As the Number One Labour leader, Oshiomhole would huff and puff, mobilising us, the Labour and civil society for one strike and protest or the other. With his oratory, he would make the necessary noise for sound bites. We would go out to mobilise to shut down the country. We didn’t know he was playing to the gallery and this is where Aunty Remi comes in.

Aunty Remi would tell some of us: “Nothing would happen tomorrow. Adams just left the Villa. ‘Eyin kon se aluta lo, a ti pari ise pelu oga yin.’ (You people are just doing Aluta. We have sorted out everything with your leader).

Just as Aunty Remi said, the next thing we would hear the next morning was that the strike and protest had been suspended. Aunty Remi knew what usually transpired at the Villa’s nocturnal meetings. Reason she had no respect for Adams till she passed on.

So, since Adams is in the mood of apologia as he did the other day in Benin, kneeling, purportedly apologising to Benin chiefs for bringing Godwin Obaseki as Governor of Edo State instead of Osagie Ize-Iyamu, when is he going to apologise to us for goading us for strikes and protests, only to back out at the dying minutes?

When is he going to apologise to the widows of Chima Ubani and Tunji Oyeleru, who both died on the Maiduguri-Potiskum Road in Adams official land cruiser SUV number “NLC 1”?

Chima was the Executive Director of Civil Liberties Organisation, while Tunji was the Photo Editor of Vanguard. They had accompanied Adams in a mobilisation tour of the northern parts of the country in September 2005. When they were through in Maiduguri, they boarded a Chachangi plane en route Lagos. Adams entered the aircraft last but he had no seat. Chima offered his seat and chose to go by road with Tunji. They died in an auto accident on September 23, 2005.

Chima died Adams’ death and despite this, Adams abandoned the widows of Chima and Tunji. He did not even have the decency to attend their burials. When is he going to apologise to their widows, and not just to Benin chiefs for cheap political capital?

Thank God for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He paid a condolence visit to Chima’s widow and was shocked that that was where the activist lived. He immediately asked Dele Alake to arrange for a generator for the house. He followed this up by giving a house to Chima’s widow and scholarship to two out of the four children. God bless Asiwaju. Adams was nowhere to be found.


While Adams was governor and had every opportunity to assist them, he didn’t. After much pressure, he reluctantly released N1m to the family, after Mrs Comfort Jiti- Ogunye accompanied Ochuwa, Chima’s widow to Adams in Benin. The widow waited for about three days before Adams sent an aide to go and give the money to her, which was less than what he used to spend on frivolities as governor. He didn’t even have the courage or courtesy to see the woman. He sent an aide.


I knew at a critical time I had to cough up N100,000 for the family, when Adams was in a position to give the widow a lifeline to assist her. When is he going to apologise to her?

When Chief Gani Fawehinmi was very sick and came back into the country, only a very few of us knew he was around. I reached out to those close to the then Governor Oshiomhole to come and visit the ailing Gani. He didn’t, till the man died. On the day the Lagos State Government was holding a special tribute for Gani at the Police College, Ikeja, the late Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, Adams PA called Mrs Fawehinmi, stating that his principal wanted Gani’s body to be brought to Benin for a special tribute. Mrs Fawehinmi asked Olaitan to liaise with me. He did and I asked him to ask his boss to call me. Adams did and I told him pointblank that that wasn’t in the itinerary of the burial committee and that we won’t bring the body to Benin, despite his entreaties, saying that he was ready to pay for a chartered plane for that purpose. I reminded him that when Gani was sick and I asked him to come and see him, he didn’t. Now, he wanted to show off.

Eventually, as a compromise, Madam Fawehinmi asked me and some other comrades to accompany two of the children to the Benin tribute session. When is Adams going to apologise for refusing to see the ailing Gani when I pleaded with him?

So, Adams’ political apologia to Benin chiefs was deceptive, hypocritical and self-serving. Assuming Ize-Iyamu wins the next election and they fall out, as they are bound to, is Adams also going to gather the Benin chiefs again to apologise? Adams’ hypocrisy knows no bounds.

Akinola, a journalist and lawyer, writes from Lagos.

As much as I don't like APC & PDP because they are ONE & d same. It would have been easier to win if Obaseki had played his game of dethroning his rogue godfather oshiomole by buying the criminals who conducted the primary he was disqualified from.

He shouldn't have allowed oshiomole to pocket those guys, they are the bad guys he should have won to himself. This chest beating isn't gonna help, because federal might is mightier than the noise of 30m Edo voters. If na lie ask Fayose & his deputy.

Wike the wicked boy escaped by playing smartly, divided APC rank in Rivers. myraid of litigations & infighting within APC Rivers chapter didn't let them know what to do with Wike. He would have lost to APC but Wike the wicked boy na sharp guy. No emotions in politics, otherwise Omisore should have been lenient with PDP by giving them his support, but my guy collected billions & clean mouth.

Edo is no Lagos Crew would cry foul after the election in Edo because APC will outwit PDP with FEDERAL MIGHT & Obaseki should just be saying his last prayers.

It was 1:0 before because he defeated Oshobaba but the score board will change to 1:1 after the election.

In politics, you needs the wits & wisdom of a bad ass chess player to stay afloat. Tinubu has that but his greed may finally sink his inglorious ambition which may not see the light of the day because of the aura of thievery around him.

Ambode's case might be better than Obaseki's after all. If PDP don't put their house together & poke Abuja in the face. Wike & other PDP forces might not be allowed into Edo state by the forces that be during the election