Peller’s Misadventure at Oba of Benin’s Palace
The institution and traditions that surround the highly revered Oba of Benin remain quite distinct and serious. People usually do not “play” around them. I personally do not joke or trifle with it. The other day, on a visit to the palace “just to look,” I was stopped by some stern-looking chiefs who looked more intimidating than the armed policemen at the gate.
“Come here,” they barked. “Where you dey go?”
With a shaky voice, I responded: “I just come look around. I come from far, and I respect una traditions. Make una just let me look.”
“Common geraway” was the response I got.
I respect that, especially in an era where our traditional institutions continue to be derided and “molested.”
The institution that surrounds the Bini throne, I must say, seems to be withstanding the marauding erosion of values that beset its colleague institutions all over the country. The Benin people have kept the sanctity and seriousness of their monarchy almost intact. The Oba is highly revered and not joked with, and he in turn carries himself with the highest respect and dignity, justifying his almost godlike positioning in society.
It is within this context that loud-mouthed and barely literate social media titan, Peller, carried his wahala to go and lodge.
Footage of him within the grounds of the palace has flooded the internet, with him apparently making a mockery of the centuries-long traditions of the Benin people. As expected, his illiterate behaviour has drawn the ire of the Palace. A staff member has been arrested, a chief has been suspended, and a Queen is facing uprooting. And yes, this is how a serious custodian of traditions and culture should behave. It must rise to protect its integrity and the sanctity of its ethos, especially against such a strong force as personified by the social media titan.
I remain very proud of the Bini traditional stool for standing very firm against the withering of its ethos and for teaching Peller and his hordes of followers, which runs into the millions, that some things cannot and should never be trifled with.
But he himself, how can he leave all the disco obas that are his immediate neighbours in that Lekki area and go and try himself out of all institutions, the Bini one? He really get mind oo.
Emir Mohammed Sanusi II: Rolling on the Groovy Train
I have seen a report that says that the very well-respected Emir Sanusi, who happens to be my bosom friend, will be taking home about N400 million in his role as an independent Director of the telecoms giant MTN. You see, the moment I saw the report, I picked up the phone to call the Emir’s Chief of Staff to greet them, but it appears they have blocked me. It is not a problem because, as Patience Jonathan once said, “there is God o.” Blocking a very close friend like me because of dividends that are coming is very comical. But no problem.
Just as I was getting over the snub, the news that the great Emir would be leading the durbar — or what do they call it during the festive celebration marking the end of the fasting — reached Nigerians.
In fact, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II’s life shows that there is often a bright spot behind every dark cloud. From his dethronement to his controversial detention—and subsequent release facilitated by the now-arrested Nasir El-Rufai—to moments that bordered on uncertainty and despair, he remained steadfast in his convictions. His eventual reinstatement and return to the enduring contest over the Kano throne has now culminated in a N400 million allocation and a firm declaration by the state government that he will lead the durbar—an affirmation of his position as the true Emir of the historic Kano emirate.
Mbok, you people should not let me faint o. Can someone ask Emir Sanusi to unblock me? I just want to tell him something o. Kai.
Nasir El-Rufai: Prisoner of Conscience?
How many days later, reports still indicate that our paddy is yet to be charged to any court of competent jurisdiction despite his “sexy” arrest.
Why our Lords always put the cart before the horse in cases like this always beats me. Why not finish all of your investigations and get a water-tight case before you rush for the televised arrests? Now, after all the Nollywood-style arrests, we are finding it difficult to charge or even arraign Mallam. All we are getting is different news of either seeking or not seeking an extended remand notice, or finding listening devices all over his toilet and boys’ quarters.
If I ever become president of this country, I would do everything within my power to uphold human rights. I swear, this is the hanging fruit for good governance and popularity. Freedom is a commodity that should never be trifled with. If a man has a case, let them follow due process, don’t interfere and let the course of justice take its place. It cannot be that difficult, na.
If Mallam has questions to answer, let him answer them, and if he does not have, let him go abeg. This kind of thing does not give the common man confidence, I tell you. Thanks.
Sowore’s Lawyer and His Travails
My people, let me just say categorically that as we stand today, Yele is the numero uno when it comes to delivering constructive and consistent opposition in Nigeria today. Remove some of the small “kunkunu” that comes with his positions, his consistency and continuous push have given him some level of credibility in that space.
For this, he has suffered a little bit more than his contemporaries – arrests, varied court cases, infringement on his rights, injuries arising from physical assaults, restrictions and even the stealing of his spy glasses that he used to look at the judges’ underwear.
Well, a new low was recorded recently in his journey. A judge was reported to have asked his lawyer to kneel down in court. Mbok, this elicited a whiff of laughter amidst the real serious stench of pity for our system. Even the judge in the famous “Ichokwu” TV series would never ask a lawyer to kneel in his court, let alone a serious judge within the Nigerian judicial system. This one is not a judge o. This one is Chief Eleyinmi, the Magistrate of the Oja Customary Court of the famous Village Headmaster series, reincarnating into a judge o.
This our Nigeria ehn, nothing we will not see or hear – ordering a lawyer to kneel? Kai.
Brig-General Nafiu: An Indemnity of Chaos
You know how people push me to look for trouble. Well, that was how a friend sent me a report on NYSC the other day. “Edgar, please put your voice on this.” It was a statement by one lady protesting very vehemently against NYSC’s decision to ask corpers to sign an indemnity form, effectively putting the responsibility of paying ransom in the event of a kidnap at the doors of the parents.
This was just too preposterous to imagine, so I decided to dodge – Oga, no national news medium has carried this thing, so I cannot put my voice. Before I could swallow the giant morsel of Afang that I was swirling in my hands, the guy sent a news report from Vanguard. Kai, this bobo don catch me.
Well, the report that I read and carried by Vanguard was very explicit. The lady who leads a national advocacy group was decrying the situation where corpers were sent to “fire” with no life insurance, among others. She stated the instance of a corper who had been kidnapped on the way to his station, and nothing has been heard from him till date. She offered solutions like a suspension of sending our children to security-challenged areas, military training and arming of these corpers, among others.
But my own question is, why would I be responsible for paying ransom when my child is on national service? Abi the responsibility of the government begins and ends with giving them uniforms that used to tear when they squat? If this report is true, then this is the greatest dereliction of responsibility since Dele Giwa was bombed out of existence. If you cannot protect my child, why then force him into a service that could lead to him losing his limb or life?
Mbok, this NYSC sef, is it still even working? Let’s just kuku scatter the whole thing instead of sending our kids to certain death, all in the name of serving the fatherland. I no gree, abeg.
Lucky Aiyedatiwa: A Sitting Duck?
Let me first start by asking this “lucky” Governor to immediately embark on a cabinet reshuffle. I think his Attorney General, Richard, my friend, should be moved to Information or be made his media aide. Mbok, the way that one used to inundate my WhatsApp with press releases upon statements upon positions in defence of “Lucky,” you will just tire. One day, I asked him if he would not be better suited as an information or press officer with the dexterity and consistent media push.
Anyways, the matter is that of re-election or not. Lucky was sworn in to finish the term of his predecessor, who unfortunately lost his life in office. He finished that term and won a re-election for his own full term, which he is still serving. Now, no matter whether he is doing well or not, it is up to the Ondo people to decide, but then, as expected, attempts were initially made to seek “judicial interpretation” or, as I would most likely say, “judicial intervention,” to allow him to recontest despite the very unambiguous nature of the constitutional provision.
The courts came back firmly, shutting the door and to save face, when Lucky was asked by pressmen his reaction, he was reported to have said: “I will confer with my lawyers…” What is there to confer? The position is clear: “You are not qualified.”
Kai, one down, many more to go. Nigeria will soon be free. I tell you.
Peter Obi: A Funny Move
Mbok, did I just see Peter Obi visit the just-released Abubakar Malami the other day? I saw a picture of Mr Obi paying a quick welcome visit to this Malami, who is facing monumental charges involving corruption that we have not seen in this country since Lord Lugard’s side chick gave us our name.
So this Obi, who is running on a frugal and incorruptible platform, would now willingly and publicly associate himself with this man? Yes, I know that he has not yet been convicted and, as such, remains innocent, but he should have at least waited until he was acquitted of all charges.
This impatience by Mr. Obi shows a desperation that has long been predicted. It also shows confusion and weak positioning. If you ask me, he has lost his lustre and is just running around and making all these gaffes.
For me sha, he remains the best possible candidate for the Presidency, but for him to make any dent, he has to show a very serious sense of purpose. One of the ways to reenergise his movement is to avoid people like this o. At least for now o.
Henry Nwosu: Adieu, the Boss
It was the mathematical Segun Odegbami who announced the passing of the great Henry Nwosu the other day. Nwosu was a member of the great Green Eagles team that did so many great exploits on the field of play and brought so much pride to Nigerians.
According to Mr. Odegbami, Henry was in Intensive Care for about five days before losing the battle. Nigeria just lost one of its very well-respected heroes.
I once sat with him over bottles to watch one of our Super Eagles matches somewhere in Yaba, and he cut a very humble and likeable image as he took us through the match. He explained all the moves and told us exactly what he thought was going through the coach’s mind.
Sad, he had to leave at such a young age. The inevitability of all of our passing gives us the courage to bear this loss. Nigeria remains grateful to him for his exploits and must do all within its powers to immortalise these heroes because they are the true ones. Kindly accept my condolences, dear Nigerians. He was truly one of the greatest. Kai.
Babatunde Fashola: A Man of His Words
Duke, you will hear from me. This was Babatunde Fashola, SAN, the former Governor of Lagos State, former Minister of Works and Housing and the most “tiptoeing” politician of the era.
Well, the man has succeeded in maintaining very strong goodwill despite his deep involvement and association with his party and party men, who daily receive a beating in the court of public opinion. An avowed APC man and a strong loyalist of the president, Fashola somehow seems to escape all the mudslinging that comes with being part of that terrain.
Today, years out of office, his goodwill and public standing remain at an all-time high and for that. I say well done.
Today sha, I want to show my ultimate gratitude to him for supporting our play on the late blind minstrel ‘Kokoro.’ I had done my research and found out that as governor, he had looked seriously at rehabilitating Kokoro, who never seemed to be able to wrestle down poverty despite his huge fame.
It is in this regard that I approached His Excellency for support and to be the Special Guest of Honour at the Command performance of the play coming up during Easter at the Muson Centre in Lagos.
His Excellency not only accepted to attend but sent in his generous support, and this is why, as a well-brought-up lad, I send my appreciation. Mbok, anybody who knows him, help me thank him too; he is truly a great man. Kai.
Bullies at Your Doorstep
Mbok, did you guys see the footage from that beating at the Igbinedion School in Benin City? The beating was so gruesome that the aged and very well respected Esama of Benin, the great Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, stood up and waltzed into the school.
The two bullies have been expelled and heckled out of the school, but a lot more should be done nationally against this malaise. It is not as if we that are writing did not bully or were not bullied in our days, but this is modern times, and such behaviours must be seriously stamped out. Kai, that beating was too much, I swear.
Everybody, government, parents and civil society must put their hands together to fight this scourge.
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