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OPINION: Conventions, Conscriptions, Consensus

Published

2 months ago

March 31, 2026

By Lasisi Olagunju

I begin with Game of Thrones, a world not far removed from ours, where power, wealth, and revenge are the true currencies of politics. In Season 5, Episode 1, we hear this:

Tyrion Lannister: What is it that you want exactly?

Lord Varys: Peace. Prosperity. A land where the powerful do not prey on the powerless.

Tyrion Lannister: Where the castles are made of gingerbread and the moats are filled with blackberry wine. The powerful have always preyed on the powerless, that’s how they became powerful in the first place.

Lord Varys: Perhaps. And perhaps we’ve grown so used to horror we assume there’s no other way…

The APC gathered in Abuja at the weekend. There was music. There were speeches. They spoke about order, about rights, and about democracy. They spoke from, and to so many angles. And there was meaning—if you listened closely. I did.

What I saw there were men, like in Game of Thrones, taking up residence in Nigeria’s Great Pyramid of Meereen “to watch the city below descend into chaos.” They spoke like Varys, guardians of the people. But they move in Tyrion’s world, where power protects itself. In that contradiction, they fashioned a double life, dual identities: one for public morality, another for private consolidation; morality for the public stage, consolidation in the inner room.

APC is the reigning king. And, if you are a king with all fingers on every pie; be careful what you eat. There is this children’s song in the classic Yoruba film, Saworoide:

I went to the forest

I killed a strange bird

I gave it to Nana

Nana said “this is taboo”;

I asked “who eats it?”

They said “Oloja” (the king).

I rushed to the palace,

I offered the bird to Oloja,

Oloja asked no question,

Oloja snatched it

Oloja threw it into his mouth.

On the seventh day,

A message came,

They said Oloja is dead…

The Yoruba have a name for the one who takes without restraint. They call him Jeunkóokú (eat and die).

Every system has a taboo. The taboo of democracy is impunity dressed as mandate. Power, in the simple song above, dies from reckless, unrestrained appetite.

I watched the president at the convention. All around him milled suitors, raptors and preys. He was the super eagle; every part of the game was his; every bit of available meat was offered to him by everybody, friends and closet foes. He was the groom; all maidens on parade wanted his ring.

Very Yoruba in sensibility, the president knows this anecdote very well: Down by the stream, a handsome prince bathes. The water glistens on his skin; the spectacle draws a crowd. One by one, the maidens step forward, each eager to offer him soap, free of charge, unasked, unearned. Wisdom whispers that the spectacle is not love; it is longing for proximity, for recognition, for the illusion of being seen by power and with power; for the dignity of servitude.

You don’t need any initiation into the cult of wisdom to know that those suitors are birds feathered by opportunism without cost. They feast on tall trees, but when the branch breaks, they are already in flight. They benefit from power, yet escape its consequences.

It is what defines our politics. Nigeria’s ruling party is bursting at the seams, its barn swollen with pests and pestilence. Around the seat of authority, men who should stand upright bend low, their spines soft as palm fronds, voices lowered, convictions traded for proximity to power. They seek favour and compete for submission and slavery. They stretch out their hands, to receive; to partake in the private banquet. To eat from the president’s palm is, for them, not humiliation but honour.

One is reminded of ‘Animal Farm’, George Orwell’s grim parable of a revolution that devours its own promises.

If democracy is the farm and the people are Mr Jones, then we must admit, with heavy hearts, that the farm is no longer theirs. Democracy here has slipped, quietly but completely, into the custody of new beasts. The slogans remain; the rituals endure; but inside, a different order reigns. The feast is ongoing—lavish, unrestrained, shameless. Those who once chased out tyranny now sit comfortably in its seat, tasting the sweetness of absolute control.

The fire-eating democrats who fought Abacha and vanquished him, where are they now? The living are dead; the dead live on in regret. The runners of the system laugh at them and call them stupid.

MORE FROM THE AUTHOR:OPINION: Ramadan, Lent And A Trickster State

Perhaps the despisers are right. It may indeed be naivety to believe that democracy is about goodness and good people. Power is rarely that innocent. Left unchecked, it feeds its greed with reckless abandon. And so democracy, in practice, becomes a banquet. Taking and eating. Taboo, non-taboo, take and eat. The question of consequence is postponed, dismissed, forgotten. Yet consequence waits. It always does. There was a consequence for Oloja in the Sawaroide song above.

Nigeria’s ruling class have merged their regiments. They are busy with an orgy of power, grasping and gobbling. You loathe what they do but what can you do? In Nigeria of 2026, moral aspiration is politically fragile. Varys’ vision is noble; Tyrion reminds us it is unrealistic. For us, and with us, it will remain so without structural change.

And, true. Without firm institutional constraints, and unless the incentives of power are altered, grasping will continue to be attractively rewarded.

On the field of play, because they want a fait accompli election, conscription now answers consensus. Every political party that thinks of presenting a viable alternative is slaughtered like Iléyá ram and is eaten up by the Irúnmolè. The Irúnmolè fear no tomorrow because they are, in fact, that tomorrow.

But, to overreach is to go too far; to exceed established limits. Power does that. It often mistakes silence for surrender. It misjudges resilience, overestimates its own coercive magic, underestimates the danger of escalation, and wanders without a clear endgame. It eats from all chafers believing this buffet is a forever feast.

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Yet one question remains: how will this one-party, one-person democracy end?

We have seen this before. It ended in a thunderclap—a stroke: sudden, unforgiving, the consequence of stolen excess.

There is an old African story retold in J. D. Lewis-Williams’ ‘The Jackal and the Lion: Aspects of Khoisan Folklore.’ I summarise it here in plain words and in innocent sentences so the weary and the wounded may follow:

A jackal hunted antelopes, but each time he made a kill, a lion appeared and seized it. Strength took what labour produced. The jackal protested; the lion ignored him. Power had no need for fairness.

The jackal turned to an old woman—keeper of memory, custodian of wisdom. She told him not to fight strength with strength, but to answer it with strategy. She taught him how to win without a fight.

The next time the lion came to take what was not his, the jackal was ready.

He offered the lion meat—fat, rich, irresistible. Inside it, unseen, was a burning stone. The lion, confident and unquestioning, opened his mouth and swallowed.

What he consumed was not food, but fire.

The appetite that devours everything eventually devours itself. That is how unhinged power ends. Not by confrontation, it is by consequence.

A political order that behaves like that lion, seizing what others produce, feeding without restraint, mistaking silence for consent, may appear invincible. It may dominate the field, intimidate the weak, and grow fat on unchecked power. But such power carries within it the seed of its own ruin.

So, if in this moment you feel helpless, go to the old woman. She teaches how to hide the fire in the fat.

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Otuaro: Baseless Allegations, Disregard Them, Group Urges Public

Published

3 hours ago

May 17, 2026

Editor

The Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI has reacted to a statement circulating online regarding the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), describing it as baseless.

The statement under the disguise ‘Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum and Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities,’ had demanded accountability regarding the management of the Programme and its administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro.

Reacting to the statement, National President, IPDI, Comrade Austin Ozobo, said: “We consider it necessary to respond point by point to correct misconceptions, reject unsubstantiated claims, and keep the record straight in the interest of PAP beneficiaries, stakeholders, and the general public.

“It is worthy of note that the PAP operates under strict federal financial regulations and is subject to routine audits by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Ministry of Finance, and other oversight bodies.

“All disbursements, including stipends, vocational training, education support, and third-party contracts, are processed through the Treasury Single Account, TSA, with verifiable records”, the statement read.

According to the IPDI, the Programme welcomes lawful criticism and scrutiny at any time. However, linking such a call to specific individuals without evidence amounts to trial by the media and undermines due process.

“Dr Dennis Otuaro, administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme has maintained a good record of financial management, hence no formal petition with verifiable evidence has been submitted to any anti-graft agency till date”.

“It may interest you to know that the N65,000 monthly stipend is fixed by the Appropriation Act and can only be reviewed through a budgetary process approved by the National Assembly and the Presidency.

‘The PAP management has consistently conveyed beneficiaries’ concerns on cost of living to relevant authorities”.

“Again, claims that allocations to the Programme have risen significantly while stipends remain unchanged misrepresents the budget structure.

“Note, increased allocations in recent years have been tied to expanded reintegration programs, education sponsorships, skills acquisition, and infrastructure support for training centers, not solely to stipend payments”.

The group reiterated that the allegation that the Amnesty Programme Office “kidnaps and detains delegates” is false, reckless, and defamatory, adding that the PAP has no paramilitary or law enforcement mandate, nor does it operate detention facilities and that any incident involving law enforcement is outside the control and purview of the Programme.

“We challenge the authors to provide verifiable details of time, place, and persons involved so the matter can be addressed through appropriate legal channels,” the group said

On Claims of Selective Empowerment and 500% Payment Increases, the group maintained that payments to contractors, ex-agitator leaders, and service providers were governed by existing contracts and agreements predating the current administration.

“No individual or camp has received unilateral increases without contractual basis or due process. Allegations of 500% increases are unsubstantiated and designed to stoke division among beneficiaries,” it added.

“The current administration has maintained a policy of transparency in engagement with leaders and has expanded inclusion by verifying and capturing previously omitted beneficiaries where due“, IPDI added.

The group further said, “The PAP remains a neutral, peace-building institution established under the 2009 Amnesty Declaration. Its mandate is to coordinate disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration. The Office does not engage in political victimization, intimidation, or exclusion of stakeholders. Engagement with ex-agitator leaders and community structures is conducted based on their role in maintaining peace and facilitating reintegration, not political alignment”.

“The PAP under Chief Denis Otuaro’s leadership remains committed to transparency, fairness, and the original mandate of the Amnesty Programme. Constructive criticism is welcome and has informed policy adjustments in the past. However, campaigns of calumny, unverified allegations, and attempts to drag the Programme into commercial or political disputes do not serve the interest of peace in the Niger Delta”, IPDI said.

“We urge all stakeholders to channel grievances through the established engagement channels of the Programme and to avoid statements that threaten the fragile stability we have worked to sustain”.

Consequently, the IPDI urges members of the public to disregard what its described as “flimsy and unsubstantiated allegations, misconception, and missives by faceless groups above“.

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[OPINION] Olukoyede’s EFCC: Taming The ‘Fantastically-Corrupt’

Published

3 hours ago

May 17, 2026

Editor

Since its creation 23 years ago, by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as president of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous and influential country, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had apparently not gotten a head, who had piloted the affairs of the commission, like Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, its Executive Chairman, a chief-operations-officer of the Commission.

It could be said that Olukoyede, the Czar thief catcher and arrestor of economic saboteurs, has given the EFCC’s enemies such a tough time as he has taking the anti-graft fight to the doorsteps of the high-profile individuals across the country. These range from former state governors, serving and former ministers, retired and serving civil servants, businessmen, clergies, traditional rulers, cyber-influencer, entertainers, professionals and numerous others.

Olukoyede brings years of experience in law, fraud management, and business intelligence to bear on the position. Before him, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was EFCC’s inaugural chair; succeeded by the first and only female, Mrs. Farida Waziri; Ibrahim Lamorde, Ibrahim Magu, and Abdul Rasheed Bawa.

The anti-graft agency has its hands full with massive financial fraud and money laundering cases. In the clause of “physicians, look at thyself”, EFCC in its resolve is known to have been flushing out officers within the body, who run foul to the law.

In the past, before Olukoyede’s appointment, it was widely believed that it was only the “fries and not the big fishes”, who the Commission could summon the courage to prosecute; and that most culprits were also left from the hook, because of compromise by some corrupt officers of the Commission, and feeble litigation processes.

Mr. Godwin Emefiele, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), happened to have opened to Olukoyede’s a deluge of “big-men and women”, who have been arrested, investigated and cooling their feet in detention or those bailed, that are facing severe court trials. There is the biggest 19-count charge at the Ikeja Special Offences Court, involving an alleged $4.5 billion fraud.
Immediate-paste governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, faces two massive, but separate legal battles totalling over N190 billion on fraud allegation. EFCC secured from the Court of Appeal, forfeiture of 14 properties and huge money linked to him.

Abubakar Malami (former Attorney-General of the Federation), with his son, Abdulaziz and his wife, is currently charged on a-16-count of money laundering. The court has stayed interim forfeiture of 57 properties valued at over N213 billion.

EFCC had also secured the arrest of Sadiya Umar-Farouq, a female former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, and a former Permanent Secretary, through a Federal High Court, on a 21-point alleged fraud and corruption charge, involving $1.3 million and N746.6m and others amounting to 37.1 billion.

Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, also female and former Minister of Women Affairs, was removed from office by President Bola Tinubu, over alleged misappropriation and diversion of N138.4 million, and had been under EFCC questioning.

A recent discovery, which startled Nigerians and the world, the Commission (EFCC) had reportedly arrested a serving Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, over alleged money laundering involving about ₦500 billion.

Somewhat, this had deflated the claim that those arrested and persecuted are political opponents and not serving officers of the Tinubu’s government.

EFCC is a “Nigerian law enforcement and anti-graft agency that investigates financial crimes, such as advance fee fraud (419 Fraud) and money laundering. It was also set up to fight against corruption and to protect the country from economic saboteurs”.

The Commission, whilst responding to pressures from the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF), that named Nigeria as one of 23 countries not cooperating in the international community’s efforts to fight money laundering, had revved in performance, in a bid to roll back the blights.

And so, it is a strenuous goal for EFCC, as entrenched in the ‘EFCC Establishment Act 2004’, which gives it specialist jurisdiction against severe financial and commercial crime – covering multiple high and lower levels.

Born on 14 October 1969, Olukoyede, a civil servant, has had a clear break from past, where past executive chairmen of the Commission had left the Commission, where all serving officers were drafted from the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is widely commended for Olukoyede’s appointment to the position, with the Senate also eulogized for screening him.

Whilst briefing the Press in Abuja, on his two-year activities in office, on October 23, 2025, the Commission’s boss certainly made unprecedented progress in the fight against economic and financial crimes. He spoke through the Director of Public Affairs of the Commission, Wilson Uwujaren, as he listed the recovery of N566 billion, alongside other currencies and assets, among the achievements of the Commission.

He further revealed that the Commission received over 19,000 petitions, conducted 29,240 investigations, filed 10,525 cases in court, and secured 7,503 convictions.

Olukoyede asserted that the Commission recovered ₦566,319,820,343.40, $411,566,192.32, £71,306.25, €182,877.10, and other foreign currencies from proceeds of financial and economic crimes. Added to this was the recovery of 1,502 non-monetary assets, comprising 402 properties in 2023, 975 in 2024, and 125 so far in 2025.

“Among these recovered assets are two notable landmarks: the final forfeiture of 753 units of duplexes in Lokogoma, Abuja, and the forfeiture of Nok University, now the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State,” he said.

He listed several high-profile cases prosecuted within the period, including those involving former governors Willie Obiano, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Darius Ishaku, Theodore Orji, and Yahaya Bello. Others are former ministers Olu Agunloye, Mamman Saleh, Hadi Sirika, Charles Ugwu, and former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

EFCC was also said to have reentered and invigorated some longstanding fraud cases, such as ones linking Fred Ajudua, former People Democratic Party, PDP National Chairman Haliru Bello Mohammed, ex-National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, and former Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF boss, Ngozi Olojeme.

The EFCC said it arrested 792 suspects involved in asset and cryptocurrency frauds in Lagos, among who were 192 foreigners who were prosecuted and deported.

A Task Force on Naira Abuse and Dollarisation of the Economy was established by EFCC, which accordingly, had notable impacts in sanitizing money actions countrywide. “The campaign against naira abuse, racketeering, and speculative currency trading has helped reduce pressure on the naira and complemented the Central Bank’s efforts in stabilizing the economy,” he said.

Olukoyede also spoke on the Commission’s strengthened partnerships with foreign law enforcement agencies, including the Korean Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Spanish Police, and German Police.

He also mention benefitting synergy with the FBI, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), INTERPOL, and Japan’s JICA, in subsequent joint investigations and the repatriation of stolen assets to victims from Spain, Canada, and the United States.

Strengthening EFFC’s mandate at the regional level, and in Africa, Olukoyede and the Commission are said to be up and doing. For instance, a thing that had never happened to EFFC, he had been twice elected as President of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA), which led to the founding of a permanent secretariat in Abuja.

A strong media presence is needed to successfully inform the public of the ideals of EFCC and its update activities. And so, ‘EFCC Radio 97.3FM’, Nigeria’s first anti-corruption radio station, was established Olukoyede. EFCC should count itself very lucky for having in its fold, tested, diligent and veteran journalists who are ostensibly seasoned in the ideals and watchdog principles of the Commission.

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APC Primaries: Johnny Rallies Support For Senator Thomas’ Re-election Bid

Published

4 hours ago

May 17, 2026

Editor

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Delta State, Chief Michael Johnny, has called on Delta South Senatorial District’s party faithful to come out in large tomorrow and vote for Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (JOT) in the party senatorial primary election.

Johnny, widely regarded as a leader par excellence within the APC, described the primary election as a critical moment that will determine the political stability, unity, and future direction of Delta South.

According to him, Delta South needs a detribalized leader with the capacity to unite people beyond ethnic sentiments and political divisions.

He warned against leaders whose style of politics promotes ethnic division and unnecessary tension within the region.

Chief Johnny stated that Senator Thomas has continued to distinguish himself as a leader who carries everyone along, irrespective of tribe, political background, or local government affiliation.

He noted that JOT’s leadership style has strengthened cooperation, peace, fairness, and political inclusion across Delta South.

Speaking further, Chief Johnny declared that the Ijaw people have resolved to stand firmly behind Thomas because fairness, justice, and political balance must prevail in Delta South.

“As Ijaw people, we have decided to support Senator Joel because this is the turn of the Isoko nation, and Ijaw stands for truth. That is our position,” he stated.

He also appreciated what he described as “genuine Itsekiri sons and daughters” who believe in fairness, equity, and peaceful coexistence, adding that Delta South can only move forward when the various ethnic nationalities work together in unity and mutual respect.

Chief Johnny maintained that the senatorial district must not be dragged backward by divisive politics or ethnic interests capable of weakening the collective strength of the region.

He stressed that all APC members in Delta South must remain united in their support for Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas.

“Delta South is bigger than personal interests. This election is about unity, stability, fairness, and the future of our people. Senator JOT represents continuity, experience, and inclusive leadership for all ethnic groups in Delta South,” Chief Johnny added.