{
  "id": 5478579,
  "title": "Adeniyi, Adamu Ciroma and Tony Elumelu",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/adeniyi-adamu-ciroma-and-tony-elumelu",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T03:04:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/09/04/adeniyi-adamu-ciroma-and-tony-elumelu/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Segun Adeniyi visited the late Malam Adamu Ciroma, a prominent member of Nigeria's political elite, after encountering some distress. Ciroma, a graduate of history from the University of Ibadan, was known for his disciplined and ideologically-driven approach to Northern Nigerian supremacy. He was a key figure in the Kaduna mafia, a powerful group that emerged following the demise of Ahmadu Bello, leader of the conservative wing of the Northern political establishment.\n\nCiroma's career trajectory included roles such as Editor of the 'New Nigeria' newspaper and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. His appointment as the Minister of Finance in the civilian administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo was a testament to his influence within the Northern political elite.\n\nThe meeting between Adeniyi and Ciroma took place amidst the ongoing dialogue between Tony Elumelu, a business tycoon, and a graduate trainee from the United Bank of Africa (UBA). This encounter highlighted the sociocultural disparities present in Nigeria, stemming from the amalgamation of the Eastern, Northern, and Western protectorates. These regions were predominantly inhabited by the Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba ethnic groups, respectively. Each group had its unique cultural tendencies towards Westernization, with the Hausa being more traditional and Islamic, the Yoruba embracing a blend of aristocratic and democratic principles, and the Igbo valuing individual achievement and rapid urbanization.\n\nThe Northern region's lack of publicity and propaganda efforts led to the formation of the Kaduna mafia, a powerful nationalist pressure group that championed Northern Nigerian interests. Ciroma's appointment as Governor of the Central Bank, as well as his previous roles, underscored the influence of the Kaduna mafia within Nigeria's political landscape.",
  "summary": "Dialogue With Nigeria BY AKIN OSUNTOKUN The ramifications of the recent public engagement between Tony Elumelu and a graduate trainee of the United Bank of Africa, UBA, go beyond a",
  "key_points": [
    "Segun Adeniyi visited late Malam Adamu Ciroma.",
    "Ciroma was a prominent figure in Kaduna mafia.",
    "Meeting highlighted Nigeria's sociocultural disparities."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The meeting between Adeniyi and Ciroma, alongside Tony Elumelu's encounter with a UBA graduate trainee, highlights the deep-seated sociocultural disparities in Nigeria stemming from regional ethnic differences and historical power dynamics.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}