You may be young and infantile” was the title of an article in the PUNCH, on Monday, January 4, 2016, by Solaade Ayo-Aderele on page 16. Thanks to Ayo-Aderele, it suddenly occurred to me that you might also be old and infantile. Many politicians in Nigeria today, almost all over forty, are behaving, talking and acting like kids. Incredible as it might appear to thinking people, some adults are actually talking seriously about reviving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP – which is already at the graveyard waiting to be buried. Wait for the explanation.

President Buhari may mean well for the country, especially on the matter of fighting corruption and indiscipline. But, his maiden media chat shows a man still sadly trapped in the past, a man moving along haphazardly into the future along a single track. He must be prevailed upon urgently to reform and mend his ways if democracy is to survive, let alone flourish.”

You may be young and infantile” was the title of an article in the PUNCH, on Monday, January 4, 2016, by Solaade Ayo-Aderele on page 16. Thanks to Ayo-Aderele, it suddenly occurred to me that you might also be old and infantile. Many politicians in Nigeria today, almost all over forty, are behaving, talking and acting like kids. Incredible as it might appear to thinking people, some adults are actually talking seriously about reviving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP – which is already at the graveyard waiting to be buried. Wait for the explanation.

Then the questions started tumbling out. First, where is the rest of the N400-540bn said to have been scammed? Was the DSS inadvertently or deliberately exaggerating in order to scare justices from granting bail or to terrorise Dasuki and receive public applause?

The effectiveness of a national security organization is determined by the accuracy of its reports. By the time the FBI breaks into any premises, it had gathered sufficient and reliable information to violate the fundamental rights of the occupants. Scotland Yard would never arrest first, on spurious charges, and later run around for evidence. That is standard operating procedure in any democracy.

“He [Dasuki] should be made to say all he knows on the matter. …It is surprising that an adviser to the President could be awarding contracts and making payments.” Balarabe Musa, former Governor of Kaduna State.
Mr Debo Adeniran,

Seldom has a front page report written by a veteran journalist, like Yusuf Alli, been so quickly disclaimed by a party close to the matter as this one. Of the two disputants, Alli and Raji, Alli has the uphill task because he must not only defend himself on the charges made by Raji that he had caused his paper to publish falsehood, he must defend the profession of journalism as well. In a matter such as this one, involving the Federal Government, now under the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Dasuki, Nigerians want to be told the truth and nothing but the truth. There should be no government propaganda served as news, nor media trial of suspects. The facts must speak for themselves.

The Judiciary is one of the prime organizations in any democracy which is designed to dispense justice. Generally, in Nigeria, this had been done. But, occasionally, a case comes up which demonstrates that some elements in the organization deserve to have a kick in the pants, as the Americans say.

“It follows that having found that the purported nomination of the 1st Respondent never took place, he was therefore in law not sponsored by the 2nd Respondent, he never participated in the Taraba state Governorship election held on the 11th and 25th day(sic) of April 2015. Accordingly, all the votes purportedly cast for the 1st Respondent on the 11th and 25 day of April 2015 are wasted votes. [underlining mine]. Judgment of the Taraba State Election Tribunal, November 7, 2015, in Abuja.

“Yes, all ministries are equal in status, but do not be fooled, some are more strategic and, if you like, ‘juicier’ than others. Consider the top dozen: Justice, Defence, Finance, Interior, Works/Power, Petroleum, Transportation, Education, Agriculture, Communication, Health and FCT. Not one of these did the President allow an Igboman..”

The first part of this article tried to establish certain facts. Chiefly, it was pointed out that our penchant for using the term Fulani herdsmen was unfair demonisation of one ethnic group – the Fulani. While a good number of herdsmen and women are Fulani, those shepherding livestock all over Nigeria are not all Fulani neither are they all men. Those late Yinusa Idi recruited, my Supervisor, in a settlement near Gezawa, Kano, to handle my own flock in the early 1980s included Basa-Nges, Igalas and Juguns. They’ve learnt the tricks.

That was one of the conditions good old “Rudy” gave for becoming a real man in one those long poems which we were proud to memorise at Igbobi College in the early 1960s. As much as possible, it has become a vital part of my life. The principle is “in any circumstance, be the last to get hysterical”. At the moment several events are driving Nigerians up the walls.

“At a glance at Exhibit A11 (result of the election), you can observe that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010.” Justice Ambrosa, nullifying the Rivers State Governor’s Election, Saturday, October 24, 2015.

A sub-lead story said “Ex-minister turns against associates, petitions EFCC.” On the same page we were told that “EFCC invites Akpabio again, grills him for nine hours.” There are enough materials in those two stories alone on which at least six to ten weekly columns can be written. The most obvious story concerns the changing fortunes of people who were once regarded as untouchables.

For columnists, there has been an avalanche of important events begging for urgent attention. For once nobody can complain of mental block when issues such as Ministerial list, Saraki versus Tinubu, Code of Corruption, sorry Conduct Bureau, CCB; Party Supremacy; 2016 Budget; death of Alamieyeseigha etc are hot items on the national agenda.