The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Personalities

  • Yoruba elders hail Fayemi for naming schools after four personalities

    The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has hailed Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi for naming four newly established secondary schools after four prominent citizens.

    The elders, in a letter signed by its Secretary-General, Dr. Kunle Olajide, said the gesture was a pointer to Fayemi’s “commitment to entrench the enduring values of service, patriotism and diligence for which Ekiti people were known for in the past.

    Commending the Fayemi-led administration’s decision to name the new institutions after Prof. David Oke, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, Prof. Banji Akintoye and Chief Deji Fasuan, the YCE stated that Fayemi’s “second coming is indeed the dawn of a new and glorious era for Ekiti State”.

    The council assured Fayemi of their support in the “arduous task of restoring our values and piloting our state for progress and development”.

    “I recall with nostalgia the day in Adetiloye Hall during your first coming when your excellency, for the first time since the creation of Ekiti State, publicly recognised and acknowledged the efforts of the few of us under the leadership of Chief Fasuan, whom God used with our traditional rulers to achieve the creation of our dear state. Your sense of history is highly commendable”, the letter reads.

    Similarly, the Afao Development Council in their letter co-signed by the Alafao of Afao, HRM Oba Joseph Ademilua and the union’s president, Chief Laolu Omosilade, also lauded Fayemi for naming one of the newly established schools after Chief Fasuan, who is an indigene of the town.

    The community union said the action is not just a honour but “merit justified by posterity” because of the role played by Fasuan in the struggle for the creation of Ekiti State.

  • Elections, personalities and prospects

    It  is  my  guess  that  the  gubernatorial and State Assembly elections  today  will  certainly show  how  Nigerians perceive the democracy they are participating in for  the 2019  presidential  and general  elections. If  the turn  out  is better  than  that of  the recent  2019  presidential  elections,  then  it shows  confidence in the  electoral  process  as well  as confidence in INEC.  If  the turn  out is poor then  it  is  a sign  not  only  of voter  fatigue,  but  of voter  apathy. Which  then  means something needs to be done to resuscitate voter  participation  to  sustain confidence in our  electoral  system  and revitalize our  democracy.

    Undoubtedly this time around it is not a two horse race as we saw in the presidential election.  Each  state    has  its unique amalgam  of  parties and  candidates being pushed  by incumbent governors, either    outgoing  or  seeking reelection  and  Federal legislators, both just  elected as  well  as those just  defeated, who  are  on the field,  in the state  capitals  rooting  for their political  parties  in the battle to take over  the state  houses and assemblies  in the 36  states  in Nigeria  today.

    In  many ways,  today’s  guber  and state assembly  elections will have  hangovers  and carry  overs  from the presidential  campaign and these  are  not  necessarily  that straight  forward    or    flowing normally, from  the performance the two major  parties  in the presidential  elections.  In  political  terms the political equations    may  not  be the same. Meaning 2  plus 2  may  be 5 as  in Synergy  and not  necessarily  4  as in Arithmetic. That  can be illustrated by the fact  that in states  where  the APC lost  the presidential  elections  party  stalwarts still  celebrated  the overall    victory  of  the president after  the elections massively.  In  today’s  election  there  are former  governors  who  have secured senate  seats in the last  elections and there  are  those who have lost.  Both  will  be very  active in todays’ election. A good example  will  be the Governor  of  Ogun state  who  has a senate  seat  in hand and that  of  Oyo  State  who  failed to secure a senate  seat. Both  will  be active in seeing  who  will  succeed them. Rivers  too  provide a unique  example where  the  ruling party  has  no candidate but  has of late  adopted  that  of  another party  in  what  is a do or  die  matter  for  the incumbent governor  and the Minister  of  Transport.

    In  a way  I expect  the turn  out  today    to be far  more  than that  of the presidential elections  because  of  the many  local or state political  squabbles involving  party  leaders  in the state  houses and  the  broken loyalties  of  incumbent  governors  to their  many  successors  in the state  capitals. Anyway  the die is cast  and today  the battle fields  are  the polling booths all  over Nigeria. The Games  have begun.

    Whilst  I  pray  for another peaceful  election  I  want  to highlight  the electoral  battles in some  states  because  of  some unique  and unusual  events  that  preceded  the emergence  of  the governorship  contestants in today’s  elections.  These  states are Kano, Rivers,  Lagos, Ogun,  and  Oyo  States.  The happenings  in these  states  reflect    the nature  and structure of power  acquisition and  distribution    in  Nigeria,  as  well  as its  challenges  and dynamics  in our peculiar  brand of participatory  democracy. I  will  use  the issues involved  to hazard  a guess  on the prospects  of the guber candidates  as well as their  parties  in today’s  elections.

    In  Kano,  a  regular  high  voter  turn- out state in Nigeria, it is  not  only  a straight  fight between  the APC  and PDP  but a proxy fight  between former  governor Kwankwanso  and his  successor Ganduje, who  is the incumbent  governor. But  Kwanwanso  has defected to the PDP  from  the APC  after  a brilliant  two  term tenure  after  which  he handed  power  to his trusted Deputy Governor.  But  now things  have changed since the days of the Kwakansiyya  and  the incumbent  governor  is ascendant  in Kano politics as the massive turn  out to elect  the president last  week has shown  in Kano. It  promises  to  be  a tough fight  today  in Kano  but  expect  the power of incumbency  to favor  APC  and  its candidates  a lot  in  Kano’s  volatile  politics  which  has changed  a lot  since  the  days  of  Aminu  Kano  and  the irrepressible  Abubakar  Rimi  of the  PRP  fame.

    In  Rivers  state  the stakes  are  high  but  again  the  APC  by proxy  and  PDP  are  locked  in a fierce battle  that  makes the prospect  of a peaceful  election quite  dim.  The security  forces must  be at their  best  and be prepared  to  be fair  and even handed  or else there  will  be great  violence.  That  is the bitter  truth.  This  is because  this is a stage  today  for  a fierce  show  of  power  between  federal  might  and state power  or incumbency  and  really  it is anybody’s  guess  as to  who  the winner  or  the loser  will  be. Really  it  is  going  to  be a close call  between  the  APC  by  proxy  and the PDP in  today’s guber  elections in  Rivers state.

    In  Lagos  state the  APC has  been  the party in power  for  long and the  obvious  party  of  choice  for  the  Lagos  electorate. But  today  is not  a straight  fight  between  the two  major parties namely APC  and PDP,  although  their  two  candidates Jide Sanwo Olu (APC) and Jimi  Agbaje    are  the best  known. There  are other  fringe parties    populated  by  defectors from    both APC and    PDP.  However. Sanwo  Olu  is  a time tested technocrat  who could or should  have been  governor  ages ago,  going by the brilliance  and dexterity  which  he outlined his  THEME  agenda  at the interactive section with members of the Yoruba  Tennis Club  last week. He  was  given  a challenge  by a member  of the Club, Ladi Kotun who  asked him what he would  do  for Lagos  Island  given  the fact that  the last  two Lagos governors catered  for  their  core areas  namely  BRF  for Suru  Lere  and Ambode  for  Epe. That  is  a core problem in this  election    and it  bothers    Lagosians immensely. It    is a problem  that  is  there  for  Jimi  Agbaje of the PDP to  exploit. Also  given  the fact  that an  Igbo  was  the running mate  of the loser in last week’s  presidential  election  has meant  that the Igbos  are  rooting for  Agbaje,  who  too is well known  having  contested twice  for  governorship  elections in the state  unsuccessfully  before.  The  issue  of  the rejection of incumbent  governor  Ambode for  a second term is another  grouse of some APC  supporters  and even  non partisan  residents of  the state.

    So  it is understandable  that  Sanwo  Olu  himself  at the YTC event  called  on voters  to  come  and vote today  and not  take victory  for granted. It  is a wise  call and the major  insurance for  his  election  today  given  the  rumblings  going  on in some quarters to  do  an  Otedola  for  the APC in  today’s election and  give Agbaje  a  very  rare  opportunity  to  govern Lagos  state. All  the same I  expect  the APC  to  weather  the storm  and    lead    its well  groomed    and  grounded candidate    to  a vote  that will  to allow  the  electorate  to reap  the benefit  of continuity in power  of  the APC  leadership in the state.

    Ogun  state  is a very  unique  battle  ground  today. Governor Amosun  is a lesson  in  party  defiance but  a successful  one  so far. He  has defied  his party in  campaigning for  a governorship candidate  from another party.  He  won a senate  seat  himself  and for his party. For  Amosun  you can  say a bird in hand is worth  two in the bush.

    Which  is not something you  can  say  to the Oyo State  governor  who  lost  his senate  seat  and the presidential election  for the APC.  If  Amosun’s  candidate  wins  today  and defeats  the APC  candidate  and others, then  you can  call  Amosun the Jagaba of Ogun  politics  and  a real  rival  to  the original Jagaba  of  the  South west  based  in  Lagos.  If  his  candidate loses then  the  APC  must  celebrate  a famous  victory  and  task Amosun  for  rebellion but  must  be cautious  to  apply  justice with  mercy in  dealing with  a powerful  rebel. As  for the Governor of Oyo  who  lost his  senate  bid,  Biola  Ajimobi, he should  know  now  that the Ibadans  cherish  their  traditional  line of succession  mightily  and do  not forgive  any  governor  who tampers  with  it. The  governor  should leave them  in  Ibadan  with their  Mapo  politics  and like an  old friend of  mine that  he is, just come back  to  Lago. Once  again  long  live  the  Federal Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • Election campaigns, issues and personalities

    2019  is  an election year in Nigeria  and lest I forget, I wish  my numerous readers a happy new year, just  as  I proceed to treat the topic of the day. Naturally  and ideologically elections breathe fresh  air into any political  system in that it is a process   of   assessment  and reappraisal of leadership with a view  to moving forward on   beneficial  programmes or reviewing  strategies  with a view  to   making  necessary  reforms or adjustments. Elections when  free  and fair  reward   politicians for good  performance and punish  them for poor  performance  in terms of victory  or  failure  at such  elections.  That  is why expectations are high in the electorate at  election time. The  parties out of power hope to  get  it back at  election time. While the party in power does  all  it can  to retain that power.  Such  is the situation in Nigeria in  2019  and that  is what we want  to take  a  look  at  for  now.

    Neverthless it    is necessary  to point out that elections should  take place in secure environments  and not all  parts of Nigeria can claim to be in that mold or   condition   for  now. The North  East  is not a safe place as  Boko  Haram  has  waxed  stronger  and  that is  obvious in two  developments this week. The  Chief of Army Staff  was quoted as saying that Boko  Haram  is not better  armed   than   the Nigerian  Army   as alleged in  some quarters.  The  second  was the news of  the  visit  of the Minister  of  Defence  to  the North  East  and  Chad where  he  was briefed   by  commanders about the dire  situation on the ground,  which he promised to convey to the Commander In Chief  who is the Nigerian President.  Again  there is the volatile   and recurring  issue of the Herdsmen  and Farmers clashes over cattle  grazing and the destruction of farmlands  in many parts of the nation. These  are burning security issues  that need containment especially  in an election year like this 2019. If  you  add  to  this the potentially explosive  issue of a threatened strike any  time soon  on the   thirty   thousand   naira   minimum   wage   by the leadership of the Nigerian Labour  Congress, you  will  see  how    maximally stressed  our political  system  will  be in  taking on  the  grim issues  of   security  and industrial  unrest,   in  an  election year like 2019.

    Today   I will  use  two states namely Lagos  and Ogun, to illustrate that personalities  and issues will play a bigger part in the 2019  elections at both the guber  and presidential levels. I  will also  show  that    in terms of    political  participation   and   mobilization, no state in Nigeria is an island on its own. And that just as the Americans are lamenting that the Russians are hacking their elections, inter  state hacking and  intervention    have become a way  of life in Nigerian politics  too. Indeed   I will  use my own  personal  experience  to illustrate some of these  observations.

    In  Lagos  state   I have seen  the lovely  campaign  slogan on l freedom ‘ for APC  governorship  candidate Jide Sanwoolu, saying that –‘ I  am a   proud  and free Lagosian, I    choose  Sawoolu’.  That  sounds strange to me because I  never  knew that  any  Lagosians in these    modern   era   are in bondage. That looked like   protesting S Africans  under apartheid  or like Herbert  Macaulay, taking on the    colonialists in pre Independence   Lagos, Nigeria.  Surely  the APC candidate  has more going for him  to sell  his candidacy  without invoking  a siege or distress  mentality where there is none.  Lagosians   are a vibrant   and  educated  lot  who  know their   rights   as  well  as where their   bread  is buttered.  APC  is popular in Lagos state  and should  not  be reactive in its  campaign  posturing or   else it would  be doing the dirty  job  of the opposition by making a mountain out of a mole hill.

    In  Ogun  State  the  incumbent  governor  has  pledged  to  campaign  for the reelection of the APC presidential  candidate President  Muhammadu  Buhari  but  has asked  his supporters  not  to support the APC official governorship  candidate. The  governor  has asked  his supporters  in a state  in which  observers  say  he  calls  the shots  effectively   to support  a candidate  from another   party. According to  reports, the governor’s candidate   in another   party  laid claim to the achievements  of the incumbent  governor  when  he visited  the State  Council of Obas  recently  where  the traditional  rulers  pledged their  support  to the Governor’s  choice.  Which  makes the APC like a house divided against  itself in Ogun  State. Yet  I  see  some order in this seeming polarization and division in the party in power in the state, especially with  regard  to the firmness in the support  for  the APC in the presidential  election.  What  would  have looked like a daunting and unique  political  contest   has  however  been diminished  by the behavior of the APC  official governorship  candidate on Channels TV recently. He  just  could not defend  his educational  credentials in a credible  manner. He  even hesitantly  said he could not discuss what  he discussed with the President on TV. His  performance on that TV appearance  has   wounded   his chances  in a state like Ogun, where  educational  integrity is revered  and where  the  Federal   Minister of Finance  also  from the state  recently  resigned over doubtful  qualification  and   eligibility  credentials.

    Let  me end with  the  issue of interference  from Lagos  that the incumbent  APC governor alleged  over the last APC  primaries in Ogun  State. I  tell  the governor  candidly  that no state  in Nigeria exists in isolation and Ogun  state is not an   exception. A  leading woman  politician once accused the Vice President, an APC  member from Ogun State,  of being responsible  for imposing a candidate  from Lagos as APC governoship candidate in Ogun State. Even  the Jagaban  and former  Governor of the State Segun Osoba  have  been similarly  accused. Today  I hold  brief  for them and clear them of such  mischievous insinuations with  my own citizenship. I am a citizen of Nigeria born and raised in Lagos educationally  and professionally.  Just   like   our Professor  VP. I  am  also a  citizen  of Ogun state  because my  parents are  from Ogun State  and  I dutifully  and truthfully  fill in Ogun  state  as my state of origin when  filling any form on any issue  or transaction, as required. Does  that make me less of a citizen  of Ogun  State? Definitely  not   and  the good governor  of Ogun state should  not lose  any sleep  over that. Or  look over his shoulders  because  his citizens born in Lagos are around. In  fact  they    have  always   surrounded   him very massively  and most  helpfully  in his   two – term    successful  administration. Once again, long live  the  Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • I DIDN’T HAVE TO CHANGE PERSONALITIES TO GET MARRIED –ARAMIDE

    I DIDN’T HAVE TO CHANGE PERSONALITIES TO GET MARRIED –ARAMIDE

    Aramide Sarumoh popularly known as Aramide is into Afro-Soul/Jazz. Described as an avid performer, she recently released a new single I don’t Care, a sequel to Iwo Nikan.
    The Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) picked her as the Most Promising Female Act to Watch 2013. NEA has also just nominated her as Female Artist of the Year 2015. In this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKANMI, she speaks on her music and marriage, among other issues.

    TELL us about your new single, and why the title?

    My new single is called I Don’t Care and Sizzle Pro produced it. It talks about being happy, not minding what people think or say about whatever you decide to pour yourself in. I came from the relationship perspective to further explain. It is about being lost in your fantasy or passion, and not caring about whether it’s dangerous or cool as long as you are happy with what you do, you really shouldn’t care. I love dramatic titles!

    People read different meaning to song titles, what are the responses to your new song?

    The responses have been amazing and overwhelming. It’s different and people love and are open to change.

    You took a break and recently returned. What happened during your absence?

    I didn’t really take a break. I joined a new record label called Baseline and it took a while for my project to kick off, because there were so many other projects on ground, and each person’s project is always given the maximum attention needed at all times.

    Now that you are back, what are your plans to stay grounded as an artiste?

    I didn’t go anywhere oh lol. I dropped a song in February called Iwo Nikan and it was well received; it’s been on alternative radio charts for months now. I’ve been recording, performing, and working generally. Basically, the plan is to remain consistent.

    We learnt that you are also working on your debut album, tell us about it

    Yes, I am. I’m so excited about the work I’ve done so far. I’m still recording. And the album is due to be out in 2016.

    How did you feel, being nominated for NEA 2015?

    I feel really honoured to be recognised, and also to be nominated alongside great, amazing, and very hardworking female artists.

    Do you think soul songs have a chance in Nigeria?

    Definitely, and absolutely.

    Tell us about the transformation from spinsterhood to being married

    It was an easy one for me. I didn’t have to change personalities, or the way I dressed, or other things. Just another natural phase of life.

    Now that you are married, how do you plan to balance both; your career and marriage?

    Music has always been part of my life, and I’m with a very understanding and supportive man. I have all the support I need from my husband, and team; and we are all great friends, so it’s been smooth so far. I am grateful to God for that.

    Tell us about your soul mate, and why you said yes

    He’s my best friend and the most amazing person I know.

    Aside you debut album, what other projects do you have at hand?

    For now, I’m staying focused on my album and my career. Also, I have some other projects in the works that you will hear about once they kick off.

    Who are your mentors as an artiste?

    I have a lot of them, but to mention a few, I would say Waje, M.I and Asa.

    What do you think make artistes release singles before a full album?

    Singles are released to create awareness and also to test the waters. More like give people a feel of who you are with your music and what they should expect from your album or future works.

    When did you discover you could sing, and when did you start off professionally?

    As a teenager, I knew I could sing and I started music professionally about five years ago.

    As an artiste, what can you say have been your challenges?

    My biggest challenge was being accepted with my style of music and sticking to it to the point of relevance. But it gets easier with consistency.

    Why did you sign up with Baseline Music, among other record labels?

    Baseline line wanted to sign an artist like me and that was the kind of record label I was looking for.

    What is your advice to young artistes?

    My advice to young artistes is to work hard, believe in yourself and keep improving daily. Above all, trust God.

    Tell us about your beauty routine

    I’m a very simple person. My daily beauty routine is usually just some face-cleansing, a little smudge of lipstick and lip-gloss. I only go all out when I have a major appearance, a performance or music video.

    When you are not busy, how do you relax?

    I chill with friends, have drinks and talk. I love being with my family too.

    Tell us about your music experience

    Aramide is a Nigerian Afro-Soul/Jazz artiste signed to Baseline Music, who discovered her talents of singing and writing as a teenager and decided to nurture them.

    After secondary school, she learnt to play the saxophone and guitar; two instruments she is quite passionate about. While studying Political Science at the University of Jos, Aramide participated in the Star Quest Talent Hunt show, making her part of a band that finished third runners up.

    My approach to song-writing, soft but deep and powerful voice, is some of the things that stand me out.

  • Personalities and issues of 2012

    Let me start by stating that I start this piece today on the horn of a dilemma . This is because as this is the last Saturday of 2012 I initially wanted to pick a Man of the Year in the best tradition of Time or Newsweek Magazine , which is to identify someone who has influenced world affairs for good or bad in the past year . In this mode of identification , Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini , and before him Adolf Hitler had controversially but correctly graced the front covers of this great American magazines. However to my consternation and frustration I had a difficult time finding one person not because there was a shortage of such distinguished persons , but the dilemma arose in that if I chose one , I will be leaving out so many on the crucial divide of those who have influenced 2012 for good or bad . That dilemma crystallized into the topic of today and you are welcome to your verdict on whether I have taken the easy way out or given myself an uphill task to finish off a difficult and terror ridden year .

    Personalities and issues that have shaped the fortunes of 2012 for good and bad are many and varied. They have created moments that have made us happy and sad and on occasions created the pitiful dilemma that made us unable to decide whether to cry or laugh . This then is my new assignment today which is to line up and analyze such personalities and issues in the way they have influenced world affairs for good or bad in 2012 .

    The first set of personalities stem from elections which saw such leaders being reelected into another term or assuming a position they had before and that includes US President Barak Obama and Russia’s new President Vladmir Putin . These two gentlemen have by their offices influenced world affairs more than any other human being for good or bad depending on what part of the political divide of global politics you have found yourself . The next set of leaders are those who have excelled in their vocations and have blazed a trail in setting their nations on a new road in terms of diplomacy and international relations . I doff my hat then to two ladies of substance who bestrode the world in 2012 like Amazons in this regard namely out going US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi who brought her nation in from the cold of international isolation and claimed a well deserved Nobel Prize in the process .

    In the Middle East where the Arab Spring of 2011 , a popular street uprising against entrenched despots in Tunisia , Egypt and Libya gave way in 2012 to a clash between Fundamentalists and Others in Egypt where the Muslim Brotherhood is using its majority to assert what Egypt’s new President Mohammed Morsi has been saying on CNN – there is no Islamic Democracy but only democracy. A statement of fact that is bound to shape the struggles for freedom and human dignity in the Middle East for the foreseeable future . In this wise while Mohammed Morsi of Egypt has influenced world politics for good in 2012 in spite of the opposition he faces at home. While the blood letting sit- tight President of Syria , Bashar Assad is the monster of the year in Damascus where he is using his army to suppress his people who have decided that he should go .

    In Sports laced with a tinge of security success Britain stands out as a model of success in the way it organized the 2012 London Olympics without any security hitch or terrorism similar to the Munich Olympics massacre of Israeli athletes sometime ago . Just as one must lambast Norway and the US on poor policing and security lapses in 2012 that resulted in lone terrorists inflicting mass murder especially of children and youths in their respective communities .

    In Nigeria air disasters and Boko Haram bombings especially of churches on a weekly basis dominated the skyline in 2012 and that leaves a very sour taste in the mouth . One can only hope and pray that 2013 will be better . In politics however the Opposition ACN is taking on the ruling and complacent ruling PDP on all issues and positioning itself as credible alternative to a poor performing government especially on issues of security and safety of life and property . In this regard the leader of the party Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu must take the credit for the domination of the South West by the party which has governors in four of the five states of the former Western region namely Lagos , Ogun ,Oshun , and Oyo states .

    These then are the issues and personalities that I feel dominated the horizon of our local and global politics in 2012 and I will briefly dilate on each but not necessarily in tandem . Let us start with the US where Obama’s reelection gave hope to millions of migrants who would certainly have been deported if he had lost the election . His support or his US policy of Engagement in the Middle East has promoted democracy and human freedom and dignity in a region that two years ago was agog with despotism and demagoguery . However tension and mistrust still exist between the secular and Islamist sections of the newly liberated nations of Libya , Tunisia , and Egypt and if that is not to escalate the US must amend its Middle East Policy to reflect new realities on the ground . It can do this by making Israel to return the lands it captured in the 1967 Six Days War and the 1973 War with the Arabs or by stopping the building of settlements by the Benjamin Netanyahu government on such land . This is because this is the cause of outrage and anti – Americanism in the Middle East and this will be exacerbated if democracy brings in elected, democratic but Islamist government, as as widely expected in the area .

    Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi because of the No fly zone imposed by NATO , Russia has opposed every thing that the US and EU nations have brought before the Security Council of the UN . This indeed is what has prolonged the political life of the hated Assad Dynasty and regime in Damascus . Vladmir Putin is the epitome and architect of this anti EU and anti American policy which has crystallized into blind and total support for Assad in Syria . This is because Putin believes the western powers were behind the massive demonstrations that greeted his 2012 election for another four years as president after a four year stint as Prime Minister , preceded by a two term, 8 -year tenure from 2001- 2008 as president of Russia . You can only grasp the enormity of this Putin political abradacabra or magic if you can see George Bush , the US 43rd president [2001 – 2008] who served for the same period as Putin returning to power again in the US . This was a major and successful political innovation that Putin imposed on his nation to the annoyance of the Americans who supported the opposition against him which he crushed, and is now using Syria as pay back time to thwart US backed Security Council support for Syrian Opposition, as was the case in Libya .

    The role of Hillary Clinton as the mother of the Arab Spring Uprising and its consolidation in 2012 is the stuff of history . So also is her beguilement of the military in Burma with the collaboration of Suu Kyi the famous prisoner of Burma that Hillary at last helped to free in 2012. That , together with the business trips to Asia to reinvigorate the ailing US economy that almost cost Obama his reelection made Hillary the most successful US Secretary of State of modern times and 2012 in particular. It is a tribute to the diplomatic dexterity of Hillary Clinton that the newly elected president of Egypt can claim that democracy has no religious color but is a game of numbers at the polls . Which is why I see the Egyptian president as speaking the truth and saying the obvious even though his party will use that majority eventually against the US because of its support for Israel , the arch enemy of the Palestinians and ipso facto that of all Arabs , including Egyptians .

    Lastly it is in the context of the leaders mentioned above that one must see the leadership of Asiwaju Tinubu of the ACN in the southwest which is the most politically sophisticated and articulate part of Nigeria . In 2012 this political leader provided an accommodating but firm leadership that placed political control of key western states under his control . More importantly the ACN – run states have become models in terms of efficiency and responsiveness to their neighbors . That is real regional power that can be harvested in elections in other places and Lagos State in particular is blazing a trail in this regard . Without mincing words Asiwaju Tinubu not only consolidated power successfully in 2012 he influenced Nigerian politics for good in the process of establishing his party as a credible alternative to the government in power in Abuja .