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OF CITY PEOPLE’s LIES ( OPINION)
OF CITY PEOPLE’s LIES ( OPINION)
Some men are like sunshine, they illuminate the faces; some men are like the rain, they make people grow; some are like hurricane, they wreak havoc, and yet others are like the flood, they destroy everything on their path – Chinese proverb
In spite of the futility of the efforts to disparage the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun by its traducers, the poorly-written and disjointed piece titled, “WHY MANY OGUN POLITICIANS ARE ANGRY WITH GOV. ABIODUN” in the 22 November, 2021 of the City People Magazine was a part of the media onslaught that was masterminded to up the ante. This is more so because of its timing to coincide with a critical period of projecting the image of those who are interested in the “Oke Mosan 2023”. Whereas, there is no vacancy.
They tried in the past and failed. This is God’s project and from the look of things, it seems the hack writers are bellyaching over the rising profile of Prince Abiodun and the series of reports by more competent researchers, verifiable pundits and writers who averred that the governor deserves a second term.
Since the failed attempt to scuttle the mandate bestowed on Prince Abiodun in April 2019 at the polls and in court and the pull-him-down tactics of opposition elements (even within the All Progressives’ Party in the State) could not hold water and recent opinion polls by major newspapers and platforms suggest the governor was on a roller coaster back to Oke Mosan in 2023, some politicians have not had any rest.
Interestingly, to the utter consternation of its sponsors, the energy and resources invested in the project amounted to a sheer waste of time. At best, it was akin to shaking the giant Olumo Rock to gain dewdrops. The rock remains strong and unscathed by the undiluted lies and half-truths that are strewn throughout the putrid piece. Well, the magazine is a soft-sell magazine: it is only an unserious person that will write a supposedly serious political piece in it.
The pathetic piece opened with, “These days, in Ogun State, when you see politicians gather in twos and threes, most of the time, their topic of discussion is usually about Gov. Dapo Abiodun, the Ogun State Governor.” This is a pedestrian statement without a supporting fact or figure. Visibly, it is deliberately concocted to suit the false narrative. The writer continued: “They argue that to enable the governor win in 2019, he promised many groups who worked for him and those who collaborated with him, things that he has not fulfilled.,” “Why many politicians are angry is also because all the far-reaching changes he promised when he came in have not been fulfilled. For instance, he promised to correct all the shortcomings of his predecessors (Amosun) in terms of reaching out to party faithful at the Wards and local government levels, but he has abandoned them, with the effect that a lot of party members at the various levels have become very frustrated. Even the elders of the party are unhappy too.” This clearly shows the handiwork of some disgruntled politicians who want the Governor to place politicians above the good people of the state who have elected him and, that, he is responsible to. It is time we separated politics from serving the good people of a state who deserve to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
Unlike the respected ThisDay newspaper that published “Opposition Bellyaching, Abidoun deserves a second term” or “Abiodun: Boardroom as a Political Tactician” published by the authoritative Cable newspaper or even the empirical vox pop titled “Dapo Abiodun deserves second term, say Ogun residents” conducted by Hassan Muaz first published by Eagleonline and widely syndicated across many political journals and online platforms globally, the hack writer laboured in vain to put a name to all insinuations made.
Discursively, taking the recurrent phrase “they say” into consideration, it is crystal clear that the piece is predicated on hearsay/beer-parlour gist. Additionally, by the writer’s jaundiced conclusion that, “For quite some time now, Amosun has emerged as the alternative governor in the state. He is the one that party members go to for support. His Abeokuta GRA house has been turned into a Mecca, as he attends to the requests of people on a daily basis. At festive periods, his house is where party faithful go to and they usually leave with goodie bags of basic human needs for their families.” shows their failed attempt at branding the power-wrestling former Governor of Ogun State and the packaging of Hon. Ladi Adebutu all in a futile attempt to project the name of their candidate in the media.
One wonders where the alienation theorists got their hypothesis from? They further claim that “even his Commissioners & Special Advisers find it difficult to reach him on important matters. They say he only sees those he wants to see. Part of the allegation is that he does not give them free hand to do anything and he has not empowered them financially to spend when they need to, on the running of their offices”.
Of course, the Commissioners are on the same page with their principal who understands that their welfare is of essence. All the Governor’s team meet him, at least once in a week for State Executive Council meeting and anytime any matter of urgent importance arises, they have unfettered access to the principal. To state that they are not empowered is a misnomer. Ogun State has owed no salary under Prince Abiodun and they all receive other pecks like monthly allowances, office imprests, running cost and other ancillary benefits that they deserve. If the writer wants the Governor to open the State vault for his appointees so that they can slot in corruption charges against the governor they will wait in vain for the man that lay in wait by the river to see when the crab will sleep!
The mission is clear to sow a seed of discord between the members of the APC which the Governor is ably leading, rip apart the successful inclusive governance which all politicians, administrators, statesmen, professionals, industrialist, market women and women, as well as youths, students and opinion leaders have keyed into to have easy access to the people’s commonwealth. No, it won’t work.
From the foregoing, a lesson is visible: the project failed partly because it was deceitful and an overkill. The piece dropped without a whimper. The social media that should have ordinarily buzzed ignored it like a plague.
Also, every incident is always either a blessing or a lesson. The Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has every reason to consider it a blessing on the one hand for having free publicity. As it happens in literary and other criticisms, every criticism ultimately is an indirect projection of its object. The most criticized works ultimately become the most popular and the critics of the Governor have to be thanked for contributing to the prominence and visibility the Governor enjoys.
Finally, as usual, they have failed again at their attempt to drag the white garment of the Governor through the mire. Afterall, no one stones a tree that bears sour fruits but everyone stones the tree that bears tasty fruits. Abiodun is a tasty fruit, it is no surprise that detractors would not give him a breathing space.
Again, the writer LIED
celebrity radar - gossips
From Friendship to Tragedy: IBB Recounts Executing Childhood Friend Mamman Vatsa
From Friendship to Tragedy: IBB Recounts Executing Childhood Friend Mamman Vatsa
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
“When Loyalty Clashes with Duty; IBB Reflects on Betrayal, Heartbreak and the Heavy Burden of Leadership”
In his recently published autobiography, A Journey of Service, former Nigerian military ruler Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida has opened up about the heart-wrenching decision to execute his childhood friend, General Mamman Vatsa, following a failed coup plot in 1986.
Released on February 20, 2025, Babangida’s memoir provides an unprecedented glimpse into the emotional struggle of balancing personal loyalty with national security. He recalls first hearing rumors of a coup allegedly involving Vatsa, which he initially dismissed as the result of jealousy or political rivalry. However, further investigations and consultations with senior officers (including Generals Nasko, Garba Duba, and Wushishi) uncovered evidence that Vatsa had provided funds to other officers to further the coup plan.
The plot, Babangida recounts, involved bombing Lagos’ Eko Bridge, disrupting Air Force operations, and targeting the presidential aircraft, actions that threatened the stability of the nation. Vatsa had attempted to explain his financial involvement as a contribution to a farming project, but Babangida said the evidence from covert investigations was undeniable.
Reflecting on his personal anguish, Babangida admitted, “I experienced a profound personal sense of betrayal. They had orchestrated a violent coup that threatened to shroud the nation in darkness. I faced an impossible choice: save a friend’s life or safeguard the future of my country.” Despite their shared youth and years of friendship in Minna, Babangida prioritized national stability over personal grief.
Vatsa’s execution in March 1986, alongside other coup plotters, left a deep personal void for Babangida, who described the loss as both “a personal tragedy” and a necessary step to protect Nigeria. He emphasized that the unity of the armed forces and the nation’s survival outweighed private sorrow, insisting that the rule of law and the demands of national security must take precedence over friendship.
The former military ruler also highlighted later attempts to politicize the incident, stating that some officers were displeased with Vatsa’s appointment as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory due to lingering perceptions about past coups. Nonetheless, Babangida maintained he had always sought to honor their friendship, accommodating Vatsa’s personality and character wherever possible. “I stayed loyal to our friendship and went above and beyond to accommodate his excesses and boisterous behavior,” he wrote.
Scholars and historians reviewing Babangida’s account note that the execution of a childhood friend underscores the extraordinary pressures faced by leaders during periods of national crisis, highlighting the intersection of personal ethics and state responsibilities. Dr. Chukwuemeka Okeke, a Nigerian historian, commented, “IBB’s narrative shows the stark reality of leadership in times of upheaval. Personal relationships, even lifelong friendships, can be overshadowed by national imperatives.”
Babangida’s account provides a rare, candid exploration of the emotional burden borne by leaders forced to make life-and-death decisions. The memoir paints Vatsa not only as a friend but also as a symbol of the painful sacrifices that leadership demands, illustrating the complexities of governance in a nation fraught with political instability and internal dissent.
Ultimately, A Journey of Service chronicles a delicate balance: the tension between human attachment and the responsibility to safeguard a nation. The story of Vatsa’s execution is a stark reminder that the path of leadership is often laden with moral dilemmas and irrevocable decisions, where loyalty to country may exact the ultimate personal cost.
Babangida’s revelation adds a deeply human dimension to historical events that have long been analyzed in military and political textbooks, shedding light on the emotional and ethical struggles of one of Nigeria’s most influential military rulers.
Published on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
FACT CHECK: Viral “Trump Post” Blasting Tinubu Over Maiduguri Bombings is Fake
LAGOS — A viral image circulating on social media, purportedly showing a post by former U.S. President Donald Trump criticizing Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been confirmed as false and digitally manipulated.
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The image, which appeared online late Monday, March 16, 2026, claimed to be a post from Trump’s Truth Social account reacting to a deadly wave of bombings in Maiduguri. While the attacks themselves are real, the alleged international rebuke is entirely fabricated.
Hoax Exposed
The fake post alleged that Trump described Nigeria’s situation as a “TOTAL DISASTER” and criticized Tinubu for being on a “State Visit” to the United Kingdom during a supposed “STATE OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY.”
However, multiple inconsistencies quickly exposed the claim:
Timeline Discrepancy: The post referenced events occurring while Tinubu was already abroad. In reality, the President only departed Abuja for London on Tuesday, March 17—hours after the image began trending.
Design Errors: Analysts identified a suspicious “whitehouse.gov” button embedded in the image—an element not present on the Truth Social platform.
No Verifiable Source: A thorough review of Trump’s official social media accounts and global media reports shows no record of such a statement.
Tinubu’s UK Visit Continues
Despite the security situation at home, the Presidency has confirmed that Tinubu’s scheduled state visit to the United Kingdom will proceed.
The Nigerian leader is expected to be received by King Charles III at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, March 18. The visit marks a notable diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the UK.
The widely shared “Trump post” is a deliberate misinformation attempt, exploiting a real national tragedy to spread false political narratives. Authorities and media observers continue to urge the public to verify information before sharing.
TO MY BROTHER BOBBY DEE by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode
For my brother Bobby Dee (Chief Dele Momodu) to compare President Tinubu to General Sani Abacha and claim that he is a dictator suggests that he is suffering from a degenerating and worrisome level of cognitive dissonance.
I love Dele and God knows I have immense respect for him but he sounded drained, tired and broken and spoke little sense yesterday in his interview with Seun Okinbaloye of Channels TV.
May I humbly suggest to him to try and take a break from politics and political commentary for a while, get his breath back and attempt to overhaul his intellectual engine?
Not only was he uncharitable and disrespectful to the President, the Vice President, the Ministers, the Senators and the newly-appointed Ambassadors, many of whom have far more experience than him in governance and Government, on that programme but he also insulted the collective intelligence of the Nigerian people.
He and his associates in the ADC should focus more on trying to build up their depleted ranks and form a strong opposition that we can look forward to engaging in the field of battle for the 2027 election rather than continously obsesse and talk about what our President and our party is doing.
The ADC cannot even be described as a sinking ship but rather as a badly patched up inflatable plastic life boat that has not even managed to find its bearing or leave the harbour.
It has no engine, no sails, no oars, no captain, no crew, no navigational equipment, no muscle, no firepower, no war chest, no destination and worse of all it is made of rubber and not steel.
How can such an ill-prepared contraption even float let alone do battle?
It cannot possibly survive the rough seas and harsh winds of Nigerian politics because it lacks gravitas, focus, character, intelligence, discipline and strength.
It needs to be built up, better schooled, better trained, better equipped, better educated and better prepared before it can enter the field and before we can even begin to regard it as an opposition party.
Right now it can only be described as a haven and pitiful gathering of vacuous, shallow, intellectual frauds and political renegades who lack foresight and who have no direction.
The fact that they have failed to take off is not Tinubu’s fault, it is theirs.
The fact that political leaders and the Nigerian people are flocking to APC in droves is not only because our President and Vice President are doing well but also because they view the ADC as nothing but a collection of disingenious, desperate and recycled political losers, who are addicted to power, who offer no credible alternative to governance and who, like the three blind mice, are running around in circles, chasing each other’s long, mangy and wrinkled tails with no where to go.
Watching my brother Dele trying to speak for them is pitiful and is even more disconcerting than his assertion that Tinubu will regret his decisions and will be deserted by everyone around him.
The Bible says “who is he that sayeth a thing and it cometh to pass when the Lord God of Hosts has commanded it not?”
Dele should listen to the Holy Spirit instead of to the pagan murmurings, strange whispers, demonic divinations and conjuring projections of the Prophets of Baal and the Witch of Endor.
To be sure Tinubu started well, he is doing well and he will, by the grace of God, end well with no regrets in 2031.
Anything short of that is the counsel of the ungodly and the manifestation and delusions of a diseased and demonised mind.
I appeal to my brother Dele: leave the ranks of the forces of darkness and join us.
You are far too good for the company you are keep.
Your presence in the ranks of the ADC is like that of a gentle, beautiful, well bred, well fed and well manicured flamingo trapped in a sea of ugly, cruel, loud, angry, starving, cackling and relentless crows and vultures.
It does not befit you.
(Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, the author of this essay) is an Ambassador Designate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a former Minister of Aviation, a former Minister of Culture and Tourism, the Sadaukin Shinkafi, the Wakilin Doka Potiskum, the Otunba of Joga Orile, the Aare Ajagunle of Otun Ekiti and a Legal Practioner)
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