Lai Mohammed’s tales by moonlight

By Casmir Igbokwe

Alhaji Lai Mohammed tells a lot of stories. That is not surprising. As Minister of Information and Culture, he has to promote and defend the policies and programmes of the government. This is how I see his intervention on the report of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters.

At a recent press conference, Mohammed fumed: “Without mincing words, let me say never in the history of any judicial panel in this country has its report been riddled with so many errors, inconsistencies, discrepancies, speculations, innuendoes, omissions and conclusions that are not supported by evidence.”

He added: “Instead of sitting for one year, the panel could have just compiled social media ‘tales by the moonlight’ on the incident and submitted, saving taxpayers’ funds and everyone’s time. The report is nothing but the triumph of fake news and the intimidation of a silent majority by a vociferous lynch mob.”

Recall that soldiers allegedly shot and killed scores of unarmed protesters at Lekki Tollgate area of Lagos on Tuesday, October 20, 2020. It was dubbed Black Tuesday. Before the alleged shootings, there had been protests across different parts of the country against police brutality especially by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The #EndSARS protests were later hijacked by some hoodlums who killed policemen and burnt down some public buildings.

Some state governments set up panels of enquiry to investigate the crisis. The Lagos State panel led by Justice Doris Okuwobi submitted its report to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday, November 15, 2021. The panel investigated two major petitions. One is on several abuses and killings by the Nigerian police, especially the defunct SARS. The second one is on the October 20, 2020 Lekki Tollgate shootings during the EndSARS protests. Soon after the submission of the report, some aspects of it leaked to the public. The panel, among others, confirmed that indeed there were shootings at Lekki and that at least nine people died and some others sustained injuries. It awarded a total of N410 million to 70 victims of police brutality.

This is what riled the information minister. He had consistently maintained that there was no killing by soldiers at Lekki on the day in question. So, it would mean that he lied if he agreed with the panel’s findings. But he obviously jumped the gun in his haste to defend soldiers and the government. His principal, President Muhammadu Buhari, did the correct thing by adopting the attitude of “let’s wait and see.” He told the United States Secretary of States, Anthony Blinken, who visited him recently, that he would await the report of other states that also set up panels before concluding on the matter.

The question is: on whose behalf did Lai Mohammed reject the report of the Lagos panel? He claimed he studied the report and spotted discrepancies before coming out to disparage it. But couldn’t he have waited for the report of the four-member committee set up by the Lagos State Government to raise White Paper on the panel report? It means he does not trust Sanwo-Olu who pledged that the two reports and recommendations would be made public and submitted to the National Economic Council (NEC) for discussion.

The sad part of this whole thing is that there appears to be a subtle campaign by some government agents to discredit the report of the panel. Besides, a human rights lawyer and member of the panel, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), alleged that there were threats to the lives of members of the panel. Also, one Miss Kamsiyochukwu Ibe, who testified at the panel, was also reported to have been attacked and given machete cuts recently by hoodlums. Adegboruwa urged Nigerians to hold the government responsible should anything happen to him.

My fear now is that Nigerians may never get to know the truth about the Lekki incident. With the overt and covert moves surrounding the report, there may not be justice after all. The report of the committee on white paper appears predetermined. I wish I am proved wrong.

It is typical of many Nigerians to confuse issues in order to hide the truth. It happened in the alleged Lekki incident. At first, the army denied ever being at the scene of the shooting. It said the viral videos of the shooting could have been photo-shopped. In a contradictory statement, the same army said soldiers intervened on the request of the Lagos State Government after a 24-hour curfew was imposed. It claimed its intervention followed all laid down procedures for internal security operations and that its personnel never opened fire on the protesters.

Even Governor Sanwo-Olu prevaricated on the incident. Initially, he blamed the shootings on forces beyond his control. According to him, he called President Buhari two times, but got no response. Though he admitted that soldiers carried out the shootings, Sanwo-Olu initially said no death was recorded. He later noted that only two people died.

It is imperative to note that military intervention in civilian protests always leads to disastrous consequences. In 1989, for instance, Chinese military rolled out tanks in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and massacred hundreds of peaceful protesters, mostly students, demanding democratic reforms.

In Egypt, an attempt by the military to quash the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 led to the killing of over 800 demonstrators. Over 6000 others were injured. In the late 80s, people trooped to the streets of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, to protest austerity measures imposed by the government. The then President Carlos Andrés Pérez declared martial law and invited the military. Characteristically, the soldiers reportedly killed at least 400 civilians.

As regards the alleged Lekki massacre, the onus is on the Lagos State Government to maintain neutrality and stand on the side of truth. If it had wanted a report that would be favourable to government, it wouldn’t have constituted an independent panel made up of independent-minded and credible individuals.

What Nigerians need now is a healing process. Victims of police brutality need to be consoled and compensated. Rule of law is the hallmark of democracy. That is what differentiates our democracy from that of some advanced nations. When security agents commit atrocities with impunity, society suffers for it. Even with the EndSARS protests of last year, our security agents appear not to have learnt any lesson. Motorists and travellers still face inhuman and degrading treatment in the hands of these agents. Indeed, a leopard cannot change its spots.

What Lai Mohammed should do is to continue to push for police and military reforms in their Federal Executive Council meetings. He should caution himself against telling stories that will further alienate Nigerians from the government. He should begin now to compose better tales that will calm nerves over the proposed fuel subsidy removal next year. Above all, he should always consult with the Presidency before dishing out his comments on controversial issues so that government won’t be seen to be contradicting itself.

Re: Andy Uba’s ‘stolen mandate’

The agitation of Andy Uba against the transparent and landslide victory of Soludo over him is like the case of two wrestlers: the stronger one threw the other on the ground without much sweat but the one down said his head has not touched the ground. The ex-Senator should gently tuck his tail between his hind and await future opportunities.

•Hon Aloy Uzoekwe, uroyz94@gmail.com, 08038503174.

Dear Casmir, I congratulate the governor-elect Prof Charles Soludo on his overwhelming victory at the polls. The result of the election and the example shown by Mrs Eunice Ngozi Onuegbusi testify to how advanced the Anambra state electorate has become. Now that the battle is over, the task before the governor-elect is to prove that purposeful and effective leadership that has hitherto eluded the country over the years could be achieved by putting intellectuals at the helm of affairs.     

•Dr Idongesit Inyang, Uyo, +2348084318845.       

Dear Casy, Soludo’s victory is in line with the adage which says that a genuine product is an easy sell. It is also a Divine re-calibration of Anambra State’s political trajectory right from Dr Chris Ngige as Governor who was abducted for his refusal to obey the 11th Commandment which says: ‘thou shall set aside the lion share of State’s funds to maintain political godfathers.’ As for the man allegedly heading for court, note that politicians with strong ‘cash and carry’ spirit, hardly, reconcile with DIVINE DICTATION. Such spirit leads them to desperation and when desperation attains a crescendo, reasonableness takes flight, decency gets buried.

•Steve Okoye, Awka, 08036630731.

The Eighth Wonder of transforming a man into a woman is only possible in Nigeria’s electoral clime because the electorate’s sacred and unfettered mandate of determining who emerges as governor of a state is now the ‘prerogative’ of the Supreme Court. The Hope Uzodimma’s Imo State abracadabra is now the next magic wand that Andy Uba hangs on to govern a people who decisively and resoundingly rejected him at the poll. The resultant ‘punishment’ occasioned by the BIG LIE posted by Andy Uba’s 200,000 votes purportedly garnered at APC guber primary is a clear warning to all the electoral magicians that the times are gradually changing for the better.

•Edet Essien Esq. Cal South, 08037952470

Nobody stole his mandate. The real identity of a man is not measured by performance or money, but relationship. Relationship is wealth in waiting. Those who let things happen usually lose to those who make things happen.

•Emma Wuse 2 Abuja, +2348035585109

Dear Casy, the political cabal in Anambra state who stole Peter Obi and APGA mandate in 2003, 2007 guber elections are now crying wolf over Prof Soludo’s victory. When they robbed Obi, they didn’t know that the law of karma was waiting for the right time. Obasanjo’s electoral abracadabra at the time turned them emperors in the state. The people of Anambra had made their best choice and God has blessed the great Prof and his people. The society you abuse today haunts your generation in the future.

•Eze Chima C. Lagos, +2347036225495

Casmir, the election tribunal was set up on purpose. An aggrieved candidate in an election is free to pursue justice should he feel that there were malpractices during the election strong enough to influence the result of the election. This right should not be denied Andy Uba. Seeking justice at the tribunal is better than the alternative which is violence. This can only strengthen the democratic process in Anambra.

•Mike, Mushin, Lagos , +2348161114572

Casmir, I love Ndi Anambra State. Starting from the reign of Gov Ngige, through Peter Obi to Dr Willie Obiano, they have fashioned out the standard for their governors. Unfortunately, Andy Uba has not learnt anything from the past. He refused to admonish himself that his fake assumptions of his quality can never blindfold Ndi Anambra State to entrust the leadership of the State to him. He has not told himself the truth on the claim of securing 200,000 votes in APC primary election. He failed to realize that APGA might have played along with him by commissioning some of its members to pretend to be working for him but actually worked for Soludo.

•Pharm Okwuchukwu Njike, +234 803 885 4922

Dear Casmir, It is unfortunate that Andy Uba who was deceived by those APGA members, who defected on the eve of the election that they would work for his victory at the poll, is still in the wool. This time, as you rightly suggested, it is the turn of his legal team to milk him by advising him to reject the outcome of the election and challenge the result in court. But he will fail if he does so.

•Onyejaka Alex Arinze, ariwaotiokpo1980@yahoo.com 

• Also published in the Daily Sun of Monday, November 29, 2021

Andy Uba’s ‘stolen mandate’

Casmir Igbokwe

The claim by Senator Andy Uba that his mandate in the just concluded Anambra governorship election was stolen is akin to one particular joke in my town. It so happened that a certain man was asked to apologise to his kindred for some wrongdoing. The man got up, cleared his throat and told his people: “I have forgiven you.” It is clear that Uba, the defeated governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), lost resoundingly. But rather than call the real owner of the mandate to congratulate him like many others have done, he has threatened to recover ‘his stolen mandate’ in court. It is funny as it is ironical.

At a recent meeting with stakeholders of the APC in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, Uba fumed: “We will do everything possible to recover the mandate. Don’t lose hope; don’t weep. The election was grossly manipulated and it is obvious to everybody.”

Earlier, the Spokesperson of the Senator Andy Uba Campaign Organisation, Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe, said it was inconceivable that their candidate, who purportedly polled over 200,000 votes in the APC primary election would be allocated a slightly above 43,000 votes by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In a hyperbolic tone typical of politicians, Ugokwe said the only people remaining in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) at the time of the election were Governor Obiano and his household and a few staff of the Government House as well as Prof. Soludo and his household but the majority of the electorate had moved to the APC.

This assertion is ridiculous to say the least. The truth is that many of those people who defected to the APC shortly before the election are paper tigers. The Deputy Governor of Anambra, Nkem Okeke, is a typical example. Mr. Okeke even had to display his ballot paper to show that he voted APC. But this did not stop him from losing in his constituency. Soon, some of the defectors will return to their original parties.

True, there were some hiccups during the election. The late arrival of materials in some polling units is one of them. But it is not enough to dismiss the election outright. And whatever happened on that day did not affect one party. It affected all of them. It affected APGA even more.

The winner of the election, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of APGA, could not even vote that day until past 5pm. Many voters in his stronghold could not vote. Soludo polled 112,229 votes to defeat his closest rival, Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 53,807. Andy Uba came a distant third with 43,285 votes. He couldn’t win even one local government, but Soludo won 19 of the 21 local government areas in the state.

The point here is that APC couldn’t have won that election. The rejection of a party agent’s N5, 000 bribe by Mrs Eunice Ngozi Onuegbusi from Ukwulu (Amagu village) in Dunukofia local government area of the state, and her insistence on voting for APGA is a reflection of the wishes of the majority of Anambra people.  

Besides, Andy Uba lost favour within his party circles soon after his party’s primary election. His co-aspirants and some APC stalwarts believe there was no election and that Uba manipulated the process that produced him as the party’s candidate.  

This may have been partly why some APC stalwarts were among the first to congratulate Soludo immediately INEC announced him as the winner. President Muhammadu Buhari led the pack. In his congratulatory message, he said he looked forward to working with Soludo for the peace, security and development of not only Anambra State but the entire South-East. 

The leader of the party in Anambra and Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, also congratulated Soludo. According to him, Anambra people have spoken with Soludo’s resounding victory and that they have made an excellent choice by voting him. “The election has come and gone and it is very free, fair and credible,” Ngige concluded. Even the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Anambra, Okelo Madukaife, also congratulated Soludo. Madukaife paid for it though as his party in the state sacked him for doing so.

Some other prominent people who congratulated Soludo are the former governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi; former Nigeria’s Presidents, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar; governorship candidates of the PDP, Young People’s Party (YPP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Valentine Ozigbo, Ifeanyi Ubah and Obiora Okonkwo respectively. Okonkwo and Obi even asked Anambra people to support Soludo through their prayers.

So, why is Uba bent on discrediting the Anambra governorship poll? I suspect that his lawyers are the ones urging him to go to court. That is their work anyway. Perhaps, they are banking on the repeat of the miracle of Imo State. Recall that Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP had been sworn in as the governor of Imo State in 2019. But in a twist of fate, the Supreme Court manufactured a miraculous judgement in January 2020, catapulting Hope Uzodimma of the APC from the fourth position to become the governor of Imo.   

Nevertheless, the intricacies of what happened in Imo are different from the Anambra case. Besides, President Buhari has no reason to interfere in the Anambra election. Soludo may not be a member of his party, but he is a member of his economic advisory council. If the judiciary is given free hands to decide on this case, I don’t see Uba going anywhere. 

This is why the APC candidate is strongly advised to jettison his judicial expedition and congratulate the winner of the election. Not doing so will further alienate him from the people of the state. Though he has the right to challenge the outcome of the election, he is bound to fail all things being equal. He should listen to the wise counsel of individuals and groups like Ohanaeze Ndigbo and drop the idea of going to court to enable the winner to face the business of governance.

If the election was conducted one million times, Soludo will win Uba. APGA candidate’s victory was not a fluke. It depicts the sophistication of Anambra voters who consider so many things before casting their votes. Essentially, they look at the character and pedigree of the candidates before deciding who to vote for.

APGA is a grassroots party in Anambra. But it would have lost the governorship election if it had fielded an unpopular candidate. Anambra voters knew ahead that Soludo is the best among the candidates. That was why even before he declared, over 30 support groups had started campaigning for him, knowing that as a renowned economist, he has the wherewithal to transform Anambra. Governor Willie Obiano was humble enough to admit that Soludo would perform better than other past governors including him.

Honestly, I pity Professor Soludo. The attention of many individuals and groups both within and outside Nigeria is on him. He cannot afford to fail. His blueprint on how to rescue Anambra is already mapped out, Uba’s distraction notwithstanding. What he needs to do now is to assemble the best team that will help him actualize his dreams for the state. As for the one who claimed his mandate was stolen, he should not waste further resources on litigation. If I were him, I would call Soludo and tell him, “Congratulations! I have forgiven you.” 

Re: Anambra poll and Nigeria’s sundry prophets

Casmir, the quest for stomach infrastructure has created so many fake prophets. It’s so sad that so many people have shamelessly turned themselves into God’s spokesmen. Some even go by the title ‘Prophet’. A true prophet doesn’t attach condition in what God wants to happen. In the case of Nostradamus you mentioned in your write-up, the king wanted to trick him by asking him to predict the colour of the pork they’re about to eat. He said it without condition. But the king went to the Chef and ordered him to use the opposite colour to what Nostradamus said. As they were ready to enjoy their meal, the king asked Nostradamus to repeat his prediction, he re-echoed what he said and the king out of jubilation that he had gotten a good reason to blackmail him went to call the Chef to say in the presence of everyone the colour of the pork he cooked. The Chef confirmed the colour predicted by Nostradamus because while he was preparing the colour ordered by the king, it fell down and was devoured by dog, forcing him to use the colour predicted by Nostradamus. That’s the power of message from God. Among all the so-called prophets in Nigeria, I can only see Rev Fr. Ejike Mbaka has been close to a true prophet of God.

-Pharm Okwuchukwu Njike, +234 803 885 4922

The truth is, those who predict the future will be disgraced by their failure. They will all be humiliated because God does not answer them (Micah 3:7). God is Yahweh in Hebrew language. He is Ilah in Arabic language as revealed to Arab Christians by the Holy Spirit. His religion is Judaism/Christianity. His book is the Holy Bible which is the only book he sent to save and to guide all mankind. This is the truth (Aluko).Let us fear God by telling the truth (Nuhu Ribadu).The truth cannot be denied because it is an attribute of God. It is God himself (Archbishop Vigano)

-Aluko Charles Ayodeji (+2347035135761, 09064958768). 

Dear Casy, in the days of yore, religion, essentially, was for moulding and re-moulding of character for better mankind but the rat race today has, unfortunately, rubbed off on the religious environment, with the clergy on the prowl. Their targets :-(1)the wealthy especially those who easily fall prey. (2) female parishioners–their choice brands being beautiful married women! God ‘bless’ you if your wife is close to them in the name of deep religious worship or being a frontline member of one religious association or another in the church. Having been entangled in rat race, their prophecies fall flat because God whom they claim to get the messages from, is not man. However few genuine clerics exist, only that proverbially, the dirty wears by auto-mechanics hardly differentiate them (mechanics) from mad men. Soludo should look before he leaps as the countdown to Agu Awka begins.

-Steve Okoye, Awka. 08036630731.   

Casmir, the scriptures cannot be broken and makes itself vividly clear on this with the rhetorical question – are all prophets? If all are not prophets then, there are genuine prophets as well as fake prophets who desire to be god of men. These prophets see no vision but see only through the eyes of their bellies. They have no revelation from God almighty because they don’t have the spirit of excellence which the spirit of God interfaces with. Pure revelation is an exclusive preserve of genuine prophets of God. God is not an author of confusion and he is orderly in his ways unlike these confusionists who take advantage of the gullible.

-Mike, Mushin Lagos, +2348161114572

Politics, electioneering and who emerges victorious are physical matters that have nothing to do with prophetic messages. Victory is anchored on a combination of one’s pedigree and campaign, persuasive manifestoes and the platform on which a candidate contests. The avenue of spiritualism usually exploited by these ‘false prophets’ at every election period is to showcase their image and improve on the membership strength of their church for pecuniary reasons.

-Edet Essien Esq. Cal South, 08037952470

Dear Casy, the doom’s day prophets have taken over our religious lives. In a country where traditional rulers, political elites including governors, ministers, high court judges, leaders of legislature and the presidency have become liars, treasury looters, election riggers, what do you expect? They have become the Pharaohs, Ahabs, Herods, Nebuchadnezzars of our time.

-Eze Chima C. Lagos, +2347036225495

• Also published in the Daily Sun of Monday, November 22, 2021      

Anambra poll and Nigeria’s sundry prophets

By Casmir Igbokwe

The General Overseer of Omotosho Tope Joseph (OTJ) Ministries, Prophet Omotosho, is a ‘man of God’ who predicted the outcome of the Anambra governorship election. The prophet, who reportedly said he was speaking the mind of God on the election, noted that victory was between the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

“If APGA wants to win the election, they should use Chukwuma Umeoji.” Otherwise, he reportedly said in May this year, “PDP will win the election.” The PDP, he added, stood a better chance if they presented Godwin Maduka as candidate. Gamblers!

This reminds me of a self-styled prophet, name withheld, who had wanted me to take a message to Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. That was soon after it became obvious that the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor would contest the Anambra governorship election. This prophet who is from Abagana in Anambra State had tried to reach Soludo through some illustrious sons of Isuofia like Rev Fr. Anthony Chiegboka, the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia. He didn’t succeed. Believing that I could do the magic for him, he got in touch with me, requesting that Soludo should come to the Catholic Church in Abagana to see him for an important message from God. Soludo needed to do this if he must win the election.

When he tried and discovered that I was not forthcoming, he went to the traditional ruler of Isuofia, Igwe (Col.) C.A.O. Muoghalu (retd) to solicit the same thing. To cut the long story short, the ‘messenger of God’ failed in his bid to deliver God’s message to the Governor-elect of Anambra State. I understand that over 12 other ‘prophets’ came to see Igwe Muoghalu with sundry messages for Soludo. Obviously, Igwe dumped their messages in one corner of his palace. And it didn’t stop Soludo from winning the election held on Saturday, November 6, 2021.

I watched with amusement a video of another man of God (I can’t remember the name of the church now) who predicted a narrow loss for Soludo in the Anambra governorship poll. In the video, the man said Soludo got close to the seat of power. But suddenly, Ifeanyi Ubah upstaged him and took over the crown.

There is another prophet called Primate Elijah Ayodele, the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos. In his prediction for Anambra governorship election, he said he saw victory revolving around Ifeanyi Ubah, the candidate of the Young People’s Party (YPP).

But he gave a caveat: “YPP candidate, Ifeanyi Ubah, is not ready to take victory. Victory is surrounding him but he isn’t ready for it. They will ease him out technically; he is getting some things wrong except he does the needful. He has what it takes but he isn’t managing it, he is playing around the victory and people are not seeing him as well prepared for the election victory…”

Ayodele also predicted that nobody was ready for APGA and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra. And “except Governor Willie Obiano begs the people of Anambra and prays to God, the people will not vote for APGA.” Now that the people voted for APGA, does it mean that Obiano fasted and prayed to God? Could the governor have turned a prayer warrior overnight?

On PDP, Ayodele said the party had the resources, but, “except their candidate, Valentine Ozigbo, does the necessary things, he won’t win.” Note that the man had written off APC, APGA, PDP and YPP. But he didn’t say categorically who would win the election.

Although some of his prediction about kidnapping, hijacking, threats, apathy, killings and delay of materials in the election came to pass, any observer of the Nigerian situation can make such predictions as well with accuracy. The signs were there.   

The ‘seer’s’ media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, boasted that the circumstances surrounding the election in Anambra confirmed “Primate Ayodele as a man of God who speaks divinely. He doesn’t prophesy out of intelligence or situations but what God says.” Tales by moonlight!

It is unfortunate that many gullible Nigerians regard the INRI founder as the Nostradamus of our time. He is in the habit of making New Year predictions. Yet, some of these prophesies go off the mark. In December 2007, for instance, he said the then Senate President, David Mark, might be impeached in 2008. Mark was never impeached.

Outside Anambra election, fake prophets have made a field day milking gullible Nigerians. A certain Primate E.O. Akeju of New Holy Messiah Church in Ilasamaja, Lagos, predicted an Atiku Abubakar victory in the 2019 presidential election and that “Governor Akinwumi Ambode will also retain the Lagos seat without any opposition.” Both Atiku and Ambode never made it.

The smart way to do this business of prophecy is to give some caveats. By so doing, you can explain away the outcome of whatever prediction you may have made. 

Politicians capitalize on these so-called prophecies to achieve sinister motives. The Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka, did not make any conclusive prediction for this last election. According to him, almost all the candidates are his friends, they come to see him. “My job is to bless and pray for the will of God in their lives. God has not told me that anybody is going to be governor in Anambra,” Mbaka said.

But, people circulated the video of what he said in Soludo’s earlier outing in the governorship contest to deceive gullible minds and score cheap political points. Then, Mbaka had advised Soludo not to contest because he would not win.

God has suffered in the hands of Nigerians. People keep ascribing nonsense to Him and claiming to be His spokesmen.

I am also a man of God. And I know that God does not prevaricate. When Mbaka, for instance, predicted that Goodluck Jonathan would lose the 2015 presidential election, he did not say God made it conditional. He was also categorical when he declared that Hope Uzodimma would win the Imo governorship election.

Though the prediction was not palatable, it happened as predicted. That is the way God works.

Generally, the strategy of these so-called prophets is to instill fear in people by making some negative predictions. Out of panic, people go to them and empty their accounts in the name of looking for solutions. They recline on their settees to laugh at our foolishness.

No doubt, there are genuine men of God. These ones simply pray and if they see anything, they tell you without coming to the media to make noise about it. Fellow Nigerians, as we usually say here, shine your eyes! 

Re: Victory dance for Soludo

The tension and ripples of uncertainty generated by the Anambra guber race were not only felt in Anambra: the entire country also stood at attention for the direction ‘the light of the nation’ was about to toe. Your daughter was aware of how passionate you were for the troublous election, and particularly the emergence of your man – Soludo. Hence, her timely warning to her beloved father to watch his flanks. Congratulations to Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and to you by extension! But the outcome of the Anambra guber election is an issue that clearly transcends Soludo’s superlative academic and professional credentials. Note that APGA’s moon-slide trouncing of the rest, which Soludo is the ultimate beneficiary, simply underscores the people’s undisguised protest and vehement resistance to the impunity of the federal authorities.

-Edet Essien Esq. Cal. South, 08037952470

Soludo’s eventual victory is an attestation of the truism that ‘destiny can only be delayed but never denied’. May the Almighty Father imbue him with the requisite wisdom to be magnanimous in victory and the strength of will to take the hard decisions to fix the several broken parts of our dear state. Once again, congrats Odenigbo Aguata.

-Hon Aloy Uzoekwe,uroyz94@gmail.com, 08038503174.

Anambra state governorship election has been done and dusted. Professor Soludo should extend hands of fellowship to other contestants to move Anambra state forward. He should hit the ground running by setting up transitional committee for his smooth handover from outgoing governor Obiano. All the appointments should not be delayed. 

-Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, +2348062887535

Dear Casmir, victory is sweeter than honey and most impressive when one rises from grass to grace. Charles Chukwuma Soludo is a great encouragement to all citizens being underrated and tackled by adversaries. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

– Cletus Frenchman Enugu, +2349095385215

Dear Casy, note that Soludo’s emergence as APGA’s flag bearer indicates DIVINE CHOICE and TIME which our liberal-minded and willingly working Gov Willie Obiano reckoned with, and in his show of love and concern for better Anambra after his exit, chose to align with him. His eventual victory, in the face of daunting odds, is an evidence of unchallengeable divine dictation which mirrors itself in the under-listed tutorials, to wit:-(1)that bare human palms do not shield the moon from shinning,(aka adigi ekpuchi onwa). (2) that the ‘cut and join, share the money’ politicians should note that for you to govern Anambra State, you must first and foremost, be an intellectual material with strength of moral character. (3)that INEC, under Prof Mahmood, is via tech innovations, posting OBITUARIES to politicians with rigging inclinations.  (4)that never for Egypt again!   

-Steve Okoye, Awka, 08036630731.           

Casmir, Congratulations to you, Soludo and Ndi Anambra State for making the best decision. Anambra State has grown up to create a standard for her would-be governors. It’s not for all comers business. One thing I love about the election is that it goes to teach people lesson that for one to lead, one needs to start early enough to be good to them.  A good example is in the case of Dr Maduka. Everybody knows that he has started well in his community. He still stands a good chance in the future to be governor. To the Governor-elect Prof Soludo, I say again Congratulations and be reminded that Ndi Anambra are expecting so much from you.

-Pharm. Okwuchukwu Njike, +234 803 885 4922

Dear Casmir, Ndi- Anambra have made the right decision by voting Prof. Soludo. Our hope and prayer is that we don’t regret this decision. Soludo is simply the best and what Anambra needs now. But he has a lot to do apart from providing good governance and turning Anambra into Dubai/Japan. He needs to unite warring members of his party, APGA who have axes to grind with his election during their primary. 

-Onyejaka Alex Arinze, ariwaotiokpo1980@yahoo.com 

Casmir, congratulations to Soludo, the governor-elect of Anambra state. But no thanks to those who wanted to derail the election process but backed out on realising their folly. Anambra would have been ‘given’ a governor that is not their choice. The victory dance should be short as the ‘real dance’ comes after 4+4 years of ‘positive changes’ in a prospering and happy Anambra state.

-Mike, Mushin Lagos, +2348161114572

Dear Casy, I commend both the good people of Anambra and Igbo brothers and sisters who stood for their political right and made the best choice among the giants on the election day. Prof Soludo must form an inclusive government and improve the art of good governance where Peter Obi left Anambra seven years ago. He must also tackle bad belle who have destroyed Anambra security in form of revenue generation especially Onitsha Bridge Head, Upper Iweka, markets and parks since Obiano administration. God bless Soludo, Anambra and Igbo land.

-Eze Chima C. Lagos, +2347036225495.

• Also published in the Daily Sun of Monday, November 15, 2021

Victory dance for Soludo

Casmir Igbokwe

My daughter’s emotional message on Whatsapp says it all. “Daddy,” she advises, “please be careful in Anambra o! You are the only father I have o…I love you and I don’t want anything to happen to you.” My wife, ordinarily a courageous woman, went into serious prayers the day I travelled for the governorship election. She couldn’t advise me not to go because she knew my mind was made up. Most of my loved ones advised me to either stay clear of Anambra during the election period or be mindful of my movement. They are not to blame because the hype about insecurity in Anambra State was such that you would think that war planes were dropping bombs everywhere.

But it has all ended in praise. And it is now I fully understand the import of the kolanut with seven lobes discovered in November last year at the inauguration of Soludo Promoters Forum (SPF) at Igbo-Ukwu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. Usually, Igbo kolanuts have three or four lobes. But when it comes with seven lobes, it is seen in Igboland as unique and a sign of a big thing to happen. It is usually kept aside for an elaborate celebration at a later date. That kolanut was celebrated at the inauguration of SPF, Isuofia chapter, on January 1, this year. It was the first sign of a big thing that was destined to happen in Anambra. That big thing has now been confirmed by Professor Chukwuma Soludo’s landslide victory last Saturday, November 6.

It is worthy to note that this victory did not come easy. Different people threw variegated stones. Some went to Jigawa State to procure bizarre court judgement against Soludo and his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Some gunmen invaded his country home in March and killed his three police orderlies while he was addressing the youths of his community. But he triumphed over all that.  

Though the governorship election was largely peaceful, it was almost marred by the malfunctioning of the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). I was in my polling unit at Isuofia as early as 8am. But I could not vote until about 3.30pm due to the problematic machine. Many others, including Professor Soludo, suffered the same fate. A visibly disturbed traditional ruler of Isuofia, Igwe (Col.) C.A.O Muoghalu (retd) and some of his cabinet members as well as the President General of Isuofia People’s Assembly, Mr. Jude Okeke, moved round different polling units in the town to show solidarity with the people. INEC should improve on this BVAS for future elections.  

Besides, the earlier sit-at-home directive by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the entire South-East from Friday November 5 to Wednesday, November 10 to protest the continued incarceration of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, helped to heighten tension. Tale bearers went to town, talking about how Anambra people were running out of the state for fear of being killed. To worsen matters, fake news merchants sent out the story that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra has been assassinated. With this information, many of those who had wanted to brave it and return home cancelled their planned trip. Anambra wore the toga of a state fighting a war.

The shooting at Ekwulobia roundabout in Aguata Local Government Area of the state on Friday, October 29, sealed every hope of many people planning to return home. Some gunmen had reportedly invaded the area and killed two security men. They were said to be shouting, “No election in Anambra!” We were later regaled with a video clip of the encounter between the gunmen and the combined team of soldiers and policemen at Nnobi junction in Idemili South Local Government Area of the state. In that video, the sound of gunshots boomed. People were forced to lie flat to avoid being hit by stray bullets. The scene was a replica of a real theatre of war.

Having conditioned my mind for the worst, I hit the road a few days to the election. And so when the police in Benin stopped my vehicle for a routine search, I never bothered. One of the officers, in the name of searching for only God knows what, opened my bag and started removing every item inside the bag. Even my pants were not spared. With fingers that may have been infected with coronavirus, he rummaged through every part of my bag, but found nothing. He ordered that the burnet be opened. He surveyed the engine compartment as if he hid any contraband there.  When he found nothing, he allowed the vehicle to go. I had a strong feeling that the man was part of what triggered the EndSARS protests of last year.        

Nevertheless, I entered Anambra expecting to see some of the over 34,000 stern-looking soldiers and policemen harassing people on the road. I saw none. I only saw a police checkpoint at Head Bridge, Onitsha. From Onitsha down to my town, Isuofia, I saw no police or soldier on the road. People were freely going about their normal business.

IPOB softened the ground more by cancelling the one-week sit-at-home order it earlier declared. The group urged the people of Anambra to come out en masse and peacefully exercise their franchise and resist being intimidated by anybody, group of persons or security agents.  

No doubt, Soludo is a child of destiny. Although he was born into a poor family, he rose to become a global man by all standards. He not only made a first-class in Economics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he was the best graduating student at graduate, postgraduate and doctorate levels at the same UNN. Little wonder he became a professor in his 30s. His tenure at the CBN was probably the best in Nigeria’s history. During his reign as the CBN governor between 2004 and 2009, he championed banking consolidation that changed the landscape of our banking industry for good. He has consulted for many global institutions. Currently, he is a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and chairman of Anambra Vision 2070, a committee set up to fashion out a strategy for the emergence of Anambra as a fully developed economy in the next 50 years. A multiple-award winner, Soludo is Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), Nigeria’s third highest national honour.

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State did not make any mistake when he urged his people to “rally round Professor Soludo who will do far better than all previous governors of Anambra State, including me.”

Anambra people deserve commendation for heeding this call. Despite all odds, they voted according to their conscience. They dread going back to Egypt. Victory song is sweeter when it is won in a hard way.

Congratulations Professor Soludo on this sweet victory! The full import of the kolanut puzzle has become manifest. Now, I can assure my daughter that all is well that ends well. Truly, Anambra is the light of the nation!

Re: Before EFCC interrogates Peter Obi

Dear Casy, note that when a child attains kingship status, all manner of envy erupts. So the ill-laden shouts arising from Pandora Papers that Peter Obi be sent to the gallows is understood. Again, with 2023 hanging in the air, the desperados as represented by SWAGA ‘23 and Political Birth-Right Claimants up North would stop at nothing to unsettle the likes of Peter Obi. Hence all manner of semantics now adduced to asphyxiate zoning in order to block the diadem from deservedly landing in South East in 2023. May the Pandora Papers’ authors be reminded that bare human palms do not shield the moon from shining! As for the schemers for 2023, may they know that he who covets what is not rightly his, attracts to himself, mortal misfortune which, rightly, is not his.

-Steve Okoye, 08036630731.          

Before you informed us, we already knew their tactics: give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. But it is not only pedestrian this time, it is out of tune. We know better. And they with their games are dead on arrival. They can only succeed in using the State and its apparatuses to stop him becoming the next President of this collapsing make-shift but they cannot succeed in taking his honour away from him. It is a pity the type of men we allow to dictate our fate and the narrative will change the day the youths drop their docility and challenge the status quo. Till then we wallop in deceit. As for Peter Obi and the current storm, it is nothing: ‘mmiri mara Ugo asago Ugo ahu’ (the rain which beat an Eagle only succeeded in bathing it).

-Aloy Uzoekwe, uroyz94@gmail.com, 080 38503174.

Casmir, although, the report smacks of jealousy that is filled with venom of hatred for Obi’s personality and with an obvious axe to grind against him, EFCC should please be allowed  to do its job without undue pressure from any quarters. He is just being invited for questioning. Holding brief for him would raise an air of suspicion that he truly has some skeletons in his cupboard. Tax fraudulence is synonymous with the rich. Remember Messi, C. Ronaldo etc from the world of football. This is the consequence of frolicking and dovetailing with Atiku during 2019 elections.

-Mike, Mushin Lagos, +2348161114572

Dear Casmir, you appear unusually emotional and deeply pained by the veiled attack on Mr. Peter Obi. Your firm belief is that the attack is nothing but a hatchet job orchestrated by his political enemies. The case of Mr. Peter Obi cannot be divorced from his due qualification for the 2023 presidential ticket. He is also ‘qualified’ for E.F.C.C interrogation because he is not a former head of state or president which is a ‘no-go’ area for E.F.C.C. Nigeria’s presidential seat is for a Nigerian and not for a saint. And we have never had one before. I know too well that Dr Orji Uzor Kalu has an ambition. He’s qualified: he should come out and not be bothered by the current E.F.C.C grandstanding. Dr Ogbonnaya Onu should also present himself for the seat. Under the PDP umbrella, I key into the remarkable argument of my friend, Dr S.A. Ekundayo, that the PDP should zone the 2023 presidency to the South East exclusively. Peter Obi deserves the PDP presidential ticket instead of these unnecessary distractions that are being fueled by his enemies and hacks. Note that the Pandora Papers saga may wear the hairy hand of Esau, but the voice is certainly that of Jacob.

-Edet Essien Esq. Cal. South 08037952470

Dear Casy, Peter Obi left the highest legacy in all segments of human and material development in not only Anambra but entire Igbo land. Since 1999 till date, Peter took political landscape in the entire Igbo land with honour, grace and showed good leadership both in and out of office. Peter Obi remains the best politician among his peers in Igbo land today. Under Buhari’s watch, EFCC has become APC government tool of oppression. The government of the day has used the agency to harass, intimidate and destroy the members of opposition. The irony of it is that we have more corrupt men in APC, yet Buhari looks the other way. Peter Obi, ride on bros. ‘Ejikwala ujo dara enwe n elu.’ Shame to APC and her corrupt officials!

– Eze Chima C. Lagos, +2347036225495

• Also published in the Daily Sun of Monday, November 8, 2021

Before EFCC interrogates Peter Obi

By Casmir Igbokwe

Some political enemies of the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, are poised to cast their first big stones. Already, they are chanting, ‘Crucify him, crucify him!’ The source of their anger is in what has come to be known as the Pandora Papers. These are leaked files, which reportedly contain financial secrets of no fewer than 35 current/former world leaders and over 330 public officials in more than 91 countries and territories. 

Quoting the Pandora Papers, an online publication, Premium Times, reported that Obi, who was also the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 election, allegedly established secret offshore companies to evade paying tax. And that he did not declare them to the Code of Conduct Bureau on assumption of office as the governor of Anambra State. The other allegation is that he continued to be a director of Next International (UK) Limited for 14 months after becoming governor. He was also said to have operated and maintained foreign accounts while being a public officer.

No doubt, Mr. Obi is among the most credible and brightest Igbo elite who could become President of South-East extraction in 2023. So, it is not surprising that there are serious efforts in some quarters to scandalize him and render him politically impotent. They had conducted all manner of discreet investigations on him but found nothing. Now, the Pandora Papers project has provided them a great opportunity to chant ‘Eureka!’

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) does not fail to act swiftly in moments like this. Penultimate Sunday, the anti-graft agency was reported to have invited Obi to report at its Abuja headquarters on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, to face investigators. Obi said he had not formally received the invitation but would be glad to honour it. As the EFCC prepares to interrogate him, certain salient points are worth noting.

One, the former Anambra State governor is not the only person mentioned in the Pandora Papers. Some others include the acting managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko; former minister and now senator, Stella Oduah; Governors Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and former Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State. So far, it is not certain when the EFCC will begin to interrogate these people.

Two, the report by Premium Times has some loopholes. As has been observed by many analysts, a news story presents the facts as they are without any interjection or editorializing. But the tone of the story in question gives it away as a hatchet job.

In the opening paragraphs, the newspaper wrote: “Peter Obi, the ex-governor of Anambra State in Southeastern Nigeria, is widely regarded in Nigeria as an advocate of good governance, openness, and transparency. In addition to speeches on his governance records and statistics-laden prescriptions for Nigeria’s development, he likes to talk about how hugely successful he became in business before diving into politics.”

Then, the online medium went for the jugular: “But beyond the façade of priggish speeches and appearances, an investigation by PREMIUM TIMES has now shown that Mr. Obi is not entirely transparent in his affairs as he likes Nigerians to believe.”

This is nothing but an attempt to pull a bright star down. I was itching to read how Obi used Anambra money to establish those offshore companies or how he made himself richer by stealing public funds and stashing them away in his foreign accounts. I thought I would hear that he bought mansions in different parts of the country and abroad with proceeds of the offshore companies. He did none of that. Whatever he invested in the so-called tax havens was his personal wealth and the aim, perhaps, was to avoid excessive taxation. Even then, he is probably the highest taxpayer in Anambra and Enugu states.

He told Arise TV in a recent interview: “I am a faithful citizen of anywhere I have passed through, I cannot evade tax; it will never happen. Every investment I have done globally is legitimate and pays tax. If you are a black man in London, you are a suspect. If you are a Nigerian, you are a double suspect. If I earn anything in the UK, I pay their taxes. I cannot pay property tax in Nigeria for property in the UK. I have never paid less than N50 million in taxes annually over the years.”

Obi added that he did not breach any law and nowhere in the article was he accused of any form of corruption during and after his stewardship as governor of Anambra State. According to him, the authors of the publication displayed ignorance on matters of trust and international investment practices by alleging that he violated the Nigerian Constitution by not declaring his alleged assets in companies registered outside Nigeria.

Obi’s alleged ‘sins’ are nothing compared to what Nigerian public officials commit. Even many of those currently angling to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 are corruption personified. When some of them were governors, they pillaged the resources of their states with swagger. Now, they are the ones pontificating and getting ready to go to the centre and continue their looting.

On the contrary, Mr. Obi did marvelously well as governor of Anambra State. He not only touched every facet of life in the state, he did not leave any baggage or debt for his successor. He also left N75 billion in savings for the state. No governor has achieved this feat in the history of Nigeria.

Part of what the former governor has been doing after leaving office is impacting on the lives of individuals and some of our institutions. The other day, he donated N100 million to Bishop Shanahan Specialist Hospital, Nsukka, Enugu State, to upgrade its School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Technology. He has visited many schools in different parts of Nigeria and committed his personal resources towards improving the lot of those schools. 

Currently, the country is drifting seriously. The spate of insecurity is unbearable. Corruption is endemic. Unemployment is high. Economy is in a very bad shape. The rate of poverty in the country is second to none in the world. Nigeria lags behind in almost all indices of development.

A person like Obi is what the country needs now to fix its myriads of problems, especially the wobbling economy. He is a rare gem who should be celebrated and not vilified. In saner societies, these are the type of people the system throws up as leaders. But in our own environment, the reverse is the case. He helped to fix Anambra. He can also fix Nigeria, Pandora or no Pandora. But, if you are among those who enjoy paying heavy taxes on their personal income; if you feel Obi has sinned and should be crucified, please, raise your hand and cast the first stone.

Re: Power shift controversy and Tinubu’s SWAGA ’23

It is an acceptable belief that only fools try to solve problems applying the same tactics while expecting different outcomes. It is never possible for anyone to reach his destination when he is going round in circles. If a building collapses, the set of builders who constructed the collapsed building cannot be re-engaged to rebuild the structure. It is amusing watching the political scheming going on in the country as the 2023 general election draws near. Political players who should share in the blame for the rot pervading the system are jostling and realigning with the aim to clinch the ultimate prize. The old brigade as represented by Tinubu and his peers are out again maybe to complete the job they started. But the onus is on the youths of this country to stop them in their tracks. Let Tinubu, his acolytes and their ilk continue practising their SWAGA dance for 2023, when the time comes the youths will adequately answer them in the dance language they understand with our own political Azonto/Zanku dance steps.

-Aloy Uzoekwe, uroyz94@gmail.com, 08038503174

Dear Casmir, I think the fate of President of Nigeria of Igbo extraction, which is justifiable in 2023, lies in the hands of Igbo elite, not Tinubu or SWAGA. Tinubu and SWAGA ’23 are just taking advantage of uncoordinated, disunited and selfishness of Igbo politicians as regards 2023 presidential project. Tinubu understands the situations of South-East and politics of present. He knows that the northerners who now object to power shift to the South are only grandstanding. They only want to cut a better deal from their southern counterparts before giving out their votes. This is what the southern politicians always fail to do when they have the knife and the yam. The problem is who among the South-East politicians in the two leading parties has overtly shown serious interest to contest the presidency in 2023?

– Alex Arinze Onyejaka, ariwaotiokpo1980@yahoo.com

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed boasts that they will lead Nigeria the way they have been leading. He hates political zoning yet he and his people support federal character, which promotes mediocrity at the expense of meritocracy. The North’s purported smartness is consequent upon the cacophony of voices in the South. If and when the South are aware of their ‘foolery’ and decide to collapse their structures and form an unbreakable southern alliance, the North’s bluff would have come to an end.

– Ediye, +2348108095633

The authorities are aware of the ingenuity and importance of the Igbo to Nigeria’s socio-economic development. The fact that they are being blocked from exiting is indicative of this undisputed fact. The non-actualization of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction is occasioned by a systematic gang-up by those who are scared of a confederal setting. If the exit of Igbo will bring peace, please, don’t block the exit of an estranged wife you can’t take care of.

– James, +2348056615168

I am not against Asiwaju Tinubu’s presidential ambition. He is eminently qualified. But his constitutionally protected aspiration has come at a most unthinkable time. The mood of the nation is for a president of South-East extraction. Even the South-West’s most vociferous voice for power shift/devolution of powers, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, does not mince words. He is always forthright, frank and anchored. He says, “Let the presidency go to South-East.”

Nigeria’s leadership/presidency has always been stage-managed: it has never been on merit or competence. Or, was Zik of Africa not the most vociferous voice for Nigeria’s independence, yet at independence the real powers resided with Balewa? Was Awo not the man of the moment in the Second Republic but was technically schemed out? Similarly, Ekwueme was sacrificed for an Obasanjo who was brought out from prison as an appeasement for Abiola’s well deserved Hope ’93. SWAGA ’23 should gauge the mood of the nation and submit to a South-Easterner as Nigeria’s President for 2023.

– Edet Essien Esq., Cal. South, 08037952470

Casmir, June 12 was resolved on the altar of zoning. No one should open up old wounds. SWAGA ’23 is dead on arrival as it swims against the conventional principle of power shift between a Christian President and a Muslim President, which has been the practise since 1999. The 3rd leg of the tripod still has lots of catching up to do. The leg is presently K-legged and needs to be straightened to occupy the No. 1 position – 2039 looks more ideal.   

– Mike, Mushin, Lagos, +2348161114572

Dear Casy, if the North likes, they should hold on to power come 2023. What is the use of Nigeria staying together when we don’t love one another, when power is personalized?

– Emma Wuse 2 Abuja, +2348035585109

• Also published in the Daily Sun of Monday, October 25, 2021