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.

Agege LG Launches 5-Day Solar Electrification Training & Youth Empowerment Programme

In a groundbreaking step toward youth development and renewable energy advancement, Agege Local Government, in partnership with World Class Prime Services Ltd, has unveiled a 5-Day Solar Electrification Training and Youth Empowerment Programme designed specifically for young adults within the community.

Targeted at residents aged 18 to 40, the programme aims to equip participants with practical and industry-relevant skills in solar installation, electrification systems, maintenance, and renewable energy entrepreneurship. This initiative comes at a time when Nigeria’s demand for alternative energy sources is on a steady rise.

Applicants are required to complete the online registration form and also appear physically for screening with their NIN and LASRRA identification.

You can register here – https://forms.gle/7ogABnoZHkZ7EB1dA

Screening Details

Date: Monday, 24 November 2025

Venue: Agege Local Government Multipurpose Hall

Time: 9:00AM

The training will run for five intensive days, focusing on hands-on technical sessions aimed at empowering participants with skills that can translate into job opportunities or self-employment within the renewable energy space.

The initiative has been widely applauded as the first of its kind in Lagos State, especially at the grassroots government level. Community members, youth leaders, and stakeholders have praised the visionary leadership of the Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government, Hon. Abdulganiyu Vinod Obasa, for championing such a forward-thinking empowerment programme.

Since assuming office, Hon. Obasa has continued to demonstrate a strong commitment to innovation, youth development, and sustainable community growth. This solar training programme further reinforces his resolve to create opportunities that enhance skills, reduce unemployment, and position Agege as a model for progressive governance within Lagos State.

With this new initiative, Agege LG sets a remarkable precedent for other councils across the state, proving that effective leadership can drive transformative community impact.

Gospel Artist Testimony Jaga Seeks Justice as LASBCA Demolitions Leave AIT Road Residents Homeless, Injured

LAGOS, Nigeria — Gospel artist Testimony Jaga has appealed to the Lagos State Government to urgently intervene in what he describes as a “humanitarian disaster” following the demolition of homes and shops along AIT Road, Kola, and the Powerline axis by officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

According to the singer, the government’s operation carried out under the justification that the structures fell within high-tension powerline extensions has plunged countless families into sorrow, homelessness, and in some cases, physical harm. Jaga said many victims are elderly people and widows who have nowhere else to go.

He alleged that despite the government’s earlier claim that the cleared land would be used for the construction of a BRT garage and a Mechanic Village, the same land is now reportedly being allocated to individuals while construction of a mall and rows of shops has begun.
He expressed concern that the government’s shifting plans are raising suspicion among affected residents who originally believed the demolitions were for public infrastructure.

The gospel artist further revealed that landlords in the community allegedly contributed a total of ₦25 million, which they reportedly paid through community channels to the Ministry of Environment, hoping their buildings and businesses would be spared. Instead, he said, the demolitions still went ahead, leaving many feeling cheated and abandoned.

The demolitions, which lasted for days, shattered the lives of hundreds. Many now sleep outside, exposed to rain, mosquitoes, hunger, and the cold Lagos night.

One of the victims, Mrs. Adebimpe Oduro, a widow, said her only source of livelihood was wiped out in minutes. She recounted watching helplessly as her shop, where she sold goods to sustain her children, was bulldozed. She said some of her merchandise was destroyed before she could salvage anything, adding that she now has no income and no shelter.

Another woman, Mrs. Esther Oalogun, fought back tears as she described the demolition as “the beginning of a slow death.” She said she has been struggling to find food since losing her business.

Mrs. Shola Ikotun and Mrs. Bisoye Lawal also narrated their ordeal, explaining how the loss of their shops has devastated their livelihoods. They said they now spend long hours in the open beside the demolished site, unsure of how to start again and relying on neighbours for food while they struggle to rebuild their businesses. Lawal said she feels like “a stranger in the community I once belonged to,” describing the emotional impact of watching the shop she managed for decades reduced to rubble.

Perhaps the most harrowing account came from 64-year-old Mrs. Olabisi Osho, a resident of No. 44 Powerline Phase 2 on AIT Road. She said the house she had lived in for over 28 years, one she built with her late husband, was torn down early one morning without warning.

During the chaos, she suffered a head injury and passed out. According to her, LASBCA officials continued the demolition even while she lay unconscious. Now injured, widowed, and homeless, she sleeps on bare ground beside the remnants of her former home. “My husband died four years ago. This house was all I had left of him,” she said, weeping.

Another widow, 63-year-old Mrs. Elizabeth Mercy Oni, said she has now become a two-time victim of Lagos demolitions. She explained that her daughter, who cared for her, also lost her shop, leaving both of them homeless. They now sleep in an open space covered only with a tarpaulin. “I don’t know how to start again at my age,” she said.

Mrs. Aina Adejare, aged 66, said she had lived in her marital home for more than 30 years before it was bulldozed last week. She lost her husband ten years ago and said the house was her only security. “I sleep on the bare ground now. I have no money, nowhere to go, and nobody to help,” she said.

Testimony Jaga urged the government to return to the original development plan of a BRT depot and a Mechanic Village, arguing that these projects would create jobs and improve the economy of the community rather than displacing vulnerable people.

He also appealed for immediate compensation for the victims, especially the widows and elderly residents who are currently sleeping in the open with no access to food, water, or basic shelter.

“This situation is bigger than politics,” he said. “It is about real human lives, real suffering, and real families who have been pushed into despair. These people deserve justice and immediate relief.”