The Hood – Hearing from your neighborhood

Our attention has been drawn to an online media report that, the Ogun State Chapter of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and other unknown political parties have endorsed the gubernatorial ambition of Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Suraj Adekumbi.

While we would have ordinarily chosen to ignore the Ananias, we understand that when a lie is allowed to fester, it will be taken as truth.

To set the record straight, the endorsement of the speaker at Ayetoro as reported by the online newspaper was not attended by any UPN exco neither any of its members in that region.

The imposter, Adelakun Abdullateef who stood in for UPN at the Ayetoro adoption was never a UPN member nor a member of any working committee of our party in the state.

It is common sense that, when the party has several gubernatorial aspirants jostling to occupy the seat of power in the gateway state come 2019, how on earth would any card Carrier and loyal member of the party abandoned its own aspirants for other people’s cause.

It is however pathetic that, someone in the calibre of Rt. Hon. Suraj Adekumbi who is yearning to govern the state could desperately misinformed the general public about a non-existent adoption by UPN.

We hereby condemn the desperation of the Speaker in maligning the integrity of our party and playing on the sensibility of the people of Ogun state.

We therefore urged our esteemed followers and UPN members both home and abroad to disregard the fake adoption of Hon. Suraj Adekumbi by UPN.

We remain committed in our resolve to provide good governance and make Ogun state an industrial hub of the nation come 2019 through the support of the electorate.

Signed:

Alhaji Moruf Popoola

State Secretary,

Ogun UPN

The member, representing Lokoja/Kogi Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Umar Baba Jibril is dead.

Aged 58 years, Jibril, a three time member of the house, died in the early hours of Friday in Abuja, one of his political associates, Mr Amuda Dan Sulaiman confirmed.

He was until his death, the Deputy Majority Leader of the house.

He was also a former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly.

National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has spoken on President Muhammadu Buhari’s demand that tenure extension of party leaders be reversed.

The former Lagos state governor’s reaction is contained in a statement he personally signed on Tuesday.

He hailed Buhari for affirming that the party remains faithful to the principles of internal democracy and the rule of law.

It read: “In his address to the March 27 NEC meeting, President Buhari stated that talk of extension or elongation of the tenures of national and state party executive officers was improper.

“The President declared that any such moves would contravene both the national and party constitutions.

“Additionally, he stated that the designation of existing officers as caretaker committees also violated constitutional requirements.

“President Buhari’s action saves the party from serious legal turmoil. If the elongations were deemed illegal then all subsequent party actions, including the nomination of all of our candidates for elective offices, might also be of questionable legality.

“Such a predicament would constitute an unnecessary and mortal blow to the party and its role in promoting progressive governance to Nigeria.

“Moreover, President Buhari has affirmed for all to see that our party is one based on the rule of law coupled with a firm adherence to internal democracy.

“While it would have been easy to allow the ill-conceived motion of 27 February to stand, President Buhari showed principle and courage by steering the party back to its original and correct path.

“The President has spoken. Today is a good day for those who cherish democracy and legality.

“His action will also serve to strengthen the party by allowing party members, including present incumbents, to seek to contribute to the party by vying for executive offices as they see fit.

“His action will go far in advancing the process of internal reconciliation that is now underway.

“It is a time for the party to move forward and begin to plan and organize the needed congresses according to the existing timetables.

“After all, a party bearing the name All Progressives Congress should be the last party to resist holding congresses in which all its people have a fair say and fair chance to aspire to any position in the party for which they are qualified to hold.

“Again, this is a good day for the APC and democratic political practice in Nigeria. We shun the politics of old to move toward a new and better way of governing ourselves and this nation.”

A poem by Aare Tunde Dawood-Akerele

(Tribute to my friends in the Diaspora)

Where are my childhood friends?

Fired by nostalgia, reminiscence

Memory would not forgive me

If I fail to remember that

We’ve shared a lot in the past

Scores of children cannot play for twenty years

What a bitter true!

This, we didn’t want to hear

When we were teenagers

Never wished to miss any of my friends

For whatever reasons.

Childhood is an ineluctable stage 

No adult could afford to skip it

Then we’re more than a score

Even up to hundred in the Lilliput 

We’re brothers and sisters

Love reigned supreme

Dined and wined together

Hatred had no space.

But what a bitter truth!

Scores of children would not play for twenty years.

Ere Omode nko?

Played with sand

Built next for imaginary birds

Jaunts to the river

Swimming before fetching dirty water.

Boys acted like fathers

Fend for the family

And girls like mothers

Took care of the home

Backed effigy, dummy called baby

Others played kid’s roles.

Scores of children cannot play for twenty years.

What a bitter truth!

What a sweet morning journey!

Going to school in group

Carrying slates and portmanteaus

Keeping food inside Fuji coolers

Singing and praying on the Assembly

This and that no one could ever forget 

Where are my childhood friends?

Inside the classroom

From poetry to subjects 

Fear of Oga’s cane is the beginning of the day

Vernacular speaking is prohibited

A common slogan from the class captain

Tintinnabulation by the timekeeper

Break time must come and go

Not only for feeding

Children must play too.

Football was the main sport

For the male

Girls loved to go into talking

Discussing like parrot.

Scores of children could not play for twenty years.

After school hours

Christians went to ‘singing’

Muslims must carry their tira to Alfa

Some helped in hawking

Some stayed in the kitchen

All must eat

Lead fowls, ruminants to their cages

Cats and dogs just begin their day.

Removed dry clothed from the rope 

Cleaned the shade,

Lite the lantern.

Scores of children could not play for twenty years.

It’s time for Ere Ale.

Played different games

Night is the right period

After sunset, after supper

Within the family compound.

Scores of children could not play for twenty years.

What a bitter truth!

Nature did its bit

Many had died early in teen

Hibernating inside soil since then

Continue till the day of reckoning

Adieu! Adieu!! Adieu!!!

Economy played its on role

Several could not attend college

And Went to learn trade.

Education created classes

Ego set in

Complex brought discrimination

No more affinity.

Destiny is another factor

Distributed all to different destinations

Few flew to foreign farms

Searching for survival.

Marriage is a must

It took many ladies far away

Settled among the foreigners

Only to remember home once a while.

Oh! Where are my childhood friends?

Score of children could not play for twenty years.

What a situation no one can alter!

What a fate no one won’t accept!

What a journey one must go!

What a life one must live!

Wishing my friends all the best

wherever they are

In whatever they do.

Tribute to my friends in the Diaspora

The Ogun State Police command has arrested a 36-year-old man, Owolabi Musiliu, over the alleged mysterious death of his lover, Fausat Idowu,.

The suspect, who is a mechanic at the Mechanic Village in the Camp Area of Abeokuta, was alleged to have taken 40-year-old Fausat, a divorcee and mother of four, to a hotel in Abeokuta for sexual pleasure when she fell ill and died mysteriously.

But, in a brief interview with journalists when he was paraded by the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Ahmed Iliyasu, on Friday, Musiliu, a father of three, explained that it was the first time he and the deceased attempted to have sexual intercourse since they started dating about six months ago.

Musiliu added that they were just removing their clothes, when the deceased suddenly has a temperature and later slumped.

He added that it was when he was taking her to the hospital in his vehicle that he discovered that she had died.

The police commissioner said the suspect failed to report the incident either to the police or the deceased’s family but buried the remains in a shallow grave at Osara Village, close to the deceased’s house, off Abeokuta-Ibadan Expressway.

He said it was when the suspect was arrested that he led the police to the shallow grave in an uncompleted building, where he buried the victim in Osara.

When asked why he did not inform the police or the family of the deceased, the suspect said he was afraid, so he decided to hide the corpse and he later buried her at midnight.

Iliyasu explained that the deceased’s younger brother, Hammed Idowu, had on February 1, 2018 reported to the police that the deceased had gone to attend a christening at Bode Olude Area but did not return home.

On the strength of the report, Iliyasu said detectives at the Homicide Section, were detailed to investigate the matter. He said intelligence-based investigation and profiling of the deceased’s telephone call log revealed that the suspect was the last person she spoke with.

He said the suspect was later tracked down and apprehended on March 19, 2018. He said the suspect admitted that he knew the corpse and had buried her after  she died mysteriously.

Iliyasu said, “On interrogation, the suspect admitted taking the deceased to a hotel at Iyana-Apakila, Abeokuta, for pleasure, where he claimed she fell ill. He said he took her in his vehicle but she died in the car mysteriously.

“He further confessed that he took the corpse to a nearby bush, dug a shallow grave and buried it without disclosing same to anybody. This made the circumstances of her death mysterious as well as questionable, which is condemnable. The suspect will soon be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.”

Listeriosis, an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is currently ravaging South Africa in an outbreak that is said to be the worst so far in world history. Listeriosis outbreak which started in January 2017 in South Africa has so far infested over 1000 people and claimed almost 200 lives.

As if that is not a bad enough news for Africa, World Health Organisation within this week warned Nigeria and fifteen other countries to brace up for Listeriosis outbreak, which they said might had been exported to these countries through the source of the outbreak in South African, which was discovered to be ready-to-eat meat products that have been contaminated with Listeria from the factory.

But as it is with our culture in newswakanow.com.ng, we get you informed at the right time. That is why we are bringing to you all you need to know about Listeriosis now and how to avoid contacting it.

What is Listeriosis?

– As we have earlier said, Listeriosis is an infection that is caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogene.

– This bacterium is a very hardy organism that can even grow at refrigeration temperature and can resist chemicals like salt much better than other food-borne pathogenic bacteria.

– Listeria is classified as ubiquitous, which means that it is everywhere.

– Listeria germs occur naturally in soil and water and can be carried by animals, including those eaten by humans. Listeria is found in many raw foods, including meats and vegetables, soft cheese, hot dogs and other processed meats, and smoked seafood.

– The bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes, is also said to have the highest number of death among all food-borne pathogens.

How Does One Contact Listeria Germs?

– Listeria germ is primarily transmitted via the oral route after ingestion of contaminated food products, the organism penetrates the intestinal tract to cause systemic infections.

– Also, babies can get the disease if their mothers eat Listeria-contaminated food during pregnancy.

– Listeria can be ingested by taking any of the following without proper handling: raw meat, factory prepared ready-to-eat meat, dairy products, vegetables, fruit and seafood. Soft cheeses, unpasteurized milk and unpasteurised pâté.

Which Group of people are Likely to Have Listeriosis?

To a large extent, it is not everyone that takes in Listeria contaminated food that are likely to have Listeriosis. The following group of people are most likely to be infested with Listeria germ:

– Pregnant women and new born babies.

– The older adult, usually from 65 years and above.

– The last category are those with weakened immune system, especially from prolonged sickness like cancer, HIV e.t.c.

That does not however rule out healthy adults from Listeriosis.

Symptoms of Listeriosis

The general symptoms are; fever and muscle aches, which come after diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.

It can also lead to severe illness, including severe sepsis, meningitis, or encephalitis, sometimes resulting in lifelong harm and even death.

Prevention  

The main means of prevention is through the promotion of safe handling, cooking and consumption of food. This includes Rinsing raw vegetables thoroughly under running tap water before eating, thorough cooking of all beef, poultry, and other foods from animal sources.

Keep kitchen surfaces clean, and keep uncooked meat and poultry separate from vegetables and from cooked and ready-to-eat foods as well as reheating leftover or ready-to-eat foods like hot dogs until steaming hot.

Be sure to keep your refrigerator clean – as listeria germs can grow even in refrigerated foods.

Treatment

You may most likely not be infested with Listeriosis even when you eat Listeria contaminated food, especially when you are not in the high risk group. Therefore, no need to panic if you have no symptoms even when you recalled you have eaten such contaminated food.

But if you develop suspicious symptoms within two months of eating a recalled product, you should alert a doctor, especially if you are in a high-risk group.

With prompt attention, antibiotics can cure Listeriosis and prevent a fetus from becoming infected. But even with antibiotic therapy, some Listeria infections prove fatal – especially in older adults and people with serious medical problems.

Prevention, they say, is better than cure!

The rescued Dapchi school girls arrived in Abuja last night and would be meeting President Muhammadu Buhari today, Daily Trust learnt.

Sources said the girls, heavily guarded by security forces, were taken to Maiduguri by road to the warm embrace of a Federal Government delegation.

“They left Dapchi after they met with their parents and acquaintances; many parents trooped to Dapchi from surrounding villages to catch a glimpse of their daughters.

“They arrived at the Air Force base in Maiduguri around 5pm where they had their lunch before they were airlifted by a military aircraft to Abuja. 

“They would most probably meet with President Buhari today because they don’t have much complications; only fatigue because of stress and anxiety,” he said.

Daily Trust reports that President Buhari is also expected to visit Zamfara State today, so it is not certain whether the president will meet them before or after the trip.

“The presidency is also planning to subject them to counselling, the essence is to disabuse their minds because the Boko Haram told them never to go back to school, they were told to go and marry,” another source said.

The girls arrived Maiduguri at about 4:45pm along with some of their parents after a brief medical check-up at Dapchi General Hospital . 

Theatre Commander, Operations Lafiya Dole, Maj.Gen. Rogers Nicholas handed over the schoolgirls to the Federal Government delegation yesterday. 

Leader of the delegation Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau(rtd) led the Federal Government delegation to receive the girls at  6:30pm at NAF Base in Maiduguri yesterday.

Other ministers in the delegation include Minister of Information Lai Mohammed and his  Women Affairs counterpart Jummai Alhassan

The Inspector General of Police and top military officers were also there. 

Dapchi parents, residents jubilate

Earlier in the day in Dapchi, parents and residents jubilated at news of the return of the girls after a month in captivity.  

Parents and residents in the town told Daily Trust that the girls were released to them voluntarily by the insurgents, around 8:18am.

They drove in a fleet of eight vehicles, and drove out of the town after half an hour of preaching to the residents that came out to receive the children.  

Abba Musa, alias Shago, a resident, said: “They asked if people in the town were not happy that they have returned the school children and we said “We are all happy.”  They pleaded with us to help them replace their punctured tyre and we gladly changed the tyre before they zoomed off.

“They looked at me and said “Your hair cut is haram. As a Muslim you are supposed to grow beard like ours not Balotelli haircut.” 

They made an offer that anyone willing to join the service to Allah should follow them, but no one did”, he said.

One of the freed schoolgirls, Khadija Grema, said they were about to break their Monday fasting on the fateful day that the insurgents struck. “We were cramped in a TATA truck under the pretence that they were rescuing us and drove into the bush. We were shouting for help but nobody came to our rescue as we continued the journey into the bush, they asked for those among us that were fasting, they served us food and drinks after which we observed our prayers.” 

She said five of the schoolgirls died while in captivity.

“Only one girl was left there for refusing to denounce her faith. She is a Christian and refused to denounce her religion,” she said.  

“As we continued the journey, we crossed several rivers and streams before we arrived at a big house where they kept us until the day of our departure. They gave us enough food; we were not harassed or molested.” 

When asked about the identity of the insurgents, Khadija said they were kitted in military uniform, speaking only Kanuri and Arab languages.

Parents react 

One of the parents, Malum Yerima, said he had not seen his daughter and that nobody confirmed that the daughter was part of the released girls. 

“Let the military allow us to see and talk to our daughters. It will be a relief for us, especially the women that are in shock or even fainted.”   

The chairman, Dapchi abducted schoolgirls association, Bashir Manzo, said he saw his daughter and was very pleased with President Buhari’s administration for that.  

“He promised that the girls would be returned to us soon and in good health. Today we all believed him to be a man of his words. Also, we must thank all those that supported us in the difficult times”, he added.  

The parents of the five students that died and the mother of the only Christian girl that refused to denounce her religion were in shock and in deep sorrow.  

One of the parents, Adamu Jumbam told our correspondent that the death of his daughter was a great loss to the family but that it was what God has destined.  

The mother of the girl that refused to denounce her faith, Mrs Rabecca Shurabu, who fainted upon receiving the news that her daughter was not released, pleaded with President Buhari to facilitate the release of her daughter.  

“This girl is the only thing I have; I want President Buhari to act fast and get my innocent daughter from these people. They (insurgents) should understand that the prophet of Islam had allowed people to practise their faith because there is no compulsion in Islam,” she said. 

Chibok parents ask militants to extend similar gesture 

The Chibok girls parents, who went a day earlier’ to Dapchi, witnessed the release of the girls and returned home with mixed feelings. 

Chairman of the abducted Chibok Girls Association, Mr Yakubu Nkeki, appealed to Boko Haram militants to extend similar gesture to the Chibok Girls that are still in captivity. We also called on the relevant authorities to mediate and see to the released of our remaining children. 

“We are both victims of the same circumstance and our visit to Dapchi was meant to unite and fight for the release of the girls still being held hostage by the insurgents” he said. 

Intel led effort to free girls

Work by the DSS and other intelligence agencies ‎ paid off with the release of the Dapchi school girls, Daily Trust has gathered.

The release took high level collaboration between the intelligence agencies to swiftly contact the terrorists and negotiate the release of the girls.

Daily Trust was unable to determine the terms of the release at the time of filing this report.

However, security sources hinted that the terrorists may have been satisfied with their negotiated demands before agreeing to release the girls.

The source said the group may have not been paid in monetary value but in other logistic terms.

It was said that possible prisoner exchange, medical supplies and other logistic supplies may have been exchanged for the girls, even though the government is not saying so.

Daily Trust could not get a comment from the DSS to confirm this report as the service does not have a spokesman.

PDP: Abduction, release stage-managed 

Earlier in an interview he granted yesterday, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed had said the only condition given by the insurgents was that they would return the girls to where they abducted them. “So in the early hours of today, they did return the girls and most of them went to their parents homes. 

“The report we got was that one condition the insurgents gave was that they will be the ones to drop the girls and they dropped them in the early hours of this (yesterday) morning.

“Once violence and confrontation was ruled out and negotiation started, there was a deliberate pause on the part of the military, in other words it was agreed that there will be no force, there will be no confrontation that was why it was possible for them to drop the girls. It was part of the agreement that they will release the girls; there will be no violence nor confrontation. And don’t forget that the lives of these children are much more important to us than any cheap victory.”

Amnesty calls for continued investigation

Amnesty International (AI) has insisted that the Nigeria authorities investigate the security lapses that caused their abduction, while the #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) said it was delighted at the return of the 104 Dapchi School girls but promises to interrogate the circumstances surrounding their return.

It also said it is saddened at the five reported to be dead and one still held captive with the insurgents.

APC hails Buhari

The prompt release of the Dapchi schoolgirls is another solid demonstration of the political will of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration to secure the lives of all Nigerians, the National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Bolaji Abdullahi has said.

Malam Abdullahi, who said this in a release signed and issued yesterday in Abuja, stated that the APC was delighted with the news of the return of the schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State by Boko Haram.

Source: Daily Trust

Akogun Banji Ojo, Accord Gubernatorial Aspirant for Ekiti 2018 shall resume his grass roots declaration next week Monday 26th March 2018 across Ekiti state. 

You would notice that Other parties and individuals has been adopting the City approach declaration but Accord as a political party most especially Akogun Banji Ojo’s passion for the Rural populace. Hence we shall involve the grass root and rural dwellers in the running of the government if voted into power. 

Accord cardinal programs as contained in the manifesto’s are grass roots oriented, hence the choice of grass root declarations. The imperative of grassroots mobilization cannot be overemphasized, noting that the era of city politics was over. “We want to take the power back to the people. “We shall continue to educate and encourage the grass rooters on the importance of their voter’s cards. They must also know their candidate to be able to vote rightly.

The meet the grass rooters started two weeks age at Ago Aduloju where hundreds of resident’s troop out in large numbers to welcome their own whom they have identified as someone who could listen, peruse and find solutions to their long time sufferings. 

As earlier mentioned, the Grass roots declaration train shall further move to other towns and villages until Friday, 30th March 2018 when the mother of all Declarations shall take place at the state capital, Ado- Ekiti.

 Accord Leader; Members and Sympathizers are expected to grace every stages of the Declaration among whom are the National Chairman: Alhaji Nalado Mohamed; National Leader: Prince (Dr.) Doyin Okupe; All National Vice Chairmen;  Party Leader: Hon Dauda Kako Are;  National Secretary: Hon (Mrs.) Ajaja;  Lagos State Chairman: Chief Gbenga Olatunde Cole; Ogun state Chairman: Elder Amusa Isiaka; Ondo state chairman: Dr. Ambode; Osun state Chairman: Otunba (Hon) Segun Fanibe; Oyo state Chairman: Alhaji Ogunsola;  Kogi state counterpart and Chief Samuel Abiola Ode-Oba among 0thers.

We call on all well-meaning Ekiti people, home and away to join hands with us on the mission to rescue Ekiti from the present Political and Economic bondage that is fast making an average Ekiti resident a beggar

Together, we shall move Ekiti forward.

Thanks and God Bless you all.

Joseph Lanre Anifowose,

Director of Communications and Media Strategy,

Akogun Banji Ojo Campaign Organization/ Accord Ekiti State.

The Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) has arrested most wanted armed robber, 31-year-old Fashola, aka Awolowo, who has been on the wanted list of the police for a while.

Awolowo has been wanted for offences of house-to-house robbery and road attacks in Lagos and neighbouring states. He was declared wanted after he was released from prison and formed a formidable, vicious gang. He was arrested alongside three other gang members. 

Speaking with journalists at the command headquarters, Ikeja, Awolowo said he had given up crime and was about disposing of his weapons of destruction when he was arrested.

According to him, he had met his mother and wife and confessed his criminal activities and his mother placed a curse on him that if he went for any more criminal activities, he would be arrested.

He said: “I was a notorious criminal, I won’t deny it, but I have repented. I have even robbed in front of Alakara Police Station, where my boy shot someone; I won’t deny it. I am a strongman. I have been to prison three times. I was released from prison through the help of my aunty. After my last release from prison, my wife reported me to my mother. My mother, who was furious, stripped herself naked and placed a curse on me that if I went for robbery I would be arrested, and I said ‘Amen.’ To do away with the crime, I contacted a friend, who promised to buy my gun. I was taking the gun to him when the police arrested me. I swear by with my late father that I have stopped robbery. I used to rob people but I have stopped.”

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, who paraded the suspect and 20 others, based on credible intelligence gathered on the activities of a gang of robbers that specialised in robbing motorists and passengers of their belongings and who were also involved in house-to-house robbery, men of the IRT based in Lagos State Command rounded up three persons, Fashola, aka Awolowo, 31, Oni, 28, and 26-year-old Oyeniyi.

He said the suspects confessed that they were ex-convicts and a search conducted at their hideout at Sango, Ogun State, yielded two guns.

He said, in a similar development, the IRT also arrested four armed robbers at their hideout on Ayodogo Street, Ijoko Road, Sango, who confessed that they robbed the residence of Anthony Onyawune at Lekki Garden Estate while he was away in the East.

He said that a Toyota Avalon car, 2016 model, an unregistered Subaru SUV and 10 different bank ATM cards were recovered from the suspects.

The suspects would be charged to court for armed robbery and other related offences soon.

Mandela stood taller than most men; both in life and in death. He had been in jail for 27 years and when released unconditionally in accordance with his terms, he moved on to become the country’s first black president ever.

Certainly, he was not the most brilliant man in South Africa; neither was he a proven expert in any common field of endeavour.

Mandela was a prisoner of conscience who became the leader of his people and president of the nation by the sheer power of the conscience of the majority of the citizens.

Having been in jail for 27 years, the comfort and perks of office as president for 5 years may not ordinarily justify the over two and half decades he spent in the prison.

The alluring nature of power, the primitive African acquisition and sit-tight syndrome were not manifest in Mandela.

If Mandela loved power and/or money, it was not reflected in his mien or person. What was crystal clear was that Mandela loved his country, his people and his enemies who were his white jailers.

He became president at a ripe old age of 75 years. For Mandela, it was another call for service. It was all about doing good, uniting the country and laying the foundation for social equity and inclusion for the blacks and respect and integration for the whites, thereby generating stability of the country and for future generations.

At the end of his first term, Madiba, as he was fondly called, even though very much advanced in age, did not have to go. His popularity never dipped for 1 day. Even though he was 81 years old, he still had the ability to trudge on. As a matter of fact, he lived for another 14 years out of office before he died.

He did not see himself as the messiah. He recognized he was a mere mortal. He was no longer at his best and he more than anyone else, because of his deeply entrenched sense of patriotism, knew only the best was good for his dearly beloved country.

The ovation was loudest. The support was still very overwhelming. A victory at a subsequent poll was never ever in double. But in spite of all these, for the love of the country, Madiba, the ultimate nationalist, took his bow. With no guile and no regrets; he quit the stage for a younger, vibrant colleague, Thabo Mbeki, to continue where he left. The making of a great nation is never a job that begins and ends with one man.

Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari is at a similar point of history: to run, or not to run for a second term. President Buhari will be 76 years in 2019. But in his case, it is more than the question of age. There is a plaguing issue of debilitating and incapacitating ill health. Not a few citizens and lovers of this great Nigeria were in fear, anxiety and trepidation over his health and even his life. Many of his closest political allies including trusted ones had begun exploring a post Buhari Agenda. Then God showed up. Buhari against all odds bounced back to life with an innate rebound of a tennis ball.

A rejuvenated Mohammed Buhari returned to the throne with a gusto that silenced enemies and foes. It was a triumphant return indeed.

But the Nigerian economy and well being of the citizens did not have the same grace of divine re-invigoration. The government has been dragging almost on all fronts. Decline seems to be the order of the day, pain, misery; hopelessness and disappointment are the hallmarks of these times. Even erstwhile friends are no longer grumbling, many are howling and wailing loudly.

The president says he is doing his best and I agree with him. Things are just at their worst. The fight against corruption is still on, but it is just no longer given enough comfort. The war against insurgency is topsy turvy. The Dapchi girls are some wicked intrusions into the polity at this time. The Fulani Herdsmen are not just a menace; they give an impression that there is a silent war under way in the nation.

In all this, can we truly blame the President? The answer is Yes and No. But that’s another topic altogether.

The greatest concern now is will the President run again? President Obasanjo, Babangida and a few notable citizens have openly asked Buhari not to seek re-election. Maybe this is too brutally frank.

The nation is highly divided on so many fronts already, and even on this vexed issue of 2019.

Maybe if we take a glance at 2019, we may find an answer readily. Yes President Buhari’s popularity has waned seriously even in the North. But after all said and done, the probability of a Buhari Victory in 2019 is very high. Hence, members of the cabal, relatives and friends, and officials cannot see why the old man should not run. An almost 60% chance of return to Eden, is enough to block the vision of all other possible negative consequences.

In 2019, if Buhari wins, the vocal majority would have lost. The hopes of the separatists, reformers and pro restructuring conclaves within our polity would have been dashed completely.

This will create massive tensions all over, and potentially can birth a major crisis or riotous conflagration which may threaten our democracy, unity and corporate existence.

Buhari would have won, but will lose ALL his goodwill and Legacies acquired over a lifetime of discipline and uprightness. History may not be very kind to him, and this would be unfortunate.

If Buhari contests and loses, then the silent but potentially more violent minority would have lost out also, and unimaginable terror, which hitherto has not been experienced in this land, may be unleashed on the country.

Both scenarios depicted above are undesirable. Head or Tail, the country and its citizens will suffer nearly irreparable damage. Actually, the nation may never be the same again.

These issues are beyond Ego. They are beyond personal or some group, or parocial interests. They are about a nation, its nascent democracy, its teeming population and its undisputable potential for greatness.

No other elected civilian President has ever enjoyed a greater goodwill, acceptability, honour and respect than President Muhammadu Buhari. He is just slightly less than a god-image in many quarters both the North and South of Nigeria.

God and providence have combined together to create a bigger than life image for Buhari both locally and internationally.

For their perception of this great man and a towering pillar of strength and integrity amongst us to be converted into that of a villain, will be the greatest historic tragedy of monumental proportion in world and modern history of any nation.

A Mandela option is by far safer, and more honourable and certainly more alluring.

God bless Muhammadu Buhari.

God bless Nigeria.