Loud Whispers with JOSEPH EDGAR

Bite, If You Will, President Bola Tinubu

Well, it seems like President Bola Tinubu is settling down. Since the Supreme Court judgement, the steam from Atiku and Obi’s boats have evaporated and calm has suddenly descended on the land. Even the Naira sef has started showing some signs of recovery and the business of government is now the main focus.

So, you can imagine my joy at the speech by the president – I can now call him my President – at the ministers’ retreat. He had mentioned very firmly that any minister that does not perform will be shown the way out and went ahead to appoint that beautiful but very firm lady, Amaechi’s nemesis, in charge of the office that would be monitoring and evaluating these ministers and possibly recommending them for sack.

My excitement stems from the fact that if you look at this cabinet you will see that most of them were put there not because of their competence but as reward for services rendered during the elections, services expected to be rendered in the event of a run-off election and basically “because we come from the same village.”

I think President Tinubu is gradually growing in confidence and within the next few months, he will sack some of these people who really have no business in a cabinet that is saddled with the kind of economic woes that we face.

Mr. President well-done for that speech and I do hope you follow it through and sack all non-performers because as you say – the bulk really do stop at your table now. Thank you.

Siminalayi Fubara: Seeing Spirits

It was my brother, the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, who had said to this rookie governor that “if you want to see what you should not see, you will be seeing spirits…” Mr. Governor is definitely seeing spirits today less than six months after being sworn in.

His opponent being the “godfather” who went out of his way to install him against the wishes of the general people of Rivers. Did you really think that the very sophisticated people of Rivers in a fair and square competition will choose this Sim who looks not too sharp over the more cerebral Tonye Cole?

As someone whispered in my ear the other day, “See Edgar, do not pity the governor, what kind of person did you think Wike would choose to succeed him? Did you honestly think that Wike’s decision for a successor will take the interest of the Rivers people to heart?”

What we are witnessing today is a fallout in the gangland.  A godfather trying to brow-beat his hireling into shape. The kind of thing the New York mafia families used to do. The struggle here is for continued control and access of Rivers people’s resources and that is why Mr. Sim is seeing spirits today.

Shebi they have burnt down the State House of Assembly, shot at the governor, injured and maimed people and you still think all of these are for the good of the Rivers people.

People get the kind of leaders they deserve. Shebi they have been dancing to the nonsensical tunes of Wike as governor, watched him install his puppet and are still watching him try to decimate this puppet with the plan to install a more amenable puppet and you people are still there going about your business while all of this is going on.

My people, it is not Sim that is seeing spirits, it is Rivers people that are seeing spirits. They are captives and the sooner they come to that realisation, the better for them. Na wa.

Seyi Tinubu: A Strong Word of Advice

Shebi you have just faced national disgrace from no less a person than your father, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Shebi, you will calm down now. It was getting too much and almost irritating. The stories coming from your behaviour were becoming too much and annoying.

You are not the first to be the son of the President. We have had plenty in the past, even children of military dictators, but none carry the thing put for head the way you have. Your matter tire person. We were still struggling with the Presidential Jet matter only for us to now hear that you were attending FEC meetings.

My brother, attending the FEC meeting for wetin na? Is it to take pictures to post on your very popular social media handles or what? Did you attend as bragging rights or did someone dare you?

FEC meetings are very serious meetings where decisions that affect over 200 million people are taken. It is not where you will carry a face cap and beards and black t-shirt to go and sit down for whatever reason.

I thank Mr. President for calling you out, even though I think the public callout was just a show, it was still enough to send a very strong signal to you and your admirers that enough is enough.

Aburo, comportment is the key word here. Maturity and reasonability is what is expected from you, not all these “jaga jaga” moves. Take on an issue or a grouping and represent them. Advocate for them, give them support, channel resources towards them and generally be their ambassador and face. That is how normal people play in this role. It could be boys scouts or even an industry. That way, you will gain international respect and not this one that you are playing Absalom all over the place. Abeg, it’s annoying.

Why not kuku attend plenary at the National Assembly then we will now know we really do have the Son of the President of the Federal Republic.

Atiku Abubakar: History will Be Kind to You

Baba, how are you doing today? I hope you are resting after such a hectic season. Do not worry my egbon, I do not agree with the APC which has come out to say that history will not be kind to you. Na lie, in all of these, you have proven to be a better democrat than your opponent. We all know what they could have done if the shoes were on the other leg.

We have had persons calling for the blood of baboons to flow. The others unleashed thugs and made the whole place ungovernable. But you as a major democrat stuck to due process. You followed your agitation at huge personal cost, through very legally constituted means. You did not look at the weakened institutions and the very glaring possibility that you will not get fair hearing but you still put a lot of faith in the system, thereby doing much more than the rest in strengthening the system and the institutions therein.

Don’t worry oga, history will certainly judge you very fairly. Your place in history will remain indelible and I must remind you of Chief Obafemi Awolowo who during his unjust incarceration on false allegations, had looked up in the sky and proclaimed- kai, I don forget what he said ooo.  Kai, who do me like this o?

Joe Ajaero is Seeing Black and Blue

The last time I saw that kind of black eye was when Gbenga beat the living daylights out of me as a school boy in Shomolu. We were fighting over a girl and the mad man took blows to my face that when my mother saw me, she did not recognise me.

The people that beat up our NLC President are wicked people o. From the look on his face, the blows must have been vicious to the point that as he was narrating the experience, you could still feel the fear in his voice.

NLC has said in a statement that it was the police, and if this is true then the IG of Police must as a matter of national attention, fish out those elements within his force and summarily deal with them.

You cannot just abduct any citizen and subject them to such treatment, talk less of a whole NLC president. I think all workers in the country should down tools until those elements are summarily dealt with. I do not believe that in my life I would ever support a national strike, but this one na me dey call for am. You cannot allow this to go scot free.

Such beating is so, so wrong and annoying. For what na? Why beat him that much? I really don’t understand. If it is truly that the police did this, then something must be done and if it is thugs, they must be fished out and dealt with.

How will Joe now carry this kind eye go and negotiate with the government during the next negotiations? Will he be able to see well so? Kai.

Florence Ita-Giwa on Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is a classic example of the calibre of woman politician that I have been advocating for over the years. Her doggedness in the face of intimidating odds has deservedly earned her a seat in the senate. Even though she is not a member of my party,  all the same, I salute her political courage. Of truth, it reminds me of the overwhelming impediments put in my way when I ran for my first election three decades ago.

It may surprise many, but  to this day, the men I defeated are still bitter, and every now and again, they lash out at me. I, however,  must caution Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that this victory may not be the end of physical, emotional, and verbal violence from recalcitrant male politicians. If anything, this victory is bound to attract more attacks as it would appear that in Nigerian politics, it is a crime to be a beautiful, articulate, and principled woman. I therefore urge her to remain courageous and steadfast over the course of her blossoming political career.

While women ought to be glad about her victory, it is certainly not yet uhuru for women in politics.The number of women in elected office is still embarrassingly abysmal.

Natasha’s epic battle with powerful men in her state is sadly the lot of most women in politics who have to battle unprincipled male politicians for political space. ln the cause of my political career, I have had to confront and beat back unscrupulous male politicians who have continually tried to intimidate me politically.

As I congratulate Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan , I wish to challenge other women in politics to be inspired by her doggedness. We must push on until we women form a critical mass within the Nigerian political space.

Naira Marley and Sam Larry: Human Rights on Trial

Something is happening o and I do not know if you guys have noticed at all. Social media pressure and its influence on justice delivery. I have been watching this very closely and have started feeling very uneasy about the happenings.

So, an issue erupts and social media goes ga ga and the celebrities jump in and pressure is on. Authorities start to pander to social media influence and human rights of some people start to suffer.

Seun Kuti, who stupidly slapped a policeman, was tried and jailed on social media. He was arrested, refused bail, incarceration extended and later released on bail after spending an extended time in jail. Social media pressure.

Now the case of Naira and Larry, his co-traveller. They have been in detention for a bit. The time the judge gave to remand them has expired and as at the time of my writing, there has been no fresh court order legalising their continued stay in detention leading them to go to court in a bid to enforce their rights.

If anybody is thinking that social media is not playing a very powerful role in this matter, then that person went to Chicago State University.

I have always wondered if all the allegations of bullying, adultery, drugs and gangland activities thrown at Naira Marley and Larry’s doorsteps were the direct cause of Mohbad’s death. I have not really said anything because I am not an expert, but make I ask abeg, If I send boys to beat you two years ago and disrupt your concerts regularly and abuse your father and impregnate your wife and you now die after taking an injection from a quack nurse, does that mean say na me kill you?

But like I have said, I am not a crack police detective nor am I a lawyer so I cannot really say much on this matter other than to ask that the human rights of these two and those of all Nigerians in police custody be continually protected.

That is all I have to say on this for now. Thank you.

Well Done Made Kuti

Well-done to my boy who recently got hooked. I saw pictures and was very, very proud of him and his parents. Femi Kuti, his father looked very well put out and Funke, his mother was an epitome of beauty. Congrats to the family.