In those days when I believed I was ready to marry and needed to, at least, start a relationship, I met a lady I very much liked. But I wanted something more than chemistry. I was thinking of how we would complement each over a lifetime. Confused, I asked a friend, Kunle Kasumu, for insight. Though he himself was single, his counsel changed me forever. He spoke about “purpose”, taking inspiration from Myles Monroe. “A man is not born until he discovers purpose,” Kunle said. “When you discover your purpose in life, everything else you do must align with it, including choosing a life partner.” I wanted counsel on life partner but I got a big lesson on life itself.

Shannon Kaiser, an American bestselling author, puts it another way: “The two greatest days of your life are the day you were born, and the day you find out what your purpose is.” A dictionary defines purpose as “the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.” Truly, the chat with Kunle opened my eyes to the reasons behind some things I was doing, even though I was not really aware there was a theory, or principle behind them. Purpose. It has helped me stay within my lane in life. Purpose keeps you going in the face of distractions, storms, trials and temptations. You focus on where you are going. You do things to help you get there.

Interestingly, I actually went into journalism with a purpose — even if I wasn’t officially conscious of it when I was filling my JAMB form. Somehow, I had always believed journalism could be used to promote peace and development, help solve problems and celebrate what is working. That is what keeps me going, no matter the insults, threats, intimidation, blackmail and name-calling. I did not set out to please hate mongers and bigots. When all this is over and I go to meet my Maker, I want to be able to tell Him confidently: “Father, I did my best to use my journalism to heal wounds, build peace and solve problems. I have fought a good fight. I have kept the faith.” That’s all I care about.

All said and done, I am yet to discover any country that was developed by leadership without purpose. The day I find an example, I will apologise to my readers and change my stand. For now, I will go with my position that development is a product of purpose-driven leadership. I have not excluded the role of followers, of course. Everybody has a role to play. But people are called leaders for a reason. People are elected or appointed to do a job. There is a reason the dog wags the tail and not the other way round. There is a reason a bus has a driver. There is a reason that leaders, not followers, make policies and laws —and implement them.

As the 2019 elections draw near, I have been imagining things. Posters. Jingles. Slogans. Rallies. Permutations. Promises. Intrigues. Politics is here with us again! It is as if we were created for elections. We live for times like these. The ecstasy is out of this world. We do this every four years. But a few months after inauguration, we return to square one: weeping and wailing and moaning and gnashing of teeth. Then we look forward to the next election so that we can “vote out” bad leaders and “vote in” new ones. It goes on and on and on. And Nigeria remains essentially the same. That means there is something we are not getting right. Some dots are simply not connecting.

In my series on “mindsets”, here is another take: we play politics without purpose in Nigeria. Without purpose, we cannot even begin to have a vision. Purpose precedes visioning. Purpose shapes visioning. If you discover purpose, you can develop vision. I think every Nigerian politician needs to answer this question honestly: what is my purpose in politics? You can say the sweet things on TV, radio, newspapers, posters and social media. You can muster the sound bites and conjure all the rhymes and alliterations. But unto thyself, be honest: why are you in politics? To solve problems? To help make Nigeria great? Lie to everyone else but be honest to yourself.

In truth, how many Nigerian politicians actually know the real purpose of politics? How many even understand public purpose at all? I have this funny suspicion that the typical Nigerian politician thinks the purpose of politics is to become a demigod and begin to enjoy the sirens, the Land Cruiser Prados, the power games, the adulation, the girls, the Banana Islands, the Cayman Islands, the private jets, the yachts and such like. When they read stuffs like “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government” in the constitution, they just can’t understand. It is all Greek to them. Occupying government position, they think, is licence for lucre.

Unfortunately, when purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable — in the words of Monroe, who died in 2015. We should not be surprised at the pervasive abuse of office and the resultant gross underdevelopment of Nigeria. As long as the politicians do not have a proper perspective of politics, the instruments they ought to use for the advancement of society will be tools of self-aggrandizement and oppression in their hands. It’s like handing a gun to a rogue police officer — he will turn it into an implement of extortion, tyranny and murder. Give the same gun to a responsible officer and he will die defending the people. Politics without purpose breeds abuse of office.

Here is my point today. If the Nigerian politician had the right motive and motivation in politics, when a banker comes and says, “Your Excellency, add N2 billion to that contract and I will help you keep it”, he would reply: “So kind of you, but that can build a few roads.” When the lawyer comes along and whispers, “I can help you buy property abroad in my name,” he would reply: “Good stuff, but there is serious housing shortage in my state.” When the corporate guru proposes, “You can buy a private jet and register it in my name,” he would reply: “Lovely, but that money can improve mass transit in the city, don’t you think so?” That is purpose-driven leadership at work.

If public purpose is at work, all the budgeting, oversight and lawmaking by the legislature since 1999 would have propelled Nigeria to a higher level on the development plane. But you and I know that when the lawmakers say they want to hold “public hearing” or pay “oversight” visit, the motive of the huffing and puffing is hardly pure. It is more of intimidation, blackmail and extortion than anything for the greater good of the society. Mind you, it can be well packaged, and they can speak the perfect words in the chamber, but those who know the inside story will just be laughing off their heads at a corner. If our lawmakers love accountability so much, Nigeria would be paradise today!

Those just joining politics (or public service) need to ask themselves sincerely: what is my purpose? Am I entering politics for the right purpose? Those already inside should ask themselves honestly: what have I been doing here? Am I fulfilling purpose or just having an all-expense paid fun? The good news is that it is never too late to discover your purpose. That you have wasted years in office without purpose is not the end. You can rethink and reboot. When you discover purpose, you begin to live life meaningfully. You will realise that public office is not about accumulating wealth and getting worshipped. Politics is not for oppression, repression and exploitation.

My friends have been asking me lately: Simon, where do you belong? And that is exactly the problem: we think the solution to our problem is where we belong, who we support or who we are going to vote or campaign for. But our problems are deeper than that, deeper than the excitement of permutations and elections. How can our politics become politics of purpose? That is the real challenge facing us and that is what I think we should be really concerned about. Until we develop new mindsets about how the society should be run, we will continue to go round and round in a vicious circle. The end product is always predictable: despair and disappointment.

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AND FOUR OTHER THINGS

ARMY VS POLICE

We spend over N1 trillion on the security agencies every year, in case you don’t know, and yet Nigerians are among the least secure in the world. Meanwhile, the police and the army are trading blame on the kidnap of 110 Dapchi girls. Those Boko Haram guys must be laughing at us. The open confrontation between security agencies under President Muhammadu Buhari is the worst I have seen in my life. Reports are suggesting that the kidnapped schoolgirls have been taken across the border — in spite of the presence of police, customs, immigration, civil defence, DSS and military guys all over the place. Can you beat that? We need our heads examined in this country. Incredible.

HALF FULL

While some people are still waiting for “fiscal federalism”, “true federalism”, “state police” and “we the people” perfect constitution, it is gladdening to note that some states are already showing what can be done under the current “military” constitution. Lagos and Kano states, two of the country’s biggest economies, have just signed an MoU for economic partnership and to jointly explore investment opportunities aimed at creating jobs and facilitating growth and development. Lagos and Kebbi are already co-operating on Lake Rice. Some people can only see problems, while others are seeing opportunities. He that observes the wind will not sow. Or reap. Word.

CORRUPTION INDEX

The best official response to Nigeria’s declining fortune in the corruption perception index was delivered by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at an event organised by the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) and the ministry of justice on Tuesday. He analysed the report and pointed out that it was just on one of the indices that Nigeria dropped and it affected the overall ranking. It is a wake-up call, he said. Compare this to the spurious allegation that the ranking was influenced by former President Obasanjo and Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili — who are board members of Transparency International. Laughable.

YUSUF IS BACK

President Muhammadu Buhari’s son, Yusuf, is back on his feet after his horrendous motorbike accident in December 2017. I am happy for him and his family for the great escape. A lot has been said about the state of our medical facilities, but he received the first, critical treatment here in Nigeria before he was flown to Germany for “finishing touches”. And this is then my argument: government must at least make sure our hospitals are good enough to be the first port of call, good enough to preserve life. Those who can afford foreign treatment are lucky, but most Nigerians cannot afford it and they too deserve the right to live. Basic.

The reported story of Chief Olusegun Okikiola Obasanjo’s ‘coup’ against the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at the public presentation of Senator Ahmadu Ali’s Biography, on Thursday, 1st March, 2018 at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, undoubtedly presents Chief Obasanjo as an incurable patriot, who is simply wrapped up in the need for a glorified, powerful, independent, and non-subservient Nigeria, completely free from political chicanery. The story not only shows the goodness in patriotism and nationalism, but also the limitations, impact and implications for foreign policy in international politics and relations.

At the book launch of Senator Ali were many distinguished guests, including General Yakubu Gowon and Obasanjo. Senator Ali and General Obasanjo served illustriously under General Yakubu Gowon as Head of State. In fact, Obasanjo took over from the then Colonel Benjamin Adekunle as Commander of the Third Marine Commando during Nigeria’s war of national unity.

It is useful to note at this juncture the place of conspiracy as jointly planned by Obasanjo and Ali. First, as we shall show below, General Gowon never knew that Ali was part of the conspiracy until the day of the book presentation. It was only Obasanjo that was scolded but not seriously sanctioned because he was then considered a good boy, a good patriot. Secondly, the reason for the conspiracy was not, on the facial level, the need for an office for the new Director of the NYSC, Senator Ali, but the fact of nearness of the office of the USAID to the Cabinet Office which the duo did not want but which they wrongly believed could be relocated with a military fiat under a military regime, and without due regard to international law and diplomacy.

As further reported by Magnus Eze, Obasanjo declared as follows: “I belonged to the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers and had military men under my command, Ahmadu had no military men. I had to be used or should I say I had to concur by performing the task and I made it a military operation. By 4.00 am, soldiers had surrounded the office and by the time the Americans were arriving for work, they were not allowed to go inside.”

What again should be noted from this quotation is that it is not clear why Obasanjo acted without authorisation from his immediate boss and why, if he had the support of his boss, he was the only one to be scolded. As reported, Obasanjo took advantage of his position as commander to act unilaterally and this factor of unilateralism cannot but be a resultant of patriotism. Perhaps, what is most interesting about the so-called coup is that Obasanjo later realised that he had acted much in ignorance of the diplomatic consequences.

As he reportedly put it: “I didn’t realise the diplomatic implications. Then the Americans violently protested and it was reported to the Commander-in-Chief, General Gowon, and I was carpeted, tongue-lashed and thoroughly washed down.” General Gowon admitted that he and the Chief of Staff, General David Ejoor, “really dressed him (Obasanjo) down, because he exactly started a very serious diplomatic incident.”

Without any scintilla of doubt, General Obasanjo was not only wrong to have breached diplomatic protocol, but his wrongness cannot be as praiseworthy as his patriotic disposition in the matter. In fact, if it was true that the Americans ‘violently’ protested, that again, cannot be compatible with the status of the USAID as a representative diplomatic institution in Nigeria. The protocolar procedure was first to lodge official complain and not to protest violently. General Gowon was right in carpeting General Obasanjo in order to avoid a diplomatic row with the United States, one of the two super powers in the world by that time.

In essence, the import of the foregoing for political and good governance in general is that the expression of patriotism is good, particularly in international relations, but it has to be done within its limitations. It is because nationalists often carried the protection of their national interests to the detriment of those of other states that global insecurity persists. They not only adopt the strategy of aggressive deterrence, but also manipulatively use the United Nations to adopt sanctions against perceived enemy countries. The resultant effect is that countries that are also asserting sovereign equality become hardened and more hardened to the extent of non-preparedness to dance to the tunes of the UNSC anymore. This is why a Third World War is looming.

Patriotism in International Politics
Patriotism is a major dynamic of both international development and global insecurity. At the level of international development, for instance, US President Donald Trump came up last week with a proposed higher tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and a theory of goodness in ‘Trade Wars’ in order to stop US economic deficits and insolvencies. In the words of Donald Trump, on Friday, 2nd March, “When a country (USA) is losing many billions of dollars on trade with virtually every country it does business with, trade wars are good, and easy to win. Example, when we are down $100billion with a certain country and they get cute, don’t trade anymore – we win big. It’s easy.”

More significant, one research report from the Gowling in the United States has shown that the US now is the biggest protectionist country in the world. As noted by Gowling, the US has adopted 1,085 more protectionist measures more than liberalising ones since 2009. As a result of this statement, many countries have been reacting and raising different questions on how to respond. Mike Jakeman has argued that ‘the number of people, who work in steel consumption (who will suffer because of higher prices) is much greater the number that works in steel production (who will benefit) from Donald Trump’s trade war.

Thus, this is apparently one of the ways Donald Trump wants to make America great again, but this does not, and should not prevent any other sovereign state from also engaging in adoption of protectionist policies. And this is why, for instance, the European Commission has to respond by way of regret: “We regret President Trump’s decision to impose a tariff on all aluminium imports independent of their country of origin. European aluminium exports to the US, in view of both their quantity and characteristics, do not pose any threat to US national security. Most importantly, this blanket tariff does not address the root cause of the main challenges faced by the aluminium industry today: the unsustainable and steady increase of aluminium overcapacities in China.”

Additionally, the Director General of European Aluminium, Gerd Göotz, says “This global challenge can only be managed effectively through a global and long-term solution based on multilateral rules and common enforcement such as creation of a Global Aluminium Forum within G-20.”

What is clear from both the trade war policy of Donald Trump and the international reactions to it is the quest to advance and protect the national interest, which is largely driven by patriotism at the individual level and by nationalism at the collective level. Indeed, many advanced countries of the world owed their advancement status to patriotism at the level of their citizens. However, when patriotism is carried excessively to the detriment of the protection of the interests of other countries, international security is necessarily threatened. When attention is not promptly taken on the threats, a crisis is created and when again this is not well attended to, the crisis degenerates to a conflict and ultimately to war, cold or hot. The cases of the controversies over North Korean nuclear tests and the devastations that have come to characterise the war in Syria are noteworthy. The case of North Korea is particularly noteworthy because it appears to be currently the most critical dynamic of whether or not there will be another World War.

North Korea is currently the main foreign policy preoccupation of the nuclear powers and the developed world as at today. At the level of Sino-North Korean relations, China wants to maintain North Korea as a security buffer zone against any US security threats. This explains in part China’s anger and hostility to the United States new sanctions against North Korea. Donald Trump said the sanctions are the ‘largest ever.’ The sanctions do target one person, 27 companies and 28 ships registered in China and seven other countries.

Apart from China being the closest traditional ally of North Korea, Chinese interests are thus at stake. It is normal to therefore expect Chinese Foreign Ministry to resolutely oppose and to demand that the US immediately lift the sanctions in order to avoid harming bilateral relations in the relevant area. Already, China’s trade with North Korea reportedly fell to its lowest ebb in January 2018, thus suggesting that China has been maintaining pressure on North Korea, but that this has not deterred North Korea’s increasing quest for a nuclear power status.

Russia is also another ally of North Korea. Like China, Russia has territorial disputes with Japan, which enjoys special relationship with the US. Japan, up till this day, has not signed the treaty ending World War II and is aspiring, with the support of the United States, to become one of the new permanent members of the UNSC.
Essentially because of national security interests, Japan and the United States have a tripartite agreement with South Korea, aimed at monitoring and containing North Korea. In opposition to this, Russia has been sustaining its own relations with North Korea, particularly from the perspective of its implications for Syria. Naturally, France and the United Kingdom are in the alliance orbit of the United States. So, their opposition to North Korea is understandable.

The point being made so far is that patriotism generates an attitudinal disposition that antagonises, not only the national interests of others, but also international norms and tradition. It necessarily breaches the basic principles of international diplomatic practice, as revealed by the case of Chief Obasanjo above. It also threatens global security.

North Korea and Global Peace
The main critical threat to global peace, as noted above, is North Korea. The threat is not about its nuclear threats per se. It is not even about its proliferation policy which is against some international conventions. The threat is more about the internally perceived threats to the security survival of North Korea. In the eyes of North Korea, the United States is the major threat. It is the enemy. For as long as this perception persists, there cannot be any good way of influencing North Korea to denuclearise, especially in light of the truth that, grosso modo, powerful countries respect international law when it is convenient.

Currently, the whole world is made to condemn North Korea’s export of nuclear materials (acid-resistant tiles, valves, and thermometers which are needed for making chemical weapons) to Syria. North Korea argues that it does not want to be taken unawares the way the American-led Western world dealt with Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi and others, and therefore, considering the need to be armed fully to the teeth.

North Korea may not be faulted if we consider the reality of international politics. For instance, on the specific crisis in Syria, the UNSC, on Saturday, 24th February, called for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria but no one showed readiness to respect the call. Iran says the resolution does not apply to parts of Damascus and its suburbs currently held by terrorists. In the same vein, Turkey says it also does not affect its offensive against the Kurdist fighters in Syria’s north-western AFRIN. The Assad government says the offensive of its government is against the terrorists.

Even though the opposition elements in Syria posit that the arguments of both the government of Syria and others were nothing more than a pretext, because only a few hundreds of fighters are in the enclave, the critical point is that all those engaged in fighting are acting on the basis of patriotism and nationalism.
In fact, North Korea also argues that all countries of the world do have the right to decide the precise level of defensive capacity they want without any iota of interference and aggressive deterrence. The main rationale for this reasoning is that some powerful countries have already acquired the nuclear power status and these countries do not want other countries to acquire the same, in the belief that other countries cannot be reliable in terms of ensuring nuclear non-proliferation.

Additionally, a new Cold War is emerging. China is gradually preparing to take over the mantle of global leadership from the United States. Russia is also seriously making efforts to revisit the aftermath of glasnost and perestroika, and by extension and so doing, also re-affirming the super power status of Russia. Thus, China, Russia, and the US are currently in a stiff competition for world leadership.

It should not be quickly forgotten, at this juncture, that Russia was on the side of the United States when initial attacks were to be launched against President Assad. By then, US-Russia emphasis was first to defeat the terrorists. When Syria opted to settle more than 3 billion US dollars owed to Russia, it did not take time before Russia re-strategised and made it clear to the United States not to do anything without first securing its own consent. That was how Russia hurriedly became an opposition to the US in the Syrian crisis.

In the same vein, North Korea became frontally another opposition to the US in joint opposition with Russia to the US. This is simply because North Korea believes it has the right to survival and security like the powerful countries and should not be dictated to on what to do on security measures.

The implication for peace is that, if for whatever reasons North Korea is provoked, and true enough North Korea wants to be provoked because it considers it has now been pushed to the wall, and considering that whoever is already on the floor does not have any other place to fall down to, North Korea is always ready to damn the consequences of its nuclear policy.

In the event of unacceptable provocation, North Korea can respond with nuclear arms without regret. If the US does not want North Korea to acquire nuclear capability that can threaten US territory, but wants to maintain its own nuclear superiority and capacity to project its own nuclear missiles up to the territory of North Korea, there will be urgent need to address the root causes of North Korea’s intransigence.

In this regard, the international community must first address the quest for re-unification of the two Koreas in the same way that of the West and East Germany was facilitated. Second, it has also become a desideratum to allow North Korea to join officiously the nuclear club, since it has successfully launched nuclear missiles and tested nuclear bombs. North Korea is acting on the basis of patriotic nationalism. It also wants to make itself great in the comity of nations in the manner of Donald Trump making America great again. In fact, there is nothing wrong if Nigeria aspires to become the first nuclear power in Africa, for Africa, and in protection of Africa’s interests.

Nuclear non-proliferation is politics. North Korea has come of nuclear age. The international community, rather than seeking to provoke a new global war, that will be nuclear technology-driven, and which no country of the world can control in an exclusive capacity, it is better to quickly nip it in the bud within the framework of the apparent new Cold War between Russia and China, on the one hand, and the US and its allies, on the other. A stitch in time, it is said, saves nine. This is necessary because where the nationalism and patriotism of one country stops, that of other countries begin. Consequently, there are always limitations to patriotism and nationalism in international relations.

In conclusion, therefore, national patriotism must never be allowed to the detriment of the interests of other countries. Doing so enables order and counter-order to reign and the outcome cannot but be a situation of counter-order and disorder.

On a note justifying the haplessness of the Nigerian military in the face of intractable insurgency, President Buhari, on a note of surrender, quipped at the APC NEC that "no country, however well secured, can prevent isolated acts of terror as we have seen in America, Europe, Asia and here in Africa". The truth however, from our experiences with Boko Haram and its equally deadly herdsmen cousins, is that their acts of terror on Nigerians are neither isolated in terms of frequency, or territorial domination.

If anything, this declaration of force majeure by the president is the final sealing of the hopes of Nigerians, of possible salvation from terrorism, especially the excruciating experiences of bombing and abduction of children. Most insensitively, neither Mr President nor the ensuing communique thereafter, spared a word of consolation or hope for the abducted 110 girls of Dapchi and their agonising parents, at this meeting of the High Command of the APC and its legitimacy-kwashokored government .

In a most insensitive manner, every major massacre, seems to provide a platform for APC and its goons to celebrate and demonstrate their love for the President in his bloody journey to 2019.

Within 48 hours of the Benue massacre and mass internment, some APC governors, in competition with one another, converged on Kaduna, and not minding the fresh tears from the killings in the southern part of Kaduna itself, to show solidarity and declare support for Buhari's second term.

Not long thereafter, as the nation mourned the Zamfara massacre, where scores of innocent people fell to the herdsmen's firing squads, Buhari, less than 48 hours, played host, in Daura, to his govenors in demonstration of their support for his second term. Now less than 48 hours after the Dapchi abduction, Buhari and the APC took to politics, at its long awaited National Executive Committee meeting, merely to clear the remaining possible hurdles against Buhari's ticket and those of the governors. How insensitive can a party be.

For those who may be deceived by his acclaimed political naivety, President Buhari is coming up as the shrewdest president to have ever ruled Nigeria. A man of scanty words, he combines deceptive muteness with stoic endurance in the machiavellian pursuit of his ambition.

In the face of seemingly fatal illness, President Buhari transmitted power, on paper, to his deputy, a denial of constitutional imperative for which, his kinsman, Umar Yar'Adua, got criticized. In practical terms, Buhari actually implemented the constitution in breach and got applause for it. He took the presidency with him to London, awarding mind boggling oil contracts and exercised real presidential acts on his sick bed, leaving his pastor Professor Deputy with preaching peace to Biafra and signing harmless Executive Orders on how to do business.

PMB has now truly reached to his private mail bag with his exclusive last card, resolving contradictions in his party by playing mutually antagonistic caucuses against one another to emerge the only idol worthy of worship and sacrifice. He has always known that the smooth talking party chairman is no threat and, in fact most comfortable with his position that, even on Buhari's sickbed then, John Oyegun was already baptizing Nigerians with the proclamation of expected Buhari second term.

Buhari made his cabal strip Tinubu of real strength and power by poaching his boys in all states, except Lagos and to some extent, Osun where his loyal lieutenant is actually his own master. He allowed Asiwaju to amuse himself with the title of the National Leader of the party, though only in some of Tinubu friendly media. He craftily patronised Tinubu in his speech at NEC, referring to him as our respected Asiwaju and his phony reconciliation committee, as the Asiwaju Committee.

It was surprising that Tinubu failed to know that Buhari was showing who the real leader was, by the greek gift of a reconciliation assignment, which may actually sing the nunc dimitis of the real Tinubu followers in the party. In truth, if there is any group to be reconciled with the mainstream APC and its government anywhere, it is the Tinubu group considered loathsome by all.

Yet, Asiwaju, the inarguably most accomplished politician in Nigeria since the return of democracy, openly walked into the trap of wanting to be a judge in his own cause, ignoring the admonition of his well meaning lovers, including his wife. Surprisingly and most tactlessly perhaps, Tinubu showed his hand too early in his acrid letter to Oyegun, the beloved son. The NEC meeting was actually called to finally cage the Lion of Bourdillon.

Before his very eyes, Oyegun and the errant structure of the party was asked to midwife the process of the 2019 elections, effectively putting an end to Tinubu's trouble shooting. The unanimous adoption of this proposal, should be for Asiwaju, more than an ominous sign of a perfected coup. My militant governor in Ondo state delivered the message in the most enchanting wizardry of sophistry, when he denied saying that he ever told Tinubu to stay off the state with his assignment, but that Asiwaju's coming may be unnecessary because he would actually have no reconciliation work to do. Yet so reconciled is the Ondo State APC that Arakunrin Aketi has declared one of their only ranking senator a persona non grata.

With the states' party Executives in the firm grips of the governors, perfectly alligned with the compliant Oyegun smooth talker, Tinubu now knows his assignment is over and merely marking his days at the mercy of his traducers in the party knuckled together by his tireless foot walking across the nation. Now merely holding the strands ends of the broom, one or two strands may come his way, by compensatory appointments to his supporters at this twilight, his hands are far from the handle of the broom.

This is no doubt a most trying time for the most enigmatic Nigerian politian of this generation. In 2003, contrary to popular beliefs, Tinubu was the first among the AD governors to express support for Obasanjo's second term, when he declared at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, on his way to Mecca, that he would deliver 5 million Lagos votes to Obasanjo. At the critical time, Tinubu beat a tactical retreat and warned his colleagues and the national leadership of the Afenifere against any deal with OBJ. Tinubu was proved right and remained the last man standing, strategically wining his Lagos baby from the Obasanjo's onslaught.

When he felt his presidential runs with Atiku or Ribadu were going to produce no goals,Tinubu did a solo and maradonically meandered his ways to the posts. He did not win the national match but certainly not disgraced, as he added to the Lagos lone goal, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Edo states. He's yet to decipher the Ondo formula.

From self retirement, Asiwaju took Buhari from the cold, brushed off the images of irredentist religious bigotry and ethnic jingoism and tagged him with the messianic message of change and the rest now is history. Let those beating their chests that Asiwaju is spent, particularly those who rode on his back to reckoning and feel they could suck and throw him off like a piece of orange, be told that this sunmeri needs only the next rain.

Sunmeri is the proverbial plant in the riverine climes (I don't know the English name) which, when you think is dead and dry, only surprisingly sprouts in the next rainy season.The firmament is gathering clouds for the next season of political rains. Let those dozing avoid snoring.

Those alleging Al-Mustapha gave me money are liars, I challenge them to provide proof

Founder, Oodua Peoples Congress, Dr Fredrick Fasehun has challenged Nigerians accusing him of being ‘settled’ by Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha to come out with proof or stop disparaging his name.

Throwing the challenge in this interview conducted by TUNDE THOMAS, Fasehun lamented that some Nigerians who were shocked by his decision to forgive Al-Mustapha who was part of Abacha’s regime that tortured and detained him have been spreading falsehood over his decision to forgive the former CSO.

“It is my own decision and I have no regret over it. Those saying I collected money from Al-Mustapha are spreading falsehood. I challenge them to come out with proof, otherwise they should keep quiet for ever,” he said. The OPC leader also spoke on other national issues.

What is your reaction to recent comments by the APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, and Kogi State governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello that there is no alternative to President Buhari in 2019?

I’m surprised by the comments credited to both of them. They are speaking like Nigerian politicians. They are saying what should be expected from them. These are politicians that people refer to as Agip politicians. That is politicians supporting any government in power. And in Oyegun and Bello’s case, they must speak in support of their principal and ally, President Buhari.

Now coming to their comments, both of them have goofed. Oyegun and Bello have goofed. How can Buhari be Nigeria’s messiah? Nigeria’s messiah in what way? Does Oyegun know the true meaning of a messiah? A messiah means somebody that has come to save and protect. But can Buhari be described as a savior or a protector when Nigeria has been turned into a killing field under his watch?

The news coming out of Nigeria daily since Buhari took over in 2015 is very scaring. It is news of innocent Nigerians being killed all over the place by bandits, kidnappers, and Fulani herdsmen. Nigeria has gradually been turned into a killing field. From Benue to Taraba, Taraba to Adamawa, Adamawa to Kaduna to Zamfara, it is tales of gory killings and bloodshed. It is as if Nigeria is without a leader, and yet Buhari is there as President, and it is under his watch that all these killings and loss of lives are taking place, and yet some callous and heartless Nigerians like Oyegun could have the boldness to describe him as Nigeria’s messiah – this is very sad and unfortunate. I wonder if Oyegun is a genuine Christian, I wonder if Oyegun is a man with conscience. It is only a heartless man that will describe Buhari as Nigeria’s messiah.

Again, what are the criteria Oyegun is using to describe his principal and ally, as a messiah. Does Buhari deserve the accolade of a messiah when millions of Nigerians are dying of hunger daily? Hunger, poverty, unemployment, suffering and hardship are what millions of Nigerians have come to know since 2015 when Buhari became President.

For Yahaya Bello to say that there is no alternative to Buhari in 2019 is a big insult to Nigerians. Governor Yahaya Bello and others in his shoes saying that there is no alternative to Buhari are saying rubbish. They should apologise to Nigerians. How can Yahaya Bello say that there is no alternative to Buhari in a country of over 170 million people? There are hundreds of alternatives if not thousands of alternatives to Buhari in Nigeria.

However, I’m not shocked by Bello’s comments, he is only trying to sing praise of Buhari who is his benefactor and God-sent helper. The bitter truth today is that millions of Nigerians are not satisfied with Buhari, and his party APC. Both have disappointed the nation – they have performed poorly – they have failed Nigerians. In fact, I wept for Nigeria the day Buhari was elected President.

But what those supporting President Buhari’s reelection are saying is that he should be voted for a second term to enable him consolidate on his current achievements …

Cuts in … Which achievements? As far as I’m concerned, Buhari has not done anything to merit a second term in office. Buhari has failed, and APC has also failed. To ask Buhari to continue in office for a second term will only mean one thing, and that is prolongation of sufferings for Nigerians. Millions of Nigerians that voted for APC and Buhari in 2015 are now regretting their action. They are now angry and they are now waiting for 2019 to punish APC and Buhari with their votes. Honestly, Buhari and APC have shortchanged Nigerians, and that’s why the song on the lips of many disappointed Nigerians now is change the changers. That’s to tell you the extent to which APC has become a big bundle of disappointment. My sincere advice to Buhari is that he should forget 2019. He should just do his first term and retire to his village in Daura.

With your disappointment with APC, are you in support of the return of PDP to power as some Nigerians and PDP supporters have been canvassing?

No. None of the two parties should be in power again. Both PDP and APC have disappointed Nigerians. PDP was even better. But I believe that it is time for Nigeria to have new a party in power. We have over 69 political parties. From these, we can have alliances that will bring up a new political party that will provide dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

With the way APC has disappointed there is no way I will canvass for APC to win 2019 general elections. PDP and APC are birds of the same feather. Both parties should quit the stage for a new political party to take over.

Honestly, Buhari and APC have nothing to offer again. We need a new political order to take Nigeria to the next level.

What’s your view on the Coalition for Nigeria Movement that former President Olusegun Obasanjo floated as a way of providing an alternative to PDP and APC?

Obasanjo should stop interfering in Nigeria’s affairs. Nigerians should be allowed to decide their own fate. Obasanjo can’t divorce himself from some of the problems confronting us in Nigeria today. He was part of the problem. Obasanjo should leave Nigeria alone, enough is enough. Although as a former leader, he has a right to talk and offer advice but I believe he should leave Nigerians alone – Obasanjo has paid his dues, it is time for him to quit politics. He should retire from politics.

What is your take on the letters written to President Buhari by Obasanjo, and former President Ibrahim Babangida?

Both of them are in order by writing Buhari. As elder statesmen and  leaders of this nation, they are eminently qualified to write Buhari. I disagree with those who have been criticizing the two former leaders for writing Buhari – Obasanjo and Buhari should be allowed to express their minds, especially if doing so will make Buhari to do the right thing in the best interests of Nigeria. As far as I’m concerned, Obasanjo’s regime or administration was far better than Buhari’s government. There is nothing wrong in both former leaders writing to Buhari to advise, and also to criticize him. I believe what Obasanjo and Babangida have done, they did in the best interest of Nigeria.

What’s your take on the present state of insecurity across the land especially with the recent killings in Benue, Zamfara, Taraba and other parts of the country?

It is sad and very worrisome that Nigeria is gradually being turned into a state of blood. Almost everyday now you have blood of innocent Nigerians being spilled either by bandits or Fulani herdsmen. The menace of herdsmen has now reached such an alarming proportion that the whole country is now endangered by the activities of these herdsmen.

But what is baffling is this, are we not supposed to have a leader who also doubles as the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces? We have, and that person is President Muhammadu Buhari, but from what we have seen so far, it appears as if Buhari is on vacation or seems not to be troubled or bothered by the nefarious activities of the herdsmen. But for how long will the blood spilling and murder of innocent Nigerians continue before a drastic solution is found?

If Buhari refuses to take urgent action on this insecurity crisis, it will be one of the issues that will be used against him by his opponents during the 2019 general elections campaign. Security is a serious business. It is not a team affair, federal government should wake up to its responsibilities. Enough of bloodshed. Enough of blood spilling. Even the blood of those being killed unjustly is crying out for justice. Buhari has to find a way out to stop this blood flow.

Buhari and APC leaders who are in government should remember the goodwill they enjoyed in 2015 during the build up to that general elections. While some of us that are not Buhari’s admirers were warning Nigerians not to vote for Buhari and APC, instead of listening to our warnings and advice, they called us names, and rejected our advice. They were cheering Buhari and APC.

But today the story has changed. Those Nigerians that were cheering Buhari and APC leaders are now jeering at them – that’s even enough to tell APC leaders that the tide has changed, and that’s why it has become imperative for Buhari and APC to undertake positive changes. But first and foremost, something urgent has to be done about insecurity, killings, hunger and poverty that have become daily companions of Nigerians since 2015. Nigerians don’t deserve what they are presently getting from the APC led government today.

Is restructuring the way out of all these crises facing Nigeria as some people have been saying?

I support those saying so. Restructuring, genuine one will help to diffuse a lot of tension. In the First Republic, when Nigeria was practicing true federalism, there was development, steady growth, and healthy rivalry for development among the regions and the component units that make up the federation. Then fiscal federalism was in practice unlike now when everybody depends on revenues from crude oil to survive. There was no tension and friction.

But with the military incursion into power, everything changed, federalism became bastardised, and since then genuine peace has eluded Nigeria. To get it right, we have to restructure. To get it right we have to return to a true practice of federalism. It is the only way to have enduring peace in the country.

For the South West governors, what will be your advice, or how do you think they can handle the issue of herdsmen?

As the chief security officer of their states, they are vested with power to take actions to secure the lives and properties of all citizens in their domain not only Yoruba – they should make laws that will protect farmers and people from violent attacks by herdsmen.

Like Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose has done something in that regard. While I enjoin all Nigerians irrespective of ethnic diversity to live in peace and harmony, no individual or group should however be seen to be taking actions that will hurt the interests of others. Human life is very precious. It is not something to be toyed with. Human life is sacrosanct, and this is why I expect governors to take actions that will secure the lives and properties of their people.

I also believe that ranching option can help to stop these senseless killings. Fulani herdsmen should be encouraged to imbibe the ranching option, while modalities should be worked out on how to make the option easier for them to embrace.

Not much is being heard about the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN which you floated some years back, some people even claimed that you have been sacked with a new exco now in place, what is the true position of things?

The true situation of things is that today as we are speaking, I remain the bona fide chairman and founder of UPN. All those claiming to be this and that concerning UPN including one Professor are all fakes. They are all impostors. UPN Certificate of Registration is in my custody. But for those doubting Thomases, and others that may be confused about the current status of UPN, they can direct their enquiries to INEC. INEC would then enlighten them, and open their eyes to the truth. There is no controversy or crisis in UPN at all. I’m still in charge, and my party members are still very loyal to me. My leadership enjoys the confidence of all UPN members.

Some Nigerians have expressed concern over your friendship with and deep affections for Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer to the late General Sani Abacha whose regime tortured and incarcerated you for a long time when he was in power. Some people are alleging that Al-Mustapha has settled you, and that’s why you have become his new godfather, what’s your response to that?

I laugh when people make allegations that can’t be substantiated. What do I need Al-Mustapha’s money for? Why should I collect money from Al-Mustapha? I’m a Christian, and what the Bible teaches us is forgiveness. I simply forgave Al-Mustapha over what Abacha’s regime did to me and some other Nigerians, and I don’t have any apology for that.

Jesus Christ taught about forgiveness, and I believe in Christ and his teachings, and that’s why I forgave Al-Mustapha, and I have no apology to offer anybody over that. For those who are making allegations that I collected money from Al-Mustapha, I challenge them to come out with any proof. They are all big liars – they are those Nigerians who profess to be genuine Christians and Muslims but still have unforgiving spirits.

Sun

Nigeria recently lost one of the most important writers in its indigenous languages.  Professor Akinwunmi Isola, an eminent scholar, celebrated playwright, ace dramatist and accomplished actor, died on February 17, sadly depleting the ranks of African writers in the Yoruba Language. His passage is a great loss to African Literary Studies, particularly relating to Yoruba language, literature and culture.

Without doubt, the deceased will be greatly   missed by all scholars of Yoruba Language and Literature, especially his students and colleagues. Prof. Isola, who passed on in Ibadan, Oyo State, at the age of 79, was a great writer and author of the iconic Yoruba play, Efunsetan Aniwura, which he wrote when he was a student at the University of Ibadan in 1961.

His other popular works include Tinubu, Ko See Gbe, O Le Ku and Ogun Omode. It is to his eternal credit that his works, Ko See Gbe, Saworoide, Agogo Eewo, O Le Ku and Campus Queen were adapted into films by one of the nation’s most versatile film producers, Tunde Kelani.

Born on December 24, 1939 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Isola attended Labode Methodist School and Wesley College in Ibadan. He got his B.A. degree in French at the University of Ibadan. Much later, he got his M.A. degree in Yoruba Literature from the University of Lagos. He later obtained his doctorate degree in Yoruba Literature at the University of Ibadan. He taught for several years at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and rose to the position of a professor in 1991. He was, unarguably, the first scholar to deliver a university Convocation Lecture in Yoruba at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State.

Isola dedicated his entire academic life to the study and propagation of Yoruba language, literature and culture. His contributions to Yoruba drama and films are unquantifiable. He was a visiting professor at the University of Georgia, USA. Professor Isola was a versatile thespian, a literary prodigy and intellectual cognoscente. He was known for promoting the Yoruba language and culture through his writing, public speeches and even his dressing.

He translated into Yoruba language Professor Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman and Ake: The Years of Childhood. He later went into broadcasting with a creative production company that turned a number of plays into television dramas and films.

He composed the anthem of his alma mater, Wesley College, Ibadan and it is still in use today. In 2000, he was awarded the National Merit Award and made a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters in recognition of his immense contributions to Yoruba Language and Literature.

We join other Nigerians and his numerous admirers to mourn the passage of this great Nigerian author, actor, cultural activist and erudite scholar. We urge other Nigerian academics to emulate his good example and dedication to scholarship, especially his promotion of one of our indigenous languages, literature and culture.

Let the government immortalise this literary giant and great scholar of Yoruba language. We commiserate with his family, the academic community, the film industry and the nation on the irreparable loss.

Sun

“So in the Libyan fable it is told That once an eagle, stricken with a dart, Said, when he saw the fashion of the shaft, With our own feathers, not by others’ hands. Are we now smitten. -Aeschylus

Fellow Nigerians, I’ve been on tour of Africa, as I mentioned recently on this page, and I’ve covered parts of East and West Africa in the past two weeks. My conclusion and verdict is that things are happening out there while we are free to delude ourselves that we are the giant of Africa. The things that make us the giant, exceptionally brilliant citizens, humongous population, energetic manpower, fertile land, beautiful weather, we’ve refused to turn into useful assets but rather into liabilities.

I won’t bore you with too much details of the countries visited but will summarise the things we lack and why we are lagging behind and what we need to do speedily to catch up and ultimately overtake the comity of other nations in their march towards genuine progress, development and advancement.

Nigeria parades some of the worst airports in Africa today. Let no one preach to me that it is because the PDP government stole the money meant for the airports. As a matter of fact the Goodluck Jonathan administration made some remarkable effort compared to our own government of change which in nearly three years has revamped only the runway in Abuja. The most disgraceful airport for a seat of government is the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. I plead with President Muhammadu Buhari or Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to pay unscheduled visits to that disgraceful airport, I’m sure they will shed tears. Next they should please come to Lagos and ignore the Presidential wing and head to the odoriferous sections ordinary mortals like us use regularly and I’m certain they would be warmly received by some putrid spirits.

It is unexplainable how we can continue to disgrace our dear beloved country without a care in the world. There is no other country you have to give your passport first to secret service agents before you queue up again in front of Immigration officials. There is no airport you get accosted by countless uniformed officers at the entrance of departure and at the exit of arrival. There is no airport where on arrival, all passengers must exit the airport in one direction only and no taxis within range. This is the situation in Lagos. Let me not talk about the rickety elevators and escalators. We are indeed a most difficult race. The only reasonable and professional airport is the MM2 in Lagos which is privately owned.

I saw better airports in much smaller countries. By the time Ghana opens its Terminal 3 very soon to the public, it would be about the best in West Africa. This was a project that was substantially worked on under the Government of President John Dramani Mahama. The cargo section which is already in operation is wearing the powerful signature of Swissport as its operators. The Immigration section at the Kotoka International Airport is one of the most advanced in Africa complete with cameras for iris and fingerprinting machines for data capturing. We have neither despite our being prone to terrorism. I could not believe my eyes when I landed in Dakar, Senegal, last week at its brand new airport opened by the obviously visionary President Macky Sall, only last December. It is such a beauty to behold. Even the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, which was destroyed by a towering inferno years back, has since been restored to its old glory and expanded to cater for millions of passengers.

The international Airport in Kigali is very small but running efficiently. My favourite part is the Immigration area where you pay $30 for visa on arrival without stress and thereafter pass your bags through x-ray machines instead of a multitude of officers rummaging through your luggage. I hope Rwanda would drastically reduce the time passengers have to spend clearing security on departure and also improve on the quality of food and services in the Business Class lounge. Rwanda has become a country of choice for me as an example of a serious country that wants to engage the world in serious business.

No nation can be considered civilised without putting certain things in place. One of such is infrastructure. Electricity is on top of the priority. Many African countries have improved their power generation, transmission and distribution processes. Too much politicisation and bureaucracy has turned Nigeria into a jinxed nation despite the billions of dollars spent and obviously wasted by successive governments. As a matter of fact, one of the most ambitious power projects in our country has already gone to international arbitration because of the excessive power show in Abuja.

Every effort to upgrade our power sector has met with foolish resistance. Whereas, Ghana again, under the former President John Dramani Mahama, was able to fix the erratic power outages, nicknamed Dumso Dumso, within two years. And the Ghana Electricity Company was very creative by rationing and rotating power supplies to different zones interchangeably.

I can list a myriad of problems facing us but the biggest is the failure of leadership. Our leaders have blatantly refused to do the needful. The biggest of all the afflictions is ethnicity which turns otherwise intelligent human beings into morons. Most of our problems would evaporate and disappear the day we are ready to exorcise the demon of ethnicity. I saw the evidence of this thesis in Rwanda where everyone must regard each other as Rwandese rather as Tutsis or Hutus. It has become a crime to so describe any citizen of Rwanda.

On the contrary, Nigerian leaders prefer to be identified as local champions instead of being global personalities. Our clannishness has stultified us beyond reason. I used to be an incurable optimist but recent events have turned me into a paranoid pessimist and unless we urgently rescue our country back from those who are too short-sighted to see the power and strength in the indivisibility of Nigeria, this union may collapse like a pack of cards. No Nigerian should be treated like a second class citizen in his own country. No ethnic group should feel superior to another.

Every Nigerian should treat the other as equal partners. The next set of Nigerian leaders must be scrutinised and confirmed to be those who are detribalised and religious-tolerant. Nigeria has suffered too much as a result of unbridled parochialism.

As we approach our next general elections, we must prepare to find, select and elect leaders who would detach us from the superstitions that have held us down for far too long than normal at this time and age. We must seek leaders with an acceptable modicum of education. This is not an attempt to deride those who have no formal education. My mum who brought me up had none but she knew the value of education and invested her modest resources in us. Nigeria is too blessed with geniuses to keep settling for leaders without substantial education. Education and exposure to modernity should help reduce our proclivity for backward behaviours.

We must make up our minds about what we want as a people. Do we want to remain forever backward in the name of ethnicity, religion and incredible propensity for material acquisition? Everyone in the world is trying to break free from a useless past, why can’t we emulate them? Our universe today is knowledge driven, why do we continue to wallow in ignorance? Until we fix our education which has collapsed, almost irreparably, our country is doomed. I was regaled with stories of how the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, is turning his country into a technology hub in Africa.

I have no doubt that even our ruling government in Nigeria has some of the brightest guys who would readily match their counterparts anywhere in the world, but we won’t give them the chance to function optimally. We all remember how Professor Yemi Osinbajo was able to unite Nigerians last year in the middle of the threat of secession from Nnamdi Kanu and his Biafran agitators. If APC had continued along the new path created by the Vice President, things would have been much better for the government and our country by now. We saw an Acting President who was visiting everywhere and interacting with politicians across divides without discriminating against anyone. The erudite scholar gave us all a sense of pride and place. But soon after the President returned from his medical sojourn in the United Kingdom, things fell apart. We returned conveniently to our perfidious ways. Some people even accused the Vice President of working to outshine his boss despite is avowed loyalty to his principal.

Why would anyone change a winning strategy that everyone was already applauding? If the President had maintained that tempo and pace of activities, perhaps the APC would have saved itself from the present calamity. If the APC fails in next year’s general election, it would only have been a severe punishment for its recalcitrance and myopic nature. Things should always be done according to merits.

The youths who wish to take over power from the elders should also be fully prepared to work very hard and not sit down, arms akimbo, expecting a miracle from heaven. Their only qualification should never be that they are young and youthful. They must be accomplished in their own rights and market their credentials energetically. There is no point taking over power only to continue the monumental mess of the past.

It shall be well with Nigeria…

Senator Shehu Sani was at the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, APC penultimate weekend to brief the leadership on the challenges facing the party in Kaduna State. In this interview, he raised some of the issues and also gave an explanation why the National Assembly had to re-order the sequence of elections. Excerpts:

Why do we have parallel executives of the APC in Kaduna State?

In Kaduna State today, we are having a problem and there are two APC secretariats. There is the one which the governor has set up for himself and serves as his personal convenience where he can do whatever he wants to do and we also have our own APC secretariat, so, we have twin-APC in Kaduna.

Our own is the genuine one because the chairman of the party that was duly certified and elected and recognised by INEC is not the one the governor is dealing with.

So, as far as we are concerned, we are here to tell the national secretariat that Senators Shehu Sani and Suleiman Hunkuyi and other party stalwarts in Kaduna will not accept, tolerate, endorse any form of tyranny by the governor of Kaduna State.

He has pocketed the party and wants to impose his will and is exploiting his proximity to the President to unleash a reign of terror on the party.

Right now, the party is already divided in Kaduna and it is for the national secretariat to note this and we have said it in clear terms.

The problem has defied solution for two years, but we believe that Asiwaju can do a lot of reconciliation and we hope that he will be able to achieve a lot because if Asiwaju fails, it is going to be doom for the party.

When you see people fighting within the party, it is because they want to remain in the party. If they don’t want to remain within the party, they will simply walk away from the party. So, we are saying that in the 21st Century Nigeria, there are those of us in the APC that will not accept any governor going into the room to write the list of his concubines, friends, his errand boys, housemaids and guards and send them as executives of the party.

We are going to remain in the APC and pursue this agenda and my presence here at the APC is to send a clear message, appreciating Tinubu’s appointment and to tell them that it is in the best interest of the party that they don’t take sides or the most they can do is to give us equal treatment as far as Kaduna is concerned.

Do you see the ‘Kaduna situation’ playing out at the national level too?

I don’t know anything about national level but I can tell you that as far as Kaduna is concerned, we have parallel APC and it is left for Asiwaju to build the bridges. Lagos is known for bridges therefore we hope that there will be Seventh Mainland Bridge to connect the divide. But we are not sure of that.

What is your take on extending an automatic ticket to Buhari to contest the 2019 Presidential election?

One thing Nigerians refused to recognise is that people have the right to decide if they want the President to re-contest or not and he also has the right to accept or reject the decision of the people. As far as I am concerned, any opinion on whether he should contest or not is simply an exercise of freedom of speech and is left for him to decide.

Are you contesting for the governorship of the state?

In politics, there are things you want and there could be a decision later on what may be or may not be. In the process where reconciliation is taking place now, I think it is in our interest to first of all, according to what the president said, put our ambitions in our pockets and wait for Asiwaju to address the problems.

Why did the National Assembly re-order the sequence of elections?

You see, there is an impression of the National Assembly which people have, that there are pro and anti-Buhari senators but I do not think that is true. Nobody was elected to be pro or anti. We are all senators and on issues, we vote or decide what our positions should be. Having said that, the re-ordering of the sequence of elections was informed by a number of factors. One is the fact that the hitherto position as it were, where you start from the president and end up with the states was one in which we had the “bandwagon” effect.

Smaller parties felt that each time you had a presidential election and President Buhari wins, it means nobody will win any seat again; it is going to be President Buhari all through.

So, now, what we are saying is that they should put the presidential election last and that Nigerians have the opportunity to vote for senators and members of House of Representatives; the ones they want, they elect them and those ones they do not want, they reject them. The reason for this is very simple. We are trying to avoid mass trials, mass convictions and mass burials of senators and members of House of Representatives. So, by that, we will now allow each person to go to his grave or to be acquitted before “Justice Electorate.”

Following the hullabaloo arising from reports that a snake swallowed N36 million at JAMB, you were reported to have gone to JAMB office with anti-venom, were you not trivialising a serious matter?

My presence at the JAMB office was on a rescue mission – to avoid further snakes eating more money, because if you have a story where snakes have consumed N36 million, that is very shocking. So, in order to prevent more money being eaten by snakes.

I brought in snake repellents and snake charmers from my constituency. It is my own personal contribution to the fight against animal-based kind of corruption. And again, if this is a drama, it needs to be finished and what I did was to finish the last aspect of the drama.

Vanguard

They sat in tensed silence – Lai, Shehu, Femi and Lauretta. The air-conditioner was functional but the heat generated by the tension was very evident. There were beads of sweat on their foreheads and Lauretta, most perturbed by sweat, had to seek the assistance of a hand fan. It may be because of her heavy makeup or as the only member of the weaker sex in the room, she was bound to be affected by tension more than the others. There were drinks on the table but no one seemed interested in them.

“Uncle Lai,” Lauretta called in a voice that successfully combined anxiety with disappointment. “You are not saying anything. You are the boss, the most experienced person in this kind of thing. You need to say something.”

“Femi was displeased with my initial statement on this issue,” Lai responded. “Let him say his own.”

“How can you say Boko Haram kidnapped the Dapchi girls to embarrass the federal government?” Femi said, looking at Lai in disdain. “And just as people were expressing outrage over the senseless utterance, the picture where you wore a jacket on top of babariga started trending on social media. I was shocked when I saw that picture.”

“I don’t care what they say about that picture,” Lai retorted, shaking his head defiantly. “The cold was too much. I nearly died of cold in Spain. Even in the babariga and suit, I was freezing. I have no apologies to anyone. You can imagine how all those complaining about the picture would be rejoicing at this moment if I had died of cold.”

“But must you travel to Spain at this point, sir?” asked Shehu. “And if you must travel, must you take pictures. And if you must take pictures in inappropriate wears, must you allow them to be made public?”

“Contrary to what you people think, I deliberately dressed that way. I wanted to make the point that no matter where we find ourselves or the weather condition, we must not discard or deny our rich cultural heritage. My dressing was an expression of the resilience of the Nigerian culture.”

The other three burst out laughing. Considering the solemnity of the occasion, Lai must have said something really funny to elicit such collective, instant, mirthful expression of amusement.

“Uncle Lai, we are here to tell ourselves the truth,” Femi stated. “We are not like the rest of Nigerians you tell whatever you want and get away with it. Let’s face facts and reality here. No propaganda here please.”

“We have a tragedy in our hands.” Shehu surmised. “The bedrock of this administration are security and anti-corruption. After three years of fighting corruption, Transparency International has given us a negative ranking. And after one billion dollars have been voted recently in the fight against insurgency and after we told Nigerians that Boko Haram have been technically defeated, the terrorists have abducted 110 Dapchi schoolgirls. We are in serious trouble. That is why I called this meeting.”

“Point of correction, there is no evidence yet that the schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram,” Lai said. “We shouldn’t jump to hasty conclusions.”

“So who abducted them?” the three others asked almost in a chorus.

“It could be anyone – kidnappers, pedophiles, rapists, human traffickers and even members of the PDP. Have you not thought about the fact that the incident happened just as the EFCC rejected Patience Jonathan’s request for out of court settlement over stolen money? They may have realised that such an act of admission of guilt would be a huge victory for President Buhari’s anti-corruption agenda and wanted something to take the issue off headline news. I suspect the PDP.”

The others were gaping at Lai in shock or disbelief or both. He looked defiantly back at them for a while but then looked away when he realised that their looks were gradually turning to annoyance.

“Why is everyone concluding that Boko Haram was responsible for the abduction?” Lai said almost defensively. “Has Shekau released any video showing the abducted girls? What if we keep blaming Boko Haram for something they didn’t do and they get annoyed and do something terrible? I insist that you don’t accuse people unfairly. Without evidence.”

“Uncle Lai,” Lauretta called sarcastically. “Are you saying all these as a joke? Do you really believe all these you are saying?”

“I am serious. I have a haunch that PDP, Goodluck Jonathan and his wife must have something to do with this. Most of my haunches have always turned to be right.”

“The same haunch that led you to advise the president to declare Boko Haram technically defeated,” Femi said derisively.

“But they were technically defeated,” Lai protested. “At the point President Buhari made the statement, Boko Haram was truly technically defeated. They only regrouped, reorganized and started fighting again. There is a difference between ‘technically defeated’ and ‘finally defeated.’ I told the president never to say that Boko Haram was ‘finally defeated’.”

“They regrouped and reorganized with the huge ransom being paid to them by the government.” Shehu complained. “I advised against the ransom payments. We paid Boko Haram millions of dollars to secure the release of 100 Chibok Girls and abducted lecturers and they used a fraction of the money to mobilize and kidnap 110 girls, making profit in terms money and number of girls in their captivity.”

“The president was constrained to pay the ransom,” Lai explained. “We knew the risks. We knew it was a self-defeating strategy. But we were desperate for good news. The herdsmen news was all over the place and was giving the government a negative image. We had to do something to change the narrative. So when we saw an opening to pay for the release of some hostages, we had to grab it with open arms. We are grateful to the Red Cross for not disclosing the actual amount that was paid.”

“How much was actually paid?” Lauretta asked.

“Lauretta, it is better you don’t know,” Lai responded in an avuncular manner. “I wouldn’t want you to know something that may dampen your enthusiasm in the way you do your work. I have once told you that I read all your posts on Facebook and Twitter. Sometimes I wonder whether you have not become a threat to my position.”

“How do you mean?”

“Don’t worry,” Lai said and then laughed. “You are doing a good job. You are a great asset to the information dissemination and management strategy of this administration.”

“So how do we respond to these twin PR tragedies in our hands?” Shehu asked. “It is over ten days since the abduction of the girls. The initial denials of the abduction, false reports of rescue and the mea culpa of finally admitting the abduction of the 110 schoolgirls have made this administration a laughing stock nationally and internationally. Those that have staked their reputations in supporting this government are hiding their faces in shame. What do we do?”

“All of you should be calm,” Lai said in a tone that blended self-assurance and arrogance. “This is Nigeria. I am still Lai. You don’t need to worry.”

“I am very worried,” Femi said. “This is unlike what we have ever witnessed since we assumed office. I can’t fathom a way we can come out of this looking good.”

“But we are already responding,” Lai stated. “Didn’t you hear about 100 airplanes deployed to look for the girls, at the rate of almost one aircraft to one abducted girl? Where on earth has such act of immense concern for the citizenry occurred before?”

“The Chief of Air Staff has released a statement denying it,” Lauretta replied. “The Nigerian Air Force has clarified that the statement by the National Security Adviser was about 100 air sorties and not 100 aircrafts.”

“I advised the Air Chief not to clarify the statement since he wasn’t the one who made it in the first place but he refused to listen to me. Well, thankfully the president has directed that he should relocate to Yobe State until the missing girls are found. Meanwhile, I have drafted a proposal for the president to direct all government functionaries to relocate to Yobe State for the meantime in solidarity with the missing girls. If adopted, the next Federal Executive Council meeting will take place in Yobe.”

“I hope you didn’t include the presidential media team as part of those to relocate to Yobe,” Lauretta asked.

“The media team should be the first to relocate,” Lai said. “You people should have firsthand information on the happenings there and would no longer depend on the Nigerian news media many of whom have turned against this government.”

“What of the honourable Minister of Information and Culture?” Femi asked in undisguised mockery. “He is the leader and a leader should lead by example.”

“I don’t need to go there. I would be shuttling between Lagos and Abuja, granting interviews and keeping a close eye on media houses. My wealth of experience is needed to respond to local and international press.”

“I can’t believe you are saying these,” Lauretta cried out. “Do they have functional hair and beauty salons in Yobe? I understand GSM network is not reliable there. How do I monitor the social media, post on Facebook and Twitter without access to reliable GSM network? I am a woman for Christ sake and the terrorists have a penchant for abducting women. Please you must exclude me from the list of those relocating to Yobe.”

“This is a time for sacrifices, madam,” Lai stated.

“Well, I’m not bothered because I know the proposal would not be approved,” Shehu said. “It won’t even get to the president. Kyari and Daura would not want to relocate to Yobe. The president himself may not mind going there. So they would make sure the proposal doesn’t get to the president. I am no worried at all.”

“What of the recent report from Transparency International?” Femi asked. “It has virtually rubbished the anti-corruption efforts of the government.”

“I have been working on that,” Lai informed them. “I am still looking for a way to blame it on Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP. But then we have Fani-Kayode’s trial continuing. And that of Joshua Dariye’s son. And the interrogation of Stella Oduah. And the trial of the former NIMASA officials. Magu has assured me that in the next one week they would make a high profile arrest or discover another property acquired by Deizani or recover a huge sum of money in a flat in Lagos or Abuja. I suggested Kano to him. I trust him to deliver. These would take the focus off the TI report.”

“What of the Fulani herdsmen?” Lauretta asked, looking somewhat relaxed for first time since the meeting started.

“Is any serious person in Nigeria still talking about Fulani herdsmen?” Lai asked and then smiled. “I know Nigerians well. Herdsmen issues no longer get front page headlines. The crocodile tears and rantings of Ortom no longer make headline news. Nigerians are now talking about snakes and monkeys swallowing money. I never knew they love allegories this much. I saw a story this morning about an elephant swallowing money at First Bank. From the comments thread, many of the readers believed the story. You people should stop worrying. If we could still be in government after telling Nigerians that rats chased the president out of his office, we can survive anything.”

“That is true,” the other three chorused.


Mayor Ikoroha is an author and public affairs analyst. He is on Twitter as @tellthemayor

The Nigeria project has been on my mind for decades now and the more I try to forget about Nigeria and her problems, the more I get a push that I should not be discouraged in joining hands with other patriots in finding solutions to the problems of Nigeria. However from my experience over the years, I have come to a conclusion that most Nigerians do more of complaining when there is a national problem than take the expected actions to solve the problem.

On this note, I have been trying all these years to factor out what is the root cause of this attitude of complaining and not taking the right action, knowing that the same people will do everything to confront and solve any problem confronting their families or immediate communities, but when it come to national issues, the same people will end up complaining and doing nothing or very little about it.

Many youths have lost their lives in the course of defending the territories of their villages in inter communal clashes, but the same set of youths are not ready to sacrifice a pin for the development of their dear country. This is just an example and not in any way supporting any form of violence or communal clashes, because I believe that most of those clashes would have been averted if the right decisions were taken earlier.

Why am I coming from this angle? Answer: Because I have been active in the struggle for a better Nigeria since the era of the military leadership till date. I have been involved in the planning and execution of several protests from a non violent perspective to change the narrative of bad leadership and corruption in Nigeria.

I have founded and worked in many Nationalistic organizations from my student days till date, so I am writing from more than two decades of experience of active participation in promoting progressive governance in Nigeria.

It really surprises me why people should not defend the interest of their country, which is the singular factor that determines their peaceful and economic well being, but will rather focus more efforts at village and ethnic units.

However, after giving it a deep thought, I am now of the opinion that this attitude of most Nigerians shying away from contributing effectively to solving national challenges is either due to gross ignorance on the part of such citizens on how a nation works, or it is just being Kobo wise and Naira foolish.If we use the same zeal we put up in defending our families and villages to defend the common interest of Nigeria, the country would have soared to the sky in development for ages.

At this point, let us now remind ourselves that It is Nigeria that has the Naira as a legal tender, not any village, ethnic or religious group, and it is the value of the Naira which is actually the state of the economy that influences so many other dynamics in our society.

So, if you decide to defend your village, ethnic or religious group and neglect the overall interest of Nigeria, it is actually a foolish decision because the state of the Naira will soon affect you wherever you are either positively or negatively. Your decision and action about Nigeria is what determines the peace and prosperity of the country. You cannot go it alone. You need the happiness and comfort of others all over the country for you to be truly comfortable in the real sense.

If you have so much money and yet surrounded by criminals, armed robbers, kidnappers, different crises and their likes, I wonder how you can enjoy such money. Even when you travel abroad, you are scorned at as a rich fool and a nonentity in their society. Yes, they may benefit from whatever ill gotten wealth you take there because you are actually boosting their economies, but in the real sense, you are being looked upon as a foolish rich man that has no place of repute in their society.

Most analysts may be quick to say that the unpatriotic dispositions of most Nigerians today is because of the ill treatment that citizens received from the country (Nigeria) over the years. According to them, this lack of commitment to pursuing positive national ideals in Nigeria is a natural response of the citizens to the neglect suffered over time.

Yes, they are right to an extent, but in my opinion, in as much as this is a contributing factor to the lackadaisical attitude of most Nigerians towards committing themselves to solving national problems today, it shouldn’t be an excuse to join in the destruction of the country.

For example, if you return home from work and find rubbish packed into your bedroom, it is expected that as a sane and decent person, the best thing to do is to first of all clean the rubbish and make the room conducive again before taking your rest.

If you complain only about the dirty room and lie on your bed in that condition, you may wake up the next day infected by germs and this may land you in the hospital. So, what could have taken just your physical energy and perhaps a cheap disinfectant to address will now cost thousands of Naira to address.

This is the same scenario playing out today in Nigeria. If the citizens of today's Nigeria feel that Nigeria is packed full of rubbish, we should be working very hard to clean the rubbish rather than joining hands in heaping more rubbish on the system.

My take is that when a father decides to send his children to school to have the best of education, knowingly or unknowingly, what he wants is for the children to give the best to themselves and the family after graduation. It is like what most communities used to practice in those days when they contribute money to send one or two persons to school overseas.

The expectation from such a community is that their children who benefited from the communal efforts will come back home either directly or remotely after graduation to help the community to move forward. But in a situation where such people after graduation deserts the community because they feel they are no more of the same class of reasoning with their local people, such beneficiaries can be termed ingrates and total failures.

In my view, what such beneficiaries are expected to do is come back to the community, review the activities and some of the practices of the community and proposed better measures to improve existing practices or replace bad ones. It may take some time for the people to accept those suggestions and change their ways, but it is the moral responsibility of such beneficiaries of the kindness and support of their home community to be patient with them until they change their ways.

On the other hand, for such people to come back and join the non civilized practices of the community after the exposure they must have had from education, the investment on them by the community can been seen as wasted, because no work was done to improve the status of the community.

This is the same scenario playing out today in this generation of Nigerians. Today, I believe, even though without any scientific proof that at least most communities in Nigeria can boast of one or two graduates from higher institutions and all these graduates benefitted one way or the other from Nigeria during the course of their education.

If they did not benefit directly by attending subsidized Federal or State owned schools, they benefited indirectly because most of the teachers and lecturers that taught them graduated from government schools.

So, if they benefited one way or the other from the Nigerian system, they should also think of being a part of the solution to the problems of the country and not just remain arm chair critics, complainants and devourers.

My argument here is that there is always something to complain about in life because there is no perfect system on earth, but complaining alone is not enough; taking the right action is what is required.

Most of us complain of how our past leaders mismanaged and defrauded Nigeria one way or the other, but instead of detesting such acts in truth and in spirit and seeking out solutions to the problems, most of us are praying for the day it will get to their turn so that they can also steal from the people.

This is wicked and ungodly and any population that has more people thinking like this cannot grow, because they are complaining due to the fact that they are not among those defrauding the nation, and not because they truly want a genuine change that will affect the lives of everybody positively. We must change our ways if we want God to help us out of our problems.

If for instance you have suffered from tribal and religious discrimination in the past, you should make up your mind that you will not be an agent of tribal or religious discrimination in the future because you don’t want other people to feel the pain you felt.

But if your resolve is to unleash untold hardship on others if given the opportunity because of what you suffered, then you are a total failure before your country and God Almighty. Nigeria sent you to school for you to solve the problem of poverty, disunity, corruption and others and not for you to add to the problem.

Most of us want to add to the problem perhaps because of what we suffered in the hands of leaders or fellow citizens, but this cannot yield any good result. In fact, this is the reason Nigeria is not growing the way she should, and has made most citizens to be thirsty in the midst of water.

Now, the 2019 elections are around the corner, and most Nigerians are looking for where the money will flow from before they commit themselves to any political party.

Politicians are aligning and realigning not because of the need to render selfless services to the nation but for what they can get in terms of money and contracts now and in the future at the expense of the common man. This is wicked and I want those people to know that they are enemies of God and God will not be patient forever.

On the side of the voters, most voters go to polling units waiting for the highest bidder to trade off their economy, prosperity and peace for four years for a pittance. This is also evil and let any man or woman trading out their votes get ready to suffer for another four years. Trading your votes actually attracts a curse from God on you whether you know it or not.

At the end of the day, when the economy crumbles or wobbles due to mismanagement and outright looting, and perhaps some of our misguided youths take into crime, armed robbery, kidnapping ,terrorism and other vices, the same politicians that caused the problem will start complaining and running for cover. But the truth is that such politicians are actually reaping from the fruit they sowed in the past.

Also, due to the mismanagement and corruption caused by false leaders voted into power, the same citizens that voted for ethnic, religious or for money sentiments will be enmeshed in daily lamentations of how things are no more working, but the truth is they are also reaping from the evil seed sown during past elections because they took a pot of porridge and sold their birth rights.

Both ways, we have become a complaining nation and population without taking the right action. Selfless service to the nation is now a very scarce commodity. Selfishness and self-centeredness is now the order of the day in the Nigeria of today. This must stop if we want to move forward as a nation. If we neglect the youths today, we are asking for anarchy tomorrow.

To conclude, let me now ask you, how you are preparing for the 2019 general election. Will you vote for ethnic, religious or money sentiments? The choice is yours. Remember, you are going to vote another four years of either sorrow or happiness based on the quality of leaders you choose.

Also, remember that God is watching to reward every man according to the seed sown. God Bless Nigeria and we invite you to join this positive National Discourse as we take another step to define our destiny for another four years. - 

Esanerovo Agbodo is Interim National Co-ordinator of the 2019 Nigeria Think Thank.