Naira Marley Is Not A Revolutionary __Written By Banwo “Proficience” Olagokun
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride, every pop sensation would be an activist and every fan club would be a rebel movement. But the barricades are not for dreamers. Political rebellions are carried out by those willing to defy the repression the state wields towards a serious challenge against the status quo. Azeez Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley is a rapper and singer, known for his witty Yoruba rap lyrics laced in the idiom of Lagos street life. He comes out of the recent school of millennial Afrobeat superstars who have both caught the eye of the globe and held sway over Nigerian pop culture since around 2017. He grew up in South London, in the UK, where his career also started and where he developed an early following. But it was in Nigeria that he became a star. It started when in 2019 he released the song “Am I a yahoo Boy.” The latter refers to online scammers who have given Nigeria a bad name. The song offered a comical defense of Marley against supposed allegations that his wealth and fame were a product of online scams. Then, the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crime Commission) raided his house, detained him and charged him with fraud. Banwo “Proficience” Olagokun Judging by internet reactions to his viral hit song and the news of arrest which was largely perceived as unlawful, many young Nigerians embraced Marley as a challenge to the status quo. Marley seemed to reinforce this perception when he threw up the black power fist during one of his court sessions. Marley’s travails at the hands of the anti-corruption agency appealed to a widely held cynicism among a strata of Nigerian millennials who view internet fraud as an almost pardonable sin in comparison to the level of financial impropriety associated with the worlds of Nigerian politics, religion, and business. Naira Marley aptly captured this position in “Am I a yahoo boy”: “Government na barawo, bloggers na arm robber, imam dey gbaladun, pastor na enjoyment,” meaning the government is a thief, bloggers are armed robbers, imams are living luxuriously while the pastors enjoy opulent living. But are we too quick to see anti-establishment figures and countercultural youth such as Naira Marley as political rebels? That may be the case with Naira Marley, someone who has articulated no politics of liberation. It is important to remember that popularity among the dispossessed is not equivalent to a political vision. Naira Marley’s fan club, now popularly known as Marlians, lack the socio-political consciousness or to be called a social or political movement. But of course, this was not inevitable. In a different world, Naira Marley, after his release from detention might have offered a more radical message to his followers, particularly at a time when young people the world over are increasingly calling for an end to violent and unaccountable policing. The rapper has amassed a following of diehard fans who would listen to him if he did decide to take it up a notch by educating his fanbase on why they should organize against class oppression. However, that is not the world we live in. Though misconstrued as a revolutionary movement, Marlians are bereft of every modicum of organizational or ideological coherence. Naira Marley does not fundamentally deviate from a well-worn path within mainstream rap music of offering playful lyrics about a life of sex, drugs, and crime. Though his message challenges the cultural conservatism of Nigerian society, it is inconsistent with the political status quo. He is not the first pop star to explore these themes or to garner a large followership as a result. Rather, Marley shares the mentality of many of his contemporary musicians in Nigeria who see music as a means to “blow”— to secure capital through selling appealing music as well as by singing the praises of popular and affluent people regardless of their source of wealth. A classic example of the latter is Burna Boy’s 2019 song “Dangote”, which eronnously casts the billionare as a successful hustler to be emulated, but stays silent about how Dangote’s monopoly has been supported by state tax waivers and public private parternships that have done little to improve the general state of life in Nigeria. Popular Nigerian musicians have not always prioritized the need to blow. To take a well-known example, Fela Kuti sang about all the ills of various military and corrupt civilian governments, then became more vociferous against the ruling class after every release from detention, formed a revolutionary movement called MOP (Movement of the People) and almost registered it as a political party until he was wrongly disqualified. He led protests and took every opportunity to sensitize his fans whenever the media were around for interviews irrespective of what the media initially came for. He prioritized revolutionary conscientization over self-promotion and slang slinging. I personally enjoy Naira Marley’s music and, aside from his glorification of fraud, I have never been opposed to the counter-cultural content of his lyrics. However, being a proud deviant (departing from usual or accepted standards, especially in social or sexual behavior) as we Marlians are, can too often remain a socio-cultural disposition. For instance, it would be inappropriate to describe certain strands of Nigerian hipsterism as social awareness or overt political rebellion. Though countercultural, Marlians do not appear to exhibit the conscious effort or necessary awareness to challenge Nigeria’s economic or political system. No such challenge can be launched by an un-shepherded fan base. In contrast, radical artists speak to issues that affect the masses either directly or through their lyrics and art. This requires more than chanting “marlians come forward” and “gbe body eh” [ lift your body or turn up] on stage. You can’t promise your fans not to be afraid because you are with them – “mafo mo wa Pelue” [pledging fake solidarity] but become gravely silent when Nigerians are oppressed or killed by the state agents like the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the Nigerian army. Even by the standard of online political activism, Marley has remained noticeably absent from anti-corruption or police brutality hashtags on social media and has offered no public acknowledgement in support of the victims of the current violent policing regime. Beyond symbolic displays of dissent, has Marley yet offered us a practical act of political rebellion? As a fan of Naira Marley, I have sought in vain for an example of this. At the end Marley inadvertently teaches young Nigerians an important lesson about politics: that it will take more than counter-cultural popularity to effect any tangible change in our society.
Igbo Ethnic Group Worldwide to Raise N500Billion For 2023 Election in Nigeria
An Igbo group; World Igbo People’s Assembly (WIPAS), has declared its intention to raise the sum of five hundred billion naira towards the achievement of the 2023 Nigeria Presidency of Igbo Extraction project. Spokesman of the group Chief Emeka Nwachukwu in a release said that it was long overdue for the Igbos to produce a president of Nigeria. Nwachukwu who stated that the project is cost intensive, however, expressed hope that Ndigbo and Nigerians of good conscience all over the world would contribute to fund the project as they begin consultation of Igbo leaders and Nigerians across the world. He told Nigerians to put their searchlight on Igbo land and look for candidates that will salvage Nigeria who are in quantum. Nwachukwu noted that the WIPAS team would soon meet those it described as “who is who” in Nigeria in that regard congratulating Gen Yakubu Gowon, Gen IBB, Gen Ishola Williams , Chief E K Clark, Alh Balarabe Musa, Chief Ebenezar Babatope , Mallam El Rufai, Buba Galadima, Tanko Yakassai and many other Nigeria statesmen that are now disposed to the realization of the Nigeria Presidency of Igbo Extraction in 2023. In his reaction the spokesman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Chuks Ibegbu noted that the group concern is the restructuring of Nigeria, but however supported an Igbo to succeed President Buhari in 2023. He noted that anything done to leapfrog the project is in order, but everything should be done transparently and with due process.
Man leaves bride and guests at wedding venue to install TV dish for special client
Efful-Etteh, a resident of Cape Coast and DSTV installer has underscored the above assertion by leaving his bride, family and friends at his own wedding venue to fix a DSTV for a client. Reports say the groom was on his way to his white wedding when he received a call from a cherished client and he found no reason, not even the wedding ceremony to disappoint the said customer. Guess what! The man left his wife-to-be, family, and friends waiting for him at the church while he makes a stopover to install the DSTV before finally proceeding to his wedding. It is not clear what kind of a client he had to attend to at all costs even on his wedding day and how special the said client is to him. A video of Efful-Etteh climbing a ladder and fixing the DSTV for his client was posted to social media and it has garnered a lot of traction.
Student Protest: NAUS Set to embark on Nation wide protest for re-opening of Schools
Due to the out break of the Novel corona virus pandemic (Covid-19), schools have been shut down for quite a while now, precisely from March till date. However, The federal government of nigeria promised to reopen the sectors of the economy which they gradually and eventually did. Other sectors of the economy were subsequently opened in due course, but the educational sector is still left in the procrastination stage, leaving it disdained and wish-washed. One can gladly recall as at July, 2020, the National association of university students (NAUS) embarked on a social media protest, airing out their diverse views and opinions as regarding the re-opening of universities in the country. The exercise went quite well as you would have guessed, Quite a good number of concerns were laid to the federal government on social media, stating that other sectors have been given the listening ears, but the students are less catered for. The message probably didn’t get to the top level of government, which eventually left the university students in an uncomfortable state. On Saturday, the 14th of August, 2020, The National association of university students (NAUS) in conjunction with National association of polytechnic students (NAPS) and the National association of Nigeria colleges of education (NANCES) released a memo through the different offices of the presidents of student union government, inviting students to embark on a nation wide protest, demanding for an immediate re-opening of the different campuses. The criteria included that the exercise will be done with strict adherence to the Covid-19 protocols as the Nigerian police force (NPF) and the department of state service will be present to ensure a violence free exercise. The exercise is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, 19th August, 2020 at the federal ministry of education, Abuja. Students having seen this on diverse social media platform are ready to embark on the exercise.
INSECURITY: At last, 386 injured soldiers, others quit military
The controversy over 386 soldiers who applied to disengage from the military amid the battle against bandits, terrorists and kidnappers in parts of the country may be over after the authorities fixed their exit date as January 3, 2021. But they will proceed on terminal leave on December 3, 2020. Sunday Vanguard learnt at the weekend that affected soldiers include those who have attained retirement age and others who are medically challenged as a result of the injuries they sustained in the battle against bandits and terrorists in parts of the country. The personnel’s application for voluntary retirement and disengagement from service on medical grounds had stoked controversy after it was alleged in some quarters that it may not be unconnected with poor welfare conditions and adequate military hardware to tackle the myriad of security threats facing the nation. But the authorities punctured the claim, saying it was the right of the personnel to apply for voluntary discharge on medical grounds and other approved guidelines in accordance with military terms and conditions of service. According to a letter, dated August 12, 2020, and titled ‘Approval for Voluntary and Medical Discharge Soldiers for First and Second Quarters 2020’, the Army, said the 386 discharged soldiers were of 1979 Nigerian Army intakes and others. The letter, addressed to the Nigerian Army Special Forces Command, Nasarawa, and copied to various military formations where the soldiers are currently serving, referenced the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service of the Armed Forces (2017 Revised). Among others, the letter sighted by Sunday Vanguard, said, “In compliance with Reference A, the COAS has approved the voluntary/medical discharge of one Master Warrant Officer and 385 others. “The soldiers are to proceed on terminal leave from December 3, 2020 while their disengagement takes effect from January 3, 2021 in accordance with the Nigerian Army Administrative Policy and Procedure number 27, Paragraph 3 and 4”. Consequently, it directed all army formations and units to release the 386 affected soldiers to the Army Headquaters Garrison, Abuja, for documentation not later than October 1, 2020. The formations and units are also to ensure that all forms of military controlled items, including arms, ammunition, uniforms and items of combat kits, are recovered from the soldiers prior to their disengagement date and certify that they are properly de-kitted. Furthermore, they should complete all necessary documents in regards to withdrawals of NAWIS (Nigerian Army Welfare Insurance Scheme), BENFUND (Benevolent Fund Contributions), and National Mortgage Contributions. The letter was copied to the Defence Headquarters, the National Defence College, the Nigeria Defence Academy, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, the Military Pensions Board and the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command among others. The letter, earlier requesting the voluntary retirement of the Master Warrant Officer and 385 other soldiers based on medical grounds and other pecuniary reason as contained in the TACOS, and submitted to the office of the Chief of Army Staff through the office of the Chief of Administration, was dated July 2, 2020.
Suspected armed hoodlums have abducted two travellers in Ondo State. The travellers were seized on the Ikun-Oba Akoko area of the state. The Akoko axis of the state is well known for kidnapping including Fulani herdsmen attacks.
The victims were kidnapped on Saturday evening while returning from a festival in the community. A member of the local vigilante group confirmed the incident to SaharaReporters. One of the kidnapped victims was identified as Surajudeen Alao. The abduction comes barely five days after Governor Rotimi Akeredolu launched the South-West security code-named ‘Operation Amotekun’, promising that crimes of such nature would be nipped in the bud. Tee-Leo Ikoro, spokesperson for the police in Ondo, could not immediately confirm the abduction when contacted.
Activist Narrates How Unilag VC Connived With Police Officers to Deal With Protesters
In a statement that was gathered by Purpleworld, Femi Adeyeye narrates how Professor Rahman Bello connive with the commissioner of police, Fatai Owoseni to subject protesters to unending torture.
“They know we are speaking the truth and it is biting them very hard. Those asking us to calm down; both genuine and fake people, for some correctness, do not have a clear picture of the injustice meted on us. Where were they when an activist who is visually impaired, Lawrence was rusticated by the Senate for exercising his rights to protest peacefully? I could not stand the absurdity of the news and I mobilized activists that same night when the news broke. God has blessed me with a restive spirit. Unlike some activists, I hate long talks and unending meetings. We hit the streets the next day on a media rally. Where were they when we were arrested at UNILAG; about six men pouncing on only me, framed, arraigned before a magistrate in kangaroo Oshodi mobile Court; a Court meant for traffic and special offenses? In their desperation to keep us behind bars for a long time, we were denied legal representation because we could not use our phones, and it was on a Saturday. Where were they when the CSO of UNILAG (errand boy of the VC) connived with the officers in Panti where we were detained overnight, to make sure we were taken out of the streets for 6 weeks. He didn’t know I saw him the evening when he visited the Criminal Investigation Department. He was working on the orders of Prof Rahman Bello, the Vice-Chancellor at that time, and Prof. Ogundipe was DVC then. The Prosecutor from Panti told the Magistrate that the charge against us was bailable but we should be denied bail because we are known to be trouble-makers. He looked straight into my eyes when he told the Magistrate to remand us in prison for 6 weeks. He has been briefed that it was exam period and the uprising on Campus was on a level that the students had told us that upon sighting us on campus on any exam day, they would tear their scripts and join the protest. Fatai Owoseni, the Commissioner of Police at that time was also in the know. There was no “correctness” when Lawrence’s statement was removed and torn by the IPO and he was not taken to Court with us, so as not to whip up emotions when their secret acts of injustice would be blown open. While we were in prison, the blind activist stayed 2 more nights in Police custody under torturous conditions. Ogundipe was in all of these. I have never been broken by any act of harassment or torture but I shedded tears that night when Lawrence was being beaten by the boys of the Panti cell President and I couldn’t do anything. It took our grumbling that he is blind before he was left alone. There was no political correctness or “due process” evangelism when my name was excluded from the list of those to be reinstated, when the Governor intervened due to the struggle. We later learnt that close to 15 students, including Lawrence and Ochuba were reinstated due to the outcry. To those mouthing “due process”, you can continue. I am also an advocate of due process. Real due process. But if Ogundipe is to resume anywhere, it would be the EFCC cell.”
Augustine Okezie, Katsina The NYSC in Katsina state Katsina state have commenced the fumigation and rehabilitation of the camp located at Mani road, Katsina, as directed by the National headquarters of the scheme. The Branch Coordinator, Alhaji Ahidjo Yahaya told the Nation, that the renovation exercise was to position the camp for any eventual reopening. The coordinator further noted that the camp which was donated to the scheme by the state government was utilized by the state government during the lull in orientation activities to either camp the Almajiriis or for COVID-19 inmates, hence the need to rehabilitate and fumigate it for use by the corps members He said ’’we were directed to go and liaise with the State Government and get the camp set within two weeks, and we have already written the state government as well as the COVID-19 Committee led by the deputy Governor, to ensure they hand over the Camp back to me. ‘’Currently, I am a victim of the circumstance as Iam still struggling with the State Government to retrieve the camp from them in that regard.” He further denied granting interview to one Katsina based social media platform where he was quoted as saying that the orientation camp will reopen in two weeks time, adding that the announcement as to when the camp may reopen lies with the national headquarters of the scheme He said ’’my attention has been drawn to the social medial online publication on the above subject matter quoting the State Coordinator as having said that they have been directed to reopen the orientation camps within two weeks. “This is to state that the Coordinator was wrongly represented in the publication.” He further recalled that at the recent management meeting held in Abuja, the state coordinators of NYSC, were directed to use the next two weeks to liase with their various State Governments to complete ongoing renovation work of camp facilities so as to have enough time to start preparations towards the reopening of the orientation camps as soon as directives were received from the Federal Government and in line with the NCDC guideline for COVID 19 pandemic.
PurpleWorld 