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Voice of Emancipation: Defending the Real Victims
Throughout history, there have been many marginalised, victimised and oppressed subsections of society, from the slave trade, to the marginalisation of women, to the belief that children have no worth until they come of age. Yet in all of these, whenever the oppressed have sought to gain equal standing with their oppressors, those in a position of privilege declare themselves to be victimised by the request.
Take, for example, the response to the Black Lives Matter movement. This movement, whilst having been in existence for nearly a decade, really came to the forefront of society’s collective consciousness in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, USA. People began to raise the banner for a proactive change in mindset, such that black people and other minority ethnic groups should receive equitable treatment comparable to the white predominators. However, almost simultaneously, a counter-campaign arose, advocating “All Lives Matter”.
This campaign was propagated nearly exclusively by those who already enjoy privilege within society: predominantly white and largely male. Despite having a societal advantage in terms of colour and gender from their birth, when those disadvantaged tried to say, “Hey, I matter too,” the All Lives Matter advocates felt so threatened that they had to try to bring the spotlight back to themselves.
This trend, recurring cyclically through history, has not passed Nigeria by. Indeed, we recently saw Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the former Governor of Lagos State, decrying his unjust treatment in his political party trying to outsmart him in the recently-concluded presidential primaries. After a considerable amount of maneuvering, Tinubu emerged as the flagbearer, insisting that it is the turn of the Yoruba tribe to provide the next president of Nigeria. He went a stage further, pronouncing that, should a Yoruba be appointed president, as he contends is their due, then he is the worthiest to take that position.
I have no personal problem with Tinubu’s ambition toward becoming the president of Nigeria. But when I look at his campaign for the presidential candidacy, to me it would appear that Tinubu was playing the victim card in order to strengthen his position to be the eventual flagbearer. However, if one was to critically assess the situation honestly, the real victims are the ordinary Yoruba people, suffering under the oppression of a contemptuous Nigeria as a whole, and by other large ethnic groups within the country.
The politicians in Nigeria know how to manipulate the emotions of our people when elections arrive. But once the election is over, they don the mantle of overlords who are unconcerned with the problems of the common people. Governance ought to be a selfless service to humanity, where those who must aspire to become leaders must possess a clear vision of their plans for the coming generation/s, not merely limited to this present one.
In 2015, I implored friends and families to open their eyes to the truth that further elections in Nigeria will never bring about the developments and quality of life that we all hope for. Alas, most people cannot see beyond the political assertion that our only option is to choose which of two evils to instate. I argued that there ought to be another way of doing things, that if the present way does not serve for our benefit, then we need to pause, reaffirm what we want and assess how best to achieve it, before enacting further elections.
My narrative wasn’t a popular one; the prevailing view being, let Buhari be president, after eight years it would be the turn of the Yoruba and we can do whatever we want. This to me presents as entirely absurd: how can the progress of an entire race be placed on hold for eight years? Yet our elders and leaders see no incongruity in that. Suppose that even if a Yoruba did become president of Nigeria for eight years, what happens in the following eight years when a Yoruba is not in power? These are legitimate questions, but our elders and leaders championing a Yoruba presidency fail to provide answers.
I will not engage in the self-deception that maybe something good will come out of it; a rotten tree can never produce any fruit that is not itself rotten. Nigeria is bankrupt already, a failed nation waiting for its burial. When Lugard amalgamated the country, he tried with all he had to justify his work by demonstrating that the new country was able to live within its means. However, the reality today is that Nigeria is borrowing more than half of its income required to run the economy. This situation is dire in the extreme, not just for this generation but for the generations as yet unborn. And yet, rather than our elders to raise an alarm, they are watching impotently and burying their heads in the sand.
It is superfluous to state that a Yoruba presidency means nothing for the Yoruba people. After all, Fashola, the Minister of Works, is a Yoruba man as is other Yoruba ministers, but this has not resulted in the roads in Yorubaland to be even a passable standard. As such, it may be that having a Yoruba presidency will be worse than bad for the Yoruba people: it may even, God forbid, spell doom for us. The best outcome – indeed, the only survivable outcome – for the Yoruba people is to gain our independence. Only then will we be able to decide how we want to govern ourselves, and not have to sacrifice eight or even 16 years, just to gain a presidency that ultimately confers no benefit to the people.
When Awolowo was Premier of Yorubaland, his reign brought about the golden years of development for the Yoruba people that are unrivalled even ’til today. However, when he ventured into Nigerian politics, not only did he not bring any further development to Yorubaland, he engendered an environment in which Yorubaland began to diminish until reaching the pitiable situation in which we see it today.
I want every Yoruba person to understand that WE are the real victims. This time around, the campaign should be about how to get out of this disadvantageous mess in which we find ourselves being melded into Nigeria; not how a Yoruba person can become president. My personal feeling is that I would rather the presidency be handed to a northerner even worse than Buhari: at least then people’s eyes will truly be opened to the calamitous situation in which we have found ourselves. This is not the time to be clamouring for a Yoruba presidency, but rather a Yoruba independent nation. That, I believe, should be our ultimate priority and demand at this critical moment.
If we think a Yoruba presidency will bring us any closer to achieving an independent Yoruba nation, I must ask us to think again. A Yoruba president will be not for the Yoruba people alone but for the entirety of Nigeria. Their allegiance will be to Nigeria in its current incarnation, and they will bear the Yoruba people no heed, not caring if the entire Yoruba race goes to ruin. We have seen the Northerners handle the insecurity in the north with kid gloves, to the point that today it is beyond their control. Those Yoruba elders who are still campaigning for a Yoruba presidency need to rethink their stand and ask themselves some critical and likely disquieting questions:
In the next 20 years, will the Yoruba people be better off outside Nigeria or inside Nigeria with a Yoruba presidency? If the answer is the former, then why do we invest our efforts in advocating for continuing this road of self-destruction, rather than striving for an independent Yoruba nation? If anyone thinks a Yoruba presidency will bring progress and prosperity to the Yoruba people, I believe they will be in for a rude shock.
My perspective is this: the campaign for an independent Yoruba nation draws nearer by the day and its emergence will be seen sooner rather than later. Those who still remain on the fence will be better off making their minds fast on the direction they want the Yoruba to take. We must see beyond the narrative that political aspirants would seek to perpetuate, that they are the victims; instead that it is the people who will bear the brunt if further misrule is permitted in Nigeria. This time around, we must realise the truth of the situation and act so that we may divert the course of our trajectory and obviate the impending cataclysm.
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
It’s impossible for any mortal person to claim that he has not at one time or another felt envious. In other words, everyone somehow has wished they have something other people; friends, partners, siblings, colleagues or even family members, have. It is worthy of note that the Creator of heaven and earth designed the universe in such a way that everyone needs to depend on one another for survival. Nobody has it all.
While one person may be gifted in singing, another might be gifted in praying, healing, speaking or writing. Yet another might be gifted in playing soccer, while another might be gifted in sprinting, tennis, swimming, and more.
As a Human Capacity Development expert, I have come to realize that we all have different strengths and weaknesses. The mistake most people make is to chase what is not chasing them instead of focusing on developing themselves.
When you develop yourself, it will be easy for other people to appreciate and support you, but when you focus your energy on being jealous of what other people have, you deprive yourself of attracting blessings and opportunities to your life. As a Life coach, I always tell my tribe, major on your major and work on your weakness.
Envy is not only when one is jealous of what someone has, it also means greed when one is not satisfied with what one has. Isn’t it true that greed makes a rich man poor and contentment makes a rich man poor. It is important to note that you can’t attract what you hate. If you see anyone thriving, please if you can’t support them, please leave them the way you are instead of pulling them down.
One of the best ways to succeed in life is to know oneself. According to Socrates, “man know thyself”. When you understand who you are, you will understand what’s unique about you, and you won’t be concerned about the activities of others. The benefit of self-discovery is priceless. Self-discovery will help you to make the right choice, it will assist you to unleash your potential, and it will ultimately help you to be intentional with your life.
One of the reasons why envy is paramount is that we don’t practice gratitude and appreciation. Most often, we look towards what we lack instead of looking at what we have. There’s an adage that says, it is because the philosopher was too busy to get to the promised land that he forgot there’s a ditch in front of him and he fell inside. That’s the philosophy of envy.
It’s instructive to note that envy is not only deadly, but also “cancerous” because when it envelops someone, it blinds the person not to see the good in others. Envy, if not properly managed, can cause more than damage.
There was a story about two friends- John and Paul. John woke up one morning to a gleaming new model Toyota Camry in Paul’s garage. He went green with envy, and by the next day, he had the same brand of car in his own garage to prove a point. Unknown to John, he didn’t know that Paul’s car was a gift from his wealthy father-in-law. John on the other hand had to exhaust all his savings to buy his own car just to prove whatever point he had in mind.
At the end of the day, Paul was smiling well and living his best life, but John was experiencing financial challenges that threatened his marriage because of his pride and greed to prove a point. The moral of this message is to desist from competing with people, rather compete with oneself by being better than you were yesterday.
One good reason why envy and covetousness are such terrible afflictions is because what is right for others may not be right for you. If your motivation is to have what others have, your decisions will be targeted at the wrong or goal. Your goal must be self-geared and not to keep up with the neighbors.
It’s instructive to note that we are not on earth to impress anyone, except God. Yes, it’s good to impress our boss at work, our friends, family members, mentors, and benefactors, etc., it should be done with moderation. What is important is for one to know the intention behind whatever they are doing. This is because when you try to please man, you’ll fail, but when we try to do the right thing, everything will fall in place. According to Bill Cosby, I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone. Moral: Just do you and everyone will be fine because at the end of the day, those that care, don’t matter and those that matter don’t care.
In conclusion, as you journey towards life, please avoid envy, run from it and be satisfied with what you have.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the founder of Gloemi. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate, creative writer and author of Design Your Destiny Design and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
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WAEC Dismisses Viral Letter on Deployment of Security Personnel to Exam Centres As Fabricated, Fake
By Eric Elezuo
A statement signed by the Ag. Head, Public Affairs, West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Office, Yaba, Ms Moyosola Adesina, on behalf of the Head of National Office, has denied and dismissed a letter purportedly issued by WAEC, and making the rounds on the internet, as forged, fake and fabricated.
The statement stated categoricrally that ‘the Council has not issued any such directive regarding the deployment of security personnel to individual examination centers as described in the rogue letter.’
The Council urged schools and examination centres to disregard the letter and it’s content as ‘it did not emanate from the office of the Senior Deputy Registrar (Test Administration) or any other department within WAEC Nigeria’.
Below is WAEC’s statement in full:
The attention of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, has been drawn to a fraudulent letter making the rounds in the media space.
The fabricated letter, dated May 27, 2026, bears the reference number L/SED/12/DIST/VOL. 4/460 and is addressed to “The Proprietor/Principal of schools.
The forged document falsely claims that the Council has finalized plans for a “comprehensive deployment” of personnel from the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to all WAEC examination centers across Nigeria, effective June 1, 2026. The letter also features a forged signature of the Senior Deputy Registrar/Head (Test Administration), Mr. S.D. Kum.
The Management of the West African Examinations Council wishes to state categoricrally that the said letter is fake, as it did not emanate from the office of the Senior Deputy Registrar (Test Administration) or any other department within WAEC Nigeria. Similarly, the Council has not issued any such directive regarding the deployment of security personnel to individual examination centers as described in the rogue letter.
Furthermore, WAEC recognizes that this letter is the handiwork of mischief-makers and fraudsters aiming to create unnecessary panic, disrupt the smooth conduct of the ongoing examination, and mislead school proprietors, principals, parents, and candidates.
On this note, school authorities, supervisors, invigilators, parents, and the general public are hereby advised to completely disregard the contents of the said letter.
The Council hereby wishes all registered candidates for WASSCE for School Candidates, 2026 the very best in their preparations for the examination.
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.
