society
Operation Uprooting the Seeds of Discord in Africa by Africans
Operation Uprooting the Seeds of Discord in Africa by Africans
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Africa, the cradle of civilization, blessed with an abundance of natural resources, vibrant cultures and a resilient people, remains shackled by the chains of artificial borders, ethnic rivalries, neocolonial puppetry and corruption. These chains are not natural to the continent, they were sown and watered by centuries of colonial conquest and sustained by post-independence complicity. It is time for a radical, pan-African operation; Operation Uprooting the Seeds of Discord in Africa by Africans to reclaim our dignity, sovereignty and future.
Historical Seeds of Division: Colonial Cartography as a Weapon
The so-called Scramble for Africa, formalized in the 1884 –1885 Berlin Conference, was nothing less than a calculated mutilation of African identity. European powers without African representation carved up the continent along arbitrary lines, dividing ethnic groups and lumping incompatible communities together. The Igbo of Nigeria, the Ashanti of Ghana, the Tutsi and Hutu of Rwanda, the Zulu and Xhosa of South Africa, all were manipulated into manufactured rivalries and fragile national structures.
As Professor PLO Lumumba rightly asserts, “Africa is the only continent where borders were drawn in foreign capitals. And we wonder why we don’t have unity.” The colonizers sowed discord to divide and conquer and even after independence, many African leaders maintained the colonial architecture for their personal gain.
Modern-Day Betrayals: African Elites and the Puppet Strings of the West
Post-independence Africa saw a new breed of leaders, many of them more loyal to their former colonial masters than to their own people. Through neo-colonial tactics such as foreign debt, military aid tied to political allegiance and control of extractive industries, Western powers have continued to manipulate African governments.
Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, a rising voice of African resistance, recently declared: “We must stop begging the West for help. Our salvation lies in African solidarity, not in foreign charity.” His bold stance echoes the legacy of Thomas Sankara, who called the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank instruments of economic warfare. It is this courageous defiance of foreign control that must form the nucleus of Operation Uprooting.
Internal Division: The Ethnic and Political Time Bomb
Nowhere are the seeds of discord more dangerous than in the toxic brew of ethnicity and politics. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, stands as a tragic case study. Instead of building a national identity, the ruling elite continues to exploit tribal sentiments to win elections, appoint cronies and suppress dissent. This ethnicization of governance is not unique to Nigeria, it plagues Kenya, South Sudan, Cameroon, Ethiopia and beyond.
Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, once declared: “We cannot continue to blame colonialism for everything. We must take responsibility for our own divisions.” Rwanda, which suffered the 1994 genocide, a horror catalyzed by colonial ethnic labeling is now a model of unity through deliberate nation-building. Under Kagame, ethnic identity cards were abolished and national unity became policy. The lesson: ethnic discord can be uprooted, but only through bold, honest leadership.
Neocolonial Economics: Resources Without Power
Africa possesses 30% of the world’s mineral resources, 60% of arable land and a demographic boom of young minds. Yet it remains home to 33 of the world’s 46 least developed countries, according to the UN. Why? Because Africa exports raw materials and imports finished goods, perpetuating dependency. French control over West African currency through the CFA Franc is a colonial relic that still drains African economies.
As President Patrice Talon of Benin noted: “It is time we took back control of our own monetary policies. France cannot dictate our economic future.” Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have taken steps to kick out French troops and review foreign mining contracts. These are not acts of rebellion, they are acts of liberation.
Media and Education: Minds as Battlegrounds
One of the most insidious forms of colonial legacy is control over education and media. African students still learn more about Shakespeare than Chinua Achebe, more about Napoleon than Shaka Zulu. African children grow up admiring Western heroes and demonizing African resistance fighters.
As Lumumba states, “Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter.” The battle must be waged in classrooms and newsrooms. Operation Uprooting demands a complete overhaul of education systems to center African history, philosophy and innovation. Our languages, our heroes and our truths must be taught with pride.
Military Sovereignty: Ending Dependency on Foreign Guns
The African Union’s standby military force is a noble idea sabotaged by a lack of funding and willpower. When conflicts erupt; whether in Mozambique, the Sahel, or Congo, African governments still run to France, the U.S., or the UN. This is unacceptable. We need robust, African-led security coalitions that respond to African crises with African solutions.
Kagame again emphasizes this necessity: “No one will fight for you. If you are not ready to defend your sovereignty, you do not deserve it.” Rwanda’s disciplined and professional military has proven its capacity in peacekeeping missions across the continent. We must replicate this model.
Reclaiming Pan-Africanism: Unity Is the Antidote
The dream of Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Sekou Touré and Gaddafi was a united Africa; economically, militarily and diplomatically. That dream has been buried under selfish leadership and artificial divisions. But it can be resurrected.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a step in the right direction, potentially creating a $3.4 trillion market. However, free trade means little without political will, infrastructure and mutual trust.
We need a new African political class, a generation not bought with Western scholarships or IMF packages but trained in the spirit of Sankara, Nkrumah and Biko. As Lumumba puts it: “Africa must think, speak and act for herself.”
Concrete Steps Forward: What Operation Uprooting Must Achieve
Abolish colonial-era borders: Encourage regional integration and gradual dismantling of artificial lines.
Pan-African military collaboration: Fund and operationalize the African Standby Force.
End French economic control: Dismantle the CFA franc and create a continental monetary policy.
Rewrite education: Center African voices, histories and inventions in all curricula.
Control resources: Audit and renegotiate all foreign mining and oil contracts.
Media reform: Fund African-centered media to counter Eurocentric propaganda.
Leadership renewal: Enforce term limits, reject sit-tight dictatorships and encourage diaspora participation in governance.
Furtherance: Africa Must Choose Its Destiny
Africa has a choice: continue as a fractured continent manipulated by foreign interests, or rise as a united, sovereign powerhouse. Operation Uprooting the Seeds of Discord is not just a slogan: it is an ideological war against dependency, division and delusion.
The time for rhetoric is over.
The time for action is now.
Let me end with the words of Thomas Sankara: “We must dare to invent the future.” Africa must dare to imagine a future free from the ghosts of colonialism, the chains of corruption and the lies of inferiority. That future must be shaped by Africans, for Africans, and with Africans united, unapologetic and unbreakable.
Alleged Manipulation of Defilement Case Sparks Call for Review of Legal Advice in Lagos
By Ifeoma Ikem
A legal controversy has emerged in Lagos following a petition seeking a review of a legal advice issued in a case involving two female teachers accused of negligence in a child injury incident at a nursery school in Ikorodu.
The petition, submitted by Crown Cannan Attorneys, urges the Lagos State Ministry of Justice to reconsider the legal advice issued on September 16, 2022, in the case titled Commissioner of Police vs. Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba and Rukayat Lawal.
Addressed to the former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, the application argues that the legal advice may have been influenced by what the petition describes as a “deliberate manipulation of facts.”
According to counsel representing the defendants, the allegations stem from an incident that allegedly occurred on October 26, 2021, at Great Kezino Nursery and Primary School located in the Adamo area of Ikorodu, Lagos.
The defendants, Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba, 26, and Rukayat Lawal, 24, were reportedly the class teacher and assistant class teacher respectively in charge of a Nursery One class where the incident occurred.
Court documents indicate that a three-year-old pupil, identified as Victim A, was reportedly injured after another pupil allegedly pierced a pencil into her private part during school hours.
The prosecution claims the incident occurred due to the failure of the teachers to exercise adequate care and supervision over the children under their custody.
Based on this allegation, the two educators were charged with negligence under Section 252 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, which addresses acts that may cause harm through lack of proper care.
The defendants were subsequently arraigned before Magistrate Court No. 2 in Ikeja on April 19, 2022, where they faced a one-count charge relating to the incident.
During the investigation conducted at the Gender Unit of the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja, several civil society groups reportedly monitored the proceedings.
Among them were representatives of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) and other non-governmental organizations.
These groups reportedly raised concerns about what they described as a growing tendency to weaponise allegations of child abuse in ways that could unfairly damage reputations and careers.
In its petition, the defence team argued that the case deserves a fresh review to ensure that justice is served based on verified facts rather than assumptions or public pressure.
They urged the Ministry of Justice to carefully reassess the legal advice and the circumstances surrounding the investigation to determine whether the prosecution should proceed as currently framed.
Legal observers say the outcome of the requested review could determine the next stage of the case and may also highlight broader concerns about investigative procedures and child protection cases within the justice system.
Reacting to a viral social media post by Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba, who claimed she might be jailed for defilement, the head teacher of Great Kezino Nursery and Primary School, Mrs. Edaolaropin Toyin, provided the school’s account of events.
According to her, the pupil identified as Victim A was enrolled in the Nursery One class on September 20, 2021, which had about 15 pupils.
She explained that on October 26, 2021, the pupil was transported home on the school bus after closing hours and handed over to her father around 4:30 p.m.
“Later that night, the pupil’s mother allegedly contacted the head teacher, claiming her daughter cried while bathing and alleged that a male classmate, Victim B, had inserted a pencil into her private part during school hours,” she said.
The school, however, rejected the allegation, maintaining that no such incident occurred while the child was in its custody.
“The following morning, the teacher visited the pupil’s home, where the father reportedly denied the mother’s account of the incident,” Toyin added.
She said the situation escalated later that day when the child’s parents arrived at the school with police officers from Imota Police Station demanding that the alleged male classmate be produced.
The head teacher further stated that the school management had supported Tobiloba throughout the legal process.
“Since the incident happened, the school management has never stopped supporting Tobiloba’s welfare until last year when she sent a WhatsApp message saying she was no longer interested in the court matter, claiming she had relocated to Ibadan,” she said.
She described the claims currently circulating on social media as “defamatory narratives.”
*GEN CG MUSA SUPPORT INITIATIVE MOURNS FALLEN HEROES AND URGES UNITY IN SECURITY SUPPORT
The Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa Support Initiative (GCGMSI) expresses its heartfelt condolences to His Excellency Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Grand Patron of the Initiative, and the families of the fallen heroes who courageously lost their lives in a recent attack by ISWAP in Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Dalori in Borno State, northeast Nigeria. Among the tragic losses were three senior military commanders: Major U.I. Mairiga, Lt-Col Umar Faruq, and Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, who dedicated their lives to the service of our nation.
The GCGMSI implores the public to continue supporting our security agencies, emphasizing that the safety and security of our nation is a collective responsibility. Every day, our security forces pay the ultimate price to safeguard our country. We urge the public to remain supportive, pray for their success, and refrain from politicizing the security challenges we face.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Convener, Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani Sadaukin Garkuwan Keffi/Betara Biu, which has been made available to the press. The statement highlights the initiative’s profound concern for the losses sustained by our security personnel and reflects on the broader security situation in Nigeria.
In his unwavering commitment to addressing the insecurity plaguing our nation, the Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa, has consistently engaged in urgent meetings with service chiefs, reinforcing strategic plans to combat threats and enhance national security. His leadership and decisive actions demonstrate a dedication to restoring peace and stability across our regions, ensuring a safer environment for all Nigerians.
society
SECURITY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: BACKING OUR MINISTER OF DEFENCE GEN. CHRISTOPHER GWABIN MUSA OFR
SECURITY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: BACKING OUR MINISTER OF DEFENCE GEN. CHRISTOPHER GWABIN MUSA OFR
By Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani
In these challenging times, it is essential for all Nigerians to rally behind our leaders, particularly His Excellency Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, the Minister of Defence. The security of our nation is not a matter to be taken lightly or politicized. Gen. Musa, recognized for his unwavering dedication and sacrifice, has served our country commendably throughout his life.
Following the recent reshuffle of service chiefs by President Asiwaju Bola Ahamed Tinubu GCFR, which resulted in Gen. Musa’s retirement as Chief of Defence Staff, many voiced their concerns. Yet, upon his appointment as Minister of Defence, there was a renewed sense of hope among the populace. Gen. Musa has embraced his role with an unwavering commitment, often sacrificing his rest to ensure the safety and security of our great nation.
While it is undeniable that Nigeria faces security challenges, we must approach these issues with unity rather than division. It is crucial to recognize that those who politicize our national security are often those who have not contributed positively to the success of our security agencies. Instead of spreading negativity, we should support Gen. Musa in his mission to restore peace and stability.
To achieve our collective goal of a secure Nigeria, we must provide Gen. Musa with the trust he deserves. His vision and determination, paired with our support and prayers, can pave the way to overcoming the challenges we face. It’s time for every Nigerian to put aside political differences and work together for the common good. Let us have faith in our leaders and trust in Gen. Musa’s ability to steer our nation towards safety and security.
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