News

OPINION: The Owner Of Èkó And His Dogs

Published

3 weeks ago

July 4, 2025

Tunde Odesola

Mr Sanwo-Ola is the Administrator and Chief Tax Collector of Èkó, the Atlantic City. As an ajélè, Sanwo-Ola oversees the Èkó territory on behalf of the true owner, the Elékò, Oba Akanbi Olódó Ààre. In a controversial poll, Ààre had snatched the kingship of Naija from three other bloodsuckers, namely Article, Kwankwa and Obih, subsequently relocating from Èkó to rule in the portal of power, Abuja, two years ago.

From being the godfather of some fiefdoms in Southern Naija, Ààre is now king over more than 35 federating fiefdoms of Naija, fulfilling a lifetime dream. Ààre is the Oracle of ‘Turn-By-Turn Nigeria PLC’ and the Godhead of ‘Baba-Sope Politics’.

On this lonely midnight, Sanwo-Ola cuts the figure of a troubled mind as he sat on the edge of the giant bed, his face in his palms, an empty brandy bottle on the bedside stool, eyes bloodshot. Beads of sweat break on his brows, despite the giant air conditioners in the room working full throttle.

Sanwo-Ola had just executed a coup, but the coup failed, and he knows the consequences of a failed coup. He knows Ààre is the god of vendetta. He also knows that the dog of the king is the king of dogs.

The dog called Mudder. Though Mudder is one of the dogs of the king, Mudder is an irritating dog; untrainable and implacable – always barking without reason – spoilt, stupid, selfish and swindling. Mudder is also the Head, Èkó Assembly of Legislathieves.

Because he has the king’s backing, Mudder, one day, barked at Sanwo-Ola during a public presentation, tearing the Èkó Administrator’s garment – having been seized by the dìgbòlugi virus called rabies. In that show of shame, Mudder disrespected the land’s elders and equated himself with all former ajélè of Èkó, and even the Ààre himself.

Mudder ti f’enu ko! Everyone thought Mudder had talked himself into trouble by equating himself with Ààre, and would be muzzled for good. Initially, Ààre was annoyed with Mudder, refusing to see him when he went to Abuja to pay obeisance, even Ààre publicly reprimanding him during a festive period in Èkó. The news of Mudder falling out of favour set the Atlantic City’s grapevine afire; his days are numbered, many reasoned.

One day, Mudder foraged outside his kennel, far beyond the territorial borders of his owner, Ààre. A thought crept into Sanwo-Ola’s mind, “This is the best time to strike the senseless chihuahua.” So, Sanwo-Ola sought the backing of Èkó elders, a conclave of spent oldies, whose major duty is to run errands for Ààre and eat at his feet.

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Subsequently, Sanwo-Ola got the support of Mudder’s colleagues, whom he (Mudder) had treated shabbily for so long. Altogether – Sanwo-Ola, elders, chamber members, etc – carried the effigy of Mudder to Eti-Osa, the bank of the lagoon, and tossed it into the sea! That was symbolic. That was spiritual.

Mission accomplished, hugging and back-slapping, everyone departed from the seaside. Ààre will not rescue the mad dog; he’s now a goner, a loner, he’s going to sit among the pack and hunt with the hound now, he won’t be the top dog anymore. That was what everyone thought. But they were all wrong! Ààre is the double-edged sword with which Esu begs people for palm oil.

“Go and give Mudder, my dog, back his bone!” Ààre barked. “Ha, what will the masses say?” the elders counselled, “Èkó people are sophisticated, Ààre.” “I don’t care!” Ààre thundered, adding, “Sanwo-Ola should go and resign if Mudder cannot be reinstated.” Confusion! Panic! The elders pleaded, “The bone is now in the possession of a homie, the people’s choice.” Puffing, pouting and panting, “I am the people! I am Èkó! I forge the destinies of the people in my bullion vans,” Ààre shouted, cursing and hissing. “Go and reinstate Mudder!”

Within the next 24 hours, Ààre fought with the ruthlessness of COVID, the àjàkalè àrùn that arrested the whole world in 2020, as he withdrew security details in Iru and Ikate-Elegushi kingdoms from two handpicked royal fathers related to the new head of the chamber.

Ààre Esu Laalu! Ààre is the beheader who never allows a sword near his head. By torpedoing Mudder without involving Ààre, Sanwo-Ola flouted the very first law of power, “Do not outshine the master,” as propounded by Robert Greene in his warfare book, “The 48 Laws of Power”. Ààre felt that if Sanwo-Ola got away with this coup, he would have mastered the art of subterfuge, thereby becoming dangerous and powerful. Ààre did not want an ajélè as powerful and as beloved as the left-handed B-Fash. “So, this Sanwo-Ola boy wants to beat me in my own game?” Ààre thought aloud, blowing smoke through his nostrils. “I will teach him a lesson!”

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It’s Ààre’s enduring tactics that the Administrator of Èkó and the Head of Èkó chambers, in any tenure, must never be friends; they must be cat and mouse. When there’s no love lost between the ajélè and the Chamber Head, the ajélè will be afraid that Ààre can tell the chamber head to topple him anytime. Ààre knows this type of arrangement will make the Chamber Head see himself as a potential ajélè if he remains a loyal dog. That was the relationship tactically sustained between all Eko ajélè and chamber heads handpicked by Ààre. The Sanwo-Ola—Mudder war gives Ààre joy.

The outrageous reinstatement of Mudder exposed Ààre as a devil in paradise. A viper in an agbada. The whole world knows there is only one man who can reinstate Mudder. He is Ààre – the Emperor, the Conqueror, the Champion, the Lion…

For exposing him, Ààre turned against Sanwo-Ola viciously, intent on ridiculing him publicly and making life terrible for him. At a public function, Ààre refused to acknowledge Sanwo-Ola, sending disturbing signals within the Atlantic City.

Sanwo-Ola ran from pillar to post, begging the young and old to help appease the Esu in Abuja to eat èbùré, the atonement sacrifice. Witches and wizards from all parts of the land flew to the portal of power to beg Alhameda to lift his jackboots off the neck of Sanwo-Ola.

The blood pressure of Sanwo-Ola rose because fear had taken him hostage. Brandy and whiskey became his water. He knew the fates that befell those who fell out with Ààre: impeachment, prosecution and persecution. He cried and prayed. And God listens to prayers.

A few days later, a call came through. It was one of the elders. “Ààre has finally listened to us. He said you can celebrate your anniversary. But he said to show you’re really contrite at heart, you must not dance all those your ‘Gbe body e,” “Zanku,” “Shaku Shaku,” “Legwork,” styles o.” Sanwo-Ola: “Ha, thank you very much, sir. E se, sir. I will see you all, sir.”

Sanwo-Ola invited his colleagues from other lands to his big party. There was a particular colleague of his who came from a land popular for its healing river. Ha! That colleague no dey take ear hear music, e go jump up and start to twist.

At the party, that Sanwo-Ola’s colleague with a skyscraping cap would dance vigorously towards Sanwo-Ola, but Sanwo-Ola would only sway to the left and the right like a faulty standing fan. “What is wrong with Sanwo-Ola today? He’s not vibing,” his dancer colleague thought.

Adewale Ayuba’s music blared, “File! Ma ba won ta tan dele o…” Sanwo-Ola swayed, his colleague rocked.

Days after the party, the Ajélè of Eko called his Chief Security Officer.

Sanwo-Ola: Hello CSO! Arrange security, we must head out to Abuja immediately!

CSO: Today, YE?

Sanwo-Ola: I said immediately!

CSO: I’m sorry, YE; you told me a few minutes ago you’ve been placed on bed rest by your doctor, sir.

Sanwo-Ola: If I miss the 2 o’clock flight, consider yourself redeployed.

CSO: Yes, YE!

In a couple of minutes, sirens blared and a fleet of the latest automobiles snaked out of the palatial residence en route to the airport.

Sanwo-Ola: Listen to me carefully, COS. Do not mess this up. This is why I asked you to lead the advance team to Abuja. Get those market women and men, students, artisans, thugs and schoolchildren to Ass-o-Rock gate and wait. I’m flying in with our elders, leaders and dignitaries. We shall be there shortly. Kill cows and cook various foods. Let drinks flow like a river.

COS: What are we celebrating, YE, sir?

Sanwo-Ola: We are coming to Abuja to thank Aare for wishing me well during my anniversary.

COS: Who are those coming with you, YE?

Sanwo-Ola: My wife and all the who’s who in Eko. It’s not easy for Ààre to send well wishes to mortals. On his mandate, I shall quench.

Email: tundeodes2003@yahoo.com

Facebook: @Tunde Odesola

X: @Tunde_Odesola

News

LG Chairman Drags Niger Govt To Court Over Alleged Tenure Reduction

Published

11 hours ago

July 25, 2025

Editor

Alhaji Aminu Yakubu-Ladan, the Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area (LGA) in Niger, has sued the state government over alleged reduction of tenure of local government chairmen and councillors.

Yakubu-Ladan, in the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, sought an order restraining the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) and its co-defendants from conducting the scheduled LGAs’ election until the expiration of their tenure.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NSIEC has fixed November 1 for the conduct of the local government poll across the state.

However, the plaintiff, in the suit, named the Attorney-General of Niger State, the House of Assembly, NSIEC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Inspector-General (IG) of Police as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.

The chairman is challenging the constitutionality of the Niger State Local Government Law, 2001, which seeks to reduce the tenure of local government chairmen and councillors from four years to three years.

Yakubu-Ladan, in the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1370/2025, dated July 10 but filed July 11 by his counsel, Chris Udeoyibo, sought eight questions for determination.

The chairman questions whether the state government can enforce inconsistent local government law, 2001 (as amended), which clashed with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.

“Should Niger State Local Government Law Section 29 (2) be declared unconstitutional for clashing with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022,” he said.

The plaintiff seeks a declaration that a four-year tenure for local government chairmen and councillors is constitutionally guaranteed by virtue of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2022.

The suit also challenged the NSIEC’s preparation for the local government elections slated for November 1.

The plaintiff, therefore, seeks an order restraining the defendants from the elections on Nov. 1 until the expiration of a four-year tenure for chairmen and councillors.

The suit also seeks to restrain INEC and the I-G from providing logistical support and security protection for the election.

Yakubu-Ladan argued that the state’s local government law, 2001, is inconsistent with Section 7 of the constitution and Sections 018 and 150 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The suit is yet to be assigned to a judge as of the time of the report.

News

France’s Top Court Annuls Arrest Warrant Against Syria’s Ex-president al-Assad

Published

11 hours ago

July 25, 2025

Editor

France’s highest court Friday annulled a French arrest warrant against Syria’s ex-president Bashar al-Assad — issued before his ouster — over 2013 deadly chemical attacks.

The Court of Cassation ruled there were no exceptions to presidential immunity, even for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

But its presiding judge, Christophe Soulard, added that, as Assad was no longer president after an Islamist-led group toppled him in December, “new arrest warrants can have been, or can be, issued against him” and as such the investigation into the case could continue.

Human rights advocates had hoped the court would rule that immunity did not apply because of the severity of the allegations, which would have set a major precedent in international law towards holding accused war criminals to account.

French authorities issued the warrant against Assad in November 2023 over his alleged role in the chain of command for a sarin gas attack that killed more than 1,000 people, according to US intelligence, on August 4 and 5, 2013 in Adra and Douma outside Damascus.

Assad is accused of complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity in the case. Syrian authorities at the time denied involvement and blamed rebels.

– Universal jurisdiction –

The French judiciary tackled the case under the principle of universal jurisdiction, whereby a court may prosecute individuals for serious crimes committed in other countries.

An investigation — based on testimonies of survivors and military defectors, as well as photos and video footage — led to warrants for the arrest of Assad, his brother Maher who headed an elite army unit, and two generals.

Public prosecutors approved three of the warrants, but issued an appeal against the one targeting Assad, arguing he should have immunity as a head of state.

The Paris Court of Appeal in June last year however upheld it, and prosecutors again appealed.

But in December, Assad’s circumstances changed.

He and his family fled to Russia, according to Russian authorities, after he was ousted by advancing rebels.

In January, French investigating magistrates issued a second arrest warrant against Assad for suspected complicity in war crimes for a bombing in the Syrian city of Deraa in 2017 that killed a French-Syrian civilian.

– Indictment of ex-bank governor valid –

The Court of Cassation said Assad’s so called “personal immunity”, granted because of his office, meant he could not be targeted by arrest warrants until his ouster.

But it ruled that “functional immunity”, which is granted to people who perform certain functions of state, could be lifted in the case of accusations of severe crimes.

Thus it upheld the French judiciary’s indictment in another case of ex-governor of the Central Bank of Syria and former finance minister, Adib Mayaleh, for complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity over alleged funding of the Assad government during the civil war.

Headline

Fashion Designers, IT Specialists: UK Opens Door To Foreign Talents With New Visa Rules

Published

11 hours ago

July 25, 2025

Editor

The United Kingdom has expanded its Skilled Worker visa route to include more than 70 mid-level occupations, opening the door for foreign professionals such as fashion designers, technicians, and IT specialists to work in the country with salaries starting from €29,000.

This move, which took effect on July 22, 2025, is part of the government’s strategy to tackle urgent labour shortages by easing access to roles traditionally considered outside the high-skilled visa category.

The update introduces a newly expanded Temporary Shortage Occupation List (TSOL), which comes with significantly lower salary thresholds and streamlined visa processes for eligible roles across sectors such as engineering, construction, healthcare, science, finance, creative arts, and information technology.

The changes reflect a deliberate shift to address staffing gaps in industries critical to the UK economy.

Under the revised rules, salary requirements now vary based on an applicant’s visa history. While standard

thresholds still apply to newcomers, those categorized as “new entrants,” PhD holders, or individuals with continuous Skilled Worker visas prior to April 4, 2024, can qualify at lower salary levels.

For instance, a pipe fitter who previously needed to earn at least £46,000 can now be eligible with £40,400. Engineering technicians are permitted at £34,700, down from £42,500. In the creative sector, fashion designers can now qualify with £29,100, while data analysts in tech are eligible at £28,600. Laboratory technicians in science and healthcare can apply with £25,000, reduced from the standard £33,400.

This restructured visa list is seen as a direct response to economic and political pressures surrounding skills shortages. It seeks to make the UK labor market more globally competitive while addressing domestic gaps in practical, mid-level roles.

Despite these new allowances, all applicants must still meet basic eligibility requirements, including having a confirmed job offer from a licensed UK sponsor and obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship. Applications must also include proof of qualifications, salary information, and a valid job match aligned with the official occupation codes.

Although the government describes the updated list as temporary, no fixed end date has been announced.