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MUST READ!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH PASEDA? By Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji
Politics according to Merriam Webster Dictionary is “the art or science of government or the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy.
The grammarian also define politics as the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government.
Empirically, politics can be said to be activities that relate to influencing actions and policies of a government or getting and keeping power in a government.
It is the work or job of people (such as elected officials) who are part of a government.
Just as I searched and observed with keen interest the calibre and credibility of Nigerian politicians, I discovered that nothing is inseparable from each other.
In Ogun State, a retrospect look at the dozier of past and present leaders of the state create a burning desire to give self assessment with unbias pass mark for those that performed credibly well, which invariably serves as benchmark for successive administrations.
OSOBA: ONE DISAPPOINTMENT, TOO MANY
Since 1999 we attained the fourth republic, Chief Olusegun Osoba who steer the affairs of the State under the political platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD) governed the state with the limited resources available at his disposal despite being an opposition party with Baba Obasanjo PDP at the federal government.
Aremo Osoba provided the needed dividends of democracy for his people and took governance to the door step of the masses especially the rural dwellers through town hall meetings, consultation and provision of social amenities in the rural areas.
Aremo Osoba between 1999-2003 remarkably touched every sector of the state economy to include ; agriculture, education, housing, rural/urban renewal, construction of roads, rural electrification project, donation of transformers to the urban centres, training and empowerment for artisans, provision of drinkable water system, prompt payment of workers salary, non-deduction of workers pension allowance, construction of market centres, empowerment through his wife, Beere Derinsola Osoba where the aged, widows/widowers, youth, artisans, unemployed graduates were assisted among others.
During Osoba’s tenure, the standard of Education in the state was maintained, while tuition fees across the state owned higher institution of learning was invariably minimal and affordable for prospective students and parents, not to mention good standard of living with adequate security.
DANIEL’S TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO THE FRAY
But alas, 2003 born the advent of new political era in Ogun State with the arrival and introduction of Otunba Gbenga Daniel into Ogun politics.
Like the Biblical ‘wonder’ Daniel, Otunba Justus Olugbenga Daniel came like a wild in the burning fire, caught the fancies of both young and old with so many creative concept that upshot him into the minds of the people.
The popular TV advert with the chorus “Ee lo so f’araye peee, Daniel mbo, Ee lo so f’araye pee, Daniel ti de o, Eyin Omo Ogun, ise ma tiya”…..this and many other lofty creativity couple with signages that arrest the thinking faculty of Ogun indigenes both home and abroad, still linger on for those that followed the trend.
OGD as fondly called, came with so much believe and aspiration that with him at the helms of the state affairs, Ogun would become Eldorado within a year.
Infact, such propaganda and gimmicks made people to condemned and rubbished Aremo Segun Osoba’s four year term as fruitless. Even, OGD and his ‘propagandists’ or strategists as the case maybe, whichever way made us believed that, we have been held under bondage and wilderness by Osoba, that within a twinkle of an eye, those O2T (Osoba for 2nd Term) Apostles found it compelling and competitive with enough reasons to switched allegiance to OGD. Bravo!
OGD emergence as the Executive Governor of the Gateway State brought new revolution and dimension to the politics and governance of the state, a standard that became a template for interested occupier/s of Oke-Mosan.
Daniel’s style of leadership and governance could be liken to that of Thai Model of governance whereby the immediate needs of the people were prioritized based on the demand and yearning of the people.
OGD’s administration witnessed tremendous achievements in terms of infrastructure, health, education, judiciary, Sports, economic vibe, massive job creation /employment, etc. That is not my obligation here, let his image makers continue from here.
Lo and behold, in spite of the adulation that greeted such lofty and credible ideas of Otunba Daniel with good implementation; corruption, thuggery, uncivil and overzealousness of few of his aides and unjust killing of innocent citizens of the state rubbished the eight years tenure and public demand for change in Governance.
…AND AMOSUN’S CONSOLIDATED VICTORY
This development however, gave Senator Ibikunle Amosun public sympathy and support after a failed attempt to become Governor in 2007.
Amosun became the State Governor in 2011 after a keenly contested election with Gbenga Daniel’s anointed candidate, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka under People’s Party of Nigeria (PPN). Despite the mouth watering amount spent by the then incumbent (Daniel), the people of the state stood their ground against any imposition and intimidation from the PDP government.
Infact, another interesting scenario of the whole political saga was, inspite of the money distributed by Daniel and his cronies to convince the people to support his candidate, GNI, the people still continue to chant a particular slogan “Pin pin lowo Nasir” PPN (meaning Nasir money is for shared) which became a national anthem in the state.
Amosun emerged with so much expectation that, normalcy would return to the state and livelihood of the people would improve under the new government and party. But today, reversed was the case.
I may not be able to start analysing the events that unfold during the first term in office of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, except for the massive road construction and unnecessary overdo flyover bridges (we all know what is behind it, anyway) at the detriment of other sectors, but let’s give it to him on that, albeit we want to play politics here. In terms of road construction in the State Capital, Abeokuta, Amosun should be scored high, while many road projects in other zones {Yewa and Ijebu) were until now, abandoned. And I also believe that our memories is still very fresh to remember the odds that characterized the first year in office of his second term.
WHERE DID PASEDA GOT IT WRONG?
According to Africa proverb, caution should be taken when a dog that whine its tale to the owner, suddenly started barking, signifies a bad omen. The 2015 general elections in Ogun State created a new aura in the anal of political history of the state. The fact that, Senator Amosun was declared winner of the governorship election was not the focal point, but the hopes and courage for a better tomorrow with the introduction of a charitable and grassroot candidate, the man of the people who has been tagged as the Awolowo of this new dispensation in the person of Otunba Olatunde Rotimi Paseda gave the good people of the state a sigh of relieve that the future is secured and reason to believe in our democracy once again.
Otunba Olatunde Rotimi Paseda, a seasoned administrator and an Engineer by profession, a man with an impeccable character who is God fearing declared his intention to serve the good people of Ogun State in less than six months to the 2015 elections under the platform of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), but came third behind PDP’s governorship candidate, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka.
Immediately after the announcement of the election results, Paseda told who care to listen that, Project 2019 would be another opportunity to save his people from the hardship and inhuman policies the APC government brought upon the state, since then, Otunba Rotimi Paseda became the beautiful bride in Ogun politics that every political Party want to toast.
What then was his sin? Immediately he showed interest in running for 2019 project to change the dwindling fortune of Ogun State with the tagged of ancient state to eldorado of sort, all sort grandeur and mystery started connecting with his name.
The discrepancy between the legend and the reality proved immensely disappointing to those who wanted to believe in their Messiah. Suddenly, Paseda became a household name and the new beautiful bride in Ogun politics.
Ogun State is privileged to have one of the very few leaders with a mind of rendering selfless services to the people of the state. Olatunde Rotimi Paseda is one of the very few with Pa Awolowo’s legacy. ORP has fondly called, so much believe in giving back to the society that produced him. Olatunde Rotimi Paseda is the heir of Late Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, the son of Efunyeloye.
Olatunde Rotimi Paseda is the Moses that has eluded Ogun State and the South-West in times of yore.
Despite the fact that, 2019 is three years away, already the political heat is on and some have started throwing pebbles /dynamite to destroy the personality of Otunba Paseda.
Judging from the ongoing political onslaught, it is crystal clear that, the name Paseda signaled threat and intimidation to the opposition camps. If not, one begin to wonder why the sudden attack on the philanthropist and youth liberator.
The recent facebook political witch-hunt by one political jobber to truncate the chances of Paseda on the order of his pay masters was another decoy to test his popularity, but whether day like it or not, Paseda has come to stay and a household name in Ogun politics today.
The question that came to mind, was that, is their perception about Paseda the standard Ogun state people would use to measure Paseda?
No matter what, Paseda has become a household name in Ogun, a feat which has been enhanced by his recent move to assist the challenged underprivileged people in the state.
Otunba Rotimi Paseda is a born servant leader who exhibits the characteristics that only exceptional people possesses in politics. His humble life is a tapestry of success and accomplishment in all human endeavors. His excellence services in the service of the Lord, humanity and our community have placed him in the league of the few emerging leaders to look forward to lead our people to the promised land come
2019.
Prince Olatunde Rotimi Paseda may not have held any political office in the past, but, his humanitarian gesture cannot be compare with any politicians who live large with government and tax payers money. I stand to be corrected.
Among many other humanitarian services Otunba Paseda rendered through his foundation, Paseda Legacy Foundation include but not limited to, scholarship to 20 Future Promise College Students, provision of six electrical transformers to the neglected Omu – Ijebu community, payment of medical bill of an amputated patient at Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, flying abroad of kidney transplant of 9year-old Oluwatobi Solanke , payment of tuition fees a final year law student of Olabisi Obasanjo University, payment of tuition fee of students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, employment of two best mass communication graduates at his foundation, creation of skill acquisition programme for youths, among many others.
When the hues about his experience originated, I was quick to ask, if OGD had any political inclination before he ventured into politics and governed the state in 2003?
Unfortunately for these Facebook jobbers, Paseda has gone beyond the “Ali goes to school” politics and Pull Him Down antics, he is now being woo by the northerners to be their presidential candidate come 2019, a notion he dismissed instantly. Little wonder, they were quick to bestowed on him, a chieftaincy title of Garkuwan Hausawan of Ogun State to hijack him from the campaign of calumny.
His recent visit to the North-west region of the country, liken him to one of the foremost Nigeria politicians and the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential election, late Chief MKO Abiola, who was more celebrated abroad than home.
While he is being treated fairly at home by the power brokers, he became a toast of both old and young in the Hausa speaking states.
Today, Paseda, the son of a village teacher and Store-keeper now rules the world with his chain of businesses spread across Europe and America where over 2,500 workers were on his payroll monthly, not minding the over bearing cost, Paseda recently recruited additional 3,000 staff to his companies in Nigeria to reduce the high rate of unemployment in the country.
What else needed to be done by this great, but intelligent politician to serve Ogun State and his people? Is it because he had failed to join the array of political manslaughters that made him unqualified?
Is it because he doesn’t have political godfathers who would dictate his mind and rig elections for him?
Those condemnation holds no water, any way, as the persecutors failed to realize that, “One in God, is more than a million”.
According to the prophecy of the late Sage, Obafemi Awolowo wherein he said, “a time is coming where the left and right will come together and form a centralized government”, already such testimony is beginning to manifest in Otunba Olatunde Rotimi Paseda as he is being taunted as the (central) only chain that will connect the powers that be together to form a formidable government that will move Ogun State to greater height irrespective of their political affiliation.
MICHAEL-AZEEZ, is the Director on Communication,
Paseda Legacy Foundation
Ogun Sate.
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Tinubu’s Economic Agenda in Crisis: North-South Divide Strikes Again
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, elected in 2023 on the wings of political calculation and elite manipulation, has now found himself caught in the snare of Nigeria’s enduring historical curse: the north-south divide. His ambitious economic reform agenda, intended to liberalize the economy, remove structural inefficiencies, and reduce government expenditure—has hit a legislative wall. But this isn’t just about policy. This is about power, patronage, and the ancient scars of a fractured federation.
The rejection of critical aspects of Tinubu’s economic proposals by lawmakers is a stinging rebuke, not only to his administration but to the very idea that Nigeria can be reformed from the top down without confronting its structural imbalances. In many ways, Tinubu’s presidency is now facing the same nightmare that has haunted every Nigerian leader since independence: how do you govern a country that was never truly united?
The Crumbling Reform Agenda
At the center of the storm is Tinubu’s proposal to centralize and streamline federal subsidies and remove what he termed “wasteful duplication of agencies.” This was meant to continue the subsidy removal narrative started in June 2023, and reduce fiscal leakage. However, the backlash, particularly from legislators representing the northern states, was swift and coordinated.
The northern bloc, comprising lawmakers from Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Borno, objected on the grounds that Tinubu’s proposals disproportionately affect their regions, where federal allocation remains a critical lifeline in the absence of strong internally generated revenue. But critics argue this is a strategic form of sabotage, aimed at retaining an unsustainable status quo that prioritizes political patronage over national progress.
As Prof. Wale Adebanwi of Oxford University has argued, “Nigeria’s northern elite have historically benefited from the spoils of a rentier state, with oil wealth redistributed without the burden of productive contribution. Any move to reverse this equation is seen as existential.”
Tinubu, a southerner from Lagos, with strong Christian support from the Southwest and Southeast, is now facing the very brick wall that has impeded reforms since the First Republic. His own political survival now depends on how much compromise he’s willing to make—or whether he can break the mold entirely.
A Century-Old Fracture
The rejection of Tinubu’s reforms by northern lawmakers is not new. It is deeply rooted in a century-old tension embedded in the structure of the Nigerian state. The 1914 amalgamation, engineered by British colonialists, fused two vastly different regions, the industrializing, Western-educated Christian south and the feudal, Islamic north, into one artificial political entity.
From independence in 1960, this contradiction has remained unresolved. “Nigeria was created not to function as a cohesive nation, but as an economic convenience for its colonial masters,” noted historian Max Siollun. “What we’re seeing is the consequence of a nation built on convenience rather than consensus.”
The economic priorities of the north and south remain deeply divergent. While the south boasts ports, oil revenue, industries, and a growing tech sector, the north has remained largely agrarian, dependent on federal allocations and political appointments. Any attempt to tamper with this redistribution—whether via subsidy removal or cuts in federal spending, provokes immediate resistance.
Reform vs. Redistribution
Tinubu’s administration promised reforms: subsidy removal, tax reform, and investment in critical infrastructure. But all reforms require sacrifices, and those sacrifices must be nationally distributed to succeed. What Tinubu is discovering, painfully, is that reforms without inclusive buy-in are dead on arrival.
Economist Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili captured the challenge succinctly: “Nigeria’s political economy is structured around the sharing of oil rents, not the creation of wealth. Any attempt to disrupt this structure will provoke fierce opposition from those who depend on the current dysfunction for survival.”
Indeed, the loudest resistance to Tinubu’s reforms has come not from the opposition PDP or Labour Party, but from within his own APC, particularly from northern senators and representatives who feel alienated by the president’s southern-centric economic vision.
The Ghost of Buhari
Many Nigerians are now drawing comparisons between Tinubu’s presidency and that of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, a northern Muslim who governed with overwhelming support from the north. Buhari’s policies favored heavy spending, a bloated civil service, and minimal economic restructuring, a model that created illusions of stability while deepening the economic rot.
“Buhari governed like a tribal chief, rewarding loyalty over competence, and expanding a culture of dependency,” said Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank. “Tinubu’s efforts to break away from that legacy will require courage, strategy, and above all, an appeal to national interest.”
But appealing to national interest in Nigeria is easier said than done. The political class thrives on division. The north fears marginalization, the south resents over-centralization, and the middle belt remains trapped in identity crises. Tinubu, in failing to build a coalition around his reforms, is now paying the price of elite disunity.
The Danger of Ethno-Political Paralysis
The rejection of Tinubu’s agenda is not just a political problem, it is an economic time bomb. Nigeria is drowning in debt, with over 90% of its revenue now going to debt servicing. Inflation is running rampant, the naira has crashed, and unemployment remains alarmingly high. The country cannot afford to maintain the current level of government spending without reform.
But if every economic policy must first pass the tribal test, then reform is doomed. “A nation that filters every economic decision through the lens of ethnicity is a nation marching toward collapse,” warned Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka. “If Nigeria cannot rise above its primordial divisions, it cannot survive the 21st century.”
What Next for Tinubu?
Tinubu’s next steps are critical. Will he revise his reforms to appease northern lawmakers and keep the political peace? Or will he double down, use executive power, and mobilize the Nigerian people behind a populist push for structural change?
There is a middle path, dialogue, renegotiation of the federal structure, and regional empowerment. Many have called for fiscal federalism, where regions generate and control their own revenues, sending only a fraction to the center. This model, already practiced in countries like Canada and the United States, could reduce the perennial tension around federal allocation.
Political economist Ayo Teriba suggests, “Nigeria must move away from revenue-sharing to revenue-generation. That shift requires not just policy but a new national consensus, and that is where Tinubu must lead.”
In conclusion: Lead or Collapse
President Tinubu is at a crossroads. He can continue playing the dangerous game of balancing regional interests with national imperatives, or he can rise above the tribal chessboard and lead with boldness. The north-south divide is not just a historical relic, it is a living cancer that must be addressed through structural reform, not rhetorical appeasement.
The economic reform agenda is not a southern agenda. It is a Nigerian necessity. If lawmakers continue to sabotage reform because it threatens their regional comfort zones, then the entire nation will suffer. As the saying goes, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
In the end, Tinubu must decide: will he be a president of compromise, or a reformer of consequence?
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