By Sunny Igboanugo

For many citizens and outsiders watching events in Nigeria, hear me. Don’t dismiss with the wave of the hand the threat of Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State. Never ignore an iti-boribo or dare his raised fist – you’re making a fatal error.

What’s iti-boribo? I’ll explain shortly. Iti is lighter. But Iti-boribo is the extreme form of daftness – I mean, mental density – dull-wittedness – intellectual vacuity – rational-vapidity, phrenic-blandness – a blank mind, incapable of logic or objective thoughts – an intellectual mistake!

In most cases, it’s a dangerous state of being. But in others, it is very useful. It only depends on the circumstances. Take your mind back to those days in schools. I don’t know what happens in today’s age of the internet, social media and computers, those in our days when schooling was a bitter-sweet experience – without school-runs, school buses and children confronted all manner of elements on their ways to and from schools.

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The imprimatur of iti-boribo was everywhere, in different shapes and sizes. Think of your individual samples, experiences and your own versions. Let me attempt one or two myself.

There was one called Kpoti in my primary school! That was his generic name, in school and community. It’s difficult to remember his real name. On this particular day, a sudden uproar halted all activities. Even we the “infants” already enjoying our recess had to pause to the noise from the “Primary,” our seniors still in session.

Kpoti, the archetypal iti-boribo – the highest level of the term, had on this day, delivered a grand performance of his iti-boriborism. The English teacher, had asked him to make a sentence with children.

Looking over the classroom wall, which some of us saw as the biblical wall of Jerico, but which he towered over, he delivered the thunder – “The Children are wuharing na field.” Nwughari in Igbo meant group movement like in a market. In this instance, it was the onomatopoeic expression of the children are playing in the field. That was the end of the day’s class. The teacher couldn’t take it any longer. It was the height of daftness – a class performance that resonated beyond the school and till date, still resonates in many quarters.

But the outside, Kpoti was a critical member of the society. He was quite prolific in many other ways. An excellent climber of palm trees, a strongman on the football pitch and outside it, the protector of the school team.

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Trust Kpoti with the womenfolk, who he helped in harvesting their palm fruits and tilled their farmlands in addition to other village duties the English language teacher could never dare. Without Kpoti, the football team, would be disembowelled and stripped of the guts. Confronting opponents especially in other communities proved problematic. Who dared engage in any physical fight with the team or its supporters, with Kpoti around? He was the Goliath that protected everyone.

So, intellectualism or lack of it, did not diminish his total worth eventually. In fact, because he built his own formation of brutes that terrorised his environment, he was both feared and respected, such that even the brightest of the pupils simply paid homage to be admitted into his protective wings.

Take another example, Julie. She was the female replica of Kpoti. Also a pupil, but well-established in her own right as an iti-boribo. On this evening, after the close of school, when many of us brought wares to the market for our mothers and later descended on the mango trees surrounding our school.

Unbeknownst to us, while plucking the ripe mangoes, our school vice headmaster was somewhere watching. He later chanced on us and matched us into one of the classrooms. The implication wasn’t lost on anyone. We were still kneeling down awaiting the stings of his trademark akpuruekwe on our backs when Julie did the unthinkable. With an acrobatic, Olympic-style back-flip, she scaled this same classroom wall with a dexterity that would put many athletic high-jumpers to shame and make them gasp with envy.

As she sprinted down the field with the speed sure to leave world sprint record holders green with envy, even the teacher, couldn’t hold back. His symbolic stern mien dissolved into throaty laughter and in the end, all of us were let off the hook as a result.

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Now you see that iti-boribo, have their uses. In most cases, whatever they lose in terms of intellectual acuity are compensated in many other ways. In the military, for instance, some of them get to the top of their career by making up what they lost in brainwork with sheer gift of courage and skills of field-battle.

But it is a different kettle of fish to assign them with tasks that require intellectual exercises. That becomes an albatross and, in most cases, not only counterproductive, but signal clear danger to the society. That seems to be the case in this Okpebholo outing.

Who wouldn’t recall how for months on end, the anchors of The Morning Show, the breakfast programme on ARISE NEWS, laboured to bring him as a candidate to discuss his programmes as governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the September 21, 2024 election. It never happened. His handlers explained it away that he was too busy with his campaigns to engage the media.

But not a few knew swore that he had mortal fear of the media they would expose him as the Kpoti of Edo State. Well, he has since became and the world is now witnessing the outcome.

First was the presentation of the state budget, last year. Ordinary N605billion that a kindergarten child could 20 minutes of labouring without success. In the end, he simply jumped it. Yet, the budget was approved.

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Don’t even question what business a governor of that quality of education has with such a high office. The joke would be on you. It means you don’t know the Nigeria of today and the makeup of its leadership under the APC.

Have you seen the West African Examination Council (WAEC) result he supposedly sat for and obtained at the age of 36 years? Add that to the picture.

But then, it comes handy at this time. Surely, you don’t believe becoming the numero uno in a state like Edo, one of the intellectual bases of Nigeria is by chance. Ask yourself why? Kpoti was never useless. Same here. Those who made him governor, know exactly what they were looking for.

They know that Edo State, is the headquarters of the Obidient Movement – the group of Nigerian youths determined to making Peter Obi President as way of achieving the New Nigeria or their dream. If they must be stopped, there’s only one way – to deploy a Kpoti. They’ve since found one.

In The Godfather – that classic by Mario Puzo – Luca Brasi one of the characters, was depicted as 100 per cent loyal to Don Coleone because he believed there was no life outside him. He lived for nothing else, completely deadened to other societal stimuli that he practically threw the baby fathered by him into a furnace.

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The Okpebholo I see would not hesitate to throw Nigeria into the furnace to please his patrons. You heard him boast delivery of 100 per cent Edo votes to APC in 2027. How is he going to achieve this if not go for broke and take no prisoners?

Else what is Obi’s offence? Why would a governor, who ought to roll out the drum to celebrate a philanthropist kind enough to donate a whopping N15million to an institution be the one to shoot the gesture down, when he ought to be harvesting the act as a point of contact for more philanthropy, if anything, to lessen the burden on his shoulders as governor?

Of course, the answer is obvious. The ululations you heard from those students at the School of Nursing, as they sang and danced in praises of Obi, was like a hot spear piercing his heart. He couldn’t simply stand it.

That is why he must not be ignored. In fact, those equating Okpebholo’s comments with that of Hyacinth Alia of Benue, who also refused Obi entry to the camp of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in his state, may be comparing oranges and apples. Alia is not a Kpoti. He’s not an iti-boribo. He knows the consequences of hurting anyone, not the least, a politically exposed person like Obi.

On the contrary, this can’t be said of the Edo New Sheriff in Town (NSIT). For him, there’s definitely no fallback position. Even he, himself, would not believe his senses about becoming a governor. So, to those who made it possible, he owes nothing but total loyalty and dedication – the type Luca Brasi gave to Don Coleone!

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He would do the unthinkable, if he felt it was necessary. He would do it and leave the rest to the likes of Adams Oshiohmole and Kassim Afegbua to do the explaining. After all, they not only have the key, but the full explanation of how he became governor.

Besides, by the time you’re reading this, Nyesom Wike, must have been holding court at the Dennis Osadebey House in Benin. Figure that in, and the picture become clearer as to why not only, Obi, but Nigerians entirely should be apprehensive.

I repeat, it will be a fatal error to believe that Okpebholo’s was just engaged in political talks. He’s definitely not making an empty threat. He has told anyone that cared that he was not joking that Obi must not venture into the state without his approval. It’s left to you to ascertain if such approval would ever be given in the first place.

Okpebholo, like the bird dancing in the middle of the road, which has its drummers in the bush, also has the godfathers goading him on. And like the child sent by his father to steal, he will break the door with his feet, fearing no consequences.

Instead of daring him to act, he must be stopped from acting. When a Luca Brasi is sent on a mission, he doesn’t leave it unaccomplished. He either does it or dies trying. And when he raises a weapon, don’t dare him. He’ll use it. Don’t dare Okpebholo. Iti-boribo ajoka!

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So, Daddy Freeze as an Honest Bunch anchor, claimed that Peter Obi was MD of NPA under Sani Abacha. What sort of human beings do we have in Nigeria these days?

Pray! Is it that he doesn’t know or ought to not know, who the MD of NPA was, at any point, which is supposed to be a public record? And you’re hosting such an influential platform? What a disgrace!

What is he doing there? Why not concentrate on feasting on the ignorance of Nigerians that populate that his regular show? I thought he was already making a kill there with the type of wealth I see him flaunting – in expensive cars and exotic wristwatches, mimicking the likes of Dino Melaye? Oh! I forget that for Nigerians, money can never be enough.

But why go to such show like the Honest Bunch, which has managed to keep some measures of level-headedness as one of the prime podcasts shows in Nigeria today? Is it to disfigure or pollute it? And why would the management, which was so sensitive as to expel Nedu, the man Daddy Freeze took over from, over what appears an honest mistake, in order to maintain its integrity, keep him a minute longer having committed such a fatal sacrilege, obviously in order to please someone somewhere?

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Imagine Peter Obi, as MD of NPA – Nigeria Ports Authority. He didn’t even retain the ugly lies other goons like him have been telling and retelling for years now, in attempt to pin something on Obi, albeit unsuccessfully. He had to take his own a nudge higher by claiming that he was an MD – Managing Director! DAMN!

And to try to couch it with the usual lullaby to serenade his audience – a gambit the growing members of his club like that other one that calls himself Seyi Law, usually throw up to try and hoodwink Nigerians – I’ve no problem with Peter Obi, I like Peter Obi, but I can’t bring myself to think that he once worked with Abacha – he was once the Managing Director of NPA! What a shame!

He even accused Obi of being responsible for the toxic fuel that was once brought into Nigeria under the same Abacha, claiming that there was no way he, as the head of the NPA then, could pass the integrity question.

Here is part of his exact words: “My greatest criticism of Obi – I love him as a person – I think he’s brilliant, but I can’t divorce him from the fact that he worked hand in hand with Abacha. He was the MD of the (National) Ports Authority under a regime like General Sani Abacha’s regime. We know that in this world, corruption of a country starts at its ports.

“How can we have this great, fantastic political leader, who is a saint today, but worked with General Abacha?… There is no way we can divorce this Abacha – you cannot be a head of ports and you tell me…” Such crawling ignorance! All in a bid to achieve what?

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Meanwhile, what’s his own record that he feels, qualifies him to clean Peter Obi’s shoes in terms of integrity? Is it not the same man a court in Port Harcourt once ordered to pay N5millon to his fellow man, as fine for committing adultery with his wife and coveting the same woman as his own wife? Was he not the same man that travelled to the UK to dine and wine with Hushpuppy, a criminal convict, currently serving jail term in the US?

So, parading this awful moral travesty, he still finds it in his own head to stand in judgement over other people on matters of integrity – no less a person as clean as whistle, such as Peter Obi – the only known politician in Nigeria who has dared anybody including those in authority to scrutinise his record on the pain of resigning his political aspiration if anything could be found to indict him! What a world – a Nigerian world!

If I didn’t see the video myself, I wouldn’t have believed that the man who I thought was highly intelligent, the way he carries on, and coming from a family of intellectual parantage, would fall into such a trap. But here was he, displaying such a disgraceful outing. I ask again, what is he still doing there in the Honest Bunch? Did Nedu’s error equal the fatal hara-kiri he just committed to be thrown out?

Naturally, his own programme on social media fits into his persona, because there, morality takes the backseat. Nobody talks about morals at strip clubs or of a musician having women’s underwear thrown at them while performing on stage. If he even stopped at restating this particular lie that Peter Obi worked with Abacha and left it at that, it would have been acceptable. But standing on an apparent high-ground to suggest that he doesn’t like him because he did, is like a prostitute complaining that her colleague snatched her customer. Quo warranto?

I hope Daddy Freeze actually appealed that case and got a reprieve from a higher court. Because if he didn’t, the implications are grave. It means he cannot sue anyone for libel because there won’t be any integrity to protect. It also means he cannot stand surety for anybody. All that is required, if he did, is for his traducer to raise the issue of that judgement and the document he signed becomes as worthless as a toilet paper. I hope someone, particularly his lawyers have adverted his mind to this. They should, if they hadn’t.

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My advice: Aburo, Daddy Freeze, keep your support about Obi! Balogun market doesn’t recognise that one trader did not come to the market. You’re permitted, like Reno Omokri and Seyi law, et al, to trend with his name and make plenty dollars doing so. But you have to device other reasons like others have done for doing so. Never you go moral. Because that is the department where you score zero – bankrupt, I mean.

Indeed, your own case is even worse on this score, because unlike you, Reno Omokri and Seyi Law, are not on record to have been found guilty of such grave malfeasance as you were once recorded. So, if it happens that anyone had approached you to feast on Obi – if they had not done so, it is a matter of time before they come knocking – and supposing that is indeed what you’re angling for – never you wax moral. Find another reason. That way, you can chop the money they paid you jejee? I na acha ka utu ocha!

My name is Sunny Igboanugo, I’m The Tiny Voice

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By Sunny Igboanugo

Okey Akaneme, former President of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce Industries Mines and Agriculture (ONICCIMA), has finally gone to meet his maker.

His damning fate, encapsulates the entire sad tale of Anambra State under the supervision of Charles Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State since March 17, 2022 till date.

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The Story: On October 11, 2024 men of the Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA) paid him a midday visit. That was the last time he functioned as a normal person. The rest of his days were spent in a vegetative state from one hospital to the other in Anambra and Enugu.

The ASWAMA men, having delivered their trademark blow, left his spine broken and and rendered him permanently dysfunctional until he finally gave up, ending the earthly agony.

Perhaps he could have lived longer, but the last time I heard about him, he had been abandoned at, I heard, Park Lane Hospital, Enugu. The Anambra State Government, which reluctantly intervened after a long period of public outrage, forgot, failed or outrightly refused to pay further hospital bills.

I hear also that before their intervention, Akaneme’s family had spent all they had, including selling off family properties to raise money to save his life, to no avail.

Now, everything is gone – loving husband, father and breadwinner – gone – leaving family in distress – physically – emotionally – financially!

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The culprits? Nothing! Nada! Mum is the word at government quarters. The last I heard of the official side was that the “Government is investigating.” Meanwhile life goes on. More parties to celebrate the mint-₦150billion Government House!

If you’re waiting for the devils that went on that mission and delivered that lethal blow of October 11, 2024 to be rounded up, prosecuted and deservedly locked away from a decent human society, then you’re in for a long wait.

Your answer might come in a different society and probably the next generation. You might just try the International Criminal Court )ICC) at The Hague.

If you’re waiting for emotional compensation in terms of visitation to the family or official apology since the atrocity bears the imprimatur of government, directly or vicariously, then you’re talking about a different Anambra.

As I write this amid droplets of tears for Akaneme and other victims, the streets of Awka and many communities are swarming with thugs, toughies, and roughnecks wielding all manner crude weapons which they freely employ on citizens at the slightest excuse or no excuse at all, other than just animalistic pleasure – pure sports and entertainment.

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The other day it was Enugwu-Ukwu and the other, Obosi, where the Men of Aka-Odo – a dangerous brand of ruffians with the modus operandi of torturing their victims with wooden pestles, deliberately aimed at the tendons, calves and knee-caps to inflict maximum pains and cause temporary or permanent paralysis – reportedly came calling and eventually left in their trails their usual imprint of destruction – weeping, wailing, mourning and gnashing of the teeth.

So, don’t wait! Expecting any form of civility, humane treatment or empathy in the instant case is like pleading for sympathy in the captivity of those blood-thirsty terrorists strutting the landscape of Nigeria. Don’t even go there.

It means you’re yet to appreciate the tenor of those in charge. It means you’re still sucked-in by the noise you hear about the totally Audio Performance. It means you’re still blind to the arrogance – the selfishness – the self-conceitedness – the loath-inspired Pull Him Down (PHC) syndrome at Agu Awka.

It means you’re on all fours with the cluelessness that suggests that the best and only way to generate revenue by the government, is to chance on common citizens trying to eke out a living in the streets of Amawbia, Nnewi and Ekwulobia and give them the Aka-odo treatment or swoop on the managers of the few surviving enterprises in Awka and Onitsha, still deeply thinking about how to pay the next salaries and give them the Akanaeme treatment.

It means you’re what they say you are – uneducated mumu, the derisive name they call you in open and in the private and think you truly deserve, for your inability to think outside the box and for following them sheepishly, unable to change your destiny by taking it in your hand.

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If you’re still detained by the alluring feeling that you have a Professor who will professor well and deliver to you the Dubai-Taiwan of Africa, then the joke is on you.

In an era where these Professors, in fact, Vice Chancellors of universities – the highest job for an academic – are procured to write, collate and announce fake results and create outcomes capable of consuming their country, as is now evident in Nigeria, just because they want to join the club of SUV owners and own buildings in Abuja and other big towns, what else do we have left as dividends of academic attainments?

If you’re not yet appalled by the fact that a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is currently struggling with one complete illiterate counterpart who could not even pronounce the figures in a state budget before the House of Assembly, on how many roads he has built – a routine activity even a complete imbecile could do – then you’re part of the problem.

If you’re convinced that it doesn’t amount to monumental failure that a former CBN governor has not attracted a single local industry let alone one that mimics global concerns like Huawei, Microsoft or Tesla, which is really why he was hired in the first place, having promised to do so – take a bow of ignominy.

If you also thought as you quaffed the O Mpa in your glass, or sipped your Hero Malt that the only reward the architect who made it possible that they are readily available on your table and at your weddings and burials, is deserving of, is to be pulled down and concerned to political ruins by the ex-CBN boss, to satisfy his whims and jealousy-influenced inordinate desires, despite his own zero performance on the same score – good luck to you on the road to infamy.

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If you thought that the hands that wrought this horrible fate on Okechukwu Akaneme should be strengthened and it’s your remit to help in doing so, just know that even at work in the social home in England taking care of the elderly or in the US court crusading for justice for the immigrants struggling to escape the hammer of Donald Trump or at Jankara, Ladipo in Lagos or Sabongeri in Kano or Ogbete Enugu or Eke Oka, Orie Amaesi, Nkwo-Igbo, Eke Ekwulobia – as long as you say yes – the joke is on you.

Don’t say aka m adighi ya, I furu m ebe ahu? You can’t escape it. You share in the culpability. You are liable. You are guilty. Your hand dey there. Because there will be more Akanemes!

There’s only way to not only to escape culpability in the instant case but prevent future Akanemes and other unknown victims – Punish the hands that did this evil.

Stop the wickedness at Agu Awka. End the cluelessness. Olusegun Obasanjo warned Nigerians in 2019 with Muhammadu Buhari not to reinforce failure. The result of not heeding that warning is there, obvious for the world to see today.

Isn’t the same warning apt in Anambra as we stare at each other and wonder what manner of a Professor thinks that Aka-Odo is the best model of generating revenue? Must we then reinforce failure? If yes, good luck, if no, you know what to do. I don’t need to tell you.

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As Okari Obodo – that dangerous masquerade in my community, was always wont in warning parents – Onwehi onye ma onye o je awu nnwaya – translated – nobody knows whose child is next. I’ve done my part.

May the soul of Okechukwu Akaneme and the souls of other victims of Agu Awka atrocities, rest in peace. Amen _ The Tiny Voice!