Sometimes around the early 1990s when I just left the catholic major seminary after I changed my line of perceived  divine calling from that of completing my courses to become a catholic priest to then chase after my other passions such as journalism, free thinking and creative writing, something remarkable happened to me. I had then sauntered into Nigeria’s apparently biggest commercial city centre with lots of opportunities -Lagos with the view to settle down and design, activate and methodically engineer my future career going forward.

My first  stop in Lagos was a thriving Roman Catholic Newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos in Marina Lagos whose Chief Operating Officer then was a very amiable and patriotic  priest of the Archdiocese of Lagos Reverend Father Mike Umoh. Reverend Father Umoh didn’t advertise for any job opening in that Church media but my instincts directed me towards his own parish somewhere in Ajegunle-a bustling part of the poverty stricken Lagos. But when he listened and heard my odyssey as a boy freshly out of the Roman Catholic Seminary and with a burning flair for writings, the talent gunter in this jolly good Priest was immediately activated and he offered me a position in that newspaper which sells over 50,000 copies per Month around the many Parishes of that urban Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

I had narrated that something happened whilst I sojourned as editorial staff of that official Catholic tabloid (its name I cant even recall but i think it was something like Catholic Herald Newspaper or so it seemed) in Nigeria’s business capital. That incident was only but a friendly banter between reporters and editorial staff concerning Nigeria. That Catholic Newspaper had a very lively but small opening within the Church as the editorial office whereby the periodic publications are planned before going to the press.

The editor of that Catholic tabloid then was a certain Veteran with a name that sounded as if he is  a Brazilian even though he is a native of Lagos Island  known as, I think, Mr Cardoso.This friendly man made a joke to my hearing that “Nigeria is  such a place whereby if you push a Nigerian to the wall,rather than react angrily,he will just jump the wall and run away ”. He further reminded us that unlike in most civilised climes whereby  if you push the  citizens to the wall, you as a government will immediately witness violent revolution. This last reminder has only just happened in most North African countries  leading up,to the emergence of people’s oriented popular democracies. Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan and a couple of other nations witnessed what is called Arab Springs when the common people felt that their oppression was enough and they matched out decisively on the streets leading to the crumbling of those dictatorial regimes.

What Mr Cardoso told me and few other editorial staff of that colourful Catholic tabloid in Lagos has happened not long ago but it can be said also that in Nigeria,it is not the case of once  bitten,twice shy but a case of “Severally bitten,zero shy”.This state of paralysis when it comes to the collective behaviours of Nigerians to the Persistent bad governance that has impoverished over 130 million citizens in the last 7 years, is the reason too many things are wrong with Nigeria and in Nigeria. Infact there is the fear that some Nigerian voters may as well vote in the same political parties that have over the past 7 years totally destroyed the economy of the nation, engaged in widespread theft of public funds and have abandoned thousands of citizens to be killed by terrorists,  kidnappers, armed Fulani herdsmen and sundry other armed non state actors who are actually calling the shots in most parts of Nigeria with the official armed forces lying prostrate like a castrated bulldog.

However, one area in which institutionally, Nigeria as a dysfunctional nation and the government specifically is wired never to be pro-active and effective in stopping bad things from happening over and over again,  is in the security sector and sadly, the law enforcement sub-sector is not spared of this deadly virus.  Corruption,  nepotism and downright demolition of competencies in the security agencies have made these armed security forces to become somewhat very weak and almost compromised to a point that you would think that terrorists may just take over Nigeria.

To demonstrate how bad things keep becoming, around March of last year, some terrorists operating from some forests in kaduna, bombed a kaduna bound train from Abuja with 970 passengers, killing scores and Made away with dozens of passengers whom the terrorists kept and tortured for 6 months before a negotiated release.

It will interest Nigerians to note that those terrorists are walking around free and have till now, never faced justice for their mass murder of many Nigerians.

Nigerian government did not learn any lesson that ill -fated bombardment of the Abuja to kaduna train created for Nigeria.  Those North West terrorists so thoroughly messed up Nigeria so much so that the international community and advanced nations shut down their embassies in fear that what happened in Afghanistan leading to the overthrow of the US backed government by Islamic terror group known as Taliban was going to happen in Nigeria. This was just before December.

But just two days ago, in Edo state, terrorists suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded a train station, shot sporadically, injured many and kidnapped over four dozen Nigerians whose only offense is to use the services of the train operated by the federal government of Nigeria.

As expected with a dysfunctional Nation with rogue government, government officials from both Edo and the central governments have gone on over- drive with media statements condemning the dastardly terrorism carried out in broad daylight by armed outlaws who clearly are emboldened by the lack of any sort of punitive measures by government on other outlaws. Terrorists in Nigeria are actually never punished by the current administration.

In fact, as we write, President Muhammedu Buhari has pencilled down over 600 Boko haram terrorists that soldiers Captured  that his administration will release back to the society in which they masterminded genocides.

Recall too that when the bombing of the Kaduna train happened, there was a revelation that the then transportation minister, Rotimi chibuike  Amaechi had proposed for the building of a National technologically wired security network for the railways but due to politics, the idea was perished and train passengers have been let down and allowed to perish in the hands of terrorists. Funnily,  two days after the train was bombed by Kaduna terrorists,  the then Transportation minister Amaechi who was eyeing the Presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress,  headed to PortHarcourt stadium to inaugurate his campaign and he was caught on video running around the stadium like one of these carnival attendees during a bull fight in Spain. It was such a shameful spectacle but in Nigeria that lacks accountability, who cares?

As I said earlier, a leaked memo obtained by The media around March last year after the terrorists attack of the Kafuba train revealed why a proposal for security equipment along the Abuja-Kaduna rail track, which was presented to the Federal Executive Council by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, was rejected.

Recall that Amaechi had while fielding questions from journalists after the train bombing that left at least eight persons dead, said he had predicted the attack and presented a memo to FEC for the procurement of security equipment, but it was rejected.

According to the minutes of the FEC meeting of September 24, 2021, marked EC (2021)236, which was presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, while the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), was attending the United Nations General Assembly, Amaechi recommended that a firm, Mogjan Nigeria Limited, be given the contract worth N3.7bn.

The firm, which was incorporated on August 6, 2019, by Prince Godwin Momoh, Chioma Momoh and George Momoh, had a turnover of N84.9m.

“We had doubts about the capability of a company, which was formed less than two years prior and had no track record of handling a contract of N3.7bn or a contract on surveillance systems. The company was also to be paid upfront. Our investigation pointed to a conflict of interest,” said a top Presidency official.

According to the memo sighted by journalists, Amaechi in his presentation stated that the Bureau of Public Procurement had reviewed the process of procurement and had given a certificate of no objection for the contract, adding that the project would be funded from the N71.4bn budget of the ministry.

The minister subsequently asked the council to “approve the award of contract for the procurement and installation of electronic surveillance system and interrogation unit on the Abuja (Idu)-Kaduna (Rigasa) 200km railway monitoring rail intrusion detection system and emergency response system in favour of Messrs Mogjan Nigeria Limited/Cagewox Dot Net Limited in the sum of N3,780,827,410.66 inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT with a completion period of four months.”

However, ministers in the council questioned the capacity of the firm to deliver as well as the failure of Amaechi to provide proper detail on the capabilities of the equipment.

There was also a scanty record of the company’s past projects, which could prove that it was capable of executing such a project as a report by the Federal Ministry of Transportation leaked to a specific media House, showed that the firm had no evidence of carrying out such a project in the past.

The minutes of the meeting read in part, “Some members expressed concern about the quality of the memorandum as there was no description of the surveillance system concept note, brand name, country of manufacture or review by the previous user to enable them to make informed decisions.

NIGERIA is indeed in such a bad state that criminals arrested by Police simply bribe their ways out and escape justice. For instance, Lekan Adekanbi, the only suspect arrested in connection with the killing of a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kehinde Fatinoye, has escaped from police custody in Ogun State.

After the killing of Fatinoye, his wife and their only son, the police said they had arrested Adekanbi as the prime suspect in the case.

Adekanbi was the driver of the late CBN staff until the day he was assassinated.

The Ibara police divisional headquarters had nabbed Adekanbi and held him in custody to aid their investigation.

On Tuesday, two policemen from Ibara division were said to have taken the suspect to a hospital after he complained of fever.

“At the hospital, Lekan was said to have pretended like he wanted to urinate and he escaped,” a source told our correspondent.

According to the source, the policemen did not handcuff the suspect, from the time he was arrested up until the time he was in the hospital.

According to sources, the suspect fled when he discovered that the domestic staff of the Fatinoyes, who was taken away by the assassins alongside their son, did not die.

Media report said he had become restless the moment he set his eyes on the domestic staff, it was learnt. And with his escape, the life of that maid is endangered and it is not likely that Nigeria Police will protect that maid who us the only eye witness to that dastardly crime.  This is how sordid the governmental affairs of Nigeria has degenerated.

These hydraheaded monster of inefficiency and deliverate sabotage of government by officials reminds me of what Jaideep Prabhu wrote in his book “How should a government be?”

His words: “The nine most terrifying words in the English language,’ Ronald Reagan once said, ‘are: “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” Are governments really so bad at getting things done? And if they are, what should their scale and scope be? That question is the most bitterly contested in contemporary politics.

On one side of the argument are the libertarians, for whom governments are incompetent and inefficient at best, and dangerous at Worst. For them. the only good state is a small one that Ieaves much of the work of running an economy to the market

and civil society. This is the intellectual tradition of Friedrich von Hayek and Milton Friedman, and of politicians from Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher to the Tea Party Republicans.

The author argues further: “Ranged against them are the statists: those who believe in the inherent benevolence of the government and wish to grow its powers and use them to influence society and the economy. This is the tradition of the Fabian socialists and central planners as well as contemporary politicians like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth

Warren and movements such as Syriza, Five Star and Podemos.

For them, governments are the only force that can redress the vagaries and injustices of the market and ensure that all lives are valued properly.

It is no surprise that these factions should disagree, and it is no surprise that they might both be wrong. (HOW SHOULD A GOVERNMENT BE? the New Levers of State Power by Jaideep Prabhu).

For us to get it right and get the wobbling and fumbling nation to work again, Nigerians must elect sets of political leaders in the February 2023 poll that will work and develope frameworks on anti-corruption following the ten footprints suggested by a research group within the World Bank. These ten steps are as follows-: 1. Corruption is not only about bribes: People especially the poor get hurt when resources are wasted. That’s why it is so important to understand the different kinds of corruption to develop smart responses.  2. Power of the people: Create pathways that give citizens relevant tools to engage and participate in their governments – identify priorities,  problems and find solutions. 3. Cut the red tape: Bring together formal and informal processes (this means working with the government as well as  non-governmental groups) to change behavior and monitor progress. 4. It’s not 1999: Use the power of technology to build dynamic and continuous exchanges between key stakeholders: government, citizens, business, civil society groups, media, academia etc. 5. Deliver the goods: Invest in institutions and policy – sustainable improvement in how a government delivers services is only possible if the people in these institutions endorse sensible rules and practices that allow for change while making the best use of tested traditions and legacies – imported models often do not work. 6. Get incentives right: Align anti-corruption measures with market, behavioral, and social forces. Adopting integrity standards is a smart business decision, especially for companies interested in doing business with the World Bank Group and other development partners. 7. Sanctions matter: Punishing corruption is a vital component of any effective anti-corruption effort. 8. Act globally and locally: Keep citizens engaged on corruption at local, national, international and global levels – in line with the scale and scope of corruption. Make use of the architecture that has been developed and the platforms that exist for engagement. 9. Build capacity for those who need it most: Countries that  suffer from chronic fragility, conflict and violence– are often the ones that have the fewest internal resources to combat corruption. Identify ways to leverage international resources to support and sustain good governance. 10. Learn by doing: Any good  strategy must be continually monitored  and evaluated to make sure it can be easily adapted as  situations on the ground change.

Whilst I recommend these ten footprints on anti-corruption campaigns in Nigeria Post election February 2023, my only fear in Nigeria is that we are the only people amongst humanity in the Universe whereby the wise saying that “Once bitten, twice shy”, doesn’t work. Nigerians are wired to electing and re-electing thieves, drug barons, killers and gangsters as their political leaders.  Are Nigerians now ready to change and be rational? Only the outcome of the coming election next month will tell.

EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO is head of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA and was NATIONAL COMMISSIONER OF THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA.  

Professor Babafemi Badejo is not a stranger to this column. Today he takes a look at the ”japa” syndrome walloping the South-west Nigeria especially as well as regaled us with his findings on a latest trip across the border to neighbouring Benin Republic. Are we making progress in this country or are we regressing? Read on: “Mr. Rufus and Mrs. Esther Sami were our treasured neighbours until the cold hands of death snatched the kind and supportive Mrs. Sami on October 9, 2022. I could not but attend her funeral at Imaka, Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria on November 25^th and 26th, 2022. Imaka is next door to Imagbon, where the Ijebu people gallantly fought the British in 1892. The Ijebu tried to resist British colonisation but lost. A few months later, in the same year, the Fon people (a major ethnic group in Benin Republic), fought the French a second time at Adegon, near Cotonou, thinking they could halt the European’s incursion but they also lost in spite of the bravery of a regiment totally made up of women – a special breed known as “Mino” (our mothers) who constituted a third of the Fon fighting forces.

The French and other Europeans acknowledged the gallantry of these women who they dubbed “Amazons”, borrowing an appellation from Greek mythology. These brave women-fighters had shown their strength in fighting and conquering other ethnic groups in their neighbourhood. I was shocked when my third-year students scoffed at me when I told them that the Ijebu people gallantly fought the British and could have won but for the maxim gun the British had developed and some Yoruba treachery. Sad that the teaching of history was being wiped out by Nigerian leaders thereby robbing our children of so much that could build their self-confidence in today’s world! I understand that Hollywood has shown some interest in the courage of the Amazons. I also read that Lupita N’yongo interviewed the last Amazon many years ago. She has since passed on leaving Lupita and others to tell the story.

An important portion of Mrs. Sami’s funeral, for me, was the sermon or homily delivered by the Rt. Reverend Dr. Peter Rotimi Oludipe of the Ijebu Diocese of the Nigerian Anglican Communion. Aside from entreaties to live a worthwhile life, he addressed an ongoing problem in Africa (especially among Yoruba children), with respect to the “japa”, syndrome (emigration of our best brains). He pointed out that we invested so much on our children only for them to leave our shores to meet shortfalls in the manpower needs of the West rather than stay here to develop our own land! It is true that our children can only look for work in the big cities of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt etc., and, these days, in London, Washington, Ottawa, Berlin, Brisbane, Singapore, Johannesburg, etc. While we celebrate remittances, we are being re-colonised as our best brains leave for the servitude involved in the brain drain that is developing other lands to our chagrin.

The Bishop, in his sermon, left out the responsibility of Nigeria’s leadership deficit from local, state, and federal governmental levels for the “japa” syndrome. Good governance and less stealing could have made Imaka to be just about 10-15 minutes of train ride to the heart of Lagos and about two hours or so to Abuja and Port Harcourt. And with constant power supply, there will be no need for Imaka sons and daughters to move to the outskirts of Lagos in search of greener pastures. This is not to talk of investments at Imaka or in neighbourhoods like Ijebu-Ode if there had been well-planned infrastructure. While Ijebu people dance annually at Ojude-Oba in their beautiful regalia, the city that had major industrial ventures as I grew up is now a shadow of its old self. It is surprising to note that Adeola Odutola once thrived as an industrialist with his base at Ijebu-Ode. Nigeria’s leadership deficit has made stealing of national patrimony a competitive art in which huge figures of thefts are announced daily. And who has Nigeria prosecuted over Panama, Paradise or Pandora papers as has been the case in less corruption-friendly climes like Finland? Why, then, does anyone think the new round of media hype over the Gudaji files will amount to anything?

Nigeria’s children are voting with their feet and are abandoning the country to our misleaders. There is a subtle but greater damage to family systems and relations. For many parents, it is a thing of joy to spend time with one’s grandchildren but we now have a big void in our life. The younger ones to take care of us as we grow physically weaker and require hospital runs are no longer available. Business ventures to replace such needs will grow. However, immediate and extended family parties at Christmas and New Year, which are great opportunities for socialization, are becoming unnecessary. In their place, the older generations need to look out for themselves. So, when my long-term friend, Eusebe Hounsokou, implored that we spend December 24-28, 2022 with him and his wife, we, without any qualms, eagerly accepted to make the journey to Abomey-Calavi (sister city to Cotonou), Benin Republic.

The first time I visited Cotonou, it was the capital of what was then known as the Republic of Dahomey. Then came Lt. Col. (and later General) Mathiue Kerekou’s coup of 1972 and his regime’s declaration of a “revolution” in 1974. The revolution resulted in the change of the country’s name to Benin Republic. The people succeeded in forcing Kerekou to undertake a Sovereign National Conference in 1990 and he lost the following election to Dr. Nicophore Soglo, although he returned to succeed Soglo again. During my Christmas 2022 visit to Cotonou, I started wondering if Nigeria had a hand in the 1972 Kerekou coup. Nigeria had just ended its civil war in which its immediate neighbour to the West, Dahomey, under Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin, had made itself readily available for French support to the Biafran side during the Nigerian civil-war. Similar was the situation with Félix Houphouet-Boigny’s Côte d’Ivoire, which concretised its role by readily providing asylum for the Biafran leader, Odumegwu Ojukwu.

I could not remember much about border crossings in 1968/69 but the situation was bad in 1997 when I returned with my young family and a visiting friend. Nigerian policemen stopped us at a few checkpoints but I talked my way through to the Seme-Krake border where I hired an agent to process my car and passengers to drive through. For the return journey, we chose the Idiroko border post and the Benin side was difficult with an insensitive official who demanded bribe payment per passport. On the Nigerian side, I easily leveraged on my being a lawyer to argue that I be allowed to return home without paying personalised tolls to security agents. However, my lesson for subsequent visits was to avoid direct dealings with Nigerian security officials anywhere near the border. So, I negotiated with a chartered vehicle driver and did not interfere in his dealings. The police and immigration officials demanded and received bribes in our face.

In one post, the driver did not want to give a bribe. A police sergeant demanded and held his gun firmly as if he would shoot if not paid the bribe. The way he held his gun was scary and made me wonder about all the crocodile tears being shed by the Inspector-General of Police over the extra-judicial killing of Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem on Christmas day. That was one incident too many, more so after our #EndSARS experience and the fact that another resident of Ajah, Mr. Gafaru Buraimoh, had been killed at the same police station 18 days earlier. If the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), had lived up to the expectations of its logo and had raised hell on the December 7, 2022 killing of a hapless Nigerian, we could have been spared the repetition of the killing of Mrs. Bolanle Raheem at the same Ajiwe police station.

Why do we need border police at the intervals of metres and at several checkpoints?  A new border post had been opened after our 2016 visit. At the border, the driver advised us to wait in the car as he went to stamp our passports. He knew what to pay the syndicates on both sides of the border. I saw nothing and asked no questions! He brought our passports duly stamped. A citizen of Benin Republic took charge of driving us from the border to Jonquets, a central motor park in Cotonou. As we drove towards Jonquets where my friend was to meet us, I observed that motorcyclists ferrying passengers, called Okada in Nigeria but “Zemidjan” in Benin Republic, operated on a small portion of the road demarcated for that purpose. I remembered that privately-owned motorcycles dotted the road in the 1968-69 period; unlike in Nigeria. They moved like swarms of bees as there were fewer cars. Motorcycles jostling all over with passengers reflect failure in planning mass transit for people.

As we approached town, I could see jerry cans with labels of 450, 475 or 500 written on them. Those were legal points of sale of petrol smuggled into Benin Republic from Nigeria. In contrast to such prices, it was 650 cfa at petrol filling stations. There were hardly any cars buying petrol at those stations! Christmas lunch on the following day was great. Tilapia, goat suya and chicken were in abundance. I could not but disobey my dietician who had counselled me against taking more than a few grams of protein per meal! Though I also stay off alcohol, I knew from working at the UN that one is not a good friend if one turns down wine with a meal at the residences of a Francophone colleague!

We discussed Dr. Arikana and her cries on the “pact for the continuation of colonisation of African countries” when they were being given flag independence. My friends called it the “secret pact” and noted that no political leader ever talks about it as they are either beneficiaries of the perennial looting of Africa or are afraid to die, since they saw what happened to Sylvanus Olympio in Togo in 1963, Patrice Lumumba in Congo, Thomas Sankara in Burkina Faso, etc. However, this problem is not limited to French erstwhile colonies. We need to look deeper at post-second world war relationships between the countries of the North and those of the South. Academicians like me have failed Africa as we continue to teach without learning from the late Claude Ake that Social Science is Imperialism. It is sad that we did not come up with any way forward to avoid the active re-colonisation of Africa that our leaders have acquiesced to. Dr. Arikana was fired at the African Union for speaking up for Africa and no African government, including her own, raised an eyebrow!

We rested fully on the 26th and celebrated Noella Masirika’s (our hostess) birthday on the 27th. In addition, we went on sight-seeing, especially at the diplomatic enclave facing the beach. The beach, in the 1968-69 period; was very beautiful. There were palm trees covering the landscape. It was fun being offered coconut drinks those days. This time, however, the slightly reddish sanded beach was barren but with coconut trees being re-grown in some portions. The beach also hosts a well-deserved statue of a giant Amazon woman poised as if protecting the presidency opposite her, with the National Assembly to her left.

turnpot@gmail.com 0705 263 1058

Badejo, a former Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, is currently professor of Political Science and International Relations at Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun state, Nigeria.

Real Estate Agents help buyers and sellers alike guide through each stage of finding their perfect residential or commercial space. They do this by arranging viewings and making appointments with potential customers based on what best suits them.

They facilitate the sale of a property. Whether they are acting on behalf of the buyer or seller, it is the estate agent’s responsibility to provide honest and informed guidance that is fully aligned with their client’s needs.

Estate Agents value your property

Your estate agent should know your local property market intimately. This will allow them to provide a realistic market appraisal to ensure you get the best price for your property.

He is in charge of marketing your home

In Nigeria, estate agents usually use online listings, which is mostly a productive marketing strategy. This may include photographing your property, creating a virtual tour, preparing flyers, installing a “For Sale” sign, etc.

Before hiring an estate agent, you must discuss your marketing options to ensure you follow the best strategy for your property. It’s also important to find an agent who has sold (and is listing) properties that are similar in type and value to yours.

He vets potential buyers

One of the key responsibilities of an estate agent when it comes to selling a property is to ensure that any potential buyers are serious. Estates agents are to ensure if potential buyers are reselling the property,  paying cash up front, and, if so, what is the source of these funds. These are all questions that your estate agent must ask.

They manage the transaction process

Arguably the most important duty, your estate agent should help negotiate any offers, execute a purchase contract with a viable buyer and generally work on the seller’s behalf when managing the transaction process. This includes processing, delivering, and explaining the associated documentation.

They help find an ideal property

It is your estate agent’s responsibility to fully understand your needs when looking for a property. This is easier if you know the exact specifications of your ideal property but, even if you aren’t exactly sure of what you want, your estate agent should ask the appropriate questions to identify your preferences.

Dennis Isong Writes From Lagos. 

Let’s cut to the chase.

If we must prevent the GRANDFATHER of ENDSARS riot, chaos, anarchy and mayhem, this electoral journey must be ALLOWED its DUE PROCESS; in order to ALLOW it to DELIVER Peter Obi as the NEXT PRESIDENT of the federal Republic of Nigeria.

To be clear, the nationwide and indeed, WORLDWIDE support, the former Governor of Anambra State and now Labor Party Presidential candidate is enjoying today, is EVIDENT; in the MASSIVE reception, he is greeted with; each time he SHOWS up in any gathering; at home and abroad.

Although, some mischievously MISGUIDED minds try to diminish, ignore or play it down (albeit, at their own expense), or try to flavor it with religious bias, the AWE with which CONGREGANTS welcome this guy in churches is CRAZY; and it is a FORCEFUL signifier of his ACCEPTANCE; BODY, SPIRIT and SOUL by Nigerians.

His emergence has given Nigerians HOPE and LIFE in the midst of the DEATH that currently DEFINES all that GREATNESS, Nigeria and Nigerians represent.

For the FIRST TIME in the history of the country, Nigerians have found, in his VERIFIABLE words and TRACEABLE deeds, a person they can ACTUALLY TRUST with their LIVES!

Not many politicians, in history, ever enjoyed; this level of INDIVIDUAL INTIMATE love such as Peter Obi enjoys today.

From Mahatma Ghandi of India to Mandela, none comes close to the LEVEL of people’s AFFECTION for this Labor Party presidential candidate.

The ONLY politician, who is comparable to him, is America’s Barak Obama; who spoke TRUTH to POWER; in the hearts of all well-meaning humans in the whole world.

In the history of Nigeria, even the VERY BEST of politicians (and they EXISTED in the pre-90s Nigeria) were still DISTANT in the minds of Nigerians.

Among these, Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello could be of credible mention here.

However, their ABSOLUTE acceptance by the people was LARGELY SECTIONAL.

In other words, only Yorubas and people from the Southwest; or, in a diminishing sense, the South; love Awo; while, the North embraced their Northern political stars; back in the day.

Today, Yorubas, Ibos, Hausas and every ETHNIC nationality, in between, that make up the ‘geographical expression’ called Nigeria, have fallen so much in love; with this man from the Southeast region of the country, they are coming close to DEIFYING their acceptance of his personality.

So, NONE of the contenders competing with him, for the 2023 Presidential race can withstand the SUNAMI of an ATMOSPHERE, Peter Obi carries; and they KNOW IT!

That is why an Atiku Abubakar, of the PDP, will NOT mind people printing posters of him with the face of the presidential candidate of ANOTHER political party, in the person of Peter Obi, on them and on bags of rice; as we see in viral videos EXPOSING the INDECENT tactics.

If Atiku was SURE of himself, should he not DISCLAIM and even punish such a dirty act done on his behalf? His silence ONLY proves; he APPROVED such STUPIDITY!

His fellow front runner, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC, pretends to be strong publicly; but SHIVERS, in private; at the thought and mention of the name; Peter Obi.

Suddenly, Peter Obi, an UNDERDOG, is now the MAIN TOPIC for character discourse and destruction!

Atiku and Tinubu, who were hitherto, the MAJOR CANDIDATES, are the two of the three FRONT RUNNERS we are talking about today; less than six weeks to the presidential election.

So, if these two have MANIFESTLY been diminished in their acceptance by Nigerians, despite their HUMONGOUS financial war chest, who else can really challenge Peter Obi, NATIONWIDE, in the election?

The Arise Town Hall that had Atiku, Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, of the NNPP, was quite interesting and intriguing. I know you have asked me for my verdict severally over who actually made sense.

My Verdict…

First, let me salute the heart for a healthy rivalry, demonstrated by the front runners who graced that eventful television debate, which Nduka Obaigbena (Owner of Thisday Newspapers and Arise tv), cleverly DUBBED Town Hall.

It was refreshing; to see those politicians RISE above the crudity, that dirty politicians try to make of the dispensation; of this current political process; to come together and market their message to Nigerians.

So, who do I believe CONVINCED Nigerians the most of their true agenda…?

In fairness to Atiku, I know he did try to bring some decency to the IMPUNITY that characterized the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency; in which he was the Vice President.

However, the ALLEGED, UNPRECEDENTED corruption (at the time) against him, made NONSENSE of anything he has to say to ANYBODY about his agenda for the country and the people.

The fact that his former Boss, OBJ documented these allegations in books; and the fact that he, Atiku, has NOT found it NECESSARY to PROVE his INNOCENCE, makes the current PDP, presidential candidate, a NO-NO for Nigeria and Nigerians; at the moment in the history of the country.

During the debate, all he kept implying, was his HELPLESSNESS in pushing REFORMS meant to change the system; at the time.

But he was NOT helpless, when he ALLEGEDLY sold virtually ALL Nigeria’s PRIZED assets to himself and his FRIENDS (lol).

Indeed, he is on tape as saying he has a RIGHT; to make his FRIENDS HAPPY; and has been pushing the agenda of SELLING NNPC; to who, biko?

A little digression, here…

That word, REFORM, for me, has ASSUMED some INTELLECTUAL COLORING of CORRUPTION; in POLICY creation and IMPLEMENTATION; over the years; as made corruptly POPULAR by the Obasanjo government.

Back to our story…

Yes, Kwankwaso, was a revelation; for me. Like Peter Obi, he also governed Kano State with some level of heart and decency.

However, the tribal tone of his statement at a point in this campaign, that the North will not vote for a Peter Obi; MINIMIZED his sterling quality as a national personality DESERVING of such a DETRIBALIZED high office.

Still, I will not deny him his RESONANCE; as the kind of politician who may MEAN WELL FOR the country.

But he NEEDS to properly fine-tune his mind set. As they say, from the abundance of the HEART, the MOUTH speaketh!

As usual, Peter Obi made his point as SUCCINCTLY as was possible; although, he is composure was less adorable; compared to the Peter Obi who Nigerians are sold out on.

The Anchor, Charles Aniagolu was quite on top of that event. Kudos to him.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm …

The almighty Jagaban ELECTED to IGNORE such an IMPORTANT platform!

Rather, he CHOSE to ATTEND the Chatham House invite.

It’s as if saying to Nigerians (and as he is quoted to have implied), that Nigerian PUBLIC platforms are too SMALL for a KINGMAKER as himself to sell himself to Nigerians.

Only OYINBO people are WORTHY of his LEVEL of political SAGACITY (lol).

Okay, so he chose Chatham to a Nigerian platform; as if Chatham is a politically exquisite event; EXCLUSIVE, only, to an African political BIG BOY; as himself!

Well, as it turned out, that political MISADVENTURE exposed him in a manner that many have said; damages the globally ENVIABLE intellectual potentials of the Nigerian and the country as a whole.

So much have been said, in this direction, I will save you the details.

Thankfully, the same Chatham House will have Peter Obi as their next guest on January 16; on the same stage.

But what caught my attention, in the matter, was the vicious washing of their dirty linen in public; between Jagaban’s media Handlers and the Owner of Arise Tv.

It actually began; with Nduka’s rejection of their push for him to REMOVE his young Anchor on Arise popular Breakfast show, Rufai Oseni, from the program.

My Intervention…

Yes, Nduka may be a JOBMAN Media mogul; but he is not on the ballot with their Principal.

All he is asking is; get Jagaban to talk to Nigerians. That is what ALL Nigerians are asking for.

Let me ask Bayo Onanuga and Dele Alake…

If Peter Obi was the one, EXHIBITING the OBVIOUS INCAPACITY and HEALTH ISSUES, your Principal is GENEROUSLY displaying today, would you not have BLUDGEONED him out of the race to OBLIVION with your Media platforms?

Nigerians are even saying to you… forget Arise or Channel’s television versions of the needed Presidential debate. Can you please ORGANIZE a TVC Presidential debate for Jagaban and his fellow Front Runners, so Nigerians can hear and see him SQUARE up against the other contenders? TVC is Tinubu’s television station; why is that DIFFICULT to understand?

Secondly, if your children ask why you are supporting someone, who has displayed SPEECH IMPAIRMENT issues at campaign rallies: bala bluing and bulabaing around…what would you tell them?

You know it doesn’t end there; they interact with their peers; who have been DEMOGRAPHICALLY proved to be OBEDIENT.

So, do you believe they will be PROUD to SHOW OFF daddy’s candidate at fora where they talk and play with themselves; as children and youths?

Anyway, I leave both of you to PONDER on that.

The CHOICE for Nigerians, in this election, is CLEAR.

The Nigerian people want PETER OBI as their next PRESIDENT; and they are PREPARED to DIE; ensuring, that HAPPENS; because, they KNOW; that in a FREE, FAIR and PEACEFUL election, Peter Obi will WIN with a LANDSLIDE.

It is EVIDENT! No need to ARGUE the OBVIOUS!

I know the dirty tactics being EMPLOYED by the other front runners; from IMPERSONATION to buying up of Voters cards, to INTIMIDATING poor Nigerians, those behind these UGLY election LAWLESSNESS will be better ADVISED to DESIST from further pushing such ILLICIT acts.

You know why…

Nigerians are not as DUMB or CHEAP as you believe they are.

If they INDULGED your STUPIDITY all these years, it’s because they never really had a CREDIBLE ALTERNATIVE. Now, in Peter Obi, God has given them a BIG BONUS for their decades of ENDURANCE.

Now, they have a DIRECTION; and as they say on the streets, ‘they will DIE DIERE.’

Hope you understand that; because, if you choose to HARDEN your heart, like the biblical Pharaoh, you may receive not just Pharaoh’s HUMILIATION but the DESTRUCTION of ALL you hold dear and all you are ALLEGED to have stolen from the Nigerian people.

I cannot end this piece; without mentioning Obasanjo’s USUAL dramatic INTERVENTIONS at critical moments in the history of this country.

His FORMAL endorsement of Peter Obi, via his latest LETTER in the series, and as my brother and favorite commentator, Dele Farotimi puts it: is A PENANCE for all his sins against Nigeria and its people. Period!

Predictably, his fellow Generals have queued behind him; because, they all NEEDED it.

It’s as if the Generals, in the privacy of their souls, are saying to themselves; ‘how can my MAKER FORGIVE and accept me to my place up there, with Him; when my time comes; if I allow this my ONLY moment to CONTRIBUTE to the Nigeria I wanted to build and leave for Nigerians, by giving the PRESIDENCY to people I KNOW are WORSE thieves than myself…’

Truth of the matter is that Peter Obi NEEDS NO endorsement from ANY QUARTER, however important, to be President of Nigeria. He already has the MOST IMPORTANT endorsement any man could wish for; GOD’s DIVINE GRACE! And, that’s enough.

So, if God, the Nigerian people and the Generals are BEHIND Peter Obi, who is the person who dares CONFRONT THE MOVING TRAIN?

As Gen Ibrahim Babangida, known as IBB implied, in one of the high moments of the June 12 crisis which his GREED for power brought to life; at the time as Head of State, the Generals are TRAINED and SKILLED MANAGERS of VIOLENCE!

Therefore, to those who ERRONEOUSLY believe that, since their LOOT and ILL-GOTTEN wealth run things in this country, they can BULLY the people to vote them into power, my advice is that the TREATMENT the mother Hen gave the vulture that wanted to steal her chics, is what will be their lot; should they try. Nigerians will TREAT THEIR FUCK UP; NICELY!

The SPIRIT of Nigeria has come ALIVE; and Nigerians have WOKEN UP; BE WARNED!    

Krisval126@gmail.com 08185591375