If there is anything worth calling an achievement throughout President Buhari's nearly 8 years in office, it is the signing of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021. By virtue of this new law, the tendency of rigging elections has been reduced by more than 70% and for the very first time one could say that votes truly count. Thus, one could the say that the Electoral Act has helped to enable successful elections in Ekiti and Osun States most recently.
If there is any assurance, concerning general elections in 2023, it is the promise that there will be many surprises. All that happened in Osun State was probably a mic check and, for the avoidance of doubt, it was not a function of political party as Atiku and his cronies are likely to assume. I would like to think that the time has come for Nigerians to cherry-pick their candidates across political parties. It is bye-bye to the SAK-ing of all parties. This means that, going forward, candidates who rely on the wings of party alone will certainly crash. Supporters of the winner of the just concluded gubernatorial election in Osun State have boldly stated that they did not vote PDP but that they voted Adeleke. I suspect that the religious card also played a role. It appears that Governors of all the States in the South belong to one religion. Even more pertinent is the acclaimed voter apathy, which, to my mind, was actually a reflection of the true state of the electorate. Out of the about 1.95 million registered voters in Osun State, only about 800,000 votes were casted. Actually, the true number of voters will be determined after the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) put to use when the Continuous Voters Registration is suspended. So the dancing Senator Ademola Adeleke won the election with 403,371 votes while the incumbent Governor emerged as the first runner-up - that is if it matters - with 375,027 votes. Quite insignificant but just for mentioning, the Labour Party's candidate was able to gather a paltry 2,729 votes, a figure that was said to have been far lesser than that of the rejected votes. However, these indices shouldn't delude us to think that Governors will be able to control votes for Presidential elections that will come out of their states in 2023. The Adeleke's also have to be commended for their internal harmony. By that, being an uncle to Davido didn't just count as a achievement for Senator Ademola Adeleke but also a powerful resource. By the way, I just learned, recently, that the same Senator Adeleke is a father to the relatively unknown singer, B-Red, but whatever your son can not do for you, your nephew can. Once again, Congratulations to Senator Ademola Adeleke, hoping he is fully aware that Governance is more than dancing.
Still talking about celebration, there was pomp in Tsafe town of Zamfara State on Saturday as Emir of Yandoton Daji Emirate - a new Emirate - Aliyu Marafa turbaned a wanted bandit leader, Adamu Aliero-Yankuzo, aka Ado Alero, as Sarkin Fulani of the emirate. Seeing the furore which the news attracted, the Governor swiftly ordered that the Emir be suspended immediately. Now is it actually possible that the Governor was not informed that Aliero was going to be coronated on the said day? How is it that a bandit with a bounty of 5 million naira on his head and was largely elusive for 2 years is now made a chief? Part of a negotiation? Relatedly, it is said that the dirty-looking Nigerian artist, Portable Zazu, has declared that he founded the One Million Boys cult gang in Lagos but, hey, he is a darling child of political gladiators.
While perpetrators of crime parade themselves publicly, the crimes continue unabatedly. Just last Friday, Gunmen/bandits/terrorists again abducted two Catholic priests in the Lere local government area of Kaduna State. It appears catholic priests are the new cash cows of the bandits.
The priests who were identified as John Cheitnum and Donatus Cleopas, were reported to have been abducted at Gure Parish.
On another sad note, the public was notified of the death of popular Nollywood Actress, Ada Ameh. Ada Ameh was known as Emu in The Johnsons, a popular series. May her soul find eternal rest. I am sure she would have left an inheritance for her daughter but the girl died earlier in 2020.
Speaking of inheritance, President Buhari declared that he will not leave any assets for his children to inherit. Why should he, when he has already settled them and their grandchildren at the expense of Nigerian citizens?
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