₦airaland Forum

(By Oyebanji Faith John)

My thoughts are premised in the words of Brad Meltzer, "when you believe in something, fight for it. And when you see injustice, fight harder than you've ever fought before." The Nigerian academic circle is of today, becoming a national disgrace than those whose feet had never thread on the soil of a four-walled classroom.

These purported academicians have to the best of their abilities proved the American President Donald Trump right at a time he described the most populous African state as a "shit-hole" nation. These set of killjoys or better referred to as miserabilists reminded me of a name my great-grandmother will always tagged them with, "apanisaiye" - (killers of being while the being is still living). They have always derived joy in silencing justice as a cover-up for several putrefaction perpetrated by themselves and their evil allies.

One of the afore-described is Professor Olayinka Idowu, the zombified Vice Chancellor of the Nigeria's premier University. I have closely read and watched the actions, not talking of the inactions of his tyrannic adminstration of a glorified institution like University of Ibadan. I have come to a conclusion that the presence of injustice doesn't mean the absence of people whose heads and minds are filled with justice, it just signified the large presence of evil perpetrators - this can perfectly be likened to the recent happenings in the university community.

The recent four-semester suspension of the former Students' Union leader, Ojo Aderemi had already made it affirmed that the rate at which these set of University administrators are hunt-witching conscious Nigerian students who are always hell-bent on seeing Nigeria becoming a sane country, is alarming.

To put the records straight, Ojo Aderemi is the University of Ibadan Students' Union President, who led a congressional peaceful protest against the Institution's incapability to produce the Students' identity cards in 2017, after they have made several consultations to the authority-in-concern. This placid act led to the suspension of the union in the same year (2017).

It should be put straight that the generality of U.I students paid #1,500 each, for the production of their identity cards, which the Olayinka Idowu-led management failed to produce.

Nigeria is indeed a nation where a litigant can in the midst of the night becomes the defendant! What an irony of a nation?

Now, the young man who led his colleagues in such a 21st century - approach had been suspended for the space of two academic sessions. Not for any misdeed, but leading his people to demand for proper accountability and a more saner society. In reaction to this, they emphasized loud and clear into our hearings that "Nigeria and academics is indeed becoming an insane asylum" with the current unintelligible representation at his realms of political cum academical affairs.

Nigerian institutions are now clearly defined with "our excesses cannot be checked" helmsmen, whereas advanced communities encourages such as a necessity for democratic growth and development. This in all, has been revealed through the various suspensions and expulsions of union leaders and activists by the oppressors, whereas the dummies that characterized the Governing council are becoming more quiescent day-after-day.

The questions still begging for answers in me, are: isn't it the same institution where a writer-activist, Kunle Adebajo was suspended over same Identity cards' saga? Isn't it the same institution where a lecturer (Mr. Aminu Zubairu) who was denied of his PhD for twenty-two years, finally committed suicide? Here I know the difference between an imperious Eyitope Ogunbodede and an oppressive Olayinka Idowu (both of which are Professors of Illiberality).

I am very much in doubt if the extraordinary powers attached to University of Ibadan is really true. I am losing a complete hope in our synthesis.

Where do our hope lies? These are the same set of people who are unable to do a simple Primary one-pupils' calculation during electioneering period, but are quick in deciding the number of months or years, a person who dare their exploitations, will use in academic exile.

I am beginning to blame the likes of Awolowo, Azikwe, Ahmadu Bello, Herbert Macaulay and other Nationalists who fought for the privilege these oppressors enjoyed, since they aren't ready to reciprocate this hand of gestures to those coming behind. In the face of all these, the government is silent.

The sweats and bloods of those whose lives had been laid for the things they enjoyed, will at all time be cruel on them. May the time and efforts of those you have oppressed be a clog in the wheel of your progress.

OgboAto:
What exactly is the crux of your verbiage?

Apart from being unnecessarily prolix, your write-up lacks a clear direction. In addition, it contains certain contraditions that makes it quite unintelligible.

What exactly are you complaining about?

1. That you want a separate local government for Modakeke, a quarter within Ife?

2. That you want a shot at the leadership of Ife East LGA?

3. That Modakeke have never held political positions in at the LGA level in Ile-Ife?

4. That you are still in 'bondage' and Ife is responsible for that?

5. That your candidate in Accord Party lost and Ife is to be held responsible?

6. That elders in Modakeke defected and it was Ife that caused it?

7. That there were/are no Modakeke folks in APC and PDP?

8. That there are no Ife in Accord Party and it is solely a Modakeke fold?

9. That Ooni preaches peace and you want to continue to key into that with your fellow Ife brothers, some whom you may even be related to?

10. That despite Ooni's peace messages, you want to fight for the sword with sweat and blood? In other words, you are far away in Ondo but want to incite conflict in Ife?

OgboAto:
What exactly is the crux of your verbiage?

Apart from being unnecessarily prolix, your write-up lacks a clear direction. In addition, it contains certain contraditions that makes it quite unintelligible.

What exactly are you complaining about?

1. That you want a separate local government for Modakeke, a quarter within Ife?

2. That you want a shot at the leadership of Ife East LGA?

3. That Modakeke have never held political positions in at the LGA level in Ile-Ife?

4. That you are still in 'bondage' and Ife is responsible for that?

5. That your candidate in Accord Party lost and Ife is to be held responsible?

6. That elders in Modakeke defected and it was Ife that caused it?

7. That there were/are no Modakeke folks in APC and PDP?

8. That there are no Ife in Accord Party and it is solely a Modakeke fold?

9. That Ooni preaches peace and you want to continue to key into that with your fellow Ife brothers, some whom you may even be related to?

10. That despite Ooni's peace messages, you want to fight for the sword with sweat and blood? In other words, you are far away in Ondo but want to incite conflict in Ife?

Your submissions can easily be predicted to have been birth out of an irrational cognition. The author in his write-ups, merely identified the problems bedevilling the people of his home-town, and not the gibberish you are unleashing here.

From the questions raised, your overcast ratiocination is crystal-clear. The author only let-out the INEC population statistics, and the surrounding challenges. If such a community with the prodigious counts like such is having a local government, is it then a crime? If such is given the opportunity at that realm of affairs, then it is deliquent? LGA level? This gave me a tip about the writer whose reasoning is done from the anus. If you don't know history, then ask.

Hitherto, in the author's write-ups, did he linked the said "bondage" to Ife, but the inability to think straight of their "inwarders".

You could have made enough sense with your sense of English but it made a mess of you. The write-up, is enjoining about working across party-length.

If not for your blind obsequiousness, you could have read the author's opinion with your eyes wide-open. Where categorically has he stated anything about Ife or no Ife, except a charge to work from party-based loyalty to programme/personality-based loyalty.

Let me just conclude with President Muhammadu Buhari's letter to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, "Get well soon". And I reiterate GET WELL SOON!

By Oyebanji Faith John

The acquainted words of Martin Luther King Jr, is on its own fulfilling itself like the message of the Lord Jesus Christ, in our age. Our lives are beginning to end since we have refused to take the bull by the horn, becoming taciturn about things that definitely matters, while they threaten our existence and development.

The last State Assembly election in Nigeria as recorded, was full of a number of abnormalities, while bloodshed couldn't be unconnected from it. An eyely exemplification is the gross murder of a serving Federal honourable in Oyo State and a Senatorial candidate in the just-concluded election, Honourable Olatoye Temitope (acclaimed as Sugar).

Before the poll on the 9th of March, 2019, the people of Ife East Local Government Area are in perpetual demand for a government that will represent their interest at the State House of Assembly as against the current unintelligible representation and unforecasted emergence of a lackluster who brought no dividend of democracy to his constituents despite the aura facing his election at the 2015 elections.

Apart from the political sphere of the then Shagari-led democracy, the people of Modakeke with such a huge population had been suffering a number of setbacks in political cum social affairs.

We must be obliged to heed that Modakeke, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, is the eight most populous community in Osun State and the 150th in Nigeria. With such prodigious counts, she cannot boast of an independent Local Government apart from the vague Local Council Development Area facilitated by the immediate past Governor of the State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, since her ownership of a local government was knocked-off in the 2000s.

Going down the memory lane, 2011 witnessed another attempt by the people of the community, as a son of the soil who was believed to lack the susceptibility for the task ahead, contested for the seat of the State Assembly, representing Ife East Constituency. 2014 got another morale, as a Governorship candidate emerged from the community, under the Social Demoractic Party's platform. Again, in 2015, the community had another contestant for the Ife East State Constituency's seat; but all couldn't emerge arising from a myriad of factors.

The last State House of Assembly election witnessed a greater boost as every right-thinking Modakekites opted for a "son-of-the-soil" choice, which was witnessed in the candidate of Accord Party being the 1st runner-up ahead of the candidate of the People's Democratic Party.

The result clearly showed the readiness of the people to get themselves freed from the shackles they have been subjected to since time immemorial. Although, with all these, the adopted candidate couldn't emerge due to the acts of our oppressors and their agents. The defection of the State Chairman/House of Representatives' candidate of Accord Party to the All Progressives Congress some hours to the election, the acts of some community leaders to deliver their constituency to their party, among many others, made a mirage of the election.

The most irritating was their usage of a popular proverb of the Yorubas in the Southwestern part of Nigeria, "Tí owó eni kò bá tíì te èékú idà, a kìí béèrè ikú tó pa baba eni" - when a sword-handle has not been placed in one's hands, one should never ask of the cause of his father's death. That to me and every right-thinking Nigerians is a fallacy of the highest order. In fact, I never regretted naming it as unintelligible, incinerated and obsolete.

The questions arising are, when will the sword handle be voluntarily placed in our hands, if we aren't ready to take it with sweat and blood? Will the murderers of our fathers go scot-free if we refuse to ask for the cause of their death? Should the peace widely-preached by His Royal Majesty, the Ooni of Ife not be sustained and maximized for productivity?

Our blind obsequiousness will decisively make a public show of us, if not properly checked. We have to rise across party length and breadth, to work for a common goal - of delivering our people from the bondage they've been placed or situated under. Our politician should work towards writing their names on a platter of gold, and not otherwise through protecting our communal interest and development above party-relevance. If we don't who will?


Oyebanji Faith John is a young Nigerian born in Modakeke, Osun State. He is the former Coordinator, Alliance of Nigerian Students against Neo-liberal Attacks, Ondo Branch. He can be contacted via: oyebanjijohn00@gmail.com

By Oyebanji Faith John

Nigerian politics need to be refurbished to meet the 21st century global requirements.


I have refused to make comments on the recent Itafaji disaster that sent a number of pupils to their early graves, which by implication, had halted the lingering contributions of the victims to the production of a greater nation.

Few days after, the news made wave was another collapse in the same Lagos State and Ibadan of the "Pace Setter" - Oyo State.

The demolition of buildings that had been earlier marked for such purpose is strong enough to demolish a governmental administration itself as "pity-parties" and our immature politicians or better identified as "Nigerians with unintelligent minds" see that as avenues to publicize their retarded manifestos.

The ruling party that proposed such demolition will be severely countered and tagged "anti-masses" by the opposition figures. My heart still brought me down a memory lane, about the then "Yinka Ayefele Music House" and Radio Station demolished by the Isiaka Ajimobi-led Oyo State Government, which was said by some analysts to have contributed immensely to APC's inability to succeed her government.

Ajimobi was brutally opposed by Nigerians, more importantly of the political class. Itafaji should make you think, if such demolition wasn't done, who can tell what havoc it may have caused to the Ibadan residents and Nigerians at large.

Recently, I am hearing of the Gboyega Oyetola-led Osun State Government's check on buildings within the state, which in an indirect manner proposes the possibility of some buildings marked for demolition, and if carried out as appropriate, will be demolished.

The question still begging for answers is "will such act of government not constitute a major affront to the young administration of the state?"

In a bid to save Nigerians from disastrous occurrences, you have to think your head straight if and only if it will not affect your career and future dispositions.

OYEBANJI FAITH JOHN is a young Nigerian born in Modakeke of the State of Osun. He can be contacted via: oyebanjijohn00@gmail.com and/or 08140776149. He can be followed on Twitter via: @oyebanjifaithj1

BAMISAYEMI’S MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT IN IFELAND: A FALSE HOPE

In view of the fact that we are still in the early part of the month of February, it is considered apposite to wish all conscious and right-thinking Nigerians, a happy new month. Considering the situation of our political spate and the possible outcome it will dictate, more importantly in Ife Land, we are mostly inhibited to issue this open statement.
Our major concern like earlier indicated is about the next political dispensation of Ife Land – the cradle of Yoruba race, and its active political players. We’ve seen a semblance stuck between the conditions we are progressively getting into and the situation of unfulfilled promises, untrustworthiness and unequal representation we found ourselves in the current political dispensation. We, as a body, could not afford to lose our hold, in guarding, sheltering and defending our inexperienced democratic state, as it is of high premium that we shift from advertent or inadvertent retrogression of our land, to a realm where IFELAND will not be allowed to relapse into financially-viable dormancy, political stagnation or backwardness.

A quite number of residers, friends, political observers and developmental cohorts are increasingly worried about indications that are coming out of the various campaign promises of the candidature of Honourable Folorunsho Oladoyin Bamisayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), that was basically summarized into “Massive Development of Ife Land: Equal opportunities for constituents”. There is a widely-accepted Yoruba adage that “when fleas proliferate in your clothes, your fingernails will never be dried of blood”. But in a bid to erase blood from your fingernails, you have to make certain that fleas are not anchoraged somewhere within your locality.
The prophecy of pitiable performance in office (if elected) – unequal or cabalistic representation, unaccountability, poor economic management, nepotism, gross dereliction of contractual obligation, absolute support of misdeed, lack of progress and hope for the future and widening inequality – will to a great extent be in existence. With this, our fingers will not be dry of “blood”.

It should be noted that sometime in December, 2018, a scheme was initiated by the All Progressives Congress’ aspirant for the lower chamber of the National Assembly, representing Ife Federal Constituency, Hon. Folorunsho Oladoyin Bamisayemi (also referred to as BAMBAM), which was earlier seen to ease the financial burden of at least ten student-constituents of each indigenous students’ association in Ife Land, under the “HONOURABLE FOLORUNSHO OLADOYIN BAMISAYEMI’S EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FUND”, which was coordinated by one Mr. Lawal Taofik (OfTao).

On the 30th of December, 2018, the first tranche of payment was said to be made, from the personal Bank account of the said “Lawal Taofik (OfTao)”, which till the time of issuing this statement, has pocketed the bursary payment of other indigent students. This, amidst several others had derelict the wide acceptance of the candidate at the coming poll, by a number of students in Ife Land.

We gathered with facts, for just anyone who cares to know, that in Ife North Local Government and Ife East Area Office, for instance, eight and seven qualified applicants were received their ten-thousand naira (#10,000) payments respectively, out of the ten qualified ones for each. This is just an instance, as there are other cases of such.

Distinguished Nigerians, today, we, through this medium, accuse Mr. Lawal Taofik (OfTao) of serious financial impropriety as regards the Hon. Folorunsho Oladoyin Bamisayemi’s Education Assistance Fund. It was shocking that, this highly damaging act was perpetrated at a time when all political actors are, canvassing for the support of Nigerians, more importantly, Ife Land voters. Afterwards, we foresee an austere future, if a young individual cannot be trusted to handle a meager amount of money, for fear of financial unaccountability.

We expect that such assistance fund to ease the financial stress of the less-privileged, should be handled in accordance with applicable regulations and accounting practices. Ife Federal Constituency is an iconic seat, which was historically admired and respected all over the nation. We collaborated with real hopes for the future and in the belief that together there was an opportunity to make Ife Land great again, altruistically to give hope and future to the seemingly hopeless and those in despair. We have been truly saddened by the events of the past months, and we are shocked and appalled by the events of the past week.

WE MAINTAINED THAT:
Our democratic system can be sustained and measured not by leaders doing extra-ordinary things, (habitually, leaders fail to do ordinary things very well), but by we, constituents rising up to do ordinary things extra-ordinarily well. Our democratic state, expansion and advancement at this point in time require ordinary constituents to do the extra-ordinary things of altering the itinerary and direction of our uninspiring performance and development. If our leaders fail, constituents must not fail. In that lies the beauty and importance of democracy.

The financial hysteria of the Folorunsho Oladoyin Bamisayemi’s mercenary, Lawal Taofik (OfTao) should be rustled.

We are confronted by the recent state of affairs; we will neither espouse spirit of spinelessness nor diffidence let alone incapacity, but this will be sustained by courage, willpower and vow to utter and act, and to carry on until we achieve the greatness Ife land deserves.
We also maintained that a massive campaign should be launched against the poli-tricks of our political players, as unaccountable representatives should be disallowed from the seat are making sanctified.

Everywhere, people are already belligerent, buzzing in grief and annoyance. We make bold that our resentment will not be like that of the lame. We will communally hoard ourselves from the position we find ourselves. We will engender moral re-armament and engaging togetherness of people of like-mind and goodwill to come solidly together to lift Ife Land up.

- We also maintained that our people should be sensitized on the need to vote competent and incorruptible leaders at the poll, this coming election; and the need to hold them responsible.

We reiterate that an independent investigative panel should be set up with immediate effect by the principal of the scheme, Hon. Folorunsho Oladoyin Bamisayemi, probe into the actions of Lawal Taofik (OfTao), and make amendments where necessary

- We will not hesitate to notify members of the general public when such amendment is made, for posterity sake.
We believe it is in the best interests of all parties involved for this situation to be resolved as quickly as possible.
Our struggle continues till the very day we actualized the greater Ife we desire, hitherto victory is certain.

Signed:
CONCERNED IFELAND YOUTHS’ MOVEMENT (ciymng@gmail.com)