By Ikeddy ISIGUZO

DICTATORSHIP is never a private affair. It must be thrown at the face of the public, especially when the public decides to ignore the dictator.

Her Excellency, Distinguished Senator Remi Tinubu is proof that no stage is big enough for a dictator. Rather, no matter how big a stage is, the dictator contracts and appropriates it to herself.

Remi Tinubu’s selfless is not only about material resources as many tend to suspect. The one who has told us that her family is rich and does not want Nigeria’s resources, suffers a different poverty, which neither millions nor billions can redeem.

She is bereft of manners. I have put it as mildly as I can. Remi Tinubu’s defect in this sphere is overwhelmingly irredeemable because where others see it as a defect, she seems to value poor manners as her forte.

How would someone who was First Lady of Lagos for eight years, a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for 12 years and into her third year as First Lady of Nigeria be so indecorous?

Governor Jackson Ademola Adeleke of Osun State did not say a word against her. Adeleke had executed a few dance steps, in his usual manner. He started a song when Remi Tinubu went to the podium to interrupt him.

She asked him to cut the song and go to his speech. Everyone heard her and the further order that the Governor should speak within five minutes, or she would switch off the microphone.

Dictator Tinubu, the self-styled mother of the nation, can tolerate her children being seen, but if they are to be heard, she would determine what they say, how they say it, and how long they will take to say it.

Governor Adeleke ignored her with grace that Remi Tinubu is incapable of attaining in several lifetimes.

Mrs. Tinubu made a show of disgracing herself – she disgraced herself in her own terms. In street parlance, she “showed” herself.

Legend Fela in the lyrics of his 1977 song, Opposite People, depicted Remi Tinubu.

Them go show, them go show

Them go show themselves clear clear

Everywhere dem go, dem go show.

Remi Tinubu is suffering from self-inflicted insecurity. Wherever she is, she has to “show” herself. Everything must be about her. She dreaded the prospects of Governor Adeleke’s steps and skits upstaging her at the Ooni’s 10th anniversary.

Like Adeleke, she was a guest. Only Nigeria’s skewed protocol list and her poor manners would place her anywhere near a state Governor at an event.

What ticked her off? Was it Adeleke’s ebullient presence, cast in a glittering purple outfit that made Remi’s delicately designed white attire seem dowdy? Adeleke’s eyes were behind shades that he could have acquired just for the occasion.

Remi was infuriated and she considers it righteous anger as captured in her explanation of her conduct.

“Those entrusted with leadership understand their duties and how to steer the affairs of society.

“More often, it is the followers and critics who scrutinise every step, amplify minor missteps, and turn them into needless controversy. Ọṣun lè tèǹtẹ̀ – Osun is ahead,” was how Remi Tinubu reacted to her public misbehaviour in a Facebook post.

She remains petulant. Unrepentant. Unrelenting in her pursuit of “how to steer the affairs of society”, the society she just startled by stirring it into dissonance with a momentous desecration of public space from a dizzy height of abbreviating a Governor’s right to speak at an event in his own State.

Remi, according to Remi Tinubu, did no wrong. It was the fault of “critics who amplify minor missteps and turn them into needless controversy”. No part of the blame is hers.

She might as well be warning that “major missteps” are on the way. Critics should be ready.

Her conduct was not about the November 2026 governorship election in which Adeleke is a candidate. Remi Tinubu has tangential interests in the election.

If a Governor’s speech could be disrupted with Remi’s flair, speech cannot be guaranteed for “fellow Nigerians”, the category in which most Nigerians belong. Remi may soon have the major role of determining who speaks in public and the duration of the speech.

“By 2026, Nigeria will be in prosperity. Other countries will come and borrow money from us. Those wondering how we will do it, we will show them,” Mrs. Tinubu said, at the occasion, adding that the Tinubu administration would exceed expectations.

The prophetess did not tell us when in 2026 these would happen. I am not interested in other countries borrowing from Nigeria, whether they come to us or we go to them.

Like many Nigerians, I am interested in the meaning of “Nigeria will be in prosperity”. Would the value of the Naira increase, and prices of goods and services crash? Would the prosperity include better security for lives and property?

Prophetess Tinubu left us in suspense about the prosperous future that awaits Nigerians with 2026 not too many days away. Like the pastor she is, she may not say all she sees in the spiritual.

With powers to circumcise freedom of speech within reach, what would she leave untouched? If she likes, she can invite the entire National Assembly to dinner, next time. The menu could include a bill specific to Remi Tinubu, awarding her powers to determine freedom of speech.

She would be acting out her well-advertised love for Nigeria, a country where over 100 pupils, some of them in nursery classes, plus their teachers, are passing their 23rd night in captivity, in forests. The National Security Adviser says, “The children are doing fine and will be back soon.”

While our country drowns in these saddening settings, the President’s wife is devoted to ordering speech protocol at a public event, and obviously ready to enforce it.

If Mrs. Tinubu aspires to a Guinness Book of Records honour as the First Lady to first snatch a microphone from a Governor, she came 12 years late.

Dr. Patience Jonathan had no patience when, without warning, she snatched the microphone from then Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State in 2013. Amaechi was explaining why some houses around a primary school in Okrika needed to be demolished to make room for a playground and enhance security for the children.

An infuriated Patience lashed out at Amaechi though he promised to compensate those whose property would be affected.

Is it too late for Mrs. Tinubu to fight for more meaningful things, even if they still must be about her?

Remi Tinubu is on a descent from a steep hill. The proclivity to maintain the acceleration feeds on deep convictions about her righteousness, which she could push as endorsed by the Almighty.

Her descent is so ferocious that it will crush anyone who advises against it or anything that stands against it.

Finally…

WHAT a great moment it would be if as you are reading this, the pupils of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, would have been freed? The children would be finer if they are returned safely to their parents and guardians.

IT is eerie to discuss Dr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpor, Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, former Senator for Bayelsa West Senatorial District, in morbid terms but we must after his shocking passing on Thursday. His mentor, Senator Seriake Dickson described him as, “A rare combination of competence, intellect, loyalty and selflessness”. My condolences to his families, supporters, and associates. May the Almighty grant him rest.

PEOPLE are complaining about ambassadorial nominees “taking a bow” at the Senate screening. What did they expect when only a few voices oppose the merger and acquisition of the Senate by the Executive?

PROFESSOR Wole Soyinka is a late arrival to a knowledge of the “battle-level” security of Seyi Tinubu, the President’s son. Soyinka’s aghast at least suggests a trimming of the size of Seyi’s guards. “Last week I noticed the undue access of people sneaking in and out of this council, including my son, Seyi, sitting behind the cubicle there. That is not acceptable,” the President had warned In November 2023. Seyi merely conceded the FEC meeting to his father.

•Isiguzo is a major commentator on minor issues.

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