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Sermon: Osoba’s Metamophorsis
By Babatunde Jose
Having read Chief Olusegun Osoba’s book; Battlelines: Adventures in Journalism and Politics, and my personal life journey with the author, my take away from the book is that it is a story of an unending adventure with fate. A man whose resilience, hard work, perseverance and belief in himself and service to God and man has paved the path for a successful life in what we could describe as the cauldron called the Nigerian post-colonial state. Born during the colonial era of the early constitutional development in Nigeria; precisely 1939, during the governor generalship of Sir Bernard Bourdillon 1935-1943 who laid the groundwork for the constitutional proposals which his successor Sir Arthur Richards (Lord Milverton) later submitted in 1944 and which became the Richard’s Constitution. He succeeded in convincing the Northern Emirs of the advisability of coming to join with the southerners in the Legislative Council of the country.
It is one of the mysteries of life that 80 years after, Osoba would be in the vanguard of progressive politicians who are bent on returning Nigeria back to its roots of ‘true federalism’. It has not been an easy task and it is still a work in progress. Whether it would succeed or fail is to be seen as the political climate of the country is in a state of ebullition.
Today, the gulf between the political elite widens by the day in terms of ethnicity, religion and a glaring lack of ideological persuasion. The Awolowo school of Hegelian philosophy and welfarism which Osoba belong to, has become divided and the unity of opposites which is the bedrock of Hegel’s dialectics has failed to produce a synthesis from the union of thesis and antithesis of Nigerian politics. Even within the political parties there is no unity of opposites. Hegelianism is the philosophy of G. W. F. Hegel which can be summed up by the dictum that “the rational alone is real”, which means that all reality is capable of being expressed in rational categories. His goal was to reduce reality to a more synthetic unity within the system of absolute idealism .True to form; Hegel was criticized as being’ not a logical thinker but a master in the use of trenchant aphorisms’.
What we are witnessing today is a schism in the political class; a crack in the political pot and a return to primitivism, parochial and primordial tendencies. In all these however, Olusegun Osoba stands out as one political animal who has cut a distinct persona for himself and a different breed from the hubris of ‘come and chop’ political class; a collective of brigands and ruthless socio-economic barracudas, hell bent on robbing the national coffers of all that it contain.
His sojourn in journalism started during the time of his adopted uncle and godfather, late Alhaji Babatunde Jose. Being a good student of human philosophy, Osoba would imbibe the salient qualities of his mentor to rise and shine above his peers. Despite his apogee in journalism, he was not only cool headed but worked hard to maintain his comportment. This is attested to in the wide network of his associates, particularly in his youthful, clubbing and rascally days. He never lost focus and at the back of his mind was always the dictum: Remember the son of whom you are.
As it was in journalism, so had it been in politics. Having worked closely with the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the man with a mission, Osoba had no choice but to pitch his tent with the progressive elements of Nigerian politics. It worked and has continued to work for him.
In all these however, one trait that has been discernible in Osoba’s personality is his contentment in life. This is the takeaway from his book. Contentment is a sign of a true believer. The virtue of contentment is closely connected with the quality of putting trust in God. With contentment one feels inner peace and increase in spirituality. He does not compare himself with those who are in better conditions, but rather he remembers those who are in worse conditions. For example, if someone is one-handed, he should be content and remember those who do not have hands at all. It is said that a man complained about his old shoes until he saw a man who had no feet. “Contentment is not the fulfilment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have.” Contentment and patience earn one Paradise in the Hereafter. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have said: “Allah will not accept other than Paradise for a believing person who is afflicted with the death of his beloved one from among the inhabitants of the world and shows patience.” (Al-Nasa’i) Allah said: The (material) things which ye are given are but the conveniences of this life and the glitter thereof; but that which is with Allah is better and more enduring: Will ye not then be wise? (Quran 28:60) The greatest cause for the lack of contentment is greed and avariciousness, covetousness and ‘long throat’. And I can attest to it that Osoba is none of these. These are very objectionable traits in any human being and they are the root cause of corruption; I can also posit that to all intents and purposes, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Akinrogun Egba is an epitome of contentment. May his days be long!
Barka Juma’at and happy weekend
The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) has continued to deepen, as the President Bola Tinubu’s daughter, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, on Wednesday, called for the disbandment of the influential Justice Forum and Mandate Movement groups over alleged manipulation of the party’s primaries.
Tinubu-Ojo, daughter of President Bola Tinubu, specifically faulted the conduct of the House of Representatives primary for Mushin Constituency I, Agege Constituency II, and Ojokoro, alleging that the mandate of aspirants in the constituencies was stolen and handed to “a non-winner”.
Speaking during the weekly meeting of market leaders and stakeholders at the Iyaloja-General’s office in Alausa, Ikeja, she condemned what she described as political shenanigans and warned against attempts to subvert the will of party members.
She also decried the alleged marginalisation of traders by political office holders despite their contributions to the growth and electoral success of the APC in Lagos State.
The Iyaloja General cited the cases of Mutiu Olaide Oladeebo in Agege Constituency II, Seye Oladejo in Mushin Federal Constituency, and Olotu Emmanuel Ojo in Ojokoro, insisting that the aspirants won their respective primaries convincingly before moves were allegedly made to alter the outcomes.
She said: “We have to cry out now; let the APC cancel Justice and Mandate Forums because our governorship candidate belongs to the Justice Forum.” Everybody is now joking at the Justice Forum because that is where our incoming governor belongs. Are we not Lagosians? When he becomes the governor, he will not be the governor for the APC alone; he has to balance it. Even when you are the governor, you have to lead both your friends and foes. It is saddening that when a Mandate Forum aspirant wins, he jumps to Justice Forum; it is saddening. It is a way of telling us that hard work doesn’t pay in politics.
“Something must be done on that because it is important.
We are sure that Seye Oladejo won in Mushin Federal Constituency and Olotu Emmanuel Ojo in Ojokoro won in Ojoroko with a landslide.
“In fact, we decided to calm down and see what they will do about it because we are ready to protest. We know they won the election and their mandate should not be given to somebody else.”
She urged APC leaders at the state and national levels to immediately investigate the disputed primaries and ensure that justice prevailed before final ratification of the results.
She warned that failure to address the grievances could worsen internal tensions within the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tinubu-Ojo declared that market women across Lagos remain committed to supporting the governorship ambition of Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat and other APC candidates nationwide, but stressed that traders deserve recognition and political appointments in return for their loyalty and sacrifices.
She also urged President Bola Tinubu to acknowledge traders as critical stakeholders in national development.
Meanwhile, aggrieved APC members and supporters in Mushin have threatened mass protests if the alleged mandate of Oladejo is not restored.
The protesters accused leaders of the Justice Forum bloc of attempting to impose candidates and undermine internal democracy within the party.
“We know who won the election, and the mandate should not be stolen. We are ready to protest if justice is not done,” one of the protesters said.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Wednesday, told political, business and religious leaders that sacrifice ‘must not remain a burden carried only by ordinary citizens’, warning that worsening hardship, insecurity and public frustration are pushing many Nigerians to the edge.
The umbrella Christian body said Eid-el-Kabir should be more than a religious celebration, describing the season as a moment for national reflection and moral responsibility at a time when millions of Nigerians were struggling with rising living costs, fear and uncertainty about the future.
The position was contained in an Eid al-Kabir message signed by Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria.
CAN said: “The deeper meaning of Eid-el-Kabir becomes even more significant at a moment like this
“Sacrifice must not remain a burden carried only by ordinary citizens. Leadership must also reflect sacrifice through honesty, restraint, compassion, accountability and a visible commitment to the wellbeing of the people.”
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Wednesday, told political, business and religious leaders that sacrifice ‘must not remain a burden carried only by ordinary citizens’, warning that worsening hardship, insecurity and public frustration are pushing many Nigerians to the edge.
The umbrella Christian body said Eid-el-Kabir should be more than a religious celebration, describing the season as a moment for national reflection and moral responsibility at a time when millions of Nigerians were struggling with rising living costs, fear and uncertainty about the future.
The position was contained in an Eid al-Kabir message signed by Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria.
CAN said: “The deeper meaning of Eid-el-Kabir becomes even more significant at a moment like this.
The association said the reality facing many Nigerians could no longer be measured only through economic figures or official statements but through the daily struggles playing out in homes and communities across the country.
Families, it said, were struggling to keep food on the table as rising living costs tightened pressure on households. Farmers increasingly feared returning to their lands because of insecurity, while small businesses continued to buckle under economic strain. Many young Nigerians, CAN added, were also looking to the future with growing uncertainty.
Describing the situation as a test of leadership, CAN urged those in positions of authority to rise above indifference, blame-shifting and narrow interests, and instead focus on restoring public confidence and easing the hardship confronting millions of citizens.
“This is a time for leaders across government, politics, business, security institutions and religious organisations to rise above indifference, blame-shifting and narrow interests,” the Christian body said.
CAN also warned that public trust could not be rebuilt through speeches alone.
It said: “Nigerians need hope they can genuinely see and feel, not promises they no longer trust.
“Citizens want leadership that listens, leadership that acts and leadership that is willing to share in the sacrifices ordinary people make every day.”
The association further cautioned Nigerians against allowing economic hardship and frustration to inflame ethnic, religious or regional tensions.
“Hunger does not ask for tribe or religion. Poverty does not discriminate. Insecurity threatens everyone,” CAN said, warning that division would only deepen the country’s wounds at a difficult time.
Archbishop Okoh also called on religious leaders across faiths to continue promoting peace, moderation and reconciliation amid growing anger and frustration in many communities.
He urged privileged Nigerians, corporate organisations and public-spirited individuals to remember poor and vulnerable citizens during the Eid-el-Kabir season, including widows, orphans, displaced persons and struggling families.
“The spirit of sacrifice becomes truly meaningful when it helps restore dignity, hope and relief to others,” the association added.
CAN expressed hope that Nigeria could still rise above fear, division and hardship if both leaders and citizens embraced the values of sacrifice, justice, compassion and shared humanity represented by the season.
It also prayed for peace, healing and renewal across the country, wisdom for leaders, protection for vulnerable communities, and renewed hope for young Nigerians seeking a better future.
Popular socio-political activist, Aisha Yesufu, has lost the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial primary election for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
She lost the election to a chieftain of the party, Amanda Pam.
The activist-turned-politician had said her ambition to represent the FCT in the upper legislative chamber was driven by the desire to solve problems in the nation’s capital and give residents a stronger voice in government.
Aisha Yesufu is a staunch supporter of the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
