Nigeria: The old, the new, the ugliest

A quick take…

There was a huge mix-up here last week. The big gulf created a massive mess. The good reason for the near re-run of this piece.

More so. Our perilous situation hasn’t changed a bit. So also our chaotic political atmosphere. It’s ridiculously getting worse. Speedily receding down the drain.

What do we want to make out of this hopelessness? Let us collectively wonder aloud. The reason for this spirited attempt at a careful clean-up of my column run exactly a week today.

It’s also timely. On this particular day, 66 years ago. Our founding fathers secured a bloodless independence for us. No pint of blood was unduly shed. Whether by commission or omission. No mistake intended. No error committed.

We got it seamlessly. Great kudos. This rerun is a tribute to their sacrifices in various forms. And at varied times.

This piece was tagged “Nigeria: Between the old and the new” in its first appearance. Now proudly re-christened “Nigeria: The old, the new, the ugliest.”

An independence anniversary gift of some weird sort. It’s like no other before it. We certainly deserve better than this. But what you don’t have, you can’t give. Courtesy our rulers.

Now. Reflect on this one more time. The piece:

We once got it absolutely right. And the perfection was superb. Yes, in the same clime we are in today. It permeated in every department of our lives then. Including, but not limited to, medicine.

We recollect with nostalgia the good old days. Remember King Faisal of Saudi Arabia? He was at a time a frequent face in our space. His destination: That same University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State. There, he received treatment in the 1960s.

Not only that. His royal family members were equally regular visitors to UCH. Between 1962 and 1966. Only for medical care. Nothing else. AI’s timely interjection:

“During this period in the 1950s and 1960s, UCH was a leading medical powerhouse in Africa and part of the British Commonwealth, attracting international patients rather than seeing outward medical tourism.”

Those were our glorious days of yore. We flaunted our cherished values with utmost relish. We displayed righteousness and honesty. We did it without fear or favour. We stayed in our lane steadfastly. Genuinely fixing our gaze on our set goals.

We knew where we were going. And how fast to get there in good success. We abhorred inanities. No distraction was permitted to stray in or derail us. We got our focus right. We knew our help came from nowhere but from above.

We minded our collective business with uttermost seriousness. We cared for others. Truly. We were once our brother’s and sister’s keeper. We never mouthed it for nothing. With sincerity, we acted it, in spirit and in truth. We walked our talk wholeheartedly. We never talked the talk in emptiness.

A succinct exemplar is this account. It is fact and factual. It’s veritable and verifiable. You can’t but marvel at this. It will daze and dazzle any rational mind. It’s neither fiction nor imagination. Pure, solid and hard actuality.

Ajase-Ipo and Omupo are neighbouring towns in Kwara State. Both were formerly in the defunct Igbomina-Ekiti Division of old. That gave way before the 1979 general elections. The first nationwide elections since the “khaki boys” struck on January 15, 1966.

What changed and why? Not much, really. In 1976, General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military regime carried out local government reforms. From the “ruins” of Igbomina-Ekiti Division, Irepodun and Ifelodun local governments sprang up.

That made Ajase-Ipo and Omupo part ways. And for good. Ajase-Ipo went to Irepodun. Omupo, my maternal home, was accommodated in Ifelodun. Pleasant arrangement it remains till date. But it went further, deeper than that.

The reforms ushered in the Shehu Shagari administration in 1979. He became President on the platform of his National Party of Nigeria (NPN), aka “One Nation.”

The Chief Obafemi Awolowo factor fits in appropriately here. He was flying the flag of his Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Dwelling richly on its four cardinal programmes. He took his electioneering to Ajase-Ipo in 1979.

Done, he left en-route Omupo. He had thought of a smooth trip back to Lagos. That was not to be. A “rude” shock at Omupo stared him in the face. He was literally “ambushed.”

The residents saw him earlier “cruising” to Ajase-Ipo. They intentionally maintained their cool, controlled their “anger” and allowed him to have his way. Unrestrained. Unmolested.

His return trip was a “pleasant chaos.” The residents had their “hidden” agenda. They had resolved within themselves. They would not oblige him that expensive luxury on his return journey. So, Awo’s campaign convoy was forced to a halt. The enthusiastic residents insisted he must come down and campaign.

He pleaded with them that his permit did not cover Omupo. And, in fact, he must not step down to hold any rally. That would be breaking the law. His passionate appeal fell on their deaf ears. He couldn’t sway them otherwise.

Then a swift idea came to him. He was in the vehicle with his long-time, trusted political ally, Chief Josiah Sunday Olawoyin, UPN governorship candidate. This report captured the essence:

“He instructed his team to hold him steady inside the car. Without setting his feet on the ground, he leaned out to wave and acknowledge the massive, cheering crowd.”

Such is the exploit of a leader of honour, honesty and integrity. Can we find such a character among our latter-day rulers? Not exactly! That will be asking too much from them.

The restless and restive crowds were not done yet. They were not satisfied to the fullest. They wanted Awo to make pronouncementsHe must say something. They just wanted to hear a word from that Sage of all time.

They weren’t pleased with a “mere” wave of the hand. They wouldn’t want to be taken for granted. He tried by all means. They stayed unmoved. But Awo was visibly moved. Then he made a vow. The report again:

“Apologising to the residents for the situation, he solemnly promised the people of Omupo that he would officially include their town on his next campaign tour for the 1983 elections.”

You would think that was a mere political statement. The type of utterance we hear too frequently now. Those lies that dominate our political range. And keep us perpetually under our leaders’ servitude.

Not with Awo! He would not lie. Neither would he ever deceive. Not for anything. Throughout his life, he never changed or denied his words. Not under any circumstances.

Four years later. Awo proudly redeemed his pledge with his shoulders high: “True to his reputation for keeping his word, Chief Awolowo fulfilled his vow prior to the 1983 presidential election. To bypass any ground obstacles and honour the community, he famously arrived in Omupo via helicopter to conduct his campaign.”

Promise made, promise kept, fulfilled and faithfully too. That’s the Sage’s celebrated and famed trademark. The very exact opposite of today’s arrogant politicians. Awo had long exited this world for us on Saturday, May 9, 1987. Yet, his good deeds live forever in our hearts. You can’t risk ignoring them. If you dare, it’s to your maximum peril. Ask those who did.

Great pity! We lost all those good times. We collapsed them on ourselves. They’re no more. With our uncanny, insatiable lust and greed. We carelessly allowed that era to slip. It skipped away before our very eyes.

Its excruciating pains are what we bear today. That’s the high price we pay for being stiff-necked, naughty, haughty, disdainful. And unwisely heedless.

At this critical juncture, we must choose to retrace our missteps. It’s a task that has to be intentionally done. We need to be honest and faithful to ourselves. We must opt to be daring and unperturbed.

Now. And fast-forward from 1983 to our days of today. What do we see? What do we find? Year 2027 playing out in reckless abandon. A radical departure from our golden past. The fragile centre can no longer hold. It is crumbling and crumpling on our heads. Like a house of loose cards.

It reeks all over. Gushing out profusely. They’re everywhere, submerging us. From the North, down to the South. From the East, across to the West. No region is spared or marginalised. All are equally represented in the disdain.

Enough of these poisonous utterances. They are not healthy neither are they in any way positive, but injurious to our national fabric. No nation thrives in this manner, this dastardly way of ruling ourselves. See how we are running ourselves aground. Knowingly and unknowingly.

Even the runners of our system can’t comprehend the speed. That’s why we genuinely agree to ponder aloud. Where do these weird politicians of ours derive their queer guts? Theirs is a complete break from the old. They elect for the absurd and the sordid.

We never thought they could be this mean and heartless. What a despicable combination. They are eerie enough to flaunt it brazenly and breathlessly. What’s really going on in their awkwardly-wired minds? Emptiness and nothingness!

The Awolowo exemplar is pertinent with lasting impacts. It’s roundly evergreen. That was the sweet old era. The bitter new is here with us. We had screamed, prayed it would not happen. But it did to our disgust.

Arguably. It is the overzealous Governor Monday Okpebholo that long blazed the trail. He swore to high heavens to stop Peter Obi. He threatened him not to step on any part of Edo soil without securing Okpebholo’s personal permit. Else, he becomes a security risk.

It’s amazing and amusing. How empty politicians pretend to forget their bad deeds so easily. The same Okpebholo, together with 21 other APC governors, emptied themselves into Osun State in August. And they performed the feat without decorum. None of them, not even Okpebholo, cared for a permit. It was an invasion of some dirty sort. To chase a colleague governor, Ademola Adeleke, out of his own state.

They met their Waterloo in the no-nonsense Osun River. They did invade and fight. But were decisively beaten back on all fronts. The river swept them off their tumbling feet. At exactly 2:09 that early Sunday morning. In an unprecedented confusion and panic, they fled in so many directions at the same time.

Governor Hyacinth Alia opted for a different style. His was unique. Still the same goal as Okpebholo’s. Obi was also his central prey. No pretence, it was loud enough not to be ignored. He feigned the obliviousness of Obi’s permit by the police.

He rather went violent, full blast. Obi was blocked from setting foot on Benue State soil. Where’s the place of freedom of movement here? Whatever happened, Obi beat a wise retreat. He chose to climb the Plateau instead. And he did with great ease and peace of mind. He met a rousing welcome on the Plateau. Waiting for him with bated breath.

God works His wonders in ways no man can understand. The crossing of the Benue Alia made impossible for him. Governor Caleb Mutfwang obliged. He made it not only possible. But extremely comfortable for him to climb his Plateau.

See the heavy knocks rained on Alia. In sharp contrast to the huge, overwhelming kudos showered on Mutfwang. On a gold platter!

Courtesy of Very Dark Man (VDM): Kudos to restive and vigilant Benue youths. They stoutly defended their state against “foreign invasion.” And were successful. That’s patriotic of them, highly commendable.

They shouldn’t stop at that. Or rest on their oars. That will be a monumental disaster. Why? The turbulent voyage has just begun. They have a taller, Herculean task ahead. They can now muster the same courage and bravery. They need to rebuff their perpetual tormentors, the killer terrorists. And with greater intensity.

Obi was their pilot project. It was an instant success. A victory, a triumph of no small means. They demonstrated capability. And showcased capacity to ward off constant invaders. We are forever happy for them.

Imagine. What our security architecture couldn’t attain. These Benue warriors did in a smart jiffy. They no longer need help or sympathy in and out; home and abroad. Thank heavens they have overcome. And put their enemies in permanent check.

Neighbouring communities, be warned. Do not take tutorials from them. They are a class of strange role models. And they are distinctly on their own. Not to be emulated, imitated or reproduced.

Help! These “politrickians” have gone berserk. They have wickedly resorted to selfish politicking. Embedded in deep avarice. It’s only about themselves and their immediate families.

They are not thinking out of the box for the larger society. That’s how rotten they have turned themselves to become. They weaken institutions meant for the so-called checks and balances. It is their hideous deliberate intention. To turn these hitherto strong institutions upside down.

They messed up the presidential system of government at will. The same network we half-heartedly copied from the USA. We operate ours in complete disobedience to obedience. Direct opposite to what we claim we copy from the Americans. The differences are crystal clear. The ambiguities and falsehoods are noticeable. Even from the farthest view.

It is given. The Osun State, August 15, 2026, debacle remains the beauty of our on-going crippled dispensation. It’s its hope. The flagship. And the best face of our pretended democracy.

Conversely. The recklessness in Benue State, is its ugliest face. It aligned with our mounting lowest moments and momentums.

The Awolowo incident was the clearest and cleanest of them all. It was spotless, plainest, honest and authentic. We have a rich history in our founding fathers. They are generously there for our easy pick.

Theirs was the exciting era we will love to singsong. When party supremacy was truly supreme. When party discipline was the order. And not the disorder as it stands today. When leaders walk honesty on its legs, not on its head.

We have never had it so bad, bad, bad… Unreserved apologies to the legendary music icon, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. We thirst, hunger for a reasonable return to that golden age.

We fervently pray that the Osun State model of August 15, 2026, will halt this political pandemic. And put a huge spanner in its works. May we be discerning enough this time around. May we not be consumed by self-destruction and distrust.

An honest return to the parliament is it! It will make this happen to us like magic. We couldn’t have asked for anything less or more. Call it true federalism. Call it even the over-mouthed restructuring. Choose your choice. The goalpost remains the same. Let’s do something fast, now.

The end justifies the means. Or the means justifies the end. Whatever your fancy lays hold on. Precious time is ticking and wasting away speedily.

Choose wisely before it turns to perilous time. God forbid!

All the same. Happy 66th independence anniversary. As we keep on aging!