The Nation Newspaper

Category: ARINZE IGBOELI

  • On President Tinubu’s recent visit to China

    On President Tinubu’s recent visit to China

    In the realm of global and international diplomacy, state visits are seen as major milestones via which a nation’s aspirations, economic interests, and geopolitical strategies are strengthened, thus  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to China marks the emergence of another era of Nigeria-Sino relations, one which is assumed to be pivotal for Nigeria and it’s desire for development.

    With China’s rising as a global power, a nation like Nigeria with its strategic positioning in Africa and its unharnessed resources can gain much from such a partnership from which it can navigate through the complexities of the post-pandemic recovery arriving at the destination of economic transformation, and infrastructural development.

    Thus, such a visit offers a promising array of gains for Nigeria which stands to benefit from strengthened ties between the two nations.

    One of the expected outcomes of President Tinubu’s visit to China is the anticipated surge in economic collaborations and investments. China has long been one of Nigeria’s largest trading partners, and the visit  was very much likely to serve such an interest on a mutual basis, which could certainly   to deepen such bilateral relationship. Such discussions centred on key areas such as the bilateral currency swap agreement, which will see the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) exchange currencies to enable both countries facilitate trade and investment between each other thus removing their dependence on the US dollar, enhancing liquidity in the Nigerian market, reducing the foreign exchange  pressure and  boosting trade between both countries.

    With the renewed deal, both countries aim to increase liquidity in the Nigerian market, ease trade transactions, and reduce pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

    Other areas in which both nations are to include infrastructural development, agriculture, culture  and education ,solid minerals and technology, indeed President Tinubu did go to China with a bucket list of economic requests, i am sure he will be  coming  back a much more fulfilled man.

    This is not to say that it is yet Uhuru or that the signing of the deals will automatically foster a leapfrog like development for the Nigerian economy, afterall, six years after the signing of the currency swap deal the seems to be no curbing of the pressures on the exchange rate and external reserves of the economy, as envisaged six years ago.

    Again, the is the issue of the trade imbalance as the volume of goods  we import is more than what we export to China. How the recent visit to China will help aid improve on such an imbalance is doubtful as the Chinese are no Father Christmas and with the recent depreciation of the Naira seems not to confer any advantage too.

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    Likewise, the Chinese have been no diffrent from how the West have treated Africa as their body langiage has also shiwn that they may be more interested in exploiting our resources than helping us develop. Previous deals with China have only seen the Chinese benefit more than us, maybe it is of our doing, maybe not , however let us watch and see where this recent partnership has in stock for us as a country.

    On the.brighter side, there lies much hope in that with discipline, Nigeria can harness more from.the Chinese infrastructure  deal  as seen in the construction of railway lines and road (re)construction across the country.

     The mooted partnerships in agriculture and technology will modernize Nigeria’s agricultural sector, allowing for innovative farming techniques that could increase productivity and reduce food insecurity. By fostering collaborations with Chinese agribusinesses and tech firms, Nigeria can harness advanced technologies such as precision farming and agritech platforms, which are vital for transforming its agricultural practices.In an era where technology drives most productive sectors, the significance of technology transfer cannot be overstated. During his visit, President Tinubu emphasized the need for Nigeria to leapfrog to more advanced technological capabilities, particularly in sectors such as communication, renewable energy, and smart city development.

    By collaborating with Chinese technology firms, Nigeria could access cutting-edge technologies that enhance governance, public services, and infrastructural management. From smart traffic management systems to efficient public service delivery, technology transfer could revolutionize the Nigerian landscape.

    The focus on investment also extends to job creation, a pressing need in Nigeria where unemployment rates continue to soar. With a growing population that demands increased employment opportunities, collaboration with Chinese enterprises can stimulate job growth. Construction projects alone can create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

    Moreover, the proposed agreement on Solid Minerals help  extends to the diversification of Nigeria’s economy. As the country continues to depend heavily on oil revenues, collaboration with China in sectors like the development of the sector as well as in  manufacturing and technology can help Nigeria reduce its reliance on oil and pivot towards a more diverse economic portfolio. The promotion of manufacturing and assembly operations in Nigeria will not only create jobs but also foster local entrepreneurship and skill development.

    Another noteworthy aspect of President Tinubu’s visit is the emphasis on education and human capital development. As Nigeria aspires to develop a more skilled workforce capable of competing in the global economy, partnerships with Chinese educational institutions can facilitate knowledge transfer and skill acquisition.

    China has taken the lead in various fields, including engineering, technology, and natural sciences. By establishing educational collaborations, Nigeria can create scholarship programs, exchange initiatives, and technical training centers. Such programs can equip Nigerian youth with the necessary skills needed in burgeoning industries, thereby enhancing employability and fostering innovation.

    Finally, beyond economic engagements, the visit serves to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic ties with China, a nation that holds significant influence on the global stage. By aligning Nigeria more closely with China, Tinubu’s administration may gain leverage in international platforms where Nigeria’s voice is often underrepresented.

    This enhanced relationship could also translate into Nigeria taking on a more significant role in regional affairs within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU). Given China’s interests in Africa, Nigeria can benefit from political support in various initiatives aimed at fostering regional stability and development.

    President Tinubu’s visit to China represents a significant leap forward for Nigeria in terms of development, despite the numerous k-legs in the deal , it is possible that no better deal could have been extracted, perhaps it is the price we have to pay for our own self inflicted underdevelopment, perhaps it is a lesson, this generation and future generations must hearken to, development isnt wished into, it is earned and it is worked into!

  • Mr. President, I disagree!!! (2)

    Mr. President, I disagree!!! (2)

    Yes, there exists within and outside the country schools of thought which insist that the constitution does not matter,  these schools of thought argue that even if Angels and the Panjandrums came together to give the nation the most seamless of constitutions, as long as such constitutions were peopled by human beings, especially the best of Nigerians, such a constitution would only serve as a mere piece of paper.

    These Schools argue that from the historic point of view,  merely changing or adopting a new constitution has not led to meaningful change in governance structures or political behavior in Nigeria. The existing 1999 Constitution has provisions designed to uphold democratic governance, protect human rights, and ensure accountability. However, the challenges Nigeria faces today—such as corruption, security issues, and ethnic tension—are less about the document itself and more about the failure of political leadership and institutional integrity.

    There is also the argument that we have the option of Constitutional amendments which could also serve as seeking to solve a number of issues  in Nigeria’s political environment, thus the amendments  can serve whatever lofty desires the Patriots have about a new constitution. Thus, instead of starting over, it is imperative to engage in substantive amendments that target the flaws and deficiencies of the current system while promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement.

     However, in contradiction scholars such as the likes of Mark Tushnet, a William Nelson Cromwell Memorial Scholar argues that constitutional law is really politics by another name and that the Constitution’s text and judicial doctrine expounding on it matters  only to the degree that it provides a structure for our politics, so on one hand, leadership matters, politics and politicians will always have their  way but only to the extent  that the constitution allows. Even the talk of amending the constitution is much amnesiac in the sense that such legislative processes haven seen several unsuccessful attempts at amending the constitution has yet to offer Nigerians a befitting constitution, again such processes arent effective such legislative processes have always been tainted with politics, or how can we forget how an Olusegun Obasanjo sought for a Third Term in office under the pretext of s constitutional review.

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    Thus, the 1999 Constitution, which was fashioned by the military which was rather in a haste to handover to a civilian  government and which was fraught with a lot of inconsistencies cannot give structure to the progressive politics Nigerians are desirous of.  Understanding all these, the Patriots’s desire for a new constitution gives form to the thinking of scholars like Tushnet, the late Professor Ben Nwabueze and other notable constitutional scholars, without a new and people based constitution, we will continue to move in circles politically!

    The legislative process has seen several unsuccessful attempts at amending the constitution to accommodate pressing needs.

    Like i stated earlier, even if a new constitutional  process may be long and laborious and may even bring periods of extended uncertainly, creating a potential for conflict and division during the drafting phase,  exacerbating existing tensions, threatening  national unity and stability and even  threaten the corporate structure of Nigeria, it will still be better than this present and assured journey unto doomsday which only the fashioning of a new constitution can avert. Even, the talk of such uncertainty may not arise owing to the ability of the Nigerian to compromise.

    The visceral arguements that our nation’s governance challenges are dynamic and often interlinked with social, economic, and cultural factors and that a new constitution cannot simply erase these existing problems nor provide a framework that guarantees better governance is much lacking in merit. How else can we develop such robust frameworks which will be inclusive of the various  voices,  thoughts and ethnic groups within the  Nigerian society if not in the process of drawing up a new constitution, particularly the  marginalized groups who often feel excluded from the political discourse.

    Another significant aspect of the call by the Patriots is that it offers the government of President Tinubu the chance of engaging citizens in the constitutional discourse. If a new constitution is to reflect the will of the people, it must incorporate their views, needs, and aspirations. The arguments that past attempts at such civic engagement at the  constitution-making processes have often been tokenistic remains flawed. What is tokenistic is rather the attempt at such quickfix measures mentioned above, these could serve as complementary to the demand for a new constitution  but can never resolve these issues.

    President  Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s  stance on the demand for a new constitution is thus in need of a rethink. By focusing efforts on the economic front, President Tinubu has exposed the political future of the country to forces that are readily comfortable with skewed system, truth be told, these are his enemies as history would also be unkind to him should he miss such  golden opportunity at such an epoch making moment.

  • Mr President, I disagree!!! (1)

    Mr President, I disagree!!! (1)

    I am one of those who supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a number of reasons and one of these reasons was due to his stand on restructuring. Of all the major candidates, President Tinubu had talked and walked restructuring, particularly whilst serving as Governor of Lagos State.

    Sadly, it appears that the President is engaging in a “forbacki” dance on the topic of restructuring, on one hand, he has danced forward on the subject as seen in the recent Supreme Court judgement granting financial autonomy to the local government system in Nigeria, but on the other hand he has much dragged his feet on effecting a thorough restructuring of the nation, which can be achieved via the formation and drafting of a People’s Constitution.

    This prompted me to pen the article with the title ‘ Will President Tinubu Restructure Nigeria’ sometime in February this year in which my pen declared :

    “President Tinubu and his handlers must therefore heed the call by numerous persons calling for restructuring, some of these voices have served as voices of conscience for the nation and did not just wake up now to call for such. He must heed such calls as posterity would much be grateful to him for such an act!”

    I was thus saddened when I watched the same man who had staked so much for a restructured Nigeria tell a group of eminent Nigerians who under the auspices of The Patriots has called on the President to kick start the process for the promulgation of a new constitution which would be crafted out by a Constituent Assembly, that he was busy with the economic restructuring of Nigeria and that he wouldn’t tinker with the idea of a new constitution until he was done with the economic restructuring!

     Truth be told without mincing words, the president’s statement put in abeyance the hopes that this administration was very much likely to restructure Nigeria or at least kickstart the process at an early stage of his administration.

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    His talk, that he is much focused on the economic programmes and perhaps sees the talk of a new constitution as some form of distraction which ought not to be; first of all, we do not know when the economic reforms will begin to bear fruit as we have seen where economic programmes and its dividends took time to mature, sometimes outliving the tenures of these leaders. Second, there is nothing esoteric about the attempts to fashion a new constitution, coming at a point in time that more Nigerians have joined the fray of those calling for such alongside with the numerous clamoring for the splitting of the nation into mini republics, the time for a new constitution  is now. Like President Abraham Lincoln response of “Now! Now!! Now!!!” was when asked why he was keen on getting the votes for the abolition of slavery amendment from the Congress in which he faced a possible loss, whereas he could rely on his Emancipation of Slavery Proclamation as an all time measure even after the war, President Tinubu should understand that the nation is already suffering much from its failure to restructure and that numerous dangers await it further should it fail to pull itself from the brink. Did previous administrations not seek out political reforms whilst in the process of hammering out economic reforms? Did the Murtala administration not juggle both? Did the Babaginda administration not tinker with the Structural Adjustment Programme and other economic ideas of his whilst carrying out his political experiments which saw him establish the Nigerian Political Bureau of 1986, which debated on the political future of Nigeria and led to it fashioning a report which was debated by the Constitution Review Committee and the Constituent Assembly which then birthed the 1989 Constitution and produced a near seamless transition before that own goal of annulling the June 12 elections.

    President Tinubu should know that his call for a new Nigeria, one where the Renewed Hope Agenda of his is expected to usher the nation unto greatness cannot work without the question of the nation’s restructuring, he ought to come to terms with the proposal of the Patriots for a new constitution stems from a desire to better address the multifaceted challenges facing Nigeria. Yes, the New Constitution may not entirely end the nation’s woes, thought must also be given to the strengthening of institutional frameworks too, but then let us begin with the search for such a constitution from which we could clamber out of the morass the nation has found herself in for ages.

  • Much Ado About Nothing

    Much Ado About Nothing

    In politics there are no permanent friends nor enemies only interests.

    Much Ado About Nothing is a play written by the English playwright, poet and thespian, William Shakespeare.

    Published in 1623, the play is a comedy and tells the tale of a new found romance between Benedick and Beatrice as well as Claudio and Hero. I have borrowed its title to describe the recent set of reactions to certain comments made by the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu on his recent call on Alex Otti, the Governor of Abia State to join the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC or forget about getting a second stint in office. Those familiar with the Nigerian trend of politics would understand that all Kalu has done was similar to a former Governor of Anambra State’s parlance “Politics ka ana gwuo” it is not different from the politics of the 1st Republic nor the 2nd Republic where we had titans and still reminisce about their exploits, matter of fact it is similar to the “wink, wink” kind of politics our Saint Olusegun Obasanjo applied while he led Nigeria for a second time, after all that was what he told former Governor Rasheed Ladoja when he  Ladoja, approached the former to save him from getting impeached.

    Kalu as a friend of Otti has gone  beyond using a non verbal form of communicating, he has chosen to speak to his friend to join the APC if he intends to serve a second term, I do not know what offense or regulation that the Deputy Speaker has broken ; he has neither attempted to violently remove Otti from office nor has he sought to compel Otti to do his bidding, he merely adviced a friend and gave ample reasons for such advice, what wrong then has Kalu committed to earn such highfalutin wails akin to the pharisaical charge of blasphemy!

    Several of these Pharisaical charges have labeled Kalu and his comments as anti Igbo, I am now wondering if Kalu is either Ibibio or Efik, but on a more serious note can we ask what is anti Igbo about such comments.

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    Such a statement should be seen by Otti and his new found friends as a sign of healthy politics which requires nothing but a matured response and not the unnecessary pull him down comments flying all over the place. What  Kalu has done is to see how to advance the interest of Ndi Abia via his comments and all that was needed was for Otti and his supporters to meet Kalu and the APC in either Phillipi which is the field on Election Day as either members of the same party or on opposing sides, chikena!

    It is thus mortifying to see a group of marabouts and charlatans attempt to spin such beyond the gale of human reasoning, perhaps attempting to profit from whatever bad blood and fire they fan out. These zombies forgot to point out to the statement where Kalu described Otti as a friend and commended him for doing quite well in Abia State, perhaps their selective amnesia clogged out such words, or should we say that their penchant for mischief decided to ignore such in their zeal to tar the Deputy Speaker with the same brush they ought to use on themselves alone!

    Utilizing his democratic right of expression, alongside his zeal to see the APC grow in the SouthEast, Kalu’s invitation and comments is similar to what Otti has in turn done for sometime now; has he not received defections from other parties into his Labour Party, has he not made overtures to others to join him whether it was when he was in APGA or when he crisscrossed into the All Progressives Congress before finally landing in the Labour Party? When he in August 2020, while defecting to the APC made his calls for well meaning Abians to join him in liberating the state from bad governance what was such? A righteous call right? If so what then makes the comments credited to Kalu wrong?

    This is a democracy and for as long as the Deputy Speaker has not advocated for violent change but change through the campaign hustings and the ballot box then it is for Otti and his Labour Party in the state to healthily welcome such a challenge since it would deepen our democracy.

    Rather these self anointed Igbo champions who have not given a whim to the Igbo cause within a united Nigeria have latched unto such comments and have sought to amplify it within the media sphere, all  to calculatedly make the Deputy Speaker look bad before NdiIgbo and Nigeria?

    Should we not be bothered that while the ochogonoko’s bark and rail and attempt to dance naked on such comments, the person in question, Alex Otti has not yet responded and neither has his media handlers , what should this tell us?

    Should we not be bothered that a majority of these new found Pharisees only yesterday were Chief antagonists to Otti and his ambition then to govern Abia, when did they develop such love for Otti or is it because they much fear that an Otti in the APC with the likes of Progressives the Deputy Speaker would make Otti politically invulnerable?

    Perhaps it is driven by this as well as a semblance of envy at the Deputy Speaker’s meteoritical rise to prominence. It has been muttered that can anything good come from  Are those who consider themselves as tin gods feeling threatened by his growing status? Otherwise,  one cannot explain the attempted vilification, where there isn’t much ado?

  • On the recent Campaign for Ndigbo to leave Lagos (2)

    On the recent Campaign for Ndigbo to leave Lagos (2)

    Like the pogroms against the Jews, particularly those organized within the 19th and the 20th Centuries, the groundswell to such litany of traumatic events began with such campaigns as declared by these “agbayas”. 

    I am stating this in response to those who believe that my column as well as a number of comments from well meaning Nigerians was merely giving strength to such an ugly campaign of which these few felt ought to be ignored, sadly this was the same train of thoughts prevalent in those days, however like that small fire sweeping through the harmattan bush,  we all know what was witnessed next.

    Again, it may be #IgboExit or #Igboleave today, what about tomorrow, it may be #BiniJade and #Itsekiribyebye, or HausaFulaniNagode and #Oyinbomalojare, such madness could even reach fevering heights with campaigns such as #LagosforLagosians , #IbadanforOluloyesonly, #IlorinforOmoAfonja’s #AbujaforGwaris and #AbaganaforAbagana, since we all may love to be mad like the proponents for #Igbomustgo!

    One is even forced to ponder on what NdiIgbo may have done to warrant such; we have contributed our quota and are still contributing, not only to the state’s growth and development but also that of the nation. We have called Lagos and every other place home , going by our philosophy of “Ala wu otu”  we have built resplendent homes, established businesses, developed virgin areas and even intermarried producing offspring who share dual heritages. I for one grew up in Surulere and mixed up with the Femis, Tundes, Moshoodis , Tokunbos, Azeezs and Kabirus, we ate together, schooled together, played street football and disturbed the hell out of the neighborhood, not once did we see the each other as different because of our different ethnic backgrounds, today we still interact with each other while I hold dear my Lagos memories!

    It is not in doubt that we have complimented our Lagos,Yoruba and other brothers in that melting point and mini Nigeria of sorts called Lagos, we have combined our entrepreneurial drive with the lavish hospitality of our Lagos hosts giving it its rich potpourri and mishmash: Like a collection of jigsaw pieces NdiIgbo ,together with other ethnic groups, we have formed interlocks of meaningful socioeconomic and sociopolitical puzzles giving beauty to this mini Nigeria also known as Lagos.

    Have NdiIgbo refused to pay taxes or have we sought to subjugate all known forms of constituted authority in Lagos? Have we married off the pretty Lagos damsels and refused to pay dowry? Have we attempted to discriminate against any other ethnic group in any of our establishments warranting such a response which is obviously extreme! What then is our crime?

    Even if NdiIgbo accept to go, what happens to those of mixed marriages, perhaps traveling back to the early years, some producing grandchildren and great grand children? Will these children of such mixed marriages be told to just go too or will these agbayas conduct DNA tests to determine which gene is generally dominant in these persons? They should be prepared to conduct over millions of tests.

    Whatever these persons championing such a campaign are  seeking to achieve, we ought to impress it upon them that just as the likes of the Agudas or the returnees from Brazil and Cuba such as the Cardosos, the Pedros, the Da Silvas and the Dohertys did adopt Lagos as their home, did make a living and have remained in Lagos for countless generations, so also is any ethnic group free to choose the land of aquatic splendor as their own home including the Igbos!

    Read Also: On the recent campaign for Ndigbo to leave Lagos (1)

    It is even believed that a number of persons asking NdiIgbo to leave Lagos and Yoruba land are not even Lagosians per se, and cannot be said to be more of stakeholders than other ethnic groups that have lived in Lagos! Even at that, these persons calling for Igboexit seem to be bereft of history, otherwise they would recall that despite the competitive nature between the Igbo and the Yoruba, the two major ethnic groups seem to have more in common with each other than with other ethnic groups in Nigeria. Do they know that Zik of Africa was a political son and disciple of the Wizard of Kirsten Hall and an Omoluabi of Lagos in the person of Herbert Macaulay? Whilst Awo was in prison, did the NCNC not enter into a political marriage with the Action Congress to preserve what was left of Awolowo’s legacy which was on a daily basis besmirched by the renegades who had entered an alliance with the Northern People’s Congress? Have they forgotten the supreme price paid by an Ekiti man in Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi who would rather die than see his Supreme Commander whisked away from his own domain where the former had played host! Even in their intense rivalry, Zik and Awo accorded each other such respect  as greats with each commanding impressive followership in each other’s  region. The likes of Adeniran Ogunsanya another core Lagosian readily comes to mind.

    Lastly, at a time like this when nations are removing certain barriers and are forming regional and continental blocs to enhance solidarity, promote free trade , enhance economic and scientific progress and to eradicate poverty and disease, a few grownups are tinkering with an idea that could spark civil strife in a country much desirous of peace, we should sound the alarm bells now and bring such persons to book, as the Nigeria of the 21st Century has no place for ethnic bigotry if we must remain relevant as the true Giant of Africa.Like the pogroms against the Jews, particularly those organized within the 19th and the 20th Centuries, the groundswell to such litany of traumatic events began with such campaigns as declared by these “agbayas”. 

    I am stating this in response to those who believe that my column as well as a number of comments from well meaning Nigerians was merely giving strength to such an ugly campaign of which these few felt ought to be ignored, sadly this was the same train of thoughts prevalent in those days, however like that small fire sweeping through the harmattan bush,  we all know what was witnessed next.

    Again, it may be #IgboExit or #Igboleave today, what about tomorrow, it may be #BiniJade and #Itsekiribyebye, or HausaFulaniNagode and #Oyinbomalojare, such madness could even reach fevering heights with campaigns such as #LagosforLagosians , #IbadanforOluloyesonly, #IlorinforOmoAfonja’s #AbujaforGwaris and #AbaganaforAbagana, since we all may love to be mad like the proponents for #Igbomustgo!

    One is even forced to ponder on what NdiIgbo may have done to warrant such; we have contributed our quota and are still contributing, not only to the state’s growth and development but also that of the nation. We have called Lagos and every other place home , going by our philosophy of “Ala wu otu”  we have built resplendent homes, established businesses, developed virgin areas and even intermarried producing offspring who share dual heritages. I for one grew up in Surulere and mixed up with the Femis, Tundes, Moshoodis , Tokunbos, Azeezs and Kabirus, we ate together, schooled together, played street football and disturbed the hell out of the neighborhood, not once did we see the each other as different because of our different ethnic backgrounds, today we still interact with each other while I hold dear my Lagos memories!

    It is not in doubt that we have complimented our Lagos,Yoruba and other brothers in that melting point and mini Nigeria of sorts called Lagos, we have combined our entrepreneurial drive with the lavish hospitality of our Lagos hosts giving it its rich potpourri and mishmash: Like a collection of jigsaw pieces NdiIgbo ,together with other ethnic groups, we have formed interlocks of meaningful socioeconomic and sociopolitical puzzles giving beauty to this mini Nigeria also known as Lagos.

    Have NdiIgbo refused to pay taxes or have we sought to subjugate all known forms of constituted authority in Lagos? Have we married off the pretty Lagos damsels and refused to pay dowry? Have we attempted to discriminate against any other ethnic group in any of our establishments warranting such a response which is obviously extreme! What then is our crime?

    Even if NdiIgbo accept to go, what happens to those of mixed marriages, perhaps traveling back to the early years, some producing grandchildren and great grand children? Will these children of such mixed marriages be told to just go too or will these agbayas conduct DNA tests to determine which gene is generally dominant in these persons? They should be prepared to conduct over millions of tests.

    Whatever these persons championing such a campaign are  seeking to achieve, we ought to impress it upon them that just as the likes of the Agudas or the returnees from Brazil and Cuba such as the Cardosos, the Pedros, the Da Silvas and the Dohertys did adopt Lagos as their home, did make a living and have remained in Lagos for countless generations, so also is any ethnic group free to choose the land of aquatic splendor as their own home including the Igbos!

    It is even believed that a number of persons asking NdiIgbo to leave Lagos and Yoruba land are not even Lagosians per se, and cannot be said to be more of stakeholders than other ethnic groups that have lived in Lagos! Even at that, these persons calling for Igboexit seem to be bereft of history, otherwise they would recall that despite the competitive nature between the Igbo and the Yoruba, the two major ethnic groups seem to have more in common with each other than with other ethnic groups in Nigeria. Do they know that Zik of Africa was a political son and disciple of the Wizard of Kirsten Hall and an Omoluabi of Lagos in the person of Herbert Macaulay? Whilst Awo was in prison, did the NCNC not enter into a political marriage with the Action Congress to preserve what was left of Awolowo’s legacy which was on a daily basis besmirched by the renegades who had entered an alliance with the Northern People’s Congress? Have they forgotten the supreme price paid by an Ekiti man in Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi who would rather die than see his Supreme Commander whisked away from his own domain where the former had played host! Even in their intense rivalry, Zik and Awo accorded each other such immense respect  as greats with each commanding impressive followership in each other’s  region. The likes of Adeniran Ogunsanya another core Lagosian readily comes to mind.

    Lastly, at a time like this when nations are removing certain barriers and are forming regional and continental blocs to enhance solidarity, promote free trade , enhance economic and scientific progress and to eradicate poverty and disease, a few grownups are tinkering with an idea that could spark civil strife in a country much desirous of peace, we should sound the alarm bells now and bring such persons to book, as the Nigeria of the 21st Century has no place for ethnic bigotry if we must remain relevant as the true Giant of Africa.

  • On the recent campaign for Ndigbo to leave Lagos (1)

    On the recent campaign for Ndigbo to leave Lagos (1)

    Understanding that the socio-political landscape of Nigeria is a tapestry woven from its numerous and also diverse ethnicities,and histories. Since it’s amalgamation, through to the days of independence and post independence, the experiment or Geographical Expression called Nigeria as adduced by Chief Obafemi Awolowo has continued to experience struggles between the ethnic groups that make up the sum total called Nigeria. Even after independence, such struggles continued leading to a number of crises, culminating into the first and second coups and the civil war. The declaration of “No Victor! No Vanquished!” as well as the experimenting of constitutions and the presidential system, Nigerians have continued to grapple with the cankerworm of ethnicity and tribalism that from time to time the drive  at national unity which had starry eyed dreamers like Nnamdi Azikiwe and young Nigerians like myself buying into such an idea continues to be rocked by the seismic upheavals of tribal and ethnic conflict questioning again and giving many a sceptic reasons to doubt the authenticity of the Nigerian Dream.

    But how can they, this is a country where a sitting Governor did declare that a particular ethnic group are global citizens and thus can choose to settle anywhere in Nigeria and claim ownership of that area, or where a sitting Senator, elected by sane Nigerians argue that Cows are citizens of Nigeria whilst arguing that another particular ethnic group which invests heavily in a particular business are not interrupted from setting up such business? This is a country where certain persons ganged up against a duly elected mandate of Chief Moshood Abiola for a number of flimsy reason plunging the nation into another round of crisis.

    Today, it is the campaign advocating for the Igbo people to relocate from Lagos, a city that has so epitomized both opportunity and turmoil for many Nigerians and a city they the Igbo have contributed immeasurably to. This campaign which has emanated on an X account of @Lagospedia wherein Lagosians and South West stakeholders are been cajoled to engage in a massive protest of #IgboMustGo from the 20th of August to the 30th.

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    The campaign has also called on Igbos in the South West one month to leave and relocate their business from all the South West states and for all Yoruba living in the South East to vice versa return home.

    Those who seem to be behind this seem to do so from a blend of socio-economic challenges, historical grievances, and contemporary political discourse. To understand this movement, one must navigate the historical context of the Igbo people, their relationship with Lagos, and the factors influencing this recent campaign.

    The Igbo, one of Nigeria’s three dominant ethnic groups, predominantly occupy the southeastern region. Their migration to Lagos can be traced back several decades, primarily driven by economic opportunities and educational pursuits. Historically, the city has served as a melting pot, attracting individuals from various ethnic backgrounds, including the Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo, all hoping to harness the city’s economic potential.

    However, the dynamic between the Igbo community and their Yoruba hosts has been fraught with tension. This relationship has been shaped by historical events, such as the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), which pitted the Igbo against the Nigerian state. The aftermath of the war led to significant societal scars, with issues of marginalization and distrust lingering within and outside the Igbo community. NdiIgbo readily blame Chief Obafemi Awolowo for Biafra’s collapse, they also accuse Awo of betraying the Biafran cause by siding with the Nigerian State and serving as its Federal Commissioner for Finance. Awo’s financial wizardry readily crippled the Biafran cause, moreso his comments that  starvation as a legitimate weapon of war did not amuse the hundreds of thousands who starved and perished in such manner.

    The campaign to encourage the Igbo to leave Lagos much began in early 2017 when a character who goes by the name Adeyinka Shoyemi also known as Adeyinka Grandson and his Young Yorubas For Freedom, YYF.  Grandson, who was jailed by a Southwark court in the United Kingdom had readily sowed the seeds which began germination in the course of the 2023 elections in which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu defeated Mr Peter Obi. That election alongside the guber polls shamefully exposed the country’s susceptibility to ethnic politics with both tribes hurling ethnic slurs at each other! The elections did come and have gone but the scars remain unhealed and certain persons irked by what they term the boldness of their so called “tenants” to attempt to chart a new political trajectory for the state have decided to use such  ploy to reduce the voting influence of the Igbo people in Lagos, a sad commentary in the Lagos I grew up in.

    The campaign has drawn condemnation within Nigeria, with even the President reading the riot act to the call a few days ago. Other notable Yoruba and Lagos leaders have also joined the fray condemning the call. This has exculpated the Yoruba and Lagos Elite but was this not the same posture they took when thugs invaded polling units in Lagos and asked that those intending to vote that “Omo Igbo” should leave the polling unit? What has happened to such persons who led the charge ? Have they been punished ? Will this not serve as a pat on their heads and the encouragement to do more while the elite continue to add to the carbon dioxide by merely talking?

  • What manner of protest ?

    What manner of protest ?

    It is not in doubt that the Nigerian State has majorly been plagued by bad governance for far too long.  Even with the much awaited and fought for return to democracy, the lack of transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in government has naturally made or left many citizens feeling disillusioned and marginalized. Such a trend has repeatedly frustrated a number of Nigerians who have continued to bemoan the country’s situation despite its rich resources. Such a frustration has naturally led to an expression of outrage via protests as we experienced in the Ali must go, Structural Adjustment Programme days and the EndSars protests. Other experiences such as the back and forths on fuel pricing between the NLC and the Save Nigeria Protests are among the number of protests carried out within the annals of our history.

    Following the current socio-economic challenges faced in the nation, challenges which are not the making of this present administration, there have been calls for the protest against the administration tagged ‘ End Bad Governance and Tinubu Must Go Administration being organized by a group of concerned citizens who claim that they are tired of the corruption, inefficiency, and disregard for the rule of law , bloated governance and lack of empathy for the ordinary man. The protesters  believe that it is time for people to stand up and demand change from their leaders. I agree.

    The consequences of bad governance on the Nigerian democracy have been severe. The lack of trust in government institutions has eroded that social contract between the previous governments and the people. This has led to a breakdown in the relationship between the rulers and the ruled, with many Nigerians  feeling alienated and voiceless.

    The mismanagement of public funds has also had a devastating impact on the Nigerian economy. The rampant corruption and embezzlement of resources have hindered economic growth and development, leaving many citizens struggling to make ends meet. The lack of investment in infrastructure, healthcare, and education has further exacerbated the problem, leading to widespread poverty and inequality.

    The planned protest claims that it intends to highlight these issues and demand accountability from government officials. The organizers have also claimed that they are calling for an end to corruption, nepotism, and impunity in public office.

    Since bodies such as the Human Rights Council has long affirmed that ‘everyone must be able to express their grievances or aspirations in a peaceful manner, including through public protests without fear of reprisals or of being intimidated, harassed, injured, sexually assaulted, beaten, arbitrarily arrested and detained, tortured, killed or subjected to enforced disappearance’.

    The line of convergence however becomes broken when these protests hint at making the country ungovernable and appeal to wanting to create instability within the polity.

    When the leaders of these protest groups appear to be faceless and with varied intelligence concluding that the protests are only a smokescreen for certain aggrieved politicians to “Cry havoc and let slip in the dogs of war” Then patriotic Nigerians cannot sit and watch the puppets and their puppeteers create a moment for disaster.

    Nigerians must remember certain lessons from the fall of the First and Second Republics amidst the resultant horrors that greeted each fall. The same people we hailed as saviors turned around to shove down and deep our throats a worse form of governance and a  more flagrant display of corruption. The pattern is same with what the puppeteers want; first havoc and then a retaliatory decisive blow using the military and other security measures to deal with such. Scream blue murder and accuse the administration of being high handed, then induce certain officers, mostly of junior ranks to help save the country, martial music and the rest will be history or should I say history repeated!

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    Again, how much of the blame should the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu get for the mess the country is presently in? This is an administration that is barely a year in office and one that inherited a myriad of challenges that would naturally reel any nation under. Isn’t it too early to call for a protest against the Tinubu administration? Governance isn’t magic and it would surprise one to note that a number of these puppeteers were once or had served for ages in government, pray can we see their scorecard?

    While I will always agree that power belongs to the people and the people should always determine how their government treats them should such power translate into lawlessness and a reduction of the state to a miniature Hobbesian expression where the same impunity they seek to curtail now is then given a leeway, while we grapple with nations like SouthSudan, Somalia and Haiti in the comity of failed and failing states.

    I am not a spokesperson for the Tinubu administration but I must give it its credit, for where other administrations played deaf to the music it’s citizens made, here is an administration that has largely been receptive to the challenges thrown by its citizens. Yes whilst the administration had to end such fuel subsidy the way it did, it has offered to channel such monies into plausible programs whether it be in education as we have seen in the Student Loans scheme, or in the areas such as manufacturing in which it intends to offer the aforementioned loans at 9 percent for five years, this alongside with its interventions in the small and medium scale enterprises should naturally get the economy trucking again. Even as I write, the Tinubu administration has repeatedly waved  the olive branch appealing to the organizers of these protests to shelve such and present their demands to the administration, sadly even with a number of groups pulling out of the planned protests, those who are adamant on plunging this country into chaos have remained resolute, so while the Tinubu administration has shown restraint and respect for the feelings of the ordinary Nigerian, those who believe that this country belongs to them alone are ready to throw in the kitchen sink if that remains the only way they can remain relevant in the country. In their attempts to bait the citizenry, they have accused the Tinubu government of been the causative factor of even the problems they themselves created.

    The consequences of bad governance on the Nigerian democracy are far-reaching and profound but can be remedied by constructive criticism and eventually the ballot as 2015 and 2023 showed us. However, the consequences of chaos and unprovoked havoc are much more dire, particularly in a country with pluralistic tendencies as ours.

    It was Sir Winston Churchill, who once said that ” Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it” May this not be our path this time around.

  • The trouble with patriotism in Nigeria

    The trouble with patriotism in Nigeria

    Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country- John Fitzgerald Kennedy JFK

    The quote above were words spoken by the 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy as he gave his inauguration speech to the American People who had just voted in the closest election race ever. Kennedy, a serving  Senator prior to his emergence as president was a regarded as a new generation leader who via that speech was seeking to reinvigorate the American populace to do more for the nation.

    This generation of Nigerians and future generations have no other country but Nigeria, we shall remain here and salvage it together.

    Now, this quote were the very last words of the  speech of a former military ruler of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari, a favorite of mine, this quote too was somewhat a rallying call for Nigerians to salvage the mess that past Nigerian administrations had plunged the Nigerian nation into, a call many Nigerians barely answered.

    Herein lies the difference between these two societies; the call to patriotism  by two new generation leaders of two different nations and the aftermath. One society remains progressive building upon such patriotism to expand the nation’s frontiers, the other grappling from one conundrum unto another, doing what a renowned professor described as the “Forbaki” dance of progress, where it takes two steps forward and ten steps backward!

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    In one we have had a rising spate of patriotism alongside progress, though such patriotism is worriedly springing up some sort of nationalism as a counterforce to the rising liberalism/ diversity of American  society but then that is a discussion for another day and in the other, there appears to be a dwindling spate of patriotism, one where there is no shared passion with the aspiration of the state, conversely there is seemingly no meaningful progress in the affairs of such a state.

    Today, on numerous skits and on social media platforms in Nigeria we repeatedly see where the nation is reportedly bashed by its citizens, yes we know that the country hasn’t been on a path or track that she was destined for but then should that make the nation the butt of jokes? No is the music here!

    The United States of America is not the only respectable exemplification of what patriotism is or should be, other nations such as Germany, Israel, India, The United Kingdom, Namibia and Ghana are natural examples of a people that take pride in their national status, yes they may have had their issues with their governments but you will never see them jeer at their nation’s pride.

    It is this level of patriotism that is translated into all works and spheres of life of these nations! From the leadership to the ordinary man on the streets of these nations we see a compelling need to put the interests of their nations before anything else, little wonder these nations are remarkably making fleeting progress!

    Certain schools of thought will however criticize my train of thoughts, laying landmines on why patriotism is lacking in Nigeria and possibly attempt to justify such. They will make known examples of how the Nigerian State has reportedly failed its people and how it’s leadership, like a recurring decimal has repeatedly dashed the hopes of the Nigerian people while dishing out slogans and maxims that left the nation poorer while they enriched themselves! They will point to how national leaders became tribal champions undermining the Nigerian spirit for the allure of regional or prebendal politics, they will refer you to the lives of those who gave their all for the love of country and place a picturesque contrast with those who didn’t and how these persons have fared after be it in life or in death. Nigeria I have repeatedly heard is “not worth dying for!“

    They argue that if we are to indeed exhibit patriotism, then the leadership class must be the bellwether of such an act, they state that it is unfair to place such burdens on the people while the leadership class fritter away the nation’s commonwealth.

    One might be forced to agree with such thinking save the solemn fact that every nation deserves the kind of leadership it gets, therefore if the leadership class has fallen short of the patriotism benchmark then it is because the people too have exhibited such.

    I may also agree that while nations like Pakistan, India and China had single national hero leaders, leadership such as Al Jinnah, Nehru and Mao who’s philosophy have sought to guide their people into finding the path unto national salvation whereas compared to Nigeria, where we had a motley of leaders who    were reportedly more of regional or ethnic champions than nationalists complicating our march unto national unity and its salvation, but then the United States and the UK cannot be ascribed to a singular hero leader, rather they have had a cast of them each repeatedly seeking to lift the nation even as peers and as rivals, again is such an argument not lame in the fact that it’s been sixty years since the nation got her independence from her colonial masters, to continue to dwell on such is indeed laughable or we a country of all over 200 million people now short of heroes?

    The answer like that hymn is blowing in the winds!

  • Local government financial autonomy:Huzzah to the Supreme Court

    Local government financial autonomy:Huzzah to the Supreme Court

    In what appeared to be a landmark ruling in the annals of judicial interventions in this country Nigeria, the Supreme Court, the nation’s highest court recently ruled on local government funding, upending an era that has seen state governments meddle with funds meant for the Local Government Councils at the detriment of this tier of government which has stunted democracy and development at this grassroot level.

    The ruling, which will ultimately have far-reaching implications for the country’s governance has largely been hailed as a victory for local governments, as well as underscores  the importance of financial autonomy for these critical tiers of government. However, there is a need for more to be done particularly at the legislative end to ensure total autonomy of these councils if such a ruling is to be significant in the desire by many for the return of true federalism in Nigeria.

    I had in one of my columns published in December 2022, titled ‘Poverty Blame Game (2)’ pointed out that one of the reasons why poverty was rampant in Nigeria remains due to the neglect of the Local Government System, describing the system as at that time and now as a sick joke and the chattels of sitting governors and their cronies. A situation where funds meant for these LG’s are held by the state governments and parceled out to these LG’s according to the whims of the governor, who like an emperor can dissolve duly elected officials, replacing them with his lackeys who are at his beck and call. I had in that piece called for the LG system to be allowed to flourish via making such a system autonomous and democratic in nature drawing comparison with how the Chinese county system had helped pull 98.99 million people out of poverty while ours was rapidly sucking millions into poverty!

    The Supreme Court ruling thus gives much vindication to my postulation in that piece as well as a whole the critical voices who have bemoaned the daylight robbery at the LG system. It’s ruling, which revolves

    around the interpretation of Section 162 (7) of the Constitution. This section of the Constitution outlines the sharing of revenue among the federal, state, and local governments in the country. It provides that the president shall cause the revenue to be shared among the three tiers of government in such a manner as to ensure financial autonomy for each tier. This has sadly not being the case as most local governments don’t have direct access to their funds and thus cannot perform the least cursory of services that is despite the humongous allocations received by it, most state governors and their commissioners for local government and sometimes the added appellation of chieftaincy affairs usually siphon such funds.

    Haven seen such rot, most Nigerians have condemned the system or practice of state governments controlling and allocating funds to local governments. They have argued that these councils were entitled to receive their share of revenue directly from the federal government, without state government interference.

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    But the state governments have argued that they,  the states play a crucial role in the administration of local governments and therefore had the authority to allocate funds to them. They contended using the argument of true federalism and that the LGs have no place in a federal constitution. One Editorial of a major Nigerian newspaper arguing in support of such an opinion posited that in countries such as

    the United States, India, and Brazil, their constitution recognises the centre and province/region/state governments only and that the sub nationals or  States fund the LGs as the councils are under them. The states also assert that the

    1999 Constitution does not provide for direct allocation of funds to local governments and that state governments were responsible for ensuring that local governments received their share of revenue.

    The states have also alleged that whilst LG chairmen had control of their funding from 1999 to 2002, before a court ruling placed them under state government’s purview , that period witnessed serious corruption practices by these chairmen resulting in teachers and local government staff not getting paid while the LG chairmen lived in opulence and that since the state governments had taken over the funds, such practices had been limited.

    While some of these arguments of the state remain tenable, particularly its position on corrupt Local Government officials, are  the state governments more transparent? Can they boast of a much more prudent use of such funds than these corrupt officials?

    Again, the arguments that they play a crucial role in the administration of the local governments can not justify their insistence on controlling the revenue allocated to the LG’s which stifles development since these LG’s deserve some level of financial autonomy to meet or fulfill their constitutional obligations.

    In addition, while the Constitution of Nigeria does not recognize the LG’s as a federating unit, it still cannot justify such undemocratic control of its activities by the state governments, this stifles development  as well as transparency and accountability whilst enabling corruption and mismanagement of such funds.

    One of the key implications of the ruling is that local governments in Nigeria will now have more control over their finances and greater freedom to prioritize spending on projects that benefit their communities. This will enable them to improve service delivery and infrastructure development at the grassroots level, leading to better outcomes for residents.

    Furthermore, the ruling is likely to have a positive impact on governance and accountability in Nigeria. By affirming the financial autonomy of local governments, the Supreme Court has sent a strong signal that the rule of law must be respected and that constitutional provisions must be upheld. This will help to strengthen the country’s democratic institutions and promote good governance practices at all levels of government. The era of caretaker committees the bastion of such undemocratic malfeasance perpetuated by these avaricious state governors and their cronies will also have come to a remarkable end!

    Likewise , the ruling is likely to have implications for intergovernmental relations in Nigeria. The relationship between federal, state, and local governments has long been characterized by tensions and conflicts over the allocation of resources and the exercise of power. The Supreme Court ruling may help to clarify the roles and responsibilities of each tier of government and promote a more cooperative and collaborative approach to governance.

    Lastly, I cannot fail to say kudos to these eminent judges who by such a ruling may have placed the country on its surest and fastest path to development, while it is not yet Uhuru, history, I must say will surely be kind to them!

  • WS at 90: Celebrating a literary colossus

    WS at 90: Celebrating a literary colossus

    At 90, he very much remains one of the voices of conscience in Africa if not on a global platform. With an illustrious career in the literary world, one in which he has tackled complex themes such as politics, corruption, racism and the quest for freedom and justice with his works, leaving a lasting impact again not only in the field of literature but the humanities as a whole.

     Born on the 13th of July, 1934 in the rocky city of Abeokuta, present day Ogun State, as Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka to Samuel and Grace Soyinka, who notably influenced Kongi’s vista of life, coupled with other aspects of the then prevailing sociocultural context which instilled in him a sense of social responsibility and a commitment to fight against all appearances of injustice. Understanding the influence of such a milieu on the character of Soyinka at best helps even the worst of his critics to grasp an understanding of his persona, his works and ideology inclusive. 

    Soyinka began his academic journey at St Peters Primary School Abeokuta, before joining the Abeokuta Grammar School for his post primary education.

    Fate was to see him berth at the University College of Ibadan for his tertiary education  before moving to the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom to further his studies. It was during this time that he began writing plays and poetry, drawing inspiration from his set of experiences in Nigeria and abroad such as that by In 1960, Soyinka’s play “A Dance of the Forests”  would win the prestigious Festival of Negro Arts Competition, marking the start of his illustrious career as a playwright.

    As Nigeria’s foremost literary aficionado, WS has gone on to write over 300 plays, books, poems and essays collectively, deploying the use of language, vivid imagery and strong rooted social commentary. Further more, Soyinka’s works have often provided themes in which the reader can draw a varied sense of experiences whether it be colonialism, culture and its evolution, love, injustice, and religion. Soyinka’s  profound commitment to social justice and artistic excellence establishes him as a leading voice in African literature. His Nobel Prize award in 1986, the first for any African remains an irrefragable testament  to his enduring influence and contribution to the literary world.

    Beyond literature’s realm, the gift of a person like Wole Soyinka extends to activism, one in which he has used as a platform to rankle against the numerous tin gods the nation and the African continent has been cursed with, he has also deployed such a platform to speak out against corruption, human rights abuses, and political injustices. Throughout his adult life , Soyinka has been a vocal critic of the Nigerian government and has faced persecution for his outspoken views. In 1967, he was arrested and imprisoned for his role of supporting the Eastern Region’s right to secede following the twin pogroms of July and September, 1967. Here,  we see a man of Yoruba stock risking his life and freedom for that of nearly 10 million Igbos. Today, when the “King without clothes generation” attempt to cast Soyinka as an ethnic champion because of his thoughts on the 2023 elections in which he did come out to categorically state that a particular candidate, Mr.Peter Obi did not and could not have won that election despite his “gbajue” claims to having won, I laugh and pity them, understanding the effects of the Nigerian State on their kind. Soyinka’s activism did not stop there, he has repeatedly taken on numerous dictators , including one who transmuted into a dictator in civilian garb; the letter writer and Heaven’s gateman. We obviously can still recall that while a number of academics and mouth freedom fighters either cozied up  or did nothing to the likes of General Sani Abacha  who wanted to muscle those opposed to his self succession plan, the likes of Soyinka coordinated a war of attrition against the administration from exile, disarming whatever goodwill the Abacha regime was seeking to earn from the international community. Despite the risks, Soyinka continues to advocate for social change and justice through his writings and public appearances.

    Soyinka’s impact on literature and society cannot be overstated. His works have inspired generations of writers and artists, both in Nigeria and around the world. His uncompromising commitment to truth and justice has earned him numerous accolades.

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    In addition to his literary achievements, Soyinka’s legacy also extends to his work as a teacher and mentor. His teaching streak has seen him traverse a number of universities in Nigeria, the United States, and the United Kingdom, passing on his knowledge and expertise to the next generation of writers.

    Another legacy of  Soyinka would be the formation of the Pyrate’s Confraternity, Nigeria’s  first indigenous university confraternity before it’s pull out from the university environment owing to the violence the formation of rival confraternities had brought upon such environments resulting in the loss of lives and destruction of property. While many have sought to blame Soyinka and his magnificent six for the resultant horrors presently experienced in the name of cultism, it is important to assert that there is a marked difference between the Pyrates Confraternity and what is obtained today, thus blaming Soyinka for the mess we find ourselves today is akin to blaming Christ, Mohammed, even Buddha and Karl Marx for the horrors perpetuated in their names by their misguided adherents and those who have attempted to implement or export such teachings with violence!

    As Soyinka approaches his ninth decade, his legacy continues to grow and evolve. His works remain as relevant and powerful as ever, offering readers a window into the complexities of African society and the human condition. or aspiring writers and activists around the world, inspiring them to use their voices to effect positive change in their communities.

    In conclusion, Wole Soyinka remains Nigeria’s if not Africa’s  literary giant  towering above a host of others whose works have left an indelible mark on the world. His plays, poetry, and essays continue to resonate with audiences, offering insights into the complexities of life in Nigeria and beyond. Soyinka’s unwavering commitment to truth, justice, and artistic excellence has earned him a place among the pantheon of world greats. As a teacher, mentor, and activist, Soyinka’s influence extends far beyond the pages of his books, inspiring generations of artists and activists to strive for a better world. Whether through his powerful plays or his incisive essays, Wole Soyinka’s legacy will continue to shape and challenge the literary landscape for years to come.