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MKO, Buhari, GEJ and Catalogue of Missed Opportunities: Review of ‘As I Was Saying’ by Michael Olatunbosun 

by · The Eagle Online

The book for today is a collection of the author’s commentaries on local, national and global issues. It is titled: As I Was Saying: A Compendium of My Public Intervention Write-Ups about Nigeria (2010-2020),” by Kayode Adejumo-Bello and published in 2021 by Bibliophillia, Ibadan.

The author is a public affairs commentator, a professional biographer and creative writer, with experience in publishing and development of young writers.

In this book, the author writes about personalities, politics, policies, sports, and music. For instance, from the very first chapter of this book, Kayode opens with lamentation-laced musings about the death of Gani Fawehinmi and the failure of the healthcare system to properly diagnose his ailment. The writer writes also about the failure of Nigeria to make the cut for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and wonders that the billions invested in that failed venture would have fixed critical infrastructure here at home. If he was writing today, the author would have added the other world cup misses, including Qatar and the 2026 tournament.

The author muses about his general frustrations regarding the failure of governance in Nigeria and the attendant lack of direction by those in government. 

He writes: “In those days when governance was as basic as building schools, hospitals and roads, our leaders failed us! How much more now that governance has evolved to a sophisticated act of polish/refinement, when you have to build systems and initiate paradigms; to gather intelligence, analyse data, and have development figures at your finger-tips…when you have to be globally compliant and resourceful, and tackle terrorism and natural disasters! And all we have is a GEJ! Boy! We go hear wen!” (P10)

He then follows with a catalogue of missed opportunities, dashed hopes, and how he has never enjoyed any benefit from being a Nigerian, even when he pays taxes and levies.

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In this book, As I Was Saying, Kayode Adejumo-Bello writes copiously about the fuji legend, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. He here presents a fitting eulogy of, and tribute to the exceptional fuji maestro, Agbajelola, his intimate relationship with Barrister, and also makes a case for what he describes as a Barrister Fuji Chamber Museum, stating that it is a must-do project. Making allusions to similar legacy projects like the Queen Victoria Museum, Marcus Garvey Park, WEB Dubois Museum in Central Accra and the Apartheid and Nelson Mandela Museum, Kayode calls upon all critical stakeholders and government to erect such in the name of Barrister to attract tourists and for Nigerian and African diaspora to rediscover their roots. (P86)

In this book, the author writes about places, and their fading facilities, like the Obudu Cattle Ranch. He writes about elections and electioneering in Nigeria, with its concomitant intrigues; about fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity and about Goodluck Jonathan, and his ‘juvenile politics’. The author particularly shows in this work, his dislike for the man. In one of the chapters of the book, the author writes that Jonathan lacks the pace required of this dispensation. In fact, he insists: “He won’t have no blame if in 4 years, all he has to show is more of nothing…”

The author also writes for and about various persons in this book. Such persons include Ojukwu, Rashidi Yekini, and MKO Abiola. Talking about MKO, the author thinks it is a great disservice to humanity and the memory of Abiola that he did not write an autobiography. For the author, without any biography in his name, Abiola :will count no more than mere myth in a few years to come.” (P34)

In this book, the author writes about yet more political figures in the country. He writes about Aketi, late Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, as the next big thing in Nigerian politics, about Senator Femi Lanlehin and his cross-carpeting acts, and Ayodele Fayose, whose guts and ability to pamper the masses the author salutes. The author writes also about the poise and polish of Dr Bukola Saraki. The author also dedicates space in this book to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (current President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria), his exploits during the NADECO years, the 2003 conquest against Obasanjo and strikingly potent strategies he praises. The author also plays up his advocacy for Seyi Makinde to be given the Oyo PDP gubernatorial ticket in 2015. There is also Kayode’s roll call of politicians, including essays on Akinwumi Ambode and Babatunde Fashola.

In this book, the author laments the poverty that pervades the land. For him, poverty is a culture and philosophy that has become an entrenched government policy in statesmanship. His dirge here is that our existence is a “continuum of everyday sorrow, tears and blood” and life is short, cruel and brutish. (P43)

However, the author posits that the crux of the matter is that to get out of poverty is through appropriate knowledge, that is, the elevation of education. But he believes that the failure is more about our poor or lack of reading culture – our aversion to books.

In the book, the author also writes extensively about two personalities: Atiku Abubakar and Muhammadu Buhari. In the book, the author states that in 2015, the two needed to contend with formidable scepticism, character questions, and unsavoury public opinion. While he seems to have the same perspective about Atiku, he seems to have changed his mind about Muhammadu Buhari the candidate and the president. Or has he?

In some sections of the book, As I Was Saying, Adejumo-Bello appears to have very long canes for the Nigerian brand of religiosity. 

He writes: “We became a nation of cannibals and charlatans. Yet we can’t stop peddling God! … Now we cannibalise one another – and we are all Bible/Qur’an carriers! No more trust. No more reliability… so much God, so little goodness!” In the other section of the book, tagged Religion has Failed.. So, so Resoundingly!, the author writes that we need to dump the two religions and find the one true God.

In a scathing thesis about the dearth of leadership in the country, the author regrets that “what we have now are rulers with their big, bulging pot bellies filled with the corrupt enrichment and a feast upon our common patrimony.” And he has very harsh words for Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida whom he describes here as a deluded dribbler.

Ultimately, this book is a collection of the author’s musings about various issues about which the author has strong opinions, and he has been able to perfectly drive home his points. There are over 76 different issues covered in the book, and in 160 pages, the author powerfully pushes his points convincingly, and in conversational, non-formal English for the delight of all.

. Olatunbosun can be reached via 0802-351-7565 (SMS and WhatsApp only) and miketunbosun74@gmail.com.

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