conflagration that a burning Nigeria will look like.

∆ John Segun Odeyemi, is a Catholic Priest and assistant professor of Systematic theology at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies, Xavier University of Louisiana.

News

Senate demands sack of CAC boss, over defiance of summons

…The CAC head had never personally appeared before the committee, often citing official engagements or foreign trips as reasons for his absence.

Published

1 hour ago

February 26, 2026

OCHEFA

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The Senate Committee on Finance on Thursday called on President Bola Tinubu to sack Hussaini Magaji, the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), over what the lawmakers described as his persistent refusal to honour invitations to appear before the panel.

The committee made the recommendation citing Magaji’s repeated absence from its sessions, where he was expected to provide explanations on the commission’s revenue profile and operational performance since he took over the office.

The lawmakers noted that despite several summons, the CAC boss has consistently failed to show up in person.

Sani Musa, the Committee Chairman, announced the resolution during a budget defence session attended by Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, who appeared before the panel to present their proposals for the 2026 fiscal year.

Other chief executives under the committee’s supervision, including representatives of the Nigeria Revenue Service, the Tax Ombudsman Office, the Nigerian Customs Service and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation were present at the hearing.

However, the CAC Registrar-General did not attend and instead delegated a subordinate officer to represent the commission.

The recommendation for Magaji’s removal was moved by Orji Kalu, representing Abia North.

The former Abia State governor expressed frustration over what he described as the registrar-general’s consistent disregard for the committee’s invitations.

Kalu argued that if cabinet ministers, who occupy higher constitutional offices, could respond to legislative summons, there was no justification for the CAC chief to repeatedly decline appearances.

“This man is not above the law,” Kalu said during the session.

“The ministers of finance and budget are here because we invited them. Yet this registrar-general believes he is bigger than the Senate. That cannot continue.”

He further said that since his return to the Senate, the CAC head had never personally appeared before the committee, often citing official engagements or foreign trips as reasons for his absence.

News

Oluremi Tinubu Bags Warri Traditional Title ‘Utukpa-Oritse of Warri Kingdom’

The First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu whose mother hails from Warri in Delta State was conferred with the traditional title of Utukpa-Oritse of Warri Kingdom alias Ugbone meaning the Light of God.

Published

2 hours ago

February 26, 2026

OCHEFA

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Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has been conferred with the title, Utukpa-Oritse of Warri Kingdom, by Olu of Warri Ogiame Atunwatse III.

Busola Kukoyi, SSA Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, said that the title was conferred on the First Lady during her homecoming to Warri Kingdom in Delta State where she was received by the paramount ruler of the Kingdom, Olu of Warri Ogiame Atunwatse III.

“The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atunwatse III in his remarks urged everyone that by doing away with past hurts and grievances, there would be peace, progress and prosperity.

The monarch stated that the entire kingdom is proud of the First Lady of Nigeria.

He said:

“We are proud of who you are, who you have become.

Our women know how to take very good care of their husbands. Thank you for being a very good example to our girls and women”.

In Picture: L-R Former Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, First Lady of Delta State Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, the Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atunwatse III, First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori during Senator Tinubu’s conferment with the title,Utukpa-Oritse of Warri Kingdom by the Olu of Warri Kingdom on Thursday 26th February 2026.

In her remarks, Senator Oluremi Tinubu called for more unity across the nation among citizens

The First Lady specifically appealed to the people of the kingdom to come together, irrespective of their differences.“the bible tells us in Psalm 133 verse 1 to 3 that it is pleasant to dwell together in unity, for there is where God commanded blessings”.

She assured the people who turned out in their numbers of continued support and commitment of government, noting that the state governor had been doing a good job so far in the State.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu once again, on behalf of the Renewed Hope Initiative RHI donated a sum of fifty million naira to 1000 women petty traders.

Earlier, the State Governor Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori explained that the First Lady who had visited the state three times, and twice when he was still in another political party and now when he had crossed over to APC, had shown tremendous love and sincerity in the care of Nigerians by this.“

She has a large heart and those visits where she flagged off the women petty traders empowerment and the launch of the free to shine campaign encouraged me to make up my mind.

May God continue to empower you to continue to put smiles on the faces of more Nigerians.”

News

NUC issues new rules on honorary doctorates

The guidelines limit honorary awards to a maximum of three recipients per convocation and require that the degrees carry the designation “Honoris Causa,” such as Doctor of Science (D.Sc. h.c.) or Doctor of Law (LL.D. h.c.).

Published

6 hours ago

February 26, 2026

OCHEFA

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The National Universities Commission (NUC) on Thursday, released fresh guidelines regulating the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigeria.

Honorary doctorate degrees are non-earned distinctions granted honoris causa to recognise distinguished merit, public service, scholarly impact, creative achievement or other significant contributions aligned with the values of the awarding institution.

In a public notice shared on its official X page, the Commission found widespread misuse of honorary degrees, with 32 entities among 61 institutions and professional bodies identified as operating as honorary degree mills — including unaccredited foreign universities, unlicensed local institutions and organisations without degree-awarding powers. Some were also found issuing fake professorships.

Consequently, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, said that the new guidelines were developed in line with established academic traditions and resolutions of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, including the Keffi Declaration of 2012, alongside inputs from universities submitted in December 2025.

NUC said that the new rules are designed to standardise the conferment process, protect academic integrity and safeguard the credibility and global reputation of Nigeria’s university system. Universities and other degree-awarding institutions were directed to strictly comply, with sanctions promised for violations.

Under the new rules, only approved universities that have graduated their first set of PhD students are eligible to award honorary doctorates. The purpose, criteria and selection procedures must be clearly defined and publicly accessible, while nominations must pass through statutory committees and receive approval from both the University Senate and Governing Council.

Awards must be conferred in person, except in exceptional circumstances where they may be given virtually, in absentia or posthumously.

The Commission stressed that honorary doctorates must be granted free of charge and recipients must not present the honour as an earned academic qualification.

NUC specifically warned that recipients cannot use the “Dr.” — which is reserved for holders of earned doctoral or medical degrees — nor use the award to supervise research, practise as scholars or manage academic units.

Universities are also required to provide recipients with orientation on the proper use of the honour, publish lists of awardees on their websites to promote transparency and establish clear mechanisms for revoking awards if recipients are convicted of fraud or engage in unethical conduct.

The NUC said all eligible universities must comply strictly with the framework, reiterating that regulatory sanctions will apply to institutions that confer honorary doctorates in breach of the new guidelines.