Tinubu Names Highway After Wole Soyinka + Wike Orders Perm Secs To ‘Bow’ For Tinubu

 In a gesture of honor and recognition, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has named the newly inaugurated northern parkway in the Federal Capital Territory as the Wole Soyinka Highway. The decision, announced on Tuesday, pays tribute to Professor Wole Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, and underscores his significant contributions to literature and Nigeria's global reputation.The move to name the highway after Soyinka was not arbitrary but stems from his close alliance with President Tinubu. This decision was confirmed by Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy, in a post on X. According to Onanuga, the recommendation to honor Soyinka came from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, highlighting the Nobel Laureate's unparalleled contributions to literature and his role in elevating Nigeria's international stature.However, the commissioning of the Wole Soyinka Highway took an unexpected turn when Minister Nyesom Wike commanded permanent secretaries to bow before President Tinubu as a gesture of appreciation for their appointments. This directive, issued during the ceremony for the Northern Parkway, ignited a frenzy of reactions and raised eyebrows across the nation.Meanwhile, the Nigerian Labour Union has temporarily suspended its industrial action for a week to facilitate further negotiations with the federal government. The decision to relax the strike came after intense deliberations and a commitment from the government to reconsider the proposed increase in the minimum wage, which had been a major point of contention.Senate President Godswill Akpabio condemned the disruptions caused by the strike, labeling them as economic sabotage, particularly highlighting the shutdown of the national grid. This condemnation underscores the significant economic implications of the industrial action, which has drawn mixed reactions from Nigerians.In a separate development, Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest man, expressed concerns about international oil companies' reluctance to supply crude to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. Dangote attributed this reluctance to their preference for exporting the product rather than supplying it domestically. He emphasized the need for Africa to shift away from its reliance on raw material exports and focus on developing refining facilities to meet domestic demand.As these events unfold, Nigeria finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with economic challenges, honoring literary icons, and navigating political dynamics that captivate the nation's attention. The decisions made by leaders and stakeholders in the coming days are poised to shape the country's trajectory in critical areas ranging from labor relations to economic policy and cultural recognition.