It isn’t uncommon to wonder if God actually made Nigerians just as we are sure He made the folks in Europe and America. This doubt is consequent on the caliber of leaders Nigeria has been cursed with since her independence.

The general belief was that with Nigerians being in control of her resources and political structure, we would be able to correct the wrongs attributed to the colonial masters. We were very wrong!

While we succeeded in chasing the original Mr. Manor (the colonial master) away, we no doubt had our own Napoleons. Right from 1960 till date, these Napoleons with whom we challenge the reigning Mr. Manor turn out to be no different from Mr. Manor when they take office. Promises made (if any) are quickly thrown out through the window while they get busy enriching themselves with the “milk” that should be shared by all “animals”. Indeed “all animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others.”

Pardon my analogy, after all the wife of the “missing” president or is she the (not) first lady reminded us recently of some jackals and hyenas based in Nigeria.

The essence of this series is to elicit from readers the reasons why office seems to change people. Tunde Bakare opines that power doesn’t change anyone but simply exposes what has been there. I am forced to agree with him, because power exposed Jonathan as who he has been suspected of being – a weak and reserved person! We can hardly see reports of Jonathan insulting any leader.

Below, I present you (for today) one of Nigeria’s past political office holder who has done things ordinary Nigerians engage in only to end up as an oppressor – beating traffic, stealing our commonwealth, breakers of promises without contrition, indiscriminate display of power in hounding and jailing opponents etc. He rode with us as comrades in the struggle to chase out the reigning Mr. Manor but ended up being just as corrupt or even worse than Mr. Manor.


Adams Oshiomole
“Go and die!” might perhaps be what he would be most remembered for. This was a labour leader who was always at loggerheads with the Olusegun Obasanjo (one of Nigeria’s worst leaders and present greatest problem!) administration. As NLC leader he endeared himself to Nigerian workers and was credited with minimum wage increment during his tenure. In 2008 after a lengthy court battle, he was sworn in as the governor of Edo State. Eight years after, he is out of office. What can we remember as he legacies in education (Ambrose Alli University), healthcare (Central hospital), infrastructure etc. While he is credited with renovating ring road, repairing major roads in Benin like the Airport road, Siluko Road etc. at humongous costs, we cannot deny the drama that characterized his administration. From his rigid and draconian style of governance which saw him pitted against teachers and local government employees leading to years of unpaid salaries for pensioners and salaries of teachers and local government employees one cannot be happy with such a leader. Here was a man who rode on the populace to greatness only to end up far greater than the populace. Rumour mills have it that he is part owner of the new university built in the state at huge costs. We present pictures below that show a timeline of his progression from labour leader to governor.




Picture 1: Oshiomole as labour leader protesting against increment in fuel price.
Well years after, himself alongside APC have increased fuel price repeatedly and removed subsidy. He has also been credited with being the tool used by the government to destabilize labour in Nigeria.


Picture 2: Oshiomole after the Court of Appeal’s verdict affirming him as governor of Edo State.
Here was the “humble” governor who was massively voted in by Edo State residents to punish PDP for the eight ( years of Lucky Igbinedion.


Picture 3: Oshiomole celebrating re-election
Rumour mills have it that he brokered a deal with Jonathan which enabled him emerge as president. Jonathan will be credited as the president who would hold the most credible elections in Nigeria.


Picture 4: “Go and die!”
Oshiomole telling a widow to go and die somewhere in Benin. He was later to call himself to order due to public outcry and PDP’s gimmicks at scoring cheap political points! Well as they say, absolute power corrupts absolutely!


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Picture 5: Oshiomole buying plantain chips.
Our politicians never cease to amaze us. Well as they say, power is transient. I doubt if he goes about with this crowd anymore.