“Nigerian Political Parties Lack Ideology” – Joko, Mindshift Convener—-The Convener, Mindshift Advocacy for Development Initiative, Mr. Joko Okupe, has indicted Nigerian political parties for lack of ideological direction. Mr. Okupe made this declaration in a media interaction held recently at the Mindshift corporate office in Ikeja, Lagos.
Fielding questions from the press the Mindshift Convener argues that none of the parties in Nigeria contending and jostling for political power come 2023 is driven on the wheels of ideology. What directs the life and operations of a political party in a democracy, he said, is ideology. Ideology is the bulwark of the party’s culture. It stands tall as the oil or blood that runs the engine of the party and directs the actions of both the party officials and the membership.
According to Mr. Okupe, “Ideology consists of the common beliefs, values, and norms of the party directed at defining the kind of society a party plans to build. It comes from a common vision designed by the party as a roadmap to the society in view. Ideology forms the operating framework from where the political parties draw their inspirations and strategies which are encapsulated into manifestoes and agendas and subsequently communicated to the public through their campaign communications. But can we say the parties have any ideological direction? How, for instance, can you distinguish APC from PDP. Because the parties lack ideology, so there are no distinctions in their manifestoes. Every party appears to be saying the same thing about: building infrastructure, providing youth employment, providing good health care and good education. But we know it is the same thing they have been saying since 1999”.
Speaking further about the Nigerian state and the type of leader Nigerians will expect come 2023 he said, “There is no political party in Nigeria today you can say is a shining example of what a political party should be. They all lack ideology. We are in a Nigerian state variously described by political scientists as predatory, prebendal, parasitic, patrimonial, neo-patrimonial, crony, kleptocratic, venal, greedy, etc., that has created a crop of leaders who in themselves are selfish and do not understand their own historical mission. Under this situation he posited that we need a certain kind of leader. “We need a leader who is sufficiently knowledgeable about the task ahead, and understands the context behind Nigeria’s current historical trajectory, and would be ready to tackle it headlong. We need a leader who is bold, brave, and courageous – who can break the bounds of our stranglehold. A leader who understands the need to build cohesion in a multiethnic and multicultural society. We need someone who can confront orthodoxy and demolish our fault lines without diminishing our disparate cultural and ethnic values. Such a leader needs to have a clarity of his vision and how he wants to achieve it. I have not seen much of that in the present crop of party contenders for the post of the president in 2023.”
Speaking on the solution to the Nigerian leadership problem, he said that Nigeria needs an upgrade in the reformulation of the state, the leadership class, and the citizens. The state is malfunctioning because of its hackneyed structure which tilts towards centrality and unitary-federalism. That is an aberration in a multiethnic and multicultural state. The leaders are selfish and visionless, attracted only by the fancy of their kleptomaniac tendencies. They do not understand the very purpose of life, and hence can hardly understand the essence of leadership. The followers are famished and lack the understanding of what liberal democracy is all about. In the most part, they lack enough knowledge to appreciate that they are actually the king while the politicians are their servants. They mistake the concept of leadership in a political setting with the concept of kingship in a traditional setting; and this makes them subservient to the politicians who should be accountable to them. This contradiction makes democracy difficult to practice in Nigeria. Under this scenario the politicians weaponize poverty as an instrument of domination against the citizens.
Following this, Mr. Okupe advocates for the mass enlightenment of the political class and the citizens. For him, both the political class and the citizens are under bondage, and need to be enlightened so that they can be liberated to develop the country, without which Nigeria remains undeveloped for eve. This is the reason he convened the Mindshift movement.
Explaining further, Mr. Okupe said that, “Mindshift Advocacy Initiative for Development was created out of the vision and understanding that our response to whatever situation we find ourselves, either in our individual terrain, group terrain or national terrain, is directly a result of how we think. The bible says, as a man thinks in his heart so he is or becomes. So, if we understand that, we will all push for a Mindshift or a change of how we think. That is what will actually move us away from where we are now. So, the Mindshift movement is actually focused on shifting mind-sets from negative to positive. It is a non-governmental and non-partisan organization. It is focused on redirecting the mind-set of Nigerians from the route of destruction in every area of lives. “If a man wants to be destructive or disruptive, it is through the power of his mind.”
“There is so much capacity in the power of the mind that the way and manner that the mind is directed determines a man’s outcome. Even for us, as a lesson, other nations of the world are doing incredibly well is due to the different mind-sets that they have. The average Nigerian mindset is anti-progress and anti-development. How can we have progress and development without working on the re-orientations of the mindset we have? Even when government decides to run a campaign on changing attitudes, the success will depend on how people think.” We must have that clear understanding. That essentially is the mandate of the Mindshift advocacy.
Joko Okupe who is a brand management and marketing communications expert of about 35 years, and who has consulted for many globally reckoned organisations, is set to bring that knowledge and experience to the front burner in the management of the Mindshift advocacy, with the sole aim of galvanizing the Nigerian people to a new way of thinking and reasoning that will lift this country from one milestone of development to a higher milestone of development.
Fatgbems Group has commenced its 2026 Customer Service Week with a strong commitment to going beyond expectations and creating memorable experiences for its customers, as the Group celebrates the week under the theme “The Extra Mile.”
The week-long celebration was officially kicked off on Monday, October 5, 2026, at the Fatgbems Opic Mega Station, bringing together the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Director of Retail Business and Expansion, Executive Director, Operations and Technology, Executive Director, Wholesale Business, Chief Operating Officer, other members of the Senior Management Team and staff.
The opening ceremony provided an opportunity for the leadership team to appreciate employees for their commitment to delivering excellent customer experiences while reinforcing the importance of putting customers at the heart of every business decision.
The theme, “The Extra Mile,” reflects Fatgbems Group’s commitment to doing more than simply meeting customer expectations. It represents the Group’s determination to consistently deliver exceptional service, listen to customers, appreciate their loyalty and create positive experiences at every point of interaction.
Speaking at the commencement of the Customer Service Week, the Chief Operating Officer of Fatgbems Group, Mr. Ayodele Odulaja, said the celebration reflected the organisation’s belief that customer service is not merely a department or function, but a responsibility shared by everyone within the Group.
“At Fatgbems, we believe that customer service goes beyond providing a product or completing a transaction. It is about how we make our customers feel, how well we listen to them and the additional effort we are willing to make to meet and exceed their expectations.
“The theme, The Extra Mile, captures the spirit we want to see across Fatgbems. We want every member of our team to understand that sometimes it is the little extra effort, the smile, the timely response, the willingness to listen or the decision to solve a customer’s problem that makes all the difference.
“This week is therefore not just a celebration; it is a renewed commitment to our customers. We appreciate their loyalty and assure them that Fatgbems will continue to raise the bar in delivering excellent service.”
As part of the activities lined up for the celebration, Fatgbems customer-facing teams will embark on an engagement tour of selected retail outlets across Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States, bringing the Customer Service Week experience directly to customers.
A major highlight of the outlet engagement will be the “Spin and Win” customer interaction, designed to create excitement while rewarding customers for their patronage and loyalty to the Fatgbems brand.
Customers will have the opportunity to participate in the interactive game and win a range of exciting gifts, including fuel top-ups, branded flasks, umbrellas, blood pressure monitors and other gift items.
Speaking on his experience during the Customer Service Week engagement, one of Fatgbems’ customers, Mr. Usman Adeola, commended the initiative and described it as a welcome demonstration of the company’s appreciation for its customers.
“It is encouraging to see Fatgbems come out to interact directly with customers and appreciate us. Customer service is not only about selling fuel; it is also about how customers are treated and how the company makes us feel valued.
“The Spin and Win is a very interesting idea, and I believe initiatives like this will strengthen the relationship between Fatgbems and its customers. We appreciate the company for going the extra mile.”
The Customer Service Week activities will also provide an avenue for Fatgbems teams to interact directly with customers, receive feedback, understand their experiences and identify opportunities to further improve service delivery across its retail network.
The Group believes that sustainable business growth is closely linked to customer trust, satisfaction and loyalty. Consequently, Fatgbems continues to invest in initiatives that strengthen customer relationships while ensuring that its people, products and service channels consistently deliver on the brand promise.
The 2026 Customer Service Week celebration reinforces Fatgbems Group’s commitment to putting customers first, listening more, responding better and going the extra mile in delivering value.
About Fatgbems Group
Fatgbems Group is a diversified Nigerian business group with interests spanning key sectors of the economy. Through its businesses, the Group remains committed to delivering quality products and services while creating sustainable value for customers, employees, partners and other stakeholders.
686 Days and Counting: Hull Loss Keeps Man United Fan Away From the Barber—-Frank Ilett’s bizarre haircut challenge has entered another chapter after Manchester United’s 2–0 defeat to Hull City extended his wait for a five-match winning streak.
For most football fans, a disappointing result means a few hours of frustration before attention turns to the next match.
For Frank Ilett, a Manchester United defeat means something rather different: another few weeks with the same haircut.
Ilett has now reached 686 days without cutting his hair, as his unusual challenge continues following United’s shock 2–0 defeat to newly promoted Hull City at the MKM Stadium.
The challenge began in October 2024, when Ilett decided he would not cut his hair until Manchester United recorded five consecutive victories. What started as a light-hearted challenge has since turned into a remarkable test of patience.
And he is still waiting.
Hull Put Another Hold on the Challenge
There had been renewed optimism that Ilett might finally be getting closer to a haircut after United ended last season with back-to-back victories.
A win over Hull would have given them a third consecutive victory and kept the possibility of reaching the required five-match run alive.
Instead, the newly promoted Tigers produced a memorable performance, beating United 2–0 in front of their home supporters.
Semi Ajayi opened the scoring before Nobel Mendy doubled Hull’s advantage, both goals arriving in the first half.
The result brought United’s winning momentum to an abrupt end — and ensured Ilett’s hair would continue growing.
“This Was Meant to Be One of the Easier Games”
Speaking after the defeat, Ilett admitted that he had expected a very different outcome.
He had viewed the trip to Hull as one of the more manageable fixtures on United’s schedule and was clearly disappointed by the manner of the defeat.
The fan also criticised United’s performance, suggesting that Hull showed greater urgency and desire throughout the contest.
For Ilett, however, the consequences extend beyond the league table.
Every defeat means another delay.
A Challenge That Has Lasted Nearly Two Years
Ilett began his challenge after United’s most recent five-game winning run, which came between January and February 2024.
Since then, the club have failed to produce the sequence required to send him to the barber.
Nearly two years later, the challenge has become an internet curiosity among Manchester United supporters, many of whom have followed the progress of his increasingly lengthy hairstyle.
The latest defeat means the earliest Ilett could potentially complete the challenge is September 20, but only if United win their next five matches.
Those fixtures include meetings with Ipswich Town, Everton, Manchester City, Fulham and their opening Champions League league-phase opponent.
One slip-up would mean the challenge continues.
United’s Results Decide the Fate of His Hair
While United’s immediate concern will be recovering from their disappointing start to the campaign, Ilett will once again be watching every result with a very different interest.
For the players, five consecutive victories would mean momentum and points.
For Ilett, it would finally mean a trip to the barber.
Until then, the scissors remain untouched.
Day 686 has come and gone — and Frank Ilett’s Manchester United-inspired haircut challenge continues
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