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The immediate past Deputy Executive Secretary of the Administration, National Universities Commission (NUC), Mr. Chris Maiyaki, has called on both the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to be more realistic in the approach to resolving outstanding issues in dispute.

Maiyaki, who retired from the Federal civil service last Friday after 35 years of meritorious service to the nation, said both the Federal Government and ASUU have a stake in the growth and stability of the University system in Nigeria.

He expressed confidence in the ability and desire of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the demands of ASUU and other staff unions, noting, however, that dwindling resources might limit the efforts of the government in responding to all the challenges at the same time.

In a chat with newsmen during the weekend in Abuja, Maiyaki, who served as the Acting Executive Secretary of NUC from 2023 to 2024, also warned that Nigerian lecturers should not be exposed to ridicule in view of their poor remuneration, saying this was the major cause of brain-drain affecting university education in the country.

He said while the government must realise that the system is hinged on the manpower, the teaching and learning services that the lecturers provide, members of ASUU should also be realistic in their demands from the government.

He said: ‘The system is hinged on their manpower, the teaching and learning services that they provide. But I think as the system evolved, the livelihoods of university staff began to erode by a combination of economic downturn and revenue accruing to the government. So, the government, as much as it would have loved to, is not able to meet the demands of ASUU at the level that they want.

‘So what the situation requires is a balance. There has to be a balance. Both sides have to be very realistic.

‘I strongly believe that the academic staff are deserving of a befitting salary structure so that we do not expose our academics to ridicule. They could be potential victims of recruitment by other systems, by other countries. As you can see, the exodus speaks volumes as to the dwindling fortunes of the Nigerian academics.

‘Nigerian academics have demonstrated intellectual credibility and have gained a lot of accolades, recognition, and are very outstanding wherever they go. Why can’t they remain here and prove their brand and their mettle? We need to create the enabling environment, the ecosystem. I think this is the bone of contention.

‘The survival of the Nigerian university system is at the heart of the struggle of ASUU and we need to, as a system, build consensus around that; the understanding that the university system must survive,’ he said.

He recalled that during the last prolonged strike action by ASUU, when the government invoked no work, no pay, some of the lecturers became Uber drivers, with some of their passengers being their students.

‘That’s very dehumanising. We can do a lot more by repositioning the system in terms of staff emolument, in terms of equipment, in terms of capacity building, in terms of the governance system, in terms of funding. University education capital intensive,’ he stated.

Maiyaki also encouraged younger public servants to uphold integrity, diligence, and professionalism in their duties, reminding them that ‘public office is a trust that must be managed with humility and accountability.’

At an Evening of Goodwill and Tributes organised in his honour by the staff of NUC, Maiyaki was eulogised for leaving a legacy of institutional reforms, capacity development initiatives, and strategic partnerships that contributed to the modernisation of Nigeria’s university administration.

Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, described Maiyaki as a model of professionalism and institutional memory, having served dedicatedly and diligently under six different Executive Secretaries of the commission and 18 Ministers of Education, while also serving as an acting Executive Secretary of the Commission for more than one year.

Former Executive Secretaries, Professors Julius Okojie and Adamu Rashid, who also graced the occasion, applauded his remarkable intelligence, hard work, and humility that he exuded throughout his service.

It appears actress Annie Idibia may not remain single for long following the reported crash of her marriage to music icon, 2Face Idibia.

Fresh reports and social media activity suggest that celebrity stylist Jeremiah Ogbodo, popularly known as Swanky Jerry, may be the new man warming Annie’s heart.

The duo, who have shared a long and sometimes dramatic friendship, recently set the internet abuzz with a series of affectionate exchanges that fans have interpreted as more than just platonic.

In a post that has since gone viral, Swanky Jerry described Annie as ‘the most beautiful soul I’ve ever known,’ while Annie responded with a heartfelt ‘I love you always, my person.’

Their public display of affection comes just months after Annie and 2Face’s marriage reportedly hit the rocks, following years of speculation about infidelity and emotional strain.

The actress, who had once described her marriage as ‘a rollercoaster of love, pain, and grace,’ has lately been posting cryptic quotes about ‘peace, self-love, and fresh starts’.

Fans were quick to notice that Swanky, who was previously at odds with Annie during the Young, Famous and African reality show saga, has now returned to being one of her closest companions.

Their reconciliation, which started quietly earlier this year, now appears to have blossomed into something much deeper and possibly romantic.

Many online observers have expressed excitement over the pair’s chemistry, with some calling them ‘a perfect match’ and others urging Annie to ‘choose happiness this time.’

Swanky Jerry, known for styling top celebrities across Africa, including Tiwa Savage, Davido, and Bonang Matheba, has not publicly confirmed any romantic relationship with Annie.

Still, his recent posts featuring the actress in glowing admiration have only intensified rumors of a budding romance.

The once ‘perfect love story’ that captivated Nigerians for years now seems to have faded, paving the way for a new chapter in Annie’s personal life.

Whether or not Swanky Jerry and Annie Idibia are truly in love or just sharing a deep emotional bond remains to be seen.

The management of the University of Ilesa has refuted claims that its staff have gone unpaid for several months.

In a statement signed by Mr Babatunde Fanawopo, Senior Assistant Registrar, Corporate Service and Information Unit, the university described the report as false.

According to him, ‘the report is nothing but a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of our fast-growing University and discredit the unwavering commitment of the Osun State Government to education and human capital development.’

He explained that the university has been consistent and prompt in paying salaries to all verified and regularised staff.

‘For the avoidance of doubt, the University of Ilesa has been consistent and prompt in the payment of salaries to all duly verified and regularised staff. The State Government, under the purposeful leadership of His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, has remained steadfast in its support for the University and its workforce,’ he stated.

Fanawopo noted that newly engaged employees must complete documentation and biometric verification before being added to the government’s payroll.

‘It is important to note that, like every reputable organisation, the University operates within established administrative and regulatory frameworks. Newly engaged staff must undergo due documentation, profiling, and biometric verification before being fully captured on the government’s payroll. It is when these processes are concluded that they will be included on the payroll,’ he said.

He added that the state government has shown continued transparency and goodwill toward the university.

‘The current administration has not only demonstrated transparency and accountability in this process but has also shown unmatched goodwill toward the University. This includes the regularisation of over 400 temporary staff of the defunct Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, and the full clearance of all outstanding allowances before the University’s formal take-off.’

The statement also expressed appreciation for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s support for the institution’s growth.

‘The University of Ilesa strongly aligns with and appreciates the visionary leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke, whose administration continues to invest heavily in the University’s infrastructure, academic advancement, and staff welfare.’

The university urged the public to disregard what it called a false report.

‘We therefore urge members of the public to disregard the malicious publication designed to sow discord and distrust. The University of Ilesa remains focused on its mandate to deliver quality education, uphold integrity, and contribute meaningfully to the intellectual and socio-economic growth of Osun State.’

Fanawopo concluded by reaffirming the institution’s dedication to its mission.

‘The University stands tall today as a symbol of academic rebirth, not of neglect. We reaffirm our commitment to excellence, transparency, and the continuous progress of all categories of staff and students,’ he said.

I learnt you grew up in Fadeyi Area of Lagos, during the Civil War. What was the experience like growing up in such a highly volatile part of Lagos, during that period?

Yes. I grew up in Fadeyi area during the Civil War. I was very young at that time. We had people from the South-South and the South-East around and efforts were made to ensure they were protected by the federal troops, at that time. Some other memorable things were those things we did within the neighbourhood. In the 60’s and early 70’s, we used to live together. Communal living was very strong. A child didn’t have to be yours in order to discipline him or her. There were so many brilliant guys out there, but all I remember is that I went to Catholic School and in the evening, I would go to Islamic School. I went to St. Patrick in Yaba. In those days, most people combined that and they never cared. We were always looking forward to Ileya/Christmas festivals irrespective of your religious belief. We would all pack ourselves inside my guardian’s vehicle, then, to attend those festivals. In the 60’s and early 70’s, we would take rams to go and fight. But, unfortunately, I lost my dad when I was young. I practically grew up with my aunt.

And how would you describe your aunt, a disciplinarian?

Growing up in those days, like I said, you didn’t have to be the child of someone before you were called to order; it was a form of co-parenting. Cross-discipline was highly practised then and there was no discrimination. We would all gather ourselves by the window to watch television. It was a communal living and that was why the young ones, then, hardly went astray.

Were there some nicknames with which you were identified, then?

I didn’t really have a nickname other than the fact that every Owolabi was called Owoblow. And I remember many things crossed my mind as at that time. Sometimes, you wanted to be a musician and, at times, a pilot. But, when I was in secondary school, I was good in Mathematics. I can confirm to you I had A1 in Mathematics and same in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Unfortunately, I did not pay attention to English. I was supposed to be a medical doctor, but had a change of mind. I remember myself and a host of others would go to Yabatech and University of Lagos to read overnight. I remember I gained admission to University of Ife to read Accounting. But at the time, I had already gotten admission to study at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU). I later proceeded to the University of Lagos for my Master’s education. My schoolmates were the former Gombe State governor, Dakwambo and the current Attorney General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro.

You must have been one of the gurus of Accounting while in school?

Of course, I was top of my class. My 2:1 was a little below First Class. Interestingly, it was one of my classmates, from Lagos, who was half-blind, who bagged a First Class.

Were you into activism at ABU, since the university, then, was seen as one of the hotbeds of activism, then?

Yes. You are absolutely correct. I contested for the position of Secretary-General of the Students’ Union. I was very active and did a lot of research on democracy because of the diversity I saw at the university. If you were in Kongo Campus, then you would see different ethnic groups and how they were living peacefully.

How was life immediately after ABU?

It came with a lot of pressure, but I became a Chartered Accountant. I remember rescuing Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) from running into bankruptcy back then. There was a lot of problems around 1989/1990. So, I had to run a lot of programmes for them, with which they raised a lot of money. I also got paid. In fact, you won’t believe I have forgotten some of the jobs I did for them. It is even good this question is being asked now. I remember I was in charge of the training on Value Added Tax (VAT) in the country. I was also the guest speaker for the 25th and 30th Conferences of the institute.

You don two professional caps: Accountancy and Law. How did you juggle the two without one disrupting the other?

Law actually takes over Accounting. You know, Accounting is much more structured. If you are radical with Law, it will be a different ball game. It was well-balanced. I set up a Consultancy firm and also a law firm on Isaac John Street in Fadeyi, Lagos.

How would you describe your foray into politics?

I was in the opposition during Abacha regime. Baba Bush was one of our leaders then. I am a real underground NADECO man but you won’t know.

Why did you relocate from Nigeria to New York?

I came to New York in 1997. Prior to that year, I had been here in 1991. I entered the New York the last day my visa was to expire. Then, it was your entry that mattered and I was received by a Rights Group called African Fund and they linked me up with Jumoke Ogunkeyede. That is the guy, I know for sure, who is the real NADECO guy abroad. I don’t know why President Tinubu has yet to honour the guy. When I came and saw what he was doing, I had to lend my support. General Alani Akinrinade, Professor Wole Soyinka, Hafsat Abiola, Walter Carrington and a host of others came to New York to testify and the guy called Jumoke coordinated everything. They even burnt down his house. So, when I came to New York, it was a lot of battles. It took a while before my request was granted. Anyone that comes here has to put his head on the subway. You have to first sort out your accommodation and I had to convert all my degrees to American degrees. So, I wrote ACCA exams and I passed. I wrote the New York Bar exams which I also passed. I remember after my six months, I bought one car called Chrysler for $160 at an auction. I did taxi driving which made us to understand and know a lot of places. Thereafter, I started a Law firm which was opposite Federal Reserve Bank.

When was the breakthrough?

I was supposed to go into investment practice but It was too slow, not because I was not good but because nobody trusted you. But, there was this lady who had been in the courtroom for more than 15 years. She told me about her immigration challenge. I did a research on it and it worked out well for her and suddenly, her claim was approved after 15 years.

There was another case, which was a federal lawsuit in California. But, not so many lawyers were aware about it, but luckily, I was. I read it because the government published something about it online and people started buying into it. But, I did not take money from people for it. One day, the government just brought like 500 approvals after they had delayed for almost six months without any response while we kept on sending applications. There was no lawyer fee attached to it but people later paid after it was approved. As a result, there was a huge crowd in front of my office on Maiden Lane in New York that it became too much. They had to kick me out of that office because of the crowd. When other lawyers told them they could take up the same case for them, the people said no. So, when they kicked me out, I went to 42 Broadway. They did not really kick me out. I was just too big for that place. Then, I had this magazine supporting immigrants’ causes.

What would you love to be remembered for?

You know I am an astronaut? So, my going to space was for the purpose of research. I did a lot of research on diversity problems such as: Why are people fighting, and all that? I know that there are two major reasons why people are killing themselves. One is race, particularly in terms of the differences in colour. The second is religion. We should not be fighting if we know who the Almighty Lord is. Anyway, I want to be remembered as the man who touched so many lives.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), FCT Command has warned protesters under auspices of the FreeNnamdiKanuNow movement against vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure in the territory.

NSCDC FCT Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu, gave the warning on Sunday in Abuja against the backdrop of alleged plans by Mr Omoyele Sowore to organise a protest on Monday for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Odumosu, in a statement by the Acting Command Public Relations Officer, Monica Ojobi, called on citizens, in support or against the planned rally to adhere strictly to the provisions of the court order.

‘The corps will not condone any form of destruction, vandalism or theft of public and private facilities in the name of protest,’ he said.

According to him, the Corps has massively deployed officers and men to protect all CNAI as well as ensure the protection of residents across the FCT before, during and after the protest.

‘We are prepared as always to ensure there are no incidents of destruction of properties or threats to Infrastructure and the peace in the territory.

‘The deployed officers and men were drawn from specialised units, including Area Commands and Divisions, and have been properly briefed on the assignment as well as precautions to adhere to during the rally,’ he said.

Odumosu said personnel had been warned not to shoot, harass or intimidate any law abiding citizen, but criminals and vandals trying to hijack the situation will not be condoned.

He further urged the deployed men to be civil by adopting the non-kinetic approach while carrying out the mandates of the corps.

The commandant, however, warned those with the intention of hijacking or disrupting the proposed peaceful protest to desist as anyone caught with criminal intents will be arrested and dealt according to the extant laws.

He urged all law abiding citizens to go about their normal activities as deployment has been made to strategic locations and identified flash points to maintain peace and order.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to, without any further delay, account for N18.6 billion allegedly missing from funds allocated for the construction of the National Assembly Service Commission Office Complex.

The demand followed revelations contained in the latest 2022 Annual Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on September 9, 2025, which detailed breaches in procurement procedures and potential diversion of funds.

In a letter dated October 18, 2025, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation called on both presiding officers to disclose the name and details of the alleged fictitious construction company that reportedly received the entire N18.6 billion for the project.

The rights group also requested Akpabio and Abbas to make public the names of the company’s directors and shareholders, its registered address, and the status of the project.

According to the Auditor-General’s findings, the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) paid over N11.6 billion to an unidentified construction company on August 11, 2020, for the construction of the commission’s complex, with an additional N6.9 billion allegedly paid on November 29, 2023, for the conversion of a roof garden to office space.

However, the Auditor-General’s report raised red flags, stating that the contract was inflated, lacked a Bill of Quantity (BOQ), and was awarded without due process.

The report further alleged that the contract was executed without a needs assessment, advertisement for bids, contract agreement, or quotations from bidders, all in violation of the Public Procurement Act.

It added that there was no record of Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval or the Bureau of Public Procurement’s Certificate of No Objection.

SERAP noted that these findings suggest grave violations of public trust, accountability, and constitutional provisions governing public spending.

‘These grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest serious violations of the Nigerian Constitution and international anti-corruption obligations.

‘The National Assembly can only effectively perform its oversight and anti-corruption roles if it demonstrates exemplary leadership by probing these allegations,’ SERAP said in its letter.

The group said the missing funds and irregular contract process highlight a troubling pattern of disregard for financial regulations within the legislature’s own administrative structures.

According to SERAP, addressing the allegations would help restore public confidence in the National Assembly’s ability to conduct oversight functions and uphold transparency.

‘It would also show that the National Assembly is acting in the public interest and not for personal or political gain,’ the organisation stated.

SERAP gave the Senate President and the Speaker a seven-day ultimatum to act on its demands.

‘If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel compliance in the public interest,’ the group warned.

The organisation expressed concern that the N18.6 billion may have been misappropriated, diverted, or stolen, urging the National Assembly to ensure the recovery of any missing funds and the prosecution of those responsible.

‘Poor and vulnerable Nigerians continue to bear the heavy social and economic costs of corruption.

‘Corruption exposes citizens to additional costs in accessing education, healthcare, and administrative services, while trapping millions in poverty,’ SERAP said.

The group reminded the National Assembly of its constitutional duty to promote transparency and curb corruption, citing Sections 13, 15(5), and 16(1-2) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandate all public institutions to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power.

SERAP also referenced Nigeria’s commitments under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, which requires public institutions to ensure the proper management of public resources.

‘Articles 5 and 9 of the Convention impose clear obligations on the National Assembly to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of public funds,’ the statement read.

The organisation urged the leadership of the National Assembly to refer the matter to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution, as well as to recover and remit any missing funds to the federal treasury.

Taking these steps, SERAP concluded, ‘would demonstrate the National Assembly’s willingness to uphold its constitutional responsibilities, enhance institutional integrity, and advance Nigerians’ right to restitution, compensation, and the guarantee of non-repetition.’

Consignments of illicit drugs concealed in frozen snails, electrical bulbs, and female clothes heading to the United States, United Kingdom, and Democratic Republic of Congo have been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Lagos International Airport and a courier company in Lagos.

At least two suspects linked to attempts to export the illicit substances have already been taken into custody. One of them, a cargo agent, Boladale Riliwan, was arrested on 7th October 2025 following the discovery of 15 parcels of skunk, a strain of cannabis, concealed in 10 pieces of giant rechargeable electrical bulbs he presented in a carton for airfreight to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the export shed of the Lagos airport.

An NDLEA statement on Sunday said another suspect in custody is 48-year-old Olawale Oyebola Hakeemot, who is a UK-based Public Health Assistant. She was arrested on 12th October at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Lagos International Airport following the discovery of frozen snails used to conceal 2,300 pills of tramadol 225mg in her luggage while heading to Manchester, United Kingdom, on a Qatar Airways flight.

Attempt by another syndicate to export 810 pills of bromazepam hidden in female clothes going to the United States was also thwarted by NDLEA officers at a courier company in Lagos on 16th October.

In Adamawa, a suspect, Bello Buba, was intercepted at an NDLEA checkpoint in Namtari, Yola South LGA, with 38,270 pills of tramadol concealed in the spare tyre, boot, and door compartments of his Honda Civic car, which he drove all the way from Benin Republic to smuggle the consignment into Nigeria on 12th October.

ýThe statement said, not less than 53,250 kilograms of skunk were destroyed on 21.3 hectares of cannabis farm in Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti state, with 70 bags of the same psychoactive substance weighing 1,140kg recovered by NDLEA operatives during an operation that lasted between Sunday, 12th, and Monday, 13th October.

Suspects arrested include: Matthew Emmanuel, James Moses, and Israel Samuel. This followed the destruction of 17,400kg of skunk on 6.96 hectares of plantation by NDLEA operatives at Aponmu forest reserve, Akure, Ondo state, on 12th October.

ýIn Oyo state, Aliyu Muhammed, Babarinde Segun, Ogunbiyi Sanjo, and Ajani Oluro were nabbed with 596kg of skunk at Apata-Ako, Igboora, while Jacob Afolabi and Salako Oluwatobi were arrested with 273kg of the same substance at Odo-Oyan, Igangan, on 16th October.

While Joseph Andrew was arrested in possession of 88kg of skunk on 15th October by NDLEA operatives at Ona – Imeko, Ogun state, another suspect, Festus Udoh, was nabbed with 13,000 pills of opioids along Onitsha- Owerri road, Imo state. In the same vein, a total of 74.5kg of skunk was recovered from the store of a suspect, Joseph Chukwujamaa, at Umuogbo-Agu village, Enugu state, on 18th October.

In Lagos, no fewer than 11 bags of skunk weighing 117kg were recovered from the base of a suspect, Ramoni Olukowi, in the Mushin area on Saturday, while a total of 80,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were intercepted in a container earlier watch-listed by NDLEA coming from India during a joint examination of the shipment with men of the Customs service and other security agencies at the Apapa port on 14th October.

While commending the officers and men of the various Commands for the arrests and seizures, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd) urged them and their colleagues across the country not to relent in their ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.

Eating ginger is a cheap way to help your body with the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Beyond adding flavour to your food, ginger is a spicy root which people have used as natural medicine for a very long time.

While cooked ginger is good for you, eating raw ginger is more effective and has great benefits for your overall health.

The following are simple ways ginger can make you healthier.

1. It calms your stomach

One of the most common benefits of eating raw ginger is that it helps to calm your upset stomach. It can make you feel better if you fall ill, especially in a car, or if you have morning sickness. This is because of gingerol in ginger that relieves your stomach of pain and stops nausea.

You can slow down on using meds and try chewing a small piece of fresh ginger. It can work rapidly to make your stomach feel settled.

2. It relieves you of pain and inflammation

If you feel pain, ginger can also help, especially if your muscles hurt after exercising or you have aches in your joints.

Ginger can naturally help you because the presence of gingerol can help to deal with inflammation in your body, which causes the pain.

So, if you make eating raw ginger a daily habit, it might help to deal with pain in your joints. It’s also great if your muscles feel sore. Think of it as paracetamol, but a natural pain reliever that you can find in your kitchen.

3. It helps you stay healthy

Ginger really helps your body to deal with sickness, especially during a cold or the flu. Its natural properties can fight the germs that can make you feel sick.

So, if you’re feeling unwell, eating raw ginger can help you feel better. Well, you must know that it will make you sweat, but that’s good, especially when you have a fever.

You can make tea and slice raw ginger and a little honey to ease your sore throat. Above all, it will give your body the help that it needs to stay strong and healthy and also strengthen your immune system.

Above all, the taste of ginger is strong, so if you can’t seem to get around eating it, there are other ways to try it; make tea, add to your drinks, grate it or put it on your food. Either way, eating ginger is a cheap way to help your body with the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last Kogi State Governorship Election, Alhaji Yakubu Muritala Ajaka, has dismissed recent political moves by former Governor Yahaya Bello as mere theatrics aimed at misleading the people of the state.

Ajaka, in a statement issued on Sunday, said it was ‘unfortunate that Yahaya Bello still believes the people of Kogi can be misled by his usual political antics,’ stressing that Kogites are now politically aware and would no longer be swayed by deceit or intimidation.

He stated that President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not need the kind of manipulative politics associated with Bello to earn the trust of Nigerians, but rather genuine performance and credibility.

According to him, ‘ President Bola Ahmed Tinubu doesn’t need deceit or intimidation to earn the trust of Nigerians. What he needs is performance and credibility.’

The SDP chieftain questioned Bello’s political relevance, recalling that the former governor failed to deliver his own senatorial district during the last general elections.

According to him, ‘It is laughable that someone who couldn’t even deliver his senatorial district during the last election now claims he can deliver Kogi in 2027,’ Ajaka added. ‘The people of our state are wiser and will no longer be used as pawns in anyone’s political games.’

Ajaka maintained that Kogites would vote based on performance, not fear or manipulation, asserting that a new generation of conscious citizens is ready to take charge of the state’s political future.

‘When the time is right, credible individuals with true political voice and moral standing will rise to deliver the President and the state to a better future. The era of deceitful politics and intimidation is over,’ he said.

Ajaka, who contested against Bello’s anointed candidate in the 2023 governorship poll, has remained a vocal critic of the former governor’s political style, often accusing him of misgovernance and divisive politics.

While growing up, I went on hunting expedition with elderly men. From it, I found out that the forest, as an ecosystem, is diametrically opposed to the human world. In the forest, the hunter exists with ‘other beings’- animals of different shades and character, plants – whose existences bear similarity with man’s. One of such beings is an unseen spirit whose existence the hunter can take for granted only at his own peril. In the forest, the hunter is in a continuous struggle with these beings but is seen as an interloper. In this forest community, every member of the ecosystem contests for primacy, sometimes in a mortal and fatal manner.

Whenever human arguments begin to sound like claptrap to me, I bail out to avoid going mad. My refuge is always among animals, in the wild. It is a place Yoruba curiously call ìgbé. Ìgbé is, literally, excreta. I find greater logic in excrement than sweet-smelling human contraptions. To explain Professor Joash Amupitan’s recent appointment as the Chairman of the Independent Nigerian Electoral Commission (INEC) and the forebodings that line the sky, I had to go in search of animals whose lives could give explanations of the weird life of man. Whether in the sullen murmur of bees, the cruel humour of monkeys, the deafening roar of lions, the ugly beauty of hyenas or the artistry in the skin of zebras, the wild is a better place to find peace of mind. Or don’t you think so?

In Ayo Adeduntan’s seminal work, What the forest told me: Yoruba hunter, culture and narrative performance (2019), the author conducted an interview with Ògúnkúnlé Òjó of Agúnrege village in Oyo State. Adeduntan narrated how Òjó’s hunter master, Ògúnò?un, married an efòn, the buffalo. In description, the African buffalo is one of Africa’s ‘big five’ safari animals, alongside rhinoceros, elephant, leopard and lion. Living only in Africa and Asia, the buffalo is reputed for its huge horns. Though a herbivore like cows, feeding only on plants, the animal often falls prey to predators like hunters, lions, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs. It can also be vicious; in order to defend herself, the buffalo strikes its prey with her horns.

According to Ògúnkúnlé Òjó, this particular day, he and another colleague on hunting expedition had shot the buffalo in the Agúnrege village forest. The animal immediately fell. Apparently frightened by the monstrosity of their kill, one of them had to run home to fetch their master, Ògúnò?un. As they were about to get to the spot where the animal was felled, narrated Ògúnkúnlé, they suddenly saw a very pretty woman walking towards them. I remember Odolaye Aremu, Ilorin Dadakuada music lord, comparing the suddenness of the death of Western Region Premier, S. L. Akintola, to the instantaneous blow of a calamity when he sang, ‘.pèkílàá ko èèmò.’ Said Ògúnkúnlé, ‘we ran into the animal, that is, the wife. She was a very beautiful woman’ which in Yoruba is, ‘àfip?`kí n l’abápàdé?ranl’?´nà, èyuùnìyàwó. Ar?waobinrinni’. What Ògúnkúnlé implied was that the woman they met on the road to the buffalo’s remains was the same buffalo who had now transformed into a beautiful woman. It reminds one of Fagunwa’s Igbo Olódùmarè and how Olówóayé, swept off his feet by the sultry beauty of a woman named àj?´, was oblivious that he was making advances to a spirit woman.

What eventually transpired between Ògúnò?un and the buffalo-turned-beautiful woman is instructive. ‘Our master exchanged greetings with her (the animal). She greeted our master, kneeling down in respect. This is no hearsay; I, Òjó the hunter, was present there that day. Our master wooed her and they both agreed to marry each other. She (however) warned: ‘Now that you have decided to marry me, be informed that the day you, out of anger, call me an animal, that day would be your last. It would not offend me as much if you hit me so much that I am wounded and bleeding.’

‘So they got married. She became pregnant and had the first child, the second and the third child. There was a quarrel between her and my master one day. As they quarreled, my master angrily insulted her: ‘Àb’órí ì r? burúni, ìw? ?m? ?rankoyìí’ – ‘You good-for-nothing unlucky daughter of an animal.’ ‘Oh!’ the woman said, ‘You are done for.’ That was where the trouble started.’

Ògúnkúnlé Òjó then ended the story, stating that the buffalo woman then turned into her pre-marital animal state. ‘Yes. It is no hearsay. She transformed into an animal by Adem?la’s father’s house beside Igbadi Hill. That was when the two of them started to fight. Our master tried all his power and failed. That was how the woman ran away forever. One of the children is dead. The remaining two are still in my master’s house,’ Ògúnkúnlé said.

The forest is a realm that is implicitly uncertain. Those who claim that forest conversations between the hunter and other beings who live in the wild are purely African fantasy underrate our reality. The truth is that the hunter shares the forest cosmos with other beings. While the hunter believes he possesses some superiority over animals and other beings in the forest, the truth is that it is a shared world. Indeed, the Yoruba worldview does not approve of man’s superordinate status claim in relation to other earthly creations. He is thus in constant war against these forest antagonists whom he cannot pacify and who also see him as a usurper. This reminds me of a childhood fairy tale we were told about Segbe, a boy who veered into the wild on a festival day to hunt game. The animals descended on him and made a barbecue of his flesh. When the search party scoured the forest for him the second day, the birds sang, ‘Who is there searching for Segbe? Human beings were celebrating in their homes. We, animals, were having ours in the forest. We have made a meal of Segbe’s flesh.’

In animals, there is no hypocrisy, no pretension. Victims and victimizers are aware of their naturally ordained roles and do not pull any shroud over this. In their wild habitat, these mammal forebears of man seem to explain better the contradictions of human life and the illogicality of the life of man. It prompted my disagreement with Fela Anikulapo’s concept of ‘animal talk’. While excoriating the Muhammadu Buhari military government’s War Against Indiscipline philosophy of openly beating offending Nigerians, Fela called that philosophy a talk of animals. My disagreement is that animals’ lives speak to man, but man is too deaf to listen.

In Yoruba hunters’ narratives, while there is always a hunter, animal and spirit relationship, this symbiosis often ends up in calamity. While D. O. Fagunwa’s narrative of the relationship between the trio of man, animal and spirits in the wild was fabulism, he took it out of the real-life man-animal forest ecosystem relations and encounters. Fagunwa’s books opened our eyes to the symbiosis of this relationship. You can see this relationship in the encounter between Olówóayé, Fagunwa’s hunter and protagonist, and the one-eyed elf called Èsù-kékeré-òde, in the book he entitled, The Forest of God, Igbó Olódùmarè. In another of his book, Ogbójú?d? Nínú Igbó Irúnmalè, this contest for supremacy between man and the spirit was illustrated by how a character called Tèmbèl?`kun, a flesh-eating spirit, devoured Lam?rin, a hunter. Such is the nature of the dog-eat-dog relationship in the wild. ?

So, last Thursday, as Professor Amupitan appeared in the Nigerian senate for screening, he suddenly pounced on my mind like a rampaging leopard. Whenever a hunter encounters an animal in the wild, his discerning mind tells him whether she is indeed an animal or an animal-turned-man. Putting on that same lens, what I saw last Thursday was an incestuous relationship between a hunter and a buffalo that would soon go awry. The hunter-buffalo’s love-turned-sour narrated above tells me I wasn’t mistaken. My reading is that of a tragic relationship that will soon come full throttle between Aso Rock, Amupitan and the Nigerian people.

History is Amupitan’s first nemesis. It holds that, like Ògúnò?un, the hunter who got married to a buffalo-human, the new INEC boss is entering a graveyard of history where he would be so badly gored that he might emerge therefrom with a permanent scar. Since Sir Hugh Clifford’s Legislative Council election of 1920, Nigeria’s elections have been the graveyard of their electoral umpires. Since then, Nigeria has had electoral chiefs whose tenures ended in fiasco and, or ignominy.

Enters Amupitan. His first shot in the Senate last week was to confront the unpalatable graveyard image of electoral umpire bosses with comely semiotics. In semiotic theory, users deploy signs and symbols to create meanings. This they do through language, gestures and images. As he appeared at the senate screening exercise, the professor of law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria appeared with his family. Probably a student of linguist Ferdinand de Saussure and philosopher, Charles Sanders Pierce, who founded this study of symbols, Amupitan knew that a semiotic portrayal of the presence of his children on his first interface with Nigerians has the power of convincing the people that, as a family man, he would be humane. However, the reality of what he is about to begin far transcends the tender-heartedness of the family.

Amupitan spoke very well. Just like his predecessors. The professor from the sleepy town of Ayetoro Gbede said his life is influenced by a tripod of God, hard work and mentorship.

Soon, Amupitan will realize that he is in the same boat with persons for whom God exists only as a political slogan or refrain. Beyond their lips, there is no one so-called. In this God thing, he is alone. Again, more than ever before, Amupitan, whose literal rendition of his name means a history maker, will indeed make history. He will also tell a story. What story he will tell and the history he will make are part of the omen of a gathering cloud in the sky I see. Vultures are already hovering, signifying that the story the professor will tell will not only not be significantly different from his predecessors’, it could be worse. First is that, unlike many previous elections, Nigerians have the painful belief that the winner of the 2027 elections, especially the presidential election, is already known. This will leave Amupitan to contend with his own ambiguities.

Second is the gale of defections that has rocked Nigerian politics in the last few months. The defections render party politics no different from the petty business of market square transactions. They thus make Amupitan’s job a potential failure. The belief is that the Senators/House of Representatives members and governors changing parties like chameleon changes colour, are driven by the quest to have the party at the federal lip-frog them into victory. How would Amupitan deny the party of his appointor victory in 2027?

Already, Amupitan’s ambivalent heritage may also sound the death knell on his electoral umpire role. While the presidency gleefully flaunted him as having ‘hailed from the North Central,’ everyone knows that putting Ayetoro Gbede as northern Nigeria is one of those geographical mis-ascriptions of today’s Nigeria. A town in Okunland, in Kogi West Senatorial District of Kogi State, Amupitan hails from this town, founded in 1927 by early Christian converts. The truth is, Ayetoro Gbede is Yorubaland. So, if northern Nigeria, which is today embroiled in a fight with the avatar of Nigeria, on allegation of under-developing the North, loses the 2027 election to Amupitan’s perceived brother, there cannot but be wahala.

Pardon my pessimism. What I see is Amupitan, with his lustering credentials, ending up brutally bruised. This liaison with a buffalo-turned-pretty woman will not likely end well.