Columns

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

Published

3 years ago

September 5, 2022

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.

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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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Columns

Mangun Gruesome Killings: What is the Rational Behind this Act?

Published

10 hours ago

June 30, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Mangun Gruesome Killings: What is the Rational Behind this Act?

By: Balami Lazarus

When I heard of the killings of the innocent travelers that happened at Manjul in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, who are my brothers and sisters? I sat down and began to think, trying to reason out why and what the rationale is behind these killings. My thought raised so many questions regarding this brutal murder, ruling out some motives. But political motive kept whispering, telling me the rationale is politically motivated considering the quantum of killings on the Plateau in places like Bokkos, Bassa, and Mangu, which has become a vicious cycle in these areas. And in addition, there were utterances from some politicians complicating issues.

I hereby condole with the families of my brothers and sisters from Zaria-Basawa, Samaru, Hayin Dogo (Kallo Kura), and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) community main campus Samaru who lost their lives in the Mangun brutal killings of 20th June, 2025, on their way to Qua-anpan for a wedding. May their souls rest in peace.

The killings of these innocent Nigerians were carried out with no reason or cause, neither threat nor provocation of any kind, much lessreligion or ethnicity, as some irrational persons want us to believe. I stand and write with the power of the pen to say in print that the sentiments aforementioned are far and kept away from such unfortunate incidents, which have been peddled around by some enemies of peace and progress on the Plateau.

It is on record that so many Nigerians have condemned in totality the killings of these innocent travelers. While the government and the good people of Plateau State have long condemned this act in strong terms. Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang’s administration has properly condoled and sympathized with the government and people of Kaduna State, including the management and staff of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria. In his effort as the executive governor, Mutfwang is working tirelessly to see that justice takes its course on those involved in this crime. Besides, his administration is making an effort to compensate the affected families, according to sources.

It might surprise some readers why I emotionally addressed those murdered as my brothers and sisters from Zaria-Basawa, Hayin Dogo (Kallo Kura), Samaru, and ABU main campus, which are integral parts of the Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. I am an indigene of Zaria, having been born and bred outside the ganuwa (city walls) of the ancient Zaria city in Gaskiya, Kongo, ABU main campus, and Samaru, all addressed as Zaria, where I had my childhood spree. Therefore, I will not be queried by identifying with the deceased and their families as my own people, for we are linked one way or the other.

Let me hereinafter tell you why I suspect political motive was behind these killings of the travelers in Mangun-Mangu. I partly grew up on the Plateau, shuttling between Jos and Sharam in Kanke Local Government Area as a student and still living in Jos. Moreover, I have some good understanding of the people, their sociopolitical and economic happenings, and their dynamics on the one hand. And I once led a political group on the other. The utterances of some politicians and their cohorts/allies are questionable because they are not happy with the people-oriented projects of the Caleb Mutfwang administration. And that they were accused of sponsoring the killings going on in the state. The case of Mangun, 20th June, 2025, holds water going by the alleged accusations and the kind of politics playing out in Plateau State.

Findings have revealed that there were interventions by some youth leaders, elders, and vigilantes who risked their lives trying to stop this group of rascals from carrying out the killings and burning of the bus belonging to ABU conveying the victims for a wedding at Qua-anpan. In fact, some were burnt—men, women, and children. Others were rescued with various degrees of injuries. Reports put the total dead at 8 persons. While 12 were injured, some survived. The good news making rounds is the arrest of over 20 suspects believed to be behind these gruesome killings of the Zaria travelers.

Thus, this incident has no doubt painted Plateau State in a bad light as one of the major flashpoint states where killers of innocent travelers reside. Well, I will not blame them because this is not the first. However, this particular one is painfully shrouded in a bitter political atmosphere between some gladiators who are not at peace with the positive developments in the state. Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang as the change driver.

Yes, there are insecurity challenges on the Plateau, where apprehension and naked suspicion are everywhere, prompting the citizens to be extremely cautious and always on alert. However, if young men can channel their collective energies as a force towards the insecurity bedeviling the state instead of engaging in political thuggery, drugs, and criminality, there will be a change in their lives and the entire system.

Balami, a publisher/columnist. 08036779290

Mangun Gruesome Killings: What is the Rational Behind this Act?

Columns

Osama, For Good Governance and Social Justice Through the Radio

Published

1 week ago

June 20, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Osama, For Good Governance and Social Justice Through the Radio

By: Balami Lazarus

Osama. Does it ring a bell? Yes, it does on the Plateau. The Osama I am writing about is that individual who is known for his good works for humanity on the radio and outside the studio. Osama is a gentleman but is outspoken and has a mind of his own.

My Osama in this context is a personality, a brand, and a trademark. Osama is a broadcaster, radio presenter, and popular comedian on stage and in the entertainment industry in Jos-Plateau and beyond. Since the writing is sailing, I will later reveal the identity of who this young man is and why he is so passionate about good governance.

The fights for human rights, social justice, and good governance have been the cries and topic of discourse of so many Nigerians, especially good governance. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and human rights activists are the leaders in these struggles, whereby their roles cannot be overemphasized. The quantum of spoken words, public lectures/enlightenment programs, workshops, seminars, etc., has not brought many changes in our systems because there was little or no action by you and me as Nigerians.

I remembered when I was very active in the struggle for human rights and social justice. As Deputy Secretary General (DSG) of Democratic Alternative (DA), we were much concerned with democratic alternative processes and social justice with a whiff of good governance, and this has been the case for some NGOs, as I know.

I came to understand from my experiences that, as a country, we have good public-oriented programs, but our major challenges are implementation and follow-up that come with too many talks but no individual action or collective responsibility because many Nigerians are fearful, and this has made me a one-man advocate/crusader for human rights and social justice. Like the subject of this work.

Now back to the subject. Osama is a brand package, fearless advocate, and mouthpiece for good governance on the Plateau through Town Hall, a popular radio program aired by JFM 101.9 FM. Jos is widely listened to. He was born as Ehis Akugnonu. But Osama has overtaken his certified name. Therefore, my continued use of Osama is justified in this work because I realized that many times your other name (also known as) tends to dominate and overshadow your real name.

Osama is redefining the fight for good governance by personal efforts through follow-up and speaking on them, putting the government on their feet to improve and do better. ‘I am for good governance, and I will continue to speak on this matter.’ He is purposefully driven by his passion for good quality and better systems to have an enabling environment where the systems are working for progress and development.

Balami, a publisher/columnist 08036779290

Osama, For Good Governance and Social Justice Through the Radio

Columns

In Marriage Nest, Spouses Are Dying Ignoring Red Flags and The Panacea (2)

Published

3 weeks ago

June 10, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

In Marriage Nest, Spouses Are Dying Ignoring Red Flags and The Panacea (2)

By: Balami Lazarus

I saw it coming. As a writer, my works and I have been verbally attacked several times. I raised an eyebrow at how some readers react by using bad language on issues, opinions, and views. Well, that is their way of expression when they are displeased, but I feel it is grotty.

And here is the conclusion of the “controversial piece,” as one caller puts it. For me, there is nothing controversial about this discourse but the truth of the grotesque happenings in married homes. And the way out, as I earlier wrote, is divorce.

Recently there has been an inflation of brutal murders in marriages; those killed are mostly women and children, and fewer men. What justification does one have to continue in a marriage where there are threats, violence, and unhappiness generated by the presence of either the husband or the wife? And unknowingly one becomes prey hunted by an in-house predator.

Sharks areamong the most intelligent aquatic animals. Their sense of smell is very sharp; they can smell and detect blood or any red object in water from a far distance and come for it at near the speed of light. Therefore, women’s body chemistry is like that of sharks; they sense and notice things easily. But what is wrong with many of them in marriage that they are unable to detect landmines or red flags early in their marriages? Where there is a threat to life with the intention to hurt, harm, and/or cause grievous injury or death, that is when they realize they are living in gross bondage if they are lucky to come out of it alive.

As students at Pluto College Sharam in Kanke-Plateau State, we were told and made to understand as boys to treat our girl students with love and care and be there for them when the need arises. That was one of the lessons that came from the late Dr. Sumaila Ndayako (Rector), as he was known and called. As boys, we dared not humiliate, insult, or threaten them in any way; rather, we were to take them as our sisters by extension. This has taught me to respect and care for the opposite sex.

Moreover, my association, membership, and experience with some human rights organizations have enlightened me with rights, liberties, and freedom garnished by respect for individual differences, rights and privileges, consent, and action. With this knowledge put together, I consider marriage never a do-or-die affair but a privilege with consent to be a husband to a woman who also has rights/consent to be a wife and live in matrimony. Why then humiliation, abuses, and domestic violence?

I have observed in my experience as a married man that if you take away some women from their husbands, they will die, and vice versa. Despite the domestic violence and abuses inflicted on either party, he/she is willing and prefers to die in such gothic marriage situations because one among them has a deep spiritual attachment to the marriage. This is common in Christendom, where “till death do us part.” My question here is, what kind of death? Intentional, accidental, or natural? This created injunction clause does not hold water in life-threatening marriages.

Living in a shark-jaws marriage, I always blamed women who had seen the red flags but refused to leave such marriages and the house-husband (husband). I further came to understand that patience and the pretext that all is well have caused damage to both spouses in terms of emotional and traumatic agonies and some to their graves.

Therefore, spouses that are trapped in this valley of death with its quagmire should know that marriage is a thing of choice. Likewise, divorce is permissible as a panacea for both to be alive to breathe freely.

Balami, a publisher/columnist, 0803677929

In Marriage Nest, Spouses Are Dying Ignoring Red Flags and The Panacea (2)