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OPINION: Yakubu Mohammed: 1950 – 2026

Published

4 months ago

January 19, 2026

By Lasisi Olagunju

He was my friend and gist mate. I remember I was right on the Asejire Bridge on the Ife-Ibadan Road when his very first call came in.

“Hello. My name is Yakubu Mohammed. I call to commend your writings and to tell you that I read you and circulate your articles widely.”

I held my breath listening to him. This man was already a god when I was in secondary school and building the ambition to write like him and his friends: Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu and Dan Agbese. I told him it was a great privilege receiving that call from him. I told him it was a greater privilege to get the compliments he drenched me with. I told him I didn’t take them for granted.

That was some seven-eight years ago. From that day until days before last week, he maintained close contacts with me – weekly, sometimes bi-weekly. I valued the friendship and strove not to mess up the privilege.

Every Monday, he read my column and every Monday he sent reactions he wrote, and reactions from other readers, particularly his secondary school mates on Okene Old Boys WhatsApp platform.

When I wrote about politicians’ infelicities, his reaction was “Good morning. Madness has taken hold.” When a minister was not happy about my writings and hinted at my “redemption” and I wrote about it with a defiance, Yakubu sent me a message:

“I am happy you don’t intend to abandon that road or be frightened or blackmailed to abandon that road. That is character…”

I wrote on the Kabiyesi of our democracy; he commented, calling them “dictatorial democrats.”

When I yelled softly at the powers’ bad behaviour and its implications for collective wellbeing, he said: “We crave trouble deliberately in this country!” He added that trouble was “apparently the only credible and valuable coin we hold.”

When his friend, Dan Agbese, died in November last year and I commiserated with him, he responded with “Thanks, Lasisi.”

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When I wrote about Nigeria’s fissured structures and said our real rulers were marabouts who held the yam and the knife of our husbands’ brains, Yakubu Mohammed’s reaction was fairly long, and I dragged it a little with him:

“Thanks, Lasisi. I can’t pinpoint the time when we started to lose it. I think the first accused is the 1966 coup out of which arose the abrogation of regionalism. I may be wrong. I may be pointing the wrong accusing finger.”

“It is very sad, sir,” I replied. “But, I think, the crisis in the West, which was stoked from the federal, was the beginning.”

“Yes,” he responded. “Culminating in the 1966 coup and Ironsi’s ill-advised unitary system of government.”

“Exactly sir. We mismanaged our luck.”

“Terribly so!”

One afternoon last year, he informed me that his memoir was in the works. “Now that it has gone to press, in sha Allah, we may have copies from the next two weeks. I count on you and a few friends and colleagues in the media to help me push it through. I don’t have the capacity to do public launching but some generous mention in the media will help. I appreciate whichever way you can help.”

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He sent a soft copy of the book to me. I did a preview, he read it and thanked me with superlative adjectives. But some of his friends and media lords felt Yakubu’s memoir deserved more than sneak media mentions. They felt it should be properly presented at a befitting venue. They decided to fund and hold the launch at the NIIA Lagos. Again, Yakubu called me and insisted I should attend the event as the book reviewer.

The event was held; everyone played their part; it was successful. A book reviewer should not be a praise singer. One omission I saw in the book is the lack of information on how the name ‘Newswatch’ came to be. And I pointed it out. Yakubu, apparently, did not forget that observation from the reviewer. A few days after the Lagos event, he sent me a message: “Good evening my brother. One of the boys in my house, in an attempt to pull my legs, thought I did not remember how we came about the name Newswatch, hence I didn’t reply you. For the record, we took the name from a regular column in Time magazine by Thomas Griffith. I stated this in the story of Newswatch ‘Jogging in the Jungle’…I did not state this in my memoir as you rightly pointed out in your review. I wrote it in another book, ‘Jogging in the Jungle: The story of Newswatch’. I shall get you a copy one of these days.”

Death did not allow him to fulfill that promise.

He died last week, one of journalism’s very best on this continent. He was 75.

May Oga Yakubu’s gentle soul rest in peace.

News

NiMet Warns Of Flash Flooding In 19 States

Published

15 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned that 19 states across the country may experience flash flooding.

In an advisory issued yesterday, NiMet said increased surface runoff and flash flooding could occur during heavy early rains due to dry and hardened soils that prevent water from properly soaking into the ground.

The agency listed the states likely to be affected as Zamfara, Nasarawa, Kwara, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, Delta, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Edo, Ondo, and Bayelsa.

NiMet said the possible impacts include flooded roads, traffic disruption, damage to homes, farmlands, and infrastructure, blocked drainage systems, power outages, telecommunication disruptions, and increased risks of injuries and water-borne diseases.

The agency advised residents to clear blocked drainage and stay updated with weather and flood alerts.

NiMet also cautioned motorists and pedestrians against driving or walking through flooded areas.

The agency asked relevant authorities and stakeholders to strengthen coordination, preparedness, and emergency response measures to reduce flood-related risks.

“An informed community is a prepared community. Know the risks and act early,” the advisory read.

The Federal Government had warned that 14,118 communities in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are at risk of severe flooding in 2026.

The states include Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Kano.

Others are Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara, and the FCT.

Meanwhile, Nimet and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have intensified efforts to improve disaster management in the country with plans to develop a national early warning system roadmap.

The move was announced yesterday during a courtesy visit by the Director General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, to the Director General of NiMet, Charles Anosike, at the NiMet headquarters in Abuja.

Mrs Umar applauded NiMet for the timely release of the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction and its consistent weather forecasts, noting that the agency had recorded significant improvements under Prof. Anosike’s leadership.

News

‘Nothing New’ – Wike Defends Houses For Judges, Dismisses NBA Criticism

Published

15 hours ago

May 8, 2026

Editor

Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Friday defended the construction of houses for judges and justices in Abuja, dismissing concerns that the projects could compromise the independence of the judiciary.

Wike spoke after inspecting ongoing judicial infrastructure projects, including judges’ residences, the Court of Appeal Abuja Division and proposed residential projects for judges of the Industrial Court and the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The minister’s remarks followed criticisms reportedly raised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over executive involvement in the provision of infrastructure for the judiciary.

Rejecting the concerns, Wike argued that government provision of facilities for judicial officers was neither new nor a threat to judicial autonomy.

He said: “The mere fact that the executive constructs buildings does not mean it will interfere with the judiciary.

“We have built public houses for the National Assembly and for the judiciary before. The Supreme Court was built by government. So there is nothing new in this.”

Wike accused the NBA leadership of inconsistency, alleging that the association frequently sought financial support from state governments for its conferences and activities while criticising government interventions in the judiciary.

“All they are interested in is when state governments will sponsor NBA activities. If governments fund their conferences, does that mean they are no longer independent?” he queried.

He maintained that the FCT Administration would not be distracted from implementing projects designed to improve the welfare and working conditions of judges and justices.

“This is a voluntary act by government to make judicial officers comfortable and focused on their work. It is not done to erode judicial independence,” the minister added.

Wike said the projects formed part of activities lined up to mark President Bola Tinubu’s third anniversary in office.

He expressed satisfaction with the completion level of the judges’ quarters, describing the project as well executed and nearly ready for inauguration.

“We’ve seen the judges’ quarters beautiful. I’m very elated that the job was done well. The houses are well furnished and almost 99 per cent ready,” he stated.

The minister also disclosed that preparations had begun for the groundbreaking ceremony of residences for judges of the Industrial Court and the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

However, he expressed dissatisfaction with aspects of the finishing at the Court of Appeal Abuja Division project, despite its advanced stage of completion.

“Almost 90 per cent complete, but I must say it’s not the quality I expected. I have told the contractor that several errors must be corrected before inauguration,” he said.

Wike assured that the administration would continue monitoring contractors to ensure all projects are delivered according to specification and within schedule.

“All the promises that have been made, we are going to fulfil them. That is why we are going around to inspect and ensure contractors are ready,” he added.

News

LASG Fixes Dates For Public Service Exams, Releases CBT Guidelines

Published

1 day ago

May 7, 2026

Editor

The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and the Lagos State Examinations Board, has released the timetable and guidelines for the 2026 Public Service Examinations.

In a statement by the Lagos State Government, the announcement, which aligns with a prior circular from the Head of Service with Ref No: CIR/HOS/’26/005 dated January 21, 2026, sets out key instructions for candidates preparing for the exercise.

The examinations will hold between Tuesday, May 12 and Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at the Lagos State Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC), Magodo, Lagos.

They include the Compulsory Examination for all cadres in the State Public Service, the Combined Confirmation/Promotion Examination for Clerical Officers II (CO II) and Clerical Assistants (CA), as well as the External Secretarial Examination.

According to the board, candidates are expected to begin printing their examination slips from Tuesday, May 5, 2026, through the official portal using their registration login details.

The slip will contain key information such as each candidate’s exam date and time.

“All candidates are required to present valid identification at the examination centre. Acceptable forms of identification include Staff Identity Cards, National Identification Number (NIN) slips, and Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) cards,” the statement said.

Candidates are also required to bring printed copies of their examination slips to the venue and must strictly follow the date and time allocated to them.

The board further advised candidates to acquaint themselves with basic computer skills ahead of the exercise, as the examinations will be conducted using a Computer-Based Test, CBT, format.

It also warned that dressing must be formal, adding that inappropriate dressing will not be allowed at the examination centre.

Candidates were urged to comply fully with all instructions to ensure a smooth and orderly process.

“The Lagos State Examinations Board urges all candidates to comply fully with these guidelines to ensure a smooth and orderly examination process,” the statement added.