News

OPINION: Pasuma, Currency And Super Eagles’ Humiliation (1)

Published

1 year ago

October 18, 2024

Tunde Odesola

Indeed and in deed, I’m not envious of the T-Pain nickname of President Bola Tinubu because I’m T-P, too. But my T-P is not Tunde-Pain. Neither is it the weight loss Tinubu-Pain capsule the President is forcing down the throats of Nigerians.

My T-P, Tunde-Paradox, is the product of my inability to explain why I always manage to sleep off in the cinema, with all the banging noise and lighting effects while I, ironically, wake up at the slightest of sounds when in bed.

Everyone has their kicks in life. I have mine, and media counts among them while others include literature, culture, music, writing and football. Media is the umbrella word for film, video, theatre, radio, television, social media etc.

You wonder why a supposed media enthusiast is unenthusiastic about watching films and television, and hardly listens to the radio? It’s because very few programmes tickle my fancy. Though I enjoy a few programmes on TV and radio, I’m not one to have the days and times of TV or radio programmes tucked in my skull. For anything, however, I love theatre and I love football; in the arms of these two, I never fall asleep. I love literature, culture and music too, though a little toad resides in my voice.

Seriously speaking, however, you won’t but fall asleep when your children choose their Gen-Z films by themselves online and demand your company at the cinema. I keep them company at the cinema while sleep takes away my boredom.

My brain is ageing, I admit. Whose brain isn’t, anyway? Unknotting the motifs and storylines of some foreign-themed films right inside the cinema has never been my forte. So, whenever I’m lured to watch a movie with unfamiliar characters and storylines, I yawn and succumb to sleep. Oh, you don’t know what you’re missing – sleeping in the cinema is sweet; it’s like escorting pounded yam on the mouthward journey with afang or edikang ikong soup while you suck delicately on periwinkles.

“Baba T, did you see that?” an elbow nudges me awake. “Uhn, what, yes, no, what!?” I murmur, praying for the film and its cup to pass over me quickly. “Ah, Baba T is sleeping.” “No, I’m watching with my eyes closed.”

Because of its naturalness and spontaneity, I prefer the theatre to the cinema. I love sitting in the crowd, watching and running mental critiques of plays, comedies, musicals, shows etc. I also love storytelling but I won’t bore you with the well-worn story of how the cock and its fleshy comb became sought-after food for the fox – after the cock told the fox that its comb wasn’t fire, which the fox was hitherto fleeing from, thereby losing the loci of power to the fox forever. The cock lost respect and its fear factor due to its own making.

The cock and fox story is a parable for the mistreatment Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles, suffered at the hands of Libyan authorities when they flew to Libya to honour an AFCON return leg match a few days ago. In Libya, the Eagles were debeaked, defeathered, declawed, detained and disgraced without kicking a ball. If the balls of Nigeria had not been dangling shamelessly to the ridicule of the world, Libya, an oil-rich desert of 7.3m people – lesser than Oyo State population of 7.9m – would not dehumanise the Super Eagles. Libya, a country that’s not among the top 10 list of African countries with the strongest military, would not humiliate Nigeria if it knew Nigeria wasn’t big for nothing. The Muammar Gaddafi country won’t gleefully try that rubbish with Egypt, Cameroon, South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, without getting a comeuppance from CAF. Why bear the name giant and behave like an ant? Or could the exchange rate of N339.85 Nigerian naira to one Libyan dinar be the reason Libya thinks it can treat the Super Eagles as trash? It’s time Nigeria stopped acting dumb and condemned North Africa’s mistreatment of Black Africa. The Tinubu administration shouldn’t fail at home and fail abroad because ìyà méjì kìí je òkú ìgbé – the unfortunate fellow shouldn’t suffer two misfortunes.

Findings by yours truly showed that the NFF were not complicit in the allegations of mistreatment levelled against Nigeria during the first leg of the AFCON tie in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, by Libyan authorities some days ago. The Eagles won the match 1-0.

Media Officer of the Super Eagles B team and Editor, ExtrasportNigeria, Pius Ayinor, said the Libyan national team landed in Port Harcourt instead of the pre-arranged Uyo airport, adding that Libyan authorities didn’t inform the Nigeria Football Federation of the contingent’s intention to fly to Port Harcourt until the contingent was airborne.

Ayinor said, “The only stadium approved for CAF matches is the Uyo stadium. But the Libyan team went to Port Harcourt instead of Uyo. Because the NFF didn’t prepare Port Harcourt for them, it took some time to make calls to people in Port Harcourt to arrange clearance and transportation for them.

“They even rejected the bus provided by the NFF and arranged for their own bus to take them to Port Harcourt. It was only the security provided for them that they accepted. They also mumbled about other things they said happened without any evidence. That was why they said they were going to retaliate.”

Have you heard the story of the Corn, Beans and Squash? In the days of yore in North America, these plants were three sisters planted together in the same mound because they depended on one another for growth. The Beans weaved her twining stems around the stalk of the corn and the broad leaves of the Squash covering the ground protected the roots of the three plants from sunlight and also preserved moisture.

One day, the Corn, in arrogance, broke out of the bond and chose to stand alone, thinking the Beans and Squash contributed nothing. The Corn withered without Squash leaves protecting the soil and Bean’s stem acting as support.

The ongoing commotion in the Fuji music fraternity in Nigeria is somewhat reminiscent of The Tale of the Three Sisters. There are three major characters and a handful of minor characters in the ongoing Fuji House of Commotion play set in Ibadan. The three major characters are Oga Nla Fuji, Ajibola Alabi Pasuma, and two of his proteges, Taye Currency and Tiri Leather.

After his demise, I fell in love with the music of Dr Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, the Fuji missionary. I used to love the music of General Kollington Ayinla. I enjoy King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, Dr Adewale Ayuba, Osupa Saheed and Pasuma. I like the comic value of Obesere music.

I spoke about music and culture earlier on. Music is an intrinsic part of culture. Music promotes language and expands the frontiers of knowledge by disseminating information. Oral and recorded music are tools for researchers to shed light on historic events.

It’s in this light I see and listen to Fuji music. Barrister’s music, arguably more than any other indigenous Yoruba musician, is richer in proverbs and lore. In many years to come, his songs would be a reference point in unearthing some of the socio-political and economic events that happened in his time. This is not to say that musicians like Portable and St Janet won’t be remembered in history for what their songs stood for. Every creative artist, musician, writer, sculptor, painter, carver, smith etc mirror their societies.

Fuji music, in particular, is the biggest Made-in-Nigeria music after Fela’s Afrobeats. While Juju, Apala, Sakara and other indigenous Yoruba music are shrinking, Fuji is growing in size and form.

During a live show in Ibadan, Taye Currency said Pasuma, his mentor, once sang like the Asakasa exponent, Obesere, when he (Pasuma) was starting out on his musical journey. This didn’t go down well with the teeming fans of Pasuma who felt such a reference was untrue and shouldn’t have come from Taye, who’s considered the biggest benefactor of Pasuma’s support musically.

To be continued.

Email: tundeodes2003@yahoo.com

Facebook: @Tunde Odesola

X: @Tunde_Odesola

News

Edo Targets 2.2 Million Children For Measles, Rubella Vaccination

Published

8 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Government says it is targeting about 2.2 million children aged between 0 and 14 years for measles and rubella vaccination across the state.

The Director of Disease Control and Immunization at the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Eseigbe Efeomon, who disclosed this during stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting in Benin City, said this would be done in collaboration with development partners.

Efeomon, while noting that the vaccination exercise scheduled to hold simultaneously from January 20 to January 30, 2026, across the 18 local government areas of Edo State at designated health facilities and temporary vaccination posts, said the campaign aims to contribute significantly to the reduction of measles and rubella in Nigeria.

He explained that achieving this target requires increased population immunity through sustained vaccination.

Dr. Efeomon stressed that only qualified and certified health workers would be recruited as vaccinators because the vaccines are injectable.

According to him, the vaccination strategy would involve fixed posts and temporary fixed posts, and vaccination cards would be issued to all vaccinated children as proof, which parents and caregivers are advised to keep for future reference.

He added that vaccination teams would visit schools, churches, mosques, markets, motor parks, internally displaced persons’ camps and other public places, while children who receive the vaccine would be finger-marked to prevent double vaccination.

He reiterated that the overarching goal of the campaign is to drastically reduce rubella incidence nationwide and protect children from preventable diseases through effective immunisation coverage.

Also speaking, the World Health Organization Local Government Facilitator, Mr. Ajaero Paul, described measles and rubella as major causes of death and congenital abnormalities among children globally.

He said both diseases are preventable through the measles-rubella vaccine, which he described as safe and effective,

He added that sustained advocacy is critical to reducing child mortality and lifelong disabilities.

On his part, UNICEF Social and Behavioural Change Health Officer, Yakubu Suleiman, emphasised that the measles-rubella vaccine is safe and effective for all children aged nine months to 14 years.

He stated that the government has fully paid for the vaccines, making them available at no cost to all eligible children in government health facilities across the state.

Suleiman explained that vaccination not only protects individual children but also safeguards communities from deadly vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and rubella.

He added that even children who had previously received the measles vaccine should still be given the measles-rubella vaccine and appealed to schools and other key stakeholders to support the campaign to ensure that no child is left behind.

News

Togo, Niger, Benin Owe Nigeria Over $17.8m For Supplied Electricity – NERC

Published

12 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

Nigeria’s electricity regulator has disclosed that three neighbouring countries, Togo, Niger and Benin, are indebted to Nigeria to the tune of $17.8 million, equivalent to more than N25 billion at prevailing exchange rates, for power supplied under bilateral electricity agreements.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, made this known in its Third Quarter 2025 report, which reviewed market performance within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI.

According to the report, the international customers were billed a total of $18.69 million by the Market Operator for electricity supplied during the third quarter of 2025. However, only $7.125 million was paid, leaving an unpaid balance of $11.56 million for the period under review.

NERC also revealed that the same international offtakers had outstanding legacy debts amounting to $14.7 million from previous quarters. Of this amount, $7.84 million was settled, leaving a residual balance of $6.23 million.

When combined with the Q3 2025 shortfall, the total outstanding debt stood at $17.8 million, which translates to about N25.36 billion at an exchange rate of N1,425 to one US dollar.

The regulator identified the international electricity customers as Compagnie Énergie Électrique du Togo, Société Béninoise d’Énergie Électrique of Benin Republic, and Société Nigérienne d’Électricité of Niger Republic.

NERC stated that the three utilities collectively paid just $7.125 million against the $18.69 million invoice issued for electricity supplied in the third quarter, resulting in a remittance performance of 38.09 per cent.

This meant that more than half of the billed amount remained unpaid at the close of the quarter.

The commission explained that the electricity exported to the three countries was generated by grid-connected Nigerian generation companies and delivered through cross-border bilateral power supply arrangements.

By contrast, NERC reported a stronger payment performance among domestic bilateral customers. According to the report, local customers paid N3.19 billion out of the N3.64 billion invoiced for the same quarter, representing a remittance rate of 87.61 per cent.

The regulator further noted that some bilateral customers, both international and domestic, made additional payments to offset outstanding invoices from earlier quarters.

Specifically, the Market Operator received $7.84 million from international customers and N1.3 billion from domestic customers in settlement of previous obligations.

Beyond bilateral transactions, NERC disclosed that Nigeria’s 11 electricity distribution companies remitted a total of N381.29 billion to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc and the Market Operator in the third quarter of 2025. This was out of a cumulative invoice of N400.48 billion, translating to an overall remittance performance of 95.21 per cent.

The commission said the figures were derived from reconciled market settlement data submitted as of December 18, 2025, as part of its statutory evaluation of the commercial health and performance of the electricity market.

News

Expert Identify Foods That Increase Hypertension Medication’s Effectiveness

Published

20 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

Hypertension remains one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide, contributing significantly to heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Despite the availability of effective antihypertensive drugs, long-term control of high blood pressure is often challenging because of drug resistance, side effects, and poor adherence.

This has fueled growing scientific interest in complementary strategies that can enhance drug efficacy while minimising toxicity. One promising approach is the combination of conventional antihypertensive medications with herbs and spices in many kitchens.

Recent evidence suggests that augmenting modern antihypertensive drugs with foods rich in p-coumaric acid, a naturally occurring phenolic acid, may offer a novel and effective strategy for blood pressure control.

Phenolic compounds, commonly found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, are known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and blood vessel–protective properties.

In a study, researchers investigated the combined effects of lisinopril, a widely used antihypertensive drugs and p-coumaric acid on hypertension.

They reported in the Comparative Clinical Pathology that p-coumaric acid enhance the antihypertensive action of lisinopril, potentially allowing for improved blood pressure control without increasing drug dosage.

The study used an established animal model in which hypertension was induced in rats through oral administration of L-NAME, a compound known to suppress nitric oxide production and raise blood pressure.

Following the induction of hypertension, the animals were treated for 14 days with p-coumaric acid (at two different doses), lisinopril alone, or a combination of both.

Untreated hypertensive rats showed significantly elevated activities of key enzymes linked to high blood pressure such as ACE, arginase, acetylcholinesterase, and phosphodiesterase-5 along with increased lipid peroxidation, an indicator of oxidative stress. At the same time, levels of nitric oxide, a critical molecule for blood vessel relaxation, were markedly reduced.

By contrast, rats treated with a combination of lisinopril and p-coumaric acid experienced notable improvements. Blood pressure was better controlled; harmful enzyme activities were reduced, oxidative stress declined, and nitric oxide levels increased. These improvements were mirrored in the tissues the heart compared with untreated hypertensive animals.

They said that the findings suggest that p-coumaric acid may enhance the antihypertensive action of lisinopril, potentially allowing for improved blood pressure control without increasing drug dosage.

This drug–food interaction model is particularly important in the circumstance of long-term hypertension management. Many patients rely on lifelong medication, and strategies that can improve treatment outcomes while reducing side effects are highly desirable.

The study also reinforces the growing recognition that diet is not merely supportive but can be biologically active in disease control.

The use of medicinal plants and plant-based therapies in the management of hypertension is deeply rooted in traditional medicine across many cultures. While such practices have often existed outside conventional healthcare systems, modern scientific research is now providing evidence-based explanations for their effectiveness.

While these findings are based on animal studies and cannot yet be directly translated into clinical recommendations for humans, they open the door to future research on dietary strategies that can safely complement antihypertensive drugs.

Further clinical studies are needed to determine appropriate dosages, safety profiles, and real-world effectiveness.

In the fight against hypertension, the future may lie not only in new drugs, but also in smarter combinations, where medicine and nutrition work together to deliver better, safer outcomes for patients.

Such nutrition to help maintain healthy blood pressure includes garlic, potatoes, walnuts,tomato and tomato products, legumes and citrus fruits (grapefruits and oranges).
(TRIBUNE)