The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s alleged tactics of political fractionalization, accusing him of creating fake splinter groups to manipulate Nigeria’s political landscape.

In a press release signed by Afenifere’s Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and National Publicity Secretary, Justice Faloye, the group stated that Tinubu’s long-standing strategy of dividing key political and socio-cultural organizations is a deliberate ploy to silence opposition and deceive the masses.

A History of Political Manipulation

Afenifere revealed that Tinubu’s alleged manipulation began over two decades ago when he first attempted to factionalize the group after being empowered to govern Lagos State. According to the statement, this pattern has now extended to national politics, with Tinubu allegedly engineering divisions in major political parties and sociopolitical organizations.

“The PDP has become a shell of itself due to the unholy alliance between Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. The Labour Party has also faced internal strife reportedly sponsored by Tinubu,” the statement read.

The group further accused the President of orchestrating the creation of a fake National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) leadership, with allegations that his son physically assaulted genuine student leaders. Afenifere also referenced reports of fake bishops used to divide Christian voices during the last elections.

Attack on Afenifere’s Legacy

Afenifere particularly condemned recent attempts to undermine its leadership, including the alleged resurrection of a retired leader to form a parallel group motivated by “prebendalist motives”—offering jobs and contracts to members and their families. The group dismissed these factions as temporary distractions, insisting that the authentic Afenifere remains committed to truth, justice, and welfarism.

“These fake Afenifere groups only last a few election cycles. No matter how many splinter groups Tinubu creates, Afenifere will remain relevant as long as Nigerians uphold principles of equity and social justice,” the statement asserted.

Call for Economic and Structural Reforms

Rather than engaging in political destabilization, Afenifere urged Tinubu to focus on alleviating poverty through massive public works, including addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit and improving railway infrastructure to reduce agricultural wastage.

The group criticized the 2025 budget’s allocation for 20,000 homes annually as grossly inadequate, given Nigeria’s homelessness crisis, which requires over 20 million houses. They also called for genuine implementation of the “Nigeria First” policy, demanding that government officials stop using foreign luxury vehicles and instead patronize locally made products.

Warning Against Centralization of Power

Afenifere accused Tinubu of undermining Nigeria’s federal structure by weakening local governments and consolidating power, warning that such actions threaten democracy.

“Those who stifle peaceful opposition leave themselves open to violent change,” the statement cautioned, urging the President to prioritize restructuring and true federalism over political manipulation.

The group vowed to continue advocating for social democracy and welfarism, rejecting neoliberal policies that have plunged millions into poverty.

Hamas says it will release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander

Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander will soon be released in Gaza, a senior Hamas official told Reuters on Sunday, a move key Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt described as an encouraging step towards a return to ceasefire talks in the war-torn enclave.

The senior Hamas official did not specify a time for the release of Alexander, a 21-year-old soldier in the Israeli Army who was born and raised in New Jersey, but a source familiar with the matter told Reuters it would likely happen on Tuesday.

Freeing Alexander, believed to be the last surviving American hostage held by the militant Palestinian group, is part of efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, Hamas said.

U.S. President Donald Trump will visit the Middle East this week. His special envoy Adam Boehler said news of Alexander's release was a positive step forward.

"We would also ask that Hamas release the bodies of four other Americans that were taken," Boehler added.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was grateful to all those involved.

"This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones," Trump said.

Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in retaliation for a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and saw 251 taken hostage into Gaza in the deadliest day for Israel in its history.

The campaign has killed more than 52,800 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, and has devastated the Gaza Strip, leaving its 2.3 million population depending on aid supplies that have been dwindling rapidly since Israel imposed a blockade in March.

In a joint statement, Qatar and Egypt said Hamas' agreement to free Alexander was an "encouraging" step towards the warring parties returning to Gaza ceasefire talks, which have stalled since March.

The two countries said they would pursue their efforts, along with the United States, to improve the conditions in Gaza, reaching out for a permanent ceasefire and end to the war.

Exiled Gaza Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya said efforts to facilitate Alexander's release have been jointly carried out by Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.

"The movement affirms its readiness to immediately start intensive negotiations and make serious efforts to reach a final agreement to end the war, exchange prisoners in an agreed-upon manner," Hayya said.

Direct four-way talks that led to the release were held between officials from the U.S., Qatar, Egypt and Hamas, a source briefed on the negotiations told Reuters.

The U.S. had previously held discussions with Hamas on securing the release of U.S. hostages held in Gaza.

Israeli media reported on Sunday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a closed session of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Hamas could soon release Alexander as a goodwill gesture towards Trump.

The prime minister's office said the U.S. told Israel that Hamas' freeing of Alexander would lead to negotiations for the release of more hostages. Israel's policy is that negotiations will be conducted under fire with a continued commitment to achieving all war objectives, it added in a statement.

Hamas had released 38 hostages under a ceasefire that began on January 19. In March, Israel's military resumed its ground and aerial offensive on Gaza, abandoning the ceasefire after Hamas rejected proposals to extend the truce without ending the war.

Israeli officials said that offensive will continue until the remaining 59 hostages are freed and Gaza is demilitarized. Hamas insists it will free hostages only as part of a deal to end the war and has rejected demands to lay down its arms.

Israel, which is in control of around a third of Gaza's territory, said in May it will expand its Gaza offensive.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Hamas bore sole responsibility for the war as well as for the resumption of hostilities.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Zelenskiy tells Putin to come to Turkey if he wants talks, after Trump intervention

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he was ready to meet Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump told him publicly to immediately accept the Kremlin leader's proposal of direct talks.

Zelenskiy's suggestion of a meeting with Putin capped a dramatic 48 hours in which European leaders joined Zelenskiy in demanding a 30-day ceasefire from Monday, only for Putin to make a counter-proposal to instead hold the first direct Ukraine-Russia talks since the early months of the 2022 invasion.

It was far from clear, however, that Putin meant he would attend in person. Putin and Zelenskiy have not met since December 2019 and make no secret of their contempt for each other.

"I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally," Zelenskiy wrote on X. "I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses."

On Telegram, his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, added: "What about Putin? Is he afraid? We'll see."

The Ukrainian leader had responded guardedly earlier on Sunday after the Russian president, in a night-time televised statement that coincided with prime time in the U.S., proposed direct talks in Istanbul next Thursday, May 15.

Putin's suggestion came hours after major European powers demanded on Saturday in Kyiv that he agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or face "massive" new sanctions, a position that Trump's Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg endorsed.

TRUMP DEMANDS TALKS BEGIN

Zelenskiy too had said Ukraine was ready for talks, if Moscow agreed to the 30-day ceasefire.

Yet Trump, who has the power to continue or sever Washington's crucial supply of arms to Ukraine, took a different line.

"President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!"

Russia and Ukraine have both courted Trump.

Kyiv is desperate to unlock more of the U.S. military backing it received from his predecessor, Joe Biden. Moscow senses an opportunity to get relief from a barrage of economic sanctions and engage with the world's biggest economy.

Putin sent Russia's armed forces into Ukraine in February 2022, unleashing a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and triggered the gravest confrontation between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

But with Russian forces grinding forward, the Kremlin chief has offered few, if any, concessions so far.

In his overnight address, he proposed what he said would be "direct negotiations without any preconditions".

But almost immediately, senior Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters the talks must take into account both an abandoned 2022 draft peace framework and the current situation on the ground.

This language is shorthand for Kyiv agreeing to permanent neutrality in return for a security guarantee and accepting that Russia controls swathes of Ukraine.

Ukraine says agreeing to the terms of the 2022 draft would be tantamount to capitulation.

PUTIN REJECTS 'ULTIMATUMS'

Putin dismissed what he said was an attempt to lay down "ultimatums" in the form of Western European and Ukrainian demands for a ceasefire starting on Monday. His foreign ministry spelled out that talks about the root causes of the conflict must precede discussions of a ceasefire.

Trump, who says he wants to be remembered as a peacemaker and has repeatedly promised to end the war, earlier responded to Putin's address by saying that this could be "A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine!".

Though Russia did not commit to it, Zelenskiy said Ukraine's ceasefire plan for Monday still stood.

"We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy," he wrote on X.

Speaking in his nightly address, Zelenskiy said he was still waiting for a response from the Russian side - and that Ukrainian forces would respond in kind if Russian troops did not observe a truce.

The U.S. embassy in Kyiv issued a warning on Friday of a "potentially significant" Russian air attack in the coming days.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

US greenlights long-range missile transfer to Ukraine – NYT

The US has approved the transfer of 100 Patriot air-defense missiles and 125 long-range artillery rockets from German stockpiles to Ukraine, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing a congressional official. Under US export rules, American-made systems cannot be re-exported without prior approval from Washington.

The move follows Russia’s declaration of a 72-hour unilateral ceasefire from the start of May 8 to the end of May 10 to mark Victory Day, as well as President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to hold direct peace talks in Istanbul on May 15.

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has long advocated for long-range missiles and Patriot systems. He recently stated that Kiev is prepared to spend $30-50 billion on US weapons or obtain production licenses, and has instructed his government to pursue a Patriot deal. Each unit costs over $1 billion and requires around 90 personnel to operate.

Since returning to office in January, US President Donald Trump has not authorized new military aid for Ukraine. Shipments previously approved under former President Joe Biden have been nearly exhausted. According to the New York Times, the Trump administration has shown little interest in pursuing further assistance, instead urging European NATO allies to take on a greater share of the burden in supporting Ukraine.

On Thursday, the Ukrainian parliament ratified a landmark agreement with the US that grants Washington preferential access to critical natural resources, including rare-earth elements. Originally signed in April, the deal outlines the creation of a joint investment fund to support Ukraine’s economic recovery. While it does not include formal security assurances, Kiev views the agreement as a pathway to deeper cooperation with the US and potential future military support.

“This gives us hope,” Egor Chernev, the deputy chair of Ukraine’s parliamentary defense committee, said, as quoted by the New York Times. He noted that Ukrainian forces are running low on long-range missiles, artillery, and ballistic air defense systems, the majority of which are produced in the US.

In April, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin could not immediately send more Patriot systems due to supply issues. However, he confirmed plans to deliver four German-made IRIS-T SLM systems and 30 additional missiles. Germany has also sent 60 mine-resistant vehicles, 50,000 artillery shells, and one IRIS-T interceptor.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government has decided to stop publishing shipment details, aiming to establish “strategic ambiguity.”

Russia says it remains open to dialogue but insists that halting Western arms shipments is a prerequisite for any lasting ceasefire. Kiev has repeatedly called for a 30-day truce in recent months, describing it as critical to launching diplomatic efforts. Moscow has pushed back against the proposal, arguing that a pause would largely benefit Ukraine by giving its forces time to regroup and replenish their stockpiles.

Reuters/RT

Anambra North senatorial constituency comprises seven local government areas (LGAs). These are: Anambra East, Anambra West, Anyamelum, Ogbaru, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, and Oyi. The contest to represent it in the election to the senate in 2007 turned out to be memorable for all the wrong reasons. Voting in the election occurred on 28 April 2007. At the end of the contest, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returned Joy Emordi, the incumbent senator and candidate of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner.

In the race for the party ticket which preceded the election, Emordi beat out the challenge of a little-known member of the House of Representatives, Ubanese Alphonsus Igbeke. Having lost the contest for the party ticket, however, Ubanese promptly defected to the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), which granted him the ticket to fly its flag in the contest for the election to the senate in Anambra North.

Following the announcement of the election results by the INEC, five of the losing candidates headed to the election petition tribunal to challenge the announcement of Emordi as winner. They included Jessie Balonwu of the Labour Party, and Ubanese of the ANPP. An essential complaint was that there was no lawful voting in Anyamelum and Onitsha South LGAs. If their complaint was upheld, the logic would have necessitated a re-run. Over one year after the conclusion of the election, on 14 June 2008, the tribunal dismissed the petitions, and affirmed Joy Emordi as duly elected.

The losing candidates appealed.

Jessie Balonwu’s appeal was the first to be decided. On February 10, 2009, a Court of Appeal panel comprising three Justices of Appeal – Victor Omage, Ladan Tsamiya and Olukayode Ariwoola – found that there was no evidence in support of the claim that there were no elections in the two LGAs. The court of appeal, therefore, affirmed the decision of the election petition tribunal. At the time, appeals concerning elections to the senate ended in the court of appeal.

Like the other losing candidates, Ubanese lost his case at the election petition tribunal. Like them, he also appealed. Nearly three years after the election, on March 24, 2010, another panel of the court of appeal, this time comprising Amiru Sanusi (who was not on the earlier panel) as well as Ladam Tsamiya and Olukayode Ariwoola – both of whom had decided Jessie Balonwu’s case nearly a year earlier – nullified the election of Joy Emordi, declared Ubanese the winner of the election and ordered INEC to issue a certificate in his favour affirming his victory.

Six years after that judgment, the National Judicial Council (NJC) sacked Ladan Tsamiya as a judge in connection with judicial corruption in another election case from neighbouring Abia state.

Returning to the Anambra North senatorial contest from 2007, Emordi applied to the supreme court for a review of the two ostensibly conflicting decisions of the court of appeal but the court struck out her case, holding that it did not have jurisdiction to hear her. With one year left to run on the tenure and armed with the judgment of the court of appeal, Ubanese ousted Joy Emordi from the senate in May 2010 to become the senator for Anambra North. Once there, he promptly defected back to the ruling PDP from the ranks of the ANPP.

That was not the first time that Ubanese would be returnee as legislator by the votes of judges alone. His first tour of duty as a legislator in the House of Representatives in 2003 was made possible also by judicial decision.

He was not the only one to be selected in this manner in 2003. In the contest for the Anambra South seat for the senate, the court of appeal in Enugu manufactured victory for Ugochukwu Uba – who was not a candidate in the election. Ugochukwu Uba’s younger brother, Andy, was a very influential presidential confidante at the time.

2010 was not the last time that Ubanese’s entire electorate would comprise members of the Nigerian judiciary. ThisDay newspaper famously described him as “the serial senator who never wins an election”.

In 2011, another high court in Abuja also issued an order requiring the INEC to return Ubanese yet again as Senator for Anambra North after the election had been concluded and a winner declared. The order was stupefying because only an election petition tribunal could issue it.

This time, the Attorney-General of the Federation had Ubanese arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of forging and altering the outcome of the party primaries that he lost, misrepresenting to the High Court in Abuja that he had in fact emerged as the winner.

Ubanese was ultimately unsuccessful in returning to the Senate in 2011 but had pioneered an electoral business model that would prove both lucrative for all involved and resilient beyond his wildest imagining.

Ubanese showed judges how a joint enterprise with politicians could prove effective in making both sides influential, wealthy and powerful while at the same time sidelining the voters from the constitutive enterprise of deciding who controls their destinies. This guarantees that elections no longer end in the polling units. Instead, what we call elections only pare down the candidates who are required thereafter to proceed to court units, where the ultimate selection is determined by judges who alone have the right to vote. The cost of entry into this stage is prohibitive. Only the truly moneyed dare to show up.

The constitution may have anointed the people as the electorate but, in Nigeria, the winners and losers in elections are now decided by a judicial selectorate who do not feel themselves beholden to anything that the constitutional electorate may wish, seek, or say.

According to a former national vice-chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, “citizens can vote but winners are decided in the courtroom by conclaves of judges.” Former president, Goodluck Jonathan, acknowledged in Asaba, capital of Delta state in June 2024 that Nigerian judges increasingly “declare who doesn’t win the election that they are winners.”

Selectorate Theory explains how elites access and retain power. It distinguishes between three categories of actors for this purpose. Interchangeables notionally have a role but hardly fit the part. Influentials sometimes may do so. But the focus is on a small category of “Essentials” who decide nearly everything. The clever power seeker focuses on doing a deal with the Essentials at the expense of the Influentials and the Interchangeables.

In Nigeria, the judges have made themselves the indispensable Essentials in winning power and retaining it. The people have become very expendable Interchangeables. The national exchequer, meant for the people, now goes to financing the fancies of these electoral Essentials in order to protect the joint enterprise with the politicians. This is all done under ruse of law which, it is claimed, is indispensable to democracy.

The “ownership” of judicial figures has thus become an essential political accessory in Nigeria. Every ambitious politician knows that they need to own some judges or at least one. This political business model is a deeply Nigerian variant on Selectorate Theory which is now taking firm root across Africa. For this export, we must thank Ubanese Igbeke and the Uba brothers of Uga in Anambra state.

This week, publishers Narrative Landscape will be releasing, The Selectorate, my book which tells the story of how Nigerian judges toppled the people. It is a story that has been long in the making.

** A lawyer and a teacher, Odinkalu can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mark C. Crowley

Uncertainty has become a defining feature of life today, a reality that challenges workplace leaders to adapt rapidly, make decisions with limited information, and foster stability amid constant and sometimes highly erratic change.

At the same time, this uncertainty directly affects employees, making it incumbent upon leaders to provide the support and direction their teams need to successfully navigate an unpredictable world with both resilience and clarity.

It goes without saying that the role of a leader has grown increasingly more complex, requiring us to instill stability, foster adaptability, and maintain focus without being overwhelmed by the relentless pace of change.

In just the past month in America, we’ve witnessed the introduction, removal, and reintroduction of tariffs, massively disrupted supply chains, a whipsawing stock market (putting everyone’s retirement savings at risk), major companies mandating a return to office work, and the emergence of artificial intelligence technologies—innovations sparking equal parts excitement and fear as they reshape industries and raise questions about job security and the future of work.

It’s a lot for all of us to deal with.

Through my own leadership experience, I’ve learned that it’s absolutely pointless to try to control chaos—and far wiser to coach teams on how to thrive in spite of it. The following are five strategies I’ve used over the course of my career that workplace leaders can adopt to help their people negotiate complexity and perform at their best—regardless of what turbulence the universe throws our way:

1.   BE A RATIONAL OPTIMIST

In today’s world, it’s all too easy for pessimism to seep into our consciousness and negatively shape how we interact with those we lead. Being an abject pessimist, however, is entirely at odds with effective leadership, as it curtails productivity, stifles creativity, narrows perspective, and stands in the way of meaningful progress.

Yet, while pessimism can directly undermine progress, leaning too far into optimism also carries its own risks. Effective leadership requires striking a balance—offering hope and inspiration while remaining realistic about the challenges ahead.

In his book Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes, New York Times bestselling author Morgan Housel makes this exact point by urging leaders to be “rational optimists.” He emphasizes that our role as leaders is to imbue a deep belief in people that difficult challenges can indeed be overcome, while also being very honest about the strong likelihood that they’ll face setbacks, surprises, and disappointments along the way.

When people know to expect a rough road ahead, choosing hope over despair naturally opens the door to opportunities and more creative solutions.

2.   FOSTER TEAM CONNECTION AND BELONGING

When teams face uncertain times, the belief that “everyone is in this together” is a powerful force for fostering unity, sustaining morale, and motivating employees to collaborate and support each other to overcome major challenges. This is why leaders who prioritize team connection create environments where individuals feel secure enough to navigate difficulties together.

The goal is to cultivate a team culture where no one feels isolated and everyone is inspired to have each other’s back—truly embodying the spirit of “all for one and one for all.” Recent research shows that feelings of belonging are the glue that holds teams together, as well as being the cornerstone of employee well-being.

For leaders, creating this sense of belonging requires nurturing deeper relationships with our employees and learning their concerns. It’s also about fostering an environment where differences are celebrated, inclusion is more than a buzzword, and every voice carries weight. Togetherness can be a great source of strength.

3.   PROACTIVELY BUILD TEAM RESILIENCE

Long before crises or unexpected setbacks arise, leaders must not only remind employees that risk is an inherent aspect of every business. They must equip them to respond emotionally, to even the smallest hurdles, with confidence and resilience. As Nassim Taleb, the author of bestselling books on randomness and complexity, wisely advises, leaders should “prioritize preparation over prediction,” focusing on flexibility and readiness rather than relying on forecasts that are often uncertain or incomplete.

One way to achieve this is by regularly engaging employees in “what if” discussions—posing questions like, “How would we respond if this situation happened?” Additionally, empowering teams to collaboratively brainstorm solutions to everyday challenges on their own will help build their adaptability and creativity muscles, so they are ready when needed.

Finally, workplace leaders must cultivate their own self-mastery during challenging times. Learning how to maintain composure, reframe setbacks as opportunities, and display optimism in the worst of times is a collective skill set that demands diligent effort and commitment to develop. In the end, leaders must model the behavior they’ll expect from their team.

4.   INFLUENCE THROUGH STORIES, LESS THROUGH DATA

In Same as Ever, Morgan Housel clarifies that humans are wired for stories, not spreadsheets. Highlighting how storytelling creates clarity and sparks action, he explains, “We don’t think in terms of odds and probabilities; we think in terms of narratives.” Unlike raw data or abstract concepts, stories resonate deeply because they are inherently relatable and emotionally engaging.

Imagine a CEO who’s suddenly faced with a market downturn. Instead of bombarding employees with forecasts and financial metrics, telling stories about times in the past when their company was faced with great difficulties—and triumphed—is a transformative way of framing the current challenge as being equally surmountable.

According to Housel, “We live in a world where people are bored, impatient, emotional and need complicated things distilled into easy-to-grasp scenes.” So, craft stories that make the unknown feel conquerable, and watch them resonate with your teams.

5.   SET REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS

When unforeseen disruptions occur, projects often veer off schedule, and teams fall behind on critical targets. These setbacks are pivotal moments for leadership, as the urge to quickly regain momentum can place employees in an untenable position, feeling as if they’re fighting against the universe.

In these circumstances, wise leaders display patience and avoid placing undue pressure on their teams by setting unrealistic goals. Instead, they emphasize that while external factors may be uncontrollable, effort is always within their influence—even in the absence of guarantees. In the 1970s, Disney’s stock dropped 70%. Walt Disney responded by setting modest internal goals, assuring employees that he believed the company would recover through steady, determined action. His measured approach proved to foster resilience across the organization.

NAVIGATING ROUGH SEAS

In times of turbulence, the teams that will thrive are those who work cohesively, maintain an optimistic yet pragmatic outlook (acknowledging that big challenges may not have simple solutions, but can be conquered), and are trained to pivot rather than freeze when circumstances seem most dire. And, while we might wish for life to be easier and our objectives more readily attainable, we should also always remember that “a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”

Fast Company

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) says no cabal in the midstream and downstream sector, just individuals with vested interests.

On May 1, Aliko Dangote, president of the Dangote Group, said he was still fightingcabals for the survival of his $20 billion refinery — subsequently describing “cabals” as some major oil marketers and traders.

Speaking in an interview with TVC on Friday, Olufemi Adewole, executive secretary of DAPPMAN, described the use of “cabals” by Dangote as being “negative” and “subversive”.

“There is no cabal in the midstream and downstream operations as far as I am concerned, because, going by the English definition of the word cabal, it’s a negative, subversive thing. There is no cabal, but I can tell you that we have vested interests,” he said.

“My principals have vested interests in the sector. So if they have invested over these years, billions of naira, and they have bridged the gap.

“Even before Dangote, they were there when nobody was there to bridge the gap and ensure Nigerians got fuel. Definitely, they should have commensurate returns on their investment.”

‘DANGOTE REFINERY CAN MANIPULATE PRICES DUE TO ITS CAPACITY’

Speaking further, Adewole said Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s capacity gives it an edge over all other refineries in the country, potentially allowing it to dictate pricing.

He said monopoly is a danger to DAPPMAN, adding that “we have been talking and deliberating about it”.

“Right now, we have a refinery, a 650,000 barrel capacity refinery. This price, volume and capacity alone give the refinery the edge over all others. It can manipulate prices. It can dictate prices,” Adewole said.

“It can get what it wants. So it’s a clear and present danger for us, and we would rather not have it that way.

“But the beautiful thing is that we have the regulators, who have been doing fantastically well since they came on board.”

He said regulators are actively monitoring to ensure no organisation violates the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The executive secretary said the act promotes a free market, enabling multiple players to participate in the system, while measures are in place to prevent monopolistic practices.

“You will recall that Dangote recently took the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and a few other marketers to court,” Adewole said.

“This tells you their (Dangote Refinery) mindset, and what they were challenging is actually the authority of the regulator, which is enshrined in the PIA, to release import licenses for marketers to import fuel. So it gives you a picture into their mindset.”

He said “the fear of monopoly is real,” and marketers are working with other stakeholders “to ensure this is not realised”.

“We are working with the regulators, encouraging them to do their work so that this is curtailed,” the executive secretary said.

‘DANGOTE REFINERY CAN NOT MEET ALL LOCAL SUPPLY NEEDS’

Quoting Farouk Ahmed, NMDPRA’s chief executive officer (CEO), Adewole said Dangote refinery is not meeting up to the “reduced local consumption volume”.

“So, for now, Dangote refinery cannot meet up. It is we, the private depot owners, that have been bridging the gap and meeting the needs of Nigerians,” he said.

The executive secretary added that stopping the importation of petrol at this stage would be “chaotic” and “dangerous”.

Adewole said a phased strategy would be more practical when multiple domestic refineries become operational.

The Cable

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has reported significant financial losses due to foreign exchange scarcity and depreciation.

Kamoru Yusuf, Chairman of MAN's Basic Metals, Iron and Steel Fabricated Metal Sectoral Group and National Council member, revealed this during a visit by the Armed Forces Staff and Command College Senior Course 47 to his KAM Holding Limited facility in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Yusuf explained that manufacturers are unable to remit payments for previously imported raw materials that have already been processed into finished goods and sold when exchange rates were considerably lower than current levels.

Speaking on his behalf, KAM Holding Vice Chairman Iyadunni Yusuf expressed optimism that government support for the steel manufacturing sector would benefit both the industry and the nation's economy.

"We hope your tour of our facility will demonstrate the complex processes involved in manufacturing iron and steel products and strengthen your appreciation for our contribution to nation-building," she stated.

Addressing the delegation's theme of "Harnessing Grassroots Intelligence for Enhanced Internal Security," she noted, "This approach promotes intelligence gathering through community engagement, as local intelligence can identify early warning signs of potential threats. Moreover, collaboration with local communities builds trust between citizens and security agencies."

Colonel Mohammed, who led the Armed Forces delegation, explained that environmental visits to selected states, including Kwara, were initiated in response to national security challenges, prompting curriculum updates at the College.

He commended KAM Holding's significant contribution to state security through employment creation, noting that the company has empowered not only its direct employees but also others in the community. "It's particularly noteworthy that many employees are women, who are often vulnerable in our society. This employment strategy, whether intentional or not, helps address security concerns within the state," he concluded.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Northern States Governors' Forum (NSGF) has praised President Bola Tinubu's ongoing commitment to national security while highlighting serious concerns about recent security deterioration across the region.

Speaking at a joint meeting of the NSGF and Northern Traditional Rulers Council in Kaduna on Saturday, Forum Chairman and Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya emphasized the critical nature of the gathering amid escalating regional challenges that "demand nothing less than collective wisdom and decisive action."

The governors acknowledged the troubling resurgence of Boko Haram activities in the North-East alongside devastating violence in the North-Central, calling for an immediate strategic reassessment and enhanced coordination between federal, state, and local security frameworks.

The forum expressed profound condolences to the governments and citizens of Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, and Yobe States, as well as the broader northern population affected by recent deadly attacks. "These mindless acts of violence against innocent citizens remind us of the urgent need to redouble our security efforts and ensure that adequate security measures are vigorously implemented for the safety of our people," Governor Yahaya stated.

Host Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State remarked on the significance of the forum's unity despite regional diversity. "Despite our differences, the two bodies have found a way of forging consensus on critical issues and marching forward as united platforms. This approach has solidified Northern unity and garnered national respect for the Forum and Council. We must continue in this spirit," he urged.

The high-profile meeting saw attendance from governors of multiple northern states including Zamfara, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Yobe, Katsina, Jigawa, Kaduna, Gombe, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, Sokoto, and Kogi.

Prominent traditional leaders were also present, including the Sultan of Sokoto, the Emir of Zazzau, and the Etsu Nupe, underscoring the unified approach to addressing the region's mounting security challenges.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

New Gaza aid plans would increase children's suffering, UNICEF says

The United Nations Children's Fund on Friday criticized emerging plans to take over distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza on Thursday floated by both Israel and the United States, saying that they would increase suffering for children and families.

The U.S. State Department earlier floated a solution that would allow delivery of food aid to Gaza was "steps away" and an announcement was coming shortly.

A proposal is circulating among the aid community for a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation that would distribute food from four "Secure Distribution Sites", resembling plans announced by Israel earlier this week, which drew criticism that it would effectively worsen displacement among the Gaza population.

"It appears the design of a plan presented by Israel to the humanitarian community will increase ongoing suffering of children and families in the Gaza Strip," said UNICEF spokesperson James Elder.

Elder said his remarks also applied to the new foundation which he understood to be part of the same broad plan.

The aid community has already rejected any plans that would give occupying power Israel a role in distributing aid in Gaza.

However, the Foundation document said the sites would be "neutral" and U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on Friday that Israel would not be involved in handing out aid.

Still, Elder said that the use of such hubs, which the foundation says will initially serve 300,000 people each, would create risks for children and families as they go to retrieve aid and would drive further displacement.

"The use of humanitarian aid as a bait to force displacement, especially from the north to the south will create this impossible choice: a choice between displacement and death," said Elder, who has been on several missions to Gaza since the Israel-Hamas war began 19 months ago.

"It appears designed to reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic."

He called instead for Israel to lift a more than two-month-long blockade on aid entries into the enclave, which is stoking widespread hunger and raising concerns about a spike in malnutrition-related deaths.

"There is a simple alternative, lift the blockade, let humanitarian aid in to save lives," he said.

Reuters

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Putin offers Ukraine direct talks without preconditions

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered Kiev the opportunity to restart direct negotiations in Istanbul, which it unilaterally walked away from in 2022, despite Ukraine’s failure to honor the Victory Day truce and attempts to “intimidate” world leaders who gathered in Moscow for the celebrations.

Addressing the press early Sunday morning, following a day of meetings with foreign heads of state, Putin reiterated Russia’s offer to resume negotiations that Kiev abandoned shortly after the escalation of the current conflict.

“We propose that the Kiev authorities resume the negotiations they interrupted in 2022 – to resume direct negotiations, and I emphasize, without any preconditions. We propose to start without delay next Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul,” Putin said.

Our proposal is, so to speak, on the table. The decision now lies with the Ukrainian authorities and their curators.

“We do not rule out the possibility that during these negotiations it will be possible to agree on some new solutions, about ceasefires, about a new cessation of hostilities, and a real one at that would be adhered to not only by Russia but also by the Ukrainian side,” Putin added.

Earlier on Saturday, after a meeting with European leaders in Kiev, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky demanded that Russia agree to a full unconditional 30-day ceasefire before he would agree to resume direct talks with Moscow. The Kremlin has rejected what it described as external pressure surrounding the proposed truce.

Putin noted that Kiev has consistently violated the three ceasefires offered by Moscow: the 30-day US-brokered moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure which expired last month, the unconditional Easter armistice, and the recently lapsed 72-hour Victory Day truce. Ukraine not only refused to honor the May 7–10 ceasefire, but also attempted to intimidate the foreign leaders who attended the celebrations in Moscow, Putin stressed.

“The Kiev authorities not only rejected our proposal for a ceasefire, but also, as we all saw, they tried to intimidate the leaders of states gathered for the celebrations in Moscow,” he said.

“I repeat, Russia is ready for negotiations without any preconditions,” Putin said, noting that such talks would represent a first step toward a “long-term, sustainable peace – not a prologue to the continuation of armed conflict after the rearmament of Ukrainian forces and frantic digging of trenches and new strongholds.”

“Those who truly want peace cannot help but support this,” Putin added, expressing his gratitude for all genuine mediation efforts by China, Brazil, African and Middle Eastern countries, as well as the administration of US President Donald Trump.

Reaffirming Moscow’s readiness for serious talks aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict, Putin said he had asked Ankara to host future negotiations and noted a scheduled conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In 2022, Moscow and Kiev reached a draft peace deal in Istanbul, with Ukraine reportedly agreeing to neutrality and military limitations, while Russia offered troop withdrawals and security guarantees. Kiev, however, ultimately walked away from the deal, under alleged pressure from London, and Zelensky later issued a decree banning himself from any negotiations with Putin.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Putin proposes direct peace talks with Ukraine after three years of war

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday proposed direct talks with Ukraine on May 15 in Istanbul that he said should be aimed at bringing a durable peace and eliminating the root causes of the war.

Putin sent thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, unleashing a war that has left hundreds of thousands of soldiers dead and triggering the gravest confrontation between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

He said Russia was proposing direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul in an attempt to "eliminate the root causes of the conflict" and "to achieve the restoration of a long-term, lasting peace" rather than simply a pause for rearmament.

"We are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions," Putin said from the Kremlin in the early hours of Sunday. "We offer the Kyiv authorities to resume negotiations already on Thursday, in Istanbul."

Despite public and private pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump and repeated warnings from European powers, Putin has offered few concessions towards ending the conflict.

Putin said that he would speak to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan later on Sunday about facilitating the talks, which he said could lead to a ceasefire.

"Our proposal, as they say, is on the table, the decision is now up to the Ukrainian authorities and their curators, who are guided, it seems, by their personal political ambitions, and not by the interests of their peoples."

There was no immediate response from Kyiv to the proposal, which came in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Russia, Putin said, had proposed several ceasefires, including a moratorium on striking energy facilities, an Easter ceasefire and most recently the 72-hour truce during the celebrations marking 80 years since victory in World War Two but accused Ukraine of repeatedly violating the ceasefires.

He said that during the May ceasefire Ukraine had attacked Russia with 524 aerial drones, 45 sea drones, a number of Western missiles and that Russia had repelled five attacks on Russian regions.

Ukraine has accused Russia of repeatedly violating its own ceasefire, and along with major European powers, demanded on Saturday that Putin agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or face "massive" new sanctions.

Putin dismissed what he said was the attempt by some European powers to slap down "ultimatums".

PEACE?

Putin, whose forces have advanced over the past year, has stood firm in his conditions for ending the war.

In June 2024, he said that Ukraine must officially drop its NATO ambitions and withdraw its troops from the entirety of the territory of four Ukrainian regions claimed by Russia.

Russian officials have also proposed that the United States recognise Russia's control over about one fifth of Ukraine and demanded that Ukraine remains neutral though Moscow has said it is not opposed to Kyiv's ambitions to join the European Union.

Putin specifically mentioned the 2022 draft deal which Russia and Ukraine negotiated shortly after the Russian invasion of February 2022.

Under that draft, a copy of which Reuters has seen, Ukraine should agree to permanent neutrality in return for international security guarantees from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

"It was not Russia that broke off negotiations in 2022. It was Kyiv," Putin said. "Russia is ready to negotiate without any preconditions."

He thanked China, Brazil, African and Middle Eastern countries and the United States for their efforts to mediate.

Trump, who says he wants to be remembered as a peacemaker, has repeatedly said he wants to end the "bloodbath" of the Ukraine war which his administration casts as a proxy war between the United States and Russia.

Former U.S. President Joe Biden, Western European leaders and Ukraine cast the invasion as an imperial-style land grab and repeatedly vowed to defeat Russian forces.

Putin casts the war as a watershed moment in Moscow's relations with the West, which he says humiliated Russia after the Soviet Union fell in 1991 by enlarging NATO and encroaching on what he considers Moscow's sphere of influence, including Ukraine.

RT/Reuters