The Trumpet Newspaper Issue 563 (January 26 - February 8 2022)

TheTrumpet
Africans now have a voice... Founded in 1995
V O L 28 N O 563 J A N U A R Y 26 - FEBRUARY 8 2022
A fire broke out in a severely overcrowded prison in Gitega, Burundi’s political capital
(Photo Credits - Human Rights Watch)
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Campaign
highlights
weight loss
benefits
Account for
deaths in Gitega
Prison fire
Burundian authorities should credibly investigate and provide a
transparent and reliable account of the December 7, 2021 fire at
Gitega’s central prison, Human Rights Watch has demanded. Several
hundred prisoners may have died or been injured.
Continued on Page 3>
This January, the Department of
Health and Social Care
(DHSC) has launched a new
Better Health campaign revealing six
major health benefits of losing excess
weight to encourage Black adults to
live a healthier lifestyle.
It is estimated that over 73% of
Black adults in the UK are
overweight or living with obesity,
putting them at greater risk of
developing serious diseases linked
with carrying excess body weight
such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease
and up to 12 types of cancer. Losing
just 5% of body weight can seriously
reduce the chance of heart disease
and could make all the difference in
preventing treatable heart conditions
The 6 benefits that could have a
lasting impact on a person’s health by
being a healthier weight, include:
1. Reduced risk of common cancers
(including cancers of the colon,
oesophagus, kidney and breast)
2. Reduced risk of high blood
pressure
3. Reduced risk of heart disease
4. Reduced risk of developing type
2 diabetes
5. Less strain from chronic back and
joint pain
6. Reduced risk of being
hospitalised or becoming
seriously ill with COVID-19
GP and TV Doctor Dr Hillary
Jones said: “These six benefits
Continued on Page 8

Page2 TheTrumpet JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 8 2022
Health
Campaign to help parents reduce
child obesity launched
Families will be given support to help
to improve the diets of their children
through a new campaign - as new
statistics reveal the number of parents giving
unhealthy snacks to their children has
increased during the pandemic.
The NHS Food Scanner App has been
updated as part of the Better Health
campaign, which has been launched to
encourage families to eat better. The App
includes a new ‘scan, swipe and swap’
feature which provides a simple solution to
help families maintain a healthier diet.
The easy-to-use NHS app is free to
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15 Years experience with UK
Immigration, Appeals,
Deportations, and Removal cases.
* Judicial Review. * Prison and
Detention Centre Legal Visits.
* British Citizenship Applications.
* Visas and more...
Free Initial Consultation and Competitive Legal Fees
Birmingham: 0121 554 0565
London: 020 7183 3706
Watford: 01923 901150
Emergency: 07833 675415
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healthier food and drinks in line with the
government’s dietary recommendations for
added sugar, saturated fat and salt.
The campaign comes on the back of a
record rise in obesity amongst children since
the start of the pandemic, with latest data
highlighting that nearly 38% of Black
children of Reception school age are
overweight or obese, rising to 52% in Year 6
(ages 10-11).
Mother of two Nina Malone uses the
NHS Food Scanner App whilst shopping
with her children. “The app was so easy to
use and very child friendly,” says Nina. “My
children enjoyed scanning - and the bright
colours and fun animations made it really
engaging for them!”
A new survey conducted by Netmums,
focusing on children's nutrition, revealed that
67% of Black parents give their children
more sugary or fatty snacks than before the
pandemic and 75% said they worry about
how healthy their children's snacks really are.
Most Black parents (48%) said they find it
hard to say no to their children when they
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pester them for snacks, and that crisps or
chocolate were the snacks they were most
likely to give them.
When asked about the biggest barriers to
their children eating more healthily, Black
parents cited their children’s fussy eating
habits, being pestered for unhealthy snacks,
and there not being enough choices that
appealed to their children. The survey also
found that 94% of Black parents said that
they would benefit from an app to help them
make better food choices for their children.
The government recently established the
Office for Health Improvement and
Disparities, which is focused on addressing
inequalities and levelling up health across the
country – including through work to tackle
obesity and the drivers of poor health.
Public Health Minister Maggie Throup
said: “We know that families have felt a lot of
pressure from the pandemic which drastically
changed habits and routines. The new year is
a good time for making resolutions, not just
for ourselves, but for our families. Finding
ways to improve their health is one of the
best resolutions any of us could make. By
downloading the free NHS Food Scanner
App families can swap out foods from the
weekly shop for healthier alternatives and
avoid items high in salt, sugar and saturated
fat.”
Dr Alison Tedstone, Chief Nutritionist at
the Department of Health and Social Care,
said: “We are all aware of the increased
pressures families have been under
throughout the pandemic with children being
stuck at home more. With advertising
promoting unhealthy foods to kids, it’s not
surprising that parents say they’ve often
found it hard to resist pestering from their
children for more unhealthy snacks, and that
is why the NHS Food Scanner App is a great
tool to help families make quick and easy
Shola Oladipo
healthier swaps. It’s so important that
children reduce the amount of sugary, fatty
and salty foods they eat to help them stay
healthy and reduce the risk of health
problems such as diabetes and tooth decay.”
Shola Oladipo, Registered Dietitian, said:
“It can be difficult not to give into our
children’s demands when they’re hungry -
that’s why it’s so important to ensure the
cupboards are always stocked with nutritious
snacks! The NHS Food Scanner App is a
great way to find healthier alternatives for
your children’s favourites that will fuel them
throughout the day. Getting your children
involved in shopping and meal planning also
helps to educate them about healthy food
habits, and the app provides a fun and
engaging way to do that.”
The NHS Food Scanner App provides
parents with an easy way to improve their
children’s health in 2022. Download the free
app from the App Store or Google Play or
search ‘Food Scanner App’.
For more information, visit
http://www.nhs.uk/better-health/foodscanner

JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 8 2022
TheTrumpet
Page3
Account for deaths in Gitega Prison fire
Continued from Page 1<
The authorities have failed to conduct
a transparent, credible, and impartial
investigation into the fire to examine
the circumstances in which it started and
spread, officials’ reaction and their failure
to evacuate prisoners, and to accurately
count and identify the dead and injured.
They should communicate findings
transparently – including the names of the
dead and the injured – and fairly prosecute
anyone who may be held responsible, if
necessary. They should also provide
survivors and victims’ family members with
compensation, medical care, and mental
health support.
“More than a month after the tragedy at
Gitega prison, the government has failed to
give a full and truthful accounting of what
happened and to treat family members of
the deceased with dignity,” said Lewis
Mudge, Central Africa Director at Human
Rights Watch. “The absence of information
about the real number and identities of the
victims only adds further pain and distress
in the wake of unimaginable loss.”
The fire broke out around 4 a.m. on
December 7, in the prison in Burundi’s
political capital, and spread to several
blocks; large rooms that can house up to
several hundred prisoners. According to
three prisoners interviewed and two other
sources who have been inside the prison
since the fire, Block 4, which is thought to
have housed over 250 prisoners, was the
worst affected. Prisoners attempting to flee
the flames broke through a wall. Prisoners
also said that no evacuation took place until
the emergency services arrived sometime
between 5:30 and 6 a.m.
“In our block, many survived,” said one
prisoner interviewed by phone. “But in
other blocks they didn’t wake up in time
and many died. The guards came at 6 a.m.,
but by then it was too late. Between 4 a.m.
and 6 a.m., it was only the prisoners and the
fire.” Two other prisoners and a lawyer who
spoke with two clients detained in Gitega
prison confirmed this account. One prisoner
said that in Block 2, many prisoners
suffocated from inhaling smoke.
After emergency services arrived, Vice
President - Prosper Bazombanza told
reporters at the prison that the fire had killed
38 people but did not identify them. The
Interior Ministry said on Twitter that an
electrical short circuit caused the fire.
Weeks later, on December 29, President
Évariste Ndayishimiye said 46 people had
died, including some who died in the
hospital. However, prisoners and other
sources told Human Rights Watch that they
believe the number of dead is higher. They
said no investigation or roll call had been
conducted at the time of Bazombanza’s
announcement.
“The government’s numbers are lies,” a
Certain blocks in the prison were destroyed by fire,
where many prisoners who were unable to escape
prisoner told Human Rights Watch on
December 11. “The real number of dead is
between 200 and 400... Since yesterday,
prisoners are being sent back [inside] so we
can see who is missing.”
Prisoners and two other sources present
when dead bodies were removed said they
were transported in large plastic sheets,
some containing the remains of multiple
bodies. Sources there at the time said the
remains were buried in bags in mass graves
on the evening of December 7 without any
attempt to identify them.
On January 7, 2022, Human Rights Watch
spoke with family members of three
prisoners, two of whom are believed to have
died in the fire. The wife of a missing
prisoner, the mother of three children, said
she traveled to Gitega the morning after the
fire, struggling to pay for her transportation:
“When I arrived, I found others looking for
their loved ones. The authorities told us they
would communicate with us later... Until
today, I haven’t heard anything from them.
I can’t afford to go back.”
She said a prisoner who survived the fire
informed her that her husband’s block had
been destroyed in the fire, and that he had
died: “My children are traumatized... I tried
to explain that their father is dead, but they
don’t understand why we didn’t bury him. If
[the authorities] could at least tell us
officially who died, maybe it would help
them.”
The 47-year-old uncle of a missing
prisoner said that he had traveled to Gitega
prison twice since the fire but that the
authorities gave him no information. “The
authorities are lying when they say they
buried the dead with dignity,” he said. “We
learned that they buried them in mass
graves. My nephew was held in Block 4...
and a friend in the prison told me it had been
totally destroyed by the fire. We used to
communicate with my nephew regularly,
but since the day of the fire, we haven’t
received a single message from him. We
think he is dead, even though we haven’t
received official information.”
An independent investigation should
clarify the facts surrounding the fire,
including any factors or practices that may
Continued on Page 4<
When you think you need A&E,
contact NHS 111 online first
The NHS is encouraging the public to use NHS
111 online to get urgent medical advice
quickly – in addition to existing services –
ahead of what England’s top doctor has said will
be a ‘winter like no other.’
With more people predicted to suffer from flu
this year and hospitals already treating an
increased number of COVID-19 patients, NHS 111
online offers an alternative way to get immediate
medical advice.
Data from September showed that the NHS
was already experiencing record demand for
emergency services, with ambulances responding
to 76,000 life-threatening incidents and call
handlers taking more than one million 999 calls.
The NHS 111 phone service also saw record
demand, with a call being taken every seven seconds.
It’s recommended that if you have an urgent
but not life-threatening medical need, you should
visit NHS 111 online first rather than going
straight to A&E. You can access the service by
visiting the website 111.nhs.uk.
People use the online 111 service for a range
of reasons, including to check their symptoms and
if an injury or illness requires further investigation,
to get information on mental health support
services available, or to seek advice on how to take
a medication.
The service is also able to arrange for you to
be seen at an Urgent Treatment Centre, GP
surgery, pharmacy, emergency dental services
or A&E should you need it.
If you or your loved one have a life-threatening
illness or injury then you should always use 999.
Just think 111 first.
When you think you need A&E,
go to NHS 111 online 111.nhs.uk
or call 111.

Page4
TheTrumpet
JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 8 2022
TheTrumpet Group
News
Account for deaths in
Gitega Prison fire
Field: 07956 385 604
E-mail:
info@the-trumpet.com
TheTrumpetTeam
PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
’Femi Okutubo
CONTRIBUTORS:
Moji Idowu, Ayo Odumade,
Steve Mulindwa
Continued from Page 1<
SPECIAL PROJECTS:
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BOARD OF CONSULTANTS
CHAIRMAN:
Pastor Kolade Adebayo-Oke
MEMBERS:
Tunde Ajasa-Alashe
Allison Shoyombo, Peter Osuhon
TheTrumpet (ISSN: 1477-3392)
is published in London fortnightly
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Continued from Page 3<
have brought about the deaths, Human
Rights Watch said. The victims’ next of kin
should be involved in the process. They
should receive legal assistance, have access
to the case file, and, if State responsibility is
established, be compensated. Having a
reliable account and clearer understanding
of the circumstances surrounding the deaths
of their loved ones could help the next of
kin cope with their suffering, Human Rights
Watch said.
The absence of a credible and
transparent investigation into the Gitega fire
underscores the urgent need for sustained
scrutiny of the government’s human rights
record, Human Rights Watch said.
This tragic incident also shines a light
on persistent, systemic issues with
Burundi’s prison system. Gitega also had a
fire on August 21, reportedly due to an
electrical short circuit, but it was
extinguished before there were any
casualties. At the time of both fires, the
prison housed more than three times its
maximum inmate capacity.
According to the Association for the
Protection of Human Rights and Detained
Persons (APRODH), an exiled human
rights organization that monitors human
rights abuses and the rights of prisoners,
about 40 percent of those held at Gitega
prison as of October were in pre-trial
detention. Certain detainees in Burundi
have served their sentences or been
acquitted, but have not yet been released
due to an inefficient, corrupt, and politicized
judicial system.
Many detainees in Gitega and other
prisons in the country were convicted on the
basis of their peaceful political activities.
A March 2021 presidential
pardon announced the pardon or early
release of more than 5,000 prisoners but
excluded many accused of security-related
offenses, including many who were arrested
in the aftermath of the 2015 protests over
the former president’s bid for a third term
and are held on political grounds. About
3,000 have been released since the
announcement, according to a credible
source.
On December 29 President
Ndayishimiye said that a report on the fire
was being prepared, and that judicial
authorities should issue judgments and
speed up judicial procedures, and that
suspects accused of non serious criminal
offenses should be released from pre-trial
detention. Since then, Human Rights Watch
has received credible information that some
pre-trial detainees accused of lesser crimes
have been released from several prisons,
including Gitega.
The government should immediately
address dangerous prison overcrowding by
releasing all prisoners held for exercising
their basic rights and those detained
arbitrarily, including those who have served
their sentences or been acquitted, Human
Rights Watch said.
Under international law, government
authorities have a duty of care for people in
prisons, including an obligation to protect
their rights to life, health, safety, and
security. The African Commission on
Human and Peoples’ Rights in its
1995 Resolution on Prisons in Africa, said
that African countries should conform to the
“international norms and standards for the
protection of the human rights of prisoners.”
The UN Standard Minimum Rules for
the Treatment of Prisoners (the Mandela
Rules) state that prisoners are to be treated
with dignity and have prompt access to
medical attention, and that in the case of
deaths in custody, the prison will report the
cases to independent judicial or other
authorities to ensure a prompt, impartial,
and effective investigation. The African
Commission on Human and Peoples’
Rights and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political
Rights obligate governments to
investigate and appropriately punish those
responsible for abuses against people in
custody and to provide reparations for
victims.
“This tragedy should serve as a wakeup
call,” Mudge said. “Further delays in
tackling prison overcrowding and appalling
detention conditions will put more lives at
risk. The government should urgently
release prisoners who have no reason to be
detained, and transparently investigate any
failure of prison authorities to safeguard
prisoners’ rights, including the right to life
and access to justice and accountability.”
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Gitega Prison
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Church Elders: S/A T Owoyemi 07956 996689 or / M/S/A W Ojomo 07939 836499 or / Apostle T Gbolasere 07484 243990
Email: amazinggracebranch2@gmail.com

News
JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 8 2022 TheTrumpet Page5
Woman stabbed to death by her ex
Detectives from the Met’s
Specialist Crime Command
investigating the death of a man
and woman in Maida Vale have released
their names.
The deceased woman has been
named as 43-year-old Yasmin Chkaifi,
while the man has been named as 41-
year old Leon McCaskre.
Police were called at 09:01hrs on
Monday, 24 January to reports of a
stabbing on Chippenham Road, W9.
Officers, the London Ambulance
Service and London Fire Brigade
attended the scene.
Yasmin Chkaifi was found at the
scene with stab injuries. Also at the
location was Leon McCaskre, who had
been struck by a car. Both were
pronounced dead at the scene.
Next of kin have been informed and
Family Liaison Officers are helping to
keep them updated and supported.
Enquiries are under way to establish
the full circumstances, but we can
confirm the two deceased were known to
each other and had previously been in a
relationship.
A 26-year-old man, the driver of the
Yasmin Chkaifi
car, remained at the scene and was
arrested on suspicion of murder.
He was fully cooperative with the
investigation and has been bailed to
return to a police station on a date in late
February while the evidence is
evaluated.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil
Rawlinson, of the Met’s Specialist Crime
Leon McCaskre
Command, said: “We are gaining a
clearer idea of what happened at the
scene thanks to information supplied by
the public and by reviewing CCTV.
Firstly, it is apparent that members of the
public bravely tried to intervene to stop
the attack and their actions were very
courageous.
“We are speaking to the families of
those concerned and doing all we can to
support them at this terrible time. We can
now confirm that both the deceased were
previously known to each other and there
are no outstanding suspects.
"A man, who was the driver of a car,
has been arrested and bailed for a very
serious offence and we must carry out a
full investigation, looking at all the
circumstances. I would ask the media not
to speculate on the causes of the deaths
while we are awaiting the outcome of
two post-mortems, it is important that we
deal with facts.
“Lastly, we appreciate the support we
have received from the public. A number
of people have already come forward,
but we are still asking for anyone who
has not, to make contact with us. Any
information could be vital in helping us
fully understand why this dreadful
incident happened.”
Any witnesses or anyone with any
information is asked to call police on 101
or contact via Twitter @MetCC. Please
quote reference CAD 1496/24JAN.
To give information anonymously
contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Page6 TheTrumpet JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 8 2022

JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 8 2022 TheTrumpet
Page7

Page8 TheTrumpet JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 8 2022
Health
Campaign
highlights weight
loss benefits
Continued from Page 1<
highlight the impact of carrying excess
weight, and the range of benefits that can
be achieved by reducing your weight.
Small changes every day can help you
lose weight and feel healthier.
“With Better Health, there are a
variety of free NHS endorsed apps,
resources and online tools to help people
introduce simple changes that will help
them eat better and get active this new
year, including the NHS Weight Loss
Plan, Couch to 5K and Active 10 apps.”
Consultant Dietician Douglas
Twenefour said: “Living with obesity
increases the risk of serious health
conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, stroke
and certain types of cancers, which are
more prevalent in Black African and
Caribbean communities.
“Our community was also hit hardest
by the pandemic and obesity increased
our chances of being hospitalised or
becoming seriously ill with COVID-19.
The resources from the Better Health
campaign are so important and provide
the support to lose weight and reduce
such risks. By making a few changes, we
can continue to enjoy our traditional
foods, lose weight, and become
healthier.”
Better Health is working in
partnership with 16 weight management
Douglas Twenefour
and physical activity partners who are
providing both free and discounted
offers. The website also highlights the
free local weight management services
provided by Local Authorities.
Public Health Minister Maggie
Throup said: “The new Better Health
campaign focuses on improving adults’
health and helping them get to a healthier
weight.
“January is a great time of the year for
making resolutions and I hope that people
can use this as a kick start moment to be
more active and eat healthier - especially
when losing body weight can have such a
positive impact on our health, including
reducing the chance of becoming
seriously ill with COVID-19.”
The six benefits’ list has been created
based on evidence cited in the
Government’s Obesity Strategy: “”,
alongside NHS and additional sources, to
provide the public with motivating
reasons to eat better and get active in
2022.
Better Health has lots of free tips and
tools to help people get started if they
want to lose weight, eat better or get
active. Search ‘Better Health’ to start
leading a healthier lifestyle today.

JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 8 2022
TheTrumpet
Page9
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Page10 TheTrumpet JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 8 2022
Health
Pregnant women urged to
get boosted now
· Pregnant women are being urged to Get Boosted Now in a New Year
advertising drive.
· New social media and radio assets highlight the risks of catching the virus
and benefits of the vaccines to both mothers and their babies.
· Almost all pregnant women who were hospitalised or admitted to intensive
care with COVID-19 were unvaccinated.
Dr Karen Joash
Pregnant women who have not yet
had their first, second, third or
booster dose of a COVID-19
vaccine are being urged to get their jab as
soon as possible, as the government
launches a new advertising campaign for
the New Year.
The new campaign joins forces with
the experts at the Royal College of
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
(RCOG) and the Royal College of
Midwives (RCM) to highlight the serious
risks of catching COVID-19 and the
benefits the vaccines bring to protecting
both mothers and their babies.
Testimonies of pregnant women who
have had the jab to keep themselves safe
will be played out in adverts across social
media and radio stations across the
country.
The new campaign urges pregnant
women ‘don’t wait to take the vaccine’
and highlights the risks of COVID-19 to
mother and baby, and the benefits of
vaccination.
The latest data from the UK Health
Security Agency (UKHSA) shows
COVID-19 vaccinations provide strong
protection for pregnant women against the
virus. It also shows the vaccines are safe
for pregnant women, with similar birth
outcomes for those who had the vaccine
and those who had not.
DHSC Chief Scientific Adviser and
Honorary Consultant Obstetrician -
Professor Lucy Chappell said: “Getting a
COVID-19 vaccine is one of the most
important things a pregnant woman can
do this year to keep herself and her baby
as safe from this virus as possible.
“We have extensive evidence now to
show that the vaccines are safe and that
the risks posed by COVID-19 are far
greater.
“If you haven’t had your COVID-19
vaccine, I would urge you to speak to
your clinician or midwife if you have
any questions or concerns, and book in
your vaccine as soon as you can.”
Data from the shows 96.3% of
pregnant women admitted to hospital with
COVID-19 symptoms between May and
October 2021 were unvaccinated, a third
of which (33%) requiring respiratory
support. Around 1 in 5 women who are
hospitalised with the virus need to be
delivered pre-term to help them recover
and 1 in 5 of their babies need care in the
neo-natal unit.
The COVID-19 vaccines are safe for
pregnant women and have no impact on
fertility, which has been made extremely
clear by the government, its senior
clinicians and a range of independent
experts from stakeholder groups such as
RCOG, the Royal College of Midwives
(RCM) and the British Fertility Society.
Since April 2021, around 84,000
pregnant women have received one dose
and over 80,000 have received two doses
of the COVID-19 vaccine. In August
2021, only 22% of women who gave birth
were vaccinated.
Dr Edward Morris, President of the
Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists, said: “We welcome this
national campaign as an important way of
amplifying the very clear message to
pregnant women that vaccination provides
the best protection for both them and their
babies from COVID-19. We urge all
pregnant women to get vaccinated as soon
as possible, and to get boosted 3 months
after the second dose.
“We are very concerned that many
pregnant women have not yet been
vaccinated against COVID-19 and we
hope this campaign will help reassure
them that vaccination is safe and effective.
Pregnant women are more vulnerable of
becoming seriously ill from COVID-19
infection, and this can lead to an increased
risk of giving birth prematurely, and
stillbirth.”
Dr Karen Joash, Consultant
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
said: “As an obstetrician working on the
labour ward, I have been directly involved
in the care of pregnant women with Covid
during pregnancy. I have worked through
every surge of the pandemic.
The majority of these women I saw,
have been shielding but still contracted
Covid. All these women have been
unvaccinated and it has been extremely
worrying to see the effects the Covid
infection had on their health and their
baby. It has been even more concerning
when these women need respiratory
support and pre-term delivery with
separation from their families.
From research, we know the risk of
stillbirth doubles and we know Covid
infection can affect the placental function.
The concerns around Covid are not just
about dying but long term effects on the
health of the mother and her baby.
I would strongly encourage all
pregnant women or women planning a
pregnancy to get vaccinated. Covid is
unfortunately very real and can cause
great harm.”
Dr Jen Jardine, from the Royal College
of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, who
is also seven months pregnant and has had
her COVID-19 booster jab, said: “Both as
a doctor and pregnant mother myself, we
can now be very confident that the
COVID-19 vaccinations provide the best
possible protection for you and your
unborn child against this virus.
“I would strongly call on all pregnant
women like me, if you haven’t had the
vaccine yet, to either speak to your GP or
midwife if you still have questions and
then book right away today.”
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Page12 TheTrumpet JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 8 2022
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Opinion
Osun APC and the lyrics of
JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 8 2022
TheTrumpet
Page13
reconciliation
By Abiodun Komolafe
ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk
The National Reconciliation
Committee of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) came to Osun
State, recently, in a long-overdue effort to
reconcile aggrieved members of the
ruling party in the State.
Going by words on the streets, media
records and all that, the expectation of
Nigerians was that aggrieved members
would be open to truce in the objective
interest of the ruling party and
government. It’s also hoped that the
openness would enable the Committee to
midwife genuine reconciliation among
members of the same political family.
Under the Concept of Negotiation and
Reconciliation, where two parties feel
cheated is a win-win. How do I mean? If
two parties feel cheated, it is better to
reconcile on that premise so that the
‘cheating’ issue will become mutual.
However, if it is only one side that feels
cheated, chances are that the other side
‘that does not feel cheated’ will be
swollen-headed, thus leading the
opposing camp to feel alienated. What
happens next is that the ‘cheated’ party
may either seek succour elsewhere, or
Tel: +44 (0) 7956 385 604
work from within to undermine (the)
existing structure; and that will be
antithetical to the ideals of democracy
and principles of development. Impliedly,
the idea of a zero-sum game is not only
unworkable in a search for true and ideal
reconciliation, it is also – and, usually, too
- an illusion!
Reconciliation helps in removing
resentment and dehumanization. It also
facilitates ‘the re-humanization of the
‘other’ and transforms harmful attitudes.’
Simply put, it is like going to the market
to carry out business transactions at a
most reasonable price for the best of
qualities. Even the one with fake wares
will also want to display his stuffs with a
view to getting ‘a good buyer’ -
obviously, to his advantage, and the loss
of the buyer. In this instance, there is a
side that needs to be civil enough to admit
that a ‘winner-takes-all’ politics is a
dangerous concept even as the other side
must also know that it must let go of
certain things so that the lost sheep can
be brought back home. So, one expects
the Abdullahi Adamu-led efforts to go
beyond the ceremonial handshake.
Instead, the fundamental issue should be
the reconciliation of interests, which is
paramount.
A political party is as strong as its
membership base. In other words, much
as politics is a game of power, it’s also a
game of numbers. To that extent,
membership base goes a long way in
determining the electoral success or
otherwise of a party. With these in mind,
if the feuding factions, or fractions within
Osun APC cannot resolve their
differences at a roundtable; if they cannot
dance around personal issues with a view
to reaching amicable solutions, the
overriding imperative is like a
hermaphrodite, which has the capacity to
metamorphose into something else,
totally unknown! It is like the crew of a
boat, rowing together, but in opposing
direction. What worsens the situation in
Osun is that the impasse has been left for
too long to fester. So, if members don’t
grow up quickly and rise above their
differences; or, if there are no leaders
and/or elders that can call the gladiators
to a roundtable, it may end up as nothing
but bad business for politics.
A time it was in the old Oyo State
when the now-rested Unity Party of
Nigeria (UPN) went into an avoidable
ruination because its handlers did not do
enough or simply looked the other way.
Instead of calling the faithful to order
with a view to striking the middle course,
the leaders simply relied on the strength
of votes from ‘stones’ as a way of sealing
the Party’s coasting home to victory.
Unfortunately, it is either the ‘stones’
refused to cast their vote or certain forces
mightier than the ‘stones’ did not make
their votes count. I was a student at Ijebu-
Jesa Grammar School at the time. So, I
can confirm that we all paid dearly for it!
The implosion in the defunct National
Party of Nigeria (NPN) also started with
the trouble between the National
Chairman of the Party and, especially, the
presidential aspirants. The initial
impression was that the late Adisa
Akinloye was about to compromise,
particularly, on the issue of the zoning
arrangement through which the
presidency would remain in the North;
and Akinloye, a Southerner, would
remain as the Party Chairman,
unperturbed. Interestingly, the social
status ascribed to whosoever became the
Chairman of the Party at that time was
way above what presently obtains.
Dateline: December 14, 1991! The
inability of the political gladiators to
agree on the way forward during the 3 rd
Republic gave Michael Otedola the
Lagos State governorship on a platter of
gold. Have we also forgotten that the
defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD)
government in Osun would most likely
have been victorious, had the party not
succumbed to the whims of the internal
wrangling which troubled its Israel on its
way to the April 19, 2003 gubernatorial
election? Typical of fate and its wiles,
Akande had long left office before he was
nicknamed ‘Baba Omo Kekeke’, in
recognition of his performance in office.
If the aforementioned experiences
have sought succour in the ‘archives of
the archaeologists’, then, the loss of the
Senatorial bye-election by the Osun APC
in 2017 readily comes to mind. Since
failure is always an orphan, July 8, 2017
happened to APC and loads of excuses
accompanied the loss of the opportunity
of a lifetime. But then, the Party in power
forgot, or overlooked the essence of
certain people whose duty, as it were, was
to tailor the minds of the people to the
ideals and norms of the society,
especially, in a country where the gain of
public service has taken flight. God and
Caesar met at the table and … the rest is
history!
Speaking for posterity, how much of
the energy being dissipated, currently,
against opposing members of the same
Party is being dispensed into convincing
some already-confused voters at ‘Okada’
and ‘Korope’ terminuses that the APCled
government in Osun State means well
for the people; and that it will do more, if
Governor Gboyega Oyetola is re-elected,
come July 16, 2022? How much of
confidence and assurance is being given
to the mass of the people that this epitome
of wellness, stateliness and unshaken
hope, if given another opportunity, will
leave no stone unturned at ensuring that
dividends of democracy are equitably
distributed among the good people of
Osun? Instead of showing off with
attractive-yet-needless conflicts, what
stops loyalists on both sides from
showing forth through winning souls for
the Party? In the interest of democracy,
what stops the gladiators from removing
issues that are personal from the objective
interests of the Party? What stops the ‘Us
vs. Us’ adherents from allowing
institutional interests to outweigh
personal and individual interests?
May the Lamb of God, who takes
away the sin of the world, grant us peace
in Osun State!
*Komolafe wrote in from Ijebu-Jesa,
Osun State.

Page14 TheTrumpet JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 8 2022
Opinion
Nigeria, a country at Ground Zero
By Tony Ogunlowo
When you look at Nigeria
today you see a replay of the
‘Wild, Wild West’ of
America in the 1800s when anarchy,
lawlessness and the near non-existence
of a central government existed:
cowboys and Indians were killing each
other; slaves were worked to death on
plantations and the few rich were
getting fatter – and dangerous – as
feudal lords.
Fast forward to the year 2022,
another country, Nigeria, in another
continent, Africa, is embarking upon
the same journey.
Insecurity is the word on
everybody’s lips: bandits, kidnappers,
robbers and killers roam the land and
commit crimes with impunity.
Unemployment is the second word
that comes to mind: millions of people
who should be in work are
unemployed. As is to be expected, to
make odds and ends meet many will
turn to crime.
And then you have the feudal lords,
the untouchables who are the
politicians and the ones who have
acquired their wealth through
questionable means. With their money,
they control their fiefdom with an
authority nobody dare question for they
have the politicians, judges and
members of the armed forces in their
pockets. For them, they’ll have three
square meals a day, in peace, even if
hell freezes over.
And that brings me down to the
general populace, the common man,
the canon-fodder for the Rich and
Almighty, whose lives are just a little
better than a slave working on a
plantation of another age.
2023 is just around the corner and
the sugar-tongued politicians are going
to come out in force promising a
mythical better way of life if elected to
power. The truth is all their utterances
will be a pack of lies: they can do no
better than their predecessors!
Nigeria is a country at Ground Zero:
a country in ruins where nothing
works. There is no clear running water;
constant uninterrupted 24 hours
electricity supply is still a distant
dream; a majority of the roads are potholed
and not maintained; the populace
lacks basic healthcare; employment
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The Opportunities
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currently available by way of:
· Sale of Subscriptions to our Print Newspapers.
· Distribution and Sales of bulk copies our Newspapers.
· Sale of Advertising Spaces in our Print Newspapers.
· Sale of Banner Adverts on Website.
· Sale of Banner Adverts, ‘Highlights’ and Mail-shots in Email
Newsletters.
· Sale of Advertising posts on our Social Media channels.
· Sale of Sponsorship, Advertising, Exhibition spaces and
Tickets for GAB Awards and other events.
To apply, please email: info@the-trumpet.com
opportunities are limited and the life
expectancy keeps on dropping.
When a country is dead, or dying,
you don’t come into office promising
to move heaven and earth to fix
everything overnight. You come into
office to face the reality of things: that
the house you’ve been brought in to run
has been demolished and is in ruins at
foundation level. How you’re going to
build up that house again from the ruins
is the task at hand. Any other promise is
BS!
So, can the country pick itself up
from its present predicament? Perhaps.
There’s talk of splitting up the
country in the hope it’ll aid
development and put an end to all
problems. Again, I’ll say ‘perhaps it’ll
work and perhaps it won’t’. There was
a time when Northerners, Southerners,
Christians and Muslims all lived
happily side by side (- am I that old?):
politicians then set one against another
and not the people. It’s also worth
noting that at one point or another, in
their esteem histories, great nations
such as Great Britain, America, Russia
and even China were at ground zero.
But they were quick to realize their
countries were going down the toilet
and embarked upon programmes to
build themselves up from scratch
instead of burying their heads in the
sand pretending everything was okay.
Healing and the road back to
redemption only starts when you admit
you have a problem: Nigeria and
Nigerians will never admit they’ve got
a problem and will forever pass the
buck, blame other tribes, religions and
current and past governments: the
country looks like the aftermath of
Germany at the end of the Second
Nigeria - at Ground Zero
World War! Admit it and the rebuilding
can begin but you can’t have
that while all politicians play the fiddle
while the country burns.
You don’t end insecurity in the
country by gunning down every bandit
in sight because for every one you kill,
another ten will rise up. And why is
there so much insecurity in the first
place? Because there are no jobs to
keep people out of mischief. Why are
there no jobs? There are no jobs
because places of employment don’t
exist or are not enough. And why are
there not adequate places to employ
people? Because the basic
infrastructure (- power,
telecommunications, good roads and
security) don’t exist and this scares
away potential investors.
So, to re-build a nation you have to
think of the many buildings that have
collapsed in Lagos recently: clear away
the rubble, figure out what went wrong,
make new plans and build a new
building with a solid foundation with
rigour.
So, who is going to be the President
of Nigeria in 2023? Tinubu? Saraki?
Atiku? Are they going to come into
office realizing the country is at
Ground Zero and they’ll have to build
it up from the ruins or do they just want
to be President, for personal reasons, so
they can add another cap to their
Curriculum Vitae?
I rest my case.
You may follow Ogunlowo on
Twitter: @Archangel641 or visit
http://www.archangel641.blogspot.co.
uk

JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 8 2022 TheTrumpet
Page15

Page16 TheTrumpet JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 8 2022
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