“When your opponent is hurrying recklessly, you must act contrarily and keep calm. You must not be influenced by the opponent.” – Miyamoto Musashi, Japanese soldier, swordsman and philosopher

The “Followership Challenge” will be starting off this week on a relative biblical and philosophical episode regarding running a race. There were two characters involved. One was yearning and longing of running in bearing tidings while the other one was rather beckoned to run with tidings to the city. However, the first place of call was the palace. Ironically, both were heading for the palace in a time when the internecine war was coming to an end as the head of the rebellion had been crushed in a sore battle. Looking at that context:

“Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run and carry news to the king that the Lord has delivered him from the hand of his enemies.” And Joab said to him, “You are not to carry news today. You may carry news another day, but today you shall carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.” Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed before Joab, and ran. Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?” “Come what may,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.” – 2 Samuel 18v19-23

Paradoxically, the one that was authorized to run with the tidings was outrun by the one that was passionate about running. He eventually got to the king but there were no tidings in his mouth. In his own words:

“Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “All is well.” And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.” And the king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was.” And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still” (2 Sam 18v28-30).

The king, having being reliably informed by the watchman that another man was running after Ahimaaz, was told to stand aside. The Cushite got to the palace following the heels of the Ahimaaz, and upon inquiry by the king, he wittingly responded:

“Good news for my lord the king! For the Lord has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you.” The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil be like that young man.” And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept” (2 Sam 18v31-33).

In essence, it was the Cushite who witnessed the war and was authorized by the head of the army to run with the tidings to the city. The essence of sharing this story is significant to the topic of this treatise. The main issue that this columnist will be fixating upon in this essay is running with tidings. What type of tidings? Of course, there is a vehicle bearing the tidings. In the biblical context referred to aforementioned, both men, as vehicles of transport of the tidings, were adjudged good, neither was taunted or tainted as a black pot or kettle!

Read Also: Obi-tuary

Obi: Outsmarting other opponents?

The race to Aso Rock has begun in earnest with politicians throwing tantrums and thorns all over the political space and social media. It is seemingly sharp shooting with the admirers and adherents of one of the leading contestants, Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, accentuating acerbic angst at virtually anyone against their stand and stake in their opinion of their candidate. This is not the way of democracy. Debates, dialogues, discourses and dissensions are the main ingredients that birth to ideas leading to policies, plans, programmes and projects that influence and impact human lives in the practice of democracy. Hence, democracy is not one way traffic, else it would be autocratic! In essence, die hard opponents of Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party (LP) should not be uncouth and indecorous to critics of the “Obidient” movement as we cannot all sleep and face one way as a Yoruba common parlance succinctly states, (“a ki sun ka kori sibikan na”). In an attempt to outsmarting other opponents in the race to Aso Rock, the Obi camp needs to imbibe and inculcate decency and decorum in politics and politicking especially within the social media. In addition, being vehemently vociferous and violent within the social media does not convey that a group is winning. In fact, it may be that the opposing camps decide to ignore you and have commenced taking sagacious strategic steps to wrest victory at the polls exploiting surreptitious and subterranean mannerisms and methodologies. Moreover, based on empirical research inquiries, social media activities of candidates and supporters have no significance in winning the presidential election in Nigeria. The die-hard adherents of Obi should better understand that most unreached and non-social media freaks, especially in the northern part of Nigeria, have their preferences regardless of the hullaballoo and brouhaha ongoing online, now and in the future! In the last edition of this column, these preferences were amplified as: parties, pedigrees and personality. However, in responding to my analysis, someone close to power reminded yours sincerely of one vital stakeholder that was neglected: the local powerful political titans spread all over the country which would largely be a great influence in shaping the outcome of the February 2023 presidential election. It is instructive, even before campaigns begin in September, for Mr. Peter Obi to toe the line of highly revered Indian leader and politician of great dynasty, Mahatma Gandhi, who once pontificated: “The pursuit of truth does not permit violence on one’s opponent.” It is therefore imperative for him to admonish his adherents to eschew virtual or physical depictions of violence or threats to opponents of their creed. In an attempt to outsmart opponents, going this route may label his adherents and admirers with seemingly unprintable epithets.

Obi: Outright Outlier?

Outlier, statistically, means “a statistical observation that is markedly different in value from the others of the sample.” It is a truism that Mr. Peter Obi’s political profile boosted partly by youthful population with similitude to the #Endsars sensational saga cannot and should not be underrated by any contender for the presidential slot in the 2023 election. This is congruent to the stand and stake of American professional golfer and champion, Hale Irwin who once opinionated thus: “I never underestimate my opponent, but I never underestimate my talents.” In addition, neither of the two main contenders, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the People Democratic Party (PDP) or Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), should underrate or underestimate the growing appeal and acceptance that Mr. Peter Obi wields within the Church (Christian community) within Nigeria presently. Be that as it may, adherents of Obi should be wary of displaying non-empirical expectation of garnering votes by this seeming appeal as this was the same way the erstwhile President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) was hoodwinked in 2015. It was rather worrisome that, in these days of digital technology, there are still lots of unfulfilled prophecies by renown men of God in favour of GEJ winning that election. Any need for this columnist to add the sobriquet: “internet does not forget!” Any wonder, the duo of Atiku and Tinubu, as experienced profound political pundits are silently stepping up unto a higher plane of savvy, suave, sagacious strategizing moves rather than venting and voicing voraciously on the social media platforms. Truth be told, in strategic moves, Obi and the Obidient camp, statistically speaking, in the reality of present day proactive and practical political postulation, are far behind taking into cognizance samples of electorates within the voting population of Nigeria. On the basis of personality, the two other contenders, Atiku and Tinubu, are well known and have larger following within the country than Obi. Writing in the last edition of the “Followership Challenge”, this columnist postulated thus: “However, with the rising profile of Mr. Peter Obi, the flag bearer of the Labour Party (LP), the votes in that region (southeast) may be split between the PDP and LP. Predictably, in the southwest and northwest, certain followers, going the route of preferred party choice, will go with the All-Progressive Congress (APC). In this vein, northcentral will be a battlefield between APC and PDP – the two most popular and dominant parties. However, it will be statistically speaking a sort of outlier for the LP to make any other headway in any other region if followers’ preference was to be on choice of party as the party has no structure on ground (sic).” Historically, no party has ever won any presidential contest in Nigeria’s history without a rugged and robust structure on ground in virtually all the 774 local government areas in the country. In this, Labour Party’s candidate, Obi, may be an apparent outlier especially with months to the elections. In addition, the Labour Party, as a political entity, is virtually doing little or nothing to stabilize and strengthen the party even where her presidential flag bearer claims as his strongholds. In many elective offices within the states of the federation, whether state assemblies, national assembly and gubernatorial, there are no candidates to contest within the party. Is this the party for the president to emerge in 2023?

In concluding this piece, much has been said and stated about inaccuracies of data spewed out by the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, that in going to the main campaign in September, need to be corrected if the enlightened electorate will take him and his camp seriously. There is no need for his die-hard supporters to be virtually violent with anyone critiquing or correcting their principal like it was exemplified and amplified to the duo of Mr. Sam Omatseye and Reno Omokri, else some opponents may adhere to the line of thought of Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher and writer, Sun Tzu, who once succinctly and saliently stated: “If your opponent is of choleric temper, irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.” Is Peter Obi outsmarting opponents as envisaged by his diehard adherents or an outright outlier in the political population of Nigeria pinpointing the presidential election of February 2023? To the duo of Sam Omatseye, celebrated and award-winning columnist, and Reno Omokri, a staunch PDP diehard adherent, Obi is not sincere with records of his past governance of Anambra State. To Omatseye, Obi’s delving with public funds into family business and maintaining an offshore account were sad and sore chords in political notes that do not sound harmoniously in the ears of informed electorates. Vintage Sam Omatseye stated inter alia: “Anambra money in his family account, and was not ashamed to confess when confronted. He did not follow due process. This is the man who is speaking from both sides of his mouth for maintaining an offshore account while a governor. This is Obi, who claimed he saved money, while pensioners were looking desperately at their graves.” On the other hand, Reno Omokri took it further in confronting Obi to justify how he intends causing a paradigm shift in refocusing Nigeria from a consuming economy to a producing one. In his own words published in the Vanguard newspapers of 22nd August 2022: “Peter, you are the single greatest contributor to consumption in Nigeria. You import almost everything from A to Z, including beer and alcoholic drinks … Enter any major supermarket in Nigeria. At least 15% of what you will see was imported into Nigeria by you Peter. Not manufactured. IMPORTED. I have the data from my contacts in the Central Bank of Nigeria. If I am lying, I challenge you, Peter, to sue me. And you are the fellow who wants to move Nigeria from consumption to production? …” The inference any discerning mind can draw from here is for Nigeria to move forward, Mr. Peter Obi’s business and those of his kith and kin will definitely suffer loss! Is he and his die-hard disciples and devotees ready to sacrifice importing for home grown production that will build and boost the General Domestic Product (GDP) and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) which this columnist could attest to in the governance of Lagos from 1999 when Asiwaju Tinubu held sway till the present moment of Governor Sanwo-Olu in the saddle. It is empirically evident.

• John Ekundayo, Ph.D. – Harvard-Certified Leadership Strategist, and also a Development Consultant, can be reached via 08155262360 (SMS only) and drjmoekundayo@hotmail.com

“The moment we want to believe something, we suddenly see all the arguments for it, and become blind to the arguments against it” – George Bernard Shaw.

In last week’s edition of the “Followership Challenge”, Malaysia was the focus with the accompanying leadership lessons Nigeria can adapt or adopt. The columnist is commencing this week’s edition with another episode relevant to the title of this article that took place in Malaysia. With the exception of my first son who was not in Malaysia when my family was sojourning in that Asian nation, all my family members were with me in that country. All my three daughters having started education in Nigeria, continued in Singapore where the official language is English, but in Malaysia where the language of instruction in both primary and secondary schools remains Malay, there was no way to be in public school except the high paying private schools which this columnist could not afford coupled with his postgraduate fees as a PhD student. Lest I forget, it is good to mention for enlightenment purposes, that Malaysia being a commonwealth country still retains English in tertiary institutions with Malay option for citizens who so desire. In essence, all my three daughters were doing home schooling from an online school in the USA. This was as far back as 2010. Why this story? One day, I checked the Facebook page of my eldest daughter, and in there, she described her education status as “complicated”. I was both upset and unsettled. This situation was so until there was a divine intervention that made a way for her to return to Nigeria, attended a private secondary school in Lagos and ultimately passed her West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE). This was before I concluded my postgraduate study in Malaysia. She was admitted to do pre-degree at Babcock University, Ilisan, Ogun State. I concluded my PhD study and returned to Nigeria and God’s providence again came through for her, and she headed for the United Kingdom (UK) to study law. She ended with a 1st class degree in a reputable UK university! This is the actual journey of my eldest daughter. Today, if you ask her about her secondary school days, definitely, she would not be as elated or enthusiastic as someone that passed out from the famous Government College, Ibadan; King’s College, Lagos; Barewa College, Zaria; Christ School, Ado Ekiti; Christ the King College, Onitsha; Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure, etc.

The Transgressions of Tinubu

The war against Tinubu’s emergence as presidential candidate of his party, the All-Progressives Congress (APC), did not just start today. It is like the Yoruba proverbial parlance: “a juwon o se wi lejo, ija ilara ko tan boro” (meaning: one is superior to another person is not usually expressed in complaint or court case, even as a strife due to envy is not easily settled). In the light of this, there are some that have been keenly following his trajectory, and have been edged out or shuffled aside whilst beholding the towering height of the titanic and enigmatic Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. They are poised and positioned poignantly to take their pound of flesh back in desperately distracting, denigrating, disparaging and derailing his ascension to the throne. Of course, there was a vehement and vociferous voice against his emergence, with display of diverse rigmarole in the ruling party, until the Jagaban Borgu surmounted all the hurdles and finally emerged as the APC flagbearer. It was like a proverbial cat with nine lives! In the perspective of this columnist, having perused the political permutations and projections of some pundits, the following are twelve itemized transgressions of Tinubu that his strident opponents have against his candidacy for the prestigious office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria:

1. Certificate sage: Much has been written and said about his education. Typical of the introductory story of this piece, it could indeed be complicated but candidly he emerged as one of the best in both Richard J. Daley College and Chicago State University, both in the United States of America (USA), even though the route was rocky and rough. However, it could not be controverted that he graduated from these two institutions. These two institutions have attested to his completion of education and meritorious graduation.
2. Birth and Upbringing: The circumstances of some people’s birth in the days of yore could lead to inaccuracy in age determination especially people that were of unlettered parenthood. I remembered the case of a close relative that was involved in age competition with somebody in her hometown. This person’s father was unlettered but there was a maternal uncle in another town who, of his own volition, chose to record dates of birth of all in the nucleus and extended family. Getting to her uncle, she was able to retrieve her accurate day and year of birth. Alternatively, in the days of yore, some people, especially ladies, have a practice of reducing from their real age to prove they are young, virile and versatile. The opponents of Tinubu believe that he was of this latter category. However, it is difficult to prove empirically or with documented evidence of cheating on age basis by this set of people; however, it is a matter of “to thine own self be true!” (Polonius, Shakespeare’s Hamlet).
3. Tinubu is too old to aspire to be the president: To many, Tinubu is too old and should leave the stage for younger minds. Do these people consider that there is a connection of age with wisdom and some notable world leaders older than BAT have ruled and are still ruling? The list includes but is not limited to former President Donald Trump of USA, the incumbent President Joe Biden of USA and two-time Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mohamad Mahathir. The latter had to be recalled out of retirement to salvage the country from epileptic leadership. Dr. Mahathir became the 7thPrime Minister of Malaysia from May 2018 till March 2020 at the age of 92 years! Mahathir has proved that good wine needs no bush!! To this columnist, it is God Almighty that determines who rules and what time or age. Biblically, David was on the throne at 40; Joseph was there at 30; Abraham, the father of faith was called by God at 75 whilst Moses, the great leader who led Israel out of captivity was called to leadership at a ‘ripe’ age of 80!!!
4. BAT stellar performance as Governor of Lagos from 1999 to 2007: How was Lagos pre-1999 before the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) as Governor? This columnist, in reminiscence, could not forget some core and crucial matters spanning 1999 to 2007 within the context of Lagos State while Asiwaju Tinubu was in the saddle as the Governor. The worrisome weight of wastes wantonly pervading Lagos landscape had disappeared; the enfant terrible operations of armed robbers that were later caged and checkmated through sweep and swift security sagacity; the atavistic civil service that was injected with new blood referred to as “Millennium” civil servants who were ICT compliant (some of them pioneered the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)). Tinubu’s era produced and procured the blueprint for all the succeeding governors to build on. Each did, and has been doing, wonderfully well even to the incumbent, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu. Specifically, each of the men in the saddle has substantially enhanced one critical index of governance: the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Tinubu met the IGR of Lagos as N600 million monthly, raised it to N6.9 billion monthly before handing over to his successor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. There is no precedence of this unique inculcation of financial engineering in any state of Nigeria as we speak!
5. LGA creation and court case to retrieve funds: There was this titanic battle between the erstwhile President Olusegun Obasanjo and Tinubu over the issue of creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos. There were 37 in number and this was in addition to the existing 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs). This resulted in Obasanjo, undemocratically wielding presidential powers in seizing the funds meant for the LGAs of Lagos State. The Tinubu administration went to court and won the case against the Federal Government. Despite the court adjudication, Obasanjo did not yield until the coming of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who ordered, with presidential fiat, the release of withheld Lagos funds.
6. Many court cases against OBJ’s administration: In an attempt to develop and deepen Nigeria’s nascent democracy, and further interrogate the adoption of federalism, the Tinubu’s administration took the federal government to court and won virtually all the cases. It was seemingly confrontational between Obasanjo and Tinubu that at the occasion of the former’s 78thbirthday celebration, Tinubu was caught unawares when Obasanjo beckoned on him to speak extempore. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu succinctly stated, inter alia: “Each time we disagree on things of principle, I took him to court. One time, as the President, he saw me and said, “You took me to court. We can’t be friends after the court.” And I told him, “I didn’t take you to court, I took the Nigerian President to court.” And he said, “Get out of my way” and I told him, I wouldn’t get out of the way until I get what I want (sic)” (Premium Times, 5th March 2015). Such was the audacity and adroitness of the sagaciously strategic Tinubu, as a democrat, who desires to deepen and develop our nascent democracy that many pillorying and plotting his downfall today are savouring. He was one of the fighters dating back to the military era.

7. Building bridges over the years: It is on record that more than any politician within Nigeria’s context, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has built bridges across the Niger: to the east and north. In the course of this process of nation building, he has offered platforms to others to realize their ambitions while he himself has not stepped forward to contest for any elective post from 2007 till date. He has largely been involved in party building, mentoring and strategizing. It was on record that some within his Yoruba ethnic setting are still accusing Tinubu of fraternizing with the Fulanis especially in selling the candidacy of President Muhammad Buhari to the Yorubas both in 2015 and 2019. The Afenifere was up in arms against Buhari. The Yoruba socio-cultural group was vociferous and vehement, even though historically speaking, of little electoral value as empirically exemplified taking into cognizance both the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections. It is now crystal clear to the politically discerning that Tinubu’s sagacious and savvy strategic steps in building bridges all over Nigeria greatly influenced and impacted his securing the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) presidential ticket in the 2023 election.

In concluding this piece, it is relevant and rational to saliently and succinctly state that it is like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a strategist is seeing what many could not perceive in the words of an anonymous wise man, who once pontificated: “Everyone has two eyes, but no one has the same view.” It is like the man with a queer eye glasses and branded cap is of the same school of thought with George Bernard Shaw who apparently opinionated: “the moment we want to believe something, we suddenly see all the arguments for it, and become blind to the arguments against it.” In the second part of this piece, this columnist will touch on the sensitive issue of religiosity and regionalizing the race to Aso Rock and what Tinubu has up his sleeves that his antagonists, mostly on social media, are not visualizing but is vividly visible to him as a savvy, sagacious and strategic statesman. Looking forward to valuable feedback from readers as you keep up your interests in the column.

John Ekundayo, Ph.D. – Harvard-Certified Leadership Strategist, and also a Development Consultant, can be reached via 08155262360 (SMS only) and drjmoekundayo@hotmail.com

Do you believe in dreams? This columnist wants to state succinctly that there is power in dreams! He was once residing in a town called Keffi, now Nasarawa State, that used to be part of old Plateau State, Nigeria. There was this night. He had a dream. In it, he saw the world map spread before him. In a jiffy, it was like applying a magnifying glass as the Asia continent came into focus, and finally fixated on a location with the name: MALAYSIA. Waking up from the dream early in the morning made this columnist look for the world map to know what was the exact location of the country called Malaysia. He discovered the country on the map and at the first attempt of sending a letter to Singapore, a neighbouring country, this columnist was told by the postal official that the location is within a region referred to as the Far East as contrasted to United Arab Emirate (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Qatar being in the Middle East. As the dream was coming to pass, his first trip to Singapore, on board Ethiopia’s Airline, took this columnist from Lagos through Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), through Bangkok (Thailand), and finally disembarked at Changi Airport, Singapore. He arrived in the island city-state-nation of Singapore on the 7th of June 2005. It took about four years later to move to Malaysia to commence his PhD research study in Kuala Lumpur, the ancient capital of Malaysia.

Social and religious life

Malaysia is an Islamic country with a difference of freedom to practice your own religion with strict guidelines that no religious sect, not even extreme or radical Islamic clerics or scholars dare go against. The social life in the country is attractive with tourists pouring in daily to both West and East Malaysia exploring the business, entertainment, academic, media, leisure, food and beverage of the south east Asia country. The Internal Security Act (ISA) of 1960, potent as if it was just promulgated, is strictly enforced by the government while activities of all religious sects are closely monitored. Errant scholars or preachers are liable to summary arrest and detention without trial; the detention period is open ended and expiration can only be determined by the government. The ISA is stridently criticized by most public and political affairs analysts, however, over the years, successful governments refused to bulge in amending or throwing away the act. However, during the era of erstwhile the 6th Prime Minister, Najib Razak, in responding to public appeal, replaced and repealed the ISA with Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012. The Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, (abbreviated SOSMA), is still seen by many as controversial as the atavistic ISA even though the government intention is “to provide for special measures relating to security offences for the purpose of maintaining public order and security and for connected matters.” SOSMA was approved in Parliament on 17th April 2012, given the Royal Assent on 18th June 2012 and Gazetted on 22nd June 2012. This is the distinguishing difference in Malaysia enjoying religious freedom and peace when compared with neighbouring countries in Asia such as Indonesia and Thailand. This columnist while residing in neighbouring Singapore usually visits Malaysia to savour the diversity in culture and social life as Malaysia is largely made up of the Malays (dominant and mostly Muslims), Chinese and Indians. Interestingly, Malaysians are gracious to Africans especially Nigeria with a sense of history that Nigeria was a brother country that helped them out during her economic crisis dating back to the 70s. This columnist was told by an elderly person that during the Gowon era, as the military Head of State, Nigeria helped Malaysia financially. Those were the days of yore when Nigeria’s problem was not money but what to do with the money! What a lagging, lackadaisical and laidback leadership ethos!! Has anything changed with accidental leaders, at state and national levels, being foisted or hoisted upon the psyche of the country, Nigeria?

Agribusiness: Discovering economic livewire of a country

Malaysia connected with Nigeria early after the latter’s independence with a friendly fraternity that made some Malaysians, years after, to undertake an ethnographic study tour of Nigeria. It was at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), situated in the ancient city of Ibadan, that the oil palm was introduced to the Malaysians. According to the story line, knowing that Malaysia and Nigeria are situated within the same tropical region, off they went with the oil palm seed to their country. The rest is history as people say! It is instructive to pinpoint that palm oil is the most produced, consumed and traded edible oil globally accounting for virtually 40% of the supply of the top four popular edible oils, namely: palm oil, rapeseed oil (canola), soybean oil, and sunflower seed oil. Having seen and savoured the economic benefits, it is significant to state that almost 70% of arable land of Malaysia is devoted to oil palm plantation. By the year 2020, palm oil derivatives – value chain – constituted almost 38% of the agricultural output of Malaysia, contributing 3% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)!

There was an eye-opening encounter that this columnist and his wife had while sojourning in that south east Asia nation. He, together with his wife, was taken to the country side of Malaysia to oil palm plantations. It was a memorable experience as this columnist saw from the seedlings to the nursery beds to the plantations the process of growing, nursing, nurturing to maturity the oil palm fruits. The duo was briefed by our tour guide, how an Indonesian professor developed a species of oil palm seed that grows and matures within 24 months! Yes. The duo was taken to the plantations having this species. The species does not grow tall with age but rather grows with a wider trunk producing up to 5 to 6 fruits per head at maturity! It is simply and squarely amazing!! This columnist was keen and zealous to sell this idea to a state government in Nigeria then, but the process could not reach fruition possibly due to bureaucratic bottleneck or lack of passion for agribusiness. That was way back in 2010. It was unfortunate that Nigeria could not replicate simple but salient practices that could benefit the country but believe in short term processes, especially the ones involving procurement and contracting. Leaders at the subnational and national levels in Nigeria need to know that countries that are consistently rated high grow through robust and rigorous preparation, planning, production, processing and packaging. In addition, such nations explore and exploit research and development initiatives inculcating innovation and creativity taking cognizant of strategic uncertainties with the underlying notion that the only thing that is permanent is change.

Lessons Learnt

In the emerging field of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), “Lessons Learnt” is a key component that bespeaks of the learning leg. In it, development scholars and professionals review or revisit the whole gamut of the monitoring and evaluation process to decipher: What works? What does not work? Why does it not work? In concluding this piece fixating on social and religious life vis-à-vis the agribusiness in Malaysia with particular attention to oil palm value chain, one wonders why leaders in Nigeria fail to replicate easy concepts and ideas from other climes? If our leaders could not wholly replicate, could not they adapt by gleaning and learning from others who are doing well in certain areas? In management studies, if you keep doing the same thing and expecting different results, it is referred to as insanity! Nigeria has lots of natural and human resources to turn our fortunes around. Is it not true that many research studies that would have turned Nigeria around are mere paper tigers gathering dust on shelves of research institutes and universities nationally? Who will deliver us from ourselves in Nigeria? Here we are in this digital age of the 21st century still haggling and arguing about herdsmen-farmers clash, open grazing, mixing politics with ethno-religious connotations, religious extremism, etc. It is even saddening and sickening that religious extremism, allowed to fester so much having been treated with kid gloves by the government, not just the Buhari’s, has now snowballed into hydra-headed banditry cum terrorism. Can we glean and learn from Malaysia which exploited one stroke of the act of parliament with the executive endorsement thus erasing and eradicating any trace of religious violence within the nooks and crannies of the country despite constitutionally being an Islamic country? Nigeria, constitutionally, is a secular state and yet enmeshed and entwined with lots of ramshackle religious regurgitation. When are we going to get a leader at the centre who will consign religion to the privacy of our hearts and homes like in such countries such as Singapore and Malaysia? It is only through this way we can thrive as a country. Imagine Malaysia coming to Nigeria to be indoctrinated about producing oil palm and then rising overtime to becoming one of the leading nations globally in oil palm production. In fact, Indonesia is leading in oil palm production globally while being trailed by Malaysia. However, the real truth is that Malaysia is still leading! How? Indonesia has cheaper labour and land. Malaysia exploited or took advantage of these “richness” of Indonesia and oil palm investors from Malaysia invaded Indonesia with huge investments. This singular act is responsible for Indonesia leading the world oil palm production. One other comparable advantage is that Indonesia, the 4th most populous country globally, has one of the largest land mass in Asia. In essence, production of oil palm is likely to keep growing competitively between these countries without another close contender within the next decade! As we look towards 2023, can Nigeria leaders glean and learn from nations like Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia?

• Ekundayo, Ph.D. can be reached via 08155262360 (SMS only) and drjmoekundayo@hotmail.com

“The Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket is a difficult and slippery area. So, what I will say is that the political office holders should look at the heartbeat of the country as well as the desires of the people. Politicians should know that they are not there for themselves. They are there for all of us. They should ask and make their researches about what the nation wants. They should ask and make their researches on what the country wants, what the people want; if they listen to the people, we will be confident that they will listen to us when they get there …,” – Pastor W. F. Kumuyi, Daily Post of 22nd June 2022

There was sometimes a discussion around a highly controversial subject while studying at the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. It was in the early eighties. One of my classmates at the then Civil Engineering Department of the great citadel of learning waded in with a whimsical saying of Igbo origin by saying: “it is only a man with a one-legged wife that knows how he sleeps with his wife.” This succinct and salient statement abruptly sounded the death knell of whatever argument on the hot topic as virtually all of us began pondering and reflecting on the profound proverb. This brings me to the hot subject streaming in the social, print and electronic media space as well as within the country’s political circles regarding the issue of picking the vice-presidential candidate of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential flagbearer of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). It is interesting and intriguing that when his counterpart in the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, made his own choice publicly known, there was such hoopla to the extent some tagged and termed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as a betrayer. Are there some things these political leaders and their inner caucuses and circles are seeing and the rest of the followers are not perceiving? The hoopla and hullabaloo that heralded the unveiling of Senator Kashim Shettima as the vice-presidential flag bearer of the APC was much more than that of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. Muslim-Muslim ticket is both sickening and sourly to some sections of the citizenry who are still bugged, burdened and bothered with so much religious reservations even in matters of politics.

The Tinubu That Tinkers …

Aftermath of the memorable June 2014 gubernatorial election in Ekiti, this columnist was conferring with my brother and friend, Segun Ayobolu, erstwhile close aide of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He was so enraptured with my ethnographic capturing of the election that he demanded that I accompany him to Bourdillon, the house of Jagaban Borgu, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as he would be there that weekend. However, he pointedly stated: “Would you be able to say all these when you get to Bourdillon?” I retorted in the affirmative. Expectedly, Ayobolu called me and off we set from different locations in Lagos. We met there. There were many coming and going out with more people streaming in than out! To my surprise, he would come out at intervals to apologize for keeping us waiting and that he would attend to all of us. As a researcher, I was not only waiting but watching ethnographically. At one point, he looked round and my face was the only seemingly strange one to which I quickly responded that I was there at the instance of my friend, Ayobolu. It was getting to around 6pm, Asiwaju came out from the inner room and said, it was time to eat and I was surprised that he invited all of us remaining in the big sitting room to join him at a big oval dining table that up to around 14 to 16 people could sit round. Chefs came demanding our choices. I was pleasantly surprised! Then, we, as Asians do, for this columnist sojourned among them for seven years, were eating and talking serious stuff with many notable figures on that table, even still relevant in the political calculation of today. The Ekiti election came in.

This columnist listened with rapt attention to leaders speaking one after the other, Then, I interjected unexpectedly, albeit with much reference knowing the calibre of men within the context I was emplaced. Immediately, Asiwaju’s listening instinct was aroused and activated as signalled by his body language. Then, I saliently and succinctly stated: “It seems in Nigeria, nay Africa, leaders think for followers thinking the followers’ leaning, longing and yearning are not vital!” He cast a furtive glance at this columnist and responded swiftly that in the context of Ekiti, he actually sent in men to conduct a survey and the report he got, which would not be divulged here, was not really depicting the loss recorded by the candidate of the APC in that election. Nigerians later knew all the rigmarole that played out during the President Goodluck Jonathan era in ensuring by all means that the PDP candidate won that election. All have been consigned to history. However, why go this route and how related is it to the topic of this piece?

Muslim-Muslim Mandate

There are seemingly many discordant and deafening voices vehemently raised against the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by the ruling APC. The main vociferous and vehement voices of the Christian faith had overtly opposed this move severally. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) would not tolerate such a “match-making” at the apex of leadership for any political party as they consider it demeaning and denigrating to their faith. In all the much ado about the choice of a vice-presidential candidate within the ruling party, there has been three voices of reason, within the Christian leaders, in the seeming unfolding scenario. As at June 22nd, General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, the highly revered Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi stated inter alia: “The Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket is a difficult and slippery area. So, what I will say is that the political office holders should look at the heartbeat of the country as well as the desires of the people. Politicians should know that they are not there for themselves. They are there for all of us. They should ask and make their researches about what the nation wants. They should ask and make their researches on what the country wants, what the people want; if they listen to the people, we will be confident that they will listen to us when they get there (sic),” – Pastor W. F. Kumuyi, Daily Post. In essence, the revered clergy and mathematician was calling for possible research study to be conducted to mine the mood and mind of the followers (electorates) and not just thinking for the followers the aspirants aspire to lead. Secondly, the highly referred Bishop of Sokoto Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, opinionated that Asiwaju Tinubu’s choice should be viewed as a team selection and, logically, people will take responsibility for their choices. He stated simply and squarely in his own words: “This is what you call team selection and everybody will choose depending on what they think will give them a fair chance. So people will take responsibility for the choices they have made. For me, it is not something to lose sleep over, …” Thirdly, the seemingly controversial pentecostal pastor who is the founder of Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for All Nations Kyiv, Ukraine, Europe, Pastor Sunday Adelaja, glossed past the hotly debated topic fixating on the Muslim-Muslim ticket of Tinubu and Shettima. Pastor Sunday Adelaja, in a widely publicized piece, adduced ten reasons that would enthrone the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the sixteen President of Nigeria come 29th May 2023. In his own words, he stated inter alia: “During the APC convention while younger men were falling asleep, Tinubu was agile all night. Following his victory at the convention we can all see how he has been galloping from one state to another. No one out of the candidates have been as hard working and busy as he is. His close associates talk about how Tinubu outworks all of them, working 14 to 20 hours every day. What else do people want for Christ’s sake? My take is this: as long as Mr. Tinubu is sharp mentally, so long as he can see clearly as a visionary, we need his leadership before he leaves us to a better world. We shouldn’t waste the huge potential and life experiences that he carries inside (sic).”

Time To Task Tinubu

In concluding this piece of the “Followership Challenge”, it is imperative and instructive on the part of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make some strategic, smart and savvy moves. In my earlier televised appearances on TVC and writings in this column, I had harped on the need to consult widely, especially zeroing on Christians leaders. Asiwaju has many positive attributes in this direction if strategically and sagaciously pursued looking at his antecedents in Lagos. He had array of savvy minds in his cabinet of both faiths – Christians and Islam – and many of multiethnic background. He was the first helmsman in Nigeria to initiate Annual Thanksgiving Service yearly in which virtually the highly revered General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye preaches. This bespeaks magnanimity, large-heartedness and tolerance. It has not ceased; in fact, I was present with my wife in the edition of this year where Baba Adeboye gave a short but powerful exhortation. Moreover, the wife of Asiwaju, the distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is an ordained Assistant Pastor (minister) in the RCCG and one that is very close to virtually all top-ranking ministers of God nationally. What is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to do? In Yoruba common parlance, it is said by elders that: “elegbo lo se lanka-lanka to alabe lo” (meaning: it is the man that carries a putrefying or odoriferous sore that saunters towards a medicine man (surgeon)). It is high time Asiwaju Tinubu ate the humble pie in initiating a frank tête-à-tête with the leaders of CAN and PFN regarding his choice and mandate. There is the need to douse the tension and correct the notion that Christians would be marginalized; terrorism would be heightened, and there is virtually nothing in it for the Church if he eventually emerges as the next President of Nigeria. The discourse and dialogue should be frank and end in what Asians referred to as a win-win scenario, after all, after the Vice President slot, if he eventually wins, there are other positions that Christians could be placated or pacified with provided there is a display of sincerity, humility and empathy in the tête-à-tête, and not just in circumventing the Christian faith with a view to win election especially in the midst of escalating and excruciating insecurity hurting the country even though the present Muslim-Christian ticket of the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Pastor Yemi Osinbajo could not resolve the seemingly intractable killings, kidnappings, farmers-herders clashes, destruction of homesteads and farmlands, etc. Asiwaju Tinubu should not wait but watchfully waddle through the waters to cross over to the other side. The time to act is now, delay is dangerous!

John Ekundayo, Ph.D. – Harvard-Certified Leadership Strategist, and also a Development Consultant, can be reached via 08155262360 (SMS only) and drjmoekundayo@hotmail.com

It would be recalled that Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye was one of the voices that clamoured for restructuring of Nigeria to avoid a break up. This was in October 2020. As a true elder statesman, and a patriot, with access to the seat of power, he met President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock in August 2020 behind closed doors. The outcome of that meeting was not divulged to the public but analysts believed that issues such as insecurity and restructuring of the country were on the front burner in their tête-à-tête … However, it will take passionate, patriotic and progressive leaders who know and value the true prophets amongst them to emerge so Nigerians would not wander and waste in the wilderness as the journey of forty days took the hard – hearted and rebellious people of Israel forty years. Are we not on the route to that wilderness wandering whereas there is a true prophet amongst us? (John Ekundayo, in an excerpt from: “Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye @ 80: Is there not a prophet amongst them?” (Part 1), Nation, 27th February 2022).

Every first Sunday of the month, expectedly the church is usually filled to the brim. The atmosphere is ecstatic, elated and expectant. Men and women are in their best sartorial splendour with the church’s pulpit and pews populated with bright colours simply and seemingly shaping congregants’ mood and faith. However, on the 5th June 2022 gruesome and gory attack on innocent worshippers of St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ono State was a dastard and demonizing act carried out with a heart of stone. It was alleged that up to 40 souls were needlessly sent to early graves in that singular incident. It would be the first of such unwarranted attacks on worshippers in a southwest state of Nigeria! It is unfathomable!! This columnist completed his secondary school at Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure, Ondo State. He has some men as classmates and senior colleagues from Owo. In a chat with one of them, he pointedly told this columnist that the venue of the attack was within 250 metres of the Olowo’s (the monarch of the ancient town) palace. What an effrontery by the terrorists in the heart of Yorubaland on a Sunday?

Recently, Zamfara State was on fire with marauding terrorists maiming, kidnapping and killing innocent citizens that disrupted both social and economic activities in the state. The agrarian state supposedly to be awash in expected ecstasy in this rainy season, as majority of indigenes are farmers, was sickened and saddened. Many have fled their native homesteads or farmlands as they consider the “safety first” slogan! The man in the saddle in the state, Governor Bello Matawalle, as widely written in this column last week, would no more “sit-down-look” (apology to the late, Chief Bola Ige, the Cicero of Ibadan), despite the vehement and vociferous voices of critics, he analogously acted instinctively like a proverbial goat chased against the wall. In Yoruba common parlance, such a distraught goat is wont to furtively and ferociously face the attacker damning the consequences! Zamfara recently launched her much advertised Community Protection Guards (CPG) similar to the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno and the Amotekun Corps in southwestern Nigeria.

Anticipated Analogy or Allegory?

The referred man of God, the humble and honourable, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, not a man that loves or admires media klieg light, was once again on the front pages of major newspapers. It was reported by some media houses that he declared “fire-for-fire” on terrorists. Does this translate to calling for arms to combat these heartless and horrendous homos sapiens? It was a truism that the phrase “fire-for-fire” was uttered at the Holy Communion Service, in which this columnist was a congregant, however, there was a misnomer in taking it for the congregants or worshippers to arm themselves with guns in confronting the terrorists. Expatiating further, at the Holy Ghost Service the following day and the Thanksgiving Service of Sunday, 3rd July 2022, televised globally, the revered and referred elder statesman succinctly and saliently clarified what he meant in plain terms. In Biblical times, the disciples sometimes misunderstood the message of the Lord Jesus Christ, making Him ask: “Are ye also yet without understanding?” (Matt 15v16). He reiterated that the import of his analogous statement is that there is nowhere in the Bible that declares that a child of God cannot, and should not, defend himself. Going further, he stated that though the Bible says that if you as a Christian you are slapped on the right, what should you do? The Bible says allegorically that you should turn the left. Then, he rhetorically asked after your assailant had slapped you on the left, what are you to do? The congregation was more or less expectedly silent. He said when God is silent on a matter, then, he is saying: over to you. The apparent anticipated response from the massive and mammoth congregation resulted in applause, more or less signalling affirmation. The proverbial or analogous distraught goat again called to the context! Revisiting and reflecting on Zamfara and the controverted Matawalle’s directive, where are we, as a concocted and convoluted federalism, going from here? Is the government at the centre not seemingly floundering, faltering and subsequently heading to the precipice, if proper action is not taken before the 2023 elections as more states follow the footsteps of Matawalle and many religious leaders rightly prepare their people for instinctive self-defense? After all, even God Almighty allows the eye to defend itself against intruders and invaders by erecting automatic eye-valves (gates) to shut the eye at the approach of such daring creatures. There are pertinent, salient and soul stirring questions that followers, at this juncture, would like to ask: Is the intelligence apparatus of this country dead? Do we need to hire savvy and skillful professionals to salvage us from the ruins as there are seeming signals of infiltrations within the rank and file of virtually all government agencies dealing with security? Is the situation so simply and squarely distasteful and damning? The security situation is seemingly scary partly because the government apparently did not see it as a vexing issue, ab initio. Presently, it is overtly overwhelming, overbearing and overstretching, yet the almighty Federal Government often appeal to citizens that her “men and officers are on top of the game” – usual euphemism while the country is bleeding and burning beneath the beautiful fashionistas’ facial appearance of our leaders!

Any Implication for direction of voting come 2023 elections?

The Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for the umpteenth time has stated that the way out of the security imbroglio is for each state to be allowed to have her own police. As the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF), he was merely reiterating part of the communique that formed the May 2021 Asaba Declaration of the governors from the south. This columnist will like the followers to keep pushing on the discourse, debates and dialogues on the amendment of the constitution before the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari hands over the reins of power come 29th May 2023 to his successor. However, at this juncture, it is worthwhile to inquire: why is our honourable National Assembly (NASS) maintaining a dignified silence on this matter of national importance? I recall the interview on Arise TV with the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, who doubles as the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), pointedly stating that the NASS has hitherto not brought up any bill on the State Police matter. It will be good for NASS to “soro soke” (raise her voice) on this matter of national concern. Be that as it may, in the well-circulated list of the areas to be touched regarding amendment to the antiquated and atavistic 1999 Constitution (as amended), there was apparently none that impinges on state policing! What is our problem? Why are we expecting different results whilst we keep doing the same things in our country?

In concluding this piece, as elections into offices beckon in 2023, the mass of followers, the electorate, should demand from every serious aspirant on the ballot what they want to offer regarding security specifically on the issue of state policing. The followers should not just rest on the aspirants promises but vet their manifestos and demand topmost ones among them to sign memorandum of understanding (MOU) with notable groups and communities in order for them to be committed to acting according to the social contract bonding them with the followers when the winners among them eventually assumed offices. It is high time we demanded accountability from contenders on the road to 2023 if we are not to recurringly produce accidental legislators, governors and presidents!

John Ekundayo,  can be reached via 08155262360 (SMS only) and drjmoekundayo@hotmail.com

“It is analogous to when a lion wants to kill a man in a government forest reserve where hunting or poaching is outlawed. He must choose between obeying the law of not killing the big cat or ending in its belly. The law of nature will make him instinctively choose the former.” – Ademola Adegbamigbe (PM News edition of 29th June 2022).

These are interesting and intriguing times in Nigeria. Taking into cognizance, insecurity, the Federal Government’s effort seems not ameliorating or alleviating the sordid situation virtually in all regions of Nigeria. Is it that our police and armed forces are overwhelmed or overstretched? Travelling within states and outside one’s state now requires that one prays and calculates his or her time of departure very well as  the individual  is unsure of her safety not sure what may befall you on the road, you have to pray and take precaution before embarking on your trip.. Do we not have, as a country, simple technology that could detect these miscreants where they are in the forests and through intelligence gathering decapitate them before they could strike? Erstwhile Governor of Lagos, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, now Minister of Works and Housing resorted to this security strategy and incapacitated many arm robbery incidences before they could strike; or even when they struck, as they were about sharing their loot, they were apprehended. This is one power of intelligence gathering that all states’ governors need to resort to at a time like this. In essence, governors need to invest more in special security units of the police to make this happen in every state. There was a time in Lagos, under Fashola, that armed robbers had to relocate to neighbouring states to ply their nefarious trade because adopted security strategy checkmated and crippled their callous activities.

Kenya’s government forest reserve episode

There was this related incident that is worth torch lighting regarding the recent outburst of Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State. There was this incident that took place in a Kenya’s government forest reserve involving a man named Moses. Moses and his friend were herding their cattle through a government reserve when out of the blues, a ferocious lion charged at Moses’ friend. Moses could not stand and watch helplessly for his  friend to be hunted and hacked down by the big cat, he tried to defend his friend, The lion would take none of such seeming nonsense and he made for Moses; he however outsmarted the big cat in a smooth and swift manner. He attacked the lion with his sharp and soldierly spear which went through the eye, and in ihe process, penetrated the brain of the animal. The lion fell down at Moses’ feet. By Kenya’s law it is illegal to attack and kill a lion, more so in a forest reserve. The government’s forest guards went for Moses saying he should have reported first and not taken the law into his hands, Pray, was there any safe time span to report when the ferocious lion was about devouring two men? Is the life of an animal worth much more than homo sapiens?

Ademola Adegbamigbe writing on the Zamfara’s saga, in the PM News edition of 29th June 2022, compared the sore and sordid situation to the episode aforementioned well repotted story that was even reported in the global magazine, the Times of London, stated simply and squarely. in his own words: “It is analogous to when a lion wants to kill a man in a government forest reserve where hunting or poaching is outlawed. He must choose between obeying the law of not killing the big cat or ending in its belly. The law of nature will make him instinctively choose the former.”

Read Also; Matawalle’s curious gospel of self-defense

Security: Zamfara’s context

The whole country was jolted when the man in the saddle of government in Zamfara State, Governor Bello Matawalle directed able men in the state to rise up and carry arms to defend themselves in the face of escalating attacks by bandits and terrorists rampaging his people. He was not the first to do this as the governor of the homestate of President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Aminu Bello Maisamari had earlier made this cold and clarion call. The government went further to advise its citizens who wish to have arms to apply for the permit. However, in a swift reaction, both the Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor, and the Zamfara’s Commissioner of Police, Elkanah Ayuba, rebuffed this directive. This outburst is nothing short of seeming mutiny coming from the man in the saddle in Zamfara. Even though the governor of any state in Nigeria is referred to as the chief security officer, he has no control over the police or the armed forces. The General was plain on this stating that such a directive could only come from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Mr. President.

In the same vein, Zamfara State Commissioner of Police wasted no time in responding to the apparently illegal directive of Matawalle, by stating that he has no power to grant license to anyone. In any case, there is an existing ban on acquisition of arms making the directive dead on arrival! Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural group, condemned Matawalle’s directive for able men in the state to carry arms, referring to it as a sign of a failing and floundering government. It is easy for someone or group to castigate the steps taken by Governor Bello Matawalle, if you are not wearing his shoes. He, definitely, knows where the shoe pinches. Having lost several people to banditry and terrorism, there are others recent killings and kidnapping in Tsafe, the hometown of the state Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, retired DIG Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe. In the attack targeted at Tsafe, the son of the commissioner and two others were killed when the security forces engaged the terrorists in gun battle. It is on record that many have been killed or abducted on their farms in recent times. It is instructive to pinpoint the slogan of Zamfara in this essay: ‘Farming is our pride.’ Life has been miserable for farmers in the state, even in this planting season! However, the people of Zamfara must survive!

Laudable Steps of Matawalle

Apart from the call to carry arms, there are some laudable steps that Matawalle’s government took. Recently, the state’s House of Assembly passed a bill for the prohibition and punishment for banditry, cattle rustling, cultism, kidnapping, terrorism and other incidental offences. Once, the bill reached the table of Matawalle, it was instantly accented to, thereby making it a law in the state. In a dynamic response to the menace of these callous men, other sagacious strategic steps were taken by the Matawalle led government of Zamfara. There was the inauguration of four committees on security matters. He went further by providing 20 brand new Hilux vehicles and 1,500 motorbikes for the commencement of this laudable operation. The committees are: Special Committee on Intelligence Gathering on Banditry; Management Committee on Operations of the Community Protection Guards (CPG); Committee on Prosecution of Banditry Related Offences; and State Security Standing Committee.

Is there not a dire need for a State Police?

One may ask rhetorically: is the state governor really the chief security officer of his state? No governor, within Nigeria’s context, can issue any directive to the police or the armed forces. Our constitution is definitely defective. Are we really running true federalism in Nigeria? Earlier, the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). Dr. John Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, in an interview on Arise TV clamoured for a state police. In addition, the Southern Governors’ Forum under the leadership of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, repeated the same call in a communique released last year at Asaba. One may ask: What is the National Assembly doing to bring up something on this in concrete terms? Even though Afenifere, the Yoruba social cultural group, initially castigated Matawalle’s call to bear arms, the group made it saliently and succinctly clear that state police will solve this incessant and nagging insecurity in the states.

In concluding, it was as if Matawalle was ready for any counter move from the centre as he insisted there is no going back on his directive. According to the helmsman in Zamfara: “self-defence is a natural instinct and has always been part of human survival strategy.” He based his insistence on the Fire Arms Act saying everything that his government would do will be within the ambit of the law. Matawalle’s stand and stake is that many have not taken into consideration the precarious plight “of the innocent people who are maimed, killed, and kidnapped every day in various parts of the state,” In any case, in his own perspective, there is no difference between the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State and the Amotekun in the Southwest of Nigeria. Does this provide a veritable time for our legal luminaries to interrogate the Fire Arms Act and under what conditions citizens cannot be denied access to bearing arms even when they applied formally? In this columnist’s perspective, it is worth the inquisitive eyes of patriotic legal luminaries backed up by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

• Ekundayo, Ph.D. – can be reached via 08155262360 (SMS only) and drjmoekundayo@hotmail.com