In a society where role models are often hard to come by, the Falana family stands tall as a beacon of excellence, particularly within Nigeria’s legal landscape. Their collective achievements, spanning several decades, underscore their commitment to justice, advocacy for the oppressed, and an undying passion for the rule of law. This legal dynasty has earned the admiration of many, and they continue to set the standard for what it means to be dedicated, ethical, and proactive in addressing societal issues. One cannot help but applaud the efforts of the Falana family and acknowledge the profound influence they have on both the legal system and public discourse in Nigeria.

The patriarch of the Falana family, Femi Falana SAN, is a household name in Nigeria’s legal and human rights circles. Over the years, he has built a reputation for being a voice for the voiceless, often taking on cases that challenge the status quo and defending individuals and groups who have faced oppression from the powers that be. Femi Falana’s legal career is decorated with numerous landmark cases, many of which have contributed significantly to the development of Nigeria’s human rights laws and the strengthening of democratic values in the country.

One of the most admirable traits of Femi Falana is his consistency in fighting for justice, regardless of the government in power or the social status of his clients. Whether representing high-profile politicians or defending the downtrodden, his approach remains the same, rooted in principles of justice, fairness, and equality before the law. This unwavering stance has earned him not only the respect of his peers in the legal profession but also the admiration of many Nigerians.

The excellence of the Falana family does not end with Femi Falana. His wife, Funmi Falana, who is also a SAN is also a distinguished legal practitioner and human rights advocate. Together, they have formed a formidable partnership, working both individually and collectively to advance the cause of justice in Nigeria. Funmi Falana’s contributions, especially in defending women’s rights and challenging discriminatory practices against marginalized groups, have solidified her position as one of the most respected legal minds in the country.

Their son, Falz (Folarin Falana), although primarily known for his music and activism, holds a law degree and is a product of the Falana legacy. Through his music, Falz addresses societal issues, including corruption, police brutality, and the mis-governance plaguing the country. He has used his platform to speak out against injustices and demand accountability from those in power, demonstrating that the values instilled in him by his parents extend beyond the courtroom. In the same vein, Folakemi, their daughter, is also following in the footsteps of her esteemed parents. Folakemi, not only raised in a family deeply rooted in the legal profession and known for their advocacy and human rights work, she has embraced the same path, carrying forward the legacy of legal expertise and social justice championed by her parents.

This family is a perfect example of how legal knowledge, activism, and social responsibility can be intertwined to foster positive change in society. The fact that they have managed to pass down these values from one generation to the next is commendable, making them a family worthy of emulation.

The Falanas are not just lawyers; they are advocates for the downtrodden, the marginalized, and those whose rights have been trampled upon by oppressive systems. Femi Falana has consistently taken up cases that no one else would dare to touch, cases involving political prisoners, activists, and individuals facing the wrath of powerful entities. His legal practice has become synonymous with the fight for civil liberties, social justice, and the defense of the fundamental rights of Nigerians.

His wife, Funmi Falana, shares this commitment to justice. She has been involved in several landmark cases, especially in the realm of women’s rights. Her work has focused on ensuring that women have equal access to opportunities and are protected from gender-based violence and discrimination. Through her legal practice and advocacy, she has given a voice to countless women who might otherwise have remained silent in the face of oppression.

Together, the Falanas have not only built a formidable legal practice but have also contributed significantly to the fight for human rights in Nigeria. Their unwavering commitment to the oppressed has made them one of the most respected families in the country’s legal and human rights spheres.

In a country where corruption often taints even the most esteemed institutions, the Falana family has managed to maintain a reputation of integrity. They have remained untainted by the corrupt practices that have plagued Nigeria’s legal system for years, standing firm in their resolve to fight against injustice. This is perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of their legacy, remaining principled in a society where it is often easier to compromise on values for personal gain.

The family’s ability to maintain such high moral and ethical standards is a testament to their character and dedication to the principles of justice. It is no surprise that many young lawyers and activists in Nigeria look up to them as role models, striving to emulate their courage, discipline, and integrity.

The Falana family’s story is a powerful reminder that excellence is attainable through dedication, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to justice. As we continue to grapple with numerous challenges in Nigeria, from corruption to human rights abuses, it is families like the Falanas who show us that change is possible. They have demonstrated that one can maintain integrity in the face of adversity, fight for what is right even when it is unpopular, and pass down these values to the next generation.

In a society where many have lost faith in the justice system, the Falanas offer hope. Their collective efforts remind us that the law can be a tool for positive change and that, with the right people in place, it can be used to protect the vulnerable and hold the powerful accountable.

As Nigerians, we must celebrate the Falana family and their contributions to our legal system and society at large. But beyond celebration, we must also take inspiration from their example. The values they embody, integrity, justice, and advocacy for the oppressed, are values that every Nigerian should strive to emulate. Whether in law, politics, or any other field, the Falana family has shown us that it is possible to make a difference and leave a lasting legacy of positive change.

The Falana family has set an example that transcends the legal profession. They have shown that it is possible to maintain integrity, fight for justice, and inspire future generations to do the same. Their contributions to Nigeria’s legal system and society at large are immense, and they deserve all the accolades they receive. As a nation, we should celebrate their achievements and strive to emulate their commitment to justice, fairness, and integrity in our own lives. Kudos to the Falana family for being a shining example of what it means to fight for justice in Nigeria.

Israel said it struck “dozens” more Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Sunday, after dealing the Iran-backed group a seismic blow by killing its leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

Nasrallah’s killing and the past week’s waves of strikes on Hezbollah strongholds around Lebanon have plunged the tiny Mediterranean country and the wider region into fear of even more violence to come.

Hezbollah launched low-intensity cross-border strikes on Israeli troops after its Palestinian ally Hamas staged its unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, sparking the war in the Gaza Strip.

Nearly a year later, Israel announced a shift in its focus to battling Hezbollah on its northern front with Lebanon.

Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah’s killing on Friday in a massive strike on the group’s main bastion in south Lebanon’s capital, Beirut.

The Lebanese health ministry said the strikes on the densely populated area also left 55 people dead, while thousands of others have fled their homes in the neighbourhood.

“I can’t describe my shock at this announcement… we all started crying,” Maha Karit told AFP in Beirut after Nasrallah’s death.

With Lebanon already deep in political and economic crisis, the escalation has pushed it to the brink, with the bombardment killing more than 700 people in a week, according to health ministry figures.

The Israeli military said on Sunday its air force had struck “dozens of Hezbollah terror targets” after carrying out “hundreds” of strikes on Friday and Saturday.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported a string of raids in and around the city of Baalbek in the east, with “factories, warehouses” and residential areas among the targets.

At least six people were killed in a strike on a house in the northeastern Hermel region, the agency reported, while an emergency response group affiliated with Hezbollah ally Amal movement said five of its rescuers were killed in the south.

Hezbollah said its fighters launched “a volley of Fadi-1” rockets at an Israeli base in the Golan Heights early Sunday.

The Israeli military reported “approximately eight” launches from Lebanon that fell in unpopulated areas near the Israeli-annexed territory.

Cult status
Nasrallah was the face of Hezbollah, enjoying cult status among his supporters.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had “settled the score” with Nasrallah’s killing, while Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said the world was “a safer place” without him.

US President Joe Biden – whose government is Israel’s top arms supplier – said it was a “measure of justice for his many victims”.

Analysts told AFP that Nasrallah’s death leaves bruised Hezbollah under pressure to respond.

“Either we see an unprecedented reaction by Hezbollah… or this is total defeat,” said Heiko Wimmen of the International Crisis Group think tank.

The assassination also showcased Israel’s military and intelligence prowess in its battle against its foes.

“It demonstrates not only significant technological capacity but just how deeply Israel has penetrated Hezbollah,” said James Dorsey of Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Hezbollah backer Iran has condemned Nasrallah’s assassination, with First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref threatening it would bring about Israel’s “destruction”.

Iran’s UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani urged diplomacy to prevent Israel “from dragging the region into full-scale war”.

Hamas, which has fought Israeli forces in Gaza since the October 7 attack, condemned Nasrallah’s killing as a “cowardly terrorist act”.

Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and Syria all declared public mourning.

Allied armed groups across the region like Yemen’s Huthi rebels, already drawn into the Gaza war, have vowed action against Israel.

An “unmanned aerial target” approaching Israel over the Red Sea – where the Iran-backed Huthis have launched attacks before – was intercepted on Sunday, the Israeli military said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

[DailyTrust]

Senator Ali Ndume has decried the level of corruption in Nigeria, saying the trend is a major challenge facing the nation.

Ndume stated this during an interactive session with newsmen in Kano on Saturday.

“Our major challenge in this country is corruption.Uptill now, we have no law that can proactively or reactively address the issue of corruption in the country.

“If you see somebody in our system, especially in politics or government,and he is not corrupt,then he is lucky that he is God-fearing.

“Otherwise,it is only in Nigeria that you steal money and you walk freely and you are celebrated.

“If you come into an area like this, people would start lobbying you and prostrate before you even when they know that the money was stolen.

“It is only in this country that somebody had no money yesterday or last week,but the following week he buys 10 cars; buy jets and his family will celebrate with him,” he said.

The lawmaker said that in other developed countries, people would ask how, when and where he made his money but the reverse is the case here.

Ndume said he had made several efforts to pass a law on unexplained wealth in Nigeria,but that such endeavours never saw the light of the day.

He said he approached a former Head of State if he could sign an Executive Bill to that effect but he declined.

“Up till now, there is no law on unexplained wealth Act in Nigeria and there is no Executive Order on it,” Ndume said.

He expressed concern over the hunger in the country and called for an increased cultivation of food crops to address the problem.

“There is hunger in the land and up till now we have not cultivated up to five per cent of our land, Nigeria is blessed with massive arable land.

According to him, Nigeria is blessed with cultivable land everywhere such that could be used to grow food crops and feed the nation.

[DailyPost]

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership. 

This move follows the president’s visit to China in early September, where Nigeria and China agreed on key areas of cooperation.

This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday, September 29, by Special Adviser to the President on Information on Strategy, Bayo Onananuga. 

Tegbe, a 1988 first-class graduate in civil engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, will report directly to the President. 

He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. 

He will immediately submit a strategic action plan to enable Nigeria to benefit from the agreements between the two countries in Beijing. 

As the czar of the strategic partnership, he will lead day-to-day operations, engage continuously with the Chinese counterparts, and ensure that all deliverables are met and synchronised with national development goals. 

In the strategic plan, he will outline the specific deliverables, timelines, and key performance indicators for each area of cooperation. This will include priority projects, projected investments and expected socioeconomic outcomes. 

At the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), President Xi Jinping pledged 360 billion yuan, or about $51 billion, in new financing to African nations in the next three years. He also pledged support for 30 infrastructure projects to boost connectivity across the continent and create one million jobs.  

During his official visit before the FOCAC, President Tinubu also obtained a commitment from President Xi to support Nigeria’s economic diversification plans, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and job creation. 

The two countries committed to establishing hospital alliances and collaborating on medical research. Under the agreement, Chinese healthcare professionals will be deployed to support Nigeria’s healthcare system. 

China and Nigeria agreed to collaborate to advance education and talent development, focusing on vocational training, STEM education, and academic exchanges. Joint initiatives, such as establishing engineering technology academies and providing scholarships, will help equip Nigerian youth with skills needed in a modern workforce. 

The two countries also planned to improve Nigeria’s agricultural practices through knowledge sharing, technology transfer and investment in sustainable farming techniques. 

Tegbe, who will ensure the actualisation of the agreements, is 58 years old. 

After his education at Federal Government College, Ogbomosho, and Obafemi Awolowo University, he had about 35 years of experience in business strategy.  

He was the senior partner and head of advisory services at KPMG in Africa, with a portfolio and responsibilities that included the Middle East. 

He has worked for many Fortune 500 companies and African conglomerates, advising on strategic planning, investment, and portfolio reviews. 

He also led subnational governments, such as Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Benue, and Bayelsa, in investment drives to South Africa, Denmark, China, India, Singapore, and the UAE.

[TheNation]

The Ogun State Police Command on Sunday confirmed that a 35-year-old zoo worker at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Babaji Daule, was on Saturday killed by a lion.

The spokesman for the state police command, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Sunday.

The Bauch State born lion handler was said to have forgotten to secure the locks and barricade the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal.

This reportedly allowed the lion to escape and attack the handler, resulting in injuries to his neck and eventual death

The victim’s body was said to have been removed and taken to the mortuary at Ijaye General Hospital, while the wild lion was shot to release its grip on the handler.

Details later

[Punch]

“I didn’t come to look for money and exploit the situation; I came to work. I asked for the votes, and Nigerians gave them to me” – President Bola Tinubu, September 20, 2024.

Small correction is needed before getting to the heart of the matter. Nigerians gave candidate Tinubu 33 per cent of their votes; 67 per cent did not want him. INEC and the judiciary finished the job for him. Furthermore, no President has ever confessed that he was looking for money. But, why are they always far richer after than before going into office? To the best of my knowledge, Tinubu had no AIRBUS 320, even Tokunbo, before he became President. That costs a lot of money! One of the best attributes of great leaders is leadership by example. 

“He that gives good advice builds with one hand. He that gives good counsel and example builds with both hands. But, he that gives good admonition, and bad examples, builds with one hand and pulls down with the other” – Francis Bacon, 1561-1626, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, p5, online.

Two weeks ago, Tinubu announced that “there is no free beer parlour anymore.” Most Nigerians will readily agree that appointing 48 Ministers, most with next to nothing to do, is akin to opening the biggest beer parlour in the nation. One would have expected the President to close those parlours. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources and its Departments and Agencies are the worst performing. Together, they have kept four idle scraps called refineries at great cost to the nation.

In fact, as a former Marketing Manager of three breweries in Nigeria, and very familiar with the operation of beer parlours, I can state authoritatively that 90 per cent of beer parlours are better managed than the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL. If they are not, they would have been out of business a long time ago. NNPCL collected billions to revive the refineries without success. Madam Beer Parlour has more sense. Everybody can remember the same promise made last year until it was time for the annual Holy Pilgrimage; when N91 billion was suddenly released. Few can forget the plane load of Nigerian officials who attended an international event to which China and the USA sent less than two dozen people. Talk is always cheap.

WHY NIGERIANS SHOULD FORGET GOVERNMENTS — N/E FIRST

“How 6 collapsed bridges disconnected North-East states” – Weekend Trust, September 21, 2024, p19

The North-East zone of Nigeria, perennially the poorest of the six, is so distant from Lagos and Abuja that few of our media establishments – print, electronic or online – pay attention to it until something extra-ordinary occurs. Most often, it is a tragedy. Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, was in the news on account of a disaster which is still unfolding. Water from the Alau Dam, situated about 15 kilometres from the city, not only flooded the city, but also submerged thousands of buildings and structures. According to ReliefWeb, so far, about 40 people have been confirmed dead, 400,000 displaced and over one million people affected so far. The reader should bear in mind that several buildings are still partly under water and hundreds of people are still missing. Crops and stored food items have also been washed away. So, we don’t have a full tally of the damages.

“Only one week before the flooding, media across the country reported the Borno State government assuring – this word again – the country and residents of the city that all was well and there is nothing to worry about” – Suleiman A Suleiman, THE WHITE PAPER, Daily Trust, September 23, 2024.

Ordinarily, the disaster would have been dismissed as an act of God – the sort that can happen anywhere. But, after reading Dr Suleiman’s article, it became obvious that this was a tragedy foretold, preventable and which could have cost far less if it was averted by governments. Now, the entire nation will pay dearly for the serious dereliction of their duties by those elected and appointed to protect citizens from such disasters. Suleiman pronounced, and I absolutely agree, that “For many Nigerians in Maiduguri and environs ravaged by flood in the week before last, life would never be the same again.” No economist can possibly disagree. In fact, it might take decades for Maiduguri’s economy to recover; for reasons to be explained shortly. First, there is a need to examine governments’ role in this catastrophe; because several mini-tragedies have occurred which are creating a pattern of destruction all over Nigeria right now.
ROADS AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURES

“Sad tales as federal highway collapses in Asaba” – VANGUARD, September 24

Just in case you think that the Maiduguri incident was one off. Permit me to draw your attention to one building up on the Asaba gateway to Onitsha in the South-East. Until the Second Niger Bridge was opened, the old Niger Bridge was the shortest gateway to several states in the South-South, South-East, Benue, parts of Kogi, Nasarawa and the North-East from Lagos. The pictures on page 12 of the paper tell more than a million words the story of absolute neglect by the FG since Buhari became President, and my brother Fashola was his Minister of Works. Nobody needs to be told that Engineer David Umahi, the current Minister of Works, has been too busy working on the road to nowhere from Lagos to Calabar to serve his own people. There is a bridge at the end of that road; and that entire area will soon be visited by flood water starting from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon. Just pray; because no government is thinking of the problems ahead of us.

Meanwhile, in the North, the consequences of neglecting roads and bridges are already creating havoc everywhere. The collapse of six bridges, just six, has already impoverished the people as much as bandits, hoodlums, kidnappers and herdsmen have done. Read first and understand the economic implications later.

“For instance, from Maiduguri to Geidam  was just N6, 000 before the bridge was cut off, but we now charge N16,000 to cover the cost of an additional 350 kilometres…Maiduguri to Kano is now N20,000 against the N12,000 we charged previously, Geidam to Damaturu was N4,000, but, it’s now N13,000…” That was part of the report from officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW. You don’t need to know the cities mentioned as I do, having lived and worked in the zone. Just follow the transport fare increases; then remember that passengers and food products follow the same routes, and you will then understand why food prices will remain stubbornly high for a long time to come. Also, remember that what has happened to bridges and roads in the North-East has occurred in all the zones of Nigeria. With very few exceptions, the problems were man-made. Designers of dams, bridges and roads invariably recommend maintenance schedules for safety. Just as invariably, Nigerian governments ignore the planned maintenance schedules until Alau Dam collapsed.

ADVICE GOV ZULUM AND THE PEOPLE ON DONATIONS

“Telling the truth and accepting the truth has been our major problem in Nigeria. Some people will never tell you the truth when you are in power, and, honestly, many of us in power also do not want to hear the truth” – Professor Zulum, Governor of Borno State, 2021.
Governor Zulum, I volunteer to tell you the truth while in power. This disaster will reveal to the whole world whether or not Zulum is a hypocrite or not. There are occasions when only the hard truths must be faced. First and foremost, Zulum must admit responsibility for this tragedy; it occurred during his fifth year and three months in office and despite assurances given that all was well. Second, in more civilised nations, heads would have rolled – of officials who should have raised alarms but failed to do so; even if they were afraid of telling the governor the truth. 

Zulum has appeared in public wearing the solemn look of Chief Mourner, with begging bowl in hand, and pledges have been pouring in. In that connection, let me advise the Governor and the people. One, they might discover that not all pledges will be redeemed. One clever chap, now a Senator, allegedly donated newspaper cuttings in naira sizes to University of Maiduguri in the 1980s!! So, the State Government should keep a meticulous record of ACTUAL payments. SERAP is watching and counting. Finally, N21 billion will never be sufficient to take care of everybody; not even N210 billion or N2.1 trillion. Government must let the people know how limited the intervention can be. The people of Maiduguri and Nigeria must accept the truth that governments cannot help most of us. We should just fend for ourselves as best as we can.
NIGERIA GOES TO THE UN WITH BEGGING BOWL AGAIN

“UNGA79: Tinubu seeks debt forgiveness for Nigeria” – Report. 
Nigeria went to the United Nations in 2004 with a begging bowl – asking for debt forgiveness. In 2024, Nigeria is returning to the same UN with another begging bowl. Beggars are not entitled to respect. Nigerian leaders should expect none.

Anyone who followed the conduct of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State would not have found it difficult to identify several challenges which derogated substantially from what could easily have ended as a free, fair and credible electoral process. Must every Nigerian election be contentious and unduly controversial? Why is it so difficult to play the game of election by its rules in Nigeria?

If Nigerian politicians who have become notorious for their anti-democratic disposition make it hard for the country to attain successful elections, must election managers also allow their unacceptable partisanship to continue to worsen Nigeria’s political dilemma? Many more questions must have been silently considered by well-meaning citizens in the last one week

What the questions partly suggest is that public perception concerning politics and elections in the country is poor. The way forward is for the Independent National Election Commission INEC which has the sole mandate for the conduct of credible elections to immediately recognize the disturbing public perception and take steps to reverse the situation. It is laudable that the INEC office in Ondo State where the next off cycle election is scheduled to hold has already assumed a redeeming posture. According to media reports, Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, has made a passionate appeal to the electorates in the state not to lose faith in the electoral process.

In Babalola’s words, “every vote will count, and we will ensure that everyone’s vote is counted…don’t lose faith in the electoral process … the people of Ondo State should trust us to deliver a credible election.” Whereas assurances such as this are not new, the nation does not have a rich history of how they were actually adhered to. In fairness to INEC, many politicians are fond of viciously attacking the commission once election results are not in their favour. In other words, Nigeria has a host of bad losers in the game of elections. Besides, many of the challenges which are often thrown up during elections are caused not directly by INEC but by other election administrators such as security agencies, the judiciary and indeed political parties themselves.

There are at least two common happenings during elections that are beyond the role of INEC. One of them is vote buying. It is obviously beyond the capacity of election officials who are busy with accreditation and specific procedures for the casting of ballots to, at the same time, seek to control vote buying. One would have expected the security agencies to handle that segment well but it is hardly done. Interestingly, there are allegations that even the security personnel themselves are usually among those compromised as a result of such material inducements. During last Saturday’s governorship elections in Edo State, many people including voters testified that people openly voted for the highest bidder. 

A second problem has to do with the sudden relocation of collation venues from the location originally prescribed and publicised. With over 40,000 security operatives reportedly deployed to Edo State last Saturday, it is difficult to understand the expedience of relocating from a venue for security reasons. Why did the security agencies not fortify the prescribed location or are they only able to secure unapproved locations? In addition, each time collation venues are suddenly changed, the common report is always that certain party agents and some journalists and election observers are usually not allowed into the new venues. Considering that such persons were accredited by INEC to be part of the process why are they obstructed from the new venue and why would anyone expect those so disallowed to accept the eventual results announced?

There is however the argument that because INEC is not equipped to deal with security infractions such as the snatching of ballot boxes or intimidation of officials, the commission has to always rely on security advice. But can security advice legitimize unapproved venues? Here, there is a perception that INEC itself seems to enjoy the collusion with the security agencies to relocate from the approved venue to a conducive location for the perpetuation of electoral malpractices. Beyond collusion with other election administrators, INEC itself quite often, performs far below expectation prompting negative reactions not only from politicians but also from voters and the general public.

A good example of INEC’s poor performance is the unending lateness of officials and election materials to polling centres at every election. Whether it is a presidential election which is a massive nation-wide event or voting in only one state or even a single constituency, election personnel and materials must arrive late. Many years back this writer found time to participate in election monitoring where I observed such condemnable canon of behaviour. I was indeed shocked to see that during the Anambra governorship election of November 2013, election materials were late to a polling unit directly behind the INEC office – the operational base of the commission in Awka, the state capital.

Earlier in June, the case of the Oguta election was more scandalous because although it was held in only 4 wards for just one seat in the Imo State House of Assembly, many voters became restive after waiting in vain for several hours for the election process to commence. Painfully, this negative attitude is yet to change as many voters waited for longer than makes sense for the process to start in last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State. According to media reports, there were delayed arrivals and commencement of the process in some locations such as Oba Market, Zabayo Street and Plymouth Road polling stations in the state capital. 

In Edo Central, the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reported that INEC officials and materials arrived in Okaegben ward one, unit 3 in Ewohimi at exactly 10:30 a.m. that is two full hours behind schedule. Incidentally this was the polling unit of the PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo. Although INEC promptly as usual ordered an extension of time in such locations, many people have continued to deprecate the practice whereby an agency that can conduct an event nationwide can have avoidable challenges in just one of 36 states and the federal capital territory. If as we hear, the electoral body is always having problems from its vendor, why is the same vendor always patronized? 

In the case of only one governorship election, there is doubt if INEC needs a third party to handle its logistics. Why can’t the commission pull its resources from all its nationwide offices to surmount logistics challenges or is there a rule which makes it compulsory for INEC to involve an unreliable third party in its arrangements especially one that it can internally handle? Also difficult to comprehend is the inability of the commission to properly manage the critical segment of collation and declaration of election results. One of the allegations often made during elections is over-voting. This is unacceptable because everyone knows that an election result whose figures exceed the number of accredited voters is invalid. Why then do some election officials not crosscheck results before announcing them? 

In addition, the practice of assembling agents and other interest groups to listen and comment on collated results has become annoying. This is because INEC normally does nothing about any point raised against what is read to the group. If whatever is announced is sacrosanct what is the purpose of asking for comments? Why can’t objections raised by agents be investigated before results are formally announced when INEC has 7 days to review its figures before announcing them? While it is true that politicians have a tendency to make false claims, INEC has a duty to review specific controversial results such as that of Ward six in Akoko Edo, units 12, 17, 15, 18, 14, and 16 where elections allegedly did not hold yet there were results. 

To protect its public image, INEC ought to immediately break its silence over several allegations especially those concerning election officials who were specifically identified for playing reprehensible roles at Edo last Saturday. Apart from an Assistant Director in charge of Electoral operations at INEC headquarters, the Presiding officer at the Osholo Primary School Polling Unit in Weppa, Etsako East Local Government Area, who was alleged to have arrived at over 400 votes when only 213 voters were accredited ought to be investigated. Inaction on these issues can exacerbate adverse public perceptions of INEC.

BARELY two months after the August 1-10 protests tagged #EndBadGovernance, some Nigerians are warming up for fresh nationwide protests planned to hit the streets on October 1, that is, about 48 hours away.

The date coincides with the 64th Independence Day celebration of Nigeria, and the protests are basically to reinforce demands earlier made by protesters but largely greeted with silence from the Federal Government despite President Bola Tinubu’s promise in a broadcast to dialogue with protest leaders.

Another reason perhaps is that #EndBadGovernance protesters, numbering over 1,000, remain in various prison facilities across the country after being charged with treason by the government.

Some of the protesters have been granted bail but under the stringent condition of paying N10 million each, particularly the 10 that were charged in Abuja.

Meanwhile, some Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, speaking with Sunday Vanguard, expressed worry over the demands made by the protesters that are yet to be addressed about two months after President Bola Tinubu, in a national broadcast in August and amidst the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country, promised to dialogue with them.

Time for dialogue is now – ANEEJ

In his reaction to the October 1 proposed protests, the Executive Secretary, African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev David Ugolor, said, “The government’s response to the October 1 protests could depend on the scale and public reaction. If the protests gain significant traction, media attention, and public sympathy, the government may feel pressured to engage”, Ugolor said.

“But in the absence of a well-defined strategy for dialogue, the demonstrations would encounter opposition rather than cooperation which might escalate tensions.”

He further stated that after the August protesters presented their demands to the government, “there has been no widely reported or concrete dialogue between the Federal Government and the protesters since President Bola Tinubu mentioned the possibility”.

“Despite the fact that a few government representatives indicated they were open to negotiations, no meaningful interaction has been seen”, the activist stated.

“The government has expressed readiness for dialogue in principle, but practical steps towards initiating structured discussions with protesters remain unclear. This hesitation suggests that the government might not yet have a clear strategy or timeline for engaging directly with protesters.”

Ugolor also spoke on the protesters still remanded in prison, saying: “The ongoing detention of protesters raises serious concerns regarding human rights violations and civil liberties.

“Due process rights for those who are still in detention are being violated in an attempt to quell criticism, which can exacerbate social unrest and erode public confidence in the legal system.”

On the intervention by the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, to release the protesters in prison unconditionally, Ugolor asserted, “Both the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, have historically intervened in cases of rights violations.
“There have been efforts by these bodies to advocate for detained protesters, but the scope and success of their interventions vary. These organizations are crucial in pressuring the legal system to ensure fair trials and respect for human rights.”

No guarantee govt. will take a different approach to protests – Global Rights

On her part, the Executive Director, Global Rights Nigeria, Abiodun Baiyewu, said, “There is no indication that the Tinubu administration will take a different approach to handling protests.

“Since the August protests, the government has intensified its crackdown on civic actors such as Omoyele Sowore and the NLC President. The government has also taken the extreme step of besieging the offices of SERAP.

“This is a government that has shown a deep intolerance to dissent, and there is little reason to believe they will be more receptive to protesters’ demands this time around.

“The citizens are angry. The spurious charge of treason has also driven dissent underground. At this point, no one knows what is next. If it does not happen on the 1st of October, it would eventually spontaneously combust.”

On the Federal Government engaging protesters for dialogue as mentioned by Tinubu, the Global Rights Nigeria boss said, “Not in any meaningful way. The President addressed the nation on August 4th during the initial days of the protests.

“In his speech, he avoided addressing the core issues driving the protests, namely, high inflation, widespread poverty exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidies, and the increasing insecurity across Nigeria.

“He highlighted programs and initiatives his administration was implementing and urged citizens to be patient with economic reforms, insisting things would improve in the future.

“However, his speech lacked clarity on how the government would share the burden of these challenges. Many civic actors and commentators expressed disappointment with the substance of the address.

“On August 8th, the Head of Media, Presidential Community Engagement Office, Ms. Seun Ajayi, stated that she and six Senior Special Assistants to the President on Community Engagement had been tasked with engaging citizens about the protests. However, none of us is aware that such engagements took place or what their outcomes were.

“The frustrations that fuelled the #EndBadGovernance protests largely persist. In fact, there has been an increase in the price of petrol since the protests, worsening citizens’ discontent.”

Asked if she thought the government was ready for dialogue with protesters, she asserted, “I don’t believe so. The initial reaction to the #EndBadGovernance protests was to dismiss them as politically motivated by opposition forces.

“The government then paid lip service to understanding the grievances, but its actions did not reflect this. In his August 4th speech, President Tinubu advocated for patience, but the government cannot in good faith expect Nigerians to bear the economic burden while it continues to spend taxpayer funds recklessly.

“The President frequently embarks on extravagant foreign trips accompanied by large entourage, with no benefits felt by Nigerians. The recent purchase of a presidential yacht and plane is just as wasteful, especially when citizens struggle to afford the barest necessities.

“Moreover, Tinubu has insisted that there will be no reversal on the fuel subsidy removal, a central demand of the protesters. Given these fundamental differences in viewpoints, it is unlikely the government is genuinely interested in engaging with protesters.

“The government has also gone to great lengths to suppress the protests, infringing on protesters’ human rights. From obtaining court orders to limit the protests’ scope to the unlawful arrests and prosecution of protesters for charges as serious as treason, the government has little appetite for dialogue. In some instances, protesters were even killed by Nigerian law enforcement!”

Baiyewu also spoke about her concerns about protesters still remanded in prison custody.

“The main concern is that the Nigerian state is violating their constitutionally guaranteed rights to peacefully assemble, associate, and express themselves”, the activist stated.

“Another issue is the judiciary, which was once regarded as the ‘Last Hope of the Common Man,’ being wielded by the state as a tool against the people. It is absurd that peaceful protesters were arrested and charged with crimes like treason.

“Equally troubling is that some judges are imposing extreme and excessive bail conditions for their release, rather than dismissing these baseless charges. Additionally, some of the arrested protesters are children who have no business being detained.”

She expressed her view on intervention by the NBA and the NHRC for the release of protesters in prison custody: “The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has worked with civil society organizations to secure the release of protesters in Kano.

“However, regarding the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, while the Commission acknowledged human rights violations during the #EndBadGovernance protests, there is no information that suggests that they are working to ensure the release of the protesters.”

Don’t leave protesters’ release for the NBA, NHRC alone – HOMEF Director

The Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, Arc Nnimmo Bassey, counselled that Nigerians should take it upon themselves to pressurize government to unconditionally release protesters in prison facilities across the country instead of leaving that effort to the NBA and the NHRC.

“The issue of detention of peaceful protesters is not a matter to be left to the Nigerian Bar Association or the National Human Rights Commission. It is a matter for all Nigerians. Arresting, detaining and prosecuting peaceful protestors is against the basic tenets of democracy”, Bassey said.

“It is a very dangerous situation for citizens to be muzzled and stopped from expressing how they feel or what is affecting them. It is a clear indicator of a slide into dictatorship, a harbinger of harsher actions ahead.

“Having a protest announced weeks ahead should give the government time to act on the demands of the people. Refusing to take steps in response to demands built around conditions that are known to all citizens is not strategically sound at all.

“And if the government insists that the actions they are taking will yield positive outcomes in the future, they have to tell the people when that future will arrive and how the people are to bear the current pains and deprivations until such a time.

“Government should not forget that in all planning scenarios, there must be key indicators for expected short-term, medium term and long-term outcomes. Defending actions with only long term outcomes is not a saleable option”.

October 1 protests likely to happen – ActionAid Director

Meanwhile, the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, Andrew Mamedu, said, “There is a hint of another protest likely to happen on the 1st of October 2024 tagged the ‘Take It Back’ Movement. This is a great opportunity for the government to organize dialogues with Nigerians especially the youth to fathom what they want and what can be done very fast.

“I cannot quite say. The indications for dialogue so far have been discouraging; although, we have seen some minute dialogue and conversations with intended protesters by the Lagos State police, we need this discussion on a larger scale and by the President himself.

“Like I said earlier, the government would save itself a lot of frustrations by listening to the grievances of the young people. Fighting civil society is not the answer, we are here to help the government and ensure it stays on track. We are not the enemy and should not be seen to be so.”

He added, “There’s been no clear indication that the Federal Government has engaged protesters in dialogue as promised by President Bola Tinubu.

“The call for dialogue is not new, as many have advocated for this approach to address Nigeria’s challenges. Unfortunately, without concrete evidence of engagement, it’s difficult to assess the government’s commitment to a dialogue on this matter.

“Recently we learnt that six protesters were released by the DSS in Kaduna after an investigation was carried out, this is just six out of the 2,111 protesters arrested during the protests nationwide.

“The Nigerian government’s response to the #EndBadGovernance protests has been concerning, to say the least. Despite President Bola Tinubu’s promise of dialogue, there’s been no concrete evidence of engagement with protesters. It’s been nearly two months since the nationwide protests, and the government’s inaction and irresponsiveness suggest they’re not ready for dialogue.

“We cannot speak for the government, but we think whatever demands the protesters are making, the government should try to meet them mid-way. Mr. President is the father of the country and a formidable activist in his days.

“He has contributed immensely to promoting democracy through many means including dissent and protests. He should be able and willing to dialogue with the young people who are today frustrated about the economy, insecurity in the country.”

‘Protesters remanded for 60 days without bail violates right to life’

The AAN boss expressed concern about protesters still remanded in prison custody for 60 days without bail.
“The fact that there are still protesters in detention is a sad commentary on the freedom to express our disagreement in a civil manner”, Mamedu said.

“Protest is a legitimate means of registering disagreement with the government. How it has suddenly turned to a charge of treason is beyond everyone.

“We are all concerned about the shrinking civil spaces, and I think it is about time the President steps in and halts the descent and needless war against civil society. Every Nigerian watching the trial is also concerned about the bail conditions which are too stringent.

“You could see those accused of planning treason, is it even logical that those boys are capable of such an act? Protest, we must say again, is not treason and Mr. President should not allow certain elements to deem it so.

“This detention so far clearly violates their human rights and undermines the fundamental principles of justice and freedom. Being remanded for 60 days without the possibility of bail violates their right to life, the dignity of the human person, health and freedom of movement.

“I still stand that the Nigerian authorities must take immediate action to address these concerns, ensure the release of detained protesters, and guarantee their safety and well-being. The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental human right, and it’s essential to protect and promote this right.”
According to him, the NBA and NHRC have been able to secure the release of some protesters.

“The detention of protesters is a clear violation of their human rights, undermining justice and freedom. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has expressed deep concern over human rights abuses during these protests, urging Nigeria to respect peaceful protest, end excessive force, and conduct independent investigations”, Mamedu said.

“The Nigerian Bar Association is providing pro bono representation to detained protesters and has set up a monitoring committee to track interactions between law enforcement and protesters.
“We currently learnt that through their intervention six protesters were released in Kano, that is an applaud-able effort, but we need more effort from them to ensure more protesters are released.
“The Nigerian government is expected to respond to these concerns and take necessary actions to protect human rights and prevent further violations”.

Immediately the prostitutes were apprehended, rather than the office, Potts-Johnson escorted them to their homes. There, upon demanding #10 as bribe, the welfare officer was offered #5.30s by Agadagwu’s landlord, one Bakare, who negotiated the bribe sum with Potts-Johnson in Yoruba. Bakare promised Agadagwu would pay the balance later. The other prostitute, George, also offered the welfare officer 5s.2d. from the bribe amount demanded. If they hadn’t paid the bribes, upon conviction in court, the prostitutes risked two years in prison, #50 fine and repatriation by government from Lagos. But immediately after paying the initial bribes, the prostitutes reported it to the police. The Lagos police then handed them marked notes which represented the balance of the bribe money, on which was covertly inscribed, Wayo. The police also planted an undercover Sheriff to witness the bribery. When Toviho, Potts-Johnson’s middleman, came to collect the bribe money, he and the welfare officer were arrested.

In my piece of February 6, 2022 with the title, Atiku Abubakar and the sexual history of the Nigerian presidency, I explored this theme. I submitted that sexual politics defines and is often behind most of the corruption issues in high and low places in the world. A musical track rendered by Lagos Epe-born Apala music lord, Ligali Mukaiba in the 1970s illustrates this. The particular Mukaiba track speaks about the pervasive influence of women in the lives of men, comparable only to drugs on addicts. He sang “Mi o wa ri’hun t’obinrin o le fi’ni se, t’o ba nwu’ni, t’o ba nj’araba eni, t’o ba l’o ya ni Sokoto, kuru kere o, kere o, kuru kere o, a o tele l’eyin ni…”

Using the lurid story that instantly went viral in Zimbabwe that former Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, had suffered “a nasty blow from below” – euphemism for impotency – I drilled into how central and virile political power is and how men of power, through their libido, use sex as a locus of power. Attached to that, I argued, is why, agreeing with Prof Wale Adebanwi in his journal article he entitled The Carnality of Power, that all of us – scholars, lay scholars and society as a whole – “need to pay greater attention to the ways in which obscenity can help explain the nature of power.” From Abubakar, to Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, I used these men of power as examples of exercises of virile members, to explain how libidinous politics and corruption cannot be divorced in Nigeria’s socio-politics.

Sorry, I digressed. A major obscene scandal broke out last week. It will seem to annotate the above theme of the need for us to pay more regards to obscenities in our analysis of society. It is a narrative which tangentially bears the colour of sex, though it smells more of corruption. With it, we can measure the barometer of how low our society has sunk and how political and social powers are implicated in the rot of our society. The story starred controversial cross-dresser jailbird, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, whose allegedly leaked audio conversation has created a national mess. If the authenticity of the video is confirmed, Bobrisky’s travails will bring back to memory an ancient Yoruba folklore of a man called Alade. Alade was a gentleman whose mutual friend had asked why he always wore his cap all the time. After much pressure, Alade decided to share the secret with this mutual friend, but on one condition – it must be kept secret from humanity. Alade then removed his cap, revealing a short stumpy horn around the frontal part of his head. His friend was shocked but promised to keep the secret. However, he could not stomach the secret for long. Keeping to the terms of not telling any human being, one day, the friend dug a hole into which he screamed, “Alade grew a horn (on the head)!” – Àlàdé hù’wo! Mysteriously, a tree sprang up from the hole and soon after, whenever boys blew a flute near it, the tree echoed, “Àlàdé hù’wo!” With this, the entire village got to know about Alade’s best kept secret.

A social media influencer, Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, had circulated an audio conversation Bobrisky allegedly had with an unnamed Alade. It instantly went viral. In it, someone, said to be Bobrisky, alleged that he paid the sum of N15 million to unnamed EFCC officers to have a charge of money laundering spiked off the criminal charges preferred by the state against him. The cross-dresser had been jailed six months after he admitted guilt for dealing unkindly with the Nigerian Naira. However, in the same audio, the Bobrisky claimed that he spent her term in an apartment, as against the Nigerian correctional centre imposed by the court. Shortly after the allegation, the cross-dresser refuted the accusations on his Instagram page. He claimed he was victim of a setup. Both the EFCC and Minister of the Interior have ordered full-scale investigations into the scandal, with the ministry of interior taking a bolder step in suspending all the prisons officers in charge of Bobrisky’s term in the Lagos Kirikiri prison.

Beyond the theme of crime and corruption in the Bobrisky case is the Nigerian society’s disdain for considered unusual sexuality and in particular, Okuneye’s audacity to flaunt it. As a measure of its conservatism, the Yoruba frown at counting the fingers of a nine-fingered person in their presence (a kii t’oju oni’ka mesan kaa.) In my April 7, 2024 piece with the title, Bobrisky and Jesus, the tax collector, written immediately the cross-dresser was jailed, I said this much. If you flip through the pages of history, you will discover, as I said in the piece, that from ancient times, the world has never hidden its hostility towards people who profess sexual orientation different from its heterosexual conservative status. This is also responsible for why a large chunk of the black world vents its anger on the western world’s validation of homosexuality. In the 19th century and even before, Bobriskys were lynched like common criminals. Their sin was their considered unusual sexuality. Until then, homosexual activities were classified as “unnatural crime against nature,” while sodomy got punished with, sometimes death penalty.

In comparison with his unusual sexuality forebears, Bobrisky has suffered one of the mildest fates. Between 1877 and 1950, over 4,000 of them were lynched. It subsisted till a few years ago in America. So, when you appraise the collage of apparent gang-ups – VeryDarkMan and others – against Bobrisky, you will get an affirmation of the Yoruba saying that he who does the unusual should be ready for infliction of an unusual reprisal (eni ba se’un t’enikan o se ri, aa ri’un t’enikan o ri ri). Bobrisky’s travails seem to be society’s attempt to deconstruct and destroy this unusual sexuality impresario. When you examine this thesis against the backcloth of Bobrisky’s recent innuendo that he could commit suicide, you will agree with me that the self-touted Mommy of Lagos is in the gulag of a conservative society and may never get out of it alive. If you ask me, I think Bobrisky commodifies her cross-dressing, using it as façade for God-knows-what unpleasant money-making ventures.

The allegation that Bobrisky paid bribe to the EFCC for a money laundering charge to be removed then crept in. The viral audio, amplified by VeryDarkMan, also alleged that he paid bribe to prison top officials to enable him serve his term outside the hostile walls of the Kirikiri prison. On this, all we have been entertained with since last week when the obscene scandal broke is a national breakfast of hypocrisy. Why are Nigerians feigning prudery at these scandalous revelations? Are we hearing about a story of this stench for the first time? Let us hop down from our high horses. If truth be told, the only way to reform this country is for both the leaders and the led to come clean with themselves. Nigeria is a thoroughly worsted place and all the bounds and parameters of societal civility, decency and global norms of civilized people have broken down irretrievably. I personally overheard an Edo-born prison warder detailed to a politically exposed person arraigned before the Lagos Federal High Court some years ago, saying, “Mek dem post me to (I am hiding the politician’s identity) mek I no buy car? He no go happen!” Last year, we witnessed an obscene altercation between DSS operatives and prison officials, right in the premises of the court. Their beef was on who owned custodial power over embattled Godwin Emefiele. And apparently, his loot. It was later that Nigerians found out that the scuffle was not strictly a turf battle; it was a graft fight, something in the mould of a robber robs the till and a thief robs the robber (ole gbe, ole gbaa.)

Like Nigeria, the prison is brimming with rotund-bellied maggots which reflect the collapse of virtually all the values that cobbled Nigeria together. Apart from decayed infrastructure, overcrowding and allied issues, Nigerian prisons are home to officers who, in saner societies, should themselves be in prison. In 2019, investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, adopting the pseudonym, Ojo Olajumoke, spent five days in a police cell and eight days as an inmate in Ikoyi Prison. It was in the bid to track corruption in Nigeria’s criminal justice system. There was no single whimper from the Nigerian establishment. After Soyombo’s arrest and detention in police custody, he was arraigned in court and ultimately got a remand in prison. He emerged with very distressing stories of illegitimate arrests, extrajudicial killings, bribery and corruption and a criminal justice system that is in a sorry case. He even claimed that a prison official asked him for money to remove his name from jailbirds’ roster.

If Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is merely interested in the optics of being perceived as proactive, in order to save his job from the Sword of Damocles said to be hanging on ministers, he should let us know. But if he is genuinely interested in reforming Nigerian prisons, he surely has a humongous job on his hands. It is more demanding than the “I swear-to-Almighty-God” raising-of-a-finger he was embroiled in last week. Yoruba talk about how widespread a covertly released fart could go in its “B’a se nyo’so, l’a se nyo’gbo” aphorism. The Bobrisky allegation of Very Important Prisoners being ferried out of jail while serving their terms is almost as old as corruption in Nigeria. We have heard of a VIP who impregnated his wife while serving his term and who was present at the child’s christening. We have also heard a story, which occurred some twenty-something years ago, of a man who later rose to become a senator and a political party bigwig. While in detention for alleged murder, exhibiting his libidinous prowess, the girl procured for this Very Important Detainee in an apartment outside of prison had fainted under him. If indeed, as it is said, that a people is assessed by the way it treats its most vulnerable, prisoners are vulnerable lots and we should be interested in what goes on inside that nocturne called prison. Until Nigerian prisons become reformatory, as opposed to the place of torment it is today, it will continue to be a microcosm of our macroscopic Nigerian tragedy.

It will be gratifying if Olanipekun Olukoyede, the EFCC chair, on hearing the messy news that his operatives were sunk in the Bobrisky N15m scandal, is silently preparing earthly purgatory for them. He must do as the colonial police did in 1947 to Ayodele Potts-Johnson. This is time for Olukoyede to peel himself of his church mien and wear the garb of a Dracula. Otherwise, he will be dragging in the mud his pastoral calling claim, perceived to be atypical with the task of a crime fighter. If news circulating in Nigeria from those who experience Olukoyede’s men in all parts of the country is anything to go by, he is sitting atop a maggots’ empire where operatives are nothing more than armed gunmen who terrorize and extort criminals of their loots. These Wayo theatrics, in the name of crime fighting and law enforcement, has to stop.

Kabiyesi Ladoja @80

A blight that critics hold against newspaper column writers is that sometimes, our shots go off tangent, disenabling us from achieving precision. In the process, they claim, we mis-profile our subjects, literally calling the King’s Mother (Iya Oba) the Monkey Mother (Iya Obo). My reply to them is that, column writers are not infallible because they are columnists… Full stop! My reply is a timid parodying of Justice Chukwudifu Oputa’s locus classicus statement about the Supreme Court. I can’t go the whole hog and delve into its second stanza due to its potential for immodesty. Only Oputa, the great jurist, could so conclude about the Almightiness of the final appellate court.

The extreme ones among the critics compare column-writing’s sometimes imprecision to the proverbial Saare whose demonstration of knowledge resulted in unknowledge. One day, Saare went to the farm but rushed back home, panting. To his parents who were troubled on what went amiss, the young hunter told them they should show gratitude to their Maker because he was almost devoured by a leopard which strayed from the forest. And then, Saare began a description of the strange animal. “It had big, dilating eyes! It had arresting colour!” features his parents affirmed were a leopard’s (Ekun). Immediately, Saare’s father, an Ifa priest, ordered objects of sacrifice to appreciate and propitiate Saare’s “head.” When all the propitiation materials arrived – a big ram, red oil and others – in readiness for the sacrifice, unprompted, Saare then lullabied, in his flippant best: “The leopard was tall, had two huge horns! It was even eating okra!” Saare’s parents immediately apologized to the sacrificial crew: “Our son didn’t see a leopard. He saw a deer.” So, Yoruba say, amonju l’o b’ekun Saare je.

In my 26 years of column writing, (including the years of exits) I have had several bull’s-eye hits and some imprecisions. Two personalities stand out on the list of subjects who, in reviews of their personalities, I sometimes shot off tangent. They were, Late Adebayo Alao-Akala and Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, ex-governors of Oyo State. When they were both in government, my pen tormented them severally. On meeting Alao-Akala years after he left government, I encountered a man whose heart was as pure as spring water and whose humanity was one every mortal should seek after. When he asked me to write the Foreword to his memoir, Amazing Grace, like a witch’s confession, as the Yoruba will say, I was contrite, “mo tuuba.” While I am incapable of excusing their politics and governance, I can say both are/were great personalities.

In my writings and media strategies while I was myself in office, I wasn’t kind to Ladoja at all. Yet, we never met. However, in October, 2020, we met for the first and last time at the University of Ibadan. I was privileged to be on the high table with him, during a symposium organized by Hon Babs Oduyoye to mark his birthday. I don’t know where I got the audacity, but I walked up to him and introduced myself. He was literally overjoyed to meet me, thrust his hand forward excitedly and we shook hands like they did while signing the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT). What he said about his estimation of me, rather than excite me, saddened me. How could I spend a large chunk of my writings demonizing a man who thought so highly of me? A couple of years later when talks centered on his biography, one of his ‘sons’ told me he was excited at the prospect of my writing it. I was saddened the more. This was the same thing Alao-Akala did to me: he handed me a raw manuscript and said, “except the title, you are at liberty to do anything with it!”

Since then, I have drilled into Ladoja’s persona. Brilliant strategist and engineer, his strongest point is that his political adversaries underrate him. As wealthy as he is, Ladoja is known for his deconstruction of wealth, both in sartorial outlook and materialism. He could be stubborn too, sticking to what he believes in, at the risk of ostracism.

Born on September 25, 1944 in Gambari village, near Ibadan and becoming a Director of the defunct Standard Trust Bank in the year 2000, last Tuesday was Ladoja’s 80^th birthday. Here is wishing Oba Ladoja many more years of good health on earth.

The Edo State governorship Election held on September 21, 2024, was a much talked about election that witnessed bickering between the three most medialized parties – PDP, APC, and LP. The electioneering period was marked by plenitude of verbal trivialities, insults and lies. Aren’t these the trend of political campaigns nowadays? After all, we heard in the news recently that Donald Trump, running for the office of the President of United States, the paradigm of democracy, made spurious claims about immigrants from Haiti eating dogs and cats in Springfield, a small Ohio city. Politicians can do anything to win election! However, for the Edo Election, it is soothing to know that the election has been concluded. 

 Elections in Nigeria do not come without irregularities like over voting, vote buying, and failed Accreditation `Processes, voters’ disenfranchisement, partisan security agents and electoral umpire being fingered of malpractices in favour of some political parties. In the September 21st, 2024 Edo Election, there were particular cases of disruption of Results Collation in some areas in the state due to violence and alleged vote manipulation, Over voting and discrepancies in the uploaded results on the INEC Result Viewing Portal, security concerns because gunmen snatched away ballot boxes in some polling units, et cetera. These scenarios are not normal for a free and fair election to take place. 

No doubt, these issues highlight the need for improvements in the electoral process in Nigeria. The recently enacted electoral acts that championed the use of technology seems to have been of no merit because political actors still manipulate election results. The introduction of BIVAS has even heightened the propensity of pilfering election results. Every election in Nigeria, anywhere in the country, opens up the level of civility of the people. It wasn’t different in this particular election. We could best access ourselves judging from the activities of the voters, political actors, security agencies and the electoral umpire, in this sense INEC. 

Now that the Edo election is over, the new administration will have to fight to enjoy legitimacy and credibility. Though the process of emergence is very important, some Nigerians and the ruling All Progressive Congress do not often consider the process as significant, for them, the end justifies the means. So, it is pertinent to just move on to the next stage – legitimacy and acceptance. Therefore, the new government must work to ensure that they are accepted. The present government, even though since its inception was “Fubaralized” and faced a lot of distractions occasioned by some political viruses, strategically made some progress, especially in human development; what this government should urgently do to establish itself is to quickly begin the construction of the Auchi – Benin truck A roads and the truck B roads. Apart from these roads, there are communities where there are no roads today in Edo State. Like Atte, in Akoko Edo Local Government Area, do not have motorable roads in spite of their rich agricultural reserve.

Also, regional power dynamics played a very major role in the emergence of the candidate of the APC. Going forward, developmental strides, political appointments, government work and any form of opportunity should be made available equally without over centralizing government benefits to one region of the state. Everyone keyed into Esan Governorship and everyone must have a taste of the beauty of having an Esan Governor! While if I were Akpakomiza I would begin the construction of Auchi - Benin truck A road from Ekpoma and its parts, because these areas have been neglected for so long, I would not close my eyes to Benin and Auchi environs respectively. I think going forward too, Nigeria should copy the outcome of the influence this sort of regional power dynamics.

The new government must concretely make policies that will improve the lives of the Edo citizenry, especially this time of austerity. The ordinary Edo people who do not know anyone in government should be able to feel the impact of the government, state monies should not be shared among political leaders and their cronies, Edo State monies should not be shared among political kingpins, thugs and ‘’Oloshos’’. One way to get to the common people is to pay workers their salaries as at when due. Workers who are retired and whose gratuities have not been paid should be paid! It is inhuman for a government to owe workers, and celebrates every flimsiest occasion with pump and pageantry. 

While we unambiguously assert that the process that has brought the governor elect is not without some faults, we sympathize with those who lost the election, especially the People’s Democratic Party, the party my brother who is a lawyer, accuses me of relishing.  Unfortunately for the PDP in this election, the chickens have come home to roost. The PDP has been enmeshed in internal conflicts - national and state – anchored on greed, petty quarrels, power tussle, self-aggrandizement; these may have weakened its electoral chances. The PDP must put its house together, settle quarrels and have all its formidable members agree, for it to ever win an election under President Bola Amhed Tinubu.  Now that the Edo election is over, Edo people, must as usual, be calm and watch what unfolds in the coming days, weeks, months and years.