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OPINION: Nasir El-Rufai And The Philosophy Of Nothing

Published

8 months ago

March 16, 2025

By Festus Adedayo

Former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai caused a mild stir last week. Though the resignation of his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and gravitation towards the Social Democratic Party (PDP) did not come as a shock, the ruckus that attended them has been instructive. Torrents of negative comments have been heaped up as reactions to his decamping. And they are expected. Brilliant politician, intelligent and renowned for his organizational ability, El-Rufai is one politician you would love to hate. Since 1999, he has been a factor, either for ill or good, in Nigerian politics. Many have glibly equated him with the proverbial species of rat Yoruba call the Eda. This rat is perceived, just like El-Rufai, to always be the central focus of mostly bad issues. Playing on the alliteration in this rat species’ name of “Eda” and cause, “da” as mutual causative factors, my people say the harbinger of every issue is always the Eda rat which often brings about the caused element (iyi). So, they say, the Eda is the rat that causes this (Eku t’o da’yi le ni je eda). With his eventual pitching of tent with the SDP and the resurgence of opposition activities in Nigeria in the last one week, what came to my mind is a philosophical concept called the beauty of nothing.

The “philosophy of nothing” is bothered about the nothingness in human existence. In articulating it, this philosophy tries to find out the role of nothingness in human existence, meaning, and the nature of reality. When you explore nothingness, you will be compelled to examine how “nothing” and “everything” intersect; how, from everything, you can get nothing and ultimately discovering that nothing is a fundamental aspect of something.

Asked why he left the APC for the SDP, El-Rufai blamed a system he alleged had gone to the sewers. He cited irreconcilable differences with the leadership of the APC and disappointment with the ruling party, as, in his words, in the last two years, APC had strayed from its progressive principles (as if the party ever had any). On what he would do in the SDP, he said, “I will focus on engaging with and persuading other opposition leaders and parties to join us and congregate under a unified democratic platform to challenge the APC in all elections and by-elections.”

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With all the deluge of comments that have attended El-Rufai’s decamping into the SDP, the clear implication, as said by the party he is leaving and the government he has since been exposing its rump, is that the ex-Kaduna governor will be bringing nothing and is indeed an emissary of nothingness. The Nigerian presidency and the ruling APC had dismissed El-Rufai’s capability to galvanize opposition to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027. In their words, he is driven by what they called “an inordinate ambition that is destined to fail”. My immediate take is that, when the president began his political peregrination in 2022 or so, many of us said similar thing about his journey. Today, we are wrong and he is right, sitting comfortably in Aso Rock and picking his teeth like his predecessor. So, which of them is God enough to assume that El-Rufai’s political journey is a potential disaster?

Martin Heidegger, a renowned German philosopher with legendary contributions to the philosophy of existentialism, may want us to see the El-Rufai decamping from another prism; from the concept of nothingness and “nothing” being a fundamental aspect of being. Heidegger argued that “nothing” is the condition that allows for “being” to exist. There is however beauty of nothingness. It implies that even though nothingness brings about a state of emptiness or void, paradoxically, in it can be found immense potentials which may give a deeper appreciation of existence. In this regard, nothingness offers opportunity for creativity, peace among chaos, and renewed perspective into a logjam.

Let us now relate this philosophy of nothingness with our Nigerian reality. Other than the occasional flash-in-the-pan of individual critique and criticisms of the APC-led Nigerian government, no one can doubt the fact that Nigeria drifts towards a totalitarian state. Either real or imagined, there are facts which tend to support the allegation that the instability in the two leading opposition parties in Nigeria were cooked by the present government. According to Adeseye Ogunlewe in a television interview last week, Tinubu is the Master of Nigerian politics. Of a truth, only a fool would take his power of assembling and dissembling in politics with a pinch of salt. Being an old warhorse of Nigerian street politics, with octopodal tenterhooks to the nooks and crannies of the streets and institutions, causing institutional rifts in opposition political parties may just be a prologue in the handy playbook of the Master. While the PDP and Labour Party are engaged in a destructive angling for individual selves’ jugulars, with a Babelian voice that points at total irreconcilability, some hidden hands are said to have unhinged the screw of peace and amity in those political parties.

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The above portends grave danger to Nigeria and her polity. Not minding whatever damage El-Rufai’s kind of politics might have done to political party politics in Nigeria in the past, we should look at his decamping from the above stated Heideggerian perspective. In the perceived nothingness of El-Rufai’s politics, Nigeria may benefit something in the opposition that El-Rufai’s SDP may bring to Nigerian politics. If you know the characters in today’s government and the APC very well, we might just enter the 2027 elections as a totalitarian state, with all the opposition parties mere scarecrows decorated by the APC government to pass off as opposition forces. As Heidegger argued, the El-Rufai “nothing” may just be the condition that will allow for our national “being” to exist.

While politicians may not agree with the above thesis as they benefit from the chaos of the polity, one thing it affords the people is a multiplicity of choice. In El-Rufai’s SDP, another choice is being handed over to Nigerians which must be adequately interrogated at every point.

My excitement at the potentials of SDP as a viable opposition suffered a momentary halt almost immediately that same last week. Adewole Adebayo, 2023 presidential candidate of the SDP had come on an interview session on a national television. I had heard of his trumped up brilliance from journalists who earlier interviewed him. At that interview session, gradually, Adebayo defrosted all those superlatives with which he was robed. By the time the interview session ended, in place of a huge turkey with huge feathers I expected to encounter, I was left with a species of hen Yoruba call “Adiye opipi”. This type of hen is known by a unique characteristic of featherless wings. Adebayo came across as this and much more. I saw a man who delights in a horse ride that takes place on the back of a cockroach. When you see such politicians, your mind races to a spent canister.

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Oke-Oroma Elders Accuse Edo-GIS Officials of Reviving Obaseki’s Controversial Coral City Project

Published

52 minutes ago

October 28, 2025

Editor

Elders of the Oke-Oroma community in Edo State, have raised concerns over alleged attempts by certain elements within the Edo State Geographic Information Service, Edo-GIS, to revive the outlawed Coral City template, a project initiated by former Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration.

They claimed that this clandestine move by these elements in EDOGIS is aimed at undermining and frustrating the progress made in affirming and redeeming Governor Monday Okpebholo’s earlier solemn promises to the people.

Recall that the Edo State Government in a press release dated October 8, 2025, warned land grabbers, encroachers and speculators to steer clear the land in Obagie community designed for Coral City by the immediate past government, after it was reportedly speculated that some people have encroached the said area.

In a press statement jointly signed by the Head of the Community, Gaius Emokpae and the Secretary, Monday Omorogiuwa and made available to the newsmen yesterday, the duo disclosed that Okpebholo has been working round the clock to address the issues surrounding the Oke-Oroma land disputed area, but faced with these elements who are hiding under government to escalate tension.

They revealed that in continuation of the former governor Obaseki’s manipulative tendencies, these elements have also reportedly established another new company named EDO NEW TOWNS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD to replace the CORAL CITY with the directors purely their political associates, Blood relatives and friends.

The gang up, according to Emokpae, is between Obaseki’s loyalists and these elements in EDOGIS who are attempting to silence governor Okpebholo’s decision on the issue.

The statement partly reads, “After Governor Monday Okpebholo was inaugurated on November 12, 2024, he visited the community and made a solemn promise to return our village to us after carrying out their investigations.

“When we visited him in the office he told us that the government had revoked the C of C of the people the former governor sold to, notably the “Coral City”. He told us to go back home and take over our land and start development.

“The pronouncement was greeted with a thunderous ovation. We are now in the process of completing the legal documentation to conclude this milestone transaction

“But some powerful people in EDO-GIS are hiding under the umbrella of governance to re-invent the ex-governor Obaseki’s template specifically the Coral City to reverse the decision of Governor Monday Okpebholo.”

While lamenting their moves, the duo emphasized that despite the governor’s clear intention on revoking the Coral City to allow the owners go back to their lands, the bank account used for the operations of the Coral City is still functional where some financial transactions were recently carried out between some people invited to purchase some piece of plots and EDO-GIS Officials.

Despite existing as an ancestral home date back 15th century ago, Oke Oroma Community had been immersed in communal boundary disputes with neighbouring villages including Amagba, and Obazagbon villages in Oredo Local Government, and Obagie N” vbuosa in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area since June 2012, four months after the death of Pa Joseph Emokpae, the last Odionwere of the community.

Since then the crisis escalated, and not less than 25 people have been killed with property worth billions of Naira by the former governor Obaseki’s backed loyalists and suspected land grabbers across the neighboring communities.

They expressed worry that if allowed to continue, this could lead to renewed tensions and violence in the area.

The elders, in the statement, are urging individuals seeking personal benefits to desist and work with the governor whose magnanimity is well known from the beginning of his administration as he takes necessary steps to prevent any further escalation of the situation and ensure the continued peace and stability of the community.

Several calls put across to the Media Director of Edo-GIS by INFO DAILY for a response on the allegations, did not go through, as the network response: “The number you dial is switched off.”

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Tenebe Threatens To Suspend Edo Commissioner Who Fails To Wear Asiwaju’s Cap

Published

13 hours ago

October 27, 2025

Editor

Chairman of the All progressives Congress in Edo State, Jarrett Tenebe, has said that any Commissioner sent out of the State Executive Council meeting for not wearing Tinubu’s signature cap would be suspended from the party.

Recall that Governor Monday Okpebholo had, during the Inauguration of the last batch of Commissioners, to wear the cap whenever they attend Exco meeting.

Tenebe in a television interview and monitored by our reporter said it was an act of indiscipline and insubordination for any Commissioner not to obey Okpebholo’s directive.

He said any impediment for Edo APC not to achieve 3.5 million votes for President Tinubu in 2027 would not be tolerated.

He said, “If you refuse to wear the cap as the governor has directed, we will suspend you. That is indiscipline and insubordination.

“We are doing it because we have made a promise that 3.5 million votes are guaranteed. Everybody has keyed into realising the 3.5 million votes.

“If, as a member of the APC, you got an appointment, you are supposed to be loyal to the President.

“We are expressing our loyalty to the President by wearing the cap. Those complaining are not members of the APC. We, in Edo, have made it clear. No Asiwaju cap, no Exco.”

News

Police Alert Public On Anonymous Bomb Threats In Edo

Published

13 hours ago

October 27, 2025

Editor

The Edo State Police Command has alerted corporate organisations and members of the public to a wave of anonymous bomb threats being used by unidentified fraudsters to extort money.

The warning was contained in a public advisory issued on Monday by the Assistant Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem.

She said the command is investigating what it described as clear attempts to extort through fear and intimidation.

“The Edo State Police Command has observed a disturbing crime trend involving anonymous callers threatening individuals, business owners, and corporate organisations in Edo State, claiming that explosive devices have been planted within their premises.

“The callers then demand money, threatening to detonate the alleged explosives if their demands are not met. These acts are clear attempts at extortion through fear and intimidation, and the Command is actively investigating reported cases,” Ikoedem said.

In light of the development, the command urged members of the public to remain calm.

She added, “Do not panic or give in to any financial demands from such callers. The Command’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit is fully capable of detecting and neutralising explosives.

“Report all such calls or messages immediately to the nearest police station or to the Command’s Control Room via 08077773721 or 08037646272.

“Avoid spreading unverified information or causing unnecessary panic.

“Stay vigilant and report any suspicious persons, objects, or movements in your surroundings.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has ordered the deployment of specialised units, including the EOD team, Intelligence Bureau, and Tactical Squads, to respond swiftly to any reported threats and safeguard the public.

The Command also confirmed it is working closely with telecommunication providers and other security agencies to trace and apprehend the perpetrators.