Connect with us

National Issues

OLUSEGUN ADENIYI’S AGAINST THE RUN OF PLAY – A CRITICAL REVIEW.

Published

on

THE twelve chapters book, ‘Against the Run of Play – How an incumbent President was defeated in Nigeria’ – is the latest attempt by Olusegun Adeniyi to chronicle how Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was upended in the 2015 presidential election.

As a matter of fact, the reactions generated by the book does not only has a significant impact on nation’s political space but it has added to the existing literature on Nigeria’s political history. The antecedent of the author being the former spokesman of late president Umar Musa Ya’radua, the quality of his earlier book titled Power, Politics and Death and the Pedagogical approach adopted in writing the new book gives it the necessary credibility.

With the distinctive style of Adeniyi’s writing, he is becoming arguably one of the foremost and most credible chroniclers of Nigeria’s contemporary political history and evolution. The author approaches the documentary from perspective of an active journalist/reporter not that of an academic historian as this has even been confirmed by Chidi Amuta who wrote the foreword of the book.

However, he applies footnotes where necessary to give the book the scholastic touch. The omniscient point of view used in developing the narrative sounds plausible. With the narrative approach, the work passes test of objectivity and this is justified by the use of interview technique adopted by the narrator in seeking the opinions and identifying the roles of various dramatic persona in event preceding the defeat of an incumbent president in the nation’s history.

The 221 pages non-fiction work is in my considered opinion a book that will have an enduring value. Through careful allusion to relevant actors that shaped the course of political history of the period under review, the author’s purpose which is preservation of the nation’s political history and documention of the roles of various actors has been achieved.

ALSO READ  Evil Forests And Terror Gangs In Western Nigeria | By Oludayo Tade

The way the narrator had used the device of flashback gives the storyline the necessary linkages as reflected in the chapterization of the book.

It is instructive that in developing the contents and coverage of the book, the appropriate themes such as roles of ethnic politics, intervention of international community, PDP crises, formation of the APC, mistakes done by Jonathan’s presidency, Boko Haram insurgency / Chibok girls palava, Obasanjo’s revolt and interference of Governor’s forum were intertwined to make the book a masterpiece.

Of equal importance is the fact that the author gives the prime actor of the narrative the enough benefit of doubts to either clarify or air his views for the purpose of balancing and prosperity.

In short, the book offers the readers unusual insights into the major human and institutional factors that actually facilitated the defeat of the then ruling party, Peoples’ Democratic Party.

Obviously, the book recapitulates in the best tradition of literary journalism the experiences and events of Jonathan’s era in a chronological order.

The narrative carries one along compellingly and this has largely enriched the text apart from its deep clarity, brevity and conciseness of diction and expressions used by the author.

As a narrator, Adeniyi provides the reader with a factual accounts of events that culminated into the unprecedented defeat of President Jonathan by capturing the various intrigues that defined the outcome of 2015 presidential election.

In the book proscript, the narrative clearly chronicles Buhari’s presidency, the president health challenges and the underscoring tides and this is garnished with relevant illustrations.

ALSO READ  Over 300,000 children killed in Northeast Nigeria by Bokoharam militants - Report

By way of evaluation, some events that the book captured were condensed in such a way that the quality and aesthetics of the book become minimized. Assuming some of the happenings had been carefully expatiated, the full import of the narration wold have been fully appreciated.

Again, the narrator is too mild in defining the roles the various actors played both positively and negatively in the events leading to the historical defeat of the incumbent president in the annals of the nation.

One other important development arising from the public presentation of the book is the issue of cyber security. It sounds ridiculous that three days after the book launch, the soft copy of the book had gone viral on social media.

The ugly development actually raises the question of copyright piracy in Nigeria. The author invariably would have lost fortunes or would probably have been surcharged by the theft of his intellectual property by the criminal hackers.

Without mincing words, the theft of the copyright of the book has exposed the government inability to forestall copyright infractions and theft of Adeniyi’s intellectual property. The scenario in a way has exposed the defects and inherent lapses in the capacity of Nigerian Copyright Commission and EFCC in handling cyber related copyright piracy of online publications.

Arising from the theft of the softcopy of Adeniyi’s new book is an advocacy and call for a better regime of intellectual property administration in Nigeria.

Of course, there are reasonable grounds to suspect the members of staff of the firm that published the book, Kachifo publishers, of being responsible for the thieving of the book or probably one of them must have connived to break the code used for storage and protection of the copyright otherwise the public wouldn’t have got access to it.

ALSO READ  Nigeria: Hunger crisis deepens, spills over into Lake Chad Basin.

In the final analysis, the book – Against the Run of Play – by Olusegun Adeniyi is a must read for students, historians, politicians and scholars of contemporary politics. By evaluation, the book succeeds in capturing the blow by blow accounts of how president Jonathan was defeated.

Again, the book by content analysis, examination of choice of diction by the author and style of the narrative, passes the test of readability, exploitability and cannot be right off in terms of suitability of content.

By Rahaman Onike, Oyo.
He is public administrator, policy analyst and author.

Advertisement
Comments

National Issues

16 Governors Back State Police Amid Security Concerns

Published

on

By

 

In response to the escalating security challenges plaguing Nigeria, no fewer than 16 state governors have thrown their weight behind the establishment of state police forces.

This development was disclosed by the National Economic Council (NEC) during its 140th meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, which took place virtually on Thursday.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, who briefed State House Correspondents after the meeting, revealed that out of the 36 states, 20 governors and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were yet to submit their positions on the matter, though he did not specify which states were among them.

The governors advocating for state police also pushed for a comprehensive review of the Nigerian Constitution to accommodate this crucial reform. Their move underscores the urgency and gravity of the security situation across the nation.

Similarly, the NEC received an abridged report from the ad-hoc committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control. This committee, headed by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, highlighted the areas of oil leakages within the industry and identified instances of infractions.

Governor Uzodinma’s committee stressed the imperative of political will to drive the necessary changes and reforms needed to combat crude oil theft effectively.

ALSO READ  Ajimobi's Ajumose Shuttle: Wiping Masses' Tears for Years.

 

Continue Reading

National Issues

Weak Institutions Impede Nigeria’s Sustainable Development – Says US Don

Published

on

Renowned academician, Professor Augustine Okereke, from the Medgar Evers College/City University of New York, has emphasised the detrimental impact of a lack of strong social institutions on Nigeria’s sustainable development.

Presenting a lead paper at the First Annual Ibadan Social Science Conference hosted by the University of Ibadan, Professor Okereke urged President Bola Tinubu to foster robust institutions capable of combatting corruption and addressing social ills.

“All our institutions are on the decline,” warned Professor Okereke, underscoring the urgent need for effective structures to facilitate sustainable development. He highlighted the challenges faced by African countries, emphasising the risk of continued poverty, underemployment, and injustice without these foundational structures.

The Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ibadan, Professor Ezebunwa Nwokocha, asserted the university’s commitment to providing intellectual, context-specific solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.

He called on state and federal governments to patronise researchers in the country, emphasising the faculty’s reputation for producing intellectual leaders.

Professor Nwokocha stated, “Our faculty is reputed for offering deeply intellectual, workable, and context-specific solutions to the challenges faced by Nigeria over the ages.” He emphasised the significance of the conference’s theme in aiding Nigeria’s navigation through its complex existential reality marked by despair, rising inflation, insecurity, corruption, and unemployment.

ALSO READ  DSS confirms raid on Sunday Igboho’s house, recovers ammunition, charms, others {Read DSS's full statement}

During the conference’s opening, Vice Chancellor Professor Kayode Adebowale noted the relevance of the theme, “Social Science, Contemporary Social Issues, and the Actualization of Sustainable Development,” urging participants to generate transformative ideas for Nigeria.

Acknowledging the nation’s progress over 63 years, he expressed concern over setbacks in the economy and social indices, hoping the conference would proffer solutions.

In his keynote address, Professor Lai Erinosho stressed the rapid worldwide social change in the digital age, citing both benefits and unanticipated consequences for human survival. He cautioned against embracing same-sex relationships, citing dangerous implications for humanity.

The First Annual Ibadan Social Science Conference convened a diverse array of participants to explore solutions and intellectual leadership in addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges.

Continue Reading

National Issues

Nigerians’ Wallets Under Strain As Inflation Soars to 28.92%

Published

on

By

As the country grapples with economic challenges, the latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed a surge in the inflation rate to 28.92%, according to the December 2023 Consumer Price Index (CPI) released on a Monday afternoon.

The CPI, tracking the fluctuation in prices of goods and services, illustrates a notable increase from the previous month’s 28.20%, underscoring the pressing concerns surrounding the nation’s economic stability.

In a recent report, the Statistics Office revealed a notable uptick in the headline inflation rate for December 2023, marking a 0.72 percentage point increase from the previous month’s figure in November 2023.

On a year-on-year basis, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) highlighted a significant surge, with the December 2023 rate standing at 7.58 percentage points higher compared to the corresponding period in 2022.

December 2022 witnessed an inflation rate of 21.34 percent, underscoring the economic dynamics at play.

“This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in December 2023 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., December 2022),” NBS said.

In a further revelation, the bureau disclosed that the month-on-month headline inflation rate for December 2023 experienced a 2.29 percent surge, surpassing November 2023 by 0.20 percent. This indicates a swifter rise in the average price level compared to the preceding month.

The report highlighted a concerning acceleration in food inflation, reaching 33.93 percent on a year-on-year basis for December 2023. This marked a substantial 10.18 percent points increase from December 2022’s rate of 23.75 percent. The data underscores the persistent upward trend in food prices, a trend exacerbated by various government policies, including the removal of subsidies on petrol.

ALSO READ  ‘Relief is on the way’ – Buhari re-assures Nigerians

Notably, in July 2023, President Tinubu declared a State of Emergency on food insecurity to address the escalating food prices. Taking decisive action, the President mandated that issues related to food and water availability and affordability fall under the jurisdiction of the National Security Council, recognising these as essential livelihood items in need of urgent attention.

In Monday’s inflation report, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) detailed the key contributors to the year-on-year increase in the headline index. The leading factors include food & non-alcoholic beverages at 14.98 percent, housing water, electricity, gas & other fuel at 4.84 percent, clothing & footwear at 2.21 percent, and transport at 1.88 percent.

Additional contributors encompass furnishings & household equipment & maintenance (1.45 percent), education (1.14 percent), health (0.87 percent), miscellaneous goods & services (0.48 percent), restaurant & hotels (0.35 percent), alcoholic beverages, tobacco & kola (0.31 percent), recreation & culture (0.20 percent), and communication (0.20 percent).

The report highlighted a substantial 24.66 percent change in the average Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the twelve months ending December 2023 over the previous twelve-month period. This represents a significant 5.81 percent increase compared to the 18.85 percent recorded in December 2022, indicating ongoing inflationary pressures in the economy.

ALSO READ  Evil Forests And Terror Gangs In Western Nigeria | By Oludayo Tade

Food Inflation

In a concerning trend, the food inflation rate for December 2023 surged to 33.93 percent on a year-on-year basis, marking a substantial 10.18 percent points increase from the same period in 2022, when the rate stood at 23.75 percent.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) attributed this rise in food inflation to notable increases in the prices of various essential items. Key contributors include bread and cereals, oil and fat, potatoes, yam, and other tubers, fish, meat, fruit, milk, cheese, and eggs.

These price hikes collectively contributed to the intensified strain on consumers, highlighting the complex dynamics driving the upward trajectory of food prices.

“On a month-on-month basis, the Food inflation rate in December 2023 was 2.72 percent, this was 0.30 percent higher compared to the rate recorded in November 2023 (2.42 percent),” it said.

Clarifying the dynamics behind the recent uptick, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) explained that the month-on-month increase in food inflation for December 2023 was spurred by a heightened rate of escalation in the average prices of oil and fat, meat, bread, and cereals, potatoes, yam, and other tubers, as well as fish and dairy products like milk, cheese, and eggs.

“The average annual rate of food inflation for the twelve months ending December 2023 over the previous twelve-month average was 27.96 percent, which was a 7.02 percent points increase from the average annual rate of change recorded in December 2022 (20.94 percent),” the report added.

ALSO READ  2018: Buhari gives hope, assure Nigerians of stabilised economy

 

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Tweets by ‎@megaiconmagg

Subscribe to our Newsletter

* indicates required

MegaIcon Magazine Facebook Page

Advertisement

MEGAICON TV

Trending