Opinion
Stella Okotete is coming!
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Stella Okotete’s confirmation as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is certain to happen. The saga about this outstanding woman persists but it isn’t anything unlike before. Bringing with her the unique abilities and brilliant mind that have set her apart, and on the trajectory of greatness, it is not unusual for her to interface with forces determined against her intimidating profile for various convoluted reasons.
Stella Okotete, first of all, is a woman whose works bear testament to her reputation as a highly competent personality. The natural implication of this status is that she demands such quality from everyone in her path and within (and under) her leadership. As a progressive, Stella endeavours that responsibilities left to her care must be answered, and measurable progress made to endeavour that favourable impacts are accomplished. This characteristic poses a serious threat to the entrenched guardians of the retrogressive status quo, and they, in turn, are mounting serious challenge to the arrival of a light that would dispel their dark chokehold on the country.
This is the same for the self-elected gatekeepers of Nigerian politics, the cult of men who believe they control passage to the patrimony of Nigerian power. They demand cuts and concessions, and threaten termination and obstruction, if one refuses to play ball. Of course Stella Okotete, ever aware of the light she is carrying, would never play such evil ball.
And it doesn’t help, at least to these people’s understanding, that she is a woman—a fierce achiever with the mind and principles of her own. So the misogynistic jackals and hyenas have congregated to repel “this small girl that thinks she can do without us”. It is an old, dirty gathering motivated, among other things, by the dying patriarchal sensibility to ‘bend’ a woman seemingly beyond the control of these hapless wild dogs.
But the nation should make no mistake: this challenge is theirs, and the fight against their collective progress, which Stella Okotete has come to embody. Young, high-achieving, Stella is that breathing proof that the established values of education, diligence, dedication and honesty, which we all hold dear are still rewarding and worthy of emulation. She is the living personification of the biblical wisdom that the individual diligent in their work will stand and speak before kings.
So, as the senate awaits their ‘security clearance’, it is vital they are reminded by no more important people than Nigerian themselves that Stella is ours to protect. She is the role model whose soaring profile strengthens the resolve of the 16-year-old 100 level student in Kano, Anambra, Plateau, and Ondo. She is the bastion of integrity who presided over national assets at NEXIM and turned negatives to positives, both statistically and in lives she directly touched through her initiatives. She is the beacon of competence whose time at the state legislature set lives and communities on the path of identifiable change. There is no greater security clearance than this curriculum vitae. The Stella saga should have by now gone past the confirmation level because we are now only waiting to know the ministry that would enjoy her great leadership.
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The Awujale of Ijebu Land is not merely a crown; it is a sacred trust rooted in centuries of custom, lineage, and collective consent. It is deeply alarming that, right before the beginning of the nomination process for the open stool, a single name, Abimbola Onabanjo, has been relentlessly amplified across blogs, social media, and online news platforms as the “new Awujale,” raising serious questions not just about the individual involved, but about the motivations behind such premature narratives.
More disturbing is the scale and coordination of the publicity. Media observers and social media monitors estimate that no fewer than 70 bloggers and content promoters, operating across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter (X), including several obscure and anonymously run platforms, have circulated the same unverified reports presenting Abimbola Onabanjo as the Awujale-in-waiting, or worse, as the crowned monarch himself. The repetition of identical language, imagery, and celebratory framing suggests something more deliberate than coincidence.
True leadership demands accountability. It would have reflected integrity for Abimbola to own the spread of these unverified reports. To now distance himself by blaming supporters for what is plainly a coordinated false-news campaign is disingenuous and unworthy of the moral stature required of a contender for the revered stool. Approval of misinformation, whether active or passive, undermines the dignity of the throne being sought.
Why the rush? Why the insistence on public coronation before traditional endorsement? In some quarters, Abimbola has been referred to as the online Awujale!
When an aspirant appears more invested in controlling the media narrative than respecting the process, it inevitably creates the impression of desperation for power and undermines the integrity of the selection process before it even begins.
The implications for Ijebu unity cannot be ignored. A kingship contest involving over 60 contenders requires restraint at the highest level. An aspirant falsely elevating himself prematurely risks inflaming tensions within the Fusengbuwa family, delegitimising the eventual outcome, and dragging a revered institution into unnecessary controversy.
It must also be asked whether this aggressive narrative reflects a deeper anxiety about relevance and authority.
This is not a declaration of guilt, nor a denial of Abimbola Onabanjo’s lineage or possible eligibility—if such eligibility exists. Rather, it is a call for restraint, transparency, and respect for tradition. True royalty does not need to shout. It waits.
Until the rites are completed, the staff formally handed over, and the people of Ijebu Land collectively recognise their monarch, there is no Awujale. Any portrayal to the contrary, whether by 70 bloggers or a hundred more, is premature and misleading.
Power pursued too loudly often exposes its own insecurity. And in the matter of the Awujale’s throne, patience is not weakness; it is tradition.
Gbenga Odugbesan is a social commentator, an Ijebu indigene, and writes from the United States of America
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Nigeria’s democracy is not under threat because public officials are being investigated. It is under threat when political actors attempt to weaponise opposition status as immunity from the law.
Let it be stated plainly: opposition is not a licence to steal, and it is not a shield against accountability.
No One Is Above the Law
The Nigerian Constitution is clear. It mandates the State to abolish corruption and abuse of power. It does not create exemptions for opposition leaders, former office holders, or political coalitions. The only immunity recognised by law is limited, specific, and temporary and it ends when a public officer leaves office.
To suggest otherwise is to invent a privilege unknown to the Constitution.
Investigation Is Not Persecution
The EFCC and other anti-graft agencies are legally bound to investigate allegations of economic and financial crimes. Investigation, arrest, and prosecution when carried out within the law do not violate fundamental rights. This is settled by the Supreme Court, not by political press conferences.
Calling the investigation “victimisation” does not make it so. It only signals an attempt to pre-empt justice with propaganda.
Presumption of Innocence Is Not a Gag Order
The presumption of innocence means that no one is guilty until proven so by a court of law. It does not mean no one can be investigated, questioned, or charged. It does not compel silence from law-enforcement agencies.
If you are innocent, the courts will clear you. If you are not, the law will take its course. That is the essence of the rule of law.
Selective Outrage Is Not a Defence
The argument that “others are also corrupt” is not recognised in Nigerian law. Courts have consistently held that the alleged wrongdoing of others does not excuse or absolve an accused person.
Accountability is personal. Justice is individual. Guilt is not suspended because someone else has not yet been charged.
Intimidating Institutions Is the Real Democratic Threat
What truly threatens Nigeria’s multiparty democracy is not the EFCC doing its job, but the growing attempt to intimidate, delegitimise, or blackmail anti-corruption institutions whenever investigations touch politically exposed persons.
Democracy does not mean freedom from scrutiny. It means submission to the law especially by those who once held public trust.
On Calls for “Independent Review Bodies”
Transparency is welcome, but it must not be weaponised as a diversion. Nigeria already has constitutionally and statutorily empowered institutions to audit, investigate, and prosecute financial crimes. Creating parallel structures to undermine lawful investigations or discredit prosecutions is not reform it is evasion.
Face the Law
No one was forced to misappropriate public funds.
No one was compelled to abuse office.
No one was instructed to breach financial regulations.
Public office is a trust. When that trust is breached, consequences follow.
The appropriate response to an investigation is not alarmism, not international lobbying, and not political noise. It is a competent legal defence and respect for due process.
Final Word
Anti-corruption is not anti-opposition.
Investigation is not persecution.
Accountability is not authoritarianism.
Those with clean hands have nothing to fear.
Those with questions to answer should answer them before the law.
Enough is enough. Nigeria will not trade the rule of law for political convenience.
Otunba Segun Showunmi
The Alternative
Opinion
Insecurity: Governor Abiodun Takes Firmer Stance, Declares Documentation of Non-Indigenes, Demolition of FlashPoint Areas
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Following the incessant killings and kidnappings in Nigeria by bandits, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has taken proactive measures to strengthen security and maintain peace in the state.
This follows a security meeting convened with security chiefs on Monday at his residence in Iperu, Ogun State, emphasising the need for proactive measures to prevent insecurity and promote economic development.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Governor Abiodun outlined mandatory documentation of foreign nationals and non-indigenes coming to the state, and the dismantling of the ZAGA settlement in Ijebu-Ode and other flashpoint areas across the state.
He also warned that any landlords harbouring miscreants would be sanctioned.
Abiodun disclosed plans to establish a Forward Operating Base (FOB) at ILARA (Yewa North) to tighten border security. He assured citizens of the government’s commitment to maintaining peace and stability, while calling on residents to provide timely information to support law enforcement efforts.
Abiodun commended the leadership of Mr President and security agencies for rescuing kidnap victims in Niger/Kwara, emphasising that security is a joint responsibility.
According to him, “We want to commend Mr President for providing leadership, particularly as the economy has turned the corner and stabilised despite different false narratives being promoted .
We congratulate Mr President and the security agencies for the progress made in the rescue efforts of the kidnap victims in Niger / Kwara”
“As the industrial capital of Nigeria and the gateway state that connects the financial capital to the rest of the country we have and must continue to be proactive in ensuring that we sustain our position as one of the more peaceful states in Nigeria,
“The best time to prepare for war is during peace”
“Our resolutions are:
Mandatory Documentation of Foreign Nationals: All foreign nationals within the State must be properly documented in accordance with security protocols and immigration regulations.
ZAGA Enclave: The ZAGA settlement is to be dismantled and taken over by the Government to prevent its continued use for unlawful activities.
Sanctions for Landlords Harbouring Miscreants: Landlords and individuals found to be accommodating miscreants or criminal elements will be decisively dealt with in line with the law.
Engagement with Non-Indigenes: A strategic meeting will be convened with the non-indigene communities to strengthen mutual understanding and enhance security cooperation.
FOB Establishment at ILARA (Yewa North):The establishment of a Forward Operating Base (FOB) around Ilara, a key border community in Yewa North, will be prioritised to tighten border security.
Control of Scavengers: Activities of scavengers across the State will be strictly regulated to curb criminal infiltration and illicit practices.
Forest and Government Reserve Operations: Security agencies will intensify operations to flush out criminal hideouts within forests and government reserves.
Illegal Mining: All illegal mining activities will be confronted decisively, with perpetrators apprehended and prosecuted.
Ajebo non-indigene Settlement: The settlement in Ajebo is currently under investigation, and necessary actions will be taken upon the conclusion of the interrogation.
Inter-Agency Collaboration: Enhanced collaboration and cooperation among all security agencies will further strengthen and modernise the State’s security architecture.
We encourage the provision of timely information to us to ensure the promotion of prompt response by law enforcement Security is a joint responsibility of all of us”
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