The outgone month of July, 2021 has definitely gone down as one resplendent with intrigues, drama, political shenanigans and a dose of bad tidings. Grab a front row seat and a drink as this writer attempts to highlight some of those eventful moments in no particular order of their occurrence.
Remember the lady whose nomination as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commissioner generated a lot of hysterical uproar? She finally had her day with the Senate screening committee. Faced with a barrage of questions bordering on partisanship and the moral clumsiness associated with her candidature; voila, she refuted being a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Not just once, but thrice…she denied her beloved party. Congrats Apostle Peter, you finally found a spouse.
Amid that show of treacherous thespianism, news broke that Sound Sultan had passed on. Though he lost the battle to protracted lymphoma, he won the war against societal vices, government malfeasance and corruption; using his music as a weapon. The messages couriered by his songs will forever be engraved in the hearts of music lovers in Nigeria and the world over. My heartfelt condolences to his family.
Staying true to the nature of legends who keep living even after their demise, it didn’t take long for one of Sound Sultan’s clairvoyant lyrics to manifest. “One day bushmeat go catch the hunter” is a line from one of his classic songs titled “bushmeat”. In comes a certain cop who hitherto, had garnered nationwide acclaim as Nigeria’s Jack Baeur. How one goes from Superman to villain within the snap of a finger totally describes the ephemeral landscape of human existence.
Lest I forget, the much talked about Petroleum Industry Bill eventually found its way into both chambers of the National Assembly for final consideration. For avoidance of conflict, the essence of the bill in the first place is to regulate and reform the oil and gas sector. However, what transpired at the National Assembly defeats the entire purpose. The “jagbajantis” sharing formula applied defies all known laws of mathematics. The use of BODMAS should have come in handy.
Finding myself hard-pressed to talk about the controversial Electoral Act Amendment bill, its exigent demand overrides my personal inclination. At a time when the whole world is embracing technology as a veritable tool for development, the debate over electronic voting and transmission of results shouldn’t even arise. Medieval era, here we come.
Beware the Ides of July. R.I.P Sound Sultan!! R.I.P Rachael Oniga!!
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