Stormy petrel of Ibadan politics, Adegoke Adelabu, in his political manifesto, Africa in Ebulition, stated that he wanted to do for politics what Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity had done for science.

The General Theory of Relativity has been described as the greatest discovery of the 20^th century. It states that when light passes through the gravitational field of the Sun, it experiences a bend or as an American astronomer, Arthur Eddington, put it in a song:

One thing is certain

Light has weight!

One thing is certain

Light rays when near the Sun

Do not go straight!

Interestingly, Adegoke Adelabu was born in 1915, the year Albert Einstein presented his equations on the General Theory of Relativity to the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin. On The very day Einstein presented his Equations, November 25, 1915, Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo was born. Dideolu Awolowo was to be described by her spouse, Obafemi Awolowo, one-time premier of defunct Western Region, as a jewel of inestimable value. The General Theory of Relativity has been referred to as a jewel in the crown of physics.

All roads led to Ikenne, Ogun State on November 25, 2015 for the funeral of HID Awolowo, which also coincided with the 100th anniversary of the presentation of Einstein’s Equations on the General Theory of Relativity. Leading the delegation to Ikenne were President Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who were both sworn in on May 29, 2015 which coincides with the 96^thanniversary of the confirmation of the General Theory of Relativity.

On May 29, 2019 the 100th anniversary of the confirmation of the General Theory of Relativity, the world would witness the swearing in of a Nigerian president and vice-president.

Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has been espousing Keynesian policies named after the famed British economist, John Maynard Keynes, who was most probably influenced by Albert Einstein in writing his, General Theory of Employment Interest and Money.

Keynes, at one time, had been referred to as the Saviour of the World.

Can The General Theory save Nigeria?

Time will tell.

•COINCIDENCES is a periodic column published on selected Wednesdays. The next appearance will be on July 11, 2018. The columnist, Augustine Togonu-Bickersteth, is based in England, Britain, but can be reached via e-mail through atogonub@yahoo.com; atogonub@hotmail.co.uk or info@newsexpressngr.com

Update news