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Chinua Achebe will weep for Nigeria today – Peter Obi

Published

3 years ago

October 1, 2023

Trends Admin

Peter Obi

Chinua Achebe will weep for Nigeria today – Peter Obi

…assures that there will be a Country

THE Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25th general election, Peter Obi has predicted that there will be a country, in reaction to the saying of the literary sage, Prof. China Achebe in one of his novels ‘There Was a Country.

But noted that if Chinua Achebe was to come to Nigeria today, he would weep bitterly for his country as comparatively, there was really no trouble with Nigeria four decades ago when the iroko of literature, Achebe wrote the book, *The Trouble With Nigeria*. “If Achebe was alive, he would have taken back the book. When he wrote it, there was no trouble. Now, there is real trouble in Nigeria.”

Addressing the audience inside the Arthur Lewis Auditorium, the venue of the occasion, The Chinua Achebe International Symposium and 10th Anniversary Memorial Celebration organized by The Chinua Achebe Foundation and African World Initiative anchored by the very able Professor Chika Okeke-Agulu, Director Programme in African Studies, Princeton University, New Jersey, United States, the former governor of Anambra State characteristically drew factual comparisons to drive home *the fact* that though Achebe was spot on in identifying Nigeria’s troubles as leadership-induced, the globally celebrated writer of *Things Fall Apart* would weep bitterly today if he came back to observe how far his dear country had deteriorated after 40 years of his warning for positive change.

Obi described Achebe, who incidentally taught him the English Language in his first year at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as a man whose works defined him as one imbued with communal awareness to put in great efforts to better the society.

Mentioning Achebe’s protagonists in his books, from Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart, through those of Arrow of God, Man Of The People, and so on, the LP standard bearer impressively summarised the characters in the books as sacrificing whatever it took, including their lives, to better the lots of their people.

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“This much he generously exemplified in the case of Okonkwo, who would not cave into the trampling on his cultural heads, but rather got deeply infuriated when the strings that held them together were cut in places, thereby letting in ‘mere anarchy’ upon the world, meaning beyond Umuofia. Take this home, a little scoop of palm oil and all five fingers of a hand are sure to get smeared. Obi drove home his point in categorizing Achebe as a man for the well-being of the people and society.

Obi re-echoed Achebe’s stance that _the problem of Nigeria is simply a failure of leadership. The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, of the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership_ … Obi re-emphasized his unchanging belief that Nigeria’s problem is the cumulative effect of leadership failure over the years.

Obi in the usual way of buttressing his position with statistics, recalled that “40 years ago, university professors in Nigeria earned a monthly salary of N1,200 when the Naira exchanged at about $1.6. So, that was about $2,000. And that then brand new popular Corolla vehicles and Peugeot cars sold at between N4000 and N5000. “It meant that any university professor could decide to save his three months’ salary to purchase a brand new of those brands of car. Today, such brands cost as much as N38 million …and the same professors earn N400,000 per month. It will take the same professor eight years of saving every dime earned to be able to purchase the same brand of vehicle.”

“Forty years ago a million Naira was valued at $1.6 million. Today same amount is valued at just $1000. Even though our great father, Achebe would weep at the realities today, he was very right about leadership being the issue. Our country has been bedeviled by corruption. Stealing public money has left us where we are today.

“People say that fighting corruption is not easy but it is very easy. If you are in charge and you are not stealing, your wife is not stealing, your children are not stealing, those working with you will not have any reason to steal and you must have reduced corruption by over 50 percent.” Furthermore, he stressed that

“We can start thinking of a new Nigeria with competence, and capacity that is committed to fighting corruption. Is it possible to fight corruption? The answer is yes!”

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Obi recalled how as governor, he met a state that was ranked 27th out of the 36 states of Nigeria in Education but that with conceited efforts through handing schools over to missions and pumping funds into the sector to ensure every conducive atmosphere of learning, his state moved from that position to first and stayed there until he left office.

He also recalled how his administration cleared over N35 billion backlog of pensions and gratuities he inherited and never owed salaries, pensions, gratuities, and contractors and still left behind over N75 billion before vacating office. PO was clearly emphasising that with leaders of proven integrity, capacity, and competence Nigeria would come out of her trouble, the trouble the great man identified four decades earlier before departing three decades later.

Obi regretted that Achebe was left with the lamentation of a failed nation clearly expressed in his last book, *There Was A Country.* “So painful but I like to assure us Nigerians that There Will Be A Country. A country where leaders will be who they claim to be. A country where leaders will be of known identities, known parentage, where schools they claimed to have attended and certificates obtained would be accurately verified,” he concluded with the auditorium erupting in prolonged cheers.

While Obi dwelt on The Trouble With Nigeria, other notable speakers in the globally screamed event before him included HRM Igwe Onyido of Ogidi; Richard Joseph, Emeritus John Evans Professor of International History and Politics., Northwestern University; Toyin Falola and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities, University of Texas at Austin; Sonia Sanchez, Poet, Writer, and Professor; Chika Unigwe, Professor of Creative Writing at Georgia University; Obiora Udechukwu, Emeritus Dana Professor of Fine Arts, St. Lawrence University; HE Abena, P.A. Busia, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ghana to Brazil, Professor Emerita, Ruthers University; Simon Gikandi, Class of 1943 University Professor of English, and Chair, Department of English, Princeton University; Anthonia Kalu, Professor of Cooperative Literature, African Studies, University of California-Riverside; Mr Oseloka H. Obaze, an author and Former Secretary to Anambra State Government.

Chinua Achebe will weep for Nigeria today – Peter Obi

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Fuel Prices: FCCPC Warns Marketers Against Denying Nigerians Relief

Published

47 minutes ago

November 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello

Fuel Prices: FCCPC Warns Marketers Against Denying Nigerians Relief

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has warned petroleum refiners and marketers against maintaining high petrol and diesel prices despite the recent decline in international crude oil prices.

The Commission said Nigerians should begin to benefit from the reduction in global oil prices, insisting that refiners and marketers have no justification for keeping petroleum product prices elevated if their operating costs have declined.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, gave the warning in a statement issued on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, by the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu.

Bello said the Commission was closely monitoring developments in the international oil market to ensure that reductions in crude oil prices translate into lower wholesale and retail prices of petroleum products in Nigeria.

According to the FCCPC, Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, which rose to about $115 per barrel in September, has fallen below $90 per barrel this week.

Despite the decline, petrol prices remain high across major Nigerian cities.

The Commission disclosed that petrol currently sells for between N1,405 and N1,420 per litre in Abuja, while consumers in Lagos pay between N1,325 and N1,370 per litre.

It compared the current prices with those recorded on February 27, before the outbreak of the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, when Brent crude futures closed at $72.48 per barrel.

At the time, petrol sold for between N839 and N925 per litre in Lagos and Abuja.

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Petroleum marketers have attributed the sharp increase in fuel prices over the past eight months to fluctuations in international crude oil prices following the conflict in the Middle East and disruptions to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a major global oil transportation route.

However, Bello insisted that sustained reductions in crude oil prices should lead to corresponding decreases in the cost of refined petroleum products.

“If the decline in crude prices is sustained, there is no justification for refiners and marketers to continue to keep petrol and diesel prices relatively high. We expect easing in wholesale petrol costs and for the resulting savings to reach consumers at the pump without undue delay,” he said.

The FCCPC chief acknowledged the financial difficulties Nigerians had experienced because of elevated fuel prices, noting that the Commission was determined to ensure that consumers were not denied the benefits of favourable movements in the international oil market.

He said the Commission would continue working with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and other relevant government agencies to monitor wholesale and retail prices across the petroleum supply chain.

Bello also warned that the FCCPC would take appropriate action against operators found engaging in anti-competitive practices or unfair market behaviour that prevented consumers from benefiting from lower production and supply costs.

“Where there is evidence of anti-competitive conduct or unfair practices that prevent consumers from benefiting from lower costs, we will take appropriate action within our mandate,” he added.

The Commission’s intervention comes amid growing concerns over the impact of high petrol prices on transportation, food prices, manufacturing, household spending and the operating costs of businesses.

Although crude oil prices influence the cost of petroleum products, other factors, including refining expenses, foreign exchange rates, transportation, distribution, financing and inventory costs, also affect domestic pump prices.

The FCCPC’s position is that any sustained reduction in costs should be reflected in the market and that consumers should not be subjected to unfair pricing practices.

For millions of Nigerians struggling with high living costs, the major expectation is whether the latest decline in international crude oil prices will translate into meaningful reductions at filling stations.

Fuel Prices: FCCPC Warns Marketers Against Denying Nigerians Relief

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Despite Tegbe’s 72-Hour Promise, Nigerians Still Battle Power Outages

Published

1 day ago

November 10, 2026

Trends Admin

Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe

Despite Tegbe’s 72-Hour Promise, Nigerians Still Battle Power Outages

Nigeria’s electricity generation has risen to 4,020.41 megawatts (MW), up from about 3,500MW, but the improvement has yet to translate into reliable power supply for households and businesses across the country.

The development comes amid growing frustration over prolonged power outages, particularly in Lagos and other states, despite assurances by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, that electricity supply would improve within 48 to 72 hours.

Data from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) showed that generation increased on Monday, November 9, 2026, following disruptions linked to maintenance at the Egbin Power Station, gas supply constraints and damage to critical transmission infrastructure.

The increase followed the Federal Government’s intervention to restore damaged transmission infrastructure and return affected generating units to operation. However, electricity consumers continued to report inadequate supply, highlighting the gap between improved generation figures and the actual amount of electricity reaching homes and businesses.

According to the reported figures, electricity generation reached a peak of 4,253.6MW on Sunday before standing at 4,020.41MW on Monday. The Afam VI power plant contributed the largest share at 519MW, followed by the Shiroro hydroelectric plant with 445MW and the Azura-Edo plant with 438MW.

However, the Egbin Power Station, which has an installed capacity of 1,320MW, was generating only 108MW at the time of the reported assessment.

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The combined electricity allocation to the 11 distribution companies (DisCos) stood at approximately 3,195MW by late Monday afternoon, with Abuja DisCo receiving 581MW, Ikeja Electric 467MW and Eko Electricity Distribution Company 458MW.

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, had earlier attributed the worsening electricity situation to planned maintenance at the Egbin Power Station, inadequate gas supply to some thermal power plants and the vandalism of critical transmission infrastructure.

In an update issued on Friday, November 6, Tegbe explained that maintenance activities and gas supply constraints had reduced the volume of electricity available on the national grid, forcing operators to introduce load shedding in some areas.

He also disclosed that the vandalism of key transmission lines had restricted alternative routes for delivering electricity, particularly to Lagos.

The minister subsequently apologised to Nigerians over the disruptions, acknowledging the difficulties experienced by households, businesses and public institutions.

He said the government was working with generating companies, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), NISO and electricity distribution companies to restore affected facilities and improve supply.

Tegbe had promised that the first affected generating units would return to operation within 48 to 72 hours, while repairs to damaged transmission infrastructure would be accelerated.

In a further update on Monday, the minister announced that the vandalised Benin-Egbin 330-kilovolt transmission line had been repaired and returned to service.

According to him, the restoration increased electricity supply to the Lagos electricity complex to more than 1,000MW, bringing it back to the level recorded before the disruption.

Tegbe said electricity had been restored to several previously affected areas in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kwara and the Federal Capital Territory, although some locations were still awaiting full restoration.

He also disclosed that the government was working to repair another important transmission route, the Osogbo-Ikeja West 330kV line, which has reportedly remained out of service for about 18 months.

The line could deliver an additional 400MW to Lagos when restored. However, about six transmission towers along the route have been vandalised, making repairs difficult because of the swampy terrain.

The minister said the government expected the restoration work to be completed by the end of November.

Despite the recent disruptions, Tegbe has expressed confidence that Nigeria could achieve more stable electricity supply within the next three to five years.

He said the Federal Government was considering a proposed $2 billion east-west super grid designed to strengthen the country’s transmission infrastructure and increase its capacity to 19,000MW.

The proposed project is expected to connect several locations, including Funtua, Gwagwalada, Ikot Ekpene, Benin, Epe and Ilorin.

Tegbe said the government had commenced the procurement process and expected the project to improve the resilience of the national electricity network.

He also stressed the need to address longstanding infrastructure problems, noting that some electricity equipment was between 40 and 50 years old.

Meanwhile, he maintained that the government was working to improve electricity supply through better coordination among generation, transmission and distribution operators.

The latest development highlights the continuing challenges in Nigeria’s electricity sector, where improvements in generation do not automatically guarantee adequate supply to consumers because of limitations in transmission and distribution infrastructure.

For millions of Nigerians, the major concern remains whether the increased generation figures and government interventions will translate into more consistent electricity supply.

Despite Tegbe’s 72-Hour Promise, Nigerians Still Battle Power Outages

News

Edo APC Chieftain Hacked to Death by Son Over Alleged Prophecy

Published

1 day ago

November 10, 2026

Trends Admin

Julius Bello, popularly known as De Lord Ogata

Edo APC Chieftain Hacked to Death by Son Over Alleged Prophecy

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Julius Bello, popularly known as De Lord Ogata, has reportedly been hacked to death by his son following claims that a prophet blamed him for the younger man’s financial struggles.

Bello, who was the APC Ward Three Chairman in Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government Area, was allegedly attacked with a sledgehammer by his son, identified as Irobudo, on Sunday, November 8, 2026.

The incident reportedly occurred shortly after the suspect returned from Lagos over the weekend.

According to reports, the suspect struck his father on the head with the weapon, inflicting fatal injuries.

Family sources linked the attack to an alleged prophecy that reportedly portrayed Bello as being spiritually responsible for his son’s prolonged poverty and inability to make financial progress.

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The claims were said to have fuelled resentment against the deceased before the fatal attack. However, the alleged prophecy and its connection to the killing have not been independently verified, and the police have not established it as the motive.

The Edo State Police Command confirmed the killing and said an investigation had commenced.

The command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, disclosed that the suspect was still at large as of Monday, November 9, while police operatives were working to apprehend him.

According to the police, investigations would establish the circumstances surrounding the killing and the events that preceded the attack.

The incident has thrown Bello’s family and residents of Fugar into mourning, particularly because the suspected attacker is his own son.

The killing has also raised concerns about the potential consequences of unverified spiritual accusations when they fuel suspicion, hostility and violence within families.

The police investigation is expected to establish the full circumstances of the incident, determine the motive and bring the suspect to justice.