An oba is put on the throne to keep “the bush at bay.” Collectively and individually, the successful oba is praised as “so’gbó di’lé/sò’gbé dì’gboro/ oba a s’ààtàn d’ojà – the successful king is he who turns forest to home; the one who turns bush to town. Karin Barber’s ‘I Could Speak Until Tomorrow’ (published…
Where do we go from here?
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 24 July 2023) Given today’s state of the nation, it is likely that both Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi are thanking their stars that they were not the ones declared as our elected president on March 1, 2023. If they were, each of them would have…
On El-Rufai’s axe and Nkrumah’s letter
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 3 July, 2023) Immediate past Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, recently waxed proverbial and made a Facebook post which sounded like a loud complaint: “The axe forgets but the tree remembers…They are the axe. We are the trees. We have long memories. God Bless Nigeria. Amen.” El-Rufai made…
Asari Dokubo in Aso Rock Villa
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 19 June 2023) In 1948, Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, thought of the best way to protect his country’s security information from invasive media toxins. He summed his strategy up in one short sentence: “Take the thief and make him guard.” But a thief would remain a…
Still in The Forest of The Heartless
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 5 June, 2023) It was quite nice seeing President Bola Tinubu as he waltzed into the chambers where he met security chiefs last Thursday. “Morning,” he greets the chiefs. “Shall we sit or…” They murmur. His gaze is fixed on his guests. What are they saying? “Eh?” He…
Why Buhari must remain Tinubu’s friend after May 29
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 15 May, 2023) May Sudan not happen to Nigeria. This piece starts with prayers. It has to. “Everyone in Africa believes in God…It’s the only way we can survive. People leave home praying that there will be electricity when they return. On the road, they pray that they…
Mike Adenuga and the Ijebu spirit
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 1 May, 2023) It was almost a missed call; or, more appropriately, an ignored call because the telephone number was unusual – an eight-digit number. But, something told me: pick it, and I did. “Hello, is that Mr. Lasisi Olagunju?” “Yes, sir,” I answered, waiting for what would…
The Terrorists are Back
(Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 10 April, 2023) My mystery Hausa friend has been busy with me lately. He has been firing a series of probing (invasive) messages. Sometimes, he asks questions; other times, he comes plain and provocative. On March 28, my friend told me “Igbos and Yorubas have been Nigeria’s problem…
