Why does Yemi Osinbajo try to rewrite history?

It is not easy to be a leader. It is even harder to be a man of God. Every word that comes out your mouth is brutally analyzed, examined and evaluated – even by people who do not know a fraction of what you know.
Nigeria’s Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) is known to be a man of integrity. Before he was chosen to be Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in 2014, he was a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). He had also served meritoriously as Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. But it seems politics and governance are now conspiring to make our beloved Osinbajo blur the lines between fact and fiction.
Because the Bible says, “touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm”(Psalm 105:15) this article is not directed at Osinbajo the pastor but at Osinbajo the politician because he seems to have discarded the priestly cloak to adorn the multi-coloured toga of politicians who switch positions faster than they change their agbadas.
At the pastors and leaders retreat at Pastor Taiwo Odukoya’s Fountain of Life Church in Lagos, Osinbajo claimed that the APC’s favourite whipping boy, the Jonathan administration, did not build a single road in the six years it was in office. What an occasion to tell a barefaced lie! Did Osinbajo consult the Minister of Works Raji Fashola to verify that claim or was he just doing what his party knows how to do best – throw wild accusations at its predecessor?
In December 2015, at his first news conference as minister, Fashola disclosed that Jonathan had constructed more roads than any Nigerian president. Incidentally, Osinbajo and Fashola served in the Lagos State administration of Bola Tinubu so he must have cordial relations with the works minister. Maybe Osinbajo didn’t read that script. If he did, he had forgotten too soon.
The 59-year-old law professor has also come out to say that Nigeria doesn’t need restructuring but diversification of the economy to move forward. But he has conveniently forgotten that, while they were in opposition, members of the APC promised to implement true federalism if they were elected into office. But as soon as they gained power, the cry for restructuring was thrown out of the window for the status quo to continue. Unfortunately,  Osinbajo has chosen to stay loyal to his party’s deceitful ways and pull wool over our eyes.
At any given opportunity, the erudite professor of law had blamed former President Goodluck Jonathan for Nigeria’s economic woes. So it was surprising to hear him shift the blame to the Niger Delta militants on September 19.
Speaking at the Presidential Quarterly Business Forum, the VP said “If we did not have vandalism in the Niger Delta as we are currently suffering, we will not have this recession today.”
So Mr. Vice President, who really is the cause of the recession? Jonathan or militants? Please make up your mind. Members of this government seem to be experts at “scapegoatism.”  Someone else is always responsible for this administration’s failings.
Osinbajo has the rare distinction of being a pastor and a lawyer. To both offices, truth is supposed to be sacrosanct. It is not subject to conjecture or one’s feelings. But if one day Jonathan is the cause of the current recession and the next day it is the fault of the militants then one of these two have been falsely accused.
Speaking at the interdenominational church service organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), The Vice President had also promised that Nigeria would be out of recession “soon.”
But a few days later, the Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who is best placed to know, said she couldn’t predict when the recession would end. “I don’t want to predict when we would get out of recession…It may take longer than we would like,” she said.
Was Osinbajo speaking prophetically or was he just trying to say something positive to make Nigerians feel optimistic? It is one thing to motivate the people; it is another thing to base the optimism on make-belief or wishful thinking.
The VP is also the chairman of the National Economic Council, which consists of all state governors as well as the CBN governor, so he should have a clue about the state of the economy. Choosing to base his optimism on wishes will not drive the problem away.
Osinbajo has also frowned at people who criticize government instead of joining hands to build a better Nigeria. But hey, wasn’t this what the APC specialize in doing  before it came into power? Every leader knows that his policies will be criticized and analyzed endlessly, that is why a responsible government spends time to formulate policies that will stand the test of time.
French philosopher Michel Foucault said, “Victors of a social struggle use their political dominance to suppress a defeated adversary’s version of historical events in favour of their own propaganda.”
The APC has followed this script to the letter. Since it took over the reins of power the party has done its best to rubbish the country’s past leaders, especially Goodluck Jonathan. But Osinbajo should not fall into the trap of victors who try to rewrite history. He should remember that after a few years, he will also join the league of past leaders. And he would not appreciate if his legacy is rubbished by his successors.

Image: Vanguard

Iheanacho and Iwobi deserve more plaudits from England

Some days ago a friend sent me a picture of Jerry (of the iconic “Tom and Jerry” animated series). The lovable mouse was smiling mischievously with the caption “I feel like starting trouble.”
Well, today, like Jerry, I’m in the mood for trouble. I feel like starting trouble – with England. Like so many Nigerians, I love England and I love the Premier League. (I have already written about why I love this exciting football league). But sometimes I find their hyperbolic praise of their players rather amusing and comical. Sportswriters in England are experts at over-hyping their football players – calling even average players “world class.” Something that Nigerian sportswriters have constantly and consistently failed to do. In Nigeria we rarely see anything good in our players – until they start making waves abroad.
Not so with the English press. Wayne Rooney was once touted as the best striker on the planet and Joe Hart the best goalkeeper in the world. In the past two seasons both players have been found out.
Now the focus is on young Marcus Rashford of Manchester United. The 18-year-old striker is indeed an exciting talent and the press has rightly been waxing lyrical about his exploits.
But the same press has been using rather muted tones to showcase Nigerian starlets Kelechi Iheanacho of Manchester City and Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi. Iheanacho, 20, is proving to be one of the most lethal strikers in Europe. Iwobi, nephew to the magical Jay-Jay Okocha, has been displaying some effervescent performances in the Premier League for Arsenal.
However, the press reserves the biggest plaudits for Rashford. England invented the beautiful game of football and they have won the World Cup once – in 1966. But since then they have won nothing significant in the sport.
Nigeria, on the other hand, has won everything – except the World Cup and Under-21 World Cup. The list includes three African Cup of Nations, one Olympic gold, and a record five Under-17 World Cups.
While Nigerians quickly forget the accomplishments of their players on the field, the English keep wallowing in their monumental but solitary victory, celebrating it every time they have a chance to do so. This year they even marked the 50th anniversary of that 1966 triumph.
Nigeria has met England just once in a football match, the friendly in London shortly after the Super Eagles’ exciting exploits at the 1994 World Cup. England won 1-0 because the Nigerian players initially appeared over-awed at the chance to play at the iconic Wembley Stadium. By the time they got their act together, the match was over. But the English knew they had just faced some football geniuses like Augustine Jay-Jay Okocha, Finidi George, Emmanuel Amuneke, Rashidi Yekini and Daniel Amokachi, among others.
Sadly, since then the Super Eagles have gone on a downward spiral due mostly to inept organization. But the Three Lions of England have not fared any better, in spite of their great organizational skills and the presence of some skillful players.
But from the way they hype their players, one would be forgiven to believe that England is brimming with talent.
Iheanacho has scored 10 goals from just 14 shots on target. That’s an incredible record. He has pace to burn and is supercool in front of goal. In January 2016 he scored his first career hat trick in the FA Cup match against Aston Villa, also setting up the fourth goal for Raheem Sterling.
While there were fears that he may be sold once Pep Guardiola arrived the Etihad, he has instead cemented his place in the Spaniard’s glorious team. When Sergio Aguero bagged a three-match ban, the young Iheanacho stepped excellently into his shoes, ensuring that the Argentine goal machine was not missed.
In 2013, Iheanacho was voted Under-17 World Cup Most Valuable Player and CAF Most Promising Talent of the Year. He has proved that he deserves all the plaudits he can get.
At Arsenal Iwobi is so good that he benched his much-heralded and older English namesake Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Iwobi was imperious in the 4-1 demolition of Hull City a week ago. Against Chelsea on Saturday he was voted man of the match.
This season, the 20-year-old youngster has chalked up three assists in three league games. The last one was a cheeky back-heel flick to Theo Walcott to chip over Hull’s hapless goalkeeper. Ironically, it took the Ox a whole season to record such a feat – and that was four long years ago.
Iwobi plays with a swagger that even older players lack. Did he learn that from his uncle? Last season he was Arsenal’s best player in the Champions League match against mighty Barcelona at the Nou Camp. That is a wonderful testimony. The presence of Lionel Messi, Neymer and Luis Suarez didn’t faze him one bit. In one instance he even flicked the ball past Messi – five-time World Footballer of the Year. That is supreme confidence.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Iwobi plays with a “quality of vision, quality of give and go, of movement. He can break the lines with a pass and individually as well.” Wenger should know. He has an uncanny reputation of discovering raw talent and turning them to superstars.
Small wonder the English FA tried – albeit unsuccessfully – to make Iwobi wear England’s colours. The midfielder, who grew up in England, had played in that country’s youth teams and was qualified to represent them at the senior level. Thankfully, he chose the Super Eagles. Nigeria would have lost yet another gem to England.
It is about time the English press sings the praises of these two Nigerian prodigies the same way they gush endlessly about Rashford’s abilities. I know they have been doing that, but hey, like I said, I just felt like starting trouble.

Iheanacho (image: Metro.co.uk)

Partisanship - Nigeria's latest problem

Many years ago, renowned novelist Chinua Achebe wrote an essay titled, “The Trouble With Nigeria.”
In the 68-page essay published in 1983, the literary genius said Nigeria’s trouble was “simply and squarely a failure of leadership,” – with tribalism and corruption following closely behind. Unfortunately, Achebe passed away in 2013 and did not live to see the new problem with Nigeria – political partisanship.
The country has never been this polarized politically. Now practically everyone has chosen a stance in the political arena and has decided to dig in and defend his stance doggedly, no matter how absurd it looks.
As a people we used to be divided by religion and/or tribe. Now we are also being divided by politics. It has become so bad former President Olusegun Obasanjo said, “At no time in our history, except perhaps during the civil war, has Nigeria been so fractured.”
Now there is a war brewing between diehard supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Goodluck Jonathan – and there is no demilitarized zone. Those who stay in the middle are not recognized by either group.
Criticize Buhari and you are immediately termed a Jonathanian (or wailer), no matter how authentic your criticism is. Speak against Jonathan and you are automatically a Buharist (or zombie). It doesn’t matter if you had criticized Jonathan in the past. As long as you speak against Buhari now, you are a wailer. And if you initially supported Buhari but you dare to speak against any of his policies, you have suddenly become a repentant wailer!
When did we get to this sorry pass? So because I voted for someone I have abdicated my rights to complain if I don’t agree with his policies? Or can’t I praise a leader I didn’t initially generally agree with? No leader is totally good or absolutely bad. Even General Sani Abacha, whose reign of terror is unmatchable in this country, did some good things.
We have become so intolerant of opposing views that social media commentators (now tagged warriors) immediately start raining abuses on each other, threatening fire and brimstone, once someone says anything remotely negative about a leader he likes or supports. Thunder must fire anyone who dares to say anything against either Buhari or Jonathan, it doesn’t matter if its genuine assessment or just a light hearted joke.
No matter the political divide these warring media gladiators are on, no achievement is too great to vilify and no failure is too small to deify. When did it become a crime to praise or criticize a leader? There is no Nigerian leader – past and present – who has not received his fair share of adulation or condemnation. Indeed, the hallmark of good leadership is to be focused and committed to your set goals and not be distracted either by fawning praise or vindictive opposition.
Former Prime Minister of Britain Winston Churchill once said that you will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks at you.
In Nigeria, we now see our leaders as angels or demons – depending on your side of the divide. They are totally good or absolutely bad. But in truth there is no leader without his fair share of positive and negative traits.
Probably, the reason we have descended to this murky level is because this is the first time an opposition party has ever won the presidential elections in Nigeria. The only way we saw change was through violence and no one dared to condemn a coup or say anything good about the toppled government. Like the great Zik said, you don’t argue with a man who has a gun. The military junta suspended the Constitution and ruled anyhow they liked.
Hopefully, the normal, acceptable and civilized way to change governments through the ballot box is here to stay. We would do well to embrace this style. The defeated should learn to be gracious in defeat and the victorious magnanimous in victory – until the next elections.
We simply have to learn to live together. And we have to know that our leaders must be held accountable for their actions or policies - whether we love them or dislike them.