Convoy

Tinubu’s Jaguda Govt

/ Adeola / 1 Comment

Tinubu’s Jaguda Govt

Tinubu is wayward. Otherwise he would control the number of vehicles in his convoy.

By Adeola Aderounmu

If you want to change the world for better, if you want to change your nation so she moves forward, if you want to change the society you live in so that it becomes a better place for you and your children, then look in the mirror and be that change you wished to see.

In this Tinubu’s government (one whose legitimacy is still being contested by one Peter Obi), one would expect that perhaps money would be saved at all fronts so that common good can be enhanced. But I have heard about politicians in this Tinubu jaguda government employing tens and several tens of personal assistants.

I live in a country where personal assistants are employed, mostly temporarily, for people with disabilities or people with challenging intellectual functions.

The first thing that came to my mind is that crazy people are all over the place in Tinubu’s government.

As a politician, the only reason to employ a personal assistant is to show that that you are intellectually deficient and cognitively incapable on your own. Otherwise you need a secretary (if you have a big office to run) and in a worst case scenario, one assistant to help organise things that the secretary (if you have one) cannot handle.

Ordinary legislators and ordinary lawmakers will be employing several tens of assistants. Why? I mean, where does the money for their salaries come from? Over the years Nigerian politicians have become notorious for over-hyped wages as the rest of the populations wallow in abject penury (and Nigeria still the champion as the poverty capital of the world).

The first adjustment that the Tinubu-Shettima jaguda government ought to do was to cut off all wastages. This jaguda government needed to sit down and reshape the political map of Nigeria. There is no way a unitary system of government is going to benefit more than 200 million people. To think that a unitary system of government is fine, and to even work by it is simply an act of madness.

So, there are pressing political and economic issues to be straightened out. It it is sad to be bombarded with the news of thousands of special aides and special assistants all over the country. Are you people in Tinubu’s jaguda government completely insane? How can you run a country on life-supporting machines called personal aides. Ori yin ti da ru o..!

I have seen some stupid excuse to even justify the over 100 vehicles in Tinubu’s lagos convoy. Are you mad? Tinubu is wayward. Otherwise he can control the number of vehicles in his convoy. It is called decorum or common sense. Go your way, and let the other owambe convoys go their way. Must they be at the aiport to follow? Please, stop motivating madness. Stop being stupid. Just shut up!

Tinubu was not ready for the presidency that he wrestled from INEC at all cost. If he was ready, his cabinet would have been announced the day after his inauguration. Nigeria’s politics is not just a joke, it is a mad joke! As an opposition, it is required to always have a shadow government on stand-by during campaign and elections. This is with a readiness to take over the government even before elections should in case the incumbent government stepped aside.

Personally, I thought Tinubu was exposed having studied and lived in the US. But one more time, we have a “president” who is acting like a dumb ass. In what age, in what year will an opposition in Nigeria have a shadow government in place even if there are no campaigns and no elections?

Ask Labour Party. Ask the PDP for the names or the lists of their cabinets. Be sure that there are no lists, be sure that there are no shadow government in any Nigerian opposition party at this moment. You still think Nigeria is practicing democracy? Are you sure you don’t want to examine your thinking faculties?

Nigeria is not yet a country. It is still a company where the winner takes it all and does what it likes.

I thought Tinubu’s jaguda government would come with something different from day one. It didn’t. I can predict what the excuse for failure would be. PDP ruled Nigeria for 16 useless years. Buhari’s APC ruled Nigeria for another 8 senseless years. It’s been 24 years of total madness, corruption, murders, lying, suffering, hunger, poverty and terrorism. Say this post and quote this: It is not easy to clean or repair the maladministration of 24 solids years. This is be the slogan of the Tinubu jaguda’s government.

To be sure, since the colonial thugs from Britain left (?) in 1960, Nigeria has mostly been in the hands of tropical gangsters in khaki and agbada alike. If you have hope in Nigeria. I understand your hope, but I do not share it. Whichever, we are all on a long thing.

May the wind be our way.

aderounmu@gmail.com

How Governor Danbaba Suntai’s convoy killed one of my best friends, Kokobili Edward

/ Adeola / 2 Comments

Adeola Aderounmu

I wept uncontrollably. I wept when the news got to me that one of my best friends Kokobili Edward had been killed by the convoy of Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai of Taraba State.

My Friend Kokobili Edward

My Friend Kokobili Edward

The sad incidence occurred along the International Airport Road in Abuja on Monday the 23rd of January 2012.

The last time I saw Eddy alive was around the 27th or 28th of December 2010 when I visited Nigeria. We attended the Festac Grammar School alumni meeting together on the 26th and he invited me and my family to his house at 512 Road in Festac Town.

Even in December 2006 Eddy and I had a swell time together during my visit to Lagos that year. We were together for the entire 2 weeks that I spent in Nigeria and I remember how he drove me to the Murtala International Airport on the night of my departure.

I have several fond memories of Eddy. From the time we had together at Festac Grammar School (1984-1989) until 2010 I cannot recall a day that Eddy was angry or off beat. He was always smiling and very friendly. His laughter was infective and everyone recalls of his good deeds and happy moods.

My late friend Kokobili Edward, killed by the driver of the Taraba State Governor

My late friend Kokobili Edward, killed by the driver of the Taraba State Governor

Eddy was planning to get married this month-February 2012. So he had travelled to Abuja the fateful weekend of week 3 to start his wedding plans. His fiancée, the love of his life, lives in Abuja and he had travelled on Friday the 20th to fulfill the first of the marriage rituals-the Introduction ceremony.

It was a successful ceremony that Saturday and Eddy was in high spirit that weekend. He was able to gather together friends and families in Abuja for the introduction ceremony. He skipped the burden of transporting people from Lagos for the Abuja ceremony.

On his last day on earth Eddy was in a hurry to get back to Lagos and to return to work. He was obviously looking forward to sharing the good news about of the successful introduction ceremony with his other family members in Lagos. He never made it.

According to an eyewitness account, there was heavy traffic on the International Airport Road and the threat caused by the Boko Haram incursions into Abuja was an additional problem. The check points made travelling to the airport cumbersome and the movement of vehicular traffic was slower than normal.

In any case Eddy disembarked from the taxi and was negotiating with an okada rider when he was crushed to death by the car belonging to the Taraba state governor. Eddy had his back to the main traffic so he stood no chance when the overspeeding car went on the pedestrian path. He was killed on the spot.

Eddy became a victim of both the insecurity in Nigeria and the recklessness of government agencies.

The alumni association, friends of Eddy and the Kokobilis are asking question and looking for justice.

Governor Danbaba was already at the airport. Why was his driver in such an extreme haste to pick him up? Why did the reckless driver decide to drive along the pedestrian path? Was that a regular procedure for the governor’s convoy-that is-to drive at high speed and along pedestrian paths? Did the driver ignore a red traffic light which could have spared Eddy’s life?

What is the governor of Taraba State doing to ensure that the families of Eddy Kokobili are comforted in their sorrow? Who will console us-his friends and other acquaintances?

Is Mr. Danbaba planning to visit the family in Festac Town Lagos to express his condolence and sympathy over the recklessness of his official driver? Will this governor pay a personal condolence visit to Eddy’s fiancée and her family in Abuja to express his regret over the irreparable loss?

In general how many more lives are we going to destroy as a result of the carelessness and recklessness of government officials?

The office of Governor Danbaba Suntai or its representatives may have accepted guilt in this case but they must go beyond that. They must demonstrate that they really have human feelings and that the loss is unwarranted and highly regrettable.

They must participate in the burial ceremony and give the Kokobilis the utmost support that they need at this time. By taking adequate responsibilities for this sad loss the Taraba State governor can ensure that a healing process is initiated among the friends and families of Edward Kokobili. We loved him so much and we can’t believe he’s gone forever.

The reckless driver who drove the SUV Nissan that killed Eddy was reportedly arrested by the police. It would be useful to ascertain the mental condition of the driver. The investigation should cover whether he was driving under the influence. More importantly, he should be prosecuted without delay to serve as a deterrent for other reckless drivers in Nigeria.

Edward Kokobili lived a good life. Like the rest of us he struggled to make it in life. He was determined to succeed and he was still on his way up before he met his untimely death. He was the head of a company called Feed Addictives, Agrochemicals & Veterinary Products, Vitacem Nigeria Ltd.

Eddy was a graduate of the University of Benin and an active member of both the Festac Grammar School Alumni Projects Management Group and Festac Grammar School Old Students Association Klass ‘89.

Edward Kokobili will be missed by his brothers, families and friends.

Who will comfort us in our sorrow?

Eddy, you won’t be there the next time I’ll be on 512 Road. I will miss you. Sun re o..!