By Busuyi Mekusi

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As bloodletting goes on unabated, Nigeria is evidently kissing the dust. The histories of holocausts and pogroms all over the world are unanimous in one simple fact: the wastage of God’s investments. It could, however, be argued that man’s extraction from the soil, and return to the earth, exemplifies material production, consumption and enrichment. Surely, the living will die, but there is living in dying, as death remains an investment in the future, either positively or negatively! As Nigerians have mastered the art of wetting their ground with blood in the absence of abundant rains, no thanks to the disrupted ecosystem, bloods rejected by the earth would always seek vengeance.
The postmodern inhumanity in Africans seeks to pour libation with blood, having run short of quality strong drinks, as ‘pure water’ is also a scarce commodity. From the Civil War to south-western ‘Wetie’, from Ondo 1983 political conflagration to the ongoing national and trans-border killings, Nigerians seem to be over-familiar with human debasement and death. One wonders if the living could still communicate with the dead as the space for pouring acceptable libations have been desecrated by odoriferous putrefaction of human sacrifices. Beyond PMB’s “In the language they understand”, Nigerians have got to be safe.
Traditional stools and religious titles are some of the institutions created by man to govern itself, out of human cravings for leadership, with the obvious shortcomings that make the model ordinarily undesirable. Traditional leaders, therefore, have unique responsibilities that are performed as limited men, while perceived as invincible creatures. The metaphorical blue-blood configurations of personages that have ambitious rights to stools remain a mere myth used to isolate others and discriminate against them, as ‘roses are red’. The infiltration of royalty these days is also sparking revolts, rejection and deaths, as the Buckingham Palace has had to contend with racial scandals around Diana and, recently, Prince Harry and Meghan. In Africa, though, no one can so characterise a ‘Prince’ as an illegitimate child, even though the possibility exists. The constitution of Obaship is achieved mostly based on man-imposed transmogrification, that could however end in the demystification of personal glorification.
To this end, the robbing and de-robbing of traditional and spiritual leaders seem to be professionally-inclined, as you find in the legal profession, for instance, and analogous to the tradition of masquerading. Simply put, religious and traditional leaders are expected to be vibrant, but could constitute liability; they are enthroned, but could be dethroned. Examples of such dethronements are rife: from the Old Oyo Kingdom to modern Akure; from remote Owo history to contemporary Kano. This is more so as some have been charged for credibility deficiency and security liability as it were the case in Zamfara where Governor Bello Matawalle suspended the Emir of Dansadau, Hussaini Umar, and the District Head of Nasarawa Mailayi, Alhaji Bello Wakkala. The suspension in Katsina of the Emir of Kankara by Governor Masari for alleged culpability in breeding insecurity is also dangerously worrisome. That then explains that some religious and traditional leaders are vultures, but feathered in the cloaks of the peacock! The myth of ògύn/Oba Kòso in Yoruba worldview and the perpetuation of terror for the inscription of power clearly explain the current mystification of insecurity in Nigeria.
Traditional and religious leaders continue in the quest for unattainable relevance, as very many of them have turned themselves to cap-bearers in the corridors of politicians. The Sultan of Sokoto continues to remind leaders of the burden of accountability they would bear eventually at the Heaven’s-gate, but with his wise counsels falling into deaf ears. Ooni Ogunwusi is arguably an example of ageing without age, as his traditional positioning goes with enrichment and value-addition that made him the father to both people that were hitherto older and younger than him. He has since this transformation clearly demonstrated deep-mindedness, glitz, worth and grandiose, remaining unassuming in his bridge-building posturing. One other critical exemplary virtue shown by Ooni Ogunwusi is his commitment to mitigate youthful degradation and recalibrate them for self-actualisation cum nation-building. He represents the bridge between the old and the young, and filled with uncommon traditional knowledge that would ordinarily deliver a sustainable civilization that is not popular in the 21st century. One wonders if Gadaffi would have presided over this heritage too, had he succeeded in his failed crowning as the Oba of Africa, leaving behind emergency millionaires and protégées, who are harbingers of terrors and deaths. No doubt, posterity would be kind to Ooni Ogunwusi.
Some traditional and spiritual leaders have always lived up to the expectation of being the custodians of truths and diatribes. While some stay afloat political shenanigans, others get enmeshed in the murky waters of political hara-kiri, with them burning their fingers sometimes. We have some, from Late Alhaji Yayi Akorede to Bishop Matthew Kukah; from Arch Bishop Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie to Lamido Sanusi, and many others, who have pricked the conscience of leaders, and stuffed truths into them to the point of constipation. Often times, their religious homily and political rhetoric are like concoctions that are derided by the targeted audience, but with immensurable potency. It is evident that these therapies have not ended Nigeria many maladies though. Rev. Fr. Mbaka’s oscillation in the recent past raised dusts both in the Villa and Vatican, and one hopes his hibernation would be short-lived.
Ooni Ogunwusi’s diatribes at the just held security summit were unambiguous and unrelenting, as he lamented the neglect of the youths, who form 70% of Nigeria demography, and who have been neglected and shortchanged. Reminiscent of MKO’s adage of not shaving someone’s head in his absence, Ooni Ogunwusi queried the exclusion of the youths, who ordinarily practise the art of terror, at the summit, arguing that they are the malleable group targeted by vicious politicians to be used as mercenaries. He returned the verdict that the youths are hungry and angry. The angers across the country are, no doubt, dispensed by youths, and fueled by dubious leaders. The facts are clear and the requests are explicit. Central to this is the need to tinker with the Nigeria political structure that is negatively skewed to favour some and disadvantage others. The hall where the summit held was an example of ’empires’ within a failed nation, while the political class continues the art of talking above citizens’ heads. The proximity of traditional rulers to people’s rage is not in doubt.
Governments have continued to talk rather than act amidst unending security regressions; with Nigeria becoming a killing field. The murder of Ahmed Gulak pointed to eastern Nigeria as the new road to Golgotha. The popularity of IPOB was accentuated in the region, either rightly or wrongly, on 30th May, 2021, with empty streets signaling the potency of the ‘sit-at-home’ order issued by the proscribed group. With the position of Abia Governor, Ikpeazu that IPOB has its grievances to be heard by the central government, Civil Authorities seem to be coalescing to voice marginalisation, and push for restitution. With the sustained calculated attacks on the Federal Government institutions in the region, which some believe is aimed at the reincarnation of Biafra, there seems to be a gradual eclipse of the Sun, as others look out for the ‘half of a yellow sun’. With another 200 students abducted in Niger State, the Nigeria space remains endangered, nationally, as people die in installments, apart from the regular trademark of tears, sorrow and blood.
Beyond the consciousness created by Ooni Ogunwusi’s diatribes, it is evident that the ‘vultures’ are already regrouping for another voracious consumption in 2023. Insecurity keeps shrinking the economy of the country, as another informal economy is growing with the ‘multimillion-naira-kidnapping industry’. The liquidities mopped up by this ignoble business may not get ploughed back ultimately. Both light and heavy weapons are now toys in Nigeria, with State actors merely neck-deep in unconvincing assurances and directives. As we reduce Ooni Ogunwusi”s diatribes to a creed for a moment of rage and fear, we must unite to ensure that the ‘Republic of Bandits’ is extinguished without further delay, knowing that the youths are hungry and angry.