Opinion
Wike Stop Cattle Grazing In FCT Now
By Sule Ahmed Oyofo
Good News to residents of the Federal Capital Territory. They now have a new minister who has just stepped into office. The minister, His Excellency, Mr. Nyesom Wike is not a small figure in the political parlance.
As immediate past governor of Rivers State, he stood out as an action-oriented, no nonsense warrior, fighter and ended up being tagged as “Mr. Projects”.
He is variously described as “resolute”, rugged” and a “workaholic”. What is clear is that, he is not only bold, but fearless and a reputed pace setter. They also added that he is a man who stands by his decisions, who is out to replicate what he did in Rivers State—to right the wrongs in the society–in Abuja, the seat of the Federal Capital; to halt the systematic destruction of the infrastructure and the environment by the apparent and consistent display of lawlessness, regarding free movement of cattle’s in public roads, walkways and median.
Wike not only detest stagnant conditions, he is also not a friend to barriers and limitations. If he is told that the solution to a problem lies at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, and the only way to access it, is through the “Titan Submersible”—remember this? Wike would go there! That’s the stuff he is made off; Wike is the archetypal “I belong to everybody and nobody”—not the ones who simply mouthed it and did the opposite.
The news of his appointment as the honorable minister of the Federal Capital City must have been received as bad news by pretenders and defaulters. Key stakeholders agree that as part of his agenda, priority should be given to finding immediate solution to the menace of cows competing for possession of space with human beings along major highways. ‘This practice is unacceptable”, the minister charged in his inaugural press briefing. “We are not going to tolerate the issue of having cows in our public roads; yes, things are difficult, but you must not cause crises for other people”, he stated. In the heart warming news to disturbed Abuja residents, Wike promised to tackle the hydra-headed problem headlong and restore as much sanity and beauty, elegance, glittering vegetation and soothing environment to the city’s Master Plan. A key takeaway from his speech is that there will be consequences for breaking the law, which was largely absent in the last eight years. Abuja drifted inexorably into no-man’s land with all sorts, converging in the city and making life hell for lawful citizens. “I will step on toes, the big and mighty; I will step on your toes, if you are doing something wrong”, he warned.
The truth however is that people are tired. The vision to transform Abuja into a world class environment appears to have collapsed in the face of siege of cows. When Okada riders tried the same thing, a former minister and immediate past governor of Kaduna state promptly drove them out of town. Today, they are back in full force. The same applies to the herders who graze indiscriminately on any vegetation they find and defecate on the streets in open gutters, and other public places. The bad scent and the ugly sight of dungs is difficult to contend with. The feces attract flies and therefore put children at risk of contracting cholera, not to mention mosquitoes that thrive in filthy environments—leading to outbreak of malaria. The dangers of free moving cattle’s can never be substantiated, unless we are moving towards a Hobbesian society where anything goes. This is modern age and the world is going green; and the environment is supposed to be strenuously preserved; a degraded environment knows no cultural, ethnic or religious affinity. —just the same way as the zoonotic diseases usually transferred from cows to human beings (mad cow, anthrax, bovine, etc.) does not discriminate. Abuja, ranks amongst the best cities in the world and should discard whatever amounts to an aberration.
Can anyone imagine the discomfort if owners of wild dogs such as German Shepherd, Bulldog, Labrador Retriever, Rottweiler, Irish Wolfhounds, Afghan Hounds are allowed to roam freely in the streets? What about those who owns Tigers, Lions, Buffaloes, Horses and snakes? Wait a minute; cows cannot be exempted because they may be classified as herbivores, but they have been known to be destructive whether provoked or not and develop strange symptoms of violence! Possibly, some may want to argue that this comparison is extreme or that all animals are equal but like it was in Animal Farm, some are more equal than others! Unless, the Constitution is amended to accommodate the free movement of cows on public roads, only then can their presence be tenable. We do not have to wait for them to roam carelessly in High security areas such as Aso Rock Villa, The National Assembly, the precincts of the Supreme Court and Federal Secretariat, before serious action can be taken. The situation is absurd and constitutes an eyesore. The threat to public safety and health is too much to be ignored.
If Abuja is a mega city, why not retain the status? Which mega city in the world tolerates open grazing? It makes a mockery of the government at the center, not to mention the toxic nature of their presence around human beings. To all right thinking individuals, this is an abuse of privilege and rights of other road users. High Chief Mike Ozekhome in his submission while responding to an outburst from certain part of this country, did not mince words; he described the free movement of cows as “anachronistic and primitive”. He questioned why the perpetrators have refused to grow and access modern provisions for livestock preservation. He insists that freedom of movement is only for human beings and not for cattle’s, sheep, goats. He said that if the sale of alcohol is banned and brutally enforced in certain parts of the country—even though it is the constitutional rights of the ethnic group involved to move about and sell beverages freely—why not extend the same to cows?
He frowned completely at the practice arguing that if Cattle rearing which is a private and profit making concern is tolerated as a directive principle of state policy, then other ethnic groups have the right to storm public roads with their Pigs, crocodiles, goats and perhaps Elephants, in the name of proving their rights; let there not be commotion! “Sometimes we get lost in an effort to strengthen our fault lines”, he stressed.
Giant of Africa! That’s what we call ourselves. Should there be any doubt about comparing our city with the likes of Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cairo, Algiers, Riyadh? Should we remain stagnant and allow Kigali, Accra, Botswana to go ahead in hygienic matters? These are pertinent questions for all stakeholders to address. Keen observers say if government is able to introduce stringent laws like “Park and Pay” policy and enforce it clinically, what stops them from doing the same with regards to open grazing? Cows have been known to stray into supermarkets, Petrol stations and even homes and cause panic and fear among children and parents.
Until the arrival of Mr. Nyesom Wike, mum have been the word; everyone looks on as though nothing can be done. Much as we try, we wake up to find the same primordial and medieval setting; Who bell the cat? Read my lips—not my actions. For this degenerative ambiguity, Abuja may well now be a byword for disobedience—almost defaced by an army of youths on Okada and Keke Nape. If not controlled, one wonders what Abuja would be like in 10 years. But the biggest worry is the obvious misplacement of goals and priories by relevant enforcement agents ranging from Vehicle Inspection Officers(VIO), Federal Road Safety Officers, AMAC agents who crudely block law abiding motorists in vain pursuit of checking particulars—regardless whether cows are roaming right in their midst. Modern countries have developed “chips” for checking vehicle particulars; but here in Nigeria, VIO’s have vehemently refused to embrace technology, preferring the decadent and corrupt means.
Experts contend that should they muster the same energy in checkmating the movement of cows, perhaps there would have been sanity. AMAC officials have converted Abuja roads into a cauldron for crazy revenue generation. The Nigeria Police say, theirs is to offer “protection” to enforcement agencies like the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) if and when ever they go for enforcement. What about the Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s), Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC)? They have arrogated themselves the job of running after shadows, chasing corrupt government officials; even members of the National Assembly are culpable in this tragic act. How do you drive big cars and wear starched agbada in a disorderly environment? We are all too relaxed and casualties.
This is the time for action.
In other countries, the same intractable problem exists, but they have managed with strong will and desire to stem the tide. In the United States, City Planners were able to come up with new strategies that kept abattoirs, piggeries and diaries from city limits; They also used “zoning ordinances” to locate their livestock and slaughter houses. Concerns for Public Health became a rallying point for them to create the hygienic city of their dream. A board of health was created to help monitor and abate nuisances from the movement of cattle within city limits. In India, where Cows are not eaten, a bill aimed at prohibiting movement of stray cattle within city limits titled “Cattle Control Bill” was enacted in April 2022. Cattle Herders are also licensed and require their Cattle to be “tagged”. If the owner fails to do so, he will be instantly penalized. In Accra, Ghana, permits and licenses are introduced along with regular vaccination and inspection to handle the situation. A Bye-law of Accra Metropolitan Assembly 1995, Section 79 of the LGA, 1993(Act) 462 stipulates that “no person shall keep any cattle, sheep or goat within areas of administration without permits”. The permits are reviewed periodically. In Kigali, Rwanda, movement of cattle are restricted to outside “built-up” areas. They are confined to specific locations mostly in the Hill side suburbs. Kigali infact practices ranching full-scale! They have ensured that public places like markets, roads are declared “cattle free”. In South Africa, movement of cattle is suspended unless those designated for the slaughter house. The suspension is reviewed weekly to ensure strict compliance. Their legislation is done purely for the purpose of preserving food security and livelihoods. In Botswana, their Road Traffic Act Section 100(2)(b) states that “no owner or person in charge of any cattle or other animals to be on the main road unless they are attended to by a person in such a manner as to have proper control over them”. They followed this up with an attempt to fence busy public roads and mark them with road signs.
In Abuja, the Federal Capital, though no written law bans the practice, the problem is likened to Catch-22—a dilemma or difficult circumstance from which there is no escape, because of the mutually conflicting or dependent situation. It is potentially an explosive issue, because of the violence frequently displayed by these herders. Three examples would suffice. In July 15, 2023, at Area One roundabout, opposite the Moshood Abiola Stadium, a handful of people gathered round a spot where a Volkswagen vehicle was parked with the bonnet shattered. A dead cow lay in front apparently smashed by the vehicle owner. It was obvious the parties involved were trying to manage the situation from spiraling out of control. In Lokogoma, near an Estate by the name Peace Court, a farmer stood by in tears as cows mowed down his crop of maize. He was obviously in grief. The herders made no attempt to halt the destruction, including the motorists who hurriedly sped away. This happened on Saturday morning, August 12, 2023.
In far away Dei Dei, one of the fast springing satellite towns in the FCT, a motorist who mistakenly ran into herds of cattle as they attempt to cross the road received a dirty slap for not stopping on time. The crazy under aged herder who slapped him looked at him menacingly probably with the intention to escalate the violence. Without uttering a word, the motorists drove off. Disturbing scenarios like this are not uncommon in our midst. Cattle business is not listed in the Corporate Affairs Commission, but Agriculturalists insist that population growth, increasing urbanization and climatic changes are factors which necessitated the continued presence and clash with human beings.
But Osi Braimah, the Director of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board(AEPB) countered in June 2023, that the extant laws and rules are clear: that no one is allowed to keep animals in his property, neither allowed to graze on the streets! This position was echoed by ex-minister Muhammed Bello who subsequently directed that herdsmen must move their cattle out of the city or face prosecution. He followed that threat by identifying a permanent grazing reserve for the herdsmen. In all 33,485 hectares of land was allocated to handle not less than 7 million cattle’s. The allocated places include Paikon Kore 8,500 hectares; Karshi 6,000 hectares; Kawu in Bwari 9,000 hectares; Rubochi in Kuje 9,985 hectares. A committee to pursue this objective was raised in 2017. As a way of carrying everybody along, the umbrella body of the Herders the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria(MACBAN) were engaged and encouraged to nominate some of its bright young men to be part of the committee. These young men were in turn mandated to educate and encourage members to discontinue the practice of sending boys under age 18 to rear cows in the streets. A public enlightenment followed to actualize that campaign.
Despite these efforts, the problem has refused to abate. The presence of mobile courts responsible for sanctioning offenders with a paltry fine of N1,000 and N5,000 has not deterred them. “Safety rules are not known to these small boys who rear these animals” disclosed a source at the AEPB. Attempts made in the past to confiscate arrested and detained cows by the AEPB enforcement has resulted in shocking revelations about ownership. Four out of seven of such disputes ended up belonging to powerful forces in high places. “We tried to confiscate some troublesome cows recently, only for soldiers to show up and demand their release”, said a source in AEPB. It may surprise readers that the AEPB Act No 10 which has not been strengthened since 1997 has only provision for stray animals in the city!
A check on the National Environmental (Sanitation and Waste Disposal) Regulation of NESREA is particular about substances that litter the environment and pollutants; nothing to do with animal control. A few members of the National Assembly spoken to argued that no one has brought any such complaint to them. Then you will probably want to ask what about their oversight function? These anomalies are only possible in an environment where there no legal implications.
Thankfully, the new minister has promised to “step” on toes. He has to start by revisiting the deterrent measure in place and give them more bite. Secondly, he has to send the AEPB act for overhaul; NESREA too should not be left out. They are to compliment the efforts of AEPB. Wike has to find ways to make the VIO’s, the Road Safety, Police, CSO’s, NLC and TUC’s work together, including Abuja Municipal Council (AMAC). He also has to get members of the National Assembly supervising environment on his side.
Members of the Miyetti Allah should be brought on board. It is to their credit and future generation to embrace modern trends. They should be constantly reminded that by choosing to remain traditional, in no time, they would be extinct. In visiting the Abuja Master Plan, the honorable Minister must know that Abuja is conceived in Five Phases. And of the five, only two are fully developed. Places like Karsana, Dakibiyu, Bunkoro, Katampe, Pyakasa, Ketti, Wumba, Baraji, Karmo and even Jahi are not developed. All the past ministers have only paid lip services to these other places, preferring to remain in Area One, Maitama, Asokoro. Guzape is not left out.
Remarkably, a visit to some of these places will reveal the presence of herders in the vicinity. They claim to have been displaced—and yet to be settled despite doing so for the Gbagi’s and Gwari’s who also claim to own the land. “Go to Apo Dutse, Waru, Galadimawa, Guzape, Durumi and you will see some of these herder’s settlement and their families”, disclosed an authority in AEPB. “The government still has to look at their complaints although the Gwari’s and Gbagi’s own the land, not the herders who are itinerant”, the official stated.
The point must not however be lost; if every human being should die, leaving the environment only for cows, how will the cows themselves survive? The people committing these crimes are not aliens; they are human beings. We have to determine the type of society we want to build and put aside sentiments. The environment does not differentiate between ethnic groups, religion or political divide. It is for everyone, including the herders. Over now to His Excellency Mr. Nyesom Wike to deliver. Let us call a spade a spade and be guided.
Sule Ahmed Oyofo.
Public Relations Analyst.
08054260241
The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a leading Pan-African student body, has commended the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Ogun State under Commissioner of Police (CP) Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, for its commitment to security and community engagement.
In a statement released on Thursday, the President of PSM Nigeria, Comrade Ambassador Okereafor Bestman, highlighted the CP’s efforts in strengthening collaboration between the police, stakeholders, and other security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the state.
“It is worthy of note that CP Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, has further fostered a harmonious working synergy between the police, stakeholders, and other security agents aimed at ensuring peace and tranquility in Ogun State,” Okereafor said.
The student leader expressed confidence in CP Ogunlowo’s leadership, stating that Ogun State is on track to becoming one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria under his administration.
He also praised the professionalism and dedication of the Ogun State Police Command in tackling crime, regardless of its scale.
Additionally, PSM acknowledged the Ogun State government’s continued support for security agencies, particularly in providing mobility and logistics to enhance their operational efficiency.
The commendation comes at a time when security remains a top priority for residents and authorities in the state, with ongoing efforts to curb crime and ensure public safety.
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
On assumption of duty in January, 2025 , the new Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Boss and well grounded World Bank expert , Aisha Garba envisaged the need to reposition the Basic Education through interfacing with the critical stakeholders.
Amongst them is the office of the National Security Adviser , NSA, led by Malam Nuhu Ribadu whose achievements in the last few years in the area of security has become distinct and outstanding.
Therefore, seeking to cooperate and collaborate with the office became germane and needful particularly the protection of lives and properties of actors in the promotion of Basic Education ranging from the pupils , teachers , workers and facilitators to enable it drive the new wave to curb Out of School Children OOSC in the country.
Aside providing the basic security arrangements for schools , the need to engage the security apparatus at the level of National Security Adviser NSA became needful, so as to address the sophistry of security problems in the country, to nip in the bud any unforseen circumstances.
With the high rates of kidnappings, abduction , banditry, cattle rustling, ritual tendencies among many other vices, the idea of bringing on board , the security architecture of the country in all ramifications will assist the commission to consolidate the implementation of Basic Education policies and programs, also introduce new ones .
Since pupils at the Primary, Junior Secondary and Secondary Schools are prone to such ugly development and security issues , the need to be proactive on the part of the commission became timely and desiring.
This led to the success story of the bilateral interface between the management of the commission and NSA, to streamline, perfect and chart a new course on the issue of security of actors in the Basic Education.
The visit described as timely and long overdue, discussed fruitfully the way forward and the immediate and long term intervention of both agencies in the area of collaboration.
According to the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba she stated by discussing” strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing educational access and security in Nigeria. ”
She further said” the engagement focused on strategies to address challenges such as the safety of schools, particularly in vulnerable regions, and the promotion of equitable education for all children.”
“the meeting highlighted the critical intersection between education and national security and the need for collaboration between UBEC and Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), on improving access to basic education and safety of safety schools across the nation. ”
“This collaboration underscores the government’s commitment to fostering a secure and inclusive learning environment as part of its broader agenda to strengthen the nation’s educational framework,” it added.
“UBEC boss had pledged to engage critical stakeholders to break down barriers to education and create inclusive learning opportunities for children across the six geopolitical regions of the country.”
“She said: “My goal is to deliver on this mandate which includes strengthening collaboration, partnerships and institutional learning for effective service delivery. ”
“Together, we will work to increase access, improve quality, provide conducive and safe learning environments, supply adequate teaching and learning materials, and adopt the concept of ‘best fit’ in addressing specific basic education challenges, state by state and region by region”.
Highlights of the program which included the engagement of both bodies with a commitment to ensure the introduction of security architecture in schools in Nigeria is achievable.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.
By Stephen Adewale
This rejoinder is a response to a column that graced the pages of the Nigerian Tribune on March 16, 2025, titled “Nasir El-Rufai and the Philosophy of Nothing.” The piece was penned by none other than Festus Adedayo, one of my cherished wordsmiths, a maestro of prose whose pen drips with both wit and wisdom.
Adedayo has long held a prime spot in my literary affections for reasons beyond mere admiration. First, we both hail from the illustrious Akure Oloyemekun, a shared heritage that makes his brilliance a source of personal pride. There is something uniquely gratifying about watching a kinsman wield the pen with such devastating elegance, weaving words as effortlessly as a bard conjuring magic. Second, in an era where original thinkers are as scarce as rain in the heart of harmattan, Adedayo stands tall as a relic of intellectual abundance. His columns have, for years, been my weekly ritual, a delectable dish of analysis served with just the right amount of audacity.
Regrettably, the unrelenting demands of academia had deprived me of Adedayo’s literary ambrosia for the past three weeks. Resolute in my quest for redemption, I consecrated my Sunday morning to devouring Adedayo’s recent columns, much like a parched wanderer stumbling upon an oasis of forbidden wisdom. And then, lo and behold, the last paragraph of the aforementioned column stopped me in my tracks. It was not just a paragraph; it was a gauntlet thrown, a provocation that demanded and commanded a response. And so, here I am, pen in hand, ready to engage.
In the preceding paragraphs, Adedayo took great pains to dissect El-Rufai’s defection to the SDP, wielding the philosophy of nothingness like a sculptor chiselling away at what he believed to be a futile political move. He argued, with the confidence of a man who has peered into the future, that El-Rufai’s new political adventure would amount to precisely nothing. Fair enough. He is entitled to his opinions, and I bear him no grudge for his gloomy prophecy. After all, time is the ultimate arbiter of political fortunes.
However, just when one thought the column was a masterclass in political critique, Adedayo took a reckless detour in the final paragraph, committing what can only be described as a literary felony. In one fell swoop, he attempted a hatchet job on the political integrity of SDP’s 2023 Presidential Candidate, Adewole Adebayo. Quoting him, he said ‘my excitement at the potentials of SDP as a viable opposition suffered a momentary halt almost immediately that same last week. Adewole Adebayo, 2023 presidential candidate…had come on an interview session on a national television. I had heard of his trumped up brilliance from journalists who earlier interviewed him.’
To begin with, Adedayo’s statement exposes one of two possibilities; either he is woefully out of touch with the political landscape or he is deliberately peddling falsehoods in service of some unseen paymaster. Or how else can one explain his audacious claim that he had never encountered Adewole Adebayo’s interviews on national television before the week in question?
Adebayo has been a towering presence in the public space since January 2022, when he declared his presidential ambition. He has graced national television countless times, dissecting policies with the precision of a seasoned statesman, not merely critiquing but offering well-reasoned alternatives. His interviews have been clipped, shared, and dissected across social media, yet Festus Adedayo, an otherwise astute columnist, would have us believe that he only stumbled upon Adebayo’s rhetoric through second hand whispers from journalist friends. The claim is as implausible as it is suspicious, making one wonder if his sudden epiphany was less of an honest discovery and more of a scripted hit job.
Then he went on to claim that ‘at that interview session, gradually, Adebayo defrosted all those superlatives with which he was robed. By the time the interview session ended, in place of a huge turkey with huge feathers I expected to encounter, I was left with a species of hen Yoruba call “Adiye opipi”. This type of hen is known by a unique characteristic of featherless wings. Adebayo came across as this and much more. I saw a man who delights in a horse ride that takes place on the back of a cockroach. When you see such politicians, your mind races to a spent canister.’
There is a Yoruba adage that warns, “Ibi tó yẹ ká tíbá ọgbọ́n, a ò gbùdó bá àgò nbẹ,” meaning that where one expects wisdom, it would be a grave disappointment to find foolishness instead. Unfortunately, this perfectly captures the bewildering blunder committed by Festus Adedayo.
One would assume that a seasoned columnist of his caliber would back his scathing critique with substance. At least a direct quote or a reference to the supposedly underwhelming statement that shattered his lofty expectations of Adewole Adebayo would suffice. Yet, in a display of either intellectual laziness or calculated deception, Adedayo offers none.
Since he conveniently avoids mentioning the specific interview that triggered his so-called disappointment, and given that Adebayo only appeared on Arise TV’s breakfast show during the week in question, it is clear that Adedayo was referring to that particular session. However, rather than provide any real context, he chose to shroud the event in ambiguity, hoping to mislead the unsuspecting public. Since he won’t do the honours, it is only right to offer a brief, unvarnished account of what truly transpired during the interview he so artfully distorted.
A few days before the said interview, Ayo of Arise TV blatantly misled viewers by falsely claiming that Adewole Adebayo had betrayed his supporters before the 2023 elections, endorsing President Tinubu and urging his followers to do the same. She went further, labelling him a politician devoid of principle.
When Adebayo finally appeared on Arise TV, he firmly set the record straight. He ran the race to the very end, never endorsed Tinubu, and never worked for the APC government, despite numerous inducements. He rightfully demanded an apology, but Ayo stood her ground. However, when the Arise TV crew presented what they called “evidence,” it backfired spectacularly, proving Adebayo right and exposing their deception. It was a textbook case of attempted character assassination gone embarrassingly wrong.
So, this was the interview that left Festus Adedayo “disappointed” in Adebayo, an interview where a man stood his ground against blatant falsehoods. When a self-proclaimed crusader of truth suddenly finds fault in someone defending himself against lies, perhaps it’s time to scrutinise the so-called champion of integrity. When a supposed high priest of truth suddenly takes issue with a man standing firm against lies, perhaps the high priest’s own altar is due for inspection.
Rather than call out Arise TV for their desperate attempt at character assassination, our esteemed “writer of truth” chose the path of deception by conveniently omitting the actual events. Instead of holding liars accountable, he doubled down, subtly trying to drag a principled man deeper into the mud. If this is what passes for truth-telling, then perhaps Festus Adedayo has been writing fiction all along.
Festus Adedayo, in his infinite journalistic wisdom, managed to compress the entire essence of a man’s political ideology, years of intellectual engagement, and national contributions into the span of one interview. A man whose intellectual sagacity had only been whispered to him in passing by his journalist friends, yet he deemed himself qualified to pass a grand verdict!
His article, ostensibly about the SDP, quickly revealed itself as something else entirely; a well-tailored hit piece, stitched together with just enough cynicism to fulfill the desires of some lurking, unnamed paymaster. He spent paragraph after paragraph dismissing the SDP as an unworthy alternative, regardless of who joined, and then, as the grand finale, he wielded his last paragraph like a dagger to stab the reputation of the very man who has kept the party afloat since 2023. If there was ever a masterclass in agenda-driven writing disguised as political analysis, Adedayo just delivered it with the precision of a seasoned mercenary.
Criticism, when wielded with sincerity, serves as a scalpel, precise, constructive, and capable of refining its subject. But when used recklessly, it becomes a sledgehammer, destructive, indiscriminate, and serving no purpose beyond ruin. At a time when Nigeria teeters on the edge of existential crises, what we need are columnists who illuminate the path forward, not those who revel in the theatrics of demolition.
This is why it is profoundly disheartening to see Festus Adedayo, once a beacon in the murky waters of Nigerian columnists, take a detour into the alley of agenda-peddling. Nigeria is not merely in need of critics; it is in need of honest critics. It is in need of voices that challenge, correct, and inspire, not those who merely regurgitate the cynicism that has already poisoned our media space.
I have always admired Festus Adedayo, but his portrayal of Adewole Adebayo is a painful reminder that even the brightest stars can flicker. To watch someone we once held as a paragon of journalistic integrity stumble into the company of the ethically compromised is not just disappointing, it is a national tragedy. If even the ‘good ones’ can abandon sincerity for sensationalism, then truly, the night is darker than we feared.
*Stephen Adewale writes from the Department of History, Obafemi Awolowo University*