I am still reeling from the death of Chief Edwin Clark, the great Niger Deltan who went to meet his Maker earlier on this week.

He was 97; and the last time I saw him, the grand old man was fading; and I knew that his end was nigh. But despite expecting it, I was shocked when it happened. And I am absolutely devastated. 

And I am not alone. 

On Tuesday, the first day on which his passing became public knowledge, over one thousand people from every geopolitical zone in Nigeria visited his home in Abuja to condole his family and closest friends. Many were in tears and speechless with grief. 

He was my leader, surrogate father and friend. He respected me. He provided me with moral support and advice when I had problems. He sometimes called me “Darling”. And I loved him to bits. 

detribalised patriotism. I have written about him on this page many times in the past. When I have pulled myself together emotionally, I will compose a final tribute and share it with Vanguard readers. 

May his wonderful family find the strength to bear his loss with fortitude and may he rest in perfect peace.

SURPRISING NEWSFLASH!

Yesterday, our famously amiable former President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), launched his book – titled A JOURNEY IN SERVICE – at a jampacked ceremony in Abuja.

It is a measure of the high esteem in which he is held that he attracted such a huge crowd so many years after he left office.

I was invited and arrived on time, but the hall was already full and people were literally struggling to get past the adamant security guards. 

I don’t have the energy for that type of desperation, so immediately decided to turn around and go home, fuming inwardly because the organisers appeared to have screwed up and compiled an overly long guest list that did not reflect the number of seats available.

Then I looked at some of the characters who were shoving themselves at the doors and behaving as if they were in a do-or-die rugby scrum; and I was suddenly convinced that nobody had asked them to come and that they had simply printed fake invitation cards!

ANYWAY, the main point of this story is that just as I was preparing to leave, I spotted Peter Obi arriving. And I am very fond of him, so decided to stick around to make sure he was OK.

Like me, he wasn’t ready to throw himself into the undignified crowd scene and kindly offered me a lift home when I told him that my car was in bad shape, so I’d been using taxis all week. 

Fortunately, just as we were about to take off, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, my former boss at Daily Times and one of the event organisers, appeared and escorted Obi past the melee and into the hall.

I was relieved but worried that he wouldn’t find a seat. 

But guess what? 

Nasir El Rufai, the controversial former governor of Kaduna State whom I’ve known since we were young, suddenly emerged from the hall and told me that he had given up his seat so Obi could have it.

I told El Rufai that I would mention his gentlemanly sacrifice in my Vanguard column so that people who don’t know him would know that he can be well-behaved when he feels like being well-behaved! 

ANYWAY, I am really looking forward to reading IBB’s book and will tell you what I think about it when I get my hands on a copy.

MESSAGE FROM TRUMP?

Someone recently Whatsapped this message to me. It was allegedly penned by Trump and addressed to foreigners. But I am SURE that Trump (whom I loathe) never uttered these words. However, they are still worth hearing, so let me share them with you.

God has blessed your country. Go back and hold your corrupt leaders accountable. Stop loitering the streets of America.

If Americans were docile and refused to initiate Revolution, then you would never see such an amazing nation like USA. If France kept mum in 1775, you wouldn’t see a developed nation like France.

If you like, keep playing tribal politics in suffering while your ruling class loot with reckless abandon. 

Stop depending on WHO for subsidized drugs. At your age, you ought to have home-made drugs for common ailments. On that ground, America has left WHO. Go and hold your ruling class accountable for rots in health care delivery. When they are sick, they run to USA for treatment with your national resources.

Keep playing tribal politics but get out of USA. If you’re ready, you will take over your country from destiny destroying ruling class as they did in France.

All decent nations have accurate population index. Even in hell fire, God has a record of those in it. America belongs to Americans not indians, Nigerians, Chinese, Mexicans, and other nationals who want good life and escaped to USA.

We fought for liberty and advancement. Keep quiet and wait for angels to repair your bad roads. Remain dumb as ministers, Governors, commissioners, etc loot in trillions.

Return to your country and change the narratives. No more running to America with your heavily pregnant wives. You want them to give birth in America and automatically become citizens of America. That is revoked immediately.

The message is clear. Let it sink into the skulls of all those who desire a new Nigeria. 

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DONU’S WORLD

I have a YouTube channel. It’s called DONU’S WORLD. 

https://youtube.com/@donukogbara?si=bBm_IPdFZ_wUyKYq

Check DONU’S WORLD out every Wednesday to hear about my constant quest for self-improvement. Tune in every Friday to hear my views on life in general. And please “like”, subscribe and share! 

Today on Donu’s World, I talk about people who – when they know that they are dying and have run out of time – regret the things they never said to loved ones and the things they never did. 

I urge my viewers (and myself!) to sometimes take gambles that might expose them to positive experiences they’d never have enjoyed if they had doggedly played it safe.