society
A LESSON FROM THE PAST: THE HIGH COST OF HOSPITALITY
A LESSON FROM THE PAST: THE HIGH COST OF HOSPITALITY.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
“How Nigeria’s Historical Amnesia Is Opening the Door to a Dangerous Future.”
History is not just a COLLECTION of OLD STORIES; it is a mirror. A nation that refuses to look into that mirror does not only forget where it is coming from; it blindly walks into the very dangers its ancestors once confronted. Nigeria, regrettably, is a perfect example of this self-inflicted blindness. We trivialize history, we suppress facts and we pretend that ancient patterns no longer matter. Though history does not expire. It repeats itself (brutally) when ignored.
As philosopher George Santayana warned, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Today, Nigeria stands on the edge of that repetition, replaying a script written over 200 years ago, which is the tragic CONSEQUENCES of HOSPITALITY.
THE BEGINNING OF A PATTERN: 1804 AND THE FALL OF THE HAUSA KINGDOMS. In 1804, King Yunfa of Gobir, in present-day Sokoto, opened his doors to a wandering Islamic scholar and his followers. His name was Usman Dan Fodio. His reputation at the time was that of a peaceful, devout reformer. His intentions, however, were far deeper and more strategic than anyone anticipated.
What began as peaceful coexistence between host and guest quickly evolved into tension, rebellion and ultimately, war. By 1808 (barely four years later) King Yunfa was dead, Gobir had fallen and the ONCE-PROUD HAUSA STATES had been conquered. The Sokoto Caliphate emerged, with Dan Fodio at its head. Hausa kings were dethroned; Fulani emirs filled their thrones.
Renowned historian Murray Last describes the Sokoto takeover as “the most sweeping political revolution ever witnessed in West Africa.” HOSPITALITY had TRANSFORMED into OCCUPATION. FRIENDSHIP became DOMINATION. A VISITOR became a RULER. This was not just ISLAMIZATION; it was strategic conquest executed through patience, infiltration and eventual force.
THE CASE OF ILORIN: HOW AN ALLIANCE BECAME A TAKEOVER. The same pattern replayed itself in Ilorin. Afonja, the powerful Yoruba warlord of Oyo, invited a Fulani cleric and warrior named Janta Alimi for support in his political battle. Though alliances without foresight are the quickest pathways to betrayal.
By 1824, Afonja lay dead; murdered by the same Fulani forces he had welcomed. Ilorin, once a proud Yoruba town, became an emirate under the control of the Sokoto Caliphate. It remains so till this day. Every attempt by descendants of the Afonja lineage to reclaim their ancestral throne has failed.
The historian Samuel Johnson, in The History of the Yorubas, warned: “Afonja sowed the seeds of his own destruction by trusting a stranger with the keys to his kingdom.” Nigeria, in 2025, is repeating this exact MISTAKE only MODERNIZED.
THE PEOPLE WHO RESISTED AND WHY THEY STILL MATTER. Not all kingdoms fell. Some learned quickly; others fought fiercely.
The Yoruba Stand at Osogbo in 1840 when the Fulani jihadists attempted to push deeper into OYO TERRITORY, Yoruba forces under the command of Ibadan halted them at the decisive BATTLE of OSOGBO in 1840. This battle is one of the most important, yet RARELY TAUGHT, in Nigerian history. Had the Yoruba lost that day, places like IBADAN, ABEOKUTA, ILESHA, AKURE, OWO, ADO and even BENIN might have been absorbed into the Caliphate.
The Benin Kingdom; A Wall That Refused to Fall. The Benin Empire also resisted multiple northern incursions. Scholars note that the Edo military structure was one of the strongest in West Africa at the time, preventing Fulani penetration beyond certain parts of Edo North.
The historian Jacob Ade Ajayi famously remarked:
“If Benin had fallen, the map of Nigeria (culturally, politically and religiously) would look dramatically different today.” Resistance saved the identity of millions.
THE CONTINUATION OF A STRATEGY; DISGUISED IN MODERN POLITICAL LANGUAGE. Fast-forward to the present. What swords and horses achieved in the 1800s is now being pursued with LAWS, POLICIES, SETTLEMENTS and POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS. The BATTLEGROUND has changed; the STRATEGY has not.
IT OFTEN BEGINS INNOCENTLY:
“We need land for grazing.”
“We need grazing routes.”
“We need pastoral settlements.”
“We need RUGA.”
“We need livestock transformation zones.”
Though OBSERVERS and ANALYSTS are not fooled. Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, the late economist and former CBN Deputy Governor, warned before his death:
“There is a deeper agenda behind the herdsmen crisis. This is not just grazing; it is territorial expansion.” His words ring louder today than ever.
WHEN SETTLEMENTS BECOME POLITICAL FORTRESSES. History teaches that settlements become communities, communities become political blocs and political blocs become power structures. From there, local chiefs are installed, votes are consolidated and the CYCLE of DOMINANCE begins. Anyone who dismisses this as a CONSPIRACY THEORY should examine what has already happened in:
Bassa
Bokkos
Mangu
Riyom
Barkin Ladi
Jos North
JOS (once the pride of the Middle Belt, a peaceful melting pot) descended into decades of violence tied to land claims, demographic shifts and ethnic assertion. The Middle Belt has been bleeding for years because people refused to read the handwriting early.
The renowned political scientist, Prof. Toyin Falola, notes: “The struggle for land in Nigeria is the struggle for power. Whoever controls land controls identity, culture and the future.” This is the same playbook of 1804; only MODERNIZED, LEGALIZED and DISGUISED.
THE REAL DANGER: THE FUTURE MAP OF NIGERIA. If this pattern continues unchecked, Nigerians may soon wake up to:
Emirs in Enugu
Emirs in Owerri
Emirs in Agatu
Emirs in Abeokuta
Emirs in Benin City
THINK IT IS IMPOSSIBLE?
King Yunfa thought so too; until Dan Fodio dethroned him.
Afonja believed he was in control; until Janta Alimi overpowered him. History is not prophecy, but it is a warning.
THE GRAZING BILL — A SOLUTION OR A STRATEGY? One analyst captured it perfectly:
“The GRAZING BILL is not a SOLUTION; it is a STRATEGY.”
Create a crisis.
Propose a “SOLUTION.”
Use legislation to legalize the agenda.
It is a political trick as old as civilization. And it works every time when a people are asleep.
OUR GENERATION’S RESPONSIBILITY: TO REMEMBER AND TO ACT. The tragedy of Nigeria is not only political corruption or bad leadership; there is also HISTORICAL IGNORANCE. We teach everything except the very things that matter. We hide the truth from classrooms and expect students to understand the dangers around them.
HISTORY must RETURN to our CURRICULUM not as a DECORATIVE SUBJECT but as a SURVIVAL MANUAL. As Chinua Achebe once said, “A people who do not know where the rain began to beat them cannot know where they dried their bodies.” Today, the rain is falling again and we pretend we cannot feel it.
FINAL WARNING FROM HISTORY: HISTORY IS KNOCKING; WILL WE ANSWER? The story of Nigeria is filled with warnings carved into the bones of those who paid the price for trusting too easily and resisting too late. The patterns of the past are resurfacing in our present. The LINES are IDENTICAL; only the ACTORS have changed.
HOSPITALITY is a VIRTUE. NAIVETY is a DISASTER.
Nigeria must learn the difference or history will teach it again, the hard way.
Let us BE wise. Let us BE aware. Spread the word.
History is knocking; and this time, we cannot afford to ignore it.
society
Governor Dauda Lawal Hails Troops for Successful Fight against Banditry, Terrorism across Zamfara State
Governor Dauda Lawal Hails Troops for Successful Fight against Banditry, Terrorism across Zamfara State
Governor Dauda Lawal has commended the troops of the Joint Task Force (North West) Operation Fansan Yamma for achieving significant operational successes against bandits in Zamfara State. The troops of the Joint Task Force launched an elaborate and coordinated onslaught in the early hours of Thursday, May 7, 2026, in the Kaura Namoda and Birnin Magaji Local Government Areas of Zamfara State. Following the encounter, troops effectively neutralised three gang leaders and recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition, which included an AK-47 rifle, a machine gun, a locally fabricated handgun, seven rifle magazines and a total of 571 rounds of ammunition.
Governor Lawal described the renewed military offensive as timely, particularly due to the successful operation recorded on May 10, 2026, which disrupted a significant gathering of notorious terrorist leaders and neutralised several commanders. The troops acted on an intelligence report that confirmed that the terrorists had converged at a concealed location in Tumfa Village, Shinkafi Local Government Area, with the intention to coordinate attacks and criminal activities targeting innocent communities in the state. The Air Component launched a precision airstrike on the identified terrorist hideout that successfully destroyed the structure, which served as the terrorists’ meeting point. The governor further reiterates Zamfara State Government’s commitment to ongoing support and logistics for the military and other security agencies operating in the state.
Old Students Association rejects alleged commercialisation of Unity School land
By Ifeoma Ikem
The Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) has rejected the alleged commercialisation of any unity schools land under the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) initiative.
The association made its displeasure known during their awareness walk to protest the concession of the 33 hectares of land belonging to Federal Government College (FGC) Kano yesterday in Lagos.
The members were carrying placards, some of which read “PPP: Save the Future”, “Protect Unity Schools”, “PPP must serve Education not land conversion” and “Schools are not for Real Estate”.
President-General of the Unity Schools Old Students Association USOSA Michael Magaji says Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) was designed to improve public institutions, and not strip them of assets or reduce their land.
Over 60 Unity schools members were drawn from across the nation for the awareness walk to protest against the alleged sale of the school lands.
The P-G said the association was advocating for a sustainable funding model that would preserve educational assets while improving infrastructure, manpower and learning conditions.
“Our coming together is to restore the lost glory of Unity Schools and strengthen Nigeria’s education system. Unity schools are nation-building institutions that have produced leaders across various sectors.
“Unity Schools were not just about education, they were about integration built not by spectators but by active citizens that believe in one nation.
“ The alumni support PPP but oppose the sale of educational assets. Unity never happens by chance but designed, nurtured and protected,’’ he added.
He added that the awareness walk brought about by the alumni across the nation was also to have a stronger network to revive the vision of the Unity Schools.
Mr Humphrey Nwafor, Lagos Chapter President, Federal Government College, Kano Old Students Association said that they are pushing back against the alleged commercialisation of Unity School lands.
Nwafor pointed out that the 33 hectares of land belonging to FGC Kano was concessioned without adequate consultation with stakeholders.
“We are saying there is a better option. Instead of selling our lands and assets, we would rather fund the schools ourselves.
“If the government says it does not have enough money to run the schools, the old students can provide support without taking one inch of the land,” he said.
According to him, the concession arrangement involving the school’s land will undermine the future of unity schools, which were established in the first place to promote national integration.
“These schools were established to unite Nigerians from different ethnic and religious backgrounds and we are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that public educational assets are protected,” he added.
He called on the Federal Government to leverage alumni networks in addressing funding challenges confronting unity schools.
“We are in solution mode and impact mode and we believe alumni associations should be integrated into the process of repositioning these schools.
“We recently met with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education and discussions are ongoing toward finding mutually beneficial solutions,” he said.
Mr Alex Akindumila, President of FGC Idoani Alumni Association said the concession controversy was a national test of how public assets and educational institutions are being managed.
He said that they are concerned that reducing lands allocated to unity schools could limit future expansion, agricultural projects, sports facilities, technical workshops and staff accommodation.
“The lands allocated to unity schools were deliberate and visionary.“They were designed to ensure that the schools remain self-sustaining and adaptable to future needs.
According to him, when you shrink the land of a unity school, you do not just reduce space, but reduce possibility , reduce ability to run agricultural programs that can feed students and teach enterprise, even the space required for sports facilities that build discipline, health and national pride.
Also, Mrs Ifeoma Okeke, an alumna of FGC Nsukka, called for transparency, due process and stakeholder engagement in any PPP arrangement involving educational institutions.
She said PPP agreements should align with the public purpose of the schools and not diminish their long-term capacity.
“There must be transparency, competitiveness and proper stakeholder engagement in any concession process involving public educational assets,” she said.
society
NAPS Southwest Condemns Delay in Passage of HND,/B.SC Dichotomy Bill, Issues 30 Days Ultimatum to Nigeria Senate and Federal House of Representative
NAPS Southwest Condemns Delay in Passage of HND,/B.SC Dichotomy Bill, Issues 30 Days Ultimatum to Nigeria Senate and Federal House of Representative
The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) Southwest has strongly condemned the continued delay in the passage of the bill aimed at ending the long-standing disparity between Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) qualifications in Nigeria. The association has described the delay as unjust, discriminatory, and harmful to the future of polytechnic education in the country.
The NAPS Southwest expressed deep frustration over what it called the unacceptable silence and inaction from the Nigerian Senate and Federal House of Representatives regarding the bill. The proposed legislation seeks to abolish the dichotomy between HND and B.Sc holders, a divide that has for years limited career progression opportunities for polytechnic graduates, particularly in the public sector.
This ongoing delay represents a significant policy gap that must be urgently addressed. The continued discrimination against HND holders contradicts the principles of equity, fairness, and meritocracy that should define Nigeria’s public service.
For years, polytechnic students and graduates have faced systemic discrimination in employment opportunities, career progression, and societal recognition an injustice that undermines the value of technical and vocational education in national development. The proposed bill represents a critical step toward equity, fairness, and the full recognition of polytechnic education in Nigeria.
We therefore call on the current administration and the National Assembly to prioritize the reintroduction and immediate passage of this critical legislation. Nigeria cannot afford to sideline a significant segment of its skilled workforce due to outdated and discriminatory policies.
It is therefore disheartening that the Nigeria Senate and House of Representatives has yet to act decisively on this matter of urgent national importance. The continued delay raises serious questions about the commitment of lawmakers to addressing the challenges faced by millions of Nigerian youths in the polytechnic system.
The NAPS southwest unequivocally calls on the Senate and House of Representatives to, without further delay, deliberate on and pass the bill to end the HND/B.Sc dichotomy. The future of countless students and graduates depends on this decisive action.
The continued delay in passing this bill is a direct attack on the dignity and future of millions of Nigerian students and graduates, the statement read. We cannot continue to tolerate a system that places artificial barriers on capable individuals simply because of the institution they attended.
Failure to meet this demand will leave NAPS Southwest with no choice but to mobilize Nigerian Polytechnic Students and Graduates across the country for peaceful but firm actions to press home our demands. We are prepared to take all legitimate steps necessary to ensure that justice is served.
NAPS Southwest has therefore issued a strong warning to the Senate and House of Representatives, urging lawmakers to prioritize and immediately pass the bill without further delay. The association made it clear that failure to act promptly would trigger nationwide protests and coordinated actions by Nigerian polytechnic students and graduates.
We urge all relevant stakeholders to initiate comprehensive reforms that will harmonize qualification frameworks, ensure equal opportunities for career advancement, and restore confidence in the civil service system.
NAPS Southwest remains committed to advocating for the rights and dignity of polytechnic students and graduates across Nigeria. We will continue to engage constructively with policymakers and mobilize support until justice is achieved.
Signed
Comr Ogunsola Adewale John
NAPS Southwest Coordinator
+234 704 720 2907
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