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As The Class Of True Patriots To Whom It Is COUNTRYFIRST Predicated On Justice, Equity And Fairness Thins Down. We Say Adieu Pa Ayo Adebanjo And Good Night Pa E.K Clark
Waking up to the now common Valentine’s Day frenzy in modern Nigeria, just before the red and white, and the all red colours that define February 14th tore through the morning space; calls, messages and Breaking News of the passing of Pa Ayo Adebanjo tore through the Heavens validating Shakespeare’s age long quote, “when beggars die, there are no comets seen; the Heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes”.
Pa Adebanjo loved his Country so much he fought for justice, for fairness, for equity and for an egalitarian society until he took a bow at the very ripe age of 96. He loved Nigeria so much his lifelong campaign was for a Society that works for all. He was a doyen of Justice, of Equity, of Fairness and of Inclusion. He loved us so much that our fault lines to him were manifest tapestry of the potentialities of a Rainbow coalition centred on the conquering and therapeutic force of True Love should our nation elect the egalitarian ideals of equity, of Justice and of fairness over our primordial fault lines and prejudices.
He was so much a lover of Truth and the beloved Community that he took a bow on February 14 ditto Lovers Day. Fare Thee Well Pa Ayo Adebanjo, we love you, and your unassailable legacies shall remain indelible.
Whilst we were yet processing the worthy words and trite refrain soothing the Iroko Pa Ayo Adebanjo, he called out from the yonder place to his friend and Comrade of several decades Pa E.K Clark, yes on the 17th of February, 2025 another doyen of the progressive left and leader of popular struggle heeded that call.
Was it the conspiracy of the gods or a coup hatched by the Universe that the nonagenarian pillars of the struggle for a nation that works for all chose to depart the stage 3 days apart? February the 14th and February the 17th, 2025 tore through a nation’s womb leaving a void, now we must recruit newer and younger progressive elements to whom COUNTRYFIRST must be a creed and a commitment. Now we must grow more Pa Adebanjos and Pa Clarks, and now we must rededicate ourselves to the unalterable task of building a nation that works for all.
I have read several tributes by several groups in honour of both paladins of popular struggle, and must I rehearse the nobility of their lives and the cause for which they stood tall? Must I preach about the preachments that kept them in the news until they passed at 96, and 97 respectively? Need I tell you that Pa Ayo Adebanjo was the living conscience of Afenifere speaking to a nation largely bereft of conscience, saying you must do right, you must imbibe the priceless ideals of equity and you must be JUST to all the peoples of the Republic.
Need I remind you of the extremely versatile Pa Edwin Clark who fought until his death for Restructuring, for True Fiscal Federalism, for Resource Control, for Inclusion, for Justice, for Equity and for Fairness to all. Need I tell of the resilience of the High Chief from Kiagbodo in Delta State, who challenged his nation to justice for her marginalized Oil Producing Communities? What more should I tell you about him that is possibly not out there? Should I remind you of his many efforts and interventions to inspire national cohesion and unity? Have you forgotten the several vehicles of collaboration under his watch including PANDEF the one he led until his light went out on the 17th of February, 2025.
Folks, at the core of this short tribute is the call for a new republic of Comrades, of Statesmen, of well-meaning citizens who will fill in the void, repopulate the vacuum they left behind, and commit to building a conscious mass to whom it will remain COUNTRYFIRST.
If we fail to live by the values for which we have written great words in honour of the duo, then we have a nation doomed to the invidious politricks of soulless and conscienceless power grabbers to whom all that counts is ME, MYSELF AND I. If we fail to grow a stronger and wider class of Patriots, then we are doomed to dark nights of hopelessness. And we are doomed to a cycle of egocentric politicians who prey on our nation’s fault lines to and for political profit.
This effort is a question mark on our collective conscience, if we ever truly love Pa Ayo Adebanjo, and Pa E.K Clark we must rise beyond the fine words of the season and the flowery tributes, and urge and nudge a massive surge in the ideas, ideals and ideologies of egalitarianism. We must put COUNTRYFIRST, and make the values of responsible and responsive leadership our collective minimum, such is the duty we owe our departed Titans.
Fare Thee Well great Paladins of Right, Goodnight Pa Adebanjo, Adieu Pa Clark… We shall yet make Nigeria Great.
Prof Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr.
Convener COUNTRYFIRST MOVEMENT. A Good Governance Advocacy Group.
Amid the recall process initiated against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Arewa Youths Progressives Assembly has told both the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the police that Nigerians are keenly watching their actions.
This came amid viral video of some politicians in the Kogi State mass-signing signatures purported to be that of the Senator’s constituents.
It was gathered that the Senator has already petitioned the police over the development.
However, addressing journalists on Tuesday, the National President of Arewa Youths Progressives Assembly, Shuaibu Usman, accused the INEC of always compromising the electoral process in Kogi State.
Usman, who recalled how results of the last governorship election in the state emerged even before the exercise commenced, urged the commission to redeem itself.
He said, “Kogi parades as a worst example when it comes to INEC conduct of election in Nigeria. We have not forgotten how many credible organisations, including Yiaga Africa, raised the alarm of the electoral heist that went on during the last guber election in that state.
“So, INEC has been notorious for providing a thriving ground for politicians in Kogi State to mess up the country’s electoral system.
“The same people are at it again, this time hiding under the guise of a recall process against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. With their Kogi magic, they quickly manufactured over 250,000 signatures, whereas the entire voters during the main election stood at 120,000.
“One need not be a suitsayer to know that these are the same elements who are known to be chronic election riggers, with INEC as their enablers.
“However, we must caution the INEC that this should not be business as usual; this is beyond Kogi State, so Nigerians are watching.
“We were taken aback when the INEC after announcing that the petition did not meet its requirements, returned a day after to tell Nigerians that the same petitioners have met the requirements- what a quick fix!
“The INEC must not kowtow to the whims and caprices of desperate political elements in Kogi State, as this will be resisted by Nigerians.”
Similarly, the apex Igbo group also urged the police to ensure that all those in forging the signatures of Senator Natasha’s constituents were brought to book.
According to the group, the viral videos showed known faces in Kogi State, wondering why the police were yet to effect any arrest.
“By now, we had expected that some of the perpetrators should be cooling their heels in custody or having their days in court, but it is yet to happen.
“There should be no room for compromise, the culprits, no matter how highly placed, should be identified, arrested and prosecuted.
“We urge that the police should engage forensic experts to analyze those signatures before the INEC takes any further step in the said petition,” Usman further stated.
Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), to halt what it called unjust persecution of socialite, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, OFR
This is also as the group faulted the manner of the raid carried out by the commission on the socialite’s residential house in Abuja.
It could be recalled that a video went viral, which showed officials of the commission, reportedly in the family home of the Achimugus.
This came after she was declared wanted by the EFCC.
Her 80-year-old mother was also said to have been forced to sit on the bare floor, tortured and refused to give her water when she pleaded for it
In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, described the action of the EFCC for declaring the national honour’s recipient wanted barely some days after she was invited by the commission as gross
Okwu said enquiry by the Igbo group showed that some days after Achimugu was informed of the invitation by her lawyer, the commission rushed to the media declaring her wanted even when their letter in the public domain stated that everything accused her of is ALLEGEDLY and she is presently not in the country
“This development clearly smarks of a premeditated agenda to embarrass and discredit her personality. What else could justify the haste for an alleged crime to warrant being declared wanted just some days after she was invited by the commission?
“Mrs Achimugu is a global figure, not a politician and a national honours recipient, as well as a recipient of the US President’s award. This calibre of a person can never go under hiding.
“The fact that she is currently out of the country when the EFCC extended an invitation to her does not warrant their hasty declaration on alleged case without a competent court sanctioning such action.
“This is utterly reprehensible, and we urge that the EFCC should not continue to be used as a tool for political witch-hunting.
“Mrs Achimugu is an established, decent, and well to do businesswoman who respects the laws and humanity and from a respected family. Her source of wealth has never been a source of controversy or hidden.
“We want to declare that her rights should be respected; her contributions to the growth of citizens and the nation should not be ignored. The EFCC should withdraw the wanted tag on her.
While quoting Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and Section 36 of the Nigerian Police Act, the Youth President said the relevant laws prohibit arrest by proxy.
He said, “the reported invitation and declaration of Mrs. Achimugu is unlawful and a gross violation of the provisions of Nigeria’s relevant laws. We had waited to see whether the commission would make a turn, but its silence means that they are bent on tarnishing her image for someone who is private and law abiding.
“This is worrisome and should be condemned in all totality. There is no justification for their actions. This is a gross illegality.
“We recall that the EFCC did announce that it would stop this kind of raid, but it appears that nothing has changed. This crude method of arrest defies all logic and legality.
“All these go to show that there is more to this than meets the eye. It is albeit political is pure harassment to satisfy certain interests.
“Having said this, we urge the Chairman of the EFCC, who pledged before now to reform the commission, to direct the operatives to act right and let the law take it due course without further delay or embarrassment”
A business woman, Joy Smart-Chinenye, has revealed how she was arrested, brutalized, tortured, and detained by monitoring unit personnel of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, based on a petition filed by her husband, George Obinna Smart Unaegbu, over alleged debt to him.
The incident which took place on Sunday (Mothers Day) was said to have elicited a serious drama, wild condemnation and is already causing ripples among the police hierarchy.
Her explanation was contained in a statement released by her lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, titled, “Betrayed, Tortured, and Extorted – My Husband’s Cruelty Knows No Bounds”, obtained by journalists in Abuja.
Ejiofor, also lawyer to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), had in his reaction to the police brutality, described the action of the police as unconstitutional.
According to him, Section 4 of the Nigeria Police Act clearly outlines the duties of the NPF, making no provision for debt recovery.
Joy Smart-Chinenye said, “As I write this, I am in severe agony, tears, and unbearable pain.
While mothers across the world celebrated Mothering Sunday, my own husband, the man I once loved and supported, threw me into Abattoir-SARS detention in Abuja – a facility notorious for holding condemned criminals, kidnappers, and terrorists.
“This is the same man I met when he was just a classroom teacher. I stood by him, fed him, supported him financially, and watched as God elevated him to a multi-billionaire. But how did he repay me? By having me brutalized, arrested, and locked away in one of the most dreaded cells in the country.
“Despite my unwavering fidelity and loyalty throughout our marriage, he has slept with both single and married women, exposing me to multiple infections. I have endured humiliation and betrayal in silence, keeping our marital issues out of the public eye, yet he continues to find ways to destroy me.
“This time, his weapon was the Nigeria Police Force. He manipulated them into arresting me over an alleged debt – a personal, civil matter that should have been settled in court, not through police brutality. On March 27, 2025, officers stormed our home, forcibly took me away in front of our children, and detained me at FCID Annex, Panti, Lagos, where I was tortured and coerced into transferring ₦5 million to an account they provided.
“When I could not meet his remaining demands, I was forcefully transported to Abuja, where I was detained at Abattoir, enduring further abuse, torture and extortion.
“I was repeatedly taken from the SARS detention cell at night to unknown locations, where I was subjected to intense coercion and intimidation. These harrowing experiences continued until the timely intervention of Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor ( I. C. Ejiofor Chambers), whose relentless legal efforts finally secured my release in the wee hours of last night. But the scars – both physical and emotional – remain.
“I can no longer stay silent. In due course, I will grant a press release and expose the full truth about Obinna George Smart Unaegbu. The world deserves to know.”