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My Binoculars: Of partisan politicians, defection, lack of consultations and the pending rebellion of young people against the present unproductive political order

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3 years ago

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My Binoculars: Of partisan politicians, defection, lack of consultations and the pending rebellion of young people against the present unproductive political order

My Binoculars: Of partisan politicians, defection, lack of consultations and the pending rebellion of young people against the present unproductive political order

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Since 1993 when billionaire Moshood Abiola set the pace from the private sector by throwing his hat into the ring for the presidential election, he used his charisma to lure a lot of young people into partisan politics. Abiola ignited a mini revolution by going into some higher institutions in Nigeria and donating to several causes that would better the lot of the entire community. Many of them who were students in those days have graduated and some are still struggling to make ends meet till this day. He achieved similar feats outside the shores of this country which earned him the title of pillar of sports in Africa. His constituency was mostly young people and he never wasted opportunities to help them become better citizens. Almost 20 years after his demise, the opposite is the case, the present leaders keep recycling themselves. They don’t care about the young in spite of the so-called not too young to run bill which has been passed. In Nigeria today, the population of young people keep increasing and most of them have been edged out of the political system. And you know what that means, they will be bouncing back with violence if not well handled before the next general election.

If over 70 percent of the population of Nigeria is made up of some of these young people, who saw the winner of the June 12, 1993 election move around and received the kind of acceptance he got in company of his vice Presidential candidate Babagana Kingibe, then all those politicians in the older bracket of the age ladder should be terribly scared about the current enlightenment around the young people of today. I am talking about those in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s who form less than 6 percent of the population of Nigeria. These young people have been frustrated over the misbehaving political class and have vowed to take back the country from these political casanovas. People who defect from one party to another without principles. I mean the foundational principles laid down for them by Aminu Waziri, Solomon Lar, Obafemi Awolowo, Zik of African and many others who lived up to the early eighties. These people gave hope to their followers. And even when such hope is diminished, like when Awo lost to Shehu Shagari, the principles of being progressives guided them on.

Why politicians defect from one party to the other

Politicians who defect from one party to the other do so mostly for their personal interest and not for the people they claim to serve. That is why some of them who have contested for the same position several times unfortunately do so to oil the engine of me, my wife and children. And not for the generality of their people. Very few political stalwarts can actually claim to be innocent of this awkward behavior including the progressives. After defecting some of them are promised of sure victory because they are sure of using the young people to rig them into office. They believe that the winner takes it all mentality is a good thing and the shortest route to join the upper class. So let’s rig and win. This is so since there is no guarantee of such long term riches again in the middle class which is almost wiped out in Nigeria.

One senator acquires so many cars and houses yet the condition of his people does not improve in anyway. These young people are mostly used as his thugs and they see all these forms of ostentatious life oiled by stolen cash. Stolen mostly from the porous system created to favor a particular section of the country. They award contract to themselves in the name of settlement and patronage for those who work for them to be rigged into office. And they share the butty with the civil servants who are willing tools in the hands of these political plunderers.

Sadly some defect when they are deprived of stomach infrastructure or a chance to get to a particular office. And when they ultimately move to the new party they will contest several times until they are in position of power which is the ultimate aim. Some even see partisan politics as a profession that should feed them instead of a call to service. And that is what most Nigerians who flock around them know as feathering their nest by acquiring so much to keep them going during the rainy day. The sad reality of what is going on in Nigeria is that ignorance is perpetually used as a weapon to keep the followers from knowing the truth. And when that is done, they begin to hope that the next President will be better. If he is not better, their hopes begin to deem till it gets to a point of no return. The cult like figure that some of these politicians have will surely disappear if by the end of the 2023 election, the young people do not see hope at the end of the tunnel. The billions that some of them have will no longer work as a bait and these political stalwarts will no longer be safe. Some may be going back to their mansion in London to hide. This time not for politics but to stay underground. Of a truth some of them had billions made from businesses before coming to look for the power like Chief Moshood Abiola, who was a philanthropist and longed for power, while others came to power purely out of greed before looking for the cash using the very civil servants they met in the system. 

Bad influence of the politicians on the civil servants

Once upon a time, it was mostly the political holders that used to end up being stupendously rich before the present sick form of corruption in government which has become the norm disturbingly at the Federal level in spite of anti graft agencies breathing down their heads. Now it is the civil servants that are eying the billions. At present, the civil servants no longer want to teach the political elites how to steal while they go home with a paltry gratuity after 35 years. They too now steal with impunity as we have seen from the statistics churned out by the Economic and Finance Crime Commision (EFCC).

Indeed, some of the reasons why Africa has so much backwardness is because most of the people who clamoured to get into political offices are equally backward and possibly unemployable. So the only option is to steal through getting into the system or come in through the backdoor as a credible contractor, collect juicy contracts and steal most of it after the accountant general has been given his share. Some of them claim to have gone to school but gone are the days when the sound of their certificates draws one to attention. This is because most of them bought their teachers and acquired the certificates at all costs which is why when some of them stand up to speak for their people in the National Assembly watchers of the polity  wonder how this one got there.

Also Read: Italy-bound physically challenged man arrested with drugs…

When they get out of school, their mindset is channelled on how to get a white coloured job where they can be able to steal as much as they cannot spend in their life time. That explains why a man will climb the ladder of the ministry of finance only to get to the level of Accountant General of the federation and steal as much as N200 billion in the period of his appointment. The man who replaced him is suddenly replaced after being fingered as having soiled fingers by the financial intelligence agencies. And sadly these are the people that teach politicians how to steal. It is this stealing with impunity that these young people have been seeing that has built up these pent up anger. That is why the general election of 2023 will be a strange one because so many unthinkable surprises will emerge.

Strange reasons some Nigerian politicians are desperate to hold on to power

Most Nigerians want to get into politics because it’s the easiest way to get rich quickly and establish members of their families. The Nigerian polity is so distablized because you have people with no principles jumping from one party to the other wanting to situate themselves where it is happening so that they will participate in the sharing of the Commonwealth of the masses, making them worse than they met them. They rely on the politics of patronage and settlement to achieve their goals. That is why the nation has never had good governance since President Shehu Shagari left office. It’s either we have a military despot who was killing everyone to civilian leaders who ran the country based on trial and error. We have not had a Commander in Chief who has been able to handle security effectively for instance in the last 20 years. These are the worries of the young people.

What you have now are recycled and sick leaders who lack ideas but are holding tightly to parties to help them get into power. None of them can in their individual merit run as independent candidates and even win in their council areas. That is why they don’t be want the independent candidacy clause to be inserted into the reviewed constitution and passed in the National Assembly. 

 If not why would there be so much desperation in the realm of politicking to become President of Nigeria? Why would someone be so condescending to insist that it is his turn now? Even if we were in a federation of turn by turn inserted in the constitution, is it really his turn? How will these young people feel seeing someone desperately insisting that it is his turn? What about those in the south east don’t they have a right to say it’s their turn too?

Sadly, these are some of the questions these young and angry members of the public use to pose to us whenever we come across them. As a journalist, I am trained to ask the questions and not to pretend to understand the minds of all politicians including the diabolical ones who steal and are dragged to court by EFCC. Of course the innocent ones will escape even without a good lawyer but what marvels me is that some guilty ones still find time to go back and re-contest for offices. Such politicians hardly have shame. No need to name anybody here but they know themselves. Why is it that some of them who have actionable cases with the EFCC are not ashamed to contest? Known drug dealers and sniffers are in public offices with heads raised high up. Some of them contest elections and the same young people who take their drugs kill and steal ballot boxes on their behalf. Win or loose, they are allowed to walk around and pollute every one. Why should anyone vote for you when you disrespect and look down on the people by telling us that it’s your turn? Or you have contested 5times and you think you are the only one qualified to contest again. Why should I piety any sick one just because he has thrown his hat into the ring? Who says our tribe is not qualified to have the presidency? How about our religious group,  are we so useless that no one is qualified to represent us? Why is it that there is no ideology in the parties? All of them lean towards a common front?   The stomach ideology which is common to all the strong parties. 

The bottom line for a national front for the country is for a third force to come as canvarsed for by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo recently. A third force based on justice fairness and balance.

My Binoculars: Of partisan politicians, defection, lack of consultations and the pending rebellion of young people against the present unproductive political order

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IBUAM: Redefining the Nigerian Aerospace and Systems Through Aeronautics Disciplines

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6 days ago

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February 17, 2026

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IBUAM: Redefining the Nigerian Aerospace and Systems Through Aeronautics Disciplines

By: Balami Lazarus

The Wright brothers invented and flew the first airplane in 1903. They never knew that they had set the growth, development, and progress of the aviation industry with their invention.

Following the establishment of Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM), Nigerians are optimistic that it will redefine with sophistication the aerospace systems, giving a new definition of the aviation through her academic courses by the quality of graduates that shall come on board sooner or later with made-in-Nigeria aircraft, their parts, and other related inventions.

I remembered one of my bright students whom I taught some years past, who has clamped and insulated her mind and interest to studying aeronautics engineering; my encouragements for her were endless.

And here we are, with a university that will give every candidate equal opportunities in his or her course of study, where future global stars are going to be trained to rule the aviation industry and her economy—national and international—through IBUAM academic disciplines.

The emergence of specialized universities in Nigeria was a big reality in the realm of our educational systems. These universities are no doubt making progress towards improving specialization by their trained professionals in various fields of studies for economic growth and industrialization, like what IBUAM is intended to do through one of her courses rarely taught in some Nigerian universities.

IBUAM is here to cater to the near-starved aviation needs of human capital and material resources through aeronautics engineering systems/management.

All courses at IBUAM are important for our nation’s development and in the aviation sector. Interestingly, IBUAM has state-of-the-art facilities to enhance teaching and learning—hangers, special workshops, tools, materials, and equipment. Her classrooms/lecture halls are also equipped with modern/standard facilities meant for effective and qualitative academic teaching and practical lessons for excellent performance of her students in their various courses. Therefore, IBUAM is doing the right thing in our education space and time.

Before I started this work, I was focused, mind made up on one fundamental course offered at IBUAM, and by all standards, that will automatically change the foundation and structure of the aerospace, which will provide Nigeria with aircraft and parts through the Aerospace Engineering course (B. Aerospace Engineering). This academic discipline is where students are expected to be trained in the science and skills of aerospace engineering “meant for designing, building, aircraft maintenance, and spacecraft systems.”

Therefore, this course of study and its related associates (metaphorically) will redefine the aviation aerospace and its science of engineering arts/skills, provided IBAUM academic teaching and learning are capped with practicals.

Engr. Isaac David Balami

whose passion for education and aeronautics is rooted in IBUAM, said that courses of study are all in the womb of JAMB requirements for candidates seeking admission in IBUAM: “For better and further understanding of our admission requirements and equal opportunities, I refer intended candidates to go through the JAMB prospectus.”

With no iota of doubt in my mind, this university will put Nigeria on the international aviation map of progress and value.

Balami, Publisher/Columnist. 08036779290

IBUAM: Redefining the Nigerian Aerospace and Systems Through Aeronautics Disciplines

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Fela, Seun Kuti, Wizkid and the Erratic Beliefs of The Generation Zees in Nigeria

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1 week ago

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February 16, 2026

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My Binoculars:

Fela, Seun Kuti, Wizkid and the Erratic Beliefs of The Generation Zees in Nigeria

By: Bodunrin Kayode

One of the most unintelligent discussions I have heard in recent times is the comparison of a human institution like Fela Kuti to any ordinary individual. It sounds so dumb, awkward and misplaced that sometimes one wonders why so called “right thinking people” wander into such useless discussions like the impulsive Z generation known popularly as genzees. Most generation Zee fellows are adventurous and misuse communication using the latest Ai technology which makes them to assume they are smarter than even the millennials, born before 2000 who are much more closer to them than the generation X which reigned long after legends like Fela Kuti was born.

This is because they can make enormous amounts of money through music or any crafts with the help of the AI technology. Those who find themselves in the culture, art and music are the worse because they become millionaires by just talking or singing any rubbish like they do in the contemporary music at times and it is called “content” fit for consumption. Some even use very foul languages not fit for the airspace yet unfit presenters and uneducated DJ’s call them influencers following after the way of the west where all manner of crude and uncouth behavioral pattern becomes the norm. There is no reason for the comparison of Fela a “baby boomer” to a restless kid like Wizkid. It is an abomination and should never happen under the sun. It’s a sin for anyone to make such comparison because Fela is the founder of the genre of the music most of the genzee musicians are singing today. How does an angel or a mere mortal compare himself to their Creator? Such thoughts should not be allowed to take place at all. It’s disgusting.

Wizkid’s obscene challenge of Fela’s position as the founder of afro beat as it is known today

Imagine a badly influenced genzee element who calls himself Wizkid wakes up and suddenly realizes that he is actually an adult fit to contest superiority with an institution like Baba Fela Kuti. As far as some of us who witnessed the great “anikulapo” Kuti first hand in his shrine can remember, Wizkid was not born when Fela challenged ruthless military authorities to account for their wicked deeds against the people. Consequently, it is really needless for even Seun Kuti to be in a hurry to defend the larger than life pedigree of his father. That too will be heavy for Seun to stand up, carry on his head and defend. He should have allowed all those who were mentees of Fela to get up and take up verbal arms against attention seeking detractors led by this Wiz Pekin way nor know say the thing way elders de see at the foot of a palm tree e nor go see am at all even if he climbs up to the top of the tree. It is often said in Yoruba language that ” Atari ajanaku kii se ewu omode” meaning that the head of an elephant is not the kind of load a child can carry.” And this is for Wizkid who has refused to grow up. Fela’s daughter aunty Yeni and Femi Kuti have placed it succinctly in recent responses to the altercation between Seun and WizKid. And the summary of what they said is that it was pointless fighting for someone who became an institution long before his demise. And long before Wizkid was born or started imitating the nuances of Baba Fela in the name of Afro beat. Fela was idolized by millions of mentees all over the world and we don’t need to ask the family to produce evidence of this. That history was removed from the curriculum of genzees making it difficult for them to understand the past is not their fault. It is a calculated plot of the oligarchs who have an agenda and would not want even millennials to remember who was Funmilayo Ransome Kuti the mother of Fela and what role she played in raw activism against the jack boots of colonialists in Nigeria.

Abani Eda, the deity who walked around with death in his pocket

Fela regarded himself as the ” abani Eda” the strange one who changed his name from Ransome Kuti to Anikulapo Kuti meaning he walked around with death in his pocket. That itself was a dangerous threat to the military who hunted him day and night looking for faults to kill him. He never gave them the opportunity to humiliate or intimidate him even after killing his mother Fumilayo Ransom Kuti whom they thought was his spiritual backbone. Rather, it made Fela more daring and horned the activist in him further. Incarceration equally never broke him because that is always the bottom line of any dictatorial government involved in repressive tendencies.

Regardless of what anyone thinks, Fela Kuti was not just an individual that can be messed around with but a deity of some sorts who fought the deadliest battles in his life against injustice. A man that built the foundation for a genre of music which is now called “afro beat” today and one badly brought up genzee brat just wakes up to name drop and equate himself to Fela the oracle of afro beat in the whole world..it’s so insulting and unintelligent of him to even conceive this kind of talk about “I big pass your papa” “or i get money pass your papa” while thrashing a beef with Seun Kuti. It was arrant nonsense that should never be allowed to be prolonged afterwards Fela reached out to the entire world with his popular pidgin English lyrics which dominated even interviews with international news media houses. Of a truth, this talk about who is greater should not even arise because it is uncalled for, insulting and a dangerous mark of disrespect against the iconic statue of Fela Kuti.

For young people like Wizkid who do not know who Fela is, they should go take a look into his background because none of them were born when Fela dared to speak to power including military governments which was in vogue in Nigeria before 2000 when the generation zees started coming into this world.
My advice to the Kuti Family is to ignore the young man because we all know about his dangerous genzee influencing roles and exigencies way beyond what Fela would have tolerated in his Ikeja Shrine.

Fela, Seun Kuti, Wizkid and the Erratic Beliefs of The Generation Zees in Nigeria

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Anatomy of Electronic Platforms: The Honey Badger Attitudes/Character

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1 week ago

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February 14, 2026

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Anatomy of Electronic Platforms: The Honey Badger Attitudes/Character

By: Balami Lazarus

As a young boy I have heard of this small-sized animal, the honey badger, called “Dagi” in the Hausa language, that belongs to the Mustelidae family of otters, weasels, ferrets, and a few others of its kind. It has a white, single stripe pattern on its back. Honey badgers are rated the most fearless animal on earth today, its size notwithstanding. It has no respect for territorial boundaries or the privacy of other animals in the wild.

Honey badgers move and hunt freely at any point in time. They are known for their large appetite; anything goes for either breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Honey juice and snacks are their favorites. Honey badgers fight other animals without hesitation, undermining the consequences. This is the behavior and activities of some individuals on their platforms.

The pictures painted in words are typical of the anatomy of some electronic platforms in this age of digital systems, where many more honey badgers have emerged.

I am a member of some platforms and am writing this piece from experience. As a groping participant of my platform who always tried to make meaningful contributions with glitches of qualitative and educative postings in an attempt to facilitate the free flow of information among members of my group.

Social platforms have made it easier for the free flow of ideas and information accessible to every member of the group, with information at his fingertips.

Platforms that are not properly organized or are not professionally inclined in accordance with their professions, trades, or vocations are always overtaken and controlled by members with the character and attitudes of honey badgers.

Electronic platforms are supposed to be a place where members are informed/receive good information or put on notice.

While bereavements, ailments, and other unfortunate postings are the traffic of some electronics platforms. More so, some are flooded with all such birthdays—humans and animals. In fact, some members are known for soliciting birthday wishes. Without apology, many are birthday beggars: “I am one today; celebrate with me.”

I pray leadership of platforms that are faced with such viruses should endeavor to make corrections to achieve their objectives.

Balami, Publisher/Columnist. 08036779290

Anatomy of Electronic Platforms: The Honey Badger Attitudes/Character

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