By Prof. Echefuna' R G ONYEBEADI.

The article of Funke Egbemode, captioned, "Lagos: Mr. Governor, This Sacrifice Must Get To Olodumare", reproduced below for ease of reference, refers.

Whatever is the intent of the post under reference, the fact and truth is and remains that, Nigeria has not yet produced '16' 'democratically' elected Presidents from independence in 1960 to date (2025), contrary to the claim in above article under reference.

President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is not and couldn't have been the "16th 'democratically' elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria" "between the time Tinubu became the Governor of Lagos State (in 1999) till date".

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu became the Governor of Lagos State in 1999. From that time to date, Nigeria has produced only 5 'democratically' elected Presidents, including Tinubu himself, namely: Obasanjo, Yar'adua, Jonathan, Buhari and Tinubu.

From independence in 1960 to date, Nigeria has produced only 7 (seven) 'democratically' elected 'Heads of Government' namely:

1. Tafawa Balewa (1960 - 1966)

2. Shehu Shagari (1979 - 1983)

3. Olusegun Obasanjo (1999 - 2007)

4. Umaru Musa Yar'adua (2007 - 2010)

5. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (2010 - 2015)

6. Muhammadu Buhari (2015 - 2023)

7. Ahmed Bola Tinubu (2023 - date).

Of the seven "democratically" elected Presidents so far, 4 (four) were from the North while 3 (three) are from the South. Five of them were Muslims and two were Christians.

None belonged, at least openly, to African Traditional Religion (ATR) which is indigenous to our country people.

Apart from Rt. Honourable Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who became Governor-General (1960 - 1963) and later, ceremonial President/Head of State (1963 - 1966); and, Chief Moshood Abiola (who was popularly elected President in 1993, but was never sworn-in as President till he mysteriously passed away in 1998), Nigeria has produced only 15 (fifteen) Presidents/Heads of State (whether 'elected' or self-imposed military junta) from January 15, 1966 when the military struck to date; namely:

1. Johnson T. U. Aguiyi-Ironsi (1966)

2. Yakubu Gowon (1966 - 1975)

3. Murtala Muhammed (1975 -1976)

4. Olusegun Obasanjo (1976 - 1979)

5. Shehu Shagari (1979 -1983)

6. Muhammadu Buhari (1984 - 1985)

7. Ibrahim Babangida (1985 - 1993)

8. Ernest Shonekan (1993)

9. Sani Abacha (1993 - 1998)

10. Abdulsalam Abubakar (1998 -1999)

11. Olusegun Obasanjo (1999 - 2007)

12. Umar Musa Yar'adua (2007 - 2010)

13. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (2010 - 2015)

14. Muhammadu Buhari (2015 - 2023)

15. Ahmed Bola Tinubu (2023 - date).

Out of the said 15 (fifteen) Presidents so far, 9 (nine) were from the North, while 6 (six) are from the South. 10 (Ten) were Muslims while 5 (five) were Christians.

None belonged, at least openly, to African Traditional Religion (ATR), which is indigenous to our country people!

In all, Nigeria has produced only 17 (seventeen) Presidents/Heads of State (including 1 (one) ceremonial President and 1 (one) elected President that wasn't sworn-in); and, 1 (one) stand-alone Prime Minister/Head of Government.

The geopolitical zones that have produced Heads of Government of Nigeria from 1960 to 2025 (65 years) are as follows:

*North West (22 years plus, approx.)*:

1. Murtala Muhammed (about 7 months)

2. Shehu Shagari (4 years, 2 months)

3. Muhammadu Buhari (1 year, 8 months)

4. Sani Abacha (4 years, 6 months approx.)

5. Umar Musa Yar'adua (2 years, 11 months approx.)

6. Muhammadu Buhari (8 years)

*North Central (18 years approx)*:

1. Yakubu Gowon (9 years)

2. Ibrahim Babangida (8 years)

3. Abdulsalam Abubakar (11 months approx.)

*North East (5 years approx.)*:

1. Tafawa Balewa (5 years, 3 months approx.)

*South West (14 years and still counting)*:

1. Olusegun Obasanjo (3 years, 9 months)

2. Ernest Shonekan (3 months)

3. Olusegun Obasanjo (8 years)

4. Ahmed Bola Tinubu (2 years and still counting)

*South-South (5 years approx.)*:

1. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (5 years approx.)

*South East (6 months approx.)*:

1. Johnson T. U. Aguiyi-Ironsi (6 months approx)

The total number of years the 'North' has ruled Nigeria since Independence in 1960 to date is about 45 years out of 65 years.

The total number of years the South has ruled Nigeria since Independence in 1960 is about 20 years (19 years, 6 months) out of 65 years.

The North has produced 10 (ten) Heads of Government of Nigeria for about 45 years out of 65 years of Nigeria's Independence in 1960; while the South has produced only 6 Heads of Government for only about 20 years out of 65 years since the Independence of Nigeria in 1960.

North West alone has produced 6 Heads of Government, which equates to the total number of Heads of Government produced by the entire Southern Nigeria (namely: South West, South-South and South East put together).

North Central has produced 3 (three) Heads of Government for 18 years and the North East has produced 1 (one) for 5 years.

South West has produced 3 Heads of Government for 14 years and still counting; South-South has produced 1 (one) for about 5 years and South East has produced 1 (one) for just about six months.

The period North West alone has ruled Nigeria is more than the total combined periods the entire Southern Nigeria comprising of South West, South-South and South East has ruled Nigeria.

North West alone has ruled for over 22 years, while the entire Southern Nigeria combined has ruled for less than 20 years!

South East Zone is the only zone in Nigeria that hasn't produced any Head of Government for up to one year out of the 65 years of Nigeria's Independence. They have only done just about six months out of 65 years!

Whereas, not a few politicians among others have been and remains fixated on the Heads of Government that Nigeria has produced since 1999 to date, as though Nigeria became Independent in 1999; it is instructive to introspectively look at the entire picture and read in-between the lines as analyzed above since Nigeria's Independence in 1960. Doing so should be quite revealing and more enlightening.

However, one pertinent question is: whether the pattern of "rulership" in Nigeria up till this moment and the current governance structure, particularly from January 15, 1966 have truly worked and/or working for the country Nigeria and her people?

What we make of all the aforementioned facts and truth is up to us. The ball is squarely in our court!

May we live to see the change we desire for our country Nigeria; which change, should rightly begin with us!

Thanks for our kind attention.

***

Lagos: Mr. Governor, This Sacrifice Must Get To Olodumare

By Funke Egbemode

As a young reporter in the early 90s, I grew up in the newsroom hearing the phrase ?IBB Boys?. These were young soldiers loyal to the former Military President, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida who ruled Nigeria between August 27, 1985 and August 26, 1993. As a directing staff (lecturer) at the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA in the early 1970s, IBB was reported to have grown and groomed officers who were fiercely loyal to him. Indeed, many boasted that they could lay down their lives for IBB. Popular Colonel Abubakar Umar sensationally announced that he would fight IBB?s battle blindfolded. He would say so if you knew how IBB protected his boys from all weathers. As Babangida grew, he took along his crew and made sure they were well positioned and assigned. What today we call juicy appointments fell pleasantly in the laps of his boys. Many of the ?boys? reached the peak of their careers, retired meritoriously and even went on to do bigger things. IBB is not on record as having fought or thrown any of his boys under any bus, no matter the sin. He is an agba ti ko binu whose children are in billions.

I can name more of the boys. There is a very big boy called General David Mark. He not only had a great military career and retired, but he also went into politics and became the number three citizen as Nigeria?s Senate President. Even today as a distinguished grandfather and Senator, David Mark is still an IBB Boy. And he is very proud to be so called.

IBB met 19-year-old Olagunsoye Oyinlola at the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1970 as the small boy?s Company Commander (class teacher). Since then, both boss and boy have been together in rain and sun; lightning and thunder. Oyinlola was Military Administrator (MILAD) of Lagos State as a soldier and later Governor of Osun State as a democratically elected politician. Now in his 70s, he is still proud of his beginning and the mentor who held his hands when it mattered most.

The list of IBB Boys still holding sway in politics and business will stretch from Lagos through Potiskum to Tambuwal village in Sokoto state. They proudly talk about their ?tribe? and even their descendants. The Yoruba say we cannot eat dog meat without referring to the pot with which it was cooked.

After IBB came Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As there were IBB Boys so are there Tinubu Boys. Some call them the Lagos crew or Lagos gang. What matters is that between the time Tinubu became the Governor of Lagos State till date as the 16th democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the number of people whose political careers have taken giant leaps on Tinubu?s shoulders are dozens, even scores. The list stretches from Isale-Eko to Katsina. And no, the beneficiaries are not just Lagosians. However, today?s piece is not about the former and serving governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Senators, Representatives, Commissioners, Ambassadors, Directors-General who owe PBAT their political clout and careers. This is also not about celebrating those who remember where they came from or denigrating those who have grown bigger than their breeches. This is about the cold war that has left the media space frozen in the last one week.

The President is unhappy with Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Let?s quit the ostrich business. Something is definitely wrong with that relationship. The last outing where the President refused to shake Sanwo-Olu?s hands was all the confirmation we all needed to realise that the President is not afraid to show his displeasure with his son in public.

Sanwo-Olu?s sin is not important here as that will be like D-Banj?s ?No long thing?. The Yoruba say the man who acknowledges his sin will not stay on his knees for long. Sanwo- Olu is a Yoruba man who must do the needful. He is a level headed man in the saddle as we have seen in Lagos. This is his second term and my first time of seeing Tinubu openly showing his displeasure with a sitting Lagos Governor. It is time to bring out the platter of pottage of appeasement, ebure, and ask for forgiveness.

Many many years ago, the Orishas conspired together and began to rebel against Olodumare, the Lord of heaven and the earth. They said they were tired of Olodumare?s edict. Why couldn?t they share power and responsibilities among themselves instead of waiting for Olodumare? When Olodumare caught wind of their plot, he withheld rain from the earth. The earth became parched. Plants dried up. The drought was so much, breasts disappeared from the chest of maidens, boys had their scrotums calcified, there was famine, people starved. Even the Orishas and their children?s robust cheeks became gaunt, their faces pinched. As their round bellies disappeared, so did their pride and rebelliousness. They knew it was time to appease the Lord of heaven. Only the birds could fly but even with their feathers, the abode of Olodumare was too close to the sun for them to achieve a successful trip. Every bird who attempted it returned singed and covered in soot without seeing Olodumare. It looked like they were all going to perish in the drought. Until the peacock volunteered to go on behalf of everybody. Was that a joke? Peacock and her elegant feathers flying all that way? Risking her beauty and elegance? She ignored their guffaws and set out. It was a difficult journey and she considered giving up many times but she kept flying in spite of the withering heat of the scorching sun. By the time she arrived the Lord of heaven abode, the peacock was in a mess. Olodumare was moved by the sacrifice and determination of the peacock to do what?s right in spite of the pain and difficulty. He forgave the world, sent rain. And wealth and peace reigned on earth again.

Like the peacock, Governor Sanwo-olu must undertake this journey to make peace. It is going to be tough and long- winding. There will be the distraction of the jibes of those who will talk about what they know nothing about. The Governor must stay focused. His pride would be smeared but let Mr. Governor keep flying until he achieves his aim.

I bet, at this point, many will tell Mr. Governor to ignore Mr. President. After all what can the President do to Sanwo-Olu as a second term Governor? He won?t be needing a fresh ticket. That may be true but a river that forgets its source will dry up. A man who forgets to show gratitude is like a thief. Mr. Governor knows these proverbs and he remembers how he became governor. The favour that singled him out among thousands is what he should not forget. Those who will quote democratic tenets and the independence of the sub-national to him do not know what he knows. The last Governor they misled is still wandering alone in the wilderness. Those who urged him on have since moved on. Dear Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, remember what the Bible taught us. ?Wisdom is profitable to direct?.

Mr. President, you are the father of all. ?Omode kii mo eko je ko ma ra lowo?. There?s no way a child will eat pap without staining his fingers. You have chastised your son with the right hand on May 29, it is time to draw him close with the left hand. The clan of the Tinubu boys must not deplete, sir. As Olodumare forgave the Orishas, please look beyond this iniquity and forgive, like a father.

I?m worried for APC

I am worried for the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). No, I am not worried about the party. My concern is for the party?s welfare in the long term. The way everybody wants to belong to APC is why I am worried. When a man becomes so attractive to all the women in the village, old, young, married, single, widow, plump and slim, the man and his well-wishers should know there is danger looming. Whether the attraction is because of his looks, wealth or power, too many women will always spell doom and trouble for any man, no matter how highly placed. Women, we are powerfully made and one of us is a lot. A lot of us is always too much, too many. We come with too many power, mentionable and unmentionable.

Members of PDP and Labour Party who are suddenly in love with the APC, I deeply suspect the way they are all now going in and out of APC?s chamber to negotiate only-God-knows-what is not what APC should let get into his head. The party?s risk of dying by suffocation from voluptuous bosoms is very high and I don?t want APC to die in active service.

Sure, very few men can resist a well-endowed woman who is saying I?m available. The problem is APC is behaving like it believes all these available curvy women are truly innocently available. Methinks APC should be singing Davido?s ?I?m unavailable?. But the more these flirty women push their bosoms in APC?s face, the bigger his leer becomes. Does Uncle APC actually think that the overnight, sudden chase all the parties are giving it is genuine? Why is the ruling party also suddenly wearing show-me-your-muscle-tops and singing ?money na water??

All these new ?lovers? dancing show-me-your-back-side are not doing it for love. The ?money-is-nothing? that DJ APC is playing is the honeycomb that is making them do the beehive dance.

There once lived a king called Alaafin Jayin in the old Oyo empire. He married many wives, many of who were of questionable character. One day, he caught one of his sons called Olusi on top or under one of his many wives. Prince Olusi was a much loved heir apparent and his father was already jealous of him. He must have been beyond livid to see this beloved of the people in the warm embrace of his queen.

Seeing red, his blood pressure shooting over the royal roof (measurement done only in my mind, I admit), Alaafin Jayin let down his guard as father and father of all. He blurted his frustration, ?You villain, the citizens of Oyo prefer you to me, and you are at one with them against me?. According to an account by Rev. Samuel Johnson, in The History of the Yorubas, with a poisoned, spiked cub, pressed to the head of the prince, Alaafin ended the life of his own son. Another account reported that it was with poisoned ?akara? that Olusi met his end.

My point? A big household is ordinarily too difficult to manage, least of all one with strange characters who are not even related by blood. They can all pretend and smile to each other, but the poisonous blood inside of them will eventually show up to stain their pretentious white saliva. The Oyo chiefs suspected and even knew that Prince Olusi did not die of natural causes and went after Alaafin Jayin. Those Chiefs were both the police and the judiciary even the executioner. They took the King?s explanation that his son died from kicks from his horse with a pinch of salt. They caused Olusi?s egungun, an apparition or spirit dressed in the burial clothes of the late Prince to visit the palace. The Alaafin knew the meaning of his deceased son?s spirit visiting him at the palace in broad daylight. He took the only available route out of public shame. O teri gbaso. He committed suicide.

The APC house is filling up and I worry that all the strange bedfellows will soon break all the beds. The tendencies that are congregating in the APC compound will one day soon sleep with the king?s wife and cause the king to open the calabash. Or am I overthinking it?

? Professor Echefuna? R. G. ONYEBEADI [DBA; PhDs; CEng. etc], Professor of Engineering Economy, Strategic Management Expert and the Inegbese of Oligbo Kingdom, writes from FCT Abuja.

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