Loud Whispers with JOSEPH EDGAR
Sanwo-Olu vs Obasa: Not Yet a Rumble
I heard that Chief Obasa, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly who is looking like he wants to succeed Mr. Sanwo-Olu has decided that the best strategy to achieve his aim, is to insult the incumbent and denigrate the office.
How he came about this strategy beats me. Maybe because he thinks that one really would have no say in the matter due to the ‘selection’ type of democracy in place in Lagos.
Thankfully. We have seen reports that they both have been summoned by those who own not only Lagos, but now own Nigeria to a meeting.
Reports monitored and reported by a leading National newspaper suggests that Obasa was given the wrong end of Mr President’s tongue and asked to stop the mischief.
You see, for me, as long as there is no true democracy in these things, we would always get these kinds of skirmishes.
It’s a clear case of the cat not being around and the mouse let loose.
If the governor was allowed to be governor then he would know how to manage this kind of situation and if the Speaker was also operating within the fine lines of a democracy, he would respect the office of the governor.
But since na message dem send all of us na, no respect for anybody and this is why both will join the palliative queue at Bourdillon waiting for their turn to state their case to the emperor.
Shebi, I have said it that Abacha was an apprentice dictator compared to this one we are seeing now.
Verdict has been given, orders sent out and the boys have gone back to their duty post with a strong warning that “if I hear fem from both of you ehnnn, you will not believe what will happen to you. Common get out of my house…” Na wa!
Olumuyiwa Adejobi: Let’s Engage on This
I would hate to take on this gentleman directly because – na him work he dey do.
That statement that the police will soon start arresting people for ‘insulting’ our leaders is very scary.
You know that me I yab these people for a living so with that kind of statement, I cannot be comfortable.
So if I yab my councillor now in Shomolu, na behind counter I will find myself?
My brother, is it possible you re-engage the people that sent you on this errand and remind them of Decree 4. I am not sure you have joined police that time or that you have even come to Lagos so you may not know just how far that decree went to damage the credibility of that regime.
My brother, in your discussion with the people who sent you, kindly let them know that the word ‘Insult,’ is ambiguous with many connotations o.
So if I say, “Muyiwa, this your big head ehn…” you could term it as an insult while your wife would term it as me saying you are a very brilliant policeman.
Mbok, let’s not be carried away with temporary power and be doing things anyhow as if we are presiding over some chickens in an Animal Farm.
Instead of issuing threats and throwing up not well-defined laws at people, why not try engagement, consensus-building and much more openness in governance because truly, my brother, Nigerians are not happy and insults go plenty, I assure you. Let’s have a rethink, it’s just common sense.
Mbok, I no insult you o, I no get power ooo, na advice.
Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede: A Legacy Sustained
Interestingly, I had just finished my tribute to the late banking icon Herbert Wigwe, when the news of Access Bank being the first to secure CBN’s approval, after successfully raising N351billion in fresh capital.
This feat pushed the bank to the N500million minimum capital requirement as prescribed by the apex bank.
Now let me tell you just why this feat is quite remarkable.
In several discussions with Aigboje, the need to sustain the vision of its founding fathers through institutionalised processes and structuring have remained the key strategy of growth especially within the whirlwind pressure from biological legacy holders of a visioner.
Pressure from those who lack the charisma and capacity to even run a bank teller, talk less of understanding the complexity that comes with running a hydra-headed financial behemoth that is Access Group can only be imagined.
This victory more than validates the foresight of Aigboje and Herbert in envisioning an institution that will not only outlive them but join other brands such as UAC, First Bank, Olanihun Ajayi and others that have crossed the 100-year mark.
Well done to the Access Bank Group for achieving this so seamlessly and elegantly. Well done guys.
Wole Soyinka: Old Soldier Never Die
There is a briming argument that Prof should stand up to lead protests and rallies against this government by some youths.
In quick response, another group has come out to say that the youths who have asked for this are a lazy and cowardly lot who want to hide behind an old man in a struggle.
They reminded the lazy youths that Prof had started agitating in his 20s and as such nothing stops them from toeing that line without Prof.
While this group has a point, I would like to remind them that for every group to succeed, it needs guidance, elderly wisdom, inspiration amongst others.
It is not wrong to look up to veterans like Prof and Falana to provide this hence the youths confusion as to why they have taken the stance of the three monkeys – hear no evil, speak no evil and see no evil at this time.
It is all the more harrowing that despite the 90 years, we are seeing and hearing sound bites that are making us ask if the Prof has been cloned cos we no dey recognise am again o. For us to leave Prof alone, he must follow Bola Ige and say “I siddon look” because he cannot be speaking for these people on one hand and be claiming old age on the other hand.
If he wants to be old, let him be old in its entirety. He deserves rest in his old age but the rest must come with wisdom and not through kurukere ways. Thank you.
Magnus Onyibe in the Eye of the Storm
Aghhh, if you don’t know Magnus Onyibe, let me tell you who he is.
Magnus is an internationally-rated developmental economist who has written very extensively on the economy and other related issues; a former commissioner in Delta State and a well known ‘right-of-centre’ intellectual.
But recently, even me come dey confuse of his leanings. His writings have been in very strong support of Tinubu’s policies.
Unlike the Reno variant which is a little bit above the beer parlour noise, Magnus couches his with an arrogant intellectualism that has been designed to keep you off.
His latest treatise has been eagerly published widely and in which he said the economy was thawing did not go down well with Osa.
Osa is a roadside economist who is not given to any cerebral pretensions. He just says it as it is and moves on. He came at Magnus on the Duke Summit and all hell broke loose.
In return, Magnus came back with a short career history which Osa would have none of.
As it got heated, I shut down the group and Magnus came to me privately to open it so that he could finish Osa.
Osa also came at me to open so that he can scatter Magnus.
See wetin Tinubu policies don cause o. I opened the group and they continued. Magnus challenged Osa to critic in a one thousand word piece, Osa that didn’t pass English in WAEC opted for a debate which as at the time of writing, Magnus had not responded.
Well, me I am supporting Magnus simply because he attended Donald Trump daughter’s wedding and not because of all that thing he is writing. Which economy is thawing ooo?
Betty Akeredolu: I Beg to Disagree
The Ondo State Government has decided to immortalise their former governor with a befitting memorial lecture to be delivered by no less a personality than the erudite Femi Falana. The widow of the governor is crying foul, that the family was not carried along.
I don’t understand, carried along in what way? Do they need to pay owo Ile to her before they do anything in his honour?
I painstakingly read the report to see any cogent reason apart from her not being carried along for her annoyance and didn’t see anything aside emotional outburst and a false sense of importance
Mbok, this woman should go and sit down and allow the state to rest abeg, her own is too much sef. Thank you.
Are We Missing Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye?
Mummy says she didn’t regret serving and also certainly does not regret all the noise that happened during her turbulent tenure.
From threatening to sue the UN, to storming police stations in search of girls to free, to scattering live events because she was not carried along, this was one wild horse on the loose.
Mbok thankfully, she lost out in the only major cabinet reshuffle where Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief.
We were already overfed with all the drama on Big Brother Naija and all the shenanigans on social media to now be served almost on a daily basis with the comedic antics of a serving minister. It was just too much.
I sure hope that now that she has some free time in her hands, she would use that to attend finishing school because the grace and elegance was not there. Kai.
Jumoke Oduwole: A Belated Message
I first met her in London where she had come to represent Alhaji Shettima, our Vice President at our economic summit on the back of our play ‘Awo-UK.’
At the summit, she exuded grace and poise.
Her brilliance was there for all to see and she delivered the VPs message with so much panache that the hall melted into a potpourri of warmth towards her.
Not so long ago, she was appointed Minister for Trade and Investments and Nigerians applauded for she was not only qualified, she had contributed and served very diligently.
I did not or should I say could not send my congratulatory message at the time but had the opportunity to do same in person when I met her at the huge Muson Centre play on King Sunny Ade.
She had come with her family and calmly entered the hall with no fanfare.
After the show, I went to greet her and then said “Congrats my sister on your appointment,” and she in turn said “congrats for being you,” – na me add that one o. Anyways, well done madam, truly deserved.
Seyi Tinubu: Commander-in-Chief of the ‘Boys’
Me, I don’t know how to say this one o, especially with the warning the police have given on insulting people like him.
At 55, I cannot be playing with prison especially in a non-violent crime like this.
Inmates will almost finish me with slaps.
This is why I would not say anything about the clip where our son, Seyi was seen arriving and inspecting a guard of honour.
From the clip, I cannot say if the soldiers are real Nigerian Army soldiers or cadets or even Man O’ War.
All I can just say or should I say ask at this point is “Lord, hope you didn’t wear slippers to inspect that guard of honour because I saw the usual black trad and na slippers dey always follow am.”
I have kept quiet o, is Dele Farotimi out in case I need bail?
Naomi: A Stampede in Tears
My heart goes to this Queen. It’s just so unfortunate that one will set out to do good and end up in jail for that. I had almost found myself in this situation.
The unruliness of the Nigerian crowd beats all kinds of crowd management strategies.
In one of my plays, the news came out that the ever respected Olu of Warri was coming to see the play and before we realised it, a huge crowd appeared at the Muson Centre. A hall that seats 300 now had over 2,000 people to contend with. All safety plans went out of the window as the crowd surged to see the King. Ticket holders were flushed out and sponsors had their banners torn.
Before you knew it, they had infiltrated the stage and some were playing the instruments. One old lady got stuck in the elevator as she scrambled to safety; security was overwhelmed, the ambulance careened off and chairs and tables upturned.
I cried like a child as I watched this mayhem.
Eventually, it calmed down and they started leaving when Olu of Warri left and we had our show.
This could have led to injuries, this could have led to deaths all because one had decided to tell a story.
So Princess Naomi in a twinkle of an eye moved from a caregiver to a felon with a possible manslaughter charge hovering over her head, simply because she wanted to give back.
My heart goes to the families of those who lost their children, truly sad but for the first time in my life, I find it very difficult to lay the blame on the doorstep of anybody-not the organisers, not government. This is because a mob is a mob anywhere in the world.
You should all go and see the documentary of the riots before a match at Wembley that overturned London police even with all their technology.
It’s crazy, very crazy. I feel real sadness and pity for all involved in this matter.
