Obi and Kwankwaso: A Flicker, Dim and Spoof
If you grew up in Shomolu or any of those kinds of places in Nigeria, you would have witnessed what I am about to illustrate with what I see happening between Mr. Obi and his newfound brother, Kwankwaso. You know, those days we rarely had “light.” By light, I mean NEPA. So, on those very rare occasions that “light” will come, we would all rush to the TV to watch any of those programmes and all of a sudden, the light will suddenly do what we used to call ‘half current.’ It will flicker, then become extremely bright and next thing, poof! Darkness
That is how I felt when I saw the pictures from the rally held by Mr. Obi and his brother, Kwankwaso, on his recent trip to Kano. The sea of red caps, the huge turnout, the almost religious affinity to the Kwankwasiyya or whatever they call their doctrine, and the little hope that we just may see a resurgent Obi candidacy.
My people, like NEPA light those days, what we saw in Kano was just a flicker that would shine bright and then disappear.
Obi’s descent, most will not agree, is really painful to me because he alone among the sea of heads has the moral authority, the integrity and the strong will to topple this Nebuchadnezzar that we have found as our leader. But a culmination of inexperience, miscalculations and all of that seemed to have whittled down the momentum that saw him “winning” the last elections.
What we are seeing here now is an Obi that doesn’t seem to understand where the race track is. From LP to ADC and now flirting with the red cap people without any real structures on the ground, no real push in a contest that he would be running against an opponent that is in full strength.
Obi needs prayers very urgently, so that he will still stand a chance of playing the much-needed messiah that we need. God help him and help us by extension.
It was at the elegant din
Adebayo Adelabu: It’s Time to Say Goodnight
The excitement with which I was going to write this piece left me following the quick research I did. Apparently, I had seen sensational headlines all over social media on this “bobo” – Adelabu says it’s beyond our control, Adelabu has given up, Adelabu throws up his hands in resignation. I was so happy as I now prepared my own gun to give him the last verbal shot and end his career once and for all.
Something now touched me just as I was about to start writing – why not do some research? So, I went into mainstream media and found out that the man was utterly taken out of context.
What he was quoted by serious media to have said was that he was working very assiduously to resolve the blackout, knowing fully well the sufferings Nigerians were going through with the weather. He assured us that we would start seeing results in two weeks, even though he knew that most of the factors that would lead to a positive outcome were outside of the government’s control.
It is this last “out of our control” that people carried and ran with. Oh, he has given up, they shouted. One even said that he made the statement, rose up, did not acknowledge any greetings and drove to his office and still had a job – Nigeria.
Mbok, much as I would have loved for him to have truly announced his helplessness, what the man actually did was to state his resolve to solve the problem and this brings us to the Mike Tyson analogy – no matter how determined I am to beat up Iron Mike, no miracle in this world would make me last one round in the ring with him. In the same vein, it is very clear that no miracle in this world would make Adelabu defeat this issue of power. Not him, not his bosses, at least not in this dispensation. The thing “just pass them.” Na why dem go install inverter and solar. Nigeria, we hail thee, permanent darkness looms.
Abba Yusuf: A Cap of Many Dimensions
This one has defected but is still wearing the red cap that symbolises a certain tendency in Kano. This Governor of Kano State has done the unthinkable by defecting to the APC. This move was considered one of the most heinous betrayals in recent times, considering his relationship with his principal. How he wants to deliver Kano to his new masters remains to be seen.
Despite his defection, the man still finds it very difficult to carry the broom, which is the symbol of his new masters, but still insists on wearing the red cap.
The other day, he was spotted wearing another cap and when his supporters, according to reports, asked if they should start wearing that cap, he was reported to have asked them not to, that he was just wearing this one for the occasion and that “it is not yet time to stop wearing the red cap.”
My people, this is like denying your favourite prostitute in public and still going back under the cover of darkness. This further accentuates the lack of ideology in Nigerian politics. We are all just doing “anywhere bele face” politics without any ideological compass. This is why we seem to be headed towards a cliffhanger.
This Kano own is just the darkest, most stupid thing that has happened so far. You know you have no foothold in the place. They came for you, and you did not beg them to do like Wike and say – mbok let me remain where I am but will try my best to work for you underground or I will funnel resources to you to win in other states so that it balances out because this Kano, he no go work o. Na wa.
Charles Soludo and His Children of Colours
Governor Soludo has one son who is very popular on social media. His social media name is Ozonna. I don’t know if that is his full or real name. The boy’s arrogance is very admirable. When I use the word arrogance, I mean the way he doesn’t give a hoot what people think about him. He will just plait his hair, wear some ugly, damp clothes, carry a female bag, sway his waist on the internet and dance to some very tasteless songs with all the seriousness he can muster.
At times, His Excellency will join him in this cacophony, the way Justice Oputa used to join his son on his bike in a pitiable show of solidarity. You know that saying – monkey no fine but him mama like am.
Well, Ozonna has weathered all of those storms to the point that Nigerians are tired of abusing and laughing at him. Seeing that he doesn’t “send them”, they have switched to hailing him. His comment section has turned from the bile we are used to to a great fan zone with Nigerians asking for more. He is now such a huge social media star that it is amazing for someone who just a few months ago was seen as a tadpole.
Just as we were getting over Ozonna, Adaora has jumped into our consciousness with her appointment as Women Leader of the City Boy Movement and has immediately gone to work with the proclamation that Tinubu or nobody. One intriguing thing about Adaora was the proclamation by her Dad during her wedding that this was the first in 142 years in their family because of the “scarcity of female children in their dynasty.”
I think a TV Series in the mould of the Kardashians should be immediately designed for The Soludos because the whole thing makes for very interesting watching. Nice family.
Aliko Dangote: Fuel Hike and My Confusion
During the week, I decided to go and visit one young sweet “chick”. As we left, my driver announced, “Oga, we need to buy fuel.”
We drove straight to the MRS station at Fadeyi and bought fuel for N30,000. As we set off, I asked: “Where e reach?” And he said a little bit above half tank. I screamed how come? “E suppose full,” and he answered that the price na N1,200, “e don go up.” I suggested we top up at Maryland. By the time we reached Maryland, the price had gone up. Oh my God. Fuel price was galloping the way Naira was tumbling when Tinubu first came in.
By the time of writing, which is exactly one week after, the price is now N1,400 at some stations.
In frustration, I sent out a post – mbok, if Dangote is supplying us all the fuel and he is not importing crude, why is Iran’s war affecting us? My people, it was an illiterate question. It was Mr. Kekere-Ekun who gave me that advice – Edgar, don’t always be in a hurry to attack, you have a voice, be calming down. If I had not posted that question, that is how I would have carried dirty tomato water and poured it all over Alhaji’s head. Knowing that one very well, he would have given me a Chinese kick in my groin.
Mbok, I was schooled o. They told me that the man buys his crude at the spot international market price, even if they are giving him the crude from Ijaw land. I also heard that he gets about 20% of his crude needed locally because “Nigeria has done crude for loan,” which will see us giving out crude to creditors till my grandchildren become grandparents.
Mbok, I heard so much that I had a headache. See me thinking that with this giant refinery, we would have cordoned ourselves from international shocks. Kai, illiteracy is bad o.
But then again, shebi Dangote is said to be worth all of that as the richest black man in the world, can’t he give us some small subsidy till this war is over? What is a few billion dollars “loss” to Alhaji na? The only thing that I think will stop that will be when his communications man, Tony, sends him the latest Forbes list and he sees his brother Samad surging on the list, he will just say – mbok increase the damn price abeg. Who will save us o? Fuel price is mad.
Konyinsola Ajayi: Curating Power
Those who know, know that I have just finished curating a book on power and influence. To secure the intellectual integrity of the book, I put 50 of the most cerebral Nigerians to contribute essays in the book. One of those contributors is the famous legal expert and Methodist Presbyter, Professor Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN.
I first knew of his father, the late great legal jurisprudent who fought many legal battles beside the great Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the 60s. I had spent some time with the Baba in their village a few months before his passing.
But I finally got to meet the son, Konyinsola, about two years ago when he was introduced to me as I was preparing for a session on leadership.
Since then, he has spoken through a representative at my international seminar on the economy in London. So, when I approached him to write the foreword for the book, he did not mind my dreadlocks and penned one of the most incisive forewords to a book. You should read it.
During the week, I went to see him with a sample of the book and his humility with such a rich pedigree still intact. He remains calm even in his Latino shirts and still evokes effortless brilliance. I tell you, God really created some people differently. His intellect, brimming not arrogantly but subconsciously, leaves you with no need to feel inferior even though you are not anywhere near his intellectual stature. Prof to me is a rare commodity that will never be replicated. How was your week, sir?
Blessing CEO: It’s All About Faith
Blessing is the voraciously popular social media titan who has just announced that she has Breast cancer. You know these people; we don’t know if what they are saying is true or they are just saying it to gain traction. In fact, immediately she made the announcement another of her loudmouthed colleague shouted that it was fake. But subsequent posting shows that this may just be true as she has cut her hair, put up her houses for sale and made a very passionate video seeking financial support.
Breast cancer is not something we should play with as it affects almost two out of every five Nigerian women. Prevention is checking for lumps as early detection goes a long way in getting it treated. I was once on the same panel with her during one of my appearances on the Ruth Osime show and she cut the image of a happy go lucky lady who was in love as she appeared with her boyfriend, another controversial figure.
I have made my own donations even and I appeal to all fair-minded Nigerians to not only support her but all those who are going through same illness. God be with you, my sister. Amen
Seyi Tinubu: A Son of His Father
This has, with no contest, emerged as the most visible and involved son of a sitting president – from attending the state dinner in Buckingham Palace to meeting the Emir of Qatar before top government officials, to driving in motorcades almost as long as his father, to now forming the popular City Boys Movement. Mr Tinubu Junior is today the most popular Nigerian, if not more popular than his father.
What has triggered this my – make I look for him trouble – write up, is the poster where he is smiling behind my person, Ambode, announcing their run for the Lagos State top seat.
Now that ambition, to the best of my knowledge, is not yet official, but his bearded face showed his power and influence in today’s political calculations.
Like him or not – me, I no like am –he is a factor. The man may not understand issues because I have never seen him comment on any issue except – my father is the best, my father came to save you, and you keep coming for my father – what you cannot take from him is his mobilisation prowess.
The man is a grassroots politician; he knows how to mobilise and make things happen. See the way his city movement has penetrated the South-east, muted existing party structures and captured strong young minds and is well positioned to deliver the region to his father’s mandate.
He feigns humility. I see him at events, pretending to be humble, clasping his hands, bowing his head, and acting like he is one of the boys. That doesn’t resonate as I can see through all of that. To me, he is very strategic, committed and focused on whatever mandate he or his father has.
So, the question is, and I really cannot answer – is this good for Nigeria? Mbok, keep your answers to yourselves when all of this is over. I will release my answer, but for now, na under bed I dey until the storm is over. Thank you.
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