NigeriaRecordsFive JailbreaksUnderTinubu
NOlessthan435 inmateshaveescapedfromfive correconalfaciliesin thelast16monthsinNigeria.
Amongtheescapees OSUNDEFENDERlearnt arehardenedcriminals whoaresllcontribung tothenaon’sinsecurity debacle.
Themediumgathered thatsincetheincepon ofPresidentBolaTinubu’sadministraonabout 27monthsago,therehave beennolessthanfivejailbreaks,withmostrecent happeningsonAugust12, 2025.
Meanwhile,outofthe 435inmateswhoescaped prison,only34havebeen reportedlyrecaptured, leavingasignificantnumberoftheescapeesout there,adevelopmentsecurityexpertsclaimcan furtheraffecttheinsecuritythecountryiswitnessing.
Also,duringthejail breaks,anofficeroftheNigerianCorreconalService waskilledwhilemanyotherpersonnelwereinjured.
TheJailBreaks OnApril24,2024,119 InmatesoftheMedium SecurityCustodialCentre, Suleja,NigerState,escapedtheprisonfollowinganovernighttorrenal rainfall,whichwreaked havoconthecentre.
Although14inmates wererecapturedbysecurityagents,theremaining 105,includinghardened criminals,areontheloose.
Speakingaertheincident,theFederalGovernmentpromisedthatit wouldallowthefatewhich befelltheMediumSecurityCustodialCentretobefallanyofits256Custodial Centresacrossthecountry, sayingitisrehabilitang thecentresaccordingly.
However,despitethe vowtosecurethecorreconalfaciliesandprevent reoccurrence,onSeptember10,2024,aravaging floodduetotheoverflow oftheAlauDamtriggered
thecollapseoftheperimeterwallattheMedium SecurityCustodialCentre inMaiduguri,BornoState. Atotalof281inmates fledaertheincidentwith
onlysevenrecaptured.
Thespokespersonfor theNigeriaCorreconal Services,UmarAbubakar, inastatementaerthe incident,said,“Security
personnelwereableto recapturesevenoftheinmates,andanoperaonis sllongoingtolocatethe rest.”
Anotherjailbreakoc-
OKazeemBadmus This was contained in a press release signedbythe Director of Amnesty Interna onal Nigeria, Isa Sanusi recently.
NE year a er the #EndBadGovernance protest in Nigeria, Amnesty Interna onal has berated the Federal Government for itsfailuretoensureJus ce for vic ms and survivors who were allegedly killed and brutalized by the policeduringthemassac on acrossthena on.
According to Amnesty Interna onal,Nigerianpolice killed at least 24 people between August 1-10, 2024 in the Northwest while several protesters have been convicted in sham trials based on boguscharges.
Sanusi alleged that the vic ms were shot by the police, firing live ammunionatcloserange,o enat theheadortorso.
The statement reads partly: “One year a er the police used lethal force and carried out mass arbitrary arrests of peaceful #Endbadgovernance protesters, the Nigerian authori es have failed to ensure jus ce for vic ms and survivors, while the police bizarrely con nue to deny strong allega ons of extra-
judicial execu on, torture andunlawful arrests ofthe protesters.
“Amnesty Interna onal’sinves ga onfoundthat theNigerianpolicekilledat least 24 people between 1-10 August 2024 in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Borno, Niger and Kaduna states. Also, several peaceful protesters have been convicted in sham trials based on bogus charges, while trials con nue in Abuja, Kano, Jigawa,KatsinaandKaduna states.
“A year on, despite the gravity of these human rights viola ons, not a single member of the security forces has been pros-
duty,killingoneofthem throughstrangulaon whiletwootherswereed upbeforetheyescaped.
TheComptroller-GeneraloftheNigeriaCorreconalService,Sylvester, Nwakuche,whowasthen inacngcapacity,aervisingtheKotonKarfecor-
•Continued on page 2
ecuted, as accountability remains elusive for the 24 peaceful protesters killed in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Borno, Niger and Kaduna states. Those behind these atroci es must be held to account.
“Inallcases,thevic ms were shot by the police, firing live ammuni on at close range, o en at the head or torso, sugges ng that officers were shoo ng to kill. Two survivors suffered injuries a er being shot by police in the arm andlegs,othersweresuffocatedbytheindiscriminate useofteargas.
“While in deten on, someoftheprotesterswere torturedandpunishedwith starva on,whichledtothe collapse of minors facing curredonMarch24,2025, attheKotonKarfeMedium securityprison,KogiState. Twelveinmatesescapedtheprisonaer overpoweringofficerson
trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on 1 November2024.
“The Nigerian authories are yet to take appropriate and effec ve measures to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, including by endingthekilling,in mida on and harassment of protesters, arbitrary arrests and deten on, and mass surveillance, especially in the context of protests,” saidIsaSanusi.
Efforttogetreac onof the Force Public Rela ons Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobiprovedabor veas he his yet respond to enquiry by OSUN DEFENDER as meoffilingthisreport.
Yusuf Oketola
reconalcentrefollowing theincident,confirmed thatfiveofthe12escaped inmateshadbeenrecaptured.
•Continuedfromfrontpage“Whatweshouldbe concernedaboutisthat mostoftheseescapeesare hardenedcriminalsand theyareoutthereamong thepeople.OnlyGodknows whattheyaredoingtofurthercontributetotheinsecurityinthecountry.
“Weregretthatoneof theofficersofthecorreconalservicewaskilled bytheescapedprisoninmates,”hesaid.
Lessthantwomonths aertheKotonKarfeincident,anotherjailbreak occurredattheMedium SecurityCustodialCentre inIlesa,OsunState.
Theincidenthappened onMay20,2025,following anovernightrainfall,with seveninmatesescaping fromtheCustodialCentre aerthefacility’soldperimeterwallcollapsed.
AccordingtotheNigerianCorreconalService, thebreachoccurredaround 2:00a.m.andwascaused bythestructuralfailureof thewallduringthestorm.
Followingthejailbreak, arewardofN5millionwas announcedforanyonewho hadinformaonconcerningtheescapedprisoners. However,onlyoneinmate hasbeenrecapturedto date.
ThelatestjailbreakoccurredonAugust12,2025, attheMediumSecurity CustodialCentre,Keffi,NasarawaState,where16inmatesescapedthefacility.
Theinmatesescaped aerbreachingthefacility’s security.
Inastatementissuedby thespokespersonforthe NigerianCorreconalService,UmarAbubakar,the inmatesreportedlyoverpoweredpersonnelonduty duringthebreakout.
Abubakarstatedthat fiveofficerswereinjuredin theincident.
Althoughsevenofthe escapedinmateswererecaptured,theremaining nineescapedinmatesare sllatlarge.
Asecurityexpert,KolawoleOlabisi,whilespeakingtoOSUNDEFENDER, saidthefederalgovernment mustfindawaytoputan endtotherecurringjail breakorfacefurtherbale intacklinginsecurity.
AccordingtoOlabisi, mostoftheescapedprisonerswhoaresllontheloose arehardenedcriminals, addingthattheywillfurther contributetothesecurity challengesinthecountry.
Thesecurityexperts saidthefederalgovernment needstodomorethan makemerepromisesand findawaytosecurethecorreconalfacilies.
Olabisisaid,“It’sunfortunate,asthisyearalone, wealreadyhavethreejail breaks,andtheauthority keepstellingusthatthey aregoingtoputanendtoit, whichtomeisjustamere promise.
“Isaidtheyarehardenedcriminalsbecause onlyhardenedcriminalscan thinkofescapingfromprison,knowingfullywellthe repercussions.
“Myissuewiththefederalgovernment,theMinisterofInterior,andthe
NIGERIAUnion ofLocalGovernmentEmployees (NULGE),Osunchapter, hasraisedthealarmover whatitdescribedasdesperatemovestoallegedly hijacklocalgovernment fundsinthestatedespite subsisngcourtrulings.
Theunionatapress conferenceinOsogbo, onMonday,recalledthat councilallocaonshad beenwithheldsinceFebruary2025,allegingthat powerfulinterestswere plongtodivertthe moneythrough“judicial manoeuvres.”
Addressingjournalists,thestatechairman ofNULGE,DrNathaniel KehindeOgungbangbe, recollectedthattheOsun Stategovernmenthad, onMay12,2025,approachedtheFederal HighCourttoprotectthe fundsfrombeingchannelledtothesackedAll ProgressivesCongress (APC)chairmenand councillors,whoseremovalhadalreadybeen affirmedbycompetent courts.
Accordingtohim,althoughtheFederalHigh Courtorderedallparestomaintainthestatusquo,therewere“attemptstoillegallyopen accountsforthesacked officialsunlaJune13 rulingoftheCourtofAppealhaltedthemove.”
Ogungbangbequeried:“Nowmonthslater, theOfficeoftheChief LawOfficeroftheFederaonhassuddenlywoken up,cryingurgencyand demandingthatthismatterberushedandheard inAbujaduringthecourt vacaon.Weask:Why therush?WhyAbuja? Whynow?”
Heclaimedthatthe urgencybeingcanvassed bythedefendantswas self-created,nongthat theyweredulyserved sinceMay,butchosenot toact.
NULGEfurtherfaulted claimsbytheAorneyGeneraloftheFedera-
ControllerGeneralofCorreconsisthataerevery jailbreak,theycomeoutto makepromisesandvowto stopit,butunfortunately, itkeepshappeningagain.I hopewehaveheardthelast ofit.”
Effortstogetthereaconofthespokesperson fortheNigeriaCorreconal Services,UmarAbubakar, provedaborveashisline wasnotconnecngatthe meoffillingthisreport.
Also,testandWhatsApp messagessenttohisnumberswerenotrepliedto.
on’sofficethatcourt processeswerenot served,poinngoutthat thebailiffhadalready sworntoanaffidavitof service,whichstandsasa publicdocument.
Theunioninsisted thattheCourtofAppeal hadalreadyruledthatthe February22,2025,local governmenteleconin OsunStatewasvalid,and thattheremovalofthe
•MediumSecurityCustodialCentre,Suleja,NigerStateafterajailbreakinApril25,2024
APCofficialsremained legal,addingthatthere wasnotenurelefor thesackedchairmenand councillors.
“Wesmellaplotto usetheAbujavacaon courttogivethrough thebackdoorwhatthe CourtofAppealhasalreadydenied.Butwesay today:Juscecannotbe ambushed.Thepeople ofOsunStatewillnotal-
lowtheirresourcestobe stolenunderthecover ofjudicialmanoeuvres,” theNULGEchairmandeclared.
HequotedUthmanDanFodio,saying: “Conscienceisanopen wound;onlytruthcan healit,”andAbraham Lincoln,whowarnedthat “thehoestseatinhellis reservedforthosewho keepsilentinthefaceof
tyrannyandoppression.”
NULGEurgedthejudiciarytoresistpressure andrefusetheapplicaonforvacaonhearing, whilealsocallingonNigerianstoremainvigilant.
“Anyaempttorob thepeopleofOsunState, parcularlyourmembers,throughlegalshortcuts,willberesistedbyall lawfulmeansavailable,” Ogungbangbewarned.
SYusuf Oketola
OME Nigerians have lambasted the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government on its plans to raise the salaries ofpoli calofficeholdersin thecountry.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the Revenue Mobilisa onAlloca onand Fiscal Commission had on Monday hinted at plans to reviewthesalariesofpolicalofficeholders.
The move comes as US Department of State noted thattheN70,000minimum wage for workers has been undermined owing by the deprecia onofthenaira.
RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, who described the current earnings as inadequate, unrealis c, and outdated inthefaceofrisingresponsibili es and economic challenges. stressing President Bola Tinubu’s present N1.5m monthly remuneraonandMinistersreceiving lessthanN1msince2008is nolongerfeasible.
“You are paying the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria N1.5m amonth,withapopula on of over 200 million people. Everybodybelievesthatitis ajoke,”Shehusaid.
He added, “You cannot pay a minister less than N1mpermonthsince2008 and expect him to put in his best without necessarily being involved in some otherthings.Youpayeither a CBN governor or the DG ten mes more than you
pay the President. That is just not right. Or you pay him[theheadofanagency] twenty mes higher than theA orney-Generalofthe Federa on. That is absolutelynotright.”
Reac ng to the development, some Nigerians who spoke on Tuesday, berated the government’s fresh plans, sta ng that it is a reflec on of how poli cal office holders prioritsetheirwelfareabovethe plightofNigerians.
Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, a public affairs analyst, Comrade George Adeola observed that rather than address the lingering hardship and infla on, poli cians have con nued to devise ways of earning more resources from the country’streasury.
“It is sad in a country where infla on is almost running to 35%, hunger is on the rise, cost of living is thrice what it was two years ago, hunger is affecting more than 60% of cizens,poli ciansarelooking for ways to enrich themselves. That is the irony of ourcountry.
“Peopleusedtosayour President is a super-rich man. Why does he want to earn more salaries? What about their allowances? People do not know how big these people earn in terms of allowances and otheremoluments.Itisjust toosad,”Adeolanoted.
Also in his submission on a radio programme monitored by the medium
in Osogbo, on Tuesday, a journalist, Mr. Bamigbola Gbolagunte described the moveasunnecessary.
Stressing that such decisions do not reflect the conformity of the na on’s leaders with the mood of thena on,Gbolagunteemphasisedtheneedformore a en on on cri cal sectors of the economy that will makelifemorebearablefor thedowntrodden.
“The idea is unncessary at this me. Infla on is up high, poverty is endemic and people cannot even eat two square meals a day.Yes,youmayhavethat amountasthesalaryofMr. President,butdoyouknow howmuchgoesintoestacodes when they travel? The allowancesandperksofthe office he occupies is much morethanthesalaries.
“Letourpoli ciansconcentrateondeliveringgood governance.Letthemserve us. They are earning so muchmorealready,”Gbolaguntestatedfurther.
In a related development,theUSHumanRights Prac ces Report for 2024, dated August 12 and released by the US Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, noted that the Nigerian minimum wage, peggedatabout$47.90per month, had lost its value due to the naira trading at overN1,500tothedollar.
Itaddedthatfirmswith fewer than 25 workers did not benefit from the wage increase.
“The Na onal Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act2024doubledtheminimum wage to 70,000 naira ($47.90)permonth.
“Despite the increase, currency devalua on meant the minimum wage was no longer higher than thepovertyincomelevel.
“Many employers had fewer than 25 employees, so most workers were not covered,”thereportsaid.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) also cricised the move, saying the proposal ignores the country’s worsening inequality and the hidden perks that already inflate earnings in government.
The union insisted that the real problem is not the official salary figures but the allowances and perks ofofficethatremainhidden frompublicview.
“The President’s salary may be about N1.5m a month, but when allowances are added, the total package can exceed N100 million,” an NLC high-ranking official who did not want his name men oned due to a lack of authorisaontospeakonthema er, toldThePUNCH.
“Allowances for medical care, housing, digital services, internet access, security, travel, and even COVID-relatedexpensesare all buried in the system. If thegovernmentcanpublish the president’s salary, then itshould also publishthese allowances, because that is wherethetrueburdenlies.”
Yusuf Oketola
THEREappearstohavebeena lotofcontroversyovertheincessantforeigntravelsofgovernmentofficials.Thishasbeengoingonforalongwayback.Thereis alwaysthequeson:howonearth doyougetdirectforeigninvestments?Whatistheuseofconstant foreigntravels,whichsomepeople mightactuallyrefertoasjunkeng, tocollectestacodeandgenerallyto haveamini-holiday.Forexample, therehasbeencontroversyoverthe travelofapresidenttovariouscountriesintherecentpast.Thereisalso controversyovertherecenttravel oftheGovernorofOsunState,AdemolaAdeleke,whommanypeoplethoughtwasinvolvedinafamilywedding,butrecentstatements nowsuggesthehasrolledaforeign directinvestmenttripintowhatwas thoughttobeawedding.
Thereshouldbeareconciliaon offactssothatthismisrepresentaonisnotacceptedastheconvenonalwisdom.Whateveritis,we mustactuallylookatthiswhole vexaousissueofforeigntripsand thequestforinvestments.
Ordinarily,thequestforforeign investmentsstartsfromhome,from thebase.Ifyouhaveawell-ordered setofpriories,socialandfiscalinfrastructure,andasensiblefiscal regime,foreigninvestmentswill comeinbytheirverynature.Paradoxically,intoday’sworld,thereis excesscapitallookingforaplaceto go.Unfortunately,Nigeriahasnot presenteditselfasanaracveor compeveplaceforthesortofpaentcapitalneededtodevelopthe country.Weoncearactedpaent capital,ascanbeseeninplaceslike theIkejaIndustrialEstate,Ilupeju IndustrialEstate,andTransamadi IndustrialEstate,wherethissortof paentcapitaldevelopedalotof breweries,foodprocessingplants, andassortedaluminummills,providingarealsolidbasefordevelopment.Nigeria’sproblemtodayis notaracngforeigninvestments; itistomakeacompellingreason astowhyforeigninvestments shouldcomewhentherearemore compeveplacesofferingmore aracveatmospherestoaract andretaintheseforeigninvestments.
OneworkingmodelforNigeria tolearnfromisSingapore.They haveleveragedtheirfineinstuonstoaractandretaindirect foreigninvestments.Agoodexampleistheirlegalsystem,whichis open,transparent,extremelycompetent,andspeedy.Thishasbecomeaformidableforcetoaract investments.Investorshavepeace ofmindwhengoingtoSingapore, andtheydon’tneedtoincludenumerousarbitraonclausestosettledisputesinforeigncourts.Un-
fortunately,inNigeria,wedon’t seemtoknoworcarethatourjudicialsystemandlegalframework shouldbeturnedintoanadvantagetoaractandretainforeign investments.
AnotherexampleistheUnited Kingdom,wherethelegalsystem contributes2.7%offoreignexchangeearningsannually.This isbecauseLondonhasbecome ahubforselingarbitraonand commercialdisputes,with73%of casesinLondoncommercialcourts havingnothingtodowiththeBritisheconomy.Instead,thesecases
THE term “Isese” translates to “tradion” in Yoruba. *Isese Day was formally established to recognize and advocate for the preserva on of Yoruba tradi ons in themodern era.The celebraon was first declared a public holiday in Osun State in August 2014 under the administra on of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.* Since then, other southwestern states such as Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo have officially recognized August 20th as Isese Day, o en declaring it a work-free day for publicservants.Thedayisofficiallyrecognized as a public holiday in several southwesternNigerianstates,withgovernment offices closed to allow observance of the celebra on.
It would be reprehensible not to commend the administra on of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for this worthy ini a ve. We cannot conceivably wipe out centuries of history on thealtarof a misguided no on ofmoderniza onormodernity.
There isalso a poli cal significance. In 1962, two years before his death, India’s founding Prime Minister, Pandit Nehru, observed during a visit to Nigeria privatelyto his close aides that African countries should not allow their indigenous belief systems to be completely wiped out. In India, they have preserved their religion and turned aspects of their belief system into beneficial developmental strengths. Not surprisinglytheconven onalwisdom is now projec ng that India will be the biggest economy in the world by the year oftheLord 2050.
A good example also comes from Ja-
“Thereisalsocontroversyovertherecent traveloftheGovernor ofOsunState,Ademola Adeleke,whommany peoplethoughtwasinvolvedinafamilywedding,butrecentstatementsnowsuggest hehasrolledaforeign directinvestmenttrip intowhatwasthought tobeawedding”
arebroughtinfromabroad.When youconsiderthemulpliereffectof usingcourtsinLondon,youbegin toseewhyacountry’slegalsystem mustbeturnedintoaneconomic forceforposivedevelopment.
“Itwouldbereprehensiblenot tocommendtheadministrationofOgbeniRaufAregbesolaforthisworthyinitiative.We cannotconceivablywipeout centuriesofhistoryonthealtarofamisguidednotionof modernizationormodernity”
pan, where a deep indigenous religious belief base on punctuality as virtous was turned into the widely acclaimed “justin- me” produc on policy, giving Japan a compe ve edge in building a modern manufacturing base. The use of indigenous beliefsystemshasalsohelpedChina,which has used its tradi onal mandarin system of organising thepublic service to create a world-classbureaucracywhichhasnowengineered sustainable economic and social developmentintheprocesspullingmillions outof povertyandastonishingfeatinmodern economic history.
Indeed, the ini al public sector service reforms in the USA ini ated by President Theodore Roosevelt and in the UK, in the form of the 1911 land mark reform by the commi eeheaded byJBHaldanereform of thecivilservice,wereinfluencedbyastudy ofthemandarin system.
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Wecannotnegateorairbrushourindigenousbeliefsystemsout ofexistence.They served a purpose and originated from centuries-long tradi ons, and they must have been beneficial since there were no major disloca ons when they were in place before new forms of religion came to displace them. We must learn from other developing countries that have successfully integrated elements of their indigenous belief systems into their development trajectories. Discarding centuries of history, thought, and praccewouldbedestruc veand limit our knowledge base. By embracing and translating these belief systems for modern efficacy, we can gain valuable insights and becomemore compe ve. If in any doubt take a deep look and study the economic history of Japan, China , India and assorted countries.
Vietnamisanotherexample. Aerbeingravagedbywarfor decades,thecountryhasmade remarkableprogress.AkeyadvantageforVietnamisitsworldclassvocaonaleducaonsystem,providingacost-effecve andtechnicallyempowered workforcethatcanmatch,or evensurpass,thatofChinaand Germany.Vietnamalsohasthe lowestunitcostofelectricityin theworld.Asaresult,Vietnam hastransformeditselffromobscurityintoa$232billionannual exportpowerhouse,despitehavinglessthanhalfofNigeria’spopulaon.
WeshouldlookatSingapore, Vietnam,andothercountriesand askourselveswhatwe’redoing wrong.Unlesswerealizeourmistakes,we’llconnuetogoround incircles,makingallmoonbut noposivemovement.
Whatwe’redoingwrongis obvious.Wemustgobacktothe rootsofdevelopmentandunderstandwhatsustainabledevelopmenttrulymeans.Weoncehad aclearunderstandingofdevelopment,butwe’velostourwayand arenowstuckinasituaondescribedinthe1950sand1960sas “growthwithoutdevelopment.” Thecountrycelebratesephemeralgrowth,butwhat’sthelink betweenstascalgrowthand sustainabledevelopment?This quesonneedstobeanswered. Sustainabledevelopmentis aboutaddressingfundamentalissueslikereducingthenumberof out-of-schoolpupils,increasing hospitalbedsandqualitymedical services,emphasizingvocaonal studies,andpromongexportsto solvebalanceofpaymentsproblems.Wemustmoveawayfrom whiteelephantprojects,which havebeendiscreditedsincethe 1960s.
IfwelookatRenéDumont’s classic“FalseStartinAfrica,” we’llseethatNigeriahasn’t learnedmuch.Development meanstransformingephemeral growthintomeaningfulprogress. Wecan’tconnuewithgrowth withoutdevelopment.Weneed toendwhiteelephantprojects andreturntoagenuinedevelopmenttrajectory.Development isn’taboutbuildingluxurious governmenthousesandflyovers; it’saboutintegratedruraldevelopment,buildingruralroads,and creangbasicinfrastructurelike commodityexchangestosupport farmers.
Thekeyissueisthatwedon’t needtochaseforeigninvestments.There’sexcesscapital availableglobally,andit’supto ustocreateanaracveenvironment.Anysensiblecost-benefit analysiswouldshowthatmany ofthesetripssearchingforforeigninvestmentsareawasteof meandself-indulgent.
Ihadwantedtotlethispiece ‘PrimivePolicsandSycophancy’giventhewayandmanner Nigerianpolicians,nay,African policiansinparcular,andtheenreuniversalpolicianshavestood policsanditspracceonitshead. Policsissupposedtobeameans toseekingandreceivingpowerfrom constuentsand,inreturn,giving serviceforthecollecvegood.But thatisnolongerthecase.Policsis likecollecngpowerfromthepeoplebyhookorcrookandusethat powertoturntheconstuentstoa gamefordinnerandnauseangselfaggrandizement.Andworse,turn constuentsintoserfs,servantsand slaves.
Policiansgofurthertofrighten, humiliate,suppress,oppressand vicmizewhosoeveroftheirconstuentsthathavethecourageand gutstochallengetheirauthoritarianism.Andtheydoalltheseinthe mostprimive,crudeanduncivil mannerwhiletheyemployacoterie offawnersaspraise-singers!Sadly andlamentably,theseconstuents areactuallytheiremployerswho paytheirsalaries,wagesandemoluments!
NowIhavechosen‘God-complex andSycophancy’becauseattheroot ofthecrudityandinconceivableselfishness,greedandinsensivityof policiansandleadingpolicalofficeholdersisaconviconofinviolabilityandinvincibility.Thesepolicalofficeholdersatthetopofthe ladderseethemselvesasmini-god! Andtheyaremadesobythepiable fawnersandpraise-singerswhoworshipattheirfeet.
IrecallthatIhavewrienseveralarclesandmadeseveralpronouncementsontelevisionand radiochannelslamenngandcondemningtheroleNigeriansasapeoplehadplayedandconnuetoplay inthebuild-uptomakingtheir‘employed’policiansn-gods.Ihave notbeenabletofindanysensible raonaleforthepsychological,sociologicalortradionalcausewhich makesotherwiseeducatedpeople, highlyprofessionalindividualswho havemadeagreatsuccessintheir callings,respectabletradionalrul-
By TOLA ADENIYI
erswithlargefollowingandcommunityelderswhosuddenlyturnthemselvestopolicians’footmats.
Whyshouldaneruditescholaror universityprofessorendupcarryingbriefcasesforsomesecondary schooldrop-outs,knowncriminals orwell-knownthugssimplybecause suchriffraff’shavesucceededinhijackingpowerandhavefoundthemselvesinundeservedposionsof authority?Itisunfathomableand unpardonable.
Itisthepeoplewhohavelostselfworthorpersonaldignityandan otherwisehonourablefamilyidentywhoconstutethebulkoftheunfortunatebeingsthathavenowcreatedgodsinpolicalofficeholders andsadly,insistthatothers,those whosllhavetheirheadsscrewed ontheirnecksshouldfollowthemin theirblindservitude.
Nigeriaisenteringanotherstage oftheircomicalandusuallytragic policaleleconeeringcyclewhich invariablyawardspurchasedvictory tolosersandblindstheactualwinnerswithcuriouselectoralloss.Ugly asthathadalwaysbeen,ithasbecomeimperavethatthefewsaner voicesaroundshouldspeakupnow andwarnofthedireconsequences ofthemounngcampaignofhate andxenophobiawhichisalready soilingtheatmospherewithitsattendantputridpoison.
Nigeriansarenowbeingdailyfed withpropagandahingedonabsolutefalsehood;falsificaonoffacts, falsificaonofhistory,falsificaon ofidentyandhumongousliesand deceit.
AttherootofalltheseshenanigansisthedesiretocreateMachiavelliancult-heroesoftoppolical officeholdersfromtheverybottomoftheladder,localgovernment chairpersonstospeakersofstate assemblies,togovernors,leaders ofthenaonalassemblyandthe president.Self-servingsycophants andpraise-singersarecurrentlyin compeonamongstthemselvesto outdooneanothertogetabiteof theslushfundsdrippingwithblood!
Intheself-depreciangeffortto maketheirpaymasterslooklikegod, theyindulgeinrunningdownothers whoobviouslyarebeerorgreater
thantheirowngodsofclay.Unfortunately,andthisiswherethedangerlies,policalofficeholdershave beenfedwithanddressedinmullayeredcostumeofinvincibilityand incomparability.
Wemustallcombattheheresy thathadgainedcurrencyinthelast decadeorso.Heresyneverknown intheannalsofNigeria’spolical history.Thatheresyisthenauseatingclaimandpropagandathatone policianmadeanotherpolician. ThisisthecrustoftheGod-complex heresywhichNigeriansmustarrest anddealwithonceandforall.
Itisnotinourcultureortradion,tocompetewiththecreatorof thisUniverseoralloworencourage anyonetosodoonourbehalf.We knowtheconsequencesofplaying God.Allhistorybooksandreligious literaturesareawashwiththeignominiousandruinousendsofall thosewhoplayedoractedGod.And becauseGod,OlodumaretotheYoruba,andbearerofasmanynamesas therearetongues,istheonlyenty whoseposionispermanentand unchangeable,anyonewhoseeks tocompetewithhimcrasheswhen facedwithunavoidablechangeor mortality.
TheCreatoroftheUniverseisthe ONLYCreatorofcreaturesofwhich humanspeciesisone.Nooneshould eversaysomeonecreatessomeone. Becauseitisinthatself-conceited mindsetthatpeoplecantalkofsome onebetrayingagod!Itisheresy, pureandsimple.ThebeaufulreligionofIslamseriouslyforbidsgodcomplex.Everypersonisregarded asaservantofAllah.Itisareligion ofabsolutehumilityandsubmission. AndProphetMohammed[Peacebe untoHim]remainseternally,Allah’s messenger.Thereligionforbidscreangimages,orworshippingfellow humanbeing,thereasonwhythere isnoimageofProphetMohammed [PBOH]anywhereintheworld.ActorswhoplaytheroleoftheProphet arenevershown!
Inpolicalspherespeoplewho believetheywanttoservetheir peoplepresentthemselvesand theirmanifestotothepeoplefor assessmentandapprovalordisapproval.Acceptanceorrejecon.In
ademocracywhich,amongmany definions,isaguaranteeforfreedomofassociaon,freedomof choice,andenhancementoffundamentalhumanrights,children ofthesameparents,husbandsand wivescancompeteagainstoneanotherintheirbidtorenderservice tothecommunity.Thehusband maysayhewantstoprovideroads whilethewifesaysshewantsto provideclothingforthemasses.No offence.Noname-calling.Nocharacterassassinaon.
Nigerianswhomaybetoo youngtoknow,oraretoooldto remembershouldbeenlightened thatinthedaysofyorenopolical leaderinthiscountryeverclaimed tohavecreatedanybodynorget consumedbyafeelingofbetrayal becauseoneortwomembersof histeamchoseintrospeconand independenceinsteadofblindfollowership.ThegreatAhmaduBello hadInuwaWada,TafawaBalewa, AlhajiMuhammaduRibadu,MallamAminuKanoandothersascolleaguesintheNorthernPeoples CongresswhichbecameNigerian PeoplesCongress.Henever,repeatnever,claimedhecreatedany ofthem.MallamAminuKanowas hisgreatestassetbecauseofthe laer’scharismaandhugefollowingamongthepoor,thetalakawa. KanoleBellotofoundhisNorthernElementsProgressiveUnion andgaveBelloasffcompeon. ButnooneeveraccusedKanoof betrayalortreachery.
MaziSamuelGoomsuIkokuran againsthisownfather,thegreatDr AzinnaAlvanIkoku,inanelecon [March15,1957]andevendefeatedhisfather.Theylivedhappilyas fatherandson.EminentDrNnamdi Azikiweneverclaimedhecreated DrKingsleyOzumbaMbadiweor DrMichaelOkparaorMaziMbonu Ojike.Headdressedthemas‘my colleagues’.
ChiefObafemiAwolowoinvited thebestofthebesttoformaformidableteamtoconstutethebest governmentthereeverwasinAfricainhismebutheneverclaimed hecreatedChiefAdekunleAjasin, ChiefSamuelAkintola,brilliant journalistandlawyer,ChiefJoseph OduolaOsuntokun,DrStephenOluwoleAwokoya,ProfessorSamuel Aluko,ChiefAnthonyEnahoroand severalothers.Heregardedthem ascolleaguesandassets.Theywere disnguishedintheirownright.He neededthem.Hesawqualityin them.Hewastheirleader,theteam leader.
DuroLadipodidnotcreateAbiodunLadipo,Oya,amosttalented singerbeforeLadipoinvitedherto hisTheatreGroupin1963andmarriedherayearlater.DemolaOnibonokuta,LerePaimoandotherswere establishedtalentswhobecamethe collaboravecollecvethatcreated DuroLadipo,theMyth.
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