THE GATHERER

The market square humiliation of incumbent governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode, was excruciating to watch even for a non-supporter. It was a ‘power show’ by Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A demonstration that two decades after ‘great minds think alike’ billboards stood on major Lagos streets – a baseless comparison of himself to Awolowo and Gandhi, except for round-eyed glasses – his ability to steer voters in his preferred direction hasn’t waned. I’m mindful that it’s usually an overestimation when an individual is said to have such power over society. Nevertheless, it’s undeniable that Tinubu’s opinions hold sway in Lagos. Indeed, how Tinubu came about that political power, and how it can be brought to an end, is what I intend to interrogate. Majority of Lagos residents are Yoruba. Like many African sub-nationalities, they hold as ideal that, although individual need is self-evident, community need shall supersede. This is argued convincingly by Professor Segun Gbadegesin – what

The fourth year of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is winding up. It’s now clear to anyone following that Nigeria’s accumulating Foreign Reserves during his tenure has been penned down as proof of prudent economic management (i.e. savings), to be repeated tirelessly by campaign team during his 2019 re-election bid. Like technically defeating Boko Haram, this too is false. But increasingly worrying, media observers are regurgitating the Foreign Reserves claim as ‘fact’ without scrutiny. Like Channels TV’s Ajuri Ngelale, here . For clarity sakes, ‘Foreign Reserves’ is the wrong measure of national savings.   Controversial Excess Crude Account and improved version, Sovereign Wealth Fund , are.   Also, the much touted Foreign Reserves increase from $28.6 billion when Buhari took office in May 2015, to $47.6 billion as at May 2018, has been artificial. Thus, not by corresponding increase in national exports (which halved over the period, compared to 2013 export value

Was the June 12th, 1993 presidential election free and fair? Was it the “freest and fairest election” in Nigerian history? If it was free and fair and it was actually won by Chief M.K.0 Abiola, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, what electoral mandate did it give him? Did it give him the mandate to become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander - in - Chief of its Armed Forces, for a period of four years, from 27th August, 1993, to 26th August, 1997, under the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution of 1989? Or, did that election and its results, give him a special mandate, higher than the mandate given by any previous or, subsequent, Nigerian election, to become the President of Nigeria for four years, from any day he is installed, during his life time? That is, did Chief Abiola, on June 12th 1993, obtain a mandate from the electorate of Nigeria, which is not defined, or limited, by any time framework, any constitution, any laws, and even th