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[OPINION]Petrol War: Let The Prince Walk Naked
By Suyi Ayodele
Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ehengbuda reigned as Benin monarch between 1578 and 1606. Benin throne, as we all know, is purely patriarchal and primogeniture; a system of royal succession that passes the baton from the father to the first son. By practice, every Omo N’Oba is expected to have a son, the Crown Prince, who will succeed him after joining his ancestors.
The Benin crown prince, known as Edaiken, is always trained in royal virtues and carriage. He is the oba-in-waiting. Oba Ehengbuda was no exception to the Benin culture. He had a son named Odogbo. According to the legend, Odogbo, rather than being handsome like any male child, was beautiful like a girl. He was a damsel! The prince was said to have had all the attributes of a girl such that the people then believed that their king was trying to deceive them by presenting a female child as the crown prince.
The people were worried, and their worries were not misplaced. Immediately Oba Ehengbuda, through the traditional means, announced to the people that he had a son, their future king, all rights due for such an announcement were performed. So, it was a great embarrassment for the people to discover their future king was a woman. Benin would not have such!
While the trepidation was on about the sex of Prince Odogbo, the Omo N’Oba, Oba Ehengbuda insisted that his child was indeed a male irrespective of the feminine features he exhibited; and or, his beauty. There appeared to be a stalemate. The Omo N’Oba, as the throne was in ancient times, and even now, is the deity of the Benin people. Nobody questions him; nobody disputes his claims. But there must be a solution to the riddle of Odogbo’s gender.
One day, the people summoned up courage and confronted their Oba. The Benin asked Oba Ehengbuda to prove to them that their future king was a man and not a woman. The monarch knew that there would be a problem if he failed to accede to the demand of the people. Besides, he knew that he had nothing to hide because he had a son and not a woman in Odogbo. He asked his people what they wanted him to do to convince them that he had given them an Edaiken.
The response from the Benin to their oba was shocking. They told the Omo N’Oba that if indeed Odogbo was a man and not a woman, the oba should ask his child to walk naked from the palace to Uselu, the ancestral home where every Oba of Benin is first crowned Edaiken N’Uselu before moving to the palace as the Omo N’Oba. What an outrageous demand!
Oba Ehengbuda was equally shocked like his palace courtiers. But the monarch knew that once one is sure of the potency of one’s Ogun (god of iron and object of oath), using it to strike one’s forehead while taking an oath should not be a problem. He agreed to do what his people wanted. Oba Ehengbuda knew that he remained an Omo N’Oba only to the extent that he had a peaceful kingdom to preside over. He chose a date for the traditional ‘catwalk’ from the palace to Uselu.
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On the appointed date, the monarch asked his son and some of his agemates to be in their birthday suits. The order was obeyed. Then, the monarch asked the boys to file out of the inner recesses of the palace to the full glare of the public and embark on the walk to Uselu.
The Benin emptied to the streets. Many climbed trees, walls and other elevated platforms to see their future king and his sex. Odogbo led the train, displaying his genitals. Satisfied that indeed the heir apparent was a man, Prince Odogbo was proclaimed the Edaiken N’Uselu. And at the passing of Oba Ehengbuda in 1606, Odogbo was crowned the Omo N’Oba with the name Oba Ohuan.
To commemorate the historic event of the naked walk from the Oba’s Palace to Uselu, Oba Ehengbuda instituted the Benin Ifieto group and recorded the event by causing statues of three naked lads to be carved and kept in the palace.
In the New Year controversy between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over the status of the Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries, I think the ideal thing the NNPC should do is what Omo N’Oba Ehengbuda did centuries ago. That is ancient wisdom
If the Port Harcourt and the Warri refineries are working, the Corporation should just make the prince walk naked. We don’t need a private visit of Obasanjo on a guided tour of the refineries to prove that whatever the government had expended fixing the refineries is not another fraud.
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The Benin legend stated above settles the issue of public trust, accountability and truthfulness from those in authority. Known as Ifieto, the Benin people long established that when the subjects doubt the sex of the heir apparent, all the king needs to do is to strip the prince for his would-be subjects to see his genitals and be convinced about his sexuality.
President Obasanjo courts controversy the way a young man goes after a damsel. But the man is not necessarily controversial. Don’t mind the seeming contrast here. The problem with the retired General is the fact that, like a typical Owu man, he does not know how to keep quiet in the face of perfidy. The Yoruba say the Owu man may not fight you, but he will not keep quiet (Ará Òwu kii raánró, àwíi ménu kúrò ni t’Òwu). Besides, he is bold and pathologically confrontational.
The man called Ebora Owu, (the deity of Owu) started the new year with the refinery controversy. Speaking during an interview with Channels Television last Wednesday, Obasanjo hit the perennially non-performing NNPCL below the belt. The former president accused the NNPCL of misleading Nigerians about the operational status of the Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries.
According to him, contrary to the claims by the NNPCL that it had rehabilitated the said refineries and put them in good stead, the Corporation merely wasted public funds. He was logical in his presentation which he supported with the antecedents of the refineries. Here is how he put it:
“I was told not too long ago that since that time, more than two billion dollars have been squandered on the refineries, and they still will not work. If anyone tells you now that it is working, why are they still with Aliko? Aliko will not only make his refinery work but also make it deliver.”
Take it or leave it, if there is any Nigerian who is in a better position to talk about the refineries, it is Obasanjo. The old Owu man did not only establish the refineries during his stint as Head of State between 1976 and 1979, but he also came back 20 years later in 1999 to inherit a moribund refinery that did not undergo a single Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) in two decades.
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His first reaction when he became President in 1999 was to give out the refineries to the private sector to manage. During the interview, Obasanjo said that when approached to manage the refineries, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) declined on the ground that corruption had ruined the refineries. The advice was that the structures should be sold off as scraps.
Again, Obasanjo listed another litany of woes that had been the lot of the refineries to include the $750 million offered by Aliko Dangote to manage both the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries which the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), as it was then known, rejected. Putting everything together, Obasanjo concluded that the NNPCL was merely playing to the gallery with its claims that the refineries were working.
The response from the NNPCL has confirmed the dearth of the communication strategy at the Corporation. The best the NNPCL felt it could do with the dismissal of its claims by Obasanjo was, according to the Corporation’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, to “warmly invite President Obasanjo to tour the rehabilitated refineries.”
That response from the NNPCL is not just too base and terse, but it is most inappropriate. What Obasanjo said during the Channels Television interview is in the public domain. In the last 19 months, or even from the time of the immediate administration of General Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians have been serenaded with the news of Port Harcourt Refinery coming on board.
At a time, the same NNPCL lined up dignitaries to commission the refinery and did photo ops with tankers laden with nothing! Days after the official commissioning of the refinery, not a single filling station in Port Harcourt and its environs had a drop of petrol from the refinery to sell. So, adding Warri refinery to the list of “rehabilitated” refineries by the NNPCL raises suspicion of not just President Obasanjo, but all Nigerians of good conscience. Nobody trusts this government which tells itself lies every minute and wants Nigerians to swallow those shallow lies
And, in case the NNPCL is confused about what to do to shut all the doubting Thomases like the Obasanjos of this world up over the functionality of its refineries, I leave the Corporation with the wisdom of the ancient Bini Ifieto legend as narrated above. Omo N’Oba Ehengbuda, demonstrated through the legend that matters of public doubt should not be legislated about but must be demonstrated by empirical evidence.
Refineries are established to perform one function: refining crude oil. All the NNPCL needs to do in this circumstance is to put the products of the two refineries in the filling stations across Nigeria for the citizens to buy. Nobody needs the turenchi of how highly the NNPCL holds Obasanjo. No! Nigerians need petrol at affordable prices, not the prevailing cut-throat price, and nothing more! When the people doubt the gender of the Crown Prince, the monarch should make him walk naked. Is that too much for the NNPCL to do?
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How I and Obey’s Son Escaped Getting Caught In Benin’s Coup —Dele Momodu
The 2011 presidential flagbearer of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Chief Dele Momodu has revealed how he and his entourage missed getting caught in Benin Republic’s coup on Sunday.
A group of military personnel in Benin on Sunday announced that they had ousted President Patrice Talon, who is due to step down next April after 10 years in power.
Soldiers calling themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), said on state television that they had met and decided that “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic”.
Reacting to the news via a post on his official X account, Momodu said he and his entourage would have been caught in Benin Republic’s coup if not for a missing document.
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“OUR GOD DID THIS FOR US… My friend ROTIMI OBEY, the second son of legendary musician, CHIEF COMMANDER EBENEZER OBEY and I were to head out to Accra, Ghana, by road, this morning. All was set and ROTIMI went to bed early so that we can set out at 5am. But something went wrong,” he said.
“Before going to bed, I asked my driver for the originals of my car documents. He said he had only the copies with him. I searched the Home Office in Victoria Island but I couldn’t find it. I then went to the Penthouse in Ikoyi to check my other office. Still no luck. So , I called ROTIMI at 10:38 PM to give him the decision to fly instead of driving. He agreed.
“Meanwhile, my Beninese friend and mentee, ALEX DALMEIDA, was already in town waiting to accompany us through the French-speaking borders. So I called him at 23:02 last night to abort our road trip.
“I called PRECIOUS, my travel consultant, to check available flights. She got us tickets at 11:15PM. It was at the airport we received the news of the coup in Benin Republic… We barely missed it by the whiskers…”
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Soldiers led by Lieutenant Pascal Tigri announced that they have taken over the country. They also suspended all political parties and announced the closure of land, sea and air borders.
Speaking further, Momodu expressed surprise at the coup attempt, saying: “Benin is one of West Africa’s most peaceful countries.
“The Benin’s President changed the constitution just last month to allow him extend his presidential term, this morning the military has overthrown him.”
Talon’s entourage has, however said that the Benin Republic President is safe and the army was regaining control.
Talon, a 67-year-old former businessman dubbed the “cotton king of Cotonou”, is due to hand over power in April next year after 10 years in office marked by solid economic growth but also a surge in jihadist violence.
West Africa has experienced a number of coups in recent years, including in Benin’s northern neighbours Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as Mali, Guinea and, most recently, Guinea-Bissau.
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OAU Unveils Seven-foot Bronze Statue Of Chief Obafemi Awolowo
…Yemisi Shyllon, other dignitaries praise Awo’s commitment to humanity
A giant bronze statue of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was unveiled on Friday at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife.
The statue, the worth of which was put at N120 million by the donor, has the sage dressed in his Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) attire. It is of a height of seven feet, which goes to 15 feet after the inclusion of the pedestal.
Speaking at the unveiling, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Adebayo Bamire, stated that the statue is a legacy project for the university.
Professor Bamire said the statue was a celebration of Chief Awolowo’s selfless service to humanity and expressed the appreciation of the university to the donor, Prince Yemisi Shyllon.
Prof Bamire noted that the life of Chief Awolowo should serve as a lesson for all to live for the good of the people.
“It is known that the soul of any civilisation, the very pulse of its humanity, beats strongest on its art, on its music, its literature, its visual splendour and its performances. This affirmation resonates with the Obafemi Awolowo University academic philosophy: ‘for learning and culture’—a culture of creativity and a creative culture.
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“The donor of the statue, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, is a man whose name resonates across continents. He is Africa’s foremost art collector, an accomplished creative mind, a committed philanthropist of extraordinary vision and a relentless advocate for cultural advancement and one of the most remarkable cultural ambassadors of our time.
“For a university like ours, dedicated to the holistic development of mind and spirit, this example is a beacon. It reinforces our own commitment to ensuring that the sciences converge with the humanities, that innovation dances with tradition and that our graduates are as culturally literate as they are professionally skilled.
“This iconic piece will not only beautify our campus but also serve as a permanent cultural marker, reminding future generations of the ideals of leadership, service, excellence and intellectual courage upon which this university was founded,” the Vice Chancellor said.
Speaking, the donor of the statue, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, stated that the project was aimed at celebrating Papa Awolowo for living a purpose-driven life.
Prince Shyllon said conceiving the project and funding it was his own way of saying thank you to Chief Awolowo for the sterling leadership he gave his people and for showing what meaningful life meant.
“Indeed, many people solely focus on material wealth, such as having cars, building and buying properties, buying private jets, jewelries and the many other worthless and selfish illusions of life, that are generally not meaningful to the real essence of human life,” he said.
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He added that Chief Awolowo would be remembered forever for living for what was right and just even as he listed some of the enduring legacies of the sage.
Prince Shyllon pointed at “free education in the old Western Region, and other landmark projects such as the Cocoa House, Western Nigeria Television, Liberty Stadium, industrial estates, farm settlements and the Obafemi Awolowo University, among others” as worthy legacies left behind by Chief Awolowo.
Shyllon noted that the sage was a man who could be best described as an example of a person who lived a “meaningful life.”
He added that Chief Awolowo lived his life planting seeds for generations while leaving his indelible footprints on the sands of time.
He charged all to live the kind of life that would make humanity remember them for something positive, “just as Papa Obafemi Awolowo, who died 38 years ago.”
He stressed that the Holy Qur’an and the Bible preach the act of showing love to the needy, adding that all should not give to the needy for the purpose of getting anything in return.
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“Life is full of emptiness. Awolowo lived a meaningful, purpose-driven life and planted seeds through his various selfless services to humanity before his exit. That is why he is celebrated every day since he died 38 years ago,” he said.
In his remarks, Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, and daughter of Chief Awolowo, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, thanked Prince Shyllon for donating the statue.
She also appreciated the university for being receptive to the idea and for keeping the legacy of Chief Awolowo alive.
Ambassador Awolowo Dosumu, who was represented by the Editor, Saturday Tribune, Dr Lasisi Olagunju, noted that the project was a celebration of selfless service to the people which was what Chief Awolowo lived for.
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“History is always there to reward selfless leadership and expose pretenders. We are here today in celebration of an uncommon man who died 38 years ago. This honour, this statue is a demonstration of what immortality means.
“Chief Awolowo gave his very best in the service of the people. We appreciate the donor, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, for the gesture and also appreciate the university for giving the right space for the erection of the statue. Good life is about services; what we are celebrating today is history’s reward for Chief Awolowo’s selflessness.
“Papa was one leader who believed that service to the people is a rent paid for the space we occupy in this world. The Awolowo family appreciates this monument and thanks the donor and the sculptor for doing a great job,” he said.
He urged students of the institution to learn from the life lived by Chief Awolowo and rededicate themselves to noble causes.
At the ceremony were principal officers of the university and other dignitaries, including Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who also said positive things about Chief Awolowo and the leadership he gave the Nigerian people.
(TRIBUNE)
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FULL LIST: FG Selects 20 Content Creators For Tax Reform Education
The Federal Government has released a list of 20 content creators selected to support public education on Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms.
The Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee issued the announcement, which was posted on Thursday by its chairman, Taiwo Oyedele, on X.
The list, titled “Top 20 Content Creators for Tax Reform Education,” was shared after the organisers received 8,591 nominations covering more than 200 creators.
The organisers said the selected creators will attend a special training session designed to deepen their understanding of the new tax laws so they can share clearer and more balanced information with their audiences.
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They encouraged Nigerians to tag any creator on the list and ask them to confirm their interest by completing the acceptance form.
“If your favourite creator is on the list, tag or mention them and ask them to confirm their interest by completing this form: forms.gle/Ph49kSE4okDf6g….
“Deadline for acceptance is Monday, 8 December 2025.
“Tell us the areas of interest and key issues you’d like the training to focus on in the comments section.”
According to the announcement, the creators were ranked by their followership across major platforms. The top 20 include:
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1. Financial Jennifer
2. Onlinebanker
3. Don Aza
4. Mary Efombruh
5. Baba Ogbon Awon Agba International
6. Perpetual Badejo
7. Personalfinancegirl
8. Tomi Akinwale
9. Emeka Ayogu
10. Aderonke Avava
11. Odunola Ewetola
12. Christiana Balogun
13. Mosbrief
14. Chidozie Chikwe
15. Zainulabideen Abdulazeez
16. Chinemerem Oguegbe
17. Oyagha Michael
18. Ayomide Ogunlade
19. Ayọ̀dèjì Fálétò
20. Vera Korie
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