A look at our natural surroundings, atmosphere and the galaxies serves as a gentle reminder to us mortals of an unseen activator and creator of the universe. The ambience of nature and its serenity is a testament to the astuteness of its designer and originator. Be you a believer in faith or not- Christian, Muslim, African traditional religionist (ATR), Buddhist, Hindu, or Atheist, there is no denying the fact that at some stage, someone or something somewhere had a template from which nature and existence came to be. The bang must have been very well banged!

In the times past when empires held sway, Kings and Queens reigned supreme in different climes. There was absolute domination as wars were fought and territories taken over. Powerful monarchs ruled by decrees. As recorded in history the advent of republicanism led to the fall of the once powerful large empires and rise/formation of much smaller entities or nation states. Leadership ascension changed from primogeniture or filial relationships to regional selection and later elections. With it also came the emergence of nationalism, pressure groups formation and think tanks associations which over time metamorphosed into political parties. The latter became the ‘special purpose vehicle’ to ascending national office/positions.

Social scientists affirm that these SPV’s are in different shades and colours. They posit that membership of political parties is an aggregation of like minds within the circumference to the right, left and centre wings. The gravitational pull within the perimeter of this spatial orientation is directly proportional to ideology. The Cambridge English Dictionary defines ideology as a set of beliefs or principles, especially one on which a political system, party, or organisation is based. It is a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy. As stated by the Encyclopaedia Brittanica, particular categories of ideology are socialism, communism, anarchism, fascism, nationalism, liberalism, capitalism, and conservatism. It therefore subsists that political parties are cast by clear cut ideological persuasion both in shape and form.

In the United States of America with her presidential system of government their major special purpose vehicle for political ascendency is via either the Democratic or Republican Party. In the United Kingdom, with its parliamentary system, it is the Labour Party, or Conservative Party that are the dominant forces. In Ghana, it is the National Democratic Congress, NDC and the New Patriotic Party, NPP. In South Africa it is the African National Congress, ANC, and their main opposition parties, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) which hold sway. A study into these political parties reveals a strong ideological base. These political parties have their core discernible identity which clearly reflects in their values, system of thoughts, behaviour, body of doctrine, myth, and beliefs. Take a trip to Nigeria and it is game! Can any Nigerian beat his/her chest and tell the ideology of the All Progressives Party, APC, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP or even the so-called new kid on the block, the Labour Party, LP? Do these political parties have an ideology? The answers stare us in the face.

At Independence in 1960, the main political parties in Nigeria were the Action Group, AG, National Council of Nigeria and Cameroons, NCNC, and the Northern Peoples Congress, NPC led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and Sir Ahmadu Bello respectively. At the elections, none of these political parties was able to win the majority. The NPC and the NCNC decided to form a coalition to form the national government which led to choosing Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as the Prime Minister and Nnamdi Azikiwe as the Governor-General (and later President). Students of history will tell you that each of these political parties of yore stood for something and fought for something.

The generation of that era could with pinpoint accuracy decipher what each of the political parties wanted to do in all sectors. Fast-forward to 1979, we had five registered political parties; National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Unity Party of Nigeria, (UPN), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) and the Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP). Again, each of these parties had very clear ideas on critical sectors like education, healthcare and social services, agriculture, foreign policy, amongst others. In particular, the NPN and the UPN were unique in their very distinct ideologies. Nigerians knew without any equivocation what the NPN or UPN had to offer in education, healthcare, housing etc. This was not just at the federal level but cascaded down to the state level.

A major thrust of that era was the strong structure of the political party leadership in every sense of the word. Chief Obafemi Awolowo was impervious in the UPN. He commanded respect and his followers never doubted his near superhuman abilities. He was a colossus. Elected Governors of the UPN knew what they were in for. They knew that the margin for error was zero. In the NPN, Chief Adisa Akinloye held sway. Like a trojan, he bestrode the party with zest and was respected. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was untouchable in the NPP. He was venerated. Mallam Aminu Kano was in charge of the PRP. He was saintly while Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim handled the GNPP with gusto. He was a statesman. There was regard for party supremacy unlike what obtains in the current dispensation. How many Nigerians today can state in a jiffy albeit in black and white what the APC, PDP, APGA or even the LP ideology is? If you know please show and tell dear reader. These parties it seems are all floating across the river in the same boat. The politicians change sitting positions at the slightest turn of the journey. Once at shore they junket and hop into each other without candour. They are not perturbed. Many get elected on one platform and abandon ship at the slightest of opportunities. They deceive the electorates by playing the victim’s card.

Many Nigerians even refer to the two major political parties in the country as APCPDP, an acronym that amplifies the conjugality between them. Like Siamese twins, the APCPDP duopoly cannot be differentiated by way of their ideologies. They are same of the same. Yes. Nigerians can no longer be cajoled. Nigerians are becoming wiser by the day because of the antics of these politrikcians. They have been found out in their game of deception. The last 2023 elections as flawed as it was shows that Nigerians are getting up to it.

The tsunami wave that greeted the candidature of Mr Peter Obi was monumental. If our constitution allowed independent candidacy, Peter Obi would still have sailed. It wasn’t about political party. The anthem, `carry me dey go, peter obi carry me dey go for a better naija` was loud in every corner of the country. He received massive support from across the political divide. Nigerians didn’t really care about the SPV (political party) he was in. We recall how he left the PDP at the midpoint of the primaries campaign to pitch tent with the LP. For many, even if he had gone to YPP or XYZ, people were ready to align with him. The atmosphere was electrified as prominent members of both the PDP and APC openly threw in their support for Mr Peter Obi. Although in the Labour Party, Peter Obi garnered unprecedented cult followership both within and outside the shores. Reason was simple, Mr Obi was seen by many people as a breath of fresh air, and torch bearer capable of turning the country around for good. His message of character, competence, capacity, and compassion resonated greatly with the citizenry.  People gravitated towards Peter Obi as a result of his pristine persona, spartan discipline and the simplicity of his message. They could relate to him. Although a billionaire, he understood the situation of the ordinary man and woman and engaged with them.

This is not to say that Peter Obi is a flawless saint. Certainly, he is not. However, there was something about his personality that reverberated in the minds of Nigerians especially the young people.  This is also not to pontificate that the political party from which he ran for office was sanctimonious. Definitely it wasn’t. We can all see the shambles and a show of shame which that party has become at the moment. They too like the others are just same of the same. What then is the way forward from the quagmire that is our lot in party politics in Nigeria? The solution is legion. If we take a cursory look at the current political parties in Nigeria, there are some humane, compassionate fellows in there. Some people who exhibit characteristics that ignite a flicker of hope. We cannot keep generalising and lumping all politicians in the same pot of `all of them na thief` or that political party na thief dem be`. This wholesale approach has not done us any good. It has only helped to isolate and alienate the few `good` men and women in each of the major political parties from the ordinary people. Time is now, when the people of Nigeria need to restrategize. We must understand that we cannot keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome. It is time to make a U-turn and change our trajectory. The import of my submission here is that we need to put on our lenses and try to identify the few good ones amongst politicians in the political parties and support them.

Nigerians must move away from the stereotypic view of ‘my thief is better than your thief’ politics. There are some good people in our main political parties. You certainly can reel out some names dear reader. We the people must find a way to sift the wheat from the chaff. That way we may be able to build a mass of kind-hearted compassionate politicians. Did I hear you say impossible! Nothing my friend is impossible if we all make a conscious decision and effort about it. There are some steps we must take to change the dire situation. As Nigerians we must begin to join any of the political party of our choice. We must realise that we cannot win by shouting or ranting from the outside. We must take our seat at the table. Our destiny lies squarely in our hands. Imagine a scenario where 15 million good, honest Nigerians each join the APC, PDP, LP, APGA or whatever party. This mass of citizens will have the power to nominate, select, and elect reasonable persons at party primaries at ward, local government, state, and federal levels. That way pragmatic ideas and innovative policies will permeate the political space. The politicians wasting our time and resources in Nigeria in the last few years are an infinitesimal quantity. In all modesty they cannot be up to 50,000 men and women. So how can the rest of us – several millions be held down by just a few.

The difference between a society that works for the happiness of majority of its citizens and societies that punish its citizens is strong institutions ipso facto. The people of Nigeria must coalesce, advocate and push for an egalitarian society where fairness, equity, and justice reign supreme. Those lines in our national anthem (2nd stanza, which many of us believe should actually be the 1st stanza) “…. To build a nation where peace and justice shall reign” must become a reality. The political parties should stand up properly and truly be political parties with a mission to serve the people and not just be a Ferraris or BMWs to drive them into political offices/positions. They should rise above the ashes of pettiness, develop and craft ideas that can elevate the good of all in society. We the people of Nigeria must beam our searchlight on political office seekers and expose those with questionable character. We must not allow them to cajole us with peanuts and crumbs. It is true times are hard but certainly we have to find ways to stop it from getting harder. Those who govern us matter. The decisions they make affect our lives greatly. After God, the next most powerful force on earth is Government. A force that should be propelled by the people who scrutinise the political horizon for the persons who truly engage with the masses. The wind of evolution has blown, and a revolution is now upon us where we the people should not be distracted by the special purpose vehicular parties in which those seeking to govern are riding because in Nigeria, the parties are all smeared, and it is our task to seek out the few good persons across party lines who can add value to Nigerian lives. I rest my case.

Dr Agbons is lead, Institute of Leadership and Good Governance at www.twin2.org

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Whether real or imagined, none of the metonyms for “Lagos boy” is complimentary. The “Lagos boy” moniker once came up in the late 1980s. Commodore Olabode George, then Military Governor of Ondo State, had just been removed from office after spending two years. The African Concord magazine then did a post-mortem of his turbulent rule. Newly purchased boats for the coastal part of the state were alleged to be second-hand. By then, for analysts writing about the George years, rigor-mortis hadn’t set on another uproarious component of his time in office. It was his wife, Feyi George’s “Queendom.” So she came up for examination, too. Her Excellency was quarrelsome and garrulous, something that was strange to people in that part of the country, no matter how high they climb. In the hinterland, even if your yam seedling flourishes beyond measure, yielding a big harvest, native wisdom asks that you shawl it from prying eyes with your two palms. But Feyi was the wife of a “Lagos boy.”

Shortly after her arrival as the First Lady, Feyi met grey-haired market women, old enough to be her mother in the Erekesan Market of the state capital. Singing her praises and dancing to welcome her to their midst, Mrs. George’s Lagos spirit suddenly clambered over. Why are Lagos top-shots fond of being descended upon by spirits? Then she said; I paraphrase, “you are older than me but today, I am your mother.” Later, on an official tour, Feyi George went ahead to openly slap Mrs. Tola Ajayi, a Permanent Secretary and wife of a judge. The woman did not allow the slap thaw. She handed Her Excellency multiple hot slaps. So when George was asked what he would want to be remembered by and he said, “…that a ‘Lagos boy’ passed through this place,” African Concord summed it up that George had used “Lagos sense” for the people of Ondo State.

“Lagos sense” and “Lagos boy” connote so many things about the Lagosian. Writers like Cyprian Ekwensi drew the picture of a dreadful Lagos. The “Lagos Boy” could mean smartness, suavity, celebration of inanity, fraudulence, erecting facades on dross to make it look real, and so on and so forth. Even before the colonialists came, Lagos, once known as the “Venice of West Africa,” was dreaded by inhabitants of the hinterland. It was surely the city to make quick bucks. A city once described by Matthew Gandy (“Learning from Lagos” New Left Review, 2005) as “a smoky expanse of concrete and shanty-towns, sprawling for miles across the islands, waterways and onshore hinterland of the… Lagoon,” Lagos was home to money-doublers and soul-scarred gamblers. It was where you could make quick money through mere hubris. Some other writers have described Lagos as “a place of desperation to make it by hook or crook,” with some others giving it the fitting description of “a huge Dickensian space full of heartbreak.” Paul French, in his Lagos: Africa’s capital of Noir, said Lagos had popularly been described as “the capital of crimes such as 419 and internet fraud also known as the ‘Yahoo Yahoo’”.

Lagos was and is however not all about con. It is a land of bravery and unmatched can-do spirit. Historically, it is a representation of boldness and venturesome traits. Indeed, the Ibadan cognomen as where the robber’s superior argument acquits him, at the detriment of his accuser, will seem to be more appropriate as a metaphor for the daringness on the streets of Lagos. Lagos could not stand bad rulers. This was demonstrated, first by Madam Alimotu Pelewura, the lyalode of Lagos. On December 16, 1940, Pelewura gathered over seven thousand “angry and overburdened women” who represented every branch of petty traders in Lagos to protest the Income Tax Ordinance of 1940/1941 on the female gender. The protesters closed all markets with over a thousand mobilized women milling round, particularly Broad Street, Bourdillon and Marina. Pelewura led the women to petition the office of Sir Bernard Bourdillon, Governor and Commander in Chief of the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. One hundred and ninety two women signed that petition drafted by lawyer and statesman, Oged Macaulay, son of Herbert Macaulay, a prominent Lagosian and nationalist known by the sobriquet, Ejo N’gboro – the snake on the Street.

Lagos’ fight of injustices and inequity was myriad. Lagosians fought the “Battle of Salt Water” called Ogun Olomiro. They rose against the king of Lagos, Oba Akitoye, for his inability to tame the monster of water scarcity. They did not mind the fact that the Oba’s own army too couldn’t get water as the soldiers drank salt water from shallow wells which they dug by hand. It led to the 1851 dismantling of Lagos by the British who deployed canons to level the city to the ground. It was also a precursor to the signing of the treaty with Oba Akitoye, as well as the ceding of Lagos to the British by Oba Dusunmu. The intransigence and daringness of Lagos are reflected in one folksong composed by indigenous Lagosians. They sang: “The British leveled Oluwole/(Oyinbo wo Oluwole); Lagos kept silent/(Eko o wi nkan); The British stylishly took over Marina/ (Won f’eso, won gba Marina); They now said they would dismantle Lagos Island/ (Won tun ni awon mi a wo Isale Eko); They must have thought we were dumb!/ (Won sebi kurumo ni wa!). Late Yoruba Fuji musician, Sikiru Ayinde Balogun (Barrister) later popularized this folksong of Lagos’ resistance to British colonial lords.

Travelers to Lagos, long before independence, through the petro-dollar years and even till today, are handed stern warning to be wary of Lagos and Lagosians. They are sleek, ephemeral and unreal. Perhaps because of its daily infiltration by strange persons of different persuasions, the Lagosian has come to be classified as immune to some of the traits associated with a Yorubaman. He didn’t totally represent the gentlemanly Omoluabi ethos that undergirds the value system of the children of Oduduwa. A trustworthy Lagosian is as scarce as a hen’s teeth. He would grab and run with what doesn’t belong to him. It was repeatedly said that a Lagosian would sell particle to you as an article.

Bola Tinubu is the Lagosian who occupies the highest office in Nigeria today. Ex-Senator, two-term governor of Lagos State and currently president of Nigeria, he has come to approximate the character trait of Lagos. He is the Lagos posterboy and in this case, one who personifies the “Labelabe” leaf. This leaf is a sharp-edged plant that grows by river banks. My people thus say that it is almost impossible for worshippers of the water goddess to pay obeisance to their goddess without the connivance or abetment of the Labelabe. Due to its lacerating sharp edges, the leaf is also used in preparation of potion for protection from evil doers. While chanting incantations on the potion, the reciter chants, “If anyone runs into the Labelabe leaf, they will be soaked in blood.” If Tinubu lost some votes of his Yoruba people in the 2023 presidential election, it may not be too far from the truth to say that his morally prude Yoruba kinsmen from the hinterland who believed that anything Lagos was fraud were the ones who withdrew their votes.

I went into this long epistle about Lagos to situate the recent tirade against the Tinubu government by ex-Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar. Abubakar’s grouse is with the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway recently awarded by the Tinubu government to the president’s known friend, Gilbert Chagoury, owner of Hitech Construction firm. Atiku made us aware that Tinubu awarded the contract at a whooping sum of N15.6 trillion, an amount almost the total of all Nigeria’s 36 states and FCT budgets for 2024 of N15.91 trillion. This is against the backdrop of the known fact that the lengthiest highway in Africa, which runs from Cairo in Egypt, to Cape Town in South Africa, is going to cost the sum of $1.6 billion. The road is 1,156 kilometers. Atiku has received knocks for raising the shroud off this stinking corpse. Many people have asked whether Nigerians expected Tinubu to award the road contract to his enemies. Some equally submitted that even Atiku had promised to sell Nigeria’s refineries to his friends if elected the Nigerian president. So when David Umahi, Minister of Works, went on a converts-winning evangelism to media houses last week to seek Nigerians’ buy-in into the prudence and fidelity in the road project, the dead body he and Tinubu buried in a shallow sepulcher still left gaping tell-tales.  

Gradually, Atiku has led Nigerians by the helm of their garments to see the sickening level of the putrefaction oozing out of the project. For me, Atiku’s greatest submission on the project is that a contract of such magnitude was awarded without any competitive bidding. Where is this ever done in any sane part of the world? As much as Umahi attempted to cover it by showing that such practice was a construction custom, the minister would need to cover his face in shame for this lame defence. How can a road contract the size of the budgets of all Nigerian states be sealed without bidding? To worsen it, the contract was awarded to a known business crony of the president, a fraternity which, before his presidency, Tinubu openly gloated over. Add these two together and you get a fertile ground for grand corruption.

You may not like Atiku’s face and the constancy of his cantankerous politicking but if you are bothered about how corruption has become the necklace on Nigerian governments’ necks, Atiku’s arithmetic should worry you. He seems to be saying that, for Bola Tinubu, the monkey, a known banana glutton, was on the verge of jumping at the banana tree again. Umahi’s waffles and the ill-logics of his defence of the wobbly legs of the humongous contract are sickening and worrisome. From the Umahi waffles, it is obvious, as Atiku alleged, that government only began to think about the percentage of counterpart funding after the project award. He provided evidence. There were so many shameful anomalies that Atiku’s eagle eyes sighted on the road contract. Though Umahi deployed a number of engineering bombasts to convey the quality of the road the Tinubu government has on its hands in the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, he couldn’t ward off the army of wriggling maggots that have made this project their dormitory.

Another very fundamental aspect of Atiku’s toothcomb examination of the N15.6 trillion project is that the Nigerian parliament was too engrossed in a slumber to know that incongruities were passing by its backyard. So when the president, a couple of weeks ago, told the world that the parliament’s “integrity is intact” and going ahead to deride “those who are talking about malicious embellishment in the budget” as people who do not “understand the arithmetic,” Nigerians can now understand the quid pro quo chemistry behind Nigeria’s executive and legislature’s dalliance. Among a litany of questions, Atiku had asked why the National Assembly approved N500m for the road project while the Tinubu administration released N1.06tn, a figure over 200 times the amount in the Appropriation Act.

If anyone thought Atiku was embarking on this verbal pugilism because he loves the Nigerian people, in the words of Americans, they have another think coming. In Nigeria, both government in power and the opposition are like the discomfiting and excessively big “Ipa”, (scrotal lymphedema) a disease that makes a man’s scrotum swell disproportionately. Yoruba will ask what good the “Ipa” does for the buttocks. Nigerians are the palm kernel and Nigerian politicians are the two stones, one underneath and the other on top, which are both attempting to access the fruit of the kernel. The two stones don’t like our palm kernel. It is a ploy to mouth the edible seed.

Some people have said that the Tinubu government is just acting true to type by aping the paterfamilias of some governments before it. It is being said that, in the so-called Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Aso Rock just wants to help its business partner link a road from Lekki to its hotel corridor. If some few billions of Naira get drowned in the process, so be it. Simplicitas. As Atiku asked, if they must piss on us, they should, at least, cover it with some pearls and sequins by calling it rain!

Adebanwi’s Guggenheim

We live in a world where virtually all news that emanate from Nigeria are depressing stories of bloodshed, banditry, government’s insensitivity, corruption and all-what-ought-nots. Thus, when news of Nigerians who go outside the perceptional loop flows in, it does the reverse.  One that hit the airwave last week was that of Nigerian professor, Wale Adebanwi, who bagged the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship. The fellowship was said to have been awarded on the awardee’s trajectory of prior career achievements and exceptional promise. Adebanwi is the Presidential Penn Compact Professor of Africana Studies and Director of Centre for Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, U.S. In a pool of thousands of academics, Adebanwi was finally chosen as one of the 188 winners of the 2024 awards.

Anyone who knew Adebanwi decades back as he burnt the midnight candle would not be surprised about what he has made of his life. I first got to know him around 1989 as he sneaked into Prof Alaba Ogunsanwo’s crowded class at the University of Lagos. I later learnt he was combining stringing jobs in Ibadan with the Tribune with some other tabloids, even as he schooled in the Mass Communication Department of the university. We were to later meet again in 1994 at the University of Ibadan as graduate students of the Political Science department. He finished tops in our Master’s class with a CGPA of about 72 per cent. He was to later hold two Ph.D degrees in Political Science from the University of Ibadan and another in Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge, where he was a Bill and Melinda Gates Scholar.

Wale was instrumental to my eventual career path as a journalist with the Tribune and has since been a lifelong advisor. If you use Wale’s life as a guiding path in any endeavour, you seldom would come to grief. But for him, a life of academy would have been for me a mirage. The Guggenheim Fellowship was spot on in the choice of Adebanwi as a scholar who is generating new possibilities and pathways across the broader culture. I can testify.

Once on a visit to his Oxford University office where he served as first African ever to be appointed as the Rhodes Professor of Race Relations and Director of the African Studies Centre at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, I was proud of my Nigerianness.

All the above, however, pale into insignificance when compared to Adebanwi’s humanity and humaneness. Perhaps borne out of his upbringing as son of a clergy, Wale’s life personifies piety and goodliness. This is to say congratulations to the Iresi, Osun State-born scholar who makes my generation very proud.

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In the intricate web of Nigerian politics, where every move is analyzed and its implications magnified, a recent event has sparked a storm of controversy and debate. On March 19, 2024, Sahara Reporter showed an article titled “Buhari’s Ex-Aide, Others Knock Peter Obi For Breaking Ramadan Fast With Muslims In Nasarawa, Call It ‘Eye Service’”, thrusting into the spotlight Peter Obi’s recent outreach to the Muslim community during Ramadan.

As the discussion deepens, it’s essential to delve into the motivations behind Peter Obi’s actions. While some, like Bashir Ahmad, quickly dismiss Obi’s gestures as mere “eye service”, others see it as a strategic political move—a way to underscore Obi’s dedication to bridging societal divides, especially along religious lines. From my perspective, this narrative goes beyond the individuals involved; it touches upon broader themes of democracy and the urgent need for unity in Nigeria’s diverse landscape.

As we navigate these complexities, it becomes clear that actions like Obi’s serve as potent reminders of the transformative potential of inclusivity and dialogue in building a more cohesive society. It’s worth noting that I have no personal connection with either Obi or Ahmad. My primary aim here is to highlight the importance of democracy, rights, and unity.

Peter Obi’s visit to the Mararaba-Nyanya International Market Central Mosque wasn’t solely a strategic move for political gain, even if there were underlying political considerations involved. Instead, it was a genuine display of solidarity and respect, particularly poignant during the Ramadan season—a time when the essence of compassion, empathy, and unity is deeply revered.

Understanding Peter Obi’s motivations is essential. While some doubt his sincerity, others see his actions as strategic steps to promote unity across religious, ethnic, and regional divides. This issue goes beyond Obi and Ahmad, touching on broader themes like democracy and the urgent need for unity in Nigeria. Acts like Obi’s serve as reminders of the importance of inclusivity and dialogue in building a stronger society. It’s important to note that I have no personal connections to either Obi or Ahmad. My main goal is to highlight the significance of democracy, rights, and unity.

Bashir Ahmad asserts that despite spending eight years as governor, Peter Obi didn’t participate in breaking fast with Muslims in Anambra. One may question the veracity of this claim. Ahmad then suggests that Obi’s current actions are driven by politics, particularly with an eye on the 2027 elections. However, Ahmad should recognize that political maneuvers, including symbolic gestures, hold significance. Even if Obi’s past engagements with the Muslim community were not widely known, his recent participation during Ramadan signifies a strategic move. It’s more than symbolism—it’s a calculated effort to garner political favor and foster goodwill, acknowledging the intricate dynamics of politics that extend beyond surface appearances.
Although Ahmad may view Obi’s actions as political posturing, I perceive them as shrewd maneuvers within the complex fabric of Nigerian politics.

Undoubtedly, Obi harbors ambitions for the presidential seat in 2027—an aspiration well within his rights. Yet, should we fault him for such aspirations? In a landscape marred by ethnic, religious, and regional fault lines, Obi’s emphasis on unity emerges as a beacon of hope amidst discord.
While Ahmad critiques, Obi persists in navigating the political terrain with finesse—both in his literal and metaphorical feasting. For aspiring politicians, there’s wisdom in emulating Obi’s tactics. After all, democracy mandates the exercise of rights, even if it entails engaging in symbolic gestures like sharing samosas to garner support. In the grand tapestry of Nigerian politics, it’s the strategic thinkers like Obi who carve paths toward unity and progress, regardless of the critics’ commentary.

At the core of this debate lies the question of political strategy. For Peter Obi, a seasoned political figure with ambitions that transcend regional boundaries, engaging with diverse communities isn’t simply a tactical move; it’s a strategic necessity. In a nation as ethnically and religiously diverse as Nigeria, fostering unity and inclusivity isn’t just a political talking point – it’s a fundamental requirement for effective governance.

Yet, amidst these discussions, it’s impossible to ignore the irony of Ahmad’s criticisms. As a representative of the Northern and Muslim communities, Ahmad’s dismissal of Obi’s outreach underscores a troubling trend of divisiveness within Nigerian politics. Instead of embracing efforts to bridge divides and foster unity, Ahmad’s rhetoric serves to exacerbate tensions and deepen societal rifts.

In a nation grappling with profound challenges of cohesion and unity, leaders like Peter Obi exemplify the type of inclusive leadership that Nigeria desperately needs. While Ahmad and his ilk may seek to sow seeds of discord, it’s imperative that we rally behind efforts to build a more unified and inclusive society. After all, in the face of adversity, it’s unity, not division, that will pave the way forward for Nigeria’s future.

Furthermore, it’s imperative to acknowledge and preserve the fundamental right of individuals to partake in political outreach and community engagement throughout Nigeria, regardless of geographical distance, tribal affiliation, religious beliefs, or regional origin. Although our democracy may encounter obstacles in its implementation, it remains firmly entrenched in legislation, affording each citizen the chance to engage in the political sphere irrespective of their religious or ethnic identity.

In a diverse nation like Nigeria, unity is a vital ingredient for progress and development. By embracing our differences and promoting inclusivity, we can build a stronger and more cohesive society. It’s essential for leaders to lead by example, promoting dialogue and mutual respect among all segments of society.

Even if we assume that Peter Obi’s actions are politically motivated, it’s worth noting that he is still crossing over and demonstrating a commitment to unity. Despite the political calculations, his outreach efforts serve to bridge divides and promote inclusivity. This underscores the importance of putting aside differences and working together for the greater good of our nation.

I wonder how Ahmad would interpret Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed’s visit to Bishop Hilary Nanman Dechelem, the Bishop of Bauchi Catholic Diocese, a Christian leader. Ahmad might speculate that the governor is aiming to secure support from Christians for future elections, reminiscent of how he criticized Peter Obi’s Mosque visits during Ramadan. Ahmad may question whether the governor’s gesture is politically driven or genuinely sincere, echoing his scrutiny of Obi’s actions. It’s crucial to acknowledge that the behaviors of leaders like the governor or Obi, whether symbolic or real, could greatly influence Nigeria’s journey towards authentic unity and harmony.

Perhaps Ahmad could learn from Obi’s example by actively involving himself in communities in the East during major Christian holidays. By immersing himself in local customs, sharing meals, and establishing authentic connections at the grassroots level, Ahmad could contribute significantly to building bridges and promoting inclusivity within Nigerian society.

During this sacred time of Ramadan, let us remember the importance of refraining from judgment and embracing the spirit of forgiveness and understanding. As Muslims around the world observe this holy month, the essence of Ramadan lies in fostering compassion, unity, and mutual respect among all individuals, regardless of background or belief.

Fundamentally, true democracy extends beyond the exercise of rights; it encompasses the fulfillment of responsibilities. This entails listening to diverse perspectives, continuously learning, and engaging with all segments of society, irrespective of religious or ethnic differences. Embracing this responsibility is essential for Ahmad and others to play a pivotal role in fostering a more cohesive and harmonious Nigeria.

As the conversation delving into Peter Obi’s visit to the Maraba-Nyanya International Market Central Mosque unfolds, it presents us with a profound opportunity to delve into the essence of Nigerian politics. Beyond mere electoral calculations and partisan interests, it’s imperative to recognize politics as a medium for nurturing relationships, fostering dialogue, and advancing a collective vision of progress and prosperity for all Nigerians.

Peter Obi’s recent outreach deserves commendation not merely as a political tactic but as a genuine testament to the spirit of inclusivity and unity intrinsic to Nigerian democracy. By extending his hand to the Muslim community during Ramadan, Obi showcased a sincere dedication to bridging religious divides and nurturing mutual understanding—an act that resonates profoundly in a nation too often marred by unnecessary divisions.
However, amidst the discourse, the criticisms voiced by Bashir Ahmad serve as a poignant reminder of the obstacles we confront in surmounting these divisions. Yet, there exists optimism in Ahmad’s willingness to learn and evolve. His path towards embracing inclusivity and empathy could potentially serve as a blueprint for fostering unity across Nigeria’s fragmented societal landscape.

In a nation grappling with divisiveness, Peter Obi’s recent outreach serves as a beacon of hope, challenging us to transcend barriers and celebrate our diversity. Yet, it’s not just Obi who needs to heed this call; leaders across the spectrum, from past presidents to local officials, must take note. Nigeria’s future hinges on our ability to foster unity amidst diversity.

It’s imperative for all Nigerians, irrespective of their backgrounds or beliefs, to recognize the transformative power of dialogue, empathy, and mutual respect. As we navigate the complexities of our society, let’s draw inspiration from Obi’s actions and strive for a future where unity prevails over division.

In essence, the essence of politics transcends the pursuit of power or personal gain; it lies in the collective endeavor to construct a more inclusive, harmonious, and prosperous Nigeria for the generations to come.

Even if Peter Obi’s actions are viewed through the lens of political strategy, they still serve as examples of good politics. The poignant image of him sitting down and sharing meals with children and other community members resonates deeply, illustrating how even in the realm of politics, genuine engagement and empathy can foster unity and bridge societal divides.

Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi, born in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria, is an American-based police and prison scientist, forensic psychologist, public policy psychologist, and legal psychologist. He’s a government advisor on forensic-clinical psychological services in the USA and the founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation for Psychological Health. With a significant role in introducing forensic psychology to Nigeria through N.U.C. and Nasarawa State University, he’s also a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association. He’s taught at esteemed institutions like Florida Memorial University, Florida International University, Nova Southeastern University, and more, and is currently an online faculty member at Weldios University, Nexus International University, and Walden University. John.Oshodi@mail.waldenu.edu

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The relevance of the youths to the development of any society is beyond contest. It is the segment of the population that keeps all other segments of any society going. And across time and space, no society had ever been create nor attained development without the glorious and heroic contributions of its youths.

Many may have wondered why politics at the Grassroots level in Toro is seemingly dead. Only coming alive during election time. The answer is simple – we do not have a culture of Grassroots political participation in Toro LGA.

Against this backdrop, the realities of the present Toro Political order now negates and downplays the relevance of the Youths in our quest for sustainable political development within Toro and Bauchi state At large. It now seems, as though, the invaluable roles of the Youths in determining the political destiny of Toro politics especially at the Grassroots levels are non-existent.

As Youths, it is time we stop bemoaning the exclusion we currently face in the political space. And actually take action towards building our future and the very conducive political atmosphere we all wish to have.

There is a huge opportunity available us all to make impact and we should take it.

Remember that politics is not all about the scramble to occupy the highest elective posts in the land. As Youths we must start from the Grassroots.

Usman Ibrahim

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These are unusual times in politics and for politicians. Despite the dubious perception that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) platform introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has had limited impact on making the people’s vote count, the stunning victory of Labour Party’s Peter Obi in Lagos is one sterling outcome pundits have been unable to dismiss as something that could have been impossible to achieve without the BVAS in the presidential poll. Similarly, the outcome of the presidential and gubernatorial election in Oyo State where Governor Seyi Makinde never disguised his disapproval of PDP’s unimaginative and provocative choice of its presidential candidate showed that he was able to give vent to his stance on equity without jeopardizing his re-election as governor of his state.

In Delta State where the National Assembly election’s outcome have been affirmed by the courts, the fact that APC comfortably picked two of three senatorial seats has made it implausible to logically explain the emergence of a political place holder that was single-handedly made the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly by Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as governor. And he it was who foisted the same on the state to continue a third agenda.
And the toxic nature of the charade has not taken long to unravel. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has been unable to fill two critical portfolios – Information and Justice – because he has been unable to obtain the green light of the real power behind the stolen throne. Even the motley crowd of inexperienced and visionless men and women that were made commissioners has not been able to initiate any move on actual governance. Six months into the place-holding administration, all they do is inspect ongoing projects where they go through the motion without movement.
In Delta State, the people now derisively call them “POINTus pilates”, reminiscent of when Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu genuinely inspected projects he was executing. But can the commissioners be blamed? Of course not. They simply lack leadership. Governor Oborevwori has not done anything to inspire them.
Rather, Oborevwori has been overtaken by the fear of the inevitable. Having seen how the innovative measures introduced by INEC are now used to uphold the people’s verdict and bearing in mind the overwhelming victory of the Delta APC in the Senate election, the governor has basically abandoned governance in pursuit of illusive political straws to hang on to.
That the people of Delta State have been yearning for genuine change in leadership is not lost on the place holder governor. They saw in Ovie Omo-Agege the fresh path to development. Oborevwori knows how the electoral process was brazenly manipulated to put him in power. He knows that unlike the Election Petitions Tribunal which operated under a very challenging atmosphere in Delta State, his “victory” will not stand the independent scrutiny of higher courts.
Apparently in anticipation of the fate that awaits them, they have resorted to using fake names to sponsor articles suggesting that Ovie Omo-Agege has been bought over by Chief James Ibori.
To the uninformed media hacks, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed some of the best hands and technocrats who played very big roles in the massive electoral fortunes of the APC in Delta State is proof of their unfounded allegation. They forgot or just did not know that it was the turn of Delta State to produce the board chairman of NDDC in addition to a statutory representative of the state in the board.

If Deltans are yearning for a new leadership that will bring the state out of perfidy that was its unfortunate lot under Okowa, and Ibori is a Deltan and leader, then he has made the right call. This is not to suggest that there is such development between Ibori and Omo-Agege. The former Deputy President of the Senate has always been his own man. He has a road map to accelerating the development of Delta which the people have bought into.
As our people say, when a man fouls his community, the sight of his ever constant shadow evokes morbid fear in him. For Oborevwori and his group, the time of the long shadow has come.

Mr. Oghenejirokowho Olokor writes from Asaba.

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On anything one will do in this life make sure that no matter how acrimonious scuffle going on between you and the other side, pay your own due by telling and going with truth about him willy-nilly the height of your ox will gored.

I have no damn gainsaying that all the needed evidences have suitably proved beyond the shadow of doubt that President Tinubu had verifiably graduated from Chicago State University (CSU).

Recalled that Tinubu-certificate saga came into limelight aftermath of the recent general election to some extent after the tribunal verdicts. His strongest main challenger H.E Atiku Abubakar have immediately rushed to Chicago State University to verify the authenticity of the diploma certificates (in Nigeria tongue, Degree) Tinubu presented to INEC. At first instance, CSU decided not to avail Atiku without Tinubu’s duo approval.

Atiku Abubakar rushed to western district court in Illinois capital city of Chicago to challenge the CSU, to cut it short, last week Justice Nancy Maldonado rules out in favour of Atiku, orders Chicago State University to release Bola Tinubu’s academic records, and gives penultimate monday 2nd October 2023 as deadline. Judge Maldonado also noted that any request for stay off in this judgement from Tinubu will be denied.

Ever since CSU released the academic credentials of President Tinubu, just as expected there were a lot of brouhahas, unforgivable complications and garbages that substantiates the elements of forgery even though he graduated from the college.

The CSU registrar Caleb Westberg have sworn under the oath of affidavit by testifying that Tinubu have graduated from the University in 1979. The checklist in the graduation and Alumni of the university have said much about that doubt, he graduated with good flying result in Business Admin under the specialization in Accounting.

But to most of the average Nigerians surprised is why does President Tinubu having graduated with distinction is hiding something behind about his certificate? Every required cross-examination emphasized that Bola Tinubu did indeed attend CSU, pass with flying colours but present a forged CSU certificate to INEC.

But the first confusion being that, the CSU registrar have sworn that Tinubu graduated from the University after he attended Southwest College before he proceeded to CSU but the date he claimed of have attended Southwest college was somehow different from that he claimed to graduate. The GCE junior exams Tinubu also claimed that he attended Gov’t college Lagos in 1970 where the school establishment record reveils that the college was established in 1974. The dates no longer add up after he took off the University of Chicago from his claims!

Another complication been that, in the documents he submitted for his admission consideration in CSU which he claimed that he attended Southwest College was indicating “F” in the sex box, meaning the sex gender of the applicant is “Female”.

President Tinubu once said that he lost all his academic records including some of his asset during his exile from 1994 – 1998 when they are in rigorous battle with Late Sani Abacha after annulment of June 12 and Abacha’s adamant of not handing over power as he promised earlier. When Tinubu was on run, some military men sent by Abacha to handcuffs him carted away most of his valuable belongings including the certificates in question.

Yes, I can agree with the fact since the record from CSU indicated that he definitely graduated as stated. But what i don’t want to say but believe is President Tinubu having lost the certificates, instead of going back to the college and paid to have the copy of his certificate, otherwise might decided to forged the certificate with so many unforgivable errors in date, signature, stamp and so on.

Another elements that raising the forgery minded allegations was on the copy certificate of birth Tinubu issued to INEC claimed that he was born on 29th May 1952 while on his record from Chicago State University obviously depicted that he was born on 29th March 1954, yet from the record from Southwest College appeared empty with no date of birth thereon!

As we are awaiting for the next judicial term of the complications, just like what Prof. Farooq Kperoogi said in his yesterday’s column that it is indeed legal to replicate or clone original certificates in the US since the certificates are no longer the ladder requirement before considering for job or higher academic learning in USA, what they only need to prove otherwise is academic transcript from your college.

Unfortunately, it is clearly illegal in Nigeria. Section 468 of the Criminal Code Act in Nigeria says, “Any person who knowingly and fraudulently utters a false document or writing, or a counterfeit seal, is guilty of an offence of the same kind and is liable to the same punishment as if he had forged the thing in question”.

What all this commotions and brouhahas are telling from the initial is for one to be good, is good to be good. Make sure in any evil action you are about to undertake, analyse the possible remedy that might arise, here we are talking about the case in question that had happened over 44 years ago.

Forgery is very illegal practice in this land, oneday it remedy might possibly backfire.

It’s a boomerang! What goes around if comes around will certainly compose a rebuttal.

Usman Yanmaza writes…

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