Hon Yusuf Gagdi, a House of Representatives member from Plateau State, has sparked significant backlash after gifting his teenage daughter, Aisha, a brand-new Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) to celebrate her graduation from Lead British International School in Abuja.

The gesture comes at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with severe economic hardships.

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Aisha, who recently excelled in her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME), received the luxury vehicle as a reward for her academic achievements.

Hon Gagdi shared photos from the graduation ceremony on Instagram, expressing his pride and joy.

He wrote, “Today, I attended my amazing daughter’s graduation ceremony. Watching you, my dear daughter, walk across that stage fills my heart with immense pride and love. I celebrate your achievements and the strength you’ve shown. Here’s to a future filled with endless possibilities and happiness. Congratulations, my shining star!”

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The timing of the gift has drawn ire from many Nigerians, who view it as an extravagant display of wealth amidst widespread poverty and economic struggle. Critics took to social media to voice their discontent.

On X (formerly Twitter), @BigBash4ks commented, “Nigerian politics is the most lucrative business in the whole world. Imagine a secondary school leaver driving an SUV worth more than 30 million naira…”

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@mefarukh added, “Can you imagine, when she graduates from university, is he going to buy her a private jet? This is taxpayers’ money.”

@EINaseem4 criticized, “He can’t vindicate himself even if it’s with his hard-earned money. A misplaced priority at this crucial time in the country.”

Other social media users echoed similar sentiments, with @realadnantweet noting, “These are the people who refused to give the poor man an opportunity to have a decent life. They awarded themselves fat salaries and allowances to live a luxurious life.”

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On Facebook, reactions were equally heated. Al-amin Shuayb wrote, “This gift at this trying moment to fellow masses is a protest trigger.”

Abdlqader Mayner commented, “So happy for her… This is called motivation… But hiding it would have been better considering the current hardship of the populace.”

Thomas Goji expressed frustration, “Nigeria, the poverty capital of the world, with the world’s most highly paid legislator. Gagdi has displayed the highest level of insensitivity by buying his secondary school daughter a brand-new SUV while many people in his constituency are dying of hunger.”

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Despite some defending the lawmaker’s actions as a demonstration of parental love and motivation, the consensus among the public remains largely critical, highlighting the growing discontent over the disparity between the political elite and the struggling masses.

Despite significant constitutional challenges, advocates for the creation of new states in Nigeria are undeterred, leading to a surge in demands and bills in the National Assembly.

Nigeria’s history of state creation dates back to 1967 when Gen. Yakubu Gowon created 12 states from the existing four regions.

Successive military rulers further increased the number of states to 36 by 1996.

However, no new states have been created under civilian rule since 1999, largely due to the stringent requirements of the 1999 Constitution.

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Section 8(1) of the Constitution outlines a complex process for creating new states, involving a series of approvals and referendums.

Despite these hurdles, there are at least nine requests for state creation in the National Assembly.

Notable among them is a bill for the creation of Etiti State, which has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives.

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Other proposed states include Okura from Kogi State, Orlu from Imo State, Oke-Ogun from Oyo State, and three states in the South West proposed by Hon. Oluwole Oke.

In the Senate, bills for the creation of Adada State from Enugu State and Anioma State from Delta State have passed the first reading.

The push for state creation is also supported by socio-cultural groups like Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, which has threatened legal action for the creation of an additional state in the South East.

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Proponents argue that new states will promote development, economic prosperity, and equity.

Hon. Ogah of Abia, lead sponsor for Etiti State, asserts that it would ensure balanced regional development and effective governance. Senator Nwoko, advocating for Anioma State, cites the region’s oil and gas resources and significant human capital.

However, experts and civil society leaders question the economic viability of new states. Dr. Vincent Terna Tavershima from Federal University Gombe and Samson Itodo of Yiaga Africa argue for focusing on true federalism and making existing states more functional before creating new ones.

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They emphasize the need for regions like the South East to achieve parity with others in terms of state numbers but stress the importance of economic sustainability.

In the South East, the proposed creation of Adada State from Enugu State enjoys significant support.

Promoters highlight its historical, cultural, and widespread acceptance.

The bill for Adada State has passed the first reading in the Senate, and its advocates argue it is the most qualified for creation based on past recommendations and the need for equity and fairness.

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In contrast, the proposals for Orlu, Etiti, and Anioma states face opposition from various quarters.

The Ohanaeze Youth Council supports Anioma but opposes Orlu and Etiti, while Ndokwa and Ukwuani communities in Delta North reject the inclusion of Anioma in the South East.

As the debate continues, the constitutional challenges remain a significant barrier, but the promoters of new states remain optimistic about achieving their goals.

Mazi Afam Osigwe was born on the 25th of October 1972. He graduated from the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus in 1997 and was called to the Bar in 1999. He started legal practice with Chike Chigbue and Co, Abuja Office in 1999 and left in 2002 to found his firm, the LAW FORTE (Legal Practitioners, Corporate Consultants and Notary Public) which in 2002.

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In 2006 he became a Notary Public of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. In 2010, he concluded a face-to- face tutorial at Keble College, Oxford, and obtained a Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration. He became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) in 2011.

In 2010, he concluded a face-to-face tutorial at Keble College, Oxford, and obtained a Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration. Afam became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) in 2011.

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In 2007 he obtained a Master’s of Laws Degree (LL.M) from the University of Jos . Afam also holds another an LL.M in (Transnational Commercial Practice) from the Centre for International Legal Studies, Austria (in collaboration with the Lazarsky University, Poland). He is yet to complete his doctorate programme.

At various times Afam has had cause to carry out research and litigation in various areas of the law including Corporate and Business Law; Land law, Banking law, Intellectual Property; International Commercial Law, Tele-communications, Energy, Oil and Gas Law; Domestic arbitration, International Commercial Arbitration etc. He has a special bias for commercial and financial practice and litigation. He is also the Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser of many companies.

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Afam has continued to associate with some law firms in Nigeria and has at various times liaised with them on international business law issues as they arose in the course of providing legal services to their clients.
Afam has appeared as a counsel in many arbitral proceedings a well as sat as a sole arbitrator or member of arbitral tribunals in commercial disputes. He is avid reader and researcher.

As a member of the NBA Abuja Branch, he had at various times had the privilege to serve in the following Committees of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch:

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1. NBA Abuja Law Reporting Committee – 2003-2005,
2. NBA Abuja Bar Dinner/Awards Committee – 2004.
3. Secretary, Committee on Continuing Legal Education – 2004-2006.
4. Secretary, Committee on Continuing Legal Education – 2008 -2010.
5. Alternate Chairman for the LOC of the NEC hosted by NBA Abuja Branch – June 2011.

6. Alternate Chairman of the LOC for the 2012 Annual General Conference.
7. Co-opted member of the TCPC of 2012 NBA, Annual General Conference.
8. Ex-Officio Member TCPC of 2015 and 2016 NBA, Annual General Conferences.
Aside from being a member of the Committees of NBA, Abuja Afam was also appointed a member of the following Committees by the Chief Judge of the FCT, Abuja –
1. Committee for the Review of High Court (Civil Procedure Rules) of the FCT- 2011- till date.
2. Committee on the Review of ADR Laws and Rules – 2011 till date.

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NBA LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Afam was the Publicity Secretary (PRO) of NBA Abuja, from 2006-2008. He became the Chairman of the Branch from 2010- 2010.
As Chairman of NBA Abuja Branch, the Branch hosted a NEC Meeting in June 2011, NBA Delegates Conference in July 2012 and Annual General Conference in August 2012. He was a member of NEC from 2011 to 2013 but was an observer for many years before then. He was also the Editor-In-Chief of the Unity Voice (the monthly newsletter of NBA Abuja) from 2011-2013.

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Under his able leadership the Unity Bar FC (the football club of NBA Abuja), was transformed into a laurel-winning team. The team won the silver medal at the Football Tournaments at the Port Harcourt, Annual General Conference and Gold medal at the Abuja Annual General Conference, respectively. The successes achieved by the team would rightly be attributed to his unwavering dedication to sports and physical development as well as settling for nothing but the best.

He was the last person to hold office as the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch (Unity Bar) for the whole Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Bwari and Gwagwalada Branches were created during his tenure as Chairman of the Unity Bar. By consent of the Chairmen of Bwari and Gwagwalada Branches of the NBA, he became the first Chairman of Chairmen of NBA Branches in the FCT, in 2012.
He was sworn in as the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association in August 2014 and held that position till the expiration of his tenure on August 26, 2016. He served as General Secretary under President Augustine Alegeh SAN, under whose tenure the following programmes were successfully introduced:

1. The NBA personalized adhesive Stamp, approved by the National Executive Committee of the NBA pursuant to Rule 10(1) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, for mandatory use on all legal documents.
2. E-voting, Universal Suffrage and Uniform Bye-Laws for Branches, Sections and Fora in the NBA Constitution;
3. Introduction of a Uniform NBA Identity Card (Bar Card) which functions as a payment card for ATM, POS and Online Transactions and also entitle lawyers to a variety of discounts and other packages negotiated by the NBA;
4. Automatic Insurance cover for all lawyers who have paid their Bar Practicing Fees;
5. Reduction of the Fees for our Annual General Conference;
6. NBA Partner Discounts with Corporate Partners who offer lawyers discounts on their goods and services;
7. Completed of the development of the new NBA House, at the Central Business District Abuja.
8. Matters for debate at NEC to be by Written Proposals/Counter Proposals submitted and circulated to all NEC members.

DISCUSION AND OR PRESENTATION OF PAPERS AT CONFERENCES
Afam has been a paper presenter and or discussant at the NBA Annual General Conferences in Calabar, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Abuja since 2011. He has also presented a paper to the Young Lawyers Forum at the YLF National Summit in Abuja, Benin and Uyo in 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. He has also presented and or discussed papers during the Law week of many branches.

In 2015, Afam presented a paper at the session of the IBA Bar Issues Commission during the IBA Conference in Vienna. His paper titled ‘Legal ethics involved in the fight for the self-regulation of the legal profession in Nigeria with regard to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011’ was delivered at the session which focused on ‘Dealing dealt with conflicts in a global practice – challenges for the 21st century involving legal ethics and general morality’.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Afam provides pro bono legal representations to indigent persons undergoing criminal trial, incarceration or whose rights have been, are likely to be violated or threatened to be violated.
He has also served as Secretary and Deputy Legal Adviser of his Town Union.
Afam was a prosecutor at the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee of the Body of Benchers from 2012 -2014. He was elected the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2014.

MEMBERSHIP OF CERTAIN BODIES
He is of has been a member of the following bodies:
1. Member Body of Benchers – From May 2016
2. Member Council of Legal Education from 2015-
3. Member Legal Aid Council of Nigeria – from September 2014- August 2016.
4. Member, NBA National Executive Committee – 2010-2012
5. Member General Council of the Bar – from 2015-
6. Life Member National Executive Committee of NBA – from August 2016
7. Member, Elders Committee, NBA Abuja December 2010- August 2015.
8. Member, Advisory Committee, NBA Abuja September 2015-

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES
Afam is a member of the International Bar Association, Nigerian Institute of Management, Fellow Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and Institute of Chartered Mediators & Conciliators.
He is a Knight of Saint Christopher.

HOBBIES
Reading, research, writing, sightseeing, and photography.

FAMILY LIFE
Afam is married to his university sweetheart, Ukamaka Osigwe, LL.M (Turin). Their marriage is blessed with three children- Chilbuzor, Chiemelie and Chidumebi. He is also a foster-father to Amarachukwu, the daughter of his late elder brother.

Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has emerged victorious in the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election, Daily Gazette reports.

The election, held on Saturday, marks a new chapter for the association as Osigwe takes on the leadership role.

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Osigwe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a respected figure in the legal community, secured a total of 20,435 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr. Tobenna Chigbo Erojikwe, who garnered 10,998 votes.

Chukwuka Nwabueze Ikwuazom, SAN, who had earlier withdrawn from the race, pulled 9,018 votes to come third.

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Daily Gazette gathered that Sabastine Anyia got 12,114 votes to clinch the position of Ist Vice President, defeating his closest rival, Mr. Bartholomew Aguegbodo, who garnered a total of 6,864 votes.

Mrs. Bolatumi Olasunbo Animashaun won the position of Second Vice President with 26,534 votes, while Mr. Michael Olarewaju Olorunmola clinched Third Vice President with 13,897 votes.

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Mr. Abduwaslu Alfa secured a total of 11,730 votes to win the position of Secretary General of the association.

The result

Former Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, has voiced his disapproval of the Federal Government’s newly approved N70,000 minimum wage, stating it is insufficient for basic sustenance.

Ndume, recently removed from his position, pointed out that the new wage is barely enough to purchase a 50kg bag of rice, which currently averages over N70,000.

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He urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider and increase the minimum wage further to reflect the economic realities faced by Nigerians.

Despite being a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ndume has been outspoken about the shortcomings of Tinubu’s administration.

His critical stance led to his dismissal as Senate Chief Whip, a decision influenced by a letter from APC national chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and national secretary Basiru Ajibola.

The letter referenced an interview in which Ndume criticized the government and suggested his removal.

In a video shared by Channels Television, Ndume highlighted the struggles of ordinary Nigerians, stating that the approved minimum wage cannot sustain a household.

“People are suffering, people are angry, people are not happy,” he said. “I am happy that the President agreed with NLC to increase the salary to N70,000, which is a good move, but it takes more than that because, realistically, that is like a bag of rice, money that will buy a bag of rice or cover the cost of a bag of rice. So, I call on the president to still open up and listen to the people.”

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President Tinubu, along with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), agreed on the new minimum wage during a meeting at the State House on Wednesday.

Despite this agreement, Ndume’s comments underscore a broader dissatisfaction with the wage increase among some members of the ruling party and the general public.

The media office of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general elections, has issued a statement alleging a plot to frame and arrest Obi.

This accusation comes amid claims that he is being blamed for a proposed nationwide protest.

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In a statement released on Saturday in Abuja, the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) highlighted concerns over what it described as “wild, wicked and baseless allegations” made by Bayo Onanuga, a Presidential Spokesperson.

Onanuga has accused Obi of orchestrating the planned protest and suggested that Obi should be held responsible for any resulting disorder.

Dr. Tanko Yunusa, signing on behalf of POMR, emphasized that these allegations are part of a broader scheme to limit Obi’s freedom and to curtail his advocacy for good governance, which purportedly threatens the lifestyle of certain political elites.

The statement underlined that Peter Obi has consistently maintained a non-violent stance, even under significant provocation.

It noted that during his political campaigns, Obi remained focused on issues without engaging in personal attacks.

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POMR further revealed that there is a coordinated effort involving multiple operatives tasked with discrediting Obi and undermining his influence among the Nigerian populace.

These tactics, according to POMR, aim to distract and confuse Nigerians, who view Obi as a potential remedy to the nation’s current political and economic challenges.

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The media office condemned the current administration for attempting to link Obi to various national issues, including fuel subsidy controversies, rising poverty, inflation, nepotism, and unresolved historical conflicts.

POMR urged Nigerians to dismiss what it characterized as the Presidency’s “cheap blackmail” and reaffirmed the commitment of Obi and his supporters, known as the Obidient family, to the vision of a better Nigeria.

Despite these allegations, POMR assured that Obi remains resolute and focused on advocating for positive change in Nigeria.