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WE HAVE TO TACKLE THE DRUG PROBLEM URGENTLY OR….AMB. SUNNY IRAKPO

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By Oshewa Promise

Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind.

This quote refers to the positive steps that Amb. Sunny Irakpo is taking to rescue youths from the scourge of drugs and substance abuse that has ravaged many lives in Nigeria and across the continent.

Over the years, there have been tremendous increase in the numbers of youths involved in drugs especially in Nigeria which is rated to be 3rd Marijuana Smoking Country in the world with 14.3 percent in Africa.

Mr. Irakpo is the Founder/President Silec Initiatives, a Non-Governmental Organization whose target is to curb the misuse of drugs among youths in Nigeria, Africa and the world.

The B.sc holder in Accounting from the Faculty of Management  Sciences, Delta State University revealed that it was his personal encounter with his mates who drugs has destroyed their lives that inspired him in 2010 to begin the anti-drug war which he passionately kick started while observing the mandatory, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in Lagos Nigeria at Methodist Boys High School, Lagos where he spent all his NYSC Allowance including the salary (40,000) paid monthly by his primary place of assignment were all spent in his campaign which took  in form of rally  to the streets in Eti-Osa and seminar that involved stakeholders.

Top personalities who recognized the essence of his struggle supported him with all that he needs to keep going but was denied recognition from Nigeria Government as a young man who know his purpose of existence maintained his focus, Believing in God,  and keep pushing with the hope that one day, fortune will smile at him.

After Nine years of his high level of patriotism with high sense of dedication and commitment to the fight for the well-being of humanity, he was recognized by the U.S Government for his firmness, unwavering zeal and passion for Nation Building, capturing the attention of the U.S Government who has pledged to support the Silec Initiatives campaign in its fight against drug and opioid abuse in Nigeria.

This informed his sponsorship by the U.S Government on a recent trip to expand his knowledge about the drug abuse epidemic where he visited (7) states in USA with other internationals who represented their various countries.

He, the Dogged Fighter and Nation Builder, spoke to The Boss Newspaper Exclusively about his experience and aspirations and what needed to be done urgently to save Nigeria from moral decay, decadence and the total and impending collapse of the Nigerian state, if these issues are not nip in the board.

For the benefit of those who have never met you take us into your world.

My full names is Sunday Orevaoghene Irakpo popularly called Ambassador Sunny Irakpo, I am an Anti-Drug Abuse Advocate of Nigeria, Social Commentator and a Nation Builder. I am the Founder and President Silec Initiatives; a Non-Governmental Organization, that primarily established  and  designed to champion the campaign against drugs and substance abuse in Nigeria with the target to carry out community based sensitization programs in tackling the issue of social crimes especially Drug Abuse in Nigeria of which presently the issue of drugs has actually taken the lives of promising and brilliant young Nigerians from us who could have been an instrument of economic growth and development. So the point is, we need to create an avenue to sensitize these young ones on the dangers of drug abuse because they are the leaders of today not just the future.

So Sunny Irakpo is at the front burner to sensitize the youths on the dangers of drugs to the human bodies and a Nation like ours. I am a B.sc holder in Accounting, Second Class Upper Division (2.1) from the Faculty of Management Sciences, Delta State University Abraka, and Nigeria.  I was born and breed here in Lagos. So I am a Lagosian too by all rights and standards and a proud Deltan by origin.

I am a Native of Okpe- Isoko in Isoko North LGA of Delta State. Precisely, what we are doing presently is to help young people see the light of the future and the uniqueness God has bestowed in them by letting them know that the 21st century Nigeria can only be attained through our collective efforts and talent recognition and usage to enable us grow our Nation, so going in a way of drug abuse is something that is going to distract us from the original plan of God and that of our Nation  Nigeria ,so that’s what Silec Initiatives represents and firmly stands for.

Silec initiatives has created different means to curb the issue of drug abuse in Nigeria, tell us about them?

You see this drug abuse thing in Nigeria is never our way of life and culture so there are different factors that are responsible for its present spread: we look at the parental factor or poor parentage , the environmental factor, social pathologies such as peer group pressure, economic depression, materialistic display and consciousness of Nigerians, unemployment, lack of awareness campaigns, Visionlessness of leaders etc  and other factors but in curbing this drug abuse, it requires a lot because it is a trend that is really taking a lot of promising youths from us and for us to curb this, we need a lot of strategies, support and commitment from lovers of the youths  because, if Governments keep failing us the people over these years, we the people  must  not fail ourselves as citizens and corporate citizens.

One of the strategies is that Information is Key; Information is the fuel of life and for young people to be saved, especially now that we are confronted with a lot of drug abuse situation, we need a lot of information passage with a lot of community-based sensitization programmes.

At Silec Initiatives, we believe that we must take a demand reduction strategy through community based approach and by this strategy, we need the power of information and we need programs that will enable one to educate people on the dangers of drug abuse, what Silec is doing is to help communities, families and the nation, by talking about the issue and sensitizing the Broadest Members of the public. This will go a long way in showing them the youths that there’s more to life than intake of drugs and harmful chemical substances.

 

You travelled to the U.S for a drug abuse programme sponsored by the U.S Government can you kindly share your experience with us?

Good and Challenging Experience I must say!  . I keep asking that is black lack, and is white a right?

Firstly, I want to say thank you to the U.S Government under the able leadership of President Donald Trump who has seen the capacity, talent and recognizes the effort we have put in this work we do in Nigeria through the social media and the traditional media platforms and via Good Nigerians who communicated thus to the Embassy of the United States Nigeria.

I have been doing this for over nine years in Nigeria but the Nigeria Government have never given me any attention but look at it, a prophet is not truly honored in his own town, the Honour came directly from the U.S Government of which, I am indeed grateful to God Almighty and to the US Government for this Golden opportunity to represent Nigeria at this international level.

I also want to thank a man; a life hero, a believer in the vision of young people, a youth- friendly personality who has been a mentor from day one to me.  I am talking about Chief Dr. Dele Momodu; the Chairman of Ovation Media Group.

He is a man who believes in the capacity and dream of Nigerian youths especially mine. Truth be told, It is my dream, but it is not actually meant for me; it is meant for young people out there because what we are confronting without there are a lot of problems in terms of the unemployment situation in addition to the social problems and the insecurity where drug abuse and addiction is a deep root that needed to be uprooted urgently if we must save Nigeria

Therefore for us to solve this problem we need a lot of hands and Chief Dele Momodu has demonstrated this capacity at my own angle that this boy’s dream will not die, so for many years, we’ve been enjoying his support since 2010 that we started this with him as a special guest.

I actually started during my NYSC which he himself was part of and till today, I am still enjoying that conviviality and humble Contributions. , I have not taken him for granted and I will not take him for granted in my life time because not many elites in Nigeria  can do this,  many at times he has portrayed me in the Ovation International Magazine, he has also broadcasted me on the social media and also promoted me and the Silec initiatives on Ovation TV. So, why wouldn’t I appreciate a Down to earth Man like Bob D, as we fondly call him, For all these tremendous support, what is on ground is heavy, the resources that we need, the human resource, the structures that we want to put on ground to empower young people are all enormous and we need all the necessary assistance to take youths from the streets to become better citizens.

Still talking about assistance, there’s one young, brilliant and forthright Personality that I met through Chief Dr. Delete Momodu, he is named Bamikole Omishore. the Special Assistant to the Senate President on International Relations, New Media and advocacy, he nominated me for this prestigious sponsorship by the U.S Government, I  am indebted to you Banks,  I place you specially in my heart,  Thank you for the sheer confidence. I was later invited by the American Embassy here in Nigeria, so I went to Abuja and met with the Authority, where they welcomed me warmly and interviewed me to ascertain what I am doing is genuine and how it’s can be advanced with the needed support .Thereafter I was told that the U.S Government was pleased with what am doing and would like to work with me by giving me the right platform and information and strategy to aid the fight against drug abuse in Nigeria.

As at today, the U.S Government has sponsored me to the prestigious U.S Leadership Program called International Visitors Leadership Program of the U.S Department of State in Combating Drug Addiction and Opioid Crisis, I am an ambassador of Nigeria for the program and in Fighting against the drug abuse in the country.

They also provided all the means that I will need to push out this message to the public and knowing fully well that the issue of drug abuse is something that is global and not only in Nigeria, I was very pleased with this development and recognition with my first international recognition and award from Shepherd University West Virginia USA in Leadership and in Combating the drug addiction and the opioid crisis.

The American trip was an eye-opener for me to advance my campaign and put in place the necessary structures that will enable us to tackle the issue of drug abuse in Nigeria adequately.

 

How this whole adventure did began? 

Well, I have a flair for humanity. I have always believed that for us to make progress as a people, we must have empathy, and we must lift others. That is why I believe the Nigerian government is not doing enough in terms of welfare for the citizens.

In my secondary days, from Methodist Boys High school ,Lagos some of my classmates who were very brilliant ,I couldn’t believe my eyes that before I came back from the university, I saw few of them who were brilliant  hooked on drugs, I was so ashamed asking myself, is it not this guy that we were in school together who was good in mathematics, so I began to do more findings and discovered that it was drugs, so it dawned on me that this was the course that God wanted me to pursue and then I therefore passionately developed myself in that aspect.

I am an Accountant by training, Good with numbers with sound management background so I began to research on drugs with the moves on how it can be solved and that was how I went into it in the year 2010 under NYSC so it is the passion and the zeal that I had of a better Nigeria that propelled me.  Also, I asked myself what do you want to be remembered for, I said it will be nice for people to say, Sunny Irakpo was a guy who championed the course of drug abuse and changed millions of lives and that is why I have kept going and that’s my Satisfaction for passing through the surface of this world.

 

2010 till date, apart from the fact that you were not recognized nationally, what other challenges did you face?

Well for me the Initiative has been endorsed by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as the most active NGO campaigning against drug abuse in Nigeria, I will not deny that fact but what is endorsement without commitment, or showing any form of demonstration to it, our endorsement is just a paper endorsement but we are working harder to see how we can re-energize ourselves on the commitment that drug abuse requires.

The fight requires a lot of efforts and it should be something done collectively. Government support should be there, parents, corporate bodies, religious organizations and everybody should be involved because the entire society is affected. No one is safe as far as drug abuse is concern. The Nigerian project is a collective project, we should invest more in humans, because if we invest more in humans, these humans will be the one to manage the various infrastructures, we should see human beings as our most important resource. Therefore Government should ensure that whatever the politicians are stealing from our economy to other economies be recovered and put into the lives of people so that this problems we are having today in the country like killings all around and how people wake up and just set another house ablaze all because they are taking substances that alter the natural process of their reasoning, so we need to put a stop to all this  act threatening our common existence and that is why we are  telling the government that they should wake up because they are failing on a daily basis comparing the enormous resources, for these failures not to continue in our time, that is why God has called some of us to pursue this dream together to compliment Government efforts in solving the various challenges facing us as a people, so whether the government gives us support or not, we are pushing and that is why today the U.S. Government recognizes our efforts by supporting our noble endeavour.

If the President Muhammadu Buhari led government still wants to continue in failure, then it is left for him, if it is in his own will to write a lasting legacy in the hearts of Nigerians especially the youths, God has given him this opportunity to re-write his name in gold in the books history by joining this fight to rescue our youths and to make Nigeria greater if not history will be unfair to him that his generation has completely failed Nigerians..

How can we curb this issue?

Let me tell you, we can solve the problem with just two sectors of the economy  with which the unemployment present experienced can be reduced through these two sectors, the entertainment industry in the service sector and  also the agriculture sector; the service sector where ICT lies, I still wonder what’s the Government  doing in ICT? Which can help turn our situation around?

What are they doing with Agriculture? do you know that we still have over 85million hectares of land in Nigeria that is yet to be cultivated, a virgin land that we can channel the energies of young people into and once we channel these young people in this direction, there will be food sufficiency and exportable products whereby Nigeria will be generating foreign Currency to boost our local production? And also increase our foreign reserved? , is our government deficient in thoughts resulting into these various challenges?  I don’t think so, but in case if they are, we are sharing these ideas with them once again to foster our National Growth and development. We cannot continue to sacrifice the destinies of Young people at the Altar of drug abuse due to Government negligence and absent mindedness.

Is Silec Initiatives based only in Lagos or have you spread your tentacles all over Nigeria?

Well, Silec initiatives is everywhere, it is  a global brand, what we do is to move from one state to another, Lagos, Delta, Abuja, Niger state etc. country to country to solve the drug abuse and  Human problems by preferring solutions.

This year we have already done a program on  the 25th may tagged: Kick Out Drug Abuse from Nigeria Awareness Creation Football Tournament so our Silec initiatives is a global brand everywhere because what we are solving is a problem everywhere. It’s all about information and branding the mindset of young people, once you understand what you are selling, you take a different approach in selling your product and that is what Silec is doing, it is a moveable organization that goes around to help fix problems.

Finally sir, where do you see Silec initiatives in the next 4 years?

Waooooh! Plans in 4years?  Adding more meaning to many more lives and increasing our community based sensitization program to reach out to many families, schools and institutions and foreign countries with our message. I could have explained more on what Silec initiatives stands for if time permits.

Let me share little with you, Silec initiatives operates under the project 4/24. We have the 4 as our four cardinal areas of focus which are Drug Abuse Elimination, Campaign strategy, Enlightenment on Sexual Molestation and Abuse of Children, Culture and Language Preservation, Youth Development and Empowerment.

Then the 24 represents the values that we needed to re-communicate, you know values are essential in nation building, whatever is happening today is a result of our collapse value system. We teach the value of hard work, patience, accountability, respect for others and traditions, good morals, Discipline, Integrity, etc. In this present situation where youths are eating their excreta, in the name of making fast money, this is not a good value, So our  objectives includes: To drastically eliminate drug abuse amongst youths,  increase economic productivity and prosperity by way of promoting skills acquisition,  Providing leadership to young people,  reduce unemployment through capacity building and skills acquisition etc.

Our Ultimate Goal, We intend to have the Silec initiatives correction center and that is where we will have the Silec Barbing Academy, Make-up section, Values building and Re-correction center, ICT, Fashion Designing also the Talent center where young people will be taught different skills.

Our vision is to empower a larger percentage of the youths,. I am very inspired by what Tony Elumelu, Mr Charity of Africa is doing, fighting poverty with all his might and resources.   These are progressive thinkers that Nigeria should have within the political leadership space. On knowingly to him, he mentors me from afar through his good works. As a model I emulate in the business world, Mr Tony Elumelu has touched a lot of lives. My prayers is that Silec is going to take another dimension and strive in that direction and possibly with more achievements.  As a model that I look up to, my goal is to do what Tony Elumelu is doing and even more,  if only Government support our course and if only corporate organizations and well-meaning individuals could emulate  the good examples of Dele Momodu  and Tony Elumelu  respectively,  Nigeria will not remain the same.  Believing in the God factor, nothing shall be impossible.

Thanks so much sir for the time spared for this interview

It is my pleasure, thank you, The Boss Newspaper, Thank you ovation international magazine. Thank you Ovation TV. I’m really happy for this wonderful opportunity. Thank you very much.

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Ribadu’s Office Denies Arming Miyetti Allah in Kwara

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The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), under the office of the National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has refuted claims that it armed members of the Miyetti Allah group for counter-terrorism operations in Kwara State.

The Head of Strategic Communication at NCTC, Mr. Michael Abu, issued the rebuttal on Wednesday in Abuja.

Abu described the reports circulated by some online platforms as false and misleading, saying they misrepresented ongoing security operations in forested areas of the state.

He said that in line with the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, it continued to coordinate and support law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies in countering all forms of terrorism across the country.

NCTC spokesman explained that Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts guided by the National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST), involved the deployment of hybrid forces comprising regular security personnel and trained auxiliaries such as hunters and vigilante elements, particularly in difficult terrains.

According to him, the hybrid approach, which was previously deployed with the Civilian Joint Task Force in the North-East, is currently being applied in parts of the North-West and North-Central, including Kwara State, and has recorded several successes against banditry and other criminal activities.

He stressed that the Federal government was not conducting kinetic operations with any socio-cultural group, adding that claims that the Office of the National Security Adviser provided arms to such organisations are unfounded and should be disregarded.

According to him, all auxiliary personnel involved in hybrid operations were recruited directly by authorised security and intelligence agencies after due diligence, and that all operations were conducted strictly in line with the law and established standard operating procedures.

He urged the media to exercise responsibility by protecting sensitive security information and seeking clarification through designated official spokespersons, while advising the public to ignore unverified reports capable of undermining ongoing operations.

He reaffirmed the centre’s commitment to transparency and stakeholder engagement to deepen public understanding of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.

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Respite As Court Stops Police, IGP from Enforcing Tinted Glass Permit Nationwide

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A Delta State Court sitting in Orerokpe has restrained the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Nigeria Police Force from resuming the enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy nationwide.

Justice Joe Egwu, while ruling on a motion ex-parte in a suit marked HOR/FHR/M/31/2025 filed by Isreal Joe against the IGP and two others, through his counsel, Mr. Kunle Edun (SAN), who led other lawyers, restrained, stopped and barred the respondents from resuming the enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy nationwide.

The order was sequel to the announcement by the Nigeria Police of its decision to resume the tinted glass permit enforcement on January 2, 2026.

Aside from the IGP, the court also restrained the Nigeria Police Force and the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Police Command, from resuming the enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy nationwide.

Justice Egwu also barred the police from harassing, arresting, detaining or extorting citizens and motorists on account of the said policy, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The case has also reignited a dispute between the Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). The NBA has maintained that the matter remains before the courts and warned that enforcement could constitute contempt.

The association said a suit challenging the constitutionality of the policy had been filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, and that a judgment had been reserved following the conclusion of hearings.

The NBA further cited a Federal High Court order in Warri directing parties to maintain the status quo pending an interlocutory injunction. The association accused the police of disregarding the rule of law and urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene. “Any contrary executive action amounts to overreaching the Court and undermines the rule of law,” NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN) said.

The police, through Force Public Relations Officer CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, insisted that no court order barred enforcement and defended its planned resumption on grounds of public security. Hundeyin noted a rise in crimes facilitated by vehicles with unauthorised tinted glass, citing incidents ranging from armed robbery to kidnapping.

“The Inspector-General of Police, out of respect and understanding, temporarily suspended enforcement to give Nigerians additional time to regularise their tinted glass permits.

That decision was not based on any court order but was a discretionary move to accommodate public concerns,” he said.

The announcement prompted warnings from the NBA that enforcement could trigger committal proceedings against the IGP and the Force spokesperson. The police, however, maintained that enforcement continues until directed otherwise by a court, highlighting recent incidents in which occupants of vehicles with tinted glass allegedly attacked officers.

The ruling by the Delta State High Court now legally bars the police from implementing the tinted glass permit policy nationwide while litigation on the policy’s constitutionality continues.

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Operation Wetie of the Western Region in Sweet Retrospect: Its Metaphors and Lessons

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By Hon. Femi Kehinde

History, it has been said, is a reflection seen through the eyes of others into events of the past.

The world rotates around its history, and the universality of its lessons and constancy. Like beauty, history is in the eyes of the beholder.

In the old Western Region, attempts were made to stifle democracy, and give the region a government she did not vote for; that really drove the people wild, and justifiably so.

The disturbance was confined to the floor of the House; it did not extend to other parts of the city, and all other parts of the region were completely at peace and were not in the least aware of what was happening in the House of Assembly, until they heard the broadcast of the Prime Minister from Lagos.
The trail that started from the crisis in the Action Group went on to cause at the federal level, a major crisis between the coalition partners that destabilized the Western Region, ultimately leading to the intervention of the military and the collapse of the First Republic. The ramifications and scars of that crisis are still visible today.

The crisis in the Action Group was in retrospect, a watershed in the course of Nigeria’s journey to nationhood. All countries that became Nation-states have their watersheds, which at the time they were happening looked insignificant. Their significance is usually realized long after they have happened. The storming of the Bastilles in France was a spontaneous reaction to the excesses of the monarch and his wife, but it led to a revolution. This revolution, which caused the death of Louis the sixteenth and his wife – Marie Antoinette.

The Action Group crisis which started as a localized brawl, catalyzed into a bloody civil war and much more. During the debate on the motion which was to authorize the state of emergency in the western region, Chief Anthony Enahoro warned against setting in motion a chain of events, the end of which nobody could see or desire. What a prediction! So prophetic, so profound and so historic. He was not taken seriously then. The protagonist of the state of emergency could not see through their noses. They forgot to take to heart the lessons of history.
Ibadan is anything but far away, in fact below 100 miles to Lagos. Just about three years later, not only the prime minister, but two regional premiers, several civilians and military leaders lost their lives. Had the warning of Chief Anthony Enahoro been heeded and had there been no precipitous rush to declare state of emergency in the region, the course of Nigerian history might have been different and certainly less bloody.

A French philosopher, Paul Valery said “History is the science of things which do not repeat themselves”. History does not repeat itself. It is fools who are forced by their folly to repeat history.

The West was demonized and the plot to create disorder was hatched to give a pretext to take over running of the government and use that period to install a puppet government.

Nigeria has always suffered for lack of courage and conviction on the part of those whose duty it is to advise and counsel. Sycophancy, spinelessness, and lack of moral courage, intellectual dishonesty in the ivory tower are commonplace characteristics in all echelons of life in the country and the leadership has to be acutely focused, courageous and discerning not to fall victim.

The leaders did have moments to pause and reflects on the catastrophe they were about to unleash on themselves, but they failed to utilize these opportunities because they were blinded by their own self-interest and personal aggrandizement. They walked into the trap set for them with their eyes wide open. It was a tragedy of errors.

The Western Region, gradually going into the abyss, formally inaugurated the Egbe Omo Olofin, as against the well known Egbe Omo Oduduwa at the Mapo hall, Ibadan. Very prominent dignitaries and first class Yoruba Obas, Oba Akran, Oba Olagbegi, Oba Gbadegbo, the Alake of Egba Land, Oba Abimbola, the Oluwo of Iwo, were very prominent. Chief S.L.A Akintola and the highly partisan Chief Justice of the Federation- Justice Adetokunbo Ademola were the host. The leader of the opposition, Alhaji D.S Adegbenro, a man with few words, regarded these developments as “a sad mistake”. It should be well noted that the Supreme Court of Chief Justice Adetokunbo Ademola had in 1964 affirmed the treasonable felony jail sentence imposed on Obafemi Awolowo by Justice George Sodeinde Sowemimo in 1963.

The Federal Cabinet in its super belief of being all in all, accepted the census result and asked NCNC members, unwilling to accept the result to resign.

The Ogunde Concert Party organized a theatre tour of the Western Region, to show Yoruba Ronu, its new play from March 28 to April 25, 1964. The concert was to kick off at Ile-Ife and thereafter, move to Abeokuta, Ibadan, Oyo, Owo, Shagamu, Ilesha Ikare, Oka, Osogbo, Gbongan, Iwo, Ado-Ekiti, Ijebu Ode. In the midst of this Concert Tour, the epic play, Yoruba Ronu, was banned by the Government of the Western Region and thus, another gradual descent into anarchy.

Earlier, on the 27th of March, 1964, Kola Balogun lost his seat as a special member of the House of Chiefs, following the withdrawal of recognition of his Chieftaincy title as Jagun of Otan Ayegbaju, by the NNDP Government of the Western Region. Kola Balogun had lost face with the Akintola Government. The electioneering campaign towards the 1965 election had started. The Premier, Samuel Ladoke, was on tour of Ijesha Division on Saturday, the 4th of April, 1964. At Ilesha, in front of Ilesha Grammar School, the Premier and his entourage were booed by students of Ilesha Grammar School, perhaps with the encouragement of their principal – Rev. Josiah Akinyemi, a staunch member of the Action Group and father of Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi.

Rev. Akinyemi was the following morning, transferred to Oyo to replace Bishop Seth Kale as Principal of St. Andrews College, Oyo. An NNDP Chieftain in llesha and a member of the Western House of Assembly- Barrister Oladiran Olaitan, had his car severely damaged and in an attempt to escape the onslaught, bottles and stones were thrown at him.

Ilesha Grammar School was eventually shut down and was only reopened after the intervention of prominent Ilesha elites, like Chief S.T Adelegan, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly and also Principal of Ipetu-ljesha Grammar School, the Attorney-General, Chief Olowofoyeku and the Governor, Sir Odeleye Fadahunsi.

Also in April, 1964, a scion of the Agbaje Family, Mojeed Agbaje, was removed as Minister for Information and the Odemo of Isara, Oba Samuel Akisanya, a first class Oba, was removed as a member of the House of Chiefs.

On the 8th of June, 1964, Chief SLA Akintola, the Premier, was driving to Mapo hall, when a pregnant woman hopped her head out of the crowd and shouted, “SLA OLE! SLA THIEF!” The visibly disturbed Premier, ordered his driver to detain the woman, who was put in the Land Rover that carried the Premier’s Body guards. The accused, Kehinde Arowolo, a native of Ikenne, was charged before the Ibadan Magistrate Court for conduct likely to disturb public peace. The accused pleaded not guilty, and she denied the charge. The case was subsequently adjourned to the 4th of November, 1964.

Alhaji Busari Obisesan for the defence said, “don’t forget to bring Chief Akintola to court as his evidence would be vital to the case!” What an audacious statement.

Around this period, an Oba in one of the Ijebu towns was burnt to ashes for being sympathetic towards Akintola’s cause. Ayo Rosiji, an Akintola apologist in July 1964, had his car stoned at a car park in Marina Lagos. His confidant in his constituency, Shittu Bamidele, had also been killed by thugs, who drove a six-inch nail through his forehead. Rosiji eventually lost the Federal Election in 1964.

When there is a quarrel, even ordinary songs would have added meanings and political songs, drums, its coinages and interpretations were now being stronger than even bazooka guns. To Awolowo’s loyalist, the popular sing song was “Se lo lo ko ogbon wa o hee, Se lo lo ko ogbon wa haa, Awolowo, baba layinka i.e. Awolowo has gone to the Prison to be fortified. Interestingly, Awolowo had no child by the name Layinka.

The Federal General Election of 1964 conducted by E. E. Esua as Federal Electoral Commissioner had showed that the Government had lost control of the Western Region, but it also introduced violence throughout the electioneering campaign, arson and assault featured throughout the election. It was a precursor of what was to be expected at the Regional General Elections coming up in 1965.

In some towns and communities, arson visited upon dwelling houses, and public buildings were also added to public roasting of government supporters in the so called “operation weti e”.

The petrol poured on human beings, and such individuals were left to be burnt to death. Indeed, law and order had broken down and perhaps irretrievably and yet, NNDP was declared the winner of a massively rigged general election and his leader, was called upon by the Governor of the Western Region, Sir Odeleye Fadahunsi to form the new government.

Undoubtedly, the region was in an uproar and tumoil. Security had broken down and no one was safe on the road. There were several unofficial road blocks, everywhere and the high level of fear, indignation and security was heightened. When the Chief Justice of the Federation, Sir Adetokunbo Ademola was manhandled on the road between Abeokuta and Lagos, the gravity of the situation became very apparent to all. It became urgent that something must be done to restore law and order to the Western Region. The NNDP was a member of the COALITION – the Nigerian National Alliance (NNA), which it had formed with the ruling NPC and so it was difficult for the Federal Government to intervene to remove a regional Government formed by its surrogate, the NNDP. Yet, something must be done.

The events in the Western Region was certainly laying the foundation to the apocalypse, that was to engulf the country. The Premier of the Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Okpara told his counterpart in the Western Region, Chief SLA Akintola, that he was coming on a visit to Ibadan. SLA Akintola told him he would not be welcome, because he could not guarantee his safety.

The visit took place nevertheless, and as an act of defiance, Premier Michael Okpara still went ahead to visit the Premier at the Premier’s lodge, Iyaganku, Ibadan. The host Premier, SLA Akintola, was nowhere to be found. Michael Okpara nonetheless, signed the visitors register and left.

It was an irony of circumstance, that Premier Ladoke Akintola, who in 1962 was prepared to defile his Party, to welcome a Northern Premier and aristocrat, on the grounds of protocol and hospitality, could not do the same thing for the Premier of the Eastern Region, who was his ally not too long ago. It would be recalled that Okpara had now joined forces with the Action Group, led by Chief (Mrs) H.I.D Awolowo and Alhaji D.S Adegbenro to form UPGA.

In the north, in the west, and in the mid-west, all was confusion. A team of lawyers sent to northern Nigeria by the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) for the purpose of looking after the legal interest of AG members was not allowed to function.

In the Western Region, trenches were dug, all in order to prevent political opponent the freedom of expression and movement. In October 1965, the Western Region went to the polls to elect a new House of Assembly, the first regional election since the Action Group crisis, an opportunity for Chief Akintola to test his popularity.

The conduct of the election caused wide spread anger which resulted in so much incidence of arson, murder, rioting and general insecurity that the army was sent to the region to maintain law and order. More than 2000 people were killed during and after the election.

After winning the 1965 election, Samuel Ladoke Akintola was called by the governor, Sir Odeleye Fadahunsi to form the new government in October 1965. His taped recorded acceptance speech and message to the people of western region to be rebroadcast by the Nigerian broadcasting corporation (NBC) had been removed and replaced with another recorded message by a mystery gunman who had stepped into the studio and made his own broadcast, denouncing Akintola. This popular gunman was later alleged to be a popular playwright, Wole Soyinka.

On the 15th of October, the newsroom of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) was more fortified than ever. It was a fortress which was armed to the teeth. In the newsroom was a cubicle where the whole activity normally took place. That evening, the occupants of the cubicle, apart from the leader of the crew were Lajide Ishola, Stephen Oyewole and John Okungbona. The crew men had in their possession the recording of the speech of the Premier of the western region of Nigeria, Chief Ladoke Akintola, which had earlier been recorded at the premier’s lodge at lyaganku. The recordings which contained the message of the premier were made in both English and Yoruba. The premier had finished with the recording a few minutes before 7 o’clock in the evening and he was looking forward to listening to his speech which he had regarded as a masterpiece that will explain the situation of things in the western region.

At about quarter past 7 in the evening, Oshin breezed in into the studio cubicle with his crew men, taking with him the 2 recorded tapes which contained the premier’s speech i.e. both the English and the Yoruba version. Funnily and interestingly, just as Oshin was about to slot in the first tape, a bearded man appeared at the door, and suddenly from nowhere produced a gun and held it to Oshin’s head. There was an abrupt silence. The gunman, goatee-bearded and unmasked, demanded that the radio technician hand over the two tapes he was holding. Oshin quietly handed over the tapes to him, while the other three men in the cubicle, watched the unfolding drama with apparent shock and disbelief.

The gunman handed a tape over to Oshin and ordered him to play it. For fear of his life, Oshin slotted in the gunman’s tape and played it. The gunman listened to part of the content and quietly disappeared as mysteriously as he had come in. The whole operation was swift, brief, effective and decisive.

Pandemonium broke in as soon as members of the public heard the recording on air. Oshin had apparently run out of the studio and the gunman was nowhere to be found. The other three occupants of the cubicle were arrested and taken to the police station, where they made statements to the effect that they had no clue to who the gunman was. They had a clinical description of what exactly happened and the near unanimity about the description of the unmasked mystery gunman. The mystery gunman was eventually arrested and brought before a newly appointed Judge of the High Court, Justice Kayode Esho, sitting in High Court 6. Justice Esho was a stern, disciplined and incorruptible judge. Before the trial, the Chief Justice of the western region, Justice Adeyinka Morgan called Kayode Esho, and straight to the point said, “I have an assignment for you. It is this very important case of the hold-up of the radio station and the robbery of the premier’s tapes. It is a very sensitive assignment, which I would have undertaken myself, having regard to the importance and sensitivity, but the accused person, Wole Soyinka, is a relation of mine. I have full confidence that you will handle it very well’.

Interestingly, the Chief Justice further said, “by the way” and in a measured tone said “they are already saying you will not be able to jail this man”, Justice Kayode Esho wondered ” who are the “they”, “they” “they”. Who are those that the pronoun “they” represent.

According to Esho, why should those “they” be talking to the Chief Justice? why according to Esho? If the “they” talked to the Chief Justice, should he mention it to me while I was trying such a sensitive case, or even any case, for that matter? I got up, pretending not to have been ruffled by the statement, thanked the Chief Justice again, and left for my chambers.”

On the 26th of October, 1965, i.e exactly two weeks after the general election, Akintola lost his most cherished daughter and confidant, Omodele. Omodele died as a result of an overdose of sleeping pills.

After Omodele’s death, Akintola was beginning to have a second thought about his ability to continue with the crisis, and asked rhetorically “whether the whole warfare was worth it at all”. It was apparent then that Ladoke Akintola was greatly distressed.

According to one of the sentries at the Government house, Mr Olabode, a regional police officer attached to the government’s lodge, the premier was in a state of utter confusion, and after meetings, however late, will still travel to Ogbomoso to sleep, and come back to Ibadan in the morning. The Premier’s driver confided in the young police officer, Olabode, that the premier was fond of this trip, because the late night trip from Ibadan afforded him the opportunity of a thoughtful silence and a deep sleep.

Prince Adewale Kazeem, another known confidant of the Premier, also noticed a premier whose hands were shivering and could no longer append his signature on a straight line. Prince Adewale noticed this again and advised the premier, “Baba, why don’t you resign?” and the soberly premier replied “Adewale, O ti bo, iku lo ma gbeyin eleyi- Adewale, it is too late, it is only death that will end this feud.”

Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola was in this state of disillusionment when on the 14th of January 1966, he asked his aide, R.A Obaleke, upon resumption of duty to get prepared for a trip to Kaduna. There was a plane already waiting for them at the Ibadan Airport, arranged from Lagos. On the premier’s entourage to Kaduna were Chief Lekan Salami, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, R. A. Obaleke, N.A.B Kotoye and a host of others, to meet with the Premier of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello. At this meeting at the Premier’s lodge in Kaduna, the two premiers went into a long private session. Before the commencement of the meeting, Premier Ladoke Akintola had given some money to his Personal assistant, R.A Obaleke to buy some books for him at the bookshop.

After a long while, Obaleke came back to still find the two premiers in a very serious dialogue. Obaleke informed the premier of the need to go back to Ibadan in a good time, because there was no night landing facility at the Ibadan Airport. Premier Ladoke Akintola immediately proceeded to the Kaduna airport and was seen off by his host- the Premier of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello. On arrival in Ibadan, the Premier and his entourage proceeded to the premier’s lodge. The cook, Effiong, a Calabar man, provided dinner for the premier, before their departure. On the 14th of January 1966, the Premier had earlier told his wife, Faderera to proceed to Ogbomoso to prepare their Ogbomoso residence for a private visit of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. In the Premier’s lodge were Yomi, his eldest son and his wife Dupe, and their son, Akinwumi, and Gbolahan Odunjo, Omodele’s son, and the visiting Tokunbo Akintola, who came in on holidays from Eton College London. It will be recalled once again, that the British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, at the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference in Lagos in January 1966, warned the host of the conference of an impending military insurrection and offered the Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa, asylum in one of the British frigates on the Atlantic water.

The Prime Minister rebuffed this intelligence report and Akintola’s report, fears and apprehensions, as mere hearsay and unfounded.

In the early hours of January 15, at about 2am, and as predicted, the army struck like a thief in the night. The army mobilized from the Alamala Abeokuta Garrison of the Nigerian Army. It was led by Captain Nwobosi, to effect a change of government in the Western Region.

The Military officers after picking Deputy Premier, Fani Kayode, moved to the Premier’s Lodge. At the Premier’s lodge, with their Military trucks, they forcibly entered the lodge. The head of sentries/Police security, Chief Inspector Sokunbi, an Ijebu man, immediately put off the flood light and was chased by the soldiers. The officer manning the back of the premier’s lodge, Police Corporal Bernard Olabode, a native of Gbongan, was equally chased, but was not discovered inside the drainage where he hid.

The Military officers, immediately put off the electricity supply to the Premier’s lodge. The officer from the ministry of works, posted to the Premier’s lodge, and whose responsibility was maintenance of the two generators at the Premier’s lodge, thought it was a power outage and immediately went to put on the manual generator, since the automatic generator could not come up immediately after the power outage. He was shot on the forehead by one of the officers and he died instantly.

The leader of the Military officers, shouted the name of the Premier, “Akintola come out you are under house arrest.” They also asked his Deputy, already in their custody, to call him, “Sir, Ladoke Akintola, it is me Fani Kayode please come out.” After hearing this voice, the Premier who had immediately upon the arrival of the army officers moved his family through the walkway from the official residence, to his office in the Premier’s lodge, knew there was real danger.

A maid of one of his children, started crying saying “E jo woooo E jo woooo” meaning “please please.” The outcry of this maid exposed the location of the Premier. There was then a gunshot from the Premier to the rampaging soldiers.

According to the Police Officer, Bernard Olabode, in his hiding location he saw bullet shots going towards the Premier’s Office. One of the shots, hit the Premier on the wrist and the Officers were still insisting that he must come out of hiding. They had promised to finish the entire family.

For the Safety of his children, the Are Ona kankanfo of Yoruba land had no choice, but to come down. He was instantly arrested by the soldiers. The leader of the group according to PC Olabode, asked Fani Kayode to identify the Premier. Apparently, they didn’t even know him. Fani Power identified him as the Premier.

According to Olabode, two Officers were placed on his right and left hand, as if facing a firing squad and volley of bullets were hurled at him. The first shot hit the Premier on his forehead, some on his chest and later the Premier gave up.

When he fell down, the leader of the group placed his leg on the Premiers forehead and asked some of his soldiers to rain further bullets on the lying Premier. The group leader, speaking in various languages, said according to Olabode, “he is a juju man, perforate him further with bullets” and thus the end of Are-Ona Kankanfo, who had fought a bitter struggle with his tongue, pen and strength.

The army had also arrested Lt. Col Largemma of the Ibadan Garrison and killed him. Col. Largemma was very close to the Premier of the Western Region, and also Premier of Northern Region. The Federal Brigade of Guards Commander in Lagos, was also killed. Major Okafor had ordered the abduction and eventual murder of the Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa, the Minister of Finance, Okotie-Eboh, whilst Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu, also invaded the Premier’s lodge in Kaduna and killed Sir Ahmadu Bello, one of his wives, Hafsat and some Military Officers, like Brigadier Ademulegun, Col. Ralph Sodeinde and several other officers and thus the end of Civil Government in Nigeria and the beginning of Military interregnum, that did not end effectively until the 29th of May 1999, when another Military man and former Head of State, Olusegun Obasanjo, became President of the Civilian Government.

In retrospect, the state of emergency on the Western Region was declared on the 29th of May 1962 by the Federal Government of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa. No wonder, George Santyana rightly said- “those who do not know history are doomed to repeat its failures”. The “operation weti e” of Western Region certainly left its metaphors and lessons for the discerning minds!

Hon. (Barr.) Femi Kehinde is the
Principal Partner, Femi Kehinde & Co (Solicitors), and Former Member, House of Representatives, National Assembly, Abuja, representing Ayedire/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa Federal Constituency of Osun State, (1999-2003).

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