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Showing posts with label Opinion. Show all posts

JUSTICE SET BACK ON ITS HEELS: WHY JUDGES WILL SURVIVE ATTEMPTS TO INTIMIDATE THEM

JUSTICE SET BACK ON ITS HEELS: WHY JUDGES WILL SURVIVE ATTEMPTS TO INTIMIDATE THEM

By Ajiroba Yemi Kotun 


“My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.” – Jane Austin


INTIMIDATION is an animal thing. Ethical people do not intimidate. Unlike English novelist Jane Austin (1775-1817), the author of “Pride and Prejudice”, 279 pages, a brilliant novel published anonymously in 1813, which Austin herself called “my own darling child”, and who is celebrated mainly for her six novels that tacitly interpret, review, and comment upon the British propertied aristocracy at the close of the 18th century, Nigeria’s stubborn losers in the February 25, 2023 presidential election that are now angrily, ignorantly, and cowardly trying to knock the stuffing out of the judiciary, take its breath away, make the judges’ hair stand on end, or scare the daylights out of them with their so-called “All eyes on the judiciary” covert threat, do not know that there is a stubbornness about the institution that “never can bear to be frightened at the will of others” <Refers to the 2014 paperback, “All Eyes On Me”, 234 pages, Barnes & Noble, by bestselling author Linsey Lanier>. 



Probably, the judges, too, who before now know that intimidators use fear and bullying as their foremost big sticks, are keen as mustard on their own to reply these ignorant and angry ‘tricksters’ inaudibly that: “Bring it on! We are falling for your hurricane eyes, but you do not know us yet because our real eyes will expose your real lies one by one in the Court's own good time <Refers to 1 Peter 3:14 - "...do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled">. Really, as you make your bed, so you must lie on it. Suitably, Hilary Clinton, 75, the 67th U.S. Secretary of State (2009-2013) and author of “State of Terror” (2022), 512 pages, Simon & Schuster, a novel of unrivaled kicks and unmatched insider knowledge, wrote “Extremism thrives amid ignorance and anger, intimidation and cowardice” <Refers to the 2016 Nollywood movie, "Intimidation", starring Mike Ezuruonye, Ini Edo, Koffi Adjorlolo, Tonto Dikeh, and Pat Asore>. Barking dogs seldom bite just as bullies are cowards. 


And since democracy will not compromise any of its salient elements, these coercing ‘democrats’ should learn a thing or two from Mo Ibrahim, 77, a Sudanese-British billionaire businessman and the founder of “Celtel”, who said frankly that “Intimidation, harassment, and violence have no place in a democracy.” They should also read less of such refined “intimidation” defenders as British-American media executive Anna Wintour, 73, Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief since 1988 and the author of the 2021 book, “Wonderland”, 439 pages, Amazon, who tried to justify her “interest in getting things done” by saying “I think I’m decisive, and I like to get things done quickly. So if that comes across as intimidation, I’m sorry to hear it.” However, a worried blunt, hard-boiled, and galvanic Sandra Day O’Connor, 93, Judge of the Arizona Court of Appeal (1979-1981), the first female associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1981-2006), and the author of the 2004 hardcover, “The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice”, 352 pages, hit the bull’s eye when she wrote thus “The freedom to criticize judges and other public officials is necessary to a vibrant democracy. The problem comes when healthy criticism is replaced with more destructive intimidation and sanctions.” 


Democratic or autocratic, all governments dislike those who ride roughshod over others. This is akin to how Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013), the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1979-1990) who was pleased when a Russian newspaper nicknamed her “the Iron Lady” as many had doubted whether a woman would be strong enough to lead any big European or American country in this modern age, disliked British left-wing zealots whom she accused of having “often been prepared to ride roughshod over due process and basic considerations of fairness when they think they can get away with it.”Just like these ones, the defeated former contenders of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 71, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, too, think the ends always seem to justify the means and that intimidating the judiciary, keeping it at bay, or just riding roughshod over it with their indirect blackmails, subtle threats, or furtive pressure can yield them their hearts’ desires, turn the tables on the declared winner of the election, and deny him the sweat of his brow. 


That to control the judges, they just have to instill fear in them or make them feel afraid. But, instead of making such enemies for themselves and looking like the bad guys or not really good at being the bad guys (like American professional wrestler Ric Flair, 74), since the hustings towards the last general elections began and ended and up till now, they should be thinking of winning more friends and attracting and swaying people to their goals, whatever those are. In the 1936 book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People”, 288 pages, American writer and lecturer Dale Carnegie (1888-1955), whose enduring principles are helping many people to achieve their maximum potential in the difficult and competitive modern age, wrote “We ride roughshod over the feelings of others, getting our own way, finding fault, issuing threats, criticizing… without even considering the hurt to the other person’s pride.” Carnegie’s above book teaches “the six ways to make people like you, the twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking, and the nine ways to change people without arousing resentment.”


Many people thank their lucky stars that they see everything in front of their eyes. Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know. Therefore, Nigerians are silently thanking their lucky stars for not having these kinds as their elected leaders who will rule by intimidation, possibly, because they have nothing else to bring to the table or contribute freshly. 


American attorney Michelle Obama, 59, who served as the first African-American First Lady of the United States (2009-2017) and the author of the 2009 hardcover, “Believe in the Possibility: The Words of Michelle Obama”, 128 pages, Goodreads, wrote aptly, confirming the foregoing thus “Leaders who demonize and dehumanize entire groups of people often do so because they have nothing else to offer.” We have on our hands disappointed people, who want to steal the presidency of ‘their country’ by using “lies, arrogance, and intimidation”, variegated with so much hate and rage. As Dr. Leslyn Lewis, 52 a Canadian lawyer and politician who has served as the member of Parliament for Haldimand – Norfolk since 2021, would easily recommend, after letting the dust of all this braggadocio settle, maybe part of what Nigeria will be needing going forward is a sweeping and truthful talk around the culture of rudeness, disrespect, disrepute, and intimidation that we have permitted to aggravate concerning the judiciary, our senior citizens, and other Nigerians at risk of holding poles apart views. Definitely, intimidation is one tool that decent people do not take in hand as a means to attain victory or success in any endeavor. 


We must tell ourselves the plain truth that a political culture of intimidation, bullying, pressure, coercion, fear, threats, or blackmails is no way to build a nation and no way a nation is governed. “Frightening other Nigerians” or intimidating and insulting them will not get any political party, group, tribe, or religion anywhere. According to Evangelist  Ugochukwu-Uko of the Igbo Youths Movement (IYM), "Nobody ever acquired political power by reining insults on those with opposing political views." Intimidation against people who hold different views from our own views has no justification whatsoever. It is headstrong and totally indefensible.


Nightcaps: 


1. Canadian politician Stockwell Day, 73, the Leader of Opposition (2000-2001) and Minister of Public Safety (2006-2008), also agreed that “Judges must be free from political intervention or intimidation.”


2. It is easy to be wise after the event. People who devise wild skills to embarrass their fellow humans inevitably blunder their own feelings <Denotes to the failed plot to humiliate the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwo-ola, 69, in March 2003 over the grossly fake, misleading and malicious story that he  disguised to meet then President-elect Bola Tinubu in London>.


3. Intimidation is a tradition. It first gets its own natural life before growing into a disorder.


4. Will history repeat itself again, why not?

By Ajiroba Yemi Kotun 


“My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.” – Jane Austin


INTIMIDATION is an animal thing. Ethical people do not intimidate. Unlike English novelist Jane Austin (1775-1817), the author of “Pride and Prejudice”, 279 pages, a brilliant novel published anonymously in 1813, which Austin herself called “my own darling child”, and who is celebrated mainly for her six novels that tacitly interpret, review, and comment upon the British propertied aristocracy at the close of the 18th century, Nigeria’s stubborn losers in the February 25, 2023 presidential election that are now angrily, ignorantly, and cowardly trying to knock the stuffing out of the judiciary, take its breath away, make the judges’ hair stand on end, or scare the daylights out of them with their so-called “All eyes on the judiciary” covert threat, do not know that there is a stubbornness about the institution that “never can bear to be frightened at the will of others” <Refers to the 2014 paperback, “All Eyes On Me”, 234 pages, Barnes & Noble, by bestselling author Linsey Lanier>. 



Probably, the judges, too, who before now know that intimidators use fear and bullying as their foremost big sticks, are keen as mustard on their own to reply these ignorant and angry ‘tricksters’ inaudibly that: “Bring it on! We are falling for your hurricane eyes, but you do not know us yet because our real eyes will expose your real lies one by one in the Court's own good time <Refers to 1 Peter 3:14 - "...do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled">. Really, as you make your bed, so you must lie on it. Suitably, Hilary Clinton, 75, the 67th U.S. Secretary of State (2009-2013) and author of “State of Terror” (2022), 512 pages, Simon & Schuster, a novel of unrivaled kicks and unmatched insider knowledge, wrote “Extremism thrives amid ignorance and anger, intimidation and cowardice” <Refers to the 2016 Nollywood movie, "Intimidation", starring Mike Ezuruonye, Ini Edo, Koffi Adjorlolo, Tonto Dikeh, and Pat Asore>. Barking dogs seldom bite just as bullies are cowards. 


And since democracy will not compromise any of its salient elements, these coercing ‘democrats’ should learn a thing or two from Mo Ibrahim, 77, a Sudanese-British billionaire businessman and the founder of “Celtel”, who said frankly that “Intimidation, harassment, and violence have no place in a democracy.” They should also read less of such refined “intimidation” defenders as British-American media executive Anna Wintour, 73, Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief since 1988 and the author of the 2021 book, “Wonderland”, 439 pages, Amazon, who tried to justify her “interest in getting things done” by saying “I think I’m decisive, and I like to get things done quickly. So if that comes across as intimidation, I’m sorry to hear it.” However, a worried blunt, hard-boiled, and galvanic Sandra Day O’Connor, 93, Judge of the Arizona Court of Appeal (1979-1981), the first female associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1981-2006), and the author of the 2004 hardcover, “The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice”, 352 pages, hit the bull’s eye when she wrote thus “The freedom to criticize judges and other public officials is necessary to a vibrant democracy. The problem comes when healthy criticism is replaced with more destructive intimidation and sanctions.” 


Democratic or autocratic, all governments dislike those who ride roughshod over others. This is akin to how Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013), the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1979-1990) who was pleased when a Russian newspaper nicknamed her “the Iron Lady” as many had doubted whether a woman would be strong enough to lead any big European or American country in this modern age, disliked British left-wing zealots whom she accused of having “often been prepared to ride roughshod over due process and basic considerations of fairness when they think they can get away with it.”Just like these ones, the defeated former contenders of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 71, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, too, think the ends always seem to justify the means and that intimidating the judiciary, keeping it at bay, or just riding roughshod over it with their indirect blackmails, subtle threats, or furtive pressure can yield them their hearts’ desires, turn the tables on the declared winner of the election, and deny him the sweat of his brow. 


That to control the judges, they just have to instill fear in them or make them feel afraid. But, instead of making such enemies for themselves and looking like the bad guys or not really good at being the bad guys (like American professional wrestler Ric Flair, 74), since the hustings towards the last general elections began and ended and up till now, they should be thinking of winning more friends and attracting and swaying people to their goals, whatever those are. In the 1936 book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People”, 288 pages, American writer and lecturer Dale Carnegie (1888-1955), whose enduring principles are helping many people to achieve their maximum potential in the difficult and competitive modern age, wrote “We ride roughshod over the feelings of others, getting our own way, finding fault, issuing threats, criticizing… without even considering the hurt to the other person’s pride.” Carnegie’s above book teaches “the six ways to make people like you, the twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking, and the nine ways to change people without arousing resentment.”


Many people thank their lucky stars that they see everything in front of their eyes. Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know. Therefore, Nigerians are silently thanking their lucky stars for not having these kinds as their elected leaders who will rule by intimidation, possibly, because they have nothing else to bring to the table or contribute freshly. 


American attorney Michelle Obama, 59, who served as the first African-American First Lady of the United States (2009-2017) and the author of the 2009 hardcover, “Believe in the Possibility: The Words of Michelle Obama”, 128 pages, Goodreads, wrote aptly, confirming the foregoing thus “Leaders who demonize and dehumanize entire groups of people often do so because they have nothing else to offer.” We have on our hands disappointed people, who want to steal the presidency of ‘their country’ by using “lies, arrogance, and intimidation”, variegated with so much hate and rage. As Dr. Leslyn Lewis, 52 a Canadian lawyer and politician who has served as the member of Parliament for Haldimand – Norfolk since 2021, would easily recommend, after letting the dust of all this braggadocio settle, maybe part of what Nigeria will be needing going forward is a sweeping and truthful talk around the culture of rudeness, disrespect, disrepute, and intimidation that we have permitted to aggravate concerning the judiciary, our senior citizens, and other Nigerians at risk of holding poles apart views. Definitely, intimidation is one tool that decent people do not take in hand as a means to attain victory or success in any endeavor. 


We must tell ourselves the plain truth that a political culture of intimidation, bullying, pressure, coercion, fear, threats, or blackmails is no way to build a nation and no way a nation is governed. “Frightening other Nigerians” or intimidating and insulting them will not get any political party, group, tribe, or religion anywhere. According to Evangelist  Ugochukwu-Uko of the Igbo Youths Movement (IYM), "Nobody ever acquired political power by reining insults on those with opposing political views." Intimidation against people who hold different views from our own views has no justification whatsoever. It is headstrong and totally indefensible.


Nightcaps: 


1. Canadian politician Stockwell Day, 73, the Leader of Opposition (2000-2001) and Minister of Public Safety (2006-2008), also agreed that “Judges must be free from political intervention or intimidation.”


2. It is easy to be wise after the event. People who devise wild skills to embarrass their fellow humans inevitably blunder their own feelings <Denotes to the failed plot to humiliate the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwo-ola, 69, in March 2003 over the grossly fake, misleading and malicious story that he  disguised to meet then President-elect Bola Tinubu in London>.


3. Intimidation is a tradition. It first gets its own natural life before growing into a disorder.


4. Will history repeat itself again, why not?

THE SILENT WAR IN APC AND THE GBAJABIAMILA, NUHU RIBADU 2027 CONSPIRACY

THE SILENT WAR IN APC AND THE GBAJABIAMILA, NUHU RIBADU 2027 CONSPIRACY


Jackson Ude

@jacksonpbn





Ribadu


A new cabal, much more vicious, power hungry and corrupt has emerged in the Bola Tinubu Presidency. 

The Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, 

and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, have formed a tag team, controlling the affairs of Government, shielding Tinubu away from happenings and forming a cabal that would sooner or later tear down the house of APC. 


At the back of their mind is 2027 elections. 

Gbajabiamila does not see Tinubu either completing his tenure or having the capacity to run again in 2027 due to his failing health.

 His strategy is now to clip the wings of those he perceive might be on his way to replace Tinubu. 

Gbajabiamila found an ally in Ribadu. 

His calculation is that in the event Tinubu cannot continue,

 he would make Ribadu his running mate. 

But in the event Tinubu finishes 8yrs, 

and power is to return to the North, he would run as Ribadu’s running mate.


To achieve those plans, it serves him well to get Mallam Elrufai out of the equation. 

Elrufai’s clearance for a Ministerial position has now been put on hold.

 Gbaja and Ribadu are said to have masterminded that to keep the former Kaduna Governor out of the race for 2027 or 2031.


Gbajabi/Tinubu

Gbajabiamila and Ribadu’s scheme have brought a major crack in the APC, and Presidency, especially with those who toiled day and night campaigning for Tinubu. 

There is palpable anger. Anger of being left out from the Ministerial nominations and others political positions. 

Those who were hitherto close to Tinubu are now so shocked how they were either left out or no longer have access to the President. 


Gbajabiamila and Ribadu have shut them out, leaving them In regrets.


In Katsina State, 

a very close ally of Tinubu, Senator Habu Ibrahim, did not make the Ministerial list and no longer have unfettered access to Tinubu. 


Former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, also lost out of reckoning. 


In Ekiti State, 

former Governor Kayode Fayemi, an intellectual base of the APC, was left out. 

Same with a renegade member of the PDP, Ayo Fayose. 


In Lagos State,

 Babatunde Fashola 

and Akinwunmi Ambode 

and Abike Dabiri were all left out for an unknown Lola Ade-John who is alleged to be a girlfriend of Wale Edun. 


In Enugu State,

 former Governors Chimaraoke Nnamani 

and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi both betrayed their party, the PDP to work for Tinubu. 

They have both been shut out. 

They didn’t get a Ministerial position. 


In Oyo state,

 Senator Teslim Folarin suffered humiliation from his own party, the APC, which worked against his Governorship ambitions and yet he never got compensated with a Ministerial nomination. 

Bashir Lado, 

Kashim Imam, both long term northern friends of Tinubu lost out and shut out from the villa. 


Magnus Abe who was tipped for a Ministerial position alongside Nyesom Wike, lost out and shut out because Wike would not have him around. 


In Bayelsa, 

Ebitimi Ambare lost out to Henekein Lokpobiri, a nominee of Wike.


Bayo Onanuga, 

Tunde Rahman, both very close persons to Tinubu lost out. 

In fact, Rahman who should have been made the Media Adviser to the President, was blocked by the duo of Gbajabiamila and Dele Alake.

 Rahman is now considering leaving the Government. 


Femi Fani-Kayode, 

Tunji Bello, 

Babatunde Ogala, 

Ahmed Raji,

 Abiodun Faleke Senator Tokubo Abiru, 

and very close friends of Tinubu who have all been schemed out and shut out.


The duo of Gbajabiamila and Ribadu are playing their cards well, watching for anyone who might be a threat to their 2027 or 2031 Presidential ambitions. 


How long the scheming would last would be determined by the strength of their strategies.



GOD HELP US 

APC IS A SCAM 

TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT


Jackson Ude

@jacksonpbn





Ribadu


A new cabal, much more vicious, power hungry and corrupt has emerged in the Bola Tinubu Presidency. 

The Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, 

and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, have formed a tag team, controlling the affairs of Government, shielding Tinubu away from happenings and forming a cabal that would sooner or later tear down the house of APC. 


At the back of their mind is 2027 elections. 

Gbajabiamila does not see Tinubu either completing his tenure or having the capacity to run again in 2027 due to his failing health.

 His strategy is now to clip the wings of those he perceive might be on his way to replace Tinubu. 

Gbajabiamila found an ally in Ribadu. 

His calculation is that in the event Tinubu cannot continue,

 he would make Ribadu his running mate. 

But in the event Tinubu finishes 8yrs, 

and power is to return to the North, he would run as Ribadu’s running mate.


To achieve those plans, it serves him well to get Mallam Elrufai out of the equation. 

Elrufai’s clearance for a Ministerial position has now been put on hold.

 Gbaja and Ribadu are said to have masterminded that to keep the former Kaduna Governor out of the race for 2027 or 2031.


Gbajabi/Tinubu

Gbajabiamila and Ribadu’s scheme have brought a major crack in the APC, and Presidency, especially with those who toiled day and night campaigning for Tinubu. 

There is palpable anger. Anger of being left out from the Ministerial nominations and others political positions. 

Those who were hitherto close to Tinubu are now so shocked how they were either left out or no longer have access to the President. 


Gbajabiamila and Ribadu have shut them out, leaving them In regrets.


In Katsina State, 

a very close ally of Tinubu, Senator Habu Ibrahim, did not make the Ministerial list and no longer have unfettered access to Tinubu. 


Former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, also lost out of reckoning. 


In Ekiti State, 

former Governor Kayode Fayemi, an intellectual base of the APC, was left out. 

Same with a renegade member of the PDP, Ayo Fayose. 


In Lagos State,

 Babatunde Fashola 

and Akinwunmi Ambode 

and Abike Dabiri were all left out for an unknown Lola Ade-John who is alleged to be a girlfriend of Wale Edun. 


In Enugu State,

 former Governors Chimaraoke Nnamani 

and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi both betrayed their party, the PDP to work for Tinubu. 

They have both been shut out. 

They didn’t get a Ministerial position. 


In Oyo state,

 Senator Teslim Folarin suffered humiliation from his own party, the APC, which worked against his Governorship ambitions and yet he never got compensated with a Ministerial nomination. 

Bashir Lado, 

Kashim Imam, both long term northern friends of Tinubu lost out and shut out from the villa. 


Magnus Abe who was tipped for a Ministerial position alongside Nyesom Wike, lost out and shut out because Wike would not have him around. 


In Bayelsa, 

Ebitimi Ambare lost out to Henekein Lokpobiri, a nominee of Wike.


Bayo Onanuga, 

Tunde Rahman, both very close persons to Tinubu lost out. 

In fact, Rahman who should have been made the Media Adviser to the President, was blocked by the duo of Gbajabiamila and Dele Alake.

 Rahman is now considering leaving the Government. 


Femi Fani-Kayode, 

Tunji Bello, 

Babatunde Ogala, 

Ahmed Raji,

 Abiodun Faleke Senator Tokubo Abiru, 

and very close friends of Tinubu who have all been schemed out and shut out.


The duo of Gbajabiamila and Ribadu are playing their cards well, watching for anyone who might be a threat to their 2027 or 2031 Presidential ambitions. 


How long the scheming would last would be determined by the strength of their strategies.



GOD HELP US 

APC IS A SCAM 

TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT

If Tinubu is not disqualified by the Court, forget about justice in Nigeria

If Tinubu is not disqualified by the Court, forget about justice in Nigeria



I have carefully perused the Petition of APM versus Tinubu, Shetima, APC and INEC and all I can say is that it appeared too mundane, but carries the strongest venom against Tinubu, Shetima, APC and INEC. 


Many looked down on the case and say that the Supreme Court has already determined the issue of double nomination. However, a close look at the Petition will show that the case was never about double nomination of Shetima, but one of invalid nomination. The core of the case is that as at the time Tinubu nominated his running mate, he himself was no longer a candidate by virtue of the a combine provisions of the Constitution and Electoral Act, 2022 in Section 142 (1) and Section 33 of the Constitution and Electoral Act, respectively. 


Let me bring you closer to the fact, law and the Petition before Court of Appeal by the APM. Due to the impression created about double nomination, the APC and Tinubu,  in concert with INEC have presented a case before the Supreme Court that got them out of the trap of double nomination. However, in the there bid to escape double nomination, they fell into INVALID NOMINATION. 


Follow me, patiently. Now, in the pleadings and final address, one fact remained consistent and undoubtedly solid as all the parties are in concurrence. The 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th Respondents all agreed that the "placeholder" Alhaji Masari, withdrew as Vice Presidential placeholder on 24th of June, 2022. They also all agreed that the replacement was made on 14th July, 2022. It is not debatable that between the withdrawal and replacement, a period of 21 days lapsed.


Now, Section 142 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that a Presidential Candidate is not qualified if he has not nominated another person to run with him/her as Vice President. So, without a Vice Presidential Candidate duly selected by the Presidential Candidate, the ticket is useless. So, in order to beat this provision and other requirements for time in the Electoral Act,  2022 that APC invented what we now call the "Placeholder" to secure the Presidential ticket. For the period before his replacement, Alhaji Masari was the Vice Presidential Candidate of the APC in the eyes of our laws. This was why he had to also explore the provision of the Electoral Act, 2022 to withdraw as Vice Presidential Candidate on the 24th of June, 2022.


Now, Section 33 of the Electoral Act,  2022 is also visible to the blind as it mandate a political party whose Candidate withdraws to replace such a candidate within 14 days. 14 days is 14 days and no Court can extend such a time for anyone. It is just like time for election petition can not be extended by any court.


APM is simply saying that as at the 14th day of July,  2022 APC had no valid Candidate for President as its Vice Presidential Candidate withdrew 21 days before a replacement was made, instead of within 14 days. You see, this is our law and no court can amend it because of one person. This is a clear case of power coming from God.


While they attempted to evade double nomination, they fell into INVALID NOMINATION. Isn't God's way above the ways of man?


A perusal of INEC's final address reveals the disgraceful partisan posture of an institution that ought to be neutral. INEC shamelessly claimed that APM did not plead that APC replaced its Vice Presidential Candidate outside 14 days allowed by law. But, luckily, the Petition was handy for APM to point INEC's blind eyes to the portion of the petition where the facts were copiously pleaded. What remains?


Now, the law, the facts and the case are all against the Candidacy of Tinubu and no one can say otherwise. I only wait to see how the law Lords will deal with this. It will be interesting to see a contrary position from what the law clearly is. But what do I know?


Silas Joseph Onu, Esq. 

Abuja - Nigeria.



I have carefully perused the Petition of APM versus Tinubu, Shetima, APC and INEC and all I can say is that it appeared too mundane, but carries the strongest venom against Tinubu, Shetima, APC and INEC. 


Many looked down on the case and say that the Supreme Court has already determined the issue of double nomination. However, a close look at the Petition will show that the case was never about double nomination of Shetima, but one of invalid nomination. The core of the case is that as at the time Tinubu nominated his running mate, he himself was no longer a candidate by virtue of the a combine provisions of the Constitution and Electoral Act, 2022 in Section 142 (1) and Section 33 of the Constitution and Electoral Act, respectively. 


Let me bring you closer to the fact, law and the Petition before Court of Appeal by the APM. Due to the impression created about double nomination, the APC and Tinubu,  in concert with INEC have presented a case before the Supreme Court that got them out of the trap of double nomination. However, in the there bid to escape double nomination, they fell into INVALID NOMINATION. 


Follow me, patiently. Now, in the pleadings and final address, one fact remained consistent and undoubtedly solid as all the parties are in concurrence. The 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th Respondents all agreed that the "placeholder" Alhaji Masari, withdrew as Vice Presidential placeholder on 24th of June, 2022. They also all agreed that the replacement was made on 14th July, 2022. It is not debatable that between the withdrawal and replacement, a period of 21 days lapsed.


Now, Section 142 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that a Presidential Candidate is not qualified if he has not nominated another person to run with him/her as Vice President. So, without a Vice Presidential Candidate duly selected by the Presidential Candidate, the ticket is useless. So, in order to beat this provision and other requirements for time in the Electoral Act,  2022 that APC invented what we now call the "Placeholder" to secure the Presidential ticket. For the period before his replacement, Alhaji Masari was the Vice Presidential Candidate of the APC in the eyes of our laws. This was why he had to also explore the provision of the Electoral Act, 2022 to withdraw as Vice Presidential Candidate on the 24th of June, 2022.


Now, Section 33 of the Electoral Act,  2022 is also visible to the blind as it mandate a political party whose Candidate withdraws to replace such a candidate within 14 days. 14 days is 14 days and no Court can extend such a time for anyone. It is just like time for election petition can not be extended by any court.


APM is simply saying that as at the 14th day of July,  2022 APC had no valid Candidate for President as its Vice Presidential Candidate withdrew 21 days before a replacement was made, instead of within 14 days. You see, this is our law and no court can amend it because of one person. This is a clear case of power coming from God.


While they attempted to evade double nomination, they fell into INVALID NOMINATION. Isn't God's way above the ways of man?


A perusal of INEC's final address reveals the disgraceful partisan posture of an institution that ought to be neutral. INEC shamelessly claimed that APM did not plead that APC replaced its Vice Presidential Candidate outside 14 days allowed by law. But, luckily, the Petition was handy for APM to point INEC's blind eyes to the portion of the petition where the facts were copiously pleaded. What remains?


Now, the law, the facts and the case are all against the Candidacy of Tinubu and no one can say otherwise. I only wait to see how the law Lords will deal with this. It will be interesting to see a contrary position from what the law clearly is. But what do I know?


Silas Joseph Onu, Esq. 

Abuja - Nigeria.

Re: Peter Obi and NADECO/DEMOCRACY Day; The Need for Facts of History

Re: Peter Obi and NADECO/DEMOCRACY Day; The Need for Facts of History

Peter Obi

One Wilson Ijide, whose identity is lost with those who embark on similar hatchet campaigns to recklessly smear the integrity of a man whose only crime is daring the old order to evolve a new Nigeria for the benefit of her citizens and assured future of her teeming youths, came out with the exceedingly ridiculous write-up so referenced in this response. Ordinarily, such disjointed attempt of extreme display of hate and unprecedented falsehood deserve no response from POEM but we live in a vulnerable society where such glaring distortions sometimes gain traction.


The internationally acclaimed writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie would refer to the danger of such single story - a stereotype, untrue, incomplete and straight-jacket telling - as satisfying only the invectives of an unknown quantity. Besides this, 'Ijide's' lone race in distortions brings to fore the need to return the teaching of history to our schools, otherwise people like him, whether they actually exist or manipulated to have form, would ear-plug themselves, fly high and get lost on wild imaginative compositions without interrogation! But we are POEM, we keep the records straight for our nation's sake!


We will not attempt to correct the very wrong impression of half-truths and unimaginable propaganda by the writer, regarding Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, IBB and his stewardship as a former Nigerian leader, who though erred terribly in the annulment of June 12 but not entirely the monster the writer described by reference to Egypt's Gamal Abdar Nasser. IBB is sound in mind and spirit, and quite capable of responding if the retired general finds it worthy.


But to connect HE Peter Obi to some of the actions leading to that annulment is not a a matter we intend to step aside in any way. The writer's poor sense of fiction writing descended to the abyss with his illogical and ahistorical concoction that the Labour Party presidential candidate was acting behind the scenes as the deputy to Chief Arthur Nzeribe of the notorious group termed Association for Better Nigeria, ABN, another child of perfidy on the IBB/JUNE 12 imbroglio. Again, we see a single story in an attempt to clap with one hand. Now, to the real facts of June 12 impasse as history is not produced in a science laboratory.


In 1993 when IBB and a certain cabal were playing a ludo game with our nation, Peter Gregory Obi was not anywhere near the military, neither with any political contractor nor group, either for nor against IBB. He was not interested in politics and was minding his trading business, took residence outside the country in far away United Kingdom. This much fact was revealed by himself on tape on video in a public conference. We refer readers to this video clip to listen in: https://fb.watch/l9pnMmc-dZ/


POEM does not, in any way, give leanings to ethnic narratives but trying to box PO into that unwilling wall, we will clarify that the leader of the so-called ABN was Abimbola Davies from Chief MKO Abiola's ethnic divide. Arthur Nzeribe was only his deputy. So, even if clandestinely, did Nzeribe appear like one to share his deputy functions with Obi (who Nzeribe would consider a boy then)? Isn't it simply nauseating how some people could sit down, possibly in filthy room and manufacture a single story of vulgar nonsense?


The formation of NADECO was a baby of necessity that had some membership which the jaundiced writer sliced. Slicing that only provided the names of the Yorubas. A clear revelation to this writer's sole intent - to create ethnic loathing. How does one deal with a mind that has been corroded with ethnic jingoism? Present more facts definitely. 


NADECO wouldn't have been without the muscle provided by true Igbo indigenes in the likes of Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Sam Mbakwe, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Alhaji Abdulazeez Ude and so many others. Is this faceless writer not aware or is he conveniently forgetting the ordeal Olisa Agbakoba, SAN went through in the hands of late Gen Sani Abacha while fighting with everything in him to actualize June 12? Is it a hidden knowledge that the USA representative of NADECO and Executive Director is Lloyd Ukwu, an Igbo man who single-handedly provided all the funds and hosting abroad? Again, correcting the dangers of a single story! 


At this juncture, it must be emphasised that this nation should remain eternally grateful to Pa Ayo Adebanjo and Afenifere for painstakingly scrutinizing PO, finding him very worthy and firmly stood by him before, during and after February 25. That has been the greatest sacrifice by any pan-ethnic group to banishing the monstrous ethnic politics from our shores.


Typical of those who are afraid of strong illuminations emanating from Obi in our dark democracy firmament, the writer played their usual record devoid of grooves, a worn-out noise about Obi being a killer, a bomber and opportunist making his money through a reward from Abacha in being the "CEO of Tin Can Island Port, thus becoming the chairman of Fidelity Bank at the age of 35". Oh what a poor soul being housed by this writer!


It is time to listen attentively to the attached video. Abacha made PO the chairman of decongesting Tin Can Island Port the first time the late head of state set eyes on the young billionaire. Obi led a group of traders whose containers were seized. Notably, no one dealing in illegal business like drug trafficking would have dared going to Abuja to meet an emperor like Abacha to release his goods. Such a person certainly wouldn't return to the comfort of his home. In that meeting, Peter Obi spoke so convincingly about measures to decongest the ports and surprisingly, the Head of State instantly made him the chairman of the committee. He never knew him before then.


But Obi did not lead the traders to Abacha because he was the most handsome. To be appointed to lead and speak on their behalf, his containers must have worth the most in money or at least close to that. And it wouldn't be a surprise.


While he supported and voted for the late Chief MKO Abiola in 1993, soon after the election he relocated to the United Kingdom with his family where he ran a decent successful business that received encouragement and support from credible finance institutions all over the World because of the integrity and reputation he put in it. Obi was not and is not a man to ever get involved in corrupt enrichment.


If he was such a Nigerian, he wouldn't have saved N75 billion as governor of Anambra State and handed over to his successor, when he had opportunities, like most of his counterparts all over the country, to have stolen all of them. So, claiming that he made his money from his brief stay as chairman of a committee set up by the head of state to decongest the Tin Can Island Port is not only absurd but also clearly shows the poor level of apprehension whoever was hired to write as Wilson Ijide possesses. 


PO did not win over 95% of the votes cast in Anambra State because he is from the state. He won so massively because the people tested him for eight good years and found him very sufficiently worthy. Majority of Nigerians voted for him because they studied his past and found a man of very appealing integrity, desirable honesty and admirable competence. All these attempts at distorting such facts with jumbo tales did not work before February 25 and certainly won't work now and even after.



 By POEM

Peter Obi

One Wilson Ijide, whose identity is lost with those who embark on similar hatchet campaigns to recklessly smear the integrity of a man whose only crime is daring the old order to evolve a new Nigeria for the benefit of her citizens and assured future of her teeming youths, came out with the exceedingly ridiculous write-up so referenced in this response. Ordinarily, such disjointed attempt of extreme display of hate and unprecedented falsehood deserve no response from POEM but we live in a vulnerable society where such glaring distortions sometimes gain traction.


The internationally acclaimed writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie would refer to the danger of such single story - a stereotype, untrue, incomplete and straight-jacket telling - as satisfying only the invectives of an unknown quantity. Besides this, 'Ijide's' lone race in distortions brings to fore the need to return the teaching of history to our schools, otherwise people like him, whether they actually exist or manipulated to have form, would ear-plug themselves, fly high and get lost on wild imaginative compositions without interrogation! But we are POEM, we keep the records straight for our nation's sake!


We will not attempt to correct the very wrong impression of half-truths and unimaginable propaganda by the writer, regarding Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, IBB and his stewardship as a former Nigerian leader, who though erred terribly in the annulment of June 12 but not entirely the monster the writer described by reference to Egypt's Gamal Abdar Nasser. IBB is sound in mind and spirit, and quite capable of responding if the retired general finds it worthy.


But to connect HE Peter Obi to some of the actions leading to that annulment is not a a matter we intend to step aside in any way. The writer's poor sense of fiction writing descended to the abyss with his illogical and ahistorical concoction that the Labour Party presidential candidate was acting behind the scenes as the deputy to Chief Arthur Nzeribe of the notorious group termed Association for Better Nigeria, ABN, another child of perfidy on the IBB/JUNE 12 imbroglio. Again, we see a single story in an attempt to clap with one hand. Now, to the real facts of June 12 impasse as history is not produced in a science laboratory.


In 1993 when IBB and a certain cabal were playing a ludo game with our nation, Peter Gregory Obi was not anywhere near the military, neither with any political contractor nor group, either for nor against IBB. He was not interested in politics and was minding his trading business, took residence outside the country in far away United Kingdom. This much fact was revealed by himself on tape on video in a public conference. We refer readers to this video clip to listen in: https://fb.watch/l9pnMmc-dZ/


POEM does not, in any way, give leanings to ethnic narratives but trying to box PO into that unwilling wall, we will clarify that the leader of the so-called ABN was Abimbola Davies from Chief MKO Abiola's ethnic divide. Arthur Nzeribe was only his deputy. So, even if clandestinely, did Nzeribe appear like one to share his deputy functions with Obi (who Nzeribe would consider a boy then)? Isn't it simply nauseating how some people could sit down, possibly in filthy room and manufacture a single story of vulgar nonsense?


The formation of NADECO was a baby of necessity that had some membership which the jaundiced writer sliced. Slicing that only provided the names of the Yorubas. A clear revelation to this writer's sole intent - to create ethnic loathing. How does one deal with a mind that has been corroded with ethnic jingoism? Present more facts definitely. 


NADECO wouldn't have been without the muscle provided by true Igbo indigenes in the likes of Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Sam Mbakwe, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Alhaji Abdulazeez Ude and so many others. Is this faceless writer not aware or is he conveniently forgetting the ordeal Olisa Agbakoba, SAN went through in the hands of late Gen Sani Abacha while fighting with everything in him to actualize June 12? Is it a hidden knowledge that the USA representative of NADECO and Executive Director is Lloyd Ukwu, an Igbo man who single-handedly provided all the funds and hosting abroad? Again, correcting the dangers of a single story! 


At this juncture, it must be emphasised that this nation should remain eternally grateful to Pa Ayo Adebanjo and Afenifere for painstakingly scrutinizing PO, finding him very worthy and firmly stood by him before, during and after February 25. That has been the greatest sacrifice by any pan-ethnic group to banishing the monstrous ethnic politics from our shores.


Typical of those who are afraid of strong illuminations emanating from Obi in our dark democracy firmament, the writer played their usual record devoid of grooves, a worn-out noise about Obi being a killer, a bomber and opportunist making his money through a reward from Abacha in being the "CEO of Tin Can Island Port, thus becoming the chairman of Fidelity Bank at the age of 35". Oh what a poor soul being housed by this writer!


It is time to listen attentively to the attached video. Abacha made PO the chairman of decongesting Tin Can Island Port the first time the late head of state set eyes on the young billionaire. Obi led a group of traders whose containers were seized. Notably, no one dealing in illegal business like drug trafficking would have dared going to Abuja to meet an emperor like Abacha to release his goods. Such a person certainly wouldn't return to the comfort of his home. In that meeting, Peter Obi spoke so convincingly about measures to decongest the ports and surprisingly, the Head of State instantly made him the chairman of the committee. He never knew him before then.


But Obi did not lead the traders to Abacha because he was the most handsome. To be appointed to lead and speak on their behalf, his containers must have worth the most in money or at least close to that. And it wouldn't be a surprise.


While he supported and voted for the late Chief MKO Abiola in 1993, soon after the election he relocated to the United Kingdom with his family where he ran a decent successful business that received encouragement and support from credible finance institutions all over the World because of the integrity and reputation he put in it. Obi was not and is not a man to ever get involved in corrupt enrichment.


If he was such a Nigerian, he wouldn't have saved N75 billion as governor of Anambra State and handed over to his successor, when he had opportunities, like most of his counterparts all over the country, to have stolen all of them. So, claiming that he made his money from his brief stay as chairman of a committee set up by the head of state to decongest the Tin Can Island Port is not only absurd but also clearly shows the poor level of apprehension whoever was hired to write as Wilson Ijide possesses. 


PO did not win over 95% of the votes cast in Anambra State because he is from the state. He won so massively because the people tested him for eight good years and found him very sufficiently worthy. Majority of Nigerians voted for him because they studied his past and found a man of very appealing integrity, desirable honesty and admirable competence. All these attempts at distorting such facts with jumbo tales did not work before February 25 and certainly won't work now and even after.



 By POEM

Subsidy: When vested interests take over, you cut off the head to cure headache!

Subsidy: When vested interests take over, you cut off the head to cure headache!

Profile picture

Why is the first task Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would perform is the removal of subsidy? A clear understanding of this and the correct answer will explain why everything was done to ensure that he became President, through hook or crook – willy-nilly. Much as he would want to claim, Tinubu became President, by the handiwork and instrumentality of vested interests.


He was clearly the worst out of the three main candidates that went for the election, by every indication. He was the one making all the gaffes, the one that could not maintain steady gait at rallies, the one with slurred speech, the one that was in and out of Nigeria for medical reasons. So, why would Nigerians choose him over Atiku Abubakar or Peter Obi?


Prior to the actual election, his handlers had pointed to his records in Lagos and how he transformed a known slum into a mega-city. But, the real story was told was told on the day of the presidential election, when Lagos spoke unequivocally – passing their verdict on what they really thought about the Father of Modern Lagos, as he was described.


It was that of total rejection, if not disgrace that he was denied the same state, he claimed to have transformed in the most unequivocal manner, not by outsiders or spin-doctors, but those who actually live in the state. In fact, outside the official result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which gave victory in the state by some marginal figures, it was said that Tinubu did not win the symbolic 25 per cent in the state.


What does that say about using Lagos to campaign? With the character of voting on February 25, Lagosians, countered the narrative of Tinubu building Lagos, which discountenanced the fact that for decades, if not centuries, Lagos, had remained the pride of Nigeria, for many reasons than the Tinubu miracle. Long before Tinubu ever dreamed of coming to the city, every Nigerian had wanted to come to Lagos. Those who did, showcased it as a bragging right to those elsewhere who did not have the privilege. It was more of the reasons the Egyptian would view Cairo, the Ghanaian, Accra and Kenyan, Narobi.


So, the campaign with Lagos fell flat on its face as it should on the basis of the truth about the residents knew about the real imprimatur its former Governor left in the state. Now, the other factor he could have relied on, the ruling government of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was no less unenvious and untoward. It was indeed a no-go area and therefore, did not help either. In fact, that angle was worse, if not the worst. The shambolic government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the sufferings it offered Nigerians were enough to close that road.


So, why did Tinubu become President, regardless? The answer is what you are seeing now. Vested interests! They are the ones he has come to serve and not Nigerians. It was this vested interest that ensured that the server for the presidential election was shut down immediately they saw the first signs of verdict of the people. It was this vested interest that ensured that INEC Chairman went back 360 degrees, against what he told Nigerians, days or even hours to the election. Come to think of it, it is this vested interest that made him blame technical glitches rather than personal failures for what happened on that day. And you can be sure that the same vested interests will ensure that he keeps sealed lips over what actually transpired for the rest of his life.


For those who have an inkling on how vested interests, either as a cabal, a syndicate or a mafia works, they also know that the goading of those who lost out in the election to go to court, is not because they so much as have the littlest trust in the justice system, but the fact that they believe that they have that angle covered as well. So, it is only a judicial personnel, who would dare the consequences, in some cases, even their lives or those of loved ones, that would be bold enough to stand up to them. Everywhere in the world, where vested interests are in charge, it is a function of carrot and stick. Once you get co-opted into the system, it is either you enjoy privileges reserved for the high and mighty – money, influence and power – or you suffer the most unimaginable pains.


Read the book of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to get a glimpse of what vested interests do to those who go against them. Why do you think that Humphrey Nwosu, the man who conducted the June 1993 presidential election, which the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, went to his grave with the true story of that exercise. Why do you think that even Ibrahim Babangida, the military President, who superintended the entire regime, has also maintained sealed lips?


So, when you see a government of Tinubu announce a 300 per cent increase in the pump price of fuel, know that he is not acting because he enjoys the suffering and death of millions of Nigerians. It is a question of “either or!” If not, ask yourself, why is the government not taking other options. In the first place, does Nigeria consume 680million litres of fuel a day? How possible? But that question is a no-go area. Nobody will ask it.


Now, the beginning and end of all the arguments on why Nigerians must pay with their lives for fuel, is because it is imported. The abiding question is, why must the product be imported? Who shut down the local refineries and refused them from working despite all the money that have gone into resuscitating them? That’s where the true answer lies. But nobody will attempt to go that route in looking for solution.


In fact, the so-called financial analyst you see on television strenuously labouring to give you expert explanation on why you must pay more for fuel, could be on the payroll of the same vested interests either knowingly or unknowingly. That is how much reach they have. They are everywhere. So, they are the ones that would be quick to tell you the cost of forex needed to import fuel. But the quick question you must ask them, is must Nigerians import fuel?


Even a village hunter, without any idea of economics knows that you don’t need foreign exchange to procure crude oil and refine same in Nigeria and that the moment the local refineries are put in order, the issue of forex, which is a major factor in the entire argument, would be over. In other words, refining locally is the solution to save Nigeria from suffering and death. But going that route is undermining the interest of those intent on making billions of dollars on the blood of Nigerians.


They have already started preparing your mind. They are now telling you ahead of the coming of the so-called Dangote Fuel, that you’re not going to get it any cheaper, because the man is going to sell at global market price. It is left to you to figure out the argument. Dangote would be supplied crude from Nigeria. How are you sure that the new price regime was not announced to preempt Nigerians waiting for Dangote, so that by the time he comes and sells at N450 per litre, he becomes both a hero and overtakes Elon Musk as the richest man in the world? But one thing is sure. This is just the beginning.


Be prepared...

Profile picture

Why is the first task Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would perform is the removal of subsidy? A clear understanding of this and the correct answer will explain why everything was done to ensure that he became President, through hook or crook – willy-nilly. Much as he would want to claim, Tinubu became President, by the handiwork and instrumentality of vested interests.


He was clearly the worst out of the three main candidates that went for the election, by every indication. He was the one making all the gaffes, the one that could not maintain steady gait at rallies, the one with slurred speech, the one that was in and out of Nigeria for medical reasons. So, why would Nigerians choose him over Atiku Abubakar or Peter Obi?


Prior to the actual election, his handlers had pointed to his records in Lagos and how he transformed a known slum into a mega-city. But, the real story was told was told on the day of the presidential election, when Lagos spoke unequivocally – passing their verdict on what they really thought about the Father of Modern Lagos, as he was described.


It was that of total rejection, if not disgrace that he was denied the same state, he claimed to have transformed in the most unequivocal manner, not by outsiders or spin-doctors, but those who actually live in the state. In fact, outside the official result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which gave victory in the state by some marginal figures, it was said that Tinubu did not win the symbolic 25 per cent in the state.


What does that say about using Lagos to campaign? With the character of voting on February 25, Lagosians, countered the narrative of Tinubu building Lagos, which discountenanced the fact that for decades, if not centuries, Lagos, had remained the pride of Nigeria, for many reasons than the Tinubu miracle. Long before Tinubu ever dreamed of coming to the city, every Nigerian had wanted to come to Lagos. Those who did, showcased it as a bragging right to those elsewhere who did not have the privilege. It was more of the reasons the Egyptian would view Cairo, the Ghanaian, Accra and Kenyan, Narobi.


So, the campaign with Lagos fell flat on its face as it should on the basis of the truth about the residents knew about the real imprimatur its former Governor left in the state. Now, the other factor he could have relied on, the ruling government of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was no less unenvious and untoward. It was indeed a no-go area and therefore, did not help either. In fact, that angle was worse, if not the worst. The shambolic government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the sufferings it offered Nigerians were enough to close that road.


So, why did Tinubu become President, regardless? The answer is what you are seeing now. Vested interests! They are the ones he has come to serve and not Nigerians. It was this vested interest that ensured that the server for the presidential election was shut down immediately they saw the first signs of verdict of the people. It was this vested interest that ensured that INEC Chairman went back 360 degrees, against what he told Nigerians, days or even hours to the election. Come to think of it, it is this vested interest that made him blame technical glitches rather than personal failures for what happened on that day. And you can be sure that the same vested interests will ensure that he keeps sealed lips over what actually transpired for the rest of his life.


For those who have an inkling on how vested interests, either as a cabal, a syndicate or a mafia works, they also know that the goading of those who lost out in the election to go to court, is not because they so much as have the littlest trust in the justice system, but the fact that they believe that they have that angle covered as well. So, it is only a judicial personnel, who would dare the consequences, in some cases, even their lives or those of loved ones, that would be bold enough to stand up to them. Everywhere in the world, where vested interests are in charge, it is a function of carrot and stick. Once you get co-opted into the system, it is either you enjoy privileges reserved for the high and mighty – money, influence and power – or you suffer the most unimaginable pains.


Read the book of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to get a glimpse of what vested interests do to those who go against them. Why do you think that Humphrey Nwosu, the man who conducted the June 1993 presidential election, which the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, went to his grave with the true story of that exercise. Why do you think that even Ibrahim Babangida, the military President, who superintended the entire regime, has also maintained sealed lips?


So, when you see a government of Tinubu announce a 300 per cent increase in the pump price of fuel, know that he is not acting because he enjoys the suffering and death of millions of Nigerians. It is a question of “either or!” If not, ask yourself, why is the government not taking other options. In the first place, does Nigeria consume 680million litres of fuel a day? How possible? But that question is a no-go area. Nobody will ask it.


Now, the beginning and end of all the arguments on why Nigerians must pay with their lives for fuel, is because it is imported. The abiding question is, why must the product be imported? Who shut down the local refineries and refused them from working despite all the money that have gone into resuscitating them? That’s where the true answer lies. But nobody will attempt to go that route in looking for solution.


In fact, the so-called financial analyst you see on television strenuously labouring to give you expert explanation on why you must pay more for fuel, could be on the payroll of the same vested interests either knowingly or unknowingly. That is how much reach they have. They are everywhere. So, they are the ones that would be quick to tell you the cost of forex needed to import fuel. But the quick question you must ask them, is must Nigerians import fuel?


Even a village hunter, without any idea of economics knows that you don’t need foreign exchange to procure crude oil and refine same in Nigeria and that the moment the local refineries are put in order, the issue of forex, which is a major factor in the entire argument, would be over. In other words, refining locally is the solution to save Nigeria from suffering and death. But going that route is undermining the interest of those intent on making billions of dollars on the blood of Nigerians.


They have already started preparing your mind. They are now telling you ahead of the coming of the so-called Dangote Fuel, that you’re not going to get it any cheaper, because the man is going to sell at global market price. It is left to you to figure out the argument. Dangote would be supplied crude from Nigeria. How are you sure that the new price regime was not announced to preempt Nigerians waiting for Dangote, so that by the time he comes and sells at N450 per litre, he becomes both a hero and overtakes Elon Musk as the richest man in the world? But one thing is sure. This is just the beginning.


Be prepared...

10TH Senate Leadership: My Appeal To PDP Senators

10TH Senate Leadership: My Appeal To PDP Senators

By Bolaji O. Akinyemi. 



Since the beginning of this Republic in 1999, the preference for People's Democratic Party by the people of South Eastern Nigeria has been proven time and time again!


 Their rejection of APC's Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 was almost total which invented the 95% 5% political formula. It denied the Region of Senate Presidency because the region practically had no representation in 8th Senate. If not for bigandry of power, 2019 would have followed the pattern of 2015!


Opposition is the grace that beautifies democracy. Its dynamism saw APC to power. No one can take it away from APC. They provided the most informed opposition laced with media propaganda to push PDP out of power!


 Reflecting on the Attempt by PDP led administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to remove petroleum subsidies and how the then National Leader of ACN and Now President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu provided inspirational leadership to tackle PDP on its betrayal of people's contract from which PDP never recovered, is of essence to all PDP Senators to guarantee the survival of Nigeria as one, united country and at finding the way forward for their party to come back to power in the future!


Successful removal of subsidy practically on the first day of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in office shows the impotence of opposition politics in Nigeria presently. 


The docility of PDP as the leading opposition party since the advent of APC to power in 2015 is very disturbing! In fact, some political pundits are of the opinion that the PDP is too elitist to play the role of opposition while some APC top brass believe the most opposition recently have come from the so called Obidients. 


 Some other individuals have provided better opposition to APC administration than PDP as a political party! 


 This doesn't augur well for the development of democracy and its institutions. PDP therefore owe it a duty to democracy; having the leading number of opposition Senators, a trust the electorate has conferred on them to hold sacred this responsibility. Will they let it slip to LP or get on the game to provide opposition; galvanise LP, APGA, NNPP and others in the Senate for the sake of protecting Democracy!


Inevitably, positioning for proactive and pragmatic opposition is more importantly for all PDP Senators now and they should make that their primary responsibility! 


PDP Senators should put in context the solo effort of BAT in the regionalized pump price of PMS against what is available in OPEC nations. 


Making a case for this administration as far as subsidy is concerned is double speaking and no man of conscience should have a part in that.


This subsidy removal is a remote assurance of a successful tenure. To hail any successful outcome of this Government at the end of 4 years with the luxury of subsidy removal allowed her which was denied others will be unfair. Let this be on record.


The future of PDP as a party hangs in the balance, the side to which this will tilt is entirely up to PDP Members in the National Assembly, they either trade their personal aggrandizement for the future of their party, or eat up their political careers through blind pursuit of avarice.


My interpretation of the body language of the judiciary through the ongoing election petition suggests a judiciary system functioning from a bat right side pocket.


 Letting BAT have his way at putting the NASS in his left pocket through interfering in the politics of who and who emerges as their leaders will prove to be a costly mistake if ever allowed to happen!


Sentiments are snares in politics, but could be an effective ace at pushing odds through, in any political engagement if employed by strategy.


I stand to be corrected, it appears to me that the new Government is already showing signs of authoritarianism which if not checked will end our democratic experience in a one party system or end it finally.


It will be a disservice to Nigerians and to democracy if the Government is allowed to successfully edge us towards the path of a failed democracy.


The choice of Akpabio by BAT is hinged on the contract that saw him step down for BAT. 


While it is okay for BAT to reward Akpabio, should it be with a decision that is exclusively the right of 108 members of the Senate to make?


It is quite considerate for APC to zone the Senate Presidency to the South East or South South, but micro Zoning it Akpabio is nothing other than exhibiting impunity of power over the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and taking every single Senator elected by the people for granted!


My trip to Umuahia to witness the inauguration of Dr Alex Otti as the Executive Governor of Abia state brought me face to face with the reality of the need to immediately and deliberately integrate the region into national structure of Government in the interest of giving the people of South East the opportunity to see prospects in one, big and united Nigeria. 


I cared less where goes the Senate Presidency provided it's not tied to the apron of BAT led presidency, but not after my historical trip to Umuahia. The vortex of political conflagration in the region is capable of destroying our dream of one united Nigeria. 


I will write of my experience in an article to be titled, "Biafra; a Republic within Republic", but for now, let me present to the PDP Senators the urgent need to reassure that region and suck them in. The military occupation of the South East is embarrassing to the spirit of democracy, which abhors a police state, not to speak about militarization of social and public space.


The event of Otti's inauguration was a flicker of hope to democracy. My road trip from Lagos to Umuahia was like travelling through a region at war to see the enthronment of democracy. The crowd at the stadium was unprecedented. All gates to the stadium were shut few hours into the programme to prevent the sea of heads on all the streets leading to the stadium, from gaining access, which of course could cause a stampede.


 The crowd were however content with being around the venue and remained on the streets till the event was over! A big endorsement for the people's Government and their Governor. No doubt, Otti is who they voted for. And what they ordered, Democracy delivered!


Amazing however was waking up to the intimidation of the celebration of Biafra Day on Tuesday 30th of May. I was to leave Umuahia that day with my wife but couldn't because banks were closed and we were advised not to leave Umuahia for Owerri as we have to pass through Mbaise which is among pockets of communities in the South East hosting the minority IPOB sympathizers against the wishes of the majority for democratic participation in a one big and greater nation proven by what we witnessed at Otti's inauguration!


May I appeal to Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the 10th Assembly to put their country Nigeria first, and consider South East for Senate Presidency. This may be needed activation of a suck in process of the Republic within a Republic.

By Bolaji O. Akinyemi. 



Since the beginning of this Republic in 1999, the preference for People's Democratic Party by the people of South Eastern Nigeria has been proven time and time again!


 Their rejection of APC's Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 was almost total which invented the 95% 5% political formula. It denied the Region of Senate Presidency because the region practically had no representation in 8th Senate. If not for bigandry of power, 2019 would have followed the pattern of 2015!


Opposition is the grace that beautifies democracy. Its dynamism saw APC to power. No one can take it away from APC. They provided the most informed opposition laced with media propaganda to push PDP out of power!


 Reflecting on the Attempt by PDP led administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to remove petroleum subsidies and how the then National Leader of ACN and Now President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu provided inspirational leadership to tackle PDP on its betrayal of people's contract from which PDP never recovered, is of essence to all PDP Senators to guarantee the survival of Nigeria as one, united country and at finding the way forward for their party to come back to power in the future!


Successful removal of subsidy practically on the first day of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in office shows the impotence of opposition politics in Nigeria presently. 


The docility of PDP as the leading opposition party since the advent of APC to power in 2015 is very disturbing! In fact, some political pundits are of the opinion that the PDP is too elitist to play the role of opposition while some APC top brass believe the most opposition recently have come from the so called Obidients. 


 Some other individuals have provided better opposition to APC administration than PDP as a political party! 


 This doesn't augur well for the development of democracy and its institutions. PDP therefore owe it a duty to democracy; having the leading number of opposition Senators, a trust the electorate has conferred on them to hold sacred this responsibility. Will they let it slip to LP or get on the game to provide opposition; galvanise LP, APGA, NNPP and others in the Senate for the sake of protecting Democracy!


Inevitably, positioning for proactive and pragmatic opposition is more importantly for all PDP Senators now and they should make that their primary responsibility! 


PDP Senators should put in context the solo effort of BAT in the regionalized pump price of PMS against what is available in OPEC nations. 


Making a case for this administration as far as subsidy is concerned is double speaking and no man of conscience should have a part in that.


This subsidy removal is a remote assurance of a successful tenure. To hail any successful outcome of this Government at the end of 4 years with the luxury of subsidy removal allowed her which was denied others will be unfair. Let this be on record.


The future of PDP as a party hangs in the balance, the side to which this will tilt is entirely up to PDP Members in the National Assembly, they either trade their personal aggrandizement for the future of their party, or eat up their political careers through blind pursuit of avarice.


My interpretation of the body language of the judiciary through the ongoing election petition suggests a judiciary system functioning from a bat right side pocket.


 Letting BAT have his way at putting the NASS in his left pocket through interfering in the politics of who and who emerges as their leaders will prove to be a costly mistake if ever allowed to happen!


Sentiments are snares in politics, but could be an effective ace at pushing odds through, in any political engagement if employed by strategy.


I stand to be corrected, it appears to me that the new Government is already showing signs of authoritarianism which if not checked will end our democratic experience in a one party system or end it finally.


It will be a disservice to Nigerians and to democracy if the Government is allowed to successfully edge us towards the path of a failed democracy.


The choice of Akpabio by BAT is hinged on the contract that saw him step down for BAT. 


While it is okay for BAT to reward Akpabio, should it be with a decision that is exclusively the right of 108 members of the Senate to make?


It is quite considerate for APC to zone the Senate Presidency to the South East or South South, but micro Zoning it Akpabio is nothing other than exhibiting impunity of power over the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and taking every single Senator elected by the people for granted!


My trip to Umuahia to witness the inauguration of Dr Alex Otti as the Executive Governor of Abia state brought me face to face with the reality of the need to immediately and deliberately integrate the region into national structure of Government in the interest of giving the people of South East the opportunity to see prospects in one, big and united Nigeria. 


I cared less where goes the Senate Presidency provided it's not tied to the apron of BAT led presidency, but not after my historical trip to Umuahia. The vortex of political conflagration in the region is capable of destroying our dream of one united Nigeria. 


I will write of my experience in an article to be titled, "Biafra; a Republic within Republic", but for now, let me present to the PDP Senators the urgent need to reassure that region and suck them in. The military occupation of the South East is embarrassing to the spirit of democracy, which abhors a police state, not to speak about militarization of social and public space.


The event of Otti's inauguration was a flicker of hope to democracy. My road trip from Lagos to Umuahia was like travelling through a region at war to see the enthronment of democracy. The crowd at the stadium was unprecedented. All gates to the stadium were shut few hours into the programme to prevent the sea of heads on all the streets leading to the stadium, from gaining access, which of course could cause a stampede.


 The crowd were however content with being around the venue and remained on the streets till the event was over! A big endorsement for the people's Government and their Governor. No doubt, Otti is who they voted for. And what they ordered, Democracy delivered!


Amazing however was waking up to the intimidation of the celebration of Biafra Day on Tuesday 30th of May. I was to leave Umuahia that day with my wife but couldn't because banks were closed and we were advised not to leave Umuahia for Owerri as we have to pass through Mbaise which is among pockets of communities in the South East hosting the minority IPOB sympathizers against the wishes of the majority for democratic participation in a one big and greater nation proven by what we witnessed at Otti's inauguration!


May I appeal to Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the 10th Assembly to put their country Nigeria first, and consider South East for Senate Presidency. This may be needed activation of a suck in process of the Republic within a Republic.

NIGERIA AIR: HOW SIRIKA RENTED AIRCRAFT FOR 'STATIC DISPLAY'

NIGERIA AIR: HOW SIRIKA RENTED AIRCRAFT FOR 'STATIC DISPLAY'

By Ismail Adebanjo


IN his desperation to remove shame of failure and convince his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari, that he succeeded, Minister of Aviation, Alhaji Hadi Sirika, made a last minute deal with Ethiopian Airlines, to repaint two of its aeroplanes for a STATIC DISPLAY in Nigeria on Friday May 26.





According to our findings, this was to justify his promise to deliver Nigeria Air before May 29.


To achieve the desperate plot, Sirika had to enter into a quick agreement with his associates in Ethiopia Airlines to rent two of the aircraft on their inventory to be used to convince Nigerians that he delivered.


According to our investigations, the two aircrafts were flown to Turkey were they were repianted and furnished in Nigeria's colours before they were sneaked into Nigeria for a static display which would hold at 4pm on May 26. They are due back in Addis Ababa after the static display. 


Already, Sirika's office had sent out invitations to government officials, emirs and stakeholders to grace the static display, which would hold in Abuja.


Investigations into Sirika's desperation to close the deal which had raised many questions, show that the Minister had wanted to armtwist the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to wave all registration processes and grant the airline a licence to operate in Nigeria despite not meeting regulatory requirements. 


However, the Authority, it was gathered, insisted on strict observation of the mandatory registration processes.


According to NCAA regulations, an applicant for an Airlines Operators Certificate (AOC) must show proof of ownership of at least three aircraft, which must also be registered in Nigeria.


The NCAA insistence on strict observation of the process, we gathered, irked Sirika because his rented aircraft do not meet the requirement.


According to regulatory sources, the two rented aircraft are registered in Ethiopia and not in Nigeria as required by law.


However, Sirika was said to have begged to be allowed to fly them into Nigeria for DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT before President Buhari and his incoming successor in order to clear the shame of failing to deliver.


Though NCAA turned down the request, Sirika deviced a new terminology unknown in the industry to insist that the aircraft would be used for STATIC DISPLAY only.


According to our sources, one other hurdle facing Sirika's Nigeria Air is that it is just at the second stage of its license acquisition process, which is manual submission.


Our source said Sirika wanted the processes waived in order to remove shame of failure on him and the government.


It was further gathered that insistence by NCAA on due process forced Sirika to attempt the sack of the NCAA Director General. However, his move failed because of new regulations in the NCAA Act, which legally mandated an action by the Senate and board of the agency before the DG could be sacked.


We further learnt that his desperation to force the hands of NCAA on the project got the ire of global aviation regulatory body, the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO), which warned Nigeria of dire consequences should the aviation regulation procedures be waived in favour of Nigeria Air.


Specifically. ICAO was said to have told Nigeria that it would be catastrophic for it to breach regulations for Sirika.


However, the leadership of other regulatory agencies, which were not protected by law like the NCAA, were not so lucky as Sirika fired them for insisting that due process must be observed in the creation of Nigeria Air.


Sirika's desperation has also raised questions about the actual owners of Nigeria Air. While the minister had said that Ethiopian owns 51 percent equity of the airline, industry experts are asking for full disclosure as to the value of the 51% equity.


They also want to know the share capital of the airline and have full disclosure on what other equity stakeholders contributed to it.


According to an industry operator "the minister's desperation clearly points to something shadowy. He should have put a lot things to rest by telling Nigerians who the equity stakeholders are and the monetsry value of their shareholding in the airline.


"He said that Nigeria owns only 5%. That means we are a minority shareholder. So, why are the majority shareholders not fighting for their investment to see the light of day? Or, did they just throw away the value of 51% equity shareholding? These are questions that Sirika has refused to ask which has made many Nigerians to believe, that the desperation he has shown so far, including disobeying valid court orders, are indications that this project may be his own personal slice of the cake".


Another aviation expert stated that Sirika may be moving fast to clean the shame that comes with failure in fraudulent schemes.


According to him, "the man is simply running about in a desperate show of shame and to deceitfully hoodwink President Buhari and make him feel that Nigeria Air has been achieved. It would also amount to deceiving the incoming government to believe that Nigeria Air was actually handed over to it. This is nothing else but fraud.


"The minister has been on this project for God-knows-how-long. He has waisted several billions on it without result. Now, he is in desperate chase for validation on a project that is not even on the table. Nothing else could be more fraudulent and I believe the government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu understands the game they bare up to".



By Ismail Adebanjo


IN his desperation to remove shame of failure and convince his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari, that he succeeded, Minister of Aviation, Alhaji Hadi Sirika, made a last minute deal with Ethiopian Airlines, to repaint two of its aeroplanes for a STATIC DISPLAY in Nigeria on Friday May 26.





According to our findings, this was to justify his promise to deliver Nigeria Air before May 29.


To achieve the desperate plot, Sirika had to enter into a quick agreement with his associates in Ethiopia Airlines to rent two of the aircraft on their inventory to be used to convince Nigerians that he delivered.


According to our investigations, the two aircrafts were flown to Turkey were they were repianted and furnished in Nigeria's colours before they were sneaked into Nigeria for a static display which would hold at 4pm on May 26. They are due back in Addis Ababa after the static display. 


Already, Sirika's office had sent out invitations to government officials, emirs and stakeholders to grace the static display, which would hold in Abuja.


Investigations into Sirika's desperation to close the deal which had raised many questions, show that the Minister had wanted to armtwist the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to wave all registration processes and grant the airline a licence to operate in Nigeria despite not meeting regulatory requirements. 


However, the Authority, it was gathered, insisted on strict observation of the mandatory registration processes.


According to NCAA regulations, an applicant for an Airlines Operators Certificate (AOC) must show proof of ownership of at least three aircraft, which must also be registered in Nigeria.


The NCAA insistence on strict observation of the process, we gathered, irked Sirika because his rented aircraft do not meet the requirement.


According to regulatory sources, the two rented aircraft are registered in Ethiopia and not in Nigeria as required by law.


However, Sirika was said to have begged to be allowed to fly them into Nigeria for DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT before President Buhari and his incoming successor in order to clear the shame of failing to deliver.


Though NCAA turned down the request, Sirika deviced a new terminology unknown in the industry to insist that the aircraft would be used for STATIC DISPLAY only.


According to our sources, one other hurdle facing Sirika's Nigeria Air is that it is just at the second stage of its license acquisition process, which is manual submission.


Our source said Sirika wanted the processes waived in order to remove shame of failure on him and the government.


It was further gathered that insistence by NCAA on due process forced Sirika to attempt the sack of the NCAA Director General. However, his move failed because of new regulations in the NCAA Act, which legally mandated an action by the Senate and board of the agency before the DG could be sacked.


We further learnt that his desperation to force the hands of NCAA on the project got the ire of global aviation regulatory body, the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO), which warned Nigeria of dire consequences should the aviation regulation procedures be waived in favour of Nigeria Air.


Specifically. ICAO was said to have told Nigeria that it would be catastrophic for it to breach regulations for Sirika.


However, the leadership of other regulatory agencies, which were not protected by law like the NCAA, were not so lucky as Sirika fired them for insisting that due process must be observed in the creation of Nigeria Air.


Sirika's desperation has also raised questions about the actual owners of Nigeria Air. While the minister had said that Ethiopian owns 51 percent equity of the airline, industry experts are asking for full disclosure as to the value of the 51% equity.


They also want to know the share capital of the airline and have full disclosure on what other equity stakeholders contributed to it.


According to an industry operator "the minister's desperation clearly points to something shadowy. He should have put a lot things to rest by telling Nigerians who the equity stakeholders are and the monetsry value of their shareholding in the airline.


"He said that Nigeria owns only 5%. That means we are a minority shareholder. So, why are the majority shareholders not fighting for their investment to see the light of day? Or, did they just throw away the value of 51% equity shareholding? These are questions that Sirika has refused to ask which has made many Nigerians to believe, that the desperation he has shown so far, including disobeying valid court orders, are indications that this project may be his own personal slice of the cake".


Another aviation expert stated that Sirika may be moving fast to clean the shame that comes with failure in fraudulent schemes.


According to him, "the man is simply running about in a desperate show of shame and to deceitfully hoodwink President Buhari and make him feel that Nigeria Air has been achieved. It would also amount to deceiving the incoming government to believe that Nigeria Air was actually handed over to it. This is nothing else but fraud.


"The minister has been on this project for God-knows-how-long. He has waisted several billions on it without result. Now, he is in desperate chase for validation on a project that is not even on the table. Nothing else could be more fraudulent and I believe the government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu understands the game they bare up to".



As Buhari Conducts Tinubu round the Villa....

As Buhari Conducts Tinubu round the Villa....


Festus Adedayo




Forget their pretensions and volte-faces, when outgoing Nigerian public officials wake up tomorrow, May 29, they will wake up into emptiness. That void cannot be filled by the wealth they acquired in office. Nor can it be impeached by Muhammadu Buhari’s reported haste to flee Aso Villa tomorrow. At the launch of a book on his administration at the presidential villa on Friday, the outgoing president had said: “I assure you, I have been counting the days; I am looking forward to Monday very desperately. I will use the weekend to sign some of the papers so that from Eagle Square, I will fly to Kaduna and eventually go to Daura”.


Buhari’s wife, Aisha, was to later rubbish his de-masculinity of Aso Rock. In its stead, she replaced it with a desire for the continuation of the flow of free money and power of government. At the launch of a book entitled ‘The Journey of a Military Wife’ on Friday, she asked for first ladies whose roles the constitution does not recognise to be given parity of office privileges with their spouses. Under Nigerian law, presidents and allied officials are given their salaries for life, their medical treatments, and that of their family members paid for by the state, with yearly procurement of vehicles and other benefits, among many others.


“They should consider us as former first ladies. They should incorporate the first ladies, give us some privileges that we deserve as first ladies,” she demanded. Aisha also further gave the issue a feminist re-reading, against the grain of the African masculinist cultural background which has ensured centuries of uneven devolution of powers. The system should not give these privileges “just to the former presidents,” she advised.


Of all life’s existential acquisitions – wealth, fame, women, money, power, and the lot – the most transient, most fleeting, and ephemeral of all is power. Power is the most un-enduring. Former presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, put it in its crudest, street lingo form when he said, eight years ago, that his phone stopped ringing immediately after he stepped out of power. Power is the fair-weather friend that will not be there for you in your time of loneliness. It perhaps was what the holy writ had in mind when it ascribed to life the fleetingness of vapour.


While all their acquisitions in office in the last four or eight years may still be there – cars, houses, money, and the lubricants of power, (forgive my sexism) – by now, power must be carrying away its last portmanteau from the apartment of the yesterday public office holder. Yoruba put this existential emptiness starkly when they refer to ex-power wielders as “eni ana” – yesterday’s men. It was from late governor Abiola Ajimobi – God rests his soul – that I first encountered the Yoruba proverbial capture of the evanescence nature of life. Yoruba capture it in their wise saying when they say that no one rushes to make way for he who once rode a horse – “a kii yago f’elesin ana“.


One of the reasons for the emptiness that these public officials will begin to encounter from tomorrow stems from the monarchical nature of Nigeria’s presidential democracy. Officials of western democracies where our system of government was inherited would find it easier to confront this emptiness of power and office. This is because, with them, the office carries less indiscriminate wielding of power.


Here in Nigeria, we are driven by the Kabiyesi syndrome perception of power. The public official is the unquestionable titular, second-in-command only to the gods. This is why, for these Nigerian officeholders, the transition tomorrow from power to the streets is capable of making one miserable. It can be likened to the deposition of a king, a man who was once the Kabiyesi – the unquestionable.


Tomorrow, the baton of power will change. History has been unusually kind to Buhari. Like Olusegun Obasanjo, he has had the opportunity of being the Nigerian head of state twice, both as a military and civilian leader. He could have been killed in 1983 the same way his fellow coup plotter, Ibrahim Ahmed Bako, had his life snuffed out of him in the process of staging the coup. In their bid to dispossess Shehu Shagari of presidential power, Bako had been detailed to Shagari’s presidential residence. Wearing civilian attire, Bako had come to Shagari’s residence in the company of an armed detachment. As the fire raged between his troops and the Brigade of Guards soldiers commanded by Captain Augustine Anyogo, Bako got shot dead as he sat in the passenger side of a Unimob utility truck. Buhari survived to rule Nigeria.


Again, through what many called the uncanny but misplaced generosity of providence, Buhari administered Nigeria for yet another eight years. Though he had recently engaged in a last-minute attempt to rewrite his own history, the general impression is that he was a failure. The BBC said Buhari, “the last of a generation of British-trained military men who went on to govern the country” would be “leaving Nigerians less secure, poorer, and more in debt than when he came to office in 2015″.


That same last Friday, Buhari took the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, around the presidential palace on a familiarisation tour. This is the place that will be Tinubu’s abode of power in the next four years, all things being equal. His wife, Remi, also went her own round, cosseted by Aisha. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had earlier conducted Kashim Shettima around the VP wing of the State House.


Thereafter, Tinubu made many promises to Nigerians, praying to God for good health to be able to deliver. He also promised to fight corruption. However, I think that the greatest task we must put on Tinubu’s shoulders is the task of restoring Nigeria to a country where the guilty get their deserved comeuppance, no matter how highly placed, while the just get their deserved dividends. He must return Nigeria to that critical stanza of the Nigerian national anthem which says that Nigeria’s goal is “to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign”.


Those two variables – peace and justice – are not mutually exclusive. They are co-joined like a Siamese. To seek peace where there is no justice is inequity. Both go simultaneously. Jamaican reggae icon, Peter Tosh, put it succinctly when he sang, in his Jamaican patois, that “everyone is crying now for peace, none is crying now for justice; I don’t want no peace, I need equal rights and justice”. Once Nigeria arrives at that critical juncture where there is equal rights and justice, all other social indices will begin to fall in place. Nigeria fell on the social ladder because injustice grows lusciously daily in the land like ferns in a plantation.


Before now, the system gave the right measurement to both the high and the lowly. The judicial scale of judgment did not discriminate between the high, mighty, and the peasant, the lowly. I will cite four instances in history, two pre-colonial and two post-colonial, which indicated that Nigeria was once a country where justice reigned.


Two depositions of highly rated Yoruba Obas during the pre-colonial era come first. They are followed by the execution of a Yoruba Oba and the fourth, a top-rate elite in the Nigerian society who was hanged for murder. Obas constituted the highest echelon of the Yoruba society of the time. These depositions rarely talked about in history were that of Ijebu Obas, Akarigbo Oyebajo (1891-1915) and Awujale Adenuga (1925-1929). Oyebajo had become Oba in his mid-20s in 1891. Akarigbo Oyebajo apparently basked in his belief in the permanence of his position as an Oba and the power of his cordial relationship with Governor Gilbert Thomas Carter and his successor, McCallum, Sir Henry Edward.


This apparently led to the Akarigbo being appointed in February 1902 as a member of the central native council. Oyebajo was thus prompted to become high-handed, especially in his relationship with his chiefs. The result was widespread dissension from them. He began to monopolise the accruing stipends that came to him from the colonial government and refused to share them with these chiefs which custom required him to so do. The chiefs, in 1911, then got him tried in court for extortion and larceny. His situation was worsened by the fact that the district commissioner, H. F. Duncombe, could not stand him and in spite of Horatio Jackson, editor and publisher of the tabloid Lagos Weekly Record’s plea on his behalf to the colonial office, the Akarigbo was subsequently deported to Calabar and died on July 11, 1932.


Adenuga, 33 years old when he was appointed Awujale, from the word go, showed immense immaturity in superintending over the enormous judicial, executive, and legislative powers he wielded as Oba. He began to abuse them from day one of his kingship. A few months into his being in office, the colonial government reprimanded him for extorting forestry fees from his subjects, and in 1928, he got two other reprimands for grafts, one of which was collecting bribes in February of the year to favour ascension to the Onipe of Ibu stool. In March of same 1928, he was implicated in attempting to cover up a case of homicide. In the October of the same year, he was alleged to have attempted to rid the town of Joseph Igu, also widely known as Frugality, an anti-corruption crusader who was a pain in the neck of maladministration.


Inundated with complaints of the Akarigbo’s excesses, the colonial government instituted a judicial commission of enquiry with a charge to assess the Ijebu native administration, vis a vis the Akarigbo’s style of governance. In the report submitted on January 18, 1929, Adenuga was found guilty of corruption and deposed to Ilorin. In 1934, he was tried alongside a Yesufu Idimota and ten others, for the attempted assassination of his successor Akarigbo. Adenuga was then imprisoned in Abeokuta and went through the indignity of being manacled in public and publicly carrying latrine buckets from his cell corridor to the main latrine. He was however acquitted by the West African Court of Appeal on May 27, 1935, and at the age of 58, he died miserably.


The third case had to do with the first Yoruba Oba to face public execution. It occurred in the current Ekiti state in 1949. This was the 43rd Alaaye of Efon-Alaaye, Kabiyesi Oba Samuel Adeniran, the Asusumasa Atewogboye II. He, his herbalist, a servant, and another named Gabriel Olabirinjo, after the end of their trial for murder, were all hanged by the colonial state, having been found to have murdered a 15-month-old baby girl by the name Adediwura. On January 10, 1949, the baby, who was hitherto seen playing in her father’s compound, suddenly disappeared. Oba Adediran was promptly informed and he publicly pretended to have joined in the baby’s search. The prosecution later found out that after young Adediwura’s kidnap by Oba Adeniran’s herbalist, she was brought to the Alaaye’s palace where she was butchered, right in the Oba’s presence. He then swore all the dramatis personae in this killing to an oath of secrecy. That same police from whose body wriggles out maggots today, in 1949, swung into action upon the matter being incidented. Three suspects, Enoch Falayi – the herbalist, Gabriel Olabirinjo, and Daniel Ojo, were promptly arrested. One of them eventually spilled the beans, incriminating Oba Adeniran.


The trial judge, Justice NS Pollard, then delivered his judgment: “With the acceptance of that statement as evidence of tacit admission of the facts therein, there is not only ample corroboration of the evidence…it goes further and is evidence of admission of facts from which no other conclusion is possible than that the appellant counseled and procured the murder of this child and was rightly found guilty thereof.” With this final pronouncement, Oba Adeniran, Asusumasa, the palace herbalist, one of Kabiyesi’s servants and a Gabriel Olabirinjo, were eventually hanged by the neck “until you be dead”.


The last case is the notorious and infamous case of Ibadan-born land baron, Jimoh Ishola, a.k.a. Ejigbadero. Ejigbadero was a mascot in the Papa Ajao, Mushin, Agege, and Alimosho areas of Lagos during his notorious reign. Ejigbadero was also the chief executive of Jimsol Nigeria Limited, a company that specialized in nail manufacturing on Matori Road, Mushin in the 70s. More importantly, he was a land baron of note who was dreaded for his shrewd disposition towards lands. He had sold land to a man simply known as Raji Oba in Alimosho and wanted to retrieve it from him.


Thus, on August 22, 1975, which incidentally was his child’s naming day, Ejigbadero, an illiterate, perfected the plan to dispossess Oba of the land. He had a bandstand readied at the front of his house and a huge crowd, which had come to celebrate with him. He came out resplendently dressed and sprayed a huge wad of naira notes on the face of the musician, enough to arrest the crowd. Amid hails, Ejigbadero retreated into his house, changed into a French Safari suit, a gun tucked in his pocket, and hopped inside his Peugeot 504 saloon car. Through the back entrance, he and six of his thugs sped to Alimosho where he confronted Oba and shot him point blank in the head.


Ejigbadero came back home, changed into his resplendent dress, and sprayed noticeable cash again. Unfortunately for him, however, the deceased’s wife, Sabitiu recognised him from where she was hiding. He was subsequently arrested by the police and slammed with a two-count charge of murder.


Ejigbadero’s alibi was that he never left the party which dragged on from 6.30 pm till the wee hours of the morning of August 23, 1975. From the high court judgment of guilt and hanging by the neck which was pronounced on him by Justice Ishola Oluwa, his appeal, presided over by Justices Mamman Nasir, Adetunji Ogunkeye, and Ijeoma Aseme, down to the Supreme Court where Justices Darnley Alexander, Atanda Fatayi-Williams, Ayo Irikefe, Mohammed Bello and Chukwunweike Idigbe held fort, on October 22, 1978, Ejigbadero was found guilty and sentenced to death. One funny drama at the Supreme Court was that, as Justice Idigbe pronounced the lead judgment, being illiterate, Ejigbadero kept asking his lawyer, in conk Ibadan dialect, “Sowemimo, emi ni won so?” (Sowemimo, what did the judge say?)


Ejigbadero was connected in the social and political circuit of Nigeria at the time, even being friends with the high and mighty in the decision-making cadre of Nigeria. Musicians struggled to sing his praises. One of them sang that as inscrutable as it was to find out the source of water inside the pod of coconut, so was it unfathomable to locate Ejigbadero’s wealth. Yet, the system gave him his right comeuppance. In fact, the Obasanjo government quickly ensured that he was executed before the October 1, 1979 handover to civilians, nursing the fear that with Ejigbadero’s links, he might secure an undeserved pardon.


Gradually, justice began to die in Nigeria. Today, the Nigerian landscape is littered with the blood of the righteous and the gloat of the powerful. With it came the death of shame and the ascendancy of shamelessness. Not long ago, the children of Ejigbadero remembered their executed father in a lavish ceremony that spoke to this level of societal shamelessness. Soon, the children of one of the most notorious and infamous armed robbers in Nigeria, Ishola Oyenusi will troupe out to celebrate his own passing too. It is a reflection of the societal loss of shame. Oyenusi, popularly known as Dr. Ishola, hailed from Araromi in the Okitipupa area of Ondo state. Renowned for carjacking, bank holdups, and heists, Oyenusi, on September 8, 1971, with six other members of his gang, were executed.


Going by logic and antecedents, it will be difficult for Tinubu to properly situate the scale of justice in Nigeria. His IOUs will predictably tilt towards those same principalities and powers for whom injustice is a core condiment in their broth. I pray however that he pleasantly shocks cynics like me. If he does, hope will begin to build in the Nigerian people, as Maya Angelou wrote in her poem, Still I Rise, “With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high”.





Culled from the Cable


Festus Adedayo




Forget their pretensions and volte-faces, when outgoing Nigerian public officials wake up tomorrow, May 29, they will wake up into emptiness. That void cannot be filled by the wealth they acquired in office. Nor can it be impeached by Muhammadu Buhari’s reported haste to flee Aso Villa tomorrow. At the launch of a book on his administration at the presidential villa on Friday, the outgoing president had said: “I assure you, I have been counting the days; I am looking forward to Monday very desperately. I will use the weekend to sign some of the papers so that from Eagle Square, I will fly to Kaduna and eventually go to Daura”.


Buhari’s wife, Aisha, was to later rubbish his de-masculinity of Aso Rock. In its stead, she replaced it with a desire for the continuation of the flow of free money and power of government. At the launch of a book entitled ‘The Journey of a Military Wife’ on Friday, she asked for first ladies whose roles the constitution does not recognise to be given parity of office privileges with their spouses. Under Nigerian law, presidents and allied officials are given their salaries for life, their medical treatments, and that of their family members paid for by the state, with yearly procurement of vehicles and other benefits, among many others.


“They should consider us as former first ladies. They should incorporate the first ladies, give us some privileges that we deserve as first ladies,” she demanded. Aisha also further gave the issue a feminist re-reading, against the grain of the African masculinist cultural background which has ensured centuries of uneven devolution of powers. The system should not give these privileges “just to the former presidents,” she advised.


Of all life’s existential acquisitions – wealth, fame, women, money, power, and the lot – the most transient, most fleeting, and ephemeral of all is power. Power is the most un-enduring. Former presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, put it in its crudest, street lingo form when he said, eight years ago, that his phone stopped ringing immediately after he stepped out of power. Power is the fair-weather friend that will not be there for you in your time of loneliness. It perhaps was what the holy writ had in mind when it ascribed to life the fleetingness of vapour.


While all their acquisitions in office in the last four or eight years may still be there – cars, houses, money, and the lubricants of power, (forgive my sexism) – by now, power must be carrying away its last portmanteau from the apartment of the yesterday public office holder. Yoruba put this existential emptiness starkly when they refer to ex-power wielders as “eni ana” – yesterday’s men. It was from late governor Abiola Ajimobi – God rests his soul – that I first encountered the Yoruba proverbial capture of the evanescence nature of life. Yoruba capture it in their wise saying when they say that no one rushes to make way for he who once rode a horse – “a kii yago f’elesin ana“.


One of the reasons for the emptiness that these public officials will begin to encounter from tomorrow stems from the monarchical nature of Nigeria’s presidential democracy. Officials of western democracies where our system of government was inherited would find it easier to confront this emptiness of power and office. This is because, with them, the office carries less indiscriminate wielding of power.


Here in Nigeria, we are driven by the Kabiyesi syndrome perception of power. The public official is the unquestionable titular, second-in-command only to the gods. This is why, for these Nigerian officeholders, the transition tomorrow from power to the streets is capable of making one miserable. It can be likened to the deposition of a king, a man who was once the Kabiyesi – the unquestionable.


Tomorrow, the baton of power will change. History has been unusually kind to Buhari. Like Olusegun Obasanjo, he has had the opportunity of being the Nigerian head of state twice, both as a military and civilian leader. He could have been killed in 1983 the same way his fellow coup plotter, Ibrahim Ahmed Bako, had his life snuffed out of him in the process of staging the coup. In their bid to dispossess Shehu Shagari of presidential power, Bako had been detailed to Shagari’s presidential residence. Wearing civilian attire, Bako had come to Shagari’s residence in the company of an armed detachment. As the fire raged between his troops and the Brigade of Guards soldiers commanded by Captain Augustine Anyogo, Bako got shot dead as he sat in the passenger side of a Unimob utility truck. Buhari survived to rule Nigeria.


Again, through what many called the uncanny but misplaced generosity of providence, Buhari administered Nigeria for yet another eight years. Though he had recently engaged in a last-minute attempt to rewrite his own history, the general impression is that he was a failure. The BBC said Buhari, “the last of a generation of British-trained military men who went on to govern the country” would be “leaving Nigerians less secure, poorer, and more in debt than when he came to office in 2015″.


That same last Friday, Buhari took the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, around the presidential palace on a familiarisation tour. This is the place that will be Tinubu’s abode of power in the next four years, all things being equal. His wife, Remi, also went her own round, cosseted by Aisha. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had earlier conducted Kashim Shettima around the VP wing of the State House.


Thereafter, Tinubu made many promises to Nigerians, praying to God for good health to be able to deliver. He also promised to fight corruption. However, I think that the greatest task we must put on Tinubu’s shoulders is the task of restoring Nigeria to a country where the guilty get their deserved comeuppance, no matter how highly placed, while the just get their deserved dividends. He must return Nigeria to that critical stanza of the Nigerian national anthem which says that Nigeria’s goal is “to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign”.


Those two variables – peace and justice – are not mutually exclusive. They are co-joined like a Siamese. To seek peace where there is no justice is inequity. Both go simultaneously. Jamaican reggae icon, Peter Tosh, put it succinctly when he sang, in his Jamaican patois, that “everyone is crying now for peace, none is crying now for justice; I don’t want no peace, I need equal rights and justice”. Once Nigeria arrives at that critical juncture where there is equal rights and justice, all other social indices will begin to fall in place. Nigeria fell on the social ladder because injustice grows lusciously daily in the land like ferns in a plantation.


Before now, the system gave the right measurement to both the high and the lowly. The judicial scale of judgment did not discriminate between the high, mighty, and the peasant, the lowly. I will cite four instances in history, two pre-colonial and two post-colonial, which indicated that Nigeria was once a country where justice reigned.


Two depositions of highly rated Yoruba Obas during the pre-colonial era come first. They are followed by the execution of a Yoruba Oba and the fourth, a top-rate elite in the Nigerian society who was hanged for murder. Obas constituted the highest echelon of the Yoruba society of the time. These depositions rarely talked about in history were that of Ijebu Obas, Akarigbo Oyebajo (1891-1915) and Awujale Adenuga (1925-1929). Oyebajo had become Oba in his mid-20s in 1891. Akarigbo Oyebajo apparently basked in his belief in the permanence of his position as an Oba and the power of his cordial relationship with Governor Gilbert Thomas Carter and his successor, McCallum, Sir Henry Edward.


This apparently led to the Akarigbo being appointed in February 1902 as a member of the central native council. Oyebajo was thus prompted to become high-handed, especially in his relationship with his chiefs. The result was widespread dissension from them. He began to monopolise the accruing stipends that came to him from the colonial government and refused to share them with these chiefs which custom required him to so do. The chiefs, in 1911, then got him tried in court for extortion and larceny. His situation was worsened by the fact that the district commissioner, H. F. Duncombe, could not stand him and in spite of Horatio Jackson, editor and publisher of the tabloid Lagos Weekly Record’s plea on his behalf to the colonial office, the Akarigbo was subsequently deported to Calabar and died on July 11, 1932.


Adenuga, 33 years old when he was appointed Awujale, from the word go, showed immense immaturity in superintending over the enormous judicial, executive, and legislative powers he wielded as Oba. He began to abuse them from day one of his kingship. A few months into his being in office, the colonial government reprimanded him for extorting forestry fees from his subjects, and in 1928, he got two other reprimands for grafts, one of which was collecting bribes in February of the year to favour ascension to the Onipe of Ibu stool. In March of same 1928, he was implicated in attempting to cover up a case of homicide. In the October of the same year, he was alleged to have attempted to rid the town of Joseph Igu, also widely known as Frugality, an anti-corruption crusader who was a pain in the neck of maladministration.


Inundated with complaints of the Akarigbo’s excesses, the colonial government instituted a judicial commission of enquiry with a charge to assess the Ijebu native administration, vis a vis the Akarigbo’s style of governance. In the report submitted on January 18, 1929, Adenuga was found guilty of corruption and deposed to Ilorin. In 1934, he was tried alongside a Yesufu Idimota and ten others, for the attempted assassination of his successor Akarigbo. Adenuga was then imprisoned in Abeokuta and went through the indignity of being manacled in public and publicly carrying latrine buckets from his cell corridor to the main latrine. He was however acquitted by the West African Court of Appeal on May 27, 1935, and at the age of 58, he died miserably.


The third case had to do with the first Yoruba Oba to face public execution. It occurred in the current Ekiti state in 1949. This was the 43rd Alaaye of Efon-Alaaye, Kabiyesi Oba Samuel Adeniran, the Asusumasa Atewogboye II. He, his herbalist, a servant, and another named Gabriel Olabirinjo, after the end of their trial for murder, were all hanged by the colonial state, having been found to have murdered a 15-month-old baby girl by the name Adediwura. On January 10, 1949, the baby, who was hitherto seen playing in her father’s compound, suddenly disappeared. Oba Adediran was promptly informed and he publicly pretended to have joined in the baby’s search. The prosecution later found out that after young Adediwura’s kidnap by Oba Adeniran’s herbalist, she was brought to the Alaaye’s palace where she was butchered, right in the Oba’s presence. He then swore all the dramatis personae in this killing to an oath of secrecy. That same police from whose body wriggles out maggots today, in 1949, swung into action upon the matter being incidented. Three suspects, Enoch Falayi – the herbalist, Gabriel Olabirinjo, and Daniel Ojo, were promptly arrested. One of them eventually spilled the beans, incriminating Oba Adeniran.


The trial judge, Justice NS Pollard, then delivered his judgment: “With the acceptance of that statement as evidence of tacit admission of the facts therein, there is not only ample corroboration of the evidence…it goes further and is evidence of admission of facts from which no other conclusion is possible than that the appellant counseled and procured the murder of this child and was rightly found guilty thereof.” With this final pronouncement, Oba Adeniran, Asusumasa, the palace herbalist, one of Kabiyesi’s servants and a Gabriel Olabirinjo, were eventually hanged by the neck “until you be dead”.


The last case is the notorious and infamous case of Ibadan-born land baron, Jimoh Ishola, a.k.a. Ejigbadero. Ejigbadero was a mascot in the Papa Ajao, Mushin, Agege, and Alimosho areas of Lagos during his notorious reign. Ejigbadero was also the chief executive of Jimsol Nigeria Limited, a company that specialized in nail manufacturing on Matori Road, Mushin in the 70s. More importantly, he was a land baron of note who was dreaded for his shrewd disposition towards lands. He had sold land to a man simply known as Raji Oba in Alimosho and wanted to retrieve it from him.


Thus, on August 22, 1975, which incidentally was his child’s naming day, Ejigbadero, an illiterate, perfected the plan to dispossess Oba of the land. He had a bandstand readied at the front of his house and a huge crowd, which had come to celebrate with him. He came out resplendently dressed and sprayed a huge wad of naira notes on the face of the musician, enough to arrest the crowd. Amid hails, Ejigbadero retreated into his house, changed into a French Safari suit, a gun tucked in his pocket, and hopped inside his Peugeot 504 saloon car. Through the back entrance, he and six of his thugs sped to Alimosho where he confronted Oba and shot him point blank in the head.


Ejigbadero came back home, changed into his resplendent dress, and sprayed noticeable cash again. Unfortunately for him, however, the deceased’s wife, Sabitiu recognised him from where she was hiding. He was subsequently arrested by the police and slammed with a two-count charge of murder.


Ejigbadero’s alibi was that he never left the party which dragged on from 6.30 pm till the wee hours of the morning of August 23, 1975. From the high court judgment of guilt and hanging by the neck which was pronounced on him by Justice Ishola Oluwa, his appeal, presided over by Justices Mamman Nasir, Adetunji Ogunkeye, and Ijeoma Aseme, down to the Supreme Court where Justices Darnley Alexander, Atanda Fatayi-Williams, Ayo Irikefe, Mohammed Bello and Chukwunweike Idigbe held fort, on October 22, 1978, Ejigbadero was found guilty and sentenced to death. One funny drama at the Supreme Court was that, as Justice Idigbe pronounced the lead judgment, being illiterate, Ejigbadero kept asking his lawyer, in conk Ibadan dialect, “Sowemimo, emi ni won so?” (Sowemimo, what did the judge say?)


Ejigbadero was connected in the social and political circuit of Nigeria at the time, even being friends with the high and mighty in the decision-making cadre of Nigeria. Musicians struggled to sing his praises. One of them sang that as inscrutable as it was to find out the source of water inside the pod of coconut, so was it unfathomable to locate Ejigbadero’s wealth. Yet, the system gave him his right comeuppance. In fact, the Obasanjo government quickly ensured that he was executed before the October 1, 1979 handover to civilians, nursing the fear that with Ejigbadero’s links, he might secure an undeserved pardon.


Gradually, justice began to die in Nigeria. Today, the Nigerian landscape is littered with the blood of the righteous and the gloat of the powerful. With it came the death of shame and the ascendancy of shamelessness. Not long ago, the children of Ejigbadero remembered their executed father in a lavish ceremony that spoke to this level of societal shamelessness. Soon, the children of one of the most notorious and infamous armed robbers in Nigeria, Ishola Oyenusi will troupe out to celebrate his own passing too. It is a reflection of the societal loss of shame. Oyenusi, popularly known as Dr. Ishola, hailed from Araromi in the Okitipupa area of Ondo state. Renowned for carjacking, bank holdups, and heists, Oyenusi, on September 8, 1971, with six other members of his gang, were executed.


Going by logic and antecedents, it will be difficult for Tinubu to properly situate the scale of justice in Nigeria. His IOUs will predictably tilt towards those same principalities and powers for whom injustice is a core condiment in their broth. I pray however that he pleasantly shocks cynics like me. If he does, hope will begin to build in the Nigerian people, as Maya Angelou wrote in her poem, Still I Rise, “With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high”.





Culled from the Cable

THE INAUGURATION OF MAY 29TH, PUTTING IT IN PROPER CONTEXT

THE INAUGURATION OF MAY 29TH, PUTTING IT IN PROPER CONTEXT


Few  opinions I have read captured my opinion on this prevailing issue of the international community especially the US position on this issue of stolen mandate and the coming inauguration. 


Two opinions from two former American officials capture the American idiosyncrasy and attitude in matters like this. One was the remarka of the former Secretary of states James Baker when he was reminded that one of the leaders they were dealing with was an evil and repressive dictator. The then Secretary of state retorted and said: Yea! He's a son of the bitch, but he's our son of the bitch. 


The second is the so called political attaché to the US embassy in Nigeria in the early 90s - I've forgotten his name. Reacting to the issue of annulment of the June 12th elections and the emergence of of Gen. Abacha, in his official residence as he was being sent forth at the end of his tour of duty, he said: I do not know what else they will do to the Nigerian people before thy will rise up.


So many misread what the United states has said or done regarding the issue of the illegal declaration of Tinubu as the president elect and the on going preparation for his inauguration on May 29th 2023. 


What so many seem not to understand is that, as long as there's no official sanctions against Nigeria or the leadership as we speak,  the American official and basic diplomatic formalities towards Nigeria will continue to flourish regardless of what may be the true realities as witnessed in this past presidential elections that INEC declared Tinubu the winner. 


The truth is that the US and other nations intelligence community perhaps have deeper knowldge of what transpired in the last elections in Nigeria. They knew it was a sham. More like a charade and state capture. They will express their disgust privately but must follow the official position of their policy until when such compelling reasons will cause them to alter such pre existing standing policy - we have not seen such compelling reasons from those their mandate was stolen through what's essentially a civilian coup.


They clearly understand that what happened in Nigeria is simply unprecedented. Like a good Judge who will never, regardless of how he feels about the circumstances of your case will never suddenly become your solicitor or advocate in that case before him or her. The Judge will remain focused as a judge, but can only pray and wishing that who ever you hire as a lawyer can raise such issues and the legal precedents and authority he could stand on to unleash opinion and judgement that will now truly convey how he or she as the judge had actually felt about the matter before his or honorable court. This has not happened in this case.


In this situation before us, it is on what the Nigerian people started here, the level of opposition and rejection of this open heist and state capture by the Lebanese global criminals like Gilbert Chagoury, the man standing behind Tinubu and his cohorts attempt to hijack Nigeria and deliver to them while Nigerians are either dwelling in ambivalence or are simply scheming around to be invited to the dinner table, even if only to pick the crumbs from under the table. This is what's playing out as it is today.


It is on the level of our rejection of this which will reach a considerable critical mass before the global official position will shift and as a good Judge, it is only then that we shall hear their true opinion and judgement on all that has transpired. 


So it is Nigerians that will make the case for the situation  Nigerians find themselves today. But it seems that even the educated are having such unreasonable expectations of others. It is like expecting from others what you are not willing to give to yourself and that aint going to happen. Nigerians must carry their own cross for liberation and freedom, and there's no better time as  PMB the last member of the axis of evil that have held Nigeria on a chokehold is facing the inevitable sunset on his career and life.


As a matter of fact, the US authorities in what appears as straddling their position, they've been doing alot of balancing act in this situation.  While some official reports condemned the process and the out come of the  elections, even as far as proposing a Visa ban on the arrow heads of election malpractices that produced the same leader they congratulated- more like a contradiction but in reality a deliberate strategy of reserving the right to play either way it goes. Afterall the US authorities are reputable to make deals with devils to remain relevant and protect their strategic interest as the case may be.


 The Biden Administration through Antony Blankin engaged the INEC declared winner Tinubu in a phone conversation and they also proceeded to put together what in my opinion as well, one of the lowest level of American official for the inauguration of President of the most populous black nation on earth as well as African economic giant and a net supplier of global energy. The caliber of the team sent by the Biden administration is the clearest indication of their very low opinion of the incoming administration - if you know you know.


Infact, if all things are equal,  this will be considered a slap in the face of this Country. But trust the desperate APC team. They have like the proverbial ant that went around boasting that the gift of yams it received from the grand parents are as huge as its legs. But then as it turned out the ant's legs are nothing to write home about. 


C.O.M


Few  opinions I have read captured my opinion on this prevailing issue of the international community especially the US position on this issue of stolen mandate and the coming inauguration. 


Two opinions from two former American officials capture the American idiosyncrasy and attitude in matters like this. One was the remarka of the former Secretary of states James Baker when he was reminded that one of the leaders they were dealing with was an evil and repressive dictator. The then Secretary of state retorted and said: Yea! He's a son of the bitch, but he's our son of the bitch. 


The second is the so called political attaché to the US embassy in Nigeria in the early 90s - I've forgotten his name. Reacting to the issue of annulment of the June 12th elections and the emergence of of Gen. Abacha, in his official residence as he was being sent forth at the end of his tour of duty, he said: I do not know what else they will do to the Nigerian people before thy will rise up.


So many misread what the United states has said or done regarding the issue of the illegal declaration of Tinubu as the president elect and the on going preparation for his inauguration on May 29th 2023. 


What so many seem not to understand is that, as long as there's no official sanctions against Nigeria or the leadership as we speak,  the American official and basic diplomatic formalities towards Nigeria will continue to flourish regardless of what may be the true realities as witnessed in this past presidential elections that INEC declared Tinubu the winner. 


The truth is that the US and other nations intelligence community perhaps have deeper knowldge of what transpired in the last elections in Nigeria. They knew it was a sham. More like a charade and state capture. They will express their disgust privately but must follow the official position of their policy until when such compelling reasons will cause them to alter such pre existing standing policy - we have not seen such compelling reasons from those their mandate was stolen through what's essentially a civilian coup.


They clearly understand that what happened in Nigeria is simply unprecedented. Like a good Judge who will never, regardless of how he feels about the circumstances of your case will never suddenly become your solicitor or advocate in that case before him or her. The Judge will remain focused as a judge, but can only pray and wishing that who ever you hire as a lawyer can raise such issues and the legal precedents and authority he could stand on to unleash opinion and judgement that will now truly convey how he or she as the judge had actually felt about the matter before his or honorable court. This has not happened in this case.


In this situation before us, it is on what the Nigerian people started here, the level of opposition and rejection of this open heist and state capture by the Lebanese global criminals like Gilbert Chagoury, the man standing behind Tinubu and his cohorts attempt to hijack Nigeria and deliver to them while Nigerians are either dwelling in ambivalence or are simply scheming around to be invited to the dinner table, even if only to pick the crumbs from under the table. This is what's playing out as it is today.


It is on the level of our rejection of this which will reach a considerable critical mass before the global official position will shift and as a good Judge, it is only then that we shall hear their true opinion and judgement on all that has transpired. 


So it is Nigerians that will make the case for the situation  Nigerians find themselves today. But it seems that even the educated are having such unreasonable expectations of others. It is like expecting from others what you are not willing to give to yourself and that aint going to happen. Nigerians must carry their own cross for liberation and freedom, and there's no better time as  PMB the last member of the axis of evil that have held Nigeria on a chokehold is facing the inevitable sunset on his career and life.


As a matter of fact, the US authorities in what appears as straddling their position, they've been doing alot of balancing act in this situation.  While some official reports condemned the process and the out come of the  elections, even as far as proposing a Visa ban on the arrow heads of election malpractices that produced the same leader they congratulated- more like a contradiction but in reality a deliberate strategy of reserving the right to play either way it goes. Afterall the US authorities are reputable to make deals with devils to remain relevant and protect their strategic interest as the case may be.


 The Biden Administration through Antony Blankin engaged the INEC declared winner Tinubu in a phone conversation and they also proceeded to put together what in my opinion as well, one of the lowest level of American official for the inauguration of President of the most populous black nation on earth as well as African economic giant and a net supplier of global energy. The caliber of the team sent by the Biden administration is the clearest indication of their very low opinion of the incoming administration - if you know you know.


Infact, if all things are equal,  this will be considered a slap in the face of this Country. But trust the desperate APC team. They have like the proverbial ant that went around boasting that the gift of yams it received from the grand parents are as huge as its legs. But then as it turned out the ant's legs are nothing to write home about. 


C.O.M

Collaboration: A Sure Path to Revolutionising African Research and Development - Adepehin

Collaboration: A Sure Path to Revolutionising African Research and Development - Adepehin

So, I walked into a colleague's office and found my unpublished manuscript opened on her computer screen. 


A senior collaborator I shared the work with for his input forwarded it to her. I was certainly disappointed, but that is not the subject for now.


Today, I am addressing the rather low contribution of African researchers to the global research pool. Though it is home to about 1.3 billion of Earth's inhabitants, the African continent produces a meagre 2 percent of world research output, accounts for only 1.3 percent of research spending, and produces 0.1 percent of all patents. It's ridiculous, right?


I admit that several factors, such as low investment in research, poor research culture, insufficient capable personnel in tertiary education systems, and overburdening existing academic staff with non-research engagements, among others, have contributed to this. 



Nevertheless, a hidden root cause is poor teamwork and wrong mindsets. The 'publish or perish' syndrome has done Africa no good, as huge amounts of substandard manuscripts are rolled out to predatory journals whose watchword is 'pay and get published.'


Some poorly crafted papers could have made novel contributions if only authors were open-minded enough to seek the expertise of colleagues from their institutions, nations, and other parts of the World. 


Collaboration is essential for advancing knowledge, solving complex problems, and making breakthrough discoveries. By working together, scientists can achieve more than they could on their own and make a greater impact on the world. Let me make a few remarks about these highlighted benefits!


Collaboration allows scientists with different areas of expertise to work together to solve complex problems. By pooling their knowledge and skills, they can often achieve more than they could working alone. Collaborating scientists can share access to expensive equipment, specialized facilities, and research materials. This can reduce costs and increase efficiency. 


Scientific collaboration increases productivity- collaborators can divide tasks, work in parallel, and share the workload, which can lead to increased productivity and faster completion of projects.


Research partnerships can lead to more rigorous and comprehensive research by bringing together diverse perspectives and ensuring that research is peer-reviewed and critiqued by experts in multiple fields. 


Perhaps one of the most striking benefits of collaboration is its strong potential to enhance innovation. Collaborating scientists can spark new ideas and approaches by sharing insights and brainstorming together. This can lead to new findings and innovations.


However, collaboration is not just about sharing resources and knowledge; it also requires the right mindset to be successful. Developing the right mindset for collaboration involves several key principles, including trust, openness, respect, and a willingness to learn and adapt.


Trust is the foundation of any successful collaboration. It allows team members to rely on each other, share information and knowledge, and work together towards a common goal. 

Without trust, collaboration can quickly break down, leading to misunderstandings, conflicts, and frustration. 


You can probably understand why I felt disappointed at what the professor who shared my unpublished work did. Our collaboration certainly died a natural death, although I sometimes feel I could have managed the situation better. To develop trust, team members should be transparent about their actions and intentions, communicate openly and honestly, and hold themselves accountable for their commitments.


Another critical principle for collaboration is openness. Being open means being receptive to new ideas and perspectives and being willing to accept feedback and criticism. Openness also means being willing to share information and knowledge freely, without fear of judgment or reprisal. When team members are open, they can build on each other's strengths and weaknesses, creating a more robust and effective team dynamic. 


Respect is also essential for collaboration. It means acknowledging and valuing each team member's contributions, ideas, and perspectives. It means treating everyone with dignity and fairness, regardless of their role or position in the team. When team members feel respected, engaged and motivated, they are more likely to foster better collaboration and achieve improved outcomes.


Furthermore, a crucial aspect of successful collaboration is having a willingness to learn and adapt. Flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing circumstances are essential in collaborative efforts. Team members should remain open to acquiring new skills and approaches while being ready to adapt their behaviors and strategies to meet the team's needs. 


By embracing a mindset that promotes learning and adaptation, team members can effectively overcome obstacles and challenges, resulting in enhanced collaboration outcomes.


As I recap, remember that developing the right mindset for collaboration encompasses several key principles, such as trust, openness, respect, and a willingness to learn and adapt. By embracing these principles, team members can forge stronger and more effective collaborations, leading to better outcomes and overall success. 


Collaboration may not always be effortless, but with the appropriate mindset, it can become a rewarding and fulfilling experience for everyone involved.


If you have reached this point in the article and find yourself within the academic system or aspiring to be part of it, what is preventing you from initiating and sustaining strong research collaboration?


An effective collaboration always yields greater rewards for your efforts. Let us collaborate and revolutionize the paradigm of African research.


If this piece has inspired you, please share it and leave your thoughts!!!.



Adepehin Ekundayo (PhD)

So, I walked into a colleague's office and found my unpublished manuscript opened on her computer screen. 


A senior collaborator I shared the work with for his input forwarded it to her. I was certainly disappointed, but that is not the subject for now.


Today, I am addressing the rather low contribution of African researchers to the global research pool. Though it is home to about 1.3 billion of Earth's inhabitants, the African continent produces a meagre 2 percent of world research output, accounts for only 1.3 percent of research spending, and produces 0.1 percent of all patents. It's ridiculous, right?


I admit that several factors, such as low investment in research, poor research culture, insufficient capable personnel in tertiary education systems, and overburdening existing academic staff with non-research engagements, among others, have contributed to this. 



Nevertheless, a hidden root cause is poor teamwork and wrong mindsets. The 'publish or perish' syndrome has done Africa no good, as huge amounts of substandard manuscripts are rolled out to predatory journals whose watchword is 'pay and get published.'


Some poorly crafted papers could have made novel contributions if only authors were open-minded enough to seek the expertise of colleagues from their institutions, nations, and other parts of the World. 


Collaboration is essential for advancing knowledge, solving complex problems, and making breakthrough discoveries. By working together, scientists can achieve more than they could on their own and make a greater impact on the world. Let me make a few remarks about these highlighted benefits!


Collaboration allows scientists with different areas of expertise to work together to solve complex problems. By pooling their knowledge and skills, they can often achieve more than they could working alone. Collaborating scientists can share access to expensive equipment, specialized facilities, and research materials. This can reduce costs and increase efficiency. 


Scientific collaboration increases productivity- collaborators can divide tasks, work in parallel, and share the workload, which can lead to increased productivity and faster completion of projects.


Research partnerships can lead to more rigorous and comprehensive research by bringing together diverse perspectives and ensuring that research is peer-reviewed and critiqued by experts in multiple fields. 


Perhaps one of the most striking benefits of collaboration is its strong potential to enhance innovation. Collaborating scientists can spark new ideas and approaches by sharing insights and brainstorming together. This can lead to new findings and innovations.


However, collaboration is not just about sharing resources and knowledge; it also requires the right mindset to be successful. Developing the right mindset for collaboration involves several key principles, including trust, openness, respect, and a willingness to learn and adapt.


Trust is the foundation of any successful collaboration. It allows team members to rely on each other, share information and knowledge, and work together towards a common goal. 

Without trust, collaboration can quickly break down, leading to misunderstandings, conflicts, and frustration. 


You can probably understand why I felt disappointed at what the professor who shared my unpublished work did. Our collaboration certainly died a natural death, although I sometimes feel I could have managed the situation better. To develop trust, team members should be transparent about their actions and intentions, communicate openly and honestly, and hold themselves accountable for their commitments.


Another critical principle for collaboration is openness. Being open means being receptive to new ideas and perspectives and being willing to accept feedback and criticism. Openness also means being willing to share information and knowledge freely, without fear of judgment or reprisal. When team members are open, they can build on each other's strengths and weaknesses, creating a more robust and effective team dynamic. 


Respect is also essential for collaboration. It means acknowledging and valuing each team member's contributions, ideas, and perspectives. It means treating everyone with dignity and fairness, regardless of their role or position in the team. When team members feel respected, engaged and motivated, they are more likely to foster better collaboration and achieve improved outcomes.


Furthermore, a crucial aspect of successful collaboration is having a willingness to learn and adapt. Flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing circumstances are essential in collaborative efforts. Team members should remain open to acquiring new skills and approaches while being ready to adapt their behaviors and strategies to meet the team's needs. 


By embracing a mindset that promotes learning and adaptation, team members can effectively overcome obstacles and challenges, resulting in enhanced collaboration outcomes.


As I recap, remember that developing the right mindset for collaboration encompasses several key principles, such as trust, openness, respect, and a willingness to learn and adapt. By embracing these principles, team members can forge stronger and more effective collaborations, leading to better outcomes and overall success. 


Collaboration may not always be effortless, but with the appropriate mindset, it can become a rewarding and fulfilling experience for everyone involved.


If you have reached this point in the article and find yourself within the academic system or aspiring to be part of it, what is preventing you from initiating and sustaining strong research collaboration?


An effective collaboration always yields greater rewards for your efforts. Let us collaborate and revolutionize the paradigm of African research.


If this piece has inspired you, please share it and leave your thoughts!!!.



Adepehin Ekundayo (PhD)

Labour Party: Lamidi Apapa's missing cap

Labour Party: Lamidi Apapa's missing cap

Festus Adedayo


Turbulent anger of Obidients landed on Lamidi Apapa last week. By the time their anger petered out, Apapa had lost his cap to a God-knows-who. Esu Elegbara, the trickster deity of the Yoruba people, it will seem, lives in caps. Though most of the exploits of Esu exist in myths, Yoruba constructed a pantheon of beliefs that implicate the Esu as divisive and full of tricks. One of such, sauced in mythology, was translated into a very sobering track by ace Yoruba Awurebe musician, Alhaji Dauda Akanmu Adeeyo, popularly known as Dauda Epo Akara. Famous for his anecdotal offerings affixed to virtually all his songs, Adeeyo got this sobriquet, for which he was more known by than his actual name, while he was a pupil in primary school. His uniforms were always soaked in bean cake oil called Epo Akara.



The Ibadan maestro entitled the track under reference Itan Ore Meji – the tale of two friends – in a parent album he called My Mother. Like Epo Akara, in 1987, Donald Cosentino, a lecturer in the Folklore and Mythology Programme of the University of California, Los Angeles, wrote an article for The Journal of American Folklore which he entitled Who Is That Fellow in the Many-Colored Cap? Transformations of Eshu in Old and New World Mythologies (Vol. 100, No. 397. Jul. - Sep., 1987). In it, he also situated the Esu as author of dissent, “an exponent of ceaseless rearrangements” and a dissembler. Esu, said Cosentino, is a counterpart to Ifa, who the Yoruba see as the Lord of Divination and through whom sacrifices and propitiations are made to God for peace in the world.


Epo Akara and Cosentino’s narratives are not dissimilar. The two of them began this folklore thus: There existed two friends who were so fond of each other and inseparable. They were objects of discussions by the whole village. In fact, sang Epo Akara, won ki ja, won kii ta – they never had a word of disagreement since they began their friendship from their infancy. So, one day, Esu swore to cause irreparable discord between them. The object he cast for that dissention was a cap. So the Esu sowed a multicolored cap, something in the mould of Dolly Parton’s coat of many colours. The colours, says Cosentino, have been “variously described as red and white; red, white and blue; or red, white, green, and black.”


Epo Akara, however, put the colours of the cap as white and black. So the Esu transformed himself into an irresistibly dressed, handsome young man in dainty Aso Oke and Sanyan cap. As the two friends sat in a foyer chattering, Esu walked between them and in the words of Cosentino, “put his pipe at the nape of his neck and hung his staff over his back.” As Esu walked past the two friends, in the rendering of the Awurebe musician, the first friend called the attention of his pal to the cap, which he said was black. Once he had money, the friend remarked, it would be his delight to buy it – bi mo ri’ru e, ma ra’kan, Balarabi, Wali Muhanmonda. The friend fired back, insisting that the cap was white and insulted the other friend by asking if he was blind – ab’oju re o ri’ran? Then, a very deadly brawl ensued between the duo as they came to blows.


While Epo Akara insisted that, having achieved his dissembling aim, Esu transformed himself into who he was and settled the quarrel, Consentino argued that the tiff came to a halt when the disputants were brought to court. In court, the scholar said, Esu confessed to his trick, boasting that "sowing dissension is my great delight." In the rendering of the Folklore and Mythology scholar, Esu then fled. As he fled, Esu lit fire along the way, mixing up all the possessions of fleeing townsfolk. He also tested and exposed friendships along the way, thereby creating and destroying wealth. He then laughed at the ignorance of the people about his innate destructive nature.


Nigeria’s Labour Party, (LP) it will seem, is where Esu Elegbara has made his temporary home now. Last week, the party’s internal tiff reached a cancerous level at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja. In the glare of the whole world, the timely intervention of police officers prevented miffed supporters of Peter Obi from skewering the flesh of the party’s Acting National Chairman, Apapa. Apapa and Julius Abure, hitherto suspended national chairman of the party, were embroiled in a leadership tussle. This led to blood-baiting hounds, suspected to be sympathetic to the Abure faction of the party, pouncing on Apapa. The wolves had prevented Apapa from addressing the press and shoved him dangerously off television cameras. In the process, one of them took off Apapa’s cap. He later took possession of it.


Speaking at a press conference after the attack, the 73-year old Apapa rained curses on the person who removed his cap. He had said: "My cap is here as you can see it. It was not burnt, and the boy who removed my cap will suffer it in his life. I saw him, he's a young chap. He'll never grow old by God's grace. He deserves it, you know why? I didn't use cutlass on him."


Were Apapa’s curses of Janus colour and texture as that of Adedara Arunralojaoba, Ijesaland’s – domiciled in Osun State – most evocative musician who sang Adamo music during his lifetime? Janus, you know, is the Egyptian binary god with two faces.  Some installments away, I narrated this Adamo musician’s encounter with another musician, Ayinla Omowura, in Ilesa in the 1970s. Omowura’s drums began to get torn in subsequence as he set out to sing at a live gig where he and Adedara had been invited. In the words of Arunralojaoba, on arriving the bandstand to take over the evening belt of entertainment of invited audience, Omowura had been drunk to stupor with his assumed musical superiority. Speaking to Dele Adeyanju, a renowned broadcaster, in an interview, the Adamo musician had attributed the torn drums to God fighting his battle for him and not any traditional African spiritual attack. Adedara was known to have at one time been a member of the Ogboni fraternity. So, were the torn drums God’s own way of fighting for Adedara against his adversary, or the scenario was a product of metaphysical invocation?


The removal of Apapa’s cap reminds me of the same violence and indignity suffered by Chief Bola Ige, ex-governor of old Oyo State, in the hands of sponsored miscreants like those hooligans in the LP. It was at the height of the intra-party sabre-rattling of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). At a ceremony held on Saturday December 15, 2001 where Olusegun Obasanjo’s late wife, Stella, was conferred with a chieftaincy title by the Ooni of Ife, wolves suspected to be in the herd of Iyiola Omisore, erstwhile Deputy Governor of Osun State, pounced on Ige in similar cavalier but blood-baiting manner Apapa was to witness almost 22 years after. They seized the cap of the man, known as Arole Awolowo – Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s heir – caps which, unlike Apapa’s, he was never to set eyes upon again.


Five days before this, an attempt to impeach Omisore was held at the Osun State House of Assembly. Odunayo Olagbaju, believed to be one of Omisore’s Rottweilers, was at the forefront of the disruption of the impeachment proceedings. Allegations were rife that Olagbaju was also the coordinator of the violent seizure of Ige’s cap. Four days after the attack on Ige, Olagbaju was mysteriously assassinated in Ile-Ife. Exactly four days after Olagbaju’s assassination, Ige was also taken out in what appeared like cult-like revenge killings. Today, Omisore is Southwest progressives’ highest-ranking national official, representing the Yorubaland which venerated Ige as an avatar.


Beyond their ethno-cultural implications as significant aspect of dressing and fashion, caps also have mythic qualities among the Yoruba especially. Aside caps’ aesthetic and symbolic elaboration of the body, they are also seen as weapon in the hands of Esu. The cap perhaps gained that relevance due to the renowned place that the head has in African epistemology. The head receives special aesthetic attention as a result of its spiritual and biological importance. Among the Yoruba, the head, called Ori, is a site of spiritual intuition and destiny. It is as well a harbinger of a man’s reflective spark of human consciousness. It is an Orisa, or god, of its own and is not only venerated but worshipped. To acquire a balanced character – iwa-pele – the Yoruba believe that the individual, working in tandem with this Orisa, can achieve this desirable personality. When he does, the individual then receives an alignment with his Ori, the divine self. People whose destinies are skewed are advised to worship their Ori whose variant among the Igbo is chi. So, when a cap, the decorative ornament of the head, is rudely removed as was done to Ige and Apapa, Yoruba see it as bad omen, symbolizing a rude yank-off of the human person.


Immediately after the seizure of Ige’s cap, some knowledgeable elders in sorcery and witchcraft opined that there existed causality between the cap’s removal and his eventual killing. For a people who use metaphysics as human agency to explain what the common eyes cannot penetrate, when Ige eventually died, the narrative of the connect between the removed cap and his death took front burner. So, in the seizure of Apapa’s cap, was Esu Elegbara on the usual roller-coaster of his famous trickster prowess, or does the act just symbolize a fatality to either Apapa, the Labour Party or the boy who bit the bullet by removing the cap?


The chief accusation against Apapa is that he is the Esu Elegbara in the Labour Party who this destructive god lent his heart for a fee. As Epo Akara and Cosentino narrated in their works, could Apapa be the modern or Nigeria’s political party version of the trickster deity, who is sowing dissention in the party? Ask those who are ranged against him to explain why, they will tell you that Apapa has received humongous bribe from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to act as the Judas within the party. On an Arise television interview last week, Apapa asked those who leveled such allegations to provide evidence. Again, in his insular trickery, I saw Esu Elegbara laughing rambunctiously. Do those who give bribes leave traces? Should those who also leveled such allegation against this old man sincerely do this without providing evidence? Are they themselves the Esu, being on the payroll of Abure, to ensure that Apapa is fought to a standstill?


Precedent is however on the side of those who accuse Apapa of acting the script of the APC. Nigerian politics is so enmeshed in indignity and amorality that virtually all those who engage in it possess scarred souls like the devil’s. They even tell you that politics and morality are in perpetual enmity. If you observe, the highest fusillade of attacks, both judicial and verbal, from the APC to any party, is towards the Labour Party. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its commissars receive scant attention of that party. It must believe that that party is already mortally wounded. APC, peopled by a commune of scavengers, vultures and deadly hit-men, will logically rent an Apapa for a dissembling assignment. It is because the If I must hanker a guess, it must be because the LP poses the greatest social threat to the legitimacy that APC needs, not necessarily during the current judicial process but after it. Thus, employing an Esu Elegbara within the fold of the LP for this dirty job is a politically wise decision for a party whose men, in the name of politics, will kill their mother and rope their father for the murder without batting an eyelid.


Esu Elegbara seems to be on the trail of the Labour Party and is not relenting yet. At the tail end of last week, until the clarification given by the court, the Federal High Court in Kano was reported to have declared the votes polled by the Abia State governor-elect, Alex Otti, Labour Party’s only state governor in the last general election, as wasted. It however reportedly refrained from nullifying the certificate of return issued by INEC to the governor-elect. A newspaper later on published the clarification of the court, stating that it denied annulling the election of the governor-elect.


If you think it is only in LP that Esu Elegbara wrecks its havocs, you are mistaken. In the PDP, he began his life-sworn disruption and destruction, as they say, as a pre-election cancer. By the time Atiku Abubakar and his party realized that Esu was in cahoots with the party, Elegbara had destroyed all the cells within the body of the party, finally and permanently retiring the Adamawa-born politician from his serial quest for the Nigerian presidency.


Elegbara, it will seem, is on his way to the APC as we speak. From reports, the party is on its way to a political liaison with Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso, New Nigerian People’s Party (NPP’s) presidential candidate. President-elect, Bola Tinubu, was reported to have met the NPP boss for political talks in Paris last Monday. There is the need for enough senators to complete the circus of a pliable National Assembly. I imagine the mind of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Kano State governor, at the moment. The Nigerian politician, in pursuing his persuasion that politics and morality are not friends, devised what is labeled a “no permanent friends, no permanent foes” lexicographic feature of politics. But, must politicians be indistinguishable from serial adulterers? Esu Elegbara must be somewhere now, devising his next trickery. Will he wear Ganduje like an apparel?

Festus Adedayo


Turbulent anger of Obidients landed on Lamidi Apapa last week. By the time their anger petered out, Apapa had lost his cap to a God-knows-who. Esu Elegbara, the trickster deity of the Yoruba people, it will seem, lives in caps. Though most of the exploits of Esu exist in myths, Yoruba constructed a pantheon of beliefs that implicate the Esu as divisive and full of tricks. One of such, sauced in mythology, was translated into a very sobering track by ace Yoruba Awurebe musician, Alhaji Dauda Akanmu Adeeyo, popularly known as Dauda Epo Akara. Famous for his anecdotal offerings affixed to virtually all his songs, Adeeyo got this sobriquet, for which he was more known by than his actual name, while he was a pupil in primary school. His uniforms were always soaked in bean cake oil called Epo Akara.



The Ibadan maestro entitled the track under reference Itan Ore Meji – the tale of two friends – in a parent album he called My Mother. Like Epo Akara, in 1987, Donald Cosentino, a lecturer in the Folklore and Mythology Programme of the University of California, Los Angeles, wrote an article for The Journal of American Folklore which he entitled Who Is That Fellow in the Many-Colored Cap? Transformations of Eshu in Old and New World Mythologies (Vol. 100, No. 397. Jul. - Sep., 1987). In it, he also situated the Esu as author of dissent, “an exponent of ceaseless rearrangements” and a dissembler. Esu, said Cosentino, is a counterpart to Ifa, who the Yoruba see as the Lord of Divination and through whom sacrifices and propitiations are made to God for peace in the world.


Epo Akara and Cosentino’s narratives are not dissimilar. The two of them began this folklore thus: There existed two friends who were so fond of each other and inseparable. They were objects of discussions by the whole village. In fact, sang Epo Akara, won ki ja, won kii ta – they never had a word of disagreement since they began their friendship from their infancy. So, one day, Esu swore to cause irreparable discord between them. The object he cast for that dissention was a cap. So the Esu sowed a multicolored cap, something in the mould of Dolly Parton’s coat of many colours. The colours, says Cosentino, have been “variously described as red and white; red, white and blue; or red, white, green, and black.”


Epo Akara, however, put the colours of the cap as white and black. So the Esu transformed himself into an irresistibly dressed, handsome young man in dainty Aso Oke and Sanyan cap. As the two friends sat in a foyer chattering, Esu walked between them and in the words of Cosentino, “put his pipe at the nape of his neck and hung his staff over his back.” As Esu walked past the two friends, in the rendering of the Awurebe musician, the first friend called the attention of his pal to the cap, which he said was black. Once he had money, the friend remarked, it would be his delight to buy it – bi mo ri’ru e, ma ra’kan, Balarabi, Wali Muhanmonda. The friend fired back, insisting that the cap was white and insulted the other friend by asking if he was blind – ab’oju re o ri’ran? Then, a very deadly brawl ensued between the duo as they came to blows.


While Epo Akara insisted that, having achieved his dissembling aim, Esu transformed himself into who he was and settled the quarrel, Consentino argued that the tiff came to a halt when the disputants were brought to court. In court, the scholar said, Esu confessed to his trick, boasting that "sowing dissension is my great delight." In the rendering of the Folklore and Mythology scholar, Esu then fled. As he fled, Esu lit fire along the way, mixing up all the possessions of fleeing townsfolk. He also tested and exposed friendships along the way, thereby creating and destroying wealth. He then laughed at the ignorance of the people about his innate destructive nature.


Nigeria’s Labour Party, (LP) it will seem, is where Esu Elegbara has made his temporary home now. Last week, the party’s internal tiff reached a cancerous level at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja. In the glare of the whole world, the timely intervention of police officers prevented miffed supporters of Peter Obi from skewering the flesh of the party’s Acting National Chairman, Apapa. Apapa and Julius Abure, hitherto suspended national chairman of the party, were embroiled in a leadership tussle. This led to blood-baiting hounds, suspected to be sympathetic to the Abure faction of the party, pouncing on Apapa. The wolves had prevented Apapa from addressing the press and shoved him dangerously off television cameras. In the process, one of them took off Apapa’s cap. He later took possession of it.


Speaking at a press conference after the attack, the 73-year old Apapa rained curses on the person who removed his cap. He had said: "My cap is here as you can see it. It was not burnt, and the boy who removed my cap will suffer it in his life. I saw him, he's a young chap. He'll never grow old by God's grace. He deserves it, you know why? I didn't use cutlass on him."


Were Apapa’s curses of Janus colour and texture as that of Adedara Arunralojaoba, Ijesaland’s – domiciled in Osun State – most evocative musician who sang Adamo music during his lifetime? Janus, you know, is the Egyptian binary god with two faces.  Some installments away, I narrated this Adamo musician’s encounter with another musician, Ayinla Omowura, in Ilesa in the 1970s. Omowura’s drums began to get torn in subsequence as he set out to sing at a live gig where he and Adedara had been invited. In the words of Arunralojaoba, on arriving the bandstand to take over the evening belt of entertainment of invited audience, Omowura had been drunk to stupor with his assumed musical superiority. Speaking to Dele Adeyanju, a renowned broadcaster, in an interview, the Adamo musician had attributed the torn drums to God fighting his battle for him and not any traditional African spiritual attack. Adedara was known to have at one time been a member of the Ogboni fraternity. So, were the torn drums God’s own way of fighting for Adedara against his adversary, or the scenario was a product of metaphysical invocation?


The removal of Apapa’s cap reminds me of the same violence and indignity suffered by Chief Bola Ige, ex-governor of old Oyo State, in the hands of sponsored miscreants like those hooligans in the LP. It was at the height of the intra-party sabre-rattling of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). At a ceremony held on Saturday December 15, 2001 where Olusegun Obasanjo’s late wife, Stella, was conferred with a chieftaincy title by the Ooni of Ife, wolves suspected to be in the herd of Iyiola Omisore, erstwhile Deputy Governor of Osun State, pounced on Ige in similar cavalier but blood-baiting manner Apapa was to witness almost 22 years after. They seized the cap of the man, known as Arole Awolowo – Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s heir – caps which, unlike Apapa’s, he was never to set eyes upon again.


Five days before this, an attempt to impeach Omisore was held at the Osun State House of Assembly. Odunayo Olagbaju, believed to be one of Omisore’s Rottweilers, was at the forefront of the disruption of the impeachment proceedings. Allegations were rife that Olagbaju was also the coordinator of the violent seizure of Ige’s cap. Four days after the attack on Ige, Olagbaju was mysteriously assassinated in Ile-Ife. Exactly four days after Olagbaju’s assassination, Ige was also taken out in what appeared like cult-like revenge killings. Today, Omisore is Southwest progressives’ highest-ranking national official, representing the Yorubaland which venerated Ige as an avatar.


Beyond their ethno-cultural implications as significant aspect of dressing and fashion, caps also have mythic qualities among the Yoruba especially. Aside caps’ aesthetic and symbolic elaboration of the body, they are also seen as weapon in the hands of Esu. The cap perhaps gained that relevance due to the renowned place that the head has in African epistemology. The head receives special aesthetic attention as a result of its spiritual and biological importance. Among the Yoruba, the head, called Ori, is a site of spiritual intuition and destiny. It is as well a harbinger of a man’s reflective spark of human consciousness. It is an Orisa, or god, of its own and is not only venerated but worshipped. To acquire a balanced character – iwa-pele – the Yoruba believe that the individual, working in tandem with this Orisa, can achieve this desirable personality. When he does, the individual then receives an alignment with his Ori, the divine self. People whose destinies are skewed are advised to worship their Ori whose variant among the Igbo is chi. So, when a cap, the decorative ornament of the head, is rudely removed as was done to Ige and Apapa, Yoruba see it as bad omen, symbolizing a rude yank-off of the human person.


Immediately after the seizure of Ige’s cap, some knowledgeable elders in sorcery and witchcraft opined that there existed causality between the cap’s removal and his eventual killing. For a people who use metaphysics as human agency to explain what the common eyes cannot penetrate, when Ige eventually died, the narrative of the connect between the removed cap and his death took front burner. So, in the seizure of Apapa’s cap, was Esu Elegbara on the usual roller-coaster of his famous trickster prowess, or does the act just symbolize a fatality to either Apapa, the Labour Party or the boy who bit the bullet by removing the cap?


The chief accusation against Apapa is that he is the Esu Elegbara in the Labour Party who this destructive god lent his heart for a fee. As Epo Akara and Cosentino narrated in their works, could Apapa be the modern or Nigeria’s political party version of the trickster deity, who is sowing dissention in the party? Ask those who are ranged against him to explain why, they will tell you that Apapa has received humongous bribe from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to act as the Judas within the party. On an Arise television interview last week, Apapa asked those who leveled such allegations to provide evidence. Again, in his insular trickery, I saw Esu Elegbara laughing rambunctiously. Do those who give bribes leave traces? Should those who also leveled such allegation against this old man sincerely do this without providing evidence? Are they themselves the Esu, being on the payroll of Abure, to ensure that Apapa is fought to a standstill?


Precedent is however on the side of those who accuse Apapa of acting the script of the APC. Nigerian politics is so enmeshed in indignity and amorality that virtually all those who engage in it possess scarred souls like the devil’s. They even tell you that politics and morality are in perpetual enmity. If you observe, the highest fusillade of attacks, both judicial and verbal, from the APC to any party, is towards the Labour Party. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its commissars receive scant attention of that party. It must believe that that party is already mortally wounded. APC, peopled by a commune of scavengers, vultures and deadly hit-men, will logically rent an Apapa for a dissembling assignment. It is because the If I must hanker a guess, it must be because the LP poses the greatest social threat to the legitimacy that APC needs, not necessarily during the current judicial process but after it. Thus, employing an Esu Elegbara within the fold of the LP for this dirty job is a politically wise decision for a party whose men, in the name of politics, will kill their mother and rope their father for the murder without batting an eyelid.


Esu Elegbara seems to be on the trail of the Labour Party and is not relenting yet. At the tail end of last week, until the clarification given by the court, the Federal High Court in Kano was reported to have declared the votes polled by the Abia State governor-elect, Alex Otti, Labour Party’s only state governor in the last general election, as wasted. It however reportedly refrained from nullifying the certificate of return issued by INEC to the governor-elect. A newspaper later on published the clarification of the court, stating that it denied annulling the election of the governor-elect.


If you think it is only in LP that Esu Elegbara wrecks its havocs, you are mistaken. In the PDP, he began his life-sworn disruption and destruction, as they say, as a pre-election cancer. By the time Atiku Abubakar and his party realized that Esu was in cahoots with the party, Elegbara had destroyed all the cells within the body of the party, finally and permanently retiring the Adamawa-born politician from his serial quest for the Nigerian presidency.


Elegbara, it will seem, is on his way to the APC as we speak. From reports, the party is on its way to a political liaison with Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso, New Nigerian People’s Party (NPP’s) presidential candidate. President-elect, Bola Tinubu, was reported to have met the NPP boss for political talks in Paris last Monday. There is the need for enough senators to complete the circus of a pliable National Assembly. I imagine the mind of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Kano State governor, at the moment. The Nigerian politician, in pursuing his persuasion that politics and morality are not friends, devised what is labeled a “no permanent friends, no permanent foes” lexicographic feature of politics. But, must politicians be indistinguishable from serial adulterers? Esu Elegbara must be somewhere now, devising his next trickery. Will he wear Ganduje like an apparel?

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