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Niger crisis: Tinubu, ECOWAS urged to stop empty threats

Published

3 years ago

September 26, 2023

President Bola Tinubu and other ECOWAS leaders should stop making empty threats while dealing with issues concerning the region, a former Minister of Education and former Ambassador to Germany, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, advised on Tuesday.

He also called on the Federal Government to be transparent and sincere in its approach in solving the incessant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

Adeniran, a former member, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, stated these in an interview with journalists during the public presentation of two books written by him titled, “Some Thoughts on Education in Nigeria” and “Policy Making and International Security” published by Caltop Publications (Nigeria) Limited.

The ex-diplomat was reacting to the spate of coup d’etat spreading across the continent and planned military invasion of Niger by ECOWAS.
According to him, ECOWAS leaders must be proactive by thinking ahead, stressing the need for the regional leaders to be realistic.

He said, “Well, my advice to ECOWAS is that before situations arise, they should be proactive by thinking ahead and when they are thinking ahead, they should also be realistic. It doesn’t pay to make threats that are not credible. If you cannot fulfill, you do not make threats.

“One other thing that is important here is that ECOWAS should pay a lot of attention to good governance. They are shy. They are not ready to tell the various member countries the truth about what is going on.

“When there are certain shortcomings, where we do not have enough commitment to the welfare of the people, they should be bold and courageous enough to let those involved know because it is of collective interest to have stability, security and above all, to have development that will improve quality of life of citizens.

“Then, at the national level, my advice would be that each of the members should go back to the drawing board and have a dialogue with their various constituents, then come up with a constitution that will be able to drive development and improve the quality of life of citizens which will also enable them to govern effectively. By this, they won’t turn themselves into little emperors. What this means is that there is a need for our leaders to revisit their approaches to governance.”

Speaking on the incessant strikes by ASUU, Adeniran maintained that there was no problem that could not be solved if the parties involved in the negotiation process are sincere, transparent, and committed.

While responding to a question on how the government can end its protracted face-off with ASUU, the former Minister believed that education must be given the right attention, adding that both government and lecturers must see themselves as Nigerians and patriots first during negotiations.

He said, “The ASUU strike occupies a whole chapter in my book which goes into the genesis and what it will take to resolve the incessant and I believe is resolvable. There is no problem that cannot be solved, if we are sincere, transparent, and committed. I believe very much that once we regard education, give it as much attention as possible, support it adequately, and give education the right orientation in this country, we will be able to solve so many problems, even the security problems.

“I believe that we are going to solve this question of kidnapping, and banditry and some other things when we generally resolve and resort to building a genuine and true nation, whereby we cater for the needs of everybody.

“How do we really solve these strikes? I believe that so many agreements have been reached with the government on quite a number of issues. There is a need to sit down and revisit them. When the two parties are transparent and they are sincere, they will be able to solve the problems. There are certain agreements that have been reached even today, which have become difficult to implement. Let all these issues be discussed. One thing is we usually operate from adversarial positions and comments from time to time.

“During negotiations, parties look at one another, not as the same citizens and nations committed to the same goals but as opponents and enemies which is wrong. We should all put the interests of the country first.”

Adeniran said he wrote the books as part of his contribution to the development of Nigeria.

At the event, a former Military Governor of Bauchi and Kano states Maj-Gen Chris Garuba (retd), who wrote the foreword of one of the books ‘Policy Making and International Security’, said that the Security Council is arguably the most important of the six organs of the United Nations established under the UN Charter.

According to him, that is because international peace and security are the raison d’etre of the UN, considering that the organization itself was birthed in October 1945 after World War II to promote international peace and security.

He said, “In the execution of its mandate of maintaining international peace and security, the UN spends huge sums of money annually. In the current period of July 2022, to June 2023, an expenditure budget of a whopping $6.45bn was devoted to the 12 active peacekeeping missions around the globe.

“The UN is eminently aware that some situations that initially appear like internal security matters international soon security balloon into challenges. Enlightened nations also are aware that national (local/internal) security policies of countries would ultimately have implications on international security.

That is why nations keep an eye on what others are doing with their internal security,” Garuba said.

News

“Go and Verify”: How Sunday Umeha Is Redefining Representation in Ezeagu/Udi

Published

17 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

Rt. Hon. Barr. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha has continued to distinguish himself not only as a grassroots politician but as a sound parliamentarian who clearly understands the true essence of legislative representation and public service.

Since emerging as the Member representing Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Umeha has consistently demonstrated capacity, vision, and commitment both on the floor of the National Assembly and within his constituency.

Unlike many politicians whose promises disappear after elections, Rt. Hon. Umeha has steadily transformed his campaign mantra, “Go and Verify,” into practical realities visible across communities in Ezeagu and Udi Federal Constituency.

From road construction to solar-powered streetlights, classroom projects, healthcare interventions, agricultural empowerment, scholarships, boreholes, and youth development programmes, his stewardship has remained rooted in service delivery and measurable impact.

Observers say one of the strongest qualities that separates Umeha from many lawmakers is his deep understanding of parliamentary responsibilities. Through strategic bills and motions, he has continued to show that representation goes beyond rhetoric and political appearances.

Among several notable legislative efforts, he sponsored bills seeking the establishment of a Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skill Acquisition in Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency, reforms in the education sector through the abolition of levies in public basic schools, mandatory insurance protection for NYSC members, and the establishment of a National Football Academy.

He also sponsored motions addressing critical national concerns, including the investigation into the gruesome killing of Nigerians by soldiers in Enugu State and the urgent completion of the Karshi/Apo Road project in Abuja to ease traffic congestion.

Political analysts note that these interventions reflect a lawmaker who understands that effective representation must combine constituency development with strong legislative advocacy.

Many constituents equally commend him for remaining faithful to the promises he made during his campaigns. Across the constituency, residents point to completed and ongoing projects as evidence that the lawmaker has not reneged on his commitments to the people.

Beyond governance and legislative duties, Rt. Hon. Umeha also played significant roles in efforts aimed at restoring sanity, stability, and internal cohesion within the Labour Party before his eventual defection to the APC.

Sources within the political space in Enugu State revealed that Umeha consistently pushed for peace, unity, and institutional order within the party during periods of internal crisis and leadership disagreements. His interventions were said to be driven by the desire to protect the interests of party members and preserve the integrity of the platform.

However, following prolonged internal challenges and unresolved structural issues within the Labour Party, the federal lawmaker eventually moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a decision many political observers described as strategic and inevitable.

Despite the political transition, supporters insist that his focus has remained unchanged — delivering quality representation, empowering constituents, and sustaining developmental projects across Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency.

For many residents, Rt. Hon. Barr. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha represents a rare blend of grassroots leadership, legislative competence, humility, and political responsibility.

And across the constituency, the verdict from many communities remains simple:

“He promised, and he delivered.”