Tue. May 26th, 2026
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The raging political crises in Rivers State take different u-turn each passing day. Many have happened and are still to happen if opinion leaders, stakeholders and holders of sundry portfolios do not rise and send this anarchical approach that some persons have mapped out to unseat a sitting and an elected governor of Rivers State.

This is why the clarion calls by some individuals and groups telling Governor Chibuike Amaechi, who is enmeshed in the crises that no person fights the presidency and survives the fight, is balderdash.That opinion does not hold water, at all.

The persons and groups were, perhaps, looking at the material surpluses that Amaechi was going to lose should the inconsiderate and disadvantageous powers that feel they are fighting him gain their aim and objective at last. What these persons and groups are yet to reason is the spiritual association of the fight that Amaechi is fighting.

After all, a man like Nelson Mandela, who was the first African to be the president of his native country of South-Africa, in the aftermath of a racial apartheid in which some Europeans imposed on South Africa that started from 1948 and ended in 1991, didn’t look at his life he was then to lose, but continued to fight the fight he believed in that would shape the history of his country.

The fight in Rivers State, which Amaechi is fighting, should not been seen as his lone fight, but a fight for a true Rivers State, where there would be ‘less’ imposition of politicians on the people. It is a fight for truth. This is why it was drivel, the clarion calls by some meandering toadies of the presidency, telling Amaechi to go beg Mr.President or resign from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Beg him for what? What is actually the misdemeanor that Amaechi committed against the president? Is it the bloated rumour of vice president ambition comes 2015? The stoical approach that some waterfronts in Rivers State, which are well-known to be hideouts for criminals and people with questionable characters, must be demolished?What is actually the bone of disputation in fighting Amaechi like a common criminal? What?

What will save us in Rivers State is to eschew political divides or interests, sit back, and ask ourselves, what actually the fight is for. In an interview, which Barrister Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, the Minister of State for Education, granted the Saturday Sun, of July 6,

it is imperative to say that the once respected and feared Wike decided to throw caution to the winds and condescended this low to fight Amaechi, because according to him, Amaechi was calling him a ‘small boy’.

So, is he now behaving like a ‘small boy’ he was called? Small boys fight, but elders wage wars. This goes a long way to show that the estimation of a person should not be about his or her public status,size or age, but how he or she carries and conducts issues. Therefore,the alleged Wike-led fights to oust Gov. Amaechi are baloney and childish.

What have the fights represented? No one gains anything to destablise his or her homeland for the bouillabaisse of fame. This is unfair. And it is a clarion call that residents of Rivers State should wake up against the anomalies or wait to be engulfed in plots of death as many testimonies have said that there was a plan in London for a protest against the governor.

Who knows when Hezbollah, the dreaded terrorists group, would beimported into the state and we would be calling the move, politics as usual? We must be guided by the tenets of democracy and not bypolitical linings or who was said wanted to be the Gadhafi of RiversState or who does not pay tributes to ‘small boys’, as Wike wants us to believe of Amaechi.

It was unlawful, the protests against the government in Rivers State, which have degenerated to those who were supposed to be honourable members of the House of Assembly, but decided to play the dishonourable, when there was no tangible misconduct of office by

Amaechi that the traducers and political demagogues could trace to him. All that they keep on tell us is that he was fighting Mr.President (they christened his elder brother), who they also have said that Amaechi was supposed to be protecting.

This is where education of democracy is misinterpreted and given an erroneous meaning. Since Mr. President is this fervent with democracy, he should have rejected to be governor when his boss, Alams was ousted through a controversial money laundering mess. Mr. President should have said that it was (a fight against his elder brother and the Ijaw nation). He accepted the governor’s stool and mounted on it without a blink, without remembering the issue of ‘elder brother’.

Chasing of shadows is associated with kids, but it is very sad that many adults do just that in the recent times, because of issues only best known to them. Wike was supposed to be assiduously overseeing the education ministry that he was appointed to do the job and teach the

younger ones the true meaning of democracy, but here is our ‘learned gentleman’ applying blunt politics. Who even gave him the permission to leave his duty for London, where it was alleged that he was drumming for more and more political wars against the government of our state?

Such a thing cannot happen in transparent democracies. Wike would have been fired, because this single act could have been regarded as a choke in the wheel of progress of his ministry and the future of the country. Regarding the strength and veracity in his fights against Amaechi, Wike’s superior at the Education Ministry must have seen and experienced ‘something’ from him. This is a man who is just Minister of State for Education, not even Minister for Education.

The residents of Rivers State must drop the lukewarm habit and stop saying that ‘it concerns’ Gov. Amaechi, before all of us are dropped dead or chased out of the state. Who are we, the ‘common’ people of

Rivers State, if a mace could be allegedly used indiscriminately to crack heads in the House? We should not wait and allow persons from far and near turn Rivers State into complete and downright chaotic state. They are making us complete bamboozled.

The time is now to repress these unwarranted attacks in the state and signal Europe to arrest or call for questioning any individual that has made any un-complimenting comments in that continent, like to stage a protest against the government of Rivers. Joyfully, European security agents cannot be bribed in broad daylight. Where is the Education in the Ministry of Education, which Wike is a minister, if what we are getting from him are turmoil, instead of educational edifices and their components?

We must not buy this Education of wars and brigandage, frustration, victimization against Amaechi, who is perceived to have different ideologies from what they want to introduce to us; we must not allow the re-introduction of thugs in Rivers State.

We must know that when we allow them to injure us, we cannot afford to travel outside the country for treatment like they can easily do with taxpayers money and call themselves dudes, shakers and makers of the politics in our state.

Odimegwu Onwumere wrote from Rivers State. Tel: +2348032552855. Email: apoet_25@yahoo.com

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From Tramadol to Canadian to Exol-5 The New Drug Destroying Nigerian Youths An Investigative Article .From Tramadol to Canadian to Exol-5: The New Drug Destroying Nigerian Youths An Investigative Report on the Shifting Landscape of Substance Abuse in Nigeria Nigeria faces a severe and evolving drug crisis, particularly among its youth. What began with the widespread abuse of Tramadol has progressed through mixtures like “Canadian” to newer pharmaceutical diversions such as Exol-5. This shift reflects deeper issues: easy access to prescription drugs, weak regulation, socioeconomic pressures, and aggressive street-level marketing. NDLEA operations and health studies reveal a public health emergency that threatens an entire generation. Phase 1: The Tramadol Epidemic (2010s–Early 2020s) Tramadol, a synthetic opioid prescribed for moderate to severe pain, became Nigeria’s most notorious street drug. Cheap, potent, and widely smuggled (often from India and other Asian countries), it offered users energy, euphoria, and pain relief — appealing to commercial drivers, laborers, students, and young men seeking confidence or stamina. Scale of the Problem: Millions of tablets seized annually by NDLEA. High prevalence among young males aged 15–35. Linked to increased crime, sexual violence, organ damage (kidney failure, seizures), and mental health breakdowns. Contributed to broader opioid misuse alongside codeine cough syrups. Government responses included tighter import controls and public awareness campaigns, but these only displaced demand to other substances rather than eliminating it. Phase 2: The Rise of “Canadian” (Mid-2020s) “Canadian” or “Canadian Loud” emerged as a popular code for high-grade cannabis (often indica-dominant strains) or cannabis mixed with other synthetics. It gained traction as users sought alternatives or combinations to Tramadol’s effects. This phase marked a move toward imported or locally cultivated premium weed, sometimes laced with stronger chemicals. Youths in urban centers like Lagos, Kano, Jos, and Onitsha embraced it for its perceived “cleaner” high compared to opioids. However, it fueled polydrug use — combining cannabis with opioids, sedatives, or alcohol — amplifying health risks. Phase 3: Exol-5 – The Current Threat (2024–2026) Exol-5 (Benzhexol Hydrochloride / Trihexyphenidyl 5mg), originally a prescription medication for Parkinson’s disease and drug-induced movement disorders, has become the latest pharmaceutical being heavily abused. Why Exol-5? Euphoric Effects: Users report intense euphoria, hallucinations, and a sense of detachment — making it attractive as a cheap “upper” or escape. Accessibility: Sold over-the-counter or on the black market despite being a controlled prescription drug. NDLEA has seized millions of pills in single operations (e.g., 3.1 million pills in Kano in late 2024, and over 5.6 million combined with Tramadol in other busts). Street Names: Exol, Artane, Benzhexol, “Farin Mallam” (in Northern Nigeria). Demographics: Prevalent among youths, laborers, and even psychiatric patients who divert prescriptions. Studies show abuse rates as high as 25% among certain outpatient groups. Health Consequences: Anticholinergic toxicity: Confusion, dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, constipation, and in high doses — delirium, psychosis, seizures, and heart issues. Long-term: Cognitive impairment, addiction, exacerbated mental health disorders. Often mixed with Tramadol, codeine, or cannabis, creating dangerous synergies. In cities like Jos, Exol-5 sits alongside diazepam, Rohypnol, and Tramadol on street markets, easily available to teenagers and young adults. Why This Evolution Continues Supply-Side Failures: Porous borders, corrupt officials, and overproduction of pharmaceuticals enable diversion. Demand Drivers: Unemployment, poverty, peer pressure, trauma, and the pursuit of performance enhancement (e.g., for “hustle” culture). Weak Regulation: Many pharmacies sell restricted drugs without prescriptions. Online and street vendors fill gaps. Displacement Effect: Cracking down on one substance (Tramadol/codeine) pushes users and dealers toward the next available option. NDLEA reports ongoing large seizures, but the problem persists due to high profitability and low risk for mid-level distributors. Broader Impacts on Nigerian Youths Education: Increased dropout rates and poor academic performance. Mental Health: Rising cases of psychosis and depression. Economy: Lost productivity among the working-age population. Crime and Violence: Drug-fueled robberies, cultism, and family breakdowns. Public Health System Strain: Overburdened hospitals treating overdoses and chronic complications. Young people aged 15–39 remain the hardest hit, with national surveys showing drug use prevalence significantly above global averages. What Must Be Done Stronger Enforcement: Consistent prosecution of corrupt enablers and large-scale traffickers. Regulation: Crackdown on rogue pharmacies and better tracking of prescription drugs. Prevention & Rehabilitation: School programs, community outreach, and expanded treatment centers (currently woefully inadequate). Economic Alternatives: Address root causes like youth unemployment. Public Awareness: Honest campaigns highlighting real dangers of “Exol-5” and similar drugs. Conclusion From Tramadol’s opioid grip to “Canadian” cannabis culture and now Exol-5’s anticholinergic highs, Nigeria’s drug crisis is mutating faster than responses can contain it. Exol-5 represents the dangerous new frontier — a legitimate medicine turned youth destroyer due to misuse and greed. Without urgent, multi-layered intervention — combining supply disruption, demand reduction, and socioeconomic support — an entire generation risks being lost to addiction. The time for half-measures is over. Nigeria’s future depends on winning this fight.