Loud Whispers with JOSEPH EDGAR
Where is General Richard Duru?
I am not really in any mood to write anything today. The only thing that is making me write is the very strong possibility that someone in authority will see the write up and do something. Please, where is General Richard Duru? The retired general has been kidnapped and held in very strange custody for over two months now with nothing really structural being done to release him.
At least, from where I am seated, I have not seen any press release from the Army High Command or even the Chief of Defence Staff saying anything meaningful. I mean, even our President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces should have even come out to address the nation. But instead, life continues while this well decorated gentleman wallows in stupendous suffering in the den of kidnappers.
Why the full weight of the Nigerian Armed Forces have not been thrown into the matter beats me. I am just sitting down here and wondering just once again, “what exactly do we owe this country?”
I am very much interested in this matter because General Duru, apart from having served this country for over 35 years, throwing himself into many theatres of war and performing exceedingly and brilliantly well, his situation throws up a very discouraging ethos for the soldiers currently serving. They will be wondering just how this can happen to a full General, retired or not, leading to low morale amongst the rank and file.
General Duru was my senior in secondary school, a perfect gentleman and a man who loves this country. In my various encounters with him, his patriotism stood out and as such he cannot be treated like a mangy dog. He must be accorded his full respect and honour. The authorities must, as a matter of urgency, throw every soldier they have, every armoured tank, every war plane into securing his release.
Do you guys even know the extent of damage his being held by renegades would constitute to national security if he breaks from the mental and physical torture he would have been subjected to?
I think very strongly that if his release is not secured within the next five days, I will call on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to call for the resignation of all the heads of his security architecture because at that point, they would no longer deserve their epaulettes. This is shameful. Period.
Oba Ghandi Olaoye: Uneasy Lies the Head
Last time I spoke about these issues, they were asking me questions o. They asked me what concerned me o, “won’t you go and keep that your afang eating big head somewhere?” So, I decided to refrain from all cultural matters that concern my Yoruba brothers.
But this latest one, e go hard make I keep quiet cos the matter cuts across so many lines in this our country, I swear.
So, I stumbled on the picture of the new Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye on his knees with the highly respected Pastor Adeboye laying his hands on his head and praying. You see, Pastor Adeboye always used to sha run into these controversies. From presidents to presidential aspirants and sitting vice presidents, all going to kneel to him.
You see, the need to separate church from state remains highly critical and this is not about or against Pastor Adeboye who I would have expected that even if those going to kneel down there -no too get sense, he with all of his training and exposure should know what to do by reminding them that they carry with them the full weight of 200 million people and as such, should not be kneeling down for any mortal no matter who or what the mortal represents on this earth.
This Oba Ghandi own is of a different colouration. It belies the confusion that besets the Oba personally and the continued demystification of our traditional ethos by modernity. That picture of the Oba on his knees and the man of God touching his head in my estimation is a major slap on the cultural institutions’ the Oba represents.
You cannot serve mammon and God. You cannot represent a position and now go and be subservient to another master and after that, you now go back to where you were coming from.
That picture showed very clearly the bridging of lines instead of the partnership that should be between tendencies. It showed a significant “inferioritisation” of our culture, a “do bale ing” of our traditions and a gross humiliation of what we culturally stand for.
I am sorry that I have to be this harsh, but I think the new Oba should kinda apologise to all traditionalists in the country, and not only to the great stool and people of Ogbomoso, and he must make sure he doesn’t do that again. Yes.
Kayode Fayemi’s Powerful Submission
When brilliant people speak, you relish in their intelligent positions. The other day, Dr. Fayemi in an outing at a book launch was reported to have said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should be in a position to give honest feedback to our President. My people this statement in its simplicity is the very chore of the issues our successive leaders face.
They are imprisoned by the selfish interest of their handlers and made to see only things they want them to see. I tell you as far as Tinubu is concerned, everything is going well in the country o. Let me tell you guys something. The other day I was ensconced in a hotel room in Abuja for five days. I did not go out o, I was just there on standby and watching only NTA. The hotel had only NTA. My people, from the constant gibberish NTA was spewing at me, I began to ask myself why were people complaining. Everything was working o. Power was perfect, employment grew, corruption ebbed, the roads were beautifully paved and the armed forces were very happy. I even saw videos of customs officers singing and dancing the praises of their oga. Everything was perfect o.
When I got to the airport and the hustle and bustle of that mad house hit me, I got culture shock. That was me o, talk less of a whole president surrounded by an army of aides and others who will block any “unfortunate” news and allow only what they feel is “good for oga” to pass through him.
So, you see the very seminal nature of Dr. Fayemi’s position and this is why he remains amongst the very few that I truly do respect within the cabals that make up that contraption- APC. Come and beat me anybody, I have said my own.
Femi Adesina: Who the Bloody Hell Cares
This is what Femi was quoted to have written in his upcoming book as President Buhari’s reaction to Bukola Saraki’s cross carpeting or something like that. So, I have also decided to borrow the phrase as a direct and very serious response to his upcoming book.
Mbok, who bloody cares about what he has to say. The man went there and lost his mind, justifying and explaining all sorts of anti-people policies. The wickedness that pervaded that “regime” and the insensitivity as perfectly illustrated by the photograph of his master with a toothpick in his mouth will continue to haunt this generation of Nigerians.
The wickedness that heralded that administration can almost be equated with the despotism that was General Abacha’s unfortunate journey into power and in all of that madness, Adesina was there explaining, cajoling, persuading and justifying all for a morsel or to keep a job that even eunuchs will not touch with a long stick.
Today, the tsunami is over and he now wants to come and write a book. Which “yeye” book, please he should just let us be so we can continue to lick our wounds.
Kai! Buhari’s tenure was crazy. It was mad in its insensitivity, in its lack of engagement with the people and in its arrogance especially in the way the leader treated us. As the crazy policies tore into us, he went on international jaunts which didn’t make sense, he continued in his nepotistic flow which further divided us and Mr. Adesina was there doing what he knew best – whitewashing it all.
Oga, you no go leave us make we still dey cry our cry. Book ko, book ni.
Incompetent NAFDAC: Blame It on This Woman
The rash of kidney and renal challenges Nigerians are facing can be directly dropped at the table of the NAFDAC as headed by this lady – Prof Adeyeye. Nigerians are now consuming more fake products and medicines than ever before and this is blowing up our kidneys, leading to death and maiming.
The NAFDAC remains ineffective in its role and have just thrown up their hands in utter surrender as counterfeiters and purveyors of fake medicines and products continue to hold us to ransom.
The other day, over 240 shops in Aba were raided and we saw in true colour the extent of damage these people are doing not only to the economy but our health. Almost 70 per cent of drugs being taken today are fake, a rash of beverages, fake. Even bottled water, all fake. I guarantee you that if you buy bottled water of any brand in any of the far flung areas in Lagos like Ikorodu or Ikotun, the chances that it will be fake is very high.
It is in this regard that I hereby call for the resignation of the NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye and replace her with either a member of the law enforcement body with experience in that area so that we can now have a much more structural approach to this problem.
Na wa, just go to Gbagada General Hospital and see the number of Nigerians in need of dialysis. Madam, abeg just go, you don try.
Unsettling Revelations About Dozy Mmobuosi
Dozy, for those of you who do not know, is the Nigerian businessman who wanted to buy Sheffield United, the British premiership team. He runs the Tingo enterprise, an agrictech firm with interest in Nigeria and quoted on one of America’s stock exchanges. He is my friend and brother but it seems that he may have run afoul of the many rules that guide his business.
During the week, the US SEC released a report which went viral. They claimed in the report that Dozy has been very “magical” in his reporting. In fact, they stated that in a report, he had filled that over $400million was in his Nigerian bank accounts but a search showed just $50, meaning that even me, I get money pass Dozy.
Well, my colleagues at the BGL Alumni group took me to task immediately when the damning report came out. They fired, “Edgar you get emotional. You supported him when the Hindenburg report came out, now what do you have to say?” Yes, I did say that we had to be patient because when that first terrible report came out, Tingo had come out, debunking it and also went ahead to hire a very expensive and prestigious law firm to defend it. So, I asked for patience.
But if the SEC report is anything to go by, it looks like my brother may have overreached himself. Kai, as I read this report, I started sweating. Dozyyyyyyyyy!!!!! Kai. This is not good na. Millions of peoples dollars toyed with, the international reputation of Nigeria once again destroyed?
My brother, a part of me is praying and hoping that all of this is not true o and that you would come out with a credible position but something in me just feels like this may just be the end of the road. Why the brilliance was parlayed negatively when it could have been used for more societal positive ventures continues to beat me. Disappointed.
Kola Abiola as the Latest Father-in-law in Town
Nothing beats it much more than nurturing a child from birth to the point where you finally hand her over in marriage to a suitable suitor. This was what made Kola Abiola, my egbon grin from ear-to-ear last Monday at the Five Star Lounge in Oniru.
The crowd was superlatively up market o. I saw everybody o, from the Sarakis, to my egbon Aigboje, to even Fash who is still smarting from the article I wrote about our encounter even though I didn’t mention his name. The hall was well decorated and the food was plenty. I could not stop eating o. As better people were dancing to the wonderful tunes of the evergreen King Sunny Ade, I was flirting with the beautiful hostesses who made sure that the food kept coming my way o.
I ate o. Kai, and drank like a sailor while the festivities went on. Kola took me to his beautiful wife who said, “Your dreadlock gave you away.” Then I stole a glance at the very beautiful bride and said to the groom, “you got yourself a pearl there, well done.” Congrats bro.
