Headline

Tribute To Yinka Odumakin: Everybody Get E Own Waka- Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin

Published

5 years ago

April 5, 2021

Editor

By Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin ( Dudu)

Abuja airport. 2010.
I was sitting by a bar nursing a bottle of soda and fuming.
My flight has just been postponed.
An unidentified call came in.
I picked and shouted a rude yes into the phone.
Then the voice said I’m looking at you .
Can I approach?
I said who’s this ?
He said you’ll see.
Then he came out of the crowd .
He stretched his hand and said
I’m Yinka Odumakin.
I said it’s an insult to introduce yourself.
Who does not know your face in Nigeria?
We both burst out laughing.

Ambassador Walter Carrington ,
A deity of American black movement
And a warrior of June 12, when he served as America’s Ambassador to Nigeria, was turning a graceful 80.

FASHOLA’s Govt wanted to honor him with a 3-day Birthday package.
YINKA was Commissioned to write a book on him, to be launched.
I was commissioned to do a documentary on his life journey
To be projected at the State Banquet.
YINKA approached me at the airport that day because he needed photographs of the Carringtons to enrich his book.

He requested for 3 pictures or so.
I took his email. By the time his flight landed in Lagos
My GM had sent him 200 photographs.
He opened the phone and shouted back to me.
Baba dudu e fe pa mi !
We both laughed.
It was the beginning of a friendship that lasted till his last day.

2011, 12 midnight , I was in my Eleko beach house.
YINKA called,
Babadudu, I want to introduce you to BUHARI.
Get to Abuja by 8am, I’ll send the address.
Come with a proposal for the Buhari/Bakare campaign adverts and documentaries.
But YINKA this is past midnight , how do I get to ASOKORO by 8am ???
BUHARI doesn’t like late comers, he replied, 8am and clicked off.
It was a very intense period for DUDU Productions.
We were producing campaign stuff for various Governors and other
Politicians contesting from various parties. We were so saturated, I had moved my post production gears and editors to the beach house. That ambience always geared them into new energy.

My second son, LEKAN , also an editor , drove me to the airport by 5am.
We were both dozing and missed our way on the 3rd mainland bridge.
I got to ASOKORO, 5 minutes to 8 am.
On the dot of 8, BUHARI came down the stairs in jalabia.
YINKA introduced me and we moved to the dinning table.
Along with other members of the publicity committee.
I got the job.

As I left for the airport , ,I asked YINKA two questions
Why were so many Agbadas spread on the grass in the compound
In a house in ASOKORO!
He told me they belong to BUHARI.
The man does not use Drycleaner!
Haba!
After my concepts were modified and accepted I noticed that as we started talking about money and people started contributing on the table ,
Buhari picked up his newspapers and was reading till I left . Why?
YINKA told me the man had no money of his own.
The house was donated , the vehicle fleet was donated.
A man who had headed Nigeria , NNPC , Governor , Minister !!!
That moment I decided to support this man forever.
Who would have foreseen the rot of today!

BUHARI/BAKARE campaign took Nigeria by storm.
It was a fait accompli. The country was ready for this dream ticket.
We worked like crazies.
Suddenly a couple of weeks to election , rumors were circulating inhouse.
TINUBU was going to work against the ticket.
I could read devastation on the faces of YINKA and the inner caucus of the team.
Election Day, BUHARI lost.
I laid down broken and watched Buhari weep on live TV
With a promise never to contest again .
I knew the man wept because of a deep sense of betrayal.I might be wrong ,
But I think this is the genesis of YINKAs hatred for TINUBU till the last day!

My brotherhood with YINKA was forged out of the ashes of that season of anomie. Memories. Memories.
How he visited my beach house , fell in love with the serenity, bought the plot a few spaces from mine and started building an event center and home on it. How he brought his wonderful kids and introduced me to one of the most accomplished, but humble women I’ve ever met. His wife, Dr Joe Okei Odumakin.

I have memories of how YINKA invited me to his house in Accra Ghana and I spent a wonderful week with him. Driving to Legon, where he was doing his masters. To the Gold mine , he wanted to invest in. Night life in Accra. With YINKA , there was no talk of latest music , fashion, or parte after parte.
It was always Nigeria/ Yorubaland. Nigeria/Yorubalnd.
We would debate until my head will start hurting.

Fast forward , 2015. YINKA came. DuduBaba, I have a bombshell!
He let me in on the fact that he’s been secretly working on what he called
THE THIRD FORCE !
A formidable pan Nigeria political mass movement that will bury the dominant political parties and redefine Nigeria’s destiny.
Awesome idea.
Then he dropped the bomb shell . The THNK TANK of THIRD FORCE was going to meet. And he was determined , to keep it out of press entirely. A super secret meet to weld it together.
And he has chosen my country home in Abeokuta, as the venue of the 3 day conclave. Whaaaat! . YINKA but you know I’ve sworn never to be involved in politics forever. Babadudu, this is not politics. This is rescuing Nigeria.
When is the meeting? Two days time. You didn’t warn me in time. Yes it must not leak. He also didn’t want security agencies to send a mole in. OMG!

Truly , two days later, they came . checking into Hotels across Abeokuta.
From Niger Delta, Middle Belt, far North, the East, across the Nation.
My home the venue of the meet was full. For 3 days , I listened to the most impassioned emotions about the waste this Nation has become. I listened to high faluting ideas as to how Nigeria can truly become the giant in the sun it’s destined to be.
More importantly, it was actually an expose to me of what a political force and a potent bridge builder YINKA ODUMAKIN was.

He made me attend Afenifere elders meeting in Pa Ayo Adebanjo country home in Ijebu area. First time I will see these leaders in person apart from Okunroumu. The most virulent anti Fulani sentiments I ever heard. And the most deadly evidence of how Fulani we’re moving weapons into Yorubaland. The Elders had foreseen today!

Then the mega meeting in Pa Adebanjo home in Ikoyi. Former ministers, Governors, creme of Nigeria’s recent but sad political history. Mostly of the PDP stock. Gen Nwachukwu, Jang, Mimiko, Ajumoghobia, reps of ethnic movements etc. I was aghast. How can we create a third force with spent forces? I moved my chair close to Segun Odegbami , who was essentially a spectator , like me.

Has the THIRD FORCE been hijacked or this was the intended destination ? I could not fathom. Then I detected the under currents. This house was being prepared for Atiku! So it was a case of your Fulani is better than my Fulani? I walked out and never returned. When Afenifere later declared publicly for Atiku against Buhari and the avalanche of condemnation started , I just bought my Ofada and smiled.

How did I come about the title of this post?
In the last few years I began to disagree seriously and publicly with Afenifere’s politics. And since YINKA was its spokesperson , so I was engaged in direct criticism of his press releases.
There was this particular article he wrote. A blistering condemnation of a top Yoruba leader. I felt he had crossed the line. So I requested we meet.
I was vibrating and vituperating. He looked at me dead pan. No expression .
Then he stood up and said.
EVERYBODY GET E OWN WAKA!

I’ve always been amused when the public says Yinka was a hungry man , that’s why he was writing stuff. Nooooo sir, YINKA ODUMAKIN was a highly comfortable and successful man. He had investments in mining , agriculture, digital press, Radio and a lot of intellectual stuff

YINKA was one of the most dedicated , most profound Nigerians this country is blessed with. He was a lighting iron rod for Yoruba aspiration. Across Yorubaland and Nigeria , many households are in mourning. People you will never publicly associate with his name. People like the OONIRISA , Aare Gani ADAMS, who were very close confidantes to him .

This is the longest I’ve ever written about anybody.
My condolences to Joe. You are woman of steel. Take out of the well of kindness you have always dashed to grieving hearts.
The Lord you serve , will stand solidly with you and yours.

Headline

Why Nigerians Must Reject INEC’s Revised Timetable – ADC

Published

3 days ago

February 28, 2026

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), during the week, released a fresh elections timetable, with major amendments to accommodate the just passed and signed Electoral Act 2026 by the National Assembly and President Bola Tinubu respectively.

Following the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026, which introduced adjustments to statutory timelines governing pre-election and electoral activities, the Commission has reviewed and realigned the Schedule to ensure full compliance with the new legal framework.

Accordingly, the Commission has resolved as follows:

Presidential and National Assembly Elections will now hold on Saturday, 16th January 2027 as against the earlier stated February 20, 2027
Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections will now hold on Saturday, 6th February 2027 as against the former date of March 6, 2027

Also in accordance with the approved Schedule of Activities, the electoral bidy noted in the revised timetable that:

Conduct of Party Primaries, including resolution of disputes arising from primaries, will commence on 23rd April 2026 and end on 30th May 2026.

Presidential and National Assembly campaigns will commence on 19th August 2026.

Governorship and State Houses of Assembly campaigns will commence on 9th September 2026.

As provided by law, campaigns shall end 24 hours before Election Day. Political parties are strongly advised to adhere strictly to these timelines. The Commission will enforce compliance with the law.

But in a swift reaction, the opposition coalition, African Democratic Congress (ADC), rejected the revised 2026–2027 general election timetable, describing it as a politically biased schedule designed to favour the re-election agenda of President Bola Tinubu, and calling on all Nigerians to speak up enmasse to reject the revised timetable.

The ADC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Friday argued that the new deadlines and compliance requirements under the Electoral Act 2026 create near-impossible hurdles for opposition parties seeking to field candidates.

On February 13, INEC initially scheduled the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections were fixed for March 6, 2027.

The timetable, however, faced objections from some Muslim stakeholders who noted that the dates coincided with the 2027 Ramadan period.

Following the concerns, the National Assembly amended Clause 28 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, reducing the required election notice period from 360 to 300 days, allowing INEC to adjust the election dates.

Subsequently, INEC released a revised schedule on Thursday, signed by its Chairman, Joash Amupitan, moving the Presidential and National Assembly elections to January 16, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections to February 6, 2027.

Reacting, the ADC said the requirement that political parties submit a comprehensive digital membership register by April 2, 2026, effectively bars opposition parties from participating.

The party stated: “The African Democratic Congress rejects the updated 2026–2027 electoral timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission. What has been presented as a routine administrative schedule of the upcoming general elections is, in fact, a political instrument carefully structured to narrow democratic space and strengthen the incumbent administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“According to the timetable, party primaries are to be conducted between April 23 and May 30, 2026, just 55 to 92 days from today. However, more significant is that, pursuant to Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026, political parties are required to submit their digital membership registers to INEC not later than April 2, 2026.

“That is only about 34 days away. Section 77(7) further provides that any party that fails to submit its membership register within the stipulated time shall not be eligible to field a candidate. These are not routine administrative rules but are deliberately constructed barriers designed to exclude the opposition from participating in the election.”

The party further noted that Section 77(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires the digital register of members to contain name, sex, date of birth, address, state, local government, ward, polling unit, National Identification Number (NIN) and photograph in both hard and soft copies, while Section 77(6) prohibits the use of any pre-existing register that does not contain the specified information. It warned that failure to meet these requirements would lead to disqualification.

The ADC questioned the fairness of the digital membership requirement, noting that the ruling All Progressives Congress began its registration process in February 2025, long before the requirement became mandatory.

“It is not a product of foresight but insider advantage. They knew what was coming. They therefore had one full year to carry out an exercise that other political parties are expected to complete in one month, during which they must collect, process, collate and transmit large volumes of digital data to INEC under the threat of exclusion. This is practically impossible.

“Democratic competition is based on a level playing field that does not give any contestant an undue advantage. A system where one party exploits incumbency to gain a one-year head start on a requirement that other parties only became aware of when it was nearly too late is a rigged system.”

The ADC said it has joined other opposition parties in rejecting the Electoral Act 2026, adding that the INEC timetable is equally rejected as it appears designed to serve what it described as a self-succession agenda.

“Let it be clear that ADC will not take any action that appears to confer legitimacy on a fraudulent system. We are reviewing our options and will make our position known in the coming days,” the party said.

The party also called on civil society organisations, democratic stakeholders and Nigerians to scrutinise the timetable and demand fairness, stressing that democracy cannot survive when electoral rules are structured to produce predetermined outcomes.

The party has consistently accused the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) of scheming to silence the opposition as the 2027 General Elections draw closer, citing his manipulation of state governors and Assembly members from jumping ship, and settling with the ruling party.

Presently, the president’s party has a total of 31 out of 36 states governors, more than majority of the national and states Houses of Assembly.

A frontline publisher and chieftain of the ADC, Chief Dele Momodu, has warned that Tinubu is gradually transforming into full-blown dictatorship, stressing that his second term in office would turn state governors into ‘total slaves’.

Headline

Second Term for Tinubu Will Turn Governors into Total Slaves, Dele Momodu Warns

Published

3 days ago

February 28, 2026

Eric

Chairman, Ovation Media Group, and former presidential aspirant, Aare Dele Momodu, has expressed strong concern over what he described as growing political support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu among state governors across the country.

Speaking during an interview on News Central TV, Momodu said he was shocked by the level of backing the president is reportedly receiving, warning that Nigeria’s democracy could face serious risks if the current political trend continues.

The media entrepreneur cautioned that allowing Tinubu to secure a second term in 2027 could, in his view, lead to excessive concentration of power. He particularly criticized what he described as a growing wave of opposition figures aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress> (APC).

Momodu referenced reports of opposition governors, including Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, allegedly moving closer to the ruling party, describing the development as politically troubling.

According to him, some governors are allegedly competing to demonstrate loyalty to the president ahead of future elections.

“The governors are fighting to ensure Tinubu wins a second term, fighting to be the biggest thug for him. If a man in his first term can capture the bodies and souls of Nigerians this way, imagine what he would do with a second term. It will be a full-blown dictatorship, and the governors will regret it as they become total slaves to him,” Momodu said.

He concluded by urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and actively protect democratic institutions, warning that unchecked consolidation of political power could threaten the nation’s democracy and future stability.

Gistmania

Headline

Court Validates PDP 2025 Convention in Ibadan, Affirms Turaki-led NWC

Published

4 days ago

February 27, 2026

Eric

The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has affirmed the validity of the 2025 Elective Convention of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), which produced Dr. Kabiru Turaki as the substantive National Chairman of the party.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Ladiran Akintola upheld the convention in its entirety, ruling that it was conducted in full compliance with the relevant constitutional and statutory provisions governing party elections in Nigeria.

The decision marked a significant legal victory for the party’s leadership and brought clarity to the dispute surrounding the convention’s legitimacy.

The ruling followed an amended originating summons filed by Misibau Adetunmbi (SAN) on behalf of the claimant, Folahan Malomo Adelabi, in Suit No. I/1336/2025.

In a comprehensive judgment, the court granted all 13 reliefs sought by the claimant, effectively endorsing the processes and outcomes of the Ibadan convention.

Justice Akintola held that the convention, organised by the recognised leadership of the party, satisfied all laid-down legal requirements as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), and the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

The court found no breach of due process or statutory non-compliance in the conduct of the exercise.

In the same proceedings, the court dismissed the Motion on Notice seeking a stay of proceedings and suspension of the ruling, filed by Sunday Ibrahim (SAN) on behalf of Austin Nwachukwu and two others. The applications were described as lacking merit.

Earlier in the proceedings, the court had also rejected a bid by Ibrahim to have his clients joined in the suit.

Justice Akintola ruled at the time that the joinder application was unsubstantiated and consequently dismissed it.